Jo's News

Wow... time is flying by fast, seems like yesterday we were still on out-placement in Darwin (NT)! Since then we've had holidays, which was a week off (bludging) followed by a week at Hillsong Conference with the Werribee Corps Crew...

Hillsong was awesome, we had planned to take a guy with us from our time in Darwin, but that fell through, so we took Shauny from Altona Corps who had never been (one word - 'road-trip'!). By far the highlights of the conference was hearing Judah Smith and Joyce Meyer preach, also the awesome worship leadership of Joel Houston and seeing an increased focus on Social Justice throughout. God really worked in that place and it was a huge joy to see the hunger and response in the Werribee crew. Personally I felt God doing a new thing in me... a deep refreshing and a new empowerment of love (holiness) - a huge blessing to my personal spirituality and for facing this last long semester in college!

College has also started back classes, it actually took a while to get used to the old routine again! Some great news, is that we have two cadets from Indonesia staying here for the next couple of months, Olwin and Nilla are two special "Witnesses" who already feel like part of the family!

Baby news - I finally had my first ultrasound! It was awe-inspiring to actually see a tiny life on the screen, moving around and hiding from the 'camera' (to the the utter frustration of ultrasound technician!). I can't believe a baby can be so beautifully formed even at the 20-week mark - human life really is a miracle... I have a DVD and some photos, so for those who see me often, ask me for a look! (I promise I'll post them on my blog soon). Not feeling any kicks yet, but thats ok... I'm healthy, the baby's healthy and everything's 'normal'. The due date has changed to early December, which is a bit of a relief considering our commissioning/graduation is the 30th of Nov! I'm trying to figure out maternity uniforms now... the joys of pregnancy in college!

Some Fun News...

I feel like I've told everyone in the world, but I realised, hey there's stacks of ppl who check up on me on this blog that I might not have any contact with otherwise....
Well anyway, my awesome news is:
I'm having a baby!

It's truly awesome, not just because baby's are cute and its nice to have them around, what is most awesome is that Pete and I have been hoping and praying hard for this over three long years. So many times I gave up hope that God would grant us this miracle without some medical intervention.... But it seems that God's power is enough in our case! (who'd have thought! LOL).
Besides the excitement we feel about such a huge blessing, we are sure it is God's timing - right now it seems the baby is due on the day of our commissioning! (NO ONE would plan that!). Cue: jokes about birth on stage etc... ;o)

Well thats our news, we are both stoked at the journey ahead of us and look forward to introducing another Brookshaw into the world!

HEY WE'RE IN DARWIN!!!! ;o)

Well we're here!!!! It took two flights with a short stopover in Alice Springs, but we've made it to Darwin (shorts'n'all!). We had two days to 'settle in', but as you might guess, we couldn't handle two days wasted! We've had a tour of the city, seen Darwin Corps' facilities, met most of the CO's and officer staff of the region and even spent a little time hanging out at the shops talking to locals.

So far we've had a 'cool' start to Darwinian weather, around 29-30 degrees with about 75-90% humidity (*pant!*). We're thankful for fans and Air Conditioning! I think I'm beginning to acclimatize (?), because I've reached the point where I'm turning off the A/C!!! Our unit is a one-room set-up with an additional bathroom on the side, it has everything we need and most of the stuff is new (its like Christmas!). Our unit is located under Captains David & Jennie Shrimpton's house (Flying Padre's), they're great! Check out our pics....

So far there's been 2 cockroach 'freak-outs', I think it'll take a bit of getting used to!! Other wildlife we've experienced so far are tiny lizards around the place, heaps of different ant species, on a walk through Mangroves we saw Crabs and mudskippers, down at the wharf we saw huge barra, moon fish and swimmer crabs (nice place for dinner when its not raining!). Otherwise I'm loving the lush greenness of Darwin, there are HEAPS of palm trees and lots of beautiful lawns everywhere, not many flowers though - its very tropical! (A bit like Singapore).

Anyway, we spent our first day in our Social Placement yesterday, the Sunrise centre includes Homeless Accommodation and a Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Program. Our Supervisor is Major Geneen Wright (Manager); we'll also be working with new Captains, Julie and Greg Howard (Asst. Manager and Chaplain), we feel very welcomed into the team. Something funny to know, there are now four Joanne's at Sunrise! (Reception, Social Worker, cleaner & me!) It seems they're really into 'multiples' - currently having a few Gregs and in the past having several Steves!

Tonight we're off to mud-racing with Darwin Youth Group, then tomorrow is church at Darwin Corps, we're itching to get into some ministry to see what God might do through us!

