9 October 2010 : : Volume 11 : : Number 20 : : 65 cents
mission and ministry
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory PRINT POST APPROVED PP334385/00059 : : ISSN 1448-7861
to serve The opportunities for service within The Salvation Army are as many and varied as its people.
i n s i d e : : stat e l e ss : : d av i d e l d r i d g e : : o u r p l a c e : l a u n c e ston
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reflection Why is it that when we think ‘power’, we picture lazy monarchs at best and cruel tyrants at worst? Because power corrupts. We’ve seen it too many times to expect anything different; the king grows fat off the work of his subjects; the tyrant pursues his ideology at the expense of his people’s rights. So what happens when a ruler comes along with more power than any king, dictator or politician before him? He washes people’s feet. It belies description. The word ‘excruciating’ was coined to describe the unplumbed depth of pain brought about by crucifixion. We need a better word for this kind of humility.
9 October 2010
9 October 2010 The Salvation Army, raised up by God for the work of Transforming Lives, Caring for People, Making Disciples and Reforming Society.
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory WILLIAM BOOTH, Founder International Headquarters: 101 Queen Victoria St, London EC4P 4EP. Shaw Clifton, General. Australia Southern Territory (Vic., SA, WA, Tas. and NT): 95-99 Railway Rd, Blackburn, Vic., Raymond A. Finger, commissioner, territorial commander. Editorial: Captain Mal Davies, editor-in-chief. All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor, On Fire, PO Box 479, Blackburn 3130; ph. (03) 8878 2314; fax (03) 8878 4816; email: onfire@ aus.salvationarmy.org Advertising: Jan Magor, phone: (03) 8878 2304; fax: (03) 8878 4816; email: jan.magor@ salvationarmy.org; mail: PO Box 479, Blackburn 3130 Subscription/ Circulation: Annette Hill. Subscribe within Australia, $40.00 pa, to On Fire subscriptions, PO Box 479, Blackburn 3130. Overseas and airmail rates on application. Ph. (03) 8878 2303; fax (03) 8878 4816 Printed and published for The Salvation Army by Commissioner Raymond A. Finger at BPA Print Group Pty Ltd, Burwood, Vic. Press date: 28 September 2010 Editor: Linda Hogan Deputy editor: Ryan O’Connell Supplements coordinator: Captain June Knop Graphic designer: Richard Lewis
welcome
The Servation Army Job advertisements will tell you that service is an industry—one that employs cleaners, waiters, chefs, doctors and travel agents, among other professions. While our payroll is lacking in travel agents, I believe The Salvation Army is the service industry’s biggest employer. Regardless of job description, everyone who calls themselves a ‘Salvo’ is in the service industry—because ‘service’ means a lot more to this organisation than most. Jesus’ entire life was an act of service—the most profound in history. His very purpose, from birth to the cross, part of an overarching servant plan. ‘The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’ (Matthew 20:28). But Jesus didn’t just serve us in his ultimate purpose. More than that, his life was filled with acts of service: little, intimate assists, such as washing feet or blessing a wedding with choice wine; life-changing interventions, such as healing the sick and casting out demons; and grandiose, powerful displays of love such as feeding a horde of followers who forgot to pack lunch; and raising the dead. The life of a Salvo, or any Christian, is also one for which service is the overarching theme. ‘And whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all’ (Mark 10:44). Much like Christ, when you look closer, our lives of service can also be peppered with a myriad of serving acts—from the small (but not insignificant) to the great. The Salvation Army is an organisation that thoroughly allows for both, and the entire service spectrum in-between. In this issue of On Fire, we present a service nexus; a thorough collection of the many opportunities to help others through The Salvation Army, from volunteerism to lifelong officership. Read on—reflect on the service you do already, explore other possibilities, grow in appreciation of how others serve you and thank God for his providence in this serving Army.
Proofreader: Dawn Volz
Ryan O’Connell Assistant editor ®
contents
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5 • News
Brunswick open their refurbished doors.
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Cover Story Opportunities to show you’re saved to serve
9 • Our Place
Why church? Launceston’s answer is ‘YChurch’
10 • Profile
How David Eldridge became the voice of the dispossessed
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Supplement: Others
11 • Practice
Colin Elkington on being stateless
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11 13 • Faith in Action
‘Amazing Grace’: the soundtrack to Jane Sheriff’s life
14 • Feature
Grant Sandercock-Brown says ‘lay’ ministry should be laid to rest
16 • Small Group Resources
God is with us, says Christine Dalziel Also:
2 Reflection 4 Letter, A Reckoning 5 Leadership Today 11 Life at 303 13 Child Sponsorship 18 Frontlines 19 Reviews
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letter
9 October 2010
Singling out sin ‘To understand God and God’s work of salvation we need to first understand sin.’ Is this the best way to begin a discussion about the Gospel? Unfortunately, this is a belief held by many coming from a misreading of the Gospel. The Gospel is not built on a dualism between God and evil. The Bible first introduces God as the Creator and tells us that this creation is very good. Paul writes that God is recognisable through his creation (Romans 1:20). To suggest that God and God’s work in the world must be understood through sin or, more broadly speaking, through evil, is problematic to say the least. To understand God and what God is doing we must always begin with God as creator, governor and preserver of all things. Recently On Fire (11 September) published an article in which John Wesley was quoted in a manner that suggested responses to the Gospel exist only in a polarity that evokes an extremely positive
(conviction) or an extremely negative (anger) response. Anger is not evidence the Gospel has been rejected. Such views risk evoking modes of evangelism that actively affirm angry responses to the Gospel as a way of ensuring we are ‘doing it right’ while not testing the validity of the method. One might provoke anger simply because they have been offensive, overbearing or forceful. Salvationists often minister to vulnerable people, susceptible to instability and abuse. To proclaim a Gospel that focuses readily on sin actively reinforces a message which has been constantly driven through their abuse: ‘you are unworthy’. The Gospel needs to be shared in a culturally relevant way. Polarities like anger or conviction don’t deal with common responses to the Gospel like apathy. Nor would most Australians consider themselves ‘sinners and totally depraved’, terms more usually associated with pedophilia, murder and other heinous crimes.
The Gospel must be tested against the story of Jesus, which reflects an attitude of service and suffering for the sake of others. Rather than beginning with sin—forcing others to relive their suffering through the proclamation of the Gospel or expecting violent responses—the people of God are called to give their lives over for the sake of others. This highlights the need to reclaim a description of God the Creator who reconciles, redeems and restores all creation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; this is the first and central reality of the Gospel. May we be conformed to this image in peace and reconciliation. Captain David Janssen Assistant field program officer, Training College, Vic. Correction: A letter which appeared in On Fire (25 September) by Phil Browne was responding to a letter in the 14 August edition by Major Wayne Ennis, not Major Wayne Pittaway as printed. This error occurred during the On Fire editing process. On Fire apologises for the error and any confusion caused.
The never-ending story
Have you got a comment, commendation or criticism? Send your letter of 300 words or less to onfire@aus.salvationarmy.org, or On Fire, PO Box 479, Blackburn 3130. All submissions will be subject to editing for clarity and space.
