War Cry 2 July 2022

Barge floats church into financial district

WAR CRY

2 July 2022 50p

Play on Football’s elite are ready for Women’s Euros to kick off

There’s a buzz about Rowan’s new comedy

From the editor’s desk

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.

FOR centuries, barges were used to take goods and fuel back and forth across the United Kingdom. Nowadays, many canal boats are used for leisure.

However, as we discover in this week’s War Cry, one barge that used to carry freight is now being used to take the Christian faith to workers in London’s financial district of Canary Wharf.

‘People are intrigued,’ the Rev Marcus Nodder, the pastor of St Peter’s Barge on West India Quay, tells us. ‘It shows that church is not about the venue, but about the message of God’s love.’

Marcus explains that people work up to 50 hours a week in their offices in Canary Wharf under intense pressure and stress. Through the church’s services and Bible studies he hopes that he can show them how they can ‘enjoy life and growth’ by having a relationship with God. Marcus is not alone in wanting to tell people about the positive difference God can make to their lives. Also in this week’s issue, Emma Owen tells us how she developed an eating disorder after experiencing rejection. However, she found help, hope and a realisation of her own worth when she turned to God. Now she wants others who may be struggling to share that same experience. Emma works on a project called Respect Me, which goes into schools to teach students about their identity.

‘Everything we do comes back to identity and value,’ she says. ‘We share these little I Am cards, which have Scriptures on them telling children who they are in God’s eyes.’

Whoever we may be, whatever we may have done to ourselves or had done to us, we all have ad the War C worth and value. And it is true that the best e re ry v ’ way to discover this is by learning more u about who God says that we are.

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 Issue No 7583

When yo

PASS IT ON f

not hy ,w

Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Ivan Radford Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku Staff Writer: Emily Bright Staff Writer: Claire Brine Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston Graphic Designer: Mark Knight Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN

CONTENTS

Tel: 0845 634 0101 Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill Editor-in-Chief: Major Mal Davies

FEATURES 3

Teams warm up for the

Published weekly by The Salvation Army © The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory ISSN 0043-0226 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.

Printed by CKN Print, Northampton, on sustainably sourced paper

Women’s Euros

5

Buzz off Someone wants to see the back of a bee in Netflix comedy ‘I thought I was in control’ Living with an eating disorder

9

O

Not all at sea The barge taking faith to

6 15

2 • WAR CRY • 2 July 2022

5

6

INFO Your local Salvation Army centre

The goal’s in sight

Canary Wharf REGULARS 4

War Cry World

12 Team Talk 13 Wisdom in the Words 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: REUTERS/ALAMY

PA IMAGES/ALAMY

Northern Ireland and England, who faced each other in the World Cup Qualifiers, will both also play in the Euros

Tackling the pressure

The goal is to succeed at the Women’s Euros

Feature by Sarah Olowofoyeku

I

T’S all kicking off! From Wednesday (6 July), stadiums across England will be filling up for the Women’s Euros 2022.

The tournament opens with the match between England and Austria at Old Trafford and closes with the final at Wembley. All the matches will air live across the BBC’s platforms.

In the lead-up to the tournament, Uefa has been staging a free roadshow that has been touring each of the host towns and cities, including Southampton, where Northern Ireland, having qualified for a major tournament for the first time, will play all their games.

The excitement has been mounting for the competition, which was postponed in 2021. More than 268,000 tickets were requested by people from 118 countries in a tournament draw at the end of last year. And it is estimated that more than 250 million will watch live broadcasts of the matches.

Such figures are a far cry from the tournament’s humble beginnings nearly 40 years ago. In 1984, the Former England captain Gillian Coultard played for her country in the World Cup

first staging of the competition received little publicity in England. It took place just 13 years after the FA lifted what had been a 50-year ban on women’s football at its clubs’ grounds, implemented because the sport was said to be ‘quite unsuitable for females’.

The Guardian recently spoke to former England captains Gillian Coultard and Carol Thomas, who played in the 1984 competition.

Gillian remembers that there were ‘maybe less than 1,000’ at the final between England and Sweden and that it wouldn’t have been played today ‘because the pitch was waterlogged. It was like playing on a beach.’

There was no media coverage in the UK, but the team were aware of the significance of getting through to the first final. Gillian says that they were nervous, but didn’t feel the pressure.

