christ church cathedral, oxford

I was at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford yesterday and momentarily knelt on the chancel step where I was ordained, to reflect on the journey so far and to recommit my life and ministry to the Lord.

I can't quite believe that it will be 30 years next year.

When I waited in Tom Quad on 29th June 1996, with the other ordinands and the Bishop, dressed in our robes and about to process in to the cathedral for the ordination service, my best friend from school, Jon Stamford, arrived a little last minute.

He greeted me briefly and mischievously whispered in my ear some Leonard Cohen lyrics from a song we both used to like: "They sentenced me to 20 years of boredom, for trying to change the system. (From "First we take Manhattan" 1988).

If Jon had been able to tell me then what the future would hold I don't think I'd have quite believed him.

It's involved serving churches all over England including St Andrew's Chorleywood, St Aldate's Oxford and St Michael le Belfrey, York.

Being chaplain of Pembroke College Oxford and HMP YOI Ashfield near Bristol (where I presided over a revival in a prison in which around 500 young men gave their lives to Christ in the space of two years).

Academic posts such as being Tutor in Evangelism of the London School of Theology, Lecturer in Mission & Apologetics at Saint Hild College, Sheffield and Director of Ministerial Training and Dean of the Wesley Centre at Wycliffe Hall Oxford University.

It's involved travelling on all six continents, preaching in nearly all mainline denominations and leading tens of thousands of people to Christ.

Many have gone on to work out their vocation in a secular context but some have become evangelists, mission partners, ordained ministers and Anglican priests (including a Roman Catholic priest!).

It's a great joy when, on my travels someone introduces themselves to me and tells me I led them to the Lord years before (I was preaching this last weekend and three separate people came up to me to thank me for leading them to the Lord - one a year ago, one three years and and the other 28 years ago).

From meeting Prime Ministers, Royalty and Cardinals to leading people to Christ as varied as young offenders to the British aristocracy, rock stars and former rock stars.

So, Jon Stamford, I love you and appreciate our friendship and you are right about so much in life, but I can confidently say he didn't get this right.

Soli Deo Gloria!