September 2008

MORE FOOD FOR THOUGHT  

In his epistle to the Hebrews, verse 7, St Paul, one of the greatest leaders in the history of the Christian Church, wrote, “Remember your Leaders!” – at this time particularly relevant when we look forward to welcoming the Revd. Alastair McCollum to the Five Alive Mission Community.

Jesus himself was of course, a model of good leadership.  In his parable of the Good Shepherd he claimed, “I am the good shepherd and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”  Himself a Jew, he was assessed by a contemporary Jew as, “the teacher of Israel.”  On a lesser plain, a schoolteacher exemplifies leadership by showing the way – by guiding the pupil or student through advancing stages of development and by cultivating healthy objectives.

The priestly ministry has some similarities in these aims, but more importantly he or she is primarily a messenger of Christ – through evangelism, through pastoral care and most vitally, through a powerful sense of vocation.  Of course, unshakeable faith and the ability to enhance the glory of God through the personality of Jesus Christ are essential qualifications in such a role.

No doubt you yourself have made a mental list of the attributes you would like to find in an appointee of the Five Alive Mission Community, and certainly a great deal of profound thought and debate has been devoted to the subject by the Mission Community Council.  

The appointment has now been made and it is therefore appropriate that we pray for God’s blessing on the ministry of the Revd. McCollum amongst us, and that his leadership may be both successful and rewarding.   With all good wishes.  

Don Tapster (Reader)

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