Salvos Online

Auxiliary-Lieutenant Mark Curtis doesn’t like gardening. But funnily enough, that’s exactly why he began a garden ministry 10 years ago. “God spoke to me in a dream to start a garden on The Salvation Army Gosnells property,” he says. “And I don’t even like gardening or know anything about it, so I knew [the idea] wasn’t from me.”

When Mark started in late 2013, the garden consisted of just six raised garden beds, each five metres by two metres. Since then, he and many dedicated groups of volunteers have transformed the garden into a space for what he and his wife, Major Nikki Curtis, describe as a faith community outside of the traditional church building.

To read the full story click on our link below.

The Salvation Army WA

From streets to jail, prayer to potting mix: Mark and Nikki’s unlikely ministry WA Cutmore Award recipients cultivating community and faith around Gosnells garden beds

Young people accessing The Salvation Army in Frankston, Victoria, will now be assured of safe spaces shaped by the knowledge and creativity of those their own age.

Youth and young adults from the Frankston Youth Advisory Group – a Council-driven program that offers those between the ages of 12 and 24 in the area the chance to provide feedback and input – recently designed new posters for the spaces at Peninsula Youth Services, a Salvation Army service provider led by Peninsula Youth Services’ Youth Participation worker Katie O’Connor.

To read the participant's reflections click on our link below.

Advisory Group members creating safe spaces for Peninsula Youth New TSA posters reflect hearts of ‘inspired’, ‘connected’ young people

This week Major Mal Davies reveals the contents of a never-before-seen papyrus scroll outlining a conversation between Pharaoh and Joseph.

A krafty dream Major Mal Davies looks at the lighter side of the Christian life

Sit down and enjoy a two-hour presentation of the General’s Sydney Rally, hosted by the NSW/ACT Division, held at the University of NSW Clancy Auditorium on Monday 26 August. The Salvation Army’s world leaders, General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, toured the Australia Territory for one week from 26 August-2 September 2024, holding rallies in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart and Melbourne. (Note: Two items had to be cut from the Sydney video due to licensing issues or by request).

The Salvation Army International Leaders of The Salvation Army Australia The Salvation Army NSW & ACT Division

Sydney Rally with General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham Enjoy the Sydney Rally starting from Major Kim Haworth's welcome. The First Nations welcome to country was not included as the presenters requested for this ...

General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham circumnavigated Australia last week, holding rallies in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart and Melbourne. They brought an inspiring message of having Jesus, not just present and prominent, but pre-eminent in our lives.

The Salvation Army International Bellarine Peninsula Salvos The Salvation Army Perth City The Salvation Army Hobart Salvation Army, Sunraysia The Salvation Army Parafield Gardens Salvos Cairns

In the wake of some of the worst floods in its history, God moved amongst his people in the northern NSW city of Lismore to unite for his glory. Lismore Corps Officer Captain Phil Sutcliffe shared this story with the world leaders of The Salvation Army, General Lyndon and Commissioner Buckingham, at an Officers Council gathering in Sydney last week.

The Salvation Army Northern Rivers

God now flooding Lismore with blessings of unity In the wake of some of the worst floods in its history, God moved amongst his people in the northern NSW city of Lismore to unite for his glory. Lismore Corps Officer Captain Phil Sutcliffe shared this story with the world leaders of The Salvation Army, General Lyndon and Commissioner Buckingham, at...

The National Youth and Young Adults Ministry Team has released a new research report on the lived experience of emerging adults in The Salvation Army.

National Youth and Young Adults Specialist John Marion recently spoke with dozens of young adults across the country about faith, life, and the decisions they are facing. Research shows that emerging adulthood is a time of change for many and a challenge for church communities seeking to stay connected.

To read the full story click on our link below.

Supporting emerging adults on their journey through the ‘wilderness’ National Youth Team asks young people about faith, life and the path forward

Major Chris Clarke said the four people enrolled as senior soldiers at Marion Corps recently brought “passion and energy” to The Salvation Army.

The dynamic corps in Adelaide’s south is known for actively expressing God’s love in the community, providing holistic support to people with various needs.

Corps Officers Majors Cherie and Chris Clarke enrolled the four new soldiers – Alison Fallaize, Lisa Maria Hoggard, Paul Tanner and Maria Anderson – during a special Sunday morning service on 25 August.

