War Cry 7 September: selected articles

7 September 2019 • WAR CRY • TELEVISION 3

ITV

Truth be told?

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PHONE call shattered a peaceful afternoon at a countryside hotel for Elaine O’Callaghan (Siobhan Finneran). It was her son, Liam, giving her the shocking news that her 22-year-old daughter Sian was missing, having not returned home after a night out clubbing. The Wiltshire-based family continue their anxious wait for information in the second episode of ITV’s detective drama A Confession, scheduled to be broadcast on Monday (9 September).

The six-part series, which is based on real events, follows Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher (Martin Freeman) as he oversees the

Emily Bright sees families desperate to discover the fate of their missing loved ones in crime drama A Confession

missing persons investigation, relentlessly pursuing leads to discover the truth about what has happened to Sian.

He scours CCTV footage and orders cell-site analysis of her mobile phone signal, leading him to the Savernake Forest near Swindon. He launches a full-scale search operation and the family desperately appeal to the public for information about her disappearance.

Meanwhile, Elaine’s neighbour Karen Edwards (Imelda Staunton), whose own daughter Becky disappeared eight years before, watches the investigation unfold on the local news.

It evokes painful memories for her, and renews her fears that something awful has happened to Becky.

It can be hard to find truths on which we can rely

Steve Fulcher launches a missing persons investigation and (top) is joined by the O’Callaghan family

The lives of the two mothers become intertwined as both are crippled by the terror of what could have happened to their children. They simply want answers.

Fulcher seeks to allay the fears of Sian’s family by taking extreme measures in his investigation, even breaching police protocol. He realises that the family need to be put out of their misery and to know the truth, regardless of what it is. They have become imprisoned by their worst fears. His pursuit of answers leads him to put his career and reputation on the line.

The pursuit of truth is something with which many people can identify.

Relationships and the quality of lives can be put at risk when we encounter lies, betrayals and deceit. It can be hard to know who to trust and where we can find truths on which we can rely.

In the Bible, God’s Son, Jesus, explains that we can all find truth in our lives and that, if we do, it will have a dramatic effect. He says: ‘If you hold to my teaching … you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’ (John 8:31 and 32 New International Version).

Jesus invites us to discover the truth about God: that he can bind up our broken hearts, and provide guidance in our darkest hours. All we have to do is turn to him. He will walk us through all that we face, including painful experiences and challenges that we feel we cannot overcome.

God loves us no matter what we have been through. That’s a truth worth seeking out.

8 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 7 September 2019

THINKING INSIDE THE BOX The Rev KATE BOTTLEY tells Emily Bright how she went from parish priest to BBC presenter

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BBC/LEIGH KEILY

FTER solemnly declaring a couple married, a Nottinghamshire vicar raises her hands skyward. Suddenly, she busts out some moves to ‘Everybody Dance Now’ as part of a flash mob. Channelling her inner disco fever, she sashays down the aisle before making a graceful departure with the bride and groom. It’s not exactly a conventional marriage ceremony. But then again, the Rev Kate Bottley isn’t a conventional vicar.

The original YouTube video of that wedding went viral, with more than nine million hits. Producers of Channel 4’s reality TV series Gogglebox wasted no time in calling Kate to ask if she’d feature on their programme, which she did from 2014 until 2016.

Kate delights in subverting Christian stereotypes. ‘As Christians, we all know we’re normal people who happen to believe in God. But, it strikes nonChristians as unusual when you go out dancing, watch telly or do what everyone else does.

I love it

7 September 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 9

Channel 4 Television/JUDE EDGINTON

Kate and her husband, Graham, appeared on Channel 4’s ‘Gogglebox’ when we pop up in unexpected places.’

Even when she was ordained as a priest ten years ago, Kate sensed that her ministry wouldn’t take a straightforward path.

‘People might prefer me to be a “priesty” priest,’ she says, ‘all quiet and reflective, reading books in my study and praying all day. It was never going to be that for me. It takes all sorts to make a world, and it takes all sorts to make a church.’

Her desire to challenge conventional ideas of church led her to pen a confessional piece in the Radio Times in September 2014, in which she

I like to think of myself as the Bridget Jones of ‘Songs of Praise’

revealed that she ‘couldn’t stand Songs of Praise’ and likened the programme to a ‘piece of soggy quiche’. So how exactly did she become one of its presenters?

