FAITH IN ACTION 26 NOVEMBER 2016 | Issue 6656 | $1.50
MALCOLM HERRING: Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Joyful Intercessors Ready for Commissioning
Do Wise People Still Seek Jesus? On the Spot with Julian O’Brien of Country Calendar
HOW TO BE AN INTROVERT Meet Some of the Next Officer Training Session
SCHOOL’S OUT
Dear School Leaver
6
10
12
14
WAR CRY The Salvation Army
Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Robert & Janine Donaldson | GENERAL André Cox | 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. EDITOR Major Christina Tyson | GRAPHIC DESIGN Tanesha Dahya, Amber Wilkinson | STAFF WRITERS Ingrid Barratt, Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond | PROOF READING Major Jill Gainsford OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box
6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Fax (04) 382 0716, Email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org, www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry
SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone (04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org, $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT www.makeready.co.nz | PAPER Novatech
is an environmentally responsible paper manufactured under environmental management system ISO14001 using FSC® Certified, Mixed Source, ECF pulp from responsible sources and legally harvested forests. Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.
All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated.
20
Move yourself away from anxiety Many of us will be facing a busy few weeks before Christmas. Certainly for The Salvation Army there’s a lot to be done, with preparations already underway to help people with food, gifts and support as stretched budgets start to feel the pinch of holiday demands. For many of us, December can be a time when we start to feel weighed down by stress. Recognising this in my own life, I signed up to a two-week devotional newsletter by Christian author Dallas Willard through www.biblegateway.com, an online Bible reading website. In the first day’s newsletter, Willard pointed to the freedom humans have about where to place our minds. He challenged readers to relocate their bodies to places of solitude and silence, saying: ‘Until solitude and silence have had their effects, our minds will very likely continue to be focused on the wrong things, or on good things in an anxious attitude of trying to dominate them.’ After we’ve moved ourselves away from the inputs that control our thoughts and feelings, ‘we will have additional freedom to place our minds fully upon the great God, his kingdom, and its peace and strength,’ he adds. It’s a lovely picture—by a simple change of scenery, we can become more open to and therefore more impacted by the truth of God’s love and the experience of God’s transforming presence. The Bible verse that so beautifully captures this is Psalm 46:10, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ So let’s get moving! Christina Tyson Editor
Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission. Publishing for 133 years | ISSN 0043-0242, Issue 6656 Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry
www.salvationarmy.org.nz salvationarmynzftwarcry @salvationarmynz salvationarmynzft
Our world is waiting for us to love and show God’s heart through his powerful presence. Pete Greig
2 WarCry 26 NOVEMBER 2016
Romans 12:12 New Living Translation Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Rōma 12:12 Kia hari i runga i te tūmanako; kia manawanui ki te whakapāwera; kia ū ki te īnoi …
Photography: Matias Delacroix/Getty Images
J
ust after midnight on 14 November, many around New Zealand had a rude awakening. A 7.8 earthquake struck 20 km south-east of Hanmer Springs and was felt up and down the country. I had not long gone to bed, so it didn’t take long to register what was happening. It was a case of ‘here we go again’. Friends in Hamilton experienced their very first quake and for others it caused them to relive the trauma of the Christchurch quakes. Five years after the February 2011 quake, this one felt different, thanks in part to social media. I was in Auckland when news of the 2011 quake came through and I remember the panic I felt as I tried to confirm the location and status of all my family and friends. This time, Facebook’s Safety Check feature was brillant as people were able to confirm with one click of their mouse that they were safe, and immediately Facebook friends were alerted they were okay. This made a difference for so many people around the world. One of the reasons we don’t like quakes is the total lack of control we feel. We have no ability to stop it and no warning it’s coming. For many, this can be an open tap into fear and anxiety. And in a single moment lives change forever. As I write, the town of Kaikoura is isolated, stranding hundreds of people (including my own family and friends), and supplies are running out. A ‘knees at nine’ Facebook post was shared, with the call for people across the nation to pray for Kaikoura. This was a chance for those who can’t physically help to assist through the power of prayer.
Some days feel scary, dark, overwhelming and ‘too much’ for us to handle. But our circumstances do not determine God’s presence. God is not weakened by our weakness or disappointed by our doubt. Instead, he is our stable place, our refuge from every storm. Our need for control can be handed over to the creator of the universe. When we can’t trust ourselves, God is trustworthy. God is the reason we can declare amidst a disaster, even if only in a whisper: ‘It is well with my soul.’ BY SHAR DAVIS
Soon after the quake, The Salvation Army provided catering and support at a welfare centre in Woodend, near Rangiora, for those evacuated from Kaikoura, and also in Seddon and Ward. In Ashburton, Salvationists fed people evacuated after tsunami warnings. Commissioner Robert Donaldson says, ‘As we consider the devastation and heartache experienced in parts our beautiful country, we want to serve where we can to bring comfort and hope. Thank you to those representing The Salvation Army so well.’ General Andre Cox, Commissioner Silvia Cox, the Chief of the Staff Commissioner Brian Peddle and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle are praying for the people of New Zealand in these difficult days.
26 NOVEMBER 2016 WarCry 3
QUIKQUIZ
1 How many states make up the United States of America?
2 Which NZ celebrity chef is the co-founder of ‘My Food Bag’?
3 Which bird won bird of the year 2016?
4 What chocolate bar widened the gap between peaks?
5 What dreaming ruler gave Joseph his own ring?
Answers on page 22
GOODSTUFF Sometimes social media offers a glimpse of brilliance. We’re not talking about that postdebate meme with Clinton and Trump singing ‘Endless Love’ … No, earlier this month Facebook became the home of a global protest, when a million people ‘checked in’ to Standing Rock—where thousands of First Nations people in the US have been opposing an oil pipeline through their land, compromising waterways. A creative, peaceful protest bringing together the global community.
ONTHESPOT Julian O’Brien Long-time producer behind one of our most iconic shows, Country Calendar. Secret indulgence: I’m a boring guy (you could confirm this with my friends, if I had any), so my secret indulgence is quite dull. Sudoku. Celebrity crush: Economics journalist and commentator Rod Oram. He delves beneath the shiny surface of business to reveal that the economy exists to serve people, not the other way around.
There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. Elie Wiesel, author 4 WarCry 26 NOVEMBER 2016
What I’m reading: Colin Hogg’s latest book, Going South, partly because I’m a Southern man, partly because it’s about a road trip involving Gordon McBride, a great TV3 journo and thoroughly good guy who’s one of the funniest people around. One thing I hate: The way social media has given us permission to be rude to individuals or groups because we can do it without eyeballing them. The cut and thrust of passionate debate is great. Vitriolic or thoughtless personal attacks are not.
Country Life Country Calendar: Stories from our Rural Heartland Matt Philp & Rob Suisted From its first field report in a Central Otago apricot orchard in 1966, broadcast as a 14-minute news show for farmers, Country Calendar is now New Zealand’s longest-running TV series. This year the iconic show turned 50 and is loved by rural and urban audiences. This 208-page book celebrates by revisiting 15 families who have appeared over the past decade—with some properties featuring two or three times over the past 50 years. Fascinating stories by experienced journo Matt Philp and evocative photography by respected environmental photographer Rob Suisted. Surely something for many Christmas lists!
What I love most about my job: Working for Country Calendar isn’t like a real job at all (though they occasionally give me a small sum of money as a gesture of kindness). I get to rub shoulders with colleagues who are among the very best in the TV industry, but the real joy of the ‘job’ is meeting lovely, interesting people outside the city limits. Something surprising about your job: People think it must be hard to find 40 good stories to tell every year on Country Calendar. Actually, it’s dead easy! That’s partly because of our fantastic researcher, Vivienne Jeffs, but mostly because rural New Zealand is chock-full of interesting people passionate about what they do. And every part of our country is a scenic gem.
Sci-Fi Arrival M (offensive language) Denis Villeneuve A dozen alien spacecraft have landed and, unsurprisingly, the aliens don’t speak any of our languages. As countries around the world search for a breakthrough, a linguist and a physicist race against time to find answers to the communication dilemma. Arrival is a thoughtful film that uses the first-contact premise not just as a setup for your typical doomsday scenario, but as a platform for an incredibly powerful, nuanced look at love, relationships, and how language and words can unite or divide. The issue of overcoming our inability to communicate (not just with aliens, but with one another) is the heart of this film, exemplified by Amy Adams’s magnetic performance (probably the best of her career) as linguistics professor Louise Banks. As Banks struggles to decipher the alien language, she is haunted by memories of her dead daughter and frustrated by the threat of military action by dissenting countries. Told in both flashback and flash-forward, this is an intriguing and compelling film—the sci-fi we’ve all been waiting for. (Reviewed by Martin Barratt)
The term ‘astronaut’ comes from the Greek words meaning ‘star’ and ‘sailor’.
Food Fads on the Horizon
Orange, Date, and Honey Bliss Balls Speaking of food fads, the year’s hottest trend was bliss balls. Here’s Nadia Lim’s take on the fibre-rich, raw-food, no-refined-sugar treat. ⅔ cup almonds, raw ⅔ cup medjool dates, pitted 4 T pumpkin seeds, toasted
Roll into small balls, about 3cm in diameter.
2 T sunflower seeds, toasted ½ cup coconut threads
To dust, roll in cocoa, pistachios, sesame 4 T macadamia nuts, chopped seeds or coconut. Store in an airtight 2 T honey container. They will 2 oranges, zested and juiced keep for several days. ¼ cup sesame seeds, toasted
Source: www.bite.co.nz
This year, the green smoothie reigned supreme. But check out these new fads coming your way. Souping: First was juicing, then the more moderate green smoothie. But we wouldn’t be the West if we believed in moderation. The next big thing is ‘souping’, where you cleanse your system with bowls full of warming, vege-filled, vitamin-tastic soups. Why didn’t we think of it sooner? Well, we did—remember the Cabbage Soup Diet? And the Great Depression? Soups are wonderful. But, like anything, it doesn’t offer a full diet by itself. If you want to try souping, four days is the optimum time to cleanse your body of sugar and re-set your metabolism. Bone Broth: The hipster version of souping is bone broth. Take a meat carcass such as chicken—add water, herbs and spices and
Place ingredients in food processor and blend until a chunky paste forms.
cook slowly overnight. Yes, it’s chicken stock, but repackaged as an uber-hip, super food. The Flexitarian: Someone who mostly has a healthy diet, but is flexible about it. It can also mean someone who doesn’t always eat meat, but sometimes does. This thoroughly sensible way of eating is validated by giving it a wacky title. And it’s delightful for (unintentionally) satirising our food obsession. The Werewolf Diet: The prize for weirdest fad diet goes to the Werewolf Diet, where you fast during a full moon, and follow an eating plan according to the lunar calendar. Double points for the most ludicrous pseudo-science. 26 NOVEMBER 2016 WarCry 5
Oh, the
Places You 'll Go!
The life of officership is a life of being surprised by God. In retirement, Malcolm and Laurel Herring have just spent 16 months heading up the work of The Salvation Army in the Solomon Islands. We caught up with Malcolm in the last few weeks of their appointment—and discovered every day is still a surprise and a gift from God. BY INGRID BARRATT
I
t was just another day’s work in the Solomon Islands—a nation made up of thousands of tiny islands, neighbouring Papua New Guinea. Malcolm was part of a team of four from the corps at their base in Honiara visiting the only other Salvation Army fellowship, on the remote island of Malaita. The visit required over eight hours of travel—firstly by boat to a neighbouring island, then by ute over treacherous terrain, and finally by row boat on the Pacific Ocean, with just a small outboard motor to get them to their destination. Malcolm remembers the moment the motor cut out in their dinghy, while they were still far out at sea. The sun was fading, and they were in danger of being stranded through the night. ‘We were facing a night in the pitch black with no navigation instruments,’ he recalls. ‘Thoughts of the apostle Paul’s shipwreck adventures were crossing my mind.’ The team managed to get the motor going just enough to limp very slowly to the nearest island. ‘It was a thin strip of land with coconut trees and banana trees, and scarcely anybody on it but one family,’ remembers Malcolm. The locals were astounded to see a white man, and a local fisherman came out to greet them. Then, one of the team members—the wife of the corps sergeant major— squealed with delight. The fisherman was her relative and they instantly recognised each other. ‘She was the only one on our boat who knew the mother tongue of these remote people,’ remembers Malcolm. But there was another ‘coincidence’: the fisherman’s name was also Malcolm. He lent the team his boat so they could get to their destination. ‘Malcolm truly rescued us,’ says (the other) Malcolm. ‘It was just the amazing goodness of God, our “pilot” who guides us along life’s way.’
An audible call The guidance of God has been Malcolm’s daily companion since he first said yes to officership … eventually. Although he was only 18, Malcolm remembers it like it was yesterday. ‘I was working on a farm in the Taranaki and I sat down to have my lunch, and I got this very strong and definite call, and it gave me quite a shock. I can’t explain it, except that it sounded audible and so strong and definite, and the calling was that I should be a Salvation Army officer.’ 26 NOVEMBER 2016 WarCry 7
Malcolm recoiled from the idea and tried to bury the calling. ‘I never told anybody, including my wife when we got married.’ But God is not known for giving up. After 10 years of marriage, three children—plus a foster child—and having established a successful business, the call came again. This time, Laurel prayed asking for confirmation, and within months, they were cadets, training to become officers. In 47 years of marriage, and 35 years as Salvation Army officers, Malcolm and Laurel have led corps (churches) and travelled the world, sharing the good news of Jesus. They have seen babies healed from epilepsy and men from lifethreatening illnesses, they’ve witnessed marriages saved, lives transformed, and not one day has been the same. While Malcolm has found his gifting in ‘sharing the best news in the world’, Laurel has been the quieter voice of the ministry, supporting the public work, offering guidance and wisdom, and ‘being a “mother” to the women and children in the corps, as well as a mother to our three children’. Malcolm laughs as he recalls how, during an interview with Senior Training Officer Bill Allott ahead of becoming lieutenants, Bill ‘spoke glowingly of all Laurel’s wonderful qualities and characteristics. Then he turned his attention to me, and all I can remember were his opening words “and Malcolm—long pause—you can just thank God you have Laurel as your wife.” He was right!’
