FAITH IN ACTION  13 JUNE 2020 | Issue 6744 | $1.50
Churches and the Autism Community
Joe Serevi: Angel of Cuba St Heavy Metal: Helmet of Salvation Strengths-Based Youth Work
Shielded from Violence Bake for Bibles
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WAR CRY The Salvation Army
New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Julie & Mark Campbell | GENERAL Brian Peddle | FOUNDERS William
& Catherine Booth
The Salvation Army’s message is based on the Bible. Our ministry is motivated by love for God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in his name without discrimination. War Cry exists to support and advance The Salvation Army’s message, ministry and mission. EDITOR Vivienne Hill | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Captain Jules Badger, Louise Parry, Bethany Slaughter | PROOF READING Major
Colleen Marshall OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street,
PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz, www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone
(04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@salvationarmy.org.nz, $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT www.makeready.nz | PAPER Sumo Offset
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Interacting with the Autism Community It is Disability Awareness Sunday on 21 June and in this edition we highlight the autism community. I am hoping these articles will bring an awareness of the challenges families with autistic people face, and hopefully change how we engage and interact with the people who come to our centres and corps. In order to facilitate an enabling and life-giving environment, we must ask people with disabilities what they require of us, and then listen intently to what they tell us. It is only as we engage on a personal level with a determination to hear and to then adapt, that we can begin to understand and bring change. On page three, Coralie Bridle challenges us with this statement: ‘We do not always get things right. However, acknowledgement of our mistakes is hollow if we don’t seek to embrace and engage those who have a message that needs to be heard for the sake of the Kingdom of God’. Coralie is currently undertaking a research project for her PhD, looking at the experiences of persons with complex disability who are part of Salvation Army congregations in New Zealand. I am hopeful that the research findings and the conversations that will take place within The Salvation Army as a result of this project, will make a difference. As Christians, we desire to see all people come to a rich and meaningful relationships with God and within our congregations, so I know there will be a willingness to facilitate the changes we need to make. Vivienne Hill Editor
Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association. All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated.
SalvationArmyNZFTS
To be a Christian is to live dangerously, honestly, freely—to step in the name of love as if you may land on nothing, yet to keep on stepping because the something that sustains you no empire can give you and no empire can take away.
@SalvationArmyNZ
Cornel West
Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission. Publishing for 136 years | Issue 6744 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry
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Psalm 133:1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Nga Waiata 133:1 Nā, anō te pai, anō te āhuareka o te nohoanga o ngā tēina, o ngā tuākana i runga i te whakaaro kotahi!
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hen I was in Sunday School, I remember trying to sing a song by Arabella Hankey—‘Tell me the Old, Old, Story’—fortunately, more than singing Arabella’s song happened in that season of Sunday School. Later in life, what I appreciate about the song is the diversity encapsulated in her advice on how to tell the story. There is scope and movement within the methodology—tell me slowly, tell me simply, tell me often, tell me always, tell me the same story. If I had a specific critique, I’d want to say that ‘telling’ isn’t the only way to go with sharing the story of Jesus. I mention the word ‘critique’ while acknowledging a degree of angst. I find the whole notion of critique difficult. I haven’t done a personality quiz—but I know instinctively that this is a weakness of mine. Critique makes me nervous and hyper-sensitive. I use the word ‘weakness’ deliberately because I also know that listening to, and acting on critique of my work, actions, or opinions, takes me to the growth edges of my life. While there’s something universally disconcerting about listening to a word of ‘critique’, there’s also something universally transformative about trying to deeply hear the heart behind that critique. We do not always get things right. However, acknowledgement of our mistakes is hollow if we don’t seek to embrace and engage with those who have a message that needs to be heard for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Simply stated, we are not the ‘Body of Christ’ if difference, diversity and the neural-atypical do not dwell alongside us. Further, we have not told the story of Jesus, if we do not tell
it in a way that connects with the one longing to know the story. When Disability Theologian Thomas Reynolds took his son (who lives with disabilities) to church— he was met with a wall of misunderstanding. In essence, to be included meant that his son had to act like everybody else. His son was granted access to the church, but it was on their terms. In contrast, Reynolds writes about the notion of ‘deep access’. It takes intentional, up-skilled and often tiring effort to enable ‘deep access’, for people who are not neuro-typical. He writes: Deep access means recognizing difference and diversity, bodily and neurologically, and welcoming it as part of us—not something other and abnormal to be remade in the image of the same as normal. It is not so much a matter of welcoming you so you can be part of us on our terms, but rather so you can be with and augment us differently, on your terms as well. Reynolds goes on to counsel that a ‘spirituality of attentiveness’ leads to the embodiment of deep access in the church. The Apostle Paul’s vision for telling the story was so expansive and so attentive to difference that he noted he had, ‘…become all things to all people, that I might by all means, save some’ (1 Cor 9:19–23). Perhaps also, by attending to timely words of critique (rather than resisting them), we can witness and participate in transformative change for the whole Body of Christ. BY CORALIE BRIDLE 13 JUNE 2020 WarCry 3
QUIKQUIZ
1 What is the collective noun for a group of grasshoppers? 2 The ‘PEZ’ in ‘Pez Candy’ is an abbreviation of the German word meaning what?
Salvation Army-made Documentary Shines Light on the Struggle of Displaced People
3 Calabrese, Arcadia and Blue Wind are varieties of which vegetable?
‘Refugees. Asylum Seekers. Migrants. In the time it’s taken to say that, another man, woman or child has been displaced from their home against their wishes.’
4 Who originated the role of Glinda in the Broadway musical Wicked?
So begins Displaced, a co-production by The Salvation Army Brazil Territory and International Headquarters, directed by David Giles. With a running time just under fifty minutes long, the film uses Brazil as a case study, and follows how nongovernmental organisations—including The Salvation Army—are stepping in to work with displaced peoples fleeing conflict in Venezuela.
5 What two herbs does Jesus say the Pharisees would tithe? Answers on page 22
SALLIEOF THEWEEK
Bevan Lindsey (Hamilton City Corps) Bevan Lindsey made himself immediately available to provide volunteer tech and website support for The Salvation Army’s welfare response during lockdown in Hamilton. As well as continuing to work remotely as Head of Professional Services and Virtual CIO for IT Partners, Bevan also played a key role in putting together ‘Virtual Church’ services for Hamilton City Corps. Those of you in the techie game know this means hours of work! But wait, there’s more—this also included singing and playing as part of the worship team. Thanks Bevan, for your faithful service over many years and for all your additional support through Covid-19. We appreciate you!
Displaced focuses on reframing the definitions of migrant, asylum seeker and refugee, and then humanising the individuals beyond those labels. Interviewees are introduced via captions with their qualifications, skills—as vast as perfumier to film producer. In one case, social worker Williana recalls her escape from Venezuela after recognising that the country could not provide a safe caesarean delivery for her baby (she was required to buy her own needles for the procedure). After crossing the border and going through the lengthy process of seeking asylum, The Salvation Army helped her to prepare a CV and find a home. Now, she is a Social Educator—‘dressed as Minnie’, Williana laughs, referring to her pink, dotted mouse ears.
