M Selveindran - A Tribute to Eric Kirton - video
I visited Mr Kirton in mid January. He was still very much alert and we had a short time of conversation about his condition as well as some aspect of the Lord’s work. After prayer I left. Shortly after that I understand he began to show signs of decline, and it was at that time I began to realise that I had not mentioned one matter to him. And so I made enquiries as to when it would be suitable to visit him again; and in preparation I went to Evangel and bought him a card. Because of various circumstances I just did not make it to visit him again – and the card is still with me. What is it that I had outstanding – that one matter I failed to cover in my last meeting? Just two words: thank you. It was not that there was anything specific that Mr Kirton had done for my family or me recently. No, it was not for that reason. Rather it was simply to say “thank you” for all his years of work and ministry amongst the people of God in this country and his work with Evangel as well. And yet this was not motivated by any intention to ‘encourage’ him in his weakness; not even to make him ‘feel good’ and to cheer him up. No, not for those reasons – for despite his critical circumstances he displayed a profound spiritual dignity and confidence in the Lord. He knew that he will be with the Lord. My intention was simply to articulate and express our “thank you” so that we the recipients of his service – into which I place myself – will be truly grateful to God for His servants. It was more for our sake than for his sake. This, you would note, is the constant Pauline habit: When he considers others, “we always thank God for you”, and that appears in his epistles. And for me, this was to be that one last time to say a big thank-you – which I failed to deliver. And so today I must say, “Thank you, Mr Kirton.” (It seems to me that we the Church often fail to do this during the lifetime of those who have laboured for the Lord.) * * * My earliest encounter with Mr Kirton was when I was involved in the FES literature ministry while he was in Evangel. I still remember him saying to me how young people were not reading. My response then was that Christian books were rather expensive and his rejoinder: “But they can afford to spend money in coffeehouses!” He has been involved with Evangel for 32 years. And so to a large measure he has been the public face of Evangel and, in more recent years, in respect of the Klang Valley Bible Conference as well. No doubt he is one person who is quick to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of those who have worked with him in Evangel as well as in KVBC. But for many of us he has been the public face. There are three ‘rights’ that we would note about his work in Evangel: A) Get the right books
B) Get those books at the right price
C) Get those books in at the right occasions
So then on the behalf of the chairman and the members of the management team of Evangel as well as the manager and staff, I wish to express our deepest appreciation for the immense contribution he has made towards Evangel’s literature ministry * * * Amongst all the imperatives that Paul intended Timothy to embrace (as revealed in 2 Tim 4) there are three that strike me as peculiarly evident in Mr Kirton’s life. Obviously, he would have paid attention to all the Pauline imperatives. For example, the first imperative is, “Preach the word” – which Mr Kirton regularly did, but I draw your attention to three others: A) “Be prepared in season and out of season”
B) “Correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction”
Underlying all that was his concern for sound doctrine and sound teaching. C) “Discharge all the duties of your ministry”
The imperatives of the Pauline text were contextually teased out in our brother’s life and ministry. And that poses a double challenge to us the church:
Above all that, is the challenge of being able to echo the words of the Apostle Paul
These are the words that our brother Mr Kirton can truly say as he is ushered into the presence of the Sovereign Lord. Paul wrote these words to Timothy not to boast about his achievements or to speak loftily about his ministry. Rather the tone and thrust is more a challenge to rise up and heed the imperatives. It is like saying “Brother/sister, there is a great future for you when you live for the Lord – rise up and take heed – for the future is yours!” And that future is nothing less than the awesome presence of the Risen Lord – our Master! So Paul says:
All the Pauline imperatives are solemnly addressed as “in the presence of God and Christ Jesus”. And Paul ends that passage by expressing his longing for the appearing of the Lord – the ultimate presence of God. Mr Kirton lived life in the presence of God and looked towards the ultimate presence of God. He is now there. Now he challenges us:
Shall we not rise to that challenge? I close with the words of Dr Henry Mitchell:
Mr Kirton, the book-man, the preacher/teacher, the servant of the Lord, lived the gospel with integrity. Shall we not do likewise?
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2 Timothy 4:1-8 