War Cry 30 November 2019

SINCE

1879

30 November 2019 20p/25c

S YEAARRCRY 140 W THE OF

FESTIVAL IS TREE-MENDOUS SUCCESS Thousands visit Christmas tree event

BUSINESS PULLS ITS SOCKS UP Social enterprise helps those on the streets

Making the days count DISCOVERING THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVENT

What is The Salvation Army?

2 COMMENT AND CONTENTS • WAR CRY • 30 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 A PAIR of socks from a distant aunt is probably not the most eagerly unwrapped present on Christmas morning. Truth be told, it was probably not the present the aunt felt most excited about when she was gift-wrapping it.

But the gift was given to demonstrate that the aunt had not forgotten her extended family and that she wanted to give a gift that would at least be practical, even if not very sought after.

However, when Ed Vickers began volunteering in a shelter for people experiencing homelessness he was shocked to discover that socks were the ‘most needed but under-donated’ item of clothing.

As he explains in this week’s War Cry, he could not believe how much people walking the streets day and night needed good socks to help with their foot health. It led him to establish Jollie’s, a social enterprise that produces socks for retail – and for every pair sold, another pair is donated to one of 50 shelters across the country.

In his interview Ed says how he was inspired to start up Jollie’s by his Christian faith. He wanted to give ‘a signal to people experiencing homelessness that the community cared about them’.

His story is a timely one as tomorrow (Sunday 1 December) marks the beginning of the season of Advent. It is a time when all our practical preparations for Christmas intensify and when Christians begin looking forward to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s gift of love to humankind, on Christmas Day. The Bible says that Jesus came into the world to ‘free those who have been treated unfairly and to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness’ (Luke 4:18 and 19 New Century Version).

Whether we have a faith or not, let’s hope that it is not only Ed who is inspired by this demonstration of God’s kindness and that we will all do what we can to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

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 7451

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

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 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

Farming couple grow their dream Documentary depicts how city dwellers cultivated a new life

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Cut-price weekend Sales can encourage us to give

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‘We want people to engage with the Christmas story’ Why there’s more to Advent than calendars

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Best foot forward The sock business that helps others

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Branching out Churches connect with communities through Christmas tree festivals

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8

REGULARS 4

News and media

12

Browsing the Bible

13

Now, There’s a Thought!

14 Puzzles 15

War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: Shutterstock

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30 November 2019 • WAR CRY • FILM 3

Growing their own way ‘O

UR dog made us do it’ is a pretty unconventional excuse for buying a farm.

But that was true of John and Molly Chester, who were evicted from their Los Angeles apartment because of their rescue dog Todd’s excessive barking.

The couple (pictured, bottom left) gave up their jobs in filmmaking and catering respectively to pursue their dream of running an eco-friendly farm. John recorded their experiences over eight years for the documentary Biggest Little Farm, which was released in cinemas yesterday (Friday 29 November).

Spanning 214 acres, the organic farm has 10,000 orchard trees, more than 200 different crops, cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, guinea hens and livestock guardian dogs.

‘It’s a bit of a circus,’ John tells the War Cry. He explains the logic behind it: ‘We regenerated the biodiversity of the farm and tried to utilise plants, animals and predators of a natural ecosystem to solve problems that we face agriculturally that are normally dealt with using chemicals.’

But John reveals that their dream felt like a nightmare at times, with coyotes killing their chickens and a plague of pests descending on their crops.

‘The idea of the farm was intoxicating,

Eco-friendly farmers keep the faith while sowing seeds of sustainability, writes Emily Bright but the reality was that everything we did turned into the next problem; a host of pests that weren’t there before.

‘It was about waking up and putting one foot in front of the other, not letting ourselves feel ashamed of failure, and driving ourselves deeper into understanding

It was about waking up and putting one foot in front of the other the complex interworkings of nature.’

But John has not only learnt more about nature during his eight years of farming. His experiences of the natural world have also led him to learn more about himself and the world of faith.

‘I think if you’re looking for a deeper and even more tangible connection to the spiritual beliefs you have, understanding nature will help you find symbolism and meaning in the existence of your path.’

