Celebration event pays tribute to minister's 50 years of service

On Wednesday 16 November in the Back Free Church, Rev. Angus Alex Macdonald and his wife Helen, were honoured at a special event to mark Mr Macdonald's 50 years as a minister of the Free Church.
Rev. Calum Iain Macleod with Helen and Rev. Angus Alex Macdonald.Rev. Calum Iain Macleod with Helen and Rev. Angus Alex Macdonald.
Rev. Calum Iain Macleod with Helen and Rev. Angus Alex Macdonald.

Rev. Calum I Macleod, minister at Back, presided.

There were many messages of congratulation including one from the Presbytery, delivered by Rev. James Maciver: “This evening it is my great pleasure to bring you greetings from the Western Isles Presbytery in recognition of your fifty years’ service in the ministry, and to convey to you the Presbytery’s warmest congratulations on reaching this milestone.

“After the Great Commission had been placed in your hands when you were licensed to preach the Gospel in 1966, in due time the King of kings sent you as ‘an ambassador for Christ’ to South Africa where you presented yourself to the people as ‘a workman approved by God’ to sow the good seed of his Kingdom.

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“In that land you had the honour and privilege to use your gifts to serve the Church, and in your retirement back in Lewis, we as a Presbytery are thankful for your willingness to continue to serve as a faithful envoy of the Saviour as you were called from time to time to assist in our congregations.”

During the evening, good wishes were also extended to Rev. Angus and Helen’s family - daughter, Anna, and her husband, Gavin in Tableview, Cape Town, South Africa, and their children Kate and Peter; daughter Fiona and her husband, Timothy, near Newmachar, and their children, Finlay, Jessie and Isabella; and son, John, married to Ruth in the Black Isle, and their children, Alex and Lillian.

Mr Macdonald thanked everyone who had remembered himself and Helen and the family.

Rev. Calum Iain, replying later to those who had sent greetings, said: “My sincere thanks to you all for your messages, greetings, videos, power-point presentations etc.

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“Very few present knew of the extent of the Macdonalds’ commitment, diligence and faithful labour in South Africa. The evening was a great opportunity to shed light on a fascinating chapter of mission in South Africa.

“Angus and Helen were delighted, if not a little overwhelmed, with your kind words.”

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