17 Sept 2016 NZFT War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION | 17 September 2016 | Issue 6651 | $1.50

SPEAK OUT FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOW TO GET THROUGH A BAD DAY SHOULD I PROPOSE? FIREZONE: CENTRAL & MIDLAND YOUTH COUNCILS SALVATION ARMY HELPS WOMEN IN FIJI STAND WITHOUT FEAR NEW ZEALAND’S EUTHANASIA DEBATE

Let’s Talk | 03

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Kia ora See the vulnerable The Salvation Army Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga Territory FOUNDERS William & Catherine Booth GENERAL André Cox TERRITORIAL COMMANDER Robert Donaldson 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

Major Christina Tyson GRAPHIC DESIGN

Lauren Millington, Amber Wilkinson STAFF WRITERS

Ingrid Barratt, Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond CONTRIBUTORS

Martin Barratt, Kris Singh

PROOF READING

Major Jill Gainsford COVER

Photography: Jo Moore OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Phone (04) 384 5649 Fax (04) 382 0716 Email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department Phone (04) 382 0768 Email mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org $75 per year within NZ

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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.

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Each year, The Salvation Army holds a global day of prayer for the victims of human trafficking. Please take the time to pray the following, which is penned by Major John Read. John’s wife, UK trafficking activist Major Anne Read, is profiled in our future.

Creator God, for freedom you made us, in your image and likeness you created us, free to love and be loved.

We pray against all powers and people that conspire to destroy your children’s freedom, trap them in poverty, steal their power and render them vulnerable to systems and schemes that make them slaves.

We pray for leaders and legislators, activists and agitators, and people of compassion everywhere, that they be strong and effective in their plans and actions to protect the vulnerable and secure their freedom.

Saviour God, for freedom you have redeemed us, to be restored in your image and likeness, free to love and be loved.

We pray for children, women and men, the victims of human trafficking, tricked, trapped and trafficked into, out of and around our land. We pray for their freedom. We pray that in their captivity you will look upon them and give them hope. We pray for their liberation, healing, and restoration into the perfect freedom of the children of God. Helper God, for freedom you are with us, recreating us in your image and likeness, free to love and be loved.

We pray against those who recruit, move, harbour or receive children, women and men through the use of force, coercion, abuse, deception and all other means for the purposes of exploitation.

We pray for those who work alone and together to discover, liberate and restore children, women and men who have been trafficked as slaves. We pray they will be given all the resources of finance, time and strength they need as they bring freedom to the victims of human trafficking.

Three-in-one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for freedom you made us, redeemed and recreated us, free to love and be loved. We pray your kingdom come. We pray justice and mercy flow like streams. We pray freedom for all your children. Amen.

Christina Tyson Editor

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Luke 15:4 New International Version

‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?’

‘Ko tēhea tangata o koutou he rau āna hipi, ā, ka ngaro tētahi o rātou, e kore ianei e waiho e ia ngā mea e iwa tekau mā iwa i te koraha, ā, ka haere ki taua mea i ngaro, kia kitea rā anō?’

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WISE WORDS

You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.

William Wilberforce

BY SHAR DAVIS

I

BIBLE VERSE

Ruka 15:4

Photography: Jo Moore

WAR CRY

18

’ve grown up around animals, so it was perhaps inevitable I would become a ‘cat lady’ (while resisting the ‘crazy’ label that so often goes with it.)

But then, for the first time in my adult life, I found myself a cat lady without a cat after my beloved Ernie disappeared about three months after we moved to Wellington.

A weekend visit from friends combined with terrible Wellington weather led to a chance encounter with a couple of kittens. At the Wellington SPCA I came across a little blind kitten staff had called Bongo and his little black and white companion, Amelia.

I opened up their cage and this blind kitten walked straight up to me and started licking my nose. How he even knew where I was, I didn’t know, so I asked him, ‘Are you sure you can’t see?’

We cuddled and played for a bit, and when I tried to return him to the cage he kept clawing at my hand, dragging it back into the cage. It was at this point that I knew this had to be the last night they would spend at the SPCA. Bongo was quickly renamed Murdock (a shoutout to Marvel’s blind superhero Daredevil), and his feline bestie became Mabel. They had been up for adoption for a month and I could not believe they hadn’t been snapped up sooner. Perhaps it was the condition of adopting both together, or maybe people simply thought a blind cat would be too much hard work.

It has been a fascinating journey watching as Murdock adjusts to life with me. Living in a house with stairs I wondered how he would cope. I soon observed that Murdock was relying on Mabel to show him how to navigate the house. She would go somewhere and he would follow her scent.

The more confident Murdock got, the less he relied on Mabel, but if he got himself stuck he simply needed to meow and she would be right by his side leading him to where he needed to go.

It has been incredible to see how the loss of one sense has heightened his others, to the point where I still find myself asking, ‘Are you sure you can’t see?’—knowing full well he has no eyeballs. Despite what many people would call a ‘disability’, Murdock really is just differently able.

He can pretty much do everything other cats can do with one exception, and this makes me a little sad. Murdock will never have the joy of chasing sunshine around the house, or being puzzled by a laser light. Instead, he realises Mabel is up to something and sits there trying to figure out what all the excitement is about.

The pair have had more than their share of their five minutes of fame. They’ve been published in two newspapers, mentioned on TV3’s Paul Henry and featured in an awesome segment on TV1’s Breakfast TV. They have their own Instagram account, @murdock_and_mabel, and a bunch of followers who love keeping up with their antics.

I have had to learn not to rescue Murdock too quickly. I have assumed at times that he wouldn’t be able to do something only to rob him of the opportunity to try. As I have learned to trust Murdock’s own judgement I have been so impressed by his ability to problem solve and resolve issues.

No-eyes Murdock is teaching me all the time. And sweet Mabel models patience, friendship and the art of helping someone else succeed; something we can all learn.

I may not be a crazy cat lady but I certainly am blessed.

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Bookshelf Cookbook Tanya Bakes Tanya Burr There’s a whole new sub-genre of authors ‘discovered’ on YouTube.

Tanya Burr is one of these vloggers, with a lifestyle channel that has over three million followers. As you’d expect, her emphasis is more on style than substance, with a message of unrealistic gorgeousness. This book is about baking, with everything that makes cookbooks such big sellers: beautiful photos and recipes that make you want to eat the page. It’s definitely aspirational, and there is the odd recipe that calls for niche ingredients like coconut flour, but to her credit, many of these recipes are very accessible and sound delicious. (Penguin)

Playlist

Biography Kierkegaard: A Single Life Stephen Backhouse As surprising as it may seem, this biography of Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard is riveting. It opens with a nation divided, as Kierkegaard comes to an untimely death. Rising to infamy after his criticisms of the established church, he became the enemy of the establishment and a hero to outsiders. Written almost as a novel, with captivating language and imagery, this covers Kierkegaard’s eccentric personality, fraught love life and genius.

His writings have incalculably influenced Christian thought— including the concept of ‘cheap grace’ that inspired Bonhoeffer’s Nazi resistance. (Zondervan)

Christian Life She Jen Gibbs A Kiwi and the daughter of Salvation Army officers, Jen invites us to explore faith, hope and love through the lens of women of the Bible. Her writing style will make you feel you’re hanging out with a friend who makes you laugh and knows her way around the Bible.

This is a book that will encourage you to pursue a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. With opportunity for reflection and action in each chapter, She can be used either on your own or as a group Bible study. Ideal for anyone who wants to explore how God has been using women since ages ago.

(Tsunami, www.jengibbs.com)

Reel News

Alt Rock Hope’s Not Giving Up Remedy Drive Remedy Drive is a Nashville-based alternative rock band. Fusing elements of alternative rock and industrial rock, Hope’s Not Giving Up adds a huge helping of analog grit to their previous effort, Commodity. Fuzzy basses and grungy drums lend a real sense of authenticity. There’s a strong dose of Switchfoot’s anthemic soaring choruses throughout “Come Up”, tempered with great uses of synth soundscapes and edgy lead lines in ‘Statues’. Taken as whole, there’s a great sense of consistency through the album’s 10 tracks, which flows well. Great for those looking for a bit more edge and grit to their Switchfoot.

Worship Poets & Saints All Sons & Daughters All Sons & Daughters are back with their latest release, Poets & Saints.

The record’s 10 tracks retain the duo’s intimate acoustic charms while adding a sense of depth and texture through the creative use of space. The moody and atmospheric ‘Heaven Meets Earth’ demonstrates this well, taking time to create suspense by introducing elements slowly. This one does tend to sit in the mid-range tempo wise; however, the tactful use of moving strings and lush choirs gives each track a sense of movement and depth. While Poets & Saints doesn’t stray far from the duo’s usual style, the strength of its songwriting and instrumentation makes this record well worth a spin.

GIVEAWAY To win a review copy of Tanya Bakes, tell us your favourite cold weather food.

War Cry Giveaway, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org. Entries close 03 Oct.

Drama/Biography Sully Clint Eastwood / M (offensive language) In January 2009, the world witnessed Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger glide his disabled aircraft onto the freezing waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. Now, Clint Eastwood directs Tom Hanks in the role of Sully, as he examines the events of the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’. Even as Sully was being lauded by the public and the media for the unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career.

Eastwood lets the amazing events speak for themselves as he takes an understated approach (not even showing the crash until almost an hour in), yet this remains an emotional and, at times, unbearably tense story.

Shot on IMAX cameras, the crash landing is remarkably vivid, shown several times from different people’s viewpoints. While the crash and Sullenberger’s skills are rightly highlighted, it’s the little known post-crash investigation that Eastwood focuses on. As Sully tortures himself with questions of what he might have done differently, he is also haunted by harrowing dreams of a fatal end to the flight instead. He has a hard time believing he got everyone out alive, let alone that he is a hero. Eastwood examines the irony that despite saving everyone’s lives, Sully still had to answer to the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) who felt his decision to effect a forced water landing had endangered those aboard.