John is not alone in finding a connection to the spiritual through nature and even the

imagery of farming. One such individual in the Bible was David, who started life as a shepherd but ended up as a king.

However, his rise to the top was not without its challenges, and when he was feeling at his lowest, he turned to his relationship with God to sustain him.

Drawing on imagery from his own experience of farming and nature, he said: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul’ (Psalm 23:1–3 New International Version).

David knew that no matter how challenging life got, God would be there for him. By relying on God, he had the strength to face each day.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problems facing us in our own lives, whether it is financial difficulties, struggling in relationships or grieving for a loved one.

But God offers us all the chance to seek refuge and rest through a relationship with him.

If we plant our lives in him, we will reap the rich rewards of his love, peace and goodness.

4 NEWS AND MEDIA • WAR CRY • 30 November 2019

War Cry exhibition holds the front pages WAR Cry enthusiasts can read all about it at an exhibition of some of the magazine’s front covers, celebrating 140 years since the first issue was published.

Free to enter, the exhibition features collages of some of the most momentous headlines and stories that the publication has covered since its first issue dated 27 December 1879.

Opening on 17 December and running until 17 January, the exhibition is being staged in Café 101 at the Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London.

Speaking ahead of the exhibition, War Cry editor Andrew Stone said: ‘It’s fascinating to see how the War Cry has developed and changed with the times.’

Salvation Army’s links to West End musical explored on BBC One A FEATURE on the West End musical Come From Away on BBC One’s Sunday Morning Live included members of The Salvation Army.

The four members were invited to watch a performance of the show and then discuss the role that the church and charity plays in the plot.

Come From Away is based on the true story of how flights were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

The Salvation Army worked alongside the community of Gander to register passengers, provide them with clothing and shelter, and cook 3,000 meals.

On the programme were Major Brian Slous, who was in Newfoundland on 9/11, Salvation Army communications officer Bethany Gibson, Major Mark Rose and Captain Jo Moir.

Salvation Army members speak with presenter Rae Duke

Concerned customer helps rescue modern slavery victim A MODERN slavery victim supported by The Salvation Army has told BBC Radio 5 Live how he was forced to work seven days a week for seven years.

BBC presenter Nihal Arthanayake met Sanu, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, at a safe house as part of a Radio 5 Live news special Modern Slavery.

Sanu left Bangladesh to study in the UK and acquired a job at a cash and carry.

However, when his application for a visa extension was declined by the Home Office, he was forced to resign. A customer then approached him promising him a shop job.

However, his national insurance card, passport and bank card were confiscated and he was made to work up to 100 hours a week. Sanu was often not paid. He eventually escaped after calling 999 on a mobile phone offered to him by a concerned customer.

Kieran Walsh, from The Salvation Army’s anti-trafficking and modern slavery response team, told the programme: ‘Labour exploitation really can be anywhere.

‘It can be in car washes and nail bars, which are well known as potential spots for exploitation, but it can be in the construction industry, the hospitality industry, restaurants and takeaways, as well as illegal activity around the cultivation of cannabis.’

Last year, The Salvation Army rescued 2,251 victims of modern slavery in England and Wales, a 21 per cent increase on the previous year.

30 November 2019 • WAR CRY • FEATURE 5 UNIVERSITY students across n the UK have fasted for 24 hours to raise money and awareness for World Vision UK’s work in tackling global hunger.

More than 100 students from the universities of Kent, Warwick and Edinburgh took part at Imperial College London. In addition to the fast, they participated in activities themed around poverty, overpopulation and food and water scarcity.

The Famine24 event raised nearly £2,000 for the Christian charity.

Event organiser Rene Lam said: ‘With the support of students from the different universities around the UK, the messages to fight against hunger and poverty could be amplified.’

THE Salvation Army has set up a n temporary shelter on the Isle of Wight for people experiencing homelessness.

Up to 25 people will benefit from hot food and a safe place to sleep until March 2020, with help available from 6.30 pm until 11 am the following day. The shelter will also work with the council to offer residents a permanent housing solution.