Back in Melbourne for Lisa's wedding soon - we'll keep you updated! Bless ya!

STOKE IT UP! 24/7 Prayer @ College

Part of the college deal down here is that we all get a 'responsibility' to look after, like the media gear, the costume room, the junior youth group, music etc... Mine is with the Prayer Team, so we're right into it from the start of the year... 3 MONTHS of PRAYER!!!! I'm pretty excited at the sheer challenge of a community praying for that long, but a bit bummed that I'm going to miss most of it because I'm in Darwin then! Part of the vision for this prayer is to STOKE IT UP!!!!

If anyone is into prayer and geographically close to college, then give the college a call (or Amanda or I - if you have our numbers!), and come and pray at the "Armoury"!!! We'd welcome some integrating with the wider Salvo world and it would be a great encouragement for Cadets and staff to continue STRONG in 24/7!

"Don't burn out: keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder." Romans 12:11-12

Mission & Ministry Out-placement

OK, so its out! Announced since Sunday, Pete and I (from 20th Feb-2nd June), will be moving to......

We will spend one month in a social placement and two months at a Corps/Church.

Here's a look at Darwin Corps...

Nice hey! We're so pumped to get up there and throw ourselves into the community! Its been a long time coming, but we're SOOOOO looking forward to getting on the offensive, right out there on the frontlines of battle!!!! YEAH! God use us and use us good!

Stoke it up.... Keep it white-hot!

TSAASTTCGFC - Grand Final Challenge, an update

Well things are progressing well, then bam!... its the final day of the challenge!
I won't provide a comprehensive list, but here are a couple more things we got up to:

• Pete blogged recently about evangelising a prank caller, next time one calls, try it! (Or maybe you could get a telemarketer saved!)
• We've had the privilege of collecting heaps over this past week, 4 attempts with 614 (Melb Central and Southern Cross Stations), we didn't get confirmed amounts, but each day my tin was packed to the limit with notes and lotsa gold, I pray that money will see people saved through 614!
• In a recent outreach night, Steve put Pete and I on the line when a gangsta-kinda guy came to 'preach' at us about the Salvos, we had 2 minutes each to share the gospel (which he agreed to listen to... yeah!), we didn't see any radical salvation that night, but on my parting handshake, I slipped the guy a little gospel of Mark - he thought that was hilarious and kept it - heres praying the gospel will stay with him till Jesus gets his heart!
• Collected $696 for Carlton Corps at Lygon Court shopping centre (nice), as I was collecting a uni student set up a henna tattooing table (henna - temporary painted tattoo). After my shift I asked her to paint me a cross and the words "Jesus Saves", to my disappointment, she said she'd especially love to write those words on my arm... turns out she's a believer! praise the Lord! Now I have a ready-made evangelistic opener, lets see some people saved this week!
• Prayer-walked the Collingwood area with Xander and Pete, along the way we met a guy from a past outreach in the park. Made a meaningful contact there, also prayed for rain.... since then we've received a healthy drenching!!! ;o)
• Freedom Friday last week we saw 4 College-mates meeting in the 707 prayer room. A time of focussed prayer and great mutual encouragement to continue the fight for freedom!
• Last night had an awesome night out with some mates of ours, I'm believing for the next Gowans and Lllarson!!! Candidates papers are getting sent their way today! whoo!

Well thats some of the cool stuff we've been up to for the kingdom! By the way, I'm loving the challenge and the way it has given me an opportunity to push forward in the fight! Maybe this should be a year-round focus to get us active in prayer, proclamation, evangelism and building character! I don't really care about whatever prize the challenge-winner gets, I care more that I've been challenged to reach my world for Jesus and in doing that, the prizes are fully eternal for myself and the people I've had the awesome opportunity to reach out to!

If you're interested in doing the challenge with your young people over the summer break - which I highly encourage! (its heaps better than sleeping in and playing the PS3/Xbox!), you can find the official list at the armybarmy blog in the 16th Dec post (thanks Steve!).

TSAASTTCGFC (Grand Final Challenge)

I think a few people already know about the Grand Final Challenge presented for this final 3 weeks of college. Basically we're challenged to form teams of 3 and choose tasks to complete out of a range of different options, there's evangelism, personal growth and other variations of Christian mission, ministry & formation (even the kooky stuff! hehe). I'm proud to say my team is made up of Pete, Xander Coleman and myself. We're pumped for the challenge to reach more people for Jesus and dive deeper in our personal commitment to the Lord!

