Ambassadors of Holiness

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The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory January 2011 Volume 15 Issue 1

Commissioning feature

Ambassadors of

Ordinary people, extraordinary God

WHO’LL BE THE NEXT? HIGH COUNCIL TO ELECT NEW GENERAL BRINGING LAW AND ORDER THE SALVOS’ LEGAL SERVICES TRAILBLAZERS THREE REMARKABLE OFFICERS

ARTICLES BY General Paul Rader | Commissioner Linda Bond | Lieut-Colonel Miriam Gluyas | Major Cec Woodward | Major Barbara Sampson

Kingdom come sydney 2011

10-13 January 2011 • The King’s School Sydney Australia

www.KingdomCome.com.au

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Editoria l

Start the year strong

H

ow are you going with your new year’s resolutions?

As you read this you may be a few days, a week or perhaps even a month into your well-intentioned campaign to turn over a new leaf in 2011. But what plans have you put in place to help you stay the course? Who or what are you relying on to generate your staying power? How are you going to ensure that you not only start the year strong, but finish it in the same manner?

The Bible has a lot to say about staying power. James 1:2-3 tells us: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” This passage of Scripture goes on to say, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (v.4).

God knows that if he can get that one thing – staying power – into our lives, he can equip us with everything else.

Perseverance acts as the funnel through which God can pour innumerable blessings into our lives.

James MacDonald, founding pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago, sums it up like this: “All kinds of people put on their jogging suit and start the race, but when the miles click past and muscles start to fatigue and life isn’t easy anymore, what do you do? In the same way, it’s easy to put on a white dress or rent a tuxedo and get to the front of the church but to have a hot, happening marriage—not for five, but for 15 or 40

Contents The Salvation Army WILLIAM BOOTH, Founder

Australia Eastern Territory 140 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000

COV E R

STORY

8-13 ORDINARY PEOPLE, EXTRAORDINARY GOD Ambassadors of Holiness commissioned as Salvation Army officers

20-22 BRINGING LAW AND ORDER The meticulous minds who help The Salvation Army navigate the legal world. By Bill Simpson and Esther Pinn

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24-25 TRAILBLAZERS Simone Worthing profiles three amazing women who between them have accumulated 240 years of Salvation Army officership

Peter Sutcliffe, Major Communications Director Scott Simpson Managing Editor

26-28 REACHING FOR METAPHORS OF GRACE In response to popular request, Pipeline reproduces the text of the Coutts Memorial Lecture delivered by General Paul Rader

Graphic design: James Gardner, Kem Pobjie Cover photo: Shairon Paterson (Lieutenant Rebecca Gott preaches at the Sunday afternoon Commissioning service.)

30-31 LETTERS FROM THE HEART Schoolchildren in outback Queensland express their gratitude to the Army’s Flying Padre service

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R EGULA RS

Editorial and correspondence: Address: PO Box A435 Sydney South NSW 1235 Phone: (02) 9266 9639 www.salvos.org.au Email: eastern.editorial @aue.salvationarmy.org Published for: The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory

by Commissioner Linda Bond.

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

In this issue of Pipeline, we bring you a comprehensive series of reports on the commissioning of 12 new Salvation Army officers of the Australia Eastern Territory.

This significant event held in mid-December and conducted by the Army’s international Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Barry Swanson, now acts as a pivotal moment in the lives of these men and women. As they set out on the journey of Salvation Army officership, the one thing they’re going to need in abundance is perseverance.

These “rookie” officers will no doubt have already savoured and endured many peaks and valleys in their faith – experiences they can draw upon to generate staying power in their lives, and to equip them to press on.

Like the apostle Paul implores in Philippians 3:13-14, “but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus”. I press on – that’s perseverance.

Scott Simpson Managing Editor

19 WHO’LL BE THE NEXT? High Council to elect new General

Shaw Clifton, General

Pipeline is a publication of the Communications Team

Pressing on

FEATU R ES

International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria street London EC4P 4EP

Linda Bond, Commissioner Territorial Commander

years, that takes work! That takes perseverance ... Might I say in addition to that, it’s easy to pray a prayer; it’s easy to walk an aisle; it’s easy to confess faith in Christ but to keep on following Christ – even when the pressure is on – takes staying power.”

3 EDITORIAL THE SALVATION ARMY AUSTRALIA EASTERN TERRITORY JANUARY 2011 | VOLUME 12 | ISSUE 1

5 TC@PIPELINE 6-7 INTEGRITY COLUMN 32-33 WHAT WOULD JESUS VIEW? 34-35 MISSION PRIORITIES UPDATE 36-44 COALFACE NEWS 45 PROMOTED TO GLORY

Auburn’s choir of all nations ALSO INSIDE:

NIGHT OF 1000 STORIES

A SALVOS CELEBRATION

O HAPPY O’DEA

BROTHERS ARE A BIT SPECIAL

IN THIS MONTH’S

CREATIVE MINISTRY

many cultures, one song pipeline 01/2011 3

Spiritual journey to a more generous life Commissioner LINDA BOND says the key to becoming a grateful giver is to accept what God has done for us through his abundant grace

M

oving from my Canadian home in Nova Scotia to Winnipeg, Manitoba, had a purpose. I needed a job. The Lord had called me to be a Salvation Army officer and I had to save money to sustain me during the two-year training period.

The relocation meant living with my oldest sister, her husband and eight children. Finding work wasn’t hard but earning a decent salary was. I needed every cent I could get.

But then my sister announced to me that salary earners tithe.

Tithe? Well, if you knew my sister you would know that this was no idle suggestion. It seemed to be the rule of the house.

From that day onward, tithing was the norm. Offerings and self-denial were the extras on top of the 10 per cent. That habit was hopefully helpful to the local corps and gave me a sense of satisfaction that I had done my duty.

Recently I was invited on a 40-day Spiritual Journey to a More Generous Life. The booklet by Brian Kluth included Bible readings, articles, worksheets and discussion questions. Talk about revolutionary!

It brought me face to face with the difference between what I gave and what I could give. It was the difference between obligation and generosity. It moved me from asking how much I should give to how much I should keep.

I was challenged to take this journey because our territory wants to engage every Salvationist in generous giving. Of course, there is a good reason for this, in terms of the support of our mission at the local level.

We would never want to be content to have our corps financed by the local Family Store or to subsist on grants from headquarters.

But, more significantly than an obligation to finance the local church, generous giving by the Christian is our response to our generous God whose giving is never measured or miserly but is poured out extravagantly in love for the world.

We know that as lavish as we can be in giving tithes, offerings

and special gifts, the essential response to our Lord is the gift of ourselves. The Commissioning weekend of the Ambassadors of Holiness was proof positive that the call of our Lord to leave all and follow him was heeded.

There were no halfway measures in their dedication when they entered the training college. And, in signing their covenants and at their ordination and commissioning, there was no hint that anything less than all for him, for others and for life was in their minds.

And why not be generous in dedication? As the apostle Paul wrote to the early church in Rome, “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” (Romans 12:1 The Message).

Yes, if there is any way to get motivated for giving it is to embrace what God has done for us. If you read the 11 chapters prior to this verse, you will be overwhelmed by this gift-giving God. The spiritual journey to a more generous life begins with grace. And God is no man’s debtor. We don’t give to get, whether it is our money or our lives, but God’s policy seems to be that givers receive. He blesses the generous heart.

He sets them free from the clutter and greed of materialism.

He proves over and over again that His Provision is not just the title of John Gowans’ song.

It is a life principle.

Commissioner Linda Bond is Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory.

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Holiness with its What does it mean to be holy? Major CEC WOODWARD explores the question and comes up with a practical answer

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L

anguage is about communicating messages, ideas and images. For each of us, words provide the basis of an image or a meaning.

For example, what immediately comes to mind for words such as airport, bread, family? Your responses sum up what the word means to you whether or not this matches the dictionary definition.

The question I would pose is, “What comes to mind when the phrase ‘holy man’ is used?“ Depending on one’s faith tradition, one likely response is the image of someone separated from life’s day-today activities, whether in some hermittype existence or in a religious community structure.

But is this an accurate picture of the phrase?

When holiness was being explained in my officer training days – and I am assuming that “experiencing holiness“ and “being a holy person“ are the same – the focus was solely on an inward work of grace. This focus was clearly expressed in the familiar chorus which asked the Spirit to “break, melt, mould and fill” the yielded life.

There is no disputing that this dimension is an essential element of the holiness experience – what it means to be a holy person. We are to offer our whole being as a living sacrifice, totally under the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Although a well-used phrase, it is still valid to state that God only takes what has been yielded.

The greatest desire of any Christian is to have the assurance that God answers our prayer of submission to his indwelling.

Having presented our petition, we believe God will answer and do his work.

However, to make this experience

the sole image of our understanding of holiness is to seriously limit the breadth of its full panorama. The World Leader of The Salvation Army, General Shaw Clifton, has observed, “Our literature abounds with material on personal holiness. What we have not done, it seems to me, is to explore adequately the basis that our holiness doctrine provides for social action.”

John Wesley’s theological insights saw a mystical and a practical integration in the two great commands.

His standard for Methodists was how he saw the perfect Christian: “A Methodist is one who loves God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, with all his strength. And loving God, he loves his neighbour as himself; he loves every man as his own soul.”

He further explained how to apply the second of these: “One does all the good one can for all people serving both their physical needs and their souls.”

Taking action

As a disciple of Wesley, it is no surprise that William Booth reiterated the centrality of these two commands as the full expression of true religion. “The religion of the Army is summed up in the two great commandments, ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart’, and ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’.”

This was and is no idealist sentimentality. It requires love in action, the same sort of practical acts demonstrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan.

To attempt to define holiness solely in terms of an inward work of grace is to miss the reality that our lives occur in an ongoing engagement with our

Integrity

Growing Saints

sleeves rolled up physical and social environment. We fail to comprehend and apply the wholeness of the gospel if we simply spiritualise Wesley’s declaration that “the Gospel of Christ knows of no religion but social; no holiness but social holiness.”

Practical involvement with our society is an essential component of holy living.

Henry Gariepy’s summation of the life of Commissioner Andy Miller was that he embodied “the credo of Salvationists” explained as: “holiness without social concern is as a soul without a body, and social concern without holiness is as a body without a soul. One is a ghost, the other is a corpse.”

These two dimensions must never be separated nor subjected to an either/or analysis. And just as there is an essential mutuality in the relationship of love to God and love to man, there is a similar mutuality to those Christian emphases often labelled as evangelism and social action. Both are essential elements of the one and the same gospel, neither takes pre-eminence over the other.

As The Salvation Army founder General William Booth said, “My social work and my religion are joined like Siamese twins; to divide them is to slay them.”

The concept of “rolled up sleeves” is about action; it is also about getting one’s hands dirty.

The holy person is not only present as salt and light in his or her world, he or she is right there involved in the action.

“For holiness to have continuing relevance … the inner work of Christ must become evident outwardly in active engagement with the reign of God in the world,” says Geoff Webb.

An early Salvationist song began,

“Jesus, make me holy! Make me useful too.”

Scriptural message

Is there a biblical benchmark for holy living? Such living is practical: it engages with the business of day-to-day living.

As clear examples of this, the letters of James and John contain some very direct statements about the interconnectedness of love for God and love for other people.

John Wesley believed that the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6 and 7) provided the core teaching on what it meant to live the perfect Christian life.

Having “the mind that was in Christ”, and “walking as Christ walked” were the essentials of his understanding of Christian perfection or holiness. A close study of those three chapters in Matthew continually shows that our God relationship is expressed in very down-toearth practicalities.

“Going the extra mile” for example, is not a nicety and mere theory; it is the practical behaviour that issues from acknowledging that self-interest has been replaced by Kingdom interest.

Over the years, holiness has often been defined in ways which are not in complete alignment with the whole gospel message. William Booth often identified a dual salvation focus for The Salvation Army: the practicalities of saving bodies in the here and now as well as the eternal dimension of bringing people into a personal relationship with Jesus.

As our Handbook of Doctrine states, “Holiness leads to mission. The mission of God’s holy people encompasses ... inviting the world to saving grace, serving the world with Christ’s compassion and attacking social evils.”

Wherever we look, the same biblical message continually reverberates: the experience of holy living is God transforming us to love Him utterly and completely but it is empty and dead unless it also “enables us to live by the radical ethic of love” – social holiness – given expression in a “sleeves-rolled-up approach” to loving our neighbour and engagement in society in very practical ways.

Wesley’s “Rule for Christian Living“ would have been well known to William and Catherine Booth.

On the one hand, the rule could become a totally behavioural definition of “holy“ living, but because its source is the sanctifying inward work of God, living out the rule becomes an evidence of God at work in His world right here and now.

“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever ... you can.”

“Salvationists will be known as a holy people only when they live holy lives and not because they have had certain religious or spiritual experiences.”

“Jesus, make me holy! Make me useful too.”

Major Cec Woodward is Mission and Resource Director for The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory.

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for d e n o i s s i comm The Salvation Army’s international Chief of the Staff has challenged 18 new officers of the Australia Eastern Territory to stand firm to what they believe, during their ordination ceremony last month.

Pipeline senior writer BILL SIMPSON reports

W

orshippers in The Salvation Army want to know and see what their leaders believe, Chief of the Staff Commissioner Barry Swanson has told new officers of the Australia Eastern Territory at an ordination and commissioning service in Sydney.

They also need to know their leaders will do what they say they believe, Commissioner Swanson (pictured right) told the 12 new lieutenants who graduated from the Ambassadors of Holiness session at the territory’s School for Officer Training.

Swelling the ranks of those being commissioned were six long-term envoys who were being promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

The ordination and commissioning was held at the Sydney Convention Centre on 12 December, 2010.

Commissioner Barry Swanson and Commissioner Sue Swanson, International Secretary for Women’s Ministries, were special guests.

All photos: Shairon Paterson

Leadership quality

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After stating their Declaration of Faith as a group, the Chief of the Staff (pictured right) told the new lieutenants: “It’s a great day for The Salvation Army. It’s a great day for the kingdom of God because God is deploying new people into areas of service where an exciting adventure awaits them.

“It’s very important that we witness this occasion. I am reminded of that when I attend a commissioning anywhere in the world because these men and women are making promises they intend to keep.

“I love it when they stand and say ‘we believe that …’ because that is a universal quality about leadership.

Anyone who presents themselves to be a leader in any way shape or form – especially a spiritual leader – needs to be able to say this is what I believe; this is what I hold to be true.

“Your people, wherever you are going, whoever you will be serving, need to know that from you. They need to know what you believe. They need to know that what you believe is what you will do and what you will say.

“Furthermore, when we are talking about things of a spiritual nature we need to know that what we believe is not just that – what we believe – but the fact that what we believe is based on God’s Word; based on God’s truth.”

Turning to the audience, Commissioner Swanson said: “Let’s just take that one step further in terms of each one of us who are here. I would like you to think about what you believe. To believe something and know that it’s true and that it’s from God is a great gift. That’s why Jesus said that you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.