The Isle of Wight Council, with government support, has invested more than £40,000 in renovating a former primary school in Newport to provide emergency shelter this winter.

Rachel Lee, The Salvation Army’s homelessness services manager for the Isle of Wight, said: ‘We provide a hot meal, a listening ear and support to give the people who visit us increased confidence, dignity and hope to help them to rebuild their lives.

‘This includes helping people to find accommodation, registering with a GP, access to dental treatment and services such as mental health support.’

A US news programme has n featured the work of Salvation Army site Strawberry Field.

NBC’s Today programme reported how the site of a former Salvation Army children’s home, which was the inspiration for the Beatles’ song ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’, reopened in October.

It now has an interactive visitor exhibition where visitors can learn more about John Lennon’s links to the place, a garden for spiritual reflection, and a community café.

All funds raised will support Steps to Work, a Salvation Army project which helps young people into employment.

The programme spoke to John Lennon’s half-sister Julia Baird about the significance of the site which John visited growing up.

Julia said: ‘It meant a lot to him.

It was about his feelings and his go-to place of sanctuary when he was younger.’

SALE-ING

THROUGH THE

WEEKEND Special offers are hard to refuse, writes Sarah Olowofoyeku RICES have come crashing down for a limited time only. Yesterday P (29 November) was Black Friday and the sales will continue throughout the weekend.

Having started in the UK just under a decade ago, Black Friday has gained traction since it was introduced by online retailer Amazon in 2010.

But in the United States it dates back further to when department store Macy’s was the first to advertise post-Thanksgiving shopping during their Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York in 1924.

The special offers were once available only on Friday but now they extend into the weekend (and longer in some shops), culminating in Cyber Monday the next week.

Encouraged by the rise in online shopping and the development of technology, retailers also created Cyber Monday (2 December) when many shops advertise internet-only deals and discounts.

In the run-up to Christmas, many people welcome the sales, which can reduce some of the financial pressure The sales can reduce at an expensive time of year. Others have bought into the idea that the start some financial of the holidays could be an opportunity for something different. Giving Tuesday, pressure the day after Cyber Monday, began in the US in 2012, and is promoted as a global day of giving.

Today, it takes place in 60 countries and in the UK has been organised by the Charities Aid Foundation since 2014.

We may be buying presents for our loved ones in the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. But Giving Tuesday encourages people to look beyond themselves and their immediate circle of family and friends to people in the wider world.

Many of us, wherever we are, have found some joy in giving to others, even those we don’t know. Many of us may have also experienced the benefits of someone else’s generosity.

Countless Christians believe that it is important to give because of the generous gift that they have received. In the Bible, one writer explains how ‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son’ (John 3:16 New International Version).

God’s Son, Jesus, died on the cross so that we could receive the gift of eternal life. We do not have to earn that gift of his love – if we choose to follow Jesus, it is freely given to us.

Will we check out what God has on offer?

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19 12 8

1Counting down 1 6 2 2 the days5 13 9 18 4 6 4 4 21 2 1 17 6 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 30 November 2019

Chocolate company boss DAVID MARSHALL tells Philip Halcrow about producing a calendar that shows the meaning behind Advent

T

David Marshall

HE season of Advent begins tomorrow (Sunday 1 December). While shops and high streets have been festooned with Christmas decorations for a while now, for many people, and particularly children, opening the first window on their Advent calendar marks the start of the countdown to Christmas.

From day one, the Meaningful Chocolate Company had a plan to make their Real Advent Calendars different from others.

‘We noticed that quite often when you go into shops, you see an Advent calendar with a doll or a cartoon character on the box and it has nothing to do with the season of Advent,’ says Meaningful Chocolate Company director David Marshall. ‘At the time we launched there was also research that showed that knowledge of the Christmas story was fading, both among adults and children. So our primary aim was to use the Advent calendars to share the Christmas story.’

