War Cry 20 July 2019: selected articles by The Salvation Army UK and Ireland

Nasa

20 July 2019 • WAR cry • FEATURE 3 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin poses for a photo beside the US flag

e h m t r o e o v n O Emily Bright looks back on mankind’s giant leap 50 years ago

xiting the Apollo 11 mission spacecraft, astronaut Neil Armstrong bounced across the lunar landscape in humankind’s first moonwalk. As he achieved this astronomical feat 50 years ago, his words were heard back on planet Earth: ‘One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.’ After taking off from Kennedy Space Center on 16 July, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins travelled 240,000 miles within 76 hours. Four days after blast-off, the lunar module Eagle separated from the spacecraft manned by Michael. A little more than two hours after that, Neil and Buzz landed on the moon. A television camera strapped to the craft beamed back images. When the astronauts planted an American flag on the moon’s surface, they sent a clear message to their Russian rivals that the US was no longer trailing behind them in the Cold War space race.

Former president John F. Kennedy’s pledge to land a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s had become a reality. The astronauts all returned home safely, landing in the Pacific Ocean on 24 July 1969. In the UK, the present Astronomer Royal, Lord Rees, watched the broadcast of the moon landing as a young

It was the precursor of many space projects Cambridge researcher. He tells the War Cry: ‘I watched the same rather grainy black-and-white TV pictures as many millions did around the world. It was a wonderful experience.’ He reflects that the moon landing was a remarkable feat, paving the way for the satellite technology that we still use today. ‘Nasa’s computing power was less than you probably have in your pocket today in a smartphone. And a lot of the equipment was, of course, untested. So it was an extremely risky

project at that time. ‘It was the precursor of many space projects. As an astronomer, I’ve been excited by the unmanned probes that have sent back all the pictures of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and their moons. In our Milky Way galaxy, there are probably many, many millions of planets rather like the Earth, orbiting other stars like the sun.’ The beautiful complexity of our cosmos has astounded people for centuries. Whether we’re expert astronomers or are just awed by looking up at the night sky, we can all grasp the beauty of the universe. The Bible writer David experienced similar wonder, saying: ‘The celestial realms announce God’s glory; the skies testify of his hands’ great work’ (Psalm 19:1 The Voice). David revelled in the majesty of the skies above because he felt it reflected the glorious goodness of God, who cares and provides for people. Like all of us, David had his flaws, yet he looked to God for the strength he needed for the times that were tough and others that were out of this world. Sometimes we can feel light years away from the life we wish to lead. We struggle with our relationships, financial worries or career. But if we gravitate towards God, he will help us launch into a new era of our lives. All we need to do is take one small step and walk towards him.

8 INTERVIEW • WAR cry • 20 July 2019

THE CIRCLE

OF LIFE

To mark the release of the new Lion King film in cinemas yesterday (Friday 19 July), West End star JONATHAN ANDREW HUME tells Emily Bright what it was like to play Simba onstage and why people still feel the love 25 years after the original animation

Jonathan Andrew Hume played Simba in ‘The Lion King’

EMILY BRIGHT

JOHAN PERSSON

S the animated images from a VHS tape of The Lion King flickered across the TV screen, young Jonathan Andrew Hume and his brother watched transfixed. They were enthralled as Simba climbed from cautious cub to savannah sovereign. ‘We used to watch it many, many times. I was a big fan of the film,’ Jonathan admits cheerily. We’re meeting in his dressing room at the Phoenix Theatre in London, where he is currently appearing in the musical Come From Away, and less than a mile away from the Lyceum Theatre, where Jonathan

Jonathan expresses his support for the remake. ‘Redoing the film modernises it, helping it reach a new audience and give people a greater appreciation of the original animated feature. The story can relate to anyone, whatever part of life they’re in, whether they’ve lost someone or if they’re faced with stresses and struggles.’ When I ask him whether he’s excited about the launch of the new Lion King

film, he beams with boyish enthusiasm. ‘I’m looking forward to this movie, and watching it with pride. Although I’m not in that movie, I’m part of the story’s legacy.’ The actor, who played the role of Simba in the stage production for more than five years, first watched the film-inspired stage show soon after it opened in 1999. ‘I thought it was magnificent, vibrant and

