War Cry 6 August 2022 by The Salvation Army UK and Ireland

Performer has faith in Edinburgh Festival Fringe

WAR CRY

6 August 2022 50p

Van’s the man There are more crimes for Van der Valk to solve in TV drama

Olympic rower reflects on London 2012

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.

TEN years ago, the eyes of the world were on the UK as athletes took part in the 2012 Olympics. It was a spectacular event with Team GB winning 65 medals and included Super Saturday when they won 3 gold medals within 44 minutes. Rower Debbie Flood was hoping to be among the medals as well. Having won silver in the women’s quadruple sculls at the 2004 and 2008 Games, Debbie and her team were looking to go one better on home water. In this week’s War Cry, she reminds us how her race went, reflects on the years since and talks about how she adjusted to life outside of competitive sport. ‘My life has changed such a lot since 2012. And I’m super grateful for all the different experiences I’ve had,’ she tells us. ‘In some ways, my rowing career feels like a long time ago now. But I’m learning to be thankful for where I am and the day I am in, not grieving the days I have lost, or worrying about what is to come.’ Debbie also explains how her Christian faith helped her through the ebb and flow of her life. ‘God used everything for good,’ she says. ‘He showed me that life is amazing and precious, even when disappointments bring me down.’ Debbie is not alone in her experience of God. Millions of Christians have found that, when they put their trust in him, he not only helps them to cope with life’s disappointments, but also brings hope, purpose and fulfilment through even the toughest times. Most of us will never compete for medals in an Olympic tournament. But there will be some times when we feel as if we’re winning and others when we feel defeated and lost. Whatever we are going through, it’s great to know that God is willing to join us in our experiences and make them ad the War C e re ry v ’ better than if we had to face them alone. u

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 7588

When yo

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 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

Murder at eye level Van der Valk returns

Edinburgh festival 8

INFO

Gospel on the Fringe Actor dramatises Scripture at the

Ready, steady, row Olympian looks back at London 2012

Your local Salvation Army centre

and what happened next

O 15

2 • WAR CRY • 6 August 2022

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

REGULARS 4

War Cry World

12 Team Talk 13 Past Times 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: ITV

ITV

no dead ends Crime drama serves justice TV preview by Sarah Olowofoyeku

Piet van der Valk and Lucienne Hassell are looking for clues to find a killer

NO-NONSENSE detective and his team are putting together the pieces of a philosophical case in the second series of Van der Valk – a remake of the 1970s crime drama of the same name – which begins on ITV tomorrow (Sunday 7 August). Set in modern-day Amsterdam, it follows Piet van der Valk, who, in the first episode, has been called in to solve a murder that ends up being part of a wider quest of revenge. When Piet (Marc Warren) and his partner Lucienne (Maimie McCoy) arrive at the scene of the crime, they discover that the killer has left a cryptic note linked to the philosopher Spinoza and what might be another message etched on the victim’s body. The victim, Susie de Windt, is connected to a high-profile court case that involves the city and an alternative community that is squatting on its land. As the investigating team learns more details about the case, ideas of potential killers and their motives emerge. The detectives map out the murderer’s possible next steps, and it’s a

race against time to stop them before it’s too late. It’s edge-of-the seat drama as Piet and the rest of his team chase leads, solve cryptic clues and find themselves in unexpected situations. Although audiences may feel tense while watching the programme, most fans of the genre will expect justice to be done before the credits roll. It can be hard to predict how exactly the case will be solved, but justice is normally delivered in the end. While in crime dramas, the mysteries are usually solved just in the nick of time, our own lives can feel very different. Whether we’re on a quest for justice for ourselves or our community, the hunt for a better job in order to make ends meet or the search for a sense of purpose and fulfilment in life, we can often find that a satisfying outcome doesn’t come as quickly as we’d like – and it isn’t even guaranteed to come at all. People from all walks of life face

