A selfdenial life

HAVE you heard the one about the bloke who built his house on the sand? Years later, we still sing about him, as if the poor guy hadn’t been through enough.

You’ve also probably heard of the Self-Denial Appeal, which begins this weekend. Started by William Booth in 1886, it calls for Salvationists to deny themselves something this month so they can support the Army’s mission.

One thing you’ve definitely heard of is the cost of living crisis, which is affecting us all in one way or another. How is it possible to give sacrifically and help others regardless of our circumstances? There are no easy answers, you’ll read across the page. You’ll also read on pages 8 to 11 of ways you might be able to give on a day-to-day basis. That might be skipping a coffee. It might be cycling instead of taking the bus.

However you give, it’s not the size of the offering that matters, but how it’s intended. ‘If ye wouldst be my disciple,/ An easy road you may not see,’ says a songster piece from 1982 you may not have heard. ‘If you wouldst be my disciple,/ A self-denial life for thee!’

Submitted in a spirit of honouring God, your life, time and talents can make a difference to his Kingdom-building work. They can help bring others to a stable foundation of faith – and a hope for the future that’s rock solid.

IVAN RADFORD MANAGING EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Radford

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Simon Hope, George Tanton, Lyn Woods, Major Margaret Bovey

ART DIRECTOR Hannah Holden

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mark Knight, Louise Phillips

PROOFREADER Chris Horne

CONTACT US 020 7367 4890 (main) salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk

ADVERTISING advertising@salvationarmy.org.uk

DISTRIBUTION AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

Salvationist Publishing and Supplies (Periodicals), 66–78 Denington Road, Wellingborough NN8 2QH 01933 445445 / subscriptions@satcol.org

SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS

From the New International Version (2011), unless otherwise stated

FOUNDER William Booth

GENERAL Brian Peddle

TERRITORIAL COMMANDER

Commissioner Anthony Cotterill

TERRITORIAL HEADQUARTERS

101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN 0845 634 0101

The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland is SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland is CHY6399.