FAITH IN ACTION 02 MAY 2020 | Issue 6741 | $1.50
Giving Birth in Lockdown Faith in the Midst of Tragedy: Joanne Guy’s Story Global Voices on Covid-19
Auaha-April: Creativity in Lockdown
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WAR CRY The Salvation Army
New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Julie & Mark Campbell | GENERAL Brian Peddle | 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 Vivienne Hill | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Captain Jules Badger, Louise Parry, Bethany Slaughter | PROOF READING Major
Colleen Marshall OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street,
PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz, www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone
(04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@salvationarmy.org.nz, $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT www.makeready.nz | PAPER Sumo Offset
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Triumph out of Tragedy The most famous mother in the Bible is Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her life experiences were both tragic and triumphal. The responsibility entrusted to her by God was immense, but her reply to the angel who announced Christ’s imminent conception was ‘…let it be to me according to your word’. Mary had her own cross to bear: she witnessed the brutal death of her son. I have no doubt that Jesus would have, on some level, prepared her for this event, but the reality must have been an agony. Mary endured because she knew the cross was not the end of the story. She knew that out of a seemingly monumental miscarriage of justice would come the redemption offered by Christ to humanity. Triumph out of tragedy. In this edition of War Cry is the moving story of Joanne Guy, who tragically lost her son. Joanne shares her heartbreak and sorrow, but also her enduring faith in an ever-present God, and how life can continue on despite tragedy and still be beautiful. We also have the roller-coaster ride of another mother who gives birth during lockdown. I do not know a mother who has not had her tough and tragic days—it seems to be embedded in the job description—so I hope you will take the time to honour your mother this Mother’s Day. It may only be a memory, or a lockdown phone call, but however you choose to observe this special day, I hope it will be in recognition of the sacrificial nature of the role of mum. Vivienne Hill Editor
Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association. All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated. Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission.
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We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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2 WarCry 02 MAY 2020
1 Corinthians 16:13–14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Koriniti 16:13–14 Kia mataara, e tū i runga i te whakapono, whakatāne, kia kaha. Kia meatia ā koutou mea katoa i runga i te aroha.
Hey Mom, just quickly note that I’m calling you Mom with an ‘O’ because I grew up in the USA and that’s what we say. I assume that if I call you Mum with a ‘U’, you won’t realize I’m talking to you. You’re old. I don’t want to confuse you. I’ll start by apologizing for always making fun of you. I discovered the humor in making fun of the people I love at a young age. Once that was discovered, I don’t remember a time when I didn’t take full advantage of that with you. So ... I’m sorry and thank you. I’m also sorry that you had to clean up after me for all those years. I know I was comfortable living in my own filth, but now that I have two sons to clean up after, I realize that you had to go through a lot. Sorry about my dirty clothes. Sorry about my dirty dishes that I left under my bed. I’m sorry about using 20 cups per day to have drinks of water, filling all those cups to the top, taking one drink out of them, then leaving them somewhere around the house mostly full of water. I’m sorry that instead of returning to that cup, I would simply get a new one. I’m sorry that I was a teenage boy. I know that must have been hard for you. I’m sorry about my sports injuries and that I always picked the most violent sport I could find. I know why you only came to one of my ice-hockey games. I know why you were mad when I came home with a concussion.
Sorry I swore on the phone that one time. Sorry I moved to the other side of the world when I was 20. Thanks for everything, though. Thanks for insisting that I treat women with respect. Thanks for teaching me what it is like to be a man in a world that doesn’t belong to me. Thanks for teaching me about God. Thanks for teaching me to question things. Thanks for teaching me that life isn’t fair, and that life isn’t about me and that I’m responsible for the consequences of my decisions. Thanks for the massive amount of money you gave me that I mostly spent on Mountain Dew and chicken nuggets at the school cafeteria. Hey Naomi, thanks for being my wife. I just want to send you a quick personal note ... through the War Cry. Thanks for being a strong woman in a house full of gross boys. Thanks for putting up with me. I can assure you that everything good about me came from growing up in a house full of women. I can also say that anything bad about me should be taken up with my mother. Sorry that my sons are going to be just like me. Thanks to the most important women in my life. Happy Mother’s Day. BY LIEUTENANT NATHAN HOLT
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SALLIEOFTHEWEEK
Veisinia Aiulangapo (Nia), (Auckland City Corps) Nia is a follower of Jesus and has been part of the Auckland City Corps family for about eight years. She volunteers in the Family Store, Street Ministry, and she’s the leader of ‘Shine the Light’ small group. Nia’s also a member of the Corps Leadership Team. Nia says, ‘When I surrendered my life to God, I built a relationship with him and, one step at a time, I bear the fruit God cultivates within me by doing what I’m supposed to do, which is to serve’.
Lee Bateman Sonia Bradley
Sarah MacGibbon
Melanie-Anne Holland
Creativity Flourishes During Lockdown Rosy Keane (Upper Hutt Corps) didn’t want to see a whole month of potential creativity go to waste during lockdown, so she set up a Facebook group called ‘Auaha-April’. ‘Auaha means create, form or bring into being. Each day I posted a “Daily Topic” for people to respond to in their chosen medium in our Facebook group, with the help of Linda White,’ explains Rosy. ‘This space gave some people voices they never knew they had and saw poetry and creativity that explored new feelings and old memories. Many discovered a new love for God through creating.’ As we celebrate Mother’s Day, War Cry asked Rosy to select two offerings from contributors to share with readers: Sarah wrote: ‘Today’s topic was “Wayward”. And after being at home with the kids for weeks, it’s not always sunshine and fun times! ... But it’s in the frustration that I can truly relate to God as a mother, and I get a glimpse into the bigger picture and understand how he can feel when I choose the wayward path. But despite everything wayward, he still loves me unconditionally.’ Melanie wrote: ‘Daily Topic: Fearless—but fearlessness is not about me. My face upturned like a loving, trust-filled toddler to the Almighty. Who do you say I am?’ Rosy adds that, ‘How we relate to God, Mary’s pain at losing Jesus, losing mothers, loving children as if they’re our own, finding tenderness and feminine images of God—each of these spoke to the humble journey of being a follower of God’. 4 WarCry 02 MAY 2020
Drama Tigertail (PG) Directed by Alan Yang Tigertail is a fictional tribute to writer/director Yang’s real-life immigrant parents, taking its title from the English translation of his father’s home village in Taiwan. Protagonist Pin-Jui also begins his story in Huwei, as an ambitious young man, working in a factory and in love with his girlfriend, Yuan. However, his perceived sense of duty and dreams to chase a better life in America lead him to accept an arranged marriage and immigrate. Tigertail is a carefully woven story with plotting that weaves between past and present, from Pin-Jui’s upbringing in Taiwan to his struggle to connect with his grown daughter Angela in present New York. Miscommunication is a prominent theme, particularly in the brutal pauses that accompany every conversation between Pin-Jui and Angela. Altogether, the story fragments form a poignant film. Tzi Ma, Christine Ko and Fiona Fu lead the cast. (Reviewed by Bethany Slaughter)
QUIKQUIZ
1 Who is famous for their ‘big red chair’? 2 What goes ‘toot toot, chugga chugga’? 3 What does ‘red’ mean in Russian? 4 What is the birthstone for July? 5 Who was told to name his firstborn son Jezreel? Answers on page 22
Weird of the Week: Avocados never ripen on the tree, meaning that farmers can use the trees as storage to keep them fresh for up to seven months.
