06 March 2021 NZFTS War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION 06 MARCH 2021 | Issue 6762 | $1.50

Community Ministries Camping Out at the Cross Legacy: Received and Given Tonga Adventure Camp 2021

Bail House Rocks

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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 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.

EDITOR Vivienne Hill | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Holly Morton, Louise Parry, Bethany Slaughter | PROOF READING Major Colleen Marshall | COVER PHOTO Ryan McCauley 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.

Publishing for 137 years | Issue 6762 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry

salvationarmy.org.nz SalvationArmyNZFTS @SalvationArmyNZ salvationarmynzfts

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The question of legacy In this edition of War Cry, Captain Bryant Richards speaks to the importance of legacy (page 19). I too have been left a strong Christian legacy by men and women who have modelled to me devotion to Christ. Two people in particular come to mind: Commissioners Garth and Mel McKenzie.

I am mourning the passing of Garth McKenzie, who has had a strong influence on my spiritual life and has modelled what it means to daily walk with God. He was a man of prayer and faithful to pray for anyone … no matter what they needed, no matter what the struggle. He was disciplined in his spiritual habits and this consistency brought a depth and insight into his understanding of the human condition and the faith to move the mountains that often seemed immovable.

One memory in particular was as I returned to Territorial Headquarters from Major Harold Hill’s funeral (another mighty man of God). I was walking back to work and chatting with Garth. We cut through a small park and he pointed to a plaque at the bottom of a tree. He asked me to read the plaque, and explained that the City of Wellington had honoured a Salvation Army officer for his work in the city centre. He then went on to say that the tree and plaque were planted and laid after the officer took his own life. Garth turned to me and said, ‘We are very good at looking after other people, but not always good at looking after our own’. Sitting on a park bench next to the tree was a homeless man who mocked Garth’s uniform and joked about the Army. Garth replied, ‘Yes, brother, I belong to God’s mighty Army’.

These two statements sum up for me Garth’s heart. A man who deeply cared for people and a man who deeply cared for God. He was also committed to The Salvation Army, and his legacy will live on in my life and also in the lives of many other people who knew and served with Commissioner Garth McKenzie. His life has indeed left an enduring legacy. The question is: what legacy will each of us leave?

Vivienne Hill Editor 1 Chronicles 16:11 ‘Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.’

1 Ngā Whakapapa 16:11 ‘Rapua a Ihowa, me tona kaha; rapua tonutia tona mata.’

W

hile walking to work, my eyes were opened to the glory of wheelie bins. As I strolled through the cosmopolitan Wellington suburb of Newtown, I followed a young mum walking her son to childcare. I wasn’t particularly tuned in to their conversation, until the boy asked about one of the wheelie bins our city council uses for recycling.

Mum started explaining that the bin ‘gets picked up by a truck with a robot arm’.

The little boy’s eyes lit up. A real robot?!

Mum then demonstrated how the ‘robot arm’ comes out of the truck, how it connects with the wheelie bin, how it lifts and manoeuvres the bin until its contents can be emptied right into the truck!

Throughout this exaggerated visual demonstration, her young son remained transfixed.

His eyes opened to all sorts of amazing things: recycling, technology, engineering and storytelling to name just a few.

I couldn’t help it. I had to stop and congratulate this awesome mum for awakening my eyes to the splendour of Wellington City Council wheelie bins.

There’s a lot to be worried about in the world. The constant anxiety of Covid-19, a planet groaning under consumerism’s excesses, the competitive sport of partisan politics, casual and institutionalised racism, out-of-reach housing, over-stretched mental health systems.

I was carrying all this (and more) in my head before God woke me to the glory of wheelie bins.

No, that’s not right; God woke me to the glory of positivity through this brilliant young mother.

We need to be careful not to become so

overwrought by all that’s going wrong in the world that we overlook what’s going right.

This isn’t about denial or burying our heads in the sand. It’s about lifting our sight and souls to spot the causes for celebration that surround us every day.

And then anchoring our efforts as champions for the good stuff of life. Like that mum, getting her son to childcare, yet not too busy to shine a spotlight of gratitude on a simple wheelie bin.

That same morning, I read Psalm 116 (CEV) over breakfast and was reminded that even hurt and disappointment can help us recapture hope and purpose when we allow it to turn us—even in utter desperation—to God. The psalmist writes: ‘Death attacked from all sides, and I was captured by its painful chains. But when I was really hurting, I prayed…’

There it is! When we are really hurting, when the world around us and the worries within us deliver abject hopelessness, our instinct is not always to pray. But oh, the change that can come when our hurt turns us to God! Where does your hurt send you?

This is where it sent the writer of Psalm 116: ‘You, Lord, have saved my life from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. Now I will walk at your side in this land of the living.’

Just as I was challenged by that amazing mum to pay attention to positivity as I walked to work, so I am challenged by the writer of Psalm 116 to pay attention to the blessings of daily companionship with the Divine. To let God be God, when I am constantly faced with the reality that I am not.

BY MAJOR CHRISTINA TYSON

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Brie and Pesto Frittata 1 tsp butter ½ onion, chopped finely 1 small potato, washed and grated ½ cup frozen peas 1 Tbsp pesto 2 Tbsp chopped parsley 4 eggs, lightly whisked, seasoned 6 cherry tomatoes, halved

Heat the butter in a small oven-proof frying pan.

Add the onion and potato, cooking for 5 minutes until softened.

Add the peas, pesto, parsley, eggs and dot around the cherry tomatoes. Place the slices of Brie on the top.

Cook on a low heat without stirring for 5 minutes, then place under the grill for 2 minutes until set in the middle.

½ Brie wheel, sliced

What are Christians put into the world for except to do the impossible in the strength of God? General SC Armstrong

SALLIEOF THEWEEK

Colin Davidson (Palmerston North Corps) Our Sallie of the Week is Colin Davidson, who has been nominated

by Captains Chris Collings and Stu Lee. Colin is an ‘amazing gentleman’ of the Palmerston North Corps, who is involved as a soldier, bandsman, Men’s Voices leader and songster. He is one of the inspiring team members who is passionate about their thriving Just Brass programme, and recently told Chris that being involved in Just Brass has contributed to this being the most exciting season of his life as a Salvationist. Just Brass has a mission of transforming young lives through music, and, along with two other leaders, Colin recently took twelve children to the 2021 Brass Academy Camp. For all that he does to serve his community is why Colin is our Sallie of the Week!

Source: countdown.co.nz

QUIKQUIZ

1 What is the name of the fictional country in The Princess Diaries?

2 What is the traditional UK name for the card game known as ‘Solitaire’?

3 In which year did Cleopatra die?

4 Queens and Staten Island are two of the five boroughs that make up which US city?

5 What precious jewel is mentioned by Jesus in a parable about the kingdom?

Answers on page 22 4 WarCry 06 MARCH 2021

Drama Minari (PG) Directed by Lee Isaac Chung Aspirational father Jacob Yi (Steven Yeun) wants a better life for his family, so they uproot from California to rural Arkansas to begin a Korean vegetable farm. His wife Monica (Yeri Han) is less convinced, worried by their remoteness and their son’s heart murmur. While Jacob’s eyes are desperately fixated on opportunity, Monica’s are peeled for the slightest risk. The family experiences further change upon the arrival of lively and compassionate grandmother Soon-ja (Yuh-jung Youn, a standout). Her budding relationship with grandson David (Alan S Kim) is enchanting, as he slowly overcomes his initial childlike resistance and warms to this new family member. Anchored by outstanding individual acting performances, gently funny and entirely heartfelt, Minari doesn’t rely on gimmicks to heighten the drama. It is a moving portrait of a Korean-American family adjusting to new dynamics and, while expressing their love for one another differently, being held together by it. (Reviewed by Bethany Slaughter)

TOPFIVE

This might be a niche list for those of you who grew up with Veggie Tales, but here are five helpful lessons for everybody, taken from the beloved TV show.

1. B e courageous—even when you risk being sent to the island of perpetual tickling. [Esther: The Girl Who Became Queen] 2. L ove your parents—more than a gigantic, chocolate bunny. [Rack, Shack & Benny] 3. Be generous—especially when it comes to sharing your precious hairbrush with your neighbour (and you don’t even have any hair).

[Are You My Neighbour?]

4. D on’t be selfish—you have enough rubber ducks!

[King George and the Ducky]

Queenstown Lakes District shows strength in community The Mitre 10 Community of the Year Award semi-finalists have recently been announced, with one of those nominated being the Queenstown Lakes District Covid-19 Welfare Response team.

This team is made up of multiple groups from around the region, including the local council, Happiness House, Baskets of Blessing, Red Cross, Manaaki Manuhiri, the Chamber of Commerce and Queenstown Corps Community Ministries, and is centred around offering welfare for those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first days on the welfare response team were a ‘continually evolving beast’ with between 200 and 300 registered requests for help on day one, and a particular concern for migrants being laid off with no access to further support. During lockdown, the Welfare Team received over 20,000 requests for aid and responded to all they could with food parcels, clothing and bedding and mental health support.

Queenstown Corps Officer and Director of Community Ministries

Lieutenant Andrew Wilson thinks the semi-finalist nomination for Community of the Year is a testament to the strength of the Queenstown Lakes District community when called to depend on each other.

5. G od is bigger than the Bogeyman—and he’s watching out for you and me. [Where’s God When I’m Scared?]

WARCRYIN HISTORY

The 14 March 1896 War Cry promised readers a written profile of a day in the life of the Chief of Staff.

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

‘We heard some incredibly harrowing stories of people absolutely down to their last cent where they had no hope of what the future held for them. But at the same time, I was continually blown away as to how this community responded to the crisis. I’d come in to our centre and at the front door there would be boxes and boxes of food donated by complete strangers. We had a truck donated, full of produce and dairy products. The guy’s like, “Look, we can’t use this, you have it for as long as you want”. I think the rallying behind the most vulnerable in our town was a real credit to the community.’

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Community Ministries

SO MUCH MORE THAN A HAND-OUT

The Salvation Army’s Community Ministries is committed to providing wraparound, holistic support to every client that enters through its centres’ doors—but Territorial Director Jono Bell also wants to see people taking the ethos of their work out into their own corps and communities.

BY BETHANY SLAUGHTER

W

hen ‘Community Ministries’ is mentioned, what comes to mind for most Salvationists is probably the services that run adjacent to their local corps.

Bolstered by hard working teams of staff and volunteers, Community Ministries centres give out food parcels, provide financial counselling, run education programmes, solve housing dilemmas and much more.

And yet, when you separate the two words—community and ministry—it is something that we are all called to do: minister to those in our local community.

Territorial Director of Community Ministries Jono Bell believes that the ‘secret’ to Community Ministries is people and relationships. He says the same logic applies to taking Community Ministries from being a service housed in a building, to something that is lived out in the community by loving our neighbours.

‘There are 10,000 people regularly worshipping in The Salvation Army.

Imagine what 10,000 people could do in their own community. It may just be one family in a school that you bump into, or one neighbour, but you can make a difference in that moment.’

‘This is about us being engaged with people, in ministry, in our communities.’

Providing wraparound support When a client approaches one of The Salvation Army’s Community Ministries centres, they rarely present with a single issue that can be neatly resolved.

Usually, an aspect of their living situation—be that housing, finance or hunger—has spiralled and prompted them to seek support for themselves and their whānau.

Community Ministries has a strengths-based model of care, which focuses on transformative, wraparound work. It recognises the strengths and resources that each person has, as well as identifying problematic circumstances, challenges and risks. ‘That could be an unhealthy relationship, it may be that they didn’t have enough finance to pay the bills. It may be that they are struggling with the behaviour of their children.

‘We really want to confront and address the underlying issues that people come with,’ Jono says, ‘rather than just providing the Band-Aid of meeting that immediate need. We do that—we feed people, we put a roof over their heads, if we can—however, at the same time, that’s not our objective. We don’t want 06 MARCH 2021 WarCry 7

to see them again in two years’ time … we want to be able to address what those issues and challenges are.’

From there, they can develop a plan for the client to move forward into a better, more sustainable future.

Emma*, a client in Whangārei, suffers from chronic depression and is currently separated from her partner while co-parenting her two children, one of whom lives with her. She contacted her local Community Ministries—via text message and a follow-up phone call—during lockdown last year to request food assistance. During those conversations, she was told about PLP (Positive Lifestyle Programme) and started the course during level 2 lockdown.

WHAT SETS THE SALVATION ARMY APART FROM OTHER FAITH-BASED ORGANISATIONS IS ITS COMMITMENT TO THOSE LIVING ON THE MARGINS. An early goal identified was to reinforce Emma’s support network, so Community Ministries was able to help with petrol and food vouchers for her to travel to Auckland and reconnect with her mother.

While the trip was a mental and emotional challenge, through support from Community Ministries, she faced those challenges and made good progress. She is still struggling financially, but she has begun part-time work, receives regular food parcels from City Mission and is continuing to work on her money management and PLP courses.

This type of meaningful change, addressing underlying risk factors while bringing out positive growth, is made possible by journeying with clients. ‘We’re not time bound,’ Jono explains.

‘We don’t say, “Your six months are up, we have to let you go on”.

We’re able to work with people as long as it takes.

‘The wraparound support that comes in is when we comprehensively understand what’s going on for the person, and that can take weeks to do. That isn’t just a one-off interaction.’

In those sessions, they can unearth strengths and resources which can make the client resilient and able to thrive.

Samantha* came to Glenfield Community Ministries three years ago, presenting with huge debt and a serious prescription 8 WarCry 06 MARCH 2021

drug addiction. By working with financial mentors, she was able to learn about the basics of money management and work on her debt. She also grew in confidence, which led her to making positive changes in her life, such as developing a CV and applying for jobs. She learned how to negotiate with her debtors and is now debt-free with a full-time job.

Community Ministries’ strengths-based approach lifts clients’ eyes to see a better vision for their own futures—and, often, their whānau as well.

‘The doorway is that they want a great future for their kids, and they know they need to make change for the sake of their kids,’ Jono says. ‘They just don’t know how to get there. And that’s when we can help.’

Talia* approached The Salvation Army for emergency housing in June 2018. She was five months pregnant with a young daughter. She shared her goals with them: permanent housing, keeping her family together and for her husband to return from Samoa. However, she had struggled with the dynamics of private housing applications due to cultural differences.

Her Community Ministries worker joined Talia at house viewings, advocated for her with the Ministry of Social Development and Kāinga Ora and supported her husband with his residency application. Talia eventually gained a property shortly before her third child was born in June last year; her husband is in the final stages of the residency process and they are happily settled.

