My testimony - Vince Wilkie

In the latest in our series of testimonies from Redeemer Church London members, VINCE WILKIE reveals how an extraordinary moment at his wedding saw the Lord reveal Himself when he least expected it.

I’ve been a born-again Christian for 11 years. One of my favourite songs is called ‘The Lord is Real’. The chorus is very pertinent to my testimony: ‘I know the Lord is real, this is how I feel, in time He will reveal.’

My testimony is about the time when the Lord truly revealed how real He was.

Time for me is going back to September 28, 2012. I'm sitting in a memory clinic at Central Middlesex Hospital with my mum and dad.

The doctor is telling us something we suspected for at least years, that mum had dementia, but we were also being told that she was showing early stages of Alzheimer’s.

As you can imagine for the family that was a very emotional blow, but as a family we would pull together and support our mum in her time of need as she had always done for us as her children and her husband. In holy matrimony we quote the lines in sickness and in health.

My mother and father were certainly true examples of that, and it was amid this time that I also sought to quote those lines as approximately two months after my mum’s diagnosis, I proposed to my then girlfriend and now wife.

In planning for our wedding one of the dreams I kept having and was so looking forward to, was my mum and dad being able to see me get married in a church and be there sitting alongside me at the head table as my wife and I would celebrate our union in front of our loved ones.

We know that mum’s condition would bring us challenges and we were ready to accept them, but even those challenges surpassed what we could ever have imagined.

Over the course of the next 11 months as we were planning for our wedding, unforeseen challenges with mum’s condition were coming to light as her physical mobility as well as mental capacity was decreasing.

Getting mum to physically attend routine health appointments became an impossible task, resulting in us having to arrange house appointments for her.

She had not left the house since that fateful day in September.

I came to the logical conclusion that mum was not going to be able to attend the wedding. The physical challenge and emotional trauma she was experiencing was too much for her to bear and the family to see.

This was a feeling of deep regret for me, I really wanted my mum to be there at the church. However I had to press on with the planning and preparation of the wedding.

The date was now Saturday October 5, 2013. It’s a mild dry autumn afternoon, it’s our wedding day. I am sitting alongside my brother who was also my best man, I’m looking around the beautiful church and constantly in my eye is the Christ on the cross in the altar.

As I gazed on the cross, my brother said to me: ‘Vincent, I need to tell you something. Don’t turn around yet, but mum is here, she’s made it.’

Tears of joy filled my eyes and I turned around and saw my mum with my dad walking hand in hand down the aisle.

I went to my parents, hugged them and made my way back to the altar, again I looked at Jesus on the cross.

The Lord had revealed to me when I least expected it, but when I most needed it, that He was real, and He had revealed this to me in time in his house. A whole 370 days later. My faith had now been sealed.

My logic was not God's logic. He works outside logic, He knew my heart’s desire and fulfilled my wish.  Trust in the Lord and He will reveal Himself to you and at the time you need it most.

Jesus had done the same thing to Peter on the banks of Lake Galilee when Peter - jaded and demotivated - had sought to find fish all night. Jesus spoke to him, revealed Himself and suddenly Peter was provided with a bountiful supply of fish and became one of his apostles.

‘I know the Lord is real, this is how I feel, in time He will reveal.’

So, how do you serve?

On Sunday Pete was talking about how we serve.

Japanese football supporters do it by clearing rubbish at the end of each match and see this as a way of honouring their hosts and being good guests.
My mum did it by being the trusted arbitrator in our street, bringing harmony to her neighbours and offering pots of tea as balm to hurt feelings.
My sisters and I do it by caring for my mum as she struggles with dementia, patiently reminding her who she is and taking the blows and harsh words with good grace.
My team mate at work does it at a local school, helping kids to improve their maths and reading skills, giving up her lunch hour to give something back. 

It's part of our God-given human nature to reach out into our community and offer a helping hand, to give time to those who ache for an empathetic ear, to offer respite to those travelling through troubled times.

Jesus led by example and stated his position clearly - he said that he came to serve.  And to hammer the point home he knelt down and washed each of his disciples' dirty feet despite their protests. Even the feet of Judas.

When Jesus taught he distinguished between those who follow him by how they serve, because by serving the weak and disadvantaged they are serving and loving him.

So, ask yourself: how do I serve?

WHEN YOU SERVE

"When you serve,
start with the feet.

And when you serve,
get down low
with a towel and a water bowl.

And when you serve,
find your honour not over,
but under.
Not higher,
but lower.
Not first,
but last.

So when you serve,
don't wait your turn,
but push your way
right to the back.
And there you'll find
nothing to prove,
nothing to hide
and nothing to loose
but your pride.

Yes, you heard,
when you serve
observe his example:
Undo a sandal
and start with the feet.
And there you will be blessed."