WARCRYIN HISTORY
Chicken and Broccoli Bake 2 Tbsp olive oil 500g chicken thigh fillets, cut into chunks 3 potatoes, peeled, boiled and thickly sliced 1 broccoli head, cut into florets, blanched 420g can creamy chicken soup
Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). In a large frying pan, heat oil on high. Brown chicken for 2–3 minutes on each side. Transfer to a plate. Arranged cooked potato on the bottom of a large, greased casserole dish. Top with chicken, followed with a layer of broccoli.
¼ cup mayonnaise
In a jug, combine soup, sour cream and mayonnaise. Pour over broccoli.
This page from the 6 May 1989, War Cry documented General Eva Burrows’ trip to Fiji. Some highlights featured include her visit to a welding class in Suva, a meeting with the Tongan delegation and 29 new senior soldiers being sworn in.
Italian parsley, chopped, to serve
To make the topping, combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
Source: The Heritage Centre & Archives at the Ploughman Resource Centre, Booth College of Mission
Source: countdown.co.nz
½ cup sour cream
Topping: 1 cup panko breadcrumbs ½ cup grated tasty cheese
Sprinkle topping evenly over top. Bake for 45 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and the topping is crisp and golden. Sprinkle with parsley to serve.
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
TOPFIVE
There are so many to pick from, but here are five TV mothers we’re giving a shout-out to (and five TV shows you can get stuck into binge-watching!). 1. Joyce Byers, Stranger Things 2. Beth Pearson, This Is Us 3. Vivian Banks, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air 4. Lorelai Gilmore, GilmoreGirls 5. Rainbow Johnson, Blackish
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The Guy family became widely known in New Zealand after their beloved son, husband and father was murdered on their family farm. Having endured overwhelming grief, further family tragedy and a trial which yielded no justice, Joanne Guy has found peace through reaching out to other broken people of the world. BY BETHANY SLAUGHTER
O
n 8 July 2010, Joanne Guy’s son Scott was shot dead at the gate of their family’s farm in Feilding. His sudden death, under such cruel circumstances, shattered the Guy family, but there was more to come. The following April, Joanne’s son-in-law, Ewen Macdonald, was charged with Scott’s murder. At the time, Macdonald was married to Joanne’s daughter, Anna; he had worked alongside Scott as a manager on the farm. The story was too juicy to resist for the mainstream media, and the subsequent trial captivated the nation. It placed the additional pressure of a giant media presence over a family bound by grief. At trial, Macdonald was sentenced to five years in prison for various charges (including vandalism, theft, arson and animal cruelty), but he was acquitted of the murder, which remains unresolved. To compound the loss, her husband, Bryan, lost his father, just three months after Scott’s death, unable to cope with the grief. Then in May of 2011, her nephew Andy was murdered in Perth after he was pushed out of a secondstorey window. ‘It just seemed to get worse and worse, and then we had thrown into that the huge media attention and public interest,’ Joanne recalls. ‘My heart felt like it was ripped out … you can’t feel God at that point.’ It would have been easy to lose hope, but in spite of all they had lost, Joanne and Bryan emerged with a stronger faith and the determination to draw every shred of good out of the unthinkable situation.
Overwhelming Grief Reflecting on those first weeks and months, Joanne remembers how their family retreated into survival mode. They faced both business and family crises. Farming is not a career where you can press pause. With Scott gone and Macdonald in prison, Bryan had to take on a heavier workload. Meanwhile, the ripple effect on their close-knit family was devastating. ‘We had six fatherless grandchildren all of a sudden,’ Joanne says, ‘and they were all over the place, so we kind of became second parents to Anna’s children’. Beyond the emotional turmoil, the physical effects of grieving were overwhelming. ‘I could listen to somebody for maybe ten minutes and then I couldn’t cope. The mind would go to mush,’ Joanne recalls. ‘We were told to eat bland food, because our stomachs were in knots and we felt sick when we ate anything.’ 02 MAY 2020 WarCry 7
As someone who had always been a strong extrovert and thrived on company, Joanne could no longer cope with being around people. ‘I’d be out and then the tears would roll down my face, and this went on for months, and so I had to go home and be in the quiet, in the silence.’ It was here in the quiet where she eventually reconnected with her faith and found God in a deeper way. While neither Joanne nor Bryan had ever blamed God for the tragedy, their faith had drifted to the side as they battled through their grief and stress. Looking back, she can now see the traces of where God was working. ‘He was with us, even though we couldn’t feel it at times.’
‘I DON’T THINK YOU COULD GO THROUGH THAT WITHOUT HAVING A FAITH ... YOU NEED SOMETHING MORE THAN POSITIVE THINKING.’ Random Acts of Kindness Despite how easy it was to give in to despair, Joanne and Bryan knew there was nothing to be gained from becoming angry. The situation was out of their hands, but they could control how they reacted and were determined to come through the other side and use the experience to help others. ‘We decided that we’d choose love. We weren’t going to go down the (path of) bitterness and hate, which was really easy to do.’ It was a process which could only begin with baby steps. At first, the grief was so exhausting that Joanne struggled to make it to the mailbox and back. Then she could walk a little further, embracing the fresh air and exercise. Each venture out of the front door gave her a new clue about what she needed to do to move forward. ‘Every time I’d go along for a little bit and then start crying a whole lot more … and think, “Okay, I need to go back for more counselling, or something like that”, and then I’d get over another hurdle.’ She spoke to Marg Schrader, the moderator of the Presbyterian Church at the time, who helped her to find a 8 WarCry 02 MAY 2020
spiritual direction and faith amidst the hurt she was feeling. ‘That was so helpful. I don’t think I would have found it on my own. ‘I don’t think you could go through that without having a faith,’ Joanne affirms. ‘You need something more than positive thinking.’ One thing which made choosing the path of love much easier was the compassion they received from their neighbours and local community, including many New Zealanders they did not even know. Whether it was someone dropping off scones, the gift of a massage, or the local New World supermarket opening the store after hours especially for them so that they could shop in peace, each little act did its part to lift their burden. The most appreciated gifts, even though they were often moved to tears, were hugs and being told that people were thinking about and praying for them. Joanne remembers how she used to look at people going through tough times and think, “better not upset them, I won’t say anything”. What she learned was that it hurt more when people crossed over the street when they saw them approaching, than when people came forward to say they were thinking of them. ‘The overwhelming kindness made such a difference. You can never underestimate the little things you do for others, because in grief there are no little things.’
