War Cry Big Connection Special Issue

Page 1


Making good connections

How supportive relationships are changing lives

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

Editor: Andrew Stone, Major

Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow

Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku

Staff Writer: Emily Bright

Staff Writer: Claire Brine

Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk

Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston

Graphic Designer: Mark Knight

Graphic Designer: Natalie Adkins

Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk

The Salvation Army

United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 1 Champion Park London SE5 8FJ

Tel: 0845 634 0101

Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org

Founder: William Booth

General: Lyndon Buckingham

Territorial leaders: Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main

Editor-in-Chief: Major Julian Watchorn

Published weekly by The Salvation Army © The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory ISSN 0043-0226

Ask people what they know of The Salvation Army and many will talk about brass bands playing Christmas carols. Across the country, hearing those melodies has been a familiar feature of the festive period.

But what about the rest of the year? What does the church and charity do then? The truth is that, for 365 days of the year, The Salvation Army is helping people who are struggling with life, supporting victims who have been abused and making a difference for good within communities.

In this issue of the War Cry, we highlight a few of the ways in which the organisation is transforming people’s lives. There is the support given to families facing the cost of living crisis, the warm beds provided for people who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets, the medical care given to those battling with addiction and the training delivered to assist those in unemployment back into work.

Also in this issue we highlight the ways in which individual Salvation Army churches are providing some of this social action themselves and how they are engaging with their communities to raise the funds that are needed for this work.

The motivation behind all of these endeavours is the Christian faith that underpins the beliefs and principles of The Salvation Army. It is a faith which says that God loves everyone and that he values them.

Christians believe that God sent his Son, Jesus, into the world so that people could see what God is like and experience the very best life possible. Jesus said: ‘My purpose is to give life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10 The Living Bible).

If you would like to know more about the ways in which The Salvation Army is helping people to experience that full life, or if you would like to see how you can support that work, then visit salvationarmy.org.uk

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

INFO INFO

Your local Salvation Army centre

There through the ages

The Salvation Army has always made caring for others part of its mission

Foralmost as long as it has been a movement, The Salvation Army has helped people in need. After being founded in 1865, it ran soup kitchens and offered provisions for people in poverty. Then in the 1880s, in a world where people in vulnerable positions were often left to fend for themselves, its social work became more established.

It first opened what were known as rescue homes, places where women who were victims of domestic violence, had been engaging in sex work or were simply in need of somewhere to stay could live for a few months. Arrangements would be made for them to go into domestic services or alternative employment.

One of the rescue homes was in Glasgow. The other was in Whitechapel, London, in the home of one of the members of the Salvation Army church. She set it up because women would come into the services, make a commitment to become a Christian and would then be unable to go back to their previous environment.

‘There was no big plan,’ says Steven Spencer, director of The Salvation Army’s International Heritage Centre in London. ‘They didn’t say: “We’re going to start social work.” It just happened.’

The work expanded and diversified through the 1880s and ’90s with the creation of shelters for men, homes for women who were pregnant, and those with alcohol problems. There was a knitting factory and a match factory providing safe opportunities for work and

the learning of skills.

At the time the alternative, says Steven, was street homelessness or cheap lodgings, which would not have been a good environment.

At the start of the 20th century, The Salvation Army’s social work continued. The Mother’s Hospital was founded in east London, providing a maternity service so excellent that some women who were not in need would pay to have their babies there. By the 1930s, there were homes for the elderly and others for children and a labour exchange (job centre).

Over the course of that century, the state began providing its own welfare, with the founding of the NHS and various other services. The Salvation Army continued its work alongside this, however, and it hasn’t stopped. While life for many people improved in the past century because of state intervention, Steven points out that society is changing again.

‘A lot of the social problems that existed in the 19th century have re-emerged,’ he says, ‘such as the rioting, the rough sleeping, child poverty. But The Salvation Army is still there to care for those re-emerging conditions.’

The Salvation Army’s care is reflected in its maxim today: ‘Love God, love others’, which

is based on Jesus’ words, telling his followers that the greatest commandment is to ‘love the Lord your God’ and the second is to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ (Matthew 22:37–39 New International Version).

