Newcastle & Central NSW Division

Now to the God who can do so many awe-inspiring

things, immeasurable things, things greater than we

ever could ask or imagine through the power at work in

us. Ephesians 3:20 (The Voice)

Greater Things!

DHQ Newsletter: Issue 5 05 March 2014

WHERE ARE THE GREATER THINGS?

"Very truly I tell you, whoever

believes in me will do the works I

have been doing, and they will do

even greater things than these,

because I am going to the Father"

(John 14:12 NIV).

So I have a question: Where are these

"greater things" in our day?

When we open up the book of Acts,

and read the continuing

story of Jesus after he

has gone back to the

Father (Acts 1:1), we

see all sorts of "greater

things" happening in

the lives of ordinary,

powerless, simple, and

everyday people who

believe in Jesus. So

what's the difference between them

and us? Let's be honest with

ourselves:

God didn't suddenly get less

powerful.

The promise of Jesus didn't

expire.

The Holy Spirit didn't leave

the scene.

The message of Jesus didn't

lose its radical convicting

edge.

So let's be courageous enough to ask

ourselves, "Is the reason we are not

seeing these “greater things” a

problem with us?" We need to start

where those who first believed the

message of Jesus began (Acts 2:41).

When this conviction touched their

hearts and they responded in faith,

they became part of a community of

people who "devoted themselves to

the apostles' teaching and to

fellowship, to the breaking of bread

and to prayer" (Acts 2:42).

Notice the key word: "devoted"! The

apostles were devoted to four areas;

teaching, fellowship, the breaking of

bread and prayer. Devotion was

clearly a key part of the early church's

experience of the "greater things"

that Jesus promised. Unfortunately,

this is a quality often

lacking in those

claiming to follow

Jesus in our Western

churches today!

So here comes the

really convicting

question for you and

me: How frequently

does devotion to these things

mentioned in Acts show

up in our lives?

We're not talking about adding these

four areas of devotion to our already

busy lifestyles. No, we're talking

about these four being the ordering

principles around which we arrange

our lives. That's what it means to be

devoted! We lean in and attach

ourselves to these four commitments

as the ordering priorities of our lives

as followers of Jesus.

Jesus longs to do "greater things" in

us. Our hearts yearn to experience

God in all of his holy power in our

lives. Our corps’ ache to be something

more than a weekly show within four

walls that seems absolutely

disconnected from our everyday lives.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready

for "greater things" and not just the

old things! So if Jesus' promise to do

"greater things" is for "whoever

believes" in him, isn't it time we

followed their example by doing what

they did and devoting ourselves to

what they did?

Wendy & Gavin Watts

Divisional Leaders

Inside this issue:

Message 1

_______________________

News 2

_______________________

More News 3

_______________________

Personnel 4

_______________________

Prayer Page 5

_______________________

Events 6

Page 2

SINGLETON NOW HAS JUNIOR SOLDIERS!!!

Singleton Corps/Red Shield Defence

Services began its first Junior Soldiers

group 2 weeks ago. It is the first

Junior Soldier group we think for over

20 years.

It is amazing to see God at work not

only amongst the children who

attended, but also in challenging our

own faith.

We believed for 6 children to attend

and I baked butterfly cakes for

morning tea. I was kicking myself as

everyone arrived for our first Junior

Soldiers lesson because I had baked

11 cup cakes and ate one while I was

getting organised. When the 10th

person arrived I was seriously

concerned we would no longer have

enough cupcakes. God has a sense of

humour!

Anyway God challenged my faith as I

only dared believe for 6 children. We

had a fantastic morning doing the first

lesson of the preparation for Junior

Soldiership. Then on Sunday when

we had our 2nd lesson, God

challenged my faith again, as I was all

ready for 10 children when 12

children and an adult who wanted to

participate all arrived! This time I am

happy to say that I baked the right

number of cupcakes.

The children mostly come from

disadvantaged families coming to our

Kids Club and some are defence

families. We are excited by how God

is working amongst the children and

also in expanding our tent.

- Captain Leanne Bennett

DIVISIONAL WATER FUN DAY

On Saturday 22nd February the rain

stopped and the sun came out right in

time for an afternoon/evening of great

fun, frivolity, laughter and of course a

little competition! Approx. 130 people

of all ages from 7 different Corps in

the Division turned out at Swansea

pool for our Annual Swimming

Event. No longer called the Aquatics

Carnival, but the Water Fun Day, (just

as well seeing as races were certainly

low in number), still, people gave

their best and competed for a

certificate, and of course the famous

Triumph Winner's Cup!

The children gathered in the kid's pool

for games and fun and lots of

splashing and laughter! The Social

Games followed the freestyle races

and saw most people in attendance

involved in relays, fun races, bombing

into the pool and fun. People of a

variety of ages from varying Corps

united as coloured teams mixing in

together and giving their best to see

their colour win the social games.

We saw Rubber Ducky's being

transported across the pool, a balloon

relay, an in pool scavenger hunt,

Chinese Whispers in the water, and of

course an all-in game of Dodge Ball.

