11 January 2020 NZFTS War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION 11 JANUARY 2020 | Issue 6733 | $1.50

Commissioning Celebrations!

Taking a Leap of Faith Should you take a gap year?

WIN Bear Grylls’s Soul Fuel Single in the City

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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.

ACTING EDITOR Major Shar Davis | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Captain Jules Badger, Louise Parry, Bethany Slaughter | PROOF READING Vivienne Hill | COVER PHOTO Lance Tomuri 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.

2020 Vision Happy New Year! It’s a little hard to believe it’s 2020. It’s interesting to see how filmmakers imagined this year. Edge of Tomorrow—that Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt movie no one remembers the actual name of—imagined a world where aliens invaded Earth. Annihilation Earth begins in a post-apocalyptic wasteland and ends with pieces of Earth floating through space. A Quiet Place wipes out most of the planet’s human and animal population by creatures who attack anything that makes a sound.

For some reason, the future (now our present) didn’t fill people with much hope. Is it easier to imagine that things get worse rather than better? All the advances in technology and comforts in life do nothing to increase our longevity on the planet according to them.

I think 2020 is a year of opportunity. When we refer to perfect eyesight, we say someone has 20/20 vision. It’s a measure of visual acuity—which is clarity or sharpness of vision.

What a great thing to consider at the start of a new year. What are you hoping to achieve this year? What are you passionate about? What do you need to say ‘no’ to, in order to say ‘yes’ to something else?

For The Salvation Army, 2020 is an invitation for us to collectively sharpen our vision, to clearly articulate what we are working towards—and then be strategic in our pursuit of that vision. That vision will then direct our decisions, our investments and our ‘yeses’.

So, let’s embrace life in all it’s fullness and make 2020 the year of 20/20.

Shar Davis Assistant Territorial Communications Secretary

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

Publishing for 136 years | Issue 6733 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 SalvationArmyNZFTS @SalvationArmyNZ salvationarmynzfts

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Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.

Jonathan Swift

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no understanding of the Word of the Lord, the people do whatever they want to, but happy is he who keeps the law.

Ngā Whakatauki 29:18 Ki te kāhore he whakakitenga, ka kore te iwi e tūpato: ko te kaipupuri ia i te ture, ka hari ia.

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t takes faith to trust that your parachute is going to open. That’s the situation I faced around 20 years ago at Bridge Pā, Hawke’s Bay. I must point out that I was a willing participant. Who in their right mind jumps out of a perfectly good plane? Well, I’m pretty sure I was in my right mind back then—and I think I still am, although others may have a different opinion.

So, there I was, sitting in the plane, right up the front and next to the door. I would be the first to jump. The door was opened at 3500 feet.

Most people are a little hesitant at this stage—the rushing wind in the plane, the immediate drop to the ground—but I absolutely loved it!

I was jumping solo, so a static line had been attached to me. In my upcoming drop below the aircraft, the static line would pull open the top of the pack, so the parachute would safely open a specific distance from the aircraft.

My instructor spoke loudly over the noise of the engine and wind, to remind me of the drill we had practiced in the classroom. We had been trained to place a foot on a step below the door and reach out for a strut on the plane, then step off while still holding on to the strut (a Supermanlike flying position). Lastly, we would look back into the plane and wait for the instructor to say ‘Go!’—that’s exactly what happened. I carefully stepped down, reached for the wing strut and stepped off the step. How exhilarating! I looked at

my instructor and he shouted, ‘Go!’, so I let go and started falling towards the ground. All that needed to happen now was for my parachute to open.

We place a lot of faith in things happening just the way they are meant to. I expected for that parachute to open. And, just as I expected (and hoped), it did. My parachute opened well. My lines were a bit twisted, so I had to fix them mid-air, but all went well. I floated to the ground, grinning from ear to ear, landing on my feet. What an experience!

Faith in God can be like that—trusting God when things are not always in our control. Faith in God means we expect God to move in a situation. Read the Bible and you will see many people place their trust in God when they were in good circumstances, as well as seemingly dire and un-winnable ones. And God moved powerfully in their lives.

For you and me to place our faith in God, we need to believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Others have gone through parachute-like life situations where God has brought about his plans and purposes—so you can too. It may not look like what you want, but God’s way is always best.

Jesus says trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1). May you know what it means to place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ—with or without a parachute.

BY BRENTON MILLAR 11 JANUARY 2020 WarCry 3

TOPFIVE

For those of you planning your next overseas adventure, here are five weird, wacky and weirder-still tourist destinations around the globe.

1. The World’s Largest Ball of Paint, USA: What began as a baseball covered in paint has since garnered over 25,000 layers, as tourists add their own coat to this record-breaker.

Souvenirs Break Down the Walls in Debut Album Throughout Beyond These Walls, the debut album from Wellingtonbased worship collective Souvenirs, a running theme is that God would break down the walls of people’s lives—and the church—to take the gospel out into the world.

Since its release, songwriters Tom Field and Jamie Rodwell have been thrilled to hear stories of people connecting with God through the album.

‘We wanted to create moments— whether that’s through a worship night or through recordings—with these songs that people can look back on as souvenirs; as times where they actually encountered God,’ Tom says.

‘That’s such a blessing, that people can meet with God through these songs, even just in the mundane, day-to-day things that they’re doing,’ Jamie affirms.

Another gift has been the musicians who bring Souvenirs to life, both in the studio and at worship nights.

‘God’s brought in all these incredible people that bring so many skills that we don’t have,’ Tom says. ‘We’ve watched him minister to those people, and also minister through them to other people.’

Following a worship night in Palmerston North, which saw ten people give their lives to Jesus, Souvenirs will be playing at Festival One—a summer Christian music festival in Auckland that runs from January 24–27.

3. Paper House, USA: Well, the name is probably the first clue. It is a house made entirely from paper, including the furniture, but we’re wondering what happens when it rains?

4. Toilet Theme Park, South Korea: This theme park was built in the memory of a former mayor who focused his efforts on improving the city’s public toilets, which is oddly kind of endearing. Nevertheless, we can think of ways we’d rather be commemorated!

5. Casa di Giulietta (‘Juliet’s house’), Italy: Each year, tourists flock to this balcony that is rumoured to be the home of Romeo and Juliet’s tragic female lead. Only problem? Er, Juliet was a fictional character…

The group are praying for more opportunities to host worship nights, and can be booked through their website at souvenirsworship.com Beyond These Walls is available on Spotify and iTunes/Apple Music

Weird of the Week: Hawaiian pizza— love it or loathe it— was actually created by a Canadian.

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2. The Gnome Reserve, England: Another Guinness World Record holder, your gnome hat and fishing rod are included in your admission fee, as you wander four acres filled with over 2000 garden gnomes.

WARCRYINHISTORY

We’re not sure where exactly the queue starts from, but this photograph—printed in the 5 January 1991 edition of War Cry—showed the popularity of the Army’s fishing boat with the locals in Tonga.

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

SALLIEOFTHEWEEK Julie Mortimer

People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.

Sir Edmund Hillary

(Territorial Headquarters) Julie is the glue that keeps the THQ community together. Joining the team in February 2016, Julie looks after the catering and hospitality, making sure staff and visitors are ‘fed and watered’. She is an incredibly hard worker, makes a great cup of tea or coffee and often surprises everyone with fresh scones or other goodies.

QUIKQUIZ

She caters for groups, training days and special THQbased functions. When she’s not hard at work, Julie loves animals, travelling and has an adventurous side— entertaining staff with stories of her latest thrill-seeking experience.

2 How many heads does the Roman god Janus have?

Thanks Julie, for your gift of hospitality and the way you serve others with a smile.

We’ve got one copy of Soul Fuel to give away. The Salvation Army is mentioned on one page in the book; email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz to guess which page (from 1–373) it is, and the closest guess will win!

Entries close 27 January.

3 Who wrote ‘Auld Lang Syne’?

4 How often does a leap year occur?

5 What Pharisee came to Jesus late at night?

You’re our Sallie of the Week!

Devotional Soul Fuel, by Bear Grylls He’s best known for his television show Man vs Wild; now, adventurer Bear Grylls has put his faith on paper in Soul Fuel. This 360-day devotional is a great read for someone who struggles to engage with in-depth, structured devotionals.

The book is split into ten sections—covering topics such as purpose, courage and risk —which each include a personal introduction from Bear. The entries are challenging and encouraging, few of them longer than a page. ‘Faith, though, is a journey,’ he writes, ‘all too often, it’s the tougher path. But life and the wild have taught me that the tougher path almost always ends up being the most fulfilling one.’ (Reviewed by Bethany Slaughter)

1 6/6 is the NZ equivalent for what common measure of health?

Answers on page 22

Prawn and Haloumi Kebabs 18 raw prawns, shelled, deveined 90g haloumi cheese, cut into 12 chunks 2 tsp dried oregano 6 fresh bay leaves, halved 6 bamboo skewers Oil, for greasing

Place prawns in a large, shallow bowl with haloumi and oregano. Toss gently to coat.

Thread 3 prawns, 2 chunks of haloumi and 2 pieces of bay leaf on each skewer, alternating each ingredient as you go.

Cook on a heated, oiled grill plate or barbecue on high until prawns change colour. Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.

Tip: Soak skewers in cold water for 15 minutes before using to prevent them from burning on the grill.

Source: countdown.co.nz

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Kyle Aitken’s story of returning to work at Blue Mountain Adventure Centre is one of patience and trusting in God’s timing. Now, he is putting plans in place to secure the future of BMAC and make it a mission space where visitors can reach their full potential in the great outdoors.

BY BETHANY SLAUGHTER

I

t is a Friday afternoon at The Salvation Army’s Blue Mountain Adventure Centre (BMAC), and Kyle Aitken has only just gotten off the water.

The staff have recently finished clearing away a tree that was stuck in the middle of the river; now they can run activities as planned in the upcoming weeks. While he enjoys the chance to get out on the river and go rafting, Kyle’s role as Manager often requires him in the office, chasing up opportunities to bring people into the centre, which can be found in the tiny North Island town of Raurimu, surrounded by Tongariro National Park.

‘We have got God’s amazing creation around us,’ Kyle says. ‘I love taking people down caving and going, “God has designed all of this for us to enjoy, so we need to enjoy it. That’s our job”.’

BMAC has been part of The Salvation Army’s mission in New Zealand since 1990, offering a range of outdoor activities to test and thrill visiting groups.

The journey of returning there has had its ups and downs for Kyle, who previously worked at the centre before moving overseas a number of years ago.

Now, as BMAC passes its thirty-year milestone of operation, he and his team of staff have a strong vision to keep it thriving.

‘I definitely have a heart for the place, and I see its potential,’ he says.

Not ‘No’, but ‘Not Yet’ For someone who felt God calling him so strongly to work at BMAC, Kyle never grew up thinking he would one day be employed there, despite his family being an active group that spent time in the outdoors swimming and tramping—and his first experiences at BMAC as a teenager were eye-opening.

‘I was in awe of all those (instructors). I was like, “These guys get to do this for a job! I could never do that”,’ he remembers. ‘Then, down the track, here we are.’

Kyle grew up in The Salvation Army church, and met his wife, Hania, at The Salvation Army School for Youth Leadership in Australia. Together, they now have four children: Elishka, Cruz, Meshach and Hosanna.

He first worked at BMAC in 2006, staying for six years before their family left New Zealand to spend time overseas, ending up in Australia again. There, in 2013, they first realised God was calling them to return to BMAC. The pair were so certain, that when the Manager position became available, they sold their car and booked flights home to New Zealand.

To their shock, Kyle did not get the job.

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‘It was a real blow for us, actually,’ Kyle says. ‘It was like, “hang on, we both really felt like we heard from God real clear on this”.’

With their plane tickets already paid for, the family returned to New Zealand, and God opened the door for Kyle to work in the outdoor programme at Dilworth School in Auckland. While this was an amazing opportunity for their family, both Kyle and Hania remained convinced that God was drawing their family back to BMAC. In response, Kyle sought to build on his skills from the feedback he had received during the application process and complete extra education, studying Management papers through Open Polytech. When the Manager role at BMAC was re-advertised, he applied once more.

Again, the role went to someone else.

‘It was a … real trial for us, working out how God speaks, and we understood eventually that God said, as a whole, “not ‘no’, but ‘not yet’”.’

‘Both of us knew that it was God’s plan for us to be here, so it was just a matter of waiting it out and putting your best foot forward, and hoping that the people who are doing the interview could see your heart and that you are willing to learn.’

When the role became available again in 2019, six years after he had first put his name forward, Kyle went into the application process with the same passion and conviction.

This time, he got the job.

Up to the Challenge Although he loves joining in with the activities—which happens once or twice a week—Kyle’s role is not based in leading the adventures. His everyday duties include future planning, working with and equipping staff, and promotion of the centre—part of this is maintaining community ties and partnerships, part is inviting new groups of people in.

‘There are people that come back year after year, or every couple of years,’ Kyle says, ‘so you are building long-term relationships and then also relationships in the community.’

BMAC offers a range of activities, such as abseiling, canyoning, rock climbing, mountaineering, Canadian canoeing, white water rafting, caving, mountain biking and a high ropes course. Set against the backdrop of creation, the centre is dedicated to helping people of all ages express themselves and discover their God-given potential through the challenge of adventure.

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‘When they are at that spot where they are just out of their comfort zone,’ Kyle explains, ‘that is when they do their learning and growing.

‘The confidence that people get from coming and getting stuck into the outdoors and recognising that they can actually do things they didn’t think were possible, that is pretty amazing.’

In each visiting group, there might be one or two people who struggle with taking the leap and getting stuck into the activities, but they can usually be coached through the tasks.

After all, the challenge is not just putting the first foot on the rock face, taking one step into the cave, or launching the boat onto the river—it is about pushing limits, facing fears and building self-esteem.