The best news in the world Admitting he has the ‘gift of the gab’, Malcolm is one of those people who has amazing God encounters wherever he goes. He laughs that whenever he travels by plane he has a captive audience—‘I’ve got all the time in the world, and the person sitting next to me is literally strapped in!’ But on a more serious note: ‘It’s not about me exercising evangelism, it’s about others needing to hear that God loves them and has a purpose and plan for them.’ Malcolm remembers a flight to see the All Blacks play in Chicago. He began chatting to the strapping young man next to him, a marine in the US military. The man was returning from Afganistan, where he had lived through the horrors of warfare. In charge of a troop of 400 men, he had held one of his soldiers in his arms as he lay dying. ‘He couldn’t look down at this man for fear that he was going to fall apart, and he was trying to keep all the men safe as well. He said it takes a long time to get over that.’ 8 WarCry 26 NOVEMBER 2016
THE MOST REWARDING THING … HAS BEEN TO SEE THE POWER OF GOD CHANGING AND TRANSFORMING LIVES. Malcolm asked the marine if they had chaplains, and said that he was also a chaplain. ‘I asked him how he was coping, and how it had affected his relationship with God. We talked and I shared some scriptures with him. [The marine] said that it was exactly what he needed to tell his men. He took a photo of the scripture and asked me to pray for him. So we prayed right there on the plane.’ ‘He said, “We were meant to meet today.” Of course, I already knew that,’ laughs Malcolm.
It’s so simple ‘For me, officership is only about two things: it’s about winning souls and making disciples. Very, very simple,’ sums up Malcolm. ‘Simple’ is a refrain he often uses. ‘I’ve got the best news in the world, the best job, and for me not to share that, well—,’ he tapers off, as if the thought is unthinkable. ‘It’s so simple. I have to do it.’ But Malcolm also notes that it doesn’t happen ‘by accident’, explaining that ‘you need intentionality and expectation. If you expect people to be saved, if you intentionally want to lead people to Christ, then people will come to Christ.’ Their stint in the Solomon Islands, two years into retirement, is the latest in a long list of invitations from God to be intentional. Malcolm describes how they were reading in the Bible about God’s heart for the poor, and God challenged them: what are you doing for the poor? ‘The answer was “nothing!” It shook us, even shocked us, but we didn’t know what to do.’ So, they prayed. The next day, they received an email asking them to consider managing the Salvation Army work in the Solomon Islands. The small nation is the second most supported and dependent country in the world after Haiti, with approximately 80 per cent unemployment. The largely rural landscape is lush, the cultural heritage is rich and the people live for one another. Local culture is based on ‘wantok’, translated as ‘one talk’, which means everyone must look out for each other. ‘It’s a
beautifully godly way to live,’ explains Malcolm. But with such high unemployment, if someone finds a job, other family members come asking for money. ‘Because of this, often people would rather not find employment.’ Most people live by subsistence—eating fruit from the trees, and cassava from the ground. High levels of corruption keep the people in poverty. In a country where there is plenty of religion in the name of Christianity—often intertwined with witchcraft—people are hungry for a personal relationship with Jesus. In the 16 months of their appointment, Malcolm and Laurel have seen the corps grow from 22 people to over 100. Stories of transformed lives abound, and the congregation is as diverse as the population. Those who have recently joined include the former prime minister (Sir Billy Hilly) and an ex-convict, released last year after 16 years imprisonment. People who have discovered a life-giving relationship with Christ, share it eagerly. Rex, a security guard who works for the Parliament’s chairman of the caucus, the Honorable Jackson Fuilaua, showed his boss the Bible Malcolm had given him. Rex then came knocking on Malcolm and Laurel’s door with a request from Fuilaua for a Bible for him and his family, and asking if they could visit his home for ‘teachings and meetings’. ‘I gave Rex some Bibles as well as some pamphlets,’ Malcolm remembers. ‘Ten minutes later, I walked passed and heard Rex sharing the pamphlet with another security guard in his own Pidgin language.’ One of the Solomon Island’s most prominent politicians, his family and their staff, were all hearing the good news of Christ simply because one security guard could not stop himself from sharing it. ‘Easily the most rewarding thing about being in the Solomon Islands has been to see the power of God changing transforming lives,’ says Malcolm. ‘This has been the most rewarding thing of all in all our officership.’ So, as they return home this month, will they settle into retirement? ‘I cannot see me retiring,’ laughs Malcolm. ‘You cannot retire from God’s calling.’
Surprised by God
We asked some Kiwi officers serving overseas how God has surprised them … Jennifer Groves, Canada: God’s ‘surprises’ have been defining moments in my faith and ministry. Some that stand out include being an assistant chaplain at a women’s prison, helping organise the European Youth Congress in Prague, visiting Myanmar, and organising the first CEO sleepout in Taipei to raise awareness of homelessness. Each of these experiences has enriched my own life and deepened my spiritual journey with God. How grateful I am to be part of God’s mission! Andrew Moffat, Sri Lanka: We visited a community of children, Tamil war refugees, sponsored with school equipment and financial assistance for study and family support. This was a wonderful surprise! I’m very much a human responding to a divine calling, entering officer training as a single parent of two boys, seriously battered by life’s events. I’ve met the Prime Minister, assisted alcoholics and addicts into ambulances and on into recovery, seen miraculous healings, and seen damaged relationships restored. Gordon Daly, Spain: Perhaps the biggest shock was arriving in the dead of night in Trinidad and Tobago in July 1983 with our young sons and being taken to the downtown slum where we were to live. Or, years later, spending nights without electricity in a fleabag hotel in Myanmar, enduring unbearable heat and humidity, but remembering our fellow Salvationists in this region live their entire lives in much worse circumstances. During 40 years of officer service we have been constantly challenged and blessed beyond measure!
26 NOVEMBER 2016 WarCry 9
How to be an Introvert The introvert pride movement is urging the quieter among us to come out of the closet (just long enough to exclaim we’re here, before going back in). Introverts are seriously cool right now. It may have begun with that TED talk from Susan Cain, the author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. And now we can’t stop talking about not talking. But author Sophia Dembling, who writes for The Introvert’s Corner, thinks we’ve gone too far. ‘A lot of the introvert pride movement seems to involve telling people to leave you alone because you want to go home and read a book,’ she writes. ‘Of course the need for solitude is part of being an introvert, but only part. The re-energising part. If you really want to be an awesome introvert, isn’t it time you figured out how to bless the world with the benefits of your introversion?’
DON’T BUY INTO THE LIE THAT YOU ARE SOCIALLY AWKWARD.
Being an introvert is not about being anti-social, she argues. Instead, we need to find our own way to socialise. After all, even the most introverted of us will experience the negative effects of loneliness if we don’t connect with others —but we need to find out how to do it in our own way. Instead of saying ‘no’ to parties, go along and happily sit in the corner, chatting to whoever comes into your sphere, suggests Dembling. Or go to the party but leave whenever you’re ready —even if it’s early. Socialise your way, don’t wait for invitations to come to you. Find a buddy who has the same interests as you. Or plan one-on-one time so you can get beyond chit-chat. However, don’t dismiss small talk. Introverts may feel that people who engage in small talk are lesser mortals. But small talk is simply a way to get to know people on a surface level so you can move below the surface. More importantly, chit-chat can actually make you feel good. In one study, people were asked to strike up a conversation on the bus, while others were asked to enjoy their solitude. Even the introverts rated their journey more enjoyable if they had engaged in chit chat. Most of all, says Dembly, don’t buy into the lie that you’re socially awkward. Everyone feels a bit shy when they first walk into a room. Most people do not feel completely comfortable striking up a conversation with a stranger. ‘Stop convincing yourself that you are different from everyone else,’ she says. ‘The people who enter a room dancing just cope with their anxiety that way, faking it until they make it … just tell yourself how lucky anyone is who shuts up long enough to hear what you have to say!
