FAITH IN ACTION 19 MARCH 2022 | Issue 6787 | $1.50
Intersections of music and faith Two years of our 'new normal' Prayer points for Ukraine
What do kids think about teens? Prayer when life diminishes
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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 Catherine
& William 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, Nicole Gesmundo, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Holly Morton, Bethany Slaughter, David Youngmeyer | 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. Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association. All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated.
Postures of Love It is natural and understandable for us to experience strong and complex emotions with all that is going on around us in the world. At the same time, as our quote below states, ‘we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of love that can bridge all divisions and heal all wounds’. This quote speaks to the deliberate posture we can take in a world that continues to show us it can be harsh, hurtful and broken. If we look around, we can see examples of this posture of love. It is in stories of Ukrainians tending to surrendering soldiers and Russian citizens bravely protesting against the actions of their government. It is also in people picking up groceries for their neighbours who are isolating or customers choosing to shop at local businesses who are struggling at the moment. In this edition, many of the articles seem to tie into this theme of response. We hear from Queenstown and Auckland City Corps as they reflect on a time of change for their communities two years on from the beginning of the pandemic (page 14). We are asked to pray and respond to the ongoing Russian–Ukrainian conflict. We also visited Miramar Corps’ Kids Church and encouraged them to reveal their true thoughts about teenagers (page 12). I am reminded that we always have a choice in the ways we respond. It isn’t easy, but we have the opportunity to notice these things and respond with grace, kindness and love, in the hope that it becomes a bridge for others. Holly Morton Guest Editor
SalvationArmyNZFTS
In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that can bridge all divisions and heal all wounds.
@SalvationArmyNZ
Henri Nouwen
Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission. Publishing for 138 years | Issue 6787 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry
salvationarmy.org.nz
salvationarmynzfts
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Psalm 42:8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. Ngā Waiata 42:8 Ahakoa rā e whakahaua mai anō e Ihowā tōna atawhai i te awatea; ā he waiata tāku ki a ia i te pō, he īnoi ki te Atua o tōku ora.
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Dear Reader,
W
e are in a state of flux throughout our territory. External forces impinge on our ability to proceed with ‘business as usual’. This has been particularly true in the War Cry space as we have cycled in and out of various levels of restrictions around the country. Some corps and centres have been open and able to receive hard-copy War Cry editions, others have not. Our online platform on ISSUU has been invaluable for ensuring that most of our readers are able to access editions regardless of circumstances, but we are concerned for those of us who do not have readily available access to the internet. For the past few months, we have been planning a refresh to our magazine. Today, we are soliciting your feedback on what the ‘new look’ War Cry might look like and ask you to consider what works for you in its current form and what does not. We would value your suggestions, constructive criticisms and praise. Everything will be taken into consideration. We are aware that we need to move towards producing more online content, but we will continue in our commitment to deliver hard copies of each edition to you.
In light of this, please take the time to look back over the last few editions, be that online at issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry or in any copies you have at home or in your corps and centres. Let us know what types of articles and news you would like to see more of. Maybe you have a new idea? To give you a teaser, we are considering the following: letters to the editor; artwork, poems and photography from our readers and contributors; a science, technology and medical section; and features with the ability to access more in-depth content online. There are many more ideas, but we need you, our readers, to tell us what you would like to see and read in your magazine. Please send your feedback to: warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz. The closing date for feedback is 7 April 2022. We look forward to hearing from you. THE WAR CRY TEAM
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Murder Mystery Death on the Nile (M) Directed by Miguel Sapochnik I was very excited to watch this film after thoroughly enjoying Murder on the Orient Express (2017), which was created by the same filmmaking team. Genius detective Hercule Poirot is on holiday in Egypt when he is coerced into solving a case of stalking for wealthy heiress Linnet Ridgeway. He ends up on a glamorous river steamer which then becomes the location for a series of baffling murders where everyone has a motive but also an alibi. The film started slowly and felt a little aimless which was a strange, especially since the audience knows a murder has to take place at some point. However, once the first murder is committed, it was all go and I was watching intently to try and figure out the mystery! The film is full of twists and turns and has stunning landscape shots and gorgeous costumes which makes it a joy to watch. I definitely recommend this film for a great hour and a half of escapism. (Reviewed by Julia de Ruiter)
Sleeves Rolled Up: The Salvation Army’s New Podcast When faced with the serious and complex needs of people in our society, many throw up their hands in exasperation. At The Salvation Army, however, we roll up our sleeves and get to work. Now you can hear all about this work in our new podcast, Sleeves Rolled Up. Hosted by our own Digital Engagement Manager Julia de Ruiter, Sleeves Rolled Up is a podcast that will get into the meat of the work of The Salvation Army. When people think of the Army, they tend to mention op shops or food parcels, but there is a range of social support focusses that The Salvation Army offers. The podcast will give people an inside look into some of this work, hearing first-hand from those involved. Some episodes to look forward to include: a short series on this year’s State of the Nation report and what it means for New Zealand; an interview with Glen Buckner, the national operations manager of Reintegration Services, on the importance of giving hope to people being released from prison; and an interview with Tessa Reardon, Public Relations business partnerships manager, on the success of New Zealand’s first online foodbank donation platform. We hope you enjoy listening to these interviews with our guests who are determined to see people’s lives transformed through their respective roles within The Salvation Army. MORE INFO | To hear the latest updates about the first episode launch, make sure you are following The Salvation Army NZ, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa on Facebook and @salvationarmynzfts on Instagram.
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WARCRY INHISTORY
Add this to the list of ‘things you might not have expected to find in War Cry’: a picture of former American President Theodore Roosevelt riding a camel, in the 30 July 1910 edition. Source: The Heritage Centre & Archives at the Plowman Resource Centre, Booth College of Mission.
TOPFIVE
In June 2022, Microsoft is officially shutting down Internet Explorer (gasp!). In farewell, here are five other various corners of the web which have also passed on.
