Page 30 - November 2025 - Truth & Tidings

in 1951, Newell married Marley, and together latterly in the Albert Street assembly in Oshawa,
they raised four sons. He was in the Ballykeel ON. In addition to preaching the gospel, Tom
assembly for over 30 years, teaching Sunday also deeply loved his Lord and the assembly.
School and serving as an elder. During his For 20 years, he shepherded God’s people
many travels across Europe in the 1960s and while on the oversight. Ken Nicholson shared
1970s, he smuggled Bibles behind the Iron Tom's testimony at the large funeral, and Lorne
Curtain and sought to worship with believers Langfeld preached the gospel. Lorne also gave
in the countries he visited. Newell's passion words of hope at the graveside. Tom’s seat is
for the Mourne Mountains and its greenery empty, and he shall be missed.
was surpassed only by his love for his Savior Jack Ritchie Donaldson of Akron, OH, on
and his family. During his funeral in the Bal- August 5, 2025, age 88. Born March 7, 1937, in
lykeel Gospel Hall, a large gathering of family, Detroit, MI, he was the son of two immigrants
friends and neighbors heard a tribute to his life from Scotland. He was saved at the age of 19
of service, as well as a fitting gospel message during a gospel meeting at the West Chicago
from Jonathan Bingham.
Gospel Hall in Detroit. John Govan preached
Thomas Lewis of Pickering, ON, on July 16, on John 1:29, and Jack realized Jesus had died
2025, age 66. He was the husband of his beloved to take away his sins. His daughter pointed
wife Maureen (Hood) one month short of 40 out that the three loves of his life were his Lord
years. Tom was introduced in high school to and Savior, the local assembly and his family.
the gospel by another student who was a sister Until ill health made attendance impossible,
in the Pape Avenue assembly in Toronto, ON. Jack was always at the assembly meetings.
He was later saved while attending gospel He is survived by his beloved wife Nancy, his
meetings and deeply under the conviction of daughter Elizabeth, and two grandchildren. A
sin. Tom was in fellowship for 50 years in the kind, thoughtful and generous man, Jack will
Pape Avenue (now Victoria Park) assembly and be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Jack Hay, Abraham: Ritchie Character Study Series (Kilmarnock,
Scotland: John Ritchie Ltd., 2017), 240 pp.
Reviewed by Peter Higgins
The late biographer David McCullough said, “History is a guide
to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we
are the way we are.” If history is of such importance and biography
a window into the past, then how much weightier are the character
studies presented to us in Scripture!
In his character study of Abraham, Jack Hay leads us through
the testimony of Scripture to this great man. Brother Hay follows a
chronological trail from Genesis 12-25. As we move from episode to episode of events
in the life of Abraham, the author skillfully and wisely makes practical application to
the life of the believer, noting connections to the many New Testament mentions of
Abraham, and including song and poetry in a most appropriate way.
With the aid of this book, tracing the pathway of the father of faith will certainly remind
you of Whose you are and Whom you serve.
The book is available for purchase at ritchiechristianmedia.co.uk and gospelfolio.com.

350 TRUTH kTidings November 2025