19 Sept 2015 NZFT War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION | 19 September 2015 | Issue 6626 | $1.50

Welcome Beyond the Prison Gates FIREZONE

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SPRING PLANTING IS RELIGION REALLY BEHIND HISTORY’S WARS? WHEN SHOULD I SEE THE DOCTOR? DAY OF PRAYER FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING MĀORI MINISTRY REPRESENTS AT BOUNDLESS

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Kia ora Hope for the prisoner WAR CRY

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

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

EDITOR

Major Christina Tyson GRAPHIC DESIGN

Lauren Millington, Amber Wilkinson STAFF WRITERS

Ingrid Barratt, Robin Raymond, Vanessa Singh CONTRIBUTORS

Martin Barratt (movie reviewer), Kris Singh (music reviewer) PROOF READING

Major Jill Gainsford OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Phone (04) 384 5649 Fax (04) 382 0716 Email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department Phone (04) 382 0768 Email mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT MakeReady | www.makeready.co.nz

The Salvation Army’s Reintegration Service helps ex-prisoners reconnect with the community in a way that’s safe for them and others. But that’s not always an easy task in a country prone to Not in My Backyard syndrome.

While we would all likely agree that part of the purpose of the prison system is to rehabilitate those within its walls, there is still understandable nervousness about where prisoners will live when they leave the prison gates behind—particularly those who’ve served time for violent or sexual offending. Sometimes communities are not prepared to give people the opportunity to make change and instead complain that having ex-prisoners as neighbours will bring down property values or neighbourhoods will become dangerous places where no one is safe.

Some ex-prisoners do go on to offend again. And that’s a terrible thing. But I’d still far rather know that recently released prisoners were supported by good people, than left to their own devices and feeling isolated and excluded. I’d imagine such exclusion could easily lead to boredom and anger, which surely makes a person’s old criminal ways seem attractive once more.

The important thing must be helping people feel better about themselves and their potential, encouraging them to see opportunities rather than obstacles, and genuinely wanting them to succeed on the outside. To come alongside them as cheerleaders who treat them with dignity and respect, rather than nay-sayers looking for any excuse to point the finger.

If we’re serious about reducing recidivism, surely we have to be serious about making room for those who have returned to the community after prison? If they’re not serving a life sentence behind bars, we have no right to make them serve one on the outside. We’re more likely to rehabilitate lives in community, than if we exclude people from community.

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Christina Tyson Editor

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

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BIBLE VERSE Psalm 68:6 New International Version

‘God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing …’

Nga Waiata 68:6

‘E whakanohoia ana e te Atua te mokemoke ki te whare; e whakaputaina ana e ia ngā herehere ki te ora …’

WISE WORDS

Years ago I recognised my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison; I am not free.

Eugene V. Debs

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Let’s Talk | 03

Photography: Hagen Hopkins/Getty

BY CHRISTINA TYSON

O

h, the excitement and anticipation of a sporting competition!

Even more so a global sporting competition. And even more so again—for Kiwis anyway—the Rugby World Cup. Put yourself in the place of the nervous candidates before the All Black team was announced on Sunday 30 August.

As coach Steve Hansen had been saying for weeks, with such a wealth of talent to choose from, some great players were always going to be disappointed.

The ‘who’s in and who’s out’ suspense took me back to the anxiety of school day team selections, especially when two ‘captains’ were asked to take turns selecting their team. For those of us who were unfit, unsporting, uncoordinated—just plain ‘un’ a lot of the time, these were not times of joy and affirmation. Humiliation was the name of that particular game.

To be fair, having been given the power to select the winning Standard Three Bullrush Squad, I probably wouldn’t have chosen myself either.

There were five new All Black caps named in this year’s Rugby World Cup squad, with Steve Hansen noting (in typical deadpan delivery), ‘It’s always an exciting time to hear your name read out.’ Some of us, perhaps still reflecting on our distant primary school years, can remember what it was like when your name wasn’t read out at all and you were just the ‘leftover’.

Seventeen All Blacks will be at their first Rugby World Cup, while veterans Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Keven Mealamu will be at their fourth. Fourteen of the 2015 squad were in the 2011 winning All Blacks side. This time around, all are focused on the Holy Grail of a back-to-back title.

Of course, at this elite sporting level, even those who

didn’t get selected—Charles Piutau, Israel Dagg and Cory Jane —are exceptional sportsmen in anyone’s book. And at least one of them might get the last-minute Stephen Donald call-up, cast aside his whitebait net and write his own fairy tale ending.

The verdict on the 31 men named for the squad seems largely favourable, with commentators praising its emphasis on try scorers and versatility. But there are critics. New Zealand Herald sports columnist Chris Rattue describes it as ‘dotted with untested, unfit, uncertain, under-done selections’, for instance.

I am choosing the path of optimism, though. The All Blacks will win! My belief is entirely motivated by national pride … along with the opportunity to mock my Australian husband when the Wallabies fall by the wayside. (Please God, whichever team wins, don’t let it be Australia … or France … or England!)

Ironically, in a world where people are constantly connected through smartphones and social media, today’s society supports a culture of individualism and isolation.

In contrast, teams of any sort offer a great way to combat loneliness and connect with like-minded people.

Even in a friendly place like a local church, it can sometimes be hard to find our place and get to know people. A bit like primary school sports teams, we might be tempted to stand back, waiting for someone to call us by name. It’s usually not personal that we’re not noticed or included, but if we do feel a little like a sports wallflower, stepping forward and signing up to join some sort of team ministry is an excellent way to make great friends and make a positive difference.

Let’s face it: being part of a team is a tremendous antidote to going it alone. And there can be some glorious rewards.

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Bookshelf Cookbook/Health Nadia Lim’s Fresh Start Cookbook Nadia Lim Nadia Lim is passionate about delicious, healthy food that is simple and easy to prepare. The qualified dietitian shot to fame after winning the second series of MasterChef New Zealand. As well as a food writer, Nadia is a core ingredient in the My Food Bag business. In this recipe book, she shares a weight loss plan featuring 100 delicious and healthy recipes, alongside tips for a more balanced life. A short exercise plan by Nadia’s friend Michael McCormack rounds off a book that’s sure to be useful for Kiwi cooks wanting to commit to healthier eating and moving habits.

(Random House NZ)

Playlist

Salvation Army To Seize this Day of Salvation Paul A. Rader with Kay F. Rader Americans Paul and Kay Rader retired as international leaders of The Salvation Army in 1999.

Inspirational vision casters and dedicated partners in mission, the conviction in this compilation of some of their messages hasn’t lost its cutting edge. The Raders give insights into leadership, the cost of discipleship, and the need for the Army to remain faithful to its Godgiven mission. Some will appreciate the history and insights into mission in many countries captured in this volume, but of greater value is the couple’s call to strengthen personal spirituality (‘a serious call to intimacy with God’) and to preach Jesus Christ. (Salvation Books)

Personal Account Heart Attack Stephen Whitwell Stephen Whitwell is an associate pastor in the Elim Church. In Heart Attack: Seven Lessons from a Near Death Experience, he shares his lifechanging journey from near death to improved health and reflects on the impact of this on his faith.

Whitwell writes honestly, clearly and with humour about his medical experiences. He had seen the inside of plenty of hospitals as a pastor, but seeing it as a patient was vastly different. Part one recounts Whitwell’s health journey, while part two summarises key lessons from his brush with death, including ‘be ready’, ‘be thankful’, ‘be wise’ and ‘say no’. A book that could literally save someone’s life! (DayStar)

Reel News

Tree63 Land Worship/Pop Rock Tree63 is a contemporary Christian band from Durban, South Africa.

Known best for their Dove winning version of Matt Redman’s ‘Blessed Be Your Name’, Tree63’s latest record Land showcases a diverse range of sounds rooted in indie pop rock, with a slight lean towards the heavy. Opening with the almost industrial ‘Alive’, the record plays its dynamics up well, driven by strong guitar hooks and a solid rhythm section. The song writing is fairly consistent in style, and it’s lyrically very faith driven. The record is produced well, and the production on the guitars is definitely worth noting. This is a strong Christian pop rock record worth checking out.

Jon Foreman The Wonderlands: Darkness Indie/folk Jon Foreman’s latest EP Darkness is part of a 4-EP series exploring different thematic elements.

Darkness carries with it the hopeful melancholy that Foreman so well imbues, and is a solid 7 track EP that explores darker soundscapes and moody, atmospheric songwriting. The opening track ‘Come Home’ sets the musical themes of the album, with rich strings, mandolins, acoustic guitars and thick, warm vocals. Foreman articulates his lyrics superbly, and songs ebb and flow from rushing highs to sinking lows with atmosphere and depth. This is a great EP and fans will find a lot here to love. Regardless, it’s definitely worth more than a single play.

GIVEAWAY To win a copy of Heart Attack, tell us a blessing you’ve received from a hard time.

War Cry Giveaway, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org. Entries close 05 Oct. Incredible Booths winner: Stephanie Kirk

Drama/Comedy A Walk In The Woods Director: Ken Kwapis / Rating: M (Offensive language & sexual references) Screen legends Robert Redford and Nick Nolte hike together along the 3,500km Appalachian Trail in this odd-couple comedy, which is based on the memoir by humourist and travel writer Bill Bryson.

Redford plays Bryson, who decides well into his career as a travel writer to walk the trail from Maine to Georgia; a journey men half his age regularly don’t complete. Fearing for his life, his wife forces him to take a friend. The only one he can recruit is boyhood friend, Katz (Nolte), who he hasn’t spoken to since the pair fell out during a similar trek years back. Unfortunately, Katz is a physical wreck and his mental well-being is only slightly better.

They endure several calamities on their epic trip, including the world’s most irritating hiker, hipster outdoorsmen and a couple of large bears.

They’re also assaulted by the elements and fight the aches and pains of age.

Along the way they share plenty of home truths as they reconnect after decades apart. Life finds them in two distinctly opposite states; Bryson, seemingly successful and happy, Katz, down on his luck and seemingly the author of his own misfortune.

