What is The Salvation Army?
From the editor’s desk
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.
IT was March 2020 when everyone’s life changed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Two years on, the imposed restrictions have now been eased, and in some cases removed completely, as we learn to ‘live with’ the virus. As people faced lockdowns, social distancing and self-isolation, many were reminded of how important it is to experience meaningful interaction with others. ‘Over the past couple of years, we have all seen the consequences of disconnection and isolation,’ says journalist and podcaster Cole Moreton in an interview in this week’s War Cry. ‘People have suffered with mental health problems and there’s been a shared sense of despair.’ Cole goes on to explain why he believes connecting with others helps people to flourish and how his Christian beliefs shape that view. ‘As a person of faith,’ he tells us, ‘I am fascinated by that idea, because the Bible tells us that we are all equal in the sight of God, and therefore we are all connected and need one another.’ That sense of connection is good for our wellbeing, as Ruth Rice explains in another article this week. Ruth has set up a charity that runs café-style ‘Renew spaces’ for people to spend time together. ‘What’s lovely is that it’s just being human together, it’s just the simple act of showing up,’ she says. Ruth’s inspiration to help people comes from her personal experience of isolation and from her faith. But the help she provides is not only for Christians. ‘People with any faith or none can show up and bring a hobby. Attached to the café is a quiet space for prayer and meditation – but you don’t have to go to that,’ she explains. Christians believe that the best connection to make is with God. When we are in a relationship with him, he is able to give us everything that we ad the War C e re ry need. And the great thing is that not even a u’v pandemic need end our connection with him.
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 7566
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Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN
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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
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
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Resident danger
Woman loses her home in TV drama 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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2 • WAR CRY • 5 March 2022
Drawn-out success
Who will win the British Animation awards? 6
From breakdown to wellbeing
Charity founder describes how she learnt to be OK
INFO Your local Salvation Army centre
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Journalist Cole Moreton on interacting
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‘We all have this longing to connect’
with others REGULARS 4
War Cry World
12 Team Talk 13 Wisdom in the Words 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: ITV