Pipeline

GENERAL'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE | CHRISTMAS POEM | ASYLUM SEEKERS PROGRAM | BUSHFIRE RELIEF | SOCIAL JUSTICE Read me at: pipelineonline.org

BA BUNDOABM AT FOR GOES INT ASYLUM SEEKERS

The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory DECember 2013 Volume 17 Issue 12

ARTICLES BY

General André Cox | CommissionER James Condon | Major Wendy Swan | Casey O'Brien | Major David Woodbury

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Contents COVER

Editorial STORY

10-15 SEEKING A NEW LIFE

Simone Worthing features Bundamba Corps' organic and growing outreach ministry which is focused on local asylum seekers

10 F E AT U R E S 20-22 'ROYAL TELEPHONE' CONVERSATION

Bill Simpson relates the remarkable story of two women who connected while enduring traumatic experiences in their lives

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24-27 HOPE RISING FROM ASHES

Esther Pinn covers an emotional story of how one family is recovering from losing their house to the devastating NSW bushfires with the help of The Salvation Army 36-37 OFFICER FINDS THE RIGHT FIT

Captain Alana Mills shows how a love of God, and of personal fitness, can work together for the kingdom

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REGULARS 5 TC@PIPELINE

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE ...

LONELY BUT

18-19 INTEGRITY

THROUGH JESUS THERE IS

LOVE HOPE &

23 SOUL FOOD

FREEDOM

28-29 ARMY ARCHIVES 30-31 SOCIAL JUSTICE 32-33 WHAT WOULD JESUS VIEW

CHRISTMAS – THE ULTIMATE LOVE STORY EATING DISORDERS: A LIFE RESTORED

39-45 COALFACE NEWS

THE ROYAL BIRTH EXTRAVAGANT LOVE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP D E C E M B E R

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2 0 1 3

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V O L U M E

1 4

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I S S U E

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IN THIS MONTH’S WOMEN IN TOUCH 'Tis the season to be lonely The Salvation Army WILLIAM BOOTH, Founder

Cover photo Shairon Paterson

International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria street London EC4P 4EP

Pipeline is a publication of the Communications Team

André Cox, General Australia Eastern Territory 140 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000 James Condon, Commissioner Territorial Commander Bruce Harmer, Major Communications and Public Relations Secretary Managing Editor Dean Simpson Graphic design Kem Pobjie

Editorial and correspondence: Address: PO Box A435 Sydney South NSW 1235 Phone: (02) 9266 9690 www.salvos.org.au Email: eastern.editorial @aue.salvationarmy.org Published for: The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory

by Commissioner James Condon Printed by: SOS Print + Media Group 65 Burrows Rd, Alexandria NSW 2015, Australia Print Post Approved PP236902/00023

Christ at centre of asylum mission

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veryone seems to have an opinion on the asylum seeker issue in Australia. Whether it’s a husband and wife across the dinner table, or opposing parties across the floor in Federal Parliament, the issue can ignite heated debate.

Behind the issue, however, are people. Millions of people around the world, who are forced to flee their homes for any number of reasons – anything from persecution or political stance, to race or gender.

But where does the Salvationist stand amid the furore?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 14) simply states: “Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy, in other countries, asylum from persecution.”

But The Salvation Army goes a step further and outlines why it backs this declaration. Its stance lies in reflecting the heart of God. Throughout the Old Testament, God exhorts his people to love and care for the foreigners among them. Exodus 23:9 says, “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt”.

Jesus reaffirms this mandate when he calls his followers to act with compassion and give practical care to those in desperate need. By doing this, he says we are loving him (Matthew 25:35-40). So, as Christians, we are called to respond to issues of injustice as Christ would – without discrimination, in a way that is practical and compassionate.

Jesus understood how it felt to be the alien and stranger. As a baby, he was a refugee. He fled with his parents to Egypt to escape the death threats of King Herod. He lived without the security of a home and was reliant upon the hospitality of strangers. And then in adulthood, Jesus was a wanderer, journeying from place to place “with no place to rest his head”.

In death, he faced a similar experience to the men, women and children who are fleeing persecution today. Therefore, it is only right that The Salvation Army responds to the cry of the asylum seeker.

Dignified care

The Salvation Army’s main involvement in Australia’s off-shore operations is on Manus Island and Nauru.

The Army’s Humanitarian Mission Services provides support for asylum seekers awaiting processing in centres on these islands. Major Paul Moulds puts it succinctly: “Drawing on 150 years of experience in helping the world’s suffering and needy, The Salvation Army is strongly committed to caring for people in a dignified manner regardless of their location.”

Back home, The Salvation Army is also strongly committed to helping refugees establish a way of life once they begin the process of settling into Australian society. One such program exists in Bundamba, where Captain Ben and Emma Johnson is overseeing a service which provides work skills for a contingent of Sri Lanka refugees. Pipeline reporter Simone Worthing and photographer Shairon Paterson went to Bundamba to see first-hand what was happening and I hope their coverage of this story encourages you.

On behalf of the Pipeline team, I also wish our readers a safe and blessed Christmas season.

Dean Simpson Managing Editor

Christ’s true light

General ANDRÉ COX urges all Salvationists to celebrate the birth of Christ by making the world a brighter place for people living in darkness and despair

C

hristmas is celebrated in so many different ways around the world and yet so easily we forget the true meaning of an event that shaped and changed the world. People of all nationalities and cultures have been drawn to God’s light as revealed in Jesus, whose coming to earth changed and changes the way we think and act.

The prophet Isaiah foresaw the coming of Jesus into the world – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given ... he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, ... Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV 1984).

A well-known Christmas carol expresses so beautifully the longing that people still have – “Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free ...” (The Song Book of The Salvation Army 79 v1).

The world has never known, and will never know, a light more powerful than the light Jesus brought. John described it as “The true light that gives light to every man, and … the world

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did not recognise him ... his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him ... he gave the right to become children of God ...” (John 1:9-13).

Despite this wonderful reality, there are still far too many people living in darkness and despair, suffering and fear, having lost the will to live, for they see no future. They have lost all sense of purpose and direction because they refuse to turn to “the Light”.

The Bible presents Jesus as the coming of light into the world – light which outshines anything we can ever imagine. We are surrounded by flashing lights, neon signs, illuminated billboards – all designed to attract us, to draw us in. But there is no light that compares to the light of Jesus, for it draws us into the joy of knowing him as our personal Saviour.

The impact of Christ’s coming into the world is still in evidence.

People are experiencing change and transformation, finding deliverance and freedom, peace and forgiveness. The message of the angels still resonates

powerfully in our hearts and lives today.

Christmas is a wonderful opportunity for us to be not only witnesses to “the Light” but also carriers of “the Light”. We must celebrate and give thanks for the true meaning of Christmas: “He came to give us life in all its fullness … He [‘the Light’] came to banish death and doubt and darkness, He came to set his people free” (SASB 274 chorus).

May the “Light of the World” shine into your hearts this Christmas – and then out to others so that the world will be a brighter place in the coming year.

May God richly bless you as you join with us in giving thanks to God for the birth of our Saviour.

General André Cox is the world leader of The Salvation Army

tc@pipeline

Connect with forgiveness this Christmas Christmas can be a lonely time for people who have become disconnected with family and friends, but Commissioner JAMES CONDON says it can also be an opportune time to restore these relationships

I Commissioner James Condon is Territorial Commander of the Australia Eastern Territory

recently was made aware of Dr. Everett Worthington and his writings on forgiveness.

I share the following with you, and I quote, “Dr Everett (’Ev’) Worthington is a professor of psychology who has published over 20 books on forgiveness, marriage, and family topics. But his experience with forgiveness comes not just from study and research. He’s had some first-hand experience with forgiveness. On a New Year’s Eve about 10 years ago someone broke into his mother’s house. An attempted theft turned into a brutal murder when his mother fought back. A suspect was captured who volunteered details no one could have known who wasn’t at the scene. But because of ’some issues with the evidence’, a jury wouldn’t indict. Within six months of her murder, Ev and his two siblings forgave the person who killed their mother. He admits that he had a lot of professional preparation. He had studied forgiveness scientifically and therapeutically for years before the incident.

But ultimately he felt that they were able to forgive because by doing so they were honouring the values their mother had tried to instil in them.”

Christmas is often referred to as a family time and, sadly, this is not true for everyone.

Our theme for this Christmas is Connect, with

the idea of connecting with family, friends and neighbours.

Over the years I have observed many Christmases in different places and lands, and I have listened to some very sad stories about people’s inability to connect because of lack of forgiveness.

There is something sad about being disconnected and Christmas time seems to highlight this perhaps more than any other time in the year.

It’s hard for me to understand people being estranged from one another, not speaking, not being in touch for years, having no connection with people with whom they once shared life.

Christmas is one of those seasons where we can get caught up in a tug-of-war between feeling the joy of being truly connected and feeling the pain of disconnection.

The message of Christmas is one of God connecting with us. In 2 Corinthians 5:19 we read, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” To be reconciled is to be restored to friendship or harmony.

At Christmas we celebrate the coming of Christ into the world enabling us to connect with God. My prayer is for those who are disconnected at this Christmas time.

pipeline 12/2013 5

The

Spirit of Christmas •

Photo: Shairon Paterson

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Christmas Poem | Feature

Popular Australian poet Dennis Scanlon has dedicated his poem The Spirit of Christmas to The Salvation Army. The poem tells the story of a desperate young man who finds hope in the form of a ”Red Shield kitchen” for the homeless at Christmas time.

Dennis recently recited the poem to a gathering of seniors on a weekend tour of northern NSW, organised by Lismore Seniors coordinator Kevin Elsey (see story on page 40).

Dennis and his wife are retired and live in the Border Ranges of NSW. He works close with a number of churches through South Queensland/Northern NSW, who have come to share his 'heart' for music and song in hospitals and aged care facilities in the area.

"I have developed a great respect and admiration for the 'rolled-up sleeves and hands-on' approach of The Salvation Army – they work at the coalface of society, where the need is very great," he says.

Widely travelled through Australia and other parts of the world, he has shared his poetry in venues ranging from the Creek St Temple in Brisbane, 'Oracles of the Bush' Tenterfield, Country Music Festival Tamworth, to roadside camping areas through Australia and the United Kingdom.

H

e was young and brash; so confident – you could see it in his walk.

His family was offended by the filth he used to talk.

His teachers gave him up – he was too 'smart' for them, by far; while the non achievers in the class, considered him a star.

He signed himself out of the school, halfway though the year.

Left home to be his own man; the shared flat – the trendy gear.

Visions of a fancy job; he'd make the top, for sure; into the 'dance party' mob, the music – even more.

In three weeks he was out of cash, without a hint of work, on the dole: ”thrown out of home - Dad's a raving jerk!”

The dance scene was a bore, without the powder and the speed and soon he found he had to beg, just to get a feed.

Excuses for the rent unpaid met deaf ears from his friends and soon his time of shared space, came to a bitter end.

He walked the streets and soon became an angry sullen man: the battle for a space at night, his most immediate plan.

He hit the depths of shame the night his body went on offer, but soon the nightly ritual, involved his act of proffer.

No pride was left; no joy in life; just bitterness, resentment, The fast life took a downward turn: a long way from contentment.

The lack of food, the mix of drugs and alcohol to numb the pain he felt: the shame he felt: he surely must succumb to a fear of life: ”come pleasant death, to take me from this hell that I have made right here on earth - how else can I feel well?

The answer to his silent prayer, came quicker than he thought; an older man who'd knocked him back, with an offer to be bought, came on him by accident, the night he hit his death wish; offered him a share of stew, from his old, enamel meal dish.

They quickly grew together, these two homeless, loveless men.

The older man so streetwise, gave the young man hope again.

Showed him a Red Shield kitchen, some clean clothes and a bed; the beginnings of a reason for the boy to lift his head.

He took in more than ”body” food, in the Red Shield kitchen; at last he came to realise the depths his life was reachin' The selfless Sallies serving him, with food that reached his soul; his streetwise mate and he, both began to feel more ”whole”.

Neither one could understand the attitude of giving, Those they'd seen as ”workers” they saw were really ”living” an attitude; a way of life, where they were really sharing their joy of Christ; their cup of life: of giving and of caring.

In time, both men's lives were changed, but it started that December, when the Red Shield kitchen attitude, caused the young man to remember how his mother used to love to have the family 'round the table; everybody gave their love; as much as they were able.

Territorial Seniors Co-ordinator Envoy Roz Edwards with poet Dennis Scanlon and his book You Know You’re In Australia during the seniors tour of Northern NSW.

Even more; the old man, recognised the Spirit of Christmas love - that sent a Babe - to bring all mankind to it.

He realised, he had been sent, to guide a young man's journey, And though he felt he wasn't fit, his God saw him as worthy.

The lesson, then, for us must be: that Christmas time is giving more than tinsel and paper wrap: God's Gift came to us living.

A life so pure, unblemished: living in us ever, to give His life, that we may be at one, with God, forever.

Dennis Scanlon ©

pipeline 12/2013 7

Feature | Christmas

Salvo choir to fill Domain with festive song

By Esther Pinn

T

he Salvation Army will be represented at this year's Carols in the Domain by an 80-strong choir for the 31st running of the event on Saturday 21 December.

The iconic event, sponsored this year by Woolworths, is expected to attract up to 80,000 people to The Domain Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.

The Salvation Army choir will join with many Australian star singers, including Samantha Jade, winner of The X Factor 2012, and Johnny Ruffo, 2011 finalist on The X Factor.