Last year, her Community Ministries worker was invited to Talia’s son’s first birthday celebration. There, Talia called her son her ‘Salvation Army baby’.

Meeting present needs The recent Covid-19 resurgence in the community has not slowed any Community Ministries centres. Safety protocols are in place and, in the case of a lockdown or level change, they are set up to provide interviews, counselling and programmes over a range of mediums (such as social media, webinars and phone calls). Collection of food parcels can continue by limiting contact in line with strict health and safety requirements.

Highlighting the importance of food support in recent months, The Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit’s recent State of the Nation 2021 report (‘Disturbed Present, Better Future?’) revealed an enormous increase in food parcels distributed by Community Ministries in the past twelve months. More than 113,000 food parcels were provided

THIS TYPE OF MEANINGFUL CHANGE, ADDRESSING UNDERLYING RISK FACTORS WHILE BRINGING OUT POSITIVE GROWTH, IS MADE POSSIBLE BY JOURNEYING WITH CLIENTS. across the country by the end of December 2020, almost twice the number of the previous year. Of these food parcels, 37,000 were handed out in the eight weeks of the levels 3 and 4 national lockdowns.

Another ongoing concern is the stress and anxiety exacerbated by Covid-19 case spikes, something that Community Ministries are addressing through programmes such as PLP. ‘We’re able to help them [clients] understand what some of those impacts are and what strategies they can have so they feel more in control and less anxious.’

Unsurprisingly, housing continues to be a standout issue.

While The Salvation Army has hundreds of people already housed (in homes, transitional housing, disability homes and addiction services), centres still receive requests for help on a daily basis.

One Wellington family was confronted with a $150 per week increase in rent, and their only option forward was to sleep in their car. ‘They didn’t have any excess or surplus in their working budget. There’s no way they can support that, so there’s no alternative for them.’

Another recent example was a refugee family with six children. ‘There were no motels big enough for them,’ Jono explains, ‘so this family stayed in a school hall for a week with some mattresses that we were able to scrounge as a temporary option.

‘It doesn’t matter whether you’re rural or inner city, this is the real big issue.’

With these stories landing on the doorsteps of centres regularly, this is where The Salvation Army can intervene—not just in terms of meeting the immediate need, but through the wraparound support model, safeguarding and encouraging clients that there are better alternatives possible for them.

‘Everyone has the resources to change,’ Jono affirms. ‘We are able to shine a light, I suppose, and we say, “change is possible, but you don’t have to feel you have to walk it alone.

That’s what we’re here for”.’

And he believes this is what the wider community are here for as well.

Living out Community Ministry Many of the circumstances that cause clients to approach Community Ministries stem from prevalent, systemic issues which will require major change to turn the tide. ‘There are numerous solutions out there, but it’s up to politicians, government officials, policy advisors and the public that support those politicians to really make some sacrificial or bold decisions.’

In some cases, he believes people might need to ask themselves hard questions. ‘How many of us have excess homes?

How many Salvationists are landlords and are charging market rent because they can, maximising their profits while potentially keeping families in the cycle of poverty?’

However, from humble and simple acts of kindness, big things grow.

Jono’s hope is that people would not see these seemingly insurmountable issues—like hunger, debt and homelessness— as the responsibility of services and not-for-profit charities to carry alone. Rather, he believes we can and should all take up the call to be Jesus’ hands and feet in our neighbouring communities.

‘The challenge would be that everybody has a Community Ministries as part of their corps. What people on the margins are you in relationship with?’ Jono asks. ‘And that simply might be having a coffee, smiling and welcoming them and having a conversation with them. For me, that’s something we can all do that’s very simple. And through that interaction, such positive transformation can occur for people.’

Jono believes that what sets The Salvation Army apart from other faith-based organisations is its commitment to those living on the margins—something he sees lived out by the staff of Community Ministries every day, and hopes to see taken up by all Salvation Army communities.

‘The difference isn’t our qualifications or the skills. The difference we make is about one person engaging with another, showing love and empathy. That’s where the real transformation occurs—in relationships.’ * All names of clients have been changed for confidentiality.

06 MARCH 2021 WarCry 9

Too Little, Too Late?

‘It’s too late to apologise … it’s too laaaaaaate.’ So laments OneRepublic in their popular song, ‘Apologize’.

But is this realistic?

We are human, which means we inevitably hurt people and can face the repercussions. Saying sorry is no fun and very tempting to avoid. But when we wait too long the guilt festers over how our actions might have affected another person. But is there such a time when it is, indeed, too late to apologise?

Strangely, last year’s lockdowns presented a time for reflection which saw a wealth of people reaching out to apologise for past wrongdoings—to exes, bullying victims and former friends.

Particularly in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, many people of colour received belated apologies for racist behaviour (and/or not calling it out at the time).

Has something been playing on your mind that you are truly sorry for, but you worry that reaching out may reopen the old wound rather than heal it?

There is no perfect answer to this conundrum, but here are some questions to consider: • Were your actions or words intentional or a mistake?

THE SMALLEST ACTS CAN IMPACT PEOPLE IN BIG WAYS.

• Could the time you have taken to apologise have hurt more than the incident itself?

• Were you hurt as well?

• Is your motivation to ease the other person’s pain, or to absolve your own guilt, receive your own apology and/or make yourself feel better?

The bottom line should always be: is this about their happiness or your regret? Who are you seeking peace for?

If you decide to reach out, don’t ask ‘if’ you did anything wrong—assume your actions were hurtful. Posture yourself with humility and sincerity. Anything less will be sniffed out and could make things worse. Don’t expect a certain response—or any response at all. The smallest acts can impact people in big ways (which is a scary thought, a reminder to choose your words and actions carefully). They have no obligation to forgive you, even after all this time.

Sometimes we mess up. If there is something you feel you need to apologise for a long time down the track, question your motives. But a sincere, overdue ‘sorry’—no matter how much time has passed, no matter how hard it is—might be exactly what the person needs.

Your Apology Blueprint • D on’t just say ‘sorry’—acknowledge you were in the wrong and explain that you understand your error.

• Be genuine—no ifs or buts, take responsibility and show remorse.

• Don’t play the blame game—it cancels out your apology. Even if you both participated in the hurt, you can only control your intent to apologise. Apologising does not mean you are admitting everything that person did was completely right either.

• Don’t attempt to justify yourself.

• Show you have changed, or how you will change. Let them know that you are taking actions.

• Ask for forgiveness (don’t plead or demand) and give them time. Remember, they aren’t required to forgive you. Be prepared to apologise more than once.

Source: psychologytoday.com

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TESTIFY! Lieutenant Rupeni Daucakacaka (Corps Officer, Taveuni Corps) shared his testimony at Fiji Commissioning in November 2020.

It is a privilege for me to share the goodness and faithfulness of God in my life. My journey has been quite a process for the past years and, particularly, the two years at training school. Coming into officer training was a challenge for me because I saw myself as not worthy. But I thank God that through his goodness and faithfulness he has made me worthy.

When I came to college I thought I was ready, and that I had it all. But it was more that God wanted to work in me every day.

My family life, my school programmes, my personal time with God, everything, God spoke to me through them. One thing he taught me was to put into action what I preach. I found it hard and I know I cannot do it in my own strength, but I can with God’s strength.