“That’s such a challenge in the >>>

front line

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world today. People don’t know what they believe. And they don’t know if what they are believing makes any sense at all; if it has any truth to it; has any authenticity.

“So there is a whole variety of things that people think or people believe or people think that they know, but it may not be the truth; the truth as far as God reveals it from his Word.

“I would like every person here this morning to believe for yourself that it is possible for you to live in a right relationship with God. That right relationship with God is also called righteousness in the Bible. It is possible for us to live in relationship in righteousness with God and that he wants to share that with us.”

Commissioner Swanson referred to the apostle Paul and his desire, as expressed to the Philippian church, for a right relationship with God. “He [Paul] is talking about righteousness and he’s talking about having a right relationship with God … he is being very transparent, he’s being

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very open and honest and he’s talking about his own struggles and coming to the point where he could know he was in a right relationship with God. “For all his brilliance, all his education, for all his talent, he lived for many years of his life not being in a right relationship with God. He worked at it harder than anyone could.

“You see, we don’t come to know God or be in a right relationship with God just by hearing about him or just by understanding perhaps the doctrine that we have heard all of our life or just believing in him.

“We only enter into this right relationship with God – this righteous living that Paul talks about – by seeking and receiving from the Lord. That is the source of all spiritual blessing.

“Jesus describes it as hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Jesus said that in order to be in a right relationship with him and God, we need to hunger and thirst after righteousness.”

Commissioner Swanson said a right relationship with God came only

through Christ and not by the things we do – we can’t earn it – but by our personal relationship in knowing Christ and his forgiveness. “That is the ‘I believe’ challenge,” he said.

More than a feeling

Commissioner Sue Swanson told the new lieutenants of her own covenant with God to become a Salvation Army officer. A covenant was deeper than a feeling, she said.

“He came to give me peace when I was far away. He has never broken his covenant with me. When I knew I was coming here, I got out my covenant of 30 years ago. I discovered that my name where I signed had gone; faded away. But I didn’t sign [my covenant with God] with ink. I signed it with my heart.”

Australia Eastern Territorial Commander Commissioner Linda Bond, Chief Secretary Colonel Wayne Maxwell, Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries Colonel Robyn Maxwell, training college principal

Major Gavin Watts, Hurstville Corps band and the Sydney Staff Songsters supported the ceremony.

New lieutenants Joanne Catalano and Jimmy Kavana provided testimonies.

Scores of people knelt at a specially prepared cross at the conclusion of the service during a call for lives to be committed to Christ. There was also a big response to a call for people to publicly declare an intention to offer for full-time service.

During a later celebration and “sending out” of the new officers, Lieutenant Rebecca Gott spoke on behalf of her session and Lieutenant Tammy Rees provided a personal testimony.

Bill Simpson is a senior writer for Pipeline and supplements

The 12 new lieutenants commissioned from the Ambassadors of Holiness session are: Lieutenants Peter and Rebecca Gott – Corps Officers, Batemans Bay Lieutenant Tammy Rees – Corps Officer, Centenary Lieutenants Ian and Tammy Shelley – Corps Officers, Wagga Wagga Lieutenants Jon and Leah Belmonte – Corps Officers, Upper Blue Mountains Lieutenant Nathan Hodges – Assistant Corps Officer, Tuggeranong Lieutenant Joanne Catalano – Corps Officer, Fairfield Lieutenant Craig Sutton – Team Member, Chifley Mission Lieutenants Jimmy and Tamar Kavana – Corps Officers, Boroko (PNG) The six new lieutenants who have been promoted from the rank of envoy are: Lieutnenants Lyndley and Clover Fabre Lieutenants Ged and Jeannie Oldfield Lieutenants John and Pat Cory pipeline 01/2011 11

Recognition and celebration for cadets

By ESTHER PINN

“I

’m greatly blessed with a wonderful mum,” said Cadet Peter Gott as he honoured his mother during The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory’s Silver Star presentation evening last month.

For the first time, the traditional Principal’s Reception and Silver Star presentation for cadets graduating from the Army’s School for Officer Training were combined as a single event, on Wednesday, 8 December, in the conference hall at Booth College in Sydney.

Major Gavin Watts, as Training Principal at the School for Officer Training, gave the official welcome before a greeting by the Australia Eastern Territory Chief Secretary, Colonel Wayne Maxwell.

While the Principal’s Reception meal was being shared, the tradition of giving a Silver Star to each of the cadets’ parents/ mentors took place.

Each cadet was individually introduced with their parents/mentors, with the Australia Eastern Territorial Commander, Commissioner Linda Bond, then presenting the Silver Stars.

Cadet Nathan Hodges expressed his gratitude to his parents as they received their award. “As a young fellow, it was my parents who inspired me to become an officer,” he said.

Following the presentation, Captain Megan Couchman, Training Officer at the School for Officer Training, gave Bibles to the children of the cadets.

Cadet Gott then shared his testimony of his journey at the school, expressing two insights that God had given him during his studies; that God required him to die daily to his selfish ways, and to focus on discipleship.

“My calling is not so much about being an officer in The Salvation Army but a fully devoted disciple of Jesus and the rest will come from that,” Cadet Gott said.

William Cairns Awards, introduced just two years ago, were then presented to cadets who had displayed overall excellence throughout their studies.

Dividing the awards into three categories, Cadet Tammy Shelley was given the Academic Program award, Cadet Joanne Catalano received the Field Program award and Cadet Gott was given the Spiritual Formation Program award.

Commissioner Linda Bond enjoys a lighter moment with Majors David and Coral Hodges and their son Cadet Nathan Hodges, during the presentation. Photo: Shairon Paterson

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Army celebrates 125 years in Queensland

By SIMONE WORTHING

“T

here is great joy in The Salvation Army in Queensland, and we have experienced that here tonight,” said Commissioner Barry Swanson, international Chief of the Staff, who with his wife Commissioner Sue Swanson were the special guests at the 125th anniversary celebrations in Brisbane on Friday, December 10.

“Those who are part of the history here didn’t have the resources that we have today, but they had Jesus, and they loved him and relied on him in a practical and meaningful way,” he said.

Commissioner Swanson read from Luke 9:28-36, the Bible passage known as “The transfiguration”.

“When it was all over, all the disciples could see was Jesus,” he said.

“We want to bring ourselves to that place spiritually, where we see only Jesus, where we look at only him and follow him.

“All our resources can’t replace Jesus. From him comes the power, the commitment, the desire to make a difference, otherwise we just get distracted from our mission of winning people to Christ. What are we going to do for him today, now?”

Commissioner Swanson commented that he had seen the love of Jesus being made real in the lives of people in Queensland, in all kinds of circumstances and through all different styles.

“The [Army’s] Recovery Services Choir must be the greatest choir in the world,” he said, referring to the groups from the Fairhaven and Moonyah centres which gave a moving performance during the celebration.

“Of course, the singing on the ukulele was a highlight as well,” he said, making reference to his wife, Commissioner Sue Swanson, who earlier in the evening accompanied on a ukulele, in an

Commissioner Sue Swanson, playing the ukulele, encourages (from left) her husband, Commissioner Barry Swanson, Major Mark Campbell, Major Rodney Walters and Colonel Wayne Maxwell in a rendition of the Australian favourite Waltzing Matilda.

impromptu performance, men of the Australia Eastern territorial and South Queensland divisional leadership as well as members of the combined Brisbane City Temple and Carindale band in a rousing rendition of Waltzing Matilda to the great delight of the audience.

Past and present

The evening celebrated all that God has done through The Salvation Army in Queensland over the past 125 years, as well as focusing on current ministries.

Major Graham Tamsett interviewed Darren Matthews, a resident of Moonyah, the Brisbane-based Recovery Services Centre which provides treatment for those struggling with drug, alcohol and gambling addictions.

“My life has done a backflip since coming here,” said Darren.

“I have become a Christian and sorted out so many aspects of my life physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”

der Territorial Comman Commissioner Linda Bond presents Peggy Muller (left) and Laura Holland with Certificates of .

Exceptional Service Photos: Troy Grice More photos from ary the 125th annivers celebrations in Pictorial section of Creative Ministry.

A video presentation briefly showed some of the different ministries changing people’s lives throughout Queensland before the popular children’s ministry Agents of T.R.U.T.H. entertained and challenged both young and old with their message of Jesus being the real gift of Christmas.

Commissioner Sue Swanson, World Secretary of Women’s Ministries, continued the theme presented by the Agents.

“I am so glad Jesus Christ gave himself for me,” she said. “What an amazing gift, and I never want to forget all that he has done for me.”

Major Rodney Walters, Central and North Queensland Divisional Commander, interviewed The Salvation Army’s Flying Padres Envoys Simon and Natalie Steele, giving the audience a glimpse into rural ministry in remote western and northern Queensland from Weipa to Birdsville.

The Steeles service this area of more than 800,000 square kilometres by helicopter.

“Our ministry is an extreme one and we are passionate about using our gifts for this inspiring work,” Envoy Simon Steele said.

In a special moment, Australia Eastern Territorial Commander, Commissioner Linda Bond, presented Certificates of Exceptional Service to Laura Holland, from Toowoomba Corps, and Peggy Muller, from Carindale Corps.

Both these ladies have been involved in children’s and youth ministry in The Salvation Army for more than 70 years.

“Both these ladies have been bringing children to Jesus for decades,” Commissioner Bond said.

“This is a vital mission priority; if we can’t get this happening then we don’t have a future in the territory.”

A heartfelt singing of O Boundless Salvation concluded the celebration.

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Proclaimers of the Resurrection enter Booth College As 18 newly commissioned Salvation Army officers take up their appointments, another 21 new cadets begin two years of study at the School for Officer Training in Sydney as part of the Proclaimers of the Resurrection session. The cadets are:

Peter and Myfwany Evans, Canberra City Oasis Corps, ACT and South NSW Division

Dominic and Samantha Wallis (Hannah and Abigail), Tamworth Corps, North NSW Division

Darryn Lloyd, Shellharbour Corps, Sydney East and Illawarra Division

Sean and Cassi Everitt (Leah), Tuggerah Lakes Corps, Newcastle and Central NSW Division

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Other new cadets are: John and Leisa Humbley (Faith, Zac) Rouse Hill Corps, Greater West Division Lesley Newton, Rockdale Corps, Sydney East and Illawarra Division Bronwyn Burnett Tweed Heads Corps, South Queensland Division

Mission Priority 7 – A significant increase of new soldiers and officers Steve and Lydia Spencer (Maegyn and Jackson), Maclean Corps, North NSW Division

Matt and Kate Ryan, Bayside Community Church, South Queensland Division

Tim and Ayly Girling (Edan, Indiana, Ava) Woden Valley Corps, ACT and South NSW Division

Rodney and Debra Parsons (Chloe), Cooma Corps, ACT and South NSW Division

Christian and Beth White, Narwee Corps, Sydney East and Illawarra Division

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The Apology Presented on behalf of the General by Commissioner Barry Swanson, Chief of the Staff The Salvation Army’s World Leader General Shaw Clifton last month issued a formal apology to those who had been abused as children while in the care of The Salvation Army in Australia. The following transcript was delivered on behalf of the General by Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Barry Swanson, at a special ceremony at Old Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday, 7 December.

I

am very pleased that this gathering is taking place today. It is a gathering I have long anticipated and was looking forward keenly to being with you all in person for this highly significant and deeply sensitive occasion.

Imagine, therefore, my profound disappointment on being required to undergo a few weeks ago openheart surgery for a double bypass and a replacement aortic valve. All this has denied to me and to my wife, Commissioner Helen Clifton, the privilege of being present with you in person today.

I am deeply grateful to Commissioner Barry Swanson and Commissioner Sue Swanson for agreeing to travel from London, England, to be with you all as our personal representatives. I have asked Commissioner Barry Swanson, as second in command of the Army world, to speak for me as you meet.

I send you warmest personal greetings.

I record also my personal sense of deep sorrow and regret at the events of the past which are being remembered today.

I know that these events are constant memories for you all and, in many cases, also for your loved ones.

I am grateful for this opportunity to speak on behalf of The Salvation Army to men and women who were children in the care of The Salvation Army in years past. I want to thank Jim Luthy for the courage to write to me and initiate the idea that has culminated in this gathering.

I acknowledge the support of CLAN (Care Leavers Australia Network) in working toward this day. The territorial leaders of The Salvation Army in Australia, Commissioner Linda Bond and Commissioner Raymond Finger, are also here to show their support on this significant occasion.

Between 1894 and the early 1990s, The Salvation Army operated children’s homes throughout Australia. During those years, over 30,000 children were cared for in over 55 Salvation Army

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homes staffed by more than 3000 officers and employees. Some children were only infants, many were young teenagers. Some were with us briefly, others for their whole childhood. There were many and varied circumstances that led to these children being placed in our care.

To our great regret, some of these children did not benefit from their experience and were not well cared for by our staff. We acknowledge that at certain times in our history, the atmosphere in some homes was rigid, harsh and authoritarian. Many children did not experience the gentleness of love that they needed. Some children suffered abuse and deprivation. As a result, their stories are full of hurt, rejection, discouragement and a failure to realise potential.

As the International Leader of The Salvation Army, I express to all Australian care leavers our deepest sorrow for these failures and hurts. The Salvation Army offers you our heartfelt apology. To you all, we say “Sorry”.

That greater love was not given when you were so vulnerable – we are sorry.

For any harsh words, violent actions or abuse – we are sorry. These should never have happened.

For when you tried to speak out and you were not listened to or believed – we are sorry.

That the process of being placed in care meant for some that you lost family and extended family – we are sorry.

For those who did not find the support you needed as you grieved for your losses – we are sorry

To our Indigenous care leavers, for the loss of culture and connection to your land – we are sorry.

For those who could not navigate the pain of their life experience and are no longer with us – we are deeply sorry To your families, your wives and husbands, your children, your partners, who have also suffered because the deprivations of childhood can impact on adulthood relationships – to you we say sorry.

The Salvation Army acknowledges that you were not to blame for what you experienced. We are now listening to your life stories.

I want to thank those Salvation Army officers who did give compassionate care. Some of you objected to the harsh treatment given – I pay tribute to your courage and we thank you for the kindness you brought and the positive difference you were able to make to some of these precious children.

As General of The Salvation Army, I am glad that our two Australian territories now have firm policies in place to protect children. I am grateful that both territories have previously issued apologies. In some cases, reunions have been held at the home sites, and apologies have been given there.

I am also glad that both territories are able to assist former “children in care”, who contact The Salvation Army.

Where care leavers make direct contact themselves with the Army, caring and just procedures are followed. Many care leavers have been helped, for example, by assistance with counselling costs, or by

Army’s proactive approach to protecting children Commissioner Barry Swanson delivers the apology, on behalf of General Shaw Clifton, in Canberra last month.

receiving a personal apology. We desire to support all our care leavers to find healing and hope for their future. I invite all care leavers who feel pain from their time in Salvation Army home who have not yet contacted us, to do so.

