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‘Many Turn To Christ At Queen’s Funeral’

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

LONDON (Worthy News) – Many among the millions who tuned in to watch the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II have become followers of Christ, chaplains told Worthy News Thursday.

Britain’s longest-serving monarch planned the details of the funeral to ensure it expressed her faith in Christ, who she believed gives hope and eternal life, several sources confirmed.

Chaplains of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT), named after the late famed evangelist, said they shared “the Good News of Jesus Christ before the funeral—and after its end.”

Though people came to Hyde Park and Windsor Castle intending to pay their final respects, “many left forever changed as they surrendered to the same God the queen served during her life on earth,” the BG-RRT added.

They gathered among the thousands to watch live television footage on large screens. “With a continuous reverent silence in the crowd, eyes and ears were locked on what was being shared during the funeral. “Tens of thousands watched the Queen’s funeral together,” the chaplains noted.

Those watching were told by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby that “the pattern for many leaders is to be exalted in life and forgotten after death. The pattern for all who serve God—famous or obscure, respected or ignored—is that death is the door to glory.”

He added that “Jesus, Who in our reading does not tell His disciples how to follow but Who to follow, said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ Her Late Majesty’s example was not set through her position or her ambition, but through whom she followed.”

SEARCHING CHRIST

Whom she followed was Jesus Christ, stressed the chaplains in talks with people searching for Him, including a Dutch woman named Caroline. When asking for directions to watch the funeral, she told two chaplains that her life “was a bit of a mess.”

After Caroline was explained about the Biblical Nicodemus, a member of the ruling Jewish Council searching for Jesus, she was asked: ‘Would you like to ask Jesus into your heart?’” recalled the BG-RRT. “Caroline said, ‘Yes.’”

Standing in Hyde Park, “Caroline prayed aloud with [Chaplain] James to put her faith in Jesus Christ, mere hours before the queen’s funeral. And before leaving to see the queen’s procession, she told the chaplains, ‘I feel wonderful”.

Caroline’s experience underscored the spread of the true Christian faith that chaplains said they witnessed in Britain. “Throughout the nearly two-week deployment across the U.K., chaplains prayed with more than 700 people and witnessed numerous salvations and rededications,” added BG-RRT.

As the funeral began, BG-RRT chaplains said they “stood in the back of Hyde Park and watched along with the crowd.” They were “silently praying for God to minister to hearts as the Gospel was proclaimed during the service.”

A woman, identified as Laura, stood near Anne Hyams, a chaplain. “Laura was by herself and visibly moved by the service and in tears. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Anne came alongside her and put her hand on her shoulder as she wept. Not a single word was spoken, but Laura knew she wasn’t alone anymore. As the funeral ended, Laura looked Anne in the eyes and simply said, ‘Thank you”.

Anne prayed for Laura before she left the park “that God would comfort her and show her His love.”

NEVER TOO LATE

An older man named Timothy was also leaving Hyde Park after the funeral when he met with James, a chaplain, the BG-RRT recalled.

“The 84-year-old told the chaplain that since the death of the Queen, he’s been thinking of his mortality. James talked about the queen’s faith in Jesus Christ and then simply asked Timothy, “What about your faith?”

Not sure what would happen when he died, Timothy didn’t know how to respond; chaplain James said he “then carefully shared the Gospel with Timothy and asked if he’d like to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.”

After praying to commit his life to Jesus, Timothy reportedly thanked the chaplain, told him he was glad they met, “and walked away from Hyde Park full of peace and with a smile on his face.”

Muslims were also reached with the Gospel of Christ, the BG-RRT suggested. Chaplain Ruby Edmondson met Ahmad, a Muslim who wanted to know about the Gospel.

With the chaplain using the “Steps to Peace With God” booklet, Ahmad “listened closely and became more excited at each page turn,” the chaplains said.

PERSONAL SAVIOR

“For us to be in Heaven with God—as the queen is—we have to accept Jesus as our personal Savior,” Ruby said he told him.

“And it’s not because of our works, because we cannot be good enough on our own. We must ask God to help us, just as the Queen asked God to help her.”

When Ruby asked if he’d like to accept Jesus Christ into his life, Ahmad “was more than ready and excitedly said, ‘Yes!’” the BG-RRT said.

The two prayed “aloud together in Jesus’ Name as Ahmad committed his life to Jesus Christ,” the chaplains explained to Worthy News.

The BG-RRT urged Christians “to pray for the many individuals our chaplains ministered to, and for those who made commitments to Jesus Christ. Please pray that they will find a local, Bible-believing church where they can grow in their faith.”