War Cry 30 May 2020

30 May 2020 20p/25c

Tapping into belief

PEOPLE explorE FAITH ONLINE AND ON THE BOX DURING LOCKDOwN

From the editor’s desk

What is The Salvation Army?

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

THERE are no atheists in foxholes, or so the saying goes. The suggestion is that when people find themselves in life-threatening situations (a foxhole being a hole dug by troops to shelter from enemy fire), people will inevitably call out to God for help.

That may appear to be a simplistic view of how people behave when facing perilous situations, but a recent survey for Christian charity Tearfund has found that people are turning to religion to help them through the lockdown imposed because of the coronavirus.

As we report in this week’s War Cry, the survey found that about a quarter of adults in the UK say they have watched or listened to a religious service since the lockdown began (on the radio, live on TV, on demand or streamed online). A number of those adults have never gone to church before.

Tearfund also discovered that, despite church often being portrayed as a place for the elderly, those aged between 18 and 34 are almost twice as likely to watch or listen to a service than those aged 55 and over.

So people of all ages may feel frustrated that places of worship have had to close their doors for Sunday services. However, churches have clearly not stopped operating. As well as providing material for the religious services being broadcast, many are also at the front line, helping those most impacted by the lockdown, in a variety of practical and emotional ways.

The Salvation Army is among those churches that are doing what they can to help others. You can discover more about the ways in which it is serving communities on its new-look website at salvationarmy.org.uk. There you can also continue to view each issue of the War Cry as, every week, we encourage even more people to see the benefits of the Christian faith – during the current pandemic and beyond.

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 7476

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

Contents

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

FEATURES 3

Home truths House’s history is told in TV series

4

Looking up faith in lockdown People are turning to God during coronavirus pandemic

6

A high-profile case The US missionary who was imprisoned in Turkey

8

‘Life is a gift’ Interview with TV presenter James Lusted

10

More than just yuppie flu The reality of life with ME

4

8

REGULARS 12

Browsing the Bible

13

Now, There’s a Thought!

14 Puzzles 15

War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: BBC/Avanti/Nine Lives Media/JAY BROOKS

2 • War Cry • 30 May 2020

15

BBC

TELEVISION

E

VERY house in Britain has a story to tell. In recent months, many of those stories have been of the occupants being stuck indoors as a global pandemic unfolds. For some people, the chapters of a lockdown spent at home describe freshly wallpapered bedrooms and improved baking skills. Others may feel they have lost the plot after doing nothing but looking out of the window day after day.

Historian David Olusoga (pictured) is interested in the stories that take place behind closed doors, particularly the untold stories of long ago. In the BBC Two series A House Through Time, David is stepping inside 10 Guinea Street in Bristol, an 18th-century sea captain’s house near the city’s docks.

Delving into historical records from 300 years ago, he wants to find out what happened to the families who lived under its roof.

At the heart of his investigation is the Holbrook family, who lived at No 10 in the 1700s. When the series continues on Tuesday (2 June), David looks at what happened to sea captain Joseph Holbrook’s wife and three children after his death in 1774. He raises questions about the younger daughter, Ann. Joseph’s will claims that she ‘misbehaved and disobliged’ her father,

Home truths

Claire Brine uncovers what went down in history thus affecting her inheritance. David asks: ‘What had Ann done to deserve this reprimand from beyond the grave?’

Digging a little deeper, David discovers more about Ann’s life.

After her father’s death, she married a clergyman named James Poulson, which – he speculates – could have been an attempt to repair her damaged reputation. But then he uncovers a

Maybe life hasn’t changed that much in the past 300 years puzzling document. James isn’t quite who he claimed to be, leaving David to wonder if poor Ann found her happily-ever-after.

As David moves on to research other families and people connected to 10 Guinea Street, he uncovers stories of social climbers, servants who were victims of domestic violence and businessmen with mental health problems. They all had ambition, he says. But they all had problems too.

