Page 8 - Moravian Messenger - January 2022

Moravian Messenger Editor Sr Sarah Groves interviews Br Edwin Quildan
1 Tell me about your early life story and background?
I I was born in in in London London in in in 1958 of Antiguan parents who came to London London in in in in 1954 I I am am married with three adult children My parents could be be be described as being part of the the 'Windrush generation' who came to England with the the intention of spending five years and and and returning Both my parents were God-fearing hard working and and wanted the the best for their family family As a a a a a a a a a a a a a a family family we we were taught to to pray at at a a a a a a a a a a a a a young age age and and encouraged to to attend church and and Sunday school The Bible was central to our upbringing I would describe myself as as as both 'Black 'Black British' and and 'Black 'Black Caribbean' as as I enjoy the the culture and and and interaction with the the islands 2 How and when did you come to faith?
For me me coming to faith was was a a a a a a a a gradual process I was was brought up at a a a a a a a a a a time when school assemblies were being held daily (which
included morning worship) and religious
education was part of the curriculum As I grew
up Sundays were were a a a a a a a a time for attending church and the the shops were were generally closed 3 Have you ever had a a a a crisis of faith?
I I I do not believe that I I I had a a a a a a a crisis of faith but I I I have been challenged over the the years to to to consider if it it is is is right to to to work on on Sunday or or or to to to to attend worship Most of the the the duties / jobs that I have undertaken were were on on days days Monday to to to Friday but there were were times when I had to work Sundays 4 What led you you into ministry and how did you you hear God's call?
I had been a a a a a a a a a member at Hornsey Moravian Church for a a a a a a a a a number of years looking after the the the Boys' Brigade working with the the the Sunday school and and was elected to the the the the the Church Committee At that time the the the Priory (an old people's home) opened and and the the the Church Committee agreed to to to take services on on on a a a a a a a a a a rota once a a a a a a a a a a month in in the the Priory I I took my turn and feedback to to to the the minister Sr Charisa Johnson was positive I I also led worship at Hornsey Moravian Church on on on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a rota basis Various members of the the congregation would would say 'You should consider the the the ministry' I would would brush off the the suggestions A lay training course was planned at at Church House and and I I agreed to to attend with Br John Smith as the the leader I I continued continued to to take services and and the the congregation urging continued continued After a a a a a a a a a a a a long time of deliberation one Sunday after service I had a a a a a a a a a a a a a strong inner feeling that the time was was now right and and spoke to to Sr Clarista Johnson who was was pleased and and I started the the process by writing to to the the Provincial Elders Conference (PEC) 5 What experience from your secular employment have you you found useful in in ministry?
I have have a a a a a a a a a number of skills from my secular employment as a a a a a a a a a Manager in in in in in in London Underground that have have have been been very helpful in in in in in in in in ministry I have have been been involved in in in in in in in in the annual budget setting and and and and monthly forecasting chaired meetings and and and and compiled minutes and and and and and agendas and and and and and worked in in in in in the Health Safety Quality and and and Environmental team compiling policies processes procedures and and managing version control I have been focussed at at time management management management diary management management management and and and and prioritisation and and and and have been involved with site management management management so understand the need for regular building maintenance and and and much more 6 What has been your greatest joy in ministry?
My greatest joy in in in ministry has been supporting the congregations that that I have been called to serve Recognising that that each congregation is is different and the members are individuals Also helping people form a a a a a a a relationship with God and His Son
Jesus Christ 7 Have you been angry with God?
Not that I can remember 8 Are you afraid to die?
I I am not afraid of death I I have learnt that our times are are in God's hands Both my parents died at the the age of of 65 which
was a a a a a a a a a a big loss at at at that time As a a a a a a a a a a a a minister minister I had had the the pleasure of of ministering to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a member who died aged 99 He had had planned his his funeral service set his his wishes in in in place and and was ready for the time God God would call him He He had a a a a a a a a a a a a a strong faith and and and firm trust in God God I like the poem from Henry Scott Holland that starts:
Death is nothing at at all I have only slipped away into the next room I I am I I and you you are are you you Whatever we we we were to each other that we still are 9 Do you believe in a resurrection?
Yes I believe in the the resurrection Our old body fades and dies then we take on on a a a new spiritual form 10 Why do you feel many people are turning away from organised religion?
I believe a a a a a number of of of people have got out of of of the the habit of of of attending church Society is replacing the the the the focus on on God with the the the desire for for other things (for example sports on on Sunday working as more shops open open and hospital appointments are also held on on Sunday) Church may need to open open mid-week or or or or or do more online worship where people can log in in at a a a a a a a time convenient to to to themselves In my context funerals seem to to to be the the the the key preaching time to to to remind non-church goers that the the the the message of the the Bible is still relevant 11 Where do you feel close to God?
I feel close to God in in in in places of worship when when attending quiet days and when when walking in in in the countryside 12 What inscription would you you like to to see on on on your gravestone or epitaph?
In the the words of the the hymn by James Montgomery:
Servant of God well done Rest from thy loved employ The battle fought the victory won enter thy master's joy 89