“There's something about Christmas time that just makes people happy,” says Ash Sellers, leader of The Salvation Army choir. “Maybe it's all the thinking about ‘peace on earth’ or ‘goodwill

toward men’ or simply everyone you meet wishing you a ‘Merry Christmas’.

“Whatever it is, it's that same spirit that I look forward to about carols, 80 choir members, 30-plus musicians, countless dancers and usually a wiggle or two all coming together with no other purpose than to wish Australia season’s greetings.”

The Salvation Army’s Oasis Youth Support Network in Sydney is once again the official charity of the event. All funds raised through

candle bags will be donated to the Oasis youth homelessness centre in Surry Hills.

The winner of The Salvation Army’s “Connect Through Song” competition will also perform on the night. Entrants were required to create an original music track based on The Salvation Army’s Christmas campaign theme of “Connect”.

The winner, to be announced on 13 December, will receive the opportunity to record their song with Sony Music Australia at their Sydney studio.

Salvos Gifts

This Christmas, make your gift count. Buy online at SalvosGifts.org.au 8

The Salvation Army choir will once again perform at the Woolworths Carols in the Domain. Photo supplied by Brilliant Logic

Disciples of the Cross | Feature

Grew up amongst crime & violence

House went under during the floods

Please give generously Contact 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) salvos.org.au/Christmas

Became homeless after her husband died

Feature | Asylum Seekers

“P

eople are embracing the asylum seekers where they’re at, and it’s engaging the whole corps,” said Captain Emma Johnson, Bundamba Corps Officer, describing the “Growing Home” community development program the corps is running at nearby Riverview Farm, west of Brisbane.

“The program is organic, it’s growing and everyone is involved and learning together.”

Growing Home is focused on building community and supporting asylum seekers living in the local area spiritually, emotionally and socially as they find their way in Australian society while their visa applications are being processed.

To help fund this and other

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community programs, the Bundamba Corps has taken over the “Watch them Grow” social enterprise nursery, also based at Riverview, with a view to both engaging the asylum seekers and making the business profitable.

Growing Home currently relies on money raised from grants and hotel ministry to meet its operating costs.

“This is mission and community outreach for the corps,” says Joe Rule, volunteer coordinator from Bundamba Corps. “Everyone is behind it and particpates.”

The Growing Home program runs every Tuesday and Thursday and includes English classes, pastoral care, volunteer work and training in the nursery, a community lunch, access to

computers, and a game of cricket.

Up to 40 asylum seekers attend the program on any given day.

The asylum seekers come mainly from Sri Lanka, Iran, Bangladesh and Burma and include men, women and children. They have made the treacherous journey to Australia by boat as they flee the horrors of war and persecution to find peace, safety and a new life on our shores.

“We are so blessed to work with the asylum seekers,” says Captain Emma. “They have been through such trauma and yet are so full of laughter and joy.

“There is so much diversity among us, but we have so much in common as human beings and can all operate in the love of Christ.”

“God has just opened the doors

Asylum Seekers | Feature

Seeking

a new life

Asylum seekers like Reuben and little Deea have experienced such trauma and yet are full of laughter and joy; Captains Ben and Emma Johnson (above right) are delighted that the "Growing Home" program is engaging the entire corps. Photos: Shairon Paterson

and Growing Home has evolved and developed,” says Captain Ben Johnson, Bundamba Corps Officer.

Earlier this year, Riverview Farm lost the majority of its government funding for its Work for the Dole and other programs, requiring farm employees to be scaled back to one caretaker position. To properly maintain the farm and grounds, further help was needed.

At around the same time, Captains Ben and Emma, together with corps volunteers, were able to help a group of Sri Lankan men who came to the Riverview chapel service and needed assistance in moving house, negotiating a lease and setting up a home, just after they were released into the community on bridging visas.

From little children to the elderly, the Bundamba Corps is part of an organic and growing outreach ministry, focused on local asylum seekers, that is changing the lives of everyone involved. Pipeline reporter SIMONE WORTHING and photographer SHAIRON PATERSON spent a day at Riverview Farm where the program is taking place

These men also had free time, were looking for something to do and were happy to assist the caretaker on the grounds at Riverview.

Captain Ben, himself a passionate cricketer, asked whether they would also be interested in a game of cricket.

“Their faces lit up immediately,” he says. “They didn’t understand much English, but they understood cricket!”

The cricket matches are one of the program’s highlights and have opened further doors in its development (see page 14).

The asylum seekers also expressed an interest in learning English to help them with living in the community and set them up for work once they have visas.

The day after Captains Ben and Emma discussed the possibility of English classes, John Williams, Leader of Soundpoint, The Salvation Army centre at nearby Goodna, contacted them to say a professional TESOL (teaching English as a second language) teacher had offered to hold some classes, for free!

“We now have a partnership with Soundpoint who also have a lot of contact with the same guys,” explains Captain Ben. “They do some English classes there as well and can also access Salvos Legal and other services to help sort out their visas.”

Two additional teachers, one from Bundamba Corps and one from the community, also now run classes for Growing Home, >>>

pipeline 12/2013 11

Feature | Asylum Seekers

Left to right: Joe Rule, Vim, and Richard Strong load the van with seedlings to be taken to Big W to be sold.

All funds raised from sales go back into the corps' outreach programs.

with volunteers from the corps assisting with English conversation practice sessions.

Community lunches

Community lunches are also an integral, and popular, part of Growing Home.

“The corps was already running community lunches, so this was another natural offshoot for the program,” explains Captain Emma.

Janet Berry, a volunteer from Bundamba Corps, is the cook. “I love being a part of this program and getting to know some of the asylum seekers,” she says. “They are so warm and friendly, despite all they’ve gone through, and so willing to help.”

The asylum seekers were helping with the food preparation and then decided that they’d like to cook some of their national dishes for everyone. They now cook the meals every second week.

“Everyone likes our curries now,” says Regi, recently arrived from Sri Lanka, with a big smile.

From the program’s inception, the corps has been a driving force behind, and an integral part of, Growing Home, its social mission focus, and its partnership with the Watch them Grow nursery.

“The nursery is owned and managed by the corps; it’s definitely a corps-driven

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enterprise,” says Captain Emma.

“Our corps volunteers are involved at all levels including washing seedling pots, cooking, delivering plants to retail outlets, paperwork, working in the nursery, selling plants at the stall on Saturdays, taking the asylum seekers to appointments, and being a friend to walk alongside them in their challenging circumstances.

“We are all learning and growing together. We can’t measure what we’re learning with these guys about our commonality as human beings.”

Spiritual development

As with all community development programs at Bundamba, the focus is on linking the community back to the corps.

Many of the asylum seekers have shown an interest in going to church. Regi was recently accepted as an adherent; as was Marie, from Liberia, who has been in Australia for many years. She shared her harrowing experiences and amazing testimony with the corps.

“At some meetings we will have asylum seekers from different countries, and different religions too,” says Captain Ben. “Some are just finding us; others are being invited. We’ve had Muslims and Hindus coming to our corps and being part of our community.”

Some of the asylum seekers’ children go to kids programs at the corps. The youth at Bundamba Corps play a big role in involving these children and helping them feel accepted and loved. Growing Home also ran “Christianity Explained” for the asylum seekers, with the help of translators.

Sekar Chinnaswamy, a pastor from Bangalore, India, who speaks fluent Tamil, is on sabbatical in Australia for one year and goes regularly to Riverview to talk with the asylum seekers and help lead them to Christ.

“We look forward to seeing them saved and becoming disciple makers within their own community,” says Captain Emma.

“We don’t have any control over their destiny but we can introduce them to the one who does and will go with them wherever they go. Through Jesus we can give them freedom despite the social constructs and the circumstances they live within. Our corporate faith is growing, thanks to these guys and what God is doing.”

Simone Worthing is a writer for Pipeline and supplements

Asylum Seekers | Feature

Corps power drives

community outreach

Left to right: Regi, Ian Cunningham and Sujee enjoy working together in the nursery to prepare the seedlings for sale.

F

rom pre-school children who play with the children of asylum seekers, to the elderly at Riverview Gardens who wash second-hand seedling pots, the entire Bundamba Corps plays an active role in the partnership between the Growing Home asylum seeker program and Watch them Grow social-enterprise nursery.

Joe Rule coordinates the volunteers and works closely with Ryan Limpus, Chair of the Working Committee. “We’re fundraising for mission and community outreach, and being a part of the outreach as well,” he explains. “With everyone participating, it’s been amazing for our corps.”

Once the pots are cleaned, volunteers, including asylum seekers, fill them with a variety of flower seedlings and pack them ready to be sold. In between running his own limousine

business, Richard Strong delivers the seedlings to up to 10 Big W stores to be sold.

Volunteers also sell the seedlings at a weekly Saturday morning stall at Bundamba Corps.

Ian Cunningham volunteers his time as a handyman at Riverview.

“This whole program is good for the body, mind and soul,” he says cheerfully. “It’s a good community effort. Everyone is so friendly, so keen and it’s a great opportunity for us.”

Mick Alexander, former missionary in South Africa who began attending Bundamba Corps last year, drives the bus that picks up the asylum seekers from around the area and takes them to Riverview.

Professional oversight

Paul Smith is employed by the corps to manage Watch them Grow nursery on a permanent part-time

basis. “I run the place, organise the sales, and work with the volunteers, the corps and the asylum seekers,” Paul explains.

“I am trying to engage the guys and make the nursery profitable. It hasn’t quite got on its feet yet, but in a few months we should have it where it needs to be.”

“Paul is qualified, has a good reputation and is appreciated by everyone involved in the program,” says Captain Ben. In the near future, Paul would like to establish a market garden to use in the Growing Home program, including growing vegetables popular in Sri Lanka and specific to that nation.

“We will also try to engage the asylum seekers to grow vegetables in this climate, cook them, help more with the community lunches, and give them more specific work experience.”

– Simone Worthing

pipeline 12/2013 13

Feature | Asylum Seekers

20/20 vision on the cricket pitch

Asylum seekers – stories of hope 1. Sam

COVER PHOTO: Paul Smith, nursery manager, keeps wickets as Sri Lankan asylum seeker “Regi” faces a delivery during one of the popular cricket matches.

ABOVE: Captain Ben Johnson rolls his arm over.

A

game of cricket is one of the highlights of the Growing Home community development program, run by Bundamba Corps at Riverview Farm.

After a community lunch, the asylum seekers from cricket-loving nations such as Sri Lanka and Pakistan quickly unpack the cricket gear and start “rolling their arm over” before the match starts. Volunteers from the corps often join them, with Captain Ben Johnson, Bundamba Corps Officer, being a regular.

“The cricket is a major drawcard for the guys,” explains Captain Ben. “It’s something they know, love and are good at and it brings us all together.

“We also use it as an evangelical tool as the guys so easily relate to it.”

Earlier this year, the Bundamba Corps entered a team in the Queensland Churches cricket competition, and sponsored several asylum seekers to play. Now two other churches have followed suit.

“It was such a success and so popular, that we’ve entered another team into the upcoming summer competition,” says Captain Ben. “We also plan to take a team to the interstate carnival this summer which plays 20/20 format.”

Cricket has helped develop a close connection between the asylum seekers and The Salvation Army.

The Refugee Council of Australia recently organised a community cricket day for asylum seekers, with those from the Growing Home program forming a team and calling themselves “The Salvation Army Tamil Boys”!

“They identify as Salvation Army and we are so thankful for this ministry,” said Captain Ben.

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I am from Sri Lanka and have been in Australia for four years. I have permanent residency and next year will get my Australian citizenship.

I cannot live in Sri Lanka. There has been war and political turmoil for 26 years and it’s ongoing. There have been attempts at kidnapping my father and younger brothers, and the same would happen to me if I go back.

I miss my family. I studied Business Management in Malaysia for two years and then worked there, so I haven’t seen my family for nearly 10 years. All I ever wanted was to live with my family and have a safe and happy family life, but I can’t.

I went to Indonesia and from there came on a boat to Australia. I speak several languages, so I was able to help the asylum seekers coming to this country. I also helped fix up the boat. I wanted it to be safe because we had a four-month-old baby on board with us.

I have lived in different places in Australia. I have met Captain Ben from The Salvation Army and he has helped me so much. I am learning skills and have some farm work not far from here. I want to give back.

I go to church on Sundays and the people are friendly, loving and accepting of me. It’s like a big family. I respect every religion and know God is in my heart. I have a teenage brother and sister

1.

Asylum Seekers | Feature

2.

and hope they will come and visit me. I am glad I met The Salvation Army here; they are helping me to begin a new life in Australia. I have never seen a church help people in this way.

I have had some bad experiences here; it’s only in The Salvation Army that I have found complete acceptance. I have so many friends. Whether Australian, Sri Lankan or something different, we are one people.

Australia is a great country and I don’t feel like a foreigner.

It’s a great life and very multi-cultural. And there is no fighting. I can’t wait to say I’m Australian.

Next year when I have my citizenship I will go back to visit my family. I will have freedom, because I will be an Australian citizen!

All photos: Shairon Paterson

3.

2. Selvakumar (“Selva”)

I am from Sri Lanka and have been in Australia for a few months. My brother is missing and my father is dead. Many in my family and community have been displaced. For five years I couldn’t leave my house.

I came here by boat. It was so dangerous, I was scared.

