18 October 2014 NZFT War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION | 18 October 2014 | Issue 6603 | $1.50

being the change waka moe moea FIREZONE

youth work never a dull moment MISSION TEAM BUILDS FALE IN TONGA STRONG EMOTIONS: LION OR LAMB?

REACHING OUT WITH COFFEE ELIJAH BATTLES DEPRESSION

REDUCE YOUR DEMENTIA RISK THOUGHT MATTERS CONFERENCE

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Kia ora Challenging prejudice WAR CRY

The Salvation Army Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga Territory FOUNDER William 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, Robin Raymond, Vanessa Singh CONTRIBUTORS

Kris Singh (music reviewer)

PROOF READING

Major Jill Gainsford COVER

Photography: Amber Wilkinson 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 SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department Phone (04) 382 0768 Email mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT MakeReady | www.makeready.co.nz

PAPER Novatech is an environmentally responsible paper manufactured under environmental management system ISO14001 using FSC Certified, Mixed Source, ECF pulp from well managed and legally harvested forests.

Prejudice is hard to fight, and we all have some measure of it in us. Some is inconsequential, such as my fierce prejudice against Marmite. I’m sure Marmite manufacturers are doing just fine despite me looking down my nose at their product.

Other prejudices are more deep set and damaging to a society. Prejudice against gangs is a good example. Of course, this prejudice is grounded in incidents of violence and criminal activity. Undoubtedly, gang life can nurture anger, addiction, crime and violence, particularly violence against women. These are not things that our society needs or want.

But we must remember that New Zealand gangs have their origin in urban poverty and disconnection. The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand says gangs usually form ‘among groups of young men who feel alienated from mainstream society, are denied decent job prospects … have poor parental role models, and lack structured adult involvement’. The needs that we as a society fail to meet drive some to gang life, looking for friendship, community and a sense of meaning.

The greatest danger of prejudice is that it excludes people, pushing them to the margins. Once situated there, it becomes even easier for us to treat them as outcasts. But plenty of those who grew up in gangs don’t want that for their children. As Pat of the Wellington Black Power says in this edition, ‘Most of our whānau are born into [the gang], and my role is to improve our kids’ way of thinking and steer them away from the gang scene.

This is the change I’m trying to make.’

I suppose you could say that The Salvation Army is a bit like a ‘gang’. We certainly have our own patches and cultural identity.

And as a ‘gang’, certain words have rich meaning for us. One such word is ‘repentance’, which means to ‘change one’s mind’.

When we become a Christian, we change our mind about who Jesus is and decide to make him the leader of our life.

And once we follow Jesus, he often leads us to repent further, perhaps changing our minds about those we may be wronging by ongoing prejudice, opening our eyes to the deep worth that God sees in every person.

Christina Tyson Editor

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BIBLE VERSE Acts 10:34 The Message

Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.

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

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

Publishing for 131 years

ISSN 0043-0242, Issue 6603 Please pass on or recycle this magazine

salvationarmyNZFijiTonga @salvationarmynz salvationarmynzft

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‘God plays no favourites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.’

Ngā Mahi 10:34–35

‘Nā, ka puaki te māngai o Pita, ka mea, he pono ka kite ahau kāhore a te Atua whakapai kanohi: Otiia i roto i ngā tini iwi ko te tangata e wehi ana ki a ia, ā, e mahi ana i te tika, ka paingia e ia.’

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WISE WORDS

Not everything that counts can be measured.

Not everything that can be measured counts.

Albert Einstein

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Let’s Talk | 03

A

fter spending a week hanging around at Wellington Youth Services finding out what they do, a comment from their operations manager, Lance Sherman, really stuck in my head.

‘When you know what’s going on for these kids and you hear them laughing, that’s amazing. They have no right to be laughing with what’s going on in their lives. There’s hope in that laughter.’

Hope seems such a small thing compared to the huge issues they deal with, but it makes such a big difference.

When we think of hope it seems to be either massively cheesy—people with motivational posters and bad slogans, cranking Coldplay’s Everything’s Not Lost; or some sort of byword for blind luck—‘I hope you have a nice day’, or ‘I hope I can buy that thing I want’.

In the face of real problems it’s easy to get cynical about hope like that. But real hope is so much more. It’s not an easy slogan or an unrealistic ideal. It’s hard.

It’s hard to stay positive when things don’t go right. It’s easy to be cynical, but true hope is tough.

Hope is realistic, determined, and hugely valuable. It’s something you give.

And it’s the best of gifts.

It reminds me of being in a café a few months ago: on one side of the table was Paul, an earnest, excited American guy, just out of uni.

Wide-eyed and restless, he’d just arrived in Tanzania with big dreams about using his medical training to help.

On the other side of the table was my mum, a lined, grey-haired nurse, a 30-year veteran of Africa and aid work, who casually drops war stories, tales of being a homeless refugee or running feeding programmes for thousands of starving people into everyday conversation. A woman who looked like all she wanted was a nap.

‘I keep asking people, how do you make big changes in health here? How do you find those big solutions for the big problems,’ Paul asked leaning forward across the table.

‘You don’t.’

Mum’s words stopped him. You could see him trying to work out if he should laugh, or if this person was actually crushing all his enthusiasm.

‘You don’t,’ she repeated. ‘You just do what you can. Help the people you can and keep trying to change what’s around you.’

At first, I thought it was a pretty bleak, cynical comment about working in the developing world. But the more I think about it, the more I think it’s an inspirational statement about the grittiness of hope.

What I see in the people I meet through working for this magazine is people giving people hope.

Hope for gang members. Hope for addicts and ex-convicts. Hope for the homeless, sick and lonely. Hope for young people that others have given up on. People doing what they can, helping those they can, and trying to change whatever they can around them. And for each of those people they encounter, that’s invaluable.

Writing in the well-known Bible passage of 1 Corinthians 13, Paul says that out of everything in the entire world, the only things that will remain are ‘faith, hope and love’. Christians make a big deal of faith and love. But what about hope?

God is all about hope. He’s excited by it. He made the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus to secure hope for us. God believes in people and their power to change. He’s hoping we believe in that too. Do we? ROBIN RAYMOND

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Bookshelf Cooking Bread Dean Brettschneider Whether you fancy a bagel or a baguette, sourdough or sticky buns, these delectable and easy-to-follow recipes are sure to become firm favourites. Dean’s expert knowledge will show you how simple it is to start baking your own breads, by mastering the basics such as a simple scone or a farmhouse loaf.

After you’ve practised and gained an understanding of the taste, texture and feel of the dough, you’ll have the confidence to move on to more ambitious creations. The stunning photography will make your mouth water, because, these days, bread is the new coffee!

(Penguin Books)

Playlist

Business Scrum Dr Jeff Sutherland An approach to project management and team building that has transformed many of the world’s biggest organisations including Google, Amazon and the FBI. A few gems: Happy is the New Black—it helps you make smarter decisions; Small Wins—small teams get work done faster than big teams; Blame is Stupid—don’t look for bad people; look for bad systems; The Map is Not the Terrain—don’t fall in love with your plan, it’s almost certainly wrong. Read how the All Black haka inspires focus on goals, radical collaboration, the ‘hunger to crush’, and universal excitement when making a breakthrough.

(Random House)

Salvation Army History Maud, Emma, Evangeline Dr R.G. Moyles When most women were being left off the pages of history, Salvationists Maud Ballington Booth, Emma Booth Tucker and Evangeline Booth filled the front pages of US newspapers and magazines. Moyles introduces readers to social celebrity Maud, whose wealthy supporters helped her implement her mission of slum brigades, rescue homes and children’s shelters. Emma’s profile was akin to that of a modern movie star, and her death in a train wreck mourned across the nation.

Evangeline was known for her skills as an orator and actress, and her ability to seize the moment and aid the community. (Frontier Press)

Reel News

Rock Somewhere Under Wonderland Counting Crows Somewhere Under Wonderland is Counting Crow’s seventh studio album, following 2008’s Saturday Nights & Saturday Mornings. It is a typical Counting Crows record, showcasing their lyrical storytelling and alternative soft rock influences.

The album’s nine tracks clock in at just over 41 minutes, with the eight-minute lead single ‘Palisades Park’ opening. ‘Wonderland’ feels like a refinement of the band’s core sound, but doesn’t reinvent it— there are still large doses of R.E.M. scattered throughout. Frontman Adam Duritz’s raspy and weathered vocals will deliver a twinge of nostalgia to those who remember the band in their ’90’s heyday. An inviting record that fans should definitely check out.

Jazz/Swing Cheek to Cheek Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga Before her ascent to megastardom as Lady Gaga, singer Stefani Germanotta cut her teeth performing at upper Manhattan jazz bars. Cheek to Cheek sees her pair up with jazz giant Tony Bennett, with their collaboration delivering some of the finest jazz and swing numbers for 2014. The record includes plenty of standards, from Ellington to Porter and Strayhorn.

Bennett and Gaga deliver vocally and then some. Bennett’s smooth and precise delivery complements Gaga’s demure and soulful tone well. Gaga’s usual power pop aggression takes a back seat here, letting her jazz chops shine. A great record for jazz fans looking for familiar sounds with a little something extra added to the mix.

GIVEAWAY To win a copy of Maud, Emma, Evangeline, tell us your favourite heroine.

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

Sci-Fi Action The Maze Runner Wes Ball / M (violence) Yet another young adult novel makes it to the big screen, this one based on the first novel in James Dashner’s trilogy. Like The Hunger Games, Divergent and Ender’s Game, this movie is most suitable for older teens, due to its violence. But there’s no romantic angst in this one, with just one major female protagonist and none of the often overdone relationship subplots.

When Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) wakes to find himself trapped alongside a massive concrete maze with a group of other boys, he has no memory of who he is, although he does gradually remember his name and eventually his past association with a mysterious organisation.

This is the central theme of any young adult story: identity. A key development goal of teens is to discover who they are outside of their family.

Along the way, there are obstacles to overcome, difficult and confusing choices, and more than a few wrong turns. What better way to demonstrate this quest than through the story of a young man trying to find his way through a literal maze and with no solid connection to where he came from?

The Bible tells us that our place in this world is as the most important part of all God’s creation—made in God’s image. And God intends us to know him, not merely be vaguely aware of the possibility of his existence.

Which is why God makes his existence clear first of all in nature, why he told us his story (and ours) in the Bible, and why he sent Jesus to fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge. We may sometimes think we’re searching through some confusing life labyrinth to find out who we are, but the reality is that God shows himself to us so we can find our true selves in him.