Nine years ago, the Meaningful Chocolate Company had the cracking idea of selling a Real Easter Egg, which came with words and pictures telling the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In 2013 the Real Advent Calendar arrived on shelves, celebrating the The Real Advent Calendar comes with a event in time that 24-page story and activity book

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30 November 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 7

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1

Each day of the calendar tells a part of the Christmas story gives Advent its name: the coming of Jesus into the world.

‘Right from the start, we included a book with the calendar,’ explains David.

‘It’s a 24-page story and activity book, which unfolds the Christmas story. There are questions and puzzles about the the account of Jesus’ birth. There are also challenges – which might suggest “Give to charity” or “Think of others”.

‘Over the 24 days of Advent, we want children, and the adults who may be reading it with them, to engage with the story.’

As well as aiming to tell the story, the Meaningful Chocolate Company has tried to help others through the calendar. It is Fairtrade certified, and David has heard how communities in countries which supply the ingredients have been able to use the money generated through the Fairtrade scheme ‘to equip hospitals or libraries or provide clean water supplies’.

The Meaningful Chocolate Company has also supported people in the UK. Customers buying an Advent calendar directly from its website have been able

to donate, at a reduced price, a further calendar to the Christian-based Trussell Trust food bank charity. The calendars will be distributed nationwide.

‘A donation means that a family are able to have an Advent calendar for the kids, who can enjoy the chocolates and read the Christmas story,’ says David.

In past years, the Real Advent Calendar has opened up opportunities for people to

It’s important to take time to look forward to Christmas Day hear the Christmas story in many places.

‘We’ve had customers who have bought a thousand Advent calendars for their local school, all in one go,’ says David. ‘Church groups buy them to give away. One year, a solicitors firm had the calendars and every day at eleven o’clock the staff would stop, open the calendar window, read the story and look at the book. They sent us a

video of it. The owner of the business was delighted – it just brought a minute’s calm to the day.

‘The calendar reaches adults and children because it’s designed to appeal to both.’

While the company promotes its ‘improved Fairtrade blend, 35 per cent cocoa’ chocolate, David thinks that ‘the countdown element’ is also a key ingredient of the Advent calendar – and of Advent itself.

‘In our culture,’ he says, ‘many people start celebrating Christmas almost as soon as Hallowe’en ends. But rather than just having a celebration in early December, it’s important to take time in what is the buildup to Christmas to look forward to the day itself.’

Hinting at a sense of expectation, the calendar’s take on the arrival of the shepherds at Bethlehem says: ‘Jesus was the One they had been waiting for.’

‘There’s a risk,’ says David, ‘that if you’re not looking forward to the day, you’re not going to feel fully involved with Christmas.

It’s good to celebrate the day itself.’

8 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 30 November 2019

S

ED VICKERS tells Emily Bright why he tried a retail business on for size

TUDENT loans are normally spent on tuition fees, rent or nightlife. But Ed Vickers decided to use his to buy socks for people experiencing homelessness, and set up a social enterprise called Jollie’s.

It all began in 2012, while Ed was a student at Exeter University. Every day, he walked through the town centre to his lectures, encountering people asking for money or selling The Big Issue. Unsure of how best to help them, he volunteered, through the church he attended, to help at a shelter for people experiencing people sleeping rough. homelessness.

‘There were people with degrees, doctors, ‘I wasn’t doing anything glamorous, just normal people who’d just had a circumstance serving bad cups of tea, but I did that for about in their lives that left them without a safety net. a year,’ Ed says. ‘That challenged all the The complexities around homelessness are stereotypes that I’d grown up believing about vast – there’s mental health, family breakdown,

addiction and all kinds of things.’

While he was volunteering at the shelter, Ed quickly realised that socks were the ‘most needed but under-donated’ item of clothing. In some cases, a box of socks given to a shelter would go within half an hour.

Ed founded social enterprise Jollie’s in 2012

30 November 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 9 Jollie’s

Ed Vickers ‘I couldn’t believe that in today’s society, socks were still this basic issue that people had. But foot health is essential when you’re walking the streets day and night. So I thought: “I don’t understand a lot of the complexities of homelessness, but I can get my head around the sock issue.”

