THE SALVATION ARMY AUSTRALIA EASTERN TERRITORY JANUARY 2014 | VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 1

Vibrant energy, sincere faith

Vibrant energy, sincere faith

THE GIFT OF THE PNG SINGERS

CREATIVE FUSION AT WORSHIP ARTS WEEKENDDISCOVER THE BLINDSIDEA TRIBUTE TO ALEX RAYMOND

ALSO INSIDE:

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

AUSTRALIA EASTERN TERRITORY 140 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000 JAMES CONDON Commissioner, Territorial CommanderBRUCE HARMER Major, Territorial Communications and Public Relations Secretary

EDITOR Anne Halliday GRAPHIC DESIGN Kem Pobjie COVER PHOTO Carolyn HideCREATIVE MINISTRY is a publication of the Communications Department

EDITORIAL AND CORRESPONDENCE PO Box A435 Sydney South NSW 1235PHONE (02) 9266 9690 EMAIL eastern.editorial@aue.salvationarmy.org

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 permission

Swanky suits, barbershop vocal harmonies and four young Christian men. Meet Blindside Quartet – a group of passionate a cappella singers from

Brisbane, Queensland.Salvationist from Brisbane City Temple, Tim Green

(bass) and his three friends, Gareth Clarke (lead), Michael Webber (baritone) and Trent Lewis (tenor) are the voices of the barbershop group, who sing in four-part harmony or a capella.

Since February this year, Blindside Quartet has been performing at gigs, churches, schools and competitions. And they are already turning heads. In October, at the National Barbershop Convention in Perth, Blindside came third in the youth category and placed in the top 10.

“The other quartets had been together for a long, long time and we’ve only be going for a nine or ten months … We’re really happy with what we’ve done so far,” explains Tim.

Tim says while they enjoy the challenge of competition, their motivation to sing is driven by their faith. Tim explains they perform at Brisbane City Temple’s annual event, Songs of Praise and often at their songster events.

They also sing at Pine Rivers Church of Christ’s youth group, where the other three quartet

12 THE CUTTING EDGE15 CD REVIEW16 PICTORIAL

REGULARS

07VIBRANT ENERGY, SINCERE FAITH

The gift of the PNG singers

COVER STORY

members attend church. Through these performance opportunities, Blindside has seen people come to know Jesus through their music.

“We do absolutely see these gifts as a ministry,” Tim says. “It’s the primary reason to do what we do.”

While they have only been performing for a short period of time, Blindside Quartet members, Tim, Gareth and Michael have been singing together since high school.

An early performance of the trio was discovered by The Blenders, the core of the Gold Coast Barbershop Harmony Club (GCBHC) on YouTube who then encouraged them to reform. Their current lineup was made complete when Trent, who knew Gareth and Michael from Pine Rivers church, joined the performance group.

Blindside’s name came about accidentally, says Tim. While at a barbershop competition, one of their competitors gave them an idea for a name.

“He said to us at the big national competition, ‘You’re going to go out there and blindside them’. That’s where we picked it up from. So I guess it’s a play on taking people by surprise.”

Blindside tailors their performances to their audience, singing “a bit of everything” from Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, hymns and popular music.

04

04

UNLOCKING HEARTS FOR WORSHIP

THE SONG IS IN THE SOUL - A TRIBUTE TO ALEX RAYMOND

0806CREATIVE FUSION AT WORSHIPARTS WEEKEND

FEATURES

NEW BARBERSHOP CREW A CUT ABOVE THE REST

FROM WINGSthe

Photo: Shairon Paterson

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and recently joined the Territorial Corps Mission and Resource WorshipArts team.

The couple visits corps and centres to work with local worship teams; they play, sing and provide technical support at divisional and territorial events; teach and mentor at a range of camps and workshops, including the Queensland and NSW EQUIP camps; and connect people with others working with particular creative and worship arts.

“Often corps think that, if only they had certain resources, worship could be a whole different experience,” explains Shelden.

“God has given them all they need; it’s helping them realise it’s there and how to use it in the most effective way.”

The WorshipArts team, which also includes Michelle Kay-Browning and Franc Lipovic, joins the children and youth team, Salvos Caring and Salvos Women under the Territorial Mission and Resource Team – Corps (TMRTC), led by Envoys Randall and Glenda Brown.

“We are all very much on the same page and work well together,” says Louise.

Unlocking the heartThe Mathiesons believe that as creative art expressions are opened

“GOD WANTS TO HEAR

OUR VOICE, WHETHER IN SINGING, IN ART, DANCE, SPORTS OR

HOWEVER IT IS THAT GOD HAS

SHAPED US, AND HE DOESN’T WANT US TO BE STIFLED BY

THE THOUGHT THAT WE’RE

NOT GOOD ENOUGH.”

Music has always been at the centre of Louise and Shelden Mathieson’s lives. Both grew up in

Salvation Army families in Brisbane, took part in musical sections from an early age and both studied, performed and taught music at a professional level.

“My family is quite musical, so growing up it was quite normal to play and sing,” says Louise, whose home corps was Albion, now Stafford.

“Going to music camps, learning the piano and being a part of the wide range of music in the Salvos was a formative part of my life.”

Singing was also an integral part of growing up for Shelden, whose family attended the Brisbane City Temple Corps.

“It wasn’t unusual for a family to sing, it’s just what we did,” Shelden says.

Louise studied at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Music) degree, as well as a Graduate Diploma in Teaching.