Finally, as leader of this global Christian movement, I want to affirm the true values which underpin The Salvation Army and the Christian Church. We follow the one who said, “Let the children come to me”. He has called everyone to a pathway of love, respect, and compassion.

While at times we failed him in the past, we do not want to now. We want all to know and experience his gracious love and healing. With that desire in our hearts, we say, God bless you.

General Shaw Clifton World Leader of The Salvation Army

Leadership of The Salvation Army in Australia has acknowledged there were some people who worked in its children’s homes over the years implicated in abusive behaviour. The majority of officers and employees however, have shown great care and compassion for the thousands of young people who have been residents of the Army’s children’s homes.

The Response - next page

By COLLEEN MORTON

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he Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory has moved from a reactive response to unethical behaviour within the church to a preventative focus through education and adequate training of all personnel under the banner of the Professional Standards Office.

This office was established in 2007 and works to enhance a culture of grace and Christ-like behaviour and to promote high biblical and ethical standards. It does this through effective prevention, deterrence and investigation of unethical behaviour, making appropriate responses that increase the confidence of the community in The Salvation Army.

The Professional Standards Office is dedicated to proactively enhancing the ethical health of The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory, its officers, employees, ministry workers, volunteers, members and adherents.

This is achieved through education, training, partnering with other Safe Church denominations, complying with government legislation and creating an environment where the Army’s mission can be effective.

The Salvation Army has also been working with other denominations through the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA), towards ensuring that, as far as possible, Australian churches are physically, emotionally and spiritually safe.

The Army has had procedures

and policies for safe ministry for several years and has met the national standards set by the NCCA Safe Church Project for accreditation as a training partner for safe church training.

As a Safe Church training partner the Australia Eastern Territory’s version of Safe Church training, Caring for Kids, meets high standards and means that Salvationists can attend courses organised by other accredited denominations and they in turn can attend our training. The Safe Church Project has a website, www. safechurches.org.au, with training calendars and resources for safe ministry in churches.

People who work with children and youth in Salvation Army corps and centres have four mandatory screening requirements to complete in the recruitment process: reference checking and the endorsement of their suitability for working in a childor youth-related role; signing off on a Code of Conduct; completing the relevant state Working With Children check; and taking part in Caring for Kids training.

An organisational Code of Conduct will be implemented this year to promote acceptable behaviour for all personnel and to put in place accountability for those who work with vulnerable persons.

Colleen Morton is the Child Protection Coordinator for The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory.

pipeline 01/2011 17

The Response

The prepared response submitted for publication by JAMES LUTHY on behalf of Care Leavers Australia Network

James Luthy

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would like to welcome all CLAN (Care Leavers Australia Network) members and care leavers who spent some or all of their lives in the care of the Salvation Army.

Today we have come from all States and from all walks of life and the thing that unites us is the fact that we were all share the common bond of being “Salvo homies”.

Today is an historic occasion and it is a time that probably nobody here ever thought would happen and as such I, therefore, want to thank the Salvation Army for making this happen and particularly General Shaw Clifton for his willingness to issue this apology.

I also want to thank all those who have participated in today’s event. I know that there are many Salvationists who have contributed to this day and whilst I do not know them all I would like to say thank you for all that you have done to ensure that this day goes smoothly.

However, this is also a sad occasion because it is a day that should never have occurred. There should never have been the situation whereby children were abused in every conceivable manner by Salvation Army officers and although these terrible things did happen I recognise the fact that the Salvation Army is trying to right that record and reconcile with those who have been hurt.

Whilst it is a fact that there were many officers who failed to do the right thing, there is also the acknowledgement that there were also many fine officers who also suffered at the hands of superior officers by attempting to do what was right and proper.

We have each suffered in varying ways and the abuses that we individually suffered have affected each of us and in many cases still affect us. This apology means that there is recognition of that suffering and an acknowledgment that never again will anything like this ever occur. It also means that we didn’t ask to be abused, as is often inferred – we were the innocent victims.

Memories are very powerful, influencing factors and although I, like each of you, suffered, I also have had the great

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privilege of getting to know again many of the fine, wonderful people who I spent time with in care. I value and cherish the friendships I made as I’m sure you also do.

We also have to remember today those who can’t be with us. For some, the memories are still too traumatic and they suffer nightmares, flashbacks, and other traumas.

Some live hermit-like existences, too afraid to travel. Some are in lonely prison cells, some in hospital, some are ill, some are in psychiatric care, some live overseas and, sadly, there are those who are no longer with us either through natural causes or because the memories were too hurtful and so they sadly chose to take their own lives.

There are also those who just couldn’t bring themselves to come along today for various reasons and we miss them all. I

hope that this day is a day of healing – I know the memories are bitter but we need to remember that while we can’t change the past we can influence the future for good and for the betterment of humanity.

I want to leave you with a quote from Viktor Frankl, a man who survived four concentration camps, endured the death of his entire family and who was still able to talk about hope in the midst of adversity.

“I do not forget any good deed done to me and I do not carry a grudge for a bad one.” Don’t forget the good – the friends and family we now have, they mean more to us than anything we endured and no one can take that away from us.

Thank you again for coming today and for allowing me to represent you in this historic event, I hope it has enriched you and brought you at least some form of closure.

High Council to elect new General

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or the first time in its 82-year history, The Salvation Army’s High Council will have more female members than males.

The 17th High Council convenes on Friday, 21 January, 2011, at Sunbury Court, United Kingdom, to elect the 19th General of The Salvation Army in succession to General Shaw Clifton, who will retire at midnight on 1 April, 2011.

This will also be the largest High Council with 109 members, including 57 women and 52 men.

The Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Barry Swanson, issued summonses on 1 December, 2010, to those Salvation Army leaders who qualified for membership.

All active commissioners, territorial commanders and territorial presidents for women’s ministries have been summoned.

There will be 83 commissioners and 26 colonels present. Among them will be the Australia Eastern Territorial

Commander, Commissioner Linda Bond, and the territory’s former chief secretary and secretary for women’s ministries, respectively, Commissioners James and Jan Condon. The Condons only took up new appointments at the Army’s International Headquarters in November; Commissioner James as International Secretary for the South Pacific and East Asia, and Commissioner Jan as Zonal Secretary for Women’s Ministries – South Pacific and East Asia.

Council members will also meet at Sunbury Court from Tuesday, 18 January, until Thursday, 20 January, for a plenary session of the General’s Consultative Council led by General Clifton.

A public welcome to the High Council takes place on Saturday, 22 January, at the Lancaster London Hotel, Hyde Park. This gathering will incorporate a Retirement Salute to General Shaw Clifton and Commissioner Helen Clifton.

What is the High Council?

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ll generals, with the exception of General William Booth and General Bramwell Booth, were elected by a High Council. This is a body convened to adjudicate the fitness for office of a General to fill a vacancy in that office. It comprises the Chief of Staff, all officers with the rank of commissioners, except the spouse of the General, and all territorial commanders.

It meets in London at International Headquarters and is convened by the Chief of the Staff. If there arises a need to adjudicate on the fitness of a General to remain in office, the High Council is summoned by the Chief of the Staff and not less than seven other commissioners, or if the Chief of the Staff is not one of the requisitioners, not fewer than 10 commissioners, provided that no two requisitioners are married to each other.

The High Council’s new website is: www.salvationarmy.org/highcouncil2011

Generals of The Salvation Army William Booth 1860 - 1912 Bramwell Booth 1912 - 1929 Edward Higgins 1929 - 1934 Evangeline Booth 1934 - 1939 George Carpenter 1939 - 1946 Albert Orsborn 1946 - 1954 Wilfred Kitching 1954 - 1963 Frederick Coutts 1963 - 1969 Erik Wickberg 1969 - 1974 Clarence Wiseman 1974 - 1977 Arnold Brown 1977 - 1981 Jarl Wahlstrom 1981 - 1986 Eva Burrows 1986 - 1993 Bramwell Tillsley 1993 - 1994 Paul Rader 1994 - 1999 John Gowans 1999 - 2002 General Shaw Clifton will step down as world leader of The Salvation Army on 1 April, having served in the position since 2006.

John Larsson 2002 - 2006 Shaw Clifton 2006 - 2011

pipeline 01/2011 19

Legal minds bring law and order They are the meticulous minds who help The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory navigate the at-times turbulent waters of the legal world. Sarah Hogan and Luke Geary are the two key players in managing the territory’s legal services which have undergone a major restructure over the past 12 months. The Australia Eastern Territory now has two distinct units; Territorial Legal, which is overseen by Sarah, and Salvos Legal, co-ordinated by Luke. In their line of work there is little margin for error.

Pipeline’s BILL SIMPSON and ESTHER PINN meet the people whose work behind the scenes has such a significant impact on the public face of The Salvation Army

Fighting for the last, the least and the lost

By BILL SIMPSON

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lmost 120 years after Salvation Army founder William Booth proposed a Poor Man’s Lawyer agency be established, the Australia Eastern Territory has become the first outside North America to introduce it.

Sydney lawyer Luke Geary, a Salvation Army Adherent, has been chosen to head the agency, known as Salvos Legal. It will, among other things, provide free legal advice and representation to a public which cannot afford to pay.

Luke sees Salvos Legal as “a personal spiritual calling ... the right opportunity at the right time”. He has given up a partnership in a Sydney law firm to establish the Salvos Legal agency.

With the help of others, Luke has been providing free legal advice in more than 1500 cases for the past five years through Courtyard Legal at Auburn and Parramatta corps. Now, his service is becoming territorial.

“Lives have been transformed from misery to hope; souls have been saved; The Salvation Army has served the poor,” he says.

Salvos Legal is an expansion of Courtyard Legal. It has two sections; one called Salvos Legal and the other called Salvos Legal Humanitarian.

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Salvos Legal will assist the business community and other individuals who have the ability to pay for a solicitor or conveyancer to meet their various legal needs, mainly in the areas of residential and commercial conveyancing, business law and estate law (probate). Revenue received from the commercial work will fund the humanitarian arm, which will serve people who cannot afford the cost of a solicitor to advise and, in some cases, represent them in court.

The plan is to start Salvos Legal in Sydney, then Brisbane and Canberra, extending it to each division in the Australia Eastern Territory, and finally, to corps. It will be staffed by full-time and volunteer lawyers.

Luke acknowledges that William Booth’s Poor Man’s Lawyer, revealed in the General’s 1890 book In Darkest England and the Way Out, is the inspiration for the agency’s establishment.

In his book, General Booth proposed the creation of a Salvation Army department that would include an “advice agency ... where men and women in trouble can communicate in confidence the cause of their anxiety with a certainty that they will receive a sympathetic hearing and the best advice”.

The agency, said General Booth, would also be “a Poor Man’s Lawyer, giving

the best legal counsel as to the course to be pursued in the various circumstances with which the poor find themselves confronted”.

Thirdly, said General Booth, the agency would act as a Poor Man’s Tribune to “undertake the defence of friendless prisoners ... ” The three points raised by General Booth are those included in the Salvos Legal concept. General Booth went even further, proposing the agency also act as a “court of arbitration” to handle, among other things, disputes over breach of promise, cruelty to children, cruelty to animals, compensation for accidents and even wrongful dismissal of workers.

Luke Geary suggests appropriate courts already exist in 2010 to deal with those matters.

He acknowledges the work of the Legal Aid Commission – which, through government funding, assists low-income earners – and says it is not the intention of Salvos Legal to compete with that agency, hence the decision to work with commerce to finance The Salvation Army service.

Research for Pipeline by the Army’s Heritage Centre in Sydney supports Luke’s belief that the Australia Eastern Territory is the first in The Salvation Army outside North America to introduce William Booth’s Poor Man’s Lawyer

Summary of services Salvos Legal - Humanitarian Managing Partner – Luke Geary Ph: 02 9213 3902 Fax: 02 9266 99593 Web: www.salvoslegal.org.au

Luke Geary has been chosen to lead the new Salvos Legal agency. Photo: Shairon Paterson

concept in such detail, although there have been various programs – including Courtyard Legal, Wills Days and other free legal services – on a limited scale.

Salvos Legal opened in a Surry Hills (Sydney) office on 30 November. It is staffed by an accredited specialist in property law (Andy Stucken) and a senior licensed conveyancer (Peter Pitson) who, along with Luke, will be the founding members of the commercial side of the agency. Salvos Legal Humanitarian has hired former Commonwealth Prosecutor Rizpah Jarvis as one of its founding members. With a compassionate heart to fight for the rights of the disadvantaged, Rizpah helps to lead an army of volunteer

lawyers in areas of criminal law, family and children’s law, debt, housing, Centrelink and migration and refugee law cases.

The Humanitarian firm also has parttime advice bureaus operating out of corps at Auburn, Parramatta, Miranda and Campsie.

“Salvos Legal and Salvos Humanitarian is a very positive step for The Salvation Army,” Luke suggests.

“In Darkest England and the Way Out, William Booth had a plan for a Poor Man’s Lawyer – The Salvation Army’s very own law firm able to fight for the last, the least and the lost.

“This is Salvos Legal.”

Internal and external requests for: • Social justice assistance • Court and prison – representation • Refugee and immigration issues • Human rights assistance • Legal aid enquiries • Family and child custody law • Welfare – social security law • Housing law

Salvos Legal - Commercial • Personal property matters – conveyancing

• Non-Salvation Army

commercial property

• Property and business law • Wills and estates where •

The Salvation Army is nonbeneficiary Commercial immigration (student and work visas)

pipeline 01/2011 21

S

Legal matters keep Sarah busy

By ESTHER PINN

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f you visit her office on the eighth floor of The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territorial Headquarters in Sydney, it is immediately obvious that Sarah Hogan, Territorial Legal Counsel, is an extremely busy person.

Taking time out of her hectic schedule, Sarah, a qualified solicitor, explains the scope and significance of matters she manages, aided by her team within the legal department.

“There are two distinct legal services in the territory – the Territorial Legal Department (THQ Legal) and the newly constituted Salvos Legal,” she explains.

“While Salvos Legal deals with social justice and humanitarian matters, THQ Legal focuses on managing and coordinating all legal matters that involve The Salvation Army as an entity throughout the three states of this territory.”

Heading up the territory’s legal department, Sarah’s role is to be the central reference point of contact and conduit for all legal matters and issues impacting the territory and its people – a role that is a constituted part of all

territories throughout the international Salvation Army.

THQ Legal administers more areas than your average CBD law firm, including all issues that any larger religious or not-for-profit organisation encounters.

In addition to this are matters unique to The Salvation Army – everything from funding agreements and contracts for social programs, property leasing, acquisition and sales contracts, wills and estate work, discrimination and fairwork claims, mediation relative to antidiscrimination and human rights disputes, purchase and supply agreements, editing official minutes and reviewing the legal structure of the Army.

