Ten questions: Rejoice in diversity

Elinor Magowan

1. How did you become a Christian?

I heard the gospel often growing up. My parents are Christians, and my father was a pastor. Church was a big part of my life, and I can remember sermons preached from Job and Philippians before I was a teenager.

When I was about 12, I was convicted of my need to know God personally and knew I couldn’t be good enough for God in my own strength or merit. Having been confronted with my sin, I was then shown Christ as the answer to my need. I prayed to God, trusting in Christ for salvation and experienced joy as I knew I was accepted in Christ and my sins were forgiven.

I then wanted to live out my faith and to witness to Christ and I knew God’s help. There was lots I didn’t understand and many times I have failed to live for my Saviour, but God is kind, merciful and faithful and has never left or forsaken me.

2. What lessons have you learnt since that you would want to pass on to a younger Christian version of yourself?

It is always worth putting Christ first – He never lets us down.

Even when hard things happen, God is working out His purposes – He has a plan.

Trust Him to provide for you when you are uncertain what the future holds – He is always faithful.

Look up, not down and take the long view – heaven is assured for the believer.

3. How would you describe your prayer life?

Prayer is vital to keep my eyes on Christ. I’m reminded prayer is a huge privilege as I come before the Sovereign King of the universe; prayer is a gift from the Lord Jesus made possible through His death for me and a necessary help to find the promised grace that I need. When I know I can’t help others, I can always pray for them confident that God hears and answers prayer. I believe prayer works, so I should pray more than I do. I am not as disciplined and don’t pray as much as I want to. I value praying with others – so try to make prayer meetings a priority; I come away encouraged, inspired, and challenged.

4. Which two or three Christian books apart from the Bible have most influenced your faith?

My Heart in His Hands: Ann Judson of Burma by Sharon James; Identity Theft by Melissa Kruger and Chasing Contentment by Erik Raymond.

5. Who or what have been your biggest Christian influences?

Godly parents whose desire to serve Christ and His church shaped their lives; older women of faith; missionaries; faithful Bible preachers; my husband and his steady trust and joy in the Lord.

6. What are the main challenges you believe Christians face today?

The size of the evangelical church in the UK.

Confidence in the gospel in a pluralistic and secular society

The culture we live in which doesn’t welcome Christians speaking out about matters of faith.

7. What encourages and what discourages you?

I’m hugely encouraged by those who persevere in suffering and show their trust in an ever-faithful God. To see God’s promises lived out by in those who live in the light of eternity rather than looking down at their difficulties moves me. I’m encouraged by the growth of the church in other countries and hearing of those who come to faith.

I’m discouraged when I hear of those who discredit the gospel by the way they speak or live. I’m discouraged when there are unnecessary divisions in evangelical churches. I’m discouraged when I don’t use the Bible as my lens for life and my own heart and feelings get the better of me.

8. What makes you laugh?

Children and the endearingly funny things they say; the ridiculous and the surprising! I have a husband and family who make me laugh, and I often laugh at myself too!

9. What would you want to say to the wider evangelical world?

Rejoice in the diversity of the church; be imitators of Christ; speak the truth in love; share the gospel with confidence – God is able to save all who put their trust in Him.

10. Which Biblical person (other than Jesus) do you most look forward to meeting in glory and why?

Women in the genealogy of Christ – those who were brought into the community of believers from outside the people of faith – Rahab and Ruth who model God’s purposes in saving the unlikely and whose personal encounters with God’s grace changed their lives.