16 June 2018 NZFT War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION 16 JUNE 2018 | Issue 6694 | $1.50

Kiwi Connection for New International Leaders Why We Supported Māori Wards

We Need to Talk About Pornography Verses We Wish Didn’t Exist

A LOVE STORY CORALIE, KEVIN & SAM BRIDLE

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WAR CRY The Salvation Army

Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Andy & Yvonne Westrupp | GENERAL André Cox | 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 Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond | PROOF READING Major Jill Gainsford, Vivienne Hill | COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Bruce Millar 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.

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Riding the Wave I have a rule that I don’t weigh in on Facebook debates. I doubt anyone would ever change their mind due to my striking repartee! But I did break my own rule recently—and one of the Christians used a common rationale for defending his position: that ‘the church shouldn’t be bound by culture’. I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment—the church is at its best when it shows the kind of leadership and love that changes culture.

But this argument does imply that God is not moving through our culture.

All around me I see God using culture to further the cause of justice. Just some examples include environmental stewardship, LGBTI+ inclusion, gender equality, and race relations.

These are issues the church should be passionate about, but—perhaps because the church has remained silent—God has raised up others to seek out justice. The world belongs to God, and his justice rolls like a river to every corner of society.

Coralie Bridle, on p.6, is a beautiful embodiment of disability advocacy, but says she suspects culture has done more for the rights of the disabled than the church has.

This is tragic for the church, because it means that we miss the blessing of showing God’s grace and mercy to the world. Environmental stewardship, for example, is paramount—but how much more so when we know God as our creator? How much more does equality mean when we know we are all made equal in Christ? These are deeply biblical moves of the Spirit, so let us join the wave of God’s justice—wherever we see it at work.

Ingrid Barratt Editor

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

Publishing for 134 years | Issue 6694 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry

www.salvationarmy.org.nz salvationarmyNZFijiTonga @salvationarmynz salvationarmynzft

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I’m for truth, no matter who tells it.

Malcolm X

Hosea 12:6 But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.

Hōhea 12:6 Nā reira tahuri koe ki tōu Atua: puritia te mahi tohu me te tika, tatari tonu ki tōu Atua.

A while ago I had the privilege of assisting an extended family of Middle Eastern refugees into their new life in New Zealand. I found the people to be warm, hospitable, family-focused and generous with their few possessions. I would visit daily in the early settlement period to help them navigate a new country and a new culture. They were wonderful cooks and loved to feed me and my family. We spent many meal times together, sitting on the floor and eating their wonderful food.

They openly lived out their Muslim faith— I would often hear the mullah’s call to prayer on their cell phones and the family would stop what they were doing and unfold their prayer mats.

I wondered how my Christian faith was being conveyed to them. There was a language barrier between us, so complex conversations were difficult, but I was hopeful that one day we might get the opportunity to share what was obviously important to both of our lives—our faiths. Thankfully, over time, one of the daughters became proficient in English and she became my interpreter.

On one of my visits, the father of the family was telling me (via our young interpreter) about his faith in Allah. He stated that Muslims believed in one god, whereas Christians believed in many gods—Mary,

Jesus, God, Spirit, saints. I whispered a hurried prayer, as this is one of the more complex questions for a Christian to answer, and then I simply held up my hand.

I said the Christian God is one God, like my hand. I circled my hand. But it has three parts— the palm represents God the Father; the fingers are God the son Jesus Christ; the thumb is the helper, the Holy Spirit. I only have one hand but it has three expressions, just like the Christian God. I saw understanding dawn on their faces and breathed a sigh of relief. It must have been a ‘God moment’ because I had never thought of the trinity like that before.

My hope is that as they live side-by-side with Christians in New Zealand they will come to know and understand our God and our faith.

As we celebrate World Refugee Day on 20 June, it’s a reminder that no one is outside the reach of God. The Bible calls us, time and time again, to welcome the refugee. Who knows, maybe God has brought people of different faiths and cultures all the way to New Zealand so they can meet you and you can introduce them to your God and share your beliefs.

BY VIVIENNE HILL 16 JUNE 2018 WarCry 3

TOPFIVE

Action & Adventure, Science fiction Solo: A Star Wars Story (M, violence) Ron Howard

Misheard song lyrics—we’ve all done it.

(Try and work out the real lyrics.)

Star Wars has some of the the most passionate, hardest-to-please fans in film. So the origin-story for possibly its most popular character—Han Solo—was always going to be tough, taking six years and two directors. As with all Disney Star Wars films so far, the pacing’s poor; and with so many pieces of Star Wars folklore to fill in, the twists are also heavily signposted. Fortunately, Alden Ehrenreich is great as the young Solo, backed by strong performances, particularly from Emilia Clarke as Qi’ra and Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian. The magic ingredient of Star Wars—embodied best in Solo himself—is swagger, and this film has plenty of that. A strong addition to the Star Wars canon. (Reviewed by Robin Raymond)

Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of selfacceptance.

Brené Brown

1 ‘ We built this city on sausage rolls.’

2 ‘ These ants are my friends, they’re blowin’ in the wind.’

3 ‘Hold me closer, Tony Danza.’

4 ‘ We didn’t start the fire, it was always burning said the worst attorney.’

5 ‘Sweet dreams are made of cheese.’

Answers on page 22

WARCRYINHISTORY On 21 August 1948, War Cry reported the visit of Helen Keller, the world famous blind and deaf advocate. In 1948, she embarked on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. Many Salvationists turned out to hear her speak. She spoke of the Salvationists in the crowds and of General Evangeline Booth. After her visit, she sent Commissioner Astbury a note of thanks Many of us heard of Helen Keller as for the friendship of The school children, and have a dim recollection Salvation Army.

The ‘Love and Light’ of Helen Keller

Source: Booth College of Mission Heritage and Archives Centre

of her story as a deaf and blind woman. But as we celebrate Helen Keller Day on 27 June—the day of her birth in 1880—her achievements still stand out as remarkable.

Helen Keller was robbed of sight and sound after an illness at the age of 19 months. In the Victorian era, deaf and blind people were largely considered impossible to educate. But Helen developed over 60 signals to help her communicate, and learnt to identify people by the vibrations of their footsteps.

Helen’s mother read an account from Charles Dickens about a deaf–blind person who had been educated, and set about finding someone to teach Helen. Their persistence led them to Dr Alexander Bell (best known for inventing the telephone). He recommended Anne Sullivan, a 20-year-old visually-impaired teacher.

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QUIKQUIZ

1 How many stars are there in Matariki?

Authentic Dry Potato Curry

2 Who created the fictional character Charlie Brown?

This vegetarian curry comes from Indian cook Joginder Kaur Basi, who set up one of New Zealand’s first Indian restaurants in the 1970s.

