11 August 2018 NZFTS War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION 11 AUGUST 2018 | Issue 6698 | $1.50

Samoa Added to our Territory!

On Being Single The Maasai Warrior and the Missionary

Does God Really Care About Me? I Need a Hero: Why We’re Obsessed with Marvel and DC

‘US’

NOT ‘THEM’

THE CHURCH AND HOMOPHOBIA

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WAR CRY The Salvation Army

New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Andy & Yvonne Westrupp | 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.

MANAGING EDITOR Ingrid Barratt | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Hugh Collins, Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond | PROOF READING Major Jill

Gainsford, Vivienne Hill OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box

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

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

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

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 135 years | Issue 6698 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry

www.salvationarmy.org.nz salvationarmyNZFijiTonga @salvationarmynz salvationarmynzft

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Hot Topics and Freedom of Speech When hot topics bubble to the surface in the Christian community, there is usually a debate about freedom of speech. On one side, we’ll argue that we shouldn’t express opinions that could be considered judgemental, unloving, or cast a shadow over the reputation of Jesus.

On the other side, we’ll argue for the right to free speech—which loosely means, being able to voice our genuine opinion. We may see it as the right to express ‘the truth’, even when it is unpopular.

Within this argument, it’s important to note the biblical imperative. Freedom of speech is a democratic construct, it is not a biblical construct. There is nothing in the Bible to suggest that—as representatives of Christ—we have the freedom to say whatever we like. Even if we think it’s the truth.

In fact, the Bible puts some clear boundaries around our speech. It commands us to say only what is ‘helpful for building others up’ (Ephesians 4:29).

Gentle speech will ‘turn away wrath’ but harsh words ‘stir up anger’, says Proverbs 15:1–2—how often we see this in the social media world!

Within this context, Paul’s words resound with beauty: ‘Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone’ (Colossians 4:6).

In this issue, we are discussing a contentious—perhaps the most contentious— topic for the modern church. We will not all agree. But let us all season the conversation with grace, in a way that gives life to others and welcomes everyone into God’s life-giving Kingdom.

Ingrid Barratt Editor

‘A voice is a human gift; it should be cherished and used, to utter fully human speech …’

Margaret Atwood

Psalm 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

Ngā Waiata 141:3 Hōmai he kaitiaki mō toku māngai, e Ihowā; tiakina te kūwaha o oku ngutu.

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od’s love cannot be confined by distance or time—as told through this remarkable story, shared by Barrie McBride: Francis Jones grew up on a farm in Wisconsin, USA, and from an early age learned to rough it among the animals—often sleeping in a drafty barn with just a hay bale as his pillow. He assumed that his destiny was to be a farmer.

But at the age of 18, Francis’ heart was captivated by God. In 1952, he left the farm to go to Bible College, and became a missionary in Kenya.

Francis especially loved travelling into the bush to share the good news of God with the Maasai people—famous for their striking dress and their commitment to maintaining their indigenous culture.

One day, Francis travelled into the bush in Kenya’s Narok district to teach a Maasai discipleship class. About 70 people attended the three day-long sessions. They sat under the shade of an old African thorn tree, some squatting in Maasai fashion the entire time. For hours, Francis opened God’s Word and taught about Jesus.

As he taught, Francis noticed something peculiar.

Off to the side, in the shadows of another tree, stood a Maasai elder listening intently to all Francis had said. Later, the missionary would learn that the man was more than 100 years old.

Though not part of the class, the old man took in every word. He came all three days. As Francis concluded his teaching on that final afternoon, the old man came towards him.

‘Perhaps you wonder why I’ve stood by the tree listening to you for three days,’ the old man said.

‘Many years ago, when I was very young, I had a

dream. A white man came from a great distance and brought me truth about how to know God.’ The old man carefully studied Francis’ features and added, ‘Your face is the face I saw in my dream.’

That hot African afternoon, the elderly Maasai accepted Christ as his Saviour. There was no mistaking his joy. He lived for another nine years before going to be with the Lord.

When Francis was sleeping among those cows in the drafty Wisconsin barn, he could never have imaged that someone in Africa had already seen him in a dream, three decades earlier. In fact, Francis would not have even been born, when the old warrior saw his adult face in the dream.

We are in the midst of our Self Denial Appeal, where we have the opportunity to partner with God in the remarkable things he is doing in other parts of our world. We need only be faithful to the part God calls us to play, because God is more than willing to make miracles happen.

The story of the Maasai warrior is not apocryphal, it is told in the book Intercessory Worship, by Dick Eastman—Francis was the author’s relative. Eastman writes: ‘All Francis had to do to fulfil his divine destiny was to step into this river of God’s delight and go with the flow’.

The Self Denial Appeal is an opportunity to step into this river. We may never know what God does with our offering, but we know that God will move time and space to make his love known. We can be part of this great miracle.

BY INGRID BARRATT

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From Foster Child to God’s Child Daryl Brougham, author of Through the Eyes of a Foster Child, used his own suffering to help others. With the sad news that Daryl has died at the age of 38, we reprint an excerpt from his interview with War Cry.

Daryl not only survived, but wrote the first book of its kind in New Zealand, to help

TOPFIVE

The best superhero movies. Do you agree?

1 Wonder Woman—Empowering women as heroes not damsels, with deep spiritual themes—and Gal Gadot was pregnant during filming!

2 Batman: The Dark Knight—For Heath Ledger, possibly the only truly believable and terrifying Joker.

3 The Incredibles—Family fun that asked complex questions about what it means to be special.

4 Captain America: The Winter Soldier— Subverted expectations of the ‘American dream’ and asked important questions.

5 Black Panther—Brilliant fusion of tribal and modern, with a message of inclusivity.

Weird of the Week: Mauli Dhan, from Nepal, is the last collector of ‘mad honey’— made by the world’s largest bee, the Himalayan giant honeybee. The honey contains a toxin that can make you hallucinate. If you eat too much, side effects include temporary paralysis or death!

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others understand what it means to be a foster child.

Daryl describes a singular moment that helped him understand his 18 years in foster care: ‘I remember a lady once said to me, “Daryl, I read the Bible and in there it says that the orphan child is God’s child”.

A lightbulb switched on. I now know that everything I have been through was so that I could be the voice of the child in care,’ said Daryl.

‘In foster care you lose everything. You’re left with nothing but a higher power to look after you … I have learnt that God does have a face, and that face is the orphan child.’

Daryl’s message to other foster children was simple: ‘It’s not your fault.’

Read the full interview with Daryl | salvationarmy.org.nz/DarylBrougham

WARCRYINHISTORY In 1943, Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea was suffering under WWII air-raids. Salvationists were on the ground, helping at the front lines, ministering to the wounded, and serving coffee and milk to the soldiers. One happy recipient was heard to say, ‘You can’t beat the good old Sallies—they are always on the job!’ In June that year, the first Salvation Army soldier was enrolled in Port Moresby. Thirteen years later, The Salvation Army officially began its work in Papua New Guinea—there were already 36 Red Shield Centres in the country.

Source: Booth College of Mission Heritage and Archives Centre

Photography: Andy Westrupp.

It’s hard to know what is most remarkable about Daryl’s story: that he suffered such extreme abuse, so many times, yet it went unnoticed by authorities.

That he was moved to over 30 foster care homes. That he was kept in a room, starved and sexually abused. Or that despite this abuse, Daryl became a social worker himself to advocate for children like him.

Action & Adventure Ant Man & The Wasp (PG, violence & coarse language) Payton Reed

Two years after backing Cap in Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is house-arrested while trying to balance fatherhood with running his security firm. But, Hope Van Dyne and Hank Pym need his help once more, wrangling with a ghost from their past—as well as their enemy, The Ghost, in their present. As you would expect, the action and gags run thick and fast, including a Bullitt-echoing car chase around San Francisco, a hilarious interrogation scene that rates as one of Marvel’s finest, Hot Wheels cars as you’ve never seen them before and a giant Pez dispensing street justice. It’s great actionpacked family fun, chock full of visual gags and another excellent addition to the Marvel canon. (Reviewed by Martin Barratt)

OURPEOPLE

Ingrid Barratt (Managing Editor of War Cry) Ingrid describes herself as ‘a pink cupcake on the outside and crunchy on the inside’. Her passions include (in roughly this order): following Jesus, her sixyear-old’s comedy stylings, her husband’s dad jokes, vintage style and the art of tea-drinking.

As a young journalist she remembers thinking, ‘I would love to write about Jesus for a living’, but thought there was no job like that in New Zealand. ‘So I’m literally living the dream,’ she says—adding, ‘Or is it figuratively? And should I know that as editor?’

You may suffer, you may bleed, you may break, but you shall go on.

Flora Larsson

QUIKQUIZ

Kūmara, Pumpkin and Peanut Soup A popular and interesting soup with a complex flavour.

1 large onion 2 Tbsp butter or oil 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ tsp curry powder ½ tsp coriander seed (optional) ⅛–¼ tsp chilli powder 250g (1 medium) kūmara, peeled 250–250g pumpkin, peeled and deseeded 2 cups vegetable stock ½ tsp salt 2 Tbsp peanut butter

Finely chop the onion. Heat the butter or oil in a medium-sized saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and cook over low heat, without browning, until the onion is transparent.

Add the curry powder, coriander seed, and chilli powder to the onion and stir over moderate heat for about a minute longer.

Chop the kūmara and pumpkin into 1cm cubes (use more pumpkin if you like, but don’t use more kūmara or the soup will be too sweet).

Add the vegetables and stock to the saucepan. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Add the salt, then peanut butter.

Puree in a food processor or blender.

Serve chopped with yoghurt or coconut cream, finely chopped roast peanuts and chopped coriander leaves.

Variation: Use less stock and thin the soup with coconut cream.

Reprinted with permission from The Ultimate Vegetarian Collection by Alison and Simon Holst.

1 How many millimetres in a kilometre?

2 What is the capital city of Croatia?

3 What country’s national animal is a unicorn?

4 What is the main ingredient of sauerkraut?

5 Who is the only Egyptian queen mentioned in the Bible?

Answers on page 22 11 AUGUST 2018 WarCry 5

‘US’

NOT ‘THEM’

THE CHURCH AND HOMOPHOBIA

Craig Hutson says that growing up gay in the church was ‘death by a thousand cuts’, but he is now using his faith to bring life to others.

Ingrid Barratt discovers the human face behind the debate. here is no “them” and “us”, there is only “us”,’ says Father Gregory Boyle, head of a US gang reintegration programme Homeboy Industries. Within the church, there is a variety of views on homosexuality, and the arguments are nuanced and complex.

We often fall into ‘us’ and ‘them’ debates. But one issue should not be contentious for Christians. And, ironically, it’s the very thing we are often charged with: homophobia.

A ‘phobia’ is simply fear. And biblical teaching leaves no room for choosing fear over love. Jesus’ good friend John made his famous statement, ‘God is love’, and declared: ‘There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear’ (1 John 4:18).

God’s love is the overarching theme of the whole Bible. Love closes the chasms we have created between us, so we all become part of God’s great neighbourhood.

Territorial Commander Commissioner Andy Westrupp, speaking at the opening of the Newtown Worship and Community Centre, recalled Jesus’ brilliant answer to a cynical lawyer who was asking him to describe his ‘neighbour’ (one whom he should love). Jesus told the pivotal story of the Good Samaritan: ‘This story is a hinge story in human history,’ Andy said. ‘Not just Christian history. It is a paradigm shifter. It clearly challenges the “them and us” thinking we so easily fall into when someone who is not like us comes into our world.’

‘The Salvation Army stands against homophobia, which victimises people and can reinforce feelings of alienation, loneliness and despair. We want to be an inclusive church community where members of the LGBTQ community find welcome and the encouragement to develop their relationship with God,’ says a statement released by The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters.

Yet, we cannot deny that we have a muddied history with homophobia. In New Zealand, this became particularly fraught after The Salvation Army led a petition against the 1985 Homosexual Law Reform Bill.

Colonel Melvin Taylor (now promoted to Glory) was Social Secretary in 1985, and has since described the campaign as ‘homophobia in action’. There has been much regret among Salvationists about the era and the hurt it caused. In 2006, an apology was issued for our part in opposing the Bill, but the scars still remain.

Jesus and the ‘not normals’ LGBTI* comedian Hannah Gadsby describes a harrowing story of being assaulted for not looking feminine enough—or as her abuser called her, being ‘a lady faggot’.

‘He beat the s*** out of me and nobody stopped him, and I didn’t report it to the police and I didn’t take myself to hospital because I thought that was all I was worth. And that is what happens when you soak one child in shame, and give permission to another to hate …

‘I am “incorrectly female”, I am “incorrect”,’ she says, in her critically acclaimed show Nanette. ‘This tension is what “not normals” carry inside of them all of the 11 AUGUST 2018 WarCry 7

time. We think it’s more important to be right than to appeal to the humanness of the person we disagree with.’

Hannah’s words are a prophetic appeal to the church. Jesus never allowed any debate to diminish the humanity of the outsider. It could be argued that the thrust of Jesus’ whole ministry, as he marched his way purposefully to the cross, was to gather in the outsiders as he went—declaring, ‘This is what the kingdom of heaven looks like!’

He reached out to the leper and the bleeding woman, he counted prostitutes among his friends (can you imagine?), he spoke to a shunned Samaritan woman, he quite literally touched many who were considered unclean. Then, in the crescendo of his ministry, he declared his manifesto: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’

According to the Forerunner Commentary, ‘poor in spirit’ has many translations, including ‘oppression’, ‘being defenceless’ ‘low’ and ‘socially inferior’.

Through determined and deliberate acts of love, Jesus brought out the humanity in the ‘not normals’. Behind the debate, there is always a human face.

Craig’s story In his mid-30s, Craig Hutson is still coming to terms with being a gay Christian. He describes sharing his story with War Cry as ‘ripping off the Band-Aid’. ‘Hiding is what kept my relationships around me together, so every time I decide to be open with someone, I fear that they will reject me,’ he explains.

Growing up gay in The Salvation Army was ‘death by a thousand cuts’. As his awareness of his sexuality was burgeoning, Craig remembers homosexuality being ‘lumped in with any deviant behaviour’—including paedophilia and incest. ‘As a child, I pieced this together and thought, “Am I that? Am I deviant?”’

Craig was only five when he first sensed there was something ‘different’ about him—although he had no words to describe it.

By the time he was 11, he had discovered the words: ‘fag’, ‘sissy’ …

‘That was the beginning of putting up a front. Transparency and honesty are so important to relationships in general, but it was a vicious cycle of thinking, “I want to be honest. I can’t be honest”. So I pushed it all down.’