Go to

salvationarmy.org.nz/saresources

Feature | 05

g n i e b e g n a the ch

nt of the n preside e ous e b s a h Pa t the infam f o r e t p a n ch t his Wellingto y e a rs , b u 2 3 r fo r e of Black Pow g the face in g n a h c is r kids a leadership to give ou t n a w e xplains gangs. ‘W we had,’ e n a h t fe li amme b e t te r g a p ro g r in n n u r is ’ with Pa t , w h o t t o re a c h s e d r a h e Army. for ‘th Salvation e h T m o support fr

06 | WarCry 18 October 2014

at—‘just Pat,’ he says—isn’t comfortable. ‘It’s my first interview, and I hope it’s my last,’ he says wryly. Pat doesn’t inhabit a world where leaders court publicity. After all, he’s a gang leader: he’s lived a hard life and done three jail terms.

‘I’ve been through the sh*t, I’ve been through the bad times. [Jail] is just a waste of time; you can’t even help your family when you’re in jail. Back then, it was drinking, sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.’

But Pat did something extraordinary: he changed his life. And with it, he changed gang culture. ‘I don’t want my grandkids going through what I went through. It was a hard life, I was brought up hard, and I don’t want that for our kids. I want our young fellas to go to university, or go overseas and come back and teach us more about the world,’ reflects Pat. ‘Most of our whānau are born into [the gang], and my role is to improve our kids’ way of thinking and steer them away from the gang scene. This is the change I’m trying to make.’

Today, of the 60 Black Power members Pat leads, only one is in jail. He is resolute that he doesn’t tolerate P (methamphetamine), won’t allow his members to deal in drugs, and has shut down their tinny houses. ‘It’s the new century now, and those days are gone.’

He speaks fondly of a young whānau member, Paul, who recently had his 18th birthday. ‘We had a good chat, and he wants to be a teacher,’ says Pat, proudly. ‘Hopefully we can get him the support he needs.’

Another talented whānau member, Tyson, won the Wellington Māori Arts Award. But, adds Pat, he’s back working on a building site because there was ‘no support for him to carry on’.

Change can be slow and unsteady, and Pat believes in holding parents accountable for supporting their children. ‘If the parents show a bit of initiative in getting behind their child, I’m there to support them.’

Being the change Although for the past two decades Pat has been quietly influencing the lives of some of society’s most unseen, his vocation has now become a full-time job. Over the past eight months, he has been setting up and running the Wellington branch of Waka Moe Moea Charitable Trust, an organisation that aims to reach New Zealand’s most ‘unreachable’. Its tagline is ‘Be the Change’, borrowing from Mahatma Ghandi’s famous quote, ‘Be the change you want to see.’

This is where The Salvation Army enters the scene, having worked with the Mongrel Mob’s Notorious chapter to help them overcome methamphetamine addictions. Mongrel Mob leaders were so rapt with the changes to their gang after attending the Hauora Programme, which is run by The Salvation Army’s Addiction Services, that they initiated the Waka Moe Moea Trust. The aim of Waka Moe Moea is to provide young members with better opportunities for education and work, keep them out of jail, and provide for their health care needs.

As a result, another remarkable change has been happening: New Zealand’s two biggest rival gangs have come together to change the lives of the next generation. ‘The rivalry is out the door,’ says Pat, ‘We’ve all got the same vision and hope for our families. We want better health, better education and support for the mums.’

Mongrel Mob and Black Power leaders from all around the country have been holding hui to share knowledge and discuss the change they want to see.

So, when Pat was looking for premises to set up Waka Moe Moea in Wellington, it seemed a natural move to offer support, says Lieut-

Colonel Ian Hutson, who’s in charge of The Salvation Army’s work from Whanganui to Wellington. ‘Part of our mission is working with those who are marginalised—that’s what we exist for,’ he explains.

‘When you think about who Jesus ministered to, it was the outcasts in society.’ He recalls William Booth’s famous saying: ‘These are our people.’

The Salvation Army is temporarily renting out a property in the heart of Newtown, Wellington, to Waka Moe Moea at minimal cost. It is also offering its support through food banks and Addiction Services—other services will expand as Waka Moe Moea’s programme becomes more established.

‘This is not a gang pad,’ insists Pat. ‘It is a community-based centre, and it’s for the hard to reach.’

I was brought up hard, and I don’t want that for our kids. I want our young fellas to go to university, or go overseas and come back and teach us more about the world.

These are our people Ian is clear that it is not The Salvation Army’s role to dictate the services that Waka Moe Moea will provide, but rather to partner with the needs that the group identifies. ‘The needs of those hardest to reach differ from other groups. We want to give them a chance to affect their own change.’

Captain Joe Serevi, corps officer at Kilbirnie Corps, is the Salvation Army liaison person for the Trust, and has formed a close bond with Pat. ‘In my own country [of Fiji] I’ve been where Pat was, living under the poverty line, and I did all sorts of things I shouldn’t have done,’ says Joe, who is passionate about his role. ‘In the Islands, the village is a family, and I think of Pat as part of our village. We work together to help the whole village. We care for our family and want them to have opportunities.

‘All people are of equal value in the kingdom of God. All people are loved by God. So we want to love others, help them experience fullness of life and give them hope.’

‘The Salvation Army has been the biggest help,’ adds Pat. ‘Getting this place is just the bomb. And the food parcels [we get] mean everything—when you’re below the poverty line, all your money goes into food, power and rent.’

Making a difference From its new premises, Waka Moe Moea is beginning to see the change it aims to be. There are four programmes currently available: a ‘Site Safe’ course that provides a building site qualification, ‘Work Available in Christchurch’ that matches people to the rebuild work, a first aid course, and Te Reo. It is currently setting up a computer room with eight donated computers, where it will run IT classes with expert tutors.

These initiatives have already seen young people get off the benefit and into work. Fifteen young people attended the recent ‘Site Safe’ course, and all 15 received their certificates. Of those, eight are now working in Christchurch, and another couple have got work on fishing boats.

Pat is a strong advocate for getting young people into work, because he credits finding a job in the railways as the turning point for him. ‘It really saved me, because it took me away from the

Feature | 07

boozing—you had shifts and had to be able to turn up for work.’

On 26 September, Waka Moe Moea held its second Whānau Health Check day, with 95 people turning up. In an almost fairlike setting, it was an opportunity for people who rarely access health care to receive a range of services free-of-charge. Health professionals were available to provide check-ups, cervical smears, immunisations for children, and raise awareness of health issues like smoking and diabetes. There were even manicures and massages available from qualified beauty therapists. Pat is on his own journey to health, having kicked the smoking habit a year ago. ‘It’s made a big difference, I don’t wake up wheezing.’ And, it’s saved him $200 a week, he adds.

The Salvation Army was also present, providing on-the-spot assessments for drug and alcohol addiction.

Random acts of kindness With 32 years as Black Power president, Pat has huge mana among his whānau, as well as the community. And he’s using his influence to replace gang violence with random acts of kindness.

‘One of my clients is a solo mum with two kids, and her boyfriend is in jail. The lawn was overgrown and there was loads of rubbish outside. So, while she was away on holiday, I got the boys around and we cleaned up the whole section, and when she came back she was in tears,’ he recalls.

The boys are also helping clean up the neighbourhood, through Newtown Community Services. Pat recently got together 20 members, plus a couple of Mongrel Mob guys, and painted over all the graffiti in the area.

Pat is most proud of a joint venture in which Mongrel Mob and Black Power members took their tamariki up to Waitangi, for Treaty celebrations. This meant hosting Mongrel Mob members from Dunedin. The Salvation Army provided food for the trip. Pat says, ‘We are giving our kids the message that it stops here. No more fighting.’

If the community doesn’t allow initiatives like Waka Moe Moea, it perpetuates the isolation and reinforces criminal offending.

Kōrero Awhi We have been taught by our elders and tūpuna that kōrero feeds the heart and that until the heart can feel the mind won’t see.

Many of our teachings tell us as a people to use our kōrero (or words) carefully because they can continue to have an effect on the person long after the words have been spoken, sometimes for generations.

So, if kōrero is about what we say to each other, then awhi is about what we do with each other to express our action, our appreciation, our practical support and our love for each other.

Kōrero Awhi, then, is practical and real. It’s about what we say and do to help and support our whānau in times of need. It is about speaking the truth and keeping our word to one another, even at times when it’s challenging to do so, because we understand that words mean nothing without action.

Kōrero Awhi is about communicating with one another in a way that strengthens and uplifts. It is there when you: • share stories with your tamariki and mokopuna • do the small things that show you care • do the dishes • hang out the washing • cook a meal • care for the tamariki • show your affection and love for one another • speak kind and loving words that build strength • praise the little moments of courage • talk about the behaviour, not the person • say what you feel and do what you say

Getting the job done Not everyone is ready to accept this cleaned-up version of Black Power. The gang is neither violence nor drug-free. Crime has lessened—but is not eradicated. And members continue to live below the poverty line, which makes it difficult to enact positive changes.

But Ian cautions against viewing all gang members as ‘criminals’. ‘In many cases, it is a multi-generational whānau, and if the community doesn’t allow initiatives like Waka Moe Moea, it perpetuates the isolation and reinforces criminal offending,’ he says.

you can

‘But if we can help these hard to reach people find some inclusion, it reinforces that they belong back in the community.’

Joe agrees that The Salvation Army’s mission is to go to new places, and find new ways to meet society’s greatest needs.

Pat concludes: ‘The Salvation Army has given me the power to do these things and given me the tools to get the job done. And that’s straight up.’

make real a

th, see the tru e the things Speak and ng e ll a h mana.

C s. eou that grows y a w be courag a in ish others that dimin

• say things in a positive manner • praise one another.

Tauawhitia ai koe! Wrap your whānau in your loving and protective embrace.

Source: ‘KŌrero Awhi’ by E Tu Whanau! (a part of Family & Community Services)

e c n e r diffe

Speak positively to yourself and others. Your words will strengthen and uplift.

ild or ower to bu s have the p s the action n e o p ti a c a s and hey will sh T . re a . c Your word e h it com se them w erations to destroy. U by the gen ld to s e ri o and the st How do you want to be remembered?

08 | WarCry 18 October 2014

HEALTH

ENVIRONMENT

Wild Weeds You Can Eat

Brainy Matters

Go on a foodie and outdoor adventure this spring by recapturing the art of foraging, and turn weeds into delicacies.

