Heres HOPE

I t’s a story told at pace – a run not a jog. Because it’s the story of God
on the move through his people for the sake of the world. It’s an
inspiring story where the cast of characters are those who live on the
streets and in prison cells; those who don’t always have enough food and
those who have been excluded from education. It’s a story of hope whose
background is our towns and cities, villages and isolated areas. It’s a story
of hope given to young and old, rich and poor,
Roy has enabled it. By bringing people together, by investing in relationships, by taking
risks, by admitting when he’s wrong, by relying on others. And most of all by relying on
God, so the rhythms of prayer, faith, love and companionship – across denominational
boundaries and historic racial divides – and an openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit
characterise every chapter. It’s an extraordinary story of hope.
Roy draws little attention to himself. But we realise such a story of hope is reliant upon a
joy and confidence in the gospel, a serving and honouring of others, and a commitment
to something much bigger than a successful ministry.
What made sense to me was the news that Roy trained as a mechanic. The mechanic
makes the thing run. The mechanic tunes the engine for the journey, makes sure all the
component parts of the engine are in good working order – and not just work on their
own – but they all work together. The mechanic draws no attention to themselves – it’s
all about what they make possible – the effective working of the vehicle. So it can do
what it was built for. Roy has, through his ministry at HOPE, repaired, tuned and enabled
the engine of the Church to do what it is made for – to bring the hope of God to the
world he died to save. He has helped make the engine work. Roy is a gift to the Church
because he is a mechanic for the Church of Jesus Christ.
The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby
Archbishop of Canterbury
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