16 April 2016 NZFT WarCry

FAITH IN ACTION | 16 April 2016 | Issue 6640 | $1.50

Kiwis a the Bat lefron

‘FIGHTING MAC’ McKENZIE: THE MAN THE ANZACS REVERED WHEN WORDS HURT AND HINDER EXCITING PLANS FOR 2016 CONGRESS FIREZONE: WHO AM I? FOR THE KIDS: GLADYS GOES TO WAR

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Kia ora Wars and rumours of wars WAR CRY

The Salvation Army Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga Territory FOUNDER William Booth GENERAL André Cox TERRITORIAL COMMANDER Robert Donaldson The Salvation Army’s message is based on the Bible. Our ministry is motivated by love for God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in his name without discrimination.

War Cry exists to support and advance The Salvation Army’s message, ministry and mission.

EDITOR

Major Christina Tyson GRAPHIC DESIGN

Lauren Millington, Amber Wilkinson STAFF WRITERS

Ingrid Barratt, Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond, Vanessa Singh CONTRIBUTORS

Kris Singh (music reviewer) PROOF READING

Major Jill Gainsford COVER Te Papa Tongarewa 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

In Matthew 24:6 (NLT), Jesus is speaking about the end times and says, ‘And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately’.

It’s hard not to panic, with terrorist attacks as well as armed conflicts and civil unrest around the world. We’re currently commemorating the centenary of the First World War, the ‘war to end all wars’, but there’s no doubt humanity is still too often drawn to warfare as a way to solve conflict.

So, are we to live in a state of imagining we have reached the end and that Jesus will soon return? One Bible commentator refutes this, saying, ‘We do not know how much evil is necessary to the end in question, [therefore] it is better to assume that the end is not yet, than to assume the contrary.’ His rationale is that the doubt the Bible leaves as to when the end will come is not meant to ‘paralyse effort’. Instead, it is to ‘invigorate’ us as we appreciate our work for God is not yet over.

To that end, Nelson Mandela’s call to remain optimistic even in the face of darkness may inspire us to keep working for God’s peace in the world. ‘I am fundamentally an optimist,’ Mandela said. ‘Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.’ No matter how despairing the times may appear, we must not give up!

I’ll be away for a while attending The Salvation Army’s International College for Officers in London. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity for broader exposure to the internationalism of our movement. Don’t panic, though, you’ll be in reliable hands with the remaining War Cry staff, some of whom will be taking turns writing this editorial column over coming weeks.

Christina Tyson

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Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.

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

Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission.

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BIBLE VERSE John 14:27 New International Version

‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’

Hoani 14:27

‘He rangimārie tāku e waiho nei ki a koutou, tēnei tāku rangimārie te hoatu nei e ahau ki a koutou: e kore e rite ki tā te ao hoatu tāku hoatu ki a koutou. Kei pōuri ō koutou ngākau, kei mataku.’

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WISE WORDS

Soldiers that carry their lives in their hands, should carry the grace of God in their hearts.

Richard Baxter

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Let’s Talk | 03

Photo: Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War / Te Papa Tongarewa

BY SHAR DAVIS

O

ur Anzac history is something we are very proud of in New Zealand. In World War I our soldiers fought and died alongside our Australian brothers as they began their involvement in the fight against the Turks, who had sided with the Germans.

Te Papa has created an exhibition—Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War—that seeks to create a heightened awareness and leave a lasting and impacting memory of one of the most significant events in New Zealand’s history. The exhibition is the work of a partnership with Weta Workshop.

From the first moment you step into the exhibition you are confronted with the enormity of this battle. The gigantic sculptures depicting real people, the interactive screens, topographical maps that depict the movements of the troops, and the many audio stations let you hear real people sharing real stories. All this creates a realistic portrayal of the Anzac soldiers’ struggles.

The struggles become clear as you move through what began as ‘a great adventure’ for the soldiers and was expected to be a relatively easy battle, to what soon turned into a costly fight against an underestimated opposition.

Like chapters in a book, the exhibition leads you further into the story of our troops. Each giant sculpture is the likeness of a real person whose story is told through the other parts of that section. It feels impossible to do justice to the impact of these sculptures, with their size and incredible detail drawing you into each person’s story. You can see individual arm hairs standing on end, sweat glistening on foreheads and raw emotion captured on faces.

As I entered, I overheard a teenage girl telling her teacher

that while she could appreciate the art and creative elements she didn’t think it was right to glorify war and so wasn’t really interested in the exhibit. I observed that same student becoming more engaged with the exhibit as we made our way through.

I certainly came away feeling like this was not a ‘war is cool’ experience. Instead, I felt deeply impacted by the hardships soldiers faced, the terrible conditions they lived in, the huge loss of life, and also the sense of purpose and sacrifice so many felt as they served on the front lines of battle.

I found the whole experience deeply emotional. Reading letters soldiers sent home to loved ones as they described their surroundings, seeing photos of young men eager to serve who never came home to our shores, thinking about the bodies that were never returned to their loved ones, but instead were buried where they fell while their buddies continued the fight. So much loss, so many futures cut short, so many moments of heroic action where individuals thought of others before their own safety. This is definitely a ‘tissues highly recommended’ exhibit.

What will be interesting to see is how the recently discovered diaries that have led to the number of New Zealand personnel involved being adjusted from 8556 to over 17,000 impacts the exhibition’s content in future days. This new information has helped explain the previous problem of why New Zealand had such a high mortality rate compared to their Australian counterparts. With our numbers now doubled this brings the two nations on par with their troop loses.

The exhibition is free of charge and at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa until at least 2018, go to www gallipoli.tepapa. govt.nz (You might also like to include a visit to Peter Jackson’s ‘The Great War Exhibition’ at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.)

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Bookshelf Kids/History Armistice Day Phillipa Werry Following the successful children’s history book Anzac Day, comes a rich and engaging account of Armistice Day (marking the end of WWI on 11 Nov 1918). Werry uses illustrations, photos, personal stories and historical research to provide a gripping description of the end of the war. She describes the last ‘Hundred Days’ when it was still unclear whether the Germans or Allies would win. It’s sobering to read that 10,000 soldiers died on the day the Armistice was signed.

Werry also describes the aftermath of the war, when troops returned home to an influenza epidemic.

Aimed at children, but will add to anyone’s knowledge. (New Holland)

Playlist

History Experience of a Lifetime Edited by John Crawford, David Littlewood and James Watson With Anzac Day, we remember and eulogise our war heroes. But this book argues that despite our continued interest—even romanticism—of the Anzacs, our understanding of WWI is often problematic. The editors have unearthed first-hand experiences to provide a more vivid picture of the real war. Among the many characters is the crack sniper who impersonated a British officer at Gallipoli; Fijian Ratu Sukuna who served in the French Foreign Legion; Chunuk Bair hero William Malone; and the motor mechanics who were the forerunners of the NZ Navy.

(Massey University Press)

Reflections Love to a Whore’s Daughter Lisa F. Barnes You can’t help but be shocked by the title, and that is the point. Lisa’s life was shocking—as the daughter of a prostitute, drug addict and hoarder. Yet, a visitor with a Salvation Army food parcel who refused to be shocked, changed everything. Down-to-earth, punchy and rich with hope and positivity, Lisa—who is now a Salvation Army officer—shares vivid personal stories that demonstrate how faith really can make a difference in the everyday. Easy-to-read chapters, helpful takeways, and short reflection questions allow readers to consider their own realities and attitudes in the light of Lisa’s experiences. (Frontier Press)

Reel News

Indie Sprained Ankle Julien Baker Singer/songwriter Julien Baker’s Sprained Ankle began as a self-released EP on Bandcamp, but it’s subsequent re-release through 6131 Records exposed this excellent album to a wider audience. Combining a stripped back, shimmering guitar style with expressive vocals, Baker channels the best of Jeff Buckley and Hayley Williams over the album’s nine tracks. The strength and integrity of Baker’s poetic lyrics lends an emotional weight to this album, and her delivery of the lyrics is like watching someone paint a picture.

An immensely satisfying album for those after an authentic, heart-onthe-sleeve experience.

Hard Rock/Nu-Metal Life Screams Lacey Sturm Life Screams is ex-singer Lacey Sturm’s first solo offering, after her departure from nu-metal outfit Flyleaf. Her sound doesn’t depart far from her previous band’s— fans of her powerful delivery on top of heavy drop-tuned guitars will find lots to like here. Opener ‘Impossible’ meets the listener with a wall of distorted guitars and synth basses. ‘The Soldier’ builds around a Tom Morello style guitar hook and Rage Against the Machine grooves.

There’s a great cover of ‘Roxanne’ by The Police that showcases Sturm’s powerful, raspy vocal delivery.

Fans of Flyleaf will definitely find something to like here, as will fans of the nu-metal genre.

GIVEAWAY To win a copy of Love to a Whore’s Daughter, tell us how God has healed an aspect of your life.

War Cry Giveaway, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org. Entries close 02 May. Holy! winner is: Heather Robertson

Comedy/Drama Hunt for the Wilderpeople Taika Waititi / PG (Violence, coarse language, some scenes may disturb young children) The much anticipated latest cinematic offering by Taika Waititi, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, has hit our screens. This film received outstanding reviews (and a 1300-strong standing ovation) at the Sundance film festival in January.

Once you’ve seen it you will understand why, and possibly find yourself applauding a thoroughly New Zealand movie that is sure to become a classic.

The film centres around Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison), a seemingly troubled kid who has been through the foster care system and is on his last chance before heading to ‘juvie’. He is fostered to the wonderfully positive Auntie Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and somewhat reclusive Uncle Hec (Sam Neill).

Through a series of unfortunate circumstances Ricky and Hec find themselves stranded in the bush needing to survive their surroundings —and each other. The longer they are in the bush, the more obstacles stand between them and freedom: the not-too-bright cop, the caustic childservices worker, the trio of hunters (including Stan Walker), and the wild boar that roam the bush.

What unfolds is a whimsical story that will have you laughing out loud throughout at one-liners with a stand-up comedy feel and the many oddball characters. Rhys Darby nails the over-the-top hermit character, ‘Psycho Sam’.

As much as this film will make you laugh, it will also make you think, and possibly even cry. Delving into topics such as foster children, grief, belonging, family, adult literacy and moving on from our failures, Waititi gets the perfect balance of comedy and drama that makes this film so special. And even attempts to define the word ‘skux’ for the older generation.

Go to www salvationarmy.org.nz/saresources

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Fighting Mac

William McKenzie joined the First World War effort as a Salvation Army chaplain, but by the end of the war he had become one of the most famous Anzac heroes, affectionately nicknamed ‘Fighting Mac’. This is an abridgement of his story, from Fighting Mac: the Man the Anzacs Revered, by historian Daniel Reynaud.

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illiam McKenzie is part of the first Battalion to arrive at what is now known as Anzac Cove. A fearsome but misguided attack was launched on the Turkish troops, beginning one of the bloodiest chapters of WW1.

