THE SOCIABLE GOSPEL In my early days as a Christian I heard many sermons decrying something called the social gospel. In later years I had many heated discussions with Christians who felt that we should spend all our energy in witnessing rather than the relief of poverty and suffering. The Kingdom of God, they felt, was the priority for Christians whilst secular organisations should be left to deal with physical matters. I felt then, and feel even more strongly now, that the two are indivisible. It seems to me, from scripture, that God is greatly concerned with the suffering of the humanity which He made in His image, and that He is enraged by the injustice and inequality that is the cause of so much pain and poverty in His world. I also believed, in those early days, in separation from the world - in being "in the world but not of it". Trouble is that, in my naivety, I don't think I ever understood the term correctly. I thought that the practical outworking of "separation" was that I should have as little contact with non-Christians as possible, other than in evangelism. Evangelism, I understood! I did door to door work, street evangelism, open air work, preached at places like Speakers' Corner in London, spoke at coffee bars and the like. I am so privileged to have been able to do these things, and God has graciously blessed my very mediocre efforts. However, looking back from the vantage point of so many years, I think that perhaps I missed a huge number of God given opportunities. I kept so many people at arms' length because they weren't Christians, and employed my witnessing like a scatter gun; I felt a sense of achievement but mostly missed the target and wasted my ammunition whilst reminding people to keep well out of range in the future! Nowadays I still love evangelism, but I've added another variant to the box of ammunition… I call it the sociable gospel, and it involves having as many non-Christian friends as possible. I came upon the following quotation on the internet, ironically from an Australian Brewery called Lion Nathan! Sociability requires: Something to share, someone to share with, the will to do so, and a time and place that's right. This sentence may be from an unusual source, but I think it just about sums up what is perhaps the most effective approach to evangelism. · Something to share. We can't effectively share the gospel until we have a real and life changing relationship with God ourselves. Having lots of non-Christian friends is great, but if our relationship with God is tenuous, our influence will be negligible. · Someone to share with. This is where those friends come in. Not just one off evangelism aimed at someone we'll never see again, but long term contact that will hopefully turn friends into family, buddies into brothers. · The will to do so. Effective evangelism depends on our motives. If it's all about notches on big black Bibles, then it becomes me centred, not God centred. I once worked with an evangelist who proudly broadcast the numbers of people who had been 'saved' or 'healed' during his crusades. Whilst not believing his figures or endorsing his methods, I admired his eagerness to tell the gospel. Unfortunately the fact that that he also sold photos of himself made me doubt much of his motivation! A real desire to share the gospel is based upon a conviction that God can change lives for the better. The important factor is not me, or my beliefs, but the spiritual, physical, mental and relational wellbeing of another human being. I must have the will to evangelise, underpinned by the right motivation. · A time and place that's right. I'm embarrassed that much of my evangelism has been so insensitive and crass. Please, God, help me to respond to the urging of your Spirit. Help me to get the time and place right and, when I have to use words, may they be your words! FRUIT - WHAT FRUIT? It is a very humbling thing to look back over the history of the church and discover that God has used certain individuals in ways that almost beggar belief. The only slight downside to such a study, however, is that amidst all the inspirational material there seems to be little room for people like us. Nasrudin, the legendary Sufi figure, was once talking to a group of followers. He told them that, as a young man, he had begged God daily to help him change the world for good. Reaching middle age, he realised that despite his prayers, the world remained unchanged. Nasrudin told his listeners that this realisation caused him to change his prayer so that he now asked God to help him change his friends and family. Time passed by and the great man saw little improvement in those around him, despite his prayer. In old age, therefore, Nasrudin made a new daily supplication. God, he said, change me! For people like me, there is a temptation to think that God uses other people to effect great things for his kingdom; we are somehow not up to the job. Our prayers become more and more introspective and, if we are not careful, other people's wonderful successes simply make us feel that we have failed. I was delighted, therefore, to attend a youth group in the small Welsh town of Caldicot. I was greeted by a lady who was eager to tell me that her son now played in the church worship group and that he had become a Christian following one of my previous visits to the church. I had no idea, and was so grateful for the encouragement that this woman had provided. Who knows what God will do in the life of this young man.
Family Matters
Lots of good news here, I am happy to report. Jonathan started 'big boys' nursery' earlier in the year and is really content. He quite naturally uses Welsh words for colours and numbers, alongside the English, and is a very cheerful little man. His main interest at the moment is Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. It is a joy to watch him playing with his trains and to share his excitement when a new character comes into his life.
