The Kind of Faith I Want

John and Vanda Todman are good friends of ours from our previous church; they love Jesus, are passionate about world mission and have an infectious confidence in the goodness of God.  (Alastair and Ros always remind me of them).  They have two sons, Clive and Neil who, after kicking against the faith of their parents, were soundly converted and gave their lives to Christ in their late teens.   Louise and I did marriage preparation classes for Clive and Sarah before their wedding and so it was with particular sadness that we heard the news some five years ago that Sarah had terminal cancer.  She died in 2009 leaving a grieving husband and two small girls.  Clive preached powerfully at his wife’s service of thanksgiving and I have given away many copies of the cd as it was an incredible testimony to God’s incredible and amazing grace.  

A couple of weeks ago I got a call from Vanda to say that their other daughter-in-law, Elaine, had been diagnosed with cancer and the outlook was bleak.  The next day I drove to their home in Bath and sat with them.   The pain and sadness was grievous but the knowledge of God’s presence as we read scripture, prayed and shed tears, was profound.  

Neil is the pastor of Headley Park Church and as well as shepherding his family (they have two small boys) through this ordeal he is also shepherding his church.  To this end he has written a blog (diary) from the point at which they heard the diagnosis.   I would like to encourage you to read what he has written thus far.  You’ll read of how they have shared the news with their children and how they have sought to view their situation through the lens of the gospel.  Its real, gutsy and honest and shines a huge spotlight on the all the sufficient grace of God.   It’s the kind of faith that I hope I have in the midst of such a trauma. 

Do yourself and the Kingdom a favour and visit http://www.headleyparkchurch.org.uk/#     Track back (hitting “View older posts”) until you get to 7^th January and read through.