War Cry 01 February 2025 by The Salvation Army UK and Ireland

Austen’s powers

As Jane Austen drama begins we look at the faith in her life

Beyoncé’s new record at the Grammy awards

What is The Salvation Army?

The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity seeking to share the good news of Jesus and nurture committed followers of him. We also serve people without discrimination, care for creation and seek justice and reconciliation. We offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK. Go to salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church to find your nearest centre.

What is the War Cry?

The Salvation Army first published a newspaper called the War Cry in London in December 1879, and we have continued to appear every week since then. Our name refers to our battle for people’s hearts and souls as we promote the positive impact of the Christian faith and The Salvation Army’s fight for greater social justice.

WAR CRY

Editor: Andrew Stone, Major

Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow

Staff Writer: Emily Bright

Staff Writer: Claire Brine

Staff Writer: Ewan Hall

Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk

Graphic Designer: Mark Knight

Graphic Designer: Natalie Adkins

Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk

The Salvation Army

United Kingdom and Ireland Territory

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Tel: 0845 634 0101

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Founders: William and Catherine Booth

International leaders: General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham

Territorial leaders: Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main

Editor-in-Chief: Major Julian Watchorn

Published weekly by The Salvation Army

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

Even those people who are unfamiliar with worship services would probably be surprised to see a wrestling ring set up in a church. They may have had an expectation of prayers, hymns and a sermon – but not so much two falls, two submissions or a knockout.

Yet wrestling matches are central to church services held by Kingdom Wrestling, an organisation which uses entertainment in the ring to tell people about Jesus. The wrestlers themselves are Christians, including Jack Johnson, who, in this week’s War Cry, tells us how wrestling and worship combine.

‘It’s quite a spectacle when you put a wrestling ring in the middle of a church, along with all the lights, cameras and loud music,’ he says.

‘I remember doing one show,’ he continues, ‘called Chain Reaction. I was the bad guy, chained to the good guy, and the story was about breaking the chain of addiction.’

Breaking the chain of addiction is something that Jack has experienced himself. In his interview, he explains how he was addicted to drugs and was ‘not a nice person to be around’. However, as his life hit rock bottom, he made the decision to become a Christian.

As a result, he slowly began to turn his life around and beat his drug addiction.

‘I’ve been forgiven,’ he says. ‘I’ve got a relationship with Jesus and no one can take that away from me.’

One of the amazing things about Jack’s story is that he became a Christian while still addicted to drugs. The good news for all of us is that we can encounter and experience the love of Jesus while our lives are still troubled – we don’t have to be perfect in order to be accepted by him.

We can also know that, while Jesus will accept us as we are, he wants to help us change into better people and experience a new life – whatever issues we may be wrestling with right now.

Printed by CKN Print, Northampton, on sustainably sourced paper

INFO INFO

Pitch perfect?

Grammys organisers hope to set the right tone with fundraising efforts

Feature by Emily Bright

Despite the devastating wildfires that have swept across California, the show must go on. The Grammys are back on Monday (3 February), with organisers factoring in fundraising for relief efforts.

Arriving on the back of her country album Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé tops the bill with 11 nominations, bringing her career total so far to 99 – making her the most nominated artist in Grammy history.

British singer (and ‘brat’ populariser) Charli XCX joins Post Malone in having eight nominations, while others up for multiple awards include Taylor Swift –whose Eras tour generated a reported £1.62 billion in revenue last year – and first-time nominees Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan.

Some onlookers may have questioned the sensitivity of running an awards ceremony when fires have been ravaging the state which hosts it. So, Grammy organisers the Recording Academy – in partnership with music charity Musicares – launched a Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort with a $1 million donation. Money raised

will provide mental health support and financial assistance to artists affected by the wildfires.

In addition, according to The Independent, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr and board of trustees chair Tammy Hurt wrote in a letter to members that the Grammys show ‘will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honouring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours’.

Their letter continued: ‘In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort and unite like nothing else. The Grammys will not only honour the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.’

Music certainly does have the power to heal, comfort and unite. Throughout history, it has been used to commiserate and celebrate. It can bring people together. Songs are a helpful vehicle to express

the full range of human emotion. A clear example of this can be found in the Bible, which contains an ancient book of songs known as the Psalms.

