Fasts honoured for years of missionary service

STEINBACH, MAN.—The Board of Missions (BOM) held the annual Missionary Fellowship on June 8, 2022, to recognize the service of Lesley and Marianne Fast, who are soon moving back to the Netherlands. We shared a meal, expressed our gratitude to the Fasts, and had a time of prayer together.

BOM chairman Phil Hamm (centre) presents Marianne and Lesley Fast with a plaque in celebration of their years of missionary service. (Ruth Block)

Anthony Reimer, BOM member and associate pastor at Blumenort Community Church, began the evening with a devotional focused on God’s faithfulness. At times, even spectacular things can lose their power to impress when they become too familiar. Anthony challenged us never to lose the sense of awe and wonder of God, but to remember that he remains faithful. God has clearly demonstrated his faithfulness in the lives of Lesley and Marianne, just as he been faithful throughout history.

A tribute to Lesley and Marianne was offered by Paul Meisner, representing Wycliffe Canada. Paul read excerpts from letters of other Wycliffe members who had served with the Fasts in Papua New Guinea and been blessed by them. They experienced the warmth of being considered family while away from their home communities.

EMC Executive Director Tim Dyck also presented a tribute to Lesley and Marianne from EMC, referring to the servant nature of their ministry. A plaque was presented to the couple with the words “Well done, good and faithful servant!” inscribed in Dutch, Tungag and Roma languages.

Fasts received a plaque inscribed with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” in the Roma, Tungag and Dutch languages. (Ruth Block)

Lesley responded to these tributes by talking about appreciation. Sometimes, appreciation can be superficial, but he has experienced genuine appreciation from his home church, the EMC, and others. He expressed a desire to appreciate others in the same manner.

Marianne recalled how she responded to God’s call over 50 years ago to be engaged in full-time service. She was raised in a home that trusted the Bible and knew Jesus, and she wanted to follow him faithfully. “Blessed are those…whose hearts are set on pilgrimage” (Psalm 84:5).

Lesley and Marianne will be leaving Manitoba to spend some time with their daughter in Ontario before returning to live in the Netherlands for the foreseeable future. Although they are retirement age, they will continue to serve the Bible translation movement with their skills and expertise from the Netherlands. We are grateful for their example and lifetime of service as EMC associate missionaries.