In Depth:  Derek Prime

Professor David Wright died on the February 19 after a long battle with prostate cancer. He will be sorely missed not only in Scotland where he worked for so many years but throughout the evangelical world where his contribution was more significant that he ever realised.

I first met David when he was a sixth-former at the Bec Grammar School in South London. He had only recently professed faith in our Lord Jesus Christ through the instrumentality of his Crusader Class at the age of 17. At Cambridge he was at Christ’s College where he gained a first in history and theology, going afterwards to Oxford to become a research student in Lincoln College from 1961-4. This was followed by his appointment as lecturer in ecclesiastical history at New College in the University of Edinburgh and senior lecturer in 1973.

Mervyn Barter was ‘God’s gentleman’. All who knew him loved him and he was outstanding for his courtesy, graciousness and kindness. I had the privilege of being his pastor for many years and enjoyed his continuing friendship when that local church relationship ended.

He died on March 19 at his home in Fernhurst, near Haslemere, in Surrey, having moved there from Edinburgh with his wife Penny to be closer to their family. Not long after settling into their new home he was found to have cancer and for many months underwent different courses of treatment. A few weeks ago we had shared in an email Job 23.10: ‘But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.’ He replied, ‘Job 23.10 is a most encouraging verse and has been a favourite of mine over the last year or so. I just hope the LORD will enable me to maintain my faith so that through my present testing it will not fail and that when it is over I may come forth as gold.’ His desire was fulfilled. Just as fierce winds reveal the depth and strength of a tree’s roots, so the winds of suffering demonstrated how firmly Mervyn’s faith was rooted in his Lord and Saviour.

Derek Prime’s latest book on leadership gives some advice on how to make the best of the sometimes onerous task of chairing meetings . . .

Most of us can remember committee meetings that have seemed endless and even pointless time-wasters.

A beauty and benefit of the description of spiritual growth in terms of fruit is the potent reminder that fruit does not come at once but always takes time to mature. That has special reference to our characters. The best fruit ripens naturally.

As we get older, active physical functions in the body of Christ may be denied us, but our contribution by means of our characters and spiritual influence may continue, and even increase. While our bodies decay, our souls may do the opposite. We are not to covet perpetual youth, like Peter Pan, but instead keep spiritually fresh without sterility, always giving testimony to God, our Rock.

One of the most difficult aspects of church life is the carrying out of spiritual discipline.

The world regards it as an intrusion on individual freedom. 'What right have you to judge others?' is the response of most non-Christians. Even Christians may be so unaccustomed to biblical teaching on its necessity that they also question its validity.

All truth is valuable, but some truths are particularly significant and meaningful.

One such is the description of our Lord Jesus Christ as 'the Man in glory'. It is not a biblical title but it sums up biblical truth.