It’s high time for a brief update after a hectic few weeks! There’s been packing up, a ministers’ conference at Saunton Sands and just to make life that bit more interesting, a hard drive failure that robbed me of my laptop for a few days.  But, at last, the big day arrived – at 7.30am on Friday 28 February the removal van rolled up in Sweetbrier Lane and the loading began. By late afternoon all was unloaded and the first of many, many boxes was raided for its contents! On Saturday the cavalry (in the form of our son Michael and Alan’s brother and sister-in-law) arrived. Furniture was re-assembled, kitchen cupboards filled … I’m sure you get the picture! Nearly a week later cardboard boxes continue to abound, but they’re getting fewer.

While all this has been going on we’ve also fitted in three return visits to Exeter for Helen’s appointments (and also to pick up what didn’t make it into the removal van). Helen is into her third week of chemotherapy. Last Wednesday the oncologist was pleased with the initial test results showing that she is not responding adversely to the treatment and so can continue with the prescription of choice. There’ll be more tests in a couple of weeks time. Side-affects of her treatment have so far been relatively mild, for which we are grateful.
And so our adventures in Worle have begun!

Our Bible readings yesterday and today included Psalm 20 and Psalm 21:1-7. Through them we were greatly encouraged in our prayers as we laid before God the desires of our hearts (20:4; 21:2). We prayed for Helen’s healing and for the well-being of our family. And, of course, we prayed for Worle Baptist Church – that it would flourish under the hand of God in the months and years that lie ahead. And so with that in mind  …

… this evening we have a Leaders’ meeting and one of the things on our agenda is discerning God’s priorities for ministry in the coming months. What I think are good ideas are buzzing around in my head and populating my prayers. But what are God’s kingdom priorities? “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORDs purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21) If you’re reading this ahead of our meeting later today please pray for us that we might know the good and guiding hand of our God upon us so that his purpose may prevail. Thank you!

One of the ways in which God has been sustaining us is through the Bible in One  Year app by Nicky Gumbel. Before the appointment this morning Helen and I read this:

Job 42:2 ‘I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted’. “This is a wonderful promise to hold on to when things in your life are not going according to your plans. God has a good plan for you and it will not be thwarted. God does not give us trouble-free lives. He does not answer all our questions. But he does assure us that he is with us in our troubles.”

The PET scan from last Tuesday confirmed the oncologist’s suspicions that the cancer has taken root in the lungs and also in the lymph nodes in the centre of the chest. But it is very early stages, what he called ‘very low volume disease’. In order to target the lung cancer there is a newish drug called Ribociclib (an oral chemotherapy) which has proved effective in slowing down lung cancer growth. And in order to slow things down in the lymph nodes, Helen will have Letrozole, a hormone treatment, because the breast cancer was ‘feeding’ on oestrogen. He talked us through possible side-effects and will be monitoring how things are going initially fortnightly, then monthly, then quarterly. One good thing is that the side-effects of the oral chemo are far less traumatic than IV chemo.

So, we have a treatment plan which will be starting soon. The prayer plan remains the same i.e. that Helen will be cured!
Thank you, all of you, for your continuing faithfulness in prayer.
Much love, Alan & Helen

Induction Day was sooo good. A packed church with so many friends from Exeter, my family and the good people of Worle so warm and welcoming! God’s presence could be sensed in our worship, in the promises we made, the prayers and the preaching, and in all the chatting that followed! Helen and I felt the love of God through the love of His people. Thank you!

And then there was Sunday – a day to experience the overflow of the day before. Church members renewed their promises to God and each other in an annual renewal of commitment as members (with all that that means in terms of real discipleship). We’re excited together about what lies ahead!

This coming Saturday we look forward to having the keys to our new home. And then, of course, it’ll be all systems GO as we decide on a date for the Big Move up the M5 from Exeter.

In the meantime, Helen, having had her PET scan last Tuesday, is expecting the results from the oncologist tomorrow (Friday). We are experiencing His peace – our trust is in Him.

Tomorrow is Induction Day – the day when I officially become the Minister of Worle Baptist Church! I can hear in my mind’s ear the words of my theology lecturer at Spurgeon’s College, Bruce Milne, with his engaging Scottish accent, urging his leaving students to expect God to meet with us as we prepared to be ordained and then inducted in our first pastorates.

And sure enough, as hands were laid on me in prayer, I tingled from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. The Spirit of God, I believe, was anointing me for the ministry to which God had called me. Tomorrow, hands will again be laid on me in prayer. I’m expecting God to anoint me afresh as a new and exciting chapter turns its first page.

And speaking of pages being turned … Helen likes to read detective stories and period novels. When she gets towards the end of a book, with its exciting finale and the mystery about to be solved, I get the unmistakeable impression that it’s the best bit of the book. It just has to be finished. (Try taking the book off her, or suggest that she reads the final chapter in the morning, and you’ll soon discover that not reading to the end is not an option!)

My ministry at Worle will be my last full-time ministry. I believe that everything I’ve experienced, and am now experiencing, is leading to an exciting finale. I invite you to join me in prayer, expecting that God will start something special among us tomorrow.

P.S. Helen is scheduled to have her PET scan next Tuesday and then we have an appointment with the oncologist on the Friday. Your continuing prayers for her healing and the sense of God’s peace guarding our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7) are so greatly valued by us. Thank you!

 … that special feeling of being upheld by the faithful, loving prayers of others? Well, add to that  our daily reading taking us to Proverbs 3:1-10, we knew that we were in His faithful hands as we went to meet the oncologist.

I think it’s fair to say that the news was mixed. The good news is that the bone scan was clear. The not so good news is that the CT scan showed up a few small nodules in the left lung that the Dr. suspects to be cancer. But he can’t be sure until he has the results of a PET scan which he said he would arrange asap, i.e. about a week. That’ll be up in Taunton. Then within a few days Helen will have a return appointment to discuss treatment options.

I was thinking the other day how this blog started. I billed it as me preparing to go to Worle. I’m now thinking much more of how it charts the Lord preparing me in ways that I could not have foreseen. The following verses from Proverbs, ones that I have quoted many times to others down the years, are now even more special:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:10)
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. (19:21)

A few days ago (at silly o’clock one morning) I found myself singing an old hymn that was buried deep in the archives! It suddenly came back to life with renewed and renewing power. I’ve sung it to myself every day since.

All the way my Saviour leads me
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my guide?
Heavenly peace divinest comfort
Here by faith in Him to dwell
For I know whate’er befall me
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Saviour leads me
Cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me grace for every trial
Feeds me with the Living Bread
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be
Gushing from a Rock before me
Lo a spring of joy I see

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6,7)

Last Wednesday evening was very special for us both, and Helen especially. Her testimony is to the guarding power of the peace of God. Here she is in her own words:

“The elders prayed over me and anointed me with oil this evening. At the same time WBC was open for people to pray for me, and various family and friends were praying too. Wow! I’m not letting this go to my head in the sense of enjoying the attention, I’m always mindful that Jesus is the focus and want to give him free reign in what happens to me.  Having said that, it is affirming to know people care about me – I feel blessed. I know he is giving me peace and I could never have anticipated before all this happened that I could feel that way.”

It seems that Helen’s surgeon has been able to press fast-forward for us in terms of appointments. 😊  Following her scans this week, she has been given an appointment with the oncologist next Friday, much sooner than we had first been given to expect.

Thank you all for your prayers!

“God has given us the church to help us enjoy him.” (Tim Chester)

It was early Wednesday evening and in a few hours Helen and I would be meeting the elders of Pinhoe Road Baptist Church in order for them to pray for her and anoint her with oil (James 5:14). The elders’ meeting was already in the diary (though not this time in mine) and I knew that they would have read chapter 12 of ‘Enjoying God’ by Tim Chester. (Before each elders’ meeting we’ve been reading a chapter of this book in order to spend some time reflecting on it together, sharing how God had spoken to us through it, before going on to engage with the agenda).

As I stopped and stared my first thought was that, in my experience, that had not always been true! But I didn’t dwell on it because with thanksgiving rising in my heart I knew that it was true NOW. Having told Pinhoe Road and Worle Baptist Churches (and others besides) that we were meeting to pray for Helen, the outpouring of love through all the messages received was again overwhelming. So many were going to be praying for us as we met. And, as Tim Chester goes on to explain in the rest of the chapter, church (when it is living up to its Biblical role profile) is an awesome channel of His love. So, yes, church does indeed help us to enjoy God as through His people, inspired by His Spirit, we experience His love. Yesterday evening Chester’s words were O So True! Thanks be to God!

Saturday 11 January 2020
I’m writing this early Saturday morning , having given up trying to sleep. Yesterday’s news wasn’t what we wanted to hear. We would have liked to have been told that there were no traces of cancer to be found, that the lymph nodes were clear. Instead, more tests were needed and it was to be chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy.

As we set out for the hospital late yesterday morning Helen told me that her Bible readings earlier had been about facing the storms of life (e.g. Matthew 8:23ff). A bit of me rebelled against it, but deep down I guess it did prepare me for the news. So I wasn’t altogether surprised. Disappointed, but not surprised.

So what do I pray? Of course I’m praying that the scans and tests will draw a blank and that the treatment will zap any nasties that have the temerity to be lurking around. But, more importantly, I found myself being reminded of a prayer that God has always answered whenever times have been unsure, rough or tough: “Lord, sanctify this to me.” What does this mean? It means becoming more like Jesus. It means being drawn closer to him, strengthened by his unfailing grace. It’s a prayer that God would use whatever we’re facing to glorify his name. To that end we put our faith and trust in God.

Now may the God of peace … equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:21

This morning Helen asked me if I knew what I’d be preaching for the first few weeks at WBC. I answered that the Lord had not yet revealed that to me so I’m still thinking and praying about it. Later in the morning as I came to my daily Scripture readings, I read Ezekiel 1:3,4

“The word of Yahweh came to Ezekiel the priest … the hand of Yahweh was upon him.” On a previous reading of those words I had written a short prayer in the margin of my notes: ‘May you word come to me, may your hand be upon me.’

Over the years I have regularly challenged my congregation with the question:
‘Have you done your sermon preparation? Have you prayed for the preacher?’

So, may I ask those of you reading this to do just that? Do some sermon preparation by praying that God’s hand may be upon me and that his Word would come to me as I seek his will for my first few sermons as Pastor of Worle Baptist Church.

With thanks and blessings … Alan