by Rev. John Dyck
Edmonton Bible Presbyterian Church, Edmonton, Canada
the Missions Banner, Feb/Mar 2026

It is a great privilege to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (Luke 4:18). To preach God’s holy Word to His covenant people is a fearful responsibility, but one in which the Lord shows His strength through the weakness of His servants.

There has been a gospel witness in Edmonton under the umbrella of the Bible Presbyterian Church since at least 1947. That is the first year that our congregation is mentioned in the minutes of the Bible Presbyterian Church Synod. Notable pastors have been Cornelius M. Eelman (1959–1960), David Meyers, Jr. (1963–1967), and Edward E. Crawford (1972–1990). I was privileged to have been called to serve this congregation in December of 1990, just over 35 years ago.

After I graduated from Winnipeg Bible College in 1975, I was interested in pursuing the gospel ministry but did not feel qualified. I married my high school sweetheart that same year, and shortly afterward, in 1979, Gini and I left for Edmonton, where I had been offered a job as manager of an art supply store. One of my customers was Ed Crawford, pastor of the Edmonton Bible Presbyterian Church, who introduced me to a book by Martin Luther titled The Bondage of the Will. That book brought me to understand the doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone. I was amazed that most of his arguments came from the Gospel of John, which I had often read before, but not as carefully as when the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to the plain meaning of the Scriptures. This revived my interest in the ministry, and I felt the call of God to pursue a seminary education to prepare to preach the gospel. That call was confirmed in the laying on of hands by what is now the Great Western Presbytery on May 20, 1990.

Shortly after we returned to Edmonton, Pastor Crawford resigned as pastor of the church to pursue a church planting ministry in the state of Washington. The church called me to be their pastor beginning December 1, 1990.

There were a number of controversies brewing as I began my ministry, and it was difficult to evaluate them all properly. I learned the hard way that it is possible to become involved in these troubles in a political way that only addresses the surface problem, which always results in a superficial solution. One of the valuable lessons I am still learning is to bring everything under subjection to the gospel of Christ in fervent prayer. This brings context to every trial.

Success in the ministry is sometimes difficult to evaluate, and it has been a challenge for both myself and the faithful members of our congregation, some of whom have been with us from the beginning, to discern at times God’s hand in the many providences we have witnessed over these years. Yet as we look through the pages of Scripture, we see an enduring testimony of faithfulness mingled with hardship. Despite things not always going in the direction we had hoped for, we are confident that God’s hand has been in it all, faithfully building His church. The Lord has seen fit to keep us small, yet faithful to the gospel of His saving grace in Christ. Over these past 35 years, we have witnessed many a weary and broken sojourner come through the doors of our church to find a drink for their thirsty soul. Some moved on after a season, but some stayed, and it has been an honour to serve Christ by serving His saints in need.

I am not the one who has been faithful for the past 35 years. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, the great Head of the Church, who has sustained His work and upheld His servant.

I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to further mention my wife, Gini, who is far above rubies, and who has faithfully stood by my side through it all. We have laughed together, cried together, and above all else, we have marveled at the faithfulness of our gentle Saviour.

From a human perspective, the future may be uncertain, yet in words often attributed to Martin Luther, ‘I know not the way God leads me, but well do I know my Guide.” Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. ~ Psalm 115:1