But it isn’t a love that we have to conjure up ourselves. The Bible tells us about God’s love and says that ‘we love because he first loved us’ (1 John 4:19).

God’s love for us empowers us to love him and love other people. If we receive that love, it will do a world of good.

Holiday fun makes a difference

At a Salvation Army summer camp, eight-year-old Poppy was invited to tackle an obstacle course, scale a climbing wall and zoom down a zip line. She enjoyed water fights, a talent show and chatting with friends beside a crackling campfire in the evening.

When she returned home, Poppy shared stories of her adventures with her grandma, Tara, who has been her fulltime carer off and on since she was born. The pair, who live in Scotland, have long been connected with The Salvation Army.

‘Coming to an after-school club at The Salvation Army, where I volunteer, is my me-time,’ Tara says. ‘I enjoy helping – I don’t need things like going to the pub or having fancy meals.

‘Also, I want to give back to The Salvation Army because Nicola, the church leader here, was a big part in my life when one of my sons, Frank, took his own life. She was the first person I called.’

Life hasn’t been easy for Tara or her family in recent years. Today she is

Salvation Army summer camp provides children with exciting opportunities

had to provide extra support for her other grandchildren, after Frank took his own life following relationship problems. He left behind five children, who were all put into care after his death. One of them, Emily, lived with Tara for a while, but ended up going back to live with her mother. Tara continues to support Emily, and tries to see her other grandchildren when she can.

Tara remembers the difficult circumstances preceding Frank’s suicide.

‘Frank and his partner moved into the house next door to us, and she went to college and got into drugs and drink,’ she explains. ‘It started with small bottles on school nights and went on to bigger bottles.

‘Frank didn’t like it. He wanted to put the kids first, but she got him arrested and their relationship fell apart. I was constantly helping with the children, taking them to school.

‘Frank was released to my address

and wasn’t allowed into their house. She went off and left the children completely alone for two days with no food. One was just two years old and was seen wandering the streets with no clothes on.

‘I went into their house and found the kids glued to their X-boxes. By the following week, Frank was dead; he felt pushed into a corner. His mental health was bad.’

Social services removed the children from the family home but were unable to find a place for them to stay together. Today they live in different homes and, Tara explains, are able to meet up every few weeks.

Life continues to be tough – but she has found strength and support from The Salvation Army.

‘The Salvation Army has been there for us and the care they show is ongoing,’ she says. ‘Poppy has been coming to the

family group here since she was small. She loves it and looks forward to it.’

Poppy loved the zoo and seeing all the animals

On one occasion, Tara, Poppy and Emily went on a trip to Edinburgh Zoo, organised and funded by The Salvation Army. Without such financial help, Tara wouldn’t have been able to afford the entry fees.

‘Poppy loved the zoo and seeing all the animals,’ she says. ‘She’d never been to a zoo before.

‘Usually, we need to know how much something is before we can go. In the summer we can go to the local park, but we can’t turn round and say: “We’re going to the trampoline park.”

We couldn’t afford to go to another grandchild’s party recently, because with travel and entrance it was going to cost £63.

‘People with cars don’t necessarily realise the impact of the cost of living on those using buses. If I go on the bus to see my grandchild, it costs £7 to go there and back, and I have to weigh that up with paying the gas and electricity and snacks for school.’

Recently The Salvation Army funded Poppy’s place at summer camp. Tara felt that the adventure would be a good experience for her granddaughter – but Poppy was nervous.

‘She said she would miss her red blanket, and I said her red blanket can go with her,’ says Tara. ‘I told her I would draw her a star and put it in her bag and I would have a star with me.’

that, when it comes to events run by The Salvation Army, Poppy is well looked after by caring leaders.

‘I can now let her go away and trust she’ll be OK,’ she says. ‘Poppy has made some good friendships at The Salvation Army, and she socialises there, whereas at school she doesn’t make the same attachments. She described her time at summer camp as the best thing ever.’

l Names have been changed

Building up hope

A Salvation Army centre in Wales is giving people who are experiencing homelessness the hope that their future can be better

In the heart of Cardiff is a building that provides an oasis of hope for people who might be finding that particular emotion elusive. Ty Gobaith, which is Welsh for ‘house of hope’, provides help and shelter to people experiencing homelessness.

