Christ Church Moreton Hall

The truth about the crime figures.

The news has been dominated over the last few days by the crime figures. What is interesting about them is not what they say but how people are receiving them. Discrepancies about how they are collected and changes in the rules about what crime goes into what category, have lead to genuine concerns about their validity and therefore their usefulness.

However there is one trend that most analysts and historians agree on. In the 19th century and first half of the 20th Century, where there was high levels of church attendance the ways usually low levels of crime and violence. This was true of the young in particular. When the receive good moral teaching backed up by good adult examples and when they are shown both love and forgiveness within a clear code of wrong and right, everyone benefits.

When this begins to decline so crime figures and social disintegration begin to rise. I feel very sorry for the schools right now as they try and teach good citizenship but find themselves un-supported by the very families they are trying to help. What is also true, is that we all feel less safe now and have lower levels of peace of mind than we did 10 or 20 years ago.

What can we do about it? Well here are two suggestions from Christ Church. In August we will again be running our holiday bible club for young people.

It is great fun and it is good way of getting bored youngsters out from in front of the TV and doing something good.

Also look out for: Back to Church Sunday, 10:30 am September 28th
Christ Church Moreton Hall, will offer you : some singing, some comedy, a quiz, a barbecue after the service. It will also give you an opportunity to see how today our church goes about worshipping God and what it does for the community.

So many people have said to me: "I know I must get back to church but I never get round to it.". So why not take this opportunity? I know it will bring a smile to you face and give you some peace in your heart. Finally Thank you to all of you how have given me such positive feed-back about these articles. It is good to know they are helping.

With every good wish

Revd Jonathan Ford