Thus far our challenge tasks have included:

• Ridiculously early prayer (2-5am) - God used that time for empowering, edification and some serious intercession!
• Fasting (we chose to go a 'Freedom Friday' this week)

Since this is only the beginning, we're just getting warmed up, but we're praying to see some serious spiritual fruit out of this exercise. Praise the Lord for the challenge, it's certainly stirred things up!

400 DAYS TO GO...

400 days 'till our commissioning Witnesses!!! Today this milestone was marked by a 'fly-by' appearance from 400-man... whadda guy...

The closer we get, the more pumped I am to be 'unleashed' on the world!!! (storm-the-forts-of-darkness-style!) Gods got something huge in store for his Army... I hope I'm out in time to catch the wave!

woohoo! 400 days to go...

I officially hate Reviews!

Can't write anything about how I actually feel.
But I came awfully close to throwing myself out a window... is that too much?
College is hard.
ERGH!


P.S. I now have the self-esteem of an ant who's just been squished.

Dear Lord, please do something with me, with college, with the Army - because you know nothing will change without you. Let it be.

How good is God!

I have way too much to write in this blog!!!! God has really blessed the socks off me! Last week was some AWESOME ministry with the kids and people out at Rochy, I was in my element and God was doing a good thing through the mission team! We had a great time.

The news today is mind-blowing (a new TP in Dec 2007), what is God up to???

Whatever it is, the Lord is getting things moving and I hope this momentum keeps up. I've had a read of the TC's dream/vision document (check it out here) and it was like fuel on the fire, I just want to get at missioning, visioning, leading and being with the people.

Our ATP Gregory Morgan has a great excerpt in JAC (from his thesis) about re-focussing educational strategy. I've pasted in a couple of my favourite quotes:

"We believe that the best educational theory confirms the fact that people learn best when learning matches the life experience of the learner. The idea that students are blank slates that come to be filled with knowledge is bad theology and even worse educational philosophy. Therefore we try to bring the experience and the learning moment together. (Frost and Hirsch 2003: 221)"

>> No one is a blank slate, everyone has experience, info and opinions to share. When it comes to cadets I think we should find ways to share our gifts and expertise to teach each other, a shared - not imposed - learning experience. For me, I've found sharing in group ministry is one of the most rewarding and richly educational experiences for me to date - experience and education.

"Do we want and need people who are socialised and identify strongly with others trained for ministry? Or do we want and need people who are socialised to society and identify with the community to which they are called in mission and ministry? A Christendom model of church can entertain the luxury of a separate class of people defined by status, however a missional church needs leaders who understand the genuine need for incarnational ministry."

>> I'm hungry for some incarnation, some community contact with the people I'm called to reach!

"[Mr.] Banks and others who share this view want the learning community of theological schools extended beyond the campus gates so that students, faculty, and administrators might experience their ministry in the context of God’s classroom – the world. Access to this world-oriented classroom would occur not after one’s degree is earned, but during the process of one’s education. The spirit behind this missional approach to theological education is found in the text of John 3:16… The context for theological education is not restricted to the classroom, but encourages us to be in the world at the same time. (2002: 54)"

>> Amen - Lord, bring it on

Mission Week 2007 - Rochester

Jo dancing to some Hillsong Kids tracks...

Our Mission Week (campaign) team has been having an awesome and extremely busy time buzzing around Rochester, Kyabram and Echuca getting involved in ministry to country people. We've spent a huge amount of time preparing and running a holiday program in Rochester a drought-affected area. During the 3-day program, we impacted 66 kids! (in Rochy, thats a pretty great turn-out!). Our program was Superhero-themed and we shared about Moses, Esther and Jesus - how they were able to do super things through God. We also helped the kids to realise that this same 'super' God wants to be their friend too! It was great to see the kids blossom over the time we were with them, they were a gorgeous bunch of kids to spend time with! A weekly kids church will begin at Rochester Salvos very soon, we pray that the kids we met will be drawn even closer to God through this awesome initiative! Please pray that the leaders will be given divine energy to keep the fun and God-focus happening!

Praise the Lord for all he's done this week!

God-man & Speed-Demon at it again....

Video Blog - Life on the Inside

How can a Po-mo live with Mo?

Are you Po-mo or Mo? how are you getting on with the transition?
I've recently been reading "Postmodernism and the Salvation Army" (TSA Triterritorial Theological Forum - AUS, AUE, NZ, FiJI & TONGA). In one chapter, it talks about how symbolism is a huge part of the Salvation Army's 'thing'. It says,
"Postmodernity.. offers a number of new opportunities for the Army to embrace. These include symbolism that is:

• less word, more visually centred;
• less cerebral, more exponentially based;
• less metanarrative, more personal narrative encouraged;
• less explanation, more mystery allowed;
• less formality, more play and artistic expression;
• less structure, more creativity;
• less order, more party celebration;
• less control, more transparency and vulnerability"

I can see these tensions playing themselves out in my life at the moment. The question I grapple with, is how can a postmodernist live with modernism? The answers?

