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Warwick is jumping with jazz

1 August 2014
Warwick is jumping with jazz

Drawing a crowd at the Warwick Jazz Festival (Credit: Photo by Lieutenant Steve Spencer).


The Warwick Salvation Army took their ministry to the streets last Saturday with the ‘Jumpers & Jazz in July’ festival.

The 10-day community event has been running for many years in the southeast Queensland town, enlivening its main street and outlying communities.

This was the first year the Warwick Salvation Army was involved, using the event as an outreach to connect with hundreds in the community. 

“As a Salvation Army church we are a part of the community. People in our corps felt we needed to do something to be a part of this festival,” says Warrick Salvation Army corps officer Lieutenant Steve Spencer.

“It’s just another great, unique way we can be a part of sharing the Gospel to those who don't normally get to hear it.”

Knowing music is a strength of The Salvation Army, Sharnelle Buckmaster contacted Sam Creamer of Carindale Corps to form a jazz band. Thirteen members from other south Queensland corps came together for the event. They were joined by barbershop quartet Blindside, as well as many Salvos who came to be part of the weekend events.

“Music is a drawcard. People are attracted to music by the sound,” says Lieutenant Spencer.

“When people gathered around to hear the guys play in the street, our corps folk started to interact with those who were listening – talking to them, getting to know them, saying hello and inviting them to the Saturday night concert. And hopefully they introduced people to Jesus.”  

As part of the festival, Warwick Salvation Army the Saturday night musical event, which attracted a huge crowd of 162 people. The night included a short presentation of what The Salvation Army does, finishing with an invitation to the church service on Sunday.

“Saturday night we were running out of chairs – it was pretty much standing room only,” says Lieutenant Spencer. “And Sunday morning 82 people attended, a huge increase from the 35 people that usually attend. It was an excellent outreach event.”  

The Warwick Jazz Festival also gave ministry opportunities to other Salvation Army members.

“We want to make this an annual event. We would love people to approach even more Salvation Army officers and say 'Hey, we want to get on board with this. We want to go to Warwick, and this is how we can support you’,” says Lieutenant Spencer.

“We’d love others to get involved in being a part of the music or the ministry at the jazz festival”.

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The Salvation Army acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders both past and present.

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