Ryan O’Connell goes on and on for a while. It’s been an inconclusive kind of year. The Federal election set the tone; after months of muckraking and policy discussion, the campaign trail turned out to be a dead-end, with the Australian parliament locked in a stalemate. For weeks, the nation let out collective impatient groans as the Liberal and Labor parties jockeyed for the approval of a handful of independents. Inconclusive doesn’t sit well with us. Prime Minister Julia Gillard herself, in a moment of precognition, joked about our distaste for ambiguous outcomes on the morning of the AFL grand final. ‘Please, please, we cannot have a draw. A week without a premiership football team—I’m not sure our nation’s strong enough to take it.’ A defiant scoreboard read 68–68 on 25 September, leaving us no choice. Equally in question were the Commonwealth Games—a paragon of consistency, never before cancelled in peacetime, Delhi’s dangerously lacklustre infrastructure and unhygienic athletes’ quarters called the whole event into question. What next?
When we put in the effort—to vote, to watch footy all season, to get excited for Aussie athletes—we want hard, fast results. We want conclusion. We would’ve preferred Collingwood to win rather than witness a draw and have to sustain footy finals fever for an agonising extra week. As frustrating as it is, 2010 represents a rare opportunity: to the catch the general public unawares. People are openly expressing their innate dissatisfaction when things don’t end—when things seem to have no point, despite much effort. It’s a sentiment the author of Ecclesiastes was depressingly familiar with. What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?... Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning to its course All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from,
there they return again. Occurring all together, the way they have this year, it’s easy to see these inconclusive events for what they are: hopelessly unsatisfying. Yet Australia lumbers on, seemingly less bothered with the larger, cyclical melodrama going on under our noses. Let’s face it: life itself is pretty inconclusive. Work. Eat. Sleep. Rinse. Repeat. To what end? Ecclesiastes has been described as ‘the dark background against which the light of the gospel shines’. The gospel is the conclusion, trumping the hundreds of thousands of petty non-conclusions that collude to make up life. A frame of reference, against which everything else— every repetitive success, failure and…well, draw—finds meaning. This year, perhaps more than most, people’s aversion to the unending boils close to the surface. I encourage you—ask them to widen their scope, and see the darkness for what it is. Then shine a light on it. A bright, refreshing, conclusive light.
9 October 2010
news
Miracle stories
Brunswick open their newlyrenovated doors The historic Brunswick citadel has undergone extensive renovations, including removing and replacing much of the interior of the building. The Albert Street property was purchased in 1884, with the citadel opened later that year. The worship area featured a large platform area for many bandsmen and timbrellists. After removing the platform, which no longer suits the corps’ style of worship, more people can now be seated and modern AV equipment has been introduced. ‘The building has been updated to facilitate the amazing work that happens here,’ says corps officer Captain Erica Jones. ‘In the last 10 years Brunswick has moved from being a very traditional corps to include a social network.’ The new building houses a dedicated community support services area, a drop-in centre, training room, reception area, offices, space for Bible studies and support groups, counselling rooms, homelessness and drug and alcohol services, and a catering kitchen. The kitchen allows groups of students from local schools to complete Certificate IV in hospitality while serving meals five or six days a week. The corps heritage is strongly tied to music, especially through the 2/22 Batallion Regimental Band. The band was deployed in 1941, and many were listed as prisoners of war on the Montevideo Maru when it sunk in July 1941. Nearly all the musicians were Salvation Army bandsmen, including seven from Brunswick Corps. Seeking to maintain a link to this heritage, the bandroom has been converted into a studio offering music and art therapy for people dealing with mental illness and
leadership today
addictions. The building is heritage-listed because of its ‘aesthetic significance as a good example of an early purpose-built Salvation Army citadel’ and more than 125 years of continual use within the Army, the oldest organised Christian denomination in Brunswick. The building is also listed for its social significance ‘as a meeting place and place of refuge for the community’. The corps will celebrate with a community expo and barbecue on Friday 15 October between 11 am and 3 pm. There will also be a dedication ceremony on Sunday 17 October at 10 am, with worship at 10.30 am, cafe church at noon and lunch at 12.30 pm.
The word ‘salvation’ is an inclusive word encompassing all that has come to us in the person of Jesus Christ. It embodies forgiveness, healing, deliverance, liberation, restoration and eternal life. Central to God’s initiative of salvation is the word ‘rescue’. God sent his Son to Earth on a rescue mission to save humankind from the devastating and incurable effects of sin and to liberate them from the dominion and control of Satan. I am continually amazed at the many ways God delights in using the ministry facilitated by The Salvation Army to engage in his salvation story in the world. We have been dispensed to rescue people in dire need, in helpless and hopeless situations—to rescue them from the kingdom of darkness, transferring them into the Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13). Recently, I had the privilege of meeting some young women who have been assisted by one of our social programs in Victoria. One of these women had escaped with her childrenfrom a violent and abusive husband. They were living in a relative’s garage, but the relative had asked her to leave. Feeling alone, depressed and in a physically weak state she cried out to God for help and had the thought to phone The Salvation Army for help. Within a matter of days, a house was provided for this destitute family—a miracle answer to prayer. A few years ago, while living in Hobart, we encountered a woman. She was on a bus travelling to the Tasman Bridge, intent on committing suicide. As she passed the Hobart Corps building and saw its signs, she was compelled to get off the bus and seek help. We were able to offer counsel, prayer, and financial assistance. We also directed her to one of our social programs where she was helped to develop a strategy to salvage her life. Another miracle in response to a cry for help. God is expert at rescuing people from their trials. He has chosen The Salvation Army as a vehicle to administer his rescue mission in the world and I am grateful for the opportunity and privilege to be part of it. Colonel Jennifer Walker Territorial secretary for women’s ministries
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cover story
Saved to Wrong way. Go back.
The opportunities for service within the
Russell Anderson finds road signs in the Bible pointing to faith and action. Just like any given street in Australia, the Bible is packed with road signs pointing to the right path, the path to life rather than death. It also says this path is the narrow one, and it’s harder to find. Another key message in the Bible is the importance of faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, ‘And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him’ (Hebrews 11:6). But what is faith? I once heard a story about a tightrope walker who strung a cable across Niagara Falls. Thousands of people watched and applauded as he walked back and forth above the cascading water, sometimes blindfolded, sometimes riding a bike, sometimes pushing a wheelbarrow. One day, while pushing the wheelbarrow across, he asked the crowd if they thought he could push it across with a person riding in it. The people shouted back: ‘Sure you can!’ So he responded, ‘Then someone volunteer. Come and form a line to get in the wheelbarrow and prove you trust my ability.’ The crowd became silent. There were no takers. Faith is putting what you say you believe into action. Faith is getting in the wheelbarrow. The writer of Hebrews says it is impossible to please God without faith. Let me say, it is impossible to stay on the right path without putting what we say we believe into action. James 2:14–25 speaks about the relationship between faith and deeds. Our faith can only be evident in what we do (v.24 ‘As the body without the spirit
is dead, so faith without deeds is dead’). It is the doing that turns what we say we believe into faith. Is your faith in God evident by the way you live? Do you live your life for Jesus outside your place of worship in a way that people would say about you, ‘There goes a person of faith’? Proverbs 14:12 says, ‘There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.’ God doesn’t save us just to warm pews on Sundays. This does not please God. He saves us to serve him so others might come to know his saving grace. People out there need to see the faith you profess in action. There are people in your own congregation who need to see that, too. If you claim a faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and you are not putting your faith into action, both inside the body of Christ and outside in your world, then you are on a road that might seem right to you, but in the end it leads to death. We are all in this together. Imagine what God could do through us as a church and each of us individually if we said yes to putting our faith into action. Imagine the blessings and purpose God would pour into our lives. Jesus did some great things while he was on Earth. He also said we would do even greater things than he did if we would only be willing to step out. Aren’t we thankful for the road signs like these in the word of God, there to keep us on the narrow path? We need to take these as seriously as we would a ‘wrong way, go back’ road sign. Captain Russell Anderson is corps officer at Hobsons Bay–Altona Corps (Vic.).
