The couple on the front cover of this edition is Colonels Barbara and Willis Howell, who arrived in New Zealand from the USA a few months ago. With the title of ‘chief secretary’, Willis is essentially our ‘executive officer’, directing day-to-day operations and reporting to our Territorial Commander. Barbara is Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries.
Both are passionate about the White Ribbon campaign, which culminates with White Ribbon Day on 25th November. They see The Salvation Army’s mission statement of ‘caring for people, transforming lives and reforming society’, as a signal of intent that as an organisation we are committed to working alongside others to stop violence towards women.
Barbara and Willis are really enjoying learning about Maori culture, but Barbara says one of the things that had to be explained to her at her first powhiri was why the women sit behind the men—she wasn’t used to being asked to take a back seat to Willis! She learnt that this seating demonstrates that the man is there to protect the woman from harm. This, says Barbara, provides a clear connection to the White Ribbon cause: a man is to be a defender of women, not their attacker.
‘We don’t want violence against anyone,’ says Barbara, ‘so if there is a particular gender, race or age having violence directed toward them, The Salvation Army wants to step up and advocate for them. God calls us to love our neighbour, and this starts in our own home, our own family. God commands us to love one another, not to verbally or physically abuse one another.’
Barbara says it’s important to help women step out of the abusive cycle they may feel trapped in. ‘But let’s go even further and be proactive instead of reactive. Let’s come alongside the offenders and help them control their emotions and actions so they won’t cause pain to women or children.’
Barbara and Willis are taking the White Ribbon pledge: I promise never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence towards women. They urge War Cry readers to do the same.
Christina Tyson
Editor
1 Corinthians 13:4–5 New Living Translation
‘Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.’
1 Koriniti 13:4–5
‘He manawanui te aroha, a, he atawhai; e kore te aroha e hae; e kore te aroha e whakai; e kore e whakapehapeha, kahore ona tikanga whanoke, e kore e whai ki ana ake, e kore e riri wawe, e kore e whakairi kino …’