FAITH IN ACTION 03 JUNE 2017 | Issue 6668 | $1.50
On the Spot with the Mayor of Wellington
Do Good with a Good Cup of Coffee Salvation Army Values:
A PLACE TO BELONG
Lee Strobel’s ‘The Case for Christ’
Love Languages for Teenagers
KARA ISAAC Internationally Award-Winning Author
4
6
12
16
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 Romance novelist Kara Isaac,
Photography: Jenny Siaosi
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. Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission. Publishing for 133 years | Issue 6668 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 salvationarmynzftwarcry @salvationarmynz salvationarmynzft
2 WarCry 03 JUNE 2017
11
Putting up guard rails A few weeks back, a Government MP accused The Salvation Army of having been behind a media campaign around homelessness, implying this was not a good thing. He also suggested tension between The Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit and our churches because of the unit’s political engagement. The MP was taken to task by his Party and apologised for his ‘naïve’ remarks. Let’s be clear, the Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit is doing what the rest of us Sallies would hopefully call ‘God’s work’. When the unit was created in 2004, its founder, Major Campbell Roberts, told War Cry, ‘The unit represents an additional weapon in our armoury. It is an attempt to minimise the pain and suffering of individuals by addressing larger social issues. By helping individuals in need as well as attacking the reasons behind their problems, we can help more people in total.’ We have been raising serious concerns about New Zealand’s inability to meet its housing needs—and the links between housing deprivation and poverty—for at least 10 years. Political parties acknowledge the worth of our influence, and we are ready to sit down with anyone to discuss our views and listen to theirs. When Prime Minister Bill English was asked if The Salvation Army ‘had manufactured the homelessness crisis’, he replied, ‘No, but they certainly drew attention to homelessness.’ Surely that’s something to celebrate! The Salvation Army is not content to be the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff—we want to help erect guard rails at the top. Christina Tyson Editor
What then is holiness? Holiness is nothing but the implanting, writing and living out of the gospel in our souls. John Owens
John 3:6 Contemporary English Version Humans give life to their children. Yet only God’s Spirit can change you into a child of God. Hoani 3:6 Ko tā te kikokiko e whānau ai he kikokiko; ko tā te Wairua e whānau ai he wairua.
A
utocorrect and predictive text on smartphones are supposed to help us. But sometimes they’re laughably wrong. Like when you say you’re ‘auditioning your kids’, and autocorrect changes it to ‘auctioning your kids’. Or when you text your sister that ‘Grandma is in the grave’, when you thought you were typing ‘Grandma is in the garage’! I’m not married to Keith Urban. Neither is my husband married to Christina Aguilera. But those are the people my phone suggests whenever I start typing either of our names in a message. Life presents so many decisions. The consequence of a poor choice is sometimes minor. Jump in the wrong queue at the supermarket, and you lose a few minutes’ activity. Accelerate over the speed limit on a dark, wet road, and the consequences can be awful and far reaching. But there’s a day-to-day guidance feature we can tap into for small and big decisions—God’s Holy Spirit. Perhaps it sounds spooky to those who haven’t experienced this, but when we live under the Holy Spirit’s influence we’re aware of an extrawise second-opinion on life every day. Here’s how God describes the impact of the Holy Spirit in the Bible: I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. (Ezekiel 26:26–27, Msg)
The Holy Spirit nudges, sometimes corrects and even holds us back: Wait up, think about this for a moment! This is a mix of predictive and autocorrect functions, I suppose. God’s foresight in seeing what lays ahead cautions us and helps us avoid missteps. How do we experience the Holy Spirit in our lives? In New Zealand culture we can compare this to the Māori greeting of hongi. When we hongi, pressing our nose and forehead against someone else’s, we engage in a sacred moment where our ‘ha’ (or ‘breath of life’) is intermingled with theirs. It’s reminiscent of the Bible’s creation story, where God breathed life into man’s nostrils. God, who first breathed life into humanity, wants to breathe the Holy Spirit’s life into us today. We position ourselves for this by leaning in close to Jesus, whose life and death made a way for us to access God without any barriers. And then, in a trusting prayer, we ask God to change our mindset from self-willed to God-willed. At this moment, the breath of God’s Holy Spirit is breathed gently but decisively into our spirit. In Māori culture, a hongi means we’re no longer strangers; we’ve been welcomed as family. And when we hongi with God, we’re also welcomed into God’s family. God’s Spirit can bring life and understanding that helps us every day. But don’t take my word for it—explore and discover this for yourself! BY CHRISTINA TYSON
03 JUNE 2017 WarCry 3
QUIKQUIZ 1 When is Queen
Elizabeth II’s actual birthday?
2 What is a group of emu called?
3 Where in New
Zealand would you find the big apple?
4 What is the
perimeter of a circle called?
5 Who threw a
javelin at David?
Answers on page 22
When a man throws an empty cigarette package from an automobile, he is liable to a fine of $50. When a man throws a billboard across a view, he is richly rewarded. Pat Brown American politician
A Seriously Good Cup of Coffee A new takeaway cup is not only good for the planet, it’s also helping The Salvation Army do good for Kiwis. If you live in Christchurch, you may well get your coffee in a Salvation Army-branded paper cup this month. It’s the brainwave of Ashbec Trading, which provides thousands of takeaway cups to cafés in the South Island region. The company approached The Salvation Army with a plan to manufacture 200,000 paper cups, with a portion of profits going directly to the Army. The cup is fully biodegradable, with the lining made from corn starch, not plastic. From 8 June, a fully compostable lid will also be introduced—the first of its kind in the country. Dubbed the ‘Appeal Cup’, printing on the cup reads: ‘CAUTION: This cup contains serious good.’ The goal is to raise $10,000 for The Salvation Army, says business owner Chris Thomson. ‘We wanted to give something back to the community. We’ve got this product, and rather than use it to advertise our own business, we’ll use it to promote The Salvation Army.’
Drama The Case for Christ (PG, Coarse Language) Jon Gunn
‘You’re cheating on me with Jesus,’ declared Chicago Times journalist Lee Strobel to his wife who had recently become a Christian. What unfolds is Strobel’s investigation into the resurrection of Jesus as he aims to prove to his wife she’s crazy to believe in God because the resurrection simply isn’t true. Based on Strobel's best-selling book, this film tackles his sceptical, intellectual questions about Jesus against the backdrop of love, pain, loss and relationships. This film will give those interested in exploring the Christian faith a safe space to do so—and for those who might be feeling a little weary, it will reaffirm the existence of a God who loves them. (Reviewed by Shar Davis)
4 WarCry 03 JUNE 2017
The Army was their pick of charities because ‘we’ve all had something to do with them here, with what we’ve gone through in Christchurch and Kaikoura [with the earthquakes], so they were top of our list.’ The Appeal Cup may be just the froth on the top, with Ashbec planning a nationwide cup campaign for Christmas. ‘We’re really excited about it. We’re giving it our all and want to make an impact for The Salvation Army,’ says Chris. It’s World Environment Day on 5 June—why not do good for the environment and for The Salvation Army by asking your local café to provide the Appeal Cup? Orders can be made nationwide through sales@ashbec.co.nz
GOODSTUFF We know teens are obsessed with their phones, but are adults just as bad? A study of 2000 UK teens found a third of teens want their parents to stop looking at their phones, and 14 per cent said parents looked at devices during meals. But in a separate poll of parents, 95 per cent denied looking at devices during meals. The good news is 82 per cent of teens thought meal times should be device-free. Hmmm … maybe if we want our kids to look up from their phones, we need to as well.
