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.
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.
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
The Salvation Army
Kingdom and Ireland Territory ISSN 0043-0226
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.
Some people see it as the day of the full-on roast dinner. For some, it’s the day to spend with family, at a sporting event or in the shops. For others, it’s just another day at work.
A certain group of people, however, see Sunday as a day for going to church, an opportunity to find spiritual refreshment and learn more about their faith. Christians believe that God also wants them to recognise and enjoy a day set aside for him.
People who don’t share that belief can find the idea of Sunday being a special day hard to understand. But that’s nothing new. A century ago a lot of people couldn’t understand why Olympic athlete Eric Liddell pulled out of the 100m race – which he was expected to win – because the heats were taking place on a Sunday.
Eric took this action because of his conviction that participating in the event on that day would go against his Christian beliefs. As we remember in an article this week, he opted to change races and competed in the 400m – and still won gold.
The story was retold in the film Chariots of Fire, but what the drama didn’t portray was that, away from athletics, Eric worked as a missionary and dedicated his life to helping people.
The gold medallist’s reputation for caring for others, even in the Second World War internment camp where he died, prompted a charity in Edinburgh to name itself after him.
As well as providing a range of support to people in the city, the Eric Liddell Community is holding a number of events to mark the centenary of his Olympic experiences, and John MacMillan of the charity tells us about the main focus of Eric’s life.
‘Any story about Eric Liddell would be incomplete if there was no reference to his absolute commitment to Christianity,’ he says.
One hundred years on, while not many Christians find themselves having to put their faith before the chance to win a gold medal, millions of them share Eric’s commitment to help those who are most in need.
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Brooke tries to reassure her daughter about her new romance
It’s all relative
An unexpected relationship causes a family drama in Netflix rom-com
There’s a plot twist in the life of one young woman in the new Netflix rom-com A Family Affair. And she doesn’t find it at all amusing.
After quitting her job as personal assistant to a demanding movie star (Zac Efron), any sense of freedom that Zara (Joey King) feels is quickly lost when she finds him flirting with her mother (Nicole Kidman).
For two years, 24-year-old Zara has been working for Chris Coles, a man so famous that he can’t go to the supermarket without being ambushed. He is lonely, but asks a lot of his assistant – including her help in his break-ups with a number of girlfriends.
Zara had taken on her PA role under the impression that Chris would give her the experience she needed to become a film producer. But she’s still waiting for her big break.
And while she waits, she has moved back in with her mother, Brooke, a former writer. Brooke is on the verge of ‘rediscovering herself’ after the death of
her husband 11 years ago. She thinks it’s time to restart her career, although her confidence has been knocked and she doesn’t know if she can still do it.
All the characters’ worlds collide when Zara quits and Chris turns up at her home to persuade her back. On his arrival, he finds only Brooke, and it’s love at first sight. She finds a depth beneath his immature exterior as well as the vulnerability of a man who is widely known but not truly seen.
However, the pair’s developing closeness is uncomfortable for Zara, who worries that her mother will end up simply being another in a string of women that Chris hurts. But is she sabotaging the chance for her mother to find love again? Or should her mother respect her daughter’s discomfort and walk away?
Thinking about the scenario that confronts the character she plays, actress Joey King explains that it can remind audiences of a simple truth.
‘Parents are people too,’ she says. ‘They make mistakes and do things that
maybe their kids don’t agree with. But at the end of the day, they’re still people.’
We have all experienced the pain of another’s mistake, and we have all made mistakes ourselves. So it’s helpful to remember that we are just human. Perhaps we have unknowingly hurt someone through our actions, spoken unkind words in a time of stress or stayed away when a friend or relative needed us.
The Bible is full of scenarios in which flawed humans have made mistakes – or, as it calls them, sins. But if they ask him to, God helps them to make amends and offers them forgiveness.
Such a way forward is available to any of us if we own up to our wrongs, big or small.
One Bible writer said: ‘If we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us’ (1 John 1:9 Contemporary English Version).
Experiencing this forgiveness can help us to move on from the past and find hope for the future. It may be the plot twist that we need in our own lives.