One of those songs details how the writer was in a dark place – but also how his relationship with God carried him through.

It says: ‘I patiently waited, Lord, for you to hear my prayer. You listened and pulled me from a lonely pit full of mud and mire. You let me stand on a rock with my feet firm, and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you’ (Psalm 40:1–3 Contemporary English Version).

While being honest about the depths of his despair, the songwriter realised that –even in the darkest of times – God would provide him with the strength he needed to keep going.

That source of strength is available to us all today. It’s important to acknowledge our times of grief, pain and hopelessness. But it can also be encouraging to know that, whatever we’re going through, God will enable us to find a way forward. Asking him for help is the key.

Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter and Post Malone have been nominated

Listeners hear the benefits of de-stressing music

Sarah Olowofoyeku gives her take on a story that has caught the attention of War Cry reporters

‘The weather is miserable, Christmas has been and gone ... and there are scary things in the world right now. We’re offering something that gives you a chance to escape,’ says Sam Jackson, Radio 3’s controller, who launched Unwind on BBC Sounds at the end of the last year.

Quoted in an article in The Times, Sam was reflecting on the Radio 3 offshoot which has up to 140,000 listeners every week. Those listeners have been enjoying a slow pace, a gentle mood and a line-up of classical chillout music.

There’s a lot that can fill our minds

The presenters of the programmes on Radio 3 Unwind note the benefits of engaging with certain types of music to improve our wellbeing. Former professional rugby player Niall Breslin, who presents Classical Wind Down, told The Times that listening to his playlists had been ‘incredibly comforting’.

He said: ‘I’ve studied mindfulness for 12 years, and I still struggle to sit still, to focus on my breath. But I do not struggle to listen to three hours of classical music.’

It’s no surprise that Unwind’s programming is striking a chord with thousands of people, many of whom tune in during the evening and overnight. A quick search on Spotify shows me that a million people are listening to one of the streaming service’s classical chillout playlists.

No matter who we are, it sounds as if the moment we lay down our heads at night or are alone with nothing but our thoughts, we can be met with anxiety. Whether it’s work worries, concerns about our children, fears for our future or nerves about national events, there’s a lot that can fill our minds, and our inclination is to find something to soothe our senses.

I’m one of those people who listens to instrumentals to help me sleep. I believe that music is a gift given to humanity as something that can, at times, reach deeper than words.

I also believe that God is the giver of that gift, and knowing him is my ultimate source of comfort. Despite what is going on around me on a personal or global scale, the reassurance that God loves me and holds my future in his hands is music to my ears.

talk talk Team talk Team talk

‘Shocking’ finance woes

A third of UK adults experience daily anxiety about their finances, according to research carried out for the charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP).

The poll of 2,000 people also found that 25 per cent are seeking budgeting help, rising to 52 per cent for those aged 18 to 34.

In response, CAP is launching a new campaign, Budget not Blues, which encourages churches to offer free money coaching sessions that will equip communities with financial knowledge and skills.

CAP’s chief executive officer, Stewart McCulloch, commented: ‘These shocking statistics paint a stark picture of the financial anxieties facing millions, but they also highlight where the Church can extend its ministry to bring hope and light to people’s lives.’

WAR CRYWnRLD

MPs urged to promote religious freedom

MPs attending the launch of the latest World Watch List –an annual compilation of countries where Christians face the most severe levels of persecution – were urged to use their influence to promote freedom of religion and belief around the globe.

Those who gathered for the event, held in Westminster by anti-persecution group Open Doors, heard accounts of how members of churches around the world were experiencing physical attacks and social discrimination because of their faith.

A speaker from east Africa described how Christians in Sudan have faced persecution over the years from the authorities and Islamic extremists and how the outbreak of civil war in 2023 meant that Christians ‘became even more vulnerable overnight’.

He said that, among the eight million people who live in camps for internally displaced people, Christians are ‘often denied access to humanitarian aid in the country, as some local distributors influenced by extremist ideologies discriminate against Christian communities’.

He urged the UK to use its position on the UN Security Council to ‘ensure the future peace process is inclusive of religious and ethnic minorities’.

