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 7492
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
ONLINE a warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk @TheWarCryUK TheWarCryUK
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2 • War Cry • 19 September 2020
EDITOR From desk From the editor’s desk
QUESTION: what do TV quizmaster Jeremy Vine and global prayer SINGING is good for you. So have say scientists quoted the is that movement founder Pete Greig in common? One on answer BBCare Future Theinexperts said singing they both website. interviewed this issue ofthat the War Cry.can boost our and sense of articles social connection. At moods first glance, the two may appear to be on very different Perhaps it is withpresenter these benefits in Vine mindhas thatjust people have been subjects. Eggheads Jeremy written a novel joining online choirs duringwork lockdown. In this week’s issue, the inspired by a 20th-century of art. Pete Greig talks about his War Cry’stoSarah Olowofoyeku joins a virtual of the London response his wife Sammy’s chronic illness.rehearsal Look more closely, International Choir toconcerns discover for herself the pleasures however, and Gospel some common become apparent. people haveon found of singing alone, yet together with others. Reflecting his experience of Christian faith, Jeremy says: ‘I Meanwhile Hardwick similar value in running. suppose we allAusten struggle with ourhas faithfound and whether we really believe.’ This week’s War Cryinalso interview with passion’, the marathon He describes having his includes younger an years ‘a burning runnerhewho found hishe sport to regain after which then lost, that before felt helped its ‘slowhim burn’ return.his Helife says his he sufferedhas three while in hisperhaps early forties. experience leftstrokes him thinking that ‘doubting can be good’ wasdoubt not only thatofhelped Austen’s andHowever, that ‘faithit and arerunning two sides the same coin’. recovery. His Christian faithtalks played a vital part in him positive Pete Greig also about ‘struggles withtaking faith’. aHe is one of the approach to aall24-7 thatprayer he faced. team behind movement that spread round the globe. I was hospital,’ Austen says, ‘I asked God take what Yet ‘When when his wifeindeveloped a chronic illness, he felt astothough his I was going through and tounheeded. transform me through it.’ prayers for her were going Christians God canatake any situation or anything He says hisbelieve prayersthat have made noticeable difference to his wife’s that theyondoonly or face and use it to a positive impact others’ seizures two occasions. Hemake acknowledges that he in could lives ‘walked or their own. experience of he painter Oliver have away That from has the been wholethe God thing’ – but didn’t. Pengilley. Christians, Pete admits, don’t have ‘all the answers’. Yet he and Oliver a successful as an artist‘awith some others stillhad holddeveloped on to faith. He talks of career questions being legitimate of his workofselling of money. But,‘airlift as heus tells expression faith’ for andsignificant says that sums often God does not out of theproblems’ War Cry this grew frustrated. our butweek, ratherhe ‘parachutes’ in to join us in our ‘darkness, ‘I didn’tand seepain’. the meaning of it,’ he says. Now he travels to questions churches all over the world paintdepicted pictures right during To Christians, a clue is thetoscene in worship the middle of sessions and faith-based artwork helped in the painting thathis fascinates Jeremy Vine:has Christ of Stother Johnpeople of the Cross. their own faith journey. In Jesus’ suffering, God shows that he suffers with us. It’s a It is anthat amazing truth thatand Godstill can take anythe skill a person has message has changed, changes, lives of countless or any –situation they about are facing people no question it. and can transform it into something that can change their lives and the lives of the people around them.
Contents
What is The Salvation Army?
FEATURES 3
Jeremy Vine
Painting puts broadcaster in reflective
frame of mind
6
Tech – the opportunities
Software developer on coding for good
8
Wall of silence
‘My prayer didn’t work’
REGULARS 12
Team Talk
13
Puppy Tales
14 Puzzles 15
6
War Cry Kitchen
8
15
Front-page picture: SOPHIA SPRING © Hodder & Stoughton