02 April 2022 NZFTS War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION 02 APRIL 2022 | Issue 6788 | $1.50

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WAR CRY The Salvation Army

New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Julie & Mark Campbell | GENERAL Brian Peddle | FOUNDERS Catherine

& William Booth

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

EDITOR Vivienne Hill | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Nicole Gesmundo, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Holly Morton, Bethany Slaughter, David Youngmeyer | PROOF READING

Major Colleen Marshall OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street,

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

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

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

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Message of hope New Zealand has been a prosperous nation for many decades, though along with our Pacific Island countries we have had our fair share of natural disasters. These disasters are a reminder that we are vulnerable to unexpected circumstances. The thin veneer of ‘safety’ is just that, a thin veneer that glosses over the realities of our countries which are subject to political and socioeconomic uncertainty, wars and pandemics.

If you are a student of history, you already know that the inevitability of disruption and disaster lurks at the door of every decade. At the time of writing, our four nations are in the midst of a pandemic, facing volcanic unrest, watching a war unfold in Ukraine and gearing up for a recession. The good news is the surety that God is in intimate and direct contact with his people, that his presence in the tough times is as certain as the good times, the only difference is we are more likely to seek him and rely on him in the toughest of times.

In this edition of War Cry we look at an outcome of this worldwide upheaval, namely the food shortages we are seeing at our supermarkets (page 6). But we have a message of hope—our hope does not come from this world, it comes from God. Auschwitz survivor Corrie ten Boom said, ‘Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God’. I am confident that God has a plan for The Salvation Army in this hour and he will equip us to meet the rising needs of those who come to us for help.

Vivienne Hill Editor

Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.

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

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

Publishing for 138 years | Issue 6788 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry

salvationarmy.org.nz SalvationArmyNZFTS @SalvationArmyNZ salvationarmynzfts

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There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.

CS Lewis

Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’.

Ihāia 30:21 Ā, ka rongo ōu taringa i te kupu i muri i a koe e mea ana, ‘Ko te ara tēnei: nā konei atu, ina tahuri koutou ki matau, ina tahuri ki mauī’.

Wait and Watch

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n my conversations and communications with people over the past few weeks, I have become aware of a growing sense of disorientation and dissatisfaction. The divisiveness currently in society has infiltrated the Church in New Zealand and is polarising our congregations and denominations. Many think this is the work of an ancient enemy that the Church has always been at odds with. There is truth to this, but I believe God is up to something, and it might pay for us to stop looking at what is going on around us in society— because the answers for the Church will never lie there—and start seeking God. I have some news for you: we are not going back to ‘normal’. Now this could burst a few bubbles, but it’s okay, God knows and he has a plan. Once we come to him—our fortress, strong tower, mighty deliverer—and allow him to calm our fears and reorient our hearts, minds and spirits back into his presence, we can then lift up our spiritual antennas and eyes and watch. What are we watching for?

We are watching for the small cloud on a dry and desolate horizon. Just like Elijah waited and watched, we are to wait and watch (1 Kings 18:41–46).

This small cloud will be a glimpse of what God is about to do in this generation, because God always does a new thing in every generation. When I was a child the Jesus Movement swept through New Zealand and around the globe, then came the Jesus marches and charismatic movement. I remember

a few years after this, the Spirit of God started talking to his people around the world and the word was that a new sound would come out of the Southern Hemisphere that would change the way we worshipped. That new sound was led by Darlene Zschech, and eventually her songs were sung in nearly every country on earth. But in each instance, God moved on.

He is moving now, transitioning us to days we could never imagine, to a Church we could not have conceived ourselves. But we are called to wait and watch. Once we see the small cloud, the promise of the latter rain, then I suggest we throw off the old season—which was wearing thin anyway—and get ready for the new, astounding move of God in this generation. It will be like no other and exceed all others, so wait and watch with full expectancy, because I hear the sound of a mighty rain.

‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland’ (Isaiah 43:18–19).

BY VIVIENNE HILL

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Sci-Fi/Family/Comedy The Adam Project (PG-13, Available on Netflix) Directed by Shawn Levy The Adam Project follows the story of Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds), who accidentally goes back in time, meeting his 12-year-old self, and they team up to save the future. The duo sets out on an adventure, battling enemies from a not-so-distant future and, at the same time, finding themselves dealing with unresolved family issues. The film’s opening scenes major in sarcasm and humour, but as the story progresses, there are emotional scenes that will tug at your heartstrings. For anyone who appreciated the film 13 Going On 30, with the pairing of Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo, their on-screen reunion in The Adam Project was a heart-warming nod to the 18-year-old film.

Over all, The Adam Project is a wellbalanced combination of fun, action and tender moments that most families will enjoy. (Reviewed by Nicole Gesmundo)

Waitara Family Store Manager is a Good Sort!

Anyone who watched 1 News at 6pm on Sunday 20 March may have spotted an awesome shout out to one of The Salvation Army’s Family Store staff.

Waitara Family Store Manager Karen Lowe was nominated for the channel’s Good Sorts segment.

Karen first stepped into the Waitara store forty years ago, as a customer looking for a pram.

Decades later, she now serves the community as the store manager who is always available for a chat.

Her heart for the community was clearly displayed throughout the short segment, as she interacted with store regulars who have become local friends.

‘I enjoy helping people,’ she explained in the segment.

‘I’ve been managing the store for 19 years.’

After having dealt with cancer twice in the past four years, she also arranged a cancer support group— one more way that she gives back to her community.

TOPFIVE

Recently, Avril Lavigne revealed that she is developing a film based on her iconic early2000s track ‘Sk8er Boi’. It got us thinking about other songs which tell stories that could easily be developed into a full plotline for a film.

1. ‘Another Day in Paradise’ by Phil Collins 2. ‘Viva la Vida’ by Coldplay

QUIKQUIZ

3. ‘Someone Like You’ by Adele 4. ‘Cat’s in the Cradle’ by Harry Chapin 5. ‘Speak Now’ by Taylor Swift.

1 Port-au-Prince is the capital of which country?

2 What was Lizzie’s younger brother’s name in the TV show Lizzie McGuire?

3 In which Shakespeare play would you find the characters of Portia, Antonio and Shylock?

4 What is Elton John’s middle name which he shares with a Greek god?

Thank you, Karen—we’re glad that so many New Zealanders got to hear about the great work you do.

5 In the Book of Judges, who attacked a Midianite camp late at night?

Watch the video here: tinyurl.com/GoodSortsKaren

Answers on page 22

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Our greatest fear should not be of failure … but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.

Francis Chan

Weird of the Week: Humans are born with two innate fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. Every other fear is learned.

WARCRYINHISTORY

How’s this for a morning tea set up? This image was taken in 1913 of the welcome tea for New Zealand’s first commissioner, Commissioner WJ Richards in Christchurch.

Source: The Heritage Centre & Archives at the Plowman Resource Centre, Booth College of Mission.

Bean Stuffed Kūmara 4 medium red kūmara

2 spring onions, sliced thinly

420g Countdown five bean mix, drained

salt, to season

1 cup grated tasty cheese

pepper, to season sour cream, to serve

Preheat an oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced).

Using a fork, prick the kūmara a few times. Place onto a tray, rub with a little oil. Place into the oven for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

When cool enough to handle, slice the top off each kūmara.

Scoop out the inside carefully without tearing the skin, and place filling into a large bowl. Add the bean mix, half the cheese and spring onions, reserving a little for garnish.

Season with salt and pepper.

Return the filling to the kūmara, piling it up, and sprinkle over the remaining cheese.

Bake for a further 20 minutes until golden brown and hot through.

Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream and garnish with remaining spring onion.

Tip: Cook the pieces you slice from the top alongside the stuffed kūmara.

Source: countdown.co.nz

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‘Soup, soap and salvation’ has been the catchphrase of the work of The Salvation Army since its early beginnings, highlighting the holistic services offered to its wider community. Although times have changed since the Army began its work, many of the needs and struggles of our society remain the same.

BY HOLLY MORTON

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ood insecurity within our territory is a growing problem, exacerbated by financial crises, rising living costs and most recently the global pandemic.

Jono Bell, territorial director for Community Ministries explains that ‘The Salvation Army has been providing food support since its inception. Then, around 30 years ago, we started to move into more formalised foodbanks to become a bit more coordinated and responsive to the need.’ The Army provides food support from more than 60 foodbanks within our territory and distributed 77,000 food parcels last year alone, which is 29 percent higher than the pre-Covid-19 numbers. The pandemic has made the levels of foodbased poverty in New Zealand particularly concerning, with many individuals and families needing to seek out additional support.

Jono also notes that as demand for food support has increased, The Salvation Army has been forced to ask questions as to the sustainability of their model.

‘There has been some dissatisfaction for a number of years in the Army about just perpetuating a cycle of need by throwing more and more food towards people.

The questions must be: how do we shift our narrative from just food provision to food security, enabling and empowering communities to source the food that is in abundance in New Zealand? How do we address some of the inequality that means people don’t get the same access to food depending on what community they are in?’

Camille Astbury was recently employed within Community Ministries as the territorial food security manager—a new role at The Salvation Army. She sees this role as being a catalyst to strengthen the Army’s contribution to food security across Aotearoa. ‘It’s great to be able to work in a more collaborative way with other organisations; to be able to be part of a more effective and efficient food system where excess food is captured and is available to be shared across those trying to make a difference for individuals who have food security issues.’

Partnering for food security When it comes to addressing these gaps in our society, The Salvation Army recognises the importance of collective action with like-minded groups to bring change. In 2019, six social service organisations—The Salvation Army, Auckland City Mission, Wellington City Mission, Christchurch City Mission, The New Zealand Council of Christian Services and Vision West Community 02 APRIL 2022 WarCry

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Trust— formed a collective called Kore Hiakai and partnered with the Ministry for Social Development to advise on food insecurity, as well as to share resources and work to address the root causes of poverty-related hunger.

Tric Malcolm, executive officer of Kore Hiakai, describes these crises that have led to a jump in demand for food support as the constant rising level of normal. ‘What we thought was normal prior to the first Covid lockdown soon became something we couldn’t even return to, and we’ve never returned to those levels of food parcels being handed out preCovid. In every lockdown or minor crisis since then, we’ve seen a peak and then a bit of a drop off from that peak but then the national average has settled somewhere that is higher than the average was before we went through this crisis. So across the whole of the nation, we actually see that the seeking of food assistance has increased.’

It is easy to recognise that food insecurity can be a byproduct of other ongoing needs: the unaffordability of housing and rental options, climbing petrol prices and day-to-day debts racked up from things like utility bills. This all leads to the tough decisions many people in our territory face when it comes to prioritising how they spend what funds they have.

‘Food is what we often call a discretionary part of the income’ Tric explains. ‘When you have fixed costs, like your power bill which if you don’t pay gets cut off, or you have school or uniform fees or any of those non-negotiables, food becomes the thing that you go, “well, we can just tighten it for this week or for this month”. So [food insecurity] doesn’t point to just food, it points to the whole cost of living our households are trying to cover. All you need is some kind of shock, like your car doesn’t pass its warrant or someone has an extra health bill, and then it’s really hard to catch up again.’

Tric explains the vision of the collective is for a food secure Aotearoa, and to offer a space for those already working on food security initiatives to share their knowledge, including foodbanks, community gardens, urban farming and pātaka (storehouse).

Kore Hiakai is also working on a model to standardise the national approach to what defines a food parcel, as it has historically been difficult to measure and report on the need for food parcels and what people receive. Being able to offer up the statistics to the Ministry of Social Development for advocacy purposes would really benefit those working in this sector, as well as the people they are supporting.

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‘HOW DO WE ADDRESS SOME OF THE INEQUALITIES THAT MEAN PEOPLE DON’T GET THE SAME ACCESS TO FOOD DEPENDING ON WHAT COMMUNITY THEY ARE IN?’ Healthy food distribution Kore Hiakai has released the Aotearoa Standard Food Parcel Measure, which gives a framework for both size and nutritional levels for a standard food parcel in New Zealand.

Their measure indicates that a standard food parcel should adequately provide food for four people, with three meals a day for four days. It also should meet 80 percent of nutritional standards, according to the Ministry of Health’s Eating and Activities Guidelines.

It may seem like a condemnation of those working in this field that they should be doing more, but Tric has found this has not been the experience. ‘It has been really interesting to us as we’ve rolled it out, there’s been a whole lot of foodbanks that have said, “Oh, we feel really empowered to know we should be giving nutritious food, whereas we always felt like we could only give what we got donated”, and so it’s given people a sense of power to seek the resource that might help make that happen.’

Camille explains the importance of being able to refer to a standardised practice, not only for people to access sufficient nutritional support, but also the ability for organisations to report on their work. ‘If we get greater alignment, then that will give much greater insight into what the real trends look like. Historically, we’ve been like many foodbanks, and we’ve just given what we had. In most places that was often just the non-perishable stuff, and it was quite limited. Now it can really be about “what do you need and how can we help with that?”’

The Foodbank Project Another aspect is the inclusion of non-food items in parcels.

Health, hygiene and cleaning products are included to not just meet immediate physical needs but to empower and

enhance the mana of those receiving them. Much of this has been made possible through The Foodbank Project, an online foodbank donation platform launched by The Salvation Army in partnership with Countdown and web-developer Lucid. Camille notes that particularly offering women’s sanitary products in their food parcels, which can often be an unmanageable expense for people, means women aren’t forced to choose between putting food on the table for their family and having ways to healthily manage their periods. ‘If there are donations available in that health, hygiene and cleaning space, and a particular whānau (family) needs those items, then it’s going to make a real difference to their wellbeing.’

Another method being implemented to restore agency and dignity to those needing food support is the initiative that allows individuals to choose what they receive, but also the ability to contribute to their wider community. (You can read about one of these initiatives, Kiwi Kai Co-Op, on page 14).

The transition from being food insecure to food secure isn’t just about having enough to eat, although that is a significant part of it, but also involves having sustainable options that move people away from dependency and into self-sufficiency within the context of a community.

‘When we start thinking about what the food security space looks like,’ Tric explains, ‘we start thinking about how we work with communities towards these strengths, so they might be able to access and produce food for themselves. So where some of that hopeful stuff is happening is in those spaces where communities are starting to look at their own levels of resources to ask, “How might we do this together?”’

Enabling collective sufficiency In parts of Auckland and the Hutt Valley, Kainga Ora are working with groups of tenants to turn their backyards into vegetable gardens, so neighbours can help each other with the upkeep and share in the benefits of growing their own produce.

In Upper Hutt, the Rimutaka Prison inmates and Kainga Ora tenants oversee a large community garden with fresh produce that feeds 2000 school children each week. The project is called Common Unity and has been a great opportunity for the inmates to ‘create a sense of shared wellbeing’ and connect with their wider community. Tric points out that ‘where things are really good it’s where you find people moving beyond kind of being holed up in their own little whare, “it’s my little castle and I’ll look after myself”. When people let their guards down

and build community together that’s where you find some of those cool solutions.’

It is also important to connect to these initiatives and gain support from larger social service providers, like The Salvation Army. Once communities have a greater understanding of the needs of their people, the organisations that partner with them can bring in further funding or external resourcing that may not be otherwise available. Tric says ‘It takes someone who’s passionate as well as someone who has resources. We have some amazing city councils who’ve asked, “So what needs to happen here?”, and it’s happened through asking the question and offering funding for the community to do something, but the community is the one doing the organising.

So it’s about partnerships across decision-making.’

Asking the tough questions These are exciting initiatives to bring communities into a space of food security, but it should be recognised that these social service agencies, while being passionate about supporting and uplifting their communities, don’t want to just hand out food to people in need. They don’t want people in their communities to go hungry. They want to use the resources they have to make an empowering exchange. Meeting the immediate need is only part of the solution. Tric states that, ‘While it’s a good thing to be doing, it’s only the halfway mark until we’ve questioned the powers that actually allow people to go hungry.’ We need to continue to ask ourselves and our leaders why this is still necessary in our territory.

Offering food support is a way we can continue to meet the needs of our communities, but the end goal is always using our resources and passion together to uplift those in need into a food-secure Aotearoa. As Jono notes, ‘There’s always going to be that need, but if that’s all we’re doing then we’re not seeing the transformation or reformation. We really want to be able to move on that continuum towards security for as many people and communities as possible.’

IT IS EASY TO RECOGNISE THAT FOOD INSECURITY CAN BE A BY-PRODUCT OF OTHER ONGOING NEEDS. 02 APRIL 2022 WarCry

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Mental Health for Athletes The life of a professional athlete, or training to be one, is often a high-pressure lifestyle where it’s equally as important to manage your mental health as it is your physical health. This is not just for a competitive advantage, but to stay in peak-performance shape as both an athlete and a human being. The best athletes are often balanced people who know when to switch on and off.

ELITE ATHLETE MENTAL WELLBEING TIPS •

Maintain friendships both within and outside of the sporting community. Build your support network and be part of other people’s. It helps you to connect with fellow athletes as well as to remember there is a life outside your sport.

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Lend a hand. Even if you’re on a carefully managed schedule, take some time out from athletic life to give back to the people and community around you. This provides good to your neighbours and actually boosts your wellbeing too.

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Take mental health days. Put aside worrying about races, personal bests and competition—clear your mind, relax with friends or enjoy hobbies. It isn’t being lazy; it’s smart preparation.

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Find a counsellor, if you feel like it would be beneficial.

See whether your athletic organisation or club has an affiliated counselling service you can access for reduced rates. Ask your coach, manager or doctor for help finding a therapist if you don’t know where to start or where to find affordable options.

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Have a plan B. Athletes are conditioned to be prepared for anything, be that tough times, delayed heats, unkind weather or unexpected defensive strategies. It should be no different to life outside sport. Sporting careers cannot last forever; making a post-sport plan will save you from worrying about it or being left in the lurch.

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Don’t eat alone, even if you’re busy. Enjoying meals with other people has positive effects on your mental wellbeing.

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Be adaptable. Beyond match day, athletes have to adjust to obstacles, like moving cities, recovering from injuries or balancing part-time studies. A flexible mindset and positive attitude are keys to success.

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Embrace your creativity. In your downtime, break out of the process mindset and give your body and mind respite by committing your attention to something you enjoy.

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Athletes may be trained to think confidently to shut out any insecurities, but reaching out for help is a sign of good preparation to put yourself in a better position to perform. A support structure is pointless if you don’t use it when you’re struggling, and keeping everything inside certainly won’t help you swim faster, run quicker or collect more intercepts. Be someone who embodies resilience and builds a community of support to draw on and give back to throughout your sporting life.

COMBATING NEGATIVE SELF TALK Instead of …

Try …

I’ve never tried this before.

This is an opportunity to learn.

It’s too hard.

I will try this from a different angle.

No one is communicating with me.

Let’s see if I can open the channels of communication.

I’m not getting any better.

I will try again.

I don’t have the work ethic to do this.

If I put my mind to it and re-examine my priorities, I can achieve.

Sources: www.beyondblue.org.au

TESTIFY! Darin Bhana testifies to the power of God in his life as an adherent and volunteer at Glenfield Corps, who also lives with schizophrenia.

This is my testimony! I am an adherent at Glenfield Corps in Auckland. I am 53 years old. My grandfather was Indian, my grandmother was Irish and my mother’s parents were Māori. My parents were not dedicated Christians, but my mother had a Māori Bible. She also had a picture of Jesus on the wall of our house. I went to Windy Ridge Primary School, Glenfield Intermediate and Glenfield College in Auckland and I was kicked out. I then went to Westlake Boys where I finished school at age 15.

I played rugby league, basketball, touch football and boxing, and I love cooking, writing and music.

I am classed as a schizophrenic. I have been a schizophrenic for thirtythree years. I hear voices and have hallucinations where I see things like shadows and demons. I believe in the supernatural, the unseen world, and spiritual warfare. My fights are not with flesh and blood. In Isaiah 54:17a, it says ‘no weapon forged against you will prevail’.

When I first started hearing things and hallucinating, it really scared me. I was so frightened, so I turned straight away to Jesus and gave my heart to him in 1991. One Sunday, I wanted to join a church fellowship, so I thought I would check out The Salvation Army. I made up my mind that was where I wanted to worship God. Since then, I have been with The Salvation Army for 17 years.

I live in a Mental Health Unit, and I am so grateful to God to have this place as my home. God has changed my whole life around. I am a new creation in Jesus Christ and all is new.

I do a lot of volunteer work for The Salvation Army, helping with the

GOD HAS CHANGED MY WHOLE LIFE AROUND. I AM A NEW CREATION IN JESUS CHRIST AND ALL IS NEW. Family Store truck team doing pickups, at the Community Ministries foodbank and at corps events. I am doing these things because I am an adherent, willing to give my time and resources to support our corps mission: ‘Loving people as they find, follow and grow in Jesus’. As a church, The Salvation Army has touched my heart. The best things I could have ever done were turning to Jesus, giving my heart to the Lord and promising to love, serve and worship him.

I am cleaned by the blood of the Lamb and healed by the wounds of Jesus.

I walk in light, being obedient in faith.

The Word of God is my strength. I plant my feet on the concrete foundation of the Bible and I stand on the promises of God. Here are some verses I live by: ‘As I walk through the valley of death, I shall fear no evil’ (Psalm 23:4).

‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13).

‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’ (Matthew 16:24b). ‘I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3:14).

Be on fire for God! Live by the fruits of the spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Ma te Atua koutou e manaaki, e tiaki. May God bless and watch over you.

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Blessed, Loved, Saved, Delivered: Q&A with BLSD One BLSD One was set to perform at Festival One this year, before it was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Frontman Georgie was raised in gangs and spent over a decade in prison, where he was transformed

by God and called to share his experience through music. Georgie and two of his band members, AJ and Daniel, share some thoughts on creating music as a testimony to their faith.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO MAKING MUSIC AND PERFORMING? Georgie: The big transformation for me was from prison and getting out, to accepting Christ into my life.

There was a passion burning inside of me. After being incarcerated for so long, God really set my heart on fire to use some of the music skills I had and be a voice for him through rapping.

I’d written music inside and outside prison, and I wanted to take it further and get it recorded.

I had one of my family members come over from Australia and record an EP called New Creation, which was based on 2 Corinthians 5:17. Life FM had a competition for New Zealand Music Month and my wife submitted one of my songs, called ‘Brothers in the Pen’. At the time, my brothers who were locked inside prison were asking a lot of questions, which led me to write the song and pray for my brothers in the pen.

I won the competition, which opened a lot of doors. I ended up getting an opportunity to perform at Festival One two years ago. I had a friend at Elim South church whose name is Tu and he talked to our man AJ, and the discussion went on from there.

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AJ: I knew of Georgie and his music, as I studied with Georgie’s wife. I met her in my second year at Elim Leadership College. I remember watching the live announcement when BLSD One was announced to be at Festival One. I was with the bro Tu and I said ‘if Georgie wants a bass player I’d be keen to help out’. It turns out Tu was already talking to Georgie about it.

Daniel: I was keen to be part of Georgie’s set at Festival One. Music-wise, I love music and I thought it might be cool to connect with the bro and with my brother as well.

That’s how I got on board, so at Festival One I played electric guitar.

WHAT IS THE MAKE-UP OF THE BAND? AJ: We’ve got Daniel’s and my younger brother, Manuele, the drummer. We also have Regan who’s our keyboard player. We’ve got the strong basis of bass guitar and drums, but Regan brings the sound. And we also have other rappers like Tony, he’s one of the MCs and rappers, and the bro Tu was with us in the first festival.

Georgie: The vocalist we’ve brought on for this year is also one of their [Daniel and AJ's] brothers and his name is Manutaii.

HOW DOES YOUR MUSIC CAREER CONNECT TO FAITH? HOW DOES IT CHANGE HOW YOU WRITE MUSIC? Georgie: God’s given me a gift that I’m responsible to steward. I’ve come to realise that my life experience and the music I create is an opportunity for me to testify about Christ. I’m able to share my highs and my lows and glorify Christ through my music. I can see that Christ flows through me and through these brothers and I’m just blessed to have them get behind and support me.

AJ: When you usually hear someone’s testimony, there are two sides: there’s the testimony before you meet Christ and then there’s testimony when you meet Christ.

I think what Georgie does well is he maximises what Jesus has done for him.

Every track that he writes, every track that he’s on, he’s pointing people towards the gospel message.

DO YOU HAVE ANY GOOD STORIES FROM PERFORMING/SHARING YOUR MUSIC WITH PEOPLE? Daniel: Coming off the second set we did at Festival One in 2021, we had the opportunity to go and meet people at the festival and interact with them.

Having people come up to us to say they’re really touched and what we were doing had an impact on their lives, really stuck with me. We also had time to pray and seek God’s face together before we played. And in those meetings and prayer times, we had a lot of breakthroughs within the team.

AJ: That first time we went to Festival One we had the honour and privilege of ministering on mainstage. It’s a weekend for Christians to get together, but you can’t assume that everyone has received the gift of salvation.

I knew that if Georgie was led to give an altar call, even though it was going to take time from our set, that it had to be done.

Georgie started praying for people. And it was one of those moments where we were like, ‘this is what we were brought to Festival One for’, to share the message of hope and give people the opportunity to receive Christ.

Georgie: The Lord really prepared my heart for that.

I always know that what we do is more than a gig; it’s an opportunity to minister but, at the same time, we want to be professional with our musical gifts and talents. We want to show up and do the best that we can; we just don’t want to make that the focus.

Seeing how much of a positive role model I can be, in comparison with the person I used to be, is amazing.

Being able to pray for those kids and take photos with them was an awesome highlight for me.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT MUSIC AND PERFORMING? AJ: Hip-hop and rapping are not synonymous with the presence of God, but what we bring as a team is that we all come under the covering of the Holy Spirit. I’ve always loved rap and I’ve always loved worship, and this is an opportunity where we can do both. I love bringing the taste of worship within rap.

Daniel: As a group we really bond and gel well together.

Every time we come together we can sense the presence of God, whether we’re making music or just hanging out.

One of the things I love about the music Georgie makes is it always comes back to the idea that if God is not in it, we won’t do it.

DO YOU HAVE ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS? Georgie: There are a few things in the vault.

We’ve just become a registered charitable trust. It’s called Rhythm of Life, and its vision is ‘purpose found, lives changed, hope restored’. We want to build music around those things. Behind the scenes I’m doing a lot of connecting with people who are going to help build and propel the vision of Rhythm of Life. We’d love to give other people opportunities to be a part of our vision. We released a documentary on the 22nd of March featuring our whole band, which is out on Shine TV.

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Community Co-Operation

BY BETHANY SLAUGHTER

The Kiwi Kai Co-Op is a great example of how Community Ministries teams around the territory are re-imagining sustainable solutions to food insecurity. We chat to Manurewa Corps Officer Captain Steve Molen about this new initiative and how he hopes it will be a model that corps will implement in their own communities.

The Kiwi Kai Co-Op was imagined as a way to combat the rising supermarket prices within New Zealand’s two-supermarket chain system.

‘We’ve just seen the price of groceries go through the roof,’ Captain Steve Molen says. The co-op was a solution to ‘help our families and people in our community to come into a better place for food security, that wasn’t also dependent on foodbanks’.

The Kiwi Kai Co-Op model is made up of three separate parts for groups of 10 members. The first links in with Foodtogether, a social enterprise that supplies veggies from market gardens.

Each co-op member must buy a minimum of $15 worth of vegetables per fortnight (which would probably cost $23–24 dollars at the supermarket), but they also need to volunteer one and a half hours per week to support the co-op by sorting out the vegetables and distributing food. Second, The Salvation Army also looks for in-store deals on essentials, like eggs and minced meat, and these groceries are on-sold to each co-op member. ‘The other week … we bought eggs cheap, so we were selling a dozen eggs to our co-op members for $2,’ he says.

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The third part is the vegetable gardens. Instead of relying on a group of volunteers to maintain a communal vegetable patch, they have paired up with Whenua Warrior (Charitable Trust) to install gardens in each co-op member’s house, so they can be self-sufficient and self-sustaining. ‘As their veggies grow, they can start to exchange and help each other out with their fruit and veggies.’

This final component links in with the established pātaka (storehouse) network in New Zealand. Each co-op decides between themselves which member will host the pātaka on their property as an addition to the neighbourhood. ‘It’s not “The Salvation Army has put a pātaka in our neighbourhood” … all the immediate neighbours around it, they own it,’ Steve says.

‘They keep an eye on it, because they’ve bought into it and that has been quite special to see.

‘Particularly over this time when there’s a lot of people in isolation and they can’t necessarily get out and about a lot, they can just slip into the pātaka.’

THE KIWI KAI CO-OP HAS ONLY BEEN IN FULL SWING SINCE THE START OF THE YEAR, FOLLOWING LAST YEAR’S LOCKDOWNS WHICH DELAYED ITS LAUNCH. Co-op onsite at Manurewa Corps There is also an on-site pātaka at Manurewa Corps’ premises on Roscommon Road, where the co-op members meet on Thursdays and can bring, swap and take food as well.

‘There’s also bonuses, like sometimes the foodbanks have got food they need to shift because it’s about to go off … so we can pass that down to our co-op members.’

The corps’ Kiwi Kai Co-Op coordinator, Kara Mirvic, runs the two Thursday meetups. ‘She will also help to oversight and give direction to the co-op at Manukau once we get that up and going,’ Steve says. ‘She’s amazing and does a great job.’

The immediate plan is to work comprehensively with 30 families—20 from Manurewa and, in the future, ten from Manukau—through these three facets of the co-op.

There are also people who support the co-ops by buying extra veggie packs, particularly when they need to reach a certain number of orders.

They hope that the co-ops will soon be able to lead and sustain themselves going forward with oversight from The Salvation Army, which would enable Kara to help set up new coops in the area.

Steve believes that there are already positive signs that this is happening, and that the members are taking ownership of their co-op. ‘You can see that by the end of the year, they’ll be able to keep it going themselves, provided we provide a location for them and give them some light direction.’

‘I would love to see every corps’ foodbank having a co-op connected to it, where you’re doing some real intentional work with selected families on food security,’ Steve says. ‘Foodbanks are still needed, but then there can be a bit more intentional, holistic work that we can do with families through a co-op that’s also connected to a foodbank.’

The feedback from co-op members has been excellent so far—both in terms of financial and community benefit.

‘They are finding that it is definitely helping their budget and saving them money, and they are loving being part of the group,’ Steve reports. ‘They all work together to make sure the packs go out and everybody gets looked after.

‘There’s this generosity culture amongst the whole thing, and it’s so much more exciting to be part of and see people coming into a place of security,’ Steve says. ‘At the same time, they’ve got that whole feeling of worth and contribution.’

For any enquiries about the Kiwi Kai Co-op, email manurewa.corpsplant@salvationarmy.org.nz

Combining kai with community The Kiwi Kai Co-Op has only been in full swing since the start of the year, following last year’s lockdowns which delayed its launch. After initial challenges and a few months in, they have sorted out most of the issues.

‘All of our foodbanks have been certified to have donated food, but if you become a place that is on-selling food, you then actually have to get different certification,’ Steve says. ‘You have to get a council inspection, and then you’ve got to get approval.’

But all of the unseen problem solving has been worth it to see the Kiwi Kai Co-Op flourishing so early into its journey.

‘We’re now starting to reap the benefits of that work, so that’s been quite exciting.’

The co-op also helps to connect more of the neighbourhood to The Salvation Army itself.

‘Anything that we do at Manurewa Corps, we always like there to be pathways,’ Steve says, ‘ways for people to hear about Jesus through conversations, through other Christians, through invitations to the church on Sunday, through linking into other programmes.’

THERE IS ALSO AN ON-SITE PĀTAKA AT MANUREWA CORPS’ PREMISES ON ROSCOMMON ROAD, WHERE THE CO-OP MEMBERS MEET ON THURSDAYS AND CAN BRING, SWAP AND TAKE FOOD AS WELL. 02 APRIL 2022 WarCry

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New Podcast Takes a ‘Disturbing’ Look at Culture The first episode of the new Salvation Army Women’s Ministries podcast ‘Disturbance’ took a deep dive into the experience of singleness, within ‘couples-centric church culture’.

Guest Caroline Jewkes discussed the isolation many singles experience when ‘singleness is treated like a waiting room’— despite the fact that ‘people living alone’ was the second most common household type in New Zealand, according to the latest census.

‘We are not a church for families, we are a church family,’ she said. Instead of focusing primarily on the ‘face-to-face’ spouse relationship, she encouraged church communities to embrace ‘side-by-side’ relationships, which welcome others into the concept of whānau (family).

Along with host Ingrid Barratt, they discussed Paul’s reflection on singleness: ‘I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that,’ (1 Corinthians 7:7).

‘It’s much easier to say “I’m not content because I don’t have the gift of singleness” than to acknowledge the desire [for marriage] and choose to be content anyway,’ reflected Ingrid.

