27 July 2019 NZFTS War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION  27 JULY 2019 | Issue 6722 | $1.50

WHAT A RIDE! Major Judith Bennett shares the adventure of a lifetime in her new book

Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Grace?

Am I a Bully?

Overdose Awareness Day

Introducing our new Youth Coordinator Claire Gardner Mrs D. Is Going All Out: Lotta Dann Talks Kiwi Women and Alcohol

05

11

12

18

WAR CRY The Salvation Army

New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Andy & Yvonne Westrupp | GENERAL Brian Peddle | FOUNDERS William

& Catherine Booth

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

MANAGING EDITOR Ingrid Barratt | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Matt Gillon | STAFF WRITERS Captain Jules Badger, Major Shar Davis, Louise Parry | PROOF READING Major Jill

Gainsford, Vivienne Hill OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box

6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Fax (04) 382 0716, Email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz, www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone

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

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

20

Pausing to Celebrate It’s been 136 years since War Cry began publishing. I often ponder the privilege of being a very small part in a very big legacy.

I was once told the story of how someone visited the Archives and Heritage Centre, researching their great-great-grandfather. Long after he had passed away, they read his testimony in an ancient issue of War Cry. The person was so moved by their ancestor’s story they decided to give their life to Christ. Though long gone, this man’s story testified down through the generations, and the Holy Spirit was still using him!

As we celebrate our birthday, I would like to pause and thank the team who bring you this publication every fortnight—during the season of sickness, it can be especially challenging. Our creative and hardworking designers, Matt and Sam, constantly go above and beyond (and Lauren, we miss you!). We have a team of talented writers, including Jules and Louise, dedicated to both encouraging and challenging us in our faith. If you’ve ever found a typo in War Cry, believe me, without Jill and Vivienne there would be a whole lot more! And finally, thank you to the Army’s executive leadership for providing their oversight and wisdom.

I am taking leave for a month for another kind of pause—as I am in need of rest and refreshment. Assistant Communications Secretary, Major Shar Davis, will be acting as Editor and will bring her great capacity and passion to the task. A huge thank you to Shar for her support and leadership.

Ingrid Barratt Editor

Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.

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

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

Publishing for 136 years | Issue 6722 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry

www.salvationarmy.org.nz SalvationArmyNZFTS @SalvationArmyNZ salvationarmynzfts

2 WarCry 27 JULY 2019

Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.

Mark Twain

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us …

Ngā Hiperu 12:1 Nā, i tēnei kapua nui o ngā kaiwhakaatu e karapoti nei i a tātou, whakarerea e tātou ngā whakataimaha katoa, me te hara whakaeke tata, kia manawanui hoki tātou ki te oma i te omanga e takoto nei i tā tatou aroaro …

Artwork adapted from overdoseday.com resources.

T

he use of drugs spans the length and breadth of human history. Frequently, drug use—including alcohol, legal and illegal opiates—is a form of selfmedication for trauma. Users may take substances to mask emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual pain and distress, making them vulnerable to overdose.

Here in New Zealand, someone dies of an overdose every week, according to the Drug Foundation.

In 2001, Sally Finn was managing a needle and syringe programme for The Salvation Army in St Kilda, Australia, when the idea for Overdose Awareness Day was born. Sally’s vision was simply to hold a local event so friends and family could come together, remember, and support one another.

Since those humble beginnings, the idea has become a global event held annually on 31 August and recognised in over 40 countries, including New Zealand. The aim is to raise awareness of overdoses— from both legal and illicit drug use—reduce the stigma of drug-related death, and acknowledge the grief of family and friends. Supporters wear purple or silver ribbons, badges and t-shirts.

‘In a small country like ours we all know someone for whom drug use or drug addiction is a daily reality. We mustn’t be foolish enough to think overdose would never happen to anyone we know, because it does,’ says Lieutenant-Colonel Lynette Hutson, National Director for Addictions, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services.

‘We have a perception that overdose only happens to hard users or down-and-outers, but it can happen to anyone. Often overdose is accidental, with prescription drugs and a few drinks being a fatal combination. It can also happen when people

get clean for a while and then have a relapse. What would’ve once been a normal intake of drugs for the body can be toxic to a body that has been clean for a period,’ Lynnette explains.

Synthetic cannabinoid use is still where the greatest danger lies. More than 50 Kiwi users have died since mid-2017.

‘People—especially young people—make the error of assuming synthetics are cannabis, but they’re not. They’re a plant-based mix that is sprayed with chemical cannabinoids which can be adulterated with other substances like baking soda, talcum powder and even pesticides. These are dangerous because they are not a pure product, so what starts out as a bit of experimentation can become fatal,’ warns Lynnette.

Last year, Epsom Lodge held an intimate Overdose Awareness Day memorial service for residents and staff. ‘We lit candles in memory of loved ones, and there were tears. There’s a heightened awareness among our residents of death, because when you’re living with addiction, or when you’re homeless, death is very real. Some have seen mates die on the streets. Many are frightened of death, but we can offer the hope of Christ,’ says Envoy Jillian Smith, who led the service.

Lynnette would love to see more centres provide an opportunity for remembrance and education about the realities and complexities of overdose on 31 August this year.

MORE INFO | overdoseday.com

BY JULES BADGER

27 JULY 2019 WarCry 3

Foodbank Project Wins Award for Excellence The Foodbank Project had two reasons to celebrate last month.

Hot on the heels of reaching $1 millon in donations, The Foodbank Project was awarded the 2019 Fundraising Institute of New Zealand (FINZ) Award for Excellence in Innovation. This award recognises the year's most innovative and memorable fundraising campaign.

The Foodbank Project allows donors to choose from various bundles to donate to Salvation Army foodbanks. The bundles are designed to provide a range of goods to meet the needs of families and individuals.

Department Past and present PR mille staff Tim Hamilton, Ca isholm.

Ch e an Sh Astbury and

WARCRY INHISTORY

It’s run in partnership with Lucid and Countdown supermarkets, and makes it possible to donate fresh foods like cheese, meat, fruit and veges. Donations are uploaded to Countdown’s online store, where they are delivered on a non-profit basis. The platform automatically issues donation receipts along with emails notifying donors when their gift has been sent to their local foodbank.

Developed as a pilot in 2015, The Foodbank Project has grown to receive more than $1,100,000 in donations from 6,240 donors.

In 1973 the Arab–Israeli war had sent ‘oil shocks’ around the world as prices skyrocketed, and New Zealand found itself with a petrol shortage. This picture from War Cry on 1 December 1973 asks, ‘How long will the oil last?’ But reminds us that ‘we rejoice that the resources of God have no limit’. Nowadays, of course, we would add that we are called to be stewards of those resources and must use them wisely!

Source: Booth College of Mission Heritage and Archives Centre

The Salvation Army Public Relations Director Tim Hamilton says the award recognises the outstanding innovation of The Foodbank Project and the ongoing successful partnership with Countdown that the Army has. ‘It generated a lot of new donors who were attracted to the innovation, and it has had proven success. It couldn’t really be overlooked for an award,’ he says.

SALLIEOFTHEWEEK Helen James, Westport Corps Helen James is a volunteer veteran and true superstar! She’s worked with The Salvation Army both in Australia (Anika Sapphire Gemfields) and in New Zealand (Motueka and Westport), serving in Family Stores and Community Ministries for a very grand total of 17 years! Currently serving at Westport Community Ministries two days a week, Helen greets those coming into the centre with a big smile, an offer of a cuppa and a listening ear. A corps member for the past three years, Helen has no doubt that supporting those who come into Community Ministries needing help is where God wants her to serve. We salute you Helen as our ‘Sallie of the Week!’

4 WarCry 27 JULY 2019

TOPFIVE

War Cry turned 136 years old last month, and to celebrate we found some interesting people also born in 1883 …

5. Benito Mussolini, Italian dictator who came to power after his successful march on Rome in 1922.

4. Franz Kafka, novelist, famous for The Metamorphosis, a famous novella where a business man awakes to find that he’s become a giant dung beetle.

3. Rube Goldberg, Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist. He began drawing when he was 4 years old.

2. Gus Cannon, blues musician and founder of Cannon’s Jug Stomper group.

He once made a guitar from a frying pan and racoon skin.

Animation/Adventure/Drama The Lion King (PG) Directed by Jon Favreau

Computer animation has come a long way in the 25 years since the first (hand-drawn) version of The Lion King. The 2019 re-imagining is undoubtedly visually spectacular; however, this hyper-realism trades off anatomical accuracy for recognisable human emotions in the characters―one area where the original film is streaks ahead of the new. Scar’s devious nature is largely hidden behind his expressionless lion snout, making for a far less enthralling rendition of the character (and don’t get me started on the emaciated new version of the song ‘Be Prepared’...) Mufasa, too, lacks much of the charisma and command that made the former iteration so iconic; though in this case, James Earl Jones’ vocal performance is also much less emotive than in the original.

The new film is not without its charm: the more fleshed-out explanation of the futility of the ‘Hakuna Matata’ lifestyle is a welcome addition, and there is some legitimately funny dialogue.

Overall, though, the emotional impact of the 2019 edition doesn’t come near that of the 1994 classic for me. (Reviewed by Sam Coates)

QUIKQUIZ

1 Who are Donald Duck’s nephews?

2 The banana plant is a herb, how is the fruit classified?

3 What is the capital of Guam?

4 Name one of the collective nouns for raccoons?

5 W ho became a shepherd in Midian for his father-in-law?

Answers on page 22

1. Coco Chanel, French fashion designer, creator of bestselling perfume Chanel No. 5.

No Bake Muesli Fingers 1½ cups rolled oats 1 cup desiccated coconut ¼ cup sesame seeds ½ cup pumpkin seeds 1 cup dried apricots, chopped ½ cup dried cranberries 125g butter ⅓ cup brown sugar ⅓ cup honey

Lightly grease and line a 18x28cm slice pan with baking paper, extending 2cm above the two long sides.

In a large bowl, combine oats, coconut, seeds, apricots and cranberries. Mix well.

Combine butter, sugar and honey in a small saucepan. Stir over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, without stirring, for 8–10 minutes until caramelised. Stir into dry ingredients, until combined.

Spoon mixture into pan, pressing firmly with a metal spatula. Chill until firm. Cut into fingers.

Tip: Use slightly wet fingers to press mixture in pan—take care with hot mixture.

Source: countdown.co.nz

27 JULY 2019 WarCry 5

In this extract from her book What a Ride!, Major Judith Bennett shares stories of working with women behind the wire. From tragic tales of women whose life in prison was better than life on the outside, to one very famous inmate …

A

formidable, bleak, stone wall confronted Berys Glendinning and me, seemingly defying us to enter and determined to keep prisoners in and visitors out. During one of his visits to New Zealand, General William Booth was reputed to have declared that of all the places he had seen in his travels, Mt Eden Prison was the gloomiest.

We stepped through the door, which clanged shut loudly behind us. The proverbial bunch of keys jangled ominously in the prison officer’s hand. Too late to change my mind! Through another door, and a dozen or so pairs of eyes stared—or glared—at us.

The girls were seated at tables working, weighing tobacco and sealing it in plastic bags. ‘Tobacco rations for all the prisoners here at Mt Eden,’ explained one of the girls. The next thing I knew, I was offering to help them weigh the tobacco ration and stuff it in a bag.

During the next weeks and months, as Berys and I visited regularly, the girls started to trust me more and share something of their lives.

Anika’s story Anika* was one of our prison friends. Over the months, she’d shared something of her story. She came from an uncaring, unloving, unprincipled family. Life was hard and horrible. Growing up in such a hostile environment, a sensitive Anika would have become almost permanently fearful and hardened by her continual ill-treatment.

No wonder she felt safe in prison. No wonder as soon as she was released, she committed another crime, so she could know this safety again. No wonder she viewed the prison officers as caring friends. No wonder she had a baby— someone to love and a child to love her in return. While this mum was in and out of prison, her daughter was in and out of various family homes.

On one occasion when Anika was released from prison, she couldn’t find a place for her and little Aria* to live. I heard they were living in an old shed at the back of the Onehunga rubbish dump. We found Anika and Aria living in a small, dark, damp shed—the smell from the tip was almost unbearable.

Both mother and child were so pleased to see us and invited us into their little shack. What an astonishing difference from the stinking garbage outside.

Anika had the place clean and tidy, mats to sit on, an old bed in the corner complete with colourful crocheted blanket, a wooden box in which to store their meagre possessions, a couple of black plastic bags for their clothes, and a small rickety table holding a few plates and utensils. Here at the town rubbish tip was a tiny piece of home to shelter mother and daughter.

Early one morning, the telephone echoed loudly through our home. I grabbed the telephone and all I could hear was deep, heart-wrenching crying.

27 JULY 2019 WarCry 7

In answer to my ‘Who’s there?’, an almost indecipherable voice cried, ‘It’s me. Anika. Please come quickly, he’s killing our baby!’

As I zoomed down the southern motorway at 3:20am, I recalled the changes that had happened for Anika in the past year. She had a new partner, Tane*, who seemed a decent guy.

Anika had recently given birth to a baby girl. A small flat had become available for the little family, who were trying to make ends meet and give their children a stability they’d never experienced. ‘Killing our baby?’ What on earth was happening?

The house was ablaze with light, front door wide open. Fiveyear-old Aria was dazedly wandering around the front yard, crying. Anika was sitting on the low fence. As I stepped out of the car, they both ran toward me. ‘Get the baby! Quick, stop him! He’s gonna kill her!’ Anika blurted out.

I followed the sound of a distressed cry to the bedroom and discovered an astonishing sight: Tane sitting on the bed gently rocking his baby daughter in his arms, crying, ‘Why do I do it?’

As I stood, quietly moved by this tender scene, Tane raised his agonised face and cried again, ‘Why do I do it, Judith? Why? I love my baby! Help me, please help me!’

Between pain-filled sobs, Tane confessed he’d been sorely tempted to throw his baby daughter hard against the wall to finish her life. Utter desperation fuelled by alcohol is truly toxic. Tane didn’t want another generation to be caught in this cruel cycle. I’d arrived in the nick of time.

Judith kept in contact with the family, and on two occasions took the baby into her care—with the help of her corps family—so the family could work through troubles. *Names have been changed.

A famous prisoner The bombing of the Greenpeace protest ship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour on Wednesday, 10 July 1985 shocked our nation. Here was a plot of intrigue, mystery and murder right on our front doorstep. Early next morning the media were all over the appalling news—11:45pm the previous night, saboteurs had sunk the Rainbow Warrior. Within a short time, two French agents were arrested.

A few days later, as I walked into one of the prison rooms for a regular visit, I couldn’t help but notice a petite blonde female in her mid-30s, who I recognised from the television news. I’d hardly said hello when she spoke words I’ve never forgotten: ‘I know The Salvation Army! I see The Salvation Army in my country—it does very good work with the homeless and poor in Paris.’