3 What is the symbol for iron on the periodic table?

6 medium (about 600g) all-purpose or floury potatoes

4 What does Spanish dance paso doble replicate?

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

5 Who was the first woman to see Jesus’ empty tomb?

1 Tbsp sesame seeds 1 Tbsp cumin seeds 4 whole garlic cloves, peeled 2–3cm ginger, chopped or grated

Answers on page 22

Helen was seven years old when Anne arrived, and describes it as ‘the most important day I remember in all my life’. Helen had no concept that each object had a name, and Anne painstakingly taught her to understand this, and how to spell the names on her hand—a rudimentary sign language.

2 green chillies, deseeded and finely chopped (optional) 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp turmeric

Peel or scrub the potatoes and cut into 1.5cm cubes and set aside.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan with a lid.

Stir in the sesame seeds and cover the pan until you hear the seeds begin to pop.

Remove the lid and add the garlic, ginger, potato, sugar, salt, turmeric and chillies if using. Add the lemon juice.

Cover again, and cook for a further 10–20 minutes until the potatoes are tender.

Stir in the garam masala and sprinkle with coriander.

1 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp garam masala 2 Tbsp fresh coriander leaves, chopped

Helen went on to become the first deaf and blind person to earn a bachelors degree, getting her Bachelor Reprinted with permission from The Ultimate of Arts from the prestigious Radcliffe University. At the Vegetarian Collection by Alison and Simon Holst. age of 21, she published her autobiography, showcasing a poetic writing style and eloquent grasp of language. She went on to Weird of the Week: During publish 12 books, became a world-renowned World War II, Allied forces had speaker, a suffragette, disability campaigner a unit of artists, actors, costume and a radical socialist.

In her autobiography, Helen described how ‘a power divine touched my spirit and gave me sight, so that I beheld many wonders.

And from the sacred mountain I heard a voice which said, “Knowledge is love and light and vision”.’

designers and sound engineers to confuse the enemy—using props like inflatable tanks. They were nearly caught once when the tanks deflated overnight.

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Photography: Bruce Millar

When Coralie Bridle resuscitated her own three-month-old son Samuel, she knew their world had changed forever. Ever since, Coralie has been her son’s mouthpiece, helping him tell his own story.

BY INGRID BARRATT

‘C

oralie Bridle will never forget the day that her world shifted on its axis—the day she resuscitated her own baby. She’ll never forget the moment she heard him cry again, knowing in that instant that her son was changed forever.

Until then, Coralie’s life had gone more or less as predicted.

Born to officer parents, Coralie grew up in The Salvation Army. She lists her early spiritual journey as attending church, making a faith commitment, soldiership, ‘the whole nine yards’.

At 18, she trained as a nurse and, by the time she was 21, was nursing in an oncology unit. Her husband Kevin was a teacher, working with intellectually disabled students. ‘I remember going to visit and feeling very intimidated. It was not a comfortable part of my world,’ recalls Coralie. When she was training as a nurse, she had a placement at Mangere Hospital, working with IHC clients, ‘and hated it’.

Then, when Coralie fell pregnant, they eagerly anticipated their first child.

The birth was not easy. After a prolonged labour, the baby was in some distress so they were rushed into an emergency C-section. A beautiful boy was born to them, and they named him Samuel.

Mothers Day, 1989 This is when Coralie suddenly becomes animated about her faith journey.

Coming up to 30 years ago, their family embarked on a journey that would cause her to question the nature of suffering, humanity and God as she knew him. For Coralie, this was when her faith was deepened and widened and stretched.

Coralie instantly recalls the date: 12 May 1989. They had been out for dinner and three-month-old Sam had fallen asleep in his crib-style pram. They put the buggy in the nursery and let him sleep. ‘I firmly believe that I was sent back into the room,’ recalls Coralie. ‘I thought, “I’ll just go and pop him into his cot”.

So I went back to move him, and that’s when I found him with his head rolled back and not breathing.

‘I resuscitated him at home, while Kevin was calling an ambulance, and he was rushed to hospital.’

Deep down, says Coralie, she already knew that life had changed. ‘As we got Sam into the ambulance, he started to cry. I had heard that cry before when I was nursing at Mangere Hospital, and I just knew that Sam’s way of engaging with the world had moved into a different space in that moment.’

In hospital, Sam began to have seizures and was put on life support. He was 16 JUNE 2018 WarCry 7

not expected to live. They were harrowing, tumultuous days.

‘I remember making the prayer of, “I’ll have him back on any terms”, and my father saying, “Be careful what you pray for”,’ recalls Coralie.

It was Mother’s Day, and a decision had to be made.

‘Mother’s Day is still something I struggle with to this day,’ adds Coralie. They went for a walk, having to decide when to take Sam off life support, and whether to elect for ‘extreme measures’ or let nature take its course. They opted to let nature take its course. ‘So Sam came off life support and he started breathing on his own, and 30 years later, he’s still breathing on his own!’ laughs Coralie.

He was left with significant disabilities—technically speaking, he has spastic quadriplegia, epilepsy, and cortical blindness. This means he is in a wheelchair, has no purposeful movement, is non-verbal and is unable to interpret what he is seeing.

‘I remember being told, “We just have to wait for Sam to tell his own story”, because no one knew what kind of recovery he was going to make,’ says Coralie. It was literally one day at a time, as they waited for Sam’s story to reveal itself. Growth milestones were met, but developmental milestones were missed.

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMMUNES WITH SAM IN A WAY THAT IS MORE DIRECT AND LESS MEDIATED THAN OUR OWN. A miracle Coralie recalls a ‘defining moment’ when she was driving back into the grounds of Mangere Hospital, where she had nursed intellectually disabled patients. This time, she was driving through the gates as a parent, with a child that needed their help.

There were times of grief, stress, relief … ‘Yes, there were seasons of all of this,’ says Coralie. But she also remembers a deep sense that her prayers had been answered.

‘We were very supported through it, we had really good, close friends around us who were just fabulous, and the corps was fabulous,’ says Coralie. A warm memory is holding a thanksgiving prayer meeting—to thank their friends for their support, and thank God that Sam had been restored to them.

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‘There was this sense of thanksgiving that we had the opportunity to bring Sam home, and that was a miracle.

I do believe Sam was given back to us, but the dust of his personhood had been slightly rearranged.

‘I found that I loved my child, so I started to understand the power of unconditional love,’ says Coralie. ‘I loved him for who he was, not because he could coo or say, “Yes mummy”.’

It also strengthened their marriage. ‘Often in these circumstances, you can turn away from each other, but Kevin and I turned towards each other, so it actually made our relationship stronger. Kevin has been intimately involved with all of Sam’s care for the whole of his life, and as I’ve done more and more study in these latter years, Kevin has actually become his primary carer.’

Meanwhile, they made a decision to expand their family— so Caleb was born, then Sarah. The next years were mostly busy raising a family, parenting and ‘just getting on with things’.

