|
Susan and Gordon Rumford are a couple
who have experienced much adversity and have made it a life-calling
to help others in similar circumstances. They live in Mississauga,
Ontario and work with a variety
of people who have found themselves in over their heads and
in need of some friendly guidance through the maze of their problems.
Issues such as a marriage in trouble, a single
parent, one who is terminally ill, or someone who has recently lost
a loved one are frequently addressed. This work occupies Gordon
and Susan full time.
Gordon
has survived serious cancer surgery and suffered the pain of a marriage
breakdown. Together they make an excellent team to move into a situation
where a crisis has occurred and offer practical, effective counsel
to those who are in pain.
For over 18 years Gordon has acted as company chaplain to Iseco
the safety shoe people in Mississauga. This work has involved visiting
the offices of the company each week and having private consultation
with various employees as need arises. This position has resulted
in Gordon doing funerals for unchurched people as well as weddings.
Susan
was suddenly widowed in her mid-thirties with three young children.
She has successfully worked through the issues
of bereavement, read much on the subject and, with Gordon, conducted
seminars on loss and counseled many in such a situation.
Such matters as helping people put their personal
affairs in order, things to do as a family following the tragedy,
and how to make peace with the situation are discussed. Spiritual
counsel is also offered as Gordon has been in the ministry for over
35 years.
This work is recommended by people who have received
help from the Rumfords. Also, sometimes someone knows a person in
pain who is without resources and refer the Rumfords to them. Contact
is made and a series of visits instituted for as long as the need
is there. It's just that simple.
Imagine for a moment the following scenarios.
A friend of yours or a fellow employee calls you in a panic and
confesses that the visit to the doctor was a disaster. The lump
was malignant and they are in trouble. Or your wife has just received
a call from a mutual friend who told her that her husband just came
home to announce he is leaving the marriage, he has found someone
else.
The person is devastated, they do not know which
way to turn for help. They are without resources. What do you do?
What do you say? What assistance do you have to offer them? Where
do you tell them to turn in their time of need? Many of us find
ourselves in such situations and wish we had someone we could call
to intervene and offer assistance to the person in pain. There is
help available and you are free to access it with a simple phone
call.
Feel free to contact
Gordon and Susan at their office in Mississauga. The phone number
is 905-821-0358. They would be happy to help you and become involved
as the family in need requests support.
You may wonder how the Rumfords are funded to
perform such a work. Certainly the people they help are far too
busy addressing their crisis to think about such things. Obviously
at such a critical time the Rumfords do not send a bill for services
rendered. Gordon and Susan have a small core of people who believe
in this ministry and quietly assist them in this way. If you would
have a desire to help in the support of such a work, tax receipts
for donations will be issued to all who make financial contributions. |