Officership: Join the ranks Signing up for officership is a big commitment. Officers aren’t employees, rather they are in a covenanted relationship with God serving within the Army. A large number of officers serve in corps, but there are also extensive opportunities within social programs; overseas; specialising in youth, children’s or women’s ministries; working at divisional or territorial headquarters; chaplaincy; the flying padre; and many other appointments. Envoys have chosen to serve God in The Salvation Army, not as officers but by performing functional roles traditionally undertaken by officers. Officership is 24/7/365, doing whatever it takes. It is also about being available according to the passion, gifting and calling God has placed upon an individual. Talking about calling, Major Marney Turner mentions Isaiah, a person who never received an explicit ‘call’ to ministry, but put up his hand when God asked ‘Whom shall I send?’. The decision to accept a candidate for officer training is made by the Territorial Candidates Board after a comprehensive application process. If not you; who? If not now; when? More information: Talk to your corps officer or contact territorial candidates secretaries Majors Len and Marney Turner: (03) 8878 4518, www.salvationarmy.org.au/explorethecalling
Employees: doing God’s work at work High-flying corporate types and specially trained staff are in great demand in any organisation, and The Salvation Army is no different. The help of skilled employees who choose to work for the Army greatly boosts our capacity to reach society with corps and social services. For many employees, the opportunity to work in the non-profit sector represents a welcome shift from commercial, money-making organisations to a focus on society itself. People, not profits, are the Salvation Army’s bottom line. Rob Stevens, SAMIS co-ordinator—‘It’s great being able to marry mission as a Salvo with my career.’ Patricia Tan, corporate accountant—‘There is a community-minded approach to everything we do, and a lot of organisations don’t have that. It’s a good company to work with. You do things for God!’ Brenda Hill, income accountant—‘I like the work we do, and I like to feel I can contribute to that, even if it is just office work.’
o serve
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9 October 2010
Army are as many and varied as its people. When the working day is done, most people head home to spend time with the family and put their feet up for some well-earned rest. After serving our time in the workforce, retirement awaits—time to indulge in the leisures and pursuits work made impossible. So, why do so many of us choose to
Community Care Gap Year: Taking time out for others Community Care ministries offer a gap year program aimed at young people who have completed years 11 or 12, but who aren’t sure about what work, study or ministry options they are suitable for. The program is also open to adults testing their aptitude for work in this area of ministry. It’s currently a no-study option, requiring only that participants commit to eight hours per week of practical ministry and training, including mentoring and supervision. Each participant is linked with a corps (possibly their home corps) where they undertake community care ministry. It could be outreach, kids’ ministry, homework club, meals programs, hospital or nursing home visitation, cross-cultural ministry, disability ministries or any number of other activities. A gap year mentor discusses the participant’s discoveries in relation to ministry, personal development and their journey with God. More information: Major Jennifer Cloke (03) 8872 6411, jennifer.cloke@aus. salvationarmy.org
volunteer? A recent ACOSS (Australian Council of Social Services) report on the not-for-profit sector states that 4.6 million Australians volunteer—a wage equivalent of $15 billion per annum. Based on these figures, the efforts of volunteers across the territory would equate to wages of about $32.6 million.
Order 614: ministry on the fringes ‘They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations’ (Isaiah 61:4). Order 614 is described as ‘a group of passionate Christians who, for one year, agree to live and work together to connect and journey with the forgotten people in the city of Melbourne’. That year will be a challenging time, getting involved with people on the edges of society, people who are broken and hurting— the homeless, mentally ill, prostitutes, transsexuals, abandoned children and refugees. Participants will be stretched, overwhelmed and exhausted while Jesus works through them to change lives. At the end of the year, participants receive Certificate IV in Christian Ministry (urban mission), at the completion of practical experience and classroom time. More information: (03) 9653 3213, http://www. salvationarmy.org.au/ order614
Serving others—rather than working for personal gain—is one way we put our faith into action. From fulltime officers to volunteers offering a few spare hours at a corps, there are numerous opportunities for service within The Salvation Army. What is
an army without its people?
Corps volunteers: lending a hand Being asked to volunteer at a corps is typically a Salvo’s first opportunity for organised service within the Army. Few corps would survive without the effort freely offered by corps and community members. The tasks can be small, such as taking up the offering, tidying up after the service or cooking a sausage sizzle. It may be joining the thrift shop roster, welcoming people at the door or operating multimedia. Volunteers are asked to serve in the area of their gifting, including leading worship or undertaking administrative tasks. The role of corps officers is to lead and empower, not to do everything themselves—that is simply impossible. To get involved, talk to your corps officer.
Volunteer registry: signing up to help There are about 10,000 volunteers assisting the Army’s work across the territory, and many more are signing up to pitch in, meaning there is huge potential for new partnerships to form. Volunteers sign up on the registry, providing information about their qualifications, experience and areas of interest. Not only does this allow people to be linked in where they will find the work particularly rewarding, but also means volunteers with specialised skills can be placed where their expertise can be most beneficial. One area where the system is being particularly effective is ‘corporate volunteering’. Groups of a few employees to a few hundred undertake community work, often with the Army. Currently, a number of groups are assisting with Victorian bushfire recovery work, landscaping, fencing and clearing up. More information: www. salvationarmy.org.au/ volunteer
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cover story
9 October 2010
[continued]
Overseas service: a whole world of possibilities For those who feel a calling to international service, there are several options for helping out abroad. Officers can apply for an overseas appointment and short- and long-term mission trips are very helpful, particularly in developing nations. There are also opportunities for skilled workers (such as accountants, medical staff, teachers and tradespeople) and specialised ministry positions (for people with linguistic skills or church planting experience, for example). Commitments range from a few months to several years. More information: Talk to your corps officer about current opportunities.
Salvos Stores: taking care of business From sorting donations to operating the register, volunteers are essential to the day-to-day operation of every Salvo Stores outlet. Working in Salvos Stores also means meeting members of the public who might be open for a chat and forming relationships with other staff and volunteers. Volunteers may also need to keep an eye out for those who could benefit from referral to other Salvation Army services. Skills and work experience gained at Salvo Stores can also be valuable additions your resume. More information: Drop into your local Salvos Stores outlet or visit www. salvationarmy.org.au/ salvosstores
Social Internship Programme: putting study into practice Recognising your desire to help, the Army’s social programme wants to help you help others, and in doing so, help the Army. It’s the social programme internship program (SIP). On offer to any Salvos (soldiers, adherents and ‘committed Christians actively participating in the life of the corps’) undertaking a social work/human services degree/ postgraduate/diploma course, the SIP gives students a taste of the practical side of their studies. Interns actively participate in at least three Salvation Army programs, gaining skills and experiences which, combined with their education, greatly improve their aptitude for work in the social services field. More information: Contact your divisional social programme secretary.
