War Cry 1 June 2024

WAR CRY

Teams are in it to win it at Men’s T20 World Cup

writer’s notes on faith and feminism

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

Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku

Staff Writer: Emily Bright

Staff Writer: Claire Brine

Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk

Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston

Graphic Designer: Mark Knight

Graphic Designer: Natalie Adkins

Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk

The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 1 Champion Park London SE5 8FJ

Tel: 0845 634 0101

Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org

Founder: William Booth

General: Lyndon Buckingham

Territorial leaders: Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main

Editor-in-Chief: Major Julian Watchorn

0043-0226

Your local Salvation Army centre

From the editor’s desk

The best stage magicians can leave their audiences spellbound as they appear to do the impossible through sleight of hand and misdirection.

That’s certainly what Mark Shortland has been able to do, even with the judges in ITV1’s Britain’s Got Talent. As we discover in an interview in this week’s War Cry, Mark has made several appearances on the show and each time has conjured up enough yeses from Simon Cowell and co to make it past the first round.

‘Like a lot of performers, I went on BGT to be noticed,’ he tells us. ‘Performers who audition for the show tend to be at a certain level in their career and they need a nudge up to the next level. Doing two minutes on the telly can give them that extra bit of gravitas, as people are more likely to buy tickets for their shows.’

In his interview, Mark explains how he started doing tricks while he was still a schoolboy and that his career has now taken him all over the world. He has performed in theatres, in hotels, on cruise ships and even in an exclusive clubhouse frequented by A-list celebrities in Hollywood.

Mark also takes his magic to churches and Christian festivals where, after performing his act, he tells his audience about how his Christian faith has helped him throughout his life.

‘My belief in God gives me a grounding and the knowledge that everything is going to be OK – even in times of struggle,’ he says.

Sometimes when we see a performer on stage or on television, it can be easy to think that their life is different from ours and doesn’t include the challenges and difficulties that impact us. However, the truth is that everybody goes through tough times.

In those moments, Christians know that they can turn to God for help. He doesn’t wave a magic wand to make the problems disappear, but he does guide them and give them the strength to get through.

INFO INFO

Jofra Archer is in England’s T20 World Cup squad

PITCH PERFECT

Cricket teams aim to be ready for challenges of T20 Men’s World Cup

Feature by Emily Bright

T20fans don’t like cricket. They love it. And the good news for them is that, throughout June, they’ll be able to enjoy following a feast of fixtures, as the best bowlers and biggest hitters slog it out for the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup trophy.

The matches will take place at venues across the United States and the Caribbean, leading up to the final on Saturday 29 June.

The fast-scoring, 20-over format of the game should mean that there’ll be plenty of shots smashed into the stands for six runs or brushed across the boundaries for four. But any risky shots could benefit the fielding team, who aim to catch the batter out when they’re least expecting it.

The tournament begins with the USA playing Canada this weekend. On Tuesday (4 June), defending champions England will play Scotland. A day later, the Ireland team starts its opening game against World Cup favourites India.

Squad announcements for the tournament have sparked surprise. Experienced batter Steve Smith has been left out by the Australian selectors, while wicketkeeper and batsman KL Rahul is conspicuously absent from India’s side, despite having taken part in its past two World Cup campaigns.

For other players, there’s good news –Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant returns to international cricket after a near-fatal accident in 2022. And England fast bowler Jofra Archer – who has faced a number of recent setbacks – rejoins England for his first match since March last year, having recovered from an elbow injury.

Like any professional sport, cricket presents plenty of challenges. Injury, selector scrutiny and loss of form can all take their toll on players. But there is nothing quite like performing on the international stage, sustained by the support of the 12th man: the crowds cheering them on.

Life is no different. Sometimes we feel as if we’re on top of the world. At other times, though, we may feel stumped by the challenges that we encounter, whether a health issue, a work crisis or a breakdown in a relationship. In those times, we can feel alone. But there is someone on our side through everything we face.

Christians believe that God is always alongside us. They look back to great figures such as Moses, a leader who spent his life overcoming adversity and told his people that God ‘goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Deuteronomy 31:8 New International Version).

