聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Chad Garris is at that point in his life where he might well be starting to entertain notions of what 'retirement' might look like. Instead he is walking into a new calling, as Pastor of the Parkland Bible Church.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 So, what would prompt a successful businessman from Florence South Carolina to follow a path that would lead him to pastor a church in Kipling?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t was God,鈥� Garris explains. 鈥淚 was living in South Carolina. I was single, and I had my own Garage Door Business that I'd been running for 13 years. And then, right at the point where some guys start to think about buying a red convertible 鈥� I finally answered a call that had been on my life for over 20 years. So, I went to a Bible College up in the North Carolina mountains, and began to train for ministry.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It was during his time at Bible College that Garris began to understand that God's call would lead him to Canada.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭owards the end of my time at Bible College, I went on a Mission Trip up to Canada with 3 other guys. I got into a jeep with those guys in Kamloops BC, and over the next 7 weeks we drove as far north as Innuvik, and ended up in Cochrane, AB. It was on that trip that I sensed God was calling me to come to Canada.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 After completing his time at Bible College, Garris moved up Alberta. That's where he would meet his wife Cherilynn.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e met in Lloydminster,鈥� he says. 鈥淪he's originally from Newfoundland. So, you can hear a couple of different accents in our home. Conversations are a lot of fun to listen to!鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 He notes that the decision to become the Pastor at Kipling's Parkland Bible Church was also governed by God's direction.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 sent out three resumes. We'd prayed and felt that the first church to get back to us would be the direction we'd turn. I committed to following the conversation through to the end with whichever church got back to me first 鈥� whether that church became the place where I went or not. Parkland was the first church to respond. We came out to visit a couple of times in February and March. It felt like the 'right fit'. So, we made the move and came out.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In the months since he came, Garris says that he has been touched by the need that he sees in Kipling.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚've been surprised at the struggles that I'm seeing people going through here 鈥� especially the younger people. There are some things that you assume are 'big city problems' that you won't find in a small town. But, that just isn't the case. There is such a need for God's grace and direction in so many people's lives.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Yet, despite the challenges that he knows may lie ahead, Garris says he is pleased that God has called him here.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e're glad to be here. Our son Hunter is going to Kipling School, and he likes it. The three of us feel right at home here in Kipling. We know that it's God's plan for us to be here. And I am devoting myself to the work He's given me to do 鈥� and giving all of the glory for all that I am able to accomplish 鈥� to Him.鈥澛�
