a lotty whole fun - the salvation army australia | hope ... · feature story 2 hot off the press 4...

THE SALVATION ARMY AUSTRALIA EASTERN TERRITORY APRIL 2011 | VOLUME 12 | ISSUE 2

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HavingawholeLottyIt’s child’s play for Ray

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11 SeLf DenIAL Song hAS AfRICAn RootS Thestorybehindthesongwhichaccompanied theannualsacrificialgivingcampaign

12 SheDDIng LIght on LIfe TheSalvationArmyissharingGod’sloveon radiostationsacrossthecountry

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Iloveagoodventriloquist,don’tyou?Itisamazingwhattheycangetawaywith.Placeadummyontheknee,throwthe

voiceandyoucanexpressopinionsthatwouldbedifficulttosayfacetoface.

Thedummybecomesamaskandhidingbehindthatmasktheventriloquistcanentertain,teach,instruct.Itcanoftenbeamostusefultooltocommunicatewith. Irecallaprevious,much-lovedstaffsongsterexecutiveofficerusingventriloquismtotellthechildren’sstoryataruralcorps.Hispuppethadobviouslybeenwell-usedinitstime,andtheoccasionofwhichIspeakofcouldwellhavebeenthedummy’sfirstappearanceonacomebacktour! Tofurthereducatetheyoungchildren,andtoemphasiseasignificantpointinthestory,heproceededtoinstructthechildrenintheworkingsofaventriloquist’sdummy.Atwhichpointheremovedthedummy’sheadfromthebody,muchtothestunnedandwide-eyedresponseofhisyoungaudience.Whatfollowedwasanamusingtimeofchaosandpanicasthechildrenbecamemoreconcernedaboutthestateoftheheadlessdummy,asthe“ventriloquist”triedtodealwiththepointofhisstory,aswellasafastapproachingcacophonyoffear,panicandturmoilamongtheyoungaudiencewhowitnessedthismuchtalkedaboutevent. Wedidoffercounsellingafterandtruetoanygoodperformer’sform,ourventriloquistofficerhasalwaysblamed–andcontinuestoblame-thedummy! Weallhaveavoice.Weuseitorwedon’tuseit.Sometimesit’saphysicalvoice,sometimesnot.Sometimesoursilencespeakslouderthanwords.Likeaventriloquistweoftenhidefromeachother.

hiding from the truthOneoftheimportantstepsinarecoveryprogramisconfession.Healing,forgivenessandspiritualgrowtharefoundonlythroughconfessionofbrokenness. Withoutconfessionwearepeoplehidingbehindadummy,apeoplehidingfromthetruth.JohnOrtberg(SeniorPastoratMenloParkPresbyterianchurch)says,

“Withoutconfessionweareacommunityhidingfromthetruth”. It’sveryeasytoattendourplacesofworshiponaSundayand“throwourvoice!”–totalkaboutourworkortheweatherbutneverreally“hopoffthelap”andrevealourtrueselves.Therealityisthatwearefallenpeoplefacingtemptationandsininoureverydaylife.Weneedtovaluetruthandconfession.ItisthroughconfessionthatGodtransformspeople. James1:23says,“Thosewholistentotheword,butdonotdowhatitsays,arelikepeoplewholookatfacesinthemirrorand,afterlookingatthemselves,goawayandimmediatelyforgetwhattheylooklike”.MeetingtogetherasGod’speoplehelpsuslookintothemirror,discoverwhoweareandthenask,“HowdoIapplyGod’sWordtomylifeasitreallyis?” TothoseofusthatGodhascalledtoserveourworshippingcongregationswithartisticandteachinggifts,wehavethehighestofcallings. Let’snotfakeit,let’sbereal. Let’snot“throwourvoice”butstandtallandtellhonestlywhatGodisdoinginourlives.Let’ssharefromheartsthataregenuine.Let’sbeginwithrealityandthenwewillseerealtransformationbyopeningourselvestoGod’stransformingwork. I’mofftomyseemycounsellornow.Happyreading!

hot off the

graeme Pressterritorial Music and Creative Arts Coordinator

CREATIVE MINISTRY The Salvation Army WILLIAM BOOTH FounderINTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 101 Queen Victoria Street London EC4P 4EP LINDA BOND General

AUSTRALIA EASTERN TERRITORY 140 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000 JAMES CONDON Commissioner, Territorial CommanderPETER SUTCLIFFE Major, Communications Director

EDITOR Scott Simpson GRAPHIC DESIGN James Gardner, Kem Pobjie COVER PHOTO Shairon PatersonCREATIVE MINISTRY is a publication of the Communications Department

EDITORIAL AND CORRESPONDENCE PO Box A435 Sydney South NSW 1235PHONE (02) 9266 9690 EMAIL [email protected]

Published for The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory by Commissioner James CondonPrinted by SOS Print + Media Group, 65 Burrows Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, Australia

All materials are copyright of The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory and cannot be reproduced without permissionwww.salvos.org.au

Let our voice be from the heart

the bIg picture

By SIMONE WORTHING

“When I was a cadet in [The Salvation Army] USA Eastern Territory, I saw Captain Gil Vega, who had been a professional dancer prior to officership, dance the parable of the sower,” says Lieutenant-Colonel Janet Munn, The Salvation Army International Secretary for Spiritual Life Development.

