FAITH IN ACTION 22 SEPTEMBER 2018 | Issue 6701 | $1.50
How to Help Stop Human Trafficking The Problem With Peace You Beauty! A Partnership with L'Oréal
Myths About Meeting ‘The One’ How We Are Like Kites
FROM HĀWERA TO SAMOA
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WAR CRY The Salvation Army
New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Andy & Yvonne Westrupp | GENERAL Brian Peddle | FOUNDERS William
& Catherine Booth
The Salvation Army’s message is based on the Bible. Our ministry is motivated by love for God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in his name without discrimination. War Cry exists to support and advance The Salvation Army’s message, ministry and mission. MANAGING EDITOR Ingrid Barratt | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Hugh Collins, Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond | PROOF READING Major Jill
Gainsford, Vivienne Hill OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box
6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Fax (04) 382 0716, Email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz, www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone
(04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@salvationarmy.org.nz, $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT www.makeready.nz | PAPER Sumo Offset
is an environmentally responsible paper produced using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) FSC® certified Mixed Source pulp from responsible sources and manufactured under the strict ISO14001 Environmental Management System. Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.
Sign Posts Recently, I attended a fund-raiser at THQ, a garage sale-type event. One of our staff, Peter Hennessey, donated books; these books were previously owned by Peter’s father Lieutenant-Colonel Don Hennessey. I eagerly pored over titles and purchased several books, many written before I was born. The authors’ names were familiar and over years I have read several of their offerings and quotes, but these particular books had a point of difference: they were well read and well loved. I could tell because Don had made annotations in the margins, underlined impacting sentences, left prayer cards inside the pages, corner edges were well worn and covers no longer sat flat. Initially I was attracted to the books because of their authors: A.W Tozer, C.S Lewis, F.W Boreham, to name a few, but as I read I felt as if I was catching a glimpse of Don’s faith in these pages. His markings highlighted sentences he considered worthy of attention. It slowed down my reading and made it more contemplative. It enabled me to dip into chapters and the highlights became a map of key points and memorable quotes. Themes and messages of these books—holiness, sanctification, denial of self—are not favourite topics today, but reading these books gave me a desire to dig deeper into these themes and to appreciate the sign posts left by Don Hennessey, carefully laid out for me to follow. My hope is that the sign posts I leave along the line of my life will be read by others and my prayer is that they will all lead to Christ. Vivienne Hill Acting Editor
All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated. Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission. Publishing for 135 years | Issue 6701 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry
www.salvationarmy.org.nz SalvationArmyNZFTS @SalvationArmyNZ salvationarmynzfts
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Only a disciple can make a disciple. A. W. Tozer
Romans 1:16 (New King James) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romā 1:16 Kāhore hoki ōku whakamā ki te rongopai: ko te kaha hoki ia o te Atua hei whakaora mō ngā tāngata katoa e whakapono ana; mō te Hūrai ki mua, mō te Kariki anō hoki.
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t’s the season for flying kites! At least, when I was a child it was—with September’s sunny days and gusty winds. But when I think about it, I hardly ever see kids flying kites anymore. One time, though, my brother arrived home with a kite for his son, Carl. Carl and his many cousins were all excited because they knew it was a game they could play together. The kite sometimes flew high and sometimes low. If the wind died down, the kite just dropped down on the ground. My nieces and nephews picked it up, made sure that it was still in good condition, and flew it again. One or two of them held the rope and the rest shouted and cheered encouragingly. Together, they ran towards where the kite would fly. As I watched the chaotic, joyful scene, I thought, ‘The kite must be happy flying with ease and free in the sky’. But after a while, I heard my nieces and nephews shouting, ‘Oh no! Oh no!’ The rope that connected the kite to the kids below had snapped off. The kite was out of control—it flew further away and finally crashed. It took a while for us to search for and locate the kite. In the end we found it, a little bit broken but nothing that couldn’t be fixed. I imagine us being the kite. We all want our freedom and are proud of our self-reliance. But just like the kite, unless we keep our connection with families, friends or people, we will fly to nowhere and without a purpose.
In contrast, imagine being like a kite that is still connected to people on the ground—with a strong rope that binds us together. When the wind is down, and bringing us down as well, there will be people to support and encourage us. And if the wind brings us high up in the sky, our friends and family will shout and cheer for us. If the wind is too strong and brings us out of control, rest assured there will be people that help keep us grounded. And wherever we fly, there are people running with us. There are a few challenges that prevent me from keeping in touch with family and friends overseas: time, weather and health have been the biggest culprits. Social media has a bad reputation for ‘disconnecting’ people, but it can also be a platform for us to connect to others: a friend messaged me through Facebook and asked me how I was doing before asking me to catch up; an announcement on a Facebook page encouraged me to join in with church activities. These connections create a sense of belonging within me. I’m glad that my nieces and nephews found their kite when it snapped and got disconnected from them. In life, so many kites just fly to nowhere, never to be found again. When we are bound together, that is when we can truly fly free. BY MARIANA YAPP
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You Beauty!
TOPFIVE With the release of the latest Winnie the Pooh movie we went down memory lane to think of our top five Kiwi kids books. What are your favourites? 1 Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy —Lynley Dodd. 2 The Lion in the Meadow—Margaret Mahy. 3 Mrs Wishy Washy —Joy Cowley. 4 The Kuia and the Spider—Patricia Grace. 5 The Wonky Donkey —Craig Smith and Katz Cowley.
An ambitious volunteering effort by staff from the beauty brand L’Oréal has seen a huge donation of items to help New Zealanders going through a tough time. The Salvation Army was among five Kiwi charities that benefited from L'Oréal’s New Zealand's annual Citizen Day, where staff around the world spend a day volunteering for non-profits in their area.
Weird of the Week: In July, Bulgarian swimming instructor Yane Petkov, 64, swam 3380 metres in a sack, with his hands and feet tied, to set a new Guinness World Record. It took him three hours. (In 2013 he swam 2037 metres with his hands and feet tied—but not in a sack.)
They packed 250,000 hygiene and beauty items, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash and beauty products into 20,000 care and wellbeing packs, over the day. In addition to The Salvation Army, packs were also donated to Auckland City Mission, Women’s Refuge, Ronald McDonald House and Fostering Kids NZ. The Army received 5750 care packs, which Salvation Army Territorial Secretary for Community Ministries, Major Pam Waugh, says would provide a boost for families the Army works with, providing items they may not otherwise be able to afford. ‘As the cost of living continues to rise, personal hygiene and beauty products become luxuries for some. For people who are struggling to feed themselves and keep their families safe, housed and clothed, these items will help to lift their spirits.’ Aurelie de Cremiers, Country Manager, L’Oréal New Zealand, says the company recognises the tireless work that non-profit organisations do to support those in poverty and in need. ‘For many families and individuals who are struggling, the wellbeing packs mean they won’t have to go without these essential items, which often have a big impact on personal dignity and self-esteem.’
