IN BRIEF: Snapshots from around the Territory
IN BRIEF: Snapshots from around the Territory
10 December 2021
The DC amongst the AC: South Australia/Northern Territory Divisional Commander Major Lance Jeffrey unplugs DHQ at Fullarton in Adelaide. Photograph: Felicity Keith.
Powerless DHQ staff plug into Christmas
It was a case of The Salvation Army ‘unplugged’ as electrical work recently left staff in the dark at the South Australia/Northern Territory Divisional Headquarters building in suburban Adelaide. Divisional Commander Major Lance Jeffrey said it was not often a DHQ facility was shut down for an entire day but such was the case at the historic Fullarton building.
However, the staff did not waste the day. Lance’s executive assistant, Meredith Watson, suggested that those who were unable to work from home or elsewhere could use the day to volunteer at a local corps or mission expression to help with Christmas Cheer events. The public relations department provided a list of programs and activities that needed volunteers.
Meredith said several DHQ staff members had taken the opportunity to help with gift wrapping at a number of corps, collecting Christmas Appeal donations at some shopping centres, and helping Doorways staff with collections and gift sorting.
Roma team gets street party sizzling
Roma Corps members and volunteers serve steak and sausage sandwiches as part of the Roma Community Street Party.
Things really got sizzling at the Roma Community Street Party on 2 December when Corps Officers Majors Paul and Kaylene Morrice and their team grabbed a pair of tongs and slapped a snag in some bread to feed the hungry crowd. Maranoa Regional Council asked Roma Corps to put on a barbeque for the event. “We jumped at the opportunity to serve our community this way,” Paul said.
The corps at first planned to use its SAES trailer for the event but it was decided that would be too small so the larger catering unit based in Rockhampton was arranged. “Then Mother Nature stepped in and decided that she would cut us off right at the time they were to bring the truck,” Paul said. Major flooding after heavy rain in the area cut all direct access roads from Rockhampton. Without the truck, it was back to the SAES trailer and a borrowed barbeque.
“We conquered the task with the help of some great volunteers, especially Marie Moore from our corps. She’s 74 and worked like a trojan all night,” Paul said.
On barbeque duty (from left) Roma Heart Church Pastor Damian Corkett, Maranoa Regional Council Community Engagement Officer Janaya Greenwood, and Roma Corps Officer Paul Morrice.
Damian and Niomie and Corkett, pastors of the Heart Church in Roma, also helped on the night. They are part of the Roma Corps SAES team.
“By the end of the night, we’d served around 370 steak and sausage sandwiches,” he said. There was great feedback (pardon the pun) on the quality of the food. It reminded me that, in the midst of everything that went against us with the flooding, God will bless our efforts.”
Paul and Kaylene thanked the council’s Community Engagement Officer Janaya Greenwood for her involvement at the event and her continued support of the corps’ various programs and initiatives. She is moving north to Cairns soon and hopes to link with the corps there.
Northside group gets crafty for Christmas
What would craft group be in December without some Christmas decorations? The women at the Northside Craft Group proudly show off their work.
Christmas is for everyone, and the weekly craft group at Northside Salvos in Geelong know this better than most. Over the past two years, they have swung open the doors [lockdown pending] for women in the Victorian city’s northern suburbs. Not only have they upcycled recycled goods for their neighbourhood, but they have also formed a community. And God has moved miraculously.
“Each member has had a challenging life journey, shaping their empathy and generosity towards each other. New members are quickly embraced into the loving culture of this special group and benefit from the shared laughter, tears, and prayer. We have seen prayer answered, in one case instantly!” said volunteer chaplain Anne Irwin.
Since 2019, 12 regular members have joined the craft group, which is held at the Army’s Northside Community Centre. And despite lockdowns, they managed to create more than 100 shopping bags from recycled t-shirts for the Northside food markets. They also contributed to the community garden, creating mosaic pavers and a cross from recycled materials – a fitting dedication for a space designed for people of all backgrounds.
“Recently, to celebrate the easing of restrictions and the forthcoming Christmas season, we made Christmas decorations to brighten our own homes,” shares Anne. “We will continue to meet over the break because as one member said, ‘We need each other’.” Corps Officer Joy Cassidy agrees. “This group is a testament to the continued work of God in the northern suburbs of Geelong,” she said. "[This week] nine members from the group were at church for the first time as we dedicated the cross they made. I was also able to give a Bible and share a prayer with another.”
How great thou art in Temora
Aux-Lieut Caleb Smith with his award-winning artworks.
As the local Salvation Army corps officer, Auxiliary-Lieutenant Caleb Smith is well known to the Temora community in south-central NSW. But after picking up the coveted Temora Shire Council Art Award in November, he’s now also recognised for his creative prowess.
Caleb’s three-piece set titled ‘19th Century View - Mercury Venus & Mars’ was commended by the judges for its ‘strong conceptual basis and great drawing with the invention of these all-too-familiar unfamiliar worlds’.
Caleb submitted the drawings after being prompted by his wife, Jen. The result was a $1000 prize for his efforts. Despite this, you can’t help but think the real victory lies in the fact it was a family affair. Caleb and Jen’s son, Samuel, also enter the exhibition and picked up an award for his work titled ‘Life in the City’.
Evangelism explodes after Chinese course
Bong-Kyu Lee sings at the Evangelism Explosion course graduation at Blacktown Corps earlier this month.
Collaboration between four Sydney corps – Bankstown, Hurstville, Burwood, and Campsie – in conducting an Evangelism Explosion training course in Chinese has resulted in 25 people making decisions to follow Jesus Christ.
The 13 participants had reached out during their training to share their Christian faith with friends and acquaintances. The course was conducted online due to COVID-19 restrictions, which resulted in people in other countries among those who became Christians.
During the graduation on Saturday 4 December at Bankstown Corps, the course graduates testified to the love, grace, and power of God in their lives. It was a great time of celebration for the new Christians, the course graduates and the 50 prayer partners who supported them throughout the three months of training.
Before presenting the graduation certificates and in her ‘sending out’ of the participants to represent Jesus in the community, Lieut-Colonel Miriam Gluyas (Divisional Commander NSW/ACT) urged those present to be consistent disciples of Jesus who, ‘use all our life to be disciple-makers’. In her message, Sydney Wide Area Officer Lieut-Colonel Simone Robertson emphasised the vitality of focusing on Jesus and his revelation through the Bible.
The celebration included Salvationists from Belmore Korean Corps, which meant everything was written in three languages in the brochure and on the screen. This massive translation effort was carried out by Lieuts Anna Kim and Daniel Jang (assisting at Bankstown Corps) in conjunction with the Bankstown Corps Officers, Captain Frank Wang and his wife, Captain Belinda Zhou, who were the organisers of the graduation event.
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