We can know that same reliable God for ourselves. Whatever we’re dealing with, we can find a way forward with his help. Inviting God into our lives will be a game changer, because he will provide us with the love, guidance and support we need. Howzat!

j TEA M TALK

Walk on

Claire Brine gives her take on a story that has caught the attention of War Cry reporters

‘The spiritual worth of walking is dawning on me,’ wrote Justine Toh in The Guardian. After tearing her right calf muscle, the senior research fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity has had to give up running and embrace walking – but the enforced slower pace isn’t something she finds easy.

‘My need to hurry,’ she said, ‘is partly why I have an issue with walking... As a full-time working parent of primary-aged children, I belong to that cohort who reports feeling always or often rushed for time.’

I can relate to how she feels. But, despite Justine’s initial reluctance to relish the slower pace of life, she went on to describe the value she found when she started walking in her neighbourhood rather than dashing through it. She added that, although it may be impossible to ‘quit the accelerating life’ entirely, people do have the choice to ‘slightly deprogram’ themselves from its ‘fast and furious pace’.

My senses wake up

WAR talk talk Team talk Team talk ‘ ’

Then she explained how her new-found approach was inspired by the Bible.

‘I keep in mind a tiny glimpse of paradise to power my modest resistance,’ she said. ‘Specifically, a poetic image from the Bible’s creation story: “The man and the woman heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day.”’

Reflecting on the idea of walking with God, Justine pointed out the futility of rushing, highlighting instead the beauty to be found in embracing every single step.

‘The world and its infinite pleasures will unfold themselves in their own sweet time and will be there for us to discover, together,’ she wrote. ‘The daily walk and talk, reviewing the day just gone, while being present to those you love, is the heart-, mind- and soulwandering that is deeply restful, and the way every day should end.’

I think she’s right. If the Creator of the world (and the designer of the concept of time) placed immeasurable value in walking unhurriedly for a few precious moments each day, then perhaps I should too. I find that when I slow down, my senses wake up, enabling me to take one step closer to the God who loves me unconditionally. There’s no better way to spend my time.

War Cry seller ‘highly commended’

Salvation Army volunteer Pat Donkin, who has sold the War Cry for the past 20 years, has been honoured at an awards evening for her role in the community.

Pat, who is 77, raises about £3,000 a year through her weekly sales at Wetherby Market in West Yorkshire. The money raised goes towards the work of the church and charity in the community.

She was ‘highly commended’ at the ceremony, which was organised by the Harrogate branch of Soroptimists International, a women’s voluntary organisation that works to improve the lives of women and girls at home and abroad through education and poverty prevention initiatives.

Captain Yvonne West, who leads Wetherby Salvation Army, said: ‘Everybody knows Pat. She has become a local celebrity. If she’s not here one Thursday people will come and say, “What have you done with Pat!” Everybody cares where she is.

‘She is such a good advert for the church. She’s one of our biggest advocates and really gets what The Salvation Army is and what we want to achieve.’

Pat selling the ‘War Cry’ at Wetherby Market

WAR CRY

God is good for comedy star

The star of a BBC comedy show thanked God after winning a Bafta award.

Gbemisola Ikumelo, who won the best performance in a comedy category for her role in Black Ops, started her speech at the ceremony with a call and response, saying, ‘God is good, all the time’. She then prayed: ‘God, thank you so much. You took this dark, young kid from the ends and brought me into this place of light and now I get to go on this creative journey that you set me on, and I’m so thankful, Lord. So thank you first of all.’

Generation Z ‘zealous in their faith’

Faith is more highly valued by members of Generation Z than by previous generations, according to a new survey. Commissioned by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), the survey into the British public’s attitudes to the role that faith plays in various aspects life found that 69 per cent of respondents between the ages of 18 and 24 believe

Netflix to stream Bible-based love story

Netflix will be producing more faithbased films, reports Tudum, the official companion site to the streaming service.

Actor and film-maker Tyler Perry and producer DeVon Franklin, both Christians, have made a new deal with Netflix to produce multiple faith-based films that will stream exclusively on the platform. The first of the films will be a modern-day retelling of the biblical love story of Ruth and Boaz.