Telling his story But as their children got older, Coralie was given the opportunity to write for War Cry and attended a writers’ conference in Washington. ‘I don’t get visions,’ explains Coralie.

‘But there was a prayer meeting and I had a very clear picture of the Bible College of New Zealand [now Laidlaw], and I had a sense that I had to shore up some biblical foundations.’

So Coralie stepped into what would become the next defining season of her life, as a student of theology. While studying, she found that questions about her son—his disability and his spirituality—ignited a sense of holy discontent.

‘Underlying all this was what doctors had said right at the beginning, that we had to wait for Sam to tell his own story.

I felt that if anyone was going to tell his story, it had to be me, because he can’t speak. It started raising all these questions for me in terms of faith: if he can’t speak or give assent to salvation, can he be saved? If he can’t go up to the mercy seat and make a confession of faith, what does that mean for his salvation?’

Prayer and confession are valid, adds Coralie, but we need to expand our understanding of salvation. ‘Jesus has achieved salvation objectively for the whole world, and it’s how we participate in that salvation that is different for different people. So, for someone like Sam, who is non-verbal, I firmly believe that Spirit speaks to spirit. I believe the Holy Spirit communes with Sam in a way that is perhaps more direct and less mediated than our own.’

I DO BELIEVE SAM WAS GIVEN BACK TO US, BUT THE DUST OF HIS PERSONHOOD HAD BEEN SLIGHTLY REARRANGED. Perhaps most of all, Sam embodies unconditional love.

‘He loves and trusts as much as I do, probably more. He totally embodies dependence—that leaning on the Saviour. He embodies patience and perseverance. He embodies a certain dignity that shows the face of God, as well.’

And, Coralie adds, ‘He’s adorable—that’s the thing you get.

To the outside world he may not look as adorable as the next person but, as a parent, you don’t see that because you’re so connected with who this person is.’

In this way, Sam serves as a beautiful mirror of how God sees us, his creation. ‘I even see his spiritual connection with his father, when Kevin leans over him and whispers, and has special songs that he sings to him. Sam stills right down and giggles—even a giggle for me is a mark of his personhood and his spirituality.’ We are made whole by the love of our Father, who rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

What is a person?

One of the questions raging above most of our heads is: What makes someone a ‘person’? Peter Singer, for example, is an ethics writer who argues that some people are sentient [responsive to stimulus] but are not rational—and are therefore not persons.

This may seem irrelevant to most of us, but it has implications for who we believe—as a society—deserves care and dignity. Our concept of what makes someone a ‘person’ influences our beliefs about everything—from abortion to euthanasia, from who deserves medical treatment, to who deserves a food parcel.

Some beliefs about ‘personhood’ write Sam off as not deserving of dignity, human rights and care. ‘What makes Samuel a human being?’ asks Coralie. ‘At its essence, Sam, like all of us, is created in the image of God and therefore of worth and value. It’s not what we can do as people that matters to God, in the first instance, it’s our very being that matters.

It’s who we are as part of God’s good creation—we are loved always and forever.’

‘Just because the dust of Sam’s physicality has been rearranged, does not mean he is loved any less. It doesn’t make him less of a person.’

Despite this deeply Christian belief in the dignity of all people, Coralie says that Christian attitudes have sometimes worked against people with disabilities. This year, she has embarked on a PhD, hoping to develop a theological model of disability.

‘I am conscious that in the wider church, people with a disability can be seen as “embodied signifiers of the fall”— people with disabilities represent to us our falleness, sin and decay … so then it becomes hard to welcome and embrace the disabled.’

New theologies are helping us see disability not as a distraction from our true personhood, but as part of our personhood. ‘This is a complete counter argument to disability as a signifier of the fall. Disability is another way of being human,’ reflects Coralie. ‘There is something lacking in our expression of the body of Christ if we don’t have disabled people among us.’

So, does that mean it was God’s will that Sam would become disabled? Coralie gives a passionate response: ‘Absolutely not. I don’t believe it was God’s will because I don’t believe God causes suffering in order to bring us into a relationship with him.

‘If we stay yoked and connected to God and a faith community, then he brings good out of it—but thinking that we were “chosen” to suffer because we might make a good fist of it, just makes me feel nauseous. We live as part of a fallen world so challenging stuff happens to everybody—just like the sun rises on everybody, everyday.’

Coralie laughs at herself: ‘That was vehement,’ she says.

She is a passionate voice for her son, as she continues to tell his story. And she is a prophetic voice to the church, challenging us to see everyone as worthy of knowing God—just as we are all known by God.

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Choosing to Trust Trust is one of the most important things in healthy relationships, right? It’s usually listed as a nonnegotiable quality in a perspective partner, and broken trust is often behind the breakdown of relationships.

Danny Silk, author and founder of Loving on Purpose, says that ‘powerless people’ create patterns of manipulation, broken communication, and dysfunction in relationships because of a lack of trust in people. ‘The only way powerless people can break these unhealthy patterns is to overcome their habitual mistrust and develop new trust-building habits in their lives,’ he says.

Our ability to trust begins to develop very early in life: ‘From the moment we enter into the world, our deepest need is to love and be loved by other human beings, and to develop lasting relational bonds,’ says Silk. ‘This need is met as we consistently complete trust cycles in our interactions with other people, specifically with our primary caregivers.’

So, what is a trust cycle?

• You have a need • the need is expressed • there is a response to the need • the need is satisfied.

But the problem is that this trust cycle can break down at any point. ‘Trust is damaged if people fail to identify and express their needs, if the other person does not respond to the need or responds in a negative way, or if the need is ultimately not met,’ says Silk.

I TRUST YOU BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO TRUST YOU.

We all experience broken trust throughout our lives. As children, we are raised by parents who make mistakes and bring their own brokenness into that role, despite their best intentions. ‘If these wounds aren’t healed and truth and trust restored, they will fester, damaging our ability to create intimacy and connection in relationships,’ says Silk.

There are some key questions we ask when approaching relationships: ‘Can I trust you? Can I trust you with all my heart?

Can I trust you to love me unconditionally and help meet the need for relationship in my life?’

Just as the tint in our sunglasses affects how we see colours, the emotional lens we wear affects our relationships. When our lens is one of powerlessness—wounding and mistrust—we attempt to answer our questions by guessing what the other person might do.

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But when we can heal those wounds and rebuild trust, the lens we wear is powerful thinking. This will help us to recognise that regardless of what the other person does, we can choose to trust.

‘Just as Jesus chose to trust Judas even though he knew Judas would betray him, so we can make the powerful choice to say “I will trust you. You don’t control my trust. I do,” says Silk.

Are you willing to work towards emotional health and allow wounds that drive mistrust to heal? Wouldn’t you rather live powerful and free, than powerless, driven by manipulation and dysfunction?

