For Grandparents’ Month, we had the privilege of hearing from a literal and spiritual grandfather of the LifeSpring house, none other than Pastor Alvin. Pastor Alvin spoke, sharing his testimonies, wisdom and glory to God for all His faithfulness over the years. Thank you Pastor Alvin, as you continue to run the race of faith, it inspires us to run alongside you!
As Pastor Alvin was sharing (listen to his message here), he shared a picture. It was taken in 1987 and it shows a funny looking Alvin, holding a confused little boy (me), with the backdrop being the beautiful city of Toronto. Though that picture was taken 39 years ago, who knew that it would be a prophetic glimpse of what we have today. Pastor Alvin was the previous lead pastor of LifeSpring and had mentored and transitioned that leadership role to me. Today, Pastor Alvin continues to minister through Mission GTA as a pastor to the city.
I have this same picture on my fridge, I see it everyday and never gave it a second thought. Yet, the Lord highlighted to Alvin, “Can you see it?” It made me wonder how many things we have around us, things that God is doing, that we simply walk by every day? And God is asking, “Can you see it?”
Increase Our Faith is not about knowing the future. Increase Our Faith is about trusting, believing, and obeying the Lord even if we do not know the future, even if we do not see it.
During intercession, the Lord asked me to picture King David. In my imagination I pictured a royal King, clean cut, majestic, and proper. And then I felt the Lord say, “Wrong.” He then showed me a picture of battle-scarred man, a man who had fought lions, bears, and Goliath, a man who had spears thrown at him, who slept in caves, and whose life was constantly in danger, a man on the run. He showed me a battle-scarred Christian.
As I think of Pastor Alvin, I think of this same picture. A man who is after God’s heart and who has been through so many struggles and battles. Yet a man who still loves and pursues Jesus. Pastor Alvin, grandpa Alvin, tells of God’s faithfulness not because he has heard about it, but because he has lived it and continues to live it.
Thank you Pastor Alvin for inspiring us to Increase Our Faith!