9 July 2016 NZFT War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION | 09 July 2016 | Issue 6646 | $1.50

LUCIFER ON SCREEN WHAT CRISIS? LIVING WELL IN MIDLIFE THE BEST THINGS ABOUT OFFICERSHIP SALVATION ARMY JOINS TARANAKI PEACE WALK TO PARIHAKA LEARNING FROM THE HOPE PROJECT

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Kia ora Put a pause in your life WAR CRY

The Salvation Army Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga Territory FOUNDERS William & Catherine Booth GENERAL André Cox TERRITORIAL COMMANDER Robert Donaldson 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

Lauren Millington, Amber Wilkinson STAFF WRITERS

Ingrid Barratt, Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond PROOF READING

Major Jill Gainsford COVER

Photo: Father and son at Māori Ministry Hui Photography: Major Shar Davis 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 MakeReady | www.makeready.co.nz

This edition’s feature article introduces US journalist Barbara Bradley Hagerty’s research into the opportunities presented by midlife. I heard Barbara interviewed on radio a few months ago.

I was so encouraged by her view that this oft-maligned stage of life can be a time of real purpose and happiness.

Discussing ideas from another researcher, Barbara suggested that people ‘insert commas’ into midlife. In the early adult years, she said, we experience frequent changes that act as commas, or pauses. These give us a chance to catch our breath by celebrating an achievement or taking up some new opportunity. Such commas include starting a job, entering a romantic relationship, getting married, having children, buying a house, and so on.

In midlife, however, life can seem like a long, unbroken sequence of text, with little that causes us to pause. Those who negotiate midlife wisely and well are those who deliberately add some helpful pauses, some commas, to break up that text. This can add a sense of meaning and/or simple enjoyment to what might otherwise seem mundane and routine.

I’ve just returned from a wonderful pause at The Salvation Army’s International College for Officers in London. I’ll look back on this significant spiritual and relational ‘comma’ as one that has brought fresh enjoyment and purpose to my own midlife season. My thanks to The Salvation Army for this opportunity, and especially to the War Cry staff who took on extra duties that allowed me this time away.

I want to bid a very fond farewell to our Firezone writer Vanessa Singh. After over six years as one of our War Cry writers, Vanessa has moved on to a new role with our Corps Growth and Development Department at Territorial Headquarters. Vanessa was such a great part of our writing team—we loved her wit and wisdom, and valued her championing of Salvation Army youth.

Without Vanessa, we’re looking for a number of young writers who might like to write the occasional youth-focused article.

Drop me a line if that sounds like you!

Christina Tyson Editor

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2 Peter 3:18 New International Version

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

‘But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.’

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2 Pita 3:18

‘Engari kia neke ake i runga i te aroha noa, i te mātauranga o tō tātou Ariki, arā o te Kaiwhakaora, o Īhu Karaiti. Waiho atu i a ia te korōria, āianei, ā ake tonu atu. Āmine.’

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WISE WORDS

Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage of opportunity and strength.

Betty Friedan

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CHRISTINA TYSON

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ctor Tom Ellis of Miranda fame tackles a very different character in TVNZ’s new show Lucifer. As Lucifer Morningstar, he’s a supernatural force in human form, eliciting the deepest, darkest secrets from people … and yet, given time, may evolve into a more moral entity altogether.

The TV series has its origin in the Neil Gaiman comic book The Sandman and a spin-off by Mike Carey. In Gaiman’s tale, Lucifer Morningstar retires from hell to run a jazz bar in Los Angeles.

By the way, it’s only the King James Version of the Bible that uses the word ‘Lucifer’ for the Devil—a Latin translation of the Hebrew word for ‘morning star’. This comes from Isaiah 14, which depicts the Devil’s pride leading to his exile from heaven: You, the bright morning star, have fallen from the sky! … You said to yourself, ‘I’ll climb to heaven and place my throne above the highest stars. … I’ll be above the clouds, just like God Most High.’ But now you are deep in the world of the dead.

Gaiman’s scenario is the starting point for a neither subtle nor clever police procedural that sees Lucifer joining forces with a female detective to solve crime—starting with the murder of a pop star friend of Lucifer’s. Having given herself over to the type of vices that can put a performer’s career at risk, Lucifer refutes the singer’s implied defence of ‘the Devil made me do it’. ‘The choices are on you,’ he tells her.

The Devil (aka ‘Satan’) first features in the Bible personified as a snake, tempting Eve to cross God’s only no-go boundary. ‘This thing you’re suggesting I do—that God told me not to—there will be consequences,’ protests Eve. ‘And I don’t want those consequences.’

‘You’re dreaming!’ is pretty much the snake’s response.

‘God’s only telling you “no” because he wants to keep the best this world can offer to himself. Now, does that sound fair? And don’t worry, nothing bad will happen.’

Eve takes the bait, and Adam follows suit. Turns out … the Devil lied.

No surprise there. Jesus called the Devil ‘a liar and the father of all lies’. His words, his invitations seem so appealing, so innocent, so easy to hide from others, so irresistible that we give in and cross that line. We choose the Devil’s enticements and our will over God’s wisdom and morality. And hope to escape the consequential harm.

There’s a temptation in this TV series to sympathise with the Devil as some tragic, hard-done-by figure. As Lucifer asks in the first episode, ‘Am I the Devil because I’m intrinsically evil, or am I the Devil because dear old Dad decided I was?’ We all know what it means to deny personal responsibility and duck for cover like this. But Lucifer is correct—and thereby condemns himself—when he says, ‘The choices are on you.’

The Bible tells us the Devil is real, not a figment of fiction. Jesus won the ultimate victory over this fallen creature when he died on the cross, so we don’t need to overestimate him. But neither should we underestimate the Devil, because he’s not going down without a fight. We therefore want to be wise to his schemes and strategies (the chief of which is to make people believe he doesn’t exist).

Those we spend the most time with have the greatest influence over the person we become. If we don’t want to be overpowered by the Devil’s influence, it’s essential we choose to spend time with God—inviting God to shape our inner life so we can resist temptation.

As a modern version of the New Testament book of James says, ‘Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. … Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.’

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Bookshelf Human Development Life Reimagined Barbara Bradley Hagerty A seasoned journalist, Barbara Bradley Hagerty makes a comprehensive study of our midlife years—an under-researched and often misunderstood season of life. She brings together a myriad of research from science and psychology, interwoven with personal stories. This is a fascinating look at those years when we are at our busiest and most stressed, often juggling family, financial and workplace demands. The result is a ‘survivor’s guide’, with wonderful insights on building happiness, health, a strong marriage and a better brain. Ultimately, it’s an optimistic celebration of true adulthood. (Penguin)

Playlist

New Zealand/Biography Ratana the Prophet Keith Newman The name of Ratana has entered the social fabric of New Zealand, but most of us are only vaguely familiar with the man. He is dismissed by some as a ‘cult’ leader. But, as Keith Newman sees it, Ratana was a prophet with a ‘profound vision’ who became a ‘healer of people’s physical ailments, a lifter of ancient curses and a prime mover in healing the “land sickness” of the Māori’.

Ratana sought to unite all Māori under one God, and restore the Treaty of Waitangi as our founding document. His legacy runs deeply and profoundly through the veins of our nation, and reclaiming his vision could be profound for biculturalism in New Zealand. (Raupo)

Environment Coming Back To Earth Jonathan Cornford Specialising in ‘helping Christians reclaim an understanding of the Bible’s teaching on material life’, Jonathan Cornford has some eyeopening insights into topics that Christians often avoid. He opens by exposing the disillusionment of many Christians, in the face of a faith that is often so far removed from its namesake, Jesus Christ.

With an intelligent but personal approach, Jonathan tackles issues such the Christian approach to climate change, the urbanisation of humans as a species and the ethics of eating. It will make your heart ache for our world’s brokenness, but also soar with its possibilities.

(Morning Star Publishing)

Reel News

Folk/Worship Strahan Out Of Exile Kiwi singer/songwriter Strahan continues to refine the authentic, heart-onthe-sleeve folk tunes that defined his debut Posters in his sophomore album Out Of Exile. Drawing from a range of influences, Out of Exile is a simple and honest record that explores themes of belief, life, love and faith.

Out Of Exile concentrates on and builds upon the folkier aspects of Strahan’s sound. Rather than expanding on the wider depth and experimentation of his 2015 EP Feel The Night, the production in his latest release favours warm acoustic guitars and vocals up front, with instrumentation from electrics and keys used only to highlight and underline.

In this regard, Out Of Exile knowingly plays to the strength of Strahan’s impressive vocal chops and sensitive delivery—tracks like ‘Need You’ and ‘Wilderness’ have a depth to the vocals that makes each song feel like a journey. Faster tracks have a real folk rock feel. ‘Hurricane Love’ opens the record with momentum, pushed with tight dry drums and a strong bass groove, while ‘Satisfied’ lays down a folky shuffle groove punctuated with a great chorus hook.

Out Of Exile has nine tracks, with most tracks averaging around four minutes. The strength of the songwriting ensures that each chord and lyric is purposeful and refined, lending great consistency and flow to the overall record. Folk lovers and song writers will find much to enjoy with Strahan’s latest release, which is highly recommended.

GIVEAWAY

Christian Drama The War Room Alex Kendrick / PG Victories don’t come by accident—they come by prayer. That’s the strong message from this popular Christian film now out on DVD. The War Room is directed by Alex Kendrick, who was also responsible for Courageous and Fireproof. Faith-based movies can be a mixed bag, but The War Room is refreshing, with strong acting and a compelling story about the transforming power of God in response to committed prayer.

Tony and Elizabeth Jordan have great jobs, a lovely daughter and their dream house. Tony, a salesman, is a smooth talker on the road, but increasingly grumpy at home. With his marriage no longer a priority, he starts to entertain thoughts of an affair. At the same time, Elizabeth, a real estate agent, is full of resentment because of her husband’s thoughtlessness.

She meets the elderly Miss Clara, who wants to sell her house and starts asking probing questions about Elizabeth’s prayer life. Eventually Elizabeth, who sees no other way to save her marriage other than divine intervention, desperately starts praying for her husband. Following her mentor’s example, Elizabeth clears out her (very large!) closet to establish a ‘war room’ where she launches a battle plan of prayer for her family’s survival.