OUR 7 MISSION PRIORITIES

We will do whatever it takes to see: 1. A territory marked by prayer and holiness 2. Every place involved in evangelism 3. Corps healthy and multiplying 4. Our people equipped and empowered to serve the world 5. Passionate about bringing children to Jesus 6. Youth trained and sent out to frontline mission 7. Significant increase of new soldiers and officers.

Page 3

A visual Biblical Reflection of 3

blindfolded people racing down the

pool carrying a bag of weights and

wearing a hat and fully clothed, was a

time of stopping and remembering the

verses found in Hebrews 12:1-3.

We reflected on how we would never

choose to swim in a race carrying

bags, weights and wearing a lot of

layered clothing. Yet we sometimes

run the 'race' of following Jesus

carrying things like guilt, distraction,

sin, lack of faith, worry, lack of trust

in God, disobedience, lives that are

too busy and poorly prioritised,

addictions etc. and we must remember

to THROW these things off and keep

our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Of course at the end of the race they

each received a prize - 'Marvellous

Creations'; we too, at the end of our

race will receive a prize from our

Marvellous Creator!

The tempting scent of BBQ filled the

air, and people refuelled in time for

the Freestyle Relays at the end of the

night.

It was great to see people travel from

as far as Taree & Forster (some

passionately fully fledged brightly

orange-coloured flag bearing Forster-

ites were in attendance). A night of

mingling and uniting together in fun

was enjoyed and we thank God that

NO injuries or First Aid was required

on the night!

Newcastle Worship and Community

Centre took out

first place and won

the Triumph Cup,

with Tuggerah

Lakes Corps taking out the

BMW (Beryl May

Williams)

Memorial

Encouragement Cup. Well Done!!

- Envoy Angela Cairns – DYS

Doorways is up and running now in 9

Community Welfare Centres across

the Division.

Doorways is not a new program but a

philosophy of welfare provision that

involves casework of clients at risk of

being entrenched in the poverty cycle

and welfare dependence. Here are

just a couple of reports that show the

nature of the work.

Doorways Tuggerah was off to a

great start in February with Noreen

working with a couple on a Carer's

visa 116, whose carer/sponsor died in

December and Centrelink and Dept.

of Housing told them they had to wait

104 weeks for any assistance. Noreen

spent a whole afternoon on the phone

discovering lots about Immigration

and Welfare Law, and helping them

negotiate the maze. At this stage

there is a strong chance that they will

be granted a "Special Benefit

Payment". Noreen has also connected

them to Employment Plus who are

helping with job seeking.

Out in Dubbo, Doorways began in

December. Through the assistance

and support of the Doorways worker

(Leyna) a client has had her children

returned to her care and has for the

most part stayed and obeyed her

methadone program. Leyna was able

to connect the client to a financial

counsellor, who with the support of

Doorways was able to make

applications to have debts reduced or

cleared altogether due to her current

health issues. She has also assisted the

client in the reporting of physical

abuse from her partner to the point

when the police finally took the

situation seriously, acted on our

reports and arrested and removed the

now ex-partner.

Through Doorways the client has

reached out for grief counselling to

learn better ways to cope with her

grief that doesn’t involve drug use,

and now talks to her Doorways case

worker BEFORE she goes out and

hocks her possessions or applies for

pay-day-loans to see if there is a

smarter way she could be paying for

the things she needs in her life.

We praise God for the Doorways

program!

- Howard Mole

March

Chloe Lauder 6th

12

Corey Pethybridge 26th

6

Elijah Cairns 29th

13

Page 4

DATES TO REMEMBER

March

7 World Day of Prayer

8 Div. Men’s Breakfast

10 Div. Women’s Celebration

(Evening)

12 Div. Women’s Celebration

(Morning)

20 Family Store Manager’s

Forum

21-23 Spiritual Retreat Lochinvar

(Deadline for March Retreat

Monday 10th March)

22 Div. Pulse Youth Church

30 Self-Denial Altar Service

30 International Day of Prayer

for Children

SALVATIONIST SUPPLIES CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT

Until further notice, the management

of Salvationist Supplies is under the

office of the Assistant Secretary for

Business Administration.

We acknowledge the valuable and

long term service of Mr Graham

Lang who vacated the position of

Manager some time back.

All general enquiries and orders

should be directed to the store by

email at Trade/AUE/SARMY, or by

phoning 1800634209 or (02)

92669511.

APPOINTMENT CHANGE Captain Kathy Crombie, currently

serving as Director, School for

Multicultural Ministry and Associate

Corps Officer, Auburn Corps, the

Greater West Division, has been

appointed as Senior Policy Analyst,

International Social Justice

Commission, based in New York

City, effective from 1 May 2014.