Witnessing for the first time the terrible injuries inflicted by shrapnel came as a shock to many, especially those like the chaplains who spent a disproportionate amount of their time with those horribly mangled bodies.

After initially being ordered to remain on board the Lake Michigan ship, McKenzie joined the troops ashore on May 10, 1915.

He was soon engaged in burial services as ‘the bullets whistle round us by tens of thousands while the field guns drop shells each day by the thousand’.

In just 10 days, McKenzie buried about 170 men. These acts of burial were of great importance to almost all soldiers. No matter how irreligious the Anzacs might have been, ‘there was never indifference to the burial of the dead’ and the funeral services conducted by chaplains were often as well attended as battlefield conditions permitted. Through these services, the chaplains won the deep and enduring respect of soldiers and families at home.

McKenzie had a number of narrow escapes during this early period. A bullet grazed his scalp, leaving a permanent scar— remarkably, it was to remain his only war wound. Another buzzed past his right ear and he was showered with earth by a near miss from an artillery shell. So busy was he that he didn’t have time to change his clothes for the first two weeks.

On May 19, the Turks launched a massive assault to drive the invaders back into the sea. At Lone Pine, where the 4th Battalion was, the attack began at 10:30 pm the previous evening, then resumed at 3 am. Wave after wave of Turks came from Wire Gully and moved across the Australian front line, presenting easy targets.

One 4th Battalion soldier, Corporal Alfred Mower, reported firing his rifle as fast as he could. Each time the magazine was empty he was handed another loaded one—by McKenzie, who was offering as much practical support as he could in keeping with his status as a chaplain. As usual, he was irresistibly drawn to where the action was the hottest. The Turks were mown down, leaving thousands dead and dying in No-Man’s-Land as the shattered survivors retreated to their trenches at about 5 am.

McKenzie wrote a detailed account of the battle, noting the Turks’ heavy losses and those among his own men. About 185 men in the 1st Brigade were killed, with more than 400 wounded.

The 4th Battalion lost 16. With a striking combination of elation and grief, McKenzie recorded, ‘Our boys were in great heart, they climbed up on the trench parapets and fired with accurate and determined aim … The noise and racket of the firing of big guns and rifles was terrific, and no sleep was possible. I had a very trying duty the next day, burying our own dead. I thought so much of the many sad hearts in Australia, when they know of their losses. We laid 28 in one grave all in a row.’

War is indeed hell Over the following days, the hot sun caused the Turkish corpses to swell and burst, adding to the already sickening smell. The work was indescribably horrifying and the stench made him sick.

McKenzie wrote, ‘I had a trying time gathering the discs off and other identification marks off them. I never had such a task and hope never shall again. War is indeed “Hell” and no adequate description can picture it.’

McKenzie made his name by his sacrificial work on behalf of

the soldiers on Gallipoli. At one point, his dugout ‘adjoined the biggest wire entanglement system opposite the enemy; it could not be farther advanced in the front line.’ Putting himself at the forefront, he impressed the soldiers with his courage.

One soldier reported, ‘He spares no labour or weariness of body, mind or spirit to make the dear fellows happy and comfortable as circumstances will permit.’ Decades later, others recalled, ‘Your endurance was simply astounding, and your courage and consecrated audacity amazed the bravest of the boys.’

War is indeed ‘Hell’ and no adequate description can picture it.

Servant of all His normal routine was arduous enough, given that he worked all day then often conducted burials for several hours at night. A typical day’s work was usually around 18 hours. Sometimes, he got no sleep because the funerals lasted till dawn. For a man of 45—even for one as robust as McKenzie—it was taxing physical work. Yet he extended himself over and over again. Wherever he could, he lent a helping hand, carrying one end of a stretcher, lugging the awkward but precious water tins tainted with the taste of their former contents of kerosene or petrol up to the trenches, or bringing other supplies on his way to the front.

Noticing that a ‘treacherous’ section of steep hillside was problematic for the men carrying the huge tins of water or wounded men on stretchers, McKenzie spent one free night cutting steps into the track. ‘Wasn’t that just like him,’ wrote a fellow Salvation Army chaplain, ‘but they could never get him to say who did the work. No wonder they all love him! He is undoubtedly a servant of all.’

From June onwards, the chaplains were able to run more frequent services. Brigadier General John Forsyth of the 2nd Brigade recalled being drawn from his dugout: ‘[Amid] the fierce crackle of musketry and roar of guns—along the distant trenches a battle was in progress—he heard the sound of singing. It was one of the church’s grand old hymns. At last he left his dug-out to see where the singing was, and he beheld some thousands of men grouped along the hillside in front of Chaplain “Mac”, who stood below them, and under his direction the grand old hymn swelled above the roar of battle. It seemed to him that the roar of the guns went in majestic but terrible harmony with the sound of that grand old hymn.’

McKenzie wrote of several services where the atmosphere— despite the battle setting or sometimes partly because of it—was particularly moving. ‘[As] we sang the familiar hymn “Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly” the strains of the grand helpful prayer wafted down and around the valley and was taken up by men on all sides, who were engaged on duty. The sentries standing on guard at the mouths of the trenches nearby with bayonets fixed likewise joined in the refrain and while we were singing “Plenteous grace with thee is found” a platoon of armed warriors marched right past us to take up their position in the support trenches and they too marched on singing “let the healing stream abound, make and keep me pure within”. Men realise as never before that the most manly thing to do is to worship and glorify God.’ His admiration and love for the men shone in all McKenzie’s correspondence. Their bravery and daring, fortitude under great suffering and calmness evoked his praise. He considered it an honour to be there, describing himself to wife Annie as ‘delighted to

Feature | 07

share the discomfort including dirt, lice, sore bones, damp ground and cold nights, loss of sleep, lack of water and the rifle and shell fire with its dangers of instant and lingering death for the privileges of their association and telling them of Jesus the mighty to save.’

One 1st Battalion soldier recorded seeing him: ‘My first introduction to Padre McKenzie (Fighting Mac) was behind the cookhouse, where he was stripped to his pants, chatting [delousing] his shirt and he called out his score at 47 lice for the morning’s catch.’

But by late June, McKenzie was suffering from dysentery, an affliction that decimated the Allied forces on the peninsula, brought about by hot weather, the plague of huge and aggressive flies that bred in unburied corpses, poor sanitation, little water, and a diet low in fresh vegetables and fruit.

[In war] men realise as never before that the most manly thing to do is to worship and glorify God. The making of a legend Fighting Mac began to gain a reputation among the troops as a man with a ‘spade in one hand and a Bible in the other’. Such was his fame that the legends surrounding him took on mythic qualities.

F.A. McKenzie records, ‘I first heard of William McKenzie in the days when the Australian troops returned to London from Gallipoli.

“We had a Salvation Army chaplain with us,” one hard-bitten Australian trooper told me. “My! He was a big, burly fellow, and without a bit of nonsense in him! Some of the stunts he did would make your hair stand on your head. One day at Gallipoli we had to storm the stiffest part of the Turkish trenches; it was the worst bit of the whole show, and “Mac” declared he was going with us. “Boys,” he said, “I’ve preached to you and I’ve prayed with you, and do you think I’m afraid to die with you?” And he came along with us right in the front line. He had nothing but a little stick with him, and he came out of the fight without a scratch.” ’ MacNaghten remembered McKenzie as being fully determined to accompany the men, duty or no duty, at an Aid Post. He wrote to McKenzie in 1916, ‘I will never forget you when we were waiting to go over at Lone Pine—when I found you up with us, and you stated quite simply you were coming over with the boys, and I refused to allow you to come without a rifle and bayonet.’ This is no rebuke, for the lead up to this statement congratulates him on winning the Military Cross.

Behind the myth McKenzie recounted his own experiences in letters to Annie, revealing the real man behind the legend: ‘I was there in it all, the trenches were the most awful sight I have ever witnessed.

Hundreds of dead Turks and these intermingled with Australia’s sons lay in tiers deep in some trenches. The dead on top of the wounded and what a terrible struggle to get the wounded out.’

His diary recorded, ‘My experiences of getting the wounded out of the trenches over the dead and wounded underneath the dead was sickening. The burials in the tunnels within the trenches too was nerve wracking, as also was the recovery of the dead in the open as the Turkish guns were very busy by day and sometimes by night.’

McKenzie’s work during and immediately after the battle was of a draining intensity. He wrote: ‘When this work was done, I buried in all something like 450 men killed. These burials cover a period of three weeks, when the smell of the bodies after the first

four days was overpowering, and frequently I had to leave the graves to retch from the effects of the smell. The burials in Brown’s Dip by day were frequently performed under shell fire. On several occasions men were hit and some killed.’

McKenzie said he found four dead Australians on their knees.

They had been gravely wounded and knelt to pray as they died.

One example of his tragic work was the story of burying Private James McGregor, a 3rd Battalion soldier who had sought him out before the battle through his mother’s urging. McGregor was ‘labouring under great emotion and possessing all the religious reticence of the typical Scot, he was reluctant to reveal his true religious feelings’. With tears in his eyes, he eventually asked McKenzie, ‘I want to be on the side of Jesus but I don’t know how to get there.’ McKenzie prayed with him and he accepted Christ, telling McKenzie how happy he was and how happy his mother would be about the news. McKenzie found McGregor’s body at Lone Pine and buried him. A letter in the soldier’s pocket to his mother told of his conversion, which McKenzie forwarded to her as a partial consolation in her grief. McKenzie also made the effort to meet her on a later visit to Scotland.

Humour in the trenches McKenzie’s energy, charisma and care for moral welfare had first brought him widespread attention in Egypt in the months before the Gallipoli landings, but it was on the peninsula that his reputation was secured and that legends accrued around his name.

He had several qualities that won the undying love of the soldiers. His physical capacity for punishingly hard work on their behalf was a foundation stone, embodying the key mythic elements of physical prowess as the marker of manliness of pre-war Australian society. His unrelenting cheerfulness was also important. A study of British Anglican Great War chaplains observed, ‘What the army really appears to have valued was a chaplain who was infectiously cheerful and optimistic and who made the morale of the men his primary concern.’

The testimony of Archie Barwick of the 1st Battalion, among many, shows how true this was of McKenzie: ‘No matter how hot the day was you would see Mac among the boys cheering and cracking jokes with them, and he would go down to the beach and help the boys carry up the rations, hard work it was too, he rarely had his coat on. That man was almost worshipped by the boys. He was attached to the 4th Battalion, and many and many a time he buried our chaps under fire. He was always merry and bright and never downhearted and I don’t think he was off the peninsula the whole time—he’s a man I would take off my hat to and there’s not many I would do that to.’

Reprinted with permission from Signs Publishing

How did a wowser become an Anzac legend?

And how did this legend become unknown today?

William McKenzie was one of the most famous of the Anzacs, a legend for his work on Gallipoli and in France. For two decades after the war, he was literally mobbed by adoring soldiers and their families everywhere he went.

However, McKenzie embodied almost everything the typical Anzac digger loved to hate. He was a Salvation Army chaplain, who preached against booze, brothels, betting and bad language.

