Celebrating 150 YEARSInternationally

FAITH IN ACTION | 07 February 2015 | Issue 6610 | $1.50

GET UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BED UNIVERSITY LIFE: HOW NOT TO BE A HEAVY DRINKER

COMPASSION IN ACTION IN THE PHILIPPINES FINDING REAL LOVE THE BIG CAROL SING

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

COVER Photo: Whangara Marae Photography: From Marae, by Maru, Robin and Sam Walters.

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

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

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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 131 years

ISSN 0043-0242, Issue 6610Please pass on or recycle this magazine

02  WarCry 07 February 2015

Our harmful drinking cultureThis February, the New Zealand Drug Foundation is running ‘FebFast’ (www.febfast.org.nz), inviting people to fast from alcohol during February and raise funds for those working with young people with alcohol problems. As the NZ Drug Foundation reports, the facts about drinking in New Zealand don’t make for easy reading:• Among those that have consumed alcohol in the past 12

months, one in five have hazardous drinking patterns. That’s about 532,000 people.

• Alcohol is the cause of 1 in 20 deaths of New Zealanders under 80. That’s around 800 deaths a year.

• At least a third of all Police-recorded offences are committed by offenders who consumed alcohol prior to committing the offence. That’s an average of 340 offences per day.

• Studies estimate the social cost of drinking alcohol in NZ is $4.9 billion a year. That’s over a thousand dollars per person.Heavy alcohol consumption in New Zealand, particularly

among young people, is both normalised and glamorised. As I leave work on a Friday afternoon, I regularly pass groups of university-aged young people shouldering cartons of beer. ‘It’s okay, they’re young—it’s what young people in New Zealand do,’ some argue.But heavy alcohol consumption must not be seen as a rite of passage into adulthood. Plenty of Kiwi young people drink only in moderation or, like many in The Salvation Army, not at all.

In this edition, you can read the experiences of Matt Fejos, who found the heavy-drinking culture of university quickly overshadowed his student life. Matt initially cut back, but then decided to stop drinking alcohol all together.

I met Matt when he was coaching my son in futsal. One thing he doesn’t mention in his article is that another factor in his decision not to drink was realising he had a responsibility as a sports coach to be a good role model. As he told me on one occasion, he didn’t want the kids he coached during the week to see him rolling drunk in Courtenay Place on a Friday night.

If you’d like to enjoy life without alcohol calling the shots, contact The Salvation Army’s Addiction Services for some friendly advice. Go to www.salvationarmy.org.nz/addictions.

Christina TysonEditor

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BIBLE VERSE

Proverbs 3:5 Contemporary English Version ‘Let the Lord lead you and trust him to help.’

Ngā Whakatauki 3:5‘Whakapaua tōu ngākau ki te whakawhirinaki ki a Ihowā, kaua hoki e okioki ki tōu mātauranga ake’

WISE WORDS

Knowing that we are fulfilling God’s purpose is the only thing that really gives rest to the restless human heart.

Chuck Colson

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Let’s Talk | 03

BY INGRID BARRATT

On Christmas Day I got tricked into taking a selfie. I was doing the dishes in a bright pink glitzy headband from

a homemade cracker when my sis-in-law came up behind me and whipped out the camera.

I had to laugh when the picture turned up on Facebook the next day. We looked like we were having the time of our lives, all sequined headbands, pouts and selfies

—partying as if we weren’t tired parents cleaning up at the end of a long day.

We all know pictures lie. And when I look at Facebook, just like when I look at magazines, I have to remember it isn’t real. I have to remind myself that my friends probably aren’t having as good a time without me as they seem to be. They’re probably tired too. They’ve probably just put on their party faces for the photo too.

The conversation about social media has already been had, over and over. This generation has been given the opportunity to create our own media, our own images and our own voice. And what have done? We’ve created a false version of reality—no better than the Photoshopped and over-styled celebrities in the magazine. We’ve chosen pretence over authenticity.

Tim Urban’s blog ‘Wait But Why’ went viral when he came up with a formula to explain our cultural discontent: ‘Happiness = Reality - Expectations’. Our over-inflated expectations set us up to be unhappy, he argues. Striving for

the perfect career, body, partner or children creates a culture of dissatisfaction. The secret to happiness is to expect less, and be content with the reality of our lives. For instance, recent research found that people who saw their relationship as having ups and downs were happier than people who viewed their partner as a romantic ‘soulmate’.

This kind of reality check goes against the grain of our success-driven culture. It’s easier to strive to be something else or have something more, than to accept who and what we really are.

In the Bible, Paul puts it this way: ‘Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you’ (Romans 12:3). This frees us from striving to be something God never intended us to be, but it also means letting go of the narcissism of our culture and learning to live without comparison.

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t learn and grow and become better humans. But self-acceptance gives us the peace that allows positive change.

If you know Jesus, you already have it all. There is no deeper peace and no greater joy. There is nothing more authentic and real than being in relationship with God. But happiness is knowing that your authentic self is better than the pretence—even in those moments between photo opportunities.

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PhotojournalismMaraeMuru, Robin and Sam WaltersThis collection of photos and essays on New Zealand marae contains a vast depth of mana. The photography is a highlight that draws you in with images that capture the dignity of Māoritanga. Often photographing New Zealand’s forgotten corners, the photos brim with the life of these communities. But this is much more than a ‘coffee table’ book; its essays capture with warmth, respect—and a little romanticism—the culture of the marae. For Māori, this book is a celebration of a unique history, culture and people. But for all, it provides an alluring glimpse into a rich heritage that belongs to all the people of the land. (Godwit)

Drama/Action/BiographyUnbrokenAngelina Jolie / M (violence)The true story of American Olympic runner Louie Zamperini, who in, World War II, was captured by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. After the war, he came to faith in Christ (describing the moment of his conversion as ‘an enveloping calm’) and became an inspiring Christian speaker working for peace and reconciliation.

Adapted by Joel and Ethan Coen from Laura Hillenbrand’s book, Unbroken shows the discrimination Louie (played by Jack O'Connell) and his family suffered as Italian-American immigrants. This turned him to alcohol and petty crime until his brother introduced him to track running. His success on the track took him to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. From here, we watch as Louie transitions from Olympian, to soldier, to castaway, to POW, to war hero.

He survives a crash landing in the Pacific and spends 47 days in a raft only to be picked up by the Japanese, imprisoned, tortured, and made the target of a sadistic commander in a Japanese concentration camp, where he is beaten senseless over and over. It’s an amazing story as it is all true.

But the most amazing part of this story is that Louie later attended a Billy Graham crusade and became a Christian, prompting him to personally forgive his captors. He later said, ‘I think the hardest thing in life is to forgive. Hate is self-destructive. If you hate somebody, you’re not hurting the person you hate, you’re hurting yourself. It’s a healing, actually, it’s a real healing … forgiveness.’

Slant Magazine suggests Unbroken’s chief mistake is taking its title too literally, ‘depicting Zamperini as an indestructible—and thus largely inhuman—superhero’, not devoting nearly enough time to penetrating his vulnerability. Certainly, this reviewer would have liked to have seen a stronger depiction of Zamperini’s later journey of faith.

WorshipWe Will Not Be ShakenBethel MusicRecorded on a mountain top in Redding, California, We Will Not Be Shaken is a statement as much as it is an album. Paired with an accompanying documentary that highlights the spectacular visuals, this is an extravagant yet surprisingly intimate album. There’s an indie acoustic vibe, driven by powerful vocal performances and great song writing. An atmospheric listen, excellently produced and performed. Lyrically, the record is solid and balanced considering the hyper-charismatic church Bethel Music originates from, though discernment is helpful for certain song sections. Overall, however, this is a powerful album, and well worth checking out.

Spoken WordCorrespondence (a Fiction)Levi The PoetLevi The Poet is a Christian spoken word artist, who combines his excellent, lyrical poetry with hip-hop and indie-influenced backing songs. His latest work, Correspondence, veers away from his autobiographical leanings and instead tells stories of new beginnings. There is a depth to this record that makes the listener work. Multiple listens are rewarded with a rich and layered experience rarely found outside the spoken word genre. Levi The Poet delivers his lines with passion, precision and power and sells these stories with integrity. This is a phenomenal record, but it’s also a mountain that needs climbing before you can appreciate the view.

To win a copy of Waitangi Day, tell us your mihi.War Cry Giveaway, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wgtn 6141 or email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org. Entries close 23 Feb.

GIVEAWAY

Bookshelf

Playlist Reel News

HistoryWaitangi DayPhilippa WerryThis is aimed at a young audience, but should not be restricted to them, as it is packed with illuminating histories. From the first Māori interactions with Europeans to the rise of Māori activism, children’s writer Philippa Werry has a simple yet insightful voice. ‘Waitangi Day has often been linked with protests and debates about its meaning, but we continue to focus on it as a day that is central to our country, our people and our national identity,’ she sums up with trademark clarity. On the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty, this is for anyone wanting to understand the development of our nationhood. (New Holland)

ArtMāori Art for KidsJulie Noanoa and Norm HekeWith beautiful graphic design, traditional toi (art) and funky craft ideas, this is a taonga (treasure) for children that will also delight adults. Julie Noanoa is an education specialist at City Gallery Wellington, and Norm Heke is a photographer and digital artist. They’ve created 15 projects for children over seven, inspired by Māori art. Traditional art forms are introduced, followed by step-by-step guides for contemporary versions using sculpture, collage, screenprinting, papier mache and other mixed media (see page 23 for a sample). Kids can create their own versions of poi poi, hei tiki and more. (Craig Potton Publishing)

Extreme Food winner is: L. Buxton

A dream to visit and photograph every

marae in the country has become a book about

bringing cultures together for artist and Anglican

minister the Rt Reverend Bishop Muru Walters

and whānau.

Feature | 05

ia ora—have life! This Māori greeting is a theme of Marae: Te Tatau Pounamu. ‘It’s the encouragement to have life, an extraordinary life in a country, Aotearoa, a place of unending light, and New Zealand, a place to be good people in,’ Bishop

Walters says.Bishop Walters and his son and daughter-in-law, photographers

and film makers Robin and Sam Walters created the book by visiting and photographing more than 150 marae around the country, from well-known sites such as Waitangi, to Bluff and Bruce Bay on the South Island West Coast.

Alongside the many photographs of those marae, the book focuses on the story of 21 Māori meeting houses, covering the length of the country, telling the history of the tribes and stories of the people they met on their visits.

Uncovering treasureThe book idea came about as a way to combine the trio’s love of photography, travel and Māori culture when Robin Walters came back to New Zealand, after 12 years of living overseas. Returning with Sam, who is Welsh, and their two children, Robin says he was eager to learn more about his Māori heritage after so long away and to introduce it more to his wife and children. Looking through some old papers he discovered an essay by his father on carvings made by one of his teachers, master carver Pine Taiapa, in marae around the East Cape.

With those ideas in mind, the trio began to plan, inspired by the words of Bishop Walter’s father Thomas Houston Walters, who said:

When you are in the bush, talk to the bush and remember to allow the bush time to talk back to you. When you are by the sea, talk to the sea and listen to what the sea has to say. When you are with the people, talk to the people and allow time for them to talk back to you. Talk to the meeting houses, because they are the treasures of the ancestors, and they will talk back to you.Although the book took three years of travelling, with some marae

refusing to be part of the project or needing multiple visits, Bishop Walters says the trip was endlessly fascinating and inspiring. This was helped by huge differences between meeting houses, with their many and varied carvings, or no carvings, to the age of the buildings, and through to the differences in language spoken at different marae and the varied protocols.

‘Every day, it was like when the old gold diggers found gold and then another bit of gold, it uplifted the spirits. There’s a great variety in the meeting houses and there was sheer pleasure in visiting those places, because it typifies the life of our ancestors.’

A tour of talesAlthough the book started as a photography project, as they visited each meeting house they also met the people there. Their stories, along with the stories of the land and the construction of each marae, make up much of the journey through the book.

With people and their stories coming to the fore the book becomes something of a tour of New Zealand culture, with fascinating tales about the history of small towns and Kiwi culture and people living together in Aotearoa.

Rugby and art, big parts of Bishop Walters’ life, are caught up in many of the stories. A trained artist and art teacher, he studied and worked with a series of prominent Māori artists, including Ralph Hotere, and helped develop a Māori arts curriculum for primary and secondary schools.

He was also a fullback for the Māori All Black’s winning the Tom French Cup, awarded to the best Māori rugby player of the year, in 1957, and managed development teams.

Different cultures togetherHowever, for Bishop Walters the book is not all about art and sport, or even all about Māori culture, myth and history. Despite being a book about Māori meeting places and the people that meet there, Bishop Walters says the relationship between Māori and Pākehā was a driving focus for him, looking at how New Zealand’s first two cultures could come together.

‘I have this view, that I present right at the start, of a place that is capable of building blended relationships, able to live together in peace. It’s about the tangata whenua, the first peoples who named this place Aotearoa—the land of unending light—and the Pākehā who named it New Zealand—a place to be good people in. It’s almost a way of introducing that there is a capacity to be more equal with each other and to accept people as they are.’

Those closer ties and the positive impact they could have, could be seen in his ancestry, he says, and in his children, who have all married people from other countries and cultures. Visiting his own marae at Ahipara was a particularly moving and memorable time, digging into its story and his ancestry and looking again at the relationship between his famously aggressive Te Rarawa tribe and his European missionary ancestors.

‘That will always be special. My Māori side were the tangata whenua (or first peoples). Their perspective of life was to assert absolute domination over anyone not related by blood. You disposed of anyone who got in your way—that was your religious way of expressing yourself, really. And with the arrival of the new people, the Walters people, that place made a remarkable change in their lives. Overnight, we became Christian people, following a path of faith, hope and love.’

Another example of cultures coming together was in making the book, travelling with his Welsh daughter-in-law Sam Walters, who had only briefly visited New Zealand before. Introducing her to Māori culture and seeing her response was an exciting, rewarding experience, which he hopes will be passed on to readers of the book and be useful for those without a Māori background, he says.

‘Everything she uttered was as a person just coming here, a new citizen. I hope that that might help those who don’t know about what’s there.’

Lessons from the maraeLiving together in the land God created is something of a theme of Bishop Walters’ life as a minister, and of the book.

As a minister, the spiritual aspect of the trip and of marae was very important for him. Visiting a marae, for him, is like the biblical idea of going up a mountain to be refreshed. You go away to meet with God and then come down again into the world refreshed, he says.

For Bishop Walters, working on Marae was a chance to carry on an idea he had begun to explore in 1984. That year, he says, he contributed to a book discussing the Māori model of looking after families using the model of a Gisborne marae and utilising his training as an artist to take a creative bent on the project.

For this latest book, he wanted to again find a creative way to look at the Māori perspective and way of doing things, considering the positive lessons that can be found in marae and the traditions associated with these meeting houses.

There’s a great variety in the meeting houses and there was sheer pleasure in visiting those places …

06 | WarCry 07 February 2014

Many of the aspects of marae and marae life that came out in the book were things that were important for both New Zealand culture, and the church, he says.

Those included aspects such as marae being places of peace, where peace is made and taken out to other places; places of hospitality and generosity where everyone is fed and cared for; and places of aroha or love; as well as places where people meet.

There are close links between marae and church, he says. Church buildings were instrumental in the history of marae and the wharenui or meeting houses, which are now viewed as the heart of the marae.

Marae began as open spaces, used for open-air meetings, with the large, central wharenui not built until after the arrival of the Europeans and the first European missionaries. They were built using the new tools brought by the settlers, Bishop Walters says, as a Māori sacred spaced, where Māori culture could be retained in the face of a new and rapidly expanding culture. But they were modelled on the church buildings the missionaries were building, he says.

These Māori meeting houses, then, were inspired by the church, but the church should also embrace the meeting house and the people in it, he says.

Throughout his time as a minister, Bishop Walters has tried to hold church meetings in marae, and says the church should reach out to marae. ‘I have never built a church as a bishop; I have gone where the people meet and worship, where their meeting houses are.’

Marae as metaphorAlong with being an art teacher, he also taught at the Anglican training college, St John’s College, in Auckland, and his teaching side comes out as he describes how the physical marae building can be seen as a metaphor for what the church should be like. ‘It is an easy way of remembering rather than using the technical, academic language that I was brought up on,’ he says.

The floor is like the foundation of Christian maturity in Ephesians 4:13–16, and the open arms of the meeting house porch are like Christ’s open arms saying ‘welcome, come in’, he says. Inside, the four tukutuku (or woven panels) on the walls can represent that you enter to worship God, to fellowship with God and for teaching from God, and that you exit to go out into the world and serve God. The pillars of the marae stand for things you want to do, such as prayer or reading the Bible. The roof is a reminder that the focus goes up to God, with the central roof beam, the backbone which holds the marae together, representing God.

The church could also learn from the protocols of marae greeting, Bishop Walters says. The traditional greetings require people to state who they are, where they’re from and what their intentions are. It helps the person, and those they are visiting, know their roots historically or spiritually, makes their aims clear, and tries to prevent people being deceptive.

For some Pākehā Christians, worshipping at a marae can be an uncomfortable experience due to things such as the wooden carvings representing traditional Māori gods. Bishop Walters says his own people did not carve the gods in their marae, both because of the teaching of the missionaries not to make idols and because they felt the carvings glorified works of man. But as an artist and a trained carver, he says the artist can give whatever meaning they chose to a carving and that not all carvings are of gods or dedicated to them. Carving also transforms the wood and can be seen as a creative thing inspired by a God with a love of creativity. A creative God who created the whole world and gave us great creativity.

Bishop Walters has faced criticism for his stance of taking church onto the marae and introducing Māori ideas from people who suggest he is undermining what it means to be Anglican. ‘But I have gone beyond that and rather than call myself “Anglican”, he says, ‘I have always called myself “mihingare”.’ This was his tribe’s word for ‘missionary’ and is part of an indigenous model of mission and ministry that he has helped put together. It describes any missionary, regardless of denomination, with the indigenous model taking examples of different ways of thinking from different tribes and peoples and looking at them as gifts to be used in spreading the mission, he says.

The model helps people in New Zealand see mission in a way that reaches New Zealanders, not as something to be done overseas, he says. ‘My way of working as a bishop was to acknowledge the gifts from God to different areas that allowed people to act as part of their contribution to the church’s mission and ministry in New Zealand. It’s been a wonderful revelation for me and I’m greatly blessed for helping put it together.’

Ultimately, though—like the book—it comes back to bringing cultures together and finding a way to best live in the country God created, he says. ‘I hope by going through this book, people will be blessed, not only by the words, but by the nature of the country, as well as the buildings and their relationship with the mountains, rivers and sky. I hope they are blessed by the world that God created us to be good people in. If people were to look at it that way, I hope it would teach them, help them to learn, [and] through that, to see this place that they live in as an example of God’s generous gift to humanity.’

Feature | 07

08 | WarCry 07 February 2015

HEALTH

The Right Side of BedHow to get up on the right side of bed, and give yourself the best start to the day. Try these tips for a month, and see what positive effect it has on your day.

A recent study found that almost 60 per cent of Kiwis are not getting enough sleep, which is affecting our physical and mental wellbeing. There’s nogetting around it, you only get more sleep by making it a top priority—it doesn’t matter when you sleep, but try to get the same seven to eight hours each day.

Give yourself some quiet time a couple of hours before you go to sleep, by turning off the computer or TV. Then try these morning tips for a month, and see what positive effect it has on your day:

Ask yourself a question: At the beginning of each day, President Benjamin Franklin asked himself this question: ‘What good can I do today?’ This kind of positive question helps put your priorities into perspective, shake off the worries of yesterday, and start off each day with a clean slate. ‘A question always invites possibilities. Whereas a statement or fixed point-of-view does not,’ says Sam Sargent of You magazine.

Dedicate your day: Take a moment to dedicate your day to God’s purposes. Even if you don’t have time to read your Bible first thing, include God into your morning routine. It will open your eyes up to the possibilities for good in each day.

Move your body: Do something to get those endorphins going. Ideally, this would involve some form of exercise. But if that’s not realistic, put on some music and boogie through your morning routine—it will make it hard to leave the house in a bad mood.