While A House Through Time focuses on people who lived centuries ago, many of their stories feel close

to home. Maybe we identify with their heartaches, the imperfect family relationships or the struggles with employment and health. Maybe life, as a whole, hasn’t changed that much in the past 300 years.

It is still full of surprises. Some days will be better than we could ever hope for. On other days we may wish we weren’t even here. With each new and unpredictable series of events, it can be difficult to feel secure and anchored. We want reassurance that we can survive whatever comes our way.

Whenever we face an uncertain future, we don’t have to do it alone.

Jesus promises to be a constant source of love, peace and strength in our life. Whatever happens, he will never abandon us.

At a time when his followers had no idea what the future held, Jesus assured them: ‘I will be with you always, to the end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20 Good News Bible).

The same promise can apply to us.

When the world feels like an exciting and daunting place all at the same time, Jesus’ love is in the middle of everything. When we ask him to guide our future steps, we are in for a lifechanging adventure, day after day.

30 May 2020 • War Cry • 3

TV S

OME who never used to watch it religiously are now tuning in.

Mark Warburton, a producer on BBC One’s Songs of Praise, says that at a time when lockdown means church buildings are locked to worshippers – and when making TV programmes has become more difficult – new viewers are watching the show, which has been joined in the schedules by a weekly spin-off Sunday Worship.

Mark says that on Songs of Praise ‘as well as rerunning some favourite moments from the past few years, we’ve interviewed a number of senior church leaders who’ve offered warm words of hope and encouragement.

‘We’ve also broadcast Sunday Worship on BBC One – acts of worship at venues where we’ve recorded hymns before.

And with “hymns recorded earlier”, we’ve been able to continue inspiring our viewers despite not being able to record in churches since the start of the lockdown.

‘Our audience have been telling us they appreciate what we’re doing, and some who don’t normally watch have told us on social media that they’ve been tuning in and feel blessed by what they watch.’

The viewers tuning in to the BBC’s TV programmes are part of a bigger picture.

Wanting to access acts of worship, people are also listening to religious radio broadcasts and logging on to services live-streamed by churches.

A survey carried out for Christian relief and development agency Tearfund found that a quarter of UK adults say they have watched or listened to a religious service – via TV, radio or online – since the restrictions to tackle the coronavirus were introduced.

The research suggested that such broadcasts were even attracting some who would not in normal times be walking through the doors of a place of worship. One in twenty who say they have watched or listened to a religious service since lockdown had never gone to church.

Similarly, among the 44 per cent of people who say they pray are some who

GUIDES

Lockdown has not kept down people’s desire to link up with God, reports Philip Halcrow

David Hart of the Try Praying project – its booklet has been put online and left in Perspex boxes

had not prayed before.

Among all those who say they have prayed, some have done so because they believed it could make a difference, others prayed ‘on the offchance that something could change’ and still others did so ‘as a last resort’.

David Hart of Edinburgh-based project Try Praying, which encourages people ‘who don’t do church’ to begin to talk to God, says that its message is striking a chord, even though lockdown has affected its methods.

‘Because of social distancing, our usual strategy, in which our

4 • War Cry • 30 May 2020

BBC/Avanti/Nine Lives Media/Jay Brooks

Among the 44 per cent who pray are some who had not prayed before

FEATURE

FAITH IN LOCKDOWN supporters would simply hand on our Try Praying booklet, has been impossible, so we put it up as a free pdf on our website.

Then, if people want a copy, they can order one from us.

‘Also we’ve been encouraging our supporters to put up little Perspex boxes either on church railings or on their garden gate and to fill them with booklets and make Mark Warburton working on ‘Songs of Praise’ last year – in lockdown its shows are rerunning favourite moments

it clear that they are free to take.

‘A church pastor went to restock his Perspex box and discovered that there was an envelope in it. He took it out and read the note, which said: “I just wanted to say a big thank-you for the booklet Try Praying. This has been a real help to me these past couple of days. A small thing like putting these where people like me can find them means so much, and you will never know just

The ‘Songs of Praise’ presenters

how much. Thanks again, and I will keep praying.”