Even if you act heroically, there will always be people who doubt the truth—more so if it’s miraculous.

War Cry does not endorse or condone all the content in the films, albums and books we review. Our reviewers endeavour to inform readers of helpful and harmful components of the items under review.

Feature | 05

IN PLAIN SIGHT

BY INGRID BARRATT

Over the past five years, The Salvation Army in the UK has assisted over 4500 victims of human trafficking. It’s all around us, including New Zealand, says director Anne Read—If you have the eyes to see it.

06 | WarCry 17 September 2016

‘E

xtraordinary’ is a word Major Anne Read uses a lot. And she’s right. It’s one of the few expressions that can start to describe the indescribable. It’s extraordinary that there are an estimated 800,000 people trafficked each year.

It’s extraordinary that there are victims in every country, hiding in plain sight.

It’s extraordinary that a 57-year-old British citizen could be trafficked and forced to work long hours in captivity within his native country.

His name is Harry. ‘He is a British gentleman with a very strong work ethic, but not much education. His father died when he was young and he lived with his mother until she died. He was on his own, he started drinking and lost his job,’ describes Major Anne Read, Anti-Trafficking Response Coordinator for The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

‘Harry was picked up at a soup kitchen. Often people will pull up at places like this offering £30 for a day’s labour. They offered him somewhere to stay, some work and some alcohol. So he went with them and from that day on he was captured and forced to work all hours of the day, living in a shed with no facilities and minimal food.’

At the age of 64, Harry was re-sold. ‘Because that’s the other aspect of human trafficking—drugs you can only sell once. But humans can be re-sold.’ Eventually, this elderly gentleman was picked up in a police raid and came to The Salvation Army reception centre. ‘He said, “For the first time in many years I can breathe again,” ’ recalls Anne. ‘You know what it’s like when you’re anxious or scared and feel like you can’t breathe. Imagine feeling like that for years on end.’

That’s the other aspect of human trafficking—drugs you can sell only once.

But humans can be resold.

An extraordinary mission In another of the list of ‘extraordinaries’, The Salvation Army was given the government contract to manage assistance for adult victims of human trafficking in 2011. This means working with 11 government agencies to provide help, as well as a 24/7 phone hotline for people either seeking help, or who have suspicions that trafficking is happening.

When police are preparing for a raid on suspected traffickers, The Salvation Army sets up a reception centre, where victims are assessed so they can receive all the help they need: safe accommodation, legal advice, medical support, help in recovering documents such as passports, help with accessing benefits, education for their children, and counselling.

A special Salvation Army fund helps victims recover in creative ways—through a trip to the seaside, a birthday party or a visit to the football stadium.

Building connections with local corps (churches) is another vital component. One corps connected with a local safe house and has included them in all their activities. ‘These connections mean they’re not isolated victims; people are beginning to gain some independence, social skills and language skills,’ explains Anne.

One of the specialised roles that Salvation Army corps play is in transporting victims of trafficking to safety. ‘There’s nothing

Feature | 07

that focuses your attention on the issue like having had a victim of trafficking in your car,’ says Anne. This engagement is essential, though, because it is ordinary people that are making the biggest difference in the fight against modern slavery.

It’s all around us Public awareness is the number one key to curbing modern slavery.

Most victims are saved because members of the public have spotted something suspicious and either tipped off the police or called the hotline.

‘Victims of human trafficking are all around us,’ explains Anne. ‘They are not locked up, completely out of sight. More often, they’re kept captive by the threats of the traffickers—threats to themselves, threats to their families, and also just by the sheer wearing down of people’s abilities to make decisions for themselves. They are in car washes, nails bars, in the hospitality industry, small businesses, restaurants, in domestic servitude, and the sex industry.’

It’s all about having the eyes to see, explains Anne. A person may seem frightened or controlled, or have unexplained injuries.

They might turn up very early for a day’s work, and labour all day without a break or much food.

It might even be as simple as not having adequate clothing or resources for the job. ‘In one case a gentleman came back to a reception centre after some raids on car washes. The gentleman had been wearing canvas shoes, and in the car wash they’d been using lots of chemicals, so his shoes had become fused to his feet.

He had to have them surgically removed,’ recalls Anne.

If it wasn’t all so horribly, vividly true, it would be unbelievable.

One young woman came to The Salvation Army safe house from Rwanda. ‘She saw both of her parents killed in the genocide in Rwanda. She escaped to Uganda where she was raped, and had twins as a result. She was offered a job in the UK, but when she got here she was locked in a room, and from that day on, eight to 12 men were taken to her every day,’ recalls Anne.

‘One day, somebody left the door open and she had enough courage to run away, was picked up, and went to our safe house.’

Today, this young woman is a soldier at her local corps, her children are junior soldiers, and she is studying to be a nurse.

It’s a beautiful ending to a brutal story. ‘But what’s extraordinary is that she says her experience of being trafficked was worse than what she experienced in the genocide of Rwanda,’ adds Anne, ‘She’ll never get over it, but she is building a life for herself.’

Over there, not here?

It is horrific. It is inhuman. But surely it happens over there, not here?

Anne begs to differ. ‘Wherever there’s money to be made, people will be used as a commodity,’ she says. ‘Why wouldn’t it be happening in New Zealand? People can be brought in from Papua New Guinea, China and the Philippines [all origin countries for human trafficking], into domestic servitude, forced labour. I’m very confident it is happening in New Zealand.’

Immigration New Zealand confirms there have been two trafficking court cases in New Zealand. In the first case, 25 men in India were deceived into paying $30–40,000 each for the promise of a two-year work visa. When they got to New Zealand, they discovered no such visa existed, and were put to work on a vineyard with no pay.

The second case is currently before the courts, with 16 Fijian men being conned out of large sums of money for a promised job in New Zealand.

But the first reported cases of trafficking go as far back as 2001, when Thai women who had been trafficked into prostitution in New Zealand were discovered. In more recent years, labour exploitation has been found in restaurants, seasonal work and on fishing boats.

Wherever there’s money to be made, people will be used as a commodity.

Lieutenants Ameet and Jessica Londhe are assistant officers at East City Corps with responsibility for The Salvation Army’s new Flat Bush Outpost. In their homeland of India, Jessica worked extensively with women trafficked into prostitution. They have seen many of the same tell-tale signs within New Zealand’s migrant community, they say.

‘Typically, people become exploited when they are in vulnerable positions—they don’t know English, can’t drive, and can’t even read English numbers for the bus,’ says Ameet. They may end up in domestic servitude, working long hours with no pay. ‘They have no idea about community services that are set up for them. People think this is how it is, because they don’t have any contact outside their community or even family. They have no idea there is another way of living in this country.’

‘We’ve also gotten to know that many students coming from India are encouraged to have huge loans of $25-50,000 for a year, so a lot end up having to trade their bodies,’ adds Jessica.

Another common practice, explains Ameet, is a businessman encouraging someone to invest $20,000 into a business, which turns out to be a lie, leaving the person with nothing. ‘They have no means to survive, and are expected to send money back to their family.’

Jenny’s story All through her teenage years, Jenny received very little love from her mother and stepfather. Then, at the age of 16, she got to know Keith, an elderly neighbour. She thought he was a caring man who was willing to give her the kindness she couldn’t get at home. But in reality, Keith was a sex offender who was grooming Jenny and luring her into prostitution.

Keith introduced her to a group of men who gradually took control of her life. When her stepfather threw her out of the house, these men found her somewhere to stay. But the cost was appallingly high. They forced themselves on her repeatedly and traded her to other men. They also made her take drugs to keep her under their control and beat her if she wouldn’t cooperate.

This nightmare went on for nearly two years. The injuries she suffered from her beatings were heart-breaking. At the age of 18 she became pregnant and had a miscarriage. After one of her attempted escapes, her captors doused her in petrol and threw her out of a moving car. They nearly succeeded in setting fire to her. But luckily, Jenny was found by the police and placed in the care of The Salvation Army in the UK. In the following months, the modern-day slavery team helped Jenny recover from her ordeal and piece her life back together.

They also helped her overcome the addiction to the drugs the gang had forced her to take.

When Jenny was ready to find work, The Salvation Army gave her work experience at its territorial headquarters. Jenny is now working as an assistant social worker, and doing her exams to become a fully qualified social worker.

‘She was in plain view—she was at school, had friends, she came to the attention of social workers, she went to A&E with injuries from rape … but it was just one person passing on the Salvation Army phone number that led to her rescue,’ says Anne.

Doing the impossible Last year, New Zealand trafficking laws were toughened to bring them into line with international standards. ‘These include measures to punish abduction, assault, kidnapping, rape, engaging underage prostitutes, coercing prostitutes, and exploiting labourers,’ says Cam Moore, manager of Serious Offences for Immigration New Zealand.

This is progress, but the New Zealand government still has many barriers to cross before it adequately exposes and arrests traffickers. There is no coordinated aftercare for victims, such as that in the UK. Nor do our laws match The Modern Slavery Act of the UK, which—among other things—requires all large businesses to ensure there is no slavery in their supply chains.

But real change will not start with government, it will start with people. In 2004, all the international leaders of The Salvation Army covenanted together to stop human trafficking in their territory. This includes New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga. The challenge has been set.

But can we really stem the tsunami of victims?

‘That’s where I want to set the bar. At stopping human trafficking,’ says Anne. ‘I think, honestly, realistically, it’s impossible. But we believe in a God who can do the impossible.’

As Nelson Mandela famously said, ‘It always seems impossible, until it’s done.’

SPEAK OUT! If you are aware of, or suspect someone has been trafficked in New Zealand, contact your local Police for help. If it’s an emergency, call 111.

Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to report a case anonymously, or complete an Online Crimestoppers form.

THE FACTS •

Worldwide, more than 800,000 men, women and children are trafficked every year

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77 per cent of trafficked victims are women

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87 per cent of trafficked victims are sexually exploited

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Human trafficking is a worldwide criminal activity with annual profits estimated to be $32 billion (USD)

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Women are sold for £500–£8000

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In New Zealand, it’s estimated that there are currently around 500 victims of trafficking.

