War Cry 3 August 2019

SINCE

1879

3 August 2019 20p/25c

S YEAARRCRY 140 W THE OF

BOOK THE DATE A day for people who love to read

WHOLE NEW BALL GAME Former rugby pro on kicking drugs and crime into touch

Cutting edge CAMPAIGN aimS to blunt growth in knife crime

What is The Salvation Army?

2 COMMENT AND CONTENTS • WAR CRY • 3 August 2019

The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity providing services in the community, particularly to those who are vulnerable and marginalised. Motivated by our Christian faith, we offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK to all who need them, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. To find your nearest centre visit salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church

From the editor’s desk RILEY, a four-day-old baby from Thornton Heath, south London, was described in the press last month as ‘knife crime’s tiniest victim’ when he died after being delivered at the scene of his mother’s murder.

Paramedics had delivered him by caesarean section after his mum had been repeatedly stabbed while 33 weeks pregnant.

Sadly the deaths of Riley and his mother are not isolated incidents.

Already this year more than 100 people have died as a result of being stabbed and in the past year to March, there were 47,136 knife-related offences in England and Wales alone – the highest number since records began.

Without doubt, action needs to be taken to change these statistics.

In this week’s War Cry, we speak to Shane Claiborne. He tells us how he has set up an initiative where weapons that are used for violence, murder and destruction are being taken and transformed into garden tools or pieces of art that encourage life.

Shane’s Beating Knives tour is being supported by Red Letter Christians UK. The organisation aims to help create healthy communities that are founded on respect.

‘When we create communities that respect people, we’re countering violence,’ says spokesperson Sally Mann, who adds: ‘You can’t hate and feel respect at the same time.’

Red Letter Christians are inspired in their work by the words and example of Jesus. Shane explains: ‘The words of Jesus show us a way to resist evil.’

Efforts to combat knife crime by turning weapons into something positive and affirming are to be applauded and encouraged, as are plans to build good and strong communities.

It is easy to be discouraged in the face of growing numbers of murders. But Shane, Sally and all who work with them offer us inspiration and hope that knife-related crime does not have to increase and that peace on our streets is not out of reach.

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.

SINCE 1879

140 YEARS

OF THE WAR CRY Issue No 7434

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

FEATURES

Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill Secretary for Communications: Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant

3

It takes two Dance partners need each other in new TV miniseries

5

Good reading Why Book Lovers Day matters

6

A new life kicked off How faith tackled the problems of a former rugby player

8

‘Death can be turned into life’ New initiative to counter the violence of knife crime

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 Roche Ltd, St Austell, on sustainably sourced paper

Your local Salvation Army centre

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8

REGULARS 4

News and media

12

Browsing the Bible

13

Faces of Faith and Quick Quiz

14 Puzzles 15

What’s cooking?

Front-page picture: Red Letter Christians UK

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3 August 2019 • WAR CRY • TELEVISION 3 BBC/FX/ERIC LIEBOWITZ

Bob and Gwen have a complex relationship

All that jazz

Dancing duo show it is not always easy to stay in step, writes Sarah Olowofoyeku

I

T’S complicated. Choreography, the entertainment industry and relationships are all complicated in BBC Two’s Fosse/Verdon. Last night (Friday 2 August), the first two episodes of the US miniseries introduced a UK audience to the world of showbiz in the Sixties and the complex relationship between two of its big names – Bob Fosse (Sam Rockwell) and Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams).

Viewers were taken on a journey down the real-life husband and wife’s timeline, from their first electric meeting to the later years of their marriage.

At the height of his fame in the 1960s, Bob is still frequently haunted by flashbacks to his days as a young teenage dancer. His teacher was a hard taskmaster, spurring him to dance better and work harder.

On one occasion he said, ‘I could replace you a million times over’, making Bob insecure and in need of approval.

In the early days of Bob’s career, when a scene from the musical he

was making was poorly received, the director and producer told him they wanted to cut it out of the show.

Bob was not impressed and he stormed out of the meeting, taking Gwen with him.

That night the pair worked on something different. Their new number dazzled the audience in the next performance, proving that they made an amazing team.

Feelings of inadequacy can upstage us Bob and Gwen married and had a child, while continuing to work in the industry. They enjoy life in the limelight.