Paying it Forward Joanne and Bryan were encouraged by reading books and hearing stories of people who had gone through great loss before them—such as Holocaust survivors Victor Frankyl and Edith Eger, who had seen their entire families perish. ‘You think, “if they can do it, I can”,’ Joanne says. They decided that they too could serve the heartbroken families following in their footsteps, by passing on the lessons they were learning along the way in their own tragedy. They now speak at grief seminars and are approached by many people struggling with loss, and Joanne has channelled her energy into writing. She has a blog called Make Lemonade and has also written two books for children. The first was called Snooty Stanley Plays a Prank, about treating others the way you want to be treated, while the second book, Stanley Meets Bobcat the Bully, explores the topic of bullying. Joanne is a role model for the Duffy Books programme, and she visits schools all around the North Island. She is also
‘HE SEES THE BIG PICTURE, AND THAT’S WHERE WE PUT OUR TRUST AND THINK, “WELL, GOD, YOU KNOW MORE THAN ALL THE REST OF US”.’ currently working with Feilding Intermediate School to teach young girls about affirmations, self-esteem and focusing on what you can control. ‘I get a chance to give them a hug, tell them they’re special, that even though bad things happen in your life, it’s not ruined,’ Joanne says. ‘You can find new purpose and meaning out of terrible things.’
In God We Trust Having sold the farm in Feilding, Joanne now finds comfort in the garden of their new property. ‘It’s probably in nature I feel closest to God, and the quiet.’ However, through her family, school visits and her community, the people-person side of her nature has also played its part. She is grateful to everyone who reached out, and for the kindness which saw their family through not just the initial wave of grief, not just through the trial, but to this very day. ‘The prayers of people helped us; especially through the trial, we felt so held. Even this last week, people who we don’t know have said, “We prayed for your family and we prayed all the way through”,’ Joanne says. ‘The love and care from others meant that we made it.’ Family remains their top priority, more than ever before, and both Joanne and Bryan see a great responsibility in passing the love and care which has been shown to them forward, especially to their grandchildren. ‘It’s a huge burden those children have to carry, and so that’s where we—Bryan and I—feel our role is: to help the kids, to love them and encourage them.’ One of the many loose-ends that remains is the identity of Scott’s murderer. Macdonald has served his five-year sentence, and with every year, the likelihood of the offender being caught diminishes. Nevertheless, public interest in
their case remains high—probably, Joanne believes, because it has never been solved. She does think it would help to close that chapter for the family, but knows all too well that no name will ever absolve the grief or bring true justice. In the case of her nephew’s death, Joanne says, ‘The gang member who pushed Andy out of the window, he was convicted of his murder and they (her sister’s family) didn’t feel any better than we did, it’s not going to bring them back.’ As the family try not to dwell on the lack of resolution, all they can do is have faith that God has it in control. ‘He sees the big picture, and that’s where we put our trust and think, “Well, God, you know more than all the rest of us”.’
Finding Hope The hurt remains every day, and despite Joanne’s deep desire to see her family whole again, the loss of Scott has caused an indelible impact on the Guy family. ‘You don’t get over anything. I think that’s what a lot of people think, “Oh, you must be over it by now”, but no, not really,’ says Joanne, ‘but you can live with it and live alongside the pain. ‘I don’t think that will ever go, and I wouldn’t really want it to, because it’s that missing piece of your heart.’ While they have lost the ‘carefree’ feeling of life before Scott’s death, Joanne and Bryan do believe that they have been changed for the better through the experience. Moving forward, Joanne wants to keep going with the task that God has given her, by helping other hurt and grieving people, and continuing to put kindness back into the world. ‘I think every little bit counts … that’s what we’ve got to remember: that every act of kindness—no matter what we do—it’s like a seed and it grows and grows. That’s the hope I’m hanging onto.’
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Honour Your Parents—All Year, With Joy To many of us, Mother’s Day is the day to give Mum a call, organise brunch and buy a cutesy-card with a bunch of flowers. However, in Exodus 20:12, when God teaches us to ‘Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you’, it doesn’t mean only on the first Sunday of May or September. Instead, it is important that we strengthen and build on these relationships with our parents throughout the year. Then when these special days roll around, rather than appearing trite, these celebrations are simply a natural outpouring of the previous 364 (or, this year, 365) days. Here are some tips to help you show your appreciation to your parents. • Learn their love language and communication style in order to connect with them in a meaningful way. • Show interest in their lives and call when it’s convenient for them—even better, visit them in person, if you can. Listen and ask them to tell you their stories. • Verbalise your appreciation, especially for the things that often go unnoticed. It’s never too late to say thank you for something they did in the past, either. • Encourage them to pursue new challenges and dreams. Be excited for them. • Be generous and give them ‘just because’ gifts. Offer to pick up the dinner bill. Ask if they need help and offer to take care of things before they ask. • Provide for them and make sure their basic needs are met. • Tell them the truth and don’t conceal things from them. • Pray for them and give thanks for what they have done and continue to do for you. If your parents are not Christians, pray that they would come to know Jesus, and do your best to model Christ to them. • Talk to them respectfully and value their experiences and age. Learn from each other. • Say ‘I love you’—and mean it. • Set time aside to eat together, pray with each other, find a hobby or interest to share … never underestimate how much simply being there will mean to them. Our relationships with our parents are just like our other human relationships: fraught with occasional conflict, bonded over
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…IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE STRENGTHEN AND BUILD ON THESE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PARENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. experiences and built on love. Some relationships are more easygoing than others, but that’s what makes it all the more important to love and honour one another constantly, rather than making an effort for one single day. Bring joy all year round.
Self-Care If your relationship with your parent(s) has been hurtful or abusive, then knowing how to ‘honour’ them is tricky, and celebrations like Mother’s Day can hurt. Where possible, it can help to acknowledge and be grateful for someone who has filled this place as an important mentor or parental figure in your life. However, if you are still working through the pain, remember that pursuing healing, coming to terms with the hurt and finding relief is the first and most important act of honouring this commandment. If you feel ready to forgive them, that is another great step. Never underestimate the power of praying for a change in their heart, either. Source: John Kubasak—The Mystical Humanity of Christ Publishing (coraevans.com)
TESTIFY! Through many trials, Debbie Whitfield has learned to trust in God’s plans for her. It was always a dream of mine to move to New Zealand. I was lucky to come on holiday twice, then in 2001, I moved to Dunedin with my son and thenhusband. We had a 10-acre block, which you just don’t get in England. That was great, but because of all the friends we’d made when we travelled up near Warkworth, we always wanted to move there. We came up north in 2005, but unfortunately, my marriage turned bad and we broke up. I found someone else, but in 2014 that all went badly wrong and I had to relocate. As a teenager, I went to church and had a great time with the youth group. But when I married an atheist, life took over. So, when I moved to the Hibiscus Coast, I thought I’ll go to church to meet people. I’d sat down for about two minutes when a couple came and said, ‘Don’t sit by yourself, come and be with us’. God introduced me to certain people who have become my dearest friends. I just want to be there with them on a Sunday, and also at the food bank and Sallies Playhouse where I volunteer. About 18 months ago, I began interviewing the food bank clients, which I love. My original plan was to train in Alcohol and Drug Counselling, but I don’t need to. The Salvation Army is more for my heart, and I’m doing the same thing. I have a history of alcoholism, which is now over, thank goodness. I’ve been to Recovery Church when I was in rehab at Odyssey House, and I went to the Bridge in Auckland and Henderson. Due to choices I’ve made, I’ve also been to prison for eight weeks. I can really relate to some of these clients. If I’m feeling comfortable, I share a little bit of my story, of how God saved me and how he walks ahead
NOTHING ELSE HAD WORKED, SO I DECIDED TO LET JESUS TAKE OVER. THE MINUTE I LET GO, IT WAS JUST A HUGE RELIEF. of me every single day. This feels like the key has gone into the door of their heart, and when I see them a second or third time, they open up even more. I decided to let Jesus take over, because nothing else had worked. The minute I let go, it was just a huge relief. I didn’t have to worry anymore. My favourite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11: ‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”’. If I have an issue, I just tell Jesus about it, and he already knows.
