We must keep in mind all the tireless workers for Christ:
Here is a truth we believers must embrace: there are numerous well-known Christian heroes and champions out there. We all can think of the big names, and of those doing big things for God. But I suspect that most folks that are making a difference for Christ and the Kingdom are unsung heroes that you have never heard of and never will. But the important point is this: God knows who they are.
Their stores are not known except perhaps to a handful of people. They are certainly not praised in the secular media, and often not much of the Christian media. Books will not be written about them, nor will there be feature-length films devoted to their lives and activities. But God knows who they are.
They are faithful and tireless workers, who seldom get much notice or praise. They are often involved in thankless work and tasks, yet they persevere, knowing that if Christ gave his all for us, we should give our all for him. The world knows little about them, and most of the church as well. But God knows who they are.
Here I want to look at two individuals, one from the UK, and one from Australia. Both are 80 years old – or nearly there. Both are committed Christians who have been working away tirelessly for the Kingdom. The one in the UK may be a little bit well-known – but mostly for his run ins with the authorities.
Part of the reason why I mention him again is to contrast – at least to some extent – just how Australia and the UK are faring, spiritually speaking. Correct me if I am wrong, but Australia with half the population of the UK might actually have more terrific culture warriors and great Christian activists than they do.
I know most of them here, and many of them there, but it seems the UK is in a really bad way – even worse than Australia, which is certainly not in very great shape. Perhaps it is because I live here, but there seem to be so many great workers for Christ, especially when it comes to the culture wars and dealing with the political and social issues of the day.
Yes, they exist in the UK as well. There are various names that come to mind, with some great groups such as Christian Concern, and outspoken conservative Christian commentators such as Peter Hitchens. But all up there do not appear to be all that many, or all that many vocal ones.
So I am greatly encouraged to know that people like David exist – even if so few others know about him. I had known him online for many years, and back in 2014 my wife and I got to spend some time with him, as well as other champions like Lisa Nolland. But it always seemed like they were mainly part of smaller groups, and were engaged in some real uphill battles in the secular UK.
That is all the more reason to give champs like this a shout out. It is easier to be in these fights when there are so many others like you who are involved, and when megachurches and many politicians are onside, as in America. But here and the UK it is much more difficult to keep standing strong, and to keep going at it year after year.
David, being an octogenarian, could have long ago opted out of all this, and simply lived the good life in his retirement years. But he keeps on going, despite all the opposition he gets and all the court appearances he has to deal with.
He shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to fight for the unborn, for biblical marriage and family, and so on. He and his small group of supporters show so much courage and persistence. The UK public knows next to nothing about them. But I repeat: God knows who they are!
Another friend I can mention is seeking to slow down and get out of most of the many activities he has been involved in over many decades now. My fellow warrior and Christian activist Graham McLennan from NSW will turn 80 in less than two months. He too has been a tireless worker, involved in so many great Christian activities.
As a clue as to how active he has been, I have had to ask him more than once to send me a BRIEF summary of the many things he has been involved in for so long. What he sends back to me always goes on and on for many pages! So I have had to keep pressuring him a bit and help him out in producing a shorter summary about his life and work. Here then is a greatly abbreviated overview.
Born in rural NSW, he attended Sydney University, becoming a Dental Surgeon in 1968. It was there he became a Christian, as well as meeting his future wife Pamela at a Worldwide Evangelistic Crusade meeting. With Pam they were on the first Youth With A Mission outreach in Australia. Later on he went on the first YWAM overseas outreach to Fiji in December 1968 where he married Pam.
He served as a captain in the army, and while looking to found a Teen Challenge Centre, he and Pam planned to go overseas for training. Friends suggested they study under Dr Francis Schaeffer at L’Abri in Switzerland. He was there in 1974.
From the mid-1970’s he was involved in various political activities. He was asked by Fred Nile to help him get elected to the NSW Upper House. Promised a seat in it by the Liberal Party, he declined the offer to get Fred elected in 1981. On occasions Fred Nile held the balance of power and became the State’s longest serving parliamentary member.
Graham stood for the Senate in the 1984 Federal election, and with his son Michael for the Senate in 1987. After the demise of the Christian Democratic Party Graham stood with Lyle Shelton before the formation of the Family First Party. In an active campaign in 1986 Orange, NSW was proclaimed A Pro Life City after the Local Council voted in favour of not decriminalising abortion.
A major ministry endeavour that Graham was involved in – and started – was The National Alliance of Christian Leaders (NACL). It was formed on March 25, 1985. For 33 years it held a National Assembly and Dinner in Canberra before the annual Australian National Prayer Breakfast.
Given that I first moved permanently to Australia in 1989, I missed those earlier years of the NACL, but once here, I soon discovered it and Graham. He invited me to speak, and I ended up attending – and speaking – almost every year for a good two decades plus. It was COVID that finally slowed down and then ended those annual gatherings.
But it was a terrific ministry, bringing all sorts of keen Christian leaders and activists from around the country – and beyond – to those meetings. A well-catered meal along with numerous short talks and times of prayer were the bulk of the activity, with great Christian fellowship a main part of it.
In the final years of NACL we met at the Canberra House of Prayer hosted by Hilary and Paul Moroney. Because that centre had a number of bedrooms for guests, most of us could spend the weekend there, doing both the NACL meeting and the various activities associated with the Prayer Breakfast.
Christian radio was another important work that Graham was involved in. He was the founding chairman of Rhema FM 103.5 in Orange. He was also a foundation director of Vision Christian Media which now has nearly 800 stations. In addition, he was Vice President of UCB Asia Pacific. He helped found Christian radio in both Vanuatu and in mountainous Nepal with many thousands becoming Christians.
A third very important ministry was his work in researching Australia’s Christian history. The Christian History Research website (www.chr.org.au) and National Christian Heritage Sunday (www.nchs.net.au) are some of the fruit of these endeavours. The CHR website receives well over 750,000 requests a year, many from various schools.
Graham also helped in the formation of the Australian Christian Lobby, the National Day of Prayer and Fasting, and the Religious Freedom Institute (1990s). He also helped to found the Orange Christian School in 1981, and he helped establish other Christian Schools.
He was involved in setting up the National Day of Prayer and Fasting in 2011 which has now become Australia Prays and the National Day of Repentance. Graham also helped put together the Canberra Declaration with me and Warwick Marsh.
Graham helped found the North American-based Atomic Biology Institute where he remains a director and Vice President. And he has been involved in taking Dental University Students to Cambodia on several occasions as well as visiting remote Islands in Vanuatu both individually and with Health Care in Christ Dental teams.
This is not all that he was involved in, but as can be seen, he kept quite busy. Yet outside of the evangelical world, few folks would know anything about him. The world certainly knows nothing about him and others like him. But God knows who they are.
These unsung heroes are the real backbone of the work of Christ on earth. They will not be the subject of lengthy biographies or major Christian films, but without them Australia and the world would be in a much poorer place – spiritually, and in other ways.
Thank you so much for your many years of faithful Christian service David and Graham. You are heroes for the Kingdom. God knows all about you and what you have done for his service.
