17 April 2021 NZFTS War Cry

His Word

FAITH IN ACTION 17 APRIL 2021 | Issue 6765 | $1.50

Stands Firm

Iraq: A hard place for Christians Faith in the midst of the Anzacs’ Stand Are you ‘wasting time on Jesus’?

Welcome the Reflectors of Holiness Anna Faversham— Spreading the Word

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WAR CRY The Salvation Army

New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Julie & Mark Campbell | GENERAL Brian Peddle | FOUNDERS Catherine

& William Booth

The Salvation Army’s message is based on the Bible. Our ministry is motivated by love for God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in his name without discrimination. War Cry exists to support and advance The Salvation Army’s message, ministry and mission.

EDITOR Vivienne Hill | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Lauren Millington | STAFF WRITERS Holly Morton, Louise Parry, Bethany Slaughter | PROOF READING Major Colleen Marshall | COVER PHOTO Major Earle Ivers OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street,

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

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

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

Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.

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

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

Publishing for 137 years | Issue 6765 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online)

Complex Characters Within the pages of a book, characters need depth to be realistic. In many cases, readers actively seek out stories where the central characters are deliberately complex. They invest time digging into the story, finding reasons to relate and empathise with them, to the point where their shortcomings are understandable, forgivable. Their ‘flaws’ become endearing quirks.

It is easy to have this openness to complex characters when separated, literally, by a page or screen. But when we meet them in our daily lives, and their struggles are not a page-turning plot point but real challenges, do we look deeper into the intricacies of their circumstances or motives? Do we search beyond the negatives we see at face value? Or do we judge quickly and make no effort to understand their stories, because we cannot just close the book if we find ourselves confronted or put off by what we hear?

We all have both tricky and redeeming characteristics, annoying traits, personal battles and temptations we do our best to quash—unique ways in which we love those around us and contribute to the world that nobody else can offer.

And we all have times when our worst traits or challenges threaten to overwhelm us. At those times, how important is it when someone reaches out with the willingness to meet us in that moment? Someone who offers a hand—be that in support, consolation, guidance, encouragement, even a high-five. Someone who will love us in all of our complexity.

I hope War Cry will continue to be a vehicle for telling both sides of these encounters, of real complex characters and the people who God orchestrated to meet them when they needed it most. In turn, hopefully these stories can spur the rest of us on to love one another in the same spirit.

Bethany Slaughter Guest Editor

SalvationArmyNZFTS

‘Loving someone should be hard and active, not easy and passive.’

@SalvationArmyNZ

Hannah Brencher

Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry

salvationarmy.org.nz

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Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Ngā Whakataukī 17:17 E aroha ana te hoa i ngā wā katoa; nā, ko te teina, ko te tuakana, i whānau tērā mō ngā aituā.

M

y garage needs a new roof. It is so rusty that the last time I stepped on it, while collecting a misguided Frisbee, I was worried I would fall right through it. Roofs aren’t supposed to be holey. They are supposed to be solid enough to do their job of providing shelter.

Growing up, I heard the stories about Jesus at Sunday School. There is one story where a meeting is so packed with people listening to him that a group of friends can’t get their paralysed friend inside the building. They know Jesus has healed others in the area—perhaps he could heal their friend.

In desperation, they dismantle the roof and lower their friend down through the hole. It is an incredible act of determination by this man’s friends—I’m sure they were well aware of the cost and time they would incur by prying the roof to pieces. (Unlike my garage, this was not a simple sheet of corrugated iron to replace; it says they ‘dug’ into the roof.) But, mission accomplished, their friend landed squarely in front of Jesus.

What I’ve always liked in the stories about Jesus is that he seemed to ask weird questions and do the opposite of what people expected. He often looked past the obvious and asked about the deeper questions lurking in the background.

The expectation here was that Jesus would do his healing thing and everyone would carry on. It was a surprise that, “when Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven’” (Luke 5:20).

Umm? Excuse me, Mr Jesus, I think you got this one wrong. The guy is paralysed. He wants healing, not

whatever this ‘forgiveness of sins’ is. In fact, the most religious of us in the room know that only God can grant forgiveness of sins, and the last time we looked, God wasn’t wandering around the earth as a homeless peasant. You’re an interesting teacher, Jesus, but you don’t look like, or act like, the God we already know.

Jesus knew what they are thinking. He spoke again, brushing aside the accusations of blasphemy.

“Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?”

And there it is—the challenge. Given the choice, would you rather have peace with God, with no guarantee that circumstances will change, or do you only want healing from God and to walk away?

Thankfully, the paralysed man gets both: a spiritual encounter with Jesus, healing for his body and, for perhaps the very first time, he gets to walk home with his good friends. But the blessing was not just for the paralysed man; this was a public event and Jesus used it to teach those who would listen, because many of those who were present thought that they had God completely figured out.

Jesus’ challenge to them was just as life-changing as being able to walk again.

What if God showed up and spoke in ways that were not familiar? Would you still recognise him? What if he worked through circumstances you had never seen before? Turned water into wine?

Spoke in riddles?

Sometimes the healing love of God begins with a group of friends digging a hole in a roof.

BY MATT GILLON 17 APRIL 2021 WarCry 3

Mexican Beef Salad Bowls 4 jumbo-size flour tortillas Spray oil

400g can four bean mix, drained and rinsed

2 Tbsp olive oil

½ iceberg lettuce, shredded

500g beef mince

1 tomato, sliced

2 Tbsp chilli sauce

1 avocado, mashed

1 Tbsp Cajun spice

½ red onion, thinly sliced

Salt and pepper, to taste

QUIKQUIZ

1 What is the name of Phoebe’s husband in the TV show Friends?

2 What year was the world’s first text message sent?

3 Mogadishu is the capital of which country?

4 What does a galactophagist enjoy?

5 Who succeeded Solomon as King of Israel?

Answers on page 22 4 WarCry 17 APRIL 2021

WARCRYIN HISTORY

To commemorate ANZAC Day in this week’s War Cry in History, we are revisiting this beautiful front cover from 23 April 1927.

‘May their glorious memory Ever live, O Lord, Heroes—who have fallen For their King—their God.’

SALLIEOF THEWEEK

400g can corn kernels, drained and rinsed

½ cup sour cream, to serve

Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Spray tortillas with oil and press into four small ovenproof bowls, folding to fit (microwave tortillas for 20 seconds if you need to soften first). Bake for 8–10 minutes, until crisp and golden.

Leave to cool in bowls before transferring to a plate.

Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, heat olive oil on high.

Brown the mince for 4–5 minutes, breaking up lumps as it cooks. Add chilli sauce and Cajun spice. Cook, stirring for 1 minute. Season to taste and set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine corn and beans.

Fill tortilla bowls with mince and lettuce. Top with combined corn and beans, tomato, avocado and red onion. Serve with sour cream on the side.