Learning that things don’t happen immediately was a hard one for me. What you ask for, you don’t get straight away—or you might not even get—but there’s a reason. I’ve learned patience and trust. My son, Tom, has started to ask little questions, like, ‘Do you pray every day?’ Later on, he’ll ask, ‘What did you pray for today?’ and I’ll tell him. He came to church with me on Mother’s Day; that was really nice. It’s just the fact that he’s interested. He can see how happy I am from where I’ve been, and how proud I feel to be identified as a Salvationist. I’m an adherent, and I’m wanting to be a soldier one day. My godson Mark, from the UK, is living in Auckland and has been to church with me once or twice. My landlord is a non-believer, but he’s promised to come at least once a month, and that blows me away. He could have said he’d come twice a year, but he said once a month, so that’s awesome.
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JUST ME + MY MUM To celebrate Mother’s Day, we asked some of you to tell us about your special relationship with your mums. We asked: 1. Your name/Mum’s name: 2. Corps/Centre: 3. If I had to describe my mum in one word, it would be… 4. One of the things I love doing with my mum is… 5. I couldn’t do without my mum because…
1. Ethan and Alison Moody 2. Christchurch City Corps (Southern) 3. Extraordinary. 4. Shopping. 5. She encourages me to do things I thought I could never do. Because she continues to push herself in her faith. Because she has had a great impact on my life. Because she is consistent in her faith journey. Because she’s one exceptional cook. Because she's the world’s best mumma! 12 firezone.co.nz 02 MAY 2020
1. Victoria and Karen Sammons 2. Hastings Corps (Midland) 3. Selfless. 4. Getting snuggly on the couch and watching a movie together. 5. She is my biggest fan and supports me no matter what. 1. Anja and Tina Marshall 2. Levin Corps (Central) 3. Strong. 4. Going out for a coffee and having a chat. 5. She is one of my biggest supporters and encourages me in everything I do. She is also such an example in my life of what it is to live for God and trust and listen to him in every aspect of my life.
1. Valeria and Maria Nesterenko 2. East City Corps (Northern) 3. Wholesome. 4. Cooking. 5. Our family wouldn’t be the same without her. I have never known such a strong, kind, generous, dedicated, radiant and selfless woman as her. She is a blessing to all those in her life. I couldn’t do without her support. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Stella and Letisha Derham Linwood Corps (Southern) Empathetic. Watching movies together. She loves me and supports me in everything I do.
1. Talofa, my name is Viki, and this is my mum Sina, the most gorgeous and beautiful woman living in my world. 2. Apia Corps (Samoa) 3. I couldn’t find a word to describe her because she is far beyond compare. But there is a word from the Bible I can use to describe her. She is ‘Life’. When my dad passed away, she worked hard to raise me and my siblings. She sacrificed everything to make our family feel complete again and her prayers led me to where I am now. 4. Having late-night conversations with her. 5. She tells me how to stay blessed and always help those who need some help even if you know they can’t help you back. My biggest fear is losing her, as I couldn’t do without her advice and prayers. I pray one day my mum will join The Salvation Army. 1. Ihaka and Abbey Namana 2. Corps/Centre: Thames Corps (Midland) 3. Strong. 4. Watching movies together. 5. She has helped me greatly overcome the storms in my life (and still does). She also constantly encourages me to improve myself spiritually.
1. 2. 3. 4. 1. Ko Nicole Dunford tōku ingoa. My name is Nicole. Ko Donna Dunford tōku mama. Donna is my mum. 2. Dunedin City Corps (Southern) 3. One of a kind! OR mokoroa, which means a type of small grub. But just because it is small, this doesn’t stop the grub from making a big difference. I chose this word for mum because of a whakataukī (Māori proverb) I once read that says ‘He iti hoki te mokoroa nāna I kakati te kahikatea’. The mokoroa may be small, but it cuts through the kahitea (whitepine). My mum is always one to help out and support her community. Just like the mokoroa, my mum makes a huge difference in people’s lives. 4. Looking after children. Mum helps out at a children’s playgroup every Wednesday morning and I love attending with mum. Watching her with young children inspires me to one day be as kind and caring as she is. It makes me cherish the way she has brought me up. 5. She is my rock and strength. Without my mum I wouldn’t be half the person I am today. She is the person I look up to, and I hope to be even half as good as her one day. I couldn’t do without her amazing hugs either.
Elijah and Darylann Winton Corps (Southern) Awesome! Watching weird movies together like Sharknado! 5. She’s been helping me with my lockdown schoolwork, and she gives me good things to eat like CHEESE! 1. Talofa lava my name is Micah and my mum is Liz Tofilau 2. Hutt City Corps (Central) 3. Impossible to do! If I have to pick one word it would be selfless. My mum is the hardest working woman I know! 4. Making ridiculous videos! My mum sings like there’s no tomorrow and I’ll sneak a recording of her while she’s doing it. It’s so loud and screechy, but it never fails to make myself and the rest of the family laugh! 5. My mum is the rock of our family—the glue that holds us all together! If I’m feeling upset, angry or unsettled about things, I can always count on turning to my mum who always gives me the best advice that never fails to make me feel better. To me, my mum is everything you would want in a mum, but also a friend. THANK YOU MUM x
02 MAY 2020 WarCry 13
New Life in Lockdown BY JULES BADGER
Above left: The Vemoa family (from left)—Solomon, Corryn, Esther, Francis & Malachi. Above right: Corryn Vemoa & Esther in hospital.
