FAITH IN ACTION 17 OCTOBER 2020 | Issue 6753 | $1.50
Battling Burnout A HighStakes Calling
A Hero’s Legacy Lives On Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve?
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WAR CRY The Salvation Army
New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Julie & Mark Campbell | GENERAL Brian Peddle | FOUNDERS William
& Catherine Booth
The Salvation Army’s message is based on the Bible. Our ministry is motivated by love for God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in his name without discrimination. War Cry exists to support and advance The Salvation Army’s message, ministry and mission. EDITOR Vivienne Hill | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Captain Jules Badger, Louise Parry, Bethany Slaughter | PROOF READING Major
Colleen Marshall OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street,
PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz, salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone
(04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@salvationarmy.org.nz, $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT makeready.nz | PAPER Sumo Offset
is an environmentally responsible paper produced using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) FSC® certified Mixed Source pulp from responsible sources and manufactured under the strict ISO14001 Environmental Management System.
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Imparting belief and faith Faith legacy is the transference of belief from one generation to another. I have been a conduit of this legacy, both receiving from my parents and then passing down to my family. This process was deliberate recounting, but also received by osmosis. One way of passing this legacy on to your children and grandchildren is by telling stories. Our family favourites are birth stories. My children have heard their birth stories: the rush to the hospital, the anomalies of each birth experience and then the crescendo—the joy of welcoming a precious life into the family and the various reactions of each family member. This retelling of each child’s birth story never gets old. It engenders within each child feelings of belonging, acceptance and community. The telling of stories to pass on faith and information is not new. Since biblical times, we know that the very first stories were passed down in the oral tradition. We know that Māori and Pacific people had oral historians who were the guardians of knowledge and history. Each oral historian would reach back to the information passed down from previous generations and this created a collective memory and knowledge, which was subsequently passed on to the younger generation. We see evidence of this generational faith transference in this edition, including our feature news story, The First Dance. I hope you will enjoy reading this account of the impartation of both faith and its expression: Salvationism. Vivienne Hill Editor
Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association. All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated. Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission. Publishing for 137 years | Issue 6753 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry
salvationarmy.org.nz SalvationArmyNZFTS @SalvationArmyNZ salvationarmynzfts
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We have the truth and we need not be afraid to say so. J.C. Ryle
Colossians 1:12 …and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. Korohe 1:12 Me te whakawhetai atu anō ki te Matua, nāna nei tātou i whai tikanga ai ki tētahi wāhi o te kāinga o te hunga tapu i roto i te mārama.
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t’s that time of year again, when the majority of Christians cringe at the thought of mini trick-or-treaters knocking at their doors and expecting lollies and treats. The sinister trappings of Halloween have perplexed us and unsettled us, but can we redeem any aspect of this polarising day? The origins and history of Halloween are fascinating and perhaps not as sinister as many have been led to believe. Author and Doctor of Theology Alan Rudnick explains. Somewhere in the halls of history, Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve, got hijacked …The Christian festival All Hallows’ Eve morphed into our current term ‘Hallowe’en’. The key to understanding the origins of the term Halloween comes from the sense of what is ‘hallowed’ or ‘holy’. In the Lord’s Prayer, Christians pray, ‘Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your name…’ In the fourth century, John Chrysostom tells us that the Eastern Church celebrated a festival in honour of all the saints who died. In the 7th and 8th centuries, Christians celebrated ‘All Saints’ Day’ formally. It’s reasonable then to ask: If Halloween began with a religious focus, what went wrong? Rudnick explains the importance of understanding that All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween) and the ancient pagan festival of Samhain (the lord of death) are not the same, even though they became associated with each other. The ancient pagan festival of Samhain, where Celtic druids believed that the worlds of the living and dead would be thinly divided, took place at the end of summer. The Celts believed that Samhain sent evil
spirits to attack humans and play tricks on them, and they could only escape by assuming disguises that resembled evil spirits. But more than 1000 years ago, Christians confronted pagan rites like those performed by the druids. In fact, Rudnick explains, that when we understand the extent to which early Christians contextualised pagan festivals into Christian days of remembrance and holidays—including Easter and Christmas—we can grasp more readily that it’s not a matter of compromise but transformation. Rudnick makes another interesting point, when he explains that the Christianising of the calendar has created a rich heritage of faith and spirituality, rather than something more sinister. He explains that Pope Gregory III (731–741) and Pope Gregory IV (827–844) moved the Christian holiday, All Saints’ Day, from May 13 to November 1, to replace pagan rituals on October 13 and November 1. Gregory III instructed people to dress up as saints. ‘Let the occult have Samhain,’ Rudnick suggests, ‘we’re taking All Hallows Eve back!’ There might be something in that, given the year we’ve all had. Is there something we can reclaim? Can we bring light into a dark celebration? Maybe it’s time to lead the way and take a more prophetic approach. If the darkness can be overcome (and it can), let’s get on with being the light! Let’s turn the light on Halloween this year! ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it,’ (John 1:5). BY JULES BADGER
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Excitement Builds for Amplify 2021 Registrations have opened for Amplify—The Salvation Army’s annual creative arts camp. The camp is scheduled to run from 11 to 17 January 2021, at Silverstream Retreat in Wellington, provided the New Zealand alert level remains at level 1.
social stuff has been cancelled. It’s a great event, and a great opportunity to meet up with old friends,’ Jim says. ‘If you really want to get out and learn some new stuff, register.’
After this year’s uncertainty, Director of Creative Ministries Jim Downey says Amplify is a great chance for young people to gather and develop their skills.
The Amplify team hopes that the country’s borders will open in time to welcome campers from the Pacific Islands as well. The Salvation Army in Samoa shared on Facebook that their youth recently hosted a ‘very profitable garage sale’, with the hope they will be able to attend.
‘People are just hanging out to go do something, because most of their events, school, work and
Majors on offer in 2021 are Creative Technology, Dance, Drama, Filmmaking, Hospitality, Leadership, Music Performance, Preaching, Sports Ministry or Visual Arts. Minors include Brass Ensemble, Craft, Cultural Art, Dance (Hip Hop), DIY, Event Management, Photography, Relational Ministry, Social Action, Song Writing, Spoken Word and Worship Leading. Registrations are open to young people in Year 11 at school, through to 30 years old. APPLY NOW | amplifycamp.nz GOT QUESTIONS? | amplify@salvationarmy.org.nz
QUIKQUIZ
1 ‘Seasons of Love’ is a song from which Broadway musical? 2 Which poet wrote ‘To Autumn’? Action/Adventure Mulan (PG) Directed by Niki Caro The live-action remake of Mulan had potential to be epic, with an all-Asian cast, beautiful shots of stunning New Zealand scenery and directed by legendary Kiwi filmmaker Niki Caro, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark. This version of Mulan follows most of the original plot, but major elements are left out, such as Mulan’s iconic dragon ‘protector’ Mushu and her love interest Captain Li Shang. There are also elements added in, including a sister, and a new villain—a witch who transforms into a hawk. The film felt strangely emotionless, almost like it was missing aspects that made the original Mulan so magical—bravery, humour, courage and female empowerment. The fight scenes felt authentically Chinese, with the use of traditional wuxia-style choreography, but some of the acting was overdone. Ultimately, the film was disappointing and felt like a missed opportunity to explore Chinese history and female empowerment. (Reviewed by Julia De Ruiter) 4 WarCry 17 OCTOBER 2020
3 Where will the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics be held—and when did this city last host the Summer Games? 4 What country did the Arab Spring begin in? 5 What was blown out of Egypt by a strong west wind? Answers on page 22
TOPFIVE
October is the month when all over the globe—including New Zealand—rubber duck races take place. For this edition’s top five, we look at some other weird and wacky races. 1. C heese Rolling—Most of us have heard of this hazardous tradition in Gloucestershire (once won by Kiwi Marc Ellis) where a wheel of cheese is sent rolling down a hill and people chase it down the decline. 2. P antomime Horse Racing—A UK charity race in which runners dress in pantomime horse costumes (and, by reports, some imposter zebras and cows). 3. Human vs Horse Marathon—The UK certainly seems to like hosting odd races. This one takes place in Wales, where people try to outrun horseback riders. 4. S chool Bus Racing—Think Formula One, but with bulky, yellow school buses. 5. Puffing Billy Running Festival—In Australia’s Dandenong Ranges, this annual event pits runners against the beloved local Puffing Billy steam train.
