From the editor’s desk
What is The Salvation Army? 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
MILLIONS of mums are likely to be told tomorrow (Sunday 22 March) that they are one in a million. If anything, that familiar Mother’s Day sentiment is a numerical understatement. Being an individual human, every mother is unique. Being human, however, every mother is also a mix of the good and bad characteristics found in every person – sometimes in wildly varying proportions. Nona Jones is now a happy, successful businesswoman. But this week she tells the War Cry that when she was growing up, she was ill-treated by her mother and suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend. Nona’s experiences were so traumatic that she tried to end her own life. Nona reflects: ‘I forgave my mother a long time ago, but it’s a process I have to go through every day.’ This week, we also hear about the experiences of being a mother. Emma Rutland says that ‘frustrating’ is the first word that comes to mind when she describes raising a teenage daughter who has an autistic condition that causes her to resist normal everyday demands. While finding ‘real joy’ in moments with her daughter, Emma admits: ‘It has been challenging when Jasmine says no to everything … I can see that she is suffering because she’s saying no to something she nevertheless needs.’ But, like Nona, Emma talks of finding hope. And both say that they found that hope in their relationship with God. Nona says: ‘The Bible tells me I am wonderfully made.’ The Bible also compares the love God has for humankind with the love that a mother has for her children. ‘Can a woman forget her own baby?’ God asks in its pages. ‘Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you’ (Isaiah 49:15 Good News Bible). Nona, Emma and millions of other people have discovered that when they need to turn somewhere for comfort, strength, guidance and hope for the future, God is the one.
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 7466
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 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@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
FEATURES 3
Will truth out? Belgravia is full of secrets
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Lines on World Poetry Day A celebration of communication
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The mother of all challenges The joy and pain of being a mum
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Root-and-branch therapy Boosting well-being in the woods
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‘I grew up feeling worthless’ Nona Jones came through a traumatic childhood
REGULARS 4
News and media
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Browsing the Bible
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Now, There’s a Thought!
14 Puzzles 15
War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: ITV
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