The department also spends a large amount of time in intellectual property – protecting the images and reputation of The Salvation Army through registering its trademarks and business names. Privacy issues are also managed by the team.

As part of her position, Sarah fulfils the role of secretary to the board of trustees and is a member of the Territorial Operations Council, the peak territorial board for the management of all business and general operations.

Sarah explains that any legal matter that involves The Salvation Army as an entity must be reported to THQ Legal through the relevant head of department or divisional commander, otherwise The Salvation Army’s ministries and reputation could be at stake.

“If they don’t come here, then I can’t protect the Army and the Territorial Commander and trustees,” says Sarah.

It is not just Sarah who completes all the hard work for the Territorial Legal Department.

There’s a dedicated team of four employees and the retired legal secretary, Major Mervyn Holland, assisting with the enormous workload.

Summing up what the Territorial Legal Department does on a daily basis, Sarah says: “If it involves you because of your connection to the Army, it’s my problem.

“The function of THQ Legal is closely tied to Mission Priority Four – Our people, equipped and empowered to serve the world.

“We believe that by providing legal support to the territory, and in particular to leadership, we are enabling the territory to meet the most basic of Salvationist precept: To save souls, grow saints, and serve suffering humanity.”

Summary of services Territorial Legal Office Territorial Legal Counsel – Sarah Hogan Ph: 02 9266 9554 Fax: 02 9266 9592

Sarah Hogan heads up The Salvation Army Eastern Territory Legal Office.

Photo: Shairon Paterson

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All internal matters including: • Corps/Centre legal issues • Litigation where The Salvation Army is a party • Subpoenas • Contracts – goods and services • Funding agreements • Memoranda of Understanding • Estates and bequests • Leasing – owned by or leased to The Salvation Army • Anti-discrimination claims • Employment relations issues – in conjunction with the Employment Relations team • Human Rights Commission claims • Trademarks and copyright • Business name registrations • Privacy

with Major Barbara Sampson

Learning to be a disciple

ion he Salvat T g in il p ife While com ords Of L W r la u p ARA Army’s po jor BARB a M l, a n hy devotio te a lengt ro w N O ich S SAMP Habits wh ly o H d le it er the series ent roduce ov p re l il w Pipeline ear coming y

The word ‘‘discipline’’ sounds harsh, perhaps bringing to mind childhood memories of a teacher with a strap or a mother with a wooden spoon. Discipline, however, used in a Christian context simply means ‘‘learning to be a disciple’’.

While the making and breaking of new-year resolutions is high on some people’s agendas at the moment, the practice of spiritual disciplines opens us up to an altogether more positive way of living – and not just for the first few days of a new year.

Spiritual disciplines are holy habits that help us to live with freedom and contentment as God’s people in a world that calls us constantly to stockpile more and more, and to live faster and faster.

Spiritual disciplines help us to slow down and create space to remember God in the midst of a world that is often confusing. Spiritual disciplines help us to be more present to God, ourselves and each other.

The whole purpose of spiritual disciplines is that we might, as Paul puts it, “not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind” (Rom 12:2).

So we pray with Ignatius as we begin this series: ‘‘Lord, turn my whole being to your praise and service.’’

2 Timothy 2:14-16 ”Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analysing and accurately dividing – rightly handling and skilfully teaching – the Word of Truth’ (v. 15, Amplified Bible).

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ention the word “study” to some people and they visibly cringe as they remember dull school days, rote learning and cramming for exams.

“No thanks,” they say, “I’m glad to be past all that!” Such people would agree with the writer of Ecclesiastes who reckoned that “much study wearies the body” (12:12).

In the journey towards transformation that is the Christian life, however, the discipline of study plays a vital part. Study

has a clear goal, a godly purpose and a wide focus.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes of the contrast between conforming to the patterns of the world and being transformed by the renewing of the mind (12:2). The mind is made new as it applies itself to things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8). These are things Paul tells the believers at Philippi, they should think about, set their minds on and give their hearts to. As they do, they will be changed and set free (see John 8:32).

This is study’s clear goal.

When it comes to studying Scripture, it is all too easy to skim the surface, like a dragonfly darting over a still pond – but like a miner, the deeper you dig, the richer the seam of treasure you discover.

The psalmist declared he had hidden

God’s word in the depths of his heart as a guard against sin (Psalm 119:11). Paul tells young Timothy to study the Scripture so that he might be “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:17). This is study’s godly purpose.

As well as studying Scripture we need to read and reflect on other books, movies and even the daily newspaper.

A study of people and body language will yield rich dividends in understanding human nature. Observation of the created world – often referred to as “God’s other book“ – will, in the words of Russian author Fyodor Dostoevski, help us to “perceive the divine mystery in things“.

This is study’s wide focus.

To reflect on What is God’s invitation in the discipline of study for you today?

pipeline 01/2011 23

Eighty years ago this month, the Australia Eastern Territory’s Blazers session of cadets were commissioned as Salvation Army officers. Three of those cadets, who have all reached the age of 100, have given Pipeline’s SIMONE WORTHING an insight into their lives and officership.

Mrs Brigadier Lily Baker

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rs Brigadier Lily Baker, who turned 100 in October last year, was one of the standard bearers for the Blazers session of cadets.

“I carried the flag on the girls’ side and always kept the brass joiners polished,” she recalled.

Times were tough economically when Brigadier Baker (nee Neville) was a cadet.

“We marched everywhere we went, or caught the tram to save money,” she said.

“Our rooms were just cubicles with a curtain on which we hung our clothes. We weren’t allowed to have anything to do with the boys. Classes were held separately at different ends of the college and we united on Monday mornings for prayers.

I got into trouble once for talking with the secretary of one of the corps.”

Brigadier Baker’s first appointment after commissioning in January 1931, was to Maclean in northern NSW. Her appointments as a corps officer also included Werris Creek, where she had to ride her bike to Grafton to catch the train, Dorrigo, Rozelle and Adamstown.

“All appointments were enjoyable and had their own particular memories,” she said. “In those days the challenge was raising enough finance for the corps. You weren’t guaranteed a salary and very often had to rely on help from corps folk.

“I learned over the years that lack of money doesn’t cause a problem. I learned to tackle anything and found that the Lord fits and equips.”

The then-Captain Neville married

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Captain Robert Baker in 1936. They served as corps officers in locations including Parkes, Leeton, Penrith, Singleton, Burwood, Earlwood and Dee Why. The Bakers retired in 1971. Brigadier Robert Baker was promoted to glory in 1980.

Brigadier Baker gave some advice for those considering entering the training college today. “Be very sure that the Lord has called you,” she said.

“Officership is not a job, it is a dedicated service and the only way you can be sure that this is the direction that God would

have for you would be through prayer and studying God’s Word.” l Brigadier Baker was promoted to glory on 15 December, with her three daughters and two nieces by her side. “We are so proud of the way she endured the past few months of immobility and are pleased she is now at peace,” said daughter Jean Archer.

Major Bill Mole conducted the funeral at Gosford Corps on 21 December.

Brigadier Baker is survived by three children, nine grandchildren and 18 greatgrandchildren.

Brigadier Lily Baker as a young Salvationist; and celebrating her 100 birthday last year with Commissioner Jan Condon and Majors Lea Palmer and Cheralynne Pethybridge.

Mrs Lieutenant-Colonel Coral Duck-Chong

“I

was only 21 when I entered the training college in 1930,” says LieutColonel Coral Duck-Chong.

“We had some fun-loving girls in our session but for some reason, some of them didn’t like the name of our session – the Blazers. I would often tell them that they shouldn’t worry, that it’s a great name.”

Lieut-Colonel Duck-Chong, then Coral Taylor, was commissioned as a Salvation Army officer in January 1931.

“My first appointment was at a nursing home and I liked it, mainly because I got to see my future husband, Donald DuckChong, frequently,” she says, smiling.

The Duck-Chongs were married in January 1932 and served in various appointments in Goulburn, Sydney, Armidale, and at Australia Eastern Territorial Headquarters in Sydney.

“I believe my calling was to support my husband in ministry,” Lieut-Colonel DuckChong says.

“The greatest lesson that I have learnt is to be an obedient officer. It is very important to be not only obedient to God in your life, but obedient to The Salvation

Army, which is used by God.” The Duck-Chongs retired from officership in 1966. Lieut-Colonel Donald Duck-Chong was promoted to glory in 1996.

Lieut-Colonel Duck-Chong will turn 102 this month. She has six children, nine grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Lieut-Colonel Coral Duck Chong celebrating her 100th birthday in 2009; and as a cadet handing out copies of the War Cry in 1930.

Mrs Brigadier Mary Maxwell

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rs Brigadier Mary Maxwell, who celebrated her 100th birthday in November last year, has many fond memories of the Blazers session of cadets.

“During those early years the training of cadets was very strict, but we made the most of our time together and were a very happy session,” she says.

“The 12 months were so beneficial and we all drew closer to God and after commissioning kept up our friendships.

“For me, the most significant highlight

of my time as a cadet was meeting my husband-to-be, Captain (Thomas) Earle Maxwell.”

After appointments in Five Dock and Gilgandra, the then-Lieutenant Mary Francis married Captain Earle Maxwell in 1933 and the couple was appointed to Cowra. Other appointments included Orange, West End, Sydney Congress Hall, Toowoomba and Albion, as well as Bexley Boys’ Home, the Sydney and Brisbane People’s Palaces and Mancare in Canberra.

Brigadier Maxwell as a cadet; and shortly after her 100th birthday in November.

“The most memorable and challenging appointment would have been West End in Queensland,” Brigadier Maxwell says.

“While serving there, Earle and I suffered the loss of our youngest son, Douglas, to a drowning accident and this had a deep impact upon the family as well as the corps. At the Memorial Service, the War Cry of the day reported that there were more than 30 public re-consecrations, with many offering themselves for full-time service as officers.”

Brigadier Earle Maxwell was promoted to glory suddenly in 1972, and Mrs Brigadier Maxwell retired immediately after his passing. As she reflects on her 100 years, many lessons stand out.

“The biggest lesson for me would be that life has presented many difficult moments and situations, but through those I have grown to enjoy a more dependent relationship with God,” she says.

“This brings to mind Isaiah 41-10, ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’

“Despite the challenges of the past, I can only look back with thanksgiving.”

Brigadier Maxwell had five children and has seven grandchildren, 13 greatgrandchildren, and three great-greatgrandchildren.

pipeline 01/2011 25

In August last year, General PAUL RADER, former world leader of The Salvation Army, delivered the annual Coutts Memorial Lecture at Booth College in Sydney. By popular request, Pipeline is reproducing in written form, as a two-part series, the lecture given by the General

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y parents were both preachers and winsome exemplars of holiness. I grew up with holiness teaching and example.

My mother was a gentle spirit with a talent for loving. My father was a singleminded, passionate evangelist to the last days of his long life; promoted to glory at 92 – a Salvationist zealot. He wanted those he won to Christ to survive, and more; to thrive in grace.

Holiness was for them the only safe option, as he saw it. He had entered into the experience himself and fervently urged it upon his family and all who came under the influence of his ministry.

He had a joyful certainty about his message. It was all aglow with the possibilities of grace. We found it infectious, as did others.

When he died, our children wrote tributes. Our eldest recalled how God had spoken to her so often through her grand-dad: “… through that booming, passionate, hopeful, edifying, loving voice.

I’m still listening,” she said. And so are we.

He introduced his children from our teens to a wide range of holiness writers.

Not all were Wesleyans. They included Hannah Whitehall Smith, Ruth Paxson, Norman Grubb, L E Maxwell, Paget Wilkes, Sidlow Baxter, Oswald Chambers

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and Samuel Logan Brengle. Some were in the Keswick tradition. Brengle was the Army’s most effective and articulate proponent of scriptural holiness. He spoke at my parent’s wedding – in the days when they sometimes charged admission, took an offering and gave an invitation to receive Christ, too! He was a prophet with a burden for the future.

“The bridge the Army throws across the impassable gulf which separates the sinner from the Saviour, who pardons that He may purify, who saves that He may sanctify, rests upon these two abutments; the forgiveness of sins through simple, penitent, obedient faith in a crucified Redeemer, and the purifying of the heart and empowering of the soul through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, given by its risen and ascended Lord, and received not by works, but by faith.

Remove either of these abutments and the bridge falls; preserve them in strength and a world of lost and despairing sinners can be confidently invited and urged to come and be gloriously saved. It is this holiness that we must maintain, else we shall betray our trust; we shall lose our birthright ... our glory will depart ... we shall have no heritage of martyr-like sacrifice, of spiritual power, of daredevil faith, of pure, deep joy, of burning love, of holy triumph, to bequeath to [our children].” (Quoted Waldron 1987:109-111)

Holiness movement

The Army has from the start been a holiness movement and despite Major Alan Harley’s rather jeremiad assessment (he makes a convincing case in an article published in the May 2009 issue of Word and Deed, entitled “Is The Salvation Army really a holiness movement?” A question with which I resonate!), I believe the Army will continue to be a holiness movement.

With other holiness denominations, the Army has struggled with the issues of doctrinal clarity, effective articulation of essentials with contemporary relevance and unanimity of understanding. But the Army is still a vital part of the holiness movement, here (Australia) and around the world. Full salvation is emblazoned on our banner of blood and fire and we mean to keep it billowing.

“… the Army is still a vital part of the holiness movement, here and around the world.”

Like many of you, I grew up in Sunday morning holiness meetings, singing holiness songs and choruses. I was weaned on Wesley’s holiness hymns.

Early on, I began seeking the blessing of a clean heart with teenage passion and persistence. At Asbury College (in the United States), I was more thoroughly grounded in the theological foundations of holiness teaching. We had questions, but used to take comfort in the thought that what they could not explain about it on our side of the street (the college), they probably knew the answers to on the other side of the street where Asbury

Theological Seminary was located. So I crossed the street. Meanwhile, I married the daughter of a holiness camp meeting evangelist, whose precious mother was the epitome of holy love.

So, in the interests of full disclosure, I confess to being a child of the holiness revival of the 19th century and schooled in the Wesleyan tradition of the 18th century. I have imbibed the perspectives of a broader range of holiness teachers of the 20th century – our own in the Army, and others, as well.

I now have been preaching and teaching the truth of scriptural holiness, so far as I have understood and internalised it, for 50 years. Across those years, I have been seeking to live out the reality of its truth in the context of family and our officership calling, most often in a cross-cultural context. And now, in this 21st century, I am still searching for more adequate metaphors to relate this truth to our time. Preaching to students during the six years of my presidency at a Christian college, I have worked at trying to make this truth accessible and compelling to this generation of students – the millennials. I think I understand some of the questions better than ever. I am quite sure that I don’t have the final answers.

The ‘Shorter Way’

Among the issues that have figured prominently in defining the saving work of Christ in the human heart is the question of when and how the experience of entire sanctification can be anticipated and appropriated. What is called the “Shorter Way” was taught by Phoebe Palmer who so directly influenced Catherine Booth.

