one so ld ier ’s s tory -after the plane crash

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contents

Owen’s blogMartin’s memolife with Katie Kyle book reviewscaption competition

WATCHING ATHLETES winning competitions is always inspiring,

the line in the London marathon, the champions in the football league or more recently the medallists in the Invictus Games. Their determination and stamina is tremendous and yet we rarely see the journey leading up to the competition, which for many is usually a very tough one.

For Invictus Games rower Cowan Botha (page 8), and many like him, his route to the Games came at a high price and he had to battle through emotional and mental challenges alongside the physical training to reach his goals. We all face challenges in our lives and

this issue of Contact Cowan is among several people who share their stories of how their faith in God has helped them through some of the ‘mountains’

Ex-soldier Nigel Baldwin (page 6) tells his extraordinary story of being one of the survivors in a plane crash in 1989 and how it almost wrecked his life. He explains how God didn’t abandon him and although he tried to run away from his problems, it was his discovery of a relationship with a living God that turned his life around and saved both him and his family.

for their partners left behind. RAF wife, Tricia Holley (page 10), shares how she found her husband’s absences hard to cope with and, in times of desperation God’s promise that He will provide for our needs has been one of the rocks that has kept her steady through the storms of separation.

regular columns encourage you to hold onto God’s promises whatever the future holds.

Editor

Now available Armed Forces Christian Union get.theapp.co/7423

Armed Forces’ Christian Union (AFCU), Havelock House, Barrack Road, Aldershot, Hants GU11 3NP Tel 01252 311221

If you wish to know more about what it means to be a Christian and/or how to

local chaplain or a Christian you may know or pick up the phone and ask the

HMS BULWARK to the rescue -charting the navy’s humanitarian response

Journey to the Games - a rowerrediscovers his faith after injury

hello - goodbye one RAF wife’s perspective on beingapart

Faith in the aftermath -how a soldier found faith after a plane crash4 6

8 10

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we dealt with rescuing

4797 survivors without

injuring or losing a

single one

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A YEAR ago I joined HMS BULWARK as the Commander Engineer – which was somewhat unexpected. I have had a very varied career that has involved several experiences of working to move peace forward, from organising a peace

working out of Mogadishu trying to help the government there rebuild, but I had not expected to still be racking up sea time at my age and seniority. The original programme was balanced and interesting with the Gallipoli commemorations followed by a series of exercises in the Mediterranean - then home for maintenance and summer leave.

But all was to change. As we completed the commemorations at Gallipoli, we heard a number of lives were lost at

committed BULWARK to operations there. Our visit to Istanbul was cancelled. However, the Royal Navy did what it is so good at and changed role to a

is legally liable to respond to a call for an incident at sea under SOLAS (Safety of Life At Sea) regulations, it is not usual to be deliberately put in an area where this is expected to occur.

So we dashed across the Mediterranean

the armoured vehicles and take on

to Sicily joining up with 814 Naval Air Squadron and embarking two troops of 45 Commando to provide security manpower. We also quickly embarked various specialists to assist including cultural specialists and linguists and an

Commander Engineer of HMS BULWARK, Mark Barton writes about his eventful year with the ship, which included an unexpected rescue operation in the middle of the Mediterranean...

unexpected mission

Letter to HMS BULWARK from the

Archbishop of Canterbury,

Justin Welby:

“To see the reports of the

professional and compassionate

way in which the crew of HMS

Bulwark has acted in the rescue

and care of so many people is a

cause for genuine pride. You have

performed in the best traditions of

the Royal Navy, and I would like to

for that and assure of prayers for

all your continuing work.”

’

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we could man each landing craft.

