War Cry 20 March 2021

Author says there’s still time to improve our lives

WAR CRY

20 March 2021 20p/25c

Reputations on the line Will dodgy officers cop it in TV drama?

Trekker finds route to peace in Middle East

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 7517

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.

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Your local Salvation Army centre

INFO 2 • WAR CRY • 20 March 2021

EDITOR From the editor’s desk

FANS have eagerly awaited new episodes of BBC One’s drama Line of Duty, as we report in this week’s War Cry. For five series, millions of viewers have been gripped as members of AC-12, an anticorruption unit, have investigated the actions of fellow police officers suspected of breaking the law.

Little could the programme-makers have suspected that, in the weeks running up to the launch of the sixth series, our news bulletins and papers would be reporting on the the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s investigation into issues surrounding the arrest of a serving police officer for the murder of Sarah Everard.

While many people are happy to watch ‘dodgy coppers’ in the context of a TV drama, the possibility of a real-life policeman engaging in serious criminal behaviour is shocking to them. But the tragic case of Sarah Everard has also brought into public debate the issue of how safe women feel within our society. In the past two weeks many women have spoken out against the vulnerability they feel when outside alone.

Others have given examples of times when they have suffered verbal or physical abuse.

Some reports have suggested that the government is considering instituting a new offence of public sexual harassment to protect women from this abuse as part of its strategy to combat sexual violence against women and girls.

Any measures that will help women feel safer are to be welcomed.

But the problem is that these laws are needed in the first place.

Common decency and a respect for people should mean that nobody has to live their lives in fear – regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion or sexuality.

Sadly, the death of Sarah Everard is another example, to add to others we have seen over the past 12 months, which clearly shows our society still has a long way to go in recognising the value of all human life.

CONTENTS

What is The Salvation Army?

FEATURES 3

Duty calls Police officer is under investigation in TV drama

5

Sounds good Who will win the BBC Audio awards?

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Nothing doing How stillness can benefit us

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Just deserts for heroes?

Trekker meets the promoters of peace in the Middle East

REGULARS 4

War Cry World

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Team Talk

13

Out of the Mouth of Babes

14 Puzzles 15

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War Cry Kitchen

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Front-page picture: BBC/WORLD PRODUCTIONS/STEFFAN HILL

TELEVISION BBC

Arnott, Hastings and Fleming investigate DCI Davidson

A QUESTION OF JUSTICE Emily Bright observes the return of a detective drama

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ITH sirens blaring and blue lights flashing, police cars stop Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson (Kelly Macdonald) and Detective Inspector Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) in their tracks. But Kate has a haunted look in her eye as she reaches for her gun holster.

So runs one of the trailers that has whetted the public’s enthusiasm for the sixth series of police drama Line of Duty, which starts on BBC One tomorrow (Sunday 21 March).

When the action starts in earnest, viewers will discover that Joanne is under scrutiny by police anticorruption unit AC-12 for her role as senior investigating officer on an unsolved murder case. But this is Line of Duty, so nothing is always as it seems.

Heading up the investigating team is Kate, an undercover officer, and her police partner Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott (Martin Compston).

Both officers will need to rely on their resolve, intelligence and instincts to unlock the truth of what is going on.

In the past five series, AC-12 has unmasked many misdemeanours, including drug smuggling, murder and attempts to pervert the course of justice. Their boss, Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), has become known for his catchphrase: ‘There’s only one thing I’m interested in, and that’s catching bent coppers.’

Consequently, the team have worked

tirelessly to ensure that the police are obeying the law that they are meant to be enforcing.

Millions of viewers will be tuning in to see that happen. The popularity of Line of Duty and other detective dramas is evidence that people enjoy seeing characters who make horrifying choices eventually face the consequences of their actions.

There’s certainly something attractive about stories of good versus bad, in which the dark schemes of criminals are exposed to the light of justice.

But the reality is that, whether or not we have committed crimes, as some television characters have, we all make choices that we may later regret. Perhaps we even feel that our relationships are too broken, or that we’ve made too many mistakes in life

We all make choices we may later regret to seek redemption or forgiveness.

However, Christians believe that, while God is a God of justice, he also cares deeply for us. He loves us so much that he gave his only Son, Jesus, to die on a cross for our sins, bridging the gap between flawed humanity and himself.

Through Jesus, God has forgiven us and wiped our slate clean. It means

Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Davidson is under scrutiny that if we turn from our mistakes and follow Jesus we have a second chance.

The Bible writer Paul makes the case that, with the help of Jesus, there is another way to live. He says: ‘Live as children who have the light of the Lord in them. This light gives us truth.

It makes us right with God and makes us good’ (Ephesians 5:8 and 9 New Life Version).

If we confess our past shame to him, God will help us deal with it. He will also equip us with the strength and wisdom to make the right choices.

With God by our side, we can pursue lives of kindness and mercy. Such an opportunity surely warrants our attention.