10 WarCry 26 NOVEMBER 2016
TOP 5 BEING AN INTROVERT
1. You listen to others 4. Secrets are safe with and respect opinions. you. Great listening skills As good listerners who come naturally for are self-reliant and introverts as they tend don’t seek the approval to think things through of others, introverts before voicing opinions. are great at keeping confidences. 2. You contribute significantly to the 5. You can lead as well as (or even better than) literary arts. extroverts. Many of the world’s greatest writers were Mandela, introverts. Writing Gandhi and requires time reflecting Obama in solitude and are introverts have great thought observational skills. to be introverts and calm under pressure. 3. Your words are golden. Introverts are receptive When introverts do to the needs of others, speak, they come out and therefore good at with gems—because engaging with workers. they’ve sat back and listened first.
TESTIFY! Selwyn Bracegirdle’s work in the Archives and Heritage Centre is bringing our rich history to life. You could say The Salvation Army is in my blood. My great grandfather, Alfred Wilkinson, was at our first meeting in New Zealand, in Dunedin in 1883. My great grandmother, Elizabeth, was there too—although they didn’t know each other at the time. Alfred was already a devoted Christian, known for dragging children off the street to attend the Sunday school he ran. By 20, he had become a Salvation Army officer. One of his appointments was Oamaru, one of the most hostile places towards Salvationists. It was common for eggs and tomatoes to be thrown at them while they marched to church. There was a hose outside so they could wash themselves down. But inside was just as rowdy—with hecklers constantly disrupting the service. Meanwhile, my grandmother also became an officer. At some stage they met, marrying in 1888. Their ceremony as described as a ‘hallelujah wedding’. They had two daughters who also became officers—including my great aunt Eva, who was in the first New Zealand Salvation Army contingent to China. She lived through WWII, interned in essentially a prisoner of war camp, and stayed until the 1950s when churches were thrown out under communism. Among the memorabilia in Archives are pairs of tiny Chinese shoes worn by women with bound feet that Eva bought back from China. I am blessed to be part of this rich heritage. My faith has been expressed through the arts—I’m a graphic designer and have had the privilege of using this for the Army. In 1995, I designed a Salvation Army logo with a cross in place of the ‘T’ for Salvation Army
I AM BLESSED TO BE PART OF THIS RICH HERITAGE. clothing. When I visited Atlanta with our national songsters, I was stunned to discover this same logo on clothing from the US, UK and even Africa. I was dropping off some albums of photos from that trip to the Heritage Centre and Archives when I heard a job was available dealing with enquiries. I only had a day to apply—I felt it was a real God thing. I deal with over 200 enquiries a year, so work never stops. My favourite part is discovering how meaningful the information we have is to people.
Someone asked about an ancestor who was an officer. This officer had written a lot of songs, so I included the lyrics in the biography I sent. The person was amazed, because he is involved in music and writing songs for his church today. It meant so much to him. Through our Archives, Salvationists testify over the generations to their descendants. Included in the information we send are often testimonies about the work of Christ in their lives. A century later, a descendent gets to read that testimony and it continues to witness for Christ. I think that is amazing—and it’s the power of our Heritage Centre and Archives. CONNECT WITH HISTORY | On Facebook as SalvationArmyArchivesNZFT or visit www.salvationarmy.org.nz/Archives
26 NOVEMBER 2016 WarCry 11
Dear School Leaver You may not know it but you’ve got what it takes. And no matter what your exam results turn out to be, you haven’t failed. BY INGRID BARRATT
I don’t tell many people this, but I failed at school. In the days when they gave out grades, I left school in Year 12 with a D—which is, like, ‘Really Really Did Not Achieve.’ You have been eliminated, it’s time to leave the Bachelor Kitchen Island Block. I was one of those people who ran out the school gates, leaving only a trail of poor exam results behind me. On the last day, my friends and I actually ditched school and got ice cream downtown—I mean, what more could they do to us, right? I’m not saying you should do this, it’s very irresponsible (in case any parents are reading)! But deep down I was lost. I flailed around wondering what to do with my life. I went out for some pretty basic jobs—and didn’t get them.
A FORK IN THE ROAD But I had one thing going for me: God. And I prayed. I believe it was only the Holy Spirit that gave a girl like me—a ‘failure’ at school and naturally self-doubting —the ambition to try my hand at university. Several wise people tried to talk me out of it. But, somehow, I couldn’t be talked down. 12 firezone.co.nz 26 NOVEMBER 2016
I enrolled for an arts degree at uni, got myself a black trenchcoat and Dr Martens, and started listening to The Smiths (before they were retro). Uni was really daunting—the lectures had hundreds of people in them. I was shocked when someone tried to give me a condom as part of sexual health awareness. I felt so young and naive. And I really wanted a friend. It was tempting to give up ... … Until I got my first essay back and I got an A! I went on to do a Master of Arts and a Diploma in Journalism. In time, I found an awesome group of friends who liked The Smiths too, and I had some of the best times of my life with them. And, after many, many years, and lots of hard work, I eventually realised my lifelong ambition of being a writer for War Cry (wink).
YOU’VE GOT THIS! But this story is not about me, it’s about you. If you’re leaving school soon, you are coming up to one of the biggest forks in your own personal road. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and anxious and not sure what to do next, you’re one of the normal ones.
YOU MADE IT THROUGH SCHOOL, SO YOU’VE ALREADY GAINED SOME PRETTY TOUGH ARMOUR FOR THE BIG WIDE WORLD. Maybe you loved school, and will miss the easy rapport you have with your friends. You’re naturally anxious about your exam results, and it feels like your whole life depends on those marks. But your future does not depend on what happened at school. Nor does it depend on what happens next. I told you my story so that you can know, deep down, that no matter where you are at right now, it doesn’t define you. Discovering who you are, where you belong, and what contribution you want to make, is a lifelong journey. And congratulations! You made it through school, so you’ve already gained some pretty tough armour that will help you in the big wide world—like, when you meet mean girls in your first job. Or someone makes you feel like you don’t belong. Or you get judged on your work. Or you try really hard, but fail. Hey, you’ve already been through all that at school. You got skills!
THE END OF THE BEGINNING Remember this as you make big decisions about your future. Listen to sound advice. Your parents know you surprisingly well, and they might see things in you that you can’t see. My dad said for years that I should become a journalist and I thought he was crazy. Now I’m a journalist. But at the same time, believe in yourself. If people in your life doubt you, weigh that up against God’s voice. Yes, they have wisdom. But you have your own wisdom—and God promises that if you ask for it, he’ll give you the wisdom you need. Think about what you really love doing. Could that become a job one day? How could you start working towards that? When I was at uni, I was given advice that I should study business because I was far more likely to get a job with that degree. But, I hated economics at school. I thought, ‘Why study a subject I hate, so that I end up working in a job I hate?’ Sure, studying the arts wasn’t exactly a money spinner, but it was good for my soul. Once you’ve made a commitment to your future, try to stick it out. You might decide that ‘Shia LaBeouf’s Influence on Performance Art’ is not the subject for you after all. And that’s fine, swap it, change your mind—but don’t give up!
