1 July 2017 NZFT War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION  01 JULY 2017 | Issue 6670 | $1.50

On the Spot with Maree Bowden

When Good Friends Turn Bad Salvation Army Values:

SUPPORT OUR ARMY Tackle That TV Addiction

2017 JUST ACTION CONFERENCE: Discuss, Debate and Inspire

FIGHTING FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION IN TANZANIA

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WAR CRY The Salvation Army

Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Andy & Yvonne Westrupp | GENERAL André Cox | FOUNDERS William

& Catherine Booth

The Salvation Army’s message is based on the Bible. Our ministry is motivated by love for God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in his name without discrimination. War Cry exists to support and advance The Salvation Army’s message, ministry and mission.

EDITOR Major Christina Tyson | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Ingrid Barratt, Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond | PROOF READING Major Jill Gainsford | COVER A female genital cutter shows the

razor blade she uses. Photography: Ivan Lieman/Barcroft Media via Getty Images.

OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box

6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Fax (04) 382 0716, Email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org, www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone

(04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org, $75 per year within NZ

PRINT MANAGEMENT www.makeready.nz | PAPER Sumo Offset

is an environmentally responsible paper produced using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) FSC® certified Mixed Source pulp from responsible sources and manufactured under the strict ISO14001 Environmental Management System.

Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.

All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated.

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We can make change This edition’s cover is a stark image taken in 2015 of a woman from Mombasa, Kenya, showing off one of the tools she used to cut young girls’ sexual organs in what is sometimes called ‘female circumcision’ but is more commonly regarded as ‘female genital mutilation’ (FGM). Unlike male circumcision, FGM impairs a female’s sexual and reproductive functions. Although this practice was made illegal in Kenya in 2011, it is still common in remote villages.

Our story on this topic is about The Salvation Army’s work in Tanzania, where FGM is also illegal and prosecution is not well enforced. In December 2016, over 800 girls were subjected to FGM in northern Tanzania. This despite the Tanzanian Parliament saying anyone who causes a girl under 18 to undergo FGM has committed an offence of cruelty to children.

How do you take a stand against something that is such a long-standing cultural practice? Surely that’s too hard! Well, Tanzanian Salvation Army officer Captain Lucy Chacha doesn’t think so. A survivor of FGM, God challenged Lucy to use her story to make change for the next generation of girls. The prompt for Lucy to become an activist came in response to one question: What have you done in your societies to make a change?

If that’s a question that pricks your conscience, I’d suggest you take a look at our article on page 14 about September’s Just Action conference in Auckland.

Held regularly since 2008, these gatherings are an opportunity to hear from the best speakers on a wide range of important social issues and to network with others who also want to see their societies change for the better.

Christina Tyson Editor

Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission.

Publishing for 133 years | Issue 6670 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry

www.salvationarmy.org.nz salvationarmyNZFijiTonga @salvationarmynz salvationarmynzft

2 WarCry 01 JULY 2017

He that lives in hope dances without music.

George Herbert

Romans 12:12 Contemporary English Version Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.

Rōma 12:12 Kia hari i runga i te tumanako; kia manawanui ki te whakapāwera; kia ū ki te inoi.

I

’ve sat at my father’s deathbed twice, almost three times. The first time was when Dad suffered a major stroke at 66. We weren’t sure he’d survive. He did, but was left paralysed on one side and with his personality very much changed.

A few years later, Dad was hospitalised with severe pneumonia. Medical staff advised Mum to bring the family together, saying Dad wouldn’t last the night. He did, and the next morning berated us for discussing plans for his funeral. ‘You wanted me gone!’ was his accusation. It wasn’t much of a defence to explain we were only acting on what we’d been told.

And then, last August—with Dad now in a nursing home—we were told he would die within a matter of days. Our family gathered at his bedside in Wellington. Mum, my sister from Christchurch, Dad’s sister from South Australia, my husband and our children. It took almost two weeks for Dad to die. We learnt dying people sometimes rally when loved ones gather. That was comforting to hear.

News that MP David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill had been drawn from the Ballot and will be debated

by Parliament sent my thoughts back to Dad’s death.

Seymour’s Bill is focused on ‘the very real anguish faced by people with terminal illness as they anticipate the prospect of intolerable suffering, and the indignity of the final few days and weeks of their lives’.

Every death is different and I can only speak to my own experience. But I would say much of Dad’s final years were an experience of ‘indignity’. ‘Anguish’ wasn’t a stranger either.

Our last couple of days with Dad were hard. His

breathing was laboured—the ‘death rattle’ people speak of— his pallor grey, his body worn out. At this point I’m not sure how much Dad could hear, but there was still work to do. The work of letting go and saying goodbye.

Seymour says should his Bill become law, doctors would need to assist only around 130 people each year to die. But others argue, based on similar legislation in the Netherlands where reported euthanasia cases represent four per cent of Holland’s total deaths, it’s more likely to be closer to 1240.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide became law in the Netherlands in 2002. The number of such deaths there rose 10 per cent last year to 6091, a 317 per cent increase since 2006. From experiences in the Netherlands it’s clear such deaths are no longer offered only to terminal cases. There were 32 more cases of assisted suicide involving people with dementia in 2016 than the year before, most in their early stages. Sixty other cases involved people with psychiatric problems.

Our family didn’t have power over when Dad would draw his final breath. His doctor didn’t have us pressuring for a quicker end. And rest home staff provided excellent palliative care.

Dad lingered, but he was still present. And at the end he lingered because those who loved him were with him. I believe this was good for him and I know that, although difficult, it was good for us too.

BY CHRISTINA TYSON SALVATION ARMY RESOURCES ON EUTHANASIA | salvationarmy.org.nz/euthanasia 01 JULY 2017 WarCry 3

The Most Common Addiction When my husband and I move house, the first thing we do—apart from rolling around in bubble wrap—is get our internet connected. A week without Netflix just seems way too long.

Perhaps our addiction to TV—and its online fellows—is so boringly common that we don’t recognise it as a dependence issue. Michael Pollock only started to realise he had a ‘full blown addiction’ when he met his partner Ellen, who didn’t own a TV. He used to watch telly for six hours a day, and says it was a way of ignoring the issues in his life. Now, he watches about 10 hours a week for recreation—gaining 32 hours per week. Michael used these tools to cut down his TV time:

Lifestyle The Little Book of Hygge Meik Wiking

Norway and Denmark are the happiest countries in the world, according to the 2017 World Happiness Report. Author Meik Wiking is CEO of the Danish National Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen.

He believes the secret of Danish happiness is ‘hygge’—a sense of belonging, cosiness, harmony and gratitude. This book is delightfully designed and could be mistaken as style over substance—like when it explains happiness as good mood lighting. But at other times it hits on some deeply spiritual issues, such as the importance of finding contentment, and creating contentment, by caring for others.

This Times bestseller has some telling truths, wrapped up in a pretty package. (Penguin)

1. Monitor TV time: a log of how much time we are watching TV can be an eye opener. Instead of watching till midnight, commit to turning it off at nine and get more sleep. Michael says that this alone changed his life.

2. Develop a mission for your life: write a vision of how you want your life to be, and start taking steps to develop that —it probably won’t include hours of TV a day!