Shelden holds a Bachelor of Music (Vocal Performance) degree from the University of Queensland.

Shelden and Louise met each other on and off at divisional events, but first became friends after a 21st birthday party.

up in worship, people will be able to experience God in a way that “unlocks something in their heart”.

“More than anything we want to see each corps and Salvation Army expression getting the amazing picture of how big God is through their worship and sensing the immensity of God, the God of the universe who loves each of us personally,” Shelden says.

Their focus is also on helping people understand that, whoever we are, God wants to hear our voice in worship.

“God wants to hear our voice, whether in singing, in art, dance, sports or however it is that God has shaped us, and he doesn’t want us to be stifled by the thought that we’re not good enough,” says Louise.

Louise has seen the reality of this working at the Queensland and NSW EQUIP camps, seeing multiple art forms come together – a painter or a dancer with a choir, and the blessing of seeing these elements juxtaposed and people praising God together.

“Some of what we have dreamed of is starting to happen,” she says. “It’s not every section doing their bit; it’s bringing them together in unity and unified worship,” Shelden adds.

“In a small corps, this could be a few brass musicians, a piano, guitar and drums.”

“There is not one mould or way to

It was a match deepened by not just a shared passion for music but a commitment to Jesus – a potent combination that has defined both their partnership and ministry.

“Music is a passion and an art form, but using it to both communicate with God and listen to him takes many of us to another level of experiencing him,” explains Louise.

“It’s my primary form of worship, although I connect in other ways too, but music is a way I can worship and communicate when I just can’t find the words to say.”

Initially, after they married, Shelden worked in social welfare, while Louise taught private music students. Later, Louise moved into high school education, while Shelden began his university studies.

His graduation was a turning point for the pair, as he considered opportunities in classical opera in Sydney, London or Europe.

“God told me clearly though, that he wanted us to stay here, with The Salvation Army, in the creative ministries space,” Shelden recalls.

“I do periodically sing with Opera Queensland, in the chorus, and enjoy being with a group of people doing something I love.”

The Mathiesons have been Creative Ministries Co-ordinators in the South Queensland Division for seven years,

worship,” says Louise. “God is so much bigger than we allow him to be, and we have to be willing for him to challenge us in some of our thinking.”

Grounded at homeBoth Shelden and Louise believe that, to lead at a divisional and territorial level, they also need to stay grounded in their home corps of North Brisbane.

“It’s a challenge with our schedules, but we wouldn’t be able to do what we do today if we hadn’t been exposed to what happens in a home corps,” explains Shelden. “If people hadn’t invested in us, we couldn’t invest in others today,” adds Louise.

Shelden still keeps a letter of encouragement he received from a Divisional Youth Secretary years ago, after leading worship at youth councils.

“It makes you want to keep on and do better,” Shelden reflects. “People taking time to encourage and give guidance have shaped us into what we are today, and we want to now mentor and give to others.”

SHELDEN AND LOUISE MATHIESON ARE EASILY

RECOGNISED AT ANY TERRITORIAL OR SOUTH

QUEENSLAND DIVISIONAL EVENT WHERE THERE IS MUSIC, SINGING AND

OTHER EXPRESSIONS OF WORSHIP. THIS TALENTED

AND HUMBLE COUPLE ARE PASSIONATELY

FOCUSED ON USING THEIR GIFTS TO HELP OTHERS EXPERIENCE GOD MORE DEEPLY

AND DEVELOP A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM

The combination of musical talent and

commitment to God has led Louise

and Shelden Mathieson

(above) down the path of full-

time ministry.Photos: Shairon

Paterson

unlocking hearts for

worship

Simone Worthing is a writer for Pipeline and supplements

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Creatives get connectedBringing together a group

of artists can mean only one thing – creative fusion! And that was exactly the

plan for the Territorial WorshipArts weekend Connect, which was held last November.

The weekend gathered together about 50 creative leaders in Sydney to share the joys and challenges of drawing people into intimacy with God through the creative arts.

“The CONNECT weekend was all about getting arts-focused people together to network,” says Franc Lipovic, part of the Territorial Corps Mission and Resource WorshipArts team. “It was to look at ways that, as a body of artists, we could help one another to connect with our communities in an effective and God glorifying way.

“We believe that the most successful way to develop our creative resources is to connect people. Imagine that a drama which has been written by someone in South Brisbane can be exactly what is needed to aid a worship expression in Wagga Wagga or a song written by a member of a corps in Auburn could be a perfect song for someone in Parramatta.”

The weekend featured a host of diverse guests who inspired

By ESTHER PINN

They came, they sang and they held audiences captive with their passion for God. It will be a long time before last

November’s visit to NSW by the Salvos Cultural Arts and Gospel (SCAG) singers from Papua New Guinea, is forgotten.

The 42-member touring group performed five concerts, at Hurstville, Port Macquarie, Eastlakes, Canberra City and Wollongong corps. They also performed at Macquarie Fields Mission and participated in Sunday meetings at Dulwich Hill, Parramatta and Tuggeranong corps.

The concerts were a display of PNG culture, from the singing right through to the dancing. The group sang mainly in their native Pidgin language, performed creative dances and also timbrel display.

“The group greatly enjoyed performing in the various Army corps/centres. We felt God’s anointing on the group as we ministered in song and dance. The fact that congregations responded so positively encouraged the group to do their best for God and the people,” explained Commissioner Andrew Kalai, the former PNG Territorial Commander, who accompanied the group.

