War Cry 3 October 2020

3 October 2020 20p/25c

All he was saying...

An imaginative response to the 80th anniversary of John Lennon’s birth

The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity providing services in the community, particularly to those who are vulnerable and marginalised. Motivated by our Christian faith, we offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK to all who need them, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. To find your nearest centre visit salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church

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 7494

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 UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN Tel: 0845 634 0101 Helpline: 020 7367 4888 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 Published weekly by The Salvation Army ©The Salvation Army United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland 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 Walstead Roche Ltd, St Austell, on sustainably sourced paper

ONLINE a warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk @TheWarCryUK TheWarCryUK

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salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry

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EDITOR From desk From the editor’s desk

SINGING is good for you. So say scientists quoted on the BBC Future website. The experts said that singing can boost MILLIONS people wake up every weekday morning and tune into our moodsofand sense of social connection.

ZoePerhaps Ball’s breakfast Radio 2.

No other programme it is withshow theseon benefits in mind thatbreakfast people have been injoining the UKonline has as many listeners, and that big audience helps to lure a choirs during lockdown. In this week’s issue, the host stars to join Zoe in the mornings.

Warof Cry’s Sarah Olowofoyeku joins a virtual rehearsal of the London However, it is not Zoetothat those for celebrities meet.

Zoe is International Gospeljust Choir discover herself the pleasures accompanied by a production for manywith years included people have found of singing crew, alone,who yet together others.

Graham Albans.

In an interview in this week’s War Cry, Graham Meanwhile Austen Hardwick has found similar value in running. recounts his experiences workingan asinterview a producer onthe themarathon breakfast This week’s War Cry alsoofincludes with show.

He reveals some of the off-mike incidents he has encountered, runner who found that his sport helped him to regain his life after the thatthree havestrokes really made on him and what it was he stars suffered whilean in impression his early forties. like However, to work with Zoe and her predecessor, Chris Evans. recovery. it was not only running that helped Austen’s Graham alsofaith explains why he walked from what many people His Christian played a vital part in away him taking a positive would consider a dream job.

Graham left the BBC this summer, approach to all that he faced. having decided workAusten at a church ‘When I was to in start hospital,’ says,in‘I Bedford. asked God to take what ‘I wanted to have some practical, frontline input into I was going through and to transform me through it.’ helping my community,’ alsotake wanted opportunity to talk ChristiansGraham believe tells that us.

God‘I can any the situation or anything with people about Jesus, and I get to do that by running the that they do or face and use it to make a positive impact in church’s others’ Explore Working alongside people who areofgrappling with the lives orcourse. their own.

That has been the experience painter Oliver big questions of faith, or who haven’t given Jesus any thought before, Pengilley. is my dream Oliver hadjob.’ developed a successful career as an artist with some thework article, Graham describessums the way his faithBut, developed as ofInhis selling for significant of money. as he tells he a this father and he looked deeply into the life, death and thebecame War Cry week, grewmore frustrated. resurrection of Jesus.

The result ofhe Graham’s investigations proved to ‘I didn’t see the meaning of it,’ says. Now he travels to be life-changing. churches all over the world to paint pictures during worship ‘Jesus makes huge difference to my – to my peace of mind, sessions and hisa faith-based artwork haslife helped other people in my identity and journey. my security in my position in the world,’ he says. their own faith Graham is not alone in that his experiences. people It is an amazing truth God can takeMillions any skillofaother person has have also had their lives for the better by tuning into faith or any situation they aretransformed facing and can transform it into something inthat Jesus canChrist. change their lives and the lives of the people around them.

Contents

What is The Salvation Army?

FEATURES 3

It was 80 years ago today Marking the anniversary of John Lennon’s birth

5

Picture story The first ten years of Instagram

6

‘Daily things are difficult’ Life with a neurological condition

8

Hanging up the headphones Why a radio producer left the BBC for a church

REGULARS 4

War Cry World

12

Team Talk

13

Faces of Faith

14 Puzzles 15

War Cry Kitchen

4 Front-page picture: PA

8

15

FEATURE BBC

Giving peace a chance Philip Halcrow hears how people are marking what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday

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E needed help from somebody, but not just anybody. He was a jealous guy. He was the walrus – but then he was John. He would have been 80 years old on 9 October, and across the universe people are marking John Lennon’s birthday.