Aubergine Stacks The aubergine is a vegie with loads of potential. Try this for a delicious and easy recipe.
ONTHESPOT Justin Lester Wellington City Mayor—arguably New Zealand’s most popular party guest. Secret indulgence: Football and chocolate milk. Celebrity crush: Justin Trudeau—more specifically his ability to plank. What I’m watching or reading: My daughter Maddie and I just finished reading The BFG, The Secret Garden, and are currently reading Heidi. One thing I love: Getting outdoors, mountain biking, trail running and swimming. One thing I hate: Plastic bags. Something that would surprise us about your job: I receive 30,000 event invites a year.
Humans use 80 trillion aluminium cans each year. Recycling just one aluminium can saves enough energy to run our TVs for at least three hours.
1 medium aubergine
Pre-heat oven to 200°C.
2–3 Tbsp olive oil
Cut the aubergine lengthwise into six even slices. Lay these on a baking tray, and drizzle lightly with olive oil, then turn them over and repeat. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
Salt and pepper 2–3 Tbsp chopped fresh basil (or 2 Tbsp basil pesto) 2–3 tomatoes, thinly sliced 6–8 black olives, chopped 100g thinly sliced (or 1 cup) mozzarella cheese
Bake for 12–15 mins until soft and beginning to brown. Sprinkle each of the slices with some of the chopped basil or brush with pesto. Cover the four larger slices with sliced tomato. Sprinkle with chopped olives, and cover with cheese. Season again with salt and pepper. Assemble the aubergine halves by stacking the slices, with smallest pieces on top. This will make two stacks. Sprinkle each half with remaining cheese, then bake at 200°C for another 10–15 mins until cheese is melted and tomato looks cooked.
Source | The Ultimate Vegetarian Collection by Simon and Alison Holst
Autobiography What Cancer Taught Me Jake Bailey
Jake Bailey was head boy at Christchurch Boys’ High School when diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of cancer—so aggressive the tumours could double in size each day. Jake made headlines when, five days into chemo, he gave the valedictory speech at his school prize giving. This book is hard to read—as any story involving a 17-year-old in excruciating pain would be. But it’s also the story of a resilient and intelligent young man —heart breaking and inspirational in equal measure. (Penguin)
03 JUNE 2017 WarCry 5
Photography: Jenny Siaosi
When New Zealander Kara Isaac couldn’t find a Christian novel she wanted to read, she decided to write one herself. This month she releases her third book, and is a nominee at the international ‘Oscars of romance writing’. BY INGRID BARRATT
A
uthor Kara Isaac’s life is glamorous for ‘one week a year,’ she laughs. That week will be in July, when she attends the ‘RITAs’, or the Romance Writers of America Awards—considered the Oscars of the billion-dollar industry. The fact that a Christian romance writer is a finalist is startling in its achievement. To be nominated of the 2000 entries, a book must be scored as outstanding by all five anonymous judges. This is in an industry that since the ludicrous success of Fifty Shades of Grey has seen the explosion of erotica, and where the current top sellers are often LGBT+ romances. In this context, it is stunning that a book which openly wrestles with faith, and that is free of sex, rippling abs and Lotharios, has been noticed by industry leaders. Kara is nominated not only in the ‘Best Romance with Spiritual or Religious Elements’ category, but in the general market ‘Best First Book’ category.
The cringe factor If the idea of a Christian romance novel makes you cringe, you’re not alone—it made Kara cringe, too. ‘I’ve always been a huge reader, but I reached a point where there was just nothing in Christian fiction that I could relate to—there was a lot of historical, Amish-bonnet fiction,’ she explains. ‘There was also a lot of Bridget Jones style chic-lit, but Christian chic-lit tended to have the same heroine—in her 30s and desperate for a husband, and that didn’t resonate with me.’ At the time, Kara was a high-achieving career woman, working as Private Secretary to then Prime Minister John Key, followed by roles with other government ministers. Her role included attending APEC in Russia, and being helicoptered onto an oil rig off the Norwegian coast. She had also re-committed to her Christian faith, having grown up as a pastor’s kid in her hometown of New Plymouth. Hurt by the way her parents had been treated at times, Kara stopped going to church when she went to university. But she felt a pull back towards her faith, despite meeting a ‘wonderful guy’ that she had fallen in love with. ‘I felt convicted that either I was “in” or I was “out”, but I couldn’t keep saying I had a faith without it having any relevance to my life,’ she recalls. ‘One night, [my boyfriend] asked me, “If I asked you to marry me, what would you say?” and I realised that I couldn’t say yes. I wanted my faith to influence my whole life.’ Recovering from a broken heart, Kara moved to Wellington, where she began her career in the public service, and found a church to call home—which she still attends today. 03 JUNE 2017 WarCry 7
And there was still a passion for books. ‘I remember reading a romance book one day that had a bit of a steamy scene, and I thought, “If my dad read over my shoulder right now, he would be mortified!” I used to skip the sex scenes, but I felt convicted that I wasn’t meant to be reading romance novels anymore.’ One day, Kara was sharing with a friend her frustration that Christian romances were cringy, while general market romances were inappropriate. Her friend responded, ‘So, why don’t you write something that you would want to read?’
THE BIBLE IS A LOVE LETTER BETWEEN GOD AND US, AND IF YOU READ SONG OF SONGS, YOU KNOW THAT ROMANTIC LOVE IS A PART OF BEING HUMAN.
The making of a romance writer
going to turn up?” ’ she recalls. Soon after, the pastors at The Street City Church where she worships took her aside. ‘They had just come back from a conference in Sydney, and they said, “Kara, we met a guy in Sydney and I think you should meet him. His name is Josh and he’s the worship pastor at his church.” ’ A few months later, Josh was on holiday in New Zealand and the pair met. They have now been married for seven years with three children—Judah, Ellie and Ari—and Josh is the worship and services pastor at their church. ‘I sometimes joke that I wrote my husband into existence,’ laughs Kara. Since they were beginning a family, Kara decided to give writing one last shot before giving up on her dreams. She pitched her manuscript at a writer’s conference in the States. ‘I literally finished writing the book on the plane on the way over, and I said, “Okay God, if this is something you have for me, something big needs to happen at this conference.” ’ On the last night, in a bar at the conference venue, she met a literary agent who signed her. This time, Kara set her novel in New Zealand, based around a Lord of the Rings tour. In 2016, she was signed to publishers Howard Books with a two-book contract. This Kiwi romance, Close to You, became her first novel—and the book that has been nominated for the RITAs, as well as three different Christian writer’s awards.
