The climate care fashioned from old clothes
WAR CRY
10 July 2021 50p
Facing terrors in tomorrow’s world Chris Pratt travels forward in time to battle for humanity in action film
Charity flies high with global vaccine rollout
The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity providing services in the community, particularly to those who are vulnerable and marginalised. Motivated by our Christian faith, we offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK to all who need them, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. To find your nearest centre visit salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church
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 7533
Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN Tel: 0845 634 0101 Helpline: 020 7367 4888 Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org
SCIENTISTS warned that the deadly heatwave that first struck parts of Canada at the end of last month was at least partly caused by humaninduced climate change. The tragedies that many people have faced are a dreadful reminder of the results of our not caring for the planet. It can be easy to think that, as individuals, there is little we can do to improve the current situation. But this week’s War Cry offers two examples of action we can take as individuals that, collectively, can make a difference. ‘Our main message is that, as individuals, we can’t do everything – and certainly not all at once – but there is always something that we can do to get better,’ says Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, founder of the Plastic Free Foundation, the organisation behind Plastic Free July. As we report, this month we are being encouraged to use fabric shopping bags, to avoid pre-packed fruit and veg and to swap liquid soap for bars to drive down the amount of plastic waste that swamps our seas as well as landfill rubbish sites. Another significant source of waste that is generated, particularly in societies such as the UK, is unwanted clothing – and the fashion industry is responsible for 10 per cent of all carbon emissions round the world. In this week’s issue, we speak to Tony Hosking, who is operations director for The Salvation Army’s clothes recycling work. He reveals that the people who make use of its clothing banks and charity shops have played their part in preventing more than 235,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere every year. A person’s individual action, which may seem quite small, can make a big impact when added to the actions of others. It’s time for us all to do what we can to protect ad the War C our planet. e re ry u’v
CONTENTS
Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill Editor-in-Chief: Major Mal Davies Published weekly by The Salvation Army © The Salvation Army United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland 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 Walstead Roche Ltd, St Austell, on sustainably sourced paper
INFO Your local Salvation Army centre
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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
From the editor’s desk
When yo
What is The Salvation Army?
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FEATURES
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Future proof
Humankind looks for help from the past in new film
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Cutting the cost of plastic
6 Walkie talkie Podcast invites guests on a virtual hike 8
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Why July is a plastic-free month
Soaring success
Aviation charity delivers vaccines around the world
10 Recycled style How donated clothing is making a
difference
REGULARS
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War Cry World
12 Team Talk 13 Wisdom in the Words
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14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: AMAZON PRIME
AMAZON PRIME
Dan Forester fights for the future of humankind
EXTRATERRESTRIAL
TERRORS
Alien species wreak havoc on humanity Film preview by Emily Bright
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WORLD Cup football match gets under way – and, in the new Amazon Prime action adventure The Tomorrow War, the result will have far-reaching consequences for fans across the globe. Mid-game, teleporting time travellers beam themselves on to the pitch with a dire warning from the future. Humanity could be wiped out within 30 years by a bloodthirsty alien species known as white spikes. To prevent the apocalypse, citizens including Dan Forester (Chris Pratt) are drafted into an army that will be transported into the future to fight for humanity’s survival. Dan leaves his wife and daughter behind in the present to join a search-and-rescue mission in a post-apocalyptic Miami with his fellow recruits. Carnage ensues as the tentacled and tenacious alien terrors attack. As the army recruits regroup, they rally round military scientist Romeo Command (Yvonne Strahovski), who is creating a toxin to kill the female white spikes. However, in order to find the right formula, the soldiers need to capture one alive before the lab is overrun by aliens. The future of humanity is in their hands. Chris Pratt – a committed Christian – explains that, for his character, this fight is not only about rescuing mankind, but also redeeming a sense of purpose. ‘It’s a story about second chances,’ he says. ‘Dan is a guy who feels like he’s always been destined to do something extraordinary with his life, but hasn’t actually done it yet, and I think that’s a feeling a lot of people can relate to. At one point or another, we’ve all wondered if the life we’re living might not be the one we were meant for.’ Given the struggles of the past year, our expectations for the future may have been dashed as we experienced debt, bereavement, unemployment or other seemingly insurmountable challenges. In such times, we search for meaning in life, whether by turning to a trusted friend, loved one or even faith – because many people do discover a sense of purpose in their relationship with God. Back in time, as the Bible records, some people who tried to
