Borrowing my title from the old Salvation Army expression for the death of a Christian: promoted to glory.

I was pleased to read this obituary in today’s Sydney Morning Herald, and also pleased it is published online.

Michael Bourdeaux, the author is an Anglican minister who is founder and director emeritus of Oxford University’s Keston Institute which provides resources for the study of Communist Countries and Religious Affairs.

Bourdeaux writes about Gennadi Kryuchkov’s fight for justice for Russian Christians, persecuted for their faith and for their refusal to allow the state to interfere in religious practice. He also fought against churches interfering in state affairs.

Bourdeaux also says that Kryuchkov was partly responsible for the subsequent freedom in Russia, and not just religious freedom.

Yesterday’s Herald included Lesley Hicks’ obit for Jean Raddon. I was reminded that Jean Raddon began her mission work in Nepal in 1952, as my mother was leaving Dr Graham’s Homes, Kalimpong, near Darjeeling to come home and raise a family, starting with me.