JUBILEE YEAR FOR LA PINARDIÈRE --- FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF CONVERSION (1975-2025) – “A SMALL BEGINNING OF ETERNAL LIFE”

 

JUBILEE YEAR

 FOR LA PINARDIÈRE

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF CONVERSION (1975-2025)

                                                               – “A SMALL BEGINNING OF ETERNAL LIFE”

 

A FEW DECADAL MILESTONES

Fifth decade (2015-2025)

This fifth and final decade has been marked by many changes. This reflects the dynamism of my relationship with the living God, whose action is most felt at turning points in life.

My ordination (November 2016)

 I thank the Lord for the privilege He gave me to be ordained to the holy ministry on November 30, 2016. Pastors Jacques Pelletier, Raymond Perron, and Pascal Denault were present. Raymond Perron preached, his wife Diane sang, as did our friend Michel Dénommé (leader of the group “Moi et ma maison” and the former group “Virage”). It was a most touching celebration by the grace of our God.

 

"Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house,

 that thou hast brought me thus far? "

(1 Chronicles 17:16)

Jean-Benoit and Tania's wedding (2017)

In December 2016, our son Jean-Benoit met Tania while visiting Mexico. After several months, they asked me to officiate their wedding in 2017. What a joy and happiness to see them so happy! Carole and I had a wonderful trip to Chiapas for their wedding. Our eldest son Emmanuel accompanied us.

 

Supervisor of some master's final writing requirements with the FTÉ (Acadia University, Montreal campus) (2019- )

Having worked as a lecturer at the Faculté de théologie évangélique (Acadia University, Montreal campus) from 1997 to 2001, and then for two or three semesters, I subsequently had the privilege of supervising the master's theses of two students, Josué Destin and Manuel Figueroa, as their director. Josué Destin (2019-2023) studied the Reformed doctrine of election in the Canadian National Baptist Convention (CNBC) statement of faith. Manuel Figueroa (2024-2025) worked on writing three brochures to teach the main elements of Reformed Baptist theology within his church, Laval Christian Fellowship, based on the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. The success of their work was highlighted through the graduation ceremonies where parents and friends gathered to celebrate the students' efforts and their transition to the next stage in their ministerial service.

 

End of my employment as a translator at GTMK (2022) and start with Vox Viva.

Having worked during 21 years for Masha Krupp Translation Group Ltd. (2001-2022) in Ottawa, I moved to new challenges and started a new job in 2022. I am grateful to the Lord for all those years I spent doing what was one of my passions, translation, and also for having a good salary that allowed me to support my family. So, in 2022, I started working first part-time, then full-time for Vox Viva, an online application that provides biblical commentary and explanations for each passage of Scripture. The work consists of translating explanatory notes on Bible verses from English into French. In 2022, over a period of several weeks, I translated a few chapters of the commentary on Joshua, finishing that book in 2023, as well as Daniel, Zephaniah, and 1 Thessalonians. In 2024, I translated the commentary on the book of Revelation, chapters 1-18. In 2025, I continued translating chapters 19-22, as well as a supplement to this book and the epistle to the Galatians (chapters 1-3 so far). I must say that this work is deeply edifying, and I am learning a lot about biblical revelation. Thank you, Lord!

 

-          -          Shutdown of ERBO (2023)

In February 2023, since we had lost a few members due to moving and relocation, we decided, with the remaining members and in consultation with pastors from the AÉRBQ, to permanently shutdown the church. It was a difficult decision, but after more than 14 years of part-time efforts, it seemed to us that the time had come for such a move. We are thankful and know that these 14 years of work have not been wasted. Many sheep have been edified, and the Word has been published in various ways, among other things, through the distribution of Christian literature and the broadcasting of our meetings online. Thank you, God, for your grace!

"[T]he good hand of our God upon us"

(Ezra 8:18)

 

-          Resurrection Church Ottawa and Grace Gatineau (2023)

 

Since our sister Louise, who lives in Aylmer, had been attending our Sunday afternoon meetings for several months, while also attending her own church in the morning (Resurrection Church Ottawa), Carole and I decided to follow her. So, in February 20023, we began attending services at Resurrection Church. What a change! A Presbyterian Church (PCA) dedicated to the Gospel and evangelism, with many young families with lots of children! The love of the Word is evident in the expository preaching by Pastor Ben Joliffe and his elders and by other leaders. After several months of reflection and hesitation, we became members in July 2024. We are very happy with this choice.