The War Room reminds us that if we want victory in our lives, it comes through surrender to God—who then helps us do the fighting in prayer. It also presents the challenge to influence the prayer life and impact of others by sharing honestly and boldly about God’s work in our life.

To win a copy of Life Reimagined, tell us a pleasant surprise about living in midlife.

Go to www warroommovieresources.com for a wide range of related resources, including a five-part Bible study.

War Cry Giveaway, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org. Entries close 25 July.

Quiet Power winner is M. Cross

War Cry does not endorse or condone all the content in the films, albums and books we review. Our reviewers endeavour to inform readers of helpful and harmful components of the items under review.

Feature | 05

Ingrid Barratt is due for a midlife crisis, so she set out to understand our middle years. What she discovers is that midlife is hard, but it can be even more meaningful.

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should be having a midlife crisis. According to popular mythology, it hits anytime between 30 and 50. As a woman, I will therefore soon be making the audacious decision to pack in my 9–5, swapping the daily grind for sumptuous meals and romance in Italy.

If I was a guy, I would be buying a convertible and using ‘Regain’. And we’ve all heard the tales of husbands trading in their spouses for a ‘newer model’ and other horrendous metaphors.

But—quick survey—how many of us midlifers are really experiencing this existential angst? Yep, life is hard. We’re juggling the responsibilities of a demanding job, family challenges, a mortgage, marriage, bone-tiredness, monotony, packed lunches and evening meals. Our fitness is dwindling and our waistlines are increasing. Yet instead of running away, most of us are sticking it out.

Barbara Bradley Hagerty is a journalist who has made an in-depth investigation of midlife, bringing together research from science, psychology, art and life in her book Life Reimagined. She argues that midlife is a phenomenon, but it is not a crisis.

The myth of the midlife crisis The concept of a ‘midlife crisis’ was only popularised in 1978, with Daniel Levinson’s book The Seasons of a Man’s Life. Levinson argued that between 30–45 ‘a man suffers the “agonising” process “de-illusionment”, when he compares his youthful dreams with his present, greyer reality.’ The man is ‘horrified’ by ‘every aspect’ of his life, and begins testing out new choices. Hence, the Hollywood midlife crisis was born—with its new cars, new wives, road trips and dread of impending death.

Since then, the midlife crisis has been extensively researched and the results are surprisingly boring. For instance, only around 10 per cent of us experience the classic midlife crisis.

The U shape What Barbara found was that we do experience ‘midlife malaise’.

From New Zealand to Nigeria, researchers have discovered a global phenomenon: through the seasons of life, our happiness is shaped like a ‘U’. In our twenties, we experience more instant happiness—nights out with friends, falling in love, good times.

As we enter midlife, we go through the valley of the U—life becomes more demanding. Typically, our responsibilities are at their peak—we have a more challenging job, we’re raising families, have tight budgets and are experiencing the ups and downs of marriage.

The thrills of our twenties give way to the sometimes grinding monotony of midlife. But, Barbara argues, ‘Meaning trumps pleasure. People in the thick of midlife chaos may not say that they are happy in the moment. But they will say that their lives are meaningful, a measure that has its eye on the long game …

You cannot live a few decades without taking some knocks, without seeing some friends and family perish and seeing some dreams die. All this creates a mixed happiness, a certain poignancy that recognises that things are not perfect, nowhere near as perfect as you thought they’d be when you were 21, but they are pretty good.’

In fact, coming to terms with life as it really is—not as you thought it would turn out—increases our happiness.

‘People start out with very high goals,’ says Barbara. ‘In midlife, they realise on average that [these goals] couldn’t be achieved —most people can’t be a CEO—and that’s painful. But what are you going to do about that? You can either cling to them and be

Feature | 07

increasingly miserable, or you can adapt to your failures. The standard theory is that we eventually learned to forgive ourselves and our weaknesses and gradually we could get happier.’

Average is okay As a writer, I relate to this change in perspective. During my twenties, my theme song was ‘I Want to be a History Maker’ by Delirious. Looking back, it was somewhat grandiose, but I loved Jesus (I still love Jesus, that hasn’t changed!) and I really wanted to make a difference. When I got into my 30s, I had the blinding realisation that I would never write a best-selling book. If I had a midlife crisis, this was probably it: the realisation that my place in the world would always be pretty average.

But as I walked through this change of perspective, it became a blessing. Jesus would love me and walk with me through my normal, average life. I didn’t need to prove myself to God or anyone. All I needed to do was be faithful with the responsibilities that God put in front of me. No more and no less.

With this knowledge comes a great freedom—from needing to prove myself, from the shackles of expectation. And, in fact, I realised there is no such thing as an average life. It turns out that the responsibilities God has put in front of me are quite enough. If the greatest thing I ever do is raise my child then that is an insanely beautiful achievement.

I recently caught up with a friend who was in a popular ’90s New Zealand band, and he put it like this: ‘It’s just really, really good to stop chasing a dream and realise that you just don’t care about those things anymore.’ Barbara says that in midlife we typically care less about achieving goals, and care more about our close relationships. We invest less in outward success, and more in our intimate lives.

‘When researchers ask, “Are you happy?”, midlifers won’t say, “Yes, I’m really happy.” But if you ask, “Are you having a meaningful life?”, they will say, “Yes, I’m having a meaningful life,’ sums up Barbara in an interview with Radio New Zealand.

You have the perfect combination of genetic brain cells … with a lot of accumulated experience-based intelligence.

Creating commas Despite the responsibilities, the hard work and the monotony, in many ways, midlife is actually the peak. We are typically at the height of our earnings, we have garnered respect in our area of work, we have experience and wisdom, and we’re still healthy. And we’re at the top of our intelligence.

Scientists have put intelligence into two categories: the kind you are born with, and the kind that grows with experience. Your natural intelligence starts to decline after 30. But the good news is that in midlife, you have the perfect combination of genetic brain cells that haven’t significantly declined, with a lot of accumulated experience-based intelligence. This is the midlifers’ time to shine.

Apply for Mastermind! Join a quiz team!

In fact, taking up new challenges in midlife is exactly what we need to increase our happiness quota—to start going back up again from the bottom of the ‘U’.

If we have a relationship with God, science, psychology and spirituality all agree we are far more likely to be happy.

‘When you’re younger you have all these markers—you graduate from college, you get married, have family, launch a career. And then you hit midlife. It’s like a book without punctuation—lots and lots of words with no paragraph, no full-stops, no semi-colons. And what you should do is create punctuations by creating little goals in midlife that have nothing to do with your work or family responsibilities,’ says Barbara. ‘The people who did that, I found, were really, really happy. I think that’s one of the real secrets to midlife happiness.’

Barbara created commas in her life by taking up competitive cycling. Others have done this by finding a new passion outside of other responsibilities. Friends of mine in midlife are just discovering mountain biking, dance, art, theology, cabinet making.

As our children get older, it can be a time to expand our identity into new areas and interests—which, by the way, sets us up for a happy retirement.

The anti-aging secret The single greatest anti-aging secret is not found in a bottle. It’s not health or wealth. It’s not even intelligence. The single greatest predictor of happiness at the end of life is engagement. Simply: staying interested, staying involved.

In fact, if you have a reason to get up in the morning, says Barbara, you’re far less likely to exhibit the symptoms of Alzheimer’s—even if you have it! ‘When scientists did autopsies, they found that a third of people who showed up as having an Alzheimer’s brain didn’t show a single symptom. The biggest predictor [for escaping the symptoms] was if they had a purpose in life—a reason to get up in the morning.’

The same is true in our working lives. Disengaged workers are a big issue in the workplace because they are much more likely to ‘report stress, physical pain, higher blood pressure, and depression’.

Yet people who feel their work is purposeful are much happier, less stressed and physically healthier.

If we have a relationship with God, science, psychology and spirituality all agree we are far more likely to be happy. That’s because our happiness stems from knowing there is a purpose greater than our everyday comings and goings. Our outer lives may seem somewhat monotonous, but there is a river of life within us that keeps on moving. Sometimes it’s a gentle stream, at other times it’s a raging river, but its current is always taking us towards our ultimate goal.

‘For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain,’ says the apostle Paul. He was a prisoner, yet he understood the truth that science is uncovering: the key to happiness is purpose. Not one of us is immune to the malaise, monotonies and, yes—at times—the crises of life. But we, all of us, hold the keys to happiness in our hands.

Marriage in Midlife Just like the rest of life, researchers have found that the secret to a fulfilling marriage in midlife is staying engaged. Within the course of a marriage, there are two significant spikes in divorce rates: after seven years, and another after 14 years. The difference is that marriages ending after seven years tend to do so very dramatically, with ‘pots and pans flying’, so to speak.

But after 14 years, divorces are distant and cool. Partners have simply disengaged, and don’t care enough to kick up a fuss.

Marriage in our times is undergoing somewhat of a revolution.

We no longer marry to create a sound economic unit, or even for companionship and raising children. Eli Finkel, a professor of psychology, says today’s couples ‘want to be fulfilled emotionally, professionally and romantically—and they want their partners to help them realise all their dreams’.

‘It sounds exhausting’, says Barbara Bradley Hagerty, author of Life Reimagined. She spoke to several experts about how to make marriage last and discovered that adaptability is a key component—being able to adapt to each other, accepting each other through changing life situations.

A practical way to do this is to inject novelty into your midlife marriage. Doing things together out of the norm challenges both your adaptability and your engagement. Couples who tried new activities together reported greater levels of satisfaction than couples who spend quality time doing familiar activities.

The ‘atom bomb of intimacy’, on the other hand, was blame.

‘Don’t blame your partner. Fix yourself. When you begin working on your own issues, then your partner will change, too.’

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Lifestyle | 09

ENVIRONMENT

LIFESTYLE

Bush Walks Change Your Brain

Handy Hints Tried and Tested

Q&A Relationship After Retirement?

Our team tested out some favourite home handy hints to see whether they really work.

Scientists have found that getting out into nature actually changes your brain in a way that decreases anxiety and increases calmness.