Sometimes the pieces of the puzzle don’t fit

disappointment and failure. Sometimes the pieces of the puzzle just don’t fit together. We can return to the drawing board time and again, trying to figure out the future and a way to enjoy life, but when things don’t work out, we can lose hope. No one is ruled out from such struggles, but one community has found that, regardless of their circumstances, they can be certain about something. Christians believe that God is watching over their lives and mapping things out so that the outcome is always good in the end. It gives them hope in even the most challenging circumstances. Bible writer Paul, who faced extremely tough times during the course of his life, wrote: ‘God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him’ (Romans 8:28 Contemporary English Version). Whatever we face in this life, if we commit ourselves to loving God, we can be sure about what the outcome will be. Even if things don’t work out as we’d like now, God promises always to be with us, and offers us an eternal life with no pain or suffering. Case closed. 6 August 2022 • WAR CRY • 3

cxzWt

WAR CRY

tWwxc BBC/ATOMIZED STUDIOS

Sir Mo ‘shining a light’ on modern slavery THE leader of The Salvation Army in the UK and Republic of Ireland says he is thankful to Sir Mo Farah for speaking about his experience of domestic servitude. After the story broke of the four-times Olympic gold medallist’s past, as revealed in the BBC1 documentary The Real Mo Farah, Commissioner Anthony Cotterill commented: ‘I want to thank Sir Mo Farah for finding the courage to speak out about his experiences. He has helped shine a light on thousands of untold modern slavery stories being lived across the UK today.’ He added that Mo’s case is not unusual – victims of modern slavery are hiding in plain sight. He said: ‘In the past 10 years, more than 15,000 survivors have been supported by The Salvation Army and our partners supported by a UK government contract. ‘We will be sharing information on our social media channels in the coming months to help give more people the confidence to recognise the signs that someone could be forced into slavery.’ The Salvation Army is urging people to familiarise themselves with the signs of modern slavery and to use its 24-hour confidential referral helpline number 0800 808 3733.

Support for emergency workers

Hip, hip, hoopoe! A RARE bird has attracted birdwatchers to a rural church, helping it raise funds for a new roof, reported the Church Times. St Nicholas’s in Hinxworth, Hertfordshire, welcomed up to 70 visitors a day after a villager posted details of the hoopoe sighting on a website logging the appearance of unusual birds. After seeing how many people came to catch a sighting of the bird, the church opened up its car park and toilets for the enthusiasts to use without a fee. A donations box was left out and people were asked to pay what they wanted. The Rev Christine Campbell, rector, told the paper that during the six days the bird was in the paddock, £500 was raised. ‘The twitchers were absolutely lovely,’ she said. ‘They posted directions on their app telling [other twitchers] to park in the car park and to make a donation to the roof fund. ‘St Nicholas’s is marking its 700th anniversary this year and we were going to use the event as a focal point for launching fundraising for a new roof. Its arrival was certainly a great way to get the project in front of everybody. It was a happy coincidence of events – maybe the hoopoe was heaven-sent.’

THE Salvation Army provided support to fire and rescue services across England as they responded to a spate of incidents, many triggered by the heatwave. When called out, the church and charity’s incident support vehicles offer refreshments and emotional support to fire and rescue staff and to people in the community. Over a busy few days, the vehicles attended fires in the northwest of England, London’s Trafalgar Square (pictured) and Wennington, Essex. Teams were also called to forest fires in the Peak District and to an incident at a waste recycling plant in Lancashire, where they provided 24-hour support for four days. Adrian Clee, the emergency response officer for The Salvation Army, said: ‘Our fire and rescue services respond to horrendous conditions during hot weather. The support of The Salvation Army enables them to have the chance to relax their tunics, cool down and to rehydrate before going on with their vital work. ‘Our teams are always ready to roll their sleeves up and to come alongside the emergency services, supporting them and affected communities.’