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WAR CRY

DUANE HOWARD/NETFLIX

TV adventurer has no fears over faith ADVENTURER Bear Grylls told The Guardian that when it comes to his Christian faith: ‘I’m no longer afraid to say I really need it.’

The star of Animals on the Loose: A You vs Wild Movie – released last month on Netflix – explained: ‘For me, faith is not very churchy. It’s not very religious. It’s just a sense that I really believe there’s something out there. That we’re loved. We’re given a light and strength to live life. For me, Christ has been a quiet empowering daily presence to tackle life with that sort of light inside me.’

Bear also said that he reflected on the coronavirus pandemic with a perspective of faith, saying: ‘The messages are so simple aren’t they? Be kind, look out for each other, work together. Maybe listen a bit more.’

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LEADERS of 60 black majority churches from across the UK have urged their congregations ‘to seek out the facts’ about the Covid-19 vaccine from ‘trusted sources’.

The church leaders issued a statement after research showed that black people are among those most likely to be hesitant about receiving a Covid-19 vaccine.

Pastor Agu Irukwu, of Jesus House – one of the UK’s largest black majority churches – is hopeful that by sharing his confidence in the vaccines, members of his congregations will have one when they are invited to do so. He has volunteered to use the church building as a pop-up vaccination site, which was visited by Prince Charles last week.

‘We are committed to doing the best we can in bringing reassurance about the Covid-19 vaccines to our congregation and wider community,’ said Pastor Agu. The initiative was organised by Churches Together in England, the Evangelical Alliance and church support group YourNeighbour.

HANNAH HISEMAN (MAIN), RONALD MOORE AND PATRICIA KENNY (INSET)

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A SIXTEENTH-century painting of the Last Supper, which has hung for more than 100 years in St Michael and All Angels Church in Ledbury, has been linked to the Renaissance master Titian, reported the BBC. Since being approached by the church three years ago to research and restore the painting, art historian Ronald Moore and his assistant Patricia Kenny since spent some 11,000 hours trying to establish links between the work and Tiziano Vecellio, better known as Titian.

Using ultraviolet light, Ronald discovered Titian’s signature on a jug on the bottom left of the painting (pictured, right).

However, Titian was not the sole artist of the work. The 4 • WAR CRY • 20 March 2021

historian says two or three other artists may also have worked on the piece.

‘Although he instigated the design with his son, it does not mean he painted it completely or even did much of the painting,’ Ronald told the BBC. ‘The exciting part is that this is an undiscovered painting from Titian’s workshop.’

FEATURE

tWwxcx Hundreds of meals for people in need

Community centre staff member prepares to distribute food

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

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Sounds of success Audio productions are celebrated in awards ceremony, hears Claire Brine

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E’RE all ears! The winners of the BBC Audio Drama awards are to be revealed in an online ceremony next Friday (26 March). The competition, which recognises actors, producers and sound designers, is set to allocate prizes in a number of categories, including best original single drama, best adaptation and best use of sound.

This year, organisers have launched a new category. The year of reinvention award recognises productions that have responded outstandingly to the extraordinary circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic. The series Lockdown Theatre Festival is one of three finalists shortlisted. Last year, its Bertie Carvel producer Bertie Carvel and the Reduced Listening audio company took a handful of stage productions whose runs were cut short because of Covid and put them on air. Contributors were connected with one another over the internet in order to record their parts in isolation.

At the time, Bertie wrote in a BBC article that theatre closures presented ‘a truly existential crisis’. He said that by broadcasting plays such as Shoe Lady – a Royal Court Theatre production that closed last March – Lockdown Theatre Festival was celebrating theatrical culture while also issuing an ‘invitation to consider how on earth we can weather this storm’.

Bertie and his team felt so strongly that the show must go on that they looked for a new way of doing things. And when we face problems of our own, it’s a good approach to take.

Many people believe that when they feel utterly stuck in life, they can turn to Jesus, who will help to show them a new direction. The Bible writer Paul, who went from persecuting Christians to loving and teaching them, said: ‘If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 New International Version).

Whatever scenario we find ourselves in, when we don’t know what to do for the best, we can follow Jesus. Not only does he promise to forgive our past mistakes, but he is also willing to show us a better way forward in future. Sound good?

They looked for a new way of doing things

20 March 2021 • WAR CRY • 5

RICH GOLD/ALAMY LIVE NEWS

A SALVATION Army church in Wokingham is delivering 200 hot meals and desserts a week to people who are in need.

The church initially started serving takeaway meals last September as an alternative to their usual drop-in service. The provision of meals ran alongside their benefits, welfare and tenancy support work. But in January, as England went into its third lockdown, Captain Jan Howlin, the church’s leader, decided to start a door-to-door food service to ‘keep as many people at home as possible’.

To help the initiative, the community has donated food and a large freezer for storage. A large group of staff and volunteers help to prepare and distribute food on a rota.

