I hadn’t been involved in worship in some years so started digging out the old songs I knew, but when I saw Alex next he told me he didn’t want any “old songs” and gave me a list of what he wanted. I looked over the list and said “But I’d need a full band to do these!” And the rest, as they say, is history. One by one, the Lord provided a group who mostly, like myself, had not been involved in worship for some time but who loved Alex and wanted to bless him. In the course of blowing the dust off this now 7-member team, a wonderful thing happened. Through our labour to bless Alex we were all being renewed and a fresh fire and passion for Jesus was lit in each of us.

Many of Alex and his wife Joyce’s close friends were invited to come to the first evening. As we worshipped and prayed for Alex, not only was Alex blessed, but many of those there were strongly impacted by the Lord as well. After that night Alex and Joyce and the entire team felt we needed to do more worship evenings and the Holy Spirit confirmed to us that we were being called to light a beacon here on Vancouver Island and in the Westshore area. We continued to hold a number of worship gatherings in their home.

Alex went to be with his Lord in July of 2022. We led worship at his celebration of life and once again, many people who came to honour Alex’s memory were deeply touched by the Lord during worship. After Alex’s passing Joyce opened her living room as a rehearsal space and worship room. We have continued to meet weekly with the team to pray and worship and hold larger evenings of worship every few months. As we did so the Lord began to speak to us that we needed to move the worship evenings out into the community. We believe that as we continue to bring our offering of worship to the King, and bless others to enter into His presence, His Holy Spirit will come in power.

~ Thom Southwood