For Palmer, the altar sanctifies the gift. Entire sanctification is realised when believers fully submit to the lordship of

Christ and place themselves and all they are or hope to be on the altar and claim by faith God’s promise for heart-cleansing.

Catherine Booth reflects this view in her own witness to a sanctifying experience of grace (Green 1996:103-107).

“The altar sanctifies the gift; Thy blood insures the boon divine; My outstretched hands to heaven I lift, And claim the Father’s promise mine.”

- Francis Bottome (1823-94) 208 v. 4 The “Shorter Way” found definition in the heat of the 19th century awakening and the American Holiness Movement.

In this view, writes Christopher Bounds, “entire sanctification is a simple synergism in which the work of consecration and faith by a Christian is met immediately with deliverance from the inner propensity to sin by the Holy Spirit” (Bounds 2005:2).

This view was dominant in the Army from the beginning and is represented perhaps best in the writings of Commissioner Samuel Logan Brengle, although care should be taken not to oversimplify Brengle’s understanding of the experience of sanctification and the life of holiness which he developed in his literary legacy of wise pastoral counsel.

A “Middle Way” is more representative of John Wesley’s perspective as he refined his theology of sanctification over the long years of his preaching ministry. By pursuing the means of grace and attending to the Word of God, the heart is prepared to receive the grace necessary to claim the blessing of a clean heart. It is God who creates in the heart of the believer the hunger for holiness and who beckons us onward toward that moment when in the encounter of faith and the word of promise the Spirit does the sanctifying work and, sooner or later, witnesses that the >>>

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heart has been made pure. Usually some level of maturity is required before the need is felt for a deeper work of grace and a full and knowing consecration becomes possible. It is then, as God grants the grace to claim His promise, that the believer is enabled to appropriate the blessing.

Indeed, not to do so is to back up on light and put the soul in jeopardy.

It is the general demise of a confident proclamation of these understandings of entire sanctification in the teaching and preaching of the Army that Major Harley finds troubling.

The ‘Longer Way’

A third view has been gaining wide currency among holiness denominations, particularly since the mid-20th century.

It understands entire sanctification to be appropriated only by a long process of growth. It is the “Longer Way”. The focus is on a lengthy process of dying to self following on years of growing spiritual awareness. Few believers will attain the goal before death; most only when we are glorified.

All of these views have their advocates presently within the broader Wesleyan holiness tradition. They all posit a death to the self-life and a cleansing from the inner pollution of sin. They all affirm the possibility of living “self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:12-14 TNIV).

In his helpful survey of holiness teaching, Spiritual Breakthrough (1983), General John Larsson describes the gradual modification of John Wesley’s original insights regarding entire sanctification.

Wesley himself revised his understanding over time from viewing the crisis of sanctification as available only to a few very near to the “summit of the mountain of holiness”, often only shortly before death.

Later, he affirmed the experience was available to believers earlier in their faith journey. His 19th century disciples confidently proclaimed that the crisis of cleansing and infilling of pure love for God and others is “necessary and attainable for all believers”.

It is this understanding that is reflected in our 10th doctrine: “We believe it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified ...”

Larsson concludes: “The crisis has become the gateway, not the goal. And the crisis is, therefore, not for the few athletes of the spirit who have nearly made it to the top. It is the way in to spiritual progress, and is, therefore, meant for everybody.”

(1983:46). It is this view that was presented in the 1969 revision of the Handbook of Doctrine and further explicated in the extensive writings of General Frederick Coutts on the life of holiness.

He writes: “In penitent obedience, I yield up a forgiven life. In faith believing, I receive of His Spirit.

That is the beginning ... a full surrender is the beginning of the life of holy living; the end of that experience I do not – I cannot – see ...

In grace as in wisdom ‘hills peep o’er hills and alps on alps arise’.

Spiritually, there is always the glory of going on and still to be.”

(Coutts 1957:37).

“Our human nature, left to itself, always clings to the lower levels General Paul Rader delivers the annual Coutts Memorial ... Few of us seize that Lecture at Booth College, Sydney. banner with the strange device, “Holiness unto the Lord”, and are crises of various kinds. Indeed, E Stanley lost to sight making for the summit of the Jones averred, that “the soul gets on by a holy hill of God. series of crises”.

Only Jesus can rouse us into making such an attempt. Then look to Him that Sources cited He may quicken you with holy desire which, by the presence and power of Waldron, John (ed.), The Privilege of All the Holy Spirit, may find its fullest Believers, Atlanta: Salvationist Supplies expression in holy - that is to say, Christand Purchasing, 1987. like - living” (ibid., 21).

Critical place of crisis

Each of these views - the shorter, the middle and the longer way - contribute importantly to an understanding of the possibilities of grace and the way of holiness.

Ultimately, the issue is how the experience is played out in the business of living - in the depth of our devotion, the purity of our love toward God and others, and the consistency of our walk as the Lord Jesus lives His life in us and through us and we are transformed into His image.

What must not be lost in our engagement with the issues of purity and maturity, of crisis and process, is the critical place of the crisis. “The crisis must be followed by the process,” writes Coutts, and we agree. But then, this: “Any comprehensive view of holiness must have room for both. The experience can neither be explained, nor lived, without crisis and process.” (Coutts 1957: 37).

And let us make room for the experience of those whose progress in the life of holiness has involved a series of

Green, Roger J., Catherine Booth: A Biography of the Cofounder of The Salvation Army, Grand Rapids MI: Baker Books, 1996.

Bounds, Chris, “Spiritual Transformation: What is the Range of Current Teaching on Sanctification and What Ought a Wesleyan to Believe on this Doctrine?” A paper presented to the Doctrinal Symposium sponsored by the Wesleyan Church, May 2005.

Coutts, The Call to Holiness, London: Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, 1957.

General Paul Rader was world leader of The Salvation Army from 1994-1999.

Trudy right with on

page

writing

experiment

By GUY DUNCAN

T

rudy Adams was just “experimenting” when at 17 she decided to write a novel while studying for the Higher School Certificate.

Six years later, her “experiment”, Desolate Beauty, claimed third prize in the Australian Christian Book of the Year awards.

When she started writing the novel, Trudy never considered that it would be published let alone win an award, but her surprise success has since inspired her to continue writing.

Completing a postgraduate degree in

youth studies last year, Trudy, now 23, works at The Salvation Army Oasis Youth Centre at Wyong on the NSW Central Coast.

She has completed four books. Her second Christian fiction novel, Judging Meghan, hit the book stores late last year after being launched at an event held at the Oasis centre.

Special guest Reverend Fred Nile attended the launch and congratulated Trudy on her achievement.

“It takes a lot of dedication to get a book published and by publishing two books, Trudy has already achieved a lot,” he said.

Trudy describes herself as an observer

of people. This trait is evident in her writing as her books follow a similar theme; the social and family life of a teenage girl.

Judging Meghan follows the title character, Meghan Manley, and is set in the late 1920s during The Great Depression.

Meghan and her family are forced onto the streets after losing their farm and this is where the struggle to survive begins.

Meghan’s family is functional but is going through a difficult time. The book charts their experiences of hardship which serve to bring them together as they learn about the importance of friendship and integrity.

“I’ve always believed that younger people have a greater capacity to make a difference than we sometimes credit them for, and this story is about Meghan tapping into that and discovering what she’s capable of,” Trudy said.

Trudy is hopeful of finding a publisher for the other two novels she has written while she has also started work on yet another fictional story.

“Although the process of getting published can be challenging, it’s also very rewarding to think that something I wrote may positively impact another person,” she said.

In the meantime, she plans to continue empowering teenagers through her work with The Salvation Army on the Central Coast.

Judging Meghan can be ordered online or purchased in book stores nationally.

n author Trudy

Judging Megha

Adam

Fred Nile at s with Reverend

r new book.

the launch of he

pipeline 01/2011 29

T

he Salvation Army’s Flying Padre, Envoy Simon Steele, clocked up thousands of air miles in his helicopter late last year to bring a little bit of Christmas cheer to people in the Queensland outback.

It’s been an exhausting schedule for Simon, regularly putting in 12-hour days for weeks on end. But letters like these (pictured) from children at Forsayth State School, in Far North Queensland, expressing their heartfelt thanks to the Flying Padre, make all the long hours and days away from his family worthwhile.

“Simon visited 24 schools over the last school term, delivering shoes and toys to the children,” says Envoy Natalie Steele, Simon’s wife and fellow Flying Padre.

“The shoes, which have been donated to The Salvation Army by Payless, have actually been a significant gift. Lots of kids don’t have good shoes so to be able to give them some has been fantastic. They’ve been really well received and many of the letters of thanks we’ve got have specifically mentioned the shoes.”

Simon began his “Christmas run” in late September and only finished the visits in mid-December. During that time, he flew thousands of kilometres all over Central and North Queensland – the Flying Padre’s “backyard” actually covers a staggering 800,000 square kilometres.

“Some of the schools Simon visited have as few as eight students while others have as many as 170,” says Natalie.

“Simon usually lands the chopper on the school oval and the kids all come out to watch him. As well as delivering the gifts he often gives a talk about the chopper and the work of the Flying Padre including explaining the Bible verse – ‘Christ’s love compels us’ [1 Cor. 5:14] – which is printed on the side of the chopper.”

In between his school visits, Simon has also been busy delivering Christmas hampers to remote cattle stations, particular in the Gulf Country of Far North Queensland.

Having taken delivery of the new helicopter only earlier this year, it’s the first time the Flying Padre Service has been able to visit many of these isolated stations. Previously, with the Flying Padre aeroplane, his visits were restricted to areas which could provide a landing strip.

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Flying Padre Envoy Simon Steele with children from Forsayth State School.

pipeline 01/2011 31

Fringe

RATING: M RELEASE DATE: Wednesdays 9:30pm Go!

I

spend a lot of my time helping individuals and organisations come to terms with communication in the 21st century, so it’s not unusual for me to meet people who are afraid of the “fringe”.

It’s that ragged edge of technology we are only vaguely aware of that lies at the limit of our knowledge. For my parents, it’s the DVD player; for my wife it’s cloud computing; for my clients it’s the social media. To some extent we’re all afraid of it because it represents where we cease to be in control and start to be at the mercy of forces we do not understand. The television show Fringe is built around just such a loss of control.

Fringe is the natural successor to The

32

X Files. It centres on FBI agent Olivia Dunham, a female Fox Mulder, who is assigned to work with the brilliant but unstable Dr Walter Bishop and his “connected” son Peter to solve a growing storm of paranormal activities. They become aware of what is referred to as “the pattern” – a collection of events that point to otherworldly interference in the Earth’s affairs – and set about solving it before it can cause untold destruction.

Fringe is in its third season and continues to work on the fertile territory that lies between weird crimes and their super-scientific solutions. From that respect it is something of a science-fiction version of CSI, so viewers should prepare themselves for the occasional messy dissection. That said, the unfolding plot line is as confusing but compelling as other grand mystery dramas like Lost. Not

surprising since one of its creators is JJ Abrams, the man behind that particular island thriller.

The Fringe mystery builds itself around edgy research and startling developments in technology. We’re not talking about better microwave ovens; we’re concerned with advances that will fundamentally change what it means to be human.

Science writers often refer to this as the arrival of the “singularity” – that point in progress when technology advances faster and further than even human beings can understand. Beyond the singularity one man’s advance becomes another man’s nightmare and Fringe’s characters struggle with a universe where technology is constantly pulling on the threads of our reality.

Fringe not only makes for good drama, it is an excellent touchstone with how many people feel about the age in which we live. Many see the fact that we can now be monitored, tracked and contacted at almost any time through a number of devices to be symptomatic of our loss of control. The increasing freedom promised by technological advances is at best an illusion, at worst a new form of slavery.

In their eyes science is actually stripping away rather than supporting that freedom.

But what if the independence we feel we are losing was the real illusion?

It ultimately comes down to how you see human life. To the scientific evolutionist we are individual organisms carving out our personal meaning in competition with everything else on the planet. Our natural state is freedom + chaos. Our technology has just as much chance of ruining us as it does of raising us to a new level of being.

The Christian sees men and women as integrated parts of the Creator’s system, whose success and security depend on his decisions. Our technological advances might damage or improve the quality of human life, but they cannot determine its progress or reduce its significance. In short, where we find meaning in life will stay the same, regardless of where the next technology takes us, and Fringe’s world is only on the brink of destruction if you believe there is no driver at the wheel.

What would Jesus view?

Morning Glory RATING: M RELEASE DATE: 6 January

T

he first 20 minutes of Morning Glory took me back 20 years. I started my media career in a number of smallish newsrooms that mirrored the frantic pace the film’s key character Becky Fuller finds herself in: tight-knit teams always lurching between the polar opposites of promotion and program closure. So, suspecting that Hollywood would follow its familiar path from trial to triumph, I was more than a little interested to learn what Morning Glory would suggest was the secret of success.

Becky Fuller, played by Rachel McAdams, is the manic television producer of a mid-size morning news program. When her job gets canned she has to evaluate whether or not her dream career in television is really worth the destruction it has wreaked on the rest of her life. Her mother summarises her situation in a way only those nearest and dearest to us can: “This is partly my fault.

I let your father get your hopes up. At 6 it was cute; at 16 it was inspiring. At 28 it’s officially embarrassing. I just want you to stop before it gets heartbreaking.”

With parents like these, who needs enemies? But, predictably, Becky won’t take no for an answer and muscles her way into the executive producer position for Day Break, America’s lastplaced national morning show. There she confronts the battling egos of former beauty queen Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) and ageing news anchor Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford). And once again I was set for a trip down memory lane ...

It is perfectly understandable why television presenters develop the giant egos they tend to possess. Every camera they step in front of is a microscope through which the public evaluates their every inflection. If they don’t develop a hardened conviction of their own ability they could hardly be expected to survive the examination. But our egos are beasts that never lack for an appetite. For Colleen, the former Miss Arizona, and Mike, who has “won every news award on the planet,” self-esteem has degenerated into bloated superiority. Harrison Ford provides an excellent portrayal of an embittered newsman who no longer sees

his co-workers: “I put a cool wash cloth on Mother Theresa’s forehead during a cholera epidemic. It’s my integrity, my talent, my reputation. Mine!”

Interestingly, the character of Becky also brings a different sort of arrogance to the script, one that Christians might be more prone to. She is prepared to sacrifice everything for the team – her dignity, her health, her chance at a fulfilling relationship – and everyone knows it. She has a dream for Day Break and she will take her team there come hell or high water. Her martyrdom is so potent it allows her to ride roughshod over Pomeroy’s desire to preserve the quality of the news.

“People have been debating news versus entertainment for years and guess what? Your side lost!”

Personal and intellectual arrogance undermines any chance for Becky’s news team to succeed. It’s a problem that Christians have been confronting in the small-team context of church since Jesus first began to collect fishermen.

So, we know the problem – what’s the cure? Sacrifice, tempered with humility.

Becky is actually not the best role model.