8 WarCry 27 JULY 2019

AS I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR, THEY BOTH RAN TOWARD ME. ‘GET THE BABY! QUICK, STOP HIM! HE’S GONNA KILL HER!’ Over the next couple of months, [the French Secret Service agent] Dominique Prieur and I had many friendly conversations.

We never discussed the reason for her being in prison—the media provided that information. Dominique was moved to a secure unit, and one day I got a call from the prison manager asking if I would visit Dominique as her chaplain. ‘Dominique has asked for you as she appreciates your company and conversation … also because you don’t make her say her prayers!’

The manager explained to me that because of high security the only visitors Dominique could have were her lawyer, her chaplain, and prison or court officials. I never cease to be amazed at the unimaginable opportunities in the service of Jesus that come when one says ‘yes’ to God’s call.

Dominique had a problem: she needed a haircut. But the prison manager could hardly take a high security prisoner to the local hair salon. ‘Please, Judith, can you help us?’ asked the manager. The Salvation Army is generally good at helping meet people’s needs in the name of Jesus, but this was a most unusual request.

‘Has the Army a good hairdresser?’ We did! It was like Congress Hall Corps was in silent partnership with the prison: praying for the prison ministry, providing babysitters, pavlovas and presents for prisoners at Christmas … and now a hairdresser.

A few weeks prior to her trial, Dominique told me her husband Joel was coming to New Zealand. ‘Has The Salvation Army anywhere he can stay where he won’t be pestered by the media?’ And so The Salvation Army Railton Hotel in Auckland became Joel Prieur’s refuge for the duration of his wife’s trial.

On Sunday evening, at David’s invitation, Joel went with him to the street meeting that Auckland Congress Hall band held weekly in Queen Street. Afterwards, he followed the band march back to Congress Hall and attended the meeting. Later, Joel told us how much the service meant to him.

Dominique was transferred to Christchurch Women’s Prison, where I visited her twice. The two agents were eventually transferred to French custody on Hao Island in French Polynesia. Dominique kept in touch with me by cards

and letters sent from Hao Island and France. The last card she sent from Paris at Christmas in 1988 announced the birth of their first child.

Letters from the inside Following their court trial, girls were sent either to Arohata in Wellington or Paparoa in Christchurch to complete their sentence. Sometimes they’d write and tell me how they were doing. I have a thick file of those letters, fondly remembering the girls who wrote them and often wondering where they are today, 30 years on.

Snippets from a few letters remind me of their honesty and simple faith: ‘Dear Mr and Mrs Bennett … I have been praying to God ’cause I know it will please you. I also pray for yous, he is with me and also yous constantly. I have put all my faith in him and one day hope to go to Heaven. See you there.’

A well-educated girl from a good family, sadly became involved with a drug syndicate. She wrote me an interesting seven-page letter from Christchurch women’s prison explaining her circumstances and how she was coping. I’m humbled by her final paragraph: ‘Thank you for the comfort that you brought me in Mt Eden.

I was always impressed with the way that you came in and helped us with our work while you talked with us—not to us.

You certainly helped me to feel that I could come through this while retaining my sense of self-worth.’

Annie was arrested on a charge of murder. It was a tragic case and Annie was absolutely distressed and heartbroken, haunted by what she’d done in a moment of terrible frustration, anger and hopelessness. She was on remand for some time while her case was prepared.

She always attended chapel services, sang the songs and asked questions: ‘Who was God anyway? Did he really care

‘DOMINIQUE [PRIEUR] HAS ASKED FOR YOU AS SHE APPRECIATES YOUR COMPANY AND CONVERSATION … ALSO BECAUSE YOU DON’T MAKE HER SAY HER PRAYERS!’

about her? Could we get her a Bible?’ Her search for God and forgiveness led her to understand something of Jesus, his amazing grace and unfailing love.

Many people at Congress Hall Corps prayed for Annie. The morning of the sentencing, I was allowed down into Annie’s cell below the High Court. She was terrified. All I could do was hold her, cry with her and pray. Then it was time for her to go up and receive her sentence. It was all over in 20 minutes.

Afterwards, the lawyer commented to Annie and me on her surprise two-year term: ‘It’s one of the most lenient sentences I’ve heard—someone was praying for you.’ Annie replied: ‘The Salvation Army church were all praying for me!’

The next day, I visited Annie to say farewell ahead of her scheduled transfer to Christchurch the following day. Annie looked different. Peaceful. Radiant. ‘I’ve done it,’ she exclaimed.

‘I gave my life to Jesus!’

Annie’s transformation by Jesus was life-changing. She witnessed to her mum, the prison officers, the girls. She was a joy to behold. God is faithful and answers prayer, as Annie discovered. Her first letter was full of thanks to God: ‘First of all, everything’s worked wonders! Instead of being put in Maximum I went straight to Minimum. I got a real shock but it’s great! … The Lord has worked wonders and in every direction I look, he’s smoothed the path for me. The Lord’s done so much, that each night my prayers are longer, as every day I’ve always got something to thank him for … I considered myself a ‘no-hoper’ until I met The Salvation Army. I’m so thankful for each and every person who has prayed for me. God bless you all.’

This is an abridged excerpt from What a Ride!

by Judith Bennett. To purchase, contact mailorder@salvationarmy.org.nz

27 JULY 2019 WarCry 9

Am I a Bully?

Most of us don’t want to be bullies, yet we know they exist. How can we know if we are exhibiting bullying behaviour and change so we are fostering healthier behaviour, building better relationships and reducing harm to others?

Bullying is complex, and definitions are still debated around the world. But most agree that bullying is taking place when unwanted, repeated, and unreasonable behaviour of a physical, verbal or relational nature (for example, excluding someone or spreading rumours) occurs by one person or group toward another.

We know that bullying can trigger poor mental health and result in low self-confidence, stress, depression and burn-out.

A lot of focus and financial investment has been given to helping the victims of bullying, but psychologists suggest that increasing self-awareness about bullying behaviour is a key part of the harm-reduction puzzle.

Christians are not immune—we are human and broken—so it’s vital that in our endeavours to love others and become like Jesus we check our own behaviour. The truth is, we all have blind spots.

It’s easy to see bullying behaviour in someone else, but difficult to see it in ourselves. However, growing as disciples of Christ often means facing the ugly truth about ourselves and dealing with it head on. Change is never easy, but with others loving, praying and supporting us to grow, it is possible!

So, how can you know if you’re slipping into bullying behaviour?

If you think some of the ‘red flags’ below apply to you, it’s time to pay closer attention to how you are treating others. Seeking honest feedback from a trusted friend, mentor or pastor is a great place to start.

RED FLAGS

ou repeatedly upset someone around you.

Y If someone is frequently tearful, angry or complains about your behaviour toward them, then these reactions are not to be dismissed. ou have a lack of empathy towards someone. This Y is not always easy to recognise in ourselves. Giving others permission to be honest about our empathy levels is vital to assessing behaviour and gaining insight into how our behaviour affects others.

You have a tendency towards aggression. This may include openly ‘losing your cool’ with someone and resorting to shouting, threatening or humiliating someone in front of others. But it could also be 10 WarCry 27 JULY 2019

FACING UP TO YOUR OWN PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE BULLYING AND WORKING TO CHANGE IT WILL TAKE COURAGE. questionable passive-aggressive comments such as, ‘Oh so you’re going to do it that way, that’s brave’.

Facing up to your own passive-aggressive bullying and working to change it will take courage.

You thrive around insecure people. No one wants to admit to this, but if you make yourself feel better or look better by evoking discomfort or insecurity in others, this is classic bullying behaviour. Persistently picking on someone, not backing them, or deliberately setting them up to fail can become ingrained behaviour that must be addressed. ou spread rumours about someone. It may seem like Y harmless banter, but spreading rumours—true or false— can turn someone’s life upside down, costing them professionally, socially and even personally.

