24 July 2021 NZFTS War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION 24 JULY 2021 | Issue 6772 | $1.50

Animated film explores schizophrenia Next Generation Plan for Youth and Children

Samoa Addiction Services Graduation Hamilton City Musicians Visit Newtown

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WAR CRY The Salvation Army

New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Julie & Mark Campbell | GENERAL Brian Peddle | FOUNDERS Catherine

& William Booth

The Salvation Army’s message is based on the Bible. Our ministry is motivated by love for God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in his name without discrimination. War Cry exists to support and advance The Salvation Army’s message, ministry and mission.

EDITOR Vivienne Hill | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Holly Morton, Louise Parry, Bethany Slaughter | PROOF READING Major Colleen

Marshall OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street,

PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz, salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone

(04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@salvationarmy.org.nz, $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT makeready.nz | PAPER Sumo Offset

is an environmentally responsible paper produced using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) FSC® certified Mixed Source pulp from responsible sources and manufactured under the strict ISO14001 Environmental Management System.

Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.

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

Simplicity Amidst Complexity I was reading through Major Barbara Sampson’s article on page 20 titled ‘Prayer in the Not Knowing’ where she writes about the struggles of perceiving her stage in life as now being on the ‘side-lines’; gone are her days of raising children and the busyness of ministry. She now finds herself more interested in the internal as she lets go of the external, material things.

When I look back on my own life I see a similar pattern forming. I have spent years accumulating and now I want to simplify and edit my surroundings. I am not alone in this thinking, it appears many people are making a conscious decision not to consume or collect goods, just for the sake of it.

This could be a result of lockdown and weeks spent staring at the piles, or it could be in response to the changes in our society and environment. Whatever the catalyst, there are benefits to rejecting the consumerist, commercially driven desire to buy goods that are rarely used—like the makers: bread maker, waffle maker, yoghurt maker, ice cream maker, popcorn maker.

On page 6, Holly Morton touches on this theme, and also writes about the anxiety people feel around environmental issues to the extent that it is imposing upon decisions around how many children to have or whether they should have children at all!

We do live in uncertain times, but we are not left without a plan. God is in control and he clearly tells us that the birth pangs we are seeing in nature will increase, but we are his children and we can have positive expectation in the uncertainty.

Vivienne Hill Editor

SalvationArmyNZFTS

God knows our situation; he will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome.

What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them.

@SalvationArmyNZ

CS Lewis

Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission.

Publishing for 137 years | Issue 6772 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry

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Romans 8:19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Rōma 8:19 Ko te tūmanako hoki o te mea i hangā e tatari ana ki te whakakitenga mai o ngā tama a te Atua.

I

spent years hating myself. And I can confidently say today it was a complete waste of time and energy. It is a hard-learned lesson and a habit I fought hard to break. It did not come easily and took effort to overcome. But it has made me able to fulfil the commandment to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Mark 12:31) with an authenticity that wasn’t present before. For the longest time I loved others better than I loved myself. My efforts in Jesus’ call to ‘deny’ myself were better expressed as self-hatred, not self-denial.

Like many people, I was taught to love others, to serve others, to forgive mistakes, to extend grace, to seek justice—all godly things which will never go out of fashion. But sneaking in the back door was the mistaken idea that in this focus on others, there was something fundamentally wrong and unloveable about me. I wasn’t taught to extend these same attitudes towards myself, somehow if I showed myself this same level of compassion I might become lazy, ill-disciplined and self-indulgent. This was an unacceptable price to pay, so it was best avoided.

This was all made worse by the fact that I was a sexual abuse survivor, a shameful secret that I did not reveal to anyone, or really take seriously, until I was in my twenties. While it is easy to attribute all of my shame and self-loathing to the damage from the abusive situations I found myself in (no fault of my family or parents), it merely magnified this preexisting and faulty attitude of self-loathing.

It won’t come as a surprise that I never had a problem accepting that I had not lived a life up to God’s standard of perfection—it’s impossible

to reach. But I had a very hard time accepting the Good News of God’s amazing love and forgiveness.

Somehow it felt incredibly exposing and more like bad news. If God really knew who I was, he would know that I wasn’t worthy of his mercy. So, I thought I’d just get a head start on God and punish myself.

I will be forever grateful to the testimony of those who had already tasted God’s love in their lives who pointed to the ways he worked in, and through, their lives. It was the steady flow of small bits of encouragement, and a few well-timed nudges from friends who eventually convinced me that God really did love me. And not just love—he liked me. His wasn’t a begrudging love just because he was God. No. He knew me, and saw what I could be. And when I finally stopped fighting his love and simply accepted it, his love changed my life.

I hope that you too know the power of his transforming love, and if you don’t, start by learning to be kind to yourself.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother (or himself), he is a liar. (1 John 4:18–20, bold text inserted by author for emphasis).

BY MATT GILLON If this article raises questions for you, Safe to Talk is a 24/7 confidential helpline 0800 842 846, text 4334, webchat safetotalk.nz or email support@safetotalk.nz 24 JULY 2021 WarCry 3

Weird of the Week: The Japanese language contains fifty different words for ‘rain’.

When you win, say nothing.

When you lose, say less.

Paul Brown

WARCRYINHISTORY

This cover of the 9 August 1930 War Cry questioned whether New Zealanders would make the same sacrifices for prayer or evangelism that they would to secure good tickets to a sporting match, a challenge to sport-loving New Zealanders that is still relevant today.

Honouring Chaplains On Monday 5 July, former Territorial Secretary for Chaplaincy Services Major Glenton Waugh returned to Territorial Headquarters to be presented with a tokotoko (traditional Māori carved ceremonial walking stick), acknowledging his services to chaplaincy with The Salvation Army.

The tokotoko was commissioned and blessed before being given to Glenton at the Mission Section staff meeting. Glenton retired last year after more than 34 years of service.

Glenton spoke about the importance of chaplaincy through the metaphor of a chaplain as a rope between a waka (the people) and an anchor (God).

He gifted an unopened Bible to incumbent Territorial Secretary for Chaplaincy Services Captain Shaun Baker, re-affirming the importance of Scripture.

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Comedy/Crime Cruella (PG) Directed by Craig Gillespie This Cruella film focuses on a girl named Estella (Emma Stone) who, after becoming an orphan, makes her way to London and joins up with a couple of other street kids. Fast forward 11 years and fashion-obsessed Estella has a job at an exclusive department store, where her talent catches the eye of fashion designer Baroness von Hellman (Emma Thompson) who takes her under her wing. But, their relationship starts a series of events (chaotic and jaw dropping at times) that causes Estella to embrace her ‘dark side’ and starts the journey to becoming the iconic Cruella de Vil. The film is slow to start and is over 2 hours long. This is one of the grittier Disney movies but it’s done in a lavish and darkly humorous way. Cruella is a wild ride filled with gorgeous fashion, plot twists and an epic soundtrack that is sure to leave you wanting more of Estella and her outrageous life. (Reviewed by Julia de Ruiter)

QUIKQUIZ 1 Held in Chicago, USA, in what year was the first Special Olympics?

