FAITH IN ACTION 19 OCTOBER 2019 | Issue 6728 | $1.50
l u f r e d n o W Life Its’ a
Conversations about mental health and hope— a special War Cry edition
Scarred but sacred: Suzie Harris Speaking up for young people: Voice of Hope ‘Getting Ferrelled’— A Tribute
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WAR CRY The Salvation Army
New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Andy & Yvonne Westrupp | 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. MANAGING EDITOR Ingrid Barratt | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Matt Gillon | STAFF WRITERS Captain Jules Badger, Major Shar Davis, Louise Parry, Bethany Slaughter | PROOF READING Major Jill Gainsford, Vivienne Hill OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box
6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Fax (04) 382 0716, Email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz, www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone
(04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@salvationarmy.org.nz, $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT www.makeready.nz | PAPER Sumo Offset
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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The Way of Love: A Manifesto This is my last issue as editor of War Cry, so I write with equal measures of joy and sadness. We are moving to the Waikato to be closer to family, and my husband Martin will be taking up a great job opportunity. But there is sadness, of course, in goodbyes. I honour the War Cry team—past and present. I also honour my husband, who has given me the space to be who God called me to be. And I honour our readers—thank you for being passionate and engaged. In War Cry, my interpretation of the mission goal to ‘meet people’s needs’ has been to give space for authentic conversation and hard questions. One of the difficult issues in our culture today was in the spotlight during Mental Health Awareness week—and we’re continuing the conversation in this special themed edition, with a focus on stories of hope and healing. I have always wanted War Cry to be an open door, where people can discover Jesus. And I have tried to never publish anything that might close the door to a relationship with God, for anybody. That is probably the closest I have to a personal manifesto. When we share the gospel, let it be in love. Jesus, himself, summed up the fullness of Scripture as simply loving God and loving others. I suspect that if we always, relentlessly, choose the way of love, we could really change the world. Ingrid Barratt 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 136 years | Issue 6728 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry
www.salvationarmy.org.nz
One of the main tasks of theology is to find words that do not divide but unite, that do not create conflict but unity, that do not hurt but heal.
SalvationArmyNZFTS @SalvationArmyNZ salvationarmynzfts
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Henri Nouwen
1 John 4:16 ‘Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.’ 1 Hoani 4:16 ‘He aroha te Atua, ko te tangata hoki e noho ana i runga i te aroha e noho ana i roto i te Atua, me te Atua anō hoki i roto i a ia.’
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any years ago, I was living in London, and after four years I felt the call to come home to New Zealand. Before leaving, I was asked to do a writing trip to Ghana for a mission organisation. The plan was to do the trip and come back to England for three days, pack up the remainder of my belongings, and go to the US on another writing trip, before heading back home. The best laid plans … Ghana was overwhelming, fascinating, uncomfortable, inspiring. I worked hard, interviewing and writing stories of Christ at work. It sounds cliché, but even as I sit down to write this—on the eve of leaving my role as editor of War Cry—I reflect, again, on what a privilege it is to communicate Jesus in my daily work. Back in London, I bunked down at my good friend Iona’s place. I took the quick 10-minute Tube ride to the local shops to tie up some loose ends. While I was there, I started to feel clammy and disorientated. I yelled at some strangers—I didn’t recognise my own behaviour. I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and saw that I was a greyish colour. I couldn’t remember how to get home. Desperately, I approached some police officers. Instead of their usual, friendly, response, I got a wave of the arm to move me along. It took me two hours to find my way back on the Tube. By this time it was dark, my body had gone into shock and I was involuntarily sobbing. I rang Iona and asked her to come and get me. Meanwhile, I waited at the bus stop, still sobbing. One stranger tentatively came up to me and gave me a flyer that said: ‘young person, stop
your sin and return to Christ’, then left without saying a word. Only one person spoke to me—a Muslim man with a long beard and traditional Arabic dress. He sat down next to me and said, ‘You’re not okay, you need to get to a hospital’. Suddenly, my friend arrived just as a bus pulled up, and we all jumped on. It was standing room only and I felt strangely detached. Everything fell away and I collapsed. I could hear people above me yelling, ‘Stop the bus! Stop the bus!’. The driver pulled over. The Muslim stranger got off the bus with us and held me up as we walked down the dark street. Just at that moment, an ambulance came along. He waved to the medics, who happened to be at the end of their shift and were heading back to the hospital. After he got us on the ambulance, the man disappeared. I spent a week in hospital, and they were never able to diagnose me—although I got plenty of visits from curious doctors, excited by my exotic illness! I felt God’s miracles throughout the turmoil. Iona, the stranger, the ambulance, appeared just at the right time—my fever had been dangerously high—they were my angels in disguise. But most of all, I have always thought of the Muslim man as my own real-life Good Samaritan. In all of London, the stranger who cared for me, the stranger who allowed himself to be diverted from his own plans, was a man from another culture and another religion. I will never know his name, but he was Jesus to me. Who is my neighbour? This man is my neighbour. BY INGRID BARRATT
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Nan Braves the Shave ‘Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui.’
The loss of several family members and close ones—especially her late husband, Aux-Captain Joe Patea—to cancer, was a call to action for Aux-Captain Teao Kauirangi (Nan) Patea. ‘I just had a thought that I need to do something more than what I’m doing at the moment,’ Nan says. Nan’s hair was shaved off as part of Cancer Society NZ’s ‘Brave the Shave’. Her efforts raised nearly $1500, and more importantly, she has inspired those around her to join the cause. Visiting hospices was another reason she felt moved to do something more.
WARCRY INHISTORY
‘Being in a hospice with my husband and seeing the fantastic work these guys do is one of the reasons why I put him into a hospice. It was also recommended by the nurses who had been tending to Joe in our home each day.
This War Cry cover from 12 October 1912 celebrated the Japanese Salvation Army. The Japanese Army formed in 1895, and in 17 years they had amassed 43 corps and societies, a training college and a range of housing options.
‘I recommend to people, particularly Māori, if your whānau are at the stage where you can’t look after them, please consider settling them into a hospice. Enjoy precious time with them for as long as possible, and know their needs are being met in 1 What is the time difference between a caring environment.’
Source: Booth College of Mission Heritage and Archives Centre
2 What is the capital of Belgium?
QUIKQUIZ
American Samoa and Samoa?
3 What do Bill Gates, Alfred Nobel and Mahatma Gandhi have in common? 4 What is the collective noun for bears? 5 What prophet ate a book and found it sweet as honey? Answers on page 22
As for her new ’do, Nan is pleasantly surprised. She was supported by a small roopu (group) of supporters on the day, including Ada Widdowson who opened with a karakia. ‘She [Bianca, the Kāpiti Corps Finance Administrator] loved shaving my hair, and seeing all the expressions on my face,’ she laughs. ‘I’m getting used to it. Let’s say other people are more shocked when they see me than I am.’ She encourages people to participate in the next Brave the Shave. ‘I believe one time soon God will come up with a miracle. ‘Don’t be shy about it, because hair does grow.’ Donations can be made to Cancer Society NZ online at cancernz.org.nz/ how-to-get-involved/ways-to-donate/ donate-now/
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SALLIEOF THEWEEK
Isobel Kenmare, Rangiora Corps Isobel Kenmare has been a soldier of Rangiora Corps for 22 years and is a member of the Corps Leadership Team. She’s served as YPSM and ran the COOL (Christ Over Our Lives) kids club for several years. She’s currently involved in mainly music and has been volunteering at the Family Store for the past 12 years. The manager describes Isobel as ‘reliable, honest, hardworking, funny, and a team player who is willing to do over and above’. High praise indeed! Waimakariri Mayor David Ayes recently presented Isobel with a Community Award! Congratulations Isobel—it’s little wonder she’s our Sallie of the Week!