Craig felt tormented about being fake, but wasn’t free to be genuine. The homophobia he absorbed began to turn inwards and became self-hatred. He had his first bout of serious depression at the age of 14.

At the time, ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’ was a popular mantra—but for Craig, being gay was not a doing, it was a 8 WarCry 11 AUGUST 2018

being. From an early age, he was a committed Christian and Salvationist, following our holiness tradition—something he still holds to today: ‘Holiness is important to me, it adds to my relationships and to the happiness of people around me. But, because of the messages I received, I felt like I was deviant and that even if I saw gay people doing good things, it had no value,’ he reflects.

During his teenage years, Craig earnestly cried out to God: ‘I constantly called out to God and asked him to change me, to take the pain away, and it did nothing. Ultimately I believed that God was love, but so much had caused me to believe that he wasn’t interested in my wellbeing at all.

‘I thought to myself, “Can I have happiness and love in life?

No I can’t. Okay, I’ll just cope”.’

‘THE CHURCH GAVE ME TOOLS FOR KINDNESS, COMPASSION, MERCY AND JUSTICE, BUT ALSO THE TOOLS TO SHOW HATRED AND ANGER TOWARDS MYSELF.’ Unravelling and rebuilding Craig managed to ‘just cope’ until he was 26, when all the denial and self-loathing began to unravel.

His friends and family were getting married, and Craig was doing the rounds of weddings. The emotional effort of hiding also took its toll on his work and career dreams. ‘That’s when I started to come unhinged—I was working too much so I was burnt out, feeling a failure in my career, and there was this inner talk, “There you go Craig, you’re a failure again. You can’t have love and a relationship. You’re a disappointment to your family”.

‘There was a tape player in my head that was full of negative thoughts: “I really am everything I have heard I am, I’m a bad person, I don’t belong”. I thought being gay was bad, so my mind started to look for ways to prove that.’

Craig had a breakdown and was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder. He worked hard on improving his health, but still couldn’t bring himself to admit the reason behind his depression. It took another five years before he finally got himself to a counsellor, and began the journey towards healing.

During a year of counselling, Craig was finally able to talk

Craig Huston (centre) with sister and brotherin-law Collette and Stewart Irwin, corps leaders at Petone Corps—where Craig says much of his healing has taken place.

honestly through his experiences, fears and unhelpful beliefs. Through all this, he was repeatedly assured by his counsellor that he was not only a good person, but an exceptionally kind, caring and compassionate man.

It’s been less than two years since he has been more broadly ‘out of hiding’—but there are still people in his Christian community who don’t know, because it doesn’t always feel safe.

‘I still feel like people will judge me by the “promiscuous” stereotype. Number one, that’s not true of me, or something I feel would positively add to my life. But also, I feel I have to prove to other Christians that I hold all the same values they do.

I feel that everything I am can be shut down because I’m gay.

‘I have a heart to be an example of Christ. But I have to justify my existence and prove myself as a child of God, and I have to defend my right to have a faith.’

He adds: ‘The church in so many ways gave me tools for kindness, compassion, mercy and justice, but it also gave me the tools to show hatred and anger towards myself.’

Part of Craig’s healing journey came in reframing his faith with a self-acceptance he had never experienced. ‘I had to realise that if Jesus came to set the captives free, he wouldn’t leave me captive against my will.’

Today, Craig is using his experiences to advocate for LGBTI people of faith, through a group he helped found and now coordinates: ‘Faith Communities United in Love’. The group provides support for each other and—alongside other Salvationists—has taken part in Wellington’s Pride Month for the past three years. They serve at events, provide free baking, and create a space for LGBTI people to talk about faith.

Craig says he is still on a journey of bringing together and affirming all parts of his identity, but ‘there is this part of me that is an extended hand—let me help you understand, let me tell you my story.’

In seeking to repair the damage of homophobia, we need look no further than the loving example of Jesus, who always held his arms wide open to those the established church rejected. If we want to make love complete, we are to be like Jesus in this world, said John (1 John 4:17).

We all have a story to tell, and we are all invited to join Jesus’ ever-expanding Kingdom. We are all neighbours. There is no ‘them’. *This is the preferred term from the collective, meaning ‘Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex’.

A Parent’s Perspective

Our son Craig, like all of our children, was the cutest baby ever. He was always a very relational person—he still is. Nearly everyone likes Craig. My wife Lynette and I are very proud of the person he has become.

However, a few years ago he experienced a significant depression. He would tell us of his feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness—and would frequently indicate that people wouldn’t like him at all if they really knew him.

On a bad day, his feelings were incredibly—even frighteningly—dark. As a parent you struggle to listen to this. You want to ‘fix’ it. You feel as if you are descending into the very same pit of despair yourself!

We encouraged Craig to go for some counselling.

This in itself was a long process—12–18 months. Then, when we were seriously wondering if counselling was helping at all, almost out of the blue Craig told us: he was ‘attracted to the same sex’.

When Craig told us that he was gay, the main feeling was one of huge relief. Here was our much-loved son in such pain, and we finally knew the source of it all.

Also, when he saw that we weren’t rejecting him but embracing him, it was like a burden was lifted and we started getting our Craig back—the real Craig.

The journey since then has been mostly joyful but not always easy. How could our son have come to believe we wouldn’t love him, anyway? Coming to terms with the fact that Craig’s deep sense of faith and love of the Army meant he developed a tortured idea of a God who could not love him as he was: What kind of faith had we and the Army communicated?

Trying to give him our support and to protect him from the potentially hurtful responses of others can also create anxiety. But knowing what we know now, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL IAN HUTSON

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On Being Single A young man shares his perspective on being single …

I have now been single eight years. I would love to say this time has been compensated with endless travel and amazing life experiences, but the truth is the last few years have been pretty challenging. While so many good things have happened to me in these years, I still find myself wondering if I’m somehow inferior.

Looking back, I realise I’ve invested in a ton of great friendships, which wouldn’t have enjoyed the same depth had I gone from romance to romance. And these aren’t seasonal or circumstantial friendships, these are lifelong relationships— people I’ll still be able to have a yarn with when I’m 50.

While I still have my fair share of days where I feel like I’m going to be an old person with lots of pets, I’ve discovered some wisdom which has made me feel a little more hopeful.

Often, as single people, we look at married people (or those in relationships) as being the ones who’re living the dream and have this thing called ‘life’ all figured out. They’re sitting up some high place, looking down on us singles and, of course, are so much happier and better off than we could ever dream.

PEOPLE IN UNHAPPY RELATIONSHIPS ARE IN A FAR WORSE POSITION THAN THOSE OF US WHO ARE ALONE.

But while research shows married people tend to be (on the whole) happier than singles, we need to remember there are two types of people in relationships: those who are in happy, healthy relationships and those who are in unhappy, unhealthy relationships. The fact is, people in unhappy relationships are in a far worse position than those of us who are alone.

As singles, we are only one step away from a healthy and exciting lifelong romance. But people in unhappy relationships have to somehow wriggle their way out of that relationship, deal with the fallout and then work themselves into a place where they can look for romance again. As a good friend, who is now married, once said to me, ‘Being single is the next best thing to being with the right person’.

So, single people, don’t see your position as one of darkness and despair. But rather, one that’s a little more neutral and full of hope. See it as a time to develop lifelong friendships and community. Invest in activities you enjoy.