Australia Eastern Territorial leader Commissioner Jan Condon, who with her husband, Commissioner James Condon, served for three years in

participants with their creative expression, including music, dance, poetry and performance art.

“Hayley Thompson from Melbourne presented a moving dance which reflected a person’s need to quench their thirst for God’s presence in their life,” recalled Franc.

“She started her presentation in a still and almost lifeless pose. With an overwhelming need for water, she made her way across the stage to a setting which was a circle of water vessels. As she took her first sip of water you could see the life come back to her eyes and her body started to become free to dance. As she would gain more strength she would take the life-giving water and pour it over herself. At the end of this beautiful piece she stands drenched in the water with her arms outstretched to her loving heavenly Father.”

Performance poet Cameron Semmens entertained and inspired the group with his 23 versions of the 23rd Psalm at the Saturday evening dinner. On Sunday he took the group further, teaching on the art and discipline of creative expression. Franc said the weekend was also designed to showcase some “outside the square” options for creative expression.

“Luke Nowell’s strange character

(R2D2 meets the Road Runner with a touch of Harpo Marx) was definitely “outside the square”!” He laughs.

In addition, Colin Stoodley, Shelden Mathieson and Colonel Janet Munn challenged the group with their messages to listen, to answer God’s call and learning the wisdom of not just saying yes, but at times, saying no.

In 2014, the Territorial WorshipArts team, which along with Franc, includes Queensland Worship Arts Ministries Co-ordinators Shelden and Louise Mathieson and Michelle Kay-Browning, will be developing a number of initiatives that will enable artists to connect and access training and resources.

“We are developing an online network which will enable all artists to chat/share and support one another. And we are scheduling local workshops through the territory. Gone are the days when we would expect the whole territory to come to Sydney for a days workshop on songwriting or drama or technology. We believe that the territory would be better served by holding smaller local training days.”

If you are keen to keep in the loop about WorshipArts events coming up in your region or city, check out the WorshipArts Facebook page: facebook.com/salvos.worshiparts

PNG, said she was “in heaven” on the Saturday night at Hurstville as the group sang her favourite songs, From the Rising of the Sun and How Great Thou Art, in Pidgin.

“Our friends from PNG do not have much as far as materialistic things are concerned but they have God and a deep love for God and a strong faith in God that is evidenced in their heartfelt singing,” she said.

“The dancing is kind of an automatic thing. I can’t dance but you just want to move. There is a real rhythm in their songs.”

Commissioner Condon said many people who attended the concerts found it an emotional experience.

“In one of the songs at Hurstville some of them [the audience] were moved to tears,” she said. “They [SCAG] were singing about their commitment to God.”

When the group performed a series of concerts in Queensland a few years ago, Commissioner Kalai, approached the Army’s Australia Eastern Territory about sponsoring another tour, this time around NSW.

“Because Papua New Guinea is our partner in mission we were happy to sponsor the singers,” said Commissioner Jan Condon.

“It was to give them exposure to the Army here, and for us it was to expose Salvationists and friends to the PNG culture because the two cultures are extremely different.”

Commissioner Kalai said the trip

demonstrated sincere friendship and respect between the two territories.

“The generous hospitality given to the group by all our hosts and the fact that AUE so kindly footed the bill for our internal travel and accommodation once again signifies that very special friendship.”

Along with sponsorship, the choir spent the last two years raising funds for the trip.

“The group members really had to work very hard to raise the funds for their airfares. Some needed financial help from their relatives and friends in order to make the trip.

“The fact that we had worked so hard to raise the money and prepare for the various vocal/musical and cultural art items meant that the group had a great sense of satisfaction when we finally arrived in Australia,” said Commissioner Kalai.

For a number of the choir members, this was their first trip to Australia. Many enjoyed seeing the sights of Sydney including the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and the Australian War Memorial that features history about the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels – a name given to a group of native Papua New Guineans who assisted Australian troops during World War II along the Kokoda Trail.

“There was as you can imagine much novelty for everyone coming to Australia especially for those who were in Sydney for the first time,” said Commissioner Kalai.

The vibrancy of a sincere faith

The SCAG singers from

PNG entertained and inspired

audiences throughout NSW.Photos: Carolyn

Hide.

Creativity was at the fore during the Territorial WorshipArts weekend, Connect, which was held in Sydney in November.

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It could so easily have been the day the music died for popular Salvation Army singer Sharon Raymond.

Friday 9 March, 2012. The Raymonds were a happy family unit – mum, dad, three daughters and a sole son living on a 45-hectare property in the Adelaide hills.

It had been a good day, full of fun and satisfaction with life.

Sharon’s 18-year-old son, Alex, was particularly pleased. He was spending the day with his best friend, Ben. They hadn’t caught up for some time; not

since they had finished school a few months earlier.

Sharon loved to see Alex happy. He was such an outgoing young man – the type who lit up a room with his presence when he walked into it.

“At primary school, he was a little evangelist,” Sharon says of her son. “From the time he was a little kid, he loved the Lord with a real passion.

“At one stage, a teacher sent a note home requesting a chat. The teacher asked that we tell Alex not to talk so much about Jesus at school, just talk to the ones who are interested.

“He loved being the centre of attention. He loved to make people laugh. Life was fun for Alex.”

The Raymonds are a family of singers. Alex, says Sharon, made his singing debut at 10 months. As Sharon recorded songs for a new CD in an American studio, Alex sat on the floor singing “the notes”.