Weird of the Week: Triskaidekaphobia is the phobia of the number 13— friggatriskaidekaphobia is the even more specific fear of Friday the 13th. 4 WarCry 13 JUNE 2020
WARCRY INHISTORY Forget ASAP, C U L8R or even PLZ—the June 13, 1885 edition of War Cry asked: ‘R U A Blood and Fire Soldier? Are you on fire for God and Souls?’ Source: The Heritage Centre & Archives at the Ploughman Resource Centre, Booth College of Mission
This is the film’s highlight: a crowd of families at The Salvation Army Brazil’s Bridges project, celebrating Dia das Crianças (Children’s Day) and sharing their future aspirations. ‘From the youngest child to the most bewildered parent,’ narrates Alison Thompson, ‘everyone is having a good time.’ However, you can’t reach the uplifting ending, without accepting the grim reality of the beginning— a wakeup call that highlights the struggles of hundreds of displaced people pursuing a basic human right to live every day. Watch Displaced online for free at salvationarmy.org/ ihq/displaced
TOPFIVE
Autism spectrum disorder is an invisible disability that is thought to affect one in every 160 people worldwide—here are five of the most famous people on the spectrum.
Carrot and Ginger Soup 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 rashers streaky bacon, diced 2 onions, peeled and diced 2 Tbsp freshly grated ginger 600g carrots, peeled and finely sliced 1 medium potato, peeled and finely sliced 1.5 litres vegetable stock 1 tsp salt ¼ tsp white pepper ½ cup cream, plus 1 Tbsp for garnish 1 Tbsp butter
1. Temple Grandin—Animal Scientist, Advocate.
1 Tbsp bacon bits, for garnish
2. Dan Aykroyd—Comedian.
1 Tbsp chopped chives, for garnish
3. Satoshi Tajiri—Video Game Designer, Creator of Pokémon. 4. Susan Boyle—Musician.
Heat a large saucepan over medium-to-high heat, then add bacon pieces and cook until golden. Scrape out bacon and set aside. Add olive oil to remaining bacon fat in the same saucepan, then add onions and sauté for 6–7 minutes over medium heat until onions are soft but without colour. Add ginger, carrot, potato and stock. Bring to a simmer for 20 minutes until vegetables are soft. Transfer to a blender and process until smooth. Return to a clean saucepan then add salt, pepper, cream and butter. Bring to a simmer, adjust seasoning if necessary, then divide between bowls. Top each soup with a sprinkling of bacon bits, a drizzle of cream and chopped chives.
Source: Simon Gault/eatwell.co.nz
5. Sir Anthony Hopkins—Actor. 13 JUNE 2020 WarCry 5
Di Willis, the Ministries Director at Elevate Christian Disability Trust, helps us explore how we can remove barriers that stop the autism community from engaging with our corps/churches and enable families to feel at home in our places of worship. BY BETHANY SLAUGHTER
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ome disabilities are more visible than others. If a member of the congregation is in a wheelchair, it is a no-brainer to ensure there is a ramp or lift entrance to the church. If someone has a hearing disability, the message can be delivered through print-outs, PowerPoint slides or sign language. Neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorders can be harder to distinguish, and consequently many churches do not realise their space is inaccessible to affected families. Autism is a condition where the brain works and develops as non-neurotypical. It does not mean that there is something wrong with the brain which needs to be cured. Di Willis, the Ministries Director at Elevate Christian Disability Trust, says that some autistic people cannot understand much of what they see or take in what they hear. To many of them, the world can be chaotic and frightening because they cannot communicate with it, and they can become frustrated whilst trying to express their feelings in a way other people can understand. Di has known several autistic people who have been made to feel unwelcome in public places—including churches—due to their behaviour being misinterpreted as undisciplined or naughty. In actuality, Di firmly believes that the autism community’s approach to faith can transform churches inwardly and revolutionise the way the church is viewed by the general public. ‘People can be really touched for the Lord, because their faith is very simple,’ Di affirms. It is possible for people with autism to find a place in a corps or church, but it calls the whole congregation to embark on a new and sometimes challenging journey. In order for this to be facilitated, there needs to be an understanding of difficulties these families face in church spaces. For example, Tabitha and Graeme Harlow have two daughters, Mackenzie and London, who are both autistic, and their son Oscar is on track for assessment. Initially, they tried bringing their daughters along to church, but the auditorium space made this difficult because the kids wanted to run around during the service, so the family would end up sitting in the crèche. ‘We definitely felt like there was no point coming to church with the kids because we’d end up in the crèche, fully focused on our kids and not able to connect with other people or the message,’ Tabitha explains. Unfortunately, attempts to integrate their daughters into children’s church were no more successful, hampered by a lack of education within the church network (and greater public) about what autism is and how to communicate effectively. 13 JUNE 2020 WarCry 7
‘Imagine if you were dealing with somebody who only spoke Cantonese and you speak no Cantonese,’ Tabitha says. ‘What are all the methods you would use to be able to interact with that child and have fun with them? And it would look entirely different. But people meet an autistic person and they’re still constantly doing all of those standard chat, chat ... talking at them … They’re not getting down to their level and doing physical fun, visible games that don’t require language.’
Slow And Steady Knows The Child No two people on the autism spectrum are the same, which means that the first step is always to speak with the family, then you can discover what the child’s interests are and what the best way is to communicate with them. ‘Otherwise, you can do all these wrong things,’ Di warns. Typical traits can include: • low language development (sometimes no words at all), communicating by gestures • reaction to physical sensation. Because of this, you should never attempt to hug or touch an autistic person (this includes, for example, putting your hand on their shoulder) • short attention span, which means repetition is key (however, there is no point repeating the same words over and over if that is not how the child communicates) • resistance to change (you must tell them if there will ever be a change to their routine as it may upset them). ‘One of the real difficulties often is they don’t make eye contact or even smile,’ Di explains. ‘Their behaviours can be very overactive or very passive, they can have a lot of tantrums for no reason.’ They may laugh at inappropriate times, talk incessantly or exhibit aggressive or bizarre actions. For these reasons, getting to know them must be a patient process, on their terms, over many months or longer. Di believes the key is to just be with the child, rather than expecting something from them. The progress will not always be smooth, but slowly there is the possibility—and Di has seen it happen in her own church—that the parents can have somebody else with their child. This is one way churches can serve and love their parents and siblings. These families are often under a toll, which can include poor sleeping habits, stress, social isolation and, regrettably in Di’s experience, many parents separate. It is important for churches to reach out to them like they would any new family. Comprehensive pastoral care includes 8 WarCry 13 JUNE 2020
NEURODEVELOPMENTAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS CAN BE HARDER TO DISTINGUISH, AND CONSEQUENTLY MANY CHURCHES DO NOT REALISE THEIR SPACE IS INACCESSIBLE TO AFFECTED FAMILIES. engaging with the children and their parents, checking in on how things are going and inviting parents to upskill those working with their children. Di’s advice is plain: ‘contact them, include them, love them’. Making a meal to alleviate some pressure can be an appreciated gesture, as is prayer that they would feel welcome. Di also impresses the importance of inviting and enabling the other members of the family to get outside of their cluster. As an introvert, being connected to a life group is important to Tabitha, while Graeme is interested in serving in an audio-visual or musical capacity. ‘As a family, there’s a good chance that we may not be able to participate in the church community in a conventional sense, but we still want to be invited to serve,’ he says. Inviting the child’s siblings to hang out beyond their family bubble ensures they have their own fun, because often their opportunities are limited because of the other child. ‘They are not just brothers and sisters of a child with a disability,’ Di says.
Spectrum Service It is near impossible to overhaul a service for one person without alienating the remaining congregation, but by church staff having a greater understanding of autism and what makes the individual tick, they can remove barriers and help them to interact with God in a comfortable way. At the most basic level, providing visuals to accompany the message is helpful, and it is important for messages that include complicated metaphors or analogies to be clearly explained and their meanings unpackaged.