We know a bush walk is good for the mind, body and soul, but scientists have discovered even better news—a walk in the woods decreases obsessive or negative thoughts by a significant margin.

Researchers found that participants who walked for 90 minutes in a natural environment had lower neural activity in the part of the brain related to mental illness. Significantly, those who walked through an urban environment did not report any change in their thoughts or mood. The researchers noted that increased urbanisation closely correlated with increased instances of depression and other mental illness.

In addition, going on a tramp burns around 400–700 calories an hour, so a bush walk really is great for the mind, body and soul.

Another study has found that connecting with nature—while disconnecting from technology—has even greater mental significance. Participants backpacked through bush for four days without any technology. They were asked to perform tasks that required creative thinking and complex problem solving. Researchers found that performance on problem-solving tasks improved by 50 per cent for those who took part in this tech-free hiking excursion.

Urban noise and technology are two of the biggest disruptive forces in our modern lives. But we’re blessed to live in a country where we’re never usually too far from nature. You don’t need money, to be particularly fit or have the right gear to go for a bush walk. Don’t wait till summer—getting out into nature really could be the best remedy for the winter blues.

Source: www.collective-evolution.com

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. Albert Einstein

ΕΕ Driving you bananas: New Zealand’s favourite produce is the banana, but boy, can they drive you bananas! (Ahh, so many banana-related jokes.) You buy them green and within a couple of days they are overripe and mushy. Apparently, separating bananas and putting them in individual resealable plastic bags prolongs its life. RESULT: 10/10. A week later, the bananas were still a perfect yellow. No more slippery banana skins. Orange you glad I didn’t say banana? ΕΕ Vinegar and baking soda for … just about anything: We tried this on in our kitchen sinks. Kudos for a thrifty and super-eco friendly alternative to chemical cleaners. The old-fashioned remedy does a great job—but it won’t get off the most stubborn stains, and the smell of vinegar is rather overpowering. RESULT: 8/10. It’s so much better for the environment that putting in a bit more elbow-grease is well worth it. ΕΕ Vaseline for walkers and runners: We heard about the old military trick of rubbing Vaseline on your feet to prevent blisters. We tried this on a 50 km walk, and … drum roll please … not a single blister. Meanwhile, friends who did less than half the kilometres developed blisters.

RESULT: 10/10. Plus, your feet come out silky smooth. It’s a pedicure and power walk in one. ΕΕ Cucumbers to reduce eye puffiness: Cooling cucumber slices and putting them on your eyes is one of the original home beauty remedies.

While it does feel lovely and cooling on your eyes, there is absolutely no visible reduction in puffiness.

RESULT: 3/10. Doesn’t really do anything, but at least it’s a cheaper placebo than most beauty products. ΕΕ Put wet cellphone in rice: This isn’t the kind of thing you want to test out, but lucky for us, someone on our team dropped their phone into the toilet. It turns out that putting your cellphone in a ziplock bag of rice overnight, does indeed do the trick. RESULT: 7/10. We don’t recommend going swimming with your celly, but this is a trusty remedy.

Red Curried Fish Thai-style curries are quick to prepare, fragrant and delicious. | Serves 4 2 medium carrots 2 zucchini 2 Tbsp canola oil 1 small onion, peeled and sliced 1–2 Tbsp red curry paste (or to taste) 1 cup coconut cream 1 Tbsp fish sauce juice of 1 lemon or lime 1 Tbsp brown sugar 2–3 kaffir lime leaves (optional) 1 tsp cornflour ¼ cup cold water 600g firm fish fillets (trevally, terakihi, snapper)

Cut carrot and zucchini into batons. Heat 2 tsps of oil in large frying pan, add carrots and stir-fry for 1–2 mins, add zucchini and cook for a further 1–2 mins. Remove vegetables from pan and set aside.

Heat remaining oil in pan, add onion and curry paste.

Cook, stirring frequently for about 2 mins. Stir in coconut cream, fish sauce, lemon juice, brown sugar and lime leaves (if using), then bring mixture to boil.

Mix cornflour and water in a small bowl, then stir into coconut mixture and allow mixture to return to boil.

Cut fish fillets into chunky pieces, add to pan along with vegetables. Stir gently. Bring curry to boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook for 3–5 mins, stirring once or twice until fish is cooked through.

Serve over jasmine rice.

From Simply Delicious One Dish Recipes by Simon Holst www.holst.co.nz

My wife and I recently retired, and not only am I feeling a bit aimless, but it’s putting a strain on our relationship. How can we manage all this time together?

Retirement is a huge life change —and an upheaval for many people.

How did you get through other major life events? You adjusted, you persevered, you muddled through.

Most of all, you had a hope for your future that kept you going.

The same will be true in your retirement. This is a time to start replacing your working identity with something else meaningful. Where else do you find purpose in your life? If you believe in God then you know you have a hope bigger than yourself—and you never retire from God’s purposes.

Your wife will be going through her own transition. Miriam Goodman, author of two books on life after retirement, says that as well as a financial plan, you need a relationship plan or ‘playbook’.

‘Tremendous conflict can arise when partners fail to articulate their hopes and dreams for retirement, as well as their candid fears about the future.’ She suggests couples take time to discuss their new phase of life together, and what that will look like.

Testify For Waitara Family Store manager Karen Lowe, who has worked in the store for 35 years and set up youth groups and employment training, it’s all about community.

I grew up in The Salvation Army, and when I was having a baby I needed a pram and they helped me out. So I thought, ‘Why don’t I help them out?’ and I’ve been at the Family Store ever since.

I’ve been the manager here for nearly 12 years. The corps officers suggested I apply when the last managers left. I thought, ‘I couldn’t do that’—the idea nearly had me in a blubbering mess. I said, ‘I’ll need a lot of help,’ and they said, ‘That’s what we’re here for.’

I’ve seen a lot of things down the years. Like the day a staff member said, ‘Karen, I’ve got to show you something.’ She took me round the back to where we park our cars and I said, ‘Oh my goodness!’ She’d hit the accelerator instead of the brake and gone through the wall. There was more damage to the store than the car!

I said, ‘Oh well, if anyone can do it, Waitara can—we’ll just be the first drive-through shop.’

I encourage fun at work and customers often say, ‘If we gave you a dollar every time we hear laughter in the shop, The Salvation Army would be rich.’

We get lots of people who come in looking for someone to talk to.

I’ll never forget one lady. I bowled up and said, ‘Hi, how are you?’ and she said, ‘I’ve been better.

I’ve just been told I’ve got three months to live.’ I didn’t know what

to say, but she came back quite a few times in those months.

There’s a lot of trust among customers and staff and it’s such a privilege when people say they feel better when they leave here than when they came in.

Two years ago, I developed an employment skills course. We work with WINZ next door, so we get five or six 20-year-olds who just want to sit on the couch, and instead we take them on for a seven-week course. We organise mock job interviews and find them a suitable set of clothes for that. We take their photo when they come in and on week six, so they can see the change.

U Turn Community Training Services help with CV writing.

Salvation Army staff from the Bridge and budgeting come in as well, and once a week we have a local identity who didn’t have life handed to them on a plate come and talk to them.

The Rotary Club has offered to help with mock interviews, and a man came in the other day offering to organise work experience for them. That support comes from reaching out to the community.

I always say if you want the community’s support, you have to be involved—and we join in anything community minded.

I’ve volunteered with Plunket and school, and for the past year I’ve organised a youth group for

People say they feel better when they leave here.

Let’s Talk

In her research, Miriam discovered that the biggest strain on postretirement marriage was simply ‘too much time together’. This means re-negotiating your relationship —from adjusting household tasks, to respecting each other’s ‘alone time’.

I would like: to explore what it means to follow Jesus information about Salvation Army worship and activities prayer for the following needs:

Miriam suggests you develop your own interests as individuals, as well as planning time together. You both need to stay connected to the outside world, stay active and healthy, and continue to develop friends of your own gender … so that you can enjoy your time together as well.

‘Be patient with each other, especially if you want to get up and go, and she wants to sleep in without an alarm clock for a while,’ says Miriam.

young people that need to get out and be involved in something. It’s about building self-confidence and a brighter future.

I will be at the store till I retire. My team are so determined I’m going to stay they brought in a braille stick and a zimmer frame! But I’ve got no intention of leaving. You can see you’re doing some good and it’s bonding the community and The Salvation Army—it’s a great feeling.

NAME: ADDRESS:

Sign up to perform at your regional #talentnow event and be in with a chance to showcase your best performance during Congress.

FOR MORE INFO GO TO

salvationarmy.org.nz/now

Please post to: War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org

10 | WarCry 09 July 2016

Close Up | 11

SUDOKU

Difficulty Medium

3

8 4

3 5

4

7 5 1 2 4 5 9 6

6 7 5 6 2

8 6 5 8 2

3 6

The Best Things About Officership

9

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.

Officers from around the world were asked a series of questions about officership. Their responses were compiled into the book Leading the War. One of the questions was ‘What is the best thing about being a Salvation Army officer?’ Here are some of their responses …

QUICK QUIZ 1 Which NZ mayor led a three-day peace walk to Parihaka recently?

2 Who are the study members of the famous Dunedin Study?

3 What animal has the scientific name ailurus fulgens?

4 What is the correct lyric for ‘We built this city on sausage rolls’?

5 What are the four common names for spun sugar?

6 What is the capital city of Qatar?

7 Who wrote Wrestling with an Angel: A life of Janet Frame?

8 Who was appointed as the Minister of the Lord of the Rings?

9 In what country would you find the Chocolate Hills of Bohol Island?

10 What woman set up a special apartment for the prophet Elisha?

Commissioner Jim Knaggs I believe the mission of The Salvation Army is so much in sync with the gospel and the plan of God that I am thrilled to be included. Officership for me includes accepting my Army appointments as from God himself. This sets me free to move at the moment of the farewell and the new appointment. I don’t have to sweat the appointment to determine if it is right for me or not. I just go with the full intention to prove God right. He knows how to work the Army system. I trust him implicitly.

