Pastor Gordon Weeks and his wife Joyce were missionaries in - TopicsExpress



          

Pastor Gordon Weeks and his wife Joyce were missionaries in Nigeria, our newsletter this month highlights some of his Citation, however here is the full Citation... Apostle Gordon G Weeks & Mrs Joyce Weeks Born in 1929, Gordon G Weeks came to faith in Christ at a young age; undoubtedly influenced by his mother who 1935 was converted in the Apostolic Church in the town of Shrewsbury, England. A keen reader, which he has remained throughout his life, his awareness of the overseas missionary work of the Apostolic Church was deepened through the Movement’s monthly magazine, ‘Apostolic Herald’, the vehicle through which news of what God was doing in distant lands, Nigeria in particular, came to the attention of the Church in the United Kingdom and in other parts of the world. Apostle Weeks’ first face-to-face contact with leaders of the then fairly new mission field of Nigeria came in 1937, when as an eight year old he heard the late Pastor J A Babatope and E N O Ene address a gathering in Smethwick in the West Midlands. Allied to that his local Church in Shrewsbury was a missions-oriented sending Church, with a strong apostolic DNA; a fact evidenced by the sending of no less than three Pastors from that one local Church to the Nigerian mission field between 1937 and 1946. Being in such an apostolic house doubtless left an impression on the young Gordon Weeks. Ordained a deacon in Shrewsbury, he moved to the city of London in 1946 to work in the Civil Service of her Majesty’s government; his commitment to serving the Lord in leadership roles continued, interspersed with National Service (in the years just after the end of the Second World War, it was compulsory for young men of a certain age to serve in the military for two a period of two years). Called as an Elder in 1952, Evangelist in 1954, he was to be thrust into the frontline leadership of a local Church in the following year. The year 1962 witnessed his ordination into his first Pastorate in Barnsley, a town in the North West of England. Seeing the evident hand of God upon his life, his recognition as an Apostle in the Body of Christ by the Church Council duly came in 1963. From that year until 1971, he served faithfully as a member of the Missionary Board, where he had first hand input and insight into the global outreach ministry of the Church. Having served in the city of Belfast from 1971 to 1978, superintending the work in Northern Ireland, the call of God for another move came the following year; this time for him to go to Nigeria as a missionary. Serving alongside him all these years was his wife, Mrs Joyce Weeks; her commitment to Jesus and her husband’s ministry, a key element in his ability to serve so fervently. Prior to going to the overseas mission field, Apostle Weeks was clear about his primary mandate: to transition the Apostolic Church in Nigeria, the largest field of the work in the world, to full autonomy. Having made that vision known to the then Missionary Board, he moved to Nigeria in December 1979, accompanied by his wife and his youngest son, Timothy. During his three years of missionary endeavour in Nigeria, Apostle Weeks brought to bear on the work the diverse grace gifts that he carried. Not only was he possessed of an apostolic mantle, he had the drive of an evangelist, allied to great organisational and administrative gifting, to name but a few. A leader of leaders, he set about his task with infectious zeal; first leading the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Church in 1981 and in the following year the transition to full autonomy; marked by great celebrations, the appointment of the first indigenous National President, Apostle E E Okon; Vice President, Apostle I G Sakpo; and General Secretary, Apostle G B Oladele; and the drafting and adoption of the constitution of the Church. Whilst the actual time spent in the mission field of Nigeria was relatively short when compared to many others who had gone before him (he had to relocate back to the United Kingdom on medical advice regarding his wife’s health), there is no doubt that God brought him on the scene to fulfil a specific purpose. The last resident superintendent missionary in Nigeria, Apostle Gordon Weeks and his wife Joyce, are part of the roll of honour and symbolically stand as representatives of the many men and women in a long line of those who sailed from the United Kingdom to serve selflessly and sacrificially in Nigeria. They are worth mentioning: Pastor & Mrs C Rosser; Pastor & Mrs E Harry; Pastor & Mrs J Kirkwood; Miss V Allen; Miss E Knight; Pastor & Mrs O Bowen; Pastor & Mrs R Brunt; Pastor & Mrs E Parkyns; Pastor & Mrs I Vaughan; Pastor & Mrs W E Rhodes; Pastor & Mrs J Brown; Pastor & Mrs D McGill; Pastor & Mrs L Derry; Pastor & Mrs W Grabham; Pastor & Mrs L Ashwood; Pastor G Perfect; Pastor J F Phillips; Pastor & Mrs V Welling; Pastor S Hammond; Pastor & Mrs D C Hopkins; Pastor & Mrs H L Copp; Pastor & Mrs P Selby; Pastor & Mrs T Ford; Pastor & Mrs J Rankin; Pastor & Mrs M Seaborne; Pastor & Mrs G Williams; Pastor & Mrs S G Elton; Pastor & Mrs E H Williams; Pastor & Mrs P Cawthorne; Pastor & Mrs A Ferran; Pastor & Mrs A H Lewis; Pastor & Mrs J Lewis; Pastor & Mrs W Chivers; Pastor & Mrs F H Williams; Pastor & Mrs A Taylor; Pastor & Mrs D Pearson; Pastor & Mrs O C Sanderson; Pastor S G Elton; Pastor R M Kay; Pastor N Evans; Pastor & Mrs G Weeks. Still alive, loving and serving our Lord Jesus Lord in various parts of the United Kingdom are the widows of Pastors who have gone to their eternal reward, Mrs M Bowen and Mrs M Rankin; also Pastor & Mrs P Cawthorne, Pastor & Mrs E H Williams, Pastor W Chivers and Miss E Knight. It is fitting that this citation goes to Apostle Weeks. In his modesty, as did Apostle Paul in relation to Andronicus and Junia, he made mention of those who were before him. So, whilst this citation goes to him (and his wife), we use this occasion to salute and celebrate each of the men and women mentioned in the Hall of Faith. We give thanks to God for them, their work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Apostle Gordon Weeks and Mrs Joyce Weeks, and all those who served before you as missionaries in Nigeria, we salute you.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 15:43:01 +0000

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