The recent passing to heaven of Elizabeth Foord, following the death of her husband Dudley back in 2013, is a reminder to me how age is no barrier to ministry.
January each year marked a two week conference for youth leaders (KYLC) at Katoomba in the 90’s and early 2000’s and the Foords did not miss one in my time there.
They were in their 60’s and 70’s and yet I don’t think we had more effective youth counsellors.
They led a seminar which was mandatory for all participants on the basics of Christian discipleship and it was universally appreciated. After each morning and evening talk they were available for advice and their services were always in demand.
Both Dudley and Elizabeth had a great memory for names and would use names, look young people in the eye, laugh with them and cry with them; they were committed to Christ and were committed to each person who sought them out to encourage a persistent walk with Jesus.
As an older man myself, I now realise that it is not so easy to listen before talking, but the Foords were great listeners!
They were a model to older people, don’t let age disqualify from involvement with young people at church, you might be just the person the young need to talk to.
When the Foords moved to Mowll Village they began a monthly outreach meeting. The one I attended was chaired by Dudley, there was singing of old hymns, Elizabeth interviewed me and then, as instructed, I preached the gospel. They did not rest, evangelicals who never lost their evangelistic zeal.
I am sure there are many who could testify to their encouragement in their own lives. It was Dudley’s encouragement of me which led to the formation of this Preaching Trust and its website in 2012. In fact it was Dudley, along with John Chapman, who did so much to encourage expository Bible preaching in the Anglican church here in Sydney.
After their return from ministering in South Africa, the Foords began regular regional prayer gatherings all over Sydney, crying out to God to renew and revive His work among us.
I saw Dudley at close quarters when he was the foundation chairman of the Katoomba Mens’ convention (MKC); he was a dynamo, the men loved to hear from him and even cheered his announcements and his trademark punching of the air as he urged us on as disciples of Jesus.
Elizabeth’s preaching ministry to women was so well received, she was a frequent visitor to Womens’ conferences around Australia. Warm, joyous, singleminded, zealous believers who made themselves available to us all the way to the end of their life on earth, thank you God for Dudley and Elizabeth.