Kara worked on her first manuscript for over two years, and ended up with a 500-page novel she describes as ‘rubbish’. ‘I realised very quickly that I had no idea how to plot, write backstory, edit what was on the page, or any of the basics,’ she laughs. But Kara also had a literary milestone: her first rejection letter. ‘I got a very nice rejection that said, “This writing thing is a marathon not a sprint, and it might not be this one, or the one after that, or the one after that.” It forced me to uncurl my fingers around my first manuscript and try something new.’ Kara began writing again—in the evenings, after what were often long days working at Parliament. Eight years later, it has become her third novel, Then There Was You, being released on 22 June. The novel is set in a megachurch in Sydney, where Josh is a worship pastor. Meanwhile, Paige’s life has imploded and she has escaped America for a job organising the worship band’s tour. It’s a fun rom-com, sums up Kara. ‘They both have a lot of history. It’s also a story about hurts within the church, forgiving yourself, and seeing yourself the way God sees you.’ It was 10 years from when Kara first started writing to getting published. Along the way, she questioned whether she had any real talent. ‘But every time I felt ready to give up, it was like God gave me enough encouragement to keep going.’ Despite huge success in unpublished author competitions, including several awards, there were also more rejection letters from agents.
True romance Meanwhile, Kara’s own life took such as unexpected turn, that if it was a novel the plot twist might beggar belief. ‘I remember when I was writing Then There Was You, just lying on my bed one time and praying, “God, when is my Josh 8 WarCry 03 JUNE 2017
Reflections on romance So, does Kara encounter people who think writing romances are easy? She laughs. ‘My favourite is, “Oh, I have lots of book ideas; I’m just waiting for the right time to get published.” ’ But she tactfully suggests it’s hard to know what really goes into it until you try it for yourself. ‘I just say to people, “If you think you have a book in you, give it a go.” ’ For Kara, it is the readers that make writing a calling. ‘One letter I got really stood out for me—she was at university, in her early 20s. She had been ready to give up on ever meeting
a Christian guy. But after reading my books, she’d been really encouraged to hold out for whoever it was that God was going to put on her path, at the right time.’ Kara also gets letters from readers who don’t have a faith. For some, it has made them think more deeply about Christianity. ‘For others, it has made them want to throw the book across the room,’ she says.
A love letter And then there are those Christians who are against the whole concept of romance. Surprisingly, Kara agrees that the romance genre is not for everyone. ‘If you’re a Christian and you’re reading a romance that leaves you feeling frustrated and discontented with your life or marriage, I would suggest this is not something you should be reading,’ she says. ‘But the Bible is a love letter between God and us, and if you read Song of Songs, you know that romantic love is a part of being human.’ Ultimately, Kara feels romance does have a place in Christian literature. ‘I’ve had feedback from Christians who are appalled at “the lust”, because my characters are attracted to each other. But there is nothing wrong with attraction. I don’t write my characters as supermodels, but if Christians didn’t believe in attraction, we’d all be signing up for arranged marriages,’ she reflects. ‘The romance book industry is a multi-multi-million dollar industry! So if we can shine a bit of light into that and write stories that aren’t about purely physical attraction, that aren’t R18, but that have God and faith as part of the story, I think that’s a really important message.’
New Release: ‘Then There Was You’ Paige McAllister needs to do something drastic. Her boyfriend can’t even commit to living in the same country, her promised promotion is dead on arrival and the simultaneous loss of her brother and her dream of being a concert violinist has kept her playing life safe and predictable for six years. Things need to change. A moment of temporary insanity finds her leaving her life in Chicago to move to Sydney, Australia. There she finds herself, against many of her convictions, as a logistics planner for one of Australia’s biggest churches, and on a collision course with her boss’s son. Josh Tyler fronts a top-selling worship band and is in demand all over the world. But, in the past, his failed romantic relationships almost destroyed both his reputation and his family. He’s determined to never risk it happening again. The last thing he needs is some American girl tipping his ordered life upside down. Especially one who despises everything he’s ever worked for and manages to push every button he has. When Josh and Paige are thrown together to organize his band’s next tour, the sparks fly. But can they find a way to bridge the differences that pull them apart? Or will they choose the safety and security of what they know over taking a chance on something that will require them to risk everything? PRE-ORDER THE EBOOK FROM AMAZON AHEAD OF ITS 22 JUNE RELEASE FOR THE SPECIAL PRICE OF $USD 3.99. Paperback available from midJune—if you live in New Zealand, there’s a special New Zealand print run. Contact Kara to ask about ordering a signed copy direct. Go to karaisaac.com/contact
03 JUNE 2017 WarCry 9
Angry at God Virigina McInerney, author of Single Not Separate, struggled with anger towards God about her singleness. A while ago, the Lord began to deal with me about my own anger toward him over my singleness. Frustration had been building inside me, and I wanted to blame God. After all, in his sovereignty, this was what he’d chosen, or allowed, for me —and I didn’t like it. I knew I had to admit to my anger, but I was afraid to do so. I thought, I can’t express that to God … But then several things in my life went wrong in rapid succession, and one day I blew up. As I drove to a church seminar, of all things, I started to yell at God. Between my angry words, I apologised, ‘I’m sorry I feel this way. You have every right to strike me with a bolt of lightning. But this is how I feel.’
FINALLY, I WAS TELLING GOD THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW I FELT.
The Bible says God desires truth in our innermost being (Psalm 51:6). Finally, I was telling God the truth about how I felt. Even though I was seeing the situation in a wrong light, it had to come up and out. Unexpressed anger towards God can turn into resentment, bitterness, loss of hope, and eventually lead us to walk away from our faith. This would be the real tragedy.
God is the only one who could right my thinking and diffuse my anger. By stuffing my anger inside, I’d really been turning my back on God. If we feel angry with God, we can’t pretend it isn’t there. We can’t make it go away by a sheer act of will. Acknowledging it by being honest is the starting point. Confession follows. Then God forgives us and cleanses us. Great people of faith—such as Moses, Job, and David —experienced anger toward God, too. Thankfully, he understands our humanity, and he’s merciful. If we are living with unanswered prayer, believing what’s true about God’s character ultimately resolves our questions, even if we don’t get answers. We know God loves us. Consequently, we can rest in knowing he has a good plan for our lives. Romans 8:28 says God works all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. This means even without knowing the answer to our questions, we can rest in the knowledge that God can make everything turn out all right in the end. Even if the reason we are currently suffering is because of past mistakes—whether through singleness or other relationship struggles—God can redeem those mistakes, turning them into something good.
