'War Cry' 27 March 2021

Recognising the positives of an autism diagnosis

WAR CRY

27 March 2021 20p/25c

A question of Faith Will lawyer answer a family’s plea for help in TV drama?

Covid ordeal was beyond anything we expected

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 7518

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 • 27 March 2021

EDITOR From the editor’s desk

IT is almost impossible to conceive of anyone in this country whose life has not been impacted in some way by the Covid-19 pandemic – and none more so than those who have lost loved ones to the virus. In addition, there are the millions of people who have found themselves furloughed, shielding, disconnected from their extended family and friends or having to support their children with home learning.

Some of those people have also had to cope with contracting coronavirus themselves. According to government figures, more than four million people have tested positive for it, with more than one in ten of them needing hospital care.

Among those treated in hospital was Major Karl Gray. On 3 April last year, Karl, who leads the Salvation Army church in Clapton with his wife Major Ruth Gray, was struggling to breathe and had a sky-high temperature. He was rushed to hospital in an ambulance, and for the next three and a half weeks was in a medically induced coma. It was eight weeks before he was to return home.

In this week’s War Cry we speak with Karl and Ruth about the two months in which Karl’s life hung in the balance. Not surprisingly, Karl doesn’t remember very much about the early weeks of his time in hospital, but the memories have remained vivid for Ruth.

She tells us it was difficult. But she and her family had a very special source of support. ‘God never once left us on our own to cope with it,’ she says. ‘He never let me feel hopeless. I could always sense God’s presence.’

Through the centuries, millions of people have had the same experience as Ruth. One Bible passage declares: ‘God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble’ (Psalm 46:1 Good News Bible).

Anyone can experience God’s help, whatever they are facing. It is almost impossible to conceive of anyone whose life would not be changed if they decided to follow him.

CONTENTS

What is The Salvation Army?

FEATURES 3

What’s the verdict?

TV lawyer has a decision to make

5

Thinking differently

Life as an autistic person

8

‘I didn’t know if my husband would live’

A family’s experience of coronavirus

REGULARS 4

War Cry World

12

Team Talk

13

Faces of Faith

14 Puzzles 15

5

War Cry Kitchen

8

Front-page picture: BBC/SCOTT WALLER

15

TELEVISION BBC/SCOTT WALLER

Faith considers taking on a new case

Crisis of Faith F

AITH HOWELLS has a lot on her plate. First, she is approached by a desperate father who wants her to take on the biggest case of her legal career. Secondly, she is in the middle of a complicated divorce. Thirdly, she caught her 14-year-old daughter sneaking a boy into her bedroom.

Lastly, she’s receiving anonymous and unsettling phone calls. No wonder she’s feeling on edge in the third series of hit drama Keeping Faith, which starts on BBC One today (Saturday 27 March).

In Abercorran, lawyer Faith (Eve Myles) is trying to stay positive as she juggles the stresses of being a single mum with establishing her new legal practice. When business partner Cerys (Hannah Daniel) tells her that she wants the firm to take on a ‘once-ina-career’ court case involving a child, Faith wonders if she can handle it.

Getting straight to the point, Cerys lays out the facts: ‘Mike Taylor, new client. It’s his son, Osian. He’s got a brain tumour. They were going to operate tomorrow but now they’re saying they won’t – not without a court

Legal case is a matter of life and death, writes Claire Brine order. Mike lost his wife in June. Cancer.’

After interrogating Osian’s doctor, Cerys uncovers some hard truths.

Operating on the teenage boy comes with a 90 per cent chance of death.

If Osian (Keogh Kiernan) survives, he could end up severely brain-damaged.

Dad Mike (Matthew Aubrey) wonders if going to court is the right thing to do.

But having recently lost his wife, he doesn’t want to lose his child too.

In what appears to be a nearhopeless situation, Faith confirms that she will be willing to take on his case – if Mike gives her the go-ahead. But she knows it’s a difficult decision for him to make. It’s a matter of life and death.

As viewers, perhaps we can’t imagine what it must feel like to be in Mike’s shoes. But there’s one thing we do know – and that’s how it feels to make important decisions that have the potential to change our lives. We have to decide where we live, who we

We have to choose the kind of person we want to be

build relationships with, what type of companies we work for or how we bring up our children.

