This is the second instalment of an interview by Mary Davis for en with Ranald Macaulay
Last month, Ranald explained his deep concerns about evangelicalism: how Christianity seems totally implausible to our postmodern culture and how post-modernity’s effect is hugely accelerated by the Internet, social media and TV.
Persistently Preaching Christ is about what God has done in and through one particular local church fellowship in Cambridge over half a century1. Reflecting on the ministries of the two men who led the church during that time and considering their priorities has been a fruitful exercise. One thing that has struck me time and again is this: while there are clearly exceptions, long-term ministry in one place has very significant advantages.
Mark Ruston and Mark Ashton served one church family for a total of 54 years between them and, for both men, their ministry at St. Andrew the Great (formerly ‘The Round Church’)2 could be described as their ‘life’s work’. You can no doubt think of many other ministers who’ve done the same sort of thing. Perhaps the Scottish trio — Willie Still (52 years at Gilcomston, Church of Scotland), James Philip (39 years at Holyrood Abbey Church, Edinburgh) and his brother, George Philip (40 years at Sandyford Henderson, Glasgow). How about: Dick Lucas’s 37 years at St. Helen’s, Bishopsgate; EN’s editor, John Benton, who has already clocked up 33 years at Chertsey Street, Guildford; Jonathan Fletcher, who has just retired after 30 years at the helm of Emmanuel, Wimbledon; John Stott, who was anchored at All Souls his entire adult ministry life — five years as curate, 25 years as Rector and 36 years as Rector Emeritus? And there are, of course, many other current ministers who have served for two, maybe three decades and counting.
Hilary Jolly, winner of St.. Paul's Cathedral Millennium Hymn Competition, has been using her gift with words since she could put pen to paper.
'My mother used to recite poetry as she did the housework - in the way that other people sing,' and when Hilary was only four years old, she wrote her first poem. But following her conversion at the age of 35, Hilary recognised that her gift with words was a gift from God and resolved to use it for him. 'I became a Christian and knowing that I have this gift, I decided from that moment: that gift is for God; he gave it to me, he shall have it back.'
Jesus did it. Paul did it. So did Priscilla and Aquila. Are things now so different that we don't need to?
Evangelist David Watson thought it was crucial: 'Giving a talk, it is said, is like throwing water from a bucket over a row of bottles; a few drops may enter into some. Speaking to individuals . . . is like pouring water from the jug into the narrow neck of each bottle.'(1) Watson rather underestimates the impact of preaching in this quotation and, of course, we do usually concentrate on the individual bottles when they're new. But what about pouring water into the bottles on an ongoing basis - particularly those bottles that have been sitting around a bit?