Now whether the government was right to task us is something that you will have your personal view on, but it was a role that BULWARK was extremely well equipped to undertake. The survivors were usually on board either wooden

hundred people, or in giant rubber

BULWARK had the huge advantage of carrying Landing Craft Utility (LCU) which could lower their ramps to below the

enable an almost dry transfer and then

drive into the ship to

When we picked up the survivors many were dehydrated and exhausted and some were very unclean. Many had nothing other than what they were standing up in. They rarely had any luggage. On board we would medically triage them, search them, remove weapons (usually home made knives for self protection) and drugs, give them an

energy bar and water and then try and establish basic details (name, nationality and whether or not they were minors), give clothes if needed and a blanket if hosting overnight. Medical treatment was available and many came forward seeking help, usually for illnesses from years ago or for medications you would normally expect a person to carry for themselves. They would then lie down and go to sleep. The next day they would become chattier. Many talked to each other in groups, possibly formed on the journey. The majority were men, although there were several women and a few children. A high percentage of the women were pregnant. While we had various shipborne rumours regarding

their giving birth, including one about twins called Gull and Able, we did have one birth on board and then one lady who went into labour and was landed via helicopter.

We routinely exercise conducting a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) that assumes people can be distributed around the ship, in this operation it was necessary to keep the survivors segregated. It is important to provide self-protection for the ship’s company so that illness does not sweep the ship. This led to the adoption of the protection principle that the Italian Navy uses, with

the concept of a red zone and green zone. Any area is regarded as green until it becomes used by survivors at which point it becomes red. All personnel within the red zone need to wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) which, depending on their role, includes a facemask, gloves and separate coveralls. On leaving the zone all personnel go through a decontamination process. If you had smelt the stench you would have realised the need for this precaution.

We were not the only vessel conducting this work, but we were by far the best equipped and even the vessels operated by charities worked closely with us

sometimes transferring their rescued survivors to us for safe transit to land. This was as directed by the Italian authorities and would be somewhere in Italy or Sicily and there we would pass the survivors over to the Red Cross. We then would quickly reset and return to the area of likely further incidents.

While the work was repetitive, it was well within our skill set and capabilities. The ship held up well, despite erroneous press reports to the contrary, and overall we dealt with rescuing 4797 survivors without injuring or losing a single one. At one time we had nearly 1200 on board so no wonder we had to keep them in a

(continued on page 9)

drive into the ship to

BULWARK while on transit to Italy (pictured left), Cdr Mark Barton (bottom left) with some of the crew and a Save the Children thank you banner

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“BRACE, BRACE, brace...” those were the last words 20-year-old Nigel Baldwin heard before he bent his head towards the seat in front of him on British Midland

that they were going to crash, he had

and was recalling the emergency drills he’d been trained in for an incident in Northern Ireland.

Immediately after the plane hit the embankment, Nigel said he blacked out. “I remember being in a pitch black room,” he said. “It was as if I was suspended face down looking into nowhere and it was silent. Then it was like someone switched the volume and lights back on and I started to hear all the screams and smells around me. I had blood running down my face like water and I couldn’t see. It was like I’d just come out of the water, it was swimming down my face.”

When he cleared the blood from his eyes he could see the whole interior of the plane had disintegrated and been blown out and wires were hanging down all

appear he tried to move and realized he was paralyzed from the waist down.

An infantry soldier, Nigel was on his way back to duty in Northern Ireland with the Queen’s Regiment after a weekend

plane a few hours earlier. Nigel had joined the army at 17 and had started his tour on his 18th birthday. “I joined the army partly to get away from all the problems at home with my parent’s divorce and I loved it. I was one of only 19 recruits out of 53 to get through the

of a team – I suppose we thought we were invincible.” Nigel had been due to be promoted soon after the crash and

was on his second tour in Northern Ireland.

after the crash...

a sold er s story of s r al and hope

Ex infantry soldier Nigel Baldwin recalls the night he was on board a plane that crashed into the motorway and how God stepped into his life in the aftermath...

Ireland.way

nd

Photo credit: BBC News

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Although the plane came down on an embankment of the M1 not far from Nottingham, it was en route to Belfast and Nigel mistakenly thought they had crashed in Northern Ireland. After telling

wanted to help, he managed despite his injuries to get out of his seat and push it forward to free the woman behind him whose legs were broken. “I laid her on my chest and pulled myself over the back of the seats with my arms, then a

“I wanted to stay and help; it must have been the adrenaline keeping me going and my army training kicking in.”