3. Admit what you are ignoring: a moderate amount of TV provides entertainment and relaxation. But take stock of how much you may be using to TV to zone out from issues that need addressing.

4. Find alternatives: make a list of other relaxing activities you enjoy and start doing those, go to bed early and read a book, start a personal journal …

5. Get some exercise: as Dr Kelly McGonigal says, physical exercise is ‘the closest thing to a wonder drug that self-control scientists have discovered’.

GIVEAWAY A street artist in Bulgaria, Vanyu Krastev, has been putting googly eyes on broken objects, and it looks even better than fixing them.

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Never let it be said we are not on trend. Salvation Army fidget spinners are ethically-sourced and more in demand than an Ed Sheeran concert ticket.

(More deliveries on the way, order at www.salvationarmy. org.nz/shop.) But we still have three left and we’re giving them away to the first three readers to email: warcry@nzf. salvationarmy.org with ‘Fidget Spinner’ as the subject.

Do not take life too seriously.

You will never get out of it alive.

Elbert Hubbard

Family/Animation Cars 3 (G) Brian Fee

ONTHESPOT

I am five years old and I have totally actually loved Cars all my life. We went to see Cars 3 and it was the best day ever, I didn’t want it to end. Cars 3 is now my favourite movie of all time—it had the best pictures and the best ending. I loved Lightning McQueen because he was a cool Gonzalez, and his trainer Cruz Ramirez was super terrific. It was all about how Lightning was getting old and he still wanted to race, but then he realised that he could help Cruz be an awesome racer. There were lots of funny bits, but it was a really good story as well. And we had popcorn. (Reviewed by Jacob Barratt, age 5)

Maree Bowden Best known as a Silver Ferns netball player, today Maree is helping develop young rugby talent in Canterbury through the Crusaders Academy.

Secret indulgence Saturday morning runs with my friends in the hills around Christchurch, followed by brekkie at a different café each week. Then home for family time, which usually involves an outing to watch sport.

Celebrity Crush Probably the only person I would go all ‘fan girly’ on would be Roger Federer. What an absolute legend on and off the court.

What I’m reading/watching Suits … Love the sprinkling of humour interspersed in each episode.

One thing I love Keeping fit and healthy.

Nothing beats early morning wake-ups and getting moving. For me, it is my happy place and a chance to switch off and do a little something for me.

One thing I hate People who are running late and don’t let you know.

Surprising thing about my job I wear a number of ‘hats’ every day (sometimes going from working with athletes, to business people, and then students all in the same day).

But every job interconnects and is about working with people to be the best they can be.

QUIKQUIZ

1 What two former sporting stars had a show Game of Two Halves?

2 What is ‘pomology’ the science of?

3 How many states in Australia?

4 What breed of dog is

known as Dwarf Dog in Welsh?

5 Who told Hagar to name her son Ishmael?

Mid-Winter Christmas Pork Roast This pork roast is indulgent enough to be the star attraction in a mid-winter Christmas feast.

1 medium-sized pork leg joint, trimmed 3 cloves garlic, sliced 1 tsp salt ½ Tbsp freshly ground black pepper 3 bay leaves ½ cup cider vinegar 1 tsp dried thyme

Preheat oven to 160°C. With a small knife, pierce top of roast. Force garlic slices into the slits. Sprinkle the roast with salt and pepper. Place bay leaves in the bottom of the roasting tin, and set roast on top of bay leaves, fat side up. Mix vinegar and thyme in a small bowl, and pour over the top of the roast.

Roast for 3 hours or until an internal temperature of 70°C is reached.

Baste the roast frequently while it is cooking. Let it rest for 15 minutes covered with foil before slicing.

Source: allrecipes.com.au

Answers on page 22 01 JULY 2017 WarCry 5

Captain Lucy Chacha’s traumatic experience with female genital mutilation fuelled her dream to end this cultural practice in the Mara Region of Tanzania.

BY DEBBIE HORWOOD

W

ay up in the north east of Tanzania lies the Mara Region, home to the world-renowned Serengeti National Park. where millions of people from all over the world come to witness the grandeur and beauty of rural Africa, the ancient wildebeest migration, and see scores of African wildlife in their natural habitat.

The Mara Region is also home to Captain Lucy Chacha, the third child of nine but the first of twins. Born in 1978, Lucy enjoyed a happy childhood steeped in the culture and strength of her native Kuria tribe.

In Lucy’s tribe, female genital mutilation (FGM, or Ukeketaji in Kiswahili) is still widely practiced. As a cultural rite of passage, girls aged between 10 and 20 are sent to undergo this cutting. They return home to gifts of money, vitenge (African textile/wraps) and hearty congratulations. Many then end their formal education and are married.

When Lucy was 14, her family prepared to send her and her twin to undergo FGM. Lucy told her parents she did not want this, but was told she must— there were no other options. In keeping with culture and tradition, Lucy was threatened with stories that if she refused, someone in her family would die.

She was also told she would be chased away from her society.

‘In those days, there were no institutions or churches that would help girls who did not want to be cut, and there was no one to defend our rights,’ Lucy says.

Against her will, Lucy and her sister experienced FGM on 12 December 1992.

Not only did Lucy find the procedure excruciating, but her distress grew when she learnt several other girls lost their lives that day due to uncontrolled bleeding. Her own sister lost so much blood that she became unconscious for a while, pushing Lucy’s traumatised spirit to the limit. Local medicine revived her sister and the girls were able to finish the last part of their rite of passage, leaving the camp with a joyful entourage and walking almost 10 km back to their village without crying or showing any signs of pain.

Paul reminds us in Romans 8:28 that ‘in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’. In The Salvation Army, we wholeheartedly believe that God delights in taking our trials to turn them into testimonies. God so often takes our scary and sorrowful situations and turns them into stories of hope for others. And though her life was physically and emotionally altered by FGM, Lucy now praises God that he also had a life-changing plan in her future to use her story for his glory.

A female genital cutter from Kenya shows the razor blade she uses to cut young girls. The same tool is used in Tanzania, along with shards of glass and handmade knives passed down from cutter to cutter. Photography: Ivan Lieman/Barcroft Media via Getty Images.

01 JULY 2017 WarCry 7

Will you make change?

When she was 17, Lucy married Lucas Chacha, who turned out to be a wonderful husband and friend, as well as a partner in following God’s call to ministry in The Salvation Army. The pair left their village in 2002 and began their journey by entering the Officer Training College in Dar es Salaam.

In December 2015, after many years in ministry, a day came when Lucy found herself in Nairobi at a Faith-Based Facilitation Seminar, listening to Commissioner Vinece Chigariro speak. In her message, the Commissioner challenged people to look at their lives and ministry and ask the question: What have you done in your societies to make a change?

‘Though I have always deeply remembered my experience with FGM and wished I could do something about it, I could only answer honestly that I had done absolutely nothing to make a change in my home society,’ Lucy said.

That very week, she made the commitment to do something for her people about FGM and early marriages. God gave her the courage to begin using her story by doing something that would lead to change for the next generation of girls.

Telling the truth Returning home, Lucy—now Extension Training Officer and Associate Territory Youth Officer for The Salvation Army —shared her story with her leaders. A dream was born to help end the practice of FGM in the Mara Region, where The Salvation Army has two divisions. The Women’s Ministries Department committed to leading this campaign.