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

4 • WAR CRY • 6 August 2022

TheWarCryUK

MAKING HIS MARK One of the shows at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a theatrical retelling of the life of Jesus. Spoken word performer STEFAN SMART talks about how his production has changed his life Interview by Emily Bright

‘T

HE Edinburgh Festival Fringe is wild,’ says performer Stefan Smart, who is returning to the festival after three years. ‘You walk down the Royal Mile and it’s just so full of people, colour and the wackiest sights and sounds. You’re being assailed by people saying: “Come to my show, come to my show.”’ Back in 2019, Stefan sold out a 30-seat venue on almost every night. ‘I absolutely loved it,’ he tells me. ‘I hadn’t expected to sell out. If you go to the Fringe and get four or five people in an audience, you’re doing quite well, because there’s 4,000plus shows for people to choose from.’ His one-man show, I Am Mark, returned to the festival yesterday (Friday 5 August). In it, Stefan retells extracts from the Gospel of Mark, a biblical account of the

Stefan Smart

life of Jesus. This year, he is putting on nine performances at a bigger venue, Greenside at Riddle’s Court, until Saturday 13 August. He has also made a film of the whole Gospel. Available to rent or buy from his website, the downloadable film is split into four episodes and lasts two and a half hours. Stefan has also produced conversation starters, so that people investigating the Christian faith can discuss the Gospel in more depth and ask questions about Jesus. He wants to open up honest conversations about faith, rather than simply preach at people. A drama and English teacher for almost 30 years, Stefan had always enjoyed storytelling. One day, he decided to combine his flair for the theatrical with something that had defined his life. ‘I began to ask myself and God: “How can I link my skills with my Christian faith more explicitly?” And I thought about performing Mark’s Gospel, mainly because it was the

Turn to page 6 f 6 August 2022 • WAR CRY • 5

From page 5 shortest, so if I was going to learn that story off by heart, it wouldn’t take me long. ‘It’s also the most dramatic Gospel and, as someone who loves drama, I knew that there had been actors in the past who had done something similar in the West End or on Broadway. So I started learning Mark’s Gospel, and the more I performed it, the more confident I became. I realised that this was what I was supposed to be doing.’ In 2016, Stefan decided to perform Mark’s account of Jesus’ life at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park. Since then, he has performed around the UK in cathedrals, on high streets and in prisons. Stefan explains that the dynamic of his performances are different from other more traditional stage productions. He carries a few basic props, including a kitchen chair which he uses as part of his set, to tell the story. ‘It has to be a more dynamic and interactive performance than on stage, and there’s a lot of connection with the audience,’ he says. ‘They’re encouraged to come into the story. So if Jesus is teaching a parable, often I will imagine that the audience in front of me are those, original listeners to the parable. And they begin to feel that as well.

‘I enjoy the reaction, seeing how the words of the Gospel come alive to people. There’s a sense of being caught up in something mesmerising and deeply truthful that makes people come in close to their heart’s desire to know God. That is the reason I do it.’ The stories about Jesus in the Gospels have been told for millennia. But, while Stefan believes that it’s the words of the Bible themselves that hold ‘a lot of power’, the way in which they’re delivered matters too. ‘When you’re in church,’ he continues, ‘you don’t often get the whole thing. It was originally written to be enjoyed as a complete story. It wasn’t meant to be read in snippets, although that’s helpful because we can go into detail that way. ‘I think also there’s a sense of the characters and emotion coming through a lot more if it’s performed. I try to bring to life all the characters and even the narrator to engage people’s imagination. And people begin to respond not just on an intellectual level, but much more on an emotional level as well. It’s immersive.’ But it’s not just audiences who are gaining a greater understanding of Mark’s Gospel through Stefan’s spoken word. He has learnt a lot about it too.

