23 February 2019 NZFTS War Cry

FAITH IN ACTION 23 FEBRUARY 2019 | Issue 6711 | $1.50

State of the Nation Asks, ‘Are We Safe?’

Trip of a Lifetime as National Youth Band Tours the US The Sallies are a Hit at Festival One

Cambodia Calling: Working with Prisoners and Victims of Sex Trafficking Word to the Wise: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

How The Salvation Army is ‘disrupting’ the lending industry

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WAR CRY The Salvation Army

New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa Territory TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Andy & Yvonne Westrupp | GENERAL Brian Peddle | FOUNDERS William

& Catherine Booth

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

MANAGING EDITOR Ingrid Barratt | GRAPHIC DESIGN Sam Coates, Matt Gillon | STAFF WRITERS Captain Jules Badger, Hugh Collins, Major Shar Davis, Robin Raymond | PROOF READING Major Jill Gainsford, Vivienne Hill OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box

6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, Phone (04) 384 5649, Fax (04) 382 0716, Email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz, www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department, Phone (04) 382 0768, Email mailorder@salvationarmy.org.nz, $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT www.makeready.nz | PAPER Sumo Offset

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

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An Audacious and Disturbing Idea When I first came to The Salvation Army eight years ago, I remember commenting to a friend that the Sallies were the most unassuming bunch of radicals I had ever met. Behind the uniform and traditions, people were dedicated to justice and changing the world. That was why I fell in love with the Army, and stayed, and became one of you. (Now I even have my own uniform!)

William and Catherine Booth were probably more ‘radical’ than ‘unassuming’ … but even today we carry with us their DNA. We preach the gospel by changing the lives of the hurt and heartbroken. These changed lives help heal society. As Lieutenant Jordan Westrupp says (p. 18), the Army is about ‘audacious ideas’.

At our heart, we are creative, we are innovative, we are game-changers.

That’s why I’m so excited that in this edition, War Cry is announcing a brand new ‘audacious idea’ that is set to become part of our heritage of radical change.

The Good Shop, launched last week, is a viable alternative to the shopping trucks that prey on our poorest neighbourhoods. It will help make necessary products accessible to people, but without the crippling interest rates charged by other third-tier lenders.

Ronji Tanielu (see p. 6–9) talks about ‘disrupting’ the lending industry, which very much reminds me of Catherine’s famous imperative to ‘disturb the present’.

May we will always be ‘disturbing’ people—in the best possible way!

Ingrid Barratt Editor

Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association.

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

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

Publishing for 135 years | Issue 6711 ISSN 0043-0242 (print), ISSN 2537-7442 (online) Please pass on or recycle this magazine Read online www.issuu.com/salvationarmynzftwarcry

www.salvationarmy.org.nz SalvationArmyNZFTS @SalvationArmyNZ salvationarmynzfts

2 WarCry 23 FEBRUARY 2019

The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.

Albert Einstein

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

2 Teharonika 3:5 Mā te Ariki hoki e whakatika ō koutou ngākau ki te aroha o te Atua, ki te ngākau āta tatari o te Karaiti.

A

t the beginning of the new millenium, the portable electronic footspa was manufactured, mass produced, marketed and made available to everyday Kiwi. I wanted one— desperately. I had two children under the age of two, and therefore truly believed I both needed and deserved a footspa!

My birthday was just around the corner, so I made sure my husband was fully briefed on the capacity of the footspa to not only ensure my happiness, but also promote marital harmony— what a helpful wife! My toes were tingling in anticipation, and everything was coming together nicely. Or so I thought.

When the big day arrived and I was presented with the highly anticipated gift, I was immediately alarmed. The weight and shape of the carefully wrapped box was all wrong. It was rectangular like a footspa, but it was way too small. And it was too heavy. It felt suspiciously like a textbook—this was definitely not a footspa!

My face must have said it all because my husband said to me, ‘I know you wanted a footspa, but I thought this would be better.’ Better? What could be better than a footspa? A footspa was what I wanted! A footspa was what I asked for! I was supposed to get a footspa!

I opened the gift and to my horror it was ... a new Bible! The inscription said: To my darling wife, I know this wasn’t on the list, but I know you’ll enjoy it anyway. Happy Birthday, Love Mat xxx.

I would like to report that I received that Bible with grace, but I cannot. Needless to say, because he loves me (not because of the tantrum I threw), the next payday Mat bought me that blessed footspa.

But here’s the thing, I only used that footspa about five times over the next 15 years. But that Bible? Well, it’s been the gift that keeps on giving.

I’ve read it and meditated on it, and God has spoken to me through it by his Spirit.

All these years later, I know that the gift I received that day was the gift of a lifetime. It may not have been the gift I wanted, but it was certainly the one I needed. (And yes I have since apologised to Mat.) The Word of God has continually nourished and sustained my faith, even during seasons of deep depression, sin and wandering, doubt and unbelief.

Having found its way into my spirit God’s Word has never left me. Time and again, this ancient book has proven to be the living word of God: timeless, eternal—and not only capable of delivering fresh revelation for these uncertain times, but more than able to comfort—heal and revive my despairing soul.

May God’s Word be a source of light, hope and encouragement for you, just as it has been for me.

So go on and open it—perhaps while enjoying a footspa!

‘The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of God stands forever’ (Isaiah 40:8).

BY JULES BADGER

23 FEBRUARY 2019 WarCry 3

TOPFIVE It’s Oscar season, so we thought we’d look at some of our favourite films that didn’t win the golden statue.

5 Stars Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens—Despite being loved by fans and critics alike, Disney’s first Star Wars flick failed to win any of its five Oscar nominations.

4 Fight Club—One of Brad Pitt’s finest features was nominated for Best Sound Mixing but ultimately lost to The Matrix.

3 The Martian—Matt Damon’s Mars marooning failed to take home any of its seven nominations.

2 The Terminator—James Cameron’s seminal sci-fi epic wasn’t nominated for a single Oscar!

1 The Shawshank Redemption— Everyone’s favourite prison drama was nominated for seven awards, yet went home entirely empty handed.

WARCRYINHISTORY In May 17 1913, War Cry reported the death of Rangiwaihi Te Puni, the last Chieftainess of her tribe Ngāti Awa, who passed peacefully away to that ‘Bourne from which no traveller returns’. A soldier of Petone Corps for 23 years, she reached the ripe age of 83 and survived her first husband, Honiana Te-Puni, a chief of Ngāti Awa. Speaking in broken English, one of her sons voiced his thanks to the commissioner for coming to see his ‘dear mother and your dear old friend. May God bless you and everyone, and thank you all’.

Source: Booth College of Mission Heritage and Archives Centre

Pop-Up Family Store Attracts Thousands The first ever pop-up Family Store at Festival One was a bigger hit ‘than we could have ever imagined’, says head of Salvation Army Public Relations Tim Hamilton.

The idea of a pop-up store was the brainchild of Rosy Keane, who saw the potential to promote The Salvation Army at New Zealand’s largest Christian music festival.

Drama, Biography On the Basis of Sex (M, offensive language) Mimi Leder

Her face is recognised around the world as a Supreme Court Judge, now 85-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s incredible life is on the big screen. On the Basis of Sex is a powerful portrayal of her hard-fought battle for gender equality, beginning in the male-dominated world of law in the 50s and 60s. She was asked by the Dean of Harvard Law, ‘Why are you at Harvard Law School taking the place of a man?’ (Ugh!) Ruth sought to dismantle the gender discrimination woven into the fabric of American society through law, one case at a time—beginning with a tax law case, fighting for a man being discriminated against because he was a single man. The film is frustrating, inspiring and powerful—a brilliant watch! (Reviewed by Shar Davis) 4 WarCry 23 FEBRUARY 2019

Another Sallies’ initiative, Hamodava, has been the exclusive coffee supplier for the festival over the past three years (see our story on p. 18). The Family Store was set up next to the Hamodava café, with the idea of selling primarily books— the perfect accompaniment to a cup of coffee.