‘THE CONFIDENCE THAT PEOPLE GET FROM …

RECOGNISING THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO THINGS THEY DIDN’T THINK WERE POSSIBLE, THAT IS PRETTY AMAZING.’ While school and youth groups are a frequent presence at the centre, BMAC hosts a variety of visitors from all walks of life. A church service is held on-site on an infrequent basis.

The centre is currently working with New Zealand Police and facilitating a programme once a month for domestic violence offenders. In the past, they have hosted the Mongrel Mob. ‘They were just normal people,’ Kyle remembers, ‘they have got the same fears as the rest of us.’

Nor is the centre exclusive to young people. ‘The oldest person might be in their eighties, and they may be up on the high ropes,’ Kyle remarks, saying that there is ‘such a wide variety of people that come through.’

Developing a Values-Based Culture Considering their fairly isolated location tucked in amongst the forest, a key element of Kyle’s vision for BMAC is to build support between the staff members. He wants their team to be confident advocates of what the centre can do for others.

‘…THEY SEE THAT WE ARE LIVING A LIFE THAT IS GOOD, IS FUN AND THAT WE CHALLENGE THEM TO SEEK OUT THE BEST LIFE THEY CAN HAVE AS WELL… ’ They have been introduced to the CliftonStrengths programme (formerly StrengthsFinder), which is designed to identify the gifts of each staff member in the team. Using the specific language and terminology of this programme—and encouraging the staff to capitalise on these identified strengths throughout the working week—is the beginning of what Kyle hopes can one day be expanded to the visiting groups.

Through the team exercising their strengths, as well as the values of their faith and The Salvation Army, Kyle believes they can be a positive influence on the people who come to BMAC. ‘One of the big things we have been talking about is developing a values-based culture, where we present our values to people naturally through the programme.’

‘We have opportunities to do that every week, and they see that we are living a life that is good, is fun and that we challenge them to seek out the best life they can have as well.’

Once the CliftonStrengths programme has been properly integrated between the staff, it is something Kyle wants to introduce it to their clients, to show them what their capabilities are and how they can build on them.

‘You are actually recognising strengths in others, giving them a tool or something else they can be proud of, and that is what we want to do.’

The Army That Brings Adventure Almost a year into the role, Kyle has settled in and is glad to have plans in motion.

While his kids were sad to leave their friends behind in Auckland, they are getting a taste of the unique opportunities which come from living in an adventure playground like BMAC. Besides, after six years of waiting, this move was the realisation of a promise a long time in the making.

‘I believe that God brought us here for a purpose,’ Kyle says, ‘and I believe that he equips you for the role you do.’

‘So far, it has been great. He’s been real faithful. We have

had some people call up this year, out of the blue, and we have had some great marketing conversations where people have recognised that what we offer is going to be something that is really beneficial to them.’

One exciting development has been the purchase of a block of land next door to the centre. It is a ‘blank slate’, full of potential, with plans already in development for a mountain biking track and a low-ropes course.

‘We have got all these dreams about what we want to see happening over there.’

He is also pursuing opportunities to welcome new groups of people—including one that is interested in visiting 15 times in 2020. There is even a chance that the centre may need to consider hiring new staff in the near future.

‘It’s definitely not going backwards,’ Kyle affirms. He is quick to credit the staff team around him for jumping onboard and committing to both the values-based culture and the mission of BMAC. ‘It is a great place to work, and a great team around me.

I feel very supported.

‘I really feel The Salvation Army’s backing of the place, and of me, and I think that we have got a very bright future ahead, as we continue to put God first and trust him for making things happen.’

Book your adventure today! phone 07 892 2630 | bmac@salvationarmy.org.nz bluemountainadventure.org.nz 11 JANUARY 2020 WarCry 9

Being Single in a New City With a new year comes new opportunities— particularly for school leavers, graduates or anybody who is changing jobs, and one might be drawing you to live in a different city. This can be both scary and exciting—especially if you are going somewhere you don’t know a soul. If you are single and gearing up to relocate, here are some tips on how to embrace your new surroundings and independence.

1. Explore The City Before You Settle In. It becomes difficult to get out and try new things once you have established a routine, particularly if you are struggling with homesickness or loneliness. Spend your first few weeks visiting museums, galleries, attractions and shops—be a tourist in your new town.

2. Get Out There. Seek out hobby and interest groups (e.g. book clubs, open mic nights, sports teams), join in with workplace gatherings or find a church and get connected with a home group.

3. Develop Hobbies. Have you been playing an instrument for your community band or worship team in recent years?

Maybe you have always wanted to join a writing group? Now is the perfect time to resume or start learning a new skill.

4. Go and Experience Things By Yourself. It teaches you to enjoy your own company. Besides, you never know what friends you might happen to meet.

5. Stay Safe. If you do not have your own transport (e.g. bike or car), be smart about how you travel from A to B, especially at night. Make sure you have a phone, choose well-lit roads and learn where the safest parts of town to walk through are.

REMIND YOURSELF ABOUT THE REASONS WHY YOU DECIDED TO MOVE AND, IF NEEDED, SET A TIME LIMIT TO GIVE YOUR NEW CITY A CHANCE.

6. Wo/Man’s Best Friend. Unless you are lucky enough to bring your own pet with you, offer to walk a neighbour’s dog or check out dog-walking websites and apps. Getting outside with a furry friend is good for the spirit, plus dogs are a great community icebreaker (thedogsharecollective.com).

7. Exercise. Getting active makes us healthier and happier, thanks to your body releasing endorphins, but you might also find yourself making friends. Whether you join a local tennis club or get to know the person on the bike next to you at spin class, it is a great way to meet new people.

8. Remember Good Relationships Take Time. Don’t rush into dating or panic if you have not got a social circle within the

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first month. Ask your family or friends if they know anybody in your new city or seek out people who do the same hobbies/ work as you. Christians also have a great resource in churches, where you can link up with people through small groups, Sunday services and events.

While it is an adventure, moving cities is not always a smooth transition. Be honest about your feelings and call home when you need to (hooray for modern technology!). Remind yourself about the reasons why you decided to move and, if needed, set a time limit to give your new city a chance. Challenge yourself to get out there, find the things you like about your new place and make the most of this time.

Source: bustle.com

TESTIFY! Rosemarie Keen is an instructor at Blue Mountain Adventure Centre.

She shares with us part of the journey to how she got here…

I was born in Winton and grew up on a farm. I am the eldest of six kids. My parents became Christians when I was three. One of my best friends invited me to the kids programme at the Army and I ended up going along with her and making a bunch of friends.

I’ve always believed in God. When I was a kid, my dad was healed of two burst disks in his back after he was prayed for.

One minute my dad could hardly move, and suddenly he’s racing me to the car—he won!

When I was 13 years old, I went to Peak camp at Blue Mountain Adventure Centre (BMAC). I didn’t go back to BMAC until I was 17—the last year you could do Peak. It was just before my last year of high school. Instructor Dan talked to me about their internship and Aoraki (now Ara) Polytechnic, as I was considering studying too.

