War Cry 4 May 2024

Time and pace given to National Walking Month

WAR CRY

Life is get ting complicat ed for t roubled police of ficer in BBC1’s The Responder

Sisters recall choir’s crowning moment

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

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

Your local Salvation Army centre

A YEAR ago this weekend much of the UK was decked out in red, white and blue to celebrate the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Aside from the coronation ceremony itself, one of the biggest events of the weekend was the concert held outside Windsor Castle. As well as stars such as Katy Perry, Take That and Lionel Richie, it featured a coronation choir, which was made up of amateur singers from across the country under the guidance of Gareth Malone.

Sisters Elizabeth and Shirley McNeill were among the 300 people who sang in that special choir and, in an interview in this week’s War Cry, they reflect on their experiences of that time.

‘It was surreal that a 70-year-old like me was doing choreography on the stage with Gary Barlow and Take That,’ Elizabeth says.

For all sorts of reasons, many people will never forget the coronation. It was a time of pomp and celebration of the institution of the royal family, which plays a significant role in the country’s constitution.

However, in the 12 months since then, news of the health concerns of some of the royal family have reminded us that they are as human as everyone else and as liable to face some of the worries that can affect anyone’s life.

No one is immune to challenging situations – in whatever form they come. Also in this week’s issue we hear about two people, Harley and Victoria, whose difficulties resulted in them both experiencing homelessness. As we discover, it was at that time that they encountered The Salvation Army, which helped them to get their lives back on track.

‘Anything could have happened to me,’ Victoria says. ‘I think The Salvation Army has changed my life.’

The church and charity is motivated in its work by its Christian belief that any individual, no matter who they are, is of worth and valued by God.

That’s something always worth celebrating.

INFO INFO

Chris with his colleague Rachel

A case to answer

Copper caught up in corruption longs for a way out

TV preview by Emily Bright

LIFE hasn’t been going well for Chris Carson (Martin Freeman), a bobby on the late-night Liverpool beat. When BBC1’s The Responder returns on Sunday (5 May), his ex-wife Kate (MyAnna Buring) is dating his nemesis and is planning to move to London with their daughter, Tilly. And he has other problems.

In the last series, Chris was selling police information to drug dealer Carl Sweeney. To make matters worse, he witnessed Carl’s murder. Hoping to buy

about his dodgy dealings, Chris gifted her a stash of her late husband’s drugs, which – to the horror of his colleague Rachel (Adelayo Adedayo) – he had been hiding in his police car.

Six months on, as the new series begins, Chris is at breaking point. He longs to escape the graveyard patrol shift and secure a day job, which would enable him to see his young daughter more often – if he can convince his ex-wife to

But the reality is that we’re all capable of wrongdoing – not necessarily illegal – and we may have all made choices that we’re not proud of.

We all have the chance

of redemption

It has always been the case. Centuries ago, a once violent man called Paul had an encounter with Jesus – God’s son – which completely transformed the way he lived his life. He turned his back on his past and spent the rest of his life loving others. He experienced this redemption through his discovery that Jesus took the blame for all our wrongdoing. After an unfair trial, Jesus was sentenced to death. But that wasn’t the end of the story – he defeated death, showing us the possibility of an eternal life with God.

After his conversion, Paul wrote of Jesus’ sacrifice, saying: ‘In him we have redemption … in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us’ (Ephesians 1:7 and 8 New International Version).

We all have the chance of redemption. While we may have to deal with the earthly consequences of the things we have done wrong, we can find forgiveness through a relationship with Jesus. If we call out to him in our time of crisis, he will always respond.

It’s about time

Claire

Brine gives her take on a stor y that has caught the at tention of War Cry repor

ters

A WELSH church is holding 15-minute services in an attempt to draw in worshippers who feel they don’t have the time to listen to ‘lengthy sermons’, wrote Stephen Morris on the Guardian website.