Life is short. Running makes it seem longer. Baron Hansen
WARCRY INHISTORY
This cover from the 9 October 1926 War Cry cited Proverbs 19:17 to encourage Salvationists to participate in the yearly Self Denial Appeal: ‘Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done’. Source: The Heritage Centre & Archives at the Ploughman Resource Centre, Booth College of Mission
Weird of the Week: The snowstorm in The Wizard of Oz is actually made of asbestos, which was used to create fake snow in movies during the 20s and 30s.
SALLIEOF THEWEEK Keith Oldcorn (Johnsonville Corps)
Keith Oldcorn is just 70 years young and described by Captain Robert Adams as, ‘One of the most passionate, energetic and hard-working people at the Johnsonville Corps’. Keith volunteers at the Family Store five days a week, welcomes people to church every Sunday in the car park and regularly attends life group and prayer meetings. Keith connected in through the community meal, coming to faith about two years ago, and is now an adherent member of the corps. ‘We love Keith and think he role models to us all what a whole-hearted follower of Jesus is,’ says Robert. And this is why Keith is our Sallie of the Week!
Potato and Apple Gratin 2 Tbsp olive oil
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
1 large onion, thinly sliced
Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan on medium-low. Sauté the onion— stirring occasionally—until soft, for about 12 minutes. Add the thyme.
2 tsp thyme leaves 3 medium potatoes (400g) 1 large Granny Smith apple 1 Tbsp butter 1 cup cream ¾ cup milk 1 sprinkle of flaky sea salt
Peel and thinly slice the potatoes. Core and thinly slice the apple. Lightly butter a 1 litre baking dish. Layer 1/3 of the potatoes in the baking dish. Top with ½ of the apple slices and ½ of the onion. Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of potato. Heat the cream, milk and salt together. Pour evenly over the potato mixture. Cover. Place a baking tray in the oven to catch any drips. Place the baking dish on top. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove the cover and bake for a further 10 minutes, or until the top is golden.
Source: eatwell.co.nz
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A HERO’S LEGACY LIVES ON
Des Adams with his father’s World War II medals.
Des Adams grew up hearing about how The Salvation Army helped his father post-World War II, after he spent four years as a prisoner of war. As we commemorate the battle of El Alamein on 23 October, we remember a hero of the infamous ‘Desert War’, whose legacy lives on. BY INGRID BARRATT
W
alter Adams was 23 when he joined the Long Range Desert Group, which would eventually become the SAS. He was stationed in Libya, as part of the desert campaign against Italy who had joined forces with the Nazis. Wink—as Walter was known to everyone, ever since as a child he used to ask for a ‘wink of water’—was tasked with undertaking reconnaissance far into enemy territory. Lying under a camouflage net, he undertook 12-hour missions, painstakingly counting enemy troops as they marched by. This provided valuable information to the Allies about how many troops were needed in battle. In February 1941, Wink and his patrol came under intense fire from Italian fighter planes. ‘Six trucks made it to relative safety, but Wink’s truck—the last vehicle—was hit by the aircraft. Both front tyres were punctured and the radiator holed,’ recalls Jan Adams, Wink’s daughter-in-law, who has done extensive research on his time in the war. As Wink scrambled to change the tyres and fix the radiator, a stray bullet ricocheted off the truck’s chassis and killed their Italian prisoner of war (POW) in the rear of the truck. Wink was captured 1000 miles into enemy territory. He was ‘missing in action’ for eight months, and no one knew if he was alive or dead. Finally, Wink managed to send a broadcast over shortwave radio from his POW camp in Italy. ‘He said, “Please send a message to my mother, this is her name and address, please tell her I’m alive”,’ recalls Jan. Someone did hear the message, and his mother got the news just before Christmas.
Life as a POW Like many typical Kiwi soldiers, Wink never talked much about his experiences as a POW. He was one of 9140 Kiwi taken as prisoner—equating to one in every 200 soldiers (a strange anomaly, since the world average was one in 1000). ‘Capture was a bewildering experience for most young New Zealand men. They had gone to war to fight, perhaps be wounded, even to die—but not to be captured. It never occurred to them,’ writes David McGill in his book P.O.W: The untold stories of New Zealanders as prisoners of war. Letters home from POWs paint a picture of overcrowded conditions, dysentery, overflowing latrines, poor sanitation and lice. Beds were made of wooden slats and woodchip mattresses—but the slats were eventually used for firewood during the freezing winters. 17 OCTOBER 2020 WarCry 7
One story Des remembers his father telling was that it was so freezing in the huts, a cup of water beside his bed would be frozen in the morning. The camp at Sulmona in Italy, where Wink was held, crammed up to 80 men in its dormitories, with just a washroom, a few cold taps that only worked erratically and latrine buckets. The diet consisted of bread rations, a little macaroni soup and tinned meat. When Italian rations declined in the winter, they relied heavily on Red Cross food parcels. But these dried up and the men ‘experienced real hunger’, says Jan. However, in letters home, Wink said, ‘he was being well treated and was in good health’. With typical bravado, a letter to Nana Adams from Wink’s captain, Major Clayton, says: ‘I sincerely hope that—and think most probably—when the war is over you will get your son back with no more harm than a strong dislike of macaroni’. Despite describing the Italian guards as ‘cruel and unkind’, Wink made the most of his time in the camp by learning to speak Italian and became a translator for the Allied officers.
