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 7622
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
From the editor’s desk FOR many people, Easter is a time to hope for the start of springlike weather and to put on a little weight by eating chocolate eggs, all while enjoying the first bank holiday weekend since the new year. What can seem rather irrelevant are the events of almost 2,000 years ago when a man was executed on a cross in a part of the world many miles away from the United Kingdom. What can be hard to believe are the claims by the man’s followers that, having been literally dead and buried, he rose to life again. The impact that the events Christians remember this weekend have on the rest of society is not immediately obvious. But, because Christians do believe that Jesus died and rose again so that people can have a relationship with a loving God, communities across the country and the world benefit from their work every day. To give a few examples, many youth clubs, older people’s lunch clubs, food parcels and school uniform banks are provided by Christians who are inspired in their efforts by their belief in a still-alive Jesus who gave up everything for others in an extraordinary act of love. In this week’s War Cry, we report on another example: the cafés that The Salvation Army runs to help victims of domestic abuse. We also hear from one woman who found acceptance and comfort from one of these cafés and who tells us how that support helped her to get her life back on track. The only reason The Salvation Army exists is because its members – today and throughout its history – have believed in the relevance and truth of the events Christians celebrate at this time of year. The reality of what happened to Jesus so long ago and so far away does still impact us all today, through the lives of his followers. Reflecting on the positive difference that faith could make to our own individual lives could be the highlight of our Easter this year.
When you’ve read the War Cry, why not pass it on ➔ ➔ ➔
Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN Tel: 0845 634 0101 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 Julian Watchorn 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
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INFO 15 Your local Salvation Army centre
2 • WAR CRY • 8 April 2023
CONTENTS FEATURES
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Big shoes to fill Film depicts the rise of Nike
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Making his mark Actor on presenting the biblical gospel
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It’s a date! Discovering who decides when Easter falls
10 A safe place for women Café that helps victims of domestic abuse 13 An agreement on reconciliation The 25th anniversary of the Good Friday agreement REGULARS
12 Now, There’s a Thought! 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM