5 Dec 2016

One of our highly respected CRC Retired Pastors and a dear friend to many of us, Pastor Len Burrell, passed away last Friday morning.

Len had a significant ministry role as part of our Ministry Team here in Narrandera over a number of years, travelling out to Condobolin, Griffith, Deniliquin, Finley and other places where outreach churches were being established at that time. Len and his wife Jean were the first resident Pastors to be appointed to lead the Griffith CRC church (now Lifesource Church) from 1980 to 1985. After handing the leadership on to a younger couple, Len and Jean moved back onto their rice farm at Coleambally and with support from the Griffith and Narrandera Churches established and led a CRC church in Coleambally for a number of years.

Around 1998 Len and Jean sold their farm and moved to Orange where they supported Malcolm and Jill Taylor in the planting and establishment of Colour City Church, Orange. Jean passed away some years later and Len recently moved back to his home town of Gilgandra where, although retired from ministry, remained actively involved in a local pentecostal church. Len celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this year and in August we invited Len to speak to about 45 young leaders at our State CRC Emerging Leaders gathering and also at our Sunday morning service in Narrandera. Len was on fire for God and he greatly inspired us all by his passionate preaching and genuine love and devotion to God.

Len was diagnosed with cancer recently and his health deteriorated quickly over the past few months. I spoke to Len by phone about a month ago and he was positive and full of faith, sharing scripture and fully trusting God for his eternal destiny. It’s not hard to picture Len shouting heartfelt Praise to God, as Jean welcomes him home and shows him around his new mansion.

I’d like to honour Len as someone who significantly impacted the life and ministry of many people over a number of years, including Sandra and I.

A thanksgiving service for Len will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday 13th December at the Heartland Church, Gilgandra.

Ps Trevor Murphy
NSW, ACT, QLD CRC Churches International