IT'S YOUR CHOICE!

WATCH KAREN'S STORY...

The Salvation Army invades Cambodia.

The Salvation Army invades Cambodia.

THE General has announced that Salvation Army work has been officially established in the Kingdom of Cambodia, with effect from 22 November 2012,  taking the total number of countries in which the Army has officially recognised work to 126.

UNITED NATIONS' ALERT !

SALVATIONIST TEENAGER TO SPEAK AT THE UNITED NATIONS

A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Salvationist from the USA is preparing to give a speech at the United Nations in New York. Kayla Calvo was asked by the United Nations (UN) to represent and speak on behalf of young people from around the world on the topic of 'Fulfilling the Rights of Indigenous Children: Successes and Challenges'. She will speak at the UN on Thursday 15 November as part of a day of celebration for the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

As a descendant of indigenous peoples from Costa Rica, Kayla will bring personal insight to the proceedings. The invitation has allowed her to research and find that, in addition to the difficulties that all children face, there is a need for the UN to look more deeply at the unique needs of indigenous children.

In 2011 Kayla was invited to represent The Salvation Army at the UN's 55th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women. She attended the opening session of the General Assembly while representatives from different countries gave their views on the condition of the 'girl child'. She also attended workshops given by the UN. Kayla was asked, along with two other Salvationist girls, to give a presentation at a parallel event. This presentation was entitled 'Girls Talking about Violence Against Girls'. During this event, Kayla offered her findings and impressions regarding the violence that girls face every day.

Kayla is an active member of Newark Ironbound Corps (Salvation Army church) in the USA Eastern Territory, where she is preparing to be enrolled as a senior soldier. She is involved in women's ministries and also volunteers at a boys and girls club in Newark, which is run by The Salvation Army.

One of Kayla's great passions is for the plight of the girl child. Kayla has conducted research in order to learn about the conditions under which many girls are forced to live. She has a burden for the many girls who live in subhuman conditions and often have to fight for their right to survival. She and her family sponsor a girl in Burkina Faso.

Kayla is inspired to live her life in line with Matthew 25:40, where Jesus shares an important truth: 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me' (New International Version).

Report by Major Victoria Edmonds
Representative to the United Nations
The Salvation Army's International Social Justice Commission

NOT CALLED?!

‎" 'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' 

I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. 

Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. 

And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world." 

General William Booth

PUP JOINS THE SALVOS

Bringing smiles to the faces of aged care residents across the region, Wally the therapy dog will soon become the first official four-legged Salvation Army community care member in South Australia.

The two-year-old chocolate Labrador will join the ranks of the not-for-profit organisation in an official presentation at The Salvation Army Millicent office sat 10am on Sunday.

Accompanied by Port MacDonnell resident and owner Ross Patterson, the much-loved companion will receive a certificate and official Salvation Army photo identification for his work in residential aged care facilities.

"Wally is a very friendly, placid and gentle natured dog and has a wonderful personality for this type of work,” MrPatterson said. "He’s everybody’s friend, as long as theyhave Schmackos."

Also working with South Australian Community organisation Caring Canine Companions, Mr Patterson has been training Wally since he was a puppy to provide company for residents in aged care facilities.

Making regular visits to Resthaven, Boandik Lodge and The Oaks Nursing Home, Wally is a big hit with residents,many of whom left behind their own petswhen they moved into aged care.

"A lot of these people had to leave their little pups at home and in some cases leaving pets behind is the hardest part of being in an aged care facility - Wally really fills that niche," Mr Patterson said.“I think the ability to care about an animal is very normalising for the residents - some have ended up in a position of feeling pretty helpless, so it really brightens their day when Wally visits.

Mr Patterson calls Wally his "best mate" and said he often catches residents sneaking the therapy dog treats. "My main problem is trying to stop people from stuffing him full of lollies,sweets and cookies - he’s very spoilt," Mr Patterson said. For his part, Wally, who sports a custom-made Salvation Army jacket, feels right at home at the aged care facilities,walking into the centres “like he owns the place".

"He trots into Resthaven like he owns the place, puts his paws up on the counter to say hello to everyone and then bolts down the hallway to visit his favourite residents," Mr Patterson said.“He’s a wonderful dog."

NOT YOUR AVERAGE 9 TO 5!

Officer Employment?

Often I have tried to explain to people in the community the nature of an officers’ employee relationship to The Salvation Army. We are not actually employees, we are not volunteers, we are not self traders or sub contractors. In the course of this explanation there is a mix of reactions. Some are surprised at this relationship while others raise questions about the legality of how this relationship is allowed to work given current employee/ employer rules and regulations in Australia. Trying to explain how this relationship works is difficult.

