Contact magazine is published by AFCU three times per year - Contact ISSN 1359 - 1726 - Registered Charity (No.249636) www.afcu.org.uk magazine for members of the armed forces

the sound of silence - when you need to retreat

Tanktastic - the truth about tanks

Spring 2019 £2 Contact magazine is published by AFCU three times per year - Contact ISSN 1359 - 1726 - Registered Charity (No.249636) The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 contact 02 WHO CAN WE BELIEVE and how do we know who is telling the truth? In a world of fake news, social media rumours, espionage and political confusion it can be very hard to discern truth from fiction. After all what is true to one person may be called a lie by another. contents These questions have been whirring round as I browse the internet, flick Truth in a world Finding God in the through news pages or scroll down of fake news - Silence - ex-para social media. Sometimes it seems we’ve Tank Museum CO reflects on the become masters of personal PR, adept director quiet voice of at massaging our own image, presenting speaks on God only the good news and in that way, only war & giving the world a half truth. bravery 4 8 The Christian Director of the Tank Museum in Bovington recently made me think about truth again. Richard Smith explained how the Museum seeks to God’s disturbing Racing on with life help people learn the truth about the message about - how an RAF past, which can then inform the present strangers - corporal finds God and impact the future. a look at the on retreats ethics of The ethics article by retired Chaplain in welcome Chief (RAF), Ray Pentland, tackles the 9 10 topical issue of immigration and how we view the strangers who arrive seeking help. He asks the challenging question about what it means for us to be citizens of heaven and how that should affect the regulars way we behave towards others.

As we move into a reflective time of Katie Kyle 12 year with Lent approaching, it’s an opportunity to pause and take stock. On Martin’s memo 13 pages 8 & 9 two members share how they have found silence and retreats a source of inspiration and refreshment for coffee break 14 their lives. book reviews 15 Finally, if you have any ideas for potential stories and articles from your experience caption competition 15 in the military that might be included in CONTACT magazine, I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me directly on [email protected] Have you searched for the new Rachel Farmer ‘AFCU’ app? It is in the Editor ‘app store’ or email: [email protected] you can scan this code

• If you wish to know more about what it means to be a Christian and/or how to become a Christian, find and ask your local military chaplain or a Christian you Armed Forces’ Christian Union (AFCU), may know or pick up the phone and ask 3 Axis Road, Watchfield, Swindon, SN6 8SQ. Phone: +44 (0) 1793 783123 the AFCU office +44 (0)1793 783123 Email: [email protected] www.afcu.org.uk contact 03 Truth in a world of fake news The Tank Museum’s Director talks about war and truth and why works. If we’re doing really well they understanding both is so vital for the future. leave thinking about what it means to be themselves and how they will respond. DID YOU KNOW THE tank was the personal stories of bravery, fear, love and greatest secret weapon of the First World courage are told through letters, reports, “We’re presenting love and death and War? Looking at the size of them in real interviews, photographs and personal fascism and communism, fear and life it’s hard to imagine how it was kept a items, all weaving the story of what life courage and hatred and compassion secret for long. According to the Director was like for the people who commanded – the whole set of things that make up of The Tank Museum in Bovington, this or drove those early ‘secret weapons’. a human being - which happen in war. great piece of British innovation was one “What we have here is a collection of We show people the extremes of what it of the crucial elements that helped win primary source materials,” explained means to be a human being.” the war, writes Rachel Farmer. Richard. “They are real evidence of truth. It’s an antidote to today’s fake Not a soldier himself, Richard has a Richard Smith has been Director of the news, which comes between the public huge admiration for members of the Tank Museum since 2006. Housing one and primary source material, telling us armed forces. The Tank Museum is the most important collection of tanks something with no evidence.” nestled on the edge of the Armour in the world, the museum welcomes just Centre, Bovington, the heart of the under a quarter of a million visitors each “The reason the Museum is particularly Royal Armoured Corps and the British year. A history graduate, with many years important is that we’re part of the Army’s centre of excellence for experience in the international shipping nation’s corporate memory about what training in the core skills of business, Richard is passionate about war is. The more detached the nation armoured warfare. The tanks and also about truth. gets from war the more casual people Armour Centre trains can become about it. The more people soldiers in driving and He said, “Ever since I could read, I read know about war, the less inclined they maintaining British Army history books. My parents are to enter into it casually.” armoured fighting are Christians and I became a Christian vehicles and at a Billy Graham Crusade when I was He said, “When people come to the tank operating vehicle 17. Truth counts. Truth is important and museum they should be forced to think weapons’ systems we’re in a place that seeks to present the about what war means. If we’re doing and communications truth. Christians should always take joy OK people leave knowing a lot about equipment. in pursuing the truth.” tanks. If we’re doing well they leave thinking a lot about the “The privilege of my position is The Museum, according to Richard, nation they live in and how it being able to watch soldiers at close is a rich source of truth. Incredible