The bad language used at times in this film does drag it down and it does not offer any deep profundity. But it does remind us that a trip of any kind, even if it’s not epic, offers a break from routine and put us in a different mental and spiritual place.

The scenery of the Appalachian Trail is stunning and this, coupled with an indie folk soundrack from Lord Huron, is the real star of this charming little film.

Go to

salvationarmy.org.nz/saresources

Feature | 05

P r e i s h o t n d n G o a y t e e B

By Robin Raymond ‘I can’t describe the release of pressure. As soon as I found out I was accepted, it was like a bomb had gone off and all the stress had been released. I have had a heck of a life with being rejected. I did a terrible thing and I was like a clam—closed up. I couldn’t give two hoots about life, but since Bryan came along I’ve never looked back.’

at* sits back in his chair in a small kitchen and lounge at the Reintegration Services office in the Addington Supportive Accommodation building, Christchurch, and looks across at Bryan Edwards, then at Tim* in another chair. Pat is a former client with the Salvation Army Reintegration Service for ex-prisoners. Tim is a Reintegration Service client who has been out of prison almost three months. Later, we’re joined by Phil*, another ex-client who drops by to see Bryan and stays to talk.

The Reintegration Service started in 2007 in Christchurch and a month later in Wellington, national operations manager Glen Buckner says. Today, they also work in Napier and Invercargill.

They will open services in New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Gisborne this year, under an expanded contract just signed with the Department of Corrections.

They’re contracted to help up to 500 released prisoners a year, with some receiving six months of support, including a flat to live in for 13 weeks, and support for a further 13 weeks in their own accommodation.

About 15,000 prisoners are released in New Zealand every year.

Almost 27 per cent are back in prison within a year, and 37 per cent

after two years.

The Salvation Army Reintegration Service is contracted to work with men and women who have a high risk of re-offending and limited or no other support. Despite that, at last count, more than 70 per cent of their clients had stayed out of prison for more than a year, Glen says.

Clients must have served at least two years in prison and most have serious criminal convictions. ‘A lot of sex-offenders and we’ve had people in for violent crimes,’ Glen says. Although they also had a client who spent 10 years on and off in jail for driving without a driver’s licence, but had not committed any other crime.

(Eventually, Glen was able to support him to get a communitybased sentence and get his licence.)

There’s a waiting list for the service. Reintegration Service staff work closely with the Parole Board, prison staff and probation officers, working out a person’s release date and if there is suitable accommodation available. Usually, clients are referred by a prison case worker; although Tim says he contacted the Army himself after hearing about the programme. Staff meet clients for an assessment, and multiple times in the week before they leave prison, then pick them up the day they’re released.

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Basic human needs ‘It’s one of those basic needs,’ Bryan says. ‘Knowing there’s some shelter, that there’s someone that cares about where you’re going.

That’s what this service is all about.’

Many prisoners are released from New Zealand prisons with no accommodation, no job and facing weeks before they can start collecting a benefit.

‘If you come from Rolleston Prison, you take that last van ride to Paparua Prison, to be released from there. Then the gates open and you’re just told to walk. Basically, “See you,” ’ Phil says.

Pat was supposed to be paroled shortly before the end of his sentence, ‘But they couldn’t get a suitable place for me to stay on home detention, so I had to wait. It was only in that last month before my sentence finished that reality hit me and I thought, ‘What happens when those gates open and there’s nobody there?’

But sure enough, The Salvation Army rescued me from the gate.’

Tim remarks that the disused Addington stockyards, near central Christchurch, are a popular place to sleep rough. Would he have been heading there? ‘I was starting from zero, because I haven’t made good decisions in my life and when you get to this age it’s hard. But it’s not starting from zero if you have a place to live.’

Finding the right flats can be hard, but Glen says the Army has been very lucky with the neighbours and landlords for its flats.

Clients sign a strict set of rules when they move in and the very small number who break them are quickly moved on, he says.

First stop from the prison gates is to a doctor the Reintegration Service works with, for a medical check-up, Bryan says. People need the medical check-up, photo ID, an address and a bank account to get a benefit. Without those, things can be pretty grim.

Bryan tells a story of a group of prisoners released just before Christmas a few years ago who ended up living rough on the banks of the Waimakariri River and coming to the Salvation Army church in Belfast for basic living assistance and help getting the documents they needed to get life started again.

Life on the outside Even with a temporary flat and money sorted it’s a slow road to get back into society, with many subtle hurdles making people feel like an outsider. Things like a landlord asking about criminal convictions when they’re flat hunting, or that insurance costs are often much higher for people with criminal convictions.

It can be frustratingly slow, but it’s also time for clients to settle back into life, Bryan says.

‘The young guys want to do everything on the first day. One of the funniest stories I can recall, this young guy wanted to do WINZ the first day, he had a job lined up second day and he was going to do this, this and this. I said, “Slow down—baby steps.” We took him to the doctor, they went to take some blood and he fainted!

He came out white as a sheet, this tough young man, and I said, “That’ll slow you down.” ’ Pat describes prison as like being encased in a block of concrete.

Phil talks about seeing a man coming to his new accommodation on the day he was released. ‘The first thing he did, he dumped his stuff on his bed and went straight outside, sat down and started just playing with the grass. He’d been that long in the concrete jungle.’

Changes we barely notice can be a stumbling block to adjusting after a while inside, Bryan says. ‘When you walk in that gate, life stops. Absolutely stops. Just using a plastic card, I stuffed it up a few times. It’s those little things you need somebody with you for a while for.’

There’s also the social stigma of feeling like an outsider, or being treated like one, Bryan adds. ‘Sometimes I take clients to the mall and they say, “I think everyone’s looking at me,” and you say, “No, they’re just doing their thing.” I had a client, a big guy with full facial tattoos, but he was a big teddy bear. He used to come here to use the gym. One day there were two ladies on the desk and he poked his tongue out at them. They were saying to me, “Don’t you bring him back here. He’s too scary!” and I was saying, “No, that was a friendly gesture!” ’

Knowing there’s some shelter, that there’s someone that cares about where you’re going.

That’s what this service is all about.

Finding a place in the community The focus of the Reintegration Service is helping clients normalise and find their place in the community, Glen says.

Staff attend a client’s first few probation meetings and help clients keep to the safety plans they draw up to help them avoid reoffending. Beyond that, there’s no set programme. Some work every day and catch up with reintegration staff on breaks or in evenings. For others, a day can include taking them to probation meetings, helping them job hunt, or just listening when they’re stressed.

‘It can be quite emotional at times,’ Bryan says. ‘I’ve had guys in this office crying. That’s why we keep these,’ he gestures to the box of tissues on the window sill. ‘It’s not uncommon to have guys in here letting it all out. We encourage them to vent. Guys come in here shouting and I say, “That’s great, keep going,” and after a few minutes they’re calm. I’m in my fifth year here and I’ve never felt unsafe with any of these guys.’

They also offer spiritual support to those who want it, through a weekly Bible study or with The Salvation Army’s Recovery Church.

Many have broken relationships with family, or court orders not to associate with some of them, but where possible, Glen says they try and reconcile family members. Matching everyone’s expectations with reality can be hard. ‘We’ve had people pull down their blinds and refuse to answer the door because they’re overwhelmed and just want time on their own. That can be healthy, and we can reassure families that they’re okay, we’re in touch with them–they just need space.’

But when it works, it’s a special feeling, he says. ‘We’ve seen people going from Mum and Dad saying, “I never want them in my house again,” to having them over for tea.’

For some, particularly ex-gang members, there’s a fear of their past catching up with them. A former client of Bryan’s was recalled to prison last year for carrying weapons he had because he was living in fear of being attacked.

For many, making new friends is tough, especially if parole conditions limit where they can go or who they can associate with.

In some cases, the Reintegration Service helps people move to places where they know no one, but where there’s a Salvation Army community to welcome and support them to have a fresh start, Bryan says.

Sometimes overwhelming Many have times of feeling overwhelmed. At least one staff member is always on call and Bryan says he’s had 3 am calls from people saying it would be easier back in prison.

Photography: Sarah Wylie

Feature | 07

(l-r) Reintegration Services senior field worker Bryan Williams, field worker Ainsley Barnsdale, Christchurch Team leader Mark Pellett, and national manager Glen Buckner.

‘I don’t like to say this,’ Tim leans forward nervously. ‘But in the last few weeks I’ve had that thought. But there’s no life [in prison].

There’s no life there. I was disappointed I had that thought.’

The key is having people who are willing to accept and support them when they need it, Glen says.

‘I don’t believe you can connect with people for change without building a relationship with them, accepting them for who they are.

It doesn’t mean taking them to the movies or having them round to your house, but we try to be as Christ like as we can, to show them compassion and be non-judgemental.’

That support carries on well beyond the contracted time, Bryan says. ‘Even though they’re technically in our service for six months, we’re there as long as they need us. If they put their hand up, we will do whatever we can.’

Not everyone makes it. Some aren’t ready, Glen says.

‘We had one guy who breached himself. We worked hard with him, but he wasn’t coping. He walked to the point outside his house where his ankle bracelet alarm would start going off and sat down on the pavement to wait for the cops, because he just wanted to go back to prison. He went back inside for a few months and when he came out his attitude was completely different.’

Others reoffend, which is hard, Bryan says, but hundreds more make it as safe members of society and each of those is a win.

‘There are guys who have a little slip-up and we see that for what it is and support them. Others have gone back to serious reoffending and I say to them, “All I can do is take you to the police to hand yourself in and face the consequences of your offending.” It can be upsetting. You have to bring yourself to look at the good, the ones that succeeded—and they far outnumber the negatives.’

The men talk about high-profile cases of people breaching parole and how hard it makes life for those who want to go

straight. So the blunt and brutal question for Pat, Tim and Phil is, ‘Why should society offer you these chances?’ They’re not naïve.

They know the question is there and they’re not hiding from it, or expecting an easy ride: but each is clear and firm in their answer.