‘The management team and the coaches kept us calm and we were

told to go and enjoy it, do the best we can and what will be will be.’

The pressure is certainly on for the Lionesses now. Gillian adds: ‘England have got to win something. We can’t be a nearly team.’

Pressure on the pitch is normal in football, as professional players must perform in front of tens of thousands in high-stakes competitions. But pressure can appear in all sorts of forms for the rest of us.

Sometimes, we may feel like we have to succeed. Or, like the 1984 England team, we may be more relaxed, believing that what will be will be.

Whatever our mentality, the good news is that there is a way that we can all be winners. When it comes to God, and being in good standing with him, the pressure’s off. He has already made a way for us to be forgiven for all our blunders – by sending his Son, Jesus, into the world as a substitute for us, who took on the punishment for our mistakes.

We don’t have to perform or earn anything. All that’s left is to accept what God has done for us and follow his ways.

He doesn’t guarantee success in the way that most people would expect, but he promises to help us through the challenges of life, and he offers us a place with him after we die.

Will we join God’s team? It’s our call.

We can all be winners

2 July 2022 • WAR CRY • 3

twxcxzWt

WAR CRY

t PA IMAGES/ALAMY

Faith tops fame for Dan TV PRESENTER Dan Walker spoke about his Christian beliefs in an interview with The Times. ‘I’m motivated by three f’s,’ he said. ‘Family, friends and faith. I’m not interested in fame, fortune or froth.’

The new 5 News presenter went on to explain how his faith keeps him grounded and means that his career is not the most important thing in his life.

Referring to an interview he gave in 2002 when he said that God had a plan for his media career and would help him in difficult circumstances, the former Strictly Come Dancing star said: ‘Talking about faith is difficult because words can be misconstrued and that’s why in this country people keep it a secret. But yes, I believe God is in control.’

Church course helps new arrivals MORE than 50 churches are running a six-week course designed to welcome arrivals in the UK from Hong Kong on the government’s British National (Overseas) Visa scheme.

In January 2021, the government introduced the scheme, which allows people from Hong Kong to come to the UK to live, study and work for five years. So far, more than 100,000 Hong Kongers have made the move.

The Welcome Course has ben developed by Welcome Churches, an organisation that wants to see every refugee in the UK welcomed by their local church.

The course offers people who attend the opportunity to improve their English conversational skills, build friendships, share their knowledge of Hong Kong culture and learn about British culture.

Krish Kandiah, founder of UKHK, a Welcome Churches project specifically set up to welcome people arriving from Hong Kong, said: ‘Thousands of people have experienced huge changes and challenges as they have navigated moving 6,000 miles across the world to start a new life.

Through the course, our church communities can get behind people, and walk with them as they get to grips with life in the UK.’

4 • WAR CRY • 2 July 2022

Clothing packs supplied to combat cost of living crisis AN emergency clothing project run by The Salvation Army is helping families in Greater Manchester to cope with the escalating cost of living.

The Salvation Army’s Oldham Fitton Hill church is distributing pre-loved clothes in batches that will last families for seven days. It hopes that more garments will mean fewer washing machine cycles every week, reducing energy usage.

Each clothing package contains seven sets of trousers, tops, jumpers, socks and underwear and a coat. Sometimes footwear is also included. The scheme has already had up to 17 individual referrals a day.

Kim Rogers, a family worker at the Salvation Army church, set up the initiative in association with community project Real Education Empowering Lives (REEL).

‘Clothes are expensive,’ she said. ‘Everything has gone up in price and people are having to find extra money to just survive. This project is very new, but we are already seeing just how necessary it is as demand for the service continues to grow.’

REEL employee Zoe and Salvation Army volunteer Stephanie sort the clothes parcels

Trevor Bingley faces his nemesis

tWwxcxz Do you have a story to share? a warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk @TheWarCryUK TheWarCryUK

B salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry

Mum’s the word for Lenny’s inspiration LENNY HENRY paid tribute to his mother’s Christian influence when he was presented with one of this year’s Sandford St Martin awards recognising excellence in broadcasting about religion and ethics.

Receiving a special trustees’ award for his ongoing campaigns to address inequality in the media, the actor, writer and broadcaster spoke of how his mother came to Britain in 1957, lost her faith when she experienced racism and sexism in church but later became a born-again Christian and a lay preacher, who served her community.