The centre – a type of Salvation Army accommodation known as a Lifehouse – has 72 beds. It caters specifically for those who require medium to high support by offering them a safe and nurturing environment in which they can make positive life changes.

Some of that support comes through its abstinence and stabilisation programme, which is designed to help people who have substance or alcohol issues, while another project assists people who have encountered significant problems maintaining a roof over their heads.

‘The time that the people spend here is to make them as independent as possible,’ says service manager Hugh Carter. ‘A few might be able to thrive in the private rented sector, but a lot of our folks would struggle, if not immediately, then sometime down the line.’

Hugh makes it clear that he is prepared

to give each of the residents the time they need to improve their situation.

‘We run specialist programmes for people with complex needs,’ he says, ‘such as those who are entrenched in rough sleeping or who have clinical mental health issues. We help people who have a history of failed hostel stays because of extreme behaviours.

For

me, it’s all about justice
‘S

o we don’t work within specific time frames,’ he adds, ‘but we will work closely with the residents and the local council to help them move on.

‘For me, it’s all about justice. It’s about fairness and giving a voice and some shoulders to stand on for people who might have not had that before.’

Hugh’s words are backed up by the impressive statistics of people whose lives have been changed by their interaction with the staff team at the centre.

In the past 12 months, the Lifehouse has accommodated 109 people and

moved 33 of them into longer-term accommodation. It succeeds by being prepared to wait until residents are confident to progress and by recognising that, for many of them who have significant needs, independent living may not always be appropriate.

Alongside goals for achieving good health and wellbeing, the team aims to provide residents with long-term

Hugh Carter

Ty Gobaith in Cardiff’s Bute Street provides 72 beds for people experiencing homelessness

sustainable skills that will reduce the chances of their falling back into bad habits and will, where possible, prevent future homelessness.

What makes The Salvation Army’s work different from that of other organisations which provide similar help is the provision of a Christian chaplain at its Lifehouses.

In Ty Gobaith’s case, this role is fulfilled by Major John Stark, a full-time Salvation Army minister. The chaplain has the opportunity to get alongside the residents and the staff to support them.

‘I try to build relationships so that if something happens, they know me and can chat to me because we’ve already had that connection,’ he says.

John develops those relationships

by doing simple things such as taking residents to a doctor’s appointment or playing football with them in a local fivea-side league. By building trust he is able to demonstrate that there is no agenda but the resident’s own. Should that agenda include any enquiry regarding spiritual matters, John is happy to help by creating links with whichever faith or denomination is most appropriate for each individual. And all this support, as John explains, is not limited to the time that the individual spends at Ty Gobaith.

‘There was one young lad, George, who was here,’ he remembers, ‘and he was going through some challenging issues. He asked me if God would forgive him for everything that he had done, and I

told him that God definitely would.

‘He told me he wanted to go to church. So we went, with some others, for about 18 months and he was on a faith journey. Then he left and we didn’t see him for a long time. But then, the other week, he

Turn to page 8 f

Major John Stark

From page 7

turned up to play football.

‘He told me that it had been a bad year and so we began talking. He told me that he still thought about those days when we went to church.’

Ty Gobaith has turned my life around

Another person who has been helped by the Lifehouse is Michelle Brown. After years of sofa-surfing, she has recently moved into a flat. She is also now volunteering with charities in Cardiff, including one that sponsors the Choir With No Name, which is made up of people experiencing homelessness.

‘Being at Ty Gobaith has taught me to stop and think and make positive choices,’ she says. ‘I’m not drinking any more, and I’ve been helped with personal growth mentally and physically. I’m also taking better care of my health and eating well.’

Michelle adds that one of the most beneficial experiences of her time at Ty Gobaith was being with staff members who were willing to listen to her but not judge her. The help she has received has enabled her to reconnect with her

family and spend quality time with her grandchildren.

Michelle is one of hundreds of people who have experienced a complete change in their lives with the help of the Lifehouse. Another is PG.