‘It was just God laughing at me really,’ she muses. ‘After I wrote this rather scathing article, Songs of Praise phoned me up and said: “OK, we’re soggy quiche are we? Why don’t you come and have a chat with us if you think you could do so much better?”’

She chuckles: ‘I’m going to start bad-mouthing other programmes on the BBC to see if they’ll let me present those.’

Kate enjoys getting stuck in and seeking out a story.

‘I like to think of myself as the Bridget Jones of Songs of Praise,’ she says.

Her favourite piece of filming so far was on the spirituality of swimming, when she dived into 7C open water at a swimming club, much to the surprise of the camera crew, who had doubted that she’d do it. She enjoyed, too, meeting Michael Eavis, the man who founded Glastonbury Festival.

She admitted on camera that she was ‘totally fangirling’.

She also relishes episodes where Songs of Praise ‘takes risks’. Kate cites an example from before her era, when the programme covered people of faith within the Calais migrant camp. ‘We’re increasingly trying to reflect where faith is now rather than where faith might have been 50 years ago. I’m proud when we do those kinds of stories,’ Kate explains.

Three and a half years ago, Kate decided to take a risk herself by pursuing a career in broadcasting. At the time, she was a full-time priest responsible for three parishes as well as working three days a week as a chaplain at a further education college.

After appearing on Gogglebox, she had received other broadcasting offers, one of which led to her appearing on BBC One documentary In the Footsteps of Judas, which was aired in March 2016. ‘My media work was sort of ticking over,’ she recalls, ‘and I started to think that perhaps it was

Turn to page 10

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10 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 7 September 2019

From page 9 going to be part of my vocation.

‘I’m not super spiritual, but I think when God has told me stuff, it has been really clear. It’s not an audible voice; it’s just this kind of itch that can’t be scratched.’

After much prayer and lots of conversations with loved ones, she decided to leave behind the financial security of her position even though she still had a family to support.

Finn the police dog was my favourite guest. He barked on cue ‘It was a massive decision to leave full-time parish paid ministry, with its house, pension and sick pay, to go freelance. Looking back on it, I wonder: “What on earth were we thinking?”

‘But I’m a big believer that if it’s your vocation, then you should go ahead and trust that the bungee cord of Jesus will

catch you. Whenever I’ve had that sense of God speaking in my life, I’ve thought: “I’ll just see how far I can take it.” And now I’ve ended up with a dog collar and a Radio 2 breakfast show!’

Kate has certainly landed on her feet, co-presenting Radio 2’s Good Morning Sunday and appearing on Pause for Thought on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show.

Her big break in radio came when she covered for Diane Louise Jordan on Radio 2’s Sunday Hour in 2017.

‘I had a blast. I used to go up to Manchester every couple of weeks, write the script and record two or three shows at a time,’ Kate remembers.

When Radio 2 reshuffled its schedule and Good Morning Sunday presenter Clare Balding decided to move on, it opened up a space for a new presenting partnership. Radio 2 called Kate’s agent, asking if she’d like to co-host Good Morning Sunday in an extended three-hour slot from 6 am with football presenter Jason Mohammad.

‘I thought: “I’ll give it a year.” We’re

now 18 months in, and I love it. We get 2.4 million listening to the show on a Sunday morning, and when I do Pause for Thought on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on Radio 2, there are around 8 million people listening to that. That’s mad. I get to tell 8 million people that God loves them.’

Good Morning Sunday has interviewed an array of humans since Kate joined the show, but in her opinion, it was a canine that took the biscuit. ‘I think Finn the police dog, who was on Britain’s Got Talent, was my favourite guest. He barked on cue.’

few years on from her flash mob, she A still loves the chance to dance. ‘One week Bollywood dancers taught us some moves. I’m not sure how that worked on the radio, but I had a great time!’

Indeed, Kate appears to be open to most broadcasting opportunities. She

BBC/Shine TV Ltd

Kate appeared on ‘Celebrity MasterChef’ in 2017

7 September 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 11 BBC/LEIGH KEILY

People think I’m a show-off, but I’m showing off for Jesus

Kate and Jason Mohammad co-present Radio 2’s ‘Good Morning Sunday’

has featured on The One Show, been quizzed on 8 Out of 10 Cats and Celebrity Mastermind, cooked up culinary delights on Celebrity MasterChef and embarked on a trek for BBC Two documentary Pilgrimage: The Road to Santiago.

