|PIC1|I realise that it is important to look beyond the newspaper headlines, but the headline 'Christmas a barrier' in last week's papers really got under my skin. Perhaps that was the point?

It appears that a 'think tank' closely linked with the UK's governing party, feels that Christmas being such a high profile celebration in the UK could be a barrier to community relations within our diverse population.

This may be a case of misguided good intentions, but to me it feels like another attempt to deny the role of the Christian faith in the historic and future development of our country. That is a nation which, through its core Christian principles, has at its heart a strong foundation of love, acceptance, equality and respect.

As someone involved in humanitarian and development relief, I work alongside people from many different faiths including those with no religious or spiritual persuasions at all. I have good friends and work partners who are Muslim, and as I read on about the findings of this think tank, I was reminded of two comments made to me by two of them.

A few years ago I was having lunch with a leading politician in Glasgow, whose family was from Pakistan. We talked about the issues our society was facing and I was so thrilled when he said, 'The problem with Christians in the UK is that they do not stand up for their faith and principles. I think to a great extent, it's because the Christian principles which were once at the heart of our nation are now so eroded that our society is suffering from so many problems.'

He went on to say that whilst as a Muslim he may not agree with everything I believe, I should never be ashamed of my Christian faith.

On another occasion at a reception in Glasgow for the Pakistan High Commissioner, a key note speaker whose family was also originally from Pakistan, thanked the people of Scotland and especially the Christian missionaries who had done so much to establish quality education and health care in Pakistan in past years.

As I write this, I think of the amazing humanitarian and development work done in 'non Christian' countries through charities and NGO's whose roots are firmly Christian. World Emergency Relief is one such agency, others include Christian Aid, Tear Fund and World Vision, and there are many more, small and large.

What we have in common is that the work we carry out throughout the world is based in the Christian faith, and we find this to be a bright pathway not a barrier.

So I find myself asking, why should the Christian tradition of celebrating Christmas be a 'barrier' in our own country? Perhaps the members of the IPPR think tank might like to meet some of my Muslim friends, who seem much more in touch with our society, its needs, priorities and principles. Personally I would like to say to them, 'Think again, think tank!'


About Alex Haxton:

Alex has been Director of Operations at Christian humanitarian agency World Emergency Relief (WER) for the past seven years and before that worked as a consultant to the charity.

His business career was spent in the catering equipment industry for over 20 years before he moved on to Christian ministry which is how he first came to go to Africa.

A few months spent at Roffey Place Christian Centre brought a more radical change than anticipated, and it was there that Alex met a Pastor from Burundi who became a central influence on his life, even to this day.

He has since worked in Christian ministry, which he describes as "a call of God we must not ignore".

It was the work in Burundi and Rwanda, post genocide, which eventually brought Alex into contact with WER as he sought funding for relief and medical work in those countries. He remains heavily involved with humanitarian and development work worldwide through WER.

About World Emergency Relief:

World Emergency Relief is a non-denominational, global fellowship of Christians, working together, and with others, to help people in need. Underlying World Emergency Relief's efforts are God's love for this WORLD He created, the physical, emotional, spiritual, social and economic EMERGENCIES afflicting millions, and the RELIEF we can bring to hurting people, especially children, thanks to God's unending mercy coupled with the generosity of our donors.