Captain Howlin said: ‘It’s not just about the food; it’s an opportunity for a welfare check too. When we deliver the meals, it gives us a chance for a quick doorstep chat, to check whether they have any concerns, if they have any medical needs, or need help with their finances. We can react quite quickly to help them get the assistance they need and refer them to our other service areas within the organisation.’

Doing nothing STEPHEN COTTRELL tells Sarah Olowofoyeku why he believes not doing anything can have a huge impact on our lives

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TEPHEN Cottrell was almost out of ideas after delivering assemblies to a tough crowd of secondary school children week in, week out, when one morning he decided to do something a little different. He told the packed hall of about eight hundred young people that what he was about to do would amaze them. He got a chair, put it on the stage, sat down and closed his eyes.

‘It felt very risky,’ he says, as he retells the events over Zoom. ‘I sat there in silence thinking, what’s going to happen now? When I stood up, I said to them that being still, stopping and reflecting is good for you. That was the end of the assembly, and I got this massive round of applause, which I’d never got for any of

A r ch bishop Stephe

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my other assemblies.’

That morning had an impact on those schoolchildren. Stephen says that on the following days he had parents stopping him on the street to talk about what he had done, because their kids had spoken to them about it.

‘Our lives are frantic and busy, and there are huge pressures on young people. I think the human heart longs for moments of stillness, so when those young people in the assembly were given a glimpse of doing nothing, it was received as the beautiful gift that it is.’

Doing nothing is a concept in which Stephen, the Archbishop of York, is deeply interested. In his book Do Nothing to Change Your Life, re-released last year, he talks about the profound difference that literally stopping to do nothing can make.

He recognises, however, the unique challenge that the Covid-19 pandemic

has posed for many of us in this regard.

‘We are in a world of enforced isolation,’ he says. ‘Everybody’s doing nothing and is deeply frustrated by it.

‘Loneliness and solitude are not the same thing. Loneliness is desperate and destructive, and leads to the poor mental health that many of us have been suffering in the past year. But solitude is choosing to stand apart from the frantic busyness of the world. So if someone has spent their life during lockdown on Netflix or YouTube, though it may seem weird to say, they may still need to find solitude.

‘It would be beneficial to set apart three minutes or so for intentional stillness, to step out of the loneliness, which we are filling up with stuff. That stuff can be its own busy distraction. I know I have watched more telly this past year than in the previous 20. Stillness doesn’t always

Stillness doesn’t always have to be sitting still

INTERVIEW

for a change have to be sitting still. I’m talking about interior stillness. Sometimes that is best found by moving. I find it easier to be still when I go on a walk. So perhaps that’s one thing people can do. Go on a walk but don’t plug into anything. Make your walk a time of intentional communion with God, like a little pilgrimage.’

While the book was first released more than a decade ago, and has re-appeared at a time when the world looked very different, Stephen feels that its message can be for today.

‘Since the book was written, the whole mindfulness industry has developed, which is all about recognising that we are too frantic, and that it is good for the human spirit to be still.

‘The disciplines of sitting still and putting up our hand to speak are some of the first things we learn at school. It’s hard because most of us are fidgety. But I’d quite like all of us to relearn those early school disciplines.

‘We’d be better people and have a better world if we sat still, or waited our turn to speak. Because often we’re all talking at once, we’re not listening to each other. We’re certainly not listening to God.’ And it’s in that space of ‘doing nothing’, Stephen believes, that we have an opportunity to hear from God. ‘In the silence, we can find ourselves contemplating – actively thinking about who God is and what he has done for us.

In those moments, we can know that we are precious, cherished and loved by God

– that’s the heart of the message of the Christian faith.

‘Many of us, though, don’t experience that. Some people have led difficult, damaged lives. Life has dealt them blow after blow, and they don’t feel very loved.

God’s love may not be something people experience straightaway, so what I love to do is sit alongside people and share who God is with them.

‘I believe God will come to people. My hope is that when people take time to be still, they will begin to see a God with a capacious loving heart for every person, and that they will receive that for themselves.’

l Do Nothing to Change Your Life is published

by Church House Publishing

20 March 2021 • WAR CRY • 7

A journey DAN MORRICE speaks to Emily Bright about trekking across a desert and meeting peacemakers Dan Morrice

Dan trekked 500 miles across the Negev Desert

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INTERVIEW

beyond belief M

IDWAY through his 500-mile trek via the arid and rocky valleys of Israel’s Negev Desert, Dan Morrice realised he was in serious danger. ‘I’d left the designated trail,’ he recalls. ‘I didn’t have a signal on my phone or a map of the route. So I got lost. I ended up in a ravine and was running low on water. I couldn’t see a route out, and it was getting dark.’

In desperation, he cried out to God for help.

‘I prayed and then had this strong conviction to turn around. I panicked because I thought I should be going in the opposite direction. But I turned around, went left and found a well-worn path for climbers, which I followed. I felt like God had led me out of that situation. When I got to safety, I looked back and thought: That was a near miss.’