Film feature by Sarah Olowofoyeku
j TEA M TALK
All the rage
Emily Bright gives
her
take on a story that has caught the attention of War Cry reporters
Driven by innate politeness and people-pleasing, I like to think that suppressing my inner rage has become something of an art form. But occasionally my frustration emerges through a passive-aggressive comment – or when I’m playing competitive board games. I’m not alone. Just try playing Monopoly with a friend. Owning Mayfair and Park Lane changes people.
Given that Jesus told his followers to ‘turn the other cheek’, stifling my raw emotion seems like a safer option than letting rip. Yet my interest was piqued by a local newspaper’s report, which highlighted the opening of a ‘rage room’ in Henlow, Bedfordshire.
Equipped with protective gear, tools and breakable objects, participants can express their anger by smashing things in a safe context, accompanied by their chosen music playlist. Rage Against the Machine anyone?
Experiencing emotion is part of being human
WAR talk talk Team talk Team talk ‘ ’
According to The Comet, the owners of Just Rage Rooms believe that such an outlet can ‘provide relief from stress, improve your productivity and help with anger management’.
However, the more I read up on the phenomenon – which rose to prominence in the UK seven years ago – the more uncomfortable I feel. I wonder if encouraging people to smash things to deal with their anger could create an unhealthy habit that also might emerge in other contexts, such as around loved ones. Expressing anger in the wrong place can have devastating consequences.
Don’t get me wrong. Experiencing emotion is part of being human. But we do have a choice over how we channel it, and I turn to an ancient text for advice.
The writers of the Bible’s Book of Psalms often channel their outrage at God, in the knowledge that he listens and understands. As ‘the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love’ (Psalm 103:8 New International Version), he’s also well equipped to absorb our rage.
Taking a leaf out of the Book of Psalms, I’m going to try venting my rage at God through prayer – which is just a conversation with him – more often. I have found that when I do, I feel better afterwards.
Best of all, anyone can try it. And, for those times when we express rage towards others, God will give us the grace to try again to be better people. Smashing!
Actor Paul Rudd has said that the historical figure that he would most like to meet is Jesus Christ.
In a promotional interview for his latest film Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the star (pictured) was asked who he would choose if he could meet anyone in history. He responded: ‘I know my answer: Jesus Christ.
‘By the way, laugh all you want!’ he said to his giggling co-stars, Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace. ‘It seems like it would be a wrong thing to say.’
Finn then asked: ‘Was he real?’
‘He existed!’ Rudd replied. ‘So wouldn’t you want to spend some time with him and go, “Jesus, what’s the deal?”’
His co-stars nodded in agreement and Mckenna said: ‘That’s a fantastic answer.’
WAR CRY
Uniform approach for families
A pay-as-you-can school uniform hub run by The Salvation Army in Shipley is expanding its opening hours because of demand – despite the fact that the summer holidays start this month.
The Salvation Army in the West Yorkshire town provides uniforms for 40 schools, along with coats, stationery, sanitary products and football boots. Last year, the hub gave out 1,600 items, supported 400 families and saved over 320kg of textiles from going to landfill.
In addition to its existing Monday to Friday opening hours in term time, the hub will now be open every second Saturday in the month and remain open through the school holidays.
Community assistant Dawn Coleman, who runs the hub, said: ‘School uniforms can be really expensive, especially for families that have more than one child at school.
‘To have a good-quality uniform that fits well provides dignity to children and gives them the confidence they need to go to school and learn.’
Holy Land TV series wins award
A BBC2 series in which TV barrister Rob Rinder (pictured) and actress Sarah Agha travelled to the Middle East to explore the personal stories of families with Jewish and Palestinian heritage has won a Sandford St Martin award.
In The Holy Land and Us: Our Untold Stories – which won the Radio Times readers’ award – Rob and Sarah, along with four families of Jewish and Palestinian heritage, considered how their families’ histories were impacted by the founding of the state of Israel in 1948.