Misuse of power or position. If your role—personally or professionally—enables you to influence the tone of someone else’s reality, and you make life difficult by blocking opportunities, limiting responsibilities or excluding them for collaborative projects or social events, this is bullying behaviour.

TESTIFY! When Sarah Bridle arrived at church one Self Denial Sunday, she had no idea her life was about to change forever …

I grew up in The Salvation Army and have always known God. About six years ago, when I was 18, I was sitting in a Self Denial Sunday service and saw a video about The Salvation Army’s work in Malawai. In that moment I thought: ‘That’s where I want to be— that’s what I want to be doing’. I knew I’d just seen something important and wanted to know more. I saved a lot that year, so I could give financially to the appeal.

Africa was a bit out of my reach at 18, so my first trip was to a Salvation Army girls’ home in Malaysia. While I was there, God clearly called me to train as a counsellor—I had my ‘aha’ moment while I was going down a water slide with a frightened girl!

I now have a Bachelor of Counselling, and I’m working as a youth worker at Glen Eden Corps. I have an interest in seeing how youth work and counselling intersect—these two disciplines make for a powerful combination!

Earlier this year, I finally made it to Africa! I spent six beautiful and rewarding weeks in Tanzania visiting the amazing children of Mgulani Daycare, Mbagala Girls’ Home, and Matumaini School for Children with Disabilities and Albinism, which featured in last year’s Self Denial series.

While this view is changing, in Tanzanian culture albinism can be viewed as a curse. Children come to the Matumaini School as much for their own protection as for the excellent care they receive. I made one special friend Mafuru who loved me because I had pale white skin like him!

The children with disabilities often come from families who simply cannot

SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENS WHEN WE OPEN OUR EYES TO THINGS THAT AREN’T EASY … afford to care for a disabled child. I showed a photo of my family to one of the boys, who immediately noticed my brother Sam who is also disabled.

He asked if I would say hello to Sam for him when I returned home, and then bring Sam back to Tanzania so they could play football together! This was such a beautiful moment of shared humanity, as we connected through what he recognised in Sam. It’s one thing to say there’s poverty in Africa and even ask: ‘What can I do?’ It’s totally different to meet these people and learn their names and discover who they are as people.

A big part of counselling is listening to someone’s story and then letting that story shine because it’s been heard and understood. To have someone’s truth valued is powerful. In Africa, I found many hidden gems—stories I can hold out to others and say: ‘Look, this is someone we can know!’

Something special happens when we open our eyes to things that aren’t easy to open our eyes to—but what magic happens when we do open our eyes! I took a leap of faith and went to Africa by myself and have been forever changed. Seeing these precious children with my own eyes, knowing them personally, how much better off am I for having been and seen!

I was so proud to be part of The Salvation Army while in Africa—a worldwide movement that takes such good care of children, despite the struggle for resources. So please, be assured that the money you give to the Self Denial Appeal matters and is monumental for recipients. It truly makes a difference. Please, give generously on Self Denial Sunday.

27 JULY 2019 WarCry 11

Is following God only for old people?

When Claire Gardner was a teenager, she was worried that becoming a Christian would ruin her rep at school. But all that changed one night … now she is a passionate youth worker, and the new Salvation Army Territorial Youth Programme Coordinator.

BY HUGH COLLINS

As I arrange my interview with Claire Gardner, I get an immediate sense that she is an exceptionally humble person. Claire tells me she’s not too comfortable yarning about herself for half an hour, yet I insist everyone has a great story to tell.

Since February, Claire has been The Salvation Army Youth Programme Coordinator at Territorial Headquarters in Cuba Street, Wellington. ‘In a nutshell, I plan events and help to facilitate education for youth leaders,’ she explains to someone unfamiliar with the inner workings of Salvation Army youth.

Originally born in South Africa, Claire moved to New Zealand at age five and has been a Wellington girl ever since. Her family landed at The Salvation Army Johnsonville Corps in the early 2000s.

‘I was very blessed that I grew up with Christian parents, so I’ve always had a Christian house and home environment,’ she says.

‘I’LL FOLLOW GOD WHEN I’M OLD’

However, as a teenager, Claire had very little interest in God and church.

‘It was the classic, “I’ll follow God when I’m old because I want to have fun when I’m young”,’ she laughs.

‘In college, being cool was way more important than anything else, so that was what I wanted—not to know Jesus, just to be cool.’

Claire thought being a Christian was about pleasing your parents and following

12 firezone.co.nz 27 JULY 2019

an ancient rule book that didn’t have any relevance to teenagers in the 21st century.

‘People would say, “Oh you have freedom when you’re a Christian!” and I would say, “No you don’t because you can’t do all the things you want to do!”.

‘My whole thing was, “I’ll wait till I’m old because it’s for old boring people. It’s not for us young people who want to have fun”.’

At this stage, Claire was a typical suburban teenager— she loved parties and life was good. There was no need for a lord and saviour.

A WORD FROM GOD

However, one day she began to notice how many of her friends’ parents had yet to leave the party stage and seemed to be stuck in it.

‘Looking at them, I thought: “They haven’t decided to turn it around, so if I know it’s the right thing to do, then when am I going to do it?” And that sort of played in my head.’

Then, at an evening service at Johnsonville Corps, God decided to move.

When Claire’s future mother-in-law Raewyn Gardner finished preaching, Gavin Knight from the band had a word for someone in the audience—yet he didn’t know who.

‘He just said, “There’s no time like now. Stop waiting”.

And I thought, “I suppose that’s for me then”.

‘For three or four years I’d been knowing that I should take it seriously and just kept waiting for “later”. So, that was the night I decided, “Ok I’ll make the call now”.’

Having decided to follow Jesus, Claire was worried about what her friends and peers would think of her. ‘I thought, “People are going to ask me questions and I’m going to have to know what to say”.’

Yet, Raewyn told her finding faith wasn’t about having all the answers. ‘She said you don’t actually have to know what to say. It’s your life, you can do what you want with it.’

Despite putting off faith for a number of years, Claire says she never really struggled with the idea that God existed. ‘I guess God was with me the whole time,’ she says. ‘Some people struggle with that, but that was never my struggle—I always felt like I knew that God was real.

‘So, when I was not believing in him, it’s not that I didn’t believe he existed, it was rather that I was actively ignoring him because I knew that he wanted me to do something else. And at that time, I wanted to rule my own life.’

BEING THERE FOR YOUTH

After finishing school at Tawa College in 2008, Claire studied to become a hairdresser. But after several years it was clear the clippers weren’t for her. ‘The work environment in the salon I was working in was pretty crushing. If there was something you did wrong, you’d hear about it.’

Eventually, a youth pastor role opened at Johnsonville Corps. Yet she was adamant she wasn’t the right person for the job.

‘I thought, “I won’t get it, but here’s my CV with WelTec hairdressing”,’ she laughs.

But, sure enough, at 22 she was hired. With a natural love for young people, the role was certainly made for her. ‘As an adult, where else can you go and play the Amazing Race or Family Feud?’ she laughs. ‘Youth group is pretty special, kids and teenagers just go out and have clean fun and really enjoy themselves.’

Claire loved that she was able to be there for young people in what she describes as a challenging and transitory stage of life. ‘Anybody in those years will go through so many changes and new stresses. I really cared that they would have somebody there supporting them.

‘There are so many different new things happening to them. And young people are pretty receptive as well— what a time of life, I don’t think that really happens again.’