A partner of Open Doors from Bangladesh told the gathering that, although religious freedom is included in the country’s constitution, it is not always respected in practice.

Sudan is No 5 on the latest World Watch List; Bangladesh is No 24.

North Korea remains the country where Christians face the worst levels of persecution.

Arguing that religious freedom is related to other key human rights, Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, said: ‘Freedom of religion or belief is being compromised in every single country on the World Watch List, and it’s not just Christians that are affected. Where

General Paul Rader, a former international leader of The Salvation Army, has died.

General Rader served as the worldwide leader for five years from 1994 to 1999, having previously led The Salvation Army’s work in the western area of his native USA.

Christians are denied the right to “FoRB”, as we call it, you can be sure that other people from other faiths and none are losing their right to this freedom too.’

She said that the UK had achieved ‘a great deal over the past years’ in promoting freedom of religion or belief, pointing out that last year it had urged the Nigerian government to ensure accountability for unlawful deaths and to protect people accused of blasphemy. She also welcomed the appointment of the new government’s special envoy on freedom of religion or belief, David Smith.

David told the War Cry that the event at Westminster demonstrated how ‘freedom of religion and belief is something that is regarded as being very important right across parliament, right across our civil society and right across our country as a whole’.

He said that he aimed to work with other envoys and through multinational institutions and that he wanted to ‘make sure that freedom of religion and belief is mainstream through all our British foreign policy’.

Such freedom, he said, is ‘at the core of what it means to support the rest of the world’ because ‘you can’t have human rights and you can’t have human flourishing without freedom of religion and belief’.

Brits plan spiritual breaks

More than one in three Brits plan to recharge their spiritual batteries this year by going on a pilgrimage, staying in a monastery or embracing ‘silent travel’ by taking a break from social media while on holiday.

According to the website Monasteries.com, which promotes travel to religious sites, 39 per cent of people are planning a ‘dedicated spiritual or meditative’ break this year, with 59 per cent planning to incorporate some form of wellness into their holiday.

‘That includes meditation and quiet time, walking and, above all, taking a break from the bleeps and bongs of our devices,’ says Lily Smith from the website. ‘Research from the travel association Abta shows the main reason why people are planning to take part in wellness activities and retreats is to relax and unwind.’

Open Doors CEO Henrietta Blyth speaks at the launch

WRESTLER SUBMITS TO GOD

JACK JOHNSON explains why he’s telling Bible stories in the wrestling ring

Interview by Claire Brine

Make no mistake, Jack Johnson is ready to rumble! The professional wrestler from Salford is part of Kingdom Wrestling, a Christian organisation which uses entertainment in the ring to spread a gospel message.

‘Kingdom Wrestling is about getting people into church that wouldn’t usually go,’ says Jack. ‘We’re based at St Peter’s Church in Shipley, where we stage wrestling matches alongside Christian worship, music, preaching and sometimes even baptisms.

‘It’s quite a spectacle when you put a wrestling ring in the middle of a church, along with all the lights, cameras and loud music. People say that it’s amazing to see.’

Founded by pro wrestler Gareth Thompson, Kingdom Wrestling held its first ‘wrestling church’ event back in 2022. Jack, who has been a wrestler for eight years, was keen to get in on the action.

‘Gaz and I go way back, and when he told me about his vision for Kingdom Wrestling, I knew I had to jump on board,’ he says. ‘His idea was to use professional wrestling to tell stories from the Bible. So you might have a small and nimble David in a match against the giant Goliath. But the shows we put on also look at the bigger themes of good versus evil and light versus darkness.

‘I remember doing one show with Gaz called Chain Reaction. I was the bad guy, chained to the good guy, and the story was about breaking the chain of addiction.

‘I think the message behind everything we do is that if you believe it, you can do it.’

Though as a child Jack was drawn to wrestling for its extreme storytelling and larger-than-life characters, his own approach in the ring is to tell the truth – about who he is and where he has come from.

‘The “Jack Johnson” character pretty much

Jack Johnson

reflects my own life story,’ he explains. ‘My schtick is that I’m a guy who had a pretty hard upbringing in Salford, then went on to become a pro wrestler to make a better life for myself and my family back home. Every story I tell comes from a true place. And I’m always happy to share it at Kingdom Wrestling events, hoping that it can help other people.