The article explained that the ‘micro services’ – which take place at St David’s Church in Penllergaer, Swansea, on Monday afternoons – are designed to ‘make church more accessible’.

The Rev John Gillibrand said: ‘We’re very mindful of work pressures on family and working life in contemporary society. So the idea is to provide people with an opportunity to have a full engagement with the church, but within 15 minutes.’

God is ever-present

Starting at 4.45pm to appeal to commuters on their way home from work, the services will include a Bible reading, a short talk and a time of prayer. Fifteen minutes later, congregants can stay for a cuppa, if they wish, or make a swift exit. Longer services for parishioners who want to devote more time to spiritual reflection will still be available at the church on Sundays.

‘I like any length of service as long as the presence of God is the thing,’ explained John. And I’m inclined to agree with him. Over the years, I’ve sat in many Christian gatherings where animated preachers have talked for hours about God’s love and the impact it can have on my life. I’ve also felt God’s presence in the unlikeliest settings and briefest moments, often when I was least expecting it.

What both experiences have taught me about faith is that God is always by my side and willing to connect with me, whenever or however I approach him. A desperate and quick ‘Help me, God’ when I’m feeling up against it can draw me just as close to him as the times when I’m sitting in church unhurriedly focusing on a Bible story. Similarly, I can take small steps to develop my faith year after year, while also being forgiven by God for all the things I’ve done wrong in a split second.

In every moment of every day, in busy times and quiet times, I believe that God is ever-present – but we need to take time to see it.

talk talk Team talk Team talk ‘ ’ j TEA M TALK

Peak times for outdoor chaplain

THE Church in Wales has appointed a chaplain in the village at the base of Mount Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) to serve people taking part in outdoor pursuits.

Former high-level field hockey player and enthusiastic canoeist Jill Ireland will be based in Llanberis, at the foot of the highest peak in Wales, where tourist mountain walks start and where adventurers engage in climbing, water sports and mountain biking.

Jill has previously worked for the mission organisations Christians in Sport and Sports Friends.

As outdoor chaplain, Jill will create a welcoming space where people from all walks of life can explore spirituality against the breathtaking backdrop of the national park.

Archdeacon David Parry said: ‘Jill’s appointment is a sign of the church’s commitment to everyone who finds joy and meaning in this precious landscape.’

WAR CRY

OLYMPIAN Daniel Rowden has said that his healthy heart is a ‘gift from God’.

The British 800m runner posted a video on Instagram, sharing an update on a recent health concern. He had been referred to a cardiologist because of abnormal chest tightness and was on a break from training.

The video shows Daniel going into the hospital for a cardiac MRI. ‘If I’m honest, I wasn’t feeling very hopeful,’ he says, ‘but God answered our prayers, and the test showed a healthy heart. And that means we’re straight back to Olympic preparations. Some may call it luck, but I know this is a gift from God… I’m back and I’m grateful.’

Roman Kemp programme up for award

A BBC3 documentary in which Roman Kemp explored the mental health problems faced by young people is among the programmes nominated for this year’s Sandford St Martin awards.

Established in 1978, the awards recognise radio, TV and online programmes that deal with religious belief, spirituality and ethics. Programmes up for an award this year in the TV/video category include Roman Kemp: The Fight for Young Lives, in which the One Show presenter spoke with young people to try to understand the mental health challenges they face, and Prue and Danny’s Death Road Trip, which showed TV cook Prue Leith and her son, Danny Kruger MP, exploring the subject of assisted dying.

Winners of the Sandford St Martin awards will be announced in June during a ceremony at Southwark Cathedral.

Religion and wellbeing linked

SPIRITUALITY and care for others may be linked with higher levels of mental wellbeing, a new study has found.

The researchers behind the report Mental Wellbeing, Religion and the Love You Give surveyed more than 200,000 people across 65 countries to collect data on how spirituality and active religious practice influence love and care for the wellbeing of others, and in turn people’s own mental wellbeing.

The report, produced by US-based research group Sapien Labs, found that 72 per cent of people with high levels of spirituality (a strong connection to a higher power) indicated love and care for a wide community of people beyond their close family and friends. In the atheist group, 35 per cent indicated love for the wider group.

Mental wellbeing scores were also highest for people in the spiritual groups.

Salvation Army welcomes rough sleepers - rain or shine

The church and charity is on a mission to break the cycle of homelessness

Feature by Claire Brine

WHEN the sun is shining and skies are blue, the problem of homelessness tends to disappear from the news headlines, making it easy to forget about the difficulties faced by people sleeping rough. But, even though the warm nights may be easier to bear than those of the cold winter months, life on the streets can still feel very bleak and lonely for those without a home.

There are many reasons why people experience homelessness. They may have struggled with addiction or unemployment. Some have fled violent situations. Others have found themselves facing mental health problems after a bereavement. Rises in the cost of living have also brought huge financial pressures, putting many people at risk of losing their homes.

Although the causes of homelessness may vary greatly, those who find themselves without a place to live often have one thing in common: they become trapped in a cycle and can’t see a way out.

One of The Salvation Army’s aims is to break this cycle of homelessness – which is why it runs more than 100 homelessness projects across the UK. Every night 3,000 people find refuge

from the streets by staying in one of the 80 Salvation Army residential centres, known as Lifehouses. Many Salvation Army churches also run drop-in centres, providing an open door for people who are facing hard times and have nowhere else to turn.

As well as giving people a safe and warm place to stay, Lifehouses provide support in other areas, such as employment and training, debt problems, loneliness, addiction and mental health.

Sometimes the people who turn to The Salvation Army for help have complex needs and require specialist support services. Harley, who had previously served in the armed forces, experienced homelessness as addiction to substances which he used to help him with his mental health challenges took hold.

Harley slept in graveyards, out houses, gardens and anywhere else he could find. His addictions affected him so much that he burnt bridges with friends and family members: feeding his addiction became the sole focus of his life.

After turning to The Salvation

Victoria

Army for help, Harley was given accommodation in one of its Lifehouses. There he was directed to the support he could access to break the cycle of addiction, which was the root cause of his homelessness.

‘On the day I walked into The Salvation Army,’ he says, ‘I had to find the trust that these people could help me and that they could offer me something to start from, because I had nothing.’

Another person who sought help from The Salvation Army during a particularly tough time was Victoria. After a happy childhood, she lost her dad in her 20s. A few years later six of her other relatives also died, leaving her devastated and on her own without a family.

After finishing university, Victoria started drinking heavily. She met a partner, who encouraged her to go to rehab, but when he died of a heart attack, she was distraught and ended up homeless.

With nowhere to go, she was sleeping on a park bench when a

Salvation Army officer invited her to a drop-in centre. There she found support and friendship. The Salvation Army also helped her to access therapy for her mental health and to cut down on her drinking. Today she feels safe and part of a supportive community.

‘Anything could have happened to me,’ she says, reflecting on the past. ‘I think The Salvation Army has changed my life.’

In its effort to tackle homelessness, The Salvation Army is always looking for new and innovative ways to support people who are sleeping rough.

confidence through boxing classes. Charlie Malarkey, who heads up a Salvation Army early intervention and prevention outreach service, runs the sessions.

‘As soon as people walk through that door they are treated equally, it doesn’t matter what their background is,’ he says. ‘I can’t tell you how good it has been for improving people’s mental and physical health.’

Lifehouses provide support

Earlier this spring it installed three sleeping pods outside one of its church buildings in Peterborough, with each pod containing a bed, shower, toilet, sink, storage and radiators.

As well as offering rough sleepers a place of shelter, staff and volunteers at the Salvation Army church have been on hand to support the residents by providing hot meals and regular visits.