I am blessed to be handpicked by God to be a ‘Messenger of Grace’ together with my wife Eleni and my sister Mereani—not forgetting our session mates in New Zealand.

I would like to thank God for those who have been with us on this journey—our families, friends, officers and our tutors from last year and this year.

Our session name has reminded me always of God’s grace. The grace that saved me from this worldly life. The grace that will never leave us. Whether you love God or not, his grace will be with you to save you. This is the grace that I will share with the people whom God will lead me to.

It says in Ephesians 2:8–9, ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast’.

‘…I THANK GOD THAT THROUGH HIS GOODNESS AND FAITHFULNESS HE HAS MADE ME WORTHY.’ Before I came into training school, one verse that always kept me going with my family was, ‘If the Lord does not build the house, the work of the builders is useless; if the Lord does not protect the city, it does no good for the sentries to stand guard’ (Psalms 127:1, GNT). God has been the foundation of my life and my family.

There was a song we sang during our Covenant Day, which says: Au na lomani koya veigauna kecega I will love the Lord always Lomani koya kua ni beca na lewa I love him so much that I will obey his command Vei vosa ni yalayala This is my covenant Meu muria Talega I will follow Au lomani Jisu I love Jesus Veigauna kecega Always

Just before November, God spoke to me through a Scripture which really touched my heart. This will be our Scripture for our next journey: ‘When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep”’ (John 21:15–17).

I give all the glory and honour to God. Amen.

06 MARCH 2021 WarCry 11

BY FILIPE SAAFI

Tonga Outdoor Adventure Camp 2021

Due to border closures caused by the Covid-19 worldwide pandemic, we were not able to travel to New Zealand for Amplify and Summit Camp this year. Instead we decided to create our very first outdoor adventure camp here in Tonga using local leadership and exploring the backyard of the tropical paradise of the Friendly Islands.

What an amazing opportunity to have 10 young people (14–17 year olds) and 2 leaders from different corps and spend a week with them in adventure, learning, exploring and experiencing God’s love through nature, the people we met and the activities we did.

On Monday January 11, straight after the week of prayer here in Tonga, we began our adventure camp.

Everyone arrived at the campus at Aloft Accommodation, Fua’amotu on Monday evening, and we kicked off our week with welcomes and introductions, house rules and teambuilding activities. Before heading to bed we had to make sure that everyone packed their gear ready to go to ‘Eua on Tuesday morning. The ferry left at 9am from Nuku’alofa heading to ‘Eua Island. We arrived in ‘Eua at 12pm, got our gear and headed to our campus in Mata’aho ‘Eua. For some of our young people, this was their first time in ‘Eua. Also, for some, this was their first time on a ferry and was

12 firezone.co.nz 06 MARCH 2021

such an amazing experience for them. Straight after lunch we packed our gear again, getting ready to go hiking and camping in the mountains at the eastern side of ‘Eua, a place called Matamahinahopo (where you can see the sun when it rises early in the morning). At camp that night we had a bonfire.

On Wednesday morning we got up early, packed our stuff and put it in the truck so we could run from where we were camping to the closest village nearby (almost 3km away). From there we got on the truck and headed back to the base camp. In the afternoon we went to a place called ‘Heke’—which means ‘Slide’. Here there are three different stages of sliding which you can do by following the river flow: short slide, long slide and also the step slide. In the afternoon we went exploring and visiting some of the historical places in ‘Eua. On Thursday we returned back to Tongatapu and in the afternoon we visited a missionary from America named Chris Paquette. He and his family moved to Tonga in 2012. He is a master builder and has built a treehouse in the middle of the bush. Part of our adventure was to explore nature and see how beautiful God’s creation is.

We were also able to learn from other people’s stories and skills; Chris shared his story with us of how God called him to Tonga, about the house that he built (most of the building materials are natural resources—trees that had fallen in cyclone Gita) and about his vision and his passion for the young people of Tonga.

On Friday morning we started with a short morning run of almost 3km before getting ready for a day of

kayaking. For kayaking we did an island tour around Fanga’uta Lagoon led by the Fatai Kayaking Team.

On Saturday morning we did a little bit of early morning exercise at the base camp and then continued on with cleaning up (service) before heading to the cave in the afternoon. We did a little bit of exploring and also swimming in the cave (‘Anahulu Cave).

Every night we had a debrief with the campers of the day's activities and shared in a time of devotion and encouragement from the Word of God. On Friday night we had a movie, and on Saturday night a talent show.

On Sunday, the camp came to an end and the happy campers returned home—somewhat exhausted, but still full of excitement and enthusiasm from the time spent with each other and the activities they experienced.

Samuela Paletu'a A.K.A. SAM Nuku’alofa Corps | 16 years old

My highlight is going to the ‘Heke’ (Slide). It reminds me to understand that life has different stages of difficulties sometimes, but it is for us to choose whether we can overcome it or not.

'Ofa Tangaloa

A.K.A. ‘OU Fua’amotu Corps | 16 years old When my corps officer told me that I was chosen to be part of this programme, I did not want to go—I felt that even up to the day that the WInton Corps |started.

Major: Preaching programme When my parents dropped me Minor: off toDance—Hip-Hop the campus I almost cried because this was the first time for me away from home and from my parents. But at the end of the camp I was blessed that I got to share with my family a lot that I’ve learnt from the time away. One of my highlights was when we went caving. While we were swimming in the cave we started singing worship songs; everyone joined the singing and that's when I felt the Holy Spirit moving within us inside the cave.

SIOBHAN

Cassidy Raass A.K.A. NANE Vaini Corps | 14 years old

I liked all the activities at the camp and also learnt how to work together and support each other when things got tough. I also saw the beauty of God’s creation—it always reminds me of how big God’s love for us is.

Kelepi Akoteu

A.K.A. LEPI Talasiu Corps | 16 years old Sometimes I am afraid of doing something that I know for sure that I can’t do, but through this outdoor adventure camp I had people who encouraged me and pushed me to try and do things I think I can’t—and I did try!

06 MARCH 2021 WarCry 13

Bail House Rocks

BY LOUISE PARRY

Christchurch is the second New Zealand location to host a Salvation Army Bail House, which is designed to keep people out of prison and offer them support while they await court appearances.

The service, which is primarily for men aged between 18 to 25 years, was supposed to open in March 2020, but was stalled when the country went into lockdown on the Thursday before.

This meant the house was shut up, and the recently-employed staff were put off for eight weeks on full pay and made available to be redeployed to help with other service needs in The Salvation Army. Thankfully, the service was able to open straight after lockdown levels lifted.

The Salvation Army National Operations Manager of Reintegration Services Glen Buckner says the establishment of the Christchurch Bail House follows on from the successful operation of Puāwai in Wellington, which is in its third year of existence.

The Wellington service can accommodate up to seven men at a time, and Christchurch up to five.

In New Zealand, people arrested for committing a crime are deemed innocent until they have a chance to speak before a judge or jury. If you have been charged with a crime, you have the right under the Bill of Rights to be released on bail, unless there is a good reason for continuing to hold you. One of those reasons is not having safe or suitable accommodation.

At the initial court appearance, some are sentenced immediately and go to jail. However, if they are due to appear again before a judge or jury, are deemed low risk and have been charged with a low or medium offence, they have to find somewhere to live until their next appearance, which will usually be at the very least a day away.

Many of these people will not be able to stay with family due to the nature of the offence, and some people have nowhere to go.