contact 04 quarters and understand more about archives or visitors have helped shape them,” said Richard. “The never ceasing his view of the past and the present. wonder I have is about how they do He explained, “One story from the First bravery. Bravery is the strangest most World War is of Roland Bradford. There counter-intuitive and most difficult thing are three things about him that define people have to do. The army in particular my world view. He was a brigadier has to train thousands of people to be in charge of about 4,000 men. He brave at the same time and it is the most died on 30th November 1917 at the astonishing cultural achievement. It is Battle of Cambrai, killed by enemy something I have never encountered in fire. The previous summer he won a We’re any other part of my life. Bravery is what Victoria Cross, for which you have to sets the army apart. How do you come be outrageously brave. This was not to value something more than your own a desk general. When he died Roland part of the life?” Bradford was 25. You had a 25-year- old brigadier. The British Army was the nation’s Richard first visited the museum when kind of organisation that would make a he was just two years old and would 25-year-old a brigadier. If you look at the corporate never have dreamt that he would end kind of organisations today that would up running the place. What fascinated do that, you are looking at leading edge memory him as a child is still working its magic technology companies. It shows us that ‘ on today’s young visitors – especially the First World War British Army had about what the boys. One mother said it was the the dynamics of a modern technology one museum her teenage son had been company.” pestering her to visit for ages and it was war is. no disappointment. Although anchored “Joe Ekins is another person who in the past, the Museum links in with the influenced my view on a soldier’s latest gaming technology and partners bravery. He died in 2012 and we saw a with the game World of Tanks with some lot of Joe here at the museum. Joe was 140 million registered players worldwide. the exemplification of a British Second According to Richard, although they have World War soldier. He was a tank gunner game consoles on the museum floor, the in August 1944 but might be thought reality of climbing onto a tank is yet to be of as a reluctant amateur. Joe took part overtaken by the virtual world. in Operation Totalise and encountered the pinnacle of the Nazi war machine, Some of the personal stories Richard has Michael Wittmann, who was a come across through the Tank Museum’s (continued on page 7) ’

contact 05 contact 06 from trauma to healing in Jordan

Former Army education officer and ex- AFCU Ops Director, Val Hall, had no intention of risking rats, cockroaches and dubious food on a mission to Africa, with retired Lt Colonel and founder of Flame International, Jan Ransom. But last May she found herself boarding a flight to Amman along with seven others amidst much trepidation.

