Finishing well

In the book of Acts, Paul is quoted as saying he wants to “finish his course with joy” (Acts 20:24 KJV). This sentiment is shared by Dave Swan, associate pastor of Cedar Park Church, Ladner, B.C.

Dave Swan

For Dave, pastoring is a third career. He began his working life as a licensed mechanic, having trained in London, Ont. He worked in that trade for eight years, moving across Canada in the process, first to Alberta, then to B.C. When he arrived in B.C. there was a lack of qualified teachers for trades in B.C. high schools, so he was one of many tradespeople recruited to attend the University of B.C. to obtain a degree in education and teach his trade.

While choosing electives at university, he happened on a course in religious studies and thought, naively at the time because he was not affiliated with any church, that he might pursue a career in that area. However, it didn’t take him long to determine there was “no money” in that field, so he dropped the elective. At that point, Dave agrees, pursuit of religious studies was an intellectual choice, not a heart’s desire.

While still in school, Dave was recruited again, this time by the Delta School Board, to return to the work force and teach industrial education at Tsawwassen Junior High. He stayed with this same school as it evolved into South Delta Senior Secondary and taught there more than 34 years.

Meanwhile, over a period of 10 years, Dave continued to take courses toward his Bachelor of Arts and then a Master of Adult Education. He achieved this goal in 1982.

From head to heart

Dave’s interest in religious studies was revived when his children were of an age that he felt it important to give them some religious training. In the family’s search for a church to attend, Dave says, he began to receive information that made him think more critically about the claims of Christ. A few years later he went through a crisis that caused him to personally apply some of the things he had been hearing and, he says, “it suddenly became real and moved from my head to my heart.” One evening, on his own, Dave knelt by his bed and surrendered his life to Christ. He was baptized in a Baptist church near his home in Tsawwassen.

A few years later Dave and his wife Erna (an ethnic Mennonite) began to attend Cedar Park MB Church (CPC) in the nearby community of Ladner, joining as members in 1991. Dave immediately became involved by unofficially taking on the role of “greeter” and by helping with social activities in a group called Connections. It was a perfect fit for Dave, who has a shepherd’s heart for one-on-one interaction with people in the church as well as on the periphery. He began to feel he was being “grafted into” the Mennonite Brethren church; he was “really at home” with the MB Confession of Faith. In 1994, he was asked to become an elder at CPC.

In 1999, Dave took early retirement from his teaching position, after already having cut his workload back to part-time because of health challenges. He had just been diagnosed with celiac disease and diabetes. Once treatment began, Dave began to feel well enough to volunteer three-quarter days at CPC, establishing and overseeing small groups.

As he spent his days at the church, he developed a closer relationship with senior pastor Dave Esau, and it wasn’t long before Esau was encouraging him to go back to school in order to foster his growing vision of entering the field of pastoral ministries in an MB church.

Back to school

In September 2002, at age 59, Dave enrolled full-time at ACTS (Association of Canadian Theological Schools) in Langley, B.C. In January 2004 he graduated with a Master of Arts and Christian Studies. His experience at ACTS was “very positive” and one he would “highly recommend” both for the academic training and the sense of community between students and staff.

Dave was usually the oldest student in his class but since he has never thought of himself as being “over the hill” he still felt comfortable in that setting. In fact, he believes his age was an asset because his goal was firmer and he was able to apply life’s skills and experiences to his subjects. It was, however, a pleasant surprise to discover his recall was still sharp when learning new subjects.

When he was close to attaining his degree, Dave proposed to Cedar Park Church that he work as an associate pastor for a year on a voluntary full-time basis in the caregiving and small groups area. He was also open to occasional preaching assignments and adult Sunday school teaching. He felt that in this way, among people he considered friends and with pastor Esau as his mentor, he would gain the skill, experience and knowledge he needed to move on to a part-time paid position. This proposal was accepted and he was affirmed in this position in February.

Dave helps with home and hospital visitations and conducts many one-on-one visits over lunch or just drinking coffee at a nearby restaurant. He’s reaching into the community by offering his preaching services to the Delta Hospital’s extended care unit as well as a local retirement home. His “very unique position” as associate pastor allows him to share the joy of the Lord in the personal interaction he so enjoys but, he says, he finds his time going by “too fast.”

The apostle Paul counselled Timothy in spite of his youth to “set an example for the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12). In a similar way, in spite of being the age when he could be fully retired, Dave Swan is setting an example and modelling an option for other retired believers to finish the course with joy.

Barbara Armstrong attends Richmond Bethel MB Church, Richmond, B.C.