MINDEMOYA—Pastor Ray Kloestra showed great emotion as he expressed his thanks to the members of the Mindemoya Missionary Church on December 15 for their very generous donation of $2,500 to Manitoulin Family Resources in honour of the Kloestra’s 25th anniversary with the church. It seems the church members know their pastor well for Reverend Kloestra said, “I really appreciate that you gave us this instead of something we would have to dust.” He then went on to say, “I am convinced that God put us together 25 years ago and I am sure that I have become a different person since coming to this church.”
Church members had been busy for some time, raising the funds to celebrate the Kloestra’s anniversary with the Mindemoya Missionary Church and the phone calls and emails were many as this was to be a complete surprise for the couple. As member Holly Scott explained, the idea to surprise the Kloestras with a celebration came from the board.
“The congregation chose to honour Ray and Gloria’s faithful ministry by giving a gift to the food bank building fund,” Ms. Scott explained. “We knew that they would be pleased since the gift would be lined up with their heartfelt ministry to our community. The funds for the gift came from the proceeds of various community events, which were hosted by the church. Twenty-five years of service in a single area is unusual, but it makes long-term ministry and vision possible. There have been many blessings as well as challenges over 25 years.” Phil Delsaut, the president of the Missionary Church of Canada, sent a message of congratulations reminding us that “whether we judge things as good or bad, bitter or sweet, all is woven by God into the tapestry of our life where God makes it all good, very good.”
Preceding the presentation of the cheque surprise, Dale Scott spoke of the Kloestras and showed ‘then and now’ pictures of the family and Pastor Kloestra had the congregation laughing as he made comments about his size ‘then and now.’
Following the church service, everyone was invited to the activity centre to have a piece of 25th anniversary cake.
The Kloestras first came to the Island in 1988 with their children Chris, Nathan and Gina.
Betty Bardswich