Compiled by Linda Hogan and Ryan O’Connell
our place
9 October 2010
On the wall of our worship centre is a statement: ‘Transforming Lives…Transforming Communities’. It represents our aim and the purpose we believe God has for this corps and our ministries. We have three distinctively different worship services each week. On Sunday mornings we have a contemporary service featuring guitars, a keyboard, drums and occasional brass and woodwind instruments. The service is primarily aimed at Christians, but we always include an element of evangelism. ‘Surge’ is our kid’s church, with around 35 children attending each week, many of whom have recently become junior soldiers. Sunday evenings are for YChurch, a vibrant, relevant service for a young congregation—mostly in their teens or 20s. We’ve been excited to see a young women’s and young men’s study group develop out of this meeting. Friday Night Church is a cafe-style church open to all, but normally used for evangelism. The service begins with an inexpensive meal and then launches into a contemporary worship time, usually followed by an icebreaker game and a message using multimedia to enhance communication and encourage participation. For more than two years, we have been running an outreach ministry as a response to homelessness in Launceston. The ministry has been operating three nights per week, serving an average of 27 free meals an evening. Not all the people who come along are homeless, but most are marginalised and consider the outreach nights to be a vital part of their community. Recently, we incorporated the Friday night outreach into Friday Night Church and this has proved to be very successful. The outreach ministry has led to the creation of a social justice
ministry, with a soldier recently appointed to lead. A team goes out to the streets late on Friday nights to connect with young people and find out what their needs are. They have also connected with other churches and organisations to try to create a united front. The ministry is still in its early days, but we are excited about what God will do in the months to come. Another soldier has been appointed as prison chaplain for Northern Tasmania, an exciting opportunity to show the love of Jesus in the local prison and youth detention centre. This year also saw the start of Women of Worth (WOW). Two groups meet fortnightly for fellowship. One of the groups is mostly comprised of younger women, and they meet on alternate Tuesday evenings. The other group is aimed at women over 60 and meets on Wednesdays during the day. A significant percentage of the evening group either comes from other churches or are relatively unchurched. ‘Mainly music’ has been running at Launceston for nearly two years and many of the families have become part of the life of the corps, either through one of the services or WOW. Small groups had been in decline but groups have recently started up again. We realise this has the potential to be an area of exciting development and our leaders are keen to nurture and promote groups meeting together regularly. Overall, it is an exciting time to be at Launceston Corps. Apart from all these activities, we are in the process of completely renovating our building and we aim to create a place that is buzzing with God’s presence, open and inviting, and a place that can further advance the Kingdom of God in this city.
The apple of our eye
Launceston Corps is all about the WOW factor.
Envoy Maria Baker
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profile
9 October 2010
Eldridge over troubled water David Eldridge was born into a loving Christian home. He knew nothing of what it meant to be unwanted, hungry or homeless but these issues and these people became the passion of his life. Learning on the job, he became the voice of the dispossessed. Australian historian Professor Manning Clarke once told David Eldridge over a barbecue lunch that there have always been homeless children in Australia. At the turn of the 20th century they were called ‘street arrows’ and wandered the streets of Sydney and Melbourne at any time of night or day. However, it was in the ’60s and ’70s when childrens’ homes were closing and Victoria was struggling to manage adolescents and teenagers well, that David became aware of the massive problem of homelessness. David was born in Brisbane and moved to Melbourne in his teenage years. His parents were Salvationists and he attended the Box Hill Corps. Despising school, David left early and began working in his father’s fruit shop. From time to time, his parents would take young people needing accommodation and employment into the family home. Before his eyes, his parents modelled the responsibilities of Christian living and the ethos of William Booth. Aspiring to ascend the corporate ladder, David landed a suit-and-tie cubicle job as an insurance broker. However, he grew restless in insurance, and sought more substantial work; he wanted to make a difference. Knowing next to nothing about social welfare, David knew what everyone knows: The Salvation Army helps people. He approached Major Gordon Fischer (now Colonel) at the social programme department and declared he would like to volunteer. Being unskilled in social work, David was offered a job as a canteen manager at The Gill, a 280-bed hostel for men. ‘That was my first touch of homelessness. I became addicted,’ says David. ‘I worked there for a year for $30 a week. My car payments were $22, so there was nothing much left over. ‘At least I was fed at The Gill. I slept in a cubicle on floor C, but knew I could go home and have a shower and sleep in comfort every now and then’. During David’s time at The Gill, The Salvation Army was heavily criticised by a major Melbourne daily newspaper for having been evicted from a property that was rented as a youth hostel in Fitzroy. With displaced clients and lingering bad press, the Army purchased their own property, a house in Tranmere Street, Fitzroy, which provides accommodation for homeless youth to this day. David successfully applied for funding for
further homelessness work at Tranmere Street, and soon found himself wholly committed to working with homeless and disadvantaged young people. He and others working with him were learning on the job. In the ’80s, a windfall came to this new program. Chief secretary Colonel William Roberts, a member of the Melbourne Rotary Club, informed David and Tranmere Street youth services manager (now Major) Graeme McClimont that Rotary was looking to donate $150,000 to $200,000 to a major project for three years—a very substantial sum at the time. David and Graeme drafted a submission, made a presentation and secured the funding. The services expanded to include a house in Richmond and the St. Kilda Crisis Centre, eventually forming the Crossroads Network. ‘Attracting the best people in Australia to work for us, Crossroads became the benchmark for youth homelessness services across the country,’ says David. ‘In retrospect I can see the hand of God in what has happened so far. I didn’t see where the work among the homeless was going; I just went along with it and learned so much,’ he says. Major David Eldridge has retired from active service as an officer, but working with disadvantaged people continues to be his passion. L ie u t - C olonel P a m T rigg
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9 October 2010
life at 303
Stilling the restlessness As a direct consequence of General Eva Burrows (Rtd) and Majors Brendan and Sandra Nottle’s inspirational example and spiritual guidance, I felt passionately led to explore the ‘quality, spirit and content of God’s voice’ with regard to my officership.
S tat e l e s s Colin Elkington reflects on the importance of belonging After a few weeks in my appointment at Refugee and Migrant Services, I was getting used to the stream of people from all over the world coming to me for help. Many of the people represented nationalities I had never had contact with before. All these people were grateful for the help received and were hopeful about making a life in Australia. It was a pleasure to help them, welcome them and even to pray with some. As they showed me their papers, I noted their country of origin: Burma, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Israel, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Egypt, Nepal—even Bhutan. I had never met anyone from that secretive state. I didn’t even know where it was. Though beginning a new life here, all of them had a country of origin on their documents. Except the Kurds. A middle-Eastern man presented his papers and the word ‘stateless’ jumped out at me. What a horrible label to wear. As I met more Kurds, and they showed me their papers, I noticed each one had been declared ‘stateless’. I am generally not an emotional person, but when I saw that word a great wave of sorrow swept over me. I felt like crying. No one wants the Kurds. Their traditional home of Kurdistan is controlled by Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria—but none want them. They have been persecuted for decades, at times forbidden to practise
their culture or language. Being stateless speaks of alienation, isolation, rejection. Everyone needs to belong. Earthly states and kingdoms may not be inclusive, but there is a state, a kingdom, that welcomes all, where anyone is accepted and loved and has a sense of belonging. Unlike most governments, where the ‘average Joe’ has no access to the highest authorities, this government’s leader is accessible to all and at any time. It is the Kingdom of God and it’s not just an after-death experience. It is a state anyone can enjoy now. The terms of entry are quite simple: a humble, contrite spirit and complete allegiance to its king. And what a king! Many world leaders might say they would give their lives for their people. This one already has. No wonder his subjects swear their absolute love and loyalty to him. No wonder they seek to emulate him and follow his example. The state Jesus offers us is one of grace, peace and joy. It is a state of forgiveness and pardon. Compared to his state, all other statehoods are worthless. Places are still available. There are still many vacancies. Apply now. Major Colin Elkington is a migrant and refugee services officer based in Melbourne.
