March 2026
Official Engagements
Commissioner Janine Donaldson (Territorial Commander)
16–19 March: Leader Development Workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa
23–28 March: International Conference for Leaders, Nairobi, Kenya
Colonel Jennifer Groves (Chief Secretary)
7 March: Territorial Online Prayer Meeting
14 March: Celebrate Rotoroa Island event
15 March: Auckland City Corps visit
20–22 March: Installation of Regional Leaders, Samoa
Gazette
Promotion to Glory: Colonel Laurence Hay was promoted to Glory on 19 December 2025, from Wellington, aged 85 years. Laurence and his wife Margaret Hay were commissioned in January 1969 as part of the Messengers of the Faith session. We give thanks to God for Laurence’s faithful dedicated service in New Zealand, Zambia, Hong Kong and International Headquarters. Please uphold in prayer Laurence’s wife Margaret, children Mary, Jeremy, Michael and Susanna and his sisters, Lt Colonel Daphne Rabbitts and Major Glenys Heese and other family members at this time of grief and loss.
Major Adrienne Rive was promoted to Glory on 11 January 2026. Adrienne Celia Smith was born in Hamilton on 5 September 1944. Adrienne married Haydn Rive on 15 November 1969. Adrienne and her husband Haydn entered training college in 1981 as cadets in the God’s Messenger session. After 3 years of lay service in Zimbabwe, Adrienne and Haydn entered The Salvation Army Training College, New Zealand, in 1981 as cadets in the God’s Messenger session. Upon their commissioning on 15 January 1983, they were appointed as corps officers, Eltham Corps. This was followed by further corps appointments as: corps officers at the following corps: Foxton Corps (January 1984); Naenae Corps (January 1986); Nelson Corps (February 1989); and East Coast Bays Corps (January 1993). In February 2000, Adrienne and Haydn transferred to USA Western Territory, where Adrienne was appointed as finance officer, School for Officer Training, Crestmont. In July 2000, she was appointed as business administration and finance officer, School for Officer Training, Crestmont. Adrienne and Haydn returned to New Zealand in July 2003, and Adrienne was appointed to assist at East Coast Bays Corps. In September 2003, Adrienne was appointed as corps officer, Pukekohe Corps, and it was from this appointment that Adrienne retired from active service on 30 September 2009. We thank God for Adrienne’s 27 years of faithful service to God as a Salvation Army officer, and the many more years as a retired officer, worshipping and serving at Hamilton City Corps. Please uphold Adrienne’s husband Haydn, children Jason, Jonathon and Jared, and extended family, in your prayers in this time of grief and loss.
Colonel Ross Gower was promoted to Glory on 13 January 2026, from Waikato, aged 75 years. Ross Richardson Gower was born in Christchurch on 15 December 1950. Ross married Annette Knight on 6 May 1972, and together they entered The Salvation Army Training College with their children, Lynley and Paul, from Christchurch City Corps in 1978 as cadets in the Joyful Evangelists session. They were commissioned on 19 January 1980 and appointed as corps officers, Motueka Corps. Appointments followed as corps officers at Miramar Corps (1982); Bishopdale Corps (1985); and Edendale Corps (1988). Ross also served as New Zealand Defence Reserve Force Chaplain from 1986 to 1989. In June 1989, Ross and Annette transferred to the Scottish Territory to take an appointment as corps officers, Falkirk Corps, East Scotland. During their four years in Great Britain the territory changed to become the United Kingdom with Republic of Ireland Territory. On returning to New Zealand in 1993, they were appointed as corps officers, Tauranga Corps, followed by an appointment as corps officers, Wellington City Corps in 1997. In January 1998, a move to Auckland saw the start of eight years of ministry based at Northern Divisional Headquarters, when Ross was appointed as assistant to the divisional commander. In April 1999, Ross was appointed as divisional secretary for programme, and in January 2001 he was appointed as divisional commander, Northern Division. In September 2006, Ross and Annette moved to Wellington, with Ross taking up an appointment as the territorial secretary for programme. In 2009, Ross and Annette returned to international service. Ross was appointed to the Indonesia Territory as chief secretary with the rank of colonel. A return to New Zealand in 2010, Ross was appointed as part of the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery team. In 2011, Ross and Annette were appointed to International Headquarters, London, with Ross appointed as undersecretary for the South Asia Zone. In 2013, Ross and Annette returned to New Zealand and took up their final appointments as corps officers, Hamilton City Corps, with Ross having an additional appointment as director, Hamilton Community Ministries ‘The Nest’. Ross and Annette retired from active service on 13 January, having completed nearly 36 years of active officer service. Ross continued to serve His Lord in retirement as an assistant at Hamilton City Community Ministries. Please remember Ross’s wife Annette, his children Lynley and Paul and other family members at this time of grief and loss.
Major Brenton Millar was promoted to Glory on 3 February 2026 from Palmerston North. Brenton passed peacefully while surrounded by family, aged 53 years. Brenton was born on 8 October 1972. Brenton entered training college from East City Corps as a cadet in the Visionaries session in 2004. Following his commissioning on 10 December 2005, Brenton was appointed as divisional youth and candidates secretary, Northern Division. This was followed by an appointment as divisional children’s mission officer, Northern Division in 2007, with an additional appointment as assistant officer, Mt Albert Corps. On 15 December 2007, Brenton married Cadet Samantha Millar, and commenced an appointment as assistant officer, Wellington City Corps in January 2008. In February 2009, Brenton was appointed as corps officer, Upper Hutt Corps and director, Upper Hutt Community Ministries. Following her commissioning in December 2009, Lieutenant Samantha Millar joined Brenton as corps officer, Upper Hutt Corps.
In January 2014, Brenton and Sammy were appointed as corps officers, Sydenham Corps and directors, Sydenham Community Ministries. This was followed by an appointment as corps officers, Napier Corps and directors, Napier Community Ministries. Brenton and Sammy were appointed as corps officers, Palmerston North Corps and directors, Palmerston North Community Ministries in January 2023, with the appointment changing to corps officers and community mission officers, Palmerston North, in September 2025. It is from this appointment that Major Brenton Millar has been promoted to Glory. We honour Major Brenton Millar for his faithful and faith-filled service, his contributions in ministry and the impact that he had on those around him during his 20 years, 1 month, 25 days of officer service. Please remember Brenton’s wife Lieutenant Sammy Millar, children Zachary, Evelynn, Joshua and Hope, parents Majors Alison and Bill Millar and extended family in your prayers at this time of grief and loss.
Bereavement: Lorna Harris, the mother-in-law of Major Jocelyn Smith, was promoted to Glory on 4 January 2026, peacefully from Archer Memorial Resthome-Christchurch, aged 88 years. We ask you to uphold Major Jocelyn Smith, and other family members, in your prayers at this time of grief and loss.
Naomi Harata Kepa, the mother of Major Christine De Maine, passed away on 16 January 2026, from Whakatāne Hospital, aged 67 years. We ask you to uphold Major Christine De Maine, along with other extended family members, in your prayers during this time of grief and loss.
Maureen Molen, the mother of Captain Stephen Molen, passed away on 8 February 2026, from Tauranga hospital. We ask you to uphold Captains Stephen and Faye Molen, and other family members, in your prayers at this time of grief and loss.
