28 May 2016 NZFT War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION | 28 May 2016 | Issue 6643 | $1.50

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Kia ora Fostering Love WAR CRY

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

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

EDITOR

Major Christina Tyson GRAPHIC DESIGN

Lauren Millington, Amber Wilkinson STAFF WRITERS

Ingrid Barratt, Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond, Vanessa Singh CONTRIBUTORS

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

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

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Last week, my husband and I took a big step in our family life: we attended our first class for people interested in fostering and adoption. Where God will take us on this journey, only he knows. But God set me on this path several years ago, when I worked at Child, Youth and Family (CYF) as a writer. My eyes were opened to the huge need we have, right here in New Zealand, for people to open up their homes for the children who desperately need them.

Most Kiwis could not imagine the abuse and neglect that children who come into care have endured. I met a beautiful little girl who came to a party we ran, she was dressed in angel wings and her face painted into a butterfly—she could have been any other four-year-old princess. But she had been beaten so badly she had suffered brain damage.

On the other hand, I was hugely blessed to work with foster parents. Over and over again they told me that it was their faith that motivated them to open up their home to a child. These people do not receive acclaim, but they are quietly flavouring the world with God’s love. What a beautiful example of God’s Kingdom, here and now.

I felt God say to me, ‘Now that you know, you have to take responsibility to act’. For me, caring for the foster child or the orphan is not so much an individual calling, as a mandate in scripture. One of God’s favourite descriptions for himself is as a ‘father to the fatherless’. The purest form of faith is to ‘look after orphans and widows in their distress,’ says James 1:27.

In this issue, we interview Daryl Brougham, a remarkable person who survived abuse both from his parents and, tragically, from his foster carers. He has written about his experiences in order to be a voice for other foster children in New Zealand.

Now that we know, what will we do?

‘A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove … but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.’ Forest E. Witcraft Ingrid Barratt

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BIBLE VERSE Luke 17:2 Common English Bible

‘It would be better for them to be thrown into a lake with a large stone hung around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to trip and fall into sin.’

Ruka 17:2

‘He nui te pai ki a ia ki te whakatārewatia ki tōna kakī te kōhatu mira kāihe, kia makā hoki ia ki te moana, ā, kia kaua e taka i a ia ki te hē tētahi ēnei mea nohinohi.’

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WISE WORDS

Children brought up without love are like plants brought up without sunshine.

Catherine Booth

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Let’s Talk | 03

BY SHAR DAVIS

I

have always loved animals. One of my favourite places to go as a child was Orana Park in Christchurch with my grandparents.

This was partly so that we could do the famous hump in the road, where if you drove over it at just the right speed your ‘tummy would feel funny’ for a few seconds.

But mostly I loved it because I could get close to animals that you wouldn’t expect to see in surburbia. I am old enough to have experienced the days when you drove your own car into the lion enclosure and they jumped all over it while you sat both terrified and in awe inside the car.

I have spent hours, mesmerised by rhinos at Hamilton Zoo, elephants in Melbourne, tigers at Dream World, and lions in Christchurch. Zoos create controversy and debate about whether the benefits of education, preservation and breeding programmes outweigh the harm of having animals in captivity outside their natural environments.

Sadly many beautiful animals are already—or are on the verge of—extinction due to humanity’s lack of care for the environment as we evolve and pursue the next new thing: in technology, food and fashion to name a few. So what can we do? How can we both educate ourselves and others to take meaningful action?

The United Nation’s World Environment Day (5 June) ‘aims to inspire more people than ever before to take action to prevent the growing strain on planet Earth’s natural systems from reaching breaking point,’ according to their website.

The theme for 2016 is targeted at fighting against the illegal trade in wildlife, which erodes precious biodiversity and threatens the survival of elephants, rhinos and tigers, as well as

many other species. The accompanying slogan is ‘go wild for life’.

In April, Kenya demonstrated they are serious about tackling the illegal trade of animal products by burning 11 piles containing 105 tonnes of ivory and 1.35 tonnes of rhino horns that had been confiscated from poachers.

Ivory is used to make things like buttons, scottish bagpipes, billard balls, piano keys and even electrical appliances used in airplanes and radar equipment. It is estimated that between 2010–2012 over 100,000 elephants were illegally killed for their ivory.

The protection of wildlife cannot be something we leave to those countries who are ‘home’ to the animals most at risk.

Here in New Zealand we need to change our behaviour and habits so that the demand for products made from wildlife falls.

As we grow in awareness of the issues, we can ‘place pressure on governments and international bodies to introduce and enforce tougher laws and combat those still willing to break them,’ says the United Nations.

As a follower of Jesus I believe humans have a mandate to care for the environment that stems from creation (Genesis 1). God gave Adam and Eve (and their descendants) the responsibilty to care for what he had created. If I am to live out my faith completely, then care for the environment and creation is a part of the Kingdom of God, and in turn, my responsibility.

I need to view the environment as not a commodity for me to consume, but a charge under my care. The current cost we are putting on the environment is too high and it will be the generations to come who will carry the burden of that debt, unless we choose to be caretakers not consumers.

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Bookshelf Spirituality How To Be Here Rob Bell It will be fascinating to see whether controversial figure Rob Bell is welcomed back into the fold with this more orthodox book. Like all his writing, it reads as if Rob is sitting down with you for a chat— which is both the secret to his rise and his fall. Rob’s biggest sin might be that he doesn’t adequately source his influences, which from reading his works seem to be CS Lewis and theologian N.T. Wright.

How to Be is a reflection on our own part in creation and writing God’s story—a very popular theme in current doctrine. This is a really enjoyable read, with plenty of insights, without adding anything too new to the debate. (HarperOne)

Playlist

Biography Through the Eyes of a Foster Child Daryl Brougham As you might expect from a book about the experiences of a foster child—who was in 30 placements, and abused in every possible way— this is a hard book to read. Despite the fact that Daryl is restrained in recounting his experiences, its impossible not to feel intense anger at the system and adults that were supposed to care for this young life. An essential read for anyone who cares about fostering—firstly, because it’s important to honour the experiences of a child in state care. Secondly, because it gives real insight into what being in care looks like, feels like, and tastes like from the eyes of the foster child. (AM Publishing)

Christian Living Searching for Sunday Rachel Held Evans In a world where church attendance is no longer the norm, Rachel seeks to address the concerns, frustrations and struggles that many millenials have with the Church today. Losing one’s religion and claiming back one’s faith can feel heretical, yet this book encourages us to embrace the struggle in order to find authenticity in our relationship with God. Structured into chapters using metaphors of the sacraments, this is an honest, moving and challenging book that convinces us there is no ‘them and us’; there is only ‘us’. This book will help you forgive the Church and yourself, and fall in love with God all over again. (Nelson Books)

Reel News

Worship Lauren Daigle How Can It Be Lauren Daigle is a contemporary Christian singer/songwriter hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. Her first full length record How Can It Be flows directly out of a 2015 EP of the same name. It also shares with it Daigle’s commanding voice and powerful delivery. Opening with the midtempo ‘First’, the fairly conventional worship music instrumentation works well as a vessel for Daigle’s soaring vocals. The acapella ending of ‘My Revival’ flavours the records 12 tracks, as does a feature credit

by All Sons and Daughters on ‘Power to Redeem’. If you’re a fan of big worship anthems and a ‘if it isn’t broken’ type of approach to contemporary Christian music, How Can It Be is a perfect selection.

Alternative A Moon Shaped Pool Radiohead Radiohead have consistently revised their musical identity and retold their musical story. A Moon Shaped Pool continues their narrative by moving from the cold, calculated statements of Kid A back towards the warmth of serene analogue daydreams. The inclusion of lush string arrangements, thick choral layers and acoustic instrumentation makes this record feel a lot more inviting and ethereal.

Thom Yorke’s vocals hover and shimmer on the surface of moving soundscapes and exploratory, stream of consciousness melodies.

As a happy marriage of In Rainbows and King of Limbs, this is yet another retelling of the story of Radiohead—and it’s one worth listening to.

GIVEAWAY To win a copy of Through the Eyes of a Foster Child, tell us your favourite childhood tv programme.

War Cry Giveaway, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org. Entries close 13 June.

Documentary Sherpa: Trouble on Everest Jennifer Peedom / M (Offensive language) A moving story of courage and greed, set against the magnificent backdrop of the world’s highest mountain.

In 2013, news reports emerged of an ugly brawl at 21,000ft as European climbers fled a mob of angry Sherpas on Mt Everest.

Determined to explore what was going on, Sherpa was filmed during the following calamitous season. On 18th April 2014, a 14 million tonne block of ice crashed down onto the climbing route through the Khumbu Icefall, killing 16 Sherpas. It was the worst tragedy in the history of Everest.

Following the disaster, climbers and Sherpas entered into a tense mountaintop stalemate, before the Sherpas brought the climbing season to a halt, at great personal cost to themselves; their demands for better compensation and safety standards not addressed by the Nepalese government.

At the heart of this film is Phurba Tashi, the lead sherpa for Himalayan veteran Russell Brice. Tashi is about to attempt to summit Everest for the 22nd time but his own view of his profession changes as events take their inexorable course.

This brilliant documentary shows how the Sherpa climbers take the biggest risks but reap the most meagre rewards from Nepal’s booming $360 million mountaineering trade—yet the government only compensates $400 to the families of Sherpas who die working in the treacherous mountains.

The cinematography is jaw dropping, beautifully capturing the many personalities of Everest, and the faces of those whose livelihood depend on it, and whose spirits are connected to it. Sherpa exposes many truths about money, Nepal and the meeting of first and third worlds as an elitist sport gives rise to an international circus in a holy place.

Feature | 05

BY INGRID BARRATT Daryl Brougham went into state care as an infant. Within the system that should have protected him, Daryl suffered every kind of abuse in over 30 different homes. Daryl has survived to become the first foster child in New Zealand to write a book about his experiences. And although he never had a family to call his own, today he calls himself a child of God.

t’s hard to know what is most remarkable about Daryl’s story: that he suffered such extreme abuse, so many times, yet it went unnoticed by authorities. Or that despite this abuse, Daryl became a social worker himself to advocate for children like him. Or, perhaps, that Daryl not only survived, but has written the first book of its kind in New Zealand, to help others understand what it means to be a foster child.

