War Cry 2 April 2022

Encouragement to take action on World Health Day

WAR CRY

2 April 2022 50p

Pilgrims progress Celebrities set out on a journey in TV series

Volunteering is Lynn’s cup of tea

What is The Salvation Army?

From the editor’s desk

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.

IN the English language, an opportunity is a versatile thing. It can be golden, a window, missed, lost, jumped at and, of course, it has the ability to knock.

Usually, an opportunity is considered something to be prized.

Most parents hope that their child will have opportunities to get a good education with the thought that it will then give their offspring more opportunities in work and life in general.

However hard their parents may hope for this, though, some people find those opportunities are not always open to them.

When he became a father, John Hodgkinson would have had such hopes for his daughter Lynn. But, after Lynn experienced serious brain damage when she was six months old, John saw his daughter’s opportunities diminish as she found it impossible to get a job after leaving school.

However, in this week’s War Cry, John describes how members of The Salvation Army in Swadlincote offered Lynn the opportunity to volunteer with them, and he and Lynn describe the difference this has made to her life.

The article also includes the reflections of one of the leaders of The Salvation Army in the Derbyshire town, Major Marjory Parrott.

‘It’s brilliant having Lynn, because she’s always so enthusiastic. You see her lovely smile, and she has got such a good memory,’ Marjory tells us.

She also explains why The Salvation Army gave this opportunity to Lynn.

‘The Bible says that God created humanity in his image,’ she says. ‘There is nothing about some people being better than others. We believe that we need to reflect that.’ She adds: ‘At The Salvation Army we aim to play to the strengths that God has given to each person.’

Christians believe in seeing the worth of every individual, regardless of who they are, their health or their life experiences.

God loves and values everyone and, as ad the War C his followers, Christians aim to take the e re ry u’v opportunity to demonstrate that truth in their own actions.

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 7570

When yo

Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN

CONTENTS

Tel: 0845 634 0101 Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill Editor-in-Chief: Major Mal Davies

FEATURES

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6

for TV series 5

Health check

Why it’s good for us to care for the planet 6

‘What do I enjoy most? Everything’

How volunteering can make a difference

INFO

9

O

A culture of inclusion

Caring for children with autism

9 15

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To be a pilgrim Celebrities follow in a monk’s footsteps

Published weekly by The Salvation Army © The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory ISSN 0043-0226 The Salvation Army Trust is a registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399.

Printed by CKN Print, Northampton, on sustainably sourced paper

Your local Salvation Army centre

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Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Ivan Radford Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku Staff Writer: Emily Bright Staff Writer: Claire Brine Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston Graphic Designer: Mark Knight

REGULARS 4

War Cry World

12 Team Talk 13 Wisdom in the Words 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: BBC/CTVC/SAM PALMER

BBC/CTVC/SAM PALMER

Seven celebrity pilgrims take a 900-mile journey to explore faith

A road well travelled I

T’S not quite walking on sunshine for the seven celebrities who follow in the footsteps of Irish monk Columba as they trundle through 15 very rainy days for BBC Two’s Pilgrimage: The Road to the Scottish Isles, which begins on Friday (8 April).

The group’s 900-mile journey begins in Donegal in the Republic of Ireland, then takes them through Northern Ireland and by boat to western Scotland. They head up the Highlands before arriving at their destination: Iona, often described as the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland.

While the pilgrimage follows the path of an important figure in Christianity, the pilgrims represent a range of beliefs.

Interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen describes himself as a nonconforming pagan, cricketer Monty Panesar is a Sikh, actress Louisa Clein is Jewish, TV personality Nick Hewer is agnostic, social media influencer and former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt is a Christian, comedian Shazia Mirza is Muslim and Paralympic table tennis player Will Bayley says he is a lapsed Christian.

In the first episode, the group visits St Augustine’s in Derry, a church that is built up around a sixth-century monastery. The

Celebrity pilgrims walk the path of the monk who took Christianity to Scotland Feature by Sarah Olowofyeku monastery is said to have been founded

by Columba, who is held in high regard by many Protestants and Catholics in Ireland.

