12 Janauary 2019 NZFTS War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION 12 JANUARY 2019 | Issue 6708 | $1.50

Commissioning Celebrations!

A Fresh Start Take Your Child on a ‘Big Weekend’

Best, Worst and Weirdest of 2018 Porirua Mayor Part of the Furniture at Family Store

Rethinking our Culture of Busyness

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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 Captain Jules

Badger, 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.

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Let the Adventure Begin!

We made it! We got through Christmas and are now firmly entrenched in 2019.

Were you, like me, running towards the end of the year? Swooping up your child in your arms as you kept running? Stopping briefly for Christmas shopping, tying up loose ends at work, basting a chook and whipping up a pav?

But did you, like me, end up tripping over and belly-flopping across the finish line? I once heard the famous missionary Jackie Pullinger quoted as saying, We are tired and we’re sick, but we’re not sick and tired. My inner voice immediately cried out, how? How can you not be sick and tired? Yes, I long to wait for the refreshment of the Holy Spirit, but my deadlines don’t wait!

That’s why I loved Sue Hay’s reflection (p. 20–21) on ‘A Fresh Start’—New Year’s resolutions are about us trying to take control of our lives, but a ‘fresh start’ is about allowing God to take control, and trust him with the journey.

At the beginning of this year, we mark a new chapter in our journey. It is yet a blank page. We may have an idea of how we want to fill in the pages—but when we let go, we let God tell our story.

Even when we’re sick and we’re tired, God gives us the peace of knowing we have purpose. Perhaps God has things in store we could never have imagined.

He will take us to destinations yet unknown. Let the adventure begin!

Ingrid Barratt Editor

Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.

All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated.

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

Publishing for 135 years | Issue 6708 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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The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Ngā Whakatauki 19:21 He maha ngā whakaaro i roto i te ngākau o te tangata; e tū tonu ana ia tā Ihowā tikanga.

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recently had a conversation with Captain Gerry Walker, Assistant Secretary for Programme, in which he recalled two small examples that seem to sum up who we are as The Salvation Army.

Gerry described it as a ‘typical day in the life’ of our mission. First, he visited Epsom Lodge in Auckland—emergency accommodation that was established over a hundred years ago. It was built to be close to Mt Eden Prison, as part of the Army’s ‘prison gate’ ministry. Today, Epsom Lodge is nestled among some of New Zealand’s most expensive real estate, but remains a place of second chances.

Gerry was there for the weekly mihi whakatau, where they welcome in new guests. ‘It was a warm, very genuine, welcome. People were asked to give their story, and one young guy in his twenties said it was his third time at Epsom Lodge—he was going to be attending the Bridge programme [alcohol and drug addiction support].

‘I thought, “Well, we are the place of third, fourth, fifth chances” … we don’t give up on people and this young man was an example of that. He was not judged in any way. I could sense he was apprehensive, but the warm welcome set him at ease.’

Gerry then visited a group of young people at Education and Employment (E&E), who were doing an automotive course. The tutor was using it as an opportunity to teach them how to do addition. ‘I believe the education system has failed

them,’ reflects Gerry. ‘The tutor was essentially teaching these young people to count—teaching them life skills.

‘One young person was only about 16, but wasn’t living at home and was couch surfing, yet got himelf to the course every day.’

In another class, a young woman was visibly upset.

‘The tutor knew exactly why—it was the anniversary of a friend’s death. That’s when the tutor said, “You two go down to the pet store and see the rabbits”. And off the two young women went, arm-in-arm.’ The tutor had made an arrangement with the local pet shop so that her students could go and pat the animals when they needed to process emotions.

‘I thought, “Wow”, that’s not what private training institutions are paid to do, yet that’s the care and love that’s provided by E&E on a daily basis.

‘We are the Army That Brings Life. There is a level of hopelessness that permeates for a lot of people.

But we provide hope, that’s a big thing. Whether it’s that young man at Epsom Lodge or an E&E student, our job is to treat people with dignity and respect, and, for a lot of people, that’s new to them.’

These small stories are just a couple of examples of everyday Salvation Army work. People may know us as a social service provider. People may know us as a church. But if you look a little closer, you’ll simply see a bunch of people who are finding creative and new ways to be the face of Jesus.

BY INGRID BARRATT 12 JANUARY 2019 WarCry 3

WARCRYIN HISTORY

This poster announced the results of the ‘Red Jersey’ Appeal in Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and the Wairarapa, in 1918— one hundred years ago. All three districts raised a grand total of £40,250—that would be the equivalent of over NZD$ 4.5 million today. The Red Jersey Appeal raised money to provide support and services to soldiers and civilians during World War I. Source: Booth College of Mission Heritage and Archives Centre

QUIKQUIZ

1 What iconic Aussie object did King Tutankhamun collect?

2 Which hobbit declared ‘I’m going on an adventure’?

3 What year was Instagram created?

4 What biscuit giant produces ‘The Original Scotch Finger’?

5 Who was the last born of Jacob’s 13 children?

Answers on page 22

True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.

CS Lewis

Porirua Mayor Part of the Furniture at Family Store If you’re looking for a yarn with the mayor of Porirua, then we know exactly where you can find him. At least once a week, Mike Tana can be seen with his sleeves rolled up at The Salvation Army Porirua Family Store.

‘It’s a nice quiet place for me to come and volunteer and have a coffee,’ Mike says. ‘For me personally, it’s about supporting the volunteers.’

Whether it is tagging clothes or stacking rubbish, Mike says he does exactly what the staff tell him: ‘I’m treated like any other volunteer.

This is something he started doing shortly after being elected mayor in 2016—a role he came to after a career in biosecurity with the Ministry for Primary Industries. ‘It’s nice for people to see me being normal because I am normal,’ Mike laughs. ‘The biggest thing for me is the ability I have to serve others in this way.’

‘The volunteers and the staff here are phenomenal, friends for life.’ Originally from Northland, Mike has a strong Christian faith and even holds prayer meetings in his office. His family came to faith when he was five, shortly after his mother and father received prayer.

The father-of-six says he has a strong personal connection to Salvation Army Family Stores. In fact, his family home is furnished with items purchased from them. ‘Salvation Army stores were one way to help us give our children what they needed,’ he says. ‘Sallies have the ability to support the most vulnerable in the community ... I love that people get to gift their things and in doing so, help others.’

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Bang Bang Chicken Salad Based on a street-vendor dish popular in the Sichuan region of China, this is a fun summer salad.

OURPEOPLE

TOPFIVE Here’s some New Year’s resolution ideas you’ll actually be able to keep!

1 Ask your boss to buy you a coffee at least twice a week—they want you to be productive, don’t they?

2 Admit defeat and get a cleaner—and don’t clean up before they get there!

3 Have a chocolate bar every day at lunch—sure there’s the slump afterwards, but the sugar buzz is so darn good.

4 Watch Netflix every day— ‘studies’ show TV is good for your brain (if the aim is destroying brain cells).

5 Eat fast food once a week—don’t listen to the so-called ‘experts’, takeout is convenient and tasty!

Hugh Collins (Staff writer, War Cry) Hugh joined the THQ comms team in July after Auckland’s traffic drove him to insanity!

Well not entirely, but kind of. He loves his home but was after a change of scene and now, despite growing up in a Baptist church, finds himself assimilating into the world of the Army. He’s loving being a part of our gospel-driven work that’s transforming lives across the territory. On a day off you can find Hugh either enjoying a Robert De Niro film or embracing a million different genres on Spotify.

