Contact Magazine - Spring 2015 by Armed Forces' Christian Union

www.afcu.org.uk

magazine for members of the armed forces

Combien, Charlie? in defence of freedom

f ro ntline f i ght ag ains t e bola - faith in Sier ra Leone

Spring

2015

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thy kingdom come... thy will be done

...on earth as it is in heaven Matthew 6: 9-10

uffering is one of the big questions for us all. Why do innocent people have to die? Even when we pray, bad things seem to happen. There are no easy answers, and stories in this issue of how Christians are being affected by the Ebola virus make difficult reading at times. But even in the mess of it all there is faith and there is hope because Christians know that God is there in the midst of the suffering and the chaos. In this issue we hear from two Christians working within the military on the frontline in Sierra Leone about how their faith is being tested, and ultimately strengthened through their experiences. There are also questions to be asked in the face of the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brian McAvoy examines how those in the military become part of the fight to protect free speech. He asks some interesting questions about how far we should go in the defence of freedom. There is plenty to be encouraged about in the other articles too. In the centre pages, two people reflect on the Global Interaction conference held last December in South Africa, when military Christians from around the world gathered together for that special event which only happens every 10 years. The experience was uplifting for all the delegates, who enjoyed knowing they are a part of something much bigger and that God’s world wide church reaches beyond national borders. An army corporal, originally from Kenya and now serving with the British Army in Germany, writes about her Christian faith journey and how she works out her faith in the context of military life. And we also have the story of a chaplain’s wife, who sets out on a new project and finds God helping her on the right path. If you have a story to tell, please get in touch - we’d love to include it in a future Contact. Or if you would like to write about a particular subject that could encourage others in the military, please drop me an email: rachel.reay@gmail.com

contents A chaplain’s experience inside the Ebola ‘red zone’

Reflections on the military mission to tackle Ebola in Sierra Leone

Military Christians from across the world gather in South Africa

A Christian soldier writes about life and her faith serving in the military

regulars ethics file Mike’s blog Martin’s memo coffee break book reviews caption competition

10 12 13 14 15 15

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Armed Forces Christian Union get.theapp.co/7423

Rachel Farmer Editor

• 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 chaplain or a Christian you may know or pick up the phone and ask the AFCU office 01252 311221

Armed Forces’ Christian Union (AFCU), Havelock House, Barrack Road, Aldershot, Hants GU11 3NP Tel 01252 311221 Email: office@afcu.org.uk www.afcu.org.uk

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inside the red zone

A window on two days with army chaplain, the Revd Simon Farmer, serving with a field hospital in Sierra Leone for three months.

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God is in the mess; he always has been and always will be... Without God there is no hope, there is no future and the African people know it.

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eturning from the orphanage, I was left trying to take in all the images of the many children who had so very little. Some just had a toothbrush and a small dirty worn out teddy. I found two children, about 18 months old who had lost their parents to Ebola two weeks earlier. One was actually found in the gutter of a road. Nearly all the children were Ebola survivors or orphans of parents who had died from the disease, and I thought, along with the soldiers who had accompanied me, “Where is God in all this mess?” The Ebola virus has ripped through the land, a bit like an Old Testament plague. Historically this beautiful country has seen so much horror before, losing many of its people to slavery just over 200 years ago, to the recent bloody civil war, to the struggle against HIV and malaria and now to Ebola. On the other hand the churches remain full and the mosques are packed with everyone praying desperately for an end to this vicious deadly virus. As the Deputy Chief Imam of the Republic of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) ran up to me to welcome me on my return to this country, I realised this is the only place where I have found a real sense of togetherness across the mainstream faiths. Due to a no touch policy we

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medics prepare to enter the red zone at an Ebola treatment centre

could only slap our chests instead as a greeting. With a 70% Muslim population, you would never believe that the Chief Christian Chaplain would be able to lead an RSLAF (Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces) battalion, just back from recent operations in Somalia, in saying the Lord’s Prayer, but he did and everyone joined in. Churches across the country and around the world have prayed that God would deliver Sierra Leone and West Africa from this disease and cleanse the land. The 400 strong church next to our army camp, where 200 children attend Sunday School is no different and they pray desperately for an end to Ebola. Within days of landing on African soil, where it was dry season and there’d been no rain for 2 months, I saw the black storm clouds gather and suddenly the land was unusually soaked with rain. It felt like a small miracle, as if God was saying the country was being washed and cleansed. From that day incredibly, the numbers of new Ebola cases started to drop significantly. Back at camp, the duty phone rings. “Padre, it’s the CO, we have another death at the KTTU, (Kerry Town Treatment Unit),. How quickly can you get here?” Within 20 minutes I was back at KTTU making my way across the Ebola Virus Treatment facility in the intense heat with my ‘buddy’, the Sergeant Major, and heading towards the changing area. Grabbing a bottle of icy cold water from the fridge to hydrate myself, I was soon changed into my extra long scrubs and white wellies. Having checked my temperature and hands for any scratches, my hydration, and been to the loo, I was good to go! We made our way to the Donning area to put on the PPE Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) at the entrance to the red ‘danger’ zone of the unit. En route, from the green to the yellow zone, we had to wash our hands yet again in chlorine. Your hands permanently smell of chlorine. Then unexpectedly we walked into the family of an Ebola patient

who had just died. They had come for their daily visit and were thrown into a state of shock and grief not expecting to see, before their own eyes, their loved one die. I shared brief words of condolence and said a short prayer as we were keen to get the body to the mortuary in the heat of the day. The family had made a long journey, taking three taxis from Freetown, but at least the father just got to see and speak to his young son before he died. The heartbroken sister tried to control her tears, but the grief was too intense. The Christian young man seemed okay the day before when I had chatted to him and his sister and then we had prayed and she sang a hymn. But today it could not have been more different. The man had suddenly deteriorated during the night. As I dug deeper into their story it was yet another set of sad circumstances. As someone said the superhighway to the spread of Ebola has been compassion and kindness. So often someone had rushed to help a family member, or agreed to babysit for a child who had Ebola or had been to a funeral and in so doing contracted Ebola. The family graciously thanked the courageous doctors and nurses who had worked tirelessly in extreme conditions for doing their very best. “It must be God’s will,” said one of the brothers holding his large preacher’s bible. I was less convinced as I found myself complaining to God that this was the outcome. It was a tragic end but there was something special about this particular family. They certainly had a deep faith and all genuinely trusted in Jesus Christ. They clearly had hope that he had gone to heaven. They knew he would have a better life with Jesus for eternity and looked for the day when

they would meet again. “We must give God the glory” said another family member, and they all said “Amen”. The family, clutching nothing but a photograph and memories, drifted off. The world had just collapsed around them, but they walked in faith talking and praying aloud to Jesus as they went. I was able to put the taxi fare into the sister’s hand to get them home, thanks to all those back home who had donated money for such things.

Pulling myself together, I joined the ‘Care of the Dead’ team to get ready to enter the red zone. We arrived in Donning and it normally took about 15 minutes. Today it was at the hottest part of the day and it was sweltering. Sweat was pouring off us and my scrubs were damp even before we had put on the protective gear. I found my PPE suit, the visor, the mouth mask, the apron, the two pairs of gloves, and the hair net. In buddy pairs we slowly and carefully donned the gear, all done to specific drills. The temperature rose rapidly and my breathing rate soon increased. It felt more claustrophobic than usual - it was the heat. The CSM completed a final check, and in the same

way I checked him, to see that all the kit was fitted correctly. Finally, using a black marker we wrote the time of entry onto our aprons and the CSM wrote Padre on my apron! He liked to draw a cross on the apron too... I was hoping he might have written ‘Simon’, to give me some sense of personality, but I was only going to face a dead body rather than a patient so it didn’t matter. The PPE completely takes away our humanness and almost manages to transform us into robots. We took down the plastic chain and entered into the red zone. The heat was penetrating. Black body bag in hand, we walked through to where the deceased lay on the bed. To see him now dead was a shock to us all, given we were talking with him only a few hours earlier. His face was left visible between the sheets. The two medics and the CSM as if on military parade, together respectfully bowed their heads before the young man. It was the cue for me to lead some prayers. We all knew the drills. Almost at a whisper knowing there were patients in the next tent also with Ebola, I asked God to graciously receive this young man into his Kingdom to be at rest for eternity. All Sierra Leoneans have their own understanding of the spiritual world and in addition many believe in ghosts and spirits. And there lies a major concern for the spread of Ebola, as the washing of the dead bodies and secret burials continues in some places, and often it is at huge cost to the families. It is a far greater problem than many realise to break traditional rites in the back of beyond villages. With prayers finished, the drills for moving the dead patient took over, including spraying everything with 0.5% chlorine. The period around the time of death is one of the most dangerous for continued on page 6

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contd from page 5 the spread of the Ebola virus as it then sheds itself. Sierra Leone has become a roller coaster of emotions for all the army personnel of emotions for all the army personnel and everyone who has volunteered to work in this country. Today was no exception. The following day the family returned and a local burial team headed by the Red Cross arrived. I stood with the family in the clean area, feeling like part of a science fiction film set. Men in PPE suits transferred the body in a double body bag from the unit into the burial team’s vehicle. I shared a further prayer as we all respectfully bowed our heads for the second time. The father proudly showed me a photograph of his younger boy, before turning away to try and hide his grief. As they left, the family were given a hygiene kit to allow the family to clean their home and a few other bits of support and advice. We would probably never see them again. Thank God that the world woke up to this virus and the international community, along with the British armed forces has helped tackle Ebola. To see so many volunteers helping the people of West Africa has been comforting. God is in the mess; he always has been and always will be. Why would anyone doubt that? Without God there is no hope, there is no future and the African people know it. Even those who have lost a loved one in such a horrific way are seen to hang on to their faith and love of God, who remains above all things and leads us from this world to the next whenever that might be. We hope all patients in the future become Ebola survivors and I pray that God will heal Sierra Leone and West Africa of this virus and that the world helps these countries put in place a health care system that is robust enough to prevent further pandemic outbreaks in years to come.

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orphanage children at meal time

humbled by poverty

Col Peter McCall, an AFCU member, reflects during his deployment in Sierra Leone co-ordinating the UK military mission on Op Gritrock

ith just over a year left to serve, I thought my days of going ‘on tour’ were over until… In my office at the Army Personnel Centre a trawl crossed the desk for an OF5 Deputy Commander for the Tri Service BRITFOR for Sierra Leone and Op Gritrock, the UK military mission in support of the Department for International Development (DFID). It looked so interesting and I’d have felt that I was walking on the other side of the road if I hadn’t responded. I went for a run, prayed on it and was convicted to volunteer. I deployed from UK in late November just as winter was setting in and with little idea of what to expect in Sierra Leone and how the military would fit into the response to the Ebola outbreak. The military had been drafted in to help provide logistics, command and coordination to the developing response to Ebola, which appeared to have overwhelmed the national resources and agencies. We also built, and our own medics manned, a 12 (subsequently 20) bed Ebola Treatment Unit at Kerrytown to take care of health care workers needing treatment. When we landed at Lunghi Airport in Freetown after a 14 hour flight, the airport was closed to normal aircraft so was eerily quiet. The hand washing in chlorinated water began on arrival and hasn’t stopped since, I’ve never had such clean hands! The first thing that struck me was how green the surrounding countryside was (for some reason I had pictures of rolling Zulu movie type savanna) and the second was the stifling heat and humidity. On arrival there was no time for settling and acclimatising, this period saw us at the height of the ‘build

• Col Peter McCall at a DERC, waiting for his helicopter lift and bury’ phase of the operation. This entailed our military engineers working with local contractors to turn patches of jungle into effective tented treatment holding and care centres for Ebola patients. For the most part these were located in former patches of jungle without water, power or any type of sanitation. Amazingly this resulted in almost 600 bed spaces being created throughout the country in a period of six weeks during the rainy season when no sane builder would be contemplating construction work - thanks to the Sappers working incredibly long hours in awful conditions. Meanwhile others were frantically trying to get a grip of the burial process to deal with the bodies of Ebola victims, which in some areas were literally piled up in the streets. The local system at that point was totally overwhelmed. The military brief was to act in support of DFID and basically bring some command and control in the form of an HQ function to allow the various agencies and NGOs to operate in a coherent way. As November drew into December the race to complete treatment centres and beds was intense as was the increase in numbers of deaths peaking in December, when all the beds came on stream. Meanwhile we set about creating command and control centres in

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Ladies who cooking for patients and staff at the treatment centre in Makeni

the Districts (District Ebola Response Centres or DERCs) to support local level response to the emergency. Resources of every sort were in short supply, particularly ambulances and vehicles. It was critical to identify and then isolate symptomatic people from the community to try to prevent transmission. A whole raft of NGOs were by now in theatre conducting social mobilisation or education programmes to help people understand the nature, causes and preventative measures to be taken to avoid the disease. Others were engaged in manning treatment centres, burials, building labs to carry out sample testing, providing food and supplies to quarantined homes and a plethora of other needs. Thankfully throughout January the epidemiology curve started to edge down telling us that we were gradually getting control over the disease – it was a frantic time and sadly lots of people died but at last we started to hear of survivors and by the end of January numbers were very much on the downward trajectory. We now find ourselves with very low numbers of cases, but trying to keep the government and all other agencies engaged so that we don’t see the outbreak re-emerge. I write this in mid February looking forward to ending my tour at the end of the month. The job is not yet complete, as experts say there will continue to be small outbreaks as we try to get to zero. As ever the task is moving on and DFID, the organisation we are supporting is now looking to ‘build back better’ by encouraging the best use of the health care facilities now in place and also by strengthening local resilience to cope with future

crises particularly in the health area, remembering that Sierra Leone and West Africa generally continue to suffer badly with other endemic diseases such as malaria, cholera and others which still claim many hundreds of lives each year. They say you’re never too old to learn something new and this has been a new and challenging experience in so many ways. I have been an active Christian for a long time having been brought up in a traditional Anglican church. Since joining the army, I have joined a variety of churches and church experiences both leading and leading worship, but to be honest I don’t think I’ve been quite so challenged before about poverty and the impact on poorer nations from catastrophic disease such as the recent Ebola outbreak. Until you see it for yourself it’s the stuff of comic relief and BandAid, terribly sad but

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to start somewhere. In a country where 1.8 million children have been unable to go to school since they closed last July, there must be more that we could do to help them build a better life. I have been struck as I’ve gone about the country at the obvious religious tolerance. The country claims to be about 70% Muslim and 20ish% Christian and it seems that there is absolutely no sectarian issue. Cars, buses and trucks drive around with religious slogans and tracts painted onto their bonnets and church attendance seems to be very strong. We could learn lessons about religious tolerance from the people of Sierra Leone.

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Reflecting on this experience though, I am struck by the real need for us not to walk on the other side of the road but actually to start to ‘walk the

but we don’t need to go to Africa to find people in need

somehow not real. When you walk into it though, the scale, extent and unfairness of it is humbling. Throughout the tour our ‘squaddielack humour’ came to the rescue whenever we moaned about the conditions, working through Christmas, long days and nights, the refrain being “it’s all about the children” taking the mick out of the TV guilt adverts, but, do you know what? Having now seen it at first hand, it is about the children. There are all sorts of reasons why Africa is in the state it is and even after a short time here, my view is that there is much more that the various governments could do to help themselves, but it has

walk’ wherever we are. Of course we don’t need to go to Africa to find people in need, sometimes it means rolling up our sleeves and just getting on with the job.

I will return with many stories to tell, not enough space here to talk about burial practices, secret societies, initiation ceremonies and a raft of other cultural practices which have made this tour so interesting and at times very frustrating. I do return convinced that the people of Sierra Leone deserve a better life and perhaps in a small way our part in Op Gritrock may just have edged them along that path. Let’s pray that is so.

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a multi-national f

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different cultures, languages and Christian traditions came together as members of the world’s militaries under the banner ‘All one in Christ Jesus’

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t was the Armed Forces’ Christian Union/Naval Christian Fellowship’s joint Autumn Event in 2012 where I slipped in, late as usual after settling the kids, to a session and there first caught the vision of the upcoming Association of Military Christian Fellowship’s (AMCF) Global Interaction, then two years away. I had previously heard some friends mention it but didn’t really know much about it and certainly didn’t comprehend its scale! A conference of Military Christian Fellowships from around the world so big that it runs only once every 10 years, which would include Christians of all ranks and rates, serving, retired, spouses and civilian support staffs from every continent on earth – I was sold! The only slight problem with me going was that it was in South Africa... There is a certain irony in not having flown since childhood when your husband is a pilot, writes Hayley Palmer. That’s not technically true but 20 minutes in an Army Air Corps gazelle did nothing to reassure me. You see I do not have a fear of flying. However, I have (in the past) not liked the idea of being anywhere enclosed where I couldn’t just leave so an aircraft, for me, is the epitome of that. In addition, I discovered that for your first flight a pilot is not always the best company, as his idea of talking me through the process involved a lot of worst case scenarios and choosing seats based on if I would rather survive the crash or be able to get out of the plane if we did.

Nonetheless I was set on going, and as the conference drew closer and I was given more details of what to expect, it was becoming more apparent that I was right to be excited. My mother-in-law had confirmed she could have the kids, and with a cheeky 2-day safari tagged onto the end I couldn’t wait to get on that plane. Looking back my excitement and anticipation didn’t even come close to imagining the experience we would have at the Global • Jonathan & Hayley Palmer

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Interaction. The opening ceremony saw the South African Navy march in the national flags of every country with a delegation at the conference, there were 101 of the 150 Military Christian Fellowships around the world represented. And, over the course of the week, we had the opportunity to hear reports from every continent explaining the work of the various Military Christian Fellowships in their region, how they were impacting the nations of the world through their military ministry and what challenges military Christians faced around the globe. Some of these talks were quite humbling; realising that some delegations had been stopped from coming on the orders of presidents and prime ministers and that others who did attend could not be photographed for fear of reprisal at home.

The absolute highlight though was the unity that was so tangible throughout the conference, and particularly in the main conference room. Hundreds of people from different cultures, languages and Christian traditions came together as members of the world’s militaries under the banner ‘All one in Christ Jesus’. In that room people were proud to show their national identity through their uniforms, national dress and flag, but foremost on everyone’s minds was to declare themselves as united in being followers of Christ Jesus. Never was this better seen than when participants who, back home, were fighting wars against each other went into Cape Town to spend the evening and eat together. Christ came to save all peoples and never has that been displayed so obviously to me than at Global Interaction. It is easy, in the day to day business of life, to get focused on the immediate. But here my view was widened. In praying with people and chatting (sometimes a challenge given the number of languages there) I was constantly reminded there are Christians spread all over the world, as different from each other as can be, but all loving one God, together one in Christ Jesus.

· Several of the UK’s contingent at the GI 2014 were generously sponsored with grants from The Cornelius Trust.

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Peter Louwrens - retired South African navy officer - writes about their preparations for the conference and the highlights of the week... There were times when I questioned just why South Africa had volunteered to host the AMCF World Conference 2014. However, I did realise the privilege and honour for the SA Military Christian Fellowship to host such a key AMCF event. This was also a time when I really came to terms with the great mercy, grace and love of our heavenly Father. Despite many organisational challenges, including a late name change for the conference from World Conference to Global Interaction GI 14, we had a lot of encouragement from military Christians worldwide. And one bible verse (Zechariah 4: 6) became very significant, ‘Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.’ This gave me some peace and rest that God was ultimately in control and would be glorified through the event. The decision to train young southern African military Christian soldiers to host participants and facilitate small group fellowship/training at the GI 14, was another new challenge for us. But this ‘Warrior Training’ proved very successful. It was so good to have a good number of young South African members attend the GI 14, including the trained ‘Warriors’

Is there more to life than this Pub again

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who led and hosted groups. Some of the highlights for me included meeting and sharing with military Christians from around the globe. I am always blessed by this aspect of AMCF events. The praise and worship times were special and singing the praises of the glory of the Lord God with just over 100 nations represented was such a blessing, often with National flags waving high. The key speaker, Bishop Henry Orombi, who preached and taught so well from Joshua, shared personal accounts from his Christian life, as well as deep truths from the Bible. Cape Town was a wonderful venue for the GI14 and participants were blessed by the natural beauty and splendour of our Western Cape Province. While the well-planned programme offered everyone time for praise, teaching, meals, fellowship and rest. There were of course some problem areas, but then there always are and these were well handled when they

How about a night in

Peter & Di Louwrens

arose. I guess challenging times keep us on our knees and looking to God for His help. Also not everything can be done to each individual’s wants and likes and we learn patience and self-control during such times, with God’s help. Prayer was uppermost and given priority throughout the planning and execution phases and we were thankful to Conference Director, Capt (N) Klaas Steyn and his Committee, along with the financial and planning/organising support received from ACCTS, MMI and MSO, as well as the AFCU. Through the conference I was inspired and reminded again that I must be available for God to use to effectively disciple the military men and women of my nation.

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by Brian McAvoy

I disapprove

of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it Voltaire

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Combien, Cha

s I’m writing, the whole world seems to be debating the issue of freedom of speech and not getting very far! I’m afraid that free speech is something of an oxymoron as it is anything but free. Like the right to vote, it has been bought and preserved at often a very high price, much of it paid for by the servicemen and women who have put themselves in harm’s way to ensure that our freedom and liberty are maintained, defended and sometimes restored. Those of us who have the luxury of being able to see the bigger/ whole picture must pay tribute to them by ensuring that we treat such gifts with respect and only use them to the benefit of our world now and in the future. “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltaire’s famous statement made during the Enlightenment has come back into focus, with particular emphasis and meaning for us in both the military and the police. However, with rights come duties/ responsibilities. These are two sides of the same coin, and they are not always evenly balanced. Soldiers by the nature of things forfeit some rights and take on more duties/responsibilities to defend us, even to the death. “Greater love has no-one than... they down their lives for their friends… .”, and often for strangers as well. Soldiers and civilians may also be injured and pay the price for the rest of their lives. Conversely, the soldier who has to kill in a cause is never the same afterwards and it well may end their life as they have known it. An equally high price to pay. I’ve only met three people who had

killed in the line of duty – you will know more, I’m sure – and it changed their lives enormously. The pilot who counted all of the 26 seconds it took for his bomb to “splash”, knowing quite a few people would die when it did. The SF soldier who had to choose “kill or be killed” without the noise and fog of battle to cloud the moment. The padre who had to decide to forfeit his noncombatant status to defend others who couldn’t defend themselves. All these people were changed by the price they paid. Many who didn’t talk about their experiences in WW1 may have found what they did more difficult than what was done to them. The same was true of WW2, especially in Bomber Command of the RAF. “There is no such thing as a free lunch” - the price tag on freedom of speech and actions is very high, particularly for the soldier. A Dutchman once reminded me – “Speak carefully of freedom unless you’ve had it taken away – and restored.” He knew whereof he spoke and the cost involved! I grew up in a country born from revolution and civil war. Somewhere in Africa or South America? No, Ireland. Having partially gained freedom from British rule, society there actually became repressed and repressive. Censorship of press, literature and films was normal. Irish was a compulsory language; if you didn’t pass the subject in any public exam you were not entitled to the certificates which would open the gateway to your future even if you had A*s in every other subject! Be careful what you say was the watchword, and don’t show too much liking for the English although their money was always welcome! However, many of my fellow countrymen and women also served, and serve

harlie?

today, in the British and Allied forces to rid the world of the threat to those very freedoms we were being denied. Such common cause removes personal barriers like nothing else can. Times and attitudes have changed, although some of the “sins of the fathers are still being visited on the sons, even unto the third and fourth generations” and right on our doorstep. So it was a joy for me to see the Irish Ambassador laying a laurel wreath at the Cenotaph last Remembrance Sunday and to see the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) in the line of world leaders with the two million Parisians marching to underline Voltaire’s dictum. Would Jesus have been there? Was He there in spirit? Were we seeing the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit in action that day? Only partly, I think, but that’s a start. The right to be “Charlie” brings with it the responsibility not to hurt or offend others, let alone to incite to hatred, which cartoons can if they cross that line. The greatest outcome must be people of all faiths and persuasions (and none) coming together with a determination to respect each other and not to allow the terrorist to come between them. “Love one another as I have loved you…” Jesus’ new commandment is still the most powerful way to put those who would abuse their power for selfish ends in their places. As I write, there is a growing movement to name the new A453 Nottingham to Kegworth (M1) road “Heroes Way” to respect and remember indelibly the 453 British soldiers so far who paid the ultimate price and have given their lives so far in this 21st century in the cause of freedom. I hope it succeeds. The bill is already very high; would you pay it too, Charlie?

my journey as a Christian soldier

s a young girl, growing up in Nairobi, Kenya my dream was to one day work in a multicultural environment, writes Sarah Komen. I wanted to experience different cultures and ways of thinking. Underlying this dream was a search for who I really was, even at a young age. I was born and grew up in a Christian family; but this did not automatically make me a true Christian. I had to make

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Sarah Komen

a personal choice. In December 1989 at the age of 15, I accepted Jesus into my life as my Lord. From that moment my life changed for the better. I felt I had a constant companion and my life was more purposeful. Since then, it has been a journey of many blessings as well as challenges. After finishing school and university, I worked for two years as a teacher before travelling to UK where I joined the army. I’m married to Theo (a food quality controller) and we have two boys – Claude, 13 years and Alfred, 7 years old. I have been in the army for 10 years and I am a Corporal in the Adjutant General’s Corps (AGC (SPS)). I currently work with 1st Regiment Royal Military Police (1 RMP) based in Herford, Germany. My job is HR Administration and I am the Staff Support Assistant (SSA). This means that I am responsible for maintaining the discipline process. When asked, I often describe being in the army as a place of two extremes. The challenges are great and the blessings deep. This is the case seen from a

Christian point of view. I remember being on deployment in Afghanistan in 2008. The experience made me appreciate what it meant to be in a desert. Whilst there, facilities were basic. A typical day consisted of three activities – working long hours, eating and sleeping. There were many pressures though. It was during this time that I leant to spend time with Jesus. I learnt to listen to Him too. I needed a constant friend who wasn’t too busy; to whom I could always talk to. And Jesus was the friend. When one has a friend who is always there, especially in times of crises, one learns to value them. Being in the desert also made me realise how reliant on other people I had become. One of these people I had come to rely on was my husband Theo. I called Theo whenever I needed information, or when I got lost while driving or even when I was having a difficult time at work. Not being able to call on friends anytime I wanted made me aware of God as my ‘ever present help’. Yes, we can call on friends and family, but our trust must be firmly in the Lord. My time in the army has progressed from a desert place to a battlefield. Work pressure has continued in terms of excessive workload, difficult work environment and the need to integrate and blend with comrades and colleagues. It’s been during the challenging times that my family and I have experienced God’s blessings. In all our postings, we have been blessed to have a wonderful church family. The Armed Forces Christian Union (AFCU) has connected us with fellow Christians in our new locations. We have had Bible studies and friendly neighbours. Knowing that other people were praying for us has been reassuring. We have prayed over our streets before getting there. And God’s presence has been evident. Although my army environment has often shifted between spiritually dry on the one hand and turbulent on the other, there is a constant positiveness which I know only God provides. I believe that God has purposefully placed me in particular places to minister to my colleagues in ways I may not always be aware of. One thing I know, I have to serve Him faithfully and remain true to His word, even when it is against popular culture.

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F a i t h

[insert name] swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will, as in duty bound, honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, in Person, Crown and Dignity against all enemies, and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, and of the Air Officers and Officers set over me. So Help me God. These were the words of the Attestation I read on my first day in the RAF, whilst standing in the atrium of College Hall at RAF Cranwell, in front of the large oil paintings of Trenchard and Churchill, one hand on the Bible and made this commitment at the very start of my military career, before the training had begun. At the time I knew little of military life other than the glossy brochures in the Armed Forces Careers Office and what I had learned for my interview.

When you attest into the RAF, or any of the armed forces, you are declaring your commitment to serve, to live a life under authority. It is interesting that you make this commitment at the very start of your military career, even before the training begins. It is the training which instils discipline and shapes the new recruit into someone who can be an effective part of the team. In a similar way when we become a Christian we start by making a commitment to serve God. When we make this commitment, at the start of our Christian journey, we begin the amazing journey of transformation into the likeness of Christ. Our Christian transformation comes from a desire to serve God in light of what has been done for us. In the forces we are trained because we are required to function as part of a team and need to have a common understanding in order to be of any use to that team. In our Christian life we are transformed so we can better serve God with the skills and gifts He has given us. Paul puts it like this in Romans 12:1-2, ‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.’ God accepts us in whatever condition we are in, wherever we are at in our spiritual journey. When we come to Him and offer our commitment to serve, that is when the transformation begins. Our service is a response to what God has already

• Mike Forsyth

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done for us. I think that coming into a Church for the first time, or returning after a bit of a gap, we fool ourselves into believing that we need to arrive at the end state. But actually all that God requires of us is our commitment to serve Him, and to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. It would be impossible to expect new recruits to arrive already proficient in drill, knowing how to handle their rifle, fully competent at assembling a tripod. This is what the training is for. Our living sacrifice is that service to God which brings Him glory. As Christians we have the privilege of praying for others, we can show hospitality to others, we can take the word of God to those who have not heard, we can show acts of kindness. Jesus provides the example when he willingly serves his disciples by washing their feet. In serving God, not only are we transformed more into the likeness of Christ, but it is where we see God most at work in our lives. I’ve met Flight Sergeants in the RAF who are ‘blue through and through’. They have been in step with the RAF for so long, they think and act differently. For a Christian this is also true, the more time you spend serving God the more you will think and act in a way pleasing to Him. If you are currently serving or have served in the forces, do you look back at your attestation as a distant memory? Do you think of the promises made to serve, or has the training received instilled a military way of life where by virtue of who you have become, you fulfill any orders given? To be in the same place with God, also requires making a promise to serve Him and a willingness to be transformed. In that way we will see God’s good purposes at work in our lives and fulfill His orders.

here to serve by Flt Lt Mike Forsyth

getting back onboard

ubbish. It’s not going well. Nothing’s working out. Injuries, sickness, busyness, the weather. Everything is conspiring against me looking for a PB in the London marathon in April… Right now I am so threaders with not getting any decent preps in for it, that I don’t even feel like writing about running, so I’m gonna knock this on the head and talk about my other sport windsurfing. Before I spin that dit though, have you ever felt like that, so bad that you just want to toss it all in? I was deployed in 1995 to the Bosnia conflict on HMS Cumberland, days and days of Defence Watches off the coast - boring but also quite tense and stressful, with a real threat. For me this was the third six -month deployment on the trot, with three months between each of them, so separation was becoming a bit much. I had a young family at home and it was not easy. I also was one of only three Christians on board the ship (well only three who wanted to meet together to pray or read the Bible together anyway). I was at a bit of a low point. No one else seemed to care or understand, and it was a self-perpetuating vicious circle. It was all rubbish. So one day I wrote a letter (yes, an actual letter on paper with a pen, not an e mail or facebook message) to this fella I knew at home. An older bloke, been a Christian a long time, wise old guy – ex RN. I wrote and said basically that no-one understood or cared what was going on with me, as a Christian I had no support, woe is me, woe is me. You know the sort of thing. I then carried on in my misery until I got

a letter back (using the helicopter in its primary role as a Mail Delivery service of course). I was looking forward to having him tell me how wonderful I was doing, and that I was a great Christian etc etc etc, but he didn’t. He basically told me to ‘Stop moaning and get on with it’, which actually is exactly what I needed. Sometimes God just says ‘you are where I want you, crack on shipmate, I’m with you’. I had to finish the trip, still separated, and still with only two other guys of like mind on board, but anyway I’m not expecting ANY sympathy for the lack of training for the marathon, (but I’m still threaders about the whole thing that ain’t changed). So, the ship was at anchor off some island paradise in the Caribbean. Hard life. I was windsurfing quite a bit back then, so I chucked my board in off the back end and went for a blast. Had a great hour or so, and then decided it was time to get back to the ship. This was always the challenging part, getting alongside the accommodation ladder and then getting the gear back on board. I was also knackered. As I came round the stern to sail to the accommodation ladder, I lost all my wind in the lee of the ship and couldn’t get to the ladder (I should have come round the bow and drifted down). As I drifted towards the stern and open water a mate of mine who was having a fag on the quarterdeck, threw me a rope which I grabbed so I was just sat off the back end holding onto this rope. Sail/mast just hanging straight down in the water. What I hadn’t realised was that whilst I had been out sailing, the ship had raised the anchor and as I sat on my board, the props started and the ship started to move forward. Not good! I heard

my mate get onto the broadcast to the bridge and say ‘Sir could we stop the props please?’ ‘Why??’…‘Chief Martin is hanging off the back end on a bit of rope’. Needless to say the reply from the bridge is not suitable for a family publication, but I was then pulled back on board and (inevitably) summoned to see the CO for an interview (negative coffee). Life can be like that, all going smooth enjoying the trip, when you lose the wind from your sails. And you’re knackered. Drifting over spinning props and all the danger that entails. Then your mate chucks you a rope. That’s exactly what Jesus did when he died on the cross (which we remember at Easter). He chucked us all a rope to drag us back onboard, back to God’s way and even though we may need to face the skipper we know we are safe. We have an assurance that life is on track. Like when I climbed back over the guardrails, even though I knew I would have to face the CO, I felt the deck beneath my feet and all was good. Do you have that assurance that you know where you are going when you die? That you KNOW that Jesus is real, and you are walking His way. That’s the essence of the Christian faith, we fouled up, went against God’s ways and at our worst point Jesus died for us that we might be saved from the props. Well, sorta. If you want to find out any more then please have a chat with your Chaplain or any of those Bible bashers in your unit. Anyway, next time we will be back on track with the marathon - I hope. by Steve Martin Operations Director Christian Vision for Men

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coffee break

stepping out

hen I married a Methodist minister, I knew that I would become a ‘minister’s wife’, which implied a certain role and the obvious move every five years, writes Anne Middleton. I was OK with this as I’d been very involved in church and ministry for many years and I fit easily into church life. However, I soon began to glimpse a negative side of being a ‘minister’s wife’ and this was that many people seemed to forget that I was also a person called by God myself and that I had my own history and ministry (especially as I was 36 when I married Darren!). Darren jokingly called me ‘The Invisible Woman’ – it was as if no-one could really see me.

Now, it’s hard enough being a Methodist minister’s wife and having a career, but when I realised that as an army chaplain’s wife we were going to have to move every two years, I wondered how I’d ever be able to do work again that made me feel fulfilled and used my creative skills. Thankfully, Darren came up with the idea of me writing and I jumped at the chance! So, I started

army life excited that maybe God had something specific for me too! I was immediately inspired to write my first series of children’s books, ‘The Adventures of Piggy and Woof’. From the start I surrendered my writing to God and just wanted to be in His will. When I finished writing the series I started to try to get an agent! I learned from much research that it is as impossible to get an agent as it is to get published and that it would take a miracle; but I was OK with that –

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because I believe in miracles!! In the end though, God seemed to be showing me another way to go. One day I lay my stories out on the table before God. I asked for a miracle that I wouldn’t have to wait years to get published. And God sent me an unexpected answer to prayer! I’d been put in contact with a published author, Lt Col Christopher MacGregor (‘My Daddy’s Going Away’ & ‘Mummy’s Home!’). After my prayer, I’d decided to text him and he said that he was in Tidworth and could meet me that afternoon! Interestingly, he spent an hour and a half telling me what I did not want to hear! He said that my books were like works of art that were hidden in a cupboard and that I needed to get them out there. He said I should start a Facebook Page and download my first book for free on Amazon Kindle! Now, being a complete technophobe this was completely out of my comfort zone. I can’t even operate my own Facebook and the thought of making an e-book made me feel quite sick! Plus, I really wanted my books published the traditional way - on paper. So I have to admit that I didn’t like this answer to prayer and wanted to get another one! However, later on I spoke to a Christian friend who said that I had to step out of the boat and trust Jesus to help me to walk on the water!! Well, God is good. He didn’t leave me alone to flounder in the water. My neighbour, Amy, offered to help me with all the tech stuff and has made a beautiful website. My wonderful hubby set up my Facebook Page and I am actually enjoying adding the posts! Now I have to just keep trusting and moving forwards. But whatever happens with my books, I have a sense that I am in God’s will. And that’s the best place to be! ‘The Adventures of Piggy and Woof’ by Anne Middleton is now available for free download on Amazon Kindle. www.facebook.com/ piggyandwoof / http://annemiddleton.wix. com/piggy-and-woof

• Anne Middleton, pictured left, and her daughter (above) What is the Armed Forces’ Christian Union (AFCU)? AFCU is a British military Christian fellowship, tri-service, for 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 basis of membership is prayer and a willingness to pray. Who can join? All who serve in regular or reserve sections of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army or Royal Air Force join as Serving Members. All others, including those who have retired, join as Associate Members. Those serving in foreign armed forces are welcome as ‘honorary’ members. What are the benefits? All members receive the AFCU Contact magazine, News & Views and other literature and access to information and resources on the web and the App. AFCU has a network of Christian contacts across the Armed Forces and members have access to this address list. AFCU hold teaching events, days and weekends, and holidays. Serving members can link to an Associate prayer group for regular prayer. What does it cost? No subscription. but members are asked to give as they can. Cost of administering each member is about £30 per year. How do I join? You can apply for membership on the AFCU website www.afcu.org.uk by clicking on the ‘Join’ button. Or you can email (office@afcu.org.uk) or phone (01252 311221) the office for a membership form.

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What is happening in the photo above? Why not send in your caption to rachel.reay@gmail.com before 8th May 2015? It could be a winner... Thenk you to all those who entered last time’s competition. We do receive some great captions. Congratulations to the winner.

‘Beam me up, Scotty...’ AO’R

the big read Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef The story of Mosab Yousef, the son of one of the founders of Hamas, traces his journey from the centre of a terror organisation to becoming a Christian. This page turning book, offers an insight into the Palestinian situation, revealing his belief that the Christian mandate to “love your enemies” is the only way to peace in the Middle East. £8.99 Tyndale Momentum

Cry of Wonder by Gerard W. Hughes Author of the acclaimed book, God of Surprises, Gerard Hughes, who died last year after completing this book, encourages us to explore our own human experience. Inviting readers to open the unique doorway each person has into the mystery of their present existence. Such attention to mystery is counter-cultural and subversive, making this a fascinating read. £12.99 Bloomsbury Continuum

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before amen by Max lucado A book prompted by the author’s need for help with prayer. This is designed for people who struggle to pray. It attempts to simplify prayer, understand it more deeply, and help us practice it more daily. He encourages us to come to God like children. He suggests we trust more, strut less. Make lots of requests and accept all the gifts. £7.99 Thomas Nelson

Please send letters, captions and ideas for articles to: rachel.reay@gmail.com 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. Not all articles are the view of the AFCU Board of Trustees. Contact Editorial Team: Sqn Ldr S Priestnall RAF, Mrs S Sandy, Mrs Y Cobbold, AFCU staff, the Editors

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Cont act magazin e is p ub lis he d b y A FCU thre e t i m e s p e r y e a r - C o n t a c t I SSN 1 3 5 9 - 1 7 2 6 - Re g i s t e re d C h ar i t y (N o .2 4 9 6 3 6 )