FAITH IN ACTION 09 SEPTEMBER 2017 | Issue 6675 | $1.50
What’s your signature style?
World Suicide Prevention Day The last brigadier turns 100!
On the spot with the Green Party’s James Shaw Speed dating at the Sole Officer Symposium
MEGAN DANGEN
MKR Star Cooks for Community Ministries
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WAR CRY The Salvation Army
Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Andy & Yvonne Westrupp | GENERAL André Cox | FOUNDERS William
& Catherine Booth
The Salvation Army’s message is based on the Bible. Our ministry is motivated by love for God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in his name without discrimination. War Cry exists to support and advance The Salvation Army’s message, ministry and mission. EDITOR Major Christina Tyson | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Ingrid Barratt, Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond | PROOF READING Major Jill Gainsford | COVER Megan Dangen. Photography:
Bruce Millar.
OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box
6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Fax (04) 382 0716, Email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org, www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone
(04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org, $75 per year within NZ
PRINT MANAGEMENT www.makeready.nz | PAPER Sumo Offset
is an environmentally responsible paper produced using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) FSC® certified Mixed Source pulp from responsible sources and manufactured under the strict ISO14001 Environmental Management System.
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Pass it on I’ll never forget a story that was told to me by a social worker, who helped young mums at risk of having their babies taken away from them. One of the things she had to teach these young women was to look at their babies. I was shocked. I hadn’t realised that the simple act of looking into your child’s eyes was a learned behaviour—and if you haven’t had the gift of attachment to your own parents, you will not have those skills to pass on to your children. So much of what many of us take for granted is actually passed down to us from previous generations. Like the act of cooking homemade meals, or sitting around the table to eat dinner. Even using a knife and fork is something that we have to learn. But it’s so easy for us to judge others without knowing their story. We don’t know whether that person that gets takeaways every night has ever been taught to cook. We don’t know whether that ‘bad’ mother has ever been mothered herself. And it’s a reminder for those of us who have been given much, that our job is to share what we have. That’s why I was inspired by talking to ‘super home cook’ Megan Dangen this week about her work at Royal Oak Community Ministries, where among their many activities, they are teaching cooking skills to clients. These seemingly simple skills we take for granted can be a life-changer for someone else. It reminds me of that quote from Martin Luther: ‘God does not need your good works, but your neighbour does.’ Ingrid Barratt
Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association. All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated. Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission. Publishing for 133 years | Issue 6675 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry
www.salvationarmy.org.nz salvationarmyNZFijiTonga @salvationarmynz salvationarmynzft
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I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse. Philip Yancey
Isaiah 26:3 (The Message) People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, steady on their feet because they keep at it and don’t quit. Ihāia 26:3 Māu e pupuri i runga i te rangimārie rawa te tangata e ū ana te whakaaro ki a koe; nāna hoki i whakawhirinaki ki a koe.
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ew Zealand’s had a dirty little secret for some time and seemed to assume that if we didn’t talk about it, it might just fix itself. But it hasn’t worked and thanks to a UNICEF report released in June, the whole world knows we have the highest youth suicide rate in the world. On top of that, figures released last week show our suicide rates have increased for the third straight year. For a long time suicide has been a taboo topic, and even journalists reporting on a death were banned from using the word. Earlier this year, the release of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why ignited fresh debate around whether it fuels copycat behaviour or starts meaningful conversations. Sadly, these days, most of us are aware of someone who has either attempted or died by suicide. And some of us may have taken steps down that path ourselves at one point in our lives. One thing I know, silence kills. In my own life I’ve experienced the pull towards seeing suicide as a valid option to end the pain and pressure that was crashing around my world at one time. It wasn’t that I wanted to die, I simply wanted the pain and confusion to stop—I just needed to feel I could breathe again. Ironic, I know. I was fortunate enough to have a couple of people in my life I could reach out to. I was able to ring them and let them in. They didn’t judge me, but listened, encouraged and prayed. They helped me make sense of the crazy running around inside me at the time. They were carriers of hope for my life when
I had run completely dry. I know that without them, I would not be here. September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day —a chance for organisations, government agencies and individuals to promote awareness of suicide, mental illnesses associated with suicide, as well as suicide prevention. Started by the World Health Organisation in 2003, the aim is to improve suicide awareness and decrease stigmatisation. New Zealand is leading the way in losing our young people to premature death through suicide. It’s time to break the silence and instead lead the way in helping people navigate the many challenges they face that present suicide as the best option. Exodus 17 tells the story of the Israelites in battle against Amalek. Every time Moses raised his hands, Israel was winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, they began to lose. Verse 12 tells us Moses grew so tired that two men, Aaron and Hur, stood on either side and held his hands up for him—until victory was secured. Sometimes life can feel like a battle and we need others to come alongside and hold our hands up for us when we have exhausted our reserves. Te Ope Whakaora is the Army that brings life (aka ‘The Salvation Army’): now more than ever we need to live up to our name, follow Jesus’ example and be carriers of life and hope. BY SHAR DAVIS New Zealand Suicide Crisis Hotline | 0508 828 865 09 SEPTEMBER 2017 WarCry 3
ONTHESPOT James Shaw In our ongoing series on political party leaders, the Green Party's James Shaw steps up to the plate.
Chocolate avocado ‘PB’ ice cream Rich, chocolatey ice-cream heaven that rivals any gourmet dairy ice cream you can buy. That said, it is only as good as the ingredients you use—so ensure you use really good-quality products. 2 medium-sized ripe avocados cup + 2 Tbsp almond, coconut or hazelnut milk ¾ cup good-quality cacao powder ¾ cup + 2 Tbsp organic maple syrup 1 Tbsp almond butter 1 Tbsp tahini 2½ tsp vanilla extract pinch of sea salt ¼ cup filtered water ¼ cup melted coldpressed coconut oil 1½ Tbsp melted cacao butter
Place all ingredients except coconut oil and cacao butter in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. With the blender running, slowly pour in melted coconut oil and cacao butter and blend until well incorporated. Pour mixture into a container (preferably metal), cover and freeze until firm—this should take around 8 hours, depending on your freezer. If you have an ice-cream maker you can churn it first—follow the instructions for your machine. Stand the ice cream at room temperature for 5 minutes before serving, to allow it to soften. Ice creams made with avocado don’t tend to last very long in the freezer, so aim to use it up within one week of making it.
Recipes extracted from Little Bird Goodness by Megan May, published by Penguin NZ, Hardback, RRP: $60.00. Photography by Lottie Hedley.
Cookbook Little Bird Goodness Megan May
Megan May’s new cookbook is a visual delight and full of nourishing, plant-based recipes to make you feel good from the inside out. A mix of raw and cooked meals as well as simple recipes and tips for those getting started. With drinks, sweet treats, healthy snacks, vibrant salads and wholesome meals there’s something for everyone. All the recipes are suitable for vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free. Avoiding processed food has never looked so scrumptious and simple. (Penguin) 4 WarCry 09 SEPTEMBER
Secret Indulgence: Snowboarding. I love that you need to use all of your senses, and every part of your brain. And, of course, I love being in Aotearoa’s beautiful mountains. Celebrity crush: Jeanette Fitzsimons. She always treated everybody, particularly those with whom she was in real opposition, with real dignity and respect. What I’m watching or reading: New York 2140—it’s set in NYC in the year 2140, when the ice caps have melted and half the city is under water. It’s extraordinary because it works through all the political and societal effects climate change has on arguably our greatest city. One thing I love: My wife, Annabel! One thing I hate: Mindless political partisanship. Something that would surprise us about your job: The level of genuine camaraderie between MPs from different parties— especially during difficult times. At the end of the day we all breathe the same air and we are all human.
