By Patrick Reilly
Special to ASSIST News ServiceMANCHESTER, UK (ANS) – Christian police officers and support staff of the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) force have an updated website, loaded with the latest news and information of their ministry among their colleagues, which has attracted the attention and respect of senior officers as well as senior politicians in Westminster.

Christian police officers and support staff of the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) force have an updated website, loaded with the latest news and information of their ministry among their colleagues, which has attracted the attention and respect of senior officers as well as senior politicians in Westminster.The Christian Police Association founded in 1883 by Catherine Gurney, OBE, with the mission to “provide a Christian voice of witness within the Police service and a source of Christian fellowship to officers and support staff.

The GMP branch of the Christian Police Association has been one of the most active in the Country and has reaped a rich harvest with coppers and communities sharing in the blessings.

The Stockport Division of the GMP under leadership of Chief Superintendent Neil Wain has seen a 15% reduction in reported crime, which he believes is the direct result of churches in the community supporting their Police officers in prayer and getting involved.

Neil Wain’s faith in Christ is as clearly seen as his “high” ranking Chief Superintendents uniform and he is currently involved with an Alpha course in Stockport’s HQ, sharing the Leadership of the course with other officers because of his duties.

Among the dozen or so people who attend the course is one officer who wrote to Neil following the first night. He wrote in an email, “Firstly a big thank you to yourself and all involved in arranging the Alpha Course last night, it was a very, very enjoyable evening which certainly has made me think where I have been going wrong in life. Last night in such a short time has opened my eyes and I now feel strong enough to take God back into my life, for the first time in years I actually spoke to God last night and asked God to forgive me for neglecting him over the many, many years. It is amazing in such a short time how my view on life has changed, I have a lot to change, however I hope that I can do this.”

The New Look website also shares the testimonies of serving officers such as Sergeant Oliver Clarke who has been a police officer for nearly twenty-eight years. Oliver writes frankly of how he and his wife Naomi came to Christ after she suffered severe depression that leads to her self-harming and attempted suicide.

Today the couple are happy active members of the Bury Baptist church.

Also on the website is a “prayer request” page where GMP staff can be confident that others will hold them up in prayer in times of need.

There are also links to the many organisations which work along side the GMP CPA such as the “Street Pastors” and “the Message”, an award winning Christian youth charity trust which has broken the cycle of crime and violence in the lives of disadvantaged young people across Manchester leading many to Christ.

For more information about the work of the Christian Police Association in Manchester or to find out how you can “Adopt a Cop” log onto www.gmcpa.org.