Salad components 3 chicken breasts, poached, shredded and cut into bitesized chunks 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced 2 spring onions, thinly sliced 1 green pepper, thinly sliced ½ telegraph cucumber, deseeded and sliced, or a handful of snow peas, coarsely chopped

½ cup roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Satay dressing ½ cup boiling water ½ cup crunchy peanut butter, salted ¼ cup lime juice (or lemon juice) 2 Tbsp sweet chilli sauce 1 Tbsp soy sauce (or tamari)

¼ small cabbage, finely chopped

1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated

1 cup mint leaves, torn (or use coriander leaves)

½ tsp chilli flakes

For the satay dressing, stir together boiling water and peanut butter in a mixing bowl, then stir in all other ingredients.

Combine chicken and dressing in a large serving bowl and toss to coat.

Add all remaining ingredients, reserving a few nuts and herbs, and toss to combine. Serve garnished with reserved nuts and herbs.

Source Annabel Langbein/bite.co.nz

Weird of the Week: The 2001 New Zealand census saw 53,715 people list their religion as ‘Jedi’—more than the number of Buddhists and Hindus.

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Taking Time Out

Many of us are enjoying a much-needed break this January, but how can we maintain that sense of rest as we enter another busy year?

Dr Jeremy Baker is bringing the concept of Sabbath rest into his ground-breaking medical practice, and believes the key to health includes balance and boundaries.

BY HUGH COLLINS

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s a culture we’re addicted to busyness. We bounce from work function to church event to family commitments and vice versa.

But while striving for a full and busy life can be rewarding, in reality God only gave us 24 hours in a day. Many of us often take our commitments too far and rapidly descend into burnout.

What if we could learn to say ‘no’ to ourselves and others—ensuring we give ourselves the kind of rest the Bible instructs? Medical doctor and senior lecturer at University of Otago, Dr Jeremy Baker, is well versed in what leads many of us into burnout.

In 2010, Jeremy established Settlers Health Centre, a Christian-based medical practice in the Christchurch suburb of Ferrymead. The clinic is unique in that it has a strong focus on mental health and community outreach. Jeremy says burnout can be traced to the boundaries we fail to put in place, along with our inability to say ‘no’ to ourselves and those around us.

‘Back in the ’80s when I first started a practice in Wellington, I felt what it was like to have a burnout experience in terms of energy and heavy workload,’ Jeremy says. ‘It was then that I first started to work on boundaries, diet and nutrition, and to take more retreat times.’

It wasn’t until sometime later that he found the writings of pastor Peter Scazzero, who offered a distinctly Christian approach to avoiding burnout.

‘Peter began to focus more on devotions and spiritual practices that were about being ready to spend time with God and the Sabbath … so we can focus on our emotional components and areas where we feel driven to succeed, perform or live up to what the boss expects us to do … I think the emotional component in us is extremely important.’

Jeremy says often part of the problem is a failure to establish healthy boundaries in the workplace and relationships. ‘It takes strength to say: “I’m over-spending my time, I’m not taking breaks … I’m not sharing with other people my concerns, fears or anxieties”.’

Adrenalin and cortisol When we overload ourselves and begin to experience stress and anxiety, our ‘adrenal glands’ (found just above the kidneys) respond with adrenalin—this is where our body goes into a ‘fight or flight’ mode. Cortisol is another adrenal hormone that is released in times of stress. It can act on many different parts of the body and can help your body respond to stress or danger, increase your 12 JANUARY 2019 WarCry 7

body’s metabolism of glucose, control your blood pressure and reduce inflammation.

‘Typically, however, with long-term stress, our cortisol levels are excessively elevated. And that’s going to cause a drain on the body,’ Jeremy says. ‘You’re not going to think quite so clearly and your sleep is going to suffer along with your ability to relax yourself and settle your nervous system.’

He explains the relationship between our ‘sympathetic’ and ‘parasympathetic’ nervous systems: the sympathetic is responsible for the response we refer to as ‘fight or flight’. This is the part of our nervous system that prepares the body to react to stresses such as threat or injury. It causes our heart rate to increase and muscles to contract.

Parasympathetic, on the other hand, is responsible for the part of our nervous system that controls rest—also known as ‘rest and digest’. This helps our muscles to relax and heart rate to decrease. ‘Those two things are unconscious reactions gearing us up to cope with stress at a very basic functional level in our brain and nervous system makeup,’ expands Jeremy. ‘It’s easy to get those out of balance, particularly when your thoughts are negative, when you’re not focused on clear goal-setting, and when you’re not settled in a good team or healthy environment.

‘Your thoughts may be rushing, they may not be cool and clear-thinking enough and you put stress back on yourself.

Your panic levels rise and, therefore, the stress on your adrenal gland and nervous system rise. It goes round in a bit of a vicious cycle.’

Rest and Reassurance Jeremy believes the spiritual component to preventing burnout is incredibly important and far too often overlooked, even among Christians. ‘The commitment or the faith you have in your relationship with God is there to support you. It’s not meant to be a legalistic thing, it’s not meant to be something that you’re fighting to achieve, or about trying to please God. ‘When we’re making time and accepting all the promises of the Bible, it gives us rest and reassurance that we’re worthwhile people.’

When it comes to trying to make changes in the New Year, Jeremy says accountability is key: ‘For me, unabashedly, it’s my wife and my relationship with God or some of my family members that holds me accountable.’

This should never be about making a ton of changes at once, but rather picking one or two things and then rating yourself 8 WarCry 12 JANUARY 2019

on your progress. ‘You’re not going to do those changes unless you have an external relationship to hold you accountable.’

For Jeremy, that relationship is ultimately with God—who gives us an understanding of our place in the world. ‘If we’re just living for ourselves we are not going to do very well as people on this planet.’

‘BURNOUT CAN BE TRACED TO THE BOUNDARIES WE FAIL TO PUT IN PLACE, ALONG WITH OUR INABILITY TO SAY “NO” TO OURSELVES AND THOSE AROUND US.’ An atmosphere of faith Spiritual support is a core component of the services provided at Settlers Health Centre—an element of care Jeremy and his wife felt was lacking in their communities. This is about having a spiritual doorway to see what people’s spiritual lives look like alongside their illnesses or mental condition.

‘My Christian faith has been an important support for me through my medical career,’ says Jeremy. ‘I felt letting people know that there’s a spiritual world that could be important was another way of empathically supporting not only those with mental illness, but any illness.’

A majority of the staff at Settlers Health Centre have a Christian faith which enables them to create a spiritual atmosphere in the building. ‘We feel like we put our work on the platform of God’s kingdom,’ reflects Jeremy. ‘That’s been a huge benefit to what we do and how we remain empathic, how we feel we’ve got resilience, how we’ve got energy to sustain what can be a very busy, often very heavy, workload in mental health.

‘There are a lot of people I do pray for, there are even a lot of people I’m leading to the Lord,’ adds Jeremy.

There is something about the ‘vibe’ in their practice that has the ability to bring people together. Jeremy refers to one instance where a member of the Mongrel Mob began to chat with a lady in her 70s. ‘We often hear these conversations between people which I don’t think would happen in a normal waiting room.

‘The practice teamwork is very important to our model of care and begins with the reception desk. We have very strong protocols about the welcome clients receive, nonjudgmentalism and making them feel at home. So, by the time they get to the doctor’s room, they feel welcome and that we’re open to knowing who they are.’

Settlers Health does a lot of work in the area of prisoner reintegration, the kind of people that come with a real hunger for something more, Jeremy says.

In general, he has noticed a spiritual sense lacking in society—something which has created a kind of widespread self-centeredness. ‘The world has got such a self-centred focus that it’s really a pathway to disappointment.

‘There is a hunger still there to have some sort of reassurance from the spiritual realm. You can see it in the movies and in the media; people are transfixed by the other world that is there.’

Jeremy and the team at Settlers Health are now at a point where they’re engaging an initiative to see how well churches in Christchurch respond to a model of care that includes mental health support teams.