For 14 days we had no water or food. We had to drink rain water. The waves were big, the boat was damaged. We had 88 people and one child on board. It was mentally disturbing for us. When I saw the coast of Christmas Island I thought, I am safe, my life is safe, this is a safe country. I like hard work and I want to work. The Salvation Army is very important. They pick us up in a van and bring us here. We are learning English, gardening and can have fun playing cricket.

4.

3. Reganold (“Regi”)

I arrived from Sri Lanka just a few months ago. I came to Christmas Island by boat, and was brought to mainland Australia. We are not allowed to study or work, but I am very relaxed here with The Salvation Army and they are helping us learn things and have a place to go. It’s very good here.

Australia is a beautiful country with very good people. In October I was accepted as an adherent of The Salvation Army!

(See page 43).

4. Viji

I have been here for one year. I came with my sister and her two children. I have lost my mother, father, sister and two brothers in Sri Lanka.

I spent seven years in camps waiting to come here. I saw kidnapping, torture, people jailed. I came here by boat. It was very dangerous and the engine of our boat failed. We had to be rescued. Our journey took 33 days. But I am alive. I have a new life and a bridging visa.

Captain Ben and The Salvation Army are helping by giving us computer classes and English. I know his help is only a phone call away.

5.

5. Vim

I left Sri Lanka 10 months ago. I came by boat with my wife and two young daughters. My wife’s parents were killed by a bomb, and my parents died in the war as well. I like The Salvation Army.

I am doing six months of volunteer work in the nursery and learning English. The Salvation Army is very good and helps me.

pipeline 12/2013 15

Feature | Asylum Seekers

Asylum seeker mission unaffected by new government

By BILL SIMPSON

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change of national government has so far had no significant impact on the way The Salvation Army operates assistance programs at the Nauru and Manus Island asylum seeker centres.

New Immigration and Border Protection Minister Scott Morrison visited the Manus Island centre in September. His visit included discussions with Salvation Army staff on site.

Chief executive officer of The Salvation Army Offshore Processing Humanitarian Mission Sharon Callister told Pipeline that Salvation Army staff gave the minister “a frank and honest briefing about conditions and life” at the centres.

“While we cannot go into detail about everything we discussed with the minister, we were open, honest and completely frank about life and conditions at the centres,” she said.

“We pointed out some of the difficulties faced by staff and the asylum seekers and ways to improve conditions.”

The Salvation Army has about 350 people caring for more than 1750 asylum seekers at the two centres. The assistance program started in Nauru in August 2012 and extended to Manus Island when that centre opened a few months later.

Assistance includes teaching English, providing counselling, conducting exercise regimes and general welfare needs.

The Salvation Army’s contract with the Australian Government will be reviewed in February 2014.

Complex situation

Ms Callister said it was too early to tell if the new government would impose any changes to Salvation Army operations. “We carry on as usual for now with no changes,” she said.

“I think we need to give the new government the courtesy,

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respect and time for it to properly assess the situation for itself and make policy decisions accordingly.

“We always pray for our political leaders and politicians to make wise decisions that impact the lives of people in our care.

Remember, this is an incredibly complex policy area to deal with.

“I would also like to say that The Salvation Army will remain an advocate for those most marginalised and speak out on their behalf to our political leaders.

As we have done in the past, we plan on continuing to point out to politicians how their policies affect the people we care for.”

Ms Callister said Salvation Army staff numbers at the centres had grown substantially since the start of the program and structure had been significantly strengthened.

While staffing numbers were solid, there was always a need for others, she said. “Currently, we are looking for qualified case managers; people who will work with and help an asylum seeker effectively manage their time as they undergo processing within the centres.

“It is a Department of Immigration and Border Protection contract requirement that our staff are appropriately qualified for the roles they hold.”

Staff currently work a roster of three weeks on site followed by three weeks off site for respite.

During the three weeks on site, staff typically work a 12-hour day for six days. Two days are included for travel at the beginning and end of a three-week work roster.

Difficult job

Working conditions are always challenging, Ms Callister says.

“We have challenges working in a tropical environment, with hot, humid and wet conditions.

“We also have the challenge of working with a group of people who come to us in need and who, in some cases, are highly vulnerable.

It's a blessing to be on a mission and working with these people.”

Living conditions are basic. On Nauru, staff share motel rooms.

On Manus Island, most staff are accommodated on the ship Bibby Progress. A substantial fire at the Nauru centre in July temporarily

Asylum Seekers | Feature

Christmas for all nations at Auburn

By ANNE HALLIDAY

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disrupted The Salvation Army assistance program, but Ms Callister said services were now almost back to normal.

After more than 12 months of the assistance program, Ms Callister says she is satisfied with the manner in which The Salvation Army is conducting its work.

“We are also receiving feedback from asylum seekers that we are making a difference, in their eyes,” she said. “This feedback has come from asylum seekers still in our care and others who have moved on from the centres.

“We can always look at doing better, especially given it is a new area of ministry for us.

The important thing to do is to consistently review our program to ensure we are always on mission, able to offer the best level of service to the people in our care and in a position to continuously advocate for the needs of asylum seekers.

“I would ask that Pipeline readers pray for the mission, staff and people in our care.”

For more information, email hms@salvos.org.au or telephone (02) 97799411.

ABOVE LEFT: Salvation Army cadets Nichole Maxwell and Stewart Hartley on a transport barge to Manus Island where they served during a mission trip in August.

ABOVE: Major Annette West, centre, with cadets Kate Cathcart, Nichole Maxwell, Stewart Hartley and Troy Munro on Manus Island.

he banner outside Auburn Corps in Sydney's inner west reads: “A house of prayer for all nations ”. It is no idle boast – more than 90 per cent of Auburn's regular attenders are refugees, according to Corps Officer Captain Nesan Kistan.

“This is the result of our corps wanting to intentionally become a reflection of our community which has more than 160 nationalities represented,” he says. “So every element of our corps – Sunday worship, our leadership and our programs – are allowed to reflect our community.

“I believe we will achieve what God has planned for us to be when we are a 'house of prayer for all nations'”.

One of the highlights of Auburn's multicultural program is their annual Christmas Extravaganza, which will be held on Friday December 6 at Auburn Park (3.30-8pm). Among those who will be volunteering, as part of the corps, will be more than 220 asylum seekers who are involved in the corps' English language program.

“Many are on bridging visas but, in reality, that means without opportunity for future residency prospects or family reunions,” says Captain Kistan.

“So they are bored, isolated, without the ability to move forward. The issues are really mental health issues like depression, so we get them involved in the extravaganza.

“They put on a Salvation Army shirt and become the people who are bringing the message of peace and hope along with the whole corps who get involved.”

What started as a sausage sizzle with some local children 10 years ago has become a community event that is expected to draw more than 5000 people this year.

“A lot of people know about Jesus but they don't really know about Jesus. So we put on our Christmas Extravaganza to present the Christmas story and invite our community to respond to the message of Christ,” says Captain Kistan.

A Christmas Carols service will be included this year as part of the event and the corps will put on a separate Christmas lunch for their asylum seeker community on December 9.

“I hear the stories of these people every day,” says Captain Kistan. “When God said to Moses to go to the Promised Land, is wasn't just for the people of God. There was land allocated for the refugees. The ultimate plan of God was that we would be a people who would make room for the refugee. We run a whole lot of programs, providing social connections, employment skills and driving training. We are treating them as if one day something will shift in our government and that they will get permanent residency. When they do, they will be ready to fly.”

pipeline 12/2013 17

integrity

Holiness is an Army of graced practices Continuing a ninepart Pipeline series written by members of The Salvation Army’s International Doctrine Council and entitled “Holiness and …”, Major WENDY SWAN says transformed lives become means of grace for others

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he work of God in his people is not simply a passive receptivity. It calls for a response to God’s work and a partnering with God. We are “to work out [our] salvation ... by every possible means”.

The Salvation Army’s Wesleyan heritage provides us with theological language to consider our practices as “means of grace” – those outward signs or words ordained of God, and appointed to be “the ordinary channels whereby he conveys to men, preventing, justifying or sanctifying grace”.

John Wesley’s 1765 sermon The Scripture Way of Salvation outlined what he called works of piety which “form the Saviour in the soul” along with works of mercy that directly intervene in the bodies and souls of people. These included prayer, reading Scripture, the Lord’s supper, fasting and Christian conference (believers gathering for support, counsel and celebration), and acts of ministry and attitudes toward daily living – denying oneself and taking up one’s cross.

Transformed lives resulting from such graced practices provide testaments to the power of God and, therefore, become means of grace for others.

WORKS OF PIETY Grace in our inner lives

Developing our spiritual lives as Salvationists is vital. From our

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earliest days and perhaps despite our activism, prayer remains a critical practice. We are both an Army on our knees and on our feet.

The first issue of The Officer magazine (February 1893) reinforces this: “In the self-denying, crosscarrying gospel of the world’s Redeemer, do not forget the inestimable importance and privilege of prayer.” Our song book places prayer under “Means of grace” in its contents. Our first Article of Faith states that Scripture is authoritative for our practices.

Not only do we read the Bible, but also the Bible “reads us”. We are shaped in this interaction in ways that we cannot anticipate.

We belong to a movement which calls its soldiers to the world and to a fight against the evil found therein. Joining the Army involves risk – it means that in the salvation war we are called to sacrifice self-interest for the greatest good of winning the world for Christ.

As we submit to Christ and his radical demands on our lives, we experience his sanctifying grace and embodiment.

“The more I surrender to Jesus my Lord, the more of his fullness I know.

“The more that I give him, the more he gives me, his grace and his peace he bestows.”

These works of piety are paramount for the continuing development of holiness in our lives. But such practices are never

Integrity

restricted to individual experience or particular cultural context; they are fully integrated in our life together.

Grace in our life together

We are called to be God’s people – One Army, One Mission, One Message. Our practice of Christian conference is embedded within our militant structure, providing training and accountability for “growing saints”.

Cell groups are at the heart of Army life. Prayer meetings, Bible study and fellowship/ accountability groups all aim at disciplining the body and soul.

Many parts of the Army world still retain distinctive meetings – “holiness” and “salvation”. These focus on the eternal nature of salvation, but are also instructive in reminding us that Jesus cares deeply about the temporal needs of people and that much of his ministry was occupied with healing the sick, feeding the hungry, reconciling the alienated and speaking truth to power. They refuel our passion for restoring justice to a needy world.

Preaching, singing, praying, reading Scripture, personal testimony and public invitation are all done with the expectation that the Holy Spirit takes control and “leads” the meeting.

Music is for us a powerful means of grace. It draws the unsaved to Christ and “forms the Saviour in the soul”. We believe in “sung theology” – we sing the truths of Scripture.

Next to the Bible, the song book remains for many a treasured possession for its salvation (soteriological) intentionality.

We affirm that no-one is beyond redemption, regardless of societal status. Christian perfection for Salvationists is not about a human struggle for holiness. Instead, we focus on God’s work of sanctifying grace within us and understand the Holy Spirit to be the agent who restores us to the imago Dei. Our sung petitions for God to do his transforming work of grace in our lives, by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we find our way to that hallowed place – the mercy seat – “O the wonder of his grace ...”

Early Salvationists participated in the Lord’s supper as a natural expression of their Methodist roots. However, we understand the holy life to be a sacramental life.

Sanctification is God’s work of grace by which all of life becomes sacred and therefore every moment holds potential sacrament.

If God in Christ is at the centre of every situation, if the Christian life is a pilgrimage of discovery and response to his gracious presence in the crowded spaces of life, then the means of grace can be seen not as prescribed occasions with particular material means, but expanded in celebration of a far greater grace which is given in the whole of life and which makes living a continuing sacrament.

We are a global family. I believe our experience of holiness leads us to such a radical optimism of grace that we cannot accept ethnocentrism or hyper-nationalism any more easily than we can accept egocentrism. We believe in the power of perfect love to hold together people of many nations and economic backgrounds whose motivation is holiness and whose highest goal is to love God and love our neighbour as ourselves.

WORKS OF MERCY Grace in the world

Our practices ground their works of mercy where they need to be grounded – in the world as well as the Word. The twinning of the divine call to sanctification and service is perhaps a distinctive practice of our movement. We are “saved to serve”. We are not only saved from sin and its eternal consequences but we are saved for God’s redeeming purposes – to transform the world, “pardoned in order to participate”.

Countering those who question such a “command of grace”, The Salvation Army’s founder William Booth once responded: “Not called, you say? Not possible. The need is the call!” This calling pervades many Army documents.

Our practice of “commissioning” is both for officers and soldiers and implies formal assignments to particular ministries. As Jesus

commissioned his followers to go into all the world, so we believe Christ himself tasks us with evangelism and service.

Underlying calling and commissioning is our covenant relationship with God. Every Salvationist willingly binds themselves to God by at least one of four different covenants: the junior soldier’s promise, the soldier’s covenant, the articles of marriage and the officer covenant. The terms, declarations and promises we commit to in these documents define how we relate to God and others.

We protest against personal sin which alienates souls from their Maker, and against social evils, the source of much of humanity’s misery. It is in the “messy trenches of life” that works of mercy demonstrate most vividly and visibly the grace of God that can be experienced in no other way: “Except I am moved with compassion – how dwelleth thy spirit in me?”

Grace – by all means possible – food kitchens, housing, clean water, education, employment, health care, disaster relief, refugee work, grace hospitals, grace havens. Each practice embodies “the means” when done in his name.

Graced practices are transformative. The holiness we are exhorted to seek is for the sake of others. It is not for God’s benefit for he is complete, not for the Army’s sake as it exists for those outside the Church, not for personal benefit, for if we seek to save our own lives we lose them.

