Leadership

Alexander Cumming
I was born fourth of five children to a dairy farming family near Lancaster, ON. We attended a small Baptist church in Cornwall for my first eight years of life. I always had an interest in things of God, but did not commit my life to Christ until I was 23 years old. At the time, I was married to my lovely wife Mary for about a year, and we were expecting our first of five children.

The balance of years has been a mix of life’s highs and lows with regard to our dairy farming, Mary’s piano studio, our marriage and the raising of our children. Our family has experienced a variety of church styles and structures over these years and now I find myself revisiting my roots with REVIVE Alexandria. My varied experiences and Bible teachings have fostered consistent growth in my life. I am learning the bigger picture of the Bible, and how that little baby born in Bethlehem upset the world order and brought hope to a dying world.

Ruben Gandia
Sunday School teachers beware. Your ministry is of utmost importance. My elderly Sunday school teacher was Ms. Grace Petts, and I remember her faithfully teaching young brats (mainly me) through all of my childhood in Quebec. One sunny spring day after Sunday school when I was 10, I just felt convicted, and I just wanted Jesus and what he offered. It’s still hard to explain, and I just knew I was in the wrong. I went up to Ms. Petts and surprised her by saying, “I want to ask for forgiveness and follow Jesus” (or something like that). I do remember that she seemed almost as surprised as I was because I had this strong conviction of sin and knowledge of needing Jesus. We prayed that instant, and although I wasn’t a convicted murderer, I just felt lighter. A long time afterwards, when I began to study the Bible in earnest, I understood that it’s the Holy Spirit’s work to convict the world of sin and all we need to do is accept this free gift which is available to all. Jesus’s sacrifice is sufficient for all, and the message is so simple!

A few years later on a Sunday night service, a missionary was showing slides of his time in Africa, and one slide depicted people getting baptized in a river. That weird thing happened again to me, and after that service, I told the pastor of the church that I needed to get baptized too! Although I knew it was not for salvation, it was an act that I wanted to follow Jesus. Again, I remember that surprised look on the pastor’s face because he probably thought I wanted to be a pilot like that missionary that just spoke. I was baptized shortly afterwards at thirteen. My love for the Bible was likely handed down to me, unconsciously by my father and mother. I found out when I was older. The Catholic Church excommunicated my parents because they stood by the simple Good News that is clearly stated in the Bible that by believing (repenting and following) in Jesus alone, you are saved, once and for all!

Growing up as they did in the 1930-1940’s Spain, it was a courageous thing to do. My father would show me those scriptures by which they lost family and friends, and I am still amazed how such simple words that scream love, compassion and giving by our only Saviour can make people so angry. Finally, this part of my young life ended when I ‘stole’ my father’s Bible when I was fourteen, as I forgot my Bible at home on Sunday morning and I asked for it. He handed it over to me in the back seat of the car, and I never gave it back. I still use it today, and I am reminded of how he underlined some essential truths that are available to all.

Anyone who reads this knows that God loves you and wants all to be saved in Jesus. (PS, He never asked for it back but instead bought one of those super Bibles with tons of commentaries), so it all worked out.

Sam Taylor
I was blessed to be born to parents who were the only christians of their families. They were discipled very well as they grew in their faith and raised my sister and I with a strong sense of who God is and how important and worthy he is. They never pushed faith on us but made every effort to show us by their lives, who God is and how worthy he is no matter what. They led and put my sister and I both in position to make our own personal decision for Christ, and for that I’ll be forever grateful,

Through my own relationship with Christ I’ve benefited from learning lessons the easy way and the hard way, and through it all learned that God is worthy no matter what. I’ve been blessed to meet and marry the most incredible woman He’s brought into my life. We’ve been blessed with five wonderful children. Together we’ve been blessed to have been part of a couple of great churches, who genuinely seek the truth of God’s word and genuinely care for each other as family in Christ. We’re thankful to be a part of Revive, the one of those two churches we currently call home!

Henri DeSouza
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