War Cry 16 January 2021

How cervical cancer can be prevented

WAR CRY

16 January 2021 20p/25c

An eye to the past TV film digs up drama at archaeological site

In tune with music during lockdown

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

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 7508

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 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@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

INFO 2 • WAR CRY • 16 January 2021

EDITOR From From the editor’s desk

THIS time last year, the idea of the United Kingdom going into lockdown might have seemed the unlikely plot of a disaster movie. For the past ten months, though, everybody’s real life has been impacted by Covid-19 and the resulting restrictions.

The first few days of last month started with hope that the worst was over with the roll-out of the first vaccine. But, as a new variant of the virus was confirmed, so more restrictions were introduced and new lockdowns compelled us to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives – but that will not be easy for any of us.

During previous lockdowns, many people turned to music to help.

Streaming in 2020 was up by a fifth compared with the previous year. And, as we report in this week’s War Cry, some people found that the sounds of gospel music brought them a sense of peace in these difficult times.

Sometimes, though, the additional challenges brought by the pandemic restrictions have required more than just a soothing tune.

Take, for example, Dorota Strak, who discovered that she was pregnant during the first national lockdown. Her life changed in the dramatic way it does for all expectant mothers, but with an added complication: many of the experiences parents-to-be would normally expect to go through together, Dorota has had to go through alone. Covid restrictions prevented fathers from attending appointments such as the 12-week scan, and routine midwife appointments could only be conducted over the phone.

In an interview this week, Dorota explains how she found this difficult and scary, but that she found comfort in her faith and the support of her church.

As we go through the coming weeks of lockdown, many people will draw on their Christian faith to help them. The good news is that God offers his comfort to everyone – all we have to do is ask him for it.

CONTENTS

What is The Salvation Army?

FEATURES 3

Digging it

Netflix film discovers drama in archaeology

5

Lost in music

Melody has been good in difficult times

6

‘We can prevent cervical cancer’

The work of an obstetrician and gynaecologist

8

Pregnant in a pandemic

How lockdown affected a mother-to-be

REGULARS

12

Team Talk

13

Puppy Tales

14 Puzzles 15

War Cry Kitchen

6

8

Front-page picture: LARRY HORRICKS/Netflix © 2021

15

LARRY HORRICKS/Netflix © 2021

TELEVISION Edith Pretty and her son Robert watch Basil Brown’s excavations

Emily Bright uncovers a new archaeological drama about an excavation that made history

GOOD A

AS

GOLD

MATEUR archaeologist Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) unearths a groundbreaking discovery as he excavates burial mounds in the grounds of the house where wealthy widow Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan) lives with her son Robert (Archie Barns). The story of the reallife Sutton Hoo finds of 1939 provides the backdrop to the film The Dig, which can be found on Netflix from 29 January.

Far from looking for gold, Basil and Edith want to explore the mounds for the sheer excitement of finding relics of a bygone civilisation. One day, Basil excavates a piece of wood which he thinks could date back to the Viking era.

Despite his early discovery, the local museum is dismissive of his efforts and is sceptical that he’ll find anything of significance.

It urges him to ditch the project.

But before long, he discovers the remains of an Anglo-Saxon burial ship, a find that would change ideas about history. As Basil and an archaeological team work on the ship, many pieces of ancient craftsmanship emerge, including a gold coin, a small gold pyramid inlaid with gems and a gold belt buckle.

Carey Mulligan was moved when she first read the script. ‘There is one line where Edith says, “It’s a ship, Robert”, and that single line made me cry,’ she recalls. ‘There was something just so pure and childlike about the discovery, and yet also so life-changing for them.

‘I hope the audience takes away a sense of wonder and magic at a really simple

discovery. The story really ignites the child in you, because at the end of the day it’s about buried treasure.’

Discovering buried treasure is not something many of us will ever do. However, we are likely to have things that we treasure, whether precious memories created with family and friends or our own achievements, status or wealth.

Christians often cite a parable that Jesus told to illustrate the spiritual riches that can be derived from following him. He said: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field’ (Matthew 13:44 New International Version).

Through the parable, Jesus was flagging up the richness of life that comes from being in a relationship with him. Through his death, he bridged the gap between a broken world and the Divine, allowing us to be reconciled with God. Jesus never promised that following him would be easy, or that we would receive material wealth or success as a result. Instead, he offers us a longer-lasting legacy: his love and strength to equip us for whatever circumstances we may face in life.