As well as looking at the legacy of Columba’s life, the pilgrims get an insight into the legacy of Ireland’s history. They meet people who are working towards peace and reconciliation after the conflict in the country. They speak to a woman whose husband was killed by the IRA and a woman who was in the IRA – a pair who, motivated by their faith, are working for peace.

Getting acquainted with the Irish landscape, the pilgrims walk through the places where Columba is said to have walked. They stop at a site called the Stone of Gathering – a moment that proves to be more significant for some members of the group than others.

Some of the pilgrims take the opportunity to make jokes, which causes Scarlett to become more aware of how

Scarlett discovered faith in childhood

serious her faith is to her. Growing emotional, she recalls what having a connection to God means, saying: ‘I’ve been through dark times and without him I wouldn’t have got through.’

Talking about her faith, she describes how it was something she discovered in childhood. ‘I had big teeth and a monobrow as a kid,’ she says. ‘I spent a lot of time reading books and on my own. I found religion fascinating. To me it felt calming to know that I wasn’t on my own.’ Later, she tells her fellow pilgrims: ‘I think it’s lovely that I’ve never felt alone, even when I’m at my loneliest.’

Scarlett shares that sentiment with millions of people in many parts of the world. In good times and bad times on the journey of life, people who have chosen to walk with God have found that he is with them, guiding and comforting them.

And, no matter who we are, a life with God is one that any of us can step into, any time, any place.

2 April 2022 • WAR CRY • 3

twxcxzWt The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

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Co-operation over restoration CHRISTIANS are uniting to restore the stone floor of their holiest site in Jerusalem, reported the Independent.

Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic churches will be working together on the restoration in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on what many Christians believe to be the site where Jesus was crucified, died and rose again.

The large-scale project will include an excavation, which will allow for an in-depth archaeological study of the floor under the church’s pavement. Experts from the Sapienza University of Rome will undertake the work, in co-ordination with the Franciscan Faculty of Biblical Sciences and Archaeology in Jerusalem.

In an opening ceremony for the project, Greek Orthodox Church Patriarch Theophilos III said: ‘As we care for and restore this holy place, we participate in the message of hope that emanates from the holy tomb not just for the Christians, but also for people of goodwill around the world.’

Photographer puts the focus on faith A FORMER commercial photographer has launched a faith project in Bradford.

Kate Abbey, who has been Bradford Cathedral’s photographer in residence since 2020, is putting on an exhibition to document the city’s faith communities, reported the BBC. After working in advertising photography for 20 years, Kate spent the first part of her residency documenting the cathedral when it had been left empty by the coronavirus pandemic. She said: ‘The plan was to document the life of Bradford Cathedral but everything stopped in lockdown so I started photographing empty spaces, chairs dotted wildly and so on.’

As restrictions permitted, she began to take photographs of people in their gardens or on walks. Eventually, she entered people’s homes.

Kate says that, before each portrait, she spends up to 90 minutes talking to the subject to get to know them and found that people often prayed in their bedrooms.

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Church leaders call for green energy strategy MORE than 200 church leaders, including the former archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, signed a letter urging the government to set out a coherent energy strategy.

The letter, which included suggestions for tackling energy inefficiency and implementing a windfall tax on fossil fuel companies, was supported by a number of Christian charities including Christian Aid, Tearfund and Cafod.

It called on the government to stop new oil or gas developments, which it said would not help with energy supply and would exacerbate the climate crisis.

The letter urged the government to provide financial and fiscal support for renewable energy and energy efficiency, claiming that measures would reduce heating bills, decrease carbon emissions and increase energy security. It also called for increased support for vulnerable households who are facing a ‘cost of living crisis’, using measures such as a windfall tax on oil and gas companies.

Cafod director Christine Allen said: ‘It’s never been more clear, nor more urgent, that we need a just transition to a low-carbon economy. For the world’s poor, access to energy is a matter of survival.’

tWwxcxz Salvation Army warns of budget ‘short-term’ fixes THE government’s spring budget is a short-term fix leaving many people unable to escape poverty, The Salvation Army has said.

While welcoming the chancellor’s efforts to mitigate the rise in the cost of living, the church and charity warned that escalating bills would result in many people still struggling to make ends meet.