THE

Yet McKenzie was respected and revered by the soldiers he served— and those who honour them should pay attention to his story.

MAN

“Amazingly, the most famous padre in the AIF has waited nearly a century for a full, sympathetic but careful biography. Daniel Reynaud does justice to Fighting Mac, looking beyond the legend to discern the man.”

—Professor Peter Stanley, Australian Centre for the Study of Armed Conflict and Society, University of New South Wales

www.danielreynaud.com

DA N I E L R E Y N AU D

DA N I E L R E YNAUD

Daniel Reynaud is an Associate Professor, lecturing in History, Literature and Media at Avondale College of Higher Education in Cooranbong, New South Wales. He has published extensively on Anzac war cinema, and on the Anzacs and religion.

THE

ANZACS REVERED WILLIAM “FIGHTING MAC” MCKENZIE ANZAC CHAPLAIN

DANIEL REYNAUD FO R E WO R D BY D R M I C H A E L M C K E R NA N

Purchase The Man the Anzacs Revered from: www adventistbooks.org.nz or www hopeshop.com Available as an ebook from: www amazon.com or borrow from the Booth College of Mission library: www salvationarmy.org.nz/ library

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ENVIRONMENT

LIFESTYLE

Watching Grass Grow

Movies with Meaning

Whoever said that watching grass grow is boring has never had the joy of planting a lawn. Autumn is the perfect time to create a lush lawn that you can get your toes into—all ready for next summer!

The school holidays are a great excuse for a movie day with the kids.

Here’s our top five animated films that have (sometimes surprising) deeper Christian themes.

Wall-E: This is essentially the story of redemption, opening with the world in a fallen state, an unlikely hero able to defy his own programming to bring new life to the entire planet. The film’s director, Andrew Stanton (a professed Christian), says, ‘The greatest commandment Christ gives us is to love … you’ve got these two robots that are trying to go above their basest directives, literally their programming, to experience love.’

After the stress put on your yard from our long, hot summer, autumn is the best time to rejuvenate your lawn.

The secret is in the preparation: If you’ve had a paddling pool up or anything that will kill the lawn, it’s best to start from scratch and get rid of any remaining weeds. Many home remedies don’t require chemicals, like dowsing the area in boiling water. Or you can spray with a mixture of one part salt/three parts hot water, with a dash of dishwashing liquid—just ensure you spray directly on the weeds and don’t get it on the soil.

More than a dirt patch: Once your unwanted weeds have died, clear away and add a layer of lawn preparation mix, which provides a base of nutrients and fertiliser. Level the area by raking, rolling and filling in holes where necessary. Give it a good watering.

Now for the good part: Scatter lawn seed in an east-west, then northsouth, direction to ensure good coverage. Rake in lightly so the seed is covered. Give it a light watering—avoid making puddles as this will cause the seed to move around.

Watch it grow: Seriously, it’s so exciting seeing your new lush lawn sprouting from the ground! Water it lightly, ensuring it stays moist. Continue to give it daily love until it’s about 5 cm long—definitely don’t mow it before then, as the roots need to establish.

Love your lawn: When mowing your new lawn, use sharp blades and set your mower to the highest level, gradually lowering the level over the next three months until you reach the optimum height of 2.5 cm to 3 cm.

The Lego Movie: This has many biblical echoes around the idea of a Messiah. The Master Builders (think Jesus the carpenter) are working to keep the world free, and are awaiting the ‘Special’ who will save the world.

Ordinary Lego guy Emmet is mistaken for being the Special, and although woefully unprepared, joins a group of misfits who end up working together for a greater cause—and of course, save the Lego world. It’s a wonderful tale that not only echoes Jesus’ story of salvation, but shows we can all part of his greater plan.

Shrek: What is so refreshing about this movie is that it turns the conventions of beauty and status on its head … something we rarely see in mainstream media. The main character Shrek is an ugly ogre, but finding acceptance just as he is, turns his life around and transforms him.

How to Train Your Dragon: Love your enemies … and you may find a surprising friend. A young Viking named Hiccup wants to be wants to becoming a dragon slayer, but finds a dragon that turns out to be nothing like his reputation. The movie is all about showing tolerance, love and acceptance—even to people who don’t look or act like us.

The Lion King: With echoes of the prodigal son, Simba leaves the pride to follow a ‘hakuna mattata’ (no worries) lifestyle, but ends up dining on grubs. He returns home to his father to take his true place in the pride.

Finally … whenever possible, take off your shoes and put your feet in the grass.

After a while, you learn to ignore the names people call you and just trust who you are. Shrek

Moroccan Lamb with Couscous Long, slow cooking gives the moist tender lamb a lovely flavour | Serves 4–6 2 medium onions 2 medium carrots, quartered and sliced 1 kg cubed lamb shoulder 2 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp ginger ½ tsp turmeric ½ tsp chilli powder 1 x 400g can whole tomatoes in juice 1 x 400g can chicken consommé ½-1 tsp olive or canola oil ¼ cup pinenuts ¼ cup currants chopped fresh coriander to garnish

Peel onions and cut into 12 thin wedges. Place onions, carrots and lamb in non-stick sprayed slow cooker bowl and sprinkle with spices. Pour in tomatoes and juice and chicken consommé, then stir to combine.

Cover with lid and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours. Season to taste with salt. Using a slotted spoon, transfer lamb and vegetables to a bowl and cover with foil to keep warm.

Turn slow cooker to HIGH and cover again. After 10 mins, stir in couscous, replace lid and cook for 20 mins more.

While couscous cooks, heat oil in small pan. Add pinenuts and cook, stirring frequently until nuts are golden brown, then sprinkle in currants and cook for about a minute longer, or until these look plump. Stir about two-thirds of the mix into the cooked couscous.

Serve over couscous, garnished with remaining pinenuts and currants and some chopped fresh coriander.

From 200 Great Ways to Use Slow Cookers & Crockpots by Alison & Simon Holst www.holst.co.nz

Lifestyle | 09

Q&A Help! I’m addicted to The Bachelor

I have a guilty secret—I’m addicted to watching The Bachelor New Zealand. As a committed Christian, should I be watching this programme or do I have to give it up?

You are asking a question that some of us have probably also secretly thought, but been too afraid to ask.

Let’s dissect this by admitting to ourselves that there is nothing very redeeming about The Bachelor: it’s a bunch of ident-i-kit women scrambling for the attentions of one man, who is contractually obligated to kiss multiple woman. It turns love and dating into a gameshow. Those cocktail parties are awkward at best, and a den of deceit at worst. And have you noticed how white all their teeth are? … Not that we’ve watched it, it’s just what we hear.

Yet, when we look at it from a Christian perspective, the problem may be more cultural than spiritual.

People throughout the centuries have sought marriage in many different ways—the kind of concubine situation that The Bachelor depicts is a very sanitised version of Old Testament norms. This doesn’t mean that God approves. Nor does it mean God disapproves.

As a Christian, it’s not easy to feel comfortable with the game of musical-dating-chairs that goes on in The Bachelor.

But the most challenging aspect of The Bachelor, morally, is probably its cultural messages: about how women should look to be worthy of love and attention, about what kind of man is considered successful, and about the power structures we set up in romantic relationships.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say we should not watch The Bachelor, but we do want to be careful not to unquestionably accept its messages about media, beauty and romance.

When it comes to true romance and meaningful relationships, the Bible’s advice is to be wise and cautious.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it (Proverbs 4:23).

Testify Captain Gaylene Harvey says it’s a privilege to spend time with lonely and grieving elderly people.

I’ve been a Salvation Army officer for 12 years and involved with The Salvation Army for 16. I worked for the Army at Royal Oak in Auckland before I became an officer, and have since served around the country. In 2012, I was appointed to Hamilton as National Mission Director for HomeCare.

As part of that role I work as a chaplain to staff and clients.

I love it. It’s really opened my eyes to what some elderly people actually go through. A lot of elderly people suffer from loneliness. For some clients a HomeCare support worker will be the only person they see each week.

They also face many losses.

Some lose their independence, they lose their mobility, they can’t go to the shops or go for a walk. Some have seen a lot of hurt. Family relationships have changed, or they have lost their children or their soul mate.

This can lead to grief and at times to depression, anger, guilt, sleeplessness and other physical and emotional problems.

Visiting and talking with these clients is rewarding—you can see the impact you have just by visiting, letting them know someone cares and listening.

I had one client, Frank*, whose wife had died. When I first went to visit him, just over two

years ago, he had written a suicide note. During my first few visits, Frank cried most of the time, saying he was the most miserable man on the planet.

He had a faith in God, but wasn’t going to church. We turned to the Bible and in particular two verses he chose to discuss: John 11:25 and 1 Thessalonians 4: 16.

Those words of Jesus in John: ‘I am the resurrection and the life.

The one who believes in me will live, even though they die,’ were the beginning of transformation and renewal for Frank. We talked about dying and death and he was able to get hope.

He never got totally out of the grief, but he started to laugh and to smile again. He said it was prayer that gave him the strength, one day at a time, to carry on with life, and he said to me, ‘Prior to these chaplain visits I was not living, I was just existing, but Gaylene, when you came I started living.’

A few weeks ago I phoned Frank on a Friday to arrange to visit, but when I rang again the following Monday, there was no answer. Later, I found out he had died. But what was lovely was they told me when Frank went, he had a Bible open in his hand.

This was a good example of the HomeCare mission—that Frank was able to live and die in his own home, the most familiar

Help children in need develop into healthy, happy and fulfilled young people.

The Salvation Army Child Sponsorship Programme

www.salvationarmy.org.nz/childsponsorship

setting. We journeyed with him through the emotional pain of grief to hope, healing and faith.

We made a difference.

This is not an easy job, but it’s a privilege to talk with someone and hear their life and to be able to give someone spiritual care and support someone at the end of their life. *Not his real name

It’s a privilege to talk with someone and hear their life.

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

NAME: ADDRESS:

With your financial support, The Salvation Army can help care for children in need.

Email: childsponsorship@nzf.salvationarmy.org Phone: (04) 802 6269 ext 24846

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

10 | WarCry 16 April 2016

SUDOKU

Difficulty Medium

2 3

7 9 8 2 8 1 9 8 5 4 2 6

6 7 3 2

7 5 9

BY ROSS WARDLE

8 1

When Words Hurt and Hinder

1

Part of a series of occasional articles from The Salvation Army’s Moral and Social Issues Council.

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.

QUICK QUIZ 1 2 3 4

NZ’s account of which historical event has recently been altered?

Which character in Batman vs Superman has a feature film coming out?

Which NZ author recently had a kid’s playground named after them?

Which holiday caused confusion this year despite occurring annually for 60 years?