If we brush away our preconceptions and explore Jesus for ourselves, the treasures we find can transform our lives for ever. That’s a truth worth digging into.

The story ignites the child in you

16 January 2021 • WAR CRY • 3

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WAR CRY

Pioneers talk of overcoming prejudice

Leroy Logan

PA

the organisation through the Black Police Association’.

From that point on he felt no fear, even though he realised he would become a target for people in the police who were opposed to change.

He said: ‘This was my mission. I always felt that whatever the Lord was asking me to do, I would claim that ground. So, whether it was dealing with a home secretary or the commissioner or anyone else – if God was going to put me in those corridors of power, I would claim that as holy ground. The Lord was going to give me the wisdom to speak a word in season to bring in a new response, something to get them to think around the systemic failings and institutional racism and other prejudices that were in the organisation.’

The Bishop said she had felt called by God to commit herself to serving in the Church of England even though at the time it did not ordain women as priests.

Yet she had not let opposition to women priests or racism distract her.

Growing up in Jamaica, she had seen people ‘who looked like me’ in all walks of life.

‘I do not allow other people to tell me that I am of no value or worth,’ she The Right Rev said. ‘Topped with that is the fact that my Rose Hudson-Wilkin worth is in Christ.’

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THE homelessness services of The Salvation Army have received outstanding feedback from people who have benefited from their help.

In a recent survey of 830 people who used the services across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, most respondents praised the support that they received. Specifically, they gave positive feedback about being made to feel welcome (94 per cent), Covid safety (90 per cent) and the support that the church and charity gave with issues related to mental health (90 per cent), substance use (86 per cent) and physical wellbeing (83 per cent).

4 • WAR CRY • 16 January 2021

CHRISTIAN Aid has warned that world leaders must take urgent action this year ‘to fix the climate crisis’, as the latest research from the charity shows that last year extreme weather events cost billions of pounds and caused suffering among countries all over the world.

In a report, Counting the Cost 2020: A Year of Climate Breakdown, the organisation identified 15 of the most destructive climate disasters of the year, including Storms Ciara and Alex in Europe (which cost the equivalent of £4.3 billion), bushfires in Australia (£3.7 billion), floods in India (£7.4 billion), hurricanes in the USA and Central America (£29.5 billion) and floods in China (£23.6 billion).

In addition to the richer nations listed in the report, poorer countries also experienced devastation as a result of extreme weather events linked to climate change. South Sudan, for example, experienced one of its worst floods on record, which killed 138 people.

‘The Covid-19 pandemic has understandably been a major worry,’ Dr Kat Kramer, climate policy lead at Christian Aid, said.

‘For millions of people in vulnerable parts of the world, climate breakdown has compounded this. It is vital that 2021 ushers in a new era of activity to turn this tide.’

Lee Ball, addictions officer of The Salvation Army, said: ‘It is heartening that so many people are so satisfied with how they were made to feel welcome. In the homelessness service unit, the quality of that welcome really can be the difference between life and death.

Relationships are key to the success of so many of our programmes – particularly around addiction and harm reduction. If people feel welcome and cared for, they engage more with what is on offer and achieve significantly better outcomes.’

Library picture posed by models

FOUNDING member of the Black Police Association Leroy Logan and the first black woman bishop in the Church of England, the Right Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, talked in an online event about how their Christian faith had helped them in the face of prejudice.

During the live-streamed discussion, presented

by UCB radio broadcaster Ruth O’Reilly-Smith, Leroy described how he had sensed that God called him to join the Metropolitan Police and ‘make changes’ to a service that, in his younger years, he had experienced as hostile.

His determination to accomplish the task survived an assault on his father by police officers, instances of racism directed towards him by colleagues and hostility from other people in the community in which he had grown up.

It was strengthened when he heard the Rev Jesse Jackson, who had been a colleague of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, preach at a church in London in 1994, around the time that the Black Police Association was being set up. Through the sermon, Leroy sensed that ‘this was my mission – I was going to make changes within

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FEATURE

ztWwxc Do you have a story to share? a warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk @TheWarCryUK TheWarCryUK

B salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry Former MP’s family links to civil rights movement

FOR THE MUSIC Songs have been bringing joy in lockdown, reports Philip Halcrow

G

IGS have gone, but it seems we never can say goodbye to music.

Figures released by record labels association the BPI show that the consumption of recorded music rose last year.

‘Challenges have been considerable for the artistic community, especially performers who tend not to sell music or be streamed in any significant way but rely on income from gigs,’ Gennaro Castaldo of the BPI tells the War Cry. But streaming, which increased by a fifth, has, he says, ‘provided a lifeline to thousands of artists’.

Along with physical sales, it has also been a lifeline for locked-down listeners.

As someone who works in talent management and enjoys DJing, Freddy Kawesi of Woodford Green is aware of the effect Covid restrictions have had on live events. He has, though, been listening to even more music than normal.

‘You can walk, exercise or wash dishes and listen to music,’ he says. ‘So music has become the soundtrack to lockdown, whether I’ve been doing something mundane or I’ve listened to it actively to understand the message.’

Freddy, who accesses tracks through streaming and buying them, has been listening to jazz pianist Robert Glasper and ‘songs from the Motown era by Stevie Wonder and other soul artists’.

He says: ‘I’ve also been listening to gospel – Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond.

During the rollercoaster of 2020 and what was happening all over the world with race relations and the presidents and prime ministers in power, every now and then I needed to listen to the likes of those gospel artists to put me at ease and bring a bit more of the peace that I wasn’t seeing in the outside world.’

Music can be background noise, but it can also deliver a message – and the truth that underlies gospel songs has accompanied unnumbered people through many tough times. It underlines that, as Kirk Franklin sang: ‘Don’t you be afraid… There’s a friend in Jesus, who will wipe your tears away.’

Jesus’ assurance was that if we reach out to God, he’ll be there with a love that will see us through. Which has always sounded like music to the ears.

I needed to listen to artists to put me at ease

Library picture posed by model

IN My Family’s Fight for Civil Rights, which will be broadcast on Radio 4 on Monday (18 January), former MP Oona King travels to the state of Georgia in the USA to speak to members of the civil rights movement.

The programme was first aired in 2014, on the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Civil Rights Act, the legislation that ended segregation in public places and forced southern states to give equality to African-Americans.

Oona’s grandfather and uncles had worked with Martin Luther King in the Albany Movement, a campaign of mass protests to desegregate Georgia.

One of the interviewees is Pastor Boyd from Shiloh Baptist Church, who allowed protesters to meet at his church.

THANK YOU

16 January 2021 • WAR CRY • 5

A good smear To mark Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, which begins on Monday (18 January), Sarah Olowofoyeku speaks with Dr CATHERINE RICHARDSON to find out more about screening

C

Catherine Richardson

6 • WAR CRY • 16 January 2021

ERVICAL cancer can be prevented. Unlike other types of the disease, signs of it can be spotted before the cancer has a chance to develop. Dr Catherine Richardson, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, explains that this is possible because of cervical screenings.

‘Women who have smears regularly are unlikely to get cervical cancer,’ she says. ‘For about 80 years, we’ve known about changes on the cervix that can be seen under a microscope. These changes can be picked up and treated before turning into cancer. Smears have been in use for 60 years, and the UK’s cervical screening programme has offered regular smears since 1988.

‘We have also learnt that there’s a virus called human papillomavirus, which is responsible for almost all cancers of the cervix and is passed on through any sexual contact. We can pick up on women who have high-risk types of HPV, and we can have a careful look at their cervix. If they need treatment to prevent cancer, we can offer it.’

In the UK, women between the ages of 25 and 64 are regularly invited for smear tests. While it is a preventative measure, many young women worry that they may end up with a cancer diagnosis. Catherine empathises.

‘Getting a letter to attend a screening can

INTERVIEW

campaign be scary. Women don’t quite understand what it means or think that it might be painful, but usually it’s not at all. And if you have questions or concerns, it’s fine to ask for an appointment to talk to the nurse about having a smear and what that means.’

At a screening appointment, a nurse uses a speculum to take a small sample of cells from the cervix. The sample is then sent to a lab to be tested for high-risk HPV, and then, if necessary, for abnormal cells. The results are sent out within a few weeks. If there have been changes in a woman’s cells, she will be invited to colposcopy.

‘I run clinics for women who’ve had an abnormal smear,’ says Catherine. ‘I see lots of women each day who are absolutely terrified. They’ve had a letter telling them their smear is abnormal and they need to go to the hospital. Their immediate thought is: “Oh no, I’ve got cancer.” But that is almost never the case.

They walk in feeling anxious and unsure, but they walk out smiling.

‘During the appointment, I explain what’s going on. I look at their cervix – and on a screen they can see their cervix too. I talk them through the changes and explain what, if anything, we need to do.