We also have to choose the kind of person we want to be. Do we want to be generous, helpful and forgiving? Or are we going to be self-focused, critical and deceitful?

Jesus set out a particular way of living that has been inspiring people for centuries. He put forward a good case as to why people should love their enemies. In front of witnesses, he forgave people who made mistakes and helped them to change their ways.

Instead of casting judgment on people who were poor, he cared for them and met their needs.

He challenges us to do the same and promises to help us if we put our trust in him.

There’s no guarantee that a life following Jesus is going to be easy. But when we choose to put his love at the centre of what we do and who we are, the result can be truly life-changing for us, and for the people around us.

Case closed.

27 March 2021 • WAR CRY • 3

R CRY A W Wwxc ccxsztW ALAMY

Pope urges forgiveness during visit to Iraq POPE Francis visited churches destroyed by Isis in northern Iraq, reports The Guardian.

Earlier this month in Mosul, an area integral to the Christian presence in the country, he urged Christians to forgive the injustices that drove them into exile.

In Erbil, a region that has offered refuge to Christians and others fleeing persecution, the Pope thanked local leaders, saying: ‘You have protected Christian communities when Isis attacked.’

He met the father of Alan Kurdi, the Syrian toddler who drowned during a migration attempt, and became a symbol of the migrant struggle.

Noura Samir, a Christian from Qaraqosh taking refuge in Erbil, said: ‘We can’t go back, because we can’t afford to. There is no work. But I’m really happy that the Pope has come. It gives us hope, and it puts a line under the Isis era.’

n

n

A CHURCH of England vicar who chats about faith while streaming video games on social media told the BBC website that he felt ‘called by God’.

The Rev Simon Archer, from All Saints Belvedere church in southeast London, revealed that while he plays games online as Vicarious BIG, he is joined virtually by other gamers wanting to watch, play and chat – and sometimes ask about God. ‘People ask questions,’ he said. ‘I’m really passionate about my faith. When I get going, I can’t help but talk. And as a streamer that’s a good thing. I’m definitely connecting to people who are disconnected from the Church, breaking down some of those barriers.’

On the subject of the relationship between gaming and faith, Simon added: ‘I think there really is a connection between gaming and church and that is something to do with the way people come together. People come across my livestreams and find a place where they can connect to someone who can perhaps answer some questions or at least listen to them.

That’s a ministry. And that’s a calling.’

n

DARK Age Britain was a land of saints, according to archaeologists.

Professor Ken Dark from the University of Reading recently completed a study of 240 inscribed Dark Age stone monuments, reported the Independent. The investigation revealed that the stones, which historians previously believed were ordinary grave markers for warrior heroes, were public monuments erected to commemorate local saints.

It is thought the monuments were erected immediately after each individual had died. Some of them had been given titles, which indicated that they were regarded as spiritual sages or holy people. Most were monks or priests.

The research, which has increased the number of Celtic saints by almost 30 per cent, has also revealed that in Dark Age Britain even children could be regarded as saints. Of the 240 new saints, 16 were women. They were located across Britain – in Wales, southern Scotland, Cornwall and western England.

GENERAL Brian Peddle, international leader of The Salvation Army, has signed a document from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that calls upon governments to ensure that health workers and vulnerable people in all countries have access to the Covid-19 vaccine.

The WHO Vaccine Equity Declaration states: ‘In the majority of lowand middle-income countries, vaccination has not even started which is a catastrophe as hospitals fill up. We must act swiftly to correct this injustice.’

The document calls for world leaders, vaccine manufacturers and all governments to enable people in most need of the Covid-19 vaccine in all countries to start to receive their vaccinations within the first 100 days of the year.

The declaration will be sent to governments and companies, to prompt them to act by World Health Day on 7 April.

The Salvation Army is among hundreds of organisations, including World Vision and Save the Children, as well as thousands of individuals, which have endorsed the WHO document.

General Peddle said: ‘We know that not every country has access to the vaccine. Challenges of cost and logistics must still be overcome. And we continue, then, to pray for justice and the fair distribution of vaccines around the world.’