10 WarCry 03 JUNE 2017
How Do I Deal With Unanswered Prayer? All of us have questions that may not be answered this side of Heaven. When we don’t sense God answering these questions, we need to remember: God has his reasons for not answering. God is good even if his apparent lack of response makes it seem as though he isn’t. What the Bible says about God and about us is true even when our experience seems contradictory. If God truly wants us to know the answer to the question, he’ll tell us at a later time. The Bible tells us that whether we are married or single, we should be content in the situation God has put us in. That’s not the same as saying, ‘I have no desire to marry’ or ‘I don’t desire change in my relationship.’ We don’t have to give up our desires to be content. We have to give up our desire to control our situation. Source: todayschristianwomen.com
TESTIFY! Ronji Tanielu—a policy analyst at the Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit—has returned home after visiting 33 countries in two years. My wife Bena and I have a deep desire to fulfil the Great Commission given to us by Christ to make disciples of all nations. When I met Bena, she was already a missionary, and I prayed for her for three years before I asked her out. We saved for a year and a half—we decided not to buy a house, we took buses everywhere, didn’t buy clothes, and made our lunches, so we could support ourselves. I get embarrassed saying that we visited 33 countries, but we wanted to be available to help wherever we could. We visited local Christians in the local church, and simply tried to add our own ‘loaves and fishes’ to what they were doing. One of the countries that really stood out for me was Nigeria, because the persecution of Christians is especially savage. We met a young man who at the age of 12 was attacked by Muslim herdsman and was beaten, had one of his eyes cut out, his head slashed so he is now legally blind, and his private parts cut off. That is not an uncommon story in terms of the persecution of our brothers and sisters across the globe. In Nigeria, we worked with the Voice of the Christian Martyrs, which runs an orphanage of 400 children—every child has had at least one parent killed for being a Christian. We were also able to connect the ministry with The Salvation Army, as they are both working in displacement camps for people who have been chased out of their villages, or fled mass killings and persecution. Working in Nazareth, Israel, was a completely different experience. It is predominantly Muslim, so for two months all we did was pick up rubbish. Missionary work is not about
Photography: AJ Johnston
ability, but about availability. While we were there we shared Passover with Messianic Jews. It is mind-blowing how every part of Passover foreshadows Christ—even the way the bread is pierced reflects Isaiah 53, which says, ‘he was pierced for our transgressions’. The last four-and-a-half months we spent in China and Hong Kong, supporting the underground church and smuggling in Bibles. It is not illegal to own a Bible in China, but you have to register to purchase one. That means the authorities can come after your church, your family and you. We were each able to smuggle 50 kg of Bibles into Vietnam, as well. It was nerve-wracking, but we never had a single Bible seized. It’s important for foreigners to do this work, because the worst that can happen to us is we get our visas cancelled. For local Christians, the repercussions can be fatal.
MISSIONARY WORK IS NOT ABOUT ABILITY, BUT ABOUT AVAILABILITY. The Bible says that others will know our love for Christ by how we love each other. We are the body of Christ, and the persecuted church is like our leg—but it is being slashed, stabbed, cut, burned, spit on and chopped off. If our leg is suffering, we know that and respond. Yet funding from the West has been declining for years. The Bible tells us to care for our suffering brothers and sisters as if ‘you yourselves were suffering’ (Hebrews 13:3). What can we do in New Zealand for the suffering part of our body? We can start by praying. 03 JUNE 2017 WarCry 11
Have you tried to talk with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you? It can be so easy to misunderstand each other. BY SHAR DAVIS
Did you know people use at least three languages? As well as verbal and body language, we each have a love language—a way that we like to send and receive love. Dr Gary Chapman’s best-selling book The Five Love Languages helps people learn to speak the languages of love. He says everyone wants to be known and loved, but how we want to be loved is particular to us. How often do friendships hit a speed bump when someone feels unloved or taken for granted? There’s a good chance both people are expressing love in their own love language, which is gobbledygook to the other.
WORDS
‘The right word at the right time by the right person can inspire you to do and be more.’ When someone says they appreciate you, how do you feel? For those whose primary language is words, it can be life-giving, warm fuzzies all round. And when they express love, it will probably be in words. If your love language isn't words, it can be easy to brush off those comments with sarcasm or negative self-talk, but instead try saying ‘thank you’ and listen to the specific feedback they are giving you. Your acceptance of their words is acceptance of their love for you. 12 firezone.co.nz 03 JUNE 2017
Here are some different ways we can use words to express love: • words of appreciation • words of encouragement • words of praise • words of kindness. Criticism is too common in our culture. We know how to cut people down in 140 characters or less. But what we say matters and how we say it matters more.
TIME
‘The person who craves time just wants YOU: your time, your attention, your company.’ Time is precious, especially for people whose love language is time. It’s not about ‘neediness’, but ‘togetherness’—they want your focused attention, not you staring at a screen while sitting next to them. Time can be demonstrated through: • Quality conversations • Quality listening • Quality activities This is about quality, not quantity. Ever been frustrated by trying to have a conversation with someone and getting a ‘yep’ or ‘nah’ with no eye contact? Find something you enjoy doing together!
WE KNOW HOW TO CUT PEOPLE DOWN IN 140 CHARACTERS OR LESS. BUT WHAT WE SAY REALLY MATTERS … GIFTS
‘The value of an item isn’t its price tag, but in its meaning to the person.’ Gift lovers aren’t trying to milk anyone for extra presents or more expensive ones, but those whose love language is gifts feel loved when someone takes the time and effort to get them something personal and thoughtful. Equally, a gift-giver loves to get the ‘perfect’ gift for someone else. The fastest way to crush a gift-giver is to show little appreciation for their gift. If it’s not your thing, choosing a gift that pleases can be hard work, but there will be clues if you take time to listen or observe. If a present obviously has no thought involved it can have the opposite effect of what you mean, leaving a gift person feeling deflated. Gifters can find it hard to let people know their love language because they don’t want to be seen as selfish or materialistic.
SERVICE
‘Service goes beyond the expected into the realm of the unexpected.’ I hate to break it to you, but keeping your room clean probably doesn’t cut it as an act of service. There are jobs and chores that families and flatmates do because they’re all members of a household. Showing love through service goes above and beyond that. It’s about thinking what would have the most impact, doing something without being asked, and having a great attitude while doing it. Imagine your nana says her smoke alarm keeps warning of a flat battery. How thoughtful if you turned up with new batteries and changed them without her asking! Or a friend is stressing because she has lots of study and her car really needs a good clean, but she’s too busy. Washing her car is a way of expressing love to her (and you get to have some fun with bubbles!).
Touchers might like holding hands, sitting closely or absent-mindedly playing with your hair. Touch does not equal sex! Sex has the capacity to bond two people together, but it also has the ability to be empty and emotionally damaging. Chapman says, ‘Because sex is so powerful … [treating it] casually can leave lasting scars on the bodies and souls of people—especially people whose love language is touch.’
WHAT’S YOUR LANGUAGE?