The Disturbance Podcast is published by Women’s Ministries, inspired by Catherine Booth’s famous saying, ‘If we are to better the future, we must disturb the present’. The first episode had over a thousand views on Facebook.

‘It’s a place to have women-centred conversations about current issues we face, with the goal of creating a better future

for women and all of us,’ said Ingrid.

But she added that men are also encouraged to follow the podcast. ‘We need men as allies, who are willing to listen and learn from women, because that lifts up all of us.’

The latest episode was launched on 17 March, featuring personal stylist Victoria Martin-Gardner, who talked honestly about overcoming eating disorders, body shame and redemption—and of course, gave some hot styling tips!

Listen to the podcast at salvationarmy.org.nz/women/ disturbance-podcast

Concern About Impact of High Groceries Prices and Availability of Alcohol The Salvation Army welcomes, in general, the Commerce Commission’s new report into the retail grocery sector— which highlights the high cost of groceries for New Zealanders, but challenges the study’s suggestion that existing alcohol laws are an ‘impediment’.

‘As a national provider of foodbanks and food assistance supporting vulnerable New Zealanders, we welcome this investigation into the grocery sector,’ says Lt-Colonel Ian Hutson, the director of The Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit.

‘But in all honesty, we are not surprised with many of the findings, particularly the higher grocery prices in Aotearoa compared with other countries. The challenges

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in this sector definitely end up impacting massively on New Zealanders who are living on ever tighter budgets.’

The Salvation Army is also particularly concerned about the report’s statements around the country’s alcohol laws. The report describes these laws as an ‘impediment’ that limits expansion in the grocery sector and calls for them to be ‘addressed’ in any review of alcohol regulations.

‘We strongly challenge these assertions by the Commerce Commission,’ says Lt-Colonel Hutson.

‘The Salvation Army is working with partner organisations in New Zealand to advocate for an urgent tightening and strengthening of our alcohol laws.’

Sustainably Sharing Clothing in Northland Four years ago, Julie was working as a community work supervisor for the Department of Corrections, when she approached her local Salvation Army Family Store to see if they could donate clothing towards a new initiative, The Clothing Shed.

‘The original support was for local people doing community hours through the court system,’ says Northland Family Stores Manager Nick Garforth. ‘We supplied a few clothing options for some of the women on the programme. It grew from there.’

The Clothing Shed in Whangārei was initially established as a work-base project to run alongside the community workers who were tending to the gardens and lawns. ‘Over the four years, The Clothing Shed has become much more established, gifting approximately one tonne of clothing per week,’ Julie says.

‘There are no rules for people accessing the clothing, linen, toys and books—the only thing we ask is that the garments do not get on-sold.’

Three parties collaborate to keep The Clothing Shed in working harmony: weekly volunteers, The Salvation Army and CCS Disability Action—a Northland-based organisation which generously allows use of their property. ‘Renah Hohaia is the remarkable manager there, who fully supports our kaupapa and the community we help,’ Julie says. ‘This collaborative relationship is the key reason The Clothing Shed has become so successful.’

Nick, Robyn, Heather and the drivers from the Northland Salvation Army Family Stores sort and deliver clothing and linen each week. All clothing that is fit to wear, but does not sell instore, goes direct to the shed instead of landfill.

‘From my point of view, it’s a commercial project, it saves the store money. From an environmental point, it ticks the box,’

Nick says. ‘Our commitment to both the shed and Intercept [Fabric Rescue] has gained us a Gold award in Environment, the first to be awarded to any business in Whangārei and, I believe, the first op shop in the country.’

‘The quality, quantity and variety of clothing from the Family Store is always exactly what our community needs, so we do not need to source clothing from other groups,’ Julie affirms.

The Clothing Shed supports the general public via word of mouth, but also through organisations including Corrections, health trusts, social service agencies, the Tongan Tsunami Relief Fund, nearby schools and childcare centres and local kuia and kaumatua.

‘There is always a positive, welcoming environment, with no judgment,’ Julie says. ‘The Clothing Shed is run by dedicated, passionate, empathetic people who have the ability to connect with and support those who require The Clothing Shed’s services.’

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Tribute: Elaine Carter Elaine Carter’s life was one of a full commitment to her faith.

She touched people’s lives with a deep sincerity. Her concern for others was truly genuine, as was her spiritual walk.

Elaine’s passing in October 2021 was felt deeply by all who knew her.

Elaine truly believed that her way of expressing God’s love was through serving others. A dedicated Salvationist at Ōamaru Corps for many years, she wore her uniform with pride. Every Sunday morning she could be found in the church foyer welcoming people as they arrived. She was an encourager who made everyone feel welcome, and she always knew the right questions to ask.

Elaine will be remembered for her faithful visitation of those who were unwell, which she continued to do right up to the month of her death. She was a regular attendee at Home League and a supportive life group member, who willingly shared her life experiences in relation to her Bible readings, prayer requests and faith journey.

As a volunteer in the Family Store for many years, Elaine meaningfully connected with those who came into the shop as well as those who worked there. People and their lives meant

much to Elaine. A tireless worker, Elaine was always available for acts of service in the corps kitchen and wherever willing hands were needed.

Her prayer life was full of the needs of others, a true prayer warrior. It was reassuring to know even after I transferred from the corps almost 20 years ago, that Elaine prayed for me and my family every day. When someone would say that they could not sleep at night, she would remind them not to count sheep but to talk to the Shepherd.

Elaine loved and supported her family and would always share with pride stories of her grandchildren. Even during the illness and death of her husband Eric, her dedication to the life of the corps never faltered.

When you spent time with Elaine, you knew that she had absolute assurance that when she left this world she would be with her Lord. Faithful servant of God, well done!

BY CAROLINE WARDLE

GAZETTE Birth: We are pleased to advise that Lieutenant Char Whybrow has given birth to a baby boy, Samuel Luke Whybrow. Samuel was born at 8.23am on Wednesday 9 March 2022, weighing 3.86kg (8Ib 8oz).

Appointments: Effective immediately, Major Suzanne Stevenson has received an additional appointment as director of William Booth Educare, Booth College of Mission.

Effective 17 March 2022, Major Kathy Crombie has concluded her appointment in retirement as project manager Workforce Development, Centre for Leadership Development, on 16 March 2022.

We thank Major Kathy Crombie for her service in this appointment and pray God’s continued blessing on her.

Effective 31 March 2022, Major Garry Mellsop will be concluding his appointment in retirement as interim director, Heritage and Archives at Booth College of Mission, following the successful recruitment of Greg Jennings as team leader/archivist. We thank Major Garry Mellsop for his service in this appointment and pray God’s continued blessing on him.

Effective 22 April 2022, Anna Ellis has been appointed as corps leader, Winton Corps in Southern Division. Anna will take up her appointment with the rank of territorial envoy.

Effective 2 May 2022, Lieutenants Andrew and Lexee Dunlop have been appointed as corps officers for Whakatane Corps, Midland Division and directors, Whakatane Community Ministries.

Effective 23 June 2022, Captains Michelle and Stewart Lee have been appointed as corps officers, Hamilton City Corps and directors for Hamilton City Community Ministries.

Promotion to Glory: Major June Rees on Sunday 6 March 2022, from Rotorua, aged 89 years.

June Blanche Rielly was born in New Plymouth on 12 June 1932. Together June and her husband Rex entered training college from Miramar Corps as cadets in the Great Hearts session in 1960. Following corps officership in corps throughout the country, June and Rex were appointed to a number of social service roles. In May 1986 June and Rex received an appointment in Fiji, returning to New Zealand in 1988 when June and Rex were appointed as corps officers, Feilding Corps. This was followed by appointments in Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton. June and Rex retired on 21 January 1996 having completed 35 years of service. In retirement June and Rex were appointed as corps officers, Tokoroa Corps in July 2000. Please remember in prayer Major Rex Rees, their children Neil, Malcolm, Gavin, Robyn and Dawn, along with members of the extended family in this time of grief and loss.

General John Larsson (Rtd), The Salvation Army’s beloved 17th international leader, and previous territorial leader of this territory, was promoted to Glory from his home in Bromley, London, 18 March 2022. Please keep Commissioner Freda Larsson and the family in your prayers at this time. Retired General John Larsson’s impact upon this world has been immeasurable and we thank God for every opportunity for ministry the Lord enabled him to share. Tribute to follow in future edition.

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INTERESTED IN SOCIAL JUSTICE? Reports, regular newsletters, TSA government submissions: salvationarmy.org.nz/ socialpolicy

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European Salvation Army Reaches Out to Ukraine The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services has shared some stories from various Eastern European countries who are responding to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

The Salvation Army in Switzerland has answered a request from Hungary for sleeping bags, mattresses, blankets and hygiene items, which were collected in three locations—Yverdon-les-Bains, Biel and Zürich Nord—then gathered in Biel, thanks to many volunteers, including one retired General. They packed 700 boxes onto 52 pallets, along with 125 mattresses.

In Germany, the Berlin South West Corps has reported that they are now able to offer 25 emergency beds, and they are working closely with volunteers from the Berlin Südkreuz train station.

In a single night, they welcomed 20 Ukrainian refugees and were able to share meals, laundry, hygiene supplies, conversations, caring, prayers and more with their guests. Meanwhile, in Kassel, they have an emergency truck which is offering hot drinks and sharing information about the aid system three days a week. Community spaces are also serving as cafés, where refugees can access food, drinks and Wi-Fi. We thank God for the practical and loving response we are witnessing from Salvationists around Eastern Europe.

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…OUR COMMON VISION: IMPACTING INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COUNTRIES TO EXPERIENCE FULLNESS OF LIFE… ‘Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”’ (John 10:10b).

Vision has been described as ‘an aspiration for the future—a destination for the organisation’. We can say that a vision is a dream, a distant, long-term dream. Our ‘vision’ for The Salvation Army is to see revival in the lands of Aotearoa New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa—indeed, the world!

We as The Salvation Army desire that all people will experience fullness of life as intended by God—spiritually, physically, emotionally and socially. We are indeed Te Ope Whakaora—The Army that brings life—and everyone that comes through our doors or comes into contact with a Christ follower has the potential to experience Jesus in all his fullness. They can experience him when we fulfil our ‘mission’ of caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society by God’s power.

We celebrate that mission impact is taking place already in our territory, however we look forward to an increased impact in seeing Christ’s kingdom being advanced in an even greater way in our lands.

One of the key questions that has been asked of a working group over the last two years is: How do we measure mission impact? Here are the four measurements that are part of the Mission Impact framework which was recently distributed throughout the territory.

1. Free from material hardship ‘Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?’ (James 2:15–16).

2. Healthy and resilient ‘Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well’ (3 John 2).

3. Connected in healthy relationships ‘For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you’ (Romans 12:3).

4. Following Jesus ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him’ (John 3:16–17).

Let this be our common vision: impacting individuals in our countries to experience fullness of life, the life of Jesus Christ as intended by God. May there be revival in our lands—that is our vision, that is my prayer.

Commissioner Mark Campbell Territorial Commander 02 APRIL 2022 WarCry

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Over the last number of weeks with the rise of Omicron cases in New Zealand we have once again seen empty supermarket shelves.

Major Liz Gainsford reflects on the tumultuous times we live in and the promise of God’s provision for his people.

At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, shelves were being stripped bare of essential items like flour and toilet paper, mostly due to panic buying and personal stockpiling. Today the challenge is finding 20 WarCry 02 APRIL 2022

staff to keep the food supply chain operating—truck drivers, food producers and people to stock the shelves.

I experienced this recently during my weekly grocery shop. There were bare shelves and empty freezer spaces, which meant I had to visit multiple supermarkets to locate some of our family favourites—things like Frujus, pineapple in a cup and roast chicken flavoured chips. I know, right! What is the world coming to when you can’t get the exact brand and flavour of chips you want? Please know, I am fully aware that these are luxury items and that our family can (and does) go without them.

However, this is something we are not used to in New Zealand. We expect, take for granted, that the supermarkets will provide us with exactly what we want.

This has led me to reflect on God as our provider, and the concern that perhaps I also take God’s provision for granted.

GOD GRACIOUSLY CONTINUED TO PROVIDE FOR HIS PEOPLE, HELPING THEM TO LEARN TO TRUST HIM FOR MORE THAN JUST THEIR PHYSICAL NEEDS. Provision in the desert places Throughout Scripture we are given examples of God as our provider. In the context of food insecurity I am drawn to Exodus 16 and the story of God providing manna and quail for the Israelites who were wandering in the desert.

The Israelites were escaping Egypt and were basically trapped in the desert.

They had no regular water supply or food for the journey. In chapter 15, we read that God miraculously provided water for them in Marah. Yet it appears that they were quick to forget this gift and act of provision, for not long after this we see that they are grumbling about

how God has brought them out to the desert to kill them (Exodus 16:3). It is amidst this background of grumbling and unhappiness that God once again graciously provides for them by sending manna (wafer-like bread) and quail (protein). These are not luxury items like Frujus or pineapple cups, these are life-sustaining essentials. It was what they needed. It was not just a one-off occurrence. For 40 years, God provided for the Israelites when they were in the wilderness.

just leave them to struggle on their own, to simply do the best with the resources they had; he promised them, and us, a ‘Counsellor’, a ‘Helper’, a ‘Comforter’. The Greek word used here is paraklētos, which roughly translates to ‘someone who is called in to help’.

William Barclay says ‘we often talk about being able to cope with things.

That is precisely the work of the Holy Spirit. (The Holy Spirit) takes away our inadequacies and enables us to cope with life.’

It is human nature to stock up, to prepare in advance for what we might need tomorrow. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love some good old leftovers—I’m convinced that many meals taste better the next day. The Bible even commends this type of ‘being prepared’ thinking; however, in the case of the Israelites and the manna, God provided the exact amount of what they needed and asked them to trust him, to rest on the assurance that he would continue to provide for them each and every day.

God wanted his people to trust him and to be obedient.

TRUST UNWAVERING THAT GOD IS FOR US AND THAT HE WANTS THE BEST FOR US.

This was tough for the Israelites, and in verse 20 we see that there were some who didn’t trust God to provide for them and so they kept some leftovers for the next day. Instead of the manna tasting super yummy, like reheated curry, it was full of maggots and smelt disgusting.

Despite these setbacks and acts of disobedience, God graciously continued to provide for his people, helping them to learn to trust him for more than just their physical needs.

Provision of the Holy Spirit The provision of manna and the Provider-God is echoed in the New Testament when Jesus provided food for the crowds who came to listen to his teaching (John 6:1–15), when he healed the sick (Luke 4:40) and again when Jesus referred to himself as the ‘Bread of Life’ in John 6:25–59. Yet when I think about God’s provision for us in the New Testament, I immediately think of the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

In a season when life is uncertain. When the world is being turned upside down by conflict and war. When nations continue to recover from Covid-19 and we struggle to remember what is ‘normal’. This is the time when we need to turn, or return to, our provisiongiving God. Just like the disciples, Jesus asks us to love him and keep his commandments. To help us with that, he has promised us the Holy Spirit who will counsel, comfort and help us. Our response, our choice is to be open to what God has provided for us. Trust unwavering that God is for us and that he wants the best for us. Seek to listen and be obedient to his voice in your life.

When thinking about God as our provider, the words of the song ‘His Provision’ (see back cover) came to mind.

This is a song I used to sing a long time ago, but the words seem to be just as relevant for me and the world today, and so I leave this as my prayer for us.

In John 14:15–31, Jesus told his disciples that he was going to leave them and in doing so gave them a pretty tough assignment. He asked them to love him and to keep his commandments. However, he didn’t 02 APRIL 2022 WarCry

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International Day of Children & Youth 2022

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Share your news: warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz

PRAY We continue to pray for the

people affected by war in Ukraine, for the Kingdom of Tonga rebuilding after the eruption, Labasa Corps, Lautoka Corps, Levin Corps, Linwood Corps and Lomaivuna Corps and The Salvation Army in Zimbabwe and Botswana.

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS

Find SALVATION ARMY JOB OPPORTUNITIES: salvationarmy.org. nz/employment

Commissioners Mark (Territorial Commander) and Julie Campbell (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 5 April: Samoa Officers Retreat (online) 15–17 April: Christchurch City Easter Meetings Colonel Gerry Walker (Chief Secretary) No official engagements at this time.

Major Liz Gainsford (Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development) No official engagements at this time.

Want to Know More?

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Address Phone Send to: warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz or War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Quiz Answers: 1 Haiti, 2 Matt McGuire, 3 The Merchant of Venice, 4 Hercules, 5 Gideon and his men (Judges 7:19).

22 WarCry 02 APRIL 2022

firezone.co.nz

‘And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?’

Esther 4:14

Make your own Crown YOU WILL NEED… • Cardboard • Aluminium foil • Scissors • Stapler • Glue • Decorations (such as sequins, fake jewels, glitter, buttons or beads) Source: kidspot.co.nz

METHOD… 1. Cut a long strip of cardboard which is at least 10cm wide.

2. Glue the aluminium foil to one side of the strip of cardboard.

3. Along one of the lengths of the strip of cardboard, cut out triangles to create sharp, diagonal, teeth-like points.

4. Measure the strip to fit your head. Get an adult to help you staple the crown in place to form a large ring with the diagonal cuts facing upwards. Cut away the extra cardboard.

5. Decorate the crown by gluing on the decorations you have, in whatever design you choose.

The Bible tells the story of a young Jewish woman named Esther who was plucked from obscurity and chosen to become queen.

Fun Fac t: A pen guin was on ce knig h t ed in Norw ay.

Spot the Difference

Can you find the eight differences between these two kings?

The king had a nasty right-hand man named Haman. Haman hated Esther’s uncle Mordecai, so he tricked the king into establishing a decree that would put all of the Jews to death! However, Haman didn’t realise Esther and Mordecai were related.

Mordecai went straight to Esther to ask her to speak with the king, but it was illegal for anyone to enter the king’s court. Esther would die unless the king held out his sceptre to her. Mordecai encouraged her to be brave—perhaps this was why God had placed her here as queen.

Esther bravely approached the king.

When he saw her, he held out his sceptre. Relieved, Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet. That night, she told them to return again tomorrow.

Haman felt smug, sure he was in favour at the palace and that Mordecai would soon be gone.

But the following night at the second banquet, Esther gravely informed the king about what the decree truly meant for her people. The king was horrified.

Haman begged Esther for forgiveness, but it was too late. The king condemned Haman to the same fate he had intended for Mordecai. Through Esther’s faith, the Jews were saved.

I WONDER...

Why did the man fall down the well?

Because he couldn't see that well.

What’s the bravest decision you’ve ever made?

02 APRIL 2022 WarCry

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His Provision At the moment of my weakness, When my need for power is plain, And my own strength is exhausted once again, Then my Lord has made provision For the day of my despair, And His precious Holy Spirit Hears my prayer, my prayer; Then my Lord has made provision For the day of my despair, And His precious Holy Spirit hears my prayer.

Holy Spirit! Promised presence fall on me.

Holy Spirit! Make me all I long to be.

Holy Spirit! Holy Spirit!

Give Your power to me, O Holy Spirit.

When the darkness falls around me, When bewildered and afraid, When I feel the most deserted and betrayed, Then my every need is answered

By God’s providential care, And His precious Holy Spirit Hears my prayer, my prayer; Then my every need is answered

By God’s providential care, And His precious Holy Spirit hears my prayer.

Nothing now can rob God’s servant Of the peace that He bequeaths, Nothing take away the strength His presence breathes.

Of the everlasting arms of love I’m daily made aware, And His precious Holy Spirit Hears my prayer, my prayer; Of the everlasting arms of love I’m daily made aware, And His precious Holy Spirit hears my prayer.

SASB 316 (Salvation Army Song Book) Words: John Gowans Music: Ivor Bosanko