Autistic children need to move around, and they communicate differently, so attempts to keep them isolated in specific places or groups may prove counterproductive. Autistic people may call out or walk around during the service, which disrupts the traditional notion of church etiquette. ‘Most people find that hard … you come to church and you sit in a seat or a pew and you’re quiet and you’re there for the service, but that’s not the case for a lot of kids and adults who are autistic,’ Di says. She says churches could enable a place within the building— which can include the back rows or separate rooms traditionally set aside for mothers and babies—to also be an autism-friendly space where they can move around. ‘They may not be able to stay in it for very long, but they can go and have a walk and then come back again,’ Di says. She recalls one example of visiting a church when an autistic man got up mid-service and ended up on stage with the minister. ‘He just reacted absolutely amazing—“Well, lovely to see you”—and then just went on with the service, and (the man) was fine and he just calmed down and he walked around, but most ministers would find that incredibly difficult.’ Tabitha agrees that it is essential to have a dedicated space for her daughters to chill out and regulate when their environment is stressful, but a crèche facility is not a tidy solution for every family. ‘You’ve got three- and four-year-old kids in with all of the very young babies, and it’s still a very busy, sensory overload space,’ she explains. Tabitha, Graeme and Di would all love to see churches include a seminar or module on teaching autistic children in leader training, citing the multitude of free, readily available short and online courses.
‘…THE AUTISM COMMUNITY’S APPROACH TO FAITH CAN TRANSFORM CHURCHES INWARDLY AND REVOLUTIONISE THE WAY THE CHURCH IS VIEWED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.’
At first, the child will almost certainly need a parent or caregiver alongside them who can help to tailor their child’s programme until they are adjusted and comfortable to stay with their children’s church leader(s) or in a small group. Then, as an adult, they can hopefully join in with the main congregation. ‘But that’s because you’ve already done all this other work,’ Di says, ‘because a lot of this doesn’t happen spontaneously.’ Loud noises in a confined space, such as worship music, can be problematic but, to replay a broken record, every person is unique. In many cases families will intentionally seek out a quieter church. However, some autistic children thrive on music and it is a great way for them to express their faith. They may even be able to adjust to and participate in weekly music, dance or craft groups. ‘We know from all sorts of research … that they all do want to be included and they do want attention and play, but they just lack the skills and knowing how to be included, especially with people outside the family,’ Tabitha adds.
The Importance of Disability Mission Tabitha and Graeme would love to see ministries for children and adults with disabilities in every corps and church. Every day, they are meeting more and more people who know an autistic person in their network of family and friends. Graeme highlights that many families are not catered for in traditional settings and this risks alienating a huge part of the population. ‘It is hard and it’s not as rewarding, but it’s still just as important for our kids to be valued and cherished as much as NT (neurotypical) kids in the church.’ ‘They actually need more help to be able to pick up these concepts and to be able to feel comfortable and engaged than a neurotypical child who’s getting a lot of that at home as well.’ Di believes by taking the time to learn about the individuality of each autistic person and showing the willingness to adapt and make room, churches can lead by example for those in their congregations and the wider public ‘...once we can get through those barriers, it’s wonderful.’
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Tough Conversations Life is full of tough conversations, and because we all have different communication styles and behaviours, an inevitable outcome of being in a relationship is that you won’t agree on everything. Something that seems like a non-issue to you, might be a big deal to the person you are in relationship with and vice versa. Tricky discussions are a minefield, which makes them easy to put off. However, if you let the issues fester, you are more likely to eventually blow up about it, cause more damage than intended and not communicate what you actually meant to say. Disagreements—whether major or minor—shouldn’t rip your relationship apart. Through having a mature conversation, where you respect each other’s opinions and work towards a solution, you can forge a stronger way forward together.
…IF YOU LET THE ISSUES FESTER, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO EVENTUALLY BLOW UP ABOUT IT…
How To ‘Have It Out’ Peacefully 1. Before you approach your partner, write down your feelings. Consider how the current situation is affecting you and what its long-term impact might be. What are you hoping to achieve from the conversation? What is your ideal outcome? Think about whether you are more focused on being right or finding a peaceful solution. 2. Arrange a good time to speak with them. Don’t abruptly bring up the topic after dinner or late at night when you are both tired; ask them if they are ready to discuss this issue with you or arrange a time when you can talk.
3. Eliminate any distractions. Don’t have music playing or the television on in the background. Choose a time when you are alone and the rest of the house will be empty (or asleep). 4. Use ‘I’ statements to describe how you are feeling and what you are experiencing (e.g. ‘I am feeling …’). ‘You’ statements put the focus (and implied blame) on them, which might make them feel defensive. Also avoid ‘should’ statements (e.g. ‘You should be …’). 5. Listen actively and ask questions. A good tool can be to paraphrase back to them what they have told you to see whether you have interpreted their feelings correctly. 6. Put a time limit on the conversation. If you cannot resolve it within that time frame, press pause and think over what has been said, then continue talking it through when you are both ready to again. 7. If you cannot solve the problem yourselves, consider seeking professional advice.
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One tough conversation might be emblematic of a range of underlying issues, which means that finding a resolution to this one problem might not fix your relationship overnight. However, these open, honest conversations need to be had. Reaching a genuine compromise and understanding each other better will strengthen your relationship in the long run.
DOS AND DON’TS: DO consider both of your communication styles and be mindful of how the other deals with conflict DO talk from your heart, but DON’T let your emotions get the better of you—remain composed and listen intently DON’T become accusatory or critical DON’T give unsolicited advice DON’T issue ultimatums DO be prepared to compromise and admit when you are wrong. Sources: psychcentral.com & psychologytoday.com
TESTIFY! Daniel Wilkes is Rotorua’s friendly, neighbourhood Family Store truck driver, with a heart for meeting people and reaching out to the elderly in his community. I was born in West Auckland and grew up in a Christian family. I was quite the adventurer, and had great fun hanging out with my two brothers. I became really depressed around the age of 17, to the point where I was in Starship Hospital. But God lifted me up; he was encouraging me and showing me that family still cared. Through God, friends, family and medication, I was able to get through that time. I still have my mental illness, but I’m in a lot more control than I used to be, and that’s through God’s grace and my willingness to accept that I do have a slight issue. I became a bit more sheltered because of it, so I’ve probably learnt more recently than I have for a long time—through Covid-19 and through my relationship—that God is still in the whole situation. I am a stencil artist. I spend hours cutting stencils out by hand and then I can spray paint and screen print with them. I paint and draw too—I’ve been doing lots of drawings of nature and animals, mainly lions and tigers. I’ve been dabbling with art since I was tiny, and I do sometimes get the opportunity to design for people, which is great fun. I did a Diploma in Fine Arts and Design, and then I followed my fiancée down to Christchurch and studied web design for a year. We moved over to Westport when we got married, and found that the best church for us was The Salvation Army. I didn’t know much about The Salvation Army before moving to the South Island. I got more involved and as time went on, I became the van driver for deliveries and pick-ups. I moved back to the North Island to Rotorua, and I’ve been in a year
Inset: A piece of Daniel’s artwork (supplied by artist).
