The impact of George Verwer, the mission pioneer who has just died (see obituary here), was so extensive that for me, as with many others, he has seemed like a constant influence, even though we never met.
My first encounter with his work was when one of the OM ships visited Bristol, where we lived, in the 1970s. To a small boy, the idea of Christians voyaging round the world giving out books seemed an exotic, alluring and rather exciting one, and I still remember the smiles of those serving on the ship.
A few years later I remember sitting under his preaching at St Helen’s, Bishopsgate. In this case, it literally was ‘under’ as we were sat pretty much directly in front of and beneath the pulpit where Verwer was preaching. There was no escape as Verwer held forth at, I think, some considerable length. His talk, memorably, had 13 points, came from Proverbs 5, was delivered with passion and contained (given the chapter’s contents) some quite eye-popping moments for an adolescent boy! The fact that I can remember parts of it all these years later speaks for its power.
Fast forward nearly two decades, and while training for ministry at Wycliffe Hall, struggling with the factionalism and suspicion between evangelicals that seemed symptomatic of the time, I came across Verwer’s excellent book Revolution of Love, a volume to which I have often returned since. ‘The Bible teaches us that the way to God is a narrow road,’ Verwer writes. ‘And yet we do not have the right to try to make it narrower than it really is, by excluding everybody who does not think and believe exactly as we do … If you take the whole of the word of God, and let one verse balance out another verse … then I believe you will end up in the land of the open-hearted.’ The book is worth reading and remains a gem.
Finally, just a few years ago, we were at the Keswick Convention in the Lake District. And there was George Verwer – still! – on the platform and – still! – with his huge inflatable globe, a prop he used many times to bring home the missional needs of the world. As he had done so many times before over the years, he appealed for people to come forward to pray, to explore the idea of serving on the mission field. And they did – more than I would ever have expected.
And I guess if Verwer were standing over my shoulder now, he might want this piece to end like this: ‘Ask them – are they ready to go? Are they ready to think about serving in mission overseas?’ I suspect too he wouldn’t just want you to be asked – but would want some of you to take action. Today.