Animation, Adventure Christopher Robin (G) Marc Forster
AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh and friends are brought to life on screen in this heart-warming tale. When Christopher Robin’s busy schedule is suddenly interrupted by Pooh, he ends up in some sticky situations and finds himself while searching for his friends. The slightly slower pace of the film allows for space to ponder the nuggets of truth in the quirky sayings of the Hundred Acre Wood pals. While Pooh’s adventures will keep kids enthralled, parents will enjoy a hit of nostalgia and be reminded not to lose sight of what really matters in life. Even Eeyore can’t put a dampener on this family-friendly Disney adventure. (Reviewed by Lauren Millington) 4 WarCry 22 SEPTEMBER 2018
WARCRYINHISTORY
We’re doing our utmost! In July 1918, this poster announced the results of the ‘Red Jersey’ Appeal in Wellington, Hawkes Bay and the Wairarapa. All three districts raised a grand total of £40,250, which would be the equivalent to over NZD $4.5 million today. The Red Jersey Appeal raised money to provide support and services to soldiers and civilians during World War One. Source: Booth College of Mission Heritage and Archives Centre
QUIKQUIZ
1 What is the name of Fred Flintstone’s child? 2 Who is Sesame Street’s Big Bird’s best friend? 3 How many stars on the Samoan coat of arms?
OURPEOPLE
Robin Raymond (Media Officer and Writer) Robin grew up with a love of writing and a fear his terrible handwriting would stop him. When he decided to become a journalist his dream was to one day work for a Christian charity. After four years writing for South Island newspapers, War Cry came to his rescue. In addition to writing for War Cry, Robin is the Army’s media officer helping the Army express its mission in the media. Outside of work, Robin spends his time as a climbing frame and assistant puddle jumper for his 18-month-old daughter, and indulging his history obsession.
4 What is the smelliest fruit in the world?
Chickpea and Spinach Curry A tasty, simple vegetarian meal that you can spice up, or not, as you like it.
5 Who found a baby while down by the riverside?
250g spinach
Answers on page 22
2 tbsp oil
1 can of chickpeas 400g can whole tomatoes in juice 1 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic 1 tps chopped ginger 2–3 medium potatoes 2–3 bay leaves 2 tsp garam masala Salt and pepper Curry powder to taste
Cut potatoes into one centimetre cubes. Heat the oil in a large pan. Add onion, garlic and ginger and stir-fry until the onion has softened and is turning clear. Add potatoes, curry powder and bay leaves. Cook for one to two minutes then add spinach and the tomatoes in juice. Crush and break up the tomatoes and then stir in the chickpeas. Simmer for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked, adding a little water if the mixture gets dry. When the potatoes are cooked, add the garam masala and salt and pepper to taste and serve with rice or naan bread.
Reprinted with permission from 100 Favourite 20 Minutes Dishes by Alison and Simon Holst.
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Lolagi and his wife Sanna at the official opening of The Salvation Army in Samoa.
A spur of the moment decision and a bucket of KFC were the beginning of Lolagi Phillips’ journey to discover God and The Salvation Army. BY SHAR DAVIS
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olagi Phillips grew up in Hawaii as one of 16 children. He is sixth in the pecking order and has a twin brother. Typically, whenever they argued growing up, Lolagi would turn to his twin and say, ‘You should listen to me because I am older than you’. The response was always the same, ‘You’re only five minutes older than me!’ ‘It’s pretty cool being five minutes older,’ laughs Lolagi. In 1999, at 18 years old, he moved to New Zealand and eventually settled in New Plymouth. By 2003, he was getting involved in all kinds of organised criminal activity and, as he says, was ‘living for myself’. Lolagi loved motorcycles and would often go out riding. His oldest bike was a 1953 Indian, and while not the most reliable of his bikes, it was one he loved to ride. ‘I took my bike out on the road. Normally this bike dies on me every time I take it out, but this one day I got all the way to Hāwera.’ It’s about an hour away and, ‘My tummy felt empty after all that riding,’ says Lolagi. There was only one thing for it.
A strange sight He saw KFC and figured that would be a good place to get something to eat. ‘I turned my bike [into the carpark] and the first thing I notice is this really big guy sitting inside by himself, with two buckets of chicken.’ It was only 10am, so it seemed a little strange to Lolagi. He walked inside with his riding jacket, sat down next to the man and watched him eating from one of the buckets. Trying to decide if he should or shouldn’t say anything, ‘I thought, “Nah, I’ll ask him”’. So he said: ‘Are you going to eat those two buckets all by yourself?’ The man stopped eating and looked at Lolagi. He said, ‘No, I’m waiting for somebody and I think that someone is you’. Lolagi was intrigued. ‘He pushed the bucket towards me and continued to eat, not saying much,’ he recalls with a smile. ‘So I sat there, watching him eat the bucket of chicken and thought to myself, “He must be an islander”.’ After the man finished eating, he said to Lolagi, ‘Come with me, I want to show you something.’ Putting his bucket of KFC into the bag on his motorbike—usually used to carry tools with which he might need to fix his bike—Lolagi followed the man, who drove his car about five minutes up the road. ‘He parked his car, hopped out and walked to me and said, “See this building here? This is The Salvation Army”.’ Lolagi had no idea what The Salvation Army was. ‘At the time, all I knew was guns, drugs, making money and hurting people— that’s how I made my living,’ says Lolagi. ‘I didn’t serve anyone, or think what 22 SEPTEMBER 2018 WarCry 7
they might need—I never asked, “Can I help you with this? or, Can I pick up this rubbish?”’ Lolagi admits he was also a ‘pretty big alcoholic’. After the man had shown him The Salvation Army, he pointed to another building and said, ‘See this building? This is where The Salvation Army prays—and one day you’ll be there’. Then the man turned around and walked away. ‘He didn’t tell me his name or anything about himself,’ recalls Lolagi. Somewhat surprised by what had unfolded that morning, Lolagi hopped back on his bike and rode off.
‘THE MAN STOPPED EATING AND LOOKED AT LOLAGI. HE SAID: “I’M WAITING FOR SOMEBODY AND I THINK THAT SOMEONE IS YOU”’. Welcome back! ‘Two years later [2008], I visited this place again—because that man was still in my head. I was thinking, “Who in the world are you, telling me this stuff and what I’m gonna do?”.’ Despite the two-year gap between encounters, the man recognised Lolagi instantly and said, ‘Welcome, you finally came back—I knew you would. My name is Joe Serevi and I am from Fiji.’ ‘I said, “I knew it! When I saw you with those buckets of chicken, I knew you were an islander”,’ laughs Lolagi. That year, Hāwera Corps was focusing its Sunday services on God’s love, recalls Joe—who was then the corps officer in Hāwera. ‘We were preaching about the love of God, understanding that love, and how you can receive it for yourself.’ Joe helped Lolagi understand the Bible, about how Jesus died for the sins of the world and how God can forgive people of all the things they did wrong. For Lolagi, this was indeed good news: ‘God began to work in my life—I didn’t stop immediately, but God helps you to find a way. He wants you to do your job too, and it was a bit of a battle for me with ups and downs—but God was there the whole way,’ he says. Joe was running a life group during the week for people struggling with addictions. Having come from that lifestyle himself, he knew the importance of support and encouragement. 8 WarCry 22 SEPTEMBER 2018
There were alcoholics and drug addicts, as well as probation workers who were working out their time at The Salvation Army. Joe says, ‘I remember one day Lolagi gave his life [to Jesus], and then the next day he came and asked if he could join and be part of the small group. When he came along he fitted right in and I could see that his life started to transform. It was discipleship in action.’ Lolagi recalls Joe asked him what his biggest fear was: ‘Death—I didn’t want to die. I remember Joe told me that death was a holy thing and I looked at him like, “Really? You’re pulling my toes”. He told me the story about people in Africa and that their biggest fear is running out of water, that’s why they drink dirty water.’ Lolagi was also struck by his observation of the ways The Salvation Army served others, instead of serving themselves. ‘The thing that touched me the most was how Joe went and helped a lot of people that he didn’t even know.’ It was the opposite for Lolagi, who says he never really thought about helping others, especially if there was nothing in it for him. But one day he saw a man who was clearly stoned and unable to get work or help himself in any real way. ‘I decided to help him out and it felt really good. I didn’t want that good feeling to stop.’ He began travelling from place to place and realised that everywhere he went, there were people who needed help. ‘It doesn’t matter where you are or what you are doing, you’ll still come across these people.’