The mission trip to Jordan was aimed to support the local churches in their work with refugees, mainly from Iraq and Syria. With help from translators, the team heard moving stories of loss and trauma suffered by many of the refugees, some of whom had been tortured or seen loved ones killed in front of them. Others had been abused. Val said, “It was amazing and wonderful to witness Jesus setting these people free from spiritual imprisonment and pain as they decided to choose to forgive those who had hurt them.” (contd from page 5) system, which meant they could adapt professional soldier and a German tank to a changing situation. It wasn’t that Joe commander. He was credited with over wasn’t scared, he was. Joe would say it 130 ‘tank kills’. In fact Hitler went to his was ‘bloody frightening’ but he chose to wedding. You might say that Wittmann fight.” was ‘top of the tree...’ Richard first heard Joe’s story when he Anyway, the British were trying to punch was introduced to him in 2006 during out the Normandy beachhead and Joe a visit to the Tank Museum with his was in a forward position. He was a old regiment, the Northamptonshire 21-year-old from Northamptonshire Yeomanry. Joe’s achievement never received any official recognition, but Despite her original misgivings about Richard was able to introduce him to the the trip, Val surprised herself by Queen in 2009 and to place obituaries returning and meeting up with many of for him in both the Telegraph and the the same people they had prayed for Times in 2012. He said, “Our role is and listened to some months earlier to make sure that people like Joe get and who were starting a Bible course. recognised.” Val recalled how one lady broke Helping to tell the truth about the human down in tears and collapsed on faces of war and conflict is what gets the floor while they were praying, Richard Smith up in the morning. “Doing explaining that her son had been my job as a Christian is no more different killed 22 months earlier and she had from what it is for anyone else,” he said. not stopped weeping since. “She told “What does God require of us? ‘To act us, ‘I could not speak or eat or clap, and had been working in an army boot justly, love mercy and walk humbly with singing makes me cry, but after prayer making factory. He volunteered to join your God.’ I think that applies pretty yesterday I received a deep, deep the army because according to him it consistently whatever you do.” peace. Jesus has comforted me.’ was ‘the right thing to do’. This battle She removed her black mourning ● was Joe’s first major action. In the Over Armed Forces Day weekend scarf and began to smile. In fact, her ensuing eight minutes Joe fired five from 28th - 30th June the Museum whole face changed and she looked shots and knocked out three Tiger tanks, hosts its annual Tankfest with the 10 years younger. The next day she one of which was likely to have been world’s biggest and best display of brought a cake in to celebrate with Michael Wittmann’s. Joe was in a new moving historic armour. For further another lady who had been healed piece of equipment which is a British details see the website or view the from the deeply buried sorrow caused ‘bodge’ – a Sherman Firefly. The British Youtube channel below. by a miscarriage some 30 years ago. had worked out a way of fitting a much https://www.tankmuseum.org For more on Flame International see: bigger gun on the American Sherman https://www.youtube.com/user/ http://www.flameinternational.org tank. They also had a superior tactical TheTankMuseum contact 07 the sound of silence ...where we encounter God

