Minister's Message

Message from the Minister – July and August 2026

Dear Christian friends,

As I write this final newsletter to you — the beloved people of Merrow, Sheerwater, Stoughton, and West Horsley — my heart is full. Full of gratitude, full of memories, and full of the quiet knowledge that God has allowed us to walk together for a season that has shaped me more deeply than you may ever know.

I have lived among you, worked among you, prayed among you, laughed among you, and sometimes wrestled with you. Whatever impressions I carry of each church — whether joyful, challenging, or quietly instructive — they will stay with me for the rest of my life. The Ministry leaves fingerprints on the soul, and you have left yours on mine.

As I take my leave from this circuit and move to South Essex, I want to share a simple truth: the willingness to serve God genuinely and sincerely must come from the heart, not merely from the lips. Words are easy. Performance is easy. But true discipleship grows from the inner life — from a heart shaped by grace, humility, and obedience.

This is why we must learn to discern the difference between love and tolerance. Tolerance merely puts up with people. Love sees them, honours them, prays for them, and walks with them. Tolerance is passive. Love is active, costly, and Christ-like.

And yes — we must ask ourselves the deeper questions of faith. Is God real? Is heaven real? These are not questions to be answered with quick sentences but with honest reflection, prayer, and the witness of our lives. Some questions in life demand immediate answers — “Where is your house?” or “What work do you do?” But others require us to pause, to think, to search our hearts.

There is an old question often used to provoke reflection: “Whom would you save first if both your wife and your mother were drowning?” It is not a question about family loyalty — it is a question about values, priorities, and the courage to face difficult truths. In the same way, our faith must be examined, tested, and lived out in real decisions, not just spoken in comfortable moments.

Let me leave you with a short illustration:

A traveller once asked a wise man, “What is the greatest danger to faith?” The wise man replied, “A heart that stops examining itself.” Faith grows when we reflect. Faith dies when we drift.

And so, as I say goodbye, here are two words of exhortation for the journey ahead:

“Let your love be real, not rehearsed.” “Live your faith so sincerely that heaven is not a theory but a destination.”

On behalf of my wife, Ama, and myself, we say: God bless each one of you. Thank you for allowing us to share your homes, your stories, your joys, and your sorrows. Thank you for the privilege of serving as your minister.

With affection, gratitude, and a prayer for your future.

Enjoy the summer days.

Your minister and friend, saying goodbye.

Rev George K. Quarm