News and Views edited by Rev. E. Anderson
May 14, 2008 at 7:44 pm (News and Views)
Archbishop John Sentamu
THE DARING ARCHBISHOP
The daring Archbishop of York will make a ‘leap of faith’ to show support for British soldiers in Afghanistan.
Dr. John Sentamu will jump from 12,500ft with the Parachute Regiment’s Red Devils team to raise money for the families of soldiers killed while serving with 3 Para.
Dr Sentamu , 58, said, “The armed services and their families make enormous sacrifices on our behalf. Unfortunately, many of the families who have lost loved ones are not being given enough financial support. And for those who return as wounded heroes, the support can be a long time coming, and then not nearly enough.
Dr Sentamu will be leaping out of an aircraft over RAF anger, near Nottingham, on May 27th, in tandem with businessman Guy Brudenell.
Dr Sentamu and the Red Devils hope to raise more than £50,000 in sponsorship for the Afghanistan Trust charity, which helps paratroopers and their families in the event of injury or death.
CHRISTIAN WOMEN IN PRISON
The women of South Sudan, a mainly Christian part of the country, face many difficulties. In 22 years of civil war, many have been widowed and must shoulder new responsibilities to care for their children. Many such women are living in refugee camps in North Sudan, which is ruled by a strongly Islamic government that enforces shari’a (Islamic law). Some have been arrested and imprisoned because they failed to conform to demands of shari’a, for example, the Islamic dress code. Others are in prison for debts which they could not repay because of their poverty.
A grant of £4,000 (US$ 8,000; £5,200) to a Prison Christian Fellowship helps to provide these women with blankets, clothes. Bibles, medicines and the fines they must pay on release as well as the travel costs which are then needed. It also helps their families and dependents.