4 • WAR CRY • 27 February March 2021 8 2021

Do you have a story to share?

a warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk @TheWarCryUK TheWarCryUK

INTERVIEW

‘Being autistic is part of who I am’ To mark World Autism Awareness Week, which begins on Monday 29 March, PETER HOBSON talks with Sarah Olowofoyeku about being autistic and wanting to ensure others like him are accepted

B Peter Hobson

I was bullied because of my differences

EFORE leaving school, Peter Hobson was told that he would never get into university, would never have a full-time job and would never live independently. The reason? Peter is autistic.

However, since then, he has graduated from university, lives independently and has a full-time job. He is one of the 16 per cent of autistic people who is in full-time employment, a figure that has remained static since 2007.

But it is a statistic that Peter wants to see change.

Ahead of World Autism Awareness Week, I spoke to Peter about his experiences.

‘Growing up, I spent most of my school life out of the classroom,’ he says. ‘I was bullied because of my differences in how I interpreted people and understood things that were happening.

‘At home, I didn’t want to be around people for long periods of time, so I spent a lot of time in my room. I wanted things organised, so if things got moved around in a room, I became very agitated and distressed. I also didn’t want anyone to hug me.

‘My mum and dad loved me, but it was not an easy road. My mum fought for me so much throughout my childhood and beyond, and I’ll never forget that. My family is such an important part of my life.’

Into adulthood, Peter continued to face difficulties.

Despite poor grades at school and damning forecasts of his prospects from teachers, he achieved the things he never thought he would. However, life was still hard to navigate at times because of a lack of awareness of autism.

‘It’s like I’m trying to educate people and raise awareness all the time. My family and friends are really important, but I know there are probably some of them

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27 March 2021 • WAR CRY • 5

As a child, Peter was told he would not achieve much but he worked hard and graduated from university

From page 5

Peter is part of the 16 per cent of autistic people in full-time employment in the UK

6 • WAR CRY • 27 March 2021

who don’t fully understand why I feel certain things or interact in a certain way.

I wear noise-cancelling headphones and sometimes I get quite upset.

‘Autism is a neurological condition that impacts the way someone interacts with the world around them,’ he explains. ‘It’s wide-ranging so everybody is different.

Usually someone who is autistic like me may have difficulties communicating, may need routine and structure and may have certain special interests.’

When he received a diagnosis as an adult, ‘life started feeling normal,’ he says.

‘Everything started making sense. It was a special moment for me, when I realised that I wasn’t this strange person.’

Motivated by his experiences, Peter works as part of an equality and diversity team for The Salvation Army.

‘It’s important to make a difference to people’s understanding of not just autism, but neurodiversity as a whole,’ he says.

Peter is keen to emphasise that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to learning about autism and supporting those who are autistic.

‘Everybody is an individual, so what works for me might not work for other people. One of the most critical things is

INTERVIEW

not to pre-empt what the support might look like for someone.

‘It’s important to have a conversation with the autistic person directly, to find out how you can support them or what changes you could make. Something that seems tiny to you could be massive to them.

‘You can have those discussions in a way that means the person isn’t being deemed as a problem. My line manager and I have an excellent working relationship, because I can be open with her about things I find difficult.

I’m not good with uncertainty, so she knows to advise me of changes well in advance, so that I can prepare myself for them.

‘More than being aware of autism,’ he adds, ‘it’s about trying to accept the person. It boils down to being compassionate and understanding.’

Peter hopes that greater understanding will also improve the number of autistic people in full-time employment. While employers may need to make adjustments to some of their practices, Peter says that autistic people have a lot to offer.

‘A lot of autistic people want to work, and there is a lot that they can give to organisations. There are things that autistic people can do that people who are nonautistic would not be able to. We are missing out on talent by not giving more autistic people a chance in society as a whole.’

Peter describes one of his impressive skills.

‘I can walk into a room, look around it and take a photograph of the room in my mind. If I go on holiday for two weeks, I can come back and tell you if anything has moved. It happened in the office once. When I returned from two and a half weeks of holiday, the first thing I asked when I came back was where the poster on the wall had gone. It should have still been there, because it was for an event that hadn’t yet happened.’

