War Cry 24 April 2021 by The Salvation Army UK and Ireland

Uniform bank kits out kids for class

WAR CRY

24 April 2021 20p/25c

And the winners are… Oscars aim to head in the right direction

Stars’ choreographer on making the right moves

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 7522

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 • 24 April 2021

EDITOR From the editor’s desk

THE Covid-19 restrictions that we have all had to live with over the past 13 months have affected us in a variety of ways. Although many people have found the lack of human contact difficult, it has encouraged some to take up new hobbies and interests. More than half the churches in the UK have seen an increase in the number of people who want to find out more about the Christian faith, according to an Evangelical Alliance report published during the pandemic. Not that interest in faith is a new phenomenon. People have been curious to learn more about others’ beliefs for many years. In this week’s War Cry, we speak with Ruth Gledhill, who was the Times religion correspondent from 1987 to 2014. During that time, she covered many significant religious events. In the interview, Ruth talks about her work and her motivation to report on matters of faith, saying: ‘It’s important that people understand what faith is and why people are moved to do extraordinary things in the name of religion.’ She adds: ‘All over the country, amazing work is being done by churches to feed those who are housebound, to run errands for people and to maintain a sense of community.’ One Christian who is carrying out some of that amazing work is Dawn Coleman. As we discover in this issue, Dawn runs a school uniform bank at Shipley Salvation Army. The concept is simple: parents donate items of school uniform that their children have grown out of and the bank makes it available – sometimes at no cost at all – for families who are struggling financially. Though straightforward, the scheme can have a dramatic impact on those it helps. ‘Most of them are pleased and grateful,’ Dawn says. ‘Other help that’s been offered to them has strings attached, whereas our criteria are flexible.’ Dawn’s story of being motivated by her faith to help others is inspiring. Perhaps it will encourage us to think about what we can do to help others.

FEATURES

CONTENTS

What is The Salvation Army?

In the frame A look at potential Oscar winners

Casting doubt Comedy podcast reassesses heroes

One step at a time Choreographer recalls her career highlights

8 Asking the rite questions Former Times correspondent talks faith 10 School of thought How one mum’s idea has helped many parents

REGULARS

War Cry World

Team Talk

Now, There’s a Thought!

Puzzles

War Cry Kitchen

Front-page picture: ALAMY

TOM ROSE/ALAMY

FILM

THE REEL THING Director Chloé Zhao

Emily Bright looks forward to a celebration of diversity in cinema

Y 1am UK time on Monday (26 April), Academy award presenters, nominees and their guests will have thrown off their pyjamas and tracksuits in favour of glitzy attire to attend a ceremony that – in contrast to recent virtual events – is taking place physically at venues in Los Angeles and international hubs via satellite. Each nominee will be hoping for industry recognition of their contribution to films over the past year. Increasingly the awards, which are designed to celebrate excellence throughout cinema, have sought to avoid unconscious racial or gender bias. This year’s panel votes cast the most diverse shortlist in the Oscars’ 93-year history, with nine out of twenty acting nominees coming from minority ethnic backgrounds. Meanwhile, Emerald Fennell and Chloé Zhao have been put forward for best director, the first time more than one woman has been nominated in that category. Last year, the BBC reported that the Academy had invited 819 new members, 45 per cent of them women and 36 per cent non-white, to vote for the awards. It meant a doubling of female members and a tripling of the number of people from minority ethnic backgrounds in the Academy. Rectifying the under-representation of many people in film awards has been an industry-wide effort. Awardmaking bodies want to highlight the achievements of people from all backgrounds. Earlier this month, Chloé Zhao’s hard work was rewarded at the Baftas

