Interview by: Gillian Fraser
Article source: JOY! Magazine

In this interview, Uncle Angus shares how God has used his daily “Thought for Today” messages to spread the Gospel worldwide. From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to reaching a global audience, God’s hand is evident in every step of this journey. Uncle Angus offers insights into the challenges he faces, the memorable responses he’s received, and the remarkable impact of his messages on people from all walks of life, all for the glory of God.

Q. What initially inspired you to start the “Thought for Today” messages?
Five years ago, when the horrific COVID pandemic broke out and we were all housebound, one morning I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to send out a 3-4 minute voicenote to encourage a few of our friends not to give up, but to press on and trust the Lord. We had such a great response that I just kept on doing it and have been doing it for the past five years without missing a single day. It is an incredible journey that I firmly believe is from the Lord. Every single morning, He gives me a message, never the same one twice, which is nothing short of miraculous.

Q. Can you share some challenges you faced in maintaining this daily commitment?
I am a very early riser; my day begins at 4 am every morning. That is when I have my quiet time with the Lord Jesus Christ. Essentially, what I’m doing is verbalising the fresh message the Lord gives me every single day in my quiet time. The fact that I’ve been walking with Jesus for 45 years has been a great help, providing me with illustrations, stories, and anecdotes. As this distinctive ministry has grown, we now have a large team helping to compile each “Thought for Today” every morning. These men and women are totally dedicated to ensuring the Word goes out every single morning around the world. It is extremely exciting and obviously very demanding. For a three-minute programme, it takes me approximately one hour to prepare each day.

Q. Could you share a few memorable stories or responses that have particularly moved you?
It started with sending a few messages locally, but it has now become a global outreach every single morning. From places like Saint Helena, the little island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, to South Korea, Panama, and New Mexico, USA – the reach is incredible. We received a video of a police station where officers stood at ease and listened to the “Thought for Today” before starting work. Many farmers use this message for their staff each morning before they commence work. We even heard of a gentleman in Greece who translates the message every morning into Greek and sends it around the islands. Their people now use these messages for their own ministries and are starting up congregations online for elderly people who cannot get to church.

Q. What does your process for creating each “Thought for Today” look like?
Every single message starts with a scripture verse, which is then illustrated by a practical example from day-to-day living. The Word of God has become part of my daily life like never before, and it has been incredibly rewarding.

Q. You’ve mentioned that your messages reach everyone from young children to senior citizens. How do you tailor your messages to connect across such a wide range of ages and backgrounds?
Another miracle has taken place regarding the age groups we are touching. We are reaching people from babies to those almost 100 years old. A 92-year-old lady recently visited us, insisting she never misses a day without hearing the message. Another woman sent a video of her child, still crawling in nappies, who stops and listens to the whole message before continuing to crawl around the room. Another woman mentioned her dog listens to the message every morning without moving. We have heard of parrots and cats that wait for the message every day (I know you are laughing while reading this, so am I, but it is the truth). On a more serious note, we have received reports of people who were suicidal and changed their minds at the last minute after listening to the message. Couples whose marriages were on the rocks decided to work out their differences by listening to our message every day. Patients in ICU in hospital listen to the message daily, as do those in maximum-security prisons and university colleges.

Sign up for “Thought For Today”
Download the Angus Buchan app, where the devotion is available at 5 am each morning!

If you would prefer to receive it via WhatsApp, send a message to either 076 431 1743 or
076 428 2493, or email info@angusbuchan.co.za and ask to be added to the broadcast group.

It is also available on:
• The website (angusbuchan.co.za) by 5:10 am
• Facebook (facebook.com/UncleAngus) by 5:15 am
• Instagram (instagram.com/angusbuchan)
• YouTube (youtube.com/user/Angusbuchan)
• TikTok (tiktok.com/@angusbuchan)

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Date published: 04/10/2024

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