From the editor’s desk
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.
THE coastline of Britain is awash with coves and caves that were used by smugglers trying to avoid the taxes placed on goods entering the country. The illegal trade was so common in the 18th century that it is estimated that at one point about four fifths of all the tea drunk by Britons had been smuggled into the country. Today there is a tendency to romanticise what could, in fact, be a deadly business and to think that smuggling existed only in a bygone era of frock coats, candlelit houses and horse-drawn transportation. However, it was just last month that a modern-day smuggler died. Dutchman Anne van der Bijl, better known as Brother Andrew, was a different kind of smuggler. He spent years secretly taking Bibles to China and countries behind the Iron Curtain. After the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, he discovered copies of KGB reports that detailed his work in the Soviet Union. As we report in a feature in this week’s War Cry, Brother Andrew also spent time speaking with the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas. Eddie Lyle, who worked with Brother Andrew, tells us why. ‘His thought was: how were these people ever going to hear about Jesus if someone didn’t go and spend time with them, understand their mindset and unashamedly meet them as an ambassador – a peacemaker – of Christ, so that they could accept Jesus as their saviour.’ Brother Andrew was inspired in his work by his belief that anyone can have their lives turned round by becoming a Christian. He would have known the Bible verse that says: ‘God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die’ (John 3:16 Contemporary English Version). It doesn’t matter who we are or what we ad the War C have done in the past. If we put our faith in e re ry v ’ u Jesus, we can experience a life of purpose and fulfilment that will never end.
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 7599
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Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN
CONTENTS
Tel: 0845 634 0101 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
FEATURES
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When you need a miracle Son and father look back on a life-changing car crash
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Under cover Story of a Bible smuggler
INFO
10 Heavenly pictures
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Larkin about Pop and family return in ITV drama
Published weekly by The Salvation Army © The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 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 CKN Print, Northampton, on sustainably sourced paper
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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
Artist explains why she paints angels REGULARS 4
War Cry World
12 Team Talk 13 Now, There’s a Thought! 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: ITV