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as she clinched the best director award for Nomadland, becoming only the second woman to win that category. Daniel Kaluuya won best supporting actor for Judas and the Black Messiah, while director Emerald Fennell’s A Promising Woman took home the outstanding British film and best original screenplay honours. The intentional focus on celebrating diversity within the film industry is a positive starting point for promoting equality. It acts as a reminder of the need to champion the people who are undervalued and overlooked for all kinds of reasons in all areas of society, whether in the workplace, healthcare, justice systems or faith communities. Although there has been a keener focus on championing previously overlooked people in recent years, there are other instances when their cause has been promoted for centuries. In the Bible, written some 2,000 years ago, the apostle Paul encourages diversity among Christian communities, emphasising how a variety of abilities can enrich the life of a community. He says that all believers are equally treasured by God and all have their contributions to make to others. Paul writes: ‘The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body.’ He explains that the same was true of the ‘body of Christ’ – the Christian Church: ‘We have all been baptised into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit’ (1 Corinthians 12:12 and 13 New Living Translation). Paul is saying that because of Jesus’ sacrifice on a cross for our sins, everyone can experience God’s peace, forgiveness, love and grace. God regards all people as equal. We can experience unity with one another, living our lives to the full if we let him into the picture.

Variety can enrich a community

Actor Daniel Kaluuya

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WAR CRY

WESTMINSTER Abbey has posted a recording of David Suchet reading John’s Gospel on YouTube. In an interview with the Church Times, David described John’s Gospel as ‘warm and intimate’, and said he hoped that the recording, originally released on Easter Day, would feel personal. ‘I want the listener to feel very comfortable,’ he said. ‘I may be speaking to what may amount to millions, but my tone is intimate, warm, friendly – not to push you away, but draw you in.’ David went on to describe the benefits of reading the Bible aloud, saying: ‘My message to everybody is to read it out loud, quietly to yourself … Let it go into your body, absorb it … I always read any passage of [the] Bible out loud, because I can hear it at the same time. And that’s actually a great, great source of nourishment.’

Statue to reach new heights LOOP IMAGES LTD/ALAMY

YOUNG people are praying and reading the Bible more now than at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, a poll commissioned by Christian project YourNeighbour has found. According to Christian media outlet Premier, the survey revealed that more than two in five of those aged 18 to 34 in the UK have prayed more frequently, while up to one third have read their Bible more. Up to 29 per cent of young people have also watched online church services, while 31 per cent have boosted their donations to community work run by churches. ‘One thing we wanted to know was had [lockdown] had an impact on young people in terms of their spirituality,’ said Russell Rook, the co-founder of YourNeighbour. ‘Interestingly, while it has been a tough time for young people, it seems also to have been a really positive time, in terms of young people turning to God, and the Church for help and advice and to make a contribution.’

The ‘handsome’ Nottingham William Booth Memorial Halls in 1915 4 • WAR CRY • 24 April 2021

A NEW statue of Christ is being built in Brazil, reports the BBC website. Christ the Protector, in the city of Encantado, will be 43m high, making it higher than the 38m Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro and the third tallest Jesus statue in the world. Work on the structure began in 2019, but the head and outstretched arms were added earlier this month. Visitors to the monument will be able to look at the region’s countryside from a viewing platform in the statue’s chest. The project’s £255,000 cost is being met by donations from individuals and companies, according to the project’s organisers, the Association of the Friends of Christ. Christ the Protector is due to be completed later this year.

A SALVATION Army building in Nottingham has been given grade II listed status by Historic England. The Nottingham William Booth Memorial Halls were built in tribute to The Salvation Army’s founder, who was born in the city. After Booth’s death in 1912, a group of citizens – among them Sir Frank Bowden, the founder of the Raleigh bicycle company – raised money for the project. The building, designed by Salvation Army architect Oswald Archer, was opened in 1915 and is still used by a Salvation Army congregation for worship meetings and community work. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the church has provided food parcels and meals for people in need. Historic England’s senior listing adviser Melissa Thompson says: ‘The William Booth Memorial Halls is a handsome building with a distinctive and well-proportioned neoclassical design, and internally the main meeting hall is a simple and finely detailed space. ‘It is not only the architectural quality that makes the building special, but its association with the evangelical and social reformer William Booth.’