‘SIX TRUCKS MADE IT TO RELATIVE SAFETY, BUT WINK’S TRUCK—THE LAST VEHICLE— WAS HIT BY THE AIRCRAFT.’ The Long March The turning point for the desert campaign came on 23 October 1942, at the second battle of El Alamein. This became a famous victory and swung the desert theatre in favour of the Allies. It was the ‘beginning of the end’ of fighting in the region. By 1944, the war was coming to an end. In order to delay the liberation of the POWs, German authorities evacuated over 80,000 prisoners and forced them to march on foot westward, across Poland, Czechoslovakia and Germany. Wink was one of the soldiers that marched for four months on empty stomachs, and in one of the coldest winters of the twentieth century. ‘In poor condition, they had to march hundreds of miles in harsh winter weather, through a country devastated by war, bombed and strafed by their own forces, relying on elderly guards as badly off as themselves to forage for enough food to keep them alive,’ writes McGill. ‘Marching was a futile 8 WarCry 17 OCTOBER 2020
exercise which in some cases involved walking round in circles. It was their last and grimmest experience as prisoners, it was their final hurdle to freedom, it was an experience many would not survive.’ In his diary, Warrant Officer ED White wrote: ‘The sick were mounting every day, mostly bad feet, and general depression through malnutrition’. Frostbite was common and it is estimated 80 percent suffered from dysentery. The POWs did not know what was happening, and rumours abounded that they were being moved to concentration camps, or literally being marched to death. But, as they reached Western Germany, the true state of the war was revealed. They were met by American troops, and were finally liberated. On 12 April 1945, ED White wrote: ‘Transport suddenly arrived to take us on our first journey home and what a welcome sight. Passed through bombed areas … given billets, coffee and doughnuts and a K-ration. Cannot believe one is going to be flown out of this country’. Doughnuts were a treat made famous by The Salvation Army during World War I, as a simple way to nurture frontline troops. Wink and others may well have been given their share of doughnuts from The Salvation Army ‘lassies’, at one of the Army’s mobile canteens—travelling kitchens that provided refreshment for soldiers.
‘Fattened up’ by the Sallies Wink was met by Salvation Army soldiers at the Belgium border, who ushered him to the safety of its recuperation homes in England. He was 11 and a half stone (73kg) when he went to war, and was seven stone (44kg) when he finally got to safety in Belgium. ‘All they needed was to be fed and fattened up, and that’s where The Salvation Army looked after him so well,’ says Jan. ‘The services provided by The Salvation Army were varied and developed over the course of the war, but primarily consisted of providing practical help to the serving forces, their families and the communities around them,’ says the archivist from The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre. ‘Following the end of the war, The Salvation Army’s work focused on providing relief in the aftermath.’ A training manual from 1945 states that the ‘Army will help mainly with mass feeding, distribution of clothing and clothing materials, child welfare, investigation, information and case work, e.g. tracing and reuniting missing relatives, etc.
Des and Jan Adams.
WINK WAS ONE OF THE SOLDIERS THAT MARCHED FOR FOUR MONTHS, ON EMPTY STOMACHS, AND IN ONE OF THE COLDEST WINTERS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. Circumstances in different countries vary considerably; but everywhere there are the homeless, ill-nourished, unhappy and almost hopeless people of all ages and classes needing practical care and help’.
Taking up the challenge ‘For the rest of his life, Dad could not praise the Sallies highly enough,’ says Des. ‘The Salvation Army made a huge difference to the way he thought about his life, because he always thought he was fortunate. In those days the Sallies used to set up near his business [with collection buckets], and he gave them a donation on a weekly basis. ‘That had an impact on me as a giver, definitely,’ adds Des. ‘He always used to say to us, “If you can ever do anything to help the Sallies, you have to do it”.’ Jan took up the challenge, doing door-to-door collections for The Salvation Army, before street collections began. Jan and Des are both pharmacists, having owned successful businesses on the Hibiscus Coast and Albany, Auckland. ‘We’ve been very fortunate that the community has always supported us, so we want to support the community,’ explains Des. ‘During lockdown, The Salvation Army really stood out,’ says Jan. With ongoing border closures, they decided to sell their property used for international home exchanges, and donated furniture from the house to Family Stores.
When Des dropped the furniture off, he immediately saw it go to use. ‘When I got there, I was told that they were trying to find beds for a young woman they were getting into housing, because she didn’t have anywhere to go. So as soon as the beds got there, they immediately rushed to get them to her,’ recalls Des. ‘You walk away feeling very proud of yourself that you turned up with that bed.’ ‘Where in lockdown would you turn to if you were that woman who didn’t have anywhere to go? You would turn to The Salvation Army,’ adds Jan. So, when Jan and Des received the Winter Energy Payment, which goes to superannuants, they had an ingenious idea: ‘We got the heating subsidy and, quite honestly, we don’t need it. So I totalled it up, and The Salvation Army got down to the last cent what the government gave us for our power bill,’ laughs Jan. She says that being able to give back gives their life meaning in their retirement years: ‘When you get to retirement age, you have to seriously think about what you’re going to do with your life, because there has to be something that gets you up in the morning. You can’t just sit around looking out the window, and charity work is what gives us purpose.’ My father had quite an influence on my life,’ adds Des, holding Wink’s World War II medals. ‘And he always said he had been very fortunate. ‘We’ve also been fortunate that we’ve never needed the help of The Salvation Army, but also fortunate in that we’ve been able to give.’
‘WE’VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS SUPPORTED US, SO WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.’
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Feel the Fear On average, humans have one to three phobias. These are crippling fears of something that does not actually pose a likely threat (like a dental appointment or an elevator). Some of these phobias are triggered by events in our childhood, sometimes they cannot be traced. Even if we know logically that the likelihood of harm is minor, the sensation of terror is paralysing and we will go to great lengths to avoid the perceived threat. Consider the difference between a ‘normal’ fear and a phobia. A fear would be feeling nervous when the plane takes off, or anxious while flying through turbulence or bad weather, but a phobia would cause you to miss an event if it required you to fly. Fear is feeling queasy around needles; phobia is skipping necessary medical appointments to avoid them. Most common phobias can be grouped. 1. Animals—snakes, spiders, rodents, cats. 2. Natural environment—heights, storms, water, the dark. 3. Situational—enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), flying, driving, tunnels. 4. Medical—blood, injury, illness, needles, medical procedures. However, not all phobias fit neatly into these groups— for example, a fear of clowns or social anxiety disorder.
FEAR IS FEELING QUEASY AROUND NEEDLES; PHOBIA IS SKIPPING NECESSARY MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS TO AVOID THEM.
PHOBIA SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: • struggling to breathe • pounding/racing heart • chest pain/tightness • churning stomach • sweating • trembling/shaking • feeling dizzy/light-headed • hot/cold flashes or tingling sensation
• feeling overwhelming panic/anxiety • wanting to escape • feeling detached from yourself • feeling you are going crazy or losing control • powerlessness • feeling you are at risk of fainting or even dying.
If these symptoms are disrupting your daily routines and responsibilities, encourage yourself to face your fears. For example, if you have a fear of snakes, create a list of exposure—like looking at a picture of a snake, holding a snake toy, looking at one through glass at the zoo, then touching a non-poisonous or non-dangerous snake. The first step should make you feel slightly nervous, but not so intimidating that it is
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unrealistic. Break down your ultimate goal. Stay in each step until your anxiety becomes manageable, then move on. Don’t rush, but don’t deliberately hold yourself back either. If the phobia is truly debilitating, you may need to seek professional help. You have got this At the end of the day, phobias lead us to fear for our own survival. When you come into contact with your phobia(s), challenge your tendencies to catastrophise, overgeneralise or predict. Evaluate your negative thoughts and decide whether they are valid or meaningless, scary words. Think about positive coping statements and examples from the past when you have, quite literally, made it out alive. If you know that you—and so many others—have done it before, you can use that confidence as a shield.