It’s a story about second chances
Military scientist Romeo Command sets out to destroy the alien threat
follow God’s direction in how to live were despondent about their bleak circumstances. All meaning and purpose seemed lost. But a man named Joel reminded them of how God had previously worked powerfully in their lives, and he declared God’s promises to restore them to a brighter future. They would have a second chance, thanks to God, who ‘is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love’ (Joel 2:13 English Standard Version). It remains as true today as it was back then. No matter how many times we feel that we’ve lost our way in life, we can turn to God, who will provide us with the guidance, purpose, love and strength we need to live life to the full – today and tomorrow. 10 July 2021 • WAR CRY • 3
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Inequality queried
Andrea Leadsom and guests in Westminster Hall
Parliament breakfast serves up hope NEARLY 2,000 people attended an online parliamentary prayer breakfast where Christian charities and churches were thanked for their work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Chaired by Andrea Leadsom, Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire, the event was streamed live from Westminster Hall. Some in-person church events with local MPs were also held simultaneously at locations across the UK. As well as prayers by MPs, the prayer breakfast included music by Christian artists and videos showing how charities and churches help people who are hungry, facing domestic violence or struggling with poor mental health. A number of parliamentary figures
attended the breakfast, including the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, who said that he ‘would love to see churches and MPs continuing to work together to give renewed hope to all in our society’. Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi also expressed his gratitude to church leaders for the work they are doing to make it easier for people to receive their Covid-19 vaccines. Guest speaker theologian Professor Tom Wright reflected on life beyond Covid. He said that, as a society, people should lament their losses, forgive those who had hurt them and show compassion to people in need. By doing so, he said, society will ‘ensure that the rebuilding isn’t just about a return to greed and vanity, but a project of genuine hope’.
Girls group warns of ‘normalised’ harassment AN Ofsted review of sexual harassment in schools should be a wake-up call for parents, a Christian charity has warned. Jules Murdy, director of Girls’ Brigade Ministries, which works with girls and women, spoke to Premier Christian Radio about the Ofsted review that found sexual harassment had become normalised in schools. The review discovered that 90 per cent of girls and 50 per cent of boys said they have received unwanted explicit pictures or videos. The review said it was ‘concerning that for some children, incidents are so commonplace that they see no point in reporting them’. More than 800 young people aged 13 and older were surveyed, and of the girls who responded to the questionnaire, 80 per cent said that unwanted or inappropriate comments of a sexual nature happened ‘a lot’ or ‘sometimes’ between people their age, while 92 per cent said the same about sexist name-calling. Jules said that parents needed to provide a safe space for children to share their concerns and that ‘not judging what they have to say is really important’.
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THE Salvation Army teamed up with the New Statesman magazine to promote a major new report on how to tackle regional wealth inequalities in the UK. Aimed at influencing the white paper on the government’s ‘level up’ commitment, the church and charity’s report explored which infrastructures and regions should be prioritised to reduce wealth inequalities. The report, which was highlighted in a New Statesman supplement, investigated a range of issues including health, disability and long-term unemployment. It was developed with the Institute for Employment Studies. Researchers invited communities to talk about how they believed wealth inequalities can be reduced. The Salvation Army also drew on the expertise of senior local policymakers, business leaders and parliamentarians as part of an online round table discussion hosted by the New Statesman. ‘The levelling-up agenda is set to be one of the largest and most crucial levers the state can utilise to successfully rebuild communities – both those impacted by Covid-19 and those suffering from historical regional inequalities,’ said The Salvation Army’s policy adviser Annie Dell in the report. ‘We have not seen any engagement with local communities on what’s most important to them. It is essential that those who will directly benefit from levelling up are given the power to shape the agenda.’
Do you have a story to share? a warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk @TheWarCryUK TheWarCryUK
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wxcxzt Chaplain cops top police award A SALVATION Army chaplain in Sunderland was honoured in Northumbria Police’s first Citizens in Policing awards for her dedication in a range of volunteering roles. Julie Judson, who is employed part-time at Swan Lodge – a Salvation Army centre that supports people who have experienced homelessness – won a Partnership Working award for her volunteering with the church and charity’s emergency response team. She was commended for the way in which she has provided support for families and individuals in crisis and has offered refreshments and a listening ear to blue-light services at major incidents.