A new place to call home After having moved back to Hawaii in 2013, Lolagi moved again—this time to Samoa in 2017. He recalls a day, earlier this year, when he was having a bit of a down day at work. A palangi couple walked past him in a local clothing store and he noticed their tee-shirts with big Red Shields on them. Lolagi stopped them and said, ‘Wait, you guys are Salvation Army right? They said “Yes” and I was like, I know The Salvation Army!’ That palangi couple were Lieutenant-Colonels Jenny and Rod Carey, who moved to Samoa in February this year to start the Army’s work there. They swapped phone numbers and Rod later rang Lolagi to touch base. Rod invited him to the first church service six weeks later: ‘He said he would come and that he had a surprise for us,’ recalls Rod. When Lolagi turned up at the service he had his new wife Sanna with him. They had married a few weeks after meeting the Careys in the shop.
‘I began to build a relationship with them [Rod and Jenny] and I’m so glad The Salvation Army is here,’ says Lolagi, with a big smile on his face. Lolagi and Sanna have made The Salvation Army their church and are both active in the life of the corps. ‘Lolagi lives up to his testimony by serving the morning tea and cleaning up the church, and Sanna helps serving and sings in the music team,’ says Rod. He shared his testimony at the church service as part of the opening weekend celebrations in August. ‘Now my heart is about serving everyone, everyone!’ sums up Lolagi. ‘So if you need me to wash your feet, let me know and I will come and wash your feet.’
Lolagi shares his testimony at the official The Salvation Army launch in Samoa.
Get to Know Samoa
In August, The Salvation Army officially launched in Samoa. Here’s some fun facts about the latest country to join our territory.
• Samoa is an archipelago—which means a string of
• Most of the Samoan Islands are very colourful.
• The largest island is Savai‘i, and at its centre is the
• Samoa gained its independence from New Zealand
islands—made up of 10 islands. There are two main ones, and its population is around 250,000. volcano Mount Silisili.
• According to legend, Samoa is known as the ‘Cradle of Polynesia’ because Savai‘i Island is said to be Hawaiki, the Polynesian homeland.
Mountain slopes dip into fertile valleys. Rich forests and flat lands slope gently toward the sea. in 1962, becoming the first Pacific Island to gain independence.
• In Samoa, young men are traditionally in charge of
the food—including the gathering and the cooking.
• Samoa has its own ancient pyramid. The Pulemelei
• Samoans are known throughout Polynesia as the
• Apia is the capital and the largest city of Samoa,
• There are 16 types of coconut trees in Samoa, and
• Samoa is located approximately midway between
• The only native mammal is the flying fox.
Mound, or Star Pyramid, is thought to have been constructed between 1100–1400 AD. with a population of 37,708.
the islands of Hawaii and New Zealand.
‘happy people’ because of their enjoyment of life and their good-natured personalities. 20 different kinds of breadfruit trees.
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Five Myths Singles Are Told Too Often ‘It’ll happen when it’s the last thing on your mind!’ ‘You’ll fall in love the second you stop looking … ’ If you’re single you are probably well familiar with this kind of wisdom. Let’s be honest, those in relationships love to impart to us singles their divine knowledge and their experience of all things romantic. And while these friends probably have great intentions, a lot of what we hear can be unhelpful and potentially even damaging! Here are five myths that both the lone rangers and loved-up members of War Cry think single people buy into far too often. 1 You will find someone when you’re not looking/least expect. Plenty of single people will probably tell you they hear this on average of at least once a week. But, the truth is, if people only found love when they weren’t looking, dating apps such as Tinder would’ve gone out of business years ago. Instead, the app that revolutionised online dating is now worth a whopping $3 billion! I think this idea is dangerous because it can leave us feeling guilty for desiring something that not only comes from God, but is also a part of what it is to be human. We can then attempt to suppress this desire; a resistance which inevitably creates more problems than it solves.
IN REALITY, ALL ROMANCE HAS ITS CHALLENGES AND HURDLES TO WORK THROUGH.
2 You will find someone when God is ready for you to be in a relationship. This creates the idea that you need to ‘arrive’ at a place where you’ve completely worked through all your issues and imperfections. Yet hundreds of people get married every day and you can be absolutely sure none of them are perfect.
3 You need to be completely happy being single before you can truly love someone else. Now this is a complete load of tosh! Like sadness, anger and despair, happiness is an emotion and, like all emotions, our happiness will come and go. While it’s healthy to be comfortable in our own skin, it’s absurd to think we’ll only find love when we’re living in a state of pure bliss and contentedness. 4 God has got ‘one’ special person saved for you. There are plenty of Christians who believe this—and that’s ok—but, in reality, there are probably hundreds of people on this planet who would be compatible with each other. This kind of thinking becomes dangerous because it can mean
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we start to question a good relationship if we’re not sure our person is ‘the one’. 5 You will know instantly if a person is right for you. I think Disney and Hollywood could be to blame for this one. This can lead us to believe that relationships just happen with minimal effort but, in reality, all romance has its challenges and hurdles to work through. There are no rules to finding love! Every romance has its own unique story—some couples will find each other with minimal effort, others will have dated 50 different people back-to-back! Let’s ensure we don’t bog ourselves down in black and white thinking and remember that whatever season of life we find ourselves in has its own gift.
TESTIFY! Tau Leota has had several brushes with death, but God has always been with him. But when Tau discovered Glenfield Corps, he got a second chance at life—with God in the driver’s seat. I was born in Samoa where church was an integral part of my life. Growing up I had several experiences where I nearly died and felt the presence of God. One time, back in the 1960s, I was in a big hurricane when a large solid object nearly struck me—miraculously the object missed me by less than a metre. Another time, I was visiting relatives in Pago Pago, when I was nearly electrocuted. I know that God was always with me in these moments. I moved to New Zealand in 1982, and have attended a number of churches. However, I often wrestled with some of the teachings because I didn’t feel many Christians ‘walked the talk’ or truly lived the gospel. In 2003, I returned to Samoa to attend a theological college so I could train to become a preacher. Yet, after four years of study, I felt many of the elites (those who are responsible for just preaching the word) were just discussing ideas, rather than actually practising them. I eventually became unhappy with my previous church and left for around four years. But, one day, something unusual happened. I am a bus driver for Ritchies and was driving a run through Glenfield. I had stopped at the intersection outside The Salvation Army on the corner of Glenfield and Kaipatiki Roads, when I noticed a sign outside the church. There was something about the language on the sign that stood out to me. This sounded like a church that really walked the talk, and genuinely cared about people in need. It was obvious that this was a community helping people and changing lives.
