War Cry 23 November 2019

SINCE

1879

23 November 2019 20p/25c

S YEAARRCRY 140 W THE OF

SLAVE AIMS FOR FREE STATE New film tells true story of Harriet Tubman

LION-HEARTED PRODUCTION TAKES TO THE STAGE Narnia play has a message at its centre

‘Peace came amidst the chaos’ SIMON THOMAS ON FINDING REASONS TO LIVE AFTER LOSS

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

5

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

5

8

15

23 November 2019 • WAR CRY • FILM 3

Life, liberty and the pursuit of Harriet

African-American slave Harriet desperately wants to find freedom

GLEN WILSON

Runaway slave confronts her fears in new biopic, writes Linda McTurk

I

N the Southern state of Maryland in 1849, African-American slave Minty Ross – also known as Harriet Tubman – is longing for liberty. The film Harriet, released in cinemas yesterday (Friday 22 November), tells the story of a reallife woman who pursued freedom.

Living as a slave on a plantation and treated as less than human, Minty (Cynthia Erivo) is consoled only by her Christian faith and her family. But when her master Gideon Brodess (Joe Alwyn) decides he is going to sell her off and send her far from home, she fears being separated from her loved ones for life. She decides to flee to a northern state where she can legally be free.

Minty prays fervently for God to aid her escape. In the dead of night, she goes to her pastor for help. He tells her that she has to run away that night.

‘Follow that North Star,’ he says.

‘Fear is your enemy.’

Heeding his advice, Minty faces her fears and runs away, not knowing what lies ahead.

The real-life Harriet became a conductor on the Underground Railroad, a network of safe houses created by anti-slavery sympathisers to help runaway slaves hide and escape. Known among slaves by the biblical nickname ‘Moses’,

Harriet felt that she was guided and directed by God Harriet ferried numerous slaves on foot through seemingly impossible circumstances to bring them to freedom.

Director Kasi Lemmons says that she was intrigued by how the real Harriet derived so much power from her Christian faith.

‘Harriet felt that she was guided and directed by God,’ she says. ‘She moved through her fear, and she fought and led her own revolution.

That revolution led to the abolishment of slavery. It’s a story with a happy ending. The good guys won.’

The Christian faith was pivotal in Harriet’s life and in her calling to save her family and others from slavery.

She was able to fulfil her mission because she trusted in God. Despite many attempts to capture and kill her, Harriet did not allow her fear to determine her future.

Harriet’s brave actions show that life-changing things can happen when we choose to trust God instead of giving in to our fears.

In the Bible, God’s Son, Jesus, says: ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33 New International Version).

Jesus knew that life could be full of pain and struggle. Eventually people in authority violently persecuted and killed him. In dying he took on the punishment for what we do wrong.

But that was not the end of the story.

Two days later, he rose from the dead, defeating his enemies and death itself.

Jesus’ victory means that he can help us even in our darkest moments.

If we choose to trust him, he will free us from our fears and lead us to a life full of love, joy and peace.

4 NEWS AND MEDIA • WAR CRY • 23 November 2019

International church leaders meet in Rome

PA

n

THE UK has a moral obligation n to help end global poverty, says Christian Aid.

The relief and development charity has published a 2019 election ‘manifesto’, which says that politicians should take urgent action to tackle climate and economic injustice, to build peace, to help end poverty and to create a fair and sustainable world.

The manifesto also says that political parties should end support for fossil fuel extraction, reform UK tax rules and immediately suspend arms sales where there is a risk of them being used against civilians in Yemen.

Daisy-Rose Srblin, Christian Aid’s senior UK advocacy adviser, said: ‘At a time of considerable change and turmoil, it is critical we ask those in power to play a positive global role and create a just and sustainable world.

‘We know that poverty is inherently political, and structural power imbalances continue to rob people of dignity and voice.

‘The UK has a moral obligation to the world’s poorest people to act. It is a matter of justice.’

© The Vatican

THE international leader of The Salvation Army, General Brian Peddle, prayed with the Pope during a visit to the Vatican.

The General and his delegation began their visit by meeting with members of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity to discuss effective mission, evangelism and the serving of humanity. The General spoke about the common challenges faced by The Salvation Army and the Roman Catholic Church in their mission to people who are poor and marginalised.

