4. It gave me an opportunity to continue—although in a little different way—my pastoral ministry. I became the summertime pastor to the youth on my staff, and that was a delightful experience. Early every morning I met with the staff and shared a thought with them from God’s Word and prayed with them that God would make each one of them a blessing to the guests. I have always loved working with youth, and through the years God has been pleased to bless my ministry among them.
5. I was able to continue my preaching ministry. Every morning after breakfast the guests would gather in what was known as Delectable Mansion and I would lead a 15-minute devotional time. Many guests said that they received as much spiritual blessing from those few minutes as they did at the hour-long chapel services with well-known preachers from around the world.
There are many times when our lives take twists and turns that we find challenging to face, but when we face them knowing that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV) and that “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19), we can then look back and thank God for what seemed at the time to be an exasperating detour.
It has been said that when one door closes, God will open another door. That door was about to open! Praise be to God!
CHAPTER 3
Loss of Employment Again
When my employment at Keswick Conference was terminated, I needed to pray for God’s guidance as to my next step. In my youth I learned a biblical proverb that says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6, NKJV). The apostle James writes, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). I have banked on those promises throughout my life, and once again I needed to put the principle into practice. As I walked the streets of Barrie and along the shoreline of beautiful Kempenfelt Bay (walking is good for us physically and therapeutic emotionally), pondering what my next step (pardon the pun) should be, I felt only a sense of peace, knowing that God was in control and something would turn up in His time. It was a difficult time of uncertainty for Marion—as her health was continuing to decline—and for our boys, who were still in school.
LIGHT IN THE TUNNEL
One evening while Marion and I were reading and the boys were out and about, the phone rang. It was Vic Jackson, a member of my former parish of Emmanuel Baptist. Vic was brought up in a little village outside of Barrie and attended a one-room schoolhouse. Unfortunately, he—like the NHL (National Hockey League) coach Jacques Demers and many Canadians—had slipped through the school system and graduated illiterate. However, like Demers, who later became a Canadian senator, Vic didn’t allow this problem to control his life. When he graduated from grade 8 at age 15, he got a job working with a carpenter who took a keen interest in him and noticed that he was a natural when it came to handling tools and operating machines. After a number of years apprenticing, Vic decided it was time to launch out on his own, and he established the Vic Jackson Renovation Company. The business was very successful, and he learned how to work around his illiteracy problem, as so many people with the same challenge do.
On the phone, Vic expressed his regrets that I had been let go at Keswick and wondered if I would like to do some work for him. In my inimitable manner, I responded, “Sure; what do you have in mind?”
“Well,” he said, rather hesitatingly, “it’s digging postholes and installing a fence around the property of…” and he mentioned the man’s name. This man was a very successful and wealthy businessman. He and his wife lived in a multi-million dollar mansion on the shores of Kempenfelt Bay. They were not members of my parish but would often attend our Sunday evening services, along with many people from other churches that had only morning services. When I met Vic at the job site, of course the owners were rather shocked to see the Rev. Ernest Nullmeyer in work clothes. Vic showed me what to do, and I started in to dig the postholes and erect this mammoth fence. It took me four weeks, and at the end the owners thanked me for doing such a great job. Little did I (or the owners) know that sometime in the future, I would be back at their home decorating it, having established Nullmeyer Decorating. It’s a good lesson for my beloved grandchildren and all youth to remember: Always do your best, because you never know what it will lead to.
NOW WHAT?
The question of course on my mind—and on the minds of my beloved family—was “What will I do next to keep money coming into our home?” There was no need to worry, as Vic (and God) had it all planned out. Vic thanked me for the excellent job I had done erecting the fence and then said he would be in touch with me if something turned up. I didn’t have to wait long!
Vic had been awarded the contract to install all the door and window hardware in Barrie’s new Riverwood subdivision. One day the superintendent asked him if he knew someone who would do an excellent job on paint touch-ups in the homes that had recently had their one-year inspections. The person for the job had to be very trustworthy, as most of the owners would be out to work. Vic said, “I know the very man for the job; he is as honest a man as you could ever meet.” Vic contacted me to see if I was interested in this six-week contract.
My answer? “Yes, indeed!” I went to meet the superintendent, and he hired me within minutes. The following Monday I commenced this job, which was so right for me as it was relaxing and therapeutic, and it provided six weeks of income. And amazingly it was a harbinger of what would eventually become my new vocation—painting and decorating.
One of the homes was owned by a young medical doctor who had recently moved to Barrie to set up her family practice. When I had finished the job, she thanked me for my excellent work. Once again, little did I know that someday in the future that excellent work would lead to a large contract for redecorating her whole house from a contractor’s beige to a beautiful colour scheme that I would draw up for her. Yes, we never know when we are planting a seed that will take root and bloom in the future.
WHAT’S NEXT?
So with that job completed, what would be next? Another phone call from Vic, asking me if I would be interested in working with him on a big renovation job. He said, “Before you answer, let me describe the job.” It was going to start out as a very dirty job, as all the plaster and lath had to be removed from the ceilings and walls and then replaced with drywall.
He continued, “You will have to wear old clothes, and we will be wearing masks.” Well, the mask aspect wouldn’t be new to me, as I had donned masks many times when making pastoral calls on parishioners in hospital isolation wards. Oh, the ironies of life, going from one mask to another!
He paused then for my answer, and as always I said, “Sure, I’ll work with you on that job.” He would meet me at the house on Monday morning and introduce me to the owners, who would then be on their way to their offices of a company they owned and operated. I would eventually work for that company. Really? Yes, really! That’s an amazing and wonderful part of the story that will come to light shortly.
On Monday morning, I was up bright and early (as I am always am), ate breakfast with Marion and the boys, packed a lunch and went off to work, no doubt singing praises to God for opening up this new employment opportunity. And sing all day long I did, even right through the mask shielding my lungs from the fine plaster dust. Eventually we got all of the plaster and lath removed and installed the drywall, and the ceilings and walls were now ready for painting.
ALWAYS DOING OUR BEST
As Vic had warned me, it was indeed a dirty job, but one that paid off. Indeed, we never know how one job well done will lead to something even better. Let me insert here a wonderful proof of that statement. It comes from the Bible story of Abraham sending his chief servant out, along with ten of his camels and “all kinds of good things,” to find a wife among his own people for his son Isaac (Genesis 24). I have taken the liberty to give you the Ernie Nullmeyer translation of the story, just as I would tell it—extemporaneously—if I were relating it in the pulpit.
THE JOB THAT PAID OFF HANDSOMELY