Moving to Felixstowe after Northern Ireland, where he had served in the army during the 1970s, was certainly a change of lifestyle for Marten Butcher. But it was in what was known as “the troubles” in Northern Ireland that the origins of Marten’s Christian faith are rooted.

Today, having lived and worked in Felixstowe for about 30 years, first as a dock worker and then as a police officer, Marten and his wife, Jenny, are now involved in youth work at Bethesda Baptist Church.

Violence

Marten looks back on “the troubles” as a time when community was set against community and person against person, with division set on political and religious lines, describing it as a period of “unrelenting and              calculated violence, when it seemed to many that safety could only be achieved by joining one of the many paramilitary organisations.”

“I was never surprised at the violence,” says Marten. “After all, it was what I had been trained for and expected.  But what did surprise me was the way many ordinary people determined to live their lives as normally as possible, despite the threats, the fear and the violence.”

Real courage

“To bring up a family with sound moral values in this climate took real courage,” he says, adding that it was difficult to steer a neutral path. “I always recall a friend who, when asked whether he was a Catholic or a Protestant, said - in the interests of neutrality - ‘I’m an atheist.’ The response was, ‘But are you a Catholic atheist or a Protestant atheist?’

“This reply, although humorous, has a serious note, demonstrating that sometimes you cannot avoid getting caught up in the social issues that   surround us all, even if you don’t want to. The whole situation made me think deeply about the example of Jesus’ life. It’s interesting, isn’t it, how sometimes it is only personal trials that make us do just that.

Forgiveness

“I eventually came to realise the importance of forgiveness, and of having a  relationship with God. Forgiving someone is the greatest thing one person can do for another. Some in society were willing to blame religion alone for the conflict, but that was to miss the point. Sometimes we have to take personal responsibility for our own actions and be prepared to acknowledge our weaknesses, and do something about them.”

But what about living in Felixstowe today? “In the police force, I’ve spent many years dealing with a variety of crime investigations,” says Marten. There is no secret recipe for what makes a good detective. However, I have always believed that if you could walk around in the shoes of the victim, or of an  offender, you would probably get a good understanding about them as a person, and then begin to understand why something has happened.  Jesus does not need to walk in our shoes as He already knows us all so well, even our deepest secrets. Our own understanding is limited, but taking time to understand  another’s point of view will often break down barriers and help us to build relationships. How different would be our relationships with one another if we all followed the example of Jesus?”

Opportunities

Referring to his involvement with youth work, Marten points out that “Bethesda provides something for young people whatever their age - and new recruits are always welcomed! Youth work provides precious opportunities to discuss with our young people issues that really concern them, as well as time for fun too!”

Response

“It is so important that our churches engage with the local community,” says Marten. “Just as no person is an island, the saying is true for churches, too.  When I look back over many years I recognise that in every situation I have encountered, I have relied on God’s helping hand, and can vouch for his constant faithfulness. Today in Felixstowe the social issues that surround us all may not be life-threatening or especially noteworthy in worldly terms, but they concern us all and demand a response.”