Image: ASRs Henderson & Blackstock represent SASRA at the Aldershot Garrison health fair.
The Army is keen to run Health Fairs because a soldier with good mental, physical and spiritual health will have a longer, healthier service career – it contributes to “operational effectiveness”.
They run annually in May and June and organisations that provide healthcare and wellbeing are invited to run stands, interactive displays and presentations to show what’s available for troops, their families and MOD civilians who work on camp.
Scripture Readers (ASRs) have the opportunity to be involved because their work falls under “spiritual wellbeing”.
The Army puts value in spirituality. Our faith is what helps us to get up in the morning, encourages and inspires us. Bibles are in the midst of all the freebies.
ASR Somerville
ASRs can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Chaplains and explain the importance of spiritual and mental health and give out literature, including Bibles. This year ASRs Blackstock, Henderson and Somerville were able to have a presence at the Health Fairs run on camp.
SASRA gets noticed and we meet soldiers who we wouldn’t meet otherwise, such as those working in areas that we might not have access to. There has been a real desire to hear the gospel and literature has been taken. It’s a befriending event.
ASR Henderson