After the discussion, the Salvation Army representatives met Pope Francis in the papal library.

In an address, the Pope thanked The Salvation Army for ‘all that you do in this city for the homeless and the DOZENS of people marginalised, of sought refuge in a whom there are so Salvation Army church in many in Rome’.

Doncaster after being forced from their homes by floods.

At the request of the county council, Doncaster Lakeside Salvation Army church acted as a rest centre.

The leaders of the church, Captains Alan and Althea Bawden, and a team of volunteers served hot meals.

The centre also provided overnight accommodation for some of the people affected.

In nearby Sheffield, The Salvation Army’s Charter Row Lifehouse, a centre for people experiencing homelessness, provided additional shelter to rough sleepers as part of the city’s severe weather emergency protocol.

General Peddle talks with Pope Francis

AN art gallery is encouraging ‘slow n art’ by holding an exhibition with only one painting, reports The Times.

A new exhibition, Leonardo: Experience a Masterpiece, at the National Gallery in London focuses on one of Leonardo da Vinci’s works – The Virgin of the Rocks, a painting of Mary with the young Jesus and John the Baptist (pictured).

The aim, said one of the gallery directors, is to deepen audiences’ understanding. Caroline Campbell explained that lengthy immersion in a single work of art would be a healthy counterpoint to today’s technologysaturated society.

‘This is about getting [people] to look deeply, and about the great impact that can have on how you think, and even, potentially, on your mental well-being.’

The exhibition, commemorating the 500th anniversary of Leonardo’s death, will take the visitor ‘on a journey through his creative process’, exploring the history of the painting, the techniques he used and his interests in geology and optics.

Surfing vicar picks up his board and walks A VICAR embarked on a pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago with a surfboard strapped to his back.

Richard Ellerington (pictured), who moved to France seven years ago to set up Surf Church, decided to undertake the 500 miles of the Camino to raise awareness of the Surf Church movement around the world.

During the pilgrimage along the Camino, which goes through France and into the north Spanish countryside, Richard was joined by his children and friends.

Surf Church exists to reach the surfing community and share the gospel with people who have no connection to church.

23 November 2019 • WAR CRY • FEATURE 5

A play on

Brinkhoff Mogenburg

MANUAL HARLAN

worlds ‘O

NCE there were four children whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy.’

So begins C. S. Lewis’s book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

It tells the adventures of the Pevensie children, who are evacuated from their home in London because of the Blitz and sent to live with an old professor in the countryside. When they arrive, they make a discovery that changes the course of their lives.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has been adapted for film, TV and stage, including a 2017 production at the Leeds Playhouse, directed by Sally Cookson. Sally is now directing the Sally Cookson story again, at the Bridge Theatre in London.

Transforming the stage from an attic room in the human world into the world of Narnia, which is covered in thick white snow, is no mean feat, but it was a task that Sally relished.

‘The idea of a wardrobe being a portal into another world is intoxicating,’ she says. ‘And solving the problem of creating a snowy, magical The original production of ‘The Lion, the Witch and world piqued my the Wardrobe’ at the Leeds Playhouse theatrical desire.’

Director SALLY COOKSON and actress KEZIAH JOSEPH talk to Sarah Olowofoyeku about taking a C. S. Lewis classic to the stage

While The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a children’s book, its magical elements resonate with adults too. ‘We all fantasise about escaping the mundane and ordinary,’ says Sally.

‘Being able to live in our imagination is what makes us human.’

And she wants the audience to enjoy sharing an experience ‘where we allow our imaginations to lead us’.

Sally says: ‘There’s so much to enjoy: live music, brilliant design, puppetry and movement, aerial work and singing. But it’s not just sumptuous entertainment, there’s meat to the piece. Everyone

We celebrate stories that remind us what it is to be human will get something different from it, but sharing it together is what’s special.

‘We want to celebrate stories that remind us of what it is to be human.’

One of the interpretations of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and the complete Chronicles of Narnia series, links the stories to the Christian faith.

C. S. Lewis was a Christian and described the novels as a ‘supposal’, which his biographer Alister McGrath writes is ‘an invitation to try seeing things in another way … an imaginative exploration of an interesting possibility’.