For many people, discovering your preferred love language can be done by taking notice of your own behaviour, requests and complaints, or by taking a simple questionnaire. But two groups of people can struggle. Firstly, people who have always felt love because their parents spoke all five love languages to them. They speak all five languages pretty fluently, so it can be hard to decide which one speaks to them most deeply. The other group Chapman calls ‘love-starved’. They grew up in dysfunctional homes and did not feel secure in the love given to them by parents or significant adults. It can be hard to identify their love language, because every language feels foreign. Being intentional about love languages will transform your friendships and your family life, because you’ll be able to connect more deeply with others. You can get on better with your parents and siblings, and if dating is something you are also exploring, you can do this with less drama and awkwardness—who wouldn’t want that? FIND OUR MORE | Go to 5lovelanguages.com
TOUCH
‘If someone’s primary language is touch, then your touches speak more loudly than your words.’ Physical touch is important for all of us, but not everyone is totally comfortable with it. Some people are huggers and some are not. Huggers find real connection through human touch, but it’s important to respect other people’s personal physical boundaries. ‘A hug communicates love and affection to most people, but it shouts love to those who speak Touch,’ Chapman says. 03 JUNE 2017 WarCry 13
THE CASE FOR CHRIST The recently-released movie based on Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ explores the fascinating experiences of an atheist journalist whose wife decided to become a Christian. BY SHAR DAVIS
As a Christian, having serious doubts about God can be pretty scary, and life can become laced with guilt. After all, it’s called the Christian faith for a reason. So when that faith is weak and uncertain, it’s easy to feel like we are letting God down. I remember as a young teenager, trying to understand some of the elements of the Christian story. I asked a youth group leader about dinosaurs and how they fit into the creation account. Their response was, ‘What does it matter?’ I took that to mean it was not okay to question God, that somehow it was inappropriate and displeasing. People explore and wrestle with Christianity for lots of reasons. They may already have a relationship with Jesus, but something triggers a crisis of faith. They could be revisiting a childhood experience as an adult. Or, like former Chicago Tribune reporter Lee Strobel, they could be trying to convince their spouse that their newfound faith is factless and they are being manipulated. Lee described himself as an atheist who was very unimpressed when his wife Leslie became a Christian, saying ‘it felt like a baitand-switch scam’. In an interview with The Christian Post, he said, ‘I thought that the mere concept of an all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowing Creator of the universe was absurd. I thought that God didn’t create people, but people created God because they were afraid of death—so they invented this idea of Heaven. ‘Those were the kind of thoughts that I had,’ Lee said. ‘I was 14 WarCry 03 JUNE 2017
hostile toward Christianity. I used to mock and make fun of people who believed in Jesus being Divine.’ As Leslie grew in her Christian faith, her atheist husband began to notice changes in her character, personal confidence and integrity. Like any good journalist he wanted to know what was really going on. So he decided to investigate the claims of Christianity for himself, making the most of his professional research skills. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that after Lee’s research was concluded, he could not deny the historical evidence for Jesus Christ and decided to follow Jesus for himself. His wife encouraged him to turn his research into a book, and in 1998, The Case for Christ was published. Nearly 20 years later, the bestselling book is a movie of the same name. The movie focuses on Lee’s investigation into the resurrection of Jesus. If Lee could disprove the validity of Jesus’ resurrection then the whole Christian faith would tumble like a house of cards, he correctly reasoned. He looked at the medical evidence, questioning if Jesus’ death was a sham and his resurrection a hoax. He met with Dr Robert J. Stein, a world-renowned forensic pathologist who
knew his stuff, having completed more than 20,000 autopsies. Lee wasn’t the first to wonder if Jesus didn’t really die on the cross, with the Quran also making this claim. Conspiracy theorists throughout the centuries have suggested various ways that Jesus may have been taken from the cross only appearing to be dead. In the movie, Dr Stein walks Lee through the medical evidence clearly and without any sort of defensive stance. In fact, each person interviewed let the facts speak for themselves. I wonder, are we Christians sometimes too quick to get defensive when someone questions our faith? In one sense, God does not need defending. He is not fragile or weak. He can handle people’s doubts, and questions. The Christian faith has withstood countless attacks and conspiracy theories throughout the centuries and perhaps the stability under pressure helps validate it for those who are searching. Dr Alexander Metherell was also interviewed by Lee in his quest to disprove the death of Jesus. ‘Appealing to history and medicine, to archaeology and even Roman military rules, Metherell had closed every loophole: Jesus could not have come down from the cross alive,’ said Lee in his book. Lee also investigated the evidence for the missing body, saying, ‘The empty tomb, as an enduring symbol of the resurrection, is the ultimate representation of Jesus’ claim to being God.’ He interviewed theologian Dr William Craig, wanting to firstly establish if Jesus’ body had been put in the tomb at all. He then followed up with questioning of how secure the tomb was, if guards were present, and contradictions between the gospel accounts. Some critics and historians, like Dr Michael Martin, see the inconsistencies of the accounts as confirmation the resurrection is not true, ‘the accounts of what happened at the tomb are either inconsistent or can only be made consistent with the aid of implausible interpretations.’
AS LESLIE GREW IN HER CHRISTIAN FAITH, HER ATHEIST HUSBAND BEGAN TO NOTICE CHANGES IN HER CHARACTER, PERSONAL CONFIDENCE AND INTEGRITY. However, when Lee asked Dr Craig for his perspective, the theologian pointed out that a philosopher will see things differently to a historian. ‘For a philosopher, if something is inconsistent, the law of contradiction says, “This cannot be true, throw it out!” However, the historian looks at these narratives and says, “I can see some inconsistencies, but I notice something about them: they’re all in the secondary details.” ’ In other words, the main things are the same, the core details of the story. Police interviewing witnesses know that every interviewee may offer differing secondary information, while the key information will be consistent. It might be more suspicious if every account was exactly the same, like it had been rehearsed.
The fact that the witnesses were women appeared to Lee to be a fault with the accounts. Women were not held in high regard and their testimony was seen as so worthless they were not able to be a legal witness in a Jewish courtroom. So how could their eyewitness accounts be trusted? Rather than weaken the claims, Dr Craig pointed out to Lee that it makes the women’s accounts more valid, more trustworthy. If the goal was to write a story that would be easily believed, no one would intentionally use women as witnesses. ‘The fact that women are the first witnesses to the empty tomb is most plausibly explained by the reality that—like it or not —they were the discoverers of the empty tomb ... This shows that the gospel writers faithfully recorded what happened, even if it was embarrassing,’ said Craig. Lee’s investigation into the case for Christ took place over 21 months and involved interviews with 13 experts. He spent many hours studying books and other historical research. ‘The atheism I had embraced for so long buckled under the weight of historical truth. It was a stunning and radical outcome, certainly not what I had anticipated when I embarked on this investigative process.’ The movie captures a portion of the investigation into whether there is credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God. It can reaffirm for believers what they believe. But it can also encourage those who are exploring Christianity —and for those who don’t really know anything about Jesus, it paints a detailed picture of who Jesus is. While some Christians have suggested the name ‘The Case for Christ’ will put people off seeing the movie, there’s a strong case to be made that people will go at the invitation of a friend. If nothing else, the movie reminds us that God is not afraid of doubt. God welcomes questions, and followers of Jesus have the privilege of helping others work through their doubt and questions. Lee Strobel makes the case for Christ—what is your verdict?
03 JUNE 2017 WarCry 15
Volunteers Thanked for Huge Appeal Effort Hundreds of Salvationists and Salvation Army supporters hit the streets last month for the annual Red Shield Appeal street collection. The huge effort saw collectors out on the streets for a total of almost 15,000 hours collecting funds to help The Salvation Army’s work fighting poverty in New Zealand. Territorial Director of Public Relations Shane Chisholm said the Army was extremely grateful to everyone who gave up their time to collect. Collectors not only raised the profile of the Army in the community, but were adding vital funds to support The Salvation Army’s work. ‘One thing we see every year is that the more hours we have people out there collecting, the more donations we receive. Every extra dollar this appeal raises will in turn allow us to do more work helping end poverty for New Zealanders, so it really makes a difference.’ Church members, Salvation Army staff and supporters were joined by volunteer organisations in some parts of the country, with an appeal for public volunteers helping to bolster collector numbers. This year’s appeal also attracted support from a range of community leaders and influential people including MPs, the Mayors of Whangarei, Hamilton, Rotorua and Hastings, Tauranga pro surfer Alex Dive, and popular Instagrammer Hannah Laity. Wellingtonian Hannah’s decision to be a collector came from her desire to give back to the community. ‘The Salvation Army is a great cause, and in this day and age it’s really important to think of others who need help. Poverty is a massive issue and it’s everywhere. So any steps we can take—no matter how small —to help alleviate poverty, is huge. Every bit counts.’
