Jared and Samantha Briggs are here for 12 months with a delightful brief to "encourage community engagement".

That gives them a whole lot of scope.

They intend to start by getting to meet people in and out of the Salvation Army networks, making connections and seeing what develops from there.

"In every community there are many marginalised people", explains Jared.

"We need to get back to the basics of meeting people and loving people."

Jared and Sam have both been Salvos from childhood, but on opposite sides of the world. Jared was born in Gunnedah.

His parents are Salvation Army officers. Samantha was born in in Idaho, USA and started going to the Salvation Army as a young girl.

But time came when each independently responded to the invitation to do a ministry course in Hawaii.

It was 12 months of Bible study and active work in drug and alcohol rehab.

That was 2016. One thing led to another and the pair were married last December.

Their first commission was to pastor the Salvation Army Church at Tenterfield.

They had only been there for four weeks when Covid shut the whole church down.

After a few changes of scenery, they are finally working in Tamworth surrounded by a dazzling array of opportunities.

Already there are plans to start a kids club, put out a newsletter, provide a place for young adults to hang out, as well as helping with the church and the shop.

The recent succession of drought, fires, pandemic and recession has seen more people turn to the Salvation Army for help.

It's good that they do, but it has left staff and volunteers run off their feet.