He encourages people to see an autistic person’s diagnosis positively.

‘We must look at the person’s abilities, rather than seeing what the person finds difficult and that being the most important thing. If you’ve ever seen a diagnosis, the paperwork says “Peter can’t do this, Peter can’t do that, Peter may struggle with this”

We must look at the person’s abilities

And while some of those things are true, the diagnosis never says anything like “Peter can do this”.

‘I had to try to see the positives of my diagnosis. By going to university, living independently and working full-time, I made the impossible possible. Being autistic is part of my identity. It’s part of who I am, it’s not going away, but I have a lot to offer.’

Peter’s work is driven not only by such experiences but also by his beliefs.

‘Faith is a key part of what we do in the equality, diversity and inclusion team. We support legally protected groups, and I don’t believe we’d be able to make the decisions like we do, if we didn’t have faith.’

Faith has also helped him personally.

‘Though I don’t always feel it, like sometimes when I’m upset, there are times when I am able to feel that unconditional love from God. There are times in my life when I’ve struggled, and without my relationship with God I don’t think I would’ve gotten through half of them. Sometimes the help I need comes from the most unexpected place.

Sometimes I’m not always sure where it has come from, but I know it’s there.’

27 March 2021 • WAR CRY • 7

ecovering f

Recovering from Covid b Eight weeks in hospital with coronavirus has changed the way KARL GRAY looks at life, as he and his wife RUTH explain to Claire Brine

O

N 30 March 2020, Major Karl Gray, the Salvation Army minister at Clapton in London, posted some words of encouragement on Facebook for his congregation. Reflecting on the outbreak of coronavirus and the lockdown regulations imposed by government, he wrote: ‘This week could be a challenging time for the whole country, so stay strong. God will keep us strong as we stay focused on him.’

Four days later, Karl was rushed to hospital in an ambulance, struggling to breathe and with a sky-high temperature. Karl – who was never normally ill – had coronavirus. And his wife Ruth could do nothing but follow her husband’s advice: stay strong and pray.

‘Karl was in hospital for eight weeks – and I couldn’t see him,’ says Major Ruth Gray, who leads the church with her husband. ‘When he went into hospital that night, I expected him to come home a few hours later. But then the doctor rang to say that he was critically ill and the next hours were crucial. To help me get through, I prayed.’

Karl has no memories of the time he spent in the intensive care unit of Homerton University Hospital – but Ruth can remember everything. The couple take me back to the beginning of their story, which starts in the early months of 2020.

‘I remember seeing reports about coronavirus on the news,’ says Ruth. ‘I wasn’t dismissive of it, but I thought that if it reached the UK then we would be able to cope with it. I didn’t think it would be serious.’

Karl adds: ‘There was no expectation that it would

8 • WAR CRY • 27 March 2021

from Covid INTERVIEW

brings a new perspective The doctor rang to say that Karl was critically ill and the next hours were crucial

affect us at all. It felt like a virus that was happening a long way away. To be honest, I barely gave it a thought.’

On Monday 16 March 2020, Karl and Ruth travelled to Sunbury-on-Thames to attend a Salvation Army conference. Later that day, the government urged the nation to ‘stop non-essential contact with others’. As the conference ended early, Karl and Ruth prepared to go home.

‘At that point, I didn’t feel too well,’ says Karl. ‘I felt tired, but thought it was probably just flu.

‘The next day, I went to Clapton Salvation Army hall, and I remember sitting down in the foyer, not feeling right at all. So at lunchtime I went home and fell asleep on the settee, which wasn’t normal for me. I was poorly in bed for the next two weeks.’

‘Karl became very unwell,’ says Ruth. ‘He developed a hacking cough and a high temperature. Our daughter, Natasha, was living with us at the time, so between us we spent the next few days taking Karl’s temperature every half an hour and giving him paracetamol. When I phoned 111 for medical advice, a doctor prescribed Karl antibiotics.’

By Wednesday 1 April, Karl felt slightly better and even managed to get out of bed for a cup of tea.

But the next day brought worrying news for the whole family.

‘We heard that my brother had developed Covid and was in hospital on a ventilator,’ says Ruth. ‘It wasn’t looking good.