Less is more What areas of your life potentially don’t have the boundaries they require? Perhaps some of us could do with a ‘less is more’ approach? Regardless of whether or not you’re prone to burnout, rest and leisure are very biblical concepts. Hebrews 4:9–11 says: ‘There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.’

Now, if you don’t mind, I’m off to put up my feet and catch up on some Netflix.

Self care tips Live …

Move …

Sleep …

• Each day do at least one thing that you find pleasurable and relaxing.

• Do not sit in one place for prolonged periods of time.

• Sleep patterns—go to bed at the same (reasonable) hour each night.

• Seek out things that you find funny and try to laugh often.

• Breathe deeply and consciously.

• Exercise regularly.

• Get up around the same time every morning.

• Take up some creative activity.

Eat …

• Learn to self-reflect and to talk things out with trusted people.

• Keep meals nutritious and balanced: include lots of coloured vegetables.

• Practise taking an optimistic outlook.

• Eat an abundance of whole foods—as nature grows them.

• Each day, take note of at least one thing that you are grateful for.

• Keep a journal. Record as many positive things as you can remember.

• Try to get some fresh air and sunshine everyday.

• Set boundaries—learn to say ‘no’.

• Always have a good breakfast.

• Learn which foods make you feel bad.

Keep a list of any cravings, addictions, or suspected allergies.

• Restrict caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and white flour products.

• Avoid screens and stimulating activities for an hour before bed.

Avoid …

• Getting overtired.

• Take note of things (people, places, things, activities) that drain your energy and strategise to reduce their claim on your life.

• Learn to recognise what triggers stress and plan ways to reduce the power of the trigger.

• Avoid rushing—keep stress low by planning ahead and getting organised.

• Avoid pushing yourself, being harsh or negative towards yourself, and self-pity.

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Why You Should Take Your Pre-Teen on a ‘Big Weekend’ Summer is a wonderful time to make memories with your children. But taking a child away by themselves for a ‘big weekend’ will set you both up for the year ahead.

The Kiwi roadie is part of summer. But when you have children, it’s sometimes hard to know whether it’s a summer dream, or a nightmare! That’s why John Cowan of The Parenting Place advocates taking one child away with you for some special oneon-one time—and he says this is especially important as they head into adolescence.

‘Apart from mealtimes, car time was perhaps the easiest place to talk with the children,’ says John. ‘In a car, you are close to each other, it’s quiet and, because you are both staring straight ahead rather than straight into each others eyeballs, having tricky conversations seems a lot less threatening. Because of this, my kids and I had our most significant sex-and-dating talks while driving.’

If you want to connect with your child on a car trip, he suggests, ask them to put on their playlist, rather than listening to your music—it will open up conversation. ‘We chatted and swapped jokes. I learned about their world of school and friends,’ says John.

In his family, each of the children had an important rite of passage when they turned 11—the ‘big weekend’.

‘When my eldest son had his 11th birthday, I took him away on a trip, just the two of us. It was a trip we had been planning for quite a long time. We worked out the different things we were going to do—it was going to be great fun. But he also knew that there was going to be a more serious side to the weekend as well. It was going to be a “preparing for adolescence” weekend.

He knew it would be special, somewhat formal, and that what he would learn was not to be shared with younger family members or other children. It wasn’t going to be the “where do babies come from” talk, but information that he would need now that he was growing up.

In between takeaways and thrill rides, they spent time chatting in the car about things like ‘peer pressure, body changes, the terrible sense of inferiority that many teenagers feel, emotions, sex, love and dating, and how values affect all these things’.

They had a ‘big weekend’ with all their children, as they turned 11, and John recalls it as ‘some of the best times I have ever had with my kids.’

Source: theparentingplace.com

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‘APART FROM MEALTIMES, CAR TIME WAS PERHAPS THE EASIEST PLACE TO TALK WITH THE CHILDREN’.

ROADTRIPPING WITH KIDS Make the trip part of the holiday. You won’t mind stops as much if you plan them—make the journey, not the destination, the goal.

Put on an audiobook the whole family will enjoy—like the Narnia or Harry Potter series.

Before you leave, print out ‘car bingo’ sheets (Google it) —and tick off things as you see them.

To keep the car tidy use cup-cake liners in the cup holders, hang a shoe organiser behind the front seat for your kids’ equipment, and use a Tupperware cereal container for rubbish.

Provide an oven tray or chopping board as a flat surface, and give the kids colouring-in equipment or games to play.

TESTIFY! Accepted candidate Mereani Betena says she used to be a ‘Christian who was living without Christ’ but today she’s committed to living for God as a Salvation Army officer.

I was brought up in a single parent family and I heard these powerful names ‘God’, ‘Jesus Christ’ and ‘Holy Spirit’ from a very young age. But having that vital connection with them was quite far away from my own understanding.

The kind of life that I lived before Christ was filled with worries and confusion about what my future would hold. I was nurtured by a single parent, my mother, and this left me living without peace, fearing what would happen if she was no longer with me.

While struggling and wrestling with my own problems, I came up with an idea just to pray, read God’s word and hopefully find a solution for it. But little did I know that God already had a plan for me.

I was given social assistance from one of the corps officers and they invited me to attend their youth programmes. This led me to hear God’s call in my life to become an officer. At first, I rejected it because I wasn’t sure whether it was really from God. I felt his confirmation again, from his word that says in John 15:16, ‘You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit’. I also had strong support and words of wisdom and encouragement from the officers and salvationists, which uplifted my spirit to make a wise decision and humbly obey God’s calling.

So, in 2012, at the age of 22, I completely surrendered my whole life to Christ and received him as my Lord and Saviour.

I NEVER GAVE UP, BECAUSE I KNEW THAT GOD’S CALL IN MY LIFE WASN’T THE RESULT OF MY OWN EFFORT, IT WAS

BY HIS GRACE. Life in Christ is so wonderful and exciting, and on top of that, my faith strongly increased as I faced difficult challenges. So, I began and continued to value my relationship with Christ, with the help of God and the Holy Spirit.

I was encouraged to apply for the officer’s training at once, but it was not successful, and after five years I was told to apply again. This time I had complete hope in Christ that my application would be successful. I never gave up, because I knew that God’s call on my life wasn’t the result of my own effort, it was by his grace. So I continue

to press on and believe that when he calls, he will equip.

I know that being accepted as a single candidate is going to be challenging, but I am willing to face those challenges because I believe that God is with me, that I am in Christ, and with the help of his Spirit I can use those challenges as a living testimony to others. I am looking forward to my journey with the Lord during these two years of training and in the future to come. Vinaka.

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What do you get when you cross baby Neve, Meghan Markle and 12 Thai footballers? 2018!

We’ve officially said toodle-loo to another year of life on planet earth. But there was certainly no shortage of history made in twenty18. We look back at the biggest, boldest and baddest of the year that was …

News

Praise the Lord for scuba divers In June and July the world was gripped after 12 young Thai football players and their coach became trapped in a flooded cave system deep in the hills of Northern Thailand. The Tham Luang cave rescue had the world transfixed as divers and specialists from across the globe worked to bring the boys four kilometres to the mouth of the cave. Miraculously, 18 days after the team first entered the cave, all 13 were rescued and returned to their families.

Women drive in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian women were legally able to receive driver’s licences for the first time in decades. This comes after years of campaigning from rights groups, some who were even imprisoned for choosing to get behind the wheel.

Welcome baby Neve!

On June 24, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave birth to Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford. The nation was gripped with Neve fever, as Jacinda became the second elected head of government to give birth while in office (after Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto in 1990).

Meghan becomes Mrs Prince Harry tied the knot with his beloved—former Suits star Meghan Markle. Millions tuned in to the event, packed with celebrities from Elton John to Serena Williams. How good was that address from Bishop Michael Curry!

