Submitted by Family
Alan Edmund Clark, of South River, Ontario, Canada, was born May 31, 1942, in the city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. He was the son of the late Edmund and Margaret Clark. He went to be with the Lord on August 20, 2024.
Alan spent his growing up years in the Sault and, after graduating from high school, apprenticed as an automotive mechanic while employed at the Algoma Steel Plant. He married Diana Currie (also from the Sault) on April 4, 1964, and resided in the Sault until he returned to University in 1968. He received a teacher’s certificate which qualified him to teach auto mechanics, first in the Dryden Secondary School, then in Algoma Central, and finally in Kenora Secondary School, where he taught until he retired in 1999.
Although Alan was raised in a godly Christian home and attended the Wellington Street Gospel Hall, along with many members of his family, he found out at the age of 12 that his home life, church attendance and trying to do the best he could were not sufficient to make him right with God. After a series of children’s meetings held in the Sault, Alan rested on the work of Christ for his salvation and lived the rest of his life in the enjoyment of sins forgiven and his secure eternal destiny.
Alan served as an elder in the Kenora assembly, seeking to help in the Sunday School, conferences and the ministry during the years he resided there.
Upon approaching retirement, both Alan and Diana were exercised about spending their retirement years in a profitable way. Much prayer and consideration were given as they explored the many possibilities that were available for a gospel outreach in their own area. Alan was convinced that it had to be the Lord who opened a door for such activity and not something organized by the two of them.
One day Alan received a phone call from Ross Vanstone of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. He said there was a school bus loaded with supplies that he and some other brethren wanted to be driven down to El Salvador and they were looking for someone who was available, had a bus license, mechanical abilities, and who was willing to drive this bus to El Salvador. Alan’s response to this request was, “Only if my wife can come with me.”
The first trip he felt was an adventure and had no desire to repeat it. The next fall another phone call came from Portage with a similar request, but this time he would meet up with Jack Saword, Will Trowbridge and Craig Saword in Arkansas, US, with a second bus to be delivered to El Salvador.
The second trip resulted in spending more time in El Salvador and visiting some of the assemblies in the country, the first one being Acajutla, where Alan and Diana later spent a good portion of their 20 years in El Salvador, laboring in this area and in this assembly.
After the second trip, Alan began to wonder if the Lord was introducing him to something they had been praying for. Could it be the Lord would have something for him to do in this foreign country? He put up many excuses to the Lord as to why he was unqualified and unable to make a commitment that he knew this work would require. Alan had built up a very lucrative business in his garage during his later working years. He repaired and prefabricated airplanes and thoroughly enjoyed doing it. He loved fishing and hunting in the north country of Ontario, flying his own airplane, and being a grandfather to five grandchildren. He also took into consideration his age, lack of speaking the Spanish language, and not really liking the heat of El Salvador.
One Sunday morning while reading in John’s Gospel chapter 20, verse 21 arrested his attention: “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” He could read no further; it was a call from God and he knew it required an answer. To say “no” would close the door to El Salvador; to say “yes” was to place all into the hands of a loving Heavenly Father. Prayerfully before God, his response was, “Here am I; send me.”
Preparations were made for another trip to El Salvador, this time in a pickup truck loaded with tools he felt he could use in the work. In the fall of 2004, Alan, along with Diana, drove down to El Salvador, but this time with no return date.
Over the next 20 years Alan labored mostly in the west end of El Salvador, meeting with the Christians in the Acajutla assembly. He had a real heart for the elders and spent a lot of time seeking to strengthen them in the work they were doing. He also had a heart for the young, seeking to impart spiritual truths and encouragement to them in their efforts to serve the Lord. He drove and repaired many of the buses, some of which he had helped to bring down to that country to be used for the assembly transport and for Sunday School. Constant repair was needed to keep them safe and road worthy for the transport of the Christians.
In the summer of 2023, while home in Canada for a short break, Alan contracted a virus which resulted in pneumonia and a slight stroke. It was a very long stay in hospital before he was well enough to return home. He did recover, but the stroke affected his memory. In spite of these limitations, they attempted to return to El Salvador in October of that year. In December it became clear that Alan could not continue, and plans were made to close up the house and return to Canada at the end of December to seek further medical help. With rest and good medical help, Alan stabilized, but in August he suffered a bowel obstruction from which he did not recover. On August 20, 2024, at 1:15am, Alan heard the call from above and took his one last journey, passing peacefully into the presence of his Lord and Saviour.
I heard His call, “Come, follow,” that was all.
My earthly gold grew dim; my soul went after Him.
I rose and followed, that was all.
Who would not follow if they heard Him call?1
1 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882)
