Acts of kindness to flood the territory for a week
Acts of kindness to flood the territory for a week
26 June 2017
During Others Week, Salvos Stores will display feature trees, where staff and customers can write positive and encouraging messages on pre-printed leaves, and hang them on the tree.
“Bring God’s Kingdom to earth” is the theme for The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory’s annual “Others Week”, held from 25 June-2 July.
Others Week is designed to promote and highlight our calling to serve others.
Kindness is one of the focus areas of this week. “We’re looking to God, wanting to be people of God who are kind people through and through,” says Fay Foster, Salvos Caring Coordinator, who is overseeing Others Week. “We want to be following God’s lead in this wherever we are. It’s about the way we live, not just the acts of kindness we do.”
Others Week is an initiative of Salvos Caring, a ministry intentionally focused on caring for others in a practical way. It is an opportunity for people to make a deliberate decision to carry out acts of kindness to friends, neighbours, work colleagues or anyone they are in contact with.
Some expressions of The Salvation Army, such as Salvos Stores, arrange specific activities for this week, while others focus on developing initiatives and approaches that are integrated into their corps or centre, simply as part of who they are and what they do.
The Others Week team has developed a range of resources where almost every ministry area can find tools to help them with their activities, from encouragement cards, Others-related badges for SAGALA sections, the Kind Kids Club, Make Poverty History and a colouring competition, to devotionals, a Facebook photo challenge, and Others T-shirt.
For more information, go to the Salvos Caring and Others Week toolkit pages, the Salvos Caring Facebook page, or contact salvos.caring@aue.salvationarmy.org
Others week around the territory
In Townsville, Far North Queensland, the women’s groups from Townsville Riverway Recovery Mission, and Townsville Faithworks joined forces to prepare 500 care packs for local prison officers (Townsville has a men’s and women’s prison, as well as a youth detention centre.).
The packs contained chocolates, a soft drink, and Bible verse. They were sealed with the Others Week leaf sticker and a thank-you message from the local Salvation Army.
The combined women's groups in Townsville prepared more than 500 gift packs for local prison officers.
“Last year we gave 200 school teachers a care package and the feedback we received showed their genuine gratitude and how the gifts made them feel loved and appreciated,” said Captain Paula Hambleton, Townsville Riverway Recovery Mission corps officer.
“One of our ladies has worked as a prison officer, another lady goes into the prisons and does education and training with the prisoners, and our prison chaplain, Bob Down, shared with us the difficult and challenging job that prison officers have, so we decided to show them some care and appreciation with these packs. We want them to know that they are not forgotten.
“They were so amazed, and appreciative, when we took them in and the officers realised they were for them!
“We want to look out for others, to reach out and care for people and show them the love of Jesus. This week, we wanted the officers to know we love and care for them, and are always here for them.”
Salvos Stores
This year, Salvos Stores chaplains will work with store managers and staff in erecting small artificial trees, without leaves, in each store.
Printed Salvos Caring paper leaves, and tags, will be made available for staff and the local community to write positive messages and quotes on and attach them to the trees.
“This is a ‘Watch it grow’ project, as we see leaves and messages get added to the trees through the week,” said Freddy Choo, Salvos Stores Manager, Retail and Marketing.
“Salvos Stores always get involved in Others Week because, as Jesus talks about in Matthew 25, our lives are all about serving others.”
Throughout Others Week, Salvos Stores chaplains will also work with the Store Managers to encourage staff to participate in "Acts of Kindness" and making a difference in their local community.
Aged Care Plus
Sharon Callister, CEO Aged Care Plus, recently reflected on the ongoing impact Aged Care Plus staff and residents have on each other’s lives, and the lives of those in the community who need it most.
“In Mark 12:30-31, we are encouraged to love God and our neighbours above all, as Jesus placed the highest importance on these two commandments,” said Ms Callister. “While it isn’t stipulated in the Bible who our ‘neighbours’ are, it can be interpreted that this expression encompasses not only those who are close to us, but extends to those who are far beyond our physical reach.
“As an organisation whose existence is built on love and care, I feel humbled to say loving our neighbours is at the core of what we do. Our compassionate hearts and skilful hands reach more than 1,700 older Australians each year, and for that alone I am proud. However, the impact we have goes beyond the care we provide to ageing Australians as we expand our compassionate hearts to our extended neighbours.
“This year we are again opening our hearts and lending our hands to our neighbours in Papua New Guinea (PNG) as part of the Hope and a Future program. Hope and a Future, sponsored by Aged Care Plus and Salvos Legal, transforms lives by developing young PNG participants into leaders in their community through faith, fitness, education and leadership training.”
The Aged Care Plus annual walkathon will also take place this year from 3-9 September, with $80,000 going towards supporting The Freedom Partnership – The Salvation Army’s national initiative to end modern day slavery in Australia. Additional funds will be used for other missional initiatives of The Salvation Army.
“I encourage you to seek out new ways you can show love for your ‘neighbour’,” said Ms Callister. “Whether it be acknowledging a colleague’s hard work, smiling at a stranger as you walk by or donating to this years Red Shield Appeal. We can all make a difference and together we can change lives.”
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