• Become Modernist - let the system shape you
• Change others to Postmodernists - shape the system
• struggle somewhere in the middle - grapple with the issues, not let it take you over
• Give up - ignorance is bliss (yeah right)

I hope I'm a 'struggler', but sometimes think I might be a 'everyone needs to get with po-mo, NOW!' kind of person (maybe trying to make up for the Mo's dragging their feet!).

One more list of dot points for you.... about structures that will enrich the Army for the future.
"The institution that will work for us in the postmodern era is one that:

• thanks God for its potential contribution to renewal and mission;
• can distinguish between purpose and process;
• is strong on vision and mission while being relaxed about boundaries;
• holds itself up to scrutiny and acknowledges its own transitory nature;
• can laugh at itself;
• listens intently to those at the grass roots;
• is saturated by grace."

I think perhaps that last point holds some answers for Po-mo's and Mo's living in harmony and taking this transition on.... GRACE.
Lord send us more grace, we need it to remain united for your purpose - to be a SALVATION Army. Amen.

Up Close & Personal

I came across Joe Noland's blog, 'Slightly Irregular' and was fascinated by a recent post about regulations for male and female single cadets to become 'interested' in each other... In 1965, you had to get approval to think about going out? It's a mite strange!!!! (especially the 'rules' about when and where you can meet up!). I remember hearing that when my Grandma was in college, she and another 'fellow' would just happen to be cleaning the floors at the same time... so they could see each other 'unofficially' teehee! (what a naughty lady!). So happy I don't have to worry about that stuff and really relieved for the singles in my session, that they don't have to go into the whole 'avoiding the opposite sex' thing!

Makes me glad there are no longer any rules to get close to God, although you do need to ask Jesus for some help in setting it up!

"So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God." Rom 7:4

Journey to the Cross

To all those who have contact with the college at some stage during the week, let this be a reminder, please sign up to our 24/7 prayer 'journey to the cross'!

I've been part of several 24/7 prayer marathons and truthfully, I've never regretted organising them or going along, I've always met with God in a powerful way. I'm not really sure why that is, but I know I can expect God's Spirit to draw near to me as I commit myself to a specific time of prayer and fasting.

Have a go... see if God won't bless the socks off you and challenge you to go further than you've ever been before!!!

------------ UPDATE ------------

God is great! Cadets, staff and visitors visited 707 and met with the Lord. Most left their 'mark' in the room with prayers on the 'wall', in our prayer journal, sticky notes, prophetic 'posts', signing the guestbook and most importantly leaving their mark on the spiritual battlefield! Group prayer was a really special time for those who came along, God spoke to us in the prophetic and hope was renewed!

This 24/7 was an awesome opportunity to reflect on the journey of Christ as he travelled to and went through the ordeal of being crucified for our sins. Personally, I've been brought to my knees in appreciation for what the Lord did for me (and you)... Jesus is Lord! Keep the prayer flowing... Praise God.

Frustration is my Friend

Ever had a moment when you've heard someone talking about something that you've been through, but they're not telling it with the passion you feel about it?
That's my life.

I really should stop reading Blogs from other Salvo people, I invariably get fired up by the prophetic voices rising up all over the world, reminding us to chase after Holiness and save souls... Then I read comments under these passionate posts and get all dis-heartened by people who just don't seem to get it. Why???

It seems obvious to me that the Salvation Army has been called to a specific task and that we are an Army for a reason. We are not about pussy-footing around and people don't expect that of us. We radically challenge the status quo, we fight against injustice, against poverty, against oppression, against the evils that see people condemned to a life of hopelessness.... we preach the gospel whether the 'time is favourable or not', we get out into the community to make Jesus a recognisable face in our neighbourhood, we challenge the lost to give up a life of sin and despair to chase after radical holiness, we meet needs in the name of Christ, we work at actively seeing lives transformed by the power of the Cross!
...or do we?

I'd love to say yes.... but I believe there is more for us to experience in the work of reaching this world!
I'm completely unable to say no..... many saints are fighting to the end to see the lost won for Jesus! They're making headway in the Spiritual War... when will 'back-up' arrive? Will reinforcement troops join the fight alongside them? (are you one of them?)

