Building Resilience

HELPING GANGS TACKLE DRUG ADDICTION

Celebrating 150 YEARSInternationally

FAITH IN ACTION | March | Issue 6613 | $1.50

THE CHURCH’S PART IN BUILDING A RESILIENT NATION FIREZONE: CONFESSIONS OF AN OFFICER’S KID

RESILIENCE IN THE WORKPLACE LUNCHES THEY’LL LOVE LEARN AND TELL THE STORY OF THE BIBLE

HELPING GANGS WIN THE WAR ON DRUG ADDICTION / LUNCHES THEY’LL LOVE / LIVING THE STORY / THE CHURCH’S PART IN BUILDING A RESILIENT NATION / FIREZONE: CONFESSIONS OF AN OFFICER’S KID

Kia ora

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WAR CRY The Salvation Army Te Ope WhakaoraNew Zealand, Fiji & Tonga Territory

FOUNDER William Booth

GENERAL André Cox

TERRITORIAL COMMANDERRobert 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 DESIGNLauren Millington, Amber Wilkinson

STAFF WRITERS Ingrid Barratt, Robin Raymond, Vanessa Singh

CONTRIBUTORS Kris Singh (music reviewer)

PROOF READING Major Jill Gainsford

OFFICETerritorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141Phone (04) 384 5649 Fax (04) 382 0716Email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.orgwww.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry

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

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

Publishing for 11 years

ISSN 0043-0242, Issue 6613Please pass on or recycle this magazine

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Why does it always rain on me?I love that catchy Travis song, ‘Why Does it Always Rain on Me?’ Perhaps you know the lines, ‘Why does it always rain on me? Is it because I lied when I was 17? Why does it always rain on me? Even when the sun is shining, I can’t avoid the lightning.’

All of us have times when it seems no matter what we do, bad stuff keeps happening. And the more that happens, the more we can feel worn down. Hopefully, some of the articles in this edition will point you in the right direction to strengthen your resilience, so that when you hit challenges in your personal or work life, you can bounce back—or even bounce forward.

Of course, the temptation, as the song says, is to worry that bad things happen to us because of something we’ve done wrong. Is it because I lied when I was 17? Well, it’s true that sometimes bad things do happen as the natural consequences of our actions. If I continually snap at my kids, they’re going to become uncooperative and annoying. If I snack on lots of chocolate and fatty foods day after day, poor health will follow. As the Bible says (in Galatians 6:7), we reap what we sow. And since that’s the case, it’s a good idea to sow wisely, so that we see good growing from our lives, not bad.

But I suppose the implied question in that song is this: ‘Is someone (the universe or God) punishing me? Is God making this bad stuff happen to me?’ Jesus refutes this. In Matthew chapter fi ve, Jesus tells us to love our enemies and even pray for those who mistreat us. By doing this, he says, we’ll be like God, ‘who sends the rain on those who do right and those who do wrong’.

Don’t worry, Jesus doesn’t mean God is sitting in Heaven waiting to rain on our parade! Jesus means that God doesn’t show partiality. He’s not unfair in his treatment of us. All of us experience good and bad in life—although not equally, some people do face more and harder challenges than others. Which is why it’s so important to keep an eye out for those who are fi nding life hard and look for ways to lighten their load.

Most importantly, God’s love isn’t only for those who are doing right. Which is great news, because all of us stuff up sometimes.

Christina TysonEditor

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BIBLE VERSE

Isaiah 41:13 Contemporary English Version‘Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.’

Ihāia 41:13‘Nō te mea ko ahau, ko Ihowā, ko tōu Atua, kei te pupuri i tōu matau, kei te mea ki a koe, Kaua e wehi; ko ahau hei whakauru mōu.’

WISE WORDS

If your heart is broken, make art with the pieces.

Shane Koyczan

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Photography: Todd Rosenberg /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

Let’s Talk | 0

BY ROBIN RAYMOND

Just before Christmas last year a six foot, 11 inch American man with a face known to thousands—a man guaranteed to

stand out in a crowd—vanished. In a haze of confusion the prodigiously talented NBA

Basketball star Larry Sanders disappeared, walking away from a contract worth $USD 21 million over three years. No one seemed to know where he was, why he left a job that made him rich, famous and idolised, or if he was ever coming back.

Not being a basketball fan, the whole incident passed me by, until a friend shared a video posted online at the end of last month. After months of silence the heavily tattooed, softly spoken man in a beanie appeared. ‘I’m Larry Sanders. I’m a person. I’m a father. I’m an artist. I’m a writer. I’m a painter. I’m a musician. And sometimes I play basketball,’ he says.

Entitled ‘Why I Walked Away From the NBA’, it was Sanders’s explanation of what was going on. He had been in a hospital programme for people with depression, anxiety and mood disorders, he said. He had been using marijuana to try to cope.

As he talked, two comments stood out to me. Th e fi rst touched on his job, money and fame: ‘I think [playing NBA basketball] is seen to be a desirable, lucrative job or position,’ said Sanders. ‘People say, “How could you be unhappy there? How could that be a place you don’t want to be?” Th e values and the relationships of the people I love around me are my real riches. Th at’s my lasting wealth … Happiness isn’t behind a golden gate.’ Or—as a colleague put it—you can be wealthy and not rich.

When asked about money, Jesus never held back: ‘Get rid of it all, you’ll lose it when you die anyway,’ he said. True wealth and happiness is found in relationships, Jesus said: fi rstly with God, and then with those around you. It’s found in doing everything you can to make their lives better no matter who they are.

Sanders’s second comment hit the practical side of how we live and love people: ‘People really like labels. You get to identify something with something else that you may think … Just don’t neglect the “and”, you know? Don’t neglect the “and”. Th at’s what I’ll say. You say I’m selfi sh. And I’m loving. And I’m caring. And I’m fearful sometimes, and I’m also brave. We all are more than just one thing.’

In this case, Sanders is so much more than the basketball moves that came to defi ne him. Growing up, he never played basketball, let alone dreamed of being a star player; he wanted to be an artist and still writes, draws and paints. At age six, he lived on the streets and in shelters after his mum fl ed his violent dad. In the past, he has said his passion is making skateboards and his dreams are to write a book and set up a shelter for battered women.

We like to make categories and put people in boxes: friend, nurse, All Black, doesn’t like that food, loud, has a big nose. It’s a challenge to remember the people around us are more than the boxes we put them in. I fi nd this one hard, but we just need to remember to keep looking for the ‘and’.

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Children’s Bible StoriesLift the Flap BibleKaren Williamson and Louise AnglicasA delightful collection of eight Bible stories in a board book format. Each story is told across a double page, with peek-a-boo fl aps to open and explore on every page. What’s under the big cloud on Noah’s ark? Lift the fl ap and see the beautiful rainbow. The shepherd is looking for something he’s lost. Lift the fl aps to discover what that might be. Louise Anglicas’s quirky and colourful illustrations are a perfect match for Karen Williamson’s simple text. This is a great introduction to the Bible for those over 10 months, and a wonderful way for older people to spend fun time with the littlies. (New Holland)

DramaStill AliceRichard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland / M (Off ensive Language)There can be few things more diffi cult to cope with than the devastating diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. In this adaptation of Lisa Genova’s 2007 novel Still Alice, Julianne Moore gives an unforgettable glimpse of this reality from the inside, in a performance deservedly rewarded with an Oscar.

Julianne plays 50-year-old Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children. Alice is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words and loses her way while on her morning jogs. Testing herself, Alice comes to suspect her memory lapses are symptomatic of more than middle-aged forgetfulness.

When she receives the diagnosis of Early-Onset Alzheimer’s, Alice and her family fi nd their bonds thoroughly tested. Alec Baldwin plays John, Alice’s husband, who initially dismisses his wife’s fears—she rages at him for not hearing her. As diffi cult as it is to watch Alice’s frustrations over the loss of self and subsequent isolation that comes through her illness, it is just as hard to witness her family slowly watching the mother they knew disappear.

This is a story with deeply personal connections for married directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland. Glatzer has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is incurable and has a median survival of three years. The empathy the couple’s own journey has given them undoubtedly translates to a deeper sense of honesty in this fi lm.

Many of those viewing this movie will also share personal connections with the subject matter. Hopefully, Still Alice leads to greater understanding and compassion for those with Alzheimer’s and their carers, particularly for those who experience this disease far earlier than most would expect—in their 50s rather than 70s or 80s. Alice’s story is terrifying and heartbreaking, but it is also hugely inspiring.

PopPiece By PieceKelly ClarksonWith her seventh studio record, Piece By Piece, Kelly Clarkson is now fi rmly beyond her American Idol beginnings. Her voice remains as powerful as ever, and is the saving grace for a fairly generic and uninspired album. There’s very little substance here, although there are moments in tracks like ‘Run Run Run’ (with John Legend) that feature some breath-taking harmonies and risk-taking creativity. Clarkson’s vocal performance is an absolute freight train, eff ortlessly hitting the highest of notes with power and precision.On the whole, this collection of safe and predictable songs sadly fails to enhance Clarkson’s powerful vocal performance. Best left for fans only.

WorshipChurch SongsVertical Church BandVertical Church Band’s Church Songs is aptly named—this is a collection of songs perfectly suited for congregations. If you’re looking for musical complexity, you won’t fi nd it here. What you’ll fi nd instead are easy melodies and instrumentation that defer totally to the gospel. That’s not to say this is a bland record. There’s energy and authenticity in tracks like ‘Shout It Out’ and ‘All The Earth’, but it’s simple and executed well. The album is not as densely layered as some modern worship releases, although it does favour driving synths. A great record—church music leaders will defi nitely fi nd something to like here.

To win a copy of Lift the Flap Bible, tell us your favourite Bible story.

War Cry Giveaway, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org. Entries close 1 April.

GIVEAWAY

Bookshelf

Playlist Reel News

Biblical StudiesThe Power of ParableJohn Dominic CrossanParables are metaphorical stories that help us see what’s around us. They also generate a special mode of participation. Parables don’t want us to get into the story, but to get out of it. Jesus’ parable of the sower, for instance, doesn’t want us to get into sowing and ponder agriculture, but to get out of it and do something else. Crossan identifi es the ‘challenge parable’ as Jesus’ chosen teaching tool for urging his followers to probe and debate the ideological absolutes of religious faith and presuppositions of social, political, and economic traditions. He then presents the four gospels as ‘megaparables’ about Jesus.(HarperOne)

Self-HelpThe Big Little Book of ResilienceMatthew JohnstoneMatthew Johnstone is another great New Zealand export. Now living in Australia, Matthew is well known for his infl uential illustrated book I Had a Black Dog, giving hope to people with depression. Here, Johnstone shifts toward the topic of resilience. Most of us set out quietly hoping, and secretly expecting, to live a happy, successful and healthy life. But life doesn’t always go to plan. Resilience is about developing fl exibility, acceptance and self-compassion when plans go awry. A terrifi c book—a roadmap for developing and maintaining resilience, and how this can help us overcome and learn from diffi cult life events. (Pam MacMillan)

Go to salvationarmy.org.nz/saresources

Author and illustrator Matthew Johnstone describes his life as ‘like a Star Wars box set’, moving from the dark side into the light. Best known for his number one-selling I Had A Black Dog, Matthew is now tackling the hot (but often vague) topic of resiliency.

Illustrations: Matthew Johnstone

Feature | 05

atthew Johnstone jokes that when he first came across the term ‘resilience’ he thought it was the by-product of shampoo. But he has now

written about the topic in his eighth illustrated book, The Big Little Book of Resiliency.

Matthew, originally from Christchurch, has become known the world over for his colourful, coffee table-style picture books tackling the unlikely topics of depression and mental wellness. He is best known for his first book, I Had a Black Dog, which went to number one in the UK and has been published in more than 20 countries.

Seven publishers rejected the book, saying, ‘Who has ever heard of a picture book about depression?’ Yet that is exactly what has resonated with so many people around the world, and it has now become Matthew’s unique, signature style.

A sense of humour is the secret to his books’ successes. ‘Depression is one of those topics that you don’t joke about, but when you use humour, it normalises it and takes the fear away,’ says Matthew, adding, ‘And adults love a picture book!’

‘I’m like a Star Wars box set,’ Matthew says irreverently. ‘I started on the dark side and moved my way to the light side. I started by tackling the “black dog”—the topic of depression—and have moved towards wellness.’

Ten years after his first book was published, it seemed a natural next step to portray the positive topic of resiliency, in all its facets —and it turns out it has nothing to do with shampoo. ‘Resiliency was originally used as a term for the flexibility of metal and its ability to bounce back into its original form,’ Matthew explains. ‘Resilience is such an important part of being able to overcome adversity, so it ties really well into the package of mental wellness.’

Matthew’s conversation is peppered with insightful sayings: ‘It’s better to bend like a reed in a strong wind than to snap like an oak,’ he adds.

The darkest dayMatthew’s books are a mirror of his own journey from depression to health. At the age of 28, Matthew moved to Australia and then New York, trailblazing a luminous career as a creative director in advertising. He gives an honest description of his job as ‘getting people to buy stuff they didn’t know they wanted or needed’.

But he discovered that his perfectionism did not make an easy companion: ‘I worked stupid hours and felt I had to do it all myself —and if you’re not taking care of your stress, it leads to insomnia and depression. I became very depressed, but I didn’t want to let anyone down, so I superglued on my show face, and that’s when things started to really unravel.’

At times—when he hit several rock bottoms—Matthew sought help, but his ‘typical male ego’ stopped him from making real changes. ‘The way I dealt with it was to leave relationships, quit jobs, move countries, do recreational drugs and alcohol, and all that avoidance stuff.’

But it was a day etched into our global cultural memory that became a personal turning point. Matthew only needs to name that day as ‘9/11’. He was a block from the World Trade Centre when the first plane struck. On his way to help, Matthew was stopped by a man warning him not to go to the site. Matthew turned back, just before the second plane struck, and his life was spared.

‘It was the realisation that the life I was living wasn’t working for me. We struggle through life and have real difficulties and never try to make real change,’ explains Matthew. But on this day, he knew he had to make a choice to start living the life he wanted.

Creating the black dogSoon after, Matthew spent an afternoon ‘scribbling’ the concept for his picture book I Had A Black Dog. ‘Ninety per cent of what I scribbled down that day became the book. It drew itself,’ he reflects.

Matthew used the metaphor made famous by Winston Churchill, who described his depression as a black dog. His illustrations focus on a slightly forlorn looking dog, who follows around the main character, waiting patiently for his attention.

Matthew remembers sending the book to a well-known American author, who said that the dog should be more menacing, with fangs and frothing at the mouth. But to Matthew, that just didn’t feel right: ‘The dog is essentially ourselves, and I wanted to take the fear out of it. It has to be a slow, cumbersome dog that is staring at you patiently —the dog is yourself waiting for you to address it, so it shouldn’t be something terrifying.

‘If we’ve temporarily lost control of the dog, it needs to be disciplined, understood and loved, then we can bring it to heel—and heal ourselves.’

Yet, Matthew found himself terrified of sharing his story with the world. Fearing that it would affect friendships and job opportunities, Matthew sat on the book for four years. ‘But I knew in my heart of hearts that [publishing it] was something I needed to do.’

Today, he describes publishing the book as ‘the best thing I’ve ever done—next to marrying my wife and having my kids’.

Today, Matthew continues to get emails about I Had a Black Dog from all over the world: ‘One letter I remember well was a short, abrupt email that said, “I went to a café today to get the courage to kill myself. And I read a double-page spread about your book in the newspaper. I went straight to the doctor, and I’m not feeling any better, but at least I have hope now.” ’

Life on the light sideDespite the often sobering topic of mental health, Matthew says that his life today is full of laughter. He remembers stepping outside of the BBC after a sombre interview in London, and feeling so excited to be in the UK: ‘We couldn’t stop laughing, we were having so much fun,’ he recalls.

Matthew’s recent books have focused on the spectrum of what it means to be well, emotionally and mentally. In The Big Little Book of Resiliency, Matthew describes how life doesn’t always go according to plan, and how resiliency is the flexibility to deal with life’s hills and dales.

In a style that can easily be dipped in and out of, Matthew illustrates how things like vulnerability, positive self-talk and giving yourself a break contribute to resiliency. His favourite image is of a man hugging a giant wart-faced monster, saying, ‘I love you warts and all.’

His mum’s favourite picture is of a man in a desert who has cast off his armour and is facing the sun naked, with the words: ‘Vulnerability in the right environment is not only liberating it’s wonderfully healing.’

‘Resilience is important, because when we talk about mental health, people say either “that’s me” or “that’s not me”, but everyone needs resiliency. From a car crash, to divorce, to climbing a mountain, it all takes resilience,’ Matthew explains.

It’s particularly important to illustrate men showing vulnerability

I became very depressed but I didn’t want to let anyone down, so I superglued on my show face …

06 | WarCry 21 March 2015

and self-compassion, he adds, because in our culture it is still hard for guys to get through. One illustration shows a muscle-bound man looking in the mirror and saying to himself, ‘I’m here for you tough guy.’

Matthew references one of our national heroes, Sir John Kirwan, for breaking open the secret world of depression. When JK first brought up his suicidal feelings to a fellow All Black, the response was: ‘Have you told anyone about this? I wouldn’t. You’re an All Black, and All Blacks don’t go and have a sook every time they spill their cereal in the morning.’

‘My dad was a farmer and had a “she’ll be right” attitude,’ recalls Matthew. ‘He used minimal conversation with short words, and could tell stories about the past, but didn’t talk about the present. Sadly, he died an alcoholic, but not surprisingly, because he didn’t know how to ask for help. Today, I spend a lot of time talking to farmers, who are isolated by land and culture.’

Better conversationsMatthew attributes three cornerstones that helped him get well, and helps to keep him well today: communication—which Matthew describes as the bedrock of his marriage—exercise, and mindfulness or mediation, similar to the Christian concept of contemplative prayer.

His working life is today split into three equal parts: consultancy with the Black Dog institute, writing and illustrating books, and public speaking and workshops. Matthew has travelled into some of the world’s biggest disaster areas—including his hometown of Christchurch after the earthquakes, where his mum and brother still live—encouraging resilient communities.

‘The conversations I have today are so much more interesting,’ he says. ‘When we expose our vulnerability and speak from our heart, it’s an incredibly liberating thing to do. When we take our adversity and use it for others, that’s when we start to realise why we’re here on this planet.’

The Big Little Book of Resilience by Matthew Johnstone (Pan MacMillan Australia) is available at all good booksellers in NZ, including Whitcoulls and Paper Plus. Or go to www panmacmillan.com.au to order direct from the publishers.

Go to www matthewjohnstone.com.au

VULNERABILITY INthe right environmentis not only liberatingit’s wonderfully healing.

I love you warts and all.

connect to something bigger than yourself

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ENVIRONMENT

A Green Autumn

As the leaves turn gold this autumn, we can still go green in our gardens and get the most of this special season.

Jump in leaves: There is something magical about jumping in piles of crunchy leaves. Use a rake to gather up the leaves in your garden—a rake is better for the environment and for burning calories than a leaf blower. Then have a ‘crunchy leaf fight’ with the kids and bury each other in your leaf piles. (You may have to rake again, but who cares, right?)

Plant an apple tree: This is the best time of year to plant an apple tree. If you don’t have a big section, dwarf varieties can be planted in pots or in a small space, but still harvest full-sized fruit. They grow to about 2–3 metres tall and produce apples at a young age. What’s not to love?

Compost: Autumn leaves will make for nutrient-rich compost in your garden when spring comes around. Almost everything in your yard is compostable, including grass and plant clippings, leaves, and dead or brown weeds. Mix in some of your kitchen waste as well—fruit and vegetable peels, teabags and coffee grinds.

Clean up your guttering: The downside of autumn is soggy leaves stuck in your guttering. Clean this up by getting on a ladder safely—wearing non-slip shoes, never standing on the last two rungs, and working only within easy reach of where you are standing. Scoop out debris with a garden trowel, and then blast with a hose to ensure it drains well.

Give your lawn some TLC: Autumn is the perfect time to give your lawn some love. Prepare by using an eco-friendly spray to kill existing weeds. Once they are browned, clear these away and apply 2–3 cm of lawn preparation mix. Level and compact the area using a rake. Scatter seed in an east–west direction, then in a north-south direction. Rake in lightly, water lightly, and keep moist on a daily basis during the germination period. Don’t mow your lawn until it’s at least 5 cm high.

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. Albert Camus

BUDGET

Lunches They’ll LoveSimon and Alison Holst give their tips for creating budget-conscious lunches that you and your kids will love.

Getting started: Ε Involve your child with lunch

selections—give them choices, take them shopping with you to choose items, and ask what they like about their friends’ lunches.

Ε Negotiate lunch options by including something you think is important, and allowing your children to choose something. Allow a special treat or a bought lunch once a week.

Ε Don’t sweat it if they want the same sandwich filling every day. Try new fillings at home, and get them to help you prepare it.

Ε Is it really worth fighting about crusts on bread? Cut them off if it means sandwiches will be eaten. Cube and bake the trimmings for croutons, if you like.

Ε Planning ahead will save you time and stress on weekdays. In the weekend, spend an hour or so preparing lunches that can be frozen—sandwich fillings that freeze well include cheese spreads, mashed baked beans, peanut butter, Marmite, raisins, peanutty chickpea spread, and ham or luncheon.

Super sandwiches:Here are some interesting filling combinations for your lunches: apple, celery, chopped nuts and mayonnaise; mashed baked beans and grated cheese; cheese and raisins; cheese, dates and orange

rind; cottage cheese, banana and honey; hummus and chopped olives; peanut butter, grated carrot, cream cheese and chopped sultanas; pastrami, cream cheese and rocket; sardines, lemon juice and lettuce.Make your own spreads:Make your own fillings ahead of time, and they’ll make easy but yummy sammies.Savoury cheese spread—Mix together 2 cups grated tasty cheese, ½ cup evaporated (unsweetened) condensed milk and half a 30g packet onion soup mix. Stand for a few hours before needed. Refrigerate for up to a week.‘Creamy’ low-fat date spread—Put all the following ingredients in a food processor until smooth: 1 cup finely chopped dates, ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp mixed spice, ¼ cup yoghurt (plain or flavoured), ½ cup skim milk powder. Refrigerate for up to a week.

Source: School Lunches and After School Snacks, by Simon and Alison Holst.

Sausage and Potato BakeSimon has baked sausages before and loves roast potatoes, but he’d never thought about cooking them together | Serves 4

800–900g potatoes, scrubbed6 (about 500g) good pork sausages¼–½ loaf bread (125g)2 cloves garlic1–2 tsp each rosemary and thyme leaves3 Tbsp olive oilsalt and pepper20 cherry tomatoeschopped parsley to garnish

Preheat oven to 200°C and line a large roasting pan with baking paper or a Teflon liner.

Cut each potato into quarters or eighths depending on size, and sausages into 3–4 pieces each (size of sausages and potatoes should be roughly the same). Spread sausages and potatoes in prepared roasting pan. Roughly chop the garlic and scatter it over with the herbs. Drizzle with 2 Tbsp of oil, then place in middle of oven and cook for 20 mins.

Stir sausages and potatoes, then tear the bread into bite-sized pieces and scatter it and cherry tomatoes over the top. Return tray to oven and roast for a further 15–20 mins.

Remove from oven and stand for 5 mins. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Cook’s tip: The addition of bread isn’t absolutely necessary, but it does add colour and texture to this dish.

From Simply Delicious One Dish Recipes by Simon Holst. Go to www.holst.co.nz

Q&A

Who’s to blame?

When things go wrong, we often ask ‘whose fault is this?’, but that is not the real question.

Brené Brown, a qualitative researcher specialising in human connection, tells a humorous story that illustrates our tendency to apportion blame. She was at home and spilt a cup of coffee that went all over the kitchen and shattered her mug. The first words out of her mouth were, ‘Damn you, Steve!’ Steve, of course, is Brené’s husband. She blamed him for the accident because he had come home late the night before, which meant she stayed up later, which meant she was tired and needed a second cup of coffee. Which she spilt. Obviously, it was Steve’s fault.

Our need to blame someone—usually someone else—when things go wrong is about control, says Brené. In her research she has found that ‘blame is simply the discharging of discomfort and pain’. In other words, we spew out blame to stop feeling our own discomfort.

The inverse is accountability. Being accountable, and keeping others accountable, requires a willingness to be vulnerable and to take responsibility for our reactions. For example, saying, ‘Hey, my feelings were hurt when you came home late’ is a way of expressing discomfort that takes ownership of our feelings. It invites the other person into a conversation. If we stay well away from the blame game, this can lead to an open and vulnerable discussion that will promote connection, not close it off.

‘People who blame a lot seldom have the tenacity and grit to actually hold people accountable, because we expend all of our energy raging for 15 seconds and figuring out whose fault something is,’ says Brené. ‘Blaming is very corrosive in relationships, and it’s one of the reasons why we miss our opportunities for empathy.’

Blame stops us from really listening to another person’s perspective, but accountability invites their perspective and helps us build strong relationships.

TestifySince being set free from drug addiction, Trevor McLean has been giving back to Whangarei and his Māori community.

Three years ago I graduated from The Salvation Army’s Addiction Services after a life—at least 30 years—on drugs.

I got to the point where I couldn’t justify my habits and I couldn’t justify myself. I reached out to a nurse at our local medical centre. She turned out to be a soldier (member) of The Salvation Army and got me into the Army’s Addiction Services.

I got to that stage where I gave my addiction, my life and my will over to Jesus. You could click your fingers and that’s how instant my healing was of my drug addiction. I started a social work degree, started going to Recovery Church and then Sunday services. Then I had an opportunity to apply for a community support worker role. Soon it became clear that to become a soldier was the way to live out my life for Jesus.

I run the Positive Life Programme at Whangarei. That’s a really strong passion, watching people grow; seeing people walking with their shoulders up and heads back, knowing who they are, their shortcomings and strengths.

One person with severe anxiety struggled to do the course at first. We even had to ring an ambulance for her. But through encouragement she’s completed

the course and is studying to be a teacher aide. I see her walking with her head up and confident.

I also work with our volunteers and the people we have here on community work. It’s about journeying alongside them, getting to know them and finding out what support we can offer them.

The ones on community work are here to do some hours, but I meet with them first and we

encourage them. Once they see the type of community we belong to, the support we offer and the way we treat them—that we value what they do—that’s when you start to break their barriers.

People feel very safe here. This is a place of belonging, of truth, of relationships. It’s been a privilege to see people grow and get jobs and to give a reference or be a referee.

When I was at Addiction Services I saw so many Māori young people, I was heartbroken. There was nothing in their lives but alcohol and drugs. That led to discussions around what can we do to support ourselves, each other and more importantly our whānau, which led to setting up Māori Ministry in Whangarei.

When we started we had a core group. Some couldn’t speak Māori, couldn’t do a haka or a mihi. We started doing basic waiata, basic

mihi. That cultural identity has helped grow our Christ-identity, and now we have realised that it is about our cultural identity in Christ.

It’s all about the people and relationships: whakawhānaunga-tanga. Without the great hearts of whānau involved with Māori Ministry we wouldn’t be able to do it. At the corps we have had some bi-cultural services with karakia and waiata, and our Recovery Church has embraced bicultural services.

Every Tuesday we have a hangout; we have food, do waiata and kapa haka. It’s a place for our community to come to. We have a monthly hui, with food, fellowship and teaching, and we’ve started a street outreach. We want to let the community know what services we offer and what Jesus has done for us.

Lifestyle | 09

Let’s TalkI 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

It’s all about the people and relationships: whakawhānaungatanga.

Call 0800 53 00 00 or visit salvationarmy.org.nz/addictions

Are you struggling with alcohol, other drugs or gambling? … Or do you know someone who is?Get tools to change your life:

a personal recovery plan

tools to identify your triggers

skills to deal with trigger situations community and/or residential options available

SUDOKU

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

QUICK QUIZ

What is worn by the leader of the Tour de France? Who played Dr Spock in Star Trek? What musical group is Niall Horan a member of? What are the common names for sodium chloride and acetic acid. Who is the British Prime Minister? What name is given to the period of 40 days before Easter? What food is nicknamed the bread of Mexico? What are the fi rst fi ve words in the song ‘The Sounds of Silence’? Which is the largest of New Zealand’s national parks? What was the original name of the biblical character Israel?

4 6 16 3

7 8 3 9 65 6

7 29 5 4 7

4 88

6 1 3

954627318162389754783541296527413869641978532398265471219734685435896127876152943

Quick quiz answers: A yellow jersey, Leonard Nimoy, One Direction, Salt and vinegar, David Cameron, Lent, Tortilla, ‘Hello darkness my old friend’, Fiordland, Jacob (Genesis 32:28).

Difficulty Hard

Find more Cartoons by McKerrow on www.facebook.com/cartoonsbymckerrow

10 | WarCry 21 March 2015

BY INGRID BARRATT

Bouncing ForwardResilience is about ‘bouncing back’ from adversity, but it’s even better if we can ‘bounce forward’. The good news is we can learn skills to build personal resilience that help in the workplace and at home.

Resilience may be a buzzword in the workplace, but it’s a concept that infi ltrates our whole life. ‘Resilience incorporates being well in the diff erent aspects of our life—emotionally, spiritually and physically,’ says Libby Wilson, Human Resources Offi cer for Th e Salvation Army, who organised resiliency training for the organisation last year.

Gone are the days when we neatly compartmentalise our lives into work, home and sleep—and with modern technology we can be available 24/7. ‘We undermine our resiliency because we’re always available and always being interrupted. Th e number of stimulus we encounter is overloading our systems,’ explains Libby—adding that something as simple as turning off email alerts on your phone when you’re not at work can help.