They began with prayer, saturating the territory with Lucy’s story and teaching and inviting all Salvationists to engage in a process to bring an end to this harmful practice. In March 2016, during Easter weekend and with over 1200 Salvationists present, the message was delivered: FGM is not a practice that honours God or values girls and women, and is certainly not a cultural practice The Salvation Army condones.

Following that weekend, a newly formed committee of 25 people spent two weeks going house-to-house with a survey to help determine the best way forward to eradicate this practice, first within The Salvation Army and then throughout the Mara Region communities.

Three nuggets of wisdom were harvested. First, the need 8 WarCry 01 JULY 2017

to saturate the region to sensitise every level of society to understand the truth about FGM. Second, to offer a safe house where girls who did not have the support of family could flee in the ‘cutting season’ and find advocacy, safety and legal support. Third, to provide advocacy for girls in education, and vocational skills for those too old to continue in government schools but needing an alternative to an early marriage.

Set free to make a difference What began in Lucy’s life as a traumatic experience has been set free from its silent cell and is beginning to make a difference to her people. Salvationists are promising not to engage in the practice of FGM, young men are no longer saying they will only marry ‘cut’ girls, training material is being developed and used, seminars and sensitisation continue, and the word is getting out to girls that they don’t have to go through FGM and there are advocates ready to support them.

We are now, by faith, working toward phase two: a safe house for girls with a comprehensive legal plan to protect them as they flee FGM. And working with families to end the cultural practice and develop a training programme for those unable to re-enter school. The Salvation Army has been given land for a safe house and is raising funds for construction and ongoing training.

Everyone has a story God wants to use for his glory and to make a difference. Join Tanzanian Salvationists in thanking God for his life-changing work in Lucy’s life—and say a prayer for our success in the eradication of FGM in the Mara Region.

Colonel Debbie Horwood is Territorial President for Women’s Ministries in The Salvation Army Tanzania Territory.

A Global Concern: Female Genital Mutilation The procedure of female genital mutilation (FGM) has no health benefits for girls and women. Yet this harmful cultural tradition is practiced as a rite of passage for girls to become women.

More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been cut, with more than three million girls estimated to be at risk of FGM every year.

The practice is most common in the western, eastern and north-eastern regions of Africa, in some countries in the Middle East and Asia, as well as among migrants from these areas. That makes FGM a global concern.

FGM includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It harms girls and women in many ways by removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissue, and interfering with the natural functions of female bodies. FGM can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts and infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of new-born deaths.

FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15, usually by traditional circumcisers who often play other central roles in their communities, such as attending childbirths. In some settings, health care providers perform FGM under the false belief that the procedure is safer when medicalised.

FGM is associated with cultural ideals of femininity and modesty, which include the idea that girls are clean and beautiful after removal of body parts that could be considered unclean, unfeminine or male. It is also often motivated by beliefs about what is considered acceptable sexual behaviour, aiming to ensure premarital virginity and marital fidelity. FGM is in many communities believed to reduce a woman’s libido and so help her resist extramarital sex.

FGM is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes, and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. It is nearly always carried out on minors and is therefore a violation of the rights of children.

The practice also violates a person’s rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death.

Source: World Health Organisation

Above Left: Lucy Chacha and her twin sister on the day they underwent female genital mutilation at 14, with blood visible on their dresses and the traditional white paint applied to their faces following the procedure. The two women pictured on the left held the girls down while being cut and made sure they made it home.

Above: Lucy Chacha today.

FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION IS NOT A PRACTICE THAT HONOURS GOD OR VALUES GIRLS AND WOMEN.

01 JULY 2017 WarCry 9

Overcoming Loneliness Loneliness is not about how many friends you have.

Loneliness is a state of mind—and the good news is that you can overcome it.

We all feel lonely sometimes, but chronic loneliness is a state of mind, says psychotherapist Ross Rosenberg—‘caused by thoughts and feelings of inadequacy, imperfection and shame’.

You are more likely to be lonely if you feel pessimistic about finding connections, and tend to predict negative outcomes.

IF YOU FEEL LONELY, YOU’RE LIKELY TO TRY AND COVER IT UP WITH A SMILING FACE.

This can also be a ‘shamebased experience’, which means you’re likely to try and cover it up with a smiling face, rather than talking about it openly. You may be warm and friendly at a party, but inwardly dread the prospect of rejection. Sadly, this only further reinforces loneliness. The good news is you can change your feelings of loneliness by changing the way you talk to yourself.

‘Catch your inner critic’s attempts to sabotage yourself. Pay attention to self-degrading thoughts like “I am too fat for anybody to want to date” or “I wish I were funnier and had interesting things to say,”’ says Ross. ‘Replace negative self-talk with affirming messages, such as, “I am perfectly lovable just as I am” and “I welcome love, friendship and support into my life.”’

Ironically, fear of rejection can make you further isolate yourself. Instead, force yourself to do what you are dreading, and put yourself out there. Nurture your support network— make a phone call, invite a friend out. Don’t give in to negative thoughts, like ‘they don’t really want to hang out with me’.

‘Even if there is only one person to start with, you can build on it,’ says Ross. It may feel uncomfortable, but that is part of changing your social landscape. ‘Open yourself up, take risks, and allow yourself to be vulnerable. Since loneliness results in isolation, experiment by sharing aspects of yourself, including experiences, feelings, memories, dreams … This will help you feel more known and understood,’ sums up Ross.

Chronic loneliness can be rooted in childhood experiences and attachment, so it can be helpful to consider counselling to help you overcome self-defeating thoughts and behaviours.

Don’t be afraid of solitude, which provides an opportunity to connect to God and your deeper self. But rather than staying in constant solitude, aim to replace pessimistic thoughts with positive experiences. It won’t be an immediate cure, but slowly and steadily you will change your feelings and broaden your life.

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A Practical Guide Find ways to be around others: Loneliness is not just about being alone—but being alone too often is a trigger. So this may mean deciding to go into the office, instead of working from home.

Get thee to church: A good church is a community that welcomes all comers, so find one where you feel wanted. Ask for help—a church can be a wonderful support network.

Persevere: Making friends takes perseverance.

Turn up, take part, join in—even when it feels uncomfortable.

Go for a walk: Getting some exercise is good for the soul. Ask a friend to join you.

Open up: Be honest with friends about your feelings and struggles. Your own honesty will help others be honest with you.

Tell yourself the truth: Loneliness is born out of feelings of rejection. But God says you are wanted and loved. Tell yourself this as many times as it takes, until it starts to ring true.

TESTIFY! Peter Koia wants to help more people explore the wonderful opportunities that come through Salvation Army officership.

To me, Salvation Army officership is about living and breathing this message of hope that I think the world needs.

Every person I come in contact with —when I’m preaching on Sunday or if I’m at Recovery Church, Community Ministries, Seniors Ministry, Positive Lifestyle Programme, in the food bank—to me, that’s church. That’s where I believe Jesus really calls us to. It’s not just a Sunday thing, it’s every day!

As an officer, I try to get out with people as much as I can. I was in our reception area and I noticed this guy sitting there in our foyer. So I got talking to him, and I got to the stage of saying: ‘Hey, do you know this Jesus?’

And he said to me, ‘No, I don’t.’

I said, ‘So, is today that day for you?’