Perry said: ‘In this polarising world, and at a time where the world seems to be growing colder every day, we both share the common goal of wanting to spread some good. And there’s no better place than Netflix.’

their faith has a significant impact on their lives, compared with 44 per cent of those aged 55 to 65 and 51 per cent of those aged 65-plus.

Responses also revealed that Gen Z emphasises the importance of faith in the public domain, viewing faith leaders’ involvement in social and political matters positively.

Dr Jake Scott, secretary at the IIFL, says that ‘Gen Z are more seeking God; they are more zealous in their faith. They are more wanting to speak of their faith in public and hear others share their faith.’

Africa’s debts cost more than health and education

Debt restructuring is ‘a matter of life and death’, says former prime minister Gordon Brown in the foreword to a new Christian Aid report which reveals that 34 African countries spend more on external debt repayments than on health and education for their citizens.

Research published by the international development agency in Between Life and Debt shows that African government external debt repayments will be at least 18.5 per cent of budget revenues this year, the highest proportion since 1998 and almost four times as high as in 2010.

Christian Aid says that global debt cancellation successes championed by the Church in the late 1990s and early 2000s began to be undone by the 2008 financial crash, when lenders, often private, could charge higher interest rates to lower-income countries than in the western world.

It argues that the UK can play a leading role in tackling the global problem, partly because much of the debt owed to western private creditors is governed under English law.

African civil society groups have also questioned their own governments’ decisions during recent years.

The report shows how the diversion of money to debt repayment leads to a lack of investment in areas such as climate change adaptation schemes for farmers and in healthcare.

Writing in his foreword, Gordon Brown says: ‘We are frequently reminded of the links that bind countries together in our increasingly interconnected global economy. But for far longer, the Christian faith has affirmed the moral links that bind us together, all of us –countries and communities, wealthy and low-income… It is this same Christian belief in our moral bonds that allows us to confront the challenge that such an interconnected economic system is failing the world’s global majority.’

Magic man

With a hammer, six envelopes and a dice, he played Russian roulette with Jonathan Ross’s phone. At the Magic Castle in Hollywood, Colin Farrell described him as ‘truly amazing’. But it was only when he auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020 that magician Mark Shortland could finally tick the top item off his bucket list.

‘I got to perform a trick on the London Palladium stage, on my own, in front of a full audience, who gave me a standing ovation,’ he says, talking to me ahead of the final of this year’s competition, which takes place this weekend. ‘I received four yeses from the judges, which meant I was in the running for the live shows. Unfortunately, when they came to choose their 40 semi-finalists, I wasn’t picked, so that’s where my progress on the show ended. But I’d love to have another crack at it one day.’

Mark, whose career in magic began more than 20 years ago, has auditioned

Ahead

of the Britain’s Got Talent final this weekend, magician MARK SHORTLAND reminisces about his experiences of the competition and reveals why Jesus’ powers were no magical illusion

Interview by Claire Brine

for ITV1’s talent competition a number of times. On each occasion, he has given a different performance, heard positive feedback from the four judges – including head judge Simon Cowell – and received enough yeses to be put through to the next round.

Despite his disappointment at not yet reaching a semi-final, Mark is grateful for

the opportunity that the show gave him to share his magic with millions.

‘Like a lot of performers, I went on BGT to be noticed,’ he explains. ‘Performers who audition for the show tend to be at a certain level in their career and they need a nudge up to the next level. Doing two minutes on the telly can give them that extra bit of gravitas, as people are more

Mark enjoys getting the audience involved in his magic

likely to buy tickets for their shows if they can say: “I saw that guy on the telly.”’

As well as appearing on BGT, Mark has also performed on Penn and Teller: Fool Us, the TV competition in which magicians are tasked with performing a piece of magic without the magical comedy duo working out how it was accomplished.