‘The next day was Friday, and Karl woke up unable to breathe. He was going blue. I called 999. When the ambulance arrived, Karl was lucid enough to say to us: “See you later.” He then gave our son, Arran, a thumbs up

Turn to page 10

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27 March 2021 • WAR CRY • 9

From page 9 before asking him to pick him up from the hospital. We all thought that Karl would come home that day.’

Karl says: ‘I can remember the paramedics carrying me down the stairs on a chair, because I couldn’t walk. And I remember wearing an oxygen mask on the journey to the hospital. But I don’t remember arriving at A&E at all.’

‘Two hours later,’ Ruth continues, ‘I received a phone call from a consultant telling me that Karl was critically ill. I handed the phone to Natasha.’

For the next three and a half weeks, Karl was in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator to aid his breathing.

The Covid-19 virus attacked his internal organs, resulting in kidney failure, then acute pancreatitis. His liver also began to show signs of reduced capacity.

‘I didn’t know if Karl was going to live or die,’ says Ruth. ‘He was seriously ill for the first two weeks. But every time something went wrong for him, the medical staff treated the problem. They cannot be praised enough. Every day that Karl was in ICU, we got a phone call to tell us what was going on. Plus, we called the hospital twice a day to see how he was doing – and if he had made it through the night.’

Much as Ruth longed to see her husband, hospital visits were not permitted, which left her little choice but to sit at home and wait for any news.

‘It was hard,’ she says. ‘How did I get through it? I prayed. I sat on the settee, praying and reading my Bible. That’s all I did.

I don’t want to sound wacky, but I prayed that the doctors would see angels stood over Karl’s bed – constantly.

‘I remember one day listening to the Christian song “I Surrender All” over and over again. I thought: “God, you’ve got to be in control of this situation.” It was way beyond what any of us had been expecting to happen.’

Ruth was also comforted and overwhelmed by the prayerful support of hundreds of Christian friends who heard about Karl’s illness on social media and got in touch.

‘One friend sat in the hospital car park every day, praying for Karl to get better,’ she says.

‘Another ran round the hospital every day, praying for him. At random moments, friends would turn up on my doorstep with cake, just at a time when I needed to see someone. One friend rang me ten times a day – only for a couple of minutes – just to see how I was.

‘People’s prayers blew my mind.

We lived in an Orthodox Jewish area in north London, and as I sat on our front doorstep, I got to know the Jewish women who were out watching their children playing in the street. At the time, their husbands were unable to meet in the synagogue, so the men began walking round our house, praying for Karl to come home. It was amazing.’

After three and a half weeks in a coma, Karl’s health had improved sufficiently for doctors to begin weaning him

I didn’t know if Karl was going to live

Ruth and Karl with their daughter Natasha

10 • WAR CRY • 27 March 2021

off the sedation drugs. The process took two weeks.

‘Once Karl came round, he was able to phone us,’ says Ruth. ‘The nurse used to hold the phone up to him. But he sounded like a dalek, because by this point he had also undergone a tracheotomy operation.’

I ask Karl if he can remember what he said in those early phone calls.

‘Just “hello” and “are you all right?”,’ he answers. ‘I don’t really remember, but the calls helped me to understand what was happening a bit.’

‘Our son took some photos of our family to the hospital,’ says Ruth, ‘so doctors could assess how well Karl’s brain was responding. Thankfully, he recognised us all, even when he was still quite heavily sedated.

‘One day, a nurse sent me a photo of Karl outside the hospital. It was a test

INTERVIEW

I questioned why I survived when others didn’t

A physiotherapist helped Karl learn to walk and drive again

to see if he could cope for 15 minutes without an oxygen machine. He managed really well. Karl has since seen that photo – but he can’t remember it being taken.’

While Karl’s mental state slowly improved, physically he still felt weak.

Spending five and a half weeks in ICU meant his muscles had deteriorated so much that he could no longer walk.

‘There was no strength in my legs,’ he says. ‘I was going to have to learn to walk again. And I couldn’t clench my fingers to make a fist either.’

Once out of ICU and on the respiratory ward, Karl developed a urine infection.

