by Rev. D. Campbell, Edinburgh
10 Brouder Place,
Manurewa,
Auckland,
New Zealand.
To The Free Presbyterian Congregation,
Gilmore Place.
7th August, 1979
Dear Friends,
Members and adherents of my congregation, I write to assure you that though separate by the long distance of over 12,000 miles, you are often in my thoughts, while I endeavour to pray for you. United as we are in the bonds of the gospel, our mutual responsibility is to bear each others burdens by remembering one another at the throne of grace.
Solicitous of your eternal welfare, my earnest desire is that the word of God preached among you may turn out to your salvation. I pray the sick may be healed and all in any trouble be comforted. Let the young remember their Creator in the days of their youth and the unconverted seek the Lord while He may be found. Confident in the loyalty of the Lord’s people, I crave the continuation of their prayers on our behalf that the Lord’s wondrous loving kindness towards us may continue and that in His divine goodness, I may be spared to complete this mission assigned to me.
We have visited Vancouver and Sydney and are presently in Auckland. As our itinerary includes all the congregations within the bounds of the Australia-New Zealand Presbytery, considerable ground has yet to be covered.
Since leaving Scotland, we have had many tokens of the Lord’s favour but we are particularly encouraged by the keen interest shown in the preached Word. This we regard as evidence of His presence with us. Believing that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation, I once more, as though present with you, urge you, my dear people, to diligently attend the means of grace on Sabbath and week days. This is good and right in the sight of God our Saviour. My feelings towards you are best expressed in the words, “If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my right hand forget her cunning,” Ps. 137: 5.
Having said this, we, with grateful hearts, record the great kindness of church friends here and in Canada. The warmth of the welcome with which we have been received, has helped to make us really feel at home even though we are so far away.
While wishing you all the Lord’s rich blessing for time and eternity, on behalf of my wife, son and myself, I meantime say farewell.
Yours very sincerely,
Donald Campbell.