If treatment is needed, I can often give it there and then. So they leave knowing that it’s sorted and they don’t have cancer.’

Catherine encourages women not to be afraid and to remember that screenings are not looking for cancer; they are a way to prevent it happening. She points out, however, that it’s frequently the most vulnerable women in society who don’t have regular cervical screenings.

‘They are often the women most at risk, because they’ve had difficult sexual experiences or relationships in the past,’ she explains. ‘I feel sad that the people who need to attend screenings the most are the ones who don’t attend, or are not supported or encouraged to do so. One of the saddest things is when a woman is sent to my colposcopy clinic by her GP because she is bleeding after intercourse, and she has never had a smear test and now has cancer. We’ve missed the boat, but her story could have been so different.’

When such tough situations occur, Catherine draws some strength from her Christian faith.

‘We live in a really broken, sad world,’

Screenings are not looking for cancer, they are a way to prevent it

she says. ‘We’re privileged to live in a country where there is good healthcare and where often we can make things better. It’s hard when we can’t, or when we see someone who has had so many bad things happen to them and has suffered because of what others have done.

‘It seems so wrong, and I feel upset and angry. Then I am reminded that God is even more upset and angry than I am.

He was so concerned about the bad things that happen that he sent Jesus into the world to live with us and suffer alongside us, and to ultimately put an end to death and suffering. That perspective gives me hope.’

In addition, she appreciates being able, as a doctor, to follow Jesus in the sense that he sought to ‘improve people’s health and give them hope in their circumstances’.

As the country goes through more tough times because of the coronavirus pandemic, hospitals have had to adapt the way they work. But Catherine says that smear tests can still be done.

‘Talk to your practice nurse about the Covid-19 risks if you’re worried about going during the pandemic.

The NHS is busy, but preventing cancer is important.’

16 January 2021 • WAR CRY • 7

Labour of love When she discovered she was pregnant during the first coronavirus lockdown, DOROTA STRAK turned to her faith, as she explains to Claire Brine

D

Dorota and Patrick 8 • WAR CRY • 16 January 2021

OROTA STRAK experienced many emotions when she discovered she was pregnant. There was excitement, a sense of wonder, a feeling of responsibility and an apprehensive understanding that – ready or not – she was about to embark on a huge life change. While she welcomed the news that she was about to become a mum, she had one major concern – as did pregnant women everywhere. It was spring 2020 and a global pandemic was going on.

‘At the beginning, no one really knew if coronavirus would affect pregnant women or their babies, so it was a stressful and frightening time,’ says Dorota, who was born in Poland but has been living in London for the past 15 years. ‘I was having my first baby and everything was new to me. I knew that under normal circumstances, I’d go to see my GP and they would tell me what to do next. But the surgery was inundated with calls about coronavirus and I couldn’t get an appointment. The internet was my only source of information, which was difficult.’

Right from the start, Dorota was aware that her pregnancy was going to be far from ordinary. The spread of coronavirus

INTERVIEW

across the country had dramatically affected access to midwives and the running of hospitals.

‘I felt such a mixed bag of emotions,’ Dorota explains. ‘There were days when I felt really happy to be pregnant, because I couldn’t wait to meet my baby and I imagined what that special moment would be like. But there were also times when I felt tired and sick, and coronavirus only made those days more difficult because I didn’t have the hands-on support of anyone other than my fiancé, Patrick. Even though I’m a strong character, it was hard to stay positive when we were in lockdown.’

It was in early May that Dorota found out she was expecting a baby. She

remembers walking down a deserted street in London’s Piccadilly to buy a pregnancy test.

‘I’d already done a test at home – which was positive – but I wanted to do another one to make sure,’ she says. ‘So Patrick and I walked the empty streets to Boots. All the other shops were closed because of lockdown, but chemists were still open.

‘When we saw that the result was definitely positive, we felt happy. We knew we wanted a baby. But we were also scared, because I don’t think you’re ever ready for it. Having a child is immense. There was so much for us to learn. Until I got pregnant, I didn’t know what a swaddle was.’

Throughout her pregnancy, Dorota

It was hard to stay positive in lockdown

followed government guidance and worked from home, enjoying the challenges of her job as an investigator for the financial ombudsman service.

‘As it was lockdown and we weren’t able to go out anywhere, I just focused on work,’ she says. ‘Doing my job took my mind off the news, which was so worrying.