5 Wharepukapuka is the Māori name for what kind of building/location?

6 Canis lupus familiaris is the scientific name for what breed of small dog?

7 Family Feud (TV3) is presented by which New Zealand comedian?

8 A crash is the collective noun for what animal?

9 How many times has Australia had three Prime Ministers in a year?

10 Who in the Bible wore a camel’s hair tunic?

6 2 5 9 4 3 1 8 7

7 4 8 2 6 1 5 3 9

9 3 1 8 7 5 4 6 2

8 5 6 7 3 4 9 2 1

1 7 2 6 9 8 3 4 5

4 9 3 1 5 2 6 7 8

3 1 9 4 8 7 2 5 6

2 8 4 5 1 6 7 9 3

5 6 7 3 2 9 8 1 4

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

One of the things I enjoy about the group of people who make up The Salvation Army’s Moral and Social Issues Council (MASIC) is their willingness to discuss difficult issues with sensitivity and respect for the thoughts and feelings of other members. In the two years I’ve have been involved with MASIC, I’ve heard plenty of laughter, but I’ve never heard raised voices about anything.

That is not because we all think the same way. We don’t. We do, however, work with official Salvation Army positions on moral and social issues to try to enhance the way theology and mission complement each other.

Similarly, one of the things I enjoy about being the chair of MASIC is responding to questions and comments from people, whether associated with The Salvation Army or not, who want to engage with the issues MASIC engages with. I can say that everyone engages with sincerity and good faith. But even with sincerity and good faith great care needs to be taken with how we integrate moral viewpoints and mission.

One comment that got me thinking came in response to a War Cry article (22/8/15) on ‘The Bible, the Church and Hospitality’.

The topic explored was Christian hospitality in the context of same-sex relationships and the reality that gay and lesbian people have not commonly received hospitality from the church; indeed, it has commonly been the opposite. After reading this article, someone wrote and asked: ‘Does [expressing hospitality to gay and lesbian people] still mean “love the sinner, but hate the sin”?’

This question got me thinking because it’s familiar as a way some Christians work out how to relate to others—particularly members of the GLBTI (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex) community. The expression has mostly been used with sincerity and in good faith, but even so, I do not believe it is a helpful framework for Christians or Christian mission. One of the goals of The Salvation Army’s engagement with this issue must be to find better language that does not become an unnecessary obstacle to God’s work in people’s lives.

The simple expression ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’ originates from a letter written by St Augustine (354–430 AD). Augustine wrote in Latin. In English, his words translate to: ‘with love for

Quick quiz answers: 1 Gallipoli (there are over 8000 more soldiers involved than previously known), 2 Wonder Woman (2017), 3 Margaret Mahy (playground opened in Christchurch, Dec 2015), 4 Easter Tuesday (It usually falls within the school holidays), 5 library, 6 French bulldog, 7 Dai Henwood, 8 Rhinoceroses, 9 Five (1904, 1939, 1941, 1945, 2013), 10 John the Baptist (Matthew 3:4).

Close Up | 11

mankind and hatred of sins’. The expression was changed slightly in the autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi, in which he used the words ‘hate the sin and not the sinner’. However, this is only part of Gandhi’s sentence. The full sentence reads: ’Hate the sin and not the sinner is a precept which though easy enough to understand is rarely practiced, and that is why the poison of hatred spreads in the world.’

This expression has a number of variations and they all suffer from the weakness Gandhi identified.

The expression was evident around the time the Homosexual Law Reform Bill was being debated in New Zealand in 1985. Until then, homosexual behaviour was a criminal offense punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment. The Salvation Army’s submission on the Bill was not supportive of that kind of punitive approach, although it didn’t support decriminalisation either. But it was The Salvation Army’s decision to take on the role of coordinator in a petition opposing the Bill that would become most problematic.

Even in 1985, individual members of The Salvation Army held a wide range of views on homosexuality. And while the decision of Salvation Army leadership to coordinate the petition was, I am sure, done with the best of intentions, it resulted in arguably the most difficult, painful and damaging period of New Zealand Salvation Army history.

As petition coordinator, The Salvation Army accepted donations to assist with the cost of the petition. One donor wrote, ‘Dear Salvationists, I am writing to encourage you all in your stand against not the Homosexual—but Homosexuality!’ This was a person using the framework provided by the expression ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’. Even with the best of intentions, the reality is that in taking the approach it did The Salvation Army was responsible for a significant amount of pain and hurt in the GLBTI community (and to some extent within its own ranks). This has resulted in a perception that The Salvation Army has nothing helpful to say to the GLBTI community, and where there is interest from GLBTI people in Christianity, The Salvation Army remains perhaps the last organisation that some would enter to explore this.

My overview is necessarily oversimplified. But the far more complex and nuanced reality does not change the result, which is that our actions in that turbulent time effectively disqualified us from missional engagement with the GLBTI community and from offering them space in the Christian community known as The Salvation Army.

Given this history, credit must go to the territorial commander who authorised a statement issued on the 20th anniversary of the passing of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill. The last paragraph of that statement reads: ‘We regret any hurt that may remain from

that turbulent time and our present hope is to rebuild bridges of understanding and dialogue between our movement and the gay community. We may not agree on all issues, but we can respect and care for one another despite this.’

This hope was repeated in 2012, in a document released jointly

by Rainbow Wellington and The Salvation Army titled ‘Rainbow Wellington and The Salvation Army reach a Rapprochement: A Significant Step Forward’.

Today, as we approach the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Bill (in July 1986), the question remaining for The Salvation Army is: what are we doing now to rebuild bridges of understanding and dialogue with the GLBTI community?

The expression ‘love the sinner, but hate the sin’ is unhelpful and potentially misleading …

As we do seek to build these bridges, use of the expression ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’ is unhelpful and potentially misleading on a number of levels. Firstly, in practice, we have all sorts of difficulty separating a person from what he or she does or says. Even if we could do that effectively, we are at times not that good at actually loving people, including ourselves. Ultimately, though, this expression will be understood by the GLBTI community as indicating that the Christian church is not a safe and hospitable space. It is not a place to truly experience love and grace.

This means that even when these words are used in a sincerely compassionate and well-intentioned way, rather than helping restore relationships with God, we may actually be helping to keep people apart from God. The GLBTI perspective on this expression might best be summed up by the comment that ‘when someone says we should love the sinner but hate the sin, all the GLBTI person can hear is the word “hate”.’

The language we use has the potential to either enhance our mission or compromise it. If an element of that mission is to provide a communal church space within which anybody can experience the ministry and leading of the Holy Spirit and the fellowship of others who also seek to experience Jesus Christ, we need far better language and approaches to frame that mission and make that space.

Captain Ross Wardle is chair of The Salvation Army’s Moral and Social Issues (Ethics) Council.

Go to www salvationarmy.org.nz/masic for more information.

By Vanessa Singh

Whether we’re an extrovert or an introvert, our personality can help grow God’s kingdom on earth.

they usually work well in groups. Extroverts can become bored when hanging out by themselves for too long.

These days we hear a lot about being an extrovert or an introvert. But what does introversion and extroversion really mean? And how do these affect our faith?

Introversion is the state of or tendency toward being wholly or predominantly concerned with and interested in one’s own mental life. Again, this also doesn’t mean that we’re self-centred and not interested in others. But introverts do tend to be more reserved and reflective, and usually regain energy and refuel when hanging out by themselves and doing stuff like reading, using the computer or hanging outdoors. Often introverts don’t like large group gatherings (they can make them feel quite drained), but enjoy interacting with close friends.

Extroversion is the act, state, or habit of being predominantly concerned with obtaining gratification from what is outside the self.

That doesn’t mean that we’re self-centred and needy. What it does mean is that extroverts tend to enjoy hanging out with others and are generally enthusiastic, talkative and assertive.

Extroverts are energised and refuelled by being around other people. An extrovert enjoys large gatherings like parties or sports games and

EXTROVERSION: think people, groups and enthusiasm.

INTROVERSION: think small groups, downtime and reflection.

Now, consider a scale. Introversion is on one side and extroversion is on the other.

Most theories around the subject suggest that we are all on this scale—somewhere along the line—either closer to introversion or extroversion. This means we might not be at the end of the scale and fully introverted/ extroverted, but that we’re perhaps a balance of the two but slightly more of one than the other.

Another idea is that we are all a bit of both— depending on the situation or attitude we’re in.

SO HAVE A THINK: where do you sit on this scale?

To get started, ask yourself these questions: • Do you feel drained or energised when in groups of people?

• Do you take time to consider a decision, or make quick decisions?

16 April 2016 WarCry | 13

If you’re an introvert don’t be fooled into thinking all the serving opportunities are for extroverts! really helpful in accepting yourself and in living out your own faith. It’s important we don’t model our faith and relationship with God fully on someone else’s because we’re all different.

So we need to find what works for us and is most beneficial to our own faith.

We reckon there are two key ways that are impacted by our place on the introversion/ extroversion scale: finding your place and finding your space.

FINDING YOUR PLACE: Sometimes it can be hard trying to find where you fit at church.

We’re all encouraged to play our part in some way, which is part of being a Christ follower.

But often it can be hard to figure out what we’re suited for and where our place is.

Sometimes we compare ourselves to others and look at how they serve and think, ‘I could never do that because I can’t talk in front of large groups’, or ‘I could never do that because it would be boring doing that by myself.’

• Do you listen more in conversation, or talk more than the other person?

• Do you complain at a restaurant if something is wrong, or do you suck it up and stay quiet?

There are some great tools around that help you learn which side you lean toward and also what this means for you. Have a look on Google if you want more info.

So, with this in mind how does our personality and social behaviour affect our faith?

Firstly, we don’t want anyone thinking they’re being boxed or that being an introvert or extrovert sums you up. No matter where you are on the scale, you are your own person and not all of the traits of that side of the scale will apply to you. We’re all unique, right?

But understanding how you’re wired can be

The key thing to remember is not to compare yourself to others. When we compare we often end up tearing ourselves down and focusing on our weaker areas. God has built us all differently so that we each have a unique part to play (check out 1 Corinthians 12). By focusing on your strengths, you’ll be able to more easily discover your place and serve God. But don’t let your introversion or extroversion be an excuse not to give things a go or to neglect areas where you could be serving!

If you’re an introvert, don’t be fooled into thinking all the serving opportunities are for extroverts! Sometimes we can look around and think the obvious roles are upfront ones that involve people who have a lot of energy and assertiveness. No way, Jose! And don’t let anyone tell you that introversion means shyness—this is a huge myth! Introverts make great teachers, hosts and leaders. Don’t be boxed in by people’s expectations.

If you’re an extrovert, don’t let anyone tell you that you are too out there or too energetic.

This is who you are! The church needs people who are confident and passionate. But make sure you use that enthusiasm to bring people in, rally people together and make people feel welcome. At the same time, be careful not to assume everyone is like you, and remember to be sensitive. Don’t lose that fire though!

FINDING YOUR SPACE: How we’re wired totally affects how we connect with God, how we are ‘fed’ and how we develop our faith. Spiritual habits, quiet time with God, worship and learning looks different for all of us. So, just because someone else connects with God in a particular way doesn’t mean it will be the same for you.

We need to find ways that work for us. It’s important to form habits that last, and not just try to do what everyone else is doing. Don’t compare how you connect with God with how others connect. Some people are passionate worshippers and really enthusiastic at church, others have incredible personal prayer lives they are committed to throughout the week.