In a statement, The Salvation Army applauded the government’s decision to increase a household support fund for those in lowincome households and families.

However, it also said the government should provide more long-term solutions, such as investment in skills and employment support to help people break out of low-wage jobs.

It also recommended an expansion of free childcare provision to enable parents to work or train, a focus on investments that lift deprived communities out of poverty, and giving those on universal credit 60 days to pay back their loans to help them avoid falling into debt.

Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant, The Salvation Army’s communications secretary, said: ‘The rising cost of living has hit the poorest the hardest. We see first-hand the pressure families are under.

‘While we are relieved there are measures to tackle the cost of living in the short-term, more needs to be done to help people escape from poverty in the long-term.’

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

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Running a temperature World Health Day highlights how climate change is harming our health Report by Emily Bright

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ET’S take a health check. World Health Day, which takes place annually on 7 April, is this year seeking to raise awareness of the 13 million deaths that are caused every year by avoidable environmental issues.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), which sponsors the day, is highlighting the issues we urgently need to tackle to ensure the health of our fellow humans and the planet and to combat the rise in conditions such as asthma, heart disease and cancer.

The WHO reports that more than 90 per cent of people are breathing in air that is polluted by the burning of fossil fuels, while plastics have found their way into the food chain.

It also says that deaths are already being caused by the effects of climate change, such as extreme weather events, land degradation and water scarcity. The warming world is also enabling mosquitoes to flourish, spreading diseases farther and faster than ever before.

It can be easy to feel overwhelmed at the scale of the worsening health and social challenges facing our world and be left wondering what difference we could possibly make. But collectively we can make a mark if we find the right guidance and outlet for social action.

Many social activists take their inspiration from the Bible. One of its writers urged: ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute… Defend the rights of the poor and needy’ (Proverbs 31:8 and 9 New International Version).

In doing so, he highlighted the nature of the God that he served: one who values social justice, who comes alongside people in their pain and who commissions his followers to help others.

On our own, changing the future of the world in any significant way may seem impossible. But with an all-powerful God at our side, there’s no situation too bleak to transform. If we seek his guidance and wisdom, we can work with him to bring healing to a broken world.

More than 90 per cent of people are breathing polluted air

2 April 2022 • WAR CRY • 5

Volunteer grabs a Lynn Hodgkinson was unable to get a job because of brain damage that she experienced as a baby.

But then she found a new lease of life through volunteering at The Salvation Army Feature by Emily Bright

L

YNN HODGKINSON’S jolly and enthusiastic demeanour lights up my computer screen as we speak over Zoom about her volunteering at Living Bread, a Salvation Army drop-in café in Swadlincote, Derbyshire. It’s clear to see she loves every minute of her work.

‘I do all the cleaning of tables and chairs, make the drinks, do the washing-up, sweep the floor, and I talk to people,’ she says. ‘I’ve been working there for three and a half years.’ When I ask her what she enjoys most, she cheerfully replies: ‘Everything.’

Volunteering with The Salvation Army has given Lynn a new lease of life after no one else was willing to give her a chance at employment. Her brain was seriously damaged more than 50 years ago, when, aged six months, she had an adverse reaction to a

6 • WAR CRY • 2 April 2022

great opportuni-tea

triple vaccination.

She began having fits up to 40 times a day. Gradually, the fits were brought under control with medication, but doctors concluded that her brain was permanently scarred.

Her father, John Hodgkinson, says: ‘It was a terrible, terrible time. She was poorly for years afterwards and didn’t talk or walk until she was about five or six years old.’

After she left a special school aged 18, Lynn couldn’t find work.

John outlines the implications of Lynn’s brain damage: ‘She has got learning difficulties. It’s hard to explain. She can grasp common-sense things. But to work out a serious problem is nearly impossible. She’s no good with money or anything like that. She could never look after her own finances.

‘But she’s the cleanest person you’ll

ever meet. Her bedroom is spectacular.

She won’t have a thing out of place. If you move something a quarter of an inch, she’ll walk into her bedroom, spot it straightaway and put it back. Everything’s got to be perfect, and that’s Lynn.’