Environmental initiative does a world of good as people reduce waste Report by Sarah Olowofoyeku
P Julie Judson
Coast-to-coast prayers for coronavirus victims ABOUT 3,000 Christians formed prayer groups at one-mile intervals along a coastal path to pray for people bereaved by the coronavirus pandemic, reported the BBC. According to the online news item, the groups of praying volunteers positioned themselves at different points along the South West Coast Path and prayed at 10.30am for 30 minutes. The coastal path – which is 630 miles long – covers Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Pastor Mark Pugh of Rediscover Church in Exeter – who started the initiative, called South West Awake – hoped the event would bring Christians together at a time when many church buildings had been closed. He said: ‘Some were individuals going to the mile spots, others were church groups so there was a real change of dynamics at each of those points … We believe church is not the building, it’s the people.’
LASTIC is a problem, but this month everybody is invited to be part of the solution. Plastic Free July, which began in 2011, is an initiative of the Australian-based Plastic Free Foundation. Each year, people all round the world are encouraged to take the challenge to reduce single-use plastic waste. So far, an estimated 326 million participants across 177 countries have taken part, and this year, the Plastic Free Foundation is hoping to bring even more people on board. Its website offers tips on how people may be able to reduce their use of the non-recyclable material, suggesting actions such as using fabric shopping bags instead of single-use plastic ones, avoiding pre-packed fruit and veg and swapping liquid soap for bars of soap. Going without plastic for a whole month may seem a daunting task, but the Plastic Free Foundation emphasises the fact that people can start small. Its founder Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, wrote in lifestyle magazine Tempus: ‘Our main message is that, as individuals, we can’t do everything – and certainly not all at once – but there is always something that we can do to get better.’ Many individuals and organisations have been trying their best to do something in an effort to reduce plastic usage, including churches. Peregrin Campbell-Osgood of the Anglican Church in Australia wrote a blog about how people who have a faith in God ‘engage in thanksgiving to God and creation, allowing our thankfulness to inform our decisions and actions that impact upon creation’. Christians all over the world are motivated by their faith to care for the planet, believing that the Earth is a gift from God, and must be well looked after. They are also encouraged to know that God cares about the environment too, in the same way that he cares about every aspect of their lives. Whatever efforts we make to improve the world or ourselves, and whatever problems we are concerned with, God is interested in all the details – and he wants to help us.
Christians believe the Earth is a gift
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j i j j i Podcast covers The British Podcast Awards – which take place today (Saturday 10 July) – were created to highlight the best podcasts of the year, celebrating what has grown into one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Nearly two years ago, The Salvation Army launched a podcast of its own, keen to engage listeners wanting to explore the subject of faith. Each month on The All Terrain Podcast, presenter MATT WHITE invites special guests to talk about their Christian beliefs while answering some big questions Interview by Claire Brine
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HE Salvation Army’s All Terrain Podcast takes the form of a hypothetical hike, where I ask a special guest four questions and offer them four choices,’ says presenter Matt White. ‘The choices may seem a little throwaway at first, but the responses are always revealing. The guests have to tell me where we are going on our hypothetical hike, which three people – a living person, a dead person and a fictional character – are coming with us, what music they want to hear and what food is inside their snack bag. ‘The questions, which take up the bulk of the podcast chat, are based on the work of a Christian author called Alexander John Shaia, who asks: How do we face change? How do we move through suffering? How do we receive joy? How do we mature in service?’ While the podcast features Christian guests and aims to challenge and encourage people of faith, Matt feels that the conversations are useful for everyone. ‘Anyone can answer the questions, whether they have a faith or not,’ he explains. ‘You don’t need to
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Matt White (left) interviews Alexander John Shaia, who created the questions on which the podcast is based 6 • WAR CRY • 10 July 2021
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new ground be a Christian to know about change, suffering, joy or service. At the same time, when I am chatting with our guests about joy or suffering, it’s unsurprising that the subject of faith comes up, because Jesus is at the centre of these people’s life stories.’ Since the podcast’s beginnings in 2019, Matt has interviewed more than 20 guests from various backgrounds, including political theology lecturer Selina Stone, CBeebies television presenter Gemma Hunt and social entrepreneur Krish Kandiah, whose Home for Good charity seeks to find homes for children in the care system. Matt explains why podcasting appeals. ‘Podcasts are great because they are easy to listen to while you’re doing other things. You can hear comedy, fiction, true crime, mindfulness or whatever you want while you’re commuting or doing the housework. Podcasts don’t require you to stop and sit down in the same way that TV does. ‘For creators, podcasts are also easy to put together, because you don’t need a publisher, a production company or a broadcaster. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get your podcast out there. If you have an idea, you can do it.’ The idea for a Salvation Army podcast came out of conversations that Matt had with its youth and children’s ministries unit. The team were looking for a way to connect with Christians across the