Source: UNODC/Home Office/Global Slavery Index

08 | WarCry 17 September 2016

Lifestyle | 09

HEALTH

ENVIRONMENT

Easy Peasy Weight Loss Trick

How to Get Through a Bad Day

But a study which has come out of the University of Pennsylvania found that when people ordered their food at the cafeteria earlier in the day, rather than at lunch, they made healthier choices. Another study found school children who picked their lunch options earlier also made healthier choices.

Remember that old adage, ‘Never go to the supermarket when you’re hungry?’ It’s the same principle. We tend to choose more calorie-dense foods when we are hungry. We’ve all been there: telling ourselves we’re going to have a salad for lunch, but when we find ourselves starving and getting lunch in a hurry, we buy a pie instead.

By ordering lunch early, people typically ate around 100 less calories per meal. To lose weight, the general rule is to cut your calories by 500 per day.

So simply pre-ordering one meal gets you a fifth of the way there!

This is a great example of how delayed gratification works—if we know we’re going to eat soon, we choose foods that give instant emotional pleasure. But when we pre-plan, we think about what’s good for us in the long run. It’s why we should take a list to the supermarket, and stick to it.

You can’t do better than making a healthy, packed lunch. But if you are buying, plan ahead and pick up a nutritious meal on the way to work or study.

Eat to fuel your body, not to feed your emotions. Anon

Should I propose?

I’m 27 and have been with my girlfriend for two years. I just don’t know whether I’m ready to propose. How do I know if it’s the right decision?

A new study has found that one simple trick can make a big difference if you’re trying to cut your calories.

Despite the many diet methods out there, the science is simple: eat less than you burn off. As a society, it’s obvious that we eat too much for the amount of exercise we do. This is partially because quick, pre-packaged food is so accessible—whether at the café across the road, your local supermarket or a fast food joint.

Q&A

To have a stink day is to be human, said Shakespeare (badly paraphrased). But how do we get through them?

Firstly, remember that only robots are always cheerful (and actually, even R2D2 gets down sometimes). Our ‘think positive’ 21st century mantra can actually be harmful, as it means we deny the reality of life. People tend to feel happier when they acknowledge that ups and downs are a normal part of being human. For example, studies have found that people who expect to have bad times in their marriage actually report higher levels of satisfaction in their marriage than those who expect happiness all the time.

Being realistic stops us falling into the ‘if only’ trap. Toni Bernhard, an author who suffers chronic illness, says it helps to remember that even if she was pain-free, she wouldn’t always be happy.

Her advice is surprising: go ahead and throw yourself a little pity party.

Expressing your sadness can make you more compassionate towards yourself. But make sure you speak to yourself with sympathy, not with anger or threats. ‘I’d better get well again or else …’ will only increase your frustration. But, ‘I feel really sad about this’ will allow you to accept it.

Remind yourself that these emotions and experiences are not permanent.

‘I call it Weather Practice,’ says Toni. ‘I like to think of emotions and moods as being as changeable and unpredictable as the weather. They blow in; they blow out … One moment, life looks grey and foreboding; the next moment, a bit of brightness—maybe even a rainbow—begins to break through.’ If today is a bad day, ride out the storm as best as you can—who knows what tomorrow will bring?

These tips may not be a magic cure, adds Toni, but ‘even if these changes don’t magically turn a bad day into a good one, they’re a soothing balm that help make the day manageable.’

Sultan’s Sausages Simmering sausages in a well-spiced fruity sauce turns them into something really special. Make ahead and reheat when required | Serves 4 8 sausages 1 small onion 1 tsp minced garlic oil 1 tsp grated fresh ginger 1 tsp grated orange rind ½ cup orange juice ¼ cup chilli powder (optional) 1½ cups chicken stock or 1½ cups water + 1 tsp instant chicken stock 8 dried apple rings, halved 8 dried apricots, halved 8 prunes, halved ½ tsp each ground allspice and cinnamon 2 tsp brown sugar 1 Tbsp sour cream Salt and pepper to taste

Cook sausages in a large heavy pot, fry pan or casserole, turning to colour evenly. Add onion, cut into wedges, and garlic with a dribble of oil if necessary, and cook until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.

Add the remaining ingredients except the sour cream, salt and pepper. Cover and cook over a low heat for about 20–30 mins. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream. Season to taste.

Serve with couscous cooked in chicken stock, rice, or mashed or baked potatoes, and with green vegetables or salad.

From Marvellous Mince & Sensational Sausages by Alison and Simon Holst www.holst.co.nz

The only time in your life when you’ll be encouraged not to talk to your partner is when thinking about proposing. We have this romanticised idea that (usually) the guy surprises the girl with a huge, romantic gesture that comes out of the blue.

But when you think about it, that’s a really bad idea. A good relationship is based on open, honest and respectful communication—no matter what stage of the relationship you are in.

I’m sure you’ve talked to your girlfriend about your future, but it might be a good time to agree together on some ‘big picture’ plans—simply talking openly about where you both think the relationship is going. Discuss whether you’re both ready to move forward or are happy with where things are at, and make sure you’re on the same page.

It’s normal to have anxiety about any big life decisions. When you feel uneasy, you can translate that as meaning there must be something wrong with the relationship. At this stage, many couples break up. But, in fact, by working through any doubts, you’ll know if your concerns are real or the result of anxiety.

Some of these doubts will be about your stage of life—things like financial stability, work or study.

Are you experiencing pressure from family or your church? Are you anxious about the responsibilities of marriage? These are things to openly discuss with your partner.

If you, like lots of people, are worried about whether she is ‘the one’, ask yourself a few simple questions: Do you share the same values and faith? Is she a person of good character and integrity? Do you both want the same things out of life? If your answer is ‘yes’, you’ve found a great woman! God never asks us to find the perfect partner, but to give your undivided love to the partner you do find.

Testify After 25 years as an alcoholic and drug addict Alan Murray says a group of blind men helped inspire him to see a whole new life.

One day, just before I cleaned up my life, I walked past this record store and saw a CD cover.

Something said, ‘go back’, so I did.

It was an album from The Blind Boys of Alabama, singing gospel and contemporary songs about faith. I bought it and did some research on them. I thought, these guys are blind, but they’ve had this amazing life. What’s to stop me living a great life?

Since I left The Salvation Army’s addiction service, the Bridge, in 2004 there’s been a life buzz. I think I’ve lived more life in 12 years than I did in the 44 prior.

In early recovery, it’s a tricky question, ‘What are you going to do to replace drugs or alcohol?’

My caseworker suggested, ‘Allow yourself a year to get to know yourself.’ In some ways I was meeting myself for the first time.

I used to walk around, just looking at life, watching people, learning how to be a person again.

I taught myself to garden and did bits and pieces for the Bridge. After a year, I got a job at a printers and later came to work at Wellington Community Ministries.

In the past, when I was lying in a gutter drunk or stoned, sometimes I’d have this moment of clarity and think, ‘If you weren’t drunk or high you could be sky diving or scuba diving.’

So, in 2011, I went to Cairns to learn to scuba dive, and while

I was there I went sky diving too.

I decided to do the highest jump, from 14,000 feet. I did another jump an hour later. That taught me about faith and trust. Faith that the guy I was strapped to, who I’d known for 45 minutes, would get me to the ground safely—and then the moment we hit the ground was when I trusted him enough to say yes to jumping again. I’ve also fed sharks twice i n Fiji.

I work as intake coordinator at Community Ministries. I interview clients and provide food parcels or furniture, or refer them for other help. Often you have people in tears when you say, ‘Yes, we can help you.’ I had a big fellow, ex-gang member with a full face moko, sitting here crying because I got him furniture to move into a flat.

I also work with the Wellington Street Outreach, with people from 20 to 30 social services and the council who go out in pairs and talk to street people. It’s a real privilege

because you hear stories they wouldn’t trust anyone else with, and it’s making a real difference.

I also work as a Bridge Consumer Advisor, talking to clients about how the programme is working for them and if there are things that could be done better. That’s great because I’m using my experience to give back to the clients.

One of the bonuses of the job is after you have helped people, you see them later and they’re smiling. To see someone who for a year didn’t know how to smile and see them smile, their smile is like a sunny day—and there’s a lot of those sunny days now.

In the past, I’d think, ‘If you weren’t drunk or high you could be sky diving or scuba diving.’

Let’s Talk I would like: to explore what it means to follow Jesus information about Salvation Army worship and activities prayer for the following needs:

NAME: ADDRESS:

Please post to: War Cry, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org

10 | WarCry 17 September 2016

Close Up | 11

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A grand Merchandise Goodness Malady Energises State of affairs Bars entrance Cleans Unroofed enclosed area Non military Umpires Stomachs Funny Material that adds strength Altered Honour

QUICK QUIZ 1 2 3 4 5

What country came first in medals per capita at the 2016 Olympics?

What’s the common name for terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs?

Who was Jerome Silberman in his professional life as an actor/comedian?

What event significantly impacted the Wellington landscape in 1855?

Which psalm says that children are like arrows in the hands of a warrior?

Help Women and Children in Fiji BECOME A FAMILY CARE CENTRE SPONSOR Our Family Care Centres are safe houses for women escaping domestic violence, homelessness and human trafficking.

For $25 a month, you can help support this work.

Become a sponsor today Contact Major Helen Knowles (Child Sponsorship Secretary), e: helen_knowles@nzf.salvationarmy.org, p: (04) 384 5649 or download a form from our website

www.salvationarmy.org.nz/ FijiFamilyCentreSponsor

Stand Without Fear Fiji’s Family Care Centres provide a place of safety for women fleeing domestic violence, but staff say it’s just as important to make sure these women can stand on their own after they leave the Army’s care.