School’s Out But what’s next... Hold on to the good friendships: For lots of people, high school friends are friends for life. Leaving school doesn’t mean leaving your friends—make plans to hang out as often as you can. But enjoy the new friendships: If your mates haven’t been that good for you, this is your chance to start again. If you follow the right path, new people will come along who accept you for you who are. Those people will become your new friends for life. Do everything you can to expand your horizons: In the next few years you’ll have so many new experiences. It can be daunting—I remember when I started uni, I didn’t even know whether I could call my tutors by their first name (I could). But at the same time, uni life allowed me to meet new people, make lifelong memories, and explore new ideas. Remember that no one knows you. If you were the shy one at school, you can be the confident, out-there one now. Embrace new experiences. Know yourself: At the same time, know who you really are. You’ll have your beliefs questioned like they’ve never been questioned before. Listen to what God is saying about you and your future. If you are secure in your values and faith, you can go into any situation and know you’re okay. Being at a uni gig doesn’t mean you have to drink. When you go to parties, take Jesus with you. Have fun in your own way, without letting go of your faith. Have the time of your life: Most of all, enjoy the adventure of your life!
You don’t have to know what you want to do with the rest of your life. But sticking to your commitment will set the tone for your future. And once you’ve got that degree or apprenticeship or study completed, you’ll have it for the rest of your life. You might be leaving school with sadness and group hugs. Or you might be screaming with joy on your way out those gates. But know this: your story is just beginning! 26 NOVEMBER 2016 WarCry 13
JOYFUL INTERCESSORS READY FOR COMMISSIONING On Saturday 10 December, cadets of the Joyful Intercessors, He Kaiwhakawhiti O Te Hari, Session will be commissioned and ordained for ministry as Salvation Army officers in Wellington. This comes at the end of two years’ residential training at Booth College of Mission in Upper Hutt.
Jacob and Emma Howan Entered training from: Wellington South Corps Appointed: Corps Officers, Timaru Corps; Emma Howan, Director, Timaru Community Ministries.
14 WarCry 26 NOVEMBER 2016
Fraser and Erica Kearse with Madison, Tiana and Lilibeth
Aram Kwon and Tae Hwan (Ted) Kim with Joy and Hope
Entered training from: Waitakere Central Corps Appointed: Corps Officers, Aranui Corps; Erica Kearse, SOS Officer– Christchurch; Fraser Kearse, Director, Community Ministries Aranui, and Court Officer–Christchurch.
Entered training from: Auckland City Korean Corps Appointed: Corps Officers, Pukekohe Corps
Accepted into Training for 2017 Grace & Stuart Duxfield, Johnsonville Corps Stuart currently works as a systems developer in the Salvation Army’s IT department (ISG) at Territorial Headquarters. Grace is the office administrator at Johnsonville Corps. Together, they are part of their corps’ leadership team, serving on boards, resourcing the discipleship ministry, and leading a small group. Stu enjoys running the coffee machine and teaching others how to make use of it, and Grace enjoys serving as part of the music team. Stuart grew up in The Salvation Army, attending Tawa Corps with his family. Grace grew up in the Anglican Church. After being introduced by mutual friends, they started dating and each inspired the other to strive closer to God. They were married in 2010, and have a three-year-old son, Jesse. God began calling both Grace and Stu to officership before they knew each other, and over the years they have gone through the stages of denial and acceptance a few times, but God has been equipping and developing them for his purpose. Grace and Stu are excited to be heading to Booth College of Mission next year. They feel God has led them to this point, and while there will be challenges ahead, their God—who brought them this far—will be with them every step of the way.
Bevan & Rochelle Reddish, Wellington South Corps Rochelle gave her life to Christ as a five-year-old and recommitted herself to Christ at age 16 at a Central Division Easter camp. Bevan didn’t take God seriously until his teenage years, but from 18 started to invest in a better understanding of God and his purpose. They were married in 2011 and have two children, Imogen (two-and-a-half) and Hugh (who turns one in December). They jointly run social events at their corps and are involved in the music team. Bevan also co-runs a fortnightly gaming/men’s group. Rochelle is involved with the crèche and was corps treasurer until the end of last year. Rochelle was called to officership as a teenager—while in the car on the way to school one morning. The call was reignited at a congress session in 2013 and on a leadership and planning retreat (with Wellington South Corps) in 2015. Bevan always felt drawn to officership. Confirmation was gained time and time again as God continued to build a sense of officership as the right place for Bevan to be. The more he journeyed with God, the more he was drawn to officership.
Rochelle and Bevan feel excited about serving God full time through The Salvation Army and are encouraged that he will continue to use them for his kingdom’s purpose.
Cameron Millar, Rolleston Corps Plant I first met the Salvation Army at the age of six in the small country town of Woodville. My family was invited along by the officers, who my mother met at Playcentre, and we have been part of The Salvation Army family ever since. After moving to Napier, we attended The Salvation Army there, where my faith in God grew and I was discipled. At 15, I attended The Salvation Army Blue Mountain Adventure Centre’s summer peak programme where I met young people who not only loved Jesus but also, with his help, wanted to change the world. This started me on a path of taking on opportunities within my church, school and community to serve God and people. I served as one of the youth workers in Napier for four years while studying for a Bachelor of Business Studies. I was then given the opportunity to move to London and work with the international congress office on preparing for and supporting delivery of the 150th Anniversary Salvation Army Boundless Congress, which was the best and worst time of my life. When thinking about coming back to New Zealand, I was looking for more opportunities to learn and grow and was invited by Lieutenants Naomi and Nathan Holt to support the mission and ministry of the Rolleston Corps Plant as a volunteer, while working and serving the community. I currently work as a swimming instructor at the local council pool, which has taught me so much more. God planted the seed to serve him when I was young, and as I grew that took me on many different adventures. I have seen God’s hand in equipping and preparing me for officership, and when I felt God asking me to pursue this particular journey with him I agreed. I believe in the mission of The Salvation Army: to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in his name without discrimination—and that is what I want to spend the rest of my life doing and discipling others to do.
Other candidates entering training in 2017 School for Officer Training, New Zealand—Andrew & Ruth Wilson, Carterton Corps; Heather & Ivo Pyper, Far North Corps; Miriam Choi, Auckland City Korean Corps. School for Officer Training, Fiji—Samisoni & Betty Akoteu, Vaini Corps, Tonga; Adriano & Seremana Rokovesa, Labasa Corps, Fiji. EXPLORE OFFICERSHIP | www.salvationarmy.org.nz/SayYes
26 NOVEMBER 2016 WarCry 15
Lomaivuna CSM Pauliasi Buli preparing for Sunday.
Pointing People to Jesus in Fiji A Slice of Paradise in Lomaivuna As you hit the gravel roads, houses become sporadic except for clusters of villages. The air is suddenly chilled as you ascend into the mountains of the province of Naitasiri, where Suva’s most remote corps, Lomaivuna, is located. An hour’s drive from Fiji’s capital city, there’s a huge difference in the landscape. Where concrete buildings line the immediate view in Suva, all you see and experience on the way to Lomaivuna and at the corps itself is lush greenery and clean fresh air. The corps is not part of a village, but instead The Salvation Army leases land from a mataqali (clan). The land is perched on a hill overlooking other communities and farming settlements. Lomaivuna is well known for its abundance of root crops and ginger production. Corps Officers Captain Jeremaia and Amelia Naviko, who were appointed to the corps in January, are impressed that corps members take to their plantations daily—not only to cater for their own families but also to sell to middle-men. ‘We have learnt a lot from the people in Lomaivuna Corps. They are hardworking, they face lots of challenges, but this doesn’t stop them from coming to church and committing themselves to the things of God in the corps,’ Amelia said. The corps sits on farm land, so Salvationists walk a long distance—up to an hour—to make it to Sunday church meetings. ‘They don’t wear their uniform when they leave home. They pack it away and come to the corps, because the road is mostly dirt of gravel, the dust is
16 WarCry 26 NOVEMBER 2016
unbelievable and can cover the perfect white uniform turning it brown,’ Jeremaia said. ‘Sometimes, if the river is flooded they have to wade across with water reaching their neck. This is the sacrifice they make willingly because they love the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Water supply has always been a problem in Lomaivuna. Even though the corps has water tanks, dry spells can still cause severe water shortages. When that happens, neighbouring communities converge on the Army asking for water for their families. It can be tough sometimes, but the Navikos are enjoying ministry in Lomaivuna and their children are settling in well. ‘It was a big change for them at first, but they have come to love it and enjoy being here. We are in solitude here on the hillside, but we are seeing the blessings of God every day,’ Amelia said. ‘We believe with all our heart that wherever God places us, becomes your own slice of paradise. You just have to get on with the job and always know in your heart that God has a specific purpose for why he sends us where he does.’ Love for the Army in Savusavu Tucked away in the bay, sheltered by mountains, the first thing you wake up to in Savusavu is the beautiful scene of a glassy sea with yachts gliding gracefully, and local school children laughing and playing hop-scotch on the pavement leading to their school. You smell the sea, you hear birds, you hear neighbours shouting ‘Bula!’, and occasionally you hear a ship’s horn sound out loud and clear as it departs the local wharf. Located on Fiji’s second biggest island, Vanua Levu, everything about Savusavu reflects a laid-back
atmosphere. The Salvation Army is well respected and loved here. Although yet to be opened, the Army’s new complex is located in town. On the property is the hall and behind it is the officers’ quarters. The hall sits immediately opposite the town’s main wharf and travellers frequently ask about the Army’s programmes and meetings. Captain Viliame and Laineta Ramere are the corps officers. They are excited about the prospect of growth Savusavu presents. ‘Savusavu is known as the “Hidden Paradise” because it is tucked away in Fiji’s Northern Division, while a lot of tourists go to the Western Division, where there are plenty of hotels,’ Viliame said. ‘A big part of Savusavu is its youth and children. They make up majority of our numbers every week, and when we have tourists attending our meetings, they enjoy playing with the children and taking time to meet with the youth,’ Laineta added.
waters,’ he said. Through his work, he has met many tourists who have since become friends of Savusavu Corps—some even calling it their ‘home away from home’. ‘I enjoy inviting people to my corps,’ Semi said. ‘I want them to come on Sundays, to enjoy time with the corps people, and they always end up staying to have lunch with us—even if it’s a simple meal of rice and curry, we share it with them. We want them to know Fijian hospitality. It might not be much, but it’s from our hearts.’ God’s provision for Sigatoka Sigatoka Corps is a thriving corps in Fiji’s popular ‘coral coast’ tourist area—in the foothills of world-renowned sand dunes. On their approach to the corps, visitors see farm houses of all colours and shapes, plots of sugarcane fields, cattle grazing and the occasional horse and rider making their way lazily along the side of the road. Lieutenants Peniasi and Tavaita Torocake are the corps officers. In this, their first appointment out of training college, Sigatoka has already become home. ‘When we were first told we were going to Sigatoka, we had mixed feelings and emotions as we didn’t know anything about it. But as the months have rolled on, we see why God brought us here,’ said a smiling Peniasi. Their children are with them, with Salote studying journalism at the University of Fiji in Lautoka. ‘Salote and Simeli have both settled in so well here. Our home is always full of children that Simeli has invited over,’ Tavaita says.
Children from Lomaivuna Sunday School. The Army’s men’s ministry in Savusavu gets involved in taro planting and fishing. They fish for their own livelihoods but also share their catch with widows and the elderly. ‘The sea around Savusavu is rich in sea life and food,’ said Viliame. ‘No one should get hungry in this place. We all know how to fish and get seafood, so we try to encourage our young boys to learn how to fish, how to go deep sea diving and to earn a living from that.’ Laineta teaches people how to make craft from resources such as coconut fronds and coconut shells among other things. ‘All these crafts earn income for families and we really try hard to encourage the young people, young couples and families to learn these skills because they can sell what they make to earn money for themselves,’ she said. Savusavu is popular as a holiday spot for yacht owners from around the world. Salvationist Semi Were is the only qualified yacht serviceman in town. ‘Before any yacht is allowed to enter the Savusavu waters or bay, the Department of Biosecurity asks me to inspect them for any unwelcome algae or substance prohibited in our
Those at the corps, particularly its women, are skilled at making things out of clay. Tavaita explains the process: ‘We have to get a special kind of mud from an interior part of Sigatoka. Women get into the river and dig out portions of mud from the bank or the bed of the river, we place it in the sack to be taken back to the corps. At the corps it is mixed with sand to give it a firm feel. From that point, it is ‘stood on’ to be kneaded. It’s not to be done by hand. This is a long process. We then form shapes: we make pots, sometimes we make beads that can be threaded into necklaces, and we make figurines—animal figures, flower vases and other things that can be used in the home and given as gifts.’ Women in the corps also sell what they make as an income source. ‘Life in Fiji is hard. And if you have no job, no skills, it can be overwhelming in a sense, so to see people able to earn some money from a resource that is readily available, blesses our hearts,’ said Tavaita. ‘We are loving it here! The corps folks have become family. Together with them we are discovering God’s goodness, his provision and his faithfulness.’ BY CAPTAIN LUSI LEQA
26 NOVEMBER 2016 WarCry 17
25 Years Back in Russia A congress marking the 25th anniversary of The Salvation Army restarting its ministry in Russia was led by General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox. The Salvation Army originally began working in Russia in 1910, but was proscribed in 1923 and reopened after the fall of Communism in July 1991. The congress theme was based on Joshua 3:5: ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you’. People gathered from all around in Rostov-on-Don, more than 1000 km south of Moscow. Some came from as far as Vladivostok in the east—a distance of more than 6800 km, further than from London to Washington DC. An opening celebration concert reflected the many cultures of the Russian Salvation Army family. The General spoke about the joy of knowing God before the concert finished with a spectacular laser show. At a mission seminar on Saturday, the General and Commissioner Cox spoke about their vision for the Army’s future. Explaining the need to be relevant in the 21st century, the General spoke openly about the current state of the worldwide Salvation Army. He called all Salvationists to take an active part in the Whole World Mobilising campaign that will take place throughout 2017. Over lunch, the international leaders met with representatives from the Southern Russia Christian Association of Churches. Later, the General spoke at a men’s rally, challenging his listeners to ‘live in holiness’. At the same time, delegates to a women’s rally under the leadership of Commissioner Cox heard
A soldier from Elista Corps shares a poem with the Army’s international leaders.
how precious they are in the sight of the Almighty God. At Saturday’s youth festival, Commissioner Cox shared her testimony and many young people knelt at the mercy seat. On Sunday, the General encouraged everyone to have a living relationship with Jesus. A group of 15 young people responded to the call for officership and many knelt in prayer. Returning to Moscow ahead of their flight home, the Army’s international leaders spent time at the Karl Larsson Centre, with retired officers, employees and some homeless men from the Salvation Army social service centre.
Diverse Housing Help in Wellington The Salvation Army has celebrated new steps in helping the homeless as well as families battling addiction in Wellington. The Army opened two new social housing units in Wellington and two refurbished homes for families seeking addiction help on 25 October at an event attended by Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett. The social housing will be used by people on the Ministry of Social Development Social Housing register, a waiting list of people in need of housing support. Tenants will be supported by the government’s Income-Related Rent Subsidy, which allows the tenant to pay a subsidised rent, with the government paying the remainder. The government’s contribution is then used by the Army to provide wrap-around services to tenants, said Lieut-Colonel Rod Carey (Territorial Secretary for Programme). ‘The subsidy works well for the tenants, bringing down their rent and helping vulnerable people access housing and support they badly need.’ Minister Bennett thanked The Salvation Army for its work housing people and through the Bridge addiction service, which had made a huge difference to the lives of people she knew. The refurbished addiction treatment accommodation will provide families a space where the parents can receive addictions treatment and services to help strengthen their parenting. The service is funded by the Capital and Coast District Health Board. 18 WarCry 26 NOVEMBER 2016
On 8 November, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Wellington City Council that allows the Army to rent up to 20 Council properties at any one time, providing social housing tenants with wrap-around support. Work on the terms of the new MOU began earlier this year after it became clear Council would not be able to offer its tenants incomerelated rent through the Ministry of Social Development. The partnership enables people on the Ministry of Social Development Social Housing Register to be housed in City Housing units, supported by the Income-Related Rent Subsidy. The Salvation Army will be their landlord, managing tenancies and providing wrap-around services such as counselling, budgeting advice, parenting and other life skills training. City Housing will maintain the property. Paul Eagle, Deputy Mayor and Chair of Council’s Housing Portfolio, said, ‘This is a huge win all around—it’s a better deal for tenants who really need a high level of support; they can now get a wrap-around service from a proven service provider in The Salvation Army, while getting the maximum rent support; it means The Salvation Army can offer supported housing to more people who really need those services, and through the partnership the Council accesses better income which helps its sustainability.’
Father’s Day Celebrations Wanganui Salvation Army celebrated Father’s Day with a service themed on the animated movie Inside Out. The movie’s main characters, Fear, Disgust, Joy, Sadness and Anger, led the congregation through a time of fun and contemplation around the purpose of emotions. Anger taught that life is not always fair and that God wants people to focus on those things that anger God. Disgust showed how to look through Jesus’ eyes, including being disgusted with such things as child abuse, poverty and New Zealand’s high suicide rate. Sadness said that everyone has sad memories. The congregation inflated blue balloons and wrote sad memories on them. They then came forward to give those memories to God, dumping the balloons in a large bin to fade away. Fear read the poem ‘Footprints’ as a reminder that in life’s most difficult times, God carries his children. To close, Joy led everyone in a rousing rendition of ‘I’ve got the joy … down in my heart.’
GAZETTE Bereaved: Capt Andrew Moffatt of his father, William Blackie Moffatt, who passed away on 7 Nov in Nelson after a time of illness. Please remember and support Capts Andrew and Rochelle Moffatt, William’s wife Margaret, and other family members in your prayers. Appointments: Effective 12 January: Midland Division: Capt Paul Gardner, Divisional Commander; Capt Raewyn Gardner, Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries and Divisional Secretary for Personnel; Mjr Anthony Stone, Divisional Secretary for Programme (in retirement). Northern Division: Mjr Allan Bateman, Divisional Candidates Secretary (in addition to Divisional Secretary for Programme). The appointment of Divisional Candidates Secretary, Northern Division, for Mjr Michelle Collins is rescinded. Southern Division, appointments in retirement (part-time): Capts Michael and Sharryn McAuliffe, Corps Officers, Greymouth Corps. Awaiting Overseas Appointments: Mjrs Garth and Suzanne Stevenson.
GOD HAS BEEN GOOD TO THE NEW ZEALAND, FIJI AND TONGA TERRITORY. I write in the afterglow of the wonderful event that was the ‘Now is the Time’ Congress. What a wonderful time of celebration we were able to enjoy as we launched our new Mission Plan and reflected on who we are as a people of God! Last month at Territorial Headquarters was a busy month of review as we entered the final period of our year-long trial of a new Salvation Army governance structure, shared time with our colleagues in territorial leadership from Australia and Papua New Guinea, and contributed to a territorial review with zonal secretaries of the South Pacific and East Asia Zone from International Headquarters in London. We have much to celebrate and give God the praise for, but there are also things we need to give our attention to as good stewards of God’s generosity and the mission opportunities that lie before us. God has been good to the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory, but there is still much to be done! By the time this article is published, congress will be a fading memory and Christmas will almost be on our doorstep! Even better, the annual celebration that is the commissioning and ordination of cadets as new Salvation Army officers will be upon us. I still vividly recall the occasion of my own commissioning in January 1988. That was almost 29 years ago, and while many things around the weekend have changed, the fundamental sacredness and significance of this occasion has not. It is always a privilege to be a witness at the dedication of people’s lives as they follow in obedience to a calling God has given. In this issue of War Cry, we’ve met the about-to-be commissioned cadets. I am confident that God will have some exciting years of service ahead for them. Looking back, could I have foreseen at my commissioning the path my service would have taken? No. And yet I am so glad I said yes to God all those years ago. Many things have happened over those years that I didn’t anticipate. Some good, others not so good. However, I can testify that just as Jesus’ didn’t send his disciples out without his presence in the person of the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 19:18–20), neither did he send me unaccompanied by his Spirit. God has always been with me in every situation. In the same way God will be with these cadets as they take up their new appointments—and with you as you minister for him wherever you go. It’s just as Jesus promised in Matthew 19:20: And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Major David Bateman Territorial Secretary for Business 26 NOVEMBER 2016 WarCry 19
Do Wise People still seek Jesus?
Open your eyes to your hunger for God. Open your heart and mind to the possibility that God exists. BY CHRISTINA TYSON
One year, my husband decided to surprise me with a CD of one of my favourite artists for Christmas. Great! Except he hid that gift unwrapped in his underpants drawer—as I discovered while putting away the laundry. Here’s a tip: If you’re going to hide unwrapped Christmas presents, find a spot where they really are hidden! The wise men who visited baby Jesus, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, lived a long way from Bethlehem. They were scholars, probably astrologers. They were on a mission of discovery and were soon to learn that some things are not hidden where you’d expect them to be. 20 WarCry 26 NOVEMBER 2016
The road to Bethlehem According to Matthew’s gospel (read 2:1-12), the wise men followed a star. Their research told them this was a sign the king of the Jews had been born. Even though the wise men weren’t Jewish, they wanted to pay their respect to this new king, whose birth they saw as having global significance. Their quite reasonable assumption was that the place to find a new king was in a palace. So that’s where they headed—to King Herod’s palace in Jerusalem. That God’s long-promised SaviourMessiah had been born may have been exciting news to these foreigners, but to Herod it was a deeply disturbing prospect. He called together the Jewish religious teachers, who filled him in on a prophecy from Micah 5:2 that pointed to Bethlehem as the
WHEN WE CHOOSE TO LOOK FOR GOD, THIS IS NO DESPERATE GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK. Messiah’s likely birthplace: But you, Bethlehem, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Herod knew such a nationalistic figure could upset the fragile peace between the Jews and the Romans, but more importantly, he feared it could upset his own position of authority. So he lied to the wise men, pointing them to Bethlehem and asking them to return and tell him where the baby was so he too could worship. Even though his true intent was to kill the child. The wise men eventually came to where the infant Jesus was staying. This was some days after Jesus’ birth, which means the Christmas card depiction of angels, shepherds and wise men gathered around Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the stable must be seen as ‘artistically creative’, not historically accurate. By the end of his life, Herod had killed his brother-in-law, mother-in-law, three of his sons and his own wife. So perhaps it wasn’t a surprise to the wise men when God warned them to give Herod a wide berth as they headed home.
are other reasons beyond the lasting peace of forgiveness for why we should seek God. God can give us comfort and strength to endure the more difficult experiences of life. God can help us in our times of disappointment, illness and grief. God can guide us when things get confusing in our relationships, in our finances, in our major life decisions. Of course, God is far more than a solution to the personal challenges we face; God also brings meaning and purpose to our living in community. God strengthens our character so we are able to live good and honest lives, God helps us look beyond our small-thinking selfishness to the needs of others, and God leads us achieve acts of justice and value that benefit our world. Why would we want to close ourselves to lives of such quality?
