On October 21st we took the opportunity to honour my pastor, Tom Dotson, and his wife, Mrs. Jane. Over the next few days I want to share some memories, thoughts and how we honoured the Dotsons on that day.
To start with I want to share a news clipping from 1980. In my next post I will share a little more of the Dotsons’ personal testimony of their call and arrival in England, but I wanted to start with something more personal.
While moving the Dotsons’ things we came across an old news paper clipping. Pastor Dotson gave me permission to share it.
This caught my eye because of the date. This paper announced that on October the 5th a final, farewell service would be held for the Dotsons and just a few days after they would fly to England.
A missionary’s goal is to win souls, disciple, train and then hand his work over to a citizen of the country in which he serves. Pastor Dotson and Mrs. Jane could never have known all that the Lord had in store, but He had a plan.
Almost exactly 32 years after this article, on October 21st, 2012, I was privileged to preach the Tribute Service for the Dotsons as we formely recognised their ministry here and Pastor Dotson and Dr. Mark Batory of the Gospel Fellowship Association, recognised the church had called me to continue in the ministry here.
I was born on October 4th, 1980. On the day I was born God had already set in motion events that would shape my life. On the day the Dotsons would arrive in England, a week old baby was in a hospital ward somewhere, who would grow up to continue the ministry they would begin.
This is not something I share to speak highly of myself, but to speak of the greatness of God. The greatness of God in making it happen and the goodness of God in letting me know. It has been a blessing to me to discover this in the last few days.
Never forget that God is in control, He has a plan, He knows what is best for His glory and our good. Rest in Him.
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