War Cry 13 June 2020

13 June 2020 20p/25c

Celebrities show their class in new TV series

Lessons get some extra spice

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 7478

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 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 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

ONLINE a warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk @TheWarCryUK TheWarCryUK

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salvationarmr.org.uk/warcry

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EDITOR From the editor’s desk

SINGING is is good good for for you. you. So So say say scientists scientists quoted quoted on on the the SINGING BBC Future Future website. website. The The experts experts say saidthat thatsinging singingcan canboost boost BBC our moods moods and and sense sense of of social social connection. connection. our Perhaps it it is is with with these these benefits benefits in in mind mind that that people people have have been been Perhaps joining online online choirs choirs during during lockdown. lockdown. In In this this week’s week’s issue, issue, the the joining War Cry’s Cry’s Sarah Sarah Olowofoyeku Olowofoyeku joins joins a a virtual virtual rehearsal rehearsal of of the the London London War International Gospel Gospel Choir Choir to to discover discover for for herself herself the the pleasures pleasures International people have have found found of of singing singing alone alone,yet yettogether togetherwith withothers. others. people Meanwhile Austenhas Hardwick has found value This in running.

Austen Hardwick found similar valuesimilar in running. week’s This Cry week’s Cry also includes an interview with the marathon War alsoWar includes an interview with the marathon runner who runnerthat whohis found that his sport helped regain life after found sport helped him to regainhim histolife after his he suffered he suffered three strokes while in his early forties. three strokes.

However, it it was was not not only only running running that that helped helped Austen’s Austen’s recovery. recovery.

However, His Christian Christian faith faith also played a vital him a positive His played a part vital in part in taking him taking a positive approach to to all all that that he he faced. faced. approach ‘When II was was in in hospital,’ hospital,’ Austen Austen says, says, ‘I ‘I asked asked God God to to take take what what ‘When was going going through through and and transform to transform through II was meme through it.’ it.’

Christians believe believe that that God God can can take take any any situation situation or or anything anything Christians that they they do do or or face face and and use use it it to to make make a a positive positive impact. impact in others’ that That has lives or own. That been the experience been thetheir experience of has painter Oliver Pengilley. of painter Oliver Pengilley.

Oliver had developed a successful career as an artist, with some hadselling developed a successful as anBut, artist some of Oliver his work for significant sumscareer of money. aswith he tells of his work for significant sums of money. But, as he tells the War Cryselling this week, he grew frustrated. the‘I War Cry this week, he grew didn’t see the meaning of it,’frustrated. he says. Now he travels to ‘I didn’tall see thethe meaning of paint it,’ hepictures says. Now he travels to churches over world to during worship churches all world to artwork paint pictures during worship sessions, andover his the faith-based has helped other people in sessions faith-based artwork has helped other people in their own and faithhis journey. their faith journey.

It isown an amazing truth that God can take any skill a person has or is an amazing truth that God can take any skill a person that has anyIt situation they are facing and transform it into something or any situation facing and of can transform it into something can change theirthey livesare and the lives others. that can change their lives and the lives of the people around them.

Contents

What is The Salvation Army?

FEATURES 3

Pupils get stars in their eyes Celebrities stand in for teachers

4

A brush with faith Artist draws on his beliefs

6

‘I had to learn to walk again’ Runner overcomes three strokes

8

Online harmony At a virtual choir rehearsal

10 Learning through lockdown

Head teacher keeps her students engaged REGULARS 12

Team Talk

13

Now, There’s a Thought!

14 Puzzles

Front-page picture: PA

15

War Cry Kitchen

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TELEVISION

ake Pe

ha l

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t en m Heston Blu

er Geri Horn

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HILE some children have returned to school, many more are still logging on to virtual lessons with their teachers.

It is not the same as being in the classroom, but online lessons have become a whole lot more exciting for some pupils as they find their classes being taken by star names in CBBC’s Celebrity Supply Teacher.

Each famous face gives the children a virtual lesson from their own home on a subject that they know something about. They then take questions from the class via videos that have been sent in.

Term started on Monday (8 June) with former Spice Girl turned children’s author Geri Horner teaching the first of the lockdown lessons – English.

She gave a class on story writing, explaining that the three things needed were characters, a setting and a plot.

She told the students that one way of creating fictional characters was to take inspiration from real characters around them.

