By Major Lynne Turnbull

The early work of The Salvation Army in Kyabram was quite tough and was found to be a difficult area to break into.

Known for open air preaching at the time, an officer could be found in the street preaching openly to not one person.

But never to be perturbed, they persisted, even when the authorities tried to stop them, stating that they were causing disturbance and unsafe practice for the public.

Not having soldiers or congregants in those days meant sustaining an individual officer was impossible.

So instead, something called the Circle Corps was formed. In other Churches this may be similar to preaching circuits.

The circle system was the grouping together of a number of small towns or settlements and placing them under one command.

The financial burden would be considerable if each town were separately officered.

One or two officers, with local help, were able to give proper attention to half a dozen places and funds of the whole were sufficient for the cost of oversight.

Therefore, open air preaching, services, cottage meetings similar to a house church were held across the region in an effort to make soldiers/converts and build up the work.

They say history repeats itself, and now over a century later we find ourselves in a similar place.

The Salvation Army of Kyabram is part of a greater region of the Campaspe Shire, reaching out to many townships, right up into Deniliquin in NSW, with two officers, ministry assistants and many faithful soldiers helping to build the work and bring the good news of Jesus to regional communities.

With cottage style house meetings, open airs, services and various activities happening across the area.

Again, we find ourselves in a place where open air preaching may have few, to no, listeners and restrictions on what we do in public but if we follow the example of our persistent pioneers of the faith, and pray, we too may find faith growing again in Kyabram.

In my search for old stories of The Salvation Army in Kyabram, I came upon a Facebook page called Lost Kyabram, with a post showing a photo of the old weatherboard Kyabram Salvation Army Hall, which was officially opened by the Premier of Victoria, John Allan, on November 20 in 1926. Some fond memories in the comments on that page read like this:

Many today have fond memories of their time with their family of Christ in The Salvation Army, but are also grateful for the body of Christ that surround them in Kyabram and its many churches.

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Sunday, 15th September 2030

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