War Cry 19 September 2026

Stars write letters for stage show

19 September 2026 50p/60c

Split decisions Law firm faces family questions in TV drama

Author speaks up for kindness

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 600 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 7799

Editor: Gareth Dickens, Major Managing Editor: Philip Halcrow Staff Writer: Emily Bright Staff Writer: Claire Brine Staff Writer: Ewan Hall Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk Graphic Designer: Mark Knight Graphic Designer: Matt Penberthy Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 1 Champion Park London SE5 8FJ

From the editor’s desk Simple acts of kindness can make an enormous difference to people’s lives, especially when they are facing difficult or traumatic situations.

It was being a recipient of kindness, after the death of her husband, that prompted Church of England priest Ellen Loudon to reflect on the nature and practice of kindness and bring those reflections together in a book, Project Kindness.

In an interview in this week’s War Cry, Ellen explains how she held conversations around the subject with dozens of people from a wide variety of ages and backgrounds. One thing became clear to her: kindness is about more than just being nice.

Ellen sees kindness as being firmly linked with justice and humility, and as something needed to bring hope for a better future. ‘It’s kindness – those small or big acts – that will break down hostility and bring more justice to the world,’ she says.

A competition may not seem an obvious place to look for demonstrations of kindness, and yet it can be. With the imminent return to our screens of Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off, there has been a great deal of interest surrounding its newest judge, food writer and TV cook Nigella Lawson. And, as Emily Bright notes in her Team Talk this week, Nigella recently commented that the show ‘is all about being good-natured’. The competing bakers often support and encourage each other, especially when culinary catastrophe threatens.

In these times, we need kindness to cut through the clamour of hostility and fear that can often dominate the public sphere. The Bible frequently talks about the loving-kindness of God. In Jesus it was revealed in human flesh. And, if we accept this loving-kindness, it can make a huge difference to us.

When you’ve read the War Cry, why not pass it on ➔ ➔ ➔

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Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org Founders: Catherine and William Booth International leaders: General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham Territorial leaders: Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main Editor-in-Chief: Major Andrew Stone 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

INFO Your local Salvation Army centre

FEATURES

3

Breaking up?

Lawyers face family dramas in The Split Up

6

How kind?

New book reflects on personal experiences of kindness

9

Finding God in China One woman’s unorthodox route from teacher to church minister

13 Letters to the future Celebrities share stories, secrets and sage advice REGULARS

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Team Talk and War Cry World

12 What Did He Say? 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: BBC/SISTER PICTURES

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Aria hopes to run the family firm

Breaking up is hard to do Lawyer supports a couple considering divorce TV preview: The Split Up BBC1 and iPlayer

By Claire Brine

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ivorce can be brutal – but there’s no need for stress: Kishan Law is ready to guide heartbroken couples through the necessary proceedings in new legal drama The Split Up. At the centre of this spin-off from BBC1’s The Split is Aria (Ritu Arya), a rising star of a lawyer, who is hoping to run the firm when her father, Dhruv (Sanjeev Bhaskar), retires. It has been a difficult time for him lately, coming to terms with the recent death of his wife.

Aria, too, is grieving her mum. To take care of both of her parents during her mother’s illness, she’d moved back into the family home and postponed her wedding. But now the pressure is on to get the marriage plans back on track.

The trouble is that Aria’s mind is on work more than matrimony.

When she catches a TV news report that Marriage Works podcasters Tash (Jane Horrocks) and Alex (Lenny Henry) are facing marital problems, she’s intrigued. To the public, they seemed a solid celebrity couple. But headlines reveal that Tash has been caught cheating.

It’s a huge story – and, depending on what happens next, could be the biggest case of Aria’s career. She contacts Alex to offer him a consultation as he considers the future of his relationship.

When the pair meet, it’s clear that Alex

is struggling to accept Tash’s infidelity.

He fears their relationship is broken beyond repair. Aria promises Alex that if he chooses to begin divorce proceedings, she will support him.