‘Another chap wrote to us, saying that he was becoming more curious about spiritual things and that he had come across a pile of our booklets on a park bench with a note inviting people to take one. He asked if we could start a conversation about faith.’

Tearfund’s research found that among all the people who say they have prayed during the lockdown, more than half have said prayers for family members and a quarter for frontline services. One in five says they have prayed for someone who was unwell with Covid-19.

David cannot tell whether someone takes a Try Praying booklet because of concerns over the coronavirus or lockdown or for entirely different reasons.

‘Often,’ he says, ‘you can pick up that they’re anxious or they’re living with fear, disappointment, anger, rejection or paralytic worry for loved ones.’

But he is certain that – at any time – prayer is for everyone, whether they have prayed before or not.

He says: ‘The one piece of advice I would give someone praying for the first time is: start where you are. It’s important that people know they don’t have to travel to any particular point in faith before they can encounter the Lord.

‘You can invite God to come, and he will meet you right where you are.’

30 May 2020 • War Cry • 5

ANDREW BRUNSON tells Sarah Olowofoyeku how his missionary work led to his wrongful imprisonment by the Turkish government

A

Andrew Brunson

6 • War Cry • 30 May 2020

NDREW Brunson and his wife thought they had been summoned to the police station to pick up the documentation permitting them to remain in Turkey.

But when they arrived, they were shocked to be arrested.

‘In 2016, there was a lot of tension in Turkey following an attempted coup,’ says Andrew, an American who, by the time of his arrest, had lived in Turkey with his wife, Norine, for 23 years. ‘Tens of thousands of people were being rounded up and put in prison, but we did not think it would affect us, because we were not involved in the coup.’

The couple, who are missionaries, were held in a detention centre and cut off from any contact with the outside world.

‘We’d never been in that situation before and it was sobering,’ says Andrew.

‘It was a harsh place. There were Isis members there.’

Andrew, who has described his experiences in a new book, God’s Hostage, tells me: ‘Most Turks have never met a Christian. Most cities in Turkey do not have a church. There were threats over the years, I was attacked once by a gunman. But we knew that God wanted us to be there.’

They were not unfamiliar with difficulties, but the arrest was their biggest challenge. ‘Typically an American is

INTERVIEW

deported within two days, so what they did to us was unusual,’ he says.

Thirteen days after their initial arrest, Norine was released, but the imprisonment continued for Andrew.

He explains: ‘I was sent to another detention centre, where I was kept in solitary confinement for 50 days. I was not allowed a paper, pen or any books. Then I was put into a high security prison.

The cell they put me in was built for 8 people, but there were over 20 of us in there. It was crowded and we were not allowed to leave it. Eight months later, I was moved to a maximum security prison.’

While Andrew was not involved in any political activities, he was accused of being part of the coup. He became a political pawn, and in court his testimony was not believed.

‘It was frustrating, because I knew the judges did not care about truth,’ he says. ‘It didn’t matter how well I defended myself, it did not matter that we exposed the false witnesses as being completely untrustworthy. I could not defend myself, because the decision was not being made by a judge, but at a political level.’

Andrew learnt that his case had

become high-profile. Christians all over the world were praying for him and for Turkey. World leaders were discussing his case, with President Trump calling for his release on three occasions. However, Andrew was not sure that he was ever going to get out of prison. It was a difficult period and, while his faith helped him to survive, it was tested.

‘I felt betrayed, hurt and abandoned by God,’ he admits. ‘I expected to have a sense of his presence with me in the prison, but I didn’t. In my first year, I was especially broken. I was suicidal on a number of occasions, but a turning point came.

‘I was aware that there was very little I could do to fight for my freedom, but I knew I could and had to fight for my relationship with God, which was being strangled by all the questions and the doubts. I had questioned God’s love, faithfulness, truth and goodness. But at that moment, I began to declare the opposite of what I was feeling – God’s truth. I would say to God, “You are good, you are faithful, you do love me personally.”

