2 COMMENT AND CONTENTS • WAR CRY • 18 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 THE FA Cup final, which takes place today (Saturday 18 May), is one of the signs that the football season is reaching its end. There is still, however, a lot to play for. Hearts and Celtic are a week away from competing for football’s oldest piece of silverware. And the Champions League does not reach its climax until 1 June. Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur’s achievements in overcoming big deficits to reach the Champions League final prompted headline writers to reach for the word ‘miracle’. Whatever part divine intervention did or did not play in the victories, it is worth noting the role that the Almighty has played at all levels of the game. Many top clubs owe their existence to churches. In football’s early days, Christians saw that the game could be character-building, fostering qualities such as loyalty and the notion of fair play. So they started teams, some of which went on to become well known. Spurs are one such club, while Liverpool grew out of another, their rivals Everton (originally St Domingo Football Club). Fittingly, community foundations attached to Spurs and another club with Christian origins – Fulham – are today helping a church run a footballing project for refugees. As we report in this week’s War Cry, the clubs are providing some coaching and funding for Hillsong Church, London, which has been putting on football sessions for young people who have fled difficult circumstances in countries such as Eritrea and Afghanistan. Hillsong’s Ralph Boer describes Football United as ‘a safe space’ for the refugees. He tells us that he and the other organisers try to ‘create an atmosphere where people are known and loved, where everybody is welcome’. At the end of a season when ugly moments in domestic and international games have highlighted that society as a whole still has a problem with racism and bigotry, Football United is a reminder that we can all strive to generate an altogether better atmosphere.
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 7423
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
Contents
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
Your local Salvation Army centre
FEATURES 3
Back in bloom RHS Chelsea nurtures love for nature
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Pop stars – the rivals Acts dream of Eurovision win
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Pitching in Football project supports refugees
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Belly laughs Actress finds comedy in her condition
REGULARS 4
News and media
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Browsing the Bible
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Now, there’s a thought!
14 Puzzles 15
What’s cooking? Front-page picture: RHS/LUKE MacGREGOR
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