‘That was my first time performing magic on TV, so it was a great experience,’ says Mark. ‘And the Russian roulette trick is still one of my favourites to do. I had five fake mobile phones, and then I borrowed Jonathan Ross’s phone. Each phone was sealed into a different

envelope, which Jonathan numbered one to six, then he rolled a dice. Whatever number he rolled, we smashed that envelope with a hammer. Obviously, after smashing the contents of five envelopes, we opened the last one and his phone was safe inside – which Jonathan said was a relief!’

In entertaining his audiences, Mark firmly believes that magic – and taking part in it – should always be a positive experience for those who step up as volunteers.

‘I’m not one of those magicians who invites someone on to the stage to ridicule or embarrass them,’ he says.

‘Magicians have had that reputation in the past. I want people who come on stage with me to go back to their seat feeling happy they did it, with their chest puffed out, having had a lot of fun.’

Since 2001, Mark has performed all over the world, in theatres and hotels, on cruise ships and even at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, an exclusive clubhouse often frequented by celebrities, including film actor Colin Farrell, who told him that he enjoyed his act.

‘Because I travel to far-off places, I make sure that all my props can fit into

Turn to page 8 f

Mark Shortland

From page 7

two suitcases,’ says Mark. ‘So I don’t tend to do the “big illusions” where you might put people in a box and cut it in half.

‘My set includes card and rope tricks, and I also do tricks with mind-reading, where it seems that I can tell what people are thinking. I’m good at sleight of hand and misdirection, making audiences think I’ve done something when I’ve actually done something else.’

In 2005 Mark became the British Magical Grand Prix Champion, and in the years that followed, he added countless other awards to his collection, including the Magic Circle’s Carlton award for comedy magic, which he received in 2014. It was an accolade also won by his childhood hero Paul Daniels.

‘I can remember watching him on the telly when I was a kid,’ Mark says. ‘Back then, I got a magic set for Christmas one year, and that’s when I started doing tricks for my family and friends.’

After graduating from college with a degree in design, Mark landed a job as an outdoor pursuits instructor at a Christian retreat centre in Wales. He started performing small magic tricks for the groups that went to stay there.

‘That’s when I started combining my tricks with my faith,’ he says. ‘I used to do a trick where I’d borrow a kid’s spare T-shirt, burn a hole in it, then restore it. I’d explain to the kids that we all mess up, but when we ask God to forgive our mistakes, he can restore us and make us clean again.’

In 1996, after attending a convention run by the Fellowship of Christian Magicians, Mark began to think about what it could mean to take his magic

Mark performs on stages around the world

more seriously.

‘I started to create my own magical effects and work on my onstage persona,’ he explains. ‘I was still working at the retreat centre, but magic was very much my sideline. Then, in 2001, the UK was hit by foot-and-mouth disease, which decimated my career as an outdoor pursuits instructor. So I made the decision to do magic full-time.’

I won’t say anything to embarrass

people

Aswell as performing on stages all over the world, Mark enjoys taking his magic to churches and Christian festivals. Sometimes, after entertaining the audience with the tricks up his sleeve, he is asked to tell the story of his Christian faith. It’s a faith that has helped him throughout his life.

‘My belief in God gives me a grounding and the knowledge that everything is going to be OK – even in times of struggle,’ he says. ‘And it affects how I approach my performances. I won’t use bad language on stage or say anything to offend or embarrass people. You can’t do

those things and then say that you want to talk to them about God.

‘Also, although my magic is often about misdirection and getting people to think certain things, I endeavour not to lie on stage. I’ll perform a routine that people can’t quite understand, but I won’t tell the audience anything that isn’t true. I was brought up with honest Christian values, and those values won’t go away.’

Mark’s magic also gives him insights into the person of Jesus, who astounded people with his miracles of healing, walking on water and turning water into wine. Could it be that he was the world’s finest magician? Not so, according to Mark.

‘A magician is someone who pretends to be magic, but I believe that Jesus was different because he had special powers, given by God, to do amazing things,’ he says. ‘Jesus wasn’t a showman. He didn’t go on tour with his six best tricks. He performed miracles only when he needed to – when something happened and he needed to get a message across. In my mind, Jesus wasn’t an illusionist, because what he did for people was real.’

