Aidan Birch Johnson is here!

Aidan Birch was born on November 4th at 11:20 pm and weighing 7lbs 14oz and is 20 and half inches long. He came into the world with a strong cry and a head full of golden hair. We are smitten with love all over again.

Aidan- Little Light or Fire

We first came across the name Aidan in Rich Mullins's song Let Mercy Lead. Rich Mullins is a song writer whose songs inspired and shepherded Amy and I as young people to follow the Lord with openness and expectation. We pray that our son will by led by mercy and saturated with grace. Aidan is also the name of man who spread Christianity to the western world, leaving the Island of Iona in Scotland and faithfully sharing Jesus in England. St Patrick was discipled by St. Augustine brought the Gospel from North Africa to Ireland. St. Patrick discipled St Columbo who then brought the Gospel to Scotland and the magical Island of Iona (Amy and I visited here on our honeymoon.) St Aidan studied in Iona and then left to England. Under St. Aidan, the Gospel spread across England and into the Netherlands.

http://www.irelandseye.com/irish/people/saints/aidan.shtm

Birch- to Shine

It is our tradition to name our children after one of God's sent ones (missionaries) who have in some way influenced our lives. During my fourth year of medical school I was deeply impacted by a man named Birch Rambo. He spent 30 years of his life in the Congo as a medical surgeon sharing the Gospel and training new doctors. He is a gentle man who I believe is characterized by faithfulness. When he talks about his time in Congo, deeper than the adventure and trials, he speaks of a commitment to follow the Caller and do what He asked him to do, despite the circumstances. Birch now works with dual diagnosed children with severe mental and physical limitations. Daily, he quietly walks the halls of the home for these children and cares for them. I am most impressed by his love for his wife. After suffering a stroke many years ago, she is unable to speak and has to live in a special care home. Birch faithfully cares for her. When he speaks of her, it is not with remorse or bitterness about the state she is in, but with a deep, tender and faithful love. In the Western North Carolina woods, among the tallest and oldest trees is the Yellow Birch, a great symbol of faithfullness that Birch Rambo has portrayed. We hope that Aidan Birch will follow Birch's example and faithfully obey the calling of God on his life and faithfully love the ones that are brought into his life.

We also desired a name that would mean light, knowing that Christ is the light of the world that brings hope to all men. The Gaelic root of Aidan means little light or fire and the German root of Birch means to shine. We do pray that this little fire will shine brightly and faithfully the mercy and hope of our Jesus and bring glory to God our Father.

Matthew 5.14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.