“How will they know if nobody tells them?”

Janet Mabie
Special to Spur Ottawa

They are expected to be the strongest in society; well trained and dedicated, serving and protecting, immune to the everyday dysfunction and tragedy that they protect against. Sadly, Canada’s law-enforcement community is facing a desperate crisis. Increasingly, officers overwhelmed by the trauma they experience, are taking their own lives. Many others are turning to drugs or alcohol to try to cope.

Project Sword aims to help turn the tide by putting God’s word, the sword of the Spirit, into the hands of police officers all across Canada. Launched July 3, at the Toronto Police Service Headquarters, Project Sword is an initiative of the Ottawa-based Fellowship for Christian Peace Officers – Canada (FCPO).

“We are appealing to Canadians to partner with us to provide prayer and funding support for this initiative,” says Ronald Mostrey, president of FCPO. “We know that getting the Scriptures into the hands of officers is something that is very important. Law enforcement is a difficult occupation at the best of times, but particularly now there seems to be a lot of external and internal pressure on officers. When they hit times of trouble in life, [many] don’t know that the Lord is always there for them.”

“If only people had the Gospel.”

Project Sword aims to offer all Canadian peace officers a pocket-sized copy of Peacemakers, which contains the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. Peacemakers also shares helpful articles and testimonies, written by police and police chaplains, looking at how police families can deal with stress, exploring topics to help officers in crisis, and addressing substance abuse and suicide.

“The Scriptures are always valuable and most important, but these additional stories will resonate with many officers and hopefully help them,” Mostrey says, adding, “we, as an organization, are shocked by the number of suicides, whether by those who are serving or retired officers. If only people had the Gospel—and how will they know if nobody tells them?”

“Peacemakers” is an edition of the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs designed specifically for law enforcement.

FCPO began in the United States, in 1971, expanding into Canada in 1983. They work through local chapters to share the Gospel, provide discipleship, and extend practical support to officers and their families. Recently, FCPO supported police officers from New Brunswick by sending them to Christian retreats so they could process and begin healing after two separate shootings of officers in the province.

FCPO hopes to raise $30,000 to distribute 10,000 copies of Peacemakers to officers across Canada. Mostrey says when people partner with Project Sword there is a double blessing for Canadians: “blessing for the officers and blessing for the people who give, because they know that they are giving to something that is tangible. The more Christian officers you have out there, the more people who are following biblical principles in their policing—and the better off Canada is.”