At a Sydney Congress Hall concert about the same time, Sharon started her performance with the song Symphony of Praise.

“Alex sat in his pram singing with me,” says Sharon. “I finish on top B

flat. I held the note for 10 seconds or more. Alex lasted longer. I had to explain that it wasn’t an echo effect ... it was Alex.

“So, he was a showman from birth.”

Tragic accidentWhen Sharon and her husband, Howard, started the Adelaide-based, interdenominational Soul Factor Gospel Choir in 2000, Alex was only six. He attended every concert, went on every trip for nine years, until he was old enough to join his mother, father and three sisters in the ministry of Soul Factor.

Alex, says Sharon, was blossoming as a singer when he and his best mate drove from the Raymond property at 5pm on 9 March. A few minutes later, Alex’s life was drawing to a dramatic end. He had been critically injured in a car accident only minutes from home.

One of his three sisters, Olivia, came across the accident on her way home. She rang her parents. Sharon and Howard arrived at the accident scene about the same time as the ambulances and police.

Already there were Olivia, her fiancé, an off-duty ambulance officer, two nurses and a police officer who lived nearby.

“Alex was only barely conscious,” says Sharon. “We knew he knew we were there, that was about all.

“It may seem strange, but I didn’t have that gripping feeling in the stomach. I had an incredible sense that everything was okay. I wasn’t crying. I wasn’t anxious. I knew it was very serious, but I had a peace.”

Howard helped gently lift the critically injured Alex from the vehicle

and placed his son on an ambulance stretcher. A helicopter came and took Alex to hospital. He was now in a coma.

As the helicopter lifted from the ground, Howard put his arm around his wife and said: “I think we are saying goodbye to our son.” Sharon knew Howard’s words were probably true. But she didn’t want to give up hope.

When Sharon and Howard reached

the world on Facebook. Hundreds of thousands of people prayed – more than 200,000 of them through an American prayer chain alone.

Salvation Army band practices in several countries stopped to pray. Many not only knew of Sharon but had also met Bec Raymond, her eldest daughter, at the International Staff Band’s 120th anniversary event in London the previous year. Churches in Adelaide had prayer meetings for Alex because of his family’s association with the city’s gospel choir.

“We had a tremendous sense that people were praying for a miracle. We were expecting it,” Sharon says.

By Saturday, the entire family was together in Alex’s hospital room. Sharon, Howard, Olivia, and sister Rebecca were already in Adelaide. The third sister, Lauren, had arrived from Hobart.

The musical family started to sing to their son and brother. They talked to him and told him how much they loved him.

“We had 36 hours with Alex,” Sharon says. “The time we had was very precious, a time to come to grips with the reality and to form our response to what God was choosing to do.

“We prayed for healing because we wanted our lovely boy back. But we prayed also that if it was God’s will to take him, then, we wanted to be in his will also. But there needed to be much glory for God to be seen in this outcome, for this was a very high price to pay.

“Alex’s head had been heavily bandaged. But on the Saturday the medical staff decided to remove the bandages because the wound was at the back. It meant we could now see his face.

“There were no injuries on his face. He just looked as though he was asleep. He was our lovely boy. He was beautiful.”

Family prayers increasingly turned to: “Your will, Lord”, as reality sank in.

During Saturday, Sharon read in her daily quiet time with the Lord “that when we align our will with God’s will, allowing him to do things his way, that’s when we see the glory.” It was a defining moment for Sharon in dealing with her only son’s tragedy.

At 11 o’clock on Sunday morning 11 March 11, 2012, Alex Raymond was declared deceased.

The family agreed to donate his organs. Seven people around Australia are today living a healthier life because of the gift. Most are young people. The family doesn’t know their identity,

The

SONG is in the

FACING PAGE: Alex Raymond was a natural performer. ABOVE: The Raymond family (from left) Alex, Olivia, Bec, son-in-law Aaron, Lauren, Sharon and Howard.

“WE BELIEVE THAT THE LORD

REACHED DOWN AND TOOK OUR

BOY THAT DAY. IT WAS HIS DAY. AND HE IS NOW WITH THE LORD.

IT’S PRETTY SIMPLE.”

the hospital, they were told there was nothing more that could be done to save their son. He had massive brain damage and was on life support.

The Raymonds believed for a miracle.

Worldwide prayerNews of Alex’s accident flashed around

TRAGEDY STRUCK SHARON RAYMOND AND HER FAMILY IN EARLY 2012. BUT, WRITES BILL SIMPSON, INSTEAD OF BEING OVERWHELMED BY GRIEF THE ACCLAIMED SALVATION ARMY

SINGER HAS GRASPED IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GLORIFY GOD

>>>

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but they have received updates advising that the recipients are all doing well.

Sharon would especially like to meet the young man in Sydney who received Alex’s heart.

“Alex had such a pure heart,” she says. “I would love to know if that [character] transfers when somebody receives a new heart.

“Alex had a lovely heart. He was like that from the time he was just a little boy. He made friends with everybody. When he died, they said at school that at least 100 kids had lost their best friend. He deliberately made friends with kids who didn’t have friends.”

God glorifiedToday, Sharon remains musical director of the Adelaide choir. Her daughters are still members, and also perform as The Raymond Sisters. Rebecca sings regularly with Melbourne Staff Band.

All family members often refer to Alex’s faith and God’s grace during public performances. And it’s been through their public performances that the family has seen the truth of those words Sharon read the day before Alex died: When we align our will with God’s will, that’s when we see the glory going to God.

