November 5thINNOVATE @ West Hills, Inspiring Lives, Making a Difference
“Homer would have loved it!” I said.
One of our families at West Hills Fellowship hosted a movie night at their business location. It is an OUT weekend for our congregation which means we forego a traditional worship service in lieu of intentional plans to invite those who are part of the fabric of our daily lives but who may not otherwise engage the traditional church. Our church members were almost outnumbered by the families that accepted the invitation to the movie night. Those in attendance ranged in age from infant to 90 years of age.
We watched the movie Family Camp, a faith based comedy by The Skit Guys about two polar opposite families forced to camp together. Again I say, “Homer would have loved it!”
“We’re together in this thing. We love our God. We want His glory known in the world"
Homer Witmer, a long time member of our church family went to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ this past year. He had served as director at Fraser Lake Camp in the 1970s. His obituary shares the story of a life given in service to others and an example of passionate spirituality, radical community engagement and missional zeal. He once answered a newspaper ad for someone new to Canada looking for a friend. That is a beautiful way to describe Homer, a true friend to all. Homer’s life is an inspiration to all of us.
Homer asked in his last few days “What will happen to West Hills?” We are a small group of dedicated families joined together by a desire to be the light of Christ in our neighbourhoods, on our sports teams and in our workplaces.
Homer was a visionary and someone willing to change with the times, all the while keeping Jesus Christ at the centre. Homer would have been reassured on that movie night that the church is not a building or a place, but the people gathered together in God’s name.
David Platt (radical.net) says “We’re together in this thing. We love our God. We want His glory known in the world. He’s given us a Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. Let’s build each other up in Christ. With the Spirit of God in us, we’re a body working together for the glory of our God and the world.” This is how Homer saw brothers and sisters in Christ, as builders working alongside each other to further the Kingdom of God.
Although we didn’t plan our movie night to honour Homer, it was a beautiful and fitting way to remember our dear friend in faith and love. Homer would have loved it!