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… And in Sallies news The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga added Samoa to our territory. We’ve been thrilled to incorporate our Samoan brothers and sisters in Christ, as part of our wider work at the bottom of the world!

Film

Astronauts and Avengers What a year for film! Topping the global box office in 2018 was Marvel’s Black Panther— the ground-breaking and critically acclaimed flick took in a whopping $US 1.3 billion, making it the third highest grossing film of all time. A couple of months later, Marvel dropped the highly anticipated Avengers: Infinity War. With its ensemble cast, and budget of close to $400 million, it became one of the most expensive films ever made. But audiences adored the gargantuan line-up of superheroes from across the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In May, Star Wars fans were lucky enough to witness a young Han Solo in Disney’s fourth Star Wars feature Solo: A Star Wars Story. While some reviews were mixed, War Cry Star Wars fans thought Alden Ehrenreich did a superb job of portraying the young space smuggler.

In October, we were treated to First Man, a look at the life and times of the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong. Director Damien Chazelle (La La Land) brought to life the thrilling and precarious experiences of the early American space missions. Stunning cinematography and a superb performance from Ryan Gosling made First Man a gripping look at one of science’s most respected figures.

Other great flicks of the year include Mission Impossible 6, The Incredibles 2, A Star is Born and Annihilation.

2018

Music

Ed and Taylor ♥ NZ

In March, English singersongwriter sensation Ed Sheeran played a whopping six New Zealand stadium shows! Boy, you’d think it was the second coming of the Beatles—absolute Sheeran mania it was.

Then, in November, T Swizzle played to a packed out Mt Smart stadium in Auckland where fans were treated to a theatre-esque performance with seven acts. Other big gigs of the year include Post Malone, Pink, Bruno Mars and The Killers.

Viral Vids Baby sharks

Love it or hate it, a song aimed at toddlers spread like wildfire in twenty18. Who knew a song about the roles in a shark whānau would amass a whopping 1.9 billion YouTube views!

Not to mention the thousands of video tributes hashtagged #babysharkchallenge. I’m sure there’s no shortage of parents who wish the song would somehow disappear forever.

Do you floss?

Can you floss? The other major viral sensation of the year required that you repeatedly swing your arms from front to back while doing something weird with your hips. The Floss became viral after the ‘backpack kid’ performed it during a Saturday Night Live performance of Katy Perry’s Swish Swish. It has since become particularly popular among kids, who hip-swivel with much more flair than their parents. It was even attempted by British politician Jeremy Corbyn!

Sport

Football and the footie

Football fans were treated to an as-usual thrilling and spectacular Fifa World Cup. Hosted in Russia, many Kiwi appeared to be backing England to ‘bring it home’. Sadly, Gareth Southgate’s men didn’t quite have the calibre needed to go all the way, eventually being knocked out 2–1 by Croatia in a semi-final.

In July, the New Zealand women’s sevens team, the Black Ferns, defended their Sevens World Cup title in San Francisco.

The final saw them beat France 29–0 with the help of a hattrick from Michaela Blyde. The men also held onto their World Cup title at the same event, beating England 33–12.

In cricket, Black Caps opening batsman Tom Latham worked his way up the ranks with a soaring 264 not out in a December test against Sri Lanka at Wellington’s Basin Reserve.

It was the highest test innings for 2018 along with the sixth highest for a New Zealander ever. It was also the highest by a New Zealand opener, and the highest by an opener at the Basin Reserve.

Latham batted for a whopping 694 minutes—New Zealand’s third longest test innings.

BY HUGH COLLINS

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Lieutenant Ruth Wilson addresses Graduation guests.

Lieutenant Ivo Pyper, lost in worship.

Life for the ‘Messengers of Compassion’ will never be the same, after they were commissioned as Salvation Army officers during a weekend of celebrations in both New Zealand and Fiji.

The Transformed Mind: Graduation 2018 The graduation ceremony for students of both Booth College of Mission (BCM) and Laidlaw College, is a highlight in our academic calendar.

The guest speaker for the evening was Dr Roshan Allpress, National Principal/CEO of Laidlaw College. The territorial governance board, staff of BCM, Tracy Smith (Laidlaw) and Allan Davidson from the Bible Society were also in attendance at Hutt City Corps.

The leaders and graduands were welcomed in by Māori Ministry and the Messengers of the Kingdom (first year cadets).

Cadet Ruth Wilson was the graduate speaker and began by declaring the whakapapa on which she stands, ‘this is my place of belonging’.

She shared a whakatauki (Māori proverb)—‘Ka mua, ka muri’ (looking back and moving forward). ‘It speaks of an image of a person walking backwards into the future, the past is visible but the future is not. The future will come out of the things of the heart.’

The awards presented to the cadets included a Diploma in Christian Studies, Diploma in Christian Studies (Leadership) and Certificate of Salvation Army Training. Envoys Eric and Julie Turner each received a Diploma in Christian Studies that they completed alongside their appointments. Daniel Green, Cadet Andrew Wilson and Captain Sammy Millar each received a Graduate Diploma in Theology—Sammy having completed hers while raising a young family in two corps appointments. Captain Bryant Richards received his Master of Theology, completed over the past eight years while serving in both Tonga and New Zealand.

14 WarCry 12 JANUARY 2019

The Certificate in Youth Work Training was presented to Jean Gailey-Taumaunu and Princeton Jackson. This is awarded to youth work apprentices who have completed an approved training programme, alongside qualified and experienced youth work facilitators.

In his address, Dr Roshan spoke from Romans 12:1–2 about what it means to be wholly transformed by God. He honoured the graduates for their hard work and discipline to the study, ‘which is the work of the spiritual discipline of transformation’.

He went on to say, ‘study is the work by which we seek to deepen our discernment and wisdom, not just to learn new things, but to discern how we might live well … The transformed mind is not an academic task in an isolated sense, it is simply a picture of Christ in the world.’

We’re So Grateful: The Fellowship of the Silver Star.

The Fellowship of the Silver Star is a significant part of the Commissioning weekend, but the function takes place outside of the public meetings. Since 1930, it has honoured mothers (by natural birth or legal adoption) of graduating cadets, and in 2001, was expanded to include both parents or designated spiritual parents.

This year’s function took place on Saturday morning of Commissioning with a ceremony and brunch at Booth College of Mission. Territorial Silver Star Secretary, Major Glenda Bezzant, created a beautiful setting for the cadets, their families, and territorial and divisional leaders.

Lieutenant-Colonel Margaret Bateman has served as Central Division’s Silver Star Secretary for the past nine years and

shared some scripture with those present. This was her final year in the position, due to a change of appointment.

Cadet Heather Pyper spoke on behalf of the then-cadets and honoured all the relatives who were there. ‘You’ve shaped us into who we are and we’re so grateful. The officers we will be in the future, will be all because of you.’ With tongue in cheek, she went on to say, ‘We take no responsibility for this, take note future DCs—our parents are to blame.’

Each family member was presented with a framed certificate and Silver Star badge to commemorate the occasion. Tania Horton, sister of then-cadet Bevan Reddish, received a memorial certificate to honour their late mother, Major Nola Reddish.

Glenda drew the morning to a close, reflecting on three ‘c’s’: embracing change, facing the challenges and living as champions.

‘The one who calls you to the impossible, will show you what to do,’ she summed up.

Lieutenants Bevan & Rochelle Reddish salute the Army.

‘Overwhelmed by Love’: Commissioning and Ordination

Messengers of Compassion, New Zealand session (from left): Ivo & Heather Pyper, Cameron Millar, Rochelle & Bevan Reddish, Stu & Grace Duxfield, and Andrew & Ruth Wilson.