Th ose within Th e Salvation Army need resilience because they’re typically people who really want to make a diff erence and who serve in areas where there’s frequently more work to do, Libby says. ‘Finding meaning in your work is really good for resiliency, but you have to maintain really good boundaries to know when to switch off from work and rest.’

Several key factors help build resiliency, she says.1. A sense that you are making a contribution to society and

fi nding meaning in your work.2. Looking after yourself through nutrition and exercise, which

keeps oxygen and blood pumping through your body, and helps ‘mop up’ excess stress hormones.

3. Connectedness—having friends you can talk to who will help you with processing issues in your life.

4. Mindfulness, which is the practice of being in the moment. 5. Learning and developing, and taking opportunities to grow.6. Setting goals and moving towards them.7. Taking charge of your thinking—the biggest impact on your

resiliency is your thought patterns.

Even in the workplace, it is an individual’s choice to build their own resiliency. No one else can do it for us, ‘because it’s about the things we say to ourselves, and the way we think,’ explains Libby.

Re-thinking our thinkingNegative thought patterns can include ‘catastrophizing’ (jumping to the worst case scenario) and ‘black and white’ thinking. Libby

Close Up | 11

gives the example of a parent yelling at their kids. ‘Th ey may think, “I’ve yelled at my kids, I’m a horrible mum”, but that’s black and white thinking. It’s more helpful to think, “I wish I hadn’t yelled at my kids. I did a lot of good things today and I’m an okay mum, but this is something I can work on.” ’

Studies reveal that resilient people show optimism during hard times, and hold on to the belief that things will get better. Th ey look to learn from diffi culties, and experience personal growth as a result.

Th e good news is that research also shows resilience can be learnt and improved, says clinical psychologist Gaynor Parkin, who facilitated Th e Salvation Army’s resiliency training. Th e key is developing ‘fl exible thinking’ that allows people to work out options when things don’t go to plan. Th is goes hand in hand with building ‘realistic optimism’. Th is is diff erent from rigid positive thinking, as it acknowledges diffi cult situations but uses ‘the cognitive skills of remaining hopeful when things are diffi cult, taking action to resolve problems’.

For example, if someone is running late for a job interview, catastrophic thinking would be: ‘Oh no, I’m never going to get this new job. I’m going to be stuck in my job forever. I’ll be a failure all my life!’ But more optimistic, fl exible thinking would be: ‘Okay, I’m running late. I’ll pull over and call them and tell them the traffi c is really bad—it happens to everyone, so they may understand. Even if I don’t get the job, there will be other opportunities.’

Many circumstances out of our control can erode resiliency, like a moody workmate or a boss who constantly undermines us. ‘Strategies for staying resilient include identifying the other person’s behaviour and that it isn’t acceptable,’ explains Libby. ‘Identify strategies, options and goals to address the problem. Change your thinking so you stay hopeful and fl exible, and keep things in perspective.’

Slowing DownWe can also learn to react more positively to diffi cult situations by catching negative thought patterns, arresting them and turning them around. Libby points out that God encourages us to think positive thoughts: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God ... whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things’ (Philippians 4:6-9).

Practicing mindfulness is a way to ‘think about such things’ and then hand them over to God. ‘It’s about slowing down to focus on the task at hand,’ Libby explains. ‘We spend a lot of time rehashing the past—which is okay as long as you learn from it. We also worry about the future—which is also okay if you are going to make a plan. But sometimes these things sit in the back of your mind creating negative thought patterns—you have to actively decide to be in the present.’

Modern workplace culture often encourages a frantic pace and frenetic multi-tasking, but these are some of the biggest drains to both resilience and productivity. ‘A lot of current research has found that “multi-tasking” is a myth,’ Libby says. ‘People are designed to do a task and be on task, then move on to another task. So, we slow down and practice mindfulness in order to be more productive.’

Ultimately, resilient people don’t just bounce back, they bounce forward—learning and growing with life’s changing circumstances. Libby points out some words of Jesus that are a call to a resilient life: ‘Are you tired? Worn out? … Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fi tting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.’ (Matthew 11:28-30, Th e Message)

Finding meaning in your work is really good for resiliency, but you have to maintain really good boundaries.

Take Charge of Your ThinkingOur thoughts are not always an accurate refl ection of truth, so we need to examine and change them when needed. A key question to ask ourselves is: Is my thinking helping me stay resilient in this situation or making it harder to cope?

Other useful questions to ask ourselves about our thoughts:

• what is the evidence of this? (Think of yourself as a detective. You’re looking for factual evidence, not feelings or intuition.)

• is this always true?

• would I think this if someone else were in this situation?

• what is the likelihood of this actually happening (or being true)?

• what is the bottom line, the worst that could happen? What would I do if the worst happened?

• am I looking at the whole picture?

• how much will this matter in a few years’ time?

Essentially, we are looking to develop fl exible thinking, rather than being stuck in fi xed patterns of thinking in which we jump to conclusions and forget to look at the big picture.

Source: Gaynor Parkin, Umbrella Health.

Chick Yuill examines the story that the Bible tells, and considers how we re-tell that story through our lives.

I recently went with some friends to see Warhorse in London’s West End. Set in the fi rst two decades of the 20th century, it’s the moving tale of a boy’s love for his horse and how their lives are caught up in the events of the Great War of 1914–18. Th eir separation and suff ering is depicted through a compelling combination of music, acting and puppetry. It was an evening of unforgettable highlights, provoking gasps of amazement and spontaneous applause throughout the play. But the real impact of the drama lay in the unfolding of the whole story, culminating in the eventual reunion of the hero and his horse—a moment that brought the audience to its feet in a sustained ovation.

I can’t help but refl ect on the fact that an evening like that has something to teach us about reading the Bible. Th e way in which we usually encounter scripture is a little like viewing a recording of highlights from a play: preachers typically expound just a brief passage. Similarly, in our personal devotions we read a chapter or two at the most. And there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s inevitable—given the length of the Bible—that we approach it in easily digestible bite-sized chunks.

It does mean, however, that we often fail to see the big picture. We’re frequently reminded that the Bible is not one book, but a library of books—a collection of history, poetry, prophecy, gospels and letters—written over a considerable period of time.

While that’s true, it shouldn’t blind us to the larger truth that it does reveal one unfolding drama: the great all-encompassing story of God’s relationship to the world and to humanity, the story that explains what life is all about, why we’re here, and where we’re ultimately headed.

The greatest drama of allOne of the best ways to grasp the story is to imagine you’re watching a play in six acts that unfolds like this:

Act one—creation: Th e Genesis account of creation assures us the world doesn’t exist by mere chance and that we’re not here by some cosmic accident. A loving God creates a perfect world and places humans in it to enjoy fellowship with him, to develop loving relationships with each other, and to be good stewards of creation, caring for the planet and drawing on its resources wisely.

Act two—corruption: All too quickly the peace and perfection of creation are shattered. Adam and Eve are seduced by temptation. Th eir deceit and disobedience bring death and disaster, not just on themselves, but on the entire creation over which God has delegated his authority to them.

Act three—covenant: Despite this unpromising beginning, God doesn’t give up on his creation. Instead, he makes a covenant with the people of Israel that he will be their God. Th eir part in this relationship is to demonstrate his will and his character to the world. Sadly,

however, their history is one of repeated failure to live as the ‘holy nation’ God intends them to be. Th rough a long line of prophets and through the discipline of exile in a foreign land, God constantly recalls them to their true destiny and dignity.

Act four—Christ: Th e central act in the drama is the coming of Jesus Christ. Th e gospels reveal how his life, teaching, death and resurrection demonstrate and declare that a new order has come. Th e sovereign rule of God that Jesus initiates includes both an off er of forgiveness and a call to share the good news of God’s just and loving rule in word and deed.

Act fi ve—church: Th e subsequent account of Jesus’ ascension into Heaven, the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the thrilling stories in Acts, and the letters to various congregations and individuals all highlight the fact that God has called the Christian Church to be the new people of God in the great ongoing story.

Act six—completion: Th e fi nal act lies in the future. But throughout the New Testament, and particularly in the book of Revelation, the hope is held up that Jesus will return as King and Judge to complete God’s plan of redemption.

Th ere’s just one fl aw in our analogy. In the theatre we remain spectators, however close we are to the stage. But when we read the Bible we’re invited to become part of the story, and to play our part in God’s great mission to rescue and renew his entire creation. Th e question that confronts us is: are you ready to join the cast?

Joining the castTh ere’s an often-told tale about Francis of Assisi. Francis invited a young monk to come with him to preach the gospel. Th e two men walked through the nearby village without saying a word before returning to the monastery. Th e young monk was puzzled and asked why they hadn’t actually preached. To which Francis replied, ‘Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.’ Th e story is usually cited as evidence that the witness of our lives is suffi cient to communicate the truth of the gospel without the need for any words coming from our lips.

It’s a powerful anecdote and, insofar as it reminds us that our words have credibility only if they’re matched by our lives, it serves a useful purpose. But I’m certainly not alone in my suspicions that the story is apocryphal rather than historical. To put it bluntly, it probably never happened.

For a start, it doesn’t square with all we know about Francis who, history tells us, would sometimes preach in as many as fi ve villages in a day. Even more importantly, it doesn’t match up with what we learn in the New Testament. Jesus perfectly embodied the love and grace of his

We’ve lost confi dence in knowing how to talk about Jesus in a multi-cultural, multi-faith and largely secularised society.

PART ONE of a four-part seriesLiving the Story

1 | WarCry 21 March 2015

Father. Wherever he went he brought healing and forgiveness. But he also used words more powerfully than any other man has ever done to communicate his message. What’s more, in the book of Acts there’s a recurring pattern: the demonstration of God’s power is always followed by the explanation of God’s purposes made known through his Son. And, in his fi rst letter, Peter leaves us in no doubt that the gospel has to be shared in both words and deeds:

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience (1 Peter 3:15–16).

Telling the storyFor some years I’ve worked with churches across the denominations on discipleship and mission, and I think I know why the story about Francis and the young monk has become so popular. I’ve discovered that it isn’t too diffi cult to get churches and individual Christians involved in practical service to their neighbours. We will happily and eff ectively organise community fun days, carry out street clean-ups, and run an enormous variety of eff ective social outreach programmes.