Personally, I feel like my single years have given me the opportunity to grow up and work on my ‘personal challenges’.

This doesn’t mean that I’ve arrived at some ‘nirvana’ where I’m ready for marriage—I think we are always growing, and being single has allowed me to grow in some specific ways. On that note, I’m off to tidy my room.

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HOW TO BE (HAPPY AND) SINGLE: Don’t give in to cynicism: Becoming cynical can be a coping mechanism, but don’t lose hope—there is much goodness in maintaining hope.

Foster other relationships: Value the relationships that have been there through all your romances. Meet new people, too.

Feel the feelings: Acknowledge your feelings, and know that you will be okay. Who are you and what do you need to feel complete?

You cannot expect that to come from another person—own it.

Make ‘mistakes’: Live your life! Rather than protecting yourself, be brave enough to stay vulnerable. Tell that person you like them—the worst that can happen is they won’t like you back.

Now you know and you can move on.

TESTIFY! Hugh Collins, War Cry’s new journalist, shares his questioning journey of faith.

If you’ve spent enough time in churches, you’ve probably heard the classic ‘sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll’ testimony.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) that’s not the sort of testimony I have but, at the same time, I certainly wouldn’t say my journey has been a smooth and upward trajectory. I think that’s the beauty of it.

Born into a devout Baptist family, church and Christianity were a part of my life since year zero. However, I vividly remember at six years old telling my sisters I hated church, and as soon as I was old enough to have any say about it, I’d be staying home to watch TV! But, thankfully, something inside changed pretty dramatically— sure enough, by about eight, I had given my heart to the Lord in a Sunday school service. I had quickly become adamant God was real and that everything my parents told me about faith was absolute truth.

It wasn’t until I was at high school that I started to scrutinize and question my Christian faith. This wasn’t helped by some ‘evangelical atheists’ in my year group who enjoyed putting me to the test. I began asking a lot of the hard questions, especially around suffering.

Why were so many of God’s children living in sickness and poverty? Why did good people get brain tumours or killed by drunk drivers? It was all very convenient to believe in a loving God when you were born into an affluent family, with parents who fed you three times a day and took you to Disneyland.

Despite all this, I continued going to church and calling myself a Christian.

In some ways it would seem bizarre that I’d continue to bother with a belief system that presented so many unanswered questions. As a friend

I’M AT A PLACE WHERE I KNOW CHRISTIAN FAITH ISN’T ABOUT HAVING ALL THE ANSWERS TO THE COMPLEXITIES OF LIFE. of mine who left his faith once said, ‘Too many questions, just too many questions’.

But I was confident I had genuinely experienced the love and spirit of God, even when certain logic told me it was absurd. While my head could doubt, my heart could not ignore. I don’t think this is a case of having been brainwashed (as a dogmatic atheist told me). Rather, my faith has become the back bone of my life, a core foundation that gives me hope and peace.

To be brutally honest, I sometimes feel my doubts haven’t really gone anywhere—I think it’s just a part of my personality to be so inquisitive. I still read about the horrors of the world, and

think this belief system really doesn’t add up. Yet, I’m at a place where I know the Christian faith isn’t about having all the answers to the complexities of life.

Rather, it’s about hope—in a God that’s restoring and working to make all things new. Hope that death isn’t final and that there’s a force of love and goodness in the universe. And through all that, I’m inspired to be compassionate, love others and be part of community.

I am elated that Christian faith is still an integral part of my life, something which has a positive and inspiring outworking in my life. I think that, alone, is pretty hard for an evangelical atheist to argue with!

11 AUGUST 2018 WarCry 11

Why are we so obsessed with guys in tights, fighting for truth and justice?

BY HUGH COLLINS

In the last decade, we’ve been inundated with a relentless output of superhero films. In 2018 alone, Marvel has released four flicks, two of which are now among the 10 highest grossing films of all time: Avengers: Infinity War made over $2 billion at the box office—the fourth most profitable film of all time. Not to mention Black Panther’s $1.3 billion in earnings, now the ninth most profitable film of all time. To put it in perspective, these two movies have earned more than any of the films released by the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises.

Millions of us have a love and obsession with these cape-wielding characters. But what is it about these kinds of fictional heroes that compels us to sit in a dark room for two hours on an almost monthly basis?

Traditionally, many of these characters were marketed for kids, yet the genre is now almost exclusively produced for adults. In fact the two Deadpool films were, unsurprisingly, rated R16.

In many ways, it seems obvious both adults and children are drawn to characters that strive to fight for peace and justice in a world gone mad. We’re drawn to stories that showcase people fighting to make the world a better place.

A TALE AS OLD AS TIME The concept of a superhero, or character with superhuman abilities, is as old as humanity itself—some of the earliest works of fiction portrayed characters with godlike abilities. The Epic of Gilgamesh, for example, dates back to 2100 BC and follows a demigod king with superior strength and beauty. Greek and Roman mythology was filled with heroes, such as Achilles and Hercules, who were worshipped as gods. Here in New Zealand, we have Māui—a mythological hero best known for fishing up the North Island.

Superheroes have an appeal that’s timeless and universal, regardless of race and culture. This is because they embody an idealised version of ourselves—not only do they have superhuman powers, but they’re pretty easy on the eye. Who wouldn’t want the toned, muscular body of Captain America, or the lush, dark hair of Wonder Woman?

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Yet, despite these god-like qualities, superheroes are almost always presented with their own flaws and struggles. It’s this human side that makes them relatable—an aspect that usually becomes a central part of their narratives. It’s their humanity that inspires our deep longing to be a force for good in the world. To quote BBC writer Natalie Haynes, superheroes ‘illuminate the human condition’.

THOR AND THEOLOGY Superheroes also bring out a side of us that wants to believe there is someone or something looking out for us when things go wrong. The heart of the Christian story portrays a loving God who cares about his people. And while it’s probably not very helpful to picture God as looking like Superman, the Bible states clearly that he is a source of hope and comfort. Psalm 23:4 says: ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’ This verse isn’t saying life will be easy and things will never go wrong. But it is clear there is a loving creator behind us who hears our needs and desires.

Our attraction to superheroes also links to the idea of a ‘God-shaped hole’. This is the idea that eternity, and something greater than ourselves, is instilled in the heart of our being. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, ‘He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.’

TIMELESS AND TRADITIONAL VALUES In a recent article in the Australian edition of War Cry, writer David Goodwin explores the relationship between the DC and Marvel superhero brands and what it tells us about traditional values. The ‘Coke v. Pepsi’ of modern cinema, Marvel and DC are in a constant battle for box office figures. However, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is significantly more successful, with more films and bigger takings.

Goodwin looked at the relationship between the two franchises and how they’ve both taken different directions in how they present their heroes. While both studios examine what it means to be a hero and the

THIS IS A THEME THAT ALL SUPERHEROES FILMS OFFER— THAT THERE IS GOODNESS IN THE WORLD THAT WILL WORK TO MAKE ALL THINGS RIGHT IN THE END. values they represent, their conclusions have started to look quite different.

Traditionally, a majority of superheroes looked more or less the same and were clearly distinguishable from their enemies in the fight for truth and justice. Yet as society has changed, so have ideas about who the good guy is— audiences wanted characters that were more complex.

Stories like The Dark Knight and Watchmen gave us heroes with blatant flaws and villains that audiences could sympathise with.

Some stories started to depict ‘heroes’ that don’t really stand for anything, reflects Goodwin. DC creative Zack Snyder was on record saying he wasn’t a fan of the traditional approach to superheroes.

But for audiences, superheroes started to become a bit too dark. DC’s uber violent Batman Vs. Superman didn’t even crack $900 million at the box office.

In contrast, Marvel’s Captain America, who embodies oldfashioned superhero values, grossed $1.153 billion.

In fact, DC’s most successful films have been Wonder Woman and Christopher Nolan’s Batman films—two characters that simply want to fight for good in a world of darkness. Goodwin says that regardless of spiritual views, audiences are still drawn to these values.

AN OFFERING OF HOPE In a broken world, hope is central to the human condition. This is a theme that all superhero films offer—that there is goodness in the world that will work to make all things right in the end. Regardless of whether we are Christian, atheist or Muslim, most of us hold on to hope of some kind.

There are plenty of parallels between a traditional superhero like Superman, and Jesus. Not only do they both originate from heaven and possess qualities of self-sacrifice, but they are both characters that offer a different way of being in the world. Instead of changing themselves to fit society, they strive to change society themselves.

It was Christ’s countercultural approach to living that inspired our founders Catherine and William Booth to start The Salvation Army. Our beliefs in The Salvation Army are what drive us to be a different kind of superhero. While we won’t be flying or driving batmobiles anytime soon, we have the power to make a difference in other people’s worlds through compassionate giving, love and sacrifice. Perhaps this is a ‘superpower’ more effective than anything a Marvel writer could ever conjure up.

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Major Seth Le Leu.

JOURNEY OF RENEWAL

Part 2 of 2

We look behind the scenes of The Salvation Army’s Accountability Movement, which is making the hard decisions now to keep making a difference in the future.

BY PETER McGUIGAN

Any organisation impacted by the wholesale changes to society over the past five decades can remake itself and enjoy success in its core business, so long as it is willing to refocus and make hard decisions in the process, says Commissioner Robert Donaldson, International Secretary for Governance and Accountability.

He notes how this is the subject of books such as Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Church and how in the 2010s, the Holy Spirit seems to be speaking across Christianity about the Church’s spiritual life and mission to the world being reborn.

One case in point is how in 2013, at the same time General André Cox began talking about spiritual and organisational renewal in The Salvation Army, Pope Francis was calling the Roman Catholic Church to ‘refind’ its mission to the poor.

‘Be shepherds with the smell of the sheep,’ he challenged the church’s priests worldwide. ‘Bring the healing power of God’s grace to everyone in need. Stay close to the marginalised.’

Similarly, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, has made the renewal of prayer and religious communities of the Anglican Church his first priority, saying that it is through prayer that we find our true identity.

Remake or break Donaldson says that we can also learn from business, and points to the American company Kimberly-Clark as a classic case of organisational transformation. In 1971, the ageing paper company had fallen behind the general market by 36 percent.

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However, that year the company began making tough decisions about their future that started with a revamp of its leadership team and the appointment of a new CEO. Within 20 years, cumulative stock returns lifted to 4.1 times greater than those of the general market.

At one point, they made the highly controversial decision to move out of the coated paper business, sell all their mills, including the namesake mill in Kimberly, Wisconsin, and invest heavily in the consumer paper products business—in brands like Huggies diapers and Kleenex tissues. Today Kimberly-Clark and its global brands, with world headquarters in Dallas, Texas, reach 1.3 billion people across 178 countries every day.

‘The membership statistics of our movement are not crash hot at the moment, particularly those of Western territories,’ Commissioner Donaldson acknowledged. ‘But if it is possible for a declining paper company to re-create itself for the future and then go on to lead the world in providing solutions to people’s health, hygiene and well-being needs, why can’t an old oak of the church transform itself from the inside out. “We have a Gospel that matches the hour” wrote John Gowans in his well-known song. The central thrust of our journey of renewal is that we believe this with all our heart and will not hold back on doing everything necessary to make it a living, transforming reality in the villages, towns and cities of our world.’

Donaldson says that this includes letting go of any reluctance that might exist among us to admit our need for change, our

need for help to take the journey, or our deeper need to humble ourselves before God. Where territories, divisions, corps or other expressions of The Salvation Army have stepped into the journey of renewal, there is evidence of positive transformation already showing, both within The Salvation Army and, through fresh vision and re-energised mission, in the world.

Progress Many Salvationists, including international and territorial leaders, are buoyed by the difference in expectation and sense of direction that Journey of Renewal is bringing to The Salvation Army; to the tone of the Movement.

Major Seth Le Leu, Principal Advisor for International Governance, used the lyrics from a well-known Salvation Army song to describe progress in Africa. ‘The tide is now flowing,’ said Major Le Leu. ‘It is exciting to see the way that the territories in our Africa Zone are really earning the right to be called the “first adopter zone”. Zambia has pioneered the way with nonexecutive directors as trustees of the Army. The two Kenyan territories are hoping by the end of this year to have moved to the new governance model.

‘Just last week I was with the territorial executive team in Kenya East. The size of this territory is truly phenomenal with 70 members on the team, representing more than 85,000 soldiers, 79,000 junior soldiers, nearly 700 corps and outposts, and 372 schools. The governance logistics are huge. All 70 members of the executive engaged in deep and lively discussion on the key governance principles. More than anything else, the team really appreciated that governance change is for all levels of the organisation. Other territories like Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique and South Africa are all at different points in their governance journey.’

WE BELIEVE [THE GOSPEL] WITH ALL OUR HEART AND WILL NOT HOLD BACK ON DOING EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO MAKE IT A LIVING, TRANSFORMING REALITY. In other parts of the world progress is similar, yet different.

Commissioner Alistair Herring, also Principal Advisor for International Governance, said that even though territories are signing up for renewal and accountability, it is only as the Journey of Renewal comes to a territory that its necessity becomes obvious. ‘The lights go on for many people,’ said Commissioner Herring, ‘about the connections between the theology of accountability and how changes in structures and systems will facilitate a journey of renewal—the development of a Christlike culture.

‘Use of the book Journey of Renewal is also making a big difference in many places in terms of the Holy Spirit opening the hearts and minds of our people, preparing them for >>>

Accountability for Beginners Seth Le Leu, Principal Advisor for International Governance, keeps it simple …

What is the Accountability Movement?

The Accountability Movement has four focuses: Governance focuses on leadership; Finance focuses on a global roll-out of a new, more effective accounting system; Impact Measurement focuses on measuring effectiveness; and Child Protection focuses on ensuring every child in all Salvation Army programmes is protected and thrives.

Why do we need it? This is a once-in-150-year review of how the Army does its work. It has one purpose: to make a more effective organisation in the 21st century.

What do the changes mean in real life? An accountable organisation has a 360 degree view. The Army must be accountable to those who support it, but also it needs to learn how to be more accountable to those it serves and its members. The Army must be transparent: people today have a fairly dim view of large organisations. The Army needs to be transparent in all its actions so that the public and those it serves can see how it works.

The Army needs to be open: the plan is to bring the right people into its leadership teams who can help it make better decisions.

How will the movement affect me as a Salvationist? Soon there will be soldiers on the Territorial Governance Board. For the first time in its history non-officers will be part of the leadership and direction of the territory; soldiers will have representatives in leadership.