Esther Grace was born on 6 April 2020 to parents Captain Corryn and Lieutenant Francis Vemoa (Tauranga Corps), weighing in at 3.46kg. This precious little girl was born during a global pandemic in the first week of the national Covid-19 lockdown here in Aotearoa. ‘In the midst of it all someone said to me, “Corryn you’ll look back on this and you’ll laugh!” I remember looking down at Esther one night in the hospital—I was holding her at the time—and saying to her: “They say we’ll look back on this and laugh, but I tell you one thing Esther, we may well look back on this, but we are never going to laugh!”’ For Corryn and Francis, the unprecedented circumstances surrounding Esther’s birth made for a considerably anxious time. And yet, as they look back now and reflect with joy on Esther’s birth, they can in fact laugh with genuine mirth at circumstances they could never have predicted and be amazed at how God has brought them through. ‘One night when I was in hospital with Esther, I started thinking about how there are so many amazing, strong people in the Bible who were born into pretty nasty and frightening circumstances—Jesus, of course, and Moses and the biblical Esther, too—so our Esther’s in good company,’ says Corryn. Together Corryn and Francis already have two busy young boys—Solomon (aged five) and Malachi (aged three). Corryn and Francis thought their family was complete, until Corryn discerned the whisper of God at a conference. ‘I felt God was saying that our family wasn’t finished and that there was someone else who was meant to be part of it. So while being in hospital with Esther during Covid-19 was terrifying, I’d known even before she was conceived that God had a plan and a purpose for her life. Despite everything that’s happened, there’s a reason why God wanted to make sure she arrived safely,’ Corryn explains. 14 WarCry 02 MAY 2020
With well over a month to go until the due date of Esther’s birth—or so they thought—and the announcement that lockdown was imminent, there were some moments of genuine panic for Corryn. She is categorised as high-risk for contracting the virus, along with both boys who have asthma. ‘I was caught out when the Canterbury earthquakes hit, so I’ve always made sure we had an emergency kit—especially now having kids and the weight of that responsibility. I was plodding away with preparations for the birth as I watched the Covid-19 situation unfold overseas, but I figured it would hit us later in the year. I’d been buying ahead, though—nappies and a few tins of formula each week. Then I saw that overseas people were starting to buy baby formula because they were worried about food shortages and would at least have that to drink. I thought it was one of those exaggerations you read online, until I was at our local supermarket the week before lockdown and discovered the shelves were empty of 0–6 months baby formula, which freaked me right out!’ It wasn’t until the lockdown actually went into effect that it dawned on Corryn she could go into labour early. ‘I’d been induced with both the boys, so it seemed unlikely. But we started getting emails from our midwife about the restrictions being put in place at the hospital, one being that Francis would only be allowed to stay with me for two hours following the birth. I pretty much lost the plot at that point! I’d had such a difficult time when Malachi was born, with the shock of an emergency C-section, so I was already anxious about what could happen to me during the labour and delivery. Needless to say, I was
‘WHEN I REMEMBER WHO GOD IS AND WHAT HE’S ALREADY DONE, THAT DISABLES FEAR.’ prompted to get organised because I felt convinced that it was all just going to get worse and I would end up giving birth alone—my worst nightmare—with everyone around me wearing hardcore PPE gear. That image wasn’t helping my anxiety.’ In the lead up to the birth, Corryn vividly remembers wrestling with God. ‘I was struggling—am I really trusting God with my family and the birth? Do I really believe all the things about God that I say I believe—even with Covid-19?’ With a smile and a laugh, Francis reflects that, ‘it was like Corryn started offering God her help. “If you just tell me your plan, God, then I’ll be able to trust you and even help you out”.’ Corryn agrees: ‘It was like, “If you just tell me how this is going to end, Lord, I’ll be fine with trusting you”’. Corryn has a friend who reminded her that just because you have questions about faith and how it works, doesn’t mean you don’t have faith. ‘That was good enough for me! And looking back at that time in hospital with Esther, I can testify that out of my questions came greater faith—I got there in the end and God was with me.’ The evening before Corryn went into early labour, she was sharing through Facebook Messenger with some other friends who were pregnant. ‘It was actually reassuring to hear that others had some of the same worries and fears—it wasn’t just me. I went to bed quite comforted.’ Corryn went into labour at 2am the following morning, four weeks ahead of schedule.
tough things in my life and God has always carried me. When you get through circumstances that you thought would break you, God says, “Well it didn’t break you. I was there with you and you made it through”. ‘When I remember who God is and what he’s already done, that disables fear. And there are scary things; giving birth in the middle of a pandemic—my worst nightmare came true! But on the other side of this, and even though I certainly didn’t enjoy it and would never want to do it again—I can see that God was giving me his strength the whole way through.’
GAZETTE Promotion to Glory: Captain Miriama Thomas, on 11 April 2020, from Vanua Levu, Fiji, aged 67 years. Miriama Taria Rokobiti was born in Fiji on 24 February 1953 and entered the Fiji Training College from Raiwai Corps with her husband David Thomas as a cadet in the Guardians of the Truth session. Commissioned on 25 January 1986, Lieutenants Miriama and David were appointed as Corps Officers, Suva Central Corps. Corps appointments followed at Lomaivuna in 1988, Sigatoka in 1990 and a return to Suva Central Corps in 1997. It is from Suva Central that they retired on 1 March 1998. We honour Captain Miriama Thomas for her 12 years and 3 months of active officership and her continued service in retirement. Please uphold Captain David Thomas, son Robert and extended family in prayer at this time of grief and loss. Well done, good and faithful servant of Christ! Bereavement: Major Timothy Malton, of his father Stan Malton, on Tuesday 28 April 2020, aged 86, from Palmerston North. We ask you to uphold in prayer Stan’s wife of 58 years Nancy Malton, Majors Tim and Zelma Malton, Stanley and Russell Malton and Jenny Kerr along with other family members, at this time of grief and loss.
‘I KNOW I’VE BEEN THROUGH TOUGH THINGS IN MY LIFE AND GOD HAS ALWAYS CARRIED ME.’ ‘It did cross my mind, as we were rushing around organising the boys and throwing things in the suitcase, that at least we’re going through this now, before any big Covid-19 cases or clusters emerge in Tauranga. Hopefully, we’ll be in and out of the hospital—such a high-risk area—before anything gets out of hand. It was a quick moment of thankfulness to God—there was a bit of me that was relieved, but I was still terrified as well!’ The decision ahead of time to ensure Francis got the first cuddles with his daughter before he had to leave the hospital, coupled with complications at birth resulting in Esther being taken to the special care unit, meant that Corryn didn’t get to hold her new baby until later that day. ‘That sucked, because I lost Francis and I still didn’t have my baby.’ Corryn and Esther remained in Tauranga Hospital for a week, due to complications with jaundice, and it was a trying time for Corryn. ‘Often during the night when I woke to feed Esther songs would pop into my head, one being ‘Thank You’ by The Katinas, which reminded me to be grateful. I know I’ve been through
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02 MAY 2020 WarCry 15
Royal Oak Nominated For Local Architecture Award Te Hononga Tāngata, also known as Royal Oak Housing Community, has been nominated for a New Zealand Institute of Architects Local Architecture Award in the ‘Housing—Multi Unit’ category. The Salvation Army Social Housing project was designed by Designgroup Stapleton Elliott and is one of ten shortlisted projects in the category within the Auckland region. Nominees are assessed primarily on how well the design responds to the client’s brief and its context. Located behind Northern Divisional Headquarters in Royal Oak and surrounded by a mix of commercial and residential properties, Principal Design Architect, Craig Roberts, says that creating a dignified entrance to the site for residents was of high importance. ‘You do get a sense that there’s a front door there. It’s not just a place at the back.’ Establishing a sense of community within the complex was a priority of the brief, as was enabling a space for tenants to individualise their units and feel at home. To achieve this, the 50-unit development was divided into three separate buildings— which are each orientated to overlook a central pedestrian street—and is landscaped with communal green spaces. ‘We didn’t want them to feel like they were in huge, anonymous apartments,’ Craig says, ‘and so we did everything we could to break that down.’ Residents’ wellbeing and sustainability were also major considerations in the design. ‘We made sure that there was plenty of solar access, particularly into the living areas, and that the living areas overlooked common areas that are active and being used, and then people feel connected to the community,’ Craig explains.
Photography: Mark Scowen.