Commenting on the making of the programme, Rob – who comes from a Jewish family – said that Israel ‘remains a place of enduring conflict, and the key to understanding where we are today is to hear the stories from that time, from both sides’.
Established in 1978, the Sandford St Martin awards are presented annually for radio, TV and online programmes and content that explore religious, spiritual or ethical themes. This year, the awards ceremony took place at Southwark Cathedral in London, hosted by the dean of Southwark, the Very Rev Dr Mark Oakley.
Historian Tom Holland, author of books
including Dominion – a study of the influence of Christianity on the west – was named as the Sandford St Martin trustees’ award winner in recognition of his contribution to the greater public understanding of religions and their role in contemporary and historical human experience.
Other winners announced during the ceremony included the Radio 4 programme
The Indestructability of Hope: Wartime Christmas in Ukraine which won the radio/audio award.
The judges said: ‘This entry examined where is hope, God and light in times of war and did not shy away from the terrible suffering or from asking the fundamental questions.’
The ITV documentary
A Time to Die scooped the TV/video award for its exploration of Britain’s law on assisted dying.
Dawn Coleman at the uniform hub
We suppor t to bring recover y from addiction
To mark Alcohol Awareness Week, which runs until Sunday (7 July), CORRINA ROSE and ALAN BALDWIN describe the work being carried out at a Salvation Army centre for people who are at breaking point with their addictions to alcohol and other substances
Interview by Sarah Olowofoyeku
Over the course of 12 to 24 weeks, lives are being transformed at a Salvation Army rehabilitation centre near Swindon. Gloucester House in Highworth welcomes 12 men at a time, inviting them on a 12-step recovery programme that will allow them to break free from their substance addictions.
‘We see the complexities of trauma frequently,’ says specialist support worker Corrina Rose. ‘We have counsellors and support workers here on site as well as complementary therapists and wellbeing support.’
When people arrive at Gloucester House, they feel that it is their last resort.
‘They get to a point where they don’t know where else to go,’ Corrina says. ‘It’s a matter of life and death sometimes. There’s usually a team around them as well – doctors, GPs and drug and alcohol social workers.’
Corrina goes on to explain that, by the time new residents arrive at the centre, the effects of their addiction are clearly visible.
‘Addiction impacts their physical health, mental health and emotional health. We’ve had people that have struggled to come in and walk, and one person came from a hospital bed and had not been able to get themselves around.’
Alan Baldwin, who is the centre’s chaplain, adds: ‘We had someone who was chronically affected by alcohol, didn’t know where he was, and was
Centre chaplain Alan Baldwin and specialist support worker Corrina Rose
physically very unwell with liver damage and all sorts. But healing took place. Now he’s wide awake, he’s alive and he’s looking forward to the rest of his life.’
Both staff members speak of the many transformations that they have seen in clients at Gloucester House. Such changes are made possible through the programmes that are offered. These include education and training courses, creative workshops, external activities, exercise sessions, group therapy and help with life skills as well as spiritual support.
Corrina says: ‘In the grounds at Gloucester House we also have a tranquil garden. It provides a connection with nature that is part of people’s recovery.’
Alan adds: ‘From a psychological view, anxiety and fear are two of the big things I notice when people arrive people say: “You’ve taken away my crutch, I haven’t got the alcohol and the drugs to support me any longer. What do I do?” But as they’re shown love, kindness and support, and they get involved with GPs and the likes, you see the recovery beginning to take place. Miracles happen here at Gloucester House.
‘This is the best job in the world, because we see people making a recovery. They go back to their families,
and the families accept them back. We also sometimes help people to look at appropriate accommodation.’
The fear and anxiety that Alan has detected in residents as they first walk through the doors of Gloucester House are also what he describes as some of the biggest barriers to their recovery.
‘When I hear some of the stories that they share, I wonder how I would survive if I went through those things,’ he says. ‘So when they come in they feel they’ve got no chance or no hope, but we try to say that there is hope. We’ve seen it so many times.
You see their soul begin to recover
‘I’m here to help them on the journey.