Take a moment to reflect on the people in your life. As you ask the question, ‘Can I trust you?’ take up Silk’s challenge and offer a powerful response: ‘I trust you because I choose to trust you.’

Source: lovingonpurpose.com

TESTIFY! Lynette Mapson’s world fell apart when she lost her job, but she found a new life at The Salvation Army’s Family Store in Thames.

My life fell apart very suddenly in December 2016. The day started out like any other day: I went to work at the Thames Pak ‘n’ Save, where I had been working for 16 years—14 of which were in the office. As far as I knew, everything was fine, and I expected to keep working there until the day I retired.

Then, someone said, ‘Can I just borrow you for a minute, Lynette?’ They told me that they were restructuring and my role would no longer exist. I felt like I had been punched, it was such an unexpected shock.

It was the fourth time this had happened to me through redundancy or restructuring, and this time I couldn’t take it. I went into a deep, dark hole. It totally did me in and I was a wreck—I hit a real low. I had also injured my hand, so I felt both physically and emotionally crushed.

My parents are both committed Christians and worship at the Thames Salvation Army Corps. They are very much involved in their church—Dad is a drummer in the band, and Mum is involved in Home League and the Family Store. But I never thought that church was for me. I just wasn’t interested.

With so much time on my hands, though, I decided to help Mum out at the Family Store. This turned out to be a life saver, and it was then that my life started to turn around. Volunteering at the Family Store was my time each week when when I could push aside the anxieties in my mind, and just enjoy being there.

We had a great laugh and all got on so well. My new-found friends became

MY NEW-FOUND FRIENDS BECAME LIKE A FAMILY. THE OTHER STAFF AND CORPS OFFICERS WOULD LISTEN TO ME, PRAY WITH ME, AND I FELT SO UPLIFTED. like a family. The other staff and corps officers would listen to me, pray with me, and I felt so uplifted.

Mum and Dad always asked me to go to church with them, but now it felt like it was the right time. At the corps, people were so caring. They would say, ‘I’m here if you need me’, and they were so easy to open up to.

I felt that it was time to commit myself to following Jesus. My faith had always been there, but I had pushed it to the back of my mind. Then, when I hit rock bottom, rediscovering my faith in Jesus made me feel like it had all happened for a reason—I thought, ‘Jesus, you’ve come through for me, and now I want to give back’.

I became a Salvation Army soldier at the beginning of this year, while my husband Rob became an adherent. For me, being a soldier is my way of helping spread the word of Jesus.

God has given me so much, and now I just want to give back. I am still volunteering at the Family Store, and go to Home League. I was once in a dark hole, but God has brought light back in my life. Now I want to spread that light to others.

THANKS TO ALL OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEERS! | National Volunteer Week is on from 17–23 June—when you give of your time you are giving life to others. Thanks for being part of the mission.

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BY BEN MAXWELL

Every day we are exposed to many different levels of stimulus, busyness and activity. Recently, I visited Japan and was able to visit the famous Shibuya Crossing, in Tokyo. There were dazzling lights, and loud, lively sounds in every direction. It was a sensory overload.

Our lives can feel like that—the buzz of activity and active influences are all trying to steal, hold and grab our attention. What grabs our attention the most will always determine the direction we take, and choices we make.

Social media is one of the biggest influencers of our behaviour, because it consumes and fills our minds. It’s hard to escape these outside influences, that modify our behaviour, morals, beliefs and values.

The imagery on these social platforms is becoming increasingly suggestive and sexualised, and is portrayed as the norm.

The reality is young people are being exposed to sexualised imagery at a higher rate than ever before.

Research has found that New Zealanders’ usage of pornography is above the world average (although this drops whenever there is a rugby event on like the World Cup—interesting!).

A gospel of empowerment Porn is one of those topics that no one really likes to talk about but, the reality is that it’s out there.

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It’s something that greatly affects people, their behaviours, their mental well-being and overall spiritual health. The truth is, we are all wired to have desires, but it’s crucial that we act on them in a way that is healthy for ourselves and our faith journey. We are privileged to be in relationship with the One who is far greater than even the most complex issues this world can throw at us.

The Christian faith experience is all about giving us a voice and purpose. Pornography works to silence and distract from that. Anything that takes your voice away is not in the interest of your discipleship journey. We follow a gospel of empowerment. Porn can not only disempower you, but also those who are involved in the material itself.

By providing the interest or the need, we are then partakers in their oppression.

Like any young person who has grown up in the last 20 years, I’ve been exposed to my fair share of graphic material.

I know from my own experience that porn has a controlling and detrimental influence on people’s behaviour, and how they treat and focus on other people. It takes us out of sync with where God calls us to be.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Here are some steps that I have found helpful, which I hope you, too, can take some encouragement from:

ONE: TALK ABOUT IT I’m not perfect. I still have people that hold me to account and check in. It’s a lifetime journey of accountability and actively choosing not to seek out porn. I’ve found that one of the best ways to make sure something doesn’t control your behaviours and attitudes is to remove the secrecy; this takes away its power and hold over you. One of the best ways to help your body to recover from hurts and wounds, is to ensure that it’s kept out in the air and the sun.

The longer we leave things in the dark the more it can control and affect you.

Remove the shame. Many other people have journeyed with this, and many of your peers probably have too—so don’t knock yourself! There’s no shame that is greater than the Father’s love for you.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16).

Key steps • Speak it out. Find someone you can trust and talk about it. Share your struggles with them.

Ask them to hold you accountable. You are not alone in this struggle. People are there for you.

Most importantly, God is with you always.

• Pray about it, and pray with others.

THREE: KNOW WHO YOU’RE MADE TO BE Sexuality and spirituality go hand-in-hand.

There’s a cohesive link. Our faith must inform and shape our sexual identity. On the other hand, our understanding of sexuality can shape and inform our faith. Remember that you are: • loved (Romans 8:37–9) • part of God’s whānau (1 John 3:1) • created with purpose (Psalm 139) • free from shame (Roman 8:1–2).

Finally, you have a future and a hope (Proverbs 23:18)—you’re on a journey and you’re not alone.

Seek out others to help you navigate this area of your life. Keep at it—God has got this, and God’s got you.

TWO: DON’T FEED IT One day I was sitting in my room and I noticed a Nutri-Grain box (weird aye, who knows why?! #ironmangoals). On the side of the box it said ‘What are you feeding yourself on?’ It was quite a challenging question for me. What you put in has a direct relationship to what comes out.

I go to the gym quite regularly and what I eat greatly affects my performance. If I lived off lollies or Krispy Kremes alone it wouldn’t be good for me.

The same goes for our spiritual lives and the things we consume—these will affect how healthy we are.