In a video message recorded for the awards ceremony held at Christ Church in London’s Spitalfields, Sir Lenny said: ‘I think that what we’re doing here with equality and inclusion is very much a part of what my mum inculcated in me.

This idea of helping people who are less fortunate than myself – if you want to know where I got it from, I got it from her.’

Other winners announced during the event included Jimmy McGovern’s prison drama Time, which picked up the Radio Times readers’ award.

BUZZY BODY Bee creates chaos for house-sitter in new Rowan Atkinson comedy series Feature by Emily Bright

H

E’S had his day in court. Trevor Bingley’s eyes betrayed his trepidation about the judge’s verdict on 14 counts of dangerous driving, destruction of priceless artwork, criminal damage and arson in the first episode Man vs Bee, the comedy series now available on Netflix.

But he’s not your typical criminal mastermind. Given the right to reply, he admits sheepishly: ‘You see, there was this bee…’

Trevor (Rowan Atkinson) seemingly had the perfect job at Housesitters Deluxe, looking after a luxury property for a week. He was given a tour of the property by Nina Kolstad-Bergenbatten (Jing Lusi) and her husband Christian (Julian Rhind-Tutt).

In a rush to head off for their holiday, they showcased all their eye-wateringly expensive art, cars and tech at breakneck speed. Trevor was also introduced to their dog, Cupcake, who had a severe nut allergy. On leaving the house, Nina was horrified to hear that Trevor had never house-sat before.

He had hoped that the job would pay for a camping holiday with his 15-year-old daughter Maddy (India Fowler) after his divorce. However, he had an unwelcome house guest: a bee. Unfortunately for the accident-prone house-sitter, it was to start a chain of disasters that spiralled out of control.

Though perhaps not in quite the same way, viewers may be able to identify with Trevor. Sometimes circumstances can feel as if they’re getting out of hand, whether we’re attempting to cope with rising living costs, dealing with consequences of mistakes at work or in relationships, or even struggling with addictions. Life can get tough and we may feel that we can’t carry on in our own strength. And we don’t have to.

Christians believe that there is a loving and powerful God, who is willing to help us through our toughest challenges. One Bible writer says: ‘The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him’ (Nahum 1:7 New International Version).

That remains true for all who ask him for help, whatever they face. Maybe it’s time to find out what the buzz surrounding God is all about.

Life can get tough

Trevor’s troubles escalate

NE TF

LIX

2 July 2022 • WAR CRY • 5

‘I made myself sick up to five times a day’ After a man she had been going out with suddenly rejected her, EMMA OWEN developed an eating disorder. She reached a point of desperation, but found hope when she returned to the faith she had known while growing up. Now, through a range of initiatives, including this weekend’s Festival Manchester, she helps young people feel confident about themselves Interview by Sarah Olowofoyeku

E

MMA OWEN would spend hours every day thinking about eating food. But she would also be planning how she’d get rid of that food, by being sick. At the age of 19, Emma had bulimia.

In her teenage years, she had tried to find affirmation and acceptance in relationships, and experienced rejection. And when she left school, an unkind comment from a partner pushed her into an eating disorder.

Growing up in Romford in the ’70s and ’80s with her mum, dad and sister, Emma had ‘a really great upbringing’.

‘But when you’re young, you’re always searching for value,’ she says, ‘and I stupidly thought I could find that through boys. Unfortunately, the boys I met didn’t know what love was, and occasionally they would tell me that they loved me, but it wasn’t because they did, it was because they wanted a cheeky snog behind the bike shed.’

Emma was taken to church as a child,

6 • WAR CRY • 2 July 2022

and had been brought up to believe that sex was for marriage.

‘It made sense to me,’ she says.

‘But it brought a lot of rejection in my relationships. That affected my self-worth, and I found it difficult.

‘Eventually I left school, got a great job working at Coutts Bank, and met a guy. Things were going super well, we’d been going out for months. He told me he loved me, he was a really fun guy, but one day he rang me at work and said he couldn’t see me that day or the next or the next weekend. I asked what was going on, and he said: “I don’t want to go out with you any more. Sorry, Emma, fat women don’t do anything for me.” It was like a slap round the face.

‘I was always slim and sporty in school,’ she continues, ‘but I knew that I had put on a couple of stone while working in an office job.’

Emma started going to the gym and

skipping meals, but that didn’t help her to lose weight, because, she says, ‘I really like my food!’

She came up with an idea that she thought would allow her still to enjoy her food but also lose weight. She would eat whatever she wanted, then make herself sick soon afterwards.

‘I thought I was in control,’ she admits. ‘They call it the secret illness, because you don’t want anyone to find out and to take the control from you. I was thinking and dreaming about eating and planning how to get rid of the food. It consumed me 24/7. I was making myself sick up to five times a day. It was something I had to do rather than something I wanted to do.’

Two years after she first started making herself sick, Emma realised that she needed to make a change.

‘I’d become secretive and I was lying to my mum,’ she says. ‘My friends didn’t

I was lying to my mum

COURTESY OF THE MESSAGE TRUST

Emma Owen

says. ‘I didn’t know who I was, and I knew I needed to sort it out. I was desperate.

‘The most I could do was ask for God’s In the ’90s, after returning to her faith, Emma joined help. So I Christian dance group the World Wide Message Tribe prayed a simple prayer. I said: “God, I’m really sorry that I’m wrecking want to be around me any more. I was this awesome body that you’ve given me. always known as this fun Essex girl, who I’m sorry that I’ve shoved you out of my liked to party and enjoy herself. I was the life, and I give you permission to be back go-getter and suddenly that part of my in the centre. I want to start doing things personality disappeared.’ your way and start trusting you again.”

Though she had stopped attending Then a cheeky little PS: “I hear you’re church regularly, she also began to good at miracles, can you help me out reminisce about her faith experiences. here?”’

‘I used to enjoy reading my Bible and While acknowledging that not all eating talking to God and other Christians, but I’d disorders disappear in the way hers did, shut all those doors because I felt guilty Emma says: ‘The next morning was the about the choices I was making,’ she

first morning I didn’t even think about being sick, let alone be sick, which after a two-year addiction is miraculous in my book. It went overnight and it blew my mind. The next day, the next week, the next month, I just never went back to it. All these years later, I’ve not gone back to it.

‘That was the springboard to me asking, “I’ve lived with this fat label written on my forehead for two years, but what is my identity?” I recognised that the Bible has so many promises and affirmations, in which God effectively was saying: “Emma, you’re precious, you’re fearfully and wonderfully made and you’re accepted.”

‘It’s all very simple stuff,’ she adds, ‘but when the penny drops and you choose to believe who God says you are, it changes your whole life.’

Since then, Emma has committed her life to helping young people avoid going through the same experiences that she

Turn to page 8 f

2 July 2022 • WAR CRY • 7

Emma delivers talks to young people in schools on issues affecting them, such as sex, relationships and knife crime

From page 7 did. For the past 25 years, she has worked for the Message Trust, which started with a stint in its Christian dance band, the World Wide Message Tribe.

Today, she mainly works on a project called Respect Me, which goes into schools to teach students about identity.

‘I think acceptance, identity and self-esteem will always be an issue in life,’ she says.

‘Psychologists tell us that we all need to know we’re loved, accepted and valued in order to live a balanced lifestyle, so the question is: Where do we get that knowledge from?

‘The biggest problems we see in schools are the way people put themselves and other people down, and harm themselves. This stuff breaks my heart. I don’t want kids to learn the hard way. I want to inform and empower young people to make good, healthy choices

by learning their own identity and worth.

That way they can start at least to like themselves, and from there, to love themselves.’

The Respect Me project covers key topics across all year groups in a secondary school, including self-esteem and identity, bullying, relationships and sex, online safety and abusive behaviours and relationships. It has a separate programme tackling knife crime, No More Knives.

‘Schools are ringing us now, saying we desperately need you to work with our young people,’ Emma says. ‘Everything we do comes back to identity and value.

We share these little I Am cards, which have Scriptures on them telling children who they are in God’s eyes.’

Beyond schoolchildren, the Message Trust supports families, adults and

I want to empower young people to make good choices

8 • WAR CRY • 2 July 2022

communities. This weekend, it is running Festival Manchester, a free event in the city’s Wythenshawe Park.

Emma says: ‘We have a concert every night, a beach, a skatepark, a funfair, gaming zones, fun for the family all day long. It’s an opportunity to have fun and to love our community. We’ve partnered with hundreds of churches across the whole of the northwest, so there are about 60,000 people here.’