“We have seen the Lord glorified in so many ways,” Sharon says.

When her son-in-law, Lieutenant Aaron Stobie, was flying from Hobart via Melbourne to Adelaide on the Sunday evening that Alex passed away, he began to sing on the plane to “ease” the pain of an emergency appendix operation he’d had a few days earlier.

CM: What instigated the shift from a Salvation Army group to an interdenominational gospel choir?

SR: After about two years we were singing at a congress that was led by General John Gowans. During a conversation with him about effective vocal ministries around the world, he suggested to us that we open our doors beyond the Salvation Army and in fact welcome non-Christians also. The importance of the “ministry within the ministry” became one of our most significant aspects. We are a family and believe that God expands us with the lives of people he is entrusting into the family. CM: In what ways do you see Soul Factor’s vision embodied by the members of the choir?

SR: Soul Factor is a vibrant, high-quality, thoroughly engaging and entertaining group. We have an enormous amount of fun creating performances that are visually exciting as well as wonderful to listen too. They [group members] are all having a ball and totally committed, but most of all they all love and care for each other in very practical and supportive

ways, all the while bringing glory and honour to God. This is our vision. CM: What is your “normal” performance load during the year?

SR: At a minimum we would present Easter, mid-year and Christmas concerts, with a yearly appearance at carols by candlelight. Most years have included a trip or additional events planned by others that include us. In 2011, we performed our Easter musical One Voice in Adelaide and Melbourne.

In 2012, we had You Can’t Stop The Beat, which was a tribute concert to Alex Raymond, as well as three church concerts. In 2013, we had another trip to Melbourne and a Sunday morning service at the annual Mt Barker jazz weekend that was attended by 500 people. CM: How do you select your major productions?

SR: We are always preparing ahead and asking the Lord to reveal to us the direction he wants us to take. All three of our musicals, The Power of His Love, One Voice and last year’s [2012] musical For Unto Y’all have been as a result of clear direction from God.

SOUL FACTOR WAS STARTED BY HOWARD AND SHARON

RAYMOND AS THE DIVISIONAL SINGERS IN 2000. THESE DAYS

THE GROUP IS A VIBRANT INTERDENOMINATIONAL GOSPEL CHOIR. SHARON

SHARES WITH CREATIVE MINISTRY SOME OF THE

GROUP’S STORY.

q&

SHARON RAYMONDwith

CM: The ministry of Soul Factor seems to have accelerated since Alex’s death. Why do you think that has happened?

SR: Soul Factor has had a really good following in Adelaide for quite some years now. Launching into musical theatre certainly increased our appeal, and then the introduction of the Broadway-style concerts created a whole new attraction for us. People who would not come to a church to hear a choir, would come into a theatre to stroll down memory lane with our Broadway shows. So, a whole new audience was gained. Many of them have become serious fans and attend Christmas and maybe even Easter events. There are many who have not missed an event in years and who have become part of the extended family. Alex was only six when we started The Divisional Singers in 2000.

He had come to every concert, gone on every trip and was very much a part of the Soul Factor family for nine years before he was old enough to join at 15. So, when Alex passed away in March 2012 our large loyal audience felt the loss as if he was a family member. They had been watching with interest the development of our four children in the years they had been supporting Soul Factor.

We went ahead and presented our Easter concert three weeks after he left us. The support for the family of Soul Factor was wonderful, let alone us personally as the Raymond family.

All of us leaning very heavily on the grace and strength of God, I led the program as normal. The concert had previously been entitled In a Heartbeat with the title song referring to the moment of resurrection, sung by Bec Raymond and Michael Denholm. “In a heartbeat everything changed, in a heartbeat life would never be the same.” How true that was. The message and reason for Easter impacted us all so powerfully that night. Never had the presence of God been so tangible. The Holy Spirit breaking through the power of the words to challenge, refresh and encourage us all. Alex’s passing has given us and the message we present, an amazing credibility as a choir and a unique platform for witness to the power of God. We have also sensed an increased urgency and purposefulness in our approach to all we present.

In the last year we have had 10 new members that have joined as a result of Alex’s impact on their lives. We feel privileged to be part of such a special group and are excited and humbled to see how the Lord is using us.

He was singing How Great Thou Art. A woman sitting in the same row asked him what he was singing. When he told her, she said that she had the song on her iPod. She had transferred it from a CD she bought at an Op Shop six months earlier.

The singer was Sharon Raymond, Aaron’s mother-in-law. He told the woman that he was flying to see Sharon and the family, and why. Others on the aircraft became involved in the conversation, culminating in the song being played to the passengers who had heard the story.

“When Aaron told me this upon his arrival,” Sharon says, “I was blown away when the reality struck me that six months before, this woman had been prompted to buy my CD from a second-hand shop so that she could be sitting beside Aaron on this flight on this

day to be the comfort and assurance that he needed. You can’t tell me this was not Alex’s day.

“We believe that the Lord reached down and took our boy that day,” Sharon says. “It was his day. And he is now with the Lord. It’s pretty simple.”

Despite the terrible loss of her only son, Sharon Raymond is still singing. “Singing is how our family expresses our

love of the Lord. We have learned so much this past year,” Sharon says.

“The lessons have changed our perspective. We would not have chosen this for ourselves but we have seen the Lord work in such powerful ways these last 18 months, that we wouldn’t have wanted to miss this either.”

And, so, the music didn’t die that day. The song is in the soul.

At the heart of Soul Factor’s ministry is the group’s sense of family which flows over into their vibrant performances.

“... THERE NEEDED TO BE MUCH

GLORY FOR GOD TO BE SEEN IN THIS

OUTCOME, FOR THIS WAS A VERY HIGH

PRICE TO PAY.”

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Seed sown reaps inspirational harvest Visit to Tuggeranong is bandmaster’s swansongBy Hurstville Bandmaster STEPHEN REAY

A casual conversation at the International Staff Band (ISB) 120th Celebration sowed the seed that it was time the Melbourne Staff

Band (MSB) visited Sydney. And so, two years later, Hurstville Corps hosted the band in October.

An enthusiastic audience heard from the first item Christ the Lord (Venables) that while the personnel has changed, “that” renowned MSB sound is still there. Some things never change! This was followed by the show stopping Temple 125 (Larsson).

Lieut-Colonel Ian Hamilton introduced soloists Jamie Smith (euphonium) and Garry Todd (cornet) who both played music specially written for them: Jamie with Fearless (Cordner) and Garry with The Victory Cry (Blythe). The audience response showed they appreciated their skill and artistry.

As usual, Rebecca Raymond wowed the audience with her powerful voice. Her two numbers Almighty (arr Pilley) and New Jerusalem (arr Hogg) showed her at her best and one cannot but be impressed by her ability to communicate the message to the audience.

The band featured a lot of new music. Items included Gigue: Alleluia, Amen (Hogg) and Daniel’s Band (Ballantine). The first half concluded with an authoritative performance of Variations on Maccabeus (Norbury).

A bright start to the second half of the concert was Telling It, a composition by Australian composer, Sam Creamer, from Carina Corps. I have no doubt many bandmasters will want to get their hands on Sam’s music.

Rebecca Raymond brought her ‘signature song’, the upbeat arrangement of Now I Belong to Jesus (Broughton).

Ron Prussing showed why he is one of the world’s finest trombone soloists with a flawless performance of Guilmant’s Concert Piece (arr Steadman-Allen).

The band excelled in The New Covenant (Curnow) based on “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds in a Believer’s Ear”. This led

Bandmaster of the Melbourne Veterans Band, Noel Jones, performed his last Salvation Army event in Canberra on the

weekend of 23-24 November. Noel, MVB bandmaster for the past 13 years, officially retired from his position at the end of 2013.

“My desire throughout life has always been to bring the message of Jesus through the medium of devotional music. As a Salvationist musician I am convinced that we must share the gospel message and, being a composer, I am able to share this message through my music.”

Many of Noel’s arrangements were performed by the band during MVB’s Saturday night cabaret concert at Tuggeranong Corps, which was attended by about 200 people. The band also led worship the following morning at the corps.

“I think the band played extremely well knowing it was one of his [Noel] last performances,” said John Simmonds, Executive Officer of the Melbourne Veterans Band.

The band also played Noel’s arrangement of Waltzing Matilda during a performance at the Australian War Memorial earlier that day.

The Melbourne Veterans Band played at the memorial as part of Canberra’s year-long centenary celebrations. Many of the memorial’s visitors stopped by to listen to the band play a number of classics including Nightfall in Camp that included The Last Post and vocal soloist Lionel Wood sang, I Still Call Australia home.

The band also held a concert at the Mountain View Retirement Village in Narrabundah.

Noel’s retirement follows a rich history of performing music. He is gifted at the piano, organ and cornet. He played solo cornet for the

to a devotional time by Lt Colonel Hamilton, followed by Rebecca Raymond’s moving solo Your Grace Still Amazes Me (arr Hogg).

Fire in the Blood (Lovatt-Cooper) has become a favourite since premiering at the ISB 120th Celebration and along with St Clements (Blyth) the evening was brought to a conclusion. An appreciative crowd were treated to two encores featuring Emblem of the Army (Gullidge) and Guardian of My Soul (Shaw).

The band led morning worship, including Slater’s Song (Downie), Soli Deo Gloria (Himes) and Guardian of my Soul (Shaw). Mark Hamilton played the beautiful melody Donegal Bay (Lovatt-Cooper) and Rebecca Raymond blessed all with her vocal solo, The Love of God (Broughton).

The final event was an exciting afternoon concert commencing with My God and King (Sharman) and the march Courageous (Norbury). Other items included Send the Fire (Cordner), Indescribable (Trigg) and A Psalm of Praise (Curnow).

Melbourne Staff Band for 14 years. While Noel is officially leaving the band he will still be involved with his corps band at Ringwood, in Victoria.

Noel’s years of service to music will be recognised at a festival on 21 June, next year, at Waverley Temple Corps. Along with honouring Noel, the Melbourne Veterans Band will launch their band’s new name, Melbourne Red Shield Band.

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Joyce always ready with a word of encouragement

By ESTHER PINN

Whether sitting on her backyard verandah, at her office desk or dining room table,

home is at the heart of retired Salvation Army officer Major Joyce Harmer’s ministry.

Temporarily housebound after a recent

operation, Major Harmer continues her ministry at home whether on the phone, writing emails or letters. It’s in stark contrast to her husband, Major Hilton Harmer, who prefers to remain out in the mission field evangelising and ministering to people.

Her heart for helping others, she says, remains the same as when signed up to become a Salvation Army officer in her late teenage years.

“God gave me a heart and compassion for people,” explains Major Harmer who retired from active service in 2004.

