Christian Police Association
Thought for the Week
Website: www.CPAuk.net
Bible Verse
“The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it.”
Romans 13:3,4 (The Message)
Reflection
The question we are often asked is ‘can you be a Christian and a police officer?’ We have to answer a resounding ‘yes’ because there is no conflict of faith in carrying out this God-given occupation. But many in the Christian community still have doubts and have difficulty in understanding the work and pressures that those who serve in this way have to face.
It has recently been calculated that in the last eleven years 3,600 new offences have been created by Parliament. Even more astonishing is the fact that of these, no fewer than 1,036 can result in the imposition of a prison sentence. In other words, there has been a new imprisonable offence put on the statute book on average every four days over that period. The vast majority of these will involve the police in one way or another so, in order to enforce the law, they have to know the law and be able to apply it at a minute’s notice. A pressure often ignored by the legislators.
Public order, violent crimes and domestic abuse are just some of the frequent incidents dealt with by police officers. Then, of course, they have to go home and try to live normal family lives. When an officer who has recently dealt with the death of a child through an act of dangerous driving is instructed by a speeding motorist to ‘go and catch some real criminals’, it is difficult not to react.
In the Christian Police Association we provide fellowship and support for those in these difficult situations and we encourage the rest of the Christian community to engage with positively with them and pray for them. We have 31 branches across the United Kingdom which are coterminous with police forces and hope to have at least three more by the end of 2009. These are run by volunteers, most of whom are officers. We need more full-time workers to spread the work and encourage the prayer and support ministry. As you think of this work and of the police service as a whole, we would encourage you to lift it to the Lord in prayer.
As we work to glorify God in the Police Service, there are three key focuses to the work of the CPA:
a) To encourageand support Christians in the Police Service as they carry out a difficult and often thankless task.
b) To communicate in words and action, the message and hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ to colleagues and the community we serve.
c) To build bridges between the Christian community and the Police Service.
We are a non-denominational organisation and our members come from many Christian traditions.
Prayer Pointers
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Pray for those in positions of leadership in the Police Service – in particular those who openly declare their faith in Christ’s work. That they may have wisdom to direct their forces well and have concern for all their staff.
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Pray that officers will be kept safe and will enforce the law with integrity and wisdom especially in volatile situations and that they and their families would be protected from the effects of stress and know God’s peace in their lives.
- That Christian Police Officers and Support Staff will be strong and effective in their witness within the Police Service.
- That the church would respond to local issues and help bring communities together with the police to tackle local problems effectively.
- Pray for CPA President, Chief Constable Matt Baggott, Deputy President, Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Whiting and Branch Leaders around the country.
- Remember Don Axcell, Executive Director of CPA – that he will have wisdom and strength for the development of the Association.
- Pray for the National Council (Trustees) – that they will have a clear vision for the future.
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