Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/91

Contributor - Terre Allison

Title - After Thought

Topic -

I had the opportunity to write the Kid's Stuff column for Pioneer Christian Monthly for about two years. I enjoyed the opportunity very much and in some ways I am very sad to see the page no longer printed. I have some fine memories of the articles, that were sometimes hard to put together, but in the end I seemed to always make the deadline, with the help of God.

My husband Steve, son Phillip and I moved to St. Albert, Alberta in October of 1987, where Steve is the pastor of Christ Community Church. We moved here from California which was quite a climatic shock to our systems!

I was born and raised in a small community in Pennsylvania, called Elverson. Since I lived in a small town I was able to walk to church most of my life. I have attended church and Sunday School as long as I can remember and at the age of 13 I joined the Methodist Church. At the age of 15, with the encouragement and support of an evangelical pastor, Rev. M. Caffey, I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour. I have always felt that my faith in Christ has been more personal than some other kids, because I was not raised in a Christian home and did not have that support and influence of my parents. I am grateful to them, however that they did not forbid me from attending church functions and they did attend if there was some special program that I was involved in.

In high school, I was part of the basket ball and girl's field hockey teams. I graduated from Twin Valley High School in 1974. 1 then continued my education in Lancaster, PA. where I became a Certified Surgical Technologist. (Many of you may have heard of Lancaster, Co., Pennsylvania, because it is the Heart of the Amish Country)

After a long desire to do so, I packed UP MY Ford Mustang and headed to California in 1981. I am not sure if I was a pioneer or a rebel! In hindsight, I see that it was all part of God's perfect plan, because it was there that I became involved in Christ Community Church, Carmichael and met Steve. We married in January 1984 and headed to Beverly, Massachusetts in July for Steve to attend Seminary. Little did I know I would marry a California boy who would "drag" me back East. I feel very fortunate that I was able to work in surgery the entire time to help us financially as Steve attended school. I worked in surgery for 13 years until Phillip was born, in September of 1987.

That was quite a year of change for us. In a matter of two months, Steve graduated and was ordained, Phillip was born and baptized and we moved here to a different country far from the familiar.

It has not always been easy but, we felt God's call here and we are in ministry together, as a couple and as a family. I have led women's Bible studies, have been part of different committees and the Worship Music Team since we have been here in Alberta. I have just recently taken a break from some of these activities as our second child is about to born.

I would like to thank those involved with PCM for the opportunity that I had to minister in a way I never saw myself doing. To all the kids who read an article here and there, I'd like to say - life is a great adventure, especially when you allow God to be your travel guide. I only hope that you can allow Him to have complete control of your travel plans. Only with Him can we live one day at a time to its fullest! May God bless you all!

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