As time moves on, Bob decides to try to take his career in a new direction and applies for the job of directing a movie. One of the film’s executives suggests he come on board along with Gwen. But Bob isn’t keen on joining the project as a couple and gets himself hired alone.

However, when shooting the film in Munich, he begins to struggle and the flashbacks to his teenage years haunt him again. He calls Gwen, asking her to fly out and help him, saying: ‘I need you here.’

Feelings of inadequacy can upstage us whatever industry we are in. They can trip us up in family life and friendships too. We might feel as though we have to live up to demanding expectations or always to please people. And often we feel that we can never do enough.

It is a difficulty that people have stumbled over for centuries.

One man who played a major role in early Christianity, Paul, said he had lived for the approval and acceptance of others until he encountered Jesus, who accepted him in spite of the way he had lived his life. He urged a group of fellow believers who were judging, rather than caring for, each other: ‘Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you’ (Romans 15:7 New Living Translation).

Jesus does not demand that we live up to any unrealistic expectations.

He lived the perfect life so that we do not have to. All he asks is that we let him take the lead and follow in his steps.

4 NEWS AND MEDIA • WAR CRY • 3 August 2019

Salvation Army steps in to care for older people THE Salvation Army is having to subsidise residents in its older that funding inequality prevents most local authorities from providing people’s care homes in the UK by an average of £302 per person per adequate social care for older residents. week. The church and charity revealed the figure at the same time it ‘Rural local authorities have been set up to fail with this flawed published a report which reveals inequalities in the funding of adult formula, and it urgently needs revision,’ said Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant social care in England. of The Salvation Army.

Adult social care is largely funded by local business rates, council ‘People are living longer and the population is ageing, the adult social tax and other local charges, but areas with lower house prices and fewer care bill is rising but the local authority funding streams aren’t enough businesses cannot raise as much money as more urban areas. This has to cover the demand, especially in areas where there are not many led to significantly businesses or people to tax. less money being ‘The government must prioritise its spending and properly fund available to care adult social care. For years the rhetoric has been that councils can raise TWENTY-three trekkers who for older peo- sufficient funds through local taxation to pay for older people’s care. This hiked through the Alps have ple who live in Salvation Army analysis proves that local authorities are being asked to raised £50,000 for The Salvation Army. rural areas across achieve the impossible.

During the 45-kilometre trek, the England, according ‘The Salvation Army’s residential care homes see the impact of this walkers (pictured) crossed through to the report, Care funding flaw every day. We are caring for people who don’t have the in Places. savings to pay for their own care and stepping in where the council can’t Italy, Switzerland and France within The report says pay for the care.’ three days, climbing thousands of metres up into the mountain range.

The trek was organised by The Salvation Army in partnership with Global Adventure Challenges. Funds raised will primarily go towards the church and charity’s work with RESEARCH has uncovered the victims of modern slavery and world’s oldest letter written by domestic abuse. a Christian outside the epistles that appear in the Bible.

A letter in the University of Basel’s papyrus collection has now been dated back to AD230, which is older than any other similar Christian document.

Written by a man called Arrianus to his brother Paulus, the letter reports on everyday family matters and asks for fish sauce. It ends with an abbreviated form of the Christian phrase, ‘I pray that you fare well “in the Lord”’.

Research on the social background of the early Christian family found that the two men were young educated sons of a member of the local elite of landowners and public officials.

The earliest Christians in the Roman Empire are sometimes portrayed as having withdrawn from the world in the face of persecution. However, the letter indicates that Christians held leadership positions and participated in the largely pagan society.

The University of Basel has held the letter as part of its collection for more than 100 years. However, its provenance was only discovered after extensive research by Sabine Huebner, a professor of ancient history at the university.

n

PETS were blessed n at the altar as part of a special service at a

church in north Wales.

Dogs, rabbits and chickens were among the attendees at St Mary’s Parish Church in Rhuddlan, reports news website North Wales Live.

A family-friendly service took place in which each animal received an individual blessing from the minister.

It is thought to be one of the only chapels in the region to offer such blessings.

BETTER drugs education is needed in n schools to tackle addiction, a Christian charity’s founder has urged.