When he eventually allowed the emergency service to help him his biggest fear was that he would be taken to the wrong hospital in Belfast and put himself in further danger from the

and told her he was military personnel and needed a police escort. “When she told me we were on the M1 I stopped panicking and that’s when I knew I was in safe hands and I went unconscious.”

Nigel’s pelvis had broken in four places and he had injuries to his face, chest, knees and ankles. He was in hospital for months with his physical injuries but he says it was the emotional and psychological injuries that were the worst. A couple of years later Nigel faced further tragedy. Having been medically discharged from the army and on heavy medication he wasn’t coping well and was drinking heavily. His wife Heather

recognize it, and she took her own life while he was out one night, leaving him

to bring up their young daughter alone.

Nigel married again and moved to Spain with his new wife Regan, where his bouts of drinking continued. One night he met a Spanish Christian called Alfonso trying to recruit leaders for his church children’s clubs. It was a meeting that changed his life. “I wore many masks to cover up what was really going on,” he explained. “I was very wary of Alfonso because I knew he was a Christian, but I agreed to go for a beer with him. I ended up leaving the restaurant that evening having had an experience of the Holy Spirit and my life changed from that moment onwards. It was a like a miracle.”

Nigel found his life turned around when he became a Christian. His wife Regan also gave her life to God and the whole family, including their four children,

began to attend church. They moved back to the UK in 2007. Nigel now works as a courier and also actively shares his faith around the UK and abroad. He is part of the ministry team for the East of England with Christian Vision for Men (CVM) and is passionate about sharing faith with ordinary blokes.

He says God has given him a new direction and changed his life, helping him have the courage to face up to the awful experiences in the past. “I’d buried a lot of things. It’s almost as if you barge past them…but someday you’ve got to go back and pick up the pieces. I’ve noticed that pattern with my army mates too. If I hadn’t got the right help around I don’t think I would be where I am today. My faith has enabled me to swallow my pride (soldiers have massive pride) and

admit I need help. I couldn’t talk to my mates after the crash because I didn’t want to seem weak.”

Nigel has a website called hopeintheaftermath.com where he shares his faith and his life story. He said, “I was listening to a song from Hillsong called ‘Aftermath’ and in the lyrics it says, ‘you lifted me out of the wreckage’. Hearing that made me think of how I had been lifted out physically by the rescuers, but emotionally God had lifted me out of the wreckage I was trapped in… since I

emotionally.”

Working with other Christians in CVM who have been through traumatic experiences, Nigel hopes to write down some of things he’s learned to help others. He says, “I’m open about my faith

now and I’m passionate about sharing the gospel with ordinary blokes in a way that they can relate to. Statistics have

families when they become Christians – 93% of men introduced to Jesus also

That’s what happened in my family.”

On his website he writes, ‘I don’t know where God will have me go next but I know it is to contribute to setting the lost and hurting free from the bondage of this world by sharing the Gospel of Christ.’

For more details see: http://hopeintheaftermath.com and for details on CVM see: http://cvm.org.uk

emotionally God had lifted me out of the wreckage I was trapped in

(pictured right) with his family

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Will my mates be there

Is there more to life than this

Pub again

How about a night in

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Game c

COWAN WON a bronze medal for rowing in the 2014 Games which he said was an immense personal achievement just a few months after being told he wasn’t going to get better and was to be discharged from the army on medical grounds, following further surgery and rehabilitation.

A former Lance Corporal in the Royal

the military for nine years completing operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. But during pre-deployment training for a tour to Afghanistan, he took part in a weighted run. He explained, “Unfortunately for me, that was the day my life changed. Whilst running with

my squad down a steep gravel track, I slipped and fell. An ultrasound scan, MRI and MRA revealed that I had torn the labrum in my hip and that a para-labral cyst had also formed.

to Afghanistan in October 2012 with my regiment. All I wanted to do was

being on constant pain medication I was motivated by the thought that if I could

worth my being there.

