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.
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 7600
individuals and the wider community.
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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in TV drama?
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Book the date National Novel Writing Month approaches
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A ton of broadcasting The BBC celebrates 100 years
INFO
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‘I forgave my father’ Author on how he rebuilt his life
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2 • WAR CRY • 29 October 2022
Ask the family Is a long-lost brother for real
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
Your local Salvation Army centre
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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
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NOT everyone has a good start in life. While many children grow up in stable, loving family environments, others are raised knowing physical or mental abuse, which was the experience of Peter Mutabazi. In an interview in this week’s War Cry, Peter describes the way he, his mother and his siblings lived in fear of their father, who would beat and belittle them. At the age of just 10, Peter ran away from home and lived on the streets of Uganda. Street life was also tough. Peter tells us that he was treated by people he encountered as ‘less than human’. However, his life was turned round when he was befriended by a stranger. ‘He kept meeting me and feeding me for a year and a half. He earned my trust before offering to send me to school,’ Peter tells us, adding: ‘I was always intrigued about how he could be so nice to me, and I discovered he was a Christian.’ In his interview, Peter explains that ‘the kindness of a stranger taught me what a father ought to be’. As a direct result of this practical kindness, Peter began helping disadvantaged children around the world. His work with relief and development agencies included taking food to orphans living in refugee camps after the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Today he lives a fulfilling and happy life caring for children and young people in the United States who have experienced a bad start in life, just as he did. He has also become a Christian himself. Peter’s is an inspiring story of how God can help someone overcome the most challenging of situations and lead them into a better life that has purpose and direction. It is also a reminder that when someone becomes a Christian it not only impacts their own life, but ad the War C e re also enables them, with God’s help, to make ry v ’ u a difference for good in the lives of other
after abuse REGULARS 4
War Cry World
12 Team Talk 13 Wisdom in the Words 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: BBC/SIMON RIDGWAY