We are to be holy for the sake of an unholy world. And while we cannot imagine or project specific results from any given practice of the means of grace, we can trust the Spirit of Christ in us, in the world, to transform people’s hearts as well as social circumstances.

Major Wendy Swan is President of Women’s Ministries, Hong Kong and Macau Command

pipeline 12/2013 19

Three-way conversation on the

‘Royal Telephone’ •

Photo: Shairon Paterson

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A woman ready to take her own life and another undergoing chemotherapy. In a moment of divine intervention, says BILL SIMPSON, God brought them together to achieve a remarkable outcome for both

A

desperately lonely and distressed woman stood on a cliff top high above a coastal city contemplating a leap into oblivion.

Ten or so kilometres away, another woman battling a cruel cancer lay on a hospital bed preparing to receive a chemotherapy injection that would, hopefully, improve her quality of life.

At that moment, neither knew the other.

In her desperation, the woman on the cliff top reached for her mobile phone and pressed in a number she had been given to call when life got too tough.

As a nurse inserted an injection into the arm of the woman in hospital, the patient’s mobile rang. The caller was the woman on the cliff top.

To the nurse’s amazement, her patient answered the phone call. For the first time, the caller and the receiver came together on opposite ends of a telephone call.

The call and its response saved the life of the woman who wanted to know why she shouldn’t end it.

She was later to tell the woman who took her call: “While God was healing you [through chemotherapy], you were connected to me through the phone and God was healing me, too.”

Twelve months later, both women have met several times and their health and circumstances are now much better.

Jayne Wilson is back at work with The Salvation Army’s Wollongong-based First Floor Restoration Program after a tough battle with an aggressive cancer, which required several bouts of energy-draining chemotherapy.

Francesca (not her real name) is also back at work after a few years of drifting and despair.

Trapped in abuse

The story starts a few years ago. Francesca was living with her partner and daughter. The 17-year relationship ended acrimoniously.

Her partner had drug issues. Francesca also realised she was suffering abuse – mostly psychological. She took her daughter and headed for another city, even though the house was in her name. Her partner stayed in the house.

Francesca was also in an abusive work environment. Whether at home or work, she couldn’t escape abuse.

She could no longer afford her own accommodation. She and her daughter moved among friends. Her daughter eventually had to return to her father for stability. >>>

pipeline 12/2013 21

I was a stranger in a strange town.

I didn’t know anybody other than work colleagues. Now, I had a full army of friends.”

Francesca got into her car and drove to meet people Jayne had arranged. During a second call on the way to meet Jayne’s people, Francesca discovered that Jayne was in hospital undergoing cancer treatment.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she says.

“This lady did this for me! I knew then that I could trust her, even though I hadn’t been able to trust anybody else.”

Francesca has stopped taking anti-depressants. She is rebuilding her life with the help of supporters.

She started a new job a few months ago and hopes to reunite with her now adult daughter.

“I still have some difficult moments, but Jayne and her team have given me a greater perspective,” she says.

“I think I have come out the other end, now. And I am still here!

Jayne saved my life. There is no doubt about that. I needed to talk to somebody. She was there for me, even though she had every reason to pass on my call because of her own circumstances.

“I am sure that if she hadn’t taken my call, things would have turned out differently.”

Jayne Wilson, right, and Francesca have formed a solid bond, based on trust and care.

"Jayne saved my life. There is no doubt about that. I needed to talk to somebody.

She was there for me," says Francesca.

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Francesca moved again. Her partner demanded maintenance for their daughter. Financial pressures were overwhelming.

“I was missing my child, I couldn’t eat, I lost energy, I had headaches and pain all the time, I was always tired, I was taking three types of anti-depressants and none of them were working,” she tells Pipeline.

“I quit work and went to live in a country house. I was living off my savings, but had to leave due to several developments.”

She arrived in Wollongong mid-last year, started a new job and commenced legal proceedings to get her house back. But her lawyers unexpectedly withdrew from the case.

“That’s when I started to fall to pieces,” she says. “It was the final straw in years of stress. I went through a long period of sleeplessness. Everything looked black. I had lost my grip on life.

“I figured that the easiest thing to do was to disappear; to end it all and take the worry away.”

She drove to a cliff top on the Illawarra escarpment behind Wollongong. The escarpment descends through kilometres of dense bush and onto the golden sands of the Pacific Ocean.

Normally, it’s a spectacular sight. But on this day, it wasn’t the view that was on Francesca’s mind.

“I wasn’t thinking logically.

I was hysterical. I hadn’t slept for 48 hours,” she says. “I don’t know what made me make the call to Jayne. I didn’t even know her. Somebody had given me her number. I can’t remember whether I was in my car or standing beside it.

“I made the call. I didn’t know she was in hospital. I was screaming. She was trying to calm me. I don’t remember much of the conversation.

“But the thing I remember the most is that she said she promised that I would receive the full backing and services of The Salvation Army if I came down from the mountain.

“I thought: ‘Wow, a whole army!

That meant an army of people who would care’. I needed to hear that.

Turning point

The initial contact between Francesca and Jayne was also a pivotal moment for Jayne. It came at one of the most critical and difficult times in her life. Her cancer treatment had been severe.

There were times when she wondered if she would ever be able to return to a role she personally developed – a role that has rescued people struggling with addiction, supported members of their families, and assisted police officers and others battling life’s stresses.

“I learned even more about the graciousness of God,” she says. “That [telephone] experience reminded me of Jimmy Little’s song Royal Telephone (to God). As I was having chemotherapy, God was speaking to me and through me to [Francesca].

“How amazing is that!

“The experience also reminded me of William Booth’s mission for The Salvation Army – to be there for whoever needs us.

“That day validated for me my involvement in this ministry. By his grace, God confirmed my calling.”

soul 靈糧 food

Every Christian seems to have a favourite Bible verse that has either impacted them at one stage in their walk with Christ or continues to encourage and nourish them on their spiritual journey. In this Pipeline column, selected people share their favourite piece of Scripture

My Favourite Verse – Darryl Shume (Menai Corps) “Jesus looked at him and loved him ...”

I

Mark 10:21

t’s strange how you can read the same passage of Scripture many times and yet glean a new thought just about every time.

This verse, or rather, a simple sentence before me, comes from Mark 10:21 and just says: “Jesus looked at him and loved him ...”

The chapter relates the story of a rich man well versed in the “law” but who realised that something was missing from his life. I can relate to this man (although I certainly don’t have his wealth!) “Could it be that this Jesus from Nazareth had the answer?” he thought.

Jesus certainly had the answer, however, as usual, Christ discerned that the rich man’s focus was on something else - his money. “One thing you lack,” was Jesus’ summary.

Christ has the ability to spiritually “strip-search” our hearts and motives, all with the purpose of us becoming more like him.

It was Irenaeus (circa 130-202) who wisely said: “God became one of us for a time so that we could become like him.”

After hearing the man’s dedication to the law, Jesus looked at him and loved him. I’m trying to visualise those eyes; loving, piercing, perceptive, understanding, wanting the man to realise his potential.

I picture the rich man’s body language; eyes averted, shoulders drooped,

disappointed. “Why do I need to give away my fortune and follow this man?”

He could not bring himself to sacrifice his “idol” even though abundant life was there for the taking.

Even so, Jesus looked at him and loved him, and with a little disappointment.

“How hard it is to enter the kingdom of God if you hold onto your gods” (my paraphrase). In our own lives there are often times when we focus on worldly idols and take our eyes of our Saviour.

Why do I like this verse? Because when I read it I personalise it and see, “Jesus looked at me and loved me”. That says it all; what more could I want?

When I comprehend and accept this, I can say with Isaiah, “I am honoured in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength” (Isaiah 49:5).

The Salvation Army embraces people of all cultures, meeting spiritual and physical needs regardless of race, religion or agenda. Pipeline continues a new section which aims to connect with our growing Chinese community by translating the Soul Food column into a Mandarin dialect. The aim is to encourage our Chinese brothers and sisters in Christ. – Commissioner James Condon, Territorial Commander

每一個基督徒都會有一節最喜歡的聖經金句。在他們與基督同行的某一個階段，他們的屬靈生命都曾經被那金 句所影響，或給予繼續的鼓勵和餵養。在這“管道”的專頁中，不同的人被邀請去分享他們最喜歡的經文。

我最喜歡的經文 –達魯•舒慕 「耶穌看著他,就愛他....」 馬可福音10:21 你會很奇怪閱讀同一篇聖經資訊很多遍,但 每次都有一個新的理解。 這一節經文,或許在我面前相當一句簡單句 子,是來自馬太福音10章21節及僅僅說:「耶穌 看著他、就愛他.....」 這一章是關於一個精通「律法」的財主卻 發覺他的生命卻缺少了一些東西的故事。我能 明白這個男人(雖然我肯定沒有他那般有錢!) 他想「莫非這個拿撒勒人耶穌有答案?」

耶穌肯定有答案,然而,一如以往,基督洞 察到這個男人的焦點是放在別的東西上 – 他 的錢財。 耶穌的結論是「你還缺少一件,」

膊下隨、失望。「為什麼我需要放棄我的財富 和跟隨這個人?」甚至有豐盛的生命在那裡讓 他拿走,他都不能令自己犧牲他的「偶像」。

基督有屬靈的能力探查我們的心思和動 機,目的要我們成為更像祂。

即便如此,耶穌有點失望地看著他和愛他。 「如果你抓住你的偶像,進入神的國是多麼的 難啊。」(我的譯義)

愛任紐 (約 130-202),他智慧地說到:「 上帝成為我們其中一員一段時間,以至我們能 夠像他。」 聽完那男人對律法的效忠,耶穌看著他並 愛他。我嘗試想像那目光;愛、刺穿、理解 的、明白、渴想那男人察覺他的潛力。

為什麼我喜歡這節經文?因為當我閱讀時, 我把它個人化了,同時看見「耶穌看著我、就 愛我」。這道出了一切;我還想多要什麼呢? 當我理解和接受這些,我就能夠與以賽亞 說,「原來耶和華看我為尊貴、我的 神也成 為我的力量」。(以賽亞書49:5)

我勾畫那財主的身體語言;眼睛回避、肩

pipeline 12/2013 23

Feature | Brad McIver

Hope

r i ses from

A

s Peter More walked down his street his heart flickered with hope.

He noticed that along Emma Parade in Winmalee, only the houses on the right were burnt down. His house was on the left.

As he reached the crest of his driveway, where he could normally see his rooftop, there was nothing.

“All that was left of the house was the brickwork for the foundations of the house,” Peter recalls. “I felt curiously detached as I watched the smouldering ruin before me, but I do remember how difficult it was ringing my children, (Avril and Ashley), to say ‘we’ve lost the house’.”

The final moment of destruction came in those five minutes Peter stood there. He watched the crown of the large eucalypt tree fall into the pool below the house.

“I practically built that house over the 19 years we lived there.

Every school holiday and over most weekends, there always seemed

24

to be some necessary project to ‘improve’ and extend our home.

Overall, I felt a great sense of satisfaction providing such a lovely place for us all to live.”

On Thursday 17 October, Peter’s family was one of many who lost their home from the bushfires that ravaged the Blue Mountains region.

His was also one of the first families to come across Salvation Army officers and Senior Chaplains for the NSW Rural Fire Service, Majors Ian and Kerry Spall.

That Thursday, the Spalls drove towards the Winmalee Rural Fire Service station to support the firefighters. Here they first met Peter’s 15-year-old son Ashley, who has been a cadet volunteer with the Rural Fire Service for almost two years.

As soon as the fires broke out, Ashley left his school grounds at Winmalee High and headed off to the Winmalee Rural Fire Service station, ready to support the fire crews. His job was to man the radio

and communication systems which involved getting the fire trucks on the road.

Knowing his own home was in danger, Ashley continued with the job at hand. “When I’m working, I can only focus on what has to be done. It helped me to keep my mind off the possibilities,” he said.

Family comforted

Ashley then received the terrible phone call from his father and knew life could never be the same again. An older crew member went to pick up Ashley’s mother, Yvonne, and two other siblings, Bernice and Quentin, still waiting for news a few blocks from the house. It was at the fire station they heard the awful truth about their home. Ready to comfort and support them at this crucial time was the Spalls. Within a short time, Peter rejoined his family, and met the Spalls.

“We were so thankful for Ian and Kerry at that moment,” Peter

Photos: Shairon Paterson

After seeing the devastation of their home in ashes, the More family of Winmalee tells Pipeline reporter ESTHER PINN THEY FOUND hope and comfort in the form of two Salvation Army officers

Bushfires | Feature

LEFT: Peter and Yvonne More reflect on the devastation of the October bushfires.

TOP: The More family amid the ashes (from left) Bernice, Quentin, Ashley, Peter and Yvonne. ABOVE: Majors Ian and Kerry Spall counsel Yvonne and Peter.

said. “Whilst there were other people around, we felt so lonely and desolate. All of us needed a lot of comfort, and Ian and Kerry provided just that for us.”

Due to the bushfires, the roads in Winmalee were blocked off and many residents were stuck in their cars for up to seven hours.

Having organised temporary accommodation with friends in Springwood, the Spalls helped escort the More family out of Winmalee.

“We felt so crushed and so desolate and to know that we were in Ian and Kerry’s hands at that time was very important,” says Peter.

Since that day, the More family and the Spalls have kept in contact and built a long-lasting friendship despite the unusual circumstances.