‘To create less offending,’ Tim says simply. ‘I don’t think the government can say they’re serious about helping without more of this [reintegration support]. I’m hoping to move on and make big steps because I have had this peace and these three months to sort things out.’

I’m hoping to move on and make big steps because I have had this peace and these three months to sort things out.

For Phil, he’s seen the help offered to people inside that isn’t always offered when they leave.

‘We have made horrendous mistakes, there’s no doubt about that. I went through a programme inside. It costs a hundred and something thousand to put us through that, they said. If they’re going to put us through that, there’s got to be the ongoing support.

If guys don’t get that support [when they get out], the only option is to go back inside.’

Finally, Pat. He’s been out the longest, has beaten cancer and kept a promise made to his father before he died by setting up a community garden. After four years, he’s certain where he’d be without the Reintegration Service.

‘I know exactly where I’d be. I’d be back where I came from.

The unit I was in contained many elderly people. Without that helping hand [from Bryan] there were many corners I could have turned and ended up back where I was. But I decided, no! I made a promise—to Bryan and my probation officer—that I wouldn’t reoffend and I haven’t. No turning back.’ *names have been changed

08 | WarCry 19 September 2015

ENVIRONMENT

HEALTH

Here Comes the Sun

When Should I See the Doctor?

The sun is a powerhouse that sustains life on earth—and it’s free for everyone to enjoy. We’re hoping to see a lot more of that blazing-hot bad boy in the coming months, so here are some fun sun facts …

Health experts are saying that this winter was one of the worst for colds and a particularly nasty flu. You probably experienced it. And like many of us, were left wondering, ‘Should I go to the doctor?’

The sun is a big, gassy beast that is about 5500 degrees celsius. It takes eight minutes for light from the sun to travel the 150 million kilometres to Earth, and it is 110 times bigger than our planet. The sun really is a daily miracle and a free gift from God to all of us. And apart from keeping the planet thriving, the sun does these remarkable things:

After struggling for a fortnight with a nasty cough, aches and general ‘blahness’, you finally make the decision to go to the doctor.

The GP looks at you kindly and says, ‘It’s probably a virus. There’s nothing you can take, just get some rest.’ You laugh slightly maniacally, pay up and leave feeling miserable.

Cleans dirty water: When the sun evaporates water, it gets rid of all the impurities and bacteria, leaving only pure, distilled water. That’s how rivers get clean again after getting muddy. If you want to be like Bear Grylls, you can collect pure drinking water by digging a hole in the ground; getting a container and putting plastic wrap over it, with a stone on top. Put the container in the hole. As water in the earth evaporates, some of it will end up as condensation in the container—pure, drinking water. The rest of us will keep using taps.

Is a free stain remover: Back in the day, communities used to have ‘bleaching grounds’, where everyone would lay out their laundry. UV radiation from the sun breaks down colour pigments, making it a natural (and free!) bleaching agent. Top tip: For stains or whitening, add ½ cup of lemon juice to your wash, and then lay in the sun to bleach.

It keeps us healthy: The sun’s energy turns a chemical in your skin into vitamin D, which is an essential nutrient for strong bones, immunity and neuromuscular health. You don’t need much sun to make vitamin D —about half the burn time of that day. After you get your vitamin fix, slap on sunscreen.

It makes us happy: The light of the sun boosts serotonin, our body’s natural anti-depressant.

So being in the sun really does make you feel happy. Studies have even shown that patients who sat in sunlight healed quicker and needed less pain medication.

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. C.S. Lewis

So, when should you go to the doctor? And when should you save your money and stay home?

Coughs: The vast majority of coughs are upper respiratory viral infections, says General Practioner Dr Kevin Pho. The best medicine is rest, soothing liquids and over-the-counter cough medications. But you should go to the doctor if your cough is accompanied by a fever, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing up blood, chest pain, or if the cough lasts for more than a week. This could be an infection and need antibiotics.

Sore throat: A regular sore throat can be part of a cold—in which case it should only last a couple of days and will be accompanied by other cold symptoms. But you may have strep throat if your tonsils are swollen with white patches, you have a fever or swollen glands, and it’s hard to swallow.

Apart from being ridiculously painful, strep is caused by bacteria that can be cleared up with medication.

General cold and flu: A cold usually lasts about a week, starts with a sore throat and develops with a runny nose and not-being-able-to-get-out-ofbedness. A flu usually comes on a lot quicker and lasts longer, is more severe, and is accompanied by a fever and a desire to go to glory. Both are usually treated at home—the most important thing is to drink plenty of water for hydration, good nutrition (soup is great), and simply rest. Your best medicine will be a stack of must-watch DVDs. Remember, if you’re really crook you don’t have to, and shouldn’t, try to tough it out. If in doubt, get it checked out!

Everyday Banana Pancakes

Pancakes are usually a weekend treat, but these ones are healthy and quick enough to make every day! | Serves 2 1–2 ripe bananas 2 free-range eggs ¼ tsp baking powder 1 Tbsp flour (eg, buckwheat, coconut, plain wheat) Good pinch of salt ½ tsp ground cinnamon 2 tsp butter or coconut oil To serve ½ cup fresh or canned fruit, or frozen or fresh berries 1 Tbsp of pure maple syrup, apple syrup, liquid honey or agave nectar

Place bananas in a mixing bowl and use a potato masher or fork to mash well until smooth and lump-free—you should end up with about ¾ cup mashed banana. Whisk in eggs, baking powder, flour, salt and cinnamon until well combined.

Melt butter or coconut oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Spoon half ladlefuls of pancake mixture into the pan and cook for 1–2 mins until set, then flip over and cook on the other side for about 1 min until golden.

To serve, divide pancakes between plates, top with fruit and drizzle over syrup or honey.

From Nadia Lim’s Fresh Start Cookbook, with photography by Tam West (Random House NZ), RRP $50

Lifestyle | 09

Q&A How do I start a garden?

Spring planting is a gardener’s favourite time of year. If you’ve never had a garden, here’s our beginners’ guide …

Plan your planting: What do you want to plant: flowers, veggies or herbs? If you want flowers, do you want annuals, which bloom for longer but need to be replanted every year; or perennials, which have a shorter bloom time but don’t need to be replanted?

Find a spot: Most plants need about six hours of sunlight a day, so pick a sunny spot. If you don’t have much sunlight, pick varieties that do well in the shade—check out the instructions that come with the plant.

Turn the soil: This literally means digging up the patch of ground you’ve chosen. Dig out the first 8–10 cm with a shovel. Then dig up and turn over the soil underneath. This will get rid of the ‘sod’ on top, and get air going through the soil, making it easier for roots to grow into the ground.

Boost the soil: Add about 5–7 cm of organic matter such as compost, decayed leaves, dry grass clippings or old manure to add nutrients. Mix it through the soil you’ve dug up.

Double digging: Not for the faint-hearted, but it really makes a difference when planting perennials.

Double-digging means repeating the previous two steps a couple of times. Dig out 8–10 cm of soil, in small patches. Work in your fertiliser.

Replace the soil, and work the fertiliser through the new top layer.

Get planting! Most plants do better once frosty mornings have disappeared. If you buy young plants, you can simply dig a hole and plonk them in the ground. These easy-togrow plants are great for beginners: Perennials: pansies, daylilies, zinnias; Annuals: marigolds, impatiens, geraniums, sunflowers; Vegetables: lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers.

Water … and keep watering.

Seedlings should never dry out, so water daily while they are small and every other day as the plants get larger. Water in the early morning or evening.

Source: www.bhg.com (Better Homes and Gardens)

Testify The Family Store in Panmure is true to its name—becoming family to a team of volunteers that have found a place to belong, says manager Gary Davison.

When I look back, God was guiding my path to where I am today. I had a great upbringing with my family, growing up on a farm. But they firmly don’t believe in God. Yet, I always prayed—I always had a connection with God. I spent a year travelling through Africa, and kept meeting missionaries who would share with me about Christ. I’m a builder, so when I came back to New Zealand, I started working with some amazing builders who were Christians. My wife and I attended an Alpha course, and I finally stopped battling. We both accepted Christ at the same time and it was wonderful!

We went to a fish ‘n’ chip night through Mainly Music at The Salvation Army’s REC Church, and within minutes I had joined their soccer team. This became our first spiritual home.

For the past five years, I have managed the Panmure Family Store and Community Ministries.

For me, the ministry begins and ends with the Red Shield on our building, which symbolises our mission of ‘caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society’.

Our philosophy is that we go out to the community, rather than waiting for the community to come to us. When I first began, we were praying for volunteers to join the store, and I suddenly realised they

were all around us. We approached Sommerville Special School and started having their students volunteering two days a week.

We also have students volunteering from work schemes, who may be struggling in school but want work experience. Often, family of the students who are volunteering will come in, because they are proud of what their kids are doing, and so they too, become part of our community.

The concept of family is huge for us—it’s a ‘family store’. People who have never felt like they fit in have found a place to belong here.

We had a homeless guy who used to sleep out the back of the shop. He started volunteering with us and went into recovery [from addiction]. He has now moved off the streets and is doing really well. We’ve had three volunteers who were homeless move off the streets, which is really big. We’ve had a lot of people volunteering with us who were out of work, that have since got back into the workforce.

Every Tuesday, we have a coffee morning at the store—it’s not about selling; it’s about building family. Patricia started coming along to the coffee mornings, and then began volunteering in the shop. She was a bit lost and came from a very hard background. She calls us her family. She was recently diagnosed with cancer, so is going

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 $25 a month, you can help support this work.

Become a sponsor today Contact Major Helen Knowles (Child Sponsorship Secretary), e: helen_knowles@nzf.salvationarmy.org, p: (04) 384 5649 or download a form from our website

www.salvationarmy.org.nz/FijiFamilyCentreSponsor

through a really hard time. Other team members text and Facebook her throughout the day. They just support each other. These are some lines from a poem she wrote, which sums up our store: Come in and see us without any fear / There is no judgement here. / Always there to lend a hand / Tell us your story we understand. / Where genuine people help you out / Who truly care there is no doubt. / Serving our community which we love / With help and guidance from above. Poem

by Patricia Burgain

People have found a place to belong here.

