Issuu

TV’s Pilgrimage leads the way

4 July 2026 50p/60c

Stage is set Tour de France heads for Spain – and next year UK

Hamilton actor on playing a president and praying

What is The Salvation Army? The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity seeking to share the good news of Jesus and nurture committed followers of him. We also serve people without discrimination, care for creation and seek justice and reconciliation. We offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK. Go to salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church to find your nearest centre.

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 7788

Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Managing Editor: Philip Halcrow Staff Writer: Emily Bright Staff Writer: Claire Brine Staff Writer: Ewan Hall Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk Graphic Designer: Mark Knight Graphic Designer: Matt Penberthy Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 1 Champion Park London SE5 8FJ

From the editor’s desk Spain is hosting the Grand Départ of the Tour de France – but UK cycling enthusiasts may already be feeling excitement about next year’s men’s and women’s races, which will be coming closer to home. As we note in this week’s War Cry, le Tour is recruiting people to help run 2027’s UK stages – and it has named these volunteers after the emotion that it hopes they will bring to spectators lining the roads of Scotland, England and Wales: joy. Over the past few years, emotions of all kinds have come to the fore in BBC2’s Pilgrimage, which has recently received a broadcasting award. Viewers have seen celebrities walk pilgrimage routes while talking about their personal joys and sorrows, hopes and fears, as well as their world views and religious beliefs. Caroline Matthews, of the production company behind the programme, tells us: ‘What I love about the series is that through their own personal journeys, the pilgrims are talking to thousands and millions of people who are having similar experiences.’ While playing George Washington in the West End musical Hamilton, Jonathan Andrew Hume could sense it when audiences connected emotionally with the drama on stage. ‘When Hamilton’s son dies,’ he tells us, ‘you can almost pinpoint the people in the audience who have lost someone they love. They may be sobbing, but there is also a smile on their face, as if they are saying: “Thank you for letting me experience this scene and find healing through it.”’ Sport, TV and theatre can help us make sense of our own stories and the emotions behind them. Many people would be able to relate to the feelings that retired para-athlete Stef Reid expressed on Pilgrimage as she walked a route followed by Christians for centuries. Stef – a Christian herself – talked of her worries for the future, but concluded that she simply wanted to know God ‘walking beside me’. And, as the faith at the centre of her pilgrimage route has always insisted: God is with us wherever we go and whatever we go through.

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CONTENTS

Founders: Catherine and William Booth International leaders: General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham Territorial leaders: Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main Editor-in-Chief: Major Andrew Stone Published weekly by The Salvation Army © The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 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 CKN Print, Northampton, on sustainably sourced paper

INFO

FEATURES

On the road again Tour de France heads out

‘It’s a story about legacy’ Actor on Hamilton musical

Way to go! TV’s Pilgrimage celebrated

13 Lapping it up Crowds flock to British Grand Prix

Your local Salvation Army centre

REGULARS

FO 4

Team Talk

12 Tell-tale Signs 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: ALAMY/ACTION PLUS SPORTS IMAGES

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In pursuit of happinesss Tour de France organisers seek to spread joy Feature by Emily Bright

yclists will be hoping that they are up to speed when the Tour de France begins on Saturday (4 July). This year, the Grand Départ takes place in Spain, which is hosting the start for only the third time in the race’s 123-year history. Among the 184 riders expected to line up for their 23 teams is Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, who is aiming to finish the Tour with the Yellow Jersey for the third time in a row. But Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard, who has won the race twice, will be determined to unseat the defending champion. The race is made up of 21 stages over the course of 23 days. Having begun on the streets of Barcelona, it will include gruelling mountain climbs through the Pyrenees and the Alps, and will end, as always, at the ChampsÉlysées in Paris. Meanwhile, Tour de France organisers are in a race of their own – to find volunteers to help run next year’s Grand Départ in Great Britain. The cyclists will set off from Edinburgh and travel through England before ending their time on this side of the Channel in Cardiff. Recruitment is under way for 9,000 volunteers – referred to as Joy Makers – ‘to support event operations and enhance spectator experience’. The only qualifications needed by applicants are an enthusiasm for the sport and a willingness to help out. As the recruitment campaign was announced, TV presenter Radzi