“Something just ignited in me. I saw all the gymnastics I’d done, all my fitness and the ministry training I was in, all coming together. I knew it was for me. The doors have opened since then and the ministry has grown.”

Lieut-Colonel Munn, who was in Australia in February to lead the Captivated women’s Bible conference at Collaroy, uses movement, dance and drama as tools for worship, discipling and communicating God’s Word in a vivid and dynamic way.

“For example, the Scripture reading can have much more of an impact on listeners if it’s a sensory experience of movement, drama and other artistic expression,” she says. “I am keen on involving our five senses – connecting the body and the spirit.

“I also think discipling and dance is especially important for teenage girls, and I have used it in many groups. It teaches them to offer their bodies in an act of worship, using their bodies in a wholesome and beautiful way. They are bombarded with so many other negative messages, they need to hear this.”

Lieut-Colonel Munn explains that many non-Western cultures have wholesome traditional dances in which the entire community can participate, while in secular cultures “dance is seen as more sensual and ‘nightclubish’, and has been thrown out by many denominations because of that. Dance and the creative arts can, however, be used powerfully for experiencing and preaching the gospel.”

During the Captivated day and weekend conferences, Lieut-Colonel Munn engaged her audiences with dramatic readings of Scripture, using, in part, what she calls “body prayer”.

“This is expressing prayer physically; using our bodies in prayer; changing the positions in which we pray,”she explains.

“Sometimes it’s being on our knees, sometimes bowing down or lifting up our hands, like Moses, whose uplifted arms affected the outcome of war.”

Physical symbols such as seeds, a prayer shawl, a gavel and a plate of coins, are also part of Lieut-Colonel Munn’s prayers, worship, presentations and calls to respond.

“When we read the gospels we see that Jesus often used objects in his natural environment to illustrate spiritual points, such as lilies of the fields, mountains and seeds,”she says.

“With the strong emphasis in modern times on the intellect and words, we have become more word-based in our traditions. The use of visual images, tactile objects and using all five senses in worship and response imprints the message in our hearts and minds in a way that is memorable and helpful.

“Using a simple object in response, such as a seed, gives people a mechanism of saying ‘yes’ to God. It helps people draw a line in the sand and by doing it together, it gives us each a ‘cloud of witnesses’ to the action we have taken.”

Passion for the dramatic

Lieut-Colonel Janet Munn uses dance and drama to communicate God’s Word. Photos: Shairon Paterson

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a Entertaining an audience comes naturally to Wollongong Corps Officer

Captain Ray Lotty, who tells BILL SIMPSON how he has been able to

combine this gift with his passion for preaching and teaching

The corps captain rose from his seat on the stage to start his Sunday morning sermon. He slowly surveyed the sea

of worshippers before him and, in almost a whisper, said: “I’m going to talk about the human heart this morning.” There was mischief on his face.

“Have you seen the human heart?” he asked. There was an almost universal – although unspoken –

“no thank you very much” response from the audience. “Oh, well,” he said, producing a small blue and white esky. He moved toward his congregation, his hands tantalisingly close to the container’s lid. Oooooo! You could smell the unease. As he moved toward the first few rows, people were leaning so far back it seemed their heads were about to touch the rear wall. The captain lifted the lid and placed the open esky on a table, looked up, and grinned. His hands moved slowly into the box and he produced ... a water bottle! “I get so thirsty when I talk,” he said, and he took a sip. Relief returned to the congregation. >>>

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Colour was back in their faces. Oh, yes, this captain is a joker. He’s been playing tricks on people for almost half a century – since he was three, in fact. Captain Ray Lotty, who commands the Wollongong Corps with his wife Joy, is a professional entertainer. His talents are often on show on a Sunday morning. The talents, he says, are his gifts from God. They include mime, magic, clowning, puppetry, singing, dancing – and, of course, joking. Tell him that where there is a will there is a way, and he will add: “and relatives.” He’s quick with the one-liners. “Someone has accused me of having multiple-personality disorder. I have to remind them that it only comes out in the puppets. Otherwise, I’m normal – I think.”