Take some time to have a go at lots of different ways to connect with God and find what works for you. But never let your introversion/ extroversion be an excuse to neglect certain spiritual habits that are vital to your wellbeing—we all need to pray, read the Bible and meet with other Christians, for instance.

If you’re an extrovert don’t let anyone tell you that you are too out there or too energetic.

If you’re an introvert, you might struggle to get into crazy, upbeat worship in a big crowd. You might prefer to listen to a worship album on your phone or iPod at home, or simply enjoy reflecting on the words of a worship song during church. That is fine! God just wants to spend time with you and wants you to make time for him. Find ways that work for you—it might be while doing your devotions and praying before bed, or it might be meeting with a mentor one-on-one to learn more about God and your faith. It’s all good!

If you’re an extrovert, you might struggle to spend a whole lot of time in prayer alone at home. You might prefer prayer meetings or getting into some discussion with mates at your life group. And that’s fine too! So find ways to make healthy spiritual habits more engaging. There are plenty of ways to enjoy prayer and spending time in the Word.

God made us all different. It’s important to acknowledge that, understand the differences that exist in the church, and utilise them to help people come to know Jesus. Whether you’re extroverted or introverted, you have a special place and purpose in God’s kingdom, and you can enjoy a unique and personal relationship with him.

On the 26th of February, 152 young people from five different corps all around the Tonga Region came together to the western side of Tongatapu for our first youth rally of 2016.

10 young people renewed their covenant with God. What an amazing opportunity!

The rally was held at the Kolovai Corps Plant and the Kolovai youth group were in charge of planning and organizing this event. They came up with the theme ‘a Sense of Newness’.

‘I he efiafi Falaite 26 ‘o Fepueli', na’e fakatahataha mai ai ha fānau to’utupu ‘e toko 152 mei he ngaahi to’utupu ‘o e ngaahi potu siasi ‘e 5 ‘o e v'henga Tonga' ‘o nau fakataha hifo ki he ‘Apisiasi ‘o Kolovai ki he fakahihifo ‘o Tongatapu ke fai ‘a e fakafeta’i, H' mo e fakafeohi ko e kamata’anga ‘o e polokalama to’utupu fakatahataha ki he 2016. Ko e polokalama' na’e fokotu’utu’u mo fakahoko pe ia ‘e he fānau to’utupu ko ia ‘a e siasi ‘o Kolovai. Pea na’a nau faka-kaveinga’aki ‘a e polokalama ‘a e fakakaukau ko e “Mahe’a Fo’ou”, na’e faka’ali’ali foki ai ‘a e hiva-fakatātā mei he ngaahi kulupu to’utupu na’e ‘i ai. Na’e toki fai leva ‘e Kapiteni Fredrick Vaea hono fakama’opo’opo ‘a e polokalama ‘aki ‘a e fekau mei he tohi ‘a 2 Kolinitō 5:17. Na’a'ne toe hanga foki ‘o pole’i ‘a e mo’ui ‘a e to’utupu.

We had an awesome night of praise, worship and fellowship. Every youth group performed an item and Captain Fredrick Vaea wrapped up the night by challenging the young people with a message from 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Part of his message was: ‘When God was making the universe, he created Adam and Eve and he created them as new people in his image. They looked new and fresh, but when they disobeyed God this newness was ruined. We are all born as sinners, but Jesus came to save us and make us new. We have to understand that we are all sinners, dead, old and lost. Only Jesus Christ can save us from this world, which has been ruined by sin, and make us new. If we let him come into our heart he will renew our lives.’

Highlights

It was a great night, and 18 young people outwardly responded to the message by moving and standing at the front. Eight people made first-time decisions [to follow Christ] and

angahala, palaku, tangata motu’a kitautolu ‘oku tau hē holo pe. Ka ko Sis' Kalaisi pe te ne lava ‘o toe fakafoki kitautolu mo liliu kitautolu mei he tangata motu’a ki he tangata fo’ou mo fakahaofi kitautolu mei he mamani ‘o e angahala ‘o kapau te tau tali ia ki loto ki he’etau mo’ui pea te ne lava leva ke fai hotau fakafo’ou.

Huelo Koula

Na’e ‘i ai foki ‘a e f'nau ‘e toko 18 na’a nau fai ‘a laka ki he ‘olita ko ‘enau fakahaa’i ‘enau tali ‘a e folofola mo e fekau. Toko 8 ‘iate kinautolu ko e fuofua taimi eni ke nau fai ai ‘a e laka ko eni, pea ko e toko 10 leva ‘o e fānau koeni ko’enau faka’amu ke fakafo’ou ‘enau kovinānite mo e ‘Otua. Ko e faingamālie faka’ofo’ofa.

By Filipe Saafi

Konga ‘o e Fekau': ‘I he talanoa ko ia ’o e fakatupu ‘o mamani ‘i hono fakatupu ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a ‘Atama pea mo ‘Ivi na’e fakatupu kinaua ‘e he ‘Otua ‘i hono fotunga koe tangata mo e fefine fo’ou, Ka ‘i he’ena talangata’a na’a na hoko ai koe angahala. Na’e fanau’i kitautolu ko e angahala ka na’e ha’u ‘a Sis' ke fakamo’ui mo fakahaofi kitautolu mei he angahala mo ngaohi kitautolu koe tangata mo e fefine fo’ou.’Oku fu’u mahu’inga ke tau mahino’i koe

BE HEARD . BE SEEN . BE INVOLVED Use the hashtag #talentnow or tag performers who you want to see on the Congress stage this September!

FOR MORE INFO GO TO salvationarmy.org.nz/now/concerts

Creative Ministries Department

Our Community | 15

Westgate Corps Looks to the Future as it Celebrates 20 Years

It was a time of celebration for the Westgate Corps (Lieutenant Daniel and Captain Juanita Buckingham) in Massey, West Auckland, from 20 to 21 February. The corps celebrated its 20th anniversary weekend with special guests Commissioners Janine and Robert Donaldson.

The weekend kicked off with a community fair in the corps parking lot, with bouncy castles, live music, food, games and fun. This was a great opportunity to create new relationships and connect with members of the North Massey community. Salvation Army mascot Shieldy made a well-received appearance, entertaining kids and grownups alike. And Koinonia—Westgate’s community café—was a big hit, serving its excellent coffee to the grownups and slushies to the kids (and some of the adults, if they’re being honest).

Saturday evening was a time of fellowship. Corps members, families and friends gathered for a fantastic dinner prepared by Corps Sergeant Major Ian Wells and a fantastic team of volunteers.

Commissioner Janine Donaldson spoke to encourage Westgate Corps in its work, reminding people of the scope of the Army’s work and of the vital part the corps played within this. ‘Quiz Sergeant Major’ Josiah Leef tested everyone’s brains and competitive spirit, although his jokes were groan-worthy.

The hall was packed for a Sunday meeting led by Trish Ripi and the Westgate Worship band. This was a time of vibrant worship and connection with the Holy Spirit, of celebration and challenge.

Commissioner Robert Donaldson brought a powerful message as he opened God’s word, encouraging Westgate Corps to look ahead to what was still to come, to ready themselves for the fight for the Kingdom, and to guard against anything that would derail the work of God. Several members of the corps made decisions to pursue soldiership and adherency and to commit to ministry within the corps and community in new ways.

Westgate Corps has been known by a few different names since the Army’s work began in Massey, first as an outpost of the New Lynn Corps and later as the Massey Corps. It assumed the ‘Westgate’ name when it moved to its current location in 1996. Since then, the corps has continued to impact the Massey/Hobsonville community, seeing lives transformed and needs met in the name of Jesus. The weekend provided an awesome opportunity to celebrate this history, but more importantly to look ahead to the future of the corps and its ongoing mission to extend God’s Kingdom.

By Lieutenant Daniel Buckingham (Corps Officer)

Tackling Homelessness in Rotorua Community groups—including The Salvation Army—have joined forces to tackle homelessness in Rotorua.

The Rotorua Homeless Action plan was launched earlier this year aiming to reduce the number of homeless people in the town through community groups working together.

Rotorua Corps Community Ministries Manager Shelly Fischer said the plan began with a meeting between 40 agencies and other concerned people in the town two years ago. The group was frustrated by the lack of options for an increasing number of homeless people.

Shelly was part of a smaller working party made up of representatives from five agencies who researched the numbers and causes of homelessness in Rotorua and wrote the Homeless Action Plan, with support from an expert who helped Auckland and Wellington City Councils write similar plans. Rotorua was the first community-led action and it had been great to see the energy and support from people, she said.

Their research found there were about 600 people who were severely housing deprived in Rotorua and numbers seemed to be steadily increasing. In 2013, Rotorua Community Ministries saw 138 people needing housing support, in 2014 that number was up to 178, and by September last year they had already seen 170 people in need, Shelly said. The number of rough sleepers seeking their help climbed from nine in 2014 to 28 in just nine months last year.

Research found the majority of homeless people in Rotorua (83 per cent) were living in overcrowded or unsuitable accommodation. ‘There are a lot of people living in caravans and sheds,’ Shelly said. ‘Our focus is on families and there are a lot of families sleeping in cars or garages,

or crashing in two-bedroom houses with another family of five—that kind of thing.’

The main causes of homelessness in Rotorua were from addiction, mental health issues, domestic violence and a lack of appropriate housing. ‘A lot of people we’re seeing are leaving domestic violence relationships. Some have come from other towns to escape a violent partner and we’re getting calls from police to help people leave violent relationships,’ she said.

In the past, help for homeless people in Rotorua had been disjointed, but working across agencies was a good way to streamline the process, and the plan aims to give people faster access to the right help, both for accommodation and other support.

It was refreshing to have everyone working together, including the Lakes District Health Board and the Ministry of Social Development and Community Probation Service, which had both sought out the group to offer support after hearing about the initiative, Shelly said.

It was a nervous but exciting time following the plan launch, she said. The group are working on hiring a full-time housing-support worker, coordinating which agencies will cover which areas of the plan, and organising administration and support to make sure everything is running well. Along with better prevention and support their longterm goal is to provide suitable emergency accommodation.

The group’s work has also attracted wider interest. A group in Napier and Hastings has begun working on a similar plan after looking into what Rotorua has done and there was interest from other groups in the Bay of Plenty.

16 | WarCry 16 April 2016

Excitement Builds for Territorial Congress 2016

‘Now is the Time’ is the theme for this year’s Territorial Congress happening in Wellington, 30 Sept–2 Oct. While many Salvationists are familiar with what a congress is, others may never have heard the word (apart from the meme floating around Facebook suggesting congress is the collective noun for a group of baboons). General Eva Burrows described it as ‘an occasion to re-affirm our faith so that we are strengthened to go out to witness in the current secular scene. It is an occasion to quicken the spiritual pulse of The Salvation Army and make us aware of the vital role we can play in this present age. It can be an occasion to check up on our personal spiritual growth, and rededicate ourselves to God for future service.’