“Upon my return to the UK in March

surgeries. The whole experience was

extremely testing and very challenging mentally. When I had my medical board and was told that my military career was over it absolutely crushed me. Knowing that all the pain I had been through to try and stay in the army had meant nothing was very hard to overcome.”

Before leaving South Africa and joining the army Cowan had been very involved in his local church and still continued to attend church in England, also attending services while he was out in Iraq. But he admitted he had gradually been drifting away from God.

He said, “After my initial injury and surgery I don’t think that my relationship

spoke to Him more, just kind of hoping He would listen and help me get better. Following my medical board in early 2014 when I was told that I would be discharged, I probably pushed God away (along with everyone else around me as I

Invictus Games bronze medallist 2014, Cowan Botha, was back competing again in the 2016 games. Although he narrowly missed out on a medal this year, he says the Games are one of the best things that have happened to him… that, and his renewed Christian faith.

Prince Harry at the 2014 Invictus Games

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(continued from page 5)crowded deck. They were allowed access to the upper deck, but chose not to at night because it was too cold. We returned to plaudits from both Save the Children and from the Archbishop of Canterbury. However, it meant a longer

What a year! And it will certainly be one that I will look back on with huge pride. Directly helping save nearly 5000 lives was hugely satisfying and the fact that we avoided any one being injured or lost was a huge testament to the professionalism of our team. What was really noticeable was that each and everyone had a story to tell as to why they were there. While many falsehoods were stated by some, there were some genuinely moving stories. We had a blind person who no one realised was blind until he was on board. He had got into the boat in Libya and transferred to the landing craft and then onto BULWARK without ever letting others realise.

Christians carry a divine mandate to love the alien and to welcome the stranger. Our response to human desperation and migration should not be fear, but love.

Jesus laid out some of the marks that identify those who are of his kingdom in Matthew 25:35-36.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,I was a stranger and you invited me in,I needed clothes and you clothed me,I was sick and you looked after me,I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Although these may be uncomfortable words it is a good description of the people trying to reach Europe’s shores and those we helped on HMS BULWARK.

In April Cdr Mark Barton became Chairman of Trustees for the Naval Christian Fellowship

changerwas quite hurt and upset) and wondered what I had done to deserve this. I wondered why it was happening to me.”

at a very low point in Headley Court, he met another injured solider, AFCU member, Bruce Ekman. They instantly hit

“Bruce really looked after me and helped me out of the hole I had found myself in. I started my upward spiral and started to believe there was something more after the army and that maybe God had another plan for me.”

Cowan joined the Help for Heroes triathlon team and also participated in Ironman 2014 as part of an injured serviceman relay team. He said, “It was a huge privilege to compete and really boosted my morale.”

Towards the end of a very emotional year, he was selected to represent Great Britain in the 2014 Invictus Games. He said, “It was an amazing feeling to represent my country and compete in the games and even better to win a bronze

myself again and look forward instead of backwards at what I had left behind. I believe it was God’s plan for me to be in the 2014 Games at the time when I needed it most and it helped me to instil pride back in myself and repair the bonds in my family life. I was completely transformed after the Games and I believe that Prince Harry and his vision to help the injured serviceman community was God’s plan to get me on the right path.”

Competing for the country he served, he said, was a major motivational factor and also to be competing with the best injured service personnel out there was a privilege. “When you’re a soldier you’re so proud,” he explained, “But when you leave the forces a lot of that pride goes.

very similar feeling to being a soldier and it gave me something else to focus on. It was good to be part of a team in the Games and be alongside service men and women again.”

“I don’t know what would have happened to me if I had stayed in the army, but maybe God does and knows that I had done my duty and it was time

with my family.”