Banana and Date Bread
1. Vine—The precursor to current video-giant TikTok and creator of many iconic, six-second-long clips.
125g butter, softened
½ cup dates
2. Google+—Google’s first expansion into social networking, which was laid to rest in 2019.
½ cup brown sugar
3. Club Penguin—One of the most popular children’s MMO (massively multiplayer online) games of the early 2000s, Club Penguin officially shut its (online) doors in 2017.
1 tsp vanilla essence
4. iTunes Ping—Yep, iTunes once had a social networking and recommending system. It launched with 1 million members but closed just two years later.
1 tsp baking powder
5. Myspace—Okay, so Myspace isn’t technically dead, but the social network has long since been taken over by Facebook. You can still make an account, though, so who knows … maybe there will be a comeback one day.
Charity provides crumbs from the table; justice offers a place at the table. Bill Moyers
2 eggs 2 cups plain flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 cup mashed banana (plus 1 whole banana for the top) ½ cup chopped walnuts
Preheat an oven to 180°C. Line a loaf tin with paper. Soak the dates in boiling water for 10 minutes, drain well and then chop roughly. Cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Stir through the flour, baking powder and soda. Gently fold through the mashed banana, dates and walnuts without overmixing. Pour into the loaf tin and smooth the top. Cut the remaining banana in half lengthways and place on the top. Bake for 45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool in the tin.
Source: countdown.co.nz
QUIKQUIZ 1 What is a drupe?
2 A rhinoceros horn is made of which substance? 3 Iguaçu Falls is located between which two countries? 4 What causes the big red spot on Jupiter’s surface? 5 In the Bible, which king oversaw the building of the first temple? Answers on page 22
Weird of the Week: In 1998, David Bowie created his own internet provider, which was called BowieNet. 19 MARCH 2022 WarCry
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Intersections of Music and F
Festival One, usually held in February each year in the Waikato, is New Zealand’s current largest Christian music festival. As the successor to Parachute Music Festival, many artists that write music inspired by their faith are invited to perform over the weekend. This year, due to the uncertainties around the pandemic, Festival One was cancelled. Marty Bryant, from The Heart of Katherine, and Derek Lind are two artists who were set to attend, and they share some thoughts on the place of ‘Christian artists’ in the New Zealand music industry. BY HOLLY MORTON
Faith
D
erek Lind has been a known voice in the New Zealand music scene since he began touring in the 1980s. He has released seven albums, with the most recent, Solo, being released in 2015. Derek has been a stable presence at these music festivals since 1987, from Mainstage in Ōtaki and then El Rancho, to Matamata and the showgrounds in Hamilton. Derek was raised in a very musical family, with a piano teacher mother and violin and piano playing father. In what he describes as his ‘own mildly rebellious way’, Derek instead chose to take up guitar in his early teens. Although he was in a number of bands across the 70s, and predominantly playing for Christian audiences, they struggled to find contemporary music that spoke to their faith, so Derek began to write his own. He stepped out into solo work in the late 70s and wrote his first album in 1986. Derek’s music fits best in the folk, singer/songwriter genre, with an interest in the storytelling and poetical potential of lyrics. ‘In the beginning, you probably model yourself on certain people. The biggest one for me was Bob Dylan, who had a more literary approach to lyric writing. Dylan brought a certain literacy and poetry to what he did that really appealed to me.’ Derek has since seen his music find its own niche, as he has grown less interested over time in emulating the voices of other artists.
The heart of Marty
Photo by Aneta Urbonaite
On the other hand, although Marty Bryant from The Heart of Katherine has spent a large part of his life playing and writing music, this year’s Festival One would have only been his second time attending as an artist. Marty grew up learning piano, but it wasn’t until he was into his teenage years that he made the connection between listening to songs on the radio and his own ability to write music. ‘I realised that there was music on the radio that you could hear, and those were songs that people had composed themselves. And I was thinking, these people who are composing these songs are just like me and my friends.’ 19 MARCH 2022 WarCry
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DEREK’S MUSIC FITS BEST IN THE FOLK, SINGER/ SONGWRITER GENRE, WITH AN INTEREST IN THE STORYTELLING AND POETICAL POTENTIAL OF LYRICS. While he was studying for his law degree, Marty began to write music and share it with his friends. After being in the legal department for Sony Music in Australia for a while, he felt convicted to consider his passion for music and where he was putting his time and energy. ‘I wasn’t focussing my energy into the thing that I really loved, and it became so apparent that I was doing that after those years of law school. I was thinking, imagine if I put six years of my life and the money that I was spending in law school into music instead,’ he explained. ‘So then from working in the corporate world, I got a job at a backpackers and I dedicated my life to writing music. That’s where The Heart of Katherine started because that’s where I actually began to take things seriously and really go for it.’ Marty’s friend Tom would come and play music with him, and offer to pray for Marty, who wasn’t a Christian at the time. ‘I was spiritually seeking. It’s not that I didn’t have faith, but we prayed about my music because I kind of got to a stage where I got depressed because I was earning good money but my goal was to have songs play on the radio. But at that point in time, I wanted to give up and I just felt really hopeless, said Marty. ‘When I was in the hostel room, after a day of jamming my songs with Tom, I wrote the lyrics for a song called ‘My Salvation’, which was like praying for someone to be my salvation. In hindsight now, I know I was just desperate for Jesus in my life, but I hadn’t found him yet.’ After moving to New Zealand and recording an EP, Marty had the conundrum of considering how to release an album that not many people knew about. For three months in 2014, Marty worked on what he called a headphone campaign, where he engaged people on the street in conversation and asked them to listen to his songs. Over that time, he collected around 2000 emails from people who would be interested in hearing more 8 WarCry 19 MARCH 2022
and then sent out his music video as it launched on YouTube. ‘I woke up in the morning and the YouTube video had 6000plus views in 24 hours. And then two days after that there was 12,000. That’s when all the radio stations started calling me and asking to play my song and so that was probably the coolest thing that happened.’
Faith-driven creativity Both Marty and Derek note that across the time they’ve been playing and writing songs, there has been a sense that their music intermingles with their expressions of faith. Derek explains that the expected output of writing faith-inspired music has changed over time. ‘When I started out as a younger Christian, there was an expectation that you would almost write songs that were more idyllic in terms of the expression of faith. I think partly that was driven by a mistaken belief that songs can save you. ‘I know songs can be a part of the process, they may inform the coming to faith journey but by themselves they don’t change people much. These days, I don’t even know what a Christian song is—is it a song that has sort of certain imagery, or that uses certain types of words? I just try and tell the truth and make it rhyme.’
‘I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING AND THE YOUTUBE VIDEO HAD 6000-PLUS VIEWS IN 24 HOURS. AND THEN TWO DAYS AFTER THAT THERE WAS 12,000.’ In considering what makes music and creativity faithdriven, Derek suggests that there is something divine about all art. ‘Even people who aren’t of our faith, who are practising artists, musicians or songwriters, they’ll often say that there’s some intangible, untouchable element to what they do. There’s just something about the process that is beyond their control. It seems to come from outside them.’ God is inherently creative in nature and breathes that life
into us, regardless of who we are and what we make. ‘We’re all imbued with a God-given ability to transcend the everyday and make something that sits outside of the mundane and the commonplace.’ There is complexity in the categorisation of music, specifically when it comes to artists who have a faith or centre their life around specific value systems. With the exception of overt worship music, there isn’t always a lot to distinguish ‘faith-informed’ music from what is often labelled as secular. However, what Marty and Derek suggest in the midst of a complicated and sometimes malevolent New Zealand music industry, what sets it apart is the people, their experiences and the way they move and interact in the world.
Working within the broken system Marty believes that he ‘couldn’t persevere in this industry without faith, without having some reason to keep at it. We know that’s how the industry is; it’s terrible and it’s broken down and it’s not working. But what I can do is make something beautiful in that situation anyway, and that comes from believing that God sees what I do. And when someone sends me a message on Facebook, that their mum’s passed away and my song came on the radio just as they got the bad news and they felt comforted by it, you can’t put a monetary value to that.’ Aside from having faith in the good that can come from their work, Derek also explains that it is important to conduct work in a way that represents his Christian beliefs. ‘There can be a prophetic element to what we’re doing. Who you are just comes through in what you do. It’s like if a Christian man builds a stone wall, it doesn’t become more effective if he writes ‘Jesus saves’ on it. But he can build that wall with integrity, be a good person to deal with commercially and be prompt and on time and take pride in his work. So, in being a musician, it’s not just about the songs, and your faith isn’t just an appendage to the lifestyle that you want.’ In that way, the opportunity for musicians to connect with one another and perform in a Christian music setting like Festival One is an incredibly valuable experience. There is a mutual offering in being able to perform your music to a crowd in a festival setting. Marty explains ‘we can have a moment where there’s actually people around that have been following your music and they show up and you share with them, and you can feel that you’ve actually made a difference’.
Marty has also appreciated the ability to bring along his band members who aren’t all Christians, but who get to be surrounded by worship, prayer and faith-inspired music for the weekend. Although Marty writes music that includes his experience as a Christian, he considers the music he makes for The Heart of Katherine to be accessible for anyone. ‘I don’t think that just because something is secular it means we shouldn’t like it. I consider The Heart of Katherine to be bridging music.’ He feels that people often connect more to songs that share a personal experience of faith, rather than just fitting into the category of ‘worship music’.
‘THERE CAN BE A PROPHETIC ELEMENT TO WHAT WE’RE DOING. WHO YOU ARE JUST COMES THROUGH IN WHAT YOU DO…’ Streaming collaboration In terms of ongoing projects, Marty has been working to create a sponsorship platform, Heart Music Group, to offer a fairer source of income for musicians outside of major streaming sites. Fans can sign up for different plans to be sponsors and have access to more music and early releases. He has also been working with other artists on the platform, with the possibility of using some of the funds to help boost new musicians into getting their first songs recorded. Derek’s most recent album centred around the loss of his wife and his ‘languishing period’, as he describes it. While he explains that you never really retire from being a musician, Derek notes that over the years, the ability to churn out songs slows down. ‘As you get older, you are much more self-critical and more analytical in your writing and focussed on getting it right. So, there are longer gaps between songs. I’ll just do the housekeeping and hope that something will happen, but I don’t panic too much if a new song isn’t coming out every five minutes.’ MORE INFO | For more information visit dereklind.com/home (Derek Lind) and heartmusicgroup.net (Marty Bryant) 19 MARCH 2022 WarCry
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How to be a GREAT Grandparent There’s more to being a grandparent than building a special bond between you and your grandchild. It’s also about including and honouring the parents and being part of helping the kids to grow up into wellrounded humans. Simply having been all three people at some point in your life—child, parent and now grandparent—doesn’t mean anyone has the blueprint for perfectly managing grandparent– child or grandparent–parent relationships. Here are some points to consider. 1. Don’t undermine the parents or criticise their choices in front of their children. If it’s serious enough that you need to raise it with them, do this in private. Likewise, don’t have a separate set of rules for when the grandkids are with you. If their mum and dad say no PG-rated movies, that’s the rule. If they say no filling up on junk food after school, stick to healthy snacks. Don’t use your time alone with them to earn favour. 2. Don’t overindulge the kids. Sure, it’s natural to want to shower those kids with love in every way possible, but it does the parents no favours if they are never the ones to buy presents or take them out for ice cream. 3. Talk well about their parents in front of the kids. Tell funny stories (not embarrassing ones) about their parents. Bring out the photo albums—digital or bound—and teach them about your family’s history. Help them see a different side of their parents. 4. Don’t be a passive grandparent. Keep up with their lives: ask questions and be a listening ear. 5. Make your home a fun place to visit. Rustle up some toys or stuffed animals, borrow books or activities from the local library and make sure your garden is safe for kids to run around.
THE WAY YOU BEHAVE—STRICT, ABSENT, UNINTERESTED, CHEERFUL, LOVING— TOWARDS YOUR GRANDKIDS WILL MAKE A HUGE IMPRESSION ON THEM…
6. Share your wisdom and perspective. Be part of helping them understand the world outside of home and school. 7. Don’t play favourites. You might naturally share interests with one child more than another, but it is important for all children to be shown the same treatment. Make sure they all know what you love about each of them. 8. Have fun! Show them that you can have fun and play too, that growing older doesn’t mean you have to be serious all the time or can’t goof around. Making memories with them
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is important; what they will remember most as they grow up is how you made them feel. The way you behave—strict, absent, uninterested, cheerful, loving— towards your grandkids will make a huge impression on them, and depending on how much time you spend with them, may influence who they grow up to be. Similarly, the level and type of support you offer their parents can have a huge influence on their ability to be the parents they want to be. Don’t get in the way of them thriving; be a pillar for them to lean on. Make the role your own and have fun in this special position in your family. Source: psychologytoday.com
TESTIFY! Jenni Mahaffey has been part of the Cambridge Corps family for the past decade after moving up from the West Coast to take care of a friend. She is now deeply embedded in the life of the church, and reflects on her journey to this point. Like most people in their 60s, I’ve certainly had a journey in my life. I grew up in South Canterbury, although my family moved around a bit because Dad was a farm labourer. My younger brother and I went to four different primary schools when we were young, and I struggled with that. I learnt not to bother making friends because you knew you were going to move again. My involvement with The Salvation Army started back when I was a teenager when I moved to Christchurch to go to Bethany Home where my first child was born. The total acceptance and love that were given to me while I was there made quite an impression on me. But it wasn’t until around 2010 that I started going to The Salvation Army in Cambridge, and a great deal of stuff happened in my life in between. I had pretty intense addictions of one sort or another over the years. Before I moved to Morrinsville, I was close to homeless and just had a couple of really bad things happen in my life, but then I had the opportunity to move to the North Island to be a live-in caregiver. My friend needed someone to cook and look after his medication, and I needed somewhere to live, so it was beneficial for both of us. That was almost 15 years ago now. My flatmate was invited to The Salvation Army to go to church, so I offered to keep him company. The corps officers were very welcoming, and they invited us over for tea. What they didn’t tell us was that we were actually doing Bible study after tea, but we kept going every Thursday anyway.
…GOING TO THE ARMY WAS THE FIRST TIME SOMEONE IN WAIKATO SMILED AT ME THAT WASN’T PAID TO. I used to say that going to the Army was the first time someone in Waikato smiled at me who wasn’t paid to. I had no family, no friends or anything. But when I went along to church, whether it was Cambridge or Hamilton City Corps, people always treated me as if I was part of their family.
my life, because he wanted to be part of my life. I would often think of Jonah, how he tried hiding from God and it didn’t work, so why was I bothering! I also learned not to tell God ‘don’t’ because he’s got a wicked sense of humour. I said at church, ‘don’t put me in charge of kids’ but then they needed someone to go to youth councils. I’ve ended up going for three years now, and I’ve even been to Easter Camp. There are a couple of teens that still remember our conversations and still come up and talk to me, and that’s really cool. I think that I got as much, if not more, out of it than the kids I was supposed to be in charge of. I found that right through, with all the different people that I’ve come into contact with and worked alongside, I’ve just been learning so much, and felt a real sense of belonging.
Cambridge Corps was where I gave up my fight and accepted Jesus as part of 19 MARCH 2022 WarCry
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What do children think about teenagers? To get the real answers straight from the source, we visited Miramar Corps’ Kids Church on Children’s Day to hear first-hand from children. We hope you enjoy reminiscing about what you thought growing up would look like when you were a kid, and taking encouragement from some of their heartwarming and entertaining insights. WHAT’S THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT TEENAGERS? I think they’re awesome, awesome, awesome. They like going on their phones and driving their cars … once they’re like, over 16. They stay awake for long. They like to sing [proceeds to sing a Post Malone song]. Teenagers like to go on their phones. They go on meetings sometimes. They’re older than us. They like staying with their friends and having sleepovers. They like having parties at night. They like going on buses together. They go to high school. They’re faster. [Note: actually, most of the Miramar kids think they could beat a teenager in a running race.] I reckon they can do anything that they want to do when they’re older, like an adult. They’re stinky! They are very very very very messy. And lazy! They’re creepy and scary! 12 firezone.co.nz 19 MARCH 2022
WHAT MAKES TEENAGERS DIFFERENT FROM YOU—OTHER THAN THAT THEY’RE OLDER? They are taller than us. They have to wear masks and we don't. They’re a little smarter than us. They want to spend more time with other people who are not their siblings and parents. They’re faster.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN COMMON? We both go to school. They have the same scooter. They have the same names.
WHY DO YOU THINK TEENAGERS ARE COOL?
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS HARD FOR TEENAGERS AND STRESSES THEM OUT?
Because they are kind and helpful. Because they’re fast and they’re friendly. They are more responsible. They listen.
People stealing their stuff. When they break up with their boyfriends. Exams. When a family member dies. A bat poops on their head.
WHAT’S NOT-SO-COOL ABOUT TEENAGERS?
WHAT DO YOU THINK GOD LOVES ABOUT TEENAGERS?
Because they don’t actually listen! Once they get older, they start arguing with their parents. They swear, and they don’t sing nicely.
WHAT CAN YOU DO BETTER THAN A TEENAGER? I would be better at running than them. I think we are more flexible. We are more cooler than them. (Hide and Seek) Hide somewhere in the bushes, they can never find you and they’ll become an old man if they stay there for 100 days. We can hang longer on the monkey bars. We can eat longer. Teenagers HATE their mum and dad. We’ve got a bigger imagination.
That they’re sometimes nice to other people. That they care for children. That they’re growing up. God loves that they love him. That they love eating fruit. Because they take care of their parents when they’re sick. They protect kids by wearing their masks. Because they love each other and pray for each other.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE BEST THING WHEN YOU’RE A TEENAGER? Being faster. We’ll be able to drive a car. We can drive a motorbike. That we’ll be stupid! We’ll be good at maths. We might think that we’re better than children. We might think we’re stupider than children. We might think that we’re smarter.
Special thanks to Althea, Grace, Hannah, Kora, Luke, Ne’emia and Oscar for sharing this scoop with us— we loved hearing from you! (And thanks to the big kids—Vanessa, Teghan and Sarah—who helped us get in touch!) 19 MARCH 2022 WarCry
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Two Years of New Zealand’s ‘New Normal’ BY BETHANY SLAUGHTER
On 25 March 2020, New Zealand entered its first nationwide Covid-19 lockdown. After two years of our communities facing overwhelming pressure with, at times, heart-breaking consequences, the officers from Queenstown Corps (Captains Ruth and Andrew Wilson) and Auckland City Corps (Majors Anne and Alister Irwin) share their experiences. What are the biggest issues you have responded to since the pandemic entered New Zealand? Queenstown: Our crisis response began as soon as the international borders closed. This closure signalled the beginning of a humanitarian effort as the community was so dependent on tourism and hospitality. The lockdown was like putting a lid on a pressure cooker. Workers in the service sector—predominantly migrants without strong support networks in place—were losing their jobs as businesses attempted to salvage what they could. Throughout the ensuing months, our welfare services largely supported young migrants who lacked the work experience to shift easily into new areas or who had stretched themselves across multiple jobs. Our church community was keen to get stuck in. Some manned phone lines to call those who registered their needs to the emergency ‘hotlines’. Others rolled up their 14 WarCry 19 MARCH 2022
sleeves and got involved in our foodbank. At the peak, we were responding to 50 food parcel requests a day and supporting queuing individuals with the basics. The Salvation Army, along with other agencies and community leaders, urged the government to open the financial support to migrants which was already available for New Zealanders. While our teams worked diligently with an unparalleled sense of purpose, the demand for the bare basics of life—food, warm clothing, safe accommodation—was simply overwhelming and required systemic policy change. Auckland City: Not being able to meet with each other has caused anxiety and fear within the community and corps. Lockdowns and restrictions have left people’s emotions raw, which has resulted in some unexpected behaviours. Not being able to connect with families on Sundays or at midweek
programmes has led to a sense of ‘not knowing’ when things will be normal again and this has increased weariness. More and more people talk about having a ‘Covid brain’ to describe not being able to plan for and organise their futures. Our Early Childhood Education Centre is struggling with declining rolls.
What stories have come out of the past two years? Queenstown: A sight that will haunt me was during the work to repatriate migrants to their home countries. There was no support available for them. It required the repatriates to board buses— typically departing at midnight in order to catch connecting flights from Christchurch—with as little as 12 hours’ notice. Twelve hours to pack up what life people had aspired to in New Zealand and farewell friends and family without knowing when they would see each other again. We had a church member leave on one of these buses, so I wanted to see them off. I saw spouses having to say goodbye to partners, parents kissing their children goodbye and individuals with such hopelessness on their faces.
A SIGHT THAT WILL HAUNT ME WAS DURING THE WORK TO REPATRIATE MIGRANTS TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES. But I also saw a glimpse of what a community can do when everyone has a shared mission to not let anyone fall through the gaps. Personal ambition, politicising and strategic positioning gave way to collaboration and interagency support. Politicians would quietly drop what excess food they had to the foodbank. Social workers employed by one organisation were dispatched to another where the need was greater. Lasting partnerships were formed. The Church found its voice as the public’s conscience. When one of us inevitably began to burn out, there was a community’s worth of support to get them through it. The night before lockdown began, Ruth brought home half a store’s worth of arts, crafts and baking materials. For 52 days straight, Ruth used those items and posted ideas for what our church families could do with their children during lockdown. For 52 days, Ruth sent messages of hope to anyone needing reassurance that they weren’t alone. For 52 days, Ruth found a way to connect with people even if she couldn’t see them. I (Andrew) can’t begin to express the impact this expression of love and care had not only on those families Ruth was connected with, but our own children too. Auckland City: Last year on the Sunday before the August lockdown, we were able to enrol soldiers and adherents. We have been blessed with generosity from the public which has enabled us to be generous with our food parcel size. There are stronger links between Community Ministries and our Early Childhood Education Centre. People tell us that they feel welcomed. But … we are tired. Whenever there is a lockdown or restrictions, we lose momentum. There is a sense of treading water.
How has your corps worked together? Queenstown: A number of our corps members formed a working group within our foodbank to help with the increased need. They were great at preparing the rescued food we got through our
food partners. Overall, the pandemic has heightened our corps’ understanding of what we do at a wider scale, and some have taken the opportunity to serve in a number of different ways. Auckland City: We have a great team who have stepped it up and those not usually involved in Community Ministries stepped in to help. We have fun together with many laughs at morning tea and lunch times. We have helped Ōtāhuhu Corps with some of their clients and been involved with the Divisional Mission Support Centre on site. We have been upheld to God by many prayers and encouraging calls and messages, and been able to give our families extra support.
Where do you find hope? Queenstown: The pandemic showed that the Queenstown community is built on a foundation of service towards one another. This has historically taken the form of service to travellers and visitors. There is a new imagination of what this community can look like when its welfare and wellbeing is made the singular priority. What I’ve seen from all sectors is that while we still have a long way to go to recover from the pain, anxiety and hopelessness Covid-19 has caused, this community will inevitably recover, with a deeper appreciation of what’s truly important. uckland City: In people. Through people. By people. We are A a united team that cares for each other and the witness of this gives us hope. We are excited about the ‘new normal’ (although not fully aware of what it could be). Hope is celebrated when we hear about people making the right decisions for their families.
What is different compared with two years ago? Queenstown: We have farewelled a number of our corps members as they look for more favourable work elsewhere, be that in New Zealand or overseas. Auckland City: When we could not meet on Sundays, we tried different ways of connecting with others: church picnics, Café Church, pre-recorded services, emails and calls. New staff have joined our team, which means we can better care for our clients. Our on-site café has reopened. More of our empty offices are being hired. There is permission to try new things. A Pastoral Care model ensures that ‘no one stands alone’.
WE ARE A UNITED TEAM THAT CARES FOR EACH OTHER AND THE WITNESS OF THIS GIVES US HOPE. How can we pray for your corps and community? Queenstown: Pray for our health services as we see a growing number of cases—give them the strength to keep up the good work. Pray for the continued unity of the churches and community groups, that we may continue to work together. Auckland City: Please pray for unity—for people to see that we are all in this together, and together we will get through this still loving each other; dealing with new information/requirements as they are announced; and striving in the ‘new normal’. 19 MARCH 2022 WarCry
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Salvation Army Responds to the Ukraine–Russia Conflict The Salvation Army is responding rapidly to the urgent needs of displaced people who have been impacted by the unfolding Ukraine-Russia conflict. Emergency response teams across The Salvation Army’s global network continue their tireless efforts, providing critical relief, strategic planning and emotional support through conditions of extreme challenge and distress. Eastern Europe Salvationists from the Eastern Europe Territory sprang into action with initial relief operations being delivered in Moldova, Romania and Ukraine. In Moldova, The Salvation Army is supporting refugees from Ukraine through the provision of free temporary accommodation and access to Wi-Fi, made possible by Salvation Army officers (ministers), staff and the innovative employment of Salvation Army buildings and facilities. Salvationists of all ages are bolstering the efforts through the preparation and distribution of hot meals, drinks and parcels containing essential items. The Salvation Army in Romania has sent emergency teams to work at border crossings in Siret and Isaccea, alongside other agencies and individuals, providing food and hygiene items to the large influx of Ukrainian refugees. At the Siret ferry, these teams have been of particular support to women, children and older people. Assistance for displaced people is evident beyond the border work in Romania, with one mother and her two children located to safety in Budapest from the cultural capital of Iași, solely through the aid of Salvation Army connections across Europe.
In various locations across Ukraine, particularly in border towns like the city of Lviv, internally displaced people are being supported through the supply of food and non-food items. Salvation Army corps (churches) and centres, such as those in Vinnytsia and Dnipro, are ready to give help where needed. Such relief work, and other ongoing activities, is taking place on all sides of the border, with The Salvation Army in Russia providing essential items to those affected.
Rest Of Europe The wider Salvation Army emergency response is being formulated and effected across other European countries. In Poland, relief parcels are being prepared for the anticipated arrival of 100,000 Ukrainian refugees per day. Damaris Frick and Captain Matthew Beatty, of International Emergency Services (International Headquarters), are strategy planning with colleagues on the front line. Salvation Army leadership and response teams in Slovakia and the Czech Republic are also assessing and preparing vital aid for the certain flow of displaced people, with representatives from both countries meeting together on a regular basis. Salvationists and friends across the international Salvation Army have 16 WarCry 19 MARCH 2022
Prayer Points for Ukraine Pray for peace during this troubled time. Pray for the safety of those who have been forced to flee, and for those who have already been displaced. Pray for peace for those who are experiencing trauma and fearing for their lives. Give thanks for the people who have been safely evacuated so far, and for the people working hard on the ground to keep people safe. Pray for the aid workers and give them the endurance to continue making a difference. Pray that there will aid, food and resources to meet the need, and ongoing hospitality from neighbouring countries.
responded to this crisis with an attitude of care, compassion and concern for their brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Russia through prayer and, where possible, through financial donation. General Brian Peddle, international leader of The Salvation Army, has contacted leaders to assure them of the deep support they have from ‘our international family’, which transcends borders and national identity. ‘Pray for peace in this troubled time,’ the General has prompted Salvationists. ‘Pray for the safety of those who are fleeing and for those who are already displaced; pray that there will be adequate hospitality from neighbour countries; for faith and courage for every Christian and especially for our people; and pray for the de-escalation of the battle so that the threat to life is no longer a reality.’
Pray for faith and courage for every Christian— particularly our officers and soldiers. Pray for the Church in Ukraine that they may have opportunities to spread the gospel of peace. Pray for the de-escalation of the battle so that the daily threat to life is no longer a reality. Pray for peace over the people living in our territory whose families are impacted in both Ukraine and Russia, who may be experiencing distress from afar. Pray for the leaders of surrounding Eastern European countries to support their communities and make wise decisions in response to the conflict. Pray that leaders will find a way to dialogue and that this would lead to a peaceful decision.
'It is said that, "a picture paints a thousand words". The images coming out of Ukraine speak volumes to my heart and prompts focused prayers for families, the elderly and the children. Today as the Global church gathers I celebrate that there will be continuous prayer for a people who are in great distress. Join in as we pray for Ukraine and its people.'
POSTED TO FACEBOOK BY GENERAL BRIAN PEDDLE
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Update from Samoa After a wonderfully busy Christmas season, The Salvation Army Samoa Region was glad for a restful break. However, just when all activities were about to start for 2022, Covid-19 came calling! With a record number of cases detected in Samoa’s managed isolation facilities, the country was placed into a short six-day lockdown, followed by a period of heavy restrictions. Lockdown in Samoa meant 24-hour curfew with only a short window when supermarkets and pharmacies were allowed to open. Samoan Salvationists, with technical support from New Zealand, produced three online Lotu (church services) during this time with great success. Many people joined the Apia Corps Facebook page and enjoyed a new way to connect with God and each other. Covid-19 packs with masks and hand sanitiser, sponsored by ASARS in New Zealand, were delivered to many families and individuals connected to the corps. Sunday School activity packs were given out to the children while they remained at home. Our first Alcohol and Drug Treatment programme and our first in-person church service back after Covid-19 restrictions were well attended. At Apia Corps, exploring the big story of
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the Bible, ‘O le Tala Tele O le Tusi Paia’, is the focus for 2022, diving deeper into God’s word together. Prayer is always an important focus for everyone in Samoa; it was with great excitement that Prayer Coordinator Soonalote Seumanutaafa was appointed, and prayer meetings have begun again. The Salvation Army Samoa, by God’s power, will work to ‘Care for People, Transform Lives and Reform Society’, summed up by the catchcry ‘Sui Le Lalolagi—Change the World’. BY CAPTAIN JULIE TURNER
KEEP LOOKING UP AND LOOKING AHEAD TO SEE THE WONDER AND LOVE OF GOD... Earlier this year, Mark and I visited the stunning Putangirua Pinnacles in Wairarapa. It was a warm day and the track was fairly challenging as we scrambled over river rocks of all sizes, jumped over the small river and dodged other people. There were times when we couldn’t even see the track, so we found the most accessible way. After about half an hour, I realised that I was so intent on watching the hazards and obstacles on the track that I was missing out on the grandeur of the unique rock formations ahead and above. I was missing out on what I had come to see. While I needed to watch the track so I wouldn’t lose my footing, it was also important to look up and ahead to see the wonder and beauty. This was a reminder to me of the importance to keep looking up and looking ahead to see the wonder and love of God as we continue to grapple with the devastation in Ukraine and other parts of our world and the impact of Covid-19—both individually and as a movement. Every day we experience uncertainty, challenge and change that require us to watch and focus on finding the best and safest ways to live, worship and work. As a movement, we are constantly looking for new and different ways to share the love of Jesus and fulfil our mission of caring for others, transforming lives and reforming society by God’s power, while coping with the increasing positive numbers of Covid-19 cases that are now impacting our families and friends. Keep looking up and ahead in hope and faith to see the wonder of God in creation and the love of God in the commitment of our people serving and providing practical assistance to others. See the joy of the Lord as people grow in their faith in Jesus. Be reminded of the faithfulness of God as we worship, pray and read the Bible together in person and online. God is at work and can be trusted. Recently, God reminded me of this familiar promise in Proverbs 3:5–6, that I have once again claimed for myself and The Salvation Army. ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take’ (NLT). Life is difficult, tiring and uncertain, but our God is faithful and promises to guide us through every situation when we trust him with all our heart and seek his will in all we do. Join me in trusting God by looking up and ahead to love to see the wonder and joy of the Lord. Commissioner Julie Campbell Territorial President of Women’s Ministries
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PRAYER WHEN LIFE DIMINISHES
In recent months, I have been visiting an elderly Catholic sister whose physical wellbeing has been steadily diminishing. The request to visit her came from a colleague sister a couple of years ago. ‘Please will you visit Rose [not her real name]? She’s not doing well at present.’ BY MAJOR BARBARA SAMPSON
At first I responded with a kind of chuckle. ‘What could I possibly offer to an elderly nun?’ The reply, ‘Rose needs someone outside of our congregation to be with her'. So I went. On our first visit I asked Rose if she had ever written her life story. ‘No,’ she said, ‘but I must get round to doing that.’ I thought, if you haven’t done that by age 89, when will you do it? I suggested we work on it together. And so we started,
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week by week, gathering together the story of her life—childhood, vocation, profession, teaching, travelling, serving; so many beautiful threads that wove together a lifetime of quiet devotion and service. When we had finished, a 16-page booklet told the story of her ordinary life lived in extraordinary ways.
A shared faith With the completion of that task, our visits took on a different flavour. We shared books and talked about heaven and prayer and pondered some deep questions: Where is God when he seems absent? What does God do with our tears? We studied the Rosary together— Rose the expert, while I was just a newbie. Gradually our times together became more about reminding and remembering what she knows than any new and startling revelations. I sang the songs she had forgotten, reminding her of the precious truths and holy values that she committed herself to as a young woman and has sought to live by for her whole life.
THAT GESTURE OF JESUS BENDING OVER THE SICK WOMAN IS A PICTURE OF GRACE AND GENTLENESS. ‘What shall I read to you today, Rose?’ I asked. She smiled and said forcefully, ‘One three nine.’ I knew exactly what she meant. Psalm 139 had become our go-to Scripture for reminding and remembering. ‘Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You perceive … you discern … you hem me in … you lay your hand upon me … you guide … you created … you knit … you saw…’ Those verbs tell the story of the amazing activity of God in the life of Rose and of every beloved individual. Those verbs are like the everlasting arms of God (Deuteronomy 33:27) that enfold and uphold us in every circumstance. Those verbs are strong promises to rest the whole weight of our life upon, even
when, or maybe especially when, we are in diminishing mode.
Jesus the healer I read of Jesus coming into the home of Simon Peter and being told that Peter’s mother-in-law was unwell and feverish. Jesus was taken to her and there he ‘bent over her’ (Luke 4:38–39) and spoke his healing word. Almost immediately, it seems, the fever lifted, her head stopped spinning and she got up to prepare food for her guests. That gesture of Jesus bending over the sick woman is a picture of grace and gentleness. What words, I wonder, did he whisper to her? What quiet prayer did he offer to the Father? As I left Rose, I held the picture of Jesus bending over her in healing and blessing. ‘Loving God, please bend low over Rose today.’ It was the simplest prayer and yet it may have been the most profound thing I could have asked for her. Those visits with Rose carried out in a quiet room within a spacious care facility became for me a glimpse of how life could so quickly diminish, becoming smaller. But is this strange stage of life a slow dying or is it more the preparation for a new realm of living? When the cave of our mortality presses closely around us, contracting, containing, confining us, could this in fact be a birth canal that will lead, force, squeeze us forward into something new and bigger, something as yet beyond our knowing or even our imagination?