And he said, ‘I’d love to meet this Jesus!’

So he and I talked, we prayed. He was really excited and I spoke into his life a little bit more. That stuff, man, that’s the goal of officership for me! Those conversations drive me. I’m always looking for the opportunity to talk about Jesus.

The challenge is trying to create that space where I can get out of the four walls and walk the streets, talking to people. I love it! And that Red Shield is a magnet—I get to meet people who don’t want to talk to anyone else but someone from The Salvation Army.

It’s not always an easy place to be in the community, but I think, ‘Well, if it was good enough for Jesus, it must be good enough for me!’

As an officer, I get to work with a wonderful group of people that have the

Exploring I’M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE Officership?

Foreman: I really wanted to be OPPORTUNITY TO Karl in a place of influence where I could TALK ABOUT JESUS. empower other people to live out same heart, the same passion. We have a wonderful worshipping congregation [in Whangarei] that love Jesus.

All these wonderful opportunities are given to us as officers, but it’s what we do with them that’s the key. Because you can easily lock yourself away in an office and just let the world pass you by. But the opportunities are huge.

You give up a lot to become an officer.

Is it worth it? I say it is. When my wife and I put it all together and see the many, many people who call The Salvation Army home and want to call The Salvation Army home, that’s worth so much to us.

We’re all called to something. And if officership is one of those things for you, then I say, ‘Explore it! Really explore what it requires. Go and do some study that’s going to get you prepared. Put your name forward!’

their God-given destinies. It’s seeing God’s love touch people’s lives that makes it all worthwhile!

Sammy Millar It wasn’t until I stepped into officership that I really did start to feel fulfilled and satisfied with what I was doing with my life.

Kylie Tong: It’s been a positive thing for our family, being officers and our kids being officers’ kids. It’s made us really close as a family. I love that Stu and I get to be a team. This is our family, living life with people.

Stu Tong: I’m motivated by God, by that sense of doing what he wants me to do and being available to him.

I’ve said yes to life with God—I say yes every day. I say yes when I wake up and I remind myself that I’m in his will.

WATCH ONLINE | See Sammy, Karl, Peter, Kylie, and Stu share their stories | Go to www.salvationarmy.org.nz/ SayYes 01 JULY 2017 WarCry 11

You swore you’d be BFFs forever, but then they put photos of your ugly toenail fungus all over Instagram.

That stuff hurts, man!

BY INGRID BARRATT

12 firezone.co.nz 17 JUNE 2017

We are meant to be totally, utterly, deeply relational—it’s one of the ways we are made in the image of God. Which is why it hurts so much when a friend betrays us. But before you go and accuse your friend of foot-shaming, a good question to ask is: Am I blaming the wrong person?

Sometimes we feel hurt because we have expectations of our friends that haven’t been met. We all have different types of friendships: the ‘deep and meaningful friend’, the ‘party friend’, or the ‘chill out’ friend. It’s not fair to blame your friend for not being there for you when you needed to talk, if they’re more of a party friend. It’s important to think this through before you decide you are never, ever, ever getting back together, in the wise words of TayTay. But if you know your friend has let you down in some real way —they’ve lied to you, or betrayed your trust—it’s okay to tell them you feel angry and hurt. It’s actually better to express how you feel, than pretend everything is okay. The Bible says you ‘can’t heal a wound by saying it’s not there!’ (Jeremiah 6:14, TLB).

Once you’ve been honest about how you feel, you’ll be in a better place to forgive. When any type of relationship breaks down, God always wants us to forgive wherever we can.

Forgiving another person releases them from their debt to you.

It says, ‘It’s okay, I’m going to let you off.’

That may feel unfair. And it kinda is. But think about the ultimate act of forgiveness, when Jesus was on the cross and said, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ The sacrifice Jesus made was deeply unfair. He took on all our hurts and mistakes—even though he’d done nothing wrong—and forgave us so we could have an unbroken relationship with God. In some ways, all of our relationships are mini examples of God’s relationship with us. God asks us to forgive each other, so we can be whole and healed. Bitterness will only infect the wound further and leave us isolated.

Forgiveness doesn’t always mean letting that person back into your life. Some friendships aren’t good for us—and forgiveness may mean letting go and moving on.

But at the end of the day, God’s best desire for us is reconciliation—re-uniting and bringing us back together. God reconciled with us through Jesus. And (unless it will harm us) he wants us to reconcile with each other. ‘Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love,’ says Ephesians 4:2. Bear with your friends. After all, they bear with you.

WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU? Take our wildly unscientific quiz to find out what kind of friend you are.

1. When you’re on the dance floor, which describes you best: a) Everyone surrounding you, chanting your name, while you give a hip-hop masterclass. b) Doing a cheeky robot—you’re an undiscovered talent. c) You’re on the spray bottle, dousing the sweaty party animals. d) You’re persuaded to join in, and have fun with your friends goofing around.

2.

Your friend tells you running a marathon is on their bucket list, you: a) Are seriously concerned, and ask them what’s wrong. b) Make a pact to train together. c) Organise a cheerleading team for the big day. d) Are really interested, and ask what is motivating them.

3. There’s a pretty wild game of Twister going on when you walk in to youth group. Do you: a) Yell ‘Incoming!’ and dive into the middle of it. b) Ask cautiously if you can join in. c) Enjoy watching from the sideline. d) Get chatting to your youth group leader about life, the universe and everything.

4.

Your friend is crying, your first instinct is to: a) Tell a joke to lighten the mood. b) Hug it out. c) Ask what you can do to help. d) Put an arm around them and tell them they can talk if they want to.

5.

If you were a super hero, you’d be: a) Wonder Woman—stylin’ and fierce. b) Iron Man—no actual super powers, but a lot of enthusiasm. c) You’d rather be a sidekick—all the fun, without the responsibility. d) Batman—mysterious and moody.

6.

An ideal friend is someone who: a) You can always laugh with and knows just the right song for the occasion. b) Will always have your back and believe in you. c) Will give you space to talk and just be. d) You could call anytime for a deep and meaningful.

7. Your BFF tells you about the hottie they’re crushing on, you: a) Immediately go and tell said hottie—hey, your friend’s a catch and time’s awasting. b) Make an awesome-as plan to get them together. c) Make a pinky promise to keep their secret forever. d) Ask for every detail of every moment they’ve ever shared. So romantical.

8. Your now-former BFF told the hottie you’re crushing on about it, you: a) Bide your time. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Bwahahahaha! b) Are devastated at first. But guess what? Hottie McHotface likes you back! c) Cut them out of your life. You cannot stand disloyalty. d) Talk to your friend about it, and realise they were just trying to help.

RESULTS Mostly As Two words: Par Tay. You are funloving, outgoing and love bringing people together. You’re at your best in a crowd.

You’re so busy having fun that you can sometimes be thoughtless to your friends, but you always have good intentions.

Mostly Bs You are a super-supportive friend who prefers to be part of a small group of kindred spirits. You are quietly confident, but you don’t need to be the centre of attention. You thrive when your friends encourage and believe in you.

Mostly Cs You are the wind beneath the wings of your friends. You prefer to be in the background, helping whenever you can.

You’re shy but fiercely loyal, which is why you’re such an awesome listener.