‘Divorce is like cutting off a limb,’ she says. ‘There will be days that you’ll feel like you won’t make it to the other side.

But trust me, you will get through this.

And I’ll be there every step of the way.’

Alex has a big decision to make. He knows that divorce could be one of the most painful experiences of his life – but he takes comfort from Aria’s seemingly genuine assurances that he wouldn’t have to go through it alone.

Whether we face divorce, bereavement, illness or other circumstances that hurt us, our burdens are often lighter when we can share them with someone who cares.

We may be surrounded by loved ones to help us – but that’s not always the case. And even if we do have offers of support, we may keep quiet about our deepest struggles because we feel that no one would really understand them.

Sometimes, we just feel utterly alone in our pain.

We needn’t.

The Bible tells us that Jesus is willing to support us every single day. When we turn to him, we are never alone, whatever tomorrow may bring.

When his followers were preparing

to spread the good news about God’s love across the world, they had no idea of what the future would hold or of the troubles that might await them. But Jesus assured them: ‘I will be with you always, to the end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20 Good News Bible).

They – and countless people since – have found his words to ring true.

When we take our troubles to Jesus, we open ourselves up to receive the deepest love in return. With him, we can have a trusted companion by our side for life – for better, for worse.

Alex has learnt that his wife has cheated 19 September 2026 • WAR CRY • 3

Team talk TEAM WA Life is what you bake it

Emily Bright gives her take on a story that has caught the attention of War Cry reporters The Great British Bake Off returns for a 17th showstopping series on Channel 4 on Tuesday (22 September). And its newest judge, Nigella Lawson, is rising to the occasion.

In a feature in The Times, Nigella explained that she isn’t trying to fill the choux of her predecessors, Mary Berry and restaurateur Prue Leith.

‘Mary was great, Prue was great; I can’t be either of them,’ she said.

‘I think that when you get in to comparing yourself with other people, you either feel a sense of deep self-hatred or anxiety.’

The key ingredients of GBBO’s format, which may help Nigella’s addition to the mix, are kindness and inclusivity. Contestants of all backgrounds support one another. And the presenters and judges are there to celebrate baking, rather than to tear bakers apart.

‘I think the show is all about being good-natured,’ Nigella told journalist Sathnam Sanghera. She added that Bake Off is ‘about treating other people with respect. It’s not about you having to agree with everyone, you having to have the same political philosophy. Just have good manners.’

In a world increasingly contaminated by anger, hostility and emphasis on difference, GBBO’s return offers a refreshing change of focus. It tantalises my TV tastebuds. As I reflect on the show’s ethos, I can also see parallels with my Christian faith.

I’m reminded of the words of Peter, a follower of Jesus, who devoted his life to sharing God’s love: ‘Show respect for all people. Love your brothers and sisters in God’s family’ (1 Peter 2:17 Easy-to-Read Version).

It’s such great advice. Treating others with respect and loving other people – regardless of our differences – is essential to creating a healthier and happier society.

I’m far from perfect. Some days, I get frustrated with people who view the world very differently from me. But Peter’s words got me thinking: if I approached every person I encountered with a signature love and respect, how much sweeter would life be?

Loving other people is essential

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Charity shop offers sense of purpose A Londoner living with severe dyslexia and anxiety has found new purpose and a sense of security by volunteering at a Salvation Army charity shop.

Life has often seemed uncertain for Adam, who has faced challenges from a young age, feeling unsafe in unfamiliar environments and struggling to find his place in the world.

After the isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic, he felt those anxieties strongly. But the simple step of walking into his local Salvation Army shop in Hackney opened the door to something new.

When he began as a volunteer, Adam found a supportive environment where he could grow in confidence at his own pace. With encouragement from staff, he developed new routines, learnt practical skills and discovered a sense of purpose.

His passion for gaming became a strength too, helping the shop generate income through his specialist knowledge.

‘For me, it’s a safe place,’ Adam says. ‘I can help others and put people first.’

Adam’s experience is an example of an often unseen work of The Salvation Army: creating spaces where people feel safe enough to grow, contribute and belong.

