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 7527
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
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INFO 2 • WAR CRY • 29 May 2021
EDITOR From the editor’s desk
LIVING through a global pandemic has prompted many people to reconsider their priorities in life. Suddenly losing things that they may previously have taken for granted – such as being able to see friends and family, travelling or even getting a haircut – has resulted in a new understanding of what is and isn’t important. Some people have also considered spiritual and religious issues. It would appear that all the uncertainties brought by Covid-19 have led them to look for certainties that they can believe in. Of course, people were also considering the spiritual side of life long before the world locked down. Chine McDonald had spent many years as a Christian, but she had found that, as a black woman, much of the imagery and language used to describe God did not reflect the inclusivity she believed God exemplifies. Chine found it particularly difficult when God was portrayed as a white man. ‘No one knows what God looks like,’ Chine tells us in this week’s War Cry. She goes on to describe how she believes it is important for people to be able to relate to a God whose love and presence is available to everyone – regardless of their ethnicity, gender or social standing. ‘The Kingdom of God is meant to be like a mosaic, where all the pieces are different shapes and sizes, and there is no dominant colour,’ she says. Chine is right. Everybody has value and worth in God’s eyes. As people search for spiritual meaning, nobody needs to feel excluded or rejected – regardless of who they are or what they have done. While, sadly, some people do make others feel as if they are less important, even less human, that is not God’s way. As Chine says, God is ‘bigger, more expansive and more inclusive than we can imagine’.
FEATURES
CONTENTS
What is The Salvation Army?
3
Hitting the right notes
Can contestants win big in musical game
show? 5
On the fringes
Popular festivals return after lockdown
6
Take art
Mouth painter’s inspirational story
8
God is not a white man
Author’s search for a God she can relate to
REGULARS
4
War Cry World
12
Team Talk
13
Wisdom in the Words
14
Puzzles
15
War Cry Kitchen
5
8
Front-page picture: BBC/TUESDAY’S CHILD
15