QUIKQUIZ
1 What apes are known for their red hair?
2 What is the only sport to have been played on the moon?
3 Who hosted The Celebrity Apprentice in 2017?
4 Which musician wore a wig to cover a deformity of his left ear? 5 W hat was given as a reminder that the world would never again be destroyed by a flood? Answers on page 22
Weird of the Week: Maybe not completely weird, but definitely fruity (hee hee). The bus stops in the Japanese town of Konagai are shaped like fruit. They’re one in a melon, you could even say they’re pearfect. These puns are berry bad, but the bus stops are truly apeeling.
Love Letters to Trees In the city of Melbourne, Australia, over 7700 trees have been assigned email addresses, and people from around the world have been writing them love letters. Admittedly, it’s not what local authorities had in mind when they gave the trees email addresses—trees had been on the decline after a 13 year drought, and the email addresses were meant as a way for residents to report damage to trees. But it seems that the public had better ideas. So much better. Here’s some highlights from the over 3000 emails received, from as far away as Russia and Germany: Green Leaf Elm—Tree ID 1022165, I just got my marks for last semester back! On a definitely completely unrelated note, how do you deal with the constant, relentlessly soulcrushing pain of disappointment after disappointment that characterises our lives on Earth? You must be very old, right? So I thought you might know. Western red cedar—Tree ID 1058295, Are you worried about being affected by the Greek debt crisis? Should Greece be allowed to stay in the European Union?
Golden Elm—Tree ID 1028612, I used to think you were the Magic Faraway tree when I was a child. Now that I’m an adult, I still look forward to seeing you as I come around the bend after a tedious crawl down Hoddle Street. A loyal friend always there waiting to say hello. Golden Elm—Tree ID 1037148, You deserve to be known by more than a number. I love you. Always and forever.
Sometimes me think, ‘What is friend?’ And then me say, ‘Friend is someone to share last cookie with.’ The Cookie Monster
Documentary An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (PG) Al Gore
The sequel to Al Gore’s first feature length documentary on climate change is like taking a cold shower to wake yourself up. It’s confronting, hard to ignore and gets the blood pumping. It’s a mix of Al Gore’s public speaking, visiting locations directly impacted by climate change, and an insider’s look at the Paris Climate Change Conference in 2015. It’s less about answers and more about asking citizens of the world to take a stand when those in power won’t. It’s full of passionate pleading to do things differently and hold a vision for our world beyond our own immediate needs and desires. It’s worth a watch even if, like Trump, you think climate change is simply fake news. (Reviewed by Shar Davis) 09 SEPTEMBER 2017 WarCry 5
Megan Dangen was a contestant on the hit Australian show My Kitchen Rules, and today she is using her formidable cooking skills to feed up to a hundred people every week, as part of Royal Oak Community Ministries. BY INGRID BARRATT
f you’d asked me five years ago what I would be doing now, I wouldn’t have thought that I would be working for The Salvation Army doing what I’m doing,’ reflects Megan Dangen, centre manager at Royal Oak Community Ministries. ‘But I’m really, really enjoying what I’m doing, and using my skills to cook and serve others.’ For the past three-and-a-half years, Megan has brought her unique flavour to Royal Oak Community Ministries. It’s a busy hub that serves the inner city of Auckland and fringe suburbs, providing welfare, food parcels, counselling, social work support, and emergency and transitional housing. But every Tuesday, you’ll find Megan in the kitchen cooking for the weekly ‘family meal’, attended by between 80–100 people. Everyone is welcome to the table, ‘from the person that walks in and wants a food parcel, to someone heavily involved in our programmes, to the person that just needs some company.’ The initiative began as a way of engaging clients and modelling family meal time. ‘Some of the families hadn’t actually sat at a table and had a meal with their family,’ explains Megan. ‘The first few months children were running around, and they didn’t know how to use a knife and fork. But as they began sitting down as a family, it started to happen naturally.’ Through the dinner, many of the families are now plugged into the monthly ‘Messy Church’—a family orientated church service run at Royal Oak. ‘The cool thing about it is that families have committed to our meal and Messy Church, and their transformation is amazing. They’ve come from very broken lives, but now they’re engaged. And it’s not just the practical help of giving them a meal; it’s the spiritual side as well. ‘They critique me too,’ adds Megan with a laugh—‘They’ll come up to me and tell me how I did with my cooking.’
Super home chef It’s just as well Megan is used to being judged. In fact, it was five years ago that Megan and her fiancé Simon Yandall won out over thousands of applicants to make it on to the hit Aussie reality cooking show My Kitchen Rules. Megan applied on a whim after watching MKR on TV, and was surprised when the next day she was asked to do an online interview. Next, they had to cook and interview in front of the camera. ‘Every step of the way I just thought they were going to say “no way”,’ she recalls. But, with only a week and a half’s notice, they were told they were going to Australia to be contestants on the show. ‘The whole time I had thought that 09 SEPTEMBER 2017 WarCry 7
we were auditioning for the New Zealand version. But, bam, we were off to Oz!’ The next four months were a whirlwind. The first ‘instant restaurant’ rounds—where contestants visit each other’s houses—were some of the most intense. They had to submit 150 recipes for a three-course meal, and the producers only told them the night before which three recipes they would be cooking.
YOU MIGHT NOT BE HAVING DESSERT UNTIL 2 AM, BECAUSE THE COOKS HAVE LOST ALL SENSE OF TIME MANAGEMENT, OR THEY HAD TO COOK THE MAIN TWICE. ‘We had a lot of drama at our home restaurant because our oven broke and our pavlovas flopped, and it was terrible,’ remembers Megan. ‘You’ve got the mics on and you’ve got the camera right in front of you, and producers yelling at you to start talking. It’s quite bizarre.’ The day of the ‘instant restaurant’ started at 5 am, and contestants could be around the table until the early hours of the next morning. ‘You might not be having dessert until 2 am, because the cooks have lost all sense of time management, or they had to cook the main twice.’ It may look glamorous on TV, but it was hugely straining on all the relationships, adds Megan. She and Simon were the only non-Aussie contestants, so they didn’t have family or friends to turn to. ‘We just had to hustle and we’d be going down to the hotel’s restaurant and saying “talk to us”.’ But Megan and Simon came out of it strongly, and are still cooking together. ‘I would say I was pretty passionate about cooking, but going on MKR showed me that there’s the home cook, and there’s the super home cook. I had to become that super home cook.’ So you weren’t making truffle jus before MKR? ‘I wasn’t then, but I am now!’ laughs Megan. ‘We have a lot of people over for dinner. I love the challenge of conquering a new recipe or a new skill or technique.’ 8 WarCry 09 SEPTEMBER 2017
Back home in New Zealand, after being voted off half way through the series, Megan and Simon had the chance to represent brands, cook for dinner parties and be involved in competitions. But, after years managing an early childhood centre, the opportunity came up to be involved with Royal Oak Community Ministries—and that’s when Megan knew she had found her new vocation.