Lynn’s life changed for the better when an unexpected volunteering opportunity emerged. Some time after Lynn’s mum died, John packed up her clothes and decided to donate them to The Salvation Army.

‘I was in and out of the charity shop for a few days, and I noticed the sign on the window: “Volunteers required”. I thought to myself: “I wonder if they would take Lynn

on.” So I asked, we applied and Lynn started in the café alongside a lady called Fi.’ Lynn has thrived while volunteering for The Salvation Army, which she does every Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

‘She has worked with different people, and she really enjoys it,’ John says. ‘It has brought her out of her shell, which has been marvellous to see. She loves talking to people and she remembers everybody. Not just that, but she remembers their names, their birthdays, their anniversaries, everything. It has done her a lot of good.

‘It means a great deal to me, because Lynn has never worked before. She absolutely loves it and doesn’t like having any time off whatsoever.’

Equally, The Salvation Army has valued Lynn’s contribution to the café. Major Marjory Parrott, one of the leaders at Swadlincote Salvation Army church,

It has brought Lynn out of her shell

Turn to page 8 f

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The Salvation Army’s Living Bread café in Swadlincote

From page 7 which oversees the cafe, explains more: ‘It’s brilliant having Lynn, because she’s always so enthusiastic. You see her lovely smile, and she has got such a good memory.

‘One morning a week I’m here on my own, and I’m saying to my customers each time: “Sorry, do you take sugar?

How many sugars?” I have to ask them every single week. But Lynn remembers it all. She’s a lovely person to have around.’

Just as Lynn has learnt on the job, so too has Marjory, who has adapted to Lynn’s style of communication.

‘When things don’t quite work out, I have to stop and think and put it in a different way,’ she says. ‘I ask closed yes or no questions rather than an open question like, “What’s your favourite?” as that’s not going to work. But there are so many nice things about her view on life.’

Marjory cites an example of Lynn’s enthusiasm.

‘At Christmas, Lynn and another volunteer decided to decorate the café.

Lynn said to me: “I thought you were going to get the decorations.” I replied: “It looks like it’s going to rain.” But she said: “It’s not raining yet!” So I went out and got the decorations, and Lynn and the other volunteer decorated the space and made it look really Christmassy.’

Reflecting on what Lynn has brought to the café, Marjory says that the Salvation Army church is ‘really fortunate to have Lynn’. She continues: ‘I think it’s important

that everyone has a chance. We’ve benefited and grown from meeting Lynn, and from getting a glimpse into her world.’

Marjory’s willingness to include volunteers such as Lynn, who may have been overlooked by others, is shaped by her Christian faith. She explains: ‘The Bible says that God created humanity in his image. There is nothing about some people being better than others. We believe that we need to reflect that.’

Yet she also acknowledges that it’s important to have realistic expectations to ensure that volunteers thrive and enjoy working in a team. It’s about maximising potential, not highlighting weaknesses.

‘It is wrong to set people up to fail,’ she says. ‘God made us all in his image, but not with all the same abilities. At The Salvation Army we aim to play to the strengths that God has given to each person.’

Their encouraging of people to play to their strengths, says Marjory, is demonstrated through Lynn.

‘When she applied to be a volunteer, we

It’s important that everyone has a chance

just put that belief into action. She had the potential, so it was right to give her the opportunity. Just like all of us, Lynn has things within the role that she is better at than others, so those are the things she focuses on.

‘Through Lynn’s volunteering, we all get to see God’s love in action, too – that everyone is important to him, that everyone has something to contribute, and that we all have lessons to learn.’

It’s certainly true that, regardless of life’s difficult experiences, everyone has value as well as something to contribute and plenty to learn. The Salvation Army’s values embody this. It continues to practise what it preaches about inclusion and giving people a chance – and for a volunteer such as Lynn, it’s proved to be just her cup of tea.

Major Marjory Parrott 8 • WAR CRY • 2 April 2022

A place for

everyone

To mark World Autism Acceptance Week, which runs until tomorrow (Sunday 3 April), children’s worker EMMA BACON describes how she has created a culture of inclusion for the autistic children at her church Interview by Sarah Olowofoyeku

E

VERY Sunday, Emma Bacon and her small team of volunteers welcome about 100 children into a place where they are loved, known and accepted. Emma is the full-time children’s worker at Coventry Elim Church. She is passionate about teaching the children in her care about the love of God. But she also has a specific desire to make sure that children with autism in the group experience the same thing.