I notice there’s an emptiness within their soul because it has been damaged or broken. But as they go on their journey with the 12 steps and focus on their idea of God, you can see the change, you see their soul begin to recover. They become more honest, open and willing to learn.
‘It manifests in their physical recovery as well, but I always feel it starts within and when they can make a connection to their higher power, which for me is Jesus.’
Gloucester House is open to local authority and self-referrals. It offers a number of free places under its Buy a Bed, Save a Life scheme, where members of the public can donate or raise money to pay for someone’s care. And some of those people who have received help are now giving back.
‘Somebody wants to do a parachute jump for us,’ says Corrina. ‘He came through the programme and said all the money he raised would go into Buy a Bed. Earlier this year somebody raised funds because his father had come through treatment. It meant so much to him.’
For Alan, this meaningful work of changing lives is motivated by his faith and his own experience of transformation.
‘Many years ago I wasn’t a drunk but I was drinking quite heavily,’ he says.
‘I came to the realisation that it was all about needing something that was missing from my life. And I found Jesus. Since that time everything has turned around and he became my motivating force.
‘I love this job. I love being the centre chaplain, I love helping people get recovery because I’ve had a recovery myself through Jesus Christ many years ago. I just want that for other people, and it’s what Jesus asks us to do – care for those who are in need.’
A question of more
On 11 July 1924 Eric Liddell’s race to the finishing line in the 400m at the Paris Olympics ended in a Games record time of 47.6 seconds. A century later, however, his influence is still going – and it is acknowledged around the world, not least in Edinburgh, where the Eric Liddell Community serves people with dementia and their carers.
In his time as chief executive officer of the Eric Liddell Community, John MacMillan has become aware of just how widely admired the GB athlete is. And, though the Eric Liddell Community is firmly based in an old church in the Scottish capital, its centenary celebration of Liddell’s triumph, says John, ‘has got traction on a global level’.
Reflecting on Liddell’s legacy, John says: ‘I’ve had Chinese people say to me that they remember him as China’s first Olympic gold medal winner. I don’t know what I think about that, but there’s a fair point there – because Eric was born in China and lived most of his life supporting Chinese communities as a missionary, making sure that people had food and helping them in any way he could.’
In the United Kingdom, Eric has been the subject of numerous biographies, newspaper articles and the Oscarwinning film Chariots of Fire, which itself became such a part of the culture that its soundtrack and slow-motion sequences provided the basis of a Mr Bean pastiche at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Games.
But – whether in China, where he was born to a Scottish missionary couple, in the UK or in France, where a plaque was recently unveiled at the site of Eric’s 1924 triumph – the athlete is remembered for more than his sporting success. Way back when, The Guardian reported that ‘Liddell has already decided that the race he has chiefly to run in the world is not on the cinder track’.
He switched to 400m from his usual event – the 100m – at the 1924 Games, because the 100m heats were to take place on a Sunday and he felt a conviction that participating would go against his Christian beliefs. He would later drop out of athletics so that he could serve as a missionary in China, and even when he was sent during the Second World War to the Japanese internment camp where he would die, he was renowned for helping
Eric Liddell wins the 400m at the 1924 Paris Olympics
than sport
A century after his gold medal-winning race at the Paris Olympics, Eric Liddell is still being honoured – and not only for his achievements on the track. JOHN MacMILLAN of Edinburgh’s Eric Liddell Community tells why the Olympian deserves to be celebrated
Interview
by Philip Halcrow
others, teaching children and organising games to lift spirits.
‘The Chinese government doesn’t necessarily focus on his Christianity,’ says John, ‘but when I have engaged with Chinese representatives, businesses and educationalists, I have seen that they celebrate him as someone who put the
needs of others before his own.’
John MacMillan
John says that Eric’s values have been instilled in the community that has carried his name since being founded in an area of Edinburgh that would have been familiar to him.
‘We’re based in a former church – one of four churches on what is known as
Holy Corner,’ he says. ‘When the building closed as a place of worship in the 1970s, the congregation worked closely with the other churches close by to secure its future for the benefit of local people.