Source: countdown.co.nz

Teuila Faimanu (Apia Corps) Teuila Faimanu—who has been nominated by Captain Julie Turner for Sallie of the Week—is the mother of five wonderful children, all under 12 years old. She works as the Apia Corps receptionist and as the administrator for The Salvation Army Samoa Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) programme. She manages the many referrals received daily for the AOD treatment programme—making appointments for assessments, writing up assessment paperwork and coordinating the diaries of the AOD clinicians. She fields phone calls and walk-in enquiries about the work and ministry of the Army in Samoa, and is always a calm, helpful and friendly presence to all who meet her. In addition to her paid work, she raises a beautiful family with her husband Fa’auma, volunteers as a Sunday School leader, leads and participates in the music team and is a valued member of Apia Corps Leadership Pastoral Care Council. And that is why Teuila is our Sallie of the Week.

TOPFIVE

Weird of the Week: On one day in April 1930, the BBC reported ‘there is no news’ and instead played piano music.

Here are five of the more unique buildings which house church gatherings around the world.

1. Chêne Chapelle, France: This chapel built inside an oak tree is used for mass twice a year. The tree was struck by lightning, hollowing the wood inside, and then repurposed into the chapel.

2. Inflatable Church, England: While not used for regular worship, this inflatable church comes complete with organ, candles and stained glass windows to be hired for church events and weddings worldwide.

3. Felsenkirche (aka Church in the Rock), Germany: This iconic German church is carved into a rock face.

4. Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, Colombia: This underground Roman Catholic church is built within the tunnels of a salt mine and attracts thousands of visitors each week.

5. Floating Church, Cambodia: This church building is water-borne, lying on the Tonle Sap lake.

110 years of service celebrated at Oamaru Family Store The Oamaru Family Store recently celebrated three of their long-service volunteers, who have a combined commitment of 110 years.

Elaine Carter has served at the Family Store for 30 years, while Trish Wardle and Shirley Volunteers (from left): Elaine Carter, Shirley Rogers and Trish Wardle.

Rogers have both volunteered for 40 years.

Oamaru Family Store Manager Karyn Shaw is encouraged by these women’s faithfulness. ‘[Elaine] does several other volunteer things as well; she does Meals on Wheels and visits aged care homes. She doesn’t drive, so she walks to all of them. She’s an amazing lady who loves to keep busy and works nonstop while she’s here.

Action & Adventure The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (PG-14, Available to stream on Disney+, new episodes weekly) Created by by Malcolm Spellman This mini-series begins six months after the events of the Marvel movie Avengers Endgame.

The two main characters are Bucky Barnes (the Winter Soldier) and Sam Wilson (the Falcon). Sam is working with the US Air Force to stop a terrorist group while also trying to help his sister save their family fishing business. Bucky is attending mandatory therapy to deal with his actions after terrorist organisation HYDRA brainwashed him into becoming one of their assassins. It’s unclear from this first episode how the two characters’, storylines will intersect. The episode felt a little slow paced but, in true Marvel fashion, the rest of the series is bound to involve some epic adventures. There is mild violence so I would recommend this for ages 12 and up. (Reviewed by Julia de Ruiter)

‘Trish is just one of the sweetest, kindest ladies you’ll ever come across.

Amazing with people of all ages—her love of God really shines through in what she does in the store.

‘Shirley used to volunteer in Wellington and then she came back to Oamaru to look after family members, and she’s volunteered here ever since.

If someone’s not well, I can always rely on Shirley to be the fill-in lady.

‘All three of them really go out of their way to be helpful and do as much as they can.’

The Family Store held an afternoon tea to honour their service, complete with flowers and a Salvation Army shield cake. Karyn also organised for the guests to write encouraging notes and memories to go into decorated jars for Elaine, Trish and Shirley to take home.

‘It’s really special,’ Karyn says. ‘Often you’ll have one [long service] person at a corps, but to have three is super amazing.’

17 APRIL 2021 WarCry 5

IRAQ

a hard place for Christians

Father Daniel Alkhory’s church in Erbil, Iraq, sheltered many people when they were driven from their homes by Isis. He talks to Philip Halcrow about how Christians are still under pressure.

O

n his 16th birthday, Daniel’s family were sent a message by al-Qaeda that they had to leave their home in Baghdad or they would be killed. Less than a decade later, by then serving as a priest, Father Daniel Alkhory began welcoming into his church in Erbil hundreds of people who had fled from their homes as the self-styled Islamic State attacked towns and villages.

Today, Father Daniel—who is responsible for two congregations, one in Erbil and one in Kirkuk—is still helping people whose lives were upended

by Isis. He fears that the pressure from hostile ideologies may lead to the Christian community disappearing from the land where it has existed for almost 2,000 years.

‘Many people think that Isis has been defeated,’ he says. ‘I’m always saying that Isis has been defeated militarily, but it still exists as a mentality.’

Early persecution Father Daniel has known about the pressures faced by Iraqi Christians for years.

He was born in Tikrit in 1990, the year in which Iraq invaded Kuwait, prompting the US and its allies to launch a military campaign that drove Saddam Hussein’s forces to withdraw—one of many conflicts he has lived through. He remembers facing discrimination because of his faith even in his early years.

‘On the first day of school you make new friends, then on the next days you are eager to meet with them and play. But on the second day when I was going to school, I was shocked to find out that the friend I had made had been told by his parents that he could not play with me any more, because I was a Christian.’

In 1999, Daniel’s family moved to Baghdad. Iraq was about to be engulfed in another war. And he notes that ‘after the US invasion in 2003, the situation changed from bad to worse. The Iraqi Christians became an easy target for the radical groups—especially the Islamist groups—who took advantage of the weak security situation and the absence of law. They brought pain to Christians.

They forced them to leave and took control of their properties. They killed some and kidnapped others, asking for ransoms that they could not afford.’

Daniel’s family experienced the reality first-hand.

‘Al-Qaeda threatened us that we needed to leave within 24 hours, otherwise we were going to be killed because of our faith. That happened on my 16th birthday. My family had to flee Baghdad overnight. We looked for a safe place where we could live in peace and practise our faith.’

Called by God Daniel had not intended initially to become a priest. With the aim of training to be a doctor, he took a course in a medical school in Ukraine. He lived in a hostel with other Iraqis.

17 APRIL 2021 WarCry 7

‘But it was hard for me, because my Muslim friends didn’t accept me as a Christian. They would question me, and my faith became a cause of conflict. One day I was really angry at their behaviour. I went back to my room, and I said to God: “I came here to study medicine—why have you put me in the middle of all this?” From that day, after I finished my homework, I would study theology online.

‘After I had been studying for six months, I had come up with rational answers for my friends, and that’s how I discovered my calling from God: I decided that instead of becoming a physician, I wanted to be a spiritual doctor. So I came back to Iraq and became a priest.

‘In 2012 I was appointed as a parish priest for Erbil’s congregation.’

Although he now had a church, Daniel confesses that he would also have doubts about his decision to become a priest.

