In the life of The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda, June is especially meaningful as we celebrate the ordination and commissioning of new lieutenants and auxiliary-captains. After prayerfully signing a covenant, they take their place publicly, receive their ordination and are commissioned to their first appointment. First the call, then the covenant, followed by the commissioning.

The Canada and Bermuda Territory celebrated the ordination and commissioning of the Keepers of the Covenant this past weekend, gathering for joyful praise, grateful prayer and powerful moments of testimony. After years of spiritual formation, ministry training and discernment, cadets and auxiliary-captains stepped forward into officership

This spring, Simone Worthing, editor of the Australian Salvos Magazine, and her husband, Cliff, spent four weeks travelling across Ukraine, supporting Salvation Army churches and community ministry in different regions of the country. Along the way, they met Salvation Army workers, volunteers and people living through the conflict, an experience they have now witnessed firsthand. Here, she reflects on what she saw in this beautiful country under siege.