‘I’ve always seen the need for inclusion,’ she says, as she explains why she set about making the church space more inclusive. ‘Every person and every child should have a sense of belonging in the environments they walk into. I used to hear from parents of children who had autism about how they got looks in the street and how their children were not allowed to go to certain events or didn’t get invited to parties because of their needs.

‘It also made me really sad to hear stories of parents who had taken their kids to church and been told that their children were too naughty so they shouldn’t come in. My heart broke and I was stirred to make a space that is inclusive for parents and children. If anywhere in the world should be accepting, it should be the church.

‘God is a God of inclusion, we are all his children. He wouldn’t turn someone away because of a need; he would welcome them in. So it’s important for us to welcome these children.’

When Emma started the role as her church’s children’s worker five years ago, one of the responsibilities she took on was planning the Sunday morning sessions where children learnt about God through activities and music, and developed friendships.

She took on the role because,

Turn to page 10 f

Emma Bacon

2 April 2022 • WAR CRY • 9

From page 9 she says, ‘God holds children with the greatest honour. The Bible talks about the importance of children’s voices and I believe that God has given gifts to children that they can use to help others. Everyone says that children are the next generation, but I also think that children are the now generation.’

Emma believes that this is true for all children, including those with autism, and she wanted the sessions to be accessible to them all. So she set out to make the church space more inclusive.

‘It wasn’t an easy process,’ she says. ‘At the time, we had two children with autism and they were coming in with their parents every week.

I realised that it meant the parents weren’t able to have their own time of going to church and connecting with God and other people. So we decided to work with the parents to make something happen.

‘We set out activities that were more suitable for the children. We’d look at their interests. For example, one of them loved superheroes, so we spoke about Jesus being a superhero and created worksheets relating to that. And he instantly engaged. There was one point when he wouldn’t do anything in church unless he was wearing a superhero outfit, so we made the space for him to do that, and then he got involved.

We also created a sensory room connected to the main space, where children could go to calm down if they became too overwhelmed during a session.’

There were times when it seemed to Emma that she wasn’t doing a good job and that some of the children weren’t interested.

However, she was pleasantly surprised.

‘When we first started, there was a child who was literally running around the room,’ she recalls. ‘I remember thinking at the time: “I don’t know what to do. She’s

LIBRARY PICTURE POSED BY MODEL

We adapt the space to fit the child

10 • WAR CRY • 2 April 2022

running around, going on the stage, not taking anything in and other children are getting distracted.” For the next few weeks, she kept coming and doing the same thing. Afterwards, though, her mum messaged me and said that she had found her daughter at the computer, writing a PowerPoint about what we had been learning during those past few weeks.

‘All I saw was her running around, but actually she was just expressing herself and she was listening. And us enabling her to do that enabled her to learn about God. ‘Another child loved dancing and singing, so a lot of the time she’d go up to the front and try to take the microphone from us. But, instead

A member of Emma’s additional needs team gives a child one-to-one support with an activity of being frustrated with her and pushing her away, we got her to lead the songs and dance on the stage.

‘Creating an inclusive space isn’t about adapting the child to fit the situation; it’s about adapting the space to fit the child – and we are willing to do that.’

Today, out of the 100 children Emma looks after every Sunday, 10 are autistic.

She has a specific additional needs team, who wear lanyards with visual aids to help the children.

‘A lot of autistic children like to know what’s happening and what to expect. They like routine and consistency,’ says Emma. ‘So having visual routine aids shows them what’s coming next during the morning. But every child with autism is different, so it’s important for us not to treat every child the same. One child will respond to one thing and another child to another.’

Creating a more inclusive space has allowed all the children to contribute to the group – whatever their need.

Emma says: ‘The children with autism bring a sense of joy, which overflows to the other children and to the team. They are just like every other child when it comes to contributing. I believe that all the children have something to offer, whether they’re quiet or loud, whether they’d rather be up at the front or sitting at the back – God created each of them for a purpose.

