August 14, 2024

Sharing the Hope of Christ at a pop-up Café

This summer, SASRA’s pop-up café at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo rehearsals once again provided a platform for the gospel.

By Sandrina de Klerk, Comms Assistant

For fifty-six years, SASRA has had the immense privilege of serving the performers and support staff at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. This year, the SASRA team travelled up to Edinburgh with four Scripture Readers and two new Scripture Reader recruits. Their aim was to provide spiritual and practical support to the performers and members of the Armed Forces, and to share the hope of the gospel with them.

We at SASRA are mindful of God’s blessing on our efforts at the Tattoo, which has been evident in many ways, but two particular examples of God’s providence come to mind.

Peter (right) enjoyed attending the outreach week this year as a Scripture Reader recruit after having participated in the Tattoo in 2022. ©SASRA

One of our new recruits, Peter Woodward, is a member of the British Army Band Colchester and attended the Tattoo as a performer in 2022. Performing at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a prestigious role, and though Peter recognised that, he had been married only a week before moving to Edinburgh for five weeks of rehearsals and performances.

‘The presence of SASRA and Scripture Readers a great blessing and encouragement.’

Missing his wife and struggling with some of the stress and pressures of his role, Peter was both surprised and thrilled to see the SASRA banner outside the pop-up café. He quickly introduced himself and found the presence of SASRA and Scripture Readers a great blessing and encouragement.

This year, Peter attended the Tattoo as a Scripture Reader recruit. He shared that he has been inspired by a Reader who once told him that his prayer was always, ‘Lord, let me make a difference or a be blessing to one person’. Peter shared that his prayer for this week was the same thing. During his time in unform, even before coming to Christ, he said that the presence of a Christian influence was always an encouragement, even just being aware that there was something different about them.

‘Both were encouraged to unexpectedly be brought together at this event.’

Our Regional Manager North, Andrew McMahon, also had a providential encouragement. As a reservist officer in the Royal Artillery, Andrew took part in a training exercise earlier this year in Brunei with 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles. While there, he attended services at the military church and was asked to preach. He was encouraged by the Christians there.

Months later, during the Tattoo rehearsal week, Andrew bumped into a group of Gurkha musicians and started chatting.

Regional Manager Andrew McMahon also enjoyed opportunities to share the gospel. ©SASRA

One individual engaged in conversation about his biblical name, before telling Andrew, ‘I know you. I was the drummer in the church you preached at in Brunei.’

Both Andrew and the soldier were encouraged to unexpectedly be brought together at this event. Andrew invited him to the pop-up café and the soldier brought several of his bandmates along too.

As ever, many Bibles and copies of Christian literature were accepted by participants of the Tattoo. ©SASRA

How encouraging that the Lord was preparing opportunities for SASRA in Edinburgh earlier this year, thousands of miles away!

‘Our team can share hope with every performer or staff member that they meet.’

As well as the Tattoo outreach being an encouragement to other Christians in the Armed Forces from bands and regiments from all over the world, our team can share hope with every performer or staff member that they meet. Sometimes that looks like a simple encouraging word, a cup of coffee, a friendly face, a listening ear or a piece of literature, ultimately recognising that the hope we have to share is Christ.

One of our team members reflected, ‘The opportunities we have had have been breathtaking. In every conversation, to some degree, there has been the opportunity to share the hope of Christ in some measure, or to offer literature!’