What is The Salvation Army?
2 COMMENT AND CONTENTS • WAR CRY • 7 September 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 THIS year marks 80 years of Dorothy following the yellow brick road in the company of a scarecrow, lion and tin man as they go off to see a wonderful wizard. It was in 1939 that The Wizard of Oz, starring Judy Garland, was released. In the film, Dorothy wanted the mysterious wizard to send her back to her home. However – and watch out for the spoilers here – the wizard turned out to be a fraud. But Dorothy’s wish was magically granted when she tapped the heels of her ruby slippers together three times and repeated the phrase, ‘There’s no place like home.’ While Dorothy’s adventures belong in the world of fiction, the concept of there being nowhere like home is one to which people of all ages and backgrounds can relate. But what happens if someone has no place like a home because they are sleeping rough or are sofa-surfing with friends? That was the situation in which Adam found himself after he had to give up his job for medical reasons. As he tells us in this week’s War Cry, it initially felt like ‘a valid lifestyle choice’. But increasing mental health problems resulted in him having a breakdown. ‘I ended up becoming homeless and I didn’t have the wherewithal to sort out my own accommodation,’ he says. After sleeping rough in Glasgow, Adam received help from The Salvation Army as part of the Housing First scheme in the city. Because of that engagement, Adam still receives the support he needs, but it is now in his own home and he has hope for the future. Adam is one of thousands of people helped by The Salvation Army every year. And that help comes, not in the form of a magic wand to make everything better, but in practical and caring ways, recognising that the person in need has the potential to turn their life around.
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 7439
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 Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill Secretary for Communications: Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant
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
FEATURES 3
Look and learn The search for a missing daughter uncovers hidden truths in TV drama
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Writing wrongs Agatha Christie fans celebrate the author’s work
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Home helps Scheme provides people with a place to live
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More TV vicar? The Rev Kate Bottley on her broadcasting career
REGULARS 4
News and media
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Browsing the Bible
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Out of the Mouth of Babes
14 Puzzles 15
What’s cooking? Front-page picture: BBC/LEIGH KEILY
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