TOPFIVE
Cauliflower and Cheese Frittatas
For World Sight Day 2019, cast your eye over these five facts about glasses.
220g cauliflower florets
Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fanforced). Grease a 12-hold muffin pan.
8 eggs, lightly beaten
Place cauliflower in a microwave-safe dish with just enough water to cover the bottom of the dish. Cover with a paper towel and microwave on high for 4 minutes. Allow to cool and roughly chop into pieces.
1 The first vision aid was called a ‘reading stone’. Like a magnifying glass, it was a little sphere placed on top of texts to make words larger and easier to read. 2 Despite their name, modern glasses are rarely made with actual glass. Today’s high-tech plastics can filter harmful UV rays, and are lighter and more durable.
¾ cup grated tasty cheese ¾ cup frozen peas 1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
In a medium bowl, combine cauliflower with remaining ingredients. Spoon mixture evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes, or until firm. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Tip: You could use broccoli instead of cauliflower, or half and half.
Source: countdown.co.nz
3 Each year, an estimated 4 million pairs of glasses are thrown away in the USA alone. 4 Elton John claims to own more than 250,000 pairs of unique, creative specs! 5 Your old glasses can be recycled. They can be dropped off at several optometrists and Lions Clubs, where they are then quality checked and passed on to people in need.
Drama The Goldfinch (M) Directed by John Crowley
If you’ve read the bestselling book The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, chances are you’ll get a lot out of the movie adaptation. If you haven’t, then the film could be a little confusing. The Goldfinch film centres on main character Theo Decker’s life following an explosion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, in which his mother is killed and he finds himself with a priceless treasure. A highlight of the film is the portrayal of the young Theo by Oakes Fegley and his young friend Boris by Finn Wolfhard. A story of guilt and redemption, The Goldfinch is a great story, but, as is often the case with adaptations of novels, much of the detail is missed in the movie. (Reviewed by Louise Parry)
Weird of the Week: Pringles can’t be marketed as ‘chips’ because they aren’t made of thinly sliced potatoes, but dehydrated potato flakes (PS: The man on the Pringles tube has a name—Julius Pringle.) 19 OCTOBER 2019 WarCry 5
Golden G
Girl
In an exhibition she dreamed of while in a psychiatric ward, Suzana Harris depicts the darkest moments of her mental health crisis, through to golden monuments of healing and hope. Just a warning: this story explores issues self-harm and suicidality—they are important but distressing. Please read with care. BY INGRID BARRATT
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uzie Harris is wearing a tee-shirt that was cut off her during a trip to the Emergency Department in Wellington. Later, she sewed it back together with gold fabric—a beautiful golden scar. I meet artist Suzie at her inaugural exhibition ‘Monuments of Hope’. Gold is a recurring theme—a self-portrait shows gold paint cascading down her scarred arms. Another piece uses a hospital polystyrene cup, with an explosion of gold at its centre. This is Suzie. A golden-haired, gold-hearted, scarred, sacred young woman of God. Today, she works in mental health peer support, helping others walk the journey, too. ‘So much of what I do is helping to restore people’s humanity and their identity and just believing in them. That’s what my exhibition is about.’ This has been a hard-won truth for Suzie. The golden heart of a dangerous and dark journey towards God.
Living life ‘frozen’ Even as a child, Suzie remembers ‘getting stuck in these strange forms of selfharm’. The oldest of five siblings, in a nomadic family that moved around often in the UK, she remembers punishing herself for mistakes by hitting her legs. ‘I think I was trying to parent myself and “teach myself a lesson” but not knowing how to do it.’ Often the new kid in school, Suzie was severely bullied—she had her hair set on fire, and acid poured over her legs. At about this time, her diary entry says, ‘I went to school today, tried to break my leg or die, but it didn’t work’. As a child, Suzie also experienced sexual assault. ‘Because of that experience, I had no assertive skills. I was living life in this “freeze” response, and I felt so ashamed and embarrassed that I couldn’t stand up for myself,’ she reflects. Childhood trauma is arguably the strongest precursor to mental health distress. Studies have shown a direct link between the number of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) a child suffers and poor health in adulthood— including depression, drug abuse, suicide attempts and even heart disease. It was at about the age of 13, that Suzie started to self-harm. ‘I got stuck in this very strong belief that something bad was going to happen—people were going to get me. So, I thought, “Maybe if I do it first, it will cancel it out”. 19 OCTOBER 2019 WarCry 7
Golden G ‘I kept using the only tools I had to regulate my feelings, which were self-harm and restricted eating,’ explains Suzie. She also started experimenting with ‘small overdoses’. It was also at this time that Suzie had a glimpse of hope. She had moved to New Zealand with her family and met a new group of friends. ‘At 16, a friend of mine invited me to youth group, and I went along because they were really kind to me. All of a sudden, I had these friends who were lovely and kind.’ She put up with the talk of Jesus: ‘I was very suspicious about God’, recalls Suzie—but she kept going along.
The darkest days It was when Suzie left home to go to university in Wellington that her self-harm escalated. She made her first serious suicide attempt at the age of 18. ‘I took this overdose and it was one of the first times I said, “God, help me, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if you’re real or not, but I need help”.’ Suzie called her own ambulance and waited outside for it. She was admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) for a day and a night. She kept going to church with friends, but ‘it was a very typical “prosperity” church and said if you’re a Christian everything will be good. There wasn’t space in the church for the depth of pain I was experiencing’. Feeling alienated, Suzie drifted away and gave up on faith. But ‘by some miracle’, she started volunteering for a youth organisation called Zeal, run by a group of 19- to 21- year-old Christians. ‘They were the first people I told about my struggles with mental health, and they didn’t dismiss it. They didn’t tell me to pray more, they were just there.’ This, for Suzie, was when her relationship with God became personal. But her self-harm continued to escalate. She describes it as being in slowly heating water—you don’t realise how dangerous it is getting. ‘I remember the first time I got stitches thinking: “This is intense”, but by the second or third time, it just felt normal.’ Self-harm became a compulsion, and she found herself in ED every couple of weeks. ‘I was in this pattern I couldn’t break. But, at the same time, God was totally there,’ Suzie recalls. ‘It’s ridiculous how many times someone came along at just the right time to save me.’ One time, when Suzie woke up in ED, her ‘watcher’ had filled five pages of a journal with prophesies over her life. ‘You are a healer, use your experience through creativity, find a way 8 WarCry 19 OCTOBER 2019
‘THERE WASN’T SPACE IN THE CHURCH FOR THE DEPTH OF PAIN I WAS EXPERIENCING’.
to channel these things that overwhelm you. You are a conduit … there were pages and pages,’ recalls Suzie. Suzie was admitted to the psychiatric ward where she spent seven months. ‘I remember crying and saying to God, “Just give up on me God. There is no part of me left. I have nothing to offer you”. And I felt very strongly God saying, “It’s not what you have to offer me, but what I can offer you”.’ Yet, at the age of 25, Suzie had had enough of living. She drank a lot, took a huge overdose, and stumbled up Mt Victoria at two in the morning. ‘I wanted to see a nice view before I died.’ As she sat in the cold, on top of Mt Vic, she had an awakening. ‘I thought, I don’t want to be another statistic. I started pleading with God, “Please God, I don’t want to do this anymore”. ‘God spoke to me very clearly: “Who is making you selfharm right now?” It felt like self-harm was happening to me, not by me. I suddenly realised that I was the one holding that choice in my hands, it was me. ‘For the first time I saw it for what it was: this way of living was not keeping me safe, it was not giving me life, it was not protecting me from pain.’ Suzie stumbled back down the hill, praying all the time that God would help her, and walked into ED. That was seven years ago, and she has never self-harmed again.
