1995 Reunion
I have pleasure in sending you a report, written by Ida and David Powell,
of the United
Nations Witness Team Reunion held at Sunbury Court from 2nd to 6th October
1995.
Edwin Roberts, 27 Jacqueline Gardens, Billericay, Essex.
Fairfax House. Virginia October l994 þ Sunbury Court on the River Thames
October
l995. Those who were in the Team may be 50 years older than they were in
l945, but
they are still great travellers! þas evidenced by those present, who came
from Canada,
the USA, Holland, Scotland and England.
Sunbury Court, which is the main Salvation Army Conference Centre, is a
beautiful l7th
Century country mansion in equally beautiful grounds. One of its main
attractions is a
magnificent chandelier, with 3,000 cut glass facets. The walls of the
dining room are
decorated with panel paintings of the l8th Century period, and the food
served to us there
will be long remembered for its excellence. Apart from the comfortable
meeting rooms,
there was a large sun lounge where we were able to relax, chat and enjoy
light
refreshments.
The majority of those attending arrived on Monday afternoon. We were
greeted warmly
by Harry and Joyce Young and given a beautiful programme, complete with
photographs
of 1945, which Christopher Young had prepared for us. You can picture the
joy with
which each new arrival greeted old friends, some of whom had not met since
the end of
the war and the feeling of anticipation for all the good things we were
about to enjoy
together was very evident. From these first moments together there was a
wonderful sense
of the presence and blessing of the Lord.
The chosen theme was finishing the course with joy (Acts 20:24). Edwin
Roberts
welcomed us all at our first evening of worship and celebration, led by
Harry Young.
Joan Kenyon (nee Hall) and Iris Grottick sang to us. One song was Let me
dream on
which brought back many memories. Ben Taylor gave a moving testimony from
his
wheelchair and Pee Wee Sorensen told us about the short-term missions he
and his wife
undertake in such places as India, Mexico and the slums of Atlanta. This
was followed by
a message from Harry from Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders
(Acts 20:24,
but see also Psalm 72:12-15).
Each day began with prayer. Various team members led morning by morning and
this
proved to be a time of great blessing. After this we breakfasted and then
moved on to
enjoy the morning Bible Hour. These were times of refreshment and
encouragement from
the Psalms. Les Rainey led us into Psalm 91, warming our hearts as he
encouraged us to
learn to "dwell in the secret place of the most High". Alan Morrell, who
introduced
Psalm 139, also led us in singing, with exactly the same enthusiasm he had
in the old
days. George Summers, on Psalm 133, and Sandy Morrison, on Psalm 1, each
brought a
powerful and encouraging message. What a feast!
At one of our evening services, Iris Floyd/Nascrimento shared her life
story with us. She
recounted how, in the blackout, she came to attend an American Forces Bible
Study in
Green Street. That evening she came to faith in Jesus, kneeling by a dust
bin on the way
to 5 Quebec Mews! She shared how she became a nurse/missionary in Angola,
often
having to fulfil the role of a doctor in very trying circumstances. Iris
testified to the
Lord's faithfulness in apparently impossible circumstances, and asked for
our prayers for
what is probably her final period of full time service abroad. Iris also
sends her thanks for
the gift of £250 made to her from the Communion offering.
One very special evening was devoted to personal testimonies. Testimonies
were given by
Danny James, Arny Olsen (who had only recently lost his wife) and Alan
Morrell. Each
spoke of the wonderful blend, when the Team were together, of British
maturity and
American enthusiasm! We heard moving testimony from Bob McKenzie, recorded
for us
last Easter, in which he reminded us that God's grace is sufficient for us
in all
circumstances. George Summers came next and then Charles Parker who was one
of the
original team members. He said that his time with the Team had been a time
of training
for future church leadership. Sandy Morrison shared with us the heart
rending story of
how, in the war, a young newly trained radar officer was ordered to take
Sandy's place
on the next Russian arctic convoy, while Sandy took compulsory
compassionate leave
after having been torpedoed. The young man was lost on that convoy and
Sandy likened it
to Jesus dying in our place.
So much more could be related regarding this testimony time, if only space
would permit.
We prayed for those who are suffering with ill health and those who have
lost loved ones,
that the Lord will comfort and strengthen them, that they may know His
presence in a
very real way.
Our times away from Sunbury Court were all special. First our visit to
Hampton Court,
so full of history and beauty, then our visit to the Royal Borough of
Kingston. Here we
were privileged to meet the Mayor & Mayoress of Kingston who gave us an
official
welcome to the Borough, a truly special occasion which included lunch in
the Baptist
Church and a short service. And there was also time to visit the many
lovely shops in
Kingston. But, surely the most
memorable visit was to
Westminster
Chapel, where the
Team witnessed to Jesus so
often at the end of the war.
We were given time to quietly
look around and then went up
into the pulpit we remembered
so well, and sang as we used
to the theme song of the Team
We are saved, Saved to tell
others followed by Christ for
Me. There was hardly a dry
eye. Dr R.T. Kendall, the
present Minister at the Chapel,
came in to hear us and was
visibly moved. Afterwards we went into a side room and he spoke very
movingly about
the privilege it was to have us there and that he felt Westminster Chapel
had been visited
by Angels that day! He also went on to say that although our theme was
finishing the
course with joy, we are certainly not finished yet. The proof being that we
are still here
on earth, the Lord still has much for us to do in serving Him. His message
was to keep
going, "You're not finished yet!" We were then given lunch at the Chapel.
As we travelled by bus and underground trains many of the team, true to
form, found
opportunities of sharing the gospel with those around them. Surely the best
confirmation
that God has not finished our labours yet!
On our last evening together, the Rev. Arthur Thompson, former President of
the London
Baptist Association gave a powerful, yet sensitive word, which included his
own
testimony, finishing on the note that soldiers of Christ do not die, they
are promoted to
glory. Harry then led us in a moving communion service, during which, Edwin
read out
the names of members of the team already promoted to glory. We stood to
remember
them in silence and prayer.
So much more could be said of this memorable time together, because the
Lord was with
us in a most remarkable way throughout the whole week. Those who were there
will carry
precious memories with them for the rest of their lives, and we trust that
those of you
who could not be with us will feel that in reading this report, you are
sharing the joys we
experienced. All the praise and all the glory is given to God for His
graciousness to each
one of us.