‘My husband was having an affair and he was also hitting me,’ says Mary*, a resident of The Salvation Army’s Family Care Centre in Lautoka with her three-year-old daughter. Mary had already given her husband another chance after he started living with a girl in Nadi when Mary was pregnant, but then he started doing the same thing again. Unable to return to her family because her father and brother also treated her badly, Mary found herself at The Salvation Army’s door.

Three months later, she and her daughter are much happier.

‘It’s a good place and the manager looks after us properly—like a mother. Before I was always worrying, but now I feel peace,’ Mary says.

The Salvation Army provides 14 rooms at three Family Care Centres in Fiji, in Lautoka, Suva and Labasa. These accommodate females over 15 years of age, and as many children as each mother brings with her.

‘Our centres are fulfilling a significant need within Fiji,’ says Major Vyvyenne Noakes, Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries in Fiji. ‘We work closely with the Ministry of Social Welfare, as well as other emergency shelters, Police, hospitals, the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, and counselling agency Empower Pacific. And there is an emerging need for safe houses for trafficked women and their children.’

Women can stay for up to six months and are supported for a further six months after they’ve moved into the community.

‘Six months works well,’ Vyvyenne explains. ‘If people stay longer than six months we have found it can lead to dependency.’

School-aged children attend nearby schools, but many are pre-schoolers—some just a month or two old when their mums come through the Army’s door. Many of the children come from situations of extreme trauma. They have often witnessed their mother being abused and may also have suffered abuse themselves.

‘A lot of the women say they feel love and peace for the first

Caseworker Nainasa Tadulala and manager Ana Driu time at our centres. The older children tell us the same thing—these children have experienced a lot, and need love and time to heal,’ Vyvyenne says.

‘When the women come here they can be very scared,’ says Ana Driu, manager of the Lautoka Family Care Centre. ‘They tell us, “We’ve come here to hide from our husbands.” At first they’re too afraid even to go out to the shops in case they are seen.’

Most of the women are escaping domestic violence, sometimes fuelled by drugs and alcohol and often close on the heels of partner infidelity. ‘A husband will go to work in the town and find another woman. Then he will want to move his new woman in, so his wife is now homeless. Often, she and any children are chased out with a broom,’ says Ana. ‘The first thing we do is encourage them to reconcile with their own family, but in Fiji it can be very hard to go back to your family —especially for Indian Fijians.’

This is because of the impact of the Indian dowry system. Once a dowry has been paid, if the relationship breaks down and even if the woman has suffered abuse, she is often not accepted back by her family. As they see it, she no longer has any rights with them since they paid for her to be accepted into her husband’s family. Although the dowry system is beginning to have less of an impact, it is still a problem in Fiji, Ana says.

Mary hopes to find another husband. ‘A good one, for my daughter’s future,’ she says. But Ana says it is important for Mary not to be dependent on a husband to provide an income. ‘Mary is worried for her daughter’s future, but we will help her to see other choices too.’

With this goal in mind, The Salvation Army helps those at its Family Care Centres develop small-business enterprises, such as making products to sell at market stalls. They are taught cooking, sewing and handiwork skills, including tie dying and screen-printing.

‘Whatever we teach them here is so they can stand on their own,’ Ana says. One of the women at the Lautoka centre is a hairdresser, so the Army has helped by buying the products she needs to work in her trade.

The Salvation Army also makes sure that women and children at its centres access their financial entitlements. Even if a woman is not legally married, her ex-partner is obligated to pay child maintenance.

The Salvation Army supports women to apply for legal aid and pursue their rights through the court. If a husband doesn’t work and can’t pay maintenance, women are helped to apply for social welfare assistance

so they can receive some money and food vouchers.

Lautoka case worker Nainasa Tadulala says, ‘A challenge for the women who come here is that they often have young children and don’t have the support of extended family, so they need something that will give them an income but still leave them time to be a good mother.’

Learning to be good mothers is another important goal for Family Care Centre staff, says Vyvyenne. ‘Recently, we’ve been sent a family of a woman and six children—the oldest child had been raped by the woman’s husband and the case was going through the court. So Social Welfare has asked us to teach the mother parenting skills while she was with us.’

This is partly done by role modelling healthy interaction with children. As well, no one is allowed to leave their child in the care of someone else when they go out—mothers are encouraged to be personally vigilant about their children’s wellbeing at all times.

When it comes time for women to leave, anyone still at risk from an ex-partner is rehoused further away. Some women do reconcile with their partners, but only if they will be safe and the relationship can still work—and the women are stronger now, says Ana. Those who don’t already have a church connection are introduced to the local Salvation Army where they will be living. This provides an additional measure of support and encouragement as women continue to make a better future for themselves and their family. * not her real name

Show Your Love

for Fiji’s Family Care Centres At the Now is the Time congress, worshippers will be invited to give a ‘love offering’ to support the work of Fiji’s Family Care Centres during the 10 am worship service on Sunday 2 October. Please come prepared to give generously—cash or credit card donations will be welcome. www salvationarmy.org.nz/now You can also become a Family Care Centre sponsor. For more info, go to www salvationarmy.org.nz/FijiFamilyCare

17 September 2016 WarCry | 13

Army Youth Consider What Disturbs and How They’re Destined Central Youth Conference

world. What’s more, this sort of activism is part of the DNA of who we are as Salvationists.

Raw onions, men giving birth, unidentified liquids used in community service, free car wash—washing 50 cars in just two hours, gardening, disturbing limbs, gaming, craft, baking, exercise, banjo playing and, of course, the hard-hitting word of God brought to us by our Chief Secretary Colonel Willis Howell. All this and more contributed to the awesome time that was had at #CYCnz16

God was working in the lives of the Central Division’s young people, transforming them bit by bit as we heard that to turn away the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, the forgotten and the broken is to turn away our Saviour.

Our theme for the weekend was ‘Disturbance’.

What do you think about when you see or hear that word? There’s a pretty big difference between things that merely annoy us and things that ought to disturb us. Examples of things you could toss into the annoying category might include people who talk on their phones at the movies, slow (or no!) wifi, and long queues.

Please continue to support and pray for the young people of this division to take action, change and be more Christ-like—that they would see Jesus in their own lives and the lives of one another. That nothing would separate them, halt or alter them from God’s call.

19–20 August / Wellington

But disturbance goes deeper, prodding us to do something about what’s going on in our

We were challenged to love like no one is watching, sacrifice like no one has seen before, and help like our lives and eternity depends on it.

A big thank you to all who took part, and to those who contributed in leadership and support in some way over the weekend.

MJR BRONWYN MALCOLM (DIVISIONAL YOUTH SECRETARY)

JAMES TURNER

Midland Youth Councils PHOTO: JOEL KNIGHT

Disturbance goes deeper, prodding us to do something about what’s going on in our world.

26–28 August / Rotorua

This year’s theme was ‘Destined’. Yes, this was the same theme as Northern Division … which shows that great minds really do think alike, since both events were planned independently.

Based on Romans 8:28-30, Midland Division young people concentrated the teaching on the one great purpose that God has for each of his followers: to be conformed to the image of Christ.

Ninety delegates and leaders from across the division gathered for what was to be a significant move of God in the lives of some of our young people.

We explored the theme from four viewpoints.

Firstly, that we were created in God’s image, but due to bad choices that image was destroyed … AND that from before the creation of the world God had a RECOVERY PLAN in place.

Secondly, we considered that NOTHING can prevent this purpose from being attained if we have God as our aim. ALL THINGS work together and we are ALL foreknown by God—we are ALL chosen. We realise this for ourselves when we choose to heed God’s call.

Thirdly, we considered God’s utter determination to do EVERYTHING within his POWER to see us reach his ULTIMATE PURPOSE. In our final session, we looked at how to maintain our relationship with God back in the everyday world, because a camp like Youth Councils is the easiest place to be a Christian!

We also heard some great faith stories from Stephen Ward, Logan Anderson and Major Julie Cope. These testimonies spoke to many of the young people of the redemptive power of God, inspiring them to trust God in the difficult times of life that will come.

Workshops covered such topics as ‘How to Keep your Faith through your Teens and Early Twenties’, ‘Mental Wellness’ and ‘Worship Lifestyle’, with a reflective space set up offering a variety of contemplative experiences.

It wasn’t all just good teaching, though. The other part of the fun included an enthusiastic ‘Minute to Win It’ evening, fantastic worship and great relationship building.

We believe God was honoured this weekend, we know lives were changed by the power of God’s Spirit, and we know that God is faithful to complete the good work begun!

MJR ROBERT COPE (DIVISIONAL YOUTH SECRETARY)

Ninety delegates and leaders from across the division gathered for what was to be a significant move of God.

Bits FROM OUR Bloggers WILL YOU STAND? / Jessica Watts (Invercargill Corps)

PIECE OF PEACE / Natalie Bateman (Auckland City Corps)

Standing up for what we believe is not always easy. Especially if we are ridiculed or judged because of it. So many of us want to be in the in crowd. We don’t want to stand out; we want to fit in. Sometimes that means altering what we believe so we don’t look silly in front of others.

Why is it so hard for people to be nice to each other? I simply can’t understand it.

Sadly, I can put my hand up and admit I don’t always speak up about my faith because I’m worried about looking silly or being judged for how I act according to what I say I believe.

It can be really tough going against the crowd and standing up for what we truly believe in our hearts. But we should be proud of what and who we stand for. Faith is not something to be ashamed of, and it makes me smile that by standing up for what we believe we could gain another brother or sister in Christ. We are God’s lights and are here to shine the path for the lost.

Yes, the journey is hard, and yes, we will stumble, but being a follower of Christ is something to be proud of. Something to hold on to tightly. 1 Peter 3:15-16 says, ‘But in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you’.

What the world says shouldn’t stop us from standing up. As Newsboys say in their song ‘Guilty’: ‘If saying I believe is out of line / if I’m judged cause I’m gonna give my life / to show the world the love that fills me / then I want to be guilty.’ As you go about your week this week, think about this: If you have the opportunity to stand up for what you believe, will you?