2 How many nations competed at the first modern Olympics in 1896?

3 Which professional tennis player’s father represented Iran at boxing in two Olympic games?

Britannica

5 In the Bible, which patriarch and his father-inlaw heaped up stones as a sign of their covenant together?

Creamed Spinach and Kumara Bake 10g butter 1 tsp olive oil 1 brown onion, finely chopped 500g frozen spinach, thawed, drained 300ml cream ¾ cup milk Salt and pepper 1 large kumara, thinly sliced 2 large potatoes, thinly sliced 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 220°C (200°C fanforced). Oil a deep 25cm x 30cm baking dish.

Melt butter with oil in a large frying pan. Cook onion until soft.

Add spinach, half of the cream and ½ cup of the milk. Cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Season to taste.

Place a third of the kumara and a third of the potato, slightly overlapping, in the dish. Spread with half the spinach mixture.

Repeat layering, ending with kumara and potato.

Combine remaining cream and milk and pour over the top.

Sprinkle with cheese.

Bake, covered, for about 1 hour or until potato is tender. Uncover and bake for a further 10 minutes or until browned.

Source: countdown.co.nz

4 A coxswain appears in which sport?

Answers on page 22

TOPFIVE

Following on from last edition’s Top 5, here are five more incredible words from around the world which don’t have a direct translation in English, but absolutely should.

1. Shemomedjamo—Georgian: We’ve all been to a dinner where the meal was so delicious that even though we were full, we couldn’t help but finish the whole plate. This word translates to ‘I accidentally ate the whole thing’. We can relate.

2. Commuovere—Italian: This describes a heartwarming story which moves you to tears.

3. Merendar—Spanish: Similar to ‘brunch’, a word for the meal between lunch and dinner.

4. Gigil—Filipino: This is the urge to squeeze something really, really cute.

5. Packesel—German: That person who gets stuck with carrying everybody else’s luggage.

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In a time when the devastation of our environment is an ever-present fear, many people have been considering the ways they interact with the Earth and what needs to shift in their lives. Advocating for change on a governmental or corporate level is a vital way of supporting the environment and those most affected by climate change. However, with the often-slow nature of systemic change, people have also been thinking about what personal habits they can adjust to help lower their carbon footprints.

BY HOLLY MORTON

T

here is a growing contingent of people who are deciding to hold off on having a family, or considering not to have children at all, because of the state of our planet. Even without taking environmental issues into account, there are myriads of complexities around parenthood.

Fertility complications are becoming more and more prevalent, and along with expectations around financial, employment and housing stability, there is already a lot weighing on those thinking about starting (or continuing) a family. These days, with rising worry around global warming and irreversible changes to the Earth’s ecosystems, moral and environmental factors have moved to the forefront of family planning conversations for many.

Procreation question The discussion around bringing children into an uncertain world is not a new one. During the arms race of the 1950s, many people believed that a nuclear war was imminent, and, as a result, were concerned about having kids during this time. In other ways, the social and political climates of different nations throughout history have also raised this question based on the safety of children. Currently, groups like the UK-based BirthStrike, USA’s Conceivable Future and the more recently organised Canadian group No Future No Children, headed by 18-year-old Emma Lin, have committed to a childless future for themselves unless significant systemic change is made soon.

There are two central worries about the children and climate change debate.

The first, that by adding another body or bodies to the planet we will be adding stress to an already groaning ecosystem. The Anglican Diocese of Wellington’s Advocacy Enabler, Kate Day, expresses fears around her own impact in this way: ‘No matter what I do there is environmental harm, and as I realised a few years ago, there is literally a pile of landfill sitting there that will outlive me that has my name on it from my 33 years on this planet. It will be there for hundreds of years and my grandchildren will inherit it, because I’ve lived.’ It can be overwhelming to think about our own contributions in this way, let alone the additional contributions of any number of children we choose to bring to the world. The second concern is not knowing what the world will look like for our kids; whether 24 JULY 2021 WarCry 7

it is kind for children to be born on a planet that we have not taken care of as we should have.

The Northern Divisional Commander Major Ian Gainsford, who is also current chair of the Moral and Social Issues Council, feels sad at what has been left for his own two kids to inherit.

‘Every now and then I have said to [my daughter], “You know, the world? I’m really sorry, we haven’t done well by you”.’ As we see younger and younger generations feeling the full weight of climate anxiety, it is an understandable response to also be worried about the effect it would have on any future children.

Regardless of people’s positions on the topic, there is still a collective grief around the fact that some are finding this a necessary measure to take in minimising their carbon footprint.

Whether or not these people initially hoped to have children, the feeling that this choice is not available to them is frustrating and upsetting. Kate explains the different responses that can be had when first met with this thought. ‘It’s really sad for older people, or, really, for anyone to hear that some people are so worried about the future of the planet that they [choose to not have children]. To realise, if you’ve never realised before, that people are actually thinking about not having children.

And then also if people in the younger age group haven’t even thought about having kids, that can also add a lot of heaviness on them, thinking, “I’m going to have to make that decision”.’

REGARDLESS OF PEOPLE’S POSITIONS ON THE TOPIC, THERE IS STILL A COLLECTIVE GRIEF AROUND THE FACT THAT SOME ARE FINDING THIS A NECESSARY MEASURE TO TAKE IN MINIMISING THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT. Individual impacts on the environment An infographic from 2017 detailing different changes that could be made to an individual’s lifestyle and the impact they had on lowering CO2 emissions showed that while minimising transatlantic flights, living car-free and eating a plant-based 8 WarCry 24 JULY 2021

diet all contributed, having one less child made by far the most substantial difference in lowering emissions. However, the key phrasing here is ‘one less’, which doesn’t necessarily recommend having no children, but rather considering the number of children in a family. Kate compares this to conversations around plant-based diets. ‘It’s something like eating meat as well. You don’t have to become completely vegetarian to reduce your emissions produced through food, so I guess that is helpful when you’re talking to someone who is considering the question of how much meat to eat. It’s helpful to remember that eating less meat is still a positive step. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing: less meat, one less child.’

However, while there is research to suggest that having a smaller family would help lower our impact on the planet, some of the pushback on groups like BirthStrike and Conceivable Future is the emphasis it puts on personal decisions, rather than holding corporations with huge contributions to pollution to account. Even though personal responses to humanity’s poor care for creation are a way to help, proportionally the effects that large conglomerates have on the environment are much greater than anything that can be solved by one household going plastic-free. Deciding whether to have kids can play into the guilt of individual environmental neglect rather than seeing it as a wider systemic issue, that more often requires our advocacy and justice than it does our family planning.

God’s character Our responses to this question tend to relate back to our own beliefs about God’s character. Do we believe that he is intrinsically interested and involved in our lives? Were we formed to be connected relationally, not just with God and each other but with creation as well? Does God have the power to redeem our world? And, if so, what does that look like? Kate also ponders this, by ‘reflecting on the nature of sin and freedom from sin through an environmental lens, like thinking about do I actually believe that God’s saving power and forgiveness extends even to all the plastic bits in the ocean and our destruction of whole species? Is God going to forgive us for that?

I believe he will and will restore all things.’

New Testament scholar Eugene Boring framed it this way in his commentary on the Book of Revelation: ‘God does not make “all new things,” but “all things new”’. Aside from the biblical instructions to be good stewards of God’s creation, Boring would argue that as Christians our commitment to the planet is connected to a belief in God’s restoration of all he has created.

Ian explains that in ‘the poetry of those first couple of chapters of Genesis, one of the things that’s buried in there is the idea that the world itself is good. And when you read the Book of Job—which everyone says is about problems and suffering, it’s not really because of the end that doesn’t address that question—God turns up and says, where were you when I formed the mountains? Are you there when the mountain goat does this? It’s basically God saying, it’s not just you.’ What God created was and is good, and that is never rescinded, so we can believe that God has active plans of redemption for the things he has called good.

MY PART TO PLAY IS IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD TO DO MY BEST TO LIVE IN A LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND WITH OTHER PEOPLE. At the same time, it is also important to recognise our own agency and God-given responsibility when it comes to caring for the planet. In other spheres of Christendom, Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical, ‘Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home’, draws on St Francis’s calling to care for creation as a position to emulate: ‘Such a conviction cannot be written off as naïve romanticism, for it affects the choices which determine our behaviour. If we approach nature and the environment without this openness to awe and wonder, if we no longer speak the language of fraternity and beauty in our relationship with the world, our attitude will be that of masters, consumers, ruthless exploiters, unable to set limits on their immediate needs. By contrast, if we feel intimately united with all that exists, then sobriety and care will well up spontaneously’.

Within The Salvation Army, the international mission statement is ‘to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in his name’. This must extend to how we care for our planet because of the way this directly affects our ability to meet human need in the name of Jesus. As Ian says, ‘this isn’t just a trendy thing to do, this is a theological necessity’.

OUR RESPONSES TO THIS QUESTION TEND TO RELATE BACK TO OUR OWN BELIEFS ABOUT GOD’S CHARACTER. DO WE BELIEVE THAT HE IS INTRINSICALLY INTERESTED AND INVOLVED IN OUR LIVES? Grace not guilt Often these conversations can bring up fears, anxieties and shame for people, whether it’s for not having thought to ask these questions of themselves, for already having children or for feeling paralysed in decision-making. Although it can be hard to experience these feelings of worry and concern, they are also an indicator that we are paying attention to what is going on around us, and there is something to be said for that.

It is good to talk to others, to pray and to get support when we are overwhelmed by our feelings, and, at the end of the day, our own mental health and wellbeing need to take priority in any discussion of or response to the climate crisis.

The main point that Kate wanted to express is the overall catchphrase for her advocacy work: grace not guilt. When we believe that the God we serve is abounding in love and grace for all his creation—and that includes us—we have to trust that this extends to the hard decisions we face as we try to balance hope with responsibility. ‘We have some responsibility, but God has the ultimate responsibility. As a Christian, I have faith in God having the final say and control of everything. The final outcome for our world is up to God. My part to play is in relationship with God to do my best to live in a loving relationship with the environment and with other people. I have some responsibility to live up to and some responsibility to lay down.’

For some people that might look like deciding to not have any children or have less than they had originally considered.

For some people that might look like having children and raising them with compassion and care for our planet and those who live on it. God will meet us in all these places.

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Respectful Communication with Hard of Hearing Colleagues We all have a good idea of what it is like when someone is disrespectfully communicating with a person who is hard of hearing—shouting, over exaggerating, speaking slowly as if the person were a toddler. It looks like a television caricature, but, unfortunately, it is how some people try to talk to real people in real life.

If you work with somebody with severe hearing loss or are an employer seeking to provide the most respectful and beneficial working environment, the best way to start is by asking them directly how you can help to facilitate the best workplace possible.

Here are some starting suggestions about how you can be a good colleague to a deaf or hard of hearing person.

With proper respect and effort to communicate from those around them, they can and do flourish when given the tools to show their capability in the workplace.

On their first day…

ASK FIRST, NEVER ASSUME THEIR PREFERRED METHOD OF COMMUNICATION.

• Ask where the most effective spot for them to sit is— ideally somewhere well-lit with limited background noise where they can face as much of the office as possible.

• Use gestures (but not charades) if it helps to illustrate your point

• Ask first, never assume their preferred method of communication. Remember that it could vary depending on different circumstances.

• In a group setting, repeat phrases and sentences if they ask you to. Never say, ‘I’ll tell you later’—make sure they are able to participate in conversations like everyone else.

• Go through safety protocols and make sure they can respond to alerts in the event of an emergency.

During video calls and resources…

• Ask how they prefer to be approached; for example, tapping them on the shoulder, flicking a light switch or waving.

• Everybody should prepare and take notes. Depending on your organisation’s budget, it can be worthwhile investing in live captioning software.

When conversing…

• Switch subtitles on for videos.

• Make sure you have their full attention before you begin the conversation. Also, ensure the room is well-lit and nothing is covering your face. Always face towards them and, where possible, keep 1 to 2 metres’ distance.

• Ensure every person faces the camera. This may sound obvious, but many people have a tendency to look away from the screen.

• Speak to them, not their interpreter (if present).

• Have written notes, diagrams or resources handy.

Pause to allow them to read any documents before you continue speaking.

• Use normal lip movement. Don’t over exaggerate words or gestures. Speak at your normal volume, at your normal speed.

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Your new colleague or employee has likely experienced both good and bad inclusion at their previous workplaces. If you genuinely want to be a welcoming workplace that gets the best out of every person, the first step is always to listen to each one’s individual working preferences. This is no different. Let them tell you what has worked well for them, what they need to thrive and find a level of communication which everybody can meet on.

Source: HearFirst (http://www.hearfirst.org.uk/pdf/HF-Tips-working.pdf)

TESTIFY! Initi Tuiono of Manurewa Corps Plant is an accepted candidate for officership and will join the 2022 Defenders of Justice—Ngā Kaiwawao i te Tika session. She tells of her journey from Tonga to New Zealand and pursuing officership.

In Tonga, we all grew up in church. But after I started working, I was on my way to becoming an auditor and I did not think church was important. I thought I did not need God. But then God got hold of my heart. Somebody invited me back to church and, for the first time, it made sense to me: what the gospel is, what the love of Jesus is. That night, I gave my heart to the Lord, and from then on, the auditor thing started to fade away and the missionary work started to come in.

I started praying about it, but it was hard to find a Bible school in Tonga.

I applied for a job as the business administrator for the Tonga Region of The Salvation Army—the first time I ever heard of the Army. One day, somebody said to me, ‘Why don’t you try The Salvation Army? We’ve got a Bible school’. I started to think, pray and talk about it more with my regional leaders, and say, ‘Lord, here am I. If officership is for me, then yeah, I’ll take it.’