Record company Universal is releasing a compilation of remixed tracks from John’s career, Peter Gabriel and KT Tunstall are among the performers putting on a free virtual gig, and anyone who read the news last week, oh boy, would have seen that this weekend Radio 2 is recognising the upcoming centre in whose grounds the young day with a two-part documentary John Lennon would hang out – have hosted by John’s younger son been looking to follow John’s musical Sean Ono Lennon. plea to ‘give peace a chance’ by In John Lennon at 80, Sean talks collecting prayers for peace. with his older brother Julian, John’s Captain Louise songwriting partner Paul McCartney Brown of Strawberry and Elton John, who duetted with John Field – which, as on stage and record. No wonder the well as providing head of the station Helen Thomas feels employment ‘honoured that Sean’s first-ever radio training for young programme in which he talks at length people, includes an about his father’ will be on her network, exhibition exploring the background to which is also excavating the archives to ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ – explains: broadcast performances and interviews ‘We’ve been gathering prayers for in John Lennon at the BBC. peace from people around the world.

Meanwhile, a site that provided So far we have 40 prayers from 40 the inspiration for one of John’s countries. We’ve had them printed on Beatles classics has been preparing bunting-like flags and have hung them to mark the day by picking up on one through the trees in the garden. of his recurring themes. The team at ‘Some of the people who submitted Strawberry Field – the Salvation Army prayers have filmed themselves saying their prayers in their own language, and they will be used in a short film that

In ‘John Lennon at the BBC’ Radio 2 is broadcasting archive interviews with the singer, whose birthday is being marked

by Strawberry Field (bottom)

will go out at midday on our website on what would have been John’s birthday.’

Referencing words from John’s song ‘Imagine’ – which notably was partly inspired by a Christian prayer book – Louise says that Strawberry Field chose to recognise the day with prayers for peace because ‘we were thinking that part of John’s legacy was his desire for peace and that the world would be one. We wondered if there was a way we could connect people in different countries to imagine peace at the same time.’

The people who have provided prayers so far come from all kinds of backgrounds, religious and otherwise.

Louise says that the invitation was simply to write a prayer for peace.

‘They weren’t given any direction on what to write, but just to make the prayer straight from the heart. Some have written about things that are happening in their own country, others have written a prayer for personal peace for themselves and their families.’

Some people may say she’s a dreamer, but Louise is far from the only one who believes that God can give peace to people, communities and countries.

‘As Christians, we’ve been able to talk about the power of prayer here,’ she says. ‘People have seen prayers answered. So we believe that as people pray for peace, God is going to answer that prayer.’

We wanted to connect people in different countries

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IN her first appearance as a presenter on BBC One’s Songs of Praise, Katie Piper chatted with a farmer who found hope through volunteering after his wife took her own life.

During a special harvest edition of the programme, Katie met David Brooke, a semi-retired farmer who said that after losing his wife, he wanted to ‘do something to help others’. He told Katie that he started volunteering for Tir Dewi, a Welsh-based helpline for farmers in difficulty, which was set up by the Rev Canon Eileen Davies.

Speaking to the Mirror online about her new presenting role and the connection she made with David, Katie said: ‘I bizarrely related to him … and that shows you, emotionally, we have a lot in common with people and faith does unite us.’

Katie went on to explain how Christianity has been a positive influence in her life, saying: ‘I am not out there to change every [social media] follower I have into a Christian but I would like to share the positive impact it’s had on my life and, without sounding clichéd, make it cool ... There’s nothing uncool about having faith, it’s nothing embarrassing. I am not embarrassed.’

Government urged to act to stop homelessness crisis ROUGH sleeping will soar if the government does not provide adequate funding for homelessness services in its autumn comprehensive spending review, according to a Salvation Army report.

Future-Proof the Roof warns that economic hardship triggered by the coronavirus pandemic may force families into rough sleeping or into unsuitable temporary accommodation.

The report praises the economic efforts that the government has made to support people during the pandemic, but warns that ‘without investment, the risk is a return to the homelessness and rough sleeping trends that followed the 2008 financial crisis’.

It recommends that the government improves data collection on the level and types of rough sleeping, that it

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JUSTIN Bieber posted a message about Jesus on Instagram, saying that he is the ‘king of kings, president of all presidents’.

The pop artist, who has 147 million followers on the social media platform, wrote: ‘Today as I watched church online, I was reminded that Jesus beat death for you and I! He is the saviour of humanity!’