Major Bryce Davies I am positioned with a strategic advantage to connect with and impact the poor and marginalised. I have the time, training and resources to come alongside with help such as a meal and a place to stay, but also the opportunity to show God’s love in ways that bring hope and transformation. Few people trust anyone more with this journey than they do a Salvo officer. This enables me to follow the way of Jesus within a very supportive environment.

Lieut-Colonel Eddie Hobgood

2 3 4 6 9 8 7 5 1

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6 7 9 1 2 5 3 4 8

3 6 7 9 5 1 4 8 2

9 2 5 4 8 7 6 1 3

8 4 1 2 3 6 5 7 9

5 1 3 7 6 2 8 9 4

4 8 6 5 1 9 2 3 7

7 9 2 8 4 3 1 6 5

Find more Cartoons by McKerrow on www.facebook.com/cartoonsbymckerrow

For me, it’s the opportunity to give back. When I was born, I was given up by my birth mother, so I grew up feeling unwanted. Of course, in a kid’s mind, for the woman who gave me birth to give me away, either there had to be something wrong with me, or I had done something really bad that caused her to stop loving me.

Even though I was adopted, this knowledge haunted me, and I felt that I was totally unworthy of anyone’s love.

As a pre-teen, I found the Army—or, rather, the Army found me. I was unconditionally accepted and loved, which mirrored Christ’s love for me. It totally changed and transformed me. I knew God was calling me to officership. He kept bringing back to

my mind how this would be an opportunity for me to have the same kind of ministry to others that was transformational in my own life.

Colonel Margaret Hay Access into settings and lives beyond my imagining. The sense of ‘this grace in which we stand’ (Romans 5:2, ESV) as the springboard first struck me on hearing my father, Elliott Major, sometimes needing air from in-house pressures at the corps, saying to my mother, ‘Greta, where’s my harness [his uniform] and the [War] Crys, I’m off down to the pub to meet some people!’ It continued when as a 20-something officer freshly arrived in Zambia, I breathed with relief at the welcome by a revered Zambian comrade quoting the proverb: ‘The visitor also helped in the battle.’

And it’s been a recurrent theme right through, lived out in a stream of fellow officers, like Major Suresh Pawar of the India Western Territory, who summed up our business by saying, ‘We need to cling to the truth that God has won victory for his people on the cross, and the enemy is already defeated. And we need to live amongst the people, feel what they feel and together be able to see the abundance of God’s grace.’

Major Danielle Strickland The way it frees me to be about Kingdom business. Every facet of officership is about availability to God. My job is to listen and obey the Holy Spirit and to tell/demonstrate to everyone I can, the love of Jesus.

It’s an incredible opportunity to serve in that kind of capacity. I don’t have to worry about paying the bills or making decisions based on financial or social pressures. I’m completely liberated to keep my eyes on the prize of ‘God’s Kingdom come’.

Another amazing thing about officership is the fellowship of the right. I’m connected to global leaders in a covenant of love. This covenant manifests itself in every selfless act for God’s kingdom all around the world through officers in more than 125 countries. Culture, language, economics and geography separate us, yet we are bonded together in love through a covenant we share with God. This is a very deep and rich way to do life—in a global community of covenanted warriors. Together we win the world for Jesus!

Colonel Janet Munn The potential for unencumbered focus on the mission of Jesus Christ to the world for whom he gave his life. Obviously, there are also many pitfalls that can distract—but in my experience of officership, many

structures are in place to liberate the officer for mission. That is how I have tried to live as an officer, and continue to: just focus on what Jesus would have me be and do in whatever context I’m in. Simple. Not easy.

Commissioner Garth McKenzie The best thing about being a Salvation Army officer: peace with God, freedom of being in his will, fulfilment, making a difference in people’s lives. Receiving many, many letters as our retirement approached from officers, soldiers, and people I worked with at the territorial level indicating that their lives have been helped, changed for good and from God due to my influence.

Major Shar Davis I get to share in people’s journey with God and sometimes be the catalyst for change as they get a revelation of who they are in Christ and what he is calling them to be. I love to see people’s potential realised and see them walking in the fullness of their identity and destiny. It is about calling people to something greater than what they see in themselves, making prophetic declarations over people and partnering with them as they allow Holy Spirit to do his transforming work in their lives.

General John Larsson (Retired) Knowing that, with God’s help, you are making a difference in the lives of people. The difference can be dramatic—I’ve sometimes stood in awe when God has turned someone’s life around and I have had some minor part to play in that. Or the difference can be smaller—someone who thanks you after you have preached for speaking directly to their need. But you have made a difference. And that is the best part of being an officer.

Following the Call An officer is a senior soldier who has responded to a calling from God to devote all their time and energies to the service of God. To learn more, speak to your Divisional Candidates Secretary or talk to your corps officer.

Go to www salvationarmy.org.nz/officership for more info

Quick quiz answers: 1 Mayor Andrew Judd, 2 Every baby born in Dunedin in between 1 April 1972 and 31 March 1973, 3 Red panda, 4 ‘We built this city on rock and roll’, 5 Candy floss, cotton candy, tooth floss and fairy floss, 6 Doha, 7 Michael King, 8 Pete Hodgson, 9 The Philippines, 10 The woman of Shunam (2 Kings 4:9).

09 July 2016 WarCry | 13

What Can ONE PERSON Do?

Actually, a lot!

Just ask Victoria Harding from Carterton Corps By Rosy Keane

It takes a huge dose of courage to begin any new venture that will bring change.

Someone who knows this well is 25-year-old Salvationist Victoria Harding from Carterton, who is preparing to launch her massive onewoman One Walk campaign this November.

Victoria is committed to raising awareness and funds for those trapped in the horrific slavery of human trafficking. And so begins an epic journey along the Te Araroa trail from the remote tip of the North Island, Cape Reinga, on 14 November, aiming to finish three or so months later at to the bottom of the South Island’s blustery Bluff.

All donations for Victoria’s journey will go straight to Courage House, an incredible rehabilitative organisation that seeks to rescue female minors (under 16s) out of sex trafficking on multiple continents, providing a family environment to transform their lives and spirits so they can have a chance at having a whole, full life.

At The Salvation Army’s Amplify creative arts camp a few years later, my passion was inflamed further. I knew I had the opportunity to take something I loved and use it to make a difference in some way. I had heard about a guy who walked the coastline of New Zealand, so I Googled ‘Long walks in New Zealand’ —and everything worked out from there.

Years of preparation, realistic daily trekking goals and the potential for others to join her on different legs of the journey will all contribute to Victoria’s One Walk success.

Who was the first person you told?

I caught up with Victoria and asked her a few questions about her incredible journey thus far, and just what has moved her to attempt such an incredible feat.

My mother. She wasn’t so sure at first, but then she said ‘If this is something you want to do, we will support you in it.’ Dad wasn’t so sure —it would be his little girl walking around New Zealand! But they know I am not a silly person, so now they are trying to do everything they can to support me.

Three months off work and away from home, constant physical and mental strain … what inspired you to do this?

You begin your One Walk journey in just under four months. How will this adventure unfold?

When I was 16, I went to a Salvation Army youth councils where a woman talked about human trafficking and modern-day slavery. I was blown away that we still had slavery in the world. All I had heard before on that subject was about William Wilberforce and how he had abolished slavery back in the day and I thought it had ended there. But when I heard about the extent of abuse that is currently happening I was moved. I thought, ‘I really need to do something about this!’

I begin by flying to Auckland and going on to Kerikeri and couch surfing with some officers.

They will drive me to Cape Reinga, where I will begin my journey. I will be covering 10 regions, and there are between four and 10 legs within each region. I have 144 different maps to cover the distance.

Phew! That’s no Sunday drive! How much preparation has gone into this?

I began training in 2014 when I first decided to walk. I gave myself two years to prepare physically and financially. I began by walking to and from the school where I teacher-aide.

I began the harder physical training by biking and walking local tracks in Carterton and swimming at the local pool. I recently completed the loop track to Mountain House and back, which took seven-and-a-half hours.

What have been some of the costs even before your walk has begun?

It is quite hard to say exactly. I have some alternative forms of travel between lakes and oceans that I have had to organise: kayaking in Whanganui and the ferry fare between the North and South Island. I also have to purchase a DOC pass, so I can stay at the huts when I am travelling through the bush.

I purchased the appropriate bush gear—tent, shoes, Spot Device—and also three months of food for the journey!

Learn More Follow Victoria’s One Walk blog: one-walk-nz.blogspot.co.nz

visit courageworldwide.org/courage-house visit stopthetraffik.org/what-is-humantrafficking

Just one person should be enough for us to stand up and make a difference.

I am doing this walk to raise awareness and money not for the raft of statistics … but for the individuals that make up those numbers.

A Spot Device? What’s that?

It’s a safety device I will have on me throughout the journey—a beacon that lets selected people know where I am at all times. It’s useful not only for security, but so my parents and the school where I work can check in and see my progress.

What kind of food are you looking forward to? Or is ‘looking forward’ too strong a description?

Well, for every breakfast I will have muesli and powdered milk. Lunch will be something that won’t take too much space or weight in my pack—rice crackers with peanut butter and jam, and some trail mix to munch along the way. For dinners I’ve purchased meals called ‘Backpackers Cuisine’—you just add water and stir. I’ve begun eating the meals already, as I’ve had a few nights out in my tent with the gear that I’ll be wearing.

I’ll be using a ‘Bounce Box’, where the food and supplies I need are sent ahead to the next address in my walk. Much easier than carrying three months’ of stuff on my back!

What can we pray for you, in the lead-up to your walk?

Strength, mostly. Even though I’ve trained and am well prepared, I’m going to be depending on God’s strength, and perseverance in my faith. I was rubbish at P.E. at school!

Also, people. Pray for people who will be willing to join me. A few were lined up to do the full walk with me, but for various reasons they can longer join. I know God will provide people for the walk—I’m just hoping they will turn up soon!

So, why is this called ‘One Walk’?

I was inspired by William Booth, The Salvation Army’s co-founder, who said: While there is a drunkard left, While there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, While there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight—I’ll fight to the very end!

Just ‘one dark soul’. So just one person should be enough for us to stand up and make a difference. I am doing this walk to raise awareness and money not for the raft of human trafficking statistics—even though they are huge—but for the individuals that make up those numbers. For each one.