‘Our autistic children bring their gifts to help the group.

Sometimes that is leading the singing at the front, sometimes that is demonstrating freedom by dancing with no worry about what people think of them and sometimes it can be when they persevere even when they are frustrated by something they can’t do. God has given them just as much as any other child

The sensory room, where children with autism can go if they feel overwhelmed

to contribute.’

There have been challenges. For instance, children without autism did not initially understand the changes.

‘Over time, though, I’ve seen a culture of acceptance built in our children,’ says Emma. ‘They understand what autism is and now they don’t even bat an eyelid if a child with autism is running around while they are sitting down. They accept them and their differences.’

That culture of acceptance is echoed by the National Autistic Society, which this year changed the name of its annual week from World Autism Awareness Week to World Autism Acceptance Week.

Emma comments: ‘A lot of people in the UK have heard of autism. But moving from awareness to acceptance changes people’s mindset. I’m leading an additional needs conference at the church in June, and we’ve called it Belong. Belonging and acceptance go hand in hand, because when you accept someone, they find a sense of belonging.

And I think God’s plan for us all is to find our sense of belonging in his family.’

The children with autism bring joy

2 April 2022 • WAR CRY • 11

Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Anthony, who has osteoarthritis and is experiencing sleep problems.

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, 101 Newington Causeway, Lon­don SE1 6BN. Mark your correspondence ‘Confidential’.

j

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

talk ‘ ’ Team talk TEAM TALK Thankfulness through turmoil Emily Bright gives her take on a story catching the attention of War Cry reporters

‘IN the midst of poor health, extreme sleep deprivation and crippling indecision, I am trying to practise being grateful,’ wrote Premier Christian Radio’s Ruth Jackson, a new mother, in a comment about Lent in The Times.

She said that the period of reflection before Easter offered a ‘chance to pause, recalibrate and recall how much we have to be thankful for’.

Far from taking a sweeping ‘sunshine and rainbows’ approach, Ruth acknowledged that thankfulness and anguish aren’t mutually exclusive in her experience of faith. She highlighted how the Bible is filled with ‘candid exclamations and anguished cries, encouraging us to vocalise our pain’. Yet she also cited the apostle Paul’s instruction to his readers to ‘give thanks in all circumstances’.

Paul was no stranger to struggles – he was attacked, shipwrecked, and faced hunger and thirst – and by our standards, he had every right to grumble. Yet he encouraged the early Christians to cultivate gratitude amid hardship.

Reading Ruth’s article reminded me that there’s room for me to express my struggles honestly to God – who understands my pain when circumstances are difficult – while being thankful to him for the good things that happen.

In fact, Ruth’s article challenged me to be more intentional about gratitude. I wonder if I can sometimes be so consumed by self-pity or struggle that I miss the joy that God brings me. I grumble inwardly when I could celebrate outwardly what God is already doing in my life and give encouragement to others instead.

In two years marked by Covid-19 and now international conflict, I’m learning that it’s OK to cry out to God and be real with him when I need him most. But I also know that I need to balance downbeat introspection with celebrating all the positive things he is already doing, which encourages me to have hope for the future, no matter how daunting global and personal struggles may seem.

Thankfulness and anguish aren’t mutually exclusive

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War Cry 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN

Basic reading about Christianity Information about The Salvation Army

Looking for help?

Contact details of a Salvation Army minister Name Address Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

Or email your details and request to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk 12 • WAR CRY • 2 April 2022

Mal Davies explores song lyrics that have a note of truth about them

Wisdom in the

Q

QUICK QUIZ 1

2

Country singer Dolly Parton recently wrote a novel Run, Rose, Run with which bestselling crime writer?

In which English city is the Balti Triangle, a neighbourhood known for its eateries?

A 3

4

What are the names of the imaginary horizontal and vertical lines round the Earth, measuring distance in degrees and minutes?

‘Cześć’ is a greeting in which European language?

5

The Women’s Cricket World Cup is currently taking place in which country?

6

Actress America Ferrera was the star of which TV comedy about a girl who unexpectedly lands a job at a fashion magazine?