They can spend time in police cells and then remand in prison.

In some instances, a crime has been committed against a member of the family, or the family is unwilling to be seen to take sides by supporting them.

‘It’s really hard sometimes to have those conversations to get this accommodation.’

On average, people are in remand for four to six weeks before they get another opportunity to go back to see a judge. Then, if they still don’t have an address, they go back to remand for at least another month.

‘These people risk disconnection from their family. They may lose their job and so their whānau lose their financial support,’ Glen says.

‘They may have pets, and no one to look after them. Some people are not expecting to be sentenced to jail—they park their car on the street, they may even have a dog in the car—and they end up going to jail. Their stuff gets stolen, and what happens to the car and the dog?’

Glen says the priority of the service is to keep people out of jail and give them support ‘and show them someone believes in them. We help them connect with positive supports to improve their future and to hopefully give other options to the 14 WarCry 06 MARCH 2021

judge instead of a custodial sentence.

Sometimes, this is as simple as connecting clients to Glen Buckner, National Operations already existing Manager of Reintegration Services. community supports that they may not even be aware of.’

Staff come from a variety of backgrounds, including work in addictions and social work, mental health, reintegration and past corrections work or youth work, ‘and people who just want to support change’.

Along with practical assistance—such as visits to WINZ, doctors, employment consultants and coaching—the Army staff assist clients to find other accommodation, clothing, some food support and help with travel to church or Recovery Church. Support also includes prayer and pastoral care. In Christchurch, a chaplain supports the Bail House clients and staff. For some, spirituality may be new, and what is given depends on each individual’s needs, with blessings given before food is shared. Family visits are managed and supported as required, and social trips and BBQs are part of planned monthly activities for the residents.

‘WE OFFER A PLACE OF LOVING CARE AND SUPPORT AND WHERE ACCOUNTABILITY AND WORKING TOGETHER IS ENCOURAGED.’ Many of the clients are on their first charge, and Glen says keeping them out of the prison system is important for their future.

The service can also afford clients some semblance of normality. They can continue to connect with family, and those who are allowed can continue to hold down a job.

Many of the young men who come to the service are facing charges related to drug and alcohol use. They are supported on site by a part-time AOD (Alcohol and Other Drugs) and Wellness staff member who supports them to connect with addiction services such as the Bridge Programme and other agencies that can help them with challenges they are facing. Clients are not allowed to use drugs or alcohol at the bail houses.

‘It’s important to talk about it as a home, not a house. We offer a place of loving care and support and where accountability and working together is encouraged.’

Christchurch is yet to have its official opening, but at the Wellington opening in 2019, the name Puāwai was bestowed on the home. Puāwai translates as ‘spring of water’, and represents caring, nature and new beginnings.

‘They are not ordered to come here,’ Glen says. ‘The advantage for them in doing so is that they work one-on-one with really good staff to put in place strategies to help them. This can result in a non-custodial sentence for them.’

In fact, six of the eight initial clients at the Christchurch Bail House have gone on to receive supervision sentencing and continued in the community, rather than jail time.

‘Effectively, it has worked,’ Glen says. ‘There are rules and expectations, and if those are not met … we tend to sit on those

situations pretty fast. The community is assured.’

Community consultation before the opening of the bail houses has been positive. Glen says there is a lot of accountability in the service.

‘The local communities are very accepting of what we want to do. They acknowledge that there are those people living in their communities anyway. To have The Salvation Army and other professionals working alongside them is reassuring.’

Glen says, while the service isn’t perfect, it is always working to improve. It’s early days, but so far the results are positive in both services.

After they leave the service, clients are offered support.

Some of them come back to visit or call staff to let them know how they are getting on. This is one of the key aspects of the Salvation Army-run Bail Houses, Glen says.

‘We have the ability to build relationships with people.’

One Waka—on the Journey Together The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa has recently released He Waka Eke Noa (One Waka, All of Us Together), the new territorial strategic framework which has been curated by the Territorial Governance Board and presented as a waka, signifying unity in movement and direction, as well as honouring the multicultural nature of our territory.

This concept was developed in consultation with our Pacific nations who in turn have their own translations, which we will introduce in future editions.

Territorial President of Women’s Ministries Commissioner Julie Campbell explains that, ‘The Salvation Army has so many different services, but we have a mission as a Christian church to love God and love our people. We’re not separating our services, we’re all in this together and we need each other. If we’re going to be a powerful force for God, we need to be paddling together.’

Alongside the original mission and values statements of the Army, the One Waka visual depicts three priorities: missional impact, our people and sustainability. These are represented by the sails and the storehouse on the waka, offering energy and forward momentum for The Salvation Army.

The missional impact is concerned with ensuring the territory is working together to achieve better outcomes, that New Zealand

is engaging with te Tiriti (the Treaty) and we are all focussing on discipleship. In that, the Army prioritises people to ensure that those who work, serve, worship and interact with The Salvation Army feel connected and well-represented, and have the skills and support to grow. For any organisation, sustainability is important to consider—how can we maintain mission and ministry? How do we need to be resourced?

As this strategy is outworked, teams across our territory will create and implement their own action plans designed to align with these strategic issues. The hope is to better connect the different teams and projects in the territory, and to recognise what needs to be picked up or put down to keep the Army moving towards its mission.

Chief Secretary Colonel Gerry Walker says, ‘We’re dealing with people. How do you measure the journey and the impact we’re making on a person when they engage with us? This will help us also identify what we continue to do, what we stop doing, what new things we might start. It’s about us identifying and being more intentional about what we do that makes a difference.’

Information and booklets will be available at corps, centres and divisional headquarters.

06 MARCH 2021 WarCry 15

Territorial Governance Board 2021 After much deliberation, the structure of The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa is redistributed into three teams: Territorial Governance Board (TGB), Territorial Management Board and the Pastoral Committee. This is intended to focus and strengthen the relationship between these aspects of the Army to collectively fulfill its mission. TGB will deal with the vision and strategy of the Army, the Management Board will oversee implementation of strategy. The Pastoral Committee will advise on the spiritual life of the territory.

In this edition we introduce you to the Territorial Governance Board members:

Commissioner Mark Campbell Mark Campbell is the Territorial Commander and shares co-leadership for The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. He is also Chair of the Governance Board. Mark has 35 years’ experience with The Salvation Army and holds a Bachelor of Administrative Leadership from the University of New England (UNE), as well as a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from the Sydney College of Divinity. Mark was a delegate of the International College for Officers in London, and delegate of the Arrow Executive Leadership course.

Commissioner Julie Campbell Julie Campbell is the Territorial President of Women’s Ministries and co-leader of The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. She has 35 years’ experience with The Salvation Army. Her roles have included Divisional Co-leader (of the South Queensland Division), Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Principal of the School for Officer Training. She has completed courses in leadership, pastoral care, coaching and spiritual formation and was a delegate of the International College for Officers in London.

Colonel Gerry Walker Gerry Walker was appointed Chief Secretary in August 2020 and is responsible for implementation, delivery and compliance of the Territorial Governance Board strategy and policies.

Gerry has been a Salvation Army officer for 12 years, along with 25 years in public service and governance roles in various community organisations.