‘Had I made the right choice? For two years, I was asking God to give me a sign that I was doing the right thing. Then Isis attacked Christian cities and villages. In one day, more than 120,000 people fled their homes and headed for Erbil and other safe places. My church became a shelter for 1,600 people.

Shelter from the storm ‘When they were entering the door of my church, God was saying to me that this was the answer to my doubts and questions. From that day, I became sure that God chose me to be a leader for his flock, and I have been doing my best to protect people and provide for their needs.’

The needs of the people who have gone to Daniel’s church have been great.

‘It was very hard for us,’ he says, ‘because at the beginning, we didn’t even have the basics. The people needed mattresses and food, yet we were not ready for this mass displacement.

But with the help of supporters around the world we were able to get through those dark times. They helped us with relief supplies when the crisis began, they continued to help us as we started to rebuild our community and they are still helping us provide leadership training and our trauma-healing projects.’

Daniel says he personally plays a role in work to help people through the traumas they have suffered from their being persecuted.

‘We have opened trauma centres in Erbil and Kirkuk, and another church opened a centre in the Nineveh Plain. Through them, we are reaching out to people of different ages.

8 WarCry 17 APRIL 2021

‘AL-QAEDA THREATENED US THAT WE NEEDED TO LEAVE WITHIN 24 HOURS, OTHERWISE WE WERE GOING TO BE KILLED BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH.’ ‘We have been through a lot of conflicts, wars and trauma, and these things have a long-term effect. When people come to our centres, they have lost their hope. They are trying to start a new life—and that is why most of them think of migrating and leaving Iraq for good.

‘Trauma is pervasive in this country. It affects people in their behaviour, in their judgment, in their decision-making and in their role in their community and country—where Christians feel like second-class citizens. All of this is blurring their vision of the future, generating tension and anger and making them unable to decide whether to stay or leave.

‘So we try to make their vision clearer. We let them share their experiences, and we use stories from the Bible to make sense of their reality. We try to build up their faith and help them find some meaning in the middle of all this pain.’

Betrayal and loss Many of the traumatic experiences that people talk about are ‘linked to losing their identity, their belongings and having to leave everything behind in a few minutes’, says Daniel.

‘Unfortunately when people left the Nineveh Plain, their neighbours, who had lived with them for 40 or 50 years, started to take their houses and steal their furniture. It was a big shock. They didn’t expect it, but it happened. So today in the trauma centres, we talk about how it’s necessary to forgive so that we can continue into the future and bring about reconciliation.’

Daniel believes that Christianity still has a role to play in the country, but he worries that it may not have the opportunity.

‘Of the 120,000 people who fled their homes overnight when Isis attacked, we can say that 45 per cent have returned.

It was hard to go back, because Isis had destroyed their churches, houses, schools and hospitals. But they have been

able to start rebuilding because of donations from churches around the globe. Of the other 55 per cent, some have already gone to Jordan, Lebanon or Turkey or they applied for asylum in a western country, but others are still living in places such as Erbil. In the coming months they will have to decide whether to stay, return home or leave Iraq for good.’

A voice for the voiceless Daniel has been voicing his concerns for Christians in his country for some time. In December 2017—the same month that prime minister Haider al-Abadi declared that Isis had been defeated in Iraq—Father Daniel travelled to Westminster and, accompanied by a representative of Open Doors UK, an organisation that supports persecuted Christians around the world, he met the British prime minister.

‘We were able to have a meeting with Theresa May,’ remembers Daniel. ‘I presented her with a petition calling for hope for Christians in the Middle East and with a burnt Bible that had been rescued when all the churches on the Nineveh Plain had been set on fire. She was shocked when she saw the book, and she told me she would try her best to help my people and would raise the issue with the Iraqi prime minister. She later appointed an adviser for minorities in the Middle East, who looked into the persecution of Christians in our country.’

According to the Open Doors World Watch List Report 2021, Iraq is the 11th most difficult country in which to be a Christian. Daniel also remains concerned.

Erasing Christianity ‘We are still facing a lot of pressure in some parts of Iraq, especially in the Nineveh Plain, where militias are trying to eject Christians. For the first time, I fear that Christianity may evaporate from Iraq.

‘Isis has been defeated, but it still exists as a poisonous ideology. It is what has been implanted in the minds of the

‘I DECIDED THAT INSTEAD OF BECOMING A PHYSICIAN, I WANTED TO BE A SPIRITUAL DOCTOR. SO I CAME BACK TO IRAQ AND BECAME A PRIEST.’

Daniel holds a Bible, recovered from a church burnt by Isis, which he presented to Theresa May.

Muslim communities that say they do not need to mix with Christians and that all their properties belong to them.

Whenever someone rejects my existence and my identity as a Christian, I say that they have an Isis ideology.’

Daniel has lived through—and ministers to people who have gone through—traumatic times. But he says his faith still brings with it hope and a sense of responsibility towards his ‘flock’.

He adds: ‘What has kept me working is encouragement.

People around the world have sent cards, with messages like “Jesus loves you”, “stay strong”, “we are with you”.’

He hopes that the same people will continue to pray for Iraq—‘for violence to be replaced by the power of God’s love, for families who have lost loved ones, for Christians to stand firm in their faith and for wisdom for faith leaders’.

He says: ‘We want people to keep us in their prayers. I always say that we may forget the one who has persecuted us, but we will not forget the one who stood with us.’

Reprinted with permission from War Cry United Kingdom with the Republic of Ireland, 13 March 2021.

17 APRIL 2021 WarCry 9

How to Thrive on Family Road Trips Holidays become treasured memories for many families, if you are lucky enough to have the resources to make them happen. However, when it involves boarding a lengthy flight, tagging onto a long-distance coach trip or—especially—cramming three kids into the back seat of your car, sometimes the getting from A to B can be a nightmare before the trip has even begun.

If the concept of taking a family road trip equally excites and daunts you, here are some well-travelled suggestions to make the journey more of an adventure than a commute.

1. Involve all members of the family with planning.

Research the location, learn more about it together and ask each person what is the most important thing they want to see or do. This will give everyone more purpose to the commute.

2. Particularly before longer adventures, book doctor’s appointments to make sure you’re all ‘right as rain’ ahead of your departure.

3. Consider how much room is in your car. Do you need to hire or borrow a trailer or larger vehicle? No one likes cramped leg space, and, in the unfortunate event of a road accident, loose luggage can be an unnecessary hazard in the back seat.

4. Pack the essentials, but pack light. A tip: get everyone to take clothes with bright or distinctive patterns which are easy to pick out in a crowd or at a distance at rest stops.

5. Bring technology screens and devices but agree on how much they will be used ahead of time. Use your imagination to entertain the family—car games, colouring books, audiobooks … the list goes on.

6. Remember plenty of snacks for the drive. Have some fun treats, but don’t skimp on the nutritious stuff. It will sustain everybody’s energy over the trip, rather than provide short bursts of a sugar rush. Also, avoid salty food and excess drinks (besides water) to limit needing extra breaks.