I met with the manager at the time and she said I should apply when the applications came out. So, I waited ... and waited ... and emailed. They said the application would be coming out soon. Then a couple of months later I heard they already had an intern. ‘Dang it! I missed out.’

My back-up plan of working for my parents didn’t really work out, so I applied for a bunch of different jobs.

Every job I applied for, they said ‘no thanks’. After continually being told no, I got really stuck and ended up with bad social anxiety and depression. One day my dad asked me to head to town to pick something up, but I had a big anxiety attack. I ended up going to the doctors and being put on medication.

Later I applied to Polytechnic and I honestly thought I wouldn’t get in— my self-belief was so low. It was the most nervous I’ve been, but I got in!

MY GAP YEAR WAS ME TRYING A BUNCH OF DOORS AND REALISING THE DOOR HE OPENED WAS WAY BETTER THAN I COULD HAVE IMAGINED. I shifted to Tīmaru and had the best year of my life, including getting off my medication. During my second year, I was talking to Layton—he’d been a year ahead of me at Aoraki and was working at BMAC—and he told me they were looking for a female instructor.

Working at BMAC as an instructor was my end goal, so I applied. They said, ‘we’d love to have you’. That was in May, so when my course finished one Friday that November, I made the two-day drive to BMAC and started work on the Monday.

My gap year was the hardest. Jeremiah 29:11 says God has a plan for us. I thought that God would just lay it all out for me. But I came to a realisation that we have to step out and try things.

We have to try and see if the doors are

open or not. My gap year was me trying a bunch of doors and realising the door he opened was way better than I could have imagined.

Growing up I never felt limited because I was a girl. I would say, ‘I can do that because I’m a girl—I will prove you wrong.’ I feel really sorry for girls who put limits on themselves. I see girls come to camp and hang at the back— letting the boys do stuff—because they don’t feel capable.

I think girls get the most growth out of outdoor adventure stuff, so I’d love to have an all-girls camp. It would be a cool atmosphere to have a bunch of girls supporting each other, journeying through challenging times and pushing themselves, together.

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After so many years in the same drab school buildings, a gap year can provide a change in environment—whether in a work office or a different country—to help you clarify what you do and don’t want to achieve in the future.

BY BETHANY SLAUGHTER

After thirteen years of stuffing your brain with grammar, numbers, science, and who knows what else (well, hopefully you do!), school leavers need some serious R&R. Unfortunately, it’s also time to figure out what comes next—at least in the immediate future. Even if you’ve got a solid idea of the career path you’d like to take, it’s a decision many feel pressure to get right, right away.

If you know exactly what course you want to study, don’t feel too burnt out by school, and want to stay in the study mindset, then rolling straight into university or vocational study is a natural step and that’s great. But what if you want an extended break from the books, or want to explore and gain some different life skills before enrolling?

#SABBATICAL Let’s get something straight: a gap year is not necessarily a vacation, even though travel often plays a part, nor does it have to last all year. You might spend the full year working, travelling, or doing both on a ‘working holiday’. You could take a short-term mission trip, or volunteer in a greater capacity with a local church or charity back home.

You can take a short holiday before applying for mid-

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year entry at a university. The options are endless.

A gap year is taking time off with a purpose to see new places, earn money, learn life smarts, gain independence, build relationships and/or, most importantly, avoid burnout.

Whatever you choose to do, a gap year gives your brain a rest from studying and allows you to learn in different ways. You meet new people and build connections. You learn how to live away from home, or how to budget. You experience a workplace environment … the list goes on, and all these things look great on your resumé when you apply for jobs or future study.

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO? If you want to take a gap year so that you can laze around watching Netflix and eating chips, that is not a good motivation (and it will not reflect well on your resumé in years to come). Similarly, if you have good intentions but don’t make any plans to use the time productively, you’ll waste it. You know those evenings where you get stuck watching video after video on YouTube, then wonder where all the time has gone?

It’ll be like that, but for a whole year. Yikes!

Here are some good questions to ask yourself.

Do you have the focus, discipline, maturity, and academic preparation to take advantage of one of the most crucial transition periods in your life?

Are you ready to succeed in higher learning now?

Rather than asking yourself ‘where’ you want to go, or ‘what’ you want to study or do, why are you passionate about this idea? Why do you want to spend the next year at university/vocational training/apprenticeship/gap year?

If, after answering these questions, praying, and doing some research, you have decided that you are still keen to take a gap year, the next hurdle—and sometimes the hardest—will be getting your parents to share your vision.

GET YOUR PARENTS ON-BOARD There are two main concerns that parents have about you taking a gap year: whether it will waste your money, and whether it will hinder your career progression. They don’t want to see you struggle in years to come. However, it is also (more) costly to rush into a university degree for the sake of it, when you have no clear goals about what you want to get out of studying. Many universities have alarmingly high first-year dropout rates, and now actively encourage prospective students to defer, take a gap year, and begin studying when they are ready.

A WELL-ROUNDED PERSON WHO IS GOOD AT THEIR JOB WILL ALWAYS BE IN DEMAND. Show your parents that you are passionate about this next stage; come prepared to the discussion with thorough research about the steps you will need to take and how you are going to afford your plans. If you can impress upon them the life skills and experiences you want to get out of the year, and how they will benefit your future study or full-time work, that’s a good first step. If you intend to study in the future, you can apply and defer your course to prove you are serious. If your plans involve travelling alone, it is natural that your parents may be hesitant.

You need to prove that you are responsible and have thought through the safety concerns.

Be prepared to compromise. For example, instead of travelling to Europe for six months, you could explore New Zealand, Australia, or the Pacific Islands for two months. Rather than travelling solo,

Why I Took A Gap Year I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do, and I wanted to get some life experience before I got stuck into studying for ages. I saved up so that I could buy a car, and I was able to go to Florida

with my cheer team. I was only 17 when I left school, so now that I’m in my first year of uni, I’m a similar age to everyone else. I feel like I gained a lot more experience; I learned how to save, how to wake up every morning for work, and I have savings, so I don’t have to take out a loan.

Keisha Clark

could you link up with a tour? If you are asking your parents for financial assistance and they do not want to lend or give you any money for your gap year, respect their decision and have a plan of how to fund it on your own.

GOD IN THE GAP YEAR Rest is something that the Bible encourages: in Matthew 11:28, we’re told ‘Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’.

From a faith perspective, a gap year can also be a time to listen to God and let him make clear the path he has planned for you.

There is no way to know the future. You cannot predict what the job market will be like in three, four, or five years when you finish your degree. You can’t predict which industries will boom, and what skills will be most in demand. However, a well-rounded person who is good at their job will always be in demand. If you think God is leading you towards a gap year, you can afford it, and you honestly believe that it will help you to become a more mature person, then go for it.

Look out for next week’s Firezone, where we go through some important travel tips for planning your first getaway or working holiday.

11 JANUARY 2020 WarCry 13

Newly-commissioned Salvation Army officers (from left): Lieutenants Jonny & Char Whybrow, Lieutenant Cass Henderson, Lieutenants Andy & Lexee Dunlop and Lieutenant Miriam Choi.