There’s a lot of connection with the audience

6 • WAR CRY • 6 August 2022

‘Performing Mark’s Gospel has been life-changing,’ he says. ‘I’ve been a Christian for 38 years and I’d read Mark’s Gospel many times before I started doing this. It is seen to be just an action-packed, wham-bam kind of narrative. But the more I look at it, the more I realise it has been carefully put together. And there’s a meaning behind each and every word.’

ith each new reading, Stefan also sees the text in a new way, and is continually challenged by its application to his everyday life. ‘The thing about the Bible is that it’s a very personal document as well,’ he says. ‘So I’ll be reading certain things and realising that God is speaking to me about particular situations in my life. ‘It’s stunning sometimes how, as I’m doing the actions or saying the words in a certain way, a phrase or a line resonates in a dramatic, challenging or comforting way which it has never done before. Going into the depths of the Gospel has made me realise how present God is in each of our lives, and how much he wants to talk with us.’ To many people, though, the Gospels

can seem like a complete mystery. So I ask Stefan to summarise their significance in the context of our modern-day lives. ‘God is asking each of us individually today, just as he asked all these disciples in Mark’s Gospel, to follow him. That means interacting with God, learning from him and having an ongoing relationship with him. ‘God is calling us to build communities around the globe where we love, respect and honour each other and everything we’ve been given on this Earth. That’s his blueprint for life.’ While Stefan admits that the Christian faith is ‘a challenge, which involves

To many people the Gospels seem like a complete mystery sacrifice and service’, he also believes that there’s nothing else like it. ‘It’s a life of tremendous fulfilment and a sense of purpose,’ he says. Stefan says he hopes his performances of Mark’s Gospel, both at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and in his film, will affect the lives of his listeners. ‘What excites me about this story is that it promotes conversation, questioning and searching. I like to think I’m providing a space where God can reveal himself to people afresh.’

l For more information go to IAm-Mark.com

6 August 2022 • WAR CRY • 7

R w n! As Olympic rower DEBBIE FLOOD looks back on London 2012, she explains how faith in God helped her through disappointment and led her to joy Interview by Claire Brine

LREADY a two-times Olympic silver medallist, Debbie Flood had high hopes for London 2012. Training is going well, she told the War Cry in the summer of 2011. Team GB are going for gold in the women’s quadruple sculls. Everyone is excited about competing on home waters, rowing to the roars of a home crowd. Twelve months later, as Olympic fever hit the UK, I watched as Debbie and the rest of her crew made their way to the starting line at Eton Dorney. Feeling hopeful that her dream of a gold medal was about to become reality, I cheered her on from a friend’s living room. Then she finished in sixth place. It wasn’t how the three-times world champion had envisaged the final race of her career. ‘We were really deflated,’ she tells me over Zoom, when we catch up to reflect on her experiences of 10 years ago. ‘As a crew, we knew that we hadn’t achieved all that we could. We also knew, from past experience, the elation of winning an Olympic medal. So it felt very strange for us to compete in a race and not head over to the podium at the end of it.’ Before we get into discussions of what went wrong and what she did next, Debbie points out that, despite her disappointment, the Olympics in London will always remain the best Games she has ever been to. ‘I’d already experienced three Olympics before,’ she says, ‘because I’d been a spare for the rowing team in Sydney in

8 • WAR CRY • 6 August 2022

Debbie Flood

EMPACHER

Debbie on her way to a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens

2000, then won silver medals in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. But London was different from all of them. In terms of the atmosphere and the support from the crowd, it was on another level. ‘Usually, when you’re rowing, you only see the crowds towards the end of the race. But in London, there were people lining our course from start to finish. All of the other venues were packed too. In the second week, I went to watch the diving, hockey and gymnastics. The volunteers were great, getting the Mexican waves going, and everywhere was just so noisy. For the athletes competing, it was amazing.’ Despite Debbie’s enjoyment of

watching other events, there was no escaping the sadness she felt in accepting that her Olympic dream was over. She always knew that London 2012 was going to be her last international competition – and, as a result, she had been determined to enjoy every moment of preparation leading up to it. ‘I spent most of 2011 and the early part of 2012 trying to appreciate all the training camps and all the travelling we did,’ she says. ‘When rowing becomes your normal, day-to-day life, it can be easy to take it for granted. But I wanted to enjoy that last year of sport before accepting that I was moving on to the next bit of life. ‘As it turned out, the months leading up to the Games were different from anything I’d experienced in training before. In February 2012, I developed a back injury, meaning I missed the early selection for the Olympic team. At that point, I didn’t know if I’d make it to London at all. ‘Later down the line, when I got my training back up to speed, I was given another opportunity to make the quad, and I managed to get in. But then a month before the Games started, I fractured my rib on a training camp. My body was really struggling.’ Intent on racing in front of the home crowd, Debbie taped herself together and kept going. She knew that, having suffered setbacks in training, the competition