IT’S NICE THAT YOU CAN SOMETIMES BE THE ONLY REAL SMILE AND JOY THEY GET IN THE ENTIRE DAY. of separation, which is probably the hardest part I’ve ever had to deal with, but The Salvation Army has been really supportive. Rotorua Corps really does feel like it’s a home away from home. Through friends, family—even friends of the family and so on—the people around me have been so good. I’ve learned so much about myself, and all my good mannerisms and traits have come out. I became the Rotorua Family Store’s driver. I really do love serving people, driving the truck around and, especially, meeting older people. It’s nice that you can sometimes be the only real smile and joy they get in the entire day.
I’ve been involved with the Foodbank for the past eight weeks or so, it’s been quite an amazing time. I was grateful for it too, because I was able to do some work and keep some sanity! The group I worked with were wonderful and we got to know each other even more. It was a great time for learning about God’s grace, my own strengths and weaknesses and being in an essential service. I am a people-person, so I’m looking forward to hanging out with friends again, like the guy at my local café down the road. I made an effort to get to know him and he’s an amazing person, so it’d be nice to catch up with him properly again. 13 JUNE 2020 WarCry 11
What happens when you don’t fit in? Ok, so you just haven’t found ‘your people’ yet. You walk to school alone. During PE class you’re always the last to be picked for the team. Your Instagram profile has 23 friend requests pending, but the number of actual followers barely hits double figs. You can pretend you’re ok with being a loner—eating lunch at school by yourself with a devil-may-care attitude that fake-screams ‘this is how I choose to be!’ Or, you can face it. Name it. You just don’t seem to be fitting in. To make matters worse, there are well-meaning voices in your world saying, ‘Don’t worry about it. Be your own unique person. Why blend in when you can stand out?’ Then there are those who think they’re helping by adding, ‘It’s ok, God loves you. Don’t worry about what other people think’. And while this sounds gutsy, it’s not what you want. You want some friends. A place to belong. Maybe you’ve even prayed, ‘Lord, I know you love me, but please, where are my friends? Why don’t I seem to fit in?’
DESIGNED FOR RELATIONSHIP Life is complicated. It’s not fair. But there is hope. Even though God designed us to be in relationship with him and each other, we live in a fallen world, which means someone (cough cough—the ole devil) put a spanner in the works. Things aren’t the way they’re supposed to be. People can be mean. Psychologists reveal that ‘hurt people hurt other people’. Sometimes we’re excluded or bullied just because someone else is trying to make themselves feel better. Sometimes we’re even that person. While there’s no such thing as the perfect church or youth group (we’re all marred by sin, remember), that doesn’t mean you won’t find your people there. In fact, studies show that youth groups can often be those ‘alternate spaces’ where those who struggle to fit in elsewhere, find a place of belonging and their ‘people’.
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STRENGTHS-BASED YOUTH WORK To help you in your search for a youth group that prioritises helping you find ‘your people’, War Cry asked Territorial Youth Secretary Captain Mat Badger what he would do if he encountered a young person who felt they didn’t seem to fit in. He immediately replied: ‘This is why strengths-based youth work is so important. Strengths-based youth work starts with the young person—their interests and wellbeing, not some other agenda, regardless of how well-meaning that agenda might be. Strengths-based youth work is about relationship, inclusion and the holistic development of a young person’s potential.’
REAL RELATIONSHIPS The industry standard definition of the purpose of youth work is to help young people transition well into adulthood. ‘It is designed to complement what’s happening at home, school, church and the community. If you don’t belong to a youth group or you are with a group who just don’t get you, then you can vote with your feet. But first, try to build a relationship with trusted adults who can provide you with extra support to figure stuff out. Faith questions can become a natural part of that broader conversation. With so many families and communities fractured, good youth workers can fill the role of that influential favourite aunty or uncle, like back in the day,’ says Mat.
SAFE SPACES Not fitting in is more common than you might think. You will experience the pain of discovering and deciding where you don’t fit, what you don’t believe and what’s not important to you. It’s a normal part of development, but it can certainly be exacerbated by bullying or
The Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa New Zealand (published by Ara Taiohi and to which all Salvation Army youth work is accountable) says that, ‘A strengths-based approach seeks to shift the collective thinking about young people from being problem-based to strengths-based’.
isolation and problems at home. ‘Youth groups and youth programmes in schools with good strengths-based practice have the very real potential to provide “safe spaces” for young people to reflect and navigate these sorts of challenges,’ explains Mat. ‘Rather than replicating the feelings of being the last one chosen for the volleyball team at PE, make sure your youth group has a variety of activities on offer,’ suggests Mat. ‘This will greatly increase the chances of young people finding something or someone to engage with.’ If you want more than just physical activities, then a group that includes board games and chess, guitars, art supplies and food is a good step to keeping you engaged and connected. You are more likely to find a kindred spirit while engaged in an activity you feel confident participating in. Mat also challenges youth leaders to involve young people in planning and debriefing. ‘School programmes do this so well, but I really encourage corps (church) youth groups to do this as well. A great way to invest in young people and support them to discover and develop their strengths is to value their input. It’s also about leaders being intentional about connecting with young people—not just hanging out together as leaders. Throw out a relational line. Young people can spot a fake easily. They know if you’re genuine. ‘The way we disciple young people in the twenty-first century has to be different to how it was 30 years ago. Starting with the gospel used to be how we did things and many of us had life-changing experiences—and that still happens today—but good relationships increase the likelihood. If a young person senses you don’t really care about them, the chances of them grasping that God does is reduced.’ So, if you’re feeling like you don’t fit in—look for a local youth group or youth programme where strengthsbased values are practiced. You never know—what you’re looking for just might be waiting for you to show up!
Working holistically with young people means that youth workers support the healthy development of young people, including their social, emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, whānau and cultural skills. Youth workers support young people to identify and develop their strengths, encouraging them to reach their full potential. (Code of Conduct, arataiohi.org.nz)
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Captain Joe Serevi with some of the people he regularly catches up with, in Te Aro Park.
The Angel of Cuba Street
Captain Joe Serevi takes a walk through the streets of Wellington with Louise Parry and talks about his work with the homeless. Pastor Joe, Brother Joe—Captain Joe Serevi answers to both of these names. He’s even been called ‘The Angel of Cuba Street’ as a result of the work he has undertaken with the homeless. It’s been estimated there are 300 homeless in Wellington City, but Joe thinks there are as many as 500 people on the streets of Wellington. Many are sleeping in cars, some are couch surfing—the figures are hard to accurately chart. Joe is unapologetic about his mission: ‘Love God and Love People’—this is proclaimed through his words and deeds, and even on the sleeves of his Salvation Army sweatshirt. His is a court and prison services appointment, but he spends time undertaking street outreach as well. The same clients he sees in the parks and footpaths are those he assists in court. Joe’s role is to listen to people’s concerns and refer them to the best places to meet their needs. ‘I’m passionate about the Kingdom of God, building his kingdom,’ Joe explains.
