Page 4 - February 2026 - Truth & Tidings

" nd a vision appeared to Paul in the gospel to be preached in Newfound-

land and Labrador. For the last 24 years of
the night; There stood a man of
AMacedonia, and prayed him, say-
ticular part of God’s harvest field. It was
ing, Come over into Macedonia, and help his life, that “vision” focused on that par-
us” (Act 16:9). like his “Troas” when he saw a different
1
The gospel reached Europe through the kind of service than he had been engaged
vision of one man, the apostle Paul. I have in previously. His “vision” was to preach
often wondered if he was disappointed the gospel and then see assemblies planted
because the work was so different from by God and established in Bible truth and
the dream he had in Troas. In Paul’s vision, practice in the province of Newfoundland
the hands of the man in Macedonia were and Labrador.
likely stretched out in entreaty, but when Immediately upon his release from
he arrived, Paul’s hands were stretched the hospital in PEI, with different young
out in the inner prison at Philippi. “Who, men assisting him, he tried to fulfill that
having received such a charge, thrust “vision,” beginning on the island of New-
them into the inner prison, and made their foundland. Although there was limited
feet fast in the stocks” (v24). success in three locations, when the Lord
When “visions” (or burdens) come from arranged for him to see the big picture of
the Lord, we must hold our own plans the island and southern Labrador coast
loosely and be ready to submit them to from a coastal boat, his “vision” expanded
Him. Vision must be followed by earnest beyond the cities.
effort to fulfill God’s Word and will as It began with a boat that the Lord gra-
swiftly as possible. “Immediately” does ciously provided for him when he was 59
not mean “take your time” or “wait till it years old. The Lord also provided the right
is convenient.” Paul and those with him young man, Mr. Bert Joyce, who could
didn’t hesitate to act on the words of the navigate the ports of Newfoundland and
vision, for the circumstances were right Labrador. “Vision” without “vitality” is
for immediate action. helpless. Those two men were also men
Mr. Herb Harris had been preaching the of “venture.” Paul had that for Europe;
gospel across Canada and the US for 24 Herb Harris and Bert Joyce had that for
years when he was hospitalized for a few Newfoundland and Labrador.
weeks in Prince Edward Island. While in Others came to help and joined in the
the hospital, he experienced a “vision” for outreach for several years. I, Wallace Buck-
le, went on the boat in 1961. In Rocky Har-
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the bour, NL, there was a receptive audience,
KJV. and Mr. Harris asked if I would move

36 TRUTH kTidings February 2026