Ken Watson - Pineridge Family Church - PembrokeKen was my first pastor. I ended up in church because my daughter got persuaded to join the Awana program. We discovered that church wasn't about old people, blueberry pies or organ music. In fact, some of the people were our age and pretty cool. We continued going. Pastor Ken and his wife led Janice and me to the Lord. We hooked up with a Bible Study that, to this day, Janice and I cherish, and unfairly, we compare all past Bible Studies to the strength we found together in Pembroke.
Cam Howie - Lakeshore Missionary Alliance Church - North BaySunday morning was traditional but Saturday was "rockin". This was during the Vineyard song- movement and it was great. I learned how to worship with my hands. My wife and I were indirectly mentored to be "strong parents" by the Wilson Family, and their in-direct example helped Janice and me to raise two amazing kids to love the Lord. Cam died suddenly in a boating accident, trapped below the deck with one of his sons. Very sad. Regardless, because of Saturday night, this has always been my favourite church.
Ian and Ros McLean - North Bay Vineyard (now Wellspring) - North BayThis is our supplemental church. While Lakeshore was great, we cautiously tried Vineyard on Sunday afternoons, based out of the McLean's home. I discovered gifts of the spirit and a depth about the Lord that wasn't revealed to me anywhere else. Ian, as a criminal lawyer had insight into the Word and his wife Ros could look me in the eye and through a "word of knowledge, she could tell me all about myself. During these Vineyard years, so pretty radically strange stuff went on in North Bay, the daughter church of TACF. But there was always something there luring us back. Therefore we attend two churches while living in North Bay, Lakeshore being the home church.
Garry Blinch - Sudbury Alliance Church - SudburyI don't know what I got from this church. It was boring. The songs were weak. But Garry and Anne his wife and daughter and son, became best friends with us. Garry took a chance and trusted us, a family in his congregation, something pastors never do. We feel we attended this church, simply to be a support for the Blinches.
Jerry Bryant - Nashville Vineyard - Nashville, TNIt was the first church I looked for the day I arrived in town. I loved the whole Vineyard movement - the history, the music; the non judgmental people, the non-celebrity worship (which is hard to avoid in Nashvegas). The musicians on the worship team were Nashville-pros and I've not heard a worship team that good, since. We didn't make good friends thru the church but Jerry said many things to inspire me. The most important, and I'll quote word for word, "I don't trust a man who isn't limping because it means he hasn't wrestled with God".
John Howard - Bethel Community Church - BarrieOur first home church in Barrie. The total opposite to Nashville and North Bay. The music was very traditional and southern gospel. But John was/is a caring man and it was a good place to be.
Kevin Bushey - Calvary Community Church - BarrieIronically, this "community church" is across the concession line of Barrie, where no one ever travels. Only hay fields surround it. Why it was planted I'll never know. But, recommended by a friend, we found a boppin' worship team, with a crowd that actually bounced, and a powerfully gifted youth pastor named Vaden Hiller, who pieced my heart with his go-for-the-throat sermons. Believe it or not, on Christmas Eve, he skipped the usual "Three Wise Men" story and told us "who's going to Hell!", based on Romans. Wild! "Calvary rocks Barrie" Kevin used to say. I soon discovered what a "church split" was and hung thru it until I could not hold anymore.
Wayne Lucas - Alliston Pentecostal Church - AllistonIt's a 40-minute drive each way. It's horrible in the winter. We sing six songs and we sing them twice through, then again at half speed. It's moderately contemporary and the rotation of song choices is frequent. Aside from the music, I discovered Wayne through on location appearances with LIFE 100.3. Wayne is a leader, a mentor and someone who loves to "pour into you". Wayne's messages remind me that "holiness is attainable". He makes me feel like "I can do it! I can do this ‘Jesus-thing'" Not only does the church love LIFE 100.3 but the people make me feel loved. People love laying hands on the hurting. The youth group love Jesus and they are stuck together with super-glue! Ah, if only I could reduce the drive-time.
Thanks to all these amazing men of God who have poured wisdom, interpretation, enlightenment and freedom into me. During different stages of my life, each man showed me another side of Christ and I feel richer for it.
My Worst Church ExperienceOne pastor very strongly rebuked me for leaving the church and moving to another. "You bloom where you're planted!" he told me quite sternly. I've thought about this many times. I've decided that the bloom sometimes withers and dies when it's not watered.
I am a Christian who considers the expression "oh, it was for a season" as a Christian phrase that allows us an excuse to stop doing something or believing. "God doesn't do that any more -it was for a season". I try to use the word sparingly because of my distain for the misuse of the word.
Sometimes it isn't the church member who withers and leaves for better soil, but the pastor who doesn't know when his season is up.
Sorry for the long Blog. I'm actually thinking of writing a book. Would you buy it? Next time "Those Who Poured Into Me #2". Stay tuned.
I love American Idol! It’s a bit like a musical soap opera - the longer you follow the show, the more you get to know the characters, their real life stories, their hurts and their joys.
He and his wife came to Christ about 20 years ago, after his stardom on "8 Is Enough" and "Charles In Charge". I'm just getting into it.
Canadian Music Week 2010, in Toronto at the Royal York Hotel. A building so old I really doubt they have air conditioning. LIFE was represented by (left to right) Junky Rhodes, Shauna Jones (Steve's wife) me, Steve and my wife Janice Baird.
He was insensitive. He pushed me beyond my own talent limitations and taught me to guard the (radio) gate against attacks from competitors. Shafer works in Kelowna as General Manager for SUN-FM and a cluster of other stations. I'm not sure what he thinks of me doing Christian radio. I don't know if he's proud of "his student" or I'm just a forgettable guy with a Bible. But Shafer was one of two significant radio influences. 
Coming up, is Canadian Music Week. It's a big honkin' conference in Toronto that runs most of the week. Most mainstream radio managers and high paid DJs attend to schmooze with old friends and tell old stories which seem a little more blurry every time they tell them. At night, many of the attendees head over to the nightclubs to see new Canadian unsigned artists in concert. There's also a gallery of exhibits that shows off new technology and seminars put on by well-known radio owners and managers. There's also a lot of beer. (No thanks.)