How do I get on a board and make decisions? (Asking for a friend) The territory needs to have a Governance Board that has senior leadership and independent members. The independent members will bring expert skills, such as legal or finance expertise, or they may represent young people, bicultural ministry, and so on. Senior leadership brings their knowledge of the Army’s ministry. It is in the mix of executive and independent members that the best decisions are made, and that is the aim.

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accountability. Within my experience of just the past four months in the territories I have visited—The Philippines, India (six territories), Sri Lanka, Russia Command, Eastern Europe, Finland and Estonia, and Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar—all have decided to make changes to governance and management structures and processes. On the basis of these experiences, I expect something quite similar in upcoming visits to Latin America North, Brazil, South America West and Papua New Guinea.’

Commissioner Herring said he has noticed the spiritual impact on territories, using The Salvation Army in Finland and Estonia as an example. ‘My impression is that the Finland and Estonia Territory is experiencing a wave of new energy coming out of their focus on the Journey of Renewal book which they have discussed extensively, and also through accountability and governance workshops. They have already done most of the work for a governance charter and aim to have new governance structures and systems up and running by September.’

In fact, according to the Governance and Accountability team, by September 2018 at least 12 territories will have new governance charters and boards in place and within 18 months that figure will be well above 30.

Consultation and agreement For an organisation the size of The Salvation Army, some of the changes involved in Journey of Renewal are monumental and, in some cases, mean that 150-year-old practices will disappear almost overnight. But the consultative process for Journey of Renewal and the Accountability Movement has been the most extensive ever undertaken in The Salvation Army. The Army’s senior executives around the world are agreed on the vital importance of being spiritually and organisationally fit for the 21st century.

Discussion in almost all the territories and commands that the Accountability and Governance team is working with has led to agreement that: • pursuing renewal of both heart and vision is key to the future and protecting the vulnerable must be a top priority • leadership and capacity development is critical to the health of the Army’s spiritual life and the impact of its mission in every place • moving away from an autocratic form of leadership structure to one of shared processes and responsibility is safer for all and will lead to better decision-making • refocusing the roles of the two most senior leaders of territories will be much more productive—the territorial commander on vision, strategy and accountability and the chief secretary on leading a team in implementation and management.

The Salvation Army’s new finance system will bring much-needed capacity for transparency and clarity in reporting, and establishing a board of governance to oversee a territory’s or command’s life and mission, which includes soldiers and other non-executive directors, will be in fact best practice and the best decision they could take for the future—and ‘long overdue’.

There’s a new confidence beginning to show in the stride of The Salvation Army as, around the world, it musters the courage to boldly go where it has not gone before; to shed the old wine skins for the new. The bottom line is still ‘the whole world redeeming’, to use its founder’s own words. But one gets the feeling that right now for this globe-treading movement of God, transformation starts at home and a more humble, more formidable Salvation Army is about to emerge. So, watch this space!

Major Peter McGuigan is Communications and Public Relations Secretary for The Salvation Army Sri Lanka Territory.

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The Latest on New Zeal An update on ‘New Zeal–A Season of Encounter’, which will be launched across our territory on Sunday 21 October …

The live launch of New Zeal will at be Wellington City Corps (church), joined by corps from across the Wellington region who will gather together for live worship and a message from Territorial Commander, Commissioner Andy Westrupp.

There will also be a number of ‘hubs’ across New Zealand, three in Fiji, and one each in Tonga and Samoa. They will stream either the whole service, or have their own live worship before connecting to the live feed for the message.

Territorial Children’s Ministries are also working with corps and divisions to create an awesome programme for kids.

A New Zeal website will share what God is doing over the Season of Encounter, as well as resources for prayer, worship and teaching—all connected to encountering God through his Holy Spirit.

‘We are really excited about New Zeal and what is in store for us as a territory as we pursue God’s power,’ said Major Ivan Bezzant, Territorial Secretary for Corps Mission. ‘If you don’t have a regular church that you attend, we want you to know that you are welcome to join us at a Salvation Army centre that is near you.’

The New Zeal team is headed up by Majors Ivan and Glenda Bezzant, with Sophie Lauridsen (Special Events Coordinator), Jim Downey, Chris Cope and Kris Singh (Creative Ministries), Hannah Medland (Territorial Children’s Ministries) and Major Shar Davis (Communications).

MORE INFO | salvationarmy.org.nz/newzeal

MP Discusses Care for Seniors The future of care and compassion for our eldest citizens was explored at The Salvation Army’s Senior Services Conference in July.

The two-day conference featured Army staff and officers from around the country, including incumbent Minister for Seniors, Tracey Martin.

The New Zealand First politician showed a clear commitment to the livelihood of some of our most vulnerable, and was stern about ensuring seniors were kept at the forefront of MP conversations.

‘We like to think we’ve made some significant progress in actually raising awareness around elder abuse,’ Tracey told a packed Pollard Hall, at Territorial Headquarters.

She discussed the issues of an aging population: projections show there will be

a million New Zealanders over the age of 65 in 10 years.

‘More than ever before we’re going to have seniors over the age of 80,’ Tracey said.

With many elderly battling loneliness, technology will increasingly play a part in their wellbeing.

‘How do they stay connected through the technology we’ve got? … Rather than assume that what they want to do is go to sewing classes or floristry, let’s actually make sure that there is a wider opportunity for them.’

Thanks to all those involved with the Senior Services Conference for 2018, we appreciate your valuable input and commitment in this challenging area of need.

Member of Parliament Tracey Martin.

Samoa Added to our Territory!

On 1 August, The Salvation Army officially commenced its work in Samoa. To mark the occasion, the name of our territory has changed to become the New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory.

In 1984, contact was first made with the Samoan authorities by the then-regional commander in Fiji. But it was not until 2017 that the Samoan Prime Minister, Tuila’epa Sa’illele Malielegaoi, wrote expressing a keen interest in having The Salvation Army begin work on the islands—citing drug and alcohol dependency as key issues he felt The Salvation Army could address. He wrote: ‘I like to think you were divinely guided ... to bring the good news of your work for Samoa.’

Plans were soon put in place to establish a corps (church) and an addiction treatment centre. Violence against women and children was another key area that was suggested as a focus for the Army’s ministry. Sunday meetings have been taking place since May 2018, and employees, engaged to be involved in the addictions programme, began work in June.

With legal registration now in place, along with an approved budget for the first three years, and officers appointed to lead the work—Lieutenant-Colonels Rod and Jenny Carey (regional officers), along with Captain Miriama Simanu (planting officer)—the work will develop under the auspices of Salvation Army leadership in New Zealand.

Captain Miriama Simanu (left), with Lieutenant-Colonels Rod & Jenny Carey in Samoa.

The leadership team from New Zealand were in Samoa for a weekend of celebrations from 3–5 August—a full report of the official opening will be in the next edition of War Cry.

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As Seen on Facebook

Dunedin City launched an exciting new service on 29 July called ‘Exchange’—beginning with a chic new café, followed by an evening of worship.

Sewing Seeds of Hope for Refugee Family What a great celebration of Founder’s Day on 1 July, at Kāpiti Corps!—with some of the ladies sporting historic uniform pieces.

This photo was snapped during Rotorua Corps’ ‘Family Connections’ fellowship, which had a day trip to Marshall’s Animal Park at McLaren’s Falls.