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played Simba in the stage show until 2016. The Lion King follows a pride of lions led by benevolent King Mufasa. His cub and heir, Simba, is focused on making mischief with his pal Nala, blissfully unaware that his uncle Scar is scheming to seize the throne. Before long, wicked warmonger Scar begins a merciless rise to power with the help of his cackling hyena cronies. When tragedy strikes, Simba flees his home territory of Pride Rock. Strolling through the jungle, he finds new friends in mirthful meerkat Timon and warm-hearted warthog Pumbaa. But as he matures into an adult, he decides to return home to take his rightful title as the king of Pride Rock.

The story can relate to anyone, whatever part of life they’re in Disney are set to reclaim the story through a CGI-enhanced lifelike version of the 1994 cartoon film, with a cast that includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé KnowlesCarter as Nala and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar.

Simba and his father’s adviser Zazu in the new ‘Lion King’ film

10 INTERVIEW • WAR cry • 20 July 2019

My path moved towards the same joyous ending that Simba’s does

Mufasa and Simba stand on Pride Rock full of colour,’ he remembers. His mum was sitting next to him at the time and suggested that he could play a part in the musical, but he shrugged off the idea as an unlikely possibility. Within two years, however, The Lion King gave Jonathan his first break in musical theatre – as a rhino’s rear – when he was 17 years old. He began his career as a ‘swing’, or understudy for ensemble members, learning all their roles so he could step in at a moment’s notice. He rose up the ranks to become Simba’s understudy. Jonathan couldn’t wait to be king, so when the production toured Singapore in 2011, he took on the part of the leading lion.

eflecting on his role, Jonathan sees R parallels between Simba’s journey from prodigal son to sovereign and his own journey from a young understudy to a selfconfident leading man. ‘Simba leaves his family and tries to find himself. He eventually realises that, after going through trials and tribulations, he needs to go home, and he is welcomed back with open arms. ‘I walked into the rehearsal rooms as a boy in amongst seasoned professionals. There was always a feeling I had deep inside of not wanting to be parented, not

wanting to be guided, but to find my own way and discover things by myself. ‘Ultimately my path moved towards the same joyous ending that Simba’s does, after going through those pitfalls and jubilant parts of life within the bubble of that show. I felt like Simba when he stands on the top of Pride Rock and roars in jubilation at the end, having found the place where he is meant to be.’ Jonathan’s search for identity has been shaped by his Christian faith. He reflects: ‘God has always been part of my life. I try to lead my life in a way that not only I can be proud of, but also that my family and God can be proud of. Obviously we’re not perfect, but I try to keep that in the forefront of my mind.’ Jonathan says that his faith was supported by The Lion King’s company family, as cast members led each other through the circle of life. As a young Christian, he valued the guidance from those who shared his belief. Bible studies were held in the bars of the theatre, and company members would pray for each other. He explains: ‘The entertainment industry is quite vivacious, exciting and materialistic. There are influences within it which go against what God teaches us to do. But we had this sense of community within the cast, and we all kept a check on one another. When people did stray

CLAIRE BRINE

From page 9

20 July 2019 • WAR cry • INTERVIEW 11 CATHERINE ASHIMORE

off, they would be accepted back, and we would help and counsel each other.’ He says that this familial closeness was entwined with the show’s success, whether he was performing in the West End or Singapore. ‘That’s what gives it that sense of joy and excitement for the audience, because the company members are feeling that same joy, pride and community within themselves and are able to put that into their work.’ Jonathan adds that generating this emotional connection with theatregoers made the performances rewarding. ‘Looking out into the audience, I loved seeing the happiness that the story gave them as they followed it with you. ‘When Simba found his purpose in life and went home to save Pride Rock, you could see the pride in their faces, and the tears of joy and sadness. It was gratifying to see the audience root for Simba.’ Actors often talk about preparation for roles, whether that’s in-depth research, speaking with people who have encountered similar situations or staying in character on set. But how exactly do you get ready to play a lion? Jonathan says that his physical preparations for each peformance would normally include ‘some skipping, stretching, and rolling out muscles’.

