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Future-focused Salvation Army marks 125 years in NZ, Fiji and Tonga
15 April 2008 -- War Cry
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All roads led to Dunedin in April for those commemorating 125 years of Salvation Army mission and service in New Zealand and the Army’s expansion into Fiji in 1973 and Tonga in 1985. |
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The Salvation Army ‘Freedom Congress’ was held from 4-6 April and attended by over 1000 Salvationists, including small contingents from Fiji and Tonga. Eighty younger Salvationists enjoyed their own ‘Junior Soldier Congress’ in South Dunedin.
Four public worship services were held at The Edgar Centre. Attendances ranged from 750 on Friday evening to over 1000 on Sunday. ‘This congress is an investment in our future,’ Commissioner McKenzie, leader of The Salvation Army in New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, told worshippers, ‘and we want it to bear fruit!’
Three visiting international speakers preached during the weekend congress. Commissioner MacMillan is a Canadian Salvation Army officer (minister) who directs the Army’s new International Social Justice Commission in New York.
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She was joined by fellow Canadian Captain Danielle Strickland, currently based in Melbourne, and Major Peter Farthing from Sydney. Commissioner Garth McKenzie and Major Ivan Bezzant brought some local flavour to the weekend. |
The 125-year celebration reflected on the past, but a decidedly future-focused Salvation Army was gathered. Salvationists were challenged to be fully committed to God’s cause—to move away from being spectators and consumers and to become participants and investors. ‘Let it be about Jesus!’ declared Major Bezzant. He emphasised that ‘believers go to Heaven, but disciples change the world’.
There was a strong reminder that it was in The Salvation Army’s DNA to be among the poor. ‘If you want to take steps to eradicate poverty, bring yourself,’ urged Commissioner MacMillan. ‘In the surrender of your life is such a richness that it will touch the world in ways unimaginable. God wants us to pour ourselves out on a broken world.’
Hundreds of people of all ages moved forward to fill the large prayer space near the stage in every worship service. Many signed their names to one of four large crosses and also took and signed commemorative bookmarks, dedicating themselves to serving The Salvation Army’s mission under God.
Two youth kick-on events at the Edgar Centre followed Friday’s and Saturday’s combined worship sessions. The band Daybreak led youth in exuberant praise that set the scene for Captain Strickland’s teaching.
On Friday evening, Danielle talked about Samuel, who was born into the church but did not recognise God’s voice. ‘God is not hard to find and he’s not difficult to hear,’ she promised before leading an exercise to help the young people learn to listen for God’s voice. Danielle reminded them that two young people had started The Salvation Army in New Zealand. They could also be pioneers for God, but it was essential that they unlocked their capacity to hear from him. ‘How can we fight for God if we don’t hear the Word of the Lord? What is God’s offensive strategy? That we hear the Lord!’
| Other Freedom Congress events included a commemoration at the Exchange, the site of The Salvation Army’s first open-air evangelistic outreach in Dunedin on 1 April 1883. A combined band of brass players from throughout the South Island contributed to an undeniable sense of historic occasion. |
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‘We rededicate ourselves to pushing back darkness and bringing light through the power of the Holy Spirit,’ said Major Lyndon Buckingham, who heads The Salvation Army in the South Island. ‘We will spend ourselves in battling evil!’ The assembled crowd then marched to the Octagon for more music and preaching.
A series of workshops covered a range of issues, including nurturing an environment in which dynamic disciples would flourish; living out Kingdom of God values in society; working with others to alleviate poverty; engaging, inspiring and leading a mission force; and joining ‘Salvation Army programme dots’ in a comprehensive mission-focused picture.
National Salvation Army music groups SpiritSong and the National Youth Band (NYB) delivered top quality vocal and brass music throughout the weekend. A worship group formed from past and present members of Nite Church (a Salvation Army student ministry in Dunedin) provided support for congregational singing.
Television New Zealand filmed a concert by SpiritSong and the NYB at the Kings and Queens Performing Arts Centre for screening on its 4 May Praise Be programme.
Two months before the first Salvationists arrived in Dunedin in March 1883, a writer to the Otago Daily Times likened bringing The Salvation Army to New Zealand to the introduction of thistles, sparrows and rabbits. The warning was that ‘the Army will prove a nuisance as troublesome as these pests and as ineradicable’.
Those words had a ‘prophetic ring’, said Commissioner Garth McKenzie. ‘The Salvation Army under the Holy Spirit’s leading and empowering has indeed become a nuisance. God has used us! We’re looking forward to the future and believe that God has not finished with us yet.’
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