NSW/ACT hosts online farewell to Lieut-Colonel Miriam Gluyas
NSW/ACT hosts online farewell to Lieut-Colonel Miriam Gluyas
30 January 2023
Guest speakers from the NSW/ACT Division, and others who have served with Lieut-Colonel Miriam Gluyas, right, spoke at her online farewell last week.
Major Mark Everitt recently chaired a heartwarming online meeting to honour Lieut-Colonel Miriam Gluyas as she prepares to become Territorial Commander of The Salvation Army in Australia on 12 February.
Mention was made of Miriam’s lively sense of humour and she enjoyed the lighthearted banter during the meeting, including five trivia questions about her that were interspersed throughout the proceedings.*
Introduced by Mark, the first speaker was Peter Woodbury, who spoke of Miriam’s sterling service as Corps Officer of Auburn Corps where he has soldiered for so many years.
“I have seen many officers serving our corps over the years, and we have been quite privileged to have them,” he said, “but I would say emphatically none more so than Miriam. She came with a vision for our corps that presented some challenges, and the influx of so many attendees from overseas dramatically changed our traditional thinking.
“Despite her busy schedule, she took a personal interest in what we did. I believe God has ordained Miriam’s appointment as Territorial Commander and as she takes up this vital and important position we will pray for and support her.”
Jillian Gillespie from Eastlakes Corps had an uplifting story to tell of Miriam’s time as Corps Officer there. Jill met Miriam 27 years ago when she walked into Eastlakes Salvos as a single mum with two small children. She began attending Bible study but left after a year when her divorce was imminent.
“I got a letter from Miriam saying that I was being missed from church,” Jill said, “so I decided to go back, and six months later I became a Christian. I became employed by Miriam at the corps, eventually as a coordinator of pastoral care. She was always supportive and non-judgmental of me, and when my ex-husband and I decided to reconcile she remarried us in 1999.”
Commissioner Jan Condon, who was on staff at the Officer Training College and first met Miriam when she arrived as a cadet, had some hilarious stories to tell – how Miriam made lamingtons with sponge rubber inside them and was known to put firecrackers under toilet seats.
“There is a fun side to Miriam,” Jan said, “but there is also another side. She has unending energy, she’s well-organised, and she never forgets. She’s a passionate follower of Jesus, and puts Jesus at the centre all the time. She’s a woman of integrity, she’s authentic, loyal and faithful, and she always dispenses grace.”
Major Beth Twivey spoke about Miriam’s inspiring influence, and for seeing in her “something to be encouraged, empowered and stretched”.
“Miriam, you have brought inspiration to not only me, but to so many other people across the Army,” Beth said. “One of your greatest gifts is to see with the Father’s eyes, people, places and things, and then bring about the best in them. We thank you for your strategic approach, your personal encouragement, and for modelling perseverance, humility, courage and walking in truth.”
Introduced by Mark as someone who has been a great contributor to the division’s spiritual life, Colin Stoodley remarked that, “As someone who bears marks of Ephesians 4 kind of leadership, whenever Miriam trusts someone she invests them with the grace that’s on her life.
“When I had the opportunity to work as a consultant for Miriam it was a treat to see the way she ministered and the way she imparted the grace that was on her life so that others would be helped and strengthened. In ministry terms, Miriam, you are a class act at that.”
Speaking from the heart, Miriam thanked the speakers for their “incredibly generous” words. “I’ve worked with the most incredible team in this past seven years and I’m grateful to every single one of them. We've been through the most difficult of days and you’ve still come out and we've seen just incredible shoots of growth. The outpouring of kindness and love has been beautiful and your ministry has been second to none. Let’s see the story that God writes in the future.”
She then welcomed her successor as divisional commander, Captain Kim Haworth, who acknowledged Miriam as “an amazing influence over the last four years as we shared executive space”. Kim then prayed: “Father, we’re asking for your protection for Miriam as she steps into this new place of leadership and that you would anoint her for the task that is at hand. We thank you for Miriam, we support her Lord, and we ask that you bless and protect her.”
In his closing remarks, Mark said: “Miriam, you’re loved and cared for, and you’ll be prayed for as you transition into this enormous role. Tonight has been a very special occasion – thank you all for participating.”
*The five trivia questions about Miriam: Favourite sports team: Geelong Cats. 2. Favourite toast-topper: Smashed avocado. 3. Sporting prowess: Golf. 4. No. of times braces on teeth: Two. 5. Birthplace: Ballarat.
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