Chinyanganya said: ‘I’m so excited for everyone to get involved – it will truly be an unforgettable experience. Whoever you are, whatever your age or your background, Joy Makers is open to everyone. If you want to bring joy, we want you.’ Whether we find our joy in playing or watching sport, or in cinema, gaming or holidaying, the emotion can shape our lives and create positive memories. However, while some experiences in this world promise us a lasting sense of joy, they don’t always deliver. Many people, though, discover a lasting, lifetransforming joy through faith. In the Bible, David – a man whose decision to volunteer for a challenge radically changed the course of his life – speaks about the enduring joy he experienced through his relationship with God. David acknowledged to God: ‘You will show me the path that leads to life; your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure for ever’ (Psalm 16:11 Good News Bible). Rather than relying on the fleeting enjoyment of good times, David sought out lasting joy by spending time with God. He knew that, whatever life saddled him with, God would be by his side, guiding, encouraging and strengthening him with his love. We too can discover such a relationship. We simply need to decide to follow God. With him beside us, we can handle anything. And we will never tire of the joy that comes from knowing our Maker.

Tadej Pogacar celebrates his 2024 Tour de France win in his home country of Slovenia 4 July 2026 • WAR CRY • 3

Team talk TEAM

talk ‘ TALK’ j Independently together

Linda McTurk gives her take on a story that has caught the attention of War Cry reporters The Fourth of July is a date that resonates with Americans as they take time out annually to celebrate the country’s birthday as an independent nation. This year the date is even more significant than most as it marks 250 years since the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence to establish the United States. Up and down the US there will be parades and block parties. Evenings will be turned over to spectacular firework displays in cities from New York to San Francisco. As local celebrations get under way, all 350 million Americans will be encouraged to celebrate the day by volunteering or giving to charity. This year, there are ambitious aims to make the date the largest single day of charitable giving in US history and to make 2026 a record year for volunteer service. They are admirable goals, and ones that I would say get to the heart of being truly American. As a Chinese American now living in the UK, I will feel a sense of nostalgia. When I was growing up in the States, Independence Day usually meant being with family and friends. Sometimes I would join a community picnic over a large public lawn with my family members; other times I would travel with my dad to a park to gather with crowds of people to enjoy a firework display. That sense of community still feels important today. The Fourth of July can be more than a celebration of national history – it can be an opportunity to practise kindness and compassion. Wherever we stand politically, patriotism need not divide. At its best, it can bring people together. I believe this holds true wherever we are in the world. Many people find it natural to love their country. But it’s even more important to love other people. For me, that conviction comes from my Christian faith. Jesus taught that, as well as loving God wholeheartedly, we are to ‘love others as well as you love yourself’ (Matthew 22:39 The Message). If we take his words seriously, they won’t just shape how we observe a national day – they will shape how we live. And that will be a cause for celebration.

Centenarian makes book debut with meditations A 103-year-old former preacher has published her first book, entitled Thoughts on Life, which contains 52 faith-based reflections that she wrote during and after the Covid pandemic, reported BBC News. According to the article, Marjorie Mitchell, from Coleford in Gloucestershire, began writing her Christian meditations during lockdown, because she felt inspired by ‘the beauty of nature in contrast with what was going on in the world’. The article explained that Marjorie – who preached at her local church until the age of 100 – has now written more than 500 reflections, with more than 100 also recorded as podcasts ‘to reach a wider audience’.

There will be parades and block parties

Team talk 4 • WAR CRY • 4 July 2026

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Jonathan as George Washington YEL LO W

BE LL Y

Jonathan Andrew Hume

Interview by Claire Brine

magine being in the room where it happened. On 4 July 1776, on the other side of the Pond, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, severing its political connections with Great Britain and cementing the future of the United States of America. It’s a pivotal moment in global history – and a story that actor Jonathan Andrew Hume has brought to life on stage in the West End musical Hamilton. For a year he played the role of George Washington, the military commander-turned-president who seeks to lead his country into a brighter tomorrow, backed by fellow Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the hip-hop and rap musical tracks Hamilton’s life, exploring his role in the American War of Independence, his efforts as secretary of the treasury to stabilise the country’s finances, and his strained relationship with Aaron Burr, his

DANNY KAAN

To mark 250 years of American independence, actor JONATHAN ANDREW HUME reflects on playing President George Washington in the West End musical Hamilton and explains how the story on stage carries messages of faith

