Induction Service for Pastor Hal Babcock

A wonderful evening was enjoyed by all who attended the induction of Pastor Hal and Barb Babcock as pastor of the Temperance Vale and Middle Southampton Baptist churches in northwestern York County, New Brunswick at the Temperance Vale Community Hall. The hall was beautifully decorated by the ladies from the community.

The evening began with a delicious pot luck supper followed by an hour of music by local country and gospel performers John Stairs and the Praise band, Pastor Hal and Alan Dockerty and newly formed bluegrass duet. We were also blessed by Hal’s friend Jerry Wright as he played Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling and In the Sweet By and By on his tenor saxophone accompanied by the rest of the musicians. Hal’s supervisor Rev. Watson Williams opened the induction service with the call to worship from Psalm 103:1-5 and prayer. He also read one of Hal’s favorite scriptural passages Romans 1:1-17 and John 3:11-24, the evening’s scripture text.

Rev. Jerry Horsman preached a very meaningful message entitled What will make this marriage work? and Dr. Susan Schriver sang a beautiful medley of In His time and Whatever it Takes. Search committee chair Rick Haminga spoke briefly regarding the process of calling Hal and Barb and how God’s hand was evidenced throughout. Rev. Dr. