06 August 2022 NZFTS War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION 06 AUGUST 2022 | Issue 6797 | $1.50

Fun at Fabulous Foxton Corps Artificial Intelligence: Part Two The Wisdom of Solomon

Corps Connecting Throughout Covid-19 in Midland Division Increasing Roll at Wellington South Corps

A Place to THRIVE

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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

Hope Burmeister, Holly Morton, 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.

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.

Are You Thriving or Surviving?

It is difficult to have a positive, thriving mindset amidst uncertainty and change, but as Christians we are called to this point of difference with the world. We are to ‘count it all joy’ when we are persecuted; ‘rejoice’ when we are rejected; and consider our suffering as ‘light and momentary’. This is not to diminish the reality of suffering, but there is a biblical challenge to endure with a positive mindset and attitude.

One of the most important aspects of thriving rather than surviving in this world is to be in a community where we are loved, supported and empowered.

The Church and its various expressions are the ideal places to foster this thriving attitude. We are called to a body of people from all walks of life. We are called to live our lives shoulder to shoulder; to strengthen those who are weak, heal the broken, speak life into the lifeless.

In our feature on page 6 you will read of a group of dedicated Pasifika people who are living out the gospel in the work they undertake in schools. They are empowering young Pasifika people to connect with their culture, their families and their communities. They bring Christ into the conversations and teaching around identity and give young people a sure foundation in order to THRIVE. Deuteronomy 19:13b says, ‘Now choose life that you and your children may live’. Choosing life brings happiness, peace and laughter into our homes. It is the light turned on in dark corners; love warming the conversations and interactions with our families; comfort and hope to depressed and lost souls. There is no greater life than one lived with Christ, so choose life in Christ and thrive.

Vivienne Hill Editor

SalvationArmyNZFTS

The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.

@SalvationArmyNZ

Chuck Swindoll

Publishing for 138 years | Issue 6797 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry

salvationarmy.org.nz

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Proverbs 11:28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

Ngā Whakatauki 11:28 Ko te tangata e whakawhirinaki ana ki ōna taonga, ka taka; nā, ko te hunga tika ka rite tō rātou tupu ki tō te rau matomato.

Strategy and Tactics for Daily Living

I

am waiting for that time in my life when there are no more mountains to climb, no more challenges or disappointments to face, no more heartache or danger to overcome.

I have been waiting a long time.

For some reason in the back of my mind I thought that would be a thing, that the Lord would ‘lead me beside still waters and restore my soul’— permanently. Yes, I have periods in my life when he does indeed lead me to restful and quiet places— I catch my breath and then I am back into the fray.

I now know that the quiet and restful places are not created by physical circumstances. The quiet and restful places are spaces I make room for in my daily life where I meet with God my Father.

They may be in the early hours of the morning or on my commute into work, but I am restored and refreshed—the Lord is indeed a faithful and loving shepherd. In these quiet places in his presence are where the tactics are given to face the obstacles and mountains I need to overcome and climb each day.

God is indeed strategic and no matter what you are facing today, God will have strategy and tactics for you to use to overcome your painful circumstances—be that sickness, a wayward teen, a job loss. God will have a plan ready for each and every trial. The key is to ask for it, wait for the answer and then put it into action.

The strategies that God makes available are freely given in the Bible. The Old Testament is full of the short-term tactics and the overarching strategies that

led and informed Israel—from the wilderness trek, to Jonah’s call to preach to the city of Nineveh.

Strategy is higher order thinking and the longterm plan. The Bible’s overarching strategic plan is the redemption of humankind—laid out from Genesis to Revelation. Tactics are the short-term key directions and activities we daily undertake to achieve an objective. Tactics sit under strategy, they support strategy. God’s long-term purposes are the redemption of the world, while short-term tactics are achieving this one person at a time, one situation at a time.

Sometimes the tactic God gives us for a day will be to stand still, maybe it will be to withdraw; but at times it will be to challenge, confront, tear down.

Only God knows the future and, because of this, he has perfect strategic foresight. If we take the time to listen to him and read his wisdom in the Bible, we will overcome our difficult circumstances.

Overcoming does not mean difficulties will just disappear: ‘overcoming’ is a verb, an action that must be enacted. Overcoming is enacted by Christ and our testimony of his working in our lives. ‘And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death’ (Revelation 12:11, NKJV). God always makes a way no matter how high the mountain.

BY VIVIENNE HILL

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I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.

Maya Angelou

WARCRY INHISTORY

The Tragedy of the Ice Trek: This War Cry issue from 22 February 1913 features a very solemn image of Captain RJ Scott, along with some of his dog team.

Captain Scott led the Terra Nova polar expedition that resulted in his and his teammates’ deaths on a return from the South Pole around a year beforehand.

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

QUIKQUIZ 1 What is the name of the longest mountain range on the planet?

2 The first traffic lights installed were outside which building and where?

3 Which finger is also called the digitus annularis?

4 Ndebele is a language native to which country?

5 In the Bible, how old was Adam when his son Seth was born?

Answers on page 22

Self Denial Prayer at Upper Hutt Corps At Upper Hutt Corps during our morning meeting on Sunday 17 July we started this year’s Self Denial journey with prayer, incorporating the ‘ripple effect’ throughout our service.

Waves of ripples ran through our meeting as we had an illustration of five stones, each a different shape and size. Starting with the largest stone, one by one they were thrown into a bucket to watch the splash and ripples. This was to show that even the smallest of tasks in our daily lives can create a ripple, and no matter how big the action, all tasks are important and valuable.

Around the hall we had four different prayer stations where people were invited to move around or stay in one spot and pray. During this prayer time people could also choose to sit and be with God alone or pray with someone else. The mercy seat was also, as always, open for prayer.

A lovely, Holy Spirit-filled time followed as people moved around the room praying for different things displayed on the tables.

On one table we had a Salvation Army flag with pictures of our territorial leaders; people were encouraged to pray for the leadership of The Salvation Army here in Aotearoa, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. They were also asked to pray for officers, employees and volunteers throughout our territory.

Praying for ourselves was emphasised on another table. We had mirrors so we could look at ourselves, the marvellous creation God has made. We were reminded that we are made in God’s image and we are his handiwork.

There was also an opportunity to pray for our households and neighbours who do not know Christ; we could write down their names and pray for them.

At the last table we were instructed to take a stone and drop it in the water to watch the ripple effect; reminding us that we can cause a ripple in others’ lives as we live out our Christian walk. All ripples, no matter how small, are important and effective.

BY LIEUTENANT RAE EVANS

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Weird of the Week: There are more tigers that are owned

by Americans than there are living in the wild globally.

TOPFIVE

We are often told that age is just a number. This top five of impressive achievements from older people is a challenge to all not to be limited by your age!

1. The oldest primary school student—Kimani Maruge, a freedom fighter who supported Kenyan independence from Britain, enrolled in primary school at the age of 84 alongside his grandchildren, despite opposition from government officials and the parents of other students. Kimani attended school for five years until his death in 2009.

2. Longest career at the same company— Walter Orthmann, at 100 years old, has worked at textile company RenauxView in Santa Catarina, Brazil, since he was 15. Walter broke this world record in 2019 (working for 81 years and 85 days), however, it seems that he is still working, so it is up to 84 years and counting!

3. Oldest tandem parachute jump— Bryson William Verdun Hayes, a British World War Two veteran was 101 years and 38 days old when he completed this 4572 metre (15,000 ft) jump, one year after his first skydive at age 100.

4. Oldest newlyweds—Doreen Luckie and George Kirby had the combined age of 194 on their wedding day! They dated for 27 years and were married on George’s 103rd birthday, while Doreen was 91 years old.

5. Oldest model—Wang Deshun began his modelling career in his late 70s, being nicknamed ‘the hottest grandpa’.

Wang previously acted in films like The Forbidden Kingdom, and Warriors of Heaven and Earth. Aside from modelling, Wang took horse riding lessons at 65 and started riding a motorbike at 78, and last year he undertook flight training in China to become a pilot at age 85.

Animated, Family Minions: The Rise of Gru (PG) Directed by Kyle Balda Minions: The Rise of Gru, the fifth film in the Minions franchise, follows Gru as he attempts to join his favourite supervillain supergroup, the Vicious 6. While the crazy antics of the gibberish-speaking minions remain the same, the injection of retro-chic style was refreshing. The great soundtrack, James Bond-style credits and punny humour kept me happy, while the kids loved the relentless gags, slapstick comedy and the levitating supervillain Nunchuck. The fast pace made for an easy watch for younger kids, though the amount of violence makes this film a better fit for ages 6 and up.

(Reviewed by Lauren Millington)

Chicken Karaage 500g chicken thighs, diced into 2cm chunks ¼ cup soy sauce 2 garlic cloves, grated 2 tsp grated ginger 1 Tbsp lemon juice ½ cup cornflour ¼ cup oil 2 cups spinach leaves 1 grated carrot ½ cup cucumber ribbons 2 cups brown rice, cooked Sauce: ½ cup mayonnaise 2 Tbsp soy sauce

In a medium sized bowl, add the diced chicken thighs, soy, garlic, ginger and lemon juice, stirring well to combine. Leave to marinate for 20–30 minutes.

To make the sauce, combine mayonnaise and soy sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.

Once the chicken has marinated, remove from the bowl, shaking off any excess liquid. Place the chicken into a bowl with the cornflour and toss the pieces generously to coat.

Heat the oil in a frying pan to a medium heat. Cook the chicken in batches for 6 to 7 minutes each or until golden and cooked through, turning once. Remove and rest on a paper towel.

To make the salad, add the spinach, carrot and cucumber in a bowl and toss to combine.

To serve, assemble rice, chicken and salad in four bowls. Drizzle with a squeeze of lemon, and sauce on the side.

Source: countdown.co.nz

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Inspiring Pasifika Youth to THR

a RIVE

Captain Nicki Dutton (right) and the Pasifika THRIVE team at Porirua Corps.

Pasifika THRIVE is a series of programmes operating out of Porirua Corps led by Lusa Washburn. The programme has only been in New Zealand for a year but is already undertaking extensive work and making a difference for Pasifika students in schools in the Porirua region.

BY HOPE BURMEISTER

T

he Pasifika THRIVE team is passionate about supporting Pasifika young people to feel connected and inspired. Their heart is to see young people proud of their Pasifika identity and to take charge of their own future. Their aim is to enable young people to understand their potential, and this is what underpins the many cultural programmes provided by the team in Porirua.

The beginning of a legacy The New Zealand-based programme came out of an Australian Pasifika organisation called Charis Mentoring, founded in Melbourne in 2014, which delivered Pasifika programmes to youth and communities. Pasifika THRIVE was a collective of programmes created to meet the needs of youth and families in the education space.

Lusa Washburn, born and raised in Porirua, was living in Melbourne at the time, and had joined Charis Mentoring. He noticed that there were many barriers for Pasifika people living in Australia, as even the term ‘Pasifika’ was not acknowledged and they were only recognised as ‘other’ on the census.

Lusa also noticed that Pasifika youth in programmes struggled with their own cultural identity, so Pasifika THRIVE then started Tautai LEAD in schools to support Pasifika students in education. ‘The whole idea was to improve school engagement, cultural connections and also be able to build more healthy relationships, that was the purpose of Tautai LEAD’, Lusa said.

From there, they realised there were a lot of Pasifika concepts they wanted to teach, so they started to research and incorporate these into the programmes. They also responded to specific educational needs by starting a homework club—called Tautai EXCEL—because some kids were failing school.

From that, they also started family nights for the kids to invite their families to, as family engagement is important for Pasifika people.

Programme launches in New Zealand After eight years, at the end of 2020, Lusa moved back to New Zealand. He grew up in Porirua and attended The Salvation Army Porirua Corps. On his return, he was asked by Major Pam Waugh and corps officer Captain Nicki Dutton, Porirua Corps, if he wanted to apply for funding to start running programmes in Porirua under the Ministry of Education’s Pasifika Support Fund.

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This was successful, so The Salvation Army are now working in partnership with Charis Mentoring to deliver Pasifika THRIVE in Porirua, and are operating in three schools—Bishop Viard College, Mana College and Porirua College—looking after almost 200 kids. It started with just Lusa but now they are a team of six, with Lusa as the team lead.

THEIR HEART IS TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE PROUD OF THEIR PASIFIKA IDENTITY AND TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR OWN FUTURE.

Pasifika proud Lusa emphasises that Pasifika THRIVE is more than just a school programme that sees kids once a week. Their vision involves engaging with the wider village—Pasifika families, communities, coaches, youth leaders and other mentors—to better help the young person.

‘It’s about giving more skills to our community so they can better respond,’ he said.

‘I’ve always been a strong advocate for Pasifika people and making sure that Pasifika people have the adequate spaces to be able to feel connected and to be able to contribute, because our people are people who contribute,’ said Lusa.

In our westernised world there is often a disconnect between school providers and Pasifika parents. ‘A lot of our parents have asked: “Can you support our kids in schools? How can we build that bridge between home and school?”,’ Lusa said.

Pasifika families have migrated to New Zealand to provide more opportunities for their children. However, there are barriers that have affected this transition, such as language barriers, cultural differences and a lack of support. For some families this has unfortunately had a negative impact on their children, resulting in loss of identity, lack of confidence and disengaged youth.

Lusa wants young people to not be ashamed of who they are as Pasifika people and the story they hold. He wants them to ‘THRIVE in their element’, whether that is sport, music, education or anything else. Pasifika THRIVE aims to give them hope that they can achieve anything they want to.

A growing team and cultural connections Lusa was soon joined by Laz Lemanutau, who is the Pasifika THRIVE engagement lead. Laz said, ‘A lot of the mahi (work) is through the lens of Pasifika so the way we do things and share things is through a Pasifika lens’.

The programmes vary depending on the needs; some are more values-based, whereas some are more of a relaxed hangout for young people. Laz has been in youth development for 158 WarCry 06 AUGUST 2022

plus years and is particularly passionate about groundwork where he can work directly with young people.

Laz wants there to be a ‘change in the narrative or the language that’s spoken about our young people’. He also wants to raise up leaders who will one day take over Pasifika THRIVE and continue the legacy.

Next to join was Isabel Lemanutau who is the Pasifika THRIVE community development lead. She leads the Pasifika youth collective Māfana Youth Development Network, and provides training and development through a Pasifika lens for services working with Pasifika young people and families. Training is bi-monthly or every two to three months.

She also runs a holiday programme Tautai ALL OUT—Fresh Koko, providing activities every school holiday for young people in Porirua.

Lastly Emily Fau joined the team; she is a second-year university student and a part-time youth worker at Pasifika THRIVE. Emily, the team youth worker, supports Laz in schools running the Tautai LEAD and EXCEL programmes.

She joined the team because she felt that there weren’t many Pasifika role models at school nor opportunities for Pasifika people. Isabel supported Emily through school, which caused her own passion for Pasifika to grow.

‘I just want to see a Pasifika young person excel in what they want to do, not what the system wants them to do, not what society wants them to do or what their parents want them to do—but where their passion lies,’ added Emily.

She said it’s ‘hard being brown in this world’, so she hopes Pasifika THRIVE will help to make things a little bit easier for young Pasifika people.

Pasifika THRIVE programmes As well as running Tautai LEAD, Tautai EXCEL and Family Engagement Nights, the team also run a programme called Tūmau Mentoring, supporting Pasifika young people who are at high risk of or already disengaged from school and community.

As they began running the programmes, something they quickly had to learn was how to teach people of other nationalities about their own culture. While their programmes are for Pasifika people, as content is based around Pasifika values and strengths, there are also young people in the programme of other ethnicities and the team recognised that they needed to be inclusive in their language to include these young people. Although there are issues unique to Pasifika, many of the issues of not having a voice and not having a space to speak up are also felt by other ethnic groups in New Zealand from non-Pākehā backgrounds..

‘I call it the universal-type language, in that some of these lessons we learn are universal, and it goes a long way. It doesn’t just stop with Pasifika. It translates to other cultures as well,’ said Lusa.

People can have connections with Pasifika culture even if they’re not genetically connected. (Lusa made the point that some kids say they’re Samoan because all their friends are Samoan). The Pasifika THRIVE team hopes to encourage these kids to find out more about their own cultures.

The team doesn’t expect to know everything about other cultures but aims to give language to these kids—language for them to speak out about their culture. Laz said, even though the kids probably already know a lot of what they’re teaching, ‘here’s the language that we use that you can probably use with your circle of friends or families to help them understand your culture’.

Jesus at the forefront of the mission The Salvation Army helps support Pasifika THRIVE by providing a space in Porirua Corps for them to gather as a team. They also provide further resources, such as foodbank access for families who may need this and financial loans.

Pasifika THRIVE runs their school-based programme during ‘Religious Education’ at Bishop Viard College, so they are able to weave in Scripture and biblical principles into the time. They try to relate biblical verses with the theme of the programme; for example, unity. They’re able to do this openly at Bishop Viard since it is a Catholic school. Most schools they work in are secular, so it is a different space and needs careful navigation. However, they always make God the centre of what they do, whether that is in the programme or behind the scenes in the culture of the team.

‘We always make sure God and prayer are at the forefront of our conversations and every situation that we’re in because

essentially that kind of weaves into how we work with our young people,’ said Emily.

Faith and spirituality are foundational to Pasifika culture.

Lusa said they recently did a cultural competency workshop in which they shared the ‘three Fs’, which are most important to Pasifika— faith, family and food. Their team starts and finishes their sessions, particularly at Bishop Viard, with a karakia or a tataru (prayer). They also do this in their team meetings by having regular prayer sessions and Praise and Worship Fridays. The team ensures God is at the centre of what they’re doing.

Lusa said, ‘Prayer and spirituality is a big part of who we are, and our identity makes up our wellbeing, so you know we are well if that pillar is held up’.

Family Engagement Nights Family Engagement Nights are a highlight for Lusa and they have had up to 90 people attending. These have been invaluable for both the kids and the parents, and he said the feedback from parents is that they wished they had this when they were growing up.

To gauge how the programme is received, they’ve had the kids fill out evaluation forms. They found the kids’ answers to be ‘heart-warming but heart-twisting’, as described by Laz. The questions on the form were about cultural identity; for example, How comfortable do you feel in your Pasifika (or other cultural) identity?; What are some of the things you love about your own culture? Laz is glad this has enabled young people to express their thinking, but is saddened by the realities some of these kids live in. ‘Some of them allude to the harsh or hard upbringing they have at home because of the tradition and culture,’ he said. ‘So our job is to help read the rules together.’

Lusa said the feedback he’s read is of kids grateful to connect with people they wouldn’t usually talk to. They also appreciate having the opportunity and space to be able to just be Pasifika. This can be through, for example, song or prayer.

Also, teaching them where aspects of their culture comes from—the why—can spark questions. Kids can then go home and ask their parents.

Emily summed up by saying that even though they’re just starting out, she hopes the team are contributing to the young people having more confidence in their Pasifika identity, and a confidence to pursue whatever they choose to in life.

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Pasifika Identity: Fonofale Model of Health m Environ ent

Co nt ex t

me i T

Other

Mental

text Con

Contex t Physical

Spiritual

Family

En v

Time

The fonofale is a model of health created by Fuimaono Karl Pulotu-Endemann for Pasifika people in New Zealand. Fuiomaono was asked by the Ministry of Health to find out what is most important to Pasifika communities and his findings became the fonofale model.

The model depicts a traditional Samoan house with different aspects that make up Pasifika wellbeing. The fa’avae (foundation) is family, which extends to include all kinds of families; history and genealogy connects Pasifika to titles, lands, islands and sea.

The falealuga (roof) represents cultural values and beliefs that ‘shelter’ families. There are four pou that connect with family and culture and are essential to Pasifika wellbeing. Consider how you might look after each pou for your own wellbeing.

Fa’aletino (Physical) This is about the relationship you have with your body, not only related to exercise, but also what you put into it—such as food, water, air and medications. Think about what you feel in your body; is there pain, stress, tiredness? How can you be more in tune with your body? How can you find ways to relax or unwind if you’re feeling tense? How can you nourish your body with good

Env i r o nm e nt

nt e nm o ir

e Tim

Culture

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This is a resource provided by Pasifika THRIVE which is used use to teach students about Pasifika identity. Original image by Fuimaono Karl Pulotu-Endemann, recreated

by War Cry for printing.

things? How you feel in your body can greatly impact your mental wellbeing, too.

Fa’aleagaga (Spiritual) This pou relates to wellbeing connected to belief in God. How well this is held up might be how often you pray, attend church and read the Bible. It could also be being connected to a faith community or having a spiritual mentor. How well connected to God do you feel and supported in your faith journey, and what steps can you take to improve it?

Mafaufau (Mental) This reflects the wellbeing of the mind such as thoughts and emotions, which also affect actions. Consider what is consuming your thoughts and how it is making you feel. Are your thoughts positive or negative? Why might they be negative? And how are your thoughts affecting what you do?

Isimea (Other) This is anything else that could affect a person’s health, such as gender, age and socio-economic status. However, there could be many other factors that also impact someone’s wellbeing. Think about your family and the conditions you grew up in. There are also issues that may only relate to women or a particular age group.

Have a think and reflect on what other things might be impacting your current wellbeing.

There is also an outside circle or cocoon with factors that influence how the foundation (family), roof (culture) and the four pous (physical, spiritual, mental and other) hold up. These are environmental, such as living in a place unique to Pasifika, whether that is urban or rural; time, as in the specific time in history that impacts Pasifika people; and finally, context specific to individuals such as country of residence and socio-economic factors.

TESTIFY! Emily Fau is a youth worker in the Pasifika THRIVE team who is in her second year of university, studying public policy and cultural anthropology. She shares about how her connection with her now co-worker, Isabel Lemanutau, inspired her work with Pasifika young people to support and uplift their experiences.

I came to work at Pasifika THRIVE through my connection to Bel [Isabel Lemanutau]. She was my youth worker when I was in Year 12. I was at a time in my life where school wasn’t really going well for me. I attended a high school that was predominantly Pākehā with a roll of 1400. So you can imagine being in that handful of brown people in the school, there wasn’t much for us.

I was in a friend group where we were all kind of on the same path in what we felt about schooling in our lives. We felt as if we didn’t have much support in school, especially as Pasifika women or just being Pasifika in general.

I had a counsellor at school who was really good, but she also acknowledged that there could be more for me, so she sought out some extra support.

Somehow, she got Bel and another youth worker, Koro, to come to our school, under Central Youth Services for The Salvation Army, Petone.

While she was journeying with us in high school, I can 100 percent say that Bel shaped the decisions that I made and the woman that I am today, alongside my family. She saw a lot of potential in me that I never saw in myself. She would come to mentor us, as a youth worker does, but I never put that job title to her when people would ask who she was to me, because it didn’t feel like it was just a job for her.

I was praying during university, because I was in a place in my life where I had no idea what I was doing. Before Bel asked

I KNOW THAT I WOULDN’T EVER BE ABLE TO WORK IN A SPACE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WITHOUT PRAYER. me to work at the start of the year, it felt like I was just riding the wave of life, but there was no passion behind it. By the goodness of God, Bel messaged me, asking how I’d been and if I wanted to work with her husband, Laz, in schools.

I’ve always had a passion for young people, particularly our Pasifika young people. I never saw myself being a youth worker at this age. I’m in my second year in university; I’m 19 years old, and I just didn’t see myself in this space so early.

It’s been awesome and it’s definitely not what I expected in the best way possible. In the work that I do, I aim

to be what Bel was to me, because she was such a great mentor. I knew how real she was with us, and how much the relationship meant to her. I always aim to be like that in the space I’m in.

I know that I wouldn’t ever be able to work in a space with young people without prayer.

When I come into a place where I’m unsure of what to do with a young person, I always resort to prayer. At the same time, this isn’t just a space for me to mentor these young people, I have been learning so much and the work has grounded all the other areas of my life, just in knowing how worthwhile it is.

There’s a lot of hard work, prayer and love that goes behind Pasifika THRIVE. That was always my hesitation when a programme came into my school as a young person, I was like, Do they even care or are they just here because they’re ticking boxes? But they’ve had years of experience in youth work and it’s awesome to be in a team that I’m really empowered to be around.

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AI as an ‘Engine of Growth’ in New Zealand In the second part of a three-part series, David Youngmeyer examines three key reports into Artificial Intelligence (AI) in New Zealand and looks at the advantages and opportunities open to New Zealand businesses and industries.

Whether it’s chatbots, machine learning (such as Netflix suggestions), driverless cars or facial recognition on your smartphone, AI seems to be everywhere we look these days.

Although the technology is still relatively nascent, the opportunities associated with putting AI to practical use in New Zealand are being increasingly recognised and explored.

Several key reports into AI have highlighted its importance to our society, particularly in its prospects to support future economic growth and development. At the same time, several ethical and social questions remain.

NEW ZEALAND-BASED RESEARCH INTO AI

Callaghan Innovation, a government agency supporting high-tech businesses in New Zealand, produced a white paper in 2018 focussed on what AI will mean in our agriculture, digital, health and energy spaces. This has been described as the Government’s first white paper on AI. Titled ‘Thinking Ahead: Innovation Through Artificial Intelligence’, Callaghan Innovation Chief Executive Vic Crone described AI as ‘one of the most talked-about technologies of our time’.

According to Crone, ‘new possibilities for innovation based on AI technologies are emerging at a dizzying rate’, which is something that leaders in New Zealand industries need to embrace ‘as a driver for future change’.

In agriculture, for example, the white paper suggested that AI would have an ‘extreme impact’ with ‘many tasks able to be automated and optimised’. This includes automated irrigation systems, the use of AI to collect data and eliminate weeds in growing plots, improved efficiencies in livestock management and machine learning to predict crop yields.

Crone wrote of ‘the need for a far more aggressive uptake of AI’, with the hope that the Callaghan Innovation paper would ‘play a role in jolting businesses into action’.

Also in 2018, the AI Forum of New Zealand—an independent body that aims to raise the level of awareness and capabilities of AI in New Zealand—produced its landmark report ‘Artificial Intelligence: Shaping a Future New Zealand’.

This was among the first publications produced by the forum, which had only been founded the previous year.

The report noted that AI is becoming increasingly widespread. It promises ‘to transform fundamental aspects of how we live, work and play’ including ‘major long-term impacts on our business and economy, legal frameworks, ethics, environment, education, labour, productivity, social and justice outcomes’.

The forum’s report framework considered the following: the AI landscape in New Zealand and abroad; AI and the

SEVERAL KEY REPORTS INTO AI HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF AI TO OUR SOCIETY.

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AI IS NOT EVEN ‘ON THE RADAR’ OF 17 PERCENT OF NEW ZEALAND ORGANISATIONS. economy; AI and society; and the way forward, including recommendations to ‘foster an environment where AI delivers inclusive benefits for the entire country’.

AI AND JOBS

While the report acknowledges that ‘AI is often feared to have a major impact on jobs’, it is not likely to result in mass unemployment in the near future. This is because widespread adoption of AI could take 20 to 40 years, during which time ‘natural changes in the labour market will be significantly larger than any expected impact from AI’. Given that impacts of technology-related job losses could be significant for individual workers, it is important for government and industry to work together to support workers and increase investment in the development of new skills, the report notes.

Fast forward three years and a similar message of the significance of AI comes out with the ‘State of AI in NZ 2021’ report, produced by Qrious, which is part of the Spark Business Group.

Hon David Clark, Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications, says in the report that AI presents the prospect of enormous transformative change for New Zealand business and society.

‘AI is an engine of growth both as a high-value sector, with significant export and employment opportunities in its own right, and as a key for unlocking productivity improvements across the country,’ says Clark.

The report itself provides a snapshot of the state of AI in New Zealand based on a nationwide survey of 671 academics, business and data leaders across a range of sectors.

AI AND NEW ZEALAND ACCEPTANCE

A key finding is that New Zealand organisations are lagging ‘far behind’ their counterparts in the United States and Canada in terms of their engagement with AI technology.

Just one in five Kiwi organisations can be classified as ‘AI mature’, according to the report, which is defined as ‘achieving and scaling real impact from AI solutions’.

At the same time, fewer than one in six organisations have a plan for how AI will be used across their business. AI is not even ‘on the radar’ of 17 percent of New Zealand organisations.

In summary then, it looks like there is plenty of scope for AI to develop and mature in New Zealand. The key reports canvassed in this article, all produced in the past few years, point to both the relative newness of AI in the New Zealand context and the serious efforts underway to create a critical AI mass.

In the third part of this series, we will highlight examples of AI as it is operating in New Zealand.

AI is here to stay. It has the potential to improve many aspects of functionality in our lives, but the most important charge for humanity is to ensure AI does not get out of hand and remains a tool used to serve humanity. Here are some of the pros and cons of AI: Pros of AI • Reduces human error: in the operating theatre and dispensing of medicines.

•

Undertakes the risky or dirty jobs: diffusing a bomb or going into space.

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Doesn’t get tired: can undertake repetitive jobs or ones that require a 24/7 operation.

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Used in medical diagnosis: can help doctors predict early stages of diseases.

Cons of AI • High cost creation, ongoing upgrades and maintenance.

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Lacks creativity and emotion.

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Increases unemployment: a study by McKinsey predicts that in 2030 that AI will replace at least 30 percent of human labour.

•

No ethics or morality in operation.

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Hamilton City Corps.

Midland Division Corps Navigating Covid-19

Continuing our check-in with corps around the territory, we asked four corps from the Midland Division how they stayed connected with their faith communities over the lockdown period and beyond.

Hamilton City Corps Hamilton City Corps is back to meeting in person and hopes this continues. While not quite at the numbers they were preCovid-19, they are rebuilding as people feel more confident to return, but they are also livestreaming the sermons for those who choose to still worship at home. Recovery Church has continued throughout when not in lockdown.

‘There’s been predominantly a great sense of relief and excitement. While we have worshipped together in various ways over the course of the pandemic, there is nothing quite like coming together as one large church family,’ said Captain Corryn Vemoa, assistant corps officer.

Hamilton had several lockdowns over the pandemic, so during those times the corps met online only. However, in between they tried to modify their worship services to meet the needs of their community as well as operating under government guidelines. For example, when they first moved to the Covid-19 traffic lights framework, they ran three Sunday services—a vaccine pass service, a no vaccine pass required service and online services. Over January they ran a café-style church.

From the end of February as things continued to change, the corps moved into a HUB model—small groups meeting together 14 WarCry 06 AUGUST 2022

in fellowship, watching the online service and having discussions based on questions from the sermons.

‘We are excited that people can finally use our premises after renovations that took place during the past Covid years,’ said Corryn. ‘In all of our lives, all our services and programmes, we are bringing Jesus into whatever situation we are in.’

Tauranga Corps Staying connected as a church family has been a priority focus for Tauranga Corps over the pandemic time. Corps officer, Captain Kylie Overbye, said that with the restrictions in place and concerns for vulnerable people, ‘it’s important that the church family still experiences that sense of belonging even when some of us need to be separate’.

Tauranga Corps has tried to be creative in this space and created a Facebook group for the church family to connect into and share with each other. ‘We livestream our sermon each Sunday to that page so even when we can’t attend for whatever reason, we can still catch up on the message,’ Kylie shared.

‘Where corps folk are unable to attend regularly, we still give people the opportunity to participate in the Sunday service.

We go to their home to do a little recording of a Bible reading or testimony or something that can be played back on Sunday

to help folk still feel united and connected—this is thoroughly enjoyed by the corps.’

This season is going to be here for a while, and not everyone is connected to online forms of communication; Tauranga Corps is mindful of that.

‘We have church folk keeping in touch and checking on others, visiting with baking and making regular phone calls. We have social events happening in smaller groups, either at the corps or in people’s homes, which helps with that connection. One couple has been holding a small table tennis social gathering in their home, they have a lot of fun.’

Taupō Corps At Taupō Corps, their missional thinking has been strongly shaped by the impact of Covid-19. During the 2020 lockdown, the word ‘connect’ emerged as a key idea for their online discussions. Corps officer Lieutenant Jonathan Whybrow explains that ‘recently, we have asked two questions when it comes to our ministry: How can we help people connect with God?; How can we help people connect with one another? In fact, the importance of this word is so strong for us that it is now found in our mission statement: “We exist to share God’s love with all people and help them connect with him”.’

No matter the restrictions faced, these questions have driven Taupō Corps. During the two national lockdowns they managed to stay connected together through Zoom for weekly Bible studies, social nights and chats over cups of coffee. They also produced a weekly YouTube video called ‘Connections’ and distributed transcripts each week for those not online.

During times of reduced gatherings, Taupō corps utilised other ways to stay connected. The children’s ministry ran drive-throughs for those who would ordinarily have attended their regular events. Family carloads would ‘order’ their entertainment—car lolly scrambles, for example—and drive off with Bible story activity packs and resources.

Even now, the question of how their corps connects with God and each other continues to drive them. Jonathan explained that they ‘are constantly looking for ways to engage with people in our community, and bring the different aspects of Te Ope Whakaora in Taupō together’.

One newer initiative for Taupō Corps is Messy Church, appropriately called ‘Connect’. They recently ran one of these Connect Messy Church evenings during Matariki, to explore the significance of this time and reflect on how Matariki can bring the congregation closer to each other and closer to God. Taupō Corps.

Tauranga Corps.

‘This is turning into an amazing space each month to connect with people from different generations and through exploring different topics through activities, stories and a meal to help people connect with God,’ Jonathan said. ‘God only knows where we’ll end up as we pursue him.’

New Plymouth Corps It has been an unusual time over the last couple of years for New Plymouth Corps. They have had to try new ways in which to connect people to God and to each other.

‘The New Plymouth Salvation Army has been pursuing the kingdom of God through the value of relationships,’ said corps officer, Captain Karl Foreman. ‘One of our core values is “Authentic Relationships”, so with that we call people to relationship and community.’

WE HAVE SEEN THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVING IN PEOPLE’S LIVES AND CONTINUE TO SEE HIM DRAWING PEOPLE TO HIMSELF. What this looked like for the corps changed depending on the restrictions of the pandemic. Not much changed with this year’s restrictions, apart from increasing the number of Sunday services. They held three services on a Sunday: 6.30am prayer (for the hardcore), 9.30am and 11am.

They did have several members of their corps who chose to stay home to keep themselves safe, but most people were happy to meet. They have six house churches that meet weekly, with Covid-19 precautions, and continue to do so.

The corps also continues to meet each weekday morning for prayer at 9.30am.

‘It seems that since the restrictions, we have seen a greater hunger for fellowship and for his presence,’ Karl said. ‘We have seen the Holy Spirit moving in people’s lives and continue to see him drawing people to himself. We are so encouraged!

‘The word I carry on my heart is from Psalm 27:13, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living”.’

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Matariki Celebrations

Matariki community event at Te Kōhanga Manaaki Petone Playscape.

Christchurch Major Christine De Maine and other Māori Ministry members celebrated Matariki with people from various Christchurch corps.

For the Ōtautahi [Christchurch] Matariki Metro event, people gathered while it was still dark on a frosty and fresh morning at New Brighton Pier to see the stars and start the day together.

The service was opened by Christine with a mihi (greeting), karakia (prayer) and waiata (song). ‘I gave each person a waiata sheet and a small candle and we called out the names of loved ones that have passed away,’ said Christine. ‘The small candle was a gift for everyone to take away so that they can remember our time together, their loved one and that Jesus said "I am the Light of the world".’

The group congregated at the end of the pier to look for the stars and they could also see the planets in alignment. Christine explained where they should see Matariki, but ‘sadly the Matariki cluster was too shy to make an appearance’, she said.

‘As we waited for the sun to come up, I talked about the names of the stars and what each one represents and the traditions that we have in te ao Māori.’

Christine shared verses from Amos, Job and Psalm 147 and Genesis 1 and said ‘we can look at the New Testament and know that the Star of Bethlehem pointed us to Jesus who is our greatest Hope, and the Magi followed that star to Jesus’. She encouraged them all to think about the new year ahead and what they hoped for.

After the dawn service, everyone was invited back to Linwood Corps for a hot breakfast of pancakes, bacon and eggs, and good fellowship together.

At Hornby and Sydenham Corps the services were held that included waiata, videos about Matariki and reflections on what the celebration means for Christians, including a journey through scripture. There was also the opportunity for people to remember loved ones who had passed and write messages which were then placed around a kōwhai tree. Fellowship was enjoyed as well as kai (food) after every service.

At Sydenham Corps the worship was in Māori and a haka was performed. Christine also shared a message at a community 16 WarCry 06 AUGUST 2022

cuppa, where they played games themed around Matariki and learned te reo Māori.

Queenstown Queenstown Corps celebrated Matariki with a Matariki dinner.

A small group gathered together to play Matariki games, share kai, decorate star cookies and enjoy time together. People wrote on stars remembering those who have passed away, and also their hopes and dreams for the year ahead and placed them on the Matariki tree.

Lower Hutt For the second year running, Te Kōhanga Manaaki Petone Playscape at Petone Corps held its Matariki community event.

The playscape was lit up with festoon lights, woollen blankets were distributed, and a fire was lit for guests to keep warm and toast marshmallows. In a continuing spirit of manaakitanga (hospitality), a sausage sizzle along with curried kūmara soup and rēwena bread were served free of charge. Matariki activity kits were also available for people to complete at the playscape or take home with them.

A real highlight of the evening was having Aux-Captain Amiria Te Whiu of The Salvation Army National Māori Ministry share her childhood memories of Matariki while providing an insight into the meaning behind it and the various ways that people can take part, commemorate and celebrate it.

Her granddaughters Parikura and Ashanna also shared some beautiful waiata.

While much of the evening was focussed on spending a fun and relaxing time in community with whānau and friends, another important aspect was that of taking time out for reflection. A blackboard was set up where guests were invited to consider their hopes and dreams for the coming year or take a moment to remember loved ones who have passed.

Overall, it was an evening enjoyed by all, and it was heartwarming to see people making themselves at home, taking in the delightful atmosphere and experiencing a real sense of community.

Fabulous Foxton Corps When travelling through the Horowhenua, do call into the Foxton Salvation Army. It is open to everyone who would love a cuppa, a chat, or a haircut (only on Mondays). There are board games, you can practice your musical instrument, or just come for company.

It’s a place where lots of activities take place and where everyone is made to feel valued.

Tuesday night you can bring your own craft or hobby and have fellowship together.

Wednesdays are prayer times and we are also running an Alpha Course. Plus, we have also started a music team—most of us are beginners, but we enjoy the experience of playing together for Jesus.

Creative Ministries happens every Friday morning from 10am to 12pm, where people from within the community come and teach us how to make something, for example, paper jewellery, tie dyed articles, crêpe paper carnations—it’s a lot of fun for anyone, and available on a koha basis. On a recent Friday we all enjoyed going on a scavenger hunt, where the clues all led us to Viv’s Kitchen in Sanson for lunch. A great day was had by us all!

We hold quiz nights once a month, again open to the community—we have a meal first, then the quizzes begin.

We network with our local budget services, and we have started a community garden on our corps section. This is another way of helping their clients, the corps foodbank, plus those who call into the Hub each week.

An exciting new chapter is starting soon with Fizz Kids— a children’s programme beginning in the new term every Friday afternoon from 3.30pm to 5pm.

At present our corps officer, Major Steph Herring, is taking us through a series ‘@Prayer’ each Sunday, which we believe is foundational for our corps to be strong in, so we can then grow God’s kingdom here in Foxton/Foxton Beach.

Foxton Corps is an exciting place to be and we look forward to seeing God’s people working to make his name more known in our community. See you there!

BY ANITA GOODE, CORPS SERGEANT MAJOR

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Newtown Strengthens Discipleship Culture

Top (L-R): New soldiers Jason, Sara, Malcolm and John give The Salvation Army salute after their enrolment. Below (L-R): New adherents Aaron, Selwyn, Joy, Georgia, Tania and Mahara with Major Christina Tyson.

It was a blessing and encouragement for Wellington South Corps to welcome six adherents and four senior soldiers on Founders’ Day, 3 July. Aaron, Georgia, Joy, Mahara, Selwyn and Tania were enrolled as adherents, with Jason, John, Malcolm and Sara enrolled as senior soldiers.

Most of the corps’ new members are actively involved in the Monday-to-Friday mission of the Newtown Centre, where the corps is based. This includes serving as volunteers, staff or being regular guests in the Community Ministries Drop-in Centre, picking up daily supermarket bread donations, being on the Fruit and Vege Co-op team, overseeing young people’s work, working in administration and helping at Playgroup.

GAZETTE Promoted to Glory: Major Ngaire (Pip) Goodisson was promoted to Glory on 15 July 2022, from Wellington, aged 79 years. Ngaire Elizabeth Westwood was born in Greymouth on 8 December 1943.

On 19 September 1964 Pip married Keith Goodisson and together they entered officer training from Greymouth in 1968 as cadets in ‘The Evangelists’ session. After their commissioning on 17 January 1970, Pip and Keith were appointed corps officers, Mosgiel Corps.

Appointments followed at Mangere Corps (1973); Rotorua Corps (1975); Bishopdale Corps (1977); Timaru Corps (1980); Raiwai Corps, Fiji (1981); Linwood Corps (1984); and Invercargill Corps (1988). January 1991 brought a change to social service ministry: Pip was appointed assistant officer, Auckland Community and Family Services, followed by appointments as Matron, Upper Hutt Norman Kirk Eventide Home (1996). In 1999 Pip was appointed Corps Officer, Ohinemuri-Paeroa Corps, with additional appointments as Referral Officer, Independent Living Units (ILU’s) Waikato and Chaplain, Training and Employment Paeroa (1999). It is from these appointments that Pip and Keith entered retirement on 3 March 2014. Please remember in prayer Major Keith Goodisson, their children Graham, Michael and Elizabeth, and other members of the extended family at this time of grief and loss.

Bereavement: Major Brenda Luscombe, of her mother Irene Way, who passed away peacefully while surrounded by family on 16 July 2022 in Auckland, aged 102 years. We ask you to uphold in prayer Majors Brenda and Nigel Luscombe, and their extended family at this time of grief and loss.

Long Service Recognition: Effective 31 July 2022, we congratulate Major Peter Lewis on attaining his Long Service Award for 25 years of service. We thank Major Peter Lewis for his faithful service and pray God’s richest blessing upon him.

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Retirement: Effective 31 July 2022, Lt Colonel Lynette Hutson is retiring. On her retirement Lynette will have completed 38 years, 6 months and 11 days of active officer service. Lynette, with her husband Ian, and family entered the training college from Spreydon Corps in 1982, as cadets in the ‘Heralds of Hope’ session. Following their commissioning on 21 January 1984, Lynette and Ian were appointed as corps officers, Stratford Corps, with responsibility for Eltham Corps; Papakura Corps (1988) before being transferred to the Canadian Territory in July 1990 and taking up an appointment as corps officers, Winnipeg Harbour Light Corps. On return to New Zealand they were appointed to the Bridge Programme, Wellington. This was followed by appointments as director, Christchurch Bridge Programme (1999) and study at the University of Canterbury; associate director, Bridge Programme Christchurch (2001) and national manager, Addictions and Supportive Accommodation (2003). In 2011 Lynette and Ian were appointed as the divisional leaders, Midland Division. Whilst divisional director of Women’s Ministries, Lynette held an additional appointment as national consultant, Addictions and Supportive Accommodation.

In 2013, Lynette was appointed to Territorial Headquarters as territorial secretary for Business Administration. A move to Auckland in 2016 saw Lynette appointed as national director of Addiction, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services (ASARS) with an additional appointment as executive officer to National Songsters, SpiritSong. Returning to Wellington in 2021, Lynette was appointed back to Territorial Headquarters as assistant territorial secretary for Mission, continuing to hold her appointment with SpiritSong. It is from these appointments that Lynette enters retirement. Lynette will continue in her present ministries as appointments in retirement.

Several are Bridge graduates who have received ongoing support through Recovery Church as well as from Community Ministries services such as transitional housing, financial mentoring and the Newtown Centre’s early childhood education centre.

‘The icing on the cake for all these wonderful people,’ says Major Keith Tyson, ‘is social and spiritual support from the corps. That’s a key ingredient that is making a lasting difference.’

Wellington South Corps has had a focus on discipleship over the past two years. In 2021, this involved running an Alpha Course. This year, the corps established a ‘Disciples Bootcamp’ using Navigators 2:7 material (www. nav27series.org). This course focusses on making Jesus Lord and learning such things as how to read the Bible daily for enjoyment, memorising key Bible verses, and praying for non-Christian friends and family. Major Christina Tyson leads this group.

The first course of Navigators 2:7 led naturally into membership classes, with Major Judith Bennett taking these classes. The Bootcamp group has now started its second Navigators 2:7 course, with some new people joining. There is one final course to come, in early 2023.

Mahara, who started attending the corps this year, was hit by a drunk driver in January 2021 when returning home on her motorbike from an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. The accident left her in a wheelchair, but she credits Jesus with saving her life—not only from physical death but also spiritually.

‘I was on the road to looking for the Lord Jesus, and I’d started that journey,’ she said. ‘But [the day of my accident] was the day I realised the Lord Jesus really exists. I’m thankful that he led me here to deepen my relationship with him. I’m especially thankful to the discipleship group I’m a part of—my brothers and sisters who have supported me all the way. Thank you! It’s been a truly loving experience, and I know that is the Lord [working] through you to me, and through me to you.

BY MAJOR CHRISTINA TYSON

THE LANGUAGE OF JESUS, THE LANGUAGE THAT HEALS, RESTORES, FORGIVES, BRINGS HOPE...

Our Territorial Strategic Framework helps us fulfill our mission of caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society by God’s power.

Our priorities are to look more closely at our mission impact, our people and ask the question about sustainability. We have announced that we are trialling a pilot to see what ‘mission’ could look like into the future. You can learn more about that by asking at your local corps.

I recently shared in a video that we need to be reminded that our passion is to see greater mission impact and better mission connection across all our centres, our frontline ministry flourishing and being at its best with great support from headquarters and everyone who connects with The Salvation Army anywhere to experience the fullness of life in Jesus.

Julie and I have been preaching across the territory from Acts 11, and asking the question: ‘What are the elements of a life-bringing Salvation Army?’ In Acts 11:19–20 we find one of the keys to a life-bringing community of Christian faith—the church in Antioch: ‘Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.’ They spoke their language in communicating the gospel, they spoke of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

We have several official languages within the four nations of our territory. Not only languages but subjects around language that can be misinterpreted at times. For me personally there’s the language around sport, cars and surfing. For example, what does it mean to say I support the Blues? In Melbourne it means supporting Carlton (AFL), in Sydney it means supporting NSW in the State of Origin (NRL) and in Auckland it would be talking about Rugby Union. Our language needs to be contextual.

But there is also the language of the kingdom where the tone and content of our language builds one another up. The language of Jesus, the language that heals, restores, forgives, brings hope and communicates a purpose into eternity—the language that brings life!

The result of this life-bringing sharing is found in verse 21: ‘The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord’. May it be so for us as an Army that brings life.

Commissioner Mark Campbell Territorial Commander

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Wise and Fall

Most people associate King Solomon with ‘wisdom’ or one of its derivatives, but his story teaches us the importance of not compromising our values, and using our gifts for good.

BY BETHANY SLAUGHTER

After inheriting the throne, King Solomon was visited by God in a dream.

When God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you’ (1 Kings 3:5b), Solomon humbly requested a discerning heart which would give him the wisdom and understanding to rule Israel. Ironically, this was already a very wise request. It reflected that Solomon valued sound judgment rather than wealth to be a successful ruler. The Lord was so pleased with this response, he promised Solomon not just wisdom but he threw in a lifetime of extreme wealth as well—a lavish ‘just because’ gift.

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Solomon put both into use right away, as we see in the famed story of the two mothers who approached Solomon one day. The first woman claimed the other had accidentally smothered her own baby while sleeping, and then swapped him with the first woman’s living newborn during the night. The second mother insisted that the first woman was lying. This was long before modern technology could solve these problems with a DNA test.

Solomon was in charge of building the temple where God could dwell amongst his people. 1 Kings 9:3 reads, ‘The Lord said to him: “I have heard your prayer and what you have asked me to do. You built this Temple, and I have made it a holy place. I will be worshiped there forever and will watch over it and protect it always.’” However, he warned Solomon that if he began to worship other gods, the Lord would force Israel to leave the land and the temple.

Solomon’s approach at first seemed severe: he ordered for the child to be cut in half for the women to share.

This trick revealed that the first mother loved the child so much that she would rather another woman raise her son if it meant he would live; the second mother callously said that if she couldn’t have him, then no one could. Thanks to this clever judgment, Solomon was able to return the child to the rightful mother.

Downward spiral At first, noble people—such as the Queen of Sheba—came to visit Solomon to test his wisdom with difficult questions. But in the following year, Solomon’s golden legacy began to tarnish. Israel’s spiritual currency was spent on growing physical splendour.

With the wealth and infrastructure at his disposal, Solomon gradually prioritised his kingly interests rather than his King.

instruction and is recorded as having 700 wives and 300 concubines. These alliances came at the cost of introducing foreign gods into Israel.

‘It looks like a sad story of slow compromise, leading to disaster,’ writes Tim Mackie for The Bible Project. ‘As a result, his [Solomon’s] great wisdom that once represented a divine gift became an instrument for self-service and exaltation.’

Despite Solomon’s disloyalty, God honoured the promise he made to Solomon and he was wealthy until he died; however, God’s warnings also came to pass.

Even if Solomon had first built the temple on solid rock, by the end his leadership was a mansion built on sand. His son Rehoboam succeeded him as king, but he was not gifted with his father’s wisdom. Ten of the twelve Israelite tribes rebelled against him, selecting Jeroboam—one of Solomon’s former officials and, later, adversaries— as their king, and formed the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Rehoboam remained king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This was a posthumous blow for Solomon’s leadership legacy; he handed over an unsustainable kingdom, and both Israel and Judah eventually descended into rebellion against God. Solomon married more and more foreign wives—even though, in the Book of Deuteronomy, God instructed kings not to have multiple wives or marry women from certain foreign lands who would lead their hearts astray. Solomon disobeyed this

LEADERS SHOULD BE PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY WHO HOLD STEADFAST TO THEIR VALUES AND ARE NEITHER SELFISH NOR WASTEFUL WITH THEIR ABILITIES.

Action!

Consider the leaders in your life—in schools, churches, government—we want these people to care about the interests, concerns and inequalities faced by the people they lead, rather than self-interest or fear. We don’t want them to give in, little by little, to retain the favour of others until their actions no longer resemble their promises.

Leaders should be people of integrity who hold steadfast to their values and are neither selfish nor wasteful with their abilities.

And yet, we all exhibit leadership every day—as parents, employees, even as drivers in the right-hand lane—which means we need to hold ourselves to account in the same way. If God has given us an ability, we need to use it, and use it well.

WE NEED TO PLACE OURSELVES IN POSITIONS WHERE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE OUR CAPABILITIES, AND THEN AS PEOPLE OF FAITH TRUST GOD WITH THE PLANS. them to their full potential, for not using them for the right reasons or even using them at all. Let us not start on the right footing but then slowly realise we have drifted to suit or fit in with the people around us.

We need to place ourselves in positions where we have the opportunity to use our capabilities, and then as people of faith trust God with the plans.

For example, in Solomon’s story, God had already promised to protect Israel; Solomon’s decisions to pursue marriages which formed alliances with foreign lands showed a lack of faith that God would follow through on his word, even in spite of the empirical proof he already had (his gift of wisdom) of God fulfilling his promises.

We can learn from both parts of Solomon’s story: first, the importance of wisdom and how this is something God values more than any wealth and possessions. Many of Solomon’s wise sayings, rules, observations and warnings are captured in the Book of Proverbs. However, like all humans, he had faults that unfortunately led him towards faithlessness. The second shows us the importance of using the talents that God has blessed us with for his kingdom, and holding tight to faith to guide our actions, to avoid the same mistakes.

With hindsight, it is easy to judge Solomon—but let us not be guilty of squandering our gifts and not using 06 AUGUST 2022 WarCry

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OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Mark (Territorial Commander) and Julie Campbell (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 11–14 August: Central Division visit 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.

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THE ARMY THAT BRINGS LIFE

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Quiz Answers: 1 The underwater Mid-Oceanic Ridge, 2 Houses of Parliament, London, UK, 3 Ring finger, 4 South Africa, 5 130 years old (Genesis 5:3–4). Country Answers: Aotearoa New Zealand, España Spain, Hellas Greece, Italia Italy, Mēxihco Mexico, Misr Egypt, Nippon Japan, Rossiâ Russia, Viti Fiji.

22 WarCry 06 AUGUST 2022

‘After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.’

Colouring in!

REVELATION 7:9A

Why did detective s the uspe the sushi? ct She thoug was a little ht it fishy!

A

O

R

A

E

T

O

A

D

H

O

N

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I

T

I

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V

E

T

C

R

O

W

T

F

T

L

E

A

H

O

D

P

B

A

L

O

N

N

I

S

B

L

P

A

L

A

F

Z

X

S

Q

M

S

I

P

I

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L

E

I

R

I

X

S

N

S

A

F

M

A

M

S

E

C

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X

J

U

Egypt

S

E

P

R

F

N

A

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V

S

Greece

C

S

Y

E

U

X

P

V

C

S

New Zealand

Word search!

Can you find the countries to the right—as written in their native tongues—in this word search? They could be forward, backward, up, down or diagonal. We've removed the accents and macrons from the names to make it less confusing.

AOTEAROA ESPAÑA HELLAS ITALIA MĒXIHCO MISR NIPPON ROSSIÂ VITI

Translator!

Once you’ve found the countries, match them to the English translation of their names (answers p22).

Have you ever found yourself in a fight with a friend? Perhaps it’s because you have different opinions about something. No matter how different the two of you may be, it’s good to accept your differences and learn how to work through them together.

Jesus always spoke to people who were different to him, even those the Jews disliked, such as tax collectors or Samaritans. The power in the message of the gospel is that it brings people together. In the Old Testament, God looked after the Israelites, because he made an agreement with them that if they followed him, he would bless them.

However, it was always God’s plan to make a covenant (agreement) with the rest of the world. He did this through Jesus’s great sacrifice on the cross.

Fiji

Sometimes it can be hard to make friends with someone who is different to you, whether that is coming from a different culture or neighbourhood.

However, we are all people who enjoy things like eating food, playing games and telling a funny story. We are all accepted by God in our similarities and our differences. That’s the great thing about being part of the beautiful and diverse family of God!

Italy

I WONDER...

Japan Mexico Spain

Russia

How can you celebrate your differences with your friends?

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