I wasn’t shielding, strictly speaking, but I didn’t see anyone for a good few months.’

Not even a midwife.

‘Face-to-face appointments with doctors and midwives were not available. Everything had to be done on the phone, which I found difficult.

‘Fortunately, with my job, I have access to Babylon, which is an online GP. So the first thing I did when I became pregnant

Turn to page 10

➥

16 January 2021 • WAR CRY • 9

From page 9 was to book a doctor’s appointment. They advised me on picking a hospital and told me what to expect from the first trimester.

Any time I felt unwell, I could call them for reassurance.

‘On one occasion, they recommended I go to the hospital because they were concerned that my pregnancy could be ectopic. I was very stressed, especially when Patrick wasn’t allowed to come in with me. Potentially we were about to face some serious news, and yet he couldn’t be there. It was hard for me – and hard for him too. Everything was OK and the baby was fine. But I know that a lot of pregnant women have had to hear bad news completely on their own. I wonder how they have coped.’

As Dorota’s pregnancy progressed, she got used to chatting to midwives on the phone. While she was grateful for their care and words of comfort, she found the lack of face-to-face contact frustrating.

‘I thought: Is everything going to be done over the phone and video calls? Am I going to have to give birth on Zoom?

‘At 12 weeks, I went to the hospital for a routine scan and the midwives assured me that I would be seeing them in person a bit more. They were lovely and helpful. I had to wear a mask and sanitise my hands, so I felt safe. Patrick wasn’t allowed to attend the appointment, though, so he waited outside for me. I had to pay £5 for a photo of the scan, just so he could see our baby.’

At the 20-week scan, Dorota and Patrick chose to find out the sex of their child.

‘Again, Patrick wasn’t allowed to attend the appointment, so I asked the sonographer to write down the baby’s sex on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope,’ Dorota says. ‘It was a sunny day, so Patrick and I walked to a nice canal bridge and opened the envelope together. We found out we were having a boy – which made us happy.’

see the good things in our situation, rather than look at what I was missing. My faith has given me peace and the knowledge that I’m not alone. I feel looked after.’

Practising hypnobirthing techniques under the guidance of a private midwife also helped the couple to prepare their minds for the birth.

‘It was like praying,’ says Dorota. ‘I meditated on positive affirmations, which helped me to see labour as a beautiful experience rather than a burden or a worry. Saying things like, “I can trust my body to know what it’s

I prayed that our baby would be healthy

doing” put me in a calm headspace.

‘Another appointment we booked was a private scan at Harley Street, because I felt it was important for Patrick to be able to see the baby. It was a lovely moment for us and created a sense of family. Up until then, Patrick hadn’t been able to feel the baby kicking, due to the front positioning of the placenta, so going to a scan gave him that sense of connection and a stronger bond. He was so excited.

The experience brought us closer.’

While Dorota and Patrick valued the opportunity to access several private medical appointments, they recognised that not all expectant parents in lockdown

D

espite the struggles of being pregnant during a pandemic, Dorota and Patrick tried to focus on the positives around them. They took great comfort from their Christian faith.

‘Our faith has been hugely important to us,’ Dorota says. ‘Obviously, we couldn’t go to church during lockdown, but we could still pray. I prayed all the time that our baby would be healthy.

‘We have also been in touch constantly with our priest. He has been so supportive and encouraging. Last year at Easter he gave us some little crosses, which we put up at home. Every time I looked at them, I felt blessed.

‘This past year I have found that thinking of God has helped to keep me calm and

10 • WAR CRY • 16 January 2021

Dorota had several baby showers with limited guests, in order to comply with government guidelines

PAOLO CARABETTA

INTERVIEW

Baby Oliver

Dorota and Patrick towards the end of her pregnancy

could afford such privileges. It appeared that pregnancy in a pandemic could be slightly easier – and inclusive of dads – for couples with money.

‘We were fortunate that we could afford these things,’ Dorota says.

‘I could ask the hypnobirthing midwife anything I wanted and I learnt so much from her. I felt for the pregnant women who weren’t able to have the same experience.’

As the pregnancy progressed, Dorota and Patrick tackled their next hurdle: shopping for a newborn. They had booked tickets to the Baby and Toddler Show in Esher – a massive parenting and pregnancy event – hoping to browse and buy what they needed. But like many events last year, it was cancelled.

‘So we booked an appointment with an assistant in the nursery department at John Lewis,’ Dorota says. ‘She showed us all the stock,

telling us what we did and didn’t need. It helped us. I had been looking at a pram online, trying to guess what might be suitable, but when I saw it in front of me I could tell it was completely wrong for us.