‘Basically, I grew up being taken to church by my nana, so I had this idea of God, but I didn’t really think too much about it. Then I hit rock bottom. There were a lot of things that had gone wrong in my life. I’d got in with the wrong crowd. I was addicted to drugs. And I became homeless. I just didn’t have any hope for the future.

‘Because my life was a mess, my family wouldn’t speak to me. No one could trust me with anything. I imagine I wasn’t a very nice person to be around.’

Then Jack discovered that his mum had cancer. The devastating news marked a turning point in his life.

‘I thought to myself: I can either fold

now, or I can do what God put me on the planet to do,’ he says. ‘So I started to pray. I prayed about my wrestling career, telling God that it was all I wanted to do, and I also prayed for my mum to get better. Sadly, she passed away, but I saw her death as my chance to start giving 110 per cent. And part of that meant that I needed

No more drugs. No more messing around

to sort out my relationship with God.’

WhenJack made the decision to become a Christian, his whole life began to change. Slowly, he beat his drug addiction. He joined Kingdom Wrestling, keen to further his career while also being given the opportunity to share his faith. In 2022 he was baptised by his friend Gaz in the wrestling ring.

‘It marked a fresh start for me,’ Jack says. ‘No more drugs. No more messing

around. It felt like: forget what’s happened in the past. I’ve been forgiven. I’ve got a relationship with Jesus and no one can take that away from me.

‘Before I became a Christian, I used to be hot-headed and angry, but I’ve become a much calmer person now. I think I’m more understanding of people and their problems. And I recognise that the storms we face in life will pass. Brighter days are ahead – it’s going to be OK.’

By continuing to share his story through Kingdom Wrestling, Jack hopes that he will encourage others to take that first step of faith. His relationship with God is the main event of his life.

‘These days, no matter where I am or what I’m doing, I know that someone up there is looking out for me,’ he says. ‘When I’m anxious, I know that I can pray to God and feel better, because he’s bigger than anything.’

l For more information visit kingdomwrestling.org

Jack with Gaz, aka Angel in a wrestling match

STORYTELLING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT

As part of a year of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, a new period drama reimagines the life and relationships of the novelist through letters. To mark the anniversary, TERRY GLASPEY – editor of a book of Austen’s prayers – reveals a different dimension to her story: how she drew on her faith in her works of fiction

Interview by Emily Bright

When Cassandra Austen (Keeley Hawes) discovers that the widower of her close friend Eliza is at death’s door, she rushes to his bedside. But – in the BBC1 period drama Miss Austen, which begins on Sunday (2 February) – her motive is not as altruistic as it first appears. She plans to find letters which her deceased sister Jane sent to Eliza – and which have the potential to be damaging to Jane’s reputation – and, if necessary, to destroy them before anyone can publish them.

Based on the historical novel of the same name by Gill Hornby, the series uses flashbacks to explore the sisterly bond between the young Jane (Patsy Ferran) and Cassandra (Synnøve Karlsen). As the episodes unfold, the older Cassandra reads through her sister’s correspondence, which details the romantic entanglements, family feuds and broken dreams of their youth.

The drama is part of a wider commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Jane’s birth on 16 December 1775. All this attention on the author seems a little ironic given that during her lifetime, Jane avoided the limelight by publishing her work anonymously, writing for pleasure rather than fame. But the milestone does offer an opportunity to re-examine why she has become a beloved part of our literary traditions.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that journalists and literature fans tend to parrot particular quotes from Jane’s works of fiction. Guilty as charged. But seeing as classics such as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Emma have charmed readers for centuries, perhaps they do so with good reason.

A coloured engraving of Jane Austen, after a family portrait

Terry Glaspey

Much has been written about Jane’s novels. Yet the story of Jane herself is perhaps less well known. In a delightful parallel with the fictional Miss Austen, Terry Glaspey – editor of the book The Prayers of Jane Austen – sheds light on the novelist by revealing some details about her real surviving correspondence.

‘Her letters are a place where she is very honest,’ says Terry, who teaches literary-themed courses at the Northwind Theological Seminary in the US. ‘She doesn’t talk much about her writing in her letters, but she talks about things that are important to her, including her deep faith.’