The passage that really led me on this journey was 2 Timothy 1:7 ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind’ (KJV). I was born and bred Pentecostal and it was hard for me to leave my church and come to The Salvation Army. The pastor was my cousin, and I had to find a lot of courage to talk to him. But, one Sunday, the visiting preacher was preaching from 2 Timothy 1:7 and said, ‘If God has been telling you to move, you need to move!’ I knew that was a confirmation for me, and so I got

‘LORD, HERE AM I. IF OFFICERSHIP IS FOR ME, THEN YEAH, I’LL TAKE IT.’ the courage to talk to my pastor. He said, ‘Initi, if that’s what God leads you to do, then I bless you and I release you in peace,’ which was very cool.

My leader in Tonga sent me to shadow the business administrator in Hamilton for work experience. But when I got my ticket, he had booked me to go from Tonga, to Auckland, to Wellington, to Hamilton. I said, ‘Why do I have to go through Wellington?’ He laughed and gave me a War Cry, and there was this advertisement about welcoming the cadets. He told me to go and see what it was like to be welcomed to officership.

I went to Wellington City Corps on the Sunday, and the officer was preaching from 2 Timothy 1:7! He said, ‘If God has called you to do something, you know

it’s your call, then don’t be afraid because God has not given you the spirit of fear.’

I moved to New Zealand in 2016. People say it was luck, but I think God moved me here as part of his plan. I came to Cambridge, and was in cultural shock.

I was overtaken by loneliness and homesickness because it was my first time away from family. I applied for a job here in Manurewa, and moved to Auckland because I’ve got my brother’s family here. I am hoping that I’m not going to face that loneliness again when moving to Wellington, but I don’t want to be more nervous than excited. I think this is the right time for me. I’ve seen myself growing in God. I am much more settled and God has given me his peace, and that’s a good place to come from.

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AN ANIMATED FILM BY ASH PATEL Ash Patel, a filmmaker for the Creative Ministries Department at Territorial Headquarters, released an animated short film called ‘Mum’s Voices’, on Friday 9 July, with support from the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. The film centres around 11-year-old Elijah as he encounters misunderstanding and isolation because of his mother’s experience with schizophrenia.

BY HOLLY MORTON

This video has been produced with a community grant from Like Minds, Like Mine, who help fund projects with the intention of raising awareness around mental distress. Ash explains that the organisation ‘loved the idea because it’s real and based off lived experience, and it’s something that no one’s ever done before’.

The decision to fund the project was made two years ago, in 2019, so Ash spent the beginning of 2020 writing the animation— and then lockdown happened. ‘Animation is so weird; you’ve got to write the script and then storyboard it as best as you can. Then you get

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illustrators to design the characters and environments, but then you also need to get voice actors. That was the tricky part, getting them to come in during level 2, but it turned out well. I ended up recording here at The Salvation Army studios.’

ANIMATED REALITY

Ash’s decision to tell this story using animation helps to make a heavy topic more approachable for the classrooms where Ash is hoping it will be shown. ‘I’ve been teaching stop-motion [animation] at my old school.

Anything that you show them that’s animated they’re just stoked about, so this might be a really good tool to use to raise awareness around schizophrenia, to teach them about what it could look like and how it affects people.

‘I wanted to write straight from experience. But I found that it might have been too heavy, I don’t want to drop everything on them, I don’t want to traumatise these kids. I wanted to make something that’s more fun and creative and add a bit of humour to it, just to kind of ease them into it.’ In writing the script, Ash tried to add some humour and lighter moments and worked on having the animation itself ‘find the balance of scary and funny’.

ASH WANTED YOUNG PEOPLE WATCHING THE VIDEO TO HAVE SPACE TO CONSIDER AND CREATE HOPE FOR THE CHARACTERS THEMSELVES. BUILDING CHARACTER

For Ash, this video and the story it tells have been a longtime coming. He has wanted to write something based around schizophrenia since he was in university, but he didn’t know how or what this would look like. ‘Originally, I wanted to make something that showed what other people see, but then I was like, I don’t actually know what they see, so I changed it and decided to write from my own perspective.’

This story has particular significance for Ash as he based a lot of Elijah’s experiences on his own childhood memories of growing up with his mother who has schizophrenia. Drawing from direct personal experience, Ash’s storytelling in ‘Mum’s Voices’ presents the characters in a gentle and generous manner, particularly Elijah and his mother, Senara.

Ash also wanted to leave room for the characters to gain understanding and compassion if the story was to continue, and he has shown snippets of this during the end text with stills of Elijah and his friend, and Senara with the woman from Elijah’s school.

Ash wanted young people watching the video to have space to consider and create hope for the characters themselves. ‘It kind of just ends abruptly and there’s no happy ending. The Mental Health Foundation was a bit worried that there’s no real hopefulness, but then sometimes there is no happy ending. I’m sure there are other kids out there who go through the same sort of experience and it isn’t happy for them. But the hopefulness comes from them watching and empathising with the characters and hoping that the attitudes towards them will change. The story is not finished ...

I want the kids to finish it for me.’

When having discussions around what is happening in the video and why, Ash is hopeful that not only will people dream up a conclusion to the story, but will be encouraged to tell that story in their own interactions with others.

CONNECTION AND CONVERSATION

At the end of the day, Ash hopes that ‘Mum’s Voices’ will open conversations for young people to think about reality outside of their own experiences. Mental health is becoming more a part of everyday conversations, but conditions like schizophrenia are still widely misunderstood. Ash believes that if he can show them that schizophrenia exists and give them an understanding of how it affects people, then they can take that

knowledge into high school and into adulthood, and it can better prepare them for when they see it. ‘I think that’s pretty much what I’m aiming to do. The hope is that as people connect and empathise with the characters; they hopefully, in-turn, empathise with people in real life. I think it’ll make New Zealand a better place.’

Although the open ending of the video can help encourage conversations around mental health and the different ways it presents itself, Ash has plans to continue the story with more animation. ‘I do want to finish it; I’m going to work on writing it. I’d want to have some sort of hopefulness. I want the characters to change, like his friend. I want him to grow in understanding of what Senara’s going through and how it affects Elijah.’

To watch ‘Mum’s Voices’, visit the Subcreator’s Facebook page: facebook.com/subcreators/ videos/532384581519792

What you can do to support someone with schizophrenia: • Listen to what they are going through and try to understand where they are coming from. Their experiences might not be real for you, but they are real for them.

• Simply sit beside them, rather than offering advice or trying to ‘fix’ them.

Sometimes, all people need is for someone to listen.

• Support them to make their own decisions.

Provide options on what they could do, but make sure that they call the shots and are onboard with any next steps.

MORE INFO | mentalhealth.org.nz/conditions/ condition/schizophrenia

24 JULY 2021 WarCry 13

Next Generation: Your Voice Matters

BY BETHANY SLAUGHTER

Do you have something to say about how The Salvation Army could develop, improve and grow its ‘Next Generation’ ministry in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa? The Youth and Children’s Mission teams want to hear from all of you!