UK and the Republic of Ireland. ‘We found our idea and it seems to be working,’ says Matt. ‘Every episode teaches me something or leaves me challenged.’ One particular guest to make an impression on him was the international leader of The Salvation Army, General Brian Peddle. ‘Hearing him speak in a non-Generally way was great, because he was just himself,’ says Matt. ‘We got to see him as someone who loves kayaking – as a person and not a title. Often we project certain qualities on to our church leaders – which helps us to admire and respect them – but those projections rarely help us to connect. ‘When we get people on the podcast, we want them to answer the questions in the most honest way possible. If guests tell me what they think I want to hear, it just won’t work. The show relies on honesty.’ As Matt listens to guests who share their thoughts on subjects such as suffering and joy, he takes in a range of experiences and opinions. Some he agrees with. Others provoke further reflection. ‘If our listeners hear things that they disagree with, I hope they see it as a good thing,’ says Matt, ‘because hearing opinions that don’t reflect our own allows us to be changed by the wisdom of others. It stops us from staying still. And this podcast is a hypothetical hike because we
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want people to keep moving. ‘My hope is that people explore how they would answer the four questions differently. What would help them face change better? How would they move through suffering? If people are challenged by what they hear, that’s the best feedback we could receive.’
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l For more information about The All Terrain Podcast visit salvationarmy.org.uk/youth-and-children
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MAF
Aviation that VAUGHAN WOODWARD, deputy director for global disaster response at the Mission Aviation Fellowship, explains how the organisation is helping to deliver Covid-19 vaccines to some of the world’s remotest people Interview by Emily Bright
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Vaughan Woodward arrives in Haiti to restock a children’s clinic and deliver medical aid 8 • WAR CRY • 10 July 2021
LYING to far-flung areas of the developing world with medical supplies and aid, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) helps to keep the heart of remote rural communities beating. Set up in 1947, its 120 light aircraft now travel to 1,500 destinations across 34 countries each year. ‘Our ministry aims to access isolated places with the love of Jesus Christ,’ explains Vaughan Woodward, MAF’s deputy director for global disaster response. Despite the logistical challenges posed by Covid-19, the charity continues to distribute essential supplies. ‘At the moment, we have a team helping displaced people in the north of Mozambique,’ he says. ‘Last year, we responded to the refugee crisis in Armenia, hurricanes in Nicaragua and flooding in Uganda. ‘I’m now helping to head up our global disaster responses in places like Nepal, Haiti and Papua New Guinea, and working with donor agencies to fund that.’ However, MAF’s work extends beyond emergency response. ‘When we’re not responding to disasters, we provide logistical and transportation support,’ Vaughan adds. ‘We assist in taking in education and healthcare resources. We sustain communities by bringing their produce to market, enabling people to have an income and participate in the economy, so that they can send their kids to school and buy extra food. ‘We’re also part of the World Food Programme, and are engaged with the delivery of vaccines, such as the ebola vaccine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.’ Vaughan explains that such hands-on experience stood MAF in good stead for
aids others IAN PURDEY/MAF
the present pandemic. ‘As we already have experience of vaccine delivery with medical teams, we were naturally positioned to be able to assist with Covid-19 vaccines. We advise ministries of health on all the supplies that accompany the vaccines, such as needles, syringes and dilutant, to make a successful vaccination programme.’ He outlines how MAF is able to deliver vaccines across the developing world while retaining them at the right temperature. ‘To refrigerate the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines we use dry ice, which is frozen carbon dioxide,’ he says. ‘Pfizer comes packaged in transport boxes, complete with a GPS tracker that also monitors the temperature. The AstraZeneca vaccine requires standard refrigeration, which we can maintain in a cooler box with ice packs.’ MAF is gradually distributing the Covid-19 vaccines across the countries in which it operates. ‘The World Health Organisation, Unicef and others have donated vaccines to the Covax Facility, which can distribute them to countries that lack the resources to acquire them. MAF operates in 19 or 20 of those countries, so are engaged in the last-mile delivery of those vaccines. ‘But the rollout is slow. A lot of countries that are getting their vaccines under Covax are treating the frontline workers and the major centres first. So rolling out the vaccine to remote areas is going to take some time, perhaps until 2023.
