2 COMMENT AND CONTENTS • WAR CRY • 9 March 2019
From the editor’s desk
What is The Salvation Army? The Salvation Army is a church and 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 over 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
MANY people can still remember where they were and what they were doing when they first heard about the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001. The horrific scenes of death and destruction impacted all who saw them, and the event changed the world. As the reality of what people were seeing became clear, the date of 9/11 became inextricably associated with evil acts that brought misery and disaster in a manner never seen before. But that is not the whole story. In this week’s War Cry Irene Sankoff and David Hein, who were living in New York at the time, recall the increased sense of community and the acts of kindness that the city residents showed each other in the days immediately after the attack. Many months later, the couple discovered that those acts of kindness were not restricted to the city of New York, or even to the United States. With the airspace above the country closed, planes already in the air were diverted to towns and cities in other countries. One such place was Gander, in Canada. David and Irene heard how the people of the small town looked after crew and passengers from all over the world for days until the planes were allowed to fly again. The couple were so taken with what happened in Gander that they wrote a musical about it. And after success on Broadway, Come from Away opened in London’s West End last month. An event that occurred because of a terrorist attack may not seem the most likely topic for a stage show but, as the couple explain in this week’s issue, the story is a testimony to the kindness, goodness and bravery of ordinary people in the face of evil. That is worth remembering and celebrating – and it should be an inspiration to us all.
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 7413
Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Stephen Pearson Assistant Editor: Claire Brine Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku Staff Writer: Emily Bright Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston War Cry office: 020 7367 4900 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@sp-s.co.uk Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill Secretary for Communications: Lieut-Colonel David Kelly
FEATURES 3
Competitors who lead a dog’s life
Crufts returns
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Something to sing about
How Songs of Praise aims to produce 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 and Wales is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399. Printed by Walstead Grange Ltd, Southwick, on sustainably sourced paper
Your local Salvation Army centre
uplifting television
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Faith in humanity restored
True stories of kindness in the face of
terrorism inspire new musical
REGULARS
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4 News 12
Browsing the Bible
13 Thought 14 Puzzles 15
What’s cooking? Front-page picture: ANDREW STONE
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