Prior to retirement, Major Harmer, with her husband, had been instrumental in starting The Salvation Army’s court chaplaincy ministry. While she has officially left her role as a court chaplain, she felt she still had unfinished business in this area.

“I guess it’s probably stemmed from my court contacts and people who somehow connected in a deeper way, and when the court case was over there was still that need for caring, comfort and encouragement,” she explains.

Practical ministryMajor Harmer has continued her caring ministry through the simple act of writing. She writes to anyone in need whether they are

Age no barrier to Keith’s musical ambitionBy ESTHER PINN

Not many people would be committed enough to start learning a musical instrument at age 71. But for Keith Cooper, age was no

barrier.“I felt it [learning an instrument] would give me a new challenge

and also it’s about keeping my mind active as I get older,” he explains.And while keeping active is a priority for Keith, he also had a

desire to be more involved with his 18-year-old grandson Luke’s life. Luke plays the trumpet in two of Queensland’s youth orchestras.

Salvation Army brass bands usually don’t include the trumpet, so Keith decided to learn the cornet instead.

“He [Luke] has been playing for three years now and is very advanced,” says Keith, pictured with Luke. “When we get together we play and he even teaches me more.”

While he has only just started learning the cornet, Keith’s musical background includes playing the piano on and off since he was seven. But, he says, learning the cornet has been a challenge.

“It’s like learning to touch-type. Initially you fumble around and eventually get to the stage where you forget about it and it starts to become natural.”

Keith tries to put aside time every day to practise. He is committed to sharpening his musical skills and hopes to join the band at Pine Rivers Corps – which he has been attending for the past six years – to play on Sundays. But only when he feels he is ready.

“I am enjoying the challenge and hope to contribute in a positive way by playing in the band when others judge that I have reached an acceptable standard,” Keith says. “I am not in a rush. The band has a great sound and I do not want to disturb that in any way.”

in hospital, gaol or a person she has met on the street.

“I’m retired from appointed service but you sort of never retire,” she says. “I believe you can be a chaplain or helper or carer at a bus stop or on the train. Wherever I go I seek every day for God to give me eyes to see the needs of people, a heart to feel their hurt [and] a willingness to do something about it.”

In particular, she has a heart for ministering to women. Describing her ministry as practical, Major Harmer makes herself available to these women day and night.

“If they know there’s a lifeline, [that] there’s someone there who they have already spoken to who knows all about the situation [and] who’s willing to listen, I encourage them, if they choose to, to give me a call and offload and talk,” she says.

Put simply, Major Harmer sees her work as a ministry of encouragement. She feels comfortable just being there for people who are going through hard times. For this reason, she plans to continue her writing for as long she can can.

Major Harmer says she has adopted a motto for life that is taken from one of her favourite songs: “If I can help somebody as I pass along then my living will not be in vain.”

Joyce Harmer loves to minister to others through letter-writing and emails.

Melbourne Veteran’s Band performed at the War Memorial as part Canberra’s Centenary Celebrations last year.

Melbourne Staff Band’s Garry Todd inspired audiences at Hurstville.

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Fellowship Band offers entertaining program

Baritone compilation a treasure

Soli Deo Gloria – Divisional Fellowship Band Brisbane

To God Be the Glory – Lionel Wood

CD REVIEW

CD REVIEW

The band, led by Ray Simpson, is formed with the noble purposes of fellowship; connecting with the seniors’ community; continuing to serve in

the traditional manner in which The Salvation Army has performed and as a vehicle for praise and worship. It is an accessible ensemble within the strong banding community of South Queensland.

The band provides a most entertaining and diverse program of Salvationist and musical theatre music, with an impressive array of composers – Ball, Bulla, Mackereth and Himes among them. The program includes the old favourite march Rosehill through to the recently published Soli Deo Gloria. Two band vocal songs are included. These are welcome inclusions, reminding the listener of enthusiastic mission trips enjoyed – the golden oldie – Not Weary Yet! I felt the

‘swing’ arrangements were performed comfortably.The band’s consistency of execution is a result of

careful training. The quality and experience of soloists

Singing and the spiritual message of song is an integral part of Salvation Army practice. This CD is a treasure. Aptly subtitled, A Voice of Praise in a

Journey Through the Years, it includes 15 songs sung by Lionel Wood which were recorded over the period from 1967 to 2011.

Lionel’s personal testimony is found in the song, Something Beautiful which he says, “seemed like a very special gift from the Lord – it helped me express my love for him”.

A bass baritone, trained in the classical Western tradition and singing for nine years with the Victorian State Opera, Lionel has been featured soloist with a number of army groups around the world.

But as he says in the accompanying well-documented booklet, his first love has always been to sing gospel songs.

What stands out is the versatility, interpretive skills, technical expertise and quality of the voice over the period of the recordings. Little wonder that General Eva Burrows asked Lionel to sing The Door Sergeant at the International Congress in 1990 in the Royal Albert Hall!

The range and power of Lionel’s Voice in these earlier years is thrilling. The inclusion on this CD of this song recorded in 1969 in the Melbourne City Temple will remind many old timers of how supremely gifted, too, was Don McCoy as a musician and accompanist.

Ross Johnstone and Alan Drury is evident from their lifelong musicianship.

I found the spoken program note, by John Rix, explaining the origin of the track On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss, to be interesting – but it may lose its charm after a number of hearings.

There are one or two technical glitches in the recording but these do not detract from the overall performance. This recording is a pleasant keepsake or gift to introduce to friends of an older generation.