Journalist shows faith in feminism

LAUREN WINDLE explains what true gender equality looks like and who it s biggest champion is

Interview by Emily Bright

At its most extreme, the word ‘feminism’ may evoke images of men-hating, angry, bra-burning activists. But the reality is far more nuanced. Defined by the Concise Oxford English Dictionary as the ‘advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of sexual equality’, the term is a catch-all for a range of opinions.

Journalist Lauren Windle, who has written Notes on Feminism – a Christian take on the subject – tells me: ‘Feminism is an umbrella term. What I find is that no two people agree on every topic that relates to women and equality. If somebody says, “I’m a feminist”, you can’t assume much about their ideology. Hopefully the common thread would be that they want to see equality for women and opportunities for them to thrive in places that have been previously denied them.’

Lauren explains what genuine equality for women looks like in practice.

‘In Notes on Feminism, I use the example of trying to see over the other side of a fence,’ she says. ‘In one sense equality is to give me, a 5ft 3in woman, and my mate, who’s a 6ft 3in man – the same size

Turn to page 10 f

Lauren Windle

block to stand on.

‘If that happens, I’m slightly raised but still can’t see over the fence. My mate can see over the fence and has a better view, even though he was already fine beforehand. True equality would be giving me both blocks, because my need is greater.’

The need to stand up for women has become shockingly apparent in recent years. In 2021, the UK was rocked by the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens, an off-duty police officer. It sparked a nationwide conversation about the dangers that women face.

Around that time, Lauren came to the conclusion that there was an absence of books about the state of feminism in the UK from a Christian perspective, so she began writing one herself.

Thankfully, Notes on Feminism is far from a dry treatise. Lauren writes with humour on the subject, satirising the stereotypes of flamboyant feminism and constrictive conservativism.

Yet, in a change of tone, she also tackles tough issues such as media misogyny, sexist assumptions in medicine and gender-based violence. And, crucially, she redresses problematic interpretations of Bible passages.

Broadcaster

The book also features chapter contributions from high-profile women such as broadcaster Katie Piper and retired Team GB long jumper Abigail Irozuru.

Wading into the subject of faith and feminism initially filled Lauren with trepidation, as the Church has often historically been associated with patriarchal views. Some conservative Christians have based their opinions on the writings of Paul – one early leader of the Church – whose letters include instructions that ‘women should remain silent in church’ and that ‘wives must submit to their husbands’.

Lauren remembers: ‘I said to my mentor: “If I start researching for this book, what if I find out that I shouldn’t be speaking in churches?” She said: “You are free to pray on, wrestle with and read the Bible with all of this. You will not find God on the wrong side of it.” The more I investigated, the more compatible I thought feminism and faith actually were.’

It seems that, when investigating the Scriptures, context is king – or queen.

I can see God rewarding bold women in the Bible

‘When we look at individual verses, we need to look at the story and narrative,’ Lauren explains. ‘For instance, I don’t think that Paul wanted women to be silent in church. In that context, men stood at the front of a church and women stood at the back.

‘The women at the back probably couldn’t hear the speaker, so were talking amongst themselves. Paul is saying: “We need you to stop that, because otherwise no one can hear anything.”

‘It’s easy to see Paul as someone who’s putting people in their place, whereas I think that the whole message is to reassign dignity where it had not been given in that society. There’s no way that Paul didn’t want women to lead churches because he also praises the women who are pivotal in leading the early Church.’

Lauren also found that female empowerment was a theme running throughout the Bible.

‘I was encouraged and blown away by the way I can see God rewarding bold women in the Bible,’ she says. ‘These courageous women push against standards of the day in spectacular ways. Where they have taken the initiative and have followed what God wants rather than what society wants, incredible things have happened.’

Lauren gives the example of two midwives who ignored a genocidal edict from an Egyptian pharaoh to kill all baby Israelite boys. Their actions saved countless lives, including that of Moses, who would later lead the Israelites out of

Katie Piper has written a chapter in ‘Notes on Feminism’

slavery and into freedom. ‘The midwives changed the course of history,’ she says. ‘I find that empowering.’