But to a considerable degree, we’ve lost confi dence in knowing how to talk about Jesus and how to share the gospel in a multi-cultural, multi-faith and largely secularised society. Th e hard truth is that, only as we recover that confi dence will we be eff ective in mission.

Let me share with you some simple principles I’ve learned as I’ve sought to address this issue in the company of fellow disciples:1. Th e fi rst thing is to get to know someone. You’re highly unlikely to

share your faith with your next-door neighbour if you haven’t even bothered to share a coff ee and discover their name.

2. Th e best way to earn the right to tell your story is to ask the person to whom you’re speaking, ‘Tell me how life is for you?’ When you’ve listened to them, they’re much more likely to listen to you.

3. Remember you’re a witness, not the judge. Your fi rst duty is to tell them that God loves them and that Jesus died for them, not to let them know what’s wrong in the way they’re living.

4. You don’t have to be a theologian or a preacher and tell them every detail of the gospel story. Most people can only hear a little bit at a time. When you share your faith, drip-feeding is more eff ective than force-feeding!

5. And don’t think you have to be able to answer every question about suff ering in the world or the diffi cult bits in the Bible. People actually respect us more when we admit we don’t know all the answers. If we do know Jesus who is the answer, that’s what really matters!

And people are probably much more ready to hear about him than we realise.Chick Yuill served as a Salvation Army offi cer for 35 years until 2006. He currently works as a speaker, writer and church consultant in the UK and abroad. His latest book, focused on discipleship, is entitled Moving in the Right Circles (IVP).

Frequently Asked Questions: The BibleLong Story Short is a New Zealand-developed video-based series that brings the story of the Bible to life. It takes a ‘sit back, relax and enjoy’ approach and is ideal for those who don’t have much knowledge of the Bible or Jesus. The course can be used one-on-one with a friend, with small groups of up to 10 people, or as a seminar where a large group watches the seminar together before small group discussions.

The leaders guide includes helpful answers (short and long) to likely questions. Here are some of the short answers from module two: ‘Best-Seller’, a basic introduction to the Bible.

Who wrote the Bible and why is it called the word of God? Christians refer to the Bible as ‘the word of God’ because it originates with God. About 37 diff erent human authors wrote the Bible, each in their own distinctive style. But God guided their writing so what they freely wrote was exactly what God wanted them to write. That is why Jesus called the Bible ‘the word of God’ (John 10:35).

Why can we trust the Bible? The Bible has been subject to the most intense criticism through the centuries, but has never been proven false. It remains the best-seller of all time, and the most widely read and most translated book in history. It keeps proving itself historically, geographically, prophetically and scientifi cally true. We can defi nitely trust the Bible!

What relevance does such an old book have today? The Bible is old! Some parts are over 3500 years old. But ‘old’ does not mean irrelevant. For instance, just because the law of gravity is old, doesn’t make it obsolete ( jump out the window and see!)—some things are too important and too true to be discarded.

Go to www lssl.co for more on this easy-to-use evangelism tool, including free samples.

Soul Food | 1

AddictionSalvation Army Helps Gang Members Tackle Addiction

The latest Hauora Programme, supporting Mongrel Mob gang members wanting to break free from methamphetamine addiction, started this month.

This will be the eighth Hauora Programme run by The Salvation Army in partnership with the Notorious chapter of the Mongrel Mob and funded by the Ministry of Health. Two more are planned over this year.

The courses have been running since 2009. Last year, Addiction Services alcohol and drug caseworker Rob Taylor was appointed as the programme’s clinical manager—a new role overseeing the programme, which includes organising the camps alongside Notorious leadership and being on site running classes with two Salvation Army addictions caseworkers.

Rob has been involved with the programme since it began, and although he admits to some nerves when he started, he says it has been a life-changing experience. ‘I believe it’s a place where God is working very powerfully. To see what I see is truly a privilege.’

For each course, the Notorious Chapter select eight members from a waiting list of those whom they think would benefit most from the programme. These people then undergo a comprehensive alcohol and other drugs assessment by Salvation Army Addiction Services staff. The six-week course is held at a camp in the King Country.

In a unique twist on other addiction programmes, family members of participants—including children—are able to attend. The Army arranges for the children to attend nearby schools during the course and child care is provided for pre-school aged children.

From Monday to Wednesday, group sessions start at 9 am with karakia. The rest of the day covers a wide range of topics, including addiction and the brain, interpersonal relationships, anger management and relapse prevention skills. Each person also has one-to-one counselling once a week and extra sessions can be organised.

Classes finish at 3 pm so that parents can have time with their children, and on Thursday they finish at midday so the group can go into town to shop for supplies, Rob says.

Having family members with them helps motivate the people attending and gives a great atmosphere, he explains. ‘It’s powerful having the children and partners there. It adds a huge amount of credibility and effectiveness to the work we do with individuals in the classroom. They have an opportunity to have time with their kids that they didn’t have when they were back home using meth.’

Every evening, participants have tikanga classes, learning to introduce themselves in preparation for their graduation. On Friday, there is a kapa haka class, also in preparation for graduation. On Saturday or Sunday, chapter member Bones, who was involved in setting up the course and has been a supervisor, organises a fun family day out. He takes groups on activities such as jet boating, going to the hot pools or to the Waitomo Caves. Getting out in the community as families is really important, especially for the children, exposing them to new experiences, he says.

‘It’s good for people’s healing. When you’re in the Mongrel Mob you don’t leave your house much, you hang at home with your bros, in a male-dominated culture. But here, you’re exposing them to things they’ve never done and they love it. To see how they are, to hear their comments—they’re so happy. That drives you.’

Along with the drug rehab, having people at the camp for six weeks allows the Notorious leaders and Salvation Army staff to work intently with members on other problems and negative behaviours that show up, such as anger issues, Bones says.

There is also a seven week after-care programme in Auckland, where Rob leads a weekly relapse prevention class.

A key to the success of the programme, Rob says, has been the work and dedication of the leaders of the Notorious chapter, especially

14 | WarCry 21 March 2015

Addiction

chapter president Roy Dunn, who came up with the idea for Hauora and has been the key player in making it work.

‘We’re working together in a partnership that’s really moving, and I believe giving a really good service to those coming through the programme. I see the Notorious leadership as the drivers behind the programme, which is shaped by them to meet the needs of their people. My role is very much supporting that.’

When he was first invited to take part in the programme in 2009, Rob admitted he was nervous about engaging with people who had such a different world view to him and who came from a gang culture he knew little about. He took on the challenge with an attitude of going on a journey with the people and learning with and from them, not telling them that they need to change. ‘Rather than standing on the shoreline shouting instructions, I was in the waka paddling with them,’ he says.

That meant getting involved in classes outside of the ones he teaches and opening himself to the rich Māori culture—learning haka, waiata and his pepeha.

The tikanga classes make a big difference to the camp members’ healing, Bones says, although he can’t put his finger on exactly why. What they learn helps them gain confidence and gain respect at home from being able to speak at gatherings. It also joins them to a small group of families from the past six years who are all connected, having learnt the same waiata and haka, he adds.

While he’s never felt unsafe or threatened, Rob says it did take a while to get used to the physical appearance of the gang members. But these days, he no longer sees patches, just people.

Bones says the days out can also help the community see past the patches. During the latest camp the group attended a community fun day in Turangi, and Bones admits he had some nerves about how they would be seen. But things went smoothly, and a team of four from the group even won a burger cooking competition.

‘I ended up cooking corn for about 3000 people with this other guy,’ says Bones. ‘I started turning and two hours later I was still there. Other brothers were helping cut meat for the hāngī. One of the organisers said, “Gee, this is what the community should be doing.” That took all my fears away. That was the community embracing us and us exposing our whole camp to the community.’

Since the Hauora Pogramme began, 76 people have attended, with 86 per cent staying clean six months after the programme and 55 per cent still clean a year on. Sixty-five per cent had managed to stay out

of contact with the Justice Department and 86 per cent had completed pathway to employment courses.

‘We can’t stop everyone using,’ Bones says. ‘It’s like having a traffic light. Some people will run the red light, some won’t, but you have got to put the lights up. People look at us as gangsters and say we’re wasting people’s time, but when we look at the statistics, we’re the same success rate as other programmes.’

Acceptance among the Mongrel Mob is growing as families return home from camps and others hear their stories and see the change in their lives. Even the Justice Department has come on side, with people on court orders to attend rehab programmes and some newly released prisoners being sent on the Hauora Programme. It’s nice to be working with the department and shows recognition that it’s a good programme, Bones says.

Rob says success is about much more than helping people get free from methamphetamine. It includes working with them to find out what they need to fill their lives after drugs.

Some who went through the first programme in 2009 are now involved as leaders. For some, success has been staying out of prison since then—a big achievement for people used to spending no more than two years at a time out in the community. For others, success is being able to have their children back, Rob explains. Some get their driver’s licence as a way to get work; others from the last course want to go back to study and train to be addiction caseworkers, so they can put back into their communities.

But the statistics don’t capture the real impact of the programme or sum up the feeling and energy at the camp, says Rob. ‘We had one member of the group who had surprised his probation officer that this hardened older gang member would go to the camp. He’s not singing in the church choir now, but he’s made steps and for him they have been huge. The fact that he came, that he graduated, that he learnt some stuff and he’s saying he wants to be there for his children—having tears in his eyes, talking about how he can now be there for his younger children and see them grow up—the way he is with his boys, that is not captured in the statistics.’

Bones says the programme has helped him change his lifestyle and outlook on life, giving him a new experience of helping others, which he enjoys. ‘Looking after people, that’s what it is and you’ve got to have a heart for that. It’s a great programme. It’s awesome! It’s working for us and for the people.’

Headquarters Staff Support World Day of Prayer

Around the world, people took part in the World Day of Prayer on 6 March. This year’s service was prepared by Christian women from the Bahamas.

The Territorial Headquarters World Day of Prayer service was organised by Lieut-Colonel Rebecca Yousaf, with Central Divisional Headquarters staff also attending.

