40th Anniversary Reunion

My name is Michael Newman and our family has had a long history with LAMP. In the early 70”s my family was living in Cold Lake Alberta on the Air force Base. The wasn’t a Lutheran Church close to the base so my father Bill Newman arranged for Pastor Les Stahlke to come into Cold Lake once a month or so to give communion to the Lutheran families on the base. Sometimes Pastor Stahlke would fly in. One time when the weather was bad, he had the control tower give him a radar vector to fly in on. I remember him telling my father that that was the first time he had been called a slow moving target. Sometimes he would drive in. When he drove, he would often stay overnight at our house. It was about 3 hours drive from Edmonton. I think that Pastor Stahlke ministered in Cold Lake for 2 years. Our family moved from Cold Lake to Montreal in the summer of 1973, and I am not too sure if LAMP continued to come to Cold Lake after we left.. My sister Sandra Newman ( Plouffe ) was married in Edmonton in 1978 and Pastor Stahlke officiated at the wedding. At the 40th anniversary of LAMP my sister met Pastor Stahlke once again!

40th Anniversary Greetings from Pastor Pilot Gerry Mitchinson and wife Dr Doreen Mitchinson

I regret that neither I nor my wife can join you for the 40th anniversary celebration of LAMP's ministry. I was a pastor pilot based in High Level, northern Alberta and my wife was a medical doctor there for over ten years in the early 70's. We have many fond memories of the special experiences during the time of our ministry there. I always appreciated LAMP's theology of stewardship. We were provided with good, reliable equipment while being expected to be responsible in our flying decisions. Of course, even with our stewardship we needed the protective help of the angels!

I not sure if I have totally forgiven Lester (Rev. Stahlke) for criticizing the first photos I did for LAMP's promotional work. He pointed out that the pictures lacked people in them. I kind of liked airplanes so I had restricted the pictures to the vehicle until he corrected me.

My memories have even filtered into one recurring dream where I forgot to return the airplane to LAMP. Let me know if it's not just a dream and I'll do some searching.

Blessings on your continued ministry in the Canadian North which, until the advent of LAMP with Lester's vision, was quite neglected by the Lutheran Church.

Pastor Gerry Mitchinson and Dr Doreen Mitchinson Victoria, B.C.