He went on to say that Jesus ‘died so that whosoever believes in him will not die but have everlasting life!’

Bieber recently released a single, called ‘Holy’, which features Chance the Rapper and gospel artist Kirk Franklin.

4 • War Cry • 3 October 2020

maintains or increases investment across every year of the current parliament, commits itself to a base level funding, and introduces innovative accommodation options for rough sleepers.

Lorrita Johnson, The Salvation Army’s director of homelessness services, said: ‘If they act now, the government will protect thousands of people from returning to the streets and prevent many children being raised in cramped and unhealthy temporary accommodation.’

FEATURE

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THE Salvation Army Trading Company (Satcol), which helps to fund The Salvation Army’s work in the UK, has launched a free digital lifestyle magazine, Reuse, Repurpose, Restyle. The publication features fashion finds, updates about the company’s charity shops and tips for DIY projects and decluttering.

Chris Jestico, head of retail, said: ‘Our shops are brimming with high fashion, crockery, books, DVDs and, in our larger stores, a fantastic range of furniture. All are great quality and excellent prices, customers are sure to find a bargain. Our new magazine shows just a fraction of the range available and we are thrilled to be welcoming customers back to our shops across the UK.’ In the past ten years, Satcol has raised more than £76 million for the work of The Salvation Army through its network of clothing banks, charity shops, donation centres and superstores, with the support of the British public.

The first edition of Reuse, Repurpose, Restyle is available to view on the Satcol website at salvationarmytrading.org.uk

Instagram celebrates ten years, posts Claire Brine

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It’s a hotspot for hearing showbiz news

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Salvation Army helps victims of wildfires THE Salvation Army has been providing food and drink to people evacuated from their homes as a result of the wildfires sweeping across Oregon, as well as to firefighters tackling the blazes.

Teams have been feeding evacuees at sites such as the Jackson County Expo in the city of Central Point (pictured) and making thousands of meals available for pick-up or delivery. In addition, they have been supplying clothing and offering emotional and spiritual care.

The Salvation Army’s Hope House accommodation in Medford has also been giving shelter to more than 40 evacuees.

N 6 October 2010, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger launched an app that was going to change the world. They named it Instagram. Within 24 hours, the photo-sharing social media platform had racked up 25,000 downloads. Ten years later, Instagram boasts one billion active users every month.

Here’s a snapshot of its history: the first prototype of Instagram was a web app called Burbn, which allowed users to check in, share plans and post photos. After some development, the founders decided to focus on photos – and filters. They also came up with a new name for their brand, combining the words ‘instant’ and ‘telegram’.

‘It caught on because it was a place to see into someone else’s life and how they experienced it through their phone’s camera,’ says Sarah Frier in her book No Filter: The Inside Story of How Instagram Transformed Business, Celebrity and our Culture. ‘If Facebook was about friendships and Twitter was about opinions, Instagram was about experiences – and anyone could be interested in anyone else’s visual experiences, anywhere in the world.’

Every single day, Instagram connects its warcry warcry users as they ‘follow’ the accounts of people or companies who interest 22,546 likes them. It’s a platform that launches careers. It creates celebrities. It’s a War Cry for hearing #selfie hotspot showbiz news.

According to Sarah’s book when it was published earlier this year, View 106 comments theall Instagram account with the largest following was @instagram – the company’s own. Today it has 366 million followers. ‘It’s fitting,’ she writes, 2 days ago Instagram holds the utmost ‘because influence over the world it has shaped.’

It’s no surprise that people with millions of followers have influence. How they use that influence is crucial.

Two thousand years before Instagram was created, a man called Jesus started out with 12 followers. He taught them that God, their heavenly Father, loved them. He taught them to love others, even the people they’d rather filter out of society. He practised forgiveness. He urged them to do the same.

Jesus’ actions have inspired others to turn to him. His message continues to go viral.

That’s because millions of people can testify to his life-changing love, proving that he is one influencer worth following.

22,546 22,546 likes likes War War Cry Cry #selfie #selfie View View all all 106106 comments comments 2 days 2 days agoago

3 October 2020 • War Cry • 5

‘Being healed is not the answer to a happy life’ Suzanne Rood

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UZANNE ROOD was just 15 years old when she was diagnosed with a lifelong illness. However, learning that she had Charcot-MarieTooth (CMT) disease, a genetic neurological condition, was not too much of a concern for her. ‘I didn’t think a lot about it, because I didn’t have many symptoms,’ she tells me over a Skype video call from her home in Vermont. ‘I was just a little clumsy and a slow runner, so it didn’t bother me much.’

Her father was diagnosed with the condition first. ‘He was in his forties and had started having more trouble with walking and his balance. He saw a neurologist, who took one look at his feet and legs and told him he had CMT. ‘Then he was told there was a 50-50 chance that he had passed it on to his children, so they wanted to test us as well.

They did what’s called a nerve conduction test on my sister and me, taping a little wire to the bottom of our toes and further up our legs, then giving us a shock to see how fast the signal travelled along the wire. It confirmed that both my sister and I had the disease.’

6 • War Cry • 3 October 2020

October is Charcot-Marie-Tooth Awareness Month. SUZANNE ROOD explains to Sarah Olowofoyeku what it is like to live with the disease The main symptoms of CMT include a lack of sensation in the arms and feet, muscle weakness in the ankles and legs, highly arched feet and curled toes. CMT is a progressive condition, and as those who have it get older, they experience more difficulties with manual dexterity and walking. Some suffer muscle and joint pain.

Despite it not being widely known, about 25,000 people have CMT in the UK, making it the country’s most common inherited neurological condition.

‘As the disease progressed, things became more of an issue for me,’ Suzanne says. ‘Daily things are difficult, like showering, getting dressed and opening packages and jars when I’m cooking. I can’t walk out to the garden by myself any more.’

In a book she has written about her life, A Limp of Faith, she describes how she gives reviews to any public toilet she visits, based on how accessible it is. If the hand dryer is too far from the sink, it

gets a low score because that creates a hazard for her. ‘Wet tiles are my biggest fear, though, because I will slip and fall,’ she says.

Sometimes, though, people’s oversights benefit her. ‘I used to be angry at people who left their shopping trolley out in the supermarket parking lot, but now I’m grateful because I can park right next to it and use it to get me from my car to the supermarket.’

Suzanne also tells me about some more serious challenges.

‘The hardest thing for me is not being able to visit friends in their homes, because usually there are three or four steps up and that’s difficult.’

She admits she has felt it unfair that she has to live with a condition she inherited.

‘I still think it sometimes, especially if I have a fall and injure myself. I have a little pity party and say, “Why do I have to deal with this?” The biblical songwriter David did that a lot in the psalms. He asks, “Why me, Lord?” But he doesn’t stay there. And I try not to stay there. I look about me and see the blessings that God has given me so that I can deal with CMT. I can’t walk out to the mailbox by myself any more, but God has given

I can’t walk out to the mailbox

INTERVIEW

Music is something God gave me to help me work through the condition

Suzanne and her family in 1980, one year before she was diagnosed with CMT me an amazing, wonderful husband who gets the mail every day and does countless things for me all the time.’

Suzanne began playing the piano as a child and feels that ‘music is something God gave me to help me work through the condition, especially writing music. It gives me a sense of dignity and that I have something I can share with the world’. She works as a piano teacher and, before the coronavirus pandemic, played piano in church.

Recognising the good things God has given to her has helped Suzanne live with CMT. Her faith began at an early age, and in her adult life, it has continued to comfort her. While she has struggled over not being healed, she says ‘faith is believing that Jesus has my best interest in mind and is doing what he thinks is best for me. And being healed is not the answer to how to have a happy life. First we need to be forgiven for our sins, to be right with God and know that we have a home with him.

‘Everyone suffers, but God promises to be with us and help us through. And he promises us eternal life. This life is not all there is. One day we’ll be with Jesus, and we will get a brand-new body and we’ll be free from suffering and pain.’

Suzanne and her husband, Rich

3 October 2020 • War Cry • 7

SARAH JEYNES

GRAHAM ALBANS tells Claire Brine why he gave up a top job as a producer on the breakfast show to follow Jesus, the ‘original punk’

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ADIO 2 producer Graham Albans was in an exciting job working on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show when he decided to give it all up to work for a church.

‘Producing the most-listened-to radio show on the most-listened-to radio station in the country was a phenomenal opportunity,’ says Graham, who joined the BBC ten years ago. ‘Working with Zoe on the breakfast show – and with Chris Evans, who presented it before her – was a lot of fun. I loved every second.

But over the last few years, I had begun to feel what I can only describe as an unignorable pull. I questioned whether there was something else I should be doing with my life.’

