QUOTES FROM THE MEDIA
PEOPLE IN DEBT ARE MORE LONELY NOW THAN DURING THE LOCKDOWN, CHARITY WARNS People in debt are suffering rising levels of loneliness and isolation as the cost-of-living squeeze hits, Christians Against Poverty (Cap) has warned. The charity surveyed 750 of its clients... It found that clients who were struggling with debt were often too worried to answer the door, leave the house or answer the phone. Statistics show that the number of people reporting loneliness or isolation had increased among those in debt since the end of lockdown. Before coming to Cap for debt advice and support, 60 per cent of respondents said that they felt lonely – an increase from 51 per cent of clients 18 months ago, when Covid-19 restrictions were at their height. About 40 per cent of respondents said that they had not had a meaningful conversation in the past week: up from 31 per cent 18 months ago; and two thirds said that they had no one to turn to when they had a problem, a 6 per cent increase… The director of external affairs at Cap, Gareth McNab, said: ‘For many of us, the easing of lockdown restrictions meant a thankful end to isolation; but for thousands of lowincome families struggling in debt and poverty, the isolation and loneliness they feel is actually getting worse due to the cost-of-living crisis and mounting debts.’ Church Times
SALVATIONIST
STREET ANGELS FOUNDER SEES ‘OPPORTUNITY’ FOR CHRISTIANS AS STUDY SHOWS YOUTH ARE ‘BOMBARDED’ WITH ALCOHOL ON TV A new study has found that out of the 20 most popular TV shows aimed at young people, 98 per cent of scenes contain alcohol and drinking. The report, published by Nottingham Trent University, names shows like Made in Chelsea and Love Island… Paul Blakey, founder of Christian Nightlife Initiative Network and Street Angels, says… ‘Pubs are an essential place for people to hang out… But, of course, there’s always the other side. It is attracting people into alcohol – consuming lots of alcohol – and that whole culture that goes with it.’ Reality television shows have been the catalyst for hundreds of influencers to find fame and notoriety. Even a short appearance can generate thousands of Instagram followers and hefty PR deals… Paul continues: ‘I think there’s a massive opportunity ... for Christians within that whole influencing culture to ... showcase a different lifestyle.’
A national campaign to reflect on and record the contributions of the faith community during the Covid-19 crisis … has been launched by Spurgeon’s College. The #FaithInCommunity campaign seeks to collate faith communities’ pandemic stories, which will be submitted in book form to the British Library as an official record… From food bank support to community leadership and volunteering, churches and faith organisations across the country provided much needed support to their local areas throughout the crisis. ‘The pandemic was a moment in time when faith communities mobilised themselves in a way not seen for generations,’ explained the college’s chief operating manager, Baptist minister the Rev Helen Stockley… ‘We wanted to create something that captured how they responded in such a monumental way.’
Premier
Baptist Times
CHURCHES SIGN FRIENDSHIP PLEDGE A CENTURY IN MAKING The Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church of Scotland are set to welcome a historic declaration of friendship that has been more than 100 years in the making. The declaration will be presented to the general assembly of the Church of Scotland on [23 May]. It will seek to recognise the divisions of the past, apologise for the hurt and harm caused, and to make amends… The declaration states: ‘We recognise each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, and we wish to express our friendship and respect for one another as fellow Christians, citizens and partners in announcing the Kingdom of God in our land.’ The Times
salvationist.org.uk/media/magazine Issue No 1859
CONTACT US 020 7367 4890 (main) / 020 7367 4901 (editor) salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk
EDITOR Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts
ADVERTISING advertising@salvationarmy.org.uk
MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Radford EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Simon Hope, George Tanton, Major Margaret Bovey ART DIRECTOR Hannah Holden GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mark Knight, Louise Phillips PROOFREADER Chris Horne Published weekly by The Salvation Army and printed on paper from sustainable sources by CKN Print, Northampton. © The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. ISSN 2516-5909.
2
Salvationist 21 May 2022
CAPTURING FAITH COMMUNITIES’ ‘MONUMENTAL CONTRIBUTIONS’ DURING THE PANDEMIC
DISTRIBUTION AND SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Publishing and Supplies (Periodicals), 66–78 Denington Road, Denington Industrial Estate, Wellingborough NN8 2QH 01933 445445 / subscriptions@satcol.org @SalvationistOnline
@SalvationistUK
The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399.
FOUNDER William Booth GENERAL Brian Peddle TERRITORIAL COMMANDER Commissioner Anthony Cotterill EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHING SECRETARY Major Mal Davies TERRITORIAL HEADQUARTERS 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN 0845 634 0101