The rest of the week included an out-of-this-world science lesson from Tim Peake, the first British person to walk in space. He gave tips on life in space – including how to go to the toilet with zero gravity. Then, with a foot pump, ball adapter, a cork and a bottle filled with water, he taught the children how to launch their own rocket.

er Gary Linek

Marcus Rashford

ley Zo rd o eH H enry and Jeff

Sarah Olowofoyeku sees celebrities take on the task of teaching Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford got students off their sofas in a PE lesson. They were taught some stretches and a warm-up circuit of press-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, leg balances, hopping and lunges.

The practical lessons continued as Emmerdale actors Jeff Hordley and Zoe Henry gave a gardening class on

The truth is that learning never stops growing vegetables and herbs and how to make a meal with them.

For afters, class moved to the kitchen, where chef Heston Blumenthal covered food science, teaching the difference between taste and flavour before demonstrating how to make an unusual strawberry sundae, with the special ingredient of olives.

The celebrity school term lasts for four weeks and among the lessons coming up are Gary Lineker teaching Spanish, Kelis teaching cookery, Martin Bashir covering history and Darcy Bussell showcasing dance.

School days may seem a long time

ago for many of us, but the lockdown lessons include things we can learn to do whatever our age. The truth is that learning never stops.

While we may not all be able to learn life lessons from celebrities or experts in their fields, there is someone that many Christians have learnt from.

When Jesus was on Earth, his followers called him Rabbi, which means ‘teacher’. He taught them how to treat one other, and about Heaven and how they could get there.

One of his lessons was that we should all be more like children. He said: ‘unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven’ (Matthew 18:3 The Voice).

Jesus meant that – contrary to how some people of his day lived – those who wanted to experience the eternal life he offered should be humble, teachable and full of wonder, like children.

The opportunity to have eternal life is available to everyone. All we must first do is learn to put our trust in Jesus, live the way he teaches us and then he will supply a new life that lasts for ever.

13 June 2020 • War Cry • 3

Artist draw Artist draws on

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OLIVER PENGILLEY tells Emily Bright how his relationship with God has shaped his artistic career

FAMOUS actress stood admiring a series of gorilla paintings worth thousands of pounds at Christie’s auction house in London. She turned to the artist, Oliver Pengilley, and remarked thoughtfully: ‘I can tell that you must have been to Africa simply by looking at the gorilla’s eyes.’ Her well-intentioned remark was returned with his sheepish reply: ‘Actually, I just went to the zoo.’

Although his paintings had been attracting acclaim and had been selling for a lot of money, Oliver donated all the profits to wildlife charities, so he ended up working in part-time jobs – including a stint at a zoo, when he painted the gorilla straight into God’s arms,’ he tells me.

– to finance his artistic career.

‘That’s when my life turned around.

When I talk to Oliver, I sense that Sometimes it takes a tragedy to wake his work was never about the money you up.’ or acclaim, but the love of painting Oliver recalls that in the years that that he has had since he was a child. followed, his attitude towards faith and Growing up with artistic parents, he has art shifted. enjoyed drawing for as long as he can ‘In my early twenties I started asking remember. He started painting pictures – God to show me more hope, and more of predominantly of wildlife – when he was what he was saying,’ he says. ‘I started 10 or 11 years old. drawing and painting in church. I also ‘My family life was not particularly went to a worship school in London for happy,’ he remembers. four months. I learnt that ‘Growing up, my worship is more about your brothers and I had heart, and where you are brittle bone disease, so with God before you create one of us was always things.’ in hospital. I think I At the same time, Oliver expressed my pain was growing frustrated with through my artwork. his work as a wildlife artist.

‘I went to church with my parents, ‘I didn’t see the meaning of it. People but I just got really disillusioned with it, would buy paintings simply for my name,’ because, as a family at home, we weren’t he says. ‘When I drew at the back of the practising what was being preached. So church and gave pictures to people of I kept walking away from God, although I what I felt God was saying to them, and knew he was real.’ saw how God affected people through the Then, while Oliver was studying at pictures, it gave me a purpose for my art.’ university, he and his family were rocked One year, Oliver volunteered his talent by the death of his younger brother. The at a Christian festival called Spring bereavement brought Oliver’s life into Harvest. He felt that God was showing focus. him a picture of a brown horse. Although ‘His death brought me and my other he had no idea why, he painted it. brother closer together, and we went A woman stood in front of the painting, OLIVER PENGILLEY

I expressed my pain through my artwork

Some of Oliver’s artwork 4 • War Cry • 13 June 2020

and started to cry. She was losing her faith, and asked God if he cared about her and the horse that she had had to put down earlier that day. The painting resembled her horse, which she felt showed that God did care about her.