As a Salvation Army officer, if you have employees working under you, you are required by national and state law to follow all employee legislation in your dealings with them. They have legal rights that that must observed. Should an officer fail to observe these employee rights and follow correct procedures The Salvation Army could find itself in court.

However, it is my understanding that as a Salvation Army Officer you do not have same legal standing and protections as the employees you have to administer. I once had it said to me by a very senior officer that “the Army” could one day decide that they don’t have an appointment for me, they could then say “thank you” and that would be the end of the relationship. While I never heard of this actually happening I am very concerned that if I upset the wrong people within the organisation it just might happen. Especially as some very senior positions within The Salvation Army are now being held by actual non-officer employees. In the Australian Eastern Territory employees now outnumber officers by almost seven to one.

Our odd “employment” status in the modern labour landscape raises some important issues.

Is this lack of access for Salvation Army Officers to employee rights enshrined in legislation ethical in the modern labour landscape?

There are now some highly placed employees that have officers working under them. If the officer does meet expectations what protection does that officer have should their employee manager no longer want them in their department?

We are not allowed {by law} to discriminate as to religious beliefs when it comes to hiring and firing employees. It is not required that an employee be a practicing Christian when they are employed by The Salvation Army however they do have uphold the values and standards of the organisation. What if that well respected and very talented highly placed employee suddenly becomes an atheist?

I believe that it is time to form an association for Salvation Army officers. This association could;

•            To be a voice for and from Salvation Army Officers to Territorial Leadership.

•                 To offer a listening ear and if necessary offer counsel and advice to those officers who are feeling disaffected by “our system”.

•                 To act as mediator between officers and the officer leadership to ensure the same fair and equitable process is offered on all levels as is offered to those The Salvation Army employs.

•                To regularly dialogue with our Territorial Leadership about issues causing serious concern among the officer ranks.

                                                              

•                To work with the Territorial Pastoral Care Office to follow up on former officers within the Territory.

The Salvation Army Officers Association should not be seen as a union. It should only seek to provide representation and guidance to its members and as such will only involve itself in any industrial relations matters in that capacity. This association will not have all the answers and it may not be able to solve all the issues. However how many now former officers would still be serving God in His Army if they access to the same processes and procedures that employees automatically have access to? Ordinary rank and file Officers need a voice they currently they do not have when it comes to their employment status, this association may be that voice.

Colin Young

Commanding Officer

Dubbo, NSW Australia

Spiritual Power Through Purity

Two of the main strategies of the enemy against us pertain to the issue of purity.  On the micro-level, the devil is quick to exploit any impurity in our lives since it weakens us and exposes us to his attacks.  And so demonic spirits oppress and bind us, rendering us useless on the battlefield. 

On the macro-level, the devil deceives many followers of Jesus by convincing them that they cannot be pure in this lifetime.  They settle with a compromising Christianity that renders them impotent against the enemy.  And so the demons neutralize a potential danger.

We decree these biblical exclamations, expectations, and possibilities to bolster our faith and bash the enemy.

We Can…

We can serve You without fear in holiness and righteousness before You all our days.  Luke 1:74,75

We can live holy, righteous, and blameless. 1 Thessalonians 2:10

We can control our body in a holy and honourable manner. 1 Thessalonians 4:4

We can live a holy life. 1 Thessalonians 4:7

We can be holy when Jesus returns in glory. 2 Thessalonians 1:10

We can be spiritual siblings in holiness with Jesus and other holy people. Hebrews 2:11

We can be holy in all we do. 1 Peter 1:15

We can live holy and godly lives. 2 Peter 3:11

We can continue in our holiness. Revelation 22:11

We can be blameless.  1 Corinthians 1:8, Revelation 14:5

We can fulfill God’s purposes for us in holiness. Ephesians 1:4

We can be holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:27

We can be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. Philippians 1:10

We can be blameless and pure, shining like stars in the universe, without fault in a crooked and depraved generation. Philippians 2:15

We can be blameless and holy as You strengthen us. 1 Thessalonians 3:13

We can be sanctified through and through – our whole spirit, soul, and body preserved blameless.  1 Thessalonians 5:23

We can meet Your expectations of holiness and blamelessness. 1 Peter 1:16, Titus 1:6,7

We can make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace. 2 Peter 3:14

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Major Stephen Court

Canada