Commissioning 2019

BY JULES BADGER & SHAR DAVIS

Graduation Held at Hutt City Corps on Friday, 6 December, this year’s Booth College of Mission (BCM) graduation ceremony was a celebration of God’s faithfulness to the students in their pursuit of academic success.

Chief Secretary Colonel Suzanne Fincham expressed gratitude to God in her opening prayer for those undertaking the vital task of education, in preparation for ministry and service. This sense of thankfulness was kept central throughout proceedings, due to the passionate ministry of the Porirua music team and careful comment woven throughout by BCM staff and senior territorial leaders.

As the evening unfolded, the magnitude of a calling from God to study—and the response of students to apply themselves to that task—was abundantly clear. As Education Officer David Wardle affirmed in his message, ‘It is no mean feat to undertake and complete a course of study’.

The hours of work invested by students to receive the qualifications awarded during Territorial Commander Commissioner the evening Andy Westrupp with Hayley Masame, evidenced this who received a Certificate in Salvation reality.

Army Youth Worker Training.

14 WarCry 11 JANUARY 2020

Described by David Wardle as ‘diligent and academically capable’, cadet Char Whybrow spoke on behalf of the graduates. With particular reference to the journey with fellow cadets from the Messengers of the Kingdom (Ngā Karere o te Kingitanga) [2018–2019] and Messengers of Compassion (Ngā Karere o te Arohanui) [2017–2019] sessions, Char explained that while the journey had not been easy, it had certainly been formative.

‘I’m grateful that a session comprised of people with such different life experiences, upbringings and culture, can Cadet Miriam Choi cutting reach the end of training and the graduation cake. stand together unified in Christ,’ she said. ‘As a session, we have continually strived for kotahitanga—unity and togetherness. We’ve worked hard at it and found that it’s been our differences that have strengthened us. I’m grateful for this learning journey with my fellow cadets.’

Char also honoured the college staff, thanking them for, ‘the many challenging conversations, shared kai, and open doors.

These authentic relationships have shaped us,’ she affirmed.

Seven categories of awards were presented to students, beginning with the Diploma in Christian Studies (Level 5), Diploma in Christian Studies (Leadership) [Level 6] and the

Certificate of Salvation Army Officer Training which were variously presented to cadets Miriam Choi, Andy Dunlop, Lexee Dunlop, Cass Henderson, Char Whybrow and Jonny Whybrow.

School of Bible and Mission student Rani Moodley received the Diploma in Christian Studies (Theology) [Level 5], with Hayley Masame receiving the Certificate of Salvation Army Youth Work Training.

Officers completing further study included Captain Nicky Dutton who was awarded the Graduate Diploma in Theology, with Captain Stu Tong and Lieutenant Ralph Overbye receiving the Bachelor of Theology.

All graduates were resplendent in their academic robes, along with BCM staff and academic board members, which made for a cacophony of colour that added to the celebratory atmosphere. The increasing number of officer graduates testifies to the quality of training offered by Booth College of Mission to cadets and the 18-year partnership with Laidlaw College, but also to the value the Army continues to place on further education as essential equipping for officers serving in today’s rapidly changing world.

and Jonny reflected on the relevance of these words for the culturally-diverse group. ‘Kotahitanga for us is not just about our unity as a group, but about welcoming others, about valuing them and recognising what they have to share.’ The other cadets joined Jonny at the front and sang the waiata ‘E te Ariki’.

Yvonne and Andy then presented each cadet’s loved ones with their Silver Star pin and certificate. The pin can be worn as an acknowledgement that the person has a loved one—usually their child—serving as an officer.

Commissioning

Newly-commissioned Lieutenants Andy & Lexee Dunlop.

Cadet Jonny Whybrow (left) with his parents, Majors Martin & Carol Whybrow, and Territorial Leaders Commissioners Yvonne and Andy Westrupp at the Silver Star function.

Silver Star One of the more intimate elements of Commissioning weekend is the Silver Star function—an opportunity to honour important people in the lives of the soon-to-be commissioned cadets.

Commissioner Yvonne Westrupp welcomed invited guests to the brunch—held at Booth College of Mission on Saturday, 7 December—before inviting Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, World President of Women’s Ministries, to speak.

Commissioner Rosalie—herself a Silver Star recipient— shared some words of scripture and reflected on the joys and challenges of seeing your child pursuing ministry and God’s call on their life, with her signature passion and enthusiasm.

Jonny Whybrow spoke on behalf of the cadets, thanking those present for their encouragement and support. ‘Each of you is here because you have played, and continue to play, a significant role in our lives ... You have supported us at various points in our lives, and we are grateful that we can continue to count upon your support. We hope, too, that we honour you, and show you the same love and support in return.’

The Messengers of the Kingdom (Ngā Karere o te Kingitanga) session was gifted a waiata, ‘Te Pou Kotahitanga’ (based on Ephesians 4:4–6) at the beginning of their training,

Saturday,7 December will forever be etched on the minds and hearts of the Messengers of the Kingdom and Messengers of Compassion (Ngā Karere o to Kingitanga, a, Ngā Karere o te Arohanui), who were ordained and commissioned by the General and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle at Wellington City Corps.

In this year’s commissioning brochure, Commissioner Andy Westrupp stated that, ‘To be a true Messenger of God’s Kingdom is to first climb down from the throne of your own kingdom, to give up rulership of your own lives, and to bow to his leadership. This is no small thing, I think you’ll agree.

In fact, Jesus knew it was hard, so he said we should pause on a daily basis (Luke 9:23) and remind ourselves that we owe our allegiance to God and, therefore, give it. I challenge each of you to live your lives in this way.’

During the commissioning service, Andy’s message was echoed and affirmed by three salvationists—young Rylee Adamson, Toga Tofiau and Envoy Anihera Carroll—who gave prepared ‘messages to the messengers’, on behalf of the territory. These were poignant moments as three cadets—Lexee Dunlop, Andy Dunlop and Cass Henderson—responded on behalf of the session, giving firm assurance that their priority would be to seek first the Kingdom in all things as officer-leaders.

Lieutenant Cass Henderson.

11 JANUARY 2020 WarCry 15

Newly-commissioned Lieutenants Char & Jonny Whybrow.

Booth College of Mission Training Principal Major Michelle Collins commended the session for their tenacity, thanking God for their willingness to engage fully in the joys and challenges of training.

‘You are strong, brave, kind and generous,’ she said. ‘We have seen the evidence of the Spirit of God in you during training. You have endured and shown much grace. You have many gifts and skills, but it is who you are that will have the greatest impact. Your formation matters. You are smart, energetic and ready!’ she declared.

Following the solemn and sacred ordination and commissioning of the new officers, the General was delighted to explain that while the Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham, was due to ordain and commission cadets in Nairobi within a few hours, the General had gotten in first and these Lieutenants were in fact the newest in the world!

The General went on to preach a powerful message that was relevant not just for the new Lieutenants but everyone present.