PROMOTED TO GLORY Lt-Colonel Harold Roy Stiles, known

as Roy, aged 98 years, was Promoted

to Glory at 6.15pm last Friday, 28th

February, 2014. Lt-Colonel Roy was

the father of Major Innes (and

Christine) Stiles and Allan (and

Jenette) Stiles, the grandfather of

Paul, Scott and Martin Stiles, Tresna

Anderson, Jodie Stiles and Katrina

Gott, and was a special great

grandfather to numerous

grandchildren. A private family

burial was held at 11.00am on

Wednesday, 5th March, 2014.

A Service of Thanksgiving for the life

of Lt-Colonel Roy Stiles was

conducted by Commissioner Les

Strong at 1.00pm on Wednesday, 5th

March 2014, at The Salvation Army

Springwood Corps.

HEALTH CONCERN Liam (Mission & Resource Team-

Systems/Samis) and Allison

Holland’s son, Asher, is very ill and

is in Westmead Hospital. Asher is

also the grandson of Majors Sandra

(Ryde Corps) and Topher Holland

(Territorial Strategic Disaster

Response). Your intercessory prayer

would be appreciated for Asher, as

well as his parents, Allison and Liam

and his grandparents, Sandra and

Topher.

THANKS Majors Brenda (Broken Hill Corps)

and Kelvin Stace (Broken Hill Social

Programs) would like to pass on their

thanks and appreciation to all those

who have prayed and sent cards and

well wishes for Kelvin's recovery. He

is doing fine - just a bit impatient with

himself, expecting to bounce back

quicker than it is actually happening.

We both look forward to the day he

regains full use of his shoulder. Your

continued prayer support would be

appreciated.

ENGAGEMENT NEWS We congratulate Major Colin

Maxwell (Capricorn Region Corps)

and Ms Jan Geaney (Finance

Department, South

Queensland Division) who have announced

their engagement. We

wish Colin and Jan well for their

future life and service together.

BABY NEWS Last Thursday evening, 27

th February,

the Grigg family was excited and

blessed with the safe arrival of

Amelia-Rose Louise Grigg to Drew

and Ruth. Amelia-Rose is the

granddaughter of Majors Elwyn

(Office of The Chief Secretary) and

Raewyn Grigg (School for

Leadership Training) Congratulations.

Major Beatrice Kay (Tuggerah Lakes

Corps) is celebrating the birth of her

eighth grandchild and seventh

grandson, Tommy James Kay born

Tuesday 4th March, 2014 to Kristy

and Andrew. Archie is thrilled with

his new brother and playmate.

Certainly the 'KAY' name is alive and

well as Noel would say, “God is good

all the time”. Congratulations to all

the family and may God continue to

bless Tommy and the Kay family.

RESIGNATION

We thank Majors Beverley and David

McMurray for their service. Beverley

and David are standing aside from

Officership for a season to take

leadership of a church in Melbourne.

Page 5

PRAYER PARTNER DIARY

March 9-15, 2014

“To pray in Jesus’ name means to

pray in his spirit, in his

compassion, in his love, in his

outrage, in his concern, in other

words, it means to pray a prayer

that Jesus himself might pray.”

- Kenneth L. Wilson

- Narelle Gurney – Director of

Development, Service and

Projects, Malawi Command

- Carpenter Court Residential

Aged Care – Tracey Lee

Garratt, Major Margaret

Millington and Team

- Casino Corps – Captains David

and Meryl Cook

- Centenary Corps – Captains

Derek and Sonia Whitehouse

- Centennial Lodge – Lieutenant

Cara Brackstone and Team

- Central and North Qld DHQ –

Majors Kelvin and Cheralynne

Pethybridge, Majors Glenn and

Lynn Whittaker, Captain

Tracey Schutz, Envoys Jake and

Amanda Clanfield, Envoy Stuart

Grice and Team

- Central and North Qld

Division Chaplains – Major

Anne Gumuna and Bob Down

11 – 14 Territorial Salvos

Stores Manager’s Convention

“Be kind and compassionate to one

another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Prayer Points:

- Pray for baby Dawsyn Gillies

(8 months old) unwell in

hospital undergoing blood tests.

Pray for Envoy Melissa her

husband John and their other

5 children.

Boundless 2015 International Congress

We are pleased to announce that the registration process for the 2015

International Congress is now open! You can book your place at the Congress

using our online booking system which can be accessed via our website -

www.boundless2015.org/boundless/registration.

The online registration system has been developed to allow you to register yourself, your

family and friends for each of the main sessions as well as allowing you to book tickets

to other concerts and events that will be taking place during the week of the Congress.

Initially you are only able to register delegates for full registrations, giving them entry to

all of the 7 main sessions at the Congress. You will need to enter details for each of the

delegates you wish to register and then select which full registration type you need for

each of them. Tickets for additional events and for individual sessions will be released at

a later date.

The registration system will guide you through the process of booking your place at the

Congress but if you have any questions or experience any problems with the system,

please contact the Congress Office.

International Headquarters

Congress Office

Page 6

You are invited to hear the Sydney Staff Songsters!

Free Concert!

March Retreat

applications close

Monday 10th March