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FAITH IN ACTION | 04 October 2014 | Issue 6602 | $1.50
WHEN CHILDHOOD IS STOLEN
HOMELESS IN HOLLYWOOD
MICRO-FINANCE SUCCESS IN KENYA
2015 AMPLIFY CREATIVE ARTS CAMP
LET’S TALK ABOUT ABORTION
JUST ACTION: IN OUR BACKYARD
02 WarCry 04 October 2014
Kia ora Reach out for hope 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
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Martin Barratt (movie review), Kris Singh (music reviewer) PROOF READING
Major Jill Gainsford COVER
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One in six New Zealanders are likely to experience an episode of depression during their life, and it’s great to see that John Kirwan is making such inroads to combat the stigma and lack of understanding associated with this condition. I had a brush with postnatal depression after the birth of our second child, feeling overwhelmed with sadness. My GP helped me with some medication, I had a couple of sessions with a counsellor, and eventually my joy in life returned. Over a decade ago, my husband started having his own battle with depression. Compounding this were periods of chronic insomnia. In fact, for a while it was a real ‘chicken and egg’ thing trying to separate these two challenging conditions, each of which seemed to compound the other. Then, almost five years later, he had a major depressive episode. Again, an understanding GP, medication and, this time, some cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) was the pathway to wellness. For those unfamiliar with CBT, it helps people make changes in the way they think, which affects what they do and also what they feel. It reminds me of the New Testament’s advice to ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:2). During this time, I saw in my husband what I describe as a ‘terror of the soul’, but I also saw in him a determination not to give up. He worked at finding a way through depression so that today, it is not gone from our lives, but it is understood and manageable. Some people still believe the myth that Christians don’t get depressed, which can lead those with depression to experience a sense of undeserved guilt. And sometimes we can also wrongly believe that our mental suffering indicates that our relationship with God is insufficient, or that we are not sufficiently ‘godly’. These, too, are unhelpful beliefs. The reality is that God never abandons us to depression. Also, God routinely uses broken people. Most of all, God doesn’t want us to sit passively in despairing misery—he wants us to find ways to grow in hope. If depression is your companion at this time, reach out for all the help you need. Reach out for hope. Christina Tyson Editor
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BIBLE VERSE Psalm 34:18 Contemporary English Version
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‘The Lord is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope.’ Ngā Waiata 34:18
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WISE WORDS
Yesterday is gone from my control, so I don’t worry about it. I can make decisions that will feed my soul and give me the life that I can feel good about. John Kirwan All Blacks Don’t Cry
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Let’s Talk | 03
T
he typical Kiwi childhood is golden in our memories. Jandals, stubbies, swing ropes, swimming holes, What Now, fish ‘n chips ... But how typical is it really? How many of us lived in endless summer, free of school bullies, electric fences and an irrational fear of Thingee? The International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated this year on October 11, and it’s a reminder that not every Kiwi kid gets the childhood they deserve. Shakti, a refuge for ethnic women in New Zealand, is promoting the day to highlight the veiled childhoods of some of our girls. Shockingly, up to 50 per cent of Shakti’s crisis work is with girls forced into underage marriages. ‘It’s surprisingly prevalent in migrant communities,’ says Shakti spokesperson Polly Peña, who recently helped set up a safe house in Wellington. ‘On my first day working for Shakti, I got a call from a girl saying that her parents were sending her off to get married that night. This was a Kiwi girl who spoke English, and this was happening to her.’ In this case, Shakti was able to help the girl escape. The refuge works closely with Child, Youth and Family and other governmental and community groups to provide ongoing help for these young women, who suddenly find themselves without a family or community. When a girl is forced into an underage marriage, she is expected to leave school, run a household and start having children. Migrant women in abusive marriages face added layers of complexity, which make it almost impossible to ask for help.
‘I received a call from someone who, in very broken English, explained that she had five minutes away from her husband and she needed to escape,’ says Polly. ‘So I told her we would come and get her, and asked her where she lived. But she had no idea of her address or where she was. Women can’t get help and it’s for such simple reasons, like they don’t know how to call the Police.’ Shakti teaches life skills to the women who come to them, which can range from getting a driver’s licence and learning English, to helping them learn to tell the time and catch a bus. Polly is of Filipino descent, and says it’s not only migrant men who abuse their women. ‘In my community, domestic violence is very hidden. Filipino women are promised the world when they come to New Zealand to marry Kiwi men. They are promised education and freedom, but for some, they get abuse.’ ‘Overwhelmingly, extreme poverty and deprivation continues to wear a female face,’ says Chris Frazer, social justice advocate for the Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit. She is working with Shakti to promote the International Day of the Girl Child. ‘We are all made in God’s image. And girls—as well as boys—deserve the chance to grow and thrive in the knowledge they are loved, respected and valued,’ says Chris. ‘October 11 gives each one of us the opportunity to read, reflect, pray and above all, to act to bring violence, harmful judgment and indifference to an end.’ INGRID BARRATT
04 WarCry 04 October 2014
Bookshelf Christian Living Running Scared Edward T. Welsh Welsh has written extensively about Christians and mental health, but introduces this book by calling himself a ‘fear specialist’. He quickly deals with the worrying words of Scripture ‘do not worry’ by re-thinking them as a parent speaking words of comfort. Welsh acknowledges the very humanness of worry, which begins in childhood and easily transfers into adulthood as anxiety and stress. But worriers are ‘false prophets’, who live in a future that rarely comes to pass. Welsh calls us to overcome fear with fear: by developing a rich fear of the Lord that draws us into a deeper relationship of joy, wisdom and love. (New Growth Press)
Playlist
Mental Health Stand by Me John Kirwan Following up his powerful memoir All Blacks Don’t Cry, John Kirwan’s new book continues with the theme of overcoming depression, but from the perspective of a father. He opens with the words, ‘I’m a dad and I’m scared’, recalling his child’s one-word answers to his questions. Co-authors and clinical psychologists Dr Elliot Bell and Kirsty Louden-Bell, provide insight to parents, who so often feel illequipped to deal with the complex world their teenagers suddenly inhabit. But perhaps most powerful are the words from young people themselves, who give voice to the complexities of mental health, no matter your age. (Penguin Books)
Visual Resource Living with a Black Dog Matthew Johnstone Winston Churchill spoke of his own depression as a ‘black dog’. Matthew Johnstone takes this metaphor and visually illustrates what it’s like to live with the black dog. This small book contains few words and can be read in 10 minutes. Full-page pictures condense a complex and often scary issue into something familiar that we can relate to. The author is not an expert; he has simply ‘had the unfortunate experience of living with what I affectionately call the black dog’. Especially recommended for anyone wanting to better understand a loved one’s depression. (Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Reel News
Pop Rock Anchor Colton Dixon American Idol alumni Colton Dixon is back with his follow up record to 2013’s A Messenger. For the most part, Anchor retains Dixon’s stadium pop-rock sound, but there are creative melodic and rhythmic elements that make this an intriguing album. Whether it’s hints of exotic minor scales or dirty southern rock riffs, there’s enough of it to tinge the edges of this record’s radio-friendly safety net. Dixon’s voice soars as he articulates his faith-based lyrics with power and passion, while the rich thick instrumentation lays a solid foundation. A good, solid record that deserves a second listen.
Nu-Metal Oxygen: Inhale Thousand Foot Krutch Oxygen: Inhale is Thousand Foot Krutch’s 7th studio record. It’s a fairly safe record that tends to imitate rather than innovate. While not terribly original, its catchy power rock choruses, rapid fire lyrics and lazy grooves are still enjoyable. There’s a definite sense of groove permeating the record, with ‘Born This Way’ channelling Rage Against the Machine’s jumpy funk fury. This more laid back approach is a departure from the heavier aspects of the band’s sound. Oxygen: Inhale wears its influences very visibly on its sleeve—from Linkin Park to Guns n’ Roses. Something fans will enjoy.
GIVEAWAY To win a copy of Living with a Black Dog, tell us something that makes you smile. War Cry Giveaway, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org. Entries close 20 Oct. God’s Double Agent winner is: H. Bigwood
Drama Boyhood Richard Linklater / M (violence, offensive language and drug use) Boyhood is a truly unique exploration of life. Director Richard Linklater chose to film this fictional story of a boy, Mason (Ellar Coltrane), as he ages from 6 to 18 while growing up in Texas. We witness Coltrane maturing as an actor at the same pace his character matures. Likewise, his mother (Patricia Arquette), father (Ethan Hawke) and sister (Richard Linklater’s own daughter Lorelei Linklater) each grow older alongside Mason. Arquette and Hawke are brilliant and give the film much of its authenticity. What stands out most of all is Linklater’s decision to present Mason’s story as an amalgam of the ordinary moments of life. Some are idyllic, some serious (like spousal abuse and alcoholism), but overall the film stays lighthearted—life has a way of going on. Boyhood also shows how relationships in families don’t stay the same over the course of our lives. Siblings start as our playmates, then become our rivals, and eventually become our friends. Parents go from being protectors to, sometimes, needing themselves to be protected. The film’s final hour is not as wondrous as its opening. Although Mason has grown into an easy-going, friendly young man, he’s also rather bland. He develops skills as a photographer, finds romance and prepares for college, but it’s all a bit dry. Linklater could have constructed a more engaging teenage passage for Mason. Boyhood, though, is brilliantly photographed and directed and reminds us of an important, countercultural truth: that the best times in life are the everyday mundane moments of our existence in which we can simply enjoy being alive for the sake of life itself—that is where we live out our lives.
Photography: Greg Bowker/The New Zealand Herald
Feature | 05
One of New Zealand’s most successful rugby players, Blues Super 15 rugby coach and former All Black Sir John Kirwan has become the face of depression in New Zealand. He talks to Robin Raymond about tackling his own illness and his mission to help others through a message of hope. ven as we talk, Sir John Kirwan is juggling mental health support work and life as a rugby coach for The Blues Super 15 team. Thanks to a slight muddle with another interview, he’s walking through the doors of The Blues head offices to start the day job when we speak—but work won’t get in the way of spreading the word on his new book for parents and teens going through depression. ‘I’ve got a meeting in five or 10 minutes, but I can talk. It’s an important subject.’ The juggling has been constant for almost 30 years, first as he battled his own depression and then as an advocate for mental
health support, including his new book Stand By Me, released late last month. Indeed, for Kirwan, rugby and good mental health are central to who he is. One is his life, he says, and the other is his passion. ‘My life is rugby. That’s what I do. But I have a huge passion for mental health and on my days off that’s what I do.’ Kirwan has been in the New Zealand rugby spotlight since 1983 when then Auckland coach John Hart unexpectedly plucked the 18-year-old from the Marist club third grade team to play for the province in its centenary match. A year later, he made his All Blacks debut, the first of 63 games in a 10-year career with the national team.
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Hiding in public Kirwan started all but one of those games, scoring 67 tries, including six in the All Blacks’ 1987 Rugby World Cup triumph. Throughout, he admits he built a public persona of ‘happy go lucky JK’, but for much of that time was dogged by a black monster of depression. Depression, he says, hit like a freight train, starting with a panic attack and quickly developing into black moods, more panic attacks, difficulty sleeping, feeling he wasn’t good enough and being scared of hurting other people. At first, he hid the illness, afraid and ashamed. Finally, one day in August 1991, he could not get out of bed. It took Kirwan three years to get help and many more to get well. Through it all, he kept playing rugby to the top level and only missed one game because he was unwell. Despite his impressive form—such as scoring eight tries in one game against North Otago—he says the passion for rugby was gone for much of the central part of his career.
The life raft of hope These days, Kirwan describes himself as ‘fantastically well’. He went on from playing rugby and rugby league in New Zealand, Italy and Japan to coaching the national teams in Italy and Japan before moving back to New Zealand in 2012 to coach the Blues. The public image of ‘happy go lucky JK’ was changed dramatically when Kirwan began to publically address his illness in a series of television adverts and news stories. He quickly became a leading figure for campaigns to tackle depression, recognised in the Queen’s Honours in 2007 and knighted in 2012 for his services to rugby and mental health. In 2010, he released All Blacks Don’t Cry, which revealed the full extent of the illness that plagued him throughout his career but also his message of hope for those who were ill. Even with the stresses of a high profile rugby coaching career and being a public campaigner, Kirwan describes life and staying well as great, and holds his story out as an inspiration and a message of hope for others. In fact, the vision of ‘hope’ has been central for Kirwan for his battle to get well and stay well. This hope first came from a comment from fellow All Black Michael Jones, he says. One day, during a low point when Kirwan was still hiding the extent of his illness from his friends and team mates, Jones said to him, ‘You’ve got a good heart, JK.’ That simple phrase helped Kirwan appreciate that it was the illness that made him feel so bad; not that he was a bad person. He describes this comment as being ‘a lifeboat in the middle of a storm’—where hanging on to those words helped him get through. That message of hope is what Kirwan has been so passionate to pass on to others through his story. ‘You will not always feel this pain and fear; with the right help, life can be good,’ he writes in All Blacks Don’t Cry.
heartbeat over winning a World Cup. ‘That’s easy,’ says Kirwan. ‘I don’t think people understand how rewarding it is when people come up to you in the supermarket and thank you for raising awareness.’ Along with television ads and speaking tours, Kirwan has worked on the Health Promotion Agency website depression.org.nz, fronting videos with advice and support for people with depression. Despite a busy schedule with The Blues and working on Stand By Me in his spare time, Kirwan still sounds regretful about not doing more to raise awareness about mental health. ‘I haven’t done any new TV ads in a while,’ he says, ‘so I did some videos for the farming industry, and I did the book in the last year.’
Raising and saving Stand By Me turns the attention wider, taking on Kirwan’s fears as a parent and asking how to best support children with mental illness. The book was driven by two ideas—one of which he tells me when we talk: ‘We’ve got one of the highest youth suicide rates in the developed world.’ The other is the opening line of the book. ‘I’m a dad and I’m scared.’ The book is a collaborative effort, with Kirwan working alongside husband and wife psychologists Elliot Bell and Kirsty Louden-Bell and talking to young people who have been through mental illness,
Fighting stigma Kirwan’s other big message is to remind people that depression and other mental illnesses are just that—illnesses. Depression can strike anyone, regardless of their situation, Kirwan says. Even an All Black with a good career and a good life. He talks of depression being like the flu, or any other illness or injury for which you would go to the doctor to get treated. Taking that stigma away from the illness has helped many, especially men, reach out for help, he says. Since the first adverts and initial media storm, Kirwan has been a regular on New Zealand television screens. He admits he has given a lot to the public campaigns. ‘I’ve bared my soul to the world, really,’ he says. However, it has all been worth it for the rewards of seeing lives saved through hearing his story, a reward he says he’d take in a
Finding an Anchor of Hope The recent death of Robin Williams highlighted again the seriousness of the debilitating and isolating condition we call depression. It does not discriminate; even among those who seem to have it all. BY VANESSA CALDWELL We can talk a lot about statistics that one in six New Zealanders is likely to experience an episode of depression sometime during their life, but if you are currently one of those people it can still feel a very lonely place to be.
Feature | 07
and their families. The aim was to offer real stories from people going through a wide range of issues, alongside practical advice to parents and young people to help them prevent or get through mental illness. He says. ‘We want to save some lives. Help kids reach out for help, help parents.’
You will not always feel this pain and fear, with the right help; life can be good. As in All Blacks Don’t Cry, there is a raw honesty in Stand By Me. The teenagers and their family members talk bluntly about their struggles. Everything from anorexia and bulimia to suicide, self-harming, physical and sexual abuse are confronted head on. Kirwan also openly addresses his fears and his hopes for being a parent. He opens the book with a story of his daughter Francesca in tears on a Skype call from Italy, talks about apologising to one of his sons for making them move from Italy to New Zealand, and even asks, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ Speaking honestly about his own fears as a parent wasn’t hard after his previous public campaigns, says Kirwan. Listening to some of the young people’s stories was difficult though—he was glad to
Over the past several years we have learned a lot about depression. We know it is a medical condition that affects our brain chemistry and can be very serious if left untreated. There seems to be no one cause for depression, but we do know some people may be more likely to get depressed if they have parents or close relatives who have suffered from depression. Depression can be seen on a continuum, and for mild forms of the condition, becoming aware of signs and symptoms and managing these better will be helpful. Web-based programmes such as John Kirwan’s journal on www. depression.org.nz and www.sparx.org.nz (for young people) are effective and can be done when it suits you and at your own pace. For most of those with moderate to severe forms of the condition, a short course of anti-depressant medication in conjunction with other therapies can greatly assist in recovery. For others, longer-term medication may be recommended. If you are not sure if you have depression, get checked by your GP. This is important as many symptoms of depression can mimic other serious health conditions as well. For many people, a short course of anti-depressant medication can assist to increase the ‘feel-good’ chemicals in the brain long enough for your brain to relearn how to start making these again. You may be concerned that your doctor will make you take medication, but there is nothing to be ashamed of if this is the case. Depression is a medical condition just like high blood pressure, which may require taking a pill a day to keep things stable and avoid a stroke. If you are worried about taking medication, talk to your doctor about this as there are other options—and it will always be your choice whether or not to take medication. We do know medication works best when you watch what you eat, exercise regularly, keep active and learn to relax. Talking with someone like a counsellor or psychologist who can help work out what triggers your depression and how to manage it more effectively can also help.
have Elliot Bell and Kirsty Louden-Bell on hand to discuss the issues. However, he also says this was the most interesting and important bit of the book for him. ‘Talking to the teenagers and asking them what to do as parents—the most important thing was that you need to be there to listen when they’re ready to talk. That’s one I’ve had success with at home, and it’s not something my kids would tell me. As a parent, when they come home from school, I have all these questions. You know, “How was school?” “Fine.” “What did the careers advisor say?” “Too many questions, Dad.” But when they’re ready to talk they will.’ Ultimately, though, Kirwan says his role in the project was ‘to be the dumb parent’. ‘I’m really curious, but I’m not educated, so I don’t know a lot of the answers. The book is about me being the dumb parent asking questions and finding answers and practical things. Those questions are real, I’m sure every parent thinks them. So it was about facing up and trying to get better.’ And despite a year working on the project, Kirwan says he’s still trying to face up and get better and so he’s reading the book himself —for a third time, ‘just letting it sink in’. ‘It actually has helped me,’ he says, with a surprised sounding laugh. ‘It’s made me more sensitive to what my kids are up to.’
Being a Christian and having faith does not exclude you from the human condition, including experiencing physical and mental illnesses, stress, loss and grief—all of which can contribute to depression. But having a faith can give you a strong anchor for a healthy recovery. Indeed, the Bible gives us some examples, including Elijah (1 Kings 19) who was so exhausted and depressed that he cried out to God to end his life. Being part of a church community hopefully provides a supportive environment where people understand and are patient, although sadly you may also experience some stigma and even pressure to ‘just pray’ about your depression. Prayers can certainly help combat depression. Research has shown that prayer and a supportive environment can improve a person’s well being from many conditions, including depression. But to also seek additional treatment such as medication, therapy and support does not indicate a lack of faith; it is taking advantage of what God has made available through modern science. Vanessa Caldwell is a registered psychologist and National Manager of Matua Raki, the National Addiction Workforce Development Centre. She has worked as a clinician and service manager in the Wellington area for 22 years, starting her working life with The Salvation Army Bridge Programme. Vanessa is completing her doctoral studies and is co-chair of the National Committee of Addiction Treatment.
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION INCLUDE: • Feeling sad much of the time • Having crying spells for no particular reason • Changes in your appetite, weight or sleeping patterns (either more or less) • Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy • Being irritable much of the time, quick to lose your temper • Loss of interest in relationships or sex.
08 | WarCry 04 October 2014
BUDGET
LIFESTYLE
Why your year has disappeared
Soda, sparkle and pop
In the first few days of October, have you found yourself thinking, ‘Where has the year gone?’ Well, science has found that as we get older, our sense of time speeds up.
You’ll be amazed how easy it is to make your cleaning products at home!
Think back to high school—those few years that seemed like an eternity and hugely influenced our sense of identity. And before that, think back to primary school and all the faces and names of our classmates. How can we remember them so well, when we can’t remember the names of some of our workmates? Well, studies have shown that we retain less as we get older, partially because we are not experiencing things as ‘new’ in the way we did as children. More of our day is on automatic pilot, like getting dressed, commuting to work and getting home again. As our minds are more accustomed to these experiences, we don’t pay such close attention. There is also a biological reason for time speeding up, related to changes in heart rate, metabolism and body temperature. As we get older, our brains produce less dopamine, a chemical that controls our internal clock. But Dr Ron Friedman says that we can slow down time again, by becoming more conscious in our everyday lives. Here are his suggestions: Seek out beauty: Experiencing a sense of awe slows down our perception of time—jolting us out of the mundane. Seek out experiences that you find awe-inspiring, or worshipful, in your daily life: enjoy a beautiful view, go for a walk, sit in the sun, read an inspiring story. Make fewer decisions: Don’t overanalyse decisions, as this is mentally draining and stressful. Choose to limit decisions by deciding which things aren’t important to decide. For example, Barack Obama has limited his suit collection to blue and grey, so he can concentrate on more important matters. Stop multi-tasking: Trying to do too much hinders the ability to create new memories. Embrace the new: Interrupt your routine with new adventures. Emotionally engaging activities—such as making new friends, trying out new hobbies or taking on a new challenge—help us concentrate on the present.
Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future. Corrie Ten Boom
It’s so easy to make your own products that finding new recipes will become quite addictive. The key ingredient to many cleaning products is probably already in your pantry: baking soda. This is a wonderful, naturally occurring mineral that is a fantastic cleaner. Toilet cleaner: This cleans and entertains. Put 1 cup of baking soda into your toilet bowl, followed by 1 cup of white vinegar … and watch it explode! Wait for 10 minutes, then clean with a brush and water. You can also do this to unblock sinks. Turning baking soda into washing soda for laundry: Pre-heat oven to 200°C, sprinkle baking soda evenly on a shallow tray, and place in the oven for half an hour. When it is ready, the baking soda changes composition into a grainy, dull, opaque texture that forms separate grains. You can also buy washing soda cheaply from the cleaning section of the supermarket. Laundry powder: Grate 1 cup of Sunlight soap (which is biodegradable), ½ cup washing soda and ½ cup borax from the chemist. (This can be expensive, so feel free to try it without.) Use 1–2 Tbsps per load of washing. All purpose cleaner: Mix ½ cup of white vinegar and ¼ cup of baking soda into two litres of water. Add essential oils if desired. Store in a spray bottle and use for cleaning kitchen and bathroom surfaces and chrome fixtures. Everything wash: This is a wash for both the house and your body! You’ll need three lemons, 200 gm salt, 400 ml water and 100 ml white vinegar. Slice the lemons, discarding pips. In a food processor, blend the lemons as finely as possible with the salt and a little of the water. Place in a pot, adding the rest of the water and vinegar. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes. You may want to put this mixture through a strainer to get rid of any pulp. Once cold, place in a jar. Use on kitchen surfaces, to do dishes, clean chopping boards, and in the shower. Tip: To save even more money, buy baking soda and other ingredients in bulk—they are available from supermarkets and bulk stores.
Fudge Brownies A Traditional American favourite that’s popular in NZ homes and cafés | Makes 24 125g butter 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup less 1 Tbsp flour (100g) 5 Tbsp cocoa 1 tsp baking powder ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Heat oven to 180°C (170°C fan forced). Mix brownies in a medium-sized pot or microwave bowl. Melt butter until liquid but not hot. Remove from heat and beat in sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, cocoa and baking powder. Add chopped nuts (if using) and stir until just combined—avoid over-mixing. Pour mixture into a 20–23cm square tin lined with baking paper. Smooth the surface. Bake for 30 mins or until firm in centre. When cold, cut into rectangles. Serve as is, dusted with icing sugar just before serving. Brownies do not require icing. Great as a snack with tea or coffee, or with ice cream for dessert.
From Best Baking by Simon and Alison Holst. www.holst.co.nz
Lifestyle | 09
Q&A How Can I Help a Friend with Depression?
Having a friend or loved one suffering from depression can be tough, so take care of yourself and get advice and support from others—you don’t need to do this on your own. Do: • Spend time listening to them talk about their experiences (without being judgmental). • Suggest they see a doctor or health professional. Perhaps go with them or help them organise an appointment. • Encourage them to exercise and eat well. • Encourage them to become involved in social activities. • Let them know when is an okay time to talk so you can give your full attention. • Remember that it’s okay to say, ‘I can’t talk right now’, or ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know how to help you with this but I can listen.’ Don’t: • Stay away or avoid them. • Tell them they’re okay and that there’s nothing really wrong. • Pressure someone to ‘snap out of it’ or ‘harden up’. • Tell them they just need to keep busy, pray harder or get out more. • Assume the problem will go away. If someone confides in you about having suicidal thoughts: • Take their thoughts and feelings about suicide seriously. • Acknowledge what the person is experiencing. Make them feel valued and worthwhile. • Acknowledge the problem the person is facing—don’t dismiss the problem. • Be calm and understanding—try not to appear shocked or alarmed. • Ask them directly if they’re thinking about committing suicide or hurting themselves. This can be really hard to do, but it shows them that you care. If they say yes, don’t make promises about keeping this secret. • Advise the person that you think they need to talk to a professional immediately. Give them the Lifeline phone number to call (0800 543 354) or phone Lifeline for them and hand over the phone while you stand by for support.
Testify! After her own journey to fitness, Karen Krishnan became a Zumba instructor to share God’s love and acceptance with others of all shapes and sizes. Kia ora, or maybe I should say Bula, because I am from the beautiful Fiji Islands. We currently live in New Plymouth, New Zealand. I am a stay-at-home mum of two precious girls, a wife, and a Sunday school teacher, a medical laboratory scientist (by qualification), an almost qualified personal trainer, a Zumba instructor and a soldier in The Salvation Army. But more than these, I am a Christian and my desire is to honour God in all I do. My journey to become a Zumba instructor started two years ago, when I realised that something was amiss with my health. Medical test results didn’t indicate anything wrong, but I just knew I had to make some changes in my life—for both myself, and my family. I also didn’t love what I saw in the mirror. It started with small changes to my lifestyle, I ate better and exercised daily. In 12 months, I lost 15 kilos and felt so good about myself. Being healthy changed my life—I am more confident knowing that I have the potential to achieve whatever I want to. During my journey to get healthy, I noticed that there were so many women like me. Women who despise themselves because the world tells them they are not beautiful or worthy of attention and love. Women who have medical problems because of their weight. Women who have marriage problems because they don’t
love what they see in the mirror. Women with the potential to make a difference in their communities, but who hide away because they feel shame about themselves. I started my studies to become a personal trainer so I could make a difference in the lives of such women. Philippians 4:13 says, ‘I can do all this through him who gives me strength.’ We can change our lives and live abundantly through him who gives us strength. To get healthy, it’s important to find an activity that you love —something that you look forward to. For me, it was the dance fitness programme Zumba. After a year and a half of attending Zumba classes, I decided to go through the training to become an instructor, so I could share my love for dance and health with others. As an instructor, I am required to play 70 per cent Zumba music, but the other 30 per cent I play is contemporary Christian music. My goal is that my Zumba classes are a place where the whole family can come and have fun, dance and exercise. I want my participants to come and dance with joy, and leave feeling invigorated and free. I want those that come with burdens to leave refreshed, knowing that there is hope and that they are not alone. I want women to feel beautiful, regardless of body size. I want to use music and dance fitness to share the love of Christ.
In October, I will be training to teach Zumba dance fitness to kids. I want children—especially those that are living in poverty or have been abandoned or abused—to have at least that one hour where they can dance and be free from their hurts. I am excited to return to Fiji in November to share the love of Christ through music and dance fitness.
To get healthy, it’s important to find an activity that you love.
Let’s Talk I would like: to explore what it means to follow Jesus information about Salvation Army worship and activities prayer for the following needs: NAME: ADDRESS:
SALVATION ARMY JOB OPPORTUNITIES ONLINE Go to salvationarmy.org.nz/employment
Please post to: War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org
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Which is the only continent without a desert? What is the hardest nut to crack? Which two fruits are anagrams of each other? In what red-blooded body organ are the vitamins A, D, E and K stored? What were the names of Noah’s three sons?
Not all the streets are paved with gold Hollywood may not sound such a bad place to be homeless. But for one man who was pitched into life on the streets of Los Angeles, the reality was a nightmarish journey that tested his sanity and his faith to their limits. BY JON HOYLE Stryker is a pianist and entertainer who will travel from his home in Los Angeles this month to fundraise for South Auckland Community Ministries, in conjunction with World Homeless Day. A naturally gifted pianist, Stryker toured US churches as a gospel performer in his youth and was once a youth pastor. Twelve years ago, he was focused and self-assured, producing and directing television, film and live events. His career was on a steep upward trajectory. Then, one weekend when he was away from his studio and its attached apartment, his landlords, who were in financial strife, sold his NZ$200,000 studio equipment, dumped the rest of his possessions, including his art and years of musical compositions, and fled the state. Now homeless and without the means to support himself, Stryker’s friends who had basked in the glow of his previous successes would not return his calls. Betrayed, his career, plans and dreams seemingly demolished and with only the clothes on his back, the intelligent and sensitive Stryker was crushed. Depression and suicidal thoughts now became his constant companions. ‘I was defeated and this was my plight … now I had nothing, not even a future.’ After two weeks of tears and struggling to function, he says he adapted to the long days of walking—a life where there are no thoughts of tomorrow—just the minute-by-minute search for food or cardboard boxes, bushes or waste land to sleep, and learning the skills necessary to survive on the streets. ‘When you see homeless walking with their heads down, it’s not because they’re necessarily defeated,’ he says. ‘They’re looking at the ground for a quarter, a cigarette, a paperclip to use for something—always studying the ground because that’s where your treasure comes from. It became a new way at looking at life and looking at existence.’
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The only respite from the daily search for the essentials of life were the fleeting friendships with other street people and the quiet moments to share a cigarette or smoke methamphetamine, a drug Stryker says was easier to obtain than food. He had one escape route from this life: his mother. ‘My mother had supported my family her whole life and I felt I was too old to go back and have her support me now. I wouldn’t put that burden on her.’ He refused to take money from his mother, but accepted vouchers for a fast-food restaurant. He wouldn’t beg and accepted only one meal from a charity during his time on the streets. As the months went by, the polished and sophisticated Stryker was stripped back to a salvager and gatherer. But his humanity stayed intact despite his personal trials. He says the most heartbreaking aspect of life on the street was the teenagers who engaged in prostitution to eat. He counselled these teens, listening to their stories and giving them whatever he had in the hope they would just not get into the next stranger’s car. ‘Probably the hardest thing I had to deal with was watching these young children—just 16—prostituting themselves to men.’ One in particular whom he helped was a young African-American boy who had been kicked out of home after telling his parents he was gay. Stryker gave the boy fast-food coupons his mother had given him in an effort to reduce the sex work that funded the boy’s daily survival. The traumas of a year and a half on the streets were taking a heavy toll on Stryker. He says his belief in God remained solid. ‘But it challenged my faith, and I still deal with that.’ One day, Stryker stood on the edge of a seven-storey car park building overlooking Hollywood, where he occasionally slept. Like most days, he was considering suicide. Unable to jump, he asked God for a gust of wind to push him into space. ‘Then I thought, “I’m too close to the edge. I have to make a choice: either call Mom and go home or end it, because I’m not going to remain in this way of life.” I knew I wasn’t supposed to be there—that and the thought of my mother standing by my coffin were the power points that kept me from ending it.’ He was painfully aware that without an address or phone, homeless people face an almost impossible task of getting off the streets. Stryker went to live with his mother, but after his 18 months on the street he was traumatised and immobilised by depression. Slowly recovering, he did a few casual gigs at piano bars. Ironically, what jolted him out of his despondency was his mother’s diagnosis with cancer. Stryker now became the main breadwinner, taking on more work and eventually being headhunted to entertain for a cruise ship
line, where he has become one of the main entertainment draw cards. His mother is now cancer free. Throughout his recovery, Stryker battled depression and was plagued by urges to go back to the streets, and the emotional scars of those days are healing but are still present. ‘One thing you learn on the street is that you have no one to answer to and no responsibilities, apart from where am I going to sleep? what am I going to eat? he says. There’s a freedom there—a screwed-up freedom, but as we adjust to living on the street, that becomes your liberty.’ Returning to a community where you have to adhere to social norms, plan ahead and take responsibility for your actions, income and property is a very difficult process, Stryker says. ‘Those things can be very, very scary and the longer you stay on the street, the scarier it is.’
there are no thoughts of tomorrow— just the minute-by-minute search for food or cardboard boxes … Stryker’s concert in Auckland on October 19 is to raise funds for South Auckland Community Ministries, which this year is dealing with a spike in families living in overcrowded and unhealthy accommodation or being evicted from their homes. In just one week recently, the centre had 20 families in crisis seek help but could not house them because of a lack of emergency accommodation. Community Ministries Director Pam Hughes says the situation is now dire. The main cause of homelessness and overcrowding is that income increases for families already living at subsistence levels are outstripped by rising rents and overheads, along with a critical shortage of affordable and adequate housing. This has led to an increasing number of evictions of low-income families in South Auckland this year, leading to poor credit ratings, which in turn make it almost impossible to rent another property. The Salvation Army’s alternative is to move their families into caravan parks or boarding houses, potentially hazardous places for children. Pam says the proof is all over South Auckland including cases of several families living on one property, sleeping in unlined garages and sometimes in cars and caravans. ‘If children are to have a chance to gain an education and avoid the skin infections, respiratory disease, rheumatic fever and the other diseases of overcrowding and run-down housing, they need a healthy, affordable and long-term home.’
Stryker in Concert: A Story of Hope | Sun 19 Oct, 7 pm at Auckland Grammar | Tickets from eventbrite.co.nz
12 | WarCry 04 October 2014
Stand By Me An excerpt from John Kirwan’s latest book, Stand By Me: Helping Your Teen Through Tough Times*. Kirwan shares his personal experiences as a father, with additional insight from clinical psychologists Dr Elliot Bell and Kirsty Louden-Bell. I’m a dad and I’m scared. I’ve got three great kids who are all teenagers now. I says to my youngest son, ‘How was school today?’ ‘Good,’ he says. I say to my other son, after 45 minutes with the careers counsellor, ‘How was it mate?’ ‘Good!’ So what are you going to going to do for a job?’ ‘Too many questions, Dad.’ My 19-year-old daughter calls from Italy where she is a professional volleyballer. She’s in tears because she’s lonely and wants to come and live with us in New Zealand. We end the Skype call and all I can do is worry. I had a mental illness, but I still don’t know how to parent for mental wellness. I want to parent so that if things are going wrong for my kids I’ll see it and know what to do …
Thinking about our values We have one of the highest youth suicide rates in the world. There’s something we’re not doing right. And you know what? Every conversation I have about this subject—with health professionals, with parents—leads down a pathway not just to relatively simple matters like parenting techniques, but to really big subjects like the kind of society we’ve created, the kind of values we have. It comes back to the uncertainty that we as parents and caregivers have about our role with our kids. How much do we have the right to ask about? When should we step up, and when should we step back? We need courage and confidence; and we need to think about our values. … Clinical psychologists Dr Elliot Bell and Kirsty Louden-Bell, my collaborators in this book, tell us that one way to make ourselves feel better is to be grateful and to do things for other people—this is part of what is called ‘positive psychology’. Wow. That’s really radical advice because it goes against the way society pushes us—to want more all the time, and to be so busy we don’t have time to look outside our own little lives. Elliot and Kirsty’s point is interesting because it suggests a contradiction between social pressure and what it takes to be well. In the ‘I’ society that we live in, people say, ‘I won’t do something for someone else; I’ll do it for me.’ But I saw a great comment online recently: ‘When the “I” is replaced by “we”, even illness becomes wellness.’ For mental wellness, you probably need to behave a bit differently from how society is telling you to behave. Society is saying go fast, and mental health is saying slow down. Slow the treadmill down. For kids, these issues are especially pertinent. What’s it like to be a kid today? We explore that throughout this book, and I can tell you, it’s not like it was when I was a boy. There’s a lot more pressure on kids to know at a very young age what they want to study, what
they want to become—the ‘bigness of it all’, as one 13-year-old put it to me recently. Everything’s competitive. There’s social media, which constructs a kind of false world where everyone else’s life is happy and perfect and popular. Teenagers are surrounded by drugs and alcohol and encouraged to grow up and make their own decisions when they’re scarcely out of primary school. We’ve given them this world. How can we help them through it?
We have one of the highest youth suicide rates in the world. There’s something we’re not doing right. Slow down Today I went and sat in the sun with a cup of coffee. I don’t do that often enough. I tried to be still, to feel the sun on my face, to really taste the coffee. I’ve learned that these simple things keep me well. Slow down. I realise I’ve been rushing. I rush to work in the morning; it’s 35 minutes from home to work, and I feel like I’m pushing the whole way. I’m not even late but I’m rushing. Why? It’s a state of mind. Why don’t I just relax and enjoy it? I know I could seriously get depressed again unless I make a conscious effort to say to myself, hang on. And that makes me realise: it’s not just what I’m doing, it’s how I’m living while I do it. There are two approaches to driving to work in the morning and neither gets me there any sooner. There are lots of things I can’t change, but it is within my power to change the way I drive to work in the morning. … When researching Stand By Me, as well as looking at stories of how people got unwell, we asked them, ‘What did you do to stay well, to thrive?’
See the big picture I’m drawing on a whiteboard. I draw a house like a child might draw one—a box with a triangle on top. Hey! I’m not an artist! Inside this house there are rooms. I see the house; my son sees only the room that he’s in at the moment. He mistakes the room he’s in for the whole house. Remember what it was like? We were all there once. For adolescents, their whole life is that moment, and it’s only as they get older that they can bring in that bigger picture. They don’t yet have the knowledge of the experience that helps them cope. And that’s where we parents come in, listening and talking and not fobbing them off with ‘she’ll be right’ or ‘plenty of other fish in the sea’. Age brings perspective. It’s not that long ago that my own dad gave me some advice on this. I was grown up, but trying to decide whether to take the contract to coach the Japanese rugby team. He said, ‘When you’re my age and look back on life, three years is nothing.’ He was seeing the whole house. Even then, he was encouraging me to walk through my
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own house and check out some of those other rooms. … Mental illness brings so much pain and disappointment. Often, these brave young people who have been through depression miss out on a lot of the normal things along the way. Education, for instance: for some kids, their struggle with depression means they leave school without their qualifications. But at the age of 19 or 20 they can’t go, ‘I’m uneducated.’ They need to acknowledge, ‘I’m well. I can tackle the world again.’ People have done it—I know people who have gone back to school at 60! It’s not over. It’s never over. But this comes back to society and the linear push-through. Growing up is not about straight lines. When depression comes along, you sometimes have to drop your hopes and dreams and just love the child you’ve got. Layla says this really well about her 13-year-old daughter Christie: ‘When a child has mental illness, a lot of things that they and you hoped for might no longer be possible. Some of your dreams for your child must die or be put on hold —certainly, they must change … But you strip that away, and the child you have is the real child.’ That’s the child you need to stand by and love. And that’s why we’ve called this book Stand By Me. Love is a powerful theme. As parents, it’s our main theme.
Unconditional love I’ve always said that marriage is conditional—that is, I expect something back from Fiorella, and she expects things from me. We’re two people who have come together, we’re in love, but there are expectations. Parenting, though, is different; it’s unconditional. I have unconditional love for my kids and just want the best for them. But love is a verb, not just a feeling. With Elliot and Kirsty’s help we’ll try and get to the bottom of what love looks like when it’s confronted by one of the biggest challenges of all: a child desperately ill with anxiety or depression, who simply doesn’t seem like the child who was there before. Mental illness isn’t just something that happens to individuals. When one family member is sick, the whole family rocks on its foundations. Getting well is a family matter. Psychiatrist Peter McGeorge, former New Zealand Mental Health Commissioner, acknowledged this when he said: ‘Everyone knows that families are important. However, understanding their importance in the recovery of family members who have experienced mental illness is only relatively recent.’ … When I say I’m a dad and I’m scared, I really mean: I’m a dad and I’m looking for answers. I’m looking for answers from the professionals and I’m looking for answers from the other kind of expert: the kids, mums, dads, and other caregivers who have been there, holding each other’s hands to hell and back. Stand by me. Let’s take the journey together. * excerpted and abridged with permission
Stand By Me In the follow-up to his bestselling memoir All Blacks Don’t Cry, John Kirwan investigates issues around teenage mental health, with a focus on depression and anxiety. He is joined by husband and wife clinical psychologists Dr Elliot Bell and Kirsty Louden-Bell. Together, the three confront the big questions facing parents and teens. Stand By Me also features stories of teens diagnosed with mental health issues and the families who have journeyed with them. A powerful tool for anyone concerned about the wellbeing of young people in their care. Published by Penguin Books, RRP $40
Tips for Parents from Stand By Me • Even if you get do get it wrong at times, you’re doing the right thing by being there and trying. • When someone is depressed they might not be able to show they appreciate your efforts, but your efforts show you care, and that is very important. • Shifts will happen internally for the young person on their path to wellbeing that won’t always be noticeable. Watch for the subtle changes.
Talking About … Depression The Salvation Army’s Moral and Social Issues (Ethics) Council has released a new Talk Sheet on the topic of depression. Designed for small groups and personal use, the Talk Sheet includes sections on What is Depression?, Who Gets It and Why?, Seeking Help, Suicidal Thoughts, and the Church and Depression. Tips include How to Help a Friend and Five Ways to Wellbeing (from the Mental Health Foundation). It also features a Bible study on Elijah’s journey through depression to hope. Download from
salvationarmy.org.nz/masic
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Just Action: In Our Backyard most passionate about. His pragmatic advice was to simply follow our instincts and be brave enough to experiment. Representatives from ZEAL, DALTA, Nite Church and All Good Organics spoke about initiatives from their region, and at each event a second local speaker was interviewed about how they have engaged with justice in their own backyard. All spoke with deep honesty and transparency about the challenges they have faced following God’s call to impact their world. This personal storytelling grounded the idealism of the conference in the everyday reality of the personal cost of commitment to a lifestyle of social justice. We were inspired by the depth of these speakers’ sacrifices and humbled at being trusted to glimpse some of the scars of their journeys. Each bore witness to the model Russell Rook offered of Jesus, ‘who allows himself to be broken into a billion pieces so he can be shared with the world’. Numerous delegates report they have been inspired by the authenticity of all presenters and valued being reminded of the reason they do what they do as Salvation Army staff and volunteers. Each Just Action event concluded with encouragement from one of our territorial leaders, Commissioners Janine or Robert Donaldson. Both spoke of the importance of changing the world by determining to live justly. The Donaldsons also announced two significant initiatives as follow-ups to Just Action 2014. Firstly, SPPU is offering young people aged between 18 and 25 a week of experiencing social marginalisation. Called ‘EXPLORE’, a handful of participants will come together to live below the poverty line and experience some of the realities of poverty. Alongside this hands-on experience, the group will explore biblical and social frameworks that are likely to shape their response to social issues. Secondly, SPPU is offering to host ‘In Our Backyard’ workshops for centres or divisions. Such workshops will help participants consider how to engage with the local community in meaningful ways. Each workshop will need a minimum of 25 people, who would pay $20 each. So, can we act justly in our own backyards? If it means offering hospitality, moving out of our comfort zones, following our intuition and experimenting a little then this is certainly achievable for ordinary Kiwis seeking to do the right thing. Major Sue Hay (Assistant Director, The Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit).
In Wellington: Russell Rook addresses delegates; Mjr Sue Hay interviews Gregory Fortuin, National Director of Education and Employment. Can we act justly in our own backyards? To answer that question the Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit (SPPU) took to the road in August. Within nine days, SPPU delivered four one-day Just Action conference events and three young adult discussion evenings. This year’s theme—Just Action: In Our Backyard—allowed 370 delegates in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland to hear international speaker Dr Russell Rook talk about how he delivers social justice in his own backyard in the UK. Each conference also featured stories from locals committed to working with the marginalised in their Kiwi backyards. Russell presented a theological framework for the delivery of social justice, insisting that ‘holiness is hospitality’. In Auckland, a delegate noted how this resonated well with the Māori concept of manaakitanga. Russell challenged the commonly held misconception that when Christians get involved in the world, they are ‘contaminated by the world’. Instead, he invited us to see that the opposite is true: our holiness impacts those we engage with, so they are empowered to embrace transformational change. The hope of SPPU was that Just Action would help delegates take the often ‘scary’ concept of social justice exemplified by heroes like Mother Teresa, and translate this into tangible and achievable steps for ordinary Kiwis. Russell helped us understand that acting justly can be as simple as ‘offering hospitality to those who have been the victims of injustice in the world’. He illustrated this through the story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan, inviting delegates to deliberately ‘get off their donkeys’; in other words, to move out of their comfort zones and respond to injustice. Russell was clear that it is not our role to solve every world problem—just the ones we feel
Go to salvationarmy.org.nz/socialpolicy and facebook.com/SPPUNZ for more from the Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit. Express your interest in either the EXPLORE experience or hosting an In Our Backyard workshop by emailing social_policy@nzf.salvationarmy.org.
Welcome to the Whānau Colonels Willis and Barbara Howell, who hail from the USA Southern Territory, were welcomed as the new Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries with a mihi whakatau at Territorial Headquarters (THQ) on 9 September. Ken Te Tau of Porirua Corps was the kaikōrero (speaker) for the manuhiri (visitors). He noted that Americans had a reputation as a people very familiar with the practice of war. Added to that, the Howells were Christian soldiers in God’s army. He challenged the couple and all those gathered to fight for the needs of Māori people, rather than adopt an attitude of complacency. ‘We have extremely poor health statistics,’ he said. ‘Children are suffering, our babies are dying, our prisons are overflowing with Māori men and women who are lost in a world of violence, abuse, despair and drugs. Whom among you would fight for us?’ ‘The majority of us have been welcomed by the tangata whenua, the people of this land,’ explained Commissioner Robert Donaldson. ‘Tiriti o Waitangi, The Treaty of Waitangi, is the foundation of our partnership together—the foundation of our biculturalism. But this has had a rocky pathway, and we are working as a nation and a Salvation Army to make this a better relationship.’ Referring to the internationalism of The Salvation Army and its practice of sharing officer leaders between different countries, he
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Fighting Problem Gambling with Fun
GambleFree Day activities in Christchurch. Food, games, information stalls and a photo competition were part of a whānau day encouraging people in Papakura to tackle problem gambling on September 20. The day was part of a national campaign raising awareness about problem gambling, following GambleFree Day on 1 September. Salvation Army Addiction Services Gambling public health worker Sara Woodward said it was the third year community groups and churches had come together to run the Papakura Whānau Day at Papakura Marae, promoting key messages for three campaigns against family violence, bullying and problem gambling, raising awareness of the issues and support available. Along with sharing information and advice at the stall, The Salvation Army ran a competition for people to take photos with their family, and the winners got the photo printed on canvas, Sara said. Papakura has one of the highest rates of pokies in Auckland, with one machine per 163 people over the age of 15. Laws preventing new gambling outlets opening during the past three years had helped efforts to tackle problem gambling in the community, and the family fun day was helping the growing awareness of the issues, said Sara. ‘Each year, we have more and more local groups coming on board in support of the event. They care about our kaupapa and want to help,’ she added. The Papakura event was part of a series of events in September raising awareness of the early signs of gambling and encouraging people to put whānau first. Adverts, developed by the Health
told the Howells, ‘We know your hearts—we know that you want to contribute while you are here. But we also pray for something of the spirit of this land to infuse you.’ The Territorial Commander added a further welcome on behalf of the Salvationists of Fiji and Tonga, whom the Howells are looking forward to meeting in coming months. In his response, Colonel Willis Howell echoed the famous line from the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers: ‘We’re on a mission from God!’ ‘As we’re here to join in mission with you, Barbara and I pray that our paths would merge beautifully with yours. We are overwhelmed by your kindness, we’re stirred by the passion we see in you, and we’re taken by your culture.’ Martin Barratt of the Communications Department welcomed the Howells on behalf of THQ staff—especially the non-uniformed members of staff, whom he laughingly described as ‘those who do the real work’. Martin also shared some humorous and helpful facts about New Zealand, including that ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather in Wellington, just bad clothing’. Commissioner Janine Donaldson concluded the morning gathering by telling the Howells, ‘We’re thrilled you are here. You bring to us your God-given talents and skills in ministry, and we share ours with you.’ She prayed God’s blessing on the couple and also on their three children and six grand-children back in the US.
Promotion Agency and describing some early signs of problem gambling, had seen more people reaching out for help, Sara said. Signs of problem gambling included lying about your gambling, feeling guilty about it and chasing losses—losing money and going back the next day to win it back, she said. Salvation Army events were also organised in Hamilton, Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch. In Christchurch, Salvation Army problem gambling staff ran a family fun day at the New Brighton School Community Hall complete with sausage sizzle, face painting and a poetry competition. Coordinator Tony Foster said the Canterbury earthquakes had a big, long-term impact on problem gambling in the area, with more people gambling as a way of escaping the stress of the quakes and the rebuild process. However, more people were also seeking help and the family fun day event was growing every year. Other social agencies were involved in the day, which was attended by about 400 people. ‘It’s all about offering our services and ideas for people to do things other than gambling and to do things with their family,’ said Tony. In Wellington, staff visited the Wellington and Hutt Valley Courts, and Community Link centres in Naenae and Porirua, screening people for signs of addiction. Wellington problem gambling public health worker Vicki Hirini said it was the first year they had visited the community centres, which had been positive. Wellington team leader Tracey Wakefield said they met a lot of people who showed signs of addiction. The aim was to get people thinking about their gambling. People often came back to the service later, but all services were keen to encourage people to seek help early as people often waited till they reached crisis point. ‘When they call, often people are close to losing their relationship or losing their job or having legal issues,’ Tracey said. Addiction Services Problem Gambling National Operations Manager Lisa Campbell said the service treats about 1200 people a year for gambling addiction, but each person’s addiction usually harmed between five and 10 other people. The biggest harm for Salvation Army clients came from pokies, but harm from Lotto seemed to be increasing and online gambling was also a problem. Poorer communities had more gambling venues and more money was spent on pokies in poorer areas, but the profits often went out of the area, she said. The impact could be seen at places such as The Salvation Army Community Ministries in South Auckland, where about 42 per cent of the people getting food parcels were suffering harm from gambling. Go to salvationarmy.org.nz/gambling for more information or to seek help.
16 WarCry 04 October 2014
Kenya Project Shows Unexpected Worth
Less petty theft, women lifted out of prostitution and less domestic violence are among the unexpected results from a Salvation Army micro-finance scheme that has transformed the lives of 17,000 women in western Kenya. The WORTH project was a micro-enterprise scheme organised by the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga territory in partnership with the Kenya West Women’s Department aiming to help about 7000 women set up businesses in the Kakamega Region. The $500,000 project was funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and has run since 2011. Salvation Army Overseas Development Officer Major Vyvyenne Noakes said the organisers had hoped to set up 300 groups of about 25 women, but ended up with 685 groups and more looking to join. The women received business and literacy training from Salvation Army staff and set up a group business, as well as their own enterprises. Each group met weekly and pooled their business earnings in a village bank along with money set aside for emergencies. Profits were paid out to each woman every nine months. Businesses ranged from farming to transport, tailoring and health enterprises. Although some were initially suspicious because of other similar failed projects, things really took off when women realised they got to keep all of their profits, Vyvyenne said. Having businesses had not just raised money, but changed the lives of the women aged 18–80 who joined. ‘A lot of the older women said, “We were just sitting at home waiting to die, but now we have a reason to live. Now we have a spring in our step.” We had a lot of women leaving prostitution —more than you would think.’ There were major unexpected benefits as well. A judge in the area reported that domestic violence and petty theft cases had dropped dramatically, and groups had also begun encouraging women to get tested for HIV, leading to mobile health workshops being set up to travel round the groups. One group, recognising diabetes as a problem in their area, bought a blood-testing kit and began going door to door in villages, and for a small fee testing people for diabetes and providing health support. Men had also asked to join the project, with some groups welcoming men and some all male groups set up. The many women who were able feed their children or grandchildren and send them back to school was one of the biggest positives—with a huge long-term impact—but seeing people’s selfesteem grow through seemingly small changes had also been very special, said Vyvyenne. A woman left homeless when her husband left her was able to build her own home, and a deaf woman with a lame leg was helped to buy a sewing machine for her clothes making business. Businesses that stood out to Vyvyenne included one group that had raised enough money to buy their own bus, providing transport to the capital, Nairobi. Some women had also bought motor bikes and cars and employed their husbands as taxi drivers, a big reversal of the male-dominated culture.
The WORTH project was different to many other microenterprise projects as The Salvation Army did not give the groups money directly, but gave them training in business skills and provided materials to start businesses, as well as having literacy tutors, who visited the groups teaching the women to read and write using basic business training materials. In other projects, where money was given to people, they were sometimes inclined to take it and leave, Vyvyenne said, while the WORTH groups had a stake in their group because they used their own money. Vyvyenne saw the importance of teaching literacy and numeracy after visiting similar Salvation Army projects in Tanzania and Malawi in 2009. ‘We were hearing women say that in the past they were cheated because they did not know how much change to give or how much the price of something was. So literacy was key in giving them skills.’ Although The Salvation Army and New Zealand Government commitment to the project had finished, the groups were now selfsustaining and would keep growing, she said. New groups were paying some extra money to fund a support person and further literacy training. Because of its success, the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory was keen to set up the project in other places, but it was reliant on government funding. In the meantime, the territory was focused on its projects transforming lives of the poor in the Philippines, Fiji and Tonga.
GAZETTE Promotion to Glory Mjr Aileen (Peggy) Robertson on 9 Sept 2014 from Palmerston North. Peggy was born on 20 Nov 1925 and started her Christian journey in the New Plymouth Corps. On 23 Nov 1946 she married Vic Robertson and together they entered the Officer Training College from the Newton Corps in 1948 as members of the Kings Messengers session. They were commissioned on 10 January 1949. The Robertsons served together in corps appointments at Oxford, Temuka, Terrace End, Lower Hutt, Wanganui, Hastings, Whangarei, Wellington South, Palmerston North, Newton, Auckland Congress Hall, Christchurch and Wellington City, and then as the divisional leaders in the Central North Division. Mjrs Vic and Peggy Robertson retired from active service on 30 Dec 1983. We honour Mjr Peggy Robertson for her 34 years of active service as an officer. She was a caring person, always interested in others, with a vibrant personality and faith. Well done good and faithful servant! A celebration service was held on 13 Sept at Palmerston North Corps, led by Lt-Col Russell Hamilton. Please uphold Graeme, Jill, Kevin, Stephen and the wider family in prayer at this time of loss. Bereaved Capt Jeremaia Naviko of his father, Mr Amena Dela, on 8 Sept from Nailaga Village, Fiji. Please pray for Capts Jeremaia and Amelia Naviko and Capt Lasarusa Turaga (nephew) at this time. Change of Appointment Title Effective 19 Sep: Mjr Melissa Douglas, Case Worker, Auckland Addictions Services.
Noticeboard | 17
ANNUAL GENERAL CHANGE 2015 Each January, a number of Salvation Army officers relocate to other mission appointments around the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory. Cadets currently in training also take up their first officer appointments. The following appointments are effective on Thursday 8 January 2015. We pray that God will bless and prepare these comrades for their new avenues of service. Territorial Headquarters Social Policy & Parliamentary Unit Mjr Suzanne Hay, Director. Programme Section Comm Janine Donaldson, Territorial Overseas Development Officer (additional); Capt Ross Wardle, Programme Resource Officer and Chairperson Moral and Social Issues (Ethics) Council; Mjr Heather Rodwell, Territorial Secretary for Corps Growth and Spiritual Life Development, and Territorial Strategic Mission Plan (TSMP) Champion; Mjr Glenton Waugh, Territorial Secretary for Chaplaincy Services and Territorial Headquarters Chaplain. Business Section Mjr Mark Ennever, Property Manager. Northern Division Capt Julie Marshall, Divisional Secretary for Personnel, Divisional Missionary Fellowship Secretary and Divisional Silver Star Secretary; Capt Lachlan Marshall, Divisional Secretary for Programme; Mjrs Iliesa & Litiana Cola, Corps Officers, Otahuhu Corps, and Divisional Pasifika Advisors; Lieut Missy Ditchburn, Corps Officer, Glen Eden Corps; Capts Simon & Susan Stevens, Corps Officers, Mt. Albert Corps.
Midland Division Capts Timothy & Zelma Malton, Corps Officers, Flaxmere Corps; Lieuts Matthew & Rebekah Herring, Corps Officers, Grandview Corps; Lieut Matthew Herring, ILU Referral Officer, Nawton. Central Division Aux-Capt Denise Daly, Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries and Divisional Secretary for Personnel; Aux-Capt David Daly, Divisional Secretary for Programme; Mjr Jeannine Serevi, Divisional Candidates Secretary (additional); Mjr Brenda Ennever, Divisional Children’s Secretary; Lieut Fleur Carpenter, Assistant Divisional Children’s Secretary; Mjr Helen Knowles, Divisional Secretary for Retired Officers (additional); Mjrs Joanne & Wayne Jellyman, Corps Officers, Feilding Corps; Mjrs Paul & Susan Jarvis, Corps Officers, Wellington City Corps. Southern Division Capt Sharlene Davis, Corps Officer, Aranui Corps, and Director, Community Ministries Aranui; Capts Deane & Susan Goldsack, Corps Officers, Blenheim Corps; Capt Deane Goldsack, ILU Referral Officer, Blenheim; Capt Janette Waugh, Assistant Officer, Nelson Tasman Bays Corps; Capt Kevin Waugh, Manager, Community Ministries Nelson Tasman Bays. Fiji Division Mjr David Noakes, Divisional Commander, Divisional Public Relations Secretary; Mjr Vyvyenne Noakes, Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries, Divisional Secretary for Personnel and Divisional Child
Sponsorship Secretary; Mjr Arone Cheer, Divisional Secretary for Programme and Divisional Secretary for Social Programme; Lieut Lusiana Leqanidruaivalu, Divisional Secretary of Women’s Ministries and Divisional Children’s Secretary; Lieut Patiliai Leqanidruaivalu, Divisional Youth and Candidates Secretary; Mjrs Kesoni & Merewalesi Qoriniasi, Corps Officers, Lautoka Corps; Mjr Kesoni Qoriniasi, Lautoka Court and Prison Officer. Tonga Region Capt Malia Siufanga, Kindergarten Coordinator (additional); Capt Ana Vaea, Regional Children’s Secretary (additional). Booth College of Mission Capt Ian Gainsford, Principal, Booth College of Mission, and Training Principal, School for Officer Training; Capt Elisabeth Gainsford, Senior Training Officer, School for Officer Training; Project Manager, Officer Development, Centre for Leadership Development; Capt Tauantabo Cheer, Senior Training Officer, School for Officer Training, Fiji. Addictions, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services Capts Epironi & Sera Toloi, Officers in Training. Education and Employment Capt Sharlene Davis, Chaplain, U Build 4 The Rebuild Project (additional); Capts Deane & Susan Goldsack, Chaplains, Blenheim Centre (additional).