FEATURE

tWwxcx Do you have a story to share? a warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk @TheWarCryUK TheWarCryUK

B salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry

Russell Kane hosts ‘Evil Genius’

Halo, goodbye

HEALTHCARE professionals employed by The Salvation Army and partner organisations in Ghana administered the first Covid-19 vaccines in the country last month. In Maamobi, a densely populated district of the capital city, Accra, more than 2,000 people have received their first doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine free of charge. The jabs were given in accordance with Ghana’s defined priority list, which focuses on health workers, teaching staff, people aged over 60 and vulnerable people at risk of developing life-threatening illness. Major Agatha Essel of The Salvation Army in Ghana said: ‘We are pleased to be able to help this community because we are able to demonstrate Christ’s healing ministry to people without discrimination and bring relief to the suffering and pain.’ The vaccines were provided by Covax, a global initiative headed by various organisations, including the World Health Organisation and Unicef, aimed at ensuring fair access to vaccines.

Philip Halcrow hears a podcast that re-evaluates reputations

N a world which sometimes seems to cast people as simply heroes or villains, Radio 4’s Evil Genius with Russell Kane has just completed its latest run, having added names such as Charles Darwin, Malcolm X and Che Guevara to the list of revered figures whose lives it has weighed up. In each episode of the podcast, the comedian asks three panellists to consider a notable name. Over the next 40 minutes, they are given facts about the person – and not every fact shows them in a good light. Alexander Hamilton may be a founding father of the US and the subject of a hit musical, but Russell revealed research that suggested he bought and sold slaves for his in-laws. Charles Darwin is praised for having helped people evolve in their understanding of the natural world – but, asks Russell, was he responsible in some way for eugenics and ideas of racial purity favoured by the Nazis? The comedy show raises some weighty questions, such as whether art can be separated from the artist and whether we should assess people by the standards of their day or ours. At the end of the podcast, Russell demands that each panellist vote one way or another. After examining Alexander Hamilton, he asked: ‘Evil or genius? I know this goes against the way our brains should work but just spend one day on Twitter and you will learn that’s how society works.’ In reality, whether looking at Winston Churchill or Mother Teresa, the show highlights the complexity of humans in general. We are not either evil or genius, or purely good. As one knowingly flawed historical figure – the Bible writer Paul, who at one time had stood by and watched a man violently killed – acknowledged: ‘All of us have sinned and fallen short.’ However, he went on: ‘But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us’ (Romans 3:23 and 24 Contemporary English Version). Paul changed the world. Reflecting his experiences, his writings conveyed the simple truth that in Jesus, God has shown that he offers us a new start when we have gone wrong, forgiveness when we have done evil. Genius?

Not every fact shows them in a good light

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p a h r e g r o k e e r eps in o h C

CHERYL FOX

Ahead of International Dance Day (Thursday 29 April), LAURIEANN GIBSON explains to Sarah Olowofoyeku how she put her best foot forward to achieve her dance dreams

6 • WAR CRY • 24 April 2021

n step with her beliefs

INTERVIEW

NATHAN JAMES

ROM as early as she can remember, Laurieann Gibson wanted to be a dancer. When she was a young girl, she would put her bath towel on her head and dance round the house with whatever she could use as a microphone. Laurieann never lost her love for dance, and now she has not only danced with stars, but also choreographed the dance moves for performances, tours and music videos, including the one for Michael Jackson’s song ‘They Don’t Really Care About Us’. She tells me that what she loves about dance and choreography is ‘the ability to feel completely free when expressing yourself emotionally. As a choreographer, I love to use movement to communicate even if it seems pedestrian. Dancers use their bodies to speak, and choreographers use movement to write a scene, tell a story and inspire a story.’ Laurieann has told many stories through her dances, but the steps to her success were not easy. ‘There were many times in my journey when I felt like I wanted to give up,’ she says, ‘but as a result of me constantly choosing my dream, giving up was no longer an option.’ Laurieann started dance classes when she was eight years old in her home town of Toronto. As dancing was all she wanted to do, she worked hard and was accepted, aged 17, into the school of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York in 1989. She faced challenges, however, such as not being able to afford the fees of $13,000. But she managed to juggle work and school and make her way through. ‘I had the appetite to persevere,’ she says. Perseverance is a quality that Laurieann highlights in her new book, Dance Your Dance, as she shares her life story and teaches readers how to achieve their dreams. Part of that process, she tells me, is ‘about choosing the feeling of your dream over any obstacle or anything that may seem or appear like rejection’. Laurieann experienced rejection near the start of her career, when she was fired from a job on Spike Lee’s Malcolm X. She had been persuaded by a friend to go out to celebrate the job the night before the first day of filming, and ended up being late to the set the next day – something she and