Over the four days of ‘Now is the Time’ there are so many activities to get involved in. On Thursday, Leaders Councils is a day for all officers (including retired officers) and local leaders from centres across the territory. We are excited to announce that at Rhythm & Culture on Thursday evening Tofiga Fepulea’i from the Laughing Samoans is our MC and the Musical Island Boys are featuring. This event will be a spectacular showcase of both talent and culture as groups from all over our territory perform.

Our Mission Conference will be held over Friday and Saturday.

It’s going to be a challenging and rewarding couple of days, a mix of keynote addresses, seminars and TED Talk-style presentations with local and international presenters.

We have secured The Lads Band (homegrown but now living in America) for our Kids @ Congress programme. This will run throughout the four days. We are super excited for what The Lads are preparing for our children.

We have three opportunities to gather together for corporate worship. Friday night—Celebrate Now; Saturday night—Vision Now; and Sunday morning—Life Now. Our speakers for the weekend are Pastor Paul de Jong and Commissioners Robert and Janine Donaldson.

If you were at Congress in 2013 you’ll recall the very entertaining

‘Sallies Gotta Lotta Talent’ competition. This year we’re bringing it back in a new format with #talentnow. #talentnow offers a fun and familyfriendly event for delegates, friends, family and members of the general public. Beginning with a regional audition phase earlier in the year, and culminating in a variety-style show in Wellington on the Saturday afternoon of Congress, #talentnow gives the audience a voice and a vote!

There will be a youth event on Saturday night and opportunites to meet up with old mates and make some news ones too.

The weekend is free of charge, although the Mission Conference and Kids @ Congress events will require registration. Registrations open soon, but in the mean time start planning now, booking accommodation and organising your transport. This is going to be a weekend that you won’t want to miss!

Check out www salvationarmy.org.nz/now for all congressrelated information.

Just Gifts Welcomed in Papua New Guinea Solar lamps and sewing machines have been bringing support for Salvationists in Papua New Guinea The solar lamps and sewing machines were bought with money donated from New Zealand over the past two years through the Just Gifts programme (previously Gifts of Hope). Just Gifts allows Kiwi Salvationists to buy gifts for projects overseas that are helping to alleviate poverty.

The 10 solar lamps have been distributed to Salvation Army corps (churches) in remote areas without access to electricity in the Sepik Division, two hours flight from Port Moresby. Projects Officer Regina Gini said the lights had given hope to churches in the division. ‘This donation will have a great impact in the lives of the officers in remote places who receive a lantern, for study and to give light in the dark.’

The sewing machines were bought by the Port Moresby campus of the Officer Training College and by the PNG South Eastern Division.

South Eastern Division Major Vari Burava said the division plans to

use the machines to set up a mini tailoring service making and selling uniforms and other clothes to raise money for the division.

Officer Training College Training Principal Major Michelle Collins said the college was using the machines to run sewing classes for their cadets. In addition to teaching the cadets new and transferable skills for their appointments, they have also been helping the college and making clothes.

After starting off by sewing table cloths as an introduction, the cadets went on to make curtains for college quarters that did not have any, and are planning to go on to make blouses, shirts and much needed children’s clothes. The cadets had welcomed the classes with enthusiasm, Michelle said.

‘We have had a wonderful time opening the boxes and getting acquainted with the contents. It is wonderful to see the cadets so excited and so determined to learn new skills. These skills will prove so helpful for the cadets in the course of their ministry after they leave college.’

Our Community | 17

Building Bridges of Understanding To mark the 30th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in New Zealand, The Salvation Army joined other Wellington faith communities in an inter-faith service for the Rainbow community and allies. The gathering was held at St Peter's on Willis Street on 10 March, with almost 100 people attending. (The term ‘rainbow’ is used as a composite term to encompass all forms of sexual orientation and gender identity.)

The event, titled ‘Re-stoke the Fires’, was held during Wellington Pride Week and sponsored by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), which was holding its inaugural Oceania Human Rights and Health Conference at the University of Otago Medical School in Wellington. The aim of the ILGA conference was ‘to re-ignite the fires of the LGBTI community on issues of human rights and health in the states of Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Melanesia and the Micronesian Islands.’

A small Salvation Army brass band provided musical support, with other Salvationists also present. Many of those attending expressed their surprise and thanks to the Army for their presence, given that they still remembered The Salvation Army’s active role is opposing homosexual law reform in New Zealand.

A number of speakers expressed gratitude for the healing nature of a gathering that allowed them to feel welcome inside a church—some for the first time since they had revealed their sexual orientation in the churches of their youth.

One speaker testified to being excluded from his church community after he told them he was gay at the age of 18. He lived on the street for a few years before eventually getting involved with another church. Despite attending that church for a number of years, he eventually left rather than deny his identity as a gay man. He had since found a welcome within a non-Christian faith. In contrast, a transgender representative of the Pacific Sexuality Diversity Network shared her experience as a Catholic in Tonga, where she said she felt fully accepted as part of her congregation.

After a welcome from Deputy Mayor Justin Lester, contributions were given by the Army band, a lesbian singing group, members of the Wellington SGI Buddhist Centre, and a representative of the Wellington Progressive Jewish Congregation. The Rev Brian Dawson, vicar of St Peter's, gave a brief address, and Mani Mitchell, Executive Director of the Intersex Trust of Aoteraroa New Zealand and an ILGA Oceania board member also spoke.

Lieut-Colonel Ian Hutson (Divisional Commander, Central Division), Major Christina Tyson (Territorial Communications

Members of the ‘Re-stoking the Fire’ organising committee.

Secretary) and Craig Hutson (Family Store Manager, Kilbirnie) were part of the planning group for the event. Ian said, ‘In July 2006, the 20th anniversary of the passing of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, The Salvation Army issued a statement saying we hoped to “rebuild bridges of understanding and dialogue” between our movement and the gay and lesbian community. This event was a tangible way of doing just that.

It was a humbling and moving occasion and a reminder that everyone shares a human need to connect with God.’ In the Fiji Division, similar engagement is also occurring. For the past five years, The Salvation Army has hosted AIDS Candlelight Memorial services in a number of corps. ‘Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Fijians say they have found a more accepting and non-judgemental environment in The Salvation Army than other churches,’ said Wati Seeto, Corps Secretary at Suva Central Corps and a corresponding member of the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory’s Moral and Social Issues Council. ‘It is not uncommon anymore to hear someone in our corps say, “I am HIV positive” or ‘I am gay, lesbian or transgender.” ’ Last year in Fiji, The Salvation Army partnered with UNAIDS (the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) to host a prayer breakfast for World Aids Day, and this year the Army will introduce training for corps officers and youth workers on HIV/AIDS. ‘We can preach love and Christian hospitality until we go red in the face, but if we don’t reach out and take the first step, tiny as it may seem, to begin the dialogue and rebuild bridges of understanding then we may as well close shop,’ Wati said.

GAZETTE Territorial Business Section Changes With the appointment of Mjr David Bateman as Territorial Secretary for Business Administration from 1 April, the Territorial Financial Secretary’s role has been disestablished. Chief Financial Officer Peter Bain has been assigned the position of Head of Department. He will manage a restructure process within the department that will see the Financial Secretary’s responsibilities devolved into other existing Finance Department roles.

As part of the changes in the THQ Business Section, Mjr Russell Malcolm (Project Officer) takes on additional responsibilities. As well as his current roles in projects, audit and risk management, he will also become responsible, under the oversight of the Territorial Secretary for Business Administration, for the coordination of the capital budget for the territory, administrative oversight of the allocation of legacies, and administrative support for the externally managed superannuation scheme for New Zealand officers.

The Financial Secretary was one of six Trustees to The Salvation Army

New Zealand Trust, The Salvation Army Officers Superannuation Scheme, and The Salvation Army Lay Workers Superannuation Plan. Recent changes in the Finance Department have prompted a change of Trustee in these groups.

While the legal documentation for these changes is being finalised, Mjr Lorraine LePine (Assistant Secretary for Personnel) has been appointed a trustee.

Retirement Mjr Rex Johnson entered retirement on 31 March, having completed 43 years, two months and 12 days’ active officer service.

Rex entered training in the Lightbringers Session from Auckland Congress Hall Corps. He was commissioned on 20 Jan 1973 and appointed Corps Officer, Port Chalmers, and Assistant Officer, Dunedin Fortress Corps. This was followed by an appointment to Taumarunui and Raetihi Corps. In 1976, Rex married Lt Geraldine Stratton and they were appointed Corps Officers, Waitara Corps.

In 1978, Rex and Geraldine commenced their first overseas appointment, in Papua New Guinea

(Australia Eastern Territory), as Managers, Lae Hostel and Welfare Centre, and then Station Managers and Corps Officers in Onamuga.

In 1982, they returned to New Zealand, where Rex and Geraldine became Managers at St. Clair Men’s Eventide Home, Dunedin. They were then appointed to Omaio Village, Nelson, where Rex was the Manager and Geraldine, Matron.

In 1988, the Johnsons were appointed to Fiji as Western Districts Officer and Director of Women’s Organisations, Western Districts, respectively.

In 1991, they returned to New Zealand as Corps Officers, Invercargill Corps.

This was followed by an appointment to Resthaven Eventide Home, Auckland, first as Assistant Managers and then as Managers. Rex also had an additional appointment as Referral Officer, Independent Living Units, Auckland.

During this time Rex became a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.

Six years later, the Johnsons were again Corps Officers, this time at Otahuhu. They remained in Auckland for their next appointment as Deferred

Giving Officer and Associate Deferred Giving Officer (Wills and Bequests Coordinators) in the Northern Division.

During this appointment, Rex also served as the first Executive Officer for Auckland Fellowship Brass.

From 2006, Rex and Geraldine served in Tonga and then Papua New Guinea. In Tonga, Rex was Regional Commander, and in Papua New Guinea, Secretary for Programme.

In 2013, the Johnsons returned to New Zealand as the Territorial Planned Giving Directors/Secretaries. Rex enters retirement from this appointment, while Geraldine will continue in her role.

Rex’s Retirement service was held as part of the morning meeting at Wellington South Corps on 3 April, conducted by Mjr Roger Horton.

With sincere thanks and appreciation we honour Major Rex Johnson for his loyal and faithful service to God through The Salvation Army territories of New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, Australia Eastern and Papua New Guinea. We pray God’s blessing on Rex and Geraldine in the days ahead.

18 | WarCry 16 April 2016

LEADERSHIP LINKS

We must regain our will to move forward on issues of gender equality …

I recently had the honour of attending the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

The experience has rattled my cage, shaken my beliefs and challenged me.

The UN is an untiring advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls across the globe, and at this conference it brought together more than 100 member organisations and individuals similarly concerned about the status of women and girls. The Salvation Army among them.

I had the chance to participate in workshops and discussions, to network, and to share strategies and best practices. There was also the opportunity for delegates to lobby governments to implement resolutions and treaties previously signed.