Mostly Ds You’re the one your friends call in the middle of the night in a crisis—they know they can confide in you, and you’ll listen as well as offer some solid advice. You are genuinely interested in others and think of your friends before yourself.

01 JULY 2017 WarCry 13

15-16 September

Creating a JUST future

What Do We Want For Our Future?

The future of New Zealand will be up for discussion at this year’s Just Action conference.

The conference, being held in Auckland from 15–16 September, is themed around building a just future—with speakers and panels discussing and debating different aspects of what a just future would look like and how to get there.

Conference organiser Ronji Tanielu, from The Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit, said the conference would be looking at the big picture, but also at practical ways to approach social justice and a just society. As New Zealand’s first social justice conference there had always been a good discussion about the issues of today at Just Action, Ronji said, but this time the focus would be on making change for the future.

‘We’re asking the speakers to reflect on that—on their values and how that shapes their own just actions. It’s big picture, but it’s also providing solutions and actions that people can use in their everyday life. We’re saying, “What can I do in my back yard in Gisborne or Hamilton, how do I take these tools and work to make a just future for all Kiwis?” ’

Efeso will be speaking about building a just community —based on his experiences as a youth worker, politician and passionate advocate for his South Auckland and Pasifika community.

Despite working for a change in society, Efeso said the start of just community begins with individuals and changing our mind-set of chasing after riches or power.

‘I think what we’re after is a change of heart. People talk about life’s rat race and I don’t know what we’re racing towards. Unless we’re racing towards fairness, love and compassion I’m not interested in the race.’

New Zealand is a land of plenty, Efeso said, but in his South Auckland community he works with people who struggle every day to make ends meet. A just community is one where we see those who are struggling as human beings, without a lens of bias, and our desire is to stand with them and help, Efeso said.

For Auckland City Councillor Fa’anānā Efeso Collins, it all begins with compassion.

A good example of how that might work, he said, is at home with his daughter, an only child who is lavished with gifts by her extended family. Every few months, the family has an exercise where she goes through and chooses what she can share by giving away to other kids.

‘If there’s a true poverty in this nation I think it’s that we’ve lost our sense of compassion. We’re a nation of plenty and if we were driven by compassion we’d be sharing with people.’

‘My daughter grows up in privilege. She doesn’t have a need for food, or a bed, and she has two parents who can be at home—and today that’s privilege. When she goes to her early childhood centre a lot of those kids are

14 WarCry 01 JULY 2017

hungry. She sees the kids at church who have no jacket or don’t even have stockings for their feet and she goes through her things knowing she can share.’

Raised a Christian initially in a charismatic Samoan church, before becoming a youth worker at a Baptist Church in Otara, Efeso said his faith has always been at the heart of what he does. ‘I want to get to Heaven’s door knowing I was out there on the rugby field getting dirty and struggling to make sure we made society better.’

Despite people questioning him about mixing faith and politics, Efeso said he feels his faith, his sense that God has great plans for our lives, is something valuable he brings to politics.

‘I see my faith as part of my whole person and as a good thing to bring to politics, which is essentially about power and influence. If the influence can be that we’re reintroducing a notion of compassion that’s going to lead to social conditions that help people and support them, then I want that for everyone. A decent standard of living, three meals a day, living in a warm dry home and going to school, then I feel I would have done my bit.’

Other Just Action speakers include economist Shamubeel Eaqub, Young New Zealander of the Year Rez Gardi, former New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd, and Tim Costello from World Vision Australia.

In addition to speakers putting forward ideas, Ronji said there will also be panel discussions and opportunities for conference goers to interact. People will have the chance to add their thoughts and responses to the ideas of the conference in an interactive art piece created during the weekend.

There will also be powerful spoken word performances during the days reflecting on the conference themes, he said.

Register for Just Action 2017 | salvationarmy.org.nz/JustAction

Dinn shares how the Bible helped her get through after the Kaikoura earthquake in one of six ‘Good for Life’ videos.

July is Bible Month New research by Bible Society New Zealand shows over one-in-ten Kiwis over the age of 13 read their Bibles at least weekly.

Bible Society and Nielsen conducted a nationwide Bible-reading survey this year to better understand New Zealanders’ relationships with the Bible. The survey found that nearly three-out-of-five Kiwis over 13 owned a Bible, with seven per cent reading the Bible every day. A further five per cent read the Bible weekly.

In response to a question about what they thought was the main message of the Bible, the overwhelming impression, including from non-Christians, was that the Bible pointed to ‘the Golden Rule’ of ‘do to others as you would have them do to you’ (Luke 6:31).

Only 37 per cent of Christians said they read the Bible at least weekly. The 2017 Bible Engagement Survey revealed the top barriers to Bible reading for Christians were a lack of discipline (26 per cent), being distracted by other things (24 per cent), and being too busy (22 per cent).

The Bible Society believes the Bible is ‘good for life’ and wants to encourage everyone to read it. For this month’s Bible Month, the organisation is promoting its ‘Good for Life’ campaign to New Zealand churches. The campaign ‘is all about equipping Christians with the tools they need to ensure the Bible remains an important part of people’s faith,’ said Bible Society New Zealand CEO Francis Burdett.

As part of the Good for Life campaign, Bible Society has produced a series of six videos showing the transformational impact the Bible can have in people’s lives. These stories feature a surfer who broke his back, a Kaikoura earthquake survivor, and a young girl who loves Bible stories. Other resources include a sixmonth Bible reading challenge and small group Bible studies.

Dinn, who features in the Kaikoura earthquake video, says she honestly thought she was going to die, when the quake struck overnight on 14 November last year. ‘I’m a Christian and I love God, but I couldn’t understand why [this had happened], and I got really angry. I called out to God and I asked him for a Scripture, because I needed to be able to get through and understand.’

God gave Dinn Psalm 104 and she read it every night for weeks, sometimes two or three times before she went to sleep. ‘Every time I read it, it gave me that little bit more comfort. I was afraid, but I’m not afraid any more.’

For Good for Life Bible engagement resources | goodforlife.nz 01 JULY 2017 WarCry 15

Ending AIDS Together It was a privilege to come together as a community as part of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Service on 21 May at Suva Central Corps in Fiji.

The purpose of this service is to remember people who have died from AIDS, but more importantly to raise awareness among young and old people today. The service is also held to allow people experiencing the various stages of the virus to share their stories and fight the stigma often associated with AIDS, which is a still a significant health issue in the Pacific.

Those who attended learnt about the global situation of HIV/ AIDS, with about 36.7 million living with the disease and about 2.1 million new HIV cases each year. These statistics then narrowed down to what was happening on our shores in Fiji. It was alarming to note an upward trend.

We heard about how The Salvation Army in Fiji has responded. It was encouraging to note that from humble beginnings, our response has evolved so that the Army is now taking a lead role in this area.

Temo Sasau, a seasoned advocate against the stigma associated with HIV, shared his testimony of living with the virus. Temo is a member of the Suva Central Corps. His brave testimony gives encouragement and strength to others that they are not alone in their struggles and pain.

Major Philippa Serevi presented a devotional message, reminding everyone that God is a God of compassion. Christians are duty bound to show that same love and compassion to others, irrespective of their colour, creed or race, she said. This love and compassion is for the ‘whosoever’, those spoken about in The Salvation Army’s sixth doctrine.