New Journalist on Staff War Cry staff writer Major Shar Davis last month completed a one-year Diploma in Multimedia Journalism with the Whitireia Journalism School in Wellington. Shar’s dedication and skill was recognised at a graduation dinner on 18 May where she topped all other students, with four awards: Top Student Journalist, Best Digital Journalist, Best Photographer, and Whitireia Newroom Ambassador. ‘My studies reignited my passion for storytelling and I learnt so much about using words as well as video, photography, radio and podcasting to tell a great story,’ Shar said. ‘I had no idea I would love it so much and feel incredibly blessed to find something that I am so passionate about. I still have a lot to learn and am excited by the opportunities and possibilities before me.’ After a well-earned break as part of the Salvation Army officer study tour ‘In the Footsteps of Paul’ this month, Shar will be working on War Cry full time from early July. 16 WarCry 03 JUNE 2017
Vaini Corps Enjoys Family Time at Easter Vaini Corps in Tonga hosted an Easter camp this year, with families camping and worshipping together at the corps’ complex. Three speakers taught on Easter themes, including Regional Commander Captain Sila Siufanga. The weekend included visits to two special places on Tonga’s main island of Tongatapu. Sunday morning’s sunrise service was held at Matangi Malie Lagoon. ‘It was a fantastic scene with the sun rising—an amazing morning to celebrate the risen Jesus,’ said Corps Officer Lieutenant Faleata Leha. That afternoon everyone took part in a silent prayer walk in the only forest left on Tongatapu, at Toloa. Corps Officer Lieutenant Raechal Leha introduced the prayer walk. As many of
Vaini Corps’ families hadn’t visited the forest before, being able to pray in such a beautiful setting was a moving spiritual experience. Sunday evening featured a bonfire and roasted marshmallows for the children. God moved in the lives of the corps’ young people, said Faleata. ‘Many of them kneeled at the cross, crying and praying. Most of them rededicated their lives to God and two received the Lord for the first time. We praise God for what he has done for all our members. Our prayer is that God continues to open doors for us.’ The camp came to an end at beautiful Fua’amotu beach on Monday afternoon.
A Mother’s Dream Comes True Limu Tukuafu of Vaini Corps was held in ‘the chains of alcohol and tobacco’ for years, but after attending The Salvation Army for three years, she wanted to become a senior soldier. ‘I prayed that God would set me free from my addictions. And he did!’
me so happy, because they have been willing to change and follow and serve God while I am still alive. I am not educated, but my God is so big that he enables me to get victory in every way. I want to follow God until he calls me home.’
Limu has served as corps sergeant major at Vaini Corps for 11 years. She says the most important thing in that role is to have an open heart for God. ‘As a woman, it is not always easy for me to be corps sergeant major in Tonga, but I know I am not alone—God is always here for me.’ She is encouraged by the words of Romans 2:11, which says God does not have favourites. After joining The Salvation Army, Limu’s ambition was to help her children also serve as leaders in the Army. This dream came true in February when her son Samuela Raass and daughter Saane Raass also became local officers at Vaini Corps. Samuela is now the corps’ youth leader and Saane the corps’ children’s leader. Limu says, ‘I praise God that my son and daughter are local officers serving God with their mother. God has made a miracle for my family. Samuela and Saane make
(l–r) Saane, Limu and Samuela 03 JUNE 2017 WarCry 17
New Structure for Australian Salvation Army In 2016, General André Cox announced that The Salvation Army’s two territories in Australia (Australia Eastern and Australia Southern) would amalgamate to create one national territory. The project, known as ‘Australia One’, aims to provide a structure for The Salvation Army to best deliver its spiritual and social mission to all Australians. The official start of the Australia Territory is planned for 1 January 2019. Since the General’s announcement, significant work has been done to support an aligned vision and united voice for The Salvation Army in Australia. This has led to the creation of a structural foundation for a new Australia Territory, unveiled on 1 May by National Commander Commissioner Floyd Tidd after being approved by The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in April. Crucial to this foundation was the development of a new vision for The Salvation Army in Australia, which says: ‘Wherever there is hardship or injustice, Salvos (Salvationists) will live, love and fight alongside others to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus.’ Further defining this vision has been the creation of ‘12 Essentials’. Commissioner Tidd said, ‘These foundation blocks approved by our international leadership will be built upon in the coming months of transition and change. I am confident that the National Vision Statement can be realised through the continued dedicated service of Salvos in communities across Australia, supported by an appropriate national administrative structure. The days ahead will be filled with challenges and opportunities as together we work to position The Salvation Army for 21st century Australia.’ The new united Australia Territory will have its territorial headquarters (THQ) in Melbourne, but with leadership and support roles dispersed across the country. The Commissioner said the decision on where to locate THQ was ‘probably one of the most gruelling and difficult tasks undertaken by the Australia One Steering Committee’. The creation of a new national territory provides The Salvation Army in Australia with an opportunity to be an early adoptee of the international move to a new way of governing the Army, as outlined by the General as part of the International Accountability Movement. The single governing authority will be a board chaired by the territorial commander. This board, which will be responsible for strategy and governance, will include officer leadership and five non-officers, with at least two being active Salvationists. All other members must have a strong Christian faith. Membership will be based on minimum onethird female and minimum one-third male. Appointments to the board, which will be made by the General, will also be conscious of ‘broader diversity considerations’. 18 WarCry 03 JUNE 2017
Further explaining the new senior board and council setup, Commissioner Tidd said a Gender Equity Plan was being devised to ‘address the systematic inequality faced by women officers’. The plan will implement the Army’s biblical teaching about women’s leadership and ensure that the new Australia Territory structures value the unique gifts of each individual. As a result, an Advocate for Women’s Equity will be appointed, supported by a Women’s Equity Committee. The committee will have internal and external members, with equal representation of women and men. Its role will be to develop and implement strategies to achieve the goals of gender equity for women. The Advocate for Women’s Equity and the Women’s Equity Committee will report directly to the chief secretary. In mid-May, Commissioner Floyd Tidd announced that International Headquarters had approved an operating model for the new Australia Territory of six divisions: New South Wales with the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, Victoria, and South Australia with the Northern Territory. The changes were expected to come into effect in early January 2018. ‘The objectives of the Australia One program—Aligned Vision, United Voice, Greater Impact, Increased Innovation, Stronger Partnerships, and Better Stewardship—were applied in determining all of our recommendations to The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters, including how we best configure divisions under a united Australia Territory,’ said Commissioner Tidd. ‘A state-based configuration with a teamwork approach in supporting all mission expressions provides for increased consistency and opportunities for transfer of shared learning and deeper impact,’ said Commissioner Tidd. ‘Consistent singular leadership across a state enhances aligned vision and the expression of united voice. Having multiple, empowered area officers within the division promotes local mission delivery through coaching, supervision and empowerment with accountability for local leadership. ‘State-based leadership and structure also provides opportunity for stronger partnerships within The Salvation Army and with external partners in mission. Additionally, six divisions provides a greater opportunity for the inclusion of all divisional leaders as active participants in a singular senior national leadership team in partnership with territorial leaders. ‘And finally, the divisional configuration of six divisions in Australia reflects better stewardship of resources, including officers, staff, property and finances in support of mission delivery.’ LEARN MORE | Go to www.australiaone.info
Tribute: Major Alan Gunn Major Alan Gunn was promoted to Glory on Sunday 30 April. Alan entered The Salvation Army’s International Training College from the British Territory in 1972 as a cadet in the Followers of Christ Session. He was commissioned on 6 July 1974 and appointed to Lancaster Corps as Corps Officer. This was followed by a number of appointments over the following nine years in the United Kingdom and Australia. After their marriage in 1991, Alan and Rosalind were warranted as Territorial Envoys in New Zealand in 1998. They were appointed to Aranui Corps as Corps Officers and in 2000 Alan received an additional appointment as Director of Community Family Services. Alan and Rosalind were promoted to Auxiliary Captains in 1999 and to Captains in 2001. In 2003, they commenced their final appointment as Corps Officers at Rangiora Corps before retiring on 10 January 2007. Please uphold Captain Rosalind Gunn and family members in your prayers at this time of loss. Well done, good and faithful servant of Jesus!