‘My feelings can be confused and all over the place but God determines what is true. I had to decide with my

The judges did not care about truth

will to believe the truth, which led to my rebuilding in the second year of imprisonment. I said, “Whether God frees me or not, I will follow him.”’

After serving a reduced sentence, in October 2018, Andrew was finally released. ‘I came out of prison with a deeper walk with God than when I went in,’ he says. ‘The things that really got me in prison were isolation, a loss of hope and a lack of certainty. My relationship with God, however, answered those crisis areas.

‘Whether I felt him or not, God never abandoned me. I didn’t know what would happen to me, but God gave me certainty that nothing would separate me from his love and eternal life, which gave me hope.

Everyone will face loneliness, uncertainty and a lack of hope in areas of their life. But God can provide certainty and a hope. If we believe in him, he will never abandon us.’

l God’s Hostage is published by Authentic Media

30 May 2020 • War Cry • 7

W

ORK has been varied for James Lusted since the start of the year. He has taken to the skies in a glider, interviewed a preacher who uses British Sign Language in a Methodist church and visited an Oxford soup kitchen run by an octogenarian and MBE recipient. He has done all of that as the newest presenter on BBC One’s Songs of Praise – and he has enjoyed every moment of it.

‘The work that I’m getting on Songs of Praise is a blessing,’ James tells me.

‘It’s exciting to see what God is doing in people’s lives.’

His career started with an acting job.

While studying pastoral leadership at a Christian college in Australia in his early twenties, he needed money and so signed up to an acting agency.

Within 24 hours, he had secured a job as a minion character from the animated film Despicable Me as part of a pool safety campaign, alongside Australian swimmer and triple Olympic gold medallist Leisel Jones. ‘She was the face of the campaign,’ he says. ‘It went out across all schools in Australia. It was a day’s filming, and I loved it.’

His break into TV followed when he made a documentary with Welsh production company Cwmni Da about his experiences in living with a rare form of

JOEL PARRY

Challenging people’s perceptions

James Lusted

Songs of Praise

dwarfism called dystrophic diasplasia. The Small Man’s Big World was aired on Welsh language channel S4C in 2012.

Further programmes followed. James switched to presenting, hosting a six-part documentary series called The Small Man’s Big Journey, in which he travelled across Wales, meeting people with a variety of disabilities.

The programmes caught the eye of the BBC, which commissioned several documentaries about James’s life and his relationship with his wife, Chloe, including Born Small and Big Love.

James was keen that such documentaries reflected the issues that mattered to him, such as his commitment to the Christian faith.

‘Faith is a huge part of me,’ he explains. ‘When I was in negotiation with the production companies, I would say, “If it’s okay, we’ll be talking about my church life and faith,” and they said that was fine.

We were blessed that we could share our faith and be so

James interviews a preacher through a BSL interpreter

8 • War Cry • 30 May 2020

Songs of Praise presenter JAMES LUSTED tells Emily Bright how his life has been full of exciting opportunities open about ourselves.’

James’s life of faith was modelled by his parents. They clearly showed that James and his brother, who has the same form of dwarfism, were loved and valued regardless of any physical differences others may see.

‘Our parents have always encouraged us to be ourselves,’ says James. ‘They would challenge us to be independent, live our lives confidently and accept the

I’ve accepted myself for who I am way we are, because that’s the way that God made us.’

James agrees with his parents’ philosophy. ‘I believe we are all made in God’s image. It’s biblical. Psalm 139 says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that God’s works are marvellous. We are his masterpiece.

‘We can all be his hands and feet to help people in the community, no matter who we are.’

Such an empowering attitude is embodied in his relationship with his wife.

They met in May 2012, when James was carrying the Olympic torch through his

INTERVIEW

home town, and she was with James’s friend, who went to watch him run.