MAF delivers Covid-19 vaccines to the Melaky region of Madagascar
‘Also, the Covax Facility secured 700 million doses last year, which was only enough to vaccinate 10 per cent of the people in the countries planned for the rollout programme. Time will tell if developed countries donate their vaccines to those in need.’ But Vaughan has cause for optimism. ‘Australia, where I reside, has ordered many millions of doses. Its intention is to vaccinate the population, but also to donate vaccines to the Pacific Islands. They’ve already donated 8,000
GRANT STRUGNELL/MAF
We want to make sure people in remote areas aren’t left out
AstraZeneca vaccines delivered by MAF are administered in Lesotho
vaccines that went straight from the factory in Italy to Papua New Guinea.’ MAF is trying to ensure an equitable distribution not just between developing and richer nations, but also between rural and urban areas, reaching places that would otherwise be inaccessible and last in the queue to receive vaccines. Vaughan cites the regional inequality that rural communities face. ‘People living in the main centres, closest to a hospital and airport, are more likely to see a rollout first. Meanwhile, the rollout overlooks the communities of people in remote and isolated areas who lack transportation infrastructure. The ministry of MAF addresses that inequality by ensuring that isolated and remote people can be reached in a timely fashion with vaccines.’ Tackling such inequality is a cause that is close to Vaughan’s heart, both from a humanitarian and faith perspective. ‘The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals talk about leaving no one behind,’ he says. ‘Then, when you look at it from a Christian perspective, the Bible teaches about caring for the widow and the orphan and the least important people. It’s something that’s close to Jesus’ heart and his message. We want to make sure that people in remote areas don’t miss out on education or health opportunities. ‘At MAF, our vision is to see isolated people physically and spiritually transformed in the name of Jesus. Jesus Christ preached to people and met their needs – he healed the sick and fed the poor. We’re all about bringing his message of hope and practical help.’ 10 July 2021 • WAR CRY • 9
CLOTHES GET A S The Salvation Army’s trading company has a two-fold mission. It raises money for The Salvation Army so that the church and charity can continue to do its work supporting people in need; and, through its reuse and recycling work, it reduces the environmental impact of the clothing industry. TONY HOSKING, operations director, talks about how the company achieves its aims Interview by Sarah Olowofoyeku
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Tony Hosking
A donation centre in Hinckley
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VERY year, the company behind many of The Salvation Army’s charity shops collects, reuses and recycles 47,000 tonnes of clothing, including items donated through its network of 8,000 clothing banks. ‘Our main function is running charity shops and textile collection schemes,’ says Tony Hosking, operations director at the Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL). ‘You’ll see a Salvation Army clothing donation bank in the car park of most major supermarkets up and down the country. ‘We also have strong partnerships with those organisations, which allows us to bring any excess stock that has either been discontinued or that they can’t sell in their shops into our warehouse facilities and then distribute it to our 220 charity shops. The items come from companies such as Asda, Aldi, Morrisons and online retailers such as Amazon.’ Charity shops are both a way for The Salvation Army to generate funds and to connect with the community. The Salvation Army was one of the first charities to run a second-hand clothing shop to allow people who were struggling financially to purchase affordable clothes. Thirty years ago, the trading company was established and, two years later, it opened its first charity shop. The trading company was the
idea of one of The Salvation Army’s church leaders, Terry Pattinson, who had seen a clothing bank operation abroad. The concept was that members of the public could donate their unwanted clothes, which would be reused or sold to generate funds. The scheme, the Mayflower Community Enterprise, began in 1985 in Southampton and was a success. ‘Out of that seed operation, SATCoL was founded, and it has grown over the years,’ Tony explains. Over the past decade, SATCoL has donated more than £76 million to The Salvation Army. While it provides vital funds for the church and charity, it also has a wider effect on the environment. The fashion industry is responsible for 10 per cent of all carbon emissions round the world. SATCoL is one of several organisations trying to reduce that figure through its recycling services. It is a founding signatory of the Textiles 2030 agreement, through which businesses can commit themselves to reducing their carbon impacts by 50 per cent and water by 30 per cent. Tony explains: ‘A number of retailers are now making clothing out of reclaimed fibres as well as virgin
SECOND CHANCE SATCoL’s textile reprocessing centre in the Midlands
