Changes

"When they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, departed" (Acts 13:3-4).

Since there are several who merit honorable mention, it might be better to consider first of all those who were called to serve the Lord here at home, in English-speaking countries.

The earliest of such gifted men was T.D.W. Muir. It will be remembered that he was the first convert in connection with this history that we are tracing. He was saved under the preaching of Donald Munro and [[John Smith]].

Mr. Muir at the early age of 29 was giving his whole time to making the gospel known. Shortly after his conversion, he began preaching the gospel throughout southern [[Ontario]] and rural parts of [[Michigan]].

God used brother Muir to establish assemblies at Straffordville, [[Ontario]]; Detroit, [[Michigan]] and other places. However, he eventually settled in Detroit. In that city he spent the major part of his life in building a work for God. He labored incessantly to establish the testimonies in his adopted city and throughout the surrounding rural district. He traveled extensively teaching the ways of the Lord. In spite of his many activities in preaching, teaching, writing and counseling, he occasionally returned to Hamilton where he was always welcome. When here he worked for the edification of the people of God.

Another beloved brother commended by the MacNab Assembly to the ministry of the gospel here at home was T.G. Wilkie. A Memorial Booklet prepared at the time of his home going in 1965 contains a comment by one who really appreciated him, "Only God would mould a Thomas G. Wilkie".

Born in Edinburgh, [[Scotland]], he immigrated to [[Canada]] in 1910. At the first he settled in Toronto, but eventually moved to Hamilton. Here in 1912, God reached and saved him. Through the influence of a Christian fellow-workman he was brought to the assembly. There the practical simplicity toward Christ deeply impressed him, and shortly after this observation he was received into the full fellowship of the saints. His zeal, loyalty and Christian piety soon endeared him to all the believers.

It finally became apparent that the Lord was entrusting to him abilities for extensive duties. This not only deeply exercised him but the elders as well. In 1919 it became obvious to the assembly that the Lord was indicating, "He is a chosen vessel unto Me." He therefore was commended to the grace of God and went forth to his life of service and sacrifice. From that time on he expended himself in the work of the Lord. Early in his experience he went with brother Albert Joyce to Grand Bend. There the Lord blessed their labors in a singular manner. Many were saved and guided in the believers' pathway. Eventually a hall was built and the assembly formed.

Tom Wilkie was primarily an evangelist and he used effectively the wonderful gift he had received from the Risen Head of the Church among both adults and children. his activities took him from the Canadian Maritime Provinces to the West Coast. When he, by the grace of God, had served his own generation, on March 16, 1965, he fell asleep in Jesus. He is now among the blessed who rest from their labors and whose works follow them.

Harold Greene who is devoting his life to the Best of Masters was commended to the grace of God and the ministry of the gospel jointly by the MacNab Street Assembly, Hamilton, [[Ontario]] and the 86th Street Assembly, Chicago, [[Illinois]], U.S.A. (The latter assembly in Chicago is presently (2021) known as the [[Palos Hills Christian Assembly, IL|Palos Hills Christian Assembly]]).

His first sphere of service was at Nashville, [[Tennessee]], where he spent a number of years preaching the gospel and seeking to edify the people of God. More recently our brother has been conducting a radio ministry and doing pastoral work in [[Missouri]] as well as considerable itinerant preaching farther afield. Harold Greene, his wife and family live in Cape Girardeau, [[Missouri]]. (Note: Harold, alongside John Phelan, founded the Nashville Gospel Chapel, which is honored as one that is multi-ethnic, with dozens of nationalities therein. He later founded an assembly in Cape Girardeau that presently functions as an independent church, Hal's son has served in pastoral ministry here for many years as well).

One of the first converts during the gospel effort by Donald Munro and [[John Smith]], in the very early days, was William L. Faulknor. He was saved the same night as T.D.W. Muir, and like brother Muir, he dedicated his enitre life to the work of the Lord on both the home and foreign fields.

In the spring of 1887, just a few years after the assembly in Hamilton had been founded, brother Faulknor sailed for [[Africa]], and in May of that year he joined brother Swan in Bihe. Brother Swan had left [[England]] in 1886, but it was Dec. 16th of 1887 before the young recruits reached Fredrick Arnot in Garenganze. Bro. Arnot had been living alone for some considerable time so, needless to say, the two younger brethren were very welcome indeed. Early the following year, brother Arnot left brother Swan and brother Faulknor to carry on the work while he returned to Britain for a much needed change and rest. For them it was a time of sowing, not reaping; that came later.

Humanly speaking it was a disappointment to all that during this time brother Faulknor took ill, an illness that weakened him and made him susceptible to one of the native diseases. From this malady he suffered greately but was tenderly nursed by his co-worker. Finally, deplorable as it may seem to man, he was forced to leave Africa. How difficult under such circumstances to say, "The will of the Lord be done."