Daryl describes a singular moment that helped him understand his 18 years in foster care: ‘I remember a lady once said to me, “Daryl, I read the Bible and in there it says that the orphan child is God’s child”. A lightbulb switched on. I now know that everything I have been through was so that I could be the voice of the child in care. My path was to feel it, taste it and be it, in order to know what needed to be changed.’

Although, growing up, Daryl literally didn’t know what a family was, he always had a sense that there was someone he could cry out to—a father to the fatherless.

‘In foster care you lose everything: you lose trust, identity, belongingness, property. You’re left with nothing but a higher power to look after you. You don’t know what their face looks like, but you pray that you don’t get beaten, you hope and pray the next placement is better, you hope and pray that you won’t become a target.

‘But I have learnt that God does have a face, and that face is the orphan child.’

How did it go so wrong?

Daryl was born in 1979 and is affiliated to Tainui-Ngāti Maniapoto. He has written about his experiences in Through the Eyes of a Foster Child.

His parents appear to have met while they were both institutionalised in a mental health facility. As an infant, Daryl was malnourished and suffered from severe urine burns after being kept in his nappy for days. Authorities were alerted, but nothing

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was immediately done. It was not until his mother dumped him next to the rubbish bin that Daryl became a New Zealand state ward, in the care of Social Welfare (the predecessor to Child, Youth and Family).

What should have been a swift end to his already horrific abuse, became just the beginning. Daryl was hospitalised while he slowly recovered, and was finally placed into a home with another foster child—a girl that he would come to think of as his sister.

Alarmingly, several concerns about Daryl’s care were lodged from members of the public, but these went unheeded. In fact, Daryl and his foster sister were taken by the family to the United States where any accountability vanished. There, the two children were kept in a room by themselves, beaten, starved and sexually abused. It took three years before a neighbour, who became concerned, alerted the USA authorities.

Daryl recounts how he heard his foster parents’ panicked whispers, and for the first time, they promised the children they would be allowed out to play and swim in their pool. The excitement was unbearable for both children, and despite being undernourished, weak and fragile, that they jumped eagerly into the water.

Moments later, the pool’s ladder was whipped away and the foster parents disappeared, leaving the children fighting for air.

Their lives were saved by their neighbour, who witnessed the children’s plight. At last, they were taken away from their abusers, and put on a plane back to New Zealand.

A glimmer of hope After spending three months in hospital, recovering from years of sustained abuse, Daryl and his sister were taken in by a ‘loving couple’. Here, he discovered that he could be loved. His new home became a sanctuary. He cherished getting cuddles, having mealtimes, being able to get himself a drink whenever he was thirsty. Daryl and his sister showed good signs of thriving, gradually healing physically and emotionally.

But it did not last. The fledgling foundations of Daryl’s life crumbled when authorities decided that his sister could go back to her biological family. The foster parents could do nothing to prevent it, and Daryl came home from school one day to find his sister gone.

Despite this deep loss and trauma, the love between Daryl and his new parents did eventually flourish. After two years together, they decided to take steps to adopt Daryl. The law meant that they had to get permission from his biological parents. At that stage an aunt who had six of her own children decided she would take Daryl in. Again, his foster parents were powerless against the weight of the law. What should have been a happy ending, became a tragedy.

Heartbroken over losing the only family he knew, Daryl—in his six-year-old wisdom—decided he would fight the new placement. It worked, and as the social worker came to take Daryl away, his young heart soared with hope, believing he was going back to his family.

Instead, Daryl was taken to a home for children in state care.

Years later, Daryl discovered his foster parents had tried for two years to get him back into their care, but their pleas were ignored.

Instead, Daryl would go on to have more than 30 placements—80 placements if you count short-term stays. He experienced continued violence and abuse, had his only precious possessions taken from him, and never again got to experience the warm embrace of a family.

But it was that one, loving family that gave him the strength to

go on: ‘They injected a hope and passion in me that there are good people out there, and I held on to that all the time I was in care. I thank the heavens that I was given that experience so I knew that love was possible.’

Living the change Today Daryl is a registered, qualified social worker with ‘an absolute passion to change the system’. Through his book he has become a speaker and a voice for children and young people in care.

His message to them is simple: ‘It’s not your fault.’

He’s also spreading the message about how foster care is experienced through the eyes of the child. The biggest impact, he says, is the sheer number of placements.

‘You don’t know why you’re in care to start with. But then with multiple placements come multiple impacts—new school, new carers; you lose belongings, you lose friends. With every new placement promises are broken, your trust starts to disappear. You don’t know your identity or where you belong,’ explains Daryl. ‘As a child you don’t define trust academically, you feel it, taste it and smell it.’

But multiple placements is the result of a unique child being put into a uniform system—and then into ‘systems within systems’. For example, when a child goes into care, they go through ‘transitional care’—a short term placement until they can either go back to their family or find a permanent home for life. Well, that’s the theory. But the reality can be quite different: ‘Johnny comes into transitional care. After a while, he goes back to his family. But that breaks down, so he goes back into transition.

Then he goes into a “home for life”, thinking, “Yay, a permanent family”. But then Aunty Jo from a couple of years ago decides she’d like to give poor Johnny another go. But Aunty can’t deal with his behaviour. So he goes back into transitional care … and it goes on and on.

‘The adult lens is, “We need to get this right”. But the child’s lens is, “Please, can you just keep me where I’m happy?” ’

But I have learnt that God does have a face, and that face is the orphan child.

Through the child’s lens Through his personal experiences, Daryl can answer some of the most disturbing questions around children in care. Like, how is it that children who have been abused can be allowed to be re-abused in state care?

Daryl’s answer is surprising: ‘I think every person who decides to be a foster parent has the right intentions. But they are not wellresourced, they don’t understand the impacts of care on the child.

The child will test them and take them through many difficult things, they will scream and yell and start smashing things. The caregiver doesn’t understand and turns to discipline, and as frustration rises, that becomes abuse.’ The child is looking for is reassurance. But what they receive is discipline—their behaviour escalates, and so does the discipline.

Added to this, it is extremely difficult for isolated children to ask for help. ‘If you’re a social worker and you visit a child in their foster home, you’re going to maybe stop and say “Hi” to the child, and then walk past and sit down for a cup of coffee with the caregiver. From an adult’s lens this is perfectly acceptable. But the poor child is thinking, “I really wanted to tell you something

Feature | 07

Everything I went through was because I have been given the task of speaking up for other foster children. but now you look like you’re friends with the caregiver and I don’t think I can say anything”.’

Tragically for Daryl, this is what happened in his placements.

One foster parent became violent, but he appeared so friendly with the social worker—who only visited every two months—that Daryl felt he couldn’t say anything.

Experiencing huge loss and grief, Daryl got out of bed every night to look at his ‘treasure chest’—a box of his only belongings, which included precious pictures of the foster sister he had lost.

One night, the father took away the treasure chest as punishment for being up during the night.

His chest was the most precious thing in Daryl’s world, but because he believed that the social worker and foster parents were friends, he stayed quiet. Not only did Daryl lose his treasures forever, but he was placed with the same terrifying foster parent twice.

‘The adult is thinking, “The child is not sleeping, so I’ll take his distractions away”. But from the child’s perspective, the fact that they’re not sleeping, that they’re getting up at night to look at photos, is saying that they’re missing someone, they’re feeling loss,’ explains Daryl.

A happy ending afterall But Daryl has found happiness as an adult, saying that even his worst experiences have led him to his calling in life. ‘I came to the realisation that everything I went through was because I have been given the task of speaking up for other foster children,’ he says.

‘That is my destiny.’

And, with his partner Emily and his children, Daryl does indeed know the warm embrace of family. Daryl was finally able to get in touch with the foster sister he lost. He says that ‘she is not my sister biologically but she is spiritually. We’ve been through so many near-death experiences, it has spiritually connected us’.

CYF has officially apologised to Daryl and provided compensation. ‘Daryl’s care involved a litany of failings on the part of the Department of Social Welfare and the Children, Young Persons and their Families Service,’ says CYF general manager of operations, Kay Read. And adds that ‘a lot has changed since the experiences Daryl has recounted’.

The process for vetting potential caregivers, training them and reviewing their performance is now more robust. Children and young people also have regular opportunities to provide feedback on their care in a safe way.

‘Every child deserves to be in a place where they feel safe and are able to thrive. No child should ever have to endure abuse of any kind, especially at the hands of people tasked with caring for them,’ says Kay. Daryl says his apology gave him the closure he needed, but the system is still broken. He claims that ‘92 per cent [of young people who have come through care] have no NCEA Level 2, 62 per cent end up on benefits and 26 per cent end up in jail’.

Although major reforms to state care have recently been announced, Daryl has a challenge for government: ‘They are going to increase resources but give it to the system that has failed us already.

‘Let’s admit that what we’ve done has not been working, and ask “how can we do this better?” Let’s learn from this, eh.’

What every foster child needs These are the four main impacts of foster care on a child, according to Daryl Brougham.

1. Identity: If a foster child is moved around, their sense of identity is interrupted. Giving foster children time, allowing them to explore, have fun, and develop their interests, will build their identity.

2. Trust: Each time a child is moved, their defences become stronger and their trust is lost. Trust takes time, and foster children will test our trust. We need to stick by them through thick and thin, and nurture them through their behaviours.

3. Belonging: This is the human emotional need to be an accepted member of a group. Foster children need to be as much part of our family as our own children. They need to know they belong with us.

4. Property: When a child is moved, they may lose what few possessions they have. Carers can foster a sense of worth by valuing the child’s possessions, creating a box for them with keepsakes and photos, and just letting them know how much you value them.

Was this you?

If you have a story similar to Daryl’s, and feel that you were harmed by state care, the Ministry of Social Development encourages you to contact them.

Their Historic Claims advisors can explain how they may be able to help and the various options available for resolution. ‘Where we have got it wrong, we will apologise. Claimants may receive a financial payment if they came to harm because of a failure in our care,’ says Kay Read, operations manager for Child, Youth and Family. ‘We also look at what other help we can provide, such as counselling.’ p: 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459), e: HistoricClaims@msd.govt.nz

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HEALTH

LIFESTYLE

Good Deeds Reduce Anxiety

Our Funniest Parenting Fails

Doing good deeds helps socially anxious people relax, according to a new study.

It’s Global World Day of Parents on 1 June, and if there’s one thing every parent knows, it’s that things don’t always go according to plan.

So to celebrate, the War Cry team have shared some of their favourite parenting fails.

Being busy with acts of kindness helps socially anxious people to mingle more easily with others, according to a study published in the journal Motivation and Emotion.

Sufferers from social anxiety are more than just a little shy. Dealing with others might make them feel so threatened or anxious that they often actively avoid socialising. Although this protects them from angst and possible embarrassment, they lose out on the support and intimacy gained from having relationships with others.

Performing acts of kindness to the benefit of others is known to increase happiness. So, this study set out to investigate if acts of kindness could be especially beneficial for people who found social interaction difficult.

The 115 participants—all of whom experienced high levels of social anxiety —were randomly put into into three groups: one performed acts of kindness, such as doing a roommate’s dishes, mowing a neighbour’s lawn, or donating to a charity. The second group was only exposed to social interactions but not asked to do good deeds, while the third group participated in no specific activities and simply recorded what happened each day.

The patients who did good deeds had the greatest reduction in social anxiety. And interestingly, the effect was immediate—having the most effect early on the study. The anxiety of these patients reduced quicker than the patients who were exposed to social interaction, without good deeds.

According to the researchers, taking up acts of kindness may, over time, help socially anxious people lead more satisfying lives. It’s another example of science discovering what the Bible has always taught. In this case, that when we ‘lose our own lives’ in giving to others, we discover our true selves.

Source: www.springer.com

‘Anyone who has had a child knows how desperate you can be for a few moments of privacy. I had one of those days with my son, so when I went to the bathroom, I locked the door. But as soon as I sat down, I heard the familiar, ‘Mummy, where are you?,’ ‘Mummy what are you doing?’ followed by my son’s desperate attempt to open the door. Frustrated I replied, rather sarcastically, ‘Cooking dinner!’. When I came out of the bathroom, there stood my son with a very confused look on his face. Then he said, ‘Mummy, I don’t think I want to eat dinner tonight.’ Anne.

‘I have a very active two-year-old who tends to run away in shops. So I finally succumbed, and bought one of those leashes attached to a backpack. I introduced it carefully by putting on the backpack as we walked down the street—she loved it. When we got into a shop, I sneakily attached the leash to the backpack. No sooner had I done it and started talking to the shop assistant, than my daughter got down on all fours and started barking like a dog. ‘Look mummy,’ she yelled excitedly, ‘I’m a doggy! Woof Woof!’ The leash came off, and has never come out again,’ Amber.

‘My son is a typical boy who loves trucks, cars and emergency vehicles.

When he was learning to talk, he loved to say ‘fire truck’. He loved pointing out fire trucks everywhere and yelling at the top of his lungs, ‘Fire truck, fire truck!’. Unfortunately, he tended to blur the two words together … I’ll let you work out how it came out. He yelled his favourite word on the street, in supermarkets, at church. Let’s just say I did not look like “parent of the year”,’ Martin.

‘One thing I love about my threeyear-old son is that he loves to give compliments. When I put on lipstick recently my son said, “Mummy, you look like a chicken!”.’

Ingrid.

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Mark Twain

Moist Chocolate Muffins So moist and delicious it’s hard to believe they’re pretty low in fat. To lower the fat content further, omit chocolate chips | For 12 regular or 24 mini muffins 1 cup (about 200g) pitted prunes ½ cup boiling water ½ cup cold water ½ cup (150g) extra low-fat (2%) sour cream ¼ cup canola oil 1 large egg 1½ tsp lecithin (optional) 1¾ cups plain flour ½ cup sugar ¼ cup cocoa powder 4 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt ¼ cup chocolate chips (optional)

Heat oven to 190˚C (180˚C fanbake), with rack just below middle.

Place prunes in food processor and add boiling water.

Process until prunes are well chopped, then add next 4 ingredients (or 5 if using the lecithin) and process until mixture is smooth and creamy.

Measure liquid ingredients into the dry mixture, and fold together gently, stirring no more than absolutely necessary. Spoon mixture into 12 regular (or 24 mini) non-stick sprayed muffin pans.

Bake for 12–15 mins until centres spring back when pressed lightly. (Mini muffins will cook more quickly.)

Remove muffins from oven and leave to cool in pans for 2–3 mins.

From 100 Favourite Muffins & Slices by Simon and Alison Holst www.holst.co.nz

Lifestyle | 09

Q&A Criticism in marriage My wife is really critical of me, and we seem to be stuck in a cycle of negative communication. How can I bring positivity back to our marriage?

After researching marriage for decades, world-renowned professor emeritus at the University of Washington, Dr. John Gottman, says that the number one predicator of marriage break-ups is one simple thing: contempt.

Contempt is talking down to their partner, being insulting or acting superior. Astonishingly, Gottman’s extensive research found that contempt not only predicted the health of marriages but also the physical health of marriage partners.

That’s the bad news, but the good —nay, great—news is that this negative cycle can be turned around.

Gottman identified the following top four habits that make marriages work: • Create a ‘love map’: ‘It’s like a road map you make of your partner’s internal psychological world,’ says Gottman. It means asking your partner about ‘what makes them tick’ and disclosing personal details about yourself.

In other words, connect with your partner, beyond the talk of weekly family logistics.

• Respond positively to ‘bids’: We all frequently make little bids for our partner’s attention. You say something and you want them to respond. It can be as simple as saying, ‘Nice day, isn’t it?’ In Gottman’s study, couples who divorced only responded to bids 33 per cent of the time. Successful couples responded to bids 86 per cent of the time. So, simply respond when your partner asks for attention.

• Show admiration: You know that delusional love you experienced when you first fell for your partner?

Hold on to that. People with successful marriages saw their partner as better than they really were. People who divorced saw their partners as worse than they really were.

• Start the conversation: When you approach a difficult conversation, start it positively.

One of the most powerful things you can say is, ‘Hey, this isn’t all your fault, I know that part of this is me. Let’s talk about what’s me and what’s you.’ Accepting responsibility is huge for repairing hurts.

Source: www.observer.com

Testify Holly Cormack grew up in foster care, but it was at The Salvation Army that she found her true family.

I recall my childhood as a difficult time. My father was violent and an alcoholic. My mother was addicted to gambling and completely disengaged. I have memories of being left all day or night when I was six, looking after my brother.

We never had any food in our house.

My first experience of The Salvation Army was when I was seven, and my mother sent me to stay with my dad, who was at a Salvation Army half-way house in Upper Hutt. The person in charge there offered to take us to church.

So we went along, and I just loved it. It was fun, inviting, and the people were so kind. I went back to live with my mum, but kept going to Sunday School.

When I was 11, I remember Child, Youth and Family coming to our house with the Police. It was really scary, and right then and there they uplifted me and my brother. A neighbour had alerted them, after seeing the state of our house, and us being left alone there.

I remember sitting in a meeting with my mother, the police, the principal of my school, and my CYF social worker. The social worker asked me, ‘Do you want to go back to your mother?’

It was really hard, but with my mother right there I said, ‘No’.

I had a friend, whose family was at The Salvation Army, and they took me in. My foster parents

were wonderful and they did their best, but I was very angry and difficult to deal with. It culminated when I was 15 and I ‘ran away from home’.

So by 16, I was on my own, on the Unsupported Youth Benefit.

Again, through my Salvation Army family, some friends’ parents offered me board. They were lovely and gracious towards me, but I was still out of control. At 17, I fell pregnant. That catapulted me into the adult world—I moved in with my daughter Gabby’s father and we tried to make a go of it. Of course, it all fell to pieces.

I was still wanting to go out and party, and would leave Gabby with my friend Alana, who I met at church when I was 12 and who stuck with me through thick and thin. But she confronted me, and said that I had to change my life.

Help The Salvation Army feed Kiwis in need

THE

Foodbank

PROJECT

That was a turning point for me.

I moved to Napier and was determined to make a fresh start, so I started going to the Salvation Army corps there. That’s when I really started to grow my relationship with God and let him change me. Since then he has just continued to build me up. In 2009, I met my husband Che and we now have two children, Braxton and Indi. We moved back to Upper Hutt to put down our roots, and Che now works as manager of the Petone Family Store.

I still struggle with day-today life sometimes, because I never had a mother who taught me the simple things like eating well, housework or how to parent.

But through the amazing people God has surrounded me with, I have many spiritual mothers and fathers.

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

NAME: ADDRESS:

Quickly, easily and securely donate food at foodbank.org.nz

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

10 | WarCry 28 May 2016

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There are two types of quitters, and Nicki Koziarz—author of Five Habits of a Woman Who Doesn’t Quit—is honest that she has been both: there’s the foot-stomping quitzilla, and there’s the potentially even more damaging ‘quiet quitter’.

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Travellers to a holy place Show Where to hear an aria Fom citrus trees Most prominent Residue Came to earth Stands for things Possession Conjurer No intelligible meaning Take cover Bad for the lungs A former communist empire Representative Tempest

QUICK QUIZ 1 2 3 4 5

Who won the 2016 Gold Logie at the Australian TV Week Logie Awards?

Where is the FBI Academy located?

Where are the 2016 Summer Olympics being held?

Who was Anne Boleyn’s husband?

What, according to Proverbs, lifts its voice up in the streets?

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

I found myself becoming a quiet quitter in my early stages of stepping out in faith with God. I wanted God to use me in big ways; but because of my past, there were a lot of hurt feelings, especially in the church. I constantly felt like leadership was overlooking me because I was ‘that girl’. The one who got pregnant before she was married. So I closed myself off from the church and relationships, I wasn’t open to much of anything, let alone God. Quiet quitters seem to have this large target on their back titled Discouragement. Lysa TerKeurst, president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, described this best by saying, ‘Our character has to match our calling.’

There are things God has placed only you on this earth to do. We are ‘called’. But is our character ready? Here are some signs that God may need to help you quit quitting: •

Excuses become the attire for the day. You start thinking of them the night before, carefully crafting the perfectway-out explanation,

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You stop responding to emails, phone calls and text messages about your commitments.

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Attendance at meetings surrounding your commitment becomes less frequent.

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You pull back from being around people who ask too many questions.

Quiet quitters are closed to the process, closed to conversation and, ultimately, closed to what God is doing. While I’m still

definitely in the process of lining up my character to match my calling, there’s a verse that has helped me so much. It’s Psalm 55:22: ‘Cast your burden on God and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.’

Just asking God to sustain us releases mercy, which is a fresh supply of strength. When a quiet quitter whispers ‘God, sustain me’, the urge to quit begins to flee. If we learn to stay open to God’s movement through hard assignments, he will do something inconceivable in and through them.

It’s what we can call an Ephesians 3:20 moment: ‘Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.’

A quiet quitter has the advantage over a Quitzilla because they will take the time to internally process things before reacting. They have the disadvantage because the process is often overthought and seen as being finished when it’s not.

But if the quiet quitter can switch their quiet heart from quitting to trusting, everything has the potential to change. The process of living under the covering of God is going to require some brain reminders—it will feel natural to want to control our circumstances.

But God doesn’t meet us at perfection. He meets us where we are in our process toward receiving his promises.

Close Up | 11

BY ROBIN RAYMOND

Senior Service ‘If you have a pulse, you have a purpose and it doesn’t matter if you’re 5, 45 or 95.’ That’s the message from Australia South Territorial Seniors Mission Consultant Major Jennifer Cloak. Jennifer, who was in Christchurch last week for a conference on maximising ministry to adults, says we need a change of mind-set about age and ageing.

In our culture today, ageing has a negative connotation, with a message that you get less useful, but age is just a measure of experience. God has plans and a purpose for everyone and the Church would be wise to tap into this resource, she says.

‘It’s not by chance each of us is part of their particular corps or church. It’s because God loves you so much, he’s placed you in this community and given you skills and abilities to contribute. Jesus didn’t say, “Go and make disciples of all nations, but stop when you reach 75”.’

With an ageing population and people living longer, it is critical to engage with older people in our corps and community. The average New Zealander is 38-years-old, and the average Salvation Army corps member is 47, making it important to maximise the opportunities offered to people over 50. And we’re losing out on much needed talent and experience if we don’t, Jennifer says.

Sometimes older people step aside in churches encouraging young people to take their turn, but Jennifer says all ages work better together.

‘It’s about changing a mind-set, not to have seniors sitting in the corner saying nothing, letting the young ones do things, but to say, “How do we do life together?” ’ Jennifer challenges the word senior, pointing out that in most areas of life it is considered a positive—indicating someone with valuable skills, knowledge and wisdom to pass down and is not about age.

When she started her first Senior Ministries role 12 years ago, Jennifer met with Senior Ministries leaders from her division. I discovered that many felt disenfranchised and not valued. ‘Some had run big businesses, been international sales people, served in the armed forces or run farms and families. I looked around thinking, “How are we not valuing these people and their experience?” ’ Since then, Jennifer has focused on changing the mind-set of both older Salvationists and corps leaders. She began with valuing the leaders and listening to them. Then together they worked on developing the spiritual life of older adults within the division, encouraging them to see their place in God’s Kingdom, and igniting their passion to remain active, growing and serving.

The spiritual focus included preparing Bible study resources, setting up an 80+ pray-ers group, and holding a rally for seniors. This is now a territorial event held every two years, with a strong spiritual component.

Next year’s Seniors Rally is expected to draw more than 1000 people, demonstrating their hunger to engage and be fed spiritually.

In the area of evangelism seniors have a vital role to play, Jennifer says. Although outreach has typically been thought of as something targeted at younger people, older people often have a great network of relationships and many opportunities to reach out to people around them. As people age they start confronting big questions about life and death, and how they will be remembered. This provides a great opportunity to connect with people and connect them with God. Outreach can also involve a rethink of church services, she says.

‘We will be more relevant if our focus is not to get people to come to the church, but to be the Church which goes out into the world.’

This is especially relevant when it comes to reaching Baby Boomers, who along with the Gen Xs are largely missing from church.

Baby Boomers changed everything, including their engagement with church. They were the first generation where many did not go to church regularly or at all; for them, stepping into a traditional church service with its particular forms and language can be a strange experience that does not resonate easily.

Baby Boomers carefully look at how they use their time, so it is not enough just to ‘turn up’; it has to have a point and a purpose,’ Jennifer says.

‘Church is more than just four walls of a building and Sunday worship is not the only measure of what church looks like or when gathering can happen. Maybe church for some Baby Boomers is going to be over coffee in a café with friends, where they discuss life and God; or maybe it’s in a small group.’

When working with older people, discipleship material, outreach opportunities, teaching and events have to be relevant, addressing issues such as spiritual and physical health, family, and end of life issues.

Jennifer works with corps organising mentor and discipleship training, and integrity checks so older corps folk can mentor younger people connected to the corps. She encourages intentional grand parenting and passing down knowledge and ‘story’ to grandchildren.

She also encourages corps to consider leadership roles on the basis of skills and talents rather than age, and older members are encouraged to speak up and consider ways they can help.

‘Your people are your greatest asset. Encourage all of your people to feel part of the corps, finding roles and places where they can use their talents to help and serve. God’s not finished with you yet—the best is yet to come.’

The band impacted people through music, personal testimony, spoken word, and the example that each band set in the way that they acted and loved each other, and the people of Perth.

WHAT GOD DID

If you’ve ever been on a band tour, you will know that it is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding … but so rewarding!

Members of The Salvation Army National Youth Band (NYB) toured Melbourne and Perth for ten days in late April-early May. Travelling overseas with a bunch of friends, playing brass instruments and telling people about Jesus was a once in a life time experience.

Under the leadership of Executive Officer Captain Chris Collings and Bandmaster Duncan Horton, the band had three main aims: to entertain, encourage and evangelise.

WHAT WE DID The first day kicked off with a 3.30 am wakeup call and an early morning flight to Melbourne.

For our three days in Melbourne, we were based at Mooroolbark Corps, about an hour out of central Melbourne. While there we played our major programme on Saturday night and led worship on Sunday.

A major highlight was the privilege of joining with the Australian Territorial Youth Band for a Spirit of ANZAC concert and the Melbourne ANZAC parade. It was special to join with our Aussie sisters and brothers and play to a crowd of thousands and national TV camera crews. Our time in Melbourne concluded with a concert performed by the Melbourne Staff Band.

Perth was our next stop. After a day of travel we were in the land of dry sand, kangaroos and dingo spotting. Perth Fortress Corps hosted the band for six days and our time here consisted of four school visits, four corps concerts, an open air, sightseeing and general banter with the Salvos from Western Australia.

A highlight for the band was the interactive school concerts. The kids participated in our concerts, singing ‘Let it Go’ from the movie Frozen at the top of their lungs, and the crowd favourite ‘Everything Is Awesome’ from The Lego Movie. It was a great way to interact with kids from the community and to share our faith.

The corps concerts around Perth had a broad range of music, confetti cannons, Mexican fiesta hats, good Australian–New Zealand banter, solos and testimonies. God was present and the band presented high quality concerts to appreciative audiences.

When you present

something before God

as an offering and ask him to use it for his glory, he will!

When you present something before God as an offering and ask him to use it for his glory, he will! Throughout the week the band prayed for the people we ministered to, and that God would use us in a mighty way.

The beautiful thing about how God works is that we went to bless the people of Australia, but in return, God chose to bless us. I can confidently say he impacted the lives of band members through the privilege of ministry, the experiences we had, the stories we heard and ministry of the Holy Spirit that we received.

Sunday morning at Perth Fortress saw Lieutenant Daniel Buckingham bring a very challenging word. He spoke on Micah 6:6–8 about how we are called to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly. Daniel challenged us that if we sing songs, play musical instruments, chat to people or serve a cup of coffee without having our hearts desiring to worship God first and foremost, then this is not true worship. The point of worship to God is not what we can get out of it, but what we present to God, not only on Sundays but through everything we do. The Holy Spirit moved in power and changed people’s lives.

The corps that we visited could not have been more appreciative. They expressed their gratitude and reflected on how our example of worship presented authentically to God, had changed their corps and their lives. We are eternally grateful to God that he allowed us to be his vessels for the sake of his work and his Kingdom.

Photography: Nigel Millar

28 May 2016 WarCry | 13

FAMILY Spending time throughout the year as a group and then 11 days in a foreign country creates a special bond. The word that reoccurred in our final night together was ‘family’. The group is a family. We are there for each other, through the good and fun times, and the bad.

It was special to

join with our Aussie

sisters and brothers and play to a crowd of thousands and

national TV camera crews.

What makes a group like the National Youth Band a family? Jesus. He is our common interest, he bonds us together and he is the reason we do what we do.

BEST BITS We asked members of the National Youth Band for their highlights from the recent tour of Australia: ‘Sunday worship services were really uplifting and so amazing! It was amazing to see the Holy Spirit move and fall upon everyone.

Another highlight would be our last concert in Perth. It was an absolute stunner! The tour itself was absolutely amazing and I gained and learnt so much from it! The Youth Band is just simply fantastic.’

GABBY WEON, AUCKLAND CITY CORPS

‘Going on the tour was an amazing experience for me. Throughout the tour I felt closer to God than I had done before. God opened my eyes to see that there is more to an instrument than just being able to read the music and then making a noise from it. It’s not all about how we sound or look either, but it is how we use our God-given potential and talent to minister to, and influence those around us through how we behave and act while playing.’

KASE WALKER, NELSON TASMAN BAYS CORPS ‘Being the youngest member in the band, it was an absolute privilege to be able to go to Australia and play with a band of this calibre.

One of my highlights had to be going to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The atmosphere was incredible … even though I did not entirely understand AFL. My spiritual highlight from this tour was the message that Daniel Buckingham brought. The message was about worship and not just turning up to church, but going out of your way during your week to worship God through things that you do. I really enjoyed this tour—the memories will be with me forever.’

JONTY ZYDENBOS, BLENHEIM CORPS ‘As crazy as it sounds, my highlight would be marching in the ANZAC day parade in Melbourne. It was so special to be a part of it. My God moment would have to be after the concert at Mandurah Corps when the officer got up and shared her story. After hearing the NYB in Sydney in 2006, she returned to The Salvation Army and became an officer. I was one of the few people on tour who was also in that band. It was awesome to hear how our music blesses people and how we can be instruments used by God.’ ALTHEA WALKER, AUCKLAND CITY CORPS.

Come along to Congress 2016 from 29 September–2 October and check out the best performers The Salvation Army has to offer!

to salvationarmy.org.nz/now for more information and to register.

#talentnow will be an awesome fun, family friendly event for Congress delegates, friends, family and members of the general public to attend on the Saturday afternoon of the Congress. It’s a chance to celebrate and encourage the creativity in our movement!

Get into it Social media and crowd interaction will be an important part of #talentnow, so make sure you head to your local auditions and support your favourite performer by using the hashtag #talentnow and sharing your photos, videos and tweets! If you know someone who you think would bring a great performance to #talentnow, let them know by tagging their name with the #talentnow hashtag!

#talentnow kicks off with a regional audition phase and finishes with a variety style show in Wellington. #talentnow gives the audience a voice and a vote! Prizes will be given for placing at these

regional events (though placing does not guarantee a performance slot in Wellington), and regional events will be scored by local and expert judges.

Artists who are selected to perform in Wellington will be given a prime opportunity to showcase their best song, dance, monologue, dramatic performance—capture the audience and generate some buzz!

Registration Registration is now open! Head

As well as all the main sessions and #talentnow, there will be a whole heap of cool things happening just for youth at

REGIONAL EVENTS Southern Division: • Invercargill 7pm, 13 July • Dunedin City 7pm, 14 July • Sydenham 7pm, 15 July • Blenheim 6pm, 16 July Central Division: • Palmerston North 7pm, 18 July • Hutt City 7pm, 19 July Midland Division: • Napier 7pm, 20 July • Hamilton City, 7pm 21 July

Congress. Keep an eye on the Firezone.co.nz website and salvationarmy.org.nz/now for more details. See you there!

Northern Division: • Glen Eden 7pm, 22 July • East City 7pm, 23 July • Whangarei 5pm, 24 July

Our Community | 15

Salvationist Leads New Zealand Gallipoli Service

It was a moving first visit to Gallipoli for one Salvation Army officer as he led the New Zealand commemorations on Anzac Day this year.

Major Colin Mason was asked to lead the New Zealand service during the Anzac Day memorials and also read prayers during the joint Anzac dawn service. Colin was asked to take part in the services because of his role as the Principal Navy Chaplain and was part of a 33 strong official military contingent who represented New Zealand at Gallipoli.

It was a huge honour and a privilege he said, and he was still living off the memories of an incredible experience.

Colin has spent the past 10 years as a full time military chaplain, serving with both the army and the navy, and spent time on overseas tours including being deployed to Afghanistan. He previously conducted offshore services for the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings, but said it was his first visit to Gallipoli.

Reading prayers as part of the dawn service at Anzac Cove was amazing. But Colin said the specific New Zealand service, held at the New Zealand War Memorial on Chunuk Bair and attended by a crowd of over 1000 people, was especially moving and had a warmth that connected strongly with people.

‘The [New Zealand] military contingent finished that service with a haka. The VIPs started to move off and at that point we spontaneously got into a huddle. It was an incredible moment for each of us, as we recognized the unique and privileged opportunity that we had to follow in the footsteps of our troops. The cameras came over our shoulders and people could see the tears from us on the large screen.

The whole crowd was silent—they hadn’t moved.’

The military contingent also spent time walking the battlefield visiting graves and memorials and attended a Turkish ceremony the night before Anzac day. Colin also took time to pay tribute to New Zealand Chaplain William Grant, who was the first New Zealand chaplain killed on the battlefield.

Concerns about security in Turkey meant the trip was only confirmed the night before the group was due to fly, but they were extremely grateful to go. The trip had provided many opportunities to offer prayers and words of comfort and hope, and to provide pastoral support, Colin said.

‘When we were doing the battlefield tours we’d come across a grave site and there’d be an explanation of the significance and a padre would offer a prayer. There were a lot of informal occasions like that as well.’

There was a strong spiritual atmosphere to the visit to what has become a sacred space, he said.

‘In our group we had some Christians, some people of other faiths and some with no connection with God, but they were still appreciative and accepting of what happened. There’s a spiritual dimension you cannot help but feel. When you realise people sacrificed for you and when you walk over the areas where young men were maimed and killed and you’re there where they were, you sense that.’

Space for Homeless Belongings A group of rough sleepers in Auckland saw one of their ideas realised and gained a space of their own with the opening of 20 blue lockers last week.

The Waitakere Community Ministries fundraised and built the 20 lockers for rough sleepers to store their belongings in after discussing ways they could help with a group of them, Community Ministries manager Rhondda Middleton said.

Waitakere Community Ministries has an active work with rough sleepers in the area. It runs a breakfast club providing them with breakfast, and provides showers and laundry facilities for them.

Outreach worker John Maeva also works with the clients on goals and assistance, supported by the Auckland City Council.

So, when they were preparing for The Salvation Army 14 Hours Homeless fundraiser they sat down with members of the breakfast club and others to talk over what else they could do that might help.

‘The guys said one of the things that would help them was that they had no place to leave their gear where it would be safe, or wouldn’t get wet, and if they did find somewhere and someone else found it, there would be fights,’ Rhondda said.

The group agreed that secure outdoor lockers would be useful and they raised the full $8000 for the project through the 14 Hours Homeless sleep out event in October, coordinated by Community Ministries Administrator Jo Ghent. The lockers are a metre and a half high and a metre long, big enough to fit sleeping gear and back packs, Rhondda said. But giving each locker user a key to their own space provided much more than just a safe spot for belongings.

‘It’s about privacy and dignity and a space that’s theirs. They don’t have a home and they don’t generally have a car, but they now have a locker that they can call home.’

It was also important for the group that the lockers were their own idea—showing an often marginalised community they had been listened to and treated with dignity, and their ideas were valued, she said.

Three men were on hand on the first day to pick up their keys to a locker and Rhondda said she was expecting all of the lockers to be taken by the end of this week once word got round the rough sleeper community.

16 | WarCry 28 May 2016

Running for the Bus

A group of 14 salvationists from Dunedin have spent more than 24 hours running for a bus and a good cause.

The runners from The Salvation Army North Dunedin Corps ran from Mt Cook to Dunedin for the ‘Chase the Chatbus’ run, raising more than $8000 for Dunedin charity Chatbus. Chatbus is a free mobile counselling service for children aged 12 and under. It has three counsellors and relies entirely on community funding.

The runners ran in relay, running one kilometre each, starting at 8 am on 30 April and arriving in Dunedin’s Northeast Valley near 9.30 am the next day.

The run was organised by Nolan Hill and involved members from Nite Church, a student and young adult focused branch of the corps.

Nite Church aims to support needs in their community, working closely with schools and police. The group is encouraged to share the generosity they receive and to support the work of people making a difference in the community, and Chatbus’ work fitted well with their aims, Nolan said.

‘Early life stresses can have a profound effect on a child’s development and this is a fantastic initiative that provides kids with a safe environment to discuss their problems.’

Chatbus founder Averil Pierce said the money would pay for 120 hours of counselling sessions and to rebrand the signage on one of the charity’s three vehicles. It was an emotional moment watching all the

runners running together across the finish line, she said.

During the run, each runner ran at least one half marathon (21.5 kilometres) and one runner, Steve Tripp, ran 45 kilometres, Nolan said. Their time of 25 hours and 10 minutes to complete the run was three hours ahead of their estimated time.

There were a few rough moments, Nolan said. Despite racing to reach the Kurow Pub they were unable to get there in time to catch the general store manager and get a replacement bulb for a broken flashing light. And perhaps more seriously for some, their coffee plunger and coffee was left in Twizel. Fortunately, by mid-morning Averil saved the day, preventing the potential problems of very grumpy runners in a small van by getting a large tray of coffee from a café they passed.

Overall, though the run was a positive experience, Nolan said.

Vege Boys Fruit and Vege donated fruit, and Z Energy sponsored most of the fuel costs for the three support vehicles including one lent to the group by Christchurch Community Ministries.

Nite Church has a history of fundraising events including a bike ride to Invercargill, and runs between Dunedin and Invercargill, Oamaru and Treble Cone Ski Field. They are already planning their next event, a ‘Clock to Clock’ run in summer aiming to go from the Alexandra town clock to the Otago University clock tower, without touching asphalt.

Lightning in Clendon A netball academy is at the heart of the of a new Salvation Army corps plant in South Auckland.

The Salvation Army began work in Clendon, South Auckland, with the appointment of Major Jeannine and Captain Joe Serevi and their children in January. The corps held its first Sunday meeting at the Clendon Community Hall on Mother’s Day. Since their arrival, Joe and Jeannine have spent their days making connections within the community, and learning about the needs of the people of Clendon and opportunities to serve them.

They identified that Clendon has a large population of young families. Many of these families are on very low incomes or benefits and live in substandard housing—often multiple families live in one dwelling. Crime is high in the area, exacerbated by the large number of people who have no money, are bored and then get themselves into trouble.

And so was born the Clendon Netball Academy—a brand new mission opportunity providing professional netball coaching for students in years 7-8. The students play in the Salvation Army Lightning team in the local Manurewa competition on Saturday mornings.

Many schools in the area do not participate in the competition as it is too expensive for families. The netball academy gives these children the opportunity to train with experienced coaches midweek

and participate in the competition, Jeannine said.

Members and supporters of the Clendon Corps Plant have sponsored all or part of a uniform for each academy member. The corps also supplies a roster of people who support the team each Saturday and building relationships with the families of the girls is an important part of this ministry.

A core group of people have been meeting on Sunday evenings for ‘Prayer and Kai’ at different houses over the last few months. This includes Commissioners Alistair and Astrid Herring who bought their retirement home in Clendon because they believed God told them a number of years ago that this was where they needed to be. Some people indicated their interest in the corps plant to the Serevis while they contacted others to consider being a part of this new opportunity.

The official launch of Sunday services on Mother’s Day saw the group sharing a meal and a service at the community hall. Everything they need to prepare food must be brought in each week including pots, tea towels and utensils. It’s a big job when you don’t have an established base to work from.

The immediate needs for the corps plant are a van, space for a family store, office and meeting space. Ideally the Serevi family want to live closer to the Clendon community themselves and are focused on finding ways to reach the marginalised in their community and meeting their needs in Jesus name.

Our Community | 17

Salvation in a Complete Sense ‘Salvation in a complete sense’ is at the heart of The Salvation Army’s work in Nepal Lt-Colonel Lynette Hutson says after a visit to the country. Lynette has just returned to New Zealand after spending a month working with the Kathmandu Corps, while husband Lt-Colonel Ian Hutson was there mountain climbing.

The Salvation Army officially began work in Nepal in 2009 and the corps in Kathmandu now has about 30–40 adults and 20 or so children, Lynette said.

In a predominantly Buddhist and Hindu country, converting to Christianity is a major decision and all of the corps members had come through a hard faith journey, she said.

‘The young man who translated for me had been kicked out by his family and there was another young family there, their family had disowned them when they became Christians.’

However, they had a deep faith in Christ and were enthusiastic and determined Christians. Their work is truly transforming the whole of people’s lives, mind, body and soul, she said. A moving example was at the Army’s café and beauty training programme working with women rescued from, or vulnerable to, human trafficking.

‘One girl had been a prostitute for three years from the age of 14.

She was taken from her village and that was a common story. It’s life changing work—it’s salvation in a complete sense.’

She also spent time at a tailoring programme run by the Army, in church services, Bible studies and anything else that was happening.

For the corps members, in a society where your place is fixed, it was empowering to have a senior Salvation Army woman officer spend time with them, and Lynette said the experience was moving for her too.

Although she rarely had a translator at church services, Lynette said she strongly felt the presence of God. The language barrier provided fun moments as well, when she was asked to teach the tailoring students how to sew a collar to a shirt.

‘We were drawing pictures, cutting out bits of newspapers, it was amazing how you can communicate using the whole of your senses.’

Daily life can be tough. There are shortages of fuel and cooking gas after a political dispute saw India blockade the border. Power was only on a couple of times a day and water has to be ordered from a tanker—

Norway Goes Alcohol Free Salvationists in Norway and Iceland are preparing for a national day using flowers, recipes and juice to encourage people to discuss alcohol and drug use.

Alcohol Free Day, known as Rusfri Dag in Norway, was set up

by The Salvation Army in Norway in 2011 and is held on 8 June every year.

Andrew Hannevick, from Norwegian Territorial Headquarters, said the day sees Salvationists and others in the country running fun events encouraging people to abstain for a day and to discuss the issues of alcohol and drug use.

‘We focus especially on children and youth who suffer under adults’ harmful use of alcohol and drugs, and we wish to encourage everyone to reflect on their own habits.’

People take part at work, or set up stands in public locations and give out non-alcoholic drinks, share recipes and offer leaflets with public health information. The idea is to keep it simple and fun, he said.

‘[You] grab a small table and a couple of chairs to set up in your town’s square or on the train platform during the morning rush. Decorate with flowers and attach a poster to the back of the chair. Serve cold drinks, hand out leaflets, invite people to join—and smile. It can be that simple.’

The day has received support from other charities and the Norwegian Children’s ombudsman, as well as actors, politicians and businesses. People sign up to take part in the day at Salvation Army centres and are encouraged to share photos and thoughts on social media.

The territory is hoping other parts of the world will embrace the idea and that 8 June will become known internationally as Alcohol Free Day. The idea is also supported by The Salvation Army International Social Justice Commission, which is encouraging Salvationists in other territories to think about how it might work in their own territory.

but, the internet was great, Lynette said. ‘And everyone has an app on their mobile phone to tell them when the power is going to be on.’

The corps works across the whole of people’s lives. ‘They work in health, trying to get their people educated and monitoring their accommodation. It’s very practical, a whole of life expression of Salvation Army corps. It was a great reminder of what’s important in our faith.’

The country is also still recovering from the major earthquake last year and unrepaired buildings were a common sight, Lynette said. She was able to visit one of the Army’s many recovery projects, five hours from Kathmandu, where the Army and other charities are building 55 houses, replacing a village that was entirely destroyed, on safer land, allowing the community that survived to stay together.

‘The community is still living in tents. I saw some with the Salvation Army logo on them–really weather beaten. They’ve been there through snow in winter, summer heat and rain storms.’

GAZETTE Appointments in Retirement Effective 9 May: Mjrs Harold and June Robertson, Mission and Tenant Support Officers, West Coast Rd and Denver Ave, Auckland. Please pray for Mjrs Harold and June Robertson as they serve in these appointments in retirement.

Resignation Effective 27 May 2016: Capts Douglas and Janet Newman.

Following their commissioning on 9 December 2006 Doug and Janet were appointed as Corps Officers, Kaitaia. Doug was also the Chaplain for Employment Plus (E&E) and the Director, Bridge Programme, Kaitaia. In 2009 Doug and Janet were appointed to Invercargill as Directors, Men's Supportive Accomm, and Chaplains of Recovery Church. Doug was also the Director of the Bridge, Invercargill.

In 2013 Doug and Janet moved to Auckland where they were appointed as Directors, Supportive Accomm Epsom Lodge. In 2014 Doug received an additional appointment as National Operations Manager/National Consultant for Supportive Accomm Services.

We thank Capts Doug and Janet Newman for their 9 years 5 months 19 days of active service, and pray God's blessing on them in the days ahead.

Effective 29 June 2016: Lieuts Lisa and Stephen Iwikau.

Lisa and Stephen have been the Corps Officers at Mt Maunganui Corps since 12 Jan 2012, having been commissioned on 10 December 2011.

We thank Lieuts Lisa and Stephen Iwikau for their 4 years and 6 months of active service, and pray God's blessing on them in the days ahead.

Promotion to Glory Capt (Dr) Judith Christensen on 16 May 2016 from Hamilton, aged 73 years.

Judith Carol Christensen was born in Wellington on 14 April 1943. Judith spent many years in the nursing profession and eventually became a Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing).

In Feb 2002 a change of direction came in her working life as she answered the call to Officership and became a Cadet Captain in the Believers Session.

Following her commissioning on 12 Dec 2002 Judith was appointed as Assistant Div Sec for Programme, Nthern Div, where she used her considerable abilities in restructuring Community Ministries in the division.

In 2007 she was appointed to Booth College of Mission as Development Officer. Her main role was to reevaluate and re-present the education and training programmes aligned to changes in officership and in education.

Capt (Dr) Christensen retired from active service on 30 April 2008.

In 2011 she took up an appointment in retirement as Manager Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit.

At the time of her promotion to Glory Judith was Research and Review Project Officer Addiction, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services.

We honour Capt Judith for her 6 years of active officership and her continued service in retirement.

Please uphold Judith’s siblings and their families, in prayer at this time of grief and loss.

Well done good and faithful servant of Jesus!

18 | WarCry 28 May 2016

LEADERSHIP LINKS

It’s refreshing to take time out to reflect on the blessings in our lives …

Several years ago I arrived home from a rather busy day to find chaos in the kitchen. My wife was in the middle of removing all the contents of our pantry and placing them on the kitchen bench. What on earth was she doing I asked rather tersely. She turned and said she was having a ‘count your blessings’ party.

What on earth was she thinking, I continued, as it was dinner time and I was getting hungry?

Kristine then informed me that she had gone to the fridge and pantry to start on dinner and after slamming the fridge door shut decided there was nothing for tea. However, looking at the ingredients sitting on the bench she found herself reprimanded by all the blessings of food that were in abundance.

We can get bogged down with everyday life and all its pressing issues. It’s refreshing to take time out to reflect on the blessings in our lives and give thanks to God for all that he has blessed us with.

What a reminder, to take the time to think about what God is doing for us. Too often we just focus on the horrible and the hard things that can become all consuming.

I have at times felt consumed by meetings, emails, people to see, places to be and issues to deal with, so that I, too, have had to take time to count and reflect on the blessings.

I am thankful and blessed by all the people who gave of their time recently to collect for the Red Shield Appeal, and for all those who donated so generously.

I am thankful for all the people that have come through our doors at Community Ministries, Addiction Services, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services, Family Stores and our corps. I am thankful for all the staff and volunteers that have helped these people in their time of need.

Also, to our HomeCare, Early Childhood Education Centres and Education and Employment services, I am thankful.

I am also blessed and thankful for all those people who pray for our work and outreach to people in their community. I thank God for all the people that have given their lives to Christ and for the transformation that has taken place.

I am reminded of the words of a song that we probably don’t sing very often and yet the words are still relevant and challenge us to count our blessings.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by.

May God bless you this week and may you find time to count your blessings, giving God thanks and praise for all he has done for you and through you.

Captian Gerry Walker Territorial Secretary for Personnel

BY ROBIN RAYMOND

Setting the Bible Free Preaching can be a daunting task. Booth College of Mission Senior Tutor David Wells shares some tips about preparing a good sermon.

When you’re getting ready to preach a sermon, don’t think about what you’re going to say. Instead, ask ‘what has God already said?’ preaching tutor David Wells says. And put your energy into the passage you’re preaching on.

That’s because the ultimate aim of preaching is to let whatever the biblical writer was saying come across, he says. ‘What I want to do is to set the Bible free to speak for itself.’

To put it another way, the purpose of a sermon, according to American professor of preaching Haddon Robinson is ‘to present, explain and apply a biblical truth’. It’s about making that ‘biblical truth’ from the passage clear in a way that the audience can take home and apply to their lives.

To do that effectively, David teaches people that preaching is all about the ones: one passage with one central idea and one main challenge for how the passage might relate to us today.

The place to start, then, is in finding what David calls ‘the Big Idea’. This is the central thought of the passage, usually expressed as a single sentence that sums up the passage. To get to the big idea you have to engage deeply with that passage. When he’s preparing a sermon David says he spends up to 90 per cent of his time working on the text to find that big idea. But after that, the sermon virtually writes itself.

The first step to any sermon is, of course, to read the passage.

A good tip here is to read the passage aloud. All of the Bible’s books were originally written to be read aloud, and reading a passage out loud can be useful for showing patterns and helping you spot things you otherwise might not.

‘The other thing we suggest at Booth College of Mission (BCM) is reading through in a number of different translations, and then you get familiar with it and get the nuances,’ David says.

David encourages people to keep reading the passage and teaches his students to ask 12 questions as they study it that will help them understand it [see box]. The questions highlight the context of the passage, key thoughts and aspects you might need more information on.

When there are questions you can’t answer or more

Mission Matters | 19

information is needed, it is helpful to turn to other sources, such as Study Bibles, commentaries and sermons or thoughts from experts.

(David recommends the NIV Application Commentary Series as a good starting point.) However, these should be used to answer your questions, not to provide you with your sermon, he says.

‘You’re really like a detective at a crime scene. You can spot a number of things yourself, but if you look at tyre marks you might say, “I don’t know what car has tyres like that.” So you get in an expert to tell you. You’re using the experts to enable you to interpret the evidence, but you’re not asking them to solve the crime.’

David also recommends typing out the passage yourself. When preparing sermons he types out the passage down the middle of a page with lots of room on either side to make notes, as well as spacing out the text between verses or related chunks. This helps again with spotting things like patterns, repeated ideas and key ideas, he says. He then carries a printed copy of the passage with him, so he can refer to it regularly and write thoughts down.

‘I like to print the passage on a single piece of paper and write around it, so I have all my thoughts together in one place rather than juggling with lots of bits of paper. As I study it, I keep experimenting, writing ideas on that piece of paper and trying to sum the passage up in one sentence.’

Those ideas and summaries also help when it comes to identifying additional points you want to make through the sermon, to draw out the detail of the passage and to make the big idea clearer. Those points will usually make up the body of your sermon. David describes this as being like a basic child’s jigsaw, having perhaps three or four pieces that join together to show the whole picture.

The final step that David teaches his students, is to make the big idea relevant to the audience’s life today and then to give them something to take away into the week and beyond. To do that, it’s important to ask how the story is similar to our lives, how it would look if the big idea was applied to our lives, and what do we need to understand and do for that idea to be realised in our lives?

‘At BCM, we use the phrase, “the doggy bag”. What are people going to take away with them in their doggy bag?’ David explains.

What people take away might be something practical, perhaps an action they can do during the week or a habit they can build into their lives, or it may just be something to believe. ‘There might be nothing I have to do; instead, the takeaway might be something that helps me put on a different set of spectacles and see things in a different way, through God’s world view; it might be to give me a different attitude.’

Through the whole process, prayer is important, both that you will effectively communicate God’s message and that the audience will be ready to hear it. But working hard on the passage is also a form of

prayer—a constant interaction between you and God, David says.

‘My view is that when I start working on a passage of Scripture, I’m interacting with the Holy Spirit. What’s happening is a dialogue between me and the Author. As I’m working on a particular word, I’m saying to God, “Please help me understand what you are saying.” The sweat and tears in working on the passage is part of this working with the Holy Spirit.’

As for the speaking itself, engaging well with the passage should help with that as well, David says. ‘I think if you have a sense of excitement about what you’ve discovered, and want to share that with your listeners, that will come across.’

Booth College of Mission is running a course on Working with the Scriptures, led by David Wells, on 23 to 25 August. For more info, e: bcm@nzf.salvationarmy.org

Getting to Grips with a Bible Passage 12 KEY QUESTIONS …

1. What do I need to find out more about here to really grasp the passage?

2. What’s the story behind the book this passage comes from? (ie, who wrote it? When? Where? To Whom and Why?) 3. Where does this fit into the larger Bible story? (ie, its context.)

4. What word pictures are there? (ie, figures of speech; what are the meanings of key words?)

5. What puzzles? (What things are unfamiliar to us, like local customs, culture, history, geography, etc?)

6. What surprises are there? (Things that are unexpected to you or the original listeners.)

7. What affirmations are made? (Strong statements or declarations.)

8. What significant negatives are there in the passage? (Where no/not/etc are used to make a strong point.)

9. Are there any connections here with other Bible passages?

So… 10. What’s the point being made?

11. Why? (What results did the writer look for in his readers?

What are they to understand, believe or do?)

12. How do we get there? (How are those results going to be realised by the readers?)

20 | WarCry 28 May 2016

Part 2 of 5 Carla Lindsey explores what happened when Jonah said ‘yeah-nah’ to God. ‘Yeah-nah’ is one of those unique kiwi sayings that doesn’t make sense to the rest of the world. It means ‘I get what you are saying, but I don’t think so’. The book of Jonah is a yeah-nah story. Jonah heard and understood what God was saying to him, but his response was … ‘not likely!’

It begins with God speaking. Jonah is one of the minor prophets—and seven of the 12 minor prophets begin with the same phrase as Jonah: ‘The word of the Lord came to’ … Jonah. This opening tells us that God himself communicated a message directly to Jonah.

As with other Old Testament prophets, we have no clue what Jonah was doing when God spoke to him or even exactly how God spoke. But from Jonah’s response, we know Jonah clearly heard and understood the message.

Get up So what were God’s words to Jonah? Well, Jonah was told to ‘Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness had come up before God’ (Jonah 1:2). Given that Nineveh was the capital of the enemy Assyria, God’s instruction was unwelcome, terrifying and maybe even insulting.

Nineveh’s greatness is mentioned three times in Jonah, and archaeology verifies that Nineveh was indeed a ‘great’ ancient city.

It lay 600 miles north-east of Israel on the east bank of the Tigris River and housed a large population. The city had a reputation for its strength, pride, evil and brutality. In other words, it symbolised everything that God and his people opposed.

While some other Old Testament prophets did prophesy against pagan nations, they did it from the safe distance of their own country.

But God’s message wasn’t just about Nineveh it was for Nineveh. That meant he was literally asking Jonah to ‘get up’ and take it to Nineveh.

In the original language this instruction is worded very strongly. Jonah was to immediately go.

Run for it So, how did Jonah respond to God’s instruction? You could say, not well. Although Jonah was God’s prophet, here we find the first surprise twist in the book. Instead of getting up and going, Jonah got up and … wait for it … ran.

There is no discussion, argument or attempt to negotiate. He just ran. Perhaps it was fear?—of the Assyrians, of what other Israelites might think, or of standing out and being different.

So, instead of delivering the message to the Ninevites, Jonah 1:3 tells us that he ‘ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.’ Did you notice the repetition in this verse?

Why does the writer mention Tarshish three times? Probably because, according to biblical scholar James Bruckner, Tarshish was considered ‘the western most place in the Mediterranean world’.

Jonah was supposed to take a land journey north-east, instead he went sailing to the west. Tarshish was about a deliberate choice to go in the exact opposite direction to where God had asked him to go.

In the original language, the word ‘jarad’ occurs twice in verse three. It is best translated ‘went down’—here it is translated as both ‘went down’ and ‘went aboard’. Jarad not only refers to Jonah’s physical journey, it also has a metaphorical meaning. In Israel, worshipping at the temple meant heading ‘up’ to Jerusalem. So here Jonah is choosing to move down. A move away from God.

Instead of getting up and going, Jonah got up and … wait for it … ran.

Going down The idea of fleeing from God’s presence is mentioned at the beginning and end of this verse. In the Old Testament God’s presence is sought out. As a punishment, God cast people out of his presence. But here, Jonah attempts to remove himself from God’s presence.

We wonder if Jonah really thought it was possible to hide from God. Did he really believe that God was only in Israel? Or is this comment about Jonah’s personal withdrawing and cutting himself off from God; his wanting to be detached from his life and call?

So Jonah is trying to run away from God aboard a ship to Tarshish.

The tension is high. The reader nervously anticipates who will make the next move. Will God let such disobedience go unpunished?

No. Immediately God responds to Jonah’s disobedience. He ‘hurled a great wind on the sea … the mighty storm came upon the ship … and the ship threatened to break up’ (1:4).

Now we get to meet the other people on the boat. People who at this point are terrified they might die in the storm. In their panic we read that the sailors ‘each cried to his god’. They recognised that this was a supernatural storm, and each one cried out to their god, hoping one would save them. They also ‘threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten it for them’—these were desperate times.

Meanwhile, Jonah had ‘gone down’ further and was sleeping. The ship’s captain confronted Jonah, ‘and said to him, “What are you doing sound asleep? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps this god will spare us a thought so that we do not perish”.’

The captain gave Jonah two instructions. He told Jonah to ‘get up’—ironically using the exact same words God spoke to Jonah. The captain also asked Jonah to call upon his god. In the Old Testament a prophet would pray in times of crisis. Ironically, by asking Jonah to pray, the captain is treating him like the prophet that he was—but that he didn’t want to be.

Soul Food | 21

Casting lots Jonah was silent. But the sailors were not. They were the ones who prayed, not the prophet! Yet their prayers weren’t being answered. As casting lots was an accepted way of discerning the will of the gods, the sailors said to one another, ‘Come, let us cast lots, so that we may know on whose account this calamity has come upon us’. So they did and ‘the lot fell on Jonah.’ Jonah was the reason for the terrible storm.

With that revelation, Jonah was bombarded with quick-fire questions. The sailors asked, ‘Tell us why this calamity has come upon us. What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?’

What had Jonah done to upset the gods? He breaks his silence by telling them, ‘I am a Hebrew’ … ‘I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land’.

Ironically, here we find Jonah telling pagans about his God—the exact thing he was trying to avoid doing by running away.