This year’s conference theme was ‘Women’s Empowerment and its Link to Sustainable Development’—a theme aligned to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially goal five on gender equality. Surely this goal is at the heart of Salvation Army theology and mission? Salvationists have a clear mandate to advocate for gender equality, including around issues of equal pay and non-violence against women. These issues are not just ‘women’s issues’, but the issues of us all!

Looking at the wider SDGs—focused on ending poverty, fighting inequality and injustice, and tackling climate change by 2030—The Salvation Army has important contributions to make toward ending poverty and hunger, ensuring good health practices and education, decent work, clean energy, sustainable cities, climate action, and peace. I believe that within The Salvation Army there is much will to address these issues. But in the areas of equality, the balance of power, and the role of the married women, I fear we have lost our early drive to make a difference.

As we look to Anzac Day, we pause to consider the sacrifices of those who fought for the freedom of their people and their lands. Is this not therefore also a good time to pledge ourselves to continue to fight for those who are marginalised and unable to fight for themselves? The Salvation Army was birthed for such advocacy, but I believe we must regain our will to move forward on the issue of gender equality.

William Booth once said, ‘women have done well in The Salvation Army’. But does that quote still ring true today? I have been challenged on this matter and would reiterate that women (and men!) must continue to fight for the rights and freedoms of women and girls—not only in our own land, but right around the globe. If we remain silent on these matters we seriously limit the impact of the church.

Psalm 68:11 says, ‘The Lord gave the command and many women carried the news.’ We carry on this calling in the name of Jesus. Will you join me in the fight for gender equality?

Commissioner Janine Donaldson Territorial President of Women’s Ministries

BY ALASTAIR KENDREW

Who are these Salvationists?

What words describe who we are? What do we value? What’s important? These are the type of questions that our core values help us answer.

Should we start a new church in Remuera? Is it okay for an officer to run everything without involving the local staff or congregation? Is it okay for a centre to decide they have no interest in sharing the gospel message with their clients, or for a corps to decide that they don’t have the resources to engage with their local community? Should we hold our congregations to account if they won’t welcome people who are ‘not like them’?

Who decides the answers to these questions, and on what basis? We’d probably all have our views, but as an organisation we don’t currently have a clearly defined set of values to help guide such decisions. And so we’re in the process of changing this.

Over the first weekend in October, Salvationists and staff from across New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga will gather in Wellington to attend the ‘Now is the Time’ Congress. At this event, we will be launching a new Mission Plan for the territory. A key part of this plan will be the release of a set of core values.

There are a number of great benefits to having clear values.

As well as providing a tool for decision making, values remind us of what’s most important to us. They therefore reflect our culture. When people share the values of the organisation they’re involved in, they are highly motivated, loyal and find fulfilment in their work or ministry. On the other hand, experiencing a clash of values or observing behaviours contrary to the organisation’s perceived values is highly stressful and demotivating.

Values guide behaviour and also give us an opportunity to address poor behaviour. For instance, consider this core value from McDonald’s restaurants: ‘We place the customer experience at the core of all we do.’ McDonald’s translates that as ‘we treat every customer like a celebrity’. So, if you go into McDonald’s and you’re treated rudely by a staff member, we could imagine that person’s manager reminding them of this value and coaching them to improve their customer service.

Values also provide a great checklist for potential new staff and members to decide whether they will fit in an organisation.

For some, they might look at our Salvation Army values and

Mission Matters | 19

decide that the Army isn’t the best place for them. For others, our values will be help them know that this is a place where they’ll love working and serving.

Well-known author and business speaker Patrick Lencioni suggests there are four types of values: 1. Core values: Non-negotiable standards and behaviours that set you apart from other organisations.

2. Aspirational values: Behaviours you would like to see more of, but that don’t really define who you are currently. Risk taking might be an example of an aspirational value for The Salvation Army. We may say it’s a good idea, but perhaps we’re more cautious and don’t encourage risk taking as we did in our early years.

3. ‘Permission to play’ values: Minimum standards of behaviour, such as being honest. These are non-negotiables that typically apply to any organisation, so Patrick contends they should not make the core values list.

4. Accidental values: Values in play that reflect more the common interests or personalities of the local employees, rather than the organisation as a whole.

In defining the values of The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, we want to focus on our core values, identifying the things that uniquely define us and even differentiate us from others. These values should be lasting, just as relevant 10, 50 or 100 years from now as they are today.

Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, suggests you can’t set organisational values; you discover them. So, when you think of The Salvation Army, what comes to mind? If you are a Salvationist, why did you join? If you are a staff member, why do you work here? Chances are, you’re thinking of our unstated values.

When we started to uncover our values, we realised we already have something that outlines the principles by which many Salvationists live their lives. It’s called the ‘Soldier’s Covenant’ and is signed by anyone wanting to become a soldier within our movement.

Looking at this covenant has helped us identify the following seven values: 1. Christ-like Living—we are a faith-based Christian organisation. Our first value affirms we are Christian. ‘Salvation’ is in our name and we were birthed out of a 19th century holiness movement.

We must model the way Jesus lived, uphold Christian integrity in every area of our lives, and respond to the Holy Spirit’s work.

We’ve called this ‘Christ-like living’.

2. Compassion—we are committed to the vulnerable. Our Christian faith and love for others compels us to value and care for the most

vulnerable and marginalised in society. Compassion is in our DNA and it’s why people support us.

3. Holistic Ministry—we serve material AND spiritual needs. We believe in a ministry that addresses the body, mind and spirit. William Booth said, ‘Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again—until they can scarcely distinguish which is the one and which is the other.’ It is this integrated holistic ministry that leads to true life transformation.

4. Authentic Community—we offer a place for all to belong and participate. In a world that is becoming increasingly individualistic,

we value authentic community—where anyone is welcomed and encouraged to participate, regardless of gender, age or culture.

5. Partnership—we look for ways to collaborate with others. We value local and global partnerships, working with others to improve mission outcomes.

6. Stewardship—we are responsible stewards of the resources God has entrusted to our care. All our resources have been given to us by

God to bring about transformation. We are therefore faithful stewards of our time and gifts, money and possessions, body, mind and spirit, recognising we are accountable to God.

7. Internationalism—we are proud to be part of an international movement. We are proud to be part of the international Salvation

Army, recognising our place in a movement that serves in more than 125 countries and willingly supporting our fellow Salvationists around the world.

As well as these seven values, we are currently working with the Māori Ministry Council to determine the best way to incorporate our commitment to biculturalism in New Zealand—given that our values need to apply for Fiji and Tonga as well.

Values should guide every decision that we make in The Salvation Army. If what we are doing doesn’t reflect at least one of our values, we should ask ourselves why we’re doing it.

But what do you think? Do these values represent us? Is something important missing? Would you be comfortable using these statements as the basis for how we behave and make decisions across The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga? We’d welcome your feedback.

We’re looking for feedback If you’d like to provide feedback on these values, please complete our online survey. Go to http://bit.ly/NZFTMP19

20 | WarCry 16 April 2016

The first of two excerpts from Lisa Barnes’s book about embracing weaknesses and failures, lifting the mask and recognising our true identity in Christ.

There was a knock at the door. That always made me nervous. Was it an addict looking for their next hit? Was it my mum’s drug supplier looking for money she owed him? Was it a John expecting my mother to finish what she started? Was it the cops? Was it child protective services? Usually a knock at the door brought fear and bad news.

Today the knock meant something very different. I answered and there was a woman I’d never seen before. She was older, and when she smiled she had the deepest wrinkles that have ever existed in the history of wrinkles. Maybe that was just my perspective. Most people didn’t live so long in the projects; too many hazards in the hood, not enough apple eaters or marathon runners.

Her name was Grandma Gene. She wasn’t my Grandma, I don’t even know if she was anyone’s Grandma. But I learned later that’s what everyone called her. In her arms was a box. In its first life it held bananas. I remember the Chiquita symbol on the side, and the soggy corner where the writing was brown and distorted. I stuck my 13-yearold head inside and I saw more food in that one box than we had in our kitchen in weeks. Boxes, cans, a little produce and a small chicken.

When Grandma Gene brought this box to our home I can only assume what she was thinking. ‘I know this woman, Margaret. When she comes to us for help she’s often strung out. She has a girl with her who always looks so scared. Last time I saw Margaret she looked too sick to come to The Salvation Army to pick up a food box herself.

Maybe I will just drop one off on my way home. Maybe Margaret will see that Jesus loves her, and maybe that little girl will see it too.’

If that is what Grandma Gene was thinking, she wasn’t wrong.

There was a lot more flooding my mind at that time. Things like, ‘This means I won’t have to steal food for a few days. Maybe my mum will stay home tonight instead of turning tricks until the sun comes up.

Is this what normal kids feel like, not consumed with the thoughts of fighting to eat?’

Secrets on show Grandma Gene went into our kitchen to set the box down. This is where she saw part of my life that I did all I could to keep secret (just one part, I had many secrets). My mother—aside from being an addict, drug dealer and prostitute—was a hoarder. Our kitchen was covered in garbage. The sink was filled with moldy dishes. The counters were littered with trash, cigarette butts, empty bottles of booze and all manner of disgusting things.

I was so embarrassed. She knew. She saw into my trapped chaotic existence. At that moment it was like she saw into the deepest part of who I was and came face to face with my fear and sadness. She turned to me and instead of looking at me with pity or disgust like I was anticipating, she smiled a little and said, ‘Let’s put this in the living room for now.’

It was like she didn’t even notice the filth. All she saw was a girl and her sick mother who needed help and compassion.

We set the box down on one of the only accessible surfaces in our home. My mother offered her a seat, which was kind of a joke because there was no seat aside from the lopsided off-brand Lazy Boy she was sitting on, and clearly not giving up for Grandma Gene. There was a small stained loveseat, but the stains didn’t matter. It was piled twofeet high with newspapers from the past few years.

Grandma Gene told my mum she would love to sit and chat, and immediately started moving some of the newspapers so she had a small corner of the dirty couch to occupy.

Grandma Gene and my mother sat and talked for nearly half an hour. I sat on the floor watching in amazement. I felt like I was in a parallel universe. No one ever sat and talked with my mum without expecting anything in return. Some people made small talk before asking for drugs or sex, but never just talking to talk. She looked my mum in the eye, genuinely laughed at her jokes, and treated her like she was a human.

This was something I’d never seen. She continued to ignore the mess, the floor-to-ceiling cigarette smoke, and my mother’s foul mouth. My mum was very creative with her use of curse words. (I think that might be where I get it. My creativity that is, not so much the foul mouth.)

It was like she didn’t even notice the filth. All she saw was a girl and her sick mother who needed help and compassion.

Just one encounter The conversation ended, and as I walked Grandma Gene to the door (more in an effort to clear her path then to be polite—my gracious manners came later in life), she stopped and asked me if I would like to come to youth group. She said they met every week and had a lot of fun together.

I thought for a minute. I didn’t have any friends, didn’t know how to act in social situations, and was always afraid of people knowing who I really was or where I came from. But something about this invitation was different. It had to be because Grandma Gene was different. I told her that I would like to come to youth group. Just before the door shut she said, ‘Great, the van will be here to pick you up tomorrow at five.’

With that one encounter my life was forever altered, both in the immediate and in the long term. Grandma Gene gave us much more than a food box that day. She gave us dignity. Never did she treat us like we were a lesser form of human, which is what I felt like every moment of my life. She gave us a few days of freedom from the bondage of the projects. We didn’t have to steal to eat, or my mum turn tricks. It made me think that there was a chance that life could be different.

Soul Food | 21

She invited me to be a part of something bigger than my prison of poverty and self-loathing. I went to youth group the next day. Then the next week. Then it was multiple times a week. At first I was so afraid that people would find out what my life really was. They did find out, but nothing changed. They treated me just like Grandma Gene had. I wasn’t the poor, sad, destructive daughter of a drug dealer and whore. For the first time in my life, I was just Lisa. I was valuable and loved. I was taught that life could be what I chose it to be, not what my community in the hood told me what it had to be. Wondering things like, if I would be able to find a man to get me pregnant so I could have a rat-hole apartment too.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for Grandma Gene, and the day she dropped off a food box and changed my life. She has since gone to be with the Lord. When I kick the bucket, one of the things I’m looking forward to most is hanging out with Grandma Gene and Jesus, talking story and laughing with her like she laughed with my mum. I bet her wrinkles will be long gone, along with the ghost of the girl I used to be.

Let’s rock This was my introduction to what The Salvation Army was, and what it stood for. It changes lives by redeeming and restoring those that are in the margins of society. Especially the young ones caught in the crossfire of their parents’ choices.

Even now, almost 20 years later, this is the lens through which I view our movement. Everything we do should centre on Jesus and the redemption he brings. Which works out pretty well, because that’s how I want to operate generally in life. That is where the foundation of this book is coming from. How does the redemption and restoration we find in Jesus translate into everyday aspects of our lives? Where does Jesus stand when a Christian has a random hook-up, or when someone is struggling with doubt and faithlessness?

In no way am I claiming to have all of the answers to the pressing questions of our millennial generation. But the questions need to be asked and the conversations need to be had. Thanks for joining me, just a girl from the hood who knows what it’s like to feel lost or abandoned, who has had her fair share of doubt and questions.

Looking to Jesus for the answers of the messy bits of life.

In Joshua chapter four, the nation of Israel crossed the Jordan River and Joshua told one dude from each tribe to grab a rock from the riverbed. They made a pile of these regular, everyday rocks to serve as a memorial to a time when God intervened on behalf of his people.

God could have done this very differently. God could have told the people to make a beautiful statue to remember what he’d done.

He chose just to use rocks. Rocks are common. Rocks aren’t beautiful.

Rocks are rough and not always easy to work with. But God uses ordinary things to show his grace and presence all the time. God works with hard rocks and hard heads. For that I am grateful.

My book is about life and faith and all the messy bits in between.

It book exposes the pile of stones that God put in my life to show his faithfulness. My hope is that, by reading this book, you will recognise

the piles of stone around you when you are in the pits. You will know that you are not defined by times of fear, or shame, or abandonment, or hurt, or wounds, or secrets, or even joys and accomplishments. You are a child of God, not matter what. And God rocks!

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER Has there been a time in your life when someone offered you dignity instead of judgment or condemnation?

What can we do as a church to walk alongside people who live on the margins?

Is there a Lisa in your life?

Search for Scriptures that speak to helping the hopeless or those in poverty.

Lisa Barnes is a Salvation Army officer who is crazy about Jesus.

Born in Vegas, a product of a onenight stand to a mother who was a prostitute and addict, she uses her story and struggles as a lens through which she sees the world and her faith, and as a springboard to love and serve anyone in her sphere of influence. Lisa is passionate about social justice, loving those on the margins and fully being herself, while living and sharing Jesus.

In her opinion those things are non-negotiable, most other things are debatable.

Lisa currently lives in Phoenix, USA, where she’s in charge of all things youth and young adult for The Salvation Army in her region. She’s been married to her handsome best friend for 11 years. They live with their two beautiful children and their sixyear-old fat cat. Lisa holds a bachelor’s degree in Counselling for Christian Ministries.

‘If you want a colourful, honest, real-life encounter with a living God then this book is for you. Pulling no punches, Lisa tells an honest and thorough tale of a life lived in pursuit of a real God who offers forgiveness, meaning, redemption and sacrifice.

Read it and then live it out for yourself.’

—Major Danielle Strickland Order your copy of Love to a Whore’s Daughter (Frontier Press), from Salvationist Resources—e: mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org, p: (04) 382 0768, w: www.salvationarmy.org.nz/shop

22 | WarCry 16 April 2016

CALENDAR

Do you know these people?

APRIL 15-29 April: Kids Peak Adventure / Blue Mountain Adventure Centre 19–21 April: C-Squared—Connecting & Communicating / Booth College of Mission 22-1 May: National Youth Band Tour / Perth & Melbourne, Australia 23: Taupō 7s / Taupō 23: Southern 7s / Timaru 25: Anzac Day 26–28 April: Family Store Managers Training / Booth College of Mission 29: Red Shield Breakfast / Christchurch MAY 2–8: Red Shield Appeal 9–11: Learning & Development Conference / Booth College of Mission 13–15: Women’s Camp (Lower South) / Southern Division 13-15 May Mother and Kids Weekend / Blue Mountain Adventure Centre 15: Pentecost Sunday 16–19: Five-year Officer Review / Booth College of Mission 16–20: Officers Retreat (Spiritual Life Development) 18: Spiritual Day / Booth College of Mission 18–22: SpiritSong Rehearsal Camp / Silverstream Retreat Centre

ALLPRESS, Brendan Philip, born 1960 in Auckland HAMILTON, David James, born 1982 in Ireland KAO, Tien-Ang (Mike), born 1985 in Taipei LORD, Philip Sun, born 1960 in Auckland STEVENTON, Michael John, born 1966 in Auckland

Help us find these missing people and bring peace of mind to their families p: (04) 382 0710 | e: family family_tracing@nzf.salvationarmy.org salvationarmy.org.nz/familytracing

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS

Call for Paper: Thought Matters Conference

Commissioners Robert (Territorial Commander) and Janine Donaldson (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 29 April: Red Shield Breakfast, Christchurch, visit to Addiction, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services 1 May: Ashburton Corps 23–25 May: General’s Consultative Counsel (TC) Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 16–26 April: Furlough 20 May: Jeff Farm AGM 22 May: Dunedin City Corps 25–30 May: Tonga Visit

Thought Matters is the annual conference of The Salvation Army Tri-Territorial Theological Forum (TTTF), which aims to facilitate theological discussion that informs ministry practice.

This involves the three territories of Australia Eastern, Australia Southern, and New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga. This year’s conference is from 14–16 October, in Melbourne, Australia.

This year’s conference theme is ‘Rediscovering Salvation’. If you would like to present a paper, submit an abstracts of no more than 200 words by 29 April 2016 to www. sarmy.org.au/thoughtmatters

Words of Life

PRAYER FOCUS

May to August Available Now

Please pray for: Tawa, Thames, Timaru,Tokoroa and Upper Hutt Corps, The National Youth Band tour in Australia, The Salvation Army in Latin America.

The latest edition of The Salvation Army’s daily devotional is available now from Salvationist Resources. The theme is ‘The Purpose of Prayer’. e: mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org or p: (04) 382 0768.

Find SALVATION ARMY JOB OPPORTUNITIES online:

www salvationarmy.org.nz/employment

A Booth College of Mission SHORT COURSE

To advertise your event, email: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org

Local leaders are at the heart of our movement.

Local leadership is demanding. Local leaders can easily end up running on empty.

Everyday Holy Living is for Salvation Army local leaders involved in leadership at a Corps or Centre. We will explore what holiness means in your everyday life and for your leadership.

E V E RY DAY

HOLY LIVING The Brengle Holiness Institute

THE COURSE COVERS: • Holiness in the Old and New Testament • The person and work of the Holy Spirit • Holiness as a fruit of the Spirit • Samuel Brengle and the development of holiness in The Salvation Army • Leadership in light of holiness WHEN: 3-6 June 2016 WHERE: Booth College of Mission, Upper Hutt COURSE COSTS: $200.00 (GST exclusive).

This includes travel, course materials, teaching, refreshments, lunches and evening meals.

Register by 12 May 2016.

If you are interested, please discuss this with your Corps Officer or Centre Leader.

Contact Booth College of Mission for a registration form: phone: (04 528 8628, email: bcm@nzf.salvationarmy.org This course is subsidised by The Salvation Army as part of our ongoing commitment to empowering leadership.

Gladys Goes to War, written by Glyn Harper and illustrated by Jenny Cooper, is available at all good book shops in time for Anzac Day.

GLADYS GOES TO WAR

Fun4Kids | 23

25 April was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916.

ANZAC DAY WORDSEARCH AIR FORCE ANZAC BRAVE BUGLE DAWN SERVICE MARCH MEDALS MILITARY POPPY REMEMBER SOLDIER VETERANS WREATH

A really cool book has just been published (by Penguin Puffin) that tells the true story of a Kiwi female called Gladys and her adventures during World War One. When Gladys was a little girl she didn’t like any of the things her sisters liked.

She didn’t like playing the piano or sewing. What she did like was working on cars with her brothers.

She married a man called William who loved cars as much as her, but when the war came William had to go and fight. Gladys wrote to the New Zealand government and said she wanted to help too, but they said she should just stay at home and knit!

Gladys didn’t listen to them. She sailed to Egypt and became an ambulance driver, taking wounded soldiers to hospital.

Then Gladys moved to England. She wanted to keep driving, but was told that she should be a hospital cleaner instead. Soon Gladys was picking up wounded soldiers even when the bombs were falling.

Gladys is an example of someone who made up her mind to help people and refused to give up, no matter what anybody else said.

ANZAC Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga.

All the ANZACs were volunteers.

In other countries, soldiers were drafted (made to sign up) to fight.

read it ‘The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them.’ (Mark 15:13, GNT)

let’s talk

No one likes a war. But in times of war we also see people being so brave as they fight for the things that are most important to them: their country, their values, their friends and family. Some of them even did what Jesus did for us: giving their lives so others could live.

The story of New Zealander Gladys Sandford is so exciting, because she was prepared to risk her own life to help others stay safe during World War One. And even when people told her that because she was a woman she couldn’t get involved and be

adventurous, Gladys didn’t listen.

Salvation Army founder William Booth once said, ‘Some of my best men are women!’ When The Salvation Army started 150 years ago, there were a lot of things that women weren’t allowed to do. But in The Salvation Army, women were allowed to be leaders and preachers and organisers.

If you’re a female, remember that God wants you to be brave and adventurous. And in The Salvation Army, we want you to get involved and help us make a difference!

let’s pray Dear Jesus, thank you for the stories of brave men and women whose example inspires us. Help us to be brave like them and stand up for what is good and right. Amen.