So much fun! ‘All the animals (except the emu—the emu are freaky ) were super friendly and a delight,’ they said.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK | SalvationarmyNZFijiTonga

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The Salvation Army and a sewing machine are helping an Auckland family get started on a new life and give something back.

The Army stepped in to help the mother, father and young baby— originally refugees from Afghanistan— when it became unsafe for them to stay in the home they were in. But with a generous outpouring of support from the community, the family is getting a chance to share their skills with New Zealanders.

Royal Oak Transitional Housing Support worker Kris Teikamata, said the family were attending English as a Second Language classes at Royal Oak when the team found out about their situation, and stepped in to help them find a home.

They were able to get them into a Salvation Army Transitional Housing house earlier this year, where the Army provides 12 weeks accommodation and wrap-around support to help people get back on their feet.

Kris and the team have been providing them with ongoing support, including food parcels, budgeting and social work.

The mother, in particular, was struggling and feeling isolated because of all the family had been through, looking after a young baby and being unable to speak English, Kris said. However, things changed when she visited the family and the mother showed her some of the

sewing work she had done as a seamstress in Afghanistan.

‘It was outstanding and exquisite, but she said she had no sewing materials or a sewing machine. She hadn’t sewed since she’d been in New Zealand. She’s been quite isolated and homesick, staying at home looking after a young baby. So, I put out a Facebook post asking for sewing resources and a sewing machine.’

The post was shared more than 80 times and Kris said the response from the community had been overwhelming.

‘We had people contacting us from all over the world. A family from Afghanistan saying, “If there’s anything we can do”. We had two people offer sewing machines and more sewing resources than we needed.

We had people asking if they could buy things from her.’

The sewing machine opened up a whole new world of opportunities and work started to come in, Kris said.

‘I’ve just seen her completely change.

She’s happy, after all they’ve been through, with the combination of a stable home and being able to do some work and sew again, which is her passion.’

The Royal Oak team are now working with the family to help them find a house where the Army will keep supporting them as long as they need.

GAZETTE Withdrawal: Effective 13 July: Majors Laineta and Viliame Ramere.

Majors Laineta and Viliame Ramere were commissioned on 7 December 2002. During their 15 years and 7 months of active service they served in corps appointments at Saweni, Nasinu, Labasa, Savusavu and Lomaivuna Corps. Please keep Laineta and Viliame Ramere and family in your prayers.

Bereavement: Major Christine Ivers of her father, Allan Markham, who was promoted to Glory in Stroud, NSW, Australia after a period of illness, on Tuesday 17 July 2018. Allan was a life-long Salvationist. We ask you to uphold Majors Christine and Earle Ivers and other family members in your prayers in this time of grief and loss.

First Time Grandparents: Lieutenants Steve and Faye Molen.

Tihei Mauri ora! E pīataata mai he whetu i roto i te marama o Mataariki, ka nganga mai he putiputi, kua whānau mai he tamāhine ātaahua i roto i te rā 20 Hune 2018 i te takiwā o Kalgoorlie, Australia. I tapaingia tōna ingoa ko Harleigh-Rose Te Atamahina Waka Hansen. Ko 8.4 pāuna te taumaha. Ko Eric Hansen me Bettina Kerr ōna matua. Koia te mokopuna tuatahi o Faye rāua ko Steve Molen. Nā mihi nui ki Te Atua i te runga rawa mō ona manaakitanga e utainahia ki runga i te whānau.

Otirā nā mihi maioha ki ngā whanaunga whānui, Molen, Hansen, Kerr, Edwards, Moses.

A star shines in the month of Mataariki and a beautiful flower blooms in Kalgoorlie, Australia, on the 20 June 2018, at the arrival of a beautiful daughter, Harleigh-Rose Te Atamahina Waka Hansen, 8lb 4oz (3.81kgs), to her parents Eric Hansen and Bettina Kerr. She is the firstborn grandchild of Lieutenants Faye and Steve Molen. We thank God for his continued gracious blessings over her family, and extend our congratulations to the Molen, Hansen, Kerr, Edwards and Moses families at this time.

New Territory Name: Effective 1 July: The Papua New Guinea Territory is now known as the Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Territory.

… BECOME A PRISONER OF HOPE. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, opponent of South Africa’s apartheid system, was asked by a reporter why he persevered during those years before the downfall of apartheid. The Archbishop pondered this for a minute, replying that he was a ‘prisoner of hope’.

Te Ope Whakaora, when translated, means ‘the Army that brings life’. Our purpose is underpinned by two practices: to live like Jesus and do mission together. I believe that intrinsically linked to life, is hope. But even with all the advancements made in the world—a world that for many is vastly different to that of previous generations—what is still sadly lacking in the lives of many people is hope.

General William Booth in his book Darkest England and the Way Out depicted pictorially his vision: it showed a turbulent sea full of hopeless, drowning people—who William called the ‘submerged tenth’—with Salvationists on the rocks trying to rescue them. In the middle of the sea, on a small rock, was a beaming lighthouse with the word ‘Salvation’ at its base, and directly above, the words ‘hope for all’.

The lighthouse in this scene, at the end of the 19th century, was a ray of hope in the darkness—and still is today across the world—where one billion people don’t have access to electricity. Millions of children don’t have what we take for granted, such as the opportunity to go to school. And where the gap between rich and poor is increasing—the wealth of the 85 richest people is equal to the poorest half of the world combined.

Within our own territory, The Salvation Army is a beacon of hope and life for people in our communities—through our corps ministries, Education and Employment, addiction services, social housing and many other avenues.

Perhaps for the first time in their lives, people are treated with respect and dignity, and see a glimmer of hope that has been so sadly missing from their lives.

We pray these people find a place where they can belong, believe and experience the words of Isaiah 40:31: ‘For those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’

We are part of an international Army, and there is an opportunity for each of us to financially support the worldwide mission through the Self Denial Appeal—where funds are used to support the work of the Army in areas of the world with some of the most deprivation and lack of hope. Will you join with me and become a prisoner of hope?

Captain Gerry Walker Territorial Secretary for Social Mission 11 AUGUST 2018 WarCry 19

Does God Really Care About Me?

How a puppy taught Sue Hay about the presence and presents of God—even when he is silent.

As anyone who has cared for a little person knows, when a pre-schooler suddenly goes quiet it’s best to investigate. A lack of noise can be a sign they are up to something they shouldn’t be! So, when my only child—a usually very loud four-year-old—suddenly turned quiet, I needed to find out why.

I found him sitting cross-legged on his bed, eyes tight shut and hands clasped firmly together in prayer.

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… MY REPEATED LIFE EXPERIENCE OF ABUSE AND GRIEF HAD CREATED AN UNCONSCIOUS EXPECTATION THAT GOD WOULD RARELY GIVE ME GOOD THINGS. Then, a similar thing happened while we were out in the car a few days later.

Suddenly the noise from the back seat ceased. Puzzled, I asked why he was so quiet. He informed me he was praying that God would send him a puppy.

The problem with this request was that I was terrified of dogs. My fear was so intense I knew there was no way he would ever be getting a puppy. It seemed my son was going to learn very early in life that God doesn’t always answer our prayers. I hoped I would be able to help him manage his disappointment. But then three things happened to me …

Firstly, I had to fly to a conference.

And because I feared flying as much as I feared dogs, I required a good book to distract me. The book I read on the flight included a chapter on fear! The author suggested some fears are a reality we conjure up in our own heads. I felt challenged to consider whether or not I had the capacity to change the thinking that had created my fear-based reality.

