www.afcu.org.uk magazine for members of the armed forces

Faith & culture in the army

Action Stations a global call to prayer

Spring 2017 £2 THY KINGDOM COME...

Thy will be done

Matthew 6:10 I AM OFTEN asked how we can best support the men and women of our armed forces? Of course, when someone is deployed, writing a letter or sending a Red Cross parcel with some exciting treats always goes down well and contents helps soldiers feel wanted and loved by their country. However, if you are a Christian the best thing you can do is to pray for our service personnel, for our faith & culture more tea Commanders, for our government, and - the view from Bishop? The Rt for our nation. an army cultural Revd Nigel Stock specialist talks about his As people of faith we recall in the New role Testament that James says in 5:13, 46 ¸0MHU`VULPZHɊPJ[LKSL[OPTVYOLY pray....”James then goes on to say, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful.” God honours our prayers, praying provides not only peace to those serving, but every prayer you pray also changes What is ethics Prayer like an the world. about? Former avalanche - how chief chaplain ask a global wave of Proverbs 21 says “The horse is prepared how we live prayer is for the day of battle, but deliverance our lives [HRPUNVɈ is of the Lord.” What more motivation 8 10 do we need to pray, in our Christian communities and to pray for the military?

The Archbishop of Canterbury is calling people to ‘pledge2pray’ with Christians across the world as part of Thy Kingdom regulars Come - a global wave of prayer movement. This has been taken up by the military community again this year - Katie Kyle 11 see pages 10-11. Martin’s memo 13 We welcome retired Chaplain in Chief, the Revd Ray Pentland, an old friend of the Armed Forces Christian Union, KWЄMMJZMIS 14 as our new ethics author. The Bishop to the Forces has given an exclusive JWWSZM^QM_[ 15 interview to Contact, as he prays for our JVTT\UP[`HUKVɈLYZWHZ[VYHSJHYL[V caption competition 15 THU`9HJOHLS7OPSSPWZH`V\UNVɉJLY who found personal faith shares her journey to explore faith and culture when she deployed to Afghanistan. Have you We hope you have a wonderful Easter searched and enjoy time out with family and friends. for the new ‘AFCU’ app? It is in the Rachel Farmer ‘app store’ or you can scan Editor this code

࠮If you wish to know more about what it means to be a Christian and/or how [VILJVTLH*OYPZ[PHUÄUKHUKHZR`V\Y Armed Forces’ Christian Union (AFCU), Havelock House, Barrack Road, local military chaplain or a Christian you may know or pick up the phone and ask Aldershot, Hants GU11 3NP Tel 01252 311221 [OL(-*<VɉJL ,THPS!VɉJL'HMJ\VYN\R^^^HMJ\VYN\R contact 03 Cross cultural mission I[I+PZQ[\QIVIZUaWЅKMZ FOR SEVEN YEARS I served as a female nationals, was HYT`VɉJLY^VYRPUN^P[O[OL+LMLUJL ÄYZ[VUT` by Rachael Phillips Cultural Specialist Unit. My role required radar many me to work with Muslims as a woman years before but also for three of those seven years I deployed to I was also a Christian. This proved Afghanistan. At the age of 19 I travelled interesting. So did being a Christian to Sri Lanka as a volunteer after the woman impede my work and mission? )V_PUN+H`[Z\UHTP+\YPUNT` I found stay I made the mistake of being open Afghanistan has a rich but complex about my then atheism to the family culture. It is a patriarchal society and with whom I was living. My Muslim that being therefore being a woman and working hosts were disturbed when I told them in local communities might have proved I didn’t believe in God and so I quickly a woman highly challenging. However, I found changed my story explaining there was that being a woman opened doors to a misunderstanding due to the language ZP[\H[PVUZ[OH[^V\SKOH]LILLUÄYTS` barrier. What I learned from that situation opened closed had I been a man. I had access was that if the topic of religion came up, to ‘the other 50%’ of the country that and I was working or living with Muslims doors to my male counterparts could not have in another country, it was better to claim ‘ contact with, and was invited freely to be a Christian than to try and explain into homes. I could sit and chat in a my atheism! situations very informal and relaxed way with generations of women and their children. Years later, and still an atheist, I was In doing so I was then also able to build ZLY]PUNVUT`ÄYZ[KLWSV`TLU[[V that would positive relationships with their husbands Helmand Province. My job would bring and brothers and experienced very little me into daily contact with local villagers tension or resistance due to my gender. and my training told me never to bring have been up religion in conversation with locals. I spent 18 months living and working The few times it did come up I stated ÅZUTa in Afghanistan and my overwhelming that I was a Christian, then moved the experience was that being female conversation on. In a culture that was encouraged conversation and led to ZLLTPUNS`ZVZH[\YH[LKHUKPUÅ\LUJLK closed relaxed and less charged interactions by religious structures and customs that were peppered with humour and perhaps it was a shame that I’d been intrigue. I quickly discovered gender trained to avoid the topic. But then, I also wasn’t an issue, but what about faith? wouldn’t have wanted to get into any The question of faith and the impact IPNNLYSPLZHIV\[T`ÄJ[PVUHSMHP[O it could have on relations with foreign contact 04 ’ In 2011, whilst studying Pashto in My steadily growing faith meant I was and practices of his homeland upon preparation for my next tour, I was much more relaxed about Islamic the foreign nationals he engaged with, keen to understand Islam better. I was customs. Often the Afghans started he learned from them. Paul watched fascinated by this religion and the shuras (meetings) with a prayer. HUKZ[\KPLK[OLTÄUKPUNV\[[OLPY KPɈLYLU[^H`ZPU^OPJOP[^HZWYHJ[PZLK Previously I would have joined my Army customs and desires and he used this At the time my curiosity only extended colleagues in feeling rather awkward, to build relationships in order to be more as far as what others believed and never not knowing where to look or how to sit LɈLJ[P]LH[KLSP]LYPUNOPZTLZZHNL(J[Z led to me questioning what I believed. or whether to close our eyes and what 17:16-34). I thought at the time that religion was to do with our hands, but as a Christian either a learned behaviour that was I felt at ease during prayers, as I prayed I admire Paul’s persuasive and intelligent followed simply to avoid exclusion from silently to myself in English and we all approach to letter writing which formed the in-group, or it was a crutch that ÄUPZOLKI`ZH`PUN(TLUWYVUV\UJLK HSHYNLWHY[VMOPZPUÅ\LU[PHSJHTWHPNU people needed to feel their lives had Amin in Arabic). and how he used cultural knowledge to meaning. endear himself to his target audience Later, now as a Christian, I worked in (even though this was not always I had a respect for the commitment of Bosnia as a Christian and had many successful). Knowing something of the faithful, much as I had a respect great conversations. Then I was posted Paul’s mission and with a heart for for anyone who commits themselves, to 4th Infantry Brigade as a Community conversation and listening to others this such as marathon runners or musicians. 3PHPZVUVɉJLY^VYRPUNHSVUNZPKL has been an entirely positive experience. But I never questioned whether it could Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) As a Cultural Specialist, it has helped be true. This changed in 2012 at the communities in North East England. me in looking for common ground and beginning of my second operational tour Whilst the community engagement skills in understanding my target audience on of Afghanistan when I had an ‘out of the and experiences I’ve built up in the Army another level. I’ve found that engaging blue’ encounter with God in a shipping have been well used, it’s actually what people in conversations about their faith container and shortly after I became a I’ve learned as a practising Christian has been a platform on which to build practising and committed Christian. That that has been more helpful in my cross relationships, rather than it being an is another story! (See ‘She found God… cultural work. My role was to build strong VIZ[HJSLVYHYLHVMJVUÅPJ[ in an ISO’ Contact Summer 2015)

So, now that I was a Christian, was ࠮*YVZZJ\S[\YHSNHTLZIYLHRKV^UIHYYPLYZ there any impact on my work during my second and third tours of Afghanistan? 6]LYHSS0ILSPL]L[OLLɈLJ[P[KPKOH]L was undeniably positive.

One night I joined a patrol who were setting up a covert look-out in a cow shed (those not on sentry duty could sleep inside on the straw with the mice, which did feel rather biblical). I was there to chat with the locals who would start gathering at dawn the next morning, once we made our presence known. It was on this morning that I was chatting to some youths who asked me to recite the Kalima, the Muslim profession of faith. Explaining that I couldn’t on the grounds that I was a Christian, we got relations with local communities who into a long and lively discussion about may know little about the Armed Forces, Whether it’s communicating the message [OLKPɈLYLUJLZHUKZPTPSHYP[PLZIL[^LLU or who may have misconceptions of salvation, security in Afghanistan, or our faiths. Mostly these teenagers and or negative perceptions of it. The the role of the Army today, the Apostle young men wanted to challenge the fact environment can be a challenging Paul’s approach to engaging with foreign I worshipped three Gods, and I found one,and yet feels very familiar. Telling nationals is a pretty good one. Gaining myself trying to explain the Trinitarian the ‘army story’ to those who may at knowledge of and respecting other nature of Christianity in Pashto, testing ÄYZ[OH]LSP[[SLPU[LYLZ[VYWYLJVUJLP]LK people’s customs is an important part my vocabulary somewhat! ideas is much like telling the Jesus of appealing to one’s hosts in order to story. Christians call this mission and communicate your message. I found Before long a crowd had gathered to evangelism. that being a Christian is compatible hear about the Father, Son and Holy with working closely with other people Spirit. As the weak winter sun warmed I am reminded of the Apostle Paul and cultures who do not share this us up, and we shared what boiled who persecuted the early church and faith. The assumption that the two are sweets we had, I felt certain that it was a Jesus’ followers, but then became a incompatible is short-sighted, just as positive experience. It may not have built Christian after an encounter with Christ. the assumption that a woman cannot relationships any more quickly or strongly He then began spreading the gospel LUNHNLLɈLJ[P]LS`PUHWH[YPHYJOHS4\ZSPT than if we had been discussing livestock message to those who had not yet country is short-sighted. What matters is or irrigation methods, but I learned that heard; primarily in foreign lands around the extent to which the individual shows for me, as a Pashto speaker, a woman the Mediterranean such as in Corinth, respect and looks for common ground, and a Christian, discussing faith was Thessalonica and Macedonia. Paul was HUKZLLZIL`VUKKPɈLYLUJLZVMNLUKLY UV[VɈSPTP[Z4HU`^LYLNLU\PULS` undoubtedly a ‘Cultural Specialist’ and or faith. interested in meeting a devout Christian. rather than imposing the cultural norms

contact 05 more tea Bishop?

Lambeth Palace in London, writes Bishop Nigel was taken on HMS Clyde understanding of Post-Traumatic Stress Rachel Farmer. As Bishop to the Forces from West Falkland to Port Stanley. On +PZVYKLY7;:+HS[OV\NOP[»ZH[LYT he is often travelling both in the UK the way he was able to commit to the that’s been around a lot. There is still a and around the world - from the heat deep the ashes of the parents of a stoker SV[VM^VYR[VKVPU\UKLYZ[HUKPUN7;:+ of Cyprus to the windswept Falkland who went down with HMS Coventry. HUKP[ZSVUN[LYTLɈLJ[ZHUKP[OHZILLU Islands, because being a Bishop to the Their last wishes were that they were noticeable that chaplains have been very Forces means having the opportunity to reunited with their son. “We committed aware and very careful about that.” visit military personnel and their families their ashes to the deep…over the place and learning about their lives. where HMS Coventry lies and where so The Bishop acknowledged that there are many sailors were killed in the Falklands many ethical and moral issues facing Bishop Nigel said, “I’m the Archbishop’s war,” he explained. “It was a very moving Christians who serve in the military and “Episcopal Representative to Her moment.” how important it is that the Church and Majesty’s Armed Forces”. The bishop chaplains stand alongside them. He took up his joint role in 2014. It also (Z)PZOVW[V[OL-VYJLZOLVɈLYZ said he always asks potential military includes being the Bishop for the support and pastoral oversight to the chaplains about their understanding of Falkland Islands though his principal Anglican chaplains. “The chaplains have faith within a military context. Bishop ministry is being Bishop at Lambeth, a vital ministry to the Forces but it is also Nigel said, “The role of the chaplain is a supporting role to the Archbishop important that the extraordinary skills not to go round judging people, but to of Canterbury. As the Bishop to the they gain are fed into the wider church,” understand that all people deserve to Forces he has pastoral oversight for the he said. “The understanding and know of the love of Jesus Christ and all Anglican chaplains and the Anglican knowledge chaplains gain through being people are deserving of the pastoral care Church within the Forces. in very stressful situations and how faith that Christ would want. There are huge relates to that is a gift to the church.’ ethical matters that do arise that people Sometimes Bishop Nigel’s roles overlap. want to talk about.” For example, on his visits to the Falkland Talking about his work over the past Islands, where as well as visiting the two years, Bishop Nigel said, “My The Bishop has found that Chaplains military community he is also there to conversations with chaplains can range in the British military have been highly support the civilians of the local parish. from the very deep issues of how they valued and especially so in the last few He said, “The care of people in remote minister to people who have been years. He said, “I have been struck by places, like the Falklands Islands, is involved in combat and taken life and the number of times people in senior very demanding for the single chaplain what it’s done to them, bearing in mind positions have gone out of their way to deployed there. There are a a lot of the armed forces have been deployed take me to one side in order to say how people – 1200 plus military personnel in combat in several areas of the world much they value the work of a particular - all 8,000 miles from family and where in recent years. Then there are the wider chaplain. I have also come across people modern communications do not work as pastoral issues of anxious families and who, when their unit is being deployed, well as they are accustomed to. It can be caring for people who have been injured ^HU[[VTHRLZ\YL[OH[VULVM[OLÄYZ[

contact 06 things they want is to have the right chaplain.” He said, “operations in Iraq and Afghanistan had highlighted the vital role of a chaplain supporting soldiers in dangerous and stressful combat situations”.

Although chaplains are trained to work alongside service personnel on operational deployments, it often surprises non military people, including those in our churches, that non- combatants are deployed in those JPYJ\TZ[HUJLZ¸;OL`HYL[OLYL[VVɈLY the love of Christ as non-combatants,” explained Bishop Nigel. “Ever since the First World War that red line, that ordained people, (clergy) in the military do not carry weapons is an important one to keep. One chaplain told me that a soldier said to him, ‘Padre, it’s good that you haven’t taken life, because those of us that have had to, can talk to you ࠮;OL9[9L]K5PNLS:[VJR)PZOVW[V[OL-VYJLZ and you are separate from it, yet you know the circumstances in which we’ve worked.’”

According to the Bishop the church all people deserve to in any country has a vital role to play in working with the military and being know of the love of HUPUÅ\LUJLMVYNVVK[OYV\NO[OVZL Christians serving in the military or military chaplaincy. As the numbers of Jesus Christ and... reservists in the UK grow more members of the armed forces are increasingly part of local communities to which the church are deserving of the ministers. Bishop Nigel said, “They may or may not be part of congregations, pastoral care that but they are there with particular needs ‘ and it would be good if the church could become more aware of those in the Christ would want military who may live outside the wire of the military base.” ’

Photo credit: Cpl Neil Chapman (RAF)

contact 07 \PM-\PQK[ÅTM

ethics: how do we live W]ZTQ^M['

:MKMV\TaZM\QZMLI[+PIXTIQVQV+PQMNNWZ\PM :).\PM:M^L:Ia8MV\TIVLQV\ZWL]KM[I VM_[MZQM[WVM\PQK[QVI+PZQ[\QIVUQTQ\IZa How does context. ETHICS HAS BECOME a subject that code, while a apparently we all love to talk about moral person lives having and within the military community accordingly. Many we especially like to talk about ‘the would point to the golden rule, from Luke a Jesus moral component’, although I have º+V[VV[OLYZHZ`V\^V\SKOH]L occasionally heard that confused with them do to you’ as their ethical base. morale. But would that be distinctly Christian centred behaviour? I think not for I know many Of course, ethics is about how we decide who would lay no claim to the Christian ‘ what is right and what is wrong. Ethics faith but whose everyday behaviour ethic is the study of everyday behaviour and echoes the golden rule. Indeed, there are so involves every aspect of our lives. echoes of such a thought in many ethical IЄMK\ So, we could say that in Christian ethics traditions. So this is a beginning but ^LJVUZPKLYHZWLJPÄJZP[\H[PVUNH[OLY there must be more. the facts and then use the principles what I and values to be found in Christianity to A previous generation of Christians reach a conclusion. Easy, isn’t it? would speak of ‘Christ-like living’ as /VSPULZZ^OPJO^LTPNO[KLÄULHZº[V do every Perhaps not, because when we discuss be like Jesus’, and therefore a new ethics we (and this goes for me too) generation wore colourful ‘What Would day? want to discuss the big issues of life and 1LZ\Z+V&¹>>1+IYHJLSL[Z death, and yet the way we live everyday life should be weighed against those So is there really a distinctive Christian same standards. We might well argue ethic? I believe there is. St Ephraim that an ethical person acknowledges that explains it like this, the Ten Commandments are a good contact 08 ’ ‘The sign that you love God, is this, that way I treat people, and that means you love your neighbour; and if you hate everyone. your neighbour, your hatred is towards God.’ This is a great place to start, and An ethical person knows that it is good TH`IL[OL>>1+TV]LTLU[OHZT\JO to live by the Ten Commandments, but to say to Christian ethics but here I come a Moral person puts that knowledge [VT`KPɉJ\S[` in to practice. German theologian and WHZ[VY+PL[YPJO)VUOVLɈLY, in his book I have studied ethics for years. I have Ethics (published by Fontana in 1964) lectured in it at all levels and love suggested that the commandment of academic engagement, but my real God as revealed in Jesus is the only passion in ethics has always been about basis for ethical discussion. It is the how it impacts on our daily lives. How psalmist who asks ‘Who may ascend the KVLZOH]PUNH1LZ\ZJLU[YLKL[OPJHɈLJ[ TV\U[HPUVM[OL369+&>OVTH`Z[HUK what I do every day? in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart’. From my perspective as a Christian, ethics is thinking about how I make Whether our questions are of life and Christ centred decisions. However, it death, or the simple task of daily living must go beyond the academic to the Christian ethics begin and end in Jesus. practical. How I live my life. How I speak, the language I use, the jokes I tell, the Next issue Ray will delve into topical ࠮;OL9L]K9H`7LU[SHUK ethical questions

About Ray... Church. Further theological training public life (Oxford) and Values Education at St John’s College, Nottingham, (Birmingham and Oxford). In 2005 Ray Pentland grew up in a Christian (to adapt to Anglicanism) included a he was elected as Principal Anglican family within the Salvation Army. In that summer placement with the Royal Navy, Chaplain, and Archdeacon for the RAF sense faith was always present. He when the seeds of chaplaincy were and appointed as an Honorary Chaplain says, “It was who we were and what sown. This was followed by a curacy at to Her Majesty the Queen (QHC). Ray we did.” As a teenager, Ray committed St Jude’s Church in Nottingham before was selected as the 21st Chaplain in himself to following Jesus Christ, little he joined the Royal Air Force in 1990. Chief of the RAF in 2009 – a three year knowing what would follow... WVZ[^OPJOOLZH`Z[VVROPTÄ]L`LHYZ Beginning as the ‘baby chaplain’ at to get the hang of! RAF Cranwell, tours quickly followed at Swinderby, Valley, and British Forces Ray has a number of military linked roles Broadcasting (Germany). This involved in retirement and is married to Christine, living alongside the army and providing a Consultant in Child Bereavement Chaplaincy to an Army Garrison They have two children, and three including serving with the army on an grandchildren. operational tour in Bosnia. His years as a chaplain took him all around the UK and on deployment in the Gulf.

As Senior RAF Chaplain at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre, he was responsible for chaplaincy training A call to go and make disciples took and development and tasked with him to the William Booth Memorial the redevelopment of the Belief and College. Nine years later with Christine Values Programme, introducing a and two children the adventure theological basis for each session. Ray continued with a call to the Anglican has undertaken research in ethics in

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contact 09 starting a prayer I^ITIVKPM

A global wave of prayer planned during May and June this year has year we divided the 24 hours into 15 minutes slots and publicised it to the captured the imagination of Christians across the UK and the world. *OYPZ[PHUJVTT\UP[PLZ^P[OPU[OLKPɈLYLU[ And this year it’s gaining momentum with members from the Army, forces and throughout the Armed Forces Royal Navy and Royal Air Force preparing to take part... Christian Union and their networks. In [OLLUK^LÄSSLK[OLTPU\[LZSV[ZHUK LAST MAY THE mother of a teenager in my relationship and blessed by a were about 2 ¾ times oversubscribed.” joined in two ‘shifts’ of a 24-7 prayer church family who encourage me to be rota at her church. It was something WHY[VMV\YZOHYLKTPZZPVU¹+PHUL»ZZ[VY` He said Thy Kingdom Come had begun she’d never done before. She described is one of many from around the country as an invitation from the Archbishop of feeling a bit awkward when asked to talk who were changed by being part of Thy Canterbury and the Archbishop of York. about her faith with others, but these Kingdom Come in 2016. With support from 24-7 Prayer and a [PTLZVMWYH`LYOHKHWV^LYM\SLɈLJ[ number of cathedrals, they had hoped a “What awakened in me as part of my Last year the experience had a deep few thousand people might get involved. night shifts of prayer was a deep sense impact on hundreds who found fresh In the end more than 100,000 took part in of belonging, of being cared for and to ways of praying for the Holy Spirit to the days of prayer and attended focused my surprise at 3am when my two hours OLSW[OLTILLɈLJ[P]L^P[ULZZLZHUKMVY prayer and worship events across the ended, I slept well and in the morning others to hear the call of Jesus Christ country. Speaking about what happened I was full of energy,” she said. “The for themselves. Many members of the during the wave of prayer last year, disruptions of life that week were much military community and chaplains across the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin easier to deal with and I found I was the Armed Forces took part in the wave Welby, said, “I’ve never been involved in able to pray with ease… I thought about of prayer last year. Senior chaplain at anything that seems so much to be the prayer in a way I never have before... RAF Coningsby, the Revd (Wg Cdr) work of the Holy Spirit. When the wind of The impact of that week for me cannot Alasdair Nicoll said a 24-hour wave of the Holy Spirit is blowing, hoist the sails. ILX\HU[PÄLKI\[0JHUL_WYLZZ[OL prayer, during the 10 days, had been a +VU»[TLZZ^P[OP[KVU»[JVU[YVSP[OVPZ[ V\[JVTL"0HTJSVZLY[V.VKJVUÄKLU[ focus for Christians in the military. “Last the sails, go with the wind.” Justin Welby

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 10 continued, “It’s not a CofE thing and it’s certainly not an Archbishop thing - in the same way as someone who started an avalanche couldn’t say ‘that’s my avalanche’ – it’s a God thing!” According to the Archbishop, prayer happens when we have a challenge we can’t meet by our own resources. “None of us have the resources to bring someone to living faith in Jesus Christ. Our cupboards are bare so we have to go to the one who has everything we need and ask for it. Thy Kingdom Come is essentially that in practice. It’s the task set before us - not by me - but by Jesus who says to the Apostles you are my witnesses.”

Padre Alasdair Nicholl said the wave of prayer is about calling the whole Church to prayer. He said, “The time between Jesus’ ascension and the day of Pentecost is traditionally a time when the Church prays. In the book of Acts the disciples were told by Jesus to wait and ࠮;OL(YJOIPZOVWVM*HU[LYI\Y`1\Z[PU>LSI` to pray and so that’s what they did. We all know what happened at Pentecost – day, when he talks about why he’s a there was an exponential growth of the Christian and why he is asking Christians Christian church and I suppose we’re the to join the wave of prayer. It had almost result of it, even 21 centuries later.” 500,000 views on Facebook within [OLÄYZ[^LLRVMNVPUNSP]L([[OLLUK This year military chaplains are helping of the video he urges Christians to to coordinate another 24 hours of #Pledge2Pray via the website and unite prayer starting at 0800 on Thursday with thousands of others in praying for 1st June, with members of the military people to come to faith. I’ve never community joining in praying through every hour until 0800 on 2md June. The Thy Kingdom Come aims to be a catalyst military involvement will be launched on been for change, supporting churches to hold involved The global wave of prayer - Thy Kingdom Come - is between Ascension and Pentecost, 25 May - 4 June 2017 in events like 24-7 prayer, prayer stations Tuesday 30th May, with the three Heads and prayer walks. Padre Alasdair said, ’ VM*OHWSHPUJ`H[HUL]LU[PU4V+4HPU anything “All our work is for nothing if it’s not Building in London. There will also be backed up in prayer. When I was a young Beacon events - times of focused prayer Christian I used to think I’ll make my that and worship - at main churches for the plans and wait for God to bless them. As Navy, the Army and the RAF on Sunday I’ve gone on in life, I realise that we pray 4th June. Alasdair said, “The aim is for God’s Spirit and where He’s moving, seems to get Christians of all denominations then we come along behind and the wind together and we’ll also be joining with catches our sails and the Spirit moves Christian members of the civil service.” so much us. God has divine and wonderful plans.” Thy Kingdom Come has a whole range of Padre Alasdair says that what happened to be the YLZV\YJLZZWLJPÄJHSS`[VOLSWWLVWSLWYH` at Pentecost should remain an and all are available via the website: inspiration. “The disciples went from www.thykingdomcome.global being a handful of frightened followers, work of to seeing 3,000 people coming to Christ The prayer materials include a new on one day – we need to have the faith resource, called ‘Kingdom Kit’ for the Holy to see God work amongst us. Let’s keep families, with ideas on how to pray in praying that people across the forces new ways from making paper aeroplanes come to a living faith in Jesus Christ.” Spirit to going on a prayer ‘safari’ in the community. Social media is playing Keep an eye out on the AFCU website a major role in publicising the wave for more updates on the wave of prayer of prayer. There is a new video, which for the Armed Forces http://www.afcu. features the Archbishop on his early org.uk/wave-of-prayer/ morning jog following him through the

contact ‘ 11 _ITSQVOon [WTQLOZW]VL

with Katie Kyle Katie Kyle is married to Jack, a Chinook helicopter pilot. They live at RAF Odiham, where their three children and Labrador regularly run rings round them.

I stood on the beach, my teeth from view, jutting out into my mum’s chattering uncontrollably, a towel pulled new path. Within minutes, the waves tightly around me. I waved to my mum. were dashing her against them. As my She was in the choppy Cornish sea, new friends pulled her lifeless, bloody waving back at me. body from the waters, I assumed she one was dead. But then she raised her head that left other The year was 1989 and I was 11. We and I knew I had witnessed a real-life issues untouched. were spending the October half term in miracle. God’s rescue plan for me wasn’t HYLTV[LÄZOLYTHU»ZJV[[HNL^P[OUV evident until I was well on my way to phone and no signs of human habitation By the time I was 18, I had started restoration. Now I can look back and for miles. I was in charge of my younger to drift away myself on a sea of see a similar path to the one my mum siblings as we watched our mum depression, leaving my frightened family trod. As I drifted into danger, God’s completing our silly dare - to swim in the helplessly watching on. They and their current tugged me towards ‘land’- icy waters. My mum waved again and I friends prayed desperately for me. This towards marriage, children and a much waved back. She was further away from time the vast expanse of nothingness stronger faith. us by now. I noticed that her head was lasted, not minutes, but almost a under the waves more often than it was decade as the prayers appeared to go A lovely thought came to me as I was out of them. Then came the sickening unanswered and I started to disappear writing this. When I was in the depths realisation that we weren’t exchanging from view. of my problems, a friend shared with waves - I was watching my mum me a picture she had in her mind’s eye drown. I charged into the sea but the As AFCU launches its year of prayer, of me walking on a beach with Jesus. I gentle surf of a few moments ago had 0»]LILLUYLÅLJ[PUNVUOV^HUK^OLU remember the peace that this brought become a wall of waves I couldn’t break God answers prayer. Generally, when me at a time when I was in turmoil. I through. I left the beach, scrambling up we pray, we want the immediate and have described those years of my life in the path in search of help, punctuating dramatic sort of answer that saw my terms of drowning but it occurred to me my burbled, incoherent prayers with mum plucked from danger, not the ten that I was actually walking with Jesus screams. ‘Please God, save Mummy.’ year wait that I experienced. It begs on solid ground the whole time, whether And then a man appeared on the path. I the question of whether God was more I was aware of it or not. WVPU[LK[VT`T\THUKOLW\SSLKVɈOPZ interested in my mum’s plight? Why was coat as we hurried down to the beach. he slower to act when it came to me? A friend recently said to me that God As I thanked God for this man, his wife Why do some prayers seem to fall on doesn’t always give us what we want. appeared. ‘You’re not going in there,’ deaf ears? He gives us what we need. Sometimes she stated. The man put his coat back it seems as though our prayers are on and stared, as helplessly as me, at It’s only as I emerge from those being ignored. There may be waiting the huge expanse of grey swallowing up problems that I feel I have some involved. The answer we get may not the speck of a woman. answers. God’s rescue plan for me was be what we had in mind. That can be more complex than my mum’s but he uncomfortable and leave us struggling And then something strange started to moved as powerfully for me as he did to keep faith in the idea of a loving, all happen. The speck stopped moving for her. He wanted to treat the causes powerful God. But I am now convinced out to sea and began moving eastward. of my problems, not just the symptoms, he is just that- a loving, all powerful We tried to follow, clambering along and that took time. If God had ‘zapped’ Father with a perfect rescue plan for the rocky shoreline. A small outcrop the depression, it wouldn’t have been a each one of us. of rocks appeared, previously hidden complete healing, rather a fragmented contact 12 JZMISthe mould

WE ALL HAVE preconceived ideas of Z[\ɈVUIVHYKK\YPUN[OLKLWSV`TLU[ what certain things are going to be [HRPUNN\`ZVɈ[VJO\YJO^OLU like, or how certain people or groups of alongside, and leading prayer groups people will react to certain situations. and Bible studies with the chaplain – all Some of this comes from experience [OH[YLSPNPV\ZZ[\Ɉ[OH[PZL_WLJ[LKMYVT but a lot comes from the media and the [OL.VKZX\HK0VɈLYLK[VWSH`T` stereotypes that they portray. N\P[HYMVY[OL:6+ZVWLYHHUKZPUNHML^ not a sandaldl wearing i kum-ba-yah k b h guitar i songs. The organising team clearly were WSH`LY+PɈLYLU[MYVT[OLTI\[Z[PSS Towards the end of every deployment I not too excited about this, but were a bit vaguely ‘normal’. undertook whilst serving (and there was short of acts so asked me to open the more than one) we would get together show. The Captain introduced the whole What is your impression of Christians [OL:OPWZ6WLYH[PJHUK+YHTH[PJ:VJPL[` thing, and then the compere for the night (not church, but Christians)? Have a think [VW\[VUHWYVK\J[PVUVU[OL-SPNO[+LJR introduced me. The atmosphere went about that for a minute. Where have you for the enjoyment of the Ship’s company. from raucous anticipation to resigned got that idea from… EastEnders? The ;OPZ^HZRUV^UHZ[OL:6+:6WLYH ‘let’s get this clown over with’ and of +HPS`4HPS&;OLPU[LYUL[&;OLTH[LPU[OL The lads and lasses would put together course a few choice comments and pub? Christians are normal… honest. sketches and acts mainly taking the mick observations… they were expecting Yeah, some of the things we actually do out of everyone and anyone on board, kum-ba-yah…. What they got were in church may seem a bit weird (there recalling incidents that had happened three songs that I had picked up during is a reason for most of it I’m told!) BUT K\YPUN[OL[YPWHUKIHZPJHSS`SL[[PUNVɈ my somewhat chequered youth in have you actually spent time talking with steam. Let’s say it would certainly have Brighton in the late 70s during the punk a Christian about what they believe and OHKHU *LY[PÄJH[LHUKTVZ[VM[OL era… ‘Elvis is dead’, ‘I don’t want my what they do? If we are serious about grief was directed at the Wardroom body’ and an interesting variation on our faith, what we do and say outside of and Senior Rates… no idea why that ‘Yesterday’… all of which had been done church says more about us and this faith happened). I often was in the ship’s by Brighton bands. we say we have, than what we do on band for this and we would normally that hour on a Sunday morning. close the show… The lads were initially completely confused and then came a dawning If you have some preconceived ideas >YP[PUN[OPZYLTPUKZTLVM[OL]LY`ÄUHS realisation that this was not what they about what it’s all about and what NPN0L]LYWSH`LKVUH-SPNO[+LJRVU[OL expected. They had me all wrong… and Christians are like, maybe give Christians way back from my last trip … they were they cheered, shouted and generally another chance, ‘coz it’s not about the calling for an encore, so we decided VɈLYLKZVTLHK]PJLHZ[VT`HIPSP[PLZ hour on Sunday morning but how faith to do ‘Californication’ by the Red Hot ¯L_HJ[S`^OH[H:6+:VWLYHJYV^K HUKOVWLPU1LZ\ZHɈLJ[ZV\YSP]LZL]LY` Chilli Peppers. I stepped forward to were about - brilliant. Afterwards they day…. And if you are a Christian maybe play the guitar solo.. and started on the thought it was great and my ‘respect’ think about how you are living out your wrong fret… it all fell apart and the ship’s went through the roof. They had judged faith in between all those (let’s be honest) company burst into ‘Why was he born a ‘Christian’ mostly on what they saw in mainly boring and tedious church so beautiful, why was he born at all ... the media but of course (sadly) on some meetings when you would rather be with he’s no use’ … well you know the rest other guys they had come across during your mates in the pub living out the faith I’m sure). their time in the RN. that you have … warts and all.