Because clearly, at this stage, it is the only path that will still the restlessness from within my being. In fact, it was the inimitable retired ‘General of God’s Army’ who directed me to the powerful scripture passage in Romans 11:29, ‘For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable’. I fervently believe the Lord commissioned me to carry the Gospel to the ends of the Earth, while being a living example of the truth I present. Until now, I have been immersed in a series of ‘mission fields’ full of individuals who listen far more with their hearts than with their minds; that is, they are far more sensitive to how I live my life than the words I use. It was not always easy, but I have never doubted that, as a result of God’s unfathomable grace, all things are possible. Accordingly, as Christ takes the consequences of our brokenness and miraculously transforms it, we have a renewed capacity to venture into the world as vessels of ‘hope, and light and love, and truth and grace, and mercy and justice’ for the whosoever. The important thing is resting unshakably in God, faithfully obeying his Word, and endeavouring to live the love of Christ in prayer and in our work—through lives characterised by the simplicity and humility of the Gospel. Thus, the core of our ministry lies in our unswerving dependence on God. We must endeavor to live by the simplicity and humility of the Gospel. Too easy, right?
Cadet Meg Dale is a first-year cadet in the ‘Friends of Christ’ session.
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news
9 October 2010
Students drive can drive Students from Noble Park Secondary College filled a car with 2,122 cans of food, donating the cans and a cheque for $200 to Brunswick and Preston Corps (Vic.) in September. To encourage the students, a number were invited to visit the corps to see some of the community programs on offer. Captain Peter Jones, Captain Christine Agnew and Cadet Paul Lorimer went to the school to accept the donation, thanking principal Pam Dyson, teacher Jamie Sweatman and all the students for their efforts. Right, top: Students and the car filled with donations Right: Teachers and students from Noble Park Secondary College with Cadet Paul Lorimer, Captain Christine Agnew and Captain Peter Jones
Award for Westcare’s John Avent
Lisa Neville presents John Avent with his award, accompanied by two of Robin Clark’s brothers.
Haiti continues on the road to recovery
After eight months of emergency response to the earthquakes that devastated Haiti, The Salvation Army has begun a new phase of recovery work addressing longterm humanitarian needs. Last month, a new Haiti Recovery and Development Office was opened in Port-au-Prince. Under the leadership of Haiti divisional commander Major Lucien Lamartiniere, Major Ron Busroe will coordinate a team of five Salvation Army officers directing all post-earthquake recovery and development initiatives carried out in Haiti in the months to come. The internationally appointed officers will be supported by a team of Haitians to ensure that all projects incorporate both the needs of the community and the mission of The Salvation Army.
John Avent, general manager of The Salvation Army’s Westcare, was officially recognised for his leadership at the 2010 Robin Clark Memorial Awards. Victorian Community Services Minister Lisa Neville awarded John a commendation marking 26 years of service at Westcare—the major provider of placement and support services for children in Melbourne’s west. The awards recognise and encourage outstanding work in organisations improving the lives of children, young people and families in Victoria. Although the award was an individual recognition for John, he said it represented the efforts of all the Westcare tea. Westcare staff stay for an average of six years, unusual in a sector where staff turnover is particularly high. The program exists to provide foster care and support services, but John says Westcare goes further through initiatives like the Creating Dreams Project, acknowledging the dreams and achievements of disadvantaged children and youth.
Salvation Army ‘most reputable’ not-for-profit Beginning 13 September, groups of Australian Salvo officers flew to New Zealand to assist with counselling in the wake of the Christchurch earthquakes. The same day, The Salvation Army was ranked as the most trusted not-for-profit group in both Australia and New Zealand in the 2010 MSI Global Alliance poll. More than 70% of survey respondents were chairs, directors, chief executive officers, general managers or partners in large firms. The remaining 30% were senior managers or managers. NZ Management noted that ‘The Salvation Army leads the reputational charge…and it consistently delivers on its customer promise and service.’ New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga territorial commander Commissioner Don Bell said the Army was humbled by the recognition because, ‘We work with New Zealanders in their darkest hours. What we strive to do each day is to put the Christian gospel, our beliefs and values, into action—Christianity with its sleeves rolled up. I would hope this is how we are perceived. ‘While reputation is not The Salvation Army’s primary focus, it is critical to the Army’s effectiveness,’ said Commissioner Bell. ‘Without the moral and financial support of the public, our corporate partners and various trusts and foundations, the breadth and depth of our work would contract dramatically. We don’t take this support for granted, and its significance goes far beyond any dollar value.’
faith in action
9 October 2010
Free from fear
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Jane Sheriff has found grace and peace despite trials in life I grew up in Burnie, Tasmania with my mum, dad, sister Katrina and brother Desmond. Life was pretty good I have learned until I began high school. that our sadness Year 7 saw the start of constant bullying and I felt doesn’t go away sad and lonely. I was picked but we learn to on because I couldn’t read or write very well. Soon the deal with it. bullying got too much and I couldn’t take it anymore. It was then that Mum started to homeschool my sister and me. I soon felt safe again and life was back on track. In late 2007, my dad got sick with cancer and Mum took him to the hospital. I remember some of Mum’s friends taking my sister there. I remember feeling so angry and upset, and wondering why this was happening and why to my dad. The next few months were full of trips to hospital, until one day we were told that the hospital couldn’t help my dad any more. So, for the next few months, I tried to help Mum and be around Dad as much as I could. I remember a Salvation Army officer coming and sitting with my dad. In December, I came home from ceramics class to find family everywhere. I wanted to get inside to see Mum but was told to wait outside. I felt so frustrated and I knew something was wrong. After what seemed like hours, Mum came outside, she was crying and I remember putting my arms around her and saying, ‘He’s gone, isn’t he?’ The next few days where filled with chaos. There were people everywhere with flowers all through the house. We even had to store them in the bath. After the funeral, people slowly started to disappear and Mum, Katrina, Desmond and I were left alone, except for Aunty Glenda who helped us when she could. I have learned that our sadness doesn’t go away but we learn to deal with it. That’s what we did. Over the next few years we just kept going as best we could, but things were difficult. One day, Aunty Glenda told us about a community lunch at The Salvation Army. We didn’t want to go at first because of what people might think of us. We decided to go anyway and instantly felt welcome. A little later, we started going to cafe church and I made friends, then I went to youth group—now I have some lifelong friends there. One day Katrina and I talked Mum into going to the Sunday morning service. Mum agreed and we began to get excited. When we arrived at church we felt welcome. The friends we had made through community lunch, cafe church and youth group seemed so happy to see us. I started to learn about God. I learned that it’s okay to trust him and it doesn’t matter who we are or where we have come from. God loves us no matter what. For the last few months, I have been learning about The Salvation Army and I’ve been helping with the new community program and youth group on Wednesday. I really feel like I am helping others and I’m also having a lot of fun. I also felt that I wanted to make a permanent commitment to both God and the Army, so on 16 May I was enrolled as a soldier. The song ‘Amazing Grace’ has always been a song of sadness in my family as it was the song played as we said our last goodbyes to Dad. But, since coming to Burnie Salvation Army, this song has a new meaning for my life. ‘I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind and now I see. My chains are gone, I’ve been set free. My God my Saviour has ransomed me. Unending love, amazing grace.’ And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
child sponsorship
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In each issue of On Fire, we introduce a few children living in developing nations who have been identified by Salvation Army staff as needing sponsorship. Say hello to... Name: Mohammed Age: 9 Country: Bangladesh Mohammed’s mother was malnourished during her pregnancy. As a result, Mohammed is visually impaired. He comes from a very poor family—his father is a low-paid labourer and relies on seasonal work for income. Mohhamed’s ambition is to be a teacher and his hobbies are music and drawing. Mohammed lives at the Integrated Children’s Centre in Bangladesh. Carers say that he is a gentle boy who is interested in study. Name: Alenie Age: 10 Country: Philippines Alenie belongs to a poor family. She is in good health and attends school. Her favourite subjects are English and maths. Alenie loves to sing, dance and read and has three siblings. If you would like to sponsor a child, including Mohammed or Alenie, or a Salvation Army school, children’s home or program, please contact the Child Sponsorship Department. Once Mohammed and Alenie have sponsors, staff can partner sponsors with children in similar situations. (03) 8878 4543 PO Box 479 Blackburn Vic. 3130 childsponsorship@ aus.salvationarmy.org www.salvationarmy.org.au/ childsponsorship
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feature
SOMETHING ROTTEN in the state of MINISTRY Grant Sandercock-Brown asks if there is such a thing as a lay Salvationist.