‘ … MIRACULOUSLY THE OBJECT MISSED ME BY LESS THAN A METRE.’ My wife Elepise and I have now been attending the Glenfield Corps for three years, led by Majors Bruce and Marilyn Tremain. On 17 June we were officially made adherents! One day, I want to be an officer. I’m very open to seeing where the Lord takes me—who knows, I may even end up going back to Samoa to be part of the amazing work the Army is doing in my homeland!
My wife also really loves being part of the corps and attends a ladies’ group. Lately, we have enjoyed being involved with fundraising for the Self Denial Appeal. I like bus driving and wish I had started it when I had first arrived in New Zealand! I especially love being able to share the amazing work the Army is doing—I regularly have a chance to chat to different people as I drive round the suburbs. I believe being part of the Army’s work is a great way of serving the Lord. Thanks to my corps, there are a lot of exciting things happening in Glenfield!
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GOD, ART & A musical endeavours began at around the age of five; the violin and piano gave him an early calling for jazz and classical music. BY HUGH COLLINS
A HUNGER FOR GOD
BY HUGH COLLINS
Three artists talk about expressing their faith through music.
NICK DOW To write lyrics about faith has never been a conscious choice for Nick Dow, but an element of his life that naturally seems to find its way into his music. This year has been a big year for the 24-yearold Auckland-based songwriter. In March, he released his debut album Layers—a stunning exploration of jazz and R&B largely driven by his distinctive and soulful vocal work. The album was recorded over 16 days in Lyttleton with Ben Edwards, an award winning producer who’s worked with a range of contemporary Kiwi artists, including Marlon Williams and Aldous Harding. ‘I was actually sick the whole time, which wasn’t ideal,’ Nick admits. ‘I still listen back to the album every now and again and hear my voice isn’t quite sounding like it usually is.’ Versatility is certainly a word that comes to mind when describing Nick’s talents; in the last year alone he’s toured as both a violinist and keyboardist with prestigious Kiwi artists Jamie McDell and Teeks. His own record has also seen him perform ‘live to air’ on Radio New Zealand. Not to mention the release of a unique music video for the song Layers. Born and raised in Christchurch, Nick’s
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Nick wasn’t raised in a Christian home, despite attending an Anglican school. Initially it was a group of musical friends who drew him to a church community called Majestic. But, throughout his teenage years, he often felt he was looking for something greater than himself. ‘I didn’t have a really crazy moment, or a super spiritual experience, it was probably the community that drew me to faith,’ says Nick. ‘It basically just set a fire in my heart for God and I think through that I’ve kept going.’ Playing the violin has since become his favourite way to worship. ‘I think maybe what happened was I realised that God is the only one we can fully rely on.’
ART AND HONESTY Nick is clear about having an honest approach to writing and performing music. He says he’d rather be authentic and see where things go, than be concerned with becoming the next Michael Jackson. ‘I want to write honest music that comes from my heart ... even if it’s not intentionally writing about God, he’ll come into it somehow anyway.’ He is an active member of Central Vineyard Church in Auckland and upfront that his faith hasn’t always been a straight and easy path—coming from a non-Christian home has certainly presented its own challenges. ‘I have so much gratefulness to God for keeping me in church, I know so many people go there and walk away again.’ Nick is still working four days a week as a teacher aid at an Auckland school, despite a successful year behind the piano. But he’s aware it’s early days for his song writing career. ‘I just want to live the journey and keep growing … even if it’s not fully in the Christian element I still believe it has the power to lead people to God … at the moment I’m just trying to figure out which direction God wants me to go next.’
AUTHENTICITY CHARLES AND EMILY—ARO For song writing couple Charles and Emily Looker the #vanlife has become a natural habitat for inspiration. On December 17 last year, the pair officially became nomadic touring artists; they have since lived out of their van, as well as the occasional cruise ship, while performing across Aotearoa and the South Pacific as musical duo Aro. They have played as far south as Stewart Island, which has meant regularly washing from a solar shower—yet Emily is adamant they’ve maintained decent standards of cleanliness and hygiene. ‘I don’t think there was ever a point where we were like “man we’re really gross”,’ she laughs. ‘It was interesting because I considered myself an extrovert before living in the van with Emily,’ Charles says, surprisingly. Their name Aro is derived from the first part of Aroha (love) and means ‘to face or turn toward’, an idea which fits with their musical conversations around love and identity.
A BI-CULTURAL AESTHETIC Aro is currently recording its debut studio album Manu, a collection of music inspired by native New Zealand birds that was written from the back of their van. Charles is a 28-year-old Māori who grew up in tikanga Māori, speaking te reo, which means biculturalism has become an integral part of Aro’s musical aesthetic. This involves drawing from traditional Māori methods of composition along with lessons we can take from nature. ‘Traditionally Māori would compose waiata based on melodies or tunes they would hear in nature,’ Charles says. ‘Through that we’ve talked about the characteristics of the birds and we’ve translated that into ideas we can relate to.’ Job 12:7–10 has become an influential verse in their writing: ‘But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the
Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all humankind’. Emily is a 26-year-old who has written and performed music for over a decade. She describes their album as ‘… a native-jazz-pop-R&B album … it’s taken on a lot of our different flavours. ‘We’re really excited about the way the album is heading … it’s almost like it’s going in its own direction and we’re just going along with it.’ She, too, is also thrilled to be able to embrace a growing resurgence of te reo in her song writing. ‘I think people are just kind of realising how much we’ve missed out by not celebrating or living in a way that celebrates both cultures.’
FAITH ON TOUR Emily says expressing God’s love has always been a core foundation of her art. ‘Once you know that love and have received it, I think it kind of flows into everything you do … be it relationships, song writing, even in the food you cook.’ She believes that ‘God is ever present and we don’t have to make a point that he is, because he just is.’ Manu is set for release early next year and will see the couple return to their van for a 20date nationwide tour. ‘Our goal on this album is about sharing that love for people and the hope that we see each other and ourselves the way God sees us,’ says Charles. ‘Our biggest dream is to show people the example of love through Jesus Christ, or through living that example as best we can.’
22 SEPTEMBER 2018 WarCry 13
What Can I Do? A Beginner’s Guide to Ending Modern-Day Slavery
This Sunday marks International Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking. While we intercede for victims, we may wonder what in the world we can do to stop this abuse of human lives? All of us are part of the answer. BY ROBIN RAYMOND
A friend of mine decided to ask ‘the question’ recently. She had gone to a masseuse, where most of the staff did not speak English. Seeing the signs of a place where people could be exploited or enslaved, my friend decided to take the courageous step and ask: What are the working conditions like here? Do you get paid enough? It did not go well. The poor masseuse, with limited English, misunderstood the question: ‘I assure you nothing like that goes on here!’ she exclaimed. After some embarrassing and awkward clarifications, the masseuse assured her that she was paid fairly, and there was no exploitation. My friend reflected that, despite her embarrassment, she was glad she asked: ‘Of course, I’ll never know whether that was one hundred percent true, but if I hadn’t asked, I would always feel worried. And you never know how a small question can plant a seed, or help someone open up about an exploitative situation,’ she says. In this part of the world, it can seem like slavery is something that happens in other countries. A horror that’s nothing to do with us. The reality is that we do have cases here of people being 14 WarCry 22 SEPTEMBER 2018
trafficked, exploited and enslaved. Today, in New Zealand, about 3000 people are slaves, trafficking victims or in bonded labour. Worldwide there are more than 40 million people in slavery and bonded labour. Some of them help make our clothes, food and technology.
ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO HELP FIGHT SLAVERY IS TO BE PART OF TACKLING POVERTY. The UK anti-slavery charity Unseen defines slavery as ‘the commodification of people for the purpose of exploitation and financial gain’. Globally, slavery is a US$150 billion business, equal to the earnings of Apple, Google, Microsoft and Starbucks combined—and is now more profitable than the drug trade. In New Zealand, the most common form of modern slavery involves worker exploitation and forced labour. Two years ago,
THERE ARE MORE THAN 40 MILLION PEOPLE IN SLAVERY AND BONDED LABOUR. SOME OF THEM HELPED MAKE OUR CLOTHES, FOOD AND TECHNOLOGY. local charity Stand Against Slavery released a report with stories from some of those who are slaves or trafficked in New Zealand. The report found cases of exploitation in the construction, dairy, horticulture, hospitality, international education, sex and fishing industries. Often this took the form of extremely low wages, as little as $4 an hour—particularly among fruit pickers. Migrant workers on fishing boats were beaten and had passports and other documents confiscated. The report authors also spoke to people working in cafés and restaurants being forced to work up to 90-hour weeks while only being paid for 40 hours. Others faced debt bondage, where they were charged up to $40,000 in ‘recruitment fees’ that came out of their wages. A group of Filipino construction workers who came to work on the Christchurch earthquake rebuild were caught in this situation. Some of them were also told they would have to pay up to USD$10,000 if they tried to leave their jobs. Shakti NZ, which works with migrant women, has identified trafficking among arranged marriages and temporary visas. This isn’t confined to migrant workers, with some New Zealanders being caught in these jobs. As social worker and Women’s Refuge policy analyst Nathalie Thorburn found, we also have a problem with Kiwi teenagers and even children being coerced, often violently, into prostitution. These girls—one as young as nine—might not fit the stereotype, but they were trafficked and abused. They are part of the picture of slavery and trafficking in New Zealand. In the face of all that we can feel powerless, but there are things we can do right here to combat slavery. Things that, however small they seem to us, will genuinely make a difference.
So what can we do? 1 Be informed: We can’t tackle something we don’t know about, but there are many places where we can start to find information. Slaveryfootprint.org is a good place to start to get an idea of how the slave trade directly affects you. And once you know, you can act. 2 Stay alert: The number of people who have been trafficked or are slaves in New Zealand may be small, but they are out there. Some of the signs someone is being exploited or enslaved include: • not being allowed to speak for themselves, you can only speak to their boss or through a translator • someone else takes money on their behalf • working very long hours with little, if any, time off • living at work, or always in the presence of their employer • not having a passport or ID, or someone else holding it • appearing scared, especially of authorities or their employer • having rehearsed statements or stories about their life or won’t talk about it • showing signs of abuse.
3 Shop smart: In our global market, slaves can be found everywhere—from banana plantations to clothes factories, to people who mine minerals that go into our smart phones and laptops. It’s not always simple to work out what brands are good, bad or making an effort, but there are lots of groups out there with good information to help. Good Guide, Free2Work and Shop Ethical all publish guides to different brands. When it comes to your clothes—check the Tearfund Ethical Fashion Guide for companies that are making an effort to prevent slavery in their business and suppliers. When it comes to your food—look for items that have a Fairtrade, or another equivalent mark, showing it’s fair. Buying local is usually a good idea as well, but be aware that we have had some cases of exploitation of farm workers, so again, research is always a good idea. 4 Be involved: The good news is you may already be involved without even knowing it. One of the easiest ways to help fight slavery is to be part of tackling poverty. If you gave to the Self Denial Appeal, support your corps, donate to your nearest Community Ministries, have a recurring donation through The Foodbank Project (foodbank.org.nz) or shop at your nearest Family Store, then you’re taking action that helps. A lot of slavery is about power and exploitation— desperate people are more willing to do desperate things. If we can reduce poverty, we make it much harder for people to be exploited. The Salvation Army also has several anti-slavery programmes internationally that you can support, or there are New Zealand anti-slavery agencies like Stand Against Slavery and Hagar. Another great way is to sponsor programmes or centres working with children in developing countries through The Salvation Army’s Child Sponsorship programme. You’ll be making a contribution to life-changing work for children, their families and whole communities in some of the poorest parts of the world. Head over to salvationarmy.org.nz/ childsponsorship to find out more and sign up. 5 Report it: If you do see something—act. Call the police, or you can report it anonymously by calling Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or visiting the Crimestoppers website and filling out an online form. If you are concerned that slavery of some form is happening and you speak up, the worst you’ll suffer is a bit of embarrassment— like my friend at the massage parlour. Or, you could literally save a life. In many ways, each one of us can make everyday choices that make it harder and less worthwhile for traffickers to exploit others. We’re all in it together, and it takes every one of us to stop modern-day slavery.
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War Cry Wins at ARPA
Trucks of the Trade
Tackling the tough subjects of slavery, infertility and female genital mutilation saw War Cry in our territory pick up a series of awards. War Cry Managing Editor Ingrid Barratt won the gold award for ‘Best Feature’ and designer Lauren Millington won the gold award for ‘Best Cover’ at the Australasian Religious Press Association 2018 awards in Brisbane last week. The feature award came for Ingrid’s two-part investigation into slavery, while the best cover award came for our ‘Lucy’s Story’ edition, about Salvation Army officer Captain Lucy Chacha, and her fight against female genital mutilation. Major Shar Davis received the silver award for Best New Writer for her feature ‘Raising Hope’, about the journey of the Pattinson family and the birth of their daughter Hope. The story dealt with the often silent suffering behind infertility and miscarriage. It was a good night for The Salvation Army’s Australian publications as well, as Others magazine took out the night’s top award for ‘Publication of the Year’. It was one of five awards for the Others team which also won silver awards in the ‘Best Design Magazine’ and ‘Best Website’ categories, a bronze for ‘Best Social Justice Article’ and a highly commended in the ‘Best Social Media Campaign’ category. Australian Salvation Army children’s magazine Kidzone also won a bronze award for ‘Best Profile Story’.
A new Army enterprise is integrating two initiatives: the training of aspiring truck drivers and the delivery of foodbank donations. The Redistribution Project brings together the Army’s Education and Employment (E&E) Driver Training Programme with the need for the distribution of significant foodbank donations from generous Army partners. The drivers themselves are students who have come through Prisoner Reintegration or Education and Employment programmes. Army corporate relationships coordinator Tessa Reardon says the project enables products to be delivered to foodbanks across the country without the hefty costs of distribution.