For 24 hours, he was delirious. Ruth reached breaking point.

‘I completely lost it,’ she says. ‘I rang the hospital, saying: “I’ve had enough of this.

I’ve not seen Karl for six weeks. I need to see him!”

The hospital site manager then authorised a nurse to meet me and Natasha at the front door of the hospital. She brought us medical masks and walked us to a window through which we could see Karl and say hello. I cried.’

Two days later, Karl was well enough to be moved to a rehab ward. It was time to prepare for going home.

He says: ‘By the end of May, the consultants were happy with me and confirmed that I no longer had any infections. So, on Friday 29 May, eight weeks to the day after I’d gone into hospital, I was allowed home.

‘I managed to walk out of the ward, very slowly, and the staff lined the corridor, clapping and bashing tambourines.’

Once at home, Karl started having intense physiotherapy three times a week to help him recover his physical strength.

Once he’d mastered walking, his next

goal was driving. In the more restful moments, he and Ruth began to talk through everything they had faced.

‘Ruth showed me photos of me in hospital and I thought: “Gosh, that can’t be me”. I couldn’t believe how seriously ill I had been.

‘I also found myself questioning why I had survived when others in the beds next to me had died. Ruth’s brother died from Covid shortly after I was admitted to hospital. Why was I spared and not him?

I’ve thought about that an awful lot.’

‘There have been times when I wish all this had never happened to us,’ says Ruth. ‘But I also know that God never once left us on our own to cope with it.

He never let me feel hopeless. I could always sense God’s presence. What happened to Karl made me live in the faith that I profess to have.’

Last October, around the time Karl was fit enough to return to work, he paid a visit to the ICU staff at Homerton University Hospital to thank them for saving his life. He often thinks of them – and reflects on how the events of a year ago have changed him.

‘I’m much more emotional than I used to be,’ he says. ‘I cry more – both tears of sadness and tears of joy. It’s a good thing. I also find that the small stuff doesn’t wind me up as much. So what if a car is blocking the road and I can’t get through? None of that stuff matters.

‘What matters is waking up every morning and thanking God for today.

Tomorrow is never guaranteed – so we need to be grateful for each new day we are given.’

Karl has built up his strength 27 March 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’.

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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

Team talk TEAM TALK

talk ‘ ’ Women’s safety is a concern for all men

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

SEVERAL weeks on from the death of Sarah Everard, which sparked conversations about the problem of male violence towards women, social media is littered with opinions – from both sexes – on how the problem needs to be addressed.

Actress Jameela Jamil tweeted: ‘It’s true that #notallmen harm women. But do all men work to make sure their fellow men do not harm women? … Are #allmen interested in our safety?’

After a bit of research, I was pleased to learn that the organisation White Ribbon UK is very much interested in women’s safety. So far it has encouraged more than 38,000 men to sign the White Ribbon promise, pledging to ‘never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women’.

In a statement earlier this month, its chair, Peter Lassey, said: ‘All women should be able to live their lives without fear of men’s violence. This is a male problem and men must be the ones to take ownership and change cultures and behaviours so that such violence ends once and for all.’

In its efforts to stop male violence, the charity works with boys and young men in schools, teaching them that certain behaviours, language and attitudes towards women and girls are unacceptable. Its educational pack for primary school children carries the message that ‘hands are not for hurting’.

I’m relieved that such work is being done, because while the world heads online to debate the problem, here is an organisation that is already doing something practical to stop it. By working with men, it is calling out behaviours and ideas that are harmful and wrong. By working with boys, it is trying to create new behaviours and ideas that are wholesome and fair – for everybody.

In the coming weeks, I hope that society’s focus on male violence against women remains. But I also hope it goes beyond sharing a meme or opinion on social media. Because if we want a damaging narrative to change, we need to engage with the people and organisations working to find solutions.

Certain behaviours and attitudes are unacceptable

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War Cry 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN

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 • 27 March 2021

j Q&A

EXPRESSIONS

FACES OF FAITH HEUNG CHONG from London on working in a hospital laboratory, reading Wolf Hall and easing his anxieties

What’s your typical day?