the other cast and crew members had been warned about. Laurieann walked home crying, and cried all night long. She writes: ‘I kept asking, “Why would God let that happen to me? Why would God give me that chance and let me ruin it?” And today, I know: God allowed it because I had a lesson to learn.’ Afterwards, she chose to change, and was not tempted by the clubs, the parties or the glamour of success. Instead she focused on her work and the ‘high’ she got from that. ‘For me,’ she says, ‘it was about choosing my schedule, my time, and never wanting to be late over pleasing any one of my friends. And that commitment to my dream got stronger and stronger.’ Laurieann was soon offered more opportunities. She connected with Missy Elliott and, instead of just dancing for her, did her choreography. She worked with Mary J Blige and went on tour with her. Two decades on, she has choreographed for many other performers, such as Katy Perry, and developed the image of major artists, including Lady Gaga. Throughout her career, Laurieann has not compromised her values – even turning down a job at a strip club when she needed the money – instead she has aimed to handle herself well despite challenges. ‘I always knew God was with me,’ she

I’m grateful for creating iconic pieces with Nicki Minaj and Michael Jackson

says. ‘I felt a pull towards a more righteous feeling constantly.’ Though she felt God’s guidance, it was not until the mid-1990s that she made a conscious decision to follow Jesus. She was becoming known as a choreographer and met producer Mario Winans, a member of gospel singing family the Winans. They started dating, and he took her home to meet his mother. She took them to church, and there Laurieann gave her life to Jesus. ‘It’s challenging to be a believer in the entertainment industry,’ she says, ‘but I thank God for allowing me to stand strong and unaffected as a light in dark places.’ Although she has worked with some of the world’s biggest stars, she does not talk about her achievements purely in terms of herself. ‘I’m grateful for the gift God has given me,’ she says. ‘Now that I’m living the dream, I’m grateful for creating iconic pieces with Nicki Minaj and Michael Jackson. I am so excited for what God has done and what he is doing.’ Through her book, she wants to inspire others to reach their goals. ‘I want readers to understand that their dreams are valid, God-given, God-powered and possible,’ she says. ‘Once you believe and maintain the faith, God is faithful and you will live your dream.’ l Dance Your Dance is published by Thomas Nelson 24 April 2021 • WAR CRY • 7

PUBLISHING IN RUTH GLEDHILL, former Times reporter and current online editor for The Tablet, tells Emily Bright why we should read all about religion

Ruth Gledhill

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HE has reported on some of the biggest religious stories in the past 30 years, including the ordination of women bishops, faith leaders’ fears of a backlash against Islam after the 2005 London bombings and Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Britain. Ruth Gledhill, now the online editor for Catholic magazine The Tablet, is perhaps best known for her work as the Times religion correspondent from 1987 until 2014. Ruth explains why, in her view, covering religion is essential. ‘As the world is becoming a smaller place, with global communications and the internet, it’s important that people understand what faith is and why people are moved to do extraordinary things in the name of religion,’ she says. ‘Understanding is an aid towards respecting people of all faiths.’ The daughter of an Anglican vicar, Ruth grew up with an unquestioning belief in Christianity. However, in her teenage years, she drifted away from the Church. ‘I started writing and reporting on faith before I fully returned to Christianity,’ she recalls. She began her career at the Birmingham Post, followed by two years at the Daily Mail. ‘When I was at the Daily Mail, a couple of religious stories came my way,’ she says. ‘I enjoyed writing them, and they did well. I was comfortable in and around the Church and was drawn to writing about it. It felt like a vocation. ‘As I got to write more about other faiths, it was also interesting and edifying to get to know Muslims and members of the Jewish faith, and to report on what they were doing.’ Her reporting on religion led her to reflect on what she believed. ‘I always felt that I had a faith in God,’ she says. ‘As I got to write about it more, and studied for a religious studies certificate, it just made sense to me. And I found that my faith was too much a part of me to give it up. ‘There have been many times in my life where I have struggled, and I’ve made mistakes. The Book of Job was one of the things that gave me the stamina to keep going in circumstances beyond my control. It reminded me that if you can keep the faith, and put one step in front of the other, then you’ll get through.’ While working as a religion correspondent, she attended

