WarTHE Cry salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry Est 1879 No 7081 Page 8 FIGHTING FOR HEARTS AND SOULS 8 September 2012 20p/25c Chesney, Katy, Gary and Izzy talk babies HAPPY © ITV FAMILIES? BIRTH PLAN EH, luvvy! There’s a problem in Corrie that not even the biggest PUSHES of Betty’s hotpots can help with. The Coronation Street story so far: LOVE TO Ex-squaddie Gary and his girlfriend Izzy were expecting a baby. When Gary heard that Izzy’s boss was making her work THE LIMIT longer hours, he burst into the factory to complain. Izzy doubled over with writes NIGEL BOVEY Turn to page 3 The War Cry 2 8 September 2012 News FRANK SKINNER TELLS A BELTER AROUND 20,000 festivalgoers gathered nal justice, faith, equality and tolerance. at Cheltenham Racecourse for the annual Speech Debelle showcased some tracks Greenbelt Festival, which this year welcomed from her latest album Freedom of Speech, special guests including comedian Frank crowds got to know more about Frank Skinner Skinner (pictured) Mercury Prize winner through Frank Skinner In Conversation, and Speech Debelle, and folk band Bellowhead. the weekend was brought to a close with a The Christian-based festival inspired rousing performance by Bellowhead. and provoked crowds by provid- Greenbelt director Paul Northup comment- ing its usual mix of artists, ed on the festival: ‘Greenbelt prides itself on writers, poets, musicians, providing an environment that is more than comedians, actors and just a weekend of entertainment. We want to speakers. Talks focused provoke thought, inspire debate and challenge on issues including crimi- preconceptions.’ PictureP perfectp Greenbelt Images and insights CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN SIERRA LEONE into The Salvation Army’s social and community work in the United Kingdom and Republic of Health care revised Ireland featured in this issue of The War CHRISTIAN Aid partner absolutely vital that we get Pujehun, Kenema, Kailahunun Cry are taken from organisations in Sierra messages about regular and Kono districts to Leone are introducing hand-washing and clean provide health and hygienee the Portraits book, emergency health education drinking water to as many education, hand-washing published by The programmes after a cholera people as we can.’ stations, soap and clean- Salvation Army. For epidemic has claimed more Christian Aid is working water containers and wastee more information than 200 lives and affected with partner organisations in disposal. visit sps-shop.com more than 11,000 others. Cholera has spread across 10 of Sierra INDONESIA EARTHQUAKE VICTIMSCTIMS FIVE SalvationSalva Army Leone’s 13 districts members were among since the start of the victims of an earthquake rainy season in mid- July. Jeanne Kamara that brought devastation – Christian Aid’s Sierra to Indonesia. Five of the six Leone country manager Salvationists killed people killed in the Lindu – said that the disease District were Salvationists, can ‘spread really fast, and many others have lost as many poor people their homes. live in damp and over- in Sulawesi The earthquake – which crowded slums with measured 6.2 on the poor sanitation facilities. Richter Scale – caused The unusually heavy devastation across rains have exacerbated Central Sulawesi Province. the problems … It is The Salvation Army’s Compassion in Action team provided victims with food and medical services in Kulawi, Tuwa and Salua. SAFE HAVEN IN Hundreds of homes DEVONPORT have been damaged by p4 the quake, along with 25 public buildings, including a COMMENT p6 Salvation Army school and five of its churches. LIFESTYLE p7 PUZZLES p12 INNER LIFE p13 FOOD FOR THOUGHT p14 WHAT’S COOKING? p15 INSIDE A Salvation Army church is damaged The War Cry 8 September 2012 3 From page 1 stomach pains and was rushed to hospital. Before Gary could get there, Izzy had a miscarriage. Heartbroken, Izzy told Gary to find someone else; I said that I’d start someone who could give him the fam- ily he wants. Gary wasn’t interested. A few months later, with Gary still desperate to be a dad, the couple spoke to an adoption advisor. When going to church Izzy revealed that Gary has a criminal record, the adoption door was closed. The blame game begins. Gary doesn’t understand why Izzy had to tell the adoption agency about his past. Pointing out his criminal record and post-traumatic stress disorder, she congregation’s surprise, blurts out that live happily ever after, the truth is that tells him: ‘If anyone torpedoed our Katy has agreed to carry his and Izzy’s Chesney is not alone. chances, it is you, not me. You blame child. This leaves Owen (and Katy’s When afraid or in trouble, many me for having a body like this. Go on, boyfriend Chesney) gobsmacked and people pray. Many try to do a deal say it: if I was normal we wouldn’t be Gary fending off a smack to the gob. with God. And some are slow to keep in this situation.’ Wound up by Owen, who previ- their side of the bargain. When the Still in tears, Gary spots Izzy’s ously wanted Katy to have an abortion, danger is over, they forget God. 17-year-old sister Katy and her son Chesney pressurises Katy to drop the God is more than an emergency Joseph. Seeing how Gary and Izzy are idea. Clutching at straws, he tells her service. Jesus told his audience that ‘not being torn apart, Katy comes up with an she could die having Izzy’s child and everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” idea. She could be their surrogate mum. that he was scared when she gave birth will enter the kingdom of heaven, but Gary is staggered by her offer. Izzy is to Joseph. only the one who does the will of my outraged and insulted. ‘I was terrified,’ he confesses. ‘I Father who is in heaven’ (Matthew 7:21 Then, like Betty’s hotpot, the plot prayed. I actually said that if you were New International Version). thickens. both OK that I’d start going to church.’ Here’s the deal: God offers us At baby Joseph’s christening, Izzy’s ‘You haven’t though, have you?’ a relationship; not a rescue. When over-protective dad, Owen, asks Gary replies a very-much-alive Katy. we ask his forgiveness for the self- why she’s upset. Gary, much to the And while Corrie’s scriptwriters centred way we’ve been living and set about working out whether Gary commit ourselves to following Jesus, he and Izzy and Katy and Chesney will will empower us for anything this life throws at us. We will also be with him in the next. In Coronation Street or Anytown Avenue, that’s the gospel, anyroad. © ITV Trouble erupts at Joseph’s christening 4 What’s going on Volunteer teacher Lyndsey (left) runs cooking classes. For some residents, preparing and eating food together is an enjoyable activity, while for others it has been a first step in improving their health and independence. With support from the NHS, Lyndsey doubled the frequency of cooking classes to twice- weekly and is also offering healthy eating Lifehouses training for 18-25 year olds – a particularly vulnerable group. In the first six months of the scheme, service users said they had greater confidence and improved communication and team-building a skills. Some have secured work or beacon apprenticeships in the food industry, two have achieved placement with the Prince’s Trust and several are hoping to study catering at college. Max has been a volunteer in the Devonport House workshop twice a week for the past 13 years. A member of a local Woodturner’s Guild, Max wants to pass his skills on to service users at the centre. To be able to offer the best care, centre staff need opportunities to develop their professional skills. Here a member of the Devonport House catering team is learning the basics of ordering supplies by computer. The War Cry 8 September 2012 5 radiate of hope HE days of giving a homeless person a couple Tof bob for a bed for the night are long gone. So too are the Victorian dormitories that slept hundreds of men in one go. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, The Salvation Army provides 3,104 bed spaces through a network of 84 residential services and projects which provide far more than basic A Devonport House service accommodation. user sorts and stores tins and dried food donated from harvest festivals at nearby churches, schools and community groups. The food is a lifeline, as it is handed out in food parcels to people moving out of the centre into independent living. Salvation Army Lifehouses aim to be stepping stones which nurture self-confidence and equip residents towards independent living. Far from being a temporary fix, Lifehouses result in many service users spending up to two years receiving assistance from professional staff for issues such as physical and mental challenges or a breakdown in relationships. They also provide educational and social opportunities, through which service users are encouraged to Devonport House has a 28-foot maximise their potential. Bermudan sloop, donated by a former service user. Devonport House, in the docks Many Devonport locals are area of Plymouth, provides skilled boatbuilders, and two accommodation and support for shipwrights and many other service users with significant 72 homeless men. As these pictures expertise have worked on show, there is a wide range of restoring the boat. Materials opportunities on offer. have been donated by local companies and individuals. The War Cry 6 8 September 2012 Media Comment Mental wellbeing is due Library picture posed by model to faith-lift Peace of mind ‘RELIGION can Roman Catholics be good for your and Protestants.