The Salvation Army provides bespoke local support through some 600 centres across the UK. To support your local Salvation Army services visit salvationarmy.org.uk/ big-connection

Do you have a story to share? a warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk TheWarCryUK

B salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry

ALAMY/LIAM MURPHY

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Striker aims to learn from setback

Bible rings true for boxing champ Irish boxer Katie Taylor thanked God after contesting her last fight before retirement.

Standing in the ring after completing a victory over Flora Pili, the London 2012 gold medallist and three-time undisputed world champion told the 83,000 fans at Croke Park in Dublin and TV viewers: ‘I just wanted to give thanks to God for putting this gift in me as a child, giving me the talent and just giving me the strength to achieve it.’

Katie went on to quote Psalm 18 in the Bible, which speaks of God training hands for battle and giving strength.

‘I’ve taken that Psalm as God’s promise to me throughout my whole career,’ she said. ‘So thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord, for all we’ve accomplished together.

I give you all the glory and the honour.’

Katie Taylor speaks during a press conference in Croke Park after her fight

Renters are ‘going without food’ to meet costs Almost four in five renters had to make ‘painful sacrifices’ in the past year – including going without food or selling possessions – so they could meet household costs, according to a new report by The Salvation Army.

Holding on at All Costs reveals the results of a YouGov survey of 1,100 renters in Great Britain, which discovered that in the past 12 months around 75 per cent of renters struggled with at least one core housing-related cost, such as rent, council tax or utilities.

As a result, 53 per cent of respondents had cut back on heating, 25 per cent had skipped meals and 36 per cent had cut back on essentials such as toiletries and travel in order to pay their bills.

In the report, The Salvation Army says that the UK and devolved governments should increase housing supply and affordability through investment in social housing; reform universal credit to cover essential living costs; and work with charities, faith groups and businesses to provide consistent and tailored local support.

Lieut-Colonel Nick Coke, secretary for communications, writes in the report: ‘The Salvation Army will continue to provide practical help, friendship and hope. But crisis support cannot become a substitute for fair systems.

Governments at all levels must lead the way, working with the faith and charity sector, communities and wider society to ensure that everyone can afford not simply a roof over their head, but a safe, secure and dignified home from which they can build a life.’

19 September 2026 • WAR CRY • 5

BBC/CTVC

England footballer Michelle Agyemang described her Christian faith as ‘the key’ to her life on BBC1’s Songs of Praise, telling presenter Sean Fletcher: ‘Every single thing that I have, even me being alive, is down to God’s mercy and grace.’

The Lioness, whose crucial goals helped England to win the Euros last year, looked back on her Christian upbringing while showing Sean around the church she attends.

She said: ‘Going to Sunday school and learning about Jesus, learning about the Bible and things like that, it clicked that Jesus loves me. He’s there for me and I want to build a relationship with Jesus.’

Although Michelle is currently recovering from an ACL injury, she told Sean that the setback didn’t damage her faith.

‘I’ve learnt to never blame God but rather ask him what he wants me to learn from this,’ she said. ‘Whatever God has in plan for the next couple of years, we’ll see. I’m excited for it already.’

Michelle with ‘Songs of Praise’ presenter Sean Fletcher

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‘Kindness: it’s more than just being nice’ ROB BA TT

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The Rev Canon Dr Ellen Loudon

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hen her husband died from cancer five years ago, the Rev Canon Dr Ellen Loudon found that the kindness of others carried her through the intense pain of grief.

‘I used to think that kindness was just about “being nice” to people – but I discovered that it’s far more robust than that,’ says Ellen, the director of social justice for the Church of England in the Liverpool area. ‘The way people turned up for me as I faced trauma and tragedy went far beyond being nice. I started to think more about kindness and how people experienced and practised it. I wanted to dig deeper into what kindness means and explore why it’s so important.’

Ellen contacted dozens of people that she knew to be kind and asked if she could interview them about their experiences of kindness, how they’re inspired to show it and what the word means to them. Reflections on her conversations are published in her new book Project Kindness.

