The motto remains unchanged: "For the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Graham Sopp, Crosslinks Mission Resources Team Leader 

This is my first contribution to the magazine. Some people may remember that I was introduced as Mission Resources Team Leader in the September edition.

Crosslinks is in the midst of a period of change with a new organisation coming into shape in the United Kingdom and Ireland accompanied by changes of personnel at the same time. My arrival at Crosslinks is one of these changes.

Way back in time, I studied history at university and, since then, I've always tried to read about the past of the companies and organisations I've worked for during my career. I've tried to do the same thing at Crosslinks.

So I've been reading "The First Twenty-Five Years of the Bible Churchman's Missionary Society " by W.S. Hooton and J. Stafford Wright. There is much to inspire in this history, but space does not permit more than one highlight at the moment.

I was particularly struck by the epilogue written by the Rev. A. T. Houghton, as he then was. He first quoted 1 Corinthians 15:58: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

He then went on to write: "St. Paul's words remind us that the success of our efforts in the future will depend on how far we keep to our original programme and remain steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the Lord's work. The BCMS will go on from strength to strength only in so far as it remains true to the original standards which brought the society into being".

"The motto remains unchanged: "For the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ... (the society) must seek to influence the trend of missionary endeavour by a fearless witness to the truths for which it stands."

This was written in 1947 after 25 years of the society. These words are still true today after 80 years. In the midst of change, let us never forget that we stand "for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ". 

Crosslinks magazine November 2002 index