Ex-PARA Commanding Officer, Chris Keeble, who took over command at the Battle of Goose Green, reflects on the value of silence in a noisy world. WHEN I WAS AN officer cadet at The In the beginning there was absolute Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, I silence. Through His Word, God went on an expedition to Iceland. It spoke into this silence to create the involved the collection of a Russian heavens and the earth. In Elijah’s off-road truck and driving it down terrifying epiphany, with the mighty through the mountains from the North. wind shattering rocks, followed by the In the dark, as I turned round a bend in earthquake and fire, the Lord passed by the track, my vehicle was thrown by a in ‘the sound of sheer silence’, to reveal one of the craft. Having battled with rock fall into a drainage ditch. Having His presence and His purpose. (I Kings the sea for most of the night the crews climbed out of the truck and bandaged 19:12). The prophet may not have had were exhausted and terrified of death by up the gash in my face, I sat down by the a great faith, but he had a great God, drowning. In their frightened state, they roadside to think about recovery. It was heard in silence and known in stillness. mistook the figure of Jesus, seen dimly then that I looked up at the night sky. through the confusion of the waves and In all my life, I had never seen anything We are a people who yearn. Longing the spray, as a spectre of death. In the like it, nor have since. With no heat, no for perfection, once had, now lost. midst of the crisis, when their strength pollution and no ambient light it was Within, we seek for order in our lives was almost spent, in the hour before utterly astonishing and breathtakingly and in our living, and when found, even dawn when morale was at its lowest, beautiful, truly perfect. The stars were so if incomplete, there is a sense of peace, it is in suffering that Jesus revealed his tightly packed together, they created a Augustine’s ‘tranquillity of order’. identity. Peter then does something celestial dome of light. inexplicable to test the apparition, by Sitting by the roadside, bleeding from asking to meet Jesus on the water. And, when the up-turned wheel the face, far from rescue and in thrall to ‘Come!’ says Jesus. (Matthew 14:29). stopped its squeaky rotating, I was left the heavens, I remembered the line in Simon makes good progress, but in the in silence, complete and utter silence; John’s Gospel: ‘Peace I leave with you; turmoil doubts his faith in Jesus, panics, and yet a silence that was not the My peace I give to you. I do not give to and begins to sink, only to be saved by absence of sound, but the expression you as the world gives. Do not let your Christ. of real presence. Overwhelmed by the hearts be troubled, and do not let them astonishing display of cosmic light and in be afraid’. (John 14:27). After some time, I don’t know how long, absolute stillness, I was not alone. I knew I heard a remote man-made sound; the from my religious education that God is The story of Jesus ‘walking on the water’ whine of a vehicle engine, but away, the God of Silence, and it is in silence seems to be an allegory about finding far in the dark distance. Every now and that God is best heard. But I had never, peace, in our turbulent lives on earth, again, I saw the loom of its lights sweep until this sublime moment, realised the through Christ’s divine intervention. The across the mountains, closing in on me. power of this truth: the power of silence text says that Jesus made the disciples to reveal the presence of God. get into the boats, a command of Silence is the environment and compulsion. As professional fishermen atmosphere, the sacred space, into I was not so much conscious of God, but they would have known the potential which God speaks His Word, both to rather, that God was conscious of me. peril of going out into the Sea of Galilee, create the world, and to save it from with its reputation for sudden and death and corruption. But the false As I gazed in awe at the splendour of ferocious storms. Jesus, on the other gods of modernity have declared war space, I felt embraced by a profound hand, retreats to the mountain, a place on silence, a dictatorship of noise. sense of the Divine Order, the hierarchal of silence, stillness, and aloneness, to Mankind’s dazzling cities have dimmed arrangement of value, in relationship, encounter God in prayer. the stars. God’s silence has become from the very humblest of things, through an ally for our rebellious autonomy to our privileged humanity, to the perfection On the lake, the disciples, in open fishing seek our own moral preferences, and, of God, the presence of God’s peace of boats, are in a life-threatening situation. for many, the ‘proof’ that God does not justice, harmony, and interdependence. Now there is no Jesus asleep in exist. contact 08 However, we can create an interior silence, despite the racket and the twittering, the howling of machines, and the clamour of unbridled activism. In the midst of our own storms and turmoil, Jesus speaks these same words, “Peace, be still!” (Mark 4:39). In the silence of our hearts, as we dial-down the agitated crowds of thoughts, feelings, and passions, we can join Christ. Obedience to this inviting commandment brings a quiet resting in God.

The virtue of silence does not mean we must never speak. Ecclesiastes says: why “There is … a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Thus, be silent first, so that we may then speak, in charity. St Matthew advises, ‘But whenever you pray, go into your retreat? room and shut the door and pray to your LIFE CAN BE SO busy you might not faith and Father who is in secret, and your Father, find time for God, especially if you like my lack of who sees in secret, will reward you’. to pack a lot in, like Lizzie Driver. knowledge. (Matthew 6:6) Lizzie, who is a corporal in the RAF, It was became Britain’s first international a bit of a shock to be invited to the In that silence, we contemplate the medallist in the Natural Luge in organisers house for a meal. We mystery of God’s creative and saving 2014 after competing in the World discussed my worries and they told me work, together with the promise of our Championships in 2013. Currently it was more than OK that I was new to eternal salvation. In silence we can based at RAF Brize Norton, she has faith, what was important was that I listen to God, discern His will, and the had a variety of roles since joining up was there and I was learning. purpose of our life, for renewal. In the in 2008. inner stillness of the soul, rather than “For me retreats are a safe space, with felt through the frenzy of the human So how does she find space for God? time and resources to get closer to senses, vulnerable to deception, despair After becoming a Christian four years God, to pray and to be prayed for. I and defeat, it is possible to know that ago, Lizzie had kept quiet about her love how it feels as if it’s right to be everything, no matter how apparently faith and didn’t even tell her own family real, to let your guard down, to admit fragmented, damaged and distorted, is in until the week before she was to be that maybe you’re not coping as well truth the Divine Order, truly perfect. baptised. “I learnt how lucky I am to as you’ve been telling the rest of the be free to practise and be open about world. People whom I’ve met during ©chriskeeble2018 my faith after spending a weekend with my retreats are now an important part Christians from other nations who still of my life. Being in the military this Lt Col Chris Keeble served in the have to operate secretively because of network has been invaluable with the Falklands campaign and took command restrictions in their own countries,” she constant moving and uncertainty of our at a crucial stage during the Battle of said. daily life. Goose Green following the death of the Battalion CO Lt Col H Jones. Chris After joining a local church Lizzie “What I really like about retreats are the Keeble performed a crucial leadership signed up for a weekend away on a resources and tools they give to you role at a pivotal stage in the battle which Christian retreat. “I was anxious about which you can continue at home. For won him a Distinguished Service Order. not knowing anyone and didn’t really instance, ‘Bible journaling’ has totally He went on to command 15 PARA. He know what to expect,” she said. “I was transformed the way I pray and my now runs a management consultancy on also worried about being so new to relationship with God.” ethical leadership.

