A Cambridge God Adventure* 85) Vernon's story

(*please skip if you have not been following this story).  Vernon Gosden, a prayerful man of great integrity (and author of All the Power you Need 1977) proved an immense gift to us as the Building Fund Treasurer.  In 1994 he wrote his own account of these events to send out as encouragement to donors.  Based largely on the different leaflets that we produced, sadly it gave very little personal reflection.  I would have loved to read about his experience at the heart of events where his role was vital - like the Day of Willingness.

He was always encouraging.  Early in 1984 he dug out a story for the church magazine of  Mr. Doubt-the-Lord (written by R. Hudson Pope) who jeered at Christian when he faced an impassable wall of great thickness blocking his pilgrimage.  Christian began to doubt for the way back was shrouded in mist yet it seemed impossible to go forward.  Vernon described how we were Christian pilgrims who had come some way but mounting costs faced us like a wall of great thickness. 'Has the Lord fooled us and led us to a dead end where He either cannot or will not help us?  In the next issue he described Christian reading the words of the psalmist 'By my God have I leaped over a wall,' then by bounding faith leaped over.  Kneeling on the other side Christian thanked God for giving him faith, agility and courage.  Of course, Vernon then laid out the challenge for us to go on praying and giving before our wall,  giving especially attention to covenanting gifts for extra income!

He finishes his story as only a Treasurer could (!):

So by the end of 1990 all outstanding bills had been paid and there only remained the repayment of Interest Free Loans and the Bank Loan.  Gifts continued to be received, especially during 1991 (£86,000) and by the end of 1993 the Fund's total receipts reached the outstanding figure of £1,115,700.   During the years since almost all the Interest Free loans were repaid and it is estimated that all the loans will be dealt with by 1996 - 12 years after the fund was opened.   The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy (Ps 126:3).

In an accompanying letter to this account he commented how well this story could be complemented by hearing from the Director Graham Thomson, other key workers and of course the testimonies of those helped and who came to faith.   Oh, yes.  I should love to receive reflections from others.  Leaping over the wall involved so many as the Lord continued to make 'new people'.