The service culminated with the lighting of three candles— depicting the three countries in The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory—by Divisional Commander Major David Noakes, Divisional Director for Women’s Ministries Major Vyvyenne Noakes, and Temo Sasau. Everyone else then lit their candles from the three candles and stood in a circle to re-enforce the theme for this year’s International Candlelight Memorial: ‘Ending AIDS Together’.

BY LIEUTENTANT SAIMONI GATAURUA

Top (l-r): Major David Noakes, Temo Sasau and Major Vyvyenne Noakes. Middle and bottom: Congregation stands in a circle signalling their support to ‘Ending AIDS Together.’

Messy Outreach in Rangiora Rangiora Corps has commenced Messy Church as an outreach into the community. Aimed at families, the programme involves activity, celebration, and a meal. It had been an exciting adventure for the corps, said Corps Officer Captain Nigel De Maine. The venture started with five families and has now grown to nine.

All ages are involved as helpers in areas including organising activities, music, catering, and being a friendly part of Messy Church fellowship. ‘Even grandparents come along, said Nigel. ‘An elderly citizen saw our advert and has enjoyed being part of it all.

Everyone is welcome!’

16 WarCry 01 JULY 2017

Levin Corps Celebrates 125 Years Spiritual victories set the seal on a great celebration weekend held over 2–4 June at Levin Corps. The date coincided with Pentecost Sunday, giving added focus to prayers leading up to the event. The weekend’s guests were territorial leaders Commissioners Andy and Yvonne Westrupp, accompanied by divisional leaders Captains David and Denise Daly.

The weekend commenced on Friday night with a ‘meet and greet’ evening, followed on Saturday morning by a bus trip to various sites around the Horowhenua of significance to the corps’ history. This included Hokio Beach, Kohitere, Muhunoa, Kimberley (now Speldhurst Country Estate), Ōtaki, and finishing back at Ohau Hall where former members and families of the Ohau Outpost reminisced about a thriving Sunday school of bygone days.

Several Salvation Army officers were to come out of Ohau in the following years, and attention was drawn to a plaque indicating that, in its heyday, Ohau even hosted a Salvation Army headquarters! A glorious sunny day meant the delicious meal prepared by Major David Bennett and team could be eaten outdoors. It was no mean feat to feed three busloads of hungry people before they returned to Levin!

Over 200 people enjoyed a thanksgiving dinner and cabaret on Saturday evening at the Speldhurst Community Hall where cameos of ‘good old days’ and events were enacted. This included a car driven across centre stage and 13 children piling out! The Honourable Nathan Guy, MP for Ōtaki, and his wife Erica were special guests for the evening.

On Sunday, the 9 am prayer meeting set expectations of greater things for the day’s events. Levin’s junior band, Boost, and music team contributed prior to the worship service. The Wellington Citadel Band (Bandmaster Jim Downey) were guests for the morning meeting, with Commissioner Yvonne Westrupp giving an inspiring message on the power of the name of Jesus.

Most of the 370 congregation stayed for the lunch which followed.

The band then held an afternoon programme at which a new march, ‘Levin 125’, composed by Cadet Grant Pitcher premiered. The Levin Corps Band (Bandmaster Trish Windley) then joined with the Wellington Citadel Band for a stirring performance that included the tune ‘Greater Things’, theme for the anniversary weekend.

Salvation Army mascot Shieldy and team hit the streets late Sunday afternoon, inviting people to the hall for ‘soup, soap and salvation’ at 5 pm. Around 185 people feasted, and small soaps were given out prior to a rousing salvation meeting.

The Levin Corps Band and music team led worship and many people responded to Commissioner Andy Westrupp’s challenge to push through their faith barriers and step into God’s calling.

The corps was also challenged to reach out to the lost and not stay within the comfort and confines of its building. God was glorified and honoured as new commitments were made!

A great Hallelujah wind-up—victory march—followed during the final song, after which Corps Officer Captain Chris Collings thanked the corps’ guest leaders along with its hardworking anniversary committee for planning this special event. What a mighty God we serve!

BY MAJOR COLLEEN MARSHALL

Strong Growth in Levin The Levin Corps family was excited to witness the enrolment of three soldiers and five adherents in the last week of May. Pictured (l–r): Capt Chris Collings, Terry Platt, Jackie Hayward, Jill McKenzie, Judith Platt, Stella Britt, Kevin Britt, Michelle Moyes, and Kally Taylor.

Kally, Michelle and Judith were enrolled as soldiers and the others as adherents.

01 JULY 2017 WarCry 17

Salvation Army Serves After London Blaze The Salvation Army served after a horrific fire broke out at Grenfell Towers in West London. Volunteers came together from across London to support the city’s emergency services, as well as residents, friends and family directly impacted by the tragedy.

Two of The Salvation Army’s London-based emergency response vehicles arrived at the scene at 3 am on Wednesday 14 June after a request from the London fire service. They provided support for well over 500 members of emergency service crews, including firefighters, police officers and the ambulance service as they worked tirelessly to respond to the deadly blaze.

Captain Ruth Gray was coordinating the Army’s emergency response with her husband. Speaking in the hours following the fire, she said, ‘It is horrendous. I have never seen anything this tragic. People are really glad to have someone be kind and offer them a cup of tea, someone who is just prepared to listen to them.’

As part of the coordinated local authority response, The Salvation Army’s corps in Notting Hill was opened as one of a number of family rest centres for members of the public concerned about family and friends.

Major Paul Scott, who is stationed at Notting Hill, said, ‘The community spirit is wonderful. Right from when it happened, it was amazing to see the community springing into action. We are now one of four reception centres—specifically open for families in need offering teas, coffees and snacks. We have been inundated with people bringing us donations for those who have been affected by this dreadful tragedy.’

Ruth asked that people keep those affected by this incident

in their prayers. ‘People have witnessed things they would rather have never seen,’ she said. ‘Pray for the people who will provide long-term support. People have been made homeless—their homes have gone—and how people deal with that, I don’t know.

We pray that people find hope in a really horrendous situation.

We pray for those who have lost loved ones. And we pray for the emergency services who continue to work so tirelessly.’

Salvation Army Launches Winter Appeal The Salvation Army has launched its Winter Appeal in readiness to meet increased demands for assistance at Community Ministries centres over the colder months.

For many New Zealanders, winter hardship is a real and scary prospect. The pressures of high heating bills and illness see more people needing help over winter, said Major Pam Waugh, Territorial Secretary for Social Services.

From July to September last year, The Salvation Army saw 1392 people a month seeking help for the first time or the first time in a long time. This comes on the back of a recent report from Statistics New Zealand that says vegetable prices have risen to their highest level in six years (up 31 per cent from last May), making eating healthy in winter even more difficult.

In response to the extra demands of winter, The Salvation Army is asking New Zealanders to help out those struggling with the basics of warmth, food and shelter, by donating to its Winter Appeal. The appeal will support the Army to provide both urgent and long-term assistance for families and individuals in crisis, meeting their immediate needs and providing people with the tools needed to prepare for the winters ahead.

Often those in greatest need over winter are people who are surviving week to week during the rest of the year, but who are unable to meet the extra demands of the colder months, Pam said. ‘Many people we see are living week to week and they’ve 18 WarCry 01 JULY 2017

got anything from 10 cents to $10 left over once their bills and expenses are paid. It’s not that they haven’t planned well, but there’s just not enough when winter hits.’

