The steps of a good man

VIRGIL, ONT.

Arriving home late one Saturday night last November, I lifted the phone receiver to see if anyone had left a message. Yes, a complete stranger had asked to be contacted at a prominent Niagara-on-the-Lake hotel. Even though the hour was late, my husband made the call. It was rather enigmatic! Where did Mr. Quah from Malaysia get information about Cornerstone Church, where he would like to attend the following morning?

On Sunday, Walter dropped me off at church and went to fetch Mr.Quah. When our guest arrived some time later, he handed me a yellow rose. What a lovely surprise! During the service, Walter was surprised at how well he joined in the singing.

It wasn't until we were seated around the table for lunch (an invitation which he had reservedly accepted) that he said, "Now I will explain why I contacted you."We listened in amazement while this Peat Marwick accountant related his story.

On Friday afternoon, he had arrived from the Toronto airport on the Niagara Airbus. He was quite near his destination when the bus drove through the village of Virgil and he saw a church named "Cornerstone". Immediately he thought, "That is where I want to worship because my church in Malaysia is also `Cornerstone'!" On Saturday, Mr. Quah wandered along the Niagara-on-the-Lake sidewalks and chanced to go into a little gift shop. "These people must be Christians," he thought, so he asked whether they could give him information about the Cornerstone Church. Without hesitation, he was given the pastor's name and phone number as well as the name and phone number of an associate. Back at the hotel, he began telephoning. No one was home, and he finally decided to leave a message.

As the story unfolded, I marvelled at God's guidance. In order for him to see the Cornerstone sign, he had to be seated on the left of the bus. Of all the shops in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Lord had guided him to the Ten Thousand Villages shop, an agency of Mennonite Central Committee. The very fact that I checked for messages upon arriving home was guidance--sometimes we forget.

Shortly after our inspiring visit, I learned that Mr. Quah had sent a letter of thanks to the Ten Thousand Villages store via a hotel courier. In due time, we also received a letter of thanks and a bulletin (in English) from the Cornerstone Fellowship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Appreciation was expressed not only to us but also to the Cornerstone congregation for ministering to his spiritual needs. In another note at Easter time, Mr. Quah reported joyfully that God had answered their (and our) prayers for a pastor for their scattered congregation in Kuala Lumpur.

We can confidently trust that "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Psalm 37:23).

Helen Bergmann

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