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18-264 Contact (184x63mm) - HR.indd 1 05/12/2018contact 16:27 09 Where is home?

the Gospel’s disturbing message

Former Chaplain in Chief for the RAF, the Revd Ray Pentland continues his series on ethics in a Christian military context

WHERE IS HOME? WHERE do you views on such an come from? Two simple questions that issue, but at the might be part of any conversation when heart of the matter we meet someone new, but for some in it is important to be clear on two facts; the 21st Century they can have sinister that Jesus was an immigrant and that overtones, and occasionally unpleasant Christians are immigrants too. results. Not many weeks ago we celebrated The USA that once prided itself in Christmas, and the good news that God welcoming the unwelcome and proclaims became human in Jesus, leaving His Jesus from the Statue of Liberty: heavenly home to live on earth. Now ‘Give me your tired, your poor, that is immigration beyond measure, comes to Your huddled masses yearning to breathe and He did so, thinking only of others free, (Philippians 2: 6-8). Or, as the Gospel disturb the The wretched refuse of your teeming of John has it, “Christ became a human shore. being and lived here on earth among us comfortable Send these, the homeless, tempest- and was full of loving forgiveness and tossed to me, truth. And some of us have seen his and I lift my lamp beside the golden door!’ glory—the glory of the only Son of the heavenly Father” (John 1:14). And we ‘ Yet it seems that USA now struggles know that Jesus suffered rejection, he comfort the with the very concept of immigration, lived as an exile, experienced what it was removing long term residents, separating like to be despised, for, “being found disturbed families, punishing the poor, rejecting the in appearance as a man, he humbled homeless. himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2: 8) Here, in the UK, for generations we have welcomed people from across the It might sound odd on one level to say world; the homeless, the rejected the that as Christians we are immigrants, persecuted. Some would say we still but when we choose to follow Christ, have our doors open but for many they we become citizens of heaven and have now been closed. In response to therefore live as aliens and strangers this, there is an unease in our society on earth (Hebrews 11: 13). It has long that is often unwelcoming, inconsiderate been a theme of hymnody and worship and maybe lacking compassion. songs declaring that for Christians our natural home is heaven and that is This has led me to reflect on 1 Peter where we are heading. When Christians ’ 2: 11, “Dear friends, I urge you, as die they are often described as ‘having foreigners and exiles, to abstain from gone home’. That only makes sense sinful desires, which wage war against when we acknowledge that we are your soul.” The ‘immigration debate’ is living in a ‘foreign land’. This does not clearly a complex topic. As Christians mean that we are no longer British, it is not wrong to have different political American, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, English contact 10 the Ethics file