GAZETTE Appointment: Effective 12 May: Lieut Visa Kaurasi, Divisional Children’s Secretary (additional appointment to Divisional Child Sponsorship Secretary). Lieut Kaurasi will no longer hold the position of Assistant Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries. Appointments in Retirement: Effective 23 May: Mjr Paul Clifford, Project Officer, National Office, Addiction, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Service; Mjr John Fitness, Mission Director, Bridge Waikato (part time) and Mission Director, Oasis Waikato (part time). Long Service: We congratulate Major Helen Knowles on attaining her Long Service Award for 30 years’ service on 22 May.
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
AT 13 YEARS OF AGE MY ‘SERVICE TO OTHERS’ WAS BORN. I have never worked for any organisation where the connection with my inner being has been as passionately aligned with its DNA and mission as The Salvation Army. By DNA, I don’t mean the religious institution governed by rules and regulations, but the vision of founder William Booth late one night in 1865. After walking home through the slums of the East End of London, Booth proclaimed, ‘I have found my destiny!’ and The Christian Mission (which became The Salvation Army) was born. A few days after I knelt on a wooden kitchen floor with Mum and committed my life to Christ in 1967, an old, illiterate man from our church gave me a verse from Luke 4. He said the Lord had anointed me with the Holy Spirit ‘not for your own benefit, but for the broken-hearted, those in captivity, the vulnerable and marginalised and to remember the year of the Lord’. At 13 years of age I did not fully comprehend this, but that day my ‘service to others’ was born. Te Ope Whakaora (The Salvation Army) means the group ‘that brings life’. What a privilege, what a mission, what a responsibility we have as officers, soldiers or employees of The Salvation Army that brings life! The opportunity to birth transformation in the lives of those left behind through life’s harsh circumstances or their own wilful choices. My upbringing by a widowed mum on a farm in Apartheid South Africa as one of ‘those’, my training as a capitalist with a conscience, my transfer to Australia, my stint as a Human Rights Commissioner, my role as a diplomat representing South Africa, and so many other life experiences were all preparation for my current role as Chief Servant of Education and Employment. Yes, this role involves stewardship in honouring contracts, managing for outcomes and fiscal sustainability as a result of institutionalising Booth’s vision. But its essence is caring for people and assisting them to transform their lives through education and employment. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing the fruits of a tutor’s caring commitment and skilful dedication manifest in a qualification that once seemed impossible for a previously ‘left-behind’ young person. Or the joy on the face of a parent whose ‘school-dropout’ teen daughter and baby have been given another chance to climb the staircase of life via her certificate in early childhood education. Or the tears of joy of a father upskilled into full-time work who can for the first time in his life afford a simple present for his child at Christmas. On Sunday 4 June, when the Christian community celebrates Pentecost and I celebrate my 63rd birthday, I will remember the words of my mentor 50 years ago: ‘the spirit of the Lord is upon you, to serve others and remember the Lord’. Gregory Fortuin National Director, Education & Employment 03 JUNE 2017 WarCry 19
Crossing Invisible lines
How do we allow people to move from feeling like outsiders, to knowing they belong? The Salvation Army value ‘Offer a Place to Belong’ is a challenge to look beyond our own needs. BY SUE HAY
In the space of three-and-a-half years, my husband and I have packed up our lives and moved into a new community three times. This has involved not only changing the house we called home, but our workplace and our worship community too. Each time I have wondered how we will know we belong.
A woman at the corps (church) I attend recently gifted me a ripe, perfectly formed feijoa. Her gift meant a great deal because it demonstrated she had listened to me and understood my love for this unique fruit.
I know that I belong in a new house when my pictures are up on the walls. I know that I belong in my new workplace once I am confident undertaking the tasks assigned to me. And I know that I belong in my new community when I have friends I can share coffee and my life with.
Not all feijoas are created equal—the best are sun ripened, sweet and ready to eat. My new friend had searched for and found me a perfect feijoa. Her gift demonstrated that she truly appreciated what mattered to me. It also symbolised I was moving from a place of being an outsider in her world, to one of belonging.
I’ve discovered the feeling of belonging is something that develops over time. Each transition we’ve undertaken involved a process of ‘coming to belong’—until eventually an invisible line was crossed and we knew we had found our place in each new house, workplace and community.
20 WarCry 03 JUNE 2017
The need to belong Much has been written by academics about our human need to belong. Abraham Maslow popularised the idea in the middle of the last century, capturing this complex notion within a simple pyramid that he called a ‘hierarchy’. Maslow suggested once our basic physical needs for food, shelter and safety are met, we have the capacity to attend to the next level of human need, which he identified as the need for social inclusion—or belonging. Maslow described how this need is essential to human development. Our need to belong incorporates a need for friendship, intimacy and trust, as well as the give and take that comes with being part of any group, whānau or family. Maslow helped us understand how having inner needs does not necessarily mean we are ‘needy’; instead, he identifies that these needs are valid
components of a flourishing holistic life. When our need for belonging is not met appropriately our development is stunted and we may even suffer psychological damage.
Whanaungatanga This need for belonging is beautifully captured by the Māori concept of whanaungatanga, which emphasises relationship and the importance of being an integral part of a family or friendship. Whanaungatanga is enhanced by being together and doing life together, and acknowledges that belonging comes with rights as well as obligations. True belonging is not a passive experience, but an intentional act that ensures we create reciprocal and deeply respectful relationships. Our human need for belonging, or whanaungatanga, is so strong it can shape our behaviour at a profound and often unconscious level. It is a powerful force within that drives us to seek out experiences that meet our needs. For many, this involves joining a group, club, church or gang. Social media offers a virtual community that also helps meets this need for belonging.