One of the neighbouring churches was where Eric Liddell taught Bible classes and preached when he made his visits to the city, where he graduated from university and where his parents had a base.
‘Knowing that history, the people behind the project contacted Eric Liddell’s family and explained how they were inspired by him and the way he cared for other people, and they asked for permission to name the charity after him.’
We couldn’t allow society to forget
Four decades after the Eric Liddell Community was launched, its staff and volunteers are aiming to improve people’s wellbeing.
‘First and foremost we are a care and dementia specialist,’ explains John. ‘Our main area of support is a day-care service, but we also offer other programmes.
‘We provide the highest levels of care for our clients with dementia, but we also encourage them to have fun, to make social connections, to learn and be active. All these
Turn to page 10 f
The former church that is now home to the Eric Liddell Community
From page 9
activities won’t change a diagnosis, but they certainly provide a quality of life. Research suggests that if you keep mind and body active, it won’t stop the progression of dementia but it may slow it down a wee bit.
‘Our clients have been able to enjoy conversational German classes and drama and dance workshops. And we have a community musician who comes in and works with them, because there is evidence that music is a great way of engaging with people with dementia.
‘We also work closely with carers. Being a carer for somebody can take over your life, so we support them so that they can develop their interests and have some time to enjoy something when they’re away from their caring role. We take carers away for day trips and we run overnight residential experiences, to give them a chance to recharge.’
As well as striving to live up to Eric Liddell’s values in its work with clients, John and the Eric Liddell Community have taken on the challenge to ‘celebrate and secure’ the athlete’s legacy by marking the centenary since his Olympic victory – and in doing so aim to promote what they see as three of the winning qualities associated with him: passion, compassion and integrity.
John remembers how the starting gun was fired on the Eric Liddell 100 project.
‘For the past few years I have been going into schools to talk about our care work, because every family is either already touched by dementia or will be. Whenever I talk about our care work, I also talk about the man we’re named after. I was surprised that when I mentioned him, the general response of the schoolchildren was: “Who’s Eric?”
‘At that point I realised that if you are
below the age of 45, then the 1980s blockbuster Chariots of Fire probably doesn’t mean anything to you. For my generation, the film was a helpful factor in bringing Eric Liddell back to society’s consciousness for a couple of decades. But I saw that in 5, 10, 15 years, if we didn’t do something about Eric’s memory, it was distinctly possible that society would forget about his legacy and his achievements. I thought we couldn’t just allow that to happen.
‘Our educational work is a direct response to these engaged students telling me that they had no idea who Eric Liddell was.’
John had a goal to get Eric talked about in the classroom.
‘We decided to create teaching plans for hard-pressed, busy teachers who don’t have the time to do all the research into Eric Liddell that we have now done,’ he
Other former athletes look on as Sebastian Coe presents a World Athletics plaque to Eric’s niece, Sue Caton
says. ‘We seconded a teacher – Gemma Burton – who was an Olympic silver medallist at the London Games, and we brought together educational specialists and developed these resources within the context of Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence. They are about not only sports and religious studies but also science – because Eric was a chemistry teacher –and history and Mandarin.
They played his favourite hymn, ‘Be Still, My Soul’
‘We wanted to make it easy for schools to introduce Eric into aspects of their teaching. If they do, it will have been a massive step forward in one of the aims of the Eric Liddell 100, which is to secure his legacy.’
The Eric Liddell Community also teamed up with Edinburgh University to develop an online course for adults, which explores Eric’s life and how his values are relevant in the 21st century.
As well as educational activities, the Eric Liddell 100 project has been encouraging people to pick up on his influence by taking part in sporting and physical activities. Jogscotland is organising an Eric Liddell Virtual 5k, inviting people to walk, jog or run the distance.
The Eric Liddell 100 project has also been marking the centenary with cultural events.
The Scottish Parliament will be hosting an Eric Liddell: Legacy of an Olympic Legend exhibition from 25 July to 12 September. The Eric Liddell Community has been playing a part in putting together other exhibitions, and when the Museum of World Athletics featured Eric in its own display during the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Glasgow in March, Sebastian Coe – president of World Athletics – presented a World Athletics Heritage Plaque in honour of Eric to his niece Sue Liddell Caton, a patron of the Eric Liddell Community.