Five ways to help you reduce the risk of dementia … and it’s easier than you think.

In our supermarket age, the concept of foraging has been almost entirely lost, and with our lack of knowledge, it can even seem a little scary. But it wasn’t that long ago that picking wild fruit and vegies was part of everyday life. Once you’ve armed with a little know-how, foraging is fun and satisfying … and absolutely free.

For many years, experts have believed there is little we can do to prevent dementia in later life. But according to a breakthrough study from Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), the same things that are good for our bodies, are good for our brains. ADI says it’s never too late to make changes, and the elderly can still benefit from adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Foraging can be as simple as looking for wild blackberries or herbs. If you’re a beginner, there are some great resources available. Victoria University students have developed an app for iphones called ‘Forager’. This is a brilliant way to begin your foraging adventure, as it tells you where you can find wild plants, what they look life, and ways you can use them in recipes, such as ‘kawakawa pesto’.

Stop smoking: This is probably the biggest causal factor in a number of health issues, including earlier onset of dementia. The good news is that your lungs can regenerate, so it’s never too late to stop.

If you’re not that technologically blessed, you can always pick up a handbook and take it with you. A Forager’s Treasury by Kiwi foraging expert Joanna Knox profiles many edible plants, with advice on where to find them and recipes for using them. Her blog and Facebook page by the same name are also great starting points.

But why not start straight away? Here’s a versatile edible weed that is probably in your backyard: the dandelion. In spring, the dandelion flower, leaves and stem are at their most tender and tasty. They are also a superfood, useful for supporting healthy liver function, and packed with calcium, iron, fibre, vitamins A, C, E and K and powerful antioxidants such as beta-carotene. Its bitter taste provides a fantastic kick in salads.

Other commonly found weeds in New Zealand that are foraging classics, include puha—used widely in Māori cuisine—chickweed and kawakawa.

If you’re near the coast, try foraging for seaweed. Undaria is an excellent species to eat, as it has a soft texture and pleasant taste. It can be used in miso soup, or fried up in olive oil with some cracked pepper.

All these weeds and more can be used in a variety of ways, including salads, soups, with grains such a quinoa, in smoothies and juices. You can also steep dandelion and kawakawa in hot water to make tea.

So, get in touch with your inner hippie (or your inner granny), and start enjoying the fruits of the forest.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet: Yep, you’ve heard it before. It’s basic, but it’s true. One of the key risks of developing dementia is obesity, diabetes and hypertension—all things that can be avoided by a balanced diet and moderate exercise.

Keep your brain buzzing: Unfortunately, in countries where education is low, there is a higher prevalence of dementia.

And it makes sense that the more you stimulate your brain, the healthier it may be. Whatever your age, continue to keep learning (this could be taking up a new hobby, doing crosswords, crafts, reading, and so on).

Get quality sleep: Sleep does become more difficult as you get older due to a decrease in the hormones that help us drop off and stay asleep.

Turn the TV off an hour before bed and do something quiet, only use your room to sleep in (not to watch TV or work in) and try a relaxation exercise. If you suffer from insomnia, see your doctor.

Keep an active social life: For the younger ones, why don’t you think about developing a friendship with an older person? This can be a wonderful experience for both of you. If you are older, try to continue going to social groups and activities—and don’t hesitate to ask for help with car rides and getting out of the house.

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. Mark Twain

Honey-lemon Grilled Chicken Honey adds a delicious sweetness, while lemon adds zing. Great cooked on the BBQ or under the grill | Serves 4 2–3 cloves garlic, peeled 2 lemons 3 Tbsp manuka honey 2 Tbsp olive or avocado oil 1 Tbsp dark soy sauce 1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme 4 large or 6–8 smaller skinless, boneless chicken breasts salt and pepper to taste

Place garlic in food processor and chop finely. Grate zest from 1 lemon into processor, then squeeze in juice from both. Add honey, oil, soy sauce and thyme, then process again until well mixed.

Place chicken in a plastic bag, pour in marinade, then squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing the bag. Massage to coat chicken evenly, then leave to stand for 20 mins or longer if you can (refrigerate overnight if desired).

To cook, preheat grill, then brush lightly with oil.

Remove chicken from marinade, season with salt and pepper, then cook over medium heat for about 6–8 mins per side, brushing once or twice with remaining marinade.

From New Zealand Barbecue Cookbook by Simon and Alison Holst. www.holst.co.nz

Lifestyle | 09

Q&A How can I quit?

It’s not too late to join ‘Stoptober’, New Zealand’s biggest ever stop smoking challenge.

Throughout this month, smokers having been stubbing out for good, as part of a campaign from the Ministry of Heath to have New Zealand smoke-free by 2025.

Smoking is still the biggest cause of premature death in New Zealand, taking on average 15 years off your life, and causing 5000 deaths each year. By signing up to Stoptober, you’ll receive daily emails and texts, and an app with stress-release support in Te Reo and English.

If you’re keen to quit, you still have time to join the campaign.

Here are some quick tips to get you started: Set a date for stopping: research has shown that giving up cold turkey is more effective than cutting down. Tell everyone you are stopping—and get them on board.

Be prepared for withdrawal symptoms: this may include nausea, headaches, anxiety, irritability, craving, and just feeling awful. These symptoms are caused by the lack of nicotine that your body has been used to. Symptoms tend to peak after 12-24 hours, and gradually ease over 2-4 weeks.

Avoid triggers: if you smoke in certain situations, it really helps to change your routines for a while.

For example, if you smoke when you go to the pub, or when you’re having a cup of tea, avoid those things. Instead, drink fruit juice, or something that you don’t associate with smoking. Throw out your ashtrays and lighters.

Anticipate a cough: it is normal for a smoker’s cough to get worse when you stop smoking as your airways ‘come back to life’. Resist the temptation to start smoking again and the cough will gradually ease.

Eat healthy snacks: some people worry about putting on weight as their appetite increases, so have some healthy snacks on hand.

Take one day at a time. Mark off each successful day on a calendar.

Don’t despair if you fail, tomorrow is another day. Most people who stop smoking for good have made three or four previous attempts.

Go to stoptobernz. co.nz to join Stoptober

Testify!

Amy Owen is passionate about children’s ministry and its worthwhile impact on children’s lives.

I’ve always loved working with children. I grew up in The Salvation Army from age six and got involved in Children’s Ministries as soon as I could, when I was about 12 or 13.

My parents are The Salvation Army officers in Greymouth and were officers in Gore for eight years.

I began volunteering with the Invercargill children’s ministries in 2010, when I moved to Invercargill to train as a primary school teacher, and have stayed ever since, taking over as the children’s worker in 2012 when the previous children’s worker left.

A lot of people think of children’s ministries as running Sunday school, but these days it’s so much more than that. As well as Sunday mornings, we run a Thursday morning programme for pre-schoolers, a Friday night outreach for children aged six to 13, and since the end of last year I have been working in an Invercargill primary school taking a reading recovery class and helping out where needed.

People also think children’s ministries is loud, intense, running around having fun—and some of the best times, it is. But it can also be quiet and reflective.

Children can do amazing things. One of my favourite moments is at the start of our Friday night event each week when the children have a prayer time.

They write things they want prayed for on pieces of paper and put

them in jars, and then they get into groups and pray about them. They often carry on for 10 minutes, talking with each other and God. It’s awesome to see a kid’s face when they understand that God really loves them, that he wants to be their friend and will stay with them. Especially for kids from the community, where home life might be tough, it’s huge for them to know there’s one constant they can rely on, and that’s God. One girl from the community came through our Friday night programme. She came with very low self-esteem, very shy. You wouldn’t recognise her now, to see her so open and bubbly. When you see that, you know it’s the reason why you’re doing this.

As long as the children understand that God loves them, he’s always there for them and that regardless of what happens they can talk to him any time, that’s a win as far as I’m concerned.

While they might not make a commitment now, 10 years down the track I hope they’re able to think back to those fond memories and those messages and reconnect with the church.

At the school I work in, we’re not there to preach, but if people ask we will talk to them about Jesus and the church. We’re there to walk the walk. I wear some Army regalia when I go to school, and through this I’ve had some good conversations with the teachers,

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and some of the children have come along to our Friday night event.

At the end of this year, I’m moving to Dunedin to get married.

I have been blessed to work with Invercargill’s young people. I have built some strong relationships and I will miss them, but I am looking forward to new challenges in children’s work in Dunedin.

It’s awesome to see a kid’s face when they understand that God really loves them …

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 18 October 2014

SUDOKU

Difficulty Medium

Che Cormack of The Salvation Army spent time in prison for drug dealing, where he learnt that his drug abuse was driven by his inability to process difficult emotions. Che shares ideas about building a healthy emotional life.

4 7 6 9 7

Getting Emotional

5 9 2 1 3 4

6 3 4

9 8

1

2 9 1 8 7

7 3

4

Each Sudoku number puzzle has a unique solution that can be worked out logically (not mathematically). The numbers 1 to 9 appear once in every row, column and 3x3 square.

ANSWERS BELOW 8 6 9 4 2 3 5 1 7

4 3 1 6 8 7 2 5 9

7 8 5 2 1 9 6 4 3

6 9 2 5 3 4 7 8 1

9 1 6 7 5 2 8 3 4

3 4 7 9 6 8 1 2 5

2 5 8 3 4 1 9 7 6

1 What fraction is equivalent to 80 per cent?

2 Who won the 2014 Wimbledon Championships Men’s Singles final?

3 What is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature?

4 Name the missing mountain: Ngauruhoe, Tongariro, ?

5 How many books in the New Testament?

5 2 4 1 7 6 3 9 8

LET’S GET QUIZZICAL

1 7 3 8 9 5 4 6 2

1 Four-fifths, 2 Novak Djokovic, 3 Mercury, 4 Ruapehu, 5 27.

LIKE US facebook.com/salvationarmyNZFijiTonga

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @salvationarmynz

I was pretty angry the other night. I was home alone, it was late, I’d just got the kids to sleep, and I was still doing dishes and making lunch. Looming in my mind was the knowledge that at 5 am, the whole saga would start again. I was seething. I won’t tell you all the thoughts running around my head, but they were selfish, accusatory and immature.

The truth is that after a long day, a late bus and when more effort is required at home, I’m very susceptible to anger.