On the Street Joe believes that despite the breadth of the Army’s services, there are still many people who are hard to reach and these are Joe’s people; he reckons he was made for this role. As we walk the streets we meet Alex, who is a solo dad of two, and today he’s happy. ‘I’ve finished my parole,’ he says, fistpumping Joe as he drinks red-tinged liquid from a large plastic bottle. (It’s likely RTD mixed with P, Joe thinks.) ‘I’ve known Joe for a while. He shows me the way,’ Alex says, pointing at Joe. ‘He’s real genuine. I just don’t necessarily agree with him about everything.’ Like many of those we encounter, Alex met Joe through Downtown Community Ministries (DCM). Joe works closely with DCM, as well as St Peter’s Anglican Church, the Police and MSD. They all work in the same space, each with a different 14 WarCry 13 JUNE 2020
approach towards the same end goal: to get people off the streets and into sustainable housing, with all the support that entails. DCM is a busy place, and has space for a mental health nurse, medical nurse, dentist, physiotherapist, audiologist, optometrist, and Te Aro Health clinic which operates from the site three times a week. Their focus is to get the homeless into housing. While some people choose to be on the streets for the freedom it offers, many have slipped through the cracks of the welfare system. Co-Vicar of St Peter’s Anglican Church in Willis Street, Reverend Stephen King, says his church is open all day every day for anyone to visit. When we arrive there are several people in the pews, some dozing, others waiting the long hours until the Free Store opens. At around 3.30pm they go out with trolleys and collect food from supermarkets and other venues. The rescued food is given away on site from 4.30–5pm. Joe, too, is a regular user of the prayer room, visiting the church most days to discuss the homeless community and pray with those who seek solace. St Peter’s was established in 1850 and as with other inner city churches like The Salvation Army in Vivian Street, it was planted where the community was. ‘It’s a sad coincidence that this area of the city 100 years later is still a place of homelessness,’ Rev. King reflects. Joe introduces me to Trevor who strums a guitar and tells me he has been out of jail for ‘eight years, eight months and 25 days today’. He’s now a spokesperson for the Wellington homeless
JOE IS UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT HIS MISSION, ‘LOVE GOD AND LOVE PEOPLE’…
AT THE DISTRICT COURT LAWYERS SPEAK TO PRISONERS THROUGH A REINFORCED GLASS SCREEN; JOE GOES INTO THE CELLS WITH THEM.
community—Wellington Homeless Advocates (WHA). Trevor has seen it all—he’s been through addiction treatment programmes at Odyssey House and, back in the day, Hanmer Springs. ‘I think I needed more “12 Steps”,’ he says. Now he has prostate cancer. These days, he’s in his own home. ‘I know what I’ve climbed out of.’ But he still supports his mates on the streets. He’s been kicked out of social housing before— 18 people were sleeping at his home. ‘I couldn’t kick them out,’ he says. ‘By helping them they helped me. I want these fellas to be healed.’ Joe always invites people to join his fellowship group and a Bible study group that’s held at McDonald’s. While many don’t take up his offer, he is able to demonstrate the love of Christ through his actions.
because he loves the world. I believe that one day God will come and intervene in their lives and he will change them.’ Joe, himself, was once an alcoholic, drug addict and drug dealer in Fiji. It was following his regular, daily religious devotions with his family when ‘my mum took me aside and said, “Son, when are you going to come back and do what you were taught by Jesus Christ?”’ Joe’s response was, ‘When I’m ready’. The black sheep of the family, Joe was about to begin harvesting seed heads from his six-acre cannabis plantation when he broke out in a heavy sweat as he felt extreme heat rising in his body. The knife fell out of his hands, he looked up as God spoke to him with the words of Isaiah 41:10: ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’ Joe says he knew the Lord would always be with him from that day forward, to help and strengthen him. ‘I was at the bottom of the sea and he put me on the mountain—I’m still climbing.’
Lockdown Joe in his office within the Wellington District Court building.
At the Office On Mondays and Fridays—the Wellington District Court’s busiest sitting days—you’ll find Joe in his level 2 office, past the duty solicitor’s office and the community probation rooms and next to the forensic nurse. It’s an unremarkable office apart from a small cross on the wall, and three large bags of second-hand clothes for people arriving with no suitable attire for their upcoming court appearance. These are put on racks downstairs, beside the underground car park where defendants go from remand. Joe’s there to help people who can’t comprehend the legal system. Research shows that a range of brain and behaviour differences, disorders and injuries are prevalent in both youth and adult justice populations, and potentially keep them in that system and hamper rehabilitation. At the District Court, lawyers speak to prisoners through a reinforced glass screen; Joe goes into the cells with them. Some of them need a space to pray and some need someone to pray for them before they appear in court. They don’t know if they’ll be released or sentenced to prison. Some of those who are released have nothing, and Joe helps them with a bus fare. It can be a bit of a revolving door—prison, back on the streets, parole breach, court appearance, prison. Joe does not give up on people who seem to have given up on themselves. ‘My love for them is not limited to who they are and what they’ve done, because I believe I serve a bigger God. If God was here he would do the same thing. He’s not going to judge them, or love them today but not tomorrow,’ Joe explains. On Fridays, Joe holds a prayer meeting at the court. ‘All I’m doing is sowing seeds … that’s why he [Christ] died on the cross,
Joe’s work changed somewhat during the lockdown, but the mission to help the homeless continued. The Government’s strategy of moving rough sleepers into accommodation during level 4 lockdown saw many of Joe’s regular clients brought into motels. For some, this was the catalyst for a long-term change. However, for a persistent cohort, the difficulty of living with addiction and mental health issues meant that motel living was not for them. Now life is getting back to a ‘new normal’ and Joe and his wife—Major Jeannine Serevi—have been busy setting up a new food bank hub in Naenae, as a result of growing demand for food during the Covid-19 pandemic. From there, Joe will return to his work with the ‘streeties’. The Salvation Army has been involved in court and prison ministry around New Zealand for more than 100 years. In Wellington, Joe is continuing this Senior constable Daniel ministry. O’Connell, in his last week as ‘I take my mission with the Wellington District Court me and everybody sees it.’
Custody Officer, looks over the donated clothes Joe stocks in the reception area for those appearing in court. 13 JUNE 2020 WarCry 15
Shielding Women from Abuse Annual figures reveal that 76 percent of family violence in New Zealand is not reported to Police. Women’s Refuge is aiming to reduce this statistic with its new ‘Shielded Site’ which is easily accessed through an icon [pictured right] on an increasing number of websites. The Salvation Army has joined other partner organisations and companies, such as ASB, Z Energy, The Warehouse, Trade Me, Countdown, Briscoes, BNZ and many more in this initiative. How does it work? Easy. Rosy Keane, Territorial Social Media and Resource Specialist for Women's Ministries, explains: ‘The great thing about the Shielded Site is that women can click on the icon from just about anywhere online to access help. The site has ‘exiting’ plans and also a live chat function— basically everything you would need to try and leave a dangerous situation. When you click out of the site your browser history is immediately erased, making it such a draw card for women.’ Many women trying to escape domestic violence worry about repercussions from a controlling or abusive partner. Sadly, advances in technology have not made life easier for many women. According to information provided by Women’s Refuge, the ability of abusers to monitor their victim’s every movement has increased. Abusive partners will use a phone’s GPS locator, access or block a victim’s email or banking passwords, and even check their web browser history—which is where Shielded comes in. ‘I realised that women accessing our territorial website for help with food during lockdown may also be trapped in abusive relationships. When I heard that 75 percent of all Police call outs during alert level 4 were related to violence against women, getting the Shielded portal up and running became urgent for me. I worked with the Communications Department and the
icon now appears on every single page of our territorial website. But now we need to get the word out so people working with vulnerable women understand what it is. ‘You might not need the portal yourself, but you can familiarise yourself with what it looks like and promote it,’ urges Rosy. ‘Part of Reimagining Women’s Ministry as more than a programme is engaging with the real stories of women who are suffering, by partnering with organisations like Women’s Refuge to influence change. Many of us have no idea what it’s like to live in an abusive or controlling relationship, but if the life of even just one woman is saved because we have the Shielded portal available on our website—well, it’s just a no brainer,’ affirms Rosy. If you or someone you know is feeling unsafe, contact 0800REFUGE, email info@refuge.org.nz or send a confidential message through Shielded Site by clicking on the icon [above] pictured on the bottom right of every page of salvationarmy.org.nz. If you or a family member are in immediate danger, call 111.
