Finishing Well. "Well done, good and faithful servant, John Forrester."

This blog focuses on the faithful service of God's people. That includes women and men, boys and girls, and people in different countries. I want to see the Church as it has been served by godly people across the years, across the centuries. 

Two weeks ago, on July 9, John Forrester, one of my dear friends, suddenly passed into the Lord's presence. John and Betty were with their family for a holiday in central British Columbia. An aneurysm and stroke caused him to be taken to Kelowna General Hospital, and a few days later, he breathed his last.

I came to love John and Betty in 2004. They were part of a group that visited the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. John's quiet humor was captivating. Totally unique, he was able to see the humorous side of anything. I never heard a barb or unkind word in the comments that brought quiet chuckles. John uniquely loved the Lord. He was born in Stockport, England, and later lived in Wales. After immigrating to Canada, he made his living as a farmer in Prince Edward Island. 

From his involvement as a lay leader in a local congregation, he moved to Vancouver, BC. After completing theological education, he became the lead pastor at Trinity Baptist Church. It was during that time that he and Betty came to Turkey for a two-week visit. 

John came to live in Turkey. He and Betty had a unique way of creating friendships with their Turkish neighbors. With Betty's delicious cooking and John's chuckle and a friendly smile, they became close friends with families on every floor of their building. Their door was always open to visitors, and opened continuously! They lived in two different cities, and after three years, they returned to Canada. The friendships they created were not abandoned. John kept in touch with his Turkish friends and returned to their homes, crossing many time zones. He wanted people to know the value of a Turkish cup of tea, an enduring symbol of hospitality and friendship in the culture. 

In Canada, a new ministry opened up to him in the Toronto area, and once again, he created deep and meaningful relationships.

In the years before his proposed retirement, John taught classes in Merritt. His gifting led him to many professions: as a painter,  a farmer, a pastor, a servant of the Lord across cultural lines, an author, and a teacher.  

I loved to hear John preach. He had a fantastic understanding of the complexity of the inner life and thoughts of human nature. His book on shame and grace captured the Gospel in ways I had never heard from another preacher in North America. He understood the power of a shame-based culture and how the good news of Jesus Christ could reach into the darkest corners of our hearts. 

Behind his gentle humor and pleasant conduct, his mind was always buzzing, thinking of another project, remembering to comfort one of his students, or composing another illustration for his gripping sermons. He was gentle and compassionate. His love for Jesus Christ permeated all he did, wherever he lived. 

I share the loss of the Forrester family. John loved to talk about his children and grandchildren.