The Territorial Youth and Children’s Mission teams are embarking on an exciting project to engage with children, youth, young adults and ministry leaders around the territory.

These conversations (and the feedback received) will influence the creation of a new Next Generation Plan, which will inspire the territory’s strategic direction for the next decade.

Territorial Children’s Mission Secretary Lt-Colonel Debbie Clark and Territorial Youth Secretary Captain Mat Badger are eagerly anticipating the opportunities this research process will present—both to meet with young people, but also to invest in their ideas and hopes for the future of the Army.

‘The Salvation Army, originally, was a youth movement,’ Mat says. ‘You had a couple of people at the helm, guiding everything, but the average age of everyone taking part was very young and so the sense of actually discovering a little bit of that again could be a good thing for us.’

Empowering youth and children A territorial-wide survey, fittingly titled ‘Your Voice Matters’, is the stepping-off point to learn about how young people in The Salvation Army want ‘to belong, to feel valued, to be encouraged, to feel empowered’.

‘Those principles are really important, and we need to hear their voices so that we can help make that happen for them in a healthy and productive way,’ Debbie says.

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‘We need people who live in the reality day-to-day to speak into a number of key things,’ Mat explains. ‘We want to hear from teenagers. We want to hear from young adults. We want to hear from people who are over the age of 30 who work with young people, and that can be anyone from employees, volunteers, officers—the whole gamut.’ They also want to hear from children, where appropriate.

Alongside the survey, Debbie and Mat are most passionate about their plan to conduct in-person focus groups and speak directly with people all over the territory.

THE YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S TEAMS ARE VERY EXCITED TO GRASP THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AND LEARN HOW THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BEST FULFIL THESE FOUR OBJECTIVES.

‘I’m hoping to engage with a couple of hundred teenagers, face to face, minimum,’ Mat says, ‘from a variety of backgrounds and a variety of geographical locations.’ ‘[Young adult focus groups] might be slightly different, because of the nature of life for young adults, but we would like to talk to as many of them as possible as well—both those who are actively engaged and those who might be slightly disgruntled.’

While there are logistical details to iron out, facilitating similar catch-up opportunities with children and enabling them to speak into the upcoming strategy feeds into Children’s Mission’s current vision of ‘Seen and Heard’. This strategy declares that regardless of age, everyone is created to be in relationship with God. It is about growing authentic communities where everybody has a voice—including children.

‘The Salvation Army needs to hear their voices, our leadership need to hear their voices and our seniors need to hear their voices,’ Debbie says.

THE TERRITORIAL YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S MISSION TEAMS ARE EMBARKING ON AN EXCITING PROJECT TO ENGAGE WITH CHILDREN, YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS AND MINISTRY LEADERS AROUND THE TERRITORY. A focus on process A tailored version of the survey is available for each country in the territory, accounting for the cultural similarities and differences of all four. From here, these surveys then split into three further groups: teenagers, young adults and those who currently work with young people. ‘Technically, there are 12 surveys!’ Mat laughs.

Both Debbie and Mat want to learn from the processes of developing previous strategies, and increase buy-in by generating the new one from the community level up.

‘We’ve had other organisations look at [our current youth strategy] and go, “Wow, this is awesome!”’ Mat says. ‘But the average person on the ground would really have very little idea about it, so this new plan … it has to start at the grassroots.’

‘The process of hearing from people is just as important as the information,’ Debbie remarks. ‘There might be some surprises in it—who knows? But I think the value will be in the breadth of voices that we get.’

They will allow a large window of time and keep the survey open, have as many in-person conversations and receive as much feedback as possible. Because of this, they anticipate the earliest date to begin formulating the strategy itself will be in November.

However, these big dreams hinge on people from a range of backgrounds, generations and life stages investing their time to share their experiences and relevant wisdom.

Territorial connections The Salvation Army’s Territorial Strategy ‘He Waka Eke Noa— One Waka’ stipulates four objectives for the ‘Next Generation’ aspect of the Army’s future: to develop plans to grow its Next Generation ministries; look after and develop its Next Generation ministry leaders; increase its young person representation; and expand its work with Children and Youth within its communities.

The Youth and Children’s teams are very excited to grasp the opportunity to connect with people and learn how they can work together to best fulfil these four objectives.

‘This project actually has the potential to be one of the biggest consultation projects in the area of younger generations that I could ever think of,’ Mat says, ‘and that’s what I’m excited about … hearing people’s genuine thoughts and where they’re at.’

‘It’s not just a survey within itself in that we tick the boxes and we move on,’ Debbie concludes. ‘We’ve got this amazing opportunity to speak into the territory.’

MORE INFO | The ‘Your Voice Matters’ survey will be launched at MORE Conference 2021. You can access the survey online at firezone.co.nz and children.salvationarmy.org.nz.

Covid Crisis in Fiji The Salvation Army in Fiji is supporting people with food hampers during the worsening pandemic, as the country grapples with a rising death toll and the spread of the Delta strain of the virus.

Fiji’s Divisional Commander, Captain Andrew Moffatt, says currently the Army has a responsibility to open corps as emergency shelters during storm conditions. ‘The [Fijian] Government has approached us about the use of halls for fever clinics, and the Labasa Corps is currently being re-established for this purpose, as there have been two cases at a nearby port on Vanua Levu.’ However, Andrew says most corps will be unable to be used for this purpose, as officers’ quarters are attached to halls in many situations and officers and families may be at risk of the virus.

Many Fijians are currently without income. ‘We, as a movement are currently distributing around 500 food parcels a month. Many other NGOs (non-governmental organisations) are distributing food, and the Government is also doing their own food distribution.’

Please pray for the safety of those who are working on the front lines, particularly those Salvationists who are distributing food aid and the staff of our Family Care Centres who are caring for those displaced from their homes by worsening domestic violence at this time. Pray that these people remain safe from the virus and that all eligible people in Fiji are able to be vaccinated.

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Gratitude and Joy as Hamilton City Musicians Visit Newtown In light of recent Covid-19 restrictions, there was an extra sense of gratitude to Wellington South Corps whānau (family) as they hosted Hamilton City Corps musicians at The Salvation Army’s Newtown Centre from 19 to 20 June.

A bright one-hour Saturday afternoon concert—‘Count it all Joy’—by Hamilton City was aimed at the local community.

Around 60 people attended, including regulars from the Newtown Centre’s Community Ministries drop-in, Early Childhood Education Centre and Bridge graduates who now attend Wellington South Corps.

The programme was diverse and definitely joyous. From the popular standard ‘Emblem of the Army’ and the New Orleansinspired brass ensemble playing ‘Closer Walk with Thee’, through to the challenging and lung-exhausting euphonium solo ‘A Joy Untold’, played admirably by Nathan Ringle, there was much to delight listeners. Veteran bandmaster Stewart Stanbridge shared conducting responsibilities with Logan Bracegirdle.

Talented soloist Leigh Oliver attends Pukekohe Corps, but has soldiered at Wellington South and Hamilton City, so was pleased to join the weekend as soloist for the band’s rendition of Andraé Crouch’s ‘My Tribute’.