But she also acknowledges that these Bible stories signpost readers back to God’s power at work in people, rather than humanity successfully operating alone. She says that every person in the Bible – bar one – is flawed, ‘but we learn lessons from their imperfections, and from the amazing things that they did through God’s strength’.

The exception to imperfection, Lauren believes, is Jesus, the Son of God – who, notably, championed women.

‘When the world said women weren’t worth educating, he said: let them stay and hear me teach. Jesus lifted up women and gave them more dignity, education and worth than the standards of the time.’

Extraordinarily, he even entrusted women with the message of the gospel at a time when their word in court was often regarded as inadmissible.

‘After the Resurrection, Jesus presented himself to women first,’ says Lauren. ‘When society said women weren’t to be believed, it was as if he was saying: “These are going to be the people who pass on my message.” That’s really exciting. God loves the underdog, the people that are overlooked – and historically that has been women.’

She believes that God continues to model true equality in the world today.

‘When it comes to the way that God cares for us,’ she says, ‘he doesn’t make sure that everyone has access to the same gifts, but he does give each person what they need.

‘That doesn’t mean that anyone is shortchanged. It means that he’s working for the good of the individual, but also for the good of the group.’

While Lauren has faith in a God who cares deeply about equality, she is aware of the injustices that women face every day around the world.

Within the book, she highlights

problematic attitudes and behaviours around sex and – in a particularly poignant part of the book – writes a prayer for survivors of sexual assault. She believes that Jesus can bring healing into any situation.

‘I don’t think there is any trauma too great,’ Lauren tells me, ‘any pain, any suffering that he cannot completely heal and use for the good of the individual who is harmed.

‘I think that God can use ways that our personalities have been changed, formed or influenced by horrible situations to build up spectacular things in us. There’s no doubt in my mind that his healing is available.’

l Notes on Feminism is published by SPCK

In the book, Team GB long jumper Abigail Irozuru shares her views on attitudes towards the bodies of female athletes

Prayerlink

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

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

This week: Southwick Community Project, Sunderland

with Graham Wharton, community manager

The Salvation Army’s community project opened in Southwick in 1998 with a mums–and–tots group. Our aim has always been to ask the local people: ‘What do you want to be happening here?’ Then we listen to their answers and ask ourselves: ‘How can we make those ideas work?’

Our building is called the Austin House Family Centre and every week we have about 600 people coming through our doors. We have a café called the Daily Bread Café, which is open to the general public every Monday to Friday. It’s also used for a breakfast club every morning, when we give about 30 young people and their parents a free breakfast before school.

Other services we offer include a food bank, an after-school club, arts and crafts classes, exercise classes and – for older people – a weekly lunch club and a friendship club. These groups become a bit of a listening post. Our volunteers become aware of any difficult situations that crop up among families and friends, then we can ring them up later on to see how they are doing.

We have an IT suite in our building, so we can run The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus programme, which helps unemployed people to look for work. But we also run activities away from our premises. On Tuesday afternoons, we have a group of adults with special needs who meet up to go tenpin bowling.

Although we don’t run worship services on a Sunday, Southwick Community Project is still a church, serving the community through the activities that we offer. People come to us because we are a safe space and they feel welcomed. When people walk through our doors, we see them as our guests and want to look after them.

One of the local councillors, who lives near our building, once said: ‘If you take The Salvation Army out of the community, you’re taking the heart out of the community.’ We are here to meet people where they are, with the needs that they have.

The three words that best sum up Southwick Community Project are accessible, hope and compassion.

Graham was speaking to Claire Brine

Address

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

QUICK QUIZ

Who recently had a No 1 single with ‘Beautiful Things’?

In which decade was the children’s TV show Blue Peter first broadcast?

Who wrote the 16th-century book Utopia, about a fictional perfect island nation?

What common phrase in French literally translates as ‘good appetite’?

Who played missionary Sarah Brown in the 1955 film Guys and Dolls?

Castling, promotion and checkmate are names for moves in which board game?