Homemade skills Megan grew up in The Salvation Army—her parents Rod and Sue Ellis were officers and are still involved in ministry. And being back on familiar ground has re-ignited Megan’s own faith. ‘I’ve always had a deep belief in God. And working here, I see the difference God makes—from the people I work with to the people we serve, God has made a difference in their lives. And I guess I want that too.’ Today, there’s a lot of laughter going on at the Community Ministries centre. That’s because another cooking initiative is in full swing—it’s the weekly cooking class for single mums who are attending the 8–12 week transitional housing programme, but it’s also open to anyone involved with Community Ministries. Right now they are cooking the ‘World Famous in Mangere Teriyaki Chicken Salad’, followed by brownies with fruit salad. ‘They get to cook nutritious budget meals and enjoy lunch together, then take home the recipes and cook for their families,’ explains Megan. A crèche is put on, so the mums can easily attend the classes. The emphasis is on healthy meals that can feed the family for under $15—including shepherd’s pie and pasta, as well as homemade versions of popular takeaways like burgers, fried rice and chow mein. They even learn a healthy version of the ‘boil up’. The women go to the supermarket and learn about ingredients, as well as substitutions so they can be resourceful with what they already have in the cupboard. ‘I’ve seen a lot of changes in a lot of women,’ says cooking tutor Rose Tuine. ‘We had someone who has just recently left the programme, who never cooked at all. She now has a new place and cooks every day. She came in and thanked us for helping her get those skills. And it’s not just her, it’s for her children—and it’s a lifetime skill that she can keep growing.’ Many of the mums come from a generation that have lost the art of home cooking. ‘You’ll get the ones who don’t know how to cook because their parents never really cooked, and
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS, LIKE SEEING A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER CRYING BECAUSE THEY’VE RECEIVED FOOD AND THEY KNOW THEY’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EAT. there are some who are just in the habit of getting takeaways,’ explains Rose. ‘They really enjoy the classes.’ In fact, the classes have proved to be a real turning point for many. ‘We’ve got women that come from really vulnerable situations and in the past it’s been really hard to engage them,’ says Megan. ‘But they turn up every week, they’re enjoying cooking and building a recipe folder. They’re not on their phones or out smoking, they’re really engaged. And they will take those skills with them when they leave the programme.’ The women also attend a weekly parenting class that focuses on attachment, child behaviour, teaches discipline rather than punishment, and explains brain development. ‘The classes are available to anyone in the community, and they’re bulging at the seams,’ exclaims Megan. These courses are just one of the strings in the bow of the national Community Ministries programme. Seeing lives transformed day by day is what it’s all about, sums up Megan. ‘It’s the little things, like walking out in the car park and seeing a mother and daughter crying because they’ve received food and they know they’re going to be able to eat over the weekend. Or getting a card from someone saying how different their life is now compared to how it was.’ If you’d asked Megan five years ago where she would be today, she would never imagined it would be living and breathing Community Ministries—but she is exactly where she is meant to be.
World Famous in Mangere Teriyaki Chicken Salad by Rosie Tuiane 2 chicken breasts Masterfoods Teriyaki Sauce Salad greens Spring onions 2 medium apples Anything else you want in your salad!
Now … it’s really easy. Place the chicken and marinade into an oven proof dish and slowly cook at 160°C until chicken begins to fall apart —it could take up to 1½ hours. While chicken is cooking, prepare your salad, mixing together greens, spring onions and cut-up apples. Place the hot cooked chicken on top of the salad and use the juices as your salad dressing. Yum yum —enjoy!
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Thriving Despite a Difficult Marriage Is there hope for your marriage, if it hasn’t become ‘happily ever after’? ‘Sometimes people need permission to acknowledge what is true about their marriage—that it may never have a happy ending or a resolution that is satisfying,’ say Christian psychologists Michael and Chuck Misja in their book Thriving Despite a Difficult Marriage.’ This is a hard reality, but it is made more difficult by two big lies that Christians believe: Firstly, that Christian marriages should be great and we should live ‘happily ever after’. And secondly, that if they can’t be great, then we must live out our marriage in ‘noble misery’, living parallel but separate lives. But there is a third way, say the authors, which they dub ‘thriving despite’. This is essentially saying to yourself, ‘I’ve got one life to live, and I will live it well no matter what trouble comes my way. This is not the same as giving up on your marriage: ‘If you can find something to improve your marriage, utilize it. But don’t put your life on hold until your marriage is healed or until your spouse changes in the way you desire.’ ‘Thriving despite’ is not so much about a change of behaviour, but a change in thinking. Misja and Misja outline three truths that can help us thrive, in the midst of difficult times: 1. Marriage means partnering with God—holding a belief that God is in it. God loves you and your spouse and is moulding and shaping you. Marriage is one of the prime ways he will shape our character. You’ll be challenged to love and grieve with an energy and wisdom that can be drawn only from his resources. Your pain is not without purpose.
BY ACCEPTING AND GRIEVING THE LOSS OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT POSSIBLE IN YOUR MARRIAGE, YOU BECOME FREE TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS POSSIBLE.
2. Marriage is bigger than you—maintaining a conviction that marriage is worth giving yourself to no matter the cost. Marriage has a meaning and purpose far beyond personal happiness and the need for satisfaction. 3. Marriage requires honesty—we are masters at believing what we want to believe and choosing to deny the truth. But a willingness to continually pursue an authentic awareness of the good, bad, ugly, and beautiful about yourself and your spouse will eventually shatter the denial and distortion system, and lead to a refreshing freedom.
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This third model of marriage has a unique understanding of hope. The hope in the ‘happily ever after’ marriage is for personal fulfilment and pleasant circumstances. In the ‘noble misery’ model the hope is that God will provide enough strength to survive the mess. In the ‘thriving despite’ model, the concept of hope looks like this: Your hope is that God will give you the wisdom, courage, and strength to remain alive and passionate. You will offer a powerful love to whomever God puts in your path, especially your spouse. By accepting and grieving the loss of things that are not possible in your marriage, you become free to focus on what is possible.