This was a role Claire would hold for five and a half years before coming into her current position at THQ. Now commuting into the city every day, Claire feels privileged to be able to support and connect with youth leaders across the country. Yet she’s well aware of the responsibilities involved and has even set herself a particular challenge: ‘When I was a youth pastor, I didn’t always see THQ as a great resource I could call on. Not because THQ is bad, but I didn’t see it as this approachable place where I could go, “Oh yeah, I have a question, I’ll ask THQ”.

‘But now I’m here and my role is actually to support youth work on the front line; I want nothing more than for my phone to ring and for it to be a youth pastor with a question.

‘I want people to get to know me. I don’t want to just sit here and do “THQ work” while people all over the country are doing their “church work”. We’re all working toward the same goals. I want to contribute with everyone else.’

‘IT WAS THE CLASSIC, “I’LL FOLLOW GOD WHEN I’M OLD BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE FUN WHEN I’M YOUNG” … IN COLLEGE BEING COOL WAS WAY MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.’ 27 JULY 2019 WarCry 13

Mrs D. is Going All Out Author Lotta Dann is ‘feeling nervous—there are going to be tears’. It’s the type of emotion she is still learning to sit with, after seven years of sobriety …

BY INGRID BARRATT

Lotta is discussing her new project, a book about Kiwi women and their relationship with alcohol. ‘But I also feel brave,’ she adds. ‘Because I’m sick of our disconnect between how alcohol is presented to us, and the reality that I’m hearing every day.

A lot of women are really struggling, and it’s often hidden.

You can present as if you’re really, absolutely, holding your life together—but you can be holding your life together and be miserable. I’m hearing that a lot.’

Lotta knows this as well as anyone. A successful journalist, her two previous books chronicled her own journey from highfunctioning alcoholic to sobriety. But this latest book is her first venture into exploring alcohol as the Kiwi drug of choice. ‘It’s a cultural denial that it’s actually a drug. It’s addictive, and it causes harm in the community.

‘The denial is so deep that even a whole bunch of lovely people who are really interested in wellness, will do something like run a women’s empowerment retreat—and in the goodie bag will be a bottle of wine. Or they’ll put on a run, and it will end at the winery.’

In researching her book, Lotta put a call out on Facebook for women who are still struggling: ‘I wanted stories of women who are still struggling with their drinking, and I received over 50 14 WarCry 27 JULY 2019

private messages from women saying, “I’ll talk to you, I want to share”.’

Fun-loving and hating it Lotta is typical of many of these women. She says alcohol was just a part of her life growing up, and she had her first drink at 15: ‘The moment I touched it, I loved it. I loved the sensation in my body.

‘Plus, tricky things were starting to happen with my parents’ marriage and I could escape it all. I was a teenager—and alcohol meant I could be the fun-loving girl that I wanted to be, and not what I now know that I am, which is actually quite sensitive.’

Over the next couple of decades, this became her persona: a journalist, mum of three, in a loving relationship with husband Corin Dann (host of Radio New Zealand’s Morning Report) and always the life of the party—even if she got a bit too drunk at the neighbourhood barbeque.

‘That was what characterised my drinking, I really was just trying to be “upbeat Lotta” all the time. I was a fun-time party girl,’ she says. ‘I had no idea how little I knew myself, you know.

Denial really is bliss—I was blissfully in denial about who I really was.’

‘IT WAS A CONSTANT CONFLICT BECAUSE THERE WAS THE PART OF ME THAT KEPT SAYING, “THIS IS NORMAL, EVERYONE DOES IT”. THEN, THERE WAS THE OTHER VOICE IN MY HEAD SAYING, “IS THIS REALLY FINE? YOU DON’T FEEL GOOD. YOU SAID YOU WERE ONLY GOING TO HAVE THE GLASS AND YOU HAD THE BOTTLE—AGAIN”.’

But, Lotta’s drinking was getting worse and worse. It got to the point where she was having a couple of bottles of wine a night—often hiding the extent of her drinking. She began engaging in dangerous behaviours, like driving to pick up more wine when she had already been drinking.

‘It was a constant conflict because there was the part of me that kept saying, “This is normal, everyone does it”. Then, there was the other voice in my head saying, “Is this really fine? You don’t feel good. You said you were only going to have the glass and you had the bottle—again”.’

During her last three years of drinking, Lotta tried strategy after strategy to moderate, ‘anything but stop altogether.

Meanwhile, my drinking was speeding up, quickly.’

She vividly remembers the night she had her last drink.

Corin had taken the boys to Scouts. After he left, Lotta ‘raced out to the bottle shop because I was having this really intense craving, just like a wall of words. As soon as you make the decision to drink you have this sweet relief.

‘I bought two bottles and drank one of them in the hour before he got home, then made the decision to hide the empty bottle, something I had never done before.’

Knowing she had engaged in ‘a new dysfunctional behaviour’ when she was desperately trying to moderate, became Lotta’s personal rock bottom. Crying on the toilet at three in the morning, Lotta had a revelation: ‘I realised the problem wasn’t me, the problem was alcohol. That gave me just enough detachment to find the strength to say, “OK, I’m going to remove it from my life”.’

But even Lotta couldn’t have guessed what would happen next.

Becoming Mrs D. On her first day of sobriety, Lotta wrote herself a letter. She loved the idea and decided to continue the practice every day.

Setting up a blog template to make writing the letters easier, Lotta called it ‘Mrs D. Is Going Without’. It never occurred to her that others might be interested in reading it.

But she began making her first tentative steps towards connecting with others living in sobriety. ‘I found this other blog, and I was so nervous, but I left a comment saying, “I’m on day three”.’

To her surprise, the blogger responded. The online community became a haven for Lotta. ‘I would comment on them, and they would comment on me. It was like a spiderweb, it grew and grew and grew, until I had thousands of readers.

‘That’s when I started realising there were literally thousands of people like me: online, anonymous, high-functioning, looking really fine, but miserable and alcoholic.’

After three years of sobriety, Lotta felt she wanted to help

others with similar stories to her. She published her first book, Mrs D. Is Going Without, chronicling her own journey. It was the first time she had put her real name to the popular blog—but she felt that she had discovered a new calling.

Lotta admits that in the early years there was a level of ‘white knuckling’ before she began to learn new strategies for dealing with life. This became the subject of her next book, Mrs D. Is Going Within.

Today, her daily practices include gratitude—every night she and her sons share the ‘three things’ they are grateful for that day.

Learning to live sober Living sober is something Lotta says she is still learning. ‘I used to hate being sad,’ she says. ‘I still do.’

After five years of being sober, she was talking to a girlfriend about her parents’ divorce—over 25 years earlier, ‘I just started sobbing. It completely took over my whole body, it came from my gut and was really powerful. I sobbed with her, and then the next day—and ever since—I felt more resolved about it.’

When I suggest this was a deeply spiritual experience, Lotta recalls a memory from one of the women she interviewed for her new book: ‘She was a bad drinker who’d grown up with a bad-drinking mother. Really for her, that moment on the bathroom floor, it was God that came to her. She started going to church and she now absolutely sees it as a spiritual experience.’

One of the profound outcomes of being sober, reflects Lotta, is being able to really experience the highs and lows of life. ‘When I look back at the things that I’ve been through since I’ve been sober that were hard, I was able to express how I was feeling and now I feel more resolved about those things. That is

I STARTED REALISING THERE WERE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIKE ME: ONLINE, ANONYMOUS, HIGH-FUNCTIONING, LOOKING REALLY FINE, BUT MISERABLE AND ALCOHOLIC. 27 JULY 2019 WarCry 15

‘I WANTED STORIES OF WOMEN WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THEIR DRINKING, AND I RECEIVED OVER 50 PRIVATE MESSAGES FROM WOMEN SAYING, “I’LL TALK TO YOU, I WANT TO SHARE”.’ why it’s so great to live this way—but it’s hard at the time.’