‘Some of the contributors are motivated to be kind because of their Christian faith,’ she tells me. ‘But there were others I spoke to who weren’t Christians, and they are motivated purely by the value of kindness. And I think that’s the treasure of it. I consider kindness to be a gift from God – and if it’s a gift from God, then it’s a gift for everybody, whether they have faith or not.’

One of the first people Ellen interviewed was Bridgerton actress and theatre director Adjoa Andoh, who is a licensed lay minister in the Church of England. She described kindness as ‘a muscular thing’.

‘Adjoa is a fascinating person and one of the most ethical people I know,’ says Ellen. ‘Her challenge to me was: “What will you risk for kindness?” It was like a lightbulb moment.

‘For Adjoa, kindness is a strict regime that involves

taking risks: the risk of helping somebody, of backing a campaign, of giving our time to a charity – even if that charity doesn’t end up succeeding in its endeavours. It was clear that Adjoa was very motivated to be kind by her faith.’

The actress was also keen to state that kindness is ‘not soft, it’s not squishy’ – even if that’s how some people see it.

‘I fear that kindness has become a bit of a meme,’ says Ellen. ‘You know: “Just be nice to everybody.” But the Bible aligns kindness with justice and humility.

Micah 6:8 says that God requires us “to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly” with him. It’s not possible to do one of those things without doing the others. If you leave a bit out, the circle isn’t complete and the danger is that injustice will go unchecked.

‘Justice is imbued with kindness. And both of those actions require humility.

If we think our kindness alone is going to change the world, that’s not humble thinking. But if we consider that our kindness can contribute to the changing of the world alongside others, then it’s amazing.

‘I think that’s what Adjoa was getting at: kindness is robust, it has to be

consistent. It’s about showing up. And even when it’s hard, you’ve still got to be kind anyway.’

You can get a buzz out of being kind

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nother contributor to Ellen’s book was pop musician-turned-priest the Rev Richard Coles.

The author and radio presenter explained that kindness was about ‘making an effort of imagination’, telling Ellen: ‘Once I have tried to imagine what it’s like to be [another] person, I try to think about something I might do to their benefit rather than detriment... A lot of it is trying to dial down your self-regard and dial up your awareness of others.’

Richard also said that he had to be careful with kindness, because he recognised its potential to foster in him a false sense of pride, or show him a ‘flattering reflection’ of his character.

‘I was shocked by his honesty,’ says Ellen. ‘He shared with me a story about his attempt to help a grieving friend, who responded by saying: “You’re really getting off on this, aren’t you?” It was a

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Actress Adjoa Andoh and the Rev Richard Coles talked to Ellen about what kindness means to them

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19 September 2026 • WAR CRY • 7

From page 7

moment in which Richard felt caught out, admitting his feeling of: “If I’m kind to this person, I’ll get a buzz out of it.”

‘It’s difficult, because I think that’s part of the gift of kindness. When you show it, you do often get a buzz out of it in return.

By creating kindness for someone else, you also receive it.’

Kindness will break down hostility

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n her efforts to understand kindness in its broadest sense, Ellen interviewed people of all ages, from a variety of backgrounds. Muslim chaplain Adam Kelwick opened up to her about his belief that everyone has kindness inside them – ‘sometimes you just need to activate it’.

TV chef Andi Oliver referred to kindness as a ‘gentle armour’. Children from St Cleopas Church of England Primary School in Liverpool put forward the idea that God is ‘100 per cent kind’.

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Ellen with TV chef Andi Oliver, who has contributed to the ‘Project Kindness’ book

8 • WAR CRY • 19 September 2026

It’s a view that Ellen holds personally, and she cites Jesus – God in human flesh – as her evidence.

‘Jesus was so consistent,’ she explains. ‘In the Bible, when he meets people who are struggling in life – those who have issues with their mental health, their physical wellbeing or even those who distrust authority – he asks them: “What do you want me to do for you?”

In other words: “How am I going to intervene in your life in the way that will bring you the most hope and meaning?”

He turns up for people, whatever their difficult situation. He notices things that others can’t see.

‘But Jesus also recognises his own need for the loving-kindness of God, his Father. In his deepest moments of despair, in the Garden of Gethsemane before his death, Jesus reaches out for God’s love. And I think he wants us to recognise that we, too, can have that same access to God.’ At the end of her book, Ellen laments

the ways in which the human race has failed to be kind in the past. But she urges her readers to accept that ‘this is the time to make kindness our present and our future’. She believes there is hope for a better world.

‘We are living in a period where there is a lot of hostility, a lot of shouting on social media and online cruelty,’ she tells me. ‘But it’s kindness – those small or big acts – that will break down hostility and bring more justice to the world. As Adjoa says, we need to be muscular in our kindness. We need to take risks.

‘Just one thunderclap of kindness can turn meanness around – and it’s what we are all longing for.’ l Project Kindness is published by Canterbury Press

‘I travelled to find myself – but ended up discovering something more’

‘F Claire Henwood

CLAIRE HENWOOD reveals how visits to India and Thailand followed by 10 years of living in China changed the direction of her life Interview by Ewan Hall

or a very long time I had never experienced a church,’ says Claire Henwood, ‘except that I went once with my nan when I was around nine years old.’

Things have changed. Last year, Claire became the minister of King Street Baptist Church in the Norfolk market town of Thetford – the result of a sense of a calling from God that took shape thousands of miles away, in China.

Claire had begun to sense God’s presence in her life while working as a teacher in London.

‘I was running gospel choirs in my school,’ she says. ‘And whenever we sang, the spirit in the room was amazing.’

At the time, Claire was facing problems in her home life.

‘The relationship I had with my stepson broke down,’ she says. ‘I had helped to raise him for 12 years, and so what happened broke my world apart.’

Hoping to find herself, she travelled to India and Thailand.

In India, she says, she saw ‘God at work in so many ways’.

She explains: ‘I was deeply moved being among people who possessed very little by worldly standards, yet who radiated a profound joy and generosity.

It challenged the modern materialistic outlook we have in the West. The people may not have been Christians, but they reflected the gospel message.

‘When I returned from India and Thailand, I kept reading and then rereading the Bible. I felt I wasn’t finding myself; I was finding God.’ Claire’s journey of faith was just beginning – and so were her travels.

‘I have always been the person that people come to when they are facing

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From page 9 challenges in their lives, but I wanted to know what God wanted me to do with my own life,’ she says. ‘So I asked God: “Lord, what do you have for me?” And he led me to China.’

Claire travelled to the country to work as a teacher training supervisor. And it was during her days in Suzhou and Nanjing that her fledgling faith developed further – in perhaps unexpected ways.

‘In China I was surrounded by expatriates from all over – South Africa, America and Canada,’ she says. ‘They had gone over there, hoping that companies would scoop them up. But all the while, they were facing issues such as language barriers, being underage and

mental health problems.

‘It was at this time that I realised my reason for being in China was bigger than just me knowing the Lord for myself – God had taken me there to do things through me.

I pulled a teenager down from a crane

‘I

t wasn’t until I had to pull an 18-yearold down from a crane that I knew that God was with me. The teenager had planned to end it all, but that evening I – with help – managed to get him down and move him into an apartment next to mine.

After that, I was on suicide watch for him.

I was praying for him, and he would come to me for prayer too.

‘Over time, more and more people were joining the corridor where I lived.

By the end of my time there, I had more people coming to me for prayer. It was like a door had been opened – and it just evolved into a church. Chinese nationals were joining us too.’

In China, practising Christianity is legal but only under strict supervision.

‘Our Christian fellowship had to be somewhat undercover,’ explains Claire. ‘But, because I had not been a churchgoer before, what we did seemed normal at first, because it was all I knew.

‘Things like Communion would often be interwoven into what looked like an ordinary birthday party or social gathering. You had to keep it

Claire exploring during her times in India and China

10 • WAR CRY • 19 September 2026

Claire outside her church in Thetfor d

low-key. So, on the outside, it might come across as people getting together for a drink and some cake, when really it was an opportunity for fellowship and worship.’

After spending 10 years in China, Claire returned to the UK and worked again as a teacher. However, she felt her calling was in another field.

‘When I returned to teaching, something remarkable began to happen,’ she says.

‘Colleagues who were struggling with mental health challenges began exploring faith – with many finding churches, being baptised and coming to Christ.

‘Around the same time, I joined a worship organisation, became one of its directors and later started a podcast called Just Worship Sessions. To my surprise, it took off, particularly among non-believers, with many saying it brought them a sense of peace.

‘Looking back, I can see that God was

using these experiences to prepare me for what came next. It felt as though God was opening doors everywhere.

‘Eventually, I felt called to leave teaching, despite being the sole provider for my family. Soon afterwards, I was offered a role as a youth pastor.

The Lord always built me back up again

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hen the church’s pastor left, I found myself leading services and preaching regularly. Although the church had been struggling, it gradually began to revive through new worship initiatives, outreach and the podcast.’

Claire decided to train for formal church ministry. Ever since then, she has consistently felt guided by God. Looking back on her faith journey,

Claire believes that her experiences as a teacher in the UK, her travels in India and Thailand and her time in China prepared her for ministry.

‘The Lord refines you,’ she explains.

‘He breaks you down and builds you back up. He certainly did that with me in China.

I faced many scenarios that broke me, but the Lord has always built me back up again – a bit like kintsugi, the traditional Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics with gold, silver or platinum.

‘After everything I have been through, nothing fazes me now. Many of my former college tutors and the people I trained alongside would describe me as bold, strong and courageous – someone who isn’t easily swayed. Looking back, I believe the Lord was using those qualities to prepare me for where I am now.

‘Everything I do is to stand bold for the Lord so that others can find him too.’

19 September 2026 • WAR CRY • 11

What did he say?

Prayerlink The War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their ­circumstances, for publication.

Send your Prayerlink requests to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk or to War Cry, 1 Champion Park, Lon­don SE5 8FJ. Mark your correspondence ‘Confidential’.

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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 know that I have done things in my life that are wrong and I’m sorry.

Thank you that I can ask you for forgiveness because of the sacrifice you made when you died on the cross.

Please forgive me and help me to live a better life in the future as I learn how to love you and follow your way of living.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Lynne Shaw takes a look at some of the significant sayings of Jesus Do to others as you would have them do to you – Luke 6:31 How we treat others says a lot about our moral compass, our culture, our mood and our thinking. In other words, our treatment of others can be complex. Thankfully, Jesus shared a positive principle that helps us sift through the complexity: Do to others as you would have them do to you.

The maxim can also be flipped: Don’t do to someone else something that would hurt you.

Both the positive and negative versions of this advice ask us to be self-aware in order to be better aware of others and what could hurt or help them.

How would you like to be treated? With fairness, respect, compassion, understanding and patience? These are the best qualities to offer when we approach someone. Would you want to experience rudeness, injustice or prejudice?

If not, don’t make someone else experience them. We can judge our own actions towards others by asking if we would accept the same type of treatment.

When we read the Gospel of Luke, we see that Jesus also asked: ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?’ (6:32 New International Version).

This gives us some insight into the range of people we should treat as we would wish to be treated.

It is fairly easy to treat well those who love us and treat us well. It is so much harder – but important – to treat those we dislike, disagree with or even think of as our enemies with the same kindness, respect or compassion that we would wish to be shown.

This way of living is not about being a doormat, but about choosing an approach towards others, whoever they are, that sees first their humanity. Once we have recognised that they have a heart and mind just as we do, we can think about what we would like and need, and offer the same to them.

Acting in this way doesn’t guarantee that others will treat us in the way we want to be treated. But we can be sure that it reflects Jesus’ loving approach to us and his desire for us to live a fulfilling and purpose-filled life.