Parliamentary Unit; Mjr Bruce Vyle, Divisional Secretary for Business Administration, Northern Division; Mjr Gaynor Stone, Corps Officer, Taupo Corps. Officers Concluding Appointments in Retirement Mjr Margaret Ousey. Officers Awaiting Appointments Mjrs Jennifer & Richard Morris; Mjr Michelle & Milton Collins; Lieut Daniel Dongcheol In & Lieut Gabrielle Choi; Lieut Sandra Galvin. ‘Heralds of Grace’ Session—He Tukunga Tomairangi (following their ordination and commissioning on 13 December) Lieuts Patricia & Tauhuia Mataki, Territorial Secretaries for Māori Ministry—Hēkeretari O Te Ao Māori, Manatū Māori. Northern Division Lieut Jordan Westrupp, Corps Officer, Glen Eden Corps and ILU Referral Officer, Glen Eden; Lieuts Jenny & Peter Koia, Corps Officers, Whangarei Corps; Lieut Peter Koia, Director, Community Ministries Whangarei. Central Division Lieut Patricia Mataki, Divisional Secretary for Māori Ministry —Hēkeretari A Rohe, Manatū Māori (additional); Lieut Andrew & Sarah Green, Corps Officers, Kapiti Corps and ILU Referral Officers, Kapiti/ Paraparaumu. Awaiting appointment Lieut Daniel Biško.
Appointments in Retirement Mjr Campbell Roberts, Principal Advisor, Social Policy and
Crossword Answers: Across: 8 Battle, 9 Observed, 10 Agencies, 11 Ending, 12 Dreadful, 13 Beards, 14 Someone, 17 Depends, 20 Custom, 22 Research, 25 Mirror, 26 Executed, 27 Detailed, 28 Please. Down: 1 Kangaroo, 2 Stanza, 3 Belief, 4 Consult, 5 Assemble, 6 Graduate, 7 Penned, 15 External, 16 Numerals, 18 Decrease, 19 Friends, 21 United, 23 Sweeps, 24 Amused. Quiz Answers: 1 Europe, 2 Macadamia, 3 Lemon and melon, 4 The liver, 5 Shem, Ham and Japheth (Genesis 6:9–10).
Saying yes to God’s call of Salvation Army officership brings a sense of peace from knowing you are where God wants you to be. For more information go to salvationarmy.org.nz/officership
R E G I S T E R T O D AY
www.boundless2015.org For more on Boundless Group Travel from NZ, email NZFTBoundless2015@nzf.salvationarmy.org
18 WarCry 04 October 2014
LEADERSHIP LINKS
As the Heralds of Grace session of cadets complete their two years of training—culminating in their commissioning and ordination in December—they will now also be focused on their first appointments. There would have been mixed emotions when these appointments were announced last month, including excitement at being able to live out their calling to Salvation Army officership and implement all they have learnt at Booth College of Mission. Naturally, there would also have been some apprehension, with so much change on the horizon. In The Salvation Army, there are many ways that a calling to serve God can be outworked. I have referenced officership as one such way, but there are other callings, including becoming actively involved in your local corps (church), utilising your spiritual gifts in service to our Lord and Saviour in children, youth, music, administration and other areas. Local leadership is the backbone of The Salvation Army and an integral part of all corps. In addition, there exists opportunity for people to be engaged in full-time lay ministry across areas that make up the various ways we express our Salvation Army mission. These include Education and Employment, Homecare, Community Ministries, Family Stores, and our Addiction, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services. My journey of service commenced when I became involved in children’s activities at our corps. Kristine and I were involved in this area of service for over 15 years. I then served in other local officer roles for a further eight years. During this time, I was asked to consider full-time employment in Community Ministries. Kristine and I had always intended to do more within The Salvation Army once our children were independent—but to do this while our children were still quite young wasn’t our plan. However, after prayerful consideration, I resigned my job within a fortnight, leaving a role I enjoyed and an employer I had worked for since leaving school 27 years earlier. There was a real peace around this significant decision as I knew it was part of God’s plan for me. In the 12 years since, I have never once had any doubt about this decision. In fact, looking back, it is very evident that my previous 27 years of employment were, in effect, an apprenticeship for what God had planned next. Is God speaking to you about becoming more involved in your corps as a local leader, as an employee in one of our various services, or as a Salvation Army officer? If you feel a calling, speak to someone about it and be reassured by these words from Jeremiah 29:11-12, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Captain Gerry Walker Territorial Secretary for Personnel
WEEKS
Is it time to get more involved?
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Let’s talk about Abortion Abortion is a subject that provokes strong views. What is an appropriate Salvationist response? BY SUSAN HOWAN The Green Party recently proposed that abortion be available on demand up to 20 weeks’ gestation, and up to birth where there is risk to the mother’s mental health or a foetal abnormality. These changes would significantly liberalise New Zealand law and were met with strong opposition. Given that abortion rates in New Zealand have reduced in the past decade and that more than 98 per cent of abortions are approved on grounds of maternal mental health, there was little support for a law change. The Green’s policy posed another important challenge overlooked in the abortion debate: the need to protect a woman’s choice to continue a pregnancy and to be supported to do so. The Greens said they would do this by making more counselling and income support available. But there are deeper questions for those who would see abortion rates reduce even further. Do we understand why women consider terminating their pregnancy, and are we satisfied that they have real alternatives available? Abortion is legal in New Zealand only when two certifying consultants agree that continuing the pregnancy would result in serious danger to the woman’s mental or physical health or that the baby would have a serious disability. The consultants may also consider the woman’s age and whether the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. If a decision is made to permit an abortion to proceed, counselling is offered before the woman makes her final decision. We have seen a real decrease in the rate of abortion in New Zealand in recent years. In 2012, there were 14,745 abortions performed (or 16.1 abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44 years). This was the lowest number since 1995 (13,652). Women aged 20–24 years accounted for 30 per cent of abortions in any year over that period, but this dropped from a peak of 41 abortions per 1000 in 2003, to 29 in 2012. There has also been a notable decrease in the abortion rate for women aged 15–19
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years—down from 27 per 1000 in 2007, to 16 in 2012. But a significant number are still choosing to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. In more than a third of cases, women have chosen to terminate a second pregnancy, and a third of that group have chosen to do so a third time. The Salvation Army believes life is a gift from God and that we are answerable to God for the taking of life. We, like many other churches, accept the moment of fertilisation as the start of human life. We believe society has a responsibility to care for others, and especially to protect and promote the welfare of vulnerable people, including unborn children. This responsibility also extends to those women faced with unwanted pregnancy who may consider abortion—they are also vulnerable and need our care and support. Our statistics with respect to child and family vulnerability are troubling. An estimated 285,000 children live in poverty in New Zealand. An estimated 20–30,000 children are at risk of maltreatment, abuse or neglect, and 4000 come under CYF care annually after substantiated findings of maltreatment. Before we condemn decisions to abort, we need to understand that adding another vulnerable child to these statistics may be the alternative unless something practical is done to support a different outcome. The Salvation Army has supported women who found value in choosing not to abort when this at first seemed to be the only option. The following personal stories are real, and shared with permission (names have been changed for privacy reasons). Moira came into a Salvation Army centre seeking food parcel assistance. She was struggling to cope with the day-to-day demands of managing on a limited budget. Moira had a strained relationship with a young man, who was not the father of her children. She became pregnant and was overwhelmed with the prospect of another child to look after with no real support. Abortion seemed the only option and one that was easy to obtain. Moira joined a Salvation Army ‘life skills group’ for young mums and came to its weekly ‘home group’—a meal and Bible study one night per week. As she began to feel better supported, Moira decided that abortion was just not for her. She went on to have the baby, who was adopted out to a couple with fertility problems. Moira has continued to flourish and sees her adopted-out baby occasionally. Jan had twin daughters. When they were three, her relationship with their father broke up. After this, she got into several unhealthy relationships, eventually becoming pregnant to a man with a number of other children to several women, who was not contributing to the care of any of them. Jan saw that his promises to care for her were shallow and hollow and decided that abortion was the only way out.
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Some months after aborting the pregnancy, Jan suffered a severe emotional and mental breakdown. She attempted suicide and was hospitalised for several weeks. This was followed by sessions with a psychiatrist and ongoing counselling from The Salvation Army. Jan made good progress and then became pregnant again, this time to a young man who wasn’t able to commit to any sort of relationship. She hadn’t been into the Salvation Army centre for some time and felt embarrassed to come back, but after much encouragement was helped to explore the options for her baby. Jan desperately wanted this baby (a boy) to grow up with a father. Her daughters had regular visits with their dad and she felt it vital that her son have this as well, yet she knew she couldn’t be in a relationship with his father. Jan came to the decision that adoption was the best way forward. She had her baby, who was placed with a couple in an open adoption. The Salvation Army provided family therapy to help Jan’s girls understand what was happening, and counselling to help Jan work through the adoption process. Jan went on to find a stable relationship. She has since married and has another little boy. The Salvation Army is successful in supporting women to pursue choices other than abortion, with positive outcomes for mother and child. Sometimes we provide continued support when people take paths we may not have wished for them. It is not our role to judge, but we can provide real options that assure life and wellbeing for mother and baby. Abortion is an issue that will continue to spark public debate. What will Salvationists do to respond? Our beliefs need to be seen in action if we hope to influence people’s choices. We can: • show love, compassion and fellowship, not judgement, to those we meet who are faced with an unwanted pregnancy • be prepared to journey in love with all those affected, recognising the decision to terminate a pregnancy carries emotional and physical implications for many years, often damaging relationships and personal self-worth • provide practical support to address poverty or family dysfunction, which may be a factor in deciding to terminate a pregnancy • advocate for a society that promotes wholeness, freedom, quality of life and the development of every person’s potential. Susan is a member of The Salvation Army’s Moral and Social Issues Council. She attends the Wellington South Salvation Army. Go to salvationarmy.org/isjc/ipsabortion to read The Salvation Army’s International Positional Statement on abortion
EVENTS
BY VANESSA SINGH
Yep, our annual Creative Arts Camp is on again … and you know you want to be there!
Amplify is an incredible opportunity to meet new people, learn new things and encounter God big time. It’s an amazing week … and it would be more amazing with YOU there!
If you’ve never heard of Amplify you must either:
Top 5 reasons to go to Amplify 2015
1 Live under a rock or some other large object that stops you communicating in any form with the outside world. (Hello, it is the year 2014—the world has been invaded by Miley Cyrus, comic book movies and swag. Please help us!)
1 God loves creativity. God is the most creative being there is. He made the flipping world and then he made us in his image. What does that say? That we’re creative beings too. The Bible is full of examples of people being creative, especially in worship, so Amplify is an awesome way to explore what creative worship and ministry looks like for you.
2 Be new to The Salvation Army. (Hi and welcome, we think you’re great!) 3 Go to a corps (church) in our territory that is yet to be discovered. (Hello Stewart Island Corps, sorry we haven’t sent you any posters before …)* So, for those very few who haven’t even heard about Amplify, and for those who have but just love reading about Amplify because it brings back all those great memories, here is the 2015 Amplify rundown.
Ampli-what? Amplify is the territorial creative arts camp for New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga. It is run by the lovely people in the territorial youth and creative ministries departments. The camp is for 15 to 30 year olds who are keen to develop their creative skills so they are better equipped and empowered for ministry in their local corps and communities. Campers choose a major and a minor to focus on for the week. These range from things like dance, drama, music, art and writing, to hospitality, sports, DIY and preaching. Seriously, there really is something for everyone! The Amplify programme is jam-packed with goodness, including Bible study small groups, workshops, night church, morning prayer, camp-wide activities, downtime, café hang outs, and meals. And sometimes sleep. Awesome leaders from around the country come to teach, share and journey with campers and help them discover and develop their God-given gifts.
2 It’s in January. What else do you have to do? Seriously. It’s January. You’re free from school and uni (or work is more casual), the sun is out, and it’s the perfect time for a trip away. Amplify is totes worth the road trip, so make your January epic with Amplify. 3 You learn stuff. This may sound a bit boring but it definitely isn’t—the stuff you learn at Amplify is super helpful and super cool. Amplify is all about you learning more in creative areas that you’re passionate about, and you learn in creative, hands-on, fun and energetic ways. Nothing lame about that. Plus, you can take all of this away and use it at your church and in your community! 4 You may meet your spouse. It’s a large Salvation Army event, so odds are high that you’ll either meet your future spouse or else you’ll meet a relative you never knew you had. But seriously, it’s an awesome way to meet some new people and make some lasting friendships. And catch up with old friends too! 5 It’ll be one of the best weeks ever. While we can’t actually legally guarantee this one, we have it on good authority (the past five camps) that Amplify is seriously one of the most fun, challenging, rewarding, tiring, creative, empowering, beneficial, God-filled weeks you’ll have. Just ask someone that has been before. It’s pretty hard to sum up how awesome Amplify truly is, so you’ll just have to come and find out … * This is not a definitive list.
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FIREZONE.CO.NZ
The Amplify Album All happy families have a photo album of their treasured memories. The Amplify family is no different. Check out some of our Amplify memories over the past five years …
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1 The first Amplify was in 2010 at Forest Lakes in Otaki. This was sweet as, bro! There were 100 campers and 20 staff. Key memories: small and cosy, rain and flooding, a baby being born, chaos. 2 The second Amplify was in 2011 at Rathkeale College in Masterton. This was also sweet as. There were 120 campers and 25 staff. Key memories: no doors, oldschool dorms, ultimate-ninja, moustaches.
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3 Our third Amplify was in 2012 at Silverstream Retreat in Wellington. Guess what? This was sweet as, bro, as well! There were 140 campers and 30 staff. Key memories: Fulton Hawk dancing, Explorers Café, Clifford says meow, balloon tree. 4 The fourth Amplify was in 2013 at Silverstream Retreat in Wellington. Yep: sweet as, bro! Again. There were 165 campers and 35 staff. Key memories: rain, Canadian Rob, bread roll dramas, quilters, games involving trailers. 5 The fifth Amplify was in 2014 at Silverstream Retreat in Wellington (see a pattern?). This was sweet as, bro … obviously. There were 180 campers and 35 staff. Key memories: chainsaws, Reba dancing, outreach concert, Klipboard Karl.
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Amplify is an incredible opportunity to meet new people, learn new things and encounter God big time. It’s an amazing week!
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Our next Amplify is happening from 13–20 January 2015 at Silverstream Retreat in Wellington. And it’s gonna be bigger and better than ever! Earlybird for Amplify 2015 is only $250 for eight days of awesome. Get in quick and book your spot! Registration for Amplify 2015 is now open. All the information you need is on www.firezone.co.nz
FIREZONE.CO.NZ
EVENTS | 22 Photography: Luke Tearle
Called to Duty Have you ever spent an entire weekend sleeping in a freezer? I ask because although we in the Northern Division haven’t, we do feel like we shared a similar experience at this year’s Youth Councils.
required in the army of God and the duty to honour God’s calling on our lives.
ALBUM REVIEW
On Friday 8 August, at 1900 hours, the Northern Division Youth gathered together for Youth Councils 2014. The YMCA Camp Adair, nestled deep in the Hunua ranges, would be our home for a weekend titled ‘Called to Duty’, a reference to the level of discipleship
Matt Renata, a Baptist youth pastor from Lower Hutt, was there to share his story and testimony. He encouraged us to look at our pasts and our ancestors and to learn from that to help with the future. (You can check him out in the movie The Kick, where he played Ma’a Nonu! He’s also in Avatar!) Major Ivan Bezzant was there to encourage us to pursue revival and dwell in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Knowing ourselves and having our identity in Christ is important in the process of learning God’s will and purpose for our lives. With a music team of youth and their leaders from Whangarei to Manukau, our worship music was phenomenal, ushering in the presence of God. A shout out also to the technical team, led by Chris and Luke from the Creative Ministries Department, who graced
THIS IS ALL YOURS
Indie Rock
alt-J
Alt-J is a British indie rock band. This Is All Yours follows their 2012 debut. Their sound mixes indie guitar rock licks with sweeping arrangements, creative grooves and eclectic instrumentation. Lead single ‘Hunger of the Pine’ is their most radical departure from the indie rock genre, featuring a repetitive synth line that morphs into a lush track that channels Pink Floyd’s The Wall. ‘Left Hand Free’ is a straightforward rock track with a southern blues influenced lead guitar hook. This Is All Yours takes strides to expand the band’s core sound, and is a great album. LYRICS
GOD CONTENT
ALBUM REVIEW
O my goodness! It. Was. Cold! Spoilers … but the final evening activity involved me dressed in a plethora of layers including a crocodile onesie and a 1940s woollen trench coat, plus TWO pairs of socks. Yet the cold did not deter from God’s power moving throughout the weekend.
MUSIC
BY PHIL COPE
us with their presence and mad tech skills. Captain Nicky Hargest closed off the weekend with her personal testimony, encouraging us to continue in our walks, to draw near to God and honour the duty to which we have been called: to be disciples of Christ and change the world. In all of this, I’ve neglected to mention the huge variety of workshops, dealing with relationship issues and mental wellbeing, along with day-to-day tools for the discipleship journey. Of course, there was also the final night’s madness courtesy of Captain Mat Badger and his team of leaders from East City. (Imagine ‘Capture the Flag’ mixed with ‘Spotlight’ and ‘Cops and Robbers’!) It was a fantastic weekend away and lives were changed for the good! … Oh, and did I mention how cold it was…?
BETWEEN THE STARS
Nu-Metal
Flyleaf
After the amicable parting of lead singer Lacey Strum in 2012, Flyleaf’s first record with new singer Kristen May doesn’t take any huge leaps outside the band’s established sound, but it does continue to refine their chunky nu-metal with the addition of electronic elements. This is best seen in lead single ‘Set Me On Fire’. The song is driven by a huge fuzzy bass line, with the verses coloured by a moving electronic synth line. May has a more pop influenced sound, with less of an edge than Strum, however, her voice fits well with the band’s sound, making this an easy transition for fans. MUSIC
LYRICS
GOD CONTENT
FIND THE GUMBOOT THAT HAS NO PAIR
CAN YOU SPOT 8 DIFFERENCES?
Fun4Kids | 23
Did you know? The potato became the first vegetable to be grown in space. Potato seeds were grown on the space shuttle Columbia in 1995. Did you know? Only 3% of the earth’s water is fresh water, the rest is salt water. Did you know? Strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside. The average strawberry has 200 seeds.
Play in the Garden is a great new book with lots of fun projects to enjoy in the garden. Most of them only need a little bit of adult help. Discover how to grow crazy carrots, make onion dye for a pirate treasure map, start a worm farm, turn your garden weeds into a stinky brew, or make this cool bean teepee in your back yard! This is a really cool book that will also teach you how to grow lots of healthy plants. (Published by New Holland Publishers)
LET’S TALK
READ IT
God blessed them all and told the creatures that live in the water to reproduce and to fill the sea, and he told the birds to increase in number. Genesis 1:22 (GNB)
When God made the world, he blessed all the living things he’d made. Then he told the fish to fill the sea and the birds to increase in number. God designed our planet so that the things that grow from the ground would provide enough food for all living things to eat. God wanted us all to live well together.
Cate
There are over seven billion people in the world today. That’s so many people that we are in danger of not leaving enough resources in the environment so that we and all the animals can do well. There isn’t enough space on the land and in the sea for all of the world’s rubbish, and there isn’t enough space in the atmosphere for lots of polluted air.
God wants us to share the planet in a smart way with animals and plants so that everyone can live well. When we look after animals and plants, we also make life easier for ourselves and for our children and grandchildren.
LET’S PRAY Dear God, help me do my part to look after this beautiful world you have made. Help me to look after the plants, to not throw away too much rubbish or pollute the air. Help me to care for the animals you have made. Amen.