7. Keep an ‘essentials bag’ in the front seat, with items like a first-aid kit, ponchos, toiletries, pocket knife/travel scissors, a spare set of headphones, a beloved stuffed toy to pacify a screaming toddler and/or any other potential problem solvers.

8. Set a realistic driving schedule and be prepared for delays.

Maximise your break times; when you stop, be active—get out to stretch the legs and burn off any restlessness.

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HAVE SOME FUN TREATS, BUT DON’T SKIMP ON THE NUTRITIOUS STUFF. 9. Keep the car clean. Have rubbish bags handy to collect wrappers, fruit skins and the like, which you can throw in the bin when you make stops.

10. Keep everyone updated throughout the journey—and the whole holiday—when schedules or routes change.

Once you arrive at your destination, remember that everyone will probably need some pockets of free time to chill out on their own before the fun starts. The same logic applies when you return home; after a full holiday, expect everyone to be emotionally and physically spent for the following days. Have patience and always keep the purpose of the holiday—making memories as a family, seeing more of the world and having a good time—at the front of mind.

Source:theactivetimes.com

I FELT THE BELONGING THAT WAS SHOWN TO ME BY DANIEL AND THE YOUTH. I SOON FOUND MYSELF ATTENDING THE CHURCH SERVICES THEMSELVES…

TESTIFY! Jackson Garratt is a soldier at Hamilton City Corps, and he shares his experiences of living with Foetal Anticonvulsant Syndrome (FACS), a condition that stems from antiseizure medications taken during pregnancy.

My mother’s history with epilepsy and treatment started at the age of eight, initially with absence seizures. By the age of nine she had begun having tonic-clonic seizures, approximately every two weeks. For the next 15 years my mother was on a medication by the name of Tegretol, which did not lessen or control the seizures. It wasn’t until Mum spent time at a neurological hospital in Germany that changes were made to treatment and, on return to New Zealand, her epilepsy was stabilised and completely controlled by sodium valproate (Epilim) at the age of 25.

Two years later while seeking advice on whether the sodium valproate was safe for a developing baby in utero, a neurologist discredited any rumours by stating they were ‘rubbish’ and that Epilim was utterly safe. However, that has not been the case for my family.

Doctors have since linked my disability to my mother’s anti-seizure medication.

FACS has impacted every aspect of my life. I struggled academically at school; I have a lack of social intelligence, which is why I haven’t been able to have a partner. My information processing speed has been compromised, preventing me from driving. I’m dependent on routine, which can trigger my anxiety if my routine is interfered with. My brain injury has also made me prone to fatigue. My sister Trudy was born two years after me, but she died at birth due to her FACS. FACS is still not well understood by both doctors and people on anti-seizure medication, and needs to be more widely talked about. Often children are

diagnosed with secondary conditions like autism and global developmental delay instead of FACS, which means they don’t get the support they need.

Fortunately, organisations like FACSNZ are working to raise awareness of my disability and help with diagnoses in New Zealand.

For me, God was there with me one year before I was formally diagnosed with FACS in 2007. My parents moved me to an Adventist intermediate school which had only two classrooms and, as a result of this, virtually no bullying.

I was at this school until 2009, when I started my high school years in a Christian school which ranged from new entrants to Year 13.

My journey with The Salvation Army then started back in 2010 when I was

living in Whangārei. I was searching for a youth group that I would enjoy.

I happened to stumble across The Salvation Army’s youth group page on Facebook. The first night I was there, the youth group leader, Daniel Buckingham (who is now one of the corps officers at Westgate), welcomed me in. I felt the belonging that was shown to me by Daniel and the youth. I soon found myself attending the church services themselves at the start of 2012. At the end of 2012, I responded to God’s calling and became a soldier. I then moved to Hamilton in 2015, where I encountered the loving congregation at Hamilton City Corps. These days, I am a hard-working volunteer with the Foodbank twice a week.

We love to share people’s faith stories.

If you’d like to talk to us about sharing your story in War Cry, please email us today: warcry@ salvationarmy.org.nz.

17 APRIL 2021 WarCry 11

BY

BY BETHANY BETHANY SLAUGHTER SLAUGHTER

Wasting Tim How do you waste your time? For me, I frequently give into the temptation to nestle into my beanbag after a long day to read a book, listen to music or watch familiar Disney films. Others might churn through a Netflix series, take a nap or get stuck in an endless loop of online shopping.

We all need a break now and again; however, often these moments aren’t worth the nuggets of guilt we feel afterwards. Could we have spent that time studying? Helping around the house? Sleeping, pursuing opportunities, completing all those tasks we never seem to have enough time for? After recharging

through our so-called ‘guilty pleasures’, we often feel shame that we could—or should—have spent the time better. As a result, we count the time as ‘wasted’.

In itself, the word ‘waste’ has some strong negative connotations—hardly helped by its meaning to describe rubbish. When used as a verb, Lexico defines ‘waste’ as ‘use or expend carelessly, extravagantly or to no purpose’. Wasting time is foolish. Wasting our potential is to be pitied.

Recently at church, a particular phrase which a speaker used stood out, he challenged us to ‘waste our time on Jesus’.

We have so much on our plates on any given day that stepping away from our responsibilities—whether for fifteen minutes or an hour—to spend time with God feels like as much of an indulgence as clicking on another BuzzFeed quiz. We are devoting time to our own spiritual life while the rest of the world keeps ticking along.

Sometimes, it might feel as though we get nothing out of those quiet moments, which can be discouraging and even make it feel like another task to tick off.

But spending time with God isn’t something we should be approaching for ourselves. In contrast, time spent with him is a form of worship, of gifting our time towards him rather than towards the world.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP STRIVING

Don’t fall into the trap of believing that there isn’t enough time to find room for Jesus in each day—set your own rhythm in the world. Yes, we need to be disciplined and find the hours to study or finish that essay (unfortunately, no amount of prayer will make it write itself). The dishwasher needs to be stacked and the dog must be walked. But beyond our responsibilities, using time wisely is all about what we prioritise.

In Luke 12:34, we are told, ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’. You naturally make time for the things that are important to you— whether that is hanging out with your

12 firezone.co.nz 17 APRIL 2021

me on Jesus?

PERHAPS ‘WASTING TIME ON JESUS’ REQUIRES US TO REFRAME OUR ‘WASTED TIME’ AS POCKETS OF OPPORTUNITY.

family, doing craft or playing games. It’s okay to value something that others might consider frivolous— if working through the Netflix catalogue truly brings you refreshment and joy, you don’t have to feel guilty about making the time for it.

The difference for Christians is that we are called to put Jesus into our number one slot and, as a result, prioritise time with him—whether that happens naturally, or you deliberately schedule it in.

hanging out with my family, I’m stepping out of my to-do list to be with them, laugh together, comment mindlessly on whatever is on TV. That’s relationship, and Jesus wants to be in relationship with us.