This is particularly felt in families. Over the past three winters, the number of children the Army has helped has risen from 16,127 to 18,949—a 17 per cent increase.

In addition to helping people find food, warmth and shelter when the storms hit, a lot of work goes into preparing for winter during the year, Pam explained. ‘We had a woman come to us who’d been forced out by her husband and was left homeless with three kids. We started by getting her into emergency housing, then we helped her get a long-term home and supported her with counselling, budgeting and life skills, so she could restart her life.’

For the past three winters, the number of people needing food and practical assistance from The Salvation Army across the country has largely remained stable, while the number of people receiving budgeting and counselling has risen steadily. ‘It’s about finding the hope that’s going to help them get sorted for the future. Sometimes situations look hopeless—but it’s not, there’s always something we can find to help people,’ Pam says.

Donate to the Winter Appeal | salvationarmy.org.nz/ WinterAppeal

Tribute: Cliff Overton

SAYING ‘YES’ IS A DAILY RESPONSE TO A GOD WHO LOVES ME Captain Clifford (Cliff) Overton was promoted to Glory on 31 May from Christchurch Hospital, aged 86.

Cliff and Janet Overton became Territorial Envoys in 1976. They were warranted as Auxiliary Captains in 1978 and commissioned as Captains in 1982. The couple entered retirement on 11 January 1996. In retirement, Cliff had a short-term appointment as Corps Officer, Nelson Corps.

During his 20 years of envoyship and active officer service, Cliff served as a Divisional Assistant in the Northern Division, in Public Relations (Auckland) and Red Shield Stores (Wellington). He also served in Aged Care appointments in Nelson, Tauranga, Christchurch and Upper Hutt.

We give thanks to God for Cliff’s service and ministry. A service of thanksgiving and remembrance of Cliff’s life was held on 6 June at Rangiora Corps, conducted by Majors Ian and Shirley Kilgour. Well done, good and faithful servant of Jesus!

Please uphold Captain Janet Overton and family members in prayer at this time of grief and loss.

GAZETTE Bereaved: Capt Raewyn Gardner of her mother, Beverly Read, on 5 June from Wellington. Please uphold Capts Raewyn and Paul Gardner, Raewyn’s father Brian Read, and Paul and Raewyn’s children Anthony and Claire (daughter-in-law), James and Gabrielle, and other family members in prayer. The funeral was held at Waikanae Funeral Home on 9 June, conducted by Captain Paul Gardner.

‘I’m saying yes’ is our current catchphrase to promote Salvation Army officership. It’s captivating because it invites questions such as: ‘What or who am I saying yes to? And why?’ For me, ‘I’m saying yes’ has a ‘this is the moment!’ sound about it. It invites us to live out what it means to be a disciple of Jesus actively and presently.

The time is now!

Over the past month, I have had the privilege of sharing some of my journey as an officer of 37 years at Delve, a weekend retreat for people exploring calling and officership, and at the Booth College of Mission campus in Fiji, sharing with the four cadets in the Messengers of Compassion Session. These opportunities caused me to reflect on the joys, the opportunities, the challenges, and the invitations to grow that have been mine because as a child (over 50 years ago!)

I said yes to the call to follow Jesus, and then in my 20s I said yes to the call to become an officer.

As I have reflected, I’ve been reminded that my saying yes is not just a past experience. It is a daily response to a God who loves me, who knows me by name, who knows what his plans and purposes are for me, who calls me to daily obedience to his Word and his Spirit, who places me in the Body of Christ where I am never alone, and who sends me out to be the salt and the light wherever I am—as a messenger of the gospel.

Saying yes has not always been the easiest option when faced with choices as a disciple of Jesus, but when I consider the example of Jesus I realise that his yes cost Jesus his life. Because Jesus was willing to pay the cost, you and I can experience life in all its fullness. So here’s a thought: what if my saying yes to following Jesus means others around me can also find life?

It takes faith and trust to step into the unknown by saying yes to God’s call on our lives. But God, by his Holy Spirit, is faithful in his provisions, true to his promises, enabling in our weaknesses, and ever-present in love and power. Living each day confident we are in step with the plans and purposes of God for our life is what God wants for each of us.

Are you saying yes? To what? To who? And where is that leading you? Are saying yes to God’s plans and purposes for your life?

Paul encourages us with these words: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. (Romans 12:1–2, Msg) Say yes to God today!

Major Lorraine LePine Assistant Secretary for Personnel 01 JULY 2017 WarCry 19

Call me Loyal Aristotle said, ‘Criticism is something you can easily avoid by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.’ But that’s not an option in the face of a mission value that calls us to ‘Support Our Army’.

BY CHRISTINA TYSON

I’ve been a proud supporter of the Wellington Phoenix Football Club since its founding in March 2007. Okay, strictly speaking that’s not entirely true.

Over recent years my loyalty has waxed and waned.

Our son was just 13 when the Phoenix kicked off, a mad keen footballer with a reasonable amount of talent. Nine years earlier, my Australian-born husband (previously a solid Aussie Rules fan) had converted to soccer (aka ‘football’, aka ‘The Beautiful Game’), and spent a number of seasons helping coach and manage Scott’s various teams.

I’d never had any interest in sports.

Growing up, I didn’t even succumb to 20 WarCry 01 JULY 2017

objectifying hunky rugby players. And yet, weekend after cold, wet, windy weekend, I was on the sideline cheering on my son’s efforts. We’d drive whatever distance was needed, getting to know the other parents and talking tactics like pros. Back home, I’d wash my son’s often mud-caked football kit, carefully scrubbing his boots so they were ready for their next on-field encounter.

When the Phoenix started, it was a natural extension to sign up for a club membership. Over the years, through ups and downs of owners, coaches and players, we kept the faith. We knew who was on the team, joined in the gameday chants, followed news reports, listened to podcasts, watched and even re-watched games. Such was our support for the team.

But in recent years, we’ve let both membership and interest slide. Our son’s now more interested in the celebrity and skill of overseas clubs Barcelona and Chelsea, while the Phoenix have struggled to find the back of the net, money for top signings and coaching

Photo: Mark Witte/Getty Images

stability. The past couple of seasons have been disappointing.

Support our Army?

I’ve been a proud supporter of The Salvation Army for my whole life. Okay, strictly speaking that’s not entirely true either.

I’m part of an organisation that serves in over 128 countries with over one million members. I believe in what the Army stands for—a Christianity that really does try to turn faith into action. No passage of the Bible sums that ethos up better for me than James 2:14–16 (CEB): My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. What if one of you said, ‘Go in peace! Stay warm!

Have a nice meal!?’ What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity.

The Salvation Army is not a church that says, ‘We’ll pray for you’, without also putting feet under our prayers in the form of concrete action. I love this about the Army!

But I’m also aware that my support for this Army can at times be conditional, cynical or even competitive. And I don’t love this about myself. Not at all.

Conditional: If I understand and agree with a decision the Army’s leaders have made, I’ll get behind it. If not, I’m sometimes inclined to shrug my shoulders and figure it’s not something I need concern myself with. Not my problem. I may not get in the way, but I’ll also not do as much as I could to help.