Further north, an initiative at York Salvation Army has been helping people who are experiencing homelessness – by building their

One participant, called Abbie, credits the boxing sessions with helping her to feel better about herself. Until recently, she had been homeless on and off for 10 years.

‘It’s the first time since I was 15 that I’ve done something normal and had a hobby, because I’ve struggled with addiction,’ she says. ‘I’m setting goals for myself for the first time.’

Bringing people hope in their darkest times is what motivates Charlie and other Salvation Army workers and volunteers across the UK as they continue to support people facing homelessness.

‘I love to hear from people like Abbie, who say these sessions have given them a sense of purpose,’ says Charlie. ‘That is why we do it – it’s to help people.’

Harley

A choir fit for a K ING

One year on from the coronation concert, sisters ELIZABETH and SHIRLEY McNEILL recall their experience of performing for the royal family and thousands of other people

Interview by Emily Bright

AS global superstars Katy Perry and Paloma Faith walked off stage at the coronation concert, they waved at the women’s choir Just Sing and wished them all the best for their performance. Then it was time. The women from Northern Ireland walked on to the stage in the grounds of Windsor Castle as part of a 300-strong coronation choir to the applause of 20,000 people, including King Charles.

‘It was magical,’ Just Sing member Elizabeth McNeill tells me over FaceTime. ‘You could see the royal box some distance away, full of people, including Kate, her children and Camilla. Their outlines were only the size of a finger, but you could recognise them.’

Elizabeth’s sister Shirley McNeill, who was also in the choir on that momentous day last year, remembers that ‘everyone was buzzing’ with excitement. ‘Performing for the King was full of pinch-yourself moments,’ she says. As well as singing

Emeli Sandé’s ‘Brighter Days’, the coronation choir also performed as backing singers for Take That.

‘It was surreal that a 70-year-old like me was doing choreography on the stage with Gary Barlow and Take That,’ Elizabeth laughs.

As I talk to Elizabeth and Shirley, I can’t help but enjoy their exuberance as they recall their moment in the limelight. Their words sometimes trail off, as they struggle to explain such a majestic experience. Then the other chimes in to finish her sister’s sentences, keen to share their memories with me.

tells me. ‘She said: “What can we do? We need to get out of this rut of being at home all the time.”’

Shirley picks up the story: ‘Then Elizabeth said to me, “I would love a good sing.” And as I was sitting at the traffic lights, I saw a banner, and it said: “Just Sing. New choir starting.”’

Our choir enveloped us with love and care

The sisters’ adventure began 18 months before the concert, in a remarkable moment of timing when they were out driving.

‘We were out visiting an aunt, and Shirley knew I was very down,’ Elizabeth

As soon as they had pulled the car over safely, they called the number. The choir manager, Tori, explained that anyone was welcome and invited them along to the Thursday night group.

‘After the first night, we came home singing in the car,’ says Shirley cheerfully. ‘We had fitted in, and we knew it was what we were supposed to be doing.’

Elizabeth adds: ‘As Christians, we felt the Lord’s hand guiding us to that place. Little did we think that 18 months later, we would be singing for the King.’

She explains that the opportunity to perform for the King first came about through the BBC documentary Sing for the King: The Search for the Coronation Choir featuring choirmaster Gareth Malone.

‘One of our girls said to our choir director Heather: “I’ve seen an application for choirs to sing for the King.” Everybody looked at her and thought: “Who wants to hear a wee choir from Portadown sing for the King?” And she said: “Would you mind if I put an application in?”

‘Heather looked at her and said, “Aye, go ahead,” as if to say tongue-in-cheek, “Yeah, we’ll never hear from them again.” Within weeks, though, we heard that Gareth Malone was coming here to Northern Ireland.’

Not only did Gareth go to Northern Ireland but, one night, he walked into their choir practice with a BBC film crew. After they sang one of their favourite songs and one selected by Gareth, they could see that he was impressed.