Then came an unexpected boon— Kiwi clothing giant Glassons donated 50 boxes of ‘seconds’ and rejected stock to The Salvation Army. ‘Much of it seemed like there was nothing wrong with it—to the eye they were perfectly good,’ Tim says.‘There were literally hordes of people coming through our store. We opened at 8am, and at 11pm it was still crammed.’

The store raised almost $10,000 for the Army over the weekend. ‘There was just a lot of joy—teens were able to set

Weird of the Week If you believe you’re ‘one in a million’, that means there are approximately 7,184 more people out there just like you!

QUIKQUIZ 1 When is the next leap year?

2 What is the strongest tendon in the body?

OURPEOPLE

‘Work as if everything depended upon work and pray as if everything depended upon prayer.’

Jules Badger Assistant Writer Jules always wanted to be a writer, so now has her dream job! Jules and Mat have two beautiful, brave and creative young adult children—Gabrielle (married to Nathan) and Jack. Jules loves ‘proper-sizeddogs’ and coming home to such love makes her day! She’s open about her struggles with mental illness, and is writing a book with Mat about their journey and the pursuit of wellness.

Jules writes poetry and collaborates with talented artist Hope Bateman—check out @handswithavoice on Instagram!

William Booth

3 How long is the South Island Coast to Coast multisport race?

4 Who won the 2019 Super Bowl?

5 Who had a vision of a lion with eagle’s wings?

Answers on page 22

Chilli Con Carne This easy Chilli Con Carne recipe will have you cooking authentic Mexican in no time!

Jasmine rice, cooked 600g beef mince

themselves up with clothes and they were really positive about giving back to the community,’ Tim says.

‘It was a win-win in every way,’ agrees National Family Store Manager Gareth Marshall. ‘Being able to interact, and provide a quality product at an unbelievable price point made the weekend a pleasure.’

The highlight of the weekend for Tim was the opportunity to share The Salvation Army mission. ‘That was really the icing on the cake,’ Tim says. ‘To share what we’re all about and reach into people’s hearts.’

In the week following Festival One, there was a surge of online requests to volunteer for the Army—with well over 100 applications.

1 brown onion, finely diced Chilli spice mix (see method) A pinch of chilli flakes or powder (optional) 1 cup frozen corn kernels 400g can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed 3 Tbsp tomato paste 400g can chopped tomatoes 1 grated carrot 1 cup beef stock

Cook rice using your preferred method.

While rice cooks, heat a little oil in a large frying pan on a high heat.

Cook beef mince and onion, breaking up mince with a wooden spoon as it cooks, for 7–8 minutes, until browned. Add chilli spice mix (see below) and chilli flakes/powder if using, cook for a further one minute.

Add corn, beans, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, carrot and stock to pan. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, stirring occasionally for 9–12 minutes until thickened. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Chilli spice mix: Mix together 2 tsp each of smoked paprika, dried oregano and onion powder, and 1 tsp each of ground cumin and ground coriander.

½ cup grated cheese Source: nadialim.com

23 FEBRUARY 2019 WarCry 5

A GOOD

DISRUPTIO

ON

Design concept for The Good Shop vans, which launched on 19 February.

The Salvation Army launched an ambitious project on Tuesday, rolling out The Good Shop, a new truck shop business aiming to disrupt and reform one of New Zealand’s most notorious industries.

BY ROBIN RAYMOND

E

ileen was homeless, living with her sister, when the mobile trader turned up at her door one February morning. She’d bought from a clothing truck before and it had seemed to work well. So when the man offered her a TV, and even offered to chuck in a laptop and a phone—all for just over $20 a week—she agreed. She admits she was naïve. ‘I didn’t think about it. I looked at what they were offering and thought, “I can pay that a week”.’

All Eileen had to do was a quick check on her income (this turned out later to have been a series of wildly inaccurate estimates that didn’t even include her rent as an expense) and sign a few different pieces of paper.

It was agreed she’d get the goods once she’d made the first few payments— all in time for Christmas, the man said. A few months later, when she contacted the company to ask how much she had paid, she was told there was a $20 charge for an invoice. She declined the invoice, but was charged anyway.

When the TV still hadn’t shown up almost a year later, Eileen was told she would get it if she doubled her payments for another 45 weeks. Later, the company would tell her she had to pay everything off in full.

When her sister pointed out she could get the same TV cheaper in a store, she asked to cancel the contract. ‘They stopped the payments—and then they started the payments again. Then they added a $20 fee for me stopping the payments.’

It turned out all those different pieces of paper the man had got her to sign were different direct debit forms, so when Eileen stopped one, the company just started another. Her bank told her it couldn’t cancel the direct debit.

By that time, Eileen had got into a Salvation Army transitional housing programme through Royal Oak Community Ministries. She was seeing a budgeter who also tried to get the contract cancelled—but the company said it would cost Eileen $600 to cancel early. Finally, Royal Oak financial mentor Andrew Mitchell took a complaint to a disputes resolution agency—even then, it took a year and a half before the mobile trader paid Eileen her money back.

Today, Eileen says her life is very different. The Salvation Army team was able to help her into her own home and life is slowly getting better, she says. She is still supported by a social worker, and volunteers at the Royal Oak foodbank to help give back. But she’s still not free of the company.

‘They still come to my house. It’s the same company but different people. I tell them to stop coming, but if you pay once, they keep coming back.’

Buy now, pay later!

The company Eileen dealt with is one of a host of mobile traders and truck shops that travel around poorer areas of cities, targeting people who are struggling.

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They sell items such as phones, clothes and electronics, offering people credit to ‘buy now, pay later!’. The deals often seem cheap, but the goods are actually sold at much higher prices than at the shops, with huge interest rates and hidden fees.

They are a poorly regulated part of a ‘third-tier lending’ industry in New Zealand, lending to those the banks won’t lend to. Often their customers are desperate people who don’t have enough to live on, few options and poor financial literacy.

It’s a huge and growing industry. Last year, New Zealanders borrowed $4.5 billion from non-bank lenders—including finance companies, pay-day lenders and the trucks. In the past five years, that lending has gone up by 39 percent.

The idea for a Salvation Army response began in late 2012, when Ronji Tanielu and Major Campbell Roberts from The Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit put forward the vision, moved by the ‘desperate need that people were having as they dealt with the trucks’.

That need included extremely vulnerable people being targeted, caught up in unfair contracts and trapped in high debts.

‘One of the common practices was their targeting of people in mental health respite homes. We had reports of that in Porirua, Auckland and Hamilton. It made us think, “How do you disrupt this model?” And we wondered, “What if the Army set up its own truck to try and disrupt and eventually destroy this business model?”.’

The idea was then picked up by Jodi Hoare, now The Good Shop project manager, who had heard similar stories while managing The Salvation Army’s Community Finance programme.

‘It’s often the volume of debt people have and the number of trucks they are in debt to. Also, how it was assessed that they could afford to get something on credit. Some of these trucks, their idea of an affordability assessment is, “What do you earn and what’s your rent?” If you earn more than your rent, you’re eligible for a loan.’

