Malcolm Watson / Jeff Nicholson

On Sunday 10th January, Camp Hill church hosted pastors and members from the West Midlands and further afield to thank God and highlight the contribution to pastoral ministry of Pastors Dalbir Masih, Royston Morgan and Peter Sayers. Gifts and tokens of appreciation were given to these ministers and their wives. Unfortunately Pastor Morgan was unavoidably absent due to a family bereavement abroad.

Pastor Paul Haworth, NEC Secretary and Pastor Egerton Francis, NEC Minsterial Secretary, paid tributes and expressed appreciation to the retirees for their service. Pr. Francis wished them success in their retirement and presented tokens of appreciation to them and their wives on behalf of the Ministerial Association.

The event was planned and funded by the churches and officers of the West Midlands Area Advisory with the support of the NEC and BUC officers and their staff. Area 5 is very grateful to these respective officers and to the NEC for its financial assistance.

Using the TV programme format, “This Your Life” host, Pr. Jeff Nicholson, NEC Communications & Stewardship Director, highlighted the unique contribution of Pastor Dalbir Masih during 35 years of pastoral service in the West Midlands. Called from service in India in 1974 he pastored the Punjabi members of Langley for 35 years along with many of the other Area 5 churches. He served Camp Hill twice, overseeing its relocation & rebuilding. He led the West Midlands Advisory Council and pastors fraternal for over ten years and introduced successful tent evangelism to the West Midlands in 1988.

A particular feature of his pastoral service, was his leadership and service to all sections of the communities of Smethwick, Oldbury, Warley & West Bromwich. Tributes and congratulatory messages came from national and local civic leaders. Lord King of West Bromwich, John Shergill President of the Smethwick Gudwaraj, Andrew Bailey MP West Bromwich West and the Rt. Hon. John Spellar MP demonstrated that an Adventist pastor may be as beneficial to the wider community as to their congregations. While this 'being salt' may not lead to conversions to the church, it does preserve a spiritual sanctity in the community that the Holy Spirit can use to preserve and better the lives of people that God loves.

BUC President Pastor Don MacFarlane and former president Pastor Cecil Perry, local church representatives, former interns who are now senior pastors, housing association colleagues & family warmly shared stories and appreciation of Pastor Masih by email and in person. They painted a picture of a bold evangelist, church planter, social housing builder, astute committee man, sage, guru and friend who does not take no for an answer and who overturns plans to achieve a goal for Gods cause. His unrivalled ability to get disparate people and groups to work together to benefit the good of all was often evidenced in these reminiscences, along with his uncanny ability to create a chauffeur out of anyone with a handy car.

As Pastor Masih’s story moved along, tributes, spontaneous stories and tokens of appreciation show cased the committed, passionate ministry of Pastors Sayers and the exuberant, enthusiastic ministry of Pastor Morgan who reinvigorated “Ingathering,” the ADRA Annual Appeal in the NEC. To these men we say “Maranatha” God be with you, may your new active role in the ‘cohort’ called Pastor Emeritus be long and fruitful.

See more photos from the Appreciation & Thanksgiving Service in the Photo Gallery