I fractured my rib on a training camp

ROBERT TREHORNE-JONES

IM AG E

S/ A

Turn to page 10 f 6 August 2022 • WAR CRY • 9

From page 9 ahead would feel extra tough. ‘Even getting to the start line at the Olympics felt like a real feat after the year I’d had,’ she says. ‘My whole body was covered in tape in an attempt to keep my pain as low as possible. When we competed in our heat, which was at the beginning of the first week, we were one of the slowest crews to finish. It meant we didn’t make it straight through to the final, but had to go through another race called the repêchage. If we didn’t perform well in that, we knew that would be it. ‘We raced our hearts out, knowing that if we didn’t succeed, we would be the only British boat not to make it to the final. And we didn’t want that to happen. I don’t think I’ve ever raced so hard in my entire life. We couldn’t have given any more.’ Much to their delight, Debbie and her crew secured a place in the quadruple sculls final. The gold was still, just about, within reach. Time to reset and refocus. ‘The good thing about racing in the final is that it doesn’t matter how well you performed in the heats, because every crew is suddenly level again,’ Debbie explains. ‘We knew we had to give the best performance we could, pushing ourselves to the limits of our physical and mental capacity. ‘But then something happened in the race that had never happened to us before. One of our crew caught a crab, which is a bit like having the handbrake on in a car. She lost her blade because it dug

down underneath the water and, although we tried to carry on, we couldn’t get back what we’d lost.’ Hopes dashed, the crew finished in sixth place. Ten years later, Debbie still wonders if the race could have ended any differently. ‘I’d raced before and been disappointed, and I’d raced before and not come in the position I would have liked,’ she says. ‘But I’d never raced and experienced a technical calamity that affected our performance so much. We will never know how well we could have done in that final, which was such a sad way for us to finish. ‘After the race, we stood together as a crew and embraced one another. Then we went and put our boat back on the rack. We were all disappointed, because when you’re competing on home turf, surrounded by all your family and friends, you want to be able to win medals for them.’ A week later, the Games were over and Debbie began to wonder what she should do next with her life. She had intended to go back to her job as a prison officer at

Rowing wasn’t about the results

10 • WAR CRY • 6 August 2022

HMP Huntercombe in the new year, but she found it difficult to say goodbye to the sport that had been her focus for 15 years. ‘Not getting that final medal made me question whether I should carry on rowing for a bit longer,’ she says. ‘And thinking that way challenged me, because I’d always said to myself that rowing wasn’t about the results. What mattered most to me was where God wanted me to be, because my faith was in him. ‘As I tried to think about the next phase of my life, I found myself grieving for the rowing I was leaving behind. I missed the structure it brought to my days and the camaraderie of the team.’ To help her adjust to her new situation, Debbie turned to her Christian faith for comfort. She knew, from past experience, that God’s guidance could be relied upon. ‘God had taught me after winning the silver in Beijing that my value was never in my results,’ she explains. ‘In times of elation or disappointment, I always understood that my foundation was my security in him. But there was still a time after the London Olympics when

JAAP OEPKES

Debbie competing at the World Rowing Championships in 2008

I didn’t know where I was going or what I was doing. I felt as though my life had been thrown in the air and holes shot through it. ‘So I went to spend some time in Yorkshire, where I took part in various Christian mission events, talking about my rowing and my faith. I loved it. It gave me time to reset my thoughts, and I realised that, through all my ups and downs, God used everything for good. He showed me that life is amazing and precious, even when disappointments bring me down. And, although I knew that I would miss rowing, I began to see that my next

stage of life could be equally as joyful and purposeful.’ Early the next year, Debbie returned to her work as a prison officer. Working with the male prisoners and helping them through their sentences was a job she enjoyed. But, after a couple of years, she wondered if it was time for a new direction. ‘In 2015, I was given the opportunity to work for an organisation called Christians in Sport,’ she says. ‘My role was to walk alongside the elite athletes, sharing faith with them and supporting them. For many years of my own career, Christians in Sport had supported me, so the job was a good fit. I could understand when the athletes went through difficult times, because I’d experienced

Debbie and the rest of the quadruple scull crew celebrate winning gold at the 2007 World Rowing Championships

them too. I loved spending time with them, talking about life and sharing hope.’ As well as taking on a new career, Debbie embraced other opportunities that came her way. She rowed from London to Paris for charity. She served as captain of the Leander rowing club in Henley-onThames – a role that had never before been filled by a woman in the club’s 200-year history. In 2017, she got married. Three years later, she had a baby. ‘My life has changed such a lot since 2012,’ she says. ‘And I’m super grateful for all the different experiences I’ve had. In some ways, my rowing career feels like a long time ago now. But I’m learning to be thankful for where I am and the day I am in, not grieving the days I have lost, or worrying about what is to come.’ In terms of the future, Debbie feels excited about God’s plan for her life and where he may lead her next. Recently she started an additional job at a debt help centre in Henley, working for the charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP). ‘All the time I was rowing, I knew exactly what the plan was and what the goal was,’ she says. ‘Now I’m in a different season, where I’m serving my community – and that brings all kinds of ups and downs. There are times when you feel productive and times when you don’t feel useful. ‘But whatever I’m doing – whether I’m being Mum, supporting athletes or helping people in my new role at CAP – I feel my work is to honour God by loving him and loving others. Those are the basics I keep coming back to.’

God used everything for good

6 August 2022 • WAR CRY • 11

Prayerlink 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’.

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. Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit.

talk ‘ ’ Team talk TEAM TALK Love me, love my religion

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

MEAT LOAF once sang that he would do anything for love – but swiftly added that he wouldn’t do ‘that’. Nearly 30 years later, 2,000 Brits have taken part in a survey to list their own deal-breakers when it comes to relationships. According to Essex Magazine, a whopping 94 per cent of people admitted that they wouldn’t change their religion for a romantic partner. Commissioned by the Discovery+ TV channel, the survey also revealed other non-negotiables for couples. Of the people questioned, 94 per cent said that they wouldn’t end a friendship for love, and 91 per cent stated that they wouldn’t change their political views. Only 3 in 10 people said they would do ‘absolutely anything’ for their significant other. Commenting on the survey, broadcaster and writer on relationships Alix Fox pointed out that ‘love can ask a lot’ of a person. She said: ‘While having a healthy sense of give-and-take is essential to a balanced relationship … it’s also vital to know where your personal hard lines and limits are, and to ensure they’re respected.’ Overall, I found the results of the survey interesting, but I was surprised most to see such a high percentage of people saying that they would put their religion before their relationship. It suggests to me that, wherever people are on the spectrum of belief, most couples want to be on the same page as each other. When it comes to considering questions of life and death, right and wrong and belief in God, faith – whatever it looks like – matters to them. Faith matters to me too – and always has done, whether I’ve been in a romantic relationship or not. My Christian outlook shapes the way I work, how I treat people and how I parent. But it’s not just important in influencing the way I live. My faith also brings many positives to my life. Although my relationship with God is far from perfect, knowing him makes my life better. God guides me when I’m not sure what I’m doing, and offers security when I feel unloveable. He never stops giving, even when I ask a lot of him.

Couples want to be on the same page

Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen

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

War Cry 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN

Looking for help?

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 • 6 August 2022

QUICK QUIZ 1

What is the title of Libertines singer Pete Doherty’s recently published memoir?

Which part of the body is examined by an ophthalmoscope?

A 3

Who provides the voice for space ranger Buzz in this year’s animated film Lightyear?