Lieut-Colonel Yousaf Ghulam brought the Bible message, based on the account of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet in John chapter 13.

One of the prayers prayed was: ‘Lord, we are amazed by you. How you love us! How deep and radical is your love. Teach us how to be more like you and to model your all-embracing love and gracious hospitality to all your children. Amen.’

Our Community | 15

Larsson and Larsson Musical for Boundless 2015

With The Salvation Army’s strong history in the performing arts, the upcoming international congress, Boundless: The Whole World Redeeming, will feature an array of dance, theatre and music. Among the performances is a new musical entitled Covenant—script by Karl Larsson, music by Kevin Larsson and lyrics by Commissioner Keith Banks. Karl Larsson will direct alongside Barbara Allen.

Karl, Kevin and Keith first thought of basing the musical on the song ‘O Boundless Salvation,’ a hymn written by Salvation Army founder General William Booth. After finding it limiting, they decided to create the musical around the covenant Booth wrote for his own funeral programme.

‘It’s all tied together with Booth working on this funeral programme … there will be small vignettes of him writing that, and then we’ll come back at the end. The rest of it is true Army stories from history,’ Karl says. ‘Hopefully, they will be relatively obscure stories with all kinds of different themes from all periods.’

The stories featured will tie into the process of Booth writing this covenant that he wanted everyone at his funeral to sign.

‘We got some [stories] from just a couple of years ago, some from back in the 1910 period, and then in between those we’ll jump back and see Booth wondering how the Army is going to be when he goes,’ says Karl. ‘He’s sick, he’s ill, he’s coming to the end, and he’s worried about what’s going to happen—and that’s why he’s working on this covenant.’

As the musical was under development, Karl says he would write the script and leave gaps for the songs, describing the kind of song he wanted and what needed to happen in it. He would then hand that to Keith, who would write the lyrics. When they were happy, they’d hand the lyrics over to Kevin who would write the music.

Casting for the musical was done a year in advance and rehearsals began in January. ‘We had to cast the play before hardly any of it was written, only having a vague idea of what the characters were going to be,’ Karl says. ‘We’d loosely cast all the main roles in our heads and have a really good cast. There’s some fun roles I think they’re going to enjoy playing.’

He says that like the musical Spirit! II: Empire—which he previously wrote and directed for the USA Western Territory’s 2012 congress—Covenant will make good use of technology, incorporating projection mapping for the sets and video interviews of the people actually involved in the more modern stories featured in the production.

‘I’ve seen some of these interviews and it’s very humbling. Some of these people are just doing the Lord’s work and helping the Army, and we’re trying to tell their stories as part of the musical,’ Karl says.

‘We’re going to have a mix of good drama on stage and then we’re

going to back that up with good use of technology and video [for] a multimedia experience.’

He wants people to be inspired by the stories in the musical. ‘All of the stories seem to be a bit dramatic—some of them are going to have you at the edge of your seats—but all of them have a very strong message at the end, and that’s partly why we chose them. These stories are supposed to encourage the audience to be inspired and to go out and feel good about the Army and feel empowered and motivated to follow these great people.’

There is a deeper goal to the production, says Karl. ‘The idea behind this musical is based on this covenant that was in General William Booth’s funeral, and it was a way of people signing that commitment to the future of The Salvation Army. We want people to come to the musical to be entertained, but also to be inspired [to] hopefully sign some sort of covenant of their own.’

By Vivian Gatica / New Frontier Publications (The Salvation Army USA Western Territory)

GAZETTE

BereavedLt Trish Mataki of her mother, Susan Theresa Noa, on 1 March, aged 87. The tangi was held at Ngāti Manawa Marae, Hokianga.

International AppointmentsEffective 1 July: Lt-Col Mark Campbell, an officer of the Australia Eastern Territory currently serving as Secretary for Business Administration in that territory, is appointed Chief Secretary, Australia Eastern Territory. He will take up his new appointment responsibilities with the rank of colonel. He succeeds Col Richard Munn who, with Col Janet Munn, is returning to service in their home territory, USA Eastern. Lt-Col Julie Campbell is also promoted to the rank of colonel.

Effective 1 Aug: Cols Peter and Jennifer Walker, officers of the Australia Southern Territory, currently serving respectively as Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries in that territory, are appointed territorial leaders, Indonesia Territory. Col Peter Walker is appointed Territorial Commander, and Col Jennifer Walker as Territorial President of Women’s Ministries. They will take up their new appointment responsibilities with the rank of commissioner. They succeed Comms Michael and Joan Parker who will be retiring from active service. Lt-Cols Graeme and Karyn Rigley, officers of the Australia Southern Territory, currently serving respectively as Secretary for Programme and Officer Development Secretary in that territory, are appointed respectively as Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries, Australia Southern Territory. They will take up their new appointment responsibilities with the rank of colonel.

REGISTER TODAY

www.boundless2015.org

For more on Boundless Group Travel from NZ, email NZFTBoundless2015@nzf.salvationarmy.org

16 | WarCry 21 March 2015

Noticeboard | 17

CALENDAR

MARCH

–: Men’s Camp / Southern Division–: National Youth Band Visit to Invercargill / Southern Division: Otago Anniversary: Divisional Seniors Rally (Palmerston North) / Central Division: Junior Soldier’s Big Day Out / Northern Division9: Palm Sunday9: Salvation Army International Day of Prayer for Children–: Cabinet Retreat

APRIL

: Good Friday5: Easter Sunday7: Southland Anniversary–: Regional Music Camp / Tonga Region: Offi cers Councils (North) / Fiji Division: Red Shield Golf Tournament / Christchurch–: Brass Band Development Camp / Silverstream: Women Offi cers Connect / Northern Division5: ANZAC Day: Sports Day / Tonga Region: Taupo 7s / North Island7: ANZAC Day Observance: South Island 7s / Southern Division: Marriage Seminar (Fua’amotu) / Tonga Region

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS

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

21–24 March: Blenheim, Nelson Tasman Bays, Westport & Greymouth Corps29-31 March: Cabinet Retreat 2–6 April: Hamilton City Corps 18 April: Glen Eden Corps April: Red Shield Breakfast / Wellington April: Spiritual Day / Booth College of Mission

Colonels Willis Howell (Chief Secretary) and Barbara Howell (Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries)

20–24 March: Installation of Majors David and Vyvyenne Noakes / Fiji29–31 March: Cabinet Retreat– April: Easter in Auckland- April: Rolleston Corps

PRAYER FOCUS

Please pray for: Mount Maunganui, Mt Albert, Nadi, Napier and Nasinu Corps, The Salvation Army Māori Ministry, The Salvation Army United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland.

International Bible Reading ChallengeWEEK 12 Luke 12–16 | WEEK 1 Luke 17–21Go to www.salvationarmy.org/biblechallenge for daily reading guides and more.

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

INTERESTED IN SOCIAL JUSTICE?For reports, regular newsletters, challenging articles and Salvation Army government submissions: www salvationarmy.org.nz/socialpolicy

Are you a

Christian Writer?

www.nzchristianwriters.org

Join us!

or Write To: NZ Christian Writers, c/o Membership Secretary, Seales Road, RD 3, Tauranga 3173

New Salvation Army Book AvailableCommissioner Ross Kendrew, the third New Zealand-born Salvation Army offi cer to be appointed Territorial Commander of the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory, recently published his memoirs. In I Might Have Been a Patternmaker, Ross celebrates his background, tells about the unmistakeable call of God, off ers insights into his thinking, and refl ects on what his story might have been had he chosen a diff erent path. An additional print run means more copies are now available. $40 (plus p&p). To order, e: Ross_Kendrew@nzf.salvationarmy.org

Territorial Strategic Mission Plan: New Leadership ModulesTwo new modules have been added to the Local Leadership Development Programme (LLDP):

• Building a Team: Does your team struggle to make good decisions? Do you struggle for accountability among team members? How is team morale? This module looks at the characteristics of healthy teams, then provides two practical approaches to team building.

• Leading Others: This module is focused on those you are working with one-on-one. It covers adapting your leadership style to suit the situation and giving feedback.

These and other LLDP (Goal 4) modules are available online. Ask your corps offi cer or centre manager to download these for you, or e: tsmp@nzf.salvationarmy.org for more information.

TERRITORIAL STRATEGIC MISSION PLAN

New Director for Addington Supportive AccommodationGlenn Dodson has been employed as director of the Addington Supportive Accommodation Service in Christchurch, eff ective 20 April. Glenn is currently CEO of the Canterbury Stepping Stone Trust, a mental health recovery service based on Christian principles that works with adults and children in the greater Christchurch area.

Commissioner Alistair Herring (National Director, Addiction, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegrations Services) is confi dent that Glenn’s professional experience, leadership skills and commitment to supporting people in need will enhance Addington’s long history of serving vulnerable people.

Commissioner Herring thanks Major Des Buckner for stepping in as interim director at the end of 2014, along with Centre Manager Pip Mills and all the Addington staff for their dedicated service in this time of transition.

I will maintain Christian ideals in all my relationships with others.

Each night, as I watch the news, I see conflict between individuals, communities or nations. ‘There is nothing new in that,’ I hear you say. ‘Was there ever a time when there wasn’t some form of conflict?’ Certainly, on the grand scale we frequently see on TV, the issues appear so complex, so deeply rooted, and seemingly so beyond anyone’s control or influence. What can little old me or you do to change this? Well, let’s start right there: with you and me.

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (chapter four, verse two), he says, ‘Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.’ In verse 32, he adds, ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ This coming from a man who not long before was breathing out murderous threats against Jesus’ disciples, before being miraculously converted.

A significant number of us have signed a Salvation Army Soldier’s Covenant. We have entered into a sacred covenant, promising, ‘I will maintain Christian ideals in all my relationships with others; my family and neighbours, my colleagues and fellow Salvationists, those to whom and for whom I am responsible, and the wider community.’

I like to try and keep things simple, so for me, this is all about respect. It’s trying to live up to the ideals in Ephesians, treating people the way I want to be treated. The importance of this was instilled in me through the example of some key influencers in my life. Have I always lived up to my desire to show respect to others? No, in my humanness I have sometimes stumbled, but I continue to strive to live with this way by God’s grace.