Colonel Heather Rodwell Heather Rodwell is a member of the Executive Leadership Team for the territory. Her specific roles are Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries, which she commenced in November 2017, and Territorial Secretary for Spiritual Life Development, commenced in January 16 WarCry 06 MARCH 2021

2013. Over the past 30 years, Heather has held various leadership roles within The Salvation Army, including leading in corps, serving in Community Ministries and regional leadership roles in Canterbury and Auckland/Northland.

Arron Perriam Arron Perriam was the Chief Executive of Cholmondeley Children’s Centre. He is Chairman of the Burwood Academy of Independent Living Board at Burwood Hospital, a Trustee for Christchurch City Council’s Southern Centre Trust and a Presbyterian elder. Arron was previously the Business Operations Manager of the Rātā Foundation, and recipient of the Institute of Directors 2017 Emerging Director Award. He has completed leadership and governance training programmes and recently graduated from Otago Polytechnic with a Bachelor of Applied Management.

Graham Bidois Cameron Graham Bidois Cameron is Pou Tikanga (cultural leader) at the Bay of Plenty District Health Board (DHB) and works with iwi of the Bay of Plenty to integrate tikanga and kawa into services, encouraging te reo Māori and providing leadership in the DHB’s Tiriti (Treaty) partnership. Graham is a doctoral student in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Otago. He is also a contributing writer to ‘The Spinoff’ and ‘E-Tangata’.

Sue Sheldon Sue Sheldon is a professional company director, currently a director of the Wayfare Group and Resolution Life New Zealand. Sue is also Independent Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of Auckland Council. Sue has been a director and chair of many large organisations including Freightways, Contact Energy, Meridian Energy, Christchurch International Airport, Ngai Tahu Holdings Corporation and the National Provident Fund. Sue is a Life Member of Chartered Accountants New Zealand and Australia.

Envoy Stewart Irwin Stewart Irwin is a Petone Corps Leader and Central Youth Services Director.

He is married to Collette and is father to Micah and Evelyn. Stewart has previously worked with young people in corps, Community Ministries and supportive accommodation contexts. He is on the board of trustees at his local primary school and Rotary Club. Stewart holds qualifications in biblical studies, youth development and restorative practices. He is a big fan of the local church, discovering where God is at work around him and finding the Kingdom of God in unexpected places.

Susan Howan Susan Howan lives in Wellington with her husband Graeme, and is mother to Jacob and Rebecca. She has been actively involved as a soldier of the Wellington South Corps for over 30 years. Susan has previously held several local officer roles at Wellington South Corps, including corps sergeant major. She is currently a member of the Territorial Moral and Social Issues Council and a past chairperson of its predecessor, the Public Questions Board. Susan is a career public servant, working in the Ministry of Education as a senior leader with responsibility for designing and implementing new services and improved support to the education sector.

Aiolupotea Lili Tuioti Aiolupotea Lili Tuioti has extensive experience in the education sector in New Zealand and the Pacific region.

As an education and strategic advisor to the Government of Tokelau for over 10 years, Lili served as a member on the University of the South Pacific Council and the Pacific Board of Education and Assessment. She is currently the Mission Services Manager at The Salvation Army Newtown Worship and Community Centre. She has held various governance roles in the education and community sectors, currently serving as a trustee on the JR McKenzie Trust and as a member on the NZQA Board.

Gregory Fortuin Gregory Fortuin was the former Families Commissioner and Race Relations Conciliator, as well as the Founding Chairman of the Youth Suicide Awareness Trust and has been passionately involved in community issues in his adopted hometown of Porirua. He was also the National Director of The Salvation Army Education & Employment for six years. Gregory was on the council of Whitireia Polytechnic, Wellington Institute of Technology and Deputy Chair of Parents Centres NZ Inc. Gregory currently chairs Quotable Value NZ Ltd as well as a retirement saving fund for Muslims called Amanah. Gregory has four children and eight grandchildren.

Warm Welcome to Regional Leaders in Samoa With many unexpected turns in the journey to their new position in Samoa as regional leaders, Captains Eric and Julie Turner have finally completed their three-week isolation period and were installed in Samoa on 14 February. They were blown away by the welcome at their installation and found the commitment to serve in that space especially significant. Julie expressed that, ‘It was really great to mark the occasion with contemplating the promises that you make as part of your installation. To have them articulated in writing and verbally make that promise, there was something very powerful about that.’

Eric and Julie have been humbled by the opportunity to join in with the work begun by Lt-Colonels Rod and Jenny Carey, and Major Miriama Simanu, including an alcohol and drug treatment programme, welfare assistance and a Recovery Church. ‘We’ve only been here for a week, so we get to experience some of these things for the first time. We saw a room full of men who have been sent here by the courts to do a drug and alcohol programme. Yet, the engagement and the willingness to participate in the spiritual aspect of that programme was incredible, and just really moved us.’

There is also a thriving congregation of young people within their corps, with around 70 or 80 people showing up to services and more than 60 percent of those people aged under 25. ‘We have a midweek prayer meeting, with young people coming to that meeting and just praying their hearts out. There’s nothing fancy, no bells and whistles, we just sit around the table and pray, and these young people are fervently seeking after God.’ Eric and Julie are hopeful that they can bring more hands to the work in Samoa, offering their skills and the calling from God to support and uplift the community they have been so welcomed into.

Outgoing leaders Lt-Colonels Jenny and Rod Carey (left) with incomging leaders Captains Eric and Julie Turner.

06 MARCH 2021 WarCry 17

Speaking to the Nation The fourteenth annual State of the Nation report from The Salvation Army, ‘Disturbed Present, Better Future?’, was released on Wednesday 17 February, right in the midst of the latest Covid-19 scare in New Zealand.

The report’s launch may have been different this year— online rather than live events around the country—but the message was similar to that of previous years: New Zealand’s most vulnerable citizens continue to experience embedded and ongoing hardship.

With more media and social media interest than ever—45+ editorial pieces, social media posts reaching more than 2 million people and eight TV stories in the first two days of the release— the message to the government was made loud and clear: bold action must be taken to improve the wellbeing and prospects for all New Zealanders.

The Salvation Army distributed more than 113,000 food parcels last year—double that of 2019.

Numbers on the social housing register are soaring, transitional housing is overstretched and more people are receiving emergency housing grants. There is increased methamphetamine use and over 23,000 more children living

in benefit households in 2020. All this points to the increasingly bleak story for our whānau.

The report came at a time when many statistics on the impacts of last year’s Covid-19 lockdowns are yet to be released—but even without these, the situation is deeply concerning.

The State of the Nation 2021 report shows that our work is a long way from completed. The report called for the government and the team of 5 million New Zealanders to be as bold and focused in addressing the poverty and inequality that exists in this country as we have been in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Read the full report | salvationarmy.org.nz/SOTN2021

A common craving we have as human beings is to have connection with people. The challenge of our Covid-19 restricted world has shown that when the opportunities for meaningful human connection are removed or dramatically altered, there is something not complete in our being. We crave connection.

The invitation in this our year of prayer is to revitalise and develop our relationships, not just with each other but with God, together. In 2021 we’re being encouraged to establish and strengthen our everyday life as faith communities, through deepening our prayer as a shared journey.

Our home, work, community and church lives are busy and full. This puts at risk our time to be together, growing our relationship with God and hearing from him together. It’s not that our activities are wrong, but many of us find it is so much easier to do rather than to be—putting our hand to something tangible, the seen, rather than ‘being’ together in God’s presence, hearing him speak and love on us.