Musical inspiration

political rival referred to in the show as the ‘fool that shot him’. ‘Hamilton is about determination, comradeship and fighting for truth and justice,’ says Jonathan, whose run in the show came to an end just weeks ago. ‘It’s also about betrayal, forgiveness and love. ‘I think it’s a story worth telling today because of everything that Hamilton stood for. He was an immigrant who arrived in a country and overcame struggles to achieve political success and create a legacy that we are marking 250 years later. People can take inspiration from the idea that, no matter how small or insignificant they think they are, they can still rise up and make an impact.’ In the show, President Thomas Jefferson calls Hamilton’s financial system ‘a work of genius’. President James Madison adds that the Founding Father ‘doesn’t get enough credit for all

the credit he gave us’. Though the musical praises Hamilton for taking the country ‘from bankruptcy to prosperity’, it also shines a spotlight on some of his character flaws.

People are drawn to Hamilton’s story

‘H

amilton was an imperfect person,’ says Jonathan. ‘And people are drawn to his story because they can see themselves in him, as well as the other characters and their life experiences. ‘When Hamilton’s son dies, you can almost pinpoint the people in the audience who have lost someone they love. They may be sobbing, but there is also a smile on their face, as if they are saying: “Thank you for letting me experience this scene

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From page 5 and find healing through it.” It’s a special moment.’ In 2016, the year after its debut on Broadway, Hamilton won 11 Tony awards, including the one for best original score. But when Jonathan first heard the songs ‘My Shot’, ‘You’ll Be Back’ and ‘History Has its Eyes on You’, he was a little puzzled. ‘I was playing Simba in The Lion King when I learnt about this new musical called Hamilton,’ he remembers. ‘Our director had come over from America and started telling me how I should audition for the part of Aaron Burr. I thought: “I don’t know what this is all about. And it’s rap music. That’s not a musical!” ‘Listening to the soundtrack for the first time, I didn’t understand the context. I didn’t know about American history. But when I learnt that this was a true story, recognised the songs’ references to rap artists that I already knew, and discovered that the Broadway production had opted for colour-blind casting, it just blew my

6 • WAR CRY • 4 July 2026

mind. It all seemed so exciting and cool.’ Less than 10 years later, after landing the role of George Washington, Jonathan posted on Instagram that joining the cast of Hamilton was a dream career shot that he would not be throwing away. For eight shows a week, he got to belt out some of the musical’s most powerful numbers, including ‘Right Hand Man’ and ‘One Last Time’. He reflects on how he approached the role of the first US president.

Washington tries to walk the right path

‘F

irst and foremost, I see Washington as a leader,’ Jonathan says. ‘And I portrayed him as a good leader. He considers the citizens of America his children and feels responsible for them. He tries to walk the right path in everything he does. ‘He’s also a father figure to Hamilton, trying to steer him in the correct way. In

DANNY KAAN

The cast of ‘Hamilton’, featuring Jonathan as Washington (far left)

“History Has its Eyes on You”, Washington says that he can see the greatness that lies in him.’ Alongside the political focus, Hamilton explores matters of faith and humankind’s relationship with God. When tempted to cheat on his wife, Hamilton prays that God will help him to ‘say no to this’. After the death of his son, he finds himself attending church to pray. One touching scene between Hamilton and his wife, Eliza, highlights the power of forgiveness in a marriage. ‘There’s a beautiful moment when Hamilton is walking through New York City after the death of his son,’ says Jonathan, ‘and he takes his children to church to pray, noting: “That never used to happen before.” The song “It’s Quiet Uptown” points to a lovely idea that even in loss and sadness, people can still turn to God for comfort, guidance and solace. ‘It’s also fitting that, in that same song, forgiveness is mentioned. In every performance, it would hit me that the word “forgiveness” only comes in when

the music drops out. Everything else is silent. And in the moment that Eliza takes Hamilton’s hand, healing starts to happen. It’s so touching.’ Spotting themes in the musical that align with Christianity came naturally to Jonathan, who describes himself as a man of faith. Before every performance, he prepared to go on stage by praying.

I try to treat people how Jesus would

‘I

’d sit in the empty auditorium for some quiet time of meditation and prayer,’ he says. ‘It would get me ready for the show ahead, but it also allowed me a moment to express my gratitude to God for getting me here. Landing this role was 100 per cent down to him.’ Jonathan also turns to his Christian faith for guidance on how to approach his career in showbusiness and build respectful relationships with colleagues. ‘The question “what would Jesus do?” is

always going through my mind,’ he says. ‘I try to treat people how Jesus would treat them. I try to be a good example. If I see a negative situation, I take a step back before reacting.’ In the final song of Hamilton, audiences are reminded that they have no control over ‘who lives, who dies, who tells your story’. Such a message raises the question of legacy and the actions for which people wish to be remembered. ‘When my time is up, have I done enough?’ sings Eliza. It’s a challenge that theatregoers take home with them – and one that Jonathan has considered for himself. ‘I would like my legacy to be that, by living in a kind and God-centred way, it’s possible to achieve great things – not just for me but for the generations to come,’ he says. ‘What’s fantastic about Hamilton is that it’s a story about legacy, forgiveness and striving for the greater good – and people can grab on to those things, whatever they are going through in life.’

4 July 2026 • WAR CRY • 7

o f s l i k fe l a W

Long-running TV programme Pilgrimage – in which groups of celebrities follow religious routes while exploring questions of faith – was given a special prize at the recent Sandford St Martin broadcasting awards. Caroline Matthews of production company CTVC reflects on the value of the series in which people open up about their personal stories, while former pilgrims Debbie McGee and Bobby Seagull recall their journeys Feature by Philip Halcrow

CT VC

Caroline Matthews, CEO of production company CTVC

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hey had arrived at their destination. On a warm evening last month, comedians Stephen K Amos and Helen Lederer, Escape to the Country presenter Sonali Shah, TV mathematician Bobby Seagull and entertainer Debbie McGee were among the celebrities who headed to an awards ceremony in London. They had travelled to Lambeth Palace ready to celebrate previous journeys that they had made – journeys captured in the BBC’s Pilgrimage, which since making its debut in 2018 has become part of the TV landscape. The reality TV programme – whose eighth series ran on BBC2 over Easter – was being given a special prize at the

annual Sandford St Martin awards for broadcasts that explore religion, ethics and spirituality. And some of the pilgrims who had been filmed while walking and talking their way along spiritually significant routes were keen to be at the ceremony when Caroline Matthews, CEO of production company CTVC, stepped forward to accept the honour. Presenting the award, social entrepreneur and author Krish Kandiah said: ‘I wouldn’t have thought this programme would work – all these celebrities coming together, not knowing each other … people walking through rain storms with strangers and being asked with a camera in front of them to

CTVC

The first set of pilgrims walked along the Camino de Santiago

talk about life and faith. It shouldn’t work, but it has worked marvellously.’ A week before the awards ceremony, at the CTVC offices across town, Caroline tells me how Pilgrimage began and reflects on what it has offered viewers along the way. ‘We have contact with a lot of faith leaders,’ she says, ‘and I believe that one of these faith leaders was talking about the practice of pilgrimage – this art that has been going on for thousands of years where people walk and talk, and what they get from it. And I think the BBC were looking for a different way of delivering their faith-based content.’

We’re not trying to make them fall out

he first series followed a group of seven – including the Rev Kate Bottley, singer Heather Small, broadcast journalist Raphael Rowe and comedian Ed Byrne – as they travelled the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route from the foothills of the French Pyrenees to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. ‘It has to be one of the most welltrodden pilgrimages in the world,’ says Caroline. ‘The route gave us all the

Debbie McGee Debbie McGee, who appeared in the first series of Pilgrimage, remembers it as ‘a wonderful experience – really going back to basics, meeting lots of people who were all there for different reasons. It was a special experience because when else in life are you put together with people you don’t know, and you spend 24 hours a day with them?’ The TV and radio personality says she valued the opportunity to get to know her fellow pilgrims, such as actor Neil Morrissey who had had a difficult childhood but ‘does not have an ounce of bitterness in him’ about it. She also treasures the memory of attending evensong in a small village church. ‘I don’t really know what I believe about God,’ she says, ‘because every religion has their own God. But I do believe that you can pray to something higher than us. ‘Being on the pilgrimage confirmed to me that it’s all about humans helping each other. If being of a certain religion helps bring you together with other people who will be there for you when times aren’t good, I see that as a good thing.’