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SARAH CRESSWELL

Adeel Akhtar and (below) Sophie Ellis-Bextor have written letters to themselves

Yours sincerely

Celebrities’ letters reveal the truth in stage show Feature by Claire Brine

QUICK QUIZ 1 2 3 4 5 6

Fictional group Huntrix are the subject of which animated film released last year?

Which scooter manufacturer is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year?

Who wrote the novel White Teeth?

Which country won this year’s Fifa Men’s World Cup? What does the Danish word ‘velkomst’ mean in English?

Which band had a No 1 hit in 1995 with their album These Days?

ANSWERS

A

ctor Adeel Akhtar and singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor are among the stars of stage and screen who are stepping into the spotlight at London’s Royal Festival Hall to share their stories, secrets and sage advice.

For the show Letters to My Younger Future Self – which takes place on Sunday (20 September) – a host of celebrities were asked to put pen to paper and write candidly about their past, present and future. What did they want to say to themselves?

The production, which will also feature letters written by Judi Dench, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Richard E Grant, marks the 70th anniversary of the National Youth Theatre – a young people’s arts charity whose alumni include Daniel Craig, Helen Mirren and Matt Smith.

Writer and performer Krishna Istha, who has been helping to put the letterwriting show together, describes it as ‘a box of chocolates’.

‘You get loads of different stories, experiences and feelings,’ they explain in an interview on the National Youth Theatre’s Substack. ‘You might get to hear perspectives like yours, but you might also get to hear perspectives you’ve never heard before.’

It can be refreshing to consider a new point of view. When we listen to people whose stories are different from our own, we are likely to learn more about the world around us. Sometimes their words may even challenge us to change our actions or inspire us to see life from a new perspective.

When Jesus told those who listened to him just how much their heavenly Father, God, loved them and was willing to forgive their wrongdoing, they were astounded. When he explained that a life honouring God meant loving one’s enemies, caring for people ignored by society and not judging others for their mistakes, they were prompted to reconsider their purpose in life.

Though he preached 2,000 years ago, Jesus’ words still challenge us. He urges us to love our neighbour. To share our wealth. To confess our wrongdoing to God and receive his forgiveness. To start a new life with his love as our focus. Is our future self up for it?

19 September 2026 • WAR CRY • 13

1. KPop Demon Hunters. 2. Vespa. 3. Zadie Smith.

4. Spain. 5. Welcome. 6. Bon Jovi.

PUZZLES Quick CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Female horse (4) 3. Burst (3) 5. Creep (4) 7. Colleague (9) 9. Slant (4) 10. Cut (4) 11. Produce (5) 14. Snapshot (5) 15. Corpulent (5) 17. Apparent (5) 18. Characteristic (5) 19. Similar (5) 20. Holiday accommodation (5) 23. Quick look (4) 25. Net (4) 27. Killed (9) 28. Quick (4) 29. Extremity (3) 30. Portent (4) DOWN 1. Haze (4) 2. Compass point (4) 3. Investigate (5) 4. Arrogance (5) 5. Jot (4) 6. Grasped (4)

7. Given (9) 8. Hastened (9) 11. Kiosk (5) 12. Eminent (5) 13. Sum (5) 14. Container (3) 16. Watch (3)

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

6 3 7 5 5 4 2 9 6 3 7 2 1 4 6 8 3 4 2 7 2 9 6 2 7 8 3 4 1 5 3 21. Group of eight (5) 22. Arouse (5) 23. Gust (4) 24. Retained (4) 25. Note (4) 26. Song of praise (4)

M O HONEYC B Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number 1. Medicine 2. Not in the correct pitch (3-3) 3. Tax to be paid 4. Golf club carrier 5. Dark area 6. Verbal communication

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

HONEYCOMB 1. Remedy. 2. Off-key. 3. Tariff.

4. Caddie. 5. Shadow. 6. Speech.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Mare. 3. Pop. 5. Inch. 7. Associate.