She has hope for all the projects that the Message Trust is running, believing that finding self-worth can help people.

‘This world can be a better place if we start to love and respect ourselves, and love other people. On my own I’m not going to change the world, but God is going to make a difference.’

l For more information visit festivalmanchester.com

Boat keeps faith afloat

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The Rev MARCUS NODDER explains how a distinctive floating church arrived in London’s West India Quay and how it serves the people who work and live in the Canary Wharf financial district Interview by Emily Bright

W EMILY BRIGHT

ANDERING wildly round the hustling, bustling financial district of Canary Wharf, London, in the pouring rain, the search was on for a floating church. Sadly, I was adrift – thanks to hapless recalculations of a phone map app, a generally poor sense of direction and strikingly similar skyscrapers.

Thankfully, the Rev Marcus Nodder appeared, leading the way to St Peter’s Barge on West India Quay. I once was lost, but now am found. Politely overlooking my drowned-rat demeanour as we sit on the permanently moored barge, Marcus, the church’s pastor, explains part of the logic behind its location – to reach out to the more than 120,000 people who are following banking, stockbroking, tech, IT and countless other high-flying careers in Canary Wharf.

Two decades ago, the churches of St Anne’s Limehouse and St Helen’s Bishopsgate began a Bible study for these professionals.

They tried out various venues, from seminar rooms to pubs. But eventually, as Marcus recalls, they decided to obtain their own church building.

‘It was originally an open freight barge that was found in the Netherlands and rebuilt with a roof, walls and a space where we could

The Rev Marcus Nodder

Turn to page 10 f 2 July 2022 • WAR CRY • 9

From page 9 meet. The barge sailed over to the UK in 2003. It’s big – 40 metres long by 8 metres wide – and can seat 100 people comfortably.’

Marcus arrived in 2004 as pastor. He thinks that the church’s unconventional location is part of the draw.

‘People are intrigued,’ he says. ‘It shows that church is not about the venue, but about the message of God’s love.’

St Peter’s Barge seeks to share that message by hosting lunchtime talks for those working in the financial district.

‘Professionals in Canary Wharf are working up to 50 hours a week, commuting from all over the southeast of England, and consequently their best chance of hearing the gospel is through a Christian colleague,’ says Marcus. ‘To facilitate this, we put on Bible talks for Christians who work in the area, which encourages them in their faith and gives

them a place where they can bring nonChristian colleagues who want to find out more.’

The lunchtime talks take place in a café-style format. People sit round tables while listening to a 25-minute exploration of a Bible passage. At the end, they can ask any questions they would like to about faith.

‘On a Wednesday and Thursday, we explain passages in the Bible, trying to show a relevance to workplace life,’ says Marcus. ‘Sometimes we will have work-specific topics as well, such as how to deal with stress.’

Guest speakers also make an appearance from time to time.

‘In the past, we’ve had the likes of a High Court judge and Paralympic athlete share their story and preach the gospel,’ says Marcus. ‘It can be powerful to hear from a successful Christian who has an interesting story, who is a person of

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

We work alongside big firms

The barge can seat up to 100 people

10 • WAR CRY • 2 July 2022

integrity and who has thought through their faith.’

The church also holds Bible study groups and prayer groups specifically for people who already Christians.

Marcus explains: ‘We work alongside big firms that have their own Christian workplace groups, encouraging and partnering with the leaders and sharing ideas.’

St Peter’s Barge runs other community activities for people who live in, rather than commute to and from, the area.

For instance, there’s a Bouncing Babies group, where parents can drink coffee, sample baked goods and have a chat while their children play together. People can also attend evening courses at the church to explore the claims of the Christian faith, and there are various other outreach events designed to appeal to non-Christians. Today (Saturday 2 July), the church is hosting an international café to celebrate Wimbledon, complete with

tennis-themed activities, tea and scones and a big screen showing live coverage.

The church congregation is a diverse crowd of about 80 adults and 20 children who attend Sunday morning services.

‘Sunday church is mainly international young professionals in their 20s to 40s,’ Marcus explains. ‘There’s a mix of singles, couples and young families, probably half of whom are from Asian countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong and mainland China.’

Marcus recognises that attending services on a boat reminds some of his congregation – and him – of some familiar Bible stories.