Take a deep breath: Stimulate your senses by adding six to eight drops of essential oils to the corner of your morning shower. Take in three deep breaths, inhaling the aroma.

Like what you see in the mirror: When you are in front of the mirror, take a moment to notice your self-talk. We often make subconscious judgements about ourselves, but replace these with a more nurturing and loving attitude towards yourself.

ENVIRONMENT

Clever Ways With Herbs

Fresh herbs are a chef’s best friend. But how many times have you bought a plant, only for it to die before you used it up? Here are some clever ways to save and serve fresh herbs.

Frozen herbs in olive oil: Roughly chop up fresh herbs. Fill an ice cube tray with the herbs, then pour olive oil into each cube. Place in the freezer overnight. Whenever you want to use the herbs, simply pop an ice cube into the sauce pan and let it melt before you start cooking.

Rosemary skewers: If you have a rosemary plant, its woody stems make great kebab skewers. The rosemary flavour will permeate the meat and vegies on the skewer as it cooks. You can pop the rosemary stems into a freezer bag for freezing if you don’t need them straight away.

Cured basil: Cover fresh basil leaves with coarse salt and store them in a cool place. This will extend the herb’s life by up to a month. Just shake off the salt before using.

Herb salt: In your blender or food processor, coarsely chop equal parts of coarse salt and herb leaves. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet and bake at 110°C for about 30 to 40 minutes until dry, stirring occasionally. Re-blend until fine in texture. Try rosemary salt on lamb chops, basil salt on tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, or coriander salt on avocados.

Dry your own herbs: Herbs like thyme, oregano and sage are easy to dry. Hang them upside down or spread them on a paper towel. In about a week, they should be dry enough to place in a plastic bag and freeze. Place a few sprigs of dried thyme in a beef stew, or a branch of sage with a pork roast.

Go overboard: It’s hard to overdo it with fresh herbs, so use them by the cupful, instead of just picking a few leaves at a time. Mix equal amounts of herbs and salad greens together. Or toss sprigs of coriander and parsley with cucumber and tomato.

Chocolate Chip CookiesSimple enough for a five-year-old to make, with a little supervision. If hidden, these keep for weeks in an airtight jar! | Makes 24

75g butter½ cup brown sugar½ cup white sugar1 large egg½ cup chocolate chips½ tsp baking soda1 cup flour

Heat oven to 180°C.

Microwave butter for 1 min or melt in a pot until just liquid. Remove from heat, add both measures of sugar and the egg, and beat with a fork until thoroughly mixed.

Sprinkle chocolate chips in the bowl. Sieve baking soda and flour into the bowl, then mix everything together.

Line tray with baking paper so that cookies won’t stick. Using two spoons, form half the mixture in 12 piles on the paper, leaving room for them to spread.

Bake just below the middle of the oven for 8–10 mins or until golden, then shape and cook the rest of the mixture in the same way. (Note: A fan-forced oven will bake these more quickly.)

Cool on a rack. When cold, store in airtight jars.

From Best Baking by Simon and Alison Holst. Go to www.holst.co.nz

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. Marcus Aurelius

Q&A

Taking Selfies

So, we already know (see page 3) some non-narcissistic caution and humility is required when taking selfies, but there are still times when we want to capture the moment. So, what’s the best way to do that? Here’s what our old friend ‘Wiki’ has to say …

Ε Capture a good angle: Experiment with different angles. Turning your head a bit to the right or left means your features appear less flat. Holding the camera slightly higher than your head helps you avoid ‘pig nose’.

Ε Pay attention to good lighting: Natural lighting is the most flattering, so try to take your selfie near a window or outdoors. Keep the sun or other light source in front of you, a bit above eye level. This will brighten and soften your features, without casting harsh shadows across your face.

Ε Have an interesting expression: You can’t go wrong with smiling!

Ε Consider the background: The best selfies have more than just a face, position yourself in front of a background you want people to see. Nature’s always great, but if you’re taking a selfie in your room then tidy up first!

Ε Watch out for photo-bombers: Take a quick look around to make sure no one and nothing is lurking in the shadows. Although, sometimes photo bombers add something special.

Ε Grab a few more people: Including some friends, siblings, pets and other people will make a much more fun photo for others to enjoy. This is also a clever way to take a selfie in public if you’re self-conscious about taking a photo of just yourself.

Ε Make sure the setting is appropriate: Some places should be off-limits, like funerals and accident scenes. As a general rule, if taking a selfie could upset or offend someone, don’t take it. After all, you don’t have to be in the limelight every day of your life!

Lifestyle | 09

TestifyAllan Cleave has lived his life for the benefit of others.

Allan Cleave was born in Kurow —Arnold Nordmeyer country. In fact, it was the young Presbyterian minister Nordmeyer (Leader of the Opposition 1963-65) who conducted Allan’s parents’ wedding.

The first child of five, Allan was almost school age when his family moved to Kaikoura, where they lived in the married men’s quarters of the railway village while his father worked on building a railway tunnel. Living on the coast gave Allan a great delight in fishing.

In 1941, when Allan was seven, the family moved to Bryndwyr, Christchurch. In his late teens he got work managing a fruit and vege shop. Joyce, still at high school, worked at the shop on a Saturday. One rainy afternoon, after the shop closed, Alan walked Joyce home and asked her to go out with him the next day. ‘Oh no,’ she replied. ‘On Sundays I go to church.’

So Allan started going to church as well—to The Salvation Army at Spreydon. ‘I had to get him right before I married him,’ Joyce laughs. They were married a few years later, when Joyce was 20 and Alan 23. So began their long years of involvement with Spreydon Corps (church), where Allan became treasurer and then sergeant major. The couple started a Sunday school in their home with 15 children but had to move into a bigger space as numbers steadily grew to around 90 children.

Allan became part of the band, songsters and men’s fellowship at

the corps, along with other Army activities in the area. He and Joyce cooked for camps and officers councils, and for more than 20 years Allan managed Salvation Army shops at Addington, then Halswell. For years, he organised the annual Red Shield Appeal, a role that he continues today in the Halswell area. When Spreydon closed as a corps, Allan and Joyce moved to Hornby Corps. In more recent years, for family reasons, they’ve been attending Halswell Baptist Church.

As if this wide range of involvement was not enough, Allan has also given years of effort to Lions, Victim Support and Civil Defence. He recently turned 80, but still regularly picks up donated bread for distribution, and is now into his 50th year taking the War Cry to local pubs.

A raft of awards, such as the

Caltex Unsung Hero award (2000) and the Melvin Jones Fellow (awarded in 2009 by Lions Club International Foundation for dedicated humanitarian services). celebrate Allan’s life, lived for the benefit of others. Widely known in the community and greatly loved by his family, Allan is quick to explain that he has done everything with the blessing and full support of Joyce. ‘We have done everything together over the years,’ Joyce explains. ‘And we always eat half an apple each before we go to bed at night!’

How does Allan keep going, way past retirement age, one wonders. ‘Retirement?’ he says, ‘As long as God gives me good health, two good arms, two good legs and two good eyes, I’ll just keep going. I haven’t got time to become a grumpy old man!’

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

SALVATION ARMY JOB OPPORTUNITIES ONLINEGo to salvationarmy.org.nz/employment

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

AdviceFinding Real LoveInstead of looking for love, says psychotherapist Ken Page, find love where it already exists—in your contact list.

Psychotherapist Ken Page, author of Deeper Dating, says he spent his early adulthood like many young men: looking for a shallow version of love in nightclubs, and by his early 30s found himself alone and lonely.

Many of us are more attracted to people who are ‘hard to get’, than to the people who already love us. But if you want to increase the love in your life, learn to appreciate the love that is already there for you.

‘I had spent years searching for it with unavailable people, but I hadn’t spent enough time building it with the people who cared about me, people I cared about already. The choice to spend more time enjoying those people changed everything for me. It marked the beginning of a very different, and much more love-filled life,’ says Ken.

The first step to building more love into your life is investing your time and energy into ‘attractions of inspiration’, says Ken—people with whom there is an essential sense of safety and mutual appreciation. The second step is to spend less time on ‘attractions of deprivation’—those relationships where you have to work hard to get the other person’s attention or appreciation.

‘For most of us, the best way to find those connections is to simply look through our contact lists from the past few years. Usually, those people are there already. We just got too busy to contact them, or felt too shy because we admired them, or we just didn’t take the time to build our potential connections with them.’

Here’s a simple exercise to help you build loving relationships:

Look in your contact list (Facebook, phone or address book) and ask yourself:

• Who truly loves me?

• Who sees and treasures me for who I really am?

• Who do I trust to have my best interests at heart?

These people are gold. God often speaks into our lives through these

people, to show us his nurturing, unconditional love. Choose to deepen these relationships by:

• giving more—prioritise these friendships and give them your time and energy

• asking for more from each of them as well (you can trust them, and asking for more is often an act of intimacy!)

• most of all: enjoy them.

In Deeper Dating, Ken teaches ‘micro meditations’ as a mindful way of enjoying people and being grateful for them in your life. Pick someone who stood out for you as you reflected on your relationships. Now try the following:

• think about what you love most about this person

• think about the quality of this person’s love for you

• remember one time that you deeply felt the bond between the two of you

• pause for a moment, and say ‘thank you’ to God for this person.

Appreciating the love that you have in your life will not only deepen your happiness, it will open the door to more healthy, loving relationships in the future.

CROSSWORD

Across1 Mixer4 One word used for another9 Mirror 10 Conspiring11 Essential for sewers12 Come together13 For this reason15 Take over for16 Cut19 Often lost20 Kind of analysis23 ‘La Bohème,’ e.g.24 Matching25 Challenge27 Mix of substances28 Scale29 Astonishment30 Exacting

Down1 Soft to wear2 Imparts3 Matured5 Connections6 Most badly behaved7 Fight for rights8 Made one’s mark10 Chats14 Helper17 Not absolute18 Meet21 seashores22 Lower storage space26 Farm division

1 5 6

10

11 1 1

1

15 16

1 1

1 0

1

5 5

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QUICK QUIZ

1 When was the Treaty of Waitangi signed?2 A phlebotomist extracts what from the human body? 3 Who painted ‘The Water Lily Pool’?4 Crystal is given for which wedding anniversary?5 Who was thrown into a pit of lions?

10 | WarCry 07 February 2015

Close Up | 11

BY HEATHER RODWELL

Challenging Times for our WorldAs radicalism continues to scar the global landscape with hatred, an Army of love is desperately needed.

This year is significant for The Salvation Army worldwide as we celebrate 150 years since our founding. The Boundless International Congress that’s taking place in London in July is something we can all participate in, whether we’re present in the O2 Arena or catching it through live streaming. As the congress commemorates the past, celebrates the present and innovates for the future, it promises to be an inspiring and invigorating occasion.

Inherent in the vision for this congress is the call for us to truly be a ‘salvation’ army. Our founders, William and Catherine Booth, declared their belief that God raised up this movement to enter into partnership with him in his ‘great business’ of saving the world. This founding vision, motivated by love for God and others, remains our driving impetus 150 years on. Our love for God and love for others is the love we see displayed in Jesus Christ.

Recent and ongoing events in this world shatter any delusion that God’s ‘great business’ of saving the world is anywhere near complete. In so many ways, we are a world of two halves: the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’. As an Army we can be justifiably proud of the efforts and impact made as we respond to human need on so many fronts—locally and globally.

However, clearly the global village in which we live is being shaken to its foundations. Every day, we are confronted with new accounts of militant actions that we can scarcely get our heads around. There’s an extremism occurring that falls far beyond anything we may have thought was possible, cushioned as we are in the relative comfort of this part of the world. Think Ukraine, Paris, Syria, or Nigeria, to name just a few places where the escalation of conflict has been occurring. Clearly, these signal that other armies are arising and changing the battlefield on which we engage.

While we may prefer to erase from our memory the headlines of atrocities that have seen massive displacement for large populations of people, violent uprisings, executions and other abuses of power, looking away is not an option. If we are truly to be an Army engaged in God’s great business of saving the world, we cannot ignore that the battle is heating up on all fronts. The strident march of evil and injustice demands a response from all who are followers of Christ, devoted to his cause of love—and those of us who are part of a Salvation Army in particular.

At our founding, we were an Army mobilised by God, a radical

movement to meet the needs of the time, and clear about our mission. We boldly engaged in Christ’s name against the forces of evil and sin, with a total dependence on God and his Spirit’s power.

We are still an Army mobilised by God, and our fight is still against the forces of evil and sin. Although some battles are being won, the war is not over. We’re more informed than ever about the suffering and need all around us and the evil that opposes the purposes of God, so this must serve to heighten the urgency with which we approach our mission.

The challenge to do this is right on our doorstep. Because we live in communities where people from diverse corners of the world now live, we can all practice locally what needs to happen globally. Isolation and alienation fuels much of the anger and retaliation that lie at the root of the violence we see escalating in our world. The response of love, as shown in Jesus, is to reach out and include the alien, extending a welcome for all in his Kingdom.

As we set out on a new year of programmes and activities in our corps (churches) and centres, our challenge is this:• to ensure that the gospel we declare is an invitation of love,

actively demonstrating that everyone is welcome and accepted• to ensure that the things that keep us occupied, consuming

our energy, time and resources, really are advancing the ‘great business’ of God in saving the world

• to ensure that we are just as astute in choosing our battles, being strategic and deliberate in our plans, because the consistent advancement of evil and wrong is an attack on the goodness of God’s world—and it’s not happening by accident

• to ensure that our discipleship processes lead to people growing in their faith, being transformed by love, and being equipped to stand firm in the challenges of these times. God needs an army radicalised by love for Christ and mobilised

to impact the world.

Major Heather Rodwell is Territorial Secretary for Corps Growth and Spiritual Life Development

Looking away is not an option if we are devoted to Christ’s cause of love.

In the name of evangelism, Christians have a history of using everything from violence and brimstone to bumper stickers. But Ingrid Barratt examines how our most powerful tool may simply be our authentic selves.

In a small patch of grass in Hyde Park, London, is a famous spot called Speakers’ Corner. In this space, anyone can legally speak and debate on any subject. It is a noble tradition that emerged in the 1800s, and famous speakers have included Karl Marx and George Orwell.

But when I visited Speakers’ Corner, I struggled to sense the nobility of free speech. Standing on makeshift soapboxes, Christians, Muslims and a smattering from other religions were berating and yelling over each other in a verbal brawl. I couldn’t imagine that anyone would be persuaded to change their beliefs after listening to these evangelists—whatever their cause.

Jesus told us to make disciples of all nations, teaching everything he had taught (Matthew 28:19). In Jewish tradition, to be a disciple meant to closely follow your leader and act as he did. Disciples are created in relationships, and nurtured through example. Evangelism is a noble calling. Our mandate is to be an example of the truth and character of Christ. Yet, too often, we have ended up yelling from a soapbox.

Rather than being a natural extension of our faith, evangelism has sometimes become an embarrassment for Christians. It feels awkward. It feels impolite. But maybe it doesn’t feel right, because the way we’re approaching it isn’t right.

Becoming normal If someone comes to your door and strikes up a pleasant conversation before trying to persuade you to switch power companies, you probably wouldn’t consider that person a genuine friend. Similarly, if as Christians, we strike up a friendship with the goal of ‘selling Jesus’, we are not being true friends. We are not making disciples.

Dave Mann, who headed up the Hope Project, says that although this seems controversial to Christians, the first thing we need to do in a relationship is take the gospel ‘off the agenda’. ‘We can’t hold relaxed conversations; we become nervous Christians and guarded non-Christians. But the opportunity to share our faith can be natural when we learn to listen without pushing our viewpoint.’

The formulaic way we have ‘done’ evangelism means that many Christians have compartmentalised it away from their ‘normal’ lives. We need to reintegrate it back into our everyday lives so we can speak in a natural way about our faith.

Authentic relationships don’t usually start with deep, spiritual talks. Most people are acquaintances first—we might chat while dropping the kids off at school, waiting for the bus, or in the office. But as the friendship deepens, we find ourselves talking about more personal things. The layers of our authentic selves are revealed over time.

It may not feel natural to bring up faith issues when you’re talking about sports, so don’t. But if you’re talking about what got you

through a hard time in your life, it would be natural and genuine to talk about how you prayed, and how you felt God’s presence. If your goal is to be an authentic person, then you will be an authentic evangelist.

Learning to listenOne of the evangelistic traditions we may have to ‘unlearn’ is that the most important thing is to get our message across. Actually, the most important thing is to listen.

Jesus knew how to listen and discern people’s needs. Have you ever noticed how Jesus often asked more questions than he answered?

‘Do you want to get well?’ he challenges a disabled man (John 5:6).‘Who touched my clothes?’ he beckons to a sick woman (Mark 5:30). ‘Who do you say I am?’ he asks his disciples (Matthew 15:16).To be a good listener, we have to be genuinely interested in what

that person has to say. That means we listen without an agenda and without defensiveness. We’re not just waiting for the opportunity to have our say. So what if they believe in cosmic rainbows or something equally colourful? We are listening so we can better understand them and their spiritual needs.

In a culture where Christians are perceived as judgemental, it is healing on both sides to have a truly open conversation about spiritual beliefs. For Christians, it’s freeing to have a chat without the pressure to ‘say the right thing’. And for non-Christians, it may be the first time they’ve had a genuine spiritual conversation with a Christian.

Asking the right questionsWe also need to learn to ask the right questions. Jesus listened to discern a person’s true needs, and he questioned to allow them to explore their own beliefs.

Brian Goodwin, a 72-year-old disciple of Jesus, recently told me a story that illustrates how to listen like Jesus did. He was having lunch in a café when he noticed a young woman crying in the seat next to him. He approached her gently and asked if she was okay. She explained that her mum had died recently, and her dog had died that day. Brian listened with compassion, and during the conversation asked, ‘What church do you go to?’ She replied, ‘I used to go to church, but I said to God that if my mum died, I was going to stop going.’ This simple question revealed some deep spiritual hurts, but Brian didn’t try to argue with the woman’s viewpoint. He simply encouraged her to go back to church and ask for support.

This is a wonderful example of listening the way Jesus listened. Firstly, Brian had the courage to approach this young woman, listening to and following through on the Holy Spirit’s prompting. Then he listened to her story. Brian asked a simple question that helped her open up about her own spiritual needs. Then he pointed her toward God, without preaching at her.

Brian says that asking the question ‘what church do you go to?’ is particularly helpful. Although many people in our culture aren’t churchgoers, this open-ended question allows people to talk about their spiritual beliefs if they want to.

12 | WarCry 07 February 2015

According to Greg Koukl, the following three questions, asked gently, can be very effective:

What do you mean by that?How did you come to your conclusion?Have you ever considered ...?These aren’t meant to be rhetorical questions, asked only so you

can answer them yourself. They are a way of helping others discover their own beliefs. If you want to have an open conversation, be open yourself—using a non-defensive tone and body langue—and really listening to their answers.

Express yourselfSometimes as Christians we can be scared of trying new ways to express our faith. We know that concepts such as sin, repentance and justification are essential to the gospel, but at the end of the day, it’s the concepts—not the words—that matter most.

The great evangelist Paul modelled this for us when he spoke about being adaptable to all cultures, so he could explain the gospel to all people. ‘I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings,’ he says (1 Corinthians 9:22-23).

For example, acknowledging our sin is fundamental to entering a life-giving relationship with Jesus. But ‘sin’ has become a word that’s full of baggage for many people, and there really is nothing wrong with speaking in a way that people can relate to. We can speak about the fact that we’ve all made mistakes, that we have regrets, addictions or dysfunctional relationships. Many people will not relate to being ‘sinful’, but almost everyone can relate to making mistakes.

This is not a watering down of the gospel; it is helping people find Jesus within the language of our culture.

When Oprah Winfrey asked evangelist Rob Bell to describe God, he gave a beautiful explanation: ‘[God is] like a song you hear in another room and you think, “That’s so beautiful, I need to get in and listen to that song.” But you can only hear it a little bit, so you start opening doors and rearranging furniture so you can get into the room. And when you get in, you turn all the knobs to the right so you can hear the song, and then you open the windows because you want the people in the next houses to hear it.’ What a wonderful description of God’s alluring beauty, and our desire to share him with others!