Thankfully, I’ve learnt not to say the nasty things floating around my mind, but it took too many conflicts with family members before I mastered that skill. I hope one day I’ll be able to better rein in my thoughts, like I’ve practiced controlling my tongue.

It’s often the next day in my conversations with God that my attitudes get adjusted. God reminds me of the decision I made to commit my life to my wife and children. He reminds me to love my wife like Jesus Christ loved the Church (so much that Jesus sacrificed himself for the Church).

One of the first truths God taught me after I became a Christian was that he had given me a spirit of power, love and self-control. When I was in jail, I used that power to face conflict and danger without fear. And now, in my marriage, God is helping me to exercise that self-control by controlling my temper, my tongue and my behaviour.

For me, ‘self-control’ means looking to God, the Bible and his teachers in the church to learn the right skills to act wisely in all situations.

In every situation, God provides many skilful ways to react; the challenge is choosing the right skill at the right time.

For example, Jesus treated people differently in the different situations he encountered. He became friends with prostitutes, drunks and thieves, embodying his command to love your neighbour.

Conversely, Jesus was angry at many of the religious leaders of his time, vehemently chastising them. He even physically ran some money lenders out of the temple because they had turned God’s house into a place of greed and dishonesty.

The Bible describes Jesus as ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah’ (Revelation 5:5) and also as ‘the lamb that was slain’ (Revelation 13:8). This is what my anger often boils down to: will I react to as a lion or a lamb?

Only God can guide me in that decision, which means I need to be very familiar with God’s voice and be willing to put my faith into action by obeying what God says.

When a situation or conflict arises where our reaction may not be productive—especially where anger is involved—that is the moment to pause and quickly ask God: lion or lamb?

For me, God mostly says ‘lamb’. And so I’m practising and practising (because God always gives us plenty of opportunities for growth). Maybe one day, I’ll have this lamb routine down pat, and then God might trust me to roar like a lion a little more often.

But not yet.

DID YOU KNOW? The word often translated as ‘wisdom’ in the Bible, could just as easily be translated as ‘skill’?

Close Up | 11

Tent Down and Fale Up An energetic Kiwi mission team from around New Zealand gets to work in Kolovai.

BY KEVIN WAUGH What do you do when your tent roof won’t keep the rain out?

You look for a replacement! Last year, Salvationists at Kolovai Corps (church) Plant in Tonga realised that age and local weather conditions had taken an unrepairable toll on their tent. The Tonga Regional Headquarters team explored options and decided a traditional Tongan fale would be a good option for this relatively new Salvation Army congregation.

Around this time, retired officers Major Donald and Dorothy Walker were holidaying with family in Tonga and visited the Kolovai Salvation Army. While looking at the rips in the tent, God planted a thought in Donald’s mind: ‘You should do something about this.’

From this, a vision grew.

With permission from Territorial Headquarters to proceed with erecting a fale, New Zealand divisional leaders were approached on behalf on the Tongan Region to seek financial support from New Zealand corps and to enlist helpers for the mission work.

Whangarei Corps formed a team of workers, along with people from Nelson, Motueka, Wellington and Hamilton. September 9–24 was booked for the build, materials were obtained and shipped to Tonga, and the team duly arrived armed with hammers, nails and saws.

Every day, progress was made, with the assistance of Tongan Salvation Army helpers from Nuku’alofa, Talasiu, Fua’amotu, Vaini and Kolovai. The building site had a special feel. There was unity, laughter and strength that brought everyone together as one army.

An army can’t march on empty stomachs, and neither can it build, so the Kolovai kindergarten and local corps generously supplied amazing feasts for lunch each day. No one went hungry!

On Sunday, September 21, the fale hosted a service in which Kolovai Corps Plant and Nuku’alofa Corps, which planted this new Salvation Army corps, celebrated this love gift from Salvationists in New Zealand. This was a chance to thank everyone for their hard work and acknowledge God’s goodness. The celebration included the first senior soldier enrolment in the new building, of Alai Tu’ineau, and the first dedication, of baby Malia Talita Siufanga Nonu.

The mission team’s final two days in Kolovai were the longest, with everyone keen to conquer the project. Some tricky end roof frames took a while to get into place, meaning the last of the roofing was still to do, along with a couple of other small jobs. A few of the team return to Kolovai to finish their work this month.

The fale project in itself is quite an achievenment, but the mission

team also found time to fit a ceiling to one of the kindergarten rooms and to brighten both classrooms with fresh paint.

Kolovai Corps Plant and Tonga Regional Headquarters are grateful for the hard work of Major Donald Walker and his helpers, David Isaachson, Peter Walker, Majors Bill and Alison Millar, Andy Collins, Graham Walker, Kase Walker, Paul Austin, Ian Ashby, Gary Bottomley and Aux-Captain Kenneth Walker. The team connected in a special way with the people of Tonga and showed us what it means to be mission-minded followers of Jesus.

The Tonga Region is also grateful to others in New Zealand who helped turn vision into reality. Thank you for doing your part to help The Salvation Army in Tonga continue to grow God’s kingdom.

Captain Kevin Waugh is Regional Support Officer, Tonga.

For more photos, go to

facebook.com/tongamission/photos_stream

12 | WarCry 18 October 2014

Let’s try it once without the parachute.

Hope from Depression An excerpt from the Moral and Social Issues (Ethics) Council Talk Sheet on Depression. Andrew Hay takes a look at how the prophet Elijah waited for God in the despair of depression and eventually regained hope.

Ahab was the seventh king of the northern kingdom of Israel. He reigned from 874–853 BC. Ahab ‘did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him’ (1 Kings 16:30). This included marrying Jezebel, who persuaded Ahab to institute the worship of Baal throughout the kingdom (16:31-33). Jezebel added her own evil by trying to kill off God’s prophets (18:4).

Elijah was the primary prophet during Ahab’s reign, earning a reputation as a troublemaker (18:17) and an enemy (21:20).

Living by faith Elijah bursts onto the scene with the declaration that, because of Ahab’s betrayal of God, there will be drought and famine for the next three years (17:1). Ahab makes efforts to capture Elijah (18:10), but God keeps Elijah safe, leading him to a stream in the wilderness, and getting ravens to keep him fed (17:2-6). When the stream dries up, God leads Elijah to a village in Sidon where he finds shelter with a poor widow and her son. The widow finds faith through God’s miraculous provision of food and returning her son to life after he died (17:7-24).

In the third year of the drought, God instructs Elijah to meet Ahab, challenging him and the people to a spiritual contest between the false god Baal and Yahweh, God of Israel (18:1-2; 16-19). The contest is arranged: the people agree to worship the god who responds with fire. The 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah spend at least six hours shouting, dancing and slashing themselves, pleading with their gods to answer with fire. ‘But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention’ (18:20-29).

Then Elijah steps up. He rebuilds the ruined altar with 12 stones, digs a trench around it, arranges the firewood and the offering, then pours water over the offering and altar—three times. Elijah prays one simple prayer. The God of Israel answers with a fire that burns the offering, the wood, the stones, the soil and the water in the trench (18:30-38). The people are convinced, the prophets of Baal are dealt to, and Ahab heads off to party because the drought will soon end (18:39-41).

Elijah prays for the end of the drought. As the rain comes pouring down, Ahab travels the 40 km to Jezreel, with Elijah running ahead of him all the way (18:42-46).

Down into depression

Freaking out (Fear/Anxiety): Ahab tells Jezebel ‘everything Elijah had done’ (19:1), and Jezebel sends a message to Elijah that she is going to have him killed (19:2). Elijah freaks out and runs for his life—150 km to Beersheba in the southern kingdom. Jezebel’s threat, the hype of the Carmel contest, and the distress of three years on the run, unravels his trust in God’s presence, provision and power (19:3).

Fouling out (Failure): Fuelled by his fear and believing he has

failed, Elijah prays that he might die: ‘I have had enough, Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors’ (19:3-4).

Flaking out (Fatigue): Distressed in body, mind and spirit, and overwhelmed by fear and failure, Elijah crashes in fatigue (19:5).

Feeling Forsaken: Elijah voices—in anger—his feeling of being forsaken, without help or recognition: ‘I have been very zealous … I am the only one left’ (19:10).

Elijah experiences God’s presence in ‘a gentle whisper’ that silences the clamour of the past.

Recovering Hope

Mercy: God’s angel twice wakes Elijah with a touch, providing food and drink, and speaking simply to Elijah’s immediate need. This is a messenger/message of mercy—not judging, not rejecting, not sermonising, but simply caring (19:5,7).

Rhythm of Recovery: Elijah begins his recovery with a good rhythm of basic health through eating, drinking and resting. This readies him to face the next phase of recovery (19:5-8).

Return to Sender: Elijah sets off on a quest to rediscover his reason for being, his mission and values. He travels to the mountain where his ancestors pledged their loyalty in response to God’s pledge of steadfast love. The ‘forty days and forty nights’ indicates mental/ spiritual processing, alongside physical travel (200 km) (19:8).

Go(o)d Question: Elijah arrives at the mountain, finds a cave and spends a night, waiting for God. God speaks, not with reprimand or rejection, but with a simple question: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ This invites Elijah to look back: to see the fatigue, the failure, the fear and, before that, the faith; to consider what led to the loss of faith and the rise of fear; to express the struggle to stay strong for so long. Can you sense his pain pouring out?: ‘I have been very zealous … The Israelites have rejected your covenant … I am the only one left’ (19:9-10).

Go(o)d Encounter: God responds with an invitation for Elijah to experience his presence, to restore their relationship, to learn to trust again. This invitation is followed by earth-shattering wind and earthquake and fire. These were signs of God’s presence seen on this mountain during the Exodus from slavery. Signs as spectacular as the drought, fire and rain that God had provided for Elijah’s ministry. But now God is not present in these spectacular forms. Instead, Elijah senses God’s presence in ‘a gentle whisper’ that silences the clamour of the past, and he responds in humble reverence (19:11-13).

Go(o)d Question (again): This question (and answer) is almost identical to the previous one. Some scholars suggest it is an error by an early copyist, but it can also be seen as good therapy. Repeating such a powerful question offers an opportunity to consolidate new learning. Although Elijah answers with the same words, we sense a change of mind and heart is underway. The old is going, the new is coming (19:13-14).

