DIRECTOR'S BLOG

Dr. Sam Martin

A Tribute to a ‘Man of God, a Faithful servant of Jesus Christ, and Secretary to the Board of AOJ, a real friend, Mr. Ford Quinlan.’

It was pouring of rain, it was late, and it was cold to say the least and I was sitting in my car waiting for help. I was on my way home from Wal-Mart when the car came to a sudden halt. The car is old, and I had heard strange noises but this was a shocker. My son-in-law drove over, we stood in the rain trying to figure it out and we all got soaked to the skin. We decided the best would be to tow it to a repair shop. My son-in-law went back home to find a row rope.

As I sat freezing in the car, my Son called and when I answered, he sounded a wee bit upset and said, “Dad have you heard anything about Ford?” Ford was a friend, a faithful brother. He was on the pastoral staff of a Pentecostal Church in Oshawa. My son then read the following from the Church’s WEB site:

‘It is with unspeakable shock and sadness that we want to let you know that our husband, father, grandad, brother, uncle, pastor, and friend, Ford Quinlan, died suddenly this morning. (May 3, 2017)

I could not believe what I just heard. Then later when I got home, there was a message from the family. I tried to encourage the family and decided I would attend their Church on Sunday morning and I am glad I did. During the service which was a real blessing to me and I am sure everyone in attendance, I heard the Senior Pastor say:

‘We have over 67 years of knowing Ford as an extremely kind, sacrificially generous, radically hospitable, faithfully loyal, hilariously outgoing, unwaveringly hard-working, always persevering, fully committed follower of Jesus Christ.’

Later that day I attended the visitation at the Church, and down one aisle were many photograph/displays, letters and the like. One which said, ‘Missions – Guatemala,’ and as I looked at the photographs, my mind went back to 1998, that is when we met I believe for the first time.

His Church was sending what I believe was their first Mission Team and it was an honor for me to facilitate that on behalf of the Mission, to serve in Guatemala. The Team was a blessing, and was blessed, and so began Ford’s involvement with The Arms of Jesus Children’s Mission. He was supportive at every turn with the encouragement of his family. He became a Board member, and then secretary to the Board and he served well. Indeed he hosted our last Board meeting at His Church, and was due to lead a Team to Guatemala, but shared a month or so ago he did not think he would be able to because of health issues, but would do his best to help the Team and to make sure the Outreach would continue.

As a the founder of the Mission, I thank God for Ford, as a friend and fellow Pastor, I thank God for Ford and his faithful service to the Lord and His people, and I know today our staff not only in Canada, but in Haiti and Guatemala are praying for Ford’s dear wife and family. Like his Church family we pay tribute to this special man, Ford Quinlan, who truly, in the words of His Senior Pastor was:

‘an extremely kind, sacrificially generous, radically hospitable, faithfully loyal, hilariously outgoing, unwaveringly hard-working, always persevering, fully committed follower of Jesus Christ.’

May I invite you to give thanks to God for the life and service of Ford Quinlan, and to pray for his wife and family!