trappings of a pilgrimage – there are the passports that you get stamped, you have to walk the last 100km and you end up at a shrine.’ En route, Debbie and Heather had an encounter with a man who was walking the camino to help him deal with his grief after the death of his father, leading Debbie to open up about her own experience of bereavement. Kate sat down with Raphael to discuss her view of faith and why he was reluctant even to enter churches. And, although the programme has subsequently evolved, the first series gave an indication of the direction it could take – and of its value. ‘At the end of the first series,’ notes Caroline, ‘Ed Byrne, who is a patron of Humanists UK, said he had learnt that he could be friends with religious people. I was blown away by this powerful but simple idea – that we might all come from different walks of life and have different beliefs, but we’re all human.’ Other celebrities have followed in that first group’s footsteps, and the routes have taken them to countries such as Portugal and Italy as well as across terrain closer to home, most recently

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4 July 2026 • WAR CRY • 9

From page 9

across the northeast of England to Holy Island. As well as the right path, finding the right pilgrims to go on each journey is key to the success of the programme, says Caroline. ‘We’re looking for a full spectrum of individuals of different ages, faiths, ethnicities and disabilities and people who appeal to different audiences.’ She adds that, having found the pilgrims, the programme-makers strive to treat them with respect. ‘We’re not trying to make them fall out or be horrible to each other. We don’t set up people to fight. ‘We’ve had many a time as well when one of the pilgrims has shared something on camera, but has then come up to us and said that they don’t want us to use it.

We’ll have a chat with them about it, but at the end of the day, it’s their story. We’ll respect them, and they respect us. We’re not trying to do anything underhand.’ Over the course of time, viewers have witnessed many very personal stories unfold. Caroline recalls some that encapsulate the spirit of Pilgrimage. ‘One outstanding moment was when Stephen K Amos met the late Pope. Stephen was apprehensive about it, because his mother and sister, who had both passed away, were practising Catholics. He didn’t really have a faith, and he didn’t really know what he was going to ask if we managed to get a private audience. When we got in, he asked the Pope about feeling that he was not accepted by the church because he was a gay man.’

CTVC

Stephen K Amos meets Pope Francis

Viewers saw Pope Francis respond to Stephen’s question by saying: ‘Giving more importance to the adjective rather than the noun – this is not good. We are all human beings and have dignity. It does not matter who you are, or how you live your life, you do not lose your dignity.’ Caroline remembers: ‘Stephen cried. He said it absolutely blew his mind. He came away saying it was what he had been looking for all his life, even though he didn’t know he was looking for it.’ Another highlight for Caroline came in The Road through the Alps when Stef Reid, a Christian, sought advice from a nun. The retired para-athlete spoke of her worry that she would look back with regret if she and her husband decided to go against what was expected by society and not have children. The nun spoke to Stef about times of doubt but also about feeling that her vocation was within the religious community, prompting Stef to say that all she wanted to know was God ‘walking beside me’. ‘What I love about the series,’ says Caroline, ‘is that through their own personal journeys, the pilgrims are talking to thousands and millions of people who are having similar experiences. These are big life questions.’

The journey is the extra pilgrim in the group

10 • WAR CRY • 4 July 2026

Caroline accepts the Sandford St Martin special award from host Ngunan Adamu and Krish Kandiah

TRICIA YOURKEVICH FOR SANDFORD ST MARTIN TRUST

Stef Reid with fellow pilgrims

he cameras have recorded other moments of revelation. In The Road to Holy Island, TV personality Tasha Ghouri was interested to learn in a conversation with radio presenter Jayne Middlemiss that, whereas an atheist rejects the idea of God, an agnostic says that they do not know if there is a God or not. Tasha, who has a cochlear implant and had spoken about being trolled online because she was born deaf, was also struck by the way she was treated by her fellow pilgrims. While she had often found that ‘the industry’ had left her feeling lonely, on the journey she felt accepted and loved for who she was. And in The Road through North Wales, the Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews learnt in a conversation with non-observant Muslim Eshaan Akbar that Jesus was a real person. Caroline says: ‘Spencer was ready to show his vulnerability and say things that probably thousands of other people have thought and are glad that