‘The bedrooms have a sliding door, offering flexibility of space and the option of extending the bedroom space into the living room, so it feels much larger than a 50-square-metre unit.’ Although jury visits and award presentations have been postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions, the shortlisting is another tick of approval since Te Hononga Tāngata was officially opened in November. Upon return visits to the site, Craig has been encouraged to see how the shared spaces— particularly the gardens and communal building—are being embraced and cared for by the residents. ‘They were really keen to show off and to talk about how good the place was for them, and how it made such a huge difference to their lives.’
Doing It Tough For Those Doing It Rough When Wellington South Corps Officer, Major Keith Tyson, embarked on the Tour Aotearoa bike-packing trip to raise money for Wellington South Community Ministries, he expected to cycle the full 3000km from Cape Reinga to Bluff. Unfortunately, when New Zealand entered into lockdown, the journey was cut short by nine days. The $1500 he raised along the way will help the Wellington South Community Ministries team support its local community through the aftermath of Covid-19. ‘They can use it for whatever they like, because they’re going to be under the pump now for the rest of the year,’ says Keith. Keith undertook the journey alongside IT Project Manager Mark Bennett, who fundraised for Carl Sithole Children’s Home in South Africa. One of their trip highlights was meeting fellow riders—some of whom had travelled internationally to complete Tour Aotearoa. ‘It was really good to meet up with other people and swap stories … you’d always catch up with people at the end of the day 16 WarCry 02 MAY 2020
or ride with people for a while,’ Keith remembers. The hardest point of the ride was a steep climb over the Maungatapu Saddle, followed by a night-time descent in the pouring rain. However, the chance to view the beauty of creation was worth the hard work. ‘It’s amazing, the incredible country that we have.’ The irony of undertaking this journey right before New Zealand was forced indoors is not lost on Keith, and he is glad the donations will support the many people near Wellington South who have nowhere to go. ‘Around our area, [there are] a lot of people living week to week and a lot of people living on the street,’ Keith says. ‘We’re trying to reach out to them, but they don’t have the places like the drop-in centres to go and hang out.’ The abrupt ending to the ride has left a case of ‘unfinished business’ for Keith, who is excited to go back and start again from the beginning when the event is held once more in two years’ time.
Covid-19 Brings Street Together Majors Jeannine and Joe Serevi moved into Breton Grove in Kingston, Wellington, just a few months before the national lockdown. ‘We still felt new to the street and didn’t know many of our neighbours,’ explains Jeannine. ‘I felt especially isolated because of that lack of connection.’ Jeannine talked with neighbours over the fence, wondering if they’d be keen to gather with others in the street on Easter Sunday. Word got around and sixteen neighbours gathered—with all the appropriate physical distancing protocols adhered to. ‘It was very low key. We just welcomed everyone and sang the national anthem together. I asked how people would feel about me leading a prayer of blessing and protection for our community and the Prime Minister, and everyone agreed,’ Jeannine explains. A street Facebook page got up and running with neighbours keen to support one another during lockdown.
The idea of gathering together again to honour our fallen heroes began to formulate. At 10.30am on Anzac Day, 27 residents of Breton Grove came out to share in a simple service led by Joe and Jeannine that included The Last Post, a minute’s silence followed by Reveille, the national anthem and prayer. ‘One of our neighbours set up a memorial to her uncle and father who fought in the war, which really added to the service,’ Jeannine reports. ‘When we first moved to Breton Grove, our teenagers were like, “Stop talking to strangers, Mum, you’re being weird”. But not anymore. Now everyone is searching for connection with people. Covid-19 lockdown has given us the opportunity to stop and talk with each other and no one thinks there’s anything weird about it—including our teenagers,’ laughs Jeannine.
The majority of the tour group during a stop at Oxford.
Historical Pilgrimage On Saturday 14 March 2020, members of the Christchurch Salvation Army History Group went on a historical pilgrimage to former sites of Salvation Army ministry in suburban Christchurch and adjacent country towns. The field trip visited the locations of the since-closed corps of Sumner, Lyttelton, Leeston, Rakaia, Oxford and Kaiapoi and the sites of former outposts at Tai Tapu and Kainga. We also mentioned the previous Salvation Army ministry at Akaroa, visited the site of the former New Brighton Corps— now relocated to Aranui—and noted that Rangiora is the only country centre adjacent to Christchurch which still has an operational corps. The tour stopped at each site, where a brief history of the corps was given and where people with personal or family
connections to that place had the chance to speak. We also remembered the connections of strong Salvation Army families and their descendants to several corps. These included the Millar and Knight families to Leeston, the Libeau family to Akaroa, the Brunskill family to Sumner and the Roberts family to New Brighton. Of further interest was the number of outposts operated by several of these corps. Over the years, Leeston and Akaroa both had seven outposts, Oxford had four and Rakaia had three. We also noted the existence of the Glen Tui camp site in the hills behind the township of Oxford. Every member of the tour received a booklet with photos and details of each site visited.
02 MAY 2020 WarCry 17
Covid-19 Shrinks the Army World The Salvation Army is an international movement, currently operating in 131 countries. The Covid-19 global pandemic has not only highlighted our shared faith and mission, but also the shared humanity that exists between Salvationists, irrespective of country of birth, ethnicity, age, gender, marital status and rank. This reality has become especially poignant for Captain Mat Badger, following six weeks spent at the International Training College (ICO) in London last year. When the Covid-19 threat ramped up globally, instead of just wanting to know about the Army’s official responses around the world, Captain Mat Badger wanted to know: Are my friends safe? Have any of my Salvationist brothers and sisters lost family or corps members to the virus? How’s Scott and his family in the US? What about Fozia and her daughters in Pakistan? What can I pray for? Thanks to Mat, War Cry was able to invite seven officers from ICO Session 243 (as well as two other Territorial Youth Secretaries from Australia and Indonesia) to share a snapshot of their experiences of living and serving amidst the global pandemic. Major Kazue Nishimura of Japan has been largely working from home with her husband and two sons. Wife, mother, member of the Territorial Management Board and Chaplain for the Medical Department, Kazue reports, ‘I realise that God is closer to me than ever. The staff members of The Salvation Army hospital continue to work devotedly amidst the corona-virus crisis—in such people I see the love of Christ. I used to think that close contact with Major Kazue Nishimura. people and praising God together in worship were commonplace, but I now realise what a great blessing that was.’ In Sweden, Major Ewa-Marie Kihlagård has also been working from home, with her husband and sons. Her role as Assistant Divisional Commander has provided plenty of challenges and required quick decision making, but God has been present with Ewa during these leadership difficulties. ‘As the coronavirus began to affect our country, I worried I was losing my peace. I talked to the Lord and was reminded of all the times I had preached about the peace and hope the Spirit gives us. I realised I had a special opportunity to practise what I teach and live what I preach. I reached out to the Lord and asked him to give me the hope and peace that comes only from his Holy Spirit. Almost at that moment I felt a change in my heart and my mind. God gave me his peace and it has carried me dayby-day, and will continue to carry me as I try and give hope and support to others,’ says Eva. In Pakistan, recently widowed, Major Fozia Columbus is juggling working from home during lockdown with parenting her three daughters. ‘I’m learning new things about my daughters, daily. They are adaptable, caring and fun girls who don’t complain. But now they want to go to school and play with their friends and 18 WarCry 02 MAY 2020
this is affecting their moods and mental health,’ Fozia says. ‘They are now feeling sad, irritated, confused and their sleeping routine is disturbed by fear of the unknown.’ Fozia is a corps-based Community Development Manager. ‘When the pandemic occurred, I went through hours of deep fear and anxiety, because I’m working closely with communities in the slum Major Fozia Columbus. areas of Pakistan. I tried to get information to protect these large communities,’ she reports. ‘I miss my friends, colleagues—even boardroom meetings,’ admits Fozia. ‘I can’t wait to see everyone in person. I pray that this new version of life keeps us together and strong in faith. I feel that God is answering our prayers and that soon he will make us a global community with spiritual connectivity.’ Major David Woodman from the United Kingdom has been in strict lockdown with his family while working from home. David is part of a divisional team working to deploy staff to the most mission-critical work. ‘Sadly, this has also involved sending many staff home on reduced pay as our income streams have been severely impacted,’ says David. On the flip side, David Major David Woodman. reports that he has ‘seen God in the kindness of strangers, the selfless devotion of careworkers and medical professionals.’ Observing the new ways of worshipping together remotely, David says that he is ‘intrigued that some of our worship is more interactive on social media that when we were all gathered together in the same place.’ In Indonesia, Captain Dian Harymukti is also working from home, but like many other parents around the world she’s also teaching her own children. ‘It’s not easy because their homework is far more difficult than when I was in school,’ she admits. Dian is also observing, ‘many Indonesians are rethinking their spiritual life and noticing how fragile life is because of the virus.’ But she affirms that ‘we really need not be afraid because even though our bodies are threatened by the virus, our souls will remain safe because we have the assurance of salvation in Jesus.’ In Norway, Major Wenche Walderhaug leads the Salvation Army’s Drug and Rehabilitation Department. Since March 13 she’s been working from her kitchen. Wenche had the difficult task of putting together online Easter reflections for staff, employees, and clients. ‘Trying to convey the Easter message in a simple way using language all our people would understand,
Captain Dian Harymutki.
