In the Summer of 1984

It was the Summer of 1984 and as a 15-year-old boy, I woke up in the night sensing the Lord speak to me.

He informed me (for that is how it felt rather than an invitation) that I would serve him all my days as an ordained minister (I had just given my life to Christ four years previously as a boy of 11).

It was 12 years later on the 29th of June 1996 that I was ordained on the chancel steps of Christchurch Cathedral by the Bishop of Oxford.

That day was 28 years ago yesterday and I remember it as if it was yesterday.

My best friend from my school days Jonathan Stamford greeted me in the Christchurch quadrangle as I was robed up, just prior to processing in for the service

He whispered in my ear some Leonard Cohen lyrics I have never forgotten: “They sentenced me to 40 years of boredom for trying to change the system from within”

Well, being an ordained minister has been many things but one of the things it most certainly has not been is boring !

I don’t think I’ve ever really seen my call as ‘trying to change the system from within’ but rather to preach the Gospel to every creature (willing to hear) and see as many people initiated into the kingdom of God as possible.

Of course the chrism of evangelism God has given me is a gift (and so all the Glory goes to Him) but it has been my sheer joy & delight to have had the privilege of leading tens of thousands of people to Christ so far.

I am now 28 years into my 40 year sentence (‼️) and have 12 years left of stipendiary ministry (supposing I retire at 67). And so , the Lord willing, I look forward to many more years left (by the grace of God and only in His power) of depopulating hell and populating heaven.

I’m preaching and leading a communion service on a beach in Greece 🇬🇷 this morning (30th June 2024), and after preaching am going to offer baptism (in the moderate azure waters of the Aegean Sea) for any who wish to turn from self and surrender their life to the Saviour.