The more we fill our mind with different movies, music, foods and friendships the more our lives will reflect those influences. Our desire to seek out porn is fuelled by the other material we seek out. Suggestive or explicit TV shows, music or movies have a direct relationship to this. I’m at my best when I’m not filling my mind with things that distract me from where God wants me to be.

Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?

Matthew 15:17.

Key steps • Be wary about what you are watching and spending your time doing. If this tempts you, cut down on this and it will help greatly in your struggle.

• There is nothing wrong with seeking out professional help too, as this can be a really healthy and constructive way of determining what underlying issues could be drawing you to use porn.

• If looking at porn on the internet is a big issue, there are plenty of filters available.

• If you have a smart phone, get a friend to put restrictions on your website browsers (let them set the password so you don’t know it, and then can’t change it back!).

Shar Davis gives a female perspective.

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Why We Supported Māori Wards

A reflection on the Māori ward referendum results, by Colson Verdonk—who led the Army’s work in supporting Māori wards.

Māori wards allow for Māori representation and a Māori councillor in city councils—something which is often lacking.

Palmerston North has had just three Māori out of 300 councillors in the history of the council. So to address the lack of representation, five councils around New Zealand decided to introduce Māori wards—Palmerston North, Whakatāne, Kaikōura, Manawatu and Western Bay of Plenty.

However, through petition, the wards were taken to referendum. The protest group Hobson’s Pledge, led by Don Brash, poured $100,000 into each of the five areas to ensure that the petition occurred, and a referendum was forced.

In response, The Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit decided to actively support Māori wards; along with the local corps in Palmerston North, Fielding and Whakatāne, who all stood in the gap and pushed for the Māori wards.

The referendums occurred, finishing two weeks ago, and each district voted against the Māori wards.

A racist system?

Voters against the wards argued that Māori wards are ‘racist’ because they give a special place to Māori. However, this argument ignores the fact that the whole system was created

by Pākehā and is biased towards Pākehā.

Each year, qualified, experienced and talented Māori stand for council, yet next to none become councilors. The reasons for this are complex: low voter turnout in local elections is partially to blame—voters are more likely to vote for someone who represents them and can share the same experiences with them, often meaning that Māori are excluded.

More than this, the system isn’t reflective of Māori; it doesn’t place importance on the family, on doing things together, on Māori values. Why vote in a system that doesn’t represent you, serve you or include you? So Māori aren’t elected, even when they may be the best candidate for the job. This is why Māori wards are important; it ensures that the best people get elected, and that Māori have a voice.

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Another argument against Māori wards is that we should represent all ethnicities. Ideally, yes, but Māori are tangata whenua and we have an obligation under the Treaty to ensure they are represented in the political arena. We happily include ‘rural wards’ to ensure that rural needs are represented in council. So why can’t we ensure our Treaty partners are represented?

The Salvation Army believes that a Māori voice is of benefit to all—a Māori voice means whānau, a Māori voice means community. It means respect for the land, and it means a different way of thinking.

Creating a better future The Māori wards have been voted out. But the idea that we can work together with Māori to create a better future lives on. We need to create a new future—one that addresses the very real hurt many Māori carry, in a system that didn’t acknowledge (and still doesn’t acknowledge) their culture—a system which only generations ago beat their language and their culture out of them; causing very real and deep hurts. We need to listen, hear these hurts, and hear what hasn’t worked.

I think the Lord is calling us to reconciliation, as The Salvation Army and as Aotearoa. Wherever you are on the journey, let’s do this together. This is a time for change, a time to confront the past and to move forward together. This is a time to listen, not just within local government, but also within our schools, our work, our homes and our churches. We need to acknowledge that the playing field is not level, that it is stacked against Māori. We need to acknowledge the hurt.

Yet, despite this, Māori are rising above. They are empowered, taking leaps forward. They have young people, rangatahi, who are exceptional, who are leaders. They have elders, kaumātua, who have knowledge and wisdom. For too long they have been drowned out and not listened to. That time must come to an end—we all deserve a better future for Aotearoa.

New General-Elect Honoured The Salvation Army’s new General-Elect, Commissioner Brian Peddle, says he is honoured to be taking up the role, which is exciting and intimidating.

Commissioner Peddle was elected by The Salvation Army High Council to succeed General André Cox as the 21st General of The Salvation Army. He will take up the role on 3 August.

After his election, Commissioner Peddle tweeted his thanks to all who had wished him well, saying, ‘I am deeply honoured by the privilege that will be mine and the outpouring of support received. God bless The Salvation Army.’

In an interview with UK Christian radio station Premier, Commissioner Peddle said leading a church denomination active in 128 countries was, ‘quite exciting on some fronts [but] among other fronts it’s quite intimidating’.

However, he said after 41 years as a Salvation Army officer, ‘I would witness that I am more excited about the mission and the potential today than I was when I was a young officer just beginning’.

His vision for the Army was to see it build on the strengths it has, to expand into countries it was not present in, and continue in its primary call to preach the gospel, he said.

‘We need to proclaim the gospel clearly to the world. The Salvation Army easily can be put into another bucket of an NGO or a charity—primarily we’re called to preach the gospel. It is about

strengthening and continuing to serve the world internationally.’

Originally from Newfoundland, Canada, Commissioner Peddle and his wife Commissioner Rosalie Peddle have connections with this territory, having served in New Zealand as divisional leaders of the Northern Division from 2007–2009.

The couple served for 30 years in their native Canada in corps, training college and divisional appointments, and later as territorial leaders of the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

They have also served in the United Kingdom Territory with The Republic of Ireland, and at International Headquarters, with Commissioner Brian Peddle taking up his role as the Chief of the Staff in 2015.

Kiwi Officers Second -In-Charge Our territory is proud that Kiwi officers have been given the second highest appointments in the international Salvation Army.

Effective from 8 August, Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham has been appointed as the Chief of the Staff, and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham has been appointed as World Secretary for Women’s Ministries.

Commissioned in New Zealand in 1990, Lyndon and Bronwyn (or Bucko and Bronnie, as they’re affectionately known) began their shared ministry as officers in the beautiful setting of Queenstown.

Two years later, they were appointed to training college work, where they served until July 1994, when they were given their first international appointment, as corps officers to the Windsor Corps in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.

Back home, they served as corps officers at Wellington City Corps, and headed up the Youth and Candidates Department at THQ. In 2007, they were appointed to lead the Southern Division.

Then in 2010, Lyndon and Bronwyn became secretary for programme and assistant secretary for programme, respectively.

The leadership needs of The Salvation Army world brought the Buckinghams back into the orbit of international service when, in February 2013, they were appointed to the Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar Territory. In June of that year, they

became territorial commander and territorial president of Women’s Ministries.

The dawning of 2018 saw the Buckinghams promoted to the rank of commissioner, and assuming leadership of the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland, as territorial commander and territorial leader of leader development.