Soul Food | 13

New Mission: God reinforces Elijah’s change of heart by giving him a new mission: to retrace his steps and begin to institute a new order for himself and for God’s people. This new mission will restore Elijah to faith and help him overcome the fatigue, failure and fear that had crippled his first mission. The new mission calls Elijah to appoint new leaders—including his own successor—so he no longer works in isolation. And God reveals there are 7000 other faithful followers, so he need no longer feel forsaken (19:15-18).

Elijah leaves the mountain-top and takes on Elisha as his apprentice (19:19-21). Elisha then appoints the other two leaders selected by God (2 Kings 8:7-15; 9:1-10).

Elijah maintains a much lower profile, but still continues to challenge Ahab (21:17-24).

Suicidal thoughts?

It is not uncommon for people suffering depression to have suicidal thoughts. Depression, anxiety disorders, and drug and alcohol problems can interfere with how you see yourself and the world around you. If you are having thoughts of suicide it is really important to talk to someone. It’s often difficult to see a way through your problems by yourself, but many people who have suicidal thoughts have worked through these problems, the crisis has passed and their mood improved.

It’s important to tell someone you trust about how you have been feeling. If your request for help isn’t heard, try again. Or call one of these confidential helplines:

Improve your confidence by choosing balance* Routine: A positive step in recovering from depression is to restore order and discipline in your life. Regular and orderly sleeping, eating and working patterns rebuild a sense of usefulness and healthy self-esteem.

Read 1 Corinthians 14:33—what reassurance does this bring you?

Relaxation: We all need regular times of relaxation. Times when we can simply pause, calm down and seek the peace of God in our lives. Jesus modelled this for us.

Read Mark 6:31—what benefits would ‘a quiet place’ bring to your life at the moment? How might you build this into your life?

Recreation: Moderate physical exercise helps expel unhelpful chamicals from our system and stimulates the production of helpful chemicals.

Outdoor exercise adds the sun’s healing rays.

What recreation would you like to add to your life? How will you ensure this happens?

Rest: Sleep helps body and mind repair and recharge, so set fixed times for going to bed and getting up. Avoid caffeine, vigorous exercise, phone calls, TV and Internet use within three hours of sleeping.

Read Mark 2:27—how might God’s weekly gift of Sabbath rest help ease the tension in your life?

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757

Lifeline: 0800 543 354

Reprioritise: It may be necessary to reduce your commitments to family, work, church, neighbours and travel. You may be able to pick up some of these activities again in the future, but your priority now is to get better.

Youthline: 0800 376 633 (a free, confidential phone counselling service for teenagers) www.lowdown.co.nz: chat via free text on 5626 or online on the website. (This service is aimed at young people).

Ask God to help you reprioritise the activities in your life.

* From Christians Get Depressed Too by David Murray (RHB)

Talking About … Depression The Salvation Army’s Moral and Social Issues (Ethics) Council has released a new Talk Sheet on the topic of depression.

Designed for small groups and

personal use, the Talk Sheet includes sections on What is Depression?, Who Gets It and Why?, Seeking Help, Suicidal Thoughts, and the Church and Depression.

Tips include How to Help a Friend and Five Ways to Wellbeing (from the Mental Health Foundation).

Download from salvationarmy.org.nz/masic

14 WarCry 18 October 2014

Reaching Out … With Coffee Coffee and a muffin has become an increasingly popular outreach tool for Salvation Army churches, such as Kelvin Grove in Palmerston North and Westgate in Auckland, both of which have started church cafés as a way to connect with their community.

When Kelvin Grove Corps (church) member Aaron Williams spotted an old, abandoned coffee machine in the church building he began joking about getting it going again. Those light-hearted comments quickly escalated into a new café that is helping the church re-connect with the Kelvin Grove community.

Aaron is a trained chef and barista, and together with his wife Elisha-Jane and corps officers Lieutenants Nathan and Jessica Bezzant they decided to start The Lounge Café. They began with a few coffees and have ended up with a thriving café open to the public Monday to Friday.

When the corps started going round businesses in January talking to them about the café many people had forgotten about the church or just did not know it was there. The businesses were keen on a café though and have been coming in regularly. It has proved a good attraction for families in the area as well.

The corps’ playgroup for mums and toddlers has benefited, with a group of mums who came along to the café joining this group.

He has been making good use of his training, putting together a breakfast and lunch menu and a selection of cabinet food to go with the coffees. However, it was the social interaction that had the biggest impact and was the most rewarding, he said.

‘A lady came in today, one of my regulars, and said she thinks she’s in trouble at work and things aren’t going well at home and I just said, “Remember the coffee shop’s here—if things are hard, come in and talk about it.” She can sense that she can open up about how life is in that atmosphere around the table with food and drink.’

Westgate Corps Officer Lieutenant Juanita Buckingham said their corps café Koinonia was also aiming to provide a safe space for people to engage with church. The Greek word koinonia translates to ‘communion’ or ‘sharing in fellowship’, which was what the café was about, she said.

The corps started the café after brainstorming ways to use their

large entrance hall to reach out to the community. Other churches in Auckland had set up cafés and it was a good extension to the corps’ community ministry, providing a safe and comfortable space for people to come to the church.

‘Sitting down and having a coffee together is a non-threatening environment. If we create a place where people feel they can come and belong then when they have needs they can open up,’ Juanita said.

The corps had to completely redecorate, including repainting and putting down new lino, but the café had transformed the space, she said. They hoped to offer a space for people who would not usually go to cafés as well as regular café goers.

People pay what they can afford for a coffee and get a free piece of baking provided by corps members, which had provided great outreach opportunities. It had been helpful for building the corps community as well, Juanita said.

‘It’s been a good way to get people in the church involved in mission, whether they come along and talk to people or they’re doing the baking. It’s creating another place for the church members to connect [with each other].’

They Saw a Need in Hutt City

He started with an old broken chainsaw, fixed with a coat hanger and brass screws from an old light socket as parts weren’t available.

But these days, Hutt City corps (church) foodbank manager Ian McGeorge has become a part-time forestry worker, helping hard up Lower Hutt residents stay warm over winter.

Ian said the work began two years ago when he found three old, broken chainsaws at the corps. People at the food bank had been asking if they had any firewood, so Ian took one of the chainsaws home and fixed it up, not intending for it to be put to such a use so quickly.

The next day God provided, as they got a call out of the blue from someone wanting to donate some wood. A few days after that, a farmer got in touch to say he had chopped down about 20 pine trees

and would they like the wood? The farmer was so pleased with the job they did chopping that wood, he asked them to chop down another 170 gum trees that needed to come down after a storm.

Ian and another volunteer, Jardin Elliot, set up on site and, fortunately, were soon donated a new chainsaw. More equipment was soon needed and they eventually had to buy a log splitter along with an old Ford ute.

With the size of the task, Ian quickly realised the work would require professional training and safety and contacted Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre. The corps now has three people certified to work on the site, which has also been safety checked to make sure they complied with forestry regulations. Until then, the farmer’s son-in-law, a professional arborist who lived next door, helped out with safety and difficult trees.

Budgeting agencies now get in touch when they have someone who needs help, and the corps helps some foodbank clients as well.

This winter they took wood to 18 individuals and families.

‘Some people are really struggling,’ said Ian. ‘There are people I have met who go without heating because they can’t afford it.

One lady lost her husband and she’s got five kids—firewood’s not something she can readily afford at such a difficult time. A lot of elderly people have wood burners, but some don’t speak up when they need help.’

The wood has to be cut a year in advance to be properly dried and ready to burn, and at the height of their work Ian said he was spending eight hours a week chopping wood, alongside his work on the food bank.

The work was physically demanding, Ian said, recalling long hours in the baking sun or freezing rain, but some encouraging moments helped him keep going and there were unexpected upsides too.

Our Community | 15

From ‘Never!’ to ‘I Will!’

(l-r) Capt Brenton Millar, Chris Heenan, Linda Bulley, Sarah Tervit and Lieutenant Sammy Millar On August 17, Linda Bulley, Chris Heenan and Sarah Tervit were enrolled as senior soldiers at Sydenham Corps (Captain Brenton Millar and Lieutenant Sammy Millar).

Linda said her journey to become a senior soldier had begun as one of ‘No, never!’ many years ago until she felt God saying, ‘Trust me.’ In that process of trust, God had turned her ‘no’ into an ‘I will for you, Lord.’

Joel 2:25 is a verse with great meaning to Linda. It says, ‘[God] will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten away.’ The New American Standard Bible uses the words ‘… I will make up to you for the years that the locusts have eaten away’.

Linda didn’t do well in school and struggled to complete her high school and tertiary education. Many times she says she felt ‘dumb’—a little like being ‘in a desert wasteland decimated by the locusts’. But slowly things started to change for the better, and with God’s help and a lot of hard work, Linda started to make some positive changes.

‘In 2009, I made the move to Christchurch to undertake a year’s

‘There were times when I thought, “This seems too much”, but I got several encouraging scriptures saying this really could be of God, and it’s really meeting a need in the community. “When we needed equipment I asked the family store manager if we had any steel capped boots. The next black bag of donated goods she opened had two brand new pairs.”

He fundraises to support the work sometimes by selling some of the extra wood through the corps.

And the offers of wood keep on coming, with a woman telling Ian last month that she had 30 hectares of pine trees and asking for his contact details.

‘We’re still waiting to hear about that but there’s plenty of work in the meantime,’ he said.

study in counselling skills,’ she says. ‘I had said no for a long time to doing this study, but once I said yes things fell into place quickly.

Much to my amazement, I did well and passed. God was restoring to me the ability to learn and succeed. With that win under my belt I was successful in gaining employment with The Salvation Army in 2010.

Linda’s new job offered many opportunities for professional growth. ‘At times it has been a bit scary, but my confidence and skills have grown immensely,’ she says.

Last year, Linda attended a Community Ministries Foundation Course at Booth College of Mission. As well as giving a presentation while at the course, Linda was required to complete three assignments after she returned home. She was delighted to receive high marks and to pass the course.

When Linda first started working for the Army, she was offered the opportunity to train as a budget adviser. She declined out of fear, having failed School Certificate maths at school. Four years later, she has just completed this training, scoring 96 per cent on her assessment.

Linda says she wants to encourage others that even if they feel they have lost everything (‘that the locusts have eaten it all away, that you are in the desert and you are weary beyond anything’), God is a God who transforms lives.

‘Give God your no’s and your losses, and trust him to restore and transform you,’ she says.

Fijians Explore God’s Call What a great weekend to be with God’s people! To explore and dig deep of what God’s call is in our life. The delegates who attended the ‘Delve’ conference in Fiji from September 5-7 now have a fair idea of what God is calling them to. For some, this is local leadership or Salvation Army officership.

