“He took our infirmities and bore our diseases” (Matthew 8:17, quoting Isaiah)

28th March, 2024. I write on the eve of Good Friday (Maundy Thursday, to the initiated!) – the pivotal point in the history of the world. We observe the full power of wickedness let loose against the most innocent and lovely human being, and feel ourselves recoiling from the wanton agony inflicted by organised society, for no reason other than that they could do it with impunity. Probably the very people who will have least time to think about it will be today’s victims of human cruelty – in Gaza, Ukraine and so many other less-spotlighted places throughout the world.

Two days on and we shall relive the powerful dawning of fresh hope as the crucified and buried Son of God bursts out of his grave, manifesting himself to individuals, groups and multitudes, and banishing the deflation of their broken dreams. Breathing the Holy Spirit, Jesus will then issue his followers their final instructions to convert the world to faith, before he resumes his rightful heavenly glory to allow the Spirit to realise the presence and power of Jesus in every follower.

This mission came surprisingly to me in my seventh decade as God intoduced me to my new wife Ingria, then to an African prophet called David Opoku, to launch us into my “Late Harvest” of ministry to bring healing to sick people and announce the forgiveness of sins – all that Isaiah had said the “Suffering Servant” would do – fulfilled in the Person of Jesus. Ingria and I are now settled into serving two of the three congregations meeting at John Bunyan Baptist Church, Cowley – a very needy part of Oxford. In addition to preaching (mainly with the Burmese congregation), I have added musical worship-leading and jointly leading a Lent study group in the main Baptist Congregation. Shortly I will have the privilege of teaching Healing in Jesus’ Name by means of Zoom to Burmese missionaries throughout the world. Before long we hope to realise the vision of John Bunyan Baptist Church becoming a centre for Christian Healing.

To this end I was delighted to have an email from Steve Jones the Senior Pastor of Oxford Community Church – the Church we thought would become our spiritual home (before we got our “Macedonian Call” to help Cowley). Steve expressed interest in our vision for a Healing Centre – which they also share, and has invited us to hear a minister from California coming to address us on his experiences of ‘Healing Rooms’, and growing a Healing Culture in the Church. This is all very encouraging!

Thank you for your interest and prayer support. Ingria and I wish you a very blessed Easter.