Captain Bryant Richards (right) presents his Masters’ thesis to David Wardle (left) and Major Michelle Collins.

Messengers of Compassion, Fiji session (from left): Samisoni & Beatrice Akoteu, and Seremana & Adriano Rokovesa.

The atmosphere was alive with cheers, applause and the sounds of a full brass band, as the nine New Zealand ‘Messengers of Compassion’ made their way to the stage, flanked by Salvation Army flags. ‘I want to welcome you here for this wonderful, wonderful occasion. Don’t they look good?’ exclaimed Territorial Commander Commissioner Andy Westrupp, as he welcomed all present to the 2018 Commissioning and Ordination Service, on Saturday 1 December.

Messages were presented to the cadets from around New Zealand. Whangārei Corps Officer Lieutenant Jenny Ratana-Koi Kia began with: ‘I want to bust a myth I was told after leaving college, that it’s so quiet at the beginning that you’ll be pushing your pen around the desk—not true! … Our path is about making space for the whosoever, for each other, for the Holy Spirit … Welcome to this space.’

Tayla Adamson, 12, of Johnsonville Corps, challenged: ‘Remember, every person you meet is a child of God, who God loves as much as he loves you.’

Before their ordination, Booth College of Mission principal Major Michelle Collins encouraged the group: ‘You [will] create open spaces and allow people to experience the love of Jesus and seek to be unconditional love and acceptance to them.’

The official Commissioning and Ordination of each officer was a reflective time, but the solemnity was soon broken by cheers and whoops as the brand new lieutenants were welcomed to their new lives as Salvation Army officers.

Commissioner Yvonne Westrupp, Territorial President of Women’s Ministries, gave the main address, in which she talked of Jesus’ compassion. Being like the Good Samaritan was the ‘act of noticing’, she said. ‘To recognise suffering and take action. You are more than messengers—this is a lifestyle of compassion.’

Finally, the lieutenants were welcomed with karanga, waiata and kapa haka—which delighted and amazed everyone present.

Lieutenant Andrew Wilson, who led the Salvation Army haka with great mana, later reflected that ‘I thought I would be apprehensive but I’ve had a real peace and been overwhelmed by the love’.

Lieutenant Cameron Millar summed up his hopes for the future in Te Reo: ‘Kia kaha, kia mia, kia manawanui’—be strong, be steadfast, be courageous.

12 JANUARY 2019 WarCry 15

Nothing Without God’s Love: Sunday Celebration Sunday morning was a celebration of God’s timing and a renewed call to compassion.

Lieutenant Rochelle Reddish shared how she was called to officership as she was walking to school at the age of 16: ‘I have been wrestling with this call for over half my life. It comes to this—God has never failed me, my only response could be to take this leap of faith.’

The morning not only celebrated our newest officers, but also long service—with 13 officers recognised for between 25–35 years of service. The ‘senior’ officers were then invited to present the new second year cadets with their trimmings. Major Lorraine LePine told the cadets it was reminder of the ‘great cloud of witnesses standing with you’.

Picking up on the cadets session name, Messengers of Compassion, Territorial Commander Andy Westrupp spoke about standing at the corner of two roads: the road of justice— of doing the mission God calls people to—and the road of compassion or love.

‘We haven’t been saved to have a lovely time, to sing songs— we have been saved to a mission, to fight and work for justice in God’s name.’

However, he said it was easy to become busy in that mission and lose what motivated you. ‘Unless we deal with each other in a loving and compassionate way, I don’t hold out much hope for our future. If we only go down the road saying “This is right, this is true, this is what should be happening, we’re telling God’s truth”—unless we deliver it with God’s love, it’s nothing.’

He called those who were feeling run down just doing the mission to a renewed encounter with a God of love. It was a message that resonated strongly, especially with senior leaders, and saw the mercy seat covered with responders.

Lieutenants Samisoni & Beatrice Akoteu perform at Commissioning and Ordination in Fiji.

Lieutenant Andrew Wilson leads the haka at Commissioning and Ordination in New Zealand.

BY SHAR DAVIS, ROBIN RAYMOND AND INGRID BARRATT

Commissioner Andy Westrupp (left) and Lieutenant Beatrice Akoteu at Graduation in Fiji.

25 Year Long Service recipients (from left): Mjrs Lynne & Graham Medland, Lt-Cols Sheryl & Stephen Jarvis, Mjrs Alison & David Moody, and Mjrs Michelle & Milton Collins.

Commissioner Yvonne Westrupp (left), Ma’ata Akoteu and Lieutenant Samisoni Akoteu at the Silver Star service in Fiji.

Messengers of the Kingdom (from left): Johnny & Char Whybrow, Andy & Lexee Dunlop, and Cass Henderson.

16 WarCry 12 JANUARY 2019

More pictures can be seen on page 22.

Garlands of Honour: Commissioning in Fiji Every two years commissioning weekend is held for cadets from both Fiji and Tonga. This year, Cadets Beatrice and Samisoni Akoteu from Tonga and Cadets Adriano and Seremana Rokovesa from Fiji were commissioned as part of the Messengers of Compassion session.

The weekend commenced with officers from all over Fiji supporting the cadets at Covenant Day. This is a deeply moving day where time is spent reflecting on the significance of the officer’s covenant and its outworking in an officer’s life. The cadets are then invited to sign their covenant, committing themselves to a lifetime of serving God. Saturday morning’s Silver Star service was a time of honouring the families of each cadet and the input they have given over the years. Seremana shared her testimony, and many people shed tears as she spoke about her mother. While pregnant with Seremana, she had a vision and knew that her daughter would one day be a servant of the Lord. Seremana looked at her mother, and with tears in her eyes, told her that the dream she’d carried all those years was coming to pass.

Samisoni’s 78-year-old mother Ma’ata Akoteu left Tonga for the first time in her life to attend commissioning. Family members are not always able to attend Silver Star, and Adriano’s mother was unable to attend as she was extremely unwell and could not travel. (We want to acknowledge her subsequent passing.) In memorial, certificates were presented for Maikeli Biu and Saianaua Akoteu.

It was a hot afternoon as hundreds gathered at Suva Central Corps for the Commissioning and Ordination service for the Messengers of Compassion. The Suva Central band and music teams set the atmosphere for the afternoon before the official service began.

Samisoni shared his testimony and had the audience captivated by both his humour and spiritual reflection on his journey. ‘I believe in my heart, without his presence I am like a sounding cymbal. I need his Holy Spirit to breathe through me so that I can serve the world and bring healing, encouragement and hope to the people that I will be ministering to.’

Major Michelle Collins, Training Principal of Booth College of Mission, gave the sessional report and presentation of cadets. She reflected on the challenging first year for the cadets, as their accommodation was destroyed in a cyclone.

Where are they now?

Appointments for our newest Salvation Army officers …

Lieutenants Beatrice and Samisoni Akoteu: Corps Officers, Talasiu Corps Lieutenants Adriano and Seremana Rokovesa: Assistant Officers, Suva Central Corps (responsible for Navua Outpost) Lieutenants Grace and Stuart Duxfield: Corps Planting Officers, Rolleston Corps Plant

This resulted in them having to live off campus for that first year. With the appointment of Captain Racheal-Lee Kendrick as Assistant Training Principal to Fiji, a lot of work was done to update curriculum, resources, and bring the library up to a level that could support the study requirements of the cadets and their training.

As is standard practice in all commissioning services around the world, the cadets gave their affirmation of faith, reciting together the 11 doctrines of The Salvation Army (what we believe).

Following this, Commissioners Andy and Yvonne Westrupp commissioned and ordained each cadet and bestowed on them the rank of lieutenant. It was a beautiful moment in the service as each new lieutenant received a garland from family members—a way of showing honour in Pacific Island cultures.