Learning to live Suzie spent the next year at a residential programme in Golden Bay that specialises in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). This taught her essential self-regulation tools to match her emotional state. Most people’s sense of alertness—or in therapeutic terms ‘arousal’—is around 50 percent. At this level, you can use skills like breathing, and self-care like exercise and sleep, to manage your stress. However, if your arousal gets to a higher level, you need skills for emotional regulation. For Suzie, ‘acting opposite’ is helpful: ‘So, if you want to stay in bed, you get up. If you want to stay sad, you watch a funny movie. You ask yourself, “What
Girl
can I do to help my brain not get stuck in this feeling?” ’ But if your arousal reaches peak levels, you need to employ ‘distress tolerance’— learning skills that match the intensity of your anguish. ‘What I find most helpful is regulating temperature,’ explains Suzie. ‘So, when I’m in that intense state I’ll often feel quite hot. So I have a cold shower or ice bath. Something that matches the same intensity as self-harm.’ A helpful acronym for distress tolerance is TIPP—employing skills of temperature, intense exercise, pace breathing and paired-muscle relaxation. To this day, Suzie is mindful about self-regulating by getting enough sleep, exercising and eating properly. In fact, exercise has become a personal passion. In July, seven years to the day since her final suicide attempt, she completed an ultra-marathon of 62 kilometres. Cloaked in an old hospital gown, she arrived at the finish line at the top of Mt Vic to claps and cheers—the very place she had sat seven years ago and decided to live.
Why, God? Recovery has not been a straight path. Just after leaving the residential programme, Suzie experienced a devastating sexual assault. This led to more years in the wilderness, asking the deep and disturbing question of God: why? ‘I couldn’t even say the word “God” without feeling so much pain, despair and disappointment. But the idea of living without God was terrifying to me,’ says Suzie. It was her friends ‘who were able to represent God to me when I could not see him’. One day, someone had a vision for her. They said: ‘I can see you, and Jesus laying with you, and everything that happened to you happened to Jesus—he was with you in that space.’ ‘I now don’t remember it as the experience, but as Jesus beside me,’ reflects Suzie. ‘That’s not to say I don’t have questions. I don’t know why it happened. But who I know God to be—the way he spoke into my life through my times of distress—I know that more deeply than I know the pain.’ This deep knowing helped Suzie find life again. ‘For me, I needed a dream bigger than my pain, and for me the dream was helping people. I wanted to use my experience for good.’
‘I REMEMBER CRYING, “JUST GIVE UP ON ME GOD. THERE IS NO PART OF ME LEFT. I HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER YOU.” AND I FELT VERY STRONGLY GOD SAYING, “IT’S NOT WHAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER ME, BUT WHAT I CAN OFFER YOU”.’ As a peer support worker, she now helps other people sit with the “why”. ‘The mental health journey definitely has spiritual aspects. Questions like, “Why am I living?” is a meaning-seeking question,’ reflects Suzie. Today, she reflects on a life rich with meaning. She is getting married in November, and we are sitting in the art exhibition she dreamed of 10 years ago during her days in the ward. Suzie points out a dark room photo of herself overlaid with handwritten notes. ‘There’s the clinical doctor’s notes and their labels, but then there’s the notes from my family and friends calling out who I really am,’ reflects Suzie. ‘Because I believe in God, I believe that people hold value and hold worth for who they are. ‘I am more than my experience.’
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Love Your Neighbour … ? Maybe you’re someone who chats with your neighbours regularly. You water their plants when they go travelling, and they toss your kids’ cricket balls back over the fence. On the other hand, you might live underneath the apartment where they vacuum after ten o’clock at night, or litter their front lawn with empty cans. Neighbourly relationships can become strained over disputes about noise, common spaces, parking and smells, to name a few. While the Bible calls us to love our neighbours, sometimes the people who live in closest proximity to us are the ones we hardly know or find hardest to love. The best way to get good neighbours, is to be a good neighbour. So, how can you be a better neighbour? 1. Be Friendly. When you move in, or notice someone else arrive, introduce yourself. Put a face to a name, and then when you see them around, say hello. 2. Keep the noise down. Whether it’s your kids, pets or radio, be mindful of those around you. If you’re planning to host a (loud) gathering, let your neighbours know in person or by mailbox, and give them your phone number for any enquiries.
4. Only involve the police if you are fearful of your safety or for property damage.
3. Check with your council before making renovation or landscaping decisions. Know your rights—particularly about shared spaces—and inform neighbours of any plans which might affect them.
There’s no rule that you must be best friends, but staying on good terms with your neighbours will always improve your quality of life. Who knows—you could make a lifelong friend … or at least find somewhere for Spot to stay at Christmastime.
4. Where possible, help each other out. Obviously, you’re under no obligation to pet-sit their cat if you’re allergic, but you can offer to help carry items in from the car or help with yard work—especially if they are elderly, disabled or living alone.
Everybody Needs Good Neighbours …
However, in some cases—despite your best efforts—you’ll still end up with unpleasant or nasty neighbours. Police Constable Julia Williams shares the following advice with Stuff on how to manage these situations.
• clean up the area around your house—being outside is a great way to strike up conversations
1. Always speak with your neighbour first. Begin dialogue in person or through a polite letter. Never accuse or shout; instead, try to convey how you feel and how their behaviour is affecting you. 2. Keep a record of all incidents. Write down dates and times so you can back up your claims if necessary. 3. Approach your local neighbours, neighbourhood group or council. See if other neighbours are finding similar issues. Where necessary, ask your local council to intervene.
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Simple ways to get to know others in the hood:
• start a community pantry • create a book swap station or Freecycle station • swap seed for your gardens • give a treat and invite your neighbours for a cuppa • paint a mural—get the neighbourhood kids involved • offer to help your neighbour in the garden or with repairs, or whatever skills you have.
TESTIFY! Ros Vercoe was first called to be an officer when she 13 years old. Forty years after that initial call, Ros is now an envoy—she believes emphatically in God’s perfect timing. I’m the child of Australian officers and was about eight years old when I made a personal commitment to Jesus. But God was always part of our family culture, so I feel like I’ve known him my entire life. When I was 18, my parents came to New Zealand for a four-year officer exchange programme. I came with them and did my nursing training here, but returned to Australia again. Nine years later I returned with my family and we eventually settled in Nelson. Over the years I’ve experienced a gentle, unfolding relationship as I’ve journeyed with God. But there have been two significant health challenges which have defined my faith. I lived with the pain of Rheumatoid Arthritis for about a decade, being diagnosed in my early twenties. But while pregnant and breastfeeding I couldn’t be on the usual medication. So, while I managed as best I could with alternative medication, with two young boys to care for I was really struggling. One day I was in the shower struggling to even wash my hair, when out of nowhere the idea of healing popped into my head. I thought to myself, ‘Well that doesn’t happen to me—other people maybe—but not me!’ So, I said to God, ‘Ok if that’s you speaking, God, somebody will mention healing to me at “Music and Movement” this morning’. Sylvie Shanks came up to me and said, ‘How are you?’ And I replied, ‘I’m not having a good day’. And then she asked if I had ever thought about having prayer for healing—I couldn’t believe it! Soon after, the corps leadership
Envoy Ros Vercoe, left, receives her Envoy from Territorial Leaders Commissioners Yvonne & Andy Westrupp.