After much soul-searching, Graham said goodbye to the world of radio producing and began training part-time as a pastor. Today he also works as the director of outreach at Grace Community Church in Bedford, overseeing a number of projects, including a food bank and a debt counselling service.

‘Part of my reason for changing career was because I wanted to have some

8 • War Cry • 3 October 2020

practical, frontline input into helping my community,’ Graham explains. ‘I also wanted the opportunity to talk with people about Jesus, and I get to do that by running the church’s Explore course.

Working alongside people who are grappling with the big questions of faith, or who haven’t given Jesus any thought before, is my dream job.’

Graham admits that leaving Radio 2 was a big step, because producing a breakfast show was what he knew, loved and did best.

‘I started out on Chris Evans’s breakfast show back in 2011,’ he recalls. ‘I was on the first rung of the ladder – opening the post, making tea and answering the phone. Then I got promoted to assistant producer, then again to producer.

I produced Chris’s show for a year or two until he left the station, then last January I launched Zoe Ball’s show – which was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.’

For those not in the know, Graham explains what a radio producer does.

‘Basically we do everything apart from the talking: choosing the music, booking the guests, coming up with new features and talk content, and planning for any big events in the future. Producers are always in the background, steering the presenter through their show, giving them texts and emails to read out, supplying questions to ask their guests and making sure they are running on time.

‘While there’s no doubt that presenters like Zoe and Chris are very talented individuals who take on ideas and make them fly, a show of that scale relies on the hard work of its production team.

I know that Chris and Zoe would say the same.’

As well as loving his job, Graham loved the perks that came with working at Radio 2. During his career, he got to meet many of his musical heroes, including Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, and Brian May from Queen.

‘We’d have celebrities in the studio day

Producers are always in the background

INTERVIEW

BBC/GRAHAM ALBANS

As producer for Zoe Ball’s breakfast show (left), Graham met his musical heroes, including Paul McCartney (top) and Robert Plant (right)

Graham Albans

in, day out,’ he says. ‘But the highlight for me was realising that these famous people are just normal. When you make Ed Sheeran a cup of tea and he asks for one sugar, you think: he’s just doing his job, like everyone else. And whenever I walked past the toilet – which was the room next to the studio – I used to think: everyone needs the bog! Despite all her glamour and brilliance, Taylor Swift used the same toilet as me. She’s just human.’

Other highlights for Graham included broadcasting a show from the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival and, on another occasion, meeting Paul McCartney.

‘Zoe and I were invited along to his London office,’ Graham remembers. ‘We

Turn to page 10

➥ 3 October 2020 • War Cry • 9

Graham working with Chris Evans, who launched a Radio 2 story competition for kids, and (left) in the studio with his children

From page 9 set up our equipment, I tested the microphone about six times to make sure it worked, and then he walked in. I kept thinking: It’s Paul McCartney. Hang on a second, it’s Paul McCartney!

‘He had a joke with us and offered us a cup of tea. I wondered how many unbelievable musical decisions had been made within those four walls. When Zoe and I finished the interview, we walked back to the Radio 2 building in stunned silence. We said to each other: “Can you believe we’ve just met one of the Beatles?”’

As much as Graham has enjoyed chatting with some of the world’s biggest stars, he is also full of admiration for his former colleagues.

They appear to have made a lasting impression on him.

‘I worked with Chris for eight years, and I’ve never met anyone so socially aware, inclusive and generous,’ he says.

‘He’s committed to giving something back to the world. Some years ago he started a Radio 2 short story competition for kids, called 500 Words. He doesn’t gain anything from doing that – but it has

inspired a million children to do some creative writing.

‘What I like about Zoe is that she insists on knowing everyone’s name. Yes, she has a great reputation with all the celebrities and the director-general of the BBC, but she also says hello, by name, to the cleaners and security staff every morning. She always asks how people are doing. She cares about them.’

After spending a decade working in radio, Graham was tentative when he approached his boss to break the news that it was time to move on. It was a decision that had been on his mind for a long time.

‘About four years ago, I became a dad for the first time,’ he explains. ‘I started thinking: What am I going to pass on to my son?

I had grown up in a Christian family and went to church, no problem. But I felt that if I wasn’t convinced by this whole Christianity thing – if I didn’t believe that it was true – then it’d be irresponsible parenting for me to spoon-feed it to my son. I decided I needed to find some answers to my questions about Jesus.