The founder of the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation spoke to Premier Christian Radio after the publication of statistics showing that Scotland has the highest drug death rate in Europe.

Statistics from the National Records of Scotland revealed that 1,187 people died from drugs last year, a 27 per cent increase on 2017 and the highest number since records began in 1996.

‘A worrying number of young people are using substances to help them with stress, anxiety, depression, all the mental health issues that we know so many young people are struggling with,’ Fiona Spargo-Mabbs told Premier.

‘Most schools struggle to have good drugs education. Without that armoury of information and understanding, it’s very easy to make decisions that can go badly wrong.’

University of Basel

KIMBERLY HUNTER

Post-biblical letter is earliest

Beyoncé says Lion King video shows God’s roar creativity BEYONCÉ CARTER-KNOWLES has revealed that her latest music video aims to highlight how ‘God is the painter’.

Releasing her new music video for her single ‘Spirit’ from the soundtrack of Disney’s Lion King, she explained to ABC News: ‘The concept of the video is to show how God is the painter and natural beauty and nature needs no art direction.

This soundtrack is a love letter to Africa.’

The music video includes scenes of natural landscapes and is interspersed with scenes from the new Lion King film, which was released in cinemas last month.

Agency strengthens shelters as monsoon returns TEARFUND has stepped up its support for thousands of Rohingya refugees as monsoon rains return and increase the threat of landslides and sanitation problems.

More than 900,000 Rohingya people are living in refugee camps around Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, where temporary housing and sanitation facilities are at risk of being destroyed.

Boosting its existing programmes, the Christian relief and development agency has cleared blocked drains and toilets and strengthened temporary shelters in refugee camps.

It has also been planting trees to stabilise the hilly ground and prevent landslides.

n

AN estimated 2.7 million children across the globe die each year from work-related injuries and illnesses, according to a report by Christian mission organisation GFA World.

Child Labour: Not Gone But Forgotten also found that many more children are maimed or suffer serious injuries such as lost limbs, with malnutrition crippling their growing bodies. Almost half of forced child labourers are under 11 years old. Exploitation was found to be most prevalent in Bangladesh, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and India.

Figures published last month ahead of the report’s release revealed that 218 million children were trapped in child labour, which is equivalent to the population of the world’s fifth largest country, Brazil.

Booktrust

3 August 2019 • WAR CRY • FEATURE 5

All booked up There are life lessons to learn when we read, writes Linda McTurk

OOKWORMS are in for a treat. Next Friday (9 August) is Book Lovers Day, B an opportunity for readers everywhere to talk about and celebrate their love of the written word.

People of all ages have enjoyed reading books for generations. Even fictional characters within books love to read. In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth Bennet has earned herself a reputation for being ‘a great reader’. The young heroine of Matilda by Roald Dahl is known as much for her phenomenal reading as she is her telekinetic powers.

The love of reading often starts at a young age. Every year children’s reading charity Booktrust distributes free books to encourage millions of children across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to develop a reading habit.

Diana Gerald, its CEO, tells the War Cry: ‘It is important for children to develop a lifelong love of reading. We know that children who read from an early age have increased empathy and creativity. Books also provide a way to discuss issues such as grief, moving house or bullying. That could be important because no child’s life is Books provide easy and straightforward all the way through.’

Life at any age does not have a a way to discuss straightforward plot. Sometimes when we least issues expect it, we encounter times of grief, illness or unwanted upheaval.

Christians across the centuries have found encouragement by reading the Bible, even in the saddest chapters of their lives. One of its writers, David, experienced many times of anguish. Yet he could write: ‘The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit’ (Psalm 34:18 New International Version).

Like all of us, David knew struggles, yet he found comfort in the presence of God. He saw that God’s love could be relied upon, even when his circumstances could not. In hard times, David chose to believe that God would carry him through.

If we put our trust in God, we can always rely on him, even when we cannot predict the next chapter of our story.

6 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 3 August 2019

Conversion worth a try for locked-up rugby player ALLEN LANGHAM tells Emily Bright how faith helped him kick into touch the criminal life that had ruined his promising career in rugby league

T

I was walking around the prison yard as a beaten man

EMILY BRIGHT

HE stench of smoke, body odour and hostility hit Allen Langham Allen Langham as he was marched through the wings of HMP Doncaster. His sentence was eight months’ imprisonment for brawling in a nightclub and breaching his probation. As an 18-year-old, he was starting his first stretch inside.