Father’s influenceIt started at three. His father was a professional clown; a Sydney-based member of the American Clown Club. He worked in Australia with legends like the late American comedian Bob Hope. The clowning, mime, magic, puppetry and joking came from his father. Singing was his mother’s speciality. Interestingly, all of this

was happening while the family were members of the Brethren Assemblies (church). “Actually, being part of the Brethren Assemblies and having so many open-air meetings was great because that’s where I learned to project my voice,” he explains for Creative Ministry magazine. Ray was only 10 when his father died. He inherited his father’s arsenal of entertainment and began to teach himself. At 11, he was running his own invitation-only one-man shows for schoolmates in a shed in his backyard, charging one cent admission. By his late teens, he was entering every available talent quest at local clubs as a singer. It opened doors for regular club work. “I shudder to confess this now, but I sang mostly country and western or middle of the road stuff. The audiences loved Elvis [Presley], so I did that, too.” He fitted – snugly – into the traditional Elvis white body suit and strutted the stage singing hits like Jailhouse Rock. It went well until one night at the Campbelltown Catholic Club, he strutted one too many times, splitting the tight-fitting suit at the lower rear, revealing bright red underpants.

“I got a standing ovation for that,” he proudly boasts. Ray Lotty’s Elvis is no longer on show. “It’s the asthma in the throat now,” he reckons. “But I am tempted occasionally to drawl, as Elvis did so well, ‘thank you very much’ as I leave the platform.

There is no doubt, Ray Lotty admits, that he was “born to perform”. Yes, he uses his gifts for ministry – and takes them seriously, too. “But a high percentage of what you see is Ray Lotty having fun. I love the look on people’s faces,” he says. “I think I have inherited dad’s genes, so to speak. But it is also the environment in which I grew up. Even when dad was really sick and in a wheelchair, mum and I would do all of the puppets in the puppet theatre and we would squeeze in dad in his wheelchair and he would do all of the voices.

“I saw so much joy in my father’s face when he was entertaining children at children’s homes and hospitals. I think I have inherited that joy.” He is OK with being classified, in officership, as an entertainer.

“I hope that what I do is entertaining. But it goes beyond that. Nothing that I do is just for the sake of entertainment. “It’s to illustrate a point in such a way that people remember the point. People won’t remember half of what I say, but, hopefully, they will remember the illustrations, the magic tricks or a cheeky puppet, and remember the application, as well. “I don’t like to do it every week, otherwise it becomes a bit mundane and is expected; it’s not special. I like to surprise people, like the other week when a puppet just got up and sang without any announcement. That’s a surprise; that’s special.”

Gift from GodOh, yes, his puppets have their own personality; they’re almost human! And they can get across a message that nobody else can – and get away with it. His favourite is Jerry G Junior, left to him by his father. “I know that at

least what Jerry does is accepted by The Salvation Army because on one occasion Jerry and I performed on the Sydney Congress Hall stage and Jerry was quoted twice in Pipeline. If Pipeline quotes you, you’re accepted. They didn’t mention me.” Jerry is also listed on the preaching register at an Anglican church in Newcastle. “Jerry and I had the privilege of giving the Christmas message for schoolchildren of the area. It’s Jerry’s name that appears on the preaching register; not mine. “There was another time in another corps where we were hoping to make a number of changes. The corps people were concerned. But they didn’t voice those concerns. “One Sunday morning, right in the middle of the sermon, Jerry interrupted me and, one by one, he voiced all of the concerns. It gave me and my fellow officer at the time the opportunity to answer the concerns to Jerry and, through him, to the congregation.” He would find it difficult, he says, to contain himself – and his puppets – to such an extent that the entertainer was confined to backstage. “God has given me a gift to

preach and teach, along with a passion for his word. That was developed in the Brethren Assemblies and has been encouraged in The Salvation Army (he joined in 1995). “I believe that part of that gift is the entertainer. That’s part of who I am. That’s how I express myself. “Some people teach and preach simply by speaking. Some are so good that you hang on every word. Some use overhead projection or PowerPoint. I use what God has given me; the ability to do tricks or use puppets. “I would feel like the prophet and priest Jeremiah when he says: ‘I have this fire deep within me and I just can’t contain it’. I wouldn’t be able to contain it if I was allowed only to speak and not do magic tricks, puppetry or the other things. “That wouldn’t be who I am. That wouldn’t be who God has made me to be.”

Bill Simpson is a writer for Pipeline and supplements.

“Some people teach and preach simply

by speaking … I use what God has given me; the ability to do

tricks or use puppets.”

