Itinerant Church:
The early history of Protestantism in Ontario is resplendent with heroic accounts of itinerant preachers who travelled at great personal sacrifice to bring the gospel to remote villages across our province. Famous names such as Adolphus Egerton Ryerson the founder of our Public Education System come to mind, but there have been hundreds of men and women who have been called to this means of serving the Lord.
What is interesting in our present situation is circumstances have led us to become a wandering church! With the difficulties that face Knox and now St. Paul’s we have been thrown into an emergency situation that tests not only our patience, but our ingenuity. Thus far we have met in Victoria Park with a great blessing of God’s Spirit; a wonderful turnout of our congregations and the strength to persevere in the face of these present troubles. One Sunday, however, does not make a sound community; after all how long did the Israelites wander?
Now, I’m not prophesying that we will be in this wilderness for forty years; far from it. But I am saying there is so much to learn while we journey together. This Sunday for instance we return, at least Knox members, to our very beginnings. Our congregation was formed out of far sighted members of Boston Presbyterian Church who “planted” a new church in the developing village. Now 155 years later in our distress, we return to our source! Does this journey become a parable for our congregation? In understanding our purpose, our faith, our mission; what does this experience of return cause us to examine?
As Pastor of our present church community I am fascinated by these questions and spend my free time in prayer seeking an inspired answer to them. One thing I am certain of, God is moving in our midst to create something new, something beautiful and redemptive. The longer I study his Word, and pray for understanding the more I am convinced that this is God’s way, truth and life.
Yours in Christ’s love and service,
Pastor Howard