Since then, Oliver’s faith-inspired artwork for others has gone from strength to strength. ‘I get a lot of people asking me to paint whatever I feel,’ he explains.

‘I pray for them, and then paint what comes to mind. Sometimes I’ll just start painting a colour, and it might develop into something. If I’m painting during a worship session, I let the music and the Holy Spirit influence me. I have to trust that God will help me out with the painting.’

He now travels from his home in Dudley to churches all over the world to paint pictures during worship sessions, including Canada, the US, Israel and France.

‘Although the churches I go to are completely different, they all appreciate art in the same way,’ Oliver says. ‘And as long as I start worshipping God in the way that I do, it doesn’t matter where I am. It shouldn’t be about my surroundings, but about my relationship with God.’ Oliver not only produces faith-based art, but also paints portraits for weddings and other occasions. He is sometimes commissioned to produce artwork

wshison his faith faith INTERVIEW

Oliver paints during worship sessions for book and CD covers, and, before the coronavirus outbreak, he ran art workshops.

Whatever form his work takes, Oliver says that his relationship with God helps him through.

‘One thing that released me of any pressure of performance was knowing that nothing I painted would compare to what God created. I could never paint anything that good.

‘I saw him as a father, and I imagined him putting my paintings on his fridge saying: “Well done.” It’s an absolutely rubbish painting, but he loves it anyway.

Whatever I’m doing, I’m doing it for him.

He’s my Dad and he loves me.’

Whatever I’m doing, I’m doing it for God

13 June 2020 • War Cry • 5

00:01 00:02 00:0 At the third After three brain haemorrhages in as many years, it was time to appreciate life in all its fullness, AUSTEN HARDWICK tells Andrew Stone

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CHOOLteacher Austen Hardwick noticed that his left arm felt as if it had gone to sleep as he sat one evening in 2014 marking his pupils’ work. He was just approaching his 40th birthday, and physically fit. So as he was otherwise feeling well, he decided to call it a day and go to bed, unperturbed by his arm.

The next morning, he was still unable to control movement in his arm and so he went to his local A&E department.

‘Within minutes of getting there, I had a brain scan and was told that I had Austen with his consultant and (above) running the London Marathon

suffered a stroke,’ he vividly remembers.

Austen was referred to Kings College Hospital in London. ‘The treatment and care I received from the NHS was amazing. I had so many brilliant conversations with the nurses and doctors.

‘It took months of physio to recover.

I was rolling play dough for six weeks, learning to hold a pen and to pick up a cup and place it on a target because, initially, I had no use of my left arm at all.’

Austen returned to work, and life returned to normal. But, one year later, he had another stroke. This time, he lost the use of his left leg as well as the same arm.

The strokes were caused by a cavernoma, a group of blood vessels that resembles a raspberry, which was bleeding.

‘My consultant advised that I needed surgery to prevent the risk of further haemorrhages,’ says Austen. ‘The surgery took six hours and the surgeon made three attempts to reach the cavernoma, but he thought the risk of paralysis was too great and so stopped the operation.

‘I remember waking up from the operation and the consultant telling me

After the operation, I learnt to walk again that the cavernoma was still there. His advice was for me to get on with the rest of my life. And that’s what I did.’

Since his schooldays, Austen had been a keen runner and he had twice completed the London Marathon, once in 1998 for the Bobby Moore Fund and in 2012 for Care for the Family. Taking his consultant’s advice, he returned to running.

His brain condition, though, did not go away. In 2017, while driving home from work, he started to experience a focal seizure.

‘This time my arm was flying all over the place,’ he recalls. It was the third haemorrhage caused by the cavernoma, and his consultant decided to try again to remove it. This time he was successful,

00:01 00:02 00:03 00:04 00:05 00:06 00:07 00:0 6 • War Cry • 13 June 2020

03stroke 00:04 00:05 12.0 INTERVIEW

Library picture posed by model

A scan of Austen’s brain after his first haemorrhage in 2014

but three strokes in as many years and two major operations on his brain had taken their toll.

‘After the second operation I had to use a Zimmer frame as I learnt to walk again,’ Austen says. But he was determined to recover.