CTVC

The pilgrims travelled to Holy Island in this year’s series

Bobby Seagull Bobby Seagull was one of the pilgrims who followed a Roman Catholic route to Fatima in Pilgrimage: The Road through Portugal. Saying that the experience helped him understand more about what his Christian faith meant to him, he remembers the physical exertions of the walk, but also the conversations. ‘There were people of faith on the walk, as well as some people of non-faith,’ he says. ‘The way people were honest but respectful of each other made me think about how out in the wider world dialogue can be quite coarse and abrasive. Often it’s one person shouting above someone else, trying to say: “I’m right; you’re wrong.” But on the pilgrimage, we had very different perspectives, but we were just curious about the way other people live their lives. ‘I think our conversations gave everyone a spring in their step and made them want to take that back into the real world.’

somebody else asked.’ Those who have taken part in Pilgrimage report that the experience has affected them.

‘Tom Rosenthal was on a podcast recently talking about how Pilgrimage settled him,’ says Caroline. ‘Ashley Banjo said it was the most extraordinary journey he had ever made. Spencer Matthews said that when he went home his family were saying that he had come back calmer, more empathetic and more focused on what truly matters. ‘We always say that the journey is the extra pilgrim in the group. You never know what it will throw up. It opens people up. Viewers have seen Christine McGuinness talk about being an autistic woman with autistic children and going through a separation from her husband, and Eshaan Akbar talk about the grief of losing his mother and what that has done to his faith.’

opportunity to just walk and talk. When they take part in the programme, the pilgrims are stripped of their phones and social media and everything else that goes on in their normal working life. For 12 days, they just have to go from A to B and chat. They may not have the best night’s sleep in their accommodation and they experience a bit of hardship, but in those moments they form camaraderie and strength. ‘And I feel that for those pilgrims who have a faith, they have never really had the time to explore it in a way that is so accepting.’

It distils beliefs in a way people understand

aroline has been aware of the programme having an effect on viewers too. She has even known a few people who have been inspired by the programme to go on their own pilgrimage. ‘I think the value of the programme is that it distils quite complicated narratives and beliefs in a way that people can really understand and be sympathetic towards,’ she says. ‘In our busy world, we don’t get the

4 July 2026 • WAR CRY • 11

Prayerlink Your prayers are requested for Ian, that he will feel completely better. The War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their circumstances, for publication. Send your Prayerlink requests to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk or to War Cry, 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ. Mark your correspondence ‘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 know that I have done things in my life that are wrong and I’m sorry. Thank you that I can ask you for forgiveness because of the sacrifice you made when you died on the cross. Please forgive me and help me to live a better life in the future as I learn how to love you and follow your way of living. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

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Tell-tale signs Lynne Shaw explores how Jesus’ stories pointed to a bigger picture The parable of the yeast – Matthew 13:33 In a story of comparison, Jesus focuses on the transforming effects of God’s ways, values and priorities by talking about the yeast in breadmaking – something everyone listening to him would have been familiar with. Sourdough has become popular today, but it is also an ancient type of breadmaking. Everyone who heard Jesus tell this parable would have eaten this kind of bread and made it (or watched it being made). Wild yeast and bacteria act upon a mix of flour and water through fermentation, causing air bubbles to form. The resulting culture is a ‘starter’ batch, which is then used to form a loaf, with some starter kept aside to make the next loaf. Yeast permeates and transforms the whole batch of flour and water. Because of this, the Scriptures that Jesus read (which are now often called the Old Testament) frequently compared yeast with sin – our destructive and selfish actions – illustrating the harm that can be caused by behaviour that does not seek the benefit of others. But Jesus changes the narrative. Instead of talking about sin being hidden and acting like yeast, his parable uses yeast to suggest all the benefits of living with and for God. (However, just as sourdough can fail if the dough is too cold, too weak or doesn’t have the right protein available in the flour, so we are capable of neutralising God’s benefits by effectively blocking goodness from changing ourselves, our families and communities.) Sourdough fermentation has been shown to have numerous health benefits, and the same can be said of how God’s ways permeate and have a positive effect on our lives and the world. What seems to start in hidden ways becomes visible as we become more gracious, kinder, more loving, more sincere. We are changed into people who work for the benefit of others and help one another, until everything is transformed for the better.