fibres. We’re ensuring that we focus on reusing what we don’t need any more to reduce our reliance on new and virgin materials or resources.’ As well as supporting other organisations, SATCoL continues to
We have a responsibility to look after the environment look for ways in which individuals can reduce their environmental impact. ‘Each year, as a nation, we throw around 300,000 tonnes of textiles into waste receptacles that go to landfill,’ says Tony. ‘We want to help reduce that. We’re developing a new initiative called a fibre sort system. We can take the clothes that are donated through our shops or clothing banks that are not suitable to be reworn and a piece of equipment sorts them into different fibre types – cotton, polyester, wool, nylon. All the items of a specific type are put together and then are sold to organisations that can break those materials down back to their raw fibres to be used to make new clothes.’ SATCoL has also been a part of
the Sustainable Clothing and Action Plan since 2012. ‘It was a government initiative to encourage retailers and manufacturers to reduce the amount of carbon, the amount of water and the volume of waste being produced as a result of their activities,’ says Tony. ‘As part of the plan, a number of reuse organisations also became members to help ensure that as many textiles as possible went through a reuse and recycling process.’ Since 2012, SATCoL has almost doubled the amount of clothing it collects each year and has diverted about 300,000 tonnes of secondhand clothing from being thrown away thanks to it clothing banks and its charity shops and eight donation centres, which also take in other items given to The Salvation Army. Each year, through its reuse and recycle of clothing collecting,
Second-hand items at Shipley donation centre SATCoL prevents over 235,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere – the equivalent of emissions from 120,000 cars. It also saves the equivalent of 160 million bathtubs of water. ‘Care for the environment has been part of The Salvation Army’s ethos for many years,’ says Tony. ‘We feel we have a responsibility to look after the environment as far as we can and try to leave the world a better place.’
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Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Sylvia, who is suffering from mental and physical health conditions. 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’.
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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. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen
talk ‘ ’ Team talk TEAM TALK Alcohol addiction is no barrel of laughs
Claire Brine gives her take on a story catching the attention of War Cry reporters
WHEN surrounded by drinkers, it takes a lot of bottle to point out the dangers of alcohol. But priest and broadcaster the Rev Richard Coles poured out some sobering facts recently in his Viewpoint article for Radio Times. ‘Alcohol is way ahead of cocaine as the world’s deadliest drug,’ he wrote. ‘Around 8,000 people die of alcohol addiction every year in the UK.’ As well as listing stats, Richard revealed that his own life had been affected by drink. In 2019, his husband David died of alcoholic liver disease as a result of ‘drinking excessively since his teenage years’. Part of the problem with alcohol, argued Richard, is that it is usually presented in a ‘glamorised, falsified’ way. He noted that in the Netflix series Narcos – about a bunch of Latin American drug dealers in the 1980s – the ‘cameras, in crisp high definition, linger over the luscious liquids’ in crystal tumblers, giving a ‘distorted picture’. Far more relatable was the story of Alice Carter in Radio 4’s The Archers. Here was someone ‘middle class, professional, life all in order … but she was drinking, and it got out of control’. Perhaps Alice’s story, which ‘touches so many’, is why Richard remains surprised by some people’s attitudes when it comes to drinking alcohol. ‘It seems extraordinary to me,’ he wrote, ‘that this most destructive of drugs should be as casually consumed as cappuccino. I know people who worry more about the health consequences of drinking a coffee at breakfast than a bottle of wine at dinner.’ Though Richard’s comments may cause some drinkers to feel uncomfortable or defensive, his concerns about alcohol have long been shared by The Salvation Army. Since its beginnings in 1865, it has helped people whose lives have been destroyed by alcohol addiction. Today, the church and charity continues to promote abstinence as a way of standing in solidarity with those who struggle with alcohol dependency and those affected by alcohol abuse. While abstinence may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it works for me. I choose it, happily. Because, rather than settling for a distorted picture, I want to experience my life in crisp, high definition.
Alice’s story touches so many
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Contact details of a Salvation Army minister 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 • 10 July 2021
Mal Davies explores song lyrics that have a note of truth about them
Wisdom in the
Q
QUICK QUIZ 1
Who plays widowed father Matt in the recently released Netflix film Fatherhood?
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How many sides does a
A trapezoid have?
3
What was the pen name of
Victorian author Mary Ann Evans?