‘The staff at the hospital asked me what I wanted to do in the future, and I told them I wanted to run my third London Marathon. I knew I would run again. The surgeon said that as I thought about the movement I was trying to achieve, my brain would start to rewire itself to achieve that action. Gradually, the motion came back, and a few months after the operation I was able to go on my first run.’

Throughout his experiences, Austen drew strength from his Christian faith.

‘When I was in hospital, I asked God to take what I was going through and transform me through it,’ he says. ‘I had never believed that the fullness of life that Christians can experience meant that if I read my Bible and said my prayers I would always be healthy and prosperous.

‘I am grateful for what happened to me because I’ve been given more insight into what having a full life actually means.

The body is a complex miracle of working parts and sometimes they stop working.

‘My experiences have positively affected the way I view the world and my relationships with people.’

Austen has written a book, Ever Present, in which he explores the faith lessons he learnt through his three strokes and from his passion for running. While writing it, he met with Bill O’Connor, one of the ‘Ever Presents’, the group of people who have run every London Marathon since the event’s inception in 1981.

‘Bill taught me about resilience and endurance,’ Austen explains. ‘He says that running has kept him in teaching, even though he’s in his seventies. Running is so good for people’s wellbeing, and it helps the human spirit to keep going, however tough life is.’

Austen is certain that, coupled with his faith, his own experiences as a runner helped him deal with the health challenges he faced. He hopes that his book will help people understand more about the Christian faith and give them hope if they are going through challenging times.

‘As a runner, I would say to those who are suffering that it is all about taking the next step – which is always the most important step in our lives. When I’m running and my legs have gone to jelly and my chest is burning, I have to override my circumstances and take my next step.

‘For people going through their own challenges, that may mean breaking up their day into tiny chunks and getting through the next hour.

Personally, I have gained hope through an understanding of fullness of life that embraces and overcomes suffering.’

l Ever Present is published by Authentic Media

08 00:09 00:10 00:11 00:12 00:13 00:14 00:15 00:16 00 13 June 2020 • War Cry • 7

Singing solo r e h t e to g Sarah Olowofoyeku recounts her experience of attending a virtual choir from the comfort of her bedroom

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The London International Gospel Choir performed in many venues before lockdown

ANDRÈS GÓMEZ TOLLAR

8 • War Cry • 13 June 2020

E do it in the shower, in the car and every time we celebrate someone’s birthday: singing is a part of most people’s lives. Even if we don’t have the best voice, there’s something about singing that makes us feel good – and it can be even more enjoyable when done with others.

As lockdowns were enforced, people all over the world began joining virtual singing groups or attending virtual rehearsals for choirs to which they belonged. I decided to tune into what one choir was doing.

The London International Gospel Choir (LIGC) are a community choir who sing music from the gospel tradition and its derivative genres, such as soul and funk. Anyone can join, regardless of their faith. The choir have been running for 11 years and when the coronavirus-related restrictions were introduced, they moved their rehearsals online.

Matt, the choir’s co-director, invited me along to their Saturday morning rehearsal.

I’ve been a member of many choirs over the years, but I’d never rehearsed with one online, and I was a little nervous.

As with most social events I’ve been attending during lockdown, it was nice to have only to travel the length of my bedroom and turn on my computer to get there. At 11am, I logged on to the conference call and joined about 40 other people (by the end there were about 60 of us).

Matt introduced me, and I was given a welcoming wave from everyone in the group, which was made up of people from a range of ages and backgrounds.

After about five minutes of chatter at the start of the session, everyone’s mike was muted and we began with a warm-up.

Once our vocal cords were warmed and our bodies loosened, James, one

of the choir’s musical directors, took over and taught us the first song on the schedule – ‘Walking’ by gospel duo Mary Mary.

One of the strangest things about the rehearsal was how quiet it was! Choir practices are often filled with too much noise, as people go over their parts or have a natter with their friends.

Still, there was a sense of togetherness, and it was lovely to be able at least to see everybody on the screens, singing out their parts in their own homes with the choir leaders keeping everybody engaged. We weren’t confined to silence, and people were free to unmute their mikes whenever they had a question or wanted to go over their part again. The chat box was also a popular feature, with a few members cracking silent jokes with one another.

An added bonus to muted mikes was that when I sang a note off-key, no one could hear me (except my family)!