Most of us will be aware of recent troubles in our world: the attempted coup in Turkey that left over 200 people dead and another 1400 people wounded. The Nice massacre in France, where someone decided to plough a truck into crowds of people. It’s not that long since the Pulse nightclub shootings in Florida, where people were killed simply because of who they loved, because they were gay. … Tucked away in our little corner, we don’t see much of it. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t affected, that we can’t be held accountable for some of the problems in our world. We still have the same hate, the same ignorant and misguided ideas around our country and they destroy people every day.

It doesn’t have to stay that way. There are things we can do to make changes in our world, and they’re so simple: Be kind.

Have a little understanding.

Show love to those who would spit at you.

It’s not exactly groundbreaking stuff, but that’s the point. This is the same advice Jesus gave to us and his disciples all those years ago. They were wise words then, they still are today.

They’re the ideas I try to live by, day to day, and that’s something I hope you’ll at least try too.

LEARNING TO APPRECIATE LIFE / Karthik Sivanathan (Nuku‘alofa Corps) Life is fragile at times, yet in the midst of this we must learn to appreciate how valuable is the life that God has given us.

For so long I thought that life would always be okay, but I was proven wrong. Very early one Thursday morning in September 2012 my life (and the lives of my immediate family members) took an unexpected turn. Around 2 am I suddenly felt our old wooden house shake to its foundations. The next minute I heard my big brother shouting, ‘Fire, fire!’ We got out with minutes to spare before the fire overtook the entire house.

Every time I think of that early Thursday morning (which is pretty much every day), I thank God that he spared our lives. God has given me yet another opportunity to live life and glorify him. He has given me the opportunity to share with others of what Jesus has done in my life.

The very first thing I read after that incident were these words inscribed on a stone tablet, ‘God grant me serenity to accept things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference’. My perspective towards life completely changed from that day onwards.

Read more from our bloggers in ‘Engage’ at FIREZONE.CO.NZ

Our Community | 15

Giving It a Go for Te Reo Salvationists across the north of the country were giving it a go for Māori Language Week, sparking creative mission ideas.

Northern Division Māori Ministry Secretary Captain Hana Seddon challenged Family Stores, corps and centres across the division to mark the theme of ‘Ākina te Reo—Give it a go!’ with Māori Language Awards for the best ideas. The competition saw lots of engaging examples, Hana said. The winners were Waitakere Corps and Community Ministries, Onehunga Family Store and Northland Bridge Programme.

Waitakere Corps and Community Ministries aimed to encourage people to use te reo in everyday conversations. Community Ministries Administrator Jo Ghent said they started by labelling everyday items, discussing pronunciation and offering beads as a prize for every Māori word staff used in a sentence, with a prize for the person with the most.

They also held a quiz and games, included Māori in morning devotions and finished the week with a boil-up lunch (pictured).

At Onehunga Family Store, staff member Pare Phillips-Kamariera said all signs were in Māori, staff decorated the store in white, black and red, put up a display of Māori phrases, books, kete and ornaments, and promoted the week on their Facebook page encouraging people to leave a comment in te reo. All store customers who tried out te reo during the week also got a prize and went into the draw for a $20 store voucher.

Northland Bridge Caseworker Keith Gravatt said their initiative happened through their Māoritanga (Māori culture) classes with a discussion of Matariki and its meaning for Māori today. The clients also visited Whangarei Corps during the week and met with their Māori Ministry waiata group led by Trevor Mclean.

‘We arrived and responded to a karanga to enter the church and be formally welcomed on in a mihi whakatau. We then joined together in a time of singing waiata, and listened to two members of the waiata group share their journeys. After that we enjoyed chatting with them over kai.’

Māori Ministry also provided their Bridge programme visitors with a bag of kumara each to share with their whānau. One participant said the

visit and reconnection to Māoritanga helped them reflect on themselves and their past behaviour. Another said the greetings made them feel very welcome.

‘The waiata we sang were old school ones and brought back good memories. The woman who spoke was brave in sharing her story. It was touching hearing her journey from her upbringing on the streets, gangs, to now being married and having a better life,’ they said.

Hana said she was grateful to all the corps and centres for their efforts, which had seen great results in helping people feel welcome, celebrating an important part of life and culture in Aotearoa, and spreading te reo Māori. She was hopeful it would encourage Salvationists to keep up their efforts to use the language in mission and ministry.

‘Whakawhetai ki a koutou—thank you so much. I encourage you to continue to embrace te reo Māori in all the remaining weeks of the year as well— it does make a difference, it does bring life. Mauri ora!’

New Member of Order of the Founder as General Visits South America East General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox (World President of Women’s Ministries) shared worship with more than 1000 Salvationists and a potentially far greater online and TV audience during their visit to the South America East Territory. During spiritually uplifting days in the Argentinian cities of Buenos Aires and Rosário, the visitors met government and other officials, led a congress and admitted Sergeant Iván José Demitre to the Order of the Founder, The Salvation Army’s highest honour.

Upon arrival in Rosário, the General and Commissioner Cox were greeted by Salvationists, a brass band and folk dancers. The Mayor of Rosário, Dr Mónica Fein, received the General and Commissioner Cox at her office to personally welcome them to the city.

Over the weekend, the territorial congress at the Centro Metropolitano in Rosário was attended by more than 1000 delegates from Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay—the three countries that make up The Salvation Army’s South America East Territory. The programme included three main sessions, a women’s gathering ‘Friendship Tea’, a youth rally and a men’s rally. The festival of praise session included presentations representing the different countries and regions from across the territory through various art forms, including timbrels, dancing, drums and drama.

The final congress meeting on Sunday morning included the enrolment of 40 senior soldiers by the General and 13 junior soldiers

by Commissioner Cox. The General reminded the new soldiers that they were not just soldiers of The Salvation Army but—more importantly—soldiers of Jesus Christ.

A highlight of the meeting was the surprise admittance to the Order of the Founder of Sergeant Iván José Demitre of Patricios Corps in the Buenos Aires Division. He was given the award in recognition of his long service and exceptional dedication to the work of The Salvation Army in the South America East Territory, where he has directed the musical Spirit annually for more than 20 years.

The altar call led to moving scenes as corps members gathered to pray for one another.

While in Rosário the General and Commissioner Cox conducted

The General takes a selfie with youth of the South America East territory. a television interview with Canal Luz, a ministry of IEMA (Iglesia Evangelica Misionera Argentina, the Evangelical Missionary Church of Argentina), which broadcast the entire territorial congress live via the Internet and multiple television stations across Central and South America. The General also preached at the closing meeting of IEMA’s own 32nd anniversary celebration.

The General and Commissioner Cox’s time in Buenos Aires included the conferral of an honorary doctorate degree on the General

by UCES (University of Business and Social Sciences). The university made the award in recognition of the General’s ‘work in the areas of finance and management in The Salvation Army, as well as for his contribution to the cause of international humanitarian aid’. The General was also declared an official ‘Guest of Honour to the City of Buenos Aires’ by the Buenos Aires City Legislature.

16 | WarCry 17 September 2016

Our Community | 17

Salvation Via Social Work and Love in Fiji

The Salvation Army in Fiji recently received extensive coverage in The Fiji Times, with a feature article by reporter Sikeli Qounadovu. The article is reprinted here with permission.

All along, I have mistakenly thought of The Salvation Army as just another non-governmental charitable organisation. Until this week when I spoke to Solomoni Komai, a Fijian now residing in the US for the past 27 years. Solo, as he loves to be called, is a survivor from the streets. His story of how The Salvation Army helped transform his life prompted me, with some urgency, to discover and know more about this organisation.

According to Major David Noakes, Fiji Divisonal Commander, ‘the Salvation Army is like a two-winged bird—evangelical and social work’. ‘What motivates us is the love of Christ for all people regardless of ethnicity, religion, race, culture or position in society. The Salvation Army will assist and it does not matter if you are not a Christian. We are focused on transforming people’s lives and community through the power of God.’ The idea to have a Salvation Army office in Fiji was first mooted in 1904, when New Zealand commissioner Isaac Unsworth visited the country in the hope of extending their work to the Pacific Islands.

There were further visits in 1916, 1924, until 60 years since that first trip a report sent to the Army’s international headquarters in London suggested the possibility of setting up its operations in Fiji be ‘carefully explored’.

After careful discussion with the then government, a selected team with a small musical band, under the leadership of Captains Brian and Beverly McStay, set out on a 10-day trek around Viti Levu.

This included visiting the Naboro Prison compound to conducting evangelical work in Lautoka, Nadi, Nausori, Suva and Raiwaqa.

Hurricane Bebe in 1972 provided the final push for a local centre.

The 14 October 1972 War Cry reported: ‘Hurricane Bebe provided them with a marvellous opportunity to respond with support, both spiritual and practical. Public and official interest was so marked that on the return to New Zealand of the trek team, it was finally decided that Salvation Army operations should be officially launched, with the New Zealand Territory accepting full financial responsibility for its development.’

Captains Brian and Beverly McStay were given the responsibility of pioneering the work and left New Zealand for Fiji in 1973. From rented premises in Lami, Suva, The Salvation Army began, the first soldiers being Brother Bryce and Sister Helen Hawkey who had been instrumental in organising the original trek the previous year. Bagasau Corps, later named Suva Central Corps, was established in April 1973.

From its humble beginnings, The Salvation Army has grown to having three early childhood education centres, prison chaplains, youth training centres and two hostels, with 300 children under its scholarship program. This is in addition to its churches based around the country, mainly on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, with one centre on Taveuni and 10 fully-equipped evacuation centres for natural disasters.

Fiji officers in a recent visit from General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox. ‘We are about salvation coupled with a strong holiness movement and strong social action,’ said Major Noakes. ‘We also run two significant youth programmes, mainly for troubled youths, in addition to the Alcohol and Addiction Program that was launched this year.’

Over the years, The Salvation Army has been a place of refuge for those who go through hardships in life. Some who have been picked from the streets, others who have been caught on the wrong side of the law, while some come from poor backgrounds and looking for a way out of poverty.

The church toned down some well-known graduates of the school of hard knocks such as Mataiasi ‘Make it’ Curusese and gave them a second chance to lead a life away from crime.

Komai was among them fighting his way through the streets of Raiwai and Raiwaqa. He joined The Salvation Army to be a better person. It was a decision that helped mould and shape him. Today, he has been an American citizen for almost 30 years.

There were a lot like Komai who were saved from the poor and hard lives they lived on the streets, going on to build good lives for them and their families.

Some boxing champions groomed at The Salvation Army include Komai, Tomasi Bukalidi, Mataiasi Tagicakibau, Sivinia Koroi, Sekonaia Bale, Gabirieli Nimacere, Edward Campbell, Netani Gucake, and even former boxing heavyweight champ Jo Fabiano. In addition, some young men saved by the organisation went on to be British Army soldiers. They now live in the UK with their families. Some joined the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

Some left for greener pastures abroad, some converted by the church gave their lives to working for The Salvation Army, such as the late Samuela Matanisiga and Samuela Daveta. Others continue to work there. Some hold key positions within Fiji.

Another man, who wished to remain anonymous, lost his parents when he was only four years old. He was picked up by The Salvation Army from the streets of Suva one night trying to find warmth under a cardboard box. He now has a secure job and looks after his family.

Continuing his story, Komai said, ‘I thank the Lord for His guidance. Like a clay pot, He shaped my life through the dangerous days I survived on the streets. I lived on leftover foods and committed some wrongs to survive. Amid all the terrible things I faced, never a day I did not pray and recite Psalm 23. One night before I went to sleep on my spot on the corridor of the Government Buildings, I prayed to the Lord for a better future.

‘The next day while we were shining shoes, a friend had a transistor radio and a programme was talking about The Salvation Army and how it could help rehabilitate offenders. I stood up, left my box behind and walked to the Salvation Army hostel at Raiwai. The first door I entered was the church and I felt something different, something that told me

that Christ is alive.

‘Captain Daveta, Captain Rika and Mosese Nagatalevu interviewed me and prayed for me. These were some men who went through the church and helped in rehabilitation. That was the start of my life.

When I visited my village later, some of my relatives saw me as a thief because I lived with criminals at The Salvation Army.

‘Remarks by people forced us to the lives we lived because we were rejected by some of our own. Now that I am successful, even some of those who swore at me back then, have come back asking for help.’

Another was brought up in a broken family and left to fend for himself on the streets. He now lives abroad, travelling now and again to the country.

‘It is a joy; in fact, we rejoice when we see them make huge changes and transform their lives, and we are disappointed when some are not able to make that change,’ said Major Noakes.

‘People who come are often referred to by the Social Welfare Department or other social institutions. Everything here is taken care of by us and here they follow a strict programme—like training in caring for their children and family when they decide to settle down, assistance in long-term housing, capacity building, and assistance in seeking employment opportunities.’

Go to www salvationarmy.org.nz/ReBuildingFiji for more on how we're helping to rebuild Fiji after Cyclone Winston.

GAZETTE Appointment Effective immediately: Mjr Elisabeth Gainsford, Director, William Booth Educare, Booth College of Mission.

Bereaved Mjr Denise Smith of her brother, Allan Hamilton, from Oamaru on 28 Aug. The funeral service was held at Oamaru Corps on 2 Sept, led by Mjr Ken Smith. Please support Mjrs Denise and Ken Smith, Allan’s wife Jocelyn, children and family members in this time of grief and loss.

Conclusion of Officership Effective 12 Sept: Lt Charmaine Travis. Following her commissioning on 10 Dec 2011, Charmaine was appointed Corps Officer, Whakatane. In Jan 2016, she was appointed Corps Officer, Aranui Corps; Director, Aranui Community Ministries; and Chaplain, U Build for the Rebuild Project, Christchurch. We thank Lt Travis for her four years and eight months of active service, and pray God’s blessing on her in the days ahead.

Promotion to Glory Mjr Vera McCaughan on 19 Aug 2016 from Madison Life Care in Levin, where she has lived for the past three years. Vera was born 21 Aug 1928 at Newport Pugnell, Buckinghamshire. She entered the International Training College in Aug 1956 in the Faithful Session.

Following her commissioning in May 1957, Vera served in eight appointments in the United Kingdom in women’s social homes as a midwife and in the residential care of unmarried mothers. In Nov 1968, Vera spent a year at Kimberley Hospital, South Africa. She was then appointed to Booth Memorial Hospital, Capetown.

From 1974–1977, Vera had UK appointments in women’s social residential facilities for unmarried mothers, battered wives and at a halfway house for women.

Another term of service in South Africa followed from

Aug 1977–March 1985, when Vera specialised in geriatric care and served as Matron at four different hospitals and homes for the aged in Capetown and Durban.

Returning to the UK in May 1985, she held appointments as Matron of Eventide Homes in Belfast (NI) and Manchester, England before retiring in September 1988 from Scarborough.

Following her retirement, Mjr Vera McCaughan emigrated to New Zealand to be near her sister at Kapiti (Francis and Vic Devereux) and then settled in Palmerston North, where she lived for more than 20 years. A service of thanksgiving was conducted by Mjr Colleen Marshall at Palmerston North Corps on 22 Aug. Well done, good and faithful servant of Jesus!

International Promotion to Glory Comm (Dr) Harry Williams was promoted to Glory from Davidson House, Edinburgh, Scotland, on 7 August, aged 103. Born on 13 July 1913, Harry William George Williams became a soldier and a bandsman at Wood Green Corps, North London. He became a medical student, but interrupted these studies to enter officer training in 1933. Following his commissioning in May 1935, he returned to his medical studies. In 1939, Harry married Lt Eileen Neeve.

For the next 30 years, the Commissioner, together with his wife, served in four of the Army’s major hospitals in India: the Thomas Emery at Moradabad, the MacRobert at Dhariwal, the Emery at Anand and the Catherine Booth at Nagercoil. When the Army’s hospital at Maradabad was taken over by the military authorities, the commissioner served for a short time as a military captain in Lucknow. Whilst at Nagercoil, in 1969, he was involved in relief work in Vietnam, seconded to the Children’s Medical Relief Inc, of New York and working as senior surgeon at a new hospital in Saigon.

The commissioner was an acknowledged authority in the field of plastic surgery, becoming a full Member of the British Association of Plastic Surgeons in 1960. In 1970, he was appointed an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours list, in recognition of his specialist work in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery, particularly in cases of leprosy, and for his 30 years’ medical service in India. It was also acknowledged that his skill won for the Catherine Booth Hospital (where he was Chief Medical Officer) a special reputation in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

In 1969, the commissioner became the Territorial Commander in Southern India, followed by similar appointments in the New Zealand Territory (1970) and Australia Eastern Territory (1972).

In 1974, he returned to London as International Secretary for the Americas and Australasia at International Headquarters, and in 1978 he took up the appointment of International Secretary for Planning and Development, which had been instituted to respond to the growing needs of the developing Third World countries.

In addition to the enormous contribution that he has made to the service and mission of The Salvation Army, the commissioner was also involved in ecumenism, representing the Army as a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches from 1975 until his retirement from active service in July 1980. Mrs Commissioner Eileen Williams was promoted to Glory in July 2002.

On 17 Nov 2005, General John Larsson admitted Comm Harry Williams to the Order of the Founder.

We give thanks for the life and ministry of this great man of God whose influence and example have touched so many, and who will live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew him.

18 | WarCry 17 September 2016

Mission Matters | 19

LEADERSHIP LINKS

Celebrate God’s faithfulness, worship God together, and equip and enthuse each other for mission and ministry.

In today’s world, family gatherings and celebrations can be challenging to coordinate. People live at different ends of the country or overseas. Work, sport and other commitments often complicate things further. And, if we are honest, sometimes we are just too busy or tired to make the effort. But when we do get ourselves organised, we have a good time and usually all agree that ‘we should do this more often’.

When God was preparing the descendants of Abraham and Sarah to form a nation and live in the Promised Land, he gave instructions about getting together for significant festivals and celebrations. Some of the intentions were that in getting together people would worship God, that they would remember and celebrate their past, that they would also realise that were part of something far bigger, and that they would focus on their purpose for being (their Covenant with God) for the future.

Likewise, it is good for The Salvation Army New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory to get together from time to time to celebrate God’s faithfulness, to worship God together, and to equip and enthuse each other for further mission and ministry.

Celebration, encouragement, corporate worship and prayer, catching up with friends, cultural expression, good music, leadership development, and learning from others are all great reasons for us to join together in Wellington for the Now is the Time Congress from 29 September to 2 October. It will be a thrill to welcome and interact with as many volunteers, staff and Salvationists as are able to come in just two weeks’ time.

Salvation Army congresses only comes around every three years, and a huge effort has been put in to make the 2016 Now is the Time Congress an uplifting, strengthening and mission-focused event. You are most welcome! Please visit www.salvationarmy.org.nz/congress for more information.

We’re looking forward to welcoming Pastor Paul de Jong as our special guest for the Mission Now Conference and our Friday evening Celebration Now gathering. Friday and Saturday’s Mission Now Conference also includes many other speakers who will share from their own mission experiences.

A talented worship band has been put together, so we know our worship times over the congress weekend will bring many moments of feeling close to God. It will be an absolute honour for Janine and me to outline and launch the territory’s new Mission Plan at congress and to bring words of encouragement from the Word of God. Congress will be a real highlight for the children as well.

They’ll have lots of fun as they learn from The Lads, an international rock band specialising in ministry to children that has its roots with The Salvation Army in New Zealand.

We look forward to seeing you at the Now is the Time Congress, knowing God has rich blessings in store!

Commissioner Robert Donaldson Territorial Commander

BY CHRISTINA TYSON

Let’s Get Talking Resources to help Salvationists think about and discuss important ethical issues.