Delve delegates experienced blessed speakers, great worship, were rejuvenated with our majesty the King of kings, and also received assurance to take the next step in their discipleship journey.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about Delve or even why I was there at the start of the weekend, but after Lieutenant Bryant Richards (Assistant Training Principal, Booth College of Mission) spoke, I came to understand that God has a calling in my life.

Lieutenant Bryant asked us to think about the question ‘what is God asking of me next?’ He emphasised three things. Firstly, to see how great God is; secondly, to say yes to God’s calling; and thirdly, to get a vision for our lives. After hearing this, I realised why I was at Delve and that all I had to do was just say ‘yes’ and see what this great and marvellous God can do in my life.

The next day, Lieutenant Geoffrey Miller spoke on leadership.

What most struck me was when he said, ‘There is a potential leader in everyone.’ As I went back to my room that night the only word that kept rushing to my mind was ‘potential’. I knew that I had leadership potential, but realised I had been too stubborn to believe in that potential and to grasp it.

I can now confirm that God has a calling in my life and that right now that calling is for local leadership within The Salvation Army.

I have a piece of advice for the young people like me who are reading this: don’t look down on yourself and say that you are not capable. Remember God called you and when he does that he knows exactly what he is doing. So be bold and say YES and don’t give excuses. God has a plan and purpose for us all. Don’t ignore the voice that is speaking within you!

Kelera Liku (Youth leader, Raiwai Corps)

We’d love to hear your news 400–600 words with clear and well-captioned photos. Promotion to Glory tributes are around 300 words. Please send large, high-quality digital images in .jpg format.

Email to warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org

16 WarCry 18 October 2014

#150Reasons to Say Thank You Ahead of its 150th anniversary Boundless Congress, The Salvation Army is inviting Salvationists, supporters and those helped through the Army’s ministry to share their experiences of how God has influenced, shaped and transformed their lives. #150reasons is a ‘crowdsourcing’ campaign to encourage people to share their personal stories and reflections.

Stories can be submitted on: • Twitter, using the #150reasons hashtag • Facebook, via the Salvation Army International page (http://sar.my/facebook) • YouTube, Flickr, Instagram or Vine • the #150reasons webpage (http://sar.my/150reasons) Contributors are asked to include a photo or video in their submissions if possible.

A selection of #150reasons stories will be made available online, with the first including powerful testimonies from New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, the Caribbean,

South Africa and the UK. The stories will also run on social media in the 150 days prior to 2 July 2015, the date of the 150th anniversary, to raise awareness of the diversity and geographic spread of The Salvation Army’s work.

Supporters are encouraged

to share content with their online networks by following @SalvArmyIHQ on Twitter and retweeting #150reasons messaging.

International Headquarters web manager David Giles says, ‘This is an exciting new opportunity to tell The

Salvation Army’s story in an authentic and engaging way.

As we approach this milestone anniversary, we want as many people as possible to see and hear what God has been doing—and still is doing—right around the globe.’

What If? The Art of Dreaming—Questions Posed from Rolleston Corps Plant I am more and more convinced that we don’t create enough space for dreaming. In The Salvation Army we are very good at ‘just getting on with it’. We get stuck in and we do it. However, sometimes I wonder if we know what the ‘it’ actually is. Well, whatever it is, at least we’re doing it!

I would like to suggest that we, as a Christian mission-driven movement, don’t spend enough time dreaming. Here are some things I have learned about the art of dreaming …

1. Dreams won’t come unless you allow yourself to be a dreamer. Creating space for imagination, creative thought and (most importantly) for the Holy Spirit to speak into your heart is the easiest thing to forget in the name of ‘getting on with it’. I spend a lot of time dreaming. I set aside time every day to dream up new things, or new ways to do old things, or even old things that if done now would be seen like ‘new’ because they haven’t been done for so long.

I just dream. A lot.

2. Most dreams never see the light of day. There is a level of acceptance that nine out of ten dreams won’t ever become more than the dreams they started as. That is okay. It’s a natural part of the process.

3. Dreams are to be shared. One of way of differentiating between dreams that work, and dreams that don’t is the act of sharing them with others. I’ve found that the dreams worth pursuing—the ones that come to life—are the ones that inspire others when they are shared. Nine times out of 10, I share a dream with different people … and no one cares. They are all happy I’ve had an idea, but no one is stirred by it. It is the dreams that do stir something inside of others that end up coming to life.

4. Good dreams usually have to die before they come to life.

The one-out-of-10 dream that comes to life usually has to die first.

Sometimes a dream will die five or six times before it gets a hint of life. This process is part of the weeding out. Dreams worth pursuing will overcome things that would outright destroy other dreams.

5. Dreamers must prepare for criticism. If you are going to be a dreamer, you have to be ready to take criticism for ‘never following

through with your dreams’. Most people won’t understand how you can be so excited about an idea one day, and simply say, ‘Oh, that one is gone’ the next. Most won’t understand how only one out of 10 of the dreams you have ever become anything. That’s a poor success rate by most measures.

6. The best dreams take time. Very few significant things happen quickly from start to finish. Every good thing takes time to develop. And dreams are no different. Dreams take a long time to go from dream to reality. In fact, that is a significant part of the process.

But if it is worth pursuing, it is worth waiting for.

Our ‘doing it’ is great, but I still think we need a lot more dreaming in The Salvation Army. At Rolleston, we’re still in a space where we have full permission to dream. The ‘it’ will come on its own.

Nathan Holt (Corps Officer, Rolleston Corps Plant)

GAZETTE International Appointment Effective Jan 2014: Mjr Michelle Collins, Training Principal, Papua New Guinea Territory; Mjr Milton Collins, Secretary for Business Administration, Papua New Guinea Territory.

Birth Congratulations to Capt Corryn Vemoa and Cadet Francis Vemoa on the birth of Solomon James Vemoa at Hutt Hospital on 27 Sept.

First-time Grandparents Capts Adrian Marika and Phillippa Serevi after the birth of Zachary Ryan Serevi on 20 Sept in Suva, Fiji.

Envoys Geoffrey and Jillian Smith after the birth of Solomon James Vemoa on 27 Sept.

Resignation The Territorial Commander announces with regret the resignation of AuxCapts Robert and Leonie (Loll) Raven, effective 5 Oct. Robert and Loll were warranted as auxiliary captains in Dec 2011 after a short term of service as envoys. They served as Corps Officers, Tokoroa, and Director, Community Ministries Tokoroa (Robert), Director, Bridge Programme Waikato and Mission Director, Problem Gambling Services Waikato (Robert), and Assistant to the Director with responsibility for Recovery Church, Bridge Programme Waikato (Loll). We thank Robert and Loll for their service and pray God’s blessing on them both in the future.

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CALENDAR OCTOBER 13–17: Fifteen-Year Officer Review / Booth College of Mission 17–19: Cadet Mission Weekend (Sigatoka) / Fiji Division 18–19: National Youth Band / Feilding Corps 20–23: Tri-Territorial Leaders Conference / Melbourne, Australia 21–23: Finance Training / Booth College of Mission 22: Safe to Serve Training (Leaders) / Central Division 24: Hawke’s Bay Anniversary 24–25: Delve Conference / Tonga Region 24–27: Wellington South Band 120-Year Celebration / Wellington South 27: Labour Day 28–31: One-year Officer Review (NZ) / Booth College of Mission 30: Family Store Conference / Northern Division 31–2 Nov: Top of the South Kids Camp / Southern Division

NOVEMBER 2: Combined Corps Meeting (Sydenham) / Southern Division 2: Blaze Youth Event / Central Division 2: Sponsorship Sunday (Fua’amotu) / Tonga Region 3: Marlborough Anniversary 3: Retired Officers Fellowship / Northern Division 5: Spiritual Day / Booth College of Mission 6: Community Ministries Managers Forum / Central Division 7: Women’s Rally / Tonga Region

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Robert (Territorial Commander) and Janine Donaldson (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) 18–19 October: Winton Corps 125th Anniversary 20–23 October: Tri-Territorial Leaders Conference / Melbourne 7-9 November: Men’s Camp for NZ Officers (TC) 9-14 November: The Philippines (TPWM) Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries) 20–23 October: Tri-Territorial Leaders Conference / Melbourne 1–3 November: Southern Division Welcome and Orientation 7–9 November: Men’s Camp for NZ Officers (CS) 15–17 November: Central Division Welcome and Orientation

PRAYER FOCUS Please pray for: Auckland City, Auckland City Korean, Ba, Belfast and Blenheim Corps, Salvation Army Early Childhood Education Centres, The Salvation Army in South America.

International Film Competition The Boundless 2015 international congress in London is hosting the Boundless Film Festival, celebrating Salvation Army film making from around the world.

The Salvation Army has been involved in film making since its inception, and the Boundless Film Festival will recognise the gifts and talents of today’s Salvation Army film makers. Submissions should be based around the congress theme: Boundless—The Whole World Redeeming. Whether it’s a gripping drama, cutting-edge animation or riveting documentary, the International Congress office wants to see the best examples of innovative, high-quality film making.

A panel of judges will select films that best represent the theme, with entries in two age categories: 25 and under, and 26 and over. The best films will be shown on the big screen at The O2’s Cineworld Cinema, where three screens—the largest of which seats 750 people—have been set aside. The new films will be shown alongside a selection of archive footage and recent documentaries.

Creativity and originality are strongly encouraged, with films demonstrating imagination the most likely to be showcased. Films must be no longer than 15 minutes and all entries must be submitted by 30 April 2015.

If not in English, the film must be subtitled.

Full details, guidelines and rules, including information about how to submit your films, are on the Boundless Film Festival webpage: www.boundless2015.org/boundless/film_festival

Celebrate 120 Years with Wellington South Band 24–27 October

Over Labour Day Weekend, the Wellington South Corps Band is celebrating 120 years of ministry and service. Guest leaders are Majors Steve and Chris Black, former corps officers from Melbourne, Australia. Musical guests for the weekend are David Fiu of the NZ Army Band and Matthew Stein of the NZ Navy Band.

For a registration form and info, e: wsbonetwenty@gmail.com, or p: (04) 389 3530. www.facebook.com/WSB120

To advertise your event, email: warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org

18 WarCry 18 October 2014

LEADERSHIP LINKS

I like to keep pieces of stone from significant times in my life.

