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 7521
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
Your local Salvation Army centre
INFO 2 • WAR CRY • 17 April 2021
EDITOR From the editor’s desk
AFTER the sadness of the funeral for the Duke of Edinburgh today (Saturday 17 April), many TV viewers will be looking forward tomorrow to the happiness often depicted in BBC One’s Call the Midwife. It will be the 10th series of the award-winning drama, which has attracted viewers of all ages with its mixture of nostalgia and newborn babies. The safe delivery of a baby is usually a time of joy. It marks a new beginning and, for the mother, the end of a nine-month wait in which she has taken good care of herself to improve the chances of her baby’s healthy arrival. Having a good start in life matters – not just when we are born, but throughout our early years. Sadly, not everyone’s childhood experience is a good one. In this week’s War Cry, Tracy Williamson and Marilyn Baker talk about how they have recovered from early trauma. Tracy, who is neurologically deaf, suffered years of abuse at home and school. Marilyn has been blind since she was a baby because she was given too much oxygen after her birth. As a result, she had a negative relationship with her father. However, both women found their Christian faith helped them to overcome these early setbacks. ‘My dad had told me that I would be a nuisance if I asked for too many favours,’ says Marilyn. But when she became a Christian, she learnt to see herself as God sees her. ‘I’m made in his image,’ she says. ‘He doesn’t make rubbish, and I’m a blessing not a nuisance.’ Whatever start in life we may have had or however our life has turned out, we too are made in God’s image and can know his love and acceptance. If we turn to him, we can experience a new beginning in our own lives.
CONTENTS
What is The Salvation Army?
FEATURES 3
Special delivery
New series of Call the Midwife begins
5
Book of comic prayer
Frank Skinner’s conversations with God
6
Down-to-Earth problem
Earth Day encourages action on climate
change 8
A different kind of healing
Overcoming disabilities and childhood trauma
REGULARS
4
War Cry World
12
Team Talk
13
Puppy Tales
14 Puzzles 15
6
War Cry Kitchen
8
Front-page pictures: BBC/NEAL STREET; ALAMY
15