CHECK OUT THE WINNING ENTRIES | issuu.com/ salvationarmynzftwarcry 01 July 2017, 23 September 2017, 07 October 2017, 05 May 2018
‘We’ve put together our need to distribute product with their need to drive hours and plan trips,’ Tessa says. Once a month, drivers will do a trip from Whangārei to Hamilton with a stop for product in Auckland—a six hour trip each way. ‘It’s also great to be able to spread the benefit from our generous corporates to communities beyond Auckland,’ Tessa says. To date, donations include $300,000 worth of Twinings Tea, and upcoming trips to distribute 52 pallets of L’Oréal care packs around the country—along with many of the large donations from the Countdown distribution centre in Auckland. Salvation Army National Corrections manager for Education and Employment Don Robertson says the project gives E&E students a chance to drive a long trip on the highway, as opposed to several small trips around the block. ‘There’s a huge demand nationwide for truck drivers, particularly for class five truck drivers,’ Don says. ‘At the moment in Northland there’s more than 800 truck movements a day in and out of Marsden Point.’ Tessa says the project has a strong element of rehabilitation. ‘I think it’s a fantastic way for our students to develop their own skills and confidence, while also giving back to help others.’ 16 WarCry 22 SEPTEMBER 2018
Whole World Invited to General’s Welcome General Brian Peddle will be formally welcomed as the 21st international leader of The Salvation Army in a special meeting of worship and dedication on Sunday 23 September 2018. The official welcome will be streamed live on the International Headquarters YouTube (sar.my/youtube) and Facebook (sar.my/facebook) channels, and available to watch on demand shortly after the conclusion. The welcome at William Booth College in London will also recognise Commissioner Rosalie Peddle (World President of Women’s Ministries), and New Zealanders Commissioners Lyndon and Bronwyn Buckingham, as Chief of the Staff and World Secretary for Women’s Ministries. The leaders took up their new responsibilities for The Salvation Army’s worldwide mission on 3 August. Formal proceedings will begin at 3am New Zealand time, with a musical prelude with contributions from the International Staff Songsters, London’s Regent Hall Band and the Croydon Citadel Singing Company, beginning at 2.30am. Lively contemporary worship will be led by cadets of the William Booth College, with filmed inserts of prayer and song interspersed to reflect the internationalism of The Salvation Army—now officially at work in 131 countries. The sacred and holy moments of dedication will be led by Commissioners John and Elizabeth Matear, former territorial
From left: Commissioners Lyndon & Bronwyn Buckingham, Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, General Brian Peddle.
leaders of The Salvation Army’s United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland. During the Bible message, the General will share his heart in relation to his sense of God’s specific call to The Salvation Army of the 21st Century. Salvationists worldwide will be invited to reflect and respond on what such a call means to them as an active and engaged Salvationist.
Thousands of Cans Make Good Almost 100,000 cans will be heading to the pantries of struggling families thanks to generous school children. The third annual Wattie’s Cans for Good can drive saw just under 200 schools around the country collect 70,000 cans for The Salvation Army, with Wattie’s also donating 25,000 cans. The event is not just about collecting cans, though— schools are also encouraged to create and donate. Schools were provided with a range of class resources— including a maths exercise, information about The Salvation Army and hardship in New Zealand, and the importance of generosity—to build into their lessons. The children also competed to make the best art work out of their cans and to design a can label. The most creative labels from three categories—Kindergarten, Primary/ Intermediate School and Secondary School—will get to see their label in print on a can sent to their school as part of a prize pack. This year also marks 25 years since Wattie’s began supporting The Salvation Army. The partnership began with the Wattie’s Cans Film Festival, which Major Terry Heese helped set-up. Terry’s daughter, Salvation Army Community Engagement Manager Rhondda Middleton, now works with Wattie’s on Cans for Good. The first Cans Film Festival was a small event working
with a cinema on the North Shore in Auckland in 1992, Rhondda said. ‘“The mother of all budgets” had come through and our foodbanks were seeing lines of people queuing outside. One area that hadn’t had much need before was the North Shore. So, my father, and the Army’s Auckland PR advisory board, set up this event with a local cinema. The next year it was Auckland-wide and then nationwide and it’s now our longest running corporate partnership.’ Over that time, the Cans Film Festival and Cans For Good have brought in almost 1.5 million cans for Salvation Army foodbanks. The cans provide a much needed boost for foodbanks every year, helping restock shelves after a busy winter period and heading into Christmas. Students from Glenholme School in Rotorua show off their efforts.
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Tribute: Brother Ray Doddrell Ray Doddrell, a gifted leader and musician, played in the Thames Salvation Army band for 77 years. He was an active member of the leadership team and organiser of a weekly indoor bowls group. Born 3 May 1931, Ray was a lifelong Thames resident who participated in the life of Thames Corps for half of the corps’ 134-year existence. As Ray’s health began to fail, he reluctantly felt it was time to step out of his leading role as Bandmaster. He grudgingly agreed to a tribute Sunday, but only if it was low key. It wasn’t! Forty bandsmen turned up to play and 150 friends, family and comrades—from as far away as Levin, Tauranga, Hamilton, Kerepehi and Waihi—filled the hall to celebrate with him. Ray’s wife Eunice was acknowledged for her role as band secretary and librarian, and her strong hand and encouragement that kept Ray right on track. Bob Pickworth, who played with Ray for 50 years, said Ray demanded the best of his players, but to play under him was always an honour. When the band numbers dropped to three or four, he demonstrated great character and resilience to wait out that fallow time until the next harvest. He worked equally well with the more senior players as well as the youth. In the shared fellowship lunch after the meeting, many spoke movingly of this man and the incredible impact and influence that he has, and had, on their lives. His influence on so many has been significant and will undoubtedly continue long into the future. We salute you Bandmaster Ray Doddrell, there is no one quite like you.
BY ELIZABETH BRAND
GAZETTE
Promotion to Glory: Major Ian Spargo, on Thursday 23 August 2018, aged 76 years. Major Ian Spargo was born on 30 August 1941. He married Helen Berry on 28 March 1964. The couple entered The Salvation Army Training College from Avondale Corps as cadets in the Defenders of the Faith session. Following their commissioning on 21 January 1967, Lieutenants Ian and Helen Spargo were appointed as corps officers at Rangiora/Kaiapoi, and then at Carterton. After a 12 month appointment at Addington Men’s Social Service Centre, Ian and Helen were appointed as corps officers at Auckland South, Taumarunui, Eltham, and Hornby Corps. This was followed by an appointment as Manager at the Invercargill Social Services Centre. In January 1980, Ian and Helen transferred to Australia East Territory where they served for two years. On their return to New Zealand, Ian was appointed House Master at the Hodderville Boys Home; Manager of the Bridge Programme, Miramar; and then Manager of the Aspen Eventide Home, Tauranga. In 1988 he became the Manager, Railton Hotel, Auckland. In 1992 he was appointed Officer for THQ Services, and this was followed by appointments as National Consultant, Court and Prison Services; National Consultant, Emergency Services; and National Coordinator Emergency Services. Major Ian Spargo continued in this appointment for a short time after his retirement on 30 August 2006. Please support and keep Ian’s wife Helen, and their children Bruce, Jennifer, Ian and Dean, and other family members in your prayers at this time of grief and loss. Well done good and faithful servant of Jesus! Appointments: Effective 3 September: Captain Robert van Abs, Assistant Officer, Midland Divisional Headquarters. We pray that God will bless Captain Robert van Abs in the days ahead. Additional appointments: Lt Saimone Gataurua, Divisional Coordinator for Emergency Services, Fiji Division. Lt Jordan Westrupp, Hamodava Project Development Officer, Territorial Headquarters. We pray that God will continue to bless Saimone and Jordan in the days ahead.
18 WarCry 22 SEPTEMBER 2018
Major Bruce Tong (left) and Corps Sergeant Major Geoff Talfreyman presenting Bandmaster Ray Doddrell (right) with a certificate and pin recognising his 75 years of service.
Retirement: Effective 6 October: Major Beverley (Bev) Price. On her retirement Bev will have completed 33 years, 8 months and 11 days of active officer service. Bev entered The Salvation Army Training College from the Hamilton City Corps in 1983 as a cadet in the Servants of God session. Following her commissioning on 19 January 1985, Bev was appointed Assistant Officer at the Ōmāio Eventide Home, Nelson. Bev had further appointments at Eventide Homes throughout her years of active service, including the Mercy Jenkins Home in Eltham, Aspen Eventide Home in Tauranga, and Norman Kirk Home in Upper Hutt, where she provided chaplaincy and other support in aged care services. Her appointments also included assistant roles at Levin Corps, Taupō Corps, Upper Hutt Corps, Te Aroha Corps (during which time she was also the Chaplain at the Ohinemuri Rest Home in Paeroa), the Booth Training College, Territorial Finance Department, and the Auckland Family Care Centre. In 2004, Bev was appointed Divisional Secretary for Retired Officers, Central Division. In 2009, Bev moved to Christchurch where she had been the Divisional Secretary for Retired Officers, Southern Division, with additional appointments as Divisional Missionary Fellowship Secretary (2014 to 2015) and as Services to Seniors Officer, Christchurch City Corps (2016 to September 2018). During her time in Christchurch she has been involved in significant ministry through hospital chaplaincy in rest homes and hospitals. Lt Colonel Gordon Daly will be conducting the Retirement Service for Major Beverley Price at 2.30pm on Sunday 30 September at Christchurch City Corps. We acknowledge the ministry of Major Beverley Price throughout her 33 years, 8 months and 11 days of active service. We honour and thank her for her loyal and faithful service to God through The Salvation Army in her various appointments throughout New Zealand. We pray God’s blessing on Bev in her retirement.
Put That On Your Resumé
WE FIX OUR ATTENTION NOT ON THINGS WE SEE …
This is an excerpt of a poem that was turned into a short film by Salvation Army Women’s Ministries, to celebrate the many women leaders in the Bible. We proclaim the message of the truth of the resurrection, in the tradition of Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary the mother of James. In Luke 24. We conduct business and pioneer churches, in the tradition of Lydia. In Acts 16. We instruct others thoroughly in the ways of God and risk our lives for the gospel, in the tradition of Priscilla. In Acts 18. We nobly preside as ministers of churches, in the tradition of Phoebe, diakonos of the church of Cenchrea. In Romans 16:1–2. We perceive the significance of the times and honour Christ, in the tradition of the woman of Bethany. In Matthew 26. We evangelize our communities with sincerity and confidence, in the tradition of the Samaritan woman. In John 4. We suffer for and testify of Jesus, leaving the gospel as our legacy, in the tradition of the apostle Junia. In Romans 16. We abound with deeds of kindness and charity and work with our hands to bless others, in the tradition of Tabitha. In Acts 9:36–41. We dedicate ourselves to God day and night and speak of him to all those who seek redemption, in the tradition of the prophet Anna. In Luke 2:36–38. We assert Jesus’ righteousness before public officials, in the tradition of Claudia Procula, Pilate’s wife. In Matthew 27:19–20. We fund ministries, in the tradition of the women. In Luke 8:2–3. We exalt the Lord, declare our blessedness, and present Jesus as Messiah, in the tradition of Mary, the mother of Jesus. In Luke 1. . . . and you can put that on your résumé! BY VALERIE GEER Check out the visual poem on The Salvation Army Women’s Ministries Facebook page.
One of the many lovely occasions we shared as a family, when our children were very young, was making clay pots. These simple little clay pots became something special in our home and made memories of our little ones’ excitement at a pot completed ... and now our children are taking their children to share the same lovely occasions. I have always loved the ordinary things of life—the simple pleasures of everyday items that simply shine through the day. Remembering these occasions with family, reminded me of the words in 2 Corinthians 4:1–18—even the chapter title in my NIV translation conjures up for me a thing of beauty: ‘Treasures in Jars of Clay’. When we scratch beneath the surface of St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, we find a church with problems—so ruinous they threaten to destroy the life and ministry of the church itself. They were a deeply divided people, with cliques who followed different leaders. Among the other moral problems, there was a clear misunderstanding of basic Christian doctrine. The city of Corinth was on a narrow strip of land that joined the mainland Greece to the Peloponnese. The island was an important destination for traders, and was mostly populated by ex-slaves who had either bought freedom or earned their freedom in some way. Many of the Corinthians were ordinary people who had become wealthy by working their way up the social ladder. Idolatry was part of the culture, too. But, at the same time, the church displayed evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit. The members had been baptised in the Spirit and showed many gifts of the Spirit in their worship. The two biggest battles for any church are: how to keep the church in the world and how to keep the world out of the church. Most pastoral difficulties can be placed under one of these two headings—and this was true in the Corinthian church. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul speaks of the gospel as hidden from those being lost—as if they are kept in the dark by the evil god of this world. The darkness of our soul is a fear that would fill all of us who have not seen the light. We can take these words for ourselves, as if they are written in the 21st century. It is a reminder of the simple yet profound truth of the gospel message: Christ in me—amazingly, overhwhelmingly, supernaturally. We fix our attention not on things we see, but on what is unseen. I pray the eternal presence of our risen Christ will be continually evident for you today. Colonel Suzanne Fincham Chief Secretary
22 SEPTEMBER 2018 WarCry 19
The
PROBLEM with
PEACE
The International World Day of Peace was commemorated on 21 September. But apart from a nice wish for the nations— handy if you’re a beauty pageant contestant—what is real, deep, revolutionary peace? BY JEREMY SUISTED
A few weekends ago, I celebrated my first wedding anniversary with a short holiday at Whangamatā. After 12 months of getting to know my new wife—with all its joy and confusion—it was a delight to spend a few peaceful days together. It’s a word we’re familiar with—peace. The holiday was peaceful. What do we mean when we use this word? It means that we are free from obligation. It means that the stresses of the world seem far away. We have no demands or limitations on our time.
