Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor

Both my husband and my Dad had raved about this book and Trev had said months and months ago that I should read it too. I wasn't really sure, as I'm not a Pastor and I felt that this was perhaps a book only suited to men called as such, but once again my husband was right and this is a book that others, especially wives of those in Ministry could benefit from.

The book is basically the life story of Tom Carson, father of Don Carson told through narrative from Don and his siblings and diary entries from Tom himself. To be honest, I found the start of the book incredibly hard work, as Carson outlines a brief history of Quebec. I totally understand why this was included, as a foundation for the rest of the story, however as I knew absolutely nothing about the history of that area it took me a good while to read through! However, coming from the Northern Ireland context it was fascinating to see how many similarities there were between Canada and Northern Ireland in terms of Catholic and Protestant segregation especially as regards education.

Tom was born in Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland in 1911, this was somewhat exciting as this is where Trev is from and where my in-laws still live! However he emigrated to Canada when he was two and continued to live there for the rest of his earthly days. Throughout the book we are told of his conversion, his call and training for ministry and the various charges he went too. We see the ups and down of pastoral ministry. We see a man pressing on with great dedication to the people of French speaking Canada, despite seeing very little fruit for his labour. We see someone who was willing to live on very little for the sake of the Gospel.

Throughout the book we are given glimpses into the relationship between Tom and his wife, Marg. The support she was to him is an example for all Pastors wives. It is a credit to them and a real example of grace that their children were unaware when they were facing bitter opposition from other believers, because they had vowed never to speak ill of people in front of their children. Marg was the one Tom came and spoke to at the end of a day of pastoral visitation, we see her willingness to learn French although it didn't come easily to her and we see that she was willing to work outside the home when this was required but was willing to give this up when Tom needed more support at home. Tom did not take her forgranted but rather as she was plagued with Alzheimer's, he showed unfailing love and commitment to her. On her death he wrote; "What a woman of God she was! I bless God for having given her to me."

In many ways in the relationship between Marg and Tom I saw my own parents marriage; a picture of the wife of a Pastor being committed to his work and ready to make sacrifices for him in order that he is better equipped to spread the gospel. It challenged me once again to be this kind of wife; a wife who is her husband's confidante and support, who loves him continually through the ups and through the downs of Ministry and sees him as her hero when the rest if the world regards him as an Ordinary Pastor.

Published by Crossway