When you’re buying stuff for a baby, you really need to see it.’

A few months before the birth, Dorota decided to celebrate her arrival-to-be as many pregnant women do – with a baby shower. But adhering to the government’s rules meant that she needed to plan several events in order to see all her friends.

‘At that time, we were allowed to have six people in the house, so I had two baby showers over two weekends,’ she says. ‘I also had a virtual one on Zoom. It was tricky and exhausting – because I ended up being the organiser – but I managed to pull it off. It felt nice to know that I didn’t have to miss out.’

As Dorota neared the end of her pregnancy, she wondered about the birth ahead and what her experiences might be, as different hospitals appeared to follow different procedures. Then, two

Fathers need to be there

weeks before her due date, the NHS published updated guidance on labour and birth, resulting in pregnant women being allowed partner support ‘at all times’, and not just during active labour.

It was a big relief for Dorota and Patrick, who were all too aware of stories in the media about dads who had sadly missed the birth of their children when labour hadn’t gone according to plan.

‘I was so glad to hear that Patrick could be at the birth,’ she says. ‘I couldn’t imagine doing it without him. I think fathers need to be there.’

After a quiet Christmas in tier 4 London, Dorota and Patrick were expecting a much noisier new year with the birth of their baby. But Oliver Noah Strak-Daykin didn’t arrive until Monday 11 January, just hours before the War Cry went to press.

‘He’s healthy and beautiful,’ Dorota tells me in a text message, before adding that his birthweight was just over 8lb. ‘We love him already. I think being with him will keep me sane this year.’

As England settles into another lockdown, it’s going to be a year full of challenges for any new mother.

‘There are still some difficulties ahead, because parent-and-baby groups aren’t open at the moment,’ Dorota says. ‘I would like to get to know some other mums, so that I don’t become isolated.

But until that’s possible, I’m choosing to be positive. I have the support of Patrick, his family and my family back home. I have my faith. I have Oliver. And spring is coming. I know that things will get better.’

16 January 2021 • WAR CRY • 11

EXPLORE

Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for John, who is in prison and concerned about his family; and for Anne, who has begun to receive treatment for throat cancer.

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

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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.

talk ‘ ’ Team talk TEAM TALK Today’s lesson: kindness

Claire Brine gives her take on a story catching the attention of War Cry reporters

SCHOOLS are closed for the majority of pupils, but because ‘education is absolutely vital’ – according to BBC director-general Tim Davie – BBC Two and the CBBC channel have begun broadcasting curriculum-based programmes to help families with school-aged children during lockdowns. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden described the move as a ‘lifeline for parents’ – and I imagine most would agree with him (particularly if they haven’t thought about algebraic fractions since some time last century.)

When the UK entered its first lockdown back in March, it became apparent very quickly that doing school at home meant different things for different families. Children who had access to their own computer, a decent space in which to work and parents on hand to help them had a clear advantage over children who had none of those things. The idea that kids were all in the same boat wasn’t true. Some families struggled more than others.

This year, that struggle continues because the Covid-19 pandemic continues.

Everyone continues to be affected by it. But not everyone has the same experience of it.

A post I saw on social media put it well: ‘Working parents want their kids to go back to school, because school closures directly impact them.

Teachers don’t want schools to open, because Covid spreading round their school directly impacts them.

‘NHS staff want a full lockdown because sick Covid patients directly impact them. Business owners want to carry on as normal because lockdown directly impacts them.

‘People with physical health problems want everyone to stay socially distant because catching Covid could kill them. People with mental health problems want people to spend time with because isolation could kill them.’

The post concludes with the point that ‘we are all going through this, but none of us are going through the same thing’.

Starting a new year with new lockdowns made me mindful of the need for kindness, understanding, patience and tolerance – more than ever. Teaching ourselves not to pass judgment on others whose stories are different from ours isn’t always easy. But we can learn these things, if we want to. We can practise, until we get better. Just imagine the impact.

Some families struggled more than others

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

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Contact details of a Salvation Army minister Name Address Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

Or email your details and request to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk 12 • WAR CRY • 16 January 2021

EXPRESSIONS

puppy tales Life with a young dog leads Barbara Lang to look at the world from a new perspective

A bite-size problem T

Q -

QUICK QUIZ 1

2

Who played chess prodigy Beth Harmon in the TV miniseries The Queen’s Gambit?

