I am a servant of Jesus Christ to the church

Milton Fast: A philosophy of ministry

Terry M. Smith

Milton, now 79, has served as senior pastor in four EMC churches (Kleefeld, Swift Current, Steinbach, and La Crete) and within interim pastorates in Mount Salem, Vanderhoof, Rosenort Fellowship, Riverton, Hillside, and La Crete.

(photos by Becky Buhler)

He and others used to think more “black and messages on love when it was uncommon in the white,” without as many grey areas as today. Christ Kleine Gemeinde (early EMC). was always presented, but the Christian walk was “I was always pleased to hear that I was like more “legalistically” taught. As people shifted, his grandfather in my message presentation,” he says. theology shifted with them because he had to face He wants people to follow the Lord because of issues. For instance, harsh discipline love, not guilt. He says that you can wasn’t generally as effective as intended, even if motivated by a strong desire to “I was always say strong things from the pulpit; for Milton, though, the greater sin is not to keep the Church clean. pleased to hear fall down, but to not get up. This shift in ministry style also refl ects an inward Love and grace that I was like change. What comes to his mind with the word redemption? “Jesus paid it all,” he grandfather When preaching, he would say, “Look, I am struggling with you. I haven’t replies. Somewhere, linked to that, the motive for discipleship changed from in my message arrived.” He still has an amazing joy in preaching, which he still does when fear to love. As a result he has often presentation,” serving Saturday Night or approached preached on grace. He found out later by another church. In my observation in that his grandfather Henry R. Dyck, he says. conversation, he has a wonderful clarity a minister, was “noted” for preaching of mind with clear, strong speech.