|
|
Easter letter from Executive Director, Rev. Don Harrison
Standing in the gap you meet interesting people. “My Dad told me if I ever need help, find a truck stop,” unusual words for a young man. As he drank his coffee, text messaged his friends, answered email and talked on his blackberry he shared his life story. Growing up his Dad drove truck and together they had many pleasant memories travelling across Canada. With his Dad’s sudden passing away, he was alone. Slowly his past faded away to the present. Realizing who I was, he began to share his spiritual story attending Church as a young age until present. “What religion are you?” was the question to me. This paved the way for a long conversation between religion and a personal relationship. Ultimately he realized a relationship with Jesus Christ was the missing portion of his religion. Parting company as a new believer in Christ, to continue his journey home, he softly said “Don, thank you for caring!” “This is the first time I have ever been in a Chapel:” Standing in the gap requires change. The Grimsby Chapel has been relocated to the lower level at the main entrance to the truck stop. It is a smaller Chapel but very effective. The 1st. hour the Chapel doors were open one of the truck stop staff came by to say hello. “This is the first time I have ever been in a Chapel in my entire life.” Drivers visiting the driver’s room and showers are now aware of the Chapel. We are very excited to have new Chaplains join our ministry in Grimsby. Klaas Wierenga enthusiasm for the Lord is contagious, drop by on Tuesdays and Thursdays and say hi! We look forward to David Ward joining us in the near future. Stay tuned for our next newsletter for more exciting news from Grimsby. Our Milton Chapel is short 2 Chaplains due to illness. Last week a new waitress asked me about the chapel “What exactly do you do out there?” was her question to me. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the Gospel with her. She had never heard of Jesus Christ and had no spiritual understanding. Standing in the gap is very exciting! Ministry at the Pilot/Flying J Truck Stop, Montreal, Quebec has begun on a trial basis. Chaplain Claude Moreau is serving one evening per week so please pray for him as he slowly begins to build a relationship with staff and drivers. Stay tuned for more news from Quebec. The Mobile Chapel has another busy summer ahead. Once again we are invited to return to the Sterling Truck Show. This year our activities will include Saturday night message and prayer; Sunday morning program from the grand stand and the regular activities at the show (2 salvations last year). We’ve been invited back to the Ontario Truck Driving Championships where a busy day of activities will occur with prayer for the evening banquet and Sunday morning devotional. The Canadian Nationals will be held in Barrie this year and this is an excellent opportunity for exposure to the local trucking industry. I know I can count on you to stand in the gap with us! Standing in the gap requires others to stand with us. Stand with us in vision, purpose, patience, prayer and participation. I need you to participate! The financial goal to make up the gap is forty thousand dollars ($40,000.00). Your special gift of $1,000.00, $100.00 or $25.00 will make a difference. Funds provided will be divided equally between the Mobile Chapel, maintaining the chapels and general operations. I know I can count on you to stand in the gap! A special “thank you” to those who faithfully stand with us in prayer and financial support. As we approach Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday we are reminded of the ultimate gap Christ made on the cross. Bridging the gap of sinful man and providing an entrance into the Kingdom of God. May this special season be a gentle reminder of the cost of our Salvation. In His Service,
In His Service, Rev. Don Harrison, Executive Director O.R.C.
Easter letter from Jim and Maxine Lantz
Truckers often complain about how their dispatch operators treat them, ignoring them or even sending them to, it would seem, the wrong destination. If we are trusting God in our lives we find that He makes no mistakes. His dispatching is always right for He is the King of Glory who knows all things. It’s not easy at times encouraging drivers to realize that those dispatchers are fallible but the one we have is infallible. He’s the King of the universe. A couple of weeks ago I talked to a fellow who was dealing with different problems so he thought, but his real problem was of the heart, like Nicodemus. He professed to be a Christian but he really needed to get into and stay in the Scriptures, as we all need to do. Like all of us without the food of the Word, we will become malnourished and anemic spiritually. This fellow and I talked, shared in the Word of God and prayed. He determined to do more reading and studying in the Word of God. All of us chaplains need your prayers as we minister around the truck stops that we do not take this ministry for granted and forget that we are in the service of the King of Glory, Jesus Christ. He knows our need even though we, like Nicodemus, often don’t. May you be blessed and rejoice with us in this Easter season. Be assured of our love and prayers, Jim and Maxine Lantz, Easter Letter from Lynn & Beatrice Smith