The Salvation Army’s Moral and Social Issues Council (MASIC) has prepared a number of Talk Sheets. These are intended to give individuals and small groups an understanding of key aspects of various moral and social issues. You can read these online or download from www.salvationarmy.org.nz/MASIC.

Abortion Abortion is on the decline overall in New Zealand but is readily available. Despite legislation requiring various checks and balances on decisions that an abortion is permitted, 98–99 per cent of all abortions are granted on the basis of the mother’s medical help.

Some would say this is virtually ‘abortion on demand’.

Abortion is a polarising issue, but should not be seen as a quick response to an inconvenient or unplanned pregnancy. The Salvation Army believes life is a gift from God and is opposed to abortion in most cases. This Talk Sheet says society has a responsibility to care for others, and especially to protect and promote the welfare of vulnerable people—including unborn children. This responsibility extends to women with an unwanted pregnancy who may consider abortion—they are also vulnerable and need our care and support.

Abstinence from Alcohol Is The Salvation Army out of step in maintaining its total abstinence stance as a condition of church membership? Is it still useful for what some describe as ‘an outdated temperance pledge’ to be part and parcel of The Salvation Army’s witness to the world?

The Army’s roots lie in 19th century England, when alcohol consumption was on the rise and Salvationists chose to stand in solidarity with those affected by alcohol abuse even though this was in opposition to the predominant medical thinking of the day and even though they were reviled by alcohol retailers for this stance. Today, the high cost of alcohol-related harm is well known, with links between alcohol abuse and serious offending and road crashes. This Talk Sheet presents a challenge to today’s Salvationists and has some great ideas for spreading the word and choosing to be alcohol-free.

Biological Ethics Two excellent Talk Sheets have been published, on PreImplementation Genetic Diagnosis, and Gamete and Embryo Research. Both consider how new developments in technology can

raise new ethical problems for consideration, particularly around nonmedical uses such as the possibility of ‘designer babies’ and increased marginalisation of the disabled. Some lines do need to be drawn to safeguard ethical, spiritual and cultural concerns in these areas.

Depression Does the church provide a place where depression can be talked about openly and freely? Is there still stigma for Christians suffering depression? How can we support our friends, loved ones and church family when depression is so often unseen and undiagnosed?

This Talk Sheet offers basic information about depression and suggests the most useful ways to help a depressed friend. In theory, the church is an ideal place for those struggling with depression, offering a caring community and encouraging a relationship with Christ who can give hope and purpose and strengthen our perseverance through difficult times. However, this won’t happen unless those within the church are intentional about creating a safe place for people to talk honestly about their emotional wellbeing.

Voluntary Euthanasia This Talk Sheet explores arguments for and against voluntary euthanasia, where a competent person makes a request to die but needs someone else’s help to achieve this. Commonly, this is what is known as ‘physician-assisted suicide’. Arguments regarding involuntary euthanasia (where a person is unable to articulate or make that decision for themselves) and non-voluntary euthanasia, such as when a decision for euthanasia might be made based on perceived efficient use of healthcare resources, are explored.

Information is provided on palliative care, and also a biblical view on the sanctity of human life. Three scenarios are given that can be explored in group discussions.

Problem Gambling Gambling goes beyond the simple push of a button, the scratch of a ticket or the placing of a bet. Many people view gambling as simple entertainment, but it can result in significant harm for the gambler and those close to them. In New Zealand, gambling is seen as a significant public health issue.

In 2008, The Salvation Army took the stance that it would no longer seek or receive funding directly derived from gambling profits.

This policy change recognised that the social cost of gambling was often being paid by those who could least afford it. It also affirmed the Army’s strong commitment to working to minimise gambling harm through its Oasis centres.

Power in the Church This Talk Sheet explores healthy ways of relating to one another within church communities, noting that Jesus called his followers to love God

and love their neighbours. If our relationships are not characterised by love and grace, we dishonour Jesus’ name.

Scenarios are included that small groups can use to explore the dynamics of power relationships in a Salvation Army setting. Biblical principles are included to guide everyday interaction.

Prostitution The Salvation Army has shown care and concern for prostitutes since its earliest days. The Army made a submission supporting the June 2003 New Zealand law change to decriminalise prostitution on the basis that all sex workers should be given respect and that their safety, health and human rights should be upheld. However, this qualified support for the decriminalisation of prostitution does not mean that The Salvation Army endorses the sex industry of the legitimising of sex as a commodity for purchase. We remain concerned about the normalising of prostitution.

This Talk Sheet contains personal and biblical reflections, along with a suggested model for engagement that involves care, help and prevention.

Turning People into Things How are we to respond when sex has been turned into a commodity?

When sex is no longer something we freely and lovingly give ourselves to, nor something we equally or openly share in, but simply something we take and use?

This Talk Sheet explores the difficult topic of the sexualisation of life and offers a corrective, ‘a hospitality of sight’ that learns to see people through the eyes of Jesus. A biblical reflection looks at how we can succumb to dehumanise and objectify others. The topic of pornography and the need for an action plan to combat pornography addiction is also included.

Suicide Bereavement A practical Talk Sheet designed to help individuals and church communities offer pastoral support after a suicide, when the shock and sense of sadness experienced can be overwhelming. Add to that people’s questions about whether they could have done something to prevent a suicide and the unhelpful stigma associated with suicide, and we can see why this form of bereavement can be an especially difficult and lonely path to walk.

Tips on working through grief are included, along with ideas on caring for the bereaved and suicide prevention. Discussion questions will help small groups consider some of the barriers that the church might be putting up that can make it hard for those who have suffered the loss of a loved one to suicide.

www salvationarmy.org.nz/MASIC also contains links to territorial and international Positional Statements on a wide range of topics.

20 | WarCry 17 September 2016

Soul Food | 21

NEW ZE A L A ND’S

EU TH A NA SI A DEBATE As New Zealand considers the question of euthanasia, War Cry offers views from the disability and medical sectors.

Euthanasia supporters often simplistically portray the opponents of euthanasia and assisted suicide as driven by a narrow religious agenda.

The implication is that the vast majority of people are in support of a more modern approach to end of life, while a small but vocal minority would seek to hold society captive to out-dated views.

This ignores the reality that many Christians are deeply thoughtful in reflecting upon the topic of euthanasia, careful to integrate their attitudes and responses with Jesus’ instruction to love God with mind, heart and soul, and to love our neighbour. Christian attitudes toward social issues are not some abstract and idealistic but unworkable ideal; they are grounded in the challenging personal experiences of people to whom the Church encounters and ministers every day.

While it is true that The Salvation Army’s opposition to euthanasia is influenced by our Christian perspective, this is a perspective that asks us to consider what is important for the wellbeing of individuals and the community as a whole. It also asks us to think about the risks euthanasia poses to society’s most vulnerable—not only the elderly, but also the disabled, those with mental illness, and the young.

Submissions made to Parliament’s Health Select Committee on medically-assisted dying suggest many are not convinced by the arguments of those lobbying for change. The Salvation Army will make an oral submission opposing any relaxing of legislation in this area.

Our opposition to euthanasia is not turning a blind eye to people’s suffering; it is seeking the best human responses to such suffering. The Salvation Army does not want to see New Zealand set itself on a course that could see people pressured to end their lives early. We need to be very careful that ‘the right to die’, does not become a ‘duty to die’.

Our concerns are shared by a wide range of other groups. There are many voices—doctors, hospice and palliative care workers, disability advocates, those working to combat suicide … and other churches—who remain opposed to the legalisation of euthanasia.

A Disability Perspective

Robyn Hunt is a joint coordinator of Not Dead Yet Aotearoa, a focus for disabled peoples’ voices in New Zealand against euthanasia and assisted suicide legislation.

Assisted suicide is a really big and complicated deal. It is no coincidence that disabled people all over the world oppose it. Our opposition arises from a (largely invisible) dark and troubled history, negative attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people, and current human rights abuses. Disabled people see assisted suicide as dangerous because of their already marginalised status. Some disabled people are particularly vulnerable.

Disabled and other people who oppose assisted suicide are not

religious fanatics. Not Dead Yet Aotearoa was founded on disability rights, not religious convictions. Assisted suicide supporters attempting to diminish the opposition by ignoring some and making sweeping statements about others is not helpful.

Part of our unease relates to evidence that lives of disabled people are valued less than those of others. There is a history of euthanasia and eugenics, which have gone hand in hand for disabled people. The most notable, yet largely unknown T4 programme initiated by the Nazi Third Reich was the forerunner to the better known holocaust of Jews, gays, gypsies and others who did not meet the Aryan ideal. Around half a million people with of all kinds of impairments were killed. Some were tortured with ‘experimentation’ before death. The first child to be euthanised was killed at the request of his parents. They were labelled ‘useless eaters’. Many disabled people today still feel the residual power of that label as they struggle with cuts to services, parsimonious supports and subtle pressures to find work.

Disabled people see assisted suicide as dangerous because of their already marginalised status.

Even today those who murder their disabled family members, often vulnerable children, usually receive lesser sentences than other murderers. Their crimes may be labelled by the media and others as ‘mercy killings’.

Disabled people in the past were often discarded by society, ‘put away’ in institutions popularly labelled ‘bins’, forgotten by society and history and eventually buried in unmarked graves. Today’s miniinstitutions still harbour instances of violence and abuse, occasionally gaining media exposure. Disabled people, especially women, feel more vulnerable because they know they are more likely to experience violence and abuse and often feel powerless. Powerlessness and assisted suicide can be a dangerous combination.

Disability hate crime goes generally unremarked by public notice.

While there were widespread and highly visible outpourings of solidarity and grief for victims of recent terror attacks in Nice, Paris and Orlando, there was a resounding public silence after the murders at Tsukui Yamayuri En care facility in Kanagawa Prefecture, west of Tokyo. Nineteen disabled people were stabbed to death as they slept.

The killer was a former employee at the residential/rehabilitation facility for disabled people. In 50 minutes he killed 10 men and nine women and injured 24 others.

He said afterwards it was better ‘that disabled people disappear’.

