“And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us” (Act 16:9).1
The gospel reached Europe through the vision of one man, the apostle Paul. I have often wondered if he was disappointed because the work was so different from the dream he had in Troas. In Paul’s vision, the hands of the man in Macedonia were likely stretched out in entreaty, but when he arrived, Paul’s hands were stretched out in the inner prison at Philippi. “Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks” (v24).
When “visions” (or burdens) come from the Lord, we must hold our own plans loosely and be ready to submit them to Him. Vision must be followed by earnest effort to fulfill God’s Word and will as swiftly as possible. “Immediately” does not mean “take your time” or “wait till it is convenient.” Paul and those with him didn’t hesitate to act on the words of the vision, for the circumstances were right for immediate action.
Mr. Herb Harris had been preaching the gospel across Canada and the US for 24 years when he was hospitalized for a few weeks in Prince Edward Island. While in the hospital, he experienced a “vision” for the gospel to be preached in Newfoundland and Labrador. For the last 24 years of his life, that “vision” focused on that particular part of God’s harvest field. It was like his “Troas” when he saw a different kind of service than he had been engaged in previously. His “vision” was to preach the gospel and then see assemblies planted by God and established in Bible truth and practice in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Immediately upon his release from the hospital in PEI, with different young men assisting him, he tried to fulfill that “vision,” beginning on the island of Newfoundland. Although there was limited success in three locations, when the Lord arranged for him to see the big picture of the island and southern Labrador coast from a coastal boat, his “vision” expanded beyond the cities.
It began with a boat that the Lord graciously provided for him when he was 59 years old. The Lord also provided the right young man, Mr. Bert Joyce, who could navigate the ports of Newfoundland and Labrador. “Vision” without “vitality” is helpless. Those two men were also men of “venture.” Paul had that for Europe; Herb Harris and Bert Joyce had that for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Others came to help and joined in the outreach for several years. I, Wallace Buckle, went on the boat in 1961. In Rocky Harbour, NL, there was a receptive audience, and Mr. Harris asked if I would move there with my family to assist. Mr. Harris rented a house and we moved there, with other preachers coming and going. My wife Olive and I had a 14-month-old girl named Debbie. Olive cooked, cleaned and did the housework for all of us. While there, our daughter Lois was born. I don’t know how my wife managed it all. Having three or four men living there along with our family makes me believe her reward from her Lord will be great.
While living in Rocky Harbour, I helped build gospel halls in Parsons Pond and Rocky Harbour. In 1962, an assembly was established there, and we remained until 1964 when we moved to Flowers Cove, where a new assembly was formed. In 1964, I assisted with constructing a small hall there, and as attendance grew, I helped build a larger one. Frank Procopio and some brothers from the US came for a week and framed the new hall, shingled the roof and installed windows. Later, some brethren from Nova Scotia arrived and poured the cement floor for the basement.
In 1971-72, we spent a year in Corner Brook helping to build a new hall and to develop the work that had been established there in 1950. Then we returned to Flowers Cove and stayed until 1983 when we moved to Goose Bay, Labrador. As I think about the work that still needs to be done, I wonder where the younger men are who will go into new places with the gospel. The Bible does not say go into all the gospel halls and preach the gospel; the commission Jesus gave was, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.”
Many places in Labrador remain untouched by clear gospel preaching. Lodge Bay, Mary’s Harbour, Fox Harbour, Port Hope Simpson, Cartwright and Black Tickle can now be accessed via newly opened roads that provide easy access. Some of these locations have been visited once a year with free calendars.
Bert and Emily Joyce lived with their family in Red Bay, Labrador, and George and Mona Campbell lived in Forteau, Labrador, before they moved to Corner Brook. Gaius Goff was with the work in Parsons Pond, and Bryan Funston at Fogo stayed with the work until new assemblies were established. Others came to help at different times and places. For over 60 years, God has met our needs.
A man may leave his field of labor to help other assemblies, either with the gospel or ministry. I believe that pattern to be scriptural. But the basic point is this: when a preacher is asked, “Where is your field of labor?” he should be able to tell you of a definite area where he works on a regular basis.
On the island of Newfoundland, there are still many locations that have never been exposed to plain gospel preaching. The men I worked with ventured into various areas and spent months and, in some instances, years there, and witnessed souls saved by God’s grace. I can recall many of them who are now with the Lord. In some of those places, there were never assemblies established, while in other locations, assemblies were formed and continue to thrive to this day.
The Quebec North Shore offers an opportunity also. There was much preaching along that coast when we traveled there on the “Northern Light,” another gospel boat, and souls were saved. Several preachers visited and held gospel meetings in Chevery, Harrington, La Tabatiere and Old Fort Bay. Souls were delivered in all these places, but never enough to gather as assemblies. Some are already at home with the Lord.
Opportunities abound. And so we pray for exercised young men to take the gospel to these open areas.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