As a Christian, Dan felt one passage in the Bible was particularly appropriate for him at that moment.

‘I was reminded of Psalm 23, which

says: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because you are with me.” That was the sense I had the whole trek. I felt that whatever trials and triumphs there were, God was with me, and that made all the difference.’

Dan shares his story of the trek and his encounters with people of faith in his book Finding the Peacemakers. The geography teacher from Bristol embarked on the challenge in 2018 for two reasons. First, he was keen to raise funds for anti-trafficking charity A21, but secondly, he also wanted to retrace the steps of the man who had changed his life for ever: Jesus. Dan hoped that doing so would give him and others a fresh insight into the Christian faith.

‘I never wanted to write a religious book,’ he says. ‘I just wanted to draw my atheist friends into the story of Jesus. So I started telling other people’s stories of

faith from across the world.

‘But I wanted to land it in Jesus’ story, and do something creative to explore his life. So I came up with this idea to walk in his footsteps from the time when he was a child and migrated from Egypt to Nazareth. That felt like a relatable window into his life.’

But, as Dan admits, the reality of the challenge, which he eventually completed, took its toll.

‘I was totally out of my depth,’ he says.

‘I carried too much weight, took the wrong bags, didn’t have enough water, and ran into wild animals that I didn’t even know existed.

‘There are two kinds of explorers – the Bear Grylls adventurer, who knows what they’re doing, and the Lord of the Rings Bilbo Baggins type who ends up on an adventure out of their depth. I was definitely the latter.’

Dan’s adventure began with the idea of exploring remarkable stories of lives transformed by faith. He travelled across the world, taking in Chile, the Middle East and Greece, to interview Christians who were steadfast in their faith regardless of the

I ran into wild animals I didn’t know existed

Turn to page 10

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Dan meets Palestinian Christian and peacemaker Sami

20 March 2021 • WAR CRY • 9

From page 9 extreme circumstances in which they lived.

One such interviewee was Sami, an Arab Christian caught up in the ArabIsraeli conflict. He took Jesus’ teachings on loving his enemies very seriously, as Dan explains.

‘For Sami, loving his enemies means reaching out to Jewish people, settlers who have bulldozed the land of his friends and family. Sami, who has even seen his people killed, goes to people on both

sides of the conflict, who want to see each other dead. He will go out to them in love and talk about peace and reconciliation and forgiveness.

Sami has been beaten up and thrown in jail, but he chose the higher calling of non-violence. He had a real peace of God about him.’

Dan also met Karim, a Christian originally from Syria.

‘When he was just 13, someone threw a can of petrol on him during a fight and

Chilean miner Omar Reygadas (centre) was rescued after 69 days trapped underground in 2010

10 • WAR CRY • 20 March 2021

set him on fire,’ Dan recalls. ‘He didn’t die, but he had third degree burns and, from then on, he hated the Arab world.

‘He became a musician and left for Europe. He forgot Arabic and put his past life behind him. In 2008, he got a job in Qatar and went to an international church.

But the service was in Arabic and he was surrounded by Arabs, which brought up all these memories and emotions.

‘Members of the church got around him, wanting to pray for healing, forgiveness

INTERVIEW and reconciliation in his life. And he came back home a changed man.’

This transformation would have a tangible effect on Karim’s entire worldview and vocation.

‘Karim felt God was telling him to prepare for the next wave of refugees that fled to Greece after the Arab Spring. His transformation was remarkable. He cared for all sorts of people of all nations and religions. His scars had faded visibly on his face, and the mental scars were gone too.’

Dan reflects that the capacity of the Christian faith to change people was a recurring theme throughout his travels and interviews.

‘I saw people that were transformed, but also saw how they were paying it forward,’ he adds. ‘After they encountered Jesus, they felt they needed to stay and bring healing to other people who were carrying hurt. I saw healed people heal people and freed people free people.’

He first became interested in such accounts of faith after being moved by the story of 33 Chilean miners.

In August 2010, the ramp into the Copiapó mine collapsed, and the men were trapped underground for 69 days.

Defying the low odds, all 33 emerged alive and well in a remarkable rescue dubbed a ‘miracle’ by the world’s media.

Afterwards, many of the miners were keen to attribute their survival to God. Dan wanted to find out more about their story, and so wrote an email to the publishers of José Henriquez, the miner who became known as the ‘pastor’ because he led the group in Christian prayer.

José emailed Dan with his phone number, telling him to call him when he landed in Chile for an interview.

Dan was surprised by José’s description of the atmosphere that had existed in the collapsed mine.

‘They were in an extreme situation, where they were starving to death,’ he says. ‘But there was a dignity, a peace and a presence of God in the mine which they tapped into. José and other miners stepped in where skirmishes broke out and said they were going to act in the ways of forgiveness, faith and prayer, and that they were going to get out.’