‘Commissioners Buckingham [bring] with them a passion and energy that will certainly inspire the Army world to greater efforts in the building of God’s Kingdom,’ said General-elect Brian Peddle, who made their appointments.

We will feature an extensive interview with Commissioners Lyndon and Brownyn Buckingham in our 14 July edition.

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First Sallies Church Service in Samoa What better day to launch Salvation Army church services in Samoa than Pentecost Sunday? Close to 40 people gathered at the Army’s location in Apia to celebrate the first Sunday meeting, under the leadership of Lieutenant-Colonels Rod and Jenny Carey.

Two days earlier, the chairs hadn’t arrived, the signage wasn’t up and the article for the Samoa Observer still hadn’t gone to print. The small planting team were ‘on the edge, trusting God by faith that he would come through, that his promises to us would not fail,’ said Rod.

By Sunday morning, everything was ready! Hundreds of postcard invitations had been given around Apia, local media had been contacted and emails sent to those who’d had contact since the team’s arrival at the start of the year.

The words of the opening song set the atmosphere for the day: How marvelous, how wonderful, and my song shall ever be, how marvelous, how wonderful, is my Saviour’s love for me.

Captain Miriama Simanu read Acts 1:1–8 before praying in Samoan for God to pour out his favour and blessing on those who had gathered, and for the work of The Salvation Army in Samoa.

The owner of the building, Mr Oscar Netzler, attended the service and was given a warm welcome before a prayer of dedication for the building and all those who would come for help, healing and wholeness in the name of Jesus. Rod prayed in English before Brother Silila Alao (Otahuhu Corps) prayed in Samoan.

Jenny shared the journey of how the Army came to be in Samoa, what programmes and ministries were being planned, and who will partner with the Army to deliver social services, especially the addictions programme.

Rod preached on the wind and fire of the Holy Spirit that radically transformed the early disciples’ lives and turned the world upside down. ‘Too many Christians live somewhere between Easter and Pentecost. They’ve experienced the cross and the empty tomb, but they are yet to experience the fire and the upper room. They know John 3:16, but not Luke 3:16—“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”,’ said Rod. ‘Oh, that the Holy Spirit would enter our halls and then our hearts and change us from the inside out … ’ Around the room people began to pray with their arms wide open, reaching out to the heavens for a fresh infilling of the wind and fire of the Holy Spirit.

Following the service, there was a morning tea with a special cake, decorated and iced with the red shield.

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‘Culture Change’ is Keeping Kids Safe Over 1000 people have now completed The Salvation Army’s The updated policy also includes a commitment to ‘Keeping Children Safe’ training, and national coordinator listening to the perspectives of children and young people whenever The Salvation Army is making decisions about Susan Henshaw says that she has seen a ‘very positive them—this is in line with the Army’s international child culture change’ as a result. protection guidelines.

‘Keeping Children Safe’ is The Salvation Army’s child The message is still the same, though: recognise, respond, and young person protection policy, and has recently been report. The flowchart, pictured, sums up the key to keeping updated to reflect some changes in legislation and processes. children safe. The policy can be found in the About Us section It is all about ensuring children and young people involved on The Salvation Army website. with the Army are kept safe from harm. Staff and volunteers have been trained in understanding the signs that a child or young person is suffering from neglect or abuse; and what to FIND OUT MORE | keepingchildrensafe.sarmy.net.nz or email keepingchildrensafe@salvtionarmy.org.nz do if they are concerned.

‘It’s amazing, there’s a real culture change happening, “child protection” is becoming a normal way of thinking now,’ said Sue. ‘People have said they’re really pleased to be reminded of how to recognise abuse, how to keep their minds open and how to ensure our places are safe places.’

When training was first rolled out in 2016, The Salvation Army had three to four ‘child protection champions’ in each division. The champions have completed the Child Matters five-day Child Protection programme, and therefore have a good understanding of issues facing children, young people and their families. They are available to give advice and guidance to colleagues regarding child protection concerns.

One of the surprises, said Sue, is that there were many people who—after they had completed the Salvation Army one-day Keeping Children Safe training—felt that further training was important for their work; and have since gone on to complete the five-day training with Child Matters. ‘This is great news for The Salvation Army as we now have so many more people in our workplaces with really good knowledge and understanding of child protection.’

In addition to the champions, The Salvation Army has three core consultants as an extra level of support. Salvation Army policy outlines that consultation is vital, and by calling 0800 394 483, you can get advice about a child, young person or their family, updates on any procedures that need to be complied with, and sometimes just some reassurance.

Child Protection issues can be very upsetting, it’s important to take a moment to talk with our consultants, Sue said. ‘You can call even if you are unsure—maybe this is something of concern, or maybe not—for some people, they may have talked to their line manager who doesn’t feel the situation is an issue, but they still feel worried, they can call us and talk it over.’

‘Keeping Children Safe’ was recently updated to reflect changes in the law—with the age at which you are considered a ‘child’ going up from 17 to 18 years. This is significant, because it means that a child in foster care will continue to receive support for longer, said Sue.

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Youth Survive and Thrive at Fiji Councils Hundreds of Fiji youth overcame the challenges of flooding and illness to attend a Survivor-themed youth camp.

It was the first time Fiji Divisional Youth Councils, with young people from across the country, had been held in five years.

The camp had a Survivor theme, encouraging the young people to overcome their fears and challenges. Divisional Youth Secretary, Lieutenant Seru Napolioni said that was exactly what the young people had done, as 270 young people attended the camp despite two severe floods and an outbreak of sickness which threatened to derail the event.

There was also difficulty finding a location for the camp, but Korovuto College in Nadi kindly allowed its premises to be used.

‘Overall, what an amazing weekend it was to have that sweet fellowship with these amazing young Salvationists of the Fiji Division. Just to be able to hear testimonies, witness items and group activities, and to worship freely was really incredible. I personally thank God for allowing that wonderful opportunity after such a long time,’ Seru said.

Although regional camps had been held, the youth had eagerly been looking forward to getting together with others from around the country, Seru said. The camp was a chance to strengthen the bonds between the youth from the northern, eastern and western regions of Fiji.

The young people were divided into 12 groups, representing the 12 tribes of Israel. ‘This was an activity designed to help them to come out from their comfort zone and to get along with the youth from other corps. In the evening they had to come up with a presentation, for example a drama or a chant.’

Majors Ivan and Glenda Bezzant, Territorial Secretary for Corps Mission and Territorial Director for Women’s Ministries, were guest speakers for the camps. Ivan led five sessions, speaking on getting out of your comfort zone and closer to God through the power of the Spirit.

The group were extremely welcoming, Glenda said. ‘They didn’t know us and we didn’t know them, but we felt part of the family. We really appreciated the leadership of [Lieutenants] Seru and Ruci [Napolioni], and the great work of the catering team cooking for 270 young people on three gas rings.’