‘When I think of boats, I think of Noah and his ark, and the rescue operation that the ark was built for. And that mirrors the New Testament message of how Jesus rescues us from a broken relationship with God. ‘Plus Jesus taught from a boat. When he was by the Sea of Galilee and there were too many people on the shore, he pushed the boat out and used that as his floating pulpit.

We feel like we’re part of a good tradition here.’

The vision of the church is reflected in the colour scheme on the exterior of the barge.

‘We see ourselves as a rescue boat, in the spiritual sense,’ says Marcus. ‘When we were last in dry dock, we had the barge repainted in the RNLI colours – the navy blue and the orange stripe – because we want to see people rescued from separation with God so they can enjoy life and growth in a relationship with him.’

As our conversation continues, Marcus reveals what the gospel – the good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection – actually means and why it remains relevant.

‘The Bible asserts that the fundamental problem is that we have decided to run our lives our own way, pushing back against God and the way he tells us what to do and how to behave. That has alienated us from God and from a relationship with him, leading us into a dark place.

‘But because God

A Sunday morning service at St Peter’s Barge church loves us, he sent Jesus into the world.

Jesus came and lived the perfect life and sacrificed himself for us. When he died on the cross, he paid the penalty for all our wrongdoing, taking the judgement we deserve so that we’re forgiven and can be reconciled to God.’ Marcus is passionate about his ministry because he says his relationship with God has transformed his take on life.

‘I’m a child of God, created by him.

I know what the purpose of my life is – to love God and to serve him. Faith changed my whole perspective and answered some of the big questions of existence.

And I see that, as the years go by, God is

at work in me to change me for the better, while offering me grace and forgiveness.’

And, drawing on all his years of ministry to non-Christians, he wants others to have a similarly positive experience, emphasising that a relationship with God is available to everyone.

‘The good news is that, by accepting what Jesus has done for us, we are reconciled to God and we can enjoy a relationship with him, both now and eternally.’

As I clamber back on to the dock and head off home, it’s clear to me that everything Marcus and the congregation aim to do on St Peter’s Barge is steered by their faith in God.

We see ourselves as a rescue boat

2 July 2022 • WAR CRY • 11

Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Raymond, that he will be able to experience positive changes in his life.

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, 101 Newington Causeway, Lon­don SE1 6BN. Mark your correspondence ‘Confidential’.

j

Becoming 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.

talk ‘ ’ Team talk TEAM TALK Let’s not forget the good news Claire Brine gives her take on a story catching the attention of War Cry reporters

DEPRESSING news stories are causing an increasing number of people to switch off, according to the Reuters Institute. Its Digital News Report 2022 has highlighted that the number of people avoiding the news in the UK has doubled over the past five years. Data has also revealed that one of the main reasons for people’s ‘selective avoidance’ is because the news has a ‘negative effect on their mood’.

Considering that Covid-19 has dominated much of the world’s news for the past two and a half years, I’m not surprised by these findings. Back in 2020, it was hard to watch the TV bulletins every evening. I can remember feeling sad about what had happened that day, then worrying that everything would be even worse tomorrow. For many people, I imagine, there came a point when they said ‘I can’t watch this any more’ and turned their television off.

Fast-forward to 2022 and there have been other heartbreaking stories in the headlines. The war in Ukraine has been shocking. The school shooting in Texas made me cry. The cost of living crisis is causing thousands of people to feel hopeless about the future. Hearing one upsetting story after another, it’s understandable that people’s mental health is suffering.

Though there’s no easy way to hear bad news, I think it’s always important to learn the truth about what is happening in our world, rather than ignoring or avoiding it completely. But I also believe that each individual has their own threshold of just how much bad news they can stomach before it begins to have a detrimental effect on their wellbeing. It’s wise to be sensitive to that – and to understand that we are all different.

It’s also vital in the dark times to remember that good news does exist. We may struggle to see it amid the bleakness, but it’s there. For Christians, it always has been.

Believing in a loving God doesn’t take away the fact that horrible and painful things happen. It doesn’t mean that the news feels less sad. But it does mean that, when we turn it off, we’ve got someone to talk to about it and somewhere to pour out our prayers for a brighter tomorrow.

It’s always important to learn the truth

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

" Tick one or more of the options below, complete the coupon and send it to

a

War Cry 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN

Basic reading about Christianity Information about The Salvation Army

Looking for help?