Anyway I joined one ship just a few In their eyes, in that moment, I broke the weeks before we deployed, and the mould. I prayed, read the Bible went to ship’s band was already up and running, church and would challenge some of by Steve Martin, so I was not part of it for that trip. I had their behaviour and (as a rule) didn’t get Operations Director, been very much involved with church hammered on a run ashore… but I was Christian Vision for Men contact 13 KWЄMMJZMIS grappling with;QTMVKM In the armed forces we so often see at Shusaku Endo, one of Japan’s best- ÄYZ[OHUKH^VYSKTHYRLKI`Z\ɈLYPUN loved writers. Christian writer, Philip In Sierra Leone we saw men and women Yancey, helped introduce Endo to many become ill with Ebola, walk through Christians in his books ‘The Jesus I the entrance of the Treatment Unit Never Knew’ and ‘Soul Survivor’. Yancy and 10 days later exit in a body bag, summed up the potency of Endo’s writes Simon Farmer. We see it on the writing: “The most poignant legacy IH[[SLÄLSKHZV\YZVSKPLYZHYLPUQ\YLKVY of Jesus was his unquenchable love, killed, we see it as we rescue refugees even for — especially for — people after their overcrowded boat has who betrayed him. One by one, Jesus’s capsized, and we see it on the streets as disciples deserted him; yet still he loved the evils of terrorism erupt. As Christians, them. His nation had him executed; while ^LTPNO[ÄUKV\YZLS]LZOH]PUN[V stretched out naked in the posture of grapple with God’s silence as we come ultimate disgrace, Jesus roused himself HJYVZZ\U[VSKZ\ɈLYPUNPUV\Y^VYSK^OPSL for the cry, ‘Father, forgive them, for they walking the journey of faith. For some know not what they do.’ This is the Jesus it can lead to questions of doubt, even whose love extends to apostasy and for the strongest of Christians. Most of beyond.” In terms of mission, entering a us know something of God’s silence culture that is not one’s own is one of the and this same silence is found in every hardest things anyone might be called MYHTLVM:JVYZLZL»ZSH[LZ[ÄSTSilence. to do. This was not lost on Endo and he 0[PZHNYLH[ÄSTI\[SLH]LZ\UZL[[SPUN saw it only through the lens of Christ. questions of doubt and for some perhaps asking the question, what would I have God’s silence has also often been What is the Armed Forces’ done in a similar situation? As someone felt by our soldiers on the streets of Christian Union (AFCU)? ZHPK[OLHUZ^LYZPU:JVYZLZL»ZÄSTHYL Afghanistan and by our chaplains when The AFCU is a tri-Service British found not in words, but in the spaces they minister to young soldiers who have military Christian Fellowship for between them. just witnessed their mate being blown all ranks and open to all Christian up, or as they ministered to the widows denominations. It is a fellowship of Silence is a true story of persecution in and grieving children. Questions of faith Christians who wish to grow their a Japan seeking to expel foreigners. It HUKKV\I[Z\ɈLYPUNHUKWLYZLJ\[PVUHYL faith and share it with others. The is the story of two young Portuguese PU[LY[^PULK[OYV\NOV\[[OPZÄSTHZ[OL` basis of membership is prayer and a Jesuit priests, Father Rodrigues (Andrew HYLPUSPML;OLÄSTHZRZ\Z[VJVUZPKLY willingness to pray. .HYÄLSKHUK-H[OLY.HYYWL(KHT what to do with God’s silence. “Pray, but Who can join? +YP]LY;OL`ZOVJRPUNS`KPZJV]LY[OH[ pray with your eyes open,” suggests one All who serve in regular or reserve their mentor Father Ferreira (Liam JOHYHJ[LYPU[OLÄST¸B.VKDPZZPSLU[I\[ sections of the Royal Navy, Royal Neeson), who had gone to Japan you don’t have to be.” Perhaps it is in the Marines, Army or Royal Air Force as a missionary, is reported to have times of silence when we grow closer to join as Serving Members. All others, repudiated his faith. So Rodrigues and God? On the other hand God’s silence including those who have retired, Garrpe travel to Japan in 1639 amid a can become for some an indicator of join as non-serving Members. Those government ban on Christianity. They HIZLUJLHZPU[OLÄST9VKYPN\LZ»ZMHP[O serving in foreign armed forces are TLL[HÄZOLYTHU^OVZULHRZ[OLTVU[V ILJHTLZPSLU[HUKOPZZ\ɈLYPUNMVY*OYPZ[ welcome as ‘honorary’ members. an island near Nagasaki, but who in the isn’t just physical, but spiritual as he >OH[HYL[OLILULÄ[Z& end becomes like Judas and betrays questioned whether his faith was faith All members receive the AFCU them. When Rodrigues sees Japanese at all, and whether God was with him Contact magazine, News & Views Christians being tortured, he calls out to as he seemed to be so far away. When and have access to information God for answers. But he receives none in 9VKYPN\LZÄUHSS`[YHTWSLZVU[OLM\TPL and resources on the web and the YL[\YU;OPZÄSTPZ\UZL[[SPUN0[YLTPUKLK an image of Christ, you can even hear a App. The AFCU holds a network me of times in Afghanistan when soldiers rooster crow somewhere in the distance. of Christian contacts across the had been blown up and you felt God’s That, of course, is the same thing that Armed Forces which is accessible to silence as you and the soldiers you cared happened in the Gospels, when Peter members. The AFCU holds teaching for were also looking for answers. KLUPLK*OYPZ[ILMVYL/PZJY\JPÄ_PVU events and holidays. Serving members can link to a Prayer Scorsese described the process SilencePZHKPɉJ\S[I\[PTWVY[HU[ÄST Support Team for regular prayer. of making Silence as a personal It is perhaps best understood through What does it cost? ‘pilgrimage’, and certainly Silence will the character of Rodrigues as a padre No subscription, but members challenge both those with and without struggling to understand how to imitate are asked to give as they can. We MHP[O*OYPZ[PHUZTH`OH]LKPɈLYPUN Christ and realising, slowly, that he can’t, estimate the cost of running the views on the theology but many believe or at least not the way he thought he AFCU is about £100 per member. [OPZÄSTOHZ[OLWV[LU[PHS[VI\PSKMHP[O should. As one critic said, “In Silence, How do I join? You can apply for and bear fruit and certainly it is a great nobody is Christ but Christ himself membership on the AFCU website conversation starter. and everyone else is either a Peter or a ^^^HMJ\VYN\RVYLTHPSVɉJL' Judas”. afcu.org.uk or phone 01252 311221 Silence was based on a book by [OLVɉJLMVYHTLTILYZOPWMVYT contact 14 £25£25 competition Prize _PI\IXQK