“Sometimes it’s like that, keeping that continuous support and care. But it was part of our strategy in the long term. Peter we’re not abandoning you. Part of

our head space was we wanted to support Ash but in that primary focus there was a whole family,” says Major Ian to the More family.

Peter continues: “Life is interesting. We lost a house and that’s terrible but there’s an excitement for making new friends even when that wasn’t your intention or expectation. We’ve kept in contact since that time and trust this will continue into the future now as well.”

The More family's restoration story is a result of the Blue Mountains community as a whole.

Along with assistance from the Spalls, the More family was taken aback by the generous donations they received.

While staying at their friend’s house in Springwood, someone dropped off a carload of clothes.

Possessions that were lost in the fire were replaced almost immediately.

Bernice was delighted to be given an exquisite formal dress by an ex-student from Winmalee

High. Quentin arrived at his school, Penrith Christian School, to be presented with a new watch by his teacher. One of Avril’s lecturers at UWS Campbelltown offered her an iPad he no longer needed.

Even their little dog, Lola, rescued from the house as Yvonne fled the flames, has been given new bowls, and toys to amuse her.

Temporarily settled at their rental property in Mount Riverview, in the lower Blue Mountains, the More family is making plans for the future.

While they have decided against rebuilding, Peter and Yvonne say they are determined to stay in the Blue Mountains because “we still feel at home here”.

Esther Pinn is a staff writer for Pipeline and supplements.

pipeline 12/2013 25

Feature | Bushfires

The Salvation Army Chief Secretary Colonel Richard Munn, centre, accepts a cheque for the Bushfire Appeal from a consortium of benefactors who supported a The Daily Telegraph appeal, (From left) Ten Network CEO Hamish McLennan, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, Crown chairman James Packer, The Salvation Army's Colonel Richard Munn, CBA CEO Ian Narev, News Corp NSW executive general manager Brett Clegg and The Daily Telegragh editor Paul Whittaker. Photo: The Daily Telegraph

Salvos still there after smoke clears

By ESTHER PINN

A

s bushfires broke out across NSW in mid-October, The Salvation Army’s Emergency Service teams mobilised to assist fire victims, fire-fighters and other emergency service personnel with their needs.

Salvation Army personnel and volunteers were active in Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Lithgow, Hawkesbury, the Central Coast, Hunter Valley and the NSW Southern Highlands.

The Salvation Army support crews were initially at the evacuation centres providing food and then out on the ground offering tea and coffee. Many Salvation Army chaplains remained at the evacuation centres while others ventured out into the streets to offer counselling and support to fire victims.

“Our officers and volunteers provided emergency assistance with meals, hot and cold beverages, as well as a listening ear to so many affected residents who were shocked and devastated after the fires went through,” said Major

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Jeff Winterburn, of the Territorial Communications and Public Relations Department.

Since The Salvation Army’s initial response to the bushfire outbreak, a recovery centre has opened in Springwood. The recovery centre is run by both The Salvation Army and the Springwood Baptist Church.

Major Pam Wilkes, Territorial Consultant – Rural Support Services, has been working as the Coordinator of the recovery centre.

Roughly half the staff are Salvation Army officers and volunteers.

While the figures vary from day to day, Major Pam says she has seen more than 400 people come through their doors in one day.

Long-term support

Along with first visits, Major Pam says they are seeing an increase in people coming back for second, third and subsequent visits.

“Some of them are moving from their emergency accommodation to finding rental accommodation so their needs are different to what they were a week ago.

“They’re realising more the

extent of what they’ve actually lost. They’re beginning to come out of the shock of the event a little bit. They’re starting to realise a few things they hadn’t thought of before.”

When an individual or family enters the recovery centre needing help, they are assigned to a trained interviewer who identifies their needs, both immediate and long term. The interviewers can offer them a range of assistance including cash cards and vouchers to purchase goods and referrals to Salvation Army services including Salvos Legal, Moneycare and Salvos Counselling.

Recovery centres such as the one in Springwood can only exist because of the generosity of the Australian public. Since the bushfires broke out in midOctober more than $7.7 million has been donated or pledged to The Salvation Army’s Bushfire Appeal.

If you would like to donate visit salvos.org.au

Bushfires | Feature

Photos: Carolyn Hide

Bushfire relief – a volunteer’s perspective Salvationist CAROLYN HIDE was one of an army of volunteers who went into action to help victims of the October bushfire crisis in the Blue Mountains. Here is an account of her experience

T

he sky grew dark and eerie.

It was the middle of the day but something was amiss. I had seen this before. Even prior to hearing the reports, I knew this was bushfires and bad ones.

Once we established that the smoke was from the mountains, our first thought was for my husband’s family, especially his 80-year-old mother in Blackheath. The family were safe but the devastation was catastrophic! We wanted to help, but how?

Working for The Salvation Army made life a little easier to establish where our help was needed. We had already taken two weeks holiday with no plans so put up our hand. Just over a week after the destructive fires which had razed so many houses, we found ourselves at The Salvation Army Relief Centre at Springwood prepared to do whatever was required.

I was asked to assist with the interviews while my husband helped in the arrival area to guide people to the appropriate location.

Some came as victims and were placed on the victims’ register; others came to donate all manner of goods; while others came to volunteer.

The local Baptist Church had opened their doors to allow our centre to be in the township. The local Salvationists worked side by side with their fellow Baptist colleagues. This partnership was planned in Heaven.

If you ever wondered how many varieties of baked beans there are in Australia, you just have to visit Springwood!

Donations were flooding in.

From 10 brand-new fridges from Brisbane to small bags of assorted groceries, all were graciously received and sorted into their appropriate place. If you ever wondered how many varieties of baked beans there are in Australia, you just have to visit Springwood!

So many stories to tell; from a lady who had lost her husband five months prior, leaving behind two young children, and now had lost their entire home; to a mother who

had rescued the family rabbit but had lost the rabbit hutch (this hutch was all this mother wanted to keep ‘Reggie’ and the family happy).

A group of lads from Parramatta arrived one day (above). One had been given some money for his birthday so decided to buy some bread rolls and sausages and feed the volunteers. They also hung around all day helping victims take their assortment of goods to their cars. A wonder to behold.

These were unpolished gems from western Sydney who just wanted to help in any way they could.

After four days listening to heart-wrenching stories, praying with people and being there to just listen sometimes, it was time to ‘move camp’ and spend some time helping Springwood Corps at what is affectionately known as the ‘Barn’. This is where all the surplus donations were being stored and distributed to the relief centre as required.

The Lord used our holiday for his purpose and we found that, instead of using this time for ourselves, we were able to give a little hope to the victims of this horrific disaster.

Just where he needs me, my Lord has placed me!

pipeline 12/2013 27

Feature | Army Archives

An Army behind bars Unlocking the Army’s archives with Major David Woodbury

For the early Salvation Army in Wollongong, south of Sydney, persecution and imprisonment was just part of the cost of proclaiming their faith

Wollongong Court House around 1888, where a steady stream of Salvation Army personnel were sentenced to serve time in gaol.

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T

he Salvation Army hasn't always enjoyed the high level of support and respect in Australia that is does today. The reality is that many of our early Salvationists paid dearly for their right to proclaim the good news of salvation.

Public ridicule, harassment and imprisonment by civil officials were all part and parcel of life in the early Salvation Army. The fact that the Army didn’t shy away from persecution was evident in its readiness to take on municipal officials and the law, and spoke of its commitment to its faith. It may well be that this characteristic was what eventually endeared the Army to the hearts of Australians.

Within months of taking command of the fledgling Salvation Army in Australia, Captain Thomas Sutherland was summoned before the court for singing in the streets of Adelaide in July 1881. There followed many years of persecution and imprisonment for Salvationists throughout Australia.

Central to the action taken against Salvationists was a council officer known as the inspector of nuisances, or the nuisance inspector. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries many councils employed a person in such a role. It seems to have had a wide-ranging job description that allowed various inspectors to harass the early Salvation Army.

In the City of Sydney, the archives record that the inspector of nuisances was responsible for keeping the city clean, sanitary and safe. This included inspection and condemnation of food offered for sale in markets and on the streets, inspection of dangerous buildings, nuisances and hoardings, prosecution of breaches of the bylaws, and keeping thoroughfares free from obstruction.

In the City of Perth, the inspector of nuisances was also responsible for sniffing out bad smells, like those emanating from swamps and marshlands. In Manly, the inspector was required

to capture runaway horses, cattle, pigs, etc., and hold them at the council’s animal pound until reclaimed and a fine paid by the owner. There seems to be no doubt that the wide interpretation of “keeping thoroughfares free from obstruction” and “prosecution of breaches of the by-laws” was ruthlessly implemented against The Salvation Army by individuals holding the position of inspector of nuisances.

Imprisonment

Wollongong, south of Sydney, was the focal point of this activity by the inspector of nuisances. During the latter part of 1888, Lieutenant John Faulks Tuckerman was charged with violating a municipal bylaw by parading the streets in a musical procession without written permission of the mayor.

The lieutenant had engaged in an open-air meeting by himself, blowing a cornet and singing salvation hymns. It was no doubt part of the passing parade of entertainment in Wollongong as there were a number of people in the street watching the proceedings, anticipating that the usual course would be pursued by the officer of the council who was empowered to take action, no doubt the inspector of nuisances.

Defending himself at

Army Archives | Feature

"By November 1888, seven Salvationists were imprisoned in Wollongong for proclaiming the good news of salvation."

Captain Farquarson was imprisoned in Wollongong in 1888 with a number of comrades.

Wollongong Court House, Lieut Tuckerman contended that one person could not form a procession and consequently, the by-law could not apply to him. The police magistrate replied that there was no doubt the defendant was proceeding up the street, his so doing was a procession, and as he was playing a musical instrument it must therefore be a musical procession. If he had not broken law in the letter, he had in the spirit.

Lieut Tuckerman was found guilty and ordered to pay a fine of £3 or go to gaol for two months.

Another officer, Lieut Henry Richardson, was also found guilty of a similar offence and received the same penalty. Both officers refused to pay the fine and were subsequently imprisoned.

Tuckerman and Richardson were soon followed by Captain Farquarson, a Salvationist named Bourke, and Lieut Haycraft who all faced similar charges and found themselves in the cells with their comrades.

Not wanting his officers to feel abandoned, the divisional officer for Southern NSW, Major Charles Jeffries, arrived in Wollongong and immediately set about holding a street meeting. He had hardly sounded a few notes on his cornet when his name was taken by the inspector of nuisances. His rank and position mattered little and the major found himself supporting his officers from the gaol cell.

By November 1888, seven Salvationists were imprisoned in Wollongong for proclaiming the good news of salvation.

Public support

Further reinforcements soon arrived in Wollongong and suffered the same fate. The situation began to escalate as other clergy and members of the public took up the Army’s cause, and a rally in The Domain in Sydney was told that the attitude of the mayor, Mr WJ Poulter, was one of persecution.

Although Mr Poulter was present at the rally and sought to defend his

position, it was soon obvious that public opinion was against him.

By early December 1888, the furor had reached the ears of the Governor of NSW, Lord Carrington, and he ordered the Salvationists to be released pending an appeal that was being lodged by The Salvation Army with the High Court in Sydney. In the subsequent appeal, heard before Chief Justice Sir George Innes and Justice Foster, the chief justice held that the bylaw made by Wollongong Council was unreasonable and ultra vires (beyond their powers), and that in any case the punishment inflicted on Tuckerman was excessive.

Although the matter was resolved in Wollongong, Salvationists around Australia were still regularly imprisoned until around 1907 when both official and public opinion began to change.

Following the persecution the Army embarked on a period when its presence on the street was not only welcomed, but eagerly anticipated by many in the community.

Major David Woodbury is Pipeline’s founding editor

pipeline 12/2013 29

Taking the next step

Social Justice

At the recent EQUIP youth camp, a group of young people learned, says CASEY O'BRIEN, that living a lifestyle of social justice is not simply jumping on every campaign bandwagon that comes along

D

uring the first week of October, 12 young people from across The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory became the social justice stream (a.k.a. the Justice League) of EQUIP youth camp at The Collaroy Centre. Each of them had chosen to take part in this stream for a week in the hope of learning more about social justice.

Matt Godkin (youth pastor, Menai Corps) and myself headed up the stream and were encouraged by the depth of knowledge and character in the group. The Salvation Army International Social Justice Commission’s resource Jesus and Justice was used to encourage participants to look at Jesus’ example on Earth and how his actions may translate to actions that can be undertaken in today’s context.

Specifically, Jesus’ examples of including the excluded, challenging cultural practices, confronting the powerful and advocating for the oppressed helped us to understand how a follower of Jesus should look in the world today.

From the beginning of the week it was made clear that this social justice group would operate differently from other social justice conferences and meetings, in that there would be little to no discussion of actual issues of social justice unless raised by the participants. The purpose behind this was to help group members to understand that social justice is more than just a list of issues - it is a lifestyle.

“We learned that social justice is an extension of our holiness and a life committed to compassion which always needs to be grounded in prayer,” said Dana Townsend from Hurstville Corps. “Social justice is the kingdom of God on Earth.”

“Social justice is showing people God through us,” said Emma Clarke from Tuggeranong Corps.

The next step

The group participated in a "flash mob" one lunchtime to draw attention to Stop the Traffik’s campaign against Mondelez, the world’s largest chocolate company, and its use of trafficked children in the production of its Toblerone products.

