General Conference 2008 – Long Lasting Impact
Today as we return home and back to the real world of work I am smiling from ear to ear. There is a gentle and quiet happiness that has warmed my whole being. I have experienced satisfaction at its best…
In order to share it with you I need you to meet three men. Their names are Allan Waine, Ron Baker, and Adrian Thomas. There are amazing men that are doing exceptional things all over the world. Their leadership is far reaching – even to every corner of the earth. Amazing!
If you have been reading this Blog over this past week, you will know that Alida and I have been in Toronto, Ontario attending our church’s National Conference of Pastors. Men and women had come from all over Canada and many parts of the world to meet with each other over fellowship, worship and business. This conference happens every two years somewhere in Canada.
The powerful impact on me this year was the knowledge that our national church is now being led by so many young and vibrant leaders. The three fellows that you meet here are some of the new leaders.
Flash Back #1…
It is 1977 and I am sitting on the front steps of the old Wingham Pentecostal Church with a very young and new Minister. His name is Ron Baker. He and his wife Sue live in the parsonage that is joined to the church. Their home provides the church extra facilities when needed as well as a place to meet people.
I had been serving as the Presbyter(a Section Leader) for a group of churches in that area. I think I had leadership of about ten churches if my memory is correct.
I was leaving this leadership role soon as I had been called to serve in a new role at the Headquarters of the PAOC.
Ron had been nominated and/or suggested to become the new Presbyter with my leaving. Or perhaps I was shoving him a little at the moment – seeing the potential that he had and also needing to have some one in place soon – for the next meetings that were scheduled.
This week Ron related this account to me. He reminded me about our meeting on the front steps that day. We laughed and talked of the old days.
Ron Baker is an amazing leader today. His work is today is the same as that very first Presbyter job that I “handed over” to him. Only today his work is so much bigger.
Today he provides supervision and care for 99 churches and 244 credential holders(ministers), supervises six Regional Presbyters, 32 Regional Coaches and oversees pastoral changes.
Ron Baker is amazing. He was amazing the day that I sat with him on the front steps of that little church and also today as a humble but very powerful leader. Ron I highly respect you – and will pray for you too!
Flash Back #2
It is a very hot day in Hong Kong. It is the summer time and a group of teenagers have come from Canada. They are not mature. They have little of NO IDEA of any other culture than their own little corner of the earth – way back in Canada. They don’t even know each other. They have come to help me in my work for two weeks. I am now receiving them as new guests to our Hong Kong culture.
Oh boy! I am reliving that moment again as I write this… whoa…what a flash back.
The boys slept at our apartment. They were big and they hot and they were full of fun! Also they were mid to late teens in age – so they brought that teenage stuff with them. One needed his mother to travel with him, another was quiet and the last one was interested in everything. He was full of questions – all the time. His name was Allan Waine…18 years old, he is big, he is a football player at high school in Ottawa – and this was his first trip out of Canada.
When we returned home in the evening the boys were hot and wet. Their clothing stuck to their bodies. The temperature outside was about 100 - 110 degrees F. with about 98% to 100% humidity – but no rain!
Many evenings we returned to our apartment by walking up hill. It was cooler to do this than to take a hot taxi where we would all rub against each other – yuk!
The coolest place in our apartment was the front room floor that was a dark hardwood.
Allan came in a spread out on the floor – flat on his back. He was soaked. When he got off the floor there was a MAN’S BODY PRINT on the hardwood floor. It looked like someone had spilled water.
My daughters didn’t have any brothers. So having BIG SWEATY GUYS in their home was a novelty to say the least. They had moved from their own beds to sleep in our room. Now these big guys were sleeping in their beds. Oh boy that was fun!
Moving forward more… Allan Waine stayed in touch with us. He graduated from High School and then University. Then he launched into his Master’s Degree program in Toronto. He asked us to help him find a place to live in…but the places were pretty bad.
So Allan came to live with us. He was bigger…he was like a brother to our daughters… and he was part of our family. He graduated with his Masters degree. He married our College and Careers president, Ingrid, and took her with him.
Today Allan is a University/College Professor. And he is one of the top leaders and experts in training young adults for overseas appointments and work.
It all started when one 18 year old, that was big, that was a football player at high school in Ottawa – on his first trip out of Canada came to stay with us in Hong Kong. WOW!
Flash Back #3
Adrian Thomas came into my life as young man. He was the son of Missionary. His dad was a friend of mine. He is known a part of the unique group called MKs…that is “Missionary Kids”.
When we returned from Asia we witnessed a sad thing happening to the children of Missionary personnel serving overseas. When they came back to Canada they were struggling. They struggled with our Canadian culture – it was their parents culture – not theirs.
College and University stretched their values. The things of Canada mixed with temptations made for some terrible stuff happening in their lives.
Four of us formed a team to help these MKs by having a retreat for them and then built relationships with each one. The story is long and wonderful.
Adrian joined with a team of us that started helping MKs to adjust to what the new life would be. Adrian went on to help many, many more.
Adrian has helped hundreds of teens and young adults to get help and steady themselves since that time.
At one point Adrian was the youth pastor in our church, Northview.
Today Adrian is doing some amazing things in Dominican Republic working with some amazing projects. Today Adrian does this same kind of ministry in the D.R. as they call it.
This week Adrian and I talked about the old days of working together. What an amazing guy he is!
Deep Reflection…
I am blowing away by the hugs and hand shakes that have been given by all these young guys(and sometimes gals) – that are from our long lasting past and impact.
