To the moon, and eternity

Christians have a long history of association with space and, in particular, moon missions. It was John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, who said “to look out at this kind of creation and not believe in God is to me impossible, it just strengthens my faith.”

Not to mention Buzz Aldrin –who celebrated communion on the moon – and Commander Frank Borman, who exited Earth’s orbit for the first time and quoted Genesis 1 as he looked back. James Irwin and Charles Duke both became involved in missionary work after their moon missions.

So, it is no surprise that a Christian, Navy pilot Victor Glover, will be part of the first mission to land humans on the moon since NASA’s Apollo 17 in 1972. The Artemis program aims to land the first woman, and next men, on the moon by 2024 and is also planning a human mission to Mars.

Captain Glover, who attends church and teaches Sunday school in Houston, is originally from Pomona, California. He is a vocal supporter of outreach work and advocates for mentors to guide young people.

“Growing up in the ’70s, ’80s [with gangs around], I lived briefly in a part of Pomona called Sintown – not the nicest place in the world,” he told a NASA podcast. “So, you know, a lot of those paths I could have taken we don’t talk a lot about, but they weren’t good.

“A lot of my friends wound up in gangs… these were my really good friends… and I just had some good influences keeping me out of that.”

A member of the International Space Station crew for six months last year, Captain Glover brought communion cups and a Bible with him and said he did “virtual service, virtual giving, reading my Bible and praying”.

He told reporters, “I want to use the abilities that God has given me to do my job well and support my crewmates and mission and NASA. That’s really the thing I think the most about”. Captain Glover and his three colleagues will venture around the moon on Artemis II as part of NASA’s path to establishing a long-term presence on the moon for science and exploration. He wants to take his physical Bible with him on the moon mission, but weight limits mean he might have to settle for bringing a digital copy.

On the eve of the 1960-61 first-class season, twenty-sevenyear-old Brian almost retired to devote himself entirely to his work as a lay reader and youth welfare worker. His wife Judy persuaded him to carry on, and a two-year record of 1276 Sheffield Shield runs at 63 gained him the last batting spot on Australia’s 1961 Ashes tour where he made his debut.

Still, if he was going to play, Brian was resolved to do it his way: he kept, quietly and unostentatiously, to a code, on-field and off, infused with Christian spirit. Brian was a moral man, but never moralistic.

Sydney Anglicans, indeed Christians all over Australia, will remember Brian Booth for books such as Cricket and Christianity and his autobiography Booth to Bat, with a foreword written by Sir Donald Bradman.

He was also a popular speaker at Christian events, where he would give his testimony, and had a long association with the Christian Businessmen’s Association and the Bible Society of Australia.

“Brian was quiet and sometimes reserved but always wise,” said NSW Cricket Society secretary Ronald Cardwell. “He had great recall of cricket and hockey moments and was a wonderful raconteur when the occasion called for a story. His Christian faith set him apart and he played all sport with the right spirit and attitude.” SC