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Amusicvideofeaturedinthefinalepisodeofasix-weekDVDseriesforTheSalvationArmy’sSelf-DenialAppealhaditsoriginsinEthiopia.

ComposedandperformedbySouthAustralianmusicalartistJoshSpier(picturedbelowleft),thesongisare-workingofthetraditionalA Franciscan BenedictionandwasinspiredbyamissiontripJoshtooktothenorthAfricancountryin2009. “Thesongcameaboutthroughmyprocessand[reflection]onthatjourney[toEthiopia],”sharesJosh. “Iwasthinkingaboutmypersonaljourneyand[wondered]whatdoIdowiththis?HowdoIrespondtothegreatneedGodhasshownmearoundtheworld? “SoIwasjustsittingatthepianoonedayanditjustkindofcameout.” TheDVDseries,highlightingTheSalvationArmy’sworkinmissionfieldsallovertheworld,hasbeenshowninAustraliaEasternTerritorycorpsandcentressince6March,andconcludesonSunday10AprilduringSelfDenialAltarServicesallovertheterritory. ThemusicvideoflashesbetweenJoshsingingandplayinghissongonthepianoandimagesofSalvationistsworkingintheiroverseasmissionfields. TheaimofthemusicvideoistourgeSalvationistsacrossthenationtogivetowardsTheSalvationArmy’sInternationalDevelopmentFund. Joshoriginallyre-wroteA Franciscan BenedictionforTEARAustralia,aChristianmovementwhichrespondstotheneedsofpoorcommunitiesaroundtheworld.Hefelt

compelledtosharehissongwithanaudiencewhilepresentingataTEARglobalpovertyseminar. Desiringtochallengepeopletofightagainstglobalpoverty,JoshthenplacedthesongontheTEARAustraliawebsitetobeusedasanevangelismtool. “ItwasnotthekindofsongIwantedtosell;becauseofmyrolewithTEARIdoalotoftalkingwithcommunitygroupsandsharingaboutglobalpovertyandhowwecanrespondaspartofGod’sglobalchurch,”saysJosh. SalvationArmyAustraliaEasternTerritoryVideoProducerandEditor,PeterMarch,approachedJoshearlylastyearabout

usingthesonginTheSalvationArmy2011SelfDenialAppeal. “Thesongitselfchallengesustothinkabouthowweviewanddealwithissuesofsocialjustice.Andthelyricsarequitepowerful.TheinspirationforustouseitfortheSelfDenialAppealistoencourageSalvationiststogivetotheiroverseaswork,”Petersaid. ThemusicvideowillhopefullybeusedlaterdownthetrackatSalvationArmyyouthralliesandpossiblybeairedonChristiantelevisionchannels. IfyouwouldlikefurtherinformationaboutJoshSpierandhismusic,visithiswebsiteatwww.joshuaspier.com.

Self Denialsong

hasAfricanrootsThetitleforthisalbumwasinspiredbyTheSalvationArmy'sformerworldleaderGeneralArnoldBrownwhentheInternationalStaffSongsterswere

formedin1980. Hischallengewastoinspirepeoplewiththe“heartsongs”ofTheSalvationArmy.Thesongsters’currentleader,DorothyNancekievill,writesthat“thisremainsapriorityforus,whethersongsarenew,orfromourrichmusicalheritage”. ThesongsonthisalbumreflectthisaimandhavebeenselectedfromasurveytakenasthegrouptravelledaroundtheUK.TheCDfeaturestwosongsfromeachdecadesincethe1930s.Acommentonthealbumcoverindicatesthattherewillbeatleastanother

“favourites”collectiontoberecorded. Thisalbumwillcertainlybringbackmanymemoriesforthosewhohavebeeninvolvedwithsongsterbrigadesovertheyears,particularlyasyoulistentosuchsongsasThe Awakeners,A Prayer for CourageandAll in the April Evening.SincelisteningtothisalbumIhavefoundmyselfsingingsomeofthesesongsoverandoveragain,althoughthe

CD Reviews

Songs straight from the heart(Heart Songs - International Staff Songsters)

interpretationsthatIrecallweresomewhatmore“animated”.Likemostalbums,therearesometracksthatwillappealmorethanothers. Thequalityofthesingingisexcellentonalltracks.Thebalance,blendandintonationreallyaddtothelisteningenjoyment. TheintonationissoaccuratethatattheconclusionofacoupleoftracksIcouldhearthe“overtones”(soundsthatoccuraboveorbelowthenotesthataresung).Thisactuallysenttinglesdownmyspine. Thepianoaccompaniment(AmandaBatt)beautifullycomplementstheworkofthesongsters.Ofaddedinterest,twoAustralianshavebeenfeaturedonthisalbum;KerrySampsonasasoloistandGraemePressasanarranger. Themostimportantaspectofthisalbumisthatthesongsaresungfroma“heart”experienceoftheLordJesusChrist,andthataddsadimensionwhichgoeswellbeyondmusicalexcellence.–John Wiseman

Heart SongsisavailablefromSalvationistSuppliesinSydney(www.salvosuppliessyd.com)for$26.

Theauditoriumhouselightsaredimmedandfaintsoundsofabrassbandareheardfrombehindtheheavystagecurtains.Slowlythe

curtainsopentorevealtheBlackDykeBandresplendentintheirredandgoldtrimmeduniformsplayingtheirsignaturemarchQueensbury. Forthewriter,theexcitementofthatmoment,manyyearsagoinEngland,livesonasoneoflife’smusicalhighlights. Nowleapforwardmorethan30years,takethesamewonderfulplayingandaddsomeofthefinestSalvationArmymarcheseverwrittenandyouhavealltheingredientstomakethisanoutstandingCD.Loversofbrassbandsattheirbestwillnotbedisappointed. ThesecondvolumeofSalvationArmymarchesplayedbyBlackDykefeaturesarichheritageofArmycompositions,manyofwhicharebasedaroundsongsandchoruses

Black Dyke overflows with sounds of Army’s golden age(World Class Marches of The Salvation Army Volume II - Black Dyke Band)

oftensunginpraiseandsalvationmeetingsindayspast. Themarchesarenotplayedat“timbrelspeed”butatmarchingpaceandthustheyretainmuchofthestyleanddignitythatIamsurethecomposershadinmindwhentheywerefirstwritten.Thedisccoverswhathasbeentermedthe“goldenage”ofSalvationArmymarches,fromthe1920suntilthelate‘80s. EverycomposerlisteddeservestheirplaceinSalvationArmymusicalhistoryandthebackgroundnotesprovidedbyRonaldWHolzaremosthelpful.However,formethelastsectionofBramColes’Victors Acclaimedwasparticularlyspecialfor,asChristians,weareallindeedvictorsinhisname.–Phil Wilson

World Class Marches of The Salvation Army Volume IIisavailablefromSalvationistSuppliesinSydney(www.salvosuppliessyd.com)for$29.50.

“Each week I pray, Lord, draw people to this program,” radio presenter Chris Elliott

says when sharing about his passion for spreading the message of Christ on air. Chris (pictured) is the voice behind the microphone for The Salvation Army’s weekly radio program called Light n Life. Light n Life is produced in the Army's Australia Eastern Territory and is aired across the nation through more than 200 Christian, commercial and community radio stations in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and the ACT. “It’s my vision to continue getting as many stations around Australia on board as possible and particularly commercial stations in country and regional [areas]. I find these stations are a lot hungrier for material,” says Chris. Chris has a heart to reach those who don’t know Christ and to share the message of Jesus with them. “Ultimately the vision is to reach people who aren’t Christian or are not committed in their walk but maybe [once] had a faith [and] to bring them into a closer walk with God,” he says. Chris believes Light n Life can also benefit Christians as the

radio show offers both spiritual refreshment and relevant information about social issues and upcoming entertainment. “For Christians it’s good to hear, for example, the review [segment]. It keeps us in touch with good movies we can see that won’t compromise our values. DVDs, music, stuff that we can feel safe watching and listening to that really helps us. Good books that will inspire us, or help us grow.”

Program variety“The biggest challenge is making sure that it [Light n Life] sows seeds into a non-Christian’s life,” says Chris. Light n Life achieves this through broadcasting two different versions of the show to cater to varying audiences. First, there is a half-hour program that is split into four talk-back segments and mixed with contemporary Christian music. The second show runs for 15 minutes and only broadcasts the talk-back segments. These two programs are available on the Salvos radio website to listen to or download, and listeners can also access the individual segments separately. The first segment is called >>>

a bit of light on life

SheddingThe Salvation Army is sharing God’s love on radio stations across the country, writes ESTHER PINN

Photo: Shairon Paterson

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“Choice Cuts”; it runs for eight to 10 minutes and is both written and presented by Chris. “Choice Cuts is an interview/lifestyle segment focusing on something that’s topical,” he explains. “It’s about reaching people where they are and then linking to how the Salvos can help them in their situation.” Recently, Chris reported on the devastating Queensland floods speaking to various Salvation Army officers such as Major Neil Dickson, South Queensland Divisional Communications and Public Relations Secretary. Chris also released a story on

“Haiti – One Year On”, including a chat with the 2009 Australian Idol winner, Stan Walker, when he was helping out in Haiti during the crisis. In another show, Chris replayed an interview he did with Lionel Richie, talking faith, life and music. The second segment is called

“Mind Games” and this is both written and presented by Maris Depers, a psychologist who works for The Salvation Army First Floor support program in Wollongong. “He [Maris] does a two-minute [show] on just something that might be an issue in some of our lives, from a psychological perspective,” says Chris. Maris recently completed a spot about charity fatigue, providing guidance for listeners who are

dealing with the overwhelming amount of charities out there – his advice is to just support one or two. The third segment is called

“Going Deeper”, presented by Christian radio station Hope 103.2 breakfast announcer, Aaron Wright. “Going Deeper is three minutes of thought-provoking [discussion] about a particular issue in life. [While] ‘Going Deeper’ is also about life issues [it is presented] in a different way to Maris, more from just a lifestyle perspective,” explains Chris. The content for this segment is written by Chris and recently there was a segment on how to internet-proof your children. The last program is called

“Review” and is also presented by Aaron. This segment involves a review on a book, film or CD. “He’s [Aaron] got a fantastic sense of humour. I try to write it [review] to capitalise on his humour and cheekiness so that’s a really fun segment,” says Chris.

Huge potentialWhen Chris started working at The Salvation Army, at the beginning of this year, he felt overwhelmed by the position and the deadlines each week. “Literally, I had a nightmare each night thinking, how am I going to do this?” he says. However, Chris says he now enjoys this job more because

as Australia Eastern Territorial Communications Director Major Peter Sutcliffe previously said to him: “The key is to work an eight-day week” – in other words, work ahead. Another reason why Chris loves his new job is because he uses all his radio skills in the one role. “I really love it all ... it’s all the things in one. I’m not doing just one gig. I’m doing all the skills in one gig,” he says. Before Chris came to The Salvation Army, he worked for 10 years on the Triple M network and at other commercial stations in Melbourne, Emerald, Brisbane, Perth, Longreach, Adelaide and the Gold Coast. His last position was at Hope 103.2 in Sydney as a copywriter and fill-in presenter.The Light n Life radio program began in early 2006 and was an initiative of Peter Hobbs, now a Salvation Army lieutenant and Corps Officer at Bellarine Peninsula in the Australia Southern Territory. Major Chris Witts was the Light n Life presenter until mid-2008 – others to front the program have included Lauren Martin and more recently Helen Shield who is now breakfast presenter at Hope 103.2. To listen to Light n Life visit the website www.salvos.org.au/radio.

Esther Pinn is a writer for Pipeline and its supplements

CompetitionIf you would like to win a Light n Life Salvos pack containing recording artist Nathan Tasker’s CD Home, a DVD of the film WWJD, and the book Faith is a Matter of Trust by Bryson Smith, then go to salvos.org.au/radio, click on the competition page and tell us which features you like most about Light n Life. The winner will be drawn on Sunday 15 May and their name will be published on the Salvos website on the competition page.

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TheSalvationArmyHurstvilleSongsterBrigadeheadoffonamissiontriptoSingaporeandMalaysialaterthismonth.From15-25April,thegroup,headedbyHurstvilleCorpsOfficers

MajorsTrevorandSherrieNicolandsongsterleaderJulieTownsend,willperformatanumberofdifferentlocationsacrossthetwocountries.

ThefirststopwillbeinthecapitalofMalaysia,KualaLumpur,wheretheywillvisitvariousSalvationArmycorps’andperformatmeetings.Thiswillbefollowedbyatriptochildren’shomesintheMalaysiantownofMelaka.NotonlywilltheHurstvilleSongstersperformatthesehomes,buttheywillalsoassistwithmissionworkandinparticular,helpchildrenwhohavedisabilities.

MajorTrevorNicolisexcitedabouttheexperiencethatliesaheadforthegroup.“EspeciallyMalaysiahasabigneedfortheChristianmessage,andalsotoworkinthechildren’shomes,”hesaid.

“ThemainpurposeistoshareGod’slovethroughmusicandtobeabletobringsomejoyandhappinesstothepeople.”

LeavingMalaysia,thesongsterswillheadtoSingaporeandaperformanceinsideChangiprison.TowrapupthetriptheywilltakepartinEasterservicesinSingapore.

Meantime,theSydneyStaffSongstersbeginatwo-weektouroftheUnitedStateslaterthismonth.

ThetriphasbeenintheplanningforafewyearsaftertheStaffSongsterswereinvitedtoperformatMusicCalifornia,aChristianconferenceinLosAngeles.

“MusicCaliforniathinghasbeensomethingthathasbeensittingthereforacoupleofyears,”saidSydneyStaffSongstersLeaderGraemePress.“SoI’mfeelinganxiousandprayerfulandexcitedaboutthat.IthinkitsbignewsforTheSalvationArmytobeinvolvedinaconferencelikethisatthislevel.”

GraemewillalsoleadtwoworkshopsatMusicCalifornia,called“BeyondtheSong”and“BeyondtheChoirRoom”.

Followingtheconference,theStaffSongsterswillflytoJackson,MississippiwheretheywillbeinvolvedattheWesleyBiblicalSeminaryChurch.ThegroupwillthenheadtoBirmingham,AlabamatoperformatSalvationArmycorps’there.

TheSydneyStaffSongstershavepreparedarepertoireof42songsforthetour,andwillalsoperformadditionalsongsfortheWordMusicPublishingHouse.TheywillbesingingeightsongsaspartoftheworldpremiereofWorld Music Praise and Worship Volume Five,aworshipbookthatiscurrentlyavailabletopurchase.

GraemeisparticularlyexcitedforTheSalvationArmyAustraliaEasternTerritorytobeinvolvedinpromotinginternationalChristianmusicresources.“ThisisthefirsttimeforTheSalvationArmytobeinvolvedinthis,”hesaid.

TheSydneyStaffSongstersarefundingthetourthroughprofitstheyearnfromthreenewalbumstheyhaverecentlyreleased.Devotion and HolinessisacompilationofsongsfromtheStaffSongsters’previousalbums;My SongscontainsamixtureofsongsthathavebeenarrangedbyGraeme;andThe Voice of a SaviourisaCDofnewsongsfromtheStaffSongsters.

Songster groups embark on international tours

Hurstville Songster Brigade

TheSydneyYouthBandenrolledanumberofnewmembersintothegroupataweekendretreatinFebruary.Overtheweekendof11-13February,25youngmusicians

“campedout”atRockdaleCorpsinSydney’ssouth.Thepurposeoftheretreatwastonotonlywelcomethenewbandmembersbuttoredefinetheband’srepertoirefortheyear.

“Werehearsedalotofmusic.Someoftheyoungpeopledonotgetanopportunitytoplaymoredifficultmusicintheirhomecorps’andsotheyspentmanyhoursplayingmusic,”saidMajorKelvinPethybridge,theSydneyYouthBandExecutiveOfficer.

Weekend retreat prepares Sydney Youth Band for 2011“Theleadership[oftheband]alsoencouragedtheyoungpeople

tosharewheretheyareuptointheirrelationshipwithGod.Thesesharingtimesbecamesacredtimeswheretheyoungpeoplesharedtheirstrugglesandjoys.”

OntheSundaymorning,theSydneyYouthBandperformedatRockdaleCorps.MajorPethybridgebelievestheweekendwasafantasticstarttotheyearandislookingforwardtowhatliesahead.

“IreallyenjoyedhangingaroundyoungpeoplewhoarepassionateaboutGodanddesiretoliveandworkforhim,utilisingtheskillshehasblessedthemwith,”hesaid.


t h e c u t t i n g e d g e

TheGosfordCorpsofTheSalvationArmyrecentlyhonouredtwoofits

members,KevinCarpenterandJoeHarmer,inparticularnotingtheirmanyyearsofservicetomusicalsections.

Bothmenreceivedappreciationplaquesacknowledgingtheirservice.Kevin,whorecentlyretiredasGosfordCorpsorganistafternearly20yearsintherole,alsoservedasabandsman,songster,organistandpianistatEarlwood,Lambton,Tamworth,Griffith,andAlburycorps.

BandsmanStanWebsterpresentedtheappreciationplaquetoJoeHarmer,notingthatJoewasabouttocelebratehis90thbirthdayyetstillservedhisSaviourfaithfullyeachweekasanactivememberoftheGosfordCorpsBandandtheVeterans’Band.

JoejoinedtheMayfieldCorpsBandattheageof12.HehasalsoservedasabandsmanatNewcastle,NorthSydney,andChatswoodcorps’.

TheSalvationArmyTuggeranongCorpsBandandTimbrelBrigadewereahitattheRoyalCanberraShowinFebruary,marching

throughtheshowgroundstothedelightofspectators.Forthefourthyearinarow,TheSalvationArmyhasfeaturedat

theshowwithitsexpodisplay.Alongwiththeirmusicperformances,theArmyalsoputonquiteashowforthechildren.BoththeAgentsofT.R.U.T.H.andCousinKoalapaidavisittoentertainthechildrenastheywalkedaroundtheshowgroundsgivingouthigh-fivesandhugs.TherewasalsoalargekidsareaattheSalvosexhibitionforballoontoys,facepaintingandshowbagsalongwithSAGALAdisplaysandKidzonedisplay.