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

NAME: ADDRESS:

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

10 | WarCry 19 September 2015

SUDOKU

Advice

Difficulty Medium

7 3 4 2 6 5 2 4

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Pray for victims of human trafficking

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Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery in which people are treated as commodities and lose their basic human rights to freedom, safety and dignity.

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Human trafficking involves obtaining people by improper means such as force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them. Reliable reports show that millions of people around the world are subject to this dehumanising and exploitative crime.

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Virtually every country in the world is affected by human trafficking. The challenge is for all countries, rich and poor, to target the criminals who exploit desperate people, and to protect and assist victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants, many of whom endure unimaginable hardships in their bid for a better life.

8 2

Each Sudoku number puzzle has a unique solution that can be worked out logically (not mathematically). The numbers 1 to 9 appear once in every row, column and 3x3 square.

For a number of years, The Salvation Army has set aside the last Sunday in September as a day of global prayer for the victims of human trafficking. This year’s day of prayer falls on Sunday 27 September. The key Bible verse being used to focus people’s prayers is a response to Isaiah 42:22, which graphically pictures the terror of the Jewish people when they were living in exile in Babylon:

QUICK QUIZ 1 What food is nicknamed the ‘bread of Mexico’?

2 Dendrophobia is the fear of what?

3 In Cinderella, what was turned into a glass coach?

4 The renal artery supplies blood to which organ?

5 What is the symbol of the US Republican party?

6 How many eggs in six and a half dozen?

7 What kind of character is Jeremy Fisher in Beatrix Potter’s tales?

8 What is a blacksmith’s workshop called?

9 What fruit is used to make prunes?

10 Who wept when he thought his son Joseph was dead?

But this is a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in pits or hidden away in prisons.

They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them; they have been made loot, with no one to say, ‘Send them back.’

In response to the crime of human trafficking, The Salvation Army

is calling its own people and all who value the dignity and worth of humanity, to respond with, ‘We will not be silent!’ This day of prayer is a chance to open our own mouths to pray on behalf of those who trapped in slavery.

There’s an African proverb that says, ‘When you pray, move your feet!’ So, when we say, ‘We will not be silent’, it will hopefully drive us to action.

That can involve speaking up in the community and in schools to raise awareness of human trafficking. It might mean helping to establish places of refuge for victims, and lobbying governments to make changes to legislation that will both prevent trafficking and punish those who are involved.

The majority of those trafficked for sex are women and girls. The Salvation Army stands against the commodification of women in any circumstance—including pornography, prostitution and sex tourism—and works to eliminate human trafficking for this purpose and to create better alternatives for women who would otherwise be forced into prostitution.

Many organisations around the world are working effectively to combat human trafficking. The Salvation Army encourages people to network with these agencies to fight human trafficking and provide support to trafficked people.

Go to www salvationarmy.org/ihq/antitrafficking for more info and resources on the Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking.

A PRAYER FOR THE VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING God, we ask your forgiveness for when we have not valued others as we should. When we have not recognised their worth and not loved them as we ought. Help us to see all people through your eyes and inspire us to care for them with your deep compassion.

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

We pray for all who are victims of human trafficking. We pray for their release from bondage and healing from the effects of the trauma they have endured. May they recognise their true worth as your children and discover the peace that only you can bring. Restore them, O Lord, so that they may be completely whole and able to enjoy the fullness of life you intended for each of us when we were created.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Saviour, who loved the outcast, the poor and the vulnerable and taught us, as his disciples, to do the same.

Amen.

Quick quiz answers: 1 Tortilla, 2 Trees, 3 A pumpkin, 4 Kidney, 5 An elephant, 6 78, 7 A frog, 8 A forge, 9 Plums, 10 Jacob (Genesis 42:24)

Close Up | 11

BY HAROLD HILL

Fields of Blood

Iraqi families displaced due to the advance of the Islamic State jihadist group, gather after arriving in the Kirkuk governorate in search of safety, August 2015. Photography: MARWAN IBRAHIM/AFP/Getty Images

A review of Karen Armstrong’s latest book, which debunks the myth that religion and its followers are inherently violent.

Do you cringe when you read or hear some pundit denouncing ‘religion’ as the root cause of all the violence and terrorism and general unhappiness in the world? But do you sometimes wonder whether they’re right?

Sometimes the evidence, served up daily by the world’s media, seems overwhelmingly against believers of every stripe, from the Islamic State Jihadists rampaging across the Middle East to the ‘God hates fags’ demonstrations mounted at military servicemen’s funerals by members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas.

Then, for the historically-minded, the more gruesome Old Testament genocides, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition and Bible-toting slave traders can always be wheeled out. Sadly, the worst excesses of fanaticism and self-interest always make better press than the real teaching and actual practice of people of faith throughout the ages, and caricature usually trumps historical fact.

Karen Armstrong, a former nun, has written a large number of books on the history of faith, including The Case for God: What Religion Really Means; A Short History of God; Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths; The Bible: A Biography; Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life; and Islam: A Short History. In her latest work, Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence (The Bodley Head, 2014), she takes scholarly aim at views popularised by such experts as Professor Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion) or the late-lamented Christopher Hitchens (God is Not Great), and even the otherwise estimable comedians Stephen Fry and Alan Davies, who can never resist a witty dig at believers (who are either pathetic or hypocritical) and their god (who is either evil or non-existent).

So often we are on the back foot in the face of such arguments simply because we do not know or understand how this situation came about. Now, in this fascinating survey of communities and their religions from the earliest known times to the present day, Armstrong fills us in on the background.

She begins by reviewing the history of culture and religion in Ancient Mesopotamia, India, China and Israel before coming to Jesus and the Christians, Byzantium, Islam, the Crusades and Jihad.

The second half of the book explores the way ‘religion’ has emerged, especially since the 17th century, as something distinct from culture, has been marginalised by the growth of secularism and has fought back, setting the scene for our present global strife.

Throughout this, Armstrong shows that the real causes of violence have been social and economic. The aims of religious adherents have been expressed in religious terms, or beliefs have been co-opted in pursuit of political objectives because religion has been an integral part of peoples’ worldview. Only in comparatively recent times has religion become the privatised individual matter we in the secular West have come to assume it is. That the very triumph of secular and irreligious forces in the 20th century has served to create worse genocides and inflict more cruelty and oppression than ever before in history should perhaps give the stoutest atheist some reason to pause for thought.

Sometimes the evidence, served up daily by the world’s media, seems overwhelmingly against believers of every stripe.

This is not a light read, but worth the effort for the windows it opens on both past and present.

Reading this book encouraged me to indulge in some wishful thinking. Firstly—and obviously impossibly—if only those statesmen whose national interests led them to draw arbitrary lines across the map of the Middle East nearly a hundred years ago and whose decisions laid the ground for the apparently insoluble problems of that region today, had taken the trouble to understand the histories and lives and realities of the peoples whose fates they then decreed!

Or again, if only the statesmen of our own times, George W. Bush and Tony Blair and others, had been more conversant with those same facts of life when choosing to intervene in the region, might not the course of history have taken a turn for the better?

And secondly—and hopefully not so impossibly—if only those peoples who share blogs about Islamic atrocities and the Islamic menace to Western, Christian, civilisation today would take the trouble to read a book like this, or even just get to know personally one of the actual Muslims living in their own neighbourhood, might not that be a really useful contribution to the life of faith and the advancement of peace on earth?

Major Harold Hill represents The Salvation Army on the Wellington Abrahamic Council of Jews, Christians and Muslims.

FRIENDS FOR LIFE

Are friendships online or in real life winning the popularity war?

Would you rather have 1500 Facebook friends, or one really good friend for life? There’s no right answer to this question. We all have different personalities and friendship styles.

Some of us love having a wide circle of friends. We might not know them all really deeply, but we have chats and a laugh. Others of us have just a few, close friends. We talk about real stuff and know we’ll always be there for each other.

Both of these things are totally okay. In fact, we need a bit of both in our lives. We want to have fun, find people with things in common, and maybe kill some time chatting with online friends.

But all of us, deep down, also long for someone who really understands us and will love us no matter what.

FRIENDS ONLINE

IN REAL LIFE

Most of us have a mix of friends we chat with online and friends in real life (IRL). Some of us may have IRL friends that we talk to more online, than offline.

God made us to need deep friendships. God wants a relationship with us that’s honest and open, where we can tell him anything. He wants us to know we are loved, so he made us to need those kinds of deep relationships. That’s why we can have 1500 Facebook friends and still feel lonely; yet, just one deep friendship can make us feel truly loved.

There are lots of advantages to online friendships—you can find people anywhere in the world that you have things in common with. This can make you feel like you belong—even if at school you feel like the weird one. It can also be easier to open up about personal things, cos you know they’re not going to gossip about it at youth group.

But there are downers as well.

People with heaps of Facebook friends might seem really cool and popular. Compared to them, you could worry you’re not popular enough. But they might not have many close IRL friends.

Even the most popular person online can feel lonely in real life.

But how do you develop that kind of friendship?

BECOMING UN­- PERFECT Most of us want people to think we’re cool, confident and have it all together. We don’t want people to know the stuff about us that’s hard, personal and maybe even a bit dorky. That’s why it can be easier to open up online—we don’t feel so exposed.

But you only really get to know someone IRL once you know their hard stuff. And someone can only get to know you, when they know that kind of stuff about you. When people know the real you, they can love the real you.

It’s like our relationship with Jesus: we love him because he loves us, even though he knows everything about us, including things we’re not real proud of.

And because he’s our friend, he helps us tackle those things.

Most of us are scared that if people did know the personal stuff, they wouldn’t accept us anymore. But that’s a lie. The truth is when we risk being vulnerable, it gives others permission to be vulnerable as well. When we get real with people, they can get real with us. And that’s how the best friendships start.