INTERVIEW

N GOOD FAITH different churches and places of worship each week. Consequently, she has become well acquainted with preaching styles from all faiths, and has edited a number of books in the Times Best Sermon series. She tells me about a speaker she particularly admires. ‘One of the best was Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. In his sermons he really excelled. You’d be drawn into a spiritual landscape of promise and hope, and he just had this amazing gift.’ When she left The Times in June 2014, she embarked on a different kind of faith-based journalism as editor of Christian Today, a position she held until joining The Tablet as online editor in October 2017. Looking back on her career so far, she notes that her current role is a contrast from her early days in journalism. ‘When you’re a young journalist, scrapping to make it, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of headlines and bylines,’ she says. ‘On a daily newspaper, you have to produce story after story to justify your existence. The pressure is absolutely intense, and I thrived under that pressure. ‘But specialist magazines like The Tablet can serve a community in the way that you can’t on a national newspaper. I’ve loved that. I don’t need to get stories to justify my existence every day, but rather I focus on serving the common good of the Catholic community. ‘As an editor of a weekly, I’m in charge of presenting and promoting other people’s stories, so my sense of self is much less prominent in the equation. My faith also has a way of keeping me grounded in the reality of the wider parameters of life. ‘My Christian faith has grown stronger as I’ve grown older. Everything just fits together and I feel as though I’m now where I wanted to be when I started out as a journalist.’ Throughout Ruth’s career, she has reported on the highs and lows of religious life. But over the past year, she has noticed an interesting shift in the Church as it responds to the Covid-19 crisis. ‘During my many years at The Times, we would often cover stories of the Archbishop of Canterbury pronouncing on a matter of moral or spiritual importance, often carrying a sense of judgment,’ she says. ‘But what’s struck me is the Church’s humility in the face of Covid19. All over the country, amazing work is being done by churches to feed those who are housebound, to run errands for people and to maintain a sense of community. ‘It’s like the Church has been shorn of all the trappings and left in its truest form of service. I’m sure it will reap benefits from that in the future.’

Understanding is an aid towards respect

Ruth with Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols

Speaking at York St John University in 2017 as part of its Ebor series of lectures on theology and topical issues

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Uniform

response helps n e r d l i h c l o o h sc Claire Brine learns why DAWN COLEMAN started a scheme for families in need

UM-of-three Dawn Coleman from Shipley, West Yorkshire, was in her first year of studying for a degree when she asked her parent friends on Facebook if she could have their children’s old school uniforms. ‘I’m working on an idea for a local uniform bank,’ she explained. Feeling concerned for families who were struggling to afford brand-new school uniforms for their kids, Dawn searched for a way to provide them with goodquality, secondhand uniforms for very little cost. Weeks later, her basement was filled with black bin bags of donated school clothes – and families in need were grateful to get their hands on them. ‘After my initial Facebook post, things snowballed,’ says Dawn, whose idea became the Shipley Area School Uniform Bank, run by The Salvation Army. ‘Three years on, we have thousands of donated uniform items, which enables us to provide for pupils across 32 primary schools and 9 upper schools in the area. We have so much stock that we have to store it in both Shipley Salvation Army hall and the town’s youth centre.’ Earlier this year, Dawn made local newspaper headlines after winning volunteer of the year in the Community Stars awards for her commitment to the uniform bank and for its positive impact on the community. She tells me how the project works. ‘People donate their old uniforms to us, we

have a team of volunteers to wash them, and then we give them out to people who need them. There’s no cost per item – the uniforms are given out on a pay-as-youcan-afford basis. While we put a donation bucket out, we don’t watch people to see if they are putting any money in it or not. If they take home a whole uniform but can’t afford to pay anything for it, that’s OK. ‘As well as providing uniforms – which includes school shoes, PE kits, trainers and football boots – we also give out stationery, lunch boxes and school bags. And if people need underwear, we will buy those items new, paying for them from our funds.’ Last summer, ahead of the autumn term, interest in the uniform bank soared after countless parents found they were facing financial difficulties and job losses as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Dawn expects this year to be equally busy. Every day she is on the go, not only collecting uniforms and giving them out to people, but also responding to enquiries from parents, family support workers and teachers. ‘Sometimes I hear directly from parents, but I get a lot of confidential referrals too, including from the team at Bradford Council that works with refugee families,’ Dawn says. ‘When people send me a message outlining what they need and I say, “Yep, we’ve got all that,” most of them are pleased and grateful. A lot of them don’t expect it, because so much other help that’s been offered to them has strings attached, whereas our criteria are flexible.’ While the uniform bank supports families on a low income, it also appeals

