A small corps with a big vision
For 18 months, Major Jennifer Stringer has served the community of Leeton, building on the ministries established by those who served before her. As The Salvation Army celebrates its 150th year, we take a look at the history of a small corps in central-west NSW still fulfilling the Army's mission.
The history of Leeton Salvation Army actually begins in nearby Narrandera, where General William Booth's fledgling movement first set up operations in the early 1900s. Narrandera was the biggest town in the area at that time, but by 1915 Leeton was developing rapidly so the Army moved there.
Today, Leeton is a small corps serving a large area that takes in Narrandera and several smaller townships with a combined population of nearly 18,000 people.
“Once the town was established with irrigation, Leeton became the food bowl of the nation with extensive cropping and food production,” says Corps Officer Major Jennifer Stringer. “The area has always been a very productive rural community and The Salvation Army has grown up along with it. The Salvation Army has been in Leeton since Leeton was established!”
Beginning as a small corps in the community, ministries soon began to develop as needs in the area arose. Leeton Salvation Army has always contributed to the life of the community, meeting both spiritual and physical needs. Recently, Leeton Corps' new building in the main part of town has opened up opportunities for ministry in the area.
“As well as a weekly women’s group, Bible study, emergency services trailer and church gatherings, we have a crisis accommodation service for women and children and an early-intervention worker for homeless services as part of Linking Communities Network,” says Major Stringer. “We also have a Doorways case worker, and SalvosConnect volunteers who can deliver emergency relief for people, always working to break the cycle of poverty.
“We also operate two Family Stores, giving opportunity for people to volunteer, supporting work for the dole and community service orders. We can recycle all sorts of things through our shops, saving landfill and at the same time generating money for the mission of The Salvation Army. This is an initial link to The Salvation Army for many people.
“We also run a once-a-month community lunch, open to everyone, and connected to that is our community garden. Anyone who wants to come and have a potter in the garden can come and we use the produce from the vegetable garden in our community lunches.”
Leeton Salvation Army is able to achieve all this through partnerships in the community. Cross-referrals take place regularly and different community groups use the new building for programs such as children's after-school activities, domestic violence support, grief and loss support groups, training courses for people caring for relatives with a mental illness, as well as many other activities. The centre is also used as a youth drop-in centre with courses being developed for self-improvement.
“We are a small Salvation Army corps,” says Major Stringer. “We don’t have a lot of people, so we form partnerships with other community groups that want to use our space and we support them in that. That’s how small communities do it, it’s how they function … I guess we have just developed, over the years, different ministries to address whatever issues are around at the time.”
Most of all, Major Stringer loves the pastoral-care opportunities. “I love just walking alongside people, doing life with people and being the face of The Salvation Army in the community. The partnerships are great, we can influence so many different people because of all of them,” she says. “We have a hope in Jesus, and that’s why we do what we do, so that we can share that hope with others.”
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