‘I asked her if she would be happy to go for a drink sometime and the rest is history,’ he recalls fondly. They married four years ago, with their special day featuring in BBC One documentary Born Small – The Wedding.

During the programme, James tearfully recounted how he didn’t think he’d meet a woman who would unconditionally love him for who he was.

‘I’m living the dream,’ he tells me. ‘I love the way I am. I’ve got a beautiful wife, a wonderful one-year-old daughter and great family and friends.

‘God has given me confidence. I’ve accepted myself for who I am, and I don’t carry a chip on my shoulder.

‘However, it pains me to see that people get hurt and offended sometimes.

I know there are a lot of people who don’t have the network I do, and it’s important that they speak up and find people who can support them.’

James adds that attitudes towards dwarfism and people with disabilities have improved in recent years.

‘There’s a lot more TV coverage of people with different disabilities,’ he says.

‘They’re now on many programmes, from soaps to children’s TV programmes. This

year, there was a blind Paralympian on Dancing on Ice. I love that people’s perceptions are being challenged and changed.’

Looking back on his TV career to date, James asserts: ‘I completely believe that God has given me opportunities that I don’t think I would have had if I wasn’t the way I was.

‘Life is a gift. In the Bible it says that life has been given to us so that we can go and live it to the full.’

James and Chloe with their one-year-old daughter

30 May 2020 • War Cry • 9

‘My body had come May is ME Awareness Month.

FIONA WOOD talks to Sarah Olowofoyeku about having lived with the illness for a decade Fiona Wood

I

N October 2009, Fiona Wood went to the dentist to have a tooth removed.

It was an appointment that would change the course of her life. ‘I thought it would be simple,’ she says, ‘but a blood clot came away and it didn’t heal properly, so my jaw became infected. On top of that, I got laryngitis and the flu, and I later found out that I contracted glandular fever. It wiped me out, but I only took a week off work.

When I went back to work at the café I ran, I collapsed on the floor.’

Fiona was rushed to hospital but says that she had recovered by the time she got there. Six months later, however, she collapsed again.

‘It was through sheer exhaustion,’ she says. ‘My body had just come to the end of itself.’

After several years in which her health worsened, she was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

Her experience is similar to that of many people who live with ME. It is often triggered by viral infections, although it can begin in other ways.

ME is a chronic neurological condition that causes symptoms which affect much of the body, particularly the nervous and immune systems. It is estimated that 250,000 people in the UK have ME, and not all experience the same symptoms, which include debilitating pain, fatigue and a malaise after minimal physical or

mental exertion. The NHS says that the illness is also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

ME Awareness Month is important to those with ME/CFS because it can help to remove the stigma of the condition and make people more aware of the symptoms.

People can have mild, moderate or severe ME/CFS. If it is mild, people are active and can care for themselves.

They can work or study but usually they have had to stop all social or leisure activity. Those with moderate ME/CFS have reduced mobility and have usually stopped work or study. In severe cases, people can carry out only minimal tasks such as brushing their teeth. They spend most of their time in bed, often sensitive to light and noise.

Although awareness and understanding of ME/CFS have increased through the years, Fiona, who was a trained nurse, can remember a time when even those working in healthcare were not sympathetic towards those with the condition.

‘In the early Nineties, we had a patient come in with a diagnosis of ME. The doctors congregated outside the room and were laughing at her. They said it was all in her head and she was mental.

‘It was classed as yuppie flu, and a

It took six years for me to be diagnosed

10 • War Cry • 30 May 2020

INTERVIEW

to the e nd of itsel f ’

well-known comedian made a joke about ME being “that illness where people can’t be bothered to go to work”. It didn’t help.’

Fiona believes that if people had had greater awareness of the condition, hers could have been spotted earlier and perhaps would not have been so severe. ‘If every test comes back okay, doctors stop looking,’ she says. ‘If I’d been diagnosed earlier, I wouldn’t have exercised and wouldn’t have made myself so unwell. It took six years for me to be formally diagnosed.’

