I would like to take the opportunity to pay a sincere tribute to a man of God who passed into the presence of his Saviour on Monday 13th November. Robert Clark was a lovely Christian gentleman. I only got to know him in the last two years but he has made a big impact on my life. He had been ill for a year and I have visited him at his home and in Strathcarron Hospice. What a testimony to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. He loved the Lord Jesus from his heart and it was his Christian love and grace which made me so fond of him. He was gentle and unassuming. He was patient in his suffering. He was warm-hearted and caring. He lived a life of consistent faith and devotion to the service of the Lord.
I remember one day when Brian Liddle and I visited him and his wife Elza at their home in Bainsford. I had taken along my IPad with a small loudspeaker and I played a video, "It may be at morn when the day is awaking." I had not expected the two of them to join in but Robert, breathless though he was, managed to reach the high notes. I looked across and both he and Elza were belting out this old hymn. It was an experience Brian and I will never forget. This was from the heart. Robert Clark has passed away before the Lord has come back again but the Bible promises a day of resurrection when his body will be transformed. He will have a glorious body. All the weakness of old age and infirmity will be gone. But even now, Robert is with Christ which is far better. He is with the Saviour whom he came to love and to serve as a young man.
In earlier years, Robert played a prominent role in the church which my wife and I now attend. He was one of the stewards as well as his younger brother. He had been associated with Dawson Mission for many years. I have many of the old documents and papers and the name of Robert Clark features prominently. In March 2022, a group of Christians from another church merged with the former Dawson Mission and it became known as Dawson Community Church. You might have expected this old man to resent these new people. You might have expected him to be cautious and a bit reluctant to embrace Christians who might do things a bit differently. Not a bit. Robert and Elza welcomed us with open arms and deep Christian affection. I developed a deep bond of affection for him almost as if I had known him for all of my life. This is due to his Christian character. He was a mature Christian demonstrating the 9 fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. [Galatians 5:22-23 ESV]
You might think that I have made a mistake with the word 'fruit' in the singular. Surely it should be 'fruits' as there are nine of them. However, in the text of Galations 5 it is in the singular because it is speaking about Christian character which is a combination of these nine graces. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives. Robert Clark was evidence of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in his life which had made him like his Saviour and Lord.
Photo of three former stewards of Dawson Mission from left to right; Willie Paton, Robert Clark and Tom Clark.
This drawing of the old Mission Hall was by Robert Clark.
This is his artist's impression of the existing building.
Robert was a baker. Here is a photo of the special cake he baked for the centenary.
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