The album is available through Salvationist Supplies for $20 or can be ordered online through the band’s website at salvosfellowshipbandbrisbane.org.au

Review courtesy of Brass Salvos, a monthly newsletter promoting all things Brass - if you would like to join the mailing list, please contact the Territorial Brass Ministry and Development Assistant: malcolm.beeson@aue.salvationarmy.org

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Divisional  Fellowship  Band  Brisbane

We and other family members have been privileged to sing with Lionel in the musicals written by Gowans and Larsson and Howard Davies, as well as in classical works by Handel, Haydn and Bach. Of particular interest is the inclusion of the Joy Webb favourite, There will Be God, using the backing of the chorus involved in the 1971 Melbourne production of Hosea.

Given the CD is a compilation of pre-recorded material over a period of 44 years, there is inevitably some variation in the quality of the accompaniments.

However, Lionel has maintained his high vocal standard, skill and passion for singing and imparting a spiritual message, evident in more recent recordings such as The King is Coming! and The Wonder of it All!

If singing has been an integral part of your life then you will want to buy this CD. It is an uplifting and inspiring recording that will give much pleasure.

The recording was produced by the Melbourne Veterans’ Band, Southern Territory. Proceeds from the sale of the recording will go to the Melbourne Veterans’ Band and its missionary projects.

To God Be the Glory is available at Salvation Army Supplies in the Australia Southern Territory for $10. Visit salvationarmy.org.au/supplies

– Coral and Wes Young, Rosebud Corps, Victoria

Old audio revives powerful message

Donated equipment boosts Newcastle schools program

A 45-year-old audio recording of a South Queensland Division musical production, discovered in a suburban Brisbane garage, is reviving memories of its impact on a generation.

The reel-to-reel tape captures the first Australian production Take Over Bid, the inaugural musical written by former Generals John Gowans and John Larsson. Musical director John Allen found the 1969 recording in a box in his garage late last year and was inspired to remaster it as a CD recording.

“I was surprised at the quality of the recording given the span of almost 45 years since it was made,” says John.

“That time in Salvation Army history was ground-breaking and this and the subsequent musicals (Hosea and Jesusfolk) were received with great enthusiasm. It provided a great opportunity to share the message of the love of God in an environment familiar with many people.”

The musical told the story of a group of young people who make a “take over bid” of their local corps.

Joy Limpus, from Nambour Corps, was just 16 when she performed one of the lead roles (Stella).

“I wasn’t a soloist – I think I was the comic relief,” she laughs. “We had only recently moved up from Sydney and so I really only knew people from my corps. It was a big part of getting to know a wider pool of people in the Brisbane area. I still run into people who were in the cast and even though we haven’t seen each other for many years, they are old friends.

“Elwyn Sandercock, who was the producer, knew me and encouraged me to audition. I was really very shy and the thought of doing something publicly was quite overwhelming. So with fear and trepidation I went to the auditions. But the musical was a wonderful experience.

“Doing a musical was something new and it linked people across ages and the message was inspiring. It was a shake-up time and

Roughly $30,000 of sound equipment was recently donated to The Salvation Army’s Oasis Hunter Youth Network by Newcastle

Council. Oasis received the sound equipment after the local council announced they were cutting their youth program called The Loft.

Turntables, laptops and recording microphones are just some of the donated equipment that is being used at Oasis’s existing onsite

challenged us as young people that involvement in corp leadership was not just for the generation above but that we had a part to play in the spiritual life of the corps.”

Max Moore, who played the sage Quartermaster George, said the musical’s impact is still evident today.

“The music was about change,” he says. “How do we reach people who are struggling and want to find a better way? Out of that was the thought that we needed to change and so the young people went back and landed their own “take over bid”. It certainly happened at our corps in Nundah (which later merged with Zilmere to form North Brisbane Corps) and the colour of the place started to change. It was a new army and it set in place a philosophy. North Brisbane is the corps of tomorrow that we were dreaming to become. Take Over Bid had a marvellous impact on my life.”

The remastered CD recording Take Over Bid can be ordered from John Allen at hel.jon@optusnet.com.au or 0412 331020 for $20, including postage.

recording studio. The new equipment is also being utilised as part of Oasis’s Synergy Studio program that has been running for a couple of years. A mobile recording studio initiative, James Cameron, Oasis Hunter Youth Support, Training and Outreach Worker, takes this program into local schools.

Both recording studio programs are spaces where young people can have a voice explained Peter Martin, Manager, Oasis Hunter Youth Support Outreach. They sing or rap about social justice issues, the need to stay in school or their own personal struggles.

“Just giving individuals a voice, to share with other young people and that their story is beneficial to the wider community. It’s also helping young people understand their emotions and how to verbalise it, identifying what is inside, what they’re thinking and communicate that proactively and positively.”

Through these programs, Oasis engages with young people who are homeless, have anger issues, suffer from drug addiction or have learning difficulties. The young people who participate in these programs are then opened up to the number of other recovery service programs The Salvation Army runs at Oasis.

Along with the recording equipment, Oasis took on a dance program that was previously running at The Loft. Peter says they are now looking at how they can utilise this program in the community.

– Esther PinnJames Cameron, of Oasis Hunter Youth Support, with some of the equipment donated to their local schools program.

A still from the musical production Take Over Bid. A remastered CD recording of the production is now available.

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Photos: Zoe Donovan and Dina Woods

PICTORIALAUBURN CORPS CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA – AUBURN PARK, DECEMBER 6

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