Four senior soldiers a ‘privilege’ to enrol, says Marion Corps Officer ‘It is exciting to witness their love for Jesus’ enthuses Major Chris Clarke

Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas has announced the second major appointment-change bulletin this week. Today’s bulletin, approved by General Lyndon Buckingham, applies to the annual Territorial Appointment Changes. These changes will take effect from 8 January 2025 unless otherwise stated.

The first appointment-change bulletin, approved by General Lyndon Buckingham, applies to the Office of the Territorial Commander and the Office of the Chief Secretary. This bulletin was released on 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑜𝑠 𝑂𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 on 3 September.

Click on the story link below to view a PDF of today’s appointment-change bulletin.

2025 Territorial Appointment Changes Commissioner Miriam Gluyas has released the annual appointment changes for officers of the Australia Territory

The Salvation Army has been hard at work in Papua New Guinea providing basic literacy skills in communities across the country. In PNG, the adult literacy rate is only 63 per cent, and 67 per cent of students drop out of school before completing Grade 8.

This is a great gift in villages where there is no other school, or where the available school begins at Grade 3. Students rely on The Salvation Army for preparation to enter and succeed in Grade 3 and beyond. There are currently 35 literacy programs (70 classes) administered by corps officers and run by corps volunteers who are trained in basic phonics and teaching.

The Salvation Army also runs some adult literacy programs to support individuals who never attended or stopped attending school for various reasons, such as access or cost barriers. To read more about these amazing programs click on our story link below.

Boosting literacy in Papua New Guinea As part of National Literacy and Numeracy Week, Global Focus brings you an update on The Salvation Army’s work in Papua New Guinea

“What a trip! Six states of Australia in seven days. But what an experience!” says 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑜𝑠 𝑂𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 reporter Lauren Martin. “The move of the Holy Spirit was evident throughout the whole tour. I witnessed and experienced a Salvation Army territory hungry for Jesus to lead us into what the General described as the ‘new wave’ of the Spirit.” Click on the story link below to read Lauren’s reflections on the General’s tour of Australia.

The Salvation Army International Leaders of The Salvation Army Australia

It was a whirlwind ... but reporting on the General’s visit was inspiring Salvos Online journalist Lauren Martin spent a week following the Army’s world leaders to file daily reports on their Australian tour

More than 300 Victorian school students recently came together to visually represent the number of children and young people experiencing homelessness across Australia.

The students from Billanook College in Mooroolbark, Victoria, stood together on their school oval on 30 July to form the number 45,850, which represented the number of children and young people aged up to 24 years who were reported as experiencing homelessness on the night of the 2021 Census.

Project 614’s Major Brendan Nottle, who presented at the event, said the shocking numbers of young people experiencing homelessness was an “absolute blight” on Australia and an “indictment on our nation”.

“As a nation, we need to say ‘not good enough’, and we need to do everything we can to not only get young people housed but to actually get the support around them,” Brendan said.

To read the full story click on our link below.

School students take a stand for youth homelessness Victorian students depict ‘shocking and eye-opening’ homelessness fact

It’s a sobering reality. Australia has a reading problem. One-third of our children can’t read proficiently. But there’s good news. The Salvation Army’s STeP123 Literacy is transforming children’s lives one step at a time through an exciting program initiative that fosters a love of reading, enhanced literacy skills and positive relationships. As 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑜𝑠 𝑂𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 journalist Lerisse Smith discovered, it’s working a treat.

Salvos literacy program fostering a love of reading in children STeP123 playing an important role in primary school students’ lives by encouraging them to read and build positive relationships

The Salvation Army has won a major tender to provide homelessness services for young people in the Australian Capital Territory. This new funding will support the delivery of 127 youth housing beds across crisis, transitional and longer-term accommodation options in the ACT.

These beds are an expansion of the 24-bed existing crisis and transitional beds offered by The Salvation Army in the ACT. The rollout began on 1 July and includes renovating an existing apartment complex in Narrabundah and other locations across the territory, including Chisholm, Florey and Duffy. NSW/ACT State Manager for Youth Tom Austin said the purpose of the proposed service was to prevent young people from re-entering the homelessness system through long-term housing and care.

