Dr Coralie Bridle unpacks her doctoral thesis titled ‘An Army that Brings Life? Complex Disability, The Salvation Army and Fullness of Life’.
12 Supalonely?
An exploration into the impact of social media on young people and the role Christian community can play in combating loneliness.
16
Faith On and Off the Field
Lieutenant Semi Ratu shares his experience as a sport chaplain and corps officer.
18 Neurodiversity Within God's Call to Ministry
Lieutenant Andy Connor reflects on his adult diagnosis of ADHD and ASD, and how that's unfolding in the ministry context.
20 Difference by Design
Tools to help us embrace, understand and celebrate our uniquely designed neurodiverse brains.
33 Generational
Ties
David Scott shares his Salvationist family history, which includes a personal friendship with William and Catherine Booth.
SALT Magazine
The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory
Territorial Leaders
Commissioners Julie and Mark Campbell
General Lyndon Buckingham
Founders Catherine and William Booth
Editor Vivienne Hill
Graphic design
Sam Coates, Nicole Gesmundo, Lauren Millington
Staff writers
Jules Badger, Kelly Cooper, Captain Rachel Montgomery
Proof reading Colleen Marshall, Glenys Fairhurst
Connect with us saltmagazine.org.nz SaltMagazine @SaltMagazineNZ salvationarmynzfts Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 p: (04) 384 5649
All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated.
Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of The Salvation Army.
Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission.
The fullness of life
n my experience, The Salvation Army is not a Sunday-only church. Our corps (churches) are regularly open during the week for community groups, Bible studies, music practices and youth gatherings. Many corps offer all of this, but also apply innovative and interesting ways to engage and minister in their local communities, as you can read in every edition of SALT
In this edition, on page 16, I invite you to read about Lieutenant Semi Ratu, who integrates his two roles as corps officer at Ashburton Corps and as sport chaplain to two rugby teams in his local community. His passion for people is obviously contagious, as his congregation welcome the opportunity to be included in his dual ministry.
On page 18, I encourage you to read an insightful testimony by Lieutenant Andy Connor on his journey to his adult diagnosis of neurodiversity and the impact this has had on his life and ministry.
Also in this edition, on page 8, a challenge is given by Dr Coralie Bridle, who recently completed her PhD thesis, titled ‘An Army that Brings Life? Complex Disability, The Salvation Army, and Fullness of Life’. Her challenge to the Army is to practise authentic inclusion of people who have disabilities. Coralie uses the
metaphor of coming together around a shared table; not a table designed and built for the disabled community but including them in the design and construction of the table, being seated at the table and leading from the table— as Coralie says ‘nothing about us without us’.
Jesus’ ministry is the exemplar for inclusive and wide-ranging ministry. While he attended synagogue and observed the law throughout his life, Jesus’ ministry was not limited to his place of worship. He ministered in the marketplace, at weddings and funerals, on roadsides, in boats, over food and in people’s houses. Nobody was excluded and he did not wait for opportunities to open to him; he observed the need and responded with love and compassion.
It is time to extend the ‘fullness of life’ as God intended to all who would call The Salvation Army their spiritual home. The question for each of us is how will we respond to Coralie’s challenge? Maybe it’s how we have always responded: with ‘our sleeves rolled up’.
Vivienne Hill Editor
‘Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.’ EPHESIANS 4:15–16
Do You Know These People?
If you recognise the people in this photo, we’d love to hear from you. Email: archives@salvationarmy.org.nz
Award winner!
Lt-Colonel Milton Collins from the New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory, currently serving in the Sri Lanka Territory, has shared first place, alongside Charles Rex Arbogast (USA Central Territory), for the International Headquarters’ Equip photography competition.
Photographers were asked to submit images based on Ephesians 4:12 and John 4:35, that depicted open land used for crops or a place where the active mission of Christ exists. Submissions were received from 25 territories.
Equip is the new online learning platform for everyone involved in the mission of The Salvation Army. Its courses provide training in international development, church mission, community projects and more: salvationarmy.org/ihq/equip
INTRIGUING INDEX Tree Facts
1 Long live the trees
Trees can live for hundreds and sometimes thousands of years and are one of the longestliving organisms on earth. The Californian bristlecone pine is one of the oldest living trees— around 5000 years old.
2 Better with age
Researchers have found that the growth of trees accelerates as they age and can be better at absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. A substance called ‘negligible senescence’ is the reason why some trees can become more productive as they age, rather than decline in health. Big trees such as eucalyptus and sequoia are particularly helpful to the planet.
3 Junk in the trunk
Trees can grow multiple trunks and branches, so if one trunk begins to die, the tree can start growing another. If a tree does die, it can still be productive, as it supports the surrounding ecosystem. It also
provides food and shelter for wildlife and cycles nutrients back into the soil.
4 Internal pharmacies
Trees produce phenols which act as antibacterials and antiseptics. This can repel fungi, parasites and pests. Trees are also good for human health and mental wellbeing, with advantages to the atmosphere and a remedy for the stresses of modern living in a plastic and technology focused world.
5 Environmental advantages
Neighbourhoods with trees enjoy a more balanced climate, whereas inner-city, densely populated neighbourhoods without trees are more susceptible to extreme heat in summer. Research says that the lack of a tree canopy in lower-socioeconomic communities is causing significant disadvantages compared to neighbourhoods with a tree canopy.
My Body is Not a Prayer Request
Christian living | Amy Kenny | Brazos Press
This is a must-read for all Christians who care about inclusion. Amy Kenny shares unflinchingly about the realities of life with disability and urgently calls for disability justice in the Church. Amy describes the book as her personal scream and uses experiential narrative theology to expose cruel assumptions, as she sheds light on ableist attitudes that have no place in the modern church. Stylistically it’s stunningly written, making it an easy read— devastatingly funny in places and deeply moving. It’s more than just thoughtprovoking; it’s hugely confronting and demands a response. Five stars from me. (Reviewed by Jules Badger)
The Road to Chatto Creek
Memoir/Biography | Matt Chisholm | Allen & Unwin Book Publishers
The Road to Chatto Creek by Matt Chisholm is a candid memoir detailing his move to a small farm in Central Otago with his young family. Chisholm is well-known for his various TV roles (ie, previous host of Celebrity Treasure Island and current director of Nadia’s Farm) and his first book, Imposter, outlined his struggles with alcohol and depression. This latest work dives into the peaks and valleys of rural life. The narrative balances agricultural anecdotes with heart-warming family and community interactions offering a glimpse into Chisholm’s new life. While his colourful language and focus on the mechanics of farming may not appeal to everyone, overall, it’s a raw, humorous and hopeful tale of a fresh start down on the farm. (Reviewed by Fay Foster)
Source: Please Don’t Pray With Your Mouth Full, by Bob Swanson.
Where Do You Find God?
Religion/Spirituality | Lizzie Oaks | Available wherever you listen to podcasts
Lizzie Oaks is a name and voice many readers will be familiar with. Broadcaster and daytime host for Star and Rhema Radio, Lizzie recently ran a Wednesday morning series called ‘Where do you find God?’ And it’s exactly like it sounds! Lizzie simply asks Christian people from all sorts of backgrounds and ministries where they find God. In May, Lizzie turned the series into a podcast which rocketed to the number one spot on Apple in the New Zealand religion/spirituality category in its first week. Episodes are only ten minutes each, making the podcast accessible. You can listen to one or ten. Check it out! (Reviewed by Jules Badger)
A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.
CHRISTOPHER REEVE
What’s On?
Winter Appeal | New Zealand
01 July–08 September
BMAC Winter Peak | Raurimu
08–13 July
This six-day snow adventure is for anyone aged 14–17 years. See bluemountainadventure.org. nz/join-an-adventure
Self-Denial Appeal 14 July–18 August selfdenial.org.nz
MORE Conference | Silverstream Retreat, Wellington 18–21 July
Fudgy Chocolate Pudding
A conference for youth and children’s leaders across New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory. moreconference.co.nz
Check out our full event calendar at salvationarmy.org.nz/news-events/events
This dessert is best when just cooked and fudgy in the middle, as it tends to firm up a little on cooling. Add any fruit you like. I used frozen cherries—my personal fave—for the pudding in the picture, but canned peaches, pears or berries will all work well. It’s the kind of dessert that’s easy enough for a weeknight treat and good enough for guests. | 45 mins | Serves 6–8
Ingredients
• 200g butter
• 300g brown sugar
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 75g plain flour
• 50g cocoa
• 2 cups frozen cherries, defrosted or other fruit such as peaches, blueberries or a mixture
Method
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 100g dark chocolate, bits or chunks
• ⅓ cup hazelnuts, chopped or crushed
• cream or ice cream, to serve
Heat oven to 190°C. Lightly grease a roughly 20 x 30cm shallow ovenproof dish. Melt butter in a saucepan, remove from the heat and stir in sugar.
Add vanilla, then mix in eggs in increments, beating well after each addition. Sift flour and cocoa powder onto the mixture and stir until thoroughly combined.
Pour into prepared pan, scatter with fruit, chocolate and nuts. Bake for 30 mins, until crusty on the outside but still fudgy in the centre. Serve warm, with cream or ice cream.
Tip: Place hazelnuts in a bag and bash with a rolling pin to break them up.
Source: Sophie Grey | destitutegourmet.com
Prayer focus: Afghanistan
The war-torn, poverty-stricken nation was hit by terrible flooding earlier this year that killed hundreds of people and left many thousands homeless.
The flooding particularly affected the mountainous northern areas of the country, which are some of the most remote areas in the world and where it is very difficult to deliver aid due to lack of roads, airports or navigable waterways.
At the same time, the return of the Taliban to power after decades of constant warfare has meant a brutal crackdown on women’s rights and religious freedom. With many people not able to access proper sanitation, plus the poor healthcare infrastructure, polio remains endemic—one of the last places in the world where it remains.
Pray for the protection of the Church in Afghanistan, and peace, freedom and prosperity for the people who have suffered so much for so long.
WORD OF THE MONTH
Daya (Fiji–Hindi, noun) Compassion.
QUICK QUIZ
1 What does Brobdingnagian mean?
2 In Acts 24, who succeeded Governor Felix?
3 What does the te reo Māori word ‘wīra’ mean?
4 What is a Croad Langshan?
5 On the periodic table, what does Ag represent?
Answers page 32
INTERNATIONAL PRAYER
• Niger—Pray for Christians on the Niger–Burkina Faso border who are being forced to pay exorbitant taxes to Jihadists if they do not abandon Christianity. Those who do not or refuse to pay are expelled from the village and forfeit all property. Those who pay and stay, live as slaves with no property.
• Sudan—Pray for church leaders in this Christian minority country that they do not feel alone or isolated in a time of disorder and extreme persecution. Pray the Church at large will respond supportively to the increasing isolation of the Christians in Sudan.
• Maldives—Pray for converts to Christianity from other religions who face persecution and restrictions. Pray for the Church as it meets in secret.
• Pakistan—Pray for Christians in this land who are facing increasing levels of harassment and persecution. Pray for Christian business owners who are targeted and their property destroyed. Pray for The Salvation Army in Pakistan as they minister in this environment.
SALVATION
ARMY PRAYER
Rangiora Corps, Reintegration Services, Retired Officers, Samoa Regional Headquarters, Tonga Regional Headquarters, Rolleston Corps Plant, Rotorua Corps, Salvation Army Social Housing, The Salvation Army in Angola Territory and The Salvation Army in Australia Territory.
Fullness of Life for All
Coralie Bridle is a familiar name to many Salvationists. She has been, and continues to be, a prophetic voice within The Salvation Army for disability justice. SALT sat down with the now ‘Dr’ Coralie to discuss the findings of her 370-page doctoral thesis, titled ‘An Army that Brings Life? Complex Disability, The Salvation Army and Fullness of Life’.
WORDS Jules Badger
hen Coralie’s son Sam was three months old he stopped breathing while sleeping. As an oncology nurse at the time, Coralie resuscitated Sam, but lack of oxygen to the brain left him with significant, complex disabilities. It is this lived experience that underpins the heart of Dr Coralie Bridle’s doctoral thesis.
The thesis is a challenging piece of work to read; it’s theologically weighty and personally confronting. The call to sincere repentance and just action reverberates from its pages. Crucially, it speaks directly to the heart of the Army’s current vision: Together we live out the good news of Jesus Christ so that everyone can experience hope, wholeness and ongoing transformation—the fullness of life as God intended.
Boldly advocating for authentic inclusion of people with disabilities and their families, Coralie is nervous about the Army’s response to her work, but also proud that the movement has been so open to self-examination.
‘How utterly marvellous that the Army is not frightened to critique itself and its practice,’ she says. ‘Not content to rest on our laurels but to ask, can we do better? What is the Holy Spirit saying to The Salvation Army today? What was the example set by co-founders William and Catherine Booth that moves us toward the vulnerable and marginalised of 2024?
Jesus sat with those no one else would sit with. Who are those being kept from hearing the gospel because we don’t sit around the table with them? Who are those not experiencing the fullness of life? What are we going to do about that?’
A voice for others
Coralie is grateful to people within the movement who participated in interviews, especially those living with disabilities and their families. It was a five-year project, with Covid-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions, and then the sudden and unexpected death of dearly loved husband, Kevin. Completing the thesis was touch and go, but in the end the driving force became the stories of those who had shared so openly and generously with Coralie about their experience of disability within the Army.
‘The voices of the participants kept ringing in my ears,’ she says. ‘People had given up their time and come with all their vulnerability to share with me. Some cried as I sat with them. I couldn’t deny giving voice to their stories.’
Coralie is regularly beset with imposter syndrome. ‘There are days when I just can’t believe I’ve done this,’ she says. Asked to describe herself, the humble 64-year-old weeps as she says, ‘I’m very much a child of God. I feel full of grief for Kevin. At times I am
lonely and sad and regularly ask myself what am I supposed to do with my post-PhD life?’ But then she sits up straight and clenches her fists and declares with energy and urgency, ‘but I am also the friend of Jesus! His example makes me passionate about caring for the vulnerable. Jesus stopped and noticed people and brought healing, not just cure. So I also try to be a vessel for the Holy Spirit to work through. How can Sam and I together embody God’s grace and light so that we are all moved toward fullness of life? The story of our family’s disability journey is deeply part of who I am.’
Language matters
So how do we talk about disability in a way that brings life? Coralie quotes Amy Kenny, author of My Body is Not a Prayer Request, who explains that ‘much ink has been spilled over whether we should use people-first language (“people with disabilities”) or identity-first language, (“disabled people”) when talking about disability’.
Amy states that she prefers identity-first language. ‘For me, choosing this moniker is a way of shunning the shame often associated with disability and proclaiming that “disability” is not a bad word. I am not a euphemism or a metaphor. I am disabled,’ she affirms.
Coralie uses both styles interchangeably in her thesis, ‘New Zealand has been very strong on adopting people-first language but even this is changing, and internationally there is a real mix. Some see their disabled identity as giving them a sense of belonging to a community and “d/Deaf” culture is a clear example of this. Please ask people how they like to be identified,’ she advises.
Prophetic witness
An ongoing frustration for disabled people and their carers is the assumption by many Christians that disability is a result of the Fall (see Genesis 3).
‘The idea that people with disabilities are a result of the Fall is simplistic, reductive and, quite frankly, insulting,’ says Coralie. ‘It dehumanises disabled people, so on that basis alone it’s illogical. If the Fall
Right: Dr Coralie Bridle and her son Sam.
is universal, which we would say it is, then my lack of disability is also a result of the Fall. Either we are all made in the image of God or none of us are. The world is full of ecological degradation—genes mutate, we age, people do bad things and accidents happen. That does not mean that the person who ends up with the disability is culpable in something to do with the Fall.’
Amy concurs, adding:
We become scapegoats, with people rushing up to cure us, hoisting the world’s problems onto our bodies instead of asking tough questions about how they participate in a system that keeps our bodies down. We represent people’s worst fears … But, in reality, we display the prophetic witness of what is true for all humans. All bodies are interdependent and fragile; ours just make it more evident. All humans bear the image of God: that doesn’t diminish after the Fall— or even after a fall that results in a disability.
And here lies the challenge. To what extent have we contributed to the suffering of disabled people because of bad theology? Our own fears and prejudice? Or simply a lack of compassion for those with different needs to our own?
Either we are all made in the image of God or none of us are.
Now is the kingdom…
Coralie’s thesis delves into models of disability: theology, human rights, activism and much more. But key themes run through her work, the first of which is foundational to her theological approach and the bedrock of the Army’s vision.
We need to re-examine our understanding of what fullness of life means and re-orientate ourselves away from it being something we get when we die and go to heaven. Fullness of life is the inbreaking rule and reign of Christ now! A disabled person—any person— should be able to experience healthy community and
Above: Dr Coralie Bridle at her graduation.
have good relationships. To know that we are seen and loved for who we are, and that there is purpose to our lives. To understand what it is to be trusted, to experience joy and peace. The kingdom now should be a multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-ability, multi-ness in which everyone finds their place and experiences the fullness of life.
The role of the Church, urges Coralie, ‘is to help one another come into that experience of fullness of life’.
A second theme recognises people with disabilities as co-labourers in the kingdom. ‘It’s not just about ministering to disabled people,’ says Coralie. ‘It’s about recognising that everyone brings something to the table—whatever their life experience of embodiment happens to be. There must be mutuality. It’s not just about the non-disabled person inviting the disabled person to join in. We minister together. I learn from you, and you learn from me.’
Image bearers
Reflecting on her 36-year journey as mother, carer and advocate for Sam, Coralie says that Sam’s disability is not a disaster—another important theme of her thesis. What makes disability difficult is the misunderstanding of others.
Another theme touches on the common misconception that if we don’t know enough about disability we shouldn’t get involved. She urges us to find our courage and just ‘take tea’ with a disabled person and begin to form a relationship in the same way we would with anyone else.
Our human embodiment might be different, but we all want the same thing—to be seen for who we really are and witnessed by the world as a person made in the image of God.
God knows and understands the longings of Sam’s heart—even the ones he can’t express and that I’m not attuned to as his carer. Jesus knows what it is to live as a human being, and the Godhead knows the pain and suffering of Christ. The Godhead is therefore aware of what it is like to be bound by limbs that don’t work properly. There is a deep comfort for me as a mother to know that what I can’t reach because of Sam’s lack of comprehension or capacity to speak to me, is known by Jesus.
A fullness of life approach looks like authentic inclusion at a shared table—‘nothing about us without us’.
A shared table
Coralie champions authentic inclusion which covers both literal and metaphorical spaces. ‘I want us to move away from just thinking about due diligence when it comes to disability. Ramps, carparks and a wheelchair-accessible toilet are essential legal requirements, but this is a minimalist approach.’
A fullness of life approach looks like authentic inclusion at a shared table—‘nothing about us without us’. Such a space carries with it the imperative of helping build the shared table, the invitation to take a position at the table and the opportunity to lead from the table.
Coralie writes:
Embrace that is anything less presents an unstable table. Such tables, where claims of ignorance, tokenism and lack of embrace preside, ultimately undermine the very essence of a shared table. At these tables, disabled people can become categorised, and ill-conceived capability dynamics can dominate the table. In contrast, well-crafted shared tables embrace new ways to build relationships, willingly share space in all its dimensions and are led by everyone around the table into new ways of being the church.
New ways of knowing, doing and being…
Coralie’s thesis gently but firmly concludes that: In the context of complex disability and within local Salvation Army corps settings, an understanding of disability and provision of support towards an experience of fullness of life are not as robust and consistent as they might be. While there is evidence of good practice in some spaces, there is also evidence that some disabled people do not consider themselves, or their relatives, as either missional priorities or missional partners in the transformative agenda and work of The Salvation Army in New Zealand. Ultimately, we must repent of our reluctance to embrace those whom we perceive to be different. Turning toward Jesus and away from sin (dehumanisation/neglect) indicates a leaving behind of old ways of knowing, being and doing. Similarly, turning towards disabled people indicates an intentionality to pursue more constructive ways of knowing, being and doing.
Her challenge is clear: fullness of life for all begins with repentance and the willingness to unlearn and relearn. It is time to come together around the table.
To read Dr Coralie Bridle’s full thesis, go to hdl.handle.net/10292/17148
Supalonely?
Kiwi artist Benee gained overnight international fame when her song ‘Supalonely’ gained 6.9 billion plays on TikTok during the month of March 2020. Music commentators credit the success of Supalonely to the timing of its release in December 2019, which coincided with the beginning of global pandemic lockdowns. Many resonated with the song’s themes, especially teenagers and young adults. Jules Badger delves into the rapid rise of loneliness in the 21st century.
While there’s a lot we can blame on the Covid-19 pandemic, loneliness is not technically one of them. But what the pandemic did do was expose and exacerbate what sociologists and other health professionals are calling an unprecedented ‘loneliness epidemic’ unique to this century. Last year the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched an international commission to investigate loneliness as a pressing global threat. Shockingly, health experts claim that loneliness increases our risk of mortality by as much as 30 percent. In other words, the impact of loneliness on our health is like smoking 15 cigarettes a day!
Expectations vs experience
So what is loneliness? In the February 2024 Internal Medicine Journal of America, author Isaac Ng defines loneliness as ‘a psychologically distressing perception of social isolation, which occurs when there is a mismatch between a person’s desired amount and quality of social interactions and relationships and the actual experience’.
And while loneliness is affecting people of all ages, ethnicities, gender and socio-economic groups, the numbers of young adults represented
in studies is disproportionate and rising. Loneliness NZ (loneliness. org.nz) cites our highest rates of loneliness as being among youth aged 15 to 24 years. CEO for Loneliness NZ, Cathy Comer, echoes Isaac Ng when she states that ‘loneliness is about our expectation of what relationships we want and that expectation not being met, and it is a serious problem in New Zealand’. Isaac pulls no punches when he states, ‘the recent exponential rise in digital and social media consumption has further changed the way people connect with one another, leading to increasingly superficial and inauthentic social relationships’.
We all know the science involved— the more ‘likes’ and ‘followers’, the greater the dopamine hit. We feel good in the moment but that doesn’t translate into deep relationships. Social media was designed to increase opportunities to connect with others, but it was never intended to be the source of meaningful relationships.
Individualism vs community
YouthLine counsellor Mahia Mokoraka tells it like it is: ‘The opposite of loneliness is community. Online interactions are no substitute for face-to-face connections.’
Shockingly, health experts claim that loneliness increases our risk of mortality by as much as 30 percent.
We may acknowledge that being alone does not necessarily mean you are lonely. Some of us are introverted by nature, while others choose solitude as a spiritual practice. But loneliness is a slippery little kipper! You can be in a huge crowd and still be plagued by feelings of loneliness. This is the great deception of modern individualism.
Michael Hempstead, TEDx speaker and author, attacks the issue directly when he says, ‘We prize individualism and say you shouldn’t have to depend on people or rely on others. But that goes fundamentally against our deepest human need which is to be loved and connected with others.’
Sociologists agree that the average human can sustain about 150 relationships. This is comprised of a small group (3–5) of intimates (family/spouse/BFF), a larger group (12–15) of confidants (extended family/home group/friend group), and a much wider ‘crowd’ (around
100) of acquaintances (work colleagues/sports or other club/wider congregation). However, the digital age is skewing these numbers with a false sense of community. Most of us today have hundreds of contacts in our phone and anywhere up to a thousand followers on social media, but these ‘friends’ are not the people we can call in a crisis.
Illusion vs reality
John Mark Comer, teaching pastor and author, says ‘the digital age has traded the illusion of connectivity for the reality of community’. He continues with ‘there are few things
What makes Christian community beautiful is our shared pursuit of intimacy with God.
more radical and more difficult and more beautiful than Jesus’ vision of and call to community’.
What makes Christian community beautiful is our shared pursuit of intimacy with God. What makes Christian community difficult is our shared humanity. What makes it radical is our shared commitment to loving one another anyway. This is the kind of authentic community that helps dispel loneliness. But it’s only part of the cure. As Ecclesiastes 3 says, ‘God has set eternity in every heart…’
John Mark says, ‘Loneliness is the seed bed of all spirituality. It is the ache that drives you and I out of the prison of the self to search for God— ultimately the one who is looking for us.’ He goes on to say:
In the core of our being, it turns out that what we all crave is not just friends to hang out with, not even a lover to be known and known by, or even a family, what we desire more than any other human or family no matter how intimate or healthy, is what ancient Christians call union with God. So loneliness is just part of what it means to be human. Welcome to the condition. And we can open it up and let it become our pathway to God. As the Persian Poet Hafez said, ‘Don’t surrender your loneliness so quickly. Let it cut you more deeply. Let it ferment. Something missing in my heart tonight has made my eyes so soft, my voice so tender, my need for God absolutely clear.
Perhaps being Supalonely isn’t so bad after all?
For more on community, listen to John Mark Comer’s teaching podcast Community | Unforced Rhythms of Grace, E5
Love in Action
When our kids were younger, Ian and I would pray with them every night. One of the lines I regularly prayed was that they would be kind and generous.
Kindness is a word that has been used a lot over the last few years, becoming a catchcry of former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Quotes like ‘in a world where you can be anything, be kind’ appear on social media regularly. But what does it mean to be kind? Or to put it another way, what does it mean to be compassionate?
A quick Google search tells me that the word compassion appears in the Bible about 145 times. Some verses teach us that God is full of compassion and mercy. Others tell us that on many occasions Jesus was ‘moved with compassion’. And in Colossians 3, followers of Jesus are urged to be compassionate.
Compassionate is one of our territorial values. We help define this by the tagline: ‘We live out love in action’. For followers of Jesus, we are called to go deeper than just being kind and generous and speaking of love. We need to live out love and compassion actively.
John 13:34–35 reminds us that people will know that we are disciples of Christ if we love one another. In Scripture we see that Jesus didn’t just love those who were like him, he showed love to tax collectors, prostitutes, diseased people, poor people, women, outcasts and children. In many of the accounts of Jesus’ encounters with these people, the words ‘moved with compassion’ are used.
For Jesus, being moved with compassion always resulted in action. He did not simply share words of love; he showed love in action. He fed people, healed people, forgave people and included outcasts. His compassion, his love in action, was not a fluffy, Hallmark card-type of love. Jesus called people out, he challenged people to be different, he addressed both their spiritual and physical needs. We see this in his encounter in Luke 5:17–26 with a paralysed man who was brought to him for healing. Jesus said, ‘Your sins are forgiven’, dealing first with the spiritual; followed by ‘get up, take your mat and go home’, addressing the physical.
So when you think of being Compassionate —living out love in action—what does this mean for you? What does it mean for me?
I would encourage you to read through what people around the territory have considered important about living with the compassion of Jesus that go with our values and then take time to consider how you might choose to act differently this month in light of living with compassion.
Lt-Colonel Liz Gainsford Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development
Matthew 14:13–14
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick (NIV).
Nā, i te rongonga o Īhu, ka haere atu ia i reira rā te kaipuke ki te koraha, ki te wāhi motu kē. Ā, nō ka rongo te mano, ka aru i a ia rā uta i roto i ngā pā. Ā, ka puta atu a Īhu, ka kite i te huihuinga nui, ka aroha ia ki a rātou, ā, whakaorangia ana e ia ō rātou tūroro (PT)
O koya oqo kau sa vosa kina vei ira e na vosa vakatautauvata: ni ra sa raica ka sega ni kunea; a ra sa rogoca ka sega ni rogoca, ka lecava tu. Ia sa vakayacori kina vei ira na parofisai i Aisea, ka vaka, Dou na daurogoca tikoga, ka lecava tu; Ia dou na dauraica tikoga, ka sega ni kunea (FOV)
Jab Yeeshu i khabar sunis to bauṭ pe chaṛh ke ek akele jagha chala gais. Jab sab log i sunin to aapan aapan ṭaaun se paidar chal ke uske pichchhe hoy leen. Jab Yeeshu bauṭ se utra, to u ek baṛa bheeṛ dekhis, aur ulog pe taras khaais, aur sab ke bimaari ṭheek kar dees (FRHNT)
Pea ‘i he fanongo ki ai ‘a Sisu na‘a ne ‘alu mei ai ‘i ha vaka ki ha potu lala, ke fakaekinautolu: ka ka fanongo pe ki ai ‘e he ngāhi kakai, ‘o nau hala ‘uta pe mo tuliimui ki ai mei he ngāhi kolo. Pea ‘i he‘ene hifo ki ‘uta, na‘a ne ‘ilo ai ha fu‘u kakai lahi; pea na‘e langa hono fatu ‘i he ‘ofa kiate kinautolu, pea ne fakamo‘ui ‘enau kau mahaki (TWB).
Ua faafofoga i ai Iesu, ona maliu ese ai lea o ia i lea mea i le vaa i le mea tuufua ua na o ia. Ua faalogo ai le motu o tagata, ona latou mulimuli atu ai lea ia te ia, ua ui a uta mai aai. Ua maliu atu Iesu, ua na silafia le motu o tagata e toatele, ona mutimuti vale ai lea o lona alofa ia te i latou, ua faamalolo foi e ia o latou ma‘i (SOV)
For the full explanation of our Vision, Mission and Values, scan the QR code or go to salvationarmy.org.nz/VMV
Faith On and Off the Field
As a sport chaplain, Lieutenant Semi Ratu combines his two great passions—faith and sport. Semi sat down with Kelly Cooper to explore how the intersection of faith and sport creates a winning synergy, both on and off the field.
‘Growing up in Fiji, my childhood was deeply influenced by sport,’ shares Semi. ‘It’s a passion I still enjoy today.’
After graduating as officers from Booth College of Mission (BCM) in 2020, Semi and his wife, Lieutenant Elizabeth Walker-Ratu, made the move to Ashburton to take up positions as corps officers of the Ashburton Corps.
‘Coming out of college we were encouraged to do commissioning studies. Sport has always been important to me, and I began to wonder, what if sport and faith can work together? I explored this question and talked with Captain Shaun Baker, territorial secretary for Chaplaincy Services, about the possibility of sport chaplaincy. He encouraged me to apply and recommended Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand (SCNZ). A few months into my studies, I realised that sport chaplaincy was really all the things that I had grown up with—my faith and my sport—within one role,’ says Semi.
‘As a chaplain I’m in a support role. Not only to the players, but also to the coaches and the manager.’
Support and influence
Sport chaplains are volunteers who provide free pastoral care,
support and mentoring to athletes, staff officials and their whānau (families) irrespective of religion, lifestyle and beliefs. SCNZ provides comprehensive online and in-person training with the option to gain NZQA-recognised qualifications.
On receiving his accreditation from SCNZ, Semi was invited to be team chaplain to the Mid Canterbury Fijian 7s rugby team. Inspired by this team’s success, another team, The Island Brothers 7s, was established. Semi also chaplains this team, which consists of Fijian, Samoan, Tongan and Māori players. Both teams compete in tournaments and events around the country.
‘As a chaplain I’m in a support role. Not only to the players, but also to the coaches and the manager,’ says Semi. He sits in on team meetings and typically opens their time together with a devotion. Semi recognises that for many Fijian players this the norm. ‘In Fiji, the first thing you do at the beginning of a rugby match is to publicly acknowledge God. For some of our players in The Island Brothers team it’s the first time they have heard a devotion. Now when we begin our meetings, they are like, “Hey, we need the devotion first!” The team members are now the ones driving how we start our time together,’ shares Semi.
Studying as a sport chaplain highlighted for Semi the importance of understanding cultural
differences when working with players. ‘In Fijian culture it can be difficult to speak to a person who is an officer or a pastor. They become elevated by their position. Sometimes this is a barrier that stops Pasifika men from talking and opening up to one another. I’m working hard to change that mindset with my teams.’
‘I’m not just there for the games. I am part of the team.’
Part of the team
‘I’m not just there for the games. I am part of the team. I let everyone know that I am there and available to talk. I like to walk up and down beside them while they are training and have a chat. Sometimes it’s these informal chats at training that help break the ice,’ observes Semi.
A key part of Semi’s role is sharing his faith and love for God with others. ‘When I realised there is a space for that, it was just awesome,’ he says. While many of the players attend different churches, before any 7s tournament the teams come to Ashburton Corps for a special dedication service. The teams have even asked to have their new jerseys dedicated to God before playing in them. ‘These boys feel really connected to our corps,’ says Semi, ‘and the congregation loves having them attend. They often offer to sing a hymn as a blessing.
It is fantastic for our corps members to get to experience different cultures and languages. People always ask me when the rugby boys are coming back.’
Faith community integration
Semi’s role as a sport chaplain has made this connection with the Ashburton Corps possible. Semi also enjoys having ‘the boys,’ as he calls them, attend Sunday morning worship as they are positive role models for younger sporting players in their community. Unknown to him, after winning their first tournament, the Fijian 7s team put aside 10 percent of their winnings for the Ashburton Corps. Semi felt very blessed by this gesture.
‘Many people don’t believe that faith and sports complement each other, but I am proof that they do, especially in team sport. I am trying to find other sport I can support. I am passionate about volleyball and am eager to establish chaplaincy
within this sport. As a sport chaplain, I get to do what I love and share my faith. To be that lighthouse for others in different sport is a huge thing for me,’ says Semi.
If you are interested in learning more about sport chaplaincy, Semi invites SALT readers to contact him
or to visit the SCNZ website. ‘We are always looking for more sport chaplains, especially in the South Island,’ says Semi. ‘It’s an awesome opportunity to minister and to journey with young men and women who are into sport. Just being there for them, being that listening ear, having fun and sharing the gospel. I highly, highly recommend it!’
Get in touch with Lieutenant Semi Ratu Semi.Ratu@salvationarmy.org.nz or go to the Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand website sportschaplaincy.co.nz
Above: Lieutenant Semi Ratu (second from right) with the Mid Canterbury Fijian 7s rugby team. Below: The Island Brothers 7s rugby team (Semi is front row, right).
Neurodiversity Within God’s Call to Ministry
Lieutenant Andy Connor was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) during his officer training at Booth College of Mission (BCM). He reflects on his journey of receiving his adult diagnosis and how this has impacted him.
I was born in the early 1970s in London. As a child I was an absolute handful. I wasn’t naughty, but I would have been classed as a very energetic kid. I struggled at school, and I remember always being in the ‘special’ classes. I’d move around the classroom and have to sit next to the teacher. I now understand that when you have ADHD and ASD you really cannot keep still.
At home I looked things up in encyclopedias and read books. I was quite smart, but because I was not smart at school, the teachers called me stupid. I failed all my exams, and left school at 16 years old after being told that I would never make anything of my life.
I didn’t enjoy being back in the classroom, but during this time I taught myself how to learn in an unorthodox way.
My dad encouraged me to get a trade. I applied to motor vehicle companies to become an apprentice mechanic. They asked me to sit a series of logic tests. These were different from the assessments, and I excelled at these tests. I was offered multiple positions and accepted an apprenticeship at Mercedes Benz. There were procedures to follow at Mercedes Benz. This built structure into my life, which was exactly what I needed. I thrived in that environment. My apprenticeship required me to attend college one day per week. I didn’t enjoy being back in the classroom,
but during this time I taught myself how to learn in an unorthodox way. The most important lesson for a young adult is to discover is their own way of learning. I found that out at college and completed my A-levels and a diploma in management.
Faith and family
I was brought up as a Christian and came to faith at age seven. Bible stories excited me and I knew them well. I found it hard to pray, as I would hear every single noise around me. Throughout my life I never doubted God, even when things got hard.
I married my wife, Lieutenant Tamsyn Connor, when I was 20 and she was 18 years old. We had difficulty having children so decided to do lots of travelling. We always included time to visit New Zealand on our trips. When we had our first child in 1998, we assumed we would stop travelling, but we still had the travel bug. We emigrated to New Zealand in 2000, with eight suitcases and a two-year-old daughter. We settled in Ōrewa.
I had a range of jobs including starting up a toy shop and being a house husband. Our second child arrived in 2002. I became heavily involved at Ōrewa Baptist Church as a deacon. Tamsyn and I continued with the things we enjoyed like travel and scuba diving. People said we were busy, but my brain enjoyed moving fast and being busy.
Faith-filled struggle
When I turned 40, I felt like I should be slowing down, but I could feel myself becoming more hyperactive. My
doctor suggested that I might have ADHD and I could go on medication, but the doctor couldn’t get me into the system to get tested. I decided that I didn’t need medication as I had managed without it and I wasn’t aware of the impact ADHD could have on my life.
We had begun attending another Pentecostal church, and both Tamsyn and I undertook theological study through Laidlaw College and pursued the possibility of missionary work. I dedicated myself to running and completed five marathons in my first year. Things began to feel out of control. I had become lost in a big church. I recognised that I needed structure in my life and began attending the Hibiscus Coast Salvation Army. Tamsyn and I became involved in our corps and were put forward to attend a Delve weekend to consider becoming officers within The Salvation Army. We were accepted as candidates in 2021 and entered BCM in early 2022.
Crisis at college
I went into college (BCM) thinking this was going to be fun because I loved learning, but everything was about to collapse. I had left a familiar environment. I had stopped running and I started to get depressed. My marks went down, and I became very distracted. In my second year I had an ADHD breakdown. I shut
off from everything and everyone. This resulted in a formal diagnosis by a psychologist of severe ADHD and later ASD. I then had a six-month wait to see a psychiatrist before I could begin taking medication. When I resumed my college work with an individual learning plan that supported my brain, my marks began to improve.
Through all of this I didn’t question God, but I wondered why I was at college. It turns out that my brain is chemically different to a neurotypical brain. I am learning how to juggle my ADHD and ASD with being an officer. While I still struggle with my latein-life diagnosis, my role as a Salvation Army housing chaplain in West Auckland has been very fruitful. My ADHD breakdown and diagnosis were reminders from God that he has given me a gift to do things differently, so I need to use my abilities in a different way.
I have a strong desire for people to be more aware of neurodiversity within the Army. I am grateful to the many BCM lecturers who walked with me and worked with me on this journey, particularly Susan Howan. I know that I can help others and speak into their lives. I believe that the main ministry for my life is to be a voice for other neurodivergent people who struggle to fit in.
Difference by Design
Increasing diagnoses of neurodivergence in children and adults in recent years has heightened societal awareness of neurodiversity. SALT explores how we—each created in the image of God—can embrace, understand and celebrate the unique ways our brains are designed with difference in mind.
WORDS Kelly Cooper
xperts estimate that up to 20 percent of New Zealand’s population are neurodivergent, with an additional 20 percent showing neurodivergent traits. According to the Neurodiversity in Education Coalition, as many as one in five young people are neurodivergent. These statistics represent a significant portion of our population, and raise important questions: What is neurodiversity? What does it mean to be neurodivergent? And how can we acknowledge and support neurodiversity in our schools, workplaces and communities?
Diverse language
The term ‘neurodiverse’, was first coined by sociologist Judy Singer in 1998 and was embraced by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) communities as an alternative to the diagnostic language previously used to describe brain differences. Although it has become part of our everyday language, confusion still surrounds its meaning and whom it represents.
Neurodiversity existed as a phenomenon long before humans began to name and categorise variations in the ways our brains work. Just as biodiversity encompasses the vast variety of plants, animals and microorganisms on earth, neurodiversity refers to the many kinds of different human minds and recognises
that individual differences in how we process and interact with the world are both natural and beneficial. Psychologist Anton Ashcroft further explains neurodiversity in this way: ‘There are eight billion people on this planet with eight billion different and unique brains. Everyone is neurodiverse. We all have our own unique traits, some of which are challenges for us, some of which are strengths for us.’
Although often used interchangeably, ‘neurodiverse’ and ‘neurodivergent’ do not have identical meanings. Neurodivergence is an umbrella term that refers to individuals whose neurological makeup and cognitive processes lead them to think, learn and behave in ways that differ from what is expected. This can include those with ASD, ADHD and specific learning difficulties (SLD)—including dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, giftedness, sensory processing disorder
Neurodiversity existed as a phenomenon long before humans began to name and categorise variations in the ways our brains work.
and many more. These individual conditions are often referred to as ‘neurotypes’.
Historically, neurodivergent conditions were pathologised and labelled as disorders. There is now a growing understanding that neurodivergence acknowledges differences, rather than deficits, and language is evolving to reflect this.
The term ‘neurotypical’ is used to refer to individuals who think, learn and behave in ways that are expected and that align with societal norms. Schools, churches and places of employment are typically designed to accommodate individuals fitting these norms. It is important to note that ‘neurotypical’ is not synonymous with ‘normal’. Neurotypical simply means that an individual’s behaviours fall within expected boundaries, which can differ from one culture to another. For instance, direct eye contact is considered rude in some cultures and expected in others.
Justine Munroe, CEO of Neurodiversity in Education Project, notes that the language neurodivergent individuals use to describe themselves is often complex and deeply personal. ‘In terms of using the “right” language, it’s all very new,’ she says. ‘People are experimenting and evolving their own language. It is important for us all to keep open and to keep listening, particularly to our young people.’
For many neurodivergent individuals, their neurotype (for example ASD or dyslexia) plays a central role in the formation of their identity. While two individuals may both share the same neurotype, this term only scratches the surface of the diverse ways they are created and experience the world. For some, embracing their neurotype not only provides a descriptor but also fosters connection and a sense of belonging with others with similar neurotypes.
Te reo Māori offers alternative language that perhaps more accurately captures the experiences of neurodivergent individuals. The te reo Māori word for ADHD is ‘aroreretini’, meaning ‘attention goes to many things’. ‘Takiwātanga’, the te reo Māori word for autism, translates as ‘in his/her/their own space and time’. Justine adds that regardless of the language we choose, ‘it is important for all individuals to have the opportunity to identify and express their identity in a way that feels good for them’.
Raising neurodivergent children
Parents of neurodivergent children often describe feeling misunderstood by others, alongside challenges in navigating the complex system of meetings, referrals and assessments. They also share the emotional strain and exhaustion that accompanies advocating and accessing support for their child.
In her podcast, ‘No Such Thing as Normal’, actor and presenter Sonia Gray explores the complex world of neurodiversity. Through an eight-year journey supporting her daughter, ‘to fit into a world that just did not work for her’, Sonia has become a staunch advocate for better understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity. Her daughter has been diagnosed with a range of conditions, including ADHD, ASD, obsessive compulsive disorder and oppositional defiant disorder.
Sonia candidly recounts the trauma she experienced as a parent when people told her she was making things up and others said she was a bad parent. She describes feeling very alone for many years. ‘It’s really damaging,’ she says. ‘I now know that I am not alone. There are thousands of whānau throughout Aotearoa struggling just like us.’
‘My best advice for other parents is to join a support group and find another parent who is further along the journey than you.’
Fiona, a mother of a child who has ADHD and SLD, recounts a similar experience. ‘I was called in to school several times a week,’ says Fiona. ‘My child was labelled naughty and disruptive.’ It was suggested to Fiona that her son’s ‘problems’ were caused by her parenting. Fiona sought the advice of a psychologist who quickly identified deeper underlying issues. Subsequent assessments by a paediatrician led to her son receiving a diagnosis.
Fiona describes the journey to diagnose her son as exhausting. ‘It puts a real strain on your relationships. I felt very alone and needed someone to talk to. My best advice for other parents is to join a support group and find another parent who is further along the journey than you.’
A strengths-based approach
Maria, a Year 12 student in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, was diagnosed with giftedness at age four and high-functioning autism when she was seven. She describes feeling unsupported and misunderstood by the education system as a neurodivergent learner. ‘There are a lot of misconceptions about neurodivergence. Neurodivergent learners are often told they are lazy, that they’re not trying hard enough and that they are behaving badly on purpose. Our neurodivergence isn’t someone’s fault. It should be something that can exist in our world without being understood as disadvantage,’ shares Maria.
As a Young Neurodiversity Champion, Maria is on a mission to highlight the diverse educational needs of neurodivergent learners. She aspires to study law and to become New Zealand’s Minister for Education, to ensure that all students have an education system that affirms and understands them. ‘I understand that it is hard to grow up in a world that’s not designed inclusively for neurodivergent learners, but we have wonderful advantages in the ways our minds work. We need to remember this because this is how we can succeed in our own lives,’ says Maria.
Alex Campbell, an ADHD coach, echoes Maria’s sentiment and favours a strengths-based approach when working with his neurodivergent clients. As one of the first children to be diagnosed with ADHD in the United Kingdom in the early 1990s, Alex was all too aware of the ‘try harder, do more, be better’ message he received as a child. ‘It’s exhausting to keep hearing this and it never works,’ he shares. ‘When we flip what is perceived as a deficit on its head our brains light up like a Christmas tree. To be neurodivergent is to be brilliant. The more we start to spot brilliance and empower neurodivergent children the better,’ he says.
A Year 6 student who has ADHD, also called Alex, says a focus on his unique abilities and talents has been pivotal. Prior to his diagnosis, school was a challenging environment. He became withdrawn and disengaged. Now in his final year of primary school, Alex is thriving. His diagnosis helped him to
understand his strengths and the areas that present challenges for him. ‘I am good at seeing things from different perspectives and practical tasks. When my dad talks to me about technical things, my brain just knows what he’s talking about,’ shares Alex.
There is a richness and diversity that neurodivergence can bring to societies; a way of looking at our world that may differ from perceived norms.
Thriving as a neurodiverse adult
Dr Dougal Sutherland is a registered clinical psychologist and chief executive officer of Umbrella Wellbeing, an organisation that provides workplace wellbeing and psychological services to businesses. He has observed an increase in the number of adults seeking assessment and diagnosis in the last five to eight years. ‘People certainly have a greater awareness of neurodiversity. Adults often come to us after their children have been diagnosed and say, “oh, that reminds me of me”,’ he says.
When Sonia Gray received her own ADHD diagnosis in her mid-forties, it came as a shock. ‘I had no idea I had ADHD. I just thought I was a bit useless at a lot of stuff that other people could do quite easily,’ explains
Sonia. Matthew, a father of a child with ADHD, had a similar experience. ‘I was surprised to read my son’s report and discover it described my own school experiences,’ he says.
Employers frequently approach Umbrella Wellbeing with questions about neurodiversity, such as how to start conversations with employees and how best to support neurodivergent staff. Dougal suggests beginning with awareness and implementing strategies like creating low-stimulus environments, breaking projects into smaller tasks, setting clear boundaries and deadlines, and offering flexibility in work hours and locations. He warns against making value judgments about neurodivergent employees and advocates for understanding of differences and maximising individual strengths.
Favouring a strengths-based approach to understanding neurodiversity not only creates inclusive communities, it also enables us to embrace the myriad ways we are each designed with difference in mind.
There is a richness and diversity that neurodivergence can bring to societies; a way of looking at our world that may differ from perceived norms. As we embrace differences in our families, workplaces and communities we invite often marginalised people to add their unique perspectives and insights to the conversations and we are richer for this.
Above: Maria, a Young Neurodiversity Champion in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
Image Bearers
WORDS Jules Badger | ART Sam Coates
I have an invisible disability. I take medication twice a day to function like a ‘normal’ person. My life is now carefully curated with limits to keep anxiety at bay and the big black dog of depression locked in a box. I tell you this to point out that disability takes many forms. But what all disabilities have in common, however, is stigma.
In his 2022 article ‘My Disabled Body Proclaims the Gospel’, Amar D Peterman explains that ‘my disability is less about physical “malformation” and more about its place in a society where there is consensus among able-bodied persons of what is “normal” and “abnormal”, “abled” and “disabled”, “excluded” and “embraced”.’
What’s a Christ-like response to disability? Amar highlights that the man standing before Jesus in John 9 was born blind so that God’s works might be seen in him. Amar urges us to ‘embrace disabled bodies as a gift from God that both reveals divine action in the world and expands the fullness of image-bearing creation’, adding, ‘rather than longing for “healing”, I find purpose in knowing that even in the midst of physical pain and limitations, God might be revealed to me and through me’.
I like that! I find myself finally at peace being fully known by God now in my public weakness than I ever did in my private pretense of being highfunctioning and strong. Being ‘well’ or ‘healed’ is not about going back to how I was, but rather, forward with God into who I am becoming.
I’ll leave the last words to Amar… ‘Truly, we have much to learn from disabled persons through whom God chooses to reveal a divine message. Rather than reflexively understanding disabled people as objects to be healed, may our churches be welcoming, accessible and empathic places for disabled people to find rest, join fully in communion, and share the stories of God’s work in their lives with their faith community.’
Pushing Pause: Slowing Down to be with God
In part two of this series, Major Mat Badger adds to the biblical framework for Sabbath rest offered in part one. In this instalment, Mat explains that Sabbath rest is more than just taking a day off—it is both a command and a gift from God, which we ignore at our own peril. When we remember the Sabbath we take part in a powerful countercultural practice.
For those of us who have been through burn-out, compassion fatigue or a season of bone-weary exhaustion, you will know from personal experience that when we push ourselves beyond the pace we were designed to live, the wheels start to fall off. Some of us even crash, and recovery can be long and slow.
The first three of the Ten Commandments can be paraphrased as no gods before me, no image before me, don’t misuse my name and, the fourth, don’t neglect to rest
We all love a day off! In theory it’s a day when we don’t work for our employer, however, we still work. We run errands, we pay bills, we do the shopping, we mow the lawn or clean the house. For many of us a day off is simply a chance to catch up on all the things we haven’t had time to do! Eugene Peterson calls this kind of day off the ‘bastard Sabbath’.
Perhaps shockingly, attending church does not a Sabbath make! As we know, Sunday means different things to different people. For the doers
among us it’s the day to tackle the to-do list; for the careerist, it’s the day to get ahead on emails or other aspects of business administration; for the sport lover, well that’s selfexplanatory.
Restoration versus relaxation
Most of us know how to shop and how to play, but very few of us know how to rest. In fact, most of us confuse restoration with relaxation. How many of us binge-watch a series and come away feeling refreshed, full of
clarity and spiritually reinvigorated? Most of us simply escape our life for a few hours. The average Kiwi watches at least two hours of TV every day, spends a further 2.5 hours on social media—and that 4.5 hours in front of a screen doesn’t include work-based screen time.
Does what I choose to do offer soul rest? Does it cause me to delight in creation and in my Creator?
The Sabbath day, in contrast, is a day set apart for soul rest. It’s a holy day, and the older I get the better I have become at practising Sabbath. I now ask myself two key questions: Does what I choose to do offer soul rest? Does it cause me to delight in creation and in my Creator? If the answer to either of these questions is no or maybe, well, I have six other days when I can do those things. To be clear, activity isn’t a bad thing. If what I choose to do is spiritually refreshing and restores my soul, I embrace it wholeheartedly. Remember, Sabbath can be translated as ‘delight’—so consider what brings you joy and allows gratitude to rise within you. How can you feed your soul with beauty and wonder?
A command and a gift
Theologians point out that within the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath is the bridge between the first three, which are all about our relationship with God; the last six are all about our relationship with one another. It’s important to note that the Sabbath is the only practice of rhythm in the Ten Commandments. I believe the practice of Sabbath rest fosters
and supports all other spiritual disciplines. We are not commanded to remember to pray or to read Scripture, or even to be still. But we are commanded to rest.
There is a lot of debate over whether followers of Jesus are required to keep the Sabbath. But in the New Testament neither Jesus, Paul nor any of the apostles make such a command. Most scholars would say that we don’t need the Sabbath because we now have the ‘Lord’s Day’, when we worship together. Christ’s finished work on the cross is sufficient for us to ‘rest’ in. This is the majority position. However, it is important to note that on this side of the cross the command to not murder remains, as does not lying nor taking the Lord’s name in vain. Why would Sabbath rest be the only commandment no longer applicable? Jesus never broke the Sabbath—he broke Jewish Mishnah laws on the Sabbath, but he never broke the Sabbath. If the other nine commandments are not in question, why just this one?
And if we are content with breaking it, how’s that working out for us? As a society? As the body of Christ? The Army that brings life? Jesus never said anything to cancel the Sabbath or to annul it.
Remembering the Sabbath is more than just taking a day off every now and then. It’s about a rhythm embedded in creation itself and endorsed by our God who rested.
I love the language of the text: ‘The Lord has given you the Sabbath’ (Exodus 16:29). It’s a gift! And like any good gift, I want to enjoy it!
Remember the Sabbath
I believe Sabbath rest is both a command and a gift, with an emphasis on the latter. It’s commanded: ‘Remember the Sabbath...’ (Exodus 20:8). I’m not sure about you, but I am prone to forget things easily. This is why so much teaching in church is about things we already know. As humans, we need to hear things repeatedly. The idea in Hebrew thinking is that when we are reminded of God’s ways, the very core of who we are is impacted. Throughout Scripture we are told to remember…
Remembering the Sabbath is more than just taking a day off every now and then. It’s about a rhythm embedded in creation itself and endorsed by our God who rested. We work for six days, and then we rest. When we remember the Sabbath, we remember that while life is hard it is also good. The world is full of evil and pain, but it is also full of wonder, kindness and generosity.
Sabbath won’t happen by accident. It’s a deliberate, countercultural practice. The more intentional you are, the more blessed your Sabbath rest will be.
Based on a sermon series given at Johnsonville Corps. For full sermons, go to tinyurl.com/ TSAJohnsonville
Social Housing Apartments Open in Dunedin
In a New Zealand first, a heritage building in Dunedin has been transformed into community housing. But that’s just part of the story. Ben Mack reports on the opening of the newest Salvation Army Social Housing (SASH) property.
As the sun rose on a crisp winter morning, cold enough where you could see their breath, so too did the birds begin their chatter. Of all the things they had to talk about that June 5, an exciting new topic of conversation was the opening of the newest Salvation Army Social Housing (SASH) property, in the Loan and Mercantile building at the corner of Willis and Thomas Burns Streets, mere metres from Dunedin’s waterfront.
The Suzanne Lund Community Loft Apartments were officially opened with a dawn blessing delivered by Moeraki Edwards, followed by a reception including Minister for Housing Hon Chris Bishop, Dunedin City major
councillors, and developer Russell Lund and his wife Suzanne, who the complex is now named after. Also among the dozens of attendees were community social service providers, builders and tradespeople involved with the renovation of the property, media, Salvation Army members from across the motu (land)—and some of the future tenants of the property’s 30 units.
The building’s history
The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co Ltd building, originally known as the Otago Wool Stores, was built in 1872 for stock and station agents Driver Stewart and Co. Used for such varied purposes as goods storage and
go-kart racing, the conversion of such a historic building into community housing is a first in Aotearoa.
‘There’s a real need for housing in Aotearoa New Zealand,’ said Territorial Commander Commissioner Mark Campbell at the opening. His speech was delivered under skylights and exposed wood beams in a light-filled loft on the second level of the building—the same spot where go-kart racing used to be.
‘I pray that there is a flourishing for the people here,’ said Mark.
The purpose of housing is people,’ he said.
‘Housing people in warm, dry homes they can go home to.’
Purposeful housing
Flourishing was a theme Chris Bishop touched on in his speech, too. ‘The purpose of housing is people,’ he said.
‘Housing people in warm, dry homes they can go home to.’
It’s certainly possible to flourish in the 30 units, which are also accessible to people with varied mobility needs, thanks to an indoor lift and ramp going into the building. There’s also a metal staircase which hangs from the roof on steel struts—Russell Lund says it’s a particular
Above: The newest Salvation Army Social Housing (SASH) property, the Suzanne Lund Community Loft Apartments, formerly known as the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co Ltd building at the corner of Willis and Thomas Burns Streets.
architectural highlight because of its uniqueness. Twenty-eight apartments have one bedroom, one has two bedrooms and another has three bedrooms.
Regardless of size, each apartment has points of interest: exposed native timber; soft carpets; bathrooms with showers; huge arched windows with thick curtains (many in bold colours like orange); brick walls; and lots of storage. This being the deep south, there’s also plenty of heating. In the kitchen, the chopping boards are even shaped like The Salvation Army’s red shield logo.
‘A building is the product of many hands. You have a sense of wellbeing when you are part of something bigger than yourself.’ ‘We want these spaces to be beautiful, uplifting spaces...’
The unique features don’t stop there. The hallways are decorated with art created by Suzanne Lund herself, including brightly-coloured stilllife paintings. Some of the original machinery from the building’s earlier days also remains. Overall, the effect is like visiting a five-star hotel—which Russell Lund said is intentional.
‘We want these spaces to be beautiful, uplifting spaces,’ he said at the opening. ‘A building is the product of many hands. You have a sense of wellbeing when you are part of something bigger than yourself.’
Onsite support
To help with wellbeing, the ground floor has an office for a full-time housing support manager, who can assist residents with their transition into
Above: Interior features of the newly transformed community housing.
the building. It’s important because residents are, or have been, on the Housing Register, and many have never had a stable home before.
Also on the ground floor is a community room tennats can use. Among its features is a salvaged window that came from the historic Caversham Presbyterian Church. There is also a courtyard with outside seating and a trampoline, a drying room and bike storage. In addition to the first floor being solely community housing, the second floor contains units that are available for private rental.
Collective agreement
The story of the units goes back to 2020, when Territorial Director of Social Housing and Property Greg Foster was
approached by Russell Lund about the possibility of building and leasing social housing in the building. As with all renovations of heritage buildings, there were many challenges with design and engineering—and approvals for the project. But the Dunedin City Council was supportive, and plans submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development were approved for a funding contract of an initial 15-year lease.
‘Building homes in a warehouse building that also happens to be a heritage-listed building is fraught with risk,’ says Greg. ‘But the end result that Russell and Suzanne Lund have come up with is of the highest quality.’
Greg hailed the community support and how so many people came together to get the project finished. He said while it’s a beautiful building, what’s more beautiful is the way it can hopefully help change lives. ‘It’s going to be transformational for people.’
Pop Goes the Family Store!
On Wednesday 22 May, the Pukekohe Family Store hosted a balloon-popping event. Every purchase—regardless of price— qualified customers to pop a balloon and potentially win a prize, with 120 balloons popped between 10am and 2pm. ‘We wanted people to feel that they just had to come into the Family Store today!’ explains team leader Andrea Combrink. Prizes were gathered from quality donations, and the wider Pukekohe community generously supported the event by also providing prizes. ‘Our local community was more than happy to donate to us for the event,’ says Andrea. ‘Working together with our community made for a successful and joyful day!’
For the full story, go to saltmagazine.org.nz
Positive Lifestyle Programme Comes to the Pacific
Since 2021, it has been envisioned that the Positive Lifestyle Programme (PLP) would be available to our Pacific nations. As part of the Community Ministries work in Fiji, Major Beth Campkin, divisional Community Ministries secretary, Fiji Division, and Carolyn Smith, the New Zealand programme facilitation coordinator, have been working together to bring this dream to fruition. In 2023, a group of six Fijian, Rotuman, and Fijian of Indian heritage officers and staff attended the first ever group PLP sessions, once a week for eight weeks. Then in April 2024, 13 officers and staff who represented the different ethnicities of Fijian, Rabian, Fijian of Indian heritage, Rotuman and Tongan came together in Suva at the School for Officer Training to train as Pacific’s first accredited PLP individual facilitators. The facilitators have a vast range of experiences and ministries across Fiji and Tonga.
For the full story, go to saltmagazine.org.nz
Movement in the Middle East
Effective from June 1, Regional Headquarters for The Salvation Army in the Middle East officially relocated from Kuwait to Bahrain. Kiwi officers Majors Doug and Janet Newman were responsible for the move, with approval and support from International Headquarters. The Salvation Army in the Middle East Region was initially set up in Kuwait because of the support work and presence established during the Gulf War years. However, since Covid-19, Christian churches have been unable to obtain visas for Kuwait, and with no indication of when that might change, the invitation to The Salvation Army from the Kingdom of Bahrain in 2022 to relocate and register as a church and charity was an answer to prayer. ‘Not only can we worship openly in Bahrain as The Salvation Army, but we will have access to multi-entry visas which means we can expand our community work,’ says Doug. For the full story, go to saltmagazine.org.nz
Indonesia Territory Joyfully Welcomes International Leaders
The presence of the General and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham brought special blessings to many people. At the inauguration of Jonooge #1 Corps on Wednesday 29 May, the General encouraged the congregation to rejoice in God’s grace in rebuilding the corps, which was devastated by the massive 2018 earthquake. With the support of the local government, the Regent of Sigi (the highest-ranking government official of an administrative division within Central Sulawesi), donors, and the hard work and self-reliance of a congregation mostly made up of farmers, the 1000-person-capacity building was completed in just over five years. Mohamad Irwan Lapatta, the Regent of Sigi, was also in attendance at the inauguration. On the same day, officers’ councils were held in Palu. Officers from seven divisions and two regions in central and eastern Indonesia—comprising 567 retired and active officers— attended the service. A total of 184 officers responded to the General’s sermon by renewing their covenant with God.
Pacific Hub Mini Conference
From 25–27 March, the Samoa children and youth team, Captains Eric and Julie Turner, Teuila Faimanu and Pati Niusulu, hosted the Fijian and Tonga children and youth teams, Captain Varea Rika, Major Beth Campkin (Fiji) and Sesilina Palu and Mele Vaea (Tonga), for a Pacific Hub Mini Conference. Over three days, the Pacific Hub team spent time discussing and sharing about the importance of child safety, curriculum ideas that fit the Islands without too much translating of context or language, ways to engage children and youth in worship and leadership, as well as how to run children and youth events effectively that suit the Pacific context. Another important part of the gathering was to strengthen the bonds between the Pacific Island children and youth teams.