Speakers also came from the police, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Pastor Keperieli Duana from the Seventh Day Adventist church. The speaker from the police was a particular highlight, Ivan said. ‘There were some issues around cellphone abuse, bullying and suicide. It allowed us to ask: “What’s the answer?” Can we be part of the solution—light in the darkness?’

There was a great passion, zeal and enthusiasm among the young people and many responded after each session, or prayed together as corps groups, Ivan said.

‘There was a hunger and a desire to be obedient to God, which was strong. The Army is very much alive in Fiji with such a strong youth movement.’

Photography supplied by Suva Central Corps

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GAZETTE

Retirement: Major Jan Impey retired on 7 June, which was also her 68th birthday! On her retirement, Jan will have completed 36 years, 4 months and 22 days of active officer service.

Jan entered officer training with her husband Mel Impey from the Newton Corps, as a cadet in the 1980 ‘God’s Soldiers’ session. After their commissioning, Jan and Mel were appointed assistant officers, Tauranga Corps.

Jan and Mel then served in two further corps appointments at Te Awamutu and Kaitaia before being transferred to the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland.

Jan and Mel served in the UK from 1985–1993. They were corps officers at Birmingham Corps, Erdington, Kidsgrove Corps and Watford Citadel Corps, all in England. In 1989, Jan was appointed to International Headquarters where she served in the Public Relations Department, before becoming the public relations officer in the UK Territory.

In 1993, Jan and Mel returned to New Zealand and served as the corps officers at Kapiti Corps, Lower Hutt Corps and New Lynn Corps.

In 1999, Jan was appointed to Community and Family Services, Auckland City, as assistant officer— with the additional appointment as referral officer for Independent Living Units. In 2001, Jan’s ministry evolved out of her developing passion for the homeless and marginalised in Auckland and she was given responsibility for Inner City Ministry, Auckland.

Jan and Mel were appointed to the Midland Division in 2002, and were based in Hamilton until 2011.

Jan’s appointments were: divisional assistant, Midland DHQ, with an additional appointment as Silver Star secretary; assistant officer, The Nest; and assistant officer, Hamilton City Corps, with responsibility for Body‘n Soul Ministries.

In 2011, Jan and Mel moved to Christchurch. Jan served in appointments at Supportive Accommodation, Addington, and the Bridge, where she had responsibility for Recovery Church. In 2013, Jan was appointed as court officer, Auckland District Court. It is from this appointment that Jan enters retirement.

It is with sincere thanks and appreciation that we honour and thank Major Jan Impey for her loyal and faithful service to God and The Salvation Army and pray God’s blessing on her.

OUR SHARED HUMANITY IS MOTIVATION ENOUGH. Current statistics on people forcibly displaced from their homes are difficult to grasp. As World Refugee Day is commemorated again on June 20th, the reminder comes that more than 65 million people are caught up in this massive humanitarian crisis.

The mind boggles that this many men, women and children from the Middle East, Africa, Asia and beyond can be facing such hopelessness, as a direct result of needing to flee persecution, wars and extremist violence. Women escaping genderbased violence or other forms of exploitation contribute further to the numbers.

I find it difficult to get my head around the complexity of these situations; and grieve when I hear of people’s callous disregard for the lives of others. I’ve never been exposed to such hardship or needed to make these drastic choices, so what can I do and how can I ensure I am not desensitised to this growing need? What possible response can I have that will make the slightest bit of difference?

I don’t think I’m alone in this quandary. When ‘the elephant’ is so huge, how do we begin to eat it? The answer is always: ‘one bite at a time’. One thing I’ve learned over my life is that it’s most often the accumulation of many little things that moves the mountain (excuse the change of metaphor). As Mother Teresa said: ‘Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.’

So it seems we’re not let off the hook.

One of the strengths that lies at the heart of Salvation Army Women’s Ministries is fundraising for overseas mission. Last year more than $32,000 was raised for a project in Sri Lanka—an incredible amount accumulated from a whole lot of little efforts made with great love.

Women in New Zealand are deeply aware that the circumstances they enjoy are vastly different to our sisters in Fiji, Tonga and around the developing world.

Women’s Ministries makes an annual effort to take on one project and focus on raising funds to see that achieved. And men can help too! It makes a world of difference to those on the receiving end. And we all get the joy of accomplishing something that we could not have done alone.

The Bible says a lot about generous giving and being mindful of the needs of others.

You don’t need to be a follower of Jesus to be spurred to respond to global or local need—our shared humanity is motivation enough. But for someone professing to follow Jesus and not act? That’s an inexcusable contradiction in terms.

Colonel Heather Rodwell Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Spiritual Life Development

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VERSES WE WISH

DIDN’T EXIST

In this instalment of our occasional series, we ask: Did Jesus really advocate violence?

‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.’ (Matthew 10:34) David Noakes, Hutt City Corps Officer As with all Scripture, it is critical to ensure that individual sentences (verses) are read within the context of what was happening or being said—both immediately, previously and latterly.

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2 Matthew 10:34 is no exception. Jesus (writes Matthew) is addressing his 12 disciples, who are being sent out to preach that the kingdom of heaven is near, to heal and to deliver. It is clear that they are to expect rejection, opposition, trial (by local ‘councils’), flogging (in the synagogues), arrest, hatred, persecution and possibly death.

Jesus is making it clear that this will be no picnic in the park for the disciples, hence the reference to his bringing a ‘sword’ for the disciples. There will be family disruption and enmity as a result of this message … a cross to be taken up … a life to lose (and gain).

This is all very foreign to Christians who live within the protections and guarantees of secular New Zealand.

One wonders if these words take on a completely different relevance for Christians living in hostile social settings, and in places where martyrdom has taken on a completely different hue.

Scriptural context is important—so, also, is our contemporary social context.

Harold Hill, Author and Retired Officer So like Jesus! One day all sweetness and light; the next, all trouble and woe.

At least that’s how it seems to us today.

… WE WILL FIGHT EVIL WITH THE WEAPONS OF LOVE IN ACTION, COMPASSION FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE, AND SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER. We’re happy to go along with ‘gentle Jesus, meek and mild’, bringing peace and goodwill on earth. But then, wham, this sword business! In Jesus’ day, his hearers were used to this idiomatic language which sometimes did not distinguish ‘result’ from ‘intention’.

That came from their overwhelming sense of God’s sovereignty, so that anything happening must have been meant to happen. The prophets often spoke like this, as when Isaiah talked about God making people’s eyes dim so that they would not see (Isaiah 6.10)— words Jesus also quoted. However, this was not God’s purpose, but the effect of God’s word—because of peoples’ resistance to God’s intention. Jesus was a realist. In this passage he was warning his would-be followers that following him would be tough going, with all kinds of unintended consequences, even the break-up of families. This was about counting the cost, of going into it with their eyes open. Better to hear the truth now than to feel let down later.