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Or email your name and postal address to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk 12 • WAR CRY • 4 July 2026

Lewis Hamilton flies in Ferrari red at the 2025 British Grand Prix

QUICK QUIZ 1 2 3 4 5 6

Who is the author of the crime novel The Impossible Fortune? Which car manufacturer produces the Picanto? Which band had a No 1 hit in 1979 with ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’? Who stars as shepherd George Hardy in the comedy film The Sheep Detectives? The word ‘soccer’ is an abbreviation of what term? Which currency does the code NZD represent?

ANSWERS

Formula for success

Silverstone crowd will be hoping for a home win Feature by Ewan Hall

he world’s elite drivers are getting into gear as Northamptonshire once again becomes the centre of motor sport. The British Grand Prix is taking place at Silverstone with four days of action and events culminating in the race on Sunday (5 July). More than 500,000 fans will gather at the circuit for what is predicted by some to be the best-attended event on Formula 1’s calendar. This year the home crowd will have up to five of their own to cheer for – the most since 1996. The Brits getting behind the wheel include fan favourites Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and reigning world champion Lando Norris. Emerging talents Oliver Bearman and Arvid Lindblad will also be hoping to make their mark on the track. Britain and Formula 1 go back a long way. The country hosted the first Formula 1 race at Silverstone in 1950. Over the subsequent years, home crowds have witnessed emotional losses, thrilling wins and stunning comebacks. One of the most memorable moments came on the final lap of the race in 2020 when Lewis Hamilton beat a charging Max Verstappen while racing with only three wheels on his car. It was a remarkable sporting achievement – but also demonstrated that, even for the very best, races do not always go to plan. Away from the circuit too, progress in life is rarely straightforward. We may have to face a relationship breaking down, a career stalling or the loss of a loved one. Whatever they turn out to be, setbacks are inevitable. During such times, we can feel as if we are limping on, uncertain of what is coming next. However, we are not alone. Someone is always ready to offer us guidance – and that’s God. One writer in the Bible describes how he sensed God saying to him: ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you’ (Psalm 32:8 New Living Translation). If we choose to take notice of God’s direction, the road before us will seem clearer. And, while we will still encounter some tricky situations, God will always help us navigate life’s setbacks and get us back on track. 4 July 2026 • WAR CRY • 13

1. Richard Osman. 2. Kia. 3. Buggles. 4. Hugh Jackman. 5. Association football. 6. The New Zealand dollar.

PUZZLES Quick CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Untrue (5) 5. Corpulent (5) 8. Dodge (5) 9. Let down (5) 10. Tend (5) 11. Sugar coating (5) 12. Irritate (4) 15. Reflector (6) 17. Consumed (5) 18. Lean (6) 20. Supporter (4) 25. Depart (5) 26. Avoid (5) 27. Detest (5) 28. Guide (5) 29. Consecrate (5) 30. Correspond (5) DOWN 1. Percolate (6) 2. Legal (6) 3. Weird (5) 4. Just (5) 5. Seabird (7) 6. Noisy activity (6) 7. Favour (6) 13. Writing fluid (3) 14. Wages (3)

SUDOKU

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

1 8 4 6 2 5 9 4 9 2 6 1 6 7 3 9 5 8 2 8 6 7 3 2 9 9 8 4 3 6

15. Encountered (3) 16. Lubricant (3) 17. Interminable (7) 18. Magnificent (6) 19. Hurt (6)

W RDSEARCH

21. Deadly (6) 22. Annually (6) 23. Military trainee (5) 24. Body organ (5)

Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these places on the Tour de France route

M O HONEYC B

MQ Z N J HWZ D Z G Y G Y E Z F Q F MX X H Y GQ V U A S B Q Z B B X K X L Q C T Q K UW J Z N P N OMZ K V B N H P C P Z S E D N V E R I C A Y A Q T Q A S P L R N B Q Z D E O H Q R B N O R I O V D C N K T EM L M F C Z J K E N Q R E OQ R Q A H O B A E B P Y G R Y K G V N RWU V L Z Q L EMA R B S T E GMQ Z X V Q M Z O E P Q E E Z F I Q WW P H E F Q E N MM Z B V B Q N Z H Z O A X Z X U A J QOQ N ZMR V S U Q F C R K H X N J U R N Q N A S F P P J Q Y C D Z E S YWT Z K V H V X Q R K Q S E E S Y L E S PMA H C S I R A P Q P E ZM T A R R A GO N A B O K O S L WM F H Q B B Q V I M N R C F L C A HMK R X J D K U V T H O I R Y

