Western Australia pioneers ‘shocked’ and ‘honoured’ with Cutmore Awards
BY LAUREN MARTIN
Territorial Commander Commissioner Miriam Gluyas surprised four Salvation Army officers at the General’s rally in Perth with special recognition for their work in new ministry and faith spaces.
Receiving Cutmore Awards in the presence of General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham at Perth Fortress Corps were Major Nikki and Auxiliary-Lieutenant Mark Curtis, and Auxiliary-Lieutenants Steven and Marenda Freind.
Major Nikki and Auxiliary-Lieutenant Mark Curtis are appointed to the Garden of Hope (Mark) and Armadale Mission Centre (Nikki).
The Garden of Hope, located near a Salvation Army aged care centre and the Harry Hunter Centre for people struggling with addiction, is a place where people encounter a loving community.
It’s been a place of hope since 2014 after Mark followed the leading of God when he came to him in a dream in 2013 and told him to start a ‘Garden of Hope’.
“I didn’t know anything about gardening or even like it!” he later admitted. But God has used Mark’s obedience and created the garden to be a place where people experience the Kingdom of God and encounter Jesus through a loving community.
In honouring them at the Perth Rally, Miriam said she’s been to the Garden of Hope and “I’ve heard some of the stories and the testimonies … and God is doing a great thing.”
Following the rally, the couple said they were stunned to be chosen for the honour.
“It feels a bit unnecessary,” said Nikki, “We’re just doing what we think God’s called us to do; we’re just being led by him.”
Mark added that it’s great to be appreciated, and for him, doing life and faith outside of a corps setting doesn’t feel so much “new” as returning to the original Salvation Army mission.
“I feel like it’s just going back to our roots,” he said. “Just getting out of the building and just meeting people where they’re at. I don’t think it’s anything ‘different’ ... it’s just what we were originally called to do!”
“ ... you don’t do that for any accolades … you just trust God in what you’re doing. We are very honoured and privileged to receive our award tonight.”
Auxiliary-Lieutenants Steve and Marenda Freind have a joint appointment at Ellenbrook, a mission expression operating within a Salvos Store with Doorways and ministry in several schools. Their ministry isn’t so much about building a faith community but rather about changing communities.
“As the General said tonight, the first point of accepting the call of God in your life is surrender and humility,” said Steve after the meeting. “And you don’t do that for any accolades … you just trust God in what you’re doing. We are very honoured and privileged to receive our award tonight.”
Marenda said she’s thankful for the freedom that Salvation Army leadership has given them to follow the spirit’s leading: “We have been given total trust and freedom to discern what god is doing and join up with that plan.”
She says she hopes that others in The Salvation Army will step out in faith. “Be brave enough to ask the question – what does God want from you? What are God’s plans and desires for you? Are you brave enough to ask the question? Are you brave enough to answer the question? Are you brave enough to be obedient?”