Beyond our Borders—Response in Greece The Salvation Army International Emergency Services’ response to the global pandemic is to be commended. Many regions were affected worldwide by the pandemic and needed financial support, so territories such as New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa (NZFTS) were asked to respond. Local support was a significant and welcomed, but let’s not forget territories globally who need our support. The NZFTS has a long history with Greece, as participants on our study tours to Greece and Turkey have visited the programme in Athens and Thessaloniki. We also provide funding for the Refugee Day Centre and the Green Light Project (victims of prostitution and trafficking) projects in Athens. It is from this existing relationship, that we were asked if we could provide funding for a rapid response project in Thessaloniki, Greece. Without hesitation, NZFTS was able to send US$15,000 (NZ$23,000). The Salvation Army in Greece is small, but it works tirelessly with the poor and vulnerable. While Greece responded quickly to the crisis and kept the effects of Covid-19 down compared with other countries in their vicinity, it is the inequalities and vulnerability of those in poverty who are more at risk. 16 WarCry 13 JUNE 2020
The Salvation Army in Greece identified gaps in services and the shortage of resources for vulnerable people. In consultation with local officials, The Salvation Army was able to identify the need, then store and distribute 300 staple food boxes and 100 baby sanitary boxes (nappies and wipes), with any remaining funds going toward hospital hygiene boxes (masks, gloves, hand sanitiser) for family members of vulnerable patients who needed to visit the hospital. While Covid-19 has closed New Zealand borders for now, we will keep our financial support for our international development work a priority. The Salvation Army serves in some of the world’s poorest countries, not only to share the gospel, but to be the gospel. The Salvation Army has the privilege to stand in the gaps to make a difference to the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. If you would like to support our international development work and partner to make a difference then go to salvationarmy.org.nz/help-us/help-overseas or contact debbie.clark@salvationarmy.org.nz
familystore.org.nz more than just a store
Covid-19 Unifies Family Stores Covid-19 meant Salvation Army Family Stores across the country had to close their doors during lockdown levels 3 and 4, which created plenty of challenges. But National Family Store Manager Gareth Marshall says it hasn’t all been bad—not by a long shot. ‘We’ve really matured as stores through this journey. Our managers, staff and volunteers know that they’re part of something bigger and stronger than just their local store. Nationwide, regular communication across the stores revealed that we aren’t so different—we have more in common than we may have realised. Lockdown helped us work better together as a united brand, lifting our game, tweaking processes and proving we really are all in this together,’ Gareth reports. Family Stores make up the second largest retail footprint in the country, with 132 stores nationwide. But that doesn’t mean staff weren’t worried about their jobs when a flurry of redundancies began to sweep across the employment sector. ‘As an organisation that says we care for people, we really showed up for our staff when it mattered and I’m really proud of that,’ reflects Gareth. ‘There’s been a financial cost to the organisation, but this has spoken volumes to those who work so hard for us.’ Some store staff were redeployed to food banks around the
country. ‘A lot of our staff were so keen to jump in and help. Others really wanted to but were prevented from doing so because they were in the high-risk group for contracting the virus. But I’m so appreciative and proud of those who changed hats with very little fuss and got on with the jobs.’ Gareth has also been moved by the care given to staff and volunteers by managers across the country. ‘It was hard for some of our volunteers and regular customers to lose the social interaction provided by our stores. Some managers went the extra mile to make sure people remained connected, says Gareth. ‘I really want to thank our staff and volunteers for bearing with us during this difficult time. When we re-opened in level 2 it was great to have everyone back in store, and with a few necessary tweaks it almost feels like normal!’ After eight weeks of being closed, stores are now experiencing high levels of donations. ‘This was expected,’ says Gareth, ‘but we really need help processing the influx. If your situation has changed through this Covid-19 crisis and you can spare a few hours to volunteer during the day and help your local store, they’d love to hear from you!’ TO VOLUNTEER | salvationarmy.org.nz/volunteer-family-store
Baking For Bibles Bible Society’s Bake for Bibles campaign has a new, Covid-19friendly look in 2020. The campaign is encouraging participants to bake policethemed cookies to raise money for a specially-designed Bible for the New Zealand Police. Harnessing social media and creativity to promote the cause and fundraise amongst family and friends is crucial given that baked goods are unable to be sold this year. ‘It’s really important that people get baking and sharing this cause online,’ says Bible Society spokesperson Sarah Crawford. ‘Not only does it help to raise funds to provide Bibles for the New Zealand Police, it helps to raise awareness about Bible mission here in New Zealand, and how Bible Society is working to create relevant Bibles for New Zealanders.’ They are also running a competition for the best iced cookie, to be judged by the co-chairpersons of the Police Christian Support Network (PCSN) Jonathan McKenzie and Frank Grant. The Bible for the New Zealand Police contains features such as the Constable’s Oath, a Police prayer, a 100-day Bible reading
plan, the national anthem (in both Māori and English) and messages from the Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy and the PCSN co-chairpersons. Every nine dollars will enable Bible Society to provide one Bible for the New Zealand Police. ‘It seems appropriate to say, “thank you” to members of the New Zealand Police, who have been working hard on the frontline in our communities throughout the pandemic, by gifting them one of these special-edition Bibles,’ Sarah explains. Bible Society is hoping to provide 500 Bibles through this campaign, which is running until July 3. Sarah implores people to register, get baking and raise money. ‘Working on the frontline in our communities the Police face many different challenging situations every day. This Bible will give an opportunity to members of the New Zealand Police to draw upon God’s Word for their daily strength, comfort and hope.’ MORE INFO | To find out about how to get involved, visit the Bake for Bibles website at bakeforbibles.nz 13 JUNE 2020 WarCry 17
Salvation Online: Reimagining Church Salvation Online is a 24/7 hub for corps (church) connection at a time when physically gathering was placed on hold. Rather than merely acting as a placeholder, Salvation Online was designed to reflect how being the church is about creating community all week, not just on Sundays. The website incorporates weekly services, corps resources and an online prayer wall. ‘We didn’t just want the site and Salvation Online to be passive or a place to just “consume”—we wanted people to engage and dig deeper,’ says Mission Resource Developer Vanessa Singh. locations as diverse as Canada, the UK, Australia, Norway, Japan, Peru and Indonesia. ‘At a time when people felt isolated and alone, they had a familiar way to connect and “meet” with others— people appreciated the connection and familiarity of church each Sunday.’ Vanessa specifically acknowledges Kris, Jess and Ash for dedicating significant hours and overtime to make Salvation Online successful.
Vanessa and Kris Singh created the website and its content, while the weekly services are a Creative Ministries team effort. Kris, Jess Keane and Ash Patel are responsible for the visual work, while Vanessa collaborated with Territorial Secretary for Mission Colonel Melvin Fincham and leadership on logistics. Services are pre-recorded, with segments from around the territory pieced together in just two days, before being streamed live from Vanessa and Kris’s home. ‘We have a hub set up on a Sunday morning with multiple computers where we engage with all the comments and prayer requests we receive during the services—you have to type quickly to be able to respond to everyone!’ Salvation Online has received plenty of positive feedback and thanks from corps leaders and Salvationists. Regular service viewers have tuned in from international
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‘We know several people have come to faith and met Jesus through the online services (praise Jesus), we know people who have reconnected with church after many years and we know people have engaged with church for the first time through these online experiences. ‘In all we do with Salvation Online, we want it to point to Jesus and welcome new people into God’s family. MORE INFO | salvationonline.org.nz Screen captures from church service 31/05/2020
GAZETTE Bereavement: Major Lorraine LePine, of her father Oswald (Ossie) Rodgers, on 2 June 2020, from Feilding, aged 97 years. We ask you to uphold Majors Lorraine & Darrell LePine and extended family members in your prayers in this time of grief and loss.