19 September 2015 WarCry | 13

BUILDING TRUST But before we go deep with someone—especially online —it’s important to trust them.

And trust is something that needs to be earned.

It’s not wise to start telling your personal stuff to someone who hasn’t shown they are a good listener, can keep a secret, and really care about your situation.

Online, it’s easier to feel like you trust someone if you have things in common or the same sense of humour. But the reality about online friends is that you may not know very much about them.

Sometimes you might not even know how old they really are, or who they really are!

Build trust slowly online, with the same care you use in real life.

You may not feel as vulnerable online, but social media can be harmful—rumours are super easy to spread and bullying can be intense. Here’s a good rule to follow: If you wouldn’t share something with that person in real life, don’t share it online.

MOST OF US ARE SCARED THAT IF PEOPLE DID KNOW THE PERSONAL STUFF, THEY WOULDN’T ACCEPT US ANYMORE. BE THAT FRIEND! To build trust with a friend, you also need to be the kind of friend that will keep a secret, listen and care. That means you don’t gossip, no matter how much you want to.

The kind of friend you want to be is really well summed up in a Bible verse that talks about the ‘fruits of the spirit’ (Galatians 5:22). God’s Holy Spirit helps us show ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (against things like gossip). If everyone showed these qualities in their friendships, the world would be a super awesome place! And no matter how shy you might feel, if you work on these qualities, your character will shine through.

YOU WHAAAAT?!

BUT WHAT IF I’M SHY?

If you share something personal with a friend, the last thing you want them to do is gasp and say, ‘You whaaaat?!’ When people share personal stuff, it’s a privilege. So listen patiently, don’t rush to judge them.

One of the reasons people find online friendships easier is they don’t have to deal with feelings of shyness. When you’re tapping on a keyboard you can think about what you want to say, but IRL, you can feel a bit tongue-tied.

Sometimes people might share something that makes you worried about them—like cutting, depression, struggling with eating, having problems with alcohol or drugs, being abused in some way, or even feeling suicidal. Reassure them that you’re there for them and care about their situation.

But this is one time when you shouldn’t keep a secret—you need to tell an adult you trust, like a parent, a leader at church or a counsellor at your school.

Making friends IRL is as easy as showing you’re a friendly person.

Give people a smile, make eye contact and ask them about themselves—what they’re into, where they go to school, etc.

Then, as the conversation gets going, talk about your interests as well. But don’t be the one who does all the talking! Make sure you listen, too.

Your friend has reached out to you, and you want to help them. But when what they’re going through is complicated or dangerous, it’s okay to ask for extra help to understand what to do next.

Of course, there are other times when you should keep a secret, like if your friend tells you they are crushing on someone. A true friend will be supportive and discreet—don’t go hinting to the crushee or making your friend feel awkward around them.

If you’re thinking people won’t like you, you’re probably going to feel and act shy and nervous.

That makes it harder to be friendly. But the truth is others aren’t thinking about you— they’re too worried about what people are thinking of them.

There is no reason why people shouldn’t like you! Tell yourself that every time you feel shy.

Remember that being popular is not the same thing as having good friends. The Bible puts it this way: ‘There are “friends” who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother’ (Proverbs 18:24, NRSV). To find a true friend, start by being a true friend. Let others know you love and accept them for who they are. If you become that kind of friend, you will be a friend for life.

NEXT TIME: How to hang in there for difficult conversations with our friends.

BY INGRID BARRATT

TAKE OUR TOTALLY UNSCIENTIFIC QUIZ TO

You’re at a party, are you … ?

A) In the middle of the dance floor busting out

the robot while everyone chants your name.

B) In the corner, having a deep and meaningful.

C) Hitting the dance floor, but definitely not the

centre of attention.

If you could do anything this weekend, would you be … ?

A) At a massive concert, in the middle of a mosh pit and rocking out with the crowd.

B) Getting a coffee with a good friend, having a

really good chat and sharing a yum-as dessert.

C) Going to a movie you’ve been hanging out to

see for ages, with a few of your besties.

When you’re online, do you … ?

A) Have heaps of online friends, chat on forums

and make connections all over the world.

B) Mainly talk to the friends you have in real

life.

MAINLY A’S: You definitely run with the crowd and love to be the centre of the party—there’s nothing wrong with that. People love being around you because of your fun, outgoing personality. The challenge for you will be building deep friendships where you can really be yourself and talk about anything.

FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF FRIEND YOU ARE

C) Don’t have heaps of friends, but have a

C) Becs and Fat Amy from Pitch Perfect. You

mixture of friends you only know online and in real life.

take on those mean girls (and guys) with your own brand of fun.

If you had a theme song, would it be ... ?

A friend tells you a secret, when you see them next do you … ?

A) ‘Single Ladies’ by Beyonce. You’re like a party anthemn with AT-IT-TUDE. HmmmmHmmm. Who cares that you’re a dude?

B) ‘Bad Blood’ by Taylor Swift. You may be

sweet on the outside, but you have hidden depths—not cutting up your ex’s clothes kinda depths, but you know, your feelings run deep.

C) ‘Take it Easy’ by Stan Walker. You’re

laidback and like to have fun, but you’ve also got passion and can handle a little drama.

What movie couple best represents you and your friends ... ?

A) Lloyd and Harry from Dumb and Dumber.

You like to be idiots together and will be friends for life. Cos let’s face it, you’re both weird.

B) Hazel and Gus from The Fault in Our Stars.

Sweet, intelligent, love to talk about deep stuff, and just a little quirky.

MAINLY B’S: You don’t need to have lots of friends, because the ones you have are true friends. Your friends appreciate you as someone genuine and caring. The challenge for you is not to worry about not being popular enough—it’s not the number of friends, but the quality of friends, that matter.

A) Chill out and avoid talking about it again.

You’d rather just have fun.

B) Bring up the subject almost straight away

cos you’re really concerned for them.

C) Want to bring up the subject, but feel

nervous. After hanging out for a while, you ask them how they are really going.

What would be your dream gift to get … ?

A) A bouncy castle. Definitely. Do I need to explain?

B) I usually like to give gifts, but if I was

receiving something I would like it to be small.

Like a chihuahua.

C) I have lots of things I like, so anything that represents me.

MAINLY C’S: You like to socialise in groups, but also know the importance of deep friendships. This is a great balance, and people know you as a friendly person who they can really talk to. The challenge for you is to enjoy socialising, while still looking out for your friends.

Our Community | 15

Southern Kids Living for Jesus

This year’s Southern Division Kids Camp was based in Area 252—a.k.a. Living Springs Camp near Lyttelton—during the July school holidays.

About 55 kids and 20 leaders from around the Southern Division enjoyed a weekend of fun, learning and practicing a lifestyle directed toward God. The assignment for campers was ‘Project Go’, which focused on a ‘Commitment Mission: Making a Plan and Putting it into Practice’ and was set in the ‘Rehearsal Room’—a space to sharpen up, train and be more prepared in living for Jesus every day. Campers rehearsed the ways

they Hear God, Pray to God, Talk about God, and Live for God. Teaching included various activity stations, games, some awesome songs (especially the chicken one!), and time in small groups or competition teams.

With some great videos and fun small group crafts as well, there was an awesome range of activities to engage all the kids and provide time for leaders to have important conversations that helped ground the teaching themes for each session. There was even a potentially wet ‘hat of remembrance’ to help kids recap what was taught in previous sessions.

Saturday afternoon included a camp-wide game where the kids had to find leaders who were themselves trying to solve a puzzle between them and not get caught—the kids won that one! This was followed by some free time, which included enjoying a mid-winter swim in the heated pool.

A special part of the Southern Division Camp is the graduation of those kids attending their last kids camp before heading off to high school. They were farewelled from the kids’ side of the room to the youth side, meeting Major Bronwyn Malcolm (Territorial

Children’s Secretary) in the middle of the room and receiving a personalised scroll with a message just for them.

Thanks to all the leaders who invested their time and energy to make this a successful weekend, and to all who helped with travel and covering expenses. It has been so encouraging to receive emails and cards from those corps grateful that this year’s camp was such a meaningful time in the life of their kids.

Majors David & Alison Moody (Divisional Children and Youth Secretary’s, Southern Division)

Northern Division Celebrates Māori Language Week

(l–r) Irene Farnham and Koroseta Timu at Waitakere Central Corps.

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori was a great success in the Northern Division, with lots of centres and corps getting involved during the week of 27 July to 2 August.

Panmure and Mt Eden Family Stores had window displays that engaged the public, encouraged Māori greetings in the store, and gave away chocolate to those who took part! Karakia (prayer) and waiata (singing) were also used in the

store’s devotions/team meeting.

Auckland City Corps had a Māori focus in its corps newsletter, featuring language and art. They also welcomed Northern Division Māori Ministry on Saturday night, with 80 people from around the division enjoying food, friendship, games and lots of waiata together.

Papakura Corps held a Saturday morning session that

included poi and flax-weaving, along with a really good boil-up!

Divisional Headquarters shared kai moana (seafood) and competed over a Māori place names quiz, while next door Education and Employment students enjoyed their own Māori language quiz. Downstairs, Royal Oak Community Ministries opened their Bible Study with a karakia.

Bible readings were in Māori and English. Their Māori quiz focused on the Bible.

In the West, Waitakere Corps and Community Ministries went all out to celebrate Māori Language week with a range of activities. Every morning began with waiata and karakia as usual, but on that week they also had the staff present their pepeha (a Māori way of introducing yourself). At Wednesday’s Tea and Toys Playgroup, mums made poi—an activity that was so popular, it carried over to Friday’s group. On Thursday’s staff day, everyone learnt how

to ‘four plait’ to make their own poi. This was an awesome team bonding activity. Staff also listened to a brief history on Māori Language week and learnt about the symbolism of the colours used to make their poi. The corps want to carry this learning into the future to help them better embrace the Treaty of Waitangi. Waitakere Kidz Matter 2 Us encouraged children and parents to focus on their pepeha (introduction). The children were keen to share their pepeha at mat time!