feature
9 October 2010
‘The most significant change in the order of the church during its first centuries was not the creation of leaders, but rather the creation of the laity,’ writes William Willimon. I agree. And it was not a change that has benefited the people of God—the expressions ‘ordained’ and ‘lay’ ministry should never be heard in our movement. There are some who will disagree. People I know and respect as Salvation Army officers see themselves as ordained clergy, somehow different to ‘lay’ soldiers. However, the notion that an officer’s commissioning produces some change in their being is not one I share. This is not a merely an issue of academic opinion; being unified on this issue is vital to our effective mission, maybe even our future. There is something rotten in the state of ministry in The Salvation Army. The distinction of ‘ordained’ and ‘lay’ is the symptom, and we need to cure the disease. Karl Barth, the greatest theologian of the 20th century, called the term ‘laity’ ‘one of the worst in the vocabulary of religion and ought to be banished from Christian conversation’. I’m with Karl. Why is that so? New Zealander Major Harold Hill has written the book on leadership in The Salvation Army. It is called, unsurprisingly, Leadership in The Salvation Army. The sting, however, is in the subtitle: ‘A case study in clericalisation’. For, as pastor and theology professor Paul Steven points out, ‘Clericalism
is the domination of the “ordinary” people by those ordained, trained and invested with privilege and power’.
Hill’s book is essentially the story of how a movement of signed-up, full-on missioners became a church and its officers— originally the ministers to the ministers— became clergy. Near the end of Leadership in the Salvation Army, Hill helpfully and rightly posits three possible views on clergy and laity: 1 ) There are priests/clerics/people in the Church, with a status distinct from that of the laity, but we do not have them in The Salvation Army. 2 ) There are priests/clerics/people in orders in the Church and we do have them as officers in The Salvation Army. 3 ) There are no priests/clerics/orders in the Church, and The Salvation Army does not aspire to any. I imagine that some of my fellow Salvationists hold to the second position. I hold to the third.
Fr agile structur es
We need to remember that, throughout history, the church has built extraordinary structures on a very small amount of biblical material. There are two New Testament examples of people being prayed for and having hands laid on them in some sort of ordination for a particular job: Acts 6:6 and Acts 13:3. In both instances, it’s a pretty simple occurrence, and one would think that it would be impossible to build elaborate ideas of ordained ministry and apostolic succession on them, yet the church has. As to the word ‘ordained’, it appears rarely in Scripture and is a translation for a number of Greek words, none of which carry the meaning of initiation into a new caste or ontological change (‘Now that I am an officer, I am different’). The very term ‘lay’ (a non-ministering, ministered-to person) just has no basis in Scripture. ‘Laos’, the word from which laity is derived, simply means ‘the people’. I reject any notion that there are ‘lay Salvationists’ and ‘clergy Salvationists’. There are simply God’s people. And if no such division exists, we should stop using the terms.
I am not trying belittle officership. I am not saying officers
are not the equal of ministers in the other churches. Remember, I hold to Hill’s third position; all the people of God are equal in status. All are called to mission and ministry. The whole concept and practice of clergy and laity as it exists in many churches today, owes far more to Church tradition than to the New Testament record. I can, with biblical warrant, defend The Salvation Army’s traditional view of the ministry of all believers. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. The Protestant Reformation had supposedly done away with the power of the priests, had recovered the practice of the ‘priesthood of all believers’. But before long, even though shorn of popish practices, the new pastor was often indistinguishable from the old priest. I fear our longing to view ourselves as ordained ministers of the Church of The Salvation Army has more to do with security, status, power and prestige than mission and practice as we find it in the New Testament. Burning issue
Unless we can recover our founding practice of the ministry of all believers, if our officers go on desiring to be (and acting like) ordained clergy, the rapid decline in our congregational life will only pick up speed. Without an underpinning concept of all
Salvationists as ministers, our missional structures become mere bureaucracy; uniform becomes dress-up clothes for worship and—the killer—all ministry is done by officers. Many soldiers already see their corps officers as the Captain-Priest. Pastoral care countsonly if it is done by officers; officers must officiate at all ceremonies; if (God forbid) a drunk wanders into the hall you need to summon the officer; soldiers are reluctant to pray in worship and they leave it to the professional; evangelism is the Captain’s job. We were a movement that was once egalitarian in mission and service, hierarchical in organisation. We are becoming elitist in mission and service and bureaucratic in organisation. That is not a change for the better. Commissioner Phil Needham wrote on the theology of officership some time ago and concluded that officership was best understood as a function, that any difference between a soldier and an officer was one of role and responsibility, not status. O r d i n a t i o n fo r a l l
I am not against ordination; we just need to understand that, in the words of Princeton theology professor Darrell Guder et al, ‘the priesthood of all believers is continually undermined by the practices of ordination’. Perhaps to reclaim the concept, we should ordain everybody who is involved in ministry. Ordain your singers, your officers, youth workers, guitarists, junior soldier sergeants, receptionists. Define their role, get them up in front of the congregation, commission them and pray for them. Don’t misunderstand me; I love being an officer. Signing my covenant was a sacred moment for me. The officer’s covenant is a sacrificial and meaningful one. But I have never thought it conferred any special spiritual status on me. We must reject such a view and we must reclaim the practice of the ministry of all believers. Our Kingdom cause is too urgent to do otherwise. I say ‘we’, but of course all of this is merely my story. I have discovered I cannot presume to speak with any certainty on what ‘we believe’. The tragedy, at least in seeking resolution on vital issues such as these, is that I’m pretty sure no-one else does either. Captain Grant Sandercock-Brown is corps officer at Chatswood, NSW. This article originally appeared in the Eastern Territory’s Pipeline magazine.
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small group resources
9 October 2010
The earth is full of the Christine Dalziel presents
Study 3: God known in general revelation Introduction In these studies, ‘revelation’ refers to both the times when we have been aware of God in our lives and to the times when the people of the Bible understood God’s revelation in theirs. Consider times in your life when you have had a revelation of God. Maybe you consider that time as a time of blessing or time of direction or leading. Share about that time with your group or make some notes in a journal. Revelation is real. We must wait for it. Revelation is a gift. It requires a response. We can’t make revelation happen, but all revelation requires a response. We choose to live by it or we refuse to live by it.
Part 1
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1–8.