‘But any story about Eric Liddell would be incomplete if there was not reference to his absolute commitment to Christianity,’ says John. ‘So
Eric Liddell running in a relay race at a British Empire v the USA competition in London in 1924
from the start we engaged with the faith community and told them that we wanted them to be part of it.’
One result of the partnership was an ecumenical service of celebration and remembrance of Eric Liddell at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. The service included Bible readings by Eric’s eldest daughter, Patricia Liddell Russell, and by Eric Liddell 100 patron – and former Olympian – Princess Anne. The congregation sang hymns closely associated with him.
‘We know,’ says John, ‘that there were musicians in the internment camp with Eric, many of them Salvation Army band musicians, and when he passed away, they played his favourite hymn – “Be Still, My Soul”.’
So during the service at St Giles’, a Salvation Army ensemble accompanied the singing of the hymn.
And in a sermon, the Rev Lindsey Sanderson, the moderator of the United Reformed Church in Scotland, spoke of how Eric’s sincerity was an ‘embodiment of his Christian faith’.
John says that, having been established by churches working together, the Eric Liddell Community is ‘totally on board’ with the values that Eric held. And it is these values that it wants to promote by celebrating his legacy.
‘If he were forgotten,’ he says, ‘we would lose an important Scottish and British and – some would say – Chinese historical figure. But we would also lose important lessons about how we can and should lead our lives.’
l For more information visit ericliddell.org
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, 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
This week: Falkirk
with Envoy William McMurray
At Falkirk we hold our Sunday worship service at 10.15am, during which we sing Christian songs, share in a prayer time and read the Bible. There’s also a short sermon. After the service, people stay behind for tea and coffee. It’s a good time for everyone to catch up.
On Mondays to Fridays, we operate as a drop-in centre for homeless and vulnerable people. A lot of our clients are facing drug or alcohol addictions, but there are also those who choose to come along because they feel lonely and want to meet up with others. We provide a three-course meal, catering for about 50 people a day. When newcomers walk through our doors, we accept them as they are.
Some of the clients attending the drop-in end up becoming volunteers. If they are in a good place in terms of managing their addictions, they might become a peer mentor for others. We also help our clients by bringing in people from other organisations, such as drug agencies and Citizens Advice. They can support our clients as they fill in forms to help them access benefits and so on.
Another important part of our church is the New Future Employability and Training scheme that we offer. We have a couple of paid staff who run a two-part course for candidates wishing to gain a recognised construction site operative card, allowing them to work on building sites across the UK. Once they have that card, it’s valid for five years. Currently, we have young people from four secondary schools registered on the scheme, as well as other individuals.
Our motivation as a church is to make a difference in people’s lives, to bring them to know Christ, and to help them in a practical way.
William was speaking to Claire Brine. After William’s retirement new leaders will be starting at the church this month
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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
What is the title of Beyoncé’s No 1 hit country album?
What is the largest island in the world?
Who recently won the BBC TV competition Race Across the World?
In which decade was the Abolition of Slavery Act passed in parliament?
Who played Edith, a conventional woman who receives profane post, in last year’s film Wicked Little Letters?
Markus Persson created which top-selling sandbox video game in 2009?
Circle of life
Cinema classic enjoys anniversary fanfare at the Royal Albert Hall
Feature by Emily Bright
Beprepared. The Lion King is celebrating 30 years since its UK cinema release, and one of the mane events for fans is the Royal Albert Hall’s The Lion King in Concert. This weekend (Friday 5 and Saturday 6 July) the animated classic will be shown on a big screen at the venue, accompanied by a live orchestral performance.
London Community Gospel Choir and the Chineke! Orchestra will perform Hans Zimmer’s Oscar-winning film score, along with songs written by Tim Rice and Elton John. West End stars are also making guest appearances to mark the 25-year run of the stage show.
