Submitted by Roger Nichols
In 1969 my wife and I visited Les Stahlke, a Lutheran pastor who had resigned from a congregation in Fort McMurray, Alberta to serve full-time in the isolated communities of the North.
Rev. Stahlke owned a 1047 Stinson airplane. He did part-time commercial flying to support his family of six.
To help Les get started, I raised $750 for skis and gas for the Stinson. Our hopes hinged on a proposal to a major mission board, where we introduced a plan to serve the many northern isolated communities, all of which were lacking in Christian witness. Following this presentation, a very discouraged Pastor Stahlke shared that the board wouldn’t even listen. They had no funding to offer. In addition, the communities had no way to support a ministry of this sort.
I said, “Les, maybe God wants you to go ahead on your own.” He immediately knew. “That’s it!!” he exclaimed.
So, my wife and I sent him off by giving the balance of our savings account, which he used to legally organize the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots. There was even a few dollars left for postage and fuel, and LAMP was started.
Membership was $10.00 but our first request was for people to pray for LAMP. “We need your gifts but most importantly, please pray for us." One of the most faith-strengthening things in my life was to see the hand of God move so deliberately and quickly!
No comments:
Post a Comment