Even with diagnoses being given to people, she wants to see more research and more acceptance from the wider medical community.

‘The predominant advice given to treat ME is graded exercise and cognitive behavioural therapy. But these did not work for me,’ she says. ‘We’re told to pace ourselves, but it’s extremely hard to do that, because you never know if you’ve gone too far. When I’ve been at my worst, I could just about have a shower and that was it. I wouldn’t wish this illness on anyone.’

Fiona has lived with the illness for ten years. Her symptoms became more

severe in 2018 when she collapsed and doctors said that there was nothing they could do. Her family were told to be prepared for the worst.

Fiona’s Christian faith meant that she was not afraid of dying. She tells me: ‘The doctor came and sat beside me with tears in her eyes. And I said, “It’s okay, I’m going to be with Jesus. What could be better?”’

Fiona has been a Christian for most of her life, but came into a personal relationship with God through the Alpha course – an exploration of Christianity – about 20 years ago. Her faith has been an important part of her life, but she did struggle after falling ill.

‘Throughout the illness, I had just about kept in there with God,’ she says. ‘But last October, I felt like God spoke to me. I drew close to him over a couple of days and felt him say that he was going to heal me.’

Fiona continued to spend time with God after that. Recently, her health and mobility have been far better, and she is now experiencing only minor symptoms. She does not believe that illnesses come from God, but she says she understands that it can be hard for those who are experiencing an illness to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Her encouragement is: ‘There is hope. Even if you have not yet experienced healing, God is with you in your illness, and he loves you.’

I wouldn’t wish this on anyone

30 May 2020 • 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.

Send your Prayerlink requests to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk.

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 Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

Nigel Bovey gives chapter and verse on each book in the Scriptures

Revelation

R

EVELATION is an account of the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

Written at a time of persecution, it centres on a series of heavenly visions that God gave to the book’s writer, John, while he was in exile on the island of Patmos (1:9).

It contains apocalyptic imagery that relates to the end times, culminating with the return to Earth of Jesus Christ and the establishing of a new Heaven and Earth.

Revelation starts with messages to seven churches in what today is Turkey (chapters 1 to 3). Thereafter, the focus is Heaven.

Heaven is opened to reveal God on his throne and Jesus as the Lamb (chapters 4 and 5). From Heaven, God orders stages of judgment on sinful humanity, each with seven aspects.

First, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse deliver divine wrath (chapters 6 to 9). Six trumpets announce forthcoming judgment on one third of the Earth (chapters 8 and 9). The seventh trumpet fanfares the coming of God’s Kingdom (11:15–19). Seven angels then appear with final plagues (15:1) and punishment for ‘the great prostitute’ (17:1) sitting on a ‘scarlet beast’ (17:3). She is identified as ‘the great

Key verse ‘Then I saw “a new Heaven and a new Earth”’ (Revelation 21:1 New International Version)

city that rules over the kings of the Earth’ (17:18).

Another woman has given birth to a child, who is protected by God from diabolical attack. (This is widely interpreted as referring to Jesus.) Upon the birth of the

Its message is open to wide interpretation and speculation child, spiritual war breaks out between the angelic forces of God and the fallen angels of Satan (chapter 12).

John sees and hears an angel announcing the downfall of Babylon, a figurative representation of evil (chapter 18).

The angel then announces the ‘wedding supper of the Lamb’ (19:9). The ‘bride’ will be the new Jerusalem – in other words, faithful followers of Jesus (21:9 and 10).

God will bind Satan for 1,000 years, during which time Christian martyrs will reign on Earth with Christ (20:1–6). Satan will gather nations for battle, but will be defeated for ever (20:7–10).

God will then judge the dead (20:11– 15) and establish a new Heaven and Earth, where people will live with God – Paradise regained (chapters 21 and 22).

Open to wide interpretation, speculation and misrepresentation, Revelation’s message is encapsulated in the words of Jesus: ‘Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me’ (22:12).