Peppa Pig and her family have been on screen since 2004

Quite the character

Children’s animation series celebrates 20 years

Feature

by Sarah Olowofoyeku

Aspecial Royal Mail stamp, celebrity guest stars and a whole range of new products are celebrating the 20th anniversary of a beloved children’s show. Peppa Pig first appeared on screens on 31 May 2004, which means that some of its original fans may have children of their own watching the programme today.

Over the past 20 years, families across 180 countries have enjoyed watching the antics of the cheeky preschooler Peppa, her little brother, George, and their parents, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig.

To mark the occasion, a set of eight stamps featuring the show’s characters has been released by the Royal Mail, and earlier this year, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom starred in a three-part wedding special that hit the big screen. Brands such as Hummingbird Bakery, Emma Bridgewater and Jojo Maman Bébé have also launched some Peppa Pig-themed products.

With short episodes about a couple of kids, their parents and their friends navigating life while jumping in muddy puddles, learning new skills and getting through some trickier situations – such as getting sick or feeling shy – it’s no wonder Peppa Pig has been so popular for two decades.

Sharon Webster, who voiced the Dutch Peppa Pig, tells the War Cry: ‘Peppa is a very relatable character. She does things most kids would do and has a family that a lot of kids can relate to, so it’s easy and fun to engage with and learn from her.’

It is often easier to connect with someone that you have shared an experience with. It’s why more than two millennia ago, God sent his Son, Jesus, into the world to live as a human. He wanted us – the people he created – to be able to relate to him.

One Bible writer said that Jesus is not ‘out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all’ (Hebrews 4:15 The Message).

It means we can go to him when we have found ourselves in tricky situations – and instead of being judged, we can know that we will find empathy and forgiveness, if we accept them. That’s something we can all celebrate.

Thomas More.

‘Bon appétit’. 5. Jean Simmons. 6. Chess.

PUZZLES

Quick

1. Associate (7) 5. Swift (5) 7. Separated (7)

CROSSWORD

(7)

Kinsman (8)

Annihilated (9)

Traffic-light colour (5)

Speck (4)

Flattery.

Return.

Matador.

Nude. 4. Riddle.

Easy peasy omelette

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

6 large eggs

2tbsp water

125g reducedfat cheddar cheese, grated Ground black pepper

10g fresh mint, hard stems removed and finely chopped (optional)

1tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

150g frozen peas, defrosted and drained

INGREDIENTS

300g wholemeal pasta

320g frozen peppers

4 spring onions, topped, tailed and finely chopped

8 cherry tomatoes, halved

4 sprigs fresh mint, finely chopped (optional)

12 pitted black olives (optional)

2 x 125g cans mackerel in olive oil

Black pepper

1 small lemon

Break the eggs into a mixing bowl and whisk with a fork.

Add the water, cheese, pepper and, if using, mint and mix well.

Heat the oil in a frying pan on a high heat. Add the onion, reduce the heat to medium and cook until soft, stirring occasionally. Add the peas. Stir and continue to cook for a couple of minutes.

Pour in the egg mixture and stir all the ingredients together so they are evenly spread out in the frying pan. As the omelette cooks, use a palette knife or spatula to draw the edges towards the centre and tilt the pan so that the pools of runny egg on top spread out to create new edges.

Preheat the grill. Continue to cook the omelette for 5-6 minutes, until the base is golden. Put the pan under the grill until the omelette is set and brown. Loosen the edges with a palette knife or spatula and place the omelette on a plate.

Cut into slices, to serve.

Mackerel pasta salad

METHOD

Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. To defrost the frozen peppers, add to the pasta when it is just cooked and bring the water back to the boil.

Drain the pasta in a colander, cool with cold water, then transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add the spring onions, tomatoes and, if using, mint and black olives.

Drain the mackerel through a sieve into another bowl to reserve the oil, then add the drained mackerel to the vegetables and pasta and mix.

To make a dressing, measure 2tbsp reserved oil into a small bowl.

Cut the lemon in half and use one half to squeeze 1tbsp juice into the bowl. Add some black pepper, then whisk with a fork and pour over the pasta salad.

Cut the other half of the lemon into small wedges to serve with the salad.

GOD is willing to meet you where you are God is where

Joyce Meyer