Page 29 - Winter 2016 Contact Issue 40

So what is my mountain in 2016 and beyond? It is one And finally in June this year I achieved a lifelong dream
with three summits. when I stepped on African soil for the first time and
smelt the unique earthy smell of that great continent.
As an Elder in the church, one summit is to see God It took me a long time, sixty-three years, to get there
pour out His spirit upon us in new and powerful ways; but I loved every moment of my short visit as a Mission
to see a congregation committed to corporate and Africa representative in Kenya. So spreading news of
individual prayer and to the obedient use of Spirit-given the opportunities, challenges, the difficulties and
fruit and gifts in Christian service; but also one that dangers that Mission Africa work in Nigeria, Burkina
values the beauty and delight of being still in the Faso, Chad and Kenya involves, is the third summit of
presence of God, to hear the gentle whisper that the mountain. To have the opportunity to hopefully
busyness always drowns out. inspire others of the call of overseas mission and to see
the opportunities that can be grasped if, like my hero
A second, which in the last couple of years has become Caleb, we have the vision; one that does not diminish
a greater and greater passion for me is to be involved with age or grey hair or in my case little hair!!!
with reaching out to my Christian brothers and sisters
in other churches in our town. It saddens me deeply to We’re all on a journey through life. However, there is
see the divisions and lack of love in the Bride of Christ another vital journey which transcends this life and
in our town. I believe such attitudes grieve the Holy leads us into eternity. Have you started on that journey
Spirit and our faith community is so much weaker than yet, trusting in the same God as Caleb trusted centuries
it could and should be as a result. When I was a wee ago? Caleb didn’t know about God’s future provision
boy in Sunday school we used to sing a chorus “you in of his Son as saviour but he trusted and followed. How
your small corner and I in mine”. The problem then is much clearer the journey is for us who can look back to
we never leave that small corner, never see the bigger the empty cross, the empty tomb and a risen Saviour.
picture, and never learn from others with different but For those on the journey what is your one more
equally valid viewpoints. God has made us individuals, mountain? Are you starting the climb or is the valley
each different, He has allowed us the freedom to just too comfortable and safe to leave?
interpret scripture and I know He is the God of
diversity. One day before the Lamb in heaven, if we Trevor McIlroy
have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus
shed on the cross for us, we will stand for all eternity
worshipping beside people from every tongue and tribe
and nation. How much better to get to know some of
these people and be blessed by them while still on this
earth!