ANSWERS

words This one thing I know I

N 1993, I purchased a CD with one 74-minute song on it … and I have loved it ever since. Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet was released by English composer, arranger and string bass player Gavin Bryars.

Bryars had been working with a friend on a documentary about people experiencing homelessness in inner London. His friend made some recordings of interviews and asked Bryars to help with the audio mix of people singing various popular and classic songs, including one chap who was singing what seemed to be a portion of an old gospel song. He sang: Jesus’ blood never failed me yet, Never failed me yet, Jesus’ blood never failed me yet.

This one thing I know For he loves me so.

Bryars was listening to the recording at home and began playing an accompaniment on his piano.

While the man’s voice was not polished, it was in tune, and Bryars thought he may be able to do something with the recording.

He took it to a studio and made a tape of it on a loop, so that he had more than a 28-second sound clip to work with. As he says in the liner notes for the 1993 CD release: ‘The door of the recording room opened on to one of the large painting studios and I left the tape copying, with the door open, while I went to have a cup of coffee.

‘When I came back, I found the normally lively room unnaturally subdued. People were moving about much more slowly than usual and a few were sitting alone, quietly weeping. I was puzzled until I realised that the tape was still playing and that they had been overcome by the old man’s singing.’

Bryars then arranged a gradually building string accompaniment to the looped vocal line.

The 1971 version was just 25 minutes long, but for the 1993 release, he rearranged it to 74 minutes in length, including a section where American blues singer Tom Waits added a complementary vocal line. Next Sunday (10 April), Gavin Bryars and his ensemble will perform a 50-minute version of the song at St Katherine Cree Church in London as part of a festival marking the centenary of TS Eliot’s poem The Waste Land.

It’s a moving piece of music telling an old truth: Jesus’ love won’t fail us.

People were overcome by the old man’s singing

l For more information visit thewasteland2022.com 2 April 2022 • WAR CRY • 13

1. James Patterson. 2. Birmingham. 3 Latitude and longitude. 4. Polish. 5. New Zealand. 6. Ugly Betty.

PUZZLES Quick CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Reveal (7) 5. Annoyed (3, 2) 7. Separating (7) 8. Large farm (5) 10. Elevator (4) 11. Sales profits (8) 13. Vault (6) 14. Accompany (6) 17. Incorrectly understood (8) 19. Thaw (4) 21. Book of fiction (5) 22. Chide (7) 23. Wearied (5) 24. In consequence (7) DOWN 2. Painstaking (7) 3. Conceited (4) 4. Esteem (6) 5. Predict (8) 6. Compact (5) 7. Constable (9) 9. Wavered (9) 12. Handcuffed (8) 15. Intimidate (7)

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

8 1 2

7 5

8 6

7

7 2 6 4 5 9 6 1

16. Subtract (6) 18. Cut off (5) 20. Musical instrument (4)

8 2 7

9 3

1 4

2 8 7

4 7

8 9 1

WORDSEARCH

8 1 3 5 4 9 7 2 2 7 4 3 8 6 5 1 Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally 9these 5 science 6 1 fiction 2 7writers 8 3 on the grid to find 7 2 8 6 3 1 9 4 T L D X V H S GQG BWR Z B T U Y 7 U9Q A8 K 1E B6 T S H G F Y S4 Y 3 V X5R L E Z A G N I O6M 9 A R1Y S 2 H5E L4 L 3E Y8 HCNCE I H J A L ZRE I X V A Z 8 I 1U N2W 4H H7 C P D E U O K5 U 6J D9N Z T T Y H C L R1 N 4 A J2A O 9 H7Q K3 Y 6P M5 A RWZ A A E G E H S S G P N I Z C 4 A 6Z P5 H 2F V9 R E E M Z O C3 G 8 E H7U J

M O HONEYC B Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number 1. Quick look 2. Used to boil water 3. Supply a forgotten word 4. Lives in solitude 5. Writing desk 6. Population survey

P B I WR J Z YRRE BNE R E S Z LMH RHE YQ I A EKRA L CC T NDY XB S BAKC I KU YRUBDAR Z F PH J U L MWW P E I A

ANSWERS 8 2 9 7 4 6 5 1 3 1

1 7 5 2 3 9 6 4 8

3 4 6 8 5 1 9 2 7 2 7

5 3 1 6 7 2 8 9 4

4 8 2 3 9 5 1 7 6 7

9 6 7 1 8 4 2 3 5

7 5 8 9 1 3 4 6 2

2 1 3 4 6 8 7 5 9

6 9 4 5 2 7 3 8 1

8 9 1

HONEYCOMB 1. Glance. 2. Kettle. 3. Prompt.

