Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Idris' youngest son, Merthyn, was married to his wife Christine in the late 70's. Idris and Iris were both able to attend, and it made the newspaper as an international affair. (1)
Recently, Iris' younger sister Ruth was able to share the video below with me. It's the family spending some time together at Ruth's home. There were in fact, several visits back to the motherland during their time in Africa. The eldest man is Idris, the elder woman is Iris, and the younger man is my Dad, Merthyn.
Iris and Idris may have had many more years together, but both suffered from problematic health issues. Iris passed away in May 1982. After an operation to remove stomach ulcers, an infection set in and Iris eventually died of Septicemia. (More of her story can be read here.)
Idris loved Iris greatly and the engraving on this headstone reads:
In dearest memory. My beloved wife and companion went to be with the LORD on the 8th May 1982. Always remembered by her loving husband, Idris, Children Wendy, Glyn and Merthyn. Called to higher service. We will meet you over there."
Idris became an official lay minister of the A.O.G. in 1983, shortly before he died, although he had been very active in every church he had ever been a part of, ministering to the congregation in song and deed.
Roland Plett, one of those baptised in Idris' garden font, recalls:
"Perhaps the fondest memories I have of Idris was the way he led the worship. In those days this was mostly the Elim Choruses and Hymns. His rich Welsh voice was strong and he was not shy in using it. Best of all was when he would break into Welsh and sing to the Lord. The whole place was moved. This was often followed by a moving prayer.
He enriched us all with his vibrant personality and strong faith and stamped upon us all something of the great Welsh Revival days. We were truly blessed to have such committed people to lead us." (2)
Roland Plett, one of those baptised in Idris' garden font, recalls:
"Perhaps the fondest memories I have of Idris was the way he led the worship. In those days this was mostly the Elim Choruses and Hymns. His rich Welsh voice was strong and he was not shy in using it. Best of all was when he would break into Welsh and sing to the Lord. The whole place was moved. This was often followed by a moving prayer.
He enriched us all with his vibrant personality and strong faith and stamped upon us all something of the great Welsh Revival days. We were truly blessed to have such committed people to lead us." (2)
These ministerial credentials were reassessed on a yearly basis, but it was definitely one highlight of Idris' life.
While working for the A.O.G. he was given a loose-leaf bible. These were created in such a fashion that sermon and study notes could be inserted into them. This allowed Idris and other preachers to deliver sermons with just their bible on a lectern or in their hands.
This is a picture of Idris' bible and is currently in the possession of Glyn, his eldest son. It contains quite a few sermon notes, and I will transcribe these at a later date so that this generation can enjoy his insights, thoughts and inspirations.
I find it incredibly joyful that Idris was immersed in what he loved most, the work of God, when it came to his last few years on this earth. In the final post of this series, I will look at his last moments. Afterwards, there will still be space to blog about his favourite songs, his sermons and other facts I have found out since writing the earlier chronological postings.
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(1) The newspaper article is taken from the Grimsby Evening Telegraph.
(2) Taken from a transcript of a short interview conducted over Facebook with Roland Plett in 2017
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