The Word becomes Flesh

22nd December 2023. Over a month since my last post, I write in anticipation of the Celebration of our Saviour’s Birth. As well as being an extra-busy time (embracing a short holiday abroad, our two birthdays, a grandson’s eighteenth party, and some part-time employment), the five week gap has been important for me to process what was amazingly received as our ‘Macedonia Call’. Fourteen months after trekking around Oxford to discern where the Lord might be calling us to serve, He stopped us in the direction we thought was right, and instead directed us to the invitations by leaders of two Baptist Churches meeting in the same premises to help them in their ministry, with a particular brief to promote Christian Healing. Already I have commenced preaching in both congregations, more preaching dates are being lined up in 2024, and also the opportunity to lead musical worship in the English Baptist Church. In the latter I will be teaming up once again with Amy, whom I pastored and shared musical worship with in my Wallingford church.

John’s Gospel has its own distinctive take on the coming of Christ into the world. No reference to shepherds and wise men, but a cosmic acount of the coming of God’s Light and Word into the world. Chapter 1 verse14 states “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. And preceding this, verse 12 makes this wonderful promise: “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power (or, “right”) to become children of God.” This is the glorious Gospel we celebrate. Hallelujah! But, in the context of Ingria’s and my calling to serve God in the Healing ministry, the ‘Word made flesh’ has an added significance. Our calling came initially from a Prophetic Word given in 2018 by David Opoku, and was confirmed and enlarged not only by him but by other prophetic sources in different locations. It has ‘become flesh’, first of all in the early period centred at Wallingford Baptist Church, but now in the clear calling to the location from which our ‘Macedonia Call’ came in the last few weeks.

God bless you – and we thank you – for your prayers and support. We wish you all a Happy Christmas and an exciting New Year filled with God’s Peace, Shalom!