Cowan and his wife Samantha, who was his childhood sweetheart in South Africa, celebrated their wedding in South Africa in March. It was also a turning point for them both in terms of their Christian faith. The vicar helping them prepare for the big day asked them to think about their lives and where they were going. Cowan said, “We want to bring our children up in a really good environment and that became a light bulb moment

things in your path – whether you take

IT project management and is currently contracted to a construction company. He said he hasn’t given up on getting another medal and hopes to begin training again for the next Invictus Games in Toronto. “I think I’ll give it another go… I can only get better and stronger!”

nearly dry transfer

Cowan competing (pictured left)

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RAF wife, Tricia Holley, found her life was a rollercoaster ride of comings and goings, so she found new ways of managing the ups and downs...WHEN TRICIA said, “I do,” she had no idea what kind of life she was marrying

frequently away and with a toddler and a teenager to care for the comings and goings don’t get any easier… but she has found support in surprising places.

Tricia was brought up in South Africa and when she was nine years old the family emigrated from South Africa to England. She said, “I became a Kentish lass and went to school in Hythe and Folkestone.” Her father was a commercial pilot and she actually met her future husband

UK and they found themselves living on the same road and playing in the snow together. “We only realised the connection many years later when we met again,” she said.

After school Tricia completed a degree in Leicester where she settled for a few years. “I turned away from the Christian faith in which I’d been brought up at around 13 years of age and became very cynical. I’d describe myself as a very hard nut to crack.” But a woman in

who wouldn’t let her forget God was on her case. “When I realized she was a Christian, I thought, ‘Oh no, I’m trapped here with her’, and she never gave up talking to me about God. When I eventually decided to go back home, she told me it might be a good idea to go to church and maybe go on an Alpha course. I was a single mum with a daughter in tow and I felt like a female version of the prodigal son. When I moved back home I told my mum I’d like to go to church and she was very surprised.”

Tricia went on an Alpha course and had a dramatic experience of God and the Holy Spirit. She said, “Everything changed.” A

gathering. He was an RAF sergeant in air movements based at RAF Lyneham. As their relationship developed Tricia had a

posted to Kent.

since 2011 and have a two-year-old son and a 17-year-old daughter. Tricia

mission organization - Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) UK. She said being a military wife was a big change from being a single mum and independently running

a rollercoaster. Like a single mum one

week then including him again when he suddenly arrives back after time away. I have a set way of doing things and he will come back like a bomb blast and will

The challenge of adjusting to the ‘hello-goodbye’ lifestyle of a military wife has made Tricia rely more on her faith. “I know I’m in exactly the right place

it hard though. One day when I was particularly struggling, I needed space so I drove down to the sea. I was crying and I said, ‘God I can’t do this. Sometimes he goes away and I don’t know where he is going because he can’t say and I don’t know if he is safe. There’s no consistency.’ Then I was looking at the waves crashing in and I felt God say, ‘Look at the ocean and the waves they come in and they go out, again and again, like the waves I will rebuild you, again and again. ’ I stand on that word every day - I know I can’t be a military wife in my own strength.

Tricia said she has found with God’s

to remember him with photos around the house and talking about him when he’s deployed for long periods. “God helps to keep my heart soft, and stops me from getting hard-hearted and independent. I have to rely on him and this helps me to be a better mum to the children,” she said. Support also comes from a number of sources including colleagues at work, church and her mother. “My mum had the experience of my dad being away a lot as a commercial pilot and she is always a support. There are other people too who I call ‘wise owls’ who encourage me to go onwards and upwards and stop me from wallowing in what’s wrong. At MAF there is someone whose husband was in the military.

week then including him again when he

hello...goodbye

married to the mil itar y

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in the Kyle household (a friend described it on Facebook as ‘a pretty normal day for Katie Kyle’!). Husband had done the school run for me (yay) so everything was going well, for at least 10 minutes. Just needed to walk the dog. Easy. But on the dog walk, I lost the dog. After screaming

I admitted defeat and went home, struggling with my 13kg toddler on my back (I reckon I would currently breeze through Marine Commando training).

As I let myself into the house, I heard an ominous thud from behind. I turned

door mat with his make-up gift, a deer’s head with antlers, perfectly severed from its body. I’m starting to realise why my advanced wrinkle repair serum isn’t working... But at least the dog was back. Just needed to dispose of the head in my hallway.