The counter to her conviction, and that of her hosts, is the boyfriend she so nearly pushes away. He understands her needs and responsibilities and helps her to fulfil them. He is not worried about his “standing” in the relationship and his goal is to make her happy. To use Jesus’ words, he is someone who has come to serve rather than be served.

Morning Glory is a safe choice these holidays for adult viewers looking for entertainment that is neither over-sexed nor under-thought. It may also challenge a modern conviction that the only truth is being true to you.

pipeline 01/2011 33

MISSION PRIORITIES UPDATE <— Transparent Logo

  We are on our way!

W

e're writing the next part of the story! What a magnificent story! The Bible so wonderfully reveals God's story.

It's a story of rescue.

It's a story of romance.

It's a story of adventure.

It's a story of mystery.

It's the greatest story ever told.

We love the characters. We love what we learn from them. We love what God did in their lives. We know the story.

What about the stories of the early Army?

Wonderful stories!

The incredible growth, the daring acts, the characters. Stories of rescue, romance, adventure, mystery. Different characters. Same God. He continued to write His story.

Today, He continues to write His story, but the characters right now are you and me!

What story is being written?

Will the generations who come after us think, “wow – what a story!”

2010 was a year of some wonderful stories in the Australia Eastern Territory. God is at work amongst us.

More than 1000 people were saved.

More than 150 people became soldiers.

More than 170 people became adherents.

More than 150 people became junior soldiers.

People in our nation are served beautifully every day.

All of those numbers represent people, and each of those people has a story.

We are on our way.

But the best days of The Salvation Army in our nation are still coming.

Most of us are involved in the Mission Priorities. We are putting back into the wall the bricks that have come out.

The territory spoke and said that these were the things that we needed to look at as priorities.

We're serious about seeing them become strengths again, for the sake of His Kingdom, for His Salvation Army.

Thank you for partnering with God where He is working, to write the next part of His story.

Jesus continues to transform lives.

People are living just like Jesus. There is a new dependence on God. Prayer is seen as key. Very naturally, people are sharing Jesus.

God is inspiring people with new and creative ideas.

There are corps with so much potential and that is being realised. Youth are being discipled and sent out to frontline mission.

Learning how best to work with children is seen as a priority.

People are joining us.

God keeps calling people and they are responding.

We're writing the next part of the story – His story – His magnificent story of rescue and life.

Thanks for your part in this.

Look forward to the journey, the stories and what God has in store for us in 2011.

God keeps calling people and they are responding

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Lieutenant-Colonel Miriam Gluyas is the Australia Eastern Territory’s Secretary for Program.

A vision for 2020

it's a priority



T

he Salvation Army in the Australia Eastern Territory has a vision. A vision that will be in full swing by the year 2020.

A taskforce has been created to fulfil this vision through the Mission Priorities. This taskforce, headed by Lieutenant-Colonel Miriam Gluyas, is made up of dynamic people who are passionate about serving Jesus Christ through the Salvation Army.

“The primary role of the taskforce is to give motivation to the on-going development and working out of the territorial Mission Priorities,” Major Neil Clanfield said.

“The taskforce also looks at the measures around each of the priorities giving recommendations and support where needed.”

The taskforce, together with their specialist Mission Priority, is as follows: Team Leader: Lieut-Colonel Miriam Gluyas MP1: Major Peter Farthing MP2: Craig Stevens MP3: Major Neil Clanfield MP4: Lieut-Colonel John Hodge MP5: Major Kevin Unicomb MP6: Claire Hill MP7: Captain Craig Todd (officers); Margaret Poore (soldiers)

7 MISSION PRIORITIES 1. A territory marked by prayer and holiness 2. Our whole territory – in every place – involved in evangelism 3. Corps – healthy and multiplying 4. Our people equipped and empowered to serve the world 5. The territory passionate about bringing children to Jesus 6. Youth trained and sent out to frontline mission 7. Significant increase of new soldiers and officers

There are also contacts for each division in the territory whose role it is to be the main point person for the working out of the Mission Priorities. They are: Central and North Queensland: Sandra Hargrave South Queensland: Major Stuart Reid North NSW: Captain Stuart Glover Newcastle and Central NSW: Major Warren Parkinson Sydney East and Illawarra: Major Di Maxwell Greater West: Major Gary Baker ACT and South NSW: Major Julie Alley By the year 2020, this taskforce hopes to be seeing a growing dynamic Salvation Army – relevant and mission-focused – where the Mission Priorities are a reality.

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Fr o m t h e c o a l f a c e L O CA L A N D I N T E R N AT ION A L N E W S

News FEATURE

Chief of Staff opens Brisbane aged care centre

By SIMONE WORTHING

T

he Salvation Army’s international Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Barry Swanson, accompanied by his wife, Commissioner Sue Swanson, officially opened the Cairns Aged Care Centre in Brisbane on Thursday 9 December.

Built at a cost of $38 million the Army’s new 126-bed centre, at Chapel Hill, has taken 10 years, from planning to construction, to complete. The centre is built on the site of the Army’s former Alkira complex. It will be managed by Major Steven O’Neill.

The Swansons, as part of their tour of the Army’s Australia Eastern Territory, were the special guests, along with Territorial Commander Commissioner Linda Bond, for the opening.

The first residents will move into the new 126-bed centre at the end of January.

The Cairns centre will operate a range of residential aged care services including high care (nursing) and low care (hostel).

There is also a Memory Support Unit to support residents with extra needs.

The beautifully designed and finished centre also features a chapel, single and twin rooms with ensuites, large balconies, a library, kitchen areas, garden, aviary and a hobby farm.

“Our goal is to provide an uncompromising commitment to person-centred care,” said Major O’Neill.

In her welcome speech, Sharon Callister, Chief Executive Officer of the Army’s Aged Care Plus, emphasised that individual care would be for the whole person – physical, emotional and spiritual, in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.

The centre is named after Commissioner William (Bill) Cairns, who served as a Salvation Army officer in the Australia

An exterior shot of the new $38 million Cairns Aged Care Centre at Chapel Hill. Photos: Troy Grice

36

Eastern Territory and the United Kingdom, for many years. A gifted author and speaker, Commissioner Cairns also received the Order of Australia for services to humanity before his promotion to glory.

The centre also honours Commissioner Alistair Cairns, Commissioner William’s brother, who was present for the opening ceremony. Commissioner Alistair Cairns served in Australia, Korea, South Africa and the United Kingdom. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 1996.

Commissioner Barry Swanson expressed his appreciation for the transformational work that will be done in the lives of the people at the centre.

“This speaks of God’s mission; caring for the elderly in a compassionate way and in such excellent facilities,” he said.

“We are looking forward to seeing God’s love expressed here in beautiful and surprising ways.”

He also made reference to the faithful Salvation Army leaders after whom the four floors in the centre are named – Peggy Muller, Brigadier Frank Paren, Major Hilda Sigley and Dr Frank Smyth.

“These names speak of leaders who have given themselves in such a way that leaves a godly legacy for us to follow,” he said.

Commissioner Swanson quoted Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

“These words are for all mankind, for every individual, and come with the promise of rest,” he said.

“The people coming here will find rest and peace in their concluding years and families, and future generations, will be blessed.”

Commis sioner B arry Swa Care Ce nson sp ntre befo eaks at re cuttin the Cair the com g a ribb ns Aged plex. on to offi cially op en

Fr o m t h e c o a l f a c e L O CA L A N D I N T E R N AT ION A L N E W S

News FEATURE

Bridging the gap on mental health

By SIMONE WORTHING

T

he Salvation Army in the South Burnett region of Queensland is reaching out to those in the community in need of assistance as they face mental health issues on their journey to wellness.

Every week the Army holds two meetings; one focusing on mental health recovery, the other on anger management. Ron Barker, The Salvation Army mental health consultant for SouthEast Queensland, is the initial facilitator for these groups, which began in late 2010.

“The purpose of the groups is to promote wellness and a holistic approach towards mental health and to make people aware there is hope,” he said.

“Socialising is an important factor in getting weller. The groups are about empowering people to make decisions about themselves and lifestyle. They are also about overcoming stressors in life and emphasise the need to reach out for hope.

“Our role is to encourage those who are hurting to understand their responsibilities in getting weller.”

Lieutenants Craig and Katie Harlum, South Burnett Region Corps Officer, are an integral part of these groups, as well as a partner group in creative expression. The Harlums have a passion for those struggling with mental health issues, born of their own past battles with addiction.

“God brought us both through these [battles],” said Lieut Craig Harlum.

“Separately, we both came into contact with The Salvation Army on Good Friday 2001, and began our journey to wholeness.

“We learned some skills for getting our lives back together and taking responsibility for ourselves. We’re now officers, serving God here in our first appointment and trying to help others.”

Lieut Craig helps facilitate the mental health recovery group.

“My own experience on this journey has helped me realise that it’s identifying with others, which brings a sense of hope which can be the beginning of a person’s journey to wellness,” he said.

“After speaking with divisional headquarters [South

Lieutenants Craig and Katie Harlum have started recovery groups as a result of their own battles with addiction. Photo: Courtesy of the South Burnett Times

Queensland Division] about how The Salvation Army could bridge a gap and help address the great need in the community regarding mental health issues, Ron Barker was contacted and groups were formed.”

Support groups

The Salvation Army has connected with Queensland Health in the region, which refers a wide range of people with reallife issues to the support groups including some through the Department of Community Services.

“We are now in the process of trying to find funding for these groups,” Lieut Craig said.

“We also want to try to establish a program so people with mental health issues get a comprehensive service from agencies in the community. I am part of a community group that is trying to form a consulting body to provide such a service.”

Lieut Craig attends the mental health group to provide spiritual support, while Lieut Katie Harlum helps organise the anger management group and will do so until they find a permanent facilitator.

“The groups are not just for people considered to have problems,” said Lieut Katie. “It’s for people dealing with everyday issues, and many people deal with anger on a daily basis.

“We are trying to provide support in a non-judgmental way that is caring and takes people out of isolation and helps them build relationships and support each other.

“We have found a great need in the community for what we’re doing and are filling the gap.”

Lieut Katie also leads a creative expression group. “This is for those who can communicate best through art, who marry the art with the counselling they are receiving, or who are discovering themselves through art,” she said.

Garry Eyre, a well-known local artist, approached the Harlums and asked about the possibility of together running a vocational group as part of his master’s degree in mental health (art therapy).

“This class opens people up to new areas in their lives, encourages them to explore and to be more creative as part of their journey to wellness,” Lieut Katie said.

Lieut Katie Harlum with Shirley Hession (left) and Kristy Murray enjoy the art expression classes which are a recent development at South Burnett Region Corps in Queensland.

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Alan reaps ACT community service award

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or the past 22 years, Alan Jessop has been a familiar face to locals passing through Canberra’s city centre. He spends three days a week sitting for many hours evangelising to locals and collecting money for The Salvation Army Canberra City Oasis Corps and Oasis Support Services.

These services include an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program and an education outreach program.

Alan’s faithful community service has now been recognised, with the 80-year-old recently winning the ACT Local Hero 2011 award.

With his nomination supported by The Canberra Times, Alan feels both honoured and surprised to have received this award.

“It’s been a long time coming, I have been nominated many times over the years. It was enough this time because The Canberra Times got behind me,” he said.

“I was surprised [though] as there were many other people who deserved the award.”

Alan has been part of The Salvation Army most of his life, becoming a soldier at Wollongong Corps before moving north and being involved with Taree and Maitland corps.

Over the years he has had a number of occupations, including a tailor, plumber, gasfitter and dairy farmer. He has also owned a number of post offices.

It was only when he retired that he finally had the time to support the Army on a full-time basis.

Despite his age, Alan has no intention of stopping his charity work. He has “had a few setbacks”, including two heart attacks and prostate cancer, but said he would continue to collect three days a week for the Army “while [his] health is still going”.

Alan will now join recipients from all other states and territories for Australia’s Local Hero 2011 award which will be announced on 25 January in Canberra.

Alan Jessop with his ACT Local Hero award he received for his fundraising efforts for The Salvation Army in Canberra.

Painting to inspire cadets as they grace college halls T

he painting “Grace”, by artist Karen Edwards, was officially unveiled by The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territorial Commander, Commissioner Linda Bond, at the Principal’s

Commissioner Linda Bond prays over the painting “Grace” which was unveiled and will now hang at Booth College, The Salvation Army’s training centre in Sydney. Photo: Shairon Paterson

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Reception and Silver Star evening on 8 December.

This painting will now hang on a wall at Booth College, The Salvation Army’s training centre at Bexley North, to inspire a new generation of cadets who walk through the doors to begin their studies to become Salvation Army officers.

The artwork was originally created to fill a gap in coproducer Major Peter Farthing’s historical film, Our People.

Due to the scarcity of photos, Major Farthing felt it was necessary to reconstruct this emotional and poignant moment in Salvation Army history.

The painting displays an anonymous female Salvationist talking to a prostitute, Rebecca, who was sold into the sex-trade industry at the age of 14 in London during the late 19th century.

The painting captures a moment of grace where the Salvationist greeted Rebecca with compassion and invited her to stay at White Chapel, a woman’s recovery house.

“Come in my dear, I’ve been waiting for you,” are the Salvationist’s words to Rebecca.

Commissioner Bond expressed her desire at the unveiling of the painting to see this same grace filtered throughout The Salvation Army worldwide.

“I wish for Rebecca’s experience [to be] the experience of everyone who walks into the Army. If society writes them off … we won’t,” she said.

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Record numbers march on Soldiership Bootcamp A

record number of 31 recruits representing 12 corps in The Salvation Army’s ACT and South NSW Division attended the latest Soldiership Bootcamp, held in Albury from 19-21 November.

“Since the commencement of the Soldiership Bootcamp initiative in July 2009, a total of 82 recruits have attended the four held in the division,” said Major Maree Strong, Divisional Mission and Resource Director – Corps and Officer Recruitment Representative.

The boot camp was born out of a response to a need to assist corps officers in rural areas in the training and recruiting of Salvation Army soldiers. It comprises two components called Block 1 and Block 2.

Block 1 is a weekend group intensive where recruits study Salvation Army history, the Articles of War, (Personal) Declaration of Faith, Doctrines, Distinctives and Disciplines. The weekend concludes with recruits participating in the Sunday worship service at the host corps.

Block 2 consists of a six-week personal study and reflection period in a corps environment under the guidance and support of a coach appointed by the corps officer. At the conclusion of Block 2, recruits meet with their corps officer and pastoral care team and discuss the commitment to soldiership.

Recruits are provided with a comprehensive set of resources including a training manual, Salvation Army positional statements, and copies of the books The General Next of God, Salvation Story and Chosen to be a Soldier, and the DVD The Cause – Covenant.

“Whilst the initiative originally commenced to assist rural corps in particular, corps right across the division have become actively involved in the Soldiership Bootcamp initiative,” said Major Strong.

“Additionally, great interest has been shown by existing soldiers who have wanted to reignite their passion for soldiership or become involved in a coaching capacity to recruits.”