Many people: • believe that God has been present and is present in creation and in the seasons • have a moral awareness, conscience • have a religious sense that there is one greater than we are.
What is significant for you in this reading?
Do you consider that you share these above points with non-believers? Talk about similarities/differences between Christians and non-Christians in relation to the above points. Read Psalm 19. Share with others a part of this psalm that is significant for you. How do the decrees of the Lord make the simple wise? How is the soul revived by the law of God? Speak about the language which is the speech of creation (verses 1–4). Review the prayer in verse 14. What makes your words and meditations acceptable to God? Consider how they are a response to the revelation of God. How do you respond to the revelation of God in your life? P rayer
Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred let me bring your love; where there is injury, your pardon, Lord; and where’s there’s doubt, true faith in you.
Part 2 One of the joys of understanding a general revelation of God in creation is that we have constant changing reminders of him as the seasons unfold.
What is the most significant ‘time’ for you these days? For me, verse five means: A time to throw away fixed ideas that weigh me down, thinking ‘it must be done this way’. These heavy ‘stones’ make my journey difficult. Yet there is a time to gather ‘stones’ to build a new path to God where we can journey together. I do that by being open to new ways and new ideas of how we can share the things of God in our community. Now read Ecclesiastes 3:9–15. This is an excellent reading as we consider the years gone by and look toward our future. What do you think about verse 15? With God there is timelessness, as all time merges. We have a sense of oneness in God and with God. Return to the sense of God’s revelation in Ecclesiastes 3:1–8. In spring New life is always before us, everything blossoms. In summer A time to enjoy. We are aware of the fruitfulness of God. In autumn We know a time of colour and yet change, when old gives way for new. In winter We experience the days of waiting for new growth. What season do you enjoy? Why? What season or time describes where you are spiritually? Finally, read Habakkuk 3:17–19. What does this passage say to you?
small group resources
9 October 2010
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steadfast love of God Moses And The Burning Bush, Byzantine mosaic, Catherine’s Monastery
the final two studies in a series about practicing the presence of God.
Study 4: God known in special revelation Introduction There are times in our lives when we become aware of God in a special way. Once, when I was on holiday, a field of buttercups became the medium by which we knew the creation of God and the beauty of God. We knew God was with us. For us, the field became a place of revelation. Sometimes the birth of a baby becomes a place of revelation as we stand in awe and joy at the child so wondrously made. There are times when the singing of a song or the testimony of another becomes a time when God speaks to us. That song or word becomes the place of revelation. For Moses, the bush that was burning became a place of special revelation, the place where he was aware of God speaking to him (Exodus 3). For the woman who met Jesus in Sychar (John 4), the meeting became a place of special revelation when she moved from meeting a man at the well, to meeting a Jew at the well, to meeting a prophet at the well, to meeting the Messiah at the well. Christians recognise the revelation of God in many spheres of their lives. There are ‘general’ revelations of God when we are aware of God and then find ourselves in the presence of the one who said, ‘I will be with you always’ (Matthew 28:20). We also recognise God in a ‘special’ revelation in the history of the Hebrew race which finds its fulfilment in Christ’s life. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection became a special revelation of God.
Part 1 Read Mark 15:40–41, 47. Read John 20:1–10. Mary Magdalene was one of the Galilean women who accompanied Jesus. Scriptural evidence indicates that she was a leader in the female circle. We read that Jesus singled out Mary for her
special revelation on Easter morning, making her the first of the apostles and disciples to see and proclaim Jesus as the risen Christ. Read John 20:11–18. Imagine the time on Easter morning when Jesus said ‘Mary’ and Mary said, in recognition, ‘Rabboni’. Allow time for each person to remember times when they have known Jesus with them—speaking their name or being known as a presence. What was your response to that revelation? In what ways can Mary serve as a role model for us today as we seek to know the God who reveals? Read Acts 9:1–20. What a dramatic reading! This is the story of the revelation where Saul’s life was completely changed and he became Paul, an apostle. Here is the story of one ‘breathing threats and murder against the disciples of Jesus’ (verse 1). But, by the time we read verse 20, Paul is saying ‘Jesus is the Son of God’. We have another revelation also, that of Ananias. Talk about both revelations and both responses. Help each other to recognise the significance of special revelations and the importance of our response. If it is true that we cannot make revelation happen, that we must wait for it, how do we live our lives so that we are aware of God’s presence? How much do our deep desires, our intentions, have to do with how we know God? Read Psalm 130. Particularly notice verses 5 and 6. How do you wait for the revelation of God? Paul prays in Ephesians 1:15–19 ‘that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened so that we may know the hope to which God has called us’. What is your prayer as we conclude this part of the study?
Part 2 The walk to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35). The couple on this road had their hopes dashed. They hoped Jesus would change the world and now he had been crucified. For them the best route was away from Jerusalem where the events of the past few days had caused such despair. And then, in the midst of their despair, there was Jesus. Certainly a special revelation. Move slowly through this story to notice all the points that lead to verse 31 ‘then their eyes were opened and they recognised him’. Did the revelation start at verse 17 when they stood still, owned the sadness, and started to review what had happened? We conclude with another prayer from Paul: ‘I want to know Christ’.
Next issue: Lieutenant Aaron Stobie.
These studies were prepared by Melbourne Salvationist Christine Dalziel as part of Camberwell Corps’ centenary celebrations.
frontlines
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9 October 2010
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Benalla, Vic. (Majors Heather and Peter Ellis) Benalla Corps hosted a day of celebration on 12 September. Cheryle Le Lievre, Kellie Smith, Sharon Dellar and Alma Smith were accepted as adherents (L–R, pic ➊). Micah Cop, Keilee Cop, Tamika Dellar and Cheyanne Dellar were then enrolled as junior soldiers (L–R, pic ➋, with Major Heather Ellis and their prayer pals). Rebecca Daldy received her silver junior soldier award and Maddy Kohler received her bronze award (L–R, pic ➌).
Eastern Victoria Division (Lieut-Colonel Jocelyn Knapp) On the weekend of 17–19 September, more than 125 youth and leaders attended the divisional ‘Revolution’ youth camp with guest speakers Major Brendan Nottle and Captain Rowan Castle. Jayden Haworth was enrolled as a soldier on Sunday morning and 11 youth made commitments to follow Jesus.
Ingle Farm, SA (Majors Paul and Wendy Hateley) On 8 September, ladies from Murray Bridge Home League visited Ingle Farm Home League to present a meeting on the subject ‘Keeping in touch’. The Ingle Farm ladies had visited Murray Bridge on 3 August with the theme ‘Getting to know you’.
Mildura, Vic. (Captains Christine and Jeff Waller) On 9 September, Mildura Home League celebrated their 88th birthday with more than 100 people present. Territorial secretary for women’s ministries Colonel Jennifer Walker was the guest speaker. Deputy Mayor Councillor Susan Nichols brought a civic greeting and Mildura
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➌ Christian College choir performed a number of songs including ‘Your grace still amazes me’ and ‘Just as I am’. A candle was lit for each of the five ladies from the Home League who had passed away in the last 12 months. Pic ➍: (L-R): Captain Christine Waller, Colonel Jennifer Walker, Councillor Susan Nichols, Home league secretary Elaine Stewart
Melbourne Corps Project 614, Vic. (Majors Brendan and Sandra Nottle) Cathy Bushall was accepted as an adherent on 11 September (pic ➎).