The rehearsal lasted for about two hours and during that time we sang two more songs – ‘Rejoice’ by Christian singer-songwriter Israel Houghton and house song ‘Most Precious Love’ by

It was lovely to see everybody singing in their own homes

Matt, co-director of LIGC, chatting with Sarah

FEATURE

Some of the choir members during a virtual rehearsal

Blaze and Barbara Tucker.

After our rehearsing, two choir members were given the opportunity to perform a song of their choice to the rest of the group, who typed positive feedback in the chat box to add to the silent applause. This performance element of the rehearsal was introduced as another way for the choir members to connect with each other. It was moving to see the love and support between them.

To close, Matt put on the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell classic ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ as the ‘play out’ song and encouraged us all to dance and sing along. Belting out a feel-good song was such a great way to end rehearsal – I left the session feeling good and could see why the choir had not wanted the lockdown to stop them singing together.

‘We needed to find an alternative to our usual rehearsals because we know how important the choir is in people’s lives,’ Matt explained afterwards.

‘It provides them with a sense of community. Many of the songs we sing express joy, and that’s the word I would use to sum up how we feel when we’re together.

‘The virtual choir is important because it’s a way of feeling like we are all together, despite being so far away. I speak for a lot of people in the choir when I say that, especially at this time, it’s a free therapy service. Whatever we sing, I feel peaceful and it’s healing.’

Matt is a Christian, and he says: ‘The choir is a way that I express my faith.

Singing connects me to God in a special way.’

For centuries, people have found that singing – alone or with other people – is a way of connecting to God, and to experiencing his joy and peace. With all the uncertainty and sadness caused by the coronavirus, perhaps now is as good a time as any to try to connect with God in song – it may strike a chord.

I left the session feeling good

l For more information about the choir visit internationalgospelchoir.uk 13 June 2020 • War Cry • 9

Head teacher puts on a class act As some pupils in England have begun to return to school, SALLY MADDISON tells Claire Brine about learning after lockdown

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OTS of our children were quite anxious when they heard that school was going to close because of coronavirus,’ says Sally Maddison, head teacher of Sir John Sherbrooke Junior School in Nottingham. ‘After the announcement was made by the government, my staff and I had two days to get a plan in place. Two days to print out enough work for 200 children and supply them with the books and stationery they would need. We wanted the transition to be as smooth as possible.’

On 1 June, after two months of working from home, thousands of children in England made their transition back to school. It’s early days, but so far, so good, says Sally.

‘Pupils are now in small classes – called bubbles – of 15, and playtimes and lunchtimes are staggered in order to observe social distancing. We have put coloured tape around the school, so the children know which areas of the building they can access and how to get there.

‘I think the children are enjoying seeing their friends again, though some of them are struggling to focus for six hours a day. Next week we are expecting even more of the children to return.’

Ever since the UK went into lockdown in March, Sally and her teaching colleagues have worked hard to keep their children connected to school and learning. The school doors remained open every day – including the school holidays – to provide lessons for any vulnerable children and the children of keyworkers. Teachers

also worked long hours from their own homes, setting work for their classes and phoning the children each week to see how they were coping.

‘In the later weeks, we visited some of our more anxious children at home and had a chat with them from the driveway,’ Sally says. ‘If they felt a bit funny about what was happening in the news, we could keep tabs on how they were doing.

‘In terms of setting class work, every two weeks our teachers created packs, which the families collected from the school at a designated time. If a family couldn’t attend, a staff member dropped off the packs at the child’s home.

‘Every day, the children were set some maths and English to do, but families could complete the work at their leisure. We did it that way because every household is different. I don’t know if a family has four kids plus two parents trying to work from home, or if a family has one or five computers. I also don’t know what the child’s mental health is like from day to day.

‘We didn’t want to put the parents under any extra

pressure. Providing physical work packs and not just lessons online meant that parents and their children could crack on at the kitchen table without having to print anything off.’

But school hasn’t been all work and no play, especially with Miss Maddison as head teacher. Every Monday through lockdown, Sally filmed special challenge assemblies and posted them online for her pupils to see. In each video, she dressed up in a funny inflatable costume and set the children educational challenges.

‘I knew I had to keep our children motivated, upbeat and engaged,’ she says. ‘So one week I dressed up as a rocket and set the children a challenge about space. Another week I was Father Christmas, and the challenge was all about doing the unexpected. I filmed the videos round different parts of the school because I wanted them to see a safe, normal building they were familiar with.’