But God’s purpose was and still is to bring peace.

Coralie Bridle, Convenor of Thought Matters There are certain times in the political cycle of our nation in which the discourse around our dining room table highlights differing responses to the messages being espoused by one political party or another. Both the message and the messenger have the ability to polarize opinion, even within members of the same household. I have always encouraged open debate. But employing swords to make a point—even the

retractable, light emitting, plastic ones associated with Star Wars—has always been off limits.

Seth Le Leu, Principal Advisor, IHQ Governance Team

Matthew 10:34 highlights a similar polarising reality. Jesus outlines the characteristics that his disciples will need to embody as they move out in mission.

He leaves them with no illusions regarding the cost and complications of this mission. He knows they will experience opposition from both the religious elite, the stranger and their own family members.

This verse does not encourage Christians to violently spread the Christian message.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace and during his life he actively prevented his followers from engaging in physical violence. He does, however, call us to two battles: the first battle is the inner personal struggle we have between selfishness and caring for others; the second battle is against institutional evil forces in the world that enslave and deprive its people from realising their full potential.

The sword noted in this verse acts as a metaphor for the inevitable separation between those who believe in Jesus, and those who do not. It reminds us that life in the kingdom is not always comfortable. The message of Jesus Christ divides people, it unsettles people, it can set one against the other—even around a family table. When one acknowledges the Lordship of Christ, it can fracture earthly relationships. As one writer notes, ‘the message of Jesus won’t bring instant universal serendipity’.

Having said that, we are wise to remember that human beings who are reconciled to God, can also be reconciled to each other. Sitting around a dining room table might be a very good place for that process to begin.

We believe that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and should act towards one another as brothers and sisters in the global family.

Our battle is to see this goal achieved for all the peoples of the world. And we will fight evil with the weapons of love in action, compassion for the most vulnerable, and speaking truth to power.

All people of true humanity are called to these two conflicts.

Christians and violence Shane Claiborne is a well-known Christian pacifist. He talks about why he believes non-violence is the Christian way …

Part of why I think Jesus talks so explicitly about loving our enemies and turning the other cheek is because it doesn’t necessarily come naturally to us. It certainly wasn’t my first impulse when someone stole our power drill! (haha)—I didn’t run after the person and say, ‘Hey, here are the drill bits!’

Now, non-violence doesn’t mean getting stepped-on. The call to nonviolence is to disarm violence. A part of the way we do that is suffering with those who suffer. I’ve learned a ton of lessons about that by living in a neighbourhood that has all kinds of reasons to hope, but also really struggles with an epidemic of violence, averaging about one homicide a day. That violence is something that we actively combat. We do it on our block, but we also believe in calling out the government. Violence anywhere is a threat to the love of Jesus that we see on the cross. So we try to teach our kids that, and we try to teach our presidents that.

What I try to point to is what Walter Wink and others call the ‘third way’, a way that exposes evil without mirroring it. So a big part of responding to injustice is exposing evil and making people uncomfortable by it. You don’t have to be violent to expose evil.

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OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 20 June: ASARS Leadership Conference dinner, Wellington 25 June: National Council of Women Salvation Army representatives’ workshop day, Wellington (Yvonne only) Colonel Suzanne Fincham (Chief Secretary) 20 June: ASARS Leadership Conference dinner, Wellington* Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women's Ministries and Spiritual Life Development) 22–24 June: Tonga Women’s Camp, Vaini Corps *with Melvin Fincham, Secretary for Programme

PRAY

Fiji corps, outposts and Community Ministries, Fiji Divisional Headquarters, Family Care Centres in Labasa and Lautoka, Fiji, and Red Shield House in Suva, Fiji; The Salvation Army in Angola.

$120 will provide a newly commissioned Lieutenant in Malawi, Kenya West or Tanzania with a brand new bicycle—enabling them to extend their ministry without the limitations of lack of transport.

Shop online at

salvationarmy.org.nz/shop Salvation Army Eastern Territory Historical Society, Brisbane Chapter —&— The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History

THRIVE 2018 CONFERENCE IS NOW CALLED …

Announces

THE SALVATION ARMY HISTORY SYMPOSIUM 2018

History: a collection of memories or a collective myth?

YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S MINISTRY CONFERENCE

Maroorchydore—27 to 29 July To register, or express interest in presenting a paper, email AJSAHistory@gmail.com

Want to Know More?

20–22 JULY 2018

I would like: to learn about who Jesus is

SILVERSTREAM RETREAT

information about The Salvation Army

www.WithinYourReach2018.co.nz

The Salvation Army to contact me Photo by Leio McLaren on Unsplash

prayer for the following needs:

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

Top Five Answers: 1 We built this city on rock ’n roll (Jefferson Starship lyric), 2 The answer my friend, is blowin’ in the wind (Bob Dylan lyric), 3 Hold me closer, tiny dancer (Elton John lyric), 4 We didn't start the fire, it was always burning since the world's been turning (Billy Joel lyric), 5 Sweet dreams are made of these (Eurythmics lyric).

Name

Quiz Answers: 1 Seven Charles, 2 M. Schluz, 3 Fe, 4 Spanish bullfight, 5 Mary Magdalene (John 20:1).

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Find the hidden words!

Can you find all 13 words that show us what God loves?

The words can be FORWARDS, BACKWARDS, UP, DOWN, or DIAGONAL.

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Match the pair!

Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are …

1 John 3:1 CEV

BLONDE BROWN CURLY FRIZZY ICE CREAM LITTLE

STRAIGHT TALL WIDE

These pictures might look similar, but only TWO are exactly the same.

Can you work out which ones?

If you could only have one flavour of ice cream for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

I’d find it pretty hard to choose my favourite flavour of ice cream because I really, really love ice cream!

Picking a favourite can be easy or difficult depending on what you’re having to choose from—a TV show, teacher, sibling, pet … Could you really choose the one you love the most?

The Bible tells us that God, our heavenly father, loves us! Not only that, but he loves us as we are. God loves us if we have straight hair, pink hair, curly hair or no hair.

Do you think God has a favourite person? Someone he absolutely couldn’t live without? I do … it’s you!

You are God’s favourite you! There’s no one else like you in all of history. Your sister or brother is also God’s favourite.

They are the only one of them that exists too. Your mum and dad, your teacher, even that person that you don’t really like … God loves them!

He thinks they’re awesome because he created them, and they are his favourite them!

You are God’s favourite and so is everybody else. God loves us uniquely and that’s pretty cool. God has so much love to give that no one has to miss out on being God’s favourite child.

Dear God, thank you that you love me just as I am. Help me to see others as you see them–totally awesome! Amen.

16 JUNE 2018 WarCry 23

God defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.

Deuteronomy 10:18

World Refugee Day 20 June 2018