A definite highlight was the item performed by the Messengers of Compassion that incorporated the cultural backgrounds of the session—African, Fijian and Tongan. It was so well received that they were asked to repeat it in the Sunday morning service.

Yvonne spoke from Colossians 3:12–17 about how, like Jesus, we are called to show compassion—expressed through love. After the message and a time of response and prayer, the Lieutenants received their first appointments to the sound of thunderous cheering from those gathered.

Sunday morning’s celebration meeting was again supported

by Suva Central Corps band and music team. The service began with a timbrel item from the children and women of Suva Central Corps. The Messengers of Compassion and their families sang a song. Raiwai Corps and Suva Central shared items during the service, and these were both encouraging and inspiring.

Andy spoke and challenged those present about the intersection between justice and compassion, and called people to respond as we sang ‘They Need Christ’.

The weekend was one of celebrating the journey towards officership of the Messengers of Compassion, God’s faithfulness during testing times, and anticipation for the incoming session in 2019.

BY SHAR DAVIS

Lieutenant Cameron Millar: Corps Officer, Christchurch North Corps Lieutenants Heather and Ivo Pyper: Corps Officers, Glen Eden Corps Lieutenants Bevan and Rochelle Reddish: Corps Officers, Albany Bay Corps Lieutenants Andrew and Ruth Wilson: Corps Officers, Queenstown Corps

12 JANUARY 2019 WarCry 17

GAZETTE

Promotion: Effective 13 December 2018: Captain Murray McIntosh was promoted to the rank of Major.

Admission to Long Service Order: We congratulate the following officers on attaining their Long Service Awards: Effective 11 December 2018—25 years service: Lt Cols Sheryl Jarvis and Stephen Jarvis; Mjrs Michelle and Milton Collins; Mjrs Graham and Lynne Medland; Mjrs Alison and David Moody.

Effective 19 January 2019—30 years service: Mjr Gillian Waugh.

Effective 21 January 2019—35 years service: Lt-Cols Jennifer and Roderick Carey; Lt-Cols Ian and Lynette Hutson.

We thank these officers for their faithful service and pray God’s richest blessing upon each of them.

Retirement: Major Maika Ranamalo Raico on 28 December 2018, completing 21 years, 3 months and 24 days of active officer service.

Maika and Louisa Ranamalo Raico entered full time service on 12 January 1995 as Envoys and were appointed as Court and Prison Officers in Suva, Fiji. In September 1997, they were commissioned as Auxiliary Captains.

In 2000, Maika and Louisa moved to Lautoka to be managers of Community and Family Services, with an additional appointment for Maika as Court and Diversion Officer.

In January 2008, Maika was appointed as Divisional Secretary for Social Programme with responsibility for Court and Men’s Prison, Suva. This was followed with an appointment as Divisional Programme Secretary. Maika was also appointed as Divisional Secretary for Social Services while continuing his ministry in the Court and Men’s Prison, Suva.

In 2013, Maika and Louisa were appointed to Suva Corps as Assistant Officers with an additional responsibility for Navua Outpost.

In 2014, this was followed by an appointment as Corps Officers, Tavua Corps, and it is from this appointment that Maika will enter retirement from active service.

Sa ka levu na kena vakavinavinakataki na bula nei Talatala Maika Ranamalo Raico ena vuku ni nona bula ni veiqaravi ena yalo vinaka, kei na yalo e dina vua na Kalou. Talatala Maika, sa neimami masu mena vakalougatataki kemuni na Kalou ena nomuni sa mai vakacavara vakavinaka na veitalai ni Kalou, ka keimami sa laveta cake ki ‘Lagi na bula nei Talatala Louisa ena nona na tomana yani na veikacivi ni Kalou.

It is with sincere thanks and appreciation we honour Major Maika Ranamalo Raico for his humble leadership and his faithful service to God. We pray God’s richest blessing on him as he enters retirement and on Louisa as she continues in active service.

Major Russell Sawyer on 12 January 2019, completing 41 years and 10 months of active service.

Russell Sawyer entered the Training College from Newton Corps in the Soldiers of the Cross session. Following his commissioning on 17 January 1976, Russell was appointed as Corps Officer at Taumarunui. In July, Russell was appointed as Corps Officer, Kaitāia Corps. On 14 August 1976, Russell married Captain Janee Stanton.

Russell and Janee then served together at Kaitāia before being appointed to further corps appointments at Māngere, East Coast Bays and Upper Hutt Corps.

In 1988, Russell was appointed as Manager of the Arawhata Treatment Centre, and later that same year Russell and Janee were appointed as Corps Officers, Gisborne Corps. Over the next four years, Russell served as Assistant Manager at Wharerangi Eventide Home, Taupo; Mercy Jenkins Eventide Home, Eltham; and Ohinemuri Aged Care Centre, Paeroa.

Between 1999 and 2003, Russell and Janee served at Territorial Headquarters where Russell had appointments as Programme Department Assistant; National Coordinator Emergency Services; Territorial Statistician; Research and Planning Officer; and Assistant Officer, Property Department with responsibility as Building Manager, THQ. In 2004, Russell and Janee moved to the Northern Division where Russell was appointed as Wills and Bequest Coordinator for Auckland City, South and West; and Associate Public Relations Officer with an additional appointment as Assistant Director Red Shield and Self Denial Officer (2007).

18 WarCry 12 JANUARY 2019

In 2009, Russell and Janee were appointed as the Corps Officers, New Lynn Corps, and it is from this appointment that Russell enters retirement. With sincere thanks and appreciation we honour Major Russell Sawyer for his loyal and faithful service to God. We pray God’s continuing blessing on Russell and Janee.

Major Geraldine Johnson on 16 January 2019, completing of 43 years of active service.

Geraldine Stratton entered training as a cadet of the Soldiers of the Cross session from Dunedin Fortress Corps and was commissioned on 17 January 1976. Following her marriage to Lieutenant Rex Johnson on 19 January 1976, they were appointed as Corps Officers, Waitara Corps.

In 1978, Geraldine and Rex commenced their first overseas appointment, transferring to the Australia Eastern Territory with an appointment as Managers of the Lae Hostel and Welfare Centre, Papua New Guinea. In 1979, they were appointed as Onamuga Station Managers and Corps Officers.

In 1982, Geraldine and Rex returned to New Zealand where they were appointed as Managers of St. Clair Men’s Eventide Home, Dunedin. The following year they moved to Ōmāio Village in Stoke, Nelson, where Geraldine was appointed Matron.

In 1988, Geraldine and Rex moved to Fiji where Geraldine was appointed Director of Women’s Organisations Western District, Fiji Division.

On their return to New Zealand in 1991, Geraldine and Rex were appointed as Corps Officers, Invercargill. This was followed in 1993 by an appointment to Resthaven Eventide Home, Auckland, first as Assistant Managers, then, a year later, as Managers.

In 2000, the Johnsons were appointed as Corps Officers, Otahuhu Corps. They remained in Auckland when Geraldine was appointed as Associate Deferred Giving Officer, DHQ, and Divisional Assistant, Northern Division, with responsibility for Retired Officers.

In 2006, Geraldine and Rex returned overseas for their next two appointments in Tonga and in Papua New Guinea. While in Tonga, Geraldine was the Regional Director of Women’s Ministries with the additional responsibility of Child Sponsorship from 2006–2009.

Then from 2009–2012, Geraldine was the Director of Education and Curriculum, Officer Training College, in Papua New Guinea.

On their return to New Zealand in 2013, Geraldine, along with Rex, became the Territorial Planned Giving Secretaries, and it is from this appointment that Geraldine enters retirement.