Naenae Foodbank & Covid-19 A temporary foodbank in Naenae has hopefully paved the way for an ongoing relationship with a local, independentlyrun foodbank in the Lower Hutt area. After the Newtown foodbank hub in Wellington discovered they were sending an abundance of food parcels to Lower Hutt, they recognised the need for a more efficient system to service the area. ‘We were hearing stories of people who were completely missing the boat (and) weren’t getting help at all, and then there were … stories of people who were getting three or four parcels delivered (not from us, but from multiple agencies),’ explains Major Jeannine Serevi, who was then asked to help set up a short-term foodbank. The Lower Hutt Community Foodbank is not affiliated with any organisation and is run by volunteers from the local area. In collaboration with The Salvation Army, a temporary hub was set up in the Treadwell Street Hall in Naenae to store bulk groceries and pack food parcels. By working together and establishing a cohesive process for distributing food parcels, demand eased and the decision was made to close the temporary centre, while continuing to share resources and client details to prevent delivery double ups. ‘If they run out of anything and we’ve got it, we’ll share and vice versa,’ Jeannine explains. If the need arises for the Naenae hub to re-open, they have the connection with Lower Hutt Community Foodbank in place to get the centre back up and running quickly. ‘They were saying this is definitely a relationship they want to see go long term, and they’ve really appreciated this partnership … that sentiment definitely goes both ways.’
‘KINDNESS HAS PERMEATED OUR COMMUNITIES AS PEOPLE HAVE CARED FOR ONE ANOTHER…’ Those of us who are of a certain age may remember the song ‘Try a Little Kindness’, released in 1970 by Glen Campbell. The song expounds the benefits of kindness between people, to make this world a better place. The opening words are: If you see your brother standing by the road with a heavy load from the seeds he’s sowed; and if you see your sister falling by the way just stop and say, you’re going the wrong way; and the song goes on: Don’t walk around the down and out, lend a helping hand instead of doubt. And the kindness that you show every day will help someone along the way. The song may be old but the truth it speaks of is enduring. At the core of who we are as human beings, there’s this innate knowing that kindness is good. We were created to be kind. Unkindness violates who we are. Kindness is good for us as we live together as families and neighbours—both extended, locally and globally. So our Prime Minister’s call to ‘Be Kind’ as she has addressed the nation since March, was not a difficult call to respond to. The results speak for themselves. Kindness has been experienced and expressed in so many ways. The Salvation Army has been the grateful recipient of so much kindness demonstrated in the generosity from many people and businesses. Kindness in the form of financial gifts, material donations and service given, has enabled us to respond to the unprecedented demands that confronted our nation, and we thank you. Kindness has permeated our communities as people have cared for one another; including reaching out to neighbours who were barely known; waiting patiently in line to take our turn to enter the supermarket; keeping appropriate distance where this was advised. In our kindness, we took to heart the protection of our most vulnerable citizens, denying ourselves for the sake of all of us. We have also discovered that being kind has unexpected results: the flourishing of our natural resources, animal and bird life, which has had time to breathe and been freed from constant noise. For some of us, the regeneration of the natural order has been paralleled in the regeneration of souls. Taking the opportunity to recalibrate our family life, our business lives and personal habits has been kindness to ourselves. In Salvation Army corps (churches), there’s been rediscovery of what really matters and a strengthening of relationships during the period of time when public gatherings were not permitted. Kindness will always remain an essential ingredient in community—rather like a pinch of salt that accentuates flavour in food. Kindness is right up there alongside compassion, humility, gentleness and patience as essential characteristics of God’s people (Colossians 3:12). As the refrain of Glen Campbell’s song says: If you try a little kindness, you’ll overlook the blindness of the narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets. Be Kind. Colonel Heather Rodwell Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Spiritual Life Development 13 JUNE 2020 WarCry 19
EPHESIANS 6
part five
HELMET OF SALVATION
In part five of this occasional series on the armour of God, we learn how comprehensive our salvation really is. BY JULES BADGER
Either we’ve said it, or it’s been said to us—will you please just make up your mind! Maybe it’s choosing an ice cream flavour, a new pair of shoes, a television channel— or something far more serious like a university course, vocation or even a life partner; either way there are numerous times throughout life when we must bite the bullet and make up our minds. When we make up our mind about who Jesus is and what we really believe about him, our lives are changed. In fact, the benefits of choosing to follow Christ are far-reaching and infuse every aspect of our lives in wonderful and liberating ways. Sadly, though, some believers are content just to receive salvation and the promise of eternal life, but miss out on 20 WarCry 13 JUNE 2020
experiencing the fullness of salvation as they grow as disciples while here on earth. Don’t get me wrong, eternal life is a fantastic benefit of salvation—but there’s so much more!
Salvation and Sanctification In the book Armour of God, by Priscilla Shirer, it says that God intends for us to receive his gift of salvation, and then apply it to our lives. ‘Salvation is not just about redemption. It’s not just a ticket to eternity. Salvation is also meant to be applied so we can walk in liberation because we have been redeemed by the cross of Calvary. Salvation is meant to re-orientate our whole identity and then implement a whole new way of thinking into our daily lives. Salvation is also a defensive, protective device.’ In Ephesians 6:17, the Apostle Paul tells us to, ‘put on the helmet of salvation’. It’s important to remember that in the brief verses making up Ephesians 6:10– 17, Paul’s using the individual pieces of armour as symbols to summarise what he’s already talked about at length
earlier in his letter. Paul spends most of chapter 1 and 2 of Ephesians outlining the nature and benefits of salvation. And he certainly wasn’t talking about a one-off event! Paul was explaining what Shirer calls the ‘comprehensive cover’ of salvation.
...THE BENEFITS OF CHOOSING TO FOLLOW CHRIST ARE FAR-REACHING AND INFUSE EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES IN WONDERFUL AND LIBERATING WAYS.
Absolutely not! God has more for us! More for us to experience his love and grace and freedom, and more for us to do in partnership with him for our personal growth, for the benefit of others and the world he loves. But as we saw in the last instalment of this series with the shield of faith, when we move forward into what God has for us, we will face opposition. Just as the enemy knows the power of faith and sends flaming arrows to distract us, he also tries to mess with our minds by building strongholds in our thinking. But we can put on salvation like a helmet which shields us from the enemy’s attacks.
Comprehensive Cover
We all know that to be given a course of antibiotics by the doctor is one thing, but taking them is a whole other story. Receiving something does not mean we will experience the benefits that only using it can give us. Priscilla explains that: The salvation experience is often reduced to something that only affects a person’s eternal destiny. And to be clear, the fact that it does affect the outcome of eternity gives us incredible hope. In fact, part of what it means to wear the helmet of salvation is to live every day in the light of eternity and the promised future we have. Doing so will, without a doubt, change the way we live in the present. While the future implications of our salvation are critical and give us astounding hope, this is not the totality of what it offers. If salvation was only meant to give us a ticket to eternity, what good would it do us now while we’re still on earth? Do we sit around waiting, living out our days until some future moment when the Lord returns or we go to heaven, whichever happens first?
