JUBILEE YEAR FOR LA PINARDIÈRE -- FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF CONVERSION (1975-2025) – “A SMALL BEGINNING OF ETERNAL LIFE” -- A FEW DECEDAL MILESTONES -- Second decade (1985-1994)

 

JUBILEE YEAR

 FOR LA PINARDIÈRE

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF CONVERSION (1975-2025)

– “A SMALL BEGINNING OF ETERNAL LIFE”

A FEW DECEDAL MILESTONES

Second decade (1985-1994)

At the time of our wedding (1985), I received the Reformed hymnbook “Louange et prière“ (Praise and Prayer), published in France. It was a gift, which included several metric versified psalms that I began to learn so that I could sing them. Along with the Bible, the psalter has been my daily companion for spiritual renewal. After learning the psalms contained therein, I continued to learn all 150 psalms, a process that continues to this day.

After we got married, I started working as a delivery man for bread and other baked goods. This led me to move with my family to St-Flavien (Lotbinière County) after the birth of Emmanuel (1986) and Jean-Benoit (1987). We stayed there for two years (1988-1989).

 

Later, after discussing my professional future with my pastor (at the time, Daniel Bernier), I decided to return to university shortly after the birth of Georges-Étienne (1989). That is why I enrolled in the Faculté des lettres (Faculty of Arts) at Laval University (Quebec City) for a B.A. in French (1989-1995). We therefore joined the Église évangélique des Laurentides (Reformed Baptist Church) founded by Pastor Raymond Perron. The church would eventually change its name to become the Église réformée baptiste de la Capitale. Carole and I were members of this church for 11 years (1990-2001). Those eleven years were decisive, life changing and jaw-droping for both of us. For the first time since our conversion, we found ourselves in a Church where the Reformed faith was taken seriously, consistently and integrated into all aspects of Christian life.

Pastor Perron's influence was also decisive in terms of my studies, as my interest in theology resurfaced. That is why I interrupted my bachelor's degree to pursue a master's degree in theology on the theme of “The Doctrine of Irresistible Grace in John Calvin.” I obtained this degree in April 1994. I then
completed my bachelor's degree in French (after a few adjustments to the program) in April 1995. The secondary school teaching diploma was changed to a bachelor's degree in French (language and linguistics). Those years at Laval University and ERBC were years in which I deepened my faith, following classroom discussions in which certain fundamental elements of faith were questioned. Had it not been for my daily discussions with Pastor Perron and my reading of evangelical theological journals, I might have fallen into liberalism. Thank you, Lord, for your grace. I thank you Lord for Carole, who supported me sacrificially throughout this process.

One song made a lasting impression on me during this period (in its french version[1]). In this song that we’ve learned at Church, we can see both the transcendence and the immanence of God beautifully united :

Your steadfast love

Extends to the heavens

Your faithfulness

Reaches to the clouds

Your righteousness

Is like majestic mountains

And Your wisdom

Like the depths of the sea

And You come to me

Filling my heart 

With Your loving kindness

I find my peace

In the shadow of Your wings

I eat my fill

From abundance of Your household

And I drink

From the streams of rejoicing

You are my King!

(Ted Sandquist, in « The Courts of the King »)

(To be continued)

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[1] « Ton grand amour s'élève jusqu'aux cieux, /Et ta bonté atteint les nuées. /Ta justice est comme les montagnes, / Ta sagesse est plus vaste que la mer, /Et tu viens à moi.

Tu m'envahis d'amour et de grâce. /Je vis en paix à l'ombre de tes ailes. /Tu me combles des biens de ta table, /Et je viens boire au fleuve de ta joie; /Tu es mon Roi! » (Livre J’aime l’Éternel, Jeunesse en mission, no 266.   

https://jemaf.fr/chant=jem266