Always about people finding freedom

From its early days when The Salvation Army band used to march down the main street of Dubbo and perform open-air meetings, to today when Salvos can be found providing welfare assistance or running children’s groups; one thing has remained the same – the Salvation Army is about people finding freedom.

Freedom from fear. Freedom from neglect. Freedom from poverty and addiction. Freedom to dream. Freedom to love. Freedom to make a difference. Freedom to live life to the full and freedom through Jesus.

Joseph Staines found freedom through Jesus when he came into contact with The Salvation Army in Molong. He later became a soldier of The Salvation Army and for many years was Dubbo Corps (church) secretary.

Envoy George Hazell (pictured right) recalls hearing Joseph’s testimony whilst growing up attending Dubbo Salvation Army: He would tell how we was saved years before in a meeting at The Salvation Army in Molong. It was a real knelt-down-drunk-and-got-up-sober experience. As a younger man, Joseph had worked as a shearer and farmhand. Later he was the grave-digger at the local cemetery. Grave-digging in the western summer must have been hot and thirsty work. He fortified himself with a billy of cold tea and sang Salvation Army songs with a clear voice as he worked, singing for all around to hear how Jesus had transformed his life.