St. Stephen the Martyr
The Anglican church in Swift Current (c1899) is dedicated to St Stephen the Martyr, a Christian full of faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5). Stephen with six others was appointed to share in the ministry of the early Church (Acts 6:2-6). This had a remarkable effect and the number of disciples increased rapidly (Acts 6:7). The ministry of the seven was to care specifically for the widows in the early church. However, Stephen’s eloquent speech at the Sanhedrin proved he had a good understanding of the Scriptures (Acts 6:10-7:50) and his impassioned plea that Jesus was the righteous one proved he had an evangelist’s heart (Acts 7:51-53). So in Stephen’s ministry we see an emphasis on caring for others, understanding and sharing the faith, and giving one’s life to the cause. However, with Stephen, there is much more, for we find that his life bears direct parallels to that of Jesus. For the first martyr of the Christian Church was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5); he performed signs and wonders (Acts 6:9); he saw Jesus sitting at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55); he commended his spirit to Jesus (Acts 7:59); and he knelt and asked for forgiveness for his persecutors (Acts 7:60). All reminiscent of Jesus’ life. But then, Stephen’s was a life which witnessed to Jesus by living the Jesus life in every way. This is the essence of our calling too, for like Stephen, we are to follow Jesus in Christian witness, service and love. So I bid you to join your patron saint and live lives which welcome, worship, care, share and celebrate to the glory of the Lord, here, in the heart of the South West.
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