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Who had a No 1 hit in 1980 with the song ‘The Tide is High’?
5
The Pinnacles are limestone
formations in a desert in which country?
6
What does the motoring
abbreviation SUV stand for? ANSWERS
words Hallelujah – what a song! S
OME songs are good when performed by one artist – often the person who wrote or first performed it – but not by another. Other songs are covered by many artists, and many versions are good, because the song itself is just so good. An example, is Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’. The song was a track on his 1984 album Various Positions and wasn’t released as a single. Then, in 1991, Welsh singer John Cale recorded it and, in 1994, young American singer Jeff Buckley included a beautiful version on his album Grace. The next major step forward came in 2001 when Cale’s version appeared in the film Shrek – and that’s when the floodgates really opened. Over the years, more than 300 artists have recorded ‘Hallelujah’, including Willie Nelson, Bon Jovi and X Factor winner Alexandra Burke, who scored a Christmas No 1 with it. The lyrics contain biblical references and language, and the song has been used at weddings and funerals and other church occasions. King David gets mentioned, both for his musical abilities (‘I’ve heard there was a secret chord/ That David played and it pleased the Lord’) and for his indiscretion with Bathsheba (‘You saw her bathing on the roof/ Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you’). Samson and Delilah are also referenced (‘she cut your hair’) and we find phrases like ‘maybe there’s a God above’ and ‘some pilgrim who claims to have seen the light’. And, of course, ‘hallelujah’. It’s an old Hebrew word meaning ‘praise God’. ‘Hallel’ means to praise joyfully and was used in relation to worship and especially the singing of psalms. ‘Jah’ (or ‘Yah’) is part of the Hebrew name for God – Yahweh/ Jahweh – which also led to the word ‘Jehovah’. The exclamation ‘hallelujah’ is used throughout the Bible, for example in Revelation, where the writer, John, recounts: ‘I heard what sounded like a great multitude … shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns”’ (19:6 New International Version). When you marry together beautiful music and meaningful lyrics, more often than not you have a great song. Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ is a prime example of this, and hundreds of artists and millions of music fans would agree.
The song has been used at weddings and funerals
10 July 2021 • WAR CRY • 13
1. Kevin Hart. 2. Four. 3. George Eliot. 4. Blondie. 5. Australia. 6. Sport utility vehicle.
PUZZLES Quick CROSSWORD ACROSS 3. Nearest star (3) 7. Inhabitant of Middle-Earth (6) 8. Puzzle (6) 9. Abdominal organ (6) 10. Fodder (6) 11. Gunge (3) 12. Church office (6) 14. Required (6) 17. Adequate (6) 21. Leather shoe (6) 24. Stove (3) 25. Bent (6) 26. Atone (6) 27. Desecrate (6) 28. Pass (6) 29. Head of cereal plant (3) DOWN 1. Cadaver (6) 2. Wretched (6) 3. Miserly (6) 4. Wrestling hold (6) 5. Hunter’s attendant (6) 6. Political refugee (6) 12. Compete (3) 13. Scrap of cloth (3) 15. Stray (3) 16. Female deer (3) 18. Castrate (6)
Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9
5
7 3 7 2 9 5 6 4 3 2 2 6 1 7 4 8 7 6 2 1 3 9 4 7 6 2 1 3 19. Show for the first time (6) 20. Richard ________, New Zealand former cricketer (6) 21. Sweeney Todd’s occupation (6) 22. Out of date (3, 3) 23. Anxious (6)
M O HONEYC B Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number 1. System of stars 2. Thin slice of bacon 3. Female parent 4. Piece of jewellery fastened to clothing 5. Dipping dish 6. Colourless, odourless gas
ANSWERS HONEYCOMB 1. Galaxy. 2. Rasher. 3. Mother. 4. Brooch. 5. Fondue. 6. Oxygen. QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 3. Sun. 7. Hobbit. 8. Enigma. 9. Spleen. 10. Silage. 11. Goo. 12. Vestry. 14. Needed. 17. Enough. 21. Brogue. 24. Aga. 25. Curved. 26. Redeem. 27. Defile. 28. Elapse. 29. Ear. DOWN: 1. Corpse. 2. Abject. 3. Stingy. 4. Nelson. 5. Gillie. 6. Émigré. 12. Vie. 13. Rag. 15. Err. 16. Doe. 18. Neuter. 19. Unveil. 20. Hadlee. 21. Barber. 22. Old hat. 23. Uneasy.