He quotes Lewis as writing: ‘Let us

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Corrections needed by Friday 6 FEATURE • WAR CRY • 23 November 2019

From page 5 suppose that there were a land like Narnia and that the Son of God, as he became a man in our world, became a lion there, and then imagine what would happen.’

The narrative of Narnia is not one that Lewis invented, McGrath explains. ‘He borrowed and adapted one that he already knew well, and had found to be true and trustworthy – the Christian narrative of Creation, Fall, redemption, and final consummation.’

But the story of the children and the lion named Aslan is likely to resonate with many generations in many different contexts. Sally describes the work as multifaceted, explaining: ‘Depending on who you are and when you read The Lion,

the Witch and the Wardrobe, it can have different meanings, and that’s the power of a good story.’

A good story also includes good characters, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe presents some characters that Sally has loved seeing brought to life.

‘Aslan, and the White Witch are extraordinary superpower characters. One is an ice queen who

wants to take over the world and is locking everyone into her icy grasp. Then there is Aslan, who represents love and has this warmth. Wherever he is, love emanates.’

Sally also cares about how the Pevensie children are portrayed.

‘I wanted to make sure they were real children with an emotional and a psychological truth to them, not just sketches of nicely behaved children,’ she says.

Keziah Joseph is one of the actresses fulfilling this vision, in the role of Lucy. One of ROBBIE DARK

Keziah Joseph

The White Witch is locking everyone into her icy grasp

y 15 November 23 November 2019 • WAR CRY • FEATURE 7

Brinkhoff Mogenburg

Aslan in the Leeds Playhouse production

the reasons she auditioned to be in this production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was that she felt she could relate to the story, and in particular the character of Lucy.

‘I was very similar to Lucy,’ she says.

‘I had quite profound experiences when I was a child. They were what you would call religious experiences that people challenged. Later in life I’d question whether I’d made them up, but I believe they happened – so I bring that to the role.’

In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lucy is sure of what she has seen in Narnia. The youngest of the siblings, she finds the magical country before the others. Initially they don’t even believe her, but she does not doubt herself.

‘It’s quite groundbreaking that Lucy, a little girl, is the first to discover Narnia,’ says Keziah. ‘She is bold and wants to

meet Aslan, even if he’s not safe.’

Eventually all four children meet Aslan and, Keziah believes, that is what changes their lives. ‘The Pevensies are in a vulnerable position. At that moment,

Aslan invites the children into a relationship with him Narnia finds them,’ she explains. ‘They go on a journey of discovering who they are and what their purpose is – they are part of a prophecy to save Narnia. And Aslan, as important as he is and as unimportant as they felt they were, invites them into a relationship with him.’

Though they all encounter Aslan, Edmund is unable to resist the White

Witch and deceives his siblings. Because of the Deep Magic of Narnia, Edmund’s treachery means that he now belongs to the White Witch. But Aslan is prepared to go to extraordinary lengths and put himself in harm’s way to rescue the wayward brother.

The character of Aslan represents Jesus.

Keziah says: ‘Jesus did something that no one could ever do, so that we could have a relationship with him. He’s powerful and there’s nobody like him.

‘If you really get to know him, it will change your life. All the characters in the story are different, but they all have an opportunity to get to know Aslan. So that invitation is open to everybody, no matter who they are.’ l The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is at the Bridge Theatre until 2 Feb 2020

8 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 23 November 2019

‘I was fighting to reasons to live

Television presenter SIMON THOMAS tells Emily Bright how his faith sustained him through the pain of suddenly losing his 40-year-old wife to cancer

A

Simon, Gemma and Ethan

CUTE myeloid leukaemia: three words that would spell tragedy for former Blue Peter and Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas and his eight-year-old son, Ethan. Just three days after receiving the diagnosis of a rare blood cancer, Simon’s wife, Gemma, passed away. They had been together for 16 years.

When the doctor first delivered the devastating cancer diagnosis, Simon and Gemma turned to their Christian faith for hope.

‘Our faith had been the glue that held things together when life got tough,’ Simon tells me.

‘After the diagnosis we spent time reading the Bible together, listening to worship songs and praying. Both of us felt incredibly close to God. He felt very much in that room, in that hospital over those three days.’