TIP: Deep breathing exercises can help you manage the sensations of fear, as can engaging your senses. Ideas to try are to stretch, listen to soothing music, light a scented candle, look at something that makes you smile, make a cup of tea or wrap yourself in a soft blanket. Source: helpguide.org
TESTIFY! Brenda King is the Invercargill Community Ministries Coordinator, and she loves her job. Throughout her life, God has continually put Brenda in positions that stretch her, and she often finds herself wondering how she got there. But she knows it’s God directing her life. I grew up in Waimate in a loving family, but had no experience of God at all as a child. I was very compliant, and repeatedly told that I was good and kind and nice. So I grew up with those words in my head, and never got into any real trouble. When I was 17, I moved to Invercargill, where I met my husband Bruce, and we started a family. I found myself with two babies and was a little bit lost. I met a young woman and there was something about her that sparked interest in me. She had just become a Christian and was a very on fire, charismatic and chatty person. She shared the gospel with me repeatedly, and I recall her saying often that I was a sinner who needed to repent and accept Jesus as my Saviour. But I was quite indignant about the whole repentance issue because I was good— everyone had said so my whole life! I truly believed I had absolutely nothing to repent about. It was a real stumbling block for me. I was going along to a Bible study with this young woman, and, to be honest, I thought they were all a bit mad most of the time—but I kept going anyway. One day I came across Isaiah 64:6, which says that ‘…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags [to the Lord]’. That cut me to the quick. It was like the scales fell off my eyes and I saw that actually my goodness was a fallacy and didn’t compare with God’s goodness— we are all sinners. Once I grasped that, I was able to truly repent and receive the peace I’d been searching for.
THE DAY-TO-DAY VICTORIES THAT MIGHT SEEM QUITE SMALL ARE BUILDING TOWARDS SOMETHING I CAN’T FULLY COMPREHEND THE IMPACT OF. I used to drive past the Clifton Salvation Army on my way to church, until a neighbour and I were invited to go along and view a James Dobson video series on child rearing. It was a natural progression for me to start going to the Clifton Sallies, because it was made up of people mostly from my neighbourhood. It was a small fellowship and felt like a family. Everyone had something to do. I became a soldier and over the years served in various local officer roles, including corps sergeant major.
walked the talk, lived with integrity and done what God’s required of me?
I’m the only Christian in my family, so getting the balance between church life and home life continues to be a challenge, but God is at work and he sees the big picture of my life. The dayto-day victories that might seem quite small are building towards something I can’t fully comprehend the impact of. But I do think about the legacy I’m leaving future generations. Have I
Throughout my journey, I’ve found that self-awareness is key. I think we condemn ourselves when we compare ourselves with others and feel like we come up short. But when we realise that no, God didn’t make a mistake when he put me together differently to the next person, he really does have a purpose for me—that’s really freeing!
A Bible verse I love is Joshua 1:9, ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go’. This verse seems more and more appropriate in these difficult days we are living in—the world is changing rapidly. I don’t see myself as a particularly fearful person, but sometimes when I’m watching the news it can all be quite daunting. So that’s my go-to verse and I’m hanging on to it.
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BY BETHANY SLAUGHTER
God never intended for our daily lives to overwhelm us. In a go, go, go world, sometimes we don’t realise how badly we need to stop and recalibrate. Do you feel like you are overcome with a constant weariness, something that can’t be whisked away with a good night’s sleep? Are you struggling to complete tasks, make decisions or focus? Does it feel like you’re missing out on the joy and life satisfaction that you were born to experience? We all have things that fill us and things that drain us. When we do too much of what wears us out compared with what energises us, we start to dig ourselves into a hole called burnout. Burnout is commonly misunderstood as stress—in fact, it is often the product of mismanaged stress. Andrew and Dr Elizabeth Procter write, ‘Burnout comes when we overdo it for too long, and when our energy is used up faster than it is restored’. They use the illustration of a stress fracture, which is an injury where tiny cracks appear in a bone due to overuse; for example, a long-distance runner might develop a stress fracture in their foot. The same thing happens to our minds through burnout. Our bodies are designed to adjust to situations. The transition into burnout is often slow because we readjust, readjust and readjust some more, until constant discomfort becomes the body’s new normal. At some stage, it can’t readjust again.
WHAT DOES BURNOUT LOOK LIKE? Symptoms of burnout can include: • physical/mental exhaustion after minimal effort • muscle ache/pain • feeling dizzy • headaches • disrupted sleep • feeling irritable • being unable to relax, or unable to recover even after rest periods. If these symptoms last longer than three months and cannot be explained by any other medical condition (e.g. anxiety or depression), there is a strong chance that burnout is to blame. Look out for these changes in your behaviour over a prolonged period. • Have you been working/studying for longer hours?
• Are you working through ‘free time’? • Do you feel like you are not keeping up with your workload or taking longer to complete tasks? • Do you feel less satisfaction or pride in what you do? • Have you been late to arrive at or leave school/work? • Do you feel less creative or less able to problem-solve? • Are you frequently watching the clock? • Are you relying on caffeine, fast food or treats to lift your energy/mood? • Have you cut down your social life? • Are you spending your ‘free time’ lazing around— rather than doing activities you find enriching—or constantly thinking about tasks?
WHEN WE DO TOO MUCH OF WHAT WEARS US OUT COMPARED WITH WHAT ENERGISES US, WE START TO DIG OURSELVES INTO A HOLE CALLED BURNOUT. Andrew and Elizabeth explain how there are two personality types that are typically lauded in professional settings, but particularly susceptible to burnout. The first is somebody who is hard working, highly motivated and sometimes referred to as a Type-A Personality. Because they need to feel valued by working hard and succeeding, they bury these worrying signs and struggle on as best they can. They are strong people and can do this for quite some time. Then comes the crash. A morning arrives when they can’t face work and they stay in bed, unable to get up. An incident
happens when they completely lose it—bursting into tears or getting unacceptably angry. In comparison, the second personality type is characterised by deep compassion and concern, willing to make sacrifices to their own emotional/mental/ physical health to help others. This leaves the carer, in a way, psychologically impregnated with the complex needs of the people they are caring for … it becomes hard for the carer to switch off from their role precisely because they are compassionate and want to take on problems. They can become lost in the sea of need that they confront.
GOD DOESN’T EXPECT US TO TACKLE CONDITIONS LIKE BURNOUT ALONE. CHILL OUT! There is no quick fix for burnout. It will take just as long to dig yourself out of that hole as it took to burrow yourself in. You cannot solve the problem with one holiday or rest period; it will require lasting changes to your patterns of behaviour and timetable. One of the first steps to combat burnout is to change your attitudes and assumptions. Do you need to challenge your ‘shoulds’? For example, one which has been disproven for many people in 2020 is that they ‘should’ go in to work even when they are sick. This year’s hygiene rules have forced them to realise that, actually, getting a day of rest is better for both them and their colleagues. Likewise, maybe you are someone who thinks you should fill your lunch break and other spare moments with work or tasks. Instead, activities
like stepping outside for fresh air, reading, exercising, listening to music or meeting with friends can protect you from burning out. God doesn’t expect us to tackle conditions like burnout alone. Reaching out to him through prayer and taking time to dwell in Scripture is a great strategy. Matthew 11:28–30 tells us, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’. God is also in community. Trapping your feelings inside can eat you alive, and some people are so overcome by burnout that they reach the awful conclusion of taking their own lives. Your loved ones want to support you—let them. They can keep you accountable as you pursue a rebalanced life through changes to your diet, getting out in nature, incorporating fun and creativity back into your days, exercising and whatever else you find is an effective way to recharge. In some cases, you may need to pursue professional help. You will always have some draining parts of your day or weeks, which zap you more than others, but they should not be the norm. Prevention is always better than the cure, so make sure you are constantly reviewing whether, on average, your weeks are draining or filling you. That way, when you teeter on the edge of burnout, you can recognise the warning signs and know that it is time to refill the tank again.
Source: The Essential Guide to … BURNOUT: Overcoming Excess Stress, by Andrew and Dr Elizabeth Procter. 17 OCTOBER 2020 firezone.co.nz 13
The First Dance BY JULES BADGER
Officership was the last thing on Natalie’s mind when Barry led her round the dance floor for the first time at a Ceroc evening. That chance encounter quick-stepped into romance, marriage and parenthood, with the pair now preparing to begin officer training at Booth College of Mission in the new year. Independently of each other, Natalie began Ceroc dancing in Christchurch, while Barry waltzed into classes in Wellington. At the time, Barry was one of the first Salvation Army LAB students in the country undergoing youth work training and living in community with 614 Youth Services. ‘I took some of the guys along with me to Ceroc and after the first night one of them said, “Dancing is better than drugs!” It was a really positive thing and we kept going.’ As a trainee teacher, Natalie soon found herself in Wellington for her final school placement. ‘I always thought that I’d end up meeting my spouse at some church event, so it was nice that it was dancing that brought us together. It was something separate and outside church that we both really enjoyed. Of course, we were both attending the Army, and one of the first things Barry ever said to me was that he was called to officership. He made it pretty clear that if I wasn’t interested in officership there was no point dating,’ explains Natalie with a laugh. 14 WarCry 17 OCTOBER 2020
Keeping time with God Choosing not to sashay around the topic of officership paid off for Barry, but there was certainly a bit of toe-tapping along the way, as he waited for God to call Natalie. Natalie wasn’t against the idea—she’d just never really given it any thought. ‘Every time it was plugged at an event like youth councils, I would think, That’s not for me and just tune out and not pay any attention. I never actually asked God about it,’ reveals Natalie. Barry struggled while they were dating, because while Natalie remained open, she couldn’t pretend that she’d had a definitive call from God when she hadn’t. ‘I was praying about the situation and felt God saying that I couldn’t rush his timing with Natalie—he’d call her at the right time. God taught me a big lesson about trusting him,’ explains Barry. Certain of their love for each other, Barry and Natalie married. Natalie was prepared to support Barry in his call, so they began the application process. But it was at a Delve
weekend (exploring officership) that Natalie received her own clear and personal call from God. ‘I went to Delve thinking, ok I’ll go to this and it’ll be a nice weekend away. I think for a long time I just didn’t want to give up teaching. But I now know that teaching is something I’ll do in a much broader sense as an officer. Now I get the best of both worlds. The biggest challenge for me has been just saying, yes, because I thought I knew what I wanted for my life. But, actually, God has a much bigger plan,’ says Natalie.
A faith of their own Natalie and Barry both come from strong Salvationist families, a wonderful legacy but, as many will attest, it’s also essential to discover faith in God independent from the faith of parents and grandparents. ‘When I settled at Rolleston Corps Plant, it was the first time I’d been at a church without my parents. Everything at Rolleston was new and different and it was quite a cool journey. I got to know Captain Naomi Holt (previous corps officer) really well, and she helped me to explore a personal relationship with God. I knew God and what he’d done, but now I wanted to go deeper with him. I was around 19 or so when my faith really began to form’, says Natalie.
‘I WAS PRAYING ABOUT THE SITUATION AND FELT GOD SAYING THAT I COULDN’T RUSH HIS TIMING WITH NATALIE…’ Barry moved to New Zealand from Zimbabwe with his parents and brother when he was 10 years old. The family settled in Howick, Auckland, making East City Salvation Army their new church family. Following conversations with then-Divisional Youth Secretary Captain Mat Badger about the LAB programme, God directed Barry through prayer to set his sights on Wellington. ‘I knew it was right to go, despite Mum’s disappointment that I was leaving home. But that’s when my faith went from being my parents’ faith to my own faith. I’d started exploring a personal relationship with God when I was about 15, but this took things to a whole other level. It was such an incredible journey. At 18 I really owned my faith.’
BOTH NATALIE AND BARRY ARE MINDFUL OF THEIR SALVATION ARMY HERITAGE— AND THERE’S QUITE A LEGACY. ‘My big passion is having children all receive equal opportunities. There are a lot of kids and teens who miss out because they can’t afford things, or it’s simply not offered to them. That’s my heart—to see everyone start with the same options. If I can help that happen in my ministry as an officer, that will fulfill me.’
Inspiring legacy Both Natalie and Barry are mindful of their Salvation Army heritage—and there’s quite a legacy. Natalie stems from the Valpy line. Her great-grandmother’s great-aunt was Arabella Valpy, the Dunedin pioneer who sent money to General William Booth imploring him to send The Salvation Army to New Zealand. Barry’s great-grandfather and great-uncle pioneered the work of The Salvation Army in Zimbabwe, Southern Africa, including the establishment of the Howard Hospital. Their newborn son Daniel Howard Kirby is named in recognition of this family legacy. While some might feel the pressure of such a legacy, Barry finds it inspiring. ‘They were such men and women of God and it really excites me that we get to carry on that legacy of faith and ministry as officers in The Salvation Army. Sometimes when it feels a bit weird, I realise that the Kiwi ‘tall poppy syndrome’ might be sneaking in, but, actually, I’m genuinely proud—there are two Orders of the Founder in our family line. Why wouldn’t I be proud? It’s something to celebrate and be inspired by.’
Passion Natalie and Barry are part of the Tawa Corps family and testify to the wonderful support and mentoring they’ve received from Captains Jess and Nathan Bezzant, as well as the many opportunities they’ve been given to lead, preach and serve. ‘I believe that God is working in everyone’s life at different levels, so my big ‘why’ is to partner with God in what he’s already doing—particularly with those who are unseen, often on the edges of society. The things they struggle with are a bit more obvious. I try to keep what William Booth called us to in the forefront of my mind,’ says Barry. Natalie’s experiences as a teacher, coupled with her Salvationist DNA, combine to fuel her passion for equity for children and young people. 17 OCTOBER 2020 WarCry 15
Wellington Police Honour Captain Joe Serevi
From left: Police Sergeant Anita Harris, Divisional Commander Major Brenda Luscombe, Captain Jo Serevi and Police Sergeant Tim McIntosh.
Captain Joe Serevi received a nice surprise when he was invited to Wellington Central Police Station, under the impression he was going to honour the work of a colleague. In fact, he was the person being celebrated! In recognition of his work with the Wellington District Court and District Custody Unit, Wellington Police stated, ‘The New Zealand Police cannot work in isolation, and partnerships such as the one developed with The Salvation Army provide a valuable service and contribution to our success, as working with and beside The Salvation Army helps us achieve better outcomes for our community’. Central Divisional Youth and Children’s Secretary Major Jeannine Serevi and Central Divisional Commander Major Brenda Luscombe were also invited to the surprise presentation.