You are raising awareness of human trafficking through One Walk and your Facebook page One Walk NZ, how else can others join you?

Supporters can click on the ‘Donate’ button on the top of my Facebook page to donate online to ‘Courage House’. None of the money raised goes to me—this is entirely self-funded, I’m not spending half of it on a fancy new car or anything!

If people would like to support me by joining in the walk, I’ve created a breakdown of regions and expected times I will be passing through.

This is also on my Facebook site. It would be great if people from Salvation Army corps and their friends would like to join me on different legs of the journey!

Updates and progress reports on my journey will be available through my website and Facebook page. Expect exciting video blogs and status updates wherever I get Wi-Fi! What has motivated you while you’ve been training in the past two years?

The verse in Micah 6:8 that says, ‘And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ And so I am walking.

Every now and then if I have a doubt that this is what I am supposed to be doing, I go back to that verse. I believe every person has something that they were born to do—something they are passionate about—whether it is human trafficking, prison ministry, working with youth or people trapped by addictions. And this is what I am passionate about and what I’m born to do.

Get InvoLved!

Donate through the link on Victoria’s One Walk facebook page: facebook.com/OneWalk-NZ-859866124128166.

Join in by following the link on her Facebook page to see what date Victoria estimates she’ll be in your area and get in touch.

Pray for safety, strength and wisdom for Victoria as she carries out her epic journey.

On the elevator, Horville saw it: More numbers.

More floors. More desire. Climb, climb that waterfall. The cockroach was summoned.

Another threat. What could the bug do?

Another wish. Another office. Another home.

Tragedy. A memo appeared on Horville’s desk.

It came from the Executive Almighty. That meant Horville wasn’t on top … yet. Climb.

Climb. Climb. Again, the cockroach was called before the sultan. ‘Another wish or I squash you with my Hush Puppies!’

nce upon a time, in a city by the sea, there stood a skyscraper, spearing the clouds like a beanstalk. The company that monopolised the structure was Grindit and Co. Its speciality: bug spray.

Horville Sash worked in the lowest reaches of the building. He was a minimum-wage worker.

Mail room clerk.

There came a day when Horville found a cockroach scurrying across the floor. As mail room clerk, Horville had only bugs to command. To bully. He raised his foot to flatten the helpless speck. ‘Spare me.’ The bug spoke.

‘A speaking bug? Such a creature is worth millions.’ Visions of money cascaded through Horville’s mind, splashing like a papery waterfall.

Horville spared the bug. His reward: a wish.

‘I wish to be promoted to the second floor.’

Granted. Horville’s boss told him that very day.

Horville marched into the second floor. His tidy apartment gave way to a three-bedroom townhouse.

Wait. Horville heard footsteps on the ceiling of floor number two. There was a third floor. A higher level meant higher wages. Splashing, splashing, the visions of monetary waterfalls returned. Back to the bug.

‘Another wish? Are you sure?’ asked the cockroach. ‘I’m sure.’

The Career of Horville Sash A popular fable

by Doug Peterson

As Chief Executive Almighty, Horville’s domain covered six floors: 94 to 99. Twenty-five secretaries, all his, filed into his palace like 8 am to 5 pm cattle. At night their stalls were cleaned.

Horville sat by the indoor pool on floor 96. The artificial wave system went out of control and tiny tidal waves raced from one end of the pool to the other. Banks of water met head-on like charging battalions. The walls echoed with the sound of splashes. The sultan laughed in the dark.

The next day, Horville discovered it by chance—a stairway leading up. Another floor?

He scrambled up the stairs.

He was on the roof, his concrete eyrie. Below, the city looked like a toy, a Monopoly game.

Below, people were just plastic pieces to be moved about or swept off the table.

Horville was the highest. Content, he headed for the stairway down. What’s this? A boy by the edge of the building with his eyes closed?

‘What are you doing?’

‘Praying.’

The next day, Horville rose to the thirdfloor post of Sales Coordinator. Goodbye townhouse. Hello, cottage by the lake.

No use. The promotions were kerosene to a flame. Desire grew. Burned. Horville wanted the 10th floor. He wanted to swim among the crisp paper.

‘One more wish.’ It was done. Horville entered his 10th floor position like a sultan on the back of an elephant. Personal secretary. Spacious office. His title: Executive of Sales.

His new home in the suburbs gleamed like a sword. He had cut his way to the top. But no, can’t be. Shuffling on the ceiling. More shoes, more people above his head. Higher. More rungs to the ladder. More power and money.

Back to the bug. Under threat of death, the cockroach granted another wish. President of Sales. Horville’s new office outsized his old apartment. His secretaries numbered three.

‘Pack your bags, wife, we’re moving to the estates.’ These were big homes, lounging like lions at the edge of suburbia.

‘To whom?’ Horville’s wish: ‘To Horville.’

But it wasn’t so. The boy’s answer: ‘To God.’ ‘Who?’ Horville had left his theology book in the mail room.

The boy pointed a finger skyward, ‘God.’ Panic gripped Horville. Was there a floor above him? He couldn’t see it. Just clouds.

He couldn’t hear the shuffling of feet. ‘Do you mean there’s an authority above me?’

‘Yes.’ The cockroach was summoned. ‘Cockroach, make me God. Make me the highest!’

‘Are you sure?’

He was. ‘Put me in the type of position that only God would hold if he was on earth.’

The very next day, Horville began work in the mail room.

That’s how Horville Sash learned what Jesus taught: ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all’ (Mark 9:35).

Our Community | 15

Challenge and Hope at National Hui

Dame Claudia Orange (left), former Practice Leader Research at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and author of the awardwinning Treaty of Waitangi, was the much anticipated guest speaker at this year’s Māori Ministry national hui.

Over 200 Salvationists from as far as Christchurch in the South Island and Kaitaia in the North travelled to Omahu Marae in Hastings for the three-day hui, which was led by Lieutenants Tau and Trish Mataki over Queen’s Birthday weekend.

From her wealth of knowledge, Dame Claudia spoke on the Treaty of Waitangi and its impact throughout the decades leaving us with the challenge that ‘we can each, in our own way, in our own communities do something’.

The theme this year was Te Ōhākī (‘the final words’) of Jesus, from Matthew 28:29, ‘Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations.’ It was a weekend of encouragement and challenge as Māori, Pākehā and others came together, united by their faith in Jesus and passionate about fulfilling the great command.

Saturday afternoon was a highlight for many, with the opportunity for everyone to go on a waka and paddle on the river at Clyde. There were many sore arms afterwards.

A traditionally cooked hāngī for dinner on Sunday evening exceeded many people’s expectations, with ample food for everyone.

The team that worked in the background feeding everyone throughout the weekend did an incredible job.

The worship service on Sunday morning was led by the team at Flaxmere Corps—the singing a mix of Te Reo and English. There was a real sense of the Spirit of God moving throughout the worship service.

Lieutenant Trish Mataki, Territorial Secretary for Māori Ministry with her husband Lieutenant Tau Mataki, said it was moving for people who had never aligned themselves with Māori to be involved and experience fellowship in a way they’d never done before.

On Monday, as everyone was about to depart, Te Haka A Te Pōti,

inspired by William Booth’s ‘I’ll Fight’ speech, was performed. It was a powerful moment and for Larissa Price from the Far North (Kaitaia) Corps was a definite highlight, along with ‘belonging to a group of people who were gracious and accepting of me learning and sharing their expression of Māori Christianity’.

Captain Nikki Mellsop from Whakatāne Corps said the hui was a reminder that it’s never too late to learn Te Reo, and it’s never too late to embrace the Treaty of Waitangi and implement it in our local communities.

Lieutenant Simon Montgomery reflected on his first national Māori Ministry hui. ‘Something I kept hearing from God over the weekend was the song, “We’re together again.” It wasn’t until I was on the long drive home that I began to understand the significance of this.

What God wanted me to hear was the line, “something good is going to happen, something good is in store”. As I thought about this it began to make sense. Paul spoke about honouring all parts of the body. As an Army, as we begin to understand and honour the tangata whenua of our land, we are honouring that part of the body. There is rich blessing to be found in understanding each other.’

Dame Claudia shared a quote from Dame Whina Cooper that captured the heart and hope of the hui for attenders: ‘The seed I would like to plant in your heart is the vision of Aotearoa where all our people can live together in harmony and share the wisdom from each culture.’

16 | WarCry 09 July 2016

Our Community | 17

Salvation Army Joins Peace Walk A group of Salvationists joined hundreds on a walk to encourage peace and dialogue in Taranaki.

About 15 Salvationists took part in the Taranaki peace walk from New Plymouth to Parihaka last month. Salvation Army Māori Ministry Territorial Secretaries Lieutenants Trish and Tau Mataki and Māori Ministry Council Chair and head of The Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit Lieut-Colonel Ian Hutson walked the final two days of the march. Ian said it was a moving opportunity for him personally and as a representative of the Army.

Former Salvationist Glen Bennett, from the Christian Incedo organisation, was a key organiser of the hīkoi, designed to encourage ‘a better way of talking’ between people following the story of New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd who was abused and spat on for supporting creating a Māori Ward for the city council.

Over 500 Māori and Pākehā from around the country joined the walk, led by Judd. Each evening they met in a community hall and were put in groups to talk with each other, Ian said. This was a great chance to share and learn and see things from different perspectives.

‘We grow up with a world view that becomes part of who we are and we don’t even know it,’ he said. ‘As the dominant culture in this country, Pākehā New Zealanders, we’re blind to so much; we’re unaware how biased we are, particularly around the experience and culture of others.

We get upset if someone says that to us, but it’s only when we step across the threshold into another world we begin to see it.’ This was a contrast to current communication between cultures, which often happens in a heated way through the media, he said.

The message from Judd’s story and the hīkoi was also a challenge to the Church, he said. ‘What the mayor was asking people to do is to come together and connect. I thought the Church could learn a lot from that. We’re called to be like Christ, who came to earth to live amongst us. We won’t be able to be the Army that brings life if we haven’t engaged with people. For all cultures that means talking and living with them.’

