In God’s refining fire

“Lord, how can I be a good steward of my loss?” These words echoed in Jerry Weber’s mind as he cleaned up debris from a fire that destroyed his shop, his equipment and his livelihood as a manufacturer of high-end furniture.

Setbacks are not new to Weber and his family. Several years ago, he experienced bankruptcy when markets for his custom-made furniture business dried up after the events of 9/11.

In 1996, the family’s youngest son Sam was born with a serious pancreatic problem and needed 24-hour care. In order to provide the needed care, Jerry and his wife Lila quit work and relied on welfare to get them through. In 2004, Lila went on stress leave from her social work position when she suffered a serious whiplash in a car accident.

The fire on Sept. 30, 2004 happened just as he was rebuilding clientele and the business. In spite of good intentions, Weber had neglected to put insurance coverage on the business and the loss of $30,000 worth of equipment and furniture-in-progress threatened another round of want and difficulty for the family of five.

Caring support

When the tragedy struck there was a groundswell of caring support from church and community. Mutual Aid Ministries, the mutual aid arm of Mennonite Aid Union and MAX Canada Insurance Company, worked with the Webers’ congregation, Glencairn MB Church in Kitchener to seek collaborative financial, emotional and spiritual aid. A $5,000 donation from Mutual Aid Ministries was more than matched by the generosity of the congregation.

More support came from two mothers in the neighbourhood who started a trust fund that raised about $2,500 for the family. The school where oldest son Josiah attends held several fundraising events and raised more than $1,300.

But it was a human interest story about the family in the Kitchener Record that provided the greatest miracle for Jerry.

A Christian businessman from a nearby community who rarely reads the Record happened to buy the paper that day and saw the story. He called Jerry on a Sunday afternoon and confided that he felt compelled to call and invite him to work for his company building stairs and railings.

“Mr. Huffman offered me a job, generosity and love all at once. He’s become like a brother to me,” Weber says. He continues his employment there while his passion for building furniture has been relegated to a small but insured shop behind their Kitchener home.

Being prepared

“We’re constantly being prepared and developed for what God wants of us,” Weber says. The morning of the September fire, he had met with a friend who had challenged him to acknowledge his anger for events of past years. It was with this challenge fresh on his mind that he received word of the enormous loss of his shop and equipment on his parents’ farm near Petersburg.

His reflective response to the question of how to be a good steward of his loss? “To receive it gladly and not with shame or resignation.”

“The grace that we received over the past years was more significant than the losses experienced,” Weber reflects. In retrospect, he says, it was all part of “God’s refining fire!”

Part of God’s grace for Jerry Weber and family has been the encouragement from others who have experienced tough times. God’s promise, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9), is particularly true and powerful when surrounded by a loving and caring community.

Nelson Scheifele is Director of Mutual Aid Ministries for MAX Canada Insurance Company. Jerry Weber’s woodcraft skills are regularly featured in Canadian Home Workshop, where he serves as contributing editor; his creations are showcased on Jerry Weber’s website.