Narrogin, WA (Lieutenants Gregory and Lynne Turnbull) A group of officers and soldiers from the Western Australia Division joined a motorbike trip to Narrogin Corps on 12 September. They all then took part in an afternoon meeting on the theme of ‘love one another’. Pic ➏: (L-R): Captain Niall Gibson, Norman Targett, Lieutenant Greg Turnbull, Captain Clyde Colls, Major Ian Dearing, Envoy Paul Hetherington, Lieutenant Lynne Turnbull and Trevor Williams
Northern Victoria Division (Majors John and Wendy Freind) More than 60 people from the Northern Victoria Division attended a Seniors Rally Day at Bendigo Corps on 26 August. Melbourne Staff Songster Merryn Steel sang songs from the ’60s and musicals and led a devotion. Major Kevin Grigsbey led a traditional jazz band. Lawrie Williams of Wodonga Corps was presented with the annual award for an outstanding senior in the division by
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Major June Purdy, who also presented a message. After lunch, extreme circus performer Roy Malloy and assistant Irish O’Reilly roped volunteers into their act. Pic ➐: (L-R): Roy Malloy, Major June Purdy, Irish O’Reilly
Perth Fortress, WA (Majors Barry and Rosslyn Casey) On 16 September, Perth Fortress Corps officially opened ‘Coffee Booth’, a cafe in the foyer of their building staffed by volunteers and workplace trainees. Town of Vincent mayor Nick Catania and divisional commander Major Dennis Rowe spoke at the opening. Coffee Booth is the result of a partnership between Salvation Army Employment Plus, the Town of Vincent and the Department of Correctional Services, with inmates constructing the signage and front counter. Westcoast Institute of Training provided barista training to the volunteers and European Foods supplied the coffee-making equipment. All proceeds will fund mission outreach in the Northbridge area.
Semaphore, SA (Captains Graham and Kathleen Stanley) On 12 September, Semaphore Corps held their YP anniversary. Nikita Chilcott was enrolled as a junior soldier and Tanisha Chilcott and Lisa Maria Hoggard renewed their junior soldier pledge and received their bronze awards. Pic ➑: (L-R): Lisa Maria Hoggard, Tanisha Chilcott and Nikita Chilcott with their prayer pals Pic ➒: (L-R): Tanisha Chilcott, Nikita Chilcott and prayer pal Danae Wheeler, Lisa Maria Hoggard
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reviews
9 October 2010 [ book ] Outlive Your Life Max Lucado HHHH With the confusingly titled Outlive Your Life, Max Lucado (author of a veritable library of Christian books) sets his sights squarely on unfounded feelings of Christian inadequacy. After all, the disciples were disloyal, not well travelled and not especially learned ‘blue-collar workers’, and they changed the world forever. What’s stopping you? Short, easily-read chapters include lively written recounts of events in scripture and modern-day examples of regular ‘Joe pot roasts’ engaged in biblically virtuous activity, capped off with firm encouragement to follow God’s will. Lucado has a way with words, drawing readers in with stylised, near poetic descriptions and flowing narrative. Where 100 words will do, he employs 300—but his generous ‘inklination’ boosts Outlive Your Life from an encouraging, challenging read into a page-turner. My only gripe: worryingly, Lucado changes translations with every scriptural reference. This erratic referencing, combined with the bitsy way he plucks them from all over the good book, however relevant, makes me uneasy as a reader; is the Bible speaking to me, or is Lucado? Ryan O’Connell Available from Word, $16.95 [ book ] No Heart More Tender Harry Read HHHH It’s a peculiar thing; a book on a subject which the author wishes to be less experienced. In a tidy, pocketsized volume, retired Commissioner Harry Read shares his experiences and advice from the unfortunate position of one bereaved, his beloved wife Win having passed away in 2007. In the words of General Clifton’s foreword, it ‘combines tenderness and sensitivity with realism and practicality.’ Early on, Harry acknowledges that nobody can reach another’s heart unless speaking from their own—to that end No Heart More Tender intersperses poetry from Harry’s personal diary, written at various stages of grief, with his reflections on death, life, faith and God in the aftermath of loss. Comparable in format to C.S Lewis’ A Grief Observed (with the addition of poetry), Read himself says the book is ‘not the result of deductions made from thoughtful observations of the sorrows of others…but rather from a heart that has felt, and still feels, the catastrophic effects of loss; a heart that has struggled to reconcile the negative elements of grief with a tried and tested faith’. When a sincere wordsmith like Read wants to use his experiences to equip others through his pen, an outstanding, useful volume is a foregone conclusion. Ryan O’Connell Available from Salvationist Supplies, $13.50 [ cd ] Praise & Blame Tom Jones HH Through the past four decades of hits, gold-selling albums and sold-out tours, Jones has established himself as a music legend. He has also proven himself a dab hand at re-inventing his act to suit a new generation or trend in popular music, which has kept him at the top of the charts year after year. This time, he’s decided to have a crack at gospel and…it stinks.
Don’t bother V
Passable HH
Good HHH
Performing tracks by Bob Dylan, John Lee Hooker and others, as well as some of his own tunes, Jones does his best 70-year-old African-American blues singer, but comes off sounding like a Welshman trying to be black, and proud of it. Songs like ‘Nobody’s Fault But Mine’, ‘What Good Am I?’ and ‘Lord, Help’ certainly have a strong message, but they lose traction when sung by a man famous for singing ‘Sex Bomb’ and having multiple affairs. Gospel needs to be believed to be sung well—it needs integrity and doesn’t find it here. If you need a point of comparison, listen to anything by the Blind Boys of Alabama and you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Mal Davies [ dvd ] Foolishness Skatebible/ Heritage Home Entertainment HHHH Professional skater Brian Sumner presents Foolishness—120 minutes of skating and scripture. It’s a slick presentation, following a formula fans of skate videos will be familiar with: a bunch of guys with long fringes skating in the California sunshine. Apart from being a pro skater, Sumner is a deacon at his local church and preaches every Saturday evening. He is also the founder of The Uprising, a skateboard ministry reaching out to skaters through assemblies and festivals. Foolishness is set around 1 Corinthians 1:18, ‘For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God’. Although packed with Bible verses, Foolishness avoids being preachy. Sumner comes across as a peer talking about his passions for faith and skating, rather than some guy talking down to you. The way Sumner speaks can be distracting; he grew up in Liverpool, but moved to the US as a pro skater aged 15, so he drifts between both accents in an odd, but endearing, hybrid. Linda Hogan Available at Koorong, $24.95 [ book ] Samuel Logan Brengle: Heart for God Peter Farthing (ed.) HHHH ½ Though Commissioner Brengle was promoted to glory in 1936, his writings continue to influence Army theology and have impacted generations of Salvationists. However, when approaching the work of any prolific writer, we are confronted with the ‘Where do I start?’ problem. Coming to the rescue is Major Peter Farthing who has provided us with a well-structured ‘condensed’ version of Brengle’s work. Containing more than 60 short excerpts from the works of Brengle, Heart for God is a superb ‘sampler’ for those undecided if they wish to wade into the deep waters of Brengle’s writings. Major Farthing has also taken the liberty of updating some of the language—providing The Message version of Brengle’s work—and saying, quite rightly, that Brengle was a communicator and would have understood entirely the benefit of this form of editing for a new generation of readers. The book also contains some study material that can be used for private devotions or in small group settings. This is a well-presented and well-edited book and deserves to be widely read. Mal Davies Available at Salvationist Supplies for $8.00
Impressive HHHH
Exceptional HHHHH
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