LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT
METHODIST CHURCH
NOTES FROM THE RETIREMENT SERVICE FOR
PASTOR AND MRS H CASKEY
FRIDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2023 –
SPEAKER: PASTOR DEAN CASKEY
READING: NEHEMIAH 8 VERSES
1 - 6
Nehemiah is the story of a
man who faithfully worked in the job God called him to. To say he had many ups and downs is an
understatement but he kept on going.
The calling
Telling 2 young children of
primary school age they were going to live in Portrush was not exciting as it sounded
– we pictured 365 days of the year on the sand, meals in the Silver Sands and
nights at Barry’s but we hadn’t factored in school and how Portrush closes down
from October to April. Yes living in
Portrush was different as we began to live a new life as a family together. Dad began in Bethel Bible College under the
guidance of Rev Eric Stewart.
The character
Anybody who knows my parents
know they work well together. Dad works
hard and mum lets him! Even in those
days he was a role model, he cared for the work, living in the college, then spending
time in missionary work in the Coleraine, Garvagh and Kilrea areas. Then the call came to pastor the church
here. It was a different looking church
then. That is why we read this portion
tonight. This passage was written all
about the events Nehemiah carried out in Jerusalem. He had now finished the work. His calling began and the work finished with
scripture – verse 1 “all the people gathered themselves together as one man into
the street that was before the water gate and they spake unto Ezra the scribe
to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had commanded to Israel.” Nehemiah opened up the scriptures and the
people listened. Nehemiah was hard
working, fearless and faithful in the work, he was successful. When advice was needed or decisions had to be
made my father was my confidant.
Nehemiah was there to advise, instruct, guide and lead the work in
Jerusalem. Pastoral work is hard, it is not
just 3 hours on Sundays and nothing else.
It involves late nights, hospital visits, in the early hours getting out
of bed to answer calls. I have never heard
anyone say that dad never checked on them or contacted them in difficult times.
The courage
It is not an easy
calling. Dad might have thought the numbers
were low in those early days, 6 in the morning and 8 in the evening meetings. His courage was strengthened when it was
rooted in God. We have heard of his
calling from Haggai “go up to the mountain and bring wood and build the house
and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified.” (Haggai 1 verse 8)
Those words were used to help him step out into the work of God. Along came 2 children and a move from
Coleraine to Limavady. A challenge that
was not taken light heartedly. The work
Nehemiah had to undertake was colossal.
He had to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem that were demolished to the
ground. The gates had been burnt and
smashed. Nehemiah had the promise of
God. Small numbers meant nothing to my dad. He remained faithful and courageous. He knew this was God’s work and he would not
add one iota to it.
The consistency
30 plus years shows the
consistency. My dad kept plodding on in
the work God called him to. After 30
years you try telling the Christmas story differently! Even when the work seemed difficult he did
not stop. The work was his
priority. Never once did Nehemiah
underestimate the work he was called to.
Nehemiah did it every day. He was
laughed at, mocked and threatened by his enemies. But Nehemiah took it all to the Lord in
prayer. That is when God strengthened
him. It is not easy when the attacks
come. How did he cope? He fixed his eyes on God. He battled on against the opposition. Consistency was always the key. The strength of a good church, of God’s
people within it, is God. God led
Nehemiah and God led my father with foolproof guidance.
The communications
There must have been something
worth listening to! Verses 1 to 4 They
built a pulpit of wood for the purpose of Nehemiah being able to read the word
of God. The message never changed in
this place over the past 30 years. The message
came from God’s word. That word of God
was good enough for Jesus’ disciples and apostles and it was good enough for
here. The message rang clear – “ye must
be born again.” When the leaders saw fit
to build this place and within years to see it completed, the message rang
clear – to tell souls on their way to a lost eternity that they must seek
Christ as their own personal Saviour.
The message will not change as a new man comes. The message is simple – will you turn to
Christ? Many have trusted in Christ as
Saviour and they are tonight waiting for you in glory. Will you see them one day? Many gave their lives to Christ in this place,
in their own homes, in hospital beds – will you see them again? Will you trust Christ as Saviour? This pulpit will continue to tell the news
that Jesus died for the whosoever.
The comfort
The comfort is that everything
has been accomplished in the way that God wanted it. My dad has been faithful in everything he was
called to do, whether in the church, in the children’s work, school assemblies,
hospital wards or the home. He has fulfilled the words “watch in all things,
endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
(2 Timothy 4 verse 5) He has been
faithful to God. My dad has put God
first in the challenge God called them to.
They have been strengthened by God.
Nehemiah saw God moving and my father has seen God move in this
place. As Limavady enters a new era there
is comfort for us that God has lead the way.
“All the way my Saviour
leads me
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender
mecy
Who through life has been
my Guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort
Here, by faith, in Him to
dwell!
For I know whate’er befall
me
Jesus doeth all things
well.”
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