What is happening in the photo above? Why not send in your caption to [email protected] before 1st May 2017? It could be a winner... Thank you to all those who entered last time’s competition. “Roger” We do receive some great captions. Congratulations to the winner. EB \PMJQOZMIL

(YJOIPZOVW1\Z[PU>LSI`»ZÄYZ[IVVR Richard Rohr invites us to contemplate Dethroning Mammon is a call for the mystery of the Trinity, in his new Christians to examine who it is that book, The Divine Dance. He suggests sits upon the throne of their lives: we dwell in the presence of the Triune HYL[OL`MVSSV^PUN[OLZLSMZHJYPÄJPUN God, to join in the divine dance and be example of Christ or have they transformed. He views the Trinity from succumbed, perhaps unconsciously, the perspective of relationship, rather to the rule of Mammon? Justin Welby than any hierarchical power structure writes passionately about the current and does it in such a spiritual and NSVIHSÄUHUJPHSZP[\H[PVUHUKYL]LYLU[S` PUZWPYLK^H`[OH[^LJHUÄUKV\YZLS]LZ about Jesus of Nazareth. Great book. closer to God. SPCK £9.99 Bloomsbury £9.99

Tom Wright gets the reader into +H]PK(KHT»ZThe Awesome Journey, the biblical story in The Day the helps the reader experience God in Revolution Began, and helps us the ‘here and now’ through creation, understand what it is that makes the WLVWSLHUKSPMLL_WLYPLUJL+YH^PUN death of one man 2000 years ago so on a lifetime of Christian pilgrimage, revolutionary. As Wright puts it “what [OLH\[OVYYLÅLJ[ZVUNYPLMHUKNSVY` makes the earth turn a corner” as a LTW[PULZZHUKM\SÄSTLU[YLWLU[HUJL result of what happened that Friday and forgiveness, loving and being afternoon? Having a Bible handy to loved, that transforms the way we live look up the referenced verses greatly and the way we relate to God. A great adds to the readingexperience. Perfect read. SPCK £9.99 Easter present. SPCK £16.58

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

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Contact Editorial Team: -S[3[1VUU`7HSTLY9(-4YZ::HUK`4YZ@*VIIVSK(-*<Z[HɈ[OL,KP[VYZ contact 15 Contact magazine is published by AFCU three times per year - Contact ISSN 1359 - 1726 - Registered Charity (No.249636)