The tight, expressive harmonies of the youthful barbershop quartet—with members Bailey Lindsey, Denae McCready and Moshe and Nishmia Merz—made them a crowd favourite, with a repertoire that included ‘For the Longest Time’ and ‘Spend My Life’. Their performance of ‘It is Well with My Soul’ on Sunday morning moved some to tears.

The polish and passion of Hamilton City’s Music Team were also appreciated, particularly their presentation of ‘Ancient of Days’ and ‘Te Ao Mārama’ on Saturday night, but also their sensitive support for Sunday morning’s worship.

Saturday evening saw a wellattended 90-minute concert—‘Shine On’—that featured contributions from Hamilton City and Wellington 16 WarCry 24 JULY 2021

South Bands, the latter under the leadership of Bruce Roberts.

Wellington South played up-tempo pieces such as ‘Sunshine’ and ‘Light Walk’, joining with Hamilton City for ‘Petone Citadel’, and then, with the Music Team joining in, a Hamilton City arrangement of ‘Finlandia’, and ‘The Millennium Prayer’ to round off the evening.

Both Saturday concerts were expertly compered

by Captain Jenny Collings, corps officer at Hamilton City Corps with Captain Marcus Collings. Jenny pointed out that the weekend’s musicians were using musical talents gifted to them by God. She reminded the audience that the purpose of Christian music was for God to be glorified, encouraging them to let God’s light shine in their lives and to reflect that light to others.

Sunday morning’s worship was a spiritual highpoint for many. Hamilton City trombonist Ken Oliver testified about the importance of integrity, relating it to the musicality of a band.

‘If a band wants to play with integrity, we first have to belong; secondly, we have to agree with the composer; and then follow the conductor. In the Christian life, we belong through Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross. That allows us to come into agreement with the Great Composer, God himself. And Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, the Conductor, to guide us.’

Marcus expanded on these thoughts in his sermon, challenging people to live with integrity across all aspects of life by refusing to restrict their Christian faith only to church.

BY MAJOR CHRISTINA TYSON

‘Faleola O Tupu’ Intensive Group Programme Graduation Ceremony

‘Faleola O Tupu’ translates to the ‘House of Life and Growth’ and is the name of The Salvation Army Samoa Addiction Services’ 16-week intensive group programme. Recently, the inaugural graduation ceremony was held for the 13 male participants and their aiga (family) members and invited guests, such as faifeau (pastors). The event was a true celebration of our mission— caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society by God’s power. All graduates were on parole from prison, having served lengthy sentences in which alcohol and/or drugs was a contributing factor in their crimes.

Faleola O Tupu programme offers a wide range of topics that explored thoughts, feelings and behaviours within a Samoan context and used modalities—such as expressive art therapy.

This provides opportunities for people to express themselves in their recovery journey in ways that, for many, have never been experienced before.

Faleola O Tupu is a closed group, abstinence-based and strives to reignite what is culturally known from within, but which was temporarily lost due to addiction and incarceration. Aganu’u (culture), atua (spirituality) and aiga are central to every aspect of the programme, with each session beginning with the ‘Word of Encouragement’, delivered by Major Miriama Simanu, which is based on Samoan values.

Faleola O Tupu recognised the vulnerability of the participants as they transitioned back into society. Due to parole conditions, most were unable to return to their own villages as that was where their crimes were committed.

The programme encouraged reflection and nurtured acceptance, along with addressing the everyday pressures and temptations that the participants faced, providing the much needed support to positively reintegrate back into the community and maintain their sobriety.

In the words of one participant: ‘We do not want to go back into that place of darkness that we experienced while in prison.

We have learnt about the effects of alcohol and drugs on our health, our livelihoods, our social lives, our aiga and also the law.’

During the graduation ceremony, Faagutu Vaalotu, acting chief executive officer for the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration, delivered a keynote address that spoke about the success of the programme and our partnership to improve outcomes and reintegration into society for those whose lives have been impacted by alcohol and/or other drugs.

Leiataua Afamasaga, assistant commissioner, Prisons and Corrections, presented the graduation certificates and also acknowledged the importance of the programme and requested that a proposal be developed to support delivery of an addiction programme within the prison setting. Regional Leader Captain Eric Turner described this as ‘an opportunity to build into prisoners’ lives with the objectives to improve prisoners’ health, education about drugs and alcohol and contribute to a reduction in recidivism rates’.

Regional Leader Captain Julie Turner gifted each participant with a framed copy of the Serenity Prayer and a group photo, in the hope that it would provide ongoing support and encouragement with their recovery journey.

‘I thank the Lord that everything is good. I had some bad experiences in the past, but I am thankful for the good thoughts and tools that the programme has equipped us with. I now know how to make better decisions for myself and my aiga,’ shared one participant.

Team Leader Sailivao Aukusitino Senio described the programme as ‘being a success on many levels, not only for the participants themselves, but their aiga, villages and the nation.

Sailivao stated that ‘over the duration of the programme, we noticed a shift in attitude, behaviour and participation, which ended with a graduation ceremony that was a true celebration of transformation.’

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GAZETTE

Prayer and praise celebrations have been happening throughout this year, as corps intentionally respond to the call to prayer: Make Room, Come Aside, Come Together. Such times of prayer and praise invite us to enjoy being in God’s presence together for the express purpose of … well ... prayer and praise!

By coming together for prayer the scene is set—often assisted by enthusiastic leadership from musicians or an audio recording—and a clear call to prayer is given. The use of some well-known songs and the reading of Scripture that affirms our faith and desire for this time of seeking God together, provides a focus and a starting place.

It’s helpful to have a plan—like a roadmap which takes people on a journey. Prayers of praise and adoration and making requested prayers for your own people is just the starting place.

From here we look outwards to our communities, neighbourhoods and cities, before looking even further out to our nation and the world.

The ever-widening circle of prayer concerns can be helpfully introduced by someone who has prepared with a comment and prayer of their own before inviting others to join in.

The transitions between prayer focuses can be assisted by the use of songs or video clips.

When we gather together to pray with others, not everyone has the confidence to pray in a larger group, so breaking up into clusters of three to four people can be helpful to give everyone the opportunity. Some people prefer to read a prayer that’s been written out and handed to them.

A prayer and praise event should be quite dynamic and participatory. It also offers time of silent reflection. The plan provides a roadmap; the pace is set by the Spirit, as together we make room for the time to unfold, and we may be surprised how quickly the hours pass. And we are a changed people.

