Out of the mouths of babes! What a joy to have the opportunity to talk with the little ones during Sunday worship. There are always delightful surprises. Recently I worshipped in St. Andrew's, Victoria, and one of the children seemed rather surprised to see a woman in the pulpit and told her grandmother, “There is a girl up there.” She is the great-great-granddaughter of a former moderator, Rev. Dr. Lewis MacLean. How wonderful it is to visit with families who continue to worship together, many with three generations.
The General Assembly this year will celebrate Pauline Brown's “official” retirement after 55 years on the Bhil field in India. Pauline is the longest-serving missionary within our denomination. Let us give thanks to God for Pauline's ministry and we pray for continued good health for Pauline as she continues to serve after her official retirement.
In The Presbyterian Church in Canada we are grieving the loss in 2007 of several long-term former overseas and Canada workers. Ivy Howard, a diaconal minister who served in Toronto, Taiwan, and British Columbia; Kass Whitefield, who with her husband Jim, served as volunteers in India, Nigeria, and the Caribbean; Ruth Cowie, a long-time worker in the finance department at 50 Wynford; and Peggy McDougall, the wife of Rev. Dr. Goodwill McDougall, who spent many years in the WMS Bookroom. I was grateful that my location and time made it possible for me to attend and take part in the service for Ivy Howard. I visited Ivy on my last trip to Vancouver in November, and spent New Year's Eve with Kass Whitefield. I treasure these visits with retirees of our church. I give thanks to God for the many years of ministry given by each of these committed people.
News was received from India late last year that two men who turned themselves in after the other 13 Bhil prisoners were acquitted and released at the end of May. The recent release of these two men has been celebrated and now the Christians on the Bhil field are trying to get settled into some normality. This has been a very difficult three years for the Bhil Christians. We join them in praying that only good will come out of this situation in the end. The Bhil Christians continue to stand strong in their faith and support and encourage one another. Shortly after the deadly incident in January 2004, Pauline Brown reported that she was amazed at the strength of God's people on the Bhil field despite their heartache and pain, and especially regarding the courage of the Christians who lost everything when their homes were burned down. Presbyterians here contributed generously through the emergency appeal of International Ministries, the Women's Missionary Society and Presbyterian World Service and Development. Some of these emergency funds are now being distributed to the released prisoners to help them re-establish their lives.
Word has recently spread of another persecution at a place called Ratlam, India not far from Jobat. Inexplicably, charges have been laid against a Christian, Dr. Patience Williams of the Ratlam Christian Hospital, who was imprisoned for one night and released on bail. Let us uphold Dr. Williams and others in Ratlam in our prayers. I had the privilege again of visiting the hospital in Ratlam on my recent moderatorial tour last fall.
In February I travelled from rainy Victoria to the cold and sun of Winnipeg and Brandon. Despite the rain and the cold, I was warmed by the reception I received while visiting congregations, presbyteries, a youth group, and two WMS meetings.
Let us continue to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ordination of women. Even the little ones are noticing women in the pulpit.
Blessings,
Wilma Welsh, Moderator,
132nd General Assembly