‘I was a tough lad who had fights and played rugby, but at that moment, I was very naive and frightened,’ Allen reflects. ‘As soon as that cell door shut for the first night, I sobbed. It was a huge knockdown from being a professional emotionally gave in,’ rugby player.’ he says.

Just a year before, he had signed a ‘Within 18 months high-earning contract with rugby league of signing my contract, club Sheffield Eagles. But for a long time, I was a heroin addict, his life had not been a happy one. begging on the streets Bullied and abused as a young boy, of London. I got he had already endured unimaginable sucked into a life of trauma. But when he was 14, he woke up criminality as I lowered to discover his mum had died. He was my standards to fit in distraught. Since his father had already with other offenders.’ abandoned the family, he no longer had Allen went on to his biological parents to guide him. But he serve further stretches in prison, caught found some direction in sport. a beaten man. I was ashamed, lost and up in a cycle of violence and drug ‘Rugby had kept me on the rails,’ he completely alone.’ addiction. recalls.

But he went to the prison’s chapel and ‘I learnt to survive through violence, fear met with the chaplaincy team. They invited Rugby league became an important and intimidation. I sought oblivion in drink part of Allen’s life when he started in the him to a Bible study. He went along and and drugs, just to get through it.’ under-13s at school. discovered that the theme was absentee ‘As soon as I picked a rugby ball up, fathers, something which struck home I just felt at home,’ he recalls. ‘I was later with the dad of three whose father had scouted by Oldham and Hull Kingston abandoned him decades before. The Rovers, and when I was 17 I signed with session had a transformative impact on Sheffield Eagles. his life.

‘After achieving that goal, I thought ‘The real presence of God was in that I’d made it and became arrogant. I went room as we prayed,’ he says, ‘and I In 2013, he was remanded in custody, drinking with my friends, taking drugs and realised how far I’d gone away from what accused of breaching a restraining order. partying. I started to spiral out of control.’

I should be. I crumpled up on the floor ‘I was a broken man, crying out to God After serving only four months in the that night, and sobbed from the pit of my on the floor of my cell. I’d decided to end prison, he was released. But his rugby stomach, with tears stinging my face.’ my life by taking an overdose,’ he admits. league career lay in tatters. ‘Sheffield Desperate for a symbol of hope, Allen ‘I was walking around the prison yard as Eagles severed my contract and I asked God to put a white dove outside the

3 August 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 7

The fact that such a broken, damaged man has been restored is a miracle prison cell’s window to indicate that his prayers were being heard and that God was with him.

The next day, when he awoke, he went to the window.

‘As if in slow motion, a pigeon lifted up and a dove sat down,’ Allen remembers. ‘Then something inside me jumped, it felt like an electric shock, which awakened my faith in God. I made a decision on the spot to follow Jesus.

‘God started to strip my addictions away, one by one.

He began to heal my emotional trauma as I embarked on intensive counselling, working out my issues around abandonment and rejection.’

As part of the healing process, Allen began writing his autobiography called

Taming of a Villain, which was published earlier this year.

He says that since his time in prison, God has manifested himself in other miraculous ways. ‘Supernatural provision has come when I’ve had absolutely no money, with people giving me just enough for what I needed. And the fact that such a broken, damaged man has been restored is, in itself, a miracle.’

Allen is now a fitness coach who runs two businesses. He also served as an assistant chaplain to Doncaster’s rugby league side and has preached to prisoners. His relationships with family and friends are restored, and his life is transformed.

‘In the same streets that I terrorised, I’m now honoured and respected,’ he says.

‘The same people I used to sell drugs to and beat up and frighten now say that I’m an inspiration.

The man I am today is without a doubt evidence of God’s restoration.’ l Taming of a Villain is published

by Monarch

8 FEATURE • WAR CRY • 3 August 2019

FINDING THE TOOLS As news outlets continue to report on the tragedy of knife crime, Sarah Olowofoyeku finds out about a movement which is transforming weapons to help solve the problem of violence

V

IOLENCE is nothing new, and neither is the approach that activist Shane Claiborne is taking to tackle it. He is collecting weapons that are used for violence, murder and destruction, and using them to create tools that encourage life – gardening equipment or pieces of art.