I like the idea of cornerstones. We find it in the Bible where it refers to the central place that Jesus holds in our world and in our lives. Acts 4:11 says Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone’.

Two definitions of a cornerstone are: • an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based • a stone that forms the base of a corner of a building, joining two walls.

The Salvation Army has recently undertaken an extensive review of our property holdings and our stewardship of these. We rely on buildings from which we can deliver our mission and from which we can also go out into the community in various mission expressions. Buildings are a gift, or taonga, that God has blessed us with. Therefore, how we care for this treasure and the decisions we make concerning this resource are every bit as important as any other mission decision we make. Our buildings provide us with a cornerstone that can support our mission and ministry.

This brings me to the wider thought of stones. I like stones.

They remind me that I am on a journey through life and that the stones all around me have been here well before I came and will be here well after I have gone.

I like to keep pieces of stone from significant places I have visited and from significant times in my life. I have stones from Mount Taranaki, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park, Arrowtown, Mount Cook, Winnipeg and other places.

Stones that hold special significance for me right now sit on the window ledge in my office. They come from the Methodist church on the corner of Colombo and Brougham Streets in Christchurch. The day after the 22 February 2011 earthquake, I picked up some small pieces of the decorative sandstone, the greywacke building stone and the slate roofing material.

It was heart-breaking to see that this building had been so quickly demolished after the quake. I had passed it as a young child, then as a teenager, and then as a young woman entering marriage and parenthood. Aside from being a gracious building, it represented security and stability to me. The Christchurch earthquake reminded many of us that we cannot build our life’s security on physical things; we need a far more reliable base.

The cornerstone of Jesus Christ is a permanent stone that can be totally relied upon. A cornerstone is the fundamental part of any foundation, so critical that everything else depends upon it.

The words of that old song are so true, aren’t they? On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.

While I enjoy attaching my memories to stones that remind me of special places in my life, I hold far more strongly to the eternal cornerstone of Jesus. So, what is your cornerstone for life?

Lieut-Colonel Lynette Hutson Territorial Secretary for Business Administration

Same-Sex Attitudes Survey In June, 1267 people completed the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory’s Same-Sex Attitudes Survey. As technology did not permit sufficiently wide polling of those in Fiji and Tonga, the results reported here are from those living in New Zealand.

There were 814 responses from New Zealand, with 176 officers taking part, 303 soldiers, 52 adherents, 39 attenders, 169 employees, five clients, 40 people formerly associated with The Salvation Army, and 30 never formally associated with The Salvation Army. There was low representation from under 20s.

The number of respondents formerly associated with The Salvation Army was relatively small, but 45 per cent of these said the Army’s stance on same-sex relationships was a factor in their decision to discontinue their association.

Most of the following analysis focuses on officer and soldier responses.

The central question of the survey was: Which of the following would best describe your current attitudes toward same-sex relationship: 1) I hold unswervingly to the historic understanding of the church, that sexual relationships are appropriate only for a man and a woman in a marriage relationship—officers 51%, soldiers 58%; 2) I live with a degree of uncertainty: I long for clear teaching on this matter but suspect the answer is far from simple—officers 37.5%, soldiers 27.6%; and 3) I am convinced that committed, monogamous, same-sex relationships are fully capable of honouring God—officers 11.36%, soldiers 14.85%.

Of those that held unswervingly to the historic teaching of the Bible, over a third of officer respondents did not claim to have made any serious study of the Bible in forming their opinion.

Similarly, more than half of soldiers who held the same view also said they had not made any serious study of the Bible in this regard. Of those who felt that ‘committed, monogamous same-sex relationships [were] fully capable of honouring God’, a significant number of officers had come to this position without undertaking any serious study of the Bible (22.2% for female officers and 36.4% for male officers). For soldiers in this more ‘accepting’ group, only 29.6% of female soldiers said they had made a serious study, compared with 61.1% of male soldiers.

Anecdotally, it is sometimes suggested that younger people might be more accepting of same-sex attraction and same-sex relationships than older people. The data from this survey did not support this hypothesis, with a range of views represented across all age groups. However, the sample size is too small for each age range to draw a confident conclusion on this question.

In summary, a little over half of respondents held to a traditional view of same-sex relationships. Just under half were either uncertain or had moved to a more accepting view of samesex relationships. The traditional viewpoint was more strongly represented among soldiers (58%) than officers (51%).

Territorial Commander Commissioner Robert Donaldson said while it was clear that there were different views represented across The Salvation Army, it was his hope that The Salvation Army would be experienced as a safe and welcoming place for all people regardless of their sexual identity. ‘The Salvation Army will continue to look for ways to engage in respectful dialogue around this topic,’ he said, ‘but the most important thing is to look after each other as we do so.’

Mission Matters 19

Thought Matters Attracts Largest Crowd This year’s Thought Matters conference was the most popular in its eight-year history, with 104 people attending in Auckland from 29 to 31 August. There was also an encouraging representation from under-30s.

BY CHRISTINA TYSON Thought Matters is organised by the Tri-Territorial Theological Forum (TTTF) to support theological discussion that influences ministry practice. The conference has evolved from meetings of representatives from the two Australian territories and the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory, to annual open conferences that have previously drawn up to 80 people. Each territory takes turns in hosting, with conference proceedings then published for wider reading.

This year’s theme was ‘Honour God with Your Body: A Christian View of Human Sexuality’. Papers were presented on singleness, marriage, heterosexuality and homosexuality, pornography, and the increasing sexualisation of society. ‘The aim was to explore ideas, rather than convince others of the rightness or otherwise of any particular position,’ said convenor Garth Stevenson (Divisional Commander, Midland, and Chair of the Moral and Social Issues Council). With such sensitive subjects under discussion, he asked that people demonstrate grace and compassion in all their interactions, respecting the rights of others to hold different views of scripture, theology and ministry.

Thirty-one abstracts of proposed papers, with writers’ names removed, were considered. Of the 14 papers selected, the five authored by women were all from New Zealand. Two cadets from New Zealand’s Booth College of Mission also presented at Thought Matters this year.

Papers were presented on the following topics: ‘The Body in Biblical Terms’ (David Noakes, Principal, Booth College of Mission), ‘The Challenge of Competing Ethical Visions’ (Dean Smith), ‘Sexuality and Other Hobbies for the Single Adult’ (Lynelle Jellyman), ‘Embracing Singleness in a Marriage-Centred Culture’ (Sarah Green), ‘Making Sense of Scripture and The Salvation Army as a Gay Person Called to Officership’ (Kris Halliday), ‘My Dad Was Gay: A Pastor’s Theological and Pastoral Reflection’ (Stuart McGifford), ‘Tongan Attitudes to Sexuality’ (Faleata Leha), ‘What Do We Do With the Song of Songs?’

(Carla Lindsey), ‘Promoting Healthy Sexual Relations in a PornSaturated Society’ (Liam Glover), ‘Sexuality and Marriage’ (Stuart Glover), ‘Frozen Identity: Sexualisation in Children’s Media’ (Sammy Millar), ‘iSex: the True Greatest Threat to Society’ (Matt Cairns), and ‘Let’s [Not] Talk About Sex, Baby: How the (Hetero-)Sexualisation of the Church is Harming the Body of Christ’ (Caroline Jewkes).

An invited paper by Graham Durston was titled ‘The Church and Homosexuality: Dimensions of the Debate’.

Most presentations were followed by a time of questions or small group discussion, with the sharing of deeply personal experiences contributing to a strong sense of empathy among delegates.

Addressing the topic of singleness, for instance, the observation was made that it was easy for single people to feel like second-class citizens in a church. Speaking about his experience as a gay Salvation Army officer and his ‘deep, Spirit-led yearning’ to undertake this ministry for the rest of his days, Kris Halliday of the Australia Southern Territory talked about the need ‘to become comfortable with discord’ and to understand ‘that difference is not the same as dissention’. On his experience as the son of a gay father who had died from AIDS, Stuart McGifford talked about the mixed responses his family received from the church and noted that homosexual people had ‘not yet been the recipients of the same pastorally-focused, theological concern’ that others, such as divorcees, had experienced.

Sammy Millar pointed out that today’s children were regularly subjected to sexualised content. Parents could help their children to become agents of change who refused to accept the message that a woman’s value and worth was defined by her sexuality.

In her paper, Caroline Jewkes proposed that if Christians were ‘serious about presenting an alternative to the emotionally empty sexual liberalism of the world’, they needed to promote ‘an identity founded not primarily in our sexuality, but rather in our shared life in Christ, expressed through friendship and community’.

Over dinner on Saturday evening, Anglicans Dr Tim Meadowcroft and Dr Andrew Burgess discussed same-gender attraction and relationships from two different biblical perspectives. The Anglican Church in New Zealand, like many other churches, is considering appropriate pastoral attitudes to the LGBTI community and the implications of the legalisation of same-sex marriages in New Zealand.

Territorial Commander Robert Donaldson was pleased to attend most of the conference. He said, ‘The thing that impressed me was the number of people who were so willing to engage their minds and hearts openly. People were wrestling with the issues thoughtfully and positively.’

For more info or to register your interest in receiving the 2014 Thought Matters journal in due course, e: Thought_Matters@nzf. salvationarmy.org

GOD & FAITH

m o m l l u d a never

BY ROBIN RAYMOND

Rock climbing, paintballing and hanging out with cool young people makes youth work sound like lots of fun. But it’s also a life-changing job, as Salvation Army Wellington Youth Services staff have discovered.

Wellington Youth Services run a lot of activities, including accommodation to help teens become independent, two training courses for high school-aged people, a weekly youth meal, and Street Beat, which gives out food and drink on Cuba Street.

They’re also piloting a programme called ‘Mobilised for Mission’, helping other Salvation Army youth engage with their communities.

Monday afternoon It’s Monday afternoon in the old, white office that’s full of couches and games tables and serves as the Wellington Youth services HQ. Barry Kirby just got off the phone with staff at the youth court. They called about a young man unable to get a bail address, because no one in his family would take him.

For Barry, in his last year of studying as a Salvation Army youth work apprentice, it’s the unseen side to a tough, but rewarding job.

Teens with drug and alcohol addictions, in and out of CYFS care, or with parents in gangs are all part of the job. He talks about ‘great chats’ sitting with young people in the Emergency Department at Wellington Hospital.

a DVD. A banner on the wall has the signatures of more than 300 young people who’ve been to the meal in the past two years.

