A life of ministry
 

Former General Secretary David Coffey's memoir Around the World In 80 Ways features a range of his sermons, addresses, articles and reflections.

He introduces it here, explaining how one of its themes is that all spiritual life is fired by longing, and God desires to create in us 'a desperate hunger and a burning thirst for a vital relationship of obedience and trust in him'
 

 
I have been planning to write a legacy memoir dedicated to our grandchildren for several years. In the year I publish this book, their ages range from 20 to 26. When they were children, we would enjoy what we called red-letter days, and we have bulging albums of photographs which record those special days.

The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace; Christmas pantomimes in Oxford; inaugurating the Dandelion and Burdock Club on Wittenham Clumps; T20 cricket matches in Worcester; rugby matches in the rain at Banbury; touring Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea FC; Monkey World in Dorset; The Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden; ten-pin bowling in Banbury; punting on the River Cherwell; late night evenings with the Marldon Movie Club; summer barbecues by the Garden Lodge: breakfast on the beach at Broadsands. Singing mad songs, 'My Doughnut Lies Over the Ocean' and 'On Top of Old Smokey'.
 
These were some of the special days when we sowed the seeds of friendship, so that now each grandchild is also a friend. We have prayed for our grandchildren since they were born and, over recent years, have enjoyed the privilege of attending their baptismal services when they publicly professed their faith in Jesus and pledged a desire to be his lifelong disciples.
 
When I celebrated my 80th birthday in 2021, I decided I wanted to add to these fun-filled red-letter days and compose a book which would be a spiritual legacy to our grandchildren. Psalm 78 says the truths of God's Word we hear from our parents must be passed to the next generation so that they know 'the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done' (Psalm 78:4). The opening chapter of my book is a testimony to generational faith.
 
I have the greatest fulfilment in preaching God's Word and sharing the scriptures, so this book combines some of the sermons I have preached, addresses I have delivered and articles I have written. Before each chapter, I indicate the occasion associated with the event.
 
I began my ministry as a pastor of local churches. I was then privileged to be a 'tramp preacher' nationally and internationally. I have ministered in over 80 countries on six continents, hence the title: Around the World In 80 Ways. I am still waiting for an invitation to visit a Christian fellowship in Antarctica!
 
The sermons include the one delivered at Amsterdam400, the European Baptist conference in July 2009, which celebrated the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Baptist movement. I have two sermons based on the Sermon on the Mount, where I share the shape of Christian discipleship in an alien culture. 'The burglar, the butler and the bridesmaids' is the title of a sermon which looks at the teaching of Jesus on the end times. There is a sermon for a wedding, a funeral and the induction of a minister. There are also narrative sermons based on Gospel passages.
 
Among the addresses is my talk at the National Baptist Leaders Day at Wembley in 1999. Although this event was 24 years ago, I believe some of the issues we explored that day are still relevant for Baptists Together. In the article section, I have included my choice of Desert Island books and two reflections on visits to the Middle East. The first is titled 'Talking to Muslims', and the second is a diary reflection on the continuing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
 
The book concludes with a sermon based on Psalm 71, 'Growing Old with God'. I hope those of my generation may find encouragement to finish their course joyfully. The peer group of my grandchildren will face the growing burden of caring for an increasingly ageing population. Mending the social care system includes the spiritual dimension of fostering faith in the lives of older people. We need a fresh vision for fruitfulness in old age. There are things you can no longer do when you are old and places you no longer visit. But as Richard Rohr reminds us, when you are growing old, there are things you absolutely must do because they concern your destiny and deepest desire.
 
As a Bible teacher, I am always hunting for practical applications, so I hope the anecdotes I share from my global travels will support the ministry of the company of preachers. I share stories of reconciliation from South Africa, youthful entrepreneurship from Ecuador, and courageous faith in a communist country.
 
One of the themes of my book is that all spiritual life is fired by longing, and God desires to create in us a desperate hunger and a burning thirst for a vital relationship of obedience and trust in him. It is this never-ending hunger and thirst for the kingdom of righteousness that has transforming power in God's world.
 
 

David Coffey was General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain (1991-2005) and is a former President of the Baptist World Alliance. 

Around the World In 80 Ways by David Coffey is published by Malcolm Down and can be purchased via our online shop

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