9. Tilt. 10. Axed. 11. Beget. 14. Photo. 15. Obese.

17. Overt. 18. Trait. 19. Alike. 20. Hotel. 23. Peek.

25. Mesh. 27. Destroyed. 28. Fast. 29. Toe. 30. Omen.

DOWN: 1. Mist. 2. East. 3. Probe. 4. Pride. 5. Iota.

6. Held. 7. Allocated. 8. Expedited. 11. Booth.

12. Great. 13. Total. 14. Pot. 16. Eye. 21. Octet.

22. Evoke. 23. Puff. 24. Kept. 25. Memo. 26. Hymn.

14 • WAR CRY • 19 September 2026

SUDOKU

W RDSEARCH Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these AI assistants and tools

U Z U V XWO D G B L N O A QO K V Q V S Y N T H E S I A A V R V Z P C WP S Z T I ME G X Q E HMA E G I O RWE R I Q P U B EMK BMR F S J X J L NWX S Z Y EWHMAMN V Z P B I F I R E F L Y J F MS HM J Y G C L A U D E L N E KMR Z Y Y I I Y S V U R B K Q P N A A P E P K F H L PMDWA P U H R L V C G A T H Y D PWV K S OO L U E T Z Q I WK Q D P G Z U N Z Y L O X P B A F I C U E I WN L R U J V J A G A L Q Z X C J R N Z D P E H F D A TWEMY L WC I C N E A P Y V I E A L J SWT NWSWH L V L Y PMD H D P B K D B V Z D D Q T O L I P O C Q H V Q E H A X F ZMD R I E L C D L T Q R J K D Q L Y Q R D Q H K P Y P Y A O E ALEXA BIXBY CHATGPT CLAUDE COPILOT DALL-E DEEPSEEK FIREFLY

GEMINI GRAMMARLY META AI MIDJOURNEY PERPLEXITY SIRI SYNTHESIA VEO

SERVES 4

BBQ hot smoked salmon and spring greens INGREDIENTS

METHOD

1tbsp olive oil

Preheat an uncovered barbecue to 180C.

6 cavolo nero leaves, roughly chopped

Mix the oil together with the cavolo nero leaves, peas, capers, red onion and orange segments in a bowl. When the barbecue is hot, transfer them to a barbecue basket and cook until lightly charred. Season the warm salad with salt and pepper and set aside.

50g garden peas 1tbsp capers 1 red onion, finely sliced 1 orange, segmented Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Handful BBQ-smoked oak chunks 1 MSC salmon side Smoked sea salt 2tbsp honey 1tsp wholegrain mustard 1 orange, juice 4tbsp pickled beetroot, grated 1tbsp fresh dill, chopped Edible flowers (optional)

SERVES 2

Add the oak chunks to the barbecue and close the lid to generate smoke. Place the salmon in the barbecue and cook for 8-10 minutes, glazing regularly with a mix of the smoked sea salt, honey, mustard and orange juice. Brush both sides evenly to keep the fish moist.

Once the salmon is cooked through and the glaze is sticky, remove the fish and serve with the warm salad, pickled beetroot, dill and, if using, the edible flowers.

Salmon linguine with chilli oil INGREDIENTS

METHOD

200g linguine

Cook the linguine according to the packet instructions.

2tbsp chilli oil, plus extra to serve 1 shallot, finely diced 3 garlic cloves, finely diced 1tbsp capers 400g MSC wild Pacific red salmon 1 lemon, zest 1tbsp fresh dill, chopped Small handful rocket leaves 2tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a pan, then add the shallot, garlic and capers and cook on a medium heat for 4-5 minutes, until softened.

Add the salmon, lemon zest and dill.

Add a spoonful of the pasta cooking water and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Transfer the cooked pasta to the pan using a slotted spoon. Add the rocket and Parmesan, then cook together for 1 minute.

Season with salt and pepper.

Serve with a drizzle of oil.

Salt and freshly ground black pepper Recipes by James Strawbridge reprinted courtesy of the Marine Stewardship Council.

For more information visit website msc.org

19 September 2026 • WAR CRY • 15

Rob Moye