Elizabeth tells me: ‘He listened to us, and he said: “Wow! That was brilliant, girls.” He went outside, made a few phone calls, came back in and said: “There’s been a lot of interest. I’ve interviewed all day in Northern Ireland. I have another one or two to do tonight, but I want you in the choir.”’

After squeals of delight from the group, Gareth revealed a complication: only about half of the choir could perform at the coronation concert. It could have been a divisive issue, but the choir remained united.

‘There was never any ill feeling about who was chosen to go and who wasn’t,’ Shirley says. ‘If you were chosen to go, you were an ambassador for Just Sing and you had the backing of the girls that were at home. They had a coronation party and FaceTimed us, and we kept them up to date with what was going on.’

The sisters were delighted to be among those selected to sing for the King. But the lead-up to the concert came at a

difficult time.

‘Our brother was dying when Gareth made that announcement,’ says Elizabeth, her voice cracking with emotion.

‘We asked permission to tell our brother about the concert. He said: “I want you to go out and do me proud.” And we did.

‘The weekend before we left, he died. Our choir enveloped us with a blanket of friendship, love and care.’

Ahead of the concert, the singers, selected from 18 choirs across the UK and representing diverse communities and occupations, gathered at Windsor Castle to rehearse together as a full coronation choir for the first time.

‘Gareth Malone was so down to earth,’ says Shirley. ‘Motsi Mabuse, Amanda Holden and Rose Ayling-Ellis – who featured on the BBC documentary – were all there too. They were excited because

Turn to page 10 f

Shirley and ElizabethMcNeill

From page 9

there were going to be special visitors, but we had no idea who they were going to be. And then the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh came in.’

Elizabeth says: ‘The duke and duchess sat and listened for the whole thing, and they were blown away. They applauded us and were so encouraging. They talked to everybody as a group, and then they talked to individual choirs.’

The setting for the coronation choir’s first group rehearsal was particularly poignant, given that it was where the late Queen had been buried a matter of months before.

‘Because the whole place had been closed to the public for those few hours that we were there,’ says Elizabeth, ‘we were able to slip in and see where the Queen had been laid to rest.’

Elizabeth says that performing for royalty held an added significance when she looked at it from the perspective of her faith.

‘I told people: “I’m singing for the King, but one day I’m going to sing to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Won’t that be a special day?”’

Faith is important to both sisters. In their interactions with the other members of the Just Sing choir, Shirley says, they both believe that they should show people their faith in what they do and say.

‘We do our best. We’re not perfect by any means. But I know that on a weekly basis, I show my Christian faith through encouraging people. In our conversations at choir practice, I always try to encourage others.’

One of the ways in which Shirley is able to support other people is through praying for them as they deal with challenging circumstances.

Elizabeth says: ‘People in the choir come up and say to Shirley: “I know you’re a praying woman, Shirley, and I’m going through tests. Will you pray for me?” And Shirley says: “I will do that.

Tell me what day you’re going through those tests, and I will pray for you.”

People see that as important.’

For the sisters, Just Sing has become not only a choir, but also a community which now lies at the core of their lives.

‘Shirley and I never married, so these people are our family,’ says Elizabeth.

‘The choir members are from all parts of the community, so we have made friends with people we never thought we would have met.

‘Everybody is there for one purpose – to sing. We want to do each other proud and are here for one another. Shirley and I love them to bits.’

Shirley adds: ‘It doesn’t matter who is sitting beside you, what their background is, where they’re from. With singing, there aren’t any barriers. We are all on a level playing field. We’re all there for the one purpose: to make a joyful noise.’ She laughs before adding: ‘Hopefully!’

During our chat, the sisters strike me

Choirmaster Gareth Malone, ‘Strictly’ judge Motsi Mabuse and TV personality Amanda Holden took part in ‘Sing for the King’

as easygoing and fun. I sense that, while the choir take singing seriously and work hard, they also know how to have a laugh. Shirley confirms my thinking.

