On the glorious afternoon of July 6, members and friends of Reeth Evangelical Congregational Church gathered for the induction to the pastorate of David Levell.
David was formerly minister of Pantiles Baptist Church, Tunbridge Wells. He and his wife Mary know Reeth well, after visiting Yorkshire for holidays for many years.
They had planned to conclude their 25-year ministry at Pantiles this year and were prayerfully considering the future when David was invited to preach in Reeth last September. Further invitations and meetings followed, culminating in a unanimous call by the church. David and Mary were drawn to the warmth of the fellowship and to the challenge of the work, although very aware that they would be moving a long way from the family.
Andy Hannan, deacon at Pantiles, commended David’s faithful, God-centred gospel ministry and stressed the importance of Mary’s support and contribution to church life.
Confident church
Mike Plant preached from Psalm 2, showing that while there will always be opposition, there is an assurance and inevitability about the triumph of God’s purposes as he makes the nations the inheritance of the Lord Jesus Christ. He stressed that the Lord’s exhortation to the nations demanded a response — surrender to him. The church should be confident, discerning and united. Our side cannot lose because Christ cannot lose. A truly fitting message for an induction service.