The group captured the attention of other campers and, by the end of the week, was able to send over 400 signed protest postcards to Mondelez via Stop the Traffik, asking the company to consider

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becoming traffik-free.

Following this attention-grabbing campaign, the group gathered and discussed the importance of the “next step”. We discussed that while such campaigns and actions can be helpful to raise awareness about individual issues, it is vital that those involved consider the next step.

“I used to think signing a petition or going to a rally was going to change the world, but the truth is, it's not,” said Denym Downes from Wollongong Corps.

“You need a next step for everything, and to keep going with the issue if you're passionate about it because just grabbing someone's attention and leaving it at that isn't going to do anything. You need to keep fighting.”

Living a lifestyle of social justice is not simply jumping on every campaign bandwagon that comes along. It is about praying and seeking God’s will on his Earth today and strategically moving to bring that about.

During one session, each member of the group was given a different newspaper and we discussed the issues which were contrary to God’s kingdom on Earth that arose from that day’s news. We looked at how the media and governments can shape social issues through language and discussed the importance of researching facts for ourselves.

"... it is about praying and seeking God’s will on his Earth today and strategically moving to bring that about."

Two police officers joined us as guest speakers for a session and helped us to understand various ways in which we can, when necessary, confront the powerful. With their assistance, the group discussed effective ways of communicating a message to society’s most powerful in a strategic and legal manner.

The group discussed William Booth’s vision for The Salvation Army, specifically those elements set out in his book In Darkest England and the Way Out. We discussed and were encouraged by the Army’s current involvement in areas of social injustice and looked at ways in which we could get involved in our own communities.

At the conclusion of the week, each member of the group was asked to find a quiet space and pray about what it was that God was laying on their heart. In gathering together afterwards, each person was asked to articulate the specific area to which God was calling them in echo of William Booth’s “I’ll Fight” speech. The following declarations were made:

Social Justice | Feature

“While children are being trafficked and sold, I’ll fight.”

“While prostitution exists and children are being brought into unsafe and unhealthy conditions, I’ll fight.”

“While people in Australia and around the world face unjust working conditions, I’ll fight.”

“While addiction is negatively impacting people, their family and friends, I’ll fight.”

“While discrimination exists in our world, I’ll fight.”

“While people are struggling with disabilities, I’ll fight”.

“While people continue to go to war, I’ll fight”.

“While people in our society think it’s okay to discriminate against others, I’ll fight”.

“While Australian families struggle to survive financially day to day, I’ll fight.”

“While young men grow up without fathers, I’ll fight.”

“While Australians continue to buy things without caring whether children were hurt in the process, I’ll fight.”

“While people are oppressed by depression, I’ll fight.”

“While people are enslaved in body, mind and spirit, I’ll fight.”

To see the “I’ll Fight” video made by the delegates, go to salvos.org.au/equipvideo2013

Small is beautiful

“Doing the social justice stream has really opened my eyes,” said Emma Clarke. “It has showed me how to deal with injustices like Jesus did and to not look at changing the world as a whole ... [but through] small changes.

“Over time, though, the small changes add up, and then sometimes those changes transform cities and nations and the world. God uses every single small change and he can change the world.

“The social justice stream has encouraged me so much, has made me so much more confident and really changed my perspective on everyday living ... Everyone can make a difference; we can change the world and with God we can show everyone the kingdom of God on Earth.”

Matt Godkin encouraged the delegates during the week to seek God and find out what he has called them to fight.

“As you get to know the heart of God, he reveals things to you that he cares about and wants you to care about,” he said.

Let us encourage our young people as they seek God’s heart and step into their communities. Let us also “think big” and look for the next step in our own lives, in an effort to see more of God’s kingdom on Earth.

Casey O’Brien is the Territorial Social Justice Co-ordinator

pipeline 12/2013 31

Beat the heat at the box office

L

et’s face it, Australia is a hot country and 2013 has been no exception. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, this year has claimed our nation’s hottest day on record, hottest week on record, hottest month, hottest summer ...

Rising temperatures may be just one of the steps that have led Australians to make a trip to the cinemas a favourite Boxing Day pastime. The blazing sun and backyard cricket have been traded in for the climate-controlled cool of wide-screen darkness – and don’t the distributors know it.

Last year, cinemas saved three of their biggest releases until 26 December – The Hobbit, Les Miserables and Wreck It Ralph – leading to the biggest day in Australian box office history. One million moviegoers in a single day. This year it’s the same again, but will Aussies find what they’re looking for?

The Desolation of Smaug

Last year, An Unexpected Journey helped rewrite those records, becoming the biggest Boxing Day release ever and delivering more ticket sales than the next two films combined. What’s going to happen when the dragon finally turns up?

The Desolation of Smaug takes Bilbo Baggins through the spider-filled shadows of Mirkwood and all the way to the treasure vaults of the Lonely Mountain.

There our timid thief will finally come into contact with the last dragon of Middle Earth. Of course, director Peter Jackson has managed to mine the appendices of JRR Tolkien’s classic works to create a second storyline for Lord Of The Rings fans.

The Necromancer who plagued the first instalment is actually the dark lord Sauron returned. Orlando Bloom will

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Ben Stiller plays the heart-warming lead role in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

also return as the elf Legolas and be accompanied by a new love interest called Tauriel, an elf maiden played by Lost’s Evangeline Lilly – something not even the fertile mind of Tolkien could have imagined.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

While we’re stretching the imagination, consider entering the world of Walter Mitty. Ben Stiller trades quirky comedies for the heart-warming tale of an anonymous worker bee toiling in the photographic department of Life Magazine. But Walter has never been engaged in anything as glamorous as taking the photos.

His life is a metaphor for the modern inability to connect in a world that’s rapidly digitising.

His only way through is to constantly fantasise about what he might do if he only had the courage.

But when Mitty’s editor announces that Life will produce its final print edition, and a key negative goes missing, Walter seizes his chance to save the day and impress the girl he secretly loves. As she unwittingly advises him, “Life is about courage and going into the unknown,” propelling him into an adventure more incredible than anything he could have imagined.

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty is already a winner just for making it to the cinemas.

The idea has been in production since 1994 with a slew of different scripts and leads.

But the version that’s finally cut through is one that shrugs off the comedy in favour of the gravitas of the original 1939 short story.

In it we meet Mitty as the everyman struggling for significance in a life defined by criticism, mockery and the mundane.

People may laugh at his daydreams but his antidote, it seems, is hope.

What would Jesus view?

Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) in the lair of the dragon Smaug in the second instalment of The Hobbit trilogy, The Desolation of Smaug.

Frozen

Another film big on hope is Disney’s animation, Frozen. Maybe the producers also have an eye on the thermometer because this story centres on a kingdom that is trapped in eternal winter.

Kristen Bell voices Anna, a fearless optimist who sets off to free her people from the spell of her witchy sister Elsa. To do so she must brave Everest conditions in the company of a predictable assortment of McDonald's toys – er, I mean, friends: Kristoff the mountain man, his loyal reindeer Sven and a “hilarious“ snowman called Olaf.

Frozen has the unusual distinction of being the first Disney animation to be co-directed by a woman, Wreck It Ralph’s screenwriter Jennifer Lee. She says she wanted to ensure the film retained a timeless quality by, “... pushing to make sure there are themes in this movie that make it relatable”. Among them seems to

be the fear of not fitting in.

Anna’s sister Elsa is not your average villain. On the contrary, her story is based on Danish fairytale author Hans Christian Anderson’s The Snow Queen. She has always had the power to conjure ice but feared what people would think of her.

When her gift gets out of control, fear drives her from the company of those she loves. It turns out the strongest character in the story is also Frozen’s victim.

So, do these three ticket machines have anything in common, apart from borrowing plots from well-respected books? Strangely, yes. Each story turns on characters who desire to be more than they are. Bilbo struggles to prove Gandalf’s words that there is, “more to Mr Baggins than meets the eye”. The original Walter Mitty might be hen-pecked but in his fantasies he remains, “... inscrutable to the end”. And Frozen’s world is literally

thawed by Anna’s belief that her sister can be more than a threat to those around her.

You might laugh and say that the desire to be more than what we are is hardly earth-shaking, but I’d disagree.

It’s exactly that desire that continues to propel us to the cinemas. Air-conditioning isn’t enough. We exchange two hours of daylight for darkness to participate in worlds where we aren’t trapped by Mitty’s monotony.

The Bible is, in fact, an invitation for people to achieve this goal – for slaves to become sons, for servants to become rulers, for sinners to be saved. But how do we turn the fantasy into a reality? Not by trying harder, taking chances, looking to our friends – that’s where Boxing Day will lead you astray. Go back one day to Christmas. Consider God’s gift to a struggling world. By asking Jesus for more help than we can provide ourselves, we can become more than we ever dreamed.

pipeline 12/2013 33

q

&

with

Commissioner HARRY READ

Dawn Volz talks to Commissioner HARRY READ, a former Territorial Commander of the Australia Eastern Territory, about his latest book, Heart Talk When Commissioner Harry Read of Bournemouth in the UK took up Facebook at the age of 88, little did he realise a whole new phase of powerful ministry awaited him. Nor did he imagine that his weekly Monday morning prayer-poem posts – eagerly anticipated by his hundreds of Facebook friends around the world - would attract the attention of Salvo Publishing in Australia and become the basis of his second book, Heart Talk.

Dawn Volz: What was your reaction to receiving an out-of-the-blue request from Salvo Publishing to publish your inspirational Facebook poems as a book?

Harry Read: Sheer delight! It was totally unexpected and, to be truthful, I had never thought or speculated about the possibility.

DV:Did you ever think when you typed your first tentative words into Facebook that you would have such a spiritual impact on so many people?

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HR: At one point I intended to discontinue my Facebook page because I didn’t resonate very well with it. However, God seemed to be saying to me that I might have a contribution to make and I realised that since God had it in his hand, it would be a means of grace.

DV: Have you studied the poetic craft?

HR: My first serious attempt at writing poetry was during my officer cadet days and subsequently Colonel Catherine Baird of the literary department became a delightful friend and mentor. She gave me a book on the basic technicalities of poetry, songs and hymns which I carefully studied. For me, any song or hymn book is a veritable treasury.

The technical skills, godly insights, imagination, imagery, simplicity, command of language, and the ability to lead us to God himself are awesome characteristics. Follow the lines from “There is a green hill far away” (SASB 133) and you become aware of the vast, concealed resource of skill,

Commissioner Harry Read | Q&A

Commissioner Harry Read signs a copy of his book during the launch of Heart Talk in England in September. Photo: Jennifer Scales

simplicity and spirituality – genius, if you like – that makes those ordinary words so powerful and satisfying to sing.

DV: Are you happy for the book to be used as a resource for corps officers and small groups, as well as for personal reflection?

DV:You have a huge output of work. Have you ever made an estimate of the number of poems and songs you have written?

HR: I would love my work to be of value to anyone and everyone. If someone wants to use a poem or song I’ve written, I would count its proper use as a privilege and total pleasure. The copyright belongs to the Army and it would be good if that was recognised, but there is no need to ask for permission to use it at a corps or small group.

HR: For most of the past 27 years I wrote at least one poem a day and that adds up to a lot of poems. Many of them are not worth bothering with, but here and there I find verses that, given more work, might have value. Now – although I do occasionally write something new – because of the time I’ve spent on a couple of new books I tend to reach back and work over poems I’ve written in those 27 years.

DV: Do you regard your poetic aptitude as a God-given gift?

HR: Yes. Acknowledging our heavenly Father as the source of the gift saves us from pride, smugness or elitism and enables us to enjoy the exercise of the gift to the full. Of course, we have to nurture the gift and hone our skills but it’s not an irksome activity, it’s a never-ending pleasure.

DV: What are your hopes for Heart Talk?

HR: Just that any blessing Heart Talk has given will be multiplied over and over as more people read it.

I believe God owns this publication and, because of that, he will use it again and again.

Commissioner Harry Read was Australia Eastern Territorial Commander from 1984–87. Read more about his remarkable life, including being parachuted into France on D-day, and his 40 years of officership with his wife Win, in Heart Talk.

Heart Talk is available from Salvationist Supplies in Sydney for $10.

pipeline 12/2013 35

Alana finds the right fit Captain Alana Mills shows how a love of God, and of personal fitness, can work together for the kingdom

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Personal Fitness | Feature

Captain Alana Mills leads a fitness elective at the recent South East Queensland divisional women’s camp.

By SIMONE WORTHING

F

or Captain Alana Mills, relationship evangelism, preaching the gospel and fitness form a natural connection.

Captain Alana, Corps Officer at Kalbar in South East Queensland, has just finished a Certificate III in Fitness, is planning to complete the Certificate IV, and is praying that God will open doors for ministry in this flourishing and fast-growing industry.

“Fitness, sport and exercise have always played a major role in my life,” says Captain Alana. “I see fitness as a natural and spiritual gifting that I can use to help empower other people, and I am praying for natural opportunities for people to ask why I am doing this and let God open the doors.”

Captain Alana can now operate as a group fitness instructor. Once she has completed her Certificate IV, she will be a qualified personal trainer and able to do one-on-one sessions with clients.

“This will enable me to go into a lot more depth with people and their individual needs, including postural alignment, basic physiotherapy, back problems, and increased mobility,” she explains.

“I will be then able to further identify a person’s individual

needs and write programs tailored to those needs, which will include children, adults, elite athletes and the elderly.”

Captain Alana has been focusing on her corps appointments and her three young daughters for the past few years, although still including exercise and fitness in her everyday life.

