John Barber’s end of year (2024) newsletter

It often happens, especially at Christmas / New Year time, when folk meet up, either in person or remotely, e.g. via the Internet, that questions are asked on the lines: what have you been up to (in the past year) and what are your plans (for the year to come). I want to pre-empt such questioning (but with a light touch because it is in the public domain) with this letter that is kept brief for easy reading.

From the end of November 2023 until the end of February 2024, we (my wife, Jolly and I) were in Trivandrum, India, staying at the home of Jolly’s family. It was a good time although there was little of the travelling around of previous years. We met with many family members and friends. We returned home glad we had taken this extra time to visit Jolly’s birth place and the country I had fallen in love with, and although our UK house was in good order it was less two of our beloved cats who died. (See here for my India report).

We decided early on after returning to move house. I had lived in my parent’s house (next door) and my own home for all but ten years since moving next door in 1966 and then into the house we have just moved from, from 1998 on. It was a big wrench and not one that I wanted to make but given my growing disability we decided it was best to move into somewhere more disabled friendly and eventually did so at the beginning of November. (See here for a report about my disability and here for our report on moving home.)

We are now happily settled in although there are boxes to unpack and things we plan to do to our new abode to make it the home we want. Our son, Matthew, moved in with us, along with our one remaining cat, although he is planning on moving into his own home in the new year. Matthew is working as a computer specialist with a firm based in London, although a lot of his work is done at home. Jolly is back to her work as a cancer nurse at Southend hospital, which is as intense at ever. On top of that she is my carer!

We continue to be involved at Providence Baptist Church and have seen encouraging signs of growth. We try to support the work and the leadership and church family as best we can – Jolly through her hospitality gifts and me leading some of the Bible studies (I have gained a reputation as a go to man on the Old Testament). Two of our nieces, a cousin and some friends from India are now living in the UK, each we have visited in 2024 and/or they visited us.

I am in the luxurious position of being retired. While I continue my community involvement, e.g. with the homeless, it is a lot less than it once was, but it is good to be able to support and encourage others who seek to be involved in their communities. My big (last hurrah) writing project, began last year and finished in June, was writing a book titled “Priests of the Bible”. (See here for information about the book and here for a one hour video about the book).

I continue to do my bit as a watchman on the wall by checking out and writing about what is going on in the world, some of it of a perplexing nature, and doing so especially in the light of what the Bible teaches and figuring out how to respond. (See here for what I have written). I am mindful of a number of folk I loved and knew well who died in 2024, who I now miss – but then I am of that age!

I will wrap up here (I did say it will be short). Despite various challenges, we have much to be thankful for and despite a world gone crazy, we see a lot of good and know who we can turn to. I would love to hear from folk who read this and learn of your news, hopes and concerns. We continue to pray (including for the folk to whom this letter is intended) and hope to see some of you. We continue to be involved where we can be of most use, yet without knowing what lies ahead, and as the Lord directs and enables.