Everybody at the Salvation Army’s South Auckland site celebrated with a mid-winter Christmas hāngī. Over 40 staff and volunteers enjoyed a really good day, with some meeting each other for the first time.

Others also made an effort to make Māori Language Week a significant part of their calendar, which was great to see. Mauri ora whānau!

Lieutenant Hana Seddon (Sec for Māori Ministry, Northern Division)

16 | WarCry 19 September 2015

Crown Relocations NZ Supports Pacific Children

Lesley Beacham, Human Resources Manager of Crown Worldwide NZ, with Public Relations Director Shane Chisholm.

In a first for a business in New Zealand, the team at Crown Relocations has come together in a national fundraiser to support The Salvation Army’s Cherish a Child programme. In just two weeks $7800 was raised thanks to a range of creative fundraising ideas implemented by the team at Crown’s branches around the country. The funds will enable 13 children in Fiji and Tonga aged between five and 12 to be helped with education, nutrition, health and recreation over the next two years.

Established in New Zealand in 1998, Cherish a Child enables New Zealanders to sponsor children in need in more than 20 countries.

Since its inception, more than 4000 children have been supported, with 1117 children currently receiving assistance.

Major Helen Knowles, The Salvation Army’s Child Sponsorship Secretary, is thrilled to have a business involved in the programme.

‘Crown’s financial support will make a real difference to the lives of these young Pacific children. We look forward to sharing the news of each child’s development with the Crown team and hope they will gain immense pleasure from seeing how their fundraising is helping these

children live healthier, happier and more fulfilled lives,’ she said.

Crown’s support of Cherish a Child extends the contribution the company has provided Kiwi families in need over the past four years through their partnership with The Salvation Army, which has included annual staff and customer fundraising appeals for the Army’s social service programmes, as well as their innovative priority box programme, which sees Crown Relocation customers donating goods such as nonperishable foodstuffs, books, DVDs and clothing to The Salvation Army as part of their house relocation. Since launching the priority box scheme four years ago more than 6000 boxes have been donated.

Crown’s Country Manager James Logan says, ‘Our staff are passionate supporters of The Salvation Army and their community programmes. We are proud to be the first Kiwi business to get behind Cherish a Child, and hopefully our support will assist one or more of our sponsored children to reach for the stars!’

Go to www salvationarmy.org.nz/childsponsorship to sign up as a Salvation Army child sponsor.

General Makes Historic Visit to Puerto Rico Despite multiple warnings of incoming Tropical Storm Erika, the USA Eastern Territory’s Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Division held a day-long gathering for General André Cox, the first Salvation Army General to visit the island of Puerto Rico since 1964. The General’s visit comes after consecutive trips in mid-August to Cuba—which hosted the Greater Antilles ‘Tocados por su Gloria’ (‘Touched

by His Glory’) Congress—and to the Dominican Republic.

The General began his day by speaking to various members of the Puerto Rican press at the San Juan Central Corps. He talked about his personal aim when he took office, which was to gain a broader understanding of the challenges and opportunities and to increase The Salvation

Our Community | 17

War Cry Wins Australasian Awards

War Cry picked up two awards and was highly commended in a third category at the annual Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA) Awards in Brisbane on 29 August. The awards covered the 2014 year.

The magazine received a Gold award for Best Photography, for freelance photographer Bruce Millar’s picture of New Zealand documentary maker Rob Harley to illustrate a story on Rob’s DVD series The Survivors Guide to Hell: Part Two. Judges noted the striking appearance, expert positioning of the photographer and direction of the gaze of the subject, with overall praise for Bruce’s expertly conveyed creativity.

War Cry was awarded a Bronze for Best Designed magazine, and was also

highly commended in the Best Publication of the Year category. Judges appreciated the magazine’s clean-cut unpretentious look, use of photographs that focused on people and judicious use of colour.

The magazine was also recognised in the most coveted ARPA award, ‘Publication of the Year’, which was won by Crosslight, a monthly newspaper of the Uniting Church of Victoria and Tasmania. Three publications—all of them from New Zealand—were highly commended in this category for the ‘obvious commitment of their editorial people’.

Alongside War Cry, the Catholic publications Marist Messenger and Tui Motu InterIslands were also highly commended.

War Cry editor Major Christina Tyson says the team was delighted at this recognition, and that being able to put together a magazine about God’s work that is enjoyed by Salvation Army church members and the wider public is a real privilege.

Justin St Vincent, of Rhema Broadcasting, has been unanimously elected the new coordinator for ARPA New Zealand and therefore also becomes vice president of ARPA. To read back issues of War Cry, go to www issuu.com/ salvationarmynzftwarcry

Front and Centre at Fiji Festival The Salvation Army in Fiji continues to enjoy some unique opportunities to participate and speak into national life and events within the Republic. One example is Fiji Festival Week.

For more than 50 years, Fiji has celebrated Fiji Festival Week, which involves young men and women putting themselves forward to seek coveted recognition and crowns. Contrary to negative impressions of beauty pageants in the Western World, these events in Fiji have a dignity about them and include church services and a strong focus on community, family and responsibility.

The 2015 Festival Theme focused on the impacts of global warming, especially on the island states of the South Pacific.

Contestants were expected to have this theme central to their speeches, fashion designs and much more.

This year, The Salvation Army was granted a coveted spot on the main stage for Sunday 16 August, hosting the worship service, which was followed by a march through central Suva and a youth concert in the afternoon.

The three corps in Suva (Suva Central, Raiwai and Nasinu) combined to host the event, bringing together Salvation

GAZETTE

Army’s presence in the world.

‘It’s important to come and see the reality of what’s going on in places like Puerto Rico,’ he said.

A luncheon was held in honour of the General, complete with traditional Puerto Rican cuisine and lively salsa music and dancing. The Hon. Jaime Perelló Borrás, Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives, presented the General with an official House of Representatives Resolution. Afterwards, the General participated in officers councils for the Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Division, commending its officers for their hard work.

The day ended with a divisional rally at San Juan Central Corps, where the General connected with corps members.

Using translation headsets, every

person in the church could hear and understand the message of the General, regardless of their native language.

General Cox conducted the enrolment of 30 men, women and children from the division as he welcomed them to their new role of service for God, as Salvation Army soldiers and adherent members. ‘You are all signs of God’s love and blessings,’ he said. Each one of you is unique in the eyes of God. No matter your age, this is the first step on a journey, and it will be exciting to see what he does through all of you.’

While the General was in Puerto Rico, Commissioner Silvia Cox was undertaking engagements in the Southern Africa Territory.

Promotion to Glory Mjr Neil Waugh on 29 Aug from his home in Christchurch. Neil entered The Salvation Army Training College in the Ambassadors for Christ Session on 7 April 1988. Following his commissioning on 20 Jan 1990, Neil married Lt Gillian Knight on 27 Jan 1990, and together they were appointed as the Corps Officers, Alexandra. In Jan 1994, Neil and Gill were appointed Corps Officers, Mosgiel, and Referral Officers for the Independent Living Units. In Jan 2000, following a short break in service, Neil and Gill were appointed as Corps Officers, Gisborne, where Neil was also the Director of Community and Family Services. In Jan 2007, Neil and Gill moved to West Auckland where they were Corps Officers at Waitakere Central Corps. Neil had the additional appointment of Director, Community Ministries, Waitakere. In Jan 2013, Neil and Gill were appointed to Belfast Corps, Christchurch, with the additional appointment for Neil of Referral Officer, Independent Living Units. It is from this appointment that Neil was promoted to Glory, aged 50, having given 22 years and seven

Army musicians, bandsmen, dance and children’s groups in a dynamic worship and celebration service. Despite the rain and mud of a very wet Suva climate, a sense of joy and celebration pervaded.

Divisional Commander Major David Noakes spoke about global warming, emphasising humanity’s responsibility for the planet and highlighting key elements from the two creation accounts of Genesis chapters one and two. The presence of the Festival Contestants in the congregation afforded an opportunity to speak into their lives as ambassadors of the various groups and companies they represented.

Those taking part in the afternoon march of witness braved insistent drizzle and rain and safely negotiated Suva’s city streets under police escort. The young men and women of the combined brass band, led by Bandmaster Biu of Nasinu Corps excelled, with 30 minutes of unbroken playing and marching.

The youth celebration that followed featured worship items from Suva Central, Raiwai and Nasinu Corps, with additional contributions from Methodist and Scripture Union youth groups.

months of service. We honour Neil who, along with Gill, has served God faithfully as an ambassador for Christ.

A celebration service, led by Mjr Ivan Bezzant, was held at Sydenham Corps on 3 Sept. Please continue to uphold Gill, Ethan (son) and partner Nive, grandson Josias, Caleb (son), Captain Kevin (brother) and Major Janette Waugh, and Fay (sister) and Greg Dickie in love and prayer.

Bereaved Capt Salesi Temo and Cadet Visa Kaurasi of their brother on 21 August from Suva, Fiji. Please surround the family with your prayers as they grieve.

Mjr Iliesa Cola of his brother, Etuate Seru Cola (49) from Suva Hospital in Fiji on 25 August after a brief illness. Please pray for Mjrs Iliesa and Litiana Cola and extended family in this time of loss, particularly Etuate’s widow, Salanieta, and their seven children.

Appointment Effective 1 Sept: Lt Daniel In, Corps Officer, Dong Daejoen Corps, Choong Chung Division, Korea Territory; Lt Gabrielle Choi, Pastoral Care Officer, Dong Daejoen Corps, Choong Chung Division, Korea Territory.

18 | WarCry 19 September 2015

LEADERSHIP LINKS

I’d like to recommend three books that I’ve found especially helpful.

Despite rumours to the contrary, people do still like to read books—even younger people! The Pew Research Center surveyed more than 6000 Americans and found 43 per cent of under-30s read every day, compared to 40 per cent of older adults. The typical number of books read in a year by younger Americans who had read at least one book was 10.