It was this faith that anchored Jane throughout her life, whether she was growing up in her father’s rectory in the Hampshire village of Steventon, experiencing the buzz of the city in Bath or spending her last days in Winchester. Terry highlights references to religion throughout her letters.

‘In one, she shares the simple statement: “The providence of God has sustained me.” In another, she inserts a little prayer, which says: “Thou art everywhere present, from thee no secret can be hid. May the knowledge of this teach us to fix our thoughts on thee, with reverence and devotion, that we pray not in vain.” It’s a picture of a real faith.’

Jane’s expression of her Christian beliefs was perhaps unsurprising, given that, as Terry says, ‘faith was the family business’.

He explains: ‘Her father was an Anglican clergyman. Two of her older brothers were clergymen. And her sister Cassandra – who she loved so much – was once engaged to a clergyman. Jane was a committed Anglican believer.’

Terry discovered more about Jane’s faith while researching her life.

‘I came across her prayers,’ he says, ‘and as soon as I read them, I was touched by their rich depth and beauty. I arranged with a publisher to bring them out in a little book, The Prayers of Jane Austen.’

In it, he quotes all three of her surviving prayers in their original order and wording, bookending them with two chapters providing context to her faith and how it shaped her writing.

‘We don’t have a lot of Jane’s prayers, but we do know that these were written for her family’s time of devotions together,’ he says. ‘In one sense, when

I read those prayers, they make me think about how reflective they are of the Book of Common Prayer – in terms of language, themes and profound theology – which, as an Anglican, she would have used in Sunday services.’

She loved life and was very close to her family

Terry also believes that Jane’s prayers give a tantalising insight into her character and the way in which she related to God.

‘She was an inward-looking person,’ he says. ‘I think she had a deep understanding of her own frailties. That probably helped her to look at others without a sense of judgement, while trying to exemplify a better way of living.

Keeley Hawes as Cassandra Austen in the BBC1 drama ‘Miss Austen’

‘There is a sense of repentance in her written prayers. There is a wrestling with her own sinfulness, an awareness of how she has fallen short, and an asking of God’s forgiveness for that.

‘And they are marked by a gratitude which shows that she loved life and appreciated the gifts that God brought her. She was very close to her family, and I think that was one of the things she was grateful for. Lastly, her prayers contained a sense of reverence and devotion towards God.’

While Jane avoided being overtly evangelistic in her writing, her faith trickled into her works of fiction.

‘She didn’t see her job as a novelist as

Turn to page 10 f

From page 9

being to preach to people,’ says Terry, ‘but rather to help them think about what it means to be a truly good person, always in relation to how they treated others. Her faith was foundational to that.

‘So many times in her novels, there are moments where the characters repent, like Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice coming to the realisation of how she has misjudged Mr Darcy. She sees that her conception of him is completely unfair.

‘We also see moments in Emma where Emma Woodhouse realises that she has been unnecessarily cruel and mean-spirited towards Miss Bates. Almost every one of her novels has a moment where the main character sees themselves clearly and realises the need for change in their life. I don’t think that’s an accident.’

Members of the clergy weren’t immune from examination either. At times, Jane was irreverent in her depiction of reverends.

Jane saw the clergy as moral and ethical guides

‘There are those who are hypocrites and obsequious dullards, such as Mr Collins from Pride and Prejudice or Mr Elton from Emma,’ says Terry. ‘Through them, she shows the emptiness of religion as just a habitual practice, or as just an occupation. These were men who didn’t care that much about it.’

But she introduced more positive examples of religious figures in her

novels too, highlighting their role in providing pastoral care to the community.

‘Edmund Bertram in Mansfield Park is probably the most memorable,’ says Terry. ‘He defends his calling against the scoffing secularism of Mary Crawford, who tries to convince him to forsake it.

‘At one point he says: “If a clergyman does not live among his parishioners, and prove himself, by constant attention, their well-wisher and their friend, he does very little either for their good or his own.” I like that. Jane saw the clergy as both moral and ethical guides for the nation.’

In recent years, Jane’s books – filled with distinctive characters that readers learn to love or loathe – have been the subject of cinematic releases and television period dramas. Terry finds the trend intriguing.

