Recognising a life of dedication

Over 30 years of dedicated service to people, four of which have been in Sri Lanka, has been rewarded with an MBE for Rev. John P. S. Purves, the Minister of St. Andrew’s Scots Kirk, in Colombo. The award underlines his commitment and determination to make a difference in the lives of the unfortunate and marginalized.

John Purves arrived in Sri Lanka in 2003 as the Minister of St. Andrew’s Scots Kirk which celebrates its centenary this year.“Sri Lanka is the first Asian country we have served in, we have enjoyed our time here,” he says. One of the projects undertaken is a special home for former patients of the Mulleriyawa hospital, where women can recuperate before returning to their homes.

The aftermath of the 2004 tsunami also saw several relief and aid programmes, some of which were headed by Rev. Purves. Assisted mainly by the Church of Scotland, the Church has undertaken many projects including digging wells and providing access to sanitation facilities and power lines to selected rural communities.

Born in 1948, his life as a minister began at a relatively late age. Having graduated with a BSc Degree in Physics from the Edinburgh University in 1970, he went to Malawi as a VSO volunteer, teaching Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Religion for two years at the Blantyre Secondary School. “I believe that God has his own plan for every one of us. I was a Christian from a very early age, and my family was religious, but priesthood was not my first choice. But as time went on, I knew that God was calling me, and that I had to respond,” he said.

He was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire) on October 25, 2007. “Receiving the award was a great honour for me, and it is an affirmation of our work together as a team here at St. Andrew’s,” he said.