or whatever citizenship we claim, nor When we welcome a stranger, or care for So today I am challenged to consider negates our responsibility to serve our a prisoner, or look after the hungry and what it means to be an immigrant and society, but it does give us a new and thirsty, we do so to our Lord and Saviour. how I might respond as Christ would eternal perspective. I was again challenged to see others, have me respond. That might mean not including immigrants, not just through to walk by on the other side of the road As Christians we are expected to have the eyes of Jesus, but also to see Jesus but to offer help and support and to compassion for those who come from in those who need help. That makes it speak up for those who have no voice. different countries because we recognise more difficult to walk past the immigrant, that we all are also foreigners and exiles the lonely, the beggar, the homeless, the God’s love knows no limits, but I wonder on earth. As one writer put it, our Lord hungry, or the disturbed, and I’m glad how I place limits on His love shining experienced the same situation that about that for, as Archbishop Michael through me? many immigrants around the world face Ramsey put it, every day. Jesus is our refuge and our “Jesus comes to disturb the comfortable Many of us live a very privileged life and source of inspiration to move forward in and comfort the disturbed”. I for one pray that I will continue to be spite of immigration conflicts. disturbed by the Gospel and that I may Ethics is not only a study of goodness act accordingly. As I reflected on this, I re-read the words but also the study of right action. of Jesus as Mathew records them in Reflecting on an issue is important but the parable of the sheep and the goats. we must also act on those reflections. Your child’s home away from home

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Half A4 page artwork Jan.indd 1 13/12/2018contact 11:35:06 11 Sisters in arms

by Katie Kyle

I RECENTLY FOUND MYSELF at an It was such an odd situation because and within a week, the sadness passed. awards’ ceremony in London, far from even as I had these thoughts, I realised A week versus a decade. I am happy my home in the Middle East. It was how spoilt this made me. My sister and to report that I am now whole-heatedly such a contrast to my current life, where I were the only ones in our category happy for my sister! I must now cover my cross and hide to win something and I was internally my faith. This was Premier’s Digital bemoaning the outcome. And the winner It’s been an uncomfortable process of Awards, a refreshingly open celebration was my sister, the person I should be self-discovery, like having a mirror held of Christian talent, full of believers most pleased had won. up to reveal that I don’t quite look the encouraging and supporting one way I imagined. But the reactionary another’s efforts online. I was cross with myself, my sister emotions we experience to life’s journey and God, none of which I could have aren’t our fault; they are a very human I couldn’t quite believe I was there. As predicted on my hopeful outbound trip. response. It’s what we do with them that I sat taking it all in, I looked across at I felt bruised and empty by this ranking determines the future. my sister, one of my best friends, whom of our abilities. From a faith point of I rarely see because of the current view, I knew this was wrong. I know that When life judges us, what do we do? distance between us. We had both been my identity comes from my faith, not When we seem to be the only ones invited to the ceremony as finalists for awards. I know we shouldn’t be seeking not going out for champagne after a the same award! To give some context, the praise of others. But the human part promotion board or awards’ committee I write a Christian blog and so does my of me struggled to be shaped by any of has sat and when we make our way sister. Over the summer, I nominated these ideals. home to nurse broken hopes, do we my sister for an award and my husband push down our disappointment and nominated me for the same award, never I’m open about most things in life but if allow resentment and bitterness a way imagining we would both be shortlisted. I have an issue with someone, I bury it. I in? Do we allow ourselves to be shaped hate confrontation. The times I struggle by the sadness of learning someone has My excitement was dented as people most to be transparent are when I am superseded us? Or do we lay it all out highlighted the tricky situation I had feeling hurt. For a decade, I allowed one before our Father? All the difficult, ugly created - one bound to cause upset for of my relationships to become damaged feelings? someone. I brushed off their comments, by upset that I wouldn’t voice. It is only confident that I would be happy if my this year that the friendship has started I am a novice at this second way and I sister won and vice versa, but sitting at to heal. can confirm that it’s exceptionally hard. the awards ceremony, waiting for the But I can also confirm that the results results, my friends’ warnings rang in I couldn’t allow that to happen with my can be miraculous, healing, beautiful my ears. How would it work if one of us sister. Until I told her how I felt, I could even. As beautiful as sisters walking was the winner in our category of five only be superficial with her. Until I told away from rivalry, arms linked, ‘sisters in finalists? her how upset I was, I was play-acting. arms’. So I said to her, right there at the awards, I didn’t have long to wait. As I was ‘I am so happy for you, but I am sad • Katie Kyle is married to Jack, a named runner-up and my sister was for me.’ And as we left the awards, she Chinook helicopter pilot. They are invited onto the stage to give her winning linked her arm through mine. currently posted abroad with their speech, I felt horribly conflicted. Whilst three children. desperately trying to be pleased for I still felt sore as I travelled home. I still You can read more from Katie on her my sister, I was so disappointed as I felt jealous of my sister. But I decided blog: www.eagletswings.co.uk processed what it all meant. Was she the way out of this emotional confusion better than me? Did people prefer her to was to keep being honest - to tell God Her sister’s blog can be viewed here: www.letsruntherace.com me? and others how I felt. I had to be real contact 12 help is on the way