Groups take it in turns to shop for the food and cook. It’s part of giving back and being involved in the community. The chatter is loud and fun.

‘It can be messy’, John* says, ‘but it’s honest.’

Wellington Youth Services saved him from a ‘dark path’. ‘I was at Wellington High, a typical adolescent going from bad to worse; drugs, alcohol, getting into street gangs, it wasn’t pretty.’

Originally from Russia, John was adopted by Kiwis, but had abandonment issues and fought with his parents before finally leaving home and being put in CYFS care. He was given accommodation at ‘The Inn’ and soon met Brent Christoffersen, then a Youth Services staff member.

‘At first I was like “What the heck is this guy trying to do with me?”, but eventually he made me see. He said, “There’s a different way you can go down in life. You can go down in a prison cell or in your own house.” ’

‘It’s not something you always want to do, but it’s part of the job. You can’t just do Monday to Friday 9-5 and expect these young people not to need you any other time.’ It can take years to see change and you have to stick with people, but it’s worth it, Barry says.

John helped run the meal when Brent first suggested the idea. ‘I always wanted to be in a leadership role. Brent said, “Alright then, I’m starting a new programme, you’re helping lead.” I was like “Whoa, I’ve thrown myself in the deep end here,” but it was great,’ he says.

Wednesday night

Outside of the meal John says he was ‘just sitting at home getting stoned’, till youth services helped him get onto a radio course.

He doesn’t lead anymore, but keeps coming because the people are his family. The meal is a consistent, positive place for teens, he says.

Wednesday night, 25 teenagers filter in for the youth meal. They crowd around couches and a pool table, or queue for milkshakes and mochas from Barry, who is organising the meal.

Tonight they had a pool tournament, then a talk about God from a man with axes. Next week they’re playing touch rugby and watching

‘It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, here you won’t get judged or discriminated against. Once you enter

those doors you know you’re in a safe place.

You don’t feel like you have to dress up and pretend to be someone else.’

Tonight the group are joined by Jo* and Anton*.

They haven’t been to the meal for a month, but agree with John, it still feels like their family.

Jo is also getting advice from staff on job hunting.

Nearby, Amber*, Kate* and Paul* are playing pool. They’re in the same year at Wellington High and Paul and Amber are part of the APEX programme, an eight to 10 week course for Wellington High students who could use some extra support. Two days a week they play games and work on scenarios, talking about everything from poverty to social media, Amber says.

Paul is mildly autistic and says APEX has helped him deal with problems during a tough year. Coming to the dinner helped him make friends with more people from school. Amber says it helped her settle in school and cope with being bullied. She brought Kate to the meal and they have been coming for six weeks.

Bevan Sanders, who runs APEX, says many of the young people don’t know how they fit in society. APEX helps them find out about themselves and their place in the world. With social media, Barry says people hangout more online and meet up less outside of school, so when things get tough it can be hard to find friends to support you.

Bevan also runs the Youth Leadership Programme (YLP) for older youth from around Wellington.

Thursday afternoon On Thursday, he’s at Youth Services HQ with six of the YLP youth. They’re crowded round a whiteboard, sketching a plan for a basketball court and playground for teens, complete with a fountain, slides and a sand pit.

Course member Melissa* says they’re going to try and get sponsorship and put a proposal for the playground to the council as a place

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FIREZONE.CO.NZ

t n e m for Lower Hutt youth to hang out safely. It’s all part of the course.

Two days a week Bevan picks them up and they work on trust and team work exercises, mostly at a park or outdoors. The group have all found school difficult, but the course was great because it’s different, says Melissa. They’re not stuck in a classroom and they’re more independent and free to learn. ‘If it weren’t for this, most of us wouldn’t be doing anything.’

It was cool seeing what they could achieve as a group, she adds. Things they never thought they could do—especially with the playground project.

While youth work is a lot of fun, it’s not just about hanging out, Bevan explains. It’s a demanding, professional job, and staff have to be trained for it. Each game or activity has a purpose. Even spending time playing on a Playstation is about building relationships, which is the key to changing lives, he says.

Melissa says the YLP group went to Laser Strike ‘for a break’ and to practise team work. Other groups go to the driving range and discuss actions and consequences, or go rock climbing after discussing trust and goal setting.

Seeing people change, often without realising it, is a big encouragement, Bevan says.

‘You get someone with anger issues and you see something happening and you think they’re going to lash out and they don’t. You see where they’ve come from and you might not see them for a while. They come back and they’ve got jobs and families and they’re doing all this stuff.’

Friday night On Friday night, Bevan is in action again, sitting in a large white Salvation Army van on Cuba Street handing out hot drinks and sausages. The Street Beat team on the van usually includes four to six young people from other programmes. Tonight the YLP group who should be on can’t make it, but other young people going past are quick to help out.

each game or activity has a purpose … building relationships, which is the key to changing lives The queue to the van grows and a small crowd gathers, including an unemployed man and some older people looking for a quieter night.

Nearby a game of giant Jenga, set up each week by people on the van, draws in a group of teenagers and drunken revellers, who are invited to grab a sausage. They usually have a giant chess set too.

A man named Victor joins the queue. He stops by most Friday nights after visiting the local market. ‘I love it,’ he says. ‘It’s a place for everyone. There’s no separation of rich and poor.’

Visitors include people going out to the movies, drunks and people living rough, but the van is usually a friendly, safe spot, helping people sober up or warm up with some food.

It also gives the young people who help a new experience, giving back to the community and an alternative to going out drinking. ‘In some ways they’re a bit out of their comfort zone, but they often know what these people are going through,’ Bevan says.

Barry says the youth have a lot of respect for Street Beat, and even stopped friends getting in a fight near the van a few weeks ago.

He moved from Auckland to be part of the Wellington crew and says that after four years he has questioned being in youth work sometimes. In the end, though, it’s about giving someone a chance and being a person they can rely on, he says.

‘Sometimes the smallest things—getting a job, a stable environment, saying no to drugs or alcohol—can be life changing. I met a guy the other week who I met in my first week. He drifted away and after three years he came back and said, “You really affected my life.”

‘When you get stressed or it’s hard, it’s really easy to forget, but the fact that God’s chosen me to be a part of that is a privilege.’ *Not their real names

FIREZONE.CO.NZ

TESTIMONY | 22

Young people are where my passion is

A passion for helping and being a mate to young people led James Adams to sign up for The Salvation Army Youth Work Apprenticeship.

James is in his third year of the apprenticeship and is completing his training as a youth worker at Mount Albert Corps (church).

Brought up in The Salvation Army, James said he was encouraged by the youth workers at the church. Seeing the influence good youth workers could have, and the struggles of his friends, encouraged him to get involved in youth work.

‘With my school friends, they didn’t have people like that and there was a lot of suffering going on in their lives. I could see they could benefit from someone, outside of their parents, to care for them and be there for them.’

Having decided he wanted to go into full-time youth work and work for The Salvation Army the apprenticeship made sense, providing good training and an opportunity to do practical work. ‘Young people are where my passion is and where I want to see change.

That’s what I’m here for: to do the action.’

Youth work is a mix of hard work and fun, playing touch in the park and working in high schools to build relationships and encouraging people to dig deeper with spiritual teaching at the corps youth group, he said.

The Youth Work Apprenticeship takes three years and includes a Diploma in Youth Work from Praxis and a Diploma in Biblical Studies from Laidlaw College. It combines topics including practical spirituality, social justice, clinical care and youth development as well as the practical work and was all about relating to teenagers, he said.

The academic side had been hard at times, but James has enjoyed getting out and living what he’s learnt. ‘It’s so hands on, especially

Youth work training with practical learning and qualifications at an approved youth work site

with Praxis—you’re learning and defining your identity.’

Young people are key to changing society and spreading the kingdom of God. Seeing people in the youth group who had hung back stepping up to lead things and making an effort to build meaningful relationships with friends was very rewarding, James said.

These days, James said he lives and breathes youth work, which was great fun, but had some challenges.

‘This year, the effort of it is quite hard. It was a shift of living for me—like when you’re going through school you’re looking at what’s best for me and my future; now it’s shifted to being all about others, what’s best for them, which is not always healthy either. So you’ve got to have balance. Finding productive time for myself has been hard.’

Although you can be as full on as you want to be, the Youth Work Apprenticeship course was not for the fainthearted, he said.

‘It’s awesome if you’re passionate about longterm youth work. If you’re in it for the short haul and want to give youth work a go for a while, you will be challenged.’

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO FIREZONE.CO.NZ

Fun4Kids | 23

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NEW JUNIOR SOLDIER IN CARTERON Earlier this year, Isaiah Bathurst was enrolled as a junior soldier at Carterton Corps by his dad, Lieutenant Logan Bathurst. Isaiah was the first junior soldier to be in enrolled at Carterton for around 15 years, which makes this extra special news.

Isaiah has wanted to become a junior soldier since his big brother became one in 2011, and waited very patiently until he was old enough. He was helped through preparation classes by Victoria Harding, who stood with Isaiah when he was enrolled.

Isaiah told everyone how much he loves Jesus and how happy he was to become a junior soldier in The Salvation Army.

READ IT Luke 15:11–31 LET’S TALK In Luke 15:11–31, Jesus tells a story about a dad with two sons. The younger son wasn’t happy at home and thought life would be better somewhere else, so Dad gave his son lots of money and the son waved goodbye.

To start with, he had a great time.

Because he was rich, lots of people wanted to hang out with him. But when he ran out of money, his

so-called ‘friends’ ran out on him.

The son was left alone. Soon he was starving because he had no money to buy food.

The son looked really bad, he smelled really bad, and he felt awful! Finally, he wised up. He headed home, planning to say sorry to his dad for wasting all that money and to ask for a job working on his dad’s farm.

As he walked up the driveway, his dad came running, so happy to see the son he loved so much. The son tried to tell his dad not to make a fuss, but Dad was too excited. He had been worrying and praying that his son would come home. This was a great day!

It doesn’t matter that sometimes we make dumb choices and do wrong things, God, our father in Heaven, never stops loving us. And God forgives everyone who calls out to him for help.

LET’S PRAY God, sometimes I don’t do the wisest things. I make mistakes and even do things that I know you don’t like. I know that makes you sad. Forgive me for the bad things I do and help me to remember that you always love me. Amen.

Will

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Do you know someone aged 16 to 19 who could benefit from practical, zero-fees education? The Salvation Army Education and Employment can help.

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