Seemingly impossible coincidences took place in the mine, as Dan outlines: ‘José prayed over a water tank that was used to cool the machines and so was full of chemicals and oil. After he prayed a blessing over it, they drank it and it was completely clean. It was remarkable.

There was actually a second water tank that they didn’t use, and hadn’t prayed for, which was still contaminated.

‘Omar Reygadas, one of the other miners, genuinely thought he was dying when, a couple of weeks in, his breathing became laboured. They were in 30-degree heat, maximum humidity, in a toxic environment of dust and mould. There were no ventilators and no oxygen. He told me that he surrendered his life to the will of God. ‘But as he did that, he felt like God say: “No. It’s not your moment to die, this is your moment to fight.” They are his exact words. So he started praying for real faith and strength. And as he prayed, a

One miner thought he was dying

cool breeze swept up from the bottom of the mine over all the miners. They were sealed from the world above, they were half a mile down. It made no sense. Where would the cold breeze have come from? It restored Omar’s breathing. And as Omar was healed, the breeze vanished.’

Even the rescue itself was miraculous.

The engineers had to drill through the side of the mine rather than above it to avoid collapse, the location of the men within the mine was unknown, and the drills were difficult to direct.

‘It’s equivalent to a footballer taking a free kick from outside the stadium with a blindfold on,’ explains Dan. ‘The drill just kept missing. Then on day 17, the drill deviated in the right direction, hit an air pocket in the corner of the mine, and the miners were rescued.’

While Dan just wanted to tell their story, rather than impose his own view of divine miracles, he was struck by how the astonishing sequence of events defied logic.

‘In each one of those little stories, there could be an explanation. But when you start to put them all together, it feels like it’s too big a leap of faith to suggest that what happened was all chance. Once you know the stories and you’ve seen and heard them, you can no longer sweep them under the carpet.

They demand a response.

And that’s what I wanted to generate.’

l Finding the Peacemakers is published by Hodder & Stoughton

20 March 2021 • WAR CRY • 11

EXPLORE

Prayerlink THE War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their ­circumstances, for publication. 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.

Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit.

Team talk

talk ‘ ’ TEAM TALK

Living can take on new meaning Sarah Olowofoyeku gives her take on a story catching the attention of War Cry reporters

THE past year has felt like a movie… except there hasn’t been a happy ending yet. It’s hard to believe that twelve months have gone by and we are still living in a global pandemic.

In the UK, this Tuesday (23 March) marks one year since the first lockdown.

Since then, life has been tough for many. There have been job losses, mental health difficulties and bereavements. Some have not seen loved ones in months.

Even for those fortunate enough to have a job, a home or a family at this time, the drastic change to normal life as well as a lack of real-life connections with others has taken it toll.

While this period is one a lot of us probably want to forget, Marie Curie are hosting a National Day of Reflection on Tuesday. Reflecting is a key part of helping all of us to process the surreal time thay we have lived It has been through, and are still living through. The focus of the day will on grief, and talking about the ways in which people can a rocky year be process their pain. One of the talks is entitled Finding Hope and Meaning Beyond Covid-19.

Indeed, life in a pandemic has felt hopeless some days and has brought into question the meaning of life for some.

In a Metro article last year about the effect the pandemic was having on people, psychologist Gillian Bond said many of us were forced ‘to take a long, hard look in the mirror and face into the “bigger” questions we’ve managed to avoid until now’.

One such question might be why we are here. ‘All human beings have a need for meaning and purpose,’ Gillian adds.

Although it has been a rocky year, for me and millions of people across the world, the Christian faith still brings meaning and hope for this life and the next.

The best thing is that it is open to everyone.

As we take time to reflect on the year that’s gone by, for anyone who finds themselves longing for a purpose and hope, taking a step on the Christian journey might fulfil those needs. And while life may still bring plot twists, faith offers the promise of a hopeful ending.

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 Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

12 • WAR CRY • 20 March 2021

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Or email your details and request to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk

EXPRESSIONS

Rosemary Dawson on the life lessons she has learnt from her grandchildren

Coping with fear I

Q

QUICK QUIZ 1

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William Caxton is thought to have introduced what invention to England in the 15th century?

In computer terminology, what does RAM stand for?

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Which ancient Greek poet wrote The Iliad?

Which part of London gave its name to a 1999 romcom starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts?

Who had a No 1 hit in the Noughties with the song ‘Where is the Love’?

What type of bird of prey is a kestrel?

ANSWERS

N this year of global uncertainty, things that we wouldn’t normally worry about, such as shopping or making plans for social events, have assumed gigantic proportions. There has been fear about employment, finances and our health. As a result we have seen significant increases in mental health problems.

Even young children pick up on worry vibes, including our granddaughter Millie, aged three. Her little worries, although not on a pandemic scale, are nevertheless very real to her. Such as when she was ‘a little bit scared’ on her first morning at nursery. But that didn’t last long – 20 minutes later, she told her mum she could ‘go home now’.