BACK IN THE 80s during the Cold War, sudden we were a viable option to ‘bring Jesus at all. my ship was taking part in a massive violence to the enemy’. We came under NATO exercise, involving ships from her self-defence systems, she could If you all over the world. We were one of the send over teams to help us with damage want to ‘enemy’ units, our mission was to attack repair of our weapons systems and she know more the US based carrier group. I hate to had an attack capability. But as soon as then can admit it but we were taken out fairly the carrier group worked out what was I suggest early, and had no operational weapons going on we would again be a target. you listen to systems, either offensive or defensive. They would not be happy. The plan the plan coming from the loudhailer and We could still ‘float’ and ‘move’ but had worked and we were able to get a missile maybe accept the help and safety that no ‘fight’ capability. So, we were no off (well the Aussies were) and attack Jesus brought when he came to earth longer a threat to the ‘enemy’. before we were seen … (then the analogy for us. But beware if you do this you falls over ’coz we were both wiped out could become a target for the enemy, so An Australian frigate that was part of our by air attacks, but hey ho). make sure you fix up the broken weapon task group attacking the carrier group, systems and get back into the centre of approached us. She was completely And it’s a bit like that for us as Christians. the task group where others can help radio silent on comms channels. As she Jesus came to walk alongside us, to and offer mutual support. came up on our starboard side they used provide us with support, to bring us the loud hailer to outline their plan. They under the cover of his defence systems If you want to find out more about God’s would sit very close on our starboard and to get us back into the fight, being plan have a chat with your chaplain, drop beam so that we would appear as a an effective part of the task group again. AFCU or me an email and we can send single radar echo. We would attempt to you some stuff to help. get close to the carrier group and then So where are you, in your relationship she would use her firepower to carry out with Jesus? Feeling a bit ineffective Cheers and blessings…until next time. an attack. and like there is no ‘fight’ left in you? Just about floating and moving? Going by Steve Martin, Operations Director, We had become ineffective and as a through the motions of a Christian life? Christian Vision for Men fighting unit basically useless, but all of a Maybe you don’t even acknowledge email: [email protected]

Is there alpha.org How more about a to life night in than

this Will my mates be Pub there again Got questions about life #TryAlpha contact 13 coffee break