While attending Resurrection Church, I also attended Sunday afternoon services at Grace Gatineau (GG) (Hull), a daughter church from Resurrection (Ottawa), because it was a church plant under the pastorate of Franky Garcia. I also attended small group meetings from GG during the week. I also led a course on the doctrines of grace for three participants. It is an English-speaking church with translation services for French speakers. Now that Sunday services are held on Sunday mornings, I can no longer attend this service because of my duties and the priority I give to the church of which I am a member with Carole. This does not prevent me from attending weekday meetings.

 Thank you, Lord, for these two churches that are faithful to your Word.

 

 

-          -          Publications chrétiennes – Bannière réformée francophone (2024- )

In April 2024, I had the joy, honor, and privilege of being revisor for the French translation of O. Palmer Robertson's book The Christ of the Covenants, mainly realized by the late Dr. Amar Djaballah, former dean of FTÉ (Acadia U.) and a few other collaborators. The month of April was entirely devoted to this task, as the goal was to complete the work by the end of the month. We went slightly over the deadline, but everyone was happy. It was a wonderful collaborative effort between Bannière réformée francophone and Publications chrétiennes.

This volume by Robertson was among the books suggested during my bachelor's degree at Toronto Baptist Seminary (1979-1983). And the doctrine of the covenant was one of my favorite themes during those studies. Professor Leigh Powell, pastor of Covenant Baptist Church (Toronto), often spoke to us about it. I often say, “If there is one theme that runs through the entire Bible, if there is one word that sums up the entire Bible, it is the word ‘covenant’, God's covenant with his people” (Bérith in Hebrew, diathèkè in Greek). It is the thread that connects the first page of the Bible to the last one..

-         -          Espace DEP Sylvestre – Community Centre (2024- )

Carole and I have already taken our son Emmanuel to Dépanneur Sylvestre, a community center and meeting place designed to break isolation. This gathering space grew out of a simple convenience store located on Fortier Street in the Hull sector of Gatineau. Unfortunately, in 2018, a fire forced the relocation of its activities. Our other commitments prevented us from returning. Several years passed, and while Carole had an appointment at a clinic near Montcalm Street (Hull), I was exploring the area and saw a sign for “Espace DEP Sylvestre.” I thought to myself, “Wow! This is the new location!” I went in, picked up a schedule of activities and a few brochures, and decided to visit this place on a regular basis, at least two to three times a month. As a teleworker, I have long felt the need to meet people.  

That's why, since 2024, I have been taking part every month (as much as possible) in the Saturday night open mic “Café troubadour” (poetry and music), the “attentive listening” meetings, and finally the “solidarity dinners” (not “solitary”  😊; French pun : solidaire/solitaire).

 

Thank you, Lord, for these great opportunities to link with others!

  

 

A Convert’s First Prayer[1]

"MY FATHER,
  unless thou had’st first loved me.
Thy Spirit has encouraged me by grace to seek thee,
  has made known to me thy reconciliation in Jesus,
  has taught me to believe it,
  has helped me to take thee for my God
    and portion.
May he grant me to grow in the knowledge
    and experience of thy love,
  and walk in it all the way to glory.
Blessed for ever be thy fatherly affection,
  which chose me to be one of thy children
  by faith in Jesus:
I thank thee for giving me the desire to live as such.
In Jesus, my brother, I have my new birth,
  every restraining power,
  every renewing grace.
It is by thy Spirit I call thee Father,
  believe in thee, love thee;
Strengthen me inwardly for every purpose
  of my Christian life;
Let the Spirit continually reveal to me my interest
  in Christ,
  and open to me the riches of thy love in him;
May he abide in me that I may know my union
  with Jesus,
  and enter into constant fellowship with him;
By thy Spirit may I daily live to thee,
  rejoice in thy love,
  find it the same to me as to thy Son,
  and become rooted and grounded in it
    as a house on rock;
I know but little —
  increase my knowledge of thy love in Jesus,
  keep me pressing forward for clearer discoveries
    of it,
  so that I may find its eternal fullness;
Magnify thy love to me according to its greatness,
  and not according to my deserts or prayers,
  and whatever increase thou givest,
  let it draw out greater love to thee."

                                                                                                         (to be continued)

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[1] From the Valley of Vision, https://banneroftruth.org/us/devotional/a-converts-first-prayer/ (Consulted on 2025-09-09), published with kind permission.