However, there will always be a handful of notable exceptions, including I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here. ‘Let’s just say that a kangaroo’s unmentionables belong on a kangaroo and not in my mouth,’ she says. ‘I’m not good at camping either.’

As Celebrity MasterChef returned to our screens this week, it’s worth noting that Kate was a semi-finalist back in 2017. ‘I did enjoy being part of it, though it’s really pressured.

‘My high point was when John Torode looked me in the eye and said: “You can cook.” And I went: “Whaaat?” Being on telly, people think you must be confident.

But actually we’re all faking it, so for John Torode to say, “You can cook”, I felt like I’d won MasterChef.

‘The other brilliant thing is they let me keep my apron. When people come around for dinner, I put it on and go: “I’ll just rustle something up.”’

Critics may pan her for indulging in the TV limelight, but she explains that it’s not about her. ‘People think I’m just doing it because I’m a show-off, but I’m showing off for Jesus. This is about God’s glory, not mine.’

Although she sees broadcasting as an important part of her vocation, she takes it with a healthy pinch of realism. ‘Do I think anyone’s going to fall on their knees in front of Celebrity MasterChef and give their life to Jesus? No, of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. Did you see my trifle? It was dreadful! But I do think it might help them feel a little warmer about faith.’

She says that television coverage of Christians such as her and the Rev Richard Coles has helped make the faith more recognisable and approachable.

‘People see us on telly and ask us about things. We can be signposting points for people, by finding them a number for a bereavement counsellor or their local church.’

Kate adds that she wants to make the most of every media opportunity.

‘There will be times where I get it spectacularly wrong, but I’m willing to get it wrong, because God uses every single bit of us. It’s about finding out who God is calling you to authentically be, and having a go at it.

‘I believe that one day I will stand before God, and he will say to me: “What did you do in my name?” I want to be able to say: “Sit yourself down, because it was quite a ride.”’

12 INNER LIFE • WAR CRY • 7 September 2019

Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Moira, who is in hospital for a heart operation.

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

Nahum SSYRIA was an enemy of God’s A chosen people of Israel. Previously, God had sent a prophet, Jonah, who had reluctantly warned the Assyrian capital of Nineveh (present-day Mosul, Iraq) about God’s impending judgment on its wickedness.

God spared the city because the people repented (see Jonah 3:10). But they had soon gone back to their evil ways. In 722BC, the Assyrians destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel, dispersing its ten tribes.

It is time for God to speak again, and Nahum does what Jonah did 100 years earlier.

Somewhere between the fall of the Egyptian city of Thebes in 664BC (Nahum 3:8–10) and the Babylonian destruction of Nineveh in 612BC, Nahum passes on God’s message.

God is not happy. And for good reason: Assyrians repaid his mercy by wiping a large part of his people from the Earth.

Nahum does not hold back. God is jealous, avenging, wrathful, powerful, determined, indignant and angry (1:2–6).

But God is not capricious. He works on the

Key verse ‘The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble’ (Nahum 1:7 New International Version)

principle of actions and consequences. God’s judgment is a function of justice, not of temper.

Characteristically, God’s prophet presents the divine charge sheet. Nineveh is a

God’s judgment is a function of justice, not of temper ‘city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder’ (3:1). Assyria is bloodthirsty in battle, leaving ‘many casualties, piles of dead, bodies without number’ (3:3) and enslaves foreign nations through witchcraft (3:4).

Little wonder that God says twice: ‘I am against you’ (2:13 and 3:5). Nahum outlines the manner of divine retribution.

God will destroy the Assyrians’ idols, temples and families (1:14). Nineveh will be destroyed by a flood (1:8). Invaders will attack (2:1) and lay siege (3:14). People will be cut down by fire and sword (3:15). The city’s treasures will be plundered (2:9).

The seemingly invincible Assyrian Empire will be wiped out, and the world will rejoice (3:19). No longer will the southern kingdom of Judah face the threat of invasion. For her, God is a deliverer, peace-bringer (1:15) and refuge in times of trouble (1:7).

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