Siân continued her job in a local college when the new term started in September. She works one day a week as a sign language translator and enjoys her work very much.
Maggie and Ben both endured school inspections during the autumn term. The first half term was very pressured for both schools as everyone lived and breathed inspections. Both came out of the experience well, thankfully, and Maggie was particularly thrilled to have her Special Needs work marked at the highest possible grade, with special praise for her work in leading the department.
One piece of great news, also, is that Maggie has passed her driving test! It was only her second attempt and already has made a big difference to our daily timetables. I am thrilled for her success and am trying very hard not to be a passenger-seat driver when she is behind the wheel (she tells me I'm getting better!)
Richard's car has been a cause of concern for some time. It has been off the road for months as the turbo had failed (for the second time!). Rich was having to cycle to the train station every morning and then from the station to his place of work. The whole routine then had to be reversed in the evening. He had a nasty accident one morning, and we were quite concerned for him. Things have now improved, however, as his firm have helped him to acquire a very nice mini clubman.
PLEASE PRAY.
In the last edition I asked for prayer for the family of a young man who was terminally ill with cancer. I am very sad to report that he has died . Maggie and I attended the funeral on behalf of the school which his little daughter and son attended. The whole family continue to need the prayers of the Christian community and again I would ask you to join us in our support.
BEULAH BAPTIST CHURCH
The latter part of 2008 was memorable because of my visits to Beulah Baptist Chapel in Newbridge, where I had been invited to lead a series of Bible Studies. For five weeks (I think. - I had such a good time I lost count!) I addressed a group of believers on the subject of the Old Testament Jewish festivals. Each week we studied a different festival and its importance to Jewish people both past and present. We looked at the relevance to Christians today and tried to gain a fresh insight into the nature of our God. Together, we shared some of the traditional foods that are associated with each festival and reminded ourselves that we have a faith that can be celebrated and not just observed. Subsequently, we spent a couple of weeks looking at the Bible and investigating why it is made up of the 66 books we have. I really enjoyed sharing fellowship with some lovely people and look forward to chairing a few more studies this year.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
The Trussell Trust is a Christian Charity which - among other things - runs a summer camp for disadvantaged children in Bulgaria. (Please check out their website at www.trusselltrust.org.) Salt & Light is delighted to have been invited to take part in a camp in the summer of 2009, and we feel that it is appropriate to accept. Maggie and I are very excited by this opportunity and ask that all our prayer partners support us throughout the coming year as we plan and prepare.
The most practical way for us to travel is as we have done before on our visits to Romania. We will drive to Voronet with a caravan and then continue to Bulgaria. This saves paying for hotels for most of the journey and allows us to take a good quantity of equipment including that which we will need to bring back with us at the end of the camps. The only slight drawback to this cunning plan is that our old - and very cheap - caravan is no longer roadworthy and we are told by the experts that repair is not a viable option.
So, we are intending to hold the second ever Salt & Light Gift Day on 20th April 2009. Any donations received that are earmarked for the Bulgarian Camp will go toward purchasing a second hand caravan suitable for the whole trip. (Cheques should be marked Bulgaria on the reverse, please.)
The date has been chosen because in the Orthodox Church Easter falls on the weekend before, with the 20th being Easter Monday. It's a national holiday in Romania and we are hoping to be involved in creating a holiday for children who could never have expected one otherwise.
Please note that regular sponsors of Salt & Light receive this notice for information and prayer only. THIS GIFT DAY IS NOT A REQUEST FOR EXTRA DONATIONS. Please also note that the 20th April is a focus only and dedicated gifts for Bulgaria can be sent at any time.
INSPECTION REPORT
Sometimes my involvement in the inspection process can be quite nerve wracking. Recently, inspectors asked for a meeting where I could explain my work in the school. I was grilled extensively on everything I did, its frequency, why I didn't charge etc. They were particularly interested in my juggling group for children with additional needs and I was thrilled to read this statement in the inspectors' report:
"All pupils with SEN also have opportunities to be involved in innovative activities such as weekly juggling activities with 'Mr Big'. These contribute very effectively to the promotion of self-confidence and co-ordination."
A few days ago, one of the inspectors (a serving head) contacted me through the website with the following email… "I recently saw the results of some of your work at a primary school in Newport. I am hoping that you may be able to do similar work at my school". Nice!
HARD TIMES!
Many of you will be wondering why there was no 'Salt & Light News' last term. (Actually, I'm probably flattering myself. In all probability, very few people noticed!) Additionally people will be disappointed that my mail has not been up to date for a while.
The following information will perhaps explain, if not excuse, and I include it as an apology for lack of correspondence and a request for prayer.
The first half term following the summer holidays was very busy with inspections in Norfolk and Newport. I wrote the Salt & Light Newsletter, but didn't have time to print everything out. (A very time consuming process.) I intended to do all the work in the first week after half term.
However on the 30th October I received a phone call informing me that my brother-in-law, David Smart, was very seriously ill and in Intensive Care in Southampton. You may remember that I asked you to pray for his wife, Wendy, in the last letter.
Tragically, on the 31st October, David died.
David has been one of my closest friends for more than thirty years. He and his wife spent every Christmas with us, often came to us for a holiday in the summer, and latterly house-sat for us when we were away on Salt & Light business. Additionally, David was a regular supporter of Salt & Light.
On a wider scale, he was a caring husband, a faithful Christian and a fine preacher.
Following David's death I spent much of November and December sleeping on an air bed in Wendy's bungalow trying to deal with business and personal paper work as well as supporting Wendy through the worst of times.
The situation was made even worse at the end of November. Wendy has been disabled for many years and depended on David for all her needs. Transport was going to be a real challenge for her and she decided that a disability scooter would be useful for trips to the local supermarket and the homes of her friends. She selected and bought the scooter and even had a few lessons from a very obliging shop owner. All was well until I returned home for a couple of nights and Wendy decided to venture out on her own. To cut a long story short, she managed to trap her leg between the scooter and a concrete post and cause a really nasty wound.
Over time the situation deteriorated, despite visits by doctors and district nurses. I brought her to our place for Christmas, but had to take her to Accident & Emergency on Boxing Day because the wound was clearly necrotic. She was admitted to hospital where she had two operations to try to excise the diseased flesh and was then transferred to a burns and plastic surgery unit in Swansea where she had a skin graft.
Eventually, four weeks or so ago she was discharged and returned to our place for a couple of weeks. The hospital said that she should return to Southampton a fortnight ago, but the wound is far from healed and still causing great anxiety. I'm still travelling down weekly to make sure that everything is well.
Wendy's emotional and physical wellbeing has been very worrying and a great drain on our resources for some time now. The wound she sustained was absolutely horrific and there was great concern that she might lose her leg. She was in great pain physically and obviously suffering terribly from the trauma of David's death.
Maggie and I will be very grateful if you would pray for Wendy. Her leg has improved, but she is not out of the wood yet. She is still grieving and will be for some time.
Please pray for Maggie and I too. I have dealt with much of the legal work surrounding David's estate but there are a couple of matters outstanding. At least I can now spend much of the week doing the schools work I love, but time is really pressing with duties down in Southampton.
As you can imagine, time spent with Wendy at her home and in daily visits to hospital in Abergavenny and Swansea have kept me away from my correspondence duties, and I can only ask your understanding that this should have been the case.
I will be catching up over the next couple of weeks, so please bear with me. Your support and encouragement continues to be appreciated more than you can imagine.
Laurie Lambert
Died 29th December 2008
Anyone who has ever heard me preach more than once or twice will have heard about the “Welsh Pastor” who was minister of the church where I became a Christian - my home church, as I always call it.
Anyone who has heard me preach more than half a dozen times will be heartily sick of the fact that my sermons usually have three points, almost always alliterated.
It’s Laurie Lambert’s fault! He always did it that way.
I first met him when I went to Southville Elim Church in Yeovil back in 1965, at the invitation of Norman Downes and Fred and Joy Joneleit. He was my Pastor until I left to go to Teachers’ Training College in 1970, and a year later he was responsible for the fact that I managed to get into Elim Bible College even though the course had already started .
The Coventry Telegraph covered Laurie’s passing with the headline “Minister who led an army of volunteers”. They were speaking of his work with Age Concern, but it is appropriate to remember Laurie’s greatest legacy, which is that hundreds of people name themselves Christians today because of this man’s influence.
Many people, like myself, became Christians under Laurie’s pastorship and have in their turn brought others to consider the claims of Jesus.
Someone has said (and I hate the phrase!) that God has no grandchildren. Whilst I can’t argue that point, it is certainly true that, in a Spiritual sense, Laurie Lambert has hundreds if not thousands of them!
I am filled with guilt and sorrow that my busy-ness prevented me from going to see Laurie last year. My only consolation is that one of his colleagues described him accurately in saying... “He was such a lovely person and was kind to everyone. I never heard him say a bad word about anyone.” I hope that such a lovely man will forgive me for my failings.
I thank God for every memory of Laurie Lambert.