Friday 27 March
Rev Dr Valerie Duff - South Shawlands and Shawlands Kirk, Glasgow
Scottish missionary Mary Slessor
A number of years ago when I was in Garthamlock I had the privilege of baptising a little Nigerian baby. Ebubechukwu, had been born in Scotland to Nigerian parents. Just after he was born his grandmother came to visit and it was during that time that the baptism was arranged.
Obum his father and I had been talking together about Mary Slessor who was pictured on a £10.00 note and he shared with me that the map on the note is of the area he and his family are from and so I asked him if he could speak to us during the service about Nigeria and what life and the church was like for them there.
During his talk Obum shared much with us about life in Nigeria and the church there. But possibly the most moving thing that he share with us that day was that Mary Slessor was responsible for his son's birth. Without Mary Slessor, Ebubechukwu would never have been born. Because you see his grandmother is a twin and as we know one of the great things that Mary Slessor did as a missionary in Nigeria was to save the lives of twins. Twins who were seen as evil and put out in the forest at birth to die.
Mary Slessor died a hundred years ago this year and still today there are those who are thankful to be alive because of her. Let's remember those who continue to work in difficult places.
Christian Aid
Daily Reflection
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