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 7497
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. Printed by Walstead Roche Ltd, St Austell, on sustainably sourced paper
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INFO 2 • War Cry • 24 October 2020
EDITOR From desk From the editor’s desk SINGING is good for you. So say scientists quoted on the BBCmillions Future of website. The boost FOR viewers, theexperts sparklesaid has that beensinging broughtcan back to our moods andtelevision sense ofwith social Saturday night theconnection. return of Strictly Come Dancing. Perhaps it is with these in mind people have been Twelve new celebrities havebenefits been paired withthat professional dance joining online choirs In this week’s issue, the partners as they hopeduring to winlockdown. the glitterball trophy. War Cry’sthem SarahisOlowofoyeku a virtual rehearsal of theWar London Among broadcaster joins JJ Chalmers. In this week’s International Gospel to discover for herself the pleasures Cry he talks about hisChoir excitement at being on the show. He also people have found of singing alone, yet together others. tells us about his days as a Royal Marine and howwith a bomb blast in Meanwhile Hardwick has found similarcare. value in running. Afghanistan leftAusten him needing life-saving medical This week’s War Cry alsoI includes interview with the marathon ‘I remember that when woke up an from my surgery, I was in a runner who he found that his sport helped him affected to regainhim his more life after dark place,’ says, recalling how the blast than he suffered three in in hishis early forties.by his Christian just physically. Butstrokes he waswhile helped recovery it wasofnot only around runninghim. that He helped Austen’s faithHowever, and the faith people describes therecovery. military His Christian faithon played a vital in him takingofastrength positive and chaplain who was the ward aspart ‘a huge source approach thatmy hefamily’. faced. comfort to to mealland ‘When I was in long hospital,’ says, ‘I askedand Godsupport to taketo what Chaplains have been Austen a source of comfort I was going me– through people in thethrough military and to ontransform civvy street includingit.’those who Christians believe thatweek’s God can takewe any situation work in hospitals. In this issue, speak with or theanything Rev Mia that they do has or face and at useGuy’s it to make positive impact in others’ Hilborn, who worked and StaThomas’ NHS Foundation lives or their been painter Oliver for almost 20 own. years.That Thishas year, Miathe hasexperience faced newof challenges as a Pengilley. result of the coronavirus pandemic. had developed a successful career assacrifices’ an artist with InOliver her interview she speaks of the ‘individual she some saw of his work significant money. But, as tells hospital staffselling make for as they treatedsums thoseofwith the virus. Ashe the the WarofCry this week, grew frustrated. number people being he admitted to hospitals increases again, Mia ‘I didn’t see the meaning of it,’Covid-19, he says. Now he not travels to room offers the timely insight that ‘with there’s much tochurches relax’. all over the world to paint pictures during worship sessions and his artwork has helped people in Many people arefaith-based feeling increasingly anxious asother the pandemic’s their own faith journey. second wave impacts the country. So it is good to know that people It is are an amazing that Godincan take areas any skill a person has of faith working truth as chaplains various of life and will be or any situation they are facing can transform it into needed. something able to offer the reassurance andand comfort so desperately that can change their lives and the lives of the people around them.
Contents
What is The Salvation Army?
FEATURES 3
More than the military two-step
Former Marine takes on Strictly
6
Learning something old
Why Black History Month matters
9
‘I’m working with people at the
crossroads of life’
The experiences of a hospital chaplain
REGULARS 12
Team Talk
13
Keys to the Kingdom
14 Puzzles 15
6
War Cry Kitchen
9
Front-page picture: BBC/RAY BURMISTON
15