When she asked a staff member from one of the trucks if they would ever choose not to sell to someone if they knew they could not afford it, the person told her, ‘No, we would never not sell to someone’.

Accessing the basics Jodi remembers seeing the trucks when she was living in Ōtara as a child, but it was those more recent stories and the effects she saw the trucks having on vulnerable people that led her to ‘feel something had to be done,’ she says.

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‘You can say, “Something will change”, but the trucks have been here for 40 years and nothing’s happened.’

Since the 2015 Commerce Commission report, Jodi says many of the trucks have made efforts to make sure they’re sticking within the law—but the law is still broad enough to charge huge prices and interest. The reality is that for desperate people, the trucks fill a need without feeling like you’re asking for a hand-out from WINZ or a charity.

‘People use them because they don’t have access to a shop, or access to credit. It’s trucks or a pay-day lender.’

Not being able to access basic things most New Zealanders take for granted, is a big part of the picture that often doesn’t get discussed. Even just doing the weekly grocery shop can be a challenge that keeps some families in poverty, Jodi says.

‘The whole of Ōtara and Ōtāhuhu don’t have a mainstream supermarket from one of the big brands. That’s a population of 20,000 people in two low decile suburbs, where to get to a big supermarket you have to leave the suburb. Through our financial mentoring, we see that people are using the corner dairy or those smaller, more expensive supermarkets for a full shop, or taking taxis, public transport [to larger the supermarkets].’

‘THEY STILL COME TO MY HOUSE. IT’S THE SAME COMPANY BUT DIFFERENT PEOPLE. I TELL THEM TO STOP COMING, BUT IF YOU PAY ONCE, THEY KEEP COMING BACK.’ A positive alternative More legislation is due to make urgently-needed changes to the laws around lending. The government has proposed bringing shopping trucks under the new law. It’s also suggested the law could introduce a ‘fit and proper person’ test for mobile traders, require them to register on the Financial Service Providers Register, prove to the Commerce Commission that their fees are reasonable if asked and share key loan information with debtors at the start of debt collection activity.

However, the final bill has not been announced and much could change, Ronji says. ‘The government have said some

really nice sounding stuff, but until we see what the bill looks like, we don’t know if they will deliver. It’s going to take a lot of bravery to do some of the things we have asked for.’

And even if those changes come, the people who use the trucks now will still need access to credit—which is where The Good Shop comes in, Jodi says.

‘If we take away these options, there needs to be a positive alternative. You can tell others that what they’re doing is wrong, or you can ask yourself, “How can we contribute in a positive way?”. We want to go into the industry to show that it can be done in an ethical way. We hope it helps set a new norm on appropriate and responsible lending.’

The shop is a partnership between the Army, The Warehouse Group and Countdown, with support and funding from the Tindall Foundation, BNZ Bank, the Ministry of Social Development and the Nikau Foundation. Without them, the shop wouldn’t be possible, Jodi says.

It’s not expecting to make money, but with the support of those businesses and without the pressure to make a profit, The Good Shop can sell more cheaply and fairly than other trucks. There’s no 400 percent mark-up, hidden costs or extra charges. The items will be provided as near to cost as possible, with a small delivery fee included.

Operating first in South Auckland and then in Porirua, the vans will be selling up to 180 items from The Warehouse Group, ranging from whiteware, household and garden items, to baby gear, electronics, bikes and toys—as well as food from Countdown.

Each van will come with tablet computers for people to search through a digital catalogue of items, and two staff members—a customer care worker and a community loan worker—to walk them through the process.

‘WE WANT TO GO INTO THE INDUSTRY TO SHOW THAT IT CAN BE DONE IN AN ETHICAL WAY. WE HOPE IT HELPS SET A NEW NORM ON APPROPRIATE AND RESPONSIBLE LENDING.’

Jodi Hoare, The Good Shop Project Manager.

For items from The Warehouse Group, the staff will arrange a Community Finance No-Interest Loan for the person, and The Warehouse will then deliver to their door.

Food will not be available on credit, but staff will guide people through the Countdown online shop and Countdown will deliver, Jodi says.

A mission to help The vans will also carry some emergency food parcels, but the aim is not to be a moving food bank, Jodi says. It’s also not about The Salvation Army and its partners running a shop.

Instead it’s about helping people build their own autonomy.

A big part of the loan worker’s role will be providing people with budgeting advice and support. So, if you clearly can’t afford a loan, then—unlike most of the other trucks—The Good Shop won’t give you one. Instead, the loan worker will provide budget advice and help the person get other support they might need from their nearest Salvation Army Community Ministries.

The same applies for groceries, Jodi says. The customer care worker will also be able to offer menu planning and nutritional advice to people, to help them shop smarter.

On an individual level, the shop hopes to be able to transform lives, build financial knowledge and address debts.

Overall, Ronji says the aim is to ‘disrupt’ the truck stop industry for good (pun intended).

As the church, says Ronji, we can all be part of this disruption to injustice. ‘I was always interested in the integrated mission idea—how do you get corps, get the church out there in the community, living like Christ. What’s the God aspect, modelling the goodness of God and his mercy and grace?’

Both Ronji and Jodi hope The Good Shop will be just the start of a movement against unfair lending. ‘Disruption happens at scale so I hope there is a commitment in the future,’ Ronji says. ‘But I applaud the Army and its partners for having the guts to start the journey.’

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Apologising to your Kids Why it’s as important for kids to hear an apology, as it is for adults.

‘I remember a time when I was fighting with my husband and our little girl piped up and said, “Say sorry to each other, now!”

I realised she was repeating what I said to her and her siblings when they fought,’ says mum of two Anathea. ‘But now that it was my turn, I found it incredibly hard to stop in my tracks, swallow my pride and say sorry.’

When we mess up as parents, apologising to our children is incredibly powerful. But, we often find it difficult—perhaps we fear losing our position of authority. Parenting blogger Sharon Van Epps says that apologising doesn’t mean surrendering your authority. Instead, it promotes mutual respect:

‘OFFERING YOUR CHILD AN APOLOGY, WHEN APPROPRIATE, EXTENDS RESPECT THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BOOMERANG BACK TO YOU.’

‘We all want our children to be polite and respectful, but demanding respect without extending it in return teaches the wrong lesson. Offering your child an apology, when appropriate, extends respect that will eventually boomerang back to you.

Children are incredibly forgiving, especially if we meet them halfway by acknowledging our mistakes. With a foundation of mutual love and respect in place, kids will be more likely to say sorry to mum and dad when they screw up—just like us,’ she says.

Finally, saying sorry just feels better. ‘Apologising forces me to focus on my kids instead of myself, and in the end, we all feel better,’ says Van Epps.

Van Epps is the adoptive mother to three foster children, and says her mantra for promoting attachment has been ‘nurture more; control less’. Saying sorry when we’ve messed up as parents is an act of nurture—it makes our kids feel cared for and listened to. It protects the intimate bond between parent and child.

Of course, it’s best if we don’t lose our temper, or fight in front of the kids, or any other number of things we never intend to do. But if we’re quick to apologise to our children, it not only models good behaviour, it reminds our kids that they are far more important than our pride.

The Five Languages of an Apology

Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages, says there are also five ways to say sorry. To make an apology effective, we must tune in to how the person will receive it.

1 Expressing regret—‘I am sorry’: You need to hear the words ‘I am sorry’, along with the sincerity that goes along with it.

2 Accepting responsibility—‘I was wrong’: It will be especially meaningful to you to have the other person fully admit their mistake, without selfjustification or excuses.