‘There wasn’t really a brand that, in my opinion, spoke into the area of homelessness in a positive, joyful, hopeful way, and I wanted to see if there could be.’

From there, Ed conceived the idea of Jollie’s, and the University of Exeter funded an ecommerce site which allowed him to launch a ‘wear a pair, share a pair’ initiative.

‘For every pair sold, Jollie’s donated a pair of socks to a local shelter,’ explains Ed. ‘When I took that first box of donations down to the shelter where I volunteered, it was a powerful signal to people experiencing homelessness that the community cared about them.’

Jollie’s now creates its own vibrantly coloured and ethically produced socks and

distributes pairs to more than 50 homelessness shelters. At the end of each month, the team calculate total sales and then send off the equivalent number of socks to carefully selected sites.

‘We’ve mapped shelters across the UK, making sure that we donate evenly to those that we deem appropriate. We especially want to support shelters that are championing the long-term rehabilitation of people.

When you look at bad situations, you have to choose hope ‘We know socks are a very small part of the journey of someone coming off the street, but we don’t want charities spending precious resources on buying socks.’

The popularity of Jollie’s has soared. The business stocks its socks in 60 shops and has an online presence selling directly to consumers.

Ed says that one of Jollie’s strengths is that it provides a refreshing alternative to guilt-induced giving, favouring both the customer and beneficiary.

‘People enjoy having a bit of fun with their socks while helping those experiencing homelessness. This two-way relationship means that you get something and you can give something. For me, that feels like a sustainable way to have an impact.’

Ed is keen to ensure that all parts of the business, from head to toe, are sustainable.

This includes its sourcing of materials. ‘We really wanted to pull our socks up in terms of the cotton we’re using. So we found this family-owned company in Portugal which makes everything out of organic cotton.’

He says that his stance echoes a shift towards sustainability among shoppers.

‘There is certainly a demand for greater accountability and transparency in the way that big brands are making things. Consumers are buying less, buying better or want to know about the supply chain and the environmental impact behind the products they’re buying.’

So which consumer in particular would Ed like to make socks for?

‘To see the Queen strut out in a pair of bright pink and blue socks for her speech one year would be quite something.

‘But I would also love my brand to be enjoyed and bought by people who are passionate about the way they spend their money and the values that they have.’

Ed’s own values are influenced by his Christian faith, which gives him the outlook required to help him tackle the prevalence of homelessness.

‘When you look at bad situations, you have to choose hope. There’s massive hope in the Christian faith, and I think that has inspired the way I put the brand together and how I go about my running of the business.

‘I’ve enjoyed learning about the love of God, and how that plays itself out in the decisions I make. I don’t have a shiny, perfect faith by any stretch of the imagination, but it has been an adventure.’

l For more information visit jolliesocks.com

10 FEATURE • WAR CRY • 30 November 2019

O Christmas Y

OU may not have put your Christmas tree up yet, but dozens of trees are already decorated and on display across the UK. This week marks the start of Christmas tree festivals. Ever growing in popularity, the festivals are put together by churches who invite charities to decorate a tree, which is then put on display.

Proceeds are donated to the charities taking part. Some festivals might only feature a few decorated trees in a small hall. Others are much grander and may include refreshments, live music or festive stalls.

The idea of Christmas tree festivals might be novel to some people, but certain churches have been holding them for decades. Fakenham Parish Church in Norfolk has held its own festival every year since the start of the millennium.

The Fakenham Christmas tree festival has grown significantly from featuring only around a dozen trees to more than fifty. Last year, some 15,000 visitors stopped in the church hall to look at its display and to donate towards the charities taking part.

This year, the church expects to host a similar number of visitors during the eight-day event, which opened on

Linda McTurk finds out how a popular festival held in churches is making a difference in the community

Thursday (28 November) and ends next Thursday (5 December).

Anne, the church festival’s administrator, has been in charge of the logistics behind the event for years. She is one of a team of six that co-ordinates everything from volunteer rotas through to the do’s and don’ts for the day. To even out her responsibilities and ensure that jobs are done well in advance, she provides application forms to charities from April onwards.

