SOVEREIGN SERVICE
By Brigadier Ian Dobbie
SASRA. 170 pages. £5.00
ISBN 095 1 248 60X (available from SASRA)
It is wonderfully encouraging to hear of new Christian initiatives in evangelism and church planting; but just as impressive is the story of a Christian movement that recently celebrated its 175th anniversary and is still going strong.
Such is the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Scripture Readers Association (SASRA), whose aim is to spread the saving knowledge of Christ among the personnel of our Forces around the world. This is front line ministry, since complete ignorance of Jesus and his love is now the norm. I get the impression that this special work requires special workers.
One of my favourites was a character called Harry Stickens, who was born within the sound of Bow bells, had been a bookies’ tick tack man, a professional boxer and a NCO in the RAF before he was born anew. Stories about him are legendary. Entering a barrack room, crowded with men, he announced himself with ‘ ’Allo all you sinners’.
Soldier: ‘I’m not a sinner’; Stickens: ‘What’s your name?’ Soldier: ‘Bertie’; Stickens: ‘In that case, my Bible must be wrong. Romans 3.23 : ‘All ’ave sinned and come short of the glory of God except Bertie’.
Taking a young man out preaching on the street, Stickens introduced him to the passers-by as follows: ‘ ’Ere’s a young man – he’s ’ad an education but he can’t help it’, and up on the soap box my friend found himself, to do the best he could.
This account, replete with personalities, photographs and testimonies, is a worthy record of bold Christian outreach that God has blessed and used over many years.