Make room: not by adding, but by slowing, or shortening, or reducing activity so that we can pray. Let prayer be the breathing space.

Come aside: it can make a difference using an alternative room to be in prayer together, or reconfiguring seating so that we see each other, or clearing a space with nothing blocking space between us.

Come together: there is such richness in being together in prayer, where everyone is welcome and where we build trust so that we can express ourselves with honesty and vulnerability to God. Together we discover a deeper knowing of being loved by God, belonging to his Kingdom and discovering his will and way.

By Major Susan Goldsack

18 WarCry 06 MARCH 2021

GAZETTE Bereavement: Major Christine Ivers, of her mother Heather Markham, on Sunday 14 February 2021 in Australia. Current Covid-19 restrictions make it impossible for Majors Chris and Earle Ivers to return to Australia for the funeral. We ask you to uphold Majors Chris and Earle Ivers in prayer, along with other family members, at this time of grief and loss.

Major Malia Siufanga, of her brother Saimone Mu’asika, on Saturday 20 February 2021 in Seattle, Washington State, USA. A celebration and thanksgiving service was held in Otara, Auckland, on Saturday 27 February 2021. We ask you to uphold in prayer Majors Malia and Sila Siufanga, and extended family members, during this time.

Amendment: Evan Frank Stone (please note corrected name), the brother of Major David Stone, passed away peacefully on Monday 25 January from Ranfurly Manor Hospital and Rest Home, Feilding, aged 69 years. We ask you to uphold in prayer Majors David and Christine Stone, and extended family, at this time of grief and loss.

Grandparents: Congratulations are extended to Majors Bruce and Valerie Tong on the safe arrival of their first grandchild, Abigail Joyce Anne Tong.

Abigail was born on Wednesday 17 February, weighing 7lb 5oz. (3.3kgs). We join with her parents Amy and Nigel Tong as they celebrate the birth of Abigail, and pray God's blessing on them all.

Promotion to Glory: Commissioner Garth McKenzie, on 22 February 2021, from Wellington, aged 77 years.

Garth was born in Whanganui on 19 February 1944. Garth and Mel entered the Followers of Christ session from Wellington City Corps, in 1973. Commissioned in January 1975, their first

appointment was as Corps Officers to Taupō Corps, followed by Greymouth Corps in 1977.

In 1978, Lieutenant Garth was appointed as Divisional Youth Secretary for Canterbury Westland Division, and also served as a Territorial Forces Military Chaplain for five years during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Returning to Corps Ministry, Captains Garth and Mel were appointed as Corps Officers, New Lynn Corps in 1982, and this was followed by an appointment to Palmerston North Corps in 1984.

Transferred to Territorial Headquarters in late 1988, Captain Garth was appointed as Special Efforts Secretary until early January 1990 when he was appointed as Territorial Youth and Candidates Secretary.

A new challenge came in 1994 when Major Garth was appointed as Divisional Commander, Northern Division. A change of territory came in 1997 when appointed as Divisional Leaders, Western Australia Division in the Australian Southern Territory. Remaining in this territory, Lt-Colonel Garth was appointed as Territorial Secretary for Personnel in 2001.

Returning home to New Zealand in 2002, Lt-Colonel Garth McKenzie took up the appointment as Chief Secretary. Two years later, in 2004, Commissioner Garth was appointed as Territorial Commander. It was from this appointment that Commissioner Garth retired from active service on 28 February 2009.

Commissioner Garth McKenzie was recognised in the New Zealand 2009 New Year Honours, being made a Member of the N.Z. Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to The Salvation Army.

In retirement, Commissioner Garth was appointed as Facilitator to the Committee for the South Pacific Retired Officers Convention and to Booth College of Mission, School for Officer Training as Mission Training Officer.

Commissioner Garth was a man of personal spiritual discipline and purpose with a strong commitment to discipleship, a compassion for people and gentle pastoral skills. These are marks of his ministry that continued through his active officership and retirement and we thank God for Commissioner Garth’s godly, Holy Spirit-led life.

Please uphold Commissioner Garth McKenzie’s wife Mel, children Craig, Sheryn and son-in-law Brad, and their granddaughters Tayla and Rylee and other family members in your prayers at this time of grief and loss.

We salute Garth as a ‘Follower of Christ’ and say well done, good and faithful servant of Jesus!

… IT IS THE KIND OF LEGACY I WANT TO LEAVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS …

Legacy is not only what has been passed to you—for better or for worse—but also speaks to what you will pass on to the next generations.

The pioneers of The Salvation Army in New Zealand, and subsequently in Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, have always inspired me, and are part of our legacy as a movement.

This legacy was passed on to us by men and women such as Pollard, Wright, Paul and Holdaway. It came out of the nineteenth century emerging New Zealand which faced recession and was grappling with its developing identity. Embedded in this, Māori were attempting to retain their identity within such a hungry colonial reality.

This group of young missional soldiers engaged society together with a ‘holy’ imagination, a bold faith in God and a ‘cheekiness’ to believe they could change their world for and with their God. As with the colonial era of New Zealand, our society is pushing away from the unnecessary structures, forms and practices of a previous era. To our shame, the poor continue to struggle. Our national and our own organisational commitment to biculturalism remains fragile. In our now almost ‘post-everything’ reality, the rights of ‘self’ have been promoted supremely and God is relegated to a non-essential, privatised affair. Add to this our current Covid-19 reality and, without doubt, we face a time where our missional identity—how we live, work, worship, serve and play (together)—is requiring us to find a new shared meaning.

It is here where our pioneering legacy can help. Our heritage of adaptability to context seems to allow us, if not urge us, to a renewed spirit of adventure—a freedom to explore, to re-pioneer in our postmodern reality, with imagination and experimentation being applauded. Such a step will require courage and a deep sense of humility and honour. However, I believe that if we can dream together with our eyes remaining fixed on Jesus, then we can face the unknown future with a bold humility.

In 1902, when the founding leader of the pioneering Salvation Army of New Zealand was asked what the Army needed most as it faced the new century, a reporter observed: ‘Instead of the pathetic plea for men and money, the reflective Pollard simply replied, “Faith! It is the gift of God. He gives it, but it is the exercise of it that increases it … We want faith which dares and expects”.’

This is our legacy. Let us then, as new creations in Jesus, be encouraged to talk and think openly together about how we can engage in being part of God’s redemptive plan for all of creation. Let us have the courage to act with such an imaginative faith that dares and expects. This is the type of Army that I want to be part of, and it is the kind of legacy I want to leave for the next generations—a passionate commitment to serve God with a holy imagination, a bold humility and the cheekiness to believe that even yet we can change our world for, and with, him.

Captain Bryant Richards Assistant Territorial Secretary for Personnel 06 MARCH 2021 WarCry 19

If you are a Christian and have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, repented of your sin—because ‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23)—and experienced salvation, you might have been tempted to ‘camp out’ at the foot of the cross. After all, it was the pivotal point on the road of your life’s journey and there is a certain comfort in the familiar.

BY VIVIENNE HILL

There is no denying the complete positional transformation that takes place at the time of salvation. Peter says, ‘But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light’ (1 Peter 2:9). This transformation takes place when we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour at the cross and we are ‘born again’ by the Spirit of God. But our souls are still the same, we still have the same attitudes, temperament and character. When we come to Christ and fall in love with him, our awareness of the things that displease a holy God come into focus. But we are not left alone with 20 WarCry 06 MARCH 2021

this dilemma. It says in 2 Corinthians 3:18: ‘And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness, from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit’.