I struggle with these feelings, you see as gung-ho as I am about getting a Spiritual Revolution underway, I can find complacency creeping in. Being a cadet is great, opportunities are around for ministry... but this is not the place God has called me to. I am not called to be a theological student, part-time cleaner, odd-jobs minister..... (although some may be).... I am called to be a no-holds-barred, passionate revolutionary, fighting to see the world won for Jesus.... to see his unending compassion raining down on the oppressed and down-trodden... to shine a light in this dark world... for my heart to break for God's children and each day to humbly walk the path of Jesus.... Full-time ministry won't come for me until after college, but there must be something I can do now... then again... We're stretched in so many different directions, could I handle 'one more' outreach project? (Lord, please make it 'yes'!)

Before I came into college, I was given a vision of a high white tower with eagles nesting in the rafters, babies being nurtured and pushed over the edge to learn how to fly. I saw also, a pegasus, able to walk within hours of birth, but for the pegasus, learning to fly meant running along the ground, stretching its' wings.... Both eventually fly... one in the seclusion of a tower, the other with feet steadily pounding the earth.

My heart longs for the earth, to feeling the dust rising behind me... to mix with the horses, the wild brumbies, and to teach them, that they too can fly.

The frustration for me is constant... want to be in the world - have to be apart... ergh!
The tension of this struggle is such that I am determined to hold onto the fire placed in me by the Holy Spirit, to tightly embrace the burden he has for me to promote a revolution, to learn and grow by the teaching of the Spirit, to feel the passion threaten to burst out of me! (Praise the Lord for Blogging, without it I would burst!). This struggle enables a refining of passion and calling, to be in the world serving in the name of Jesus. It hurts, but it's good. Frustration is my friend.

YOU CAN'T GET 'WHITE-HOT' WITHOUT BEING IN THE FIRE...

SalvoJo - the Story & the Call...

Someone once told me that if you had been part of the YES team (mission), the Youth Internship program or had studied in the training college, you were destined to be an officer. If this is true, it seems there was no choice in the matter - I have attempted all three! (help Lord!).
Let me tell you a story about the journey....
(adapted from my testimony as published in 'College Friends')

Over the past five years I've got myself 'involved' in:

• the Salvo Youth Internship program,
• studying both at The Salvation Army Training College and @ Whitley (Baptist Theological College)
• travelling with the YES team's one-month Sri Lanka mission (2004)

These experiences (and other edge-of-your-seat ministry adventures), have grown in me a passion for Jesus and ministry in his name. Mind you, I haven't always had this passion!

My early years of faith were spent at Preston Salvos, the family (Marshes) then moved to Werribee Salvos, where my love for God grew. In 1999, my faith took a hit when I met now-husband Peter Brookshaw, who was a non-Christian. His interest in my faith led me to begin questioning how much I actually wanted to live my life for God. Praise the Lord! Pete was awesomely saved and we began our journey of ministry... (who said 'flirt&convert' was a bad thing... whoops!)

Together Pete and I have discovered the awesome power of the Holy Spirit (still constantly blown away by the way the Spirit works!) and committed to serving God whatever the cost. Married in 2004, we recently gave up the best jobs in the world (at Werribee Corps as Youth & Children’s Ministers) to follow God. Let me explain...

Last October (2006), I was involved in an event where I acted the part of 'Mrs' Commissioner Nellie Coombs. In the lead-up to this, I prayed and read the word to prepare for God to use me in this role. I read Isaiah 58 the night before the performance and spent half that night crying out to God for the future of our Army (read it and you'll get what I'm talking about!). Playing a commissioner was strangely comfortable, although the costume definitely wasn't! Within a week, I had my 25th birthday and felt a sense in my heart that God's plan for my life was so huge that I hadn't got past dreaming about it! I was 'spending' my life (Isaiah 58:9-12) on waiting for my big future and distinctly felt the Spirit say to me "What are you waiting for?". I knew there was no way I could hold that call off... so I talked to Pete about it, he confirmed it for his own life and we immediately got into the journey(Four months later, I'm here in college!!!).

The heart of the early Salvos influences me in a powerful way... their fiery passion is what I hope to emulate in an explosive ministry to the lost! My heroes of the faith are Catherine Booth, Reinhard Bonnke and my all-time number one– Jesus! I have a strong sense that God is leading this next generation to be part of a spiritual revolution in Australia and the world (see my blog about it). God has been faithful, the journey ahead is both exciting and scary. There are things I can see God has for us to do in future that I don’t think I can cope with…. But God in his faithfulness equips us for every task he calls us for....

...to life as an officer I say, ‘bring it on!’.