But how does this work? It all comes down to this idea of ‘comprehensive cover’, which the illustration of the helmet makes clear. Made of bronzecovered iron, a soldier’s helmet was essentially a skullcap. Called a ‘galea’, the helmet of a Roman legionnaire fitted well and was designed to protect the soldier’s skull and brain from a lethal broadsword assault. (A broadsword was a heavy weapon, about 1.2 metres long, and it required the use of two hands to be held aloft. Strategically aimed and with sufficient force, such a blow could kill instantly.) Not only did the helmet protect the head, but hinged pieces were attached providing cheek guards and a flared neck guard. This is the ‘comprehensive cover’ Priscilla references. In theological terms, what we’re talking about here can be explained reasonably simply. Priscilla puts it brilliantly when she says, ‘Salvation is not just a past-tense event (justification) with future-tense implications. As we live underneath its blessing, we enjoy a vibrant, living, daily reality in the present (sanctification). And this is not just a one-time occurrence. Sanctification is a process by which we are
continually delivered from the wrath of God on earth, fortified against the enemy’s attacks, and molded into the image of Christ as our minds are renewed.’ It’s no accident that Paul aligns salvation with something that protects our heads. His choice of helmet as a symbol for salvation is powerful. Both scripture and science affirm that our thinking directly influences our actions. Understanding the fullness of salvation is vital to overcoming the enemy’s attacks and fortifying our minds against his lies and schemes. Unlike salvation which we simply and gratefully receive, sanctification is a process that we must cooperate with and participate in. In The Salvation Army we like to say we are, ‘saved by the blood, and sanctified by the fire (of the Holy Spirit)’. Full salvation, or sanctification, is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, purifying us and empowering us to know and do God’s will. As The Salvation Army, we’re fairly good at proclaiming the gospel of salvation. It’s what we were raised up by God to do. He cleverly ensured our job description wouldn’t be forgotten or mistaken by writing it into our name. But our salvation is more than a calendar date recording when we made up our minds about Jesus and chose to follow him. It was a big deal—a headliner in the event schedule, but not the whole show season —far from it. Just as a wedding day is the beginning of a marriage, the day we make up our minds about Christ and start following him, is the beginning of a whole new life. Te Ope Whakaora ‘The Army That Brings Life’ expresses this so beautifully. Life is an ongoing invitation to keep making our minds up about Christ—to be sanctified every day—until the day we see him face to face—our minds completely and fully made up.
FULL SALVATION, OR SANCTIFICATION, IS THE ONGOING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES, PURIFYING US AND EMPOWERING US TO KNOW AND DO GOD’S WILL. 13 JUNE 2020 WarCry 21
OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS
There are no official engagements until further notice.
PRAY The Finance Department at Territorial Headquarters,
Flat Bush Corps Plant, Flaxmere Corps, Foxton Corps, Fua’amotu Corps; The Salvation Army in Congo (Brazzaville).
3
1 8 4 6 3 6 9 8 6 4 8 2 9 4 6 1 3 2 7 1 3 2 7 5 4 1 4 7
7 1 5 8 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.
Send us 400–600 words with one or two captioned photos. Promotion to Glory tributes are approx 300 words. Email reports and large, high-quality jpeg images to: warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz
Want to Know More? I would like: to learn about who Jesus is information about The Salvation Army The Salvation Army to contact me prayer for the following needs:
N O S I D A M K E S I N L S
J X H S D L C S A E E P A Z
U M H T A R I E Z N B L K G
N C G L A O N F T I T L E I
E D I M B L H O N O L U L U
A F S T E I L E L M P V T H
U I V R Y N A A R J D E S T
B C N O T G N I H S A W K O
N C K F G S N E O A M K L A
C O V K I W A Y Y N S Y K L
W T T N P Y P P S E M S X Q
O B G A A U O R U P H J E G
I X M R B V L B I O A C U E
S Q R F W D I A L B A N Y Y
E G U O R W S P Q Z Y J J F
Find these US state capitals (and the US national capital) hidden in the diagram, either across, down or diagonally. (Individual words of multiple word answers are hidden separately.)
ALBANY ANNAPOLIS BATON ROUGE BISMARCK BOISE CHEYENNE
Name Email Address Phone
DES MOINES FRANKFORT HONOLULU JUNEAU LANSING MADISON
OLYMPIA SALT LAKE CITY TALLAHASSE TOPEKA WASHINGTON
Send to: warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz or War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Quiz Answers: 1 Cloud, 2 Peppermint (Pfefferminz), 3 Broccoli, 4 Kristin Chenoweth, 5 Mint and Rue (Luke 11:42).
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‘Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth’
Weather Words
Fill in the blanks with these words. ALL ANT BAR CANE CLONE EAT LAKE LOUD MET METEOR NOW RAIN RAT SNOW SOON SURE TEMP UNDER WIND
DIY Dove
Genesis 9:16
You'll need:
• Paper plate • Black and orange marker pens
• Pencil • Scissors • Glue
Step by step … 1. Use a pencil to draw the dove’s body on the paper plate, overlapping each section slightly to create one shape. Trace the head (a small circle) and body (a large oval) of the dove on the flat part of the plate, then the tail (fan-shaped) from the crimped edges. (Make sure you leave enough of the crimped edges for the wings.)
A long time ago—before Jesus came to earth to give us all perfect forgiveness— the human race had become so wicked that God decided to send a flood to remove evil from the planet.
2. Cut out the traced shape. 3. Cut two long semi-circles from the crimped edges of the plate for the wings. 4. Arrange and attach the wings to the back of the body with glue.
However, one man—Noah—had been faithful, so God spared him. Noah was instructed to build a huge boat (an ark) to keep his family, and two of every kind of animal, safe. When the floodwaters struck, they were protected.
5. Draw a beak and feet with the orange marker, then eyes with the black marker. WHAT ANIMAL IS ALW
AYS AT A BASEBALL GA
ME ?
A BAT.
Source: kidspot.co.nz
The earth was flooded for 150 days, and it would have been easy for Noah’s family to feel alone, worried and abandoned. But God did not forget them. Gradually, the waters dried up until the ark came to rest on a mountaintop. IN A VEST ?
Complete the crossword using the picture clues.
W
C ALL AN HAT DO YOU
ATOR!
ALLIG ATOR
AN INVESTIG
Crossword: 1 Duckling, 2 Turkey, 3 Sheep, 4 Drake, 5 Pig, 6 Hedgehog, 7 Donkey, 8 Goat, 9 Hen.
Farmyard Fun!
Noah released a dove to scout for dry land, but it found nowhere to perch. Noah patiently waited seven more days, then tried again. This time, the dove returned with an olive branch! In the third week, it did not come back. It was finally safe to leave the ark. God blessed Noah and promised that he would never send a flood to destroy the earth again. He set the first rainbow in the sky, a symbol of his promise to protect the human race. These symbols of peace (the dove with the olive branch) and God’s faithfulness to us (the rainbow) still persist today! I WONDER...
I wonder … what signs of God’s peace and faithfulness can you find in your life this week? 13 JUNE 2020 WarCry 23
The Salvation Army DENOUNCES RACISM in all its forms. I choose not to be passive on this matter and adapting the words from my predecessor: ‘ I WILL FIGHT [RACISM] I will fight TO THE VERY END [of racism]’