May 9th is Guernsey's Liberation Day and all around the island the people are hanging out their flags to mark 74 years since the end of the Nazi Occupation of the Channel Islands took place.
We went to a country church this morning to give thanks for our freedom with hundreds of islanders. Bright sunshine greeted us as we came out of the ancient building at St Peters in the Wood, grateful for being able sing and worship freely due to the sacrifice of so many. We sang our anthem "Sarnia Cherie" with great joy, despite the tears, and remembered our parents for whom this day was ever one of thanksgiving and memories. Winston Churchill said on the radio on May 9th 1945 "...and our dear Channel Islands are to be freed today!"
Among the many unsung heroes of the Occupation was Rev Gilbert Dunk, seen here with his wife Irene and family. He looked after three Elim churches on the island throughout those dark days, riding everywhere on an old bike with hosepipes for tyres. He cared for the flock of God despite great hardship and deprivation, fulfilling his calling in the most challenging of circumstances. After the war, the Dunk family were asked to go to New Zealand in response to an invitation from a group of Pentecostal Christians there who wanted to set up an Elim church. From his work then the congregation grew till it numbers today many thousands and planted out a further 40 or so churches. A truly remarkable family, they exhibited the quiet and humble faith that helped so many to persevere in appalling circumstances and to keep trusting God when it seemed so hard to simply do that.
Maybe we could learn a few things from their courage and determination to make the best of a tough situation and invest themselves in hope and encouraging others through adverse times.
