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Stephen
Carlton Bradley was born on 4 April 1909 in Cairo,
Egypt. His parents were missionaries with the Egypt
General Mission. In 1918 at age 9 they traveled by
boat to Australia. The only way they could afford
the journey was to enlist as crew members of the ship.
Stephen Bradley, at 9 years old, served as a cabin
boy on that voyage.
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When
he was studying for the ministry at Moore College
in Sydney, Stephen Bradley was embroiled in
controversy and suffered ongoing persecution
for his evangelical convictions. At that time
Moore College was very liberal and quite hostile
to Stephen Bradley's evangelistic activities
and prayer meetings. At one time a local newspaper
declared in a banner headline: STUDENTS PRAY
FOR DEATH OF PRINCIPAL.
As
Stephen Bradley's name was mentioned in the
newspaper article as the leader of the student
prayer fellowship, the Principal called him
into his office. Stephen Bradley explained that
they were praying for his conversion - that
God would either convert the Principal or remove
him. Those who knew him said that Stephen Bradley
never wavered, he was not afraid of speaking
out, he was valiant for truth - a watchman on
the walls.
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Well,
in fact, within the year the Principal died of cancer.
Before dying he called for Stephen Bradley and admitted
that he had lost his way and had indeed needed to
come to Christ. The entire Council of Moore College
changed and the College became thoroughly Evangelical.
When
Reverend Stephen Bradley first came to South Africa
in 1935 to be a missionary to the Zulus, he was given
a call, literally at the dockside while disembarking,
to be the pastor of Christ Church in Addington, Durban.
The Zulus at first rejected Stephen Bradley because
he was "too young", however, when his veterinary
skills with cattle enabled him to successfully treat
many of the infected cattle of the Zulus, the people
began to flock to him. As he later described it -
"It was not so much the people but the cattle
that started to line up"!
When
the Second World War broke out, Stephen Bradley enlisted
in the South African Army. In 1941, dissatisfied at
being so far from the fighting, he joined a ship of
Italian Prisoners-of-War en route to Australia. There
he enlisted in the Australian Army.
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He
was made a Chaplain and set about winning souls
for Christ. This soon landed him in trouble
with the authorities as his driver - a Roman
Catholic - informed against him, reporting that
he was also ministering to Roman Catholics -
not confining his activities to the Protestant
soldiers. At one time Stephen Bradley, even
though a chaplain and a captain, was confined
to barracks. Soon he got himself reassigned
as an instructor in the School of Jungle Warfare
in Canungra. He was later deployed to New Guinea
and spent 17 months in appalling conditions
fighting the Japanese - sometimes in intense
hand to hand combat in the jungles, during which
he was badly wounded in the face.
After
the war, in 1945, Stephen Bradley returned to
South Africa and threw himself with renewed
vigour into building up the Church of England
in South Africa. He served as pastor of Holy
Trinity Church - which was then in Harrington
Street near the castle, but which later had
to be moved to the Gardens. He established St
Andrews in Pinelands. He served as the only
Curate to all the CESA churches in the Transvaal.
He was consecrated Bishop of the Church of England
in 1958. From 1965 to 1984 he served as Presiding
Bishop of CESA.
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When
a pastor defected from the Church of England in South
Africa to the CPSA, and closed down Christ Church
in Pinetown, Bishop Bradley loaded up his Volkswagen
and drove down from the Transvaal to re-open the work
there. It was at Pinetown that Frank Retief served
as a Curate under Bishop Bradley. When Frank Retief
asked what transport he would have for the visitation
ministry, Bishop Bradley replied: "God gave you
two good legs". Mrs. Shirley Bradley described
Frank Retief in Pinetown as like a Pied Piper, he
was immensely popular with the children following
him everywhere. Once he led someone to Christ - Frank
Retief was an unstoppable evangelist.
Bishop
Bradley had a great missionary vision and worked steadfastly
to plant churches in Rhodesia and South West Africa.
He regularly ran week-long Bible schools for pastors
and evangelists of all denominations in Ovamboland.
When the Church of the Province of South Africa (CPSA)
excommunicated several newly-converted pastors and
their congregations in Ovamboland, Bishop Bradley
took them in and gave them Bible training. Even during
the war years Bishop Bradley drove in Operational
Areas in South West Africa and Rhodesia - in areas
endangered by landmines and ambushes - to plant churches
and provide ongoing discipleship training.
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In
Cape Town, Bishop Bradley was known as a tireless
evangelist conducting daily street outreaches
on the Grand Parade - opposite the City Hall.
He handed out Gospel literature and preached
the Gospel daily - and also trained others to
continue this work. Bishop Bradley often conducted
Youth Bible Camps and he taught his people to
walk. Many times he led the youth up Table Mountain.
In
KwaZulu the pastors remember Bishop Bradley
walking, in the rain, up and down the hills
and mountains to reach remote congregations
for Sunday services.
Bishop Bradley took a clear stand against the
liberal World Council of Churches and its support
for Communist dictatorships and terrorist groups.
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Bishop
Bradley had: "In no way affiliated to the World
Council of Churches" printed on every CESA bulletin,
pamphlet and letterhead. He battled for truth and
upheld the principle of God's Word above all things.
He never lost his zeal for winning the lost to Christ.
In describing the Church of England in South Africa,
Bishop Bradley declared: "This church knows what
we believe and what we stand for." His strong
Reformed convictions gave him direction, courage,
steadfastness and perseverance against all odds.
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On
the tribute bulletin produced by Bishop Bradley's
family he is described as: "A husband,
father and grandfather who loved unconditionally,
walked in obedience, witnessed in truth and
served the Lord faithfully."
Bishop
Stephen Bradley stands as a vigorous and faithful
servant and soldier of Christ who won many to
Christ and laid solid foundations for many congregations.
He is an inspiration, an example, an encouragement
and a challenge to us all.
"Endure
hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ
Jesus."
2 Timothy 2:3
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Dr
Peter Hammond
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