5 May 2018 NZFT War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION 05 MAY 2018 | Issue 6691 | $1.50

NO MORE ‘MOTHER GUILT’!

The Future of Family Stores

What Happens When I Die? HOW TO ADMIT WHEN YOU’RE WRONG Salvation Shopping

Raising Hope

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WAR CRY The Salvation Army

Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Andy & Yvonne Westrupp | GENERAL André Cox | FOUNDERS William

& Catherine 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.

MANAGING EDITOR Ingrid Barratt | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond | PROOF READING Major Jill Gainsford, Vivienne Hill | COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Megan Pattinson OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box

6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Fax (04) 382 0716, Email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz, www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone

(04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@salvationarmy.org.nz, $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT www.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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For Those Not Celebrating This Mother’s Day …

I’m still a complete rookie at this motherhood thing. For many years I doubted I would ever be a mum, so at this time of year, my heart turns to those who are not celebrating Mother’s Day. There are those who long to become parents, but that dream remains unfulfilled—Megan Pattinson (p.8) suffered two miscarriages and knows just how that feels.

In preparing for this edition, I also read stories of people who are grieving the loss of their mother, and they dread the days leading up to Mother’s Day— the cards, the flowers and the constant reminders of what they have lost.

Still others grieve because they do not have the relationship with their mother they long for. Some have never known the motherly love and warmth that every child deserves. We grieve with every child who grieves.

Of course, it’s right that we should celebrate mothers. At their best they are our collaborators, companions and confidantes. They guide us into adulthood through love, lunches and late nights. They work exceptionally hard for us.

But for all those who are grieving this Mother’s Day, I can find no better words of comfort than the promises of Psalm 27: My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek … Though my mother and father forsake me, the Lord will receive me … I remain confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Ingrid Barratt 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 134 years | Issue 6691 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry

www.salvationarmy.org.nz salvationarmyNZFijiTonga @salvationarmynz salvationarmynzft

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Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.

Oprah Winfrey

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Hohua 1:9 Kāhore ianei ahau i whakahau ki a koe? Kia kaha, kia māia; kaua e wehi, kaua hoki e pāwera: nō te mea kei a koe a Ihowā, tōu Atua, i ngā wāhi katoa e haere ai koe.

I

have long admired women who seem to manage so well with multiple challenges— careers, well-behaved children, clean and tidy houses, wonderful marriages, immaculately and fashionably presented—high achievers in all areas of life. This, to me, seemed the ‘ideal’, and I didn’t think I measured up.

Then I read a description in Proverbs 31 of the Bible, presented as advice given by a mother to her son about what to look for in a wife: she is industrious, provides for her family, she’s a business woman, cares for the poor, is strong and wise … On one hand I was impressed with this ideal picture of womanhood, but on the other hand, if this was the standard, I was in big trouble!

How many of us have this ‘ideal’ that we strive to attain? Or, how many of us are just striving to be ‘normal’, let alone ‘ideal’? Even ‘normal’ feels like a challenge. And, anyway, what is ‘normal’? Where does ‘normal’ finish and ‘abnormal’ start?

There is a vulnerability we possess as mothers.

Our self-worth is often fed or degraded by how well our children are doing in school, or how many birthday parties they are invited to, or how they are behaving in church. Sadly, other people also make judgements on our parenting, sometimes just on the personality of our children—heaven forbid you don’t have a dutiful, compliant child!

The Bible says that we are to love others as ourselves. But it is difficult to love yourself if the yard stick you use, shows you always falling short.

What happens if you don’t love yourself? How do you think this affects your relationships? Maybe it is time to take your self-worth to Christ and ask him how he sees you.

Christ is the great leveller. He sees with the eyes of a master jeweller. He called out people’s potential in all their facets and they rose to the challenge. He treated those deemed ‘abnormal’ by society as treasures. Once you meet Jesus, really connect with him, you will never be the same again.

You will care less and less what other people think of you, and more and more what he thinks of you.

This Mother’s Day, give yourself a break. Don’t allow false perceptions to feed ‘The Mother Guilt’— which goes hand-in-hand with parenting and often womanhood. It is the alter ego that constantly chatters in our ears and reminds us where we are failing. Stop the negative self-talk. Embrace your uniqueness.

In Psalms 139 it says you are ‘…fearfully and wonderfully made…’ in all your differences, inadequacies, bad hair days, not coping with the kid days, not going to the soccer game days, blobbing out on the couch days—you are good enough! And once you grasp the healing and wholesome benefits of relationship with Christ, you can happily look the Proverbs 31 woman in the eye —and anyone else, for that matter.

BY VIVIENNE HILL 05 MAY 2018 WarCry 3

WARCRY INHISTORY On 5 May 1928 ‘Salvationists joined with others in raising their voices in prayer and thanksgiving’ for those who gave their lives at Gallipoli.

Colonel Knott recalled the events: ‘They gave themselves in a ready, willing spirit to the thing they believed to be right and just, and we think of them as having gone into a greater life, as emancipated and redeemed by the mercy of God.’ Source: Booth College of Mission Heritage Centre and Archives

Behind Closed Doors

An innovative ‘social experiment’ is opening the door on poverty, as part of the Red Shield Appeal this month.

‘It looks lovely [on the] outside, doesn’t it?’ said one woman to her friend, as they approached what they thought was an ‘open home’. ‘It’s beautiful,’ agreed her friend.

Several groups of people—of diverse ages, gender and ethnicities—were invited to view the ‘open home’. But when they opened the front door, they were confronted with the hidden realities of poverty in New Zealand.

QUIKQUIZ

1 Where is the next Summer Olympics being held?

Salvation Army statistics were buried within the sparsely furnished house. ‘One in 100 Kiwis are homeless or living in a housing situation that is unsafe or unhealthy for them,’ read one statistic. ‘Four in 10 households go hungry or skip meals because of poverty,’ said another.

‘That is terrible, that would be an awful situation to be in,’ said one woman, as she found a pile of overdue bills.

One older man was moved to tears, saying, ‘The Salvation Army would be the best people to look after people that are really in need.’

2 What former NZ TV presenter is known as the Mother of the Nation?

Marketing manager James Craw says that it was a ‘fascinating social experiment’ that captured people’s honest reactions. ‘It was amazing to see. It really made them think about the community and how, without them knowing it, there are probably people just living down the street that are barely getting by,’ he says.

3 What determines the date for Mother’s Day each year?

4 Is an avocado a vegetable or a fruit?

The experiment reflects the Red Shield Campaign’s theme that ‘poverty isn’t always easy to see’. National practice manager, Jono Bell, says that as a social worker he often saw households where 6–7 people shared a bedroom. ‘The reality was that these are the “working poor”—they’re not on the benefit but are sometimes working 2–3 jobs trying to make ends meet.’

5 Who did Jesus offer his mother to before he died?

The open home experiment was first created by The Salvation Army in Canada: ‘A lot of what is happening in Canada is happening here, and they were very keen for us to use the concept,’ said James.

Answers on page 22

To view the ‘open home’ experiment go to: salvationarmy.org.nz/RedShieldAppeal

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TOPFIVE

In honour of Mother’s Day, here are five fierce women who saved the day: 1 Kate Shepperd— led the fight for New Zealand to become the first place to give women the vote.

2 Liz Lemon from 30 Rock: ‘Lovers … oh that word bums me out, unless it’s between meat and pizza’.

3 The female Wiggle, Emma—#wigglegoals.

4 Lego Batgirl—crime fighting without heels or a defined waist.

5 Our mums— as we cringed when they hugged, kissed and said ‘I love you’ in public.

All-In-One Italian Roast Chicken Everyone loves roast chicken and veges, now with added delicious Italian-style tomato sauce all-in-one dish. Super easy! | Serves 4 750 g chicken thigh cutlets and/or drumsticks, skin on 1 medium red onion, cut into thick wedges 300 g potatoes, cut into wedges 400 g pumpkin, seeds removed and cut into wedges 8 cloves garlic, peeled 400 g can Wattie’s Pesto Style Tomatoes ½ cup chicken stock or water

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Roast chicken and vegetables for 40 minutes.

Mix the Wattie’s Pesto Style Tomatoes and stock together. Pour over the chicken and vegetables.

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Baby peas Action, Science Fiction Avengers: Infinity War (M, violence) Anthony & Joe Russo

It was always going to be a big ask to take characters from the past 18 Marvel Comics Universe films and create a story where such big personalities can share the same space–but they do.

Very quickly we see clusters of characters who’ve never even met, having to work together to combat super-villain, Thanos, as he searches for infinity stones which would allow him to wipe out half the universe with a click of his giant purple finger. It is a film that demonstrates the power of the collective. Full of humour, big entrances, seamless CGI work and everything you want from a Marvel film, it will leave you wondering who is still alive and what comes next. (Reviewed by Shar Davis)

‘Housework can’t kill you, but why take a chance?’

Phyllis Diller

Source | FoodInAMinute.co.nz

Weird of the Week: Notorious American gangster Al Capone was famous for violent crime, but he also invented the ‘sell by’ dates on milk bottles!

(When Prohibition ended he got into the milk business).

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Raising Hope

For years, Mother’s Day was a time of grief for Megan Pattinson—until God gave her a new hope.

BY SHAR DAVIS

T

here’s nothing unusual about the scene in the central city café: a baby sits in a highchair, eager to eat. The mother is fully prepared with snacks, toys and all the other essentials for an outing with a sixmonth-old. The one thing the mother hadn’t prepared for was how long and hard the journey would be to get to this ‘picture perfect’ moment.

Starting a family

Not every little girl grows up wanting to be a mother, but for Megan Pattinson it was her dream. After four years of marriage, Megan and husband Tristan decided it was time to extend their family beyond their fur baby, Gus the Labradoodle.

A year later—to the day—they were pregnant. They couldn’t believe it had taken a whole year but they were ‘finally’ going to have a baby. Nine weeks into the pregnancy Megan got a horrendous flu-type sickness, but the midwife wasn’t too concerned.

Two weeks later, while out for lunch with friends, Megan realised something was wrong. ‘I knew, but I didn’t want to believe what was happening to me,’ says Megan. She raced to a nearby hospital where Tristan met her and staff performed a scan. There was nothing—just an empty womb. ‘We looked at each other as if to say, “Oh my gosh, seriously? How? What?” ’ Megan recalls. ‘We went home saying, “Why did this happen to us? This happens to other people, surely not us?” ’ They chose to be very open about the grief they were going through. They experienced much love, support and encouragement from their church family and others. ‘There was a 70-year-old woman who came to me and said, “I lost a baby but we weren’t allowed to talk about it, you just carried on with life”,’ Megan says softly.

Some people’s response of, ‘Oh well, just try again’, was hard to swallow and the couple knew they needed to go through the grieving process. ‘We grieved together, but for me, I carried that baby and even though it was only 11 weeks, in my head I’d already thought about this, or doing this, or having this. When you’ve wanted something for so long and for it to be taken away …’ Megan struggles to find the words to describe her sense of loss.

She remembers clearly the midwife saying they would do a scan in a few days ‘just to make sure there’s no baby’. ‘I held onto that,’ says Megan. As her body went through the physical motions of labour, she didn’t take any pain relief just in case the baby might still be there. But deep down she knew …

As Megan and Tristan grieved, it felt like everyone around them was getting pregnant. Megan ran baby showers for others and says she was genuinely happy for them. Her pride led her to try and prove to everyone she was fine. ‘I’m good, it’s hard, but I’m all good.’ But it wasn’t—she was dying inside.

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A new hope born Choosing a ‘word for the year’ became popular on Facebook and, while hosting friends for New Year’s Eve, Megan asked everyone what their word for 2016 was. ‘I said my word was going to be hope,’ she says, recalling the response from her friends—‘Oh yeah, Megan wants a baby, we’ll pray into that’.

August 13, they found out they were pregnant for a second time. It was harder this time as they wondered ‘do we get our hopes up?’ But Megan’s emotions won out over her fears and she got to the 12-week mark without any problems and feeling great.

The all-important baby name discussion had occurred. ‘I said to Tristan, “I really feel like we need to call this baby Hope if it’s a girl”. And he was like, “Yep, no question about it”. We’d gone back and forth with names but as soon as I said that, we were in complete agreement.’

They went for the 12-week scan at the same hospital. ‘I told the nurse that last time we were here the news was really bad, we’d lost the baby and it was really horrible. She put the scanner on my stomach and I saw a baby on the screen.’ But the nurse instantly took it off, looked at Megan and Tristan and said, ‘I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry. I don’t have good news to tell you today.’

Megan recalls looking over and seeing Tristan put his head in his hands and cry out, ‘What? Again?’ As they walked out of the clinic for a second time with the devastating realisation that their long-hoped-for baby had died, they had to again tell family what happened.

It had taken a whole year to get pregnant with their second baby. ‘I remember going through fits and starts of being really angry with God and saying, “What the heck?” Megan recalls—the evidence of that struggle flickering across her face as she speaks.

‘I felt like everything had been lining up perfectly—my word for the year, getting pregnant, everything was falling into place … and then that happened.’ The disappointment was overwhelming and they began to question if there was something wrong with them, with their bodies.

The envelope Megan met her mum Lynley in a café early that December and recalls a conversation that was laced in the miraculous, even if neither of them fully understood it in the moment.

‘You know I never remember my dreams and I know you really don’t want to hear this right now,’ said Lynley. ‘But I had a dream that by Christmas next year, you’d have a baby and it would be baby Jesus in the church production.’

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Megan remembers that her mum didn’t say it was from God, ‘because I think she wasn’t sure herself. But she told me how in the dream she was in the hospital holding the baby, she knew its first and middle names and that it would be a girl.’

Megan’s initial response of ‘oh yeah, good one’ was reasonable considering they’d only lost their baby two months earlier. ‘But in that moment, as much as she wasn’t sure it was God, I knew! I said, “Don’t tell me. I’ll take that, but don’t tell me the name”. I knew that this was a God thing,’ Megan says, with a sense of excitement evident in her voice as she retells that moment. ‘Mum said she wouldn’t tell anyone, she’d put it on a piece of paper, put it in an envelope and stick it in a drawer until the time was right.’ They didn’t talk about it again.

‘I’M SO SORRY, I’M SO SORRY. I DON’T HAVE GOOD NEWS TO TELL YOU TODAY.’ A new Hope Megan and Tristan were facing another Christmas and no baby, so decided to stop feeling sorry for themselves and buy a jet ski.

Just two weeks later, Megan said to Tristan, ‘I think I might be pregnant’. They waited 10 days to get a pregnancy test, which sat in the bathroom for another few days while they gained courage to take it.

The test was positive and once again the battle of emotions began. ‘For those first 12 weeks, it was, “Don’t get emotionally attached”—when I desperately wanted to,’ recalls Megan. This time they only told their parents and kept things very low key.

‘A friend gave me a verse, 1 Timothy 1:7, “I don’t have a spirit of fear,” and every day I would pray that. There were things that I would be scared to do in case something happened. I’d constantly repeat to myself: “I do not have a spirit of fear, I do not have a spirit of fear”.’

They had a new midwife and went to a different hospital for the scan. Megan remembers feeling sick with nerves the day of that 12-week scan. They’d never made it past this moment.

Megan remained silent, not wanting things to play out the same. But Tristan said, ‘We haven’t had positive experiences before so we are really nervous.’ Megan says it was like the nurse somehow knew this was a God moment and said, ‘Well let’s find that heartbeat right away.’

‘We saw the heartbeat and it was like that instant …’ Megan exhales and relief shows on her face, like it must have that day.

‘She was the size of a plum and that’s the picture that sits in our lounge. We have scan photos where she’s waving, almost like she’s saying, “It’s ok, I’m here, I’m here”,’ Megan says, looking over at her daughter who is smiling back.

A dream come true

The scan of Hope waving in the womb.

Megan recalls moments when she had seen God supernaturally speak to her through others. When she was struggling to get pregnant, Megan said to her doctor, ‘Oh well, maybe I’m not meant to have a baby.’ Her non-Christian doctor looked her in the eyes and said, ‘Stop! You are going to get pregnant, you are going to stop speaking like that!’

After the birth, Tristan rang their parents to tell them the good news. When he rang Lynley she asked him what the name was. ‘Hope Marie’ Tristan said. Lynley burst into tears and Tristan didn’t think anything of it at the time. When the grandparents all arrived at the hospital Lynley pulled out an envelope.

been fulfilled, but it was a journey to get there. It was a lot of faith and pressing into God, to have that knowledge that God has my back.’

Megan and Tristan know that this isn’t the outcome for everyone, and they are forever grateful that God chose them to be Hope’s parents. ‘I would never wish this on anyone, but I also think the journey we have been through has given us a different perspective. When it’s something you’ve desperately chased after, when you’ve wrestled, been angry at God and cried out to him, it makes it even more special, more important.’

As they raise their daughter Hope, they’re praying ‘she would continue to personify her name, that as she grows she would continue to do life with Jesus and she would be so much more than who we are as people—that she would start where we finish, that she raises hope in others.’

‘ … IN THE DREAM SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL HOLDING THE BABY, SHE KNEW ITS FIRST AND MIDDLE NAMES … ’ ‘To my precious grandchild’ it read on the outside, and inside was a piece of paper that read ‘Hope Marie Pattinson’.

Unnoticed by Lynley until that moment, on the bottom of the note was an inscription, reading: ‘Blessed is the person who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord’ (Jeremiah 17:7).

‘Being able to share that story with friends who aren’t Christians and they say, “Wow that’s weird”, and we can say, “It’s not weird, it’s God”—the power that comes from those conversations—it’s amazing.

‘We’ve got friends who have struggled to have babies and wouldn’t talk about it with anyone. But because of what we’ve gone through, we’ve become a safe space for them.’

This Mother’s Day is different for Megan. Last year she announced to their church family they were halfway through a healthy pregnancy. The previous few had been a painful reminder of what she had lost. ‘The desire of my heart has

The note Lynley (Megan’s mum) wrote after her dream. It was stored away in an envelope until after Hope was born.

05 MAY 2018 WarCry 9

Why Is It So Hard To Admit You’re Wrong?

Joshua Harris, the author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye, recently admitted that some of his advice was misguided. Last edition, we looked at how Christians may need to rethink dating. This week, we explore what it means to admit you’re wrong.

Part two, of a two-part series Joshua Harris has admitted he was wrong, sending shockwaves among a Christian subculture that grew up on purity ethics.

His admission is not only a critique of the purity subculture, it highlights how very rare it is for a Christian leader to admit he was wrong.

‘Is admitting you’re wrong a sign of weakness or strength?

What about when [your mistake] could affect your livelihood, community or identity?’ asked Josh in a recent TED talk.

As Christians, our worldview is intrinsic to our sense of identity.

Admitting we have made a mistake feels like admitting we are a mistake. Suddenly, the most precious part of us is invalidated.

This is intensely painful. It’s really no surprise that we often prefer to stay in denial.

The Christian satire website Babylon Bee recently wrote that ‘evangelical Christians will only give Donald Trump 197 more chances’—poking fun at our inability to change our minds, even in the face of clear evidence. Christians believe, rightly or wrongly, that we are guardians of truth—so we may feel we can’t question anything about our faith, without calling into question our entire faith.

But, as CS Lewis wrote, we see God as a square when he is actually a cube. None of us understand God fully—he is so much greater than us. One of the wonderful things about being a Christian is that God calls us to an ever deepening understanding of him. We should always be growing and reflecting on our beliefs.

That’s why Joshua Harris sets a wonderful example to the Christian community in humbly admitting his mistakes. ‘I stopped having to be constantly right about everything … I just became a student who was listening,’ says Joshua. ‘There’s transformational power in admitting that you got something wrong.’

When we worship our beliefs, admitting we are wrong is almost impossible. But when we worship Jesus, we are simply learning how to be more like him—and all of us will stumble along the way.

BY INGRID BARRATT

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REALISE THAT YOU MADE A MISTAKE, BUT YOU’RE NOT THE MISTAKE. HOW TO ADMIT YOU’RE WRONG …

1 Say you’re wrong: It sounds obvious, but how many apologies have you heard along the lines of, ‘I’m sorry you feel that way’, rather than taking responsibility.

2 Realise that you made a mistake, but you’re not the mistake: When you are able to separate your identity from your mistake, it’s easier to admit where you went wrong.

Then it becomes an opportunity to learn and grow.

3 Make amends: Joshua Harris is now collecting stories from people hurt by his book. This is a great example of reconciliation—a true apology involves listening to how your mistake may have hurt others.

4 Make it right: Finally, how can you turn this into a positive?

How can you make amends? God can bring good out of this situation, if you partner with him.

TESTIFY! Elaine Dawson is known as ‘sunshine’ by people at Pukekohe Corps because her love of God and people shines out on everyone.

I grew up near Pukekohe in a rural area.

The local Salvation Army officer used to pop in or come to the gate with War Cry, and he would give us verses and cards. When I was about 10 we moved into Pukekohe. We visited the corps and I was introduced to Sunday School.

I wonder where I would be, or what my life would be like today, if I had not had contact with The Salvation Army at a young age, or been invited to attend and feel an instant connection. What if I had not obeyed the call to confess sin and accept the salvation Jesus offered?

We attended a harvest festival and I was captivated. My parents were Presbyterians, but we joined the corps and my mother became a Salvation Army soldier. I felt part of it all, and coming each week I felt this was where I belonged.

I’m 86 now—it’s been my life really— and I’m glad I’m still part of it. I ran Sunday School when my children were young. I’ve also done Home League off-and-on since I was in my 30s. We meet every week on a Thursday for a cuppa. It’s a great time of fellowship, and if I see anything in the local paper—a speaker or entertainer— we’ll get them along.

I PRAY EVERY DAY THAT GOD WILL WORK IN ME, THROUGH ME AND IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE I MEET.

I volunteer at the Family Store three times a week, I help out at Community Ministries, and the drop-in centre.

When Lieutenants Ted Kim and Aram Kwon came, Ted asked me if I would come and welcome people. I quite like to make people feel at home and welcome them and offer them a drink if they’d like it.

them come to Home League as well.

There are a few others who come to the drop-in centre, and some of them have opened up a bit about themselves and how God has come into their lives and helped them.

At the drop-in centre, it’s mainly a group of special needs ladies who come every week. They love it—it’s the highlight of their week and some of

I wonder: where would I be if I hadn’t had the Lord in my life? Would I have been able to face situations through the years, without the guidance and

strength of my Saviour? There were some difficult times bringing up six children, especially during their teenage years.

I have been truly blessed in having had a very supportive and loving husband, who loved and served God along with me. God gave me the strength to care for him when he had Alzheimer’s disease, then a stroke.

Most of my life I have enjoyed good health, and even through health problems in recent years, God has looked after me. Now, here I am, able to get about on my mobility scooter.

Serving keeps me active. I give God the glory, for he is my strength, and gives me fulfilment and joy in all I do.

I pray every day that God will work in me, through me and in the lives of the people I meet.

05 MAY 2018 WarCry 11

CAMP CATCH-UPS Part Two of our epic Easter Camp highlights …

Central Division SWAG

BY KATE GEDDES 1. The numerous times we encountered Jesus, either for the first time, the third time or the 20th time … it was so epic.

2. The moment that five leaders, all with really long hair, were blind-folded and in danger of having their hair shaved off in a ‘trust exercise’. This turned out to be an elaborate April Fool’s prank.

3. The MC games were next level, and people had to skull a can of Coke through one of their own socks.

It was gross.

Photography: Alexia Medland & Vanessa Singh.

4. The day that camp woke up to every single item in the café being turned upside down, including the smallest of decorations. Attention to detail was a high priority to these pranksters.

5. The epic dance parties and mosh pits that happened during the night worship sessions.

6. The messages of the main sessions: Victory is to win, and this is what Jesus did on the cross when he died for us. He is the well that gives life to all and we need to be orientated and moving towards the well.

What would the disciples have experienced in the silence of Holy Saturday, when they didn’t know the end of the Easter story? Sometimes we don’t know how things are going to work out, but God meets us in that place of confusion, distress, despair, failure, fear and hurt.

Peter denied Jesus three times, and the rooster crowed, reminding Peter of his betrayal. But the

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good news is that after his resurrection, Jesus was still there waiting for Peter to embrace him in his open arms. Our mistakes don’t change what God has for us, and we don’t need to be followed around by the ‘roosters’ in our life—instead we can turn to God because he loves us.

7. The feeling of team and community amongst the camp and being able to hang out with all the awesome young people and leaders from Central Division.

8. When campers were searching all day and into the darkness of night, following clues and riddles that leaders had given them, for the elusive Easter egg hidden around camp, which all turned out to be another April Fool’s prank.

9. The silence that we got to sit in during the Saturday night response time.

10. Each corps was asked to give one word that summarised their Easter Camp experience, and this is what they said: vulnerability, gold, whānau, affirmation, transition, unity, discovery, SWAG (saved with amazing grace), raw and journey.

The Sick Southern Division

BY ALISON MOODY 1. ‘Big Top, Big Top, Whoop Whoop!’

2. ‘Joy is coming to town, take that joy and spread it around … ’ 3. The Sunday evening before Easter Camp the Sydenham and Christchurch City groups got together for a run through of all the things that they needed to know before camp. One of the tasks was to write down a question they wanted to be answered by God during camp. All of the Sydenham crew fed back to Tracy Boon that their questions had been answered! Woohoo!

4. The weather was fantastic for the whole weekend, no rain at all.

5. A highlight was having Esther Greenwood, Create team director at Equippers Church Auckland, come to our marquee for a visit— there were many photos taken.

6. The charging station was a hit, as always.

7. Our Salvation Army crew came from six corps: Dunedin, Christchurch City, Blenheim, Sydenham, Nelson Tasman Bays, Queenstown … a good effort by all who attended!

8. There were many significant encounters with the Holy Spirit and many of our young people made huge steps in their journeys.

9. Pie Day is always a highlight.

10. Mat Badger and Ben Maxwell of the Territorial Youth team visited and stayed the night. Our Divisional Commander Major Earle Ivers also visited—it was great to have their support.

05 MAY 2018 WarCry 13

Shieldy at the opening of the Gisborne Family Store. Photography: Gareth Marshall.

The Future of Family Stores The Salvation Army Family Store is one of the biggest retailers in New Zealand. A new strategic plan will ensure it continues to grow in the 21st Century.

Last month, the latest Salvation Army Family Store opened in Gisborne. The ribbon was cut by Territorial Commander Commissioner Andy Westrupp as the town clock chimed.

Customers lined the streets beforehand, and spilled through the doors as they opened. The crowds did not ease up throughout the day, and the store stayed open late to meet demand.

The Gisborne Family Store was re-opened after earthquake strengthening, while a new Family Store dedicated to furniture and appliances opened across the road. Our Community loves the Family Store, say Gisborne Corps officers Captains Christina and David McEwen. ‘It’s a place where a lot of people congregate.

It’s a refuge for many people, and for some people that’s their church,’ says Christina.

The local Family Store is often the bridge between the community and Salvation Army services. A client with Salvation Army Education and Employment came to Gisborne’s Community Ministries as she didn’t have warm clothing for her outdoor work. A social work assessment found she hadn’t eaten that day, so was provided with a food parcel, as well as free clothing. ‘We were able to do so much more for her through our wrap-around services than she came to us for,’ says Christina.

‘We see that time and time again.’

The front door Gisborne is an example of the special place Family Stores have within the community. In the retail sector, Family Stores are an astonishingly big player—with 134 stores, it has the biggest, non-food, retail footprint in New Zealand for number of stores.

A survey found that 99 per cent of people are aware of The Salvation Army when prompted, 90 per cent are aware of Family Stores and 74 per cent have shopped at or donated to one.

Family Stores evolved out of the jumble sales early Salvation 14 WarCry 05 MAY 2018

Army officers held to raise money—from that, they came up with an innovative way to raise funds, which also helped the community by providing employment. This proved so successful that nowadays the general public often equates The Salvation Army with our stores.

WHEN YOU SHOP AT A FAMILY STORE IT’S GOOD FOR YOU, GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY AND GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. ‘Our stores are the front door to The Salvation Army in many communities—more people recognise the Army because of our stores than any other individual thing we do. But actually, The Salvation Army is not about stores,’ says national Family Store manager Gareth Marshall. ‘The stores are a function that funds the mission. Because of our success in the community, the local corps and our stores need to work together to connect people to The Salvation Army.’

The new Family Store Strategic Plan aims to build on the huge presence of Family Stores around the country, in order to serve the wider mission of The Salvation Army in the 21st Century.

A primary focus of the Strategic Plan is how Family Stores and other Salvation Army services can work together. Family Stores gave away over $450,000 of stock to Community Ministries clients last year—and this targeted, wrap-around

Funding the mission

WE CAN’T COMPETE WITH MASS MARKETS LIKE THE WAREHOUSE OR KMART, WHICH SELL T-SHIRTS FOR $5. WHAT WE PROVIDE ARE NUGGETS OF GOLD.

Local Salvation Army centres heavily rely on the money raised through Family Stores—with 90 per cent of those funds staying within the local community. This means that half of the 120,000 people helped by The Salvation Army last year, did so with money raised from Family Stores. ‘First and foremost we are there to fund the mission,’ says Gareth. ‘The Salvation Army can’t do what we do without the hard work and contribution of Family Store staff and volunteers. And our mission is funding the mission.’

The important work of local corps like Gisborne would not exist without Family Store funding. This is true of every community where The Salvation Army has a presence in New Zealand.

Kāpiti has the busiest Family Store in New Zealand. Even though Kāpiti is a small corps, because of the Family Store’s success, they have been able to employ a youth worker and a community worker. ‘So that small corps is able to do so much more in the community, because of the resourcing it gets from the Family Store,’ says Gareth.

This is why it is essential that Family Stores evolve to stay relevant in the modern marketplace. Gareth says Kāpiti’s success is not because they get better stock, but because they are very efficient in getting the right stock on the shelves. ‘We are more like a restaurant than a retailer,’ says Gareth. ‘Our success depends on strong processes in the back. Best practice for our stores is being grateful for every donation, efficiently extracting the nuggets of gold, and getting those nuggets of gold out into the stores as quickly as possible—because we know the customers are there waiting to buy it.’

Family Stores are no longer about buying cheap goods.

‘There is no longer a need for low cost goods, because we can’t compete with mass markets like The Warehouse or Kmart, which sell t-shirts for $5. What we provide are nuggets of gold for people who want to find those treasures.’

Up to 80 per cent of people who shop in Family Stores also donate to Family Stores. Gareth belives that the market is no longer people in need of ‘charity’, but the ‘middle-class who are still doing it tough, and looking for good quality goods at a reasonable price.’

It is the market that sets the price in Family Stores. ‘If products are over-priced, the goods don’t sell and we will lower the price.’ However, the majority of goods that go into a Family Store sell within the week. ‘Which shows us that for the most part we get it right.’

Family Stores also provide an antidote to the throw-away consumerism of other large chain stores. ‘When you shop at a Family Store it’s good for you, good for the community, and good for the environment,’ says Gareth. Over 16,000 tonnes of goods are saved from landfills each year by Family Stores.

The Strategic Plan also aims to innovate with initiatives such as online developments, including being able to donate online.

‘It’s such a good win-win model,’ says Gareth. ‘But I’m driven by the hope that in 10 years’ time we will still be successfully funding the mission of The Salvation Army so that we can keep helping people. I’m not held to what that model looks like, just that we keep evolving to meet the market.’

service is how Family Stores can best serve the community, rather than on an ad-hoc basis—just like the Gisborne Community Ministries client.

The Family Store is also a great untapped mission field: Family Stores are the only connection to church or Christianity for many of the over 600 staff and 1500 volunteers. ‘These people know the customers by name, know their children—there is a huge mission in chaplaincy to Family Stores. Instead of expecting our customers to come to the corps, the corps should be going to them,’ says Gareth.

05 MAY 2018 WarCry 15

New Zealand Remembers Wahine The Salvation Army was one of a number of emergency response organisations represented at Wahine 50, a commemoration of the 10 April 1968 Wahine ferry sinking in Wellington Harbour.

The day honoured the memory of the 53 passengers and crew who died, ‘those who made it through the swirling seas’, and the many that were part of the day’s rescue efforts.

Major Joanne Jellyman, whose family helped people washed ashore and then visited distraught survivors in hospital, laid a wreath on behalf of The Salvation Army at a dawn service attended by over 500 people in Eastbourne. Many were pleased to accept an account of the family’s involvement, written by Joanne’s mother, the late Major Joan Beale.

Commemorations then moved to Shed 6 on the Wellington Waterfront where those coming in from a stormy Wellington day were greeted by a Salvation Army team serving tea, coffee and biscuits. Captain Doug Newman, The Salvation Army’s new national coordinator of Emergency Services, was on hand to help with the day’s activities.

The Salvation Army then moved its refreshments to an exhibition of present-day emergency services called ‘P.S. Are You Prepared?’ The exhibition encouraged people to value the many organisations that continue to respond to emergencies today.

Throughout the day, passengers and rescuers took the opportunity to reminisce about the terrible events 50 years earlier. Major David Bennett was introduced to the family of elderly grandmother Charlotte Wilson—known to many as ‘Grandma Dolly’ because she was petite and doll-like—whom he had been photographed assisting after she was brought ashore in Wellington. Grandson Frank Simpson told David that Charlotte and his mother, who both survived, had been travelling up from Dunedin as Grandma Dolly was going to live with the family in Wainuiomata. All his grandmother’s possessions were in the family’s car, which was in the ship’s hold, Frank said. This was the first time David had heard Charlotte’s story. It had been an honour to serve her and others like her in such a time of distress and heartache, he said.

‘Sometimes the worst of circumstances can bring out who we are as a nation,’ said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, speaking at the ‘New Zealand Remembers’ service. ‘The legacy of the Wahine is one of sadness, but also one of gratitude to those who served.’

BY CHRISTINA TYSON From Top: Major Joanne Jellyman (one of the rescuers after the disaster) and Captain David Daly (Divisional Commander, Central Division) hold a wreath from The Salvation Army which was laid at the Wahine Mast Memorial in Eastbourne; Major David Bennett with Frank Simpson, whose grandmother Charlotte Wilson was helped by David after her rescue from the Wahine; David stands by a picture of himself helping Wahine survivors 50 years ago. Photography: Christina Tyson.

16 WarCry 05 MAY 2018

Photography: Graeme Howan

Anzac Display Inspired by True Story

Māori Blessing at Newtown Centre A traditional Māori blessing of The Salvation Army’s new integrated mission centre in Newtown, Wellington, was held at 6 am on the 12th of April. The new centre will be home to Wellington South Corps, Wellington Community Ministries and Early Childhood Education Centre (ECE), as well as Wellington Bridge and Oasis.

In the early days of Māori settlement, the local pā was located where Wellington Zoo now sits, with food for the pā grown where the new Salvation Army centre has been built. This connection to the past reinforces today’s vision for the Army in that location— that it will be a place that brings life in all its fullness.

Kaumātua Kuru and Alishia Moeahu of Waiwhetū Marae led the proceedings, with support from territorial secretaries for Māori Ministry Lieutenants Tau and Trish Mataki, and corps officers Captains Lachie and Julie Marshall.

The blessing was held at dawn because this was a time of stillness when people are more likely to be sensitive to God’s Spirit moving, explained Trish. With the Wellington South Family Store due to open on the same day, it was also important for the traditional blessing to happen before any Salvation Army activities were offered from the new site.

A stone from Mt Taranaki was buried near the main entrance, reminiscent of the stones brought by the 12 tribes of Israel in the Old Testament book of Joshua. The stone was named ‘peace, calm and tranquillity’. Those serving at the centre pray God will grow these same qualities in the lives of all those who enter its doors.

Despite ongoing construction work, most areas were walked through and blessed. Some rooms were also given the names of native plants with healing properties. The blessing concluded in the Family Store, where Lachie prayed that God would bless the centre’s staff and everyone who would seek help from The Salvation Army in its new home.

Community Ministries (including ECE), Bridge, Oasis and Wellington South Corps will move into the new centre over coming weeks, ahead of the official opening on June 10.

BY CHRISTINA TYSON

Johnsonville Salvation Army Family Store commemorated Anzac Day with a unique window display, based on the true story of a mother watching her sons go to war.

The display was inspired by Family Store volunteer Susan Bradley, based on the story of her own great grandmother who had gut-wrenchingly watched as her two sons prepared for World War I. ‘The story of the window is of the bedroom when they’re getting ready to go to camp to be enlisted, with a mother standing there with a suit and a little hat in the lounge next to her cabinet, getting ready to go to the railway station to wish them goodbye,’ said Susan. ‘I discovered the proper story two Anzac days ago and it touched my heart so much that I wanted to make the window into a story of what her journey was.’

Susan—a pet portrait artist—hoped it would represent the women of the World Wars. ‘The woman suffered just as much saying goodbye to the youngsters as the people did when they got to war and had to fight.’

The window had been under design for at least three months before Susan and Family Store manager Randall Day spent two days creating the display.

Susan hoped to inspire her viewers and leave them with the message that everyone had played an equal part and made their own sacrifices in the War. ‘I think it’s a realisation of the whole story and the sacrifice of the families, and what it means to lose loved ones.’

BY COURTNEY DAY 05 MAY 2018 WarCry 17

Army Shelter Becomes ‘Second Home’ in Fiji Some evacuation centres have become a second home for floodstruck people in Fiji with back-to-back cyclones and massive flooding last month, reported RNZ (Radio New Zealand).

Salvation Army officer Captain Litiana Leweitovo runs the evacuation centre in Martintar, Nadi, which opens every time disaster strikes—having already opened three times this year.

The Year of Zeal A year-long ‘season of encounter’ will be launched Sunday 21 October under the banner of ‘New Zeal’, replacing the weekend conference planned for the Events Centre in Manukau over Labour weekend.

The launch will take place with a service in Wellington, live streamed across the territory.

A number of large gatherings hosting numerous corps, with their own live worship, will also stream the message from Commissioner Andy Westrupp.

Smaller and more remote centres will live stream the whole service.

The change came as a result of increasing budget pressures as the Territory seeks to address ‘indefensibly low salary scales for many of our hard-working employees’ and serious property maintenance shortfalls, say Andy. A conference of the scale planned for has a significant price tag and executive leadership believed it would be ‘financially irresponsible’ to continue in light of budget pressures.

Andy also received heartfelt appeals from Fiji, Tonga and Samoa leadership to be included in New Zeal, which has previously been a New Zealandonly event.

Across the Territory, Andy’s message of ‘needing a move of the Holy Spirit which will empower our Army’ has been well received and affirmed as the right word for this season. The desire for the New Zeal conference came from that message. While the weekend conference is not happening, the vision to continue to pursue spiritual power by an encounter with God’s Holy Spirit remains.

Venue details will be out shortly and a dedicated microsite will provide details of the launch weekend and upcoming events throughout the year, as well as capturing the story of this season as we intentionally seek an encounter with God.

18 WarCry 05 MAY 2018

WE ARE THE ARMY AND WE ARE READY ALL THE TIME. Litiana told RNZ International that many people had been evacuated from their homes twice within the month. ‘It is quite a big thing for us as we need to feed them, give them space and give them medical assistance,’ she said. ‘But as you see we are the Army and we are ready all the time.’

There were 56 people taking refuge at the centre after the most recent floods—including 41 adults, 12 children and three babies. People now know to come to the centre, and some now seek shelter even before the storm strikes, said Litiana.

Despite the floods, people have little choice but to go back to their homes. ‘They love their place because probably their parents were there, or they had parents who were there, or they don’t have enough finance to move from there, and so that is the only choice they have,’ she said.

‘They are telling us that these floods are more serious than before. The level of the water is more serious now and higher than before,’ she said. ‘[People are] confused but not really angry because we can’t do anything. But the thing is they know what to do in a disaster and at least here they are near to this place and it is easy for them to come.’

Call for ‘Non-Violent’ Solution in Syria The Salvation Army’s world leader General André Cox is calling Salvationists and friends to pray for the escalating situation in Syria, and the strain in international relations.

The General says: ‘Commissioner Silvia and I would encourage Salvationists and other believers to be agents of peace and transformation.

‘We pray particularly for the people of Syria who are caught up in this terrible situation. May the international community never forget that its actions affect the lives of thousands of innocent people.

‘We call on politicians and leaders to seek out ways to dialogue and find non-violent solutions to world issues.’

New General Will Be Elected in May The High Council tasked with appointing the new General of The Salvation Army will meet in London, on 17 May. The High Council comprises 111 Salvation Army commissioners, officers who hold the appointment of territorial commander, and those who hold the appointment of territorial president of women’s ministries.

Commissioners Andy and Yvonne Westrupp will be attending from our Territory.

Sixty-one of the 2018 High Council members will be firsttime participants, and women will outnumber men by 59 to 52.

Any active Salvation Army officer from the 128 countries in which the Army operates is eligible to be elected as General.

The occasion will also be the farewell salute to the current General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox (World President of Women’s Ministries).

For regular updates, including a live stream of the announcement of the new General as it happens, go to salvationarmy.org/highcouncil2018

GAZETTE

Births: 6 April: Lts Jess and Nathan Bezzant, along with Elisha, Summer and Josiah, are excited to welcome Azariah Nathan Bezzant into their family. Azariah was born on Friday 6 April 2018, and weighed 7lb 8oz (3.54kgs). May God bless Jess, Nathan, Elisha, Summer and Josiah as they celebrate the birth of Azariah.

8 April: Lts Andrew and Sarah Green, along with Hannah, are excited to welcome Archie Campbell Green into their family. Archie was born on Sunday 8 April 2018, and weighed 7lb 3oz (3.31kgs). May God bless Andrew, Sarah and Hannah as they celebrate the birth of Archie.

‘ … WOULD WE WISH TO LOVE LESS? NEVER.’ Mother’s Day is here again! It’s hard to believe that a whole year has gone by and we are now standing on the threshold of one of my favourite celebrations.

I’m sure during the year gone by that you and your loved ones, just like me and mine, have had your fair share of ups and downs, of challenges and successes.

In amongst this tapestry of joy and pain, defeat and victory, success and failure, I’m sure there have been moments to cherish and to savour, moments to pause and to appreciate God’s goodness and friendship. Moments to give thanks for the special people in our lives, those that he knew would bless us and make us better, kinder people. Mothers sit right on top of that list for me—where would we be without them?

Over the Easter weekend our family gathered in Palmerston North to celebrate my Mum’s 90th birthday. As you can imagine, there were many stories—some that may have been embellished over the years into bona fide yarns. They brought out regular smirks of remembrance and delight, along with unrestrained outbursts of belly-laughs and tears of joy.

I believe that Mother’s Day, perhaps more than any other time in the year, affords us a wonderful opportunity to pause from the frenetic pace of life and the myriad of distractions competing for our attention. It gives us a chance to reflect on those beautiful people of influence who have helped to shape our lives and made us into the people we are today.

I have been reminded of how important our memories are, for in them, is the story of how we have become who we are.

Mother’s Day can also bring other emotions—feelings of grief and loss, and the pain of separation—which is no surprise when we have loved another so deeply.

Love is a strange thing—the greater the love, the greater the sense of loss. But would we wish to love less? Never.

Can I encourage you to reflect on your own memories of your mother—and also other people of influence who have invested in you, often sacrificially—to make your life that much richer. Let’s choose to remember, to honour and to give thanks for our mothers on Sunday 13 May, being grateful for the lessons learnt and the love received.

If you are a mother, hope to be one, or if you’re grieving for your mother, here’s a verse for you today: ‘For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you”.’ Isaiah 41:13 (NLT) Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Jarvis Assistant Secretary for Personnel 05 MAY 2018 WarCry 19

What Happens When We Die? Many Christians assume that when we die, our disembodied souls float away to heaven. But the biblical picture is much more exciting …

BY DAVID WARDLE

As Christian believers we hold on to a great hope that focuses on the resurrection of Jesus. This event is the grounds for believing and trusting in a God who is able to triumph over physical death and to grant life after death. This is something we celebrate particularly on Easter Sunday and at the funerals of loved ones whose bodies we give back to God in the ‘sure and certain hope’ that they, too, will participate in the Christ resurrection (1 Cor 15:35–58, Phil 3:21).

I love Bruce Milne’s idea that the events of the first Easter become events in our lives; that is, faith in Christ involves our 20 WarCry 05 MAY 2018

WHY … WOULD JESUS RISE PHYSICALLY TO SAVE US ONLY SPIRITUALLY? sharing in his death and our sharing in his resurrection (Gal 2:20; Col 3.1). Jesus died a real death and was ‘recreated’ and we follow that same pattern. From this, we learn that God is both Creator and re-creator. He made us and he will ‘re-make us’.

Whole persons The Salvation Army’s Handbook of Doctrine states that the resurrection of the body expresses ‘the Christian belief in life after death’. It goes on to say that in the Bible the word ‘body’ refers to the whole person, so our hope is not in becoming ‘mere disembodied spirits, but whole persons, fully alive in Christ’.

In Romans 8:23, Paul speaks of the ‘redemption of our bodies’. N.T Wright, the eminent theologian, says he has no doubt that this means God’s people are promised a new type of bodily existence, adding that it is ‘the fulfilment and redemption of our present bodily life’—a transformation of the old, rather than its replacement.

Another theologian Howard A. Snyder is adamant that this resurrection lies within ‘space, time and history’—as our physical bodies do now—and speaks of the continuity of God’s kingdom being now, although not yet in all its fullness.

C.S Lewis helps us to envisage bodies that are ‘more solid, more real and more

that it is ‘absurd to think’ that Jesus died and rose again physically to save our souls but not our physical bodies and the rest of creation. Why, he asks, would Jesus rise physically to save us only spiritually? Would Jesus’ incarnation really have been necessary if God only wanted to save us spiritually? Why was a physical resurrection required? Because, he argues, God’s redemptive plan is to restore his creation too! The creation in all its entirety—people certainly, but also the earth that sustains all life. In other words, we are transformed to live in a transformed cosmos.

What is heaven?

Of course, there are lots of questions that need answering when we start thinking about this. How will this happen? Will all people take part in it, and what happens to those who do not?

When will the resurrection of the dead happen? If it hasn’t happened yet where are the dead right now and how should we think of them?

There is not space here to answer these questions, but I would like to end by commenting on a pervasive theology that the authors quoted above all rail

GOD IS BOTH CREATOR AND RE-CREATOR. HE MADE US AND HE WILL ‘RE-MAKE US’.

substantial than they are now’. Our resurrected bodies will not be subject to mortality or to sickness, injury and decay. Christian theology has always taught that God is the only being that possesses ‘immortality by nature’,—but here, God’s immortality is shared with his people as a gift of love and grace.

Thus, Doctrine 11 is right to claim that we believe in the ‘immortality of the soul’ and the ‘resurrection of the body’.

The biblical hope for believers, then, is of a continuing embodied, personal life, albeit one with new powers and potencies undreamed of in the present.

A re-creation However, if Christ’s resurrection points to an embodied future for God’s people, then what of the rest of creation? Where will we live and what will we do with these re-made bodies? Snyder argues

In his book Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church, N.T. Wright spends some time discussing the ‘why and how’ of our new bodies. Drawing on early Christian theology, he argues that there will be work to do in the new creation and that we will relish it! He points to several promises in the New Testament about God’s people ‘reigning’ wisely over his creation (Rom 5:17; 1 Cor 6:2,3; 2 Tim 2:12; Rev 1:6, 5:10, 20:4, 22:5). Much like the original picture in Genesis of humans created in God’s image acting as his vice regents, there will be plenty to do—‘tending the garden’, so to speak, with ‘entirely new projects to be undertaken’.

I like the line from C.S Lewis’ book Miracles that says ‘the old field of space, time, matter and the senses is to be weeded, dug and sown for a new crop. We may be tired of the old field: God is not’.

Again, there is strong sense of continuity here. Wright’s picture is one of people using their present skills and talents ‘enhanced and ennobled and given back to us to be exercised in his glory’, working in God’s good creation. Quoting Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:58, Wright goes on to explain that the resurrection means ‘what we do in the present, in working hard for the gospel, is not wasted. It will be completed. It will have its fulfilment in God’s future’. This is hugely encouraging!

against. That is, the assumption among most people today—both Christian and non-Christian—that they go to heaven when they die. I’ll qualify that. What is meant here is that heaven is their final destination; that they leave their physical bodies behind to decompose and disappear forever while their souls escape this ‘dark and sinful world of space, time and matter’. In other words, the really important bit of us lives eternally in a disembodied spiritual state with God. This is not what the New Testament teaches.

Our physical bodies are God’s good creation too—very good, in fact.

Salvation is not merely ‘going to heaven’ but being raised to life in ‘God’s new heaven and new earth’. For sure, there is an intermediary state between our death and our resurrection—and much more could be said of this—but Jesus Christ’s resurrection and ascension, and the gift of life that God promises us, are designed not to take us away from this earth, but to makes us agents of its transformation. It anticipates the day when the ‘earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea’ (Habakkuk 2:14 and elsewhere). In other words, God’s original purpose to fill the earth with his glory—his glory reflected through human beings—will be fulfilled.

05 MAY 2018 WarCry 21

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 8 May: Red Shield Breakfast, Auckland 9 May: Red Shield Breakfast, Wellington

PRAY

Divisional Headquarters in Northern, Midland, Central and Southern New Zealand; Divisional Public Relations around the Territory; The Salvation Army in the United States.

Colonel Suzanne Fincham (Chief Secretary) 9 May: Red Shield Breakfast, Wellington 16 May: Spiritual Day, BCM, Upper Hutt 18 May: Jeff Farm half-annual general meeting, Gore

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To subscribe, contact Salvationist Resources, p: (04) 382 0740, e: mailorder@.salvationarmy.org.nz

18 0 2 MAY 12,

Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women's Ministries and Spiritual Life Development) 9 May: Red Shield Breakfast, Wellington 10 May: Women’s Ministries with cadets, BCM, Upper Hutt 13 May: Flatbush Corps, Auckland 16 May: Spiritual Day, BCM, Upper Hutt

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A weekend of events celebrating 50 years since the Wellington Citadel Band’s tour of The United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Sunday afternoon concert, at 1.30 pm­: Featuring music from the 1968 Citadel Band, and the City Academy Band.

We s

1968 Citadel Band Reunion

Queen’s Birthday weekend, 2–3 June

Free

pm

The Salvation Army National Youth Band ate with

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

Want to Know More?

I would like: to learn about who Jesus is information about The Salvation Army The Salvation Army to contact me prayer for the following needs:

facebook.com/WestgateSalvationArmy

Westg Worship

You are invited to our ‘Ebenezer Celebration’ MOUNT MAUNGANUI CORPS 35 YEAR ANNIVERSARY 2–3 June (Queen's Birthday Weekend)

Name Email Address Phone Send to: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org or War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141

To register interest please contact MtMaunganui_Corps@nzf.salvationarmy.org or Charmaine Travis 021 2030380

Quiz Answers: 1 Tokyo, 2 Judy Bailey, 3 Second Sunday of May, 4 Fruit, specifically a single-seeded berry, 5 John (John 19:26, 27).

22 WarCry 05 MAY 2018

‘I was shopping with my mum and she flung open the changing room curtains while I was still in my undies!’ JOEY

ar at ‘On the first day of the ye l the me al school, Mum took photos of oom— ssr way from the car to my cla LOE everyone was staring,’ CH

Draw your mum a picture for Mother’s Day and fill in the blanks—she will love it!

‘You know all about me …’

Psalm 139:1 CEV

Does your mum ever embarrass you, like the other kids on this page? I think mums do embarrassing things because they’ve known us since before we were even born. Sometimes they forget we're our own people, with our own thoughts and feelings.

We have to remind them, ‘Mum, stop, you’re embarrassing me!’

Even our mums don’t know everything about us—they can’t read our minds and don’t know everything we feel. But there is someone who knows everything about us.

In the Bible it says, ‘Lord, you know all about me … you are the one who put me together inside my mother’s body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me … nothing about me is hidden from you.’

(Psalm 139).

It’s mind blowing to think God knows all our embarrassing moments, secrets and thoughts.

It might seem scary, because God knows everything we’ve done.

But the wonderful thing is that no matter what we’ve done, God loves us totally, completely and utterly, like crazy.

I love you because You're the best at You’re embarrassing when

‘My mum was dropping my lunch off late at school, and she came into my classroom and said, “Is Bunny here?”

That’s the nickname Mum has for me, and everyone laughed. I was so embarrassed,’ BENJAMIN

We never need to be scared to tell God our deepest fears or even the things we’ve done wrong. Even if we can’t hear God, he talks to our hearts by giving us peace.

God, I feel really worried about Thank you that you know me and I can talk to you about anything.

05 MAY 2018 WarCry 23

God willu

cover yo with his feathers , and under his wings you will find r:4efuge.

Psalm 91

A mother hen at Auckland Zoo shields her chicks from the storms that struck in April. (Photo courtesy of Auckland Zoo).