From streets to jail, prayer to potting mix: Mark and Nikki’s unlikely ministry
BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE
Auxiliary-Lieutenant Mark Curtis doesn’t like gardening.
But funnily enough, that’s exactly why he began a garden ministry 10 years ago.
“God spoke to me in a dream to start a garden on The Salvation Army Gosnells property,” he says. “And I don’t even like gardening or know anything about it, so I knew [the idea] wasn’t from me.”
Early in our conversation, I learn that Mark is a man prone to understatement. He describes the Garden of Hope as “quite a big area”. What he means is that it contains over 1000 square metres of raised vegetable garden beds, 30 fruit trees, and two shade houses. Alongside this are chicken and bird aviaries, an amphitheatre seating 200, a yarning circle and a table seating about 70 people.
When he started in late 2013, the garden consisted of just six raised garden beds, each five metres by two metres. Since then, he and many dedicated groups of volunteers have transformed the garden into a space for what he and his wife, Major Nikki Curtis, describe as a faith community outside of the traditional church building.
Nikki said while The Salvation Army was always there to support the community with food, clothing and housing support, she and Mark saw deep-seated needs in the Gosnells area, which involved individualised wraparound care and partnership. This approach requires a more long-term slog, but they aren’t a couple who shies away from hard work. In fact, they were recently recognised with the Ian and Nancy Cutmore Award by General Lyndon Buckingham, Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham and Commissioner Miriam Gluyas for their pioneering spirit during the General’s Rally at Perth Fortress. In reflecting on the couple’s work, Miriam said God was doing a “great thing” at the Garden of Hope.
‘Church’ at the Garden includes weekly outdoor services, regular meals outside with local community members, partnering with support services for disengaged school students and corporate groups, engaging those getting treatment at the neighbouring Harry Hunter Rehabilitation Centre, and ensuring those coming to the garden feel seen.
“What we really want is to be doing life with people,” Nikki says. “Not [looking at] getting the hundreds [coming on Sundays] but looking at how we grow together in our relationship with God, and how do we grow together as a community of believers.”
Mark says he’s discovered that he seems to have a calming presence.
“Just sitting at a table and eating with people shows you value them and actually builds relationship,” he says.
He tells of a man who began coming along to meals at the garden and was experiencing mental health challenges. Despite how often Mark tried to engage him, he just wanted to eat and ignored those around him. But, eventually, the man decided to volunteer at the garden.
“Just sitting next to him eating made him feel comfortable, and [like] he wanted to come back,” Mark says. “He felt connected just sitting in front of me eating without even saying anything.”
Nikki says she has found a transforming power in continuing to show love to those who express frustration at their life circumstances while at the Garden of Hope.
“[God’s] given me a huge capacity to love and embrace people,” she says. “That’s powerful.”
Mark and Nikki’s passion for their work comes from more than just empathy. Mark’s journey at the property began in 2012 when he himself was a participant in the Bridge program at the Harry Hunter Centre.
While Nikki has been a Salvation Army officer for 27 years, Mark’s journey has been a little more complicated. After struggling with addiction and depression for much of his life, a head-on car accident while working in the Pilbara in 2007 left him badly injured. Worker’s compensation payouts did little to alleviate his further deteriorating mental health, and his addictions worsened.
Finally, in 2012, he found himself homeless on the streets of Perth. He had no money and no close relationships. Eventually, he was jailed and then released to the Bridge program.
He found physical and mental healing here, but most of all, he found Jesus. Being part of The Salvation Army brought him a sense of belonging he had never felt before.
Mark says the garden is now somewhere the ‘lost sheep’ of the community can gather. This is something he feels especially passionate about, given his own experience.
“I just love seeing people connect and feel like they belong somewhere,” he says. “I spent 28 years in addiction and never felt like I belonged anywhere.
“It makes me emotional even just talking about it.”
But he hasn’t changed his mind about growing plants.
“I still don't really like gardening, but I do it,” Mark says.