4. Hermit. 5. Bureau. 6. Census.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Uncover. 5. Fed up. 7. Parting.

8. Ranch. 10. Lift. 11. Proceeds. 13. Cellar.

14. Escort. 17. Mistaken. 19. Melt. 21. Novel.

22. Upbraid. 23. Bored. 24. Thereby.

DOWN: 2. Careful. 3. Vain. 4. Regard.

5. Forecast. 6. Dense. 7. Policeman.

9. Hesitated. 12. Manacled. 15. Overawe.

16. Deduct. 18. Sever. 20. Oboe.

14 • WAR CRY • 2 April 2022

SUDOKU

A D L J R Y Q B E I

ROP Z A L DORENE AQEWT Q Z YQGE S UH T RA L F KCCS Z T I A QMZ Y ARHO I S V ERNE NMB A N K

ALDOUS HUXLEY ANDY WEIR ARTHUR C CLARKE DOUGLAS ADAMS FRANK HERBERT GENE RODDENBERRY GEORGE LUCAS

L ZOS GMZ E I UQC V WO J F V KD L J S Y NV J K GRC F R Z SM SH J U

GEORGE ORWELL IAIN M BANKS ISAAC ASIMOV JULES VERNE MARY SHELLEY RAY BRADBURY STEPHEN KING TERRY PRATCHETT

6 9 4 5 2 7 3 8 1

Beefy potato jackets Ingredients 4 medium baking potatoes, scrubbed 375g lean beef mince 2 spring onions, finely chopped 4tbsp Worcester sauce 2tbsp tomato ketchup 4tbsp hot beef stock Salt and ground black pepper 125g tub low-fat soft cheese with garlic and herbs ½ x 170g jar roasted peppers, roughly chopped 100g sweetcorn 50g reduced-fat cheese, grated

Method Prick the potatoes several times with a fork and arrange on a dish lined with kitchen paper. Cook in a microwave according to the handbook.

Meanwhile, heat a large non-stick pan and dry-fry the mince with the spring onions for 3-4 minutes, until brown, breaking up any lumps with the back of a spoon.

Add the Worcester sauce, tomato ketchup and stock. Season with salt and pepper, then reduce the heat and cook for a further 5-8 minutes.

Preheat the grill to moderate. In a small bowl, mix the soft cheese, peppers and sweetcorn. Season. Cut the cooked potatoes in half lengthways, leaving the halves slightly attached. Open them out flat and transfer to a non-stick baking tray.

Pile the soft cheese mixture on top and grill for 3-4 minutes. Add the cooked mince and sprinkle over the grated cheese. Return to the grill and heat until the cheese melts.

SERVES

4

Serve with a crisp green salad.

Mainstay mince Ingredients 1.5kg lean beef mince 4 carrots, peeled and diced 2 large onions, peeled and finely chopped 5 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped 2 celery sticks, finely chopped 600ml hot beef stock 1 bay leaf 400g can chopped tomatoes 6tbsp tomato ketchup 3tbsp Worcester sauce 1tbsp dried mixed herbs

Method Heat a large non-stick pan and dry-fry the mince in batches for 5-7 minutes, breaking up any clumps with the back of a spoon. Add the carrots, onions, garlic and celery and continue to cook for 4-5 minutes.

Mix in the remaining ingredients and simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes, until fairly dry. Remove the whole bay leaf after cooking.

The cooked mince can be used immediately in a variety of recipes, such as toasted cheese sandwiches, chilli con carne and tacos, or frozen in batches for later use.

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board website simplybeefandlamb.co.uk

2 April 2022 • WAR CRY • 15

ewis

CS L

WAR CRY