Contact details of a Salvation Army minister Name Address Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

Or email your details and request to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk 12 • WAR CRY • 2 July 2022

Keith Burr explores song lyrics that have a note of truth about them

Wisdom in the

Q

QUICK QUIZ 1

What is the title of actress Sheila Hancock’s autobiography, published last month?

2

Who is the new presenter of the

TV competition The Great British

A Sewing Bee?

3

Who played treasure hunter

Victor Sullivan in recent film Uncharted?

4

What is traditionally given for a

5

In the boardgame Scrabble,

10th wedding anniversary?

which two letters each have a scoring value of 10 points?

6

Which boy band had a No 1 hit in 1999 with ‘If I Let You Go’?

ANSWERS

words Saying sorry – it’s worth trying for I

RECENTLY spent an energy-filled, songfest of an evening with the legend that is Bryan Adams on his current UK tour. His discography speaks for itself – a catalogue of anthems that beg you to sing along with your air guitar in hand.

As great as his studio recordings are, nothing compares to the live experience. I could tell I was in the presence of someone who knows and loves his craft because, on the night I was there, he not only took live requests but also paused the set to allow a fan to receive medical attention.

For some, Bryan Adams is one of those artists whose songs, on first thought, you are not sure you can name – until he starts singing, that is. Then you realise just how many you know. Two of the obvious are ‘Summer of ’69’ and ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It for You’ which remains one of the bestselling singles of all time. Other notable numbers from the Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter include ‘Run to You’, ‘All for Love’ and, to coincide with his latest tour, ‘So Happy it Hurts’.

Back in October 1993, his hit ‘Please Forgive Me’ contained the lines: ‘Please forgive me, I know not what I do/ Please forgive me, I can’t stop loving you.’

The lyrics are a reminder that, even when we truly love someone, we can still unknowingly or unintentionally hurt them. And those lyrics remind me of advice given by Jesus to his followers: ‘If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right’ (Matthew 5:23 and 24 The Message).

Saying sorry isn’t always easy to do, but Jesus is clear that it is the right thing to do. And when we do say sorry, it can transform damaged relationships.

Even when we love someone we can still hurt them

1. Old Rage. 2. Sara Pascoe. 3. Mark Wahlberg.

4. Tin. 5. Q and Z. 6. Westlife.

2 July 2022 • WAR CRY • 13

PUZZLES Quick CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Foretell (7) 5. Black (5) 7. Tableland (7) 8. Entertain (5) 10. Vow (4) 11. Merry (8) 13. Din (6) 14. Length of pipe (6) 17. Distribution (8) 19. Level (4) 21. Silk fabric (5) 22. Anxiety (7) 23. Linger (5) 24. Gratify (7)

SUDOKU Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9

8 5 6

4 7 9 9 4 1 5 3 7

DOWN 2. Stretchy (7) 3. Notion (4) 4. Tutored (6) 5. Causing disgrace (8) 6. Attempt to 9. Clarify (9) deceive (5) 12. Divine (8) 7. Sticks 15. Ailment (7) out (9)

16. Brawl (6) 18. Not now (5) 20. Weave (4)

3 9 6 7 1 4 6 2 7 4 9 2 7 5 6 1 2 4 6

WORDSEARCH

7 5 1 2 4 3 9 6 8 3 6 2 9 8 7 1 5 4 Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally 4 words 9 8associated 5 1 with 6 3summer 2 7 on the grid to find these 5 8 3 7 6 1 4 9 2 G Z Y M K X E6L 1 T S4A C8 D 2N A9 S C 7 E3 5 I NQDMS I K Q L G J D P BWK L 7 P9L K3 G 5A F4 Z 8 C W Y V T B K2L K S S1 6 E I U H K X U9A C 4 F6S K1 D 7P Q5U W 2 T8 3 C D U H E A TWA V EMDQNQD Z 2 E5I R4 W 3S Z8 Z Q 6 G7 9 R L H Y X W J1D H E L Q A N V N8R 3 F N7R J6 C 9L Y2O 5 F D4 1

M O HONEYC B Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number 1. Create a new device 2. Child’s glove 3. Cockney slang for hair 4. Main meal of the day 5. Painful swelling on big toe 6. Pay back money