I work in a hospital as a pathologist, so I look at tissues and specimens under a microscope to diagnose diseases – a lot of the work is to do with cancer. I also meet with other doctors to discuss a patient’s treatment. At the end of my day, I try to exercise at home or go for a run.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I’ve always wanted to be a doctor, because I come from a family of doctors. I did work directly in front of patients for a couple of years but then felt that my vocation was in the laboratory, which suited my character.

What was the last book you read?

The Booker prizewinning novel Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. It’s very well written and I learnt quite a bit of history, but it took me a long time to finish.

How did you become a Christian?

Q A QUICK QUIZ 1

What is the name of Pumbaa’s meerkat friend in the children’s film The Lion King?

2

EastEnders is set in which fictional London borough?

3

What was the middle name of Elvis Presley?

4

What are the names of the two young pigs that assume command after Old Major dies in the novella Animal Farm by George Orwell?

5

Which country won the Cricket World Cup title in 2019?

6

What does the Latin expression ‘per se’ literally mean?

ANSWERS

I had a sense that there must be a creator from a young age. Then I ended up going to a Christian boarding school where the Bible was taught, and the faith just made sense to me. I decided it was the truth and that Jesus was someone I wanted to follow.

What’s good about being a Christian?

Being a Christian gives sense to my life and I have no fear of death. Last year has been difficult for everyone, it’s affected us all in different ways, but knowing what Jesus has done for us makes all the difference. Although still difficult, I know that I have Jesus with me, holding my hand.

How does faith influence your life?

Faith influences my choices all the time. One example is choosing to treat people like Jesus would. Also, my younger self was anxious, but over the years God has changed me and I’m much calmer. I’ve become quite different.

What one question would you ask God? The one right in front of us is: when will the pandemic end?

What do you pray about?

I pray about everything. I ask Jesus to look after my mum, who is quite old and far away in Malaysia, and I have little prayers, like if I was in a traffic jam, I would pray.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God’ (Philippians 4:6 New International Version).

27 March 2021 • WAR CRY • 13

1. Timon. 2. Walford. 3. Aaron. 4. Snowball and Napoleon. 5. England. 6. By or in itself.

CROSSWORD CROSSWORD PUZZLES

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Chasm (5) 5. Consecrate (5) 8. Leg bone (5) 9. Reddish-brown dye (5) 10. Wooden shoe (5) 11. Veracity (5) 12. Jug (4) 15. Uproar (6) 17. Computer language (5) 18. Cashier (6) 20. At one time (4) 25. Impudence (5) 26. Swiss potato dish (5) 27. Mennonite sect (5)

by Chris Horne

28. Desert watering hole (5) 29. Myrrh or frankincense, for example (5) 30. Edit (5) DOWN 1. On land (6) 2. American Civil War soldier (6) 3. Declare (5) 4. Regarding (5) 5. Diffident (7)

6. Unborn offspring (6) 7. Resolve (6) 13. Distress (3) 14. Rocky outcrop (3) 15. Reynard (3) 16. Fabulous bird (3) 17. Yield (7) 18. Dread (6) 19. Brief failures (6) 21. Indigenous (6) 22. Engraved (6) 23. Pedantic (5) 24. Let (5)

SUDOKU

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

HONEYCOMB HONEYCOMB

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

ANSWERS

2 4 8

1 3 9 4

1 3 7 5 2

2 1

7 5

6 7 1

WORDSEARCH BAKING POWDER

BICARBONATE OF SODA BROWN SUGAR BUTTER

CASTER SUGAR CINNAMON

CREAM OF TARTAR

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Abyss. 5. Bless. 8. Tibia.

9. Henna. 10. Sabot. 11. Truth. 12. Ewer.

15. Furore. 17. Cobol. 18. Teller. 20. Once.

25. Sauce. 26. Rösti. 27. Amish.

28. Oasis. 29. Resin. 30. Emend.

DOWN: 1. Ashore. 2. Yankee. 3. State.

4. About. 5. Bashful. 6. Embryo.

7. Settle. 13. Woe. 14. Tor. 15. Fox. 16. Roc. 17. Cession. 18. Terror.

19. Lapses. 21. Native.

22. Etched. 23. Fussy. 24. Lease.

HONEYCOMB 1. Fibula. 2. Caesar. 3. Income.

