Meet the Christian Ministers introduced by Rev. E. Anderson

November 18, 2007 at 9:28 pm (Meet the Ministers)

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Rev. & Mrs. T. Wake 

Tony was wonderfully converted to Christ after being challenged by a window cleaner about God’s love and in the fact of Jesus Christ dying for us. But I went my own way for a few years being drunk and disorderly with several convictions against me and my parents were sad at the way I had turned out. 

One night I was on a pub crawl and was lovingly accosted by a pastor by the name of Willie Roy, along with a young lady called Ruth Dawson, who gave me Christian tracts. The next morning he was visiting my home and he greeted me with a warm ‘Hello!’ He further said: ‘I’m here to tell you I have not reported you to the police but to say again, God loves you and Christ died for you and any time you want to see me, my doors and home is open to you.’ I was not with my mates and I could see in his eyes that this man believed what he was saying. I ended up in his home many a night, even though I was drunk, and he never turned me away. 

I joined the Merchant navy to get away and enjoy the life of a seaman, which meant getting drunk. It was not good for me and I was in a real mess and seemingly on the scrap heap.

One night, whilst on leave, I saw black, whirling smoke coming towards me and I thought I was going to die. I leaped out of bed and cried, ‘God please forgive me a sinner’. All I can say a peace flooded my life and I knew I was forgiven I went down stairs and said, ‘Mother, I’ve become a Christian’. She looked very puzzled and I went to the local pub and told the landlord and then on to Pastor Roy’s. I don’t think he believed me when I told him of my decision. 

Guess what? Ruth Dawson gave me a hymn book when I first went to the Assemblies of God church. Eventually I married her in 1968 and soon we will be celebrating our Ruby wedding.

The Lord has given us a son, Stephen and two daughters, Deborah and Louise. It has been a privilege to serve the Lord as the minister of Pocklington assembly for 31 years and we are now retired but still busy in the work of Christ in the local church.   

One of the great delights and privileges of my life has been to serve as a Pentecostal Prison Chaplain at Full Sutton for 19 years and still involved in this ministry. It is a great honour to share Jesus Christ with so many other people. As Christ was gracious in saving me, I know H can and will do the same for them.   

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Illustrations of Note provided by Rev. E. Anderson

November 18, 2007 at 9:21 pm (Illustrations)

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Rev. E. Anderson

HANDS 

There are many things that we take for granted in our existence, our human bodies for instance and in particular the matter of our hands.

The whole human form is a masterpiece in many respects, and as David remarks, we ‘are fearfully and wonderfully made’ – Psalm 139:14. In the outstanding list of our members is that of our hands. In getting this ready for the web site I had to use my hands quite extensively in typing at the keyboard and in looking in the Bible for reference. 

We would be in somewhat a useless state of suddenly we were deprived of such vital members. Just ponder for a moment and think of how much they are called into operation in the course of one day! We need our hands to get out of bed, to wash and dress our human frame, washing our face, cleaning our teeth, brushing our hair, putting on our clothes, preparing and eating breakfast etc., etc.  

They can be used in a constructive and destructive use and service. Tremendous skills are manifested through their dedicated use, the pianist, seamstress, racing car driver, golfer, bricklayer, painter etc. Every building that adorns the horizon of beauty and architecture are the consequence of the rare expertise and of clever and talented hands. As soon as a bay is born it is welcomed lovingly and affectionately into the hands and arms of a an adoring mother. In contrast it woefully has to be said, they are often used maliciously to steal, wound, kill and hurt. 

One of the choicest sights to behold is to see lovers, young and hold clasping hands together in beautiful accord. Whilst it is a precious thing to shake hands it is something special to hold hands with a person that is held in love and esteem. There is something warm and inspiring that is spiritually passed on one to the other through this act. A tremendous feeling of being loved is transmitted by this simple deed. 

The important truth about the Christian faith it conveys something of significance with regard to hands especially in terms of affection. Christ’s advent into the world was in order to do something special in this connection. He is referred to in the Bible as ‘the Mediator between God and Man’ – 1 Timothy 2: 5. In other words, He is the great go-between in relation to both.

He has come to take hold of the hand of God the Father and the hand of man in join them together in hallowed and happy union. There was a great divide between both due to man’s sin that separated man from God. By atoning for the same He, through the Cross, links together in sacred union. It is possible, so to speak, for you now to take the hand of God as it is held hold to you and be gripped by it and to sense His eternal love and affection flowing graciously and greatly into your life. His pulsating and powerful life will course into you and make you feel both good and great.

Just as a child likes to take the hold of its daddy, so you can lay hold of the good hand of God and He will grip it and not let you go. For the rest of your life you will enjoy the sensation of this divine experience. 

In my early Christian experience we sang a refrain that was deeply loved and carried this significant truth: 

‘He holds my hold, Jesus holds my hand. Safely to heaven, He leads the way, He is my Keeper from day to day. He holds my, Jesus holds my hand; The way my be long, but my Saviour is strong, For He holds my hand.’ 

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