3 Genuine repentance—‘I want to change’: It will be especially meaningful for you to have the other person take responsibility for what they have done, along with a plan and tangible steps for action so that it will not happen again.

10 WarCry 23 FEBRUARY 2019

4 Making restitution—‘What can I do to make this right?’: It will be especially meaningful to have the other person take practical action, even financial action, to put things right and basically equalise things between you.

5 Requesting forgiveness—‘Please forgive me’: This type of apology is especially meaningful, as it means reaching out for a relationship to be fully restored. If you prefer this kind of apology, it will be especially meaningful to have the other person take the risk of asking for forgiveness.

Source: The Five Languages of An Apology by Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas

TESTIFY! What do you get when you bring youth work, faith and women’s rugby together? A winning combination that’s proving to be life-changing for Auckland teenage girls, and highly rewarding for 26-year-old youth worker Lai Lokeni.

When I was asked if I would like to try rugby, my immediate response was, ‘Heck no!’ The thought of me tackling anyone was just too funny! Clearly God had other plans and I can’t believe the opportunities I’ve had to support young women and see them begin to live their best lives. I get to be a role model as a female rugby player and a woman of faith and purpose. How good is that?!

When I was selected for the Auckland Thunder women’s rugby squad last year, I didn’t want the influence I have in my job to be compromised by the commitments that were required of me as part of the team. I am a youth worker for the Roskill South Youth Development Team at Royal Oak Community Ministries in Auckland. I know God’s purpose for me is youth work first, rugby second. However, God has made a way for me to not only play rugby but, more incredibly, coach the Waitakere Women’s Under-15 team as part of my role as a youth worker!

I recently had a struggling teenage girl referred to me, who I managed to convince to come along to training.

ASPIRE programme components are integrated into my coaching strategy— there’s more than just rugby going on— and my new recruit loved it! She said, ‘No one laughed at me. I felt safe.’ She assumed that when she dropped the ball the first time it was passed to her, she would be mocked. But she wasn’t.

This young woman is making solid progess and willingly attended ‘Summer Peak’ at The Salvation Army’s Blue Mountain Adventure Centre in January. She now talks more openly

I GET TO BE A ROLE MODEL AS A FEMALE RUGBY PLAYER AND A WOMAN OF FAITH AND PURPOSE. HOW GOOD IS THAT? with her mother, is motivated and beginning to believe in herself. Youth work, God and rugby—who would’ve thought it?

I came to faith myself through the influence of youth workers. Without the care and mentoring of then-youth workers Lieutenants Andrew and Maree O’Brien (now Corps Officers at Manukau Corps), and Jono Bell (Territorial Director of Community Ministries), I would not be where I am today. They dragged me along to an Easter Camp at Mystery Creek in 2009, with the youth from the Faith Factory, Waitakere Central Corps, and over the weekend I encountered God personally for the first time.

A few years on, and because a bunch of youth workers believed in me and loved me, I’m now a trained youth worker, too.

I’ve completed a Diploma of Ministry at Laidlaw College, and through the Salvation Army’s LAB apprenticeship programme, I’m also a Praxis graduate.

Now God has taken my interest in rugby and used it as a tool to change young lives.

It’s amazing how God can take our interests and our purpose and bring them together in ways you couldn’t begin to imagine. We just need to open ourselves up to the possibilities.

23 FEBRUARY 2019 WarCry 11

The National Youth Band hits the States!

It was the trip of a lifetime for members of The Salvation Army National Youth Band in our territory, with a tour of the US which included taking part in the famous New Year’s Day parade in LA.

BY KATE GEDDES

The 35-strong National Youth Band (NYB) group gathered together on Boxing Day to begin their tour of the United States. We were one of eight territorial youth bands invited to Los Angeles, to participate in a music school and take part in the centenary Salvation Army marching band at the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Los Angeles. The eight territorial youth bands came from all over the world, including Australia, Canada, the four USA territories, the United Kingdom and us from the New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa territory.

Photography by Juanita Buckingham.

The Three Es Whenever the NYB travels, our vision and purpose remains the same: that is, the three big Es—we want to entertain, encourage and, above all else, evangelise.

We work hard throughout the year to present a repertoire of music that entertains and engages our audience. We use musical ministry to encourage people to reflect on Jesus and their faith journey. We also always aim to be an encouraging and uplifting group of people, whether with each other as band members, or with people we meet on tour.

Above all else, at the forefront of our minds, is that we want to spread the message of Jesus and his love.

The band spends time in prayer, asking that God would accept our offering and use it to bring someone that hears our message into his kingdom.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME With these three Es in mind, lots of hard work done behind the scenes and our bags packed, we hopped on the plane to Los Angeles. The next 12 days were a wild

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ride, starting when we performed in Band Fest as part of a 350-strong band, playing four numbers on a college football field in front of 10,000 people.

Then on New Year’s Day, after four hours of marching practise, we joined the 380-member Salvation Army Centenary band, marching for the one hundredth time in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Watched by millions of people, we were part of spreading the message of Jesus through the well-known tunes ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘This Is My [Our] Story’. It was an awesome, once-in-a-lifetime experience for the NYB members.

BAND CAMP AND DISNEY! At the music school camp, we were split into eight different bands, and had the opportunity to sit under the leadership of the conductors from the seven other territorial youth bands—with NYB bandmaster Duncan Horton also conducting his own camp band. A week of rehearsals culminated in a concert with all eight bands, performing pieces we had worked on over the week.

Another amazing opportunity for those of us at the music camp, was to be the marching band for the 3pm parade through the main street of Disneyland! Again, the massed marching band from the camp of around 300 people played ‘Amazing Grace’—once more proclaiming the message of Jesus to Disneyland punters. This too, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all the NYB members.

The music school also brought with it the pleasure of meeting and interacting with young Salvationists from around the world. It is a real blessing to share with the international Salvation Army a love of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus and music with other young Salvationists.

A LASTING IMPACT Once the music school camp concluded, we travelled with the Australia Territorial Youth Band to San Diego, where we combined for an outdoor concert ministry and an evening concert. The NYB also had the privilege of assisting in leading worship at two corps—San Gabriel in Los Angeles, and El Cajon in San Diego.

The Trip in Numbers:

40

Hours awake in one day Kilometres marched in one go

Throughout the tour, we also had combined concerts with the Australian and UK Territorial Youth Bands and our own NYB rehearsals, as well as sightseeing to Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood and a day at Disneyland.

During free time, there were some friendly games of rugby, football and time spent getting to know our new international friends.

The general comment from NYB members when summarising the trip is that it will have a lasting impact on our lives forever. The friendships we’ve made, the experiences we’ve had, but most importantly the opportunity we have had to share the gospel of Jesus, will be memories we will look back on fondly—both individually and as a band, for many years to come.

The NYB would like to thank the territory for its support of us, both leading up to the trip and while we were away.

For your prayer support, practical support, kind messages and for cheering us on while we were overseas, a sincere and heartfelt thanks from all on the touring party.

350

People at the music school camp Salvationists marching in the Rose Bowl Parade

1

8

Hours of collective travel to and from the USA (24 each way) Number of days on tour

count -less

380

Number of massed bands with 300+ members Number of Territorial Youth Bands at Camp

48

8km.8

12

Number of lives impacted

23 FEBRUARY 2019 WarCry 13

A Cambodian Calling

Richard and Kirstie Smith gave up successful careers to work in Cambodia with prisoners and victims of sex trafficking.

BY HUGH COLLINS

As I enter the temporary home of Richard and Kirstie Smith in Paraparaumu, I sense a strong atmosphere of comfort and ease.

However, the Wellington-based couple quickly make it clear that a quaint life on the Kapiti Coast is not the one God has called them to.

For the last two and a half years the Smiths have been expressing their faith in Cambodia, working with very different groups of people. Kirstie, a high school teacher by trade, has been managing a Christian aftercare and reintegration project for underage girls rescued from the sex industry. Richard, also a former school teacher, has not only been working in an international school, but running a 12-step programme and recovery church in a local prison.

While Kirstie has a history of mission work in India and Bolivia, Richard says he wasn’t called to the mission field until 2015, ironically at the peak of his career—just prior to being named ‘New Zealand’s most inspiring Teacher’. Working at Wellington’s Wadestown School, Richard beat thousands of other teachers to the national accolade.

Yet, three months later, the couple found themselves on a plane to the city of Siem Reap to engage in mission.

14 WarCry 23 FEBRUARY 2019

Richard was raised in the Salvation Army, the son of Majors Caroline and Richard Smith. Although he had good head knowledge of Christianity, he says he never truly experienced a ‘real sense of God’s love’. But after 16 years away from the church, one encounter transformed him and he entered back into the faith community.

‘I had one particular day where I felt God completely envelope me in his love,’ recalls Richard.

A recovering nation With a population roughly three times that of New Zealand, Cambodia has a deeply troubled and violent history. In 1975, the government was overtaken by the Khmer Rouge, a communist party that attempted to turn the nation into a ‘communist agrarian utopia’. Claiming to transform the country into a ‘rural and classless society’, it was, in fact, a brutal and barbaric regime.

The Khmer Rouge set about emptying the cities and forcing people into labour camps where they were starved and abused.

Educated citizens and anyone considered to be in opposition was murdered. As a result, between 1.7 and 2 million people died across a four-year period. The Smiths say Cambodia’s education

‘THE MESS AND THE DAMAGE THAT COMES FROM SEXUAL ABUSE OF ANY DESCRIPTION IS IMMENSE AND REALLY IT REQUIRES THE DEEP HEALING OF CHRIST’ system is still recovering from this destruction, with few children graduating from high school. ‘You can see the impact of extensive civil war and the Khmer Rouge. The repercussions are still evident,’ Kirstie says.

Despite this, the Smiths say they have encountered real hope in Cambodia. When Richard began a Celebrate Recovery (12 step) programme for English speakers in a prison, many of the men were initially ambivalent or openly dismissive about the power of God. However, some slowly encountered his love and began to experience faith for themselves.

‘Most encouraging of all is to see the guys offering support and ministry to each other through tough times, whether through counsel, prayer, Bible study or pragmatic support,’ Richard says.

‘For example, one guy who had been depressed and sceptical about God, came to accept God’s love for him and found freedom from spiritual oppression. He has embarked on a life of faith and hope, largely due to another guy from the group sharing his faith, supporting him and praying for him. It’s amazing to see this happen in lives that many have written off as being hopeless. There’s hope for all of us.’

capital Phnom Penh. They then plan to return to Siem Reap where Kirstie will begin new work among vulnerable families, with a focus on intervention and prevention.

She emphasises her ultimate hope that the girls she works with will experience God’s love and transformation. ‘Ultimately in order to see healing from the wounds that have resulted from the struggles these girls have been through, they really need to encounter God’s love—and experience transformation through Christ.

‘My plea to Kiwi believers is for them to feel burdened to get on their knees for the souls and spirits of these girls, that Christ might impact their lives. The mess and the damage that comes from sexual abuse of any description is immense and requires the deep healing of Christ,’ reflects Kirstie.

The Smiths recently spent six months in New Zealand raising support, but now say they’re at 95 percent of their budget. While this has been a time of trusting God, Richard says he doesn’t mind asking for financial support because it’s ‘really not our mission work’.

‘It belongs to the whole body of Christ. Our ministry is just one way of putting into action God’s justice and mercy.’

To support Richard and Kirstie, go to: givealittle.co.nz/ cause/help-richard-and-kirstie-upskill-cambodian Or email Interserve New Zealand: talk2us@interserve.org.nz

‘Working with’ not fixing The Smiths are now underway with their second stint in Cambodia, partnering with mission organisation Interserve New Zealand. When discussing their approach to sharing Christian faith, Richard and Kirstie make it clear they’re not in Cambodia to be Western saviours. ‘We love the Khmer people.

I don’t mean that in a condescending way. We’ve learned a lot from them and we partner with them,’ Richard says. ‘Our work is not fixing Khmer. It’s really working alongside them.’

Kirstie says it’s easy for us in the West to automatically have a patronising mind-set when thinking about developing nations.

‘We think they must be poor, miserable and helpless because of the challenging lives they face. I just want to say it’s not the case at all. They’re a people who know how to have fun in spite of life’s stresses, and humour is an important part of their culture. Many are keen to learn and want to find solutions to the difficulties they face—they are definitely not helpless.’

Kirstie says one of the biggest things she learned is not to adopt the idea that ‘people are miserable and we need to save them’.

‘We need to actually capitalise on the fact that people have hope and competence, but we can assist them to develop that hope into the fullness of what it can be.’

Ultimate hope During the first six months of the Smiths’ return to Cambodia, they will continue to learn the national language of Khmer, in the 23 FEBRUARY 2019 WarCry 15

Jesus Knows My Name

Droves Dig Deep for Sandcastle Comp

Fiji Northern Children’s Camp

The Northern Children’s Camp was held at Navava Campsite in Savusavu on the 6–9 December 2018, with 67 children and about 25 leaders.

The Sigatoka Corps Officers were our guest speakers throughout the weekend, with Lieutenant Peniasi Torocake sharing the story of the Prodigal son on the first night. He emphasised to the children that our God is a loving God. The leaders and I worked alongside each other, to ensure that the children had a great time of fellowship, fun and so much laughter, so that children will have lasting memories to take back to their villages and settlements. The children’s excitement, enthusiasm and willingness to learn was amazing.

Saturday: The children just couldn’t wait to start with the programme for the day. Devotions were led by Lt Peniasi on the rainy morning, reminding the children that ‘God is the never-forgetting father’.

Members of the police and National Fire Authority came and spoke to the children about safety and boundaries.

The children then spent the afternoon playing sports and fun games.

One aspect of the lessons learnt and greatly witnessed amongst the rest of the children was when they received their ‘ID’ cards. It was a joyful blessing to see such delight on their faces wearing their cards with pride. Some of the children attending the camp came from various challenging backgrounds. They were gently reminded that they weren’t forgotten and that Jesus hadn’t forgotten their names.

Dogotuki Outpost led the ‘Bula Night!’, with heaps of items from every corps and outpost. Devotions were led by Lt Peniasi on the second topic that ‘God is the ever-forgiving father’.

Sunday: The children began the day by dividing into three groups for kneedrill, or prayer. The Sunday morning service was led by Taveuni Corps, with young people’s leader Sister Maritina.

Children from the camp brought items, while Lt Peniasi spoke on ‘God the everwelcoming father’. It was so inspiring, 16 WarCry 23 FEBRUARY 2019

and the children started to respond to questions Peniasi asked.

We had an awesome team in the kitchen throughout the weekend, providing more than enough food for everyone. Getting ready to leave the campsite was a bittersweet moment, and the children’s faces showed how much they still wanted to be there.

The Northern team also decided to do a farewell for me, as this was my last event as Divisional Children’s Mission Secretary. It was overwhelming, but I am blessed for the amazing experience in this field.

The children had an amazing time of fellowship with each other, together with the leaders. We all had a wonderful weekend with so much fun, laughter, awesome food, spiritual food, getting to know each other, making new friends, games and group activities.

We witnessed how some of the children came out of their comfort zone, and it was very interactive. It was also a blessing to see children under the child sponsorship programme taking part in action songs and other activities, like singing, crafts and all sorts of group games. We give God the glory.

BY LIEUTENANT VISA KAURASI

Wind and overcast weather on 19 January wasn’t enough to stop several hundred people from descending on Paraparaumu Beach for Kapiti Corps’ third annual sandcastle building competition.

The Great Sandcastle Build Off saw a plethora of ages come together for a spaded shot at a range of great prizes.

Kapiti corps officer Captain Sarah Green said the event is about her community providing space for family and friends to work together and do something outside, even in the wind.

‘It’s a really cool thing to provide and let people know that The Salvation Army is here and we’re around,’ Sarah said.

Competitors could enter as either a group or individual with both categories being thoroughly judged on creativity.

Prizes included bike and restaurant vouchers, Kapiti Island nature tours and plenty of lollies.

The event originally evolved out of a youth group sandcastle competition that took place on the beach three years prior.

Sarah said it had the ability to break down barriers that separate people from one another. ‘There is no status here… you come as your family and you come and build a sandcastle. You don’t come with your car keys, or your houses or what school you go to. You come with your buckets and spades.’

John Coutts and Isabelle Varley having fun in the sun.

State of the Nation Asks ‘Are We Safe?’

Things aren’t getting better for the people who are worst off in our society, the latest State of the Nation shows.

The report—titled Are You Well? Are We Safe?—was launched on 13 February to more than a hundred people in Wellington, and those watching live at nine venues around the country.

It shows that while there have been some gains for middle New Zealand, progress has stalled for those at the bottom, report author Alan Johnson said.

Sociology at University of Auckland, said they painted a picture of the reality of deprivation and inequality. She urged people to see the numbers as a challenge.

‘Even for those of us who feel we have become inured to them, this is still shocking to me—the waste in terms of our communities, what it means for our whānau and the intergenerational reach. We recognise the devastation these statics show for our whānau and our nation.’

The report also showed a slight drop in the prison population, modest wage growth and a small drop in income inequality, while rates of hazardous drinking among young people and teenage pregnancies continue to fall.

Building consents hit a 10-year high and crime continued to fall. However, the social housing waiting list continues to increase dramatically. Violent crime also remained the same, while methamphetamine use continues to rise.

For the first time, the report looked at predatory lending as a social hazard. It showed lending by second- and third-tier lenders is increasing, and urged reforms—including interest rate caps and tougher penalties for breaking the law.

BY ROBIN RAYMOND

Report author Alan Johnson speaking at the launch event in Wellington.

Speaking at the launch, Territorial Commander Commissioner Andy Westrupp said the aim of State of the Nation had always been to ‘shift the public discussion and to inspire a hope that things could be better’. He urged people to take the report as a piece that showed how a peaceful and prosperous nation can do better, especially for its most vulnerable.

In response to the Prime Minister’s announcement that this year’s budget will be a ‘well-being’ budget, the latest State of the Nation had a well-being focus, comparing those of us who are doing okay with our most vulnerable.

It showed record levels of household debt, a growing gap in educational achievement between poorer and more welloff communities, and no sign that violence in the home was decreasing, Alan said.

It also included analysis showing significant, persistent gaps between Māori and non-Māori across a wide range of well-being indicators.

The analysis showed Māori had higher infant mortality, higher rates of young people leaving school without qualifications, and lower wages. Māori were nine times more likely to be homeless and four times as likely to end up in State care.

‘Those statistics are appalling. There is an entrenched pattern of disadvantage that happens from before birth to death. While we have these statistics, we’re diminished as a country,’ Alan said.

The unit had been urged by Māori—both Salvationists and non-Salvationists—to ‘bear witness to this appalling situation’, he said.

Speaking in response to the report at the launch, Dr Jonathan Boston, Professor of Public Policy at Victoria University, described the figures as ‘scandalous’. Professor Tracey McIntosh, head of

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT | salvationarmy.org.nz/AreYouWell

Professors Jonathan Boston (top) and Tracey McIntosh (bottom) respond to the 2019 report.

23 FEBRUARY 2019 WarCry 17

Just Action 2019: Restoring the Spirit to the Public Sphere In Manukau, our foodbank coordinator comes to work early.

Rain or shine, she’s there, preparing for always-busy days. The Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit’s (SPPU) offices look out over the driveway, where clients come to get a food parcel to tide them over during a difficult time. We try to, as the kids say, ‘keep it real’—mindful that the lives of Kiwi are closely linked to the results of government policy.

But in a globalised world, it’s not just our government that affects our lives. This makes the lawyer’s question in Luke 10:29 relevant every day: ‘Who is my neighbour?’ As Christians, we instinctively react to injustice: ‘What should I do?’ ‘What would Jesus do?’ We yearn for the Kingdom, for a time when all of God’s children have what they need to lead fulfilling, meaningful lives. We pray, with Amos 5:24, ‘Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!’

Drawing on the Good Samaritan parable, Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ‘We must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be

constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.’

Across the world, every single day, Salvationists—like our foodbank coordinator—try to answer the question, ‘Who is my neighbour?’ But in this complex modern world, with all its problems, that can be overwhelming. How do I understand what’s going on and how do I respond? Like the Good Samaritan, how do I help the ‘beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s highway’?

In October this year, come along to Just Action 2019, a conference that will explore these questions. Every two years, SPPU hosts a justice conference, offering a space for those inspired by Jesus and committed to the gospel, to explore the mission of renewing the Kingdom of God. As we look into our broken world, the conference theme, ‘Restoring the Spirit to the Public Sphere’, will navigate how we can participate in the work

Hamodava Café Serves 10,000 Coffees at Festival One For the past three years, The Salvation Army’s Hamodava Coffee Company has been the exclusive coffee provider for Festival One, New Zealand’s biggest Christian music festival.

The story behind Hamodava resonated with the event organisers, says Lieutenant Jordan Westrupp, Hamodava Project Development Officer. ‘People are fascinated by our foremothers and fathers who had audacious ideas and were mavericks,’ he says.

Hamodava was originally a tea company set up by The Salvation Army in 1897 to raise funds. But it was also arguably the first fair trade enterprise, ensuring fair wages and conditions for the plantation workers in Indonesia.

Today, profits from Hamodava help raise funds for Salvation Army Community Ministries.

‘Hamodava Café has become a key part of the festival.

We’re known for our “always smiley and full of energy” staff, great coffee, and our yearly dance party on the final night of the festival,’ says Jordan.

With a 20-strong crew, open from 6.30am until midnight, this year’s café made well over 10,000 coffees and other drinks. ‘It’s a brand that resonates with young people, and it’s great for the Army because our young people come and help and they feel really proud to be representing the Army in this way.

18 WarCry 23 FEBRUARY 2019

‘It’s constant the whole time, and a stand-out every year is the many conversations we have,’ he adds. ‘Young people instantly connect with our ethical and green principles, and discover there’s more to the Army than Family Stores.

‘It becomes a gathering place for Salvation Army people too, and often I meet people who used to be connected to a corps. They often say they’re so glad to see the Army doing something new and different.’

The café is also a great way to spread the word about Hamodava—Laidlaw College now uses Hamodava exclusively in its café, after hearing about the brand at Festival One. Jordan says it’s always a privilege to ‘hear about the mana that The Salvation Army has and how it has truly and deeply impacted people’s lives through practical help.’

of justice, speaking into that urgent space where God desires to restore us to right relationships … with God and with one another.