IT WAS A HUGE WITNESS TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO HER THAT GOD HAD FULLY HEALED ME. team came to my home and prayed for me. I was completely healed. When I was pregnant with my third son, I went to the radiologist for a pregnancy scan. When the receptionist saw me walking without splints and without any support for my hands she was blown away. It was a huge witness to be able to explain to her that God had fully healed me. Then, in 2008, I had an anaphylactic reaction to anaesthetic during surgery. I died on the table and had to be resuscitated—clearly God wasn’t finished with me yet! Despite these health scares, I’ve never questioned God’s existence—in fact, quite the opposite. My faith has been stretched and grown during these (and
other) times of challenge. The quiet confidence that God is with me and has called me has never left. It’s no surprise that I’ve said ‘yes’ to full time ministry after all these years, because God’s timing is perfect, and I know he’s always had a plan. As an envoy, I have just taken up the appointment of Assistant Corps Leader and Director of Community Ministries in Nelson Tasman Bays. God’s used all the circumstances of my life to make me who I am today, so I just offer it all back to him now in service. As Jeremiah so beautifully puts it: ‘For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future’, (Jeremiah 29:11). 19 OCTOBER 2019 WarCry 11
Voices of Hope is a mental health advocacy group for young people, by young people. It’s important we give this generation the language to speak up, they say. BY JULES BADGER
Genevieve Mora, 25-year-old Genevieve Mora (left) and Jazz Thornton, founders of Voices of Hope. co-founder of Voices of Hope (VOH), feel like this too—someone understands what I’m going makes it clear that you don’t have to go through mental through”,’ Gen reports. illness yourself to support someone who is suffering. VOH uses a variety of creative platforms to get their ‘Just be there. And don’t judge,’ she says. important message out to those who need it most—with And Genevieve would know, because as a teenager social media being the key space for the exceptional she was in and out of hospital with anorexia nervosa and video content they create. obsessive-compulsive disorder. But the support and care ‘We create content that tells the stories of those with she received from family, friends and professionals saved lived experience—from a place of wellness. We ask people and changed her life. A survivor of mental illness, Gen now actively pursues to share what they’ve been through, their recovery journey and the practical tools they use to support wellness. wellness using a variety of mental health strategies. For some that’s music or journaling—it’s different for Together with Jazz Thornton (24), Gen spends her days everyone—but the aim is that people watching will think, championing hope and promoting wellbeing for all New “Oh wow, she had severe depression, but she got through Zealanders. it—so I can too. There is hope for me”.’ Following the tragic suicide of one of Jazz’s friends, VOH also produces and shares podcasts, as well as Gen messaged Jazz who was on the other side of the written contributions from those with lived experience, world, saying: ‘Hey I’m really sick of hearing stories like clinical psychologists and other professionals. But it’s this. I’ve had my own battle with mental illness and I’d really like to do something about it!’ the video content that has the greatest impact. Jazz Jazz agreed emphatically, and Voices of Hope was studied directing and is now a professional documentary born with the website fully launched in January 2017. The maker. A graduate of South Seas Film School (NZ), she’s had plenty of her old classmates contribute to VOH’s mission of VOH is to provide hope for those struggling work in recent years. with mental health issues by promoting mental wellbeing, ‘It’s such a simple way to give people hope and it empowerment and recovery. reaches all over the world,’ Gen says. ‘A mother contacted us from Canada because her daughter had been planning to take her life, but after watching one of our videos instead said, “Mum, I’m not doing well”.’ Collaborating with other mental heath organisations,
CREATIVITY AND COLLABORATION
partnering with community groups and corporate sponsors, speaking at schools and events both here and overseas, Gen and Jazz are making a difference. ‘Last year when VOH was on tour around New Zealand, a young woman came up to me and said, “You’ve just saved my life. I know I’m not alone now—other people 12 firezone.co.nz 19 OCTOBER 2019
SO, WHAT DOES HOPE LOOK LIKE? Genevieve explains that, ‘without hope there’s nothing. When you’re fighting mental illness, it can feel like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. And if you’ve lost hope
Tips for supporting a friend who’s struggling • Remember that you don’t have to have all the answers to be supportive. • Ask your friend questions about how you can help—don’t assume anything. • Brainstorm sources of distress/triggers together. • Discuss the symptoms they are experiencing. • Remind them of their value to you, and of things they are good at. • Help them picture the future and define hope. • Encourage communication and check in to see how they are tracking. • Learn about mental illness from a reputable source like VOH or depression.org.
• Go with them to see a professional if that’s the difference between them going or not. • Reach out to adults or parents if you’re really concerned about disturbing or lifethreatening behaviours (your friend will thank you in the long run). • Take care of your own mental wellbeing. • Pray. It’s not a little thing—it’s a powerful weapon that can make a huge difference! Please remember that as a support person, if things escalate for your friend, the responsibility for recovery and wellness lies primarily within their own actions. You’re a friend, not a trained professional, so concentrate on being a friend. If you’re concerned for their safety make sure you seek medical advice.
• Remind them of other safe people they can talk to—a GP, youth worker, counsellor.
it’s so much harder to recover. So, we say, in order to fight, you must know what you’re fighting for. Helping people define hope and embrace it is big for us—fundamental. For some it’s as basic as believing they can get through the day. And then the next day. It’s holding onto the hope that life will get better. The hope of a better relationship or freedom from addiction. Hope for the future. Hope needs to have substance if it’s to save lives.’ Gen is passionate about making sure everyone— especially young people—understand that mental health is a continuum. ‘We all have mental health,’ she says, ‘but we’re not all mentally unwell. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be intentional about looking after our mental health. Life isn’t perfect and we all have the potential to fall into unwellness. Life gets messy and we experience pitfalls and sometimes even challenges that threaten to overwhelm us. So, we need to look after ourselves, and each other.’
about mental health easier is a no-brainer. We’re finally talking about things that were once kept quiet! We are a very informed generation who can connect easily without being face to face—which means we can also get the help and tools out to people who are struggling,’ she explains. ‘So, why would we go back to silence and misinformation?’ www.voicesofhope.org
Below left: Genevieve Mora in 2010, admitted to hospital due to her eating disorder. Below right: Genevieve as part of the Voices of Hope #IChooseHope campaign.
• Be there. Listen. Don’t judge. Love.
MILLENNIAL LANGUAGE Some worry that millennials have a propensity to overidentify with mental illness because of social media and easy access to information. But Genevieve is not convinced. ‘My generation is the first to grow up with language around mental health—which is a good thing. Some might argue that talking about mental illness and suicide can give people ideas, but I would counter with the statement that having a language that makes talking
When we put our hope in Christ, we’re putting our hope in a person who provides hope through his Holy Spirit. Now that’s concrete assurance of hope! Talk to your youth pastor or officer today to know more. 19 OCTOBER 2019 WarCry 13
‘Getting Ferrelled’: A Tribute
Creator of The Salvation Army’s Twelve Steps programme Ferrell Irvine is retiring after 25 years contributing to the wellbeing of a generation of Salvationists. A dinner will be held in her honour on 29 October, and War Cry pays tribute to her legacy. BY JULES BADGER
Therapist Ferrell Irvine’s work with Salvationists began when Major Harold Hill, then corps officer at Wellington City Corps, asked her to consider working with some of the ‘screwed-up people’ in his sphere of ministry at the time. ‘I wasn’t thinking of the Salvationists so much—maybe I didn’t have much hope for them anyway,’ he laughs. ‘But we had folk from the Bridge and street people and others with many problems. Ferrell said she’d come and meet with us, to give us some ideas about what we could do to help people. After meeting us though, she said she’d like to work with us first because she could see we were all workaholics!’ Ferrell—a bio-energetic psychoanalyst, which means someone who works with both the body and psychology—worked with Harold and his team for two years. ‘There were many insights and moments,’ recalls Harold. ‘But for me, one of the big things was realising that you can be a Salvation Army officer who works too much, or an officer who cops out, but really you’re both reacting to the same thing. They are just two different management systems to deal with fear and anger.’ Harold’s wife, Pat, worked through the steps at the same time and says it simply saved her life. Later, Harold asked Ferrell to come and speak at a Lieutenants’ five-year review. One of the participants said, ‘Harold, we need this lady for two weeks, not two hours.’ At the end of the session Harold asked how many would be interested and everyone put their hands up. 14 WarCry 19 OCTOBER 2019
In the years that followed, Ferrell and Harold ran workshops for both officers and anyone else who wanted to come. ‘We used an American book on recovery at first, but I quickly realised we had to write our own material, as Ferrell was making so much up as we went along. So, I began by recording sessions which were typed up later, and that’s how we put the manual together.’ The Twelve Steps course is based on the original Alcoholics Anonymous programme, which guides participants to work through an inventory of past hurts to find healing and grow spiritually. Hundreds of people have worked through the steps, and the course is now part of the curriculum for officer training. If you trained as an officer in the last 25 years, you will be very familiar with Ferrell Irvine. The no-nonsense programme has been affectionately dubbed ‘getting Ferrelled’—with many officers seeing Ferrell beyond training, to continue their own self-awareness journey and extend their emotional capacity to help others heal. Developing the Twelve Steps Workshop has been a God-given role for Ferrell: ‘The steps are a shame-reduction programme,’ she says. ‘Shame is soul-murder. At the base of things, it’s the belief that “I’m worthless”. It’s a spiritual issue, and no human can deal with it alone.’ Ferrell loves helping people find freedom from shame and finally understand that they are loved by God. Major Vyvyenne Noakes worked closely with Ferrell during her tenure as Senior Training Officer at Booth College of Mission.
