Psalm 16:6 – The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance. (NKJV)

One Saturday afternoon back in 2003, I received a call from a leading member of our congregation, a good friend of mine, who asked me if he could come and see me, "Right now!" Needless to say, I wondered what the emergency was. Ten minutes later, he pulled up in front of our house. He motioned for me to come to his car. Beside him on the front seat was a big cardboard box full of papers. They were old church records, some of them from many, many years ago. He then reminded me that the following year, 2004, was the 150th anniversary of Presbyterians in our town of Meaford. As I had done a lot of writing, including a book about my family, he thought that I would be the right person to write a book about the Presbyterians in Meaford from 1854 to 2004. I tried to convince him that there must be someone more qualified than me, but he disagreed, and after some discussion, I agreed.

During the next months, I went through those old papers. I found it hard to find information on certain periods during those 150 years. (I would encourage those who have the authority to do so to make sure that good records of our faith journey are kept for future generations.) I did a considerable amount of further research and managed to get pictures of all but three of the ministers who had served during those 150 years. I also had access to pictures of the four church buildings which were used during that time. I learned and wrote about the local history and the struggles of the early Presbyterians during times of hardship, especially during the settlement years in the 1800s, and the wars and depression years in the 1900s. There were many references to the fellowship within the church community, how they depended on each other, and how, through all those years, they kept the faith and told His story.

Hebrews 11 is called "The Faith Chapter", and it starts out as follows:

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (NKJV)

It then continues with the history of the Hebrew people: the hardships they endured, the problems they had, the difficulties they encountered, their journeys through the ages, and through it all, how they kept the faith from generation to generation.

Hebrews 11:13 – These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (NKJV)

Likewise, the early Presbyterians in Meaford were not able to see the fruits of their labours, but they, too, kept the faith. They kept on working and believing.

We need to do the same!

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we thank You for our predecessors who told the story of Jesus, who kept the faith, and who worked hard for Your church. May we do the same for Your sake, and for those who will yet come to faith. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

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About the author:

Joel Jongkind <austria67@bmts.com>
Meaford, Ontario, Canada
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