06/02/2026
Happy Heavenly birthday granddad!
30 years ago today you graduated to Heaven, but your legacy lives on. Even though I was only almost 10 when you went home, THANK YOU for the Godly legacy you have given to me. I know it’s because of yours and grandma’s prayers that I am not only here today, but I love Jesus so much. Last year Aunt Linda sent me a bit more of your history that I didn’t know. You went to McMaster University to become a teacher (like I did) and sang in the gospel choir (like I did)! And ultimately you felt the call to ministry (like I did lol) so you pursued seminary. I remember grandma saying that while you were teaching English to newcomers in Canada, you saw a deeper need, their need for Jesus – for the love, purpose and eternal life that only Jesus could provide. The Lord has been speaking the word “pioneer” to me a lot in the last few years, and it turns out the first charge that you and grandma were given after you became an ordained minister was in a place in British Columbia called “Pioneer”!! You guys had 3 or 4 churches to Pastor and the roads were treacherous through the mountains. I love that you were willing to go where God sent you to bring the love of Jesus.
I think what strikes me most about your story granddad is that it was actually in B.C. at one of the services you were conducting at your church, that you had invited an evangelist to come minister. The first few nights he preached a salvation message, that Jesus saves now, that you don’t have to wait! He preached the message of grace & mercy to cover sins, not trying to earn God’s love, that Jesus’ sacrifice was freely given and freely we can receive. Finally, granddad you humbled yourself and went to the altar and received Jesus for the first time in front of your whole congregation, because up to that point you were trying to work hard to prove yourself to God, but it was in humble surrender to the love and power of Jesus that you found life and spent your whole life and ministry from that point on (40 years in full time ministry) leading people to that same loving, merciful, Saviour Jesus that you met in your own church that day. It has made all the difference in the lives of so many-including me!
Thank you for loving me, praying for me, and encouraging me from a young age. You had me sing my first solo in church when I was just 8 at the Christmas Eve service. Thank you for believing in what God put inside of me, and helping to fan it into flame. Thank you for bringing me on ministry trips to hear you preach with grandma, and taking time to have fun, quality family time as well on those trips!
Grandad, you were an evangelist at heart, a missionary, a minister of the gospel and I think of you often. Lastly, you faced opposition. Some churches you pastored didn’t want altar calls, and thought that was too radical. You didn’t back down, but stayed strong in your Biblical & Holy Spirit convictions. I love you for it. I know a big reason I am who I am today is because of you, even if I only got to know you for about a decade this side of Heaven.
Finally, I know you would LOVE Wade & Maranatha. I receive the fire of the Holy Spirit that you planted in my heart as a kid, and we’re running with it! Maranatha – Come Lord Jesus, our Lord comes!