Prelude to eternity I once heard psychologist Dr Anna Holmes speak about the ‘stuck place’—an experience that most people encounter at certain stages of life’s journey. She said the baby in the womb is in a stuck place, as is the toddler trying to tie his shoelaces, as is the teenager navigating the transition from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, as is the person lost in a mid-life crisis or a person coming to the end of their life. Every stuck place feels like a death, a forceful constricting that squeezes and tightens around us. But, she said, every stuck place is also a prelude to a new birth. The baby in the womb eventually makes its exit, the toddler learns how to tie his shoelaces, the teenager moves somehow or other on to the next stage, the person in
I SANG THE SONGS SHE HAD FORGOTTEN, REMINDING HER OF THE PRECIOUS TRUTHS AND HOLY VALUES THAT SHE COMMITTED HERSELF TO AS A YOUNG WOMAN… midlife stumbles their way forward and the one facing death finds the doorway into a wider, more expansive reality. Maybe this place of diminishment that I saw happening in Rose, and in life generally in so many ways, is not a stage to be feared but one to be embraced; a natural, normal movement from a tight constricting place to a vulnerable new place of birthing. Impasse Is this a dying I can feel raw squeezing contained and stuck a too-small sleeping bag grave clothes wrapped too tight? Or is this vulnerable place a cocoon’s embrace womb for a new birth? Is that a dirge I hear in the distance coming closer a bell tolling for me? Or is that sound the rattling of bones taking on flesh gasping for breath ready to rise and leap and dance? In this stuck, diminishing place, prayer is as simple as, ‘Lord, you know … Please bend low …’ When we come to the end of our understanding and hand ourselves and our precious ones over to God’s care and keeping, such a prayer may be all that is needed.
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OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS
No official engagements at this time.
The life and legacy of former Territorial Leaders Commissioners Earle and Wilma Maxwell
PRAY We pray for
the people affected by war in Ukraine, we continue to pray for the Kingdom of Tonga in this time of need, Jeff Farm, Kāpiti Corps, Keeping Children Safe programme, Kilbirnie Corps, Kolovai Corps Plant and The Salvation Army in Zambia.
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BCM Library to the rescue!
Earle and Wilma Maxwell were a force for God. Called to be Salvation Army officers from a young age, they enlivened and enriched the spiritual lives of thousands of people throughout the world over five decades of service together. The Master's Plan traces the Maxwells' journey from their early ministry years as corps officers in Australia to their time at International Headquarters in the 1990s, when Earle served as the Chief of Staff and Wilma as the World Secretary for Women's Organisations. You will be inspired and encouraged by the paths of service God placed before them and discover the truth of Earle's steadfast conviction that, ‘The Master's Plan is the master plan’.
From reference books for study and sermon prep to biographies and Christian living, enjoy unlimited access to the EBSCO eBook Religion Collection as part of a Booth College of Mission Library membership. Email library@salvationarmy.org.nz for more info.
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A COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS ON THE SALVATION ARMY & MAORI 1884-2007 EDITED BY HAROLD HILL
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Quiz Answers: 1 A type of fruit (with a thick skin and large stone), 2 Keratin, 3 Argentina and Brazil, 4 A huge storm, 5 Solomon (2 Chronicles 3:16).
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Make Colourful Sand Art YOU WILL NEED… • Sand • Food colouring • Zip-lock bags • Trays • Plastic containers • Recycled glass bottle or jar • Funnel • Large spoons Source: ArtbarBlog.com
METHOD… 1. Collect sand from a nearby beach (or you can buy it, if the sand at your local beach is too gritty or dark). Try to collect one zip-lock bag worth of sand for each colour you plan to use. 2. Pour some food colouring into a bag and mix it around until the sand is all the same colour. It may help to dilute the food colouring with water so that the colour will spread. Repeat for each colour in a different bag of sand.
‘They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and water gushed out.’ Isaiah 48:21
3. Pour the coloured sand onto trays so that it can dry in the sun. This may take the better part of a day, so remember to keep going outside to occasionally mix the sand (if it’s a rainy day, you can still dry the sand inside, it may simply take longer). 4. Once the sand has dried, put each colour into its own plastic container. 5. Put a funnel at the top of the bottle/jar. Use a spoon to put your first scoop of coloured sand into the funnel. 6.Continue to scoop in layers, alternating colours at various widths until you reach the top. Leave as little air as possible, as this will prevent the sand from shifting around. The layers don’t need to be perfectly flat, but make sure the layers remain separate. Fix the lid on top of your bottle/jar to finish the artwork. When we think of sand, we think of the beach—warm summer days, grabbing a towel and chilling out until the sun goes down.
: Fun Fact f quarter o Only one is t r ra De se the Saha is gravel, os t sand—m ins h mounta it w g n lo a s. and oase
Draw your own sunset
However, in other countries, you might be more likely to find sand in a desert. In a desert, the sun is hot and you could get sunburn, heatstroke, dehydration … not to mention the burning sand itself, with no nearby water to run into and cool off. And then, at night, when the sun has gone down, it can be quite lonely and maybe even chilly. It’s a place of climate extremes. The desert is in many Bible stories, where people (including Jesus) had long times of thinking, praying and reflecting. It’s also a place where God led the Israelites through and provided for them in the tough climate. Their faith was tested, yes, but it was also strengthened.
Why did the woman become an archaeologist? Because her career was in ruins.
One of the most beautiful parts of the beach if you visit at just the right time is the sunrise or sunset. Using the template above, you can draw your own! Pick whatever beautiful colours you like (or, if you so desire, crazy colours!) to draw the rising or setting sun.
For most of us, our tough times won’t take place in the desert. But we can take heart from these stories and remember that when we feel lost in the wild, God can use the experience. THINK ABOUT...
Have you ever been through an experience which was challenging, but strengthened your values and beliefs? 19 MARCH 2022 WarCry
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‘Today as the Global church gathers I celebrate that there will be continuous prayer for a people who are in great distress. Join in as we pray for Ukraine and its people.’ General Brian Peddle via Facebook
The city of Lviv, Ukraine