God is a loving parent These unexpected answers to the prayer of my four-year-old became an invitation to reflect on how God cares for us, just like a loving parent does. I recognised my repeated life experience of abuse and grief had created an unconscious expectation that God would rarely give me good things. Yet, the arrival of a puppy pointed me to the parent heart of God. In answer to a four-year-old’s prayer, I saw a Divine Parent bestow a very special gift on my son. Yet he was granted more than just a puppy. Through this puppy, he found an answer to the deeper need of his heart—a precious companion to reduce his aloneness as an only child. This was indeed a good gift.

Jesus stated that if you, as imperfect parents, ‘know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him’ (Matthew 7:11).

But when God is the one who goes silent, this claim can feel like a broken promise. If God fails to provide what we ask for, many of us are left feeling disillusioned. We start to believe in a God who does not care about us at all.

Silence is not golden when silence from God fuels our fears of abandonment.

SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN WHEN SILENCE FROM GOD FUELS OUR FEARS OF ABANDONMENT.

Secondly, the latest edition of a monthly parenting magazine arrived in my letterbox. Unbelievably, it contained an article about ‘only children’ needing pets. The article claimed pets assist ‘only children’ develop essential social and caring skills.

However, in an almost identical statement, quoted in Luke 11:13, the word good is exchanged for the words Holy Spirit. Jesus claims God will do better than give us any old good thing.

This interchanging of words suggests the best gift of all is God’s Spirit.

And finally, a friend phoned: she insisted my son needed a puppy and she had found him one! So for his fifth birthday, my son received a puppy, and a mother who began to change her responses to both dogs and flying!

My son prayed for a puppy when what he really longed for was a friend and companion. As I listen to both my own and others’ hearts, I sense that when we pray for specific things there is usually a deeper layer to our requests. Beyond

the specifics we are really asking: ‘Does Anyone care?’ Beneath our words, we search for reassurance that Someone is there for us. We want to know we are not alone.

How shall we pray?

Yet praying for specific requests leaves us in control. Praying for specifics means we are telling God what to do. We may pray for the thing we want—like a puppy— whilst remaining unaware of what it is we really need. On the other hand, praying for the Spirit requires us to trust that God knows exactly what we need. I imagine God is genuinely delighted when we finally understand the gift of the Spirit is what’s truly best for us. Whatever our circumstances, the gift of the Spirit as our guide, comforter and companion will always be the answer to the deepest needs of our hearts.

Thus, the words of Jesus become an invitation to pray less for specifics, and more for the Spirit—to pray less for particulars, and more for a presence.

God always grants this good gift.

The gift of the Spirit, first released at Pentecost, came with power which was so transformational that the scared disciples were able to leave a locked room and take God’s message to the ends of the earth.

God’s powerful presence And I’ve discovered one more truth: there’s something very precious about a Divine Parent who delights in granting us the best. I hadn’t expected God to enjoy answering our prayers! Just as I had to unravel my thought processes in relation to my fears, I also had to update my thinking about God: it’s amazing to realise just how much delight God takes in selecting the best possible gifts for each of us.

The arrival of a puppy was a most unexpected answer to a four-year-old’s prayer. The arrival of a puppy pointed me to our Divine Parent’s pleasure when we seek the greatest gift of the all. The arrival of a puppy helped me discover the gift of God’s powerful presence is exactly what we need.

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PRAY

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 10–16 August: Visit of SPEA Zonal Secretary Commissioner Gillian Downer 10–12 August: Joyful Evangelist Reunion, Booth College of Mission 13 August: Johnsonville Rotary meeting, Wellington 26 August: Johnsonville Corps visit (Self Denial) Colonel Suzanne Fincham (Chief Secretary) and Melvin Fincham (Territorial Secretary for Programme and Communications) 10–16 August: Visit of SPEA Zonal Secretary Commissioner Gillian Downer 11 August: Māori Ministry Council Hui, Auckland 12 August: Joyful Evangelist Reunion, Booth College of Mission 17–19 August: Delve Conference, Upper Hutt Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women's Ministries and Spiritual Life Development) No engagements at this time.

Check out our new website salvationarmy.org.nz

Hamilton City Corps, Hastings Corps, Hāwera Corps, Hibiscus Coast Corps and the Hospice Marlborough; The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda.

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@nzf. salvationarmy.org

Shop online at

salvationarmy.org.nz/shop

How did you go with Dry July?

If you found it a struggle and would like help with your drinking, go to: www.salvationarmy.org.nz/bridge or call: 0800 53 00 00

Find SALVATION ARMY JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

If drugs and alcohol are a problem we are here to help.

salvationarmy.org.nz/employment

Want to Know More?

I would like:

I Might Have Been A Patternmaker

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

Pre-order the re-print edition now

Flag Publications has negotiated a reprint of Commissioner Ross Kendrew's book, I Might Have Been A Patternmaker. It is available for pre-order for no more than $25.00 (plus postage and packaging).

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

To register your interest, please email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz

Quiz Answers: 1 1,000,000 (one million), 2 Zagreb, 3 Scotland, 4 Cabbage, 5 Tahpenes (1 Kings 11:19).

22 WarCry 11 AUGUST 2018

choose a filling

Design and draw your own doughnut flavour!

… everything I have is yours.

Luke 15:31 CEV

JAM PEANUT BUTTER CREAM HUMMUS CARAMEL

choose an icing flavour CHOCOLATE CHEESE BLUEBERRY VANILLA BEETROOT

ANSWERS: Matching pair: 3 and 7.

choose a topping

SPRINKLES CHILLI POWDER CINNAMON BACON BITS CHOC CHIPS

John Haight ate 29 donuts in just over six minutes, breaking the world record.

September 14 is National CremeFilled Donut Day

Colour in this scene from the story

The largest doughnut ever made was an American-style jam donut weighing 1.7 tonnes

A man called Brian was waiting to get on a plane, and bought himself a coffee and bag of mini donuts. He tried to find somewhere to sit, but all the tables were taken. Then he spotted a seat opposite a very tall man, so he said, ‘Can I sit here?’

‘Sure,’ said the tall man.

Brian sat down. He put his coffee down. He put his donuts down.

Then the tall man did something very strange—he reached over, picked up the bag of donuts, took out a donut and ate it!

Brian couldn’t believe his eyes. But he didn’t say anything. He just took a donut out of the bag, ate it and took a swig of coffee.

The tall man smiled at him. Then he reached over, and took another donut out of the bag.

‘Donut thief!’ thought Brian, moving the bag closer to him. He took out another donut and dunked it in his coffee—staring at the tall man. But he just smiled back.

Then, the tall man stood up, grabbed his stuff, and picked up the bag of donuts again. This time he offered one donut to Brian, and popped the very last donut in his mouth.

Brian was furious! But he realised it was time to catch his plane. So he quickly grabbed his coat and his coffee, and reached down to pick up his bag. Sitting on top of the luggage was his bag of donuts!

Can you find the matching pair?

Brian had been angry at the tall man for stealing his donuts, when it was Brian who was stealing the tall man’s donuts—and the tall man had been happy to share!

God owns all the donuts! He asks us to joyfully share what we have.

Thank you for everything you have given me—help to share what I have.

11 AUGUST 2018 WarCry 23

there is only ‘us’ FATHER GREGORY BOYLE