Just had Barney Coombs with Dale and I and some of the Linknz network over the last ten days. What an amazing privilege to have had Barney in my life for over 27 years-a rare treasure.
Barney met me at age 24 in NZ , invited me to travel with him and to see how apostolic ministries were working in their sphere of the international church scene .Ive been a 'spiritual son' since that day and have travelled, ministered and learnt around this wonderful man. A true apostolic father and friend in the gospel to me.A privilege that so many orphaned leaders have never experienced.
In all these years he has been to NZ almost every year, has instructed, encouraged, rebuked and inspired me to stay true, sincere and fearless to this calling.
As a single young man he took me as a Timothy and through some deeply trying times has never wavered to stand with me, has given money, time, tears and a whole lot of laughs through these years.
And now I see him speaking into my natural sons , 'spiritual grandsons' I guess and now leaving in them a legacy of grace, love and pastoral care that is a rare treasure in the light of so many busy and professional people called into this role.
I salute such a man, friend and father in the gospel.I am truly blessed.
There are not many fathers- but thank God for the ones who have perservered and earned the right to be true and trusted leaders in the church today.
1 comment:
'Honour to whom honour is due ...' a great example of what it is to 'honour your father ..' Saint Barney - what challenging raw material he took on and look how well you have scrubbed up!
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