‘I assumed that if I really pushed my

I wanted to know if Jesus was legit

10 • War Cry • 3 October 2020

faith, it might collapse.

But the more I tackled my doubts and questions, the more robust it became.

That then sparked some other questions, including: Is there something else I should be doing with my time and energy, something which would serve the community and help people to grapple with the big questions for themselves?’

For the next couple of years, Graham explored and tested his Christian faith.

‘I read lots of books to help me with my questions,’ he says.

‘Questions such as: How do we know if the Bible is reliable? What evidence is there for the resurrection of Jesus? Because if the Resurrection didn’t happen, then the whole of Christianity falls down. I wanted to know if Jesus was who he said he was. Was he legit? In the end, the quality of Jesus’ character in the Gospels,

INTERVIEW

Working for the church, I don’t know what will happen next

As well as leading services, Graham runs the food bank at his church (left)

backed up by the historical evidence for the Resurrection, brought me to the conclusion that he was.’

Graham’s deepened faith in Jesus proved life-changing. He became keen to tell others about him.

‘Jesus was the original punk,’ he says. ‘He didn’t get nailed to a cross for saying and teaching nice things.

Jesus was a social, political and religious rebel, who came to Earth to point people towards God and to help and care practically for people in need. I want to do the same.

‘Spiritually and emotionally, Jesus makes a huge difference to my life – to my peace of mind, my identity and my security in my position in the world. Because of his death on the cross and resurrection, I can breathe a massive cosmic sigh of relief. I can have confidence in my life, but also in my death. I know that sounds fluffy, but it’s true.’

When the opportunity arose for Graham to work as the director of outreach at Grace Community Church, he jumped at the chance. But Graham had the sense that not everyone understood his reasons for wanting a career change.

‘Many of my colleagues, including Zoe, said it fitted me and told me to go for it,’ he says. ‘But because of my new job’s faith element, I can see why some people might not have thought it made

sense to move.

‘From conversations with colleagues, I know it has made people think about where they get their identity from, as a lot of us find it in our jobs.

‘In recent months, I’ve had to leave behind this idea that I’m Graham Albans, “the Radio 2 producer”. It was a job I knew, and I knew how to do it well. Now I’m working at something completely different – which has a different pay grade and sphere of operating. I feel like the new kid at school. But I’ve just got to have faith in God for the future and trust who he called me to be.’

While Graham is excited about the days ahead, he admits that he has no idea what is in store for him or his family.

All he knows is that his passion is to point people towards Jesus.

‘If I had stayed at the BBC, I could have imagined what my career may have looked like over the next 10 or 20 years,’ he says. ‘But working for the church, I don’t know what is going to happen.

I’m cool with that. I know life’s not always going to be easy, but I’m up for the adventure of following God. I want to see more people drawn into a relationship with him. And I think that’s why I’m here.’

3 October 2020 • War Cry • 11

EXPLORE

Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Wyn and Ray, that they will keep well.

The War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their ­circumstances. Send your Prayerlink requests to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk or to War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, Lon­don SE1 6BN. Mark your correspondence ‘Confidential’.

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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.

Team talk Team talk

talk ‘ ’ Bake Off is a treat

Claire Brine gives her take on a story catching the attention of War Cry reporters

JUST when the nation needs a bit of comfort, Channel 4 dishes up The Great British Bake Off. Surely the timing of the first episode couldn’t have been better. Minutes after the prime minister made a live television announcement that there would be tighter restrictions in the UK’s battle against coronavirus, millions of viewers switched their minds to more pleasant things, like cake.

I can’t blame them. Although coronavirus dominates the news, people don’t want it thickly spread on to everything else on telly. They want – perhaps even need – some time every week when their biggest concern isn’t a daily death rate, but how crunchy a bunch of bakers can make their biscuits.

They want escapism.

Watching the series, I’m struck by the thought that you wouldn’t know there’s a pandemic going on. Because the production team and contestants formed a ‘super bubble’ to film the programme, they were able to stand close to one another and even touch one another. The freedom with which they interact on screen shows a world far removed from face masks and 10pm curfews. It’s refreshing.

The trouble is that, although we can choose to escape reality from time to time with sweet treats on television, we cannot escape from our responsibility. Nor should we.

In his announcement last week, Boris Johnson urged the nation to rally together when he said: ‘Never in our history has our collective destiny and our collective health depended so completely on our individual behaviour.’

Commenting on his words, Ben Kentish of LBC tweeted: ‘PM’s whole statement was a call for us to all look out for each other. We all have a part to play.’

I agree with Ben. In the fight against coronavirus, what we do and how we behave matters. We are responsible for the safety of others. We have a duty of care to our communities. I’m reminded of Jesus’ instruction to love my neighbour.

It would be a comfort to see in their actions that they love me back.

How we behave matters

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

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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 • 3 October 2020

j Q&A

EXPRESSIONS

FACES OF FAITH

Cyrus Azariah from Coventry on cricket, chicken wings and coaching What’s your typical day?

I wake up at 5am to read my Bible and pray.

Then I go for a run. I work at a school from 8 till 5.30 as a strength and conditioning coach for the rugby, cricket and hockey teams. When I come home, I usually cook some food then wind down with Youtube or Netflix.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A cricket player. I played for a club down in Surrey till I was 22, but had to stop because of work. I’m looking for a club here in Coventry.

What makes you feel like a grown-up now?

Having to pay bills and actually make decisions for myself.

What was the last book you read?

Finding God’s Life for My Will by Mike Donehey. My favourite part of that book is that it says Jesus never asked us to be leaders, he asked us to be the best followers, the best servers.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

q a quick QUIZ 1

In what year did the Channel Tunnel open?

2

Who wrote the Man Booker prize-winning novel The Luminaries, recently adapted for TV?

3

Which impressionist painted water lilies in his garden at Giverny?

4

Who hosts the TV debate show Question Time?

5

How many sides does a heptagon have?

6

What is the name of John Travolta’s character in the film Grease?

ANSWERS

Stop blaming yourself. Not everything that goes wrong in this world is because of you. I’d say that not to avoid blame, but to give myself some grace. I could be my worst enemy in terms of my expectation of myself.

What’s good about being a Christian?

The God of the universe, the one who created all things, is the person you trust your life with. And he loves you with an everlasting love.

How does faith influence your life?

I’d be lost without it. It helps me understand that it’s all right to be weak because God is my strength.

What one question would you ask God? Are there chicken wings in Heaven?

What do you pray about?

For hope, for Coventry as a city, for this nation, for my friends. I ask God what’s on his heart and then pray that.

Who is your favourite Bible character?

The Gospel writer John, because he calls himself ‘the man whom Jesus loves’.

My perspective on that is that he was so taken aback by God’s love that his worldly identity didn’t matter any more. His name didn’t matter any more. All that mattered to John was that he was known as the one who Jesus loved.

3 October 2020 • War Cry • 13

1. 1994. 2. Eleanor Catton. 3. Claude Monet.

4. Fiona Bruce. 5. Seven. 6. Danny Zuko.

CROSSWORD CROSSWORD PUZZLES

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Defect (4) 3. Raised edge (3) 5. Appear (4) 7. Lasting (9) 9. Role (4) 10. Lofty (4) 11. Seashore (5) 14. Thigh bone (5) 15. Eject from school (5) 17. Fill with a quality (5) 18. Immerse in water (5) 19. Hillock (5) 20. Pointed missiles (5) 23. Stopper (4)

25. Moderately warm (4) 27. Amuse (9) 28. Sketch (4) 29. Knight’s prefix (3) 30. Jealousy (4) DOWN 1. Failure (4) 2. Sharpen (4) 3. Shakespearean character (5) 4. Less (5) 5. Dispatched (4) 6. Repast (4) 7. Too early (9)

8. Waterproof cover (9) 11. Sobbed (5) 12. Yellowish resin (5) 13. Pours (5) 14. Falsehood (3) 16. Cover (3) 21. Assists in crime (5) 22. Teacher (5) 23. Rope (4) 24. Understand (4) 25. Convey by gesture (4) 26. Refuse (4)

SUDOKU

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

HONEYCOMB HONEYCOMB

9 7

9 7 6 3

Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number

8

6

1. Greek capital 2. Sunglasses 3. Tusked marine mammal 4. Railway lines 5. Manual calculator 6. Threat

1 6 5 3

Wordsearch ANTIMATTER ASTEROID

BLACK HOLE GALAXY

GAMMA RAYS GRAVITATION

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Flaw. 3. Rim. 5. Seem.

