LIVING FOR LEADERSHIP
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One cold, damp morning in October 1934, a young man and his wife of a few months, sat gingerly on a small trunk by the side of the road in a little fishing community in North Eastern Newfoundland, Canada. The trunk contained all their possessions, a few changes of clothing, a few books and their Bibles. Four months ago the young man, who was just 20 years of age, had given up a teaching career to enter full-time ministry with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland. Sitting there on the side of the road with his young wife that day, he had a very difficult decision to make. They had no money, nowhere to live, nothing, except what was in that little trunk. As the young couple sat there, many thoughts raced through their minds; What will we do? Where will we live? Where will we get food? Should we give this up and go back teaching? There was no doubt in the young man’s mind, however, that he had been called of God to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He and his wife had made a commitment to God and they had dedicated their lives to Him. However, sitting there on that trunk, they wondered; Is this for real? The situation looked very bleak. In their hearts though, they felt confident that God would see them through this ordeal and they made up their minds, “We won’t quit now.” This young man and his wife had moved to Triton in August 1934 to preach the gospel. There was no church building, no residence, and no congregation. This was the beginning of the Pentecostal Ministry in the community. When they first arrived in Triton, arrangements had been made for them to stay with a family in the community who gave them their front room for their living quarters. This gentleman, a man of another faith, owned the general store in the community. Things had gone fairly well since their arrival; they were getting to know people, and a number of people were coming to the services. They were comfortable where they were staying, that is, until last night. Last night! It seemed so far away now as they sat there on the trunk thinking. Last night,without any warning, the owner of the house told them that they would have to move out the next day. “I’m losing many of my costumers because I have the Pentecostal preacher staying in my house. I’m sorry, but I have no choice. You will have to leave.” They moved out in the morning and here they were sitting on the trunk by the side of the road. It
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About the Book
My parents, Pastors Wilson and Bessie Etsell, faced many obstacles during the early years of their ministry. They began their ministry in a small community in August 1934. One cold morning in October of that year, they found themselves sitting on a small trunk by the side of the road. They had no money and no place to live. Everything they owned was in that trunk. By faith, they overcame, and because of their dedication and determination, they developed many leadership qualities, which guided them throughout their lives. This is an account of their early years in ministry and some of the leadership qualities that contributed to almost fifty years of full-time ministry throughout Newfoundland.
One of the greatest challenges that Mom and Dad ever faced came in 1950, when I was thirteen years of age, and medical doctors at the General Hospital in St. John’s, Newfoundland, told them that there was no hope or cure for my condition and that I would only live for a few weeks.
About the Author
Frank C. Etsell is the oldest son of the late Pastors Wilson and Bessie Etsell. In 1951, Frank was instantly healed of paralysis. After finishing high school, he attended Memorial University of Newfoundland and spent eight years as a high school teacher. In 1965, he left the teaching profession and went to work with a mining company, the Iron Ore Company of Canada, in Labrador City, Newfoundland. During the next thirty-two years, he held several management positions in the field of health and safety. Upon his retirement in 1997, he moved to Springdale, Newfoundland, where he now resides with his wife, Vivian. Frank has also held leadership positions with the church for most of his adult life, including more than thirty years as secretary of the Board of Deacons with two different churches in Newfoundland.