John Govan

John Govan was an itinerant worker (1884-1967), saved in Scotland in 1904, commended in 1919 by the assembly at Saginaw, Michigan. His wife's name was Bessie, who lived to be 92.

Memorials

Albert P. Klabunda

"John Govan, an honored servant of the Lord, after a few months of illness, passed peacefully into the Lord's presence on April 13th, at the age of 82 years. Saved at the age of 18, in Scotland, he came to the United States a year later. After a few years he was called to full time service in the Lord's work, and for over 50 years he continued in a straight course, following the pattern given in Acts 2:41-42.

He was an able minister of the Word, yet he "labored more abundantly" among the smaller assemblies, seeking to encourage them by example and word to hold fast the faithful Word as they had been taught. He will be greatly missed by the Lord's people, collectively, as well as by individuals, who profited by his ministry, wise counsel and gracious ways. May God raise up faithful men of like caliber, whose faith we may follow. He is survived by his wife and one son. The funeral, which followed that of Mrs. Stewart's, was very large. The funeral directors said they were the largest they had ever handled. Wm. Warke and Albert Klabunda shared in the funeral services."

William H. Ferguson

"Our well known and esteemed brother John Govan who "went home" to be with the Lord on Thursday evening, April 13, was born in Scotland on August 8, 1884. He was saved at age 18 and came to the United States about 1904. When we knew him at first he was living in Saginaw, Michigan, and was in the Assembly there, working as a cabinet maker in a large piano works. He was exercised about the work of the Lord and was commended by the Assembly in Saginaw for work in the Gospel in the Fall of 1919. He continued steadfastly and was a valuable worker, especially among the smaller assemblies of the Lord's people. His ministry was always safe and timely and had the welfare of the saints in mind. He made visits East and West also, as well as Eastern Ontario Assemblies, with acceptance and was a frequent visitor at our Conferences of later years.

He joined the writer, which was probably his first venture into Northern Michigan, in the Winter of 1920, shortly after he was commended to the work, in a country district where we were following up some of our Bible Carriage work of the year previous. It was cold, below zero pretty constantly, and the lodgings in an old farm house, without heat or conveniences, was not calculated to keep one in their room long writing letters. Rather it was necessary to get out and get the circulation going to keep healthy and fit but the meetings in that remote corner of the State were cheering and we had no complaints.

Throughout the years our paths crossed frequently, we were in the same Assembly in old Central Gospel Hall in Detroit for about 30 years till he moved to the West Chicago Assembly and we found him to have the same courteous behavior, as at the first, and in his ministry on the platform at our Conferences etc., he never condescended to personalities or undue language, but always maintained the decorum which graced the platform and manifested true Christian character.

In the "Thumb of Michigan", east of Saginaw, North of Detroit, which we both visited very much in early years, there was a small Assembly in Glencoe, or Grindstone City, where our brother spent considerable time with the saints. The work here was established by the McDonald brothers and Daniel McGeachy and Bro. Govan felt a responsibility towards them after he "went forth" to serve Christ in the Gospel, they appreciated such interest. We believe this working in a district, consistently, is much to be desired today when there is so much aimless travelling back and forth country-wise, hither and yon, without definite horizon or perspective. As the years went by he ventured farther afield in fellowship with fellow workers and was "accepted... of his brethren, seeking their spiritual wealth." (Esther 10:3).

We always believed him to be untainted by anything unseemly for a servant of Christ, nor was he one who would "gloss over" sin or unseemly conduct, when necessary to rebuke, for sake of partiality. And so, knowing the earthly commendation is little compared with the true estimate of the Judgment Seat of Christ, we append this short memoir to a faithful brother and co-worker and fellow servant, "until the morning".

The funeral service was largely attended and he was buried in Bay City, Michigan. His widow should have remembrance in prayer, she has that "blessed hope" and we should remember also in prayer his son Robert. Our brethren Warke and Klabunda conducted the services. As mentioned above, he was of late years in fellowship in West Chicago Assembly, now known as Stark Road Gospel Hall, Livonia, Michigan."

Sources

• "With The Lord" compiled by a sister in Iowa.