New ACT youth housing aimed at ‘stopping trajectory’ of homelessness Longer-term solutions are needed to break cycles of crisis housing reliance, TSA leader says

Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas has announced the first of two major appointment-change bulletins coming out this week. Today’s bulletin, approved by General Lyndon Buckingham, applies to the Office of the Territorial Commander and the Office of the Chief Secretary. These changes will take effect from 8 January 2025. The second appointment-change bulletin, the annual Territorial Appointment Changes, will be released on Thursday 5 September at 1pm. Click on the story link below to view a PDF of today’s appointment-change bulletin.

2025 Reserved Appointments Bulletin Appointment changes for the Office of the Territorial Commander and Office of the Chief Secretary

Lieutenant Paul Trotter, Corps Officer at Colac (Vic.), is the inaugural recipient of the ‘Mission Regeneration Award’, presented to him by Territorial Commander Miriam Gluyas at the General’s Victoria Rally at Melbourne Convention Centre on Sunday. Miriam said that reinvigorating existing expressions is often harder than planting a new expression and commended Paul: “You have done a remarkable ministry at Colac … God has been using you and your team, and we want to celebrate you today as someone who’s seen God turn the place around.” Click on the story link below to read the full report, which also includes Cutmore Award recipients.

Photos: Gary Hart

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Colac officer honoured with inaugural ‘Mission Regeneration Award’ Four officers recognised at General’s Melbourne Rally for their pioneering spirit

At the final rally to mark the visit of The Salvation Army’s world leaders to Australia, General Lyndon Buckingham shared his ‘Present, Prominent, Pre-eminent’ message – and how it impacted him personally. The Golden Theatre at the Melbourne Convention Centre was packed on Sunday (1 September) as Salvationists travelled from across Victoria to worship Jesus together and hear from General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham. To read the full story, click on the story link below.

Photos: Gary Hart

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A pivotal moment that brought our world leader to his knees General Buckingham shares about an intimate encounter with God at a rally of nearly 1000 Salvationists in Melbourne

Major Mal Davies doesn’t mind symbolic messages in sermons ... as long as they don’t involve a scarf, a steering wheel, butterflies or a hammer!

Hammer time Major Mal Davies looks at the lighter side of Army life

Long-serving Salvationist George Ellis, from Melbourne’s Project 614 Corps, has been presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for more than 70 years of service to the Lord and The Salvation Army. General Lyndon Buckingham presented George, 91, with the honour during the Sunday morning service at Project 614 today. George has given his life in service through volunteering and collecting. He was also the founder of The Salvation Army’s territorial archives and heritage centre, the forerunner to The Salvation Army Australia Museum.

The Salvation Army International Leaders of The Salvation Army Australia The Salvation Army Melbourne Project 614

General presents ‘saint’ George Ellis with Lifetime Achievement Award Salvation Army world leaders enjoy Sunday worship at Project 614

It is my first Father’s Day since my father, Greg Castle, passed away. In the seven weeks since we lost my father, I have found myself sharing stories about him. We often share stories about those we’ve lost. You might share the dates and details of their lives, the biography, but often you need something more. Sometimes you need a story to reflect on who they were, to honour their memory. To read more of 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑜𝑠 𝑂𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 journalist Anthony Castle’s tribute to his dad on Father’s Day, click the story link below.

Coming home – the story of my father Salvos Online journalist shares a heartfelt tribute on Father’s Day 2024

There are thousands of Salvation Army soldiers all around the world, but not many of them can say that they were enrolled by the General – the movement’s world leader. Lucy Snead, 19, had the rare privilege of being enrolled by General Lyndon Buckingham at the Tasmania Division Rally at Hobart Corps on Friday evening. During the enrolment, the General said soldiership enrolment was a beautiful moment of worship, “and I’m so privileged and honoured and grateful for the opportunity to lead you in this worship. She [Lucy] declares, in your presence this evening, her determination, by God’s help, to be a true soldier of The Salvation Army.” Click on the link below to read the full story of the Hobart Rally.

Photos: Neha Bogati

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General Buckingham enrols world’s newest soldier at Hobart Rally BY LAUREN MARTIN There are thousands of Salvation Army soldiers all around the world, but not many of them can say that they were enrolled by the General – the movement’s world leader. Lucy Snead, 19, had the rare privilege of being enrolled by General Lyndon Buckingham at the Tasmania Division ...

Fourteen years ago, Bill Hunter had the vision to start a church that would be a safe place where those who felt they didn’t fit with the traditional church would be welcomed and accepted despite their background and history. Bill designed the service with a sports theme and called it ‘God’s Sports Arena’. On Thursday evening, at the General’s rally in Brisbane to mark the visit of The Salvation Army’s world leaders, Australia Territory Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas surprised Bill with a Cutmore Award for his pioneering spirit. Click on the story link below to read about Bill’s amazing efforts.