in the situation we are facing today, was challenging—but also a blessing. I was reminded that Jesus knows what suffering is, and he has showed us how to be servant leaders and that his victory is our victory.’ Major Scott Shelbourne from the Central Territory in America reports: ‘Our community’s local homeless shelters have chosen to move the majority of their clients to hotels. I’m coordinating the effort to supply these people with food. It’s a collaboration of churches and social service agencies.’ As a husband, father and grandfather to five grandchildren, Scott admits, ‘although we can see everyone through virtual portals, it’s not the same. Virtual chats only last for a short time, and you can’t play basketball with your grandson through a tablet or sit with your granddaughter at her tea party. We miss these moments and are looking forward to when we can experience them again. ‘The experience of going through this pandemic has heightened my understanding of the importance God places on meaningful relationships in our lives. My interactions with others have changed because now we are cautious and must make sure we are only in contact when absolutely necessary. I do not like this social distancing at all! When we are able, I am going to visit everyone and renew my time with them. And that time I am determined to make as meaningful as possible,’ affirms Scott. Aux-Lieutenants Melissa and Adam Purcell agree, and with three children of their own, and responsibilities as Youth and Young Adults Secretaries for Australia, Melissa explains: ‘As a family, I think we will take the time to slow down more. Sometimes life feels like you are riding a wave and there are constant ups and downs. I think we will make a more purposeful choice to get off the wave more often and take time to breathe. Sometimes it takes something drastic to realise what you were missing.’
‘WE ARE ALL ENDEAVOURING TO DO OUR BIT...’
In Thessalonians, Paul tells us to encourage one another and build each other up—just as we are doing. God, who calls us, is faithful and He will enable us. His promises and faithfulness permeate through our lands, but to say we’ve had a challenging time going into our autumn season with Covid-19, is an understatement. We are all endeavouring to do our bit, to keep social distance and put in place work plans. We have been—and are—adapting, being flexible, enabling our teams to meet the needs of the vulnerable and marginalised, while also looking after those around us. We celebrate our small freedoms with a sigh of relief: that ‘take-away coffee’ and fast food. Kiwi, Fijians, Tongans, Samoans, Koreans, Chinese and more, we have all collaborated, worked together to respond to the current needs. The Salvation Army is doing mission together—caring for others and transforming lives—it is the Army with its sleeves rolled up, it’s our DNA. We have found new ways of working through social media: team meetings online, live streaming, church online, prayer, Supportive Accommodation, Reintegration, Oasis, food banks—all ‘virtually’ responding to some degree. I am reminded of Jesus’ words to his disciples in John 21:6 and Luke 5:4–6, when Jesus challenged his disciples fishing ‘... they had been out all night and caught nothing. Jesus said, “Put your net down on the other side of the boat…”’, there they caught a great multitude of fish, which broke their nets. What can we learn from this miracle? • God involves us. He teaches how we can partner with the miraculous to bring people into his kingdom. • We can commit to intentionally sharpening our focus to make disciples. • God uses the familiar to do the incredible, God shows up and does the unexpected, reimagining his will for our community. • God moves us from the security of the shore—our comfort zones—to the risks of deep water, no risk, no rewards! • When we obey God, nets break, needs are met, hearts and minds are changed, and God is glorified. We celebrate again twenty-first century miracles of people’s lives being changed. As we move forward, we continue good works within our community, following the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. We don’t step back into the past, but move forward in Christ. May God’s peace, protection and strength continue to lead us forward. Colonel Melvin Fincham Territorial Secretary for Mission 02 MAY 2020 WarCry 19
Two Trees in the Garden There were two trees in the Garden of Eden. In this two-part series, we look back to the Book of Genesis and forward to the Book of Revelation to examine the implications of the two trees on the human race. BY VIVIENNE HILL
When we walk with Christ in times that are stable and predictable, we often don’t need to exert or rely on our faith; but occasionally, our prayers can become repetitive and our religious routines monotonous. This all changes in times of crises. Our prayers in these times— 20 WarCry 02 MAY 2020
often whispered in desperation— become lifelines in a world of instability and drama. It is in these turbulent seasons when what we believe is either discarded or applied. We can either revert to our pre-salvation defaults or we can take the word of God and apply it, by faith, to our circumstances.
Is God who he says he is? At times, how we react rests on whether we have a trust relationship with God. We can often trust him for our salvation and even eternal life, but can we trust him for the next mortgage payment in a time of job loss, or recovery in the midst of a divorce? It is in a time of crisis when we either rely on our own resources and understanding, or examine what we
believe about God, his character and his claims in the Bible—in other words, is God who he says he is? The Bible is the great epic, telling the story of the fall of humankind and God saving us through Jesus Christ. It is also our first introduction to our creator and his dealings with the human race. It is in the Bible where we read about God’s intentions toward us. The best place to start is in the Book of Genesis. It is here where we read about the creation of the universe and our world, but it also establishes that God created all of this to house humankind with the desire to live and walk with us in this, his creation.
