PASTOR HAROLD AND PHYLLIS COBB - Guest Speaker - Sunday, March 10th, 10:00 a.m.

Phyllis and Harold Cobb - click photo to enlarge

We are grateful that we can coerce Pastor Harold from his retirement from time to time, to come preach God's Truth here at Cedardale Church.

Pastor Harold and Phyllis came to the Church of the Nazarene from a background with the Salvation Army.  In 1995, Maple Grove Community Church of the Nazarene in Barrie (now Ferris Lane Community CotN), had a congregation that had dwindled to 18 - 20 people, and 'closing the doors' was the option being considered.

As the result of a series of miraculous "coincidences" (i.e. God's intervention!), the District Supervisor appointed Harold Cobb as the church's new pastor. He arrived on September 1, 1995, and he faced a formidable task. The congregation was demoralized; people were leaving in droves. There was no Sunday School. There was no pianist. There were no ministries available for the few people that did attend. In fact, there was no reason to attend this church.  Except that it was God's Will.

Over the next six years, new people arrived, people from all walks of life. Young couples with children came and stayed, and a Sunday School had to be organized. A pianist transferred in from another Nazarene church, and, with the organist, formed the basis of a new music ministry. As this juggernaut of growth gained momentum, people who had left the church began to return, and the numbers continued to swell. New ministries developed and old ministries expanded as God sent people to co-ordinate them.  Miracles abounded.

Pastor Cobb did not work these miracles. He is the first to admit it.  And the congregation recognize it as well. God worked a miracle in this church, not the pastor, and not the people. One member in 2002 said, "God places men and women where He wants them and works through them.  And He sent His Holy Spirit into our midst and taught us to love Him and to love one another. He taught us to become a family. And not a closed family, a family whose arms are open to embrace new members as God sends them our way." 

Come and worship with us on March 10th as we enjoy each other's company and hear God's Truth from Pastor Harold.  Perhaps we'll be able to get Phyllis to sing, too!

Pastor Harold's message: Lord, please grant me a healthy heart!  He will be speaking and teaching from Mark 12:28-34.