Page 15 - News Autumn_winter 2025 fv

A COMFORT

TO EXPLORE

“Are you still a practising Minister?” asked my friend as Saviour and Lord, He does indeed forgive, make new
Alison (real name withheld). “I have been practising for and fill us with His Spirit. I spoke of the peace He gives
nearly thirty years and despite now being retired, I hope and the strength and hope He places within us so that
to ‘get it right’ some day! death and what lies beyond hold no fear for the child of
Why do you ask?” came my reply. Alison went on to God. She agreed she was ready to pray the little Prayer of
request that I conduct her Funeral Service when the time Commitment on page 79 and so I prayed it with her.
came. Alison began to speak of the peace she had found and
The conversation then became serious when I discovered carried on doing so on subsequent visits. She went on to
say she had three great hopes: to survive until Christmas,
that her diagnosis and prognosis were giving her cause to die at home without pain or anxiety and to be at peace.
for anxiety and so, living near her, I called regularly as did The Lord kindly granted all three wishes – the final being
my wife, to talk and pray with her. It was on one such
occasion that she produced the EXPLORE booklet by the greatest, for she died in the peace that only Christ can
bring.
GOOD NEWS for Everyone! and asked if I knew the man
who had been offering it round the doors of homes in It was a (sad) honour to conduct her well-attended funeral
Ayrshire’s Irvine Valley. “Yes, Adrian is a friend of mine and to be able to speak of the peace she had found by
and I’m so glad that you accepted this wonderful booklet trusting Christ. I invited Adrian to read the Scriptures
– what do you make of it?” Alison spoke of the comfort from the very booklet which had been such a blessing to
she had found while reading through its pages in the her. Because Alison had always loved Christmas, Adrian
preceding few weeks. I spoke with her of the way that Dr read of the Angels’ visit to the shepherds of Bethlehem. I
Luke had a heart for the poor, marginalised and anxious based my message on these great Gospel words in Luke
and how wonderfully he had fleshed out his account of 2: “fear not”,” good news”, “great joy” and “peace”. How
Jesus’ birth, life of service, death and resurrection. I asked good to know that Alison found the peace that passes all
her to keep reading. understanding and now enjoys eternal peace in Christ’s
On my return visit, I asked if she had reached pages 78 nearer presence."
and 79 and how she had responded to the message that Rev George Lind (semi) retired Minister of the Church of
God loves us, that we are sinners in need of a Saviour Scotland, who kindly sent in the testimony, is pictured
and that God has a plan to save us, adding that when with Adrian, who delivered the Explore booklet.
we respond to the invitation to repent and trust Christ

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