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

1. Necklace 2. Turn into ice 3. Sitting room 4. A father or mother 5. Scattered rubbish 6. Protective object used by warriors

ANSWERS 4 1 7 9 6 2 3 5 8

3 8 6 5 7 1 4 2 9

2 9 5 3 4 8 7 1 6

8 4 1 2 3 5 6 9 7

5 6 9 7 1 4 2 8 3

7 2 3 8 9 6 1 4 5

1 5 8 6 2 3 9 7 4

6 7 2 4 5 9 8 3 1

9 3 4 1 8 7 5 6 2

HONEYCOMB 1. Choker. 2. Freeze. 3. Lounge. 4. Parent. 5. Debris. 6. Shield. QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. False. 5. Plump. 8. Evade. 9. Lower. 10. Nurse. 11. Icing. 12. Rile. 15. Mirror. 17. Eaten. 18. Skinny. 20. Ally. 25. Leave. 26. Elude. 27. Abhor. 28. Steer. 29. Bless. 30. Tally. DOWN: 1. Filter. 2. Lawful. 3. Eerie. 4. Valid. 5. Penguin. 6. Uproar. 7. Prefer. 13. Ink. 14. Pay. 15. Met. 16. Oil. 17. Endless. 18. Superb. 19. Injure. 21. Lethal. 22. Yearly. 23. Cadet. 24. Heart.

14 • WAR CRY • 4 July 2026

ALPE D’HUEZ BARCELONA BERGERAC BORDEAUX CHAMBÉRY CHAMPAGNOLE FOIX

GAVARNIE-GÈDRE MALEMORT PARIS CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES TARRAGONA THOIRY USSEL VOIRON

SERVES 2

Breakfast omelette rolls INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Oil spray

Coat a non-stick frying pan with oil spray and heat over a medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach and cook for about 5 minutes, until the spinach has wilted and the tomatoes have softened. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside to cool.

40g button mushrooms, halved 80g cherry tomatoes, halved 40g fresh spinach, plus extra, to serve 2 medium eggs 10g reduced-fat mature cheddar cheese, grated Freshly ground black pepper

SERVES 2

2 seeded wholemeal rolls, halved and lightly toasted

SERVES 4

Crack the eggs into a bowl and lightly whisk. Add the mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach and cheese. Season with black pepper, then stir well. Coat the same pan with more oil spray and put on a high heat. Pour in the egg mixture, spreading the vegetables out evenly. Cook until the omelette is brown underneath and almost set. Remove the pan from the heat, place a plate over the top and carefully turn the omelette out on to the plate. Slide the omelette back into the pan and cook until both sides are lightly browned. Cut the omelette into quarters and place a couple of quarters in each of the rolls, with extra spinach, to serve.

Roast cauliflower salad INGREDIENTS

METHOD

1 medium cauliflower, broken into florets

Preheat the oven to 200C/Gas Mark 6.

400g can chickpeas, drained Oil spray ½ tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground cumin ½ tsp ground coriander 1tbsp lemon juice 1tbsp vinegar

Place the cauliflower and chickpeas in a large roasting tin and finely coat with oil spray, then sprinkle with cinnamon, cumin and coriander. Toss well. Roast in the oven for 25-35 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is tender and the chickpeas are crisp and golden brown. Make a dressing by adding the lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, honey, mustard and pepper to a tight-sealing container. Place the lid firmly on, then shake well.

Remove the cauliflower and chickpeas from the oven and leave to cool for 5 minutes. Divide the spinach between 4 plates ½ tsp clear honey and top with the cooked cauliflower and Dijon mustard, to taste chickpeas. Drizzle over Freshly ground black the dressing and pepper scatter with the pomegranate 200g baby spinach seeds and 100g pomegranate seeds parsley, to serve. Handful fresh parsley, roughly chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the World Cancer Research Fund website wcrf.org

4 July 2026 • WAR CRY • 15

Worry is for tomorrow. Today, live, love and be thankful.