‘John 3:16,’ he explained, ‘is expressed clearly in the outcome of the story of the prodigal son. And that outcome is the message of the Gospel! Anyone can come home to God—Anyone!’

And while he confessed that he hadn’t kept up on every minute detail of the happenings in the territory since serving here a decade ago as the Northern Divisional Commander, the General was certain that New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa were lands that still needed to hear the message that anyone can come home to God. ‘At a time when nations and individuals are straying and not everyone believes, understands or has anything resembling a bias towards faith, your job is to win them to God! Give me a

man or a woman redeemed for a reason, committed to a cause, moved by the Spirit and love for Jesus, carrying this message that has holiness at its core,’ he appealed to the congregation.

‘God calls us, separates and sanctifies us, makes us his vessels as he pulls us into his embrace. He shelters us and brings us near, helping us to become the people he needs us to be in these days. And when we are surrendered to him, we become living letters with a radical message bursting with eternal implications and intentionality,’ he affirmed.

The General was careful to ensure that everyone understood the reverse action of being called to share God’s message—that of being sent out into the world. ‘We are called to be an afront to sin and to intrude into the darkness with the light of Christ by standing where Jesus puts us as his anointed people.’

A time of response, after the General’s message.

Joseph—the bravest man in the Bible, according to the General—was pulled out of a prison cell and brought before Pharaoh and commanded to interpret his dreams. But what did he say to the most powerful man in the world? ‘I can’t do that, but God can!’ The General recommended Joseph’s approach to the new lieutenants.

‘I can’t do that, but God’s got this! It’s by his grace that we stand. Stay close to the potter’s house and let him shape you.

Stay close to the cross and preach ‘hope’ remembering the ultimate goal, and God will be with you, just as he was with Joseph,’ affirmed the General.

Trimmed with their new red epaulettes, the newest officers of the territory joined the Kapa Haka Roopū on the platform and concluded the afternoon with a powerful performance of Te Haka A Te Pōti (I’ll Fight).

Long Service Order Recognition Dinner

Newly-warranted Envoy Lynda Bright.

16 WarCry 11 JANUARY 2020

While a thunderstorm raged outside, officers receiving long service awards, and their families, celebrated inside Wellington’s CQ Hotel. Personnel Secretary Lieutenant-Colonel Sheryl Jarvis led the evening’s festivities that included a meal, testimonies and a devotional thought from General Brian Peddle.

Major Lesley Nicolson shared her testimony and spoke of God’s faithfulness through the many ups and downs of officership and the curveballs life can throw our way. Faith, family and fun have been three words that Lesley has lived her life by, and it was special that two of her children, Bridget and Curtis, were able to be present to celebrate with her and Clive.

Long Service Order recipients serving in ASARS (from left): Majors Lesley & Clive Nicholson, Major Sue Hay, Major Louise Kennedy, Lieutenant-Colonel Lynette Hutson, Majors Bev & Peter Macdonald.

Major Paul Jarvis reflected on his years of officership and his reoccurring refrain that ‘God is good’ was greeted with ‘amen’ and affirmative gestures from around the room. He spoke frankly of some of his disappointments, but equally of the many delights of officership and ministry.

Officers recognised for 25 years of service were: Majors Bev and Gavin Baxter (both in the God’s Soldiers session) and Crusaders for Christ session members, Majors June and Mike Allwright, Major Wendy Andrews, Majors Brenda and Mark Ennever, Major Louise Kennedy and Majors Peter and Bev Macdonald.

Ambassadors for Christ were honoured for 30 years’ service.

Commissioners Bronwyn and Lyndon Buckingham were unable to be there, due to their international commitments. LieutenantColonel Jennifer Groves—currently serving at International Headquarters—was able to join her session briefly via video chat. Colonel Heather Rodwell, Major Sue Hay and Major Lesley Nicolson were all present to receive their long service bars. Major Clive Nicolson was honoured for 30 years of continued service, having officially retired from active duty in 2015.

Major Paul Jarvis was the sole recipient of 35 years long service, being the only active officer left from the Servants of God session.

Joyful Evangelists, Commissioners Andy and Yvonne Westrupp were honoured for 40 years of active service, and received their bars from General Brian Peddle, who then closed the evening by thanking each officer for their service.

The collective years of service of the officers being acknowledged is 545—an incredible number and something to be proud of.

Sunday Celebration and Retirement Hundreds gathered for the celebration of cadets and territorial leaders’ retirement service that concluded Commissioning weekend 2019. Despite the overnight storm that left many roads flooded or closed, there was an atmosphere of expectation as Johnsonville music team began the service.

As the Central Division composite band supported the congregation singing ‘O Holy Night’, Commissioner Yvonne Westrupp and her grandson, Ari Marlow, lit the Advent candle, reminding us all of the sacred season we are in.

Those who received their long service awards the previous evening were publically acknowledged, before some of them had

the honour of presenting the Messengers of Grace (Ngā Karere o te Mana Tapu) with their second-year bars and epaulettes.

The cadets invited children—and anyone who really loves Christmas—to join them up the front, as they wanted to take a ‘Christmas photo’ with a giant picture frame. What unfolded over the next few minutes was both entertaining and thoughtprovoking. With the General suitably dressed as a wise man sitting by baby Jesus in the manger, the picture frame was filled with all kinds of Christmas items—only to have Jesus moved out of the way to make room for everything else.

Cadet Aimee Noakes summed up the segment: ‘Sometimes our best intention is to include Jesus in our Christmas—after all he’s the main reason we celebrate it—but sometimes we put Jesus in the ‘photo’ and then everything else creeps in.’ She went on to challenge everyone present to ‘make sure in everything we do we keep Jesus in the centre of it all this Christmas’.

As the children headed to a children’s programme, a love offering was taken up to support the Army’s work in Samoa in the wake of the measles epidemic, currently devastating the island nation.

The focus of the service moved towards the retirement of our Territorial Leaders, Commissioners Andy and Yvonne Westrupp. The General and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle led this time through.

‘Putting into perspective for all of you, there is a very personal link with these good people, as well as the organisational link as we serve together in leadership in the Army. I want to Cadet Semi Ratu doing the haka at celebrate both of the Commissioning service.

11 JANUARY 2020 WarCry 17

these links here today,’ the General explained.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lynette Hutson spoke on behalf of the territory, reflecting on some of the mountaintop and valley experiences the Westrupp’s officership had given them. ‘With the enthusiasm of youth, you can’t possibly see the 40 years that would take on from there ... there are some really sweet spots there.’

The General dressed as a wise Brother Mark man for the children’s story.

Hawkins represented Māori Ministry and shared a whakataukī (proverb), ‘Ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi’ (‘When an old net comes to the end of its service life, a new one takes its place’). ‘The old net is a taonga, to be kept to the side, not cast aside. Its treasure is in its tenure of service to the community or hapū it served ... the importance of keeping the old nets to the side is, from time to time their creator will use bits of them to strengthen the newer nets … ’ Andy and Yvonne were each presented with a pounamu from members of Māori Ministry.

A video tribute from Majors Lapu and Araga Rawali, officers from Papua New Guinea, was played. They were unable to deliver their message in person as planned, due to visa issues.

The message was one of gratitude for the leadership that Andy and Yvonne gave during their time as Territorial Leaders there.

The final words of recognition were delivered by Lieutenant Jordan Westrupp, on behalf of his siblings.

Jordan’s humourous tribute full of one liners, near-perfect impressions and inside family jokes clearly resonated with his parents and those who knew them well.

As well as the light-hearted banter, Jordan reflected on some of the challenges they faced, and the legacy they were leaving through their innovative and experimental leadership.

‘I see that you leave a really clear guide for the Army moving forward, especially in the statements of commitment. And

I can see how each one of them is born out of your own experience of 40 years of leadership in The Salvation Army.’

Offering some words of response, Yvonne said: ‘Officership was not a journey I would have chosen, but God Commissioner Andy Westrupp chose this pathway hugs his son, Lieutenant Jordan for me ... the life of Westrupp, after Jordan’s tribute to an officer didn’t sit his parents. comfortably with me—I didn’t think I could do it. However, over the years God has proved himself faithful to me, he has given me the gifts and support I needed.’ She thanked Andy for being her biggest supporter: ‘When I doubted myself, he said, “you can do this!”.’ Yvonne also thanked her children and grandchildren for their support, as well as honouring her dad who has always supported her. ‘My family are God’s gift to me, they are a treasure, a taonga.’

A haka was performed to honour their leadership and the couple were visibly moved by the display. The General and Commissioner Rosalie then presented them with their retirement certificates, honouring them for 40 years, 12 days of active service as officers.

In his final sermon as Territorial Commander, Andy opened with 2 Chronicles 21:20 and said: ‘Imagine having your epitaph written up in the greatest selling book of all time as being someone who passed away to no one’s regret’.

Reflecting on having passed the halfway mark in his own life without knowing when that was, Andy challenged everyone to think about how they are living their life, what sort of impact they are having and the legacy they will leave behind.

Using a container of ‘useless cords’ to demonstrate his point—‘our lives are like this box of useless wires, until they are joined somewhere. We can’t make sense of purpose until we are connected somewhere’—he challenged each person to connect their life into God’s.

Commissioner Yvonne Westrupp lights the Advent candle with her grandson, Ari Marlow.

The General prays with Territorial Leaders Commissioners Andy & Yvonne Westrupp at their retirement service.

18 WarCry 11 JANUARY 2020

Bible 2020: Global App Campaign Launches in New Zealand On the first of January, on a beach in Gisborne at sunrise, New Zealand was the launch location for Bible Society’s new app-based campaign, Bible 2020.

Each morning, the Bible 2020 smartphone app provides a reading, which can be accessed in more than 1000 languages across over 70 countries, to be spoken out loud. All language options, including English and te reo Māori, are available to New Zealanders.

The campaign was envisaged by the Scottish Bible Society to see people all over the world speaking the Bible aloud in their own language. Each day, the same passage will make its way across the globe in a multitude of languages, from New Zealand to the United States.

Fiona McDonald, Director of National Ministries for the Scottish Bible Society, likened it to a ‘Mexican wave’. She pointed out how before printed copies were readily available, scriptures were once handed down orally. It is a practice which has been lost.

‘There’s something about speaking words out loud—it becomes a truth.

Things become more real when they’re spoken out loud.’

Prior to the launch, Neels Janse van Rensburg, CEO of Bible Society New Zealand, said that he was thrilled for New Zealand to kickstart the campaign.

‘Imagine the impact of hundreds of thousands of people reading the same passages across God’s world every day!’

MORE INFO | Bible 2020 is available on app stores now. Go to www.bible2020.nz to find out how you can get involved.

2020 NEW YEAR GREETINGS TO EVERYONE!

As we recall the encounters of 2019—times of encouragement which motivated us all—we endeavoured together to bring God’s Kingdom in. We now embark on a new season in the NZFTS Territory, we will share the adventure of 2020 together, we will join in Kingdom work to bring God’s people in.

We now HOPE for the future, we hope and we pray that more and more people will know the living presence of Jesus Christ personally … and we have our part to play in this way. Every one of us who call ourselves Christian, Christ-follower, Christ disciple, Soldier for Jesus Christ, must help others to see Jesus for themselves.

In Galatians 2:20 (GNB) we read: …it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me.

There are many positive and impactful stories of changed lives as people give testimony to their souls being captivated by the blood of Jesus Christ, through the love of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. Were we not all refreshed and strengthened by testimonies of encounter during 2019. People who said, ‘I now live for Jesus… ’ Ordinary people, living extra-ordinary lives!

I am reminded of the song Commissioner Keith Banks wrote : I’m living my life for Jesus, his love and grace I’ve seen; And now that I live for Jesus, life has a newfound theme.

My life has a newfound intention, I follow a purposeful aim, And life has a newfound dimension, I witness that I’m born again.

I’m living my life for Jesus, His love and grace I’ve seen; And now that I live for Jesus, life has a newfound theme.

(SASB 858) In this edition of War Cry, we read about the Blue Mountain Adventure Centre—a place where people from all walks of life come together for adventure, who achieve outstanding personal goals and go home gaining a real sense of endeavour. It is always our hope and our prayer that their encounter with Jesus Christ is organic and life changing, that they plumb to depths and soar to heights they never dreamed of, as Jesus Christ becomes their newfound intention.

What will 2020 bring for us as the NZFTS Territory? How will each and everyone of us find this ‘newfound intention, newfound dimension’? How will we purposefully aim to live like Jesus Christ? It is my personal intention to do all within my own self to live this newfound theme of Jesus Christ, indwelling the very depths of my soul to bring about His Kingdom purpose.

Will you join me as we share in the 2020 Adventure?

Colonel Suzanne Fincham Chief Secretary 11 JANUARY 2020 WarCry 19

I really try to avoid writing New Year’s Resolutions articles. They just seem so clichéd, something that I could write full of classic one-liners, but void of any real meaning.

BY REBECCA HOWAN

But every year, the importance of the New Year season just keeps coming back to me again and again. Because, actually, there is meaning in this season and there is good in taking time out to reflect as well as look ahead to the next year.

We live in cycles and seasons. Just like God formed creation to move in certain rhythms—day and night, summer into autumn and winter into spring—so do our lives.

God teaches us throughout the scriptures about the weekly rhythms of work and sabbath, but the calendar year is another great way of placing a marker in our lives, a way to track time and the seasons we journey through. Another month and year passes, with a fresh page before us for the next chapter.

20 WarCry 11 JANUARY 2020

INSTEAD OF ‘READING MY BIBLE EVERY DAY’, I WANT TO BE A LOVER OF THE WORD. INSTEAD OF ‘GOING TO THE GYM EVERY DAY’, I WANT TO BE A GOOD STEWARD …

Traditionally, people set goals at the New Year like losing weight, spending less money, or quitting a bad habit.