‘Ty Gobaith turned my life around,’ he says. ‘My whole outlook has changed. It has put me right on my feet. It has helped me build a new life. I had absolutely nothing when I came to this place. Now I have a lovely home, I have reconnected with my daughter, and

I’ve been off drugs and alcohol for eight years.’

Even those people who are still going through the programmes that are run, such as Danny, can already see that the positive changes they’ve been encouraged to make are bringing them hope for the future.

‘I have been given a second chance at life, to rebuild,’ he says. ‘I had everything but lost it all, now I have another chance to start again.’

It would be fair to say that life is full of choices, and sometimes we make the wrong ones. In some cases the consequences of those choices have little impact on how we live our lives.

However, residents at Ty Gobaith are a reminder that sometimes those choices can have consequences that we did not intend and sometimes other people’s choices can affect us deeply. None of us know the impact or the reach of the experiences that are ahead of us or indeed when the experiences of our past may catch up with us. So it is good to know that, should those experiences lead us along paths that we would rather not go, there are places such as Ty Gobaith and people such as its staff who are committed to offering us hope in building a better future.

Danny
PG
Michelle

The Salvation Army carries out a variety of activities which bring communities together while also providing the opportunity to raise funds for its work with the disadvantaged

In good company

Across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, The Salvation Army has specialised centres helping people who are facing homelessness and drug addiction. There are also safe houses for survivors of modern slavery and residential homes for elderly people no longer able to look after themselves independently.

All this and more is in addition to the hundreds of Salvation Army churches that can be found in communities ranging from large metropolitan cities to small rural villages. As well as opportunities for Christian worship, these churches provide services to meet the specific needs of the area in which they are located. As a result, the help given and activities run vary from site to site, but each one of these churches and centres is connected.

The main connection comes from the Christian faith that inspires everything that The Salvation Army does. But these churches and centres also co-operate with each other as they look to help people who are currently finding life a challenge.

Part of the support that the churches give to the social work that

The Salvation Army supporting the community in Norwich

the organisation carries out is in the form of money raised. Because of the link between all the various expressions of the church and charity in action, The Salvation Army recently decided that the fundraising drive for this work would be called the Big Connection.

Members of The Salvation Army have been raising funds for the organisation’s social work since 1886, with many of them deciding to go a few weeks without spending as much on themselves and contributing the money they save to the needs of other people.

They have also given up their time to ask the general public if they would like to donate towards the good work that is done. At one time that involved the common practice of collecting door to door and offering people the opportunity to give. Today, things have moved on and more creative and fun ways are being found to raise money.

However, the aim of the Big Connection isn’t just financial gain. Instead, the objective is for the churches to engage more with their communities while fundraising. So they have been running activities

as diverse as coffee mornings, quiz nights and barn dances.

In Shaw, Greater Manchester, the members of the church hold a number of social events each year. This year they hosted a strawberry afternoon tea, and the money raised went towards the Big Collection.

‘It was a good chance for people not only to raise funds but also to meet together,’ says church leader Major Susan Tansley. ‘There was a lot of chatting going on, a lot of catching up on old friends, a lot of sharing together and just having a good time. It’s all a case of integrating

everything together. We have to be involved in the community.’ Bringing people together helps them to feel less isolated and more valued. The fundraising is almost seen as an added benefit – although it is a vital part of the event because it is supporting work that meets significant needs for many people.

Its feels good giving back to society

‘There’s lot of social work needed,’ Susan explains, ‘and it needs to be funded somehow. So this is a good opportunity for people who support the Army throughout the year to say: “This is something I can do and actually contribute financially to the things that The Salvation Army is doing.”’

In Norfolk, the members of The Salvation Army’s Norwich Citadel church have been financially supporting the organisation’s social work for many years. This year for

The community comes together at an afternoon tea in Shaw

Susan Tansley

the Big Connection, they decided to do something new and hold a fashion show, hoping that it would encourage a range of people to go along and raise funds.

The event was organised in partnership with Travelling Trends, a company which provided the clothes for the show as well as an MC and some models, who were joined by members and volunteers from the church.

More than £300 was raised on the night.

‘We thought it would be something different,’ says church leader Major Tracey Bale. ‘All of the money that is raised for the Big Connection helps The Salvation Army in its social work.’

As well as raising funds, Norwich Citadel engages in social action in practical ways. In the city, it runs the Pottergate Arc, a drop-in day centre for people who are experiencing homelessness or who are vulnerably housed.

A volunteer at the church, Michael Cutting, makes 80 sandwiches twice a week, which he then takes to the Arc, to be distributed to the people the centre helps. Michael explains how volunteering in this way has actually

been of benefit to him.

‘I started volunteering here after I got depression,’ he says. ‘I make sandwiches for the homeless and I love doing work at The Salvation Army – it feels good giving back to society.’

The sandwiches that Michael supplies to the Arc help the centre’s aim to be a safe haven where people are cared for, fed and given a sense of belonging.

‘We work primarily with people experiencing homelessness – and that can range from people sleeping on the streets up to temporary accommodation – until they get a secure tenancy,’ says Nicola Darkins, the centre’s service manager. ‘We meet a lot of basic needs for people, feeding and clothing them. We have washing facilities and support from our charity shop down the road.’

The Arc’s work is not just about meeting people’s physical needs. The centre also aims to provide a place where people can feel human again – where they can be themselves, accepted and not judged.

‘I like the guys that come in here,’ says Nicola. ‘I’ve got a lot of passion for working with them. They are a very misunderstood group of people and if you get to know them, they’re wonderful. They’ve got wonderful stories to tell.’

Two of the people who are helped by the work of the Arc are Jim and Max, who clearly appreciate the support they are given.

‘If somebody is in a difficult position,’ says Jim, ‘they just come in here and have a chat, have a sit-down. There is always something that can be done.’

Max adds: ‘I think as a man it’s hard to ask for help. That’s the pride thing and sometimes you have to swallow that and say you need help, and people here point you in the direction to get it.’

The Salvation Army will continue to support Max and Jim and thousands of other people every year. For that to happen, it needs communities to connect with it in raising funds for this life-changing work.

Tracey Bale
Models on the ‘catwalk’ at Norwich Citadel

FLYING HIGH FLYING HIGH FLYING HIGH

For Cheyanne, the sky was the limit. She had dreams of working in the aviation industry. But when she became pregnant while studying for a cabin crew qualification at college, her career goals took a back seat.

After returning to college and finishing her exams, Cheyanne became pregnant with her second and then third child. She decided to look after her children full-time, and began claiming universal credit to support her young family. However, she was keen to get back to work.

‘I’ve always had career goals,’ explains the 23-year-old from Merseyside, ‘but I decided to have children and so all that got put on hold as I wanted to be there for my kids.’

When she was ready to embark on a job search, she was filled with ambition for her future. But the feedback she received from one career organisation was unpromising: her childcare responsibilities were seen as an obstacle to employment.

‘I was told it would be difficult for me to work, as a single mum with three kids under five,’ she recalls. ‘They said

How The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus programme helped one woman find work in the aviation industry
Feature

I wouldn’t be able to fit into any of the roles they could find. That was a big blow.’

Despite the knock-back, Cheyanne persevered. And when someone suggested that she contact The Salvation Army, she gave it a go. She joined the Employment Plus programme at its Birkenhead church.

Created in 2006, Employment Plus provides tailored support for job applications, short-term work experience placements and training in digital and employability skills. The programme also builds self-esteem and helps people overcome barriers to employment such as health issues, addictions and language limitations.

With one-to-one support and

group workshops from the church and charity’s employability practitioners, the participants receive personalised help to find the job that is right for them.

Cheyanne’s experience of Employment Plus was a resoundingly positive one.

‘I had heard of The Salvation Army,’ she says, ‘but I thought they were just a charity helping homeless people at Christmas. I am so glad I found them. I would recommend them to anyone. They helped me and persisted where others had written me off. They gave me hope again.’

The mother of three was also struck by the efficiency of her job search.

‘It all happened really quickly,’ she says. ‘From joining up with The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus and doing my CV and interview prep to getting my job with Merseytravel, it was in total about four weeks.’