Of the people who have attended the first three Soldiership Bootcamps, Major Strong said more than half had been enrolled as Senior Soldiers or Adherents.

“We look forward to a positive response to this last boot camp over the next few weeks,” she said.

“The Soldiership Bootcamp initiative certainly makes a positive contribution towards Mission Priority 7.”

Major Strong hopes to roll out the Soldiership Bootcamp initiative across the Army’s Australia Eastern Territory during 2011, by conducting a facilitators training course through the School for Leadership Training in Sydney for representatives in all divisions.

The latest group of recruits who attended the Soldiership Bootcamp in Albury.

Chaplain tackles school bullying problem

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alvation Army youth worker and school chaplain Hayley Vermeer recently took a stand against bullying in schools by organising an awareness day at Miller Technology High School, in Sydney’s south-west.

Hayley said there had been an increase in both physical and emotional bullying, particularly involving Year 7 students, at Miller High so with the support of teachers, she decided to hold an information day to educate students about the consequences of such behaviour.

The event was held on 19 November, with Year 7 students setting up four stalls in the school hall with brochures and information packs about bullying.

Another issue Hayley is passionate about is poverty and she also ran an information stall on this subject, showing students how people are suffering in other parts of the world.

Many parents and representatives from two primary schools in the area also attended the event to learn more about these issues.

Some of the students who took part in the bullying and poverty information day at Miller Technology High School in Sydney.

Drivers needed at aged care home T

he Salvation Army Pacific Lodge Residential Aged Care home at Dee Why in Sydney’s north needs volunteers to assist with driving residents to various appointments and outings.

A car was recently donated to Pacific Lodge which has been designated for transporting residents. Salvation Army Chaplain Captain Mavis Salt said the centre was seeking volunteers of any age and background who possessed a valid driver’s licence.

Captain Salt has worked at Pacific Lodge for almost three years, helping people who have struggled with mental illness or addictions. Many of the residents at Pacific Lodge do not have family support.

If you would like to be involved, email Mary Cameron at mary.cameron@aue.salvationarmy.org or phone 02 9982 8477.

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Project impact leaves Samantha stumped S

amantha Lynch was one of six Salvationists who took part in the inaugural Brisbane STUMP week and what she experienced changed her life.

STUMP stands for Short Term Urban Mission Project, a program which started in Sydney two years ago to give Salvationists a chance to engage in frontline mission on city streets.

An initiative of the Edify Program and operating out of The Salvation Army’s Streetlevel Mission in Sydney, more than 80 people have taken part in the project.

In September, the Army’s South Queensland Division ran its first STUMP week in Brisbane, with participants being involved in ministries at Moonyah Recovery Services rehabilitation centre, the Youth Outreach Service, Streetlevel Brisbane and Pindari and Ipswich Indigenous Ministries.

What Samantha experienced will live with her for the rest of her life.

“Spending a week working alongside the people and organisations who are bringing hope into so many people’s lives was one of the best weeks of my life. It changes you,” she said.

“You begin to see things differently and see people differently. And when I went home, what I’d experienced didn’t stay in Brisbane. Rather, it came with me. Forever challenging me, confronting me and changing how I’ll live my life.

“I would recommend STUMP to anyone, whether they are a Christian or not, or even somewhere in between.

“I went into that week after a very hard and hopeless six months, not living how I knew I should but still trying to do the ‘church’ thing anyway. But off I went knowing God was going to convict me of how I had been living and at the same time he was going to use me.

“Me, the once-strong Christian turned a very lost sheep. And use me he did.

“Before STUMP, whenever I looked at Brisbane I saw glamour and expensive buildings and even a few designer labels thrown in there. But then, in one week, it was peeled back and behind everything I was used to seeing, I found one thing that I hadn’t seen - brokenness.”

Another participant echoed Samantha’s words.

“We gave up our holidays to serve the lost, the last and the least in Brisbane, but instead found ourselves being ministered to and served by these very people,” the participant said. “It was a week full of surprises, service and occasionally some sleep with everyone growing more than they’d ever imagined.”

When asked for a favourite experience of the week another participant’s answer was simply “Moonyah” where the STUMP team ate dinner and played volleyball with the residents, before engaging in a vibrant chapel service.

Pindari was the team’s accommodation for the week and participants were given many opportunities to connect with the men and women residing in the centre’s care.

The team was also blessed to trek out to North Ipswich Indigenous Ministries and take part in the ministry there, even trading blows at the Kingdom Boxing program.

Youth Outreach Service also played a big part in the week, opening their doors to the team to cook lunch and develop relationships.

The Streetlevel Brisbane community hosted the team every day, whether it was for lunch, dodge ball, Bible study or the chapel services.

For the team, the experiences were not only eye-opening but life-changing. One Brisbane STUMP participant was moved to say “never before have the words, ‘I have seen, I am responsible’, been so real”.

The Salvation Army’s adage “heart to God, hand to man” is truly the cry of the Edify program – and Brisbane STUMP is no different.

Read testimonies and view photos from the week at www.salvos. org/edify

The group of Salvationists which took part in the first STUMP week to be held in Brisbane.

New backing for appeal campaigns T

he Salvation Army has appointed new advertising agencies for its national Red Shield and Christmas appeal campaigns for 2011 to 2013.

Following a comprehensive tendering process beginning in July last year, Clemenger Harvie Edge (CHE) and OMD have been selected.

“The whole team is energised by the opportunity to work with the Salvos,” said CHE Chief Executive Officer Mark Coad.

“They do so much for the struggling families and people in our community and this is our chance to help out.”

OMD Managing Director Steve Sinha was equally enthusiastic.

“The Salvation Army is one of the most trusted and effective organisations in Australia, and one of the most needed, and we

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want to assist them in as many ways as we can.”

The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory Communications and Public Relations Secretary, Major Glenn Whittaker, was also keen to pay tribute to the work of the outgoing advertising agency Adpartners and in particular its former chief executive, Trevor Fearnley.

“Adpartners has been involved with The Salvation Army since the 1990s,” said Major Whittaker. “It has been instrumental in the success of the Army’s Red Shield Appeal, changing the face of not only advertising but the recruitment and retention of supporters to the Army through its many programs.

“Much of this has happened through Trevor Fearnley’s passion for working alongside the Army and his desire to assist those who are disadvantaged in our community.”

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Taking the party to the people (Lieutenants Darren and Karyn Kingston)

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s part of the Long Jetty Corps’ 22nd anniversary celebration, the congregation decided to “take the party to the people” and shine the light of Jesus in the housing commission community where the corps began.

After worship and cutting of the birthday cake, 70 volunteers from the corps went out into the community and offered services including cleaning, dog grooming, legal and computer assistance, massages, haircuts, face painting, show bags and sausage sandwiches and water to more than 100 people.

Several volunteers also removed a truckload of rubbish from the streets including old washing machines, mattresses and tyres.

Volunteers spread the gospel message as they served. One man accepted the Lord as his saviour while several others expressed an interest in attending Long Jetty Corps.

“You have no idea what this means to our community neighbours are talking to each other,” said one resident.

“I’ve lived here for 10 years and nobody has ever done anything like this,” said another.

“I haven’t had a haircut for three years, you’ve made my Christmas,” another resident commented.

“The Long Jetty Corps achieved its goal of shining God’s light in the local community and transforming the area,” said Lieutenant Darren Kingston, Corps Officer at Long Jetty.

“Plans are also being made to continue the relationships formed on the day.”

Jake Horton (left), Josh Wolski and Alex Jackson get ready to lend a hand to the people of Long Jetty.

Service recognition at Gosford (Majors David and Lea Palmer)

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n a special meeting on 28 November, the Gosford Corps of The Salvation Army honoured two of its long-serving members, Kevin Carpenter and Joe Harmer.

Both men received appreciation plaques acknowledging their many years of service. Special mention was also given to the four young people who had commenced band service in 2010.

Kevin, who recently retired as Gosford Corps organist after nearly 20 years in the role, also served as a bandsman, songster, organist and pianist at Earlwood, Lambton, Tamworth, Griffith, and Albury corps’.

In her testimony, Kevin’s daughter, Ngaire, spoke about how her father’s work had taken the family to a number of country locations and how at each, God had led them into service for him. Grandsons James and Daniel presented the appreciation

plaque to Kevin, acknowledging the service and example of their grandfather.

Bandsman Stan Webster presented the appreciation plaque to Joe Harmer, noting that Joe was about to celebrate his 90th birthday yet still served his Saviour faithfully each week as an active member of the Gosford Corps Band and the Veterans’ Band (Joe was a founding member in 1985).

Joe joined the Mayfield Corps Band at the age of 12. He has also served as a bandsman at Newcastle, North Sydney, and Chatswood corps’. In addition, Joe has also held the positions of corps sergeant major for 20 years, scout leader for 12 years, and corps secretary, all at North Sydney Corps.

Joe responded to his presentation with a testimony acknowledging the goodness of God and the promise that, while he could, he would continue to serve his Master.

Queanbeyan honours volunteer workforce (Majors Peter and Debbie Hindle)

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he Queanbeyan Corps of The Salvation Army celebrated its many volunteers at a special service on 5 December – International Volunteers Day. Volunteers from the Family Store joined the appreciation service during which they, and others involved in mission work in the area, were presented with certificates of appreciation. Ian Croft received a special award recognising his 10 years of work in the Family Store.

“We would not be able to do what we do in Queanbeyan without our hard-working volunteers,” said Major Debbie Hindle, Queanbeyan Corps Officer.

Ian Croft receives his award recognising his dedicated service from Queanbeyan Corps Officer Major Debbie Hindle.

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Boost for Tamworth after-school program (Lieutenants Stuart and Paula Glover)

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leenheat Gas has continued its support of The Salvation Army in Tamworth with a $5000 donation towards an afterschool program making a big impact in the town.

The money will be used to buy stationery, supplies and food for the After School Activity Program (ASAP), run by The Tamworth Salvation Army in partnership with national children’s charity group, The Smith Family.

The ASAP program was established in 2009 when a need for homework help and support for primary school-aged children was identified in the area.

The program operates on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3-5pm. During the two-hour sessions children are provided with afternoon tea, carry out light chores which include feeding the centre’s chickens and rabbits and sit in small groups with volunteers to complete their homework. The program has found when children work together in groups it is much easier to encourage those less interested in joining in.

All sessions encourage social interaction between the children and after homework is completed, the children are rewarded with fun activities such as cooking, craft, sports and games.

“The ASAP program is a great help to both parents and children in the community and we aim to teach good study skills which will assist them at school and later down the track in their working lives,” said Tamworth Salvation Army youth pastor and coordinator Dominic Wallis.

“This donation from Kleenheat will be of great assistance in supplying stationery, food and activities which are all essential to the program.”

Kleenheat Gas spokesperson Samantha Ferreri said the ASAP program played a huge role in helping children through their homework issues.

“The ASAP program has been such a great help to so many children in the Tamworth area,” Ms Ferreri said.

“The assistance provided by the volunteers is second to none, which is why this cheque will go a long way in supporting the program and ensuring that as many children as possible get the help and support that they need.”

The Regional Care Services program was established in 2009 with the purpose of supporting a different community in regional Australia each month by providing operational funding and donations. In September 2009, Kleenheat joined forces with The Salvation Army and each month since has assisted a community in need.

Lieutenant Stuart Glover (far left) receives the $5000 cheque from Kleenheat which will go towards the After School Activity Program.

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Tuggeranong hosts night of celebration (Captains Mark and Fran Everitt)

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number of Salvation Army corps, family members and friends from across the ACT and South NSW Division came together for a night of celebration at Tuggeranong Corps on Sunday 5 December.

The Tuggeranong Corps band, praise group and songsters commenced the meeting with “Reflect Rejoice Renew”, a presentation of the Christmas story in a beautiful tapestry of Scripture and song. The focus of the evening then moved to divisional events.

A number of officers and Salvationists were acknowledged for their service during a special celebration evening at Tuggeranong Corps.

Major Rodney Ainsworth, ACT and South NSW Divisional Commander, commissioned Angela Czoban and Roz Edwards, both from Tuggeranong Corps, as divisional envoys. Family members, including Cadet Jacoba Czoban, Envoy Roz’s daughter, stood alongside the envoys during the ceremony to support them in their commitment.

Six accepted candidates for Salvation Army officership training were also farewelled: Tim and Ayly Girling, Woden Valley Corps; Peter and Myf Evans, Canberra City Corps; and Deb and Rod Parsons, Cooma Corps. These candidates will commence officer training this year as part of the Proclaimers of the Resurrection session.

The evening concluded with a segment recognising the leadership of Major Rodney Ainsworth and his wife Major Leonie Ainsworth, Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries; Major Trevor Strong, Divisional Property Secretary, and Major Maree Strong, Director Resource and Mission – Corps.

Combined, the majors have given 22 years of leadership in the division, and have all received appointment changes for 2011.

Major Sandra Lesar, Corps Officer at Cooma, and Simon Holt, Divisional Business Manager, spoke on behalf of the division, thanking the majors for their service, friendship and support.

Commissioner Lyn Pearce (ret) prayed for the four officers as they prepare to take up their new appointments.

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ENROLMENTS

Capricorn Region Corps

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orps Officer, Lieutenant Tara McGuigan, enrolled two new Senior Soldiers on 21 November.

The new soldiers, Beryl Loader and Linda Wenban (pictured with Lieut McGuigan), both testified how God had led them to the corps. Beryl shared that she had been searching for meaning in her life and had found fulfilment through meeting Jesus. “I have come home and I now know I belong,” she said.

Linda told the congregation how she had been searching for acceptance and love in all the wrong places and, in coming to know God, has found him to be a source of great strength and healing. “Here I have found the love and acceptance I have been searching all my life for,” she said.

Taree Corps T

hree separate ceremonies were held at Taree on 28 November, during which three Junior Soldiers were enrolled, six Adherents accepted and a Senior Soldier sworn in.

Taree Corps Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Lynette Green, conducted the ceremonies in front of a congregation of family, friends and Salvationists.

The new Junior Soldiers, pictured with LieutColonel Green and their prayer partners, are Alesha Lannoy, Bradley Allen and Angelica Hammond. The new Adherents are Lauren Bramble, Irene Webb, Ray Rollings, Sue Emerton, Robert Maunder and Craige Douglas, while the new Senior Soldier is Luke Sellers.

Lieut-Colonels Phil and Jan Cairns were the guests for the weekend. They conducted a holiness seminar on the Saturday afternoon and led the meeting on Sunday morning.

Menai Corps O

n 21 November, 300 people at Menai Corps witnessed the enrolment of seven new Senior Soldiers and acceptance of six Adherents, 12 of whom are under the age of 22.

Major David Godkin, Corps Officer at Menai, conducted the enrolment and acceptance ceremonies, Mark Soper, Ministry Assistant, gave the dedication prayer for the Adherents, and Major John Rees, Sydney East and Illawarra Divisional Commander, prayed for the Senior Soldiers. Family and friends also prayed with the young people as they knelt at the mercy seat to sign their covenants.