TESTIFY! The last of the brigadiers, Geoffrey Sampson recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Brigadier Sampson was born and raised in Christchurch. ‘As a family we would go every Sunday to the New Brighton Corps (church). I was 11 years old when I gave my life to the Lord as a junior solider and I’ve never been in any other church situation. The Salvation Army has been my life.’ Tranferring to Christchurch City Corps, he was enrolled as a senior solider at 16 years old and became the deputy Young People’s Sergeant Major. It was while working on a farm in Springfield that God got Brigadier Sampson’s attention. ‘One Sunday afternoon I was walking through the field and suddenly I had a conviction the Lord wanted me to be a Salvation Army officer. And from that day, right through to this day, I can honestly say before the Lord that I have not disobeyed.’ He entered training college at 19 as part of the Guardians of the Covenant session before being commissioned in January 1938. ‘My first appointment was in Dargaville, but in those days single men could be picked up and moved at any time. There was no stability in it. You packed up your two belt boxes and off you went. It was a great discipline.’ Appointment changes happened every six months or so, until 1942 when he married Olive Atkin, and they went to Rangiora. Invercargill was a highlight of his officership, where vibrant youngpeople’s work took place. He recently received a letter from an officer who was the Corps Cadet Guardian at the time. ‘She said in the letter it was my holiness teaching that set her on the right path to officership.’ The preaching of the scriptures and holiness teaching is one of Brigadier Sampson’s enduring passions and non-
negotiables. ‘On many occasions I’ve gone into the hall and I’ve preached the sermon to an empty building so that I would have it in my heart and in my mind. And I could stand up on Sunday with the knowlege that I’ve got the Word of God there to give these dear people.’ Asked what he would do if he could start again, he said ‘I would make sure that I found ways and means of learning how to become a better preacher. I would need to dig deep into the Scriptures to grasp the truth of the Word and learn how to proclaim its message through preaching to my generation.’ Brigadier Sampson preached at Rotorua Corps on August 6 as part of his birthday celebrations. He was presented with a letter from General André Cox. ‘Your personality has influenced people; your Christian witness has made its impact on people; your ministry as an officer has been used by God to transform people. The world is a different place—it has been enhanced—because God has seen fit
IF WE DON’T OBEY GOD, WHAT’S THE POINT OF IT ALL? to work in and through you during your lifetime.’ Brigadier Sampson is still active leading a weekly prayer meeting at the Family Store. He says ‘it’s the greatest evangelical opportunity a corps has.’ When asked what enduring lesson God had taught him, Brigadier Sampson’s response was simple; ‘the great need for obedience.’ ‘If we don’t obey God, what’s the point of it all? When you read Numbers and all these wonderful books of the Bible again, everything God promised these people were good things, wonderful things. They could have had so much, if only they had obeyed.’ He joked that God has put a limit of 120 years on life so he’s still got a few good years in him yet. Amen to that! 09 SEPTEMBER 2017 WarCry 11
BY INGRID BARRATT
One time, a guy I liked said that I reminded him of the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic. I was so offended—I am not shallow! I am more than my clothes! I seethed into my takeout latte, as I stalked down the street in my on-point floral jumpsuit, matched with some chunky heels. ‘This outfit should not work but it does!’ I thought—‘No, I mean, I don’t even think about that kind of trash. I am deep and love meaningful talks, and just because he was going off to be a missionary somewhere, who did he think …’ Okay, it would never have worked between us because I could never live in a country where you wear kaftans 24/7. I do love clothes. There I’ve said it. The truth is, what we wear is an expression of who we are. Even if you’re the kind of person who just throws on whatever is most comfortable, that still says something about you—perhaps that you’re practical and a ‘doer’. Me, I’m not a do-er—I’ve always been a ‘be-er’—someone who loves to sit and contemplate, and who will stop to enjoy something beautiful that catches my eye. I used to think that made me a bad Christian. Like, I’m passionate about pretty things, when I should be passionate about the injustices in the world. Afterall, Jesus himself said, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry 12 firezone.co.nz 09 SEPTEMBER 2017
about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?’ (Matthew 6:25). (Oh, and I totally love food. Another fail). There’s so much wisdom in Jesus’ words. In our world that is obsessed with the body beautiful, these comforting words remind us not to waste meaningless energy feeling anxious about the way we look or what we wear. It reminds us that God does not judge us on outward appearances. God loves us just as we are, so we need not be afraid. It’s also a reminder that God is a wonderful creator. He is our creator. What we love to wear, listen to, what we enjoy doing or building or making—these are all part of the creative spark that God has placed in each of us. It’s part of what makes us unique. I remember God clearly speaking to me about my passion for fashion. He said: ‘What you wear should celebrate who you are, not conceal who you are’. You see, if we are striving to project an image to the world so that we will feel more accepted, we are acting out of fear. That is not what God wants for us—he doesn’t want us to hide behind an image or scene. But if our style is a celebration of the way God made us, we are reflecting God’s beautiful, bold, diverse creation. Whether you’re a true romantic (like me), a rock ‘n’ roller, a proud tech nerd, or just love your comfy pants, be the you God made you to be.
If you had to wear just this for the rest of your life, would it be: A Grey marle B Florals C Sequins D Plaid E Polar fleece What shape do you feel most drawn to? A … A Rhombus B Circle C Squiggly line D Triangle E Square Who would be your dream style power couple? A Rita Ora and Dizzee Rascal B Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando C Zooey Deschanel and Benedict Cumberbatch D Pete Wentz and Francis Bean Cobain E Ritchie McCaw and Gemma Flynn of course! What’s your ideal weekend activity? A Get dressed for the gym, then skip the gym and go to brunch B Have a picnic in a field of wild flowers C Get a new tattoo D Discover a hot new band at a local gig E Escape into the great outdoors and maybe shoot a pig
As = Sports Luxe: Don’t let the haters make fun of your 24/7 gym gear look. You know comfort and style when you see it, and you can rock some serious grey marle/neon combos. You are fashion, baby. Mostly
Bs = The romantic: There is nothing more dreamy than doing a twirl in your 1950s tea dress. But you don’t have to be a girl to rock this look—the romantic guy looks great in a floral shirt and fedora. Mostly
Whether you know it or not, you’ve got style. Take our quiz to find out just how you’re turning heads. On a lazy Saturday morning, what would you be wearing? A My favourite trackies and hoodie B Flannelette pjs with an on-point motif C My Giraffe onesie of course D My favourite old grandpa shirt (pants are optional) E Skins—there’s no such thing as a lazy morning, I was out for a run at 6 am
Mostly
Cs = Quirky Creative: Those stripes and spots you’re
wearing together shouldn’t work, but they do. Your clothes are your artist’s palette. You’re funky with the emphasis on fun.
Ds = Grunge Revivalist: Plaid, denim and leather may be always in style, but you do it with your own personal twist—and a bunch of attitude. Mostly
Mostly Es = The Adventurer: You don’t wear clothes, you wear gear
—preferably that would double as a survival suit with its own inbuilt water system.
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‘WHOLE IN ONE’ FOR SYMPOSIUM BY SHAR DAVIS
Despite what some may assume, finding a date was the last thing on people’s minds as they gathered at the Sole Officer Symposium in Wellington. Thirty-four officers from New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Australia and Papua New Guinea met in Wellington for the event, hosted by our territory, for those who are single, widowed or divorced. The ‘Whole in One’ theme underpins the belief that every person finds wholeness in Christ, and despite what Hollywood may try and tell us, another person does not ‘complete’ us. Every person is separate, unique, and whole and this does not change when we update our relationship status. We began the four days together with a pōwhiri led by a local kaumatua before sharing a meal together. Then everyone was thrown into the deep end by ‘speed dating with Shar’. With a little tongue in cheek, everyone raced through 90 second introductions to the person opposite them before the call to change seats. It was loud, funny, fast-paced and did I mention, loud? Commissioner Gillian Downer, International Secretary for South Pacific and East Asia, was the keynote speaker and she spoke from her own experience of 40 years as a sole officer. Many of us were surprised to hear that this was the first sole officer event she had ever attended. It served as an indicator of the level of recognition and investment given to sole officer needs around the world. Lieutenant Andrew Lee, Australian Southern Territory, said: ‘It was a good experience meeting fellow sole officers in our region and learning from the guest speakers. Commissioner Downer’s message about the sole prophet Jeremiah resonated strongly with me—recognition of God’s calling, trust in God’s promises, keeping God’s perspective, the value of prayer and appreciating friendships.’ Lieutenant Visa Kaurasi (Fiji), was greatly encouraged by the experience, and in particular, Gillian’s teaching: ‘As Commissioner Gillian Downer shared about Jeremiah, when he was expressing to God how everything went wrong, he expresses his discouragement, his hurts, his downheartedness and also the challenges that he went through. But Jeremiah recognizes all that and he keeps trusting God’s promises. I trust that God will help us and give us more strength to overcome every challenge that we face, to do what is right, continue to listen to 14 WarCry 09 SEPTEMBER 2017
him each day in the ministry he has called us to.’ We spent an afternoon with Jenny Purkis from Strength to Strength, who walked us through being ‘people smart’; looking at healthy boundaries, being emotionally engaged and balanced, and communication and conflict. While Jenny’s teaching was not exclusively for single people, it was very helpful for us as sole leaders in ministry.
