From early childhood the words of Paul regarding Timothy were true in our home. "That from a child thou has known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation," 2Tim.3.15. It was my privilege to have God-fearing parents who instilled into their six children a respect for God, a reverence for His Word, a need of salvation, and a love for the gospel. In our home there were regular family devotions morning, noon, and evening, and the assembly and meetings were a priority. My father served full time in gospel work and to my mother was delegated many additional responsibilities. Of the many impressions of youth in the home, I make mention of two that were outstanding. Both the prayer life of my parents and the hospitality shown others are remembered. It seemed every decision had to be thought through and prayed about. Many individuals and needy persons received a meal, a kind word, and a gospel tract or invitation to attend a meeting as they stopped by the home. Gospel preachers and missionaries were also entertained in the home and what a delight to listen to their report, to hear a story of the grace of God, or receive a postage stamp to add to my collection. In our home the most important item seemed to be the gospel message lived out in daily life and the word spread abroad.
From a young age the reality of God, the personal guilt of my sin, salvation through Christ alone, the imminent return of the Lord Jesus, and the joy of living for Christ, were emphasised. I had no reason to question the importance and the necessity of God’s salvation. I could honestly say I believed it all and now reasoned, at the age of eight years, I should confess Christ and tell others I was saved. Since I believed, why couldn’t I say I am saved and this would also save me the embarrassment of telling others, like the preachers, I was not saved. I lived the next several years in doubt and fear and had no inner peace or assurance of the forgiveness of sins. At the age of twelve I approached my father with the problem of my doubts and very wisely he did not question but opened his Bible and read again the Scriptures I knew so well and many I had committed to memory. Three Scripture references stand out till this day. From 1Pet.3.18 the question was put to me, "Who was the Just One and who was the unjust one?" Finally, my father left the room and I now read again the words of Isaiah 53.5-6. Wounded for me! In that late evening hour I simply took God at His Word and the promise of Jn.1.12; "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." I realised that Christ dying in my place satisfied God and this was the answer to all my sins. There was nothing I could do and my prayers, asking, tears, or believing could not save me. In giving all else up, I found rest and peace in what Christ had done for me at the cross of Calvary. It was with great joy that I confessed the next morning to my mother that I was saved and had peace about the matter and all doubts were gone. Now I had a God given desire within to tell the gospel message to my school classmates and the customers on my paper route.
I must say how important assembly life was in my early and formative years. I was baptized at the age of thirteen and received into assembly fellowship the following year at Portage la Prairie, MB, Canada. The Portage assembly provided a good healthy spiritual environment and encouraged one in both Bible study and gospel outreach. A year later our family relocated 400 km. north west of Portage, where my father was preaching the gospel and a new assembly had commenced.
There were a number of gospel efforts in the area and I was encouraged to help out in open air evangelism, tract distribution, a Sunday school class, and contribute in home Bible studies. It was a joy to witness the power of the gospel, Rom.1.16, in the transformed lives of believers.
To further my education I moved to Winnipeg and am again thankful for the support and fellowship of the local assembly. We were encouraged to be involved in open air meetings in the park, the tract band, Sunday school teaching, and tract distribution. Upon the completion of my studies in education I took a teaching position in the community of Minitonas, about 500 km. north west of Winnipeg. Here I could be a help in a small assembly and reach out in the gospel especially during the summer vacation. Meetings for both children and adults were held in the community hall and in the summer I worked together with other young men in carrying the gospel to several northern communities in the province of Manitoba.
In 1970 I married an effective and suitable partner in life and in the gospel work. My wife has been influential in others coming to hear the gospel and, as well, she has ministered a spiritual role in the lives of our four children.
At a summer prairie conference in 1972, a spiritual shepherd and elder from the Portage assembly expressed to us his appreciation for our involvement in the gospel work. He further suggested our commendation to the gospel work and all this went to confirm our exercise to serve the Lord in the gospel. In December 1972 our home assembly, Minitonas, joined with the Portage assembly in commending my wife and myself to the grace of God and the work of the gospel. We appreciate that God uses many different circumstances to make His will known and His call to serve in the gospel. I cannot speak of a specific call to full time gospel work, but rather trace the circumstances and appreciate a God begotten desire to serve the Master. How important to be sensitive to what the Word of God says; "Son, go work to day in my vineyard," Matt.21.28. I thank God for godly parents, spiritual assembly guides, the encouragement of others engaged in the work of the Lord, and for a spiritual partner in life, all assisting me to detect the will and call of God.
For the first twelve years of our married life and gospel work we lived in five different centres and did visitation, held home Bible studies, and had both children and adult meetings in community centres. For twenty years I joined with my father and others in village gospel work during the summer months of July and August. A mobile trailer unit was used for the preaching of the gospel in four or five centres each summer. My father would systematically map out and cover an area in visitation and would often use a public sound system in the open air followed by nightly gospel meetings. From my father I learned many practical lessons including a simple trust and confidence in the Lord, and realised that God’s ways are best for carrying out the work of the Lord. Many souls heard the gospel and a number were saved in these country districts and to God be the glory.
In 1984, we moved our young family to the city of Saskatoon and the gospel work was approached in much the same way with visitation, tract distribution, home Bible studies and short series of gospel meetings in a number of community centres. The Lord blessed His Word and souls were saved, baptized, and encouraged to meet together for fellowship and Bible study which was often in our home. In 1990 a company of believers met together to "break bread" and have continued to the glory of God in assembly testimony and gospel outreach. Our responsibility is to sow the good seed. "In the morning sow thy seed and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good," Ecc.11.6.
I would stress in conclusion that God is faithful and we may fail but not our blessed Lord. "But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you and keep you from evil," 2Thess.3.3. We would also like to encourage others who have a God begotten exercise, to trust the Lord and serve full time in the gospel.