Come along to make friends, develop new skills, and renew your commitment to the journey, for God promises, ‘I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint,’ (Jeremiah 31:25).

‘MAY WE ALL MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE THROUGH CHRIST.’

BY VINCENT WIJEYSINGHA What: Just Action 2019 When: Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 October 2019, Where: Wellington City Corps, 92 Vivian Street, Wellington.

MORE INFO | ‘ Just Action NZ’ on Facebook INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? | Email vincent.wijeysingha@ salvationarmy.org.nz

GAZETTE Birth: Katherine (Kate) Ruth Howan, on 12 January 2019, weighing 4.49kgs (9lb 9oz), was born to parents Lieutenants Emma and Jacob Howan, Corps Officers, Timaru Corps, Southern Division. Please pray God’s blessing and strength upon Emma and Jacob as they adjust to the joys of parenting.

Promotion to Glory: Major Errol Carian, was promoted to glory from Palmerston North, on 3 February 2019, aged 78 years. Errol John Carian was born in Palmerston North on 24 June 1940, and entered The Salvation Army Training College in 1968 in the Evangelists session from Terrace End Corps. He was commissioned on 17 January 1970, and appointed as Corps Officer to Gore Corps. Further appointments as Corps Officer followed in Mosgiel, New Plymouth and Palmerston North. In 1977, Errol was appointed Assistant to the Social Services Office in Hamilton before returning to corps appointments in Greymouth, Edendale (Auckland) and Tauranga. In 1984, he was appointed as Assistant to the Property Department, Territorial Headquarters. Between 1985 and 1998 Errol was appointed as Corps Officer to Rotorua, Newton (Auckland), Hamilton City and Christchurch City. Errol was appointed Editor of the War Cry in 1999, followed

by Literary Secretary, and it is from this appointment that Errol retired on 19 January 2001. Please uphold in prayer Errol’s wife Major Kathleen Carian and children Dean, Arlene and Denise at this time of grief and loss. Well done good and faithful Evangelist!

Over the holiday period the world has been reminded of the old story of Mary Poppins: ‘Practically Perfect in every way’ …

Many of you will remember the original film back in the ’60s, when a magical nanny swooped in with her flying umbrella to help the Banks family. To prepare us for seeing the new film Mary Poppins Returns, we, along with our granddaughter, saw the original Mary Poppins and the film Saving Mr Banks. The excitement and assistance Mary Poppins gives to the Banks family is, of course, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Mary Poppins makes the impossible possible.

As I watched Mary Poppins, I reflected—as I’m sure many others have done at the beginning of this year—on the past, and my hopes for 2019. Some of us have made New Year’s resolutions: kept them, broken them, tried again or given up.

I am sure that we all, during this period, thought about the nativity and read the familiar story: the gift of God to the world.

There are things we do not know or don’t have the answers to. But we know— unlike Mary Poppins who, of course, is not really perfect in every way—Jesus does make the impossible possible, if it is in God’s plan. As we live like Jesus, through his transforming love and grace, we find fullness of life.

John 10:10 says, ‘I have come that they may have life in all its fullness’. The Message puts it like this: ‘I came so they have real and eternal life, more and better life than they have ever dreamed of’.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, may we make 2019 a special year as we live out our faith in our day-to-day living. May we become more proactive in being a disciple of Jesus Christ, as we pray, encourage others, share in worship and service, and accept the challenge of God to ‘go and make disciples’.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, ‘Our discipleship to Jesus Christ costs nothing less than everything’. This means saying yes to God’s will, saying yes to God’s transforming grace in our lives and allowing God to transform us into the disciples he wants us to be. This is a continued experience on our journey. It is about coming and seeing, learning to be still in God’s presence and knowing God’s grace. Then, going and living out what God has given to us: Hallowed be thy name … Not Mine.

Thy Kingdom come … Not Mine.

They will be done … Not Mine.

In 2019, may we all make the impossible possible through Christ. May we strive to be as perfect as we can be living here on earth, in the presence and power of God. Colonel Melvin Fincham Territorial Secretary for Programme and Communications 23 FEBRUARY 2019 WarCry 19

Word Wise: To The

Part 3

The ancient book of Job asks a question that lies at the heart of the human condition: Why do bad things happen to good people?

BY CARLA LINDSEY

Life wasn’t easy in the ancient world.

It was often short and brutal. A famine might wipe out your people. Mysterious diseases might claim your children.

Your village might be invaded, your possessions taken, and you might even be taken into slavery. Forces beyond your control might inflict terrible anguish.

Suffering was part of life, and like the biblical writer Job (pronounced Jobe), extra-biblical writers also wanted to know why brutal, life-shortening things, happened to good people. If there were divine forces controlling events (and they believed that there were), then why couldn’t they be a little more fair?

The Mesopotamian work Man and His God (c.1800–1500BC) includes a prayer from someone who is suffering. He 20 WarCry 23 FEBRUARY 2019

protests his innocence, believing he has done nothing to deserve what has happened to him, and God hears and restores him. I Will Praise the Lord of Wisdom (c.1700BC) is another work that has been called the ‘Babylonian Job’.

In it, a prosperous man loses his position, fortune, friends and family.

The man cries out to the god Marduk, blaming him for the disasters. Marduk then gives him back everything he lost.

Now, if you already know something about Job, you are probably thinking there are some interesting similarities there!

Three things you may not know about Job There are three interesting things that are important for understanding Job: 1. Job might be the oldest book in the Bible.

It is set very early, around the time of Abraham (2000–1800BC). People

were living in nomadic tribes, wealth was measured in the number of cattle or servants one had, and Job—like Abraham—made the religious sacrifices for his family. There were no priests yet.

2. Job isn’t an Israelite book. We are told that the events are set in Uz, and while scholars don’t have a clue where that was, they do know it wasn’t in Israel.

Job doesn’t mention the Israelites or Hebrews, the temple, the covenant, Canaan or the Patriarchs or any other Israelite things that we would expect, but … the writer did know the Hebrew god.

This is unusual! After all, the Old Testament is the story of Israel. Yet in Job, our focus widens and we are reminded that God was working outside of Israel, too. Somehow, in a pagan land where people worshipped many gods, Yahweh, the God of Israel, had reached down and connected with Job—and Job is counted as one of God’s loyal followers.

JOB NEVER LEARNED WHY HE SUFFERED, YET HE FOUND PEACE BECAUSE HE LEARNED HE COULD ABSOLUTELY TRUST GOD. 3. Job is mostly poetry. While it is framed with prose at the beginning and end, 40 chapters out of 42, are poetry. The 40 chapters of poetry are a debate.

Most people don’t debate in poetry, but apparently Job and his friends did!

Why do bad things happen to good people?

The book begins with two prose chapters which tell us the story of Job. We get to eavesdrop on a conversation that takes place in Yahweh’s heavenly court.

A heavenly creature called ‘the satan’, which means ‘the accuser’, approaches Yahweh and suggests that Job is only righteous because God had blessed him.

He says that taking everything away from Job would reveal his true character.

And so, the satan was allowed to take everything from Job. In a series of disasters heaped one on top of the other, Job lost his children, his possessions and his health.

There are a lot of questions about this heavenly scene. Is this Satan himself who waltzes into God’s presence to have a chat? How could Satan be in the presence of a holy God? Is this the kind of relationship God and Satan have where they look out at people and decide who to inflict suffering on, just to see what they’re made of? That doesn’t sit well with me!