And, at my worst, I may even seek to undermine that directive.

Instead, I want to accept the decisions of leadership with grace and mercy, offering every decision a fair hearing and a fair go. I want to support God’s leading in the lives of those who are responsible for the Army’s strategic direction, building on what they ask by playing my part as a strong link in a chain, not a weak or missing link.

Cynical: Some new programme or initiative is announced and where once I would have jumped in boots and all, as a long-term and sometimes over-worked Salvationist, these days I’m sometimes more inclined to again shrug and mutter something like, Well, that’s not going to work! The least of such a cynical response is pessimism or apathy; the worst is mistrust or even downright meanness.

Cynicism keeps God’s big dreams from becoming reality in our world.

Instead, I want to respond with excitement and enthusiasm—to look for the good and even the great in every new idea. To be excited at how God is working and to look forward with anticipation for every new thing God might be about to do in the Army. To be an eager collaborator, not a critic. Most of all, to let hope lead the way.

Competitive: If I hear of someone in the Army who’s had a victory of some sort, I confess that my first instinct isn’t always to take notice or cheer them on.

Again, I sometimes sense a negative shrug in my spirit: I wonder how long that success/programme/person will last?

When I sense that thought, it’s a sign

that I’ve forgotten the way to maximise God’s work in the world by having lots of different people doing lots of different things, rather than just a few people—or (even more arrogantly) just a few people doing things the way I would.

I DON’T WANT TO BE A FAIRWEATHER FAN OF GOD’S WORK …

Instead, I want to respond by genuinely appreciating, celebrating and cheering for others. I need to realise that my part in God’s great enterprise is often simply to ‘gossip the greatness of God’s work’ so clearly evident in the lives and actions of Salvationists.

As I consider my sometimes negative— and God limiting—reactions, I wonder if there’s something of the Kiwi psyche at work here. As a nation (and despite our espoused pride in the Number 8 Wire Kiwi make-do mentality), we’re quick to chop down our Tall Poppies, slow to get behind innovators, and happy to settle for criticising people rather than stepping forward as cheerleaders.

How about you?

If someone was to tell you that one of The Salvation Army’s values in the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory is to ‘support our Army’, what reaction comes to your mind?

Is your first thought that you’re proud to be part of the Army’s heritage, that you want to honour the Army’s godly leaders and work with them rather than against them, that you’re ready to devote time, talents and money to make the Army stronger, not just at home but aboard?

Or do some of those more negative responses almost unwillingly come to mind? Is your support conditional? Do you measure others’ ideas and work, only to find them wanting? Do the pressing needs of today’s communities no longer capture your heart strongly enough to compete with nostalgic memories of days gone by? Do you still support the Salvation Army team, or are you just making up the numbers, long past thinking we might actually win this for God? I’ve shown myself to be a fair-weather fan of the Phoenix. They’ve just signed a new coach in Darije Kalezić. I hope he has a good run. I want to get back to the days when I believed in the team. When there was the realistic hope for a finals spot. It might still happen. And when it does, I know I’ll catch that finals fever.

But I don’t want to be a fair-weather fan of God’s work, because what’s at stake is far more significant than the escapism and short-lived pride of some sporting contest. When I support The Salvation Army, it means I’m supporting our mission to care for people as we serve in Christ’s name, to see lives transformed as we help people encounter the Holy Spirit, and to reform society as we stand against injustice and fight for God’s values in world.

If your loyalty to The Salvation Army is on the wane, don’t shrug it off. Life’s too short for apathy and pessimism when there’s so much good God wants to do.

Let’s keep our faith and loyalty for the Army alive!

Major Christina Tyson is Editor of War Cry magazine and Territorial Communications Secretary.

This is the last in our series on The Salvation Army's seven values. Learn more about our Mission Plan & Values | salvationarmy.org. nz/MissionPlan

01 JULY 2017 WarCry 21

Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 1–2 July: Dunedin City Corps 5 July: Addictions, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services National Conference 15–17 July: Northern Divisional Review 18 July: Addictions, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services Review 24–26 July: Appointments Conference 29–30 July: Blenheim Corps Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 1 July: Palmerston North Corps 15–17 July: Northern Divisional Review 18 July: Addictions, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services Review 24–26 July: Appointments Conference

Quiz Answers: 1 Marc Ellis and Matthew Ridge, 2 Apple-growing, 3 Six, 4 Corgi, 5 An angel (Genesis 16:11).

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LEADERSHIP ESSENTIALS COURSE 1–2 AUGUST, BOOTH COLLEGE OF MISSION

No matter where you’re at, Leadership Essentials is a new course that will strengthen how you lead. Building on the Centre for Leadership Development’s popular Foundations of Leadership course, Leadership Essentials will help you become: a strategist who asks the right questions a coach who builds people up a critically reflective decision maker who leads from and with prayer a team player who fosters not only community but a shared responsibility for radical service.

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Registration cut-off extended to 14 July. Email bcm@nzf.salvationarmy.org for more info or visit salvationarmy.org.nz/ShortCourses

Want to Know More?

I would like: to learn about who Jesus is information about The Salvation Army The Salvation Army to contact me prayer for the following needs:

Name Email Address Phone Send to: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org or War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141

22 WarCry 01 JULY 2017

PRAY Hawera, Hibiscus Coast, Hutt City, Invercargill,

Johnsonville; Divisional Headquarters, Central; The Salvation Army in Angola.

Shop online at

salvationarmy.org.nz/shop

400–600 words with one or two captioned photos. Promotion to Glory tributes are approx 300 words. Email reports and large, high-quality jpeg images to: warcry@ nzf.salvationarmy.org

A musical expression of worship by the youth of The Salvation Army

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives …

try this tricky maze

Connect the coloured dots with the pens. But be careful— the colours of the lines change along the way!

Galatians 5:16 GNT

find two matching images in each row (they can be rotated)

2

7 6

8

10

12

9

11

13

15

17

It's a nice night for a white rice fight.

3

5

tongue twisters!

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20

If coloured caterpillars could change their colours constantly, could they keep their colour coat coloured properly?

When we first learn how to write at school we use paper with lines on. This helps us get the letters the right size so our words make sense and our work stays tidy.

These lines are our guide. When we don't use them our work can get messy and people can get confused about what we want to say.

The Holy Spirit is our guide in life. The Holy Spirit is God helping us live the right way, by telling the truth, being kind to people and showing that we love and follow Jesus.

Without the Holy Spirit we would be like someone trying to learn to write without lines. It would be much harder to know the right things to do.

Holy Spirit, help me listen to and follow your guidance every day so I will know what God wants me to say and do. Thank you for helping me! Amen.

19 Matching Image Answers: 2 & 3, 6 & 8, 9 & 11, 14 & 16, 19 & 20.

1

4

01 JULY 2017 WarCry 23

15-16 September

The Salvation Army Auckland City Corps 18 Allright Place, Mt Wellington, Auckland

Creating a JUST future

Featuring:

Tim Costello World Vision Australia

Shamubeel Eaqub

Economist, Author of Generation Rent

Prue Kapua

Maori Women’s Welfare League

Andrew Judd

Recovering Racist, former Mayor of New Plymouth

Rez Gardi

Young New Zealander of the Year 2017

& more...

Register now at salvationarmy.org.nz/JustAction