Many people are offended by Bell’s unorthodox expression of faith, but he is bringing people who have rejected Christianity closer to a relationship with Jesus. He is using Paul’s method of speaking the language of our culture.

God is greaterThis is really about normalising evangelism into our everyday lives, and it’s not meant as a criticism of what has come before. God, in his grace, seems to delight in using (even our worst) human efforts to draw people to him.

I once heard a guy speaking who became a Christian after reading a bumper sticker. He was at breaking point in his life, and he saw a bumper sticker on the car in front of him that said, ‘Jesus Loves You’. He prayed, ‘Jesus if that is true, please save me.’ If God can use a bumper sticker, he can definitely use you and me to draw people to him!

There are no real rights and wrongs to how we share the gospel. The Bible doesn’t have any formulas. Nowhere does it even explain the gospel in clear, easy bullet points. All God asks of us is that we act like Jesus, and try to be like Jesus to all people. This is both simple, and the most profound challenge of our lives.

But most of all, it means that we love others. If we share our beliefs with someone and they reject it, we don’t stop loving them. We’re not power company salespeople. Our job has never been to persuade anyone into the Kingdom, but to simply love all people as they are. Part of that is sharing with them the life-giving story of Jesus. It also means being a good friend, being sensitive to their needs, being a listening ear. Ultimately, though, salvation is in God’s hand, not in ours.

The point of evangelism is to open up people’s hearts to the question that Jesus asked: Who do you say I am? And that’s a question only Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, can ask. We don’t need to be paralysed by fear, or driven by guilt. We just need to be ourselves —our true, authentic selves.

In a culture where Christians are perceived as judgemental, it is healing on both sides to have a truly open conversation about spiritual beliefs.

‘[God is] like a song you hear in another room and you think, “That’s so beautiful, I need to get in and listen to that song.” But you can only hear it a little bit, so you start opening doors and rearranging furniture so you can get into the room. And when you get in, you turn all the knobs to the right so you can hear the song, and then you open the windows because you want the people in the next houses to hear it.’

Rob Bell

Soul Food | 13

Carols Raise Funds for At-Risk Youth

Hundreds of people attended the annual Big Carol Sing put on by Wellington City Corps at Wellington’s St James Theatre on 21 December 2014.

The crowd enjoyed carols played by the Wellington Citadel Band and sung by the Capital Choir and combined Salvation Army choirs. A collection taken during the night raised money for the Army’s work with at-risk youth in Wellington.

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown welcomed people to the event and thanked the Army for its work in Wellington with the homeless, addicts and struggling families. St Paul’s Cathedral Priest associate the Reverend David Major MCd the event, drawing parallels between the Christmas story and events today. Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries Colonel Barbara Howell and Johnsonville Corps Mission Coordinator Bryan Thomson read sections of the Christmas story from Luke’s gospel between carols.

The guests joined in with traditional favourites such as ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks’, and the children in the audience were invited to sing ‘Away in a Manager’. The band also played two instrumental pieces. During the first, entitled ‘They Shall Come from the East’, pictures of people from around the world played on the screens behind. Trombonist Ross McMillan played as a soloist in the second piece, entitled ‘Angels on High’. The choir performed two numbers: ‘Do You Hear What I Hear’, conducted by Felicia Edgecombe, and ‘Good News of Great Joy’, conducted by Phil Hawkey.

The Kiwi carol ‘Te Harinui’ was sung to mark the 200th anniversary of the first preaching of the gospel, with bandmaster Jim Downey conducting the crowd. The Rev David Major introduced the carol, talking about the sermon and the translation by Māori chief Ruatara. ‘The people came to Ruatara and said, “We don’t understand what this man is saying.” Ruatara said to them, “Don’t worry, you’ll understand later”, and did his best to explain to them what the preacher was saying.’

Chief Secretary Colonel Willis Howell gave a Christmas message. He spoke about the devastation at Christmas when a parent forgot to read the label ‘batteries not included’ on a toy. He likened life without Jesus to being like a toy without the batteries, looking great on the outside, but being empty inside. He read from Romans 7:19 where Paul wrote ‘For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Who will rescue me?’ Jesus rescued Paul, said Colonel Howell, and urged the crowd to allow Jesus to rescue them and to ‘give your family and friends the best Christmas gift: a new you’.

The evening ended with the crowd joining in singing ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, before a surprise performance of the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Handel’s ‘Messiah’.

(from top) Male singers from The Capital Choir and combined Salvation Army choirs; Soloist Ross McMillan and the Wellington Citadel Band; Wellington Mayor Celia Wade Brown, and David Major in the background.

14 | WarCry 07 February 2015

New Year’s Honour

Congratulations to Major Barbara Sampson, who was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for her services to the community in the 2015 New Year honours list.

Barbara entered Salvation Army officer training in 1973, and in 1975 she and husband Kingsley were appointed to Chikankata Secondary School in Zambia. After their return to New Zealand, Barbara became the first married female officer from New Zealand to attend to Salvation Army’s International College for Officers in London.

Barbara is a talented writer and poet. Her book Women of Spirit, a stirring account of the lives of 28 Salvation Army women over 100 years, was released as part of the 1993 centenary of women’s suffrage

in New Zealand.From December 1999, Barbara authored The Salvation Army’s

international daily Bible-reading series Words of Life for six years. She was commended for her biblical scholarship, deep spirituality and awareness of the importance of inclusivity in her writing.

Barbara retired in January 2014. Her final Salvation Army appointment was as head of our Community Ministries team in Hornby, Christchurch.

After 39 years of vocational service as a Salvation Army officer, Barbara relates to the words of writer Frederick Buechner who said, ‘Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.’

(l–r) Mjr Judith Bennett and Winnie; Mjr Judith Bennett (back row, centre) with Winnie, Winnie’s grandchildren and cadets

Compassion in Action in the Philippines

What an extraordinary experience to be driven from Manila to the Officer Training College, two hours away. My driver carefully avoided Jeepneys, tricycles, buses, trucks, SUVs jostling for position on an already crammed road. Skilfully swerving around holes large enough to swallow a pedicab and patiently driving behind tricycles that seemed to own the road. All the while alert for pedestrians who suddenly dart on to the road, risking life and limb!

As we arrived at the Training College, memories came flooding back. In 1998, I had visited this same place and remembered the enriching times I had enjoyed there. Now, 16 years later, I was overjoyed to visit again and excited about the opportunity to lead seminars for the Heralds of Grace Session of cadets.

What a joy and delight this session is: hardworking, enthusiastic, inspirational, gifted, energetic, friendly, teachable, and with an obvious love for Jesus.

One of the seminars I was asked to lead, Faith-Based Facilitation, became a source of amazing opportunity, learning and blessing. Part of this two-day course involved field work that included visiting families with connections to the college’s four outreach programmes and carrying out a research questionnaire (prepared by the cadets) to identify areas of need.

There was so much poverty and need. I was privileged to visit alongside two cadets, an unforgettable and humbling experience. A number of families lived in tiny shacks, but warmly welcomed us and answered the cadets’ questions. I cried as I sat in one dark shack with a family in obvious need of practical assistance, the mother in a weakened condition due to the very recent birth of her baby. Discovering they had hardly any food, we made the decision to go to the supermarket and buy enough nutritious food to last a few days. I was so grateful to the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory for donating money to cover such emergencies.

Returning to the college to debrief, the findings of the cadets’ questionnaires were carefully assessed, leading to immediate action for two other families with no food. Cadets Marion and Ruth then showed us a video of their visit to another ‘shack’, which was really just a few old tarpaulins with bits of scrap roofing iron. Winnie, a grandmother looking after her grandchildren, told them that during the previous night’s heavy rain she had difficulty sheltering the children from water splashing through the leaky roof. She had prayed that God would help them in their desperate situation, and the next morning God led the Salvation Army cadets to her shack!

How could The Salvation Army do nothing in face of such dire need? A unanimous decision was made to do something for Winnie. A building project was planned, with the cadets working tirelessly to bring this plan to fruition. Cadet Wedion became ‘Foreman of Works’, and under his direction, measurements were taken, and timber, roofing iron, nails, paint and other supplies were purchased.

It was an exciting moment when the truck carrying these materials drove into the Officer Training College. The male cadets piled on the back of the truck and headed for Winnie’s place.

The cadets chose to give up their precious day off in favour of making a difference for one family. Cadets hammering, sawing, nailing, cleaning, measuring, painting—a hive of activity. In the midst of it sat Winnie, watching in wonder at this miracle taking shape before her.

I will never forget this amazing time. The cadets taught me so much and I am blessed to call them friends. Heralds of Grace? Absolutely!

Mjr Judith Bennett

Our Community | 15

Service and Love for Māori Honoured

On 15 December 2014, Aux-Captain Nan Patea’s service as Māori Ministry leader was honoured in a service attended by family and Territorial Headquarters staff. This followed an official retirement service the day before at Orongomai Marae in Upper Hutt, led by Commissioner Garth McKenzie.

The two gatherings were an opportunity to share aroha with Nan who, with her late husband Aux-Captain Joe Patea, has been a significant figure in the ongoing development of The Salvation Army’s Māori work.

Representative speaker Trevor McLean (of Whangarei Corps) said, ‘Nan’s hands have been hard working throughout the land. Her words have provided a lot of guidance, and her heart and love for us not only strengthened Māori Ministry but have also knit us together in love.’

Speaking on behalf of the Patea family, Nan’s son Hohepa, remembered when his parents first became involved with The Salvation Army and, in June 2006, were appointed leaders of The Salvation Army’s national Māori Ministry. ‘They were faced with some big challenges, but they had a big vision,’ said Hohepa. He reminded his listeners of the importance of drawing on the wisdom of their elders for the ongoing journey and encouraged them to support Lieutenants Tau and Trish Mataki, the new Māori Ministry national leaders.

