...in the heart of East Belfast
A tribute to Tom Fleming…
Tom Fleming was born and raised in Belfast in 1951 and despite an attempted short time emigration in New Zealand he returned to N.I. in 1961. He came into contact with Isobel's family through mutual friends at his school and through them was drawn into the church and eventually came to faith in Christ in 1969 at the age of 18. Tom married Isobel in 1973 at the age of 22 and became a member of Grove Baptist where he assisted in young people's work, especially the Boys Brigade. He was very interested in evangelism and took part in at least one BYE team.
As a couple they were challenged about serving God and Tom took steps to prepare for Christian service by enrolling in a correspondence course with the London Bible College and then in 1975 he entered the Irish Baptist College for three years. In 1980 they applied to Baptist Missions for work in Peru, after being challenged by the ministry of Sam Sloan. They had further training with CEF in Switzerland and arrived in Peru in November 1981 with their two young children David and Karen, being blessed with Sam during their ten years service for the Lord. From 1991 to 2008 frequent visits were made back to Peru by Tom and Isobel. On their last trip they had hoped to remain indefinitely however in January 2009 they had to leave Peru and return home as Tom was diagnosed with terminal cancer. After a God-given time of blessing, longer than expected by the doctors, Tom went to be with the Lord on June 25th 2009.
At a service of thanksgiving in Grove Baptist Church on 3rd July 2009, attended by many family and friends, Derek Baxter described Tom with these words: 'I will remember Tom as a man with a great ZEAL for God, for the Gospel, for God's people and for lost souls. He was a zealous man - in everything he did he gave 100%. It was that zeal which led him to go to Peru and which kept him there. That zeal enabled him to have a fruitful ministry particularly in the Sierra of South Peru - which is not an easy place to live and work. But it was there he was in his element; he was happiest out in the "Campo" amongst the believers preaching and teaching God's Word and giving wise counsel to Pastors, leaders and any who needed it.'
Many people's lives have been influenced by Tom. Messages flowed in from people in the Peruvian highlands who recalled his love and his humour. Missionaries, past and present, sent their expressions of appreciation for his character and abilities. Recalling the earliest days in Peru, David Bowers wrote:
'We got to know Tom and his family in 1981 when they arrived in Peru as new missionaries. Anna and I were given the responsibility of helping the family settle into life in Peru and the work among the churches. It was not long before we realised that Tom has a mind of his own and a sense of humour that kept us all on our toes. We also got to know that the qualities of an "encourager" were present in Tom. He knew how to draw alongside and give help when needed. He was affectionately known among the believers in the high Andes of South Peru as "hermanito Tomas" as he got close to many of them to help and encourage them in the work of the Lord. We say "Thank you, Lord for Tom Fleming and for what you used him to accomplish, for the burden you placed upon his heart to reach the lost for Christ, for the restless spirit that led him back to Peru in recent days". Tom preached such a message to the people of South Peru, telling them, that Jesus Christ was "the way, the truth and the life and that no one could come to the father except through Jesus Christ". Tom's proclaiming of that message has now come to an end: he has now entered into his full reward.'
Oswaldo Tonconi speaks for the churches around Pomata when he thanks God for the life and work of Thomas and the encouragement he brought to many. Ilave and Desaguadero churches also pay tribute to his friendship, love and concern in the Lord expressed in so many ways over the years.
Ramón and Elvira Chavez from Puno speak of all the work he did, even in the last months when he was in pain he traveled to Ilave and Juliaca to teach and encourage the churches. He gave all that he had, including his life, for the work in the Sierra. A memorial service is planned in the Puno church on the 26th of July.
The Church of José Olaya and Umacollo, with whom Tom was working give thanks to God for the life of their brother Thomas. They say, 'We all miss his love, wisdom and fellowship. His words of encouragement, full of grace but founded in the truth of God's word. His joy and happiness was constant. In our sadness and grief because of his illness, incredibly, Thomas was the one who consoled us and encouraged us, "Don't be crying, you don't have to be sad, I'm fine, I'm in God's hands, He is good". We thank the LORD for Thomas, "Thank you because his joy is now complete. You are a faithful God".'
Tom and Isobel's thanks:
Tom had hoped to express his gratitude in writing himself but was not able to in the last weeks. We were both overwhelmed and deeply humbled by the love and concern shown to us by the Family of God. We received cards, calls and visits from all over the world. We felt so strongly the prayers of God's people holding us up and were amazed at the grace and peace we felt. God gave Tom so many of his desires in the last days that we could only praise Him who is so loving to His children. The support of our own church at Grove was beyond words and 'Thanks' seemed inadequate in the face of such love. The children have also been surrounded by God's love and upheld by His people's prayers. Tom's last desire was to thank God for His goodness and give all the glory to Him, and the service on 3rd July 2009 accomplished that for him.
Psalm 116 v 15 was given to us by many, including people in Peru and S. Africa and we as a family want to leave it with you. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."
The above article appeared in "Insight", the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland magazine and is reproduced here with the kind permission of the ABC in I.