AQGVGUQA T NRR MV Z J RQVOL L E Y X F RQAUNBP E BP Z QWCWN L R N KWY CGKNXHG L CRA Z WN Z Y K ZWQ E D R L QR T I USGN I H T A KHQA X I E L ZDSU Q V Z C Q O O ZWQ E A Z B J J KHB L ZH J Q HXOZQPCQP E ZO

ANSWERS 7 3 4 5 6 2 9 1 8

5 6 9 8 1 7 4 2 3

1 2 8 3 4 9 6 5 7

2 9 5 7 8 3 1 4 6

9 4 1 1 5 4 3 7 6

4 8 1 6 2 5 7 3 9

3 7 6 1 9 4 5 8 2

9 1 3 4 7 8 2 6 5

6 5 2 9 3 1 8 7 4

8 4 7 2 5 6 3 9 1

HONEYCOMB 1. Invent. 2. Mitten. 3. Barnet.

4. Dinner. 5. Bunion. 6. Refund.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Predict. 5. Sable. 7. Plateau.

8. Amuse. 10. Oath. 11. Cheerful. 13. Racket.

14. Tubing. 17. Delivery. 19. Flat. 21. Satin.

22. Concern. 23. Tarry. 24. Satisfy.

DOWN: 2. Elastic. 3. Idea. 4. Taught. 5. Shameful.

6. Bluff. 7. Protrudes. 9. Enlighten. 12. Heavenly.

15. Illness. 16. Fracas. 18. Later. 20. Knit.

14 • WAR CRY • 2 July 2022

BADMINTON BATHING SUIT BOARDWALK CRAZY GOLF HEATWAVE HOLIDAY ICE CREAM

S B B Q Y Q B Z D E I

F LQNS A L LQE AAHZ S L RPRS GOL F A NZ PN L I OY EG FQB L N ROAUU UMZMS S VC I R

SANDCASTLE SEASHELL STRAWBERRIES SUNGLASSES SUNSCREEN SURFING VOLLEYBALL

2

Tomato, courgette and pepper shakshuka Ingredients 1tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, sliced 1 red pepper, cored, deseeded and sliced 1 yellow pepper cored, deseeded and sliced 1 garlic clove, crushed 1tsp ground cumin 1 medium courgette, halved lengthways and sliced 400g can chopped tomatoes ½ tsp dried chili flakes Salt and ground black pepper 4 large British Lion eggs Mixed seeds, to serve

Method Heat the oil in a medium frying pan and cook the onion and peppers over a medium to high heat for 5 minutes, until soft and golden. Stir in the garlic and cumin and continue to cook for a further minute. Stir in the courgettes, then add the tomatoes and bring to the boil.

Season with the chilli flakes and salt and pepper, to taste, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes, until the courgettes are just tender.

Make 4 holes in the mixture with a wooden spoon and crack in the eggs, then cook until the whites start to turn solid.

Cover with a lid and cook over a low heat for 4-5 minutes or until the eggs are to your liking. Scatter with a handful of mixed seeds and spoon on to plates, to serve.

SERVES

4

Veggie and chickpea frittata Ingredients 1tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, chopped 250g sweet potato, peeled 200g carrot, peeled 200g parsnip, peeled 1 garlic clove, crushed 2tsp ground cumin 2tbsp fresh parsley, chopped 400g can chickpeas, drained 6 medium British Lion eggs Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan.

Cook the onion over a medium heat for 5 minutes or until soft.

Meanwhile, coarsely grate the sweet potato, carrot and parsnip. Add them to the pan with the onion and increase the heat slightly. Stir and continue to cook until the vegetables are soft and lightly golden. Mix in the garlic, cumin, most of the parsley and the chickpeas.

Stir for another minute, until well mixed.

Crack the eggs into a large jug and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Beat together, then pour into the pan. Mix until the eggs begin to scramble.

Shake the pan to level the frittata, then continue to cook over a medium heat for 4-5 minutes. Pop the pan under a hot grill and continue to cook for about 2-3 minutes, until the top is golden and set.

Transfer to a board and leave to cool for a few minutes, before slicing into wedges. Scatter with the remaining parsley, to serve.

SERVES

4

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the British Egg Information Service website egginfo.co.uk

2 July 2022 • WAR CRY • 15

WE KNOW THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD WORKS FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM Romans 8:28 (New International Version)

WAR CRY