EVERY PERSON IS SEPARATE, UNIQUE, AND WHOLE AND THIS DOESN'T CHANGE WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP STATUS. One of the key components of the symposium was a strategic facilitation day with Richard Nuack, a communications guru and long-time friend of The Salvation Army. The planning team’s vision for the gathering was to have space to address issues that are particular to being a sole officer. And from that, present territorial leadership with a framework for strengthening and valuing the sole officer force going into the future. Those present felt The Salvation Army is a marriage-centric organisation and those who sit outside the husband and wife senario often feel somewhat marginalised or isolated, despite singleness being a growing portion of society. Singleness is increasing around the world. In 2011 it was estimated 277 million people globally were living alone. This has risen by 80 per cent over 15 years. ‘Living alone’ households are predicted to be the fasted growing senario from 2015–2030. Many churches, including The Salvation Army, ‘affirm the sanctity of marriage and family life’, and can often express their ministry and mission in terms of families and couples. This
can sometimes leave the single person feeling devalued, or simply not having a place within the Christian fellowship. Singleness is one of 15 areas of human sexuality that the international Salvation Army is looking at. Discussion documents are being created to engage local corps and centres in dialogue and action around these areas. Delegates were able to hear some of the research that was undertaken on this topic, and it was a timely reminder to many that we are neither weird nor a shrinking people group in the world. Lieutenant Nicola Poore from the Australian Eastern Territory, reflected that, ‘the Sole Officer Symposium was a unique opportunity that gathered a diverse range of people who shared a common experience. As we exchanged stories, any sense of self-consciousness or feeling like the “odd one out” soon disappeared as I realised that my journey as a sole officer was normal—indeed, that I am normal. This is a powerful truth that I will continue to carry before me in ministry.’ That sense of normalisation was echoed again and again throughout the week. It is common for sole officers to walk into officer gatherings and feel awkward, isolated, excluded or just different. Simple things like seating arrangements, meal times and free time are things to be navigated by a sole officer in a couple-heavy setting. Questions were raised like ‘how does a sole person fit into my local setting?’ ‘Does my setting reflect the wider community?’ ‘How do we provide a sense of belonging and community to single, widowed or divorced people?’ These are important questions to ask in an environment where corps mission is often focused on families. The word can conjure up feelings of exclusion for anyone who doesn’t have an immediate family with them. Singleness may be considered a choice, a calling, a circumstance or simply a present experience. It may be a joyful opportunity, a sense of freedom, a restriction or a painful experience. Being alone does not automatically mean someone is lonely. Married people can experience loneliness too. Psalm 68:6 says ‘God sets the lonely in families.’ Author Marva Dawn asks, ‘how have God’s people learned to love better so that we might be one of the primary families into which lonely persons are set?’ In their book Singled Out: Why Celibacy Must be Reinvented in Today’s Church, Christine Colón and Bonnie Field say, ‘Marriage plays such a central role in our evangelical culture that even many positive discussions of singleness eventually end up focusing on marriage.’ Finding a balance in the conversation around singleness in a marriage-centric culture is not easy but is necessary, not just for officers but for the growing portion of the community that are single.
Crown’s Child Sponsorship Changes Lives
A child whose mum died, then his house burned down, was among those in the Pacific given a brighter future by Crown Worldwide NZ Ltd. The company sponsored 13 children in Fiji and Tonga for two years through The Salvation Army’s Child Sponsorship programme. Crown was the first New Zealand business to sponsor children through the programme, with each branch sponsoring an individual child to go to school. In Tonga, Regional Sponsorship Secretary Captain Malia Siufanga said seven children had been sponsored by the company, with its support covering their school fees, uniform, books and other stationery. This was a huge relief for families who faced the prospect of not being able to send their children to school. If they weren’t going to school, Malia said the children would be selling peanuts or other goods on the side of the road to scratch out a living, and without education they faced the prospect of extremely low wage work as an adult. ‘If you don’t go to school you end up cleaning in the market or working on a farm.’ For one child and his father the sponsorship came at an especially hard time in his life. ‘His mother died and their house burned down. The Salvation Army helped them with clothes and things and I asked him, “Do you go to school?” He said, “No.” Once we got him sponsored he was able to go and buy a school bag. The other children, when they saw him in his uniform with his bag, said, “Oh, you must be rich,” and he said, “I’m rich in God, The Salvation Army helped me.”’ The boy had gone on to be in the top half of his class at school, Malia said. Another child’s parents had died and they had been taken in by their aunt. ‘She has six children and she’s taken in four extra children. It’s been so helpful for them to have support for his school costs. We also support the family.’ Territorial Sponsorship Secretary Major Helen Knowles said the Army was extremely grateful for the support. Being sponsored gave the children much brighter prospects for the future. ‘It’s a big encouragement and a weight off their shoulders for their family and it has a big impact on the children as well—it gives them a boost in self-confidence to know someone cares and is supporting them.’ The company’s sponsorship ends this month, but Helen said the Army would continue to ensure Crown’s children were looked after. She was keen to hear from anyone who was interested in sponsoring a child. Sponsor a child today | salvationarmy.org.nz/ChildSponsorship 09 SEPTEMBER 2017 WarCry 15
Seizing the Day at Southern Youth Councils Southern Division’s Youth Councils is always a highlight on the calendar and this year’s camp, entitled ‘Seize the Day’, exceeded expectations. One hundred and forty youth, leaders and officers invaded Living Springs Camp and Conference Centre eager to see what God would do over the weekend. The Roman-themed camp involved daily gladiator challenges, worship, testimonies, Bible teaching and enough food to feed an army—literally. Captains Kylie and Stuart Tong, along with Majors David Moody and Ivan Bezzant, were guest speakers. Youth were challenged that to seize anything of God and for God, they needed to be available and open to ‘being seized’. They can also seize (or influence) others with what they have. And when they think they have nothing to offer, that’s when God’s ready to give them what they need and use what they have. As Divisional Commander, Ivan brought the final challenge of the weekend, calling young people to stand up as warriors and soldiers, and begin the fight for God in their local schools, universities and communities. No one can be a soldier without some form of commitment, covenant and deal being made, so Ivan encouraged people to be seen and seize the day. He referred to 1 Timothy 4:12 as a challenge to not wait or sit back because of their youth, but to rise up now. ‘Carpe diem, seize the day!’ In one session, all plans went out the window as the Holy Spirit began to move powerfully. And instead of a sermon being preached, it was an incredible time of ministry and encounter with God. Faith conversations were happening around the room, with people praying in groups and others soaking in God’s presence. Everyone received a bright red hoodie as a visual reminder that wherever they went, they could stand out and be bold in
Linwood youth leader Hayden Mundy with youth council delegates. All the young people have connected with The Salvation Army through The Salvation Army Aspire programme.
their love for Jesus and others. Lots of testimonies highlighted how God had challenged people in their journeys during the weekend, or inspired them with a new vision or path to take. Major Alison Moody (Divisional Youth Secretary) said she was ‘stoked’ with the weekend’s impact. She praised the many great leaders who stepped up to give their support and everyone’s openness to the Holy Spirit. With 20 of the 23 corps in the Southern Division represented, it’s fair to say Southern Division really is seizing the day!