Then there was a visit to the zoo. Millie’s worry about the big lions initially made her reluctant to go. It probably didn’t help that big sister Evie told her they like to stick their big claws outside the cage! Fortunately, the lions had already eaten their dinner that day.

Millie was also scared when she was due to have her flu spray, but afterwards she was proud to be presented with a certificate for being brave, and she told the nurse she wanted to be ‘a doc-doc’ when she grew up.

Jesus knows about all our worries and fears – big or small. They’re part of our human make-up. Whatever is going on, Jesus says: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’ (John 14:27 New International Version).

Millie is too young to understand that yet, but she has already learnt to share her worries. Whether old or young, that’s a good coping strategy – coupled with the knowledge that Jesus’ help is only a prayer away.

BOOK REVIEW Oliver: The True Story of a Stolen Dog and the Humans He Brought Together Steven J. Carino and Alex Tresniowsky Thomas Nelson PANIC gripped Steven J. Carino on Valentine’s Day 2019 as he realised someone had stolen his beloved Yorkie Shih Tzu Oliver. In this real-life story, Steven relates how strangers across New York, including news reporters, neighbours, policemen and social media supporters, sought to reunite him with his pet and best pal.

As he recalls that frantic search, he draws on wisdom from the Bible’s Book of Proverbs, from which he highlights the enduring qualities of love, compassion and faithfulness. He looks back on his difficult upbringing and how his canine friends, past and present, led him through. Steven also describes how his attitude towards God and divine love evolved through his experiences, and his forgiveness of the troubled teen who kidnapped his dog.

While it laps up the opportunity for oversentimentalism, this heart-warming story is a welcome reminder that hope, love and the kindness of human hearts can prevail.

Emily Bright

20 March 2021 • WAR CRY • 13

1. The printing press. 2. Random access memory.

3. Homer. 4. Notting Hill.

5. Black Eyed Peas. 6. A falcon.

CROSSWORD CROSSWORD PUZZLES

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Clay (5) 5. African country (5) 8. Noble gas (5) 9. Host (5) 10. Assign (5) 11. Part of a staircase (5) 12. Whirlpool (4) 15. Hot spring (6) 17. Demon (5) 18. Short- sightedness (6) 20. See 25 across 25 and 20. Tibetan Buddhist (5, 4) 26. Sum (5) 27. Stringed instrument (5)

by Chris Horne

13. Desiccate (3) 14. By way of (3) 15. Antelope (3) 16. Deciduous tree (3) 17. Musician on the DOWN roof (7) 1. Exact retribution (6) 18. Gather (6) 19. Deposed (6) 2. Exotic plant (6) 3. Apply pressure (5) 21. Former prime minister (6) 4. Fear (5) 22. Mark ______ , 5. Twisted (7) Roman leader (6) 6. Attractive 23. Young eel (5) women (6) 24. Ancient Scots (5) 7. Lower (6)

28. Authorised absence (5) 29. Jockey (5) 30. Sleazy (5)

SUDOKU

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

HONEYCOMB HONEYCOMB

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

1. Roof of mouth 2. Collection of songs 3. Take a brief look 4. Delicate and pretty 5. Waterproof jacket 6. Non-venomous snake

ANSWERS QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Adobe. 5. Gabon.

8. Xenon. 9. Emcee. 10. Allot. 11. Riser.

12. Eddy. 15. Geyser. 17. Fiend.

18. Myopia. 20. Lama. 25. Dalai.

26. Total. 27. Cello. 28. Exeat.

29. Rider. 30. Seedy.

DOWN: 1. Avenge. 2. Orchid.

3. Exert. 4. Angst. 5. Gnarled. 6. Belles.

7. Nether. 13. Dry. 14. Via. 15. Gnu. 16. Elm. 17. Fiddler. 18. Muster.

19. Ousted. 21. Attlee. 22. Antony.

23. Elver. 24. Picts.

HONEYCOMB 1. Palate. 2. Medley. 3. Glance.

4. Dainty. 5. Anorak. 6. Python.

9 1 6 4 5 3 8 2 7

5 2 3 8 7 6 9 4 1

8 7 4 2 1 9 5 6 3

1 8 2 5 3 7 4 9 6

6 9 5 1 4 8 3 7 2

4 3 7 6 9 2 1 5 8

2 6 1 9 8 5 7 3 4

3 5 8 7 2 4 6 1 9

7 4 9 3 6 1 2 8 5

SUDOKU SOLUTION

7

3 6

4 2 1 8 5

14 • WAR CRY • 20 March 2021

ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH ORDSEARCH

Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number

WORDSEARCH

9Look 5 up, 8 down, 1 6forwards, 4 2 backwards 3 7 and diagonally on the grid to find 1these 2 Eighties 7 8 pop 9 songs 3 6 5 4 6 3 4 2 5 7 1 8 9 CALLING YOUR NAME

E P H D Y M T W U U D X W G G J K J A Z DON’T YOU WANT ME 4 T 8H G 2 I 5L N O O M Q 1 6 9 7Z M G 3

C W O D A H S EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE A A L Z O R Y K V 5 7 J 1 T X K 3 4 I 9R O Q A 8 2 6I N EYES WITHOUT A F B D T C N L E V G I U E Q I C D N C I 3 6 9 7 8 2 5 4 1 FACE A M I E N A T N B Q D B S Z N W N E R L HOLDING OUT FOR A T L N E V O L Y M S E O G P O P A Q X L 8 9 5 4 3 1 7 6 2 HERO

U I G B H F T HOLIDAY 2 L O N T Q G R C Z M D F A 4 6 9 7 5 3 1 8

O F O D Z O L O I U X A L Q O Y R Q N F I’M FALLING 7 1 3 6 K O 2 8F N O Q 4 9 5F M

H C U J U Z L F R N W D IT’S RAINING MEN KIDS IN AMERICA MAD WORLD MIRROR MAN MOONLIGHT SHADOW NOTORIOUS ORINOCO FLOW POP GOES MY LOVE TAKE ON ME THIS CHARMING MAN

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

4

8 6

7 8 3

D Pepper and courgette frittata Ingredients

Method

1 medium courgette, trimmed and finely chopped

Place the courgette and yellow pepper in a microwave-proof dish and add the oil and herbs. Season, then cover with an upturned plate and cook on high for 3 minutes.

1 yellow pepper, deseeded and finely chopped 2tsp vegetable oil ½ tsp mixed dried herbs Salt and freshly ground black pepper 4 large British Lion eggs 2tbsp water 25g cheddar cheese, grated

Beat the eggs in a bowl with the water. Stir in the microwaved vegetables. Cover with the plate and cook on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Stir again, pushing the cooked egg into the middle of the dish. Slightly shake the bowl to level the contents.

Cover with the plate and cook on high for a further 2 minutes. Leave to stand for 3 minutes.

Scatter over the cheese and microwave on high for 1 minute until the cheese is melted.

SERVES

2

Place on a serving plate and cut into squares. Serve warm or cold.

Chocolate pudding Ingredients

Method

50g butter

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/ Gas Mark 4.

75g caster sugar 4 large British Lion eggs 300ml milk 50g self-raising flour 4tbsp cocoa

Lightly oil 6 x 175ml ovenproof dishes (eg ramekins). In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together using an electric whisk until the mixture is pale and fluffy.

Separate the egg yolks from the whites and place in different bowls.

Add the yolks to the sugar mixture and beat until smooth. Add in the milk, flour and cocoa and mix using a whisk until smooth and quite runny.

Wash the whisk heads and, in a separate clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks.

Gently fold into the chocolate mixture. Divide between the prepared dishes. Bake for 12 minutes or until risen. Carefully transfer to plates and serve immediately.

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the British Egg Information Service website eggrecipes.co.uk