‘There’s the serious element of learning the pieces and making sure you get them note-perfect, but we do have such fun. We have some real entertainers in the choir who have us in stitches, in true Northern Ireland-style.’

On a more serious note, for many of the women, Just Sing provides an opportunity for much-needed relief from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

‘We have people who have been diagnosed with cancer,’ says Elizabeth, ‘people who are awaiting diagnoses for other major illnesses, young mothers who need respite and elderly carers who are worn out. Those two hours on a Thursday night have come to mean so much to so many people.

‘In the old entrance hall at the place where we practise, there is a shelf. Shirley insists that as people go through the door, they put their burdens on the shelf, and then walk into the choir. After two hours, they leave the choir uplifted.’

Elizabeth finds that her burdens are made lighter in another way too: through surrendering her problems to God.

‘I often think that, as Christians, we leave our burdens at the cross of Jesus,’ she says. ‘We depend so much on the Lord for everything in our lives.

‘As children, Shirley and I were steeped in placing

With singing, there aren’t any barriers

trust in the Lord. We depend on that faith to see us through struggles. We both have health issues. We’re going through tests at the minute. But we have to leave it with him, because he is in control in our life.’

Shirley agrees. ‘We have our trials and tribulations,’ she says, ‘but we have come out the other side stronger, with God’s strength and his power.

‘Our faith is about total belief in God and trust in him. Even though we haven’t seen God in a physical sense, we have felt his presence, we’ve experienced his

direction, his guiding hand, his healing touch, his protection, his reassurance. We’ve reaped the benefits of his promises.

‘He is more capable than any human being ever could be. There’s nothing we are going through that we cannot share with him. We need to fully entrust everything to God rather than carry it around ourselves.’

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

a thouNow, ther NO W, THERE’S A THOUGHT! Shepherd’s delight

by Jane Ayamba

ONCE, on a visit to a farm, I observed the owner’s deep connection with his animals. He understood their every twitch and sluggish movement. Dim eyes would often signal illness, while a particular head tilt could indicate a preference for one patch of grass over another.

This understanding allowed him to tailor the care he gave to his animals. More importantly it ensured their safety, as he knew each one by heart and could tell when any had wandered off into potential danger.

To show how attentive God is to our wellbeing, the Bible likens him to a shepherd, with the people who trust in him as his sheep. In Psalm 23, the writer describes himself as having a sense of complete security because the Lord is his shepherd. He is provided for physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Later in the Bible, this image is taken even further when Jesus, the Son of God, calls himself ‘the good shepherd’. Unlike any earthly shepherd, Jesus is perfect. Ever alert. And not only does he simply watch over his flock, but he is also willing to die for them (see John 10:11 and 17).

Finding peace can feel difficult

With his death on a cross, he made the ultimate sacrifice, taking on the punishment of death for all the times that people have done wrong things – or, as one Bible writer put it, ‘have been like sheep, who have gone astray’ (Isaiah 53:6 New International Version). Jesus demonstrated the depth of God’s love and commitment to us, and enabled us to enjoy life now and hereafter.

Finding a sense of peace can feel difficult when so many demands are placed on us. But, because God has shown that he will look after us, we can know true rest, like sheep who find comfort in a safe pasture.

Jesus asks: ‘Are you tired? Worn out... Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest’ (Matthew 11:28 The Message). Today we can put our trust in the good shepherd, and find rest for our souls.

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

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Name

Address

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

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

QUICK QUIZ

1 2 3 4 5 6

Who wrote the bestselling self-help book Atomic Habits?

Which car manufacturer produces the Sorento?

Who played Frodo in the 2001 film The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring?

Which artist has had No 1 albums titled Midnights, Folklore and Lover?

Who is the boss on the TV competition The Apprentice?

What is the term for a young swan?

Walk this way

Charity gives tips to get people on their feet

Feature by Sarah Olowofoyeku

‘W ALK this May,’ says UK charity Living Streets. For its annual National Walking Month campaign, the organisation is urging people to take a walk or wheel for 20 minutes a day to boost their physical and mental wellbeing.