The American believes that the obsession with having weapons is compelled by fear.

‘We see a world that’s held captive to fear,’ he says. ‘And we just keep arming ourselves. It’s a very fragile world with masses of people who are living in extreme poverty and a handful of people who have way more money than they can ever spend.’

I meet Shane on a particularly rainy day in a church right in the heart of Luton. He is in the middle of a tour promoting his new initiative, Beating Guns – or, as it is known in the UK, Beating Knives. So far this year, more than 100 people have been killed by knife crime in the UK. Their loved ones and communities will continue to be impacted by their deaths.

The Beating Knives tour stems from the work Shane and his friend Michael Martin Metalsmith Mike Turner beats a knife in east London

3 August 2019 • WAR CRY • FEATURE 9

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Shane Claiborne and Sally Mann speak at the Beating Knives event in east London

Red Letter Christians UK

have begun in America.

Their mission is to offer ‘hope for people who are weary of violence’ by suggesting a way to be part of the solution that dates back centuries.

‘We have been inspired by the prophetic vision of the Bible characters Micah and Isaiah,’ Shane explains.

The initiative gives people space to honour their pain The two prophets are recorded as speaking words of hope for a future with no more violence. Through them, God spoke about the people of Israel, saying: ‘They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks’ (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3 New International Version).

Shane says: ‘It’s a hopeful vision that life gets the last word. Old things can be

made new, death can be turned into life.’

Earlier this year Shane, Michael and others embarked on a 37-stop Beating Guns tour. ‘It started as symbolic, but then as we began to have more and more victims’ family members, we realised that the tour was bringing healing,’ says Shane. ‘It is giving people space to honour the pain and is an outlet for their anger, trauma and tears.’

The Beating Knives tour received support from the newly launched Red Letter Christians UK, a network of Christians who aim to work for social justice. Sally Mann, who heads up the network, tells me about its first act of protest in support of the Beating Knives tour.

‘We took knives seized from our streets and melted them down to make a garden sculpture and some tools for our community garden in Newham,’ she says.

At the same time, children at the launch made a peace banner out of ribbons.

Each ribbon represented a life lost to knife crime.

Turn to page 10

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10 FEATURE • WAR CRY • 3 August 2019

From page 9

When we create communities that respect people, we’re countering violence words of Jesus are printed in red letters.

‘Living out those red letters of Jesus can create healthy communities,’ says Sally. ‘Everything we do that provides a nurturing community, welcomes people and takes them seriously prevents violence. You can’t hate and feel respect at the same time. So when we create communities that respect people, we’re countering violence.’

Beyond the physical act of beating knives and guns into tools, Sally and Shane believe that living like Jesus means being non-violent. However, there are some gruesome passages in the Bible, and the history of Christianity contains a lot of violence. So, I question, is believing in God truly the path to non-violence?

‘There are certainly many versions of

Red Letter Christians UK

The tour moved on to work with young people in other areas of the country.

‘Before unveiling the young people’s sculpture in Luton,’ says Sally, ‘there had been months of engagement with them to talk about why they felt afraid and threatened and the solutions they could come up with to the culture of violence.’

While the face of violent knife crime is often young, Sally asserts that it is not just a youth issue.

‘The biggest arms fair in Europe takes place in my community,’ she says. ‘We as adults are selling weapons of mass destruction to nations that have a proven track record of abusing human rights, so how can we say to young men, “Do not use the threat of violence to achieve a feeling of safety”, when we as a nation are doing the same thing?’

Sally believes that the remedy to the problem can be found at the heart of the work of Red Letter Christians UK. The name of the organisation refers to the fact that in some editions of the Bible the

East London local Paris Tankard helps beat a knife

Christianity where we can distort verses and do tremendous violence and harm,’ Shane admits. ‘Hitler had a Bible in his hand to justify what he did to Jews, and the Ku Klux Klan has a page on its website dedicated to its “theology”.

‘We can make Christianity violent, and that’s true of any faith. But for us, Jesus is the lens through which we interpret Scripture and the world – when Scriptures feel like they’re competing with each other, Jesus is the referee. So Jesus, who said “blessed are the peacemakers”, shows us perfect love when we look at the cross and see him say “forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing” as he is experiencing torture and violence.’

