It was a quiet morning when the telephone rang in my study. As usual, I did not have any idea who or what I would hear when I answered it. The call was a relay from a pastor friend in a town two hours drive from here. A young man 16 years of age was the focus of the conversation. Although Jimmy lived in Mississauga with his family, he had spent a summer or two in this town working for a family in the local evangelical church. The call centered on an incident a couple of days earlier that concerned Jimmy.

It seems that Jimmy had been brutally beaten in a plaza in Mississauga by four young offenders and left in a coma. The family was unchurched, but would be receptive to a pastoral call. The boy was in the Mississauga General Hospital intensive care unit and still in a coma.

When I went to the hospital, I met by Jimmy's mother and sister. I was given a warm reception when I identified myself and the mother explained in detail about the assault. It was a brutal action by some seriously disturbed young people and arrests had been made. The mother explained that her son might be in the coma for several weeks. It was not known what he would be like after regaining consciousness.

The mother was brave and hopeful that her son would come around and survive the incident. The father was unable to spend more than a few minutes by his son's side as he could not endure the reality his eyes witnessed. The sister sat quietly weeping in the corner of the room. I spoke with the mom about how senseless the situation seemed and then assured her that Christian people would be praying for her and the entire family at this time. She was genuinely moved by the fact that we would show such concern for strangers. Before I left, I gave her my phone number and assured her that she could call any time if there was a need to speak to me.

It’s a couple of weeks later and I have had several visits with the young man and the family. In the first few visits, while Jimmy was still comatose, I would speak to him as though he heard me and pray with him. After two weeks Jimmy regained consciousness and although he still has a long way to go, full recovery is expected. On my last couple of visits there was clear recognition of me and a positive response to my presence with him. His mother is thrilled that such attention was being paid to her family.

We hope in the coming weeks to have some young people from a local church come and visit with Jimmy. We will arrange for them to bring a guitar, take him to a common room, and sing some songs, chat, and share their Christian faith with him. In this way we hope to reach into this unchurched family and build a bridge to a good evangelical church.

We are told by the folk in the small town where Jimmy worked one summer that he has made a profession of faith. In God's grace we shall build on that beginning and see the entire family come to know the Lord.

Once again we have had opportunity to be a pastor to pastorless people, to ignite a spark in a dark place that one day may bring light and hope. It's because of the kind support in prayer and financial giving of folk like yourself that we can continue our work for the Saviour. Thank you for being a part of this work for the best of Masters.

John 1: 4 - 5
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness... The true light that gives light to every man.