BROWSING THE BIBLE

by NIGEL BOVEY

• £8 print • £6.99 ebook • Order print copies now at sps-shop.com Due to Covid-19, shipment of books will be delayed until SP&S is fully operational.

Please see the website for details and updates

The ebook will be available on Amazon Kindle from 6 June

12 • War Cry • 30 May 2020

EXPRESSIONS

Now, there’s a thought!

q

quick quiz 1

Which country’s flag has a red background with a white cross in the centre?

2

Who plays the title role in the sci-fi TV series Picard?

3

What are the names of the four suits in a standard deck of 52 cards?

a 4

5

6

In what year was the internet search engine Google founded?

The first line of Abba’s song ‘Dancing Queen’ is: ‘You can dance, you can jive.’ What is the second line?

Which book by Kathryn Stockett about AfricanAmerican maids was made into a film released in 2011?

ANSWERS

by Mal Davies

A powerful reason to celebrate – from day one S

OME things happen at specific points in time – for example, the day we get married or obtain our driver’s licence, the day we finish secondary school or the first time we go to our favourite holiday destination.

However, some things occur without a definite date. Could we note the day that we learnt to speak English? Or what day we learnt how to cook?

One day that is easily marked is the annual celebration of our own birth. We often celebrate with friends and family (in person or online) and, ideally, with a nice birthday cake and a few presents too.

If I was to ask how old the Christian Church is, many would guess about 2,000 years old. That’s a fairly accurate conclusion, but in the Bible we can read about the day – yes, the actual day – that many Christians consider to be the ‘birthday’ of the Church.

Seven weeks after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, his disciples had gathered in Jerusalem for the Jewish Feast of Weeks. It was celebrated 50 days after Passover, hence the alternative name Pentecost, which simply means ‘fiftieth’.

In the Bible, we read that as they were gathered together there was a supernatural occurrence involving wind and flames, and they were ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:4). That is, they felt empowered in a new way by God himself.

Immediately after this, the apostle Peter spoke to a crowd about Jesus and his offer of salvation for all. The Bible says that about 3,000 people became followers of Jesus that day.

And there it is. In one day Jesus went from having a few hundred followers to having a few thousand. Think of the logistics of that – how do you organise and teach and care for and train and lead thousands of people? What you need is a structure or an organisation with appointed leaders. So what was born that day became: church.

At Pentecost – 50 days after Easter Sunday – the Christian Church celebrates the ongoing empowering of the Holy Spirit and the formation of the worldwide Church. Happy birthday!

How do you care for thousands of people?

30 May 2020 • War Cry • 13

1. Switzerland. 2. Patrick Stewart.

3. Spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. 4. 1998.

5. ‘Having the time of your life.’ 6. The Help.

PUZZLES

QUICK CROSSWORD QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Forgive (7) 5. Delay (5) 7. Israeli farming settlement (7) 8. Inspect accounts (5) 10. Shadow (4) 11. Of an empire (8) 13. Bray (3-3) 14. Position (6) 17. Propagandist language (8) 19. Irish singer (4) 21. Pin (5) 22. Urges (7)

23. Discharged (5) 24. Northwesterly wind (7)

by Chris Horne 9. Charms (9) 12. Reprimanded (8) 15. Renegade (7) 16. Metal (6) 18. Falter (5) 20. Experts (4)

DOWN 2. Awesome (7) 3. Noisy (4) 4. Skin condition (6) 5. Misrepresentation (8) 6. Arm bones (5) 7. Face on First World War recruitment poster (9)

SUDOKU

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

HONEYCOMB

6

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

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

Answers

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Absolve. 5. Tarry. 7. Kibbutz.

8. Audit. 10. Tail. 11. Imperial. 13. Hee-haw.

14. Status. 17. Newspeak. 19. Dana.

21. Rivet. 22. Incites. 23. Fired. 24. Mistral.

DOWN: 2. Sublime. 3. Loud. 4. Eczema.