‘Lion King’ puppetry brings animals to the stage The role required a lot of physical preparation because of the energetic nature of the character he played. ‘You’re jumping around on the stage as if you are completely carefree. When the audience first meet Simba, he’s a young cub and discovering what life is about, having fun and pushing boundaries as any child would. By the time I would enter the action he had become

a teenager. I would appear energetically, doing acrobatics. ‘At the end of act one, I would swing onstage, cartwheeling, singing and dancing all at the same time. I was only

I still look back and think: ‘I can’t actually believe I did that!’ onstage for about 30 to 45 seconds before the interval, but I was probably as tired as I was at the end of the show!’ Jonathan’s acrobatic antics may be behind him, but he now swings between many different roles as a star of new show Come From Away. The musical tells the story of a town in Newfoundland whose inhabitants hosted thousands of plane passengers diverted from the US after the 11 September terrorist attacks on America. He explains: ‘They let people into their homes and schools, fed them, clothed them and counselled them, all for free. They didn’t expect anything back. ‘In one of the world’s most tragic times, this tiny town showed the whole world how to behave. It didn’t matter what race they were or which faith background they were from, they were all taken in and treated exactly the same. And that’s what I think is very beautiful and Christian-like. ‘Those kinds of stories are important, because although they have simple concepts, such as sharing and being kind to each other, it’s easy to forget about them.’ As we reflect back on his career to date, I ask Jonathan what his younger Lion King fan self would think of his 15-year stint as part of the musical’s cast. ‘I don’t think I’d have believed it,’ he says. ‘Sitting here at 36 years old, I still look back at all the acrobatics and think: “I can’t actually believe I did that!”

12 INNER LIFE • War Cry • 20 July 2019

Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Alan, has been receiving treatment for colon 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 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

Daniel

Nigel Bovey gives chapter and verse on each book in the Scriptures

IKE his fellow prophet Ezekiel, Daniel L was taken into exile in Babylon. He is also similar inasmuch as his prophecies

contain mysterious imagery. Many of his words are interpreted as relating to the end times. It is apocalyptic literature, similar to the New Testament’s final book, Revelation. The Book of Daniel is divided into two sections. The first is an account of his experiences as a Jew in Babylon and the second is a series of visions. After Daniel interprets the dreams of the sleep-deprived King Nebuchadnezzar, he is made ruler and chief adviser (2:48). Nebuchadnezzar orders his people to bow down in front of a gold statue. When he hears that three of Daniel’s friends have refused to do so, he throws them into a fiery furnace. But they emerge unscathed, leading Nebuchadnezzar to declare that God is mighty, and prompting him to promote the three friends (chapter 3). After his death, Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar, holds a feast, during which his guests drink from Temple goblets. God is displeased. Suddenly a human hand appears and writes some mysterious words on the wall. Daniel interprets them. The writing is on the wall for the king. That night, Belshazzar dies and Darius the Mede takes the throne (chapter 5). For disobeying a prayer ban, Darius throws Daniel into a lions’ den. Like his friends before him, Daniel emerges unharmed and Darius acknowledges God (chapter 6). Daniel describes three visions.

The first contains four hybrid beasts, each representing a kingdom. He also sees a messianic ‘son of man’ (7:13), an eternal kingdom (7:18) and a judgment day (7:22). Animals feature in his second vision. It

The writing is on the wall for the king relates to the countries of Media, Persia and Greece and is for ‘the time of the end’ (8:17) when ‘a master of intrigue’ (8:23) will fight the ‘Prince of princes’ (8:25). Daniel’s third vision is of a man with a message (chapters 10 to 12). The Persian Empire will be replaced by the Greek, which will split into four (11:2–4). Initiated by a proud king (11:36), there will be widespread war between north and south (11:40–45). God’s people will be rescued (12:1) and the dead will be raised, some to everlasting life (12:2). The last vision attracts many interpretations. Some scholars think it refers to world history at the time of Daniel; some commentators regard it more as a future timetable for the Antichrist and the Second Coming.

Key verse

the ‘Those who are wise will shine like l nie (Da s’ ven brightness of the hea 12:3 New International Version)

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