Like I said… “There is a gentle and quiet happiness that has warmed my whole being. I have experienced satisfaction at its best…”
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
In order to share it with you I need you to meet three men. Their names are Allan Waine, Ron Baker, and Adrian Thomas. There are amazing men that are doing exceptional things all over the world. Their leadership is far reaching – even to every corner of the earth. Amazing!
If you have been reading this Blog over this past week, you will know that Alida and I have been in Toronto, Ontario attending our church’s National Conference of Pastors. Men and women had come from all over Canada and many parts of the world to meet with each other over fellowship, worship and business. This conference happens every two years somewhere in Canada.
The powerful impact on me this year was the knowledge that our national church is now being led by so many young and vibrant leaders. The three fellows that you meet here are some of the new leaders.
Flash Back #1…
It is 1977 and I am sitting on the front steps of the old Wingham Pentecostal Church with a very young and new Minister. His name is Ron Baker. He and his wife Sue live in the parsonage that is joined to the church. Their home provides the church extra facilities when needed as well as a place to meet people.
I had been serving as the Presbyter(a Section Leader) for a group of churches in that area. I think I had leadership of about ten churches if my memory is correct.
I was leaving this leadership role soon as I had been called to serve in a new role at the Headquarters of the PAOC.
Ron had been nominated and/or suggested to become the new Presbyter with my leaving. Or perhaps I was shoving him a little at the moment – seeing the potential that he had and also needing to have some one in place soon – for the next meetings that were scheduled.
This week Ron related this account to me. He reminded me about our meeting on the front steps that day. We laughed and talked of the old days.
Ron Baker is an amazing leader today. His work is today is the same as that very first Presbyter job that I “handed over” to him. Only today his work is so much bigger.
Today he provides supervision and care for 99 churches and 244 credential holders(ministers), supervises six Regional Presbyters, 32 Regional Coaches and oversees pastoral changes.
Ron Baker is amazing. He was amazing the day that I sat with him on the front steps of that little church and also today as a humble but very powerful leader. Ron I highly respect you – and will pray for you too!
Flash Back #2
It is a very hot day in Hong Kong. It is the summer time and a group of teenagers have come from Canada. They are not mature. They have little of NO IDEA of any other culture than their own little corner of the earth – way back in Canada. They don’t even know each other. They have come to help me in my work for two weeks. I am now receiving them as new guests to our Hong Kong culture.
Oh boy! I am reliving that moment again as I write this… whoa…what a flash back.
The boys slept at our apartment. They were big and they hot and they were full of fun! Also they were mid to late teens in age – so they brought that teenage stuff with them. One needed his mother to travel with him, another was quiet and the last one was interested in everything. He was full of questions – all the time. His name was Allan Waine…18 years old, he is big, he is a football player at high school in Ottawa – and this was his first trip out of Canada.
When we returned home in the evening the boys were hot and wet. Their clothing stuck to their bodies. The temperature outside was about 100 - 110 degrees F. with about 98% to 100% humidity – but no rain!
Many evenings we returned to our apartment by walking up hill. It was cooler to do this than to take a hot taxi where we would all rub against each other – yuk!
The coolest place in our apartment was the front room floor that was a dark hardwood.
Allan came in a spread out on the floor – flat on his back. He was soaked. When he got off the floor there was a MAN’S BODY PRINT on the hardwood floor. It looked like someone had spilled water.
My daughters didn’t have any brothers. So having BIG SWEATY GUYS in their home was a novelty to say the least. They had moved from their own beds to sleep in our room. Now these big guys were sleeping in their beds. Oh boy that was fun!
Moving forward more… Allan Waine stayed in touch with us. He graduated from High School and then University. Then he launched into his Master’s Degree program in Toronto. He asked us to help him find a place to live in…but the places were pretty bad.
So Allan came to live with us. He was bigger…he was like a brother to our daughters… and he was part of our family. He graduated with his Masters degree. He married our College and Careers president, Ingrid, and took her with him.
Today Allan is a University/College Professor. And he is one of the top leaders and experts in training young adults for overseas appointments and work.
It all started when one 18 year old, that was big, that was a football player at high school in Ottawa – on his first trip out of Canada came to stay with us in Hong Kong. WOW!
Flash Back #3
Adrian Thomas came into my life as young man. He was the son of Missionary. His dad was a friend of mine. He is known a part of the unique group called MKs…that is “Missionary Kids”.
When we returned from Asia we witnessed a sad thing happening to the children of Missionary personnel serving overseas. When they came back to Canada they were struggling. They struggled with our Canadian culture – it was their parents culture – not theirs.
College and University stretched their values. The things of Canada mixed with temptations made for some terrible stuff happening in their lives.
Four of us formed a team to help these MKs by having a retreat for them and then built relationships with each one. The story is long and wonderful.
Adrian joined with a team of us that started helping MKs to adjust to what the new life would be. Adrian went on to help many, many more.
Adrian has helped hundreds of teens and young adults to get help and steady themselves since that time.
At one point Adrian was the youth pastor in our church, Northview.
Today Adrian is doing some amazing things in Dominican Republic working with some amazing projects. Today Adrian does this same kind of ministry in the D.R. as they call it.
This week Adrian and I talked about the old days of working together. What an amazing guy he is!
Deep Reflection…
I am blowing away by the hugs and hand shakes that have been given by all these young guys(and sometimes gals) – that are from our long lasting past and impact.
Like I said… “There is a gentle and quiet happiness that has warmed my whole being. I have experienced satisfaction at its best…”
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Friday, May 09, 2008
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