ISSUE 1040 FEBRUARY 2018

On & Off Duty

cpauk.net | coact.org.ukLatest news from the Christian Police Association

Neil Collin, one of our two UK CPA board members of the International Christian Police Fellowship (ICPF), provides an update on recent international Christian Police events.

“In March 2017, along with Tony Britten (CPA member and Treasurer of the ICPF), I was fortunate enough to attend my fi rst ICPF Board Meeting in Germany. It was a great opportunity to ‘build bridges’ with our colleagues both across Europe and beyond. It was also a time when we were able to be part of a further impressive gathering in Nuremberg, with a number of presentations at regional governmental level.

Whilst I was in Germany, I was approached and asked if I would help promote a Christian Police event taking place at the beach resort of Gandia, near Valencia (Spain) in late October. No sooner had I agreed, than I found myself doing an impromptu ‘talking head’ promo video, where I recall cheerily saying something like, “And I’ll see you there!” I was truly committed to attending what turned out to be an excellent occasion. The location, hotel, food, weather, organisation, worship and the fellowship all came together in a wonderful way for a few memorable days that so blessed us all.

‘People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.’ Luke 13:29 (NIV)

Continued on page 2...

Left to right: Neil Collin, Richard Wiggins, Jan Swanepoel (South Africa) all trying to keep beat with a Burundi offi cer (copyright ICPF)

Yet my travels had far from fi nished as, less than two weeks later, I was also able to represent the CPA and ICPF at ‘PACPAC’ (Pan African Christian Police Association Conference), held in Burundi under the scriptural banner of ‘Arise, Shine’ (Isaiah 60:1). The opening ceremony was a grand affair, with the guest of honour being the President of Burundi, along with a gospel choir, traditional drummers, dancers and a band. I was given the honour of fl ag-bearing the Union Jack into the venue as our National Anthem rang out – a proud and humbling experience.

Christians in Policing - A Global Network

PACPAC organiser Kibingi Wa Maturi receiving an engraved token of thanks from the UK CPA

On & Off Duty

2 Latest news from the Christian Police Association

‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fi re and burned.’ John 15: 5-6

As we read this familiar passage we can, especially at this time of the year, be reminded of the farmer who, during the winter days, takes time to prune the hedges that encase and border his fi elds; in so doing, dispensing with dead wood and branches which, over time, have made the hedge messy; spoiling its intended look. But then, only a short while after this pruning which can often appear severe and drastic, spring arrives, and those bare and stark hedges come alive with the promise of fresh shoots, giving way to new life as those barren areas give themselves over to fresh new greenery which is so pleasing to the eye. Our Christian walk can often be like this as God can, and does, use those ‘winter periods’ of our lives to prune away the dead wood which, although sometimes feeling somewhat drastic, can, and does, so often lead us to a later period of delight and bounty as we burst forward into a new summer of joy and purpose.

Making Way for the New

Dear Lord, As I lay my life before you, help me to always remain focused on you and your ways for me – even through my darkest of days – so that, even as you strip away all that is dead and useless within me, I am able to delight and rejoice in your love and concern for me. And through all this, encourage me to walk with confi dence through every minute of the day, in the sure knowledge that your Holy Spirit will lead and instruct me along that narrow way that is righteousness. Amen

Mike Quinnell - Regional Co-ordinator, North East

...continued from page 1My speaking slot was timetabled for the fi nal conference morning and, after some thought, I decided to improvise from what I had originally planned so I could speak more about the essence of ‘Fellowship’ rather than majoring on the structure of our organisation.

Giving Catherine Gurney (founder of the CPA) full recognition for all she had so faithfully done, and showing delegates a short fi lm about the CPA, I was able to describe the linkage between our gathering in Africa and the UK. Through this, I was able to give a message of support and co-operation from our CPA Executive Director, Lee Russell, while also taking the opportunity to pray for all those at the UK CPA Leaders’ Conference which was taking place at the same time.

Along with the more structured elements of the conference there were also times of great informality. On one particular occasion, I decided to make a

mannequin for my uniform using an offi ce chair with a water melon for the head, resplendent with custodian helmet. Putting the obvious humour to one side, my message, through an interpreter, was to remind everyone that simply wearing a police uniform would not, of itself, be suffi cient cause for any of us to ‘Arise or Shine’, but rather it being through our character in the workplace. I explained that our conduct was the key to sharing the Good News with those around us. Finally, during the closing ceremony, I was also able to present a specially engraved and greatly appreciated gift on behalf of the UK CPA to Kibingi Wa Maturi from Kenya, the lead organiser of PACPAC. So it was that, for such a time as this, I thank God for the opportunities that I was so fortunate to undertake; and to each one here in the UK, I thank you for all your payers and support.”

Neil Collin

A prayer Image copyright M Quinnell

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I never really thought I would want to join the police – in fact, it never crossed my mind until the day my father died. After returning from working with the Christian NGO Iris Ministries in Mozambique, my dad developed cancer and never really got better. But he never gave up. Not on himself, not on his family, and never on God or his faith. And that’s why, at seventeen, I was able to hold my dad’s hand and tell him that it was OK to go, because I knew where he was going and that, one day, I would see him again.

Until that time, every second in my life had been dedicated to getting into university to study astrophysics, which my father had wholeheartedly encouraged me with. Yet, without him now around, I began to question this. So it was that, shortly after this, my uncle asked me a life-changing question: “What are you going to do?” at which he began to tell me about a wonderful organisation, full of supportive colleagues, who worked together as a family to fi x the wrongs of the world. And so, through that short conversation, my mind was made up and, a year to the day after my dad had died, my mum dropped me off at Tulliallan Police College for my fi rst day as a police offi cer.

But this is where I made a mistake. Only looking back now do I appreciate that, all through that preceding year, I hadn’t really spoken to God about things, and although I had never lost my faith, I hadn’t applied it for what lay ahead. So much so that, by the time I entered the world of policing, my solid foundation had crumbled and I began to drown. I was really struggling until, somehow, I caught the attention of a lovely sergeant who, on getting to know me, suggested that I hadn’t really engaged with a grieving process. With everything going on for me to get into the police service, I had never stopped to properly address the death of my father. Yet, even so, I still decided to ignore it and push things down further until I thought I would be right to deal with things on my own terms. And so, sadly, that’s what I started doing – everything on my own. My fi rst year in the job was hard, really hard. Not work-wise – I was dealing with things well and my sergeant told me that, for an eighteen year-old, I was very mature and developing well – but inside I was really struggling.

Fortunately, God was still at work and, by some miracle, I found myself going to an amazing church and, in doing so, gained another family; this one built on something

even bigger and stronger than the police service. Slowly, God began to open my eyes to all that He had been doing in my life over the last year by watching and keeping me safe and secure; I even saw that it was His hand and miraculous way that had allowed me to enter the police service at such a young age. And so it was that, not long after this, I experienced another miracle in my life.

Every fi ve weeks, I was posted to Edinburgh city centre, where I kept coming into contact with Alex, who was working security outside a nightclub. A year later, that man became a police offi cer and just happened, out of thirteen divisions and fi ve teams, to be posted to the one team which meant we were bound to meet again! And, after a year of growing together and learning to put God fi rst in our relationship, Alex and I became engaged!

Ecclesiastes Chapter 4 describes an oppressed, meaningless world, until a person is joined by another to stand with God to become an unbreakable cord of three. And so that’s what I will do in facing this world: fi rst with my God, and then with my future husband – while, of course, not forgetting my new CPA family. I couldn’t be more excited!

PC Sam (Samantha) Smith, Police Scotland

God’s Plan and Our Purpose

Sam and Alex on a recent trip to Iceland

ON & OFF DUTY is the CPA monthly digest of news and articles. We also update a monthly Prayer Diary intended to inform and encourage those associated with the CPA. Please forward any items to offi ce@CPAuk.net by the 20th of each month. NB. All articles published will also be available for unrestricted viewing via the Internet. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the CPA Council.

On & Off Duty

4 Latest news from the Christian Police Association cpauk.net | coact.org.uk

President Sir Matt Baggott CBE, QPM, Chief Constable, PSNI (Ret’d) Chairman of Council Sgt Marie ReaveyExecutive Director Lee Russell Editor Allan Spencer Administrator Jackie White

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OUR MISSION is to Be a National Voice for Christians in Policing Encourage and support Christians in the Police Service. Communicate in words and action, the truth, message and hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ to colleagues and the community we serve. Build bridges between the Christian community and the Police.

CHRISTIAN POLICE ASSOCIATION

In this issue, it was really great to be reminded that we are a global network of Christians in policing services across the world. In addition, Mike Quinnell covers how God brings new growth and purpose to our lives. This links to the lovely article from PC Sam Smith; I am so pleased that we were able to cover her journey to faith, which includes her (and her fi ancé, Alex’s) recent membership of the CPA.

I am really looking forward to our annual National Conference in April. CPA Northern Ireland (CPANI) have kindly offered to host the conference. Please do consider joining us. Full details are available by contacting CPA HQ at offi ce@cpauk.net

Why not donate to CPA online?You can do so securely through give.net via the link www.give.net/CPA_National/oneoff

OUR VISION is to see The CPA as a national charity which actively leads on issues relevant to Christians in Policing An active and growing branch of CPA in every Police Service in the UK and every Christian in the Police Service to fulfi l their potential in Jesus Christ. Colleagues and those we serve to know Jesus Christ personally. Police and Churches working together in every community to reduce crime and improve quality of life.

... and fi nally from the Director

Image courtesy of A Hamill