It was with a twinge of sorrow when we returned home from an out-of town trip to check our e-mail and read that "Heaven was rejoicing as "the Major" was welcomed Home." We were sad for you because we know to be parted even for a short time from one so dear that there will be a big empty space when you all get together, and yet, because of all the wonderful memories you cherish in your hearts his presence will be felt and you will be laughing and rejoicing because one of these days you will all be together with the harvest of souls from around the world to praise our wonderful Lord Jesus who was and is "CHRIST in you the HOPE OF GLORY." MEMORIES: We thank God for His obedient servant Major Ian Thomas and for the harvest of souls as a result. I remember so well when Capernwray Hall opened in Carnsforth.

 

I was a young girl living in Northern Ireland and I often wished I could go to Capernwray for at least a week but I never did have the opportunity. However the Lord allowed me to be born into a Godly family, to parents who believed the truth of God's word just like 'the Major' did so from their teaching and from articles I read about the ministry at Capernwray I sensed a reality in that ministry and my interest never wained. It was about 30 years later that my husband (Jim) and I met Major Thomas for the first time in Jacksonville, Florida and a short time after that we met Joan and had the honour of having her as a guest in our home for several days when she was the speaker at a women's conference in our church. In 1983 our son (Ian) spent a summer at Capernwray as a lifeguard and that was an experience which made a big impression on his life when he learned the difference between the "meat of THE WORD and ' milky drival.'

 

Today he is a Pastor of Outreach at a growing church in southern California and has an ambition to go back to Capernwray sometime, perhaps in the not too distant future. His youngest daughter Megan, who is a junior in High School is planning to go to one of the Torchbearer schools when she graduates, before going on to college. One of our daughters also spent several weeks there when she graduated High School 30 years ago and was impacted by the many truths she learned then. One of our grand-daughters went to the Bible School at Monavale in New Zealand and met a young man from Denmark. They are happily married and living in Seattle. There have been several young people along the way that we have had the opportunity to share tapes of many messages preached by Major Thomas and these people, in turn have shared them with others who have been challenged and motivated in their ministry to put into practice the many truths from God's word which became real to them as they truly applied them to their own lives. So God's work goes on. We praise the Lord for the 4 sons God gave to Major Thomas and Joan and the many grandchildren who will continue to pass on the good news to the generation following.

 

Psalm 102:18 May the Joy of the Lord be your strength as you carry on the work that still needs to be done.

 

We will never forget that it is Christ in you the only Hope of Glory.

 

Most Sincerely,

 

Jim and Betty Stevenson