Unfortunately, it has also become tradition in the Western world for these goals to lie forgotten only weeks, if not days, later.

Over the past few years though, I’ve come to realise that this particular New Year place marker presents a much richer opportunity than just mindlessly setting a couple of tick-box goals. Here are three things that I like to ponder at the New Year.

1. Reflect on the past year While it’s important to look ahead with dreams for the future, it’s equally important to look back on the season passed—the joys, the losses, the hard lessons learned, and the victories conquered.

Pete Greig, founder of the 24-7 Prayer Movement, shared on social media last year that as part of his New Year season, he spends time flicking back through his diary and journal day-by-day to help him reflect on the past year.

A year can feel like it flies by so quickly (anyone else constantly ask themselves, ‘Did that really happen this year?’), so looking at something tangible and seeing our events, prayers and reflections written down in our own handwriting can be really useful to help us remember the good and bad days gone by.

Humans generally have a terrible memory, so we need to remind ourselves of the journey, how it’s shaped us into who we are today, and, above all, God’s faithfulness through it all.

2. Meditate on a word for the year ahead For the past few years, a word has continually come to mind and consumed my thought-life within the first few weeks of January. Never being one to really believe in coincidences and instead trusting that it’s the Holy Spirit gently nudging me, I’ve really taken hold of each word—wrestled with it, meditated on it, chewed on it.

It’s amazing how that word has come back to me again and again throughout the year, slowly revealing more of its meaning to me and helping transform me more and more into who God wants me to be—2016 was the year of humility, 2017 was the year of joy, 2018 was the year of adoration, and 2019 was the year of discipline.

As this year begins to unfold, I’m again asking the Holy Spirit to reveal my word for the year ahead, knowing that it will add focus and clarity to what God is teaching me over this next yearly cycle and season.

3. I dentify the desired postures of your heart While it is good to seek selfimprovement through setting goals, this can often be a tricky balance for the Western world, as our expectations can skyrocket and get out of hand.

‘New year, new me’ isn’t necessarily the most realistic approach when you aim to flick a switch on the magical date of 1 January and suddenly start this perfect, disciplined, healthy, happy life that you’ve been envisioning.

… I’VE COME TO REALISE THAT THIS PARTICULAR NEW YEAR PLACE MARKER PRESENTS A MUCH RICHER OPPORTUNITY THAN JUST MINDLESSLY SETTING A COUPLE OF TICK-BOX GOALS.

Don’t get me wrong, these New Year resolutions work for some people, but the problem is that they often set the bar pretty high and set your self-esteem pretty low when you find yourself two weeks later not doing any of it.

Instead of these tick-box goals, I’ve changed my focus to postures of the heart. Instead of ‘reading my Bible every day’, I want to be a lover of the Word.

Instead of ‘going to the gym every day’, I want to be a good steward—of my body and my mind, as well as the material resources God gives me. I want to be joyful and focus on praise and adoration.

All of these things stand on a continuum—if I can be a little more joyful than I was yesterday, or love the Word more than I did a month ago, then I’m heading in the right direction, and that should be celebrated.

Sure, some of these postures will require action and discipline—being a lover of the Word will require me to read my Bible regularly—but I like to think of these as daily rhythms to imbed into my day-to-day life, rather than goals. There’s no pass or fail—only stepping further along the journey.

The magic of the New Year Despite the cliché, the New Year does have a certain magic about it. In the scurry of summer sales and Christmas Day food comas, it’s easy to think of a few token goals just to jump on the bandwagon, without the practice actually being meaningful at all. And that’s if you don’t ignore it completely!

But when we take the time to really let God speak into our lives as 1 January ticks over, it can set us up well for a year of greater discipleship ahead.

May this New Year place marker in your journey bring you closer to God as you take time to pause and reflect.

11 JANUARY 2020 WarCry 21

NY Marathon 2020

Run the New York Marathon 2020

and raise money for The Salvation Army's Aspire Youth Development Programme. email pr@salvationarmy.org.nz

PRAY Christchurch North Corps, Communications Dept,

Community Ministries; The Salvation Army in South America East, South America West, and Southern Africa.

$59.95

For more information email: mailorder@salvationarmy.org.nz

Want to Know More?

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

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

salvationarmy.org.nz/PacificEmergencyFund

Quiz Answers: 1 20/20—a measure of visual acuity, 2 Two, 3 Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788, 4 Four years (2020 is a leap year), 5 Nicodemus (John 3:1–2).

22 WarCry 11 JANUARY 2020

Fireworks in a Jar, Science Experiment!

Did you see any fireworks on New Years Eve? Here’s a cool science experiment you can try at home!

1x empty jar

Fill the jar about ¾ full of warm water from the tap.

drops of food colouring

In a separate bowl/dish, place three tablespoons of vegetable oil.

warm water 3 Tbsp vegetable oil

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

Carefully put drops of food colouring into the oil.

Mix these drops gently with a fork, just enough to disperse the food colouring slightly. You’ll notice that it doesn’t mix with the oil, but it should just break up into smaller dots.

Pour the oil/food colouring mixture into the warm water in your jar.

Watch as the coloured drops sink down into the water, and mix to create a firework effect!

Why does this happen? …

Because the food colouring dissolves into the water, but the oil doesn’t. Mixing the oil and food colouring slows the mixing process that would usually happen with the water and food colouring.

This means that the food colouring drops down into the water, while the oil stays on top of the water and when the food colouring eventually starts to mix with the water, it creates a tiny explosion, like a firework.

Source: kidspot.co.nz

When you hear the word ‘adventure’, do you think about a big expedition?

Something like climbing Mount Everest, sailing solo around the world, or travelling to outer space? These are all big achievements, but they aren’t things you can just decide to do on the day.

They require preparation.

After all, imagine if you woke up, then tried to go up Mount Everest without any training or any cold-weather gear? What would happen if you pushed off from the shore having never taken a sailing lesson, or rocketed into space without a spacesuit or any knowledge of how to steer yourself back to Earth? In all three cases, you would be in trouble.

Canoe maze!

Summer is the perfect time for outdoor fun! Help our canoe friend find his way to the finish line.

For us to get the most out of our adventures, we need to be equipped for the conditions.

Our relationship with God is a different kind of adventure, but the same principles apply. While this ‘journey of faith’ does not require any literal safety gear, we need the right grounding in goodness to get the most out of our lives.

Things like prayer, reading the Bible, Sunday school and talking with other Christians are all great steps, but the most important thing is to keep learning about God and growing through his word.

That way, if challenges arise, our faith stands firm to get us through them.

THINK ABOUT …

rs senge s a p r were st eve The fir air balloon ster. oo ot on a h , duck and r p a shee

H Adven e was an went t turer until o An he that ’s tarctica … things when to go Sstarted outh.

the coolest adventure you have ever been on, and how you can see God’s hand in it?

11 JANUARY 2020 WarCry 23

Thank you

is what each and every one of us should say when we see either a sunrise or sunset.

just maybe

And when we do that, maybe,

Photography: Rod Carey.

the world will start to become a better place.

• Anthony T. Hincks •