4. Pardon. 5. Debris. 6. Revise.

EGGS

9 3 2 5 4 8 6 1 7

8 1 4 7 2 6 9 3 5

5 7 6 1 3 9 4 8 2

1 5 3 9 6 7 8 2 4

7 4 8 2 5 1 3 9 6

6 2 9 4 8 3 7 5 1

2 9 7 8 1 4 5 6 3

4 6 1 3 9 5 2 7 8

3 8 5 6 7 2 1 4 9

SUDOKU SOLUTION

8 9 4 1 3 7 5 2

14 • WAR CRY • 27 March 2021

5 3

3 8

ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH

1. A bone located between the knee and the ankle 2. Type of salad 3. Money received for work 4. Forgive 5. Scattered rubbish 6. Prepare for an examination

2 4 6 7 8 1 4

GELATINE HONEY

ICING SUGAR

MAPLE SYRUP ROLLED OATS SALT

VANILLA EXTRACT WHITE FLOUR

WHOLEMEAL FLOUR YEAST

up, down, forwards, backwards 9Look 8 diagonally 5 1 7 6 grid 2 to4find3 and on the 3these 1 baking 7 5 ingredients 4 2 9 6 8 2 4 6 3 8 9 7 1 5 W E H W I K I W V W A E J D C L B V 5 7 1 9 2I Q D H D K W 4 8 3 6 H Z T H G B C Z X R Z Z K C I N N A M O N R J U Z O Q Z R 4 2 3 6 5 8 1 9 7 Y I W T J L Y L V W O V E R N G R N 8 6 9 7 1 3 4 5 2 P M P E Q U L O A W C Z U Z E Z E L A S C F R E 6 J M N D R O G L 9 4 8 3 7 5Y D D A 2 1 P C Z L D A N C I L L C A X P P W O 1 3 8 2 9 5 6 7 4 U B R O G Z T Y L F W T E C X F O M R Z A U F G Z R L Q 7 5 2 4 I 6V Q 1 I 3B T P K 8 9

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

7 5

1

1 4

D Tomato and mushroom pancakes Ingredients

Method

100g plain flour

Place the flour in a large mixing bowl and add the egg, yoghurt and milk. Whisk the ingredients together to make a smooth batter.

1 egg 3tbsp reduced-fat natural yoghurt 250ml 1 per cent fat milk 1tsp vegetable oil 200g closed-cup mushrooms, sliced 50ml reduced-salt vegetable stock 200g cherry tomatoes, halved 1tsp dried mixed herbs

SERVES

4

Ground black pepper

Method

4 large mushrooms

Preheat the grill. Separate the mushroom caps and stalks. Grill the peppers and mushroom caps for 4-5 minutes, turning once.

2 red peppers, deseeded and sliced 6 eggs 4tbsp skimmed milk 2tsp lower-fat spread 12 cherry tomatoes, halved Freshly ground black pepper 4 wholemeal pittas

Meanwhile, add the mushrooms and stock to a large frying pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the cherry tomatoes and the herbs.

Season with the pepper. Cook for a further 3 minutes.

Serve each pancake, topped with the mushrooms and tomatoes.

Scrambled eggs on mushrooms Ingredients

Heat 1tsp vegetable oil in a non-stick frying pan. Add a quarter of the batter, tilting the pan so that it flows over the surface. Cook until bubbles appear and the batter has set, then flip over to cook the other side. Repeat to make 4 pancakes and set them aside in a warm place.

Beat the eggs and milk together.

Chop the mushroom stalks. Melt the spread in a non-stick pan, then add the egg mixture and mushroom stalks, stirring with a wooden spoon to scramble the eggs.

Add the grilled peppers and cherry tomatoes. Season with the pepper and cook for a few more seconds.

Meanwhile, warm the pittas under the grill. Place each mushroom cap on a warm serving plate and add a portion of the scrambled egg mixture on top of each. Season with black pepper, then serve with the warm pittas.

SERVES

4

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Public Health England website nhs.uk/change4life 27 March 2021 • WAR CRY • 15

If people can learn to hate, they can be taught to love Nelson Mandela

WAR CRY