Don’t Forget the Call to Arms this Sunday!
This Sunday (04 November 2018) has been especially designated by churches and Christians across the UK as a time to pray for all those who work in the media.
Our National Day of Prayer for the Media has been supported by Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, and Nicky Gumbel, Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, London, and pioneer of The Alpha Course.
We at Christians in the Media urge you not to forget or ignore this day.
Why? Because Journalists and those who work in the media play a crucial role in society. That is the case today more than ever as Brexit-facing Britain grapples with important decisions that will have long term consequences.
Information is power and it is our job if we are to glorify God to disseminate it impartially, fairly, independently and with balance.
If we fail to fulfil our responsibilities in this area, the consequences can be catastrophic. I write this to you from Bangladesh - a country where journalists who express dissenting views against the government face severely unpleasant consequences. The fate of world renowned photographer Shahidul Alam - arrested and allegedly tortured in August after posting live videos on Facebook that criticised the government - are testament to that.
So let’s not take for granted the relative freedom our media enjoys in Britain. Our Lord told us to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, and for many of us in the media that call begins at home. That means we must not be afraid to reflect Christ’s values in the awesome role we bear as messengers to the British people.
Add your prayers on social media this Sunday using the tag #pray4media.
Alastair Tancred, Christians in Media Editor
