Evangelicalism and Practical Necessity

Practical Evangelicalism

"I needed food and you fed me, 

clothes and you clothed me"

Matthew. 25 35-40

I was ten years old when I overheared my recently widowed mother engage in conversation with an unexpected visitor.  A Christian, and ardently evangelical in outlook, the caller's clerical collar would not have impressed her given 'priesthood', in her view, was likely 'of the devil'. After the gentleman left she made a surprise aside: "a really nice man; even loves the Lord!". Surprised that an Anglican Cleric (curate) could talk so earnestly of a  'personal' faith, she must have put aside her normal prejudice to share her own witness.  More than fifty years have passed since I 'moved on' from the Church of my up-bringing, but I recall that Baptists, who clearly identified as 'Evangelicals', were sometimes quick to demean the faith of others (or more likely, ignore them!). My personal story is linked closely with an outstanding Evangelical Minister who came to our aid at a critical point in my family's life. Rev. Colin Campbell, Pastor of the Baptist Church at Gladesville, assumed many responsibilities on behalf of my mother following her diagnosis with terminal cancer and necessity for full-time care. This left my brother and I to fend for ourselves, facing the many issues that needed to be resolved given my minority (I was fourteen at the time, my brother eighteen).  Orchestrated by Mr Campbell, an agreement with another Church family was reached whereby they moved in with us, a practical solution that satisfied their need for accommodation as well as our need for domestic help (and legal status). My  mother died eighteen months later. Mr Campbell remained a close friend and mentor, in many ways filling the gap left by my deceased father, as well. After gaining the Leaving Certificate, employment with the Bank of NSW (Westpac) was suggested by Mr Campbell, himself a former 'Wales' man.  Returning from war service with the RAAF he had spurned his outstanding prospects with the Bank (he was academically gifted, as well) in order to train for the Ministry. Colin Campbell's only aspiration was to serve Christ, which for him meant 'caring for people' in fulfillment of our Lords' injunction. Rev. J.C. Campbell served the Baptist Church and the wider community in many ways during his long life, eventually receiving an OAM for his services to Church and community.  I can testify to no finer example of the Evangelical spirit; if "Public Prosperity" escaped him as an aspiration (the Bank might have best achieved this), simply the well-being of individual lives in the Spirit of Christ was his singular desire. Colin Campbell died in Brisbane in 2009, aged 92 .