What is the Armed Forces’ Christian Union (AFCU)? The AFCU is a tri-Service British military Christian fellowship for moving all ranks and open to all Christian denominations. It is a fellowship of Christians who wish to grow their faith and share it with others. The on... basis of membership is prayer and a willingness to pray. ETHIOPIA IS NOT A standard travel population extends back to ‘Lucy’, the Who can join? destination, but one small group of 3-4 million years old hominid from the All who serve in regular or reserve intrepid AFCU travellers set out to Afar region. It also boasts an unbroken sections of the Royal Navy, Royal discover its secrets in 2018. story of faith from the Queen of Sheba to Marines, Army or Royal Air Force the conversion of the Ethiopian eunoch join as serving members. All others, The visit was set up by former RAF through Philip, in Acts 8. including those who have retired, pilot and an ex-director of AFCU, join as non-serving members. Those Mark Leakey. “I was born, raised and All this history combined with the sheer serving in foreign armed forces are schooled in Africa, and later went on beauty of its landscape that extends welcome as ‘honorary’ members. many short-term Christian missions to from the Great Rift Valley to 4000m What are the benefits? various African countries,” he said. “But mountain ranges, made Ethiopia a All members receive the AFCU I had never been to Ethiopia until early in perfect destination for each member publications including Contact 2018. I was quickly taken by this unique of the group to discover a fresh magazine and Dispatches and have part of Africa with its rich history of perspective. access to information and resources orthodox Christianity going back to the on the web and the App. The AFCU 5th Century. The ancient churches and They gained insights into the challenges is a network of Christians across the monasteries, as well as the source of the faced by the newly appointed country’s Armed Forces and holds teaching Blue Nile and the Simien Mountains, are politicians working for stability, security events and holidays. Serving just extraordinary. Familiar as I am with and prosperity. Jonathan said, “It was members can link to a Prayer much of sub-Saharan Africa, Ethiopia is inspiring to view two projects, both local Support Team for regular prayer. wonderfully different.” and one church-founded, that offer What does it cost? education and skills training, particularly There is no subscription, but Two of the party hoped the trip would for women widowed through HIV. For members are asked to give as they help in their transition in moving out of us the lasting image is the strength of can to support the work. a military career. Ex-RAF Chaplain in enduring faith and culture that has held How do I join? You can apply Chief, Jonathan Chaffey and his wife this community together through the for membership on the AFCU Jane, described the visit as ‘a feast ages, despite the poverty. Neither will website www.afcu.org.uk or email for the senses.’ Jonathan said, “A we forget the graciousness of the people [email protected] or phone +44 trek through the Simien mountains, for and the coffee-making ceremonies.” (0) 1793783123 the office for a instance, was a different world to life in a membership form. military headquarters as awesome vistas If you are interested in joining Mark on a reflected the majesty of God’s creation.” trip in 2019 please contact him through the According to Jonathan, the ancient AFCU Office: +44 1793783123

contact 14 £25 £25 competition Prize Prize what a pic!

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Do send in your caption to [email protected] 1st May 2019.

Thank you to all those who entered last time’s competition. We do “Oh good. The banana boat’s in receive some great captions and congratulations to the winner. again” G.T. Book reviews

Faitheism by Krish Kandiah Live, Love, Lead by Brian Houston For both committed Christians and The author, who is the founding pastor committed atheists and everyone in of Hillsong Church, shares his own between, this accessible and practical experiences of setting out to pioneer a book talks about the things that really church with thirty people in a school hall, matter to us without shying away from 35 years ago. He recalls the many highs tackling the hard topics. The author and lows, sacrifices and miraculous provides a faithful presentation of opportunities which he faced as his Christianity, alongside giving a fair church grew into the worldwide Hillsong hearing for those of a non-religious ministry. This book will encourage and persuasion. inspire you. £14.99 Hodder & Stoughton £9.99 Hodder & Stoughton

Unexpected: Leave Fear Behind by The Sisterhood: by Bobbie Houston Christine Caine This book invites women to explore and A book packed with real life stories and expand what they believe about God, inspiration. Using dramatic examples themselves and their responsibility to from her own journey, Christine offers the world around them. Tracing the rise real-life strategies and biblical inspiration of Hillsong Church’s global Sisterhood to help us move from fear and worry movement, author and pastor Bobbie about ourselves to hope and trust in Houston, challenges women to join her God. The author is an Australian born in creating a new era of outreach. She activist, who, together with her husband, encourages her readers to embrace their Nick, founded an anti-human trafficking gifts and reach for great possibilities. organisation. £9.99 Hodder & Stoughton £10.99 Zondervan

Please send letters, captions and ideas for articles to: [email protected]

Photographs © Crown Copyright from www.photos.mod.uk are reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. All photographs are copyright. Every effort is made to trace copyright holders of the images reproduced. We apologise for any unintentional omission and would be pleased to insert appropriate acknowledgement in the next issue. 1. Pictures of service men and women and those not members of the AFCU reflect our prayers and support to all members of the Armed Forces. 2. Articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the AFCU Board of Trustees.

Contact Editorial Team: Lt Col Alex Fryatt AGC(ALS), Rhett Parkinson, Sonia Sandy, Yvonne Cobbold, AFCU staff, the Editor contact 15