Commissioner Janine Donaldson (Territorial President of Women’s Ministries) recalled first meeting Nan and Joe in 2006, when she and Commissioner Robert Donaldson (Territorial Commander) were at Booth College of Mission. ‘As a couple we were concerned about the division between Māori in The Salvation Army and felt that if change was going to happen then it needed to start at our training college.’ Nan and Joe’s gracious way of working had been greatly appreciated at the college, she said. ‘We are where we are today because of your contribution. You made us even more aware of the heritage we have to uphold. We thank you, Nan, for your care and patience—and we include Joe in our thanks too.’

Lieut-Colonel Rod Carey (Secretary for Programme) noted that Nan’s service as leader of Māori Ministry had been marked by a calling to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, but also a calling to serve the Māori people. ‘We honour you for the practical and personal ways in which you have served Te Ope Whakaora. You have left a lasting legacy and we salute you for your faithful ministry,’ he said.

He was confident that Nan would speak into people’s lives as a mentor for a long time to come. She would also lead the Māori Ministry kapa haka group at this year’s international congress in London, where the group would present the ‘I’ll Fight!’ haka, introduced to the territory by the Pateas in 2010.

Nan responded by giving thanks to God in Heaven and expressing her deep pleasure that the seeds she and Joe had first planted together at Booth College of Mission had borne so much fruit. She added thanks to her whānau for their ongoing support and love.

In a closing prayer, Lieut-Colonel Ian Hutson (chair of the Māori Ministry Council), thanked God for the gift of Nan. Because God had used her, Māori had a place to stand in the Army, he said. ‘Through you, Nan, we have a legacy that will last for eternity!’

GAZETTE

Promoted to GloryBrig Lily McDonald on 30 Dec 2014 at Hillsborough Hospital, Auckland, aged 93. Lily Irena Wilkinson was born on 6 Sept 1921. She entered the Officer Training College from Sydenham Corps in 1945 as a member of the Fearless Session. Following her commissioning on 9 July 1945, Lily was appointed to Nightcaps Corps as Assistant Corps Officer. This was followed by appointments at Dunedin North, Green Island, Wanganui East, Gore, Upper Hutt, Miramar and Rangiora.

A change of work came when Lily was appointed to the Finance Department at Territorial Headquarters (THQ), which was followed by an appointment as Divisional Secretary in Dunedin. She then returned once again to THQ first to the Finance Department and then as Secretary to the Chief Secretary.

In 1966, Mjr Lily Wilkinson married Mjr Harold (Ted) McDonald. They served together at THQ, the Training

College, the Railton Hotel, and at Divisional Headquarters, Auckland. The couple retired in Dec 1978. Brig Ted McDonald was promoted to Glory on 12 April 1982.

Please uphold Lily’s family in prayer at this time of grief and loss. A celebration of her life was held at Auckland City Corps on 3 Jan, conducted by Mjr Gloria Hobbs.

BereavedIt is with sadness that we advise of the death of Brent Tong, son of Lt-Cols Allan and Moira Tong on 1 Jan in Shanghai, China. Brent is brother to Capts Bruce and Stuart Tong, Peter and Raewyn, father to Stacey, Daniel and Rhiannon, and a loving grandfather. A Service of Thanksgiving was held for Brent on Saturday 17 Jan at Hamilton City Corps, led by Capt Stuart Tong. Please remember the family in prayer in this time of loss.

It is with sadness that we advise that Capt Taina Temo, Corps Officer, Saweni Corps, has been bereaved of

her step-mother, Mua Navara, who passed away from CWM Hospital on 20 Jan 2015. The funeral service was on 27 Jan at Suvavou Seventh Day Adventist Church. Please remember Captain Taina Temo and other family members in prayer at this time.

Wellington 614 Corps/Wellington Youth ServicesWellington 614 Corps is going through a transition in response to various changes in its operating environment. During this time, it is endeavouring to maintain and improve its important ministry to young people, which has a strong heritage.

Wellington 614 Corps will no longer operate as a corps with weekly Sunday meetings and will also no longer operate under the ‘Wellington 614 Corps’ identity. All activities will now be run under its original name of ‘Wellington Youth Services’, which has been widely respected for work in the Wellington inner city for the past 20 years. The strong Christian ethos of

this faith community will continue to undergird its ongoing ministry.

Wellington Youth Services will come under the management of Wellington Community Ministries, with Mr Lance Shearman as Youth Services Manager.

Wellington Youth Services is currently undergoing a strategic planning process to explore some exciting possibilities with various internal and external stakeholders. The purpose of this process is to identify how it might work most effectively as a faith community alongside Wellington young people and their families.

Prayers of support for Wellington Youth Services as it evolves in its vital ministry to youth would be most appreciated.

Appointment in RetirementEffective 6 March: Mjrs William (Bill) and Alison Millar, Corps Officers, Rotorua Corps, Midland Division; Mjr William Millar, Director, Community Ministries, Rotorua.

16 | WarCry 07 February 2015

Noticeboard | 17

CALENDAR

FEBRUARY

13–15: Children & Youth Leaders Retreat / Blue Mountain Adventure Centre15: Divisional Welcome Meeting (Hamilton) / Midland Division16: Divisional Retreat / Northern Division16–17: Officers Councils / Midland Division17: Officer/Staff Retreat / Tonga Region18: Officers Councils / Central Division20–22: Father and Kids Weekend / Blue Mountain Adventure Centre21: Safe to Serve: Train the Trainers / Northern Division22: Divisional Welcome Meeting / Central Division23: Officers Councils (East) / Fiji Division23–24: Officers Summer Councils (Christchurch) / Southern Division26: Business Conference / Central Division27: Youth Rally / Tonga Region27: Kneedrill Youth Event / Northern Division

MARCH

1: Children’s Day / New Zealand1: Welcome to New Officers / Northern Division2: Officers Councils / Northern Division4: Spiritual Day / Booth College of Mission6: World Day of Prayer7: Safe to Serve / Central & Northern Divisions8: Cadets’ Welcome Meeting / Wellington9: Taranaki Anniversary11–13: Salvation Army Finance Training / Booth College of Mission

OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENTS

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

11 February: State of the Nation Launch / Wellington23–25 February: Officers Councils / Southern Division8 March: Welcome to Cadets / Wellington29–31 March: Cabinet Retreat

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

11 February: State of the Nation Launch / Auckland15–17 February: Officers Councils / Midland Division1–2 March: Officers Welcome and Councils / Northern Division8 March: Welcome to Cadets / Wellington29–31 March: Cabinet Retreat

PRAYER FOCUS

Please pray for: Kilbirnie, Levin, Linwood, Lomaivuna and Manukau Central Corps, Kolovai Corps Plant, Marlborough Hospice, The Salvation Army in Taiwan.

International Bible Reading ChallengeWEEK 6 Matthew 26–28, Mark 1–2 | WEEK 7 Mark 3–7Go to www.salvationarmy.org/biblechallenge for daily reading guides and more.

Boundless Congress Schedule ReleasedWith less than six months to go until The Salvation Army’s 150th anniversary international congress, Boundless: The Whole World Redeeming, the full schedule is now available online.

The published schedule includes information about the seven general sessions hosted in the main O2 arena, along with details of numerous concerts and seminars, a film festival and a new musical. These events will highlight the many ministries, talents and cultures of The Salvation Army to more than 15,000 delegates who will meet in London to commemorate the past, celebrate the present, and innovate for the future.

Among the many concerts on offer are an International Music Festival, World Concert and World Dance Festival. The music festival will include three renowned Salvation Army bands: the International Staff Band, Angola National Band, and South America East Territorial Band—alongside songs from Pasadena Tabernacle Songsters and Youth Chorus. The World Concert will feature a kapa haka group from the New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga Territory. The World Dance Festival will showcase the talents of groups from Hawaii, Kenya West, the South America West Territory and Korea.

The schedule also includes concerts by groups such as the International Staff Songsters, the New York Staff Band with Canada’s London Citadel Timbrels, the Mizo Singers from India, and the USA Southern Territory’s transMission worship group —reunited with Phil Laeger for a ‘Doctrine Concert’.

Three seminars will focus on the subjects of Christian teaching, theology and social justice. ‘Faith and Social Justice in the 21st Century’, hosted by the International Social Justice Commission (ISJC), will bring together General André Cox and a panel of global experts to discuss how today’s people of faith can better contribute to the fight for social justice.

The Boundless Film Festival, curated by SAVN.tv, will host some of the finest film talents in The Salvation Army. Featuring animations, dramas, documentaries, historical archive footage of Army heritage and more, the festival has something for everyone interested in the art and ministry of filmmaking.

‘Covenant’ is a new Salvation Army musical—script by Karl Larsson, music by Kevin Larsson and lyrics by Commissioner Keith Banks—which will premiere at the international congress. It was created around the covenant that Salvation Army founder William Booth wrote for his own funeral programme and which he wanted people to sign, marking their commitment to the future of The Salvation Army.

Other events include ‘Neon’ (a gathering for teenagers), international officers councils, and a women’s gathering. An International Prayer Meeting will convene daily.

The full congress schedule is available at boundless2015.org/boundless/schedule and includes prices of individual tickets. For the latest updates, visit the congress website, like the congress Facebook page (Boundless 2015) and follow the Twitter account (@Boundless2015). You can interact with the congress team on Instagram (@boundless_2015).

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

2015 State of the Nation LaunchWEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY

The latest data, analysis and commentary on New Zealand’s children and youth, crime and punishment, work and incomes, social hazards, and housing.

Albany: Albany Salvation Army, 90 Rosedale Road, 7:30 am

Manukau: Manukau Salvation Army, 16C Bakerfield Place, 10:30 am

Christchurch: Oxford Tce Baptist Church, 286 Oxford Tce, 1 pm

Hamilton: Hamilton Salvation Army, 99 London Street, 5 pm

Dunedin: The Staff Club, Dunedin University, Leith Walk, North Dunedin, 5 pm

To attend one of our launch events, email vanessa_kingi@nzf.salvationarmy.org

Read the report (from 11 Feb): www.salvationarmy.org.nz/stateofthenation2015

God knows what we need to know to live the best life possible.

‘If I knew then what I know now …’ We’ve all either said or thought that, haven’t we? We zigged when we should’ve zagged. We stopped when we ought to have kept going. We kept going long after we should have stopped. Whatever the specifics, this statement points to the unmistakable fact that an opportunity has passed, the wrong choice was made, and the deed is irreversibly done.