Is God hidden? When we do choose to look for God, this is no desperate game of hide and seek. God does not make this a matter of chance or something too difficult for all but the wisest and most persistent. As Isaiah 45:18-19 says: For this is what the Lord says—he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it … he says: ‘I am the Lord, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob’s descendants, “Seek me in vain.” ’
Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee. St. Augustine of Hippo
God is the one who made us and the one we need, and God assures us he is waiting to be found by us. Although perhaps ‘waiting to be noticed’ would be a better way of expressing this. When we do decide to notice God, this is when faith kicks in. Hebrews 11:6 (Msg) says: ‘It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.’ So yes, we must seek—we must open our eyes to our hunger for God, and we must open our hearts and minds to the possibility that God exists. But when we do this, we sense that God is near. Which is because God loves us. At this point, we can voice whatever words come from our heart, praying and telling God that we believe he exists, that we are ready to abandon a life that excludes God’s influence, and that we are ready to take God up on that offer of mercy and free pardon. Wise men and women still seek God today. How wise are you?
Who seeks God today?
PONDERTHIS
Isaiah 55:6-7 (Msg) urges us to seek out God—as the wise men did all those years ago—promising the experience of the forgiveness that secures salvation as our destination:
Some people don’t seek God because they have been let down or hurt by the church. It is true that God is represented by fallible humans who make mistakes sometimes.
Seek God while he’s here to be found, pray to him while he’s close at hand. Let the wicked abandon their way of life and the evil their way of thinking. Let them come back to God, who is merciful, come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness. This is an urgent task. We need to get right with God today, because none of us is guaranteed tomorrow. But there
Some people don’t seek God because they are doing things that feel great or offer rewards, but that aren’t truly good. There can be fear about fronting up to God and leading lives of integrity. Some people are fiercely independent and want to appear strong and confident on their own. It seems weak to admit a need for God’s help. But no matter how much we’ve been hurt, how good it feels to live for ourselves, or how strong we want others to think we are, we all need God’s forgiveness. We all become better people with God’s help.
26 NOVEMBER 2016 WarCry 21
SUDOKU
OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS
Each Sudoku number puzzle has a unique solution that can be worked out logically (not mathematically). The numbers 1 to 9 appear once in every row, column and 3x3 square. Difficulty | Medium
4
3 2 7
2 1
6 3 4 5 6
1 4 8 1 9
Commissioners Robert (Territorial Commander) and Janine Donaldson (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 25–29 Nov: General’s Consultative Council, New Jersey, USA 7 Dec: Territorial Executive Council 8 Dec: Covenant Day, Booth College of Mission 9–11 Dec: Commissioning Weekend 10 Dec: Territorial Farewell to the Donaldsons Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 7 Dec: Territorial Executive Council 8 Dec: Covenant Day, Booth College of Mission 9–11 Dec: Commissioning Weekend 10 Dec: Territorial Farewell to the Donaldsons
Invercargill Corps Building Opening, Victoria Street
8 2 2 1 9
3
19 November 3 pm, led by Colonel Willis Howell. If you wish to attend, please contact Corps Sergeant Major Russell Healey.
5 1 9
Contact: (03) 218 3094, russell_ healey@nzf.salvationarmy.org
5 To advertise your event, email: warcry@ nzf.salvationarmy.org
PRAY
Christchurch City Corps Opening
Petone Corps Plant, Porirua, Pukekohe, Queenstown and Raiwai Corps, Independent Living Unit residents, and The Salvation Army in South America.
Christchurch City Corps’ new building, located on the corner of Colombo and Salisbury Streets, will be officially opening on Saturday 29 April 2017.
Want to Know More? I would like: to learn about who Jesus is information about The Salvation Army
400–600 words with one or two captioned photos. Promotion to Glory tributes are approx 300 words. Email reports and large, high-quality jpeg images to: warcry@nzf. salvationarmy.org
Do you know these people?
The Salvation Army to contact me 5 7 9 3 4 6 2 1 8
1 2 3 7 5 8 9 6 4
8 4 6 9 2 1 3 7 5
7 9 8 5 1 2 4 3 6
3 6 1 8 7 4 5 9 2
2 5 4 6 9 3 1 8 7
Quiz Answers: 1 50, 2 Nadia Lim, 3 Kōkako, 4 Toblerone, 5 The Pharaoh (Genesis 41:42).
22 WarCry 26 NOVEMBER 2016
6 1 5 4 3 7 8 2 9
Send to: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org or War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
9 3 7 2 8 5 6 4 1
Name Email Address Phone
4 8 2 1 6 9 7 5 3
prayer for the following needs:
A year of 24-7 Prayer across New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga FOR MORE GO TO
FORLONG, Karyn Joy, born 1970 in Taumarunui KUMAR, Manoj (aka Melvin Gounder), born in Tuvua, Fiji in 1969 JORDAN/HOSEMAN, Greta Welcome, born in London, UK in 1929 Help us find these missing people and bring peace of mind to their families. Visit salvationarmy.org.nz/familytracing
salvationarmy. org.nz/prayer
Find Salvation Army job opportunities: salvationarmy.org.nz/employment
‘Wait for the Lord’s help. Be strong and brave, and wait for the Lord’s help.’ 1. How many people can you see?
Psalm 27:4 NCV
2. How many are wearing glasses? 3. How many are wearing bow ties?
At the moment we’re waiting for Christmas. Maybe we’re wondering what presents we’ll get, perhaps we’re excited about planning a special surprise for someone we love. Hopefully we’re looking forward to spending time with family at Christmas and even playing with our cousins.
Copy the picture! How many words can you make from these letters? Can you find the eight-letter word?
P E I S A E N C T
Most of all, we’re waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus’ mother Mary had to be patient as she waited for Jesus to be born, but she was excited because she knew Jesus was going to make a way for people to be friends with God forever. Waiting can be hard, but when we wait, good things do happen!
Dear God, sometimes I want you to make things happen quickly. Teach me to be more patient and wait for you to work in my life and in the lives of other people so good will come. Amen. 26 NOVEMBER 2016 WarCry 23
Answers: How many can you see? 1 27 people; 2 2 people wearing glasses; 3. 3 people wearing bow ties. Did you find the eight-letter word? ‘It was ‘patience’.
Christmas
shouldn’t be a killer
You can bring hope to life this Christmas You can choose to care for people in crisis this Christmas. Please support our Christmas Appeal and bring hope to life for those in desperate need. Please donate today
Call 0800 53 00 00 Or give at salvationarmy.org.nz