Lionel Ball served as a London City Missionary most of his working life. A whole generation of London City Missionaries are grateful to God for the encouragement given to them by him. Even today, some years after his retirement, missionaries regularly meet people who ask, ‘Do you remember Lionel Ball?’
Through his chaplaincy with the police, he was so highly regarded that he was appointed a Freeman of the City of London. This meant that he could drive sheep across London Bridge without paying. There is no record of him ever taking advantage of the privilege. Instead Lionel was to undertake a different sort of shepherding!
The key place he worked was at the Covent Garden Mission but Lionel was also involved in mission activity in the London theatres. Blessed with a fine voice, and himself a gifted pianist, he related well to performers and won their confidence and love. There are many who can trace their early Christian influence back to Lionel Ball.
Endorsements
Good to see once again how God works in peoples life.
Betty Henderson
"As you read some of Lionel's descriptions of the things he has seen and the ways in which God has used him, Joan and his family, if you find yourself quietly praising God and, like me, gently wiping a tear from your eye, then I feel sure that Lionel will think that all his hard work in writing this book has been worthwhile. Praise God!"
Rt. Rev’d Prebendary Sandy Millar
"Lionel is a people person, a tremendous encourager, and a man with a passion to spread the gospel. A whole generation of London City Missionaries are grateful to God for the encouragement given to them by him. Even today, some years after his retirement, missionaries regularly meet people who ask, ‘Do you remember Lionel Ball?' In this book Lionel tells his own story. It is beautifully written and a delight to read."
Irene Howat Award–winning author
"..a lively account of work among the spiritually needy of London"
The Gospel Magazine
"This is an encouraging book to read and reflect on. Many Christian workers face the awesome challenge of evangelising London, and to read this autobiography is to be refreshed and reminded of what God can do by sacrificial and committed service undertaken in his name."
Evangelicals Now
"Lionel Ball worked as London City Missionary for much of his life. Born just before the second world war, he tells his story in detail - his schooldays, his life in the RAF, his conversion to Christ, his work with the police and his entrance into the London city Mission. He details his years based with in the covenant Garden Mission and also with people from the London theatres. Wherever he was and whomever he mixed with, his main aim was to bring men to Christ and this is amply shown on every page of his book."
CLC World
"Lionel Ball was a London City Missonary (LCM) for over thirty years, and this charming and heart warming narrative tells us his story from birth on the ‘right side' of the welsh border, which of course gave him a life-long love for music and singing, to service in the RAF and then into the LCM."
The Evangelical Magazine Published by Evangelical Movement of Wales
A fascinating and faith restoring book. Lionel's commitment to God, Scripture and the Christian faith is both uplifting and encouraging in what sometimes seems like a bewildering and heartless "modern" world.
Lionel Ball (1934–2021) spent years gaining the respect of Londoners through his work with the London City Mission. Through his chaplaincy with the police he was granted freedom of the city.
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