Jesus also told his followers to turn the other cheek if somebody slapped them.

3 August 2019 • WAR CRY • FEATURE 11 Jonathan and Lee Raggett launch the knife bin in Newham with members of the community

Newham Council/ANDREW BAKER

‘We want to get these weapons off the streets,’ says Jonathan, as he explains that a knife bin has been installed outside the church, providing a safe and anonymous location for people to surrender their knives.

‘Our work is about A knife sculpture breaking the cycle of revenge. Getting one up on each other is never going to suceed; revenge will just create more problems.’

Lee says that God feels the same way.

‘I think he is feeling heartbroken at the poor decisions we sometimes make, but he sees how much we are hurting and he sees how hard it is. I think he is calling us back to loving our neighbour as we love ourselves.’

It is a feeling that Shane echoes, adding: Lee admits: ‘I’m not sure if the work ‘We’re told to love our enemies; we can’t ever gets finished. But even one knife off do that and simultaneously prepare to kill the street and one life changed is a good them.’ start.

While he is unsure that everyone can ‘We’re having conversations with people be convinced of their need for God, he about laying down weapons and being believes that a way of life that is centred kind.

‘The current problem is caused by gang on loving others and pursuing justice can be fulfilling. activity. There is not enough for the young ‘Deep down we are all made to love and people to do. There is gentrification too. be loved,’ he says. ‘Jesus is inviting us There’s a big amount of money on one into living life to the fullest, a life in which side of Stratford and no money on the we can live for something bigger than other. We are heartbroken about what’s ourselves and be set free.’ going on in the community.’

Red Letter Christians

UK

Shane says that, rather than this being an instruction to remain passive in the face of violence or oppression, it is ‘a better way’.

He explains: ‘So often, we end up mirroring the exact violence that we’re trying to heal. The words of Jesus show us a way to resist evil without mirroring it.

‘The idea of an eye for an eye is one of those verses in the Old Testament that I think was part of God’s intention in trying to stop the spiral of violence – it limited the harm that you could do. So if someone poked my eye out, I could only poke out one of theirs, not both.

‘But then Jesus says he’s going to show us an even better way. It doesn’t mean we get walked on or abused, or that this is a reason for a man or woman to stay in an abusive situation. It means that you don’t need to retaliate.

‘One of the examples Jesus gives is that if someone sues you for the coat off your back, take all your clothes off. It exposes their greed. It holds up a mirror to the injustice. It’s neither violence nor passivity, but it’s active non-violence that resists evil without becoming it.’

Later, I have the chance to speak on the phone to a Salvation Army couple who have similar ideas. Captains Jonathan and Lee Raggett are ministers at the Salvation Army church in Stratford, east London, and were part of the Beating Knives tour.

Their church is in an area where knife crime is prevalent.

God is heartbroken at our poor decisions

12 INNER LIFE • WAR CRY • 3 August 2019

Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Kerry, who is experiencing a hard time; for Nicky, who has health concerns; and for Cloey, that she will receive strength.

The War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their ­circumstances. Send your requests to Prayerlink, War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, Lon­don SE1 6BN. Mark your envelope ‘Confidential’.

Becoming a Christian There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God Lord Jesus Christ, I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.

Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.

Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit.

Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

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

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

Joel

ITTLE is known about Joel, a prophet L to the southern kingdom of Judah.

Unlike many biblical books of prophets,

his contains no date references.

When he witnesses a plague of locusts devouring crops, Joel is inspired to see a parallel between the agricultural devastation and a military ruination of Judah to come (chapter 1).

Like an early warning system, he announces: ‘The day of the Lord is near’ (1:15). ‘The day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand’ (2:1). ‘The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful’ (2:11).

On that day, Joel says, an invading army will slash and burn its way through the land of Judah and into Jerusalem, destroying everything, locust-like, in its path (2:1–11).

In response, Joel calls Judah to show repentance by putting on sackcloth, fasting and meeting together for prayer (1:13 and 14; 2:12–17). He urges the people to rend their hearts, saying: ‘Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate’ (2:13).