Just this year, the family have been through a season of intense grief, having suddenly lost Corin’s mum to cancer.

‘I now can acknowledge it’s normal to be sad when you lose someone you love. And I now know, after being sober for seven years, that the intensity will pass. I find comfort in knowing it’s universal, you’re not alone—other people have gone through the same thing.’

For those who are just coming to the end of Dry July, Lotta encourages them to keep going—it’s only after experiencing the breadth of life with all its joys and challenges, that the true benefits of sobriety shine through.

She has also learned that it’s not alcohol that makes you the ‘life of the party’—it’s being comfortable in your own skin. ‘The last wedding I went to, I was the one dancing all night. There were people crying, locked in the loo … and I thought, who’s actually having fun here?’

Lotta also knows that for many ‘grey area’ drinkers, alcohol is just too ingrained in our culture. ‘One woman I interviewed was utterly miserable, waking up not knowing what happened at the end of the night because she blacked out. But one of the big reasons they’re not stopping is the feeling of rejection—because their friends won’t invite them out when they’re not drinking. It’s sad and lonely. And not everyone is strong enough to do that, so they keep drinking.’

Yet, ultimately, Lotta is full of hope. She believes Kiwi society is slowly shifting away from our binge-drinking culture. Her work includes managing and writing a government-funded website called ‘Living Sober’—an online community for thousands of people wanting to learn to do just that.

‘I’ve essentially been writing about the same thing for the past seven years, and it’s a rich subject matter,’ she says. ‘It’s wonderful, it’s really working. It’s amazing how something so negative in my life has turned around and has now become my purpose.’

16 WarCry 27 JULY 2019

High School Students Tackle Period Poverty Three high school students went door-to-door last month raising money to tackle period poverty, a problem they say ‘still has a stigma around it’. The products they bought were then donated to Salvation Army foodbanks.

Year 9 students at Wellington Girls’ High School were tasked with choosing a topic for social action. ‘We wanted to choose a subject that really targeted young people in New Zealand,’ says Jessica Stark—who decided on the topic of period poverty, along with Sophia Pitchforth and Alex Brown.

At first, they thought the topic might be ‘awkward’. ‘But that is one of the reasons why we wanted to do it, and thought it was a really good topic. It’s something we can all relate to and we all need. It’s something a lot of young people connect to,’ explains Sophia.

The three students baked homemade goodies and packaged them up with an explanation of period poverty. They then sold the packets door-to-door around their neighbourhood. They were surprised by the enthusiastic response from strangers. ‘A lot of older people, and even men, said it’s a really good topic and good that people are doing something about it,’ adds Alex. ‘As we progressed we got more confident talking about it.’

The young women smile as they recall their memorable shopping trip, going to the supermarket to buy sanitary items with the $240 they raised. ‘It was a teenage boy at the till and it took about half an hour to put all the products through,’ they laugh.

They donated the products personally to The Salvation Army—even getting an exciting tour of Territorial Headquarters (we say tongue-in-cheek). ‘It was really good to actually buy the products, rather than just donating money. It felt a lot more gratifying,’ reflects Jessica.

They now hope to make the period poverty fundraiser an annual event.

Social Action is something teacher Josh Parker-Bevin says they aim to instil in their students: ‘It’s important they can choose a topic they relate to because in the future they have that philosophy of life and are involved with social issues locally,’ he says.

Fellow teacher Louise Baker agrees: ‘We try and focus on where they can do their part and have a personal involvement in helping.

‘Period poverty is a great topic to choose because it’s still stigmatised as a female problem, rather than an everybody problem.

Even just talking about it goes a long way to normalising it.’

Hospital Rebuild in Papua New Guinea No roads lead to Kapuna Hospital. Situated on the banks of the Wame River in Papua New Guinea, it is accessible only by water.

Kapuna Hospital is the only hospital within paddling distance for the 35,000 people living in scattered villages of the area.

Run by Gulf Christian Services, a non-denominational local Christian organisation, it is also a vibrant Christian community—committed to bringing both physical and spiritual health to the people of the area.

Kapuna has been home to my husband, two children and me since January this year.

I felt the call of God on my life to overseas service from a young age and trained as a registered nurse. In 2006, I was privileged to visit Kapuna and it left an indelible mark on my life. I eventually married Matt Noakes, the son of Majors David and Vyvyenne Noakes, but still the desire to return to Kapuna burned in my heart. So I prayed the Lord would open the door at the right time. Twelve years later, I saw a video calling for volunteers for a major hospital rebuild project and we felt it was time to answer that call.

Building anything in the middle of a swamp is challenging; to build a whole hospital is nothing short of an act of faith.

Fortunately, faith is not in short supply at Kapuna and the buildings are sprouting around us, thanks to a grant provided through the PNG–Australia Partnerships’ Incentive Fund. This generous support is ensuring a full rebuild of the hospital and supporting infrastructure—all built by dedicated local workers and committed volunteers.

Since arriving, Matt has been working as the Supply Officer.

It is his role to review architectural plans, develop a bill of quantities and ensure that all the needed building materials are ordered and loaded on time onto the monthly barge. It is an absolutely critical role, but Matt is the man for the job and God’s hand is so obvious in this. He also joins with the local workmen in the backbreaking job of unloading up to 90 tonnes of supplies by hand along the jetty, sometimes in torrential rain.

Meanwhile, my time is divided between covering the vacant human resources role, and the nursing work that I am deeply passionate about. Tuberculosis is a life-threatening bacterial infection that has been all but eliminated in the developed world. It is at epidemic proportions in the Gulf Province. At the moment, I am working on improvements to the system used to follow up on those treated in the hospital once they return to their villages, to ensure treatment is completed and infection doesn’t recur.

We are currently recruiting for various roles associated with the hospital rebuild. We have a particular need for a volunteer site manager, and would also like to hear from qualified trades people—especially builders who are interested in volunteering their time, from several weeks to a year. Kapuna is a difficult place to get to—but it’s the trip of a lifetime and never leaves you the same.

Matt, Rebekah, Isaiah (7) and Mercy (5) from Hutt City Corps, are part of the Kapuna Hospital Team in Papua New Guinea.

If you would like to know more about volunteering, email hr.kapunagcs@gmail.com or go to www.kapuna.org

BY REBEKAH NOAKES 27 JULY 2019 WarCry 17

Laying Strong Foundations in Cambridge Captains Karen and Shaun Baker are leading the charge at Cambridge Corps, and on Sunday June 30 they experienced the joy of enrolling five new Junior Soldiers—two of which were their own children!

‘It was a really exciting day,’ says Shaun, ‘With parents, friends and family proudly watching these five young people dedicate their lives to God under the umbrella of The Salvation Army.’

Karen and Shaun have been focusing their attention on building a family-friendly faith community over the past three and a half years. That hard work is starting to bear fruit, with families from Community Ministries joining the whānau. Shaun uses a helpful metaphor to explain what he senses God is doing in the Corps.

‘It’s like God’s been preparing the ground for the past few years—pouring the concrete—but now the concrete has set, and the foundation is ready to build on. These new Junior Soldiers are part of that building work.’

But wait there’s more: in a first for the Corps, 20 children in total were present that morning, with two children expressing interest in becoming Junior Soldiers. When Lieutenants Missy Ditchburn and Jordan Westrupp, Midland Divisional Children and Youth Secretaries, are running preparation classes, what child could resist?!