5. Travesty. 6. Radii. 7. Kitchener.

9. Talismans. 12. Carpeted. 15. Traitor.

16. Radium. 18. Waver. 20. Aces.

HONEYCOMB 1 Impair. 2 Propel. 3 Hurley.

4 Russet. 5 Siesta. 6 Hammer.

6 9 3 7 1 2 4 5 8

2 8 7 3 4 5 1 9 6

4 5 1 8 6 9 7 2 3

1 6 5 4 9 8 3 7 2

3 2 9 5 7 6 8 4 1

8 7 4 2 3 1 5 6 9

5 3 2 6 8 4 9 1 7

7 1 6 9 5 3 2 8 4

9 4 8 1 2 7 6 3 5

SUDOKU SOLUTION

8

5 9 6 1 1 8 7 1 2 1 9

5

14 • War Cry • 30 May 2020

Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch Wordsearch

1. Damage 2. Push forward 3. Stick used in the game of hurling 4. Reddish brown colour 5. Afternoon nap 6. Mallet

Wordsearch ALLEGED ANONYMOUS BREAKING NEWS BROADCAST COPY COVER DEADLINE EXCLUSIVE HEADLINE INTERVIEW LEAD NEWSROOM OFF THE RECORD PRESS OFFICE PRINT SOURCE TOP STORY UPDATE

Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these 2 4associated 1 3 with 8 journalism 5 7 9 words

6 9 8 5 6 2 7 3 1 4 M S B P S 3 I 7S Z P U K Y J D G Q D P 1 5 9 4 2 6 8 Y R W F B M U O N J C S H Q M J E K 7 3 8 4 5 2 6 9I A G 1 O Y Y E R T O Q U Q Z N H W Z D Q S Q N R M J B R S Y Q B A Q D K 1 4 6 9 7 3 8 5 2 C Y U I U G Y Q K Z C N C C H R L G 2 5 I 9 L D A E H E O W I 8 6 1 4 3 7R E W R P A E N I P B O Q V O I C X F Q Y C Z V N Q 4 1 7 3 8 5 9 2 6 P C M Z T I N Z K M R W E I H G E G 5 S A C D A O R B F B Q G R 9 2 7 4 6 1 8 3 B V K Q T R R C Q Z U P D A T E O Q F E C C L 8 6 3 2 1 9 7 4 5

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

7

Tuna and potato salad Ingredients

Method

800g new potatoes, washed thoroughly

Cook the potatoes in gently boiling water for 20 minutes until tender.

2tbsp lemon juice 1 garlic clove, crushed 2tbsp fresh parsley, chopped 1 small red onion, chopped 200g canned tuna in spring water, drained 100g cherry tomatoes, halved

SERVES

4

¼ cucumber, chopped Ground black pepper Basil leaves, to garnish

Meanwhile, mix the lemon juice, garlic and parsley together in a salad bowl. Add the red onion and set aside.

Drain the cooked potatoes and add them to the salad bowl while they are hot. Once the potatoes have cooled, add the tuna, tomatoes and cucumber.

Toss together and season with black pepper. Garnish with the basil leaves before serving.

Fishy toast toppers Ingredients 80g smoked mackerel, skinned and flaked 50g cooked fresh prawns, peeled and chopped 4tbsp fat-free Greek yoghurt 3 spring onions, finely chopped 1 tomato, deseeded and chopped 1/4 cucumber, finely chopped 1tbsp lemon zest, finely grated Ground black pepper 4 slices wholemeal bread 5g watercress, to serve

Method Place the mackerel in a bowl and mash with a fork, removing any bones.

Add the prawns, yoghurt, spring onions, tomato, cucumber and lemon zest. Season with a little black pepper and stir together.

Toast the bread, then spread the fish mixture on top. Serve with the watercress.

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Public Health England website nhs.uk/change4life

SERVES

4

30 May 2020 • War Cry • 15

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