Sally’s videos captured the imagination of her pupils – and the attention of BBC One’s early morning news programme, Breakfast.

‘A producer rang me up and asked if I was the

I knew I had to keep our children motivated

Sally dressed up in funny costumes to film her challenge assemblies 10 • War Cry • 13 June 2020

INTERVIEW

head teacher who did the inflatable costume assemblies,’ Sally says.

‘They said they wanted to interview me on the show. I’ve no idea how they heard about me.’

During the live interview, presenter Naga Munchetty referred to Sally as a ‘wonderful woman’ with plenty of ‘chirpiness’.

Sally explains that her positive outlook stems from her Christian faith.

‘My faith in God means that I don’t let things weigh me down,’ she says.

‘I always feel that there will be a way through every problem. When I wonder how I’m going to get through things, I just talk to God. I can offload to him, then carry on.’

Keeping calm and carrying on is how Sally intends to make it through the uncertain weeks that lie ahead. She remains confident that children will be able to bounce back from the disruption to their education.

‘Some parents are worried that their homeschooling hasn’t been up to scratch,’ Sally says. ‘But parents aren’t teachers. If they have tried to give their child a daily routine and do interesting activities with them, that’s great. If not, teachers everywhere will be helping children to catch up on everything they have missed.

‘Children are resilient. And their teachers care about them massively. We will help them through this time, because that’s what we always do.’

Head teacher Sally Maddison

13 June 2020 • War Cry • 11

EXPLORE

Prayerlink THE War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their ­circumstances. Send your Prayerlink requests to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk or to War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, Lon­don SE1 6BN. Mark your correspondence ‘Confidential’.

j

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.

Team talk

talk

Team talk

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

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NEARLY three weeks have passed since the death of George Floyd. Or to put it more bluntly: since the alleged murder of a black man by a white man.

Nearly three weeks on, I’m still angry about it. Angry that an innocent man was killed because apparently a man in authority didn’t like the colour of his skin. Ashamed that white privilege exists, knowing full well that I benefit from it.

I’m also overwhelmed that racism remains a global problem in 2020, and at the same time appalled that the world is so bad at owning it.

After reading commentaries in the media about George Floyd and hearing the experiences of racism faced by black people and other people of colour, I’m confronted with a challenge. What am I going to do about it? Do I shake my head in dismay, upload anti-racist posts on Facebook for the next few weeks and then continue to turn a blind eye for fear of disturbing my own comfort?

Or do I commit myself to the fact that tackling racism is everybody’s problem?

Newsflash: That means it’s my problem.

It’s time for white people like me to stop treating racism as if I know much about it. I don’t. Instead, I need to listen to my friends of colour and I need to educate myself by reading more black writers, for example.

It’s time for people like me to live with the uncomfortable truth rather than comforting lies, because only then might we make the necessary shift from being not racist to actively anti-racist.

It’s time for people like me to be outspoken and angry about racial injustice rather than choosing not to see it – because silence is compliance. Silence has proven deadly.

So, yes, I’m stilI angry about what happened to George Floyd. But I want my rage to stay so that I do something constructive with it. In desperation, I cry out to God with the words of a Franciscan prayer that puts what I’m feeling better than I ever could: May God bless me with holy anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that I may work tirelessly for justice, freedom and peace among all people.

The world needs to change. Because black lives haven’t always been treated as if they matter.

Silence has proven deadly

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

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Amen

Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

12 • War Cry • 13 June 2020

Salvation Army pledges to ‘confront and fight racism’

NEWS

THE Salvation Army has said it is recommitting itself to responding to racism with positive action.

In a statement posted on its social media pages, the church and charity says it is saddened that BAME (black, Asian and other minority ethnic) people continue to experience institutional racism and is ‘deeply concerned by the research showing that people from BAME groups in the UK have suffered disproportionately from the coronavirus pandemic’.

Quoting Jesus’ words that he had come to bring ‘recovery of sight for the blind’ and ‘to set the oppressed free’, the statement recognises that both actions are needed in a world where people experience racism ‘in its blatantly ugly and its more insidious forms’.

The Salvation Army says that it will ‘seek ways to confront and fight racism wherever it is found’ and to create a culture in which all its members and service users ‘have a sense of belonging’. l The full statement can be at salvationarmy.org.uk/news/salvation-army-confronts-racism

EXPRESSIONS

Now, there’s a thought!

q

quick quiz 1

2

The Svalbard Islands are located in which ocean?

