From the editor’s desk
What is The Salvation Army? 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
CELEBRATIONS will be going on around the world tomorrow on International Women’s Day (Sunday 8 March), which recognises the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day stretches back more than 100 years to 1911 when in excess of one million women and men attended rallies across Europe, campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained and hold public offices. Since then, the event has spread across the globe, being officially recognised by the United Nations in the 1970s. To mark the date, and to recognise the positive contribution women make in so many spheres of life, this issue of the War Cry focuses on the lives of four separate women and their experiences. We meet Nona Jones, who works as the head of faith-based partnerships for social media giant Facebook. We also carry an interview with Paula Stringer, who left her job as the head of production at BBC Sport to work for a charity that helps people going through financial difficulties. Paula herself had previously faced a debt problem in a business she ran with her husband. In another article, Tola Doll Fisher talks honestly about how she got through the challenges she faced – the death of her baby and the collapse of her marriage – and is now living a full and satisfying life. Finally, we speak with Annmarie Gifford, a Salvation Army pastor who works in the red-light areas of London, caring for women who are in the sex trade. As well as their gender, these four women have something else in common – they are all practising Christians and have experienced God making a dramatic, positive impact in their lives. ‘I want women to know,’ explains Tola in her interview, ‘that God can give them joy right where they are.’ Tola is right. And God’s offer of joy and power is not limited to just one group of people. We can all experience the positive effect of his presence, whatever our gender may be.
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 7464
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 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 Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill Editor-in-Chief: Major Mal Davies
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, Wales and Northern Ireland 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
FEATURES 3
Company of singers Film depicts how military wives support each other in song
4 Faith to follow Interview with Facebook’s head of faith-based partnerships 6
There’s life after loss Author discovers a fulfilling life after bereavement and divorce
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‘I’ve seen the destruction debt can bring’ Charity boss on helping those with financial problems
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Gender can have a role in ministry The work of a female pastor
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REGULARS 12
Browsing the Bible
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Out of the Mouth of Babes
14 Puzzles 15
War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: Courtesy of Lionsgate UK
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