‘Applications have to be back to us by the end of June,’ Anne says. ‘We have a desk at the church every Thursday for an hour from April through to the festival.

We are always here for people who want to apply or have questions. I would say around 100 people get involved in volunteering.’

The sizeable effort that Anne and the rest of the volunteers put into the event clearly makes a difference. Last year, Fakenham Parish Church raised almost £18,000 in total for the charities that decorated trees. Part of the draw of the festival is the beauty of the space.

‘The same thing happens every year the first time I walk into the church once we’re open,’ Anne says. ‘I stop and think: “Wow.” The impact has not minimised in spite of the fact that this is the tenth year I’ve seen it. When I suddenly walk in and the Visitors stroll through Fakenham Parish Church church is full of during the festival

coloured tree lights – it is just stunning.’

And that feeling can be experienced by the range of people who attend. ‘We want everybody of all ages to come.

There are schools that bring groups of children who throw their bags of pennies into the buckets as well as people from a couple of the local care homes. It’s great fun.’

Although the building is very busy during the course of the festival, the Christian faith is not hidden away. A chapel corner in the building remains set apart for anyone who wants to light a candle or say a prayer.

Throughout the festival, people in the church continue to pray. Every hour on the half hour, a volunteer rings a bell and asks people to remain quiet as a prayer is read out for one of the charities taking part.

Elaine, a member of the church, helps to organise prayers for the event. She contacts all the charities and asks them to write a prayer that they would like read at the event. Then she collates

Last year the church raised almost £18,000 for charities them into a booklet which is made available to visitors.

‘We want to include everyone in some way in God’s love,’ she says. ‘What we’re doing is talking to God about the charities and lifting their work to him, not worrying about what the outcome might be, just giving it to God.’ Visitors can also pray by decorating a tree. At the front of the church near the crib on the high altar are six plain trees with a large pile of cardboard yellow stars next to them, allowing people to write a prayer and clip it on to a tree branch. Anne says that by the end of the

30 November 2019 • WAR CRY • FEATURE 11

tree A nativity scene sits at the centre of the festival festival the trees are ‘covered in yellow stars’.

Anne hopes that, as well as being a place of prayer during festive times, the church can be a source of support throughout the year, whether people decide to attend Sunday services or not.

‘The festival ties into the Christian ethos of Fakenham Parish Church,’ she says.

‘We are a hub at the heart of the community and we want the community to feel that this is their building and that there are people here for them. That’s the whole ethos of the church, and the Christmas tree festival is a big part of that.’

The church can be a source of support throughout the year

12 INNER LIFE • WAR CRY • 30 November 2019

Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Charmaign, who is concerned about her son; and for Ricardo, who is anxious.

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

John

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

HE last to be written, the Gospel T of John focuses on who Jesus is.

Chapter 1 opens with the philosophical

of the world’ (8:12), the ‘gate for the sheep’ (10:7), the ‘good shepherd’ (10:11), the ‘way and the truth and the life’ (14:6) and the ‘true vine’ (15:1).

As well as performing signs, Jesus introduces the concept of being ‘born again’ (3:1–17).

The gospel details the events that led to Jesus’ death, John commenting that ‘even after Jesus had performed so many

concept of Jesus as the ‘Word’. John, who was a disciple of Jesus, states that Jesus is eternal and divine, to the extent that ‘without him nothing was made that has been made’ (1:3).

Jesus, though, is more than a spiritual entity: he is also human. John writes: ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us’ (1:14).

The rest of the Gospel expands on the idea that the flesh-and-blood Jesus is the divine Son of God. It does so by emphasising the signs, statements and sacrifice of Jesus.

When John writes about Jesus performing signs’ many people ‘still would not believe a miracle, he uses the Greek word ‘semeion’ in him’ (12:37). Jesus is subsequently – ‘a sign’. John records eight ‘signs’. Six of betrayed, arrested, tried, rejected, flogged them appear only in this gospel. Jesus’ chang- and crucified. ing water into wine (2:1–11), the healings of John had earlier recorded the spiritual sigan official’s son (4:46–54), a lame man (5:1–9) nificance of Jesus’ crucifixion – and its link and a blind man (9:1–7), the raising of to the Passover – when he reported John the Lazarus from the dead (11:38–44) and, after Baptist seeing Jesus and saying: ‘Look, the Jesus’ own resurrection, a large catch of fish Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the (21:1–6). Jesus often links the performance world’ (1:29). of a sign with the challenge to believe in him (eg 9:35).

Some signs are linked with profound personal statements, where that you may Jesus reveals his divine identity. igns] are written [s se he ‘T the Before Jesus raised Lazarus, he s is the Messiah, believe that Jesu said: ‘I am the resurrection and u at by believing yo the life’ (11:25).

Son of God, and th me’ (John 20:31 Jesus also states that he is the have life in his na ay m ‘bread of life’ (6:35), the ‘light ional Version)

Jesus is more than a spiritual entity: he is also human

Key verse

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30 November 2019 • WAR CRY • EXPRESSIONS 13

NOW, THERE’S A THOUGHT!

by Naar M’fundisi-Holloway

QUICK QUIZ 1. Which musical instruments make up a string quartet?

2. What do frugivores eat?

3. Which king issued Magna Carta in 1215?

4. Who wrote the novel The Unbearable Lightness of Being?

5. What is traditionally given to a couple to mark their tenth wedding anniversary?

6. In which country is the city of Shenzhen?

ANSWERS 1. Two violins, a viola and a cello.

2. Fruit. 3. King John of England.

4. Milan Kundera. 5. Tin. 6. China.

CBAD a warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk Twitter: @TheWarCryUK Facebook.com/TheWarCryUK

B www.salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry

Calling people names can have a positive impact VERYONE has a name. Some names have more interesting stories E behind them than others. In Zambia, where I’m from, newborn babies are sometimes named, in one of the country’s many different languages, according to the family circumstances into which they are born.

If the family members are grateful, for example, they may call a child Natasha, which means ‘I am thankful’ in the Bemba language. If a child was born in the rainy season, she or he would perhaps be named Mainza, which in the Tonga language literally means ‘one born in the rainy season’. In the Tumbuka language, calling a child Tamara means ‘some of our loved ones are no longer with us’.

Other names speak of difficult and unfortunate circumstances. In the Nyanja language Mabvuto means ‘problems’, and Tilyenji means ‘what shall we eat?’ in the Nsenga language.

Names are important within many other People are more African cultures and some traditions even aware of the power include holding naming ceremonies for the baby. names carry In the past two decades people have become more aware of the power that names carry, and families are more likely to give their children names that have a positive meaning regardless of the family’s circumstances.

Recently, I was reminded of a name that is the most positive name of all. In church one Sunday, we sang the lyrics: ‘There is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain.’

The name Jesus is not a magic word, but it is powerful because of what and who it represents. Jesus Christ is known by many names, among them are the Prince of Peace, the Good Shepherd, Emmanuel (which means ‘God with us’), and the Light of the World.

Most of us are known by only one name, with one meaning. These different names of Jesus represent all that he can offer to us – peace, protection, guidance, comfort and light in dark times. He is exactly what we need, when we need it, no matter what circumstances we are facing.

14 PUZZLES • WAR CRY • 30 November 2019

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 3. Toupee (3) 7. Mend (6) 8. Admire (6) 9. Extract (6) 10. Merited (6) 11. Headgear (3) 12. Crib (6) 14. Even (6) 17. Superior (6) 21. Emerge (6) 24. Everything (3) 25. Horse pace (6) 26. Bigger (6) 27. Gradually diminish (6)

12. Taxi (3) 13. Falsehood (3) 15. Chart (3) 16. She (3) 18. Dodged (6) 19. Higher (6) 20. Epée (6) 21. Assert (6) 22. Clergyman (6) 23. Opposed (6)

28. Shiny (6) 29. Cereal (3) DOWN 1. Vault (6) 2. Fetid (6) 3. Squirm (6) 4. Meets (6) 5. Carry out to extreme (6) 6. Apprehend (6)

SUDOKU

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

HONEYCOMB

4

1

3

4

8

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

7

3

BLACK POPLAR COMMON BEECH DOGWOOD ENGLISH OAK HOLLY JUNIPER MIDLAND HAWTHORN ROWAN

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 3. Wig. 7. Repair. 8. Revere.