For the full story, go to saltmagazine.org.nz
Royal Oak Teams Gather for Pink Ribbon Breakfast
On Tuesday 21 May, the Connected Support Network team based in Royal Oak gathered with teams from Addictions Supportive Accomodation and Reintegration Services (ASARS), Salvation Army Social Housing (SASH) and the Family Store to hold a Pink Ribbon Breakfast and fundraise for breast cancer awareness and research. Their collaborative efforts raised over one thousand dollars. Event organiser Major Julie Cope (Women’s Ministries officer) explains that, ‘Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in New Zealand women. One in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, with 650 dying from the disease every year.’ Recently diagnosed with breast cancer and currently undergoing treatment herself, Julie is passionate about raising awareness about the prevalence of breast cancer and educating Kiwi about the support available through the Breast Cancer Foundation.
For the full story, go to saltmagazine.org.nz
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Official Engagements
Commissioners Mark (Territorial Commander) and Julie Campbell (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries)
15–17 July: Territorial Appointments Conference, Booth College of Mission
20 July–4 August: Furlough
Colonel Gerry Walker (Chief Secretary)
7 July: Founders Day Dunedin City Corps
15–17 July: Territorial Appointments Conference, Booth College of Mission
22 July: Epsom Lodge visit, Auckland
27 July: Territorial Youth Band and Spiritsong Concert, Wellington South Corps
Lt-Colonel Liz Gainsford (Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development)
7 July: Territorial Online Praying Together Meeting
15–17 July: Territorial Appointments Conference, Booth College of Mission
22–23 July: Spiritual Life Network meeting, Booth College of Mission
27 July: Territorial Youth Band and Spiritsong Concert, Wellington South Corps
28 July: Petone Corps visit
Gazette Summary
To read the full version of Gazette notices, visit
Long Service Recognition: Effective 23 May 2024, Lt-Colonel Alberth Sarimin attained his Long Service Award. We thank Lt-Colonel Alberth for his faithful service and pray God’s richest blessing upon him.
Appointment in Retirement: Effective 8 July 2024, Lt-Colonel Ian Hutson has been appointed as Mission Officer, Research and Justice Stream (THQ). Please pray for Lt-Colonel Ian Hutson as he concludes his appointment in retirement as Director, Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit (SPPU) and prepares to take up this new appointment.
Appointment and Additional Appointments: Effective immediately, Major Rochelle Moffatt has been appointed as Women’s Ministries Officer—Lower North Island (additional appointment); Captain Logan Bathurst has been appointed as Senior Food Security Advisor, Community Ministries (additional appointment). Effective 1 July 2024, Lieutenant Emma Frunt has been appointed as Associate Officer, Palmerston North Corps.
SALVATIONISTS IN HISTORY
Generational Ties
The longevity of The Salvation Army in New Zealand means many families in our various communities have a heritage spanning generations of involvement in The Salvation Army. David Scott shares his intergenerational connections with the Army and the profound influence this has had on his life.
The Salvation Army has been part of my family’s story for generations. My great-grandfather William Scott was born in Bristol, England, in 1857. After hearing an address from co-founder General William Booth, he joined The Salvation Army at the age of 22. William served as an officer in the Army for 68 years, rising to the rank of commissioner. William and his wife became close personal friends of General William Booth, his wife Catherine, and their son General Bramwell Booth. He treasured the letters he received from William Booth and was a pallbearer at Catherine Booth’s funeral.
During his career as an active officer William held many appointments throughout England. Officers in the Army often endured much opposition in those days and my great-grandfather was subjected to multiple attacks and persecution. Permanent damage caused by injuries contributed to his early retirement to the Isle of Wight, where he remained an active member of the local corps (church).
My grandfather John Herbert Scott arrived in New Zealand in 1906, landing in Petone, Wellington. He settled in Whanganui and was a bootmaker by trade. He owned several shoe repair shops in Whanganui and played the cornet in the Salvation Army band.
My father, Neil Scott, was born in 1914 in Whanganui. As an adult, he owned a shoe shop along the street from the Princess Hotel in Palmerston North. My father had many acquaintances who were Salvationists. He was good friends with a Salvationist, Daniel Hoare, a fellow shoe repairer. They used to trade leather goods.
I remember a man from The Salvation Army called Sam McCosh who wore a long grey coat and rode a motorcycle with a saddle bag of War Cry magazines. He would arrive when Dad closed the shop and have a cup of tea with him before he went to the hotel to talk to men and hand out copies of The War Cry When the pub closed at 6pm, he would return and have another cup of tea with my father.
My father made sure we attended Sunday school at the local Salvation Army corps. I remember attending the open-air services run by The Salvation Army as a child and young adult. People would gather in a circle on a Friday night, listen to preaching and sing hymns together. My father could not leave the shop, but he encouraged me to go and to sing and read Bible verses. I became very proficient in playing the tambourine. I can still do a great rendition of ‘When the roll is called up yonder’ (SASB 559). That sort of witnessing in the 1940s and 1950s was hugely impactful for many people. I am testament to this, as this experience was formative in shaping my faith. I also have fond memories of The Salvation Army band playing on the back of a truck driving around the streets of Palmerston North taking up a collection.
Even now, I can vividly remember numerous lyrics from the Salvation Army songs I learned during my childhood, and I cherish my friendships with fellow Salvationists throughout the years. I deeply appreciate the connections I have to The Salvation Army, and how it has woven itself into my family’s heritage for generations.
Above (L-R): David Scott; William Scott.
Parental expectations
New parents may expect all their children to grow up with similar personalities, interests and learning preferences to each other. However, they just need to think of their own family to notice that this is not usually the case; siblings who grow up in the same households will not necessarily have the same demeanors or experiences, for many reasons.
It is worth noting that often, no matter the age gap, children are born into different circumstances within the same family. There may be changing financial situations between children and differences in the parents’ emotional capacity across time (based on age, work and number of kids to look after, for example). This also suggests that children’s birth order could affect their temperament and the expectations on them, as parenting styles and attitudes may change over that time. Obviously among all this, some children have specific and pressing needs that may be different to their siblings— including ongoing health issues, learning difficulties and physical disabilities. But, regardless of all these factors, we can understand that all children, like all people, are different and have different needs in how they are raised and taught. This simply speaks to the unique nature of all people, and it is good that we are not all the same, even if it can be surprising or unsettling for parents at first. We obviously desire equality in the way we look after our children, but the reality is that sometimes blind equality doesn’t do any favours, and kids can be left behind in their needs as a result. All we can do is do our best to understand their needs and desires as individual people and make sure that they feel equally loved for who they are, not who we expect them to be.
Let’s Make a Mosaic!
You will need:
• Magazines, newspapers, colourful paper
• Scissors
• Gluestick
• A piece of card or paper
With the help of an adult, spend some time cutting out or ripping up different bits that you like from the magazines or newspapers. Try to find your favourite colours, or pictures of things that you like for your collage. Glue different bits of paper onto one big piece of paper.
For older children, you could make a picture with the glued scraps of paper; for example, a picture of God or Jesus, or of the Garden of Eden from our verse in Genesis.
The cool thing about collages is that you start with the pictures from the magazines or newspapers and end up with something entirely new that you have made! Each piece you will have cut or ripped out is unique, and they all come together into a different picture, that couldn’t have been made without them. You are being creative, like God is creative!
Fun facts
Only 1 out of every 2 billion people will live to be 116 years old.
Humans have fewer genes than a tomato!
Humans are the only creatures on earth that can blush!
Read: In these verses, God talks about creating people, and how he made us ‘in his image’, which means that we all have parts of who God is in us. And so does everyone you know! We all are made by God, and God says that it is good that he made us.
Think: Nobody in the world is the same; we all have different interests, different hobbies, even different hair colours.
But we know that we are all made in the image of God—and the ways we are like God are not just the things we can see. When we paint a picture, or write a story or make up a game, we are being creative, like God is creative. When we hug our parents, play with our siblings or make a new friend, we are being loving, like God is loving.
In God’s Image
‘Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them ... Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was
very good!’ (Genesis 1:26–27,31, NLT)
Pray: Thank you, God, for making us in your image. Help us to see everyone around us as if they were you, and to treat them with love. Show us how our differences can teach us more about you and your love for us.
Do: Find a mirror at home and look into it. With your parents or an older sibling’s help, use Post-it notes to stick words to the mirror about who God is and what you and he have in common. For example, you could write ‘kind’ or ‘joyful’ or ‘funny’. Think about how you can show others these parts of God that you see in yourself and spend time noticing how other people show you these things too.
Ultimately in his ascension, Christ becomes the collaborative link between the created and the Creator. He takes the lived experience of humanity deep into the Godhead and continues interceding for those he now calls friends.