He had offered to euthanise multi-disabled people for the state. The names of the victims will never be released because of the stigma and shame for their families. Disabled people everywhere were chilled and fearful in the face of widespread public indifference to the worst mass killing in Japan since World War II.

Today in New Zealand disabled women can still have their children removed for adoption without their consent. Disabled people, particularly women, are still sterilised without their consent, and are subject to invasive treatments such as the growth-attenuation Ashley Treatment, which threaten their bodily integrity. It is still difficult for some disabled people to have accessible information about medical procedures to enable them to make informed choices. Introducing assisted suicide would re-medicalise disabled people’s lives after a long fight to escape the unnecessary medicalisation of disability.

Another serious human right violation in contravention of New Zealand’s international civil and political rights obligation sees a small group of disabled people incarcerated for years with no redress, despite having committed no crime. They are powerless and forgotten by wider society.

Disabled people can and do have agency, but physical and other vulnerability and reliance on others for basic daily needs, while not being the ‘fate worse than death’ some people imagine, does present complexities and added risk to daily living.

Like most people we believe in the alleviation of suffering, such an untrustworthy and loaded word in this context of assisted suicide.

One person’s perceived suffering can still be another’s rewarding daily life. Assisted suicide is not the only way to find dignity in death. We support the best palliative care and pain relief ... Disabled people have committed suicide or attempted it. Yet there is no data collected or suicide prevention programme for disabled people when disability is framed in negative language and [seen as] the ‘fate worse than death’.

Free choice is another plank in the platform of assisted suicide proponents. Yet for many people, not just disabled people, choices are highly constrained, by circumstance, by resources, by subtle, and not so subtle pressure. For example, disabled friends with high support needs have had to fight hard to have externally inserted ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ [orders] removed from their medical records.

Assisted suicide is therefore not simple, the ‘easy option’ [proeuthanasia advocate] David Seymour would have us believe. Most disabled people remain focused on the goal of a good life, with all its difficulty, before thinking about a good death. There has been no demand for assisted suicide at any of the consultation meetings around the country (five) for the disability strategy that I have attended.

Many disabled people know only too well the low value society places on disabled lives, but they don’t focus on the common view that disability is all about deficit and despair, even though there is a healthy level of cynicism about the systems and structures that are supposed to protect us. We know from experience that even with the best will in the world they don’t always work.

Politicians see assisted suicide as a straightforward issue at their peril.

This article is reprinted with permission from The Spinoff (www.thespinoff.co.nz).

A Doctor Speaks

Dr Salina Iupati has been a doctor for over 20 years, including 10 years as a GP. She now specialising as a palliative care physician.

I care for patients who have a life limiting illness. I find my work both rewarding and challenging. It is rewarding because of the difference a ‘good death’ can make to the dying and to the memory left behind. It is also challenging because what constitutes a ‘good death’ is not limited to medicine but is intimately linked to the social, cultural and spiritual aspects of the individuals and their whānau.

Palliative care is not a pill; it is a multi-faceted approach that allows a shift from focusing prolonging life at all cost to that of recognition and easing of the dying. One important aspect of such an approach is the recognition of futile life-prolonging treatment, such as artificial ventilation in patients dying from underlying diseases. Withdrawal of such treatment constitutes good palliative care and is not the same as giving a lethal injection with the intention of ending one’s life.

A society that allows euthanasia will only reinforce the fears felt by those with life-limiting illnesses, and over time add to their sense of abandonment.

I have had very few explicit requests for euthanasia and none was due to pain or other unresolved physical symptoms. However, the subject of euthanasia comes up not infrequently, and primarily arises during times of fear—fear of being a burden, fear of the future and fear of the unknown. Individuals facing life-limiting illnesses often experience thoughts of exiting life prompted by these fears, but such a wish is neither static nor sustained and can wax and wane during the course of one’s illness. It often subsides with appropriate support and care. I can think of a patient bringing up the subject of euthanasia soon after being diagnosed with an incurable illness who changed her mind weeks before her death and in the end was grateful for the time she spent with her family.

Contrary to common perception, medicine is not an exact science.

In particular, diagnostic is not a full-proof process and prognostication is notoriously imprecise. Therefore, in reality, it is impossible to limit euthanasia only to those with terminal illness. I can think of another patient who was given a debilitating terminal diagnosis with no hope of cure, only to find a few years later that a mistake was made. This person is now back fully engaged with life after appropriate treatment.

I believe the current law protects the patients I encounter every day during their most vulnerable time, allowing them time to grieve and adjust to their illness. In contrast, a society that allows euthanasia will only reinforce the fears felt by those with life-limiting illnessesm and over time add to their sense of abandonment.

22 | WarCry 17 September 2016

CALENDAR

Do you know these people?

SEPTEMBER 19–21: General’s Consultative Council / Queenstown 19–22: 12 Steps Course (Part 1) / Booth College of Mission 24–25: Youth Councils / Southern Division 25: Daylight Savings Begins (NZ) 26: South Canterbury Anniversary Day 29 Sept–2 Oct: Now is the Time Congress / Wellington OCTOBER 3–7: Kids Peak Adventure / Blue Mountain Adventure Centre 10–13: Fifteen-year Officer Review / Booth College of Mission 14–16: Thought Matters Conference / Melbourne, Australia 18–20: 12 Steps Course (Part 2) / Booth College of Mission 19: Spiritual Day / Booth College of Mission 21: Hawke’s Bay Anniversary 24: Labour Day 28–30 Oct: Father and Kids Weekend / Blue Mountain Adventure Centre

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS

BEACH/BOYD, Sandra Anne, born 1948 in Hastings BELL, John (aka Thomas Storey Dagg), born 1936 in England GIBBS, Hector (Haeta Te Paiho), born 1946 in Gisborne HASANBEGOVIC, Jaffri, born 1941 in Bosnia

Help us find these missing people and bring peace of mind to their families salvationarmy.org.nz/familytracing

Find SALVATION ARMY JOB OPPORTUNITIES online:

Commissioners Robert (Territorial Commander) and Janine Donaldson (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries)

www salvationarmy.org.nz/employment

19–21 September: General’s Consultative Council, Queenstown 29 September–2 October: Now is the Time Congress, Wellington 14 September: Jeff Farm AGM (TC) 14–16 October: Thought Matters Conference, Melbourne 17–20 October: South Pacific Leaders Conference, Sydney Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 19–21 September: General’s Consultative Council, Queenstown 29 September–2 October: Now is the Time Congress, Wellington 14–16 October: Thought Matters Conference, Melbourne 17–20 October: South Pacific Leaders Conference, Sydney

PRAYER FOCUS Please pray for: Johnsonville, Kapiti, Kilbirnie and Labasa Corps, Kolovai Corps Plant, Salvation Army Early Childhood Education Centres, and The Salvation Army in Papua New Guinea.

FATHER & KIDS WEEKEND

WHEN

28–30 OCT 2016

WHO Father and kids aged 6–13 years.

To advertise here, email: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org Across: 1 Typewriters, 7 Bow, 9 Odour, 10 Locations, 11 South-west, 12 Ankle, 13 Notices, 15 Spit, 18 Must, 20 Sunrise, 23 Adapt, 24 Margarine, 26 Imitation, 27 Arise, 28 God, 29 Descendants. Down: 1 Thousand, 2 Products, 3 Worth, 4 Illness, 5 Excites, 6 Situation, 7 Blocks, 8 Washes, 14 Courtyard, 16 Civilian, 17 Referees, 19 Tummies, 20 Strange, 21 Facing, 22 Varied, 25 Award. Quiz Answers: 1 The Bahamas, 2 Land snails, 3 Gene Wilder, 4 An earthquake that caused a tsunami, 5 Psalm 127:4.

WHAT Enjoy a range of outdoor activities to get you working together and growing as a team. Create lasting memories and give Mum a break!

FOR MORE INFO bluemountainadventure.org.nz bmac@nzf.salvationarmy.org

Find freedom and move forward in God’s blessing and power

Make your life count!

Bring friends so they can know God

Men’s Events

www.promisekeepers.nz

AUCKLAND 7-8 October

Fun4Kids | 23

BE A HERO: The Salvation Army around the world is praying for men, women and children who are forced into slavery. We’re also praying for the police and others who want to rescue these people. Did you know?

• there are more slaves in the world today than ever before in history • 80% of slaves are females • 50% of slaves are children

Bold Brave Crime Education Example Future Help Hero

Hope Justice Loud Love Make change Mercy Poverty Rescue

speak out against slavery

• some children are forced to be slaves who fight in wars • Parents are often tricked into slavery when people promise their children will get good jobs and lots of money in another city or country If we can fight poverty and help young women to get an education, this will help stop slavery!

grid drawing Using the grid, can you re-draw this super hero girl?

Sadness Save Slavery Speak out Strong Suffering

Read It

‘I am proud of the Good News, because it is the power God uses to save everyone who believes—to save the Jews first, and now to save those who are not Jews.’

Romans 1:16 (ERV)

Let’s Talk

Naaman was a soldier in charge of an army, but he also had the skin disease leprosy. His wife’s servant girl was Jewish. She had faith in God and told Naaman’s wife about a man of God called Elisha who lived in Israel and who could heal Naaman.

Elisha told Naaman that to be healed, he needed

to wash himself in Israel’s Jordan River seven times.

This seemed like a silly idea to Naaman. Why should he travel such a long way to wash in that river when there were rivers close to his home?!

But eventually Naaman did as Elisha asked … and he was healed!

Naaman believed in

Elisha’s God because of this miracle. He said from now on he and his household would worship his servant girl’s God. The changes in Naaman’s life and his household happened because of one brave servant girl. God can use anyone who is brave enough to speak up for him. God can use you!

Let’s Pray Dear God, help me to be brave and to speak up so others can know healing and hope for their lives. Amen.

SPEAK UT give hope!

Annual Day of Prayer for

VICTIMS OF HUMAN-TRAFFICKING Sunday 25 September 2016