The result of Jonah’s words was that the sailors ‘were even more afraid’. They now realise how powerful Jonah’s God is. According to Bruckner, they also realise how ridiculous it is to be fleeing from the ‘God of the sea, in a ship!’ They are now stuck in this life-threatening situation with Jonah, trying to escape an inescapable God. As ‘the sea was growing more and more tempestuous’ the sailors asked Jonah, ‘What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?’

Jonah told the sailors, ‘pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you; for I know it is because of me that this great storm has come upon you’. These words are shocking.

Jonah understood that he had caused the storm and needed to face the consequences. Putting it bluntly, the solution was that to save themselves, they needed to kill Jonah. The sailors were to treat him like excess cargo, and hurl him overboard.

While this act of self-sacrifice might make Jonah appear noble … it’s not. Still we see no repentance from Jonah. Jonah does not act. He does not pray. He would rather die than go to Nineveh. His solution was to escape God permanently.

Praying sailors The sailors did not like his instructions. They knew how powerful Jonah’s God was. They do not want to commit murder, let alone murder God’s prophet.

So ignoring Jonah’s instructions, the sailors decided to row hard to bring the ship back to land. When all their efforts to dig in their oars failed, the sailors ‘cried out to the Lord, “Please, O Lord, we pray, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life. Do not make us guilty of innocent blood; for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you”.’ It is interesting that these pagan sailors are the only ones in this passage to pray. The behaviour of the sailors stands in direct contrast to Jonah.

Jonah, who worshipped God, did not pray and did not take action.

On the other hand the pagan sailors were practical, praying people.

Jonah was sent to save pagans, yet it is the pagans who are determined to save him.

Ancient sailors had a reputation as low class, thieving and dishonest, so the behaviour of the sailors is unexpected. We expect a prophet to care for the welfare of people, so Jonah’s disobedience is also unexpected.

Jonah was silent. But the sailors were not. They were the ones who prayed, not the prophet!

Man overboard Reluctantly, after asking God’s forgiveness, the sailors ‘picked Jonah up and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging’.

Having seen the violent storm instantly calm, ‘the men feared the Lord even more, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows’. (Presumably not on a wooden boat in the middle of the sea, more likely once they’d reached port!) Vows were a common way to symbolically repay a god for their help in a time of crisis.

While the sailors in the book of Jonah seem fairly insignificant characters, they are probably my favourite. I like them because they are full of surprises. They are a reminder not to judge people. A reminder that sometimes non-Christians act with more of the love of Jesus than Christians do, and that Christians sometimes act in very unchristian ways. Let’s not put people in boxes because of one thing we know about them, or presume how they will think, act and feel.

Yeah-nah-yeah Like the sailors, Jonah too was full of surprises. I think he was caught up an internal struggle. He struggled with who he was, his calling and his way of seeing others. But rather than address those issues he dug his toes in and said ‘yeah-nah.’

But, as we continue this series, we’ll see that God didn’t give up on Jonah. Even when Jonah made a deliberate choice to move away from him, God persisted in inviting Jonah to participate in something that would make a difference.

All through history, God has given people difficult assignments.

And all through history God has been with his servants and has enabled them to do what he has called them to. God called Jonah to ‘get up and go’, and he still calls people in the same way today.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER Is there a difficult assignment that God has given you that you are avoiding?

How can you deliberately chose to move towards God? How does Jonah chapter one challenge your expectations of others?

22 | WarCry 28 May 2016

CALENDAR MAY 30 May–2 June: Brengle Holiness Institute for Local Leaders / BCM

JUNE 4–6: National Māori Ministry Hui / Omahu Marae Hastings 20–23: Ten-year Officer Review / Booth College of Mission

JULY 5–8: Foundations for Chaplaincy / Booth College of Mission 9-15: The Odyssey Adventure / Blue Mountain Adventure Centre

AUGUST 2–3: Leadership Essentials / Booth College of Mission 12–14: Missional Leadership Hui / Booth College of Mission 23–25: Re-reading the Scriptures / Booth College of Mission 26–28: 125th Anniversary / Booth College of Mission

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Isaiah 60:1

1–4 July 2016, Queen Salote Hall, Taufa’ahau Rd, Nuku’alofa with guest leaders General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Robert (Territorial Commander) and Janine Donaldson (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries)

Wellington South Corps 1891–2016

23–25 May: General’s Consultative Counsel 48 (TC) 27 May–7 June: Governance Review visits to India Western Territory, Sri Lanka Territory, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory (TC) 20–31 May: India Eastern Territory visit to overseas development projects (TPWM) 11–13 June: Southern Division Governance Board Visit 25–27 June: Central Division Governance Board Visit 28 June: Education & Employment Governance Board 1–4 July: Tonga Congress with General & Commissioner Cox

Come and join us to honour the past, celebrate the present and anticipate the future as we look to transition from our current facilities to a new multi-purpose complex.

Events include an opportunity to mix and mingle, and participate in community outreach, a dinner, a concert and Sunday worship. With guest leaders Commissioners Robert and Janine

Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 20 May: Jeff Farm AGM 22 May: Dunedin City Corps 25–30 May: Tonga Visit 11–13 June: Southern Division Governance Board Visit 25–27 June: Central Division Governance Board Visit 28 June: Education & Employment Governance Board 1–4 July: Tonga Congress with General & Commissioner Cox

PRAYER FOCUS Please pray for: Winton and Woodville Corps, Wills and Bequests, and The Salvation Army in Mali.

Celebrating 125 years in the Newtown Community, 26–28 Aug 2016

Register your interest: e: wellingtonsouth.corps@gmail.com

Do you know these people?

SCOTT, McDonald William or William McDonald, born post-1936 SCHULTZ, Trevor Stewart, born 1932 in Wairoa, disappeared in 1957 from Tokanui Hospital, Te Awamutu. We would like any information relating to this person’s disappearance TAURANGA, Ngaro (Bobby, Robert), born 1957 in Tauroa TITI (Anderson), Hema Rosemary, born 1949 in Te Kuiti TUKI, George, born early to mid-1950s WOOD, Stephen, born in 1960, New Zealand

Help us find these missing people and bring peace of mind to their families p: (04) 382 0710 | e: family family_tracing@nzf.salvationarmy.org salvationarmy.org.nz/familytracing

Booth College of Mission Library Spiritual Direction Formation Located in Upper Hutt, Booth College of Mission Library is a welcoming study space, with comprehensive, engaging books that will help you build your faith and the faiths of others.

Membership Officers and Salvation Army staff are welcome to make use of the library and can sign up completely free of charge. Others are encouraged to become members as well, for an annual fee of $50. All library users can have books delivered straight to their doorstep (or office) anywhere in New Zealand by post (charges may apply).

Borrowing Policies The loan period for all books is six weeks and renewals and

book requests can be made by phone, by using the online catalogue, or by email. Reference books and assignment books are not available to borrow.

Contact Librarian Alisha Tyson Phone (04) 528 8628 Email library@nzf.salvationarmy.org Go to www.salvationarmy.org.nz/boothcollege

Do people approach you to talk about their spiritual life? Would you like to train as a Spiritual Director?

Spiritual Growth Ministries offers a well-regarded and comprehensive two-year, part-time programme, designed to inspire and form you as an effective Spiritual Director.

The programme includes: • study of the theology and practices of Christian Spiritual Direction • deepening spiritual formation • regular workshops conducted by experienced practitioners • supervised one-to-one spiritual direction practice Applications for 2017 due 20 September 2016. Please send all enquiries to: Trish O’Donnell, e: sgmtp@xtra.co.nz, or visit www.sgm.org.nz for more info.

Crossword Answers: Across: 1 Philosopher, 7 Lie, 9 Ledge, 10 Arguments, 11 Rectangle, 12 Ideal, 13 Methods, 15 Tidy, 18 Ants, 20 Tornado, 23 Ulcer, 24 Embassies, 26 Synthetic, 27 Onion, 28 Arc, 29 Performance. Down: 1 Pilgrims, 2 Indicate, 3 Opera, 4 Oranges, 5 Highest, 6 Remainder, 7 Landed, 8 Easels, 14 Ownership, 16 Magician, 17 Nonsense, 19 Shelter, 20 Tobacco, 21 Russia, 22 Iconic, 25 Storm. Quiz Answers: 1 Waleed Aly (presenter for The Project), 2 Quantico, Virginia (547 acres on a marine base), 3 Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), 4 Henry VIII (She was his second wife), 5 Wisdom (Proverbs 1:20).

Fun4Kids | 23

colour in the picture then count the animals

can you spot 10 differences?

A big black bug blew big blue bubbles

Many merry mice make nice merry music

Five fat frogs ate five furry flies

read it ‘Good people take care of their animals, but wicked people are cruel to theirs.’ (Proverbs 12:10, GNT)

let’s talk

Do you have a pet? If you do, you’ll know that it’s very important to take care of our animals.

They need clean water and the right food every day. But not too much food, or they’ll get too heavy and that can cause health problems.

If you have a dog, it’s important to train your dog well. That way they’ll stay safe and they won’t annoy or even bite other people. Even the smallest pet, like a fish or a mouse, still needs to be looked after well. Their bowl or cage needs to be kept clean. If you have mice, they need something to exercise on, like an exercise wheel.

If you would like a pet, here are some

important questions to think about first: Has my family got time to look after a pet? Especially if it needs training!

Can we afford a pet?

What is the right type and size of pet for my family?

What do we need to do to make our home safe for a pet?

How would our pet be looked after when we go on holidays?

Not every family chooses to have a pet, but they are a great way to learn to be responsible and to get used to caring for something other than ourselves. And, of course, they can be lots of fun too!

let’s pray Dear Jesus, thank you for the many amazing animals in the world. Please help people to be kind and caring to animals. If I have a pet, help me to look after it really well.

Amen.

Is it not a time to let those who suffer under a sinful power go free, and to break every load from their neck?

Is it not a time to share your food with the hungry, and bring the poor man into your house who has no home of his own?

Is it not a time to give clothes to the person you see who has no clothes, and a time not to hide yourself from your own family?

Then your light will break out like the early morning, and you will soon be healed.

Your right and good works will go before you. And the shininggreatness of the Lord will keep watch behind you.

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer. You will cry, and he will say,

‘Here I am.’

Isaiah 58:6-9 new life version