He hoped many New Zealanders, in and outside the Church, would seek peaceful and meaningful dialogue with other cultures and in doing so discover more of this world, as well as forging a better nation.

The route to Parihaka was chosen as a reminder of the peaceful protest by Māori who founded the village in the late 1800s as part of a campaign against forced confiscation of their land. In 1881, the government ordered soldiers to forcibly evict Parihaka residents, who peacefully resisted. The soldiers destroyed houses and burnt crops in an attempt to remove the protesters, leaving many homeless and starving.

The hīkoi’s entry onto the marae was powerfully symbolic and

Invercargill Corps on the Move after 100 years

Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy and Māori Ministry Sec Lt Trish Mataki.

Peace Walk with Mayor Andrew Judd.

More than a century of memories were farewelled with song as The Salvation Army in Invercargill closed the doors on its old citadel.

The Army was established in Invercargill in 1883 and had operated from its Tay Street site for over 100 years. However, the corps held their final service at the citadel on Tay Street on Sunday 19 June, marching out singing for the final time.

The long history and memories attached to the site meant it was not an easy decision to move, Corps Officer Captain Annette Bray said.

In the end, though, a team of corps members agreed it was the right move. The old building

leaked and there was water damage in a lot of the walls, she said. Although they considered rebuilding on the old site, there was no room to expand, and with both the corps and its programmes growing, they wanted more space.

The new site is also next door to the corps’ Community Ministries building and hostel, making it a great opportunity to have all of the Army’s work in Invercargill centred together, she said.

‘We know God has been in this every step of the way.

The new building is owned by two people and one half of the building wasn’t even for sale, but we were able to talk to the owner

Appealing Red Shield Result

deeply moving, Ian said. When the soldiers entered on 5 November 1881, the 2500 villagers waited in silence on the marae, while the marchers were greeted with a raucous, joyous welcome.

‘With the history in mind what they also did was they sent the children onto the marae first, which is not usually how it’s done. That mirrored the past in that, when the troops came to arrest the people, they sent the children out with gifts for the soldiers. They also gave the mayor a drum with three white feathers of peace to play, so the drums of the soldiers were beaten in a completely different way—coming in peace not war.’

Hard work and generosity led to a highly successful Red Shield Appeal campaign, raising millions to help Kiwis in need.

This year’s appeal has so far raised $2.45 million with some money still coming in. That included a huge effort from street appeal volunteers who collected the highest amount raised from the street appeal in the past 10 years, Territorial Public Relations Director Shane Chisholm said.

He was extremely pleased with the appeal and grateful for the generosity of Salvationists and supporters, giving through time and money to support the Army’s work in the community.

The annual street appeal effort was particularly key to the positive fundraiser, with street collectors raising more than $872,000.

At a time when other charities were struggling with street appeals, Army volunteers raised over $50,000 more than last year and boosted the Army’s presence and profile, which was a testament to their dedication, Shane said.

‘One thing we know that proves itself time and time again is that if we do the time, the donations come in. And it also means the Army is

Volunteers Recognised in Waitara Salvation Army volunteers in Waitara saw their hard work recognised last month, as part of events marking National Volunteer Week.

Jo Goodhew, the Community and Voluntary Sector Minister, visited the Waitara Family Store and its Furniture Store on 21 June.

The visit was one of two stops the Minister made in Taranaki to mark the week, which aims to celebrate volunteers and their contribution to their communities.

During the visit she gave certificates to volunteers who had been with the store for 10 years or more and spent time talking with Family Store manager Karen Lowe about managing volunteers, and with staff about their work.

over a series of months and he decided to sell to us.’

Renovations on the new building were not completed, but the Army would be able to operate in one half while the other was renovated.

Its operations would then move while renovations were completed on the rest of the building, she said.

A lively celebration was held to send off the old building, including a march to mark the move.

‘We marched out from the old building, locked the doors, and then those who could marched with the flag down to the new building.’

seen in the community.’

The income from Red Shield appeal goes directly to The Salvation Army Community Ministries around the country, meaning collectors made a big difference to the lives of struggling Kiwis, he said.

‘Every additional cent we get means additional service provision.

So we’d like to thank those who participated for not only raising funds, but raising the profile of The Salvation Army in the community.’

The Red Shield Appeal corporate fundraising breakfasts were also very successful, boosted by Christchurch running its first breakfast since the earthquakes, supported by Richie McCaw and Sir Richard Hadlee.

There had been a very positive response to using a similar message and advertisements to last year’s popular ads, Shane said. Increased online engagement and more interest from news organisations had also helped. For the first time people were also able to donate by card through Payclip machines trialled in a number of locations, with generally positive results.

GAZETTE They were joined by representatives from other Taranaki Family Stores and it was nice to see the work of volunteers and Family Stores across the province recognised as well, Karen said.

The store is one of the biggest volunteer organisations in the town, with 38 volunteers who do a wide range of tasks beyond staffing the shop.

‘One guy takes our rubbish away, and we have a lady that does our garden. We have three men who do odd jobs and things. It’s like having [the TV show] Last of the Summer Wine on board at times, but they’ve saved The Salvation Army a lot of money from doing odd jobs around the place and never charging us for them.’

The group felt privileged

and honoured to be hosting the Minister and it was a good reward for a dedicated team, Karen said.

‘I have been managing here for nearly 12 years and at the moment, this is the best team I could say I have had. Everybody works together. They’re a very close team, a very supportive team. They keep me going.’

Share your news Send 300–600 words with one or two clear and captioned photos. Promotion to Glory tributes are usually around 300 words. Please send large, high-quality digital images in .jpg format. Email news reports to warcry@nzf. salvationarmy.org

Appointment Effective 27 June: Mjr June Allwright, Administrative Assistant, Executive Department and Programme Section, Territorial Headquarters.

Bereaved Lt Tau Mataki of his sister, Te Whaea Georgina Cribb, on Monday 20 June.

Please uphold Lts Tau and Trish Mataki and their family with your love and prayers at this time of loss and grief.

Corps Closure It is with deep regret that the Chief Secretary advises the closure of Kelvin Grove Corps. After 23 years of ministry in the Kelvin Grove community, the corps has reached the end of its sustainability. We thank officers, soldiers, adherents and friends of the corps for their service over these past years. A final meeting was held on Sunday 3 July.

International Appointment The General has approved changes in relation to the administration of International Headquarters (IHQ).

As of 1 August, following the farewell

of Comm William Cochrane to a new appointment in Norway, the title of International Secretary to the Chief of the Staff will be discontinued, replaced by the title Chief Secretary.

The two under secretary positions in the Administration Department will become known as Asstistant Chief Secretary (Administration) and Asstistant Chief Secretary (Personnel).

It is anticipated that this change will bring clarity to the significance of the central role of those offices in relation to the administration of IHQ in general, and the vital functional relationship the Chief Secretary’s office has with the office of the Chief of the Staff. This will further enhance the effective administration of IHQ and the Army world, and reflect an improved governance model. From 1 August, Mjr Mark Watts, an officer of the Australia Eastern Territory currently serving at IHQ as Under Secretary for Administration (Administration) is appointed Chief Secretary, IHQ, with the rank of colonel.

18 | WarCry 09 July 2016

Mission Matters | 19

LEADERSHIP LINKS

You’ve never done anything that could make God stop loving you!

On my recent visit to India, I was intrigued to learn that whenever I stayed in accommodation, it was necessary for me to state my age and give my father’s name. My interest piqued, I asked about the necessity of this information. It was simple: I needed to belong to someone, and my father was the one I needed to belong to!

Many decades ago, my mother used to read me the story Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman. The story opens with a proud mother bird sitting on her nest when her egg jumps. She is startled to realise her baby bird will hatch sooner than expected, so she flies off to find some food. But while she is absent, the baby bird hatches to ask, ‘Where is my mother?’

As the story unfolds, the baby bird approaches a series of animals to pose this question to them: ‘Are you my mother?’ It doesn’t take long until the baby bird is distressed, saying, ‘I did have a mother, I know I did. I have to find her. I will, I will.’ And so the baby bird continues the search with great urgency.

Eventually, a snort (I was never sure what this is!) drops the baby bird back in its nest. The mother returns, worm in mouth, and asks her baby, ‘Do you know who I am?’ And most certainly the baby bird does. ‘You are my mother!’

More than four decades have passed since I first heard that story, but I now see it a little differently. I understand the confusion. The baby bird had never seen what it searched for; whereas I, on the other hand, have never known life without a mother or father. Sadly, we live in a world that for too many children and adults is very different from the one I knew.

Thinking about this simplistic story today, it captures the cry of a generation searching for family.

The Bible reminds us that God loves every person, especially those who feel lost and alone. Psalm 10:14 says, ‘But you, oh God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand.

The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.’ Psalm 27:10 promises the unending love of God to those without human parents: ‘When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.’

I can tell you with all confidence that you’ve never done anything that could make God stop loving you! God knows —and he loves you anyway. There is nothing you could imagine that could make God stop loving you.

‘I’ve sinned.’ Well, God still loves you! ‘I don’t care about God. I’m going my own way.’ It doesn’t matter. God still loves you!

And when you’re ready, God will be ready. That’s the mighty love of God. The love of the Heavenly Father I belong to.

Commissioner Janine Donaldson Territorial President of Women’s Ministries

BY DAVE MANN

What We Learnt From the Hope Project Dave Mann is the coordinator of the Hope Project—a campaign that aimed to bring the gospel into every home in New Zealand. He reflects on the top 10 things they’ve learnt about sharing Jesus with Kiwis.

The Hope Project was one of the most ambitious gospel efforts our nation had ever seen. Using TV ads, booklets and multimedia, it sought to initiate a conversation with secular New Zealanders about Christian faith. It also aimed to mobilise pastors with a more conversational approach to outreach—breaking with traditional forms of evangelism.

In the past three years, the Hope Project has partnered with 650 churches. Literally thousands of Christians have been encouraged and equipped to have conversations about Christ, and 1.4 million homes have been reached through the multi-media campaign.

Here are the top 10 things we learnt from our challenges and successes: 1. When we give respect we receive respect … and this makes taking religion into the public sphere possible.

Past disappointments had dowsed the flames of courage for outreach in many people and churches. For 30 years there was no ‘every home gospel project’ in our nation—even though there were no laws against it. Many thought this project would receive truck-loads of hate mail. But with ‘gentleness and respect’ (1 Peter 3:15) as guiding values, along with authenticity, it didn’t!

2. New Zealanders really are still spiritual people. Many in the church had concluded that New Zealanders were disinterested in spiritual things. However, surveys indicate that 46 per cent still believe in a God, and another 31 per cent in a Higher Power. It was discovered by many that most objections have to do with the fact that most people don’t believe religious truth exists anymore. You can’t tell the truth to a person who doesn’t believe in it—but you can talk with them about it! Many personally discovered how, when conversations are gentle and respectful, New Zealanders are actually quite comfortable to discuss spiritual things.

3. ‘Foot soldiers’ for the gospel still exist in every community in our nation. There seemed to have been a distinct lack of personal evangelistic activity at a local level in many

4.

5.

6.

7.

communities. It was as if the heart for personal ‘evangelism’ to people we don’t know had been lost. But with training provided and quality booklets produced, we found hundreds of Christians from all over New Zealand were not only giving these booklets out—but were contacting us for spare booklets so they could share even more widely. A staggering 64 per cent of partnering churches said they had members who took booklets to people at the doors of ‘no circulars homes’.

There really is a way forward for personal ‘evangelism’ in the ‘conversational approach’. Five years ago the word ‘evangelism’ had negative connotations for Christians and congregations.

But for many who engaged with the Hope Project this has now changed. With focus given to explaining the conversational approach to evangelism, many realised that this gentle and inquisitive approach is not only biblical (consider how often Jesus asked people questions in conversation), but also entirely appropriate in a multi-religious society. Church by church, and person-by-person, this discovery is bringing new hope.

If outreach efforts are limited to people we have relationships with, this will leave the majority unreached. Statistically, about six out of 10 people are not aware of having a church-going friend. If ‘relationship evangelism’ meant that we need to have a relationship with a person before discussing spiritual things, many came to understand that this leaves most New Zealanders ‘unreached’. Increasingly, Christians realised that it is a relational manner that is needed—not necessarily a close relationship.

Put differently, with good people skills, trust can be quickly established. This perspective has opened a door to this other ‘unreached’ 60 per cent of the population.

Evangelistic methods do not become outdated. It’s bad people skills that are outdated! One of the Hope Project’s evangelismtraining videos for churches was about door-to-door visitation. It felt radical to create a video that endorsed street conversations and door-to-door visitations—because it felt like an ‘outdated’ method.

However, it helped many to realise that these are still perfectly acceptable approaches. What isn’t acceptable, and hasn’t worked, is bad people skills. As a result, Christians of all walks are re-engaging in personal outreaching initiatives like in door-to-door visitation— certainly including those who took Hope Project booklets to people at no-circulars homes.

The Church has a mission, and our neglect of it is not acceptable. It was widely accepted that evangelism was in the ‘too hard basket’ in our nation’s churches and denominations. But the real problem was the deafening silence that existed regarding this.

The Hope Project’s discussions with pastors’ groups raised this issue. It suggested that the main responsibility of the key leader of any organisation is surely to ensure that the mission of evangelism is clearly the mission of the whole organisation—authentically,

measurably and observably to all. This made sense to many, and continues to be a point of reflection for many pastors and church leadership teams. Many are recognising that the mission of the Church has often been reduced to the status of one of its ministries.

8. Pastors need to preach evangelism from the pulpit. Previously only a few churches had evangelism-training seminars, and these were not often well attended. The Hope Project encouraged pastors to take the lead from the pulpit. The results have spoken for themselves.

9. Mobilising individuals is the ‘holy grail’ of evangelism—not an event or programme. As New Zealanders became less open to the truth claims of Christianity through the 1960s onwards, many outreach approaches (and organisations) began to struggle. The only place that seemed to still get results was big-event evangelism.

However, a growing number came to question whether the claimed results were real, because few could be found in a church a month or year later. The Hope Project simply proposed what many were already saying—that we need to focus on mobilising our members, rather than running outreach programmes. This represents a significant change in thinking and focus. Within all things evangelistic, nothing is as important or can produce the same results as mobilising members. The Church has been called ‘the sleeping giant’. The Hope Project would like the Church to wake up, and we believe the key to that is mobilising its members as witnesses in everyday life!

The Hope Project team believe This is not the end of the there is reason for great hope story for the Hope Project. for our nation’s churches if The Hope Project team this value continues to be are travelling nationally understood and applied. in 2016 to share a five10. The ‘evangelistic year strategic plan with temperature’ of our nation church leaders. See can be changed. The most alltogether.co.nz for the encouraging revelation is that, vision, and alltogether. from Kaitaia to Invercargill, co.nz/visiontour for the there are pastors and schedule. church members for whom Sixteen organisations are evangelism is no longer in the partnering together for ‘too hard basket’. There is new a national evangelism hope among many, and the equipping conference Hope Project team testify that on 2–3 September. this is bringing a willingness Churches are encouraged to discuss and consider things to get key members in a way that was not possible and leaders along. See five years ago! engageconference.nz

Coming Up …

20 | WarCry 09 July 2016

Soul Food | 21

Part 5 of 5 In the final part of this series, Carla Lindsey asks what the book of Jonah is really about … and the answers are bigger than a really big fish.

A good story often ends with a good question. You are probably familiar with Dr Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat. It’s a story in which, after the mother has gone out for the day, leading to the children and cat all but destroying the house, a question is posed as to what the children should tell their mother about how they spent their day. The book gives no answer to the question but rather, asks the reader, ‘What would you do if your mother asked you?’

Jesus left stories open ended too. It’s really quite frustrating! It would be nice if he would wrap his stories up with a black-and-white conclusion, but often he doesn’t. The parable of the Good Samaritan ends with the question, ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ A good question! One that invites a response from the listener. Luke concludes one of the miracle stories by recounting the disciples’ words: ‘Who is this man that the wind and waves obey him?’ Another good question.

One the reader is invited to consider.

As we now approach the end of the book of Jonah, we will see that the writer of the book used the same technique. The book ends up in the air. There is no ‘and they all lived happily ever after’. Instead he leaves us with a very big question. A question that makes the reader consider which people are important to God. Are all people of equal value to God? I mean really? Are those who live in ways that oppose God’s kingdom still just as important to him? What lengths should God go to reach those people? Are they just as deserving of God’s mercy as those who follow his ways?

Burning up We’ll come back to these questions, but first let’s pick up the story where we left off. We left chapter three of Jonah with things hanging.

Jonah had finally made it to Nineveh and had delivered the message that God had given to him. The people of Nineveh believed the message and immediately repented, fasted and called on God in the hope that their city might not be overturned. And that’s where we left it. Jonah had done what he was asked to do. The Ninevites had done all they could do. Now … what would God do?

Well, ‘when God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened’ (3:10).

The Ninevites were saved. An excellent outcome you might think.

The book seems set for a triumphant ending … but Jonah wasn’t impressed at all by this turn of events. In fact, ‘to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry’ (4:1). This could be translated, ‘Jonah became hot’ or ‘burned up’. In other words, he was fuming!

Fuming because God had chosen to show mercy to the Ninevite people—people who were enemies of Israel.

Jonah vented his frustration, and said to God, ‘Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity’ (4:2).

Loving your enemies Now it begins to make sense. Now we get a glimpse into the mind of Jonah and understand why he disobeyed God to start with. He wanted the Ninevites to be destroyed. The city of Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, and the Assyrians had oppressed Jonah’s people. Jonah didn’t want to give them a second chance. As far as he was concerned they deserved the punishment that they had coming.

How dare God spare the Ninevites after all they had done! How dare God show grace and compassion! Where did the vengeful God go?

Could we have him back?

And with that, Jonah threw all his toys out of the cot. He exclaimed, ‘Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live!’ (4:3). Jonah would rather die than have God spare the Ninevites.

A slightly extreme reaction! A tantrum perhaps? An exaggeration?

A sign of Jonah’s mental and physical exhaustion? Certainly an expression of just how unreasonable God’s grace to the Ninevites seemed to Jonah at the time.

God did not want to overturn their city. He wanted to give the Ninevites every opportunity to turn to him.

Jonah seems to have forgotten his own recent behaviour. Jonah was a recent recipient of God’s grace. If people should get what they deserve, then God should have left him to die on the sea floor. Or, maybe Jonah hadn’t forgotten his own recent rescue, but as biblical scholar Richard D. Philips suggests, perhaps Jonah simply thought that ‘there were sinners and then there were sinners’. Maybe Jonah knew he wasn’t perfect, but he felt he certainly wasn’t as bad as those Ninevites!

Jonah essentially complained to God because God was too good.

Jonah had praised God’s mercy in chapter two, but now he hated it.

God responded to Jonah’s rant with a question: ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’(4:4). A good question that cut to the heart of the situation. God doesn’t enter a silly argument to try to justify his actions; he just asks Jonah what it had to do with him!

Jonah didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. The answer is obvious.

Jonah had no right to be angry.

Now the narrator takes us to a different scene. We find Jonah leaving Nineveh and sitting down to the east of the city. ‘There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would

happen’ (4:6). As Jonah sat and waited to see exactly what was going to happen to Nineveh, God gave him an object lesson to expose his narrowmindedness.

A twist in the plot The Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant’ (4:7). Scholars speculate that it might have been a castor oil plant, as they grow in the area and their growth rate is rapid. But whatever this plant was, the important thing was that God provided it.

In chapter two, God provided a fish that saved Jonah when he was in the sea—and now on land, God provided a plant to save Jonah from the sun. Jonah was comfortable. He was happy. Yet again he was the recipient of God’s grace.

Then we see the word ‘but’. We’ve already come across it a few times in the book of Jonah. ‘But Jonah ran away’ (1:3), ‘but God provided a fish’ (1:17), ‘but this seemed wrong to Jonah’ (4:1). These ‘buts’ indicate a twist in the plot is coming.

‘But’ at dawn the next day God provided again, not a fish or a plant, but this time he provided a worm. And the worm chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God ‘provided’ yet again.