Prioritising time with Jesus is crucial to a close relationship with him. Besides, if we take time to pray, sit with the Holy Spirit or even listen to the wealth of Christian podcasts and sermons available online, is that time really wasted? Or is it refreshing beyond our own understanding?

Think back to those dictionary definitions. Is ‘wasting time on Jesus’ careless? No, it’s intentional. Does ‘wasting time on Jesus’ have no purpose? Absolutely not. Is ‘wasting time on Jesus’ extravagant? Yes—in the best way, towards him.

Perhaps ‘wasting time on Jesus’ requires us to reframe our ‘wasted time’ as pockets of opportunity. After all, supposed wasted land could also be thought of as a site for future building and growth. Wasted items can be recycled or reimagined. A person who feels as though they have wasted their life so far is at the turning point of embarking on a new journey. ‘Wasting time on Jesus’, where we step out of the day to day—even though it feels like we have far too much else going on—is a chance for us to get closer to him, grow in relationship and become more like him in the process.

…TIME SPENT WITH HIM IS A FORM OF WORSHIP, OF GIFTING OUR TIME TOWARDS HIM RATHER THAN TOWARDS THE WORLD. Think about the time you spend with family, friends or housemates. If your family is like mine, there are probably many nights when you know you have work to finish, applications to complete, chores to do, but it’s so easy to linger at the dinner table or keep watching TV together.

You might not have any tangible results to show for what you achieved in that time together, because the purpose is spending time in relationship with the people you love.

Our world increasingly tricks us into a pattern of constant striving, in every situation. But when I’m

FIVE FIVE WAYS WAYS TO TO START START 'WASTING 'WASTING TIME TIME ON ON GOD' GOD' 1. Music: Whether you’re listening in your bedroom, singing heartily in your car or playing your own instrument, there is a reason why music is typically the main component of church worship services.

2. Prayer: Find a groove of prayer that works for you, whether it involves speaking out loud, writing on paper or sitting in silence.

3. Bible Time: If you’re not sure where to begin, the Psalms are a great starting point.

4. Christian Podcasts: Some of our team’s suggestions are the Exploring My Strange Bible Podcast (by Tim Mackie), Christianese (produced by Fathom Magazine) and Commoner's Communion (by New Zealander Strahan Coleman).

5. Alternately, go for a walk without any audio. Leave the AirPods behind, spend half an hour or more wandering in creation and offer up that time without distraction.

17 APRIL 2021 WarCry 13

Anna Faversham— Spreading the Word

BY BETHANY SLAUGHTER

Author Anna Faversham’s own story has roots all over the world—including New Zealand.

As a young child, Anna (the pen name of Lynda Mills) went to Sunday School at her local corps near the London/Hertfordshire border in the UK. The first time she heard the invitation to kneel at the mercy seat and give her heart to Christ, she watched carefully, and decided that next time she would go forward.

On that day, she was so excited that on her bus ride home she told everybody on the bus—including the conductor—that she had accepted Jesus into her life. Even at eight years old, her call to tell other people about Jesus was strong.

Call to missions ‘I remember writing an essay at school when I was nine. We were asked what we wanted to do when we grew up,’ she recalls. ‘I wrote that I would go to Africa for The Salvation Army.’

She was disappointed to only receive five marks out of ten for that essay, a dip from the grades she would usually receive.

14 WarCry 17 APRIL 2021

‘I asked my mother why I’d got so few marks, and she explained that my teacher was an atheist. So, at a very young age, I knew what I should do, and that I might meet opposition.’

Nevertheless, the call to officership was loud and clear by her adult years, especially after falling in love with her husband. ‘We intended to go into training in England, but my husband had a conversation with someone from New Zealand.’

They emigrated to New Zealand where her husband, an accountant, started working with The Salvation Army’s Finance Department. They were overwhelmed by the hospitality they received, particularly from their ‘New Zealand Mum and Dad’, Colonels Lorna and Jack Kendall.

After entering officer training as cadet lieutenants, they were appointed to Browns Bay Corps. However, the seed that God had sowed in Anna’s childhood was about to burst through.

‘My husband received a letter from the headmaster of

SHE IS THRILLED THAT WRITING HAS PROVIDED A WAY FOR HER TO SHARE GOD’S MESSAGE, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT PICK UP A FAITHBASED BOOK. Chikankata School (in Zambia), saying they badly needed a business manager,’ she recalls. ‘I knew it was the call that I’d had as a young child. I’d never told my husband or anybody about going to Africa, that I felt I’d been called to serve in Africa— because, basically, I was terrified of big insects!

‘However, when the letter arrived, I knew we would go, no matter what I or anyone else felt about it. So, with a 6-month-old baby and a 2-year-old, we arrived in Zambia with a war going on 30 miles away [in Zimbabwe]!’

Whilst in Zambia, their remote location made it difficult to source books for her very young children, so she began to write stories for them. It was the beginning of her storytelling journey.

‘I hadn’t a wish to become a novelist, it didn’t even come into my way of thinking.’

They returned to the UK when her husband was appointed to International Headquarters in London.

Inspired to write More than twenty years later, Anna wrote her first published book. She was inspired by a Watch Night Service at St Paul’s Cathedral, where the sermon was about ‘past and future’. Anna knew instinctively that the message was meant for her, and on the drive home she began the two-year journey to formulate and write Hide in Time (2012).

After exploring the traditional publishing route, she instead chose to self-publish for greater control over her content, and although it took some time, after four years Hide in Time surged to the top of its genre chart on Amazon.

Anna believes the keys to honing the craft of writing are reading, persevering and joining a writer’s group to share your work with others and learn from them.

‘Making friends in writing groups can be life-changing,’ she says. ‘I have friends in America now, who have been and visited us here. I have a friend in London who I meet regularly—except in pandemics—and we help each other.’

The influence of faith There are Christian themes rippling throughout all of Anna’s books, even if they are not overtly stated. She is thrilled that writing has provided a way for her to share God’s message, especially with those who might not pick up a faith-based book.

One example of this was a woman from China, whom Anna was able to sign one of her novels for. ‘She was overwhelmed and so excited to have a book that nobody else had in China. I was very pleased, because there is the Christian message, smack bang in the middle.’

Characters are a key device for this purpose. Anna’s first four books contain the recurring character of a parson called Emmanuel Raffles, named after the biblical translation of ‘God with us’. He acts as the voice of conscience and subtly shares God’s word to both the story world and to the reader. He has emerged amongst Anna’s readers as a favourite character.

Many of her story ideas take inspiration from the Bible, including the plot for her most recent release, Immortality: This is Probably a Novel (2020). It draws on the verse of John 14:2—‘In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you’ (KJV)—which has fascinated her since childhood.

NEVERTHELESS, THE CALL TO OFFICERSHIP WAS LOUD AND CLEAR BY HER ADULT YEARS, ESPECIALLY AFTER FALLING IN LOVE WITH HER HUSBAND. ‘My young mind went on flights to other galaxies and solar systems. What could be up there? It’s a short hop from that to thinking of other viable worlds,’ says Anna.

