Albert Martin Interview of Achille Blaize

The point: Nurture intimate relationships between churches and between proven men sent to establish churches in other places.

The example of Paul and Barnabas being sent out from Antioch and returning to report to the church illustrates the biblical pattern for inter-church relationships and accountability in missions.

We are seeking to be a biblical church, and being a biblical church involves many, many things, and one of them is in the whole area that will regulate what we're doing this morning. A biblical church is a church that seeks to be true to the mandate of our Lord Jesus to make disciples of all the nations, to be sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit in marking out those who should take the gospel, to other places, and be useful in the establishment of churches. And it's vital when God in His providence establishes an intimate relationship between churches and between men who are proven in one...

1:31 - 3:00 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Blaize describes his journey from Dominica to England in 1962, his initial pursuit of engineering and priesthood, and the providential gift of a Bible that led to his…

A friend's mistaken impression that London was 'full of churches' (actually chimney stacks) upon arriving in England highlights the initial cultural disorientation and the spiritual emptiness of the time.

I can remember driving from a friend of mine. He flew. We couldn't afford flying, so I took the boat. And he said, when he was coming down on London Airport, he was so thrilled.

13:55 - 14:08 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Blaize describes his journey from Dominica to England in 1962, his initial pursuit of engineering and priesthood, and the providential gift of a Bible that led to his…

Pastor Blaize describes feeling a profound emptiness after attending Mass and Vespers, despite being extremely religious, illustrating the spiritual void that formal religion can leave without true conversion.

And I'll never forget, one Sunday night, I came home, being religious, everybody wanted me to be a godfather. You ask me what that means, I don't know what they wanted me to be. And I came home, there was an emptiness, a real emptiness. I went to church in the morning, I went to Mass, and I went to Vespers, that sort of evening incense thing, the thing gets you sick the more you smell it.

15:34 - 16:02 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Blaize explains how his path intersected with Pastor Martin and Trinity Baptist Church, beginning with a Banner of Truth conference in England, leading to an invitation to…

Pastor Blaize's disillusionment with Dr. Billy Graham's 'man-centered religion' in 1966 illustrates his skepticism towards American preachers and his longing for solid biblical exposition.

I hope you'll understand what I'm saying. It's no way of criticism. Prior to that, in 1966, we had Dr. Billy Graham over.

21:54 - 22:03 Read in full sermon

Driving home: In England, preachers do not sit with their people. And for that big preacher, I mean that, to sit on the front row next to the congregation, that was a revelation.

Pastor Blaize recounts sitting in the front row at a conference to scrutinize Pastor Martin, only to find Martin sitting next to him, which challenged his preconceived notions of preachers' aloofness and initiated their friendship.

I'll come to Leicester for the first time to hear this preacher from United States of America. And I made sure I sat at the front. They had some cozy armchairs. So I plunked myself down first row next to the preacher.

23:00 - 23:15 Read in full sermon

Driving home: In England, preachers do not sit with their people. And for that big preacher, I mean that, to sit on the front row next to the congregation, that was a revelation.

After hearing Pastor Martin preach on Psalm 44, Achille Blaize was so overwhelmed that he went to Martin's room to pray, marking the beginning of their deep friendship and spiritual bond.

And I've never heard anything like that. And I was so overwhelmed. Then he was sweating like an ox.

25:11 - 25:18 Read in full sermon

The point: In moments of depression and discouragement in ministry, argue with God based on the fact that the church, having the mind of Christ, sent you, and therefore He must deliver you.

The story of counseling a young couple, Matthew and Marcel, whose problems were rooted in body chemistry rather than spiritual issues, illustrates the need for holistic, biblically informed counsel and became a catalyst for Pastor Blaize's call to East London.

And they came all the way for counsel. And the young man was given up for crazy by his school, by his doctor, and his parents believed that he was crazy. So he came to the house. We were living then at Cliff Street, past Nicholl's house.

28:42 - 29:04 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Blaize recounts the challenging early years of Grace Baptist Church, meeting in a 'tin shack,' and the providential merger with another congregation that provided a…

The vivid description of Grace Baptist Church meeting in a 'little tin shack' for five years, enduring extreme temperatures and lack of facilities, illustrates the humble beginnings and perseverance of the church plant.

You must deliver me. And year after year and the elders gave us oversight and to this day our relationship with you and us had been such. And to this day there is a little group of brethren called the Grace Baptist Church that was planted. We met in a little shack for a number of years.

31:13 - 31:39 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Blaize recounts the challenging early years of Grace Baptist Church, meeting in a 'tin shack,' and the providential merger with another congregation that provided a…

The unexpected phone call from Pastor Kurt, proposing a merger between their two churches, illustrates God's providential hand in providing a building for Grace Baptist Church after years of bureaucratic struggle.

He said, all right, I have a proposition. We have a building. We have building, but we have no congregation. Why not we two churches, we believe the same thing, meet together?

33:12 - 33:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Blaize recounts the challenging early years of Grace Baptist Church, meeting in a 'tin shack,' and the providential merger with another congregation that provided a…

The incident where a woman opposing the church merger was providentially prevented from attending the vote due to her husband's stroke illustrates God's sovereign intervention to ensure His will was done.

I'll never forget, we were sitting in my living room, or sitting room, or whatever room you call it. Pastor Martin was there, Mr. John Spence, and Mr. Don Ritter.

35:14 - 35:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Seek biblical principles to guide courtship and marriage, desiring God's best and trusting His leading.

Pastor Blaize recounts proposing to Esalyn during a city-wide blackout, with only candlelight, illustrating a romantic and memorable moment in their courtship.

But it was very romantic. The day I went to the house that evening something was wrong with the electricity. There was a blackout in the city of London. And they had candles.

39:42 - 39:58 Read in full sermon

The point: Be very careful not to imbibe the philosophies of the world regarding gender roles, but be controlled by the scriptures of God in every aspect, implementing these truths in children.

The story of Anastasia and Glenwyn playing church, with Glenwyn insisting that only he, as a boy, can preach, illustrates how children absorb and apply biblical principles of distinct gender roles taught in the home and church.

He's a boy. He's full of life I think. Let me give you a little One incident that Pastor Blaise shared with me yesterday that was both humorous and yet at the same time underscores in a very profound way how our children if they are surrounded with biblical perspectives in the church and in the home how quickly they can absorb to the point of felt conviction some of these perspectives and I prepared him for this. I said please share that specific incident about playing church in the home so that you kids especially you listen to this one now and you'll hear how Anastasia and Glenwyn play churc...

44:53 - 46:00 Read in full sermon

The point: Every husband must aim at being a 'domestic psychologist' to live with his wife according to knowledge, being sensitive to her needs.

Pastor Blaize shares about his wife Esalyn's chronic weakness and his role in comforting her, illustrating how a husband's biblical leadership involves sensitivity and understanding ('domestic psychologist') rather than harshness.

now another incident that I think will be most helpful because again there are some of you who perhaps because of your background and your past wonder if indeed if those perspectives are embraced in the church and in the home whether that will not create a demeaning role for the woman and a hard hearted approach of a man to a woman's needs and unless you feel pastor blade it would be too personal I think just generally about the incident ahh some of you know we've been praying for Mrs. Blade she had not been well for some months it was just this chronic weakness and unable to fulfill many of h...

49:58 - 51:27 Read in full sermon