Full of faith, Simon was convinced that God would help Gemma to recover. He sat at his wife’s bedside, earnestly praying for a miracle.

For a while, the treatment appeared to work.

Her white blood cell count fell from 450 to 37, much nearer to the normal count of less than 10.

Gemma was awake and talking to her friends. But within hours, her condition deteriorated, and doctors discovered that there was bleeding on her brain. Family and friends

After Gemma died, I felt incredibly angry gathered to say goodbye, and Ethan whispered in his mummy’s ear how much he loved her.

As the sun set on 24 November 2017, Gemma passed away. Simon sobbed in the arms of his sister Rebecca. But his sorrow quickly turned to rage at the injustice of it all.

‘After Gemma died, I felt incredibly angry,’ he recalls. ‘I came out of hospital and screamed “Why?” at God endless times.

I couldn’t understand why he’d left Ethan without a mum. And at that point, all I was seeing was God as the cause.

‘So I vented my spleen at him, and was full of anger and questions about who the

heck was God. I kept being told he was a God of love, but right then, he didn’t feel very loving.’

In the weeks that followed, Simon’s perspective gradually shifted.

‘I came to realise that God didn’t cause this.

He didn’t want Ethan to grow up without a mum. He didn’t want Gemma’s life to be cut short. If that was the character of the God I followed, I would have dropped my faith there and then.

‘Being a Christian, however strong our faith is, does not immunise us against the harsh realities of what is essentially a broken world.

I’ll ultimately never know why he didn’t intervene, but I found peace in the fact that God did still love me.’

As Simon undertook the painful task of preparing for Gemma’s funeral, he keenly felt God’s presence.

‘I experienced the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, which the Bible speaks about,’ he says. ‘I was going to places like the funeral directors and the crematorium, and God’s peace came in amidst the chaos, pain and brokenness.

‘I came to see Jesus as the figure that got alongside me at times when I felt at my lowest and most broken. He was a figure of understanding and compassion, who actually knows what it is like to mourn.’

In the weeks that followed, Simon was racked with grief, and struggled with loneliness and insomnia. The simplest tasks felt impossible. He broke down and wept in a supermarket aisle and even driving became a challenge.

‘When something like this happens, you are fighting to find reasons to live again.

Your plans and dreams for the future have been torn up.

‘You don’t feel part of life any more. Your world feels like it has stopped and everything has ground to a halt while the relentless rhythm of life keeps beating and people carry on all around you.

‘There were a couple of moments when I thought: “I’m done, I can’t do this. I’m not

Turn to page 10

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find again’

God didn’t cause this.

He didn’t want Ethan to grow up without a mum

23 November 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 9

10 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 23 November 2019

From page 8 strong enough.”’

One such moment was when he walked into his garden early one December morning.

When he reached the end of the garden, he began screaming in rage at the pain of losing his wife and the mother to his son.

Exhausted, he walked down to the bank of the River Thames. He was feeling hopeless.

‘I felt like rolling in and giving up,’ Simon remembers. ‘But Ethan’s face was incredibly vivid in my mind, and I thought: “I cannot do this. He has lost his mum; he doesn’t need to lose his dad.”

‘I also tangibly felt this presence alongside me, as if the figure of Jesus was sitting next to me, not saying anything but

I had to find strength from somewhere weeping tears. It was at that point that I thought there was absolutely no way I could give up.’

Ethan played a key role in helping Simon through his grief, providing quiet reassurance when it was needed the most.

‘I don’t know what life would have looked like had I not had Ethan,’ Simon reflects.

‘He supported me with hugs, words of kindness and the wisdom that came out of his mouth. It was having him alongside me that took me through. I had to be there for him, I had to find the strength from somewhere.’

To help each other through their grief, Simon decided to set aside time to share treasured memories of Gemma with Ethan.

‘I felt that I needed to keep his mum part of the conversation, to still talk about her and share memories about her,’ he says.

‘For the first few months, we did a mummy memory every single night at bedtime.

Sometimes now he’ll say a little prayer to mummy, just to tell her what he has done that day.’

Simon would also put notes in Ethan’s lunch

box, reminding him of how much he was loved and how Gemma lived on in him.