“BoththechildrenandparentsrespondedverywelltotheAgentsofT.R.U.T.H.–lotsofexcitement,smilesandlaughing,”saidKarenConners,ACTandSouthNSWDivisionalYouthandChildren’sSecretary.

TherewasalsoaSalvoscafeprovidingfreeDevonshireteaandcoffeeforguests.TheSalvoExpoprovedamajorhitattheshow,winningablueribbonforthebest“NotforProfitCommunityDisplay”.

High-profileAustralianrecordingartistStanWalkerwillperformatTheSalvationArmyYouthMinistryConferenceinJune.

In2009,Stan,aChristian,wonNetworkTen’spopularAustralian Idolseries.

Hehassincebecomeasuccessfulartistinthemusicindustryreleasingtwopopularalbums,Introducing ... Stan Walkerin2009andFrom the Inside Outlatelastyear.

Overthreedays,peoplewhohaveapassionforyouthministryandadesiretodisciplethroughleadershipwillgatherandbeinspiredbyteachingandperformancesbyspecialsguestsattheconferenceinSydney.

Hip-hopdancecrewRoyaltyCrewaresevenyoungtalenteddancersfromSydneywhowillalsoperformattheYouthMinistryConference.

Theyarewell-knownatnationalcompetitionsandfortheirperformancesatSydneyKingsNBLgames.

Additionally,Australianpro-skaterandChristianspeakerSidTapiawillbeshowcasinghisskatingmovesattheconference.

SiddedicatesmuchofhistimetoreachingtheyouthofAustraliawiththegospel.

OtherguestspeakersattheconferenceincludeNathanMoulds,TheSalvationArmy’sEdifyProgramCoordinator,FultonHawk,TheSalvationArmyProgramSpecialistattheWestDelOroDivisionintheUnitedStates,MurrayBrown,DirectorofYouthTRAINinNewZealand,andDaneReardon,YoungAdultsPastoratShireliveChurchinSydney’ssouth.

AspecialmusicbenefitcompilationalbumwasreleasedearlierthisyeartoraisemoneyforTheSalvationArmyFloodReliefAppeal.

AllproceedsarebeingusedtohelpvictimsoftherecentfloodsinQueensland.

SonyMusicEntertainmentAustraliateamedwithbothAustralianandinternationalartiststoproduceathree-CDsetcalled,Flood Relief – Artists For The Flood Appeal.Thesetfeatures59tracksincludingAustralianartistssuchasGuySebastian,TommyEmmanuel,MidnightOil,JessicaMauboy,LeeKernaghan,KeithUrbanandCrowdedHousealongwithinternationalperformerssuchasPink,Sting,BonJovi,KingsofLeon,Beyonce,BillyJoel,BruceSpringsteen,FooFighters,JohnMayer,BobDylanandJeffBuckley.

TheCDisavailablefromallleadingretailmusicoutlets.

Recognition for long-serving musicians

Salvos hit the mark at Royal Canberra ShowStan headlines youth conference

Artists unite for flood relief

Kevin Carpenter (left) and Joe Harmer who have been honoured for their long service to The Salvation Army.

Tuggeranong Corps Band plays at the Royal Canberra Show (left), and Agent of T.R.U.T.H. Eve delights a young child with a high-five.

Around30SalvationistsfromTheSalvationArmyAustraliaEasternTerritorywillbemakingthelongtriptoLondonto

attendtheInternationalStaffBand(ISB)120thcelebrationweekendfrom3-5JuneattheRoyalAlbertHall.

MajorKeithHamptonhasorganisedforthegrouptoflytotheUKandbepartofthespectacularshowwhichfeaturesnotonlytheISBbutthestaffbandsofMelbourne,Canada,Japan,NewYork,Chicago,Amsterdam,andGermany.

“We’remakinghistoryasthesebandshaveneverbeenseentogetherinoneplace,”MajorHamptonsaid.

AlongwiththemaineveningconcertonSaturday4JuneattheRoyalAlbertHall,theeightbandswillalsobeperforminginvariouslocationsaroundLondononFriday3JuneandSunday5June.OntheSundayafternoon,thebandswillgatheratHorseGuardsParadebeforemarchingdownTheMalltoBuckinghamPalace.

Historic gathering for ISB anniversary

Pictorial

Farewell to Commissioner Linda BondSydney Congress Hall

13 March 2011

All photos: Shairon Paterson

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