Which country’s flag comprises three vertical bands of green, red and yellow with a yellow star in the centre?

In golf, how many strokes below par are required to score a birdie?

Which girl group had a hit in 1999 with their song ‘No Scrubs’? ANSWERS

Andrew Stone looks back to a notable event that happened during this month in history

On-the-box thinking THE BBC is celebrating its centenary this year with an array of special programmes on radio and television. Originally, the corporation broadcast only on the radio, but 90 years ago this month it produced its first TV programme. It was the beginning of a process that would change so much of people’s lives. In the years since, national and international events have been beamed live into homes, documentaries have challenged society and dramas have captured the imagination of millions. The experimental programmes were transmitted from the basement of Broadcasting House in London, using technology that had first been demonstrated by John Logie Baird in 1927. Viewers of these original programmes were known as ‘lookers-in’, but the picture they saw was very different from the ultra-HD images that the lookers-in of the 21st century enjoy. Broadcast only in black and white, the grainy images used a 30-line mechanical system, which was to be replaced in the coming years with an electronic system. In the decades since, the quality of the pictures has developed in a way that must have been beyond the wildest dreams of those early TV pioneers. But thank goodness they could see the potential, because it is not always obvious how something – or someone – can develop. Christians are grateful that God has the ability to see the potential in everyone, even those who can’t always see it within themselves. God is willing to work with anyone who will put their trust in him to help them become the best that they can be. When writing to new believers, one early Christian pioneer explained that God ‘who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion’ (Philippians 1:6 New International Version). God can see the potential in us all. Will we tune into his way to become the very best people we can be?

It is not always obvious how something can develop

6 August 2022 • WAR CRY • 13

1. A Likely Lad. 2. The eye. 3. Chris Evans. 4. Cameroon. 5 One. 6. TLC.

PUZZLES Quick CROSSWORD ACROSS 3. Chart (3) 7. Pilfer (6) 8. Pantry (6) 9. Mission (6) 10. Idea (6) 11. Lower limb (3) 12. Place of worship (6) 14. Cricket team (6) 17. Federal soldier in the American Civil War (6) 21. Articulated (6) 24. Form of dance (3) 25. Motionless (6) 26. Calculate (6) 27. Iron grating (6) 28. Serviette (6) 29. Manipulate (3) DOWN 1. Attack (6) 2. Renovate (6) 3. Interfere (6) 4. Dive in (6) 5. Squirm (6) 6. Distant (6)

12. 13. 15. 16.

Attempt (3) Falsehood (3) Circuit (3) Religious sister (3) 18. Blood vessel (6)

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

5 1 8

9 7

7 9

6 1 6

4 7

19. Water-boiling appliance (6) 20. Engraver (6) 21. Leap (6) 22. Inhabit (6) 23. Tropical (6)

3 9

2 6 4 9 7 1 2 9 2 8

6 5

1 3 4

WORDSEARCH

4 3 5 1 8 6 9 2 2 1 6 3 9 7 5 4 Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally 8 football 5 4 teams 2 6 1 on the grid to7find9these 3 5 2 8 6 4 1 7 A R ZMK X S R A NG E R S NDC V 4 T 9L P7 D 3D B1K 2I F5 C Z K D L Z Q8O W C P L E E Q R6D U T H3 7 Q1D F9 U 2F X5O 8 ND E T I NUR E T S E HCNAMV 8 A4H C2 V 7Z L9Y M 3 L6 F S E I C F P5P F A D D N E P S1W N S Z A Q E R O A 6 3 4 5 8 7 O9 UR SUS R T C L TWLMZ RNAQ 2 O7T A6 Q 1P E3T Q 4 U8 I P U M T N O9N Z

M O HONEYC B Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number

P J N F S O H Y L K

1. Amount left in a will 2. Young swan 3. Book of financial accounts 4. Be present at 5. Lifesize carving 6. Dough used to make pies