New Salvation Army Books Doctrine for Today
In 1878, when The Salvation Army took its name, it adopted 11 articles (or statements) of faith. Salvationists call these concise statements ‘the doctrines’. They express the personal faith of Salvationists and are meant to inspire holy living—ultimately pointing us to Jesus. The Salvation Army has just published Doctrine for Today, based on a series of articles previously published in The Officer magazine. This new book provides an informative and accessible interpretation of the Army’s doctrines in a way that relates directly to the world in which we live. A recommended read for Salvation Army soldiers as well as anyone wanting to know more about the faith that fires Salvationists to action.
Struck Down but Not Destroyed When National Socialist ideology took its grip of Germany in the 1920s and 30s, by no means was everyone seduced by its appeal. 16 WarCry 09 SEPTEMBER 2017
The ministry of The Salvation Army had to find ways of surviving and serving people in Jesus’ name while being restricted and severely affected by the horrors of the ensuing war. Practically every public demonstration of Salvationism was forbidden and its magazine, The War Cry, was proscribed. Wherever possible, however, meetings were still being held and—despite oppression that included questioning of Salvationist leaders by the Gestapo—the Army’s social work continued. After the total breakdown at the end of the war, new life sprang up from the ruins. Through the perspective of many individual testimonies and events related to Salvationist service in Germany, Willi Kothe’s book addresses this phase of European history, describing the difficult path The Salvation Army had to tread during the Third Reich and the immediate post-war years. Order from Salvationist Resources | p: (04) 382 0768, salvationarmy.org.nz/shop
Birthday Bonanza for Kāpiti Family Store
Remembering Florence On 16 July 2017, a bright Wellington morning, in the presence of her son Ross, family and friends, the ashes of Florence Maitland Harvey were laid to rest beside those of her husband Francis Henry Harvey in the Salvation Army area of Karori cemetery. Florence was 107 years old when she died in 2013.
Kāpiti Corps’ Ihakara Street Family Store recently celebrated its fifth birthday. Already the best-performing Family Store in the country for sales, the birthday celebrations produced its most successful day on record, with close to 1000 people turning up to find a bargain. The store celebrated with free sausages and cake and half price on all items. More FM radio station came down to offer their support and there was a constant stream of customers throughout the day. Corps Officer Lieutenant Sarah Green expressed pride in the team of staff and volunteers who she said were so committed to the mission of The Salvation Army on the Kāpiti coast. ‘They continue to give the best of themselves so that we can serve our community.’ In the past year the corps has employed a full-time youth and children’s worker who has started a youth group and is about to start an after-school kids club. They’ve also hired a part-time Community Ministries worker. The local community foodbank was temporarily closed and relocated recently, and The Salvation Army stepped into the gap for two months. ‘We needed to buy most of the groceries, which we could only do through funds from the Family Store,’ said Sarah. The store averages 270 customers each day and with onsite parking and a free pick-up service, it is a popular destination for second-hand shopping in the area.
With the Army flag flying, Major Paul Jarvis— Corps Officer of Wellington City Corps, where Florence had been a soldier for over 47 years—conducted a service of committal. Unfortunately, Florence’s five grandchildren all live in Australia and were unable to attend. A portion of John 11 was read and Florence’s favourite songs, ‘It is No Secret’ and ‘The Glory Song’ were sung or recited. Florence was the only child of John Henry Powick and Eliza Margaret nee Proctor, both early New Zealand Salvation Army officers. Lieutenant Proctor’s first command was in 1893 and John Powick entered the work in 1895. They retired as brigadiers. Eliza was promoted to Glory in 1962 and John in 1958. From the time she was born, Florence was taught about God and Jesus. As a young woman, she dreamed of being an officer herself, but poor health prevented this. She lived through both World Wars and the Great Depression and could recount vivid memories of that time and of The Salvation Army’s ministry during those years. ‘There were times when you wondered why God was letting the suffering go on for so long, and you could be tempted away from him,’ she said. ‘But God, in his wonderful ways, brought us through. It is the ever presence of God, and his dear Son, that carries you.’ Florence’s testimony was featured in the 26 February 2011 edition of the War Cry. She ended it with these words: ‘God has proved what he can do. Now I’m waiting for his outstretched arms.’ Florence would wait another three years before she was promoted to Glory from Tauranga. Well done, good and faithful servant of God!
Left: Paul Bryant (centre), Kāpiti Family Store manager, cutting cake with Lieuts. Sarah & Andrew Green, Kāpiti corps officers. 09 SEPTEMBER 2017 WarCry 17
Te Ōhākī: Kia rere iho te whakawā—Let justice roll like a river BY HANA SEDDON
Unpacking the four goals of The Salvation Army’s Māori Ministry Strategic Plan, ‘Te Ōhākī’. Goal 4: ‘Our response to the ongoing social injustice of poverty that impacts Māori shows commitment to reducing inequalities for Māori.’ Imagine you are situated near a dangerous river and people keep floating down this river towards you. They are struggling to keep their heads above water—some have even drowned. You and other rescuers work hard to pull them out of the river. Some you are able to resuscitate; for others it’s too late. You try to secure more funding to hire more rescue workers. You try to make your rescue systems more efficient, but more and more people continue to come down the river. You keep a record, noting if they’re male or female, adult or child, firsttimer or a familiar face. You record their ethnicity and notice something very interesting: 40 per cent of those coming downstream are Māori!1 You know that only 15% of all the people in your area are Māori … so why are they so overrepresented in this river? 2 You also realise you only have one Māori team member in your team of 25 and little knowledge of the historical and cultural context you are in.3
• Option 2: Upgrade You build a fancy building close to the river, design a catchy logo and encourage the rescuers to keep working hard! Nifty ad campaigns attract attention and funding. You use this money to build better administrative systems, upskill your rescuers and provide eye-catching uniforms. You write catchy tunes about how much God loves the river people and meet regularly to talk about this.
The strength of your voice and the just action you insist upon begins to pump justice and fairness into the river and out to the wider environment. Now justice begins to roll through the land like the river—but this river of justice brings life. Kia huri mai te whakawā ano he wai, te tika ano he awa nui! Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want! (Amos 5:24, The Message). God’s heart is for righteousness, fairness and justice, and we are challenged to make that our priority. This isn’t an add-on, optional extra or some ministry reserved for activists. It is right at the heart of true worship! (And if you don’t believe me, read the three verses that precede the one above.) For this reason, one of the goals of ‘Te Ōhākī’ is a strong focus on social justice issues that have an impact on Māori. We have committed ourselves in The Salvation Army to reducing inequalities and inequities for Māori, and never accepting that this is ‘just the way it is’. The founders of The Salvation Army were also focused on social change and committed to justice—particularly for those whom William Booth called the ‘submerged tenth’. Booth was referring to the 10 percent of people drowning in poverty, homelessness, unemployment and other difficulties. Right now, right here in Aotearoa, we are struggling with the same issues, but the greatest burden is felt by Māori. The only way this can change is if we choose to act. So what is your response?
• Option 3: Disturb the present You realise someone needs to head upstream to find out why people are falling in the water—is the problem a broken bridge, a burst dam, or a new enemy? You explore why Māori are more impacted than others and deliberately seek out and welcome people to your team to help figure this out. You discover Māori have great solutions and can work together upstream to make change for all people.
