Alumni News and Activities

Text Box: Alumni News and Activities

An Old Pro -

A New Generation

Many of BC’s CSB alumni are as passionate about reaching out to the younger generation as they were when their own boys were involved.

Here, Ted P, is sharing with the boys of the

Bear Creek Stockade.

Brigademen’s/Alumni BLAST

Next BLAST Celebration Dinner is...

Spring 2011

Great Food

Other builders and honorees, George Rieger (right) and Jim Cunningham (centre-right)

Good Friends

Old Memories

Text Box: DON MERRETT In 1964, God blessed Christian Service Brigade with Don Merrett. He had been a pastor in Quebec where he heard about a girls’ organization which his church was interested in. That meeting led to him enquiring about Brigade and he was soon taking Basic Leadership Training and the Star School courses. He established Battalion 1085 in Strathmore Baptist Church; now West Island Baptist in Dorval - the home church of Howard Pike, BC Regional Director. From there, he became increasingly enthusiastic about how effectively Brigade reached out to the common boy and directed the boy’s energy and curiosity towards the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1964, Don Merrett joined the staff of the fledgling CSB Canada organization in Ontario, and saw it through its greatest era of growth. He soon became the CSB Divisional Director for Western Canada, and from Winnipeg oversaw the expansion of Brigade in BC and across the Prairies. In 1977, Don left CSB and returned to the pulpit, but he continued to support and encourage the Brigade movement from Ruth Morton Baptist Church in Vancouver. One of the many achievements that Don can lay claim to is the discipling of several key men who would serve as Regional Directors of CSB in the West. He encouraged Jim Cunningham to serve in BC and Alberta, and when he left Brigade, he supported George Rieger as the Western Divisional Director. He recruited Bill Cousins for Northern Alberta and, later from his Vancouver community, Bill Wong for BC. He continues to support the efforts of CSB Ministries wherever he is able. He is a herald of Christ in word and deed.

Text Box: The MARTENS BROTHERS - TED, TIM and ABE The backbone of CSB is what is done for Christ at the local level, through the men of the local church. It is the response of these men that established a ministry that reaches the boys in their community. In Grand Forks, BC, an unusually large number of young men have dedicated their lives to God. This leads us to wonder, “Who did this?” Of course, the answer is Jesus Christ, no one would deny it, but it is through the lives of dedicated men that Christ’s Work is performed. So, who was that man in Grand Forks? The answer: not a single man, but a family of three men: Ted, Tim and Abe Martens. Over the years, it is clear that they worked in harmony to create a boy’s ministry that is second to none in BC and perhaps, all of Canada. Each man had, and has, his role: father, Ranger, Captain, Lieutenant, Chief Ranger, Chairman, Treasurer, and financial supporter. They were men of action, committed to giving their boys, and the boys of their church and community, activities that would challenge them physically, mentally, socially and especially spiritual. They were men of prayer. They wanted to raise up a generation of young men who would sacrifice everything for Jesus Christ. The proof of their success is in the number boys who call Jesus Christ, Saviour; it is in the young men who are seeking their Lord through Bible College; it is in the current generation of young fathers who are raising their boys for Christ; it is in the men who have taken God’s Message and Work to other communities. And, still these brothers are readily available to come alongside just when they are needed and in their own unique ways. The Honorary Herald of Christ would be a small token of the great debt owed to these men by Christian Service Brigade and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of others. The presenting of one award to three men may be unusual but it was their combined effort that has left its mark on their church, on their community, on Brigade, and in the lives of boys and their families, even around the world. They are heralds of Christ.

What can one man do?

The answer: All that God asks of him.

And, that’s why it’s important for CSB to honour such men:

they did all that they could and have created

a legacy for Christ through their work in Brigade.

Make no mistake about it; this is all about Jesus Christ.

In His own words, He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Not one of these men sought out CSB’s small honour.

Each of them has pointed to Christ, saying,

“It was, and is, all about Him and what He had done. It wasn’t me.”

They are an example to us all.

Wayne Pedersen

Regional Director for BC

1994-2001

OUR VISION: to see … godly men who serve, lead and disciple each generation