Wellington Police particularly wanted to acknowledge Joe’s efforts to set up a clothing bank at the courthouse and prison cells, which provide suitable attire for people who are called to the docks or who have their own clothing taken away for evidential reasons. ‘Now, the police have opportunity to go in and say to people, “You can go in your boiler suit, but we actually have clothing, would you like us to bring you some?”’ Jeannine says, ‘The way they put it was that, through Joe’s work, these people’s dignity has been restored and that they actually have a fighting chance when they go up before the judge. ‘The Police District Commander was there, as well as all of their supervisors from the courthouse and Wellington District station, and they all spoke highly of Joe. It was really lovely.’
Salvation Army in Fiji Provides Lunch to Kids The Vishnu Deo Memorial Primary School is located five minutes drive from the Raiwai Salvation Army Corps. The school consists of 509 children, 17 teaching staff, 4 ancillary staff and 3 literacy and numeracy assistants. Right beside the school is situated Raiwaqa housing, which is a community plagued with criminal and drug activity. This is one of the challenges faced by this school. Most of the children who attend Vishnu Deo come from very poor backgrounds, and if parents are working, their wages would be on—or below—the poverty line. Unemployment has been a major issue for most parents, and when Covid-19 hit the world, Fiji was 16 WarCry 17 OCTOBER 2020
no exception, and unemployment has dramatically increased. On 30 July, at 11.00am, The Salvation Army leadership team—Divisional Commander Captain Andrew Moffat, Majors Lasarusa and Limaina Turaga and Ajay Singh—went to the school to assist in food distribution. Now, food packs continue to be given out every Thursday. The school management has been very grateful to The Salvation Army for taking the initiative to help the students, especially during this unprecedented time. The Headmaster, Mr Ashween Raj, shared that the lunches provided every Thursday had really boosted the attendance of the children, and is also a
big relief for most parents. The school team (teachers) have been really helpful in terms of packing and arrangements and also making sure that Covid-19 rules are followed. Mr Ashween Raj expressed his heartfelt gratitude to The Salvation Army for the support in providing lunch for the children. He said that they are very much blessed, and The Salvation Army has brought in hope and a smile to the faces of children and relieved the burden on parents. The provision of lunches will then continue for term 3, until the annual school break.
Westgate Houses Families Twenty-two whānau moved into The Salvation Army’s newest housing development, in Westgate, Auckland at the end of September. At the same time, the project was given a major financial boost thanks to a $15m investment from Generate KiwiSaver. Te Manaaki Tāngata, built on land already owned by the Army in Westgate, is the second of three Salvation Army housing builds. The first, Te Hōnonga Tāngata, opened last October in Royal Oak. A third, 46-unit development in Flatbush is expected to be completed in January 2021. The social housing complexes are funded in part by Community Finance loans in the form of bonds and via a 25year rental contract with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
Generate KiwiSaver is the latest entity to invest in the bonds, which are interest-bearing and encourage investment in socially responsible projects. Community Finance has so far advanced $34.4m to The Salvation Army from investors. Te Manaaki Tāngata is the centre of a new community connected to the Westgate Salvation Army centre. Westgate is an area of huge growth and Te Manaaki Tāngata is on public transport routes and is close to schools, shops and other facilities. ‘We want to give people the opportunity to be involved in a thriving community and to have links with support organisations like The Salvation Army and other social services,’ Salvation Army Social Housing Director Greg Foster says.
Zoom Youth Councils Less than a month out from the scheduled Northern Youth Councils 2020, Covid-19 alert level 2.5 restrictions for Auckland resulted in cancellation of the annual camp. ‘We’d already moved the date out once, so it was really disappointing to have to cancel,’ says Northern Divisional Youth Secretary Captain Naomi Holt. ‘We were really feeling for our young people because so much has been cancelled for them this year. Connecting together is so important for young people, so we wanted to provide something that could facilitate connection, just in a different way.’ An online event was held on Friday 18 September and took the shape of a Zoom call that included a Kahoot! quiz, drama, waiata and a message from Northern Divisional Youth Secretary Captain Nathan Holt. Naomi reports that, ‘Whangārei and the Far North weren’t limited by the same Covid-19 restrictions, so they were able to gather as youth groups and join in. But most young people and leaders from Auckland joined in solo. It was actually kind of fun
having this mixture of youth groups and individuals online all joining together’. About 40 young people and leaders joined the Zoom call, with Naomi concluding that while God is not limited by the medium, the online space just doesn’t have the same appeal as camp. ‘Camps are all about being there with friends—the atmosphere, having time together, late nights, campfires, those sorts of things. An online call just can’t replace that. Camp provides this chance to meet with God in new and different ways, but often the thing that draws people to camp is that comradery and those friendships and being away from home together. Even for those who struggle with large crowds, young people can always find ‘their people’ within that larger group. The online space is just so lacking.’ For those who did join the call, there has been feedback expressing appreciation for the opportunity to connect with others from around the division and hear from different voices to just those from their local space.
Campbells’ Chat Throughout this year Mark and I have been privileged to speak ‘virtually’ with many people throughout the territory. We have enjoyed hearing the voices and experiences of our people and to see our territory through their eyes. One of the questions we ask is, ‘Where do you see God at work in The Salvation Army?’ It has been inspiring to hear how and where God is at work in and through the passion and commitment of our employees, officers, soldiers and friends. We have heard so many incredible stories of lives transformed by the love of Jesus. Our journey with Covid-19 has forced us to see that God is at work more in building relationships than in buildings. God is at work in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, and our role as his people is to continue to look for what he is doing all around us and partner with him. ‘We are called to join a profound partnership with God to bring about the world as it was intended to be,’ is a quote from the book titled, Partnering with God: Being a Missional Salvationist, written by two Australian officers Lt-Colonel Lyn Edge and Major Gregory Morgan. Thank you for what you are doing to partner with God and each other as we continue to work together to see God’s kingdom come and his will done on earth as it is in heaven. NGĀ MIHI NUI, COMMISSIONERS MARK & JULIE CAMPBELL
17 OCTOBER 2020 WarCry 17
International Strategy Launched Throughout September, the International Social Justice Commission (ISJC), along with International Headquarters and International Women’s Ministries, launched The Salvation Army’s new International Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT) response strategy. Titled ‘Fight for Freedom’, the strategy is designed to mobilise and equip every facet of The Salvation Army in the • Prayer—We believe prayer is a foundational and powerful tool as we fight against modern slavery and human trafficking. • Prevention—Raising awareness and addressing the root causes of modern slavery and human trafficking is a vital element decreasing vulnerability. • Protection—The Salvation Army has a holistic view of health and seeks to walk alongside and serve survivors as they regain their physical, mental, emotional, relational and spiritual health. • Partnerships—The Salvation Army cannot do it alone. We must be ready to collaborate and network with others to achieve our goal.