This year marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth

Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in the 1995 TV adaptation of ‘Pride and Prejudice’

‘I think it has helped keep her alive for this generation,’ he says, citing the example of the 1995 TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. ‘Hopefully a lot of people have seen Colin Firth as Mr Darcy emerging from the lake and have decided: “Oh, I should actually check out the book!”’

Popular culture has helped to capture the hearts of a new generation of Jane Austen fans. But Terry believes that the secret to her literary success is that ‘she had such an insight into human nature’.

He says: ‘She really understood people, and she understood relationships. She dealt with them in such a kind, witty and winsome sort of manner.

‘She gives you a wry smile as she provides a mirror into how you might see yourself. Plus, she’s just a wonderful prose stylist.’

Jane’s own life story was cut short: on 18 July 1817, she died from ill health at the age of 41. Her family gave her a touching epitaph on her grave in Winchester Cathedral. It reads: ‘The benevolence of her heart, the sweetness of her temper and the extraordinary endowments of her mind obtained the regard of all who knew her and the warmest love of her intimate connections.

‘Their grief is in proportion to their affection they know their loss to be irreparable. But in their deepest affliction they are consoled by a firm though humble hope that her charity, devotion, faith and purity have rendered her soul in the acceptable sight of her redeemer.’

It seems a fitting tribute. And, as Terry and I speak, he offers a tribute of his own, both in terms of Jane’s character and writing.

‘I don’t want to treat her as though she is a saint, but I think that she was a person of kindness and goodness – even though she could have a wicked sense of humour when she needed to.

‘Jane saw through people’s failings, but I see in her a generosity of spirit, even towards those in her books that are the villains. They’re never treated simply as villains. That’s a beautiful thing. I think that’s one of the reasons why her characters seem so alive.’

l The Prayers of Jane Austen is published by Harvest House Publishers

Your prayers are requested for Lukas and his wife, who are hoping to start a family.

The War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their circumstances, for publication. Send your Prayerlink requests to warcry@ salvationarmy.org.uk or to War Cry, 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ. Mark your correspondence ‘Confidential’.

jBecoming a Christian

There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God

Browsing the Bible

Nigel Bovey gives chapter and verse on each book of the Scriptures

Numbers

While heading from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan, Moses takes a census of all men of fighting strength. The headcount is conducted according to the tribes that trace their ancestry to the 12 sons of Jacob. From each tribe, a leader is chosen. The total fighting force is some 603,000 (chapter 1).

From the tribe of Levi, Aaron and his sons are chosen to be the priests (chapter 3) and priests’ helpers (chapter 4).

Moses sends 12 men to Canaan on a reconnaissance mission. On their return to the desert, they report that their intended destination flows with ‘milk and honey’ (13:27 New International Version).

Hearing that such fertile territory is guarded, the community, which has already moaned about Moses’ leadership and the daily food provisions, rebels (chapter 14).

They tell Moses that they would rather be in slavery in Egypt. Angry at their attitude, God tells them that, because of their rebellion, they will not live to see the promised land. They are condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years (14:33).

Lord Jesus Christ,

I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.

Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.

Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit.

Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Amen

Harassed by, and frustrated at, his people, Moses disobeys an instruction from God about how to obtain water. As a result, God tells Moses that he will not enter Canaan (20:12).

The journey has reached the eastern side of the Dead Sea, where the Moabite tribe is worried that the newcomers will overwhelm them. Their leader, Balak, asks a holy man, Balaam, to curse them. Four times, Balaam blesses Moses and his community (chapters 22 to 24).

Coexistence has its costs. Some of the men start worshipping the Moabite god, Baal (25:1–3). Through a plague, God punishes those people.

With Canaan in sight, Moses commissions Joshua to succeed him (chapter 27) and makes further plans for religious observance once the Israelites have settled (chapters 28 and 29).

To receive basic reading about Christianity and information about The Salvation Army, complete this coupon and send it to

War Cry 1 Champion Park London SE5 8FJ

Or email your name and postal address to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk

Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

QUICK QUIZ

1 2 3 4 5 6

Who won last year’s series of Channel 4’s The Great British Bake Off ?

Which pioneering nurse became the first woman to be awarded the Order of Merit?