With sincere thanks and appreciation we honour Major Geraldine Johnson for her faithful service and great compassion as a Soldier of the Cross, and her ministry as an officer in our territory and Papua New Guinea. We pray God’s blessing on Geraldine and Rex as they settle in Tauranga following Geraldine’s retirement.

Major Lorraine LePine on 18 January 2019, completing 39 years of active service.

Lorraine Rodgers entered training college from New Plymouth Corps in 1978, as a cadet in the Joyful Evangelists session. Following her commissioning on 19 January 1980, Lorraine was appointed as Corps Officer, Dannevirke Corps. Following her marriage to Lieutenant Darrell LePine on 26 July 1980, Lorraine and Darrell served together at Dannevirke as Corps Officers until August 1981, when they were appointed as Corps Officers, Foxton. Two further corps appointments followed at Levin (1984) and Wanganui (1988).

In 1991, Darrell and Lorraine were appointed as Assistants at the Norman Kirk Eventide Home, Upper Hutt. In 1992, Lorraine had an additional appointment as Assistant Tutor at the School for Officer Training, Upper Hutt.

In 1993, Lorraine and Darrell moved to Auckland where they were the Associate Officers at New Lynn Corps with responsibility for the Glen Eden Corps Plant. In 1996, Lorraine and Darrell were appointed as Corps Planting Officers, Glen Eden Corps Plant.

In 2001, Lorraine and Darrell returned to the Central Division as the Corps Officers, Upper Hutt Corps. This was followed by an appointment to the Southern Divisional Headquarters where Lorraine was the Divisional Secretary for Personnel from 2009–2013.

In January 2014, Lorraine and Darrell were appointed Corps Officers,

Wellington South Corps. In April 2014, Lorraine was appointed as Assistant Territorial Secretary for Personnel, and it is from this appointment that Lorraine is entering retirement.

It is with sincere thanks and appreciation we honour Major Lorraine LePine for her faithful and humble leadership, and her heartfelt ministry as an officer of The Salvation Army. We pray God’s blessing on Lorraine and Darrell as they continue to serve God with a Joyful Evangelist spirit in their retirement.

Promotion to Glory: Major Lynnette (Lynne) Thomson, on 3 December 2018, aged 69 years. Lynnette Ellen Thomson was born in Christchurch on 15 April 1949. Lynne entered training college from Sydenham Corps as a member of the Blood and Fire session in 1972. Following her commissioning on 12 January 1974, Lynne was appointed as Corps Officer, Devonport Corps, followed by an appointment as Assistant, Resthaven Eventide, Christchurch, in 1975.

In 1976, Lynne returned to corps ministry with appointments as Assistant Corps Officer, Eden Corps, and Corps Officer, Stratford Corps. From 1977–2000, Lynne had a variety of appointments: Assistant, Dunedin Emergency Care Centre (1977); Assistant, Norman Kirk Eventide Home, Upper Hutt (1978 ); Catering Officer, Training College (1979); Assistant Officer, then Matron, Christchurch Family Care Centre (1982); Assistant Manager, Florence Booth Emergency Lodge, Wellington (1986); Assistant, Ōmāio Village Rest Home, Nelson (1987); Manager, Family Care Centre, Masterton (1990); and Assistant Manager, Ohinemuri Retirement Residence, Paeroa (1991). Following this appointment, Lynne was the Manager, Aspen Retirement Residence, Tauranga, with the additional appointment as Medical Fellowship Secretary, Midland Division. In 1997, Lynne was appointed Manager, Maureen Plowman Eventide Home, Browns Bay, Auckland. This was followed by an appointment in 2000 as Assistant Corps Officer, Waitakere Corps.

In 2002, Lynne was appointed as Manager, Community and Family Services and Associate Corps Officer, Rotorua Corps. In 2004, Lynne was appointed as Corps Officer, Clifton Corps, Southern Division, and it was from this appointment that Lynne retired on 12 January 2006.

In retirement, Lynne served as Administration Assistant, Christchurch City Corps for a number of years. Please uphold Lynne’s extended family in your prayers in this time of grief and loss. Well done good and faithful servant of Christ!

EVERY ONE OF OUR PEOPLE ...

MAKE THE WAY OF LOVE THEIR HIGHEST AIM. In this first edition of War Cry 2019, it is my pleasure to greet you and to wish you all a very happy and blessed new year.

I trust 2019 will prove to be a year of encounter, when each one of us will endeavour to walk so closely with Jesus through the power of his Holy Spirit that our lives will continue to be changed from glory into glory.

Jesus, when he walked this earth, drew people to himself. In so doing, people found communion with God; association with God through his divine love. Their experience of God through Jesus Christ so impressed them, changing their life forever, that they could do nothing other than draw people into the circle and light of God’s divine presence. Their faith as followers of Jesus Christ showed itself through love.

In Galatians 5:6 we read, ‘The only thing that matters is faith expressing itself in love.’ Through our faith in Jesus Christ, within the fold of God’s love and by the promised presence of his Holy Spirit, we live in a space of knowing.

In Brian McLaren’s book, The Greatest Spiritual Migration, he writes, ‘What I believe can and should happen is that tens of thousands of congregations will become what I call “schools” or “studios” of love ... What I care about is whether they are teaching people to live a life of love, from the heart, for God, for all people (no exceptions), and for all creation’.

Picture the scene: every one of our people—soldiers, adherents, friends, junior soldiers, clients, employees, officers—make the way of love their highest aim.

To care for each other, to hear each others stories, to walk in each others’ jandals.

Can you see the vision, will you join me in the encounter, in the Way of Love?

In living and having our being in this space of knowing, we encounter God’s love and presence in a way that draws people into his Kingdom—from all nations, from every creed, into this most beautiful place called Heaven on earth.

‘Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love’, 1 John 4:7–8.

To close, I share the words of the song by Ron Kenoly: ‘Take my hands, Lord, and my feet / Touch my heart, Lord, and speak through me / If you can use anything, Lord, you can use me’.

I pray each one of us will endeavour to be open to God, using us for his Kingdom purpose.

Colonel Suzanne Fincham Chief Secretary 12 JANUARY 2019 WarCry 19

Unlike New Year’s resolutions, making a fresh start allows God to lead you in the journey ahead.

BY MAJOR SUE HAY

How are you going with those New Year’s Resolutions? Apparently only eight percent of us ever successfully achieve them. I’ve certainly felt a reluctance to set myself up to fail. But making a fresh start—now, that’s a resolution I understand.

I suggest ‘fresh starts’ tend to be more meaningful and enduring than annual New Year’s resolutions. Let’s explore one particular example, by unpacking the story of Abraham who was invited

by God to make a fresh start. Abraham’s experience offers us six dos and don’ts to guide us, as we choose to embrace our own invitation to make a fresh start in 2019.

20 WarCry 12 JANUARY 2019

Do—respond to the invitation One day, out of the blue, God interrupted Abraham’s everyday life in Mesopotamia and invited him to make a fresh start by embarking on a journey towards the land of Canaan (modern day Israel).

The invitation came with a promise that Abraham would become the patriarch of a great nation, and that his reputation and character would become great (Genesis 12:2). Surprisingly, Abraham accepted God’s invitation and he and his whānau set out for Canaan. Without Google maps, this was a journey into the unknown which required gutsy faith.

By accepting God’s invitation, Abraham took the first step towards making a lifechanging fresh start.

Don’t—give up!

The journey ground to a halt when Terah, Abraham’s dad, decided they would settle in Haran. After his dad died Abraham resumed his commitment to

embrace God’s invitation to journey towards a fresh start in Canaan.

Although Terah was the true family patriarch, he did not become the patriarch of fresh starts! He gave up.

Abraham didn’t! This pause in the journey is not the only time Abraham got off track. However, just as in this case, he always resumed his journey.

He didn’t give up. And so it is Abraham we honour thousands of years later as a role model for embracing a fresh start with God.

Don’t—wait until we have God sorted Abraham didn’t know much about God —actually he probably worshiped idols like his father (Joshua 24:2). So, when Abraham responded to God’s invitation, he knew very little about this Deity. Yet, Abraham’s lack of relationship with God did not become a barrier to him accepting the invitation. The journey

happened with another king some time later—and each time the deception could have ended incredibly badly for both Abraham and Sarah.

DON’T ALLOW A SENSE OF PERSONAL INADEQUACY OR BROKENNESS BECOME A BARRIER TO A FRESH START. itself developed his connection with God, until God himself became the reward of the journey for Abraham (Genesis 15:1). As Jesus once said, faith as small as a mustard seed is enough.

Don’t—wait until we have ourselves sorted Abraham messed up quite a few times along the way, yet not even this stopped God issuing an invitation to him.

Although Abraham actually successfully arrived in Canaan (Genesis 12:5) his personal and spiritual journeys were not yet complete. When things got tough, he failed to rely on God and made the decision to go further than God had told him to—he headed beyond Canaan to Egypt. And there he created a mess for himself and his wife, Sarah. Fear led him to deceive the Egyptians about the true nature of his relationship with Sarah. Consequently, Pharaoh ‘borrowed her’ until he found out! A similar thing

Remarkably, despite his human flaws, Abraham became one of God’s favourite people. Not because he was perfect! I suspect each of his personal failures forced Abraham to embrace an inner journey—one which truly transformed his character. And so Abraham’s physical journey became a way into a parallel inner journey. By facing up to his personal failings Abraham developed the humility, courage and faith he needed to overcome later challenges. It’s very reassuring to see that God’s invitation is never conditional on us having ourselves sorted before we begin.

Do—set boundaries As the journey continued Abraham and the nephew who had travelled with him started to quarrel, as did their staff. The same space could no longer support both of their families and livestock. So Abraham set new boundaries. First, he faced the fact it was time to create some distance between himself and his nephew. Abraham also set a boundary around how he and his nephew would treat each other—quarrelling would not be part of their on-going journey.

What an example Abraham sets! I usually resort to setting boundaries only after resentments have built up, which tends to result in angry and defensive interactions as I put boundaries in place. Abraham, on the other hand, set his boundaries graciously, generously offering his nephew first dibs on the land so they could live separately from each other.

Do—make bold declarations of faith Throughout the journey Abraham often boldly professed his trust in God. For example, when he first arrived in Canaan he built a monument to God and took time out to pray (Genesis 12:8); after a big battle he refused to take the plunder declaring he was trusting God for all he needed (Genesis 14:22, 23); and having finally settled in Canaan he participated in a special ceremony with God to celebrate completing his journey (Genesis 15).

Audacious professions of faith helped

EACH OF HIS PERSONAL FAILURES FORCED ABRAHAM TO EMBRACE AN INNER JOURNEY—ONE WHICH TRULY TRANSFORMED HIS CHARACTER. cement his intent and kept him focussed on the journey until the end.

Dos and don’ts for our fresh start God’s invitation to Abraham was about more than just a geographical fresh start. God was also inviting Abraham to develop a new depth of character and a rock solid relationship with God. It was an invitation to greatness.

As we enter 2019, what is true for Abraham is also true for us: God invites us to embrace our own fresh start journey. It may or may not involve a geographical shift. It will include an invitation to develop a greater depth of character and a more intimate relationship with God. This becomes our journey to greatness.

As we contemplate our particular invitation, let’s be guided by Abraham’s six dos and don’ts. First, do accept the invitation. Even if we get off track, let’s be sure to get back to the journey—don’t give up. Don’t think we need a welldefined theology before we can step out with God. And don’t allow a sense of personal inadequacy or brokenness to become a barrier to a fresh start. Do set boundaries to support the journey; and finally, do boldly profess a growing faith in God. This will help cement an intention to continue the journey.

As 2019 unfolds, let’s embrace our own fresh start—because as with Abraham, God is beckoning us to greatness!

Want to read more from Sue? Check out her Blog at shamelessandfree. wordpress.com 12 JANUARY 2019 WarCry 21

Messengers of Compassion, Fiji session at Commissioning and Ordination (from left): Beatrice & Samisoni Akoteu, and Adriano & Seremana Rokovesa.

Lieutenant Cameron Millar (right) shares a moment with his dad, Iain Millar, at Graduation in New Zealand.

Left: Lieutenants Bevan & Rochelle Reddish, with children Hugh & Imogen, at Commissioning and Ordination in New Zealand.

Below: Lieutenants Cameron Millar and Grace Duxfield cut the cake at Graduation in New Zealand.

Lieutenants Samisoni Akoteu (left) and Seremana Rokovesa at Commissioning and Ordination in Fiji.

Left: Lieutenants Stu & Grace Duxfield, with son Jesse, at Commissioning and Ordination in New Zealand.

Right: Lieutenant Ivo Pyper with his parents, Julia & Hans Pyper, at the Silver Star celebration in New Zealand.

Silver Star celebrations (from left): Lieutenant Stu Duxfield with his parents—Kevin & Debra Duxfield—and Commissioner Yvonne Westrupp; Lieutenant Andrew Wilson with his mother Janet Wilson and Commissioner Yvonne Westrupp.

Lieutenant Ruth Wilson (right) receives her graduation certificate from Commissioner Andy Westrupp (left) and Dr Roshan Allpress.

Quiz Answers: 1 The boomerang, 2 Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Adventure), 3 2010, 4 Arnotts, 5 Benjamin (Genesis 35:18).

22 WarCry 12 JANUARY 2019

Word Search!

Can you find the names of these fun bugs in the word search below?

… all things are possible with God. Mark 10:27

ANT BEE BUTTERFLY COCKROACH DRAGONFLY FLY GRASSHOPPER LADYBIRD MOTH TERMITE

Goliath was a terrifying nine-foot-tall Philistine soldier who would make enemy soldiers tremble with fear.

While at war with the Israelites, he would say, ‘Send me a man who will fight me. If he wins, we will be your slaves. But if I win, you will be our slaves’. When a young shepherd boy called David visited the Israelites with food for his brothers, he bravely offered to fight Goliath himself.

He had so much faith in God, that he knew he could do it and save the Israelites.

Amazing Maze!

Can you help the friendly bee get to the flower?

King Saul doubted David, telling him he was just a boy! ‘But God will help me’, David said. He then tried to wear armour but found it was too heavy—instead he chose to rely on God. When Goliath saw David coming, he burst out laughing. ‘Is this the best you can do?’ he mocked. As he was laughing, David got his sling, put in a rock and fired it at Goliath’s head.

It struck Goliath right between the eyeballs! Goliath fell down and was defeated!

Even though David was young, God used him to save all the Israelites— because David had faith in God. Other people might judge us and say we can’t do stuff for God because we’re too young. Even when we’re young, God can use us! David was brave, because he knew God was with him.

HAVE YOU EVER …

Been scared to do something, but did it anyway? How did you feel afterwards?

What would you like to be brave about? Ask God to help you.

12 JANUARY 2019 WarCry 23

A Karakia for the New Year Ma te rā e kawe mai Te ngoi ia rā ia rā Mā te marama e whakaora i a koe i waenga pō Mā te ua e horoi ōu māharahara Mā te hau e pupuhi te pākahukahu Ki roto i tōu tinana I roto i ōu hikoitanga i tea o kia wahaaro Ko ki te hūmarie ataahua hoki O ōu rā mō ake tonu atu Amine May the sun bring you energy by day May the moon softly restore you by night May the rain wash away your worries May the wind blow new strength into your being May you walk on earth in peace all the days of

s

your life and know its beauty forever and ever Amen