This time he provided a scorching east wind, and so that the sun blazed on Jonah’s head and he grew faint, and yet again, Jonah wanted to die.

He said, ‘It would be better for me to die than to live’ (4:8).

Jonah was not having a good day! What an emotional roller coaster ride he was on. The death of the plant must have just felt like the last straw. Everything was wrong in the world. It was too much and he wanted out.

God responded to Jonah in the way same he had to his earlier outburst, ‘Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?’ (4:9). This time Jonah answered. ‘It is,’ he said. ‘And I’m so angry I wish I were dead’ (4:9).

Jonah had only had the plant one day, but in that short time the vine had come to mean something to Jonah and so he felt he did have a right to be angry. That vine was important to him and it had been taken. He was so furious about it that he wanted to die.

Jonah’s strong answer helps God make his point.

God responded, ‘You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?’ (4:10–11). ‘

A final question And there we have the question the book ends with. God was saying, ‘Jonah, if you really care about that vine that you have no investment in and only got yesterday, can you imagine how much more I care about the people in Nineveh? People I made, people I know, people I

love—120,000 of them! All unique, all precious to me. Those people might not matter to you, but they matter to me!’

God did not want to overturn their city. He wanted to give the Ninevites every opportunity to turn to him.

The book of Jonah is not a story about a fish. It’s a story about people, about their relationship with God and with each other. It’s a story about a man who was forced to rethink his way of understanding God and others … and it was a painful process for him.

Biblical scholar Douglas Stuart says, ‘It is always easier to think that God is more with us than with our enemies.’ But actually, God doesn’t limit his presence to just one group of people. He loves us all!

Everyone. This is what Jonah had to learn, but to learn that he needed to change the way he understood God. He needed to change the lens through which he made sense of the world. No longer could he see himself as superior and more deserving of God’s grace. And no longer could he see God’s love as having limits.

Did Jonah work these things out? I’d like to think that over time he did, but the book doesn’t tell us. It ends up in the air, with questions that ancient and modern readers alike are invited to consider: Who deserves God’s love? Who are our Ninevites?

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER What painful process is God asking you to stick with and not give up on? Because from that process growth will come.

What steps can you take to expand the way you understand God? Will you honestly ask God to reveal to you anyone (an individual or group) to whom you feel superior? Ask God to show you how to show his love to everyone.

Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the heaven above; Deep, deep as the deepest sea is my Saviour’s love.

I, though so unworthy, still am a child of his care; For his Word teaches me that his love reaches me everywhere.

22 | WarCry 09 July 2016

CALENDAR JULY 5–8: Foundations for Chaplaincy / Booth College of Mission 9–15: The Odyssey Adventure / Blue Mountain Adventure Centre 24: Self Denial Appeal Launch AUGUST 2–3: Leadership Essentials / Booth College of Mission 8–11: Officers Fellowship / Midland Division 12–14: Missional Leadership Hui / Booth College of Mission 12–14: Southern Division Kids Camp (Timaru and North) 19–20: Central Division Youth Conference / Wellington 22–24: Lead to Grow Conference / Wellington 23–25: Re-reading the Scriptures / Booth College of Mission 28: Self Denial Appeal Sunday

SEPTEMBER 30–1: Personal Leadership / Booth College of Mission 19–22: 12 Steps Course (Part 1) / Booth College of Mission 29 Sept–2 Oct: Now is the Time Congress / Wellington

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Robert (Territorial Commander) and Janine Donaldson (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 10-11 July: Northern Division Governance Board Visit 12 July: ASARS Governance Board Visit 23 July: Northern Division Youth Councils (Janine) 25-27 July: Appointments Conference, Booth College of Mission 3 August: Spiritual Day, Booth College of Mission Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 10-11 July: Northern Division Governance Board Visit 12 July: ASARS Governance Board Visit 25-27 July: Appointments Conference, Booth College of Mission

PRAYER FOCUS Please pray for: Ba, Blenheim, Cambridge, Carterton and Central Taranaki Corps, Salvation Army Candidates Secretaries and accepted candidates, and The Salvation Army in Mozambique.

INTERESTED IN SOCIAL JUSTICE? For reports, regular newsletters, challenging articles and Salvation Army government submissions:

www salvationarmy.org.nz/socialpolicy

Find SALVATION ARMY JOB OPPORTUNITIES online:

www salvationarmy.org.nz/employment

Help Women and Children in Fiji

Levin Corps 125th Anniversary 2–4 June 2017

Save the date and plan to come along as Levin Corps celebrates 125 years of mission and ministry in the Horowhenua.

For more details and registration information email: levin_corps@nzf.salvationarmy. org, or request to join the Facebook group for this event to stay up-to-date: facebook. com/groups/774208332680743

New Salvation Army Positional Statement on Refugees and Asylum Seekers The Salvation Army prepares Positional Statements that briefly state its view on particular issues. All Positional Statements are approved by the General. The latest International Positional Statement is on refugees and asylum seekers.

The Salvation Army is gravely concerned for the needs of the millions of people who are refugees and asylum seekers. People are fleeing their homes and countries because of a well-founded fear of persecution. Many of these people have experienced significant grief and trauma, which have potential long-term consequences for their health and well-being.

The Salvation Army recognises that the ability to seek asylum is a basic human right, with all people having the right to life, liberty and security of person. The Salvation Army supports international efforts to eliminate persecution and displacement through the promotion of peace, tolerance, understanding and respect for human life and dignity.

God’s hospitable, loving concern for the stranger and foreigner are evident in Scripture and therefore, The Salvation Army contends that individuals and governments should act compassionately and humanely towards persons seeking asylum.

The Salvation Army condemns the actions of people smugglers, human traffickers and others who would seek to gain from the plight of refugees and asylum seekers. The Salvation Army recognises the responsibilities of sovereign nations to control their borders, but believes there is also a duty to care for refugees and asylum seekers.

Therefore, nations working together to address the dire needs of asylum seekers is critical.

The Salvation Army holds that both asylum seekers and refugees should be offered assistance to settle and become contributing members of society as quickly as possible.

Go to www.salvationarmy.org.nz/PositionalStatements and follow the link to read this statement in full, along with other international and local positional statements.

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BECOME A FAMILY CARE CENTRE SPONSOR Our Family Care Centres are safe houses for women escaping domestic violence, homelessness and human trafficking.

For $25 a month, you can help support this work.

Become a sponsor today Contact Major Helen Knowles (Child Sponsorship Secretary), e: helen_knowles@nzf.salvationarmy.org, p: (04) 384 5649 or download a form from our website

www.salvationarmy.org.nz/FijiFamilyCentreSponsor

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scarf maze

Colour the scarf to match the right wool colour.

Fun4Kids | 23

“Kind words are like honey — they cheer you up and make you feel strong.” Proverbs 16:24 (CEV)

Match the unkind and untrue things that we might sometimes think about ourselves, with the helpful and true things that God says to us.*

cary to do on 1. This is too s

my own.

2. No one understands me.

3. I can’t do this.

4. I am all alone.

5. I’m too young to make a difference.

6. No one loves me.

at he d the world th hn 3:16) e v lo so d o ‘G . a (Jo nd only Son.’ gave his one a b. ‘So do not be afraid.

I am with you.’ (Isaiah 41:10) c. ‘The Lord h e I will not be a lps me. fraid.’ (Hebre ws 13

:6)

n yone look dow d. ‘Don’t let an you are young.’ se on you becau 2) (1 Timothy 4:1 e. ‘I can do a ll of Christ. He this by the power g (Philippians ives me strength.’

4:13)

f. ‘Lord, you have seen what is in my heart. You know all about me.’

(Psalm 139:1)

* Verses are from

f; 3, c; 4, the NIVR 1, c.; 2,

b; 5, d; 6, a.

1&2,3&8, 5&4, 7&6.

read it ‘Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.’ Proverbs 4:23 (GNT)

No one wants to be friends with someone who is always telling them they are no good. We choose friends who say helpful and encouraging things to us.

But what about the sort of things we think and then say to ourselves?

Jesus wants us to love

and believe in ourselves.

Sometimes we make mistakes, but that doesn’t make us no good, it just makes us human!

When you feel like getting angry with yourself about something you’ve done wrong, or when you start to feel sad and like you’re not good enough,

remember that Jesus loves you and thinks you’re awesome! Don’t think or say things to yourself that will make you feel bad. Encourage yourself by saying helpful and positive things—say the sort of things to yourself a true best friend would say to you.

let’s pray

Dear Jesus, sometimes I think things about myself that make me feel sad. Help me to say kind and helpful things to myself, and to never forget that you know me and love me just as I am. Amen.

MISSION CONFERENCE

An engaging two days on aspects of mission today.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Pastor Paul de Jong, Senior Pastor, LIFE Church / Chris Clarke, CEO, World Vision FRI 30 SEP, 9AM–3PM | SAT 01 OCT, 9AM–12PM Registration required

WORSHIP

Uplifting worship and challenge from the Word.

FRI 30 SEP, 7PM / Celebrate Now / Snr Ps Paul de Jong SAT 01 OCT, 7PM / Vision Now / Comms Robert & Janine Donaldson SUN 02 OCT, 8AM / Prayer Meeting 10AM / Life Now / Comms Robert & Janine Donaldson

KIDS

Exciting kids activities throughout Congress, including during the Mission Conference.

FRI 30 SEP, 9AM–3.30PM, 7PM / SAT 01 OCT, 9AM–12PM, 7PM / SUN 02 OCT, 10AM–12PM Registration required

YOUTH

Youth and young adults late-night gatherings plus a BYO dinner.

Perfect for catching up with old mates and making new ones.

FRI 30 SEPT, 10PM–LATE / Café Hangs SAT 02 OCT, 4.30PM–6PM / BYO Dinner—we’ll supply dessert!

10PM–LATE / Youth Now / Fulton Hawk

CONCERTS

THUR 29 SEP, 7PM / Rhythm + Culture SAT 01 OCT, 2PM / #talentnow SUN 02 OCT, 2PM / National Youth Band and SpiritSong

WELLINGTON, NZ / 29 SEPTEMBER–02 OCTOBER 2016 FOR MORE INFO GO TO salvationarmy.org.nz/now