ANSWERS 4 2 7 3 8 6 5 1 9

3 1 9 5 4 7 8 6 2

5 6 8 2 9 1 4 3 7

1 3 5 8 7 9 2 4 6

7 6

8 9 4 6 3 2 7 5 1

6 7 2 4 1 5 9 8 3

9 5 6 1 2 8 3 7 4

1 3 4 4

2 4 1 7 5 3 6 9 8

7 8 3 9 6 4 1 2 5

HONEYCOMB 1. Legacy. 2. Cygnet. 3. Ledger. 4. Attend. 5. Statue. 6. Pastry. QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 3. Map. 7. Thieve. 8. Larder. 9. Errand. 10. Notion. 11. Leg. 12. Temple. 14. Eleven. 17. Yankee. 21. Spoken. 24. Tap. 25. Static. 26. Reckon. 27. Grille. 28. Napkin. 29. Rig. DOWN: 1. Charge. 2. Revamp. 3. Meddle. 4. Plunge. 5. Writhe. 6. Remote. 12. Try. 13. Lie. 15. Lap. 16. Nun. 18. Artery. 19. Kettle. 20. Etcher. 21. Spring. 22. Occupy. 23. Exotic.

14 • WAR CRY • 6 August 2022

SUDOKU

N Y X J B O T J I N

NA EGHSR I H R MM X U T T CQA F Z E S I ZHQS DE T I NUE JWY H E NC UOC I T L E ZQTMT ZQ V E RPOO L SHQP T NN

ARSENAL ASTON VILLA CELTIC CHELSEA CRYSTAL PALACE EVERTON FULHAM LEEDS UNITED

N Y PWS T G V F L RQZO I I AQV S P L J T NQF Z L T S A CWE AWYMV B U CXRSQNH RWC H E L S RCZ I UR I HMZ F B T Z

OX T N NZ NR NM A F Z E E A RG KU

LEICESTER CITY LIVERPOOL MANCHESTER UNITED NEWCASTLE UNITED RANGERS SOUTHAMPTON TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR WEST HAM UNITED

7 8 3 9 6 4 1 2 5

Ingredients 125g frozen peas 50g sugar snap peas, cut in half lengthways 50g courgette, cut into matchsticks 60g radishes, topped, tailed and quartered 3 spring onions, finely chopped 8g fresh mint, finely chopped Salt 75g full-fat cream cheese 125g feta cheese, crumbled

Whipped feta and pea bruschetta Method Boil the frozen peas in a pan with water for 3 minutes. Refresh in cold water, then drain well. Place the peas, sugar snap peas, courgette, radishes, spring onions, mint and a pinch of salt in a bowl and gently mix together. Refrigerate until needed. To make the whipped feta, whizz the cream cheese and feta in a blender until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use. Lightly toast the sourdough slices and spread with the whipped feta. Place on 4 serving plates, spoon the vegetables on to the bread and generously drizzle over the oil, to serve. SERVES

2 large slices sourdough loaf, cut in half 8tsp cold-pressed rapeseed oil

Sun-dried tomato and cheddar muffins Ingredients 400g self-raising flour ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp chilli flakes 150g sun-dried tomatoes, plus 75ml oil from the jar 150g spring onions, thinly sliced 360g cheddar cheese, grated 10g fresh basil, finely chopped 100ml rapeseed oil 2 eggs 250ml milk

Method Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas Mark 5. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases. Place the flour, salt and chilli flakes in a bowl and stir well. Drain the sun-dried tomatoes and roughly chop, reserving the oil for later. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, spring onions, 300g cheese and basil to the bowl with the flour and stir gently to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes, the rapeseed oil, the eggs and the milk. Pour the liquid into the flour mixture and stir gently until just combined. Divide the mixture evenly between the paper cases and top each muffin with a little of the remaining 60g cheese. Bake the muffins for 20-25 minutes, until they are golden and risen. Leave in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool before serving.

MAKES

Recipes provided by the National Trust. For more information visit nationaltrust.org.uk 6 August 2022 • WAR CRY • 15

The truth is that teamwork is at the heart of great achievement John C Maxwell

WAR CRY