Which football club won the English Premier League in 2016?

a 3

4

5

6

Which comet is depicted on the Bayeaux Tapestry?

Who had hits in the 1950s with the songs ‘Long Tall Sally’ and ‘Baby Face’?

Who wrote the historical novel about Thomas Cromwell The Mirror and the Light?

What is the name of the fictional hospital in the TV series Casualty?

ANSWERS

by Cliff Kent

Lockdown leads to home clean-up S

PRING-cleaning has been extended. While many of us are at home because of the lockdown imposed to halt the spread of the coronavirus, some are taking the opportunity to slim things down in attics, wardrobes and drawers. Others are sorting out garages, outhouses and garden sheds.

The lockdown has motivated me to clear out some drawers.

The most difficult was the one containing bits and bobs, such as screws, nails, paper clips, drawing pins and more.

While some are scaling down, others are finding it hard not to accumulate more things. There is always something new to be purchased, as well as the pressure to keep up with the latest technology and to add on rather than cut down.

I remember that when I was in school, my art teacher said to the class: ‘Some of you are putting too much detail into your work – less is more.’ He was teaching us that if a painting is too elaborate or cluttered, it can lose its focus.

The phrase ‘less is more’ can also be applied to our lives. The present epidemic is giving many of us the chance to prioritise and re-evaluate what matters. While at home, we have been reminded of those special times when we were able to travel and connect with family and friends in various places. We are discovering that our relationships rank much higher than our possessions.

One Bible verse says: ‘Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or – worse! – stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in Heaven where it’s safe’ (Matthew 6:19 and 20 The Message).

Those words of Jesus do not mean that we cannot have things, but rather that we need not be trapped by them. Similarly we should not depend on them. Our relationships with others and with God, however, are worth keeping hold of.

There is always something new to be purchased

13 June 2020 • War Cry • 13

1. The Arctic. 2. Leicester City. 3. Halley’s comet.

4. Little Richard. 5. Hilary Mantel. 6. Holby City.

PUZZLES

QUICK CROSSWORD QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Banal (5) 4. Theme (5) 8. Currently (3) 9. Plump (5) 10. Degrade (5) 11. Strike (3) 12. Sadiq Khan, for example (5) 13. Twisted (7) 16. Historical records (6) 19. Monkey-like (6) 23. Condemn (7) 26. Make a speech (5) 28. Grandma (3) 29. Openings (5)

14. Unit of electrical resistance (3) 15. Period (3) 17. Born (3) 18. Donkey (3) 20. Prehistoric DOWN period (4, 3) 2. Sarcasm (5) 21. Impecunious (5) 3. Fascinate (7) 22. Kind (6) 4. Jerk sharply (6) 23. Urban (5) 5. Greek 24. Dressed up to philosopher (5) the _____ (5) 6. Crevice (5) 25. Distress (5) 7. Fashion (5) 27. Head of 9. Pacific nation (5) monastery (5) 30. Tintern, for example (5) 31. Joke (3) 32. Silk fabric (5) 33. Minor actor (5)

SUDOKU

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

HONEYCOMB

7 1 5 6 6 4 8 1 2 1 4 3 9 9 7 5 1 9 2 6 6 1 5 7 4 8 9 5 4 6

HONEYCOMB HONEYCOMB Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Trite. 4. Topic. 8. Now. 9. Stout. 10. Abase. 11. Hit. 12. Mayor.

13. Crooked. 16. Annals. 19. Simian.

23. Censure. 26. Orate. 28. Nan. 29. Vents.

30. Abbey. 31. Gag. 32. Satin. 33. Extra.

DOWN: 2. Irony. 3. Enthral. 4. Twitch.

5. Plato. 6. Crack. 7. Trend. 9. Samoa.

14. Ohm. 15. Era. 17. Née 18. Ass. 20. Iron Age. 21. Needy. 22. Benign.

23. Civic. 24. Nines. 25. Upset. 27. Abbot.

HONEYCOMB 1. Pollen. 2. Onside. 3. Preset.

