Hebrews 13:7-8 (NIVUK)
7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.
After yesterday’s note about the Countess being a slave owner, it might be tempting to ‘cancel’ her, but to do that would be to ignore all the other aspects of her work for Christ, and her legacy in this area. She might have kept slaves, but she also sent missionaries to support freed slaves who were evacuated from America after the War of Independence. A direct legacy of her faith and funding is the SLM, which maintains an active partnership with our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone, often using funds from the Cheshunt Foundation (the trust set up from the proceeds of her Bible College) to do so. Of course, we also continue to benefit from her sacrificial giving, through the Cheshunt Foundation funding theological training in the UK, through the church and manse buildings that we use, and the wonderful family that we are part of.
Father, thank you for Selina, the Countess of Huntingdon, for her life of faith and generosity. Help us, like her, to leave through our lives a legacy that points to you.
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