7. Permanent. 9. Part. 10. Tall. 11. Coast.

14. Femur. 15. Expel. 17. Imbue. 18. Bathe.

19. Mound. 20. Darts. 23. Cork. 25. Mild.

27. Entertain. 28. Draw. 29. Sir. 30. Envy.

DOWN: 1. Flop. 2. Whet. 3. Romeo.

4. Minus. 5. Sent. 6. Meal. 7. Premature.

8. Tarpaulin. 11. Cried. 12. Amber.

13. Teems. 14. Fib. 16. Lid. 21. Abets.

22. Tutor. 23. Cord. 24. Know.

25. Mime. 26. Deny.

HONEYCOMB 1. Athens. 2. Shades. 3. Walrus.

4. Tracks. 5. Abacus. 6. Menace.

KUIPER BELT LIGHT YEAR MILKY WAY QUASAR

RED DWARF

SOLAR SYSTEM SOLAR WIND

SPACECRAFT SUPERNOVA

4 9 6 2 1 7 5 8 3

5 7 3 8 6 4 1 2 9

TERRESTRIAL PLANET

1 8 2 9 5 3 6 4 7

6 2 1 7 8 9 4 3 5

9 3 4 6 2 5 7 1 8

7 5 8 3 4 1 9 6 2

3 6 5 4 9 2 8 7 1

2 4 9 1 7 8 3 5 6

8 1 7 5 3 6 2 9 4

SUDOKU SOLUTION

ZENITH

8 3 9

5 8

14 • War Cry • 3 October 2020

3 2 5 9

ordsearch ordsearch ordsearch ordsearch ordsearch

Answers

4 9 7 3

5

4

8 3 9

2 8 1

5 8

Look up, down, forwards, backwards

4and5 diagonally 1 6 on 9 the 7 grid 3 to2find8these words associated with space 9 7 8 2 3 5 6 4 1 6 3 2 1 4 8 5 9 7 H Z P M Z R N Z G Z M Y Z S T T R I 2 8 9 7 6 3 4 1I Q F 5 B H D M A A T C Y V S R Z R Q V X Y I G X N E I O K F J E Y Z X H 1 6 5 8 2 4 9 7 3 E Z G M A Z H T L E B R E P I U K R 7 4 3I R T S E R R E T U 9 5 1 2 8 6 T E N A L P L A F N O A A N R Q Z M R D Q M K J R J 5 1 6 4 7 9 8 3 2 J I I Z X S H P B L A C K H O L E C 8 2 4 3 1 6 7 5 9 T T T U Y L Z V Z Y S T X Q Z R D D Q H A S P A C E C R A F T M A Z D Y 3 9 7 5 8 2 1 6 4

I T T S Y V Z S A V U W Z E H K W X Q E I V T R Z L O Z Q U Y H R F A U M C V V T E I N R Y Z T F K L X R N E G A M M A R A Y S H X K G L S F K Q Z R W T E Z O S G N R F I L I M N H R G K P Q D N I W R A L O S Z M B Z Y G U Z X V L Q D V F W P P S Z O O F S G B Y L J K Z Z T Q L Z Q P V Q X H Q T Z N Y Y C Q S Q G G X O J

3 2 5 9

4 3

5

D Egg mayonnaise pitta pockets Ingredients

Method

1 egg

Put the egg in a small saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Cook for 10 minutes. Plunge the egg in cold water and leave to cool.

1tbsp reduced-fat mayonnaise 1 wholemeal pitta ¼ lettuce, shredded 1 spring onion, sliced

Peel off the shell and mash the egg together with the mayonnaise in a bowl.

Split open the pitta and fill it with the egg mayonnaise, then top it with the lettuce and the spring onion.

SERVES

1

Cheesy jacket potato with baked beans Ingredients

Method

1 baking potato

Wash and scrub the potato, then prick all over with a fork.

Put on a microwave-safe plate and cook in the microwave on full power for 4 minutes. Turn the potato over and heat on full power for a further 4 minutes or until cooked through.

200g can reduced salt and sugar baked beans 30g cheddar cheese, grated ¼ lettuce, shredded, to serve ¼ cucumber, sliced, to serve

While the potato is cooking, heat the baked beans in a pan on the hob according to the instructions on the can.

Use a knife to split the potato open in half, then fill with the baked beans. Sprinkle over the cheese. Serve with the lettuce and cucumber on the side.

SERVES

1

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Public Health England website nhs.uk/change4life 3 October 2020 • War Cry • 15

God is merciful and forgiving Daniel 9:9 (New Living Translation)