4. Figure. 5. Buffet. 6. Shorts.

5 9 6 2 4 1 3 8 7

1 2 7 5 3 8 6 9 4

3 8 4 7 6 9 2 5 1

6 4 5 8 9 2 1 7 3

2 3 8 1 7 6 5 4 9

9 7 1 4 5 3 8 2 6

4 1 9 3 8 5 7 6 2

7 5 2 6 1 4 9 3 8

8 6 3 9 2 7 4 1 5

SUDOKU SOLUTION

1 9 2 6 6 1 5 7 8 9 5 4 6

14 • War Cry • 13 June 2020

6

Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch

1. Powdery substance of flowers 2. In a position of agreement 3. Applied in advance 4. Numerical symbol 5. Meal eaten with the fingers 6. Item of sportswear

Answers

by Chris Horne

Wordsearch BASSOON CELLO CLARINET DOUBLE BASS FLUTE FRENCH HORN GLOCKENSPIEL HARP MARIMBA OBOE SAXOPHONE TIMPANI TROMBONE TRUMPET TUBA VIOLA VIOLIN XYLOPHONE

Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find 5 1 3 6 instruments 2 9 4 7 8 these orchestral

9 2 8 4 3 7 1 5 6

P D F J R J C V S F I V P W X N S Z 6 I W G G 7 4 5 I 8 1 9 2J D E 3 F F V Z U L G E W V B M I Y P E P G N V V B H E A U W Z 2 5 7 8 1 4 3 6 9 B M A R I M B A O I C W T C Y H Y E 4 K 3P 6 9 7 5 8 1 B 2 Z N M A M S Z O O D U N G O Z E H H Z M M I L S L B X L R K T N C 1 8 9 2 6 3 5 4 7 J Q R H I X I Q S A X O P H O N E O 3 6 I 2 1 5 8 7 9 4 X W C T E N R A L C L E L W L N V T X Z K J G N K B K M Q Z Z L E O Y 8 9 5 7 4 2 6 3 1 Q O Y S F Z F R E N C H H O R N B M 7 4 1 3 9 6 2 8 5 X H L L P X L N R N Z W Y F X U M T Z G F H O U S P Z T Q Q S X L P O K L H Q N V P N U Q H E T E P M U R T R S R T I Q H Q R S M L R T Q A T P G W H E W O E O Z N B S Q R F Q G E Z Z L K S R B N N J T G W F Z R V A I D W P C M Q P N E O K G T C O U B Y M U S S A B E L B U O D J C F F U

4

Vegetable jalfrezi Ingredients

Method

2tsp vegetable oil

Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions, apple and garlic and cook, stirring, for 4 minutes. Stir in the jalfrezi curry paste and continue cooking for a few seconds.

Add the carrot, pepper, tomatoes, cauliflower, chickpeas and stock.

Simmer, partially covered, for 30 minutes, adding extra water if needed.

2 medium onions, chopped 1 medium apple, cored and chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed 2tbsp jalfrezi curry paste 1 carrot, sliced 1 green pepper, deseeded and chopped 400g tomatoes, chopped 150g cauliflower, broken into florets 410g chickpeas in water, rinsed and drained 300ml reduced-salt vegetable stock 180g easy-cook long-grain brown rice

SERVES

50g frozen peas

4

Ground black pepper 4tbsp low-fat natural yoghurt, to serve

Meanwhile, cook the rice in a large saucepan of gently boiling water, according to the packet instructions.

Add the peas to the curry and heat for 3 minutes.

Season with a little pepper, to taste. Serve the vegetable curry on warmed plates with the cooked rice, topping each portion with 1tbsp yoghurt.

Kedgeree with a kick Ingredients 300g easy-cook brown rice 4 eggs 200g skinless cod fillet, cut into chunks 120g skinless smoked haddock fillet, cut into chunks 120g skinless salmon fillet, cut into chunks 2tsp curry powder 150g frozen peas, thawed 2tbsp fresh parsley, chopped Ground black pepper

Method Cook the rice in boiling water until tender, according to the packet instructions. At the same time, hard-boil the eggs for 10 minutes.

Place the chunks of fish in a large frying pan and add a little water.

Heat and simmer for 4 minutes until the fish is opaque. Drain.

Peel the eggs and quarter them.

Drain the rice and add it to the fish with the curry powder, peas and parsley. Heat for 3 minutes, stirring gently while cooking. Season with black pepper.

Top with the egg quarters, to serve.

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Public Health England website nhs.uk/change4life

SERVES

4

13 June 2020 • War Cry • 15

Cast your cares on THE LORD and he will sustain you Psalm 55:22 (New International Version)