Rev Darren Box – Mobile Pulpit
In fifty years of preaching the Gospel, I have preached in some pretty impressive pulpits in great churches and cathedrals. Some were high above the heads of the parishioners. Some were entered by a small gate. Some were impressive in cavernous cathedrals like the Anglican cathedral in Colombo Sri Lanka, or St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne. Others were built for television, like the marble pulpit in the Crystal Cathedral in Los Angeles, or for huge Victorian congregations in the city church pulpits as in Westminster Hall and City Temple, London. Some were in academic churches in the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh. Some were in little stone or wooden churches in rural outback Australia or where I felt most at home, on the stage of the Wesley Theatre, Sydney or the Sydney Opera House.
But the most unusual pulpit I know, is the one on four wheels, that speeds around the church, pulls up before the congregation, and the minister, already miked up, opens the Bible and brings us God’s Word from his mobile motor scooter.
Rev. Darren Box, 39, is a voluntary member of the ministry team at the Lakes Evangelical Church, Berkeley Vale, New South Wales, where I attend. When Darren scoots in to preach, he already has our attention.
Darren was born in Hornsby to Missionary parents serving in Papua New Guinea. His first ten years were spent in that country while his parents worked with Gospel Recordings. (Later while his father completed a Masters degree in California, Darren attended Lake Avenue Congregational Church.)
Back in Sydney, Darren attended Epping Boys High, went to University of NSW to study medicine but switched to Science. Leaving medicine was a big struggle but he was attending University Church and felt the call to ministry. Like many young students he led a full life of youth activities, study groups, teaching Sunday School and leading beach missions.
But already Darren was different to other bright young leaders. At high school a sports master told him he was the slowest natural runner he had ever seen and suggested he undergo specialist examination to determine the cause.
This was done, and at fourteen Darren was told he had muscular dystrophy and would only progressively get worse until he would lose all mobility in his limbs and strength in his other muscles that controlled bodily functions and breathing.
He overheard three specialists discussing his case and picked up all of the negative words before hearing the sentence, “There is nothing that we can do.” That verdict has been delivered to him again and again for more than twenty years.
Darren determined to live to the fullest of his capacity and to do whatever God desired. Sometimes, after long programs of vigorous activity, he would become thoroughly exhausted. At University he entered the Ministry Training Strategy program. He determined he could never marry with his condition. Then he met Jane at a beach mission. They fell in love. Darren told her he rejected any idea of a married future together. It would be totally unfair. But Jane, knowing what the future would hold for them, stressed her love for better or for worse.
They married in 1993. To support his young wife, Darren worked in Koorong Book shop where he developed his knowledge of theological literature and in particular the expositions of Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones of Westminster Chapel, London.
His application for ordination as an Anglican clergyman was initially rejected because of the certainty of the escalation of his muscular dystrophy. But Darren resolved to be well trained and enrolled for four years of study at Moore Theological College. Finally, in 4th year, his renewed application for ordination was accepted.
Then came many years of busy and fruitful ministry – a year working in Evangelism ministries with Rev John Chapman, working as a University staff worker among Christians for the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students and as part of the ministry team at Christ Church Gladesville, then four years as a pastor at Earlwood Anglican Church. Darren was ministering fully within his escalating disability.
Hope for the future? Many times he heard a specialist say, “There are some promising developments in the future, but they are about 10 – 15 years away.” Can stem cells help? “Yes, but an effective program is about 10 – 15 years away.” Does the worldwide publicity given to
Christopher Reeve, the film star who was made a quadriplegic following his starring role as Superman, bring hope? “Yes, but concrete benefit is about 10 – 15 years away.”
Jane and Darren moved on with their plans to buy their own home and have their family. Today they have both, a fully mobility accessible home and four daughters, Hannah, Naomi, Rachel and Josephine. Although now retired from the paid staff of our church, they continue to be a valued part of the ministry and leadership team. Jane brings the four girls to church in the family van while Darren drives to church on his mobile pulpit. Darren is equipped with wet-weather gear so nothing stops him. Jane, the other member of this ministry team, is simply regarded as a saint.
If it is his turn among the preachers in the ministry team, he scoots to the front of the church and opens his Bible and begins. During the week Jane and Darren team-teach scripture in a nearby public school. He prepares studies for the leaders of twenty-four home Bible study groups each week. He works the computer to write articles for magazines.
He writes good study material, and I hope because of his broadcast quality voice, academic training and pastoral care gifts, he will be challenged one day to become a Christian broadcaster. The mobile pulpit could then have an even greater outreach. One of his favourite sayings is Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
I remember when I was interviewing Dr Mary Verghese of Vellore Hospital in India, the famous surgeon in the reconstruction of hands and faces, who operated from a wheelchair following being made a paraplegic, her mentor, Dr Paul Brand said, “I love to watch the patients awaiting surgery with all their fears and concern, when Dr Mary enters in her wheel chair. Their eyes light up as they see one more disabled than they, who is living life creatively and in faith, who has come to help them. No matter how they felt before, now they have a new positive outlook over whatever they are suffering.”
I see that happening in the Lakes’ Church, whenever Darren Box in his mobile pulpit scooters into view.
Rev The Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes, A.C., M.L.C.