During the meeting, more than 85 soldiers and non-soldiers came forward to renew their covenants with God. The new Seniors Soldiers (pictured being enrolled by Major Godkin) are (from left) Matt Godkin, Michelle McComb, Bethany Godkin, Ally Beasy, Emily Kinder, Josh Kinder, and Blake Cugley.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Salvation Army now working in 122 countries

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eneral Shaw Clifton has approved the official commencement of the work of The Salvation Army on the Turks and Caicos Islands, as of 1 January 2011.

This means that the Army will now be officially at work in 122 countries.

The Turks and Caicos Islands consist of 40 islands and cays (low banks of reef, rock or sand), eight of which are inhabited.

The islands are located to the east of Cuba and the island of Hispaniola, which is split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

The Army has had a presence in the islands since 2007, under the supervision of the Caribbean Territory.

There has been a developing expression of social service, and local relationships have been steadily developed.

Captains Matthew and Rebecca Trayler, officers of the USA Southern Territory, were appointed as Development Officers for the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2008 and have been resident there for some time.

A number of mission teams have visited the islands in recent months, stimulating the development of evangelistic outreach in the islands, through activities such as visits to schools and outdoor meetings. A local lawyer has donated the use of premises for Sunday worship and there is a positive response to meetings that are being held.

Emergency teams respond to cholera outbreak in Haiti

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he Salvation Army is taking steps to protect people from the cholera epidemic in Haiti that so far has led to 2000 people losing their lives.

Clinics and hospitals throughout Haiti have reported people with the disease needing treatment. The Salvation Army’s Bethel Clinic in Fond-des-Negres has set up a quarantine area for infected patients and additional support staff have been hired.

Other than at Bethel Clinic, the Army’s response has been prevention. Soap, disinfectant, oral rehydration packets and antibiotics are being distributed through Salvation Army community centres. In the Port-au-Prince area these include the primary health clinic, the internally displaced persons camp next to The Salvation Army compound and at the College Verena primary and secondary schools. Outside Port-au-Prince the response is handled through 60 Army centres including corps and schools.

Violence that erupted following disputed presidential

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elections is still creating difficulties but Salvation Army staff are doing all they can to ensure vital supplies get to where they are most needed. The prevention effort is being supported financially by the Army’s Canada and Bermuda Territory and a donor from the Bahamas.

Several students at The Salvation Army’s Rossignol School are reported to have died in the outbreak. A water treatment plant has been sent to Rossignol because the infection is mainly spread through contaminated water. The need for water treatment plants in all 49 Salvation Army-run schools in Haiti is being assessed.

To date, no cases of cholera have been reported in the camp managed by The Salvation Army in Port-au-Prince. Drinkable water and clean latrines are being provided in partnership with Concern Worldwide and Viva Rio, and every effort is being made to ensure the health and safety of the 13,000 people who still live in the camp.

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promoted to glory

Love of Scripture

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rs Doris Dell Bennett was promoted to glory on 1 November, aged 88.

Her funeral was conducted by both Pastor David Freeman and Lieutenant-Colonel Lynette Green on Thursday, 4 November, at Manning Uniting Church and was followed by the burial at Taree cemetery.

Lynette’s great grandchildren, Jolie and Zachary Price, read from Scripture at the funeral and this was followed by a DVD presentation of the life of Doris.

Two of her favourite songs What a Friend We Have in Jesus and When the Roll is Called Up Yonder were sung at the service.

Doris Dell Emerton was born on 17 February, 1922, in Jones Island, NSW. She was the first-born of three brothers and one sister. Her brother Harold still lives at Jones Island and her sister Thelma lives in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.

Doris enjoyed a wonderful childhood, attending Jones Island School, going to concerts, playing tennis and pool and having sing-a-longs around the piano in the evenings.

Many young children would have experienced Doris’ Scripture readings when she was a Sunday School teacher.

Doris remembers giving the same verse of Scripture every week at Sunday School: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills. From whence cometh my help” (Psalm 121:1, KJV).

Doris married Eric Bennett on 4 September, 1943, and they had two children, Bev and Wayne.

Six grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren followed.

Doris and Eric were attracted to The Salvation Army by the music and singing.

Doris became an Adherent of the Taree Corps on 7 March, 2004. She was known to have a love for Scripture. While Doris was unable to attend corps meetings during the past few years, both Doris and Eric still enjoyed sharing the word and praying together in their own home.

Woman of faith

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eth Wells was promoted to glory on 19 November, aged 82.

Her funeral service at Taree was conducted by retired Corps Officer Major David Palmer and assisted

by Lieutenant-Colonel Lynette Green.

A composite band played throughout the service and granddaughters Natalie, Libby and Abby Wells all read a passage

of Scripture. Grandson Gerrard Ivins, on behalf of all the grandchildren, expressed their love for Beth. Her daughter Robyn brought a tribute on behalf of the family and sister-in-law Aileen Hawkins read another Scripture passage.

Beth’s favourite song Except I Am Moved With Compassion was sung and the service concluded with a recording of Beth’s son Stephen playing a trumpet solo The Old Rugged Cross.

Beth Hawkins was born in Barraba, west of Armidale, on 31 May, 1928. She was the only daughter of Theodore and Amelia (Millie) Hawkins and had two older brothers Theodore John (Jack, dec) and Eric and a younger brother, Ian. Her education began at Barraba Infants School until the family moved to Scone for one year before moving to Taree to begin fifth class at Taree Primary and then to Taree High.

Beth’s working experience began during the war years when she did casual work until commencing employment with a photographer. She then became a cashier and bookkeeper in a butchery business which was owned by Mr Claude Wells, who later became her father-in-law.

Beth married Eric Gilbert Wells (deceased), who was also a Salvationist and faithful bandsman. They raised their children Robyn, Terrence and Stephen (deceased) with unconditional love and support for their achievements and guidance by example and word.

Their family grew over time as they welcomed Kevin, Ruth and Linda, followed by the delightful arrival of grandchildren Troy, Gerrard, Natalie, Libby, Abby, Jake, Zac and great-grandson Harry, and in recent years through unity Lindsay, Lesley, Lee and Zebb.

The Salvation Army has always been an integral part of Beth’s life. She was a Sunbeam and later a Sunday school teacher. Later in life she was Corps Cadet Counsellor for 10 years and spent much time listening and giving spiritual encouragement to many young people.

Faith has been paramount in her life.

A gracious soul

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dith Mary Trick was promoted to glory on 11 November, aged 92.

A thanksgiving service was held at Norwood Park Crematorium, Canberra, led by Captain Mark Everitt on Friday, 19 November.

The Tuggeranong Songsters sang Under His Wings as the family entered the chapel and He Leadeth Me during the service. Mary had planned her service and

chose John 14:1-2 as the Bible reading and Captain Everitt spoke on this passage.

Mary’s children Peter, Valerie and Phillip all spoke highly of their mother in fitting tributes. All of Mary’s seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren laid fragrant roses on her casket as the congregation sang They Shall Come From the East.

Edith Mary Ward was born at The Salvation Army quarters in Wombwell, Barnsley, UK, on 28 May, 1918.

Mary, as she preferred to be called, was the only child of Officers Senior Major and Mrs Ward. She had a very colourful early life, moving around England with her parents. During these appointments Mary made some very close life-long friendships.

In 1931 Major and Mrs Ward were stationed at the Red Shield Services in Gibraltar. Mary excelled in swimming, visited the big ships that came into harbour and started her stamp collection from visiting sailors from all around the world. Mary returned to London in 1936 and began her nursing career at Salisbury Infirmary, graduating in November, 1940.

Fred Trick courted Mary in the late 1930s and they married on 4 June, 1941, during the dark days of war in England.

Mary was a wonderful mother to Peter (born 1943), Valerie (born 1946) and Phillip (born 1950). Sadly during this dark time, Mary lost her mother who was promoted to glory in 1944.

Life was very tough in England after the war, so the Trick family set sail for Australia as Ten Pound Poms (a colloquial term used to describe British migrants to Australia after the Second World War), arriving in Sydney in November, 1952. They then moved to Armidale for a short while, where local Salvationists welcomed the family with open arms. The family moved back to Sydney, soldiered at Petersham Corps and then Campsie, where Mary was a songster pianist.

Mary spent many years of her married life working as a nursing sister at the Anti-TB Association, Canterbury District Hospital and various nursing homes in Sydney, before she retired in 1968.

In the 1970s Mary and Fred moved to Canberra and made their spiritual home at Canberra South, and later Tuggeranong Corps. Mary continued playing piano at Home League and at Mountain View Retirement Village. Mary spent her last years in relative peace and contentment at Queanbeyan Nursing Home.

The family thanks God for their gracious, godly, loving mum, grandmother and great-grandmother who will always be part of our being.

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Fr o m t h e c o a l f a c e L O CA L A N D I N T E R N AT ION A L N E W S

about people Additional Appointment

Effective 13 January: Captain Peter Spindler, Chaplain to John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle and Central NSW Division; Captain Rhombus Ning, Chinese Ministries Coordinator, Sydney East and Illawarra Division; Captain Christy Kurth, Director of Carinya Cottage, Sydney East and Illawarra Division; Major Brenda Stace Corps Officer Broken Hill Corps with responsibility for chaplaincy Algate House and Catherine Haven, The Greater West Division; Major Lynda Bliss Corps Officer, Forbes/ Parkes Corps, The Greater West Division; Captain Julie Layton Assistant Corps Officer, Forbes/Parkes Corps, The Greater West Division.

Appointments

Effective 7 January: Lieutenants Jimmy and Tamar Kavana, Commanding Officers, Boroko Church, Papua New Guinea Territory.

Effective 13 January: Major Christine Dickson, Territorial Planned Giving Director, South Queensland Division; Major Gwenda Pratt, Divisional Community Support Services Secretary, South Queensland Division; Captains Andrew and Paula Hambleton, Corps Officers, Bayside Corps, South Queensland Division.

Effective 1 February: Major Robyn Collins (retired officer), Chaplain, Still Waters, South Queensland Division.

Effective 20 January: Captains Noel and Tracy Payne, Corps Officers, Canberra City Oasis Corps and Oasis Support Services, ACT and NSW Division; Captains Tim and Laura Gittins, Corps Officers, Bonnells Bay Corps, Newcastle and Central NSW Division.

Bereaved

Major David Soper of his mother Beryl Soper on 27 November; Captains Roy and Doreen Wenham of their granddaughters husband Tahlia; Major Amanda Choy-Show of her cousin Wayne Choy on 25 November.

Bowral Corps, NSW; Social Justice Working Party (31 Jan-1 Feb); Entry of The Proclaimers of the Resurrection Session of Cadets (1 Feb).

6-12 February

Congo Brazzaville Territory; Brisbane Recovery Services Centre, Brisbane Streetlevel Mission, Bundaberg Corps, all Qld; Broken Hill Corps and Social Programs, NSW; School for Youth Leadership Session entry (8); Indigenous Working Party (10-11); Captivated Day Conference (12); School for Youth Leadership Welcome Sunday (13).

13-19 February

Captain Christine Gee, Papua New Guinea Territory; Bundamba Corps, Caboolture Corps, Calamvale Corps, all Qld; Burwood Corps, Byron Bay Streetlevel Mission, both NSW; Business Administration, THQ; Ministry Workers Residential (14-20); South Queensland Division “Embrace” (14); South Queensland Division Healthy Mission Training (15); Captivated – Collaroy, Camp Kedron (SAGALA) (18-20); Cadets Public Welcome (20); Children and Youth Decision Week (20-27).

20-26 February

Captains Allan and Carolyn Kerr, Australia Southern Territory; Caloundra Corps, Canaan School for Training and Development, both Qld; Campbelltown Corps, Campsie Corps, Campsie Community Welfare Centre, all NSW; Canberra City Oasis Corps and Oasis Support Services, Canberra Community Welfare Centre, Canberra Recovery Service Centre, all ACT; Wider Cabinet (21-23); Divisional Commanders/Women’s Executive Conference (23-24); SAES Divisional Coordinator’s Conference (25-27); Cadet’s Welcome Weekend (26-27); Launch of Self-Denial Appeal (27).

27 February – 5 March

Births

To Lieutenants Bindy and Marco Lupis a girl Hannah Rose on 26 November.

Nigeria Territory; Capricorn Region Corps, Carindale Corps, both Old; Cardiff Corps, Carinya Cottage, Carpenter Court Residential Aged Care, all NSW; Homelessness Services Conference (2-4); World Day of Prayer (4); South Queensland Division SAGALA Leaders Training (4-6); The Greater West Division Officers Fellowship (6-10).

International College for Officers

6-12 March

Captain Alwyn Robinson, 12 January to 7 March; Major Rodney Walters, 13 April to 7 June; Major Romona Kinder, 13 July to 5 September.

Promoted to glory

Lieutenant-Colonel Geoff Havercroft on 22 November; Major Lynette Kurth on 3 December; Mrs Brigadier Lily Baker on 15 December.

Retirement

Envoy Heather Moulder on 31 December; Major Evelyn Sneller on 30 January; Majors Ron and Lyn Whitehouse on 31 January.

SAGALA Awards

The following people have received the Commissioner’s Challenge Award: Maddison Pride, Joshua Lawrence, Joshua Clements, all Gold Coast Temple; Lachlan Luhrs, Brisbane City Temple; Tonisa Ernst, Kalbar Corp; Breanna Gillis, Penrith Corps; Eli Phillips, Madelyn Phillips, both Dubbo Corps.

The following people have received the General’s Award: Bryce Ellison, Tobias Winsor O’Keefe, both Maitland City Corps.

time to pray 30 January – 5 February

Southern Africa Territory; Booth College, THQ; Bowen Corps, Brisbane Central Community Welfare Centre, Brisbane City Temple Corps, all Qld;

Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory; Casino Corps, Central Coast Recovery Services Centre (Selah), both NSW; Centenary Corps, Centennial Lodge, Central and North Queensland Division Chaplains, Central and North Queensland Divisional Headquarters, all Qld; ACT and South NSW Division Officers Fellowship (7-10); Lent Commences (9); Salvo Stores Managers Conference (9-11); The Greater West Division Staff Retreat (1011); South Queensland Division Leadership Team Conference (13).

engagement calendar Commissioner Linda Bond (Territorial Commander) Stanmore: Tues 4 Jan – Take Time to be Holy Conference North Parramatta: Mon 10 Jan – Tri-Territorial Youth Congress, Kingdom Come Hong Kong: Fri 14 Jan – Officers Councils London: Tues 18-Thur 20 Jan – General Consultative Council London: Fri 21 Jan – High Council

Colonels Wayne (Chief Secretary) and Robyn Maxwell Sydney: Tues 4 Jan – Take Time to be Holy Conference Sydney: Mon 10-Thu 13 Jan – Tri-Territorial Youth Congress, Kingdom Come