Interview

From cover to cover

Editor-in-Chief Major Mal Davies tells Emily Bright why he’s written Reflections, a devotional book inspired by the back pages of the War Cry

IT all began with the striking quotes and pictures featured each week on the back cover of the War Cry. Pinned up on corps noticeboards, office walls and home fridges, these Bible verses and quotes about Christianity have become a treasured part of the paper.

‘There are many people who will pick up the War Cry and immediately turn to the back page to see what it features,’ says Mal. ‘And in talking to War Cry editor Major Andrew Stone, he seemed to be of the same opinion. The back pages were always something to look forward to.’

Mal decided to assemble a collection of the War Cry’s most inspiring and encouraging covers, with a devotional thought accompanying each.

‘It’s a light reflection or a prompt for people to think a little further,’ explains Mal. ‘Something that’s easily dipped in and out of.

‘We live in an era when it’s become easier to get an idea quickly. Therefore, the notion of looking at a page with just a handful of words on it is attractive. Through that marriage of text and image, each page of Reflections delivers a clear message about the Christian faith.’

Mal hopes that the coffee table book will provide an opening for people to talk with non-Christians about faith.

‘It’s great to put somewhere very visible,’ he says. ‘It also serves as a really easy form of evangelism, as people start to invite friends, family and neighbours into their homes again. It can be as simple as making this book visible on your coffee table, and having visitors say, “Oh, what’s that?” They can just flip it open and glance at a page or two when they have a spare minute.

‘It’s also a great gift book to buy and I would encourage people to buy it for non-Christians, friends, family and neighbours.’

Mal suggests that bolder readers could also distribute the book to places in their communities where people congregate, if they have permission from the proprietors.

‘I’d love to see this book in waiting rooms at the dentist and doctor’s,’ he enthuses, ‘or in the pile of magazines at the hairdresser. It could be a really easy way to get people looking at a Christian message while they’re waiting.’

Mal hopes that readers will be ‘encouraged and inspired’ by the book and that it might ‘put a smile on their face’. ‘There’s a lot of negative news around these days, so I think the idea of opening a book and reading something that offers a word of encouragement is appealing,’ he elaborates. ‘It reminds us that there is hope, there is still joy in the world, and that there is something lighter and brighter happening.’

Writing the book gave Mal his own opportunity to reflect: ‘When you get to a certain age, there are a lot of anecdotes that come to mind. So when I read each quote, straightaway I’d think of something that happened, something that was said to me or something I’d read in a book that would inspire each entry.’

Mal believes that these anecdotes will help the devotional book to be relatable to all readers.

‘There are stories in here of real people,’ he says. ‘And I think that makes it applicable and allows people to say, “This is something someone’s lived through.” If someone else had that problem, addressed it and came out of it well, maybe they can too.’

Reflections is available from spsshop.com priced £9.99 (plus postage and packing) or by calling SP&S on 01933 445 445

EMILY BRIGHT

Promotions and Marketing Co-ordinator Publishing Department, THQ

In the strength of the Lord

Major Mal Davies dissects Gideon’s winning strategy

JUDGES 7:1–22

HAVE you ever prayed for something and then, when it happened, forgot to thank God for it, seeing it as a human – rather than divine – answer?

In our study passage, Gideon attends to the confrontation for which God had called him – the battle with the Midianites and their associates, who had gathered in large numbers on the edge of Israelite territory.

Gideon had called for help from across the Israelite tribes (see Judges 6:34 and 35) and had amassed an army of 32,000 men. God said there were too many. He had already told Gideon that he, God, would win the battle for them. However, God feared that with such a large army, they would boast about it being their victory and not his. So, he told Gideon to announce that anyone who wished to could leave the camp – and 22,000 men went home.

QUESTIONS

Why might someone claim a ‘win’ (something good or positive or helpful) that wasn’t really theirs to claim? Have you done that?

This left Gideon with just 10,000 men. God said it was still too many. He instructed Gideon to lead them to the spring of Harod and invite them to drink. God then asked Gideon to separate the men into two groups: those who got down on their knees to drink the water (thus not being able to move quickly or observe their surroundings) and those who scooped the water up in their hands and lapped it (allowing them to be watchful and ready to move).

God said that those who had knelt could be dismissed. From the initial fighting force of 32,000, this left Gideon with just 300 men. Understandably, God sensed that Gideon might be fearful of confronting a huge army with such a small number. That night he advised Gideon to sneak down to the enemy camp and overhear what they were saying. Gideon did so, accompanied by his servant, Purah.

Gideon and Purah overheard one of them telling another that he’d had a dream, which his friend interpreted as an indication that Gideon would win the day. This delighted Gideon and was sign enough for him that his army, small as it was, would be triumphant.

He went back to his camp and told the men to get ready because ‘the Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands’ (v15).

Through the week with Salvationist

– a devotional thought for each day

by Major Howard Webber

SUNDAY

I’ve little strength to call my own,/ And what I’ve done, before thy throne/ I here confess, is small;/ But on thy strength, O God, I lean,/ And through the blood that makes me clean,/ Thou art my all in all.

(SASB 588)

MONDAY

‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)

TUESDAY

O Jesus, Saviour, hear my cry,/ And all my need just now supply!/ New power I want, and strength and light,/ That I may conquer in the fight./ O let me have, where’er I go,/ Thy strength to conquer every foe! (SASB 779)