“Suppa” group creating spiritual community
Tamworth Salvation Army workers at "Suppa At Salvos”.
Six months ago Marika Goddard, one of Tamworth Salvation Army’s Moneycare financial counsellors, began a spiritual group for its clients.
Marika had seen the success of the Moneycare program in meeting financial needs, but wanted to see her clients’ spiritual needs met as well. To bridge this gap, “Suppa at the Salvos” was created, a weekly group for Moneycare clients and others in the community.
“I think there is a genuine need in the clients I am dealing with. I can help them financially but they need spiritual guidance as well,” Marika says. “So we started Suppa at the Salvos, a group that meets every Sunday at 5pm. We provide a light meal, have a bit of music, a bit of fun, a game and then we often do a short devotion or interview someone one on one to get to know people and their life stories.”
With a biblical focus, Suppa at the Salvos is an informal meeting, the primary purpose to feed people’s souls. It is held in the church foyer to bridge the gap between the clients of the many Salvation Army welfare ministries and the church. While many come from the Moneycare program, others also come from drug and alcohol counselling, the NILS ( No Interest Loan Scheme) program and the general public.
“We can help people financially and give them material means like food vouchers and those type of things, but trying to engage them to the next level, to help them spiritually as well, that is where I noticed the gap so I’m trying to bridge that gap. Everyone needs God, so were trying to bridge the gap to help them find God if we can,” Marika says.
For those who need transport, a bus is provided, a voluntary service to try and foster greater community. About 30 people come each week, eager to connect with one another and share in each-others' journey.
“We do an interview once a month and because people feel comfortable to talk about themselves and others can relate to real life stuff, we are growing community from that. It’s a safe place where people can come and do life together,” Marika says. “People are searching, they are searching for stuff greater than themselves. If they can focus on God then their whole perspective can change in how they deal with life.”
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