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.
SOMETIMES in the UK, snow and ice can mean travel disruption, school closures and the hope that the car’s antifreeze was topped up at the last service. While children may love the snowball fights and snowman building, the treacherous conditions can force older generations into self-isolation that has nothing to do with Covid-19. However, for the competitors at this year’s Winter Olympics in Beijing, snow and ice mean having the opportunity to take part in their chosen sports, together with the pressures that come with competing at the highest level. Joel Fearon knows exactly what that is like. He took part in the past two Winter Games as part of the GB bobsleigh team, hurtling down ice tracks at speeds around 80mph. ‘You feel like you’re going at warp speed,’ says Joel in an interview in this week’s War Cry. ‘You can’t see what’s going on, but only hear this noise which gets faster and faster and more violent. The adrenaline is absolutely wild.’ As well as competing in the bobsleigh, Joel is a successful track sprinter. He has clocked a sub-10 second time for the 100m, making him one of Britain’s fastest athletes. Joel tells us how he believes that his sporting abilities come from God. ‘Everything stems from him, any success I have in sport or out of sport,’ he says. ‘It all stems from what he has given me – the opportunities, the mindset, all the things that he’s instilled in me. He represents a second chance and opportunity in life.’ Not all of us will be Olympic competitors. But God gives everybody abilities to enable them to have a fulfilling life. And if we’ve not used those abilities in the right way, he also gives us the chance to start our lives again by following ad the War C e re ry his guidance. It’s an opportunity that’s too u’v good to miss.
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 7562
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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
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Record royal rule
The Queen reaches 70 years on the throne 6
Euro visions
Author explores the continent’s cathedrals
INFO 2 • WAR CRY • 5 February 2022
Antisocial media
BBC drama revolves around an online obsession
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
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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
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‘Bobsleigh has formed and created my life’
Olympian on competing in the Winter Games REGULARS 4
War Cry World
12 Team Talk 13 Now, There’s a Thought! 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: BBC/MAM TOR PRODUCTIONS/LUKE VARLEY