9. Elicit. 10. Earned. 11. Hat. 12. Cradle.

14. Smooth. 17. Better. 21. Appear.

24. All. 25. Gallop. 26. Larger.

27. Recede. 28. Glossy. 29 Rye. DOWN: 1. Cellar. 2. Rancid. 3. Writhe.

4. Greets. 5. Overdo. 6. Arrest. 12. Cab. 13. Lie. 15. Map. 16. Her. 18. Evaded.

19. Taller. 20. Rapier. 21. Allege.

22. Parson. 23. Averse.

HONEYCOMB 1. Zimmer. 2. Ribbon. 3. Person.

4. Jigsaw. 5. Angina. 6. Moment.

1

5

9

7

8

6

SCOTS PINE

4

2

SILVER BIRCH

3

1

6

9

SPINDLE

7

8

WHITE WILLOW

2

3

WILD CHERRY

5

4

YEW

1

5

9

9

9

ALDER BUCKTHORN

9

5

8 5

7 6

7

WORDSEARCH

7

5

9

1. Type of walking frame 2. Long narrow strip of fabric 3. A human being 4. Picture puzzle 5. Heart condition 6. Brief period of time

ANSWERS

9

2

1

1

8

2

9

3

Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these types of tree

4

5

9

8

6

3

1

2

7

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

2 3 4 8 5 7 1 6 9

4 2 7 6 9 3 5 1 8

8 1 3 7 2 5 9 4 6

6 5 9 1 4 8 2 7 3

9 6 2 5 7 4 3 8 1

7 4 5 3 8 1 6 9 2

3 8 1 9 6 2 4 5 7

SUDOKU SOLUTION

5

2 9

9 2

1

3 8

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

Aubergine, chickpea, pomegranate and feta salad 2 large aubergines, cut lengthways into thick slices 1tbsp olive oil 1tbsp balsamic vinegar 210g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed Pinch salt Pinch ground black pepper 80g pomegranate seeds SERVES

2

15g fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped 10g fresh mint, chopped 100g vegetarian feta cheese

Surprise chocolate brownies 225g dates 60g wholemeal flour 2tsp baking powder 3tbsp cocoa powder, sieved 100g vegan margarine 1 very ripe banana, mashed 1tsp vanilla essence Vegetable oil, for greasing

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

Place the dates in a medium-sized saucepan with enough water to cover them. Cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes or until soft. Once the dates have cooked, drain, run them

under a cold tap and purée in a blender.

Heat a large non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Place the slices of aubergine in the pan and cook each side for 3 minutes until lightly charred and tender. Once cooked, set them aside in a large bowl and cover with clingfilm.

Leave for 15 minutes.

To make the dressing, whisk together the oil and vinegar in a small bowl.

Transfer the chickpeas to a large bowl. Take each aubergine slice and roughly cut into strips then add to the bowl of chickpeas. Add the dressing to the bowl.

Combine and season with the salt and pepper.

Add the pomegranate seeds, parsley and mint leaves and lightly toss together. Divide between 2 plates and sprinkle with the feta before serving.

To make the brownie batter, sift together the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder in a small mixing bowl and set aside. In a larger mixing bowl use a fork to cream together the dates and the vegan margarine until light and fluffy.

Add the banana and vanilla essence and stir in the flour mixture.

Lightly oil a suitable baking dish and evenly spread the batter into it, smoothing the top with a spoon. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes or until the brownies start to come away from the sides of the dish. Allow to cool in the pan, then cut and serve.

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Vegetarian Society website vegsoc.org

MAKES

16

Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves Proverbs 11:17 (New International Version)