Caribou and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road are titles of No 1 albums by which artist?

Who played 007 in the first James Bond film Dr No?

Who wrote the novel Wuthering Heights?

Which Premier League football club’s badge features a seagull?

Social media users are encouraged to post good news

Feature by Ewan Hall

From Facebook birthday reminders to global conversations, social media seems to offer it all – but some would say at a cost. Social media has revolutionised global connectivity, putting the world at our fingertips. It has allowed us to catch up easily and quickly with family and friends, regardless of their location. However, scratch beneath the surface and a far more hostile reality can emerge.

Users may encounter xenophobia, racism, anti-religious hatred and misogyny. Despite their efforts to avoid its downsides and even government interventions, users may feel trapped in an echo chamber of hate.

Next Thursday (6 February) is a day when many people take the opportunity to participate in the #ReclaimSocial campaign, which encourages the use of online platforms for positive and meaningful engagement. Since 2018 #ReclaimSocial has been using social media to combat negativity, hate speech and toxicity. The aim of the day is for people to use the hashtag #ReclaimSocial media to highlight great causes and the amazing work people are doing in the world. It’s a day for showing positivity and breaking away from negativity.

However, it can be hard to post positively online if we’re struggling to see good things in our own lives. Whether it be because of relationship troubles, financial concerns or health problems, we can go through periods when we feel only negative.

At such times we can be unsure of where we can turn for help – but many people have found comfort in their faith in God. One Bible passage describes how God ‘heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds’ (Psalm 147:3 New International Version).

Seeking God in times of struggle can give us a great sense of peace and hope. If we turn to him and follow his way of living, we can find unwavering support and love in our toughest moments.

God will give those who ask him the help they need and will show them how to navigate any challenges they may face.

What’s not to like?

Georgie Grasso. 2. Florence Nightingale.

Elton John.

Sean Connery. 5. Emily Brontë.

Brighton and Hove Albion.

ACROSS

1. Post (4)

3. Animal doctor (3)

5. Fasten (4)

7. Bought (9)

9. Retailed (4)

10. Compassion (4)

11. Fetch (5)

14. Town chief (5)

15. Thread (5)

17. Greek letter (5)

18. In no way (5)

19. Essential (5)

20. Loathsome (5)

23. Benevolent (4)

25. Cutlery item (4)

27. Intermediary (2-7)

28. Couple (4)

29. Pitch (3)

30. Young girl (4) DOWN

1. Shapeless heap (4)

2. Praise (4)

3. Parish parson (5)

4. Drill (5)

5. Ooze (4)

6. Idle (4)

7. Toy (9)

8. Course (9)

11. Colour (5)

12. Notions (5)

13. Meat juice (5)

14. Male (3)

16. Snake-like fish (3)

21. Avoid (5)

22. Turret (5)

23. Retain (4)

24. Grim (4)

25. Tumbled (4)

26. Caress by lips (4)

HONEYCOMB

ANNE ELLIOT CATHERINE MORLAND CHARLES BINGLEY

CHARLOTTE LUCAS

ELIZABETH BENNET

Nohow. 19. Vital. 20. Nasty. 23. Kind. 25. Fork.

Go-between. 28. Pair. 29. Tar. 30. Lass.

Laud.

Vicar.

Train.

Seep.

Plaything.

Brown.

Ideas.

Gravy. 14. Man. 16. Eel. 21. Avert.

Tower. 23. Keep. 24. Dour.

Fell. 26. Kiss.

Waffle. 2. Harare. 3. Poodle. 4. Kindle. 5. Aerial. 6. Duffel.

Prattle

Zimbabwean city

Breed of dog with a curly coat

Set on fire

Signal receiver 6. Coarse woollen cloth

Tray-baked salmon and vegetables

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

300g pack green beans

8 spring onions, chopped

150g frozen peas, defrosted

1 red pepper, thinly sliced 16 cherry tomatoes

4 x 125g salmon steaks, skin on and boneless

½ lemon, juice

3tbsp water

Lemon wedges, to serve

Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4.

Blanch the green beans for 4 minutes in boiling water, then drain. Spread out the beans, spring onions, peas, red pepper and cherry tomatoes in an ovenproof dish.