The two trees In Genesis 2, right after the creation of Adam, it says in verse 9 that God planted a garden, with many fruitbearing trees, but two particular trees: ‘In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’. It goes on to say in verse 16–17, ‘And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die”’. Here we have God’s first intention towards us: we are able to choose the terms on which we will interact with God. We can choose to obey him or disobey him. We can choose to trust him or not trust him. The two trees represent this choice. The choice given to Adam and Eve is the same choice given to every person that has, or will, inhabit earth. The two trees stood side by side, both bore fruit—one the knowledge of good and evil, the other eternal life. God did not forbid Adam from eating the fruit of the tree of life, only the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The command was given to Adam before Eve’s creation, but obviously passed on to Eve. I often wonder what would have happened if, when Eve offered the fruit to Adam, he had rejected it and gone to God and asked for help … this may be in part why Jesus is called the second Adam? The snake who tempted Eve lied at every turn. He questioned God’s intentions toward humankind and asked, ‘Did God really say..’ It’s the same lie each person of faith needs to confront and answer for themselves. The snake also said in Genesis 3:4–5, ‘“You will not certainly die”, the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil”’.
HERE WE HAVE GOD’S FIRST INTENTION TOWARDS US: WE ARE ABLE TO CHOOSE ON WHAT TERMS WE WILL INTERACT WITH GOD. The tragedy of these lies is that death did enter into God’s perfect creation and they began the process of dying; but, also, they were already like God—made in his image. This one act of disobedience stripped humankind of their divine relationship and overturned their trust in God. In T. Desmond Alexander’s book From Eden to New Jerusalem it says: The ones through whom God’s sovereignty was to be extended throughout the earth, side with his enemy. By heeding the serpent they not only give it control over the earth, but they themselves become its subjects. In Romans 3:20 it says: ‘...through the law we become conscious of our sin’, God did not want Adam to be conscious or gain knowledge of sin. The very act of eating from the tree was sin, because God told him not to. Adam and Eve chose sin and death by disobeying the one law given to them. They could have freely eaten from the other tree offered to them, the tree of life, and gained eternal life by grace—but they didn’t. God then had to separate them from the garden to stop them eating from the tree of life. He expels them and a cherubim is assigned with a flaming sword to keep them from returning to Eden, because if they had eaten they would have been immortal in their sin, always subject to it and living eternally in sin. The tree of life is actually the antidote to the problem of sin, but first things have to be set right. The two trees represent the dichotomy of belief: the tree of knowledge of good and evil is the law of sin and ultimately death; the tree of life is eternal life
GOD GIVES MANKIND THE LAW, BUT PROMISES A DAY WHEN ANOTHER TREE WILL ENTER (THE CROSS), AND THE SECOND ADAM, JESUS CHRIST, WILL DO WHAT THE FIRST ADAM FAILED TO DO.
and ultimately grace. To put it simply: humankind chose law over grace. We then see in the books of the Old Testament that follow, the application and consequences of choosing law over grace. God gives mankind the law— many laws—but promises a day when another tree will enter (the cross), and the second Adam, Jesus Christ, will do what the first Adam failed to do.
The seed of the woman Immediately after this, God announces the antidote to the poison: ‘And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel’ (Genesis 3:15, NKJV). This verse was traditionally called the Protevangelium, a word comprised of two Greek words: protos meaning ‘first’ and evangelion meaning ‘good news’ or ‘gospel’. So this is the first mention of salvation in the Bible. Also of note is the use of ‘her seed’. In and out of the biblical context, ‘seed’ is used for the seed of the father—in Romans 1:3 and Jeremiah 33:26. It is usually ‘egg’ rather than ‘seed’ that is applied to women. This then is a hint to the fact that the Messiah will not have an earthly father. Immediately after the fall, God’s intentions are laid out to Adam, Eve and the serpent: there will be a future occurrence when One will come and overthrow the kingdom of darkness and the law of sin and death. We see God’s plan of redemption and grace take form. God will choose a man, Abraham, and through his family line he will ultimately bring forth the Messiah. But, in the meantime, humankind are separated from God and the dominion of darkness rules and reigns on earth. But that’s not the end of the story… In part two of this series, we see the reappearance of the tree of life, but this time it is in the Book of Revelation. 02 MAY 2020 WarCry 21
7 3 5 2 8 4 6 8 7 9 5 7 1 4 1 9 8 2 3
1 4
1
2 3 5 6
Each Sudoku number puzzle has a unique solution that can be worked out logically (not mathematically). The numbers 1 to 9 appear once in every row, column and 3x3 square.
OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Mark (Territorial Commander) and Julie Campbell (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) No official engagements at this time Colonels Suzanne (Chief Secretary) and Melvin Fincham (Territorial Secretary for Mission) 13 May: Spiritual Day (online) Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Spiritual Life Development) 13 May: Spiritual Day (online)
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PRAY For Salvation Army Essential Services around the world, particularly for workers supplying food assistance, addiction services and the front-line response to community services.
SHARE YOUR NEWS: warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz
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
$30 will provide The Salvation Army in Fiji, Tonga and Samoa with the ability to either purchase disposable sanitary items, or purchase materials to make re-useable, environmentally friendly sanitary pads.
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Quiz Answers: 1 Graham Norton, 2 The Wiggles’ big red car, 3 Beautiful, 4 Ruby, 5 Hosea (1:4).
22 WarCry 02 MAY 2020
Scavenger hunt!
Can you find something… • orange • with the number 7 on it • with handwriting that isn’t your own (or the other player’s) • magnetic • with a face • sparkly • that gives light—literally! • soft • that protects you from the rain • that turns on and off • that changes colour • that has a logo on the packaging
Can you match the name of the baby animal with its mother?
aby animal nam –B es CHIC
K FAWN CYGNET KIT C UB PIGLET L A MB FOAL
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Challenge someone in your house to a home scavenger hunt—see how many items you can both find from the list below in 10 minutes!
Mamas & bubbas!
Exodus 2:3
Mother: LIONESS Mother: JILL Baby:
Baby:
Mother: EWE Baby:
Feel free to add some of your own: Mother: MARE Mother: PEN
Baby:
Baby:
Mother: SOW
Spot the difference! Can you find 7 differences between the two squirrel pictures?
But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.
Baby:
Moses’ story is pretty incredible—God did some awesome works through him—but none of these could have happened without the brave actions of his mother, Jochebed. At the time when Moses was born in Egypt, Pharaoh had commanded that every Hebrew baby boy was to be killed. Jochebed hid Moses for three months. She couldn’t keep him concealed forever, so she came up with a plan. Jochebed made a basket which would float and keep her baby safe, placed Moses in it and put the basket in the River Nile. He was found by the Pharaoh’s daughter, who kept him as her own child. Jochebed did become Moses’ nurse, so she saw him grow up; but she made the impossible choice to let her child go, to keep him safe.
Mother: DOE Baby: Mother: HEN
Baby:
Thankfully, most of our mothers are not faced with life or death choices like this. However, each day they make many tough decisions and sacrifices to take care of us and guide us through life. When you’re wrapping up a present for your mum this week, remember that our mothers are one of the best gifts we will ever receive. Keep this in mind, not just on Mother’s Day, but every day. THINK ABOUT...
How can you include your mum in your prayers? 02 MAY 2020 WarCry 23
As a mother My job is to Take care of the Possible And trust God With the Impossible. Ruth Bell Graham