Page 6 - November 2022 - Truth & Tidings

dren with Millie, Ed would not let this ailment, saving the pilot and passengers’
get in the way of his calling to labour for lives by flying the plane to awaiting medi-
the Lord. He would spend his holidays in cal assistance. The Lord’s providence was
meetings mostly across northern Ontario on full display by placing Ed, who had
until he was commended in 1994. piloted planes years prior, in this position
In later years, he ministered in southern for such a time as this (Est 4:14).
Ontario, Wisconsin, and Iowa as well. From Sudbury, Ed and Millie moved to
These meetings, with some such as Ken Stouffville in 2000. Ed became a steadfast
Moore, George Patterson and Sam Pat- brother at the Unionville assembly, where
ton, saw souls saved. Ed’s ministry also he and Millie spent several years teaching
included faithful visits to those who were English and the gospel at ESL classes.
ill, elderly or otherwise bedridden. He also taught Christianity Explored for
Ed’s desire to labour for his Lord often several years in Uxbridge with the help of
took him outside of Ontario, including to Bob Diebel. All the while, Ed continued to
Saint Lucia. Between 1978 and 2010, mul- bring the gospel to many other communi-
tiple visits to Saint Lucia saw him working ties. On February 10, 2022, his life-long
closely with Brian Owen to present the faithful ministry was finally over; in the
gospel and help the brothers and sisters early hours of the morning in Markham,
there in the work. On Ed’s visit to Saint Ed was called home to be with his Father
Lucia in 1979, Hurricane David devastated after a very trying few years battling a
Dominica. Undeterred, he ventured to number of health challenges. Yet through
Dominica with shipments of supplies to all of these challenges and the many more
help with hurricane relief. The ministry he known only to him and the Lord, he
and his fellow workers gave in the region chose to keep his eyes on things above,
saw souls saved. ever pressing on towards the goal for the
Ed saw Zambia’s need for the gospel prize of the upwards call of God in Christ
and acted on it. In 2002, he began to assist Jesus (Php 3:14). Ed has now reached the
MSC’s initiative to load containers with end of his race, but many of the lives he
food, clothing, tools, vehicles, etc. bound has touched continue on, including those
for Chitokoloki, Zambia, using his handi- of his wife Millie of 63 years, his four
ness with machines, like forklifts, to aid
in this endeavour. In 2006, Ed ventured children John, Dave (Connie), Liz (Paul
Stainton) and Phil (Jane), and six grand-
to Zambia on his first of several visits to
Africa between then and 2014, where he children. Ed’s desire was for the world to
presented the gospel to the Zambians. know Jesus, and in this regard, he was a
He helped install solar panels for the true soul-winner whose heart for the lost
Chitokoloki Mission Hospital, using his and eagerness to help others will not soon
invaluable knowledge of electrical work be forgotten.
to provide 24-hour power to the hospital, Ed’s funeral was held on February 17
which had previously only had sporadic in Markham, with tributes presented by
power two hours a day. On one occasion, his four children and grandson. His dear
Ed was called into action rather sponta- friends Paul Stainton, Tom Browning,
neously to take over piloting a plane in Ken Paisley and Paul Markle also shared
the wake of the pilot’s severe and sudden at the service.

326 TRUTH kTidings November 2022