Always about people finding freedom
From the early days when The Salvation Army band used to march down the main streets of Southport, to today, when The Salvation Army can be found in recovery services centres, serving coffee, teaching budgeting skills or running a playgroup, The Salvation Army has always been about people finding freedom.
In the late 1800s, Southport resident and long-time alcoholic Sam Ryder was attracted to one of The Salvation Army’s open-air meetings. The Salvation Army’s Gold Coast Centenary History Book states that he was intoxicated, but the song which the Salvationists sang – oh, the drunkard may come, and the swearer may come – made him wonder whether God could save him. Although he went away and got more drunk he was unable to drown his conviction, but seemed obliged to return to the ring. Not long afterwards he became a Salvationist and served as the Gold Coast Corps Sergeant Major.
More recently Max found freedom from a life of addiction through The Salvation Army’s Brisbane Streetlevel Mission, Moonyah Recovery Services in Brisbane and Fairhaven Recovery Services on the Gold Coast.
MAX'S STORY 
After a traumatic start in life, and an early slip into drugs and alcohol, Brisbane Streetlevel member Max found hope through God. He’s now striving to give people the same chances The Salvation Army gave him.
From a young age, Max experienced first-hand the devastating effects that mental illness can bring upon a family. Unlike other children his age, Christmas and birthdays weren’t celebrated in the comfort of the family home – they were spent in and out of mental hospitals where his stepfather often resided. Max’s stepfather was a Vietnam Veteran suffering from severe post-traumatic stress. He made numerous attempts at suicide throughout Max’s upbringing, some of which Max encountered himself.
Despite the difficulties of his family life, Max wasn’t a rebellious child. In his teenage years, he focused on his studies and enjoyed practicing martial arts. After completing his schooling, Max went on to attend university in the hope of becoming an officer in the Army Reserve.
It wasn’t until his adulthood that things began to spiral downwards. Within his social circle, Max began experimenting with recreational drugs and alcohol. At the age of 20, Max and his partner suffered the tragic loss of their first daughter, dying from SIDS at 11 days old.
With the loss of his daughter, Max lost all motivation for the life he once aspired to. He dropped out of university, gave up martial arts, and turned to drugs and alcohol as an escape route for his pain. Max spent 10 years living in a whirlwind of drugs, crime and violence, until he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for charges including assault, possession, and breaking and entering.
After 11 months in prison, Max was released, only to dive straight back into the same destructive lifestyle he had led before. A serious car accident left him with a permanent ankle injury, and more charges were laid against him that could have sent him back to prison. Rather than returning to prison, Max was accepted into the drug-court program, a program that saw him attend a mandatory stint at The Salvation Army’s rehabilitation facility in Moonyah.
It was at Moonyah that Max first started to really think about God and what role Jesus could play in his life. Never before had he experienced the kindness and support which that the Salvation Army officers offered him, and Max was inspired to start making peace with his past and surrendering himself to God’s will.
Max was introduced to The Salvation Army’s Brisbane Streetlevel Mission while attending Moonyah. Once he gained a sense of its family environment, he began working there as a volunteer and attending the mission’s chapel service on a regular basis. After completing the drug-court program, Max continued to volunteer at Streetlevel and he was offered a position as a support worker in Moonyah’s detox unit.
But a slip of faith and a connection with an old friend saw Max falling back into his old habits of drug and alcohol abuse. It took three months for Max to decide to take charge of his life again. He voluntarily admitted himself into the Fairhaven rehabilitation clinic and stayed there for six months.
Now clean, Max has a positive outlook towards the future. He credits his recovery to the undivided love and support offered to him through the Salvation Army and the Streetlevel Mission.
“Although I had a slip, my past experience at Moonyah and Streetlevel reminded me that I didn’t have to live that way. It gave me the strength and knowledge I needed to realise I wanted to change.”
Max has now returned to study, currently completing a double diploma in counselling and community service. In the future he hopes to work with people suffering from addiction and mental illness.
“I want the opportunity to give people the same chances that were given to me. Because I’ve been on the other side, I know it works. The biggest thing I’ve gained from reconnecting with God and the Salvation Army is hope. Hope that there is something better out there and hope for a happier life.”
Photo shows Max (right) having a cuppa with Brisbane Streetlevel Mission Team Leader Major Bryce Davies.
Report by Jenna Green
Jenna is studying Marketing and Public Relations at QUT