28 Nov 2015 NZFT War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION | 28 November 2015 | Issue 6631 | $1.50

Back to the Future with Bridge & Oasis #PRAYFORPARIS … AND THE WORLD ONE DAY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING MISSION DEALING WITH IN-LAWS FIREZONE: ABBA IS NOT JUST A POP GROUP MEET THE GRADUATING CADETS HER FREEDOM SONG

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Kia ora Celebrating our new officers 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, Robin Raymond, Vanessa Singh CONTRIBUTORS

Kris Singh (music reviewer) PROOF READING

Major Jill Gainsford COVER

Photography: Luke Tearle 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 MakeReady | www.makeready.co.nz

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Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.

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

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

Publishing for 132 years

ISSN 0043-0242, Issue 6631

This edition introduces the 26 men and women from New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga who will be ordained and commissioned as Salvation Army officers over the next few weeks. You can read the exiting story of two of them, as Ameet and Jessica Londhe share how God brought them together in Mumbai, India.

Although Ameet was raised a Christian, Jessica was raised in a Hindu family and her decision to follow Jesus was met by strong opposition. In sharing her story, Jessica does not want to disrespect her family, who have come to understand her choice to convert. However, Jessica does want to testify to her joy at realising God loves her and that, in the person of Jesus, he has made a way for her to experience forgiveness. It is this joy that motivates Jessica and Ameet to want to share Jesus with others as officers within The Salvation Army.

Each year, as the annual commissioning of new officers rolls around, we thank God that people are still stepping up to serve in this way—not because officers are better than anyone else in the Army, but because they are necessary as full-time leaders of our mission.

Theirs is not an easy role. In this day and age, officers need to either have the skills or (even more importantly) be able to recruit and deploy the skills of others in at least the following areas: evangelism and discipleship, preaching, pastoral care, worship planning and leading, event management, working with children and young people, bookkeeping, staff and retail management, fundraising, media engagement and community work. Some are also called upon to develop additional skills as they’re appointed to serve in more specialised areas of work.

There are many careers and voluntary service opportunities on offer if we want to lead lives that truly matter in the world.

But, speaking for myself, the role of a Salvation Army officer remains an immensely fulfilling and rewarding vocation.

Christina Tyson Editor

BIBLE VERSE

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Matthew 5:16 The Message

‘Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! … By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.’

Matiu 5:16

‘Waihoki kia tīaho tō koutou mārama ki te aroaro o ngā tāngata, kia kite ai rātou i ā koutou hanga pai, kia whakakorōria ai i tō koutou Matua i te rangi.’

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Please pass on or recycle this magazine

WISE WORDS Read War Cry online with Issuu www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry

salvationarmyNZFijiTonga @salvationarmynz salvationarmynzft

salvationarmy.org.nz

Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space.

It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe. It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished.

Michael Strassfeld

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Photogrpahy: Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images

Let’s Talk | 03

BY CHRISTINA TYSON

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learnt about the terrorist attacks in Paris through BBC News, but my empathy and disquiet really grew via social media, as I read posts from friends and organisations.

Almost from the start, social media railed against the media’s perceived partiality. As people applied a French flag filter to their Facebook profiles and Tweets and photos tagged with #PrayforParis trended, others asked the questions that also deserved to be asked: What about those innocents murdered by terrorists elsewhere in the world? How much coverage do they get? How much value and dignity do we give them?

Probably the most compelling words came from Indian poet Karuna Ezara Parikh, whose father was raised in Beirut: It is not Paris we should pray for. It is the world. It is a world in which Beirut, reeling from bombings two days before Paris, is not covered in the press. A world in which a bomb goes off at a funeral in Baghdad and not one person’s status update says ‘Baghdad’, because not one white person died in that fire. Pray for the world that blames a refugee crisis for a terrorist attack. That does not pause to differentiate between the attacker and the person running from the very same thing you are. Pray for a world where people walking across countries for months, their only belongings upon their backs, are told they have no place to go. Say a prayer for Paris by all means, but pray more for the world that does not have a prayer, for those who no longer have a home to defend. For a world that is falling apart in all corners and not simply in the towers and cafés we find so familiar.

I was profoundly challenged by these words, particularly as I believe everyone is equal in the sight of God. And yet I confess, to my shame, I’m woefully ignorant of what’s happening in many of the world’s trouble spots. But can I really blame the media for this?

Max Fisher, foreign editor of Vox.com, pointed out in an article headlined ‘Did the media ignore the Beirut bombings?

Or did readers?’ that the media did, in fact, cover the Beirut

bombings extensively. Many other media reports of mass acts of violence outside the West seem also to have largely escaped those now complaining on social media. So, I guess I can’t simply blame the media for simplistic or selective news coverage; I have to look at my own browsing history.

Of course, this doesn’t let the media off the hook, because it’s also true that they do concentrate their energies on those stories they believe their (paying!) audience is most likely to consume. But, at the same time, the media is open to people power.

Folker Hanusch of the Queensland University of Technology, writing for TheConversation.Com, says website analytics prove that many of us simply don’t want to click on stories from countries that are ‘not like us’. And while that’s happening, it’s little wonder that the media aren’t motivated to change the news values that guide their story selection.

Hanusch gives the example of a multiple murder-suicide story that an editor told him was tracking well online until it became clear that the people involved were indigenous. Then, the editor said, ‘readership figures dropped drastically’.

As active consumers of news, we can shift the media’s news coverage to give us the vital resource of information from which empathy, compassion and even political solutions grow.

If we start clicking on even the tiny international stories on our news feeds, these clicks count. We can help tip the balance as click-by-click we send the message that we want a higher standard of in-depth global reporting and social commentary.

But it’s also important to acknowledge that some of what we want is already out there—although we’ll probably need to look further than our default Facebook news feeds and read more than a few 140-character Tweets. And, of course, we need to keep praying—for Paris … and the world.

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Bookshelf Art Māori Patterns Mitch Manuel Why did we stop colouring in?

Adults around the world are rediscovering the joy of colouring, and booksellers are using words like ‘phenomenon’. According to the latest Nielsen best-sellers book list, nine out of the top 10 international non-fiction titles for adults sold in New Zealand were colouring books. Colouring-in for adults has been hailed for its de-stressing and calming effects.

And it’s fun! This uniquely Kiwi contribution to the craze, Māori Patterns: Colour Your World, presents Māori designs ranging from kaleidoscopic to repeating patterns. You’re only limited by your imagination. (New Holland)

Playlist

Prayer Praying with Paul D.A. Carson This is a re-print of a book first published 20 years ago, and like many classics its message is still as pertinent today. D.A. Carson, professor of the New Testament at Cambridge University, says that ‘God doesn’t demand hectic church programmes and frenetic schedules; he only wants his people to know him more intimately’. For many Christians this will bring both a moment of recognition and a sigh of relief. In examining the prayers of Paul through the New Testament, Dr Carson guides readers toward a deeper spiritual life where prayer becomes a way of aligning ourselves with the character of Christ. (BakerAcademic)

Family Mum’s the Word Danielle Wright This delightfully-presented book reminds us that being a mum really is fun! Danielle Wright describes parenting as being a ‘circus performer, chef, baker, cook, cleaner, art teacher and family health specialist’ all at once.

With sections entitled ‘play’, ‘nest’, ‘eat’ and ‘travel’, the ideas are simple in essence, but presented with a touch of magic. Although you could find similar ideas on the internet, you’ll love poring over the pages with your child and choosing activities to enjoy together. Whimsical and fun, this book nurtures the special, creative relationship any parent has with their children. (New Holland)

Reel News

Pop/Dance Pop Purpose Justin Bieber Purpose is the follow-up record to 2012’s massive Believe by pop artist Justin Bieber. Despite his poster-boy-for-pop image, Purpose is surprisingly diverse in its range of influences, and this hints at a significant change of musical direction for the singer.

Purpose is a subdued record, filled with airy, breathy gaps and lush soundscapes, accented by synths and stuttering hi-hats. The subtlety is refreshing and really allows Beiber’s voice to carry the songs.

This album is also stronger lyrically than Believe with tracks hinting at the singer’s personal faith journey.

A unique and welcome album in the spectrum of mainstream pop.

Gospel Losing My Religion Kirk Franklin Opening with a spoken word poem on the downfall of manmade religion, Losing My Religion is as much of a statement as it is a record. Veteran gospel producer Kirk Franklin’s latest record is multi-layered, dynamic and progressive, though never once losing the gospel flair of his previous work. There are incredibly strong vocal performances and Franklin’s trademark style of shoutsinging punctuates the rich gospel harmonies well. A lack of reflection on his opening monologue is disappointing, with the tracks then following a predictable gospel path.

If you’re a gospel fan, you’ll love this—it’s vintage Kirk Franklin.

GIVEAWAY To win our review copy of Mum’s the Word, tell us what special/favourite activity you do with your child(ren).

War Cry Giveaway, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org. Entries close 14 Dec.

Documentary He Named Me Malala Davis Guggenheim / PG (Disturbing images, threats of violence) In October 2012, the world was moved by the news that a 15-year-old Pakistani girl had been shot on a school bus by Taliban gunmen for standing up for the right of girls to go to school. Rather than silencing Malala Yousafzai, the attack encouraged her to speak out more. She became a global celebrity activist and the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

In this documentary, award-winning documentary maker Davis Guggenheim mixes news footage, animations and personal interviews to flesh out her story. He Named Me Malala tells the inspiring story of an anonymous teacher’s daughter who grew into a teenager who tells off world leaders and said of terrorist death threats, ‘I have the right to sing. I have the right to go to market. I have the right to speak up. I will get my education—if it is at home, in school, or any place. They cannot stop me.’

The intimate family moments make up the best bits of this film, showing Malala as an ordinary teenager, including banter with her hilarious younger brothers and her parent’s swirl of emotions as they try to digest their anguish and adjust to living in a foreign country.

There are times where this all feels a bit hero-worshippy. But it’s hard not to go over the top when your subject is such a powerful speaker for human rights, who has forgiven the men who shot and still want to kill her.

Perhaps the most important thing about this film is the way it challenges our stereotypical perceptions through a Muslim refugee family and a female teenager. He Named Me Malala (like the book I Am Malala) is a timely challenge on the power of forgiveness and our willingness to speak up for the downtrodden.

Feature | 05

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06 | WarCry 28 November 2015

rom Mumbai, India, to Wellington, New Zealand, where Jessica and Ameet will be commissioned as Salvation Army officers (ministers) on 12 December. They have travelled worlds away from their culture and home to serve the one true God they proclaim as Christ. This stand has brought persecution, physical harm and rejection—an incredible journey.

Jessica was born into an orthodox family that stood out as Hindu among the Hindus. Her father was head of their caste, responsible to their community and known far and wide. Although he was never educated, he was a successful and well-known business man.

As a girl with an older sister and two brothers, Jessica explains that ‘rules for females are stricter.’ Despite these restrictions, Jessica’s mother broke with tradition in one exceptional way: she was determined that Jessica and her sister would be educated. She also asked neighbours to teach her children English.

At home, life centred around their daily Hindu rituals. The family worshipped the baby version of the god Krishna, with ‘idol worship’ taking around three hours every day. It included ‘bathing’ the idol in water sourced from a well, clothing it in clothes that ‘won’t irritate the skin’, offering food prepared in a separate kitchen especially for idol worship, singing in the ‘temple room’, and finally, putting the idol ‘back to sleep’.

Not only was the family strictly vegetarian, any mention of meat was considered a sin and they could not go anywhere meat was eaten.

Bigger questions As a young girl, Jessica threw herself into the daily Hindu rituals with passion. But as she grew, questions began to bubble under the surface. ‘I asked my parents, “Why do we have to be re-born thousands of times before we get salvation?” and “Who decides that my deeds are good enough to reach salvation?” They could never give me a satisfactory answer.’

But things changed when her parents moved suburbs and she began attending a new school. ‘I had a teacher who was different from the rest of the teachers. She had a quality that made people feel very special and loved. Her name was Barbara D’Souza.’ A French teacher, Barbara offered free, private tuition at her home.

Jessica jumped at the chance and, miraculously, her parents allowed her to go. One day, Barbara warned Jessica that her next tutoring session would not be about French, it would be ‘something very important, to do with my life’.

‘That day, she told me the story of the Bible—from Genesis to Revelation. She talked about how our world was created, how sin came to be and what God did for our salvation,’ recalls Jessica.

‘What truly touched my heart was that this God loved me so much he died for my sins. I couldn’t imagine anyone doing that for me!’

After talking for three hours, Jessica said, ‘I’m ready. I want to follow this God.’ Barbara replied, ‘You can’t,’ because she knew what lay ahead for Jessica if she became a Christian.

‘I started crying and said, “I won’t leave until you show me how I can follow this Jesus.” Barbara finally said, “Okay, stop crying.”’

She took Jessica through a prayer, and then said, ‘You’re now a follower of Jesus.’

Giving Jessica a King James Version of the Bible, Barbara told her, ‘I won’t always be with you, but the Word of God will always be with you. Store this in your heart.’

Thank you, Jesus Jessica laughs, recalling that she could not stop talking to people about Jesus—her best friends at school and some of her cousins accepted Jesus. ‘It created an uproar in my school and among my relatives,’ she explains. ‘My family suffered huge embarrassment within our community.’ To Jessica’s parents, being a Christian meant two things: being an ‘untouchable’ or being ‘immoral’.

Jessica’s parents brought a police complaint against Barbara.

Jessica was forbidden from seeing friends or family and kept at home. The Bible she was given and any Christian literature they found was burnt. Her father slept at the doorway of her room, and said that if she wanted to go to church, she would have to ‘go through his dead body’.

Amongst all this, Jessica felt convicted that she had to abstain from idol worship. Each stand she made against her family’s rituals, were met with beatings. This became a daily battle throughout her teenage years.

What truly touched my heart was that this God loved me so much he died for my sins.

Jessica salvaged some Christian scriptures and read them while hiding in the toilet. Trying to decipher the old-fashioned Bible she’d been given was almost impossible. ‘But something amazing happened. I starting hearing the audible voice of God as I read, explaining the scriptures to me and everything I was reading.

‘When I got beatings I would say, “Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus”, and I would feel no pain from the beatings.’

Jessica is careful to explain that her parents were trying to protect her, since in Indian culture what the community thinks means everything. Jessica was sent to stay with her uncle in Goa, where she struck a deal allowing her to go to a church two hours away in exchange for doing all the domestic chores—something only considered worthy of hired help. But this arrangement came to a prompt end when Jessica led her uncle’s daughter to Christ.

Back home and now in her twenties, Jessica insisted on going to church. But she recalls with tears how her parents touched her feet as she left. ‘For your parents to touch your feet is the ultimate disgrace. To think that I brought my parents to this place …’

She continues, ‘If you get enough beatings, if you’re told that you’ve brought shame and embarrassment enough times, it is hard to keep going.’ Jessica could not see a way forward in her life.

She was of marriageable age, but would not marry a Hindu. Her parents would not allow her to marry a Christian. Jessica tried to take her own life.

Other plans—Ameet’s story But even among this most turbulent of times, God had plans for Jessica. She found her vocation working for a Christian organisation as a supervisor of a half-way home for girls rescued out of the sex industry. This is where she first met Ameet.

Ameet was in his third year of a four-year Bachelor of Divinity and doing an internship with another Christian organisation. The groups would meet for fellowship, and Jessica shared her story.

Ameet recalls, ‘As I listened to her story, I felt God speak to me and tell me that she was the one for me.’

Ameet was born into a Christian family. His father was a Presbyterian minister—like his grandfather and great-grandfather before him. ‘As a teenager, I thought I was born into a priestly

Feature | 07

family and the blessings would be passed on to me. So I used to think, why bother to live a good Christian life?’

He hated being labelled a ‘pastor’s kid’ and went out of his way to be ‘worldly’. As a young man in his twenties, Ameet found success as a marketing manager, earning a good salary. He became vice president of the youth wing of a major political party, which gave him great status.

One night, he went out drinking with a large group of young men from his party. They began a bar fight with another group and severely beat up a young man. When the police arrived, Ameet—along with the others—ran away and took refuge in a local politician’s house.

The next day, the politician told him, ‘The young man you beat up died, but don’t worry, I’ll take care of it and make it go away.’

Ameet was devastated.

‘I started thinking about my father’s reputation. I realised I had done a terrible thing. I cried out to God, “If you help me, I will spend the rest of my life following you.” I went to the police station to turn myself in.

‘When I got there, they said, “No, the man is not dead; he is recovering in hospital.” The politician had lied to secure power over me.’ Then and there, Ameet gave his life to Christ. ‘I went on my knees, crying and crying, just wanting to give my life to Christ.’

He immediately stopped smoking and drinking, and shared his new-found faith with his friends.

That was 1999, and four years later, Ameet was completing his studies to become a full-time minister.

Coming together Ameet and Jessica prayed for three years that God would change her father’s heart so they could marry. But when Ameet visited Jessica’s home, her father would not speak to him.

‘Eventually, Jessica’s sister and brothers persuaded her father to visit my home,’ says Ameet. For a family who would never enter where meat was eaten, this was a huge step. But when he got there, a miracle took place. ‘We had about 50 relatives around, and as soon as he saw we were a community people too, he was completely transformed.’

Finally, the couple were able to start planning for marriage.

Ameet’s father said he would like Jessica’s father to give her away at the church. In exchange, he promised no meat would be eaten at the wedding. ‘When they saw what church was, they were completely changed. We gave them a place of honour and had a translator so they could understand the ceremony. We had a huge feast of a 1000 people—minus the meat,’ recalls Ameet.

Today, Jessica’s family embrace their marriage. ‘They come to our house, even though we are not vegetarian. And when they have a need, they have even started saying, “Please pray to your Jesus about this.” ’

‘Land of milk. Land of honey.’ She couldn’t help smiling to herself.

But as they settled into New Zealand, this promise seemed far removed. They both had to get work at McDonalds. ‘I used to cry as I was cleaning the McDonalds toilets,’ admits Ameet. ‘I asked God, “Why have you brought us here? In India we had good jobs, now I’m cleaning toilets—the lowest of the low.” In that moment God answered my prayer—there is no job too lowly, God was humbling us.’

They decided to try out the Salvation Army church in Glenfield, Auckland, as it was only 10 minutes’ walk away from where they were staying. ‘We prayed about it and started going to this church, and God started using us in leadership and different ministries,’ says Ameet. Within a year, they both found social work positions at Auckland City Mission.

And God had more miracles in store. After seven years and being told they would never have children, Jessica became pregnant. But shortly before the birth, they were devastated to discover that Ameet had a brain aneurism and would have to undergo an emergency operation.

‘Jessica texted all the church people she had on her phone and my family in India to pray for me while I was in the hospital,’ remembers Ameet. ‘That night was one of the terrible nights I can remember. I asked God why he brought us to this point of happiness, just to take everything away.’ The next day, Ameet had another scan and the aneurism had disappeared. ‘The doctors didn’t know what had happened. But I know what happened,’ he says.

A boy was born to them and they called him ‘Yahshua’, meaning ‘God is my salvation’.

As we become Salvation Army officers, we want to be Christ to people. But more than that, we want to see the Christ in people.

Namaste Ameet and Jessica’s ministry is beautifully summarised in the traditional Indian greeting, ‘Namaste’, meaning ‘I see the God in you’. When Ameet and Jessica give the greeting, they interpret it as ‘I see the Christ in you’.

‘As we become Salvation Army officers, we want to be Christ to people,’ explains Ameet. ‘But more than that, we want to see the Christ in people.’

Their first appointment will be as assistant officers at East City Corps in Auckland, with responsibility to plant a new Salvation Army church at Flatbush. For Ameet, training as an officer has meant humbling himself before God and allowing his character to be shaped. For Jessica, studying the Bible is a dream that she could never have imagined coming true. Not only does she own her own Bible, but Jessica is now able to freely proclaim its message.

The land of milk and honey Three years after they were married, Jessica felt God put the words ‘New Zealand’ on her heart. She didn’t even know where this country was and had to look it up on the map. She felt God promise her that ‘I will take you to the land of milk and honey.’

Jessica asked for confirmation, and suddenly the daily papers started running a series on how to migrate to New Zealand. Ameet went along with Jessica to meet an immigration officer ‘just to keep her happy’. But after about four months, on 10 February 2009, they arrived in New Zealand. Jessica saw an advert saying:

LEARN MORE ABOUT SALVATION ARMY OFFICERSHIP Speak to your local Divisional Candidates Secretary or your corps officer.

Go to www salvationarmy.org.nz/ officership for more info

08 | WarCry 28 November 2015

HEALTH

BUDGET

Fruit and Vege Staying Power

Christmas Shopping in One Day

Oh, the satisfying feeling of a fridge full of fresh fruit and vege … which then gets left to rot into an inedible sludge. But making your fruity goodness last until your next shop is easier than you think.

Not everything goes in the fridge: It makes sense that fruits from warm climates do not thrive in the cold—bananas, avocados, coconuts and tropical fruits should be kept at room temperature. The same is true of single-seed fruit, like peaches and plums—these should be stored in a paper bag out of the fridge. Finally, keep tomatoes at room temperature —the cold breaks down their cell structure and turns their sweet-sour deliciousness into mush.

Your Mission: to get all your Christmas shopping done in one day. You’re going to lick that Christmas list, like Tom Cruise licked that tall glass building in Mission Impossible.

Wash just before use: Don’t wash your fruit and vege until you’re ready to eat it, as excess water will cause rot.

Chop those carrot-tops: You want the moisture to be where it should be, in the yummy bits. So cut off the tops of carrots and beets, and clear excess from things like broccoli, which will mean the ole H₂O will concentrate in the most nutritious places.

8 am: Today, you are on a mission that will be executed with military-style precision. You need a good breakfast, and yes, you need pancakes. Write a list of who you’re shopping for, a budget for each person, possible gifts and where you’ll find them. This list is your compass, and will keep you safe from brain explosions and other dangers.

Sort out your storage: This is important! Different fruit and vege react strongly with the chemicals in your storage. Stay away from using plastic bags, except for citrus fruits, as their rind provides protection. In general, any form of plastic should be for emergencies only, as it traps the ripening agent ethylene found in fruit, meaning it will go off quicker. Instead, use loosely-wrapped aluminium foil—this will help keep them fresh, but allows ethylene to escape. If you need to use containers, try to use a vented, BPAfree plastic one.

9 am: Go online to all your favourite shops, as if you were at the mall.

Online shopping has so many advantages: bargains are easier to find and you’re less likely to make impulse purchases. Order early and it will be delivered in plenty of time. Even if you don’t want to buy online, use it to get ideas and find out where the best sales are.

11 am: Leave your credit cards at home and head to a cash machine. Get out the amount of money allocated in your budget and use cash only.

Keep fruit and vege apart: They seem like such good companions, but again, the ethylene from fruit will make your greens turn to goo. Put your fruit in the crisper, at low humidity, and keep your vegies separate.

11.30 am: Okay, you’re ready to hit the shops. Buy the cheapest gifts first —this means you won’t be setting the standard too high, too early.

1 pm: Time to re-fuel and re-group. How far through your list are you?

And finally … some things just need to be eaten.

Some things—like berries, lettuce and melon —just don’t do well when stored.

What better excuse to dig into that deliciousness straight away?

1.30 pm: Continue your shopping mish, avoiding common shopping pitfalls. Queue in less popular departments—like menswear—to avoid strategically-placed impulse products. Avoid attractive people at all costs, as psychologists say you’re more like to buy from them. Look on the lower and higher shelves, where less expensive products are kept.

3–5 pm: Depending on how many you have to shop for, you’ve bought most of your gifts. Allow yourself some spontaneous time—going into shops that appeal or making an impulse gift purchase (maybe for yourself).

As a child, my family’s menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it. Buddy Hackett

5 pm: Time to head home with your arms and heart full, brain still intact and your list ticked off. Mission Impossible accomplished!

American-style Potato Salad This ever-popular salad travels well (although it should be kept cool) and makes a great lunch. It can easily be ‘dressed-up’. | Serves 4 1 kg waxy or new potatoes 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar 2 Tbsp olive oil ½ cup mayonnaise about 2 Tbsp milk or lemon juice 2 tsp white wine vinegar (additional) 2 sticks celery, chopped ¼ cup chopped parsley 2 spring onions, sliced salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Optional Extras chopped hard-boiled eggs sliced or chopped gherkins roasted pumpkin seeds

Scrub potatoes, then boil gently until just cooked. Drain, then return to pan and add first measure of vinegar and oil. Toss gently to coat, then leave to stand until room temperature.

Thin mayonnaise with milk or lemon juice and 2 tsp of vinegar. Slice or cube cooked potatoes into a large bowl, then add celery, parsley, spring onions and mayonnaise mixture (and one or two of the optional extras, if you like).

Mix gently without breaking up the potato too much.

Season to taste.

Serve at about room temperature. But if making in advance, refrigerate until shortly before required. Serve garnished with more parsley and/or chives.

From The Ultimate Vegetarian Cookbook by Simon & Alison Holst. Go to www.holst.co.nz

Lifestyle | 09

Q&A Dealing with the in-laws

Dear Q&A, I’m going to spend this Christmas with my in-laws.

I’m already dreading it as I find it stressful—how can I make it more enjoyable for all of us?

You’ve expressed a problem as old as the institution of marriage: the clash of family cultures. It seems that we so often marry someone from a completely different family dynamic—one family will be quiet and courteous, another will be loud and chaotic. So when you find yourself in each other’s spaces, of course there will be tension and stress.

It’s really helpful to be aware of these family dynamics, as it can make it easier to deal with. You can’t change your in-laws’ behaviour, but changing your reactions will make it easier on you. Plan a coping strategy. If your chaotic in-laws drive you crazy, plan to have some quiet time for yourself each day.

Target any specific issues that are likely to cause tension. For example, if they are fussy eaters, plan foods you know they like. If they are critical, discuss with your partner how you will respond in a healthy way.

Remember, it is just temporary—and we can put up with almost anything for a short time!

Testify Peniasi Torocake is thankful for God’s calling to serve as a Salvation Army officer.

I was born in 1968 in the village of Tubou on the island of Lakeba in Lau, a province in eastern Fiji. Although my parents were married, my mother raised me on her own, with support from her family. My grandparents were pillars of the Methodist Church in Tubou, so I learnt about Jesus from a very early age.

My wife Tavaita and I met in Labasa, to the north of Fiji. In 1993, a Salvation Army officer invited us to their worship service.

We accepted the invitation—and the rest, as they say, is history. That first Sunday was enough for me to decide that I wanted to worship God in The Salvation Army for the rest of my life.

In 1995, we moved to Lautoka, in western Fiji, in search of better opportunities. I found work at Lautoka Hospital, the second largest hospital in Fiji. Although our family had our own reasons for moving, I’ve come to realise God had much bigger plans for us—and that his plan is the best.

After finding work, I began looking for a place to worship and found the Lautoka Corps (church).

It was from here that I started to experience God’s call on my life.

To start with, I fully committed myself to the ministry of my local corps, becoming a senior soldier (member) in 1996 and taking on various local officer positions, serving to the best of my ability.

Although balancing my time

between raising a young family, work and church was challenging, it was a challenge worth taking!

At this point, becoming a Salvation Army officer was always the last thing in my mind, because all I wanted to do was to serve God well and be faithful to his calling at my corps.

In 2012, my corps officer asked if I had considered serving God as an officer. Tavaita and I prayed about this and decided it might be the right time for our family to move on to this new challenge.

We applied and were accepted into training. After our commissioning this month, we will take up our first appointment at Sigatoka Corps in January.

Despite the ups and downs and the thick and thin of life, it took 15 years of God’s moulding and leading for me to arrive at the School for Officer Training in

You and your partner’s loyalty is first and foremost towards each other.

Even if you’re staying at the in-laws, make sure you spend quality time with your partner or plan outings for your own family unit. But do make sure you communicate these plans beforehand and be open about them, so the in-laws don’t feel like they’ve been ditched.

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:

Finally, focus on what you enjoy about your in-laws (after all, they’re the parents of your partner, so they can’t be all bad!) and accentuate the positive. Find common ground and plan activities that you all enjoy.

A wise person once reflected, ‘Whenever my in-laws stay, I always wish afterwards that I had been nicer to them.’ We all know the feeling. But simply being aware of the stresses, and making plans to cope with them positively will help you avoid that ‘post in-laws regret’. You may even find yourself having fun!

Suva. This was indeed an amazing journey! I have not regretted at any time my decision to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I believe that serving him in The Salvation Army for the rest of my life is the reason God led me and my family to this spiritual family.

I thank God for his calling to be his light to the world, a calling that comes with a lot of responsibility and accountability—not only to The Salvation Army but also to God. I am grateful to my wife and children for holding on to faith during the good and bad times.

As a family, we will keep on trusting God, who is always faithful. We are looking forward to the excitement of serving God in our new appointment, putting into practice all we have learnt so the world may see the only true light, the Lord Jesus Christ.

NAME:

THIS CHRISTMAS GIVE A GIFT THAT TACKLES POVERTY AND INJUSTICE www.salvationarmy.org.nz/justgifts

ADDRESS:

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

10 | WarCry 28 November 2015

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QUICK QUIZ 1 2 3 4 5

What is the longest English word without any vowels?

Who was the Greek goddess of retribution?

What is the official title of a Papal envoy?

If you land at Haneda Airport, where are you?

What disciple cut off someone’s ear when Jesus was arrested?

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

Putting the Fun in Family Holidays From her book Mum’s the Word, Danielle Wright writes about how worry and hurry can be overcome by some good old-fashioned fun.

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Advice

In the children’s book Charlotte’s Web, a clever little spider once told an anxious pig, ‘Never hurry and never worry.’ Looking back on my time as a new mum, it’s hard to see what made me so worried and so hurried. But worry and hurry I did.

What took me out of the everyday routine was finding a source of family fun. I discovered new ways to play with my children, recipes that made them smile, and interesting travel experiences that shook us all out of the daily grind.

Those experiences reminded me that I had the power to turn any day into a special day for my family, with just a bit of effort.

The greatest reward for all the effort is that my children, now at primary school, love to remember and talk about those pre-school days and all the things we did together.

Don’t feel any pressure to be action-packed all the time, but here are some ideas of ways you can have fun together over the holidays:

• Fun Sticks: There will always be days when you just won’t be able to think of any ideas to entertain and educate. When you’re feeling inspired, write ideas on Popsicle sticks and put them into a jar or a hat for the children to pick out. You might like to have rainy day and sunny day versions.

• Play dough with essential oils: Adding essential oils to play dough is a lovely way to introduce children to interesting smells. It also gives the play dough anti-bacterial properties. Add lavender to help calm them during travel or before bed, lemon in the morning for liveliness, and eucalyptus oil to decongest a cold. The heat from their hands simply releases the aroma from the oils within the dough.

• Milky mixing: Fill a plate with milk, then add a few different food colouring drops in the middle. Take a cotton ball and put dishwashing liquid on it.

Then poke it into the food colours and watch the pretty patterns it makes, sending the colours shooting off in all directions.

Close Up | 11

BY ROBIN RAYMOND

Back to the Future for Bridge and Oasis The names ‘Bridge’ and ‘Oasis’ are returning officially to The Salvation Army as the names of its services to help those struggling with the harm caused by alcohol, drugs and gambling.

The Bridge and Oasis services were renamed ‘Addiction Services’ in 2013, but will return to their former names next month after a period of consultation with experts in the field, The Salvation Army’s marketing advisor George Cook says.

The name change will come into place from 15 December, but despite the changes George says the services will remain the same.

Each service will keep offering the same support and the same well respected and successful programmes.

The Salvation Army operates programmes in 21 centres to support people who want help with alcohol or other drug use or gambling.

A study released this year by the University of Otago into the Bridge Model of Care found the service is achieving world-class results, as good as the best achieved by programmes internationally. The focus of Bridge and Oasis is to keep working hard to bring that top level of care to clients and the name change is a small part of the process to support that mission, George says.

When the name Addiction Services was adopted in 2013 it was a useful title for describing the services simply, making it immediately clear what they did. It also aimed to link up the different types of help The Salvation Army offered to people struggling with alcohol or other drug use or gambling, and encourage people coming for help on one front that they could get help with another as well. Working towards being an ‘any door is the right door’ service.

However, in day-to-day practice it soon became clear the name had a few problems. There were practical problems around daily operations and separate contracts. ‘For people struggling with their alcohol use, with drugs or with gambling it takes a lot of courage to say “I need help.” For some clients, the feeling of being labelled as “an addict” or being seen as someone needing “addiction” treatment is a barrier to seeking help,’ George explains. However, the main focus was always on the clients and making the service as welcoming as possible to people who needed that help and support, he adds.

So, last year, National Director of Addictions Commissioner Alistair Herring began consultation with staff, ex-clients who work with the service providing advice and helping with public promotion, and public health marketing experts, looking at the branding of the service.

The consultation found that having different names for each part of the sector was appropriate. It gives clear direction for clients on where to go for help for different issues. Although identifying and

working with multiple issues can be part of the holistic treatment of clients, having clearly named, different services is helpful as clients generally come looking for help with one problem at a time.

It also found that Bridge and Oasis were strong names that should be retained.

The Salvation Army started its first addictions programme in New Zealand in 1907 and its problem gambling support services in 1993.

Although The Salvation Army began its first addictions programme in New Zealand in 1907, working with alcoholic men on Pakatoa and then Rotoroa Islands in the Hauraki Gulf (pictured above in 1984), the name ‘Bridge’ was adopted in 1959, when the first programmes were started on the mainland. Since then, the Bridge has become well known and is well-respected by people in the sector. Returning to using ‘Bridge’ in its service delivery for the treatment of alcohol and other drugs kept that recognition for people, George says.

The Army’s first problem gambling support services began in 1993, with the name ‘Oasis’ adopted later. Although that name is less well known, the consultation found it was also recognised and respected by people in the sector.

People associated each name with strong ideas of helping, support and relief, either as a place of refuge or a path to a better place, George says. ‘It’s an effort not to create a barrier and it gives people confidence that they’re in the right place to get help.’

Commissioner Herring believes there is also value in the imagery contained in the Bridge and Oasis names. He says both images have their own power, raising the possibility of a journey to a better life, sustenance, hope, healing and recovery in the midst of harsh, sometimes desperate circumstances.

‘Our Salvation Army Bridge and Oasis services are committed to offering a warm and compassionate, respectful, responsive, personcentred, transformative, inclusive and informed service—we believe these qualities are reflected in the Bridge and Oasis names.’

Go to www salvationarmy.org.nz/addictions for more information on Bridge and Oasis or call 0800 53 00 00

BY VANESSA SINGH

GOD ISN’T A SWEDISH OP GROUP BUT …

You’re at church, singing away in worship when the next line of the song comes up on the screen. Suddenly you hear yourself singing words and you have no idea what they mean …

There’s a lot to get your head around when you’re a Christian. Sometimes you feel like you’re finally nailing it, like you understand it all … and then BAM, someone goes and drops an Abba bomb on you!

Now, we’re not talking about the Swedish ’70s pop group. We’re talking about those situations where someone uses a word for God—like ‘Abba’—and you have no idea what it means.

The Bible uses a whole heap of different names to refer to or address God. Some are common and their meaning is obvious, but others can seem wacky. But when you understand their meanings and how to use them, it’s actually pretty cool!

Consider it like this: think about your mum.

Now, your mum actually has a name other than ‘Mum’. Let’s say it’s ‘Jenny’.

But ‘Jenny’ is actually ‘Jennifer’, who is also called Jenny. And she’s your mum.

Add to that, she’s also a daughter. And she might be a sister, an aunty and a wife. She’s a colleague to some people and she’s definitely a friend to others.

She might be an artist, a great cook or even a marathon runner. She’s probably an exceptional nurturer, taxi driver and hug-giver.

Now, that’s a massive list of things you could refer to your mum as! And each title describes her in a different way and makes sense for different situations.

Well, it’s the same with God. Each name or title describes God in different ways

and how he helps with the situations we face in life. Which makes these names a useful way to remind ourselves of aspects of God’s character, and to sum up how we feel about God and the great things he’s done for us and others.

Don’t worry! God doesn’t expect us to use these grand names all the time—it’s really important we communicate with God in ways we’re comfortable with. But it’s also important to honour and thank him for who he truly is.

So, check out the list below and try using some of these names next time you’re chatting with God. Find what feels natural and let these names help you dig deeper into your relationship with God. Lord: A title that refers to the authority of God, signalling that he is our master.

When we refer to God as ‘Lord’ we are saying he has authority, that he is in control and that we are willing to obey his commands.

Elohim: A Hebrew word that means ‘God’ and is a reference to God’s power and might. You might not see this used much anymore, but it’s a cool name!

Yahweh/Jehovah/LORD: The promised name of God—first given to Moses

by God as ‘I Am who I Am’. In Jewish tradition, the title ‘Yahweh’ is too sacred

to say out loud. It’s actually spelled ‘YHWH’ without vowels, but the modern spelling includes vowels to help with pronunciation. Many pronounce YHWH as ‘Yahweh’ or ‘Jehovah’, but no one knows its exact pronunciation. In English Bibles it’s translated as ‘LORD’ and written in capitals to distinguish it from ‘Lord’.

Adonai: Often used in place of ‘YHWH’, since people were too scared to say that very special name. Adonai also means ‘Lord’ and refers to the lordship, rule or authority of God. Abba: An Aramaic word most closely translated as ‘daddy’, a common term young children used to address their fathers. It signifies the close, intimate relationship of a father to his child, as well as the childlike trust kids have in their dad. Pretty cool!

Christ: Comes from the Greek word ‘Christos’, meaning ‘anointed’ or ‘anointed one’. And that’s who Jesus is!

28 November 2015 WarCry | 13

Messiah: Christ is the equivalent of the word ‘moshiach’ or ‘Messiah’ in Hebrew.

So Messiah, just like Christ, is to be ‘the anointed one of God’.

together. When we say that God is our cornerstone, we are saying we put our trust in him and we have faith that Jesus is the foundation we need in life.

Immanuel/Emmanuel: Means ‘God with us’. In both Isaiah and Matthew, it says that God himself would come to earth in the form of a man and live among people—hence the name. This word is often used around Christmas, because that’s when we celebrate Jesus coming to earth. Woo hoo!

Each name or title reminds us that God can help us in all the situations we face in life.

Alpha and Omega: In the New Testament, Jesus declares himself as ‘the beginning’ (‘Alpha) and ‘the end’ (‘Omega’) of all things—essentially saying he’s the one true God, since only the eternal God could be at the beginning and end of all things.

Cornerstone: In Ephesians 2:20, we read that Jesus is ‘the cornerstone’ of the building (his church). Saying that Jesus is the cornerstone of something means he is what holds the two walls or structure

The Word (Logos): ‘The Word’ refers to Jesus, the second being of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). In John 1, we find the idea of Jesus being the Word who was in the beginning with God the Father, and was God, that through him all things were created, and that the Word coming into our world brings light to all people.

This is an amazing passage with lots of great truths in it, including that Jesus has existed as God from the beginning of time, and that Jesus came into our world as God in human form to show us more about what God is like and to become our saviour.

peace between God and those of us on earth who were previously separated from God because of our sin. Jesus is the Prince of Peace because he didn’t resort to violence to fight this spiritual battle, but instead voluntarily laid down his life to reconcile us to God. Lamb of God: God’s Law called for the sacrifice of a spotless, unblemished lamb as the acceptable price for sin. This lamb would be sacrificed on behalf of a person or tribe to make things right again. When Jesus came to earth, he became the ultimate lamb who sacrificed himself for our sin—taking our place to make things right between us and God. The Rock: The rock is used as a metaphor or name for God a whole heap in the Bible. Mostly it is used around the ideas of God being our protection or security, our being hidden under the protection of God, or God being a firm foundation or solid rock for our faith. One of the key ways it’s used is referring to when Moses was in the wilderness and God provided water from a rock to sustain him. In this way God is a rock from which life-giving waters flow.

Saviour: The story of Jesus is all about how he came to save us by dying so that we could become God’s friends. Jesus saved us by making a way for us to be in relationship with God, but also by giving us the strength and power (through the Holy Spirit) to get through life, by enabling anythere spiritual enemies shopping anymore.

Useand I ask myself: ‘When this is us to overcome obstacles and by saving us from eternal your consumer power to be a hanging in my wardrobe, am I death byvoice offering life. Now, for us theeverlasting voiceless. Now, going to love it?’ Even if it’s only that sounds like a saviour! this is starting to sound a a dollar on Trade Me, there’s no

Prince of Peace: This name refers to Jesus coming into the world not to bring peace to the world by taking on earthly armies and ending war, but to make

Slow Fashion Shopping After a year of shopping exclusively second hand, here are my top tips on making slow fashion work for you:

styles can be revamped by taking up the hem, cinching in the waist with a belt or making it more fitted.

Adopt a shop: The fun of slow fashion is that you need to hunt out the treasures. You’ll need to find an op shop that you love, and make it your second home.

Go back every week or two— sometimes you’ll find nothing.

Every now and then, you’ll find the perfect item. And you’ll rejoice!

Find your style—even if you don’t think you have a style: Stylist Sheryn Adamson says everyone has a fashion style.

Even saying you don’t care about fashion is its own fashion statement. If practical polar fleece is your thang, you’ll find a bounty at your local Family Store. But if you’re into vintage, steampunk, ripped jeans, oversized, new-wave-gothrevival, onesies … you’ll still find a world of styles at an op shop.

Shop at the ‘House of Mum and Dad’: Don’t overlook your mum and dad’s wardrobe as a possible fashion bounty.

Even better, check out what’s at the back of your nana and grandpas’ cupboard. A tweed cap, suspenders, faux fur— there are treasures in those musty robes. Don’t worry so much about the style, look for fabulous fabrics. Most older

Love everything in your wardrobe: I’ve made it my goal to love every single item in my wardrobe. That means I’ve probably given away more clothes over the past year than I’ve bought. When I’m shopping,

point in adding more junk to my life. I only want to add treasure.

Buy one, give one: If for every item you bought, you gave an item away, it would stop a lot of mindless spending. If I don’t love it more than what I already have in my wardrobe, there’s no point buying it. I have a great barter system going at my local op shop—the lovely owner gives me heaps of stuff for free and happens to have a great eye for fashion. In return, I’m happy to donate stuff I no longer need.

Fight the good fight: Finally, use your passion for fashion.

Write fan letters to stores—like Cotton On—that are making an effort to be more ethical.

And write to shops that aren’t, explaining why you’re not

bit more like Jesus …

The Youth Department welcomed Ben Maxwell in late September.

We’re stoked to have another passionate, hard-working and allround good guy join the team and get straight into supporting youth and leaders in NZ, Fiji and Tonga.

Tell us a bit about yourself: I’m 24 and I’ve just moved from sunny Brisbane in Australia. I’m in my final year of a Law and Politics degree. I have three brothers and sisters who are spread out around Australia. My parents are officers serving in the Philippines Territory.

I served at the Carindale Salvation Army in South Queensland and I’m very passionate about youth and young adults’ ministry.

What is your role in the Youth Department? I’m the new Youth Programme Coordinator. I look after youth work training, help out with events/camps (like Amplify, TYCMC, etc.), and will be focusing on our new Territorial Youth Strategy and a few other jobs.

Why did you move to NZ to take on this role? Good question. If you asked me a year ago if I’d be in New Zealand now, I would have said you were dreaming! Before moving, I worked for a government minister in Queensland as part of his policy team (which I really enjoyed). I was praying about the next step in my journey and felt God say I’d have a change of job into a ministry opportunity. We then had an election in January, which meant my job finished. I was a bit confused by this but trusted God to lead me. A friend of mine told me about this role, so I prayed about it, applied and now I’m here!

What’s something different to Aussie you’ve noticed since living in NZ? That it is like daytime at 9 pm at night—cray! (We don’t have daylight savings in Queensland.) Plus, you all sound different and don’t pronounce words right. Ha, ha!

What are you most excited about in your new role? I’m really excited about getting out and about across the territory and seeing some of the kingdom-impacting ministries for young people that are happening.

Why are young people important? Because they have incredible potential to be used for the kingdom of God. We don’t reach a certain age and then have the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives. The Spirit is readily available to all ages—and especially young people. They play a key role in the generational mission of the church and are best placed to be Jesus to their friends.

How can we all make you feel more at home? Well you could’ve let Australia win the Rugby World Cup! … But on a serious note, I’ve found everyone very welcoming and they’ve gone over and above to help make me feel at home. I look forward to meeting more people!

QUICKFIRE 1. Coffee or hot choc? Hot Chocolate 2. Movies or DVD? Movies 3. Chucks or Vans? Vans 4. Beach or snow? Beach 5. All Blacks or Wallabies? Is that even a question?

WALLABIES!

Our Community | 15

Ponipate and Mereyani bacaivalu (with Eta, Nina, Sera, Luisa & Jerry; Iram & Qoro not pictured)

Saimone and Mere Gina gataurua (with Simon & Suzanne; Lima not pictured)

Entered training: Ba Corps.

Appointed: Corps Plant Officers, Rakiraki Corps Plant.

Entered training: Suva Central Corps.

Appointed: Corps Officers, Suva Central Corps; Lieut Saimone Gataurua: Divisional Public Relations Officer.

Sarah-Ann and Adam grove (with Lexi & Jonty)

Visa kaurasi (Sosefo, Luisa, Mikayla, Bale & Salesi not pictured)

Entered training: Masterton Corps.

Appointed: Corps Officers, Winton Corps.

Entered training: Suva Central Corps.

Appointed: Assistant to Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries and Divisional Child Sponsorship Officer.

16 | WarCry 28 November 2015

Raechal and Faleata leha (with Paul & Hanna; Rebecca not pictured)

Ameet and Jessica londhe (with Yahshua)

Entered training: Nuku’alofa Corps.

Appointed: Corps Officers, Vaini Corps; Lieut Faleata Leha: Court and Prison Officer, Regional Social Services Team Leader.

Entered training: Glenfield Corps.

Appointed: Assistant Officers, East City Corps (with responsibility for East City-Flatbush Outpost).

Simon and Rachel montgomery (with Olivia)

Seru and Ruci napolioni (with Waqa, Silvia, Adi & Jope)

Entered training: Kelvin Grove Corps.

Appointed: Corps Officers, Central Taranaki Corps.

Entered training: Ba Corps.

Appointed: Assistant Officers, Labasa Corps.

Kylie and Ralph overbye (with Micah (top), Levi, Ezra & Joel; Sarah, Joshua & Daniel not pictured)

Selalina and Eliesa prescott

Entered training: Gisborne Corps.

Appointed: Corps Officers, Rotorua Corps.

Entered training: Nuku’alofa Corps.

Appointed: Corps Officers, Nuku’alofa Corps; Lieut Selalina Prescott: Regional Children’s Secretary.

Our Community | 17

Gavin and Veronica rivett (with Aidan, Jacob & Brooke) Entered training: Auckland City Corps.

Appointed: Corps Officers, Mosgiel Corps.

Peniasi and Tavaita torocake (with Isimeli & Salote; Mereoni not pictured) Entered training: Lautoka Corps.

Appointed: Corps Officers, Sigatoka Corps.

Francis vemoa (with Captain Corryn Vemoa & Solomon; Angel & Julius not pictured)

Sheree and Misikone vemoa (with Ethan, Trinity, Alyssa-Jane & Nathaniel)

Entered training: Glen Eden Corps.

Appointed: Corps Officer, Kilbirnie Corps (with Capt Corryn Vemoa).

Entered training: Glen Eden Corps.

Appointed: Corps Officers, Far North (Kaitaia) Corps, and Chaplains, Addiction Services Northland Region and Education and Employment, Kaitaia.

GAZETTE Appointments Effective 14 Jan 2016—Addiction, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services: Mjr Sue Hay, Assistant Director and Mission Director, Addiction Services, Auckland; Southern Division: Capt Lindsay Andrews, Divisional Secretary for Community Ministries (additional). Lindsay’s appointment as Migrant Workers Chaplain, Christchurch is rescinded. Effective 1 April 2016—Territorial Headquarters: Lt-Col Ian Hutson, Director, Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit; Mjr David Bateman, Secretary for Business Administration, promoted to Lieut-Colonel. Addiction, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services: Lt-Col Lynette Hutson, National Director; Comm Astrid Herring, National Mission Coordinator (continuing in retirement); IHQ Governance Project, Office of the Territorial Commander: Comm Alistair Herring, Principal Advisor, IHQ Governance Team (in retirement).

International Appointment Effective 1 March 2016: Lt-Cols Kong Chew (Bob) and Teoh Gim Leng (Wendy) Lee of the Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory, currently Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries in The Philippines Territory, are appointed Regional Commander and Regional President of Women’s Ministries of the Taiwan Region. They will succeed New Zealand officer Lt-Col Jennifer Groves.

International Promotion to Glory Comm Donald Campbell, a former Chief Secretary (April 1982–Oct 1983) and Territorial Commander (Nov 1983–July 1986) of the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory, on 14 Nov from Australia. Our prayers are with extended family members.

New Envoys Effective 1 Feb 2016: Collette and Stewart Irwin are accepted as Divisional Envoys, Central Division, and appointed as Corps Planting Leaders, Petone Corps Plant.

Mission Team Leaders From 14 Jan 2016, Gore Corps will be led by Mission Team Leaders Andrew and Lexee Dunlop, with oversight from the Invercargill Corps Officers. Please pray for Andrew and Lexee as they transition into this new avenue of service. They will work alongside Mjr Glenys Fairhurst, Corps Officer, Gore, from 30 Nov 2015 until the General Change.

Conclusion of Envoy Service Effective 11 Jan 2016: Nolan and Leanne Hill will conclude their service as Envoys and ministry as Nite Church Leaders Dunedin. The Hills were appointed to Dunedin City Corps as Assistants responsible for Student and Young Adult Ministries on 8 Jan 2009 as full-time, short-term, non-officer personnel. They were warranted as Envoys on 21 July 2011. We thank them for their ministry in Dunedin, particularly their leadership of Nite Church, and pray God’s blessing on them in the future.

Marriage Congratulations to Mjr Wendy Barney and Capt Lindsay Andrews who celebrated their wedding on 25 Oct in Christchurch.

Bereaved Capt Lindsay Andrews of his step-mother, Mrs Noeline Andrews, on 13 Nov from Rangiora. The funeral service took place in Rangiora on 17 Nov.

18 | WarCry 28 November 2015

LEADERSHIP LINKS

Jesus is still calling ordinary women and men Next weekend in Fiji and the following weekend in Wellington, 26 cadets of the Messengers of Light Session will enter into a covenant with God and be commissioned as Salvation Army officers.

Thinking more about myself than implying anything about these 26 individuals, I am reminded that Jesus chose unlikely people as his disciples. Take Simon Peter (commonly just called Peter), for example. Peter was what we would call ‘rough around the edges’. He argued with the other disciples, even rebuking Jesus when Jesus spoke of his upcoming death (Matthew 16:22). If that wasn’t enough, Peter then denied knowing Jesus—not just once, but three times. So, on the face of it, Peter had more weaknesses than strengths. Yet Jesus used him.

Peter came into his own after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. In John 21:15–19, we read that Jesus appeared to Peter and other disciples while they were on an unsuccessful fishing trip, telling them to throw their net over the other side of the boat. And when they did, that net became full of fish.

Back on shore, Jesus asked Peter if he truly loved him, to which Peter replied, ‘You know I love you.’ Jesus responded, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time Jesus asked, ‘Do you truly love me?’ ‘Yes,’ was Peter’s response, ‘you know I do.’ ‘Then take care of my sheep,’ Jesus said. A third time Jesus asked, ‘Do you love me?’ I suspect Peter was feeling hurt at this ongoing interrogation. I can imagine him sighing as he said, ‘You know all things—you know I love you!’ To which Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep’ and then ‘Follow me.’

Jesus didn’t pick influential, well-connected people to be his disciples, but everyday people who probably didn’t think they had much to offer and who on more than one occasion let him down.

Jesus likened the work he wanted Peter to do to that of a shepherd, referencing (from John 10) that sheep follow a shepherd because they know and trust his/her voice, and that they won’t follow a stranger. A good shepherd takes an interest in all of his/her sheep, ministering to and loving them. And when Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, comes he is going to call shepherds to account and ask: • did you feed my sheep?

• were you vigilant over the souls of my sheep?

• did you seek my lost sheep?

• did you guard my truth?

• did you stand watch against the wolves?

• did you love my flock?

Peter was an ordinary man who, after faltering more than a few times, stepped up, followed Jesus and fed his sheep. Jesus is still calling ordinary women and men to be shepherds of his flock. Is he calling you?

Captain Gerry Walker Territorial Secretary for Personnel

BY AMY HUGHES

Her Freedom Song In a world full of injustices for many women, a conference with a difference educated, inspired and challenged women to consider the call to freedom that the Bible teaches.

‘Rock, paper, scissors!’ The hall dissolves into congratulations and laughter as groups of women, from teens to the elderly, form their hands into the popular children’s game. There’s the promise of a great prize for the winner, but the atmosphere is more social than competitive. As each match is won, the winner takes on another group’s winner—their supporters cheering on their favourites.

This is no typical women’s conference. There’s no genteel nailpainting session, relaxing card-making or foot baths for the ladies and demure chatting. These women are playing together, laughing together and fighting together.

The ‘rock-paper-scissors’ competition opened the Friday night of Her Freedom Song, which was held at Sydenham Corps in Christchurch from 9–11 October and attended by over 70 women from around New Zealand. Delegates learnt, prayed, fellowshipped and worshipped, taught by some amazing speakers, including Commissioner Janine Donaldson, Colonel Barbara Howell and Major Sue Hay. On the weekend of the International Day of the Girl Child (11 October), Her Freedom Song provided a launching pad to learn about the injustices that affect women globally.

On Saturday morning, Major Sue Hay challenged the group with a presentation on the issue of injustice against women in the form of poverty. Like so many of the weekend’s presentations, Major Hay managed to combine theory with practice by encouraging the attendees to consider ways that they could bring about global change.

Afternoon activities provided further opportunities for women to consider their own passions, strengths and weaknesses, and to explore how these could be used to bring change in the world.

Delegates selected workshops of their choice from a variety of topics, among them poverty, domestic violence and sexualisation.

Mission Matters | 19

A global focus continued throughout the weekend with a focus on raising funds for AFRIpads. One struggle faced by girls in developing parts of the world is their lack of access to sanitary products. In parts of Africa, this means many girls drop out of school at the time of puberty because it is simply too complicated and embarrassing to keep attending. However, leaving school earlier is associated with a number of other risky situations, including child marriage, higher susceptibility to some illnesses (such as HIV/AIDS) and increased maternal health risks. Providing a girl with reusable sanitary products for a year only costs $8, which can keep a girl in school for another year of vital education.

Fundraising for this project occurred throughout the weekend, with women able to bid in an open auction, followed by a dinner auction on Saturday night. Good-natured rivalry between a number of corps led to some exciting bidding moments. In total, over $1700 was raised, enough to supply more than 200 girls with sanitary products to keep them in a school and give them the freedom to pursue their dreams.

… a launching pad to learn about the injustices that affect women globally.

But oppression isn’t a problem only for girls in the developing world. As women in New Zealand, it’s still easy to oppress ourselves or allow others to oppress us—whether by the words that we or others use, by our own or others’ expectations, or because of the ongoing impact of past experiences. The call of freedom that Her Freedom Song aimed to bring can be just as relevant for women in New Zealand, as for women trapped in poverty overseas. To help counteract this oppression of the spirit, speakers Commissioner Janine Donaldson and Colonel Barbara Howell discussed the concepts of ‘strengths’ and ‘purpose’ in their sessions on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Taking this further, Saturday night’s devotional time was another powerful session. With the use of Post-it notes, Kim McKerrow demonstrated how we can become ‘stuck’, locked into one position by the attitudes of others. As the Post-it notes of words that had been used to describe her fluttered off, Kim shared her own experience of freedom—a true freedom that had only been found in Christ.

The freeing that occurred over the weekend, whether in education

about the issues women face worldwide, the raising of funds for AFRIpads, or through personal release from the past was clearly demonstrated in the closing event on Sunday morning. As people from Sydenham Corps gathered to celebrate the weekend in worship with those who had been attending Her Freedom Song, a number of women were able to give powerful testimonies of their experiences over the weekend. It was clear the weekend had been a time of great challenge and great freedom.

For more information about AFRIpads and how you can support this cause, visit www AFRIpads.com For more information on societal injustice issues facing women, check out: Melissa Tankard Reist, Girlrising.com, halftheskymovement.org, apathappears.org and ‘like’ www facebook.com/herfreedomsong.

Find Your Freedom Song 1. Find out what breaks your heart. What is it that upsets you most when you hear about it? Domestic violence, girls missing out on education, child brides, female genital mutilation, the sexualisation of women? Identify what it is that you can’t stand and commit to focusing on that and doing something about it.

2. Once you’ve identified your heartbreaker, get informed.

Research it, find out what organisations are doing to combat it, and consider what you might be able to do to help.

3. Create awareness. Share your passion and knowledge with others—don’t keep it to yourself. The more aware people are about what is going on, the more likely we are to see change!

4. Recruit others to fight against this injustice with you. Get some friends together and talk about what it is you might be able to do as a group.

5. Spend some money. Be generous and share some of what you have to equip and empower others in the fight. Support a cause that is doing something in the area you are passionate about.

20 | WarCry 28 November 2015

The Value of Christ’s Coming PART TWO OF THREE

Barbara Sampson considers the deeper meaning of the Advent season.

I was in a grand department store a month before Christmas. The display had been set up right at an entrance to the shop. Breathtaking, exquisite, beautiful … such were the words that filled my mind as I wove my way from one Christmas tree to another.

Trees ranged from tiny to 10 feet tall. There were glorious coloured baubles, angels in Christening gowns, polar bears wrapped in tinsel, drummers, teddy bears and reindeer. One tree had a distinctly New Zealand flavour with the decorations familiar icons—pūkekos, kiwis, tuatara all dressed in Christmas outfits and Santa hats. Father Christmas was on a surf board, or sitting on a large liquorice allsort, or on top of a jar of marmite. There were snowy trees, dazzling trees, silky beribboned trees, all colour-themed and all gorgeous. The bins of decorations held spotty, striped and snowy baubles, candles and stars.

Everything was glittering and golden, lit up with a kind of magical treasure-chest glow that made me almost breathless.

As I wandered around the display, however, I had a growing sense of unease. Something was missing. Where was the heart of Christmas?

I was about to ask the store attendant when I suddenly found it—a cupboard whose door could easily have been closed. There, almost hidden in a corner, was a small display of nativity sets. They were simple, earthy, ordinary. There was nothing dazzling about them, in contrast to the rest of the shop’s display. Nothing that would make anyone stand and stare or gasp in delight.

I went home feeling troubled. What must God think about our way of doing Christmas? Would he recognise it as a celebration of his son’s birth? I learned three lessons that day: 1. First, you have to go looking. Wise men seek him still, even in the hidden corner of a department store.

2. Second, Jesus is easy to ignore, to miss, to overlook. Other choices are so dazzling and compelling, why would he be a priority choice?

3. Third, when you do find the heart of Christmas—Jesus himself —then everything else pales into insignificance. He is a precious present, a present Saviour. Everything else is extra, mere window dressing.

Bend low, seeking one you stand on holy ground But not in glitz or glitter is this treasure to be found …

We might have known it would be like this. Centuries before Christ’s coming, the prophet Isaiah described Jesus as one whom men would ignore, despise, reject. Verses in Isaiah 53 say there would be nothing appealing in his appearance. In fact, people would hide their faces from him, look the other way, feel no need of him.

Wounded, bruised and crushed he would be. Suffering, affliction and sorrow would be the marks of his ministry. There would be no baubles or bling about this Saviour!

Paul picks up the same thread in the New Testament when he writes to the Philippians, describing how Jesus poured himself out, giving up all the riches of heaven for the most abject poverty of earth. ’He set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion’ (Philippians 2:7–8, The Message).

Jesus came as a baby, not as a boss, a baron, a bully. He came as a prince, not in posing pomp or privilege, but as Prince of Peace, making peace, bringing peace. Bending low, pouring out, he offered himself as the bread of life, living water, hope for the world.

How high the cost! How great the value of that outpouring! How could any Christmas gift, even one wrapped in gorgeous paper, tied with a red ribbon and sprinkled with stardust come anywhere near the value of such giving? Songwriter Stuart Townend depicts it this way: How deep the Father’s love for us, How vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure I like questions that cut to the heart of a matter. Defining questions, I call them, such as, ‘What do I need in this situation?’

Or, ‘As I search for my life vocation, what is the one thing I most love doing?’ Or, ‘If money were no object, what would I …?’

In his book Being Mortal, Indian-born surgeon and author Atul Gawande laments the state of the American health system that keeps terminally-ill people alive at the cost of their dignity and quality of life.

Instead of pumping more treatment into someone for the sake of a few more months of life, he says the medical profession should be asking two defining questions of the patient and their family: ‘What is the most important thing to you at this time?’ and ‘What do you value?’

Christmas is not a terminal condition, I know, but Gawande’s questions help cut through the tempting trappings of Christmas to the heart of the matter: ‘At this season of the year, what is the most important thing to me? What do I value most as I prepare for Christmas this year?

• • •

That everything on my list gets done?

That all the kids get the presents they want?

That I survive Christmas Day?

Or, do I want to look back and rejoice that: • • •

This year I really entered in and celebrated Christmas!

I made time to worship the new-born King!

As a family we made some great memories!

In the mid-1970s, my husband and children and I experienced our first Christmas on missionary service. At Chikankata, in a rural setting in southern Zambia, there were no shops for miles and no advertising brochures in the mail. Many of the aunties on the mission station made simple gifts of home-made cookies for the

Soul Food | 21

children. A group of bandsmen rowed out onto the large dam and played Christmas carols to people living in the African settlements along the shoreline. At the mission station families gathered to sing carols and to share meals together. The Christmas story was read and heard as if for the first time.

The true value of Christmas is not in how high you can go … but in how low you can bend.

Thousands of miles away from our home and family, it could have been a very difficult time, but that Christmas stands in my memory as the most beautiful, simple, uncluttered Christmas I have ever experienced.

The true value of Christmas is not in how high you can go—in flashiness, in debt, in busyness; but in how low you can bend—in service, in simplicity, in self-giving.

In a world of upward mobility, Jesus show us the way of downward mobility.

The world says: Push, shove scramble to the top Use any means you want to use Just don’t stop The race is to the swiftest The prize is for the best Just think how fast you’re going And overlook the rest But God says: Bend low, seeking one for this is holy ground I give to you my only Son Rich treasure to be found When his disciples asked Jesus about rank and order, he got a child to come and stand before them and said, ‘This little one is what kingdom greatness looks like—humble, teachable, open, fully present’ (Matthew 18:1–5).

Jesus hung out with the least, the lowest, the last, the lost. The ones with empty hands, nothing to lose and everything to gain. The common people—also known as ‘the poor’—heard him gladly (Mark 12:37).

Jesus spoke of laying down his life for the sheep, just as a shepherd would lie himself down at the entrance to a sheepfold to protect the flock inside (John 10:11).

Just hours before his death, Jesus knelt to wash his disciples’ feet, a task normally reserved for the servant (John 13:1–17).

We were enemies, estranged and separated from God. But without waiting for us to change direction or clean up our act, Jesus came, brought us home, reconciled us to God, restored us as sons and daughters of the Father (Romans 5:8). This is what his whole life and mission was about.

‘For your sakes,’ said Jesus, ‘I sanctify myself—set myself apart to do God’s will—so that you too may be truly sanctified, set apart for God’s service’ (John 17:19).

‘For your sakes,’ says Paul, ‘Jesus became poor so that through his poverty you might become rich’ (2 Corinthians 8:9). What an exchange!

One Sunday, many years ago, we hosted some visitors for lunch.

After the first course was finished I served apple pie and whipped cream for dessert. My children watched with ever widening eyes as the male guest spooned cream onto his pie, more and more, yet more and more. It was lavish!

I think of that man and his piled up dessert every time I read the verse: ‘How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!’ (1 John 3:1).

It was lavish giving! It was amazing grace! It was extravagant love, poured out for each one of us! May we offer Jesus the worship of a humble, grateful heart this Advent season.

For Reflection 1. What is most important to you at this season of the year?

2. What value do you put on the Christ of Christmas?

3. How could you and your family prepare for and celebrate Christmas in a simple, uncluttered, yet truly memorable way?

Mystery Human skin stretched taut over divinity hands that created the universe squeezed into baby fingers All the riches of heaven poured out in a lavish display of emptying God’s Son Joseph’s pride and joy Lamb of God given to parents too poor to bring a lamb for offering He once served by angels now bent low to serve with towel and basin washing muddy feet and stained reputations This mystery wrapped in love and human flesh is named Immanuel God breathes among us

22 | WarCry 28 November 2015

CALENDAR NOVEMBER 30: Westland Anniversary

DECEMBER 3: Officers Councils / Fiji Division 4: Covenant Day / Fiji Division 5: Commissioning and Ordination Service / Suva Central Corps 6: Commissioning Weekend Celebration Worship / Suva Central Corps 4–6: Youth Councils / Tonga Region 9: Territorial Executive Conference 10: Covenant Day / Booth College of Mission 11: Booth College of Mission Graduation / Hutt City Corps 11–13: Mini Youth Camp / Fiji Division 12: Commissioning and Ordination Service / Wellington City Corps 13: Commissioning Weekend Celebration Worship / Wellington City Corps 16–23: Peak Adventure ‘The Journey’ / Blue Mountain Adventure Centre 21: Regional Carol Service (Vaini) / Tonga Region 25: Christmas Day

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Robert (Territorial Commander) and Janine Donaldson (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 17–30 November: Governance Review visits to Switzerland, USA East (New York) and London. (TC) 28–29 November: Invercargill Corps Redevelopment Opening 3–6 December: Fiji Commissioning 10–13 December: New Zealand Commissioning 20 December: Big Carol Sing, St James Theatre, Wellington Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 29 November: Tawa Corps 3–6 December: Fiji Commissioning 10–13 December: New Zealand Commissioning 20 December: Big Carol Sing, St James Theatre, Wellington

Boundless—The Experience For the 15,000-plus Salvationists and friends in London for The Salvation Army’s 150th anniversary celebrations in July, the Boundless international congress produced enough memories to last a lifetime. Those who watched the event online shared the same sense of joy and excitement. Relive the memories with this 160-page collection of photography.

PRAYER FOCUS Please pray for: Hibiscus Coast, Hutt City, Invercargill, Johnsonville and Kapiti Corps, Tonga Regional Headquarters, The Salvation Army in India.

Crossword Answers: Across: 1 Families, 5 Impact, 9 Diamonds, 10 Escape, 12 Nouns, 13 Neglected, 14 Tigers, 16 Dignity, 19 Yoghurt, 21 Worlds, 23 Aeroplane, 25 Cocoa, 26 Israel, 27 Threaten, 28 Splits, 29 Promises; Down: 1 Fading, 2 Measuring, 3 Lions, 4 Endings, 6 Messenger, 7 Adapt, 8 Tuesdays, 11 Aged, 15 Equipment, 17 Indicates, 18 Pyramids, 20 Tray, 21 Whether, 22 Haunts, 24 Rural, 25 Cream. Quiz Answers: 1 Rhythm, 2 Nemesis, 3 Nuncio, 4 Tokyo, Japan, 5 Peter (Matthew 26:51).

Order today for $29.99 (plus p&p) from Salvationist Resources: e:mailorder@nzf. salvationarmy.org, p: (04) 382 0768.

International Bible Reading Challenge WEEK 48 2 John–Revelation 2 WEEK 49 Revelation 3–7 Go to www.salvationarmy.org/biblechallenge for daily reading guides and more.

Study to advance Christ’s mission in today’s world Study full-time or part-time at Booth College of Mission The Salvation Army’s Booth College of Mission in Upper Hutt offers a wide range of study options. We provide supportive and stimulating teaching in a friendly and relaxed environment.

Study with us to achieve a Diploma of Christian Studies (DipCS)—a one-year programme (or equivalent part-time) of 120 NZQA-approved credits.

Select papers from: biblical studies; Christian thought and history; pastoral studies, preaching and worship; personal growth and skills for ministry; and mission eduction.

Talk to us about studying in 2016 Contact Academic Registrar Alison Hobbs e: alison_hobbs@nzf.salvationarmy.org.nz p: (04) 528 8628 God not only built my self-confidence, He showed me I had gifts that I’d never known.

If you’re thinking about studying here, go for it! You’ll grow. You’ll be fed. God is here.

www.salvationarmy.org.nz/boothcollege

code cracker

Fun4Kids | 23

Decipher this Bible message to find out what is the most important thing for all Christians to do …

a bcdefgh i jklmnopq rst uvwxyz A B C D

E

F GH I J K LMN O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

can you find 10 differences?

Use the key to work out what the rest of the sentence says.

Each picture represents one letter.

picture sudoku Fill all the numbered circles with a picture (see left) so that each picture appears once in each row.

ANSWERS Code Cracker: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.’ (Deuteronomy 6:5, NIRV). Picture Sudoku: 7–1, 8–6, 9–5, 10–2, 11–5, 12–2, 13–5, 14–3, 15–4, 16–6, 17–2, 18–7, 19–4.

New Junior Soldiers for Porirua It’s awesome that four new junior soldiers were enrolled at Porirua Corps on Sunday 1 November! This was as part of a special weekend when the corps celebrated its 50th birthday.

Colonel Barbara Howell talked about the promises that Mikaera Rawiri, Jadda-Angel Piwari-Karati, Rangimarie Johnstone and Grace Tararo were making to God and to themselves. She asked the rest of the people in their church family at The Salvation Army to promise to help the new junior soldiers to keep following Jesus.

Colonel Barbara Howell told Mikaera, Jadda-Angel, Rangimarie and Grace that there were lots of things they could do to help God in The Salvation Army. Most importantly, she asked them to share the love of Jesus with their friends and family.

2015

Commıssioning New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga & Ordination with Territorial Leaders Commissioners Janine & Robert Donaldson

Messengers of

Light

“You are the light of the world … … let your light shine before others.”

Matthew 5:14-16 Fiji

New Zealand

Saturday 5 December, 4 pm

Friday 11 December, 7 pm

Commissioning & Ordination Service Suva Central Corps, 52 MacGregor Rd

Booth College of Mission Graduation Hutt City Corps, Cnr Cornwall St & Kings Cres, Lower Hutt

Sunday 6 December, 11 am Celebration Worship Suva Central Corps, 52 MacGregor Rd

Saturday 12 December, 2:30 pm Commissioning & Ordination Service Wellington City Corps, 92 Vivian St

Sunday 13 December, 10 am Celebration Worship Wellington City Corps, 92 Vivian St