Our Territorial Strategic Mission Plan (TSMP) has a goal of leadership development. This can be achieved in multiple ways, from formal education, short courses and seminars, to mission experience, discussions over coffee, TED talks and YouTube videos … or simply by reading a book. I’d like to recommend three books that I’ve found especially helpful recently.

Just Mission: Practical Politics for Local Churches by Helen Cameron is as effective in making its case for political action in the local church as it is in demonstrating how to do it. It succeeds in being both a tool and inspiration for action. TSMP Goal 3: ‘fight injustice—mobilise and act’, can be a challenge for some of our corps that struggle to identify a justice issue in their local community and then become part of the solution. Just Mission will help. Cameron is a research fellow and founding director of the Oxford Centre for Ecclesiology and Practical Theology. She is also a lifelong Salvationist and the head of Public Affairs for The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom.

James Kouzes and Barry Posner are world-renowned in the field of leadership. They wrote the best-selling The Leadership Challenge and developed the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), a 360-degree questionnaire assessing leadership behaviour—one of the most widely used leadership assessment tools in the world. Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge is edited by Kouzes and Posner and includes contributions from Christian leadership experts like Maxwell, Lencioni, Ortberg and Blanchard. What I appreciate most about this book is that it is grounded in good research and includes helpful insights and reflections on faith and leadership.

Few of us escape meetings in our work, social or church life.

Meetings can be highly effective for planning and managing work, as well as building and maintaining good relationships.

Alternatively, meetings can be ineffective, inefficient, time wasting, boring and unproductive. I participate in and chair a long list of meetings. I want them to achieve good results for the Kingdom of God and to be positive experiences for those involved. Meetings That Work: a Practical Guide to Teamworking in Groups by Catherine Widdicome is a practical reference on developing good teams and leading meetings that achieve outcomes.

I recommend these books in the hope others will also find them helpful. Thank you for all the good that you contribute to the mission of The Salvation Army.

Commissioner Robert Donaldson Territorial Commander

Accepted for Training MESSENGERS OF THE GOSPEL SESSION —NGĀ KARERE O TE RONGOPAI (2016–2017) Andrew & Maree O’Brien (Waitakere Central Corps) Talofa, Malo Ni, Bula, Fakalofa lahi atu, Kia Ora! For the past six years, Waitakere Central Corps has been our spiritual home.

During this time, our family has grown and taken opportunities to contribute in the life of the corps and local community.

On December the 7th, we will celebrate 30 years of marriage, with four adult children and three grandchildren under the age of 10. We are a couple fused together by cultural diversity, blended families and generations of spiritual heritage.

Currently, we are part of the corps leadership team and lead the night church ministry. Last month, Andrew celebrated five years as an employment youth facilitator. Other areas that Andrew is responsible for include oversight of home groups, discipleship and recently ‘The RegiMENt’ (men’s ministry).

These roles provide an opportunity for Andrew to utilise his theological training from Laidlaw College. Maree has compassion for the hurting and disenfranchised, and this is evident in her love for the young people that she works with at Education and Employment as a tutor and chaplain.

As a couple, we have always had a heart for pastoral care, loving people at their point of need and sharing life with them.

We come with hearts that want to serve and listen to God so we may join with Jesus to bring transformation and restoration to our community and the world. This is a season to increase our biblical knowledge and critical thinking, to strengthen our practical skills to love God, and build our relationship with each other for God and his glory.

Following the Call An officer is a senior soldier who has responded to a calling from God to devote all their time and energies to the service of God. The road can be hard, but it brings incredible joy and immense fulfilment.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST Speak to your local Divisional Candidates Secretary or talk to your corps officer. The application process that follows gives time and space for God’s will to be tested and confirmed.

Go to www salvationarmy.org.nz/officership for more info

Mission Matters | 19

BY TAU MATAKI

He iwi tahi tātou—We Are Now One People Māori Ministry’s ‘kapa haka rōpū’ travelled to the international Boundless Congress in London in July.

He iwi tahi tātou—We Are Now One People, that famous statement uttered by Samuel Marsden at Waitangi on 6 February 1840. What a privilege for our Māori ‘kapa haka rōpū’ to return to the origins of that statement 175 years later and celebrate with other Salvationists that, ‘we are now one people’.

What an amazing pilgrimage to the home of our movement's founder, William Booth, to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Salvation Army movement.

A 24 hour flight takes us half way round the world, crossing both Russia and China, 12 hours to Hong Kong, then a further 12 hours to London! We land in London around 5.00 am Sunday morning and bus to our accommodation at the Imperial College in London, arriving around 8.00 am, but not due to unpack till 2.00 pm.

Some of us decide, ‘We’re outa here’, so off we go on the tube (train) to see the sights and we quickly learn to ‘mind the gap’ between the train and the platform. Before 11.30 am on day one we have already had a steak, seen the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of Big Ben, and the rosy red cheeks of the little children (as the nursery rhyme went)!

Monday morning signals a hot, hectic schedule for the week of celebration unfolding for 15,000 Salvationists, from 126 countries across the world. ‘Awesome’ is how I would describe Gods diverse people; black, white, yellow, red, brown, our rōpū (group) was so privileged to swap territorial and regional badges and share our diversity in Christ.

The Imperial College where we stayed, was landscaped by a small park with huge oak trees, where we could relax and recuperate from the heat and excitement of the O2 Arena.

The Boundless 2015 kapa haka rōpū were invited to perform at the event by General André Cox, while he was here attending Congress 2013.

The rōpū was made up of eight women and seven men drawn from Northern, Central, Midland Divisions and Territorial Headquaters.

Four months out from departure for London the rōpū faced a number of challenges. We lost our rangatira (leader) Nan Patea to retirement, we had no kākahu (costume) and no idea what our performance would look like. However, through much prayer and endurance on the part of the rōpū whānau, and the confidence

territorial leadership had in us, we overcame the challenges and concentrated our efforts toward London.

We were blessed in identifying replacement kaiako (teachers) who would work with our limitations; preparing us on short notice for what became a memorable journey to and performance in London.

Praise the Lord, we give thanks to the rōpū whānau who took care of the home front as we attended weekend wānanga, the ringawera (kitchen staff), and Auckland City Corps who hosted our rōpū.

It is our hope and prayer that all who attended this 150 year celebration will share the good news with others who couldn't make the trip.

One of the highlights for this rōpū was performing the waiata (song) ‘haere mai’ in the O2 Arena in front of our international brothers and sisters in Christ. We felt privileged in representing the oneness that comes from God’s will in us, and we know that many others felt the same way.

The heavy commitment to rehearsals and performing limited our ability to see other events and presentations. However, we took what opportunity we had to fellowship with whosoever and enjoy the streets of London. We did take in the General’s message on the last day though, and what a sobering message it was too. When he questioned ‘are we too comfortable in our Christian walk’, you could hear a pin drop.

Coming up …

• Māori Ministry is preparing to roll out its 10 year strategic plan.

• A Māori Ministry Secretary will be coming to a place near you soon to speak kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) about the importance of building the ministry together.

• We're also launching a Māori Ministry newsletter called Kumara Vine, providing regular updates of what’s happening across the motu (country). If you would like to be added to the mailing list please email your address to Lieutenants Tau or Trish Mataki, tau_mataki@salvationarmy.org.nz or trish_mataki@salvationarmy.org.nz

20 | WarCry 19 September 2015

Seeing the Invisible God God is nowhere and everywhere in the Old Testament book of Esther, says Carla Lindsey.

If you are a party animal you would have loved the party lifestyle that took place in King Xerxes’ palace. Xerxes, king of the Persian Empire (486–465 BCE), really liked parties. He liked feasting, he really liked drinking, and he liked schmoosing.

The book of Esther is set at Xerxes’ palace, and many of its key events either happen at parties or are celebrated by parties. In Esther, we find 10 parties (or banquets) mentioned. Some were huge, attended by many people and lasted a long time. For example, the party in Esther 1:2–4, during which Xerxes showed off his wealth and power to important military leaders, lasted six months! This party was immediately followed by another party that lasted a mere seven days (1:5–8). While those parties were going on, Queen Vashti threw a party of her own for the women (1:9).

And now, we come to the first of two more intimate dinner parties that Queen Esther threw. Here, as we look at Esther 4:1–5:8, we’ll see the Jewish people’s response to the terrible news that their race would be annihilated and the brave response of Queen Esther who stepped up to try and do something about it.

When we left Esther chapter 3, a decree had gone out ‘with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods’ (Est 3:13).

Understandably, the Jewish people were devastated!

As Jews around the empire heard the news, they mourned. For them mourning involved fasting, weeping and wailing. Many tore their clothes, and put on sackcloth and ashes as a sign of their great distress. When Mordecai, who was the parental guardian of the Persian Queen, Queen Esther, heard the news, he mourned, for Mordecai was a Jew. Esther was too, but she had done a good job of keeping her racial identity a secret.

Bad news reaches Esther Being closeted in the harem, Esther had not heard about the decree.

She had no idea what was in store for her people. When she heard Mordecai was in sackcloth weeping bitterly by the King’s gate, she was very distressed. She knew there must have been something big going on!

Unable to leave her quarters herself, she sent clothes to Mordecai so he could come to her, as it wasn’t acceptable to wear sackcloth into the palace. But his distress was so great that he would not simply change his clothes and stop mourning. Mordecai sent the clothes back.

So Esther tried a different approach. She sent her attendant Hathach to find out why Mordecai was mourning. Mordecai told Hathach everything. He gave Hathach ‘a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her … Mordecai told Hathach to instruct

PART 3 OF 5

Esther to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people’ (4:8).

So Esther was given the awful news, and along with it, the advice of her guardian that she should approach the king on behalf of the Jewish people and ask for mercy.

But it wasn’t that easy. Not even for the queen. According to the ancient historian Herodotus, the Persians had adopted a law that was instituted by Deioces I, king of the Medes. This law said that anyone who approached the king uninvited would be subject to death, unless the king extended his gold sceptre to them. This law protected the king from unwanted intruders. It meant if you wanted to see the king you had to send a letter requesting an audience with him. Then, if the king agreed to see you, you would be summonsed.

