Last Sunday, the sermon in church center mentioned a news reported by the media about a sheep in Britain known as “Fiona,” called “the loneliest sheep,” who was finally rescued. This story moved me deeply. In 2021, a woman named Jillian was kayaking in Scotland’s Cromarty Firth. There, she and her friends spotted a sheep on a rocky beach at the bottom of a steep cliff. The sheep followed them along the coastline, bleating as it went, until it was blocked by rocks. Jillian assumed that the sheep would know its way back on its own. However, two years later, when she returned to the same area, she was shocked to find that the sheep was still stranded there.
The Scottish SPCA said the rescue would be challenging because the cliffs were steep and the high winds and waves made it difficult for boats to get close. Several local teams had tried to rescue the sheep, but even when they reached the bottom of the cliffs and found the sheep hiding in fear in a cave, they were forced to abandon the effort due to poor weather. Finally, in October 2023, five shepherds, including Cammy Wilson, undertook the dangerous rescue. They rappelled down to the beach, gained the sheep’s trust, and used a basic method. They created a sling from a feed sack and lifted the sheep to safety using a heavy 4×4 vehicle and a 200-meter rope, holding the sheep’s thick wool tightly to keep it secure. After 2 years of isolation, Fiona was finally saved.
The Bible says, ” 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, ” (Ezekiel 34:15-16).
In some ways, we’re like Fiona, lost in valleys of life and sin, separated from Christ’s love. But Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came down from heaven to seek and carry us back to the Father.
How many “Fionas” are there in the UK, in Manchester? Perhaps they’re in the Mandarin and AYPF university student groups, the ESOL and planned ESL classes, the Pakistani women’s Christmas party, the tea appreciation group, the evangelistic retreat meeting on the Black Friday, or among your neighbors celebrating Christmas.
Are you ready to help the Lord find His beloved lost sheep, like Fiona?
Pastor Alan IP