The simple fact of the matter is that life doesn’t come with many guarantees. And none of us can see into the future.

This year marks the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. With the perfect vision that comes with hindsight—knowing all that’s happened in New Zealand as a result of that signing ceremony, the good and the not so good—if you could travel back in time to be present at the actual event, what advice would you give? Would you caution against the Treaty? Maybe you’d point out the fact that certain English words, phrases and concepts in the text were not being accurately translated into Māori, which would lead to a range of problems and impact generations to come.

‘Trust me,’ you’d say, ‘I know how this turns out. If you choose to go ahead and enter into this pact in its present form, there’s trouble ahead. But if you listen to me, I can help you achieve the harmony between cultures you’re actually hoping for, saving untold amounts of disappointment, quarrelling and even bloodshed between Māori and Pākehā.’

Of course, none of that is possible. Time travel only happens on TV and in the movies. And because we can’t see the future there’s no way of knowing what really hangs in the balance from the majority of our decisions. All that’s left for us is to live life one day at a time, do the best we can, and hope to minimise the effects of our poor decisions, right?

Thankfully, God gives us another option. You see, he really does know the future! And as such, his message to us is a lot like the one we might’ve shared with the Waitangi signatories: ‘Trust me,’ God says, ‘I know how this turns out. In fact, I have a master plan! If you choose to go ahead and live on your own terms, I’ll let you. But know that there’s trouble and regret down that road. On the other hand, if you’ll listen to me and let me guide you, I can help you fulfil the purpose for which I created you. Let me direct you and I’ll save you untold amounts of discontent and guilt. In return, I’ll give you the deepest satisfaction you’ll ever know.’

God knows what we need to know to live the best life possible. So, do you rely on his guidance, or depend on your own best judgement in the moment? If you’re one of the ‘depend-on-yourself ’ types, get used to repeating that opening statement … often!

Colonel Willis HowellChief Secretary

LEADERSHIP LINKS

BY TAU & TRISH MATAKI

New Māori Ministry Leaders‘He iwi tahi tatou’ (now we are one people) was the phrase Captain William Hobson uttered following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. For Lieutenants Tau and Trish Mataki, The Salvation Army’s new national Māori Leaders, that is a significant statement in their call to ministry—as they explain.

We are truly blessed to be called to serve in this place, at this time and in this role, where hundreds of years of God’s work is converging. In 2015, this country and the Army are celebrating 200 years of Gospel in Aotearoa New Zealand, 175 years since the signing of our nation’s founding document, and the 150th birthday celebration of The Salvation Army.

But what does this all mean for us as a nation today, with some 200 cultures in residence that now call Aotearoa New Zealand their home?

The journey to these shores holds special significance to Māori as tangata whenua (first people of the land), chosen as kaitiaki (guardians) to embrace the ‘whosoever’ that may follow. This also holds in truth to the oneness Māori signed up to, on 6 February 1840—the oneness expressed in Captain William Hobson’s words ‘he iwi tahi tatou’ (now we are one people).

For us, in our new appointment, this means going out into the community and celebrating our multicultural diversity, drawing on God’s grace in reaching into people’s lives and loving them the same way Jesus loves us.

Our mission starts with Māori, but it is about bringing people together. Our heart is very much about inclusiveness: being reciprocal and caring in diversity. That’s really what we are about. That was our heart even before we came to the Army—that people needed to get along with each other better.

As national leaders of The Salvation Army’s Māori Ministry, we will continue encouraging Māori Salvationists to support the territory’s strategic goals of making disciples of Jesus, increasing the numbers of soldiers, fighting poverty and injustice, and

18 | WarCry 07 February 2015

developing leaders. We will help those within Māori work together with others as part of our connected, streamlined and mission-focused Army.

Trish and I joined the Salvation Army around three years ago. We were attracted to the Papakura Corps by the warm sense of belonging we received from its congregation, rather than because we were looking for a church to join.

We both came from extensive careers in government. Trish was a Probation Officer and Service Centre Manager, and I (Tau) came from a career in the Defence Forces and Project Advisor for the Labour Department.

We left our government jobs in 2008 to start a successful farming business and raise our beautiful mahanga mokopuna (twin grandchildren), who are in our care and schooling at kura kaupapa in Lower Hutt.

We were initially encouraged to become auxiliary officers while at Papakura Corps, but after attending the Delve leadership conference we were asked instead to apply to train at Booth College of Mission.

At Booth College of Mission I (Tau) often felt overwhelmed and lacking in the pre-requirements for college; however, after more than one visit to the mercy seat and the graceful support of college staff and fellow session mates, I made it.

College presented me (Trish) with some extra challenges, too, having to take time out for an operation and recovery time midway through my first year. But through prayer, courage and determination, I completed that year alongside my colleagues.

Our hopes and aspirations in ministry are dependent on God’s will, rather than our own—which can be a mission in itself sometimes. However, we have learnt that sticking close to God through regular prayer, blessings, meditation and readings helps keep us focused.

As the new national leaders of The Salvation Army’s Māori Ministry (and for Trish in her role as Divisional Secretary for Māori Ministry in the Central Division), we will take every opportunity to familiarise ourselves with whānau kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) and build positive relationships across the mutu (country).

We want to acknowledge all God’s work and those rangatira (leaders) that have contributed in building Māori Ministry over the

years, so that it is in the healthy state we now find it. This includes rangatira such as Taylor, Holdaway, Seamer, Morris, Hirini, Rankin, Clifton, McKenzie, Moses, Hill, and Patea.

We also want to pay tribute to the late Aux-Captain Joe Patea, promoted to Glory in 2011 while serving as co-rangatira alongside his wife Aux-Captain Nan Patea. Nan had the wairua (spirit) and endurance to continue building the extensive profile of Māori Ministry, and she continues to play her part in retirement as our kuia (female elder).

Thanks to Nan and Joe, learners can now access basic Tikanga Māori online and on CD and DVD, at our training college, and in corps setting. We also now have a Memorandum of Understanding directly with iwi and hapu, support through divisional Māori Ministry Secretaries, and, of course, rich fellowship with one another.

Māori are one of a number of international culture groups that will appear on the world stage after an invitation by General André Cox to help celebrate 150 years of The Salvation Army. It will be our privilege to travel to London this coming June as part of the kapa haka roopu (group) from New Zealand.

We would love to hear from anyone who would like to get involved in Māori Ministry or who has ideas for the ongoing development of this work. Please get in touch and we’ll do our best to respond quickly.

Ariki Atua, tukua te Wairua kia rere ki nga taumata, he arahi i a tatou mahi me te tatou whai I nga tikanga a ratouma. (Father God, allow one’s Spirit to exercise its potential, to guide us in our work as well as in our pursuit of our ancestral traditions.)

Kia Ora ... and please get in touchTau’s whakapapa: Ko Tau Mataki taku ingoa, ko Ngati Kauwhata raua ko Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa oku Iwi.

Trish’s whakapapa: Ko Trish Mataki taku ingoa, ko Ngatokimatawhaorua Te Waka, Hapu Waiariki, Ngati Manawa Iwi Te Rarawa, Nga Puhi Nui Tonu, Ngati Whatua.

Trish and Tau would love to hear your ideas about growing The Salvation Army’s Māori Ministry. Email tau_mataki@nzf.salvationarmy.org.nz or patricia_mataki@nzf.salvationarmy.org, or contact by phone on (04) 384 5649.

Our mission starts with Māori, but it is about bringing people together.

Trish and Tau receive their appointments from Commissioners Robert and Janine Donaldson.

Mission Matters | 19

TESTIFY

This is a paper I didn’t sign up for at university, but found myself studying anyway: Heavy Drinking 101.

I grew up in Wellington. I was raised in a good family, educated at Catholic schools and we all went to church on Sundays. On the surface, you’d probably imagine this was enough to set me on a good path and that I’d just follow the white picket fence script. But like many other Kiwi guys and girls, that’s not how the story went.

Leaving school and moving into your late teens to early twenties is a pivotal period in anyone’s life. For me (and I’m still going through this at the ripe old age of 28!), I see this as the period when we form our own identity as we enter adulthood. This is our time when, as we become more independent and have lots of different options available to us, we start writing our own story.

Off to uniI left Wellington for Otago University. I went for the fun, to move out of home and because there was the attraction of a great PE school down there. Yet I experienced a huge conflict every day with my decision. Was I supposed to live the Scarfie dream of our YOLO, do-whatever-makes-you-happy, consume-everything generation, or was this the time to work hard, get good grades and some work experience, and create the foundation for a good career?

At 19, even though I was studying something I was really interested in, I chose to be there for the lifestyle. I had a friend who went to Otago a year earlier and he raved about it. So I went chasing similar adventures.

Leaving home to live in my own room in a Hall of Residence was a huge adjustment. From having a regular schedule with my parents

New Zealand young people have a heavy drinking culture that can easily thrive when people head off to university.

having expectations of good behaviour, to having complete freedom with no one calling me out on anything. From starting every weekday with 8:45 am roll calls, to optional guest appearances at 11 am lectures.

Heavy drinkingI went along with my new environment and drank. I drank heavily, which seemed like ‘the Kiwi thing to do’. It’s not cool how glorified alcohol abuse is in this country. Throwing up, talking loudly about how we forgot what happened last night, casual hook-ups—we treat all this as if it’s just routine and what everyone is, or should, be doing.

But when we see those words ‘heavy drinker’, we see the negatives.

In the environment I was in, away from the family and friends who had shaped me and my values, I got lost in it all. It was a lot of fun, and I must admit that I wanted more fun. Soon, Saturday nights were okay, but Wednesdays and Thursday nights out were even better.

Fun vs ambitionAnd that’s where the battle of fun vs ambition started. It didn’t take long before I was missing my 11 am lectures, let alone the 8 am ones.

And so, my O-week turned into an O-semester.

It didn’t take long before I was missing my 11 am lectures, let alone the 8 am ones.