Let’s broaden this beyond ourselves to the many facets that make up The Salvation Army. This includes corps (churches); recovery fellowships; Community Ministries; HomeCare; Education and Employment; and Addictions, Supportive Accommodation and Reintegration Services; along with divisional, regional, and territorial headquarters.

In keeping with our mission, The Salvation Army is committed to providing a healthy, safe and respectful environment, where people are treated with respect and dignity. This is emphasised in The Salvation Army’s International Positional Statement on the Use of Power (see right), which states, ‘The Salvation Army believes that power should always be exercised so as to promote the values of the Kingdom of God, such as love, justice and mutual respect … [and] … strongly opposes any use of power that is oppressive, cruel or corrupt or that denies human rights.’

The Salvation Army is pledged to use power wisely and well in relation to all who receive our services, who belong to it, who work for it, or who collaborate in our mission. This includes me—and if you are part of this Army, this includes you also.

Captain Gerry WalkerTerritorial Secretary for Personnel

LEADERSHIP LINKS The Use of PowerAn excerpt from The Salvation Army’s International Positional Statement on the Use of Power.

Power is the possession of command, control, or influence over others. Although the presence and importance of power is frequently denied, ignored or minimised, all individuals, institutions, businesses and nations have power. It is a means by which they achieve some of the world’s most positive goods and some of the world’s most horrifying evils. Consequently, an informed understanding of the proper use and potential for abuse of power is essential.

The Salvation Army believes that power is neither good nor evil in itself. It is, rather, the purposes to which power is applied and the manner in which it is used that define its character.

As a Christian church, The Salvation Army believes that almighty God always exercises his power for righteous purposes. As an extension of this, The Salvation Army believes that power, whether it is economic, emotional, legal, physical, political, psychological, religious or social, should always be exercised so as to promote the values of the Kingdom of God, such as love, justice and mutual respect. It should never be used for manipulation or exploitation.

The Salvation Army strongly opposes any use of power that is oppressive, cruel or corrupt, or that denies human rights.

PRINCIPLES

The Salvation Army’s understanding of the use of power is shaped most profoundly by Jesus, who is both ruler of all and servant of all (Philippians 2: 6–11). Along with the example of Jesus, there are Scriptural principles that help elucidate the proper use of power, especially the following:

1. Power is given by God, and we are accountable for its use (John 19:10–11).

2. In the use of power, we all bear a responsibility to act for the benefit of those in need and to confront the abuse of power (Proverbs 31:8–9; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3).

3. Power should be exercised in a spirit of love (Ephesians 6:4), to empower others (Ephesians 4:11–12).

4. Power that is entrusted for the common good is to be employed for the common good (1 Kings 3:9; 1 Corinthians 12:7).

5. The appropriate use of power presumes an attitude of humility toward God and one’s fellow man (Numbers 12:3; 1 Kings 21:29; Matthew 18:4; Mark 10:42–45; Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 5:5). In the absence of such humility, the use of power will likely be driven solely by human selfishness and thereby become a sinful abuse of power (2 Samuel 12; Jeremiah 23:10; Micah 3:9–12; Acts 5:1–10).

6. To fail to use the power one is given may itself be wrong, for abandonment risks exposing to harm and exploitation those for whom one is responsible (Ezekiel 34:8; Matthew 9:36).

… The Salvation Army is pledged to use its own power wisely and well in relation to all who receive its services, who belong to it, who work for it or who collaborate in its mission.

The Salvation Army’s Positional Statements state its view on particular issues. All statements are approved by the General. Go to www salvationarmy.org.nz/PositionalStatements to read the statement on ‘The Use of Power’ in full, along with other Positional Statements.

18 | WarCry 21 March 2015

BY SUE HAY

Embracing the Church’s Role in Building a Resilient Nation The Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report could be seen as a description of the resilience of our nation. Many of us are doing okay, yet a signifi cant number are not. What is the church’s response?

Reading this year’s State of the Nation Report, A Mountain All Can Climb—from the Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit—leaves me questioning how resilient we are as a nation. Our national wellbeing is fragile, with a quarter of our children facing social and economic risks, with 319 infant deaths in 2014, with so many struggling to fi nd aff ordable housing, and with a signifi cant proportion of all violent off ending happening in our own homes.

I fear for the future resilience of a nation that is not investing in our children, but simply accepts that in this developed country kids go to school hungry every day; that many go without shoes, raincoats or medical care; that huge numbers are emotionally and sexually abused every day, and over 500 children were known to have been neglected in the last year. How can we quietly accept that poorer communities will achieve far less at high school, and that those who are most deprived are targeted by liquor retailers, pokie machine operators and loan sharks charging exorbitant rates?

Th e Reverend Dr Alan Davidson, a Kiwi church historian, was refl ecting on our nationhood when he preached, ‘Rather than act as chaplain to the nation, the question is, how far the vocation of the church is to be that of a prophet at the gate? Th e role of the prophet is to ask the hard questions. Rather than speak from the centre, the church is fi nding more and more that its position is alongside those on the edge.’

Davidson was suggesting the church has a role in building our national resilience. Instead of taking a passive stand on social issues, he challenges us to embrace the role of prophet. Davidson is even bold enough to claim that God requires us to consider the plight of our nation and to proactively call for fairness and justice in how people are treated.

Of course, such a vocation requires us to understand social policy. As Salvationists, we tend to be far more interested in activism than analysis. We prefer to do things than say things, lest we be noticed, or far worse, criticised. Jesus, of course, was crucifi ed for proclaiming a new set of Kingdom values.

As someone who prefers the quiet life, I have been deeply challenged by God’s calling of the prophet Jeremiah. God is blunt and to the point: ‘See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant’ (Jeremiah 1:10).

God is very clear. Jeremiah was to speak to the nations not just

with nice, soothing chaplain-like words of grace and comfort, but also with direct and honest words that challenged injustice. For someone who prefers the chaplain role, sitting at the city gate like this is very uncomfortable. Yet the more we learn by reading about the issues, the harder it is to ignore the injustice behind New Zealand’s unacceptable statistics.

Th e more we take an interest in the state of our nation, the more this prophetic role becomes a command and a calling. Because if we in the church don’t speak out as prophets at the gate, who will? And if we don’t seek solutions that build resilience for even the most marginalised, who will?

However, be wary of the temptation to view the prophetic role too idealistically. Th ere are no easy solutions to the complex challenge of building a more resilient nation. Researchers such as Wilkinson and Pickett, authors of Th e Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better, suggest that the more equality that exists within a society, the more resilient it becomes. Th is requires a commitment to close the gap between rich and poor. It means fi nding new ways to distribute wealth and resources across our society. Th is has implications for our tax rate, and our addiction to consumerism. We may need to address our own lifestyle preferences. But don’t let that stop us from taking our responsibility as Christian citizens seriously!

So, where to start? First, take an interest in the facts. Get to know the statistics in reports such as State of the Nation. Th en, start to pray for the people and situations represented by those statistics. Pay particular attention to statistics that make you angry, sad or passionate, as this is a clue as to where to focus your energy and activism. Next, grow your confi dence in speaking out about these issues—beginning with conversations with friends and colleagues. Connect with those who are equally stirred by the facts. And fi nd ways to get involved in local initiatives. But above all else, let’s start!Major Sue Hay is the Director of the Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit.

Go to www salvationarmy.org.nz/socialpolicy and follow them on facebook.com/SPPUNZ. Go to www salvationarmy.org.nz/StateoftheNation2015 to read the State of the Nation report.

The more we learn, the harder it is to ignore the injustice behind New Zealand’s unacceptable statistics

Mission Matters | 19

GOD & FAITH

From a fear of phone calls, to being used as a sermon illustration, you might be surprised at what life’s like for Salvation Army offi cers’ kids.

We’re a strange breed, us offi cers’ kids. We move around a lot, we know people from all over the territory, we have strong opinions on anything Salvation Army, and we’ve had enough expired donated food that we can pretty much eat anything.

An offi cer’s kid (OK) refers to an off spring of a Salvation Army offi cer. Salvation Army offi cers are basically like pastors or ministers and are appointed to diff erent roles within our movement—this could be anything from a corps offi cer (church pastor), a manager at a social service centre, or even overseeing whole areas of The Salvation Army.

Because of this, offi cers’ kids have to get used to some pretty strange things. From potentially moving every few years, to meeting a lot of new people, to having your parents ‘on-call’ 24/7.

It can be a strange, unnerving, transient and sometimes seemingly unfair way of life, but generally, it’s a pretty cool journey watching your parents serving God, meeting new people and more often than not, gaining a real appreciation for what The Salvation Army does for people and communities.

But we thought we’d get honest with you and ’fess up on some of the things that go on for offi cers’ kids …

We often have a fear of phone calls. Growing up, a lot of offi cers’ kids would have to answer their home phones with a phrase like: ‘Hello, Salvation Army, Vanessa speaking …’ This was pretty embarrassing and really confusing when friends called. But the biggest fear was if someone called up with a need or a complaint and they just unleashed into their story until you explained to them that you were 10 years old and you’d need to get your mum or dad. Awkward.

The phrase ‘can we have a family meeting?’ is the scariest phrase ever. Whenever this phrase (or one similar) is said in an offi cer’s house, you know change is coming. In my house, ‘Let’s all meet in the lounge after dinner for a family meeting’ generally made us panic that either a) we were moving, or b) our parents were miraculously having another child. More often than not, a ‘family meeting’ brings news about a change of appointment for Mum and Dad, and that you will be moving cities at the end of the year. Which is scary.

Moving to a new appointment can be both extremely hard and really cool. People might think offi cers’ kids get used to moving around, which we generally do, but it doesn’t necessarily make it any easier or more enjoyable. Leaving friends behind, starting new schools and going to a new church is pretty intense. The fi rst few months after a move can be extremely hard, but usually after a while you realise you’ve settled in okay and things are chugging along nicely. (Be nice to newly moved offi cers and their kids!)