SERVES

6

20 March 2021 • WAR CRY • 15

K IN ALEB FIN AR ISABELLE F CATRIONA NIC M R U E E N E N R O B C U A A Y IE SHA E ISAIAH RA HARVEY MADD A ROBBIE ALY A IC N L N E A G N IH R A A N E N R IO W H Y EVA CECIL F EARL LEANNE OB ALEX NOA C IE A T J T A A H IS U E O N L A K SH AC KIEL KAIDEN J TENEY HENR ARA BILLY ERIN E R Z U E O C A IN M A IA L L A IL IN W SHELBY LE RA ETHAN ROB O CERYS JOY IA H C MINA MASON S A E A M A LY J L E N K Y S W A N C LU I IVER KARA BRO X SAMUEL DAV AM SEBASTIAN A D A M A N U A L H S Y D O J N E PH ALEXANDE THOMAS JAYD ANAYAH JOSE W E E K H A T L T B A A M N L A IE S N DA FAITH N IJAH HARRISON L E OGAN KEEGAN L E COLE LIAM ELE A H X E IC L A M Y R E E IL H R P O H T T BE RIS DNEY OAKLEY ABRIEL CARTE ON TRISTAN CH G S I K A C K A J B E IN L T A S C U AN ON A N HARPER EV ELLIOT VIOL MIN LUKE AAR A H N T A A H N T A O J N Y N R O ZACHA M MADISON JAS IC IN OWEN TYLER M O PHIA ISABELLA D O S N H A O V J A N Y A IL Y M R R E AS ANTHONY ELLIE ELIZABE I LUNA HUNTE X L A E M Y E E C IL A A R B G S E E HLO MIL ELIJAH SOPH TTE ELLA LILY C OR CAMERON A O L M R M A E H A C Y T A T E M L LA SCAR TOR Y HANNAH LAY E IL A OLIVIA CHICK R I L A PENELOPE VIC E H IC A L E L A U N L A U L ID A Y O SHA LE EVELYN LUC AN MATT JIM J D LEXANDRA SA A S A R M O O N H A T E L K E AC H RK JOE SAMI J M LEWIS RY L DYLAN SARA A IA L M IL IN W L O Y R C R A A IR H M LA KE OW ASHENKA ADA S EVAN GABRIEL E K U L DON LIAM BILL M N U A L R L B A C IS U N O E L H Y P E NON JADE STE AN BRAD RODN SEY ALESSAND H A T C E L R E E U H M P A O S T IS A AY CHR NTLEY BRITN A WALLACE IN E GE KYE JACOB IT B N Y A A N M A D IR E K R F Y SS FINLA IN RIONA NICK TE T A NAAYA CALEB C R E NITA WALLACE N A N O N C A A IR Y K A Y R A L H FIN SAPPHIRE ISAIA INAAYA CALEB R CATRIONA N E A N N N N O A C IH R A Y A A N R H FIO CHY EVA CECIL HARVEY MAD SAPPHIRE ISAIA A N N E N ID A A IH R O R A D N FIO SSAN EW HY EVA CECIL C EL CASEY ALE A L A M IE EARL LEANN Y T T E A N H IT E R B N A Y H E L S T RIN J FRED MAY BEN A SARA BILLY E EKIEL KAIDEN IK Z R E E A N IN TA A L IN A F Y E LL ELB EE UMAR ISABE RA ETHAN RO CERYS JOY SH IA O H J C IE S E D D M E A J A WYN ALYSH LU R KARA BRON E ELICA ROBBIE IV L O AM SEBASTIAN D Y A B U A R U H H S A O O J N H X Y SEP SA JACOB ALE KE THOMAS JA LIE ANAYAH JO A R L A B H C A N Y A R S N E H H Y AIT AN KEEGAN F AM COURTENE ELIJAH HARR G L O E L A A H Y A IC M M Y O E E H RIL SON L KSON TRI Y OAKLEY BET C E Y AAMINA MA A N J ID S IN E T S S U O J A EL DAVID LUKE AARON IN M A J AN MAX SAMU N JONATHAN HA E Y B R A R E H C D A N Z A X R E E L L A Y JULIA OWEN T IEL MATTHEW OMINIC MAD A D N E N L H E O J M N IA L A Y E Y R X COL R OLAS ANTHON H ISTOPHER ALE IC N R LI LUNA HUNTE E E T Y R E A IL C A L B IE S R E B IL A NM C N CALEB KAI G TTE ELLA LILY NNOR CAMERO O O L C R A T E H L C T IO T V E T L AR LLIO LIVIA CHICK SC EY HANNAH ON NATHAN E O IL R I IA L L E A E M A IC L IA A LU LA M HA VELYN LUCY LU E SOPHIA ISABEL E L L E B EXANDRA SAS A L IS A H R T O E N B A A E IZ L L E E AH ACE MAX ELLIE ARK JOE SAM AIL DYLAN SAR M IG IN B L A O IE C H A P IR O E S AH A K YA EMMA ELIJ E SASHENKA VAN GABRIELL E K U A L N E M L U E L L A IA C R EN VICTO BRAD RO N JADE STEPH N O A N AH PENELOPE H N T E A H R S E S H S P O O IST TT JIM R YE JACOB CHR K E OMAS DAN MA G NITA WALLACE R A O E N G A IR N K A Y Y A R L IS IN BF ILLIAM LEW E INAAYA CALE RRY W ATRIONA NIC K C A R J E N N E N Isaiah 43:1 Good News Bible W O O C L A IL Y RA LIAM B W PPHIRE ISAIAH A S UIS BRANDON N E Y KIRAN ANITA ID A A L O IN R F D B N E A L S A S C E L AYA A MUEL CASEY A EL CONNER C LACHY EVA INA IG A N M Y H E IA N A IT IS R B E EY AIDEN SAPPHIR ED MAY BENTL NA HARVEY M O N R A D N IH R A S A S N E L IO A F IL ASEY N LINDA EVA CEC Y E AYA SAMUEL C N IT R TTIE EARL LEAN B A H Y E E L N T A N H E S B Y IN A R LY E CK TESS FRED M EZEKIEL KAIDE ERIKA SARA BIL A N IN TA A L IN A F Y E L B L L E E AB SH O CERYS JOY UBREE UMAR IS IARA ETHAN J H C IE D S E D E M A A J H S N Y W IE ALY ER KARA BRON SEBASTIAN IV M L NGELICA ROBB A O D Y A B A U R U H H S A JO ALEX NO S NAYAH JOSEPH A IE L OUISA JACOB R A BLAKE THOMA H C A N Y A R S N E H H IT Y A E F TEN AN KEEGAN ARRISON WILLIAM COUR EO MAYA LOG HAEL ELIJAH H

The Lord who created you says, ‘Do not be afraid – I will save you.

I have called you by name – you are mine.’

WAR CRY