Photos: Jaiden Ivers

The Salvation Army International Leaders of The Salvation Army Australia NBC Salvos God's Sports Arena

Sports church pioneer ‘humbled, blessed and blown away’ by award Bill Hunter honoured for non-traditional church plants still going strong in Queensland

General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham’s message for Australia – calling on Salvationists to bow the knee and make Jesus pre-eminent in all aspects of their lives and ministry – ignited an overflowing of praise and spiritual encounter at the General’s rally in Brisbane on Thursday night.

The North Brisbane Corps (NBC) auditorum was packed with officers, mission leaders, volunteers and Salvationists from across the vast Queensland Division, full of joy at the opportunity to gather, worship God and celebrate what the Holy Spirit is doing through the movement.

Retired Commissioner Jan Condon, who has met eight other Generals in her lifetime, said it was valuable for the General to worship with locals in each division “to observe and experience first-hand the spiritual energy and culture of the territory”.

Photos: Jaiden Ivers

The Salvation Army International Leaders of The Salvation Army Australia NBC Salvos

Highly creative Brisbane Rally overflows with praise, spiritual energy Salvos young and old flock to the mercy seat as world leaders bring ‘pre-eminence’ message to Queensland

The General’s message on making Jesus pre-eminent in our lives sparked a spirit of creativity in newly enrolled Adelaide senior soldier Alison Fallaize. General Lyndon Buckingham has been challenging Salvos across Australia to ask themselves this question: Where is Jesus in your life and ministry? Is he just present? Maybe a prominent figure? Or is he pre-eminent – the King and rightful leader of our lives? Alison says she came home from the Adelaide Rally on Tuesday evening feeling excited and sat down in the presence of God with her Bible and journal. The Holy Spirit spoke to her, and she wrote her poem. Click on the story link below to read the poem.

The Salvation Army International The Salvation Army, Marion, South Australia

Pre-eminence in poetry – Adelaide soldier inspired by General’s message Alison moved to pen a heartfelt poem after hearing the world leader speak at Adelaide Rally

The most popular people at Officers Councils in Brisbane this afternoon seemed to be the coffee cart team of Matt Terracini, Berrice Messenger and Sharon Cottam from North Brisbane Salvos, who kept everyone caffeinated and in high spirits with great beverages and friendly chats before the General's rally tonight. Thank you North Brisbane for your incredible hospitality for the visit of our world leaders, General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham.

The Salvation Army International NBC Salvos

General Lyndon Buckingham has urged Salvationists of the Australia Territory to “be ready” for a new wave of the Holy Spirit.

In an inspiring message at a packed Adelaide City Salvos auditorium on Wednesday night, The Salvation Army’s world leader challenged people to consider where Jesus stood in their lives – is he ‘present’, ‘prominent’, or ‘pre-eminent’?

“God the Holy Spirit is on the move, within the movement. There’s a hovering, there’s a stirring, there’s a dissatisfaction, there’s a hunger for a new wave, and that’s a beautiful thing. And there’s a sense in which God is calling us as his people to position ourselves to be ready for what it is that he needs us to be and to do in the world in these days.”

The Salvation Army International Leaders of The Salvation Army Australia City Salvos Church Adelaide

Photos: Duan Kereru

A ‘new chapter’ of mission and ministry is coming, General tells Adelaide Rally Salvationists encouraged to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading as hunger grows for ‘a new wave’

A new book by Commissioner Miriam Gluyas is being gifted to officers and mission leaders across the country this week.

Produced by Salvos Publishing, the book – Our Rallying Cry, Commissioner Miriam Gluyas with Auxiliary-Lieutenant Rosy Keane and storytellers of our movement – delves into the three tenants of the Australia Territory rallying cry: ‘Jesus-centred, Spirit-led, hope revealed’ and shares stories from across the territory.

Released in time for the visit of the Salvation Army’s world leaders, General Lyndon and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, each officer and mission leader is receiving a copy of the book at divisional rallies across the country.

The Salvation Army International Leaders of The Salvation Army Australia Salvos Publishing

Commissioner’s new book tells the stories behind our rallying cry Territorial Commander releases new resource to coincide with the world leaders’ tour of Australia