This Sunday, November 6, churches are being encouraged to remember and pray for defence force chaplains and personnel in the lead up to Remembrance Day on November 11.

Defence Sunday is an initiative of Defence Anglicans and is held annually, on the Sunday before Remembrance Day.

“[Defence Sunday] is an opportunity to raise the profile of the ministry of defence chaplains in the church,” said Archdeacon to the Air Force, Kevin Russell. “[Chaplains] act on behalf of the whole church within the defence force.

There are currently about 100 Anglican clergy serving as defence chaplains in both internationally and domestically, on either a full or part-time basis within the Army, Navy and Air Force.

According to Mr Russell Defence Sunday is an also a way to increase awareness of the work that defence chaplains do.

“It is also a valuable opportunity to be supported in prayer as we raise the profile of defence chaplains,” he said.

Defence chaplains offer Christian counselling, run Bible studies and church services and taking part in services for fallen service men and women.

In April this year, Mr Russell went to France to attend the burial of a spitfire pilot who was killed in WWII.

Flight Lieutenant Henry ‘Lacy’ Smith was shot down by anti-aircraft fire on June 11, 1944. His aircraft crashed into the River Orne, near Caen, in northern France and wasn’t discovered until 2010.

Among the mourners at FLTLT Smith’s funeral were members of his family who attend Sylvania Anglican church.

“Stories like these show how the work of defence chaplains can have an impact on lives in our churches,” Mr Russell said.

Another initiative of Defence Anglicans is Faith under Fire, a reworked version of John Dickson’s The Life of Jesus, which was launched on July 5 by Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley.

Faith under Fire is designed to explore the place of faith in the modern Defence Force. It has been made available to all members of the Defence Force.

“It has been well received at RAAF Glenbrook and it is just about to be used at HMAS Albatross,” Mr Russell said. “Christianity is an important part of our culture, this DVD aims to help people understand that. Personnel are expected to understand many different cultures but how can they do that unless they first understand their own culture.”

Churches are also being asked to pray for the continued work of Faith under Fire.