BY COLONEL HEATHER RODWELL

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Promotion to Glory: Captain Eroni Serukalou, on Tuesday 29 June 2021, from his home in Lautoka, Fiji, aged 74 years. Eroni Raikoti Serukalou was born in Viwa, Bau, Tailevu on 8 August 1946. Eroni married Makereta Timi on 3 February 1975. In February of 1992, Eroni and Makereta were warranted as regional envoys and appointed managers to Suva Family Care Centre. In January 1996 Envoys Eroni and Makereta were appointed managers to Labasa Community and Family Services, followed by corps appointments to Raiwai Corps and Lomaivuna Corps, with additional appointment supervisor, Lomaivuna Farm Project. In 2003, Captains Eroni and Makereta were appointed managers to Suva Community and Family Services, followed by appointment as court and prison officers in Suva with Makereta’s additional appointment at the Red Shield House, and it is from these appointments that Eroni and Makereta retired on 19 September 2006. In retirement they served as corps officers to Lomaivuna Corps (2006) and Captain Eroni to Taveuni Corps (2010). Captain Makereta was promoted to Glory on 6 April 2008. Please support Captain Eroni’s children: Captain Taina Temo, Sera Toloi (NZ), Nimilote and Kinisimere and extended family members in your prayers, remembering the impact of the pandemic in Fiji. Well done good and faithful servant of Jesus Christ!

Colonel Kenneth (Ken) Bridge, on Friday 9 July 2021, from Warkworth, aged 96 years. Kenneth Sydney Bridge was born in Dunedin on 18 November 1924. He married Doreen Matheson on 27 January 1949 and together they entered Training College in 1957 from Christchurch City Corps in the Faithful session. Commissioned on 9 September 1957 and appointed as corps officers Gore Corps, followed by Dunedin South Corps in 1960. In 1962, Ken and Doreen were appointed to the Training College with Ken as men’s side officer.

Ken and Doreen were the corps officers of Tauranga Corps, Newton Corps, Hamilton City Corps and Wellington City Corps. In 1972, Ken and Doreen were appointed as the territorial youth secretary, South Africa Territory, followed by appointment as corps officers to Johannesburg City Corps. In 1978, they returned to New Zealand where Ken and Doreen were appointed divisional commanders for Canterbury Westland Division. In 1979, they were transferred to the United Kingdom Territory where Ken was appointed to IHQ as under secretary, Americas and South Pacific Zone. Whilst in this appointment Ken was appointed by The General to establish the International Staff Songsters, as executive officer. In 1981, Ken was appointed as chief secretary to the chief of the staff before returning home in 1983 as the chief secretary for New Zealand and Fiji Territory, with retirement on 1 October 1988. We honour Colonel Ken Bridge, for his faithful ministry through 31 years as an active officer and 33 years in retirement. Please uphold Colonel Doreen Bridge, their children Roger, Denise and Phillip, and extended family members in prayer. Well done good and faithful servant of Jesus Christ!

Major Samuel (Sam) Medland, on Friday 9 July 2021, from Flat Bush, Auckland, aged 92 years. Samuel Alfred Medland was born in Auckland on 27 April 1929. Sam entered The Salvation Army Training College from New Plymouth Corps in 1953, as a cadet in the Heralds session and was commissioned on 25 January 1954. Pro-Lieutenant Samuel Medland was appointed assistant corps officer to Milton Corps, Nightcaps Corps and Te Araroa Corps in 1958. On 7 February 1959, Captain Sam Medland married First Lieutenant Eva Gibbs from the Sword Bearers session and they remained at Te Araroa Corps for the following 14 years. In 1973, Sam and Eva were appointed as corps officers to Naenae Corps, followed by Masterton, Thames, Rotorua and Ōtāhuhu. Then in 1986 they were appointed as managers to Invercargill Social Services Centre, followed by an appointment as corps officers, Masterton Corps and directors, Masterton Family Care Centre in 1991.

It is from this appointment that Majors Sam and Eva Medland retired from active service on 1 May 1994, having completed 40 years of active service. On their retirement, Sam and Eva settled in Napier becoming very active soldiers of the Napier Corps. Appointments in retirement as corps officers to Thames Corps, managers at Nelson Family Care Centre, corps officers to Woodville Corps, managers at Invercargill Social Services Centre, corps officers to Tokoroa Corps, Flaxmere Corps, Kaitaia Corps, Timaru Corps, Cambridge Corps and relieving on several occasions at Masterton Corps. We honour Major Sam Medland for his godly life. Please support Major Eva Medland, their children Christine, Jennifer, David, Elizabeth, Stephen, and other family members in your prayers. Well done good and faithful ‘Herald’ of Jesus Christ!

Bereavement: Major Gill Waugh, of her brother David Knight, on Tuesday 29 June 2021, from Te Omanga Hospice, Lower Hutt. We ask you to uphold in prayer Major Gill Waugh, Dave’s wife Barbara, daughters and the extended family at this time of grief and loss.

Closure of the Good Shop The Salvation Army started The Good Shop in Manukau city and Porirua city to disrupt predatory lenders.

Mobile shopping vans, which target lower-income suburbs with over-priced products, have been in our sights since The Good Shop began in 2019. These trucks offer high-interest loans to people who are unable to easily access shops, often burdening them with life-long debt and little chance of repaying it, thanks to hefty penalties.

By offering low-interest, no-penalty loans and goods at retail prices, The Good Shop has helped hundreds of people reduce their debt to a manageable level, and pay it.

The Salvation Army has had to make the tough decision to discontinue The Good Shop, in part because of cost increases to providing the service.

Those cost increases are as a result of changes to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA) legislation, due in October 2021.

While The Good Shop may be going, changes to the CCCFA legislation increase protections for consumers and borrowers.

We are confident that many third-tier and predatory lenders that prey on our communities will be forced to close their doors as a result of these changes.

The Salvation Army is disappointed that The Good Shop is ending, but the service has done a great job of providing our communities with an alternative to the predatory tactics of mobile shopping vans and greater awareness of the risks and alternatives to using these businesses.

Our job to disrupt unethical lending practices is not over. We continue to offer low-interest Community Finance loans, and we’re working on more initiatives to help us achieve this goal.

‘I’LL FIGHT TO THE VERY END!’

While women weep as they do now, I’ll fight; while little children go hungry as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight—I’ll fight to the very end!

These inspiring words constantly motivate me to do my part in lighting up our corner of the world.

William Booth, the co-founder of The Salvation Army, challenged thousands of people with these words in his final sermon in 1912; this wasn’t just a wish, but a reality in the life-giving ministries of both William and Catherine Booth. Many people discovered freedom, safety and the love of Jesus.

Over 100 years later, I thank God for our staff, volunteers, officers, soldiers and adherents who continue to say: ‘I’ll fight’ to free people from injustice, violence, homelessness and poverty by caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society by God’s power. Wherever the Red Shield is displayed in our corps and centres, people are finding freedom from addictions, a safe place to live, compassion, a meal, friendship and experiencing the love and faithfulness of Jesus in action.

In Matthew 5:14–16, Jesus reminds us of our mission to fight and shine his light.

‘Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives.

By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven’ (MSG).

I’ll fight to the very end!

Commissioner Julie Campbell Territorial President of Women’s Ministries

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The great Jesuit writer, Jean Pierre de Caussade, wrote of the sacrament of the present moment.