Earlier this year she began helping her neighbour who wanted to get fit, and put together an exercise program that involved boxing. After a few sessions, the neighbour asked if she had thought about doing a course in fitness.

“I prayed about it and asked God to open the doors, which he has!” she says. “I studied online through the Australia College of Sport and Fitness and do my practical work with Lisa Cash, my fitness instructor, who runs her own business FIT UP FITNESS.

Future in fitness

Captain Alana is currently focused on getting practical experience and to then be available for South East Queensland Divisional Headquarters for ministry, or start up something on her own in the future.

“It would be wonderful to one day go around corps, rehabilitation centres and community venues to deliver fitness and lifestyle

programs,” she says.

“I don’t know where God will open the doors but this is a fast growing industry and one that people need in a number of ways.

People need help with obesity levels, stress, sleep, blood pressure, diet, fitness and overall quality of life, and tying this in with a ministry is a great place to start!”

Captain Alana wants to focus on relationship evangelism – using the natural setting of personal training with sharing the gospel message and her own story of coming to faith.

“For me, this is the primary way that I feel the two can be used together,” she explains. “We have to think outside the box now about how church is and where our gifts and passions lie. If you can pray in an exercise class, talk with people about God and personal faith, then that’s their church.

“It’s all about relationships – accepting people, not judging and making them feel included. People come to exercise classes for all different reasons, and it’s also just being part of a community, getting together and sharing a common interest.

“That is my thinking for the future and I am waiting on God to open the doors to whatever this ministry will look like for me, and for The Salvation Army.”

pipeline 12/2013 37

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FrFrom o m t the h e ccoalface oalface L O C A L A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

Mocktail party raises alcohol awareness

By NATHALIA RICKWOOD

W

hat’s the real cost of alcohol?

That was the question posed at the inaugural Alcohol Awareness Week mocktail party in Sydney, hosted by The Salvation Army, where guests enjoyed delicious drinks and entertainment – all without an alcoholic drink in sight.

Held at The Canopy on Hyde, special guests included Network Ten news presenter Matt Doran, The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territorial Commander Commissioner James Condon, entrepreneur and blogger Ruby Jacenko, model Jordan Stenmark, and band The Collective who performed on the night.

Matt emceed the evening’s events and spoke about the cost of alcohol for Australians, both financially and socially.

“In a monetary sense for Australia, it’s a huge drain on resources,” he said. “But as a social problem, it’s almost unrivalled in terms of the impact it’s having on families.

“I’m thrilled to have been involved with the Salvos for the last few years on various projects. I just think the contribution The Salvation Army makes to this country is almost unrivalled.”

Roy Morgan research commissioned

by The Salvation Army found that 60.1 per cent of people aged between 18 and 34 think that the amount of alcohol advertising and promotion young people under 25 see these days encourages them to drink more.

Commissioner Condon said the Alcohol Awareness Week campaign is important because it promotes the message that there are other ways to enjoy life without alcohol.

“Alcohol is so destructive to the individual, to the body, to the mind, to family and to community and there are choices that one can make,” he said.

TOP: Commissioner James Condon with Sony Music Artists The Collective and Channel 10’s Matt Doran; LEFT: Matt Doran and Sydney fashion designer/ blogger Ruby Jacenko; ABOVE: Bee Orsini and Ibrahim Faraj, of The Salvation Army.

pipeline 12/2013 39

From the coalface L O C A L A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

Pedalling to raise addiction awareness

The rode2recovery ‘peloton’ on a straight stretch of road in the NSW outback. Photo: Matty Lynch

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welve participants from The Salvation Army’s Dooralong Transformation Centre, on the NSW Central Coast, recently took a stand against drug and alcohol abuse by completing a 1020km bike ride through NSW as part of the rode2recovery initiative.

The riders and their 13 support crew members visited 10 high schools to share their stories of addiction and educate students about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol.

“For a majority of our programs’ participants they experienced drug and alcohol abuse at school,”

said Mark Gambrill, Dooralong Transformation Centre case worker.

“School is where they begin to experiment and we want to educate the younger generation about the dangers of this.

“While it might start as fun, it can lead to full-blown addictions that can have quite serious consequences.”

Both riders and support crew shared their personal struggles including separation from family, trouble with the police and long-term health implications from using drugs, alcohol and even smoking. Mark said they received positive feedback from

the students. Facing temperatures ranging from 41 degrees right down to 2 degrees, the ride started in Bourke and travelled through Brewarrina, Walgett, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Dubbo, Dunedoo, Merriwa, Singleton, Broke, Wollombi, Cessnock, Laguna and The Pines before finishing at Dooralong Transformation Centre.

This year, two police patrols joined the rode2recovery crew for part of the ride. Mark is keen to team with ambulance and fire brigades in the future to educate students about the role emergency services play in helping those with addictions.

Poetry in motion on Northern NSW seniors trip P opular Australian poet Dennis Scanlon was the special guest on Lismore Corps’ recent seniors outing in northern NSW. Joined by the Ballina Seniors group, 31 people enjoyed the day, which took in Nimbin, views of Mt Warning and The Pinnacles, and the villages of Uki and Tyalgum.

Territorial seniors co-ordinator Envoy Roz Edwards said Dennis added much entertainment to the outing.

“What a character he is,” said Roz. “He loves the land, and he loves Australia! He took us to the foot of The Pinnacles where the highlight for many I am sure happened.

“Dennis talked about the heritage of this land, it was so moving. He is a poet and he recited one of his Australian poems for us.

“He then requested that we take two minutes silence and suggested we might want to pray, or meditate, or reflect on something in particular on our minds.

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“I was ‘awe-struck’ in that moment of God’s goodness and provision for each of us.”

Lunch was at Flutterbies Restaurant in Tyalgum, followed by a gathering in the village hall where Dennis recited a poem The Spirit of Christmas and dedicated it to The Salvation Army (see page 6-7).

“So many on the trip remarked afterwards about how great it was. The ‘non-Army’ folk, in particular, were impressed and we are praying that the contacts we are making via our group will see a spiritual awakening,” says Envoy Roz. The group, including the Ballina Seniors, then gathered for worship on the Sunday at Lismore, praising the Lord with the wider corps family with divisional leaders Majors Phil and Nancy McLaren as special guests Heather and Errol Grice, from Coffs Harbour, blessed the congregation with a beautiful duet of People Need the Lord.

FrFrom o m t the h e ccoalface oalface L O C A L A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

Residents go pink to combat breast cancer

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lizabeth Jenkins Place, The Salvation Army’s Aged Care Plus facility at Collaroy, supported Breast Care Awareness month in October by holding a Pink Ribbon chapel service.

The 35 residents of the centre were invited, with their families.

They were joined by another 20 people who responded to a letterbox drop in surrounding streets.

“As it was Breast Care Awareness month I thought it would be a great idea to promote this and have everyone come along dressed in pink and, of course, our morning tea was all in pink as well,” said resident chaplain Barbara Browning.

“The chapel and courtyard looked magnificent with pink ribbon balloons and pink flowers. And I was so pleased to have 57 people come along.”

Barbara spoke on the topic of “God’s grace for our illness” and a guest from a local Baptist church talked about her journey with breast cancer.

“I was encouraged to hear from some who were not Christians of how the service had touched them. So thankful to God for that,” said Barbara.

“There was lots of fellowship after the service with many staying on for well over an hour mingling with other resident family members.”

Donations were accepted on the day and $140 was raised for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

TOP: Aged Care Plus chaplain Barbara Browning (right) with Elizabeth Jenkins Place resident Doug and Doug's daughter Brenda; LEFT: Enjoying the morning tea following the service are Harry and Jean, and, ABOVE: Carmel and Christine.

Goulburn revels in long-awaited celebration of kids

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Corps officer Major Kaye Townsend and Gayle Dyer give prize books to the young people of Goulburn Corps.

he Salvation Army’s Goulburn Corps celebrated its first Young People’s Anniversary for many years on Sunday 10 November.

Corps members had been diligently praying that young families would be drawn to become part of the fellowship at Goulburn. So when families started to attend the corps there were many reasons to celebrate.

“First, it was a celebration of the faithfulness of God in answering prayer, then of the joy that the young people have brought to the corps along with their noise and energy, and finally that the corps family is now more complete,” said Major Peter Townsend, the corps officer.

Skits were planned, prize books bought, a puppet theatre built, a corps lunch served, meals cooked, videos edited, and songs practiced, with corps members getting help for some activities from roped-in friends.

ACT and South NSW Divisional Youth Secretary Karen Connors started the meeting with a prayer of thanks to God for his blessing.

“What followed was a lot of fun for everybody but particularly for the young people as they took over the whole meeting,” said Major Townsend.

pipeline 12/2013 41

From the coalface L O C A L A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

Tweed Heads delves into Army history

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he Brisbane Chapter of The Salvation Army Historical Society recently held a Heritage Symposium on the theme of “helping the past talk to the present and guide the future”.

Delegates from Queensland and NSW gathered at Tweed Heads for a variety of activities and topics.

On the Friday evening, Garth Hentzschel presented an academic paper on “Looking at Army History with New Eyes”, which focused on new ways to research Salvation Army history.

Saturday commenced with two training sessions, on “The Importance of the Corps History book – How to Write Them and How to Use Them”, by Major Glenda Hentzschel, and “Researching Your Family History - Where To Start,” by Lyndall Maag.

The remainder of the presentations gave historical information: Local history of the Tweed region, presented by special guest Warren Keats, the founding president of the Tweed Heads Historical Society and local regional museum; and Salvation Army history - The beginning of the Army in Adelaide; The history of the Army in emergency work; and the Army and the cartoon.

Delegates also visited Tweed Heads Historic Site and Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre where they experienced an Indigenous Bora Ceremonial Ring and water boardwalk.

The symposium also saw the launch of the first edition in a new series of mini-biographies titled, They Took Up Their Cross.

Major Hentzschel, the author, spoke about the importance of recording biographies of Salvationists, and the memories of writing about her father, Envoy Bram Hoepper. The biographies will be sold through the Brisbane Chapter with profits going towards Salvation Army heritage projects.

TOP: Some of the group for the Heritage Symposium “walking” on the surface of the water on the boardwalk tour through the Tweed Heads history site, which was led, (above), by Garth Hentzschel. ABOVE LEFT: Special guest presenter Warren Keats.

Long-serving corps treasurer honoured

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Lockyer Valley Corps Officer, Major Marie Gittens (right) with corps treasurer Shar Nicholls (centre) and corps secretary Linda McNeish after the Sunday service.

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embers of the Lockyer Valley Corps, in south-east Queensland, paid tribute to their long-serving treasurer, Shar Nicholls, during a recent Sunday service.

In recognition of her service to The Salvation Army, Mrs Nicholls was presented with an engraved clock.

Lockyer Valley Corps Officer, Major Marie Gittins, then honoured Mrs Nicholls for her more than 20 years service as treasurer.

“She saw us through our deficit period,” said Major Gittins. “She had to be tough, even with some officers and council members when they had grand ideas and no money.

“It’s not easy being the bad guy sometimes, but Shar has brought us through all that to the healthier corps we are today.”

FrFrom o m t the h e ccoalface oalface L O C A L A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

ENROLMENTS

ROCKDALE CORPS

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ajors Paul and Romona Kinder, Rockdale Corps Officers, recently enrolled Renata Davies and Fiona Cramer as senior soldiers.

The Majors then commissioned the new soldiers to ministry – Fiona as the new leader of Mini Musos, and Renata to prepare for an exciting new ministry being developed for the coming year.

Renata and Fiona had asked Major Peter Lucas (ret.) to carry the flag as they both thanked the many people in the corps who have influenced them and shared their journey of discipleship to this point.

Renata's husband, Glen, and Fiona's husband, Ben, then stood with their wives in support of their soldiership.

“Renata reflected on growing up in the Army and the importance of coming to a place where her personal relationship with God intersected with her life within the church family,” said Major Paul. “Becoming a soldier is her witness to that intersection and her response to God's calling to discipleship.”

Fiona brought her infant son to Mini Musos six years ago and found what she did not know she was looking for – a personal relationship with God. “Raised in the Catholic tradition and knowing of God, Fiona now cherishes the expression of discipleship she has within The Salvation Army,” said Major Paul. “Becoming a soldier is her response to God's calling to minister and be a disciple-maker.”

BUNDAMBA CORPS

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aptains Ben and Emma Johnson, Corps Officers, accepted two adherents into the Bundamba Corps on 27 October – Regi, an asylum seeker from Sri Lanka currently on a bridging visa; and Marie, originally from Liberia who is now a permanent resident of Australia.

Regi has been in Australia for nine months, and is part of the Growing Home program the Bundamba Corps runs for asylum seekers.

Marie was caught up in the Liberia’s civil war before spending time in refugee camps in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“She came to Bundamba Corps because she felt that God told her to, that this would be a safe place and somewhere she could belong” said Captain Emma.

“We prayed with her, and this is where she stayed. Marie has an amazing story of salvation, physical and spiritual – she was about to be shot, she called out for Jesus and her attackers left her for dead. When she woke up, she was in a Red Cross hospital.”

As Regi and Marie signed their adherents’ promises, many from the corps came out and prayed over them.

They are both looking forward to doing soldiership classes in the New Year.

GYMPIE CORPS

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outh Queensland divisional leaders, Majors Mark and Julie Campbell, recently visited Gympie Corps and participated in a special enrolment meeting.

Major Julie accepted three adherents: Megan Heiniger, Gail Davidson and Kevin Davidson.