In turn, Simon derived strength from family and friends, who scheduled visits and carried out everyday tasks.

‘God was working behind the scenes through the kindness of others and the amazing support we had in the early weeks,’ he says.

‘Friends looked after a lot of the practical things such as meals, sorting out all Gemma’s affairs and closing her bank accounts, picking up Ethan from school if I was struggling, or

driving my car. Through their love and generosity, Ethan and I weren’t left alone for 16 weeks.’

As Gemma’s birthday approached in May last year, Simon was determined to turn a painful day into a celebration of her life, with family and friends in attendance. He decided to plant a tree in her memory and scatter her ashes round it, while his church worship leader sang.

‘It was an emotionally charged day, less than six months after she died,’ says Simon.

23 November 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 11 ‘But I just felt this sense that the rest of my life didn’t need to be second-rate, because I didn’t want that for Ethan. He can still have a joyfilled life full of amazing things.

‘It might be difficult, but why can’t life be as good again in a different way? I thought: I’m going to make the best of however many years I’ve got left with Ethan.’

Reflecting on his own experience of loss, Simon has considered what may be the best ways to help someone who has been bereaved.

He says: ‘It’s hopelessly inadequate to say to someone that there are no words, because actually there are a phenomenal amount of words in an English dictionary. If you’re struggling to find the right words, then just saying how sorry you are is enough.

‘Be practical. Arrange where their next meal is coming from, do the shopping and sort out all the affairs of the person they’ve lost.

It might be difficult, but why can’t life be as good in a different way?

‘Grief is not a short-term project. I liken it to a house on fire. People are very good at rushing in when the house is ablaze and making sure everyone is OK, but when it comes to rebuilding the house – helping to rebuild that person’s life – we’re not so good.’

To those seeking to reconstruct their lives after bereavement, Simon counsels: ‘Time is a healer. Over time, life does get easier and feels like it can be embraced again. Your journey through grief is going to be as unique as the person you lost. There’ll be feelings of denial, loneliness and anger, and you’ll have

to find peace within that.

‘Hold on with whatever strength you have, even if it’s just by a fingernail, because God won’t leave you.’ l Simon tells the story of his bereavement in Love, Interrupted: Navigating Grief One Day at a Time, published by Trigger

12 INNER LIFE • WAR CRY • 23 November 2019

Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Nicky, who is in need of hope; and for Kirsty, that her health problem will heal.

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

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

Luke LUKE was not one of the 12 apostles nor was he a Jew. He was a doctor by profession, and his gospel was specifically aimed at non-Jewish readers.

The exclusive contents of Luke’s Gospel reveal its author’s concern to emphasise the inclusivity of Jesus. God’s Kingdom, Luke contends, is available to everyone, regardless of ethnicity, class, status, age or gender.

Working shepherds, and not landed gentry, are the first to see the newborn Jesus (2:1–20).

In his one-to-one encounters, Jesus demonstrates how God’s love extends to everyone. He heals a crippled woman (13:10–17) and a man with dropsy (14:1–4) on the Sabbath, offending religious leaders in the process. He also raises a widow’s son from the dead (7:11–15), forgives a woman of ‘ill repute’ (7:36–50), heals ‘untouchable’ lepers (17:11–14) and forgives a cheating tax collector (19:1–10).

Through his parables, Jesus emphasises God’s limitless mercy. The good Samaritan (considered a worthless outsider by Jesus’ audience) is the least-expected hero of the story (10:25–37). The parable of the marriage

Key verse

to seek ‘The Son of Man came ke 19:10 (Lu t’ and to save the los ) on rsi Ve New International

feast indicates that God values those society doesn’t – ‘the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind’ (14:1–14).

In the parable of the great banquet, ‘successful’ people reject God’s invitation,

Through his parables, Jesus emphasises God’s limitless mercy whereas society’s marginalised are invited and take their places (14:15–24).

The parables of the sheep, coin and prodigal son illustrate divine determination to seek, find and recover people who are lost (chapter 15).

In arguably his most scandalous parable – which contrasts a pious religious leader with a Rome-collaborating tax collector – Jesus pinpoints his most essential message: self-righteous, show-off religion does not earn God’s forgiveness; it is those who recognise their sinfulness and need of divine mercy who are forgiven (18:9–14).