‘FERRELL HAS HELPED SO MANY OF US UNDERSTAND THAT THE TWELVE STEPS AREN’T JUST FOR THOSE DEALING WITH ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE USE … ’ She says Ferrell has had a significant impact on the training of cadets, not just in New Zealand but also Fiji and Tonga. ‘We weren’t sure how the 12 Steps would go in the Pacific, but with her vivacious and bubbly personality, Ferrell helped whole families heal from generational issues. Officers who’d been through the course themselves ran it in corps and centres with incredible results,’ Vyvyenne says. Ferrell’s supervision work among officers has also been powerful. ‘Ferrell’s teaching about healthy boundaries, wellbeing and resilience in ministry has been invaluable to The Salvation Army,’ affirms Vyvyenne. ‘She’s authentic because she’s been through trauma herself, but it’s the depth of her relationship with God that is her true strength. Ferrell has helped so many of us understand that the Twelve Steps aren’t just for those dealing with addiction and substance use, but a means for all of us to deal with life’s hurts—caused by our own sin or that of others—and process that pain.’ Major Liz Gainsford agrees: ‘Ferrell has helped so many people face unresolved issues and discover their full potential. Completely sold out to the benefits of the programme, Ferrell is committed to people’s wholeness. Most cadets found the Twelve Steps extremely helpful, if not somewhat painful along the way. Ferrell was always generous with her time and would continue to see individual cadets until she was confident that they were in a good space.’ Major Glenys Fairhurst will be taking on the mantle of Twelve Steps course facilitator. She beautifully describes Ferrell’s legacy, by comparing her to the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume: while onlookers criticised her for the cost of the gift, Jesus said, ‘What she has done will be remembered’. This summarises Ferrell’s ministry perfectly, says Glenys. Glenys has been progressively trained by Ferrell over the past five years. Despite having big shoes to fill, she is undaunted. Twelve Steps is more than just an appointment she’s been given, she was undeniably called by God to this work in 2013. ‘I did Twelve Steps with Ferrell shortly after my husband died, and God spoke so clearly to me I couldn’t argue! Using the words of Paul to Timothy in The Message version of the Bible, God said, “Throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me ... to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others”.’ So, alongside Wellington counsellor Ros Jaquiery, Glenys will pick up the baton passed by Ferrell and continue to run the race—helping others to step into greater healing and wholeness.
Community Finance Turns Five August marked five years of Community Finance loans. In addition to its well established Financial Mentoring service, The Salvation Army has held more than 5800 financial conversations with Community Finance clients. These clients are often heavily indebted—often a result of taking out emergency loans with third-tier lenders that charge interest rates as high as 400 percent. The loan programme helps people avoid this cycle of debt. ‘People often think all debt is bad, but that’s not the case,’ The Salvation Army Community Finance Coordinator Siobhan Deans said. ‘When debt is used responsibly it can be incredibly empowering.’ One example was a young man who quit his job which was steeped in drug use and gang activity. He was fearful for his safety. He was out of work for several months, but he found a job three weeks after obtaining a loan, through The Salvation Army, to purchase a car. Another loan was made to a woman who had the same dentures for many years. They rubbed her gums and she was in constant pain and struggling to eat. Unable to afford new dentures, she approached The Salvation Army for a loan that allowed her to get dentures that fitted properly, and continue working. One of the more unusual loans was made for an elderly woman whose K-9 companion was very sick and needed treatment. Unable to afford a vet’s bill, the owner thought she would have to get him put to sleep. But thanks to a community finance loan and the generosity of the vet who discounted his service, the dog was saved. The Salvation Army sees itself as a ‘disrupter’ in society and the Community Finance collaboration is an extension of this. Siobhan says people on limited incomes are struggling to pay for their basic costs of living—throw in an emergency dental visit, or a car breaking down, and they have to find the money somewhere. Banks often won’t lend to these clients, who may be unable to meet income thresholds for a loan, or have a bad credit rating— often the result of being unable to pay back high-interest lenders in the first place. People have been lent to in irresponsible ways, with few checks on their ability to repay the debt, so the client often can’t keep up with repayments. They may only miss one payment, but the consequences are long-term and costly. Some lenders will charge a default fee, which continues for the life of the loan. ‘You may never forget to be on time again but because you missed one payment, you’re charged a default fee every week,’ Siobhan says. The Community Finance loans enable people to make necessary purchases, without taking on crippling and life-long debt. Community Finance was established by Good Shepherd NZ and Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) supported by the Ministry of Social Development to provide NILS no interest and StepUP low-interest loans for people living on limited incomes to purchase essential items. Loans and appropriate financial support are delivered via community provider partners, including The Salvation Army. 19 OCTOBER 2019 WarCry 15
First Soldiers’ Brengle in Tonga It was a weekend of Holy Spirit encounter, as Tonga held a Solders’ Brengle weekend for the very first time, from 30 August–1 September. It was led by Major Malcolm Herring and assisted by translator Captain Sila Siufanga, with 23 senior soldiers. We were reminded of how to live a holy life, the importance of the Holy Spirit, who the Holy Spirit is and how to encounter it. At times, we pray and acknowledge God and Jesus, but we forget the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity. He can be denied (2 Timothy 3:5), lied to (Acts 5:3), resisted (Genesis 6:3), and blasphemed (Matthew 12:31). Because he is a person, we can obey him (Hebrews 3:7–11), desire him (John 7:37–38) and follow him (Galatians 5:16, 25). One thing everyone said was very effective were the three illustrations Malcolm showed us, asking: ‘Who is heir and sitting on the throne of your heart and life?’. The first illustration showed a circle (representing your heart) with the cross outside and you sitting on the throne. With this, responsibilities and problems are floating everywhere, all at once, and you’re confused about what to do and when. The second illustration showed a circle, still with you on the throne, but this time, the cross was inside the circle as well. This illustration describes the life of an uncertain Christian. Yes, you’ve accepted Christ, but not seriously, hence why you’re still on the throne and the cross is beside you. The last illustration showed a circle with the cross sitting on the throne, with everything all well organised and tidy. This GAZETTE
Promotion to Glory: Major Jill Gainsford, on Friday 4 October 2019 at Wellington Hospital, aged 84 years. Shirley Jill Cuthbert was born in Dunedin on 10 April 1935. Jill entered The Salvation Army Training College from Dunedin Fortress Corps as a member of the ‘Sword Bearers’ session in 1956. Following her commissioning on 19 January 1957, Jill was appointed as Assistant to Hāwera Corps, followed by Assistant to Masterton Corps in August 1957. In January 1958, Jill was appointed Corps Officer, Kaiapoi Corps then Corps Officer, St Albans Corps in January 1959. A move across to Hornby in June 1959 saw Jill appointed as Corps Officer, Hornby Corps in conjunction with the official opening of the Hornby Corps. A change in ministry came in 1962 when Jill was appointed as Assistant to Hodderville Farm and then Assistant at Temuka Boys Home in 1965. In May 1966, Jill returned to Corps ministry as Corps Officer, Masterton Corps, followed by an appointment as Corps Officer, Terrace Ends Corps in January 1968. Jill was appointed as Assistant,