Major Mark enrolled three soldiers: Valma Leighton, Joan Sama and Irene Pointing.

“All six are involved with ministries within the corps,” said Major Royalene Maynard, Gympie Corps Officer with her husband, Major Peter.

These ministries include Kid’s Church, Home League, Salvation Army Emergency Services, Bible study, the singing group, and family worship. Kevin is the corps bus driver.

“Valma, due to a severe chemical

Major Mark Campbell enrols Joan Sama and Irene Ponting as senior soldiers, as Beryl Brown holds the flag.

Major Julie Campbell accepts, from left to right, Gail and Kevin Davidson, and Megan Heiniger as adherents.

allergy that prevents her from attending the corps services, was enrolled at her own home on the Saturday,” explained Major Royalene. “She leads Prayer, Care & Share at her home, sends the corps family birthday cards, and for many years has provided beautiful roses for the holiness

table every Sunday.”

“Mark and I had to wash our clothes in fragrance-free washing powder and use fragrance-free toiletries to be able to visit Valma,” said Major Julie. “Val is so joyful and has a deep faith and love for the Lord despite her isolation.”

pipeline 12/2013 43

From the coalface L O C A L A ND IN T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Maxwells overwhelmed by typhoon tragedy

By SCOTT SIMPSON

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olonels Wayne and Robyn Maxwell have described the heartbreaking scenes of death and devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan, the most powerful storm to ever hit the Philippines.

The Maxwells, officers of The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory, currently serve in territorial leadership in the Philippines. They were in Manila, about 600km north-west of where the eye of the storm made landfall, when the typhoon struck but still endured a night of wild weather.

“As the typhoon approached our hearts were stirred as we thought of these remote corps settings [in the direct path of the storm] often with old and feeble structures,” said Colonel Wayne. “We thought and prayed for the families as they were huddling together for safety. In some of these settings it took us five days before we were able to find out if they were safe.

“We were blessed to be in Manila and while the wind blew and gusted strongly throughout the night it was nothing compared to what many of our people went through.

“There are no words which can describe the destruction of Typhoon Haiyan. Thousands of people are missing and feared dead, with the bodies of innocent men, women and children all over the place.”

The worst-affected area is around Tacloban, the capital of the island province of Leyte. The islands of Iloilo, Palawan and Mindoro have also been affected. The Salvation Army has teams in Leyte including Tacloban, however has spread its assistance to communities that were hit by the typhoon but have not received the same media coverage.

In Antique Province, many towns and villages have been devastated by the typhoon. In the communities of Tibiao, Barbasa and Bugasong, where the majority of homes have been either damaged or destroyed, Salvation Army teams have been working alongside the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide aid.

“Salvation Army personnel are currently on the ground supporting the relief effort and will remain for as long as it takes,” said Colonel Wayne.

The Maxwells have described Filipinos as a strong and resilient people familiar with natural disaster. This latest tragedy,

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TOP: Major Ronaldo Banlasan surveys the damage to one of the villages; ABOVE LEFT: Colonel Wayne Maxwell at a warehouse in Manila where food is being prepared for dispatch to Tacloban; ABOVE RIGHT: Colonel Robyn Maxwell prays with Damaris Frick from International Emergency Services.

however, will take a long time to recover from.

“In the seven months since we arrived in the Philippines the country has experienced two earthquakes, a volcano eruption, major flooding including here at the Army’s territorial headquarters in Manila, and 13 typhoons including Haiyan,” said Colonel Robyn.

“This country goes through natural disasters all the time and the rest of the world hears little, if anything, about it. It has taken a typhoon of this magnitude for the world to take notice.”

The Salvation Army has launched a Typhoon Disaster Relief Appeal in Australia.

You can donate by calling 13 SALVOS (13 72 58), online at salvos.org.au or in person at Westpac Bank branches across Australia.

“The Salvation Army has a strong presence in the Philippines and we would ask that the Australian community digs deep to assist those who had very little before this devastating typhoon, but now have absolutely nothing,” Colonel Wayne said.

FrFrom o m t the h e ccoalface oalface L O C A L A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

General leads celebrations in two continents

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eneral André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox (World President of Women’s Ministries) have been the special guests at major Salvation Army events on two continents.

In November, thousands of Salvationists gathered from across the vast Kenya East Territory to meet under the leadership of the General and Commissioner Cox. The main gathering of the visit saw about 8000 Salvationists converge at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, for a Sunday morning holiness meeting led by the international leaders.

The altar call resulted in a large number of seekers committing themselves to a life of following Christ, with many responding also to the call to serve the Lord as officers in The Salvation Army.

From there the General and Commissioner Cox travelled to the Kenya West Territory where they led staff and cadets at the officer training college in laying the foundation stone at the new Education and Training Centre in Forestal.

Commissioner Cox also led Kakamega Division in the dedication to God of a new divisional headquarters.

Sunday was the climax of the visit as more than 10,000 Salvationists and friends of The Salvation Army filled Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega to salute the international leaders and join together in worship. About 400 people renewed their commitment to God at the mercy seat.

General André Cox lays the foundation stone at the Army's new Education and Training Centre in the Kenya West Territory.

A few weeks earlier, the General and Commissioner Cox led the South America West Territorial Congress in the Chilean city of Arica.

More than 1600 Salvationists gathered for three days of celebration and revival, many of them travelling great distances to be at the congress.

At the end of the celebration the General called on all those present to be “full-time servants“. The Salvation Army needs servant soldiers and servant officers to continue the proclamation of the Word.

Young people, adults, individuals and couples accepted the challenge, with many answering the call to full-time ministry.

IHQ welcome

World church council meets

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he Salvation Army’s new Chief of the Staff, Commissioner William Roberts, and Commissioner Nancy Roberts, World Secretary for Women’s Ministries, have been officially welcomed to International Headquarters The Army’s world leader, General André Cox, spoke at a brief service, highlighting the couple’s “great international experience” and assuring them that “God has been preparing you”.

Among the special guests were General John Larsson (Ret.), Commissioner Freda Larsson and Commissioner Gisele Gowans.

Rwanda aid

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he Salvation Army in Rwanda is responding to the growing number of refugees fleeing across the border to escape ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A transit centre at Nkamira - initially built for 2000 people – now houses more than 9000 refugees. A new camp has now been set up in Mugombwa, and people have been moved there from the transit centre. The Salvation Army had been asked by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to assist.

our Salvation Army officers have been among thousands of church leaders who gathered in Busan, Republic of Korea, for the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches early last month.

The Salvation Army delegation was headed by Commissioner William Cochrane, who is the International Secretary to the Chief of the Staff.

He was joined by Commissioner Vibeke Krommenhoek, pictured, (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries in the Norway, Iceland and The Faroes Territory), Lieutenant-Colonel Jim Champ (Territorial Secretary for Communications, Canada and Bermuda Territory) and Major John Read (Territorial Ecumenical Officer, United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland).

More than 340 different church groups were represented at the assembly which was held from 30 October-8 November.

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From the coalface L O C A L A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

Promoted to Glory

Faithful soldier

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eorge Cause was promoted to glory, aged 81, and his funeral service was held in Taree.

The song, What a Friend We Have In Jesus, was playing in George’s room as he passed away on Sunday 3 March, and was also sung during his funeral service, which was conducted by Captain Mark Williamson on Saturday 9 March.

After the reading from Psalm 23, family tributes were given by his daughter, Helen Lucas, and also by his grandchildren.

A photographic tribute was then shown to Montreal, his favourite Salvation Army band march.

Owen Tisdell, Corps Sergeant Major at Taree, gave the corps tribute, highlighting that George was a quiet, dependable bandsman – one who was a valuable asset to the band. As a tradesman he was known for his honesty and reliability.

Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Haggar, George’s nephew, read John 14:1–17, which was followed by the address by Captain Williamson.

The final song was I Have a Home That is Fairer Than Day. Sidney George Cause was born

in Taree on 1 March 1932. He was the second-youngest son of Harold and Elsie Cause.

He had three brothers and eight sisters, with only Clarence, Beryl and Joyce remaining.

He met Kathleen Morris in Grafton in 1951 and they were married there in 1953. They had four children; Dennis, Helen, Robin and Wayne.

George was a painter by trade and enjoyed this profession all his life.

He was a dedicated bandsman, playing the bass until ill health forced him to stop.

He was a faithful soldier and served the Lord right to the end of his life.

Reports Please email Promoted To Glory reports and, if possible, a photograph to Pipeline at eastern.editorial@aue.salvationarmy.org. Please limit reports to about 400 words.

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FrFrom o m t the h e ccoalface oalface L O C A L A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S

about people Appointments

Effective 1 March 2014: Major Deslea Maxwell, Editor, Revive magazine, Communications Section, Programme Resources Department, International Headquarters; Major Philip Maxwell, International Auditor, Business Administration, International Headquarters.

Bereaved

Lieut-Colonel Kerry Haggar of her brother, Peter Geers on 25 October.

Birth

Territorial Envoys Jake and Amanda Clanfied, a boy, Ezra Jake on 5 November.

Promoted to glory

Major Julie Alley of her mother, Margaret Stewart on 22 October; Major William Green on 2 November; Major David Hodges on 8 November.

Retirement

Majors Peter and Ruth Dollin on 1 November.

Territorial Promotions

To Major: Captain Roslyn Brooks on 28 October.

time to pray 1-7 December

Carinya Cottage, Long Jetty Corps, Mudgee Corps, Oasis Youth Network Hunter, Bonnells Bay Corps, Tamworth Corps, Tenterfield, all NSW; Commissioning (1).

8-14 December

Major Mark Watts, International Headquarters; Lake Community Church Mission, Cassowary Coast Mission; both Qld; Maroubra Corps, Rouse Hill Corps, Newcastle Community Welfare Centre, all NSW; ACT and South NSW Division Christmas Bush Mission (9-15).

15-21 December

Newcastle and Central NSW Division Chaplains, Montrose Residential Aged Care, Stafford Corps, all Qld; Emergency services, THQ; Taree Corps, North NSW Division Rural Mission, Tarrawanna Corps, All NSW; TCC Wired Junior Camp (20-23).

Prayer requests

Please pray for the Australia Eastern Territory’s officers serving in overseas appointments: Majors Norm and Isabel Beckett, Latvia, Sweden and Latvia Territory – Home in December then appointed to Taiwan Region, February 2014.

Majors Bruce and Cheryl Carpenter, Caribbean Territory.

Major Alison Cowling, Canada and Bermuda Territory.

Majors Graeme and Heather Craig, Ghana Territory.

Miss Katharine Dale, Ghana Territory.

Majors Robert and Leanne Duncan, Taiwan Region - Home in December, then appointed to South Queensland Division.

Mrs Fay Foster, Papua New Guinea Territory.

Captain Elizabeth Garland, Southern Africa Territory.

Lieut-Colonel Miriam Gluyas, Papua New Guinea.

Miss Narelle Gurney, Malawi Command.

Captain Zane Haupt, Singapore, Singapore, Malaysai and Myanmar territory – Home in December, then new appointment at Booth College.

Envoy Joy Johns, Korea Territory, Home in December, then new appointment in NSW. Majors Philip and Deslea Maxwell, Papua New Guinea Territory.

Colonel Wayne and Robyn Maxwell, The Philippines Territory Colonel Geanette Seymour, International Headquarters Social Justice Commission based in New York.

Lieut-Colonel Rodney and Wendy Walters, Russia, Eastern Europe Territory.

Major Mark Watts, International Headquarters Majors Peter and Gail White, Mozambique Command Captains Glenn and Julie Price, Russia, Eastern Europe Territory.

engagement calendar Commissioners James (Territorial Commander) and Jan Condon Sydney: Sun 1 Dec – Commissioning.

Sydney: Thu 5 Dec – Thank you lunch with major donors.

Sydney: Fri 6 Dec – Honoured Friends morning tea.

Auburn: Sun 8 Dec – Retirement of Majors Gary and Judith Baker.

Collaroy: Thu 12 Dec – THQ Christmas party.

Sydney: Fri 13 Dec – Streetlevel Church Christmas party.

Sydney: Tue 17 Dec – Streetlevel Community Centre Christmas party.

Sydney: Sat 21 Dec – Carols in the Domain. #Commissioner Jan Condon only *Commissioner James Condon only

22-28 December

Hannam Vale Corps, Bethany Residential Aged Care, both NSW; Gold Coast recovery Services Centre (Fairhaven), Southport Community Welfare Centre, both Qld; Territorial Mission and Resource Team – Corps, Business Administration, both THQ; Christmas Day (25).

29 December – January 4

Gosford Corps, Hawkesbury City Corps, Shellharbour Corps, Weeroona Village Aged Care Centre, all NSW; Capricorn Region Corps, Ayr Corps, both Qld; New Year’s Day (1).

Colonels Richard (Chief Secretary) and Janet Munn Sydney: Sun 1 Dec – Ordination and Commissioning, Disciples of the Cross #Campsie: Wed 4 Dec – Women’s Ministries Christmas Function *Sydney: Thu 5 Dec – Christmas lunch with major donors Collaory: Thu 12 Dec – THQ staff Christmas party #Colonel Janet Munn only *Colonel Richard Munn only

pipeline 12/2013 47

Serve up a festive feast with

MAGGIE BEER

HOLIDAY

FUN

ON A BUDGET

GEORGIE GARDNER’S Connection Sto ry

This magazine is toshelp you connect full of helpful tips and suggestions to what really matte rs this Christmas...

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