A Life of Courage and Faith: Remembering Alf
It’s rare to learn directly from someone who lived well beyond a century. This is the story of Alf, a man whose life and words left a lasting impression.
I’ve written before about Margaret, the founder’s wife of the camp where we live and work. She was a spirited woman who loved to quote Scripture and offer wise, memorable counsel. Margaret passed away in January at the age of 96. Today I want to share the story of her husband, Alf.
People often describe Margaret as a woman of faith, and rightly so. Alf was a man of faith as well, but above all I think of him as a man of courage.
In 1944, he and his new bride boarded a boat called the Goforth. They owned very little in material terms but carried a big vision and deep trust. Their calling was to travel the coast of British Columbia, stopping in remote communities to encourage people and share the story of Jesus. Choosing that life required a profound kind of courage — stepping into the unknown, facing rough weather both literally and figuratively, and maintaining steady faith through decades of change.
Over the past 21 years I’ve been privileged to watch Alf live out that commitment. At 97 years young he has taught many of us what daily faith looks like in practice: how to be consistent, compassionate, and courageous in ordinary life.
This year brought great sorrow when Alf lost Margaret, the partner he had shared life with for more than 60 years. Grief has been a heavy adjustment, yet we’ve seen him turn to Jesus for comfort and strength. He speaks honestly about missing Margaret while intentionally seeking joy and purpose even amid the pain.
Recently Alf took another significant step of courage. After living in the same house on the Camp Homewood property for over 47 years, he decided to move into a retirement complex in a nearby town. Packing up decades of memories was understandably difficult, and we, too, have been adjusting to his absence from the home he inhabited for so long.
{our current staff and families, with Alf}
The evening before he left, we held a farewell dinner. Near the end of the night Alf stood, leaned toward us, and shared some reflections on the past year and the move ahead. He wanted to leave us with one simple, profound message.
He told of a learned theologian who, after a lifetime of study, was asked what the most meaningful words he could offer were. Alf shared the same simple answer the theologian gave, and it’s a line we still carry with us:
“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
That simple truth has been at the center of the way Alf and Margaret lived their lives: humble, steady, and focused on sharing hope with others. Though Alf moved a short distance away, we remain grateful he is nearby and that we can still visit or call him.
I told Alf that night that while I cherish the stories of the early years, what has impacted me most is watching how he and Margaret translated their faith into ordinary acts of kindness, service, and faithful living over decades.
Blessings to you, Alf. We love you and are thankful for your example.
Update: Alf passed away on July 29, 2018, just days shy of his 101st birthday. We say goodbye with bittersweet hearts, thankful that he is now in glory, reunited with Margaret. His life of faith, courage, and service will be remembered and cherished by many.