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explains how a Christian’s life is supposed to be. Letting go of everything, surrendering our all and putting all our trust in God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. For us to live a blessed and holy life, we have to make sure we are plugged in to the Holy Spirit in order to gain this ‘power’. As much as a spotlight needs to be plugged in to the main to get power, our bodies not only need bread to eat, but the Word of God as well (Matthew 4:4). On Sunday, during the Covenant Service, all participants signed their Brengle Holiness Covenant. There were also opportunities to testify and share any new things they’ve encountered during this retreat. We were able to learn from each other how differently the Holy Spirit encountered in us during our last prayer. We were blessed for the opportunity, that we were chosen to take part in this first ever Soldiers’ Brengle for the Tonga Region, and we are looking forward to another Holy Spirit encounter weekend like this in the future. It was a weekend to always remember! Our prayers ‘Welcome Holy Spirit, come flood this place and fill us Tonga Soldiers with your power. Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for, to be overcome by your presence’. Acts 1:8 says, ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ BY THERESA FRANCES AND TALAHIVA ELIZABETH HOLA (ENCOUNTER PARTICIPANTS)
Te Waiteata Youth Hostel, Gisborne in January 1969, then as Assistant, Temuka Children’s Home in January 1973. In January 1975, Jill was appointed as Assistant, Auckland Bridge and then in January 1980 as Assistant, Wellington Bridge. During a leave of absence, Jill worked for the Men’s Hostel, Thorndon, Wellington, and the Training & Employment Programme before her return to officership in 1990 with an appointment to Territorial Headquarters Finance Department as Clerk. On 1 May 2000, Jill retired from active service, having given 35 years and 9 months of officer service. Upon her retirement, Jill took up the role of proof reader for War Cry, which she has continued throughout her retirement. During this time, Jill also assisted at the Wellington Bridge as office assistant for 8 years and 6 months. Please uphold Jill’s children Major Ian Gainsford, Jennifer, Read, Allen and Peter, along with their extended family in your prayers in this time of grief and loss. Well done good and faithful Sword Bearer of Christ!
The Salvation Army Commits to Working with Royal Commission COMMUNITY DRIVEN:
Christchurch Driver Licence Mentor Programme Expands The Salvation Army’s Driver Licence Mentor Programme in Christchurch has announced its expansion into the wider Canterbury and West Coast Regions in 2020. Driver Programmes Manager Keran Tsering says this expansion will address an urgent need in rural areas, where learner drivers struggle with limited resources, isolation, and lack of access to testing locations. ‘We’re not trying to get them ready to pass a test; we’re trying to give them the hours and train them to be smarter and safer drivers.’ The Community Driver Mentor Programme pairs drivers with a mentor for 12 weeks. The generous amount of time and lack of financial barrier has seen incredible transformations occur, sharpening the skills of both drivers and mentors. An 8-week long programme, Fast Track Full, transitions drivers from their Restricted to Full Licence.
At the official launch, Keran says government representatives and key individuals were ‘blown away’. ‘They got so excited by the fact that one, we’re helping two lots of people when it comes to driving skills, which potentially makes our roads safe; two, they got excited because it’s community driven.’ One young man had been kicked out of home, dropped out from school, and had zero interest in getting a job. His attitude made life difficult during the programme, but on the day of his test he was incredibly nervous and revealed he had previously failed. At that time, he had sworn to illegally drive for the rest of his life because it was easier than failing again. When he passed, the experience spurred him to enrol at CPIT (now Ara Institute of Technology) to study Māori Language, and he is now working. ‘It was this incredible transformation to a guy who had given up.’ ‘A driver’s licence can actually hold someone back just as much as it can be a catalyst when they get it.’ The programme can also assist clients to get previous breach of licence fines wiped by helping them to write a letter and taking them to the deputy registrar. Recently, Alicia had all $700 of her fines wiped, while another man owing a whopping $34000 saw 80 percent of it cancelled. And, by expanding the programme, many more future drivers will soon join this list of transformation stories. All names of clients have been changed.
The Salvation Army is strongly committed to working with the Royal Commission into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions. ‘It causes us deep sorrow that a few people connected with The Salvation Army have caused pain and lasting harm to children and other vulnerable people in our care,’ says The Salvation Army’s Royal Commission Response Officer, Major Christina Tyson. ‘As these historical crimes have come to light—as people have courageously told their stories—we have had a policy of listening, saying sorry and making appropriate redress for their suffering. We have endeavoured to pursue a survivor-led approach in our responses to people.’ The Salvation Army is committed to doing its utmost to ensure the protection of those in our care and has a notolerance policy for anyone who offends against children, young people and vulnerable people within our organisation. The Salvation Army has stringent policies that it expects everyone associated with the Army to follow without exception. This includes Criminal History Checks for staff and volunteers, a ‘Keeping Children’ Safe Child and Young Adults’ Protection Policy, a Sexual Misconduct and Complaints process, guidelines for the Management of Sex Offenders in Salvation Army Fellowships, and a Salvation Army Respect Policy. Failure to adhere to these policies will result in disciplinary action. Crown agencies have lifted confidentiality obligations on survivors of abuse in State care arising from settlement agreements with the Crown. The Salvation Army does not require survivors to keep settlement details confidential— unless, of course, the survivor wishes to. ‘Survivors should feel free to engage with the Royal Commission about any aspect of their time in care with The Salvation Army. We believe it is important that people can speak about their experiences—including disclosing the detail of settlement arrangements, as well as the overall claim process and their dealings with us if they wish,’ says Major Tyson. ‘The Salvation Army supports the Royal Commission and will fully cooperate with its investigations. We understand and value its goals of bringing understanding and accountability. We pray that the Royal Commission will also bring healing for survivors.’
Key Contact Information • Whenever criminal sexual behaviour related to The Salvation Army is alleged, The Salvation Army encourages people to contact the Police. We will cooperate with the Police in any criminal investigation or prosecution. • To contact The Salvation Army’s Royal Commission Response Office, email: tsa.royalcommissionresponse@salvationarmy.org.nz 19 OCTOBER 2019 WarCry 17
Rotorua Corps Celebration Service Rotorua Corps is preparing for one of the greatest leaps of faith it has yet undertaken in its 122 years. A vision conceived some years ago is on the brink of becoming reality. The corps, Community Ministries and the Family Store are joining forces under one roof, in town. In preparation for what will happen in the near future, a thanksgiving service was held on 1 September 2019 to celebrate God’s faithfulness and blessings upon our corps to this point in time, and to facilitate the turning of our faces from the past to the future God has in store—a future involving our personal commitment and our collective ministry to the community and surrounding regions of Rotorua. Some highlights of our special day included: • The gathering of past and present members of the congregation, along with our divisional leaders and a few past officers. • The sharing of God’s grace and blessing, remembering spiritual influencers and encouragers in the Christian walk, musical groups and their ministries, the young people’s ministry, Home League, Community Ministries and corps social events. • A fantastic composite band—provided by Tauranga Corps under the baton of Brother Don Jackson—caused our spirits to soar in our worship to God.
