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.
WAR CRY
Issue No 7640
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
Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk
The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory
101 Newington Causeway London
SE1 6BN
Tel: 0845 634 0101
Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org
Founder: William Booth
General: Lyndon Buckingham
Territorial Commander:
Commissioner Anthony Cotterill
Editor-in-Chief: Major Julian Watchorn
EVERY day the news headlines remind us that individuals and families across the country are facing difficult and challenging situations. The cost of living is still increasing, as are NHS waiting times – so affecting more people needing treatment – and the effects of climate change continue to be observed.
With these and other serious issues demanding so much of our attention, it can be easy to overlook how we can benefit from sometimes turning our attention to what can initially seem unimportant. In this week’s War Cry, we focus on the good that can come from music and from simply having fun.
Every year The Salvation Army runs summer camps that allow 500 children and young people to enjoy activities including kayaking, mountaineering, silent discos and toasting marshmallows on a campfire. In this issue we discover how attending a camp allowed two sisters to take a break from a stressful home environment and, in the fun, find new confidence.
But it is not only children who can benefit from engaging with the lighter side of life. This week we also report on songwriting workshops run in a prison in Scotland. These workshops have led to the creation of a record label, Conviction Records, to help give ex-offenders a chance of rehabilitation. The camps and the music initiatives are run by Christians. And it is these people’s faith that inspires them in their work.
Christians believe that Jesus wants us to have a full and balanced life. When he was on Earth, he said of his followers: ‘I came that they may have and enjoy life’ (John 10:10 Amplified Bible).
The news headlines are a reminder that there is much going on to concern us and which, in turn, may make our own lives difficult. But Jesus wants us to enjoy our lives as we experience him in all that we do – even the seemingly unimportant things.
And that’s good news for us all.