People donate their old uniforms to us

10 • WAR CRY • 24 April 2021

INTERVIEW

to people wanting to buy secondhand for environmental reasons. ‘Some parents come to us for a uniform not because they are skint, but because they like to buy recycled clothing,’ says Dawn. As a mum who, for several years, lived as a single parent and had little money, Dawn knows how hard it can be for some families to make ends meet. She explains why she hoped that a school uniform bank would help people. ‘I run a toddler group at The Salvation Army, and people would often ask me for help in the form of a food parcel. When they’d collect it, they’d say something like: “I can’t afford food, because I’ve

got to buy my child a school jumper for £15.” It seemed ridiculous – a brand-new secondary school uniform costs around £200 in total. It’s a huge hidden financial impact on families. ‘I did some research and found out that children learn best when they are happy. And if they are wearing shoes that don’t fit or trousers with holes in, then they are not going to be as happy or achieve as much.’ Another key factor in Dawn’s desire to run a uniform bank was her Christian faith. ‘When I was growing up, I used to come to The Salvation Army and help two of my Sunday school teachers as they held jumble sales on a council estate,’ she says. ‘They taught me that it was

important for Christians to help people, and not just talk about it. They gave so much stuff away – and their example played a part in my coming to faith. ‘I also think that when Jesus helped people, he often did it quietly. He didn’t plan big events, but he spent lots of time with people and helped them when they needed it. That inspires me. I like to get on with things and get the work done.’

l For more information visit the Shipley Area School Uniform Bank page on Facebook

It’s important for Christians to help people

LAURA McLEAN

Dawn sorts through the donated uniforms 24 April 2021 • 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, 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’.

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 When it comes to faith on TV, there are lots of points of view Claire Brine gives her take on a story catching the attention of War Cry reporters

‘WHAT is the point of religion on the telly?’ asked the Bishop of Ripon in Radio Times. While reflecting with gratitude on the worship services broadcast by the BBC over the Easter weekend earlier this month, Dr Helen-Ann Hartley made the point that she was more interested to see programmes that ‘explore the big questions in life’. She believes that, when it comes to spiritual matters, they play an important role. As chair of the Sandford St Martin Trust – an awarding body which celebrates programmes that put faith at the heart of the action – Helen-Ann argued that it’s difficult to ‘understand the world and what motivates people if you’re not able to interpret or understand religion’. She wrote: ‘Drama can shine a light on how Programmes generations have faced issues and challenges, many of explore big which resonate with our current pandemic crisis. We all have world views, the question is how much these help questions us understand one another.’ After referring to the Channel 4 series It’s a Sin – a drama which tells the story of a group of friends affected by Aids in the 1980s – as ‘great TV’, Helen outlined the spiritual impact that secular programmes can have. She believes It’s a Sin became ‘a hit with viewers … because of its resonance with contemporary themes: the strengths of community, forgiveness, and compassion all in the face of fear, death and uncertainty’. I agree. While a TV broadcast of the Easter message from the Archbishop of Canterbury is valuable, programmes such as It’s a Sin attract millions more viewers. It was a show that didn’t preach the gospel – but the character Jill, who supported her friends with Aids, demonstrated unconditional love. Her compassion challenged me about my own behaviour, particularly in the light of how often Jesus taught about the importance of loving others. When I look at how faith is explored in the real-life dramas of the Bible, I notice that Jesus sometimes preached directly and sometimes made up stories. By telling parables about everyday people and everyday situations, he allowed his followers to question and discuss. He gave them the space to discover God for themselves. Point well made.

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Basic reading about Christianity Information about The Salvation Army

Looking for help?

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 • 24 April 2021

EXPRESSIONS

NOW, THERE’S A THOUGHT!

LIBRARY PICTURE POSED BY MODEL

QUICK QUIZ 1

In what city was composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart born?

In which decade did the so-called Bodyline Ashes Test take place?

A 3

Which 1990s children’s TV show featured two dolls that lived aboard a narrowboat called the Ragdoll?

Who played aspiring musicians Lars and Sigrit in comedy film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga? What is the national tree of Canada?

In what year was Nintendo’s handheld game console Game Boy launched in the UK? ANSWERS

by Naar M’Fundisi-Holloway

I lost sleep over my baby’s new routine A

T times I think that some things are too trivial for God to deal with. And I say that as someone who has been a Christian for most of her life. While I endeavour to involve God in everything I experience – positive or challenging – I find that, on occasion, I still try to figure things out for myself and forget him. An example of this was when the time came for me and my husband to get our baby into a more settled sleep pattern. I had been putting it off, simply because I knew there would be some heart-wrenching tears from our daughter, and I could not bear the thought of it. But, after doing some research and speaking to friends who had already gone through this phase of parenthood, we decided to try. The first week was awful. For the first three nights, I participated in the crying. By day seven, we had not made headway and I was ready to give up. I remember texting a friend at about 3am as I was at my wits’ end. She called me later that morning, and I poured my heart out to her. In addition to the brilliant advice she offered, she asked if my husband and I had taken our problem to God in prayer. And no, we hadn’t. It was then that I remembered that God cares about everything, including our baby’s sleeping patterns. That same afternoon, my husband and I not only decided to tweak what we were doing, but we also took time out to pray about this new experience. We felt united, and we also felt renewed. Three days later, our daughter finally settled into a sleep routine. The Bible says: ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God’ (Philippians 4:6 English Standard Version). The key word is ‘everything’. It’s a reminder that nothing is trivial to God. If we choose to trust him, we will find that he is interested in helping us in every area of our lives.

We felt united and also renewed

24 April 2021 • WAR CRY • 13

1. Salzburg. 2. The 1930s. 3. Rosie and Jim. 4. Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. 5. The maple. 6. 1990.

CROSSWORD CROSSWORD

PUZZLES

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Chess piece (4) 3. Used to be (3) 5. Gusto (4) 7. Widespread (9) 9. Lie in wait (4) 10. Twelve months (4) 11. Raw (5) 14. Problem (5) 15. Hospital photographs (1-4) 17. Imbecile (5) 18. Abrupt (5) 19. State a view (5) 20. Reside (5) 23. Sense (4) 25. Heal (4)

27. Wildly excited (9) 28. Good fortune (4) 29. Parched (3) 30. Bathing pool (4) DOWN 1. Bucket (4) 2. Annoy (4) 3. Vacillate (5) 4. Compact (5) 5. Crazy (4) 6. Round trip (4) 7. Kept (9) 8. Unyielding (9)

11. Wept (5) 12. Combine (5) 13. Glorify (5) 14. Round container (3) 16. Observe (3) 21. Eerie (5) 22. Non-clerical church people (5) 23. Young horse (4) 24. Emblem of Wales (4) 25. Ringlet (4) 26. Resound (4)

SUDOKU

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

HONEYCOMB HONEYCOMB

6 2 1 7 3 9 4

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

ANSWERS QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Pawn. 3. Was. 5. Zest. 7. Prevalent. 9. Lurk. 10. Year. 11. Crude. 14. Poser. 15. X-rays. 17. Idiot. 18. Terse. 19. Opine. 20. Dwell. 23. Feel. 25. Cure. 27. Delirious. 28. Luck. 29. Dry. 30. Lido. DOWN: 1. Pail. 2. Nark. 3. Waver. 4. Solid. 5. Zany. 6. Tour. 7. Preserved. 8. Tenacious. 11. Cried. 12. Unite. 13. Extol. 14. Pot. 16. See. 21. Weird. 22. Laity. 23. Foal. 24. Leek. 25. Curl. 26. Echo. HONEYCOMB 1. Pantry. 2. Midday. 3. Girdle. 4. Domino. 5. Rector. 6. Branch.

