Grateful For Our Beginnings

After following family connections for several years, I realize they come in various and unique ways.  Once such connection is our family’s relationship with Edmison Heights Bible Chapel in Peterborough.  My father Walter Best (and Eleanor) was one of its the founding members and one of its original elders.  He was also released into full time ministry through EHBC.  Cindy’s family (Fred & Mary Jay) was one of the first families who came to Christ through the church’s ministry and still continue to fellowship there.  Cindy and I met each other and found our destiny together at EHBC.

Below is a letter to the folks at EHBC expressing our appreciation to them on the church’s 50^th anniversary being held today August 23, 2015.

Congratulations to Edmison Heights Bible Chapel and its wonderful people on your 50^th anniversary.

As products of EHBC’s children’s ministry our minds go back to the children’s meetings at Queen Elizabeth School and later on at the chapel, where Eric Vetters would play his accordion and lead us in song, and my dad and Doug Robinson would play the zaniest characters.  It was here that we would develop our love for the Lord, the joy of being together, and the need to tell people about Jesus.

In the years to follow my dad would drag me off to ‘Saturday work bees’ at the chapel where we

would lay subfloors and frame walls in early November winds.  I recall seeing several fellows making unannounced trips to the basement, after cold winds caught hold of the sheets of plywood they were carrying, and toss both plywood and worker into the basement.  And by the way, if you knew exactly the basement wall to shake, you would likely hear nails rattle to the floor, where I mistakenly nailed a full bag of nails between the walls.  Whew, my secret is finally out!

We met every event with anticipation and dedication.  In the summer, we picnicked at Serpent Mounds and Elim Lodge.  Each Christmas our parents would spend hours making the cheesiest costumes, strangest puppets, and anything else they thought might make us look silly or cute, for the up-and-coming Family Christmas Concerts where everyone had a part.  And everyone got a present.

Both Cindy and I were proud recipients of the 52 award, given for not missing a Sunday throughout a whole year.  We would like to think that it was our determination that got us out of bed each Sunday morning, when in fact it was our parents pushing us out the door while rehearsing our memory verses.  We think that they are the ones who actually deserved the award.

On several very snowy occasions we’d sing Christmas carols on the back of a hay wagon to bless the neighbourhoods.  A piano was hoisted on top and my dad and some other brave soul would play their horns as others shivered and sang.  The horn players often got jazzier as the night progressed due to the amount of alchol that was used to keep the horns from freezing!

It was fun for both Cindy and I to grow up in EHBC.  We developed many wonderful friendships that have lasted us a lifetime.  But most of all, EHBC helped us develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Much of who we are and do today is because of our roots at the chapel.  We are grateful that we found the Lord in those early years and that we dedicated our lives to him in waters of baptism.  It was with you that we learned how important it was to fellowship, worship, and pray together.

It takes dedicated people to build a great church.  We particularly are grateful for Sunday school teachers like Janice Vardy, Naomi Budge, Eleanor Best, and for Youth and Scout leaders such as Fred and Mary Jay.  We are mindful of the care we received through Jack and Marion Stevenson, Sid & Leona Hughes, Don and Ada Ephgrave, and Norm and Naomi Budge.  We are also blessed to be friends and have had in our homes the likes of Bill Belch, Doug Robinson, Paul Fletcher, Gary Robinson, Ken Belch, Bob McLaren, and more.  What a legacy we share.

Last but not least, it was through EHBC and at the age of 8, that Cindy and I became soul mates and childhood sweethearts.  In Sunday school, at camp or youth group, we could often be seen chatting it up at the back or holding hands under the pews while playing hide-and-seek.  As you know, this story has a happy ending. We married, have 4 children and now are experiencing the joy of grandchildren. We learned to love and value each other amongst you, and to realize that we had a destiny together in Christ.  We too, celebrate 50 years of being best friends.

Thank you for caring for us and thank you for showing us a better way, but most of all thank you for letting us know and grow in Christ.

With much love and appreciation

Stephen & Cindy (Jay) Best