I met Vince Buchanan for lunch the other week. I hadn’t seen him since the early 80s. We didn’t know each other well even then. But it was encouraging to meet him at a Liveability conference last autumn. I decided to meet him again.
Why encouraging? Because he’s still there! He’s a hero! He still leads the Good Shepherd Mission http://www.goodshepherdmission.org.uk/.
He began as a youth worker at the same time as me. But lasted much longer. I got out as soon as I could - too tough for me among these east-end kids!
Then he became pastor of the church they formed in the former Ragged School building. The centre still runs a range of social outreaches: youth work, pre-school groups, homeless guys football and bible study.
We are in a spiritual warfare, which overwhelms too many pastors. Vincent however has great maturity and depth of character, God-formed, Spirit-moulded, Christ-shaped. I am full of admiration for him and his faithfulness to the Lord.
In many ways, his ministry is nothing special. No fanfares. No best-selling book deals. But patient, determined, longterm service to god and the people he has care of on his patch. Genuine, authentic, inner city ministry.
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