07 FEBRUARY 2015 | 21FIREZONE.CO.NZ

Things You Should NEVER Say to Someone Who Doesn’t Drink*

1. ‘You’re so uptight.’ I may like to be in control, but just because I don’t want a beer doesn’t mean I can’t relax or don’t like fun.

2. ‘Come on, live a little.’ I am! Alcohol isn’t the only way to do so.

3. ‘All I want is to see you drunk.’ Sorry to crush your dreams, but that’s not happening. And if that’s all you want in life, it’s time to aspire for more.

4. ‘I’m going to get you to drink.’ No, you’re not; the same way I’m not going to get you not to drink. People get to make their own decisions.

5. ‘Is it for religious reasons?’ Whether it is or isn’t, I don’t think my refusing a beer should prompt an interrogation.

6. ‘How are you doing this sober?’ You’re actually asking me how I’m talking to people at a party sober? Really?!

7. ‘Do you think you’re better than us?’ Alcohol’s a drink, not a measure of moral superiority (or inferiority). So no, I just don’t want to drink.

8. ‘So what do you do then, if you don’t drink?’ The same thing you do minus a beer in hand. You can still go out and party drinking water.

9. ‘Don’t you feel like you’re missing out?’ If I felt like I was missing out, I’d drink. Plus, you tell me stories of how hung over you are the next day and it sounds pretty miserable, so I’m happy to pass on that.

10. ‘Oh, we didn’t invite you because you don’t drink and we thought you’d be bored.’ That’s pretty harsh and untrue. If I felt that way, I wouldn’t come, but I actually wanted to see you because you’re my friends (so act like you are).

11. ‘But really, why don’t you? Won’t you? Please?’ You can keep asking, but the answer is going to remain no. I’m just going to get more annoyed when you say it.

12. ‘Don’t be lame!’ Oh no! The threat of being uncool!

* These and more were originally published in Cosmopolitan magazine

I failed papers, all but one—and passing that was a miracle! I put on weight and was an inconsiderate flatmate. There was nothing malicious in what I was doing; I just wanted to have fun.

I was a bright kid in school, so to fail for the first time hurt. A lot. I was always active and in good shape, so to lose this was a low point too. And to realise I was wasting my white picket fence upbringing was a hard realisation.

So, I cut back. Enough to pass, at least. But I would still have hard Mondays when the body—and the mind in particular—was fuzzy and slow.

A clean breakIt wasn’t until after I graduated and moved back to Wellington that I finally made a clean break from drinking. Three months. I gave in when I visited a friend in Sydney. We watched a big game of football in a bar in King’s Cross. Looking back, wandering around at 4 am past a whole lot of strip bars was pretty seedy. Three months waiting … and that was it.

Later on, I tried four and a half months, but again, I gave in to pressure to drink. Rugby World Cup final in Wellington. It was fun, no doubt. But, as with many big occasions since, I came away thinking, ‘If I needed alcohol to enjoy it, then it wasn’t that great an occasion or event, was it?’

Later, I set a goal of six months. This was partly a necessity, money wise. I realised that in

the past I had spent thousands of dollars on alcohol. Many thousands. When a big night blows three figures standard, and these nights become weekly, it’s shocking to think about the amount of money I was drinking.

But I had made a big commitment to get to Brazil with my friends for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and with the money I was earning, there was only one way to save money: say goodbye to the drink.

I don’t drinkSix months rolled round, and by then I was simply telling people, ‘I don’t drink.’ No explanation, no timeframe. And so I continued. All the way to the World Cup.

As the time for our trip to Brazil got closer, I realised I didn’t want to drink there either (even though, originally, the prospect of ‘partying in Brazil’ had been the attraction of not drinking for the 18 months prior).

So I didn’t. And my friends were okay with it. And I had the time of my life. Sober!

Unlearning the mythsWhen I think about it, I learnt more by not drinking than I did by drinking. Or maybe I had to go sober to unlearn the myths our culture tells us about drinking. That we need alcohol to have a good time, to talk to girls, to dance. This comes from a wider consumer culture where we’re also told that we need these clothes or that accessory, or we are nothing—not cool, not part of what everyone else is doing.

I’m not going to tell you what to do. This time in your life is for you to figure out who you are and what you are about. This is the time to confront the challenge of living for the moment vs setting up your future—of fun vs ambition.

But what I will tell you is that if you can attach some meaning and purpose to this journey, all these battles can be won. Or, to put it another way, if you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.

So, keep being you, and all the best in finding who that is. Chances are you already know.

After university, Matt worked for a few years infecting New Zealand’s capital city and local high schools with a passion for the wonderful game of futsal. After heading off on his OE to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Matt is now teaching English in his ancestral homeland of Hungary.

Six months rolled round, and by then I was simply telling people, ‘I don’t drink.’

ENGAGE | 22FIREZONE.CO.NZ

We want to make sure you feel welcome in your new city, know about Salvation Army churches there … and we also want to encourage local Salvationists there to get in touch with you and make you feel at home.

The idea is simply this: you let us know where you’re moving and why, and we’ll get in touch with someone from the local Salvation Army, who will hopefully get in touch with you and support you in your transition.

If you’re moving and want to meet a friendly face in your new location, head to firezone.co.nz and fill in the short form to let us know about your move … and we’ll do the rest! (And if you’ve already moved, just get in touch and we’ll connect you with someone.)

To help you in your move, here are our top five tips for moving cities…

1. Connect with a church. We reckon this is the most important thing to do when you move cities because churches are a great way to meet people, feel at home and have others around you to check in on you. Find your new local Sallies and get connected!

2. Get Skype. Skype is a life saver! When you’re feeling homesick, all you’ve got to do is click a few buttons and BAM! Mum and Dad (or your mate or ya dog) are right in front of you. In those lonely, hard or even those

celebratory moments, Skype is awesome at connecting you to those you love.

3. Find a good café. Cafés are awesome and young adults love them. Heading to a café for a cheap coffee or cake is a real cool way to connect with someone you’ve just met from a uni class or workplace. A coffee is also waaaay cheaper than going to a movie, so a perfect spot for cheap students.

4. Join a team or club. Joining the social club at work, or a sports team or interest club at uni is a really easy way to meet new people and have some fun in your free time. Keeping a good work/uni life and social life balance is really important for your wellbeing.

5. Learn how to cook and pay bills. Before your move, ask your Mum/Dad or another kind friend to quickly teach you some tips for the kitchen—this will be a massive help once you realise that cooking dinner each day is hard! Get some tips for keeping track of your money and staying on top of your bills, too. Eliminating the stress of money, bills and food will be a huge relief!

We want to wish all our moving young people a safe, smooth transition over the next wee while. Let’s join together as a movement and keep our transitioning young people in prayer!

BY VANESSA SINGH

Each summer, a whole lot of us move cities for study, work or apprenticeships. Sometimes this can be tough—especially if we don’t know anyone in our new area! ‘Friendly Face in a New Place’ is all about supporting our Salvation Army young people who are moving cities/towns for study or work.

Wise words from some old people as we start studying again …

‘Learning never exhausts the mind.’ LEONARDO DA VINCI

‘It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.’ ALBERT EINSTEIN

‘Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.’ THOMAS A. EDISON

‘Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.’ MARK TWAIN

‘We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.’ SIR EDMUND HILLARY

Moving Cities?

Head to www.firezone.co.nz and give us your details.

Fun4Kids | 23

Read It‘God looked at what he had done. All of it was very good!’ (Genesis 1:31, CEV)

Let’s TalkAfter God made our world —separating darkness from light and land from the ocean, making

plants, animals and people—he was pleased with his creation.

Because we’re God’s children, we love making things too. Some of us enjoy making pictures or sewing, others like making stories with words. Some of us are really talented at craft or making mechanical things, others like to make music.

All of this is because God made us like him—we are good at making stuff because God loves

to create and wants us to enjoy that too.

Let’s PrayThank you, God, for making this beautiful world! And thank you that I get to create wonderful new things, just like you did. Help me to make useful things and things that make people feel happy. Amen.

hi, i’m CAte.

Make Your Own

© Reproduced with permission from Māori Art for Kids by Julie Noanoa & Norm Heke. Published by Craig Potton Publishing.

Maro Wall HangingTraditional Māori clothing included maro, worn around the waist and fastened like an

apron. Traditional maro came in several different styles made from various native plant

materials. One type is a maro kōpua, a thick triangular garment worn by women. The

border was decorated with tāniko, a decorative geometric pattern. Another style for men

was a maro aute made with bark cloth from the aute tree.

Today, maro are made of both traditional and contemporary materials, and still worn for

important pōwhiri (welcoming ceremony) or for kapa haka (performance song and dance).

But sometimes maro are made to display, rather than to wear.

You can make your own maro by following these simple steps from Māori Art for Kids.

The theme of this maro is garden flowers, using images selected from gardening magazines, but you might like to choose another theme and find related images; for

example: toys, cars or colours.

Materials & Tools Recycled magazines, A4 card, invisible tape, pencil, ruler, scissors, masking tape, PVA

glue, ribbon.

Steps1. To make the triangle base, fold A4 card in half lengthways, then unfold it and rule

lines from the top mid-point to each corner with a pencil and ruler. Cut out the triangle shape.

2. Select colourful pictures from magazines. Cut out rectangles, measuring the lengths

from top to bottom of the triangle, starting from the longest point in the middle and

working toward the edges.

3. To make a rolled coil, start by making a small fold in the paper and roll it over until you reach the end. Apply invisible tape to secure in place.

4. Organise the coiled rolls across the triangle base, leaving a small portion to hang over

the bottom edge. Cut rolls to fit as required.

5. Once all the rolls have been placed, apply two layers of tape over the top edge.

6. Paste a length of ribbon to the top edge as a decorative addition, like the tie on a traditional maro.

Whakapaingia a te atua mo tenei whare nana i hanga, kia hari, kia koa tatou. Te whare pupuri korero, te marae kua kite, kua whakarongo ki nga tumanako, nga wawata me nga moemoea a te iwi, e whakamiharo ana, e mihi ana ki a koe. Tena koe tena koe, tena koe.

Praise the creator for this meeting house he has made. To this house which holds the memories and mysteries of the people, to this marae which has seen and listened to the hopes and dreams of the people, we reflect in awe as we pay our respects.