2 COMMENT AND CONTENTS • WAR CRY • 11 May 2019
What is The Salvation Army? The Salvation Army is a church and 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 over 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 WHEN Tony Thornton’s wife died in 2017, people had no idea how to support him. Some wanted to give him advice, while others overwhelmed him with food. What Tony wanted, he says in an interview in this week’s War Cry, was for people to ‘just be normal’. Tony is not unique in his experiences. Generally, we are not good at dealing with bereavement. But Monday (13 May) is the start of Dying Matters Awareness Week, which highlights the importance of talking about death. The Christian faith has a lot to say about death. Its central message is that dying does not mark the end of everything. Instead, it provides the opportunity for people one day to meet with God in an entirely new way in a place where the Bible says there is ‘no more death, no more grief or crying or pain’ (Revelation 21:4 Good News Bible). Although this faith does not save Christians from the sadness of losing a loved one, it does save them from the hopelessness that bereavement can bring. The hope of Heaven means that there are many uplifting Christians songs that reference death and eternity. Two articles in this week’s War Cry feature gospel music, a genre whose songs make many references to life after death. We speak to the co-founder of Soweto Gospel Choir about their contribution to a ballet that combines South African and western music and dance. We also feature Amazing Grace, a film shot in 1972 of Aretha Franklin recording what has been described as the most successful gospel album of all time. The song from which the film takes its title gives the promise that, when it comes to the matter of dying, we can be assured of a ‘home’ with God if we’ll believe in his amazing grace. Now we are aware of that opportunity to see death differently, will we take it?
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 7422
Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Stephen Pearson 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 Tel: 0845 634 0101 Helpline: 020 7367 4888 Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@sp-s.co.uk 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
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Contents FEATURES 3
Gospel, according to Aretha Producer Joe Boyd talks about Amazing Grace film
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Fostering hope Couple talk about caring for children
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Choir’s latest move Singers provide music for Zulu ballet
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‘I said to people: Just be normal’ Tony Thornton reflects on his bereavement
REGULARS
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5 News 12
Browsing the Bible
13 Expressions 14 Puzzles 15
What’s cooking? Front-page picture: Studiocanal
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