Expo equips, empowers, and encourages
Expo equips, empowers, and encourages
10 March 2022
The Salvation Army South Australia/Northern Territory Divisional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Coordinator Maria Anderson, and Divisional Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Meg Webb at their well-resourced information table at the two-day Mission Expo and Divisional Orientation in Adelaide.
For the first time in two years, the South Australia/Northern Territory Division has held a two-day Mission Expo and Divisional Orientation in Adelaide to introduce new officers to the division, to its leaders, and the resources available.
The expo was hosted by Majors Dean and Vicki Clarke, SA/NT Central and Southern South Australia Area Officers, and Major Susan Wallace, the SA/NT Northern South Australia Area Officer. The practical organisation was overseen by Liv Hateley, Divisional Events Coordinator.
The divisional team was asked to share who they were, what they did and how they could equip, empower, and add value to the local corps mission.
Dean said the expo had three goals – to encourage corps officers, to educate officers on the support and resources available through the SA/NT Divisional Mission Support Team, and to help equip corps for improved local mission delivery and mission – in a “quality event” to ensure officers “feel valued”.
“Focus is upon what the team offers to our frontline expressions, not what the frontline expressions need to do for them,” Dean said.
The SA/NT Division’s new Youth and Young Adults Secretary, Captain Erica Jones, at her table as part of the two-day Mission Expo and Orientation initiative in Adelaide.
The presenters were Deborah Elliott (Children’s Secretary), Captain Erica Jones (Youth and Young Adults Secretary), Major Christine Waller (Adults Secretary), Dan Casey (Worship Arts Coordinator), Maria Anderson (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement Coordinator), and Meg Webb (Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator).
Each presenter was given 15 minutes to speak followed by time to answer questions. Over an extended morning tea and lunch break, each presenter hosted an expo table with information about their activities and how to utilise them, resources for conversations, giveaways, and activities the specific stream might deliver during the year.
Divisional Commander Major Lance Jeffrey opened the expo with a devotional challenge and encouragement to make mission a priority as he shared briefly around the life of Jesus and the Early Church.
Following the expo, new officers to the division were taken on a tour of Divisional Headquarters at Fullerton as part of an orientation afternoon, where they met members of other ‘mission enablers’ including finance, property, human resources and administration support.
Dean said the next day was ‘Let’s Talk Tuesday’ where the divisional teams of Mission Support and Mission Enablers were available for appointments to meet in person or online to talk on whatever topic the corps officers wanted to discuss.
“The Mission Expo provided a wonderful opportunity for connections,” Dean said. “We gained new insight into our Mission Support Team members and their ministry and corps officers felt encouraged, valued and enthused about the support available for them to not only survive but thrive in their ministry space.”
Making connections
Lieutenants Aaron and Keryn Coombes, Corps Officers at Parafield Gardens, are two of several new officers to the SA/NT Division who attended the day.
Originally from South Australia, the couple are in their fourth year as officers and in their second appointment having moved from Colac, about 95km west of Geelong in Victoria, at the beginning of this year.
Keryn said it was “near impossible” for the modern Army officer to do their ministry without the dedicated support of the church’s specialists and experts.
“Moving into a new division this year, it was important for us, as a first priority, to seek out who is who and where we can find those supports,” Keryn said. “The Mission Expo gave that opportunity to put faces to names and to highlight how the division can enable us as officers on the frontline. The expo reminds each of us that, in our day-to-day ministry, we are not alone.”
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