Ideas for pursuing justice • Increase your awareness of social issues by following Māori media, Māori news programmes and following Facebook pages such as Te Kaea, JustSpeak, and the NZ Human Rights Commission • Take an active interest in social justice issues that impact Māori • Support and resource Māori social justice champions in your corps/centre/region
What is your response? • Option 1: Maintain the status quo This is ‘just the way it is’ and perhaps Māori aren’t as clever as others who can keep themselves out of the water or swim properly. You believe in a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach and don’t believe in ‘special treatment’. And you’re actually feeling pretty good that you can provide a hand out of the river for people.
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• Support Māori leaders in your corps/ centre through mentoring, supervision and training • Experiment with social justice initiatives that specifically benefit Māori • Meet with local Māori community leaders and seek their input about social justice issues • Attend significant hui in your local area and invite Māori leaders/whānau to your gatherings • Support existing Māori-led initiatives in your community and work towards Māori-led projects initiated by your corps/centre. Read the Māori Ministry Strategic Plan | salvationarmy.org.nz/TeOhaki
1 The Salvation Army’s Community Ministries centres across the country supported 15,394 Māori from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 out of a total 38,705 clients (data from The Salvation Army’s Service and Mission Information System). 2 Statistics NZ, 2013 Census: One-inseven people (598,605 or 14.9 percent) usually living in New Zealand in 2013 belonged to the Māori ethnic group— a 5.9% increase from 2006. 3 Ethnicity data is held for Salvation Army officers, but not for other Salvationists/staff. Statistics NZ 2013 Census data shows that out of all who identified The Salvation Army as their religious affiliation, only 6% were Māori. This is also likely to include those supported by the Army, but not necessarily attending a corps or other Salvation Army faith expression.
GAZETTE Appointments: Effective 1 Nov: Lts Jessica and Nathan Bezzant, Corps Officers, Tawa Corps, Central Division. Bereaved: Lt. Colonel Raeline Savage of her husband, Lt. Colonel Peter Savage on Saturday 26 August 2017 from his home in Christchurch, at the age of 74. A service of celebration was held on Thursday 31 August at Christchurch City Corps, conducted by David Major. Please uphold Lt. Colonel Raeline, Deidre and Paulo Dias, Steph Savage, Kristin and Rachel Savage, and their families with your love and prayers. A full tribute to Lt. Colonel Savage will appear in an upcoming edition of War Cry.
VISIT FIJI AND YOU’LL SEE A YOUTHFUL, COMMITTED AND JOYFUL SALVATION ARMY. New Zealanders have always had a soft spot for Fiji and her peoples, dating back over many decades and including events like the garrisoning of the NZ 3rd Division in Fiji during the anxious and uncertain years of World War II. At a political level this has been tested in more recent years as Fiji has struggled with the impacts of several coups, but at a personal level the warmth and mutual regard between individual Fijians and New Zealanders continues undiminished. The Salvation Army started in Fiji in 1973 and our work has grown steadily and consistently. Eight years ago Fiji was given ‘division’ status, and today the Army ministers through 14 corps and four outposts—all of which maintain strong interconnections with their communities and villages. The division’s social work is also seen at an institutional level, with three Family Care Centres (women’s and children’s refuges), three early childhood education centres, two sewing employment programmes, and extensive chaplaincy services in Fiji’s prisons (where much of the Army’s earliest ministry was focused). In 2016, an alcohol and addictions service began, and planning is currently underway to establish a programme for young offenders alongside two youth programmes (residential and semi-residential) that already operate at Saweni and Nasinu. A men’s hostel operates in Samambula and the Army provides chaplaincy services at Nadi Airport. New Zealanders who visit Fijian Salvation Army corps are immediately struck by the large number of young people, as well as an ongoing commitment to covenantal soldiership by adults. The common picture of golden sands and coconut palms promoted by the tourism industry does not reflect the lives of most Fijian Salvationists. The typical Salvationist comes from a subsistence background, lives in a humble corrugated iron dwelling, struggles to access limited health services, and has a low life expectancy. Some improvements are being made, including the recent introduction of free education, but The Salvation Army has still found it critical for some families to be supported through child sponsorship for education and a tertiary scholarship programme for young Salvationists. And while much progress is occurring in Fiji, particularly since the last elections, with that has also come growing problems such as drug abuse and unabated growth in non-communicable diseases, with diabetes a national challenge. A visit to any Salvation Army corps in Fiji will also reveal one more striking feature: the joy of Salvationists in their faith and worship. This is the great gift of Fijian Salvationists to the rest of our territory, a reminder that God is good and to be trusted no matter what one’s circumstances and challenges. Their commitment to Christ, each other and The Salvation Army is disarming and humbling. God bless Fiji! Major David Noakes Divisional Commander, Fiji 09 SEPTEMBER 2017 WarCry 19
The Old Testament book of Daniel has a lot to teach us about resolving the tension of whether to resist or adapt as we engage with the culture around us. BY CARLA LINDSEY
‘If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?’ It’s a question often asked of teenagers. Parents worry about the pull of the peer group on their teens. Might they go along with something silly the rest of their group is doing without thinking it through? Indeed, some do. But it’s not just a question for teenagers. People of all ages feel under pressure to conform to the accepted social norms. We all want to belong. We were made for community. Being the odd one out feels lonely and uncomfortable. To fit in, without even realising it, we might dress like the group, behave like the group, think like the group, and come to value the things the group does. 20 WarCry 09 SEPTEMBER 2017
So … if your friends jumped off a cliff, would you? You’re supposed to say ‘NO!’ This question is intended to make people stop and think, and to encourage them to decide to be their own person and make their own decisions, not just follow the crowd.
and all the other provisional officials’ (Daniel 3:2). He then repeats this list two more times. Could Daniel not have simply said ‘the leaders’? Well no, he couldn’t. Repetition is a feature of the chapter and its part of the way that the author gets his point across.
Bow down and worship
You’ll also notice that the instruments in the worship band are listed four times. Five times we are told that Nebuchadnezzar set up the statue. And four times the command ‘fall down and worship’ is given. Through these repetitions the writer is taking the opportunity to mock the great king. This chapter is really rather comical. Its first half is all about Nebuchadnezzar’s power, his officials, his orders, the pomp and ceremony that surround him—all emphasised by the repetition.
Three young men in the Bible knew exactly what pressure to go along with the crowd felt like. You see, Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonian empire, had built a huge golden statue and was demanding everyone bow down and worship it. That was something that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego just couldn’t do. Stop for a moment and read through Daniel chapter three. Did you notice an interesting feature in the way this chapter is written? Initially, Nebuchadnezzar calls for the top and middle layers of management to come out to a dedication ceremony of the statue. This is the beginning of several lists that we find in this chapter: ‘The satraps, prefects, governors, treasurers, judges, magistrates
The first half of chapter three builds Nebuchadnezzar up, but at 3:15 a pivotal question is asked. One that turns everything around. Nebuchadnezzar asks, ‘What god will be able to rescue you from my hand?’ In the second half
leaders—after all, God put them there. So perhaps we could bow on the outside, but on the inside remain loyal to God because God knows our heart. Or … what about just crouching. I don’t want to bow right down, but I don’t want to stick out too much. Maybe they won’t notice me if I hover somewhere in between … But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew God’s commandment to them: ‘Have no gods before me.’ So when they were dragged before Nebuchadnezzar to explain themselves they didn’t even get into it. They gave no defence. They answered to God, not the king. It is here that Nebuchadnezzar, in his frustration at getting nowhere with these three young Jews, blurts outs that crucial question: ‘What god will be able to rescue you from my hand?’