But here’s the thing. The book of Job isn’t really even about the first two chapters. Their purpose is to provide the backdrop so that the debate can happen.

By focusing on the unanswerable questions from chapters one and two, we can miss the point of Job. And his point is … a discussion of the character of God. If God is fair and just, how could he let terrible things happen to good people?

So, back to Job. By the end of chapter two, we find Job sitting in the rubbish dump, his clothes ripped, and covered in burning sores and ash. He’s in such a bad way that when his friends came along to comfort him, he is unrecognisable.

The friends initially just sit in silence with him. For days no one says anything.

They can see Job’s suffering is just so dreadful. When Job begins to speak,

he doesn’t hold back. He launches into a poem called the ‘Deathwish Poem’, in which he curses the day he was born. He is angry. He is questioning. He is filled with despair.

Job’s friends respond. They each develop their own argument in different ways, but essentially all say the same thing: that God is fair and just, so that means you get what you deserve. If you are good, you will get rewarded, if you sin you will suffer. Therefore, if you are suffering, you must have sinned.

The friends’ intentions are good, but their theology is bad. It is simplistic, shallow and ultimately not at all helpful to Job.

God speaks During all of the 36 chapters of debating back and forth, God is silent. But, finally, Job calls God to account. He feels God owes him an explanation!

Out of a storm God speaks to Job, and… he doesn’t even attempt to answer Job’s questions. Instead, he asks Job a series of probing questions which take Job on a tour of the universe. He says to Job: ‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?’

‘Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place?’

‘Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons?’

‘Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?’

‘Do you give the horse its strength?’

‘Does the eagle soar at your command?’

Well Job … do you do any of these things? Silence.

God is saying, ‘I created this entire universe, all of the beauty, design, rhythm in it was my idea. I put it there and I keep it there. Do you really think you could do better?’ And with this, Job’s attitude changes.

A mind-blowing encounter

saw just how amazing God is to manage the entire universe. And it was mindblowing.

Job never learned why he suffered, yet he found peace because he learned he could absolutely trust God. The book of Job is about making assumptions about how God works. For example, ‘If you sin you will suffer’.

But God is not bound by our expectations or concepts of him.

God does not have to conform to our guidelines. ‘Nothing is more frustrating and restricting than to set up rules for God and then wonder why He doesn’t follow them!’ say LaSor, Hubbard and Bush in their book Old Testament Survey: The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament.

God can be working in places we might not expect. God can choose to be silent.

God can allow suffering and we may never know the reason why. God can even debate in poetry!

For millennia, people have wanted to know why bad things happen to good people. In Man and His God and I Will Praise the Lord of Wisdom there are hints that the sufferer had, in fact, sinned and therefore deserved it. But that is not the biblical conclusion. In fact, there is not a clear-cut biblical conclusion. Job had to live with the mystery, and so do we—but we can do that with peace, knowing that God is so much bigger than we can ever imagine.

IF GOD IS FAIR AND JUST, HOW COULD HE LET TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?

Job never got his answers, but he no longer needed them. What he got instead was an enlarged picture of who God is. He saw just how big God is. He 23 FEBRUARY 2019 WarCry 21

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS Commissioners Andy (Territorial Commander) and Yvonne Westrupp (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries): Feb 23–24: Formal Opening of New Lynn Corps, Auckland March 2–3: Re-opening of Tokoroa Corps, Tokoroa March 10 : New Zealand Welcome to Cadets, Wellington Colonels Suzanne (Chief Secretary) and Melvin Fincham (Secretary for Programme): March 2: Māori Ministry Council, Wellington March 8–9: Territorial Executive Council, Wellington March 10: New Zealand Welcome to Cadets, Wellington Colonel Heather Rodwell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries and Spiritual Life Development): March 10: New Zealand Welcome to Cadets, Wellington

Come and see our international women leaders!

The World President of Women's Ministries, Commissioner Rosalie Peddle, and World Secretary for Women's Ministries, Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham are visiting New Zealand. Don’t miss your chance to see them!

Southern Division

PRAY Salvation Army officers serving overseas, the Overseas Development Officer, Palmerston North Corps, Papakura Corps and the Territorial Personnel Section; The Salvation Army in Hong Kong and Macau.

Saturday 30 March, 10am–3pm:

One Day Women's conference; Christchurch City Corps (includes lunch).

All women welcome.

Sunday 31 March, 10am:

Morning worship, where Commissioner Peddle will be preaching, Christchurch City Corps.

Central Division Monday 1 April, 7.30pm:

Women's coffee and dessert event at Johnsonville Corps, Wellington. Tickets $10 from your local corps or central DHQ.

Northern Division Tuesday 2 April, 5–6.30pm:

'Exchange' dinner and conversation for ages 13–25 years, Auckland City Corps, Mt Wellington.

Tuesday 2 April, 7.30pm:

Women's Celebration, Auckland City Corps, Mr Wellington. Register your interest with your local corps.

ENGAGE, EMPOWER, IGNITE Want to Know More?

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

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

Available 8th March. $59.95

For more information email: salvationistresources@salvationarmy.org.nz

Quiz Answers: 1 2020, 2 Achilles tendon, 3 243 kilometres (Kumara Beach, West Coast to Sumner in Christchurch), 4 New England Patriots, 5 Daniel (7:4).

22 WarCry 23 FEBRUARY 2019

Q&A with Joey Holt

Create Your Own Adventure!

By Joey Holt

Nerf or Supersoaker? Nerf Bike or skate/surfboard? Bike, of course.

Cat or dog? This is a hard one—I read to my pets because it helps them with socialisation.

Pizza or burger? Pizza—even though Domino’s makes me sick sometimes!

Chocolate or chips? Neither, I like sour stuff— sour candy is the best!

Auckland or Christchurch? For friends it’s still Christchurch, but for sour candy it’s Auckland!

Marvel or DC? Marvel because that’s what most of the super heroes are like that my friend Elijah and I have created.

What super power would you have? To have the best tech abilities ever—like my created character Tech Boy. Tell me five of your absolute favourite things in the whole world... Sour Candy, playing and coding games (my favourite is Minecraft), writing, making movies and Lego.

Would you like to be interviewed for War Cry? Get an adult to email warcry@salvationarmy.org.nz

Spot the difference!

Can you find the 10 differences between the pictures below?

One day Jesus, (your name) and (your best friend’s name) were (add a doing word with ‘ing’ at the end) along together. Little did they know that just around the corner was a gang of s (choose a creature that lives in water). They were wearing (item of funny clothing) with big (choose a colour) spots.

The gang of (water creatures) were throwing (something that could break glass) at the windows of the houses in the street.

Jesus said, ‘Hey stop that! You (water creatures) could get hurt!’

The (water creatures) looked at Jesus with their eyes wide open. They wondered, ‘Who is this man?

Why does he care?’ They said to Jesus, ‘We do this all day under water and no one gets hurt.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Here on dry land it’s very dangerous.’

At this point (best friend) shouted, ‘Jesus, call the police!’ (your name) shouted, ‘Yeah they should go to jail!’

But Jesus said, ‘Hang on a minute.

They didn’t know, so let’s help these (creatures) to play safer games here on dry land and give them a second chance.’

THINK ABOUT IT …

Jesus always forgave people and gave them another chance. Who do you need to forgive?

23 FEBRUARY 2019 WarCry 23

TERRITORIAL WELCOME TO THE

NGÄ€ KARERE O TE MANA TAPU

3PM | SUNDAY, 10 MARCH 2019 | WELLINGTON CITY CORPS For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.

Titus 2:11 (NLT)