What is The Salvation Army?
2 COMMENT AND CONTENTS • WAR CRY • 23 November 2019
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
From the editor’s desk THIS weekend, cinemagoers can get a picture of what life was like for a 19th-century slave in the United States of America. As we report in this week’s War Cry, the biopic Harriet opened yesterday (Friday 22 November). The film, set in 1849, is based on the true story of Harriet Tubman, who found freedom from slavery and then joined the fight to help others escape. It was in 1865 that Congress passed the 13th amendment to the US constitution, abolishing slavery. Thirty-two years earlier parliament had outlawed the practice in the UK. But, although slavery has been illegal for more than 185 years, this scourge has not ceased to exist. Last month, The Salvation Army, which holds the government contract to support adult victims of human trafficking in England and Wales, revealed that it has helped 2,251 people within a 12-month period. Representing 99 nationalities, including British, these people were victims of forced labour, sexual exploitation or domestic servitude. It is a chilling reminder that, while different from the transatlantic trade, slavery still exists in our communities today. However, The Salvation Army also published the results of a survey which found that about a quarter of people are either unsure that anyone is being forced to work as a slave in the UK today or do not think it is happening at all. Even among those who are aware of this injustice, there is still a lack of certainty about how to identify someone who is enslaved. The church and charity says to look for situations where a person is not being allowed to speak for themselves, is being picked up and dropped off at odd times, looks unkempt or malnourished, or is not having injuries treated. It is only by more of us having an awareness of modern slavery that we can hope to play our part in rescuing those trapped within it, just as Harriet Tubman did during her life.
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.
SINCE 1879
140 YEARS
OF THE WAR CRY Issue No 7450
Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Ivan Radford Assistant Editor: Claire Brine Staff Writer: 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 Tel: 0845 634 0101
Contents
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 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
Underground railroad to freedom
Film highlights the life of former slave
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A winter’s tale
New play takes audience to the land of Narnia
8
‘God didn’t feel very loving’
TV presenter on bereavement, faith and family
REGULARS 4
News and media
12
Browsing the Bible
13
Faces of Faith
14 Puzzles 15
War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: Vicki Sharp Photography
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