WE ALL WANT TO BELONG … BEING THE ODD ONE OUT FEELS LONELY AND UNCOMFORTABLE. of the chapter the question is answered and Nebuchadnezzar learns he is not as powerful as he thinks.
Facing the furnace So the statue was set up and dedicated, and then everyone bowed down and worshiped it. And by everyone, I mean everyone! All men, from every language and people group and faith. Other Jews there would have bowed. They were motivated to do so, since Nebuchadnezzar has said if they didn’t, they would be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Literally, it’s a ‘furnace of blazing fire’. Notice the repetition again? It’s a furnace and it’s blazing and it’s a fire—we are meant to understand that this is really hot! In other words, the punishment for failing to comply was severe and instant. So … if our friends jumped off a cliff would we? What if it was jump or face a furnace? Perhaps in the face of this threat we could justify bowing? After all, how could we serve God in Babylon if we’re dead? Best stay alive then! It is right to obey our civil
What arrogance! Nebuchadnezzar thinks that he is the most powerful being in the world. He thinks that no-one would be able to rescue these Jews from him. He was wrong.
Loyal no matter the outcome Now, God did rescue the three Jews, but the three didn’t know that he was going to do that. They knew that God could rescue them from the fire, but they did not presume that he would. They knew they might do the right thing and God might not rescue them. But even if he didn’t, they would remain loyal. The faithful are not always spared. Yes, there are amazing stories where God intervenes at the last minute to rescue his faithful followers. But there are also thousands of stories of Christian martyrs over the past 2000 years who have remained loyal, who have obeyed God no matter what, and where God didn’t intervene. They died. God can rescue us from our difficulties, but he doesn’t always. Will we remain loyal either way? Will we remain loyal even if it means we end up being the odd one out? Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego remained loyal to their God … and so into the blazing furnace they went. Three men, all tied up, went into the furnace, yet when Nebuchadnezzar looked in he saw four men, walking unbound in the middle of the fire. The fourth was an angel. There was a divine presence with them in the middle of the fire.
Freedom in the fire There is an extra-biblical document called ‘The Prayer of Azariah’ (Azariah is the Hebrew name of Abednego), and it has Abednego praising God in the middle of the fire! If I was in a blazing fiery furnace and I’d somehow managed to not die immediately, my prayer would be: ‘God, get me out of here!’ But no, the picture we have of these three young Jews is one of peace and calm in the fire. Of praising God, and of knowing his presence in the fire. Even of finding freedom within the fire. ‘What god can rescue you?’ Well, the answer Nebuchadnezzar got was ‘the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’. This God is called the ‘Most High God’ throughout the book of Daniel. He is the God of Israel who is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. He can rescue us, but we should not presume that he always will. Maybe God’s plan is to walk with us in life’s fires and for us to know God’s freedom in the midst of the furnace. This God asks us to do the right thing— whether he rescues us or not. For, as Saint Augustine said: ‘wrong is wrong even when everyone is doing it, and right is right even when no one is doing it.’ Will we dare to be different?
Read Daniel chapter 3 • What do you bow down to? Happiness, money, possessions, power, education, career, family, church (yes, I said church!) None of these things are bad, but they can all become things we worship in the place of God. • Are you in the middle of a fire right now? Will you ask God to surround you with his presence and give you freedom in the fire? • Is God asking you to be different from the crowd on some issue? Will you do this regardless of the cost?
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Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 5–10 September: USA Southern TEC and Retirements of Commissioners Bell 22–24 September: Visit to Gore, Winton & Invercargill Corps/Centres 29 September–1 October: Tri-Territorial Thought Matters Conference 1 October: Territorial Farewell to Colonels Willis & Barbara Howell 6–8 October: Her Freedom Song Conference (TPWM) 13–17 October: Fiji Officers Fellowship and Taveuni Corps 20 October: Jeff Farm AGM 28 October: Re-opening of Linwood Corps Building 29–31 October: Midland Division Visit Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 13 September: Spiritual Day, Booth College of Mission 15–16 September: Just Action (CS) 23–25 September: Tonga Governance Visit 1 October: Farewell to USA Southern Territory Appointments
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North Shore Korean Corps Plant, Nuku’alofa, Oamaru, Ōtāhuhu and Palmerston North Corps; Salvation Army Early Education Centres; The Salvation Army in the Caribbean.
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Quiz Answers: 1 Orangutans, 2 Golf, 3 Arnold Schwarzenegger, 4 Mozart, 5 Rainbow (Genesis 9:13-16). Crossword Answers: Across: 7 Sailed, 8 Confined, 9 Civilian, 10 Agency, 11 Japanese, 12 Issues, 13 Represented, 18 Hotels, 20 Teaspoon, 22 Mirror, 23 Outdoors, 24 Referees, 25 Chewed. Down: 1 Capital, 2 Ultimate, 3 Advice, 4 Invasion, 5 Miners, 6 Perched, 8 Conversations, 14 Reserved, 15 Explored, 16 Notices, 17 Journey, 19 Earned, 21 Attach.
22 WarCry 09 SEPTEMBER 2017
Sunday 1 October, 2:30 pm
Wellington City Corps | 92 Vivian Street, Wellington Light afternoon tea to follow
PRAY
Phone Send to: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org or War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
to Colonels Barbara & Willis Howell
After three years as senior leaders in the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory, the Howells return home to take up new appointments on 1 November as Territorial Leaders of the USA Southern Territory.
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find the correct
s h a d ow
A
‘Then Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave thanks to God. Then he passed the bread to the people, and he did the same with the fish, until everyone had plenty to eat.’
B
John 6:11 CEV
C e m a le d the fher i d t a Wh es s? ur c a l l din o s a a k in g b u s in s ! -m op blouse r y Sara's T T
iendly r f r u o e v gi some dino saur colour
D
match the picture to its name 1 2 3
4
Wh a a d t do y in o o a n s a u u c a ll r th ois A B y sl a ron eep t's to - er ? s no ru s !
5
7
In the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand, the five loaves of bread and two small fish were a little boy's lunch. The disciples didn’t think much of the food and were sure it wasn’t going to be helpful for Jesus.
6
8
triceratops egg t-rex ancient shellfish stegosaurus volcano urus a s o t bron r velocirapto W h at do b lin d yo u c a l l a d in o s a A Do ur - h e -s y o u- t h i n ? k aw -u s?
Boy were they wrong! That small meal combined with God’s power was exactly what was needed for a miracle to occur. I wonder how the boy felt knowing his lunch was being used to feed all those people. Do you ever feel like you don’t have much to offer? God loves to involve you in what he’s doing. The most important thing is that you are willing. The boy was happy to give up his lunch so Jesus could use it. What are you happy to give up so Jesus can use it?
Dear God, thank you for being interested in me. I want to be someone who works with you to do miracles and answer prayer. Help me to be brave enough to offer what I have even if it doesn’t feel like much. Amen. 09 SEPTEMBER 2017 WarCry 23
Shadow Answer: C Pictures & Names: 1 stegosaurus 2 brontosaurus 3 t-rex 4 triceratops 5 velociraptor 6 egg 7 ancient shellfish 8 volcano