Occasionally people come along who fit in the category of ‘statesmen’, leaders of note who by virtue of character and moral authority stand head and shoulders above the crowd.
Noel Vose is one of those people and I had the privilege of enjoying lunch at his home today. Noel was the founding principal of the Baptist Theological College in Perth and has been a much respected leader for many decades in our city.
A few weeks back I was preaching at Quinns while Noel was present in the congregation. We spoke briefly afterwards and Noel asked if we could catch up as he wanted to know more of what we are doing in Brighton. At 86 years old he is genuinely interested in what is happening around the church and what new ideas and innovations are being practiced. Today he told me that he wants to know more of what Steve McAlpine, Jarrod McKenna and I are doing…
I hope that at 86 years old I am half as receptive to new ideas.
Over lunch we discussed the changes Noel had seen in 60 or 70 years of involvement in Baptist churches. We discussed theology, church history, family life and Jesus. It was an inspiration to me to meet with a man who has lived a life of faithful service and who is still as vigorous in his faith now as he was 50 years ago.
His advice to a young (relatively) missionary?…
“Stay close to Jesus”
What can you say?
What can you say? Brings tears to my eyes just reading it. God give us more men like that, not CEO’S.
wow. It is people like this that one feels in awe of. I would love to know his thoughts on changes in church over the lat 60 years. Maybe you can talk him into being a guest blogger.
Noel cracked it in four words!
“Stay close to Jesus”
Reminds me of Polycarp of Smyrna, who was martyred as an old man.Asked to renounce Christ in exchange for his freedom he said:
“Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Saviour?”
There’s a lot of grey-haired wisdom we can learn.
Yeah, Vose is a great one. Stately is the right word.
PS: Is someone writing his biography? It would be great for someone to be conducting recorded interviews with him. Busy Hamo?
sounds like a great idea – but a big one!
Hi Hamo
Thanks for the reminder to return Noel’s phone call from three week’s back! Just phoned him to meet up next week. The bio is a great idea.