A few days later, a neighbour’s dog found the deer’s stomach. At least no one can describe patch life as dull! The theory is that someone killed the deer and discarded the bits they didn’t want.

thought how odd it was to leave behind the head and antlers.To my mind, the noblest part of the deer was the part that had been discarded.

The following verse came to me, ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’ (Psalm 118:22). This verse describes how humankind rejected Jesus because we didn’t understand the

to us, His Son. It got me wondering how many of God’s gifts I reject because I don’t realise they are gifts.

If I’m honest with myself, I’m often a glass half empty person. Get me on my specialist subjects and I could win

prizes for moaning: 1. Military housing

get me started on the dribble I shower under and the ancient heating system that allows my son to claim there’s a monster in his room at bedtime. But is the military house I love to moan about a gift from God that I’m rejecting?

If it weren’t for military housing, I wouldn’t live in this beautiful corner of Hampshire, walking my dog around

be able to come home at lunchtime. Our children might not go to a leafy Christian school. And the deployments and time apart? I hate them! But when I’m at the chiropractors, feeling the stress of single parenting in my neck and back, exhausted because I don’t sleep

husband in amazing ways and my faith in Him is strengthened. The psalm goes on, ‘The Lord has done this and it is marvellous in our eyes.’ (Psalm 118:23) My challenge to myself is to see more of the marvellous things God is doing in this funny military life.

es for moaning: 1 Military housing

spotting thecornerstone

Katie Kyle is married to Jack, a Chinook helicopter pilot. She is a part-time solicitor and enjoys writing and dog walking.They live at RAF Odiham, where their three children and Labrador regularly run rings round them!

She knows what it’s like and with her encouragement I’ve joined a local military community choir. She has been an incredible support along with the sound advice I get from the pastor and his wife at our church.”Tricia said she is looking forward to

isn’t quite sure what that might bring.

“What has been good are all the great connections with my work at MAF

just likes being near planes. It’s funny that I’m now working with an aviation organisation and who knows what the future will bring for us.”

Owen’s blogL i v i n g t h e f a i t h

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by apt wen h rton

parade, or ‘Academy Sunday’. We would march to chapel in ‘blues’ for a church service that was enjoyed by some and endured by others. I fondly remember the devout atheist sitting next to me who refused to sing any of the ‘Christian’ hymns but who belted out I Vow To Thee My Country with patriotic fervour, seemingly not realising that the ‘another country’ of verse 2 is in fact the Kingdom of God! Indeed, many of the hymns we sang, such as Jerusalem and Onward, Christian Soldiers, are deeply out of fashion in most churches. Apart from very dubious history (in the case of Jerusalem), this appears to be due to the militaristic nature of many of their lyrics which, it must be said, can create a certain level of discomfort, especially

as the church looks to make itself a more welcoming environment for newcomers.

Those hymns look unlikely to make a comeback, and I must confess that I am not altogether disappointed by this. However, I would suggest that if we eliminate militaristic language entirely when talking about the gospel then I think that our understanding of it is severely hampered. One of my favourite quotes in this regard comes from C.S. Lewis, who fought in the trenches in WW1 with the Somerset Light Infantry, (one of the antecedent regiments of

fortune to serve). In his book Mere Christianity he writes,

thinks God made the world - that space

and time, heat and cold, and all the colours and tastes, and all the animals and vegetables, are things that God ‘made up out of His head’ as a man makes up a story. But it also thinks that a great many things have gone wrong with the world that God made and that God insists, and insists very loudly, on our putting them right again.”

In the context of a world scarred by the

seems unhelpful at best. But I think it is spot on. Lewis here is not referring to

talking about a purely ‘spiritual’ concept. Rather, he is talking about Christianity as a religion not only to be believed but to be practised. When we look around us and see pride and wrongdoing and injustice, we should not shrug our shoulders and say ‘It is what it is’, but we

should do something about it. There are two sides to this. There is the internal aspect, where we look at ourselves and realise that we fall short

sometimes with ourselves, as we try and pretend that our character failings are simply part of who we are, and mistake God’s forgiveness for divine apathy. Our lives will be immeasurably richer if we do not shy away from our shortcomings but confront them, and ask for God’s grace and help in overcoming them. There is also the external aspect. I disagree with the modern narrative that religious faith is a private matter, because a faith that has zero bearing on how I live my life is no faith at all. This is not an excuse for bigotry and intolerance.