Tribute: Rex Arbuckle
Rex Arbuckle was promoted to Glory from Christchurch Hospital, on 25 March 2020, aged 90 years. A private burial was held, due to the restrictions of the Covid-19 lockdown. Rex was born in Doylston, and his parents were soldiers of the Leeston Corps, where his father was bandmaster. When Rex was a schoolboy, there were numerous reports in the Ellesmere Guardian featuring him as a cornet soloist at local events. This was the beginning of a life-long interest in music. In 1944, the Arbuckle family moved to Christchurch, where they commenced a significant relationship with
18 WarCry 17 OCTOBER 2020
battle against MSHT. It envisions an internal capacity to practically address these signs and also the needs of survivors, as part of a global Salvation Army network response. Check out the framework below and stay tuned for a more detailed look into the New Zealand response in next edition of War Cry. • Prosecution—We support survivors through legal proceedings, enable the prosecution of offenders and work with offenders to restore a relationship with God and society. • Policy—We will create internal policies and advocate for external policies that reduce modern slavery and human trafficking and its demand. • Participation—Every corps is a resource in this battle. We are often serving those on the margins and in communities where no others can reach. • Proof—Ensure our response both contributes to and receives from research and is informed by evidencebased practices.
the Christchurch City Corps. In the following year, Rex’s father was appointed corps treasurer, a position he held for 13 years. At that time, the band was depleted due to World War II, as there were 10 to 14 bandsmen serving overseas. Bandmaster Suter was quite happy to welcome a Christchurch Boys High School fourth former as a bandsman, who was still in short pants. Eventually the bandmaster found a second-hand uniform and Rex graduated into long pants! He played second cornet for a few weeks and was then moved on to first cornet. Later he joined Luke Mayfield on solo cornet. Rex played in the band at the public funeral following the Ballantynes Department Store fire in 1947. The Christchurch City Band slow-marched the 41 corteges on military station wagons from the gates of the Ruru Lawn Cemetery to the burial site. He remembered looking back and being overwhelmed by the sight. Rex was corps sergeant major, the senior local officer position in the corps, for 12 years from 1966 to 1978. When a new citadel was planned to mark the centenary of the corps, he was appointed in 1981 to membership of the Building Committee and the corps Centenary Committee. In 1974, Rex was elected to the Christchurch City Council. He was owner of a St Martins service station and garage, when he was
approached by then-Mayor Hamish Hay to put his name forward for the Cashmere Ward. He wasn’t expected to be successful as a first time candidate, but sneaked in by 37 votes. Rex later said, ‘It was as if the Lord was saying, “You’re there mate but don’t get big-headed about it”.’ He served on the council from 1974 to 1980 and 1983 to 1995. He was chairman of its Town Planning Committee and also of its Cultural and Public Relations Committee. He was also a council appointee to the City Plan Hearings Committee and served on the Welfare Committee. As a city councillor, he was appointed to the executive of the Christchurch Civic Music Council through the 1970s and 1980s, and the quality of his service was recognised in his appointment as a life member of the council. Rex worked tirelessly to uphold Christian ideals in every task he was given. The Tai Tapu house that Rex and the late Vina Arbuckle had lived in for 18 years was left uninhabitable following the first Canterbury earthquake in September 2010. They had to live in temporary accommodation until, eventually, they could build a new house on the same site. In tributes, Rex is remembered as an ‘upright, honest and caring councillor’ and a ‘caring and understanding businessman’.
By Lt-Colonel Bill Allott
GAZETTE Retirement: Effective 31 January 2021, Majors June and Michael (Mike) Allwright. At their retirement, June and Mike will have completed 26 years, 1 month and 22 days of active officer service. June and Mike entered Booth College of Mission from Lower Hutt Corps in 1993, as cadets of the ‘Crusaders for Christ’ session. Following their commissioning on 10 December 1994, June and Mike were appointed as Corps Officers, Rangiora Corps. Kawerau Corps followed in 1998, with an additional appointment for Mike as Chaplain to Employment Plus; Central Taranaki Corps (Stratford/ Eltham) in 1999 and Linwood Corps and Community Ministries in 2007. A change in ministry focus came in 2011, when Mike was appointed Divisional Secretary for Community Ministries and Divisional Emergency Services Coordinator, Southern Division, and June was appointed to the Earthquake Response Support team, Southern Division. In 2013, June was appointed as Divisional Administrative Assistant, Southern Division, with an additional appointment as Divisional Silver Star Secretary. June was appointed as Assistant Divisional Secretary for Programme in 2014, while continuing in her additional appointment. We also acknowledge the immense workload that was added to June and Mike’s appointments at the time of the Christchurch earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, which continued for some time. In 2016, with a move to Wellington, June was appointed to Territorial Headquarters as Administrative Assistant, Executive Department and Programme Section. In 2017, Mike was appointed to Territorial Headquarters as Property Support Officer and June was appointed Assistant Territorial Women’s Ministries Secretary. In 2018, June and Mike were appointed Corps Officers, Ashburton Corps with the additional appointment for Mike as Referral Officer, Salvation Army Social Housing (SASH), and it is from these appointments that June and Mike retire. It is with sincere thanks and appreciation that we honour Majors June and Mike Allwright for their faithful and sincere service as Crusaders for Christ through The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory. We pray God’s richest blessing on them in the days ahead.
‘...LET’S LIVE OUT THE SPIRIT OF SALVATIONISM.’
For people who have committed to the Soldier’s Covenant, they affirm: ‘I will show the spirit of Salvationism whether in times of popularity or persecution’. It is an interesting affirmation being undertaken, but what does it mean? How Salvationism is expressed can be varied and different, depending on what you base your values upon. The Salvation Army International communication website explains Salvationism from the Handbook of Doctrine, which mentions it in four ways: Mission is the very essence of Salvationism; Salvationism is the task of calling people to new life in Jesus Christ; In holiness teaching one finds the very essentials of Salvationism … the intimate relationship between spirituality and service; A permanent mission to the unsaved and the marginalised. Here we see broad values that embody evangelism, holiness, and social action. Thus, Salvationism is encompassing and precise; wide-ranging in latitude, specific in focus. I have a copy of William Booth’s book titled, The Seven Spirits. It contains the addresses he delivered to Salvation Army officers at the 1904 International Congress in London. He took his thoughts from the Book of Revelation, where John speaks of the Seven Spirits of God. Booth highlighted seven spirits that officers ought to possess, and they are applicable still to this day for us all as Salvationists and speaks to what Salvationism means. Booth’s list of ‘seven spirits’ we should possess are: Divine Life | Holiness | Supreme Devotion | Truth | Holy Warfare | Faith | Burning Love His passion was that Salvationists would be completely sold out for God in all areas of their lives, dedicated to serving humanity with the love of Christ and, above all, passionate to share the good news of the gospel that wins others to Jesus. This expresses what the spirit of Salvationism looks like. I believe we need to be living out that same spirit of Salvationism today in our context, even during these strange times caused by the Covid-19 pandemic; in fact, maybe more so. Soldiers also commit to another statement which says: I will be faithful to the purposes for which God raised up The Salvation Army, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, endeavouring to win others to Him, and in His name caring for the needy and the disadvantaged. That’s the challenge for us all as Salvationists, let’s live out the spirit of Salvationism. Captain David Daly Territorial Secretary for Mission 17 OCTOBER 2020 WarCry 19
your vote counts When a local candidate knocked on our door a month ago, I realised how passionate I was that godly values be upheld, and that we can only believe for God to ‘defend New Zealand’ if we are actively involved in bringing about transformation.
Our country has voted. The months of election hype are over. Did the polls get it right? Did the Covid-19 response swing the result as predicted? But are there higher stakes than this year’s election? BY MAJOR COLLEEN MARSHALL
It was astounding to hear that the one-month delay to the election meant that 5000 people aged 17 would turn 18 and become eligible to vote. Did they scramble to get themselves on the roll in order to vote? 20 WarCry 17 OCTOBER 2020
Because it’s not compulsory to vote, many choose not to bother. Indifference is not uncommon and people may think, What difference will one vote make? Nothing’s going to change. The passive approach—what will be, will be—could leave a person without the right to criticise when there’s a downturn. At the opposite end of apathy, are those who are passionate and engaged in working for the good of society and upholding their party’s stance. It’s one thing to vote for a certain candidate or party, it’s a whole other level to become a member of a party and commit your time, funds and active support.