I wouldn’t be in a job without The Salvation Army’s help

The Salvation Army went above and beyond for Cheyanne, finding her work that was tailored to her career goals and childcare requirements. Once again, she is filled with optimism about her future.

‘The Salvation Army listened to what I wanted to do in the future and what I was good at now and they found me a role that could bring the two together,’ she says. ‘I am a cleaner with Merseytravel and that can, in the future, enable me to gain a Security Industry Authority (SIA) badge and allow me to work in an airport, so reaching my goal of being within the aviation industry.’

The job’s part-time flexibility gives Cheyanne ‘the best of both worlds,’ she

adds. ‘I can still take the children to school and nursery and pick them up too. I can balance being a mum with also having my life back, and I owe it to The Salvation Army for giving me that chance.

‘I wouldn’t be in a job now without their support. I wouldn’t be on a pathway to where I want to be. They have totally benefitted mine and my kids’ lives.’

Over the past two years, 40,000 people across the UK and Ireland have gone to Employment Plus for help. Up to 15,000 people progressed fully through the programme, with more than 5,400 of them finding employment. Ninety per cent of those who found work were still in employment six months on.

David Rowlanes, mission development manager for The Salvation Army’s employment services, explains that the Christian faith is at the heart of all that Employment Plus does.

‘Everyone has a God-given purpose in life in which we are called to live in a way most appropriate to the gifts and opportunities provided by God,’ he says.

‘Employment Plus seeks to give people the opportunity to discover exactly what they are capable of and, wherever possible, to enable them to see that their best is God’s plan for them. We want to help the unemployed and underemployed fulfil their potential by making a positive difference in their lives – a hand up and not a handout.’

Employment Plus has helped thousands of people since it was launched in 2006

PUZZLES

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Play on words (3)

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Answer (5)

Increase engine

(3)

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Donor (5)

Derides (6)

Allure (5)

Alpine singing (5)

Snake (5)

1. Create a new device 2. Child’s glove

3. Cockney slang for hair

4. Main meal of the day

5. Painful swelling on big toe

6. Pay back money

21. Sluggish (5)

22. Prior to (6)

23. Hint (5)

24. Sport game (5)

25. Origins (5)

27. Two-footed (5)

Scrambled eggs, tomato and spinach on sourdough

INGREDIENTS

4 large tomatoes

1tbsp cold-pressed rapeseed oil

2tsp dried oregano

Sea salt and cracked black pepper

3tbsp water

100g fresh spinach

4 slices sourdough bread, thickly cut

8 eggs

80g butter

METHOD

INGREDIENTS

200g gram flour

Salt and pepper

300g red pepper, thinly sliced

50g sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped

50g spinach, roughly chopped

15g basil, thinly chopped

2tbsp vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 140C/Gas Mark 3.

Cut each tomato into 4 slices, then place on a lined baking tray and drizzle over the oil. Sprinkle with the oregano and some salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven, gently turn the slices over and bake for another 30 minutes. Remove and leave to cool.

Place a pan over a medium heat and add the water. Bring to a boil and add the spinach. Cover the pan and boil for 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and drain.

Put the sourdough bread in a toaster or under the grill.

While the bread is toasting, crack the eggs into a large bowl and whisk them gently with a fork. Heat the butter in a large pan over a medium heat. Once melted and gently sizzling, tip in the eggs. Stir gently and cook for 2 minutes, or until the eggs are setting.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir the eggs, then put back on the heat until the eggs are fully set. Season with salt and pepper.

Place the sourdough toast on plates and top with the spinach. Layer 4 slices of tomato on top of each. Divide the scrambled egg between the plates, placing it on top of the tomatoes.

Sprinkle over the chives and serve immediately.

Red pepper and sun-dried tomato fritters

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4.

Mix the flour and some salt and pepper in a bowl. Add the red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and basil and combine again. Add just enough water to bind the mixture together.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add 4 large spoonfuls of the batter to the pan. Fry for 2-3 minutes, until the bottoms set and start to crisp. Carefully turn the fritters and fry for a further 2-3 minutes.

Transfer to a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven for 10 minutes. Once cooked through and browned, remove from the oven.

Jesus said:

John 10:10 (The Living Bible)

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