For the unacquainted, The Lion King tells the story of a cub called Simba, who longs to become sovereign of the savannah. He enjoys patrolling his family’s kingdom, known as the Pride Lands, with his father, Mufasa.
But when tragedy strikes, Simba’s life is set on a completely different trajectory. After running away from home, he is forced to work out his new place in the world. With help from his friends, he realises that he no longer needs to be defined by the past. He starts searching for the inner strength to step into his future.
In tough times it may seem hard to find the inner strength that we need in our own lives, and it can be difficult to know where to turn. But we can find hope. The Bible tells the extraordinary evolution of a character called Paul. His world was turned upside down in a single moment. He was left questioning everything he believed and stood for.
In that same moment, however, he discovered the amazing love of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, which carried him through times of sleeplessness, hunger and thirst, unjust imprisonment and shipwreck. Even in his sufferings, he declared: ‘Christ gives me the strength to face anything’ (Philippians 4:13 Contemporary English Version).
We too can experience the strength that Jesus gives us if we ask him for help. Having a relationship with him doesn’t mean no worries for the rest of our days, but the power of his love will see us through whatever challenges we may face. That’s paws for thought.
PUZZLES
the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the
QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. False. 5. Plump. 8. Evade. 9. Lower. 10. Nurse. 11. Icing. 12. Rile. 15. Mirror. 17. Eaten. 18. Skinny. 20. Ally. 25. Leave. 26. Elude. 27. Abhor. 28. Steer. 29. Bless. 30. Tally. DOWN: 1. Filter. 2. Lawful. 3. Eerie. 4. Valid. 5. Penguin. 6. Uproar. 7. Prefer. 13. Ink. 14. Pay. 15. Met. 16. Oil. 17. Endless. 18. Superb. 19. Injure. 21. Lethal. 22. Yearly. 23. Cadet. 24. Heart. HONEYCOMB 1. Hold-up. 2. Plaice. 3. Tablet. 4. Feeble. 5. Circle. 6. Launch.
21. Deadly (6)
22. Annually (6)
23. Military trainee (5)
24. Body organ (5)
Tortilla pizzas
INGREDIENTS
2tsp olive oil
METHOD
2 garlic cloves, finely diced
400g can plum tomatoes
1tsp dried oregano or mixed Italian herbs
2tsp tomato puree
4 wholemeal soft tortilla wraps
125g reduced-fat mozzarella cheese ball, drained
80g mushrooms, sliced
½ tsp smoked paprika
1 small red onion, finely sliced
Preheat the oven to 220C/Gas Mark 8. Place 2 large empty baking trays inside. Heat the oil and garlic in a saucepan over a low-medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, herbs and tomato puree and mix thoroughly, breaking up the tomatoes. Increase the heat to medium and bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce to low and leave to simmer for 5-7 minutes.
INGREDIENTS
1 whole cauliflower, cut into florets
2tsp cornflour
300ml skimmed milk
¼ tsp mustard powder
90g reduced-fat cheddar cheese,
Place the tortillas on a clean, dry surface. Spoon about 3tbsp tomato sauce on to each and use the back of the spoon to coat them evenly, leaving a 2cm edge for the crust. Tear the mozzarella cheese into small pieces and spread them out evenly over each tortilla.
Gently toss the mushrooms with the paprika in a bowl, then add them with the red onion and pepper to the pizzas.
Carefully remove the empty baking trays from the oven and transfer the pizzas to them. Bake for 5-10 minutes, until the cheese melts and the crusts are golden, then serve.
Cauliflower cheese
METHOD
Bring a saucepan of water to the boil. Add the cauliflower, then bring the water back to the boil, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain and place in an ovenproof dish.
In a small bowl, mix the cornflour with a little of the milk to form a paste. Pour the remaining milk into a saucepan and heat until boiling. Add the cornflour paste, stirring until the milk thickens into a sauce.
Remove the pan from the heat, then stir in the mustard powder and half the cheese. Pour the mixture over the cauliflower and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese.
Place under a grill and heat until golden and bubbling.
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