5 6 2 8 3 4 1 9 7
1 7 3 9 2 5 8 4 6
9 4 8 1 6 7 3 5 2
7 1 3 4 6 2
2 3 9 4 1 8 7 6 5
4 5 7 3 9 6 2 1 8
6 8 1 5 7 2 9 3 4
7 9 5 2 4 3 6 8 1
3 2 4 6 8 1 5 7 9
1
8 1 6 7 5 9 4 2 3 3
14 • WAR CRY • 10 July 2021
SUDOKU 9
WORDSEARCH
5 1 9 2 4 6 7 3 8 6 7 4 3 5 8 9 2 1 Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these with5honesty 2 words 3 8associated 9 7 1 4 6 8 9 1 4 3 5I Z P E 2 6 7 E D T L G A Z J Z G S C Q Y U W F R A N K N E S S Z E 3 2 6 1 9 T Y O M J 7 4 8 5 G W T L U Q J Y C R E C T I T U D E 4 5 7 8 6 2I A V A 3 1 9 E G D J L S Q Y A Q N L Q R E L O Y A L T Y N E S Z 1 8 3 7 I 2E C F 9 6 F N 5 4 R C Z C Q I Q W D L U Y S C A Q H K 4 5 6 Z N R K G M 1 3 8 7 2 F U O K L L Y 9 I O Q O S X Y O E O I F 7V U R E E Y 6 2 5 8 I 4E V 1 J 9S 3 G C D N Z N N E R N T V N S V Z U S X I W K O L V T L W H H S I H O D K F R P C T H J U E P G H Y L U V Q X D R A W R O F T H G I A R T S N S Q Z P Q L U H Y W N P R C R U U Z E R S Z C Z T Q U W W H Q I N L S X Y G N P Q I H H F M X V V Z T I X U O O Z I A Y F F B S I Q I Q N Y R G L D T F D Z U S Q S Q A Z E Z V D P Y P R N D C L L K D F S V P X K W I P P CANDOUR CONFIDENCE FAITHFULNESS FIDELITY FRANKNESS GENUINE HONOUR INTEGRITY LOYALTY
PRINCIPLE RECTITUDE RIGHTEOUSNESS SINCERITY STRAIGHTFORWARD TRUSTWORTHY TRUTHFUL VERACITY VIRTUOUS
7
6 2 9
Pork schnitzels Ingredients 4 pork loin medallions 100g plain flour Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 eggs 100g panko breadcrumbs 2 lemons Handful of fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped 1tbsp vegetable oil 100g pickled red cabbage, to serve 300g potato salad, to serve 100g mixed salad leaves, to serve
Method Place the pork loin medallions on a board between two sheets of clingfilm. Use the base of a small pan to bash them all over until they are 5mm thick. In a small bowl, mix the flour with a pinch of salt and pepper. In another bowl, whisk the eggs. In a third bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with the zest of 1 lemon and the rosemary. Coat both sides of a pork medallion in the seasoned flour, then dip in the egg. Finally, cover in the breadcrumb mixture. Repeat for the remaining three medallions. Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the pork medallions and fry for 3 minutes on each side. Place the cooked schnitzels on 4 plates with a side of pickled red cabbage, potato salad and green leaves. Squeeze the juice of the remaining lemon over the schnitzels, to serve.
SERVES
4
Mini pork and mango skewers Ingredients 225g pork loin steaks, cut into 2cm cubes 4tbsp korma spice mix 1 fresh mango, peeled and cut into large chunks 2tbsp mayonnaise 2tbsp mango chutney 1tsp sweet chilli sauce
Method Toss the pork in a bowl with 2tbsp korma spice mix in a bowl. Toss well. For more flavour, allow the pork to marinate for 30 minutes. Thread the pork cubes on to soaked wooden skewers, about 3 cubes per skewer, and finish each with a chunk of fresh mango. Place under a hot preheated grill for 10 minutes until the pork is cooked through. To make a spiced mayo dip, place the mayonnaise in a small bowl and mix in the remaining 2tbsp korma spice mix. For a chutney sauce, mix the mango chutney and sweet chilli sauce together in a separate small bowl. Serve the skewers either hot or cold with the dips.
SERVES
6
Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board website lovepork.co.uk
10 July 2021 • WAR CRY • 15
A relationship with God is more about love than fear Maral Karaee
WAR CRY