• Wonderful leadership in worship by Major Rex Rees. • A powerful, encouraging and challenging Bible message by Major Ian Gainsford centred on the call to be receptive to all God has in store for us in living out the mission of The Salvation Army in the context of Rotorua. • A Hallelujah windup. • A superb PowerPoint by Levi Overbye brought back many happy memories both of people and events. • A scrumptious shared meal. • The visit to the new site where our ongoing journey with God will take place. In all, a great opportunity to respond to God in heart and mind for all that’s to come.
Sallies Diner at Foxton Corps It’s Wednesday, and here at The Salvation Army Corps in Foxton it’s the day we serve our free community meal from 11am until 1pm. We never know how many, or who, is going to arrive each Wednesday when we open the doors—but I know that God knows, and before anybody has come in, we give the day, and the people, to him (plus the meal, praying that no one goes home hungry). Jesus knows who is hungry or needs companionship and time out from the norm. So along they come, and spend up to two hours with people they might usually just pass in the street. Over the past 14 months we have had approximately 30–55 people at a time. We get regulars who are here without fail, and then we get others we don't see for months, but who come back into the surroundings they’ve missed. We see new people pop their heads in the doors, see that it’s not so scary after all, and join the weekly group—including shop keepers who come in and get their takeaway meals. It’s exciting and makes our hearts smile, just hearing the hum of chatter and people enjoying food together, while Christian music softly plays in the background. We started off serving soup—it was called Soup Café for a while, but then we didn’t want to close and only serve in the winter months, so we widened our horizons. We serve a meal— be it pie, pasta, hamburgers, macaroni or quiche—with baking to start the meal off, or save it till you’ve eaten your main, no one starves here.
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No one is treated any differently, people are greeted with a hug, a smile or a sit down and chat. They get to enjoy browsing through the latest War Cry and Word for Today, and receive a promise card with their meals. A local supermarket supplies us with bread buns and loaves each Wednesday, which can then be taken home with each person who comes to lunch. A recently retired couple are volunteering their time and use of their van to pick up those who require rides to the café, free of charge. Not only are we being Christ-like to each person who comes in, but we are doing what our founder William Booth started out doing: serving others. This is for one day a week—it’s not hard, even though we might huff and puff while setting up café tables, or when pouring over a hot stove baking or cooking, or cleaning up at the end of the day. It’s a privilege for us just to accept and to be accepted. BY ANITA GOODE
‘AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN LIVING REQUIRES COURAGE.’
Overdose Victims Remembered Epsom Lodge commemorated International Overdose Awareness Day with a quiet, intimate and moving service, on 30 August. The service was well attended with 40 residents and staff filling the chapel. ‘Today is about creating a safe space to remember loved ones, to acknowledge our grief, and bring it all to God,’ said Envoy Jillian Smith, who hosted the service. She explained that the goal of Overdose Awareness Day was to reduce stigma around drug-related death as well as injury from surviving an overdose. During the service, Jillian provided a challenge in the form of a visual presentation based on the song ‘There are people hurting in the world out there’. The refrain of ‘they need you, they need me, they need Christ’, was a powerful reminder of the call to extend grace and compassion to those struggling, and to care for one another with the love of Christ. Many residents at Epsom Lodge carry a very real fear of death, said Jillian, so she wanted them to hear about God’s unconditional love. ‘Those who’ve lost someone really struggle in themselves, worrying it could happen to them. Some who came to the service had no idea what they were coming to, and so I wanted to make sure they left feeling uplifted and full of hope.’ There was an opportunity to light a candle in remembrance of a loved one, with most responding to that invitation. The time together concluded with a moving prayer from Auxiliary-Captain Julie Turner, who acknowledged that some in the room may have experienced extreme despair and had suicidal thoughts themselves, just like some of those they were remembering. In New Zealand, someone dies of an overdose every week, according to the Drug Foundation.
I think that there are few more terrifying sentences in a parent’s life than the day your child confidently states, ‘Mum and Dad, it’s time I learnt to drive’. In that instant, a wave of fear sweeps over you both and as you lock eyes with your spouse, simultaneously you mouth the words ‘bags not me’. Then the fateful day arrived and, in our family anyway, I seemed to be the one who always drew the short straw. I think the reasoning was: if I don’t make it back, at least the kids would be well looked after, the washing would be done, the house cleaned and there would be food on the table. Hard to argue with that logic. It took courage to get into the passenger seat; but I survived, and I thank God regularly for his protection. Courage is the indispensable quality that we need to live a life of meaning and significance. I don’t believe that you can live a God-honouring life without courage and a resolve to press on in faith through the difficult times. Authentic Christian living requires courage. Courage to press on through the hard yards of relationship with your spouse, family, friends and colleagues. Courage to forgive when you have been wronged or misunderstood; as well as the courage to seek and receive grace and forgiveness from others that we may have wronged. Courage to speak out when injustice needs to be challenged—even when you are the only voice willing to do so. Courage to embrace new ideas and new ways of relating to the world. Courage to embrace and to champion our new mission commitments; to make bold decisions that will shape the future of The Salvation Army in the 21st century. The commitments we are called to are daunting, they are not for the faint-hearted and we cannot hope to achieve them without the wisdom, presence and power of the Holy Spirit. As we step forward into the challenges and opportunities for the future, my prayer is that we earnestly invite God to equip us for the task, through his Word and his Spirit, and grant us each the courage and strength that we will need to serve him well. ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ (Joshua 1:9, NIV) Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Jarvis Territorial Assistant Secretary for Personnel 19 OCTOBER 2019 WarCry 19
Christ-followers cannot ‘do what Jesus did’ without investing in the spiritual disciplines that were an essential part of Jesus’ life, writes Colonel Janet Munn. What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘discipline’? Punishment? Self-denial? Difficulty? Usually the word conjures up negative feelings of discomfort. And that’s hardly surprising; after all, one definition of discipline is: ‘to instruct, train, correct’.
energy, effort, time, and dedication do Olympic athletes put into their training? Their sport is their life—unequivocally so. So it is with the disciple: godliness is to be our life. All of our energy, effort, time, and dedication are to be given over to godliness.’
The word ‘disciple’ occurs some 269 times in the New Testament, with almost all of those references found in the Gospels and Acts. ‘Disciple’ means ‘a learner’. It implies that the person not only accepts the views of his or her teacher, but that he or she is also, in practice, an apprentice.
What Did Jesus Do?