Key verse ‘Everyone who calls on the name 2 of the Lord will be saved’ (Joel 2:3 ) sion New International Ver

If they do so, God will take pity on them, drive the invaders away and restore the land’s fertility (2:19–27).

He will also renew his people spiritually.

Everyone will be included. He will pour his Spirit on young and old, male and female.

Everyone who calls out to the Lord will be saved (2:28–32).

Many scholars regard the Day of Pentecost, when Jesus’ disciples were filled with the

God will pour his Spirit on young and old, male and female Holy Spirit, as the ultimate fulfilment of this prophecy (Acts 2).

Scholars also think that the ‘day of the Lord’ in chapter 3 is an apocalyptic vision of the end times.

When the time is right, God will gather all nations together in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (3:2), which separates Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.

There, he will judge them for their treatment of his people (3:12–16).

In that day, Judah will be at peace, verdant, fertile and forgiven (3:17–21).

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3 August 2019 • WAR CRY • EXPRESSIONS 13

FACES OF FAITH DEBORAH EDGINGTON from St Albans, on working in a hospital, Midsomer Murders and Noah’s ark

What’s your typical day?

I work full-time to support adults with learning disabilities and autism who are in hospital.

I sit with patients through medical appointments, including consultations, MRI scans and surgeries. I speak on their behalf and make sure that they understand what is going on and will co-operate with any medical procedures.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

How did you become a Christian?

A flight attendant, but I realised early on that I wasn’t tall enough.

I grew up in a Christian household, but never really saw faith lived out at home. When I was 19, during a youth event, my faith started to make sense to me. But in my early twenties, I went to live abroad and walked completely away from Christianity. Then, when I decided to move back to the UK, I connected with a church in London. I started getting to know God again and a few years later, I was baptised.

What was the last book you read?

When Darkness Seems My Closest Friend by Mark Meynell. It’s the reflections of a Christian minister who has experienced depression.

What TV do you enjoy watching?

My flatmate and I are into Midsomer Murders – it’s our guilty pleasure!

What’s good about being a Christian?

To know that God loves us even when we’ve messed up and that we are not doing this life alone. He is fighting for us and believes in us.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

How does faith influence your life?

Believe in yourself and don’t worry about what other people think of you.

My faith is everything to me. Knowing that God loves me and is looking after me is what gets me through life.

QUICK QUIZ

What one question would you ask God? Why do you allow suffering?

1. How many lines are there in a sonnet?

2. Which band had a hit in 1992 with the song ‘This Charming Man’?

What do you pray about?

3. Who wrote the novel Howards End?

I mainly pray about people I know or situations that I’m facing. I also pray that God would teach me more about him and his character.

4. Who provided the voice of the character Anna in the 2013 animated film Frozen?

5. In which European country is the city of Seville?

6. How many degrees Fahrenheit is 0C?

ANSWERS

What is your favourite Bible character?

Noah. Building the ark must have been quite a challenge, yet Noah was obedient and listened to God. I’m not sure I would do the same.

1. Fourteen. 2. The Smiths. 3. E. M. Forster. 4. Kristen Bell. 5. Spain. 6. Thirty-two.

14 PUZZLES • WAR CRY • 3 August 2019

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. ____ Cup, golf tournament (5) 5. Display great joy (5) 8. Dick, late comedian (5) 9. Embarrassing mistake (5) 10. Cinder (5) 11. Sediment (5) 12. Christmas (4) 15. Keen (6) 17. First World War battle (5) 18. European capital (6) 20. Mock (4) 25. Nocturnal bird (5) 26. Talent (5) 27. Red, US oil well firefighter (5)

HONEYCOMB

by CHRIS HORNE 14. Lettuce (3) 15. Unit of current (3) 16. Point of a pen (3) 17. Ronnie O’Sullivan’s sport (7) 18. Arouse (6) 19. Danger (6) 21. Antelope (6) 22. Earliest stage of human development (6) 23. Killed (5) 24. Assert (5)

28. Decree (5) 29. Lowest point (5) 30. Greek muse (5) DOWN 1. Recover (6) 2. Desecrate (6) 3. Rushes (5) 4. Flat, round hat (5) 5. Ugly building (7) 6. Refined (6) 7. Aim at (6) 13. Choose (3)

SUDOKU

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

7

3

9

1

5

6

8

4

2

2

4

5

3

9

8

6

7

1

8

1

6

7

2

4

3

5

9

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

3

8

7

5

6

2

9

1

4

4

5

2

9

3

1

7

6

8

1. Shake rapidly 2. Part of a song 3. New recruit 4. Call over 5. Head nurse 6. Football pass

6

9

1

4

8

7

2

3

5

1

2

8

6

4

3

5

9

7

5

6

4

8

7

9

1

2

3

9

7

3

2

1

5

4

8

6

WORDSEARCH

ANSWERS HONEYCOMB 1 Judder. 2 Chorus. 3 Rookie.

