The Salvation Army in Bundamba today
The Salvation Army in Bundamba has recently established a thriving ministry to asylum seekers.
People are embracing the asylum seekers where they’re at, and it’s engaging the whole corps, says Captain Emma Johnson, Bundamba Salvation Army officer with her husband, Captain Ben, describing the Growing Home community development program the corps is running at nearby Riverview Farm. The program is organic, it’s growing and everyone is involved and learning together,” she says.
Growing Home is focused on building community and supporting asylum seekers living in the local area spiritually, emotionally and socially as they find their way in Australian society while their visa applications are being processed. To help fund this and other community programs, the Bundamba Salvation Army has taken over the Watch Them Grow social enterprise nursery, also based at Riverview, with a view to both engaging the asylum seekers and making the business profitable.
The Growing Home program runs every Tuesday and Thursday and includes English classes, pastoral care, volunteer work and training in the nursery, a community lunch, access to computers, and a game of cricket. Up to 40 asylum seekers attend the program on any given day.