Instead, it is a recognition that since God is not a distant deity sitting on a cloud but is in fact active in creation, who became human to die in order to redeem humanity, we are called to be active in serving him and working for his purposes.The words of James 2.14-17 speak for themselves:“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead”.

Whilst being a Christian in a broken world is a daunting task, not least because of our own struggles, we have the assurance of God’s help. As the words of Onward, Christian Soldiers have it, “we have Christ’s own promise, and that can never fail”.

being a Christian in a broken world is a daunting task

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HI AGAIN. What is this weather all about? For goodness sake we even had snow in May … bonkers. Of course we experienced all sorts of weather at sea. Some incredibly beautiful calm days watching the sun go down over a tranquil blue sea to full on hurricanes where we literally battened down the hatches. I’d like to spin a dit about one storm in particular ….

West Indies deployment heading towards Barbados for a well-deserved two week

cocktails … when a hurricane hit. It was a particularly bad one, called Hurricane Mitch and was the most powerful and destructive hurricane of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season, with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph. It killed 19,325 people across regions of Central America, with Honduras particularly badly hit. Now, I had chosen to take my

the family, rather than Barbados. I had

re-join in Grand Cayman before the ship headed to Barbados, where I would be on duty for a lot of the time.

I left my family in Orlando and was

to Grand Cayman. There was a lot of activity and everyone seemed on edge.

no problem of course so I was ushered straight through to the departure lounge. There were a whole lot of men there, no women, and all were ex-pats who clearly knew each other. They immediately told me that the island was being evacuated, as a hurricane was about to hit. They had brought their families to the mainland and were heading back to

look after property and other things. All

they told me it was not there, and it had sailed that morning. It was just getting better… heading into a hurricane and no ship! I arrived at Grand Cayman, and sure enough the ship was nowhere to be seen. By now there were a few other members of the ship’s company waiting and we were all in a hotel down near the port. The wind was getting up

the horizon and the seaboat was sent to get us. I was never so pleased to see the ship to be honest! (They had sailed the day before to answer an SOS call

Of course it is often safer for a ship in a bad storm to be at sea … you can risk serious danger of being trashed alongside a jetty, especially some of the smaller jetties. We went to sea.

It was rough out at sea, but hey we were paid for it, as the hurricane came through, but the news coming in was not good. Once the hurricane had passed we joined the huge rescue operations. The power of the storm was incredible and the human cost very high. But in the midst of all the devastation and loss we were involved in an amazing rescue. We were searching for a ship, in fact it was a luxury yacht called the Fantome, that could not be found (it had sadly been lost at sea). The US Coastguard had alerted us to some wreckage that may have been from the missing ship, so our

saw that it was the roof of a hut, really just a tangle of branches, but clinging to it was a woman. This was 6 days after

coast. The winch-man went down and

the ship. She was not in a good way but she survived. A fantastic story of hope and survival in amongst the tragedy.

Whenever I think back on this it reminds me of the rescue mission of Jesus for each of us… As a Christian I believe that all of us have gone against God’s ways, and the only way back into ‘relationship’ with God is through Jesus … he came to earth to ‘rescue’ us … many of us think we are doing OK and all is good,

a ‘hurricane’ will come and tear our lives upside down. The lady was lucky,

story. If you want to know more about Jesus’ rescue mission give us a shout

the chaplaincy and have a chat with the Bish … don’t wait for the storm to hit … Jesus can of course still rescue you in the storm, but why wait?

You can read more about the rescue during Hurricane Mitch on line at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/207607.stm Until next time … Cheers and blessings.

by Steve Martin, Operations DirectorChristian Vision for Men

ying into a storm

What is the Armed Forces’ Christian Union (AFCU)? The 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.

