Clifford Pond 1924 –2015
Malcolm MacGregor
Date posted: 1 May 2015
Clifford Pond grew up in Welwyn Garden
City, his father was an itinerant preacher and
Clifford came to faith at quite an early age
and had a strong impression that one day he
too would be a minister of the gospel.
He left school at 14 and worked as a messenger boy for the GPO. At the start of the
Second World War he
joined St
John
Ambulance Brigade and then transferred to
the RAF Medical Service.
Banner brilliant
Malcolm MacGregor
Date posted: 1 May 2015
The Banner of Truth Leicester Conference,
13-16 April featured a galaxy of speakers.
Alongside Kevin De Young from Michigan
the main speakers were Stuart Olyott and
Michael Reeves ably assisted by Alan Davey
(SW
France), Geof Kingswood
from
Canada and Gary Brady and Geof Thomas.
The
theme was
‘The Suffering of
this
Present Time.’ Kevin De Young set out the
rational behind our suffering in the suffering
of Christ and our identity with him. There
was a mind blowing sermon focussing on the shame of the cross. Stuart Olyott took the
pattern of ministerial suffering set by Paul in
2 Corinthians. This included some remarkable words of personal testimony which were
both humourous and profound. Michael
Reeves spoke on Puritan teaching concerning suffering and suffering
in the
life of
Spurgeon. Alan Davey covered the cost of
commitment on the mission field. Father
and
son-in-law Geof Thomas and Gary
Brady provided the opening and closing sermons. At first glance the theme may have
appeared gloomy but the speakers handled it with wisdom, warmth and scriptural integrity. It was a particularly affecting time of fellowship. Well done Banner!