For the Christian it is both a sad and happy time. Once again we remember the sacrifice God made in sending His son to earth. The sacrifice Jesus made coming to earth and to die on a cross for all mankind, provided a way for us to have a new life in Christ. Free from Satan’s control and the promise of life eternal with God. John 3:16 tells the story where it says whosoever believeth on Him (Jesus) shall not perish but have everlasting life. One prayer is you will receive this gift from God. He’s offering this special gift of eternal life made possible by reaching out and receiving it. This is the message of salvation. That is why Bea and I are chaplains to men and women in the world of trucking. We want to share the good news, to all who travel the highway, truck stop and visit our chapels. Drivers come to the chapel for many reasons, seeking a friendly face when they are lonely. Christian drivers come by for fellowship and payer. Others come by looking for answers in time of discouragement. Seekers come by and find the Lords as their Saviour. Drivers have a variety of schedules returning days, weeks and months later. Some share exciting testimonies of restored marriages, returning to the fellowship of Church and many a renewed fellowship with the Lord. Some have given financially enabling us to minister. Bea and I are ambassadors for the Lord. Every time you pray, give support and encourage, this empowers us to continue our ministry, sharing the message of Jesus Christ to a needy world. Bea and I are very thankful for Easter, the gift of salvation, for family and friends who love us, for our supporters who pray and contribute financial, the ability to be used in ministry for the Lord. Please pray with us for more supporters to partner with us. We have had 2 wonderful needs met. A few weeks ago at Church, we were encouraged to give all we had to a special offering. Being obedient to the voice of the Lord we did and one week later we received news that a beloved Aunt who had passed away, left us a small inheritance. We were able to purchase a 2nd. hand car in excellent condition for the trips to the Bowmanville Chapel, with a much easier “gas” requirement. The second blessing being that we can now replace our roof and found a reasonable Christian contractor who will do it. During the last few weeks we have also received food vouchers and Tim Horton gift cards at a time when we needed them. GOD IS SO GOOD, To God be the glory, great things he has done. We ask a special blessing on you and your families this Easter season. We cannot thank you enough for all you kind words, prayers and financial support. May the Lord continue to be special during this Easter season. From the bottom of our thankful hearts, Lynn & Beatrice Smith Easter Letter from Claude Moreau
The knowledge that we have about the crucifixion of Jesus at the Passover feast, around the year 33, is not only based on Biblical evidence but also on extra-Biblical ones. We can be sure of the facts of history surrounding Jesus’ death. We can discover other things from the Bible: Jesus rose from the dead a few days later. His disciples found an empty tomb! An unbelievable story! Why is this so important to us today, two thousand years later? Because Jesus’ death and ressurection were necessary in order for the world to be reconciled to God. It is of utmost importance to us as human beings. Jesus and the ones who are the founders of the first Christian churches tell us this. Peter, disciple and Apostle, preached in front of a crowd: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. This Good News of the Gospel, forgiveness of sin, and an end of being separated from God is still valid today. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” This is the message of love that we celebrate each day we preach forgiveness of sin through Jesus-Christ. Let me share with you a short testimony of a trucker who received Christ recently: “Just a few months ago, I didn’t think God existed... but what a mistake! I didn’t want him to come to me and I couldn’t give myself to him because I had to completely let go of things for God to enter into my life. As far as I was concerned, all my upbringing had been orders and commands and I found that hard as a child. One evening when I entered a Road Chapel and met Pastor Claude, he helped me understand and experience God’s love and his presence. The many years of being taught catecism had only deepened my doubts of God. Every day now, God helps me to be calmer, to see beyond myself, to see the best in others and to bring out the best in them making every day living more pleasant for everyone. I also want to share one more thing that happened a few months ago. I had a serious truck accident and in the crash I felt that I was being protected and I stayed real calm. When I got out of the truck, I only had a few bruises and no broken bones while my truck was all crushed. On our way to the hospital, the ambulance driver told me that I was really lucky to be alive. I replied that Luck had a name, a strong name: his name is GOD. My friends, this is God‘s goodness! As far as Marc was concerned it was impossible for him to know God but the Lord in His great mercy revealed Himself to him. Please pray for me, beginning April 1st, 2011 I will be serving at the Pilot/Flying J A very happy Easter to you all, Claude Moreau pasteur
|
Growing up in the country I always enjoyed a nicely trimmed hedge. Not possessing a green thumb, I realize a hedge requires patience, care and trimming. Even the best gardener finds a gap or open section in his perfectly manicured hedge, maybe you know the feeling! The prophet Ezekiel had the same problem “I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it; but I found none.” It seems gardeners have had this problem for centuries!
(Nicodemus) came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." John 3:2,3
Winter has passed and spring is just around the corner. There is the changing of dreary, heavy winter clothing for lighter more colorful spring tones. With this comes the reflection and celebration of Easter. The egg hunts, colorful bunnies and sprouting buds.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,