Not regret of the past moment, nor anxiety for the future moment but the sacrament, the holiness, the gift of this year, this season, this month, this week, this day, this right-now present moment of grace, of breath and awareness.

I need to reflect often on this, to remember that every moment, the past and the future too, holds God’s promises, his provision and his presence.

BY MAJOR BARBARA SAMPSON

A few months ago my husband and I attended a friend’s 50th birthday. We found ourselves amongst a large group of vibrant, warm-hearted people with whom we discovered many common connections. It was delightful. But the

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following day my husband said, ‘Do you realise we were the oldest ones there?’

His words stunned me. What? But of course we were! Most of the others were years younger, and all were involved in some kind of service or ministry.

They were standing where I remember standing myself so recently, but now no longer. It was a sobering moment.

There I was, a giant step away from the heart of the action, like being parked and forgotten on the outskirts of activity.

Seasons of life On reflection, though, I realised that this current season of life is one lived from the sidelines. I watch others do the kinds of ministry that I once did—and not so long ago. I hear parents relating to their children and it seems only yesterday that I faced similar delights and challenges with my own children.

Along with this being on the sidelines is the not knowing. Not knowing the new young officers coming out of Booth College, not knowing what or who or where. It’s a strange aspect of letting go, giving up control. It feels like emptiness, a slow dying, yet I am still fully alive.

How to survive on the sidelines, how to bring an antidote to not knowing?

I call to mind Howard Davies’ words: Many are the things I cannot understand All above me mystery I see…

(SASB 876) So I ask myself the usual questions: What is the particular gift of this season of life? What is the work that needs to be done here and now? How to pray from this sidelined place, this place of unknowing? Maybe a list would help.

What do I know for sure? With one hand tightly closed I hold the certainties of my faith. With the other hand open and receptive I carry the mystery of the things I do not yet understand.

Carry the questions I am reminded of Brigadier Dean Adams—our dear Barnabas encourager—at one of our corps

EVEN IN THIS SIDELINED SEASON I HAVE BEEN GIVEN ANOTHER PLACE TO STAND WHERE MY PASSIVE ROLE IS TO NOTICE AND OBSERVE AND MY ACTIVE ROLE IS TO ENCOURAGE AND BLESS. appointments; he told me one day, ‘The closer I get to heaven, the less certain I feel about my faith, and the more questions I have.’ I wish I had known then the poet Rilke’s words: ‘Just carry the questions and one day you will live into the answers’.

Psalm 139 is reassuring with all its references to the God who knew me before I was born, who oversaw the knitting together of my bones in my mother’s womb, the weaving of sinew and shape and skin to make me who I uniquely am. In the midst of all the turmoil of my unknowing, I can find rest in God’s great all-encompassing knowing of the full span of my life.

Winter season offerings Even in this sidelined season I have been given another place to stand where my passive role is to notice and observe and my active role is to encourage and bless. So how do I do that? More to the point, how am I doing that, making this present moment an opportunity to offer something sacred to those around me?

After you had taken your leave I found God's footprints on my floor.

–Tagore A snake sheds its skin, a growing crab breaks out of its confining shell. Both need a bigger skin or shell to grow into.

This is a vulnerable time. The snake oozes itself with healing moisture, the crab scurries to find a bigger shell to bury itself in. It is after all, a form of dying—the word ‘bury’ seems appropriate.

Getting older feels to me not so much like finding a bigger ‘outer’ but a smaller

‘outer’ and a bigger ‘inner’ space. Letting things grow within even as the exterior world diminishes. This is a delicate dance, both holding close and letting go.

Gather up and give away I read that an Archbishop of Canterbury, when he died, had his nightshirt as his final and only possession. Everything else had been given away. I love the completion of that gesture. A life well and fully lived, then graciously and generously concluded.

WITH THE OTHER HAND OPEN AND RECEPTIVE I CARRY THE MYSTERY OF THE THINGS I DO NOT YET UNDERSTAND. When all has been said and done, this season called generativity is one to give away all that has been gathered, the treasures and the resources, as well as the wisdom learned over the years. To live each day to the full. To welcome it reverently, carry it prayerfully, then return it gratefully at the end. Then when this earthly life is over, to wrap up all the days with a huge ribbon that says, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

My soul rejoices and is glad in you; songs of gratitude fill my soul rising up to you, O Beloved.

(Psalm 30, Nan Merrill)

LETTING THINGS GROW WITHIN EVEN AS THE EXTERIOR WORLD DIMINISHES. THIS IS A DELICATE DANCE, BOTH HOLDING CLOSE AND LETTING GO. 24 JULY 2021 WarCry 21

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Mark (Territorial Commander) and Julie Campbell (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 23 July: MORE Conference opening session, Silverstream 26–29 July: Central Division Officers’ Fellowship, Masterton Colonel Gerry Walker (Chief Secretary) 26 July–1 August: Furlough 2–3 August: Midland Division Officers’ Fellowship, Napier Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Spiritual Life Development) 28 July: Hamilton City Corps, Home League birthday (am), prayer event (pm)

PRAY Whakatāne Corps,

Whanganui City Corps, Whangārei Corps, the Wills and Bequests team, Winton Corps, The Salvation Army in The Philippines.

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Come Aside, Come Together Retreat

10–12 September 2021 Be enriched and refreshed in the stunning environment of Living Springs on the Banks Peninsula. Take time to go deeper in your relationship with God.

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I would like: to learn about who Jesus is information about The Salvation Army The Salvation Army to contact me prayer for the following needs:

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Quiz Answers: 1 1968, 2 14, 3 Andre Agassi, 4 Rowing, 5 Jacob and Laban (Genesis 31:44–52).

22 WarCry 24 JULY 2021

Triangle maze!

Can you reunite the cub with the lion? Make a path by connecting the triangles.

‘He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.’

Daniel 6:27

Animals word search!

Can you find the animals to the right in this word search? They could be forwards, backwards, up or down.

rn giant A newbo hs less eig panda w p of tea than a cu

A long time ago, in Babylon, there was a man named Daniel. The king of Babylon was so impressed by Daniel’s work, he wanted to place him in one of the kingdom’s most powerful positions.

The other supervisors were jealous and decided to get rid of Daniel. They waited for him to do something wrong, but he never did.

They knew Daniel prayed to God daily, so they sneakily persuaded the king to make a decree that anybody who prayed to someone who was not the king would be thrown into the lions’ den.

This rule didn’t change Daniel’s heart; he still prayed, every day. His enemies took him to the king, who searched desperately for a loophole because he liked Daniel. But a decree made by the king had to stand. Regrettably, he threw Daniel into the lions’ den one night and rolled a stone across the entrance.

The moment the sun rose, the king ran to the den. Miraculously, Daniel survived! God had shut the lions’ mouths and there was not a single wound on Daniel. His unwavering faith saved him, plus, through his actions, God’s incredible power was witnessed by many people.

How is a bird like its father?

It's a chirp off the old block

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Have you ever been brave like Daniel and seen God bring you through a tough situation?

24 JULY 2021 WarCry 23

Transform a life– Transform the future.

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