1 Timothy 4:8 tells us, ‘For physical training/discipline is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.’ Dallas Willard, author of The Spirit of the Disciplines, expands on Paul’s words of advice to Timothy: ‘The disciple is to discipline him/herself in godliness as much as an Olympic athlete exercises his/her body,’ Willard writes. ‘How much 20 WarCry 19 OCTOBER 2019
We could say of Lisa Carrington, multiOlympic gold medalist and seven-time world champion, ‘Her life is canoeing. Her life is disciplined preparation for the Olympics or World Championships.’ I wonder, when people think of you, do they conclude that your life is Jesus Christ? Is your life about the disciplines that lead to Christlikeness? Lisa Carrington could not simply hop in her canoe on the day of a race and expect to win. First, she had to consistently
and intentionally invest in the athletic disciplines of her chosen field. In the same way, we Christ-followers, cannot expect to simply ‘do what Jesus did’ without consistently and intentionally investing in the same spiritual disciplines in which he participated. The spiritual disciplines are key to the ability of believers to live like Christ in the world. As we think about this, let us also consider a few foundational truths about God, his purpose in our lives and his provision for the victorious Christian life: ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and self-discipline’ (2 Timothy 1:7). We have within us, by the Holy Spirit, the power to discipline ourselves. ‘His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness
You cannot achieve salvation by disciplines—it is the gift of God. But you cannot retain it without disciplines. E. Stanley Jones
through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness’ (2 Peter 1: 3). God’s power is within us, providing us with more than enough for disciplined living. ‘Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 1:6). God is powerfully at work in and through us to complete the image of Christ and his Church. We are not alone in the disciplined life! God himself is working with us by his indwelling Holy Spirit, and he continually assures us that this is true in his Word of promise, the Bible. Consider Jesus’ story of the prodigal son (see Luke 15). It took only a few hours to get the prodigal out of the far country, but it undoubtedly took many years to get the far country out of the prodigal! The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity notes: ‘[The prodigal] was instantly forgiven and justified, declared to be not guilty and given the tokens of acceptance: the ring, the robe and the reception. But almost certainly there were habitual thoughts to conquer, attacks of guilt for wasting the inheritance and lingering censure of his brother.’ This is where spiritual disciplines are essential. Such disciplines may be defined as ‘life patterns that direct us to God and disciple us more fully into the likeness of Jesus Christ’. As E. Stanley Jones observes in Conversion: ‘You cannot achieve salvation by disciplines— it is the gift of God. But you cannot retain it without disciplines.’
The Disciplined Journey Dallas Willard offers a helpful way to survey these practices, suggesting that we consider our spiritual growth as a journey with three movements. The first movement is the journey upward (to know and love God better). This includes the disciplines of solitude (planned availability) thanksgiving (waging war on discontentment), confession (being honest with God) and Bible meditation (crawling through scripture). The second movement is the journey inward (to know and love ourselves better). This includes the disciplines of journal
A discipline won’t bring you closer to God. Only God can bring you closer to himself. What the discipline is meant to do is to help you get yourself, your ego, out of the way so you are open to his grace. James M. Kushiner
keeping and walking through life with Jesus (healing of memories). The third movement is the journey inward (to know and love others better). This movement involves the disciplines of intercession, forgiveness, hospitality, social action and spiritual gifts. That order is significant. Another writer, Richard Foster, divides the disciplines into two categories: disciplines of abstinence (to counteract tendencies to sin of commission) and disciplines of engagement (to counteract tendencies of omission). The disciplines of abstinence include solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy and sacrifice. However, those disciplines do not lead to balance in the spiritual life. One struggling disciple held the following conversation with the Lord: ‘Well Lord, so far so good. I haven’t said anything hurtful or unkind yet today. No conflicts with family members or co-workers. I haven’t lost my temper, had a lustful thought or jealous feeling. But it really is time to get out of bed and start getting ready for work!’ It is not enough to lie in bed and live ‘holy’ lives! We have to get out of bed and engage the world; interacting with people in a holy way, in a way that matters. Thus, the disciplines of engagement are vital. These include study, worship, celebration, service, prayer, fellowship, confession and submission.
God Loves You What is God saying to your heart regarding your life as a disciple? Hebrews reminds us that the Lord disciplines those he loves. He loves you dearly and calls you to a life of discipline, which is also a life of victory. Ask God, your heavenly father, how he would have you grow in the practice of spiritual disciplines. Disciplines are not the means of sanctification—that is God’s work; rather they are ways of making ourselves available to God
in spiritual growth. May it be said of you, ‘His/her life is Jesus Christ. His/ her life is all about disciplines toward Christlikeness.’ Colonel Janet Munn is Director of The Salvation Army’s International Social Justice Commission, based in New York.
Recommended Reading The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity by Robert Banks and R. Paul Stevens (InterVarsity Press). Also available online, go to www.urbana.org/completebook-of-everydaychristianity. Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster (Harper & Row). Community and Submission: Spiritual Disciplines Bible Studies by Jan Johnson (InterVarsity Press). The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence (Whitaker House). The Deeper Journey: The Spirituality of Discovering Your True Self by M. Robert, Jr. Mulholland (InterVarsity Press). The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer (Christian Publications). The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives by Dallas Willard (Harper & Row).
This article was originally published in War Cry on 29 August 2009, but we’ve updated the athlete illustration.
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OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 18 October: Jeff Farm board meeting, Gore 20 October: Ōamaru Corps visit 25–28 October: Tonga Region Territorial Governance Board visit Colonels Suzanne (Chief Secretary) and Melvin Fincham (Territorial Secretary for Programme & Communications) 25–28 October: Tonga Region Territorial Governance Board visit 03 November: Westport Corps visit Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Spiritual Life Development) 25–28 October: Tonga Region Territorial Governance Board visit
PRAY Alexandra Corps, Aranui Corps, Auckland City Corps,
Auckland City Korean Corps and Ba Corps; The Salvation Army in the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
What A Ride! by Major Judith Bennett
AVAILABLE NOW! $29.95 To purchase, email: mailorder@salvationarmy.org.nz
Shop online at
Help Women and Children in Fiji BECOME A FAMILY CARE CENTRE SPONSOR Our Family Care Centres are safe houses for women escaping domestic violence, homelessness and human trafficking.
For $30 a month, you can help support this work. salvationarmy.org.nz/shop
Want to Know More? I would like:
Become a sponsor today. Contact Major Debbie Clark (Child Sponsorship Secretary), e: childsponsorship@salvationarmy.org.nz, p: (04) 384 5649 or download a form from our website
www.salvationarmy.org.nz/FijiFamilyCentreSponsor
to learn about who Jesus is information about The Salvation Army The Salvation Army to contact me prayer for the following needs:
Name Email Address Phone Send to: warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz or War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Quiz Answers: 1 24 hours—9am Monday in American Samoa is 9am Tuesday in Samoa, 2 Brussels, 3 They were all born in October, 4 A sloth or sleuth, 5 Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:9–3:3) or John (Revelation 10:10).
22 WarCry 19 OCTOBER 2019
Draw your own fruit salad!
The fruits to the right represent the Fruits of the Spirit. Draw your own fruit salad in the bowl below, based on which Fruits of the Spirit you want to put into action this week.
LOVE
‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control,’ Galatians 5:22–23
JOY
PEACE
PATIENCE
KINDNESS
GOODNESS
SE CONTLRFOL
S NE L FU ITH A F
S
GENT LENES S
Word search! Can you find these fruit in the grid? They could be forward, backward, up, down or diagonal. APRICOT • AVOCADO BANANA • COCONUT GUAVA • KIWI MANGOSTEEN MANGO • ORANGE PAPAYA • PEAR PERSIMMON PINEAPPLE
Whether you’re a hamburger or a nugget fan, it’s a fun treat to get a Happy Meal from McDonalds every so often. However, if you started to eat Happy Meals for dinner every day, it wouldn’t be very healthy. We need to eat plenty of nutritious food—like fruit, vegetables, lean protein, dairy, and wholegrains— to make sure we grow up strong and healthy. Just like our physical health, we also need to nourish ourselves in faith. In Galatians, the Bible introduces us to the Fruits of the Spirit. The Fruits of the Spirit aren’t actual fruit, like apples, oranges or coconuts; they’re attributes of the Holy Spirit working in a person. They include all sorts of good stuff: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Can you make peace with your annoying brother or sister—even if they’ve done something really irritating? What about the lonely kid at Sunday school, can you be kind and invite them to hang out with you and your friends? And, of course, self-control is a pretty handy skill to have (especially while we’re on the topic of McDonalds!). THINK ABOUT …
how you can put these attributes into action this week and show everyone that the Holy Spirit is with you! 19 OCTOBER 2019 WarCry 23