Politics and religion Politics and religion have typically been two ‘hot potatoes’, the no-nos of conversation in some circles, likely to spark heated debate and strong feelings. On one occasion, Jesus’ opponents tried to bait him along political lines. ‘ “We know you don’t play favourites and you teach the way of God truthfully,” they said. “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus asked for a coin. “Whose picture and title are stamped here?” he asked. “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well then, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God,” ’ (Matthew 22.16–21, abridged, NLT).
Allegiance or apathy Israel is a chosen people, the people through whom God brought salvation and redemption to the world. Yet, at that time, God despaired as he saw his people defiantly veering off, losing their moral compass, cosying up to the customs of the nations around them, apathetic to their calling to be set apart as a holy nation. As the resettling of the Promised Land neared completion in Old Testament times, Israel had totally lost the plot. They wanted to blend in, be like the nations around them. Their leader, Joshua, called for a vote. ‘Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord,’ (Joshua 24:14–15).
GOD WANTS FOLLOWERS WHO ARE PASSIONATE AND WHOLEHEARTED, NOT ASHAMED TO BEAR HIS NAME. His reply stunned them into silence. Jesus promoted an attitude of respect and honour to the governing authorities. Although the Jews hated the Romans who were ruling at the time, they were expected to be both law-abiding and God-honouring citizens. The deeperseated issue behind their question showed their motives. The Pharisees could not accept Jesus as God. It wasn’t just a benign denial of Jesus as Son of God, but a hot-blooded defiance. Jesus got under their skin. They wanted him arrested, gone, out of the way.
The people responded to the challenge and swore allegiance to God. Yet, little by little, they veered off again, and God permitted their land to be pillaged by invading armies. A series of judges brought them back to the plumbline of God’s righteous demands. Then came the prophets. God sent Elijah to ask: ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him,’ (I Kings 18:21). It was time for a showdown. The people were consumed with idolatry. The 400 prophets of Baal set up their altar and pranced about for hours begging their god to answer. There was silence—no reply, no response. Elijah called the people to gather round. He repaired the altar, laid out his sacrifice, then lifted his hands and voice to the living God. Immediately fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the sacrifice. ‘When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”’ (1 Kings 18:39).
his name—Christ-ones. Not afraid to show allegiance as believers, actively seeking to make his name great, and bring about his kingdom on earth. Not fence-sitters, wavering between worldly opinion and the truth of God’s Word.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ALL ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FOR HIS RULE IN THEIR HEARTS AND LIVES. Your vote counts Earthly leaders have their day in the sun, then they too will fade. The tide of popular opinion will turn. As citizens of our land, we are subject to the governing authorities—whoever they be—we pay our dues and enjoy certain rights and privileges. But there’s much more to life than the here and now. We were made for a greater destiny. Our God is worthy of all blessing and honour. We render to him all glory and praise. As people of God we have dual citizenship. Our names are registered in the Lamb’s Book of Life. He too has an agenda. We partner with God to bring about the kingdom rule and reign of Jesus Christ, the one who declared, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life’, (John 14.6). He is the one who fulfills all his promises. We await his coming, a harvest of seed sown, prayers and intercessions for our country. Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34, NKJV). We long for revival in the church, transformational change in society. The good news is that all are eligible to vote for his rule in their hearts and lives. There is no age barrier. It’s not ‘religion’, it’s relationship that matters. These days are critical! Your vote counts, not only for these days but for eternity and the Kingdom of God to come.
God wants followers who are passionate and wholehearted, not ashamed to bear 17 OCTOBER 2020 WarCry 21
OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Mark (Territorial Commander) and Julie Campbell (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) [online] 20 October: 10 Year Officer Review Dinner and Leader 2 Leader Forum 21 October: Global Leadership Summit 29 October: Rotoroa Island Trustees Special General Meeting 30 October: ASARS services workshop Colonel Gerry Walker (Chief Secretary) 20 October: 10 Year Officer Review Dinner and Leader 2 Leader Forum 21 October: Global Leadership Summit, Wellington City Corps Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Spiritual Life Development) 19 October: Guided Spiritual Retreat—10 Year Review, BCM 20 October: 10 Year Officer Review Dinner and Leader 2 Leader Forum 21 October: Global Leadership Summit, Wellington City Corps 28–29 October: Spiritual Life Development Network
PRAY Mt Albert Corps, Nadi
Corps, Napier Corps, Nasinu Corps, ASARS (Addiction, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services); The Salvation Army in India (National Office, Central, Eastern, Northern, South Eastern, South Western and Western).
Find SALVATION ARMY JOB OPPORTUNITIES: salvationarmy.org.nz/ employment
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400–600 words with one or two captioned photos. Promotion to Glory tributes are approx 300 words. Email reports and large, high-quality jpeg images to: warcry@ salvationarmy.org.nz
Address Phone Send to: warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz or War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
INTERESTED IN SOCIAL JUSTICE? For reports, regular newsletters, challenging articles and Salvation Army government submissions:
salvationarmy.org.nz/socialpolicy
Quiz Answers: 1 Rent, 2 John Keats, 3 Beijing, 2008, 4 Tunisia, 5 Locusts (Exodus 10:19).
22 WarCry 17 OCTOBER 2020
Snakes and Ladders!
Grab a friend or two and play Snakes and Ladders! You’ll need a dice to play, as well as tokens to move around the board (you can cut out the tokens on the right if you need some, or find your own).
TOKENS
Every time you roll the dice, you can move your token forward that many spaces on the board. If you land on a square with a ladder, you can move your token to the top of the ladder! But if you land on a snake, you need to follow it back down the board. And when you’re on the final run to the finish, you need to land EXACTLY on the trophy.
‘The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.’ 2 Timothy 2:24
Have you ever seen a snake? We do not have snakes in New Zealand, but you may have seen one in Australia or another country—maybe from a distance or behind glass. Snakes are another neat part of creation, slithering around with all those textures and patterns. However, if you happened across one in person, you might be nervous! Did you realise that snakes are more scared of you than you are of them? That’s right—these creatures with poisonous fangs are intimidated by us! That definitely does not mean that we should provoke them. If we make a noise or get too close, snakes feel threatened and bite. The best thing to do is back away slowly and quietly, even if it is tempting to scream your head off! Think about the mean kids at school. Most of the time, they lash out because they feel threatened or insecure. God tells us to love our enemies, but often it’s hard to be kind to people who aren’t kind to us. They can be rude, unkind or even dangerous; just like snakes, you should not provoke them. So how can you love them?
Spot the difference! Can you find five differences between the pictures below?
FUN FACT: Snakes smell with their tongues—and they don’t have eyelids.
Prayer! Pray for whatever they are struggling with, for them to find Jesus and for him to transform their hearts. Lift them up and love them from a distance. I WONDER...
Is there someone you struggle to love who you can pray for? 17 OCTOBER 2020 WarCry 23
THE SALVATION ARMY PRESENTS
11 Jan -17
Feat. Majors & Minors Bible Study Workshops & Amplify Church SILVERSTREAM WLG
APPLICATIONS LIVE 25/09 AMPLIFYCAMP.nz