Its website offers tips to help people fit 20 minutes of walking into their everyday routines and experience its physical and mental benefits – which they refer to as ‘the magic of walking’. The tips include inviting friends and family for a walk, holding a business meeting while on foot, going on a scavenger hunt and popping out for an evening stroll.

Stephen Edwards, chief executive of Living Streets, says: ‘With the arrival of blue skies and warmer days, it’s a great time to head outdoors. Recent studies have found that walking boosts serotonin levels linked with feeling happier and less anxious.’

It’s

Whether people decide to step out or not, the offer of engaging with an activity that is known to increase happiness and decrease anxiety could entice anyone. Nobody wants to be miserable.

a great

time to head outdoors

People take part in other forms of exercise, eat good food and spend time with those closest to them to improve their wellbeing. Conversely some have found themselves trying short-term fixes, such as drugs and alcohol, which cause them to experience happiness and less anxiety for a time but are ultimately harmful.

The search for wellbeing is nothing new. Hundreds of years ago people who were searching for a lasting happiness chose to walk with Jesus. His tips for them were to obey his commands: to stay close to him, and to love and forgive others. His instructions were designed, he said, ‘to make you as completely happy as I am’ (John 15:11 Contemporary English Version).

We can find many ways to experience happiness, but the ultimate way is to take Jesus as our guide. If we venture to follow him today, this month, or even this year, we may find the path to real joy that we have been looking for.

PUZZLES

Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every

CAUSEWAY COAST WAY

COTSWOLD WAY

FIFE COASTAL PATH

GLYNDWR’S WAY

GREAT GLEN WAY

LEITRIM WAY

NORFOLK COAST PATH

OFFA’S DYKE PATH

PENNINE WAY

QUEEN MAEVE TRAIL

SOUTH DOWNS WAY

SPEYSIDE WAY

ST CUTHBERT’S WAY

YORKSHIRE WOLDS WAY

INGREDIENTS

1tsp oil

2tbsp curry paste

4 lean pork loin steaks, fat removed and cut into 2cm cubes

1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped

1 large garlic clove, peeled and crushed

5cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and finely chopped

400g can chopped tomatoes

100g fresh baby spinach leaves

Natural low-fat yogurt, to serve

METHOD

Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan and add the curry paste. Add the pork, onion, garlic and ginger and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the pork is brown and caramelised. Stir in the tomatoes and simmer for 6-8 minutes, until the pork is cooked through.

Remove from the heat, then stir in the spinach leaves and allow to wilt. Set aside for 1-2 minutes.

Serve the curry with a spoonful of the yogurt.

Quick pork fajitas

INGREDIENTS

4 tomatoes, deseeded and diced

1 small red onion, peeled and diced

1 lime, juice

Salt and freshly ground pepper

300g pork stir-fry strips

½ lime, zest

2tsp smoked paprika

1tbsp fresh coriander, chopped, plus extra for garnishing

2tsp oil

150g fat-free natural yogurt

8 soft wholewheat tortillas

METHOD

Make a salsa by mixing the tomatoes, onion and half the lime juice together. Season to taste.

To make the fajitas, place the pork strips, lime zest and remaining lime juice, smoked paprika and ½ tbsp coriander in a medium-sized bowl and mix well to marinate.

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan and fry the marinated pork for 4-5 minutes. Remove from the hob, then add 2tbsp warm water. Return the pan to the hob and continue to cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meat juices run clear.

Make a yogurt sauce by mixing ½ tbsp coriander with the yogurt in a small bowl. Set aside.

To assemble the fajitas, warm the tortillas according to the packet instructions. Spoon some salsa into the centre of each tortilla. Add the pork and a dollop of yoghurt sauce, then garnish with more coriander. Roll up to make 8 fajitas and serve immediately.