Why Esther didn’t write a letter we don’t know. The annihilation decree was not to be carried out for another 11 months, so there was plenty of time. Perhaps she was simply obeying Mordecai’s instruction that she go to the king, or perhaps she just didn’t want to wait. Writing a letter and waiting to hear back might have taken months, and there was no guarantee that she would get a summons. In the meantime, her people were terrified. Perhaps she just wanted to get it all sorted out.

The sooner the better.

This is God’s moment Esther knew the risks of approaching the king uninvited well. She sent Hathach back to Mordecai with a message expressing her fears and telling him that the king had not called for her in over a month. She must have wondered if she had lost Xerxes’ favour. After all she was only one wife of many. Perhaps the king had moved on to someone else. There was a very real possibility that approaching the king would mean her death. Xerxes was known for being a ruthless man.

Mordecai’s response to the concerned Esther is what most scholars consider the central idea in the book. Mordecai ‘sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” ’ (3:13–14) In other words, ‘If you do nothing, your death is certain. Just because you are queen doesn’t mean you will escape’. But Mordecai also seems confident that the Jews would be rescued somehow. He doesn’t say that the rescue would come from God—in fact, no-one in the whole book talks about God—but one does presume that’s what he means. No doubt Mordecai knows the history of his people.

He must know that over and over again the Jews were oppressed by other nations, but always God saved a remnant. He never let them be completely wiped out.

And here’s the central idea. Mordecai suggests that actually Esther might have been put in the position that she was in for this exact moment. Maybe the king’s party and the former queen Vashti’s deposition weren’t a coincidence (chapter 1). Maybe Esther being

Soul Food | 21

Babylon

Susa

Esther goes from being passive— just a young girl who took orders from others—to taking the initiative. chosen to go to the king and her becoming queen (chapter 2), were all part of a much greater plan. Perhaps she had been put there by God for the very purpose of going before the king on behalf of the Jews.

Maybe this was her moment.

Esther decided to grab that moment. Even though she was afraid, she accepted the challenge. Here we see a huge change in Esther. She goes from being passive—just a young girl who took orders from others—to taking the initiative. She makes a plan and she puts it into action.

Esther steps up Esther becomes the one giving the instructions. She told Mordecai to ‘gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish’ (4:16).

Fasting and praying usually go together. While the narrator seems to deliberately avoid any language that connects to God, the fact that the Jews were fasting, implies that they were praying too. Esther was afraid. No doubt she felt inadequate for the task. She knew the fate of her people rested with her. She was under just a bit of pressure! She knew she couldn’t do it alone, so she called on the Jewish community to join together to enlist divine help.

Mordecai rallied the Jewish people to fast for Esther, and on the third day Esther discarded her mourning garb and put on her fine royal robes. She went and stood in front of the king’s hall, where from his throne, Xerxes could see her approaching.

I imagine she held her breath as she stood nervously waiting to see what kind of response she would get from the king.

Dramatic pause.

When Xerxes saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the sceptre (5:2). So Esther approached …

Well, that was a relief! Esther had the king’s favour so she could make her request. Xerxes knew there must have been a very good reason for Esther to have risked approaching him like that. He knew her request must be very important.

To reassure her, he said, ‘What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you’ (5:3). That sounds pretty generous! But it wasn’t quite as good as it sounds. To offer up to half of the kingdom was an oriental courtesy not meant to be taken literally. In Mark 6:23, King Herod offered Salome the same.

But this gesture told Esther that Xerxes was prepared to take her request seriously.

So, given how well everything has gone, we would expect Esther to make her request now, right? But she doesn’t.

Perhaps because she hadn’t been with the king for 30 days she felt she needed to re-establish her relationship with him? Perhaps she just wanted to butter him up?

Come to the party Although Esther is given the opportunity, she doesn’t make her request for the rescue of the Jews. Instead, she invites the king along with Haman, the prime minister, to a private dinner party.

It had been Haman’s idea to eliminate the Jews. He had the annihilation decree written up, so why did Esther want him at the party? Was it to lull him into a false sense of security? Was it so she might learn more about her enemy and his plan? Was it so that he would be present when she revealed she was a Jew? We’re not sure, but no doubt the already proud Haman would have had his ego stroked further by the invitation from the Queen.

As the trio dined, the king once again invited Esther to make her request. But Esther must have sensed that it wasn’t yet the right time.

So instead she invited Xerxes and Haman to yet another dinner party, at which, she promised, she would make her request known.

The suspense! Twice now the reader has thought Esther was going to explain everything to the king and twice we’ve been left hanging. Will she ask him at the next banquet? And what will happen when she does?

Unknown to Esther, her delaying technique would allow for an interesting twist in the plot concerning Mordecai and Haman. Another coincidence? Perhaps—or perhaps another instance of the God, who is never mentioned in this book, actually being all through it, standing silently behind all of the events, bringing them together for his purpose.

Points to ponder When you look back, can you find times when God has woven together the coincidences in your life?

Is there an area in your life where you need to stop doing what others want you to do, and step up as Esther did?

Is there an area of your life where God is asking you to do something even though it scares you?

Is there an area of your life where you could call on your community for support?

22 | WarCry 19 September 2015

International Bible Reading Challenge

CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 18–20: Creative Ministries Conference / Silverstream 19: Te Kete Waitua / Central Division 19: Moral and Social Issues Council / Wellington 19–20: Children’s Camp / Tonga Region 19–20: Southland Regional Weekend / Southern Division 21: Divisional Community Ministries Conference / Midland Division 22: Leadership Module (TSMP) / Northern Division 25–27: Youth Councils (Rotorua) / Midland Division 26–28: Kids Camp #1 / Northern Division 27: Corps Mission Sunday / Tonga Region 28: Canterbury (South) Anniversary 28–2 Oct: Kids Camp #2 / Northern Division OCTOBER 2–4: Recovery Church 20th Anniversary / Auckland 2–4: Youth Councils / Southern Division 5–9: Kids Peak Adventure / Blue Mountain Adventure Centre 6–7: Alpha Training / Tonga Region 9–11: Her Freedom Song Conference (Sydenham) / Southern Division 10: Fiji Day

WEEK 38 1 Thessalonians 4–2 Thessalonians 3 WEEK 39 1 Timothy 1–1 Timothy 5 Go to www.salvationarmy.org/biblechallenge for daily reading guides and more.

Porirua Corps 50th Anniversary You’re invited to celebrate with Porirua Corps from 30 October to 1 November. Guest leaders: Colonels Barbara and Willis Howell.

89 Warspite Ave, Cannons Creek, Porirua.

For an information pack, e: ebony_sushames@nzf.salvationarmy. org, p: (04) 235 6266

Tonga Region 30-Year Anniversary 1–4 July 2016, Queen Salote Hall, Taufa’ahau Road, Nuku’alofa.

The Tonga Region will celebrate 30 years of mission and ministry next year, with guest leaders General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox. For more information write to: The Salvation Army, Tonga Region Headquarters, PO Box 1035, Nuku’alofa, Tonga, or email: rhq_tga@nzf.salvationarmy.org.

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Robert (Territorial Commander) and Janine Donaldson (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 19–22 September: Fiji Divisional Review (TPWM) 20–26 September: General’s Consultative Council, London (TC) 26–27: National Council of Women (TPWM) Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 19–20 September: Thames Corps 22 September: Levin Home League 25–28: Tonga Region

PRAYER FOCUS Please pray for: Carterton, Central Taranaki, Christchurch City, Dannevirke and Dunedin City Corps, Public Relations Staff, The Salvation Army Congo (Brazzaville) Territory.

INTERESTED IN SOCIAL JUSTICE? For reports, regular newsletters, challenging articles and Salvation Army government submissions.

www salvationarmy.org.nz/socialpolicy

War Cry Online Missed an issue of War Cry? Want to re-read an article or share War Cry content with your online friends?

Many individual articles are republished on www.salvationarmy.org.nz, or visit to www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry to read entire editions.

Subscribe today!

War Cry … DIRECT to your door Annual subscription (including p&p) $75 (within NZ). To subscribe, contact Salvationist Resources, p: (04) 382 0740, e: mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org

Find SALVATION ARMY JOB OPPORTUNITIES online:

www salvationarmy.org.nz/employment

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

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Fun4Kids | 23

code breaker I choose to be healthy! When we are healthy we have energy to enjoy life and think well at school. We become healthier by:

staying away f rom ha r mful t h ings , eat ing good food , keep ing our hands clean, exercising getting enough sleep. a bcdefgh i jklmnopq rst uvwxyz A B C D

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F GH I J K LMN O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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Use the key to work out what the rest of the sentence says.

Each picture represents one letter.

What’s the fastest vegetable?

A runner bean

What’s the strongest vegetable?

A muscle sprout

name six healthy foods that you like to eat: 1.

4.

2.

5.

3.

6.

read it ‘Dear friend, I know that your spiritual life is going well. I pray that you also may enjoy good health …’

3 John 3:2 (NIRV)

Let’s Talk The Bible has a lot to say about being healthy. In the New Testament we read that our body is ‘the temple of the Holy Spirit’—in other words, God lives in us. And we want to take care of God’s house!

In the Old Testament, Daniel and his friends refused to eat unhealthy food that the king of Babylon wanted them to eat. Instead, they chose only to eat healthy food. Because of that, they had strong bodies and clever minds. The king rewarded them by giving them important jobs in his kingdom.

Every day we need to eat food from the basic food groups. If we eat all of one kind of food, we don’t get enough vitamins and minerals. We also want to be careful not to eat too much sugar and fatty foods. The best drink for our bodies is water, but milk is also good for our bones and teeth.

Ask God to help you say YES to things that are good for your body and NO to things that will hurt you.

Let’s Pray Dear God, thank you that your Holy Spirit lives in my life when Jesus is my friend and saviour. Help me to take care of my body so that I can serve you well and so that I can concentrate at school and learn well. Amen.