Folks at First – Richard Hovey

An interview with Pastor Richard Hovey by Esther Wiens

As a way of welcoming you to our church, we would like to ask you some questions that would help us know you and your family.

Let’s start with you: tell us something about your background and early years.

My father was in the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force), so in my early years we moved quite a bit. I was actually born in Leidschendam, Holland but only lived there for the first couple of years before my family moved back to Canada. While I was growing up, we did not attend church regularly, but at the age of 10 (in Grade 5) I received a Gideon New Testament in school; this was the beginning of my faith journey. I began to read it and learned about Jesus who walked on water, fed 5000, cared for people in need, and spent time with God in prayer.

I was in need myself: the previous summer, my father passed away suddenly with a heart attack. As I continued to read the Testament, I began to pray—as Jesus would often pray. I talked to Jesus about my pain and what I was going through. In my scripture reading and prayers I felt the caring invitation of Jesus to come to him, and so I did. I gave my heart to our Lord in 1987, two years after receiving the Gideon New Testament.

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