When dipped into a liquid, litmus paper uses which colour to indicate an acid?

A

3

4

5

6

Reykjavík is the capital of which country?

Last month, which English broadcaster was awarded the Rose d’Or lifetime achievement award for his exceptional contribution across six decades to the entertainment industry?

Who had a No 1 hit in 1965 with the song ‘I Got You Babe’?

In which century did Michelangelo paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

ANSWERS

HE big tree stump in our garden was irresistible to our puppy Jak when his new teeth were coming through his sore gums. But the stump was so big that Jak’s little jaw could not open wide enough to get a good grip on it, leading to his spending many hours trying out all sorts of strange body and head positions.

Gnawing at the stump was more of an effort than Jak had bargained for. However, it did provide a time for us, his owners, to relax from having to run around after him. Finally, Jak had found something that took his attention for more than a couple of minutes – however much of a challenge it proved to be.

Jak’s actions reminded me of times when I have embarked on a project that was much bigger than I had initially thought, such as a 5,000-piece jigsaw or the knitting of a patterned jumper. I think we have all had times when we have bitten off more than we can chew.

There are times, though, when we fail with something far more important than a jigsaw puzzle, such as relationships or work situations.

The consequences can be devastating for us or those around us, and we worry about what to do next. However, there is someone we can turn to for help in those times.

Jesus said: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28 New International Version).

We don’t have to let our problems and worries stump us – Jesus is always there to help.

BOOK REVIEW Britain’s Pilgrim Places Nick Mayhew-Smith and Guy Hayward Lifestyle Press A PILGRIM is someone who journeys with purpose to a holy place. Many of us – spiritual or not – may find it appealing to become a pilgrim for a day, if only to find some solace from the challenges of daily life. This extensive travel guide of 500 holy places and 48 pilgrimage routes in England and Wales can be a great resource to start that journey.

The book’s 600-plus pages offer an array of historical anecdotes and facts about Britain’s many sacred spaces as well as the scenic paths that connect them. Alongside the text, colour photographs showcase a variety of sites, from grand cathedrals to small hidden wells.

Far from being a relic bound for the bookshelf, this guide is user-friendly, including QR codes for routes and driving instructions to specific sites. Any traveller looking to explore Britain’s holy places would find it a useful tool on their trip.

Linda McTurk

16 January 2021 • WAR CRY • 13

1. Anya Taylor-Joy. 2. Red. 3. Iceland. 4. Sir David Attenborough. 5. Sonny and Cher. 6. The 16th century.

CROSSWORD CROSSWORD

PUZZLES

QUICK CROSSWORD

by Chris Horne 9. African 31. Organ of ACROSS capital (5) balance (3) 1. Droll (5) 14. Signal (3) 4. Pusillanimous (5) 32. Unit of heat (5) 15. Donkey (3) 33. Accepted (5) 8. Tune (3) 17. Regret (3) 9. Travels by DOWN 18. Deceive (3) horse (5) 20. Castle wall (7) 2. Prod (5) 10. First 21. Digital greeting performance (5) 3. Veil (7) card (5) 4. Laborious 11. Coal scuttle (3) 22. Method (6) 12. Freshwater fish (5) walk (6) 23. Mound (5) 5. Biting insect (5) 13. Keats’s urn (7) 24. Group of nine (5) 6. Emirate (5) 16. Lorries (6) 25. Weird (5) 7. Ancient 19. Type of farm (6) 27. Waterway (5) language (5) 23. 35th US President (7) 26. Coffee (5) 28. Weaken (3) 29. Proprietor (5) 30. In advance (5)

SUDOKU

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

HONEYCOMB HONEYCOMB

ANSWERS

8 1 3

2

2

ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH

Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number 1. Simple drawing 2. Fail to remember 3. Large lizard 4. Type of road (3-3) 5. Member of the clergy who assists a vicar 6. Nationality of Hans Christian Andersen

WORDSEARCH AEROBIC

ANAEROBIC CYCLING

FLEXIBILITY

HEART RATE INTENSITY

INTERVAL TRAINING JUMPING JACK LEG CURL PILATES

PRESS-UP RUNNING SPORT SQUAT

STRENGTH STRETCH

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Funny. 4. Timid. 8. Air. 9. Rides. 10. Debut. 11. Hod.12. Bream.

13. Grecian. 16. Trucks. 19. Arable.

23. Kennedy. 26. Mocha. 28. Sap. 29. Owner. 30. Ahead. 31. Ear. 32. Therm. 33. Taken.

DOWN: 2. Nudge. 3. Yashmak. 4. Trudge.

5. Midge. 6. Dubai. 7. Latin. 9. Rabat.

14. Cue. 15. Ass. 17. Rue. 18. Con. 20. Rampart. 21. E-card. 22. System.

23. Knoll. 24. Nonet. 25. Eerie. 27. Creek.

HONEYCOMB 1. Sketch. 2. Forget. 3. Iguana.

4. One-way. 5. Curate. 6. Danish.

3 6 9 8 5 2 4 7 1

SWIMMING

7 8 1 4 3 9 6 2 5

4 2 5 6 1 7 9 3 8

1 7 6 3 8 4 5 9 2

5 4 2 9 7 1 8 6 3

9 3 8 5 2 6 1 4 7

6 1 3 2 4 5 7 8 9

8 9 7 1 6 3 2 5 4

2 5 4 7 9 8 3 1 6

SUDOKU SOLUTION

WEIGHT TRAINING

1 5 5 8 2 6 4 8 5 7

14 • WAR CRY • 16 January 2021

1 2 7 4 1 9 2 8 6 9 7 8 2 6 1 5 5 8 2 3 6 4 8 5 7

3 Look 7 up, 4 down, 1 5forwards, 9 6 backwards 8 2 and diagonally on the grid to find these 6 words 8 2associated 7 4 with 3 1exercise 9 5 9 1 5 6 2 8 3 7 4 Y B V G J L E G C U R L S T B F S G 8 4 6 3 9 5 2 1 7 K Q W K C A J G N I P M U J F S Z M 5 3 1 I 8 7 2 I 4 P Y 6 F W 9 X H H N G Z N A N B U Q H F X C L 2I G A W T H O S O Q D Z N 9 7 4 1 6 5 3 8 Q S M V L M Y Q E E T F R S H Z B I 6 9 5 8 1 7 2 3 J G S C J 4L P G R R Q T U E E M V E T U Y F L C X N P V O M N S A R P E 7 2 3 9 6 4 8 5 1 E C Z Q L H E I D A L B N L K M P O 5 8 2L G 3 E 7I A 9 Y 4Q W C 6 U W U N H 1E L M N

L S N Q R A X M Z T I H N C Q O R Z U W K F T R J I Z R E T G D X P Q E H C T E R T S W B A X N W F W P D Y C V S O S R M S Q I C T S W Q N V K J I S Q U A T R Z N L H M I W E C Q W E I G H T T R A I N I N G T K Z N P V E S W E H T G N E R T S G Y P K B C Z D X Y U K U G G U Z Y Y O L K K R M B B O Q R J U L H Q B R D F T

2 3

2

D Super stew and dumplings Ingredients

Method

2tsp vegetable oil

Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the beef, a handful at a time, and cook over a high heat for 2-3 minutes until browned. Pour the stock in the pan and add the onions, garlic, carrots, celery, bay leaf and mushrooms.

280g lean braising steak, cut into chunks 450ml reduced-salt vegetable stock 2 medium onions, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 carrots, cut into chunks 2 celery sticks, sliced 1 bay leaf 250g closed cup mushrooms, halved 100g self-raising flour 2tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

SERVES

4

Ground black pepper 50g reduced-fat spread 2tbsp cold water

Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat.

Cover and cook over a low heat for 90 minutes, occasionally checking if there is enough liquid and topping up with water, if needed.

Meanwhile, to make the dumplings, sift the flour into a bowl and add the parsley and a pinch of black pepper.

Add the spread to the flour and rub in until the mixture has a fine, crumbly texture, then mix in the cold water to make a soft dough. Knead the dough lightly for a moment, then form into 12 small dumplings.

Add the dumplings to the stew, letting them sit on the surface. Cover and cook for a further 25-30 minutes on low heat, until the dumplings are light and fluffy, then serve.

Blueberry and banana smoothie Ingredients

Method

75g blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Tip the blueberries into a blender and add the bananas, milk and vanilla extract.

2 small ripe bananas, sliced 400ml semi-skimmed milk ½ tsp vanilla extract

Whizz together for a few seconds until smooth and blended, then pour into 4 glasses. Serve immediately.

SERVES

4

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Public Health England website nhs.uk/change4life

16 January 2021 • WAR CRY • 15

Hope drives everything Katie Piper

WAR CRY