Even in his dying moments, Jesus reaches out to those beyond polite society.

Exclusively, Luke reveals that, while being crucified, Jesus accepts the confession of a dying criminal and, consequently, reassures him of his place with him in God’s Kingdom (23:39–43).

"

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23 November 2019 • WAR CRY • EXPRESSIONS 13

FACES OF FAITH MAGALI NISHIMURA-NOTTINGHAM from St Albans on working as a graphic designer, Killing Eve and being thankful

What’s your typical day?

I work full-time as an art director for a major business. I create visual communications and work on campaigns and brandings. After work, I go home to spend time with my husband and children.

How did you become a Christian?

I grew up in a Japanese community in Brazil until I was 18 years old. Then I moved with my family to England.

Over time, I wanted to be many things – a missionary, a dentist, an architect. I still have dreams of being an architect once I retire.

I was born into a Christian family and have believed in God since I was a child. I’ve had many moments when I questioned my faith, but the sense of God’s presence never left me. There are still many parts of my faith I struggle with, but it doesn’t prevent me from following him.

BBC/BBC America

What did you want to be when you grew up?

What TV programmes do you enjoy watching?

’ Sandra Oh as Eve in ‘Killing Eve

I love dystopian shows such as The Handmaid’s Tale and The Man in the High Castle. A lighter programme is Killing Eve; it’s disturbing but quite funny.

QUICK QUIZ 1. What is the first letter of the Greek alphabet?

2. What is the capital of Morocco?

3. The Bodleian is the principal library of which UK university?

4. What was the first name of the title character played

by Rowan Atkinson in the TV comedy Blackadder?

5. What breed of dog is Spike in the Tom and Jerry cartoons?

6. Which band had a No 1 hit in 2008 with the song ‘Viva La Vida’?

ANSWERS

What’s good about being a Christian?

As human beings it’s inevitable that we mess things up.

We think we have control over our lives only to realise how inadequate, selfish or powerless we are. In those vulnerable moments it’s priceless to be able to go to a kind and compassionate God and ask for transformation. I don’t know how I would deal with my imperfections without God.

How does faith influence your life?

I’m able to be thankful. I feel blessed by my family, my job and my house. And this helps me to put things into perspective, even when I have frustrating days.

What one question would you ask God? Could you be a little bit more obvious to people?

What do you pray about?

I thank God for my blessings, and I pray for my family and other people’s health.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

Proverbs 3:5, which says: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.’ It’s my favourite verse because we don’t know everything – only God does.

1. Alpha. 2. Rabat. 3. Oxford University.

4. Edmund. 5. Bulldog. 6. Coldplay.

14 PUZZLES • WAR CRY • 23 November 2019

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Swift (5) 4. Trench (5) 8. Female sheep (3) 9. Helvetian (5) 10. Abdominal organ (5) 11. Day before (3) 12. Hub of spinning blades on helicopter (5) 13. Determine (7) 16. Larger (6) 19. Modernise (6) 23. Indication (7) 26. Scoff (5) 28. Not in (3) 29. Refuse to go on (5) 30. Wed (5) 31. Beverage (3)

32. Intuitive feeling (5) 33. American emphasis of negative (5) DOWN 2. Tapered end (5) 3. Be worthy of (7) 4. Abandon (6) 5. Stories (5) 6. Miserable

dwelling (5) 7. Comic drama (5)

SUDOKU

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

HONEYCOMB

4

3

9 5

9

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

2

7

2 8

1 9

1 5

1

7 6

2

6

ABSOLUTION AMNESTY CHARITY CLEMENCY COMPASSION EXEMPTION FORBEARANCE GRACE JUSTIFICATION LENIENCE MERCY PARDON RECONCILIATION REMISSION REMITTAL REPRIEVE VINDICATION

9 2

1

7

3

3 2

WORDSEARCH

2 8

4

1. Part of a dress 2. Vertical structure used for support 3. Portable steps 4. Continue directly ahead 5. Remember 6. Breakfast food

ANSWERS

9. Scour (5) 14. Peculiar (3) 15. Large tank (3) 17. Climbing plant (3) 18. Fissure (3) 20. Mail deliverer (7) 21. Before time (5) 22. Lump-free (6) 23. Curved sword (5) 24. Opening (5) 25. Symbol (5) 27. Soil (5)

4

1

Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these 2 8words 4 associated 5 3 6 with 9 forgiveness 1 7

3 1 7 8 9 4 5 6 2 H S X M N I Z Q A R F P H A Y B V I 6 9 T 5 Z 2S 7 1 4 8 L 3A M D U L I M S D V M Z N K U M R U D Y M 4 M Y M O V V L A R A R 2 6 1 8 9 3 7 5 L Z D J F N Y F C F Z R E N H E J D 8 3 1 7 I N Z O P C E V 5 2 6 4 9 U M Z H U D Z L M D V N B S Z S E C J A 5 7 9 4 I K O 6 3 I 8A O 2 I 1F A N K F J M T C D E O S J S R N J E 9 5I N P Q N D S D C T L 8 6 1 7 2 3 4 L Q J H E E H Q U F N F A Y C F A O Q F 1 4 3 9 2 8 I 7O 5I J E 6 M E C A R G E L L I R T C M N L W Q 7 6 2 3 4 5 1 9I D Y 8 C Y C I H X Z V T A C A P E Q I P T F N M E U E Q T A E R S A Z K I Y V P Q P L U F I S T T B V T F M K Q C F G O G I O S R K I I R I K P H Z H R S M X N I Z B P F M O O E F C W E B E Z N O I T P M E X E N F G C C A W A M N E S T Y W K R U R D W E T B M B L Z T U Y Y A H Y S I D Y

HONEYCOMB 1. Bodice. 2. Pillar. 3. Ladder.

4. Onward. 5. Recall. 6. Cereal.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Rapid. 4. Ditch. 8. Ewe. 9. Swiss. 10. Liver. 11. Eve. 12. Rotor.

13. Resolve. 16. Bigger. 19. Update.

23. Symptom. 26. Sneer. 28. Out. 29. Baulk.

30. Marry. 31. Tea. 32. Hunch. 33. Nohow.

DOWN: 2. Point. 3. Deserve. 4. Desert.

5. Tales. 6. Hovel. 7. Farce. 9. Scrub. 14. Odd. 15. Vat. 17. Ivy. 18. Gap. 20. Postman.

21. Early. 22. Smooth. 23. Sabre.

24. Mouth. 25. Token. 27. Earth.

6

7

4

1

5

9

7

5

3

8

2

4

9

6

1

3

8

2

2 3 8 9 1 6 5 7 4

3 9 6 4 7 1 2 8 5

4 2 1 6 5 8 7 9 3

5 8 7 3 2 9 1 4 6

1 7 2 8 6 3 4 5 9

SUDOKU SOLUTION

2 1

3

4

1

9 5 3 2 4 7 8 6 1

8 6 4 1 9 5 3 2 7

Corrections needed by…

23 November 2019 • WAR CRY • WHAT’S COOKING? 15

"

Southern chicken with grilled pepper mayo

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1 small red pepper

55g polenta

1 garlic clove, crushed

1tsp smoked paprika 2tbsp reduced-fat mayonnaise 200g skinless chicken breast fillets, cut into thick strips 4tbsp fat-free Greek yoghurt 1tbsp fresh chives, chopped

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Vegetable oil spray

To make the pepper mayo, grill the pepper on a medium heat until charred and soft. Leave to cool, then peel away the skin and remove the seeds. Place the pepper, garlic, mayonnaise, yoghurt and chives in a blender and whizz to a rough paste.

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Mix the polenta and paprika together on a flat plate. Coat each chicken strip in the polenta mixture. Place the chicken strips on a foil-lined baking sheet and spray with a little oil.

Cook the chicken under a hot grill for 3 to 4 minutes, turning once.

Serve with the pepper mayo, and with shredded lettuce and lemon wedges.

Recipe from the British Heart Foundation’s magazine ‘Heart Matters’.

For more information visit bhf.org.uk/heartmatters

Post coupon to SP&S, 66–78 Denington Road, Denington Industrial Estate, Wellingborough NN8 2QH *Postage included. This offer applies to UK and RoI addresses only

Corrections needed by 1 November

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him Romans 8:28 (New International Version)