The process of being changed is called ‘sanctification’; this is a partnership between God and us to transform our hearts, minds, souls and bodies into his likeness. It takes cooperation on our part and a willingness to allow Christ to enact his transforming work in us. ‘Sanctify’ comes from the Greek word hagiadzo, meaning to be set apart or made fit for service. Christ calls us at the time of our salvation to a journey, not to camp out at an experience or a decision.

Jesus says in Luke 9:23–24, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.’ He then goes on to say, ‘And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple’ (v27). To carry our cross is not a call to self-flagellation and monasticism, it is a call into relationship, into discipleship. To take up our cross is to proceed and live in the abiding life that Christ offers us. ‘I am the vine and you are the branches.

If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5). It is a call to find our identity in Christ. Paul uses the phrase being ‘in Christ’ 165 times in the New Testament. As we experience relationship with Christ we are absorbed into his life.

This walk of sanctification is not a creed, it is a transformative process that recreates us into Christ. It is a process that can only take place in close proximity to Christ. It is a daily yielding

WHEN WE COME TO CHRIST AND FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM, OUR AWARENESS OF THE THINGS THAT DISPLEASE A HOLY GOD COME INTO FOCUS. to the Lordship of Christ in your life and allowing the Spirit of God to do the work in you as you commune with him.

‘May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it’ (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24).

The story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24) is a prime example of taking up our cross and following Christ.

It is an example of the daily discipline of walking with Christ, of talking with and about Christ, of fellowshipping with Christ and his people. If we think we have ‘arrived’ at the cross and settle down for the long haul, then we are missing the glorious transformation and relationship that he calls each of us to as we move out of the shadow of death that the cross casts and take up our cross and follow him.

The imagery around camping out at the cross evokes a backpack full of stuff, including essentials such as food, water and warm clothes. We sit beneath the finished work of the cross and we are quite comfortable in that place.

The first barrier we face when journeying with Christ is holding on to what we think is necessary for camping out, but in order to carry our cross we need to leave our backpacks or our baggage behind. We cannot possibly carry our crosses and our baggage at the same

time, but we still need the essentials of life. So instead of natural water, Christ gives us the ‘living water’ that he gave the Samaritan woman; instead of our woolly jerseys, Christ clothes us in the ‘robe of righteousness’; instead of baked beans, Christ offers us the manna of the word of God—because ‘Man cannot live by bread alone but by the spirit of God’ (Matthew 4:4b).

The call of Christ is to follow him. The road is narrow and long and at times the difficulty is overwhelming. It is a tough walk, but we are not alone.

Our wonderful saviour and friend accompanies us on our lowly journey.

Samuel Logan Brengle said, ‘Holiness is not some lofty experience, unattainable except to those who can leap the stars, but it is rather a lowly experience, which lowly people in the lowly walks of life can share with Jesus, by letting his mind be in them’.

This lowly walk is a high calling. It begins at salvation with justification, it moves on to sanctification and the outcome of this journey is glorification. How can we resist his gentle call forward to the abiding life?

There is an old hymn written in 1922

by AH Ackley, the chorus reads, ‘“Take up thy cross and follow me,” I hear the blessed Saviour call; How can I make a lesser sacrifice, when Jesus gave his all?’

IF WE THINK WE HAVE ‘ARRIVED’ AT THE CROSS AND SETTLE DOWN FOR THE LONG HAUL, THEN WE ARE MISSING THE GLORIOUS TRANSFORMATION AND RELATIONSHIP THAT CHRIST CALLS EACH OF US TO AS WE MOVE OUT OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH THAT THE CROSS CASTS AND TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM. 06 MARCH 2021 WarCry 21

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Mark (Territorial Commander) and Julie Campbell (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 7 March: Top of the South Celebration Day, Nelson 11 March: Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Meeting (Mark only) 11 March: Divisional Directors of Women’s Ministries Meeting and Dinner (Julie only) 12–13 March: Territorial Executive Council, THQ 12 March: Church Leaders Meeting with Prime Minister (Mark only) 14 March: Welcome to the Cadets, BCM 16 March: National Church Leaders Aotearoa New Zealand Meeting (Mark only) 16 March: Central Division Women’s Day, Johnsonville Corps (Julie only) Colonel Gerry Walker (Chief Secretary) 12–13 March: Territorial Executive Council, THQ 15–26 March: Royal Commission Hearing Institutional Response Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Spiritual Life Development) 7 March: Merger of Carterton and Masterton Corps, Masterton 12–13 March: Territorial Executive Council, THQ 14 March: Welcome to the Cadets, BCM 16 March: Central Division Women Officer’s Day, Johnsonville Corps

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400–600 words with one or two captioned photos.

Promotion to Glory tributes are approx 300 words. Email reports and large, high-quality jpeg images to: warcry@ salvationarmy.org.nz

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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:

Name Email Address Phone Send to: warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz or War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Quiz Answers: 1 Genovia, 2 Patience, 3 30BC, 4 New York, 5 The pearl (Matthew 13: 45–46).

22 WarCry 06 MARCH 2021

Make an eggshell succulent garden YOU'LL NEED

• Egg shells • Egg carton • Succulent (a type of plant) cuttings • Soil or potting mix • Spray bottle METHOD

• Clean the eggshells, let them dry and pop them upright into the egg carton.

• Fill your eggshells with soil until they are about 3/4 full.

• Insert your succulent cuttings into the soil. (Succulent roots will grow when a

cutting is placed into soil.)

• Gently spray your planted cuttings with water in a spray bottle. You only need to spray them every so often as succulents do not like being too wet.

• Over time, watch your eggshell succulent garden grow!

Source: Kidspot

‘Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin”.

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’

LUKE 15:8–10

Scavenger hunt Can you find these ten things in this edition of War Cry? Write down what you’ve found along with its page number on the line provided!

1

The number 113,000

2 The word LEGACY 3 A picture of someone wearing glasses 4 The phrase: ‘Too Little, Too Late?’

5 A picture of Shieldy

FUN FACT

There is a burgundy flower called the Chocolate Cosmos which smells exactly like—you guessed it— chocolate.

Help Bunny through the maze

6 The Salvation Army crest 7 An animal 8 Two words in a row that begin with the same letter

10 A Bible verse that talks about the ‘vine and the branches’

WHY DO COWS HAVE HOOVES INSTEAD OF FEET? WHY CAN’T A LEOPARD HIDE?

BECAUSE IT’S ALWAYS SPOTTED.

An officer with the rank of ‘Captain’

BECAUSE THEY LACTOSE.

9

Have you ever lost something that you really loved? Maybe it was a beloved toy, a favourite video game or a ten-dollar note which you wanted to spend on something special?

Jesus once told a parable about a woman who lost a silver coin—a huge sum of money to her. It was no surprise, then, that the woman anxiously searched her house. Even though she had another nine, she desperately needed that tenth missing coin. She looked everywhere until it was found.

And when the coin was discovered, she was not just relieved—she celebrated by inviting her loved ones around to party.

Jesus wanted us to know that this is exactly what happens after even one person comes to know Jesus. There is a major celebration in heaven, because we are all precious to him.

THINK ABOUT

What would you have to lose to justify throwing a party when you found it?

06 MARCH 2021 WarCry 23

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