6 3 8 5 2 9 4 7 1

5 9 4 7 1 3 2 8 6

2 7 1 8 6 4 5 3 9

1 4 6 3 5 8 7 9 2

7 8 2 9 4 6 3 1 5

9 5 3 1 7 2 8 6 4

3 6 7 2 9 5 1 4 8

8 2 9 4 3 1 6 5 7

4 1 5 6 8 7 9 2 3

SUDOKU SOLUTION

WORDSEARCH BLACKBIRD BLUE TIT

CHAFFINCH COAL TIT

COLLARED DOVE DUNNOCK

GOLDFINCH GREAT TIT

GREENFINCH

HOUSE SPARROW LONG-TAILED TIT MAGPIE ROBIN

STARLING

WOODPIGEON

6 5 2 5 4 8 3

14 • WAR CRY • 24 April 2021

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

ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH

1. Cupboard in which food is kept 2. Noon 3. Woman’s elasticated corset 4. Oblong game piece marked with dots on each half 5. Member of the clergy in charge of a parish 6. Part of a tree

6 Look 5 up, 2 down, 1 7forwards, 9 3 backwards 8 4 and diagonally on the grid to find 3 these 9 birds 7 4 8 5 6 2 1 8 4 1 6 2 3 7 9 5 X A F Z Q G Z T Q A K O J K U O V Q 7 8 3 D 9T I T 1 2 B 4V M 6N P L O N G 5T A I L E V V K I R H W T 2 1 6F V G L C Y P Z Y U 5 4 7 9 3 8 C R C N E J O E E O Z R O B I N X N 9 3 4 8 6 2 5 1 7 J T D G E L O U V D J G E L H W E C 4 2 5S D 7 I 3M E A H U P Z 8 1 6 9 K C O N N U D L J R I F F T P B Z E H G I C T I L G 7 8 3 9 1 6 4 5 2 H B R D I Z I A O R S Z P K J T S V 1 6 9 2 5 4 8 7 I 3C G G Z L N O G Z S A K P G B E T

V V L A C Q E K H L X V A I A V F T E W Y H H C O Y W L C Q M R T K I Q U X G J S T N O U O O J L D R T F P C H C N I F F A H C Q I F Q L O Z S Y B P T G T R G B Q N H Z A Y R W U K J O I R X Q K L G U Z O X C Q Z W O Z L K K G B Q J V Z C I T Q E G B S O H C N I F D L O G W D M L F X V P G W I P U H A P A E V B Z J U R B

4 2 5 7

2 5

D Pork black bean noodle stir-fry Ingredients

Method

½ tbsp vegetable oil

Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan and fry the pork strips for 4 minutes. Add the vegetables, cover and cook for a further 4 minutes or until the pork juices run clear, stirring occasionally.

300g pork strips 450g pack prepared stir-fry vegetables 120g pouch black bean sauce 100ml water 275g fresh medium egg noodles Fresh parsley, chopped, to garnish

SERVES

Add the black bean sauce, water and noodles to the pan. Stir-fry for 2 minutes to heat through. Garnish with some parsley and serve immediately.

Pork salad with mango and lime Ingredients

Method

1 lime, zest and juice

Mix the lime zest and juice, oil and garlic and use to marinate the pork. Season with salt and pepper, cover and place in the refrigerator to chill for 15-20 minutes.

1tsp olive oil 2 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced 225g pork fillets Salt and pepper 1 medium ripe mango, peeled and diced 4tbsp water 2tbsp fresh mint, chopped Dried chilli flakes 50g baby spinach 225g cooked couscous or freekeh 400g can red kidney beans or black turtle beans, drained

To make the dressing, blend the mango, water and mint in a blender or processor until smooth. Stir through a pinch of chilli flakes. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 170C/325F/ Gas Mark 3. Cook the pork in a pan for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until any meat juices run clear. Place in the oven for 3 minutes, then remove and allow to rest for 3 minutes. Once rested, cut the fillets into small cubes. Add to a large bowl with the spinach, cooked couscous or freekeh and kidney beans or black turtle beans. Drizzle over the dressing and serve immediately.

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board website lovepork.co.uk

SERVES

24 April 2021 • WAR CRY • 15

This is the day THAT the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it Psalm 118:24 (English Standard Version)

WAR CRY