4 Beckon. 5 Matron. 6 Header.

BROADCHURCH DEATH IN PARADISE ENDEAVOUR FOYLE’S WAR GRANTCHESTER INSPECTOR LEWIS LINE OF DUTY LUTHER MIDSOMER MURDERS POIROT

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1 Ryder. 5 Exult. 8 Emery.

9 Gaffe. 10 Ember. 11 Dregs. 12 Noel.

15 Ardent. 17 Somme. 18 Athens. 20 Jibe.

25 Owlet. 26 Knack. 27 Adair. 28 Edict.

29 Nadir. 30 Erato.

DOWN: 1 Regain. 2 Defile. 3 Reeds.

4 Beret. 5 Eyesore. 6 Urbane. 7 Target.

13 Opt. 14 Cos. 15 Amp. 16 Nib. 17 Snooker. 18 Awaken. 19 Hazard.

21 Impala. 22 Embryo. 23 Slain. 24 State.

7

9

6

5

2

1

9

6

SHERLOCK

5

4

SHETLAND

8

3

1

8

UNFORGOTTEN

4

2

3

7

7

9

6

5

VERA WAKING THE DEAD

Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these 7 3TV9detective 1 5 programmes 6 8 4 2

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

3 4 8 1 2 7 6 5 9

2 8 6 4 9 5 7 3 1

1 7 4 8 3 6 2 9 5

5 9 3 7 1 2 4 8 6

4 1 5 2 7 9 3 6 8

8 2 9 3 6 1 5 7 4

6 3 7 5 8 4 9 1 2

SUDOKU SOLUTION

3 4

2 8

1 7

5 9

4 1

8 2

6 3

Corrections needed by…

3 August 2019 • WAR CRY • WHAT’S COOKING? 15

Spiced ginger steak with tomato and rocket salad Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 lean beef sirloin steaks

70g rocket leaves

For the marinade 2tbsp dark soy sauce 2tbsp sunflower oil

Place the steaks in a shallow dish. Mix all the marinade ingredients together and season with black pepper.

Pour the marinade over the steaks, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2cm fresh root ginger, grated ½ tsp brown sugar Freshly ground black pepper SERVES

4

For the salad 450g assorted small British tomatoes

Slice the small tomatoes in half and the larger ones into quarters and place in a bowl.

Add the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Mix in the rocket leaves.

Squeeze lemon juice

British tomato seafood summer pasta 3tbsp olive oil 4 British large vine tomatoes, skinned and finely chopped 1 red onion, finely chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper Few drops balsamic vinegar 180g linguine 160g small scallops 200g prawns, cooked and peeled 2tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, plus extra, to garnish 6 British baby plum tomatoes, halved 30g parmesan cheese, to garnish

Brush a frying pan with oil and heat until smoking. Fry the steaks for 6 minutes on each side (for well done).

Serve the steaks with the tomato and rocket salad.

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan. Add the tomatoes and red onion and cook over a low heat for 12 minutes, until very soft. Add a little water as needed. Season with the salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar.

Meanwhile, cook the linguine in lightly salted boiling water for 12 minutes until tender. Add the scallops to the tomato mixture and cook for 2 minutes. Mix in the prawns, parsley and baby plum tomatoes. Cook for a further minute, stirring constantly, until heated through.

Drain the pasta. Gently stir it through the tomato mixture and share between 2 warmed serving plates.

Finely grate the parmesan cheese, sprinkle it over the pasta with the extra parsley and serve.

SERVES

2

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the British Tomato Growers’ Association website britishtomatoes.co.uk

Proverbs 16:24 (New International Version)