We lose (or think we lose …) all street cred from getting dropped off or picked up in the corps van. I don’t know about everyone else, but getting picked up from school in a massive white van with ‘The Salvation Army’ plastered all over it isn’t the ‘coolest’ thing ever. Offi cers’ kids have to live through a lot of embarrassing situations (whether it’s all in our heads or not).

The Army uniform leads to some confused conversations. Growing up, you get a LOT of confused questions about what your parents actually do because of The Salvation Army uniform. The usual suspects are: ambulance driver, pilot, security guard or police offi cer. An offi cers’ kid I know who spent time in Queenstown kept getting asked if his dad was a tour bus driver. Sometimes we go along with their misconceptions just for fun!

Our parents constantly avoid using us for anything out of fear of showing favouritism. Offi cers’ kids get ripped off . When our parents are asking for an answer during the children’s time, asking people to show off their Christmas presents, or looking for a volunteer for a game, we never get picked. So mean.

Leaving any event last is normal. Being the last people to leave an event becomes normal

confessions

chroniclesmemoirs

and go to lots of church activities. Sure, our parents often turn little day-to-day things into sermon illustrations and make us listen to their spontaneous preaching outbreaks, but that doesn’t mean we’re doing okay, all of the time.

We’re young and we’re dealing with stuff ! And because offi cers’ kids move around a bit, sometimes we don’t get the opportunity of long-term prayer pals, mentoring or support networks. Offi cers’ kids need mentors, accountability and encouragement—just like everyone else.

Whether we’re offi cers’ kids or not, growing up can be awkward, tricky and

MARCH | FIREZONE.CO.NZ

quite quickly. Although it’s tedious and you just want to get home, you know no matter the amount of nagging, being cheeky or being super good, it will never work. Offi cers just can’t leave—even if they didn’t run the event.

The question ‘where are you from?’ is the hardest question to answer. If your parents were already offi cers by the time they had you, fi rst-time introductions can get long-winded quite fast. As soon as this question comes up, you either have to go into a big story about all the places you’ve lived and why, or you just choose to mention your birth place or last city.

Our lives are constantly used as sermon illustrations. Stubbing our toes, learning to ride our bikes, our fi rst jobs, a movie we all watched together, that embarrassing story about what happened on our family holiday—all of it eventually gets shared from the platform. Thanks guys.

The ‘itchy feet’ feeling sticks with us for a while. Due to moving around a bit, some offi cers’ kids often feel the urge to move or clean out their houses every few years. Not that we all necessarily act on it, but it can feel odd to settle somewhere for too long. Even after moving out of home and no longer being a ‘live-in’ offi cer’s kid, it still seems strange to be in the same city or house for so many years in a row.

It becomes normal to be recognised all over the place. Offi cers’ kids can’t go to any Army event or another corps without hearing a phrase like ‘Oh, you’re blah blah’s daughter’, ‘I babysat/drove you/dedicated you/knew your parents …’, or ‘Do you remember me?’ These are traps! It’s so hard to know what to answer, especially when you have no idea who the person is. It is nice to be known though (and also cool to know that at least some of these people have been praying for you).

Probably this one is the biggie: people often assume we’re okay just because we have offi cer parents. It's not always the case, but sometimes the care of offi cers’ kids can be overlooked. It’s really easy to make the assumption that offi cers’ kids must have it all together—after all, they live with pastors

confusing. We ALL have to go through diff erent ups and downs in life, from embarrassing moments, to changing schools, to losing friends and making new ones. Each journey is unique, but one thing is for sure: there will be both challenges and celebrations. None of us can escape this. Not even offi cers’ kids.

So, take the time to get to know the offi cers’ kids around you. Be with each other through the ups and downs, encourage one another to seek support from those who have been there already ... and let’s all be ready to share the uniqueness of our journeys.

SEEN & HEARD |

When Offi cers’ Kids Grow Up …We wanted to fi gure out what it’s really like growing up as offi cers’ kids, so we asked some experts! Check out some ‘older’ offi cers’ kids’ thoughts on the good, the bad and how to be an okay OK!

1 If you could have chosen one city for your parents to be appointed in, what would it be and why?

What was your favourite thing about growing up as an offi cers’ kid?

What is one thing you have learned from being an offi cers’ kid?

4 How did being an offi cers’ kid aff ect you? How could offi cers’ kids be better supported?

5 What’s your best advice for other offi cers’ kids?

Alastair Kendrew

1 Los Angeles, so that I could go to Disneyland?! Actually, I got to live in lots of great places. I spent a few years living in Fiji, then was happy to return to Auckland as that’s where I was born, and I got to fi nish my schooling in Dunedin at the best school in the country.

Access. A story is told that when we were the corps offi cers of Dunedin North, a lock had to be put on the band room door, because I kept getting in there. As an offi cers’ kid, I got to do heaps of things others couldn’t, like going to camps under

age because my parents were running them, playing on the drums, or using the headquarters computer for assignments (when few people had computers).

That being an offi cer is tough. You have a lot of responsibility and are very busy.

4 Being an offi cers’ kid probably made me better able to cope with change. Over a seven-year period, I went to six diff erent schools. That’s a lot of change! But I loved playing sport, so generally found new friends reasonably quickly. I don’t really think I needed any extra support—it was the only life I knew.

5 Always keep a positive, can-do attitude. Be grateful for everything you have. When it’s time to move, think of it as the next step in your journey. You’ll be upset leaving friends behind, and it’s quite possible you won’t want to move—but that attitude will only ruin the experience for everyone, especially you. Instead, go with a positive attitude, and you’ll fi nd things become good much quicker.

Emma Buckingham

1 Disneyland Corps Plant because … duh!

Having the opportunity to meet great friends in lots of diff erent places and sharing new adventures with my family.

That God had me in mind when he called my parents to be offi cers. He had a good plan not just for my parents, but for our whole family to live this life together.

4 I was really blessed to have a really great childhood and (the majority of the time, besides always being the fi rst to arrive and last

to leave church every week) loved growing up as an offi cers’ kid. Moves came at good times for me and they weren’t too diffi cult. I know that’s not the case for a lot of OKs, though, so I think it’s important to be aware of that for those we know who might be struggling with moves.

5 Always check the expiry date on any chocolate mum and dad bring home!

Scott Noakes

1 Tauranga: sun, surf, great atmosphere. Second best city to Wellington.

Now having contacts throughout all of NZ, being able to go to any city and know at least a few people.

I learnt a lot about church dynamics. Being a part of many very diff erent churches—both traditional and modern—has given me a well-rounded appreciation for diff erent expressions of church.

4 I loved being an OK! I learnt how to make friends fast; it improved my people skills, which really helps as a youth worker. Letting offi cers’ kids complete their high schooling in one school would be a good step though.

5 Make the most of it and enjoy the change. Realise that if you move it’s not the end of the world, but the start of a new world for you.

Jess Bishop

1 That actually never entered my mind. I remember when Mum and Dad were commissioned and appointed to Te Aroha we were like, ‘YES! … Where the heck is that?’

The adventure! Always new experiences, new friends, new destinations!

I have seen what loving God and loving others looks like. A selfl ess 24/7 love (thanks, Mum and Dad).

4 Well, obviously it didn’t have a negative eff ect as now I have children who are offi cers’ kids. I think the biggest thing for an OK is time with their parents. This needs to be priority and a natural way of living, not just a good theory. Supporting offi cers in their workload and seeing leadership modelling what a balanced family and ministry look like would be valuable input and support for offi cers’ children!

5 Wherever you go ... whenever you go ... God is with you. Keep your eyes on Jesus and enjoy the journey!

Fun4Kids |

Read It‘People were bringing little children to Jesus. They wanted him to place his hands on them to bless them. But the disciples told them to stop. When Jesus saw this, he was angry. He said to his disciples, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t keep them away. God’s kingdom belongs to people like them …Then he took the children in his arms. He placed his hands on them to bless them.’ (Mark 10:13-16, NIRV)

Let’s TalkSometimes you might wonder if you’re smart enough, cool enough or good enough for God. But none of this makes any diff erence to how God feels about you. You don’t have to impress God. God loves you!

In fact, Jesus tells everyone that the way to let him become part of their lives is to be just like a child. Little children are really happy to experience good things. When someone off ers them something fun or special, children are just ready to

say thank you. They get excited about good things and enjoy them. Which is exactly how Jesus wants all of us to be about him!

Let’s PrayDear Jesus, thank you for loving me just as I am. Let me live my life so more and more people will know the happiness that comes from following you. Amen.

Read ItRead ItRead ItRead Ithi,

i’m cate.

Read ItRead ItRead ItRead ItRead ItRead ItRead It

for each of 1, 4, 5, 8 & 9 fi nd its top view.

Write Your Own Tongue Twister*

. CHOOSE A NAME: The best letters for a name begin with B, D, L, M, P, S or T. (eg: Barry)

. WHAT DID THE PERSON DO? Start with the same letter. (eg: baked bread)

. WHERE IS THE PERSON? Start with the same letter. (eg: Belinda’s bakery)

. WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN? Start with the same letter. (eg: before bedtime)

. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? Start at least the fi rst word with the same letter. (eg: brother made him)

String all these words together and you will end up with your very own tongue twister! Barry baked bread at Belinda’s Bakery before bedtime because brother made him.

Try these tongue twisters. They’re short … but hard!

• When does the wristwatch strap shop shut?

• Freshly fried fresh fl esh.

• Ed had edited it.

1=3, 4=7, 5=10, 8=2, 9=6.

1=3, 4=7, 5=10, 8=2, 9=6.

1=3, 4=7, 5=10, 8=2, 9=6.

1=3, 4=7, 5=10, 8=2, 9=6.

1=3, 4=7, 5=10, 8=2, 9=6.

1=3, 4=7, 5=10, 8=2, 9=6.

1=3, 4=7, 5=10, 8=2, 9=6.

1=3, 4=7, 5=10, 8=2, 9=6.*www.kidspot.co.nz

DAY OF PRAYER FORInternational

SUNDAY 29 MARCH 2015

HILD NE‘Pray continually’ 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)

2015

sar.my/dopchildren2015