From military service to ‘frontline’ care
The Salvation Army’s Lieutenant Jon Belmonte. (Photo supplied by Lt Jon Belmonte)
Salvation Army Lieutenant Jon Belmonte knows his “balding bikers head”, career in the Australian Army, and service in The Sultan of Oman’s forces, are an unusual combination for a new Christian minister.
However, that military background and deep faith, combined with a dry sense of humour and a passion for powerful motorcycles, have already helped him uniquely reach out to others.
When Jon moved to Katoomba with wife Leah as corps officers of the Salvos Upper Blue Mountains Corps, he joined the local chapter the Patriots (a social motorcycle club which comprises members and ex-members of the military). Through those contacts, Jon was then invited to serve as chaplain, plus assistant chaplain to the local Vietnam Veterans’ Motorcycle Club.
Last Armistice Day, he contacted riders from both clubs in Sydney, plus members of the Ulysses Club and a number Christian bike groups and organised a ride to Blackheath War Memorial for a service and then a barbecue at the RSL. Another ride is happening this ANZAC Day.
He says: “For some, including those recently returned from Afghanistan, it was a really important opportunity for them to mingle with others who had similar backgrounds.
“It was also a good place they could meet myself and another pastor, both riders, and ask us the hairy questions of life – and they did!”
Now over three years into his first ministry posting, Jon believes that God used his past, and Leah’s past – spent working in law enforcement – to train the couple for a different type of frontline service.
Traditionally a tourist holiday area, Katoomba’s population has changed markedly in recent years, with homelessness skyrocketing.
Demand for help is so great that, as well as booked appointments with clients, there is often a crowd waiting for emergency relief as Jon and Leah open the welfare centre each day. Jon says they now take a “triage approach”, identifying and dealing with the most urgent needs and referring to other specialist services where needed.
According to Jon, the Australian Bureau of Statistics also identified Katoomba as having double the average number of residents with mental health issues in New South Wales and says: “There was a shutdown of group houses within Sydney, rents had gone up, and boarding house prices had gone up, so the Blue Mountains became the alternative”.
However growing demand for housing in the Blue Mountains is now pushing rents up too. Jon says: “Those with mental health problems, for example, may lose accommodation but stay in the area and start couch surfing, or living in caves. Last week I went to help a mother and teenage daughter who are living in a tent in a picnic reserve.
“We are also seeing a growing trend with women around the age of 50 or over who have gone through separation or divorce, or have lost loved ones, and are now living in cars. They come to the Blue Mountains because it is a little out of Sydney – they feel safer, but they don’t have the financial resources to re-establish themselves.”
Whether through a range of new programs such as an Indigenous arts collective and homework program, through welfare support, or riding beside others, Jon says he believes it’s essential to follow Jesus’ example and to “travel the road” with others, especially those in most need.
He says: “Christ himself grieved with people and it was Christ who walked with people on the road!”
Comments
No comments yet - be the first.