All members receive the AFCU

and other literature and access to information and resources on the web and the App. The AFCU has a network of Christian contacts across the Armed Forces and members have access to this address list. The AFCU holds 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

form.

contact

14

AS THE nation, countries around the world and members of the armed forces join to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday this year, many have focused on her life of service and also her Christian faith.

A new book produced by the Bible Society, London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) and HOPE, pays tribute to Her Majesty in her 90th year and looks at how her trust in Jesus Christ has shaped her life and work. The Servant Queen and the King she serves, by Mark Greene and Catherine Butcher, includes a forward by the Queen in which she wrote, “I have been – and remain – very grateful to you for your prayers and to God for His steadfast love. I have indeed seen His faithfulness.” She invites readers to

father King George VI in his Christmas

‘I said to the man who stood at the Gate of Year“Give me a light that I may treat safely into the unknown.”And he replied, “Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God.That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.”

The book, which also has an accompanying assembly resource for children, is an illustrated record of her life as a ‘the longest reigning monarch in British history, mother and

grandmother…. a senior citizen who works over 40 hours a week, never went to university but has been the adviser

Ministers, and who is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and yet feeds her own dogs.’ It states that the Queen is a woman who has looked in two directions throughout her life – ‘upwards towards God, and outwards towards her people.’

It quotes her own words, which express her strong and personal faith in God, and it claims her Christian faith is the secret of her consistency of character and extraordinary contribution to the nation and the world. Quoting her words in a broadcast in 2002,“I know just how much I rely on my faith to guide me through the good times and the bad. Each day is new beginning. I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all the

day brings, and to put my trust in God… I draw strength from the message of hope in the Christian gospel.”

The book is designed to be a conversation-starter and a gift from churches to their local communities and schools and from individuals to friends, colleagues, or family. LICC’s website says, ‘We hope you’ll

inspiring and easy to pass on.’ For further details and how to order your copy see: https://www.cpo.org.uk/range.

‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’your Majesty

also has an

day mIfoC

Thdecoanchulocaandfromfrienfamisays

inspir

“You put your left leg in”EB

What is happening in the photo above? Why not send in your caption to rachel.reay@gmail.com before 1st October 2016? It could be a winner...Thank you to all those who entered last time’s competition. We do receive some great captions. Congratulations to the winner.

Please send letters, captions and ideas for articles to: rachel.reay@gmail.com

Photographs © Crown Copyright from http://www.defenceimagery.mod.uk are reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s

unintentional omission and would be pleased to insert appropriate acknowledgement in the next issue.

Forces.

Contact Editorial Team:

The Night the Angels Came:Miracles of Protection and Provision in Burundi by Chrissie ChapmanMidwife Chrissie Chapman recounts her remarkable story of rescue, protection and God’s faithfulness as she helped orphans amidst the horrors of civil war in Burundi. It gives some hope for people in a country that is once again in an unstable and dangerous state. £8.99 Monarch Books

Under Their Very Eyes: The Astonishing Life of Tom Hamblin, Bible Courier to Arab Nations

Having completing military service, Tom Hamblin’s story of evangelism and bible-carrying into Islamic countries is inspiring and extraordinary. After time working in Borneo he felt called to a new and risky mission - the

£10.99 Monarch Books

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel QureshiProviding an intimate window into a loving Muslim home, Qureshi shares how he developed a passion for Islam before discovering, almost against his will, evidence that Jesus rose from the dead. His truthful inner turmoil will challenge Christians and Muslims alike. £10.99 Zondervan

Eve by WM Paul YoungAnother novel from bestselling author of The Shack, Eve promises to be just as inspiring and gripping and is an exploration of the creation narrative that challenges traditional misconceptions about who we are and how we’re made. It opens up a refreshing conversation about the equality of men and women. £14.99 Simon & Schuster UK

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Contact magazine is publ ished by AFCU three t imes per year - Contact ISSN 1359 - 1726 - Registered Char i ty (No.249636)