Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, my spiritual journey began when I was in my early 20’s with a commitment of my life to Jesus Christ at a Methodist Youth Camp. It was at one of those camps that I was to meet and later marry Gillian. Next year we hope to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. We have five children and eight grandchildren. At present my wife and I live in a little seaside town called Knysna, known as the Jewel of the Garden Route of the Western Cape.
I served for 25 years in the capacity of an ordained minister within both the Methodist and Anglican church. During that time both my wife and I were baptised as believers. This and several other factors seemed to be leading us to apply the challenges of the Gospel beyond the parameters of parish ministry. In Port Elizabeth I was involved in helping pioneer an outreach to drug addicts and alcoholics. Later I became involved with a Black colleague in setting up an experimental inter-racial fellowship in one of Port Elizabeth’s Black Townships. This led to our establishing a school for disadvantaged Black students which we called Ethembeni (Place of Hope), a project that continues to this day.
My emphasis is on seeking and encouraging a strong biblical expression of Christianity through bible teaching and worship. My passion is to explore ways in which a love for God can be fleshed out in a practical expression of love for others across the human barriers of race, class and denomination. The challenge we face is to continue and expand this work through a self-supporting ministry.
THE MESSENGER is a journey through the first three chapters of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Those chapters provide us with a sublime insight into the eternal plan of God that stretches across the limitless breadths of eternity. Described by one as the Queen of Epistles, its message uplifts, encourages and challenges.
I never fail to be inspired by this Epistle every time I study it. My prayer is that it will touch your life in a way that will not only inspire you but renew you spiritually and mentally.
In the words of Paul:
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Eph. 1:18)
[show-menu menu=”In the Word with Brian Bird”]
You must be logged in to post a comment.