National Conference 2010
‘Stronger Together For Our Communities’ Seminar
Friday 30th April 2010
Westpoint Conference Centre, Exeter.
‘Inspiring’ was how more than one of the100 delegates from a wide range of public and third sector agencies described the ‘Stronger Together for our Communities’ seminar run by the Christian Police Association.
The event was aimed at highlighting some of the great work that Christians are engaged in across the country to support the work of public agencies in seeking to reduce offending and deliver stronger and safer communities.
With delegates from 13 police forces, the Probation Service, Youth Offending Service, local Council, Drug Intervention, Police Authorities and the Prison Service this provided a real opportunity for building bridges between Christian agencies and those working within the criminal justice sector.
Delegates were welcomed by Chief Constable Stephen Otter, the Police Lead for Equality, Diversity and Human Rights who acknowledged the contribution of Christians and of Christian values including love, forgiveness to the work of public agencies and the key role that Christians can play within their communities.
Once prolific offender and now Pride of Britain award winner, Chris Saunders shared his story of hope from the depths of heroin addiction and prison as a result of what he called an encounter with Jesus. He told of how he continues to see miracles every day as he works with those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction at a drug rehabilitation centre in North Devon.
The impact of domestic violence was the focus of a powerful monologue drama by the Oddments Theatre Group from Yeovil. Mike Royal who heads up the Light House Group in Bradford and the West Midlands shared passionately about how their work with excluded children in surrounding them with a loving Christian environment was having a dramatic impact upon the lives of individual young lives and the astonishing success rates of reintegration into main stream education.
The event was full of exhibitors who were given the opportunity to share briefly about their work both regionally and nationally before the chance for delegates to find out more over lunch.
In the afternoon, delegates heard from Bob Collier, from Salford who, as a Neighbourhood Officer, was ‘invaded’ by 2000 Christians on one of the roughest estates in the country. Rather than being ‘eaten alive’ as he feared, he share about the dramatic and lasting impact the group had on the estate and beyond over the two weeks they were there. Rev Les Isaac shared about why people, even in their eighties, commit themselves to making a difference on the streets of the country every weekend until 4am as Street Pastors, not preaching, but reaching out to those in need.
John Harvey from Exeter City Council shared how Street Pastors there had made a real impact and how, whilst Exeter had spent many millions of pounds in recent years, the health and vibrancy of a city was far more than just about nice buildings, but about local people, like Christians taking an active part in creating a peaceful and welcoming environment.
The CPA President and Chief Constable of The Police Service of Northern Ireland, Matt Baggott, shared how he felt it was time to break down man made rituals and religious traditions that caused division and ill feeling and instead engage in active expressions of love and unity as Christians were being called to reach outwards to those in need with a message of hope.
The day finished with an ‘Any questions’ session for the panel which brought together many of the positive messages of the day.
Delegates shared how they felt the day was an inspiration to them in their work and challenged them to do more to develop stronger and more effective partnerships between public agencies and the Christian communities to maximise the potential opportunities that are so evident.
Some more feedback from delegates that attended:
I am involved in strategic planning, and will take back many ideas on improving community safety/cohesion, with Christian principles, over the longer term.
Inspirational with a capital 'I'.
Excellent. Really great choice of speakers, and subject matter.
Thoroughly enjoyable conference. Great encouragement.
Very well put together day. Well done!
Really helpful to catch the bigger picture and be encouraged to keep going.
The whole day was glorious.
National CPA Weekend.
The weekend was an amazing time of testimony and challenge with Rev Les Isaac (Street Pastors), David Oliver (Author/Care for the family) and the local Police Chaplain for Exeter – Aaron Richardson. We had some amazing testimonies to God’s goodness, including from Phil and Tracey Colley who we have been praying for (Phil is a PC in Teignmouth). They shared about how God was very powerfully at work in their lives even at a time when their son Ben was misusing drugs and alcohol. Ben continues to do amazingly well at Teen Challenge in Wales.
We heard too from an amazing lady Sergeant from Norfolk called Rachel who came home from Night Shift last November to find her husband (who was also a police officer) had died from a heart attack. She shared how that in her worst nightmare, God gave her the most incredible peace she had ever known and how she has been able to personally witness very powerfully to her Chief Constable about God’s amazing grace.
On Sunday, we even had a healing – Praise God! Astrid, wife of a Detective Inspector from Cornwall writes:
Hi guys, sorry for the delay in letting you know, Astrid went forward on Sunday morning and Tracey (an Inspector from the met) prayed for her. Tracey got a word of knowledge about a swelling or pain in her leg. Astrid has had a deep seated problem in her knee for years which has caused pain on kneeling but on Monday knelt on the floor with no pain and no problems at all.
What a blessing - Tracey had never met her and didn’t know her!
We had an amazing time of testimony, sharing and worship. All the hard work was worth it!