Ministry to families is a key focus for Shaun and Karen who have developed a strong relationship with Cambridge Primary School. Their offer to work as school chaplains was quickly snapped up by the Board of Trustees.

‘Four parents passed away last year, two to suicide. The school invited us to be part of the pastoral response, which was such a privilege,’ Shaun explains. ‘The Deputy Principal called Karen one day after visiting a grieving spouse and simply said, “I’m out of my depth, please come”, and so we did.’

Karen and Shaun are extremely grateful for a supportive corps and hard-working leadership team who have helped lay these strong foundations.

18 WarCry 27 JULY 2019

Wellbeing Packs Donated to Army L’Oréal New Zealand’s employees rolled up their sleeves this week to pack 22,000 wellbeing packages for New Zealanders in need—with The Salvation Army being one of the recipients.

A whopping 48 pallets of L’Oréal goodies were delivered to Manukau Community Ministries and distributed to Northern, Midland and Central divisions.

The wellbeing packs include everyday essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and moisturiser, along with selected beauty items. Altogether, L’Oréal employees packed 250,000 products, with an estimated retail value of more than $3 million.

‘It is such an honour for the company to come together to assist those struggling within our communities,’ said Aurelie de Cremiers, Country Manager, L’Oréal New Zealand.

This year, non-profit charities receiving the packages include Auckland City Mission, The Salvation Army, Women’s Refuge, Barnardos, Ronald Mc Donald House and VOYCE Whakarongo Mai, with each charity being invited to speak on the day to share their cause.

Rhondda Middleton represented The Salvation Army, sharing our mission. ‘It was such a wonderful day,’ she said.

‘We’ve always been about “soup, soap and salvation”— personal care is an important part of providing for those in need, and it was great to join in the atmosphere, where people were excited about giving back, and to share our mission as The Salvation Army.’

Another not-for-profit receiving the packages was VOYCE Whakarongo Mai, which means every teenager in care will have access to a wellbeing pack.

‘Our employees are super motivated and feel proud to be a part of an initiative that allows us to make a positive impact on thousands of Kiwi lives and contribute to their wellbeing in our country,’ said de Cremiers.

‘A PLACE TO BELONG BEFORE YOU BELIEVE’

Time Out at Spiritual Retreat ‘It’s About Time’ was the theme of this year’s annual directed spiritual retreat which took place at the end of May. This clever play on words provided the basis for various teachings that highlighted the need for us all to create rhythms or habits in our lives, allowing us to live with greater daily awareness of God’s presence.

The Magnifcat retreat centre is situated at the base of the Remutaka incline just out of Featherston. The weather cooperated to enable exploration of the track to Cross Creek or the summit and also to the lake nearby. This group particularly valued the times of silence that are integral to a retreat experience, enjoying the restfulness of those hours.

An annual time of retreat is considered essential for a healthy spiritual life, and this directed retreat is one way the territory encourages this. Majors Lorraine LePine, Lesley Nicolson and Susan Goldsack were the team contributing to the retreat, along with Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development).

GAZETTE Bereavement: Major Iliesa Cola, of his stepfather Samuel Waca, from Suva on Tuesday 2 July, aged 67 years. Please uphold Majors Iliesa and Litiana Cola and their family during this time of grief and loss.

Additional Appointment: Effective Immediately, Captain Janet Newman, Director, William Booth Educare, Booth College of Mission.

‘The flatline is not the finish line’ … It’s a saying that might be disputed by my daughter who is a nurse. Despite doing all she can to restore normal life function, if the flatline remains on the Vital Signs Monitor, it signals the end of that patient’s life.

But in the corps (church) I attend, the flatline is anything but the finish line! The ‘flatline’ for us represents a new and exciting stage in life. Our corps officers (ministers) are using this theme to help people understand what happens after they pass through this life marker.

Such themed Sundays help us engage people in spiritual conversations—a conversation people these days are open to. Our corps leadership regularly reminds us that ‘our corps is an inviting corps’. It is a corps that deliberately plans events with new people in mind.

Regulars are strongly encouraged to invite people to events or themed Sundays.

Our corps leadership consider this so important, that they recently put on a free meal so we could learn how to invite people to ‘almost anything’, and gain the skills and confidence to invite someone to an event or to Alpha. Maybe these are the things last month that helped our corps introduce 14 people to Jesus.

Currently, I’m reading a book titled Going Deep by Gordon MacDonald. Last night the following got me thinking: ‘… the old saints … seemed convinced that the best kind of evangelism began with making people feel welcomed into the community of Christ-followers even if they had yet to believe. Those saints were convinced that the love of Jesus’ people could overcome any resistance from the hostile heart.’

My first thoughts went to our Recovery Churches which use the mantra ‘a place to belong before you believe’. Is this one of the key factors in their success—the loving unconditional acceptance of each other, including new people, despite their current spiritual status?

I started thinking about the depth of our discipleship, and wondered: What if— like in the book—we formed CDP (cultivating deep people) discipleship groups, committed to it for 40 weeks, and engaged in monthly one-on-one mentoring?

My guess is that if all Salvationists went deeper with God within a discipleship group, made ourselves accountable to a mentor as well as God, actively invited people to appropriate corps events and offered to those who did not yet believe a place to belong, the spiritual heartbeat of our Army would look quite different.

Something to ponder.

Major Allan Clark Territorial Secretary for Business Administration 27 JULY 2019 WarCry 19

Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Grace?

Jules Badger ponders the muchloved lyrics of ‘Amazing Grace’ and reflects on her own experience of God’s extravagant gift. But she asks: Does grace have its limits?

One of our wedding songs was ‘Amazing Grace’. Some people were horrified, saying, ‘It’s a funeral song!’ We didn’t care, of course, and went ahead with it.

That the hymn is a funeral favourite was certainly not lost on me. Five years earlier, my 42-year-old terminally ill father had selected it for his own send off. But a few months before his death I’d witnessed amazing grace in action, when my unbelieving father had a radical personal encounter with Christ.

20 WarCry 27 JULY 2019

‘Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me … ’ Since his death, I’d become a Christian too, and so the lyrics had taken on deep personal significance for me. The binge drinking, promiscuous lifestyle I’d fallen into as I attempted to self-medicate my grief, meant I knew full well that I was a sinful wretch in need of a Saviour.

THIS IS GRACE: GOD GIVING US WHAT WE DON’T DESERVE— HIMSELF. ACCESS TO HIM AND HIS GOODNESS, MERCY, FORGIVENESS, FAVOUR AND LOVE. HE OFFERS ALL THIS TO US, AGAIN AND AGAIN. HE WITHHOLDS NOTHING. ‘How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed … ’ That God could accept me, forgive me, cleanse me and love me was nothing short of mind-blowing. All I’d done was believe and receive the gift of salvation—God had done all the work!

As Ephesians 2:4–9 explains: Because of his great love for you, God, who is rich in mercy, made you alive with Christ even when you were dead in your transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised you up with Christ and seated you with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you’ve been saved through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

‘I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see … ’ Yes, grace covers our sin, but it also calls us forward into new life, service, holiness, wholeness and the abundant life promised in Christ. It’s not just about what Jesus did to save us—as amazing as that is. Grace is for now, for our daily lives. Asheritah Ciuciu summarises the thoroughness of the promises provided in Scripture when she says, ‘Your need for daily grace is what qualifies you for daily grace.’

Anne Lamont puts it perfectly: ‘I do not understand the mystery of grace—only that it meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us.’ This is true, of course, only because grace is not actually about us, but about who God really is. As Justin Holcomb explains, ‘Grace is fundamentally a word describing God: his un-coerced initiative and pervasive, extravagant demonstrations of care and favour.’

Grace, therefore, can and does live in our pain, suffering, trials and confusion.

It’s there in our disappointments, failures and fears—beckoning to us to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Grace is even in our questions about God, our wandering and unbelief.

Holcomb helpfully states that, ‘grace is most needed and best understood amidst sin, suffering and brokenness’.

‘Through many dangers, toils and snares, we have already come … ’ Without the amazing grace of God, I would have taken my own life in 2012.

I was severely, clinically depressed and the saying, ‘but for the grace of God, there go I,’ has become more than just a cute cliché for interpreting my life.

Sometimes we can feel worthless, even knowing that God loves and accepts us. Sometimes we’re shamefully sinful, despite being saved from sin. We can be subject to horrible injustice and pain while our tormentors prosper, despite Jesus being our avenger. Our lives can feel directionless, even as we believe God has a plan.

Sometimes holiness seems utterly elusive—increasingly so, the older I get.

But, let me assure you, the Holy One is not elusive! In fact, the longer I follow him the more he seems accessible despite my shortcomings and failings.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved … ’ This is grace: God giving us what we don’t deserve—himself. Access to him and his goodness, mercy, forgiveness, favour and love. He offers all this to us, again and again. He withholds nothing.

This is the shocking, scandalous, outrageous, limitless nature of grace!

This is the grace I have come to believe in. The grace that won’t let me go. The grace I cannot do without.

on, that can’t be true—that’s cheap grace. Belief in that kind of grace is dangerous—irresponsible’.

That’s what prevents some Christians from experiencing the magnitude of God’s amazing grace. If grace made sense, it wouldn’t be grace. Grace breaks all the rules and defies categories and definitions. And just as well. Because when your faith is in tatters, when sin and shame overwhelm, when you’re hanging by a thread, when addiction is fierce, when darkness threatens to engulf, when God’s amazing grace is all you’ve got to cling to—it’s enough.

2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us: ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’

But ‘sufficient’ is a word that can leave us cold. For something to be ‘sufficient’ these days suggests that it’s somehow ‘less than’ because we live in a world where more, stronger, extra-strength, and maximum are the measure.

But in the ancient world, if something was sufficient, it was complete. And that’s perhaps a definition that captures the heart of God’s grace more fully for the 21st century. As Holcomb so helpfully puts it: ‘We live in a world of earning, deserving and merit, and these result in judgement. That is why everyone wants and needs grace.

Judgment kills. Only grace makes alive.’

So, is there such a thing as too much grace? God’s grace is immeasurable and generous and sufficient—complete.

So, for his followers—filled with the Spirit—there is potential for the grace we extend to one another to at least be a dim reflection. Imagine if we’d erred on the side of extravagant grace, rather than judgement. What a world it would be!

But belief in such an expansive grace is difficult for some of us to accept because it is so incomprehensible. And so, inevitably, someone will say: ‘Hang 27 JULY 2019 WarCry 21

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 4 August: Kāpiti Corps visit, Paraparaumu 9–11 August: New Zeal Encounter service featuring Chief of the Staff Lyndon Buckingham, Christchurch City Corps, Christchurch

with Rotorua Corps 271 Old Taupō Road

Colonels Suzanne (Chief Secretary) and Melvin Fincham (Territorial Secretary for Programme & Communications) 9–11 August: New Zeal Encounter service featuring Chief of the Staff Lyndon Buckingham, Christchurch City Corps, Christchurch

On Sunday 1 September, at 10am, we are holding a thanksgiving service to celebrate God’s faithfulness and blessings over the period we have been located at Old Taupō Road.

This is in preparation for our transition to, and amalgamation with, Community Ministries and the Family Store at a site on the corner of Amohia and Pukuatua Streets, Rotorua, in the near future.

Shared Lunch 12.30pm An opportunity to visit our new location 2.30–4.30pm For catering & seating purposes: RSVP Friday 16 August 2019 Ph: (07) 350 1022 Email: gsmellsop@gmail.com

Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Spiritual Life Development) 9–11 August: New Zeal Encounter service featuring Chief of the Staff Lyndon Buckingham, Christchurch City Corps, Christchurch

PRAY Tokoroa Corps, Tonga Alcohol and Drug Awareness Centre, Tonga Kolovai and Sopu Kindergarten, Tonga Regional Headquarters, The Salvation Army in Mali.

Parking limited on-site, please park on the road

Want to Know More?

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:

Name Email Address Phone Send to: warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz or War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Quiz Answers: 1 Huey, Dewey and Louie, 2 A berry, 3 Hagåtña, 4 A gaze, 5 Moses (Exodus 3:1).

22 WarCry 27 JULY 2019

Word search!

Can you find the words on the right in the word search below?

They could be forwards, backwards, up, down, or diagonal.

Before and After Photo Competition

k

q

i

m

o

n

e

y

e

s

selfdenial

u

u

p

h

a

x

b

y

c

p

difference

y

y

l

b

u

a

c

m

n

n

r

e

t

f

a

u

q

j

e

c

i

x

w

o

r

l

d

m

r

j

l

a

i

n

e

d

f

l

e

s

l

t

t

g

s

u

k

u

f

v

y

u

e

p

w

l

b

u

f

e

c

h

a

n

g

e

c

y

i

i

In the spirit of the Self Denial Appeal, we’re asking you to:

f

a

e

r

o

f

e

b

d

f

1. Be the change in your community and neighbourhood

money change before after world

2. Capture it in ‘before and after’ photos

Superhero maze!

Can you find your way through the brain maze, to transform into your superhero form?

3. Share it with us so we can celebrate with you!

Here’s some ideas to get your creative, generous juices flowing.

Maybe you know of some kids in your neighbourhood who don’t have enough food for morning tea at school. You could bake something to gift their family, taking a photo of your kitchen BEFORE you started baking, and what it looks like AFTER you got your baking in the oven (we’re thinking it could be a mess?!?).

Perhaps a beach, park or street in your community could do with a clean-up.

For example, rubbish picked up or graffiti painted over. Snap a picture BEFORE and AFTER you’ve cleaned up!

Do you have a neighbour who might need help with weeding an overgrown garden?

Why not volunteer to help do that for them? Don’t forget to take BEFORE and AFTER pics!

Before and after!

Can you match the heroes with their secret identities?

nt an Clark Ke S p ide rm Woman r e d n o W H u lk e n y a n Br uc e W S up e r m a at m a n B D ia n a nn e r Br uc e B a rker P e te r P a

We can’t wait to see what you come up with. So, let your generous and creative side go wild! And if you enter this year’s competition, you might just win a cool prize!

EMAIL YOUR PICTURES:

childrens.mission@salvationarmy.org.nz Include your first name, corps/centre, school year— plus any explanation you want to give.

27 JULY 2019 WarCry 23

Sp ir i t

he

th e

gt

Pu

n ori Rest

blic Sphere

9 201

JUS T

A

E C

N O FER C N O E I N T C

to

1–2 October 2019

Wellington City Corps • 92 Vivian St Wellington Featuring a fantastic line-up of speakers, including: sir

David Moxon • Justin Lester • Maata Wharehoka

Emeritus Anglican Archbishop prof

Ngaire Kerse •

Auckland University

rev

Mayor of Wellington

Guardian at Parihaka Marae

Setaita Veikune mnzm • Terrance Wallace

President of the Methodist Church

InZone Project founder

Register now at salvationarmy.org.nz/just-action-2019