Uniting in prayer to show that we care

In the wake of the tragic deaths of two police officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) this week, Redeeming our Communities (ROC) is calling on churches across the UK to unite in prayer for police officers across the UK.

ROC is asking churches to commit to a one-minute silence at 11am on either Sunday, September 23, or on Sunday, September 30. This will represent solidarity with GMP, which held its own minute of silence on Wednesday, September 19, in honour of its fallen colleagues.

ROC has been working with GMP since 1998 and powerful partnerships between the charity and police forces across the UK have been forged as a result. 

Founder Debra Green became increasingly convinced of the importance of supporting the UK’s frontline public services following the sad death of DC Stephen Robin Oake, who was murdered in 2003.

Debra says: “The tragic loss of two young police women, Nicola [Hughes] and Fiona [Bone], in Manchester this week has been heart breaking. Our thoughts are with the families and with Greater Manchester Police.

“Chief Constable Peter Fahy described GMP as a family and spoke of the sadness experienced across the force. I cannot praise GMP highly enough and would ask that we do all that we can to uphold them at this time.

“I have just signed the book of condolence and feel more committed than ever before to continue our work. This loss is a stark reminder of the risks policemen and women take every day for our safety and the greater good of our communities.”

Chief Constable Fahy said: “Greater Manchester Police has been overwhelmed by the huge degree of public support following the sad deaths of two of our officers yesterday.

“Our main priority at the moment is to do everything we can to support the families of Nicola and Fiona, who have an incredible amount to come to terms with. Our thoughts remain with them.

“The whole force is devastated by the deaths of Nicola and Fiona, but to know at this difficult time that the public supports what the police do and feel so strongly about the sacrifice of these two officers, is hugely important to us.”

You can register your church here so that ROC can keep track of the vast support across the UK of those standing in prayer with members of the police service.

Read more about Debra and her team’s valuable work in the next issue of Liberti magazine… coming very soon.

How to be an employee and a Christian at the same time

There has been endless debate about the separation of church and state, and it seems the dispute is spilling over into the workplace with increasing velocity.

Recent news reports have highlighted the general view that work is work, and faith is faith; that the two things must be mutually exclusive.

Whether that means not wearing a cross to work, or cutting out prayer before council meetings, it seems the workplace is gradually being deChristianised. (If that’s not a word it soon will be!)

The question that arises then is, should I carry on working as a closet Christian or give up my faith and just get on with my job? Well neither, obviously. But I do think it’s important that we live out what we believe carefully and without compromising who we are in Christ.

It’s hard to strike a balance between fitting in, getting the job done and being a super Christian. If you’ve managed it, please let me know the secret! But I personally believe it’s impossible (and undesirable) to leave our faith at home when we head into work. Faith isn't like a hat that you can choose to put on if there's a storm brewing (literal or metaphorical); it's on the inside of you... whether you like it or not!

Telling someone to stop being a Christian at work is like asking someone to separate themselves from their nationality/political beliefs/deep love of cheese. Being a Christian isn’t what we do on Sundays, it is who we are, and it informs (or at least it should inform) everything we do. I’m a Christian when I go to watch Liverpool play, when I’m having lunch with a friend or when I’m up to my neck in proofreading.

So should we be quoting the Bible every time a colleague asks us a question, or offering to lay hands on our colleagues at their first sniffle? I wouldn’t recommend it. 

I personally think it’s usually the small things that set us apart, like:
  

•  Being absolutely honest, even if it means we get into trouble or lose money as a result
• Taking a genuine interest in our workmates and praying for them – especially the difficult ones (you know who I’m talking about)
• Showing respect for the boss even if he or she is wrong/being unreasonable
• Refusing to engage in gossip (even if you really want to know what Delia said to Chelsea at the staff do)
• Inviting our colleagues to social events and building lasting relationships with them
• Forgiving people rather than bearing grudges
• Standing up for the things that are really important
• Respecting people of other faiths or no faith and welcoming open discussion about what you believe and why
• Maintaining a positive attitude. No one likes a grump!
• Having cake/chocolate/cookies on hand at all times

None of this is groundbreaking stuff, and you probably do these things without even thinking about it. But while wearing a cross might suggest you are a Christian (although to be fair every self-respecting gangsta rapper does this), living an upright, gracious life every day will prove that you are.

The best piece of advice I’ve been given when it comes to living out my faith at work is to start the morning with prayer and continue in this attitude throughout the day. It’s hard to get offended/offend others if we approach work with the same heart of humility and thankfulness with which we approach God.

Read more from Joy in the next issue of Liberti magazine.

Who knew prayer could be a crime?

It seems as though every time I read the news these days there’s a story about how Christianity is being sidelined in the UK.

There was the story about BBC director-general Mark Thompson, who said Christianity is treated less sensitively on TV than other religions because it is more “broad-shouldered”.

A Catholic himself, Thompson believes broadcasters are far more cautious when representing other belief systems because the threat level in the complaints received is significantly greater. He claims the BBC would never have broadcast Jerry Springer: The Opera – which depicted Jesus in a nappy – if had featured alluded to Mohammed.

Then there was the piece about Christians wearing crosses to work. ‘Equalities’ Minister Lynne Featherstone told government lawyers to oppose the assumed ‘rights’ of Christians to wear crosses at work when they try upcoming cases at the European Court of Human Rights. The Strasbourg court is set to address Nadia Eweida and Shirley Chaplin’s cases.

British Airways employee Ms Eweida was suspended from work in 2006 after refusing to remove the cross she wore to work, while Ms Chaplin was banned from working as a nurse at an Exeter hospital when she refused to conceal or remove the cross she wore.

The British government’s submission to the court is that: “In neither case is there any suggestion that the wearing of a visible cross or crucifix was a generally recognised form of practising the Christian faith, still less one that is regarded (including by the applicants themselves) as a requirement of the faith.”

However, the Equality Commission, headed by former Labour politician Trevor Phillips, is backing the two women, and David Cameron and Boris Johnson have also spoken out in support of the two women.

In my opinion, the worst of a bad batch was the story about prayer being banned before council meetings. Atheist Clive Bone, who left his post at Bideford Council because of its "refusal to adjust" its prayer policy, tool legal action in 2010. He contacted the National Secular Society and their lawyers argued that non-Christian council members were being "indirectly discriminated against”.

The judge said that: “The council has on two occasions by a majority voted to retain public prayers at its full meetings. But that does not give it power to do what it has no power to do.”

He acknowledged that the pre-meeting prayers were optional, but ruled that this turned meetings at Bideford Council into: “a partial gathering of those councillors who share a particular religious outlook, or are indifferent to it or – as in the case of Mr Bone – too embarrassed to leave in public”.

Now I’m not saying Christians should be given special treatment, but I do think we should be respected the way people of other faiths, or no faith, are. I don’t wear a cross myself, but I see no reason why a person can’t do so in the workplace; they’re not forcing other people to believe what they believe, or to wear a cross themselves. And optional prayer before meetings – the key here is the word “optional”.

As Rt Revd Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter, points out: "Every time there is a survey of religious beliefs in this country, around 70% of the population profess a faith and to saying private prayers.” He added that the House of Lords open with prayer and thinks this practice is unlikely to end.

And Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said: "While welcoming and respecting fellow British citizens who belong to other faiths, we are a Christian country, with an established Church in England, governed by the Queen.

"Christianity plays an important part in the culture, heritage and fabric of our nation. Public authorities – be it parliament or a parish council – should have the right to say prayers before meetings if they wish. The right to worship is a fundamental and hard-fought British liberty.”

What’s going to happen next – a ban on carrying Bibles in public? The abolition of songs that mention God? The complete segregation of Christians and non-Christians? Ok, I’ve gone too far there. But it worries me that people feel so threatened by Christianity. It’s as if people feel they will somehow be overpowered and forced to believe something they don’t want to.

If we’re expected to be tolerant of all-things non-Christian, why can’t non-believers simply return the favour?

Time to stop the traffik

According to the BBC, at least 400 African children have been abducted and trafficked to the UK (and subsequently rescued) by UK authorities over the last four years. However, this 400 only numbers those who have been rescued; just stop and think for a minute about what has happened to those who haven’t.

Experts claim a growing number of witchdoctors and ‘spiritual’ healers are involved in the trafficking and abuse of these children. It is believed some of these abductions are being carried out to facilitate ‘Juju’ (witchcraft-related) rituals, which often require human blood.

Victims have explained how rich clients pay witch doctors to remove hair from the child’s body and then make incisions into the arms, legs, head and genitals to obtain the much-coveted blood.

Many of these children are repeatedly told they are evil and that they are responsible for bad things that are happening around them. Some even convince themselves that they somehow deserve the abuse they are suffering.

Those who have been rescued are afraid to name their abductors in case they or their families are tracked down and harmed. And many are afraid to talk about the Juju rituals because superstition tells them something bad will happens to them if they do

The US State Department claims Uganda has become one of the main source countries for children being smuggled to the UK, with 9,000 having been reported missing over the last four years.

It’s a profitable business, with traffickers earning as much as £10,000 per child. And with Ugandan authorities unable to cope with the problem, it looks as though it will continue, and even escalate, in the future.

So what can (and must) we do about it?

First of all, we need to pray. James 5:16 says: "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous [wo]man avails much." Jesus makes his opinion on children very clear in the gospels: they are extremely precious in his sight. So we should be praying for these dear children fervently and frequently.

Second, find out if there is a scheme in your area targeting this terrible crime. Cambridge Community Church (C3), for example, recently invited 80 churches from across the region to attend a talk given by Ben Cooley, CEO of Hope for Justice. The aim was to unite, inspire and equip local churches to take action. With anti-trafficking initiatives unrolling across the UK, it’s time for you to get involved!

Imagine if your son was abducted and mutilated for a superstitious ritual, uprooted from his home and living in constant fear and pain. Or if your daughter was stolen from you and forced into a life of drugs, violence and prostitution.

Of course, it’s not just children that are being trafficked. Many adults are also trafficked and forced to become sex workers or, basically, slaves. With statistics showing that 99% of trafficked victims are never rescued, it’s time to stand up and be counted.

“I firmly believe that if we work together we can establish the momentum to change history,” says Mr Cooley. “We can make this county a hostile environment for traffickers and see trafficking end in our lifetime.”

Don’t turn a blind eye… It’s time to stop the traffik.

Visit these sites for more info: http://hopeforjustice.org.uk; www.stophumantraffic.com; www.stopthetraffik.org/humantrafficking/background.aspx; www.notforsalecampaign.org; http://stophumantrafficking.com.

Read more from Joy in the upcoming issue of Liberti and its parent magazine, Sorted.

 

Hannah’s dilemma

 Photo credit: PinkStock Photos

Sometimes the Bible seems far removed from the reality of our daily lives. I’ve just read Ezekiel and it made me feel a bit like I was swimming through treacle at times.

But the more I read the more relevant it becomes. The story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1, for example, is interesting and helpful to any woman.

So what’s the story?

Well Hanna is married to Elkanah, but has to share him with his other wife Peninnah. To add insult to injury, Peninnah has a brood of kids – often considered a mark of God’s blessing – while Hannah is unable to conceive.

There is one consolation for poor Hannah; her husband seems to really love her (1 Samuel 1:4 and 8). But this isn’t enough to fill the void of childlessness, particularly with Peninnah continually rubbing her face in it (1 Samuel 1:6). She often wept and went without food because she was so downhearted (1 Samuel 1:7).

But life changes for Hannah following a ‘chance’ encounter with Eli the priest. Eli initially thinks the weeping woman has had a few too many, but soon realises she is just overcome with grief and is silently crying out to God. The priest tells her to go in peace, saying “may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him” (1 Samuel 1:17).

And God does exactly that. It’s not long before she’s holding her very own son Samuel (meaning ‘God has heard’) in her arms. But the story doesn’t end there. Hannah had made a vow to God that if she should be blessed with a much longed for son she would “give him to the Lord for all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11). And that’s exactly what she does.

So what does this tell us about God?

1. He hears our prayers (Psalm 28:6)
2. He gives us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4)
3. He sometimes allows us to suffer for a period so that we draw nearer to him and give our lives and futures into his hands
4. He brings important people in to our lives at just the right time
5. He is gracious – Hannah went on to have three sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21)

What does it tell us about Hannah?

1. She is a normal woman who desperately wants a thriving family
2. She persists in prayer, even though she is barren “year after year” (1 Samuel 1:7)
3. She believes what Eli tells her and stands on his word in faith (1 Samuel 1:18)
4. She fulfils her vow to God and gives him great thanks and praise for answering her prayers (1 Samuel 1:24-28; 1 Samuel 2:1-10)
5. Her faithfulness results in the ascendancy of an awesome man of God who powerfully influences Israel’s history (1 Samuel 2:26). He goes on to become a great prophet and judge, and is tasked by God to anoint both Saul and David as kings

So what can we learn from this?

1. God’s timing isn’t always the same as ours. We need to keep pressing in until we get an answer to prayer
2. We should surround ourselves with wise people who can reassure us with the Word and bolster our faith (Proverbs 13:20)
3. If we make a promise to God we should fulfil it (Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4)
4. We should be extremely thankful for everything God has done in our lives, and for the things we believe he is going to do (Psalm 100:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
5. We should expect great things – Samuel far exceeded Hannah’s expectations

If you don’t know what your ‘Samuel’ is, what your heart is really yearning for, ask God to reveal it to you. Then keep your eye on the prize and wait patiently for God to bring it about. And when he does, make sure you pass on the good news.

The power and impact of our testimonies – however insignificant they might seem to us – is often much greater than we think. If we just keep what God in our lives to ourselves, we are potentially robbing others of similar blessings. Part of our thanksgiving should be telling people just how incredible he is (Isaiah 12:5).

Read more about powerful women of God - some from the Bible and others who are alive today - in the next issue of Liberti magazine.