was coming to the second year of my theological studies, and I wondered what I should do for the summer. I soon had the answer.
Dr. Halliday, the same man who had phoned me about working at the camp in Quebec, called me again, with the news that a little Baptist church in east Hamilton was looking for someone to be their pastor for the summer, with perhaps a view to calling him as their full-time pastor. The pastor of the church had just resigned, as he had run into some major issues with the board of elders and membership. It didn’t sound like the happiest situation to get involved in, but it seemed to me like a great opportunity to get my feet wet (as the saying goes) in what I believed would be my life’s work. I had already learned a great deal in my years at Bible college about preaching and pastoring, so I was excited about putting some of it into practice. I agreed to take on the assignment, and within days I had packed my bags and was on the train to go live with a delightful elderly couple for the summer and commence my first pastoral experience.
MANY FIRSTS
Of course there were many firsts, including observing our Lord’s Supper (Communion), baptizing new believers, and officiating at my first wedding ceremony and first funeral service. I didn’t experience any anxiety or nervousness before or during any of these firsts, as being in the public eye has always come naturally to me. And further I was leaning on the promise that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV).
We had a humorous experience at one of our Communion services. The lady who prepared the elements also prepared her son’s lunch each morning before he left for work at the steel company. This Sunday she buttered the slices of bread and put in a couple of tomatoes. Unfortunately, she got the bags mixed up, and when I went to break the bread, I had butter all over my fingers. I just went through with the service, and we all had a good laugh about it after. Perhaps Mrs. Bell was trying to butter up her pastor or congregants referred to their pastor after the service as “Butterfingers.”
Although being away from Marion for much of the summer wasn’t easy for me, she was able to accompany me for a few weekends and stayed at one of the other members’ homes. The people loved her pleasant and caring manner and were thinking, I am sure, that she would make a wonderful pastor’s wife.
FALL AND WINTER STUDENT PASTORATE
When I was approaching the end of my summer pastorate in Hamilton, the members decided that they would like me to continue on as the student pastor for the fall and winter while I completed my final year of studies at Bible college. I agreed to do that, and every weekend I travelled by train back and forth between Toronto and Hamilton. It meant that I was a very busy young man with my studies, travels, and work, leaving little time for Marion and me to spend together. She handled it all very well, anticipating—as I was—the day when we would commit ourselves to living together as husband and wife.
During my student pastor days at the church during the summer, fall and winter, many new people attended our services and came into membership. Many of these were parents of children we had reached through our vacation Bible school, our Sunday school, a Friday night children’s program, and my work with the youth of the community.
A CALL TO FULL-TIME PASTORATE
As I was approaching my graduation and the conclusion of my student pastorate, the board and membership decided to extend a call to me to become their full-time pastor. Marion and I prayed about this, and we felt that God would have us accept the invitation and thus launch my full-time pastoral ministry.
MY GRADUATION
The graduation ceremonies of Toronto Bible College were held in April of each year in Toronto’s Varsity Arena on Bloor St. It was always considered a very special event in church circles. In fact it had become known as the religious event of the year in Toronto. TBC (as most people referred to it) graduation ceremonies featured inspiring music from the well-trained college musical groups (mass choir, duets, quartets and solos) and soul-stirring congregational singing by the thousands of people in attendance. Ceremonies at my graduation were no different, except for one thing: I had been chosen to deliver one of the valedictorian addresses. What a thrill! For the first time in my life I would face three thousand people and declare what my years at the college had meant to me and more importantly what God’s Word and the Lord Jesus Christ meant to me. What an additional thrill it was to have my mom and nine siblings in the audience praying for me—and probably praying that I wouldn’t forget any of my lines! I was just as comfortable in front of thousands as I was in front of the 100 or so in my parish in Hamilton. It was also a joy to have a busload of parishioners from my parish in Hamilton in attendance.
Toronto Bible College was founded in 1894 as an interdenominational training centre for Christian young people who were considering full-time Christian service as a minister or foreign missionary and also for those who simply wanted to further their knowledge of the Bible and related subjects. In 1906 John McNicol became the principal of the school, and he continued in that position until 1946. However, Dr. McNicol continued his lectures until 1954, which meant that I was blessed to sit under his Spirit-filled ministry. He lectured from the series of books he had written, entitled Thinking Through the Bible, taking us students verse by verse through the Word of God. What a joy it was to take in his lectures!
On the occasion of Dr. McNicol’s 40th anniversary as principal of TBC, William Lyon Mackenzie King, then prime minister of Canada, wrote, “In our days at the University of Toronto, no undergraduate stood in higher esteem than John McNicol. That regard for his attainments of character and scholarship has grown with the years and today is recognized throughout Canada and the world.” No wonder Dr. John McNicol had such a profound influence on my life, both as a student and as a Christian leader, as did all the many professors of the college.
REACHING YOUTH
When I commenced my student pastorate, the congregation numbered around 30 (mostly older people). However, by the time I completed my three-year full-time pastorate, the attendance had more than quadrupled, with the majority of those being young couples and youth. Reaching youth for Christ has been one of the strongest aspects of my pastoral ministry. I have always believed that if a parish is to have a future ministry, it must reach out to youth in the present. I did so at this parish, my first, by holding gym nights in the local school during the fall and winter, playing softball with youth during the summer, and teaching a youth Bible class on Sunday mornings. What a thrill—in this parish and in all three of my parishes—to look out over the Sunday morning congregation and see so many youth, most of whom I had the joy of bringing into the church and, more importantly, into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.
MY ORDINATION
It was in this church that I was ordained to the Baptist ministry. How lovely that my mom (who had been diagnosed with cancer at that time) could be present for such an important milestone in her son’s ministry and hear her son introduced as the Rev. Ernest Nullmeyer. It sounded good to me too!
Marion was very active in the church, leading a monthly women’s group, teaching a teenage girls’ Sunday school class and visiting the sick and shut-in on her own and also accompanying me. Everyone in the congregation loved her. She was in excellent health at the time and had no idea—thank God—what was ahead in regards to her health.
MINISTRY TO YOUTH PAID OFF
Many years following my ministry in my first parish, I was preaching at an anniversary service in Toronto, and after the service a tall good-looking young man came up to me and said, “Do you remember me?”
I looked him in the eyes (eyes never change, even though other physical features do) and replied, “I think your first name is Ron.”
Well, that brought a big smile to his face, and he responded, “Yes, from Normanhurst Baptist. I came to Christ under your ministry there, and now I am an elder in this church.” That brought a huge smile to my face! He then introduced me to his lovely wife and children. Yes, I had through my preaching, teaching, and activities with the youth sown the seed of God’s Word, the congregants had watered it with their prayers, and God had brought it to fruition (1 Corinthians 3:5–7). Praise be to God!
A NEW PASTORATE