A bold aspiration The Salvation Army has named ‘Offer a Place to Belong’ as a key missional value. In doing so, we dare to address that invisible line all people experience when they encounter new groups, work places and worship communities. Perhaps unwittingly, The Salvation Army has named a value that aspires to address human need at its deepest and most significant level. It is a bold move to aspire to live in a way that encompasses people’s innermost hopes and longings—and potentially also their deepest wounds. Those who are the most wounded will enter our spaces with the greatest expectation that we deliver on the promise held in this value. Failure to offer a place that draws people over their invisible measure of belonging risks further wounding those who are already vulnerable. For this reason, we must take this aspirational value very seriously! Invisible lines often hold invisible fish hooks, subtle dangers that we can easily miss if we are not purposefully looking
for them. For example, the very act of offering something creates an invisible power difference. We who belong are offering something to those who do not yet belong. As those offering a gift, we hold more power because we hold the resource.
THE SALVATION ARMY HAS NAMED A VALUE THAT ASPIRES TO ADDRESS HUMAN NEED AT ITS DEEPEST AND MOST SIGNIFICANT LEVEL. Unintentionally, therefore, this value subtly defines some people as ‘them’ or ‘other’. It suggests we are ‘inside’ and are offering something to ‘them’, who are outside. To counter this risk we will need to explore how to create a place to belong based on mutuality rather than privileged power imbalance. This aspiration becomes further complicated because we are not only offering belonging, but also food parcels, addiction treatment, spiritual healing, compassion and the Christian faith. We must be ever mindful of the potential danger for the power imbalance in these interactions to generate invisible barriers of superiority and inequality around us, the givers. In fact, perhaps ‘Offer a Place to Belong’ could be replaced by a more mutual process of ‘Creating Community Together’?
But … what about me? A further invisible challenge in delivering on this organisational value is the assumption that everyone at our centre or corps is willing to offer a place to belong. It is such a risk to open our spaces and our hearts to new people. What if they join us, only to change the nature of our community? What if my invisible line of belonging is trampled on? What if my need to belong comes under threat?
Sadly, some groups maintain their sense of belonging by excluding anyone who might threaten this. They protect their need for inclusion by excluding others, either consciously or unconsciously. Our organisational value of offering a place to belong is a high ideal that comes with potential costs. To be honest, excluding those who are different or unfamiliar sometimes just feels safer and easier. To genuinely create community together we need to be aware of our own invisible resistance and be willing to address this. Over the years, I have met staff and Sunday worshippers alike who have struggled to cross the line into a space where they know they belong. Despite years in a Salvation Army environment, they have not experienced the belonging they expected. Ultimately, this is because belonging is created by how authentically we live like Jesus. Ideally, our commitment to live like Jesus will motivate us to build trust, appropriate intimacy and respectful relationships—the building blocks for belonging. When people are struggling to find a place of belonging, we need to examine our own willingness to contribute to this process of belonging, rather than ignore or even cast blame on people who don’t ‘fit in’. To create a place where all can belong, we must actively and intentionally connect with each other. Even when we are the newcomer. As we gain an understanding of each other’s invisible lines we can assist each other to cross over these— perhaps with the help of a perfect feijoa. Major Sue Hay is director of the Northland Regional Bridge, which offers addiction treatment across Northland. Learn more about our Mission Plan & Values | salvationarmy. org.nz/ MissionPlan
03 JUNE 2017 WarCry 21
SUDOKU
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. Difficulty | Easy
4
9 3 6 2 7 5
7 2 5 4
1
8 8 7 9 1 7
5 4 6
4 6
9
1
7 8 5 5 1 2 3
Do you know these people? KUMAR, Manoj (aka Melvin Gounder), born in 1969 in Tuvua, Fiji (top photo) O’MALLEY, Gary Wan, born in 1964 in the UK ROGERS, Robert Cecil, born in 1945 in Hamilton (photo)
e: family_tracing@nzf.salvationarmy.org p: (04) 382 0710 | salvationarmy.org.nz/familytracing
PRAY
Foxton, Fua’amotu Corps, Gisborne, Glen Eden, Glenfield Corps; Court Services; The Salvation Army in Zambia.
OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 3–4 June: Levin Corps 125th Anniversary Celebrations 18 June: Upper Hutt Corps 20 June: 10-Year Review Cabinet Dinner, Booth College of Mission Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 30 May–14 June: Footsteps of Paul Tour
VACANCY: EXECUTIVE MINISTRY LEADER, NELSON TASMAN BAYS CORPS Nelson Tasman Bays Corps is looking to employ an Executive Ministry Leader to oversee the day-to-day running of the corps and its various ministries. The role will provide management and administrative support to the Corps Officers in finance, personnel, and property matters, including Family Stores and Community Ministries. This involves day-to-day management of the employed staff team in association with the Corps Officers. This is a ministry position suited to a senior soldier with business management and ministry experience. If you think you’ve got what it takes to be part of our team, email your CV to: nelsontasmanbay_admin@nzf.salvationarmy.org Quiz Answers: 1 21 April (1926), 2 A Mob, 3 Waitomo Caves (logo for the Big Apple Café), 4 Circumference, 5 Saul (1 Samuel 18:11).
4 9 6 2 3 7 5 1 8
5 3 2 4 1 8 9 6 7
8 1 7 6 9 5 4 2 3
9 6 5 7 4 2 8 3 1
3 7 8 1 6 9 2 5 4
1 2 4 5 8 3 7 9 6
6 5 9 8 7 1 3 4 2
7 4 3 9 2 6 1 8 5
2 8 1 3 5 4 6 7 9
22 WarCry 03 JUNE 2017
Find SALVATION ARMY JOB OPPORTUNITIES online: salvationarmy.org.nz/employment
To advertise your event, email: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org
but t he holy sp i r i t will come upon you
The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you. John 14:25 GNT
and g i v e you power. then you w i ll t e ll e v e r y o n e about m e … Before Jesus returned to Heaven, he told his friends to wait together in one place until God sent the Holy Spirit. It’s not easy to wait for special times or special presents—but this was worth the wait! Before that, God gave the Holy Spirit to just a few people. But now the Holy Spirit was for EVERYONE who believed in Jesus. We celebrate the day the Holy Spirit came as Pentecost, the birthday of the Christian church.
DID YOU KNOW?
find these words Alive Believers Birthday Christians Church
Courage Fire Friend Helper Holy Spirit
Jerusalem Jesus Peace Pentecost Power
Promise Teacher Tell Others
When Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:16), the Holy Spirit took the shape of a dove and rested on Jesus. This is why we use pictures of a dove for the Holy Spirit. A dove is also a symbol of peace—and the Holy Spirit brings peace to our lives.
We can think about the Holy Spirit as our HELPER who reminds us of what Jesus wants us to know, and as God’s POWER THAT NEVER ENDS, giving us courage to do what is right and to tell others about God’s love. This was how the church began. And it’s how the church stays alive today. Because the Holy Spirit is still with us!
Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for helping me to live for God every day. Give me your power to be brave so that I can tell people how to become your friends. Amen.
y Spirit in Acts Chapter 2 Read about the coming of the Hol 03 JUNE 2017 WarCry 23
YOUTH & CHILDREN’S MINISTRY CONFERENCE
21—23 JULY 2017 SILVERSTREAM RETREAT Featuring:
Pastor
Dustan Bell
Campus Pastor—Calvary Christian Church (Australia)
Dr
Duffy Robbins
Professor of Youth Ministry, Eastern University (USA)
Major
Heather Rodwell
Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development AND MORE! For more information, and to register, go to
www.thriveconference.co.nz