Living the dream This ‘peace’ encapsulates the Western dream: above all else, we want to be free from any obligation. Blogs urge us to pursue a side-hustle—not for the joy of creating, but for a life free from being a slave-to-the-wage. Travel beckons us as an escape from the pressures of the here-and-now, for a life of freedom and self-discovery ‘there’. Tinder offers the possibility of sex without the mundane realities of an actual relationship. The freedom to do what we want—this is our dream of peace. Some of you may know, the word ‘peace’ appears not just in our songs and symbols, but also in the scriptures. The Bible is full of peace: David sang that God blesses his people with peace; Paul wrote that peace guards our minds; Peter urged people to seek peace; Jesus himself said that he was leaving us with peace. It’s tempting to think they’re talking about the same peace that we are. We assume this ‘peace’ of Jesus means freedom from conflict; a freedom from poverty of bank and of self; a freedom from obligations and limits. Yet the word the Israelites used, and still use, for peace, is much richer than this. This word—shalom—has a depth and a delightful balance in its meaning that calls us deeper into life, rather than seeking freedom from it. 20 WarCry 22 SEPTEMBER 2018
THIS WORD—SHALOM—HAS A DEPTH AND A DELIGHTFUL BALANCE IN ITS MEANING THAT CALLS US DEEPER INTO LIFE, RATHER THAN SEEKING FREEDOM FROM IT. Shalom speaks of completeness and flourishing. When something is shalom, it is as it should be. When Solomon completed the unfinished temple and began to celebrate, he shalom-ed the temple. He fulfilled the unfinished state, so that the temple could do what it was meant to do.
But shalom is not a freedom to go and do what you want. Yes, shalom comforts us with the truth that God loves us right where we are; yet, it goes further than this, and tells of a God who loves us so much he doesn’t want to leave us as we are. He wants us to join in on the work of the Kingdom of God.
Or, in the ancient laws of Israel, if your animal damaged your neighbour’s field, you were obliged to shalom them, by making complete payment for their loss. You take what is lacking in their livelihood, and restore it to completion.
God doesn’t desire us to use his peace as an escape, but, instead, for his shalom to call us deeper into reality. See, Jesus whispers that we are dearly loved, and then calls us to give our lives away—this is shalom. God speaks to an ancient wandering nomad, promising him life and blessing; then, God tells him to leave all that is familiar and to follow him— this is shalom.
This is the biblical picture of peace: an act of restoration and of flourishing. When nations entered into shalom with each other, it meant more than a ceasefire. It meant they began to collaborate, to seek mutual benefit and to discover what it would look like for both kingdoms to thrive and bless.
God’s picture of peace Just as shalom—God’s picture of peace—lets the temple function fully as a temple, and cultivates nations functioning fully as neighbours, so too shalom allows humans to be fully human. This is the beautiful doubleedged nature of shalom. As we begin to experience the shalom of God’s presence, we breathe a sigh of relief. This is an alternate reality—one far away from striving for position and clutching at resources to develop your own kingdom. This is a reality that beckons you to participate, just as you are. This is a call that announces you’ve arrived—you are a child of God, and are free to flourish in the truth of this identity. This is grace, as you discover the thirst-quenching truth that our souls are restless, until they rest in our Creator. This shalom of God is a call to action, a beckoning to our very selves to become the people we were designed to be. We are destined to be whole, complete reflectors of God to a broken, hurting world.
Jesus reveals the power of God’s presence to working-class fishermen, and then tells them to bring themselves into the kingdom journey he is inaugurating—this is shalom. The same Jesus, our glorious
rabbi, offers grace and restoration to a woman caught in shameful adultery, and then urges her to leave her life of sin— this is shalom. Novelist David Foster Wallace was close to the heart of shalom, when he reflected, ‘The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day’. This is not our culture’s peace. This is shalom. Reprinted with permission from Studio One, online at studio.festival.one
WE ARE DESTINED TO BE WHOLE, COMPLETE REFLECTORS OF GOD TO A BROKEN, HURTING WORLD.
What Did Jesus Mean When He Said, ‘Peace Be With You’? When Jesus appeared to his disciples proclaiming victory over death, he marked this great, history-making moment with the blessing, ‘Peace be with you’ (John 20:19). Why did he choose these words? Why not proclaim, ‘I am victorious’ or, ‘Take that, death’? The words of Jesus in this moment are deceptively simple—summoning an unlikely revolution. The peace of God—shalom—is so much more than the absence of conflict. This peace is everything finally made right. Everything lost is restored again in Jesus. It’s the Year of Jubilee, where ‘all the oppressive social structures which alienated people from one another (and from earth itself) were to be cast away. All were to live in freedom, harmony and fullness’, writes the Quaker essayist Sandra Cronk. ‘[Shalom] is a positive vision of a world of mercy, justice and righteousness where all may live fully, as God intended’. In Jesus’ resurrection, Jubilee had finally arrived. Jesus was the first-fruit of the promised renewal of all things—both for our own lives, and for the world. In our quiet moments, we feel that call towards renewal. In those moments, we are living the blessing of shalom.
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OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 24–26 September: General's Consultative Council Meeting, London Colonel Suzanne Fincham (Chief Secretary) and Melvin Fincham (Territorial Secretary for Programme and Communications) No engagements at this time. Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women's Ministries and Spiritual Life Development) No engagements at this time.
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Become a sponsor today Contact Major Debbie Clark (Child Sponsorship Secretary), e: debbie.clark@salvationarmy.org.nz, p: (04) 384 5649 or download a form from our website
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I Might Have Been A Patternmaker Pre-order the re-print edition now
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Flag Publications has negotiated a reprint of Commissioner Ross Kendrew's book, I Might Have Been A Patternmaker. It is available for pre-order for no more than $25.00 (plus postage and packaging). To register your interest, please email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz
Quiz Answers: 1 Pebbles Flintstone, 2 Mr Aloysius Snuffleupagus (Snuffy to his friends), 3 Five, 4 Durian (native to Brunei, Indonesia & Malaysia), 5 Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:5).
22 WarCry 22 SEPTEMBER 2018
Word wheel!
Use the letters in the wheel to complete the grid.
R
W A E
T
God named the dry ground 'Land', and he named the water 'Ocean'. God looked at what he had done and saw that it was good.
E
W
Genesis 1:10 CEV
T
t do Wha aids merm on? sleep beds! r Wate
Spot the difference! Can you find 10 differences between the two pictures? t di d Wha an say ce the o e beach? t to th g, it jus n i h Not aved! w
Knock knock! Who’s there? Water
who? Water you Water for ? g waitin the Op en door!
Have you ever thought about all the ways you might use water in a day? Let’s see—how many times do you drink water each day? I bet you have a shower or a bath most days. When your clothes get washed, that uses water. Once you’ve eaten, the plates, knife and fork get washed in either the dishwasher or the sink. What you are eating is either cooked in water or water was used to help it grow. Not everyone has easy access to water. Some of you know what it’s like after a hurricane or earthquake—you can’t just get water from the tap and drink it. Water needs to be collected and boiled before it is safe to drink. Some children in other parts of the world have to walk big distances each day just to get access to water from a well, and that water isn’t always clean and safe for them to drink. This year’s World Habitat Day theme is: ‘Water for life’. Everyone should be able to access clean, safe water because as humans we need water to live. Why not think of some ways that you might be able to help everyone get water?
Wh a but t runs, n wal ever k Wat s? er !
Dear God, thank you for making water that keeps us alive. Help me to find ways to look after water and not waste it. 22 SEPTEMBER 2018 WarCry 23