In exploring these fantastical possibilities, one of the book’s themes is that we ignore the existence of heaven and hell at our peril. ‘It is designed purely to remind us that there comes a time of reckoning. We should be careful what we do to others,’ she explains.

The majority of the novel is set in New Zealand, a testament to their years living in Aotearoa and the many return trips they have made to visit lifelong friends ever since.

Anna is continuing to work on her next story (in which she says readers can expect a mention of The Salvation Army).

Wherever that novel leads her, or any others to follow, Anna hopes that she will be able to keep telling people about Jesus, be that as an officer, an author or any other method. ‘I love the Lord and I would love the world to be his, bit by bit.’

MORE INFO | You can find Anna’s books on Amazon or visit www.annafaversham.uk for more information.

ANNA BELIEVES THE KEYS TO HONING THE CRAFT OF WRITING ARE READING, PERSEVERING AND JOINING A WRITER’S GROUP TO SHARE YOUR WORK WITH OTHERS AND LEARN FROM THEM. 17 APRIL 2021 WarCry 15

NEW ZEALAND WELCOMES THE

Reflectors of Holiness

On Sunday 14 March, Wellington City Corps hosted the New Zealand Welcome to Cadets for the Reflectors of Holiness session, Ngā Kaiwhakaata i te Tapu, who begin their studies at Booth College of Mission (BCM) in 2021.

It was a joyful service, with several opportunities to share in musical worship and prayer. A running theme throughout the afternoon was that we are all called to be reflectors of holiness, echoed by the various speakers and testimonies shared.

The service began with karanga (call), then Aux-Captain Amiria Te Whiu and Lt-Colonel Ian Hutson led opening prayers. Territorial Commander Commissioner Mark Campbell welcomed all those in attendance—whether in the physical building or watching online from afar. This included the cadets from Fiji and Tonga—Cadets Salaseini and Sailosi Laliqavoka, Akuila and Asenaca Bale Tuinaceva, Peter Paulsen and Seini Tu’iono Mele Otainao and Petero and Maritinia Yavala—whose official welcome took place on home shores.

Territorial President of Women’s Ministries Commissioner Julie Campbell then introduced their session mates in New Zealand: Cadets Ben Cola, Rebecca Howan, Natalie and Barry Kirby, Alana LePine, Nick Moffatt and Tammy Mohi, and Aux-Captains-in-training Neil and Tiana Henderson.

Reaccepted officer, Lieutenant Rae Evans—who is completing a one-year refresher course—was also acknowledged for her commitment to return to study and serve The Salvation Army.

Territorial Candidates Secretary Captain Kylie Tong then presented the Reflectors of Holiness, Ngā Kaiwhakaata i te Tapu, praising their demonstrated faith through the candidates process. ‘Within that, your call has been tested and affirmed along the way.’

Kylie thanked the many corps, mentors and candidates secretaries who supported the new cadets in their journey to BCM. Quoting 1 Corinthians 1:9, she reminded everyone— particularly the new cadets—that God has invited us to partner with him.

‘God is calling every one of us to something. Wherever he has placed you and wherever he is leading you, we all have the opportunity to say “yes” to God, with courage and passion and anticipation, because he promises his faithfulness as we follow his call.’

BCM Training Principal Major Garth Stevenson praised Kylie and the territory’s candidates team for their hard work, particularly in a year when the Army is exploring new pathways to officership. He said he was looking forward to working with the Reflectors of Holiness and commented on

16 WarCry 17 APRIL 2021

to enter full-time study through an alternate pathway of Aux-Captaincy.

Tammy used the creative device of comparing the obstacles faced in her life—such as her parents’ separation, witnessing violence and drug/alcohol abuse as a child and the deaths of her father and grandmother—to layers of heavy clothing. She said that it was only when she came to The Salvation Army, through Women’s Refuge, that the journey of removing those layers could begin.

the importance of the preposition ‘of’ in their session name, and how it denotes a relationship between the reflector and holiness.

‘My challenge to you—and the same challenge applies to me, and all of us—is to use your time at Booth College of Mission, everywhere, to reflect deeply on God’s holiness so that you may in turn become a true reflector of his holiness through your life and ministry,’ he said.

A service highlight came from the Fijian and Tongan cadets, who joined together to share a video message and sing for their fellow New Zealand session mates.

Aux-Captain-in-training Neil Henderson and Cadet Tammy Mohi each shared their testimonies about how their lives had led them to BCM. Neil joked that he was told by Assistant Principal Major Suzanne Stevenson that he could either use his time with the mic in hand to share a little bit about himself … or sing a solo.

‘I would love to share a little bit about myself,’ he laughed.

His story spanned from growing up in South Africa to marrying his wife Tiana, committing his life to Christ and becoming a ‘family of 19’ while caring for abused children in Pretoria. ‘God provided the faith and the wisdom that we needed to get through some pretty tough times.’

After he and Tiana emigrated to New Zealand, they eventually found a church home at Hibiscus Coast Corps.

Attending Delve Conference affirmed their call to full-time ministry, and Neil expressed his gratitude that they were able

Since her call to officership, she shared how it had been tough to leave her home and whānau in Whangārei Corps, but she was ready to face the challenge.

Following these testimonies, the second-year cadets performed an impassioned haka to welcome the first-year cadets.

Commissioner Mark Campbell spoke on the passage in Isaiah 6, emphasising how in order to be a reflector of holiness, one first needs to have an encounter with the Holy One. He told the Reflectors of Holiness to take confidence that God doesn’t leave us in our feelings of unworthiness when we realise that we cannot compare to his holiness—instead, he gives us the confidence to go out in his name.

Commissioner Julie led the closing prayers, before Territorial Secretary for Personnel Captain Pauleen Richards prayed the final benediction.

‘Thank you to all of you for saying “yes”,’ she told the Reflectors of Holiness. ‘I know we will all be praying for you in that journey.’

Photography by Lt-Colonel Milton Collins

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Tonga Sponsorship The Salvation Army sponsorship programme is transitioning from individual child sponsorship to sponsorship of Salvation Army institutions, schools and centres where children under the age of 18 years will benefit from sponsorship funds.

Previously, not all children in a class may have had Salvation Army sponsorship; now, with the transition, all children from the approved centre will receive the benefits of sponsorship.

Child protection and gender equity policies now play an important part of sponsorship, and receiving centres must agree and implement these guidelines to receive funds.

Sponsorship is proving to be effective again in Tonga with funds providing 70 uniform and stationery packs for children, and 32 children have their school fees covered, enabling them to attend school this year.

Territorial Child Sponsorship Secretary Lt-Colonel Milton Collins says that ‘the New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory is so amazing, with many corps and individuals regularly contributing to provide sponsorship for 17 countries—from Indonesia, Kenya and Tanzania right through to our largest sponsorship regions of Fiji and Tonga. I am really grateful for people’s generosity!

For as little as $30 per month, people can participate in changing children’s lives. ‘The impact of each sponsorship makes a significant difference and is a way we can support countries in our own territory,’ says Milton.

If you would like to become a sponsor, please go to salvationarmy.org.nz/help-overseas/sponsorship to sign up and choose the country you would like to support. You will receive two newsletters each year showing how your sponsorship has assisted many children.

These two girls are proudly showing part of their new school stationery to start the year.

Sri Lanka Territory Distributes Donations to Terrorist Attack Survivors The Salvation Army in Sri Lanka has been able to assist families who were affected by the 2019 Easter Sunday Terrorist Attacks, thanks to a significant donation from Pakuranga Baptist Church in Auckland.

After taking the time to research and determine the best way to distribute these funds, and a delay due to the Covid-19 lockdown, the Sri Lanka Territory was able to give out the donation to 18 families in need earlier this year. These families had all been impacted by the attacks and met the criteria of having at least one child who could use the funds for education or medical treatment.

Initially, the project had planned to place the money into bank accounts for the children to access after they

18 WarCry 17 APRIL 2021

turned 18 years old. However, after discussions with the Disaster Management Centre in Colombo, it was decided that the donations would be of better use immediately.

Ten of the families were helped via Caritas (a Catholic relief, development and social service organisation), who had contact with many families following the terrorist attacks. The Disaster Management Centre provided a list of a further eight eligible families.

One representative from each family was invited to The Salvation Army to receive the donation and some prayer. Personnel from the Disaster Management Centre, the Catholic Church and The Salvation Army were all in attendance.

Practices for Prayer: Fasting in a Distracted World Easter has recently been and gone, and with it the end of Lent—a traditional period of fasting in the 40 days leading up to Resurrection Sunday. But what is fasting and what does it have to do with prayer?

Fasting is giving up something for a set period of time in order to turn our attention to God. Traditionally, fasting has been related to giving up food, but you can fast from anything and it does not have to be during lent, either!

With so many options to keep us entertained in our lives—social media, Netflix, games and TV whenever we want them—setting aside time for prayer, including just being in God’s presence, can easily take a back seat. Our souls are paying the price for this.

Ruth Haley Barton from Transforming Center puts it beautifully when she says, ‘We are starved for intimacy, to see and feel and know God in the very cells of our being. We are starved for rest, to know God beyond what we can do for him. We are starved for quiet, to hear the sound of sheer silence that is the presence of God himself.’

Choosing to fast from digital media for a time can be a helpful way to make room to come aside with God. To make room for quiet, for rest, for intimacy with God in our everyday lives. This is the place of true joy and transformation, but it usually starts with a little discipline.

By Captain Naomi Holt

…HE HAS UNIQUELY EQUIPPED EACH OF US WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES… As a 12-year-old, I once had to write an essay about someone important.

So, my grandfather, Albert Clark, provided me the details I needed to complete my task before he went on to write his autobiography (a copy of which is now in The Salvation Army Archives).

I titled my essay ‘Someone Important’ and wrote of my short, flat-footed grandfather who served as a soldier and bandsman in Egypt during World War II. He did not consider himself anything special, never saw actual combat, but he did well as a cornet player—he bugled the colonel in and out of bed, played the Last Post and formed part of the band that helped the troops march along in step.

I concluded my essay by noting his praise for what he described as the harder and most worrying role played during the war, that of the mothers of very young children who—like my grandmother left behind in Gisborne—did their role with great courage and fortitude. This got me thinking about the necessity of teamwork.

Just as the war effort required everybody to play a part, whether that was overseas or at home, so too must we as children of God. For he has uniquely equipped each of us with different abilities, so that together we become the Body of Christ working together to accomplish God’s mission most effectively, as described in Ephesians 4.

Emirates Team New Zealand demonstrated great teamwork during the recent America’s Cup races, where the designers, cleaners, grinders, flight controller, fundraisers, administrators, security, coach, chase boat support team, families and many others all played an important role in the win for our team of five million.

We naturally look for that ‘someone important’, and often credit a person like Chief Executive Grant Dalton for the win. But as important as the current team is, they would not have flown so well without the dedication and innovation invested over many years by those who went before. Te Rehutai would not have been the first to reach seven wins without the teamwork of everyone involved.

One of the intents of the new strategic framework for The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory is that of being a faith-driven, inclusive and unified Army that is aligned and working together to achieve better mission outcomes. This intent is represented by a waka, a symbol of unification requiring everyone to work together to achieve the same goal.

How could you and your team be as innovative and effective as Emirates Team New Zealand as we work together across corps, centres and support units to care for people, transform lives and reform society by God’s power? The part which each of us play in the mission of God’s Salvation Army is critical. You are someone important.

Lt-Colonel Allan Clark Territorial Secretary for Business Administration 17 APRIL 2021 WarCry 19

Will You Dare to Stand?

A place of tranquillity now stands in stark contrast to the place of horror that once it was. If it were not for the signposts, tourist buses, memorials and tombstones, this place would draw no particular attention to itself. It is just another rocky beach, along a pleasant stretch of coastline near the Aegean Sea. And yet, for Australians and New Zealanders, Anzac Cove (Gaba Tepe, Turkey) has become a place of pilgrimage founded on the solemn remembrance of a time when two emerging nations endured a great awakening, shaped by the stark reality of the futility of war.

BY MAJOR EARLE IVERS

For visitors to the Gallipoli Peninsula today, it is an almost surreal experience to stand quietly on that beach while gazing towards the rocky outcrop, nicknamed ‘The Sphinx’ by young soldiers (who had spent time in Egypt prior their deployment to the Gallipoli campaign). Tranquillity gives way to imagination as the mind wanders.

Images of conflict flood the thought processes while the perceived sound of battle rings in the ears.

Here, in this place, nearly 2800 New Zealanders and more than 8700 Australian soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice while responding to their nations’ call to fight. Their bravery, example and selflessness has become an enduring reminder to all generations who live in freedom and in peace.

In the face of great adversity and overwhelming opposition, our first Anzacs are an enduring example of what it is to be a person of determination, tenacity and tempered obedience,

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whose inner convictions led them to move beyond the constraints of self and security for the sake of something greater. And yet, a sobering truth remains.

The landing in Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915 did not go to plan. The boats had drifted from their bearings in the predawn darkness and the soldiers set foot on the beach some three kilometres from where they should have been.

A mountain before them, an ocean behind them and conflict surrounding them, our Anzacs dug in and, in spite of the overwhelming odds against them, they made their stand.

More than a century has passed since that first Anzac Day and, though we remember them, we will never truly comprehend the extent of the hardship those soldiers endured in the ten months, three weeks and two days of their Gallipoli campaign. However, their story can help to shape ours.

Whether we like it or not, there will come seasons in life when everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. We will stand before our own mountains while a battle rages around us and the futility of our situation threatens to consume us. We will consider the odds against us and question our will to fight.

In the struggle that follows, when our stores of endurance run dry, it is not surprising that thoughts of defeat and retreat rise so quickly. In many ways, we discover a layer of complexity— while the battle is before us, it is often fought in our mind, our will and our spirit. When the opposition seems great and the mountain seems too high, the decision for ‘fight or flight’ becomes as real as it will ever be.

Even here, the Anzac story serves as a point of connection. At the end of the first day, Sir Ian Hamilton (the Officer Commanding) issued the order to hold on: ‘You have got through the difficult business, now you dig, dig, dig, until you are safe.’ This strong word of encouragement may well speak into our situation and circumstance today.

It is no easy thing, but it is by no means impossible.

In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul uses an analogy of the soldiers’ ‘kit’ from the time in which he lived. He reminds his readers that the battles we face are those not necessarily fought physically, but rather, are encountered in the spiritual realm. He calls his readers to ‘put on the full armour of God’, in that they should be well equipped for the battle before them. But then, a compelling encouragement flows.

He simply says, ‘after you have done everything else, stand!’ Over the centuries, many believers have claimed the foundational principles that lie within these verses.

Both General Hamilton and the Apostle Paul discovered the power of

perseverance. This is not some dogged determination deluded from the reality of life and the struggle within. Rather, it is a step of faith and expression of obedience towards a God who promises to stand with us, no matter the situation or circumstance.

His promise to never leave us alone or ill-equipped for the battle before us can be found in many places within the Bible. For example, in Deuteronomy 31:8 we read, ‘It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’

He not only stands with us in the darkest hour, he gives us the strength to stand even when we feel like we have nothing to stand on. His grace is sufficient, his strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). We have our part to play, but we will never accomplish the victory alone. There is something more, something beyond that leads us from the futility of self-reliance to the provision from the storehouse of God’s riches in Jesus.

As many Christians testify, ‘The victory is ours, but the battle belongs to the Lord’.

So today when, like a young Anzac, you look at your mountain—

A MOUNTAIN BEFORE THEM, AN OCEAN BEHIND THEM AND CONFLICT SURROUNDING THEM, OUR ANZACS DUG IN AND, IN SPITE OF THE OVERWHELMING ODDS AGAINST THEM, THEY MADE THEIR STAND. your ‘Sphinx’—will you dare to stand?

Will you put your faith in a God whose word is true? Pause a moment, consider his promise for you from 2 Chronicles 20:17 (ESV): ‘You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.’

Allow the peace of God to still the storm and may the power of God at work within you help you to stand.

17 APRIL 2021 WarCry 21

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS

GAZETTE

Commissioners Mark (Territorial Commander) and Julie Campbell (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 29 April: Retired Officers Convention, Central Division Colonel Gerry Walker (Chief Secretary) 21 April: Spiritual Day, Booth College of Mission Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Spiritual Life Development) 21 April: Spiritual Day, Booth College of Mission

International Short-Term Appointment: At the request of International Headquarters, the New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory is releasing Lt-Colonels Gordon and Susan Daly for an International Short-Term Appointment in Middle East Ministry as Interim Regional Officers, based in Dubai. They departed from Christchurch on Thursday 25 March 2021 for three months. Your prayers for Lt-Colonels Gordon and Susan for their service overseas during the Covid-19 pandemic, are appreciated.

Birth: Lieutenant Tofi Metotisi has given birth to a baby girl, McKenzie Malama Grace Metotisi. McKenzie was born at 9:49am on Saturday 20 March 2021, weighing 7lb 11oz (3.5kgs). McKenzie is named in remembrance of a great mentor, Commissioner Garth McKenzie; Malama after Eddie’s mother; and Grace, as Tofi and Eddie belong to the Messengers of Grace session. May God bless Lieutenants Tofi and Eddie, Neru, Dhuet and Kristian as they welcome McKenzie into their family.

Bereavement: Major Ralph Hargest, of his brother Michael Hargest on Tuesday 30 March 2021, in Gore, aged 57 years. We ask you to uphold in prayer Majors Ralph and Nicky Hargest, Michael’s partner and children and the extended family at this time of grief and loss.

PRAY Tauranga Corps, Taveuni Corps, Tavua Corps, Tawa Corps,

Territorial Headquarters in Wellington, The Salvation Army in the Middle East.

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DIRECT to your door Annual subscription (including p&p) $75 (within NZ) To subscribe, contact Salvationist Resources, p: (04) 382 0740, e: mailorder@salvationarmy.org.nz

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Want to Know More?

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

FAMILY WEEKEND

7–9 MAY

WHO Families with kids (aged 6–17 years).

Name

WHAT Discover the true meaning of what it means to work together as a family unit. Create lifetime memories whilst having an amazing adventure!

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

MORE INFO bluemountainadventure.org.nz

bmac@salvationarmy.org.nz

Quiz Answers: 1 Mike Hannigan, 2 1992, 3 Somalia, 4 Milk, 5 Rehoboam, his son (1 Kings 11:43).

22 WarCry 17 APRIL 2021

Fill in the blanks!

Answer these prompts, then fill in the blanks below to come up with your own busy week.

(Tip: this is a word that describes a verb, usually ending in ‘ly’)

1) Adverb 2) Food (plural) 3) Adjective (descriptive word)

‘For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.’

Romans 15:4

4) Celebrity 5) Verb (action) 6) Place 7) Things (plural) 8) Animals 9) Thing 10) Group of people This week will be tiring! On Monday I’ll train 8) to 5) 6)

. On Tuesday, I have to travel to for the annual 9)

society’s 3)

conference. Wednesday, I’m

serving 2) to 10) 1)

shaped like 7) . I just hope I have energy to judge the 4)

lookalike contest!

Spot the Difference!

Can you find 8 differences between the two pictures?

On Anzac Day, New Zealand commemorates the soldiers who fought to protect the country. However, without historical records, we wouldn’t know any of the soldiers’ names, the battles they faced … to be honest, we’d know very little about what we were remembering at all!

We can’t learn from history if it isn’t passed down to us somehow.

This week also coincides with World Book Day; books are a great way to convey history, and one of the best examples is the Bible. Imagine all the stories we would never know about—from Moses to Esther, Daniel to Paul—if the Bible didn’t exist! It goes all the way back to the Earth’s very first day, and has been passed on, translated through many formats and languages, to reach us in 2021.

It’s easy to forget how amazing this book is, because it is so readily available here in our territory. Whether it’s the stories, Psalms, parables, even those long lists of names that might not seem relevant to you, the Bible is full of wisdom and important history that we should treasure, because it provides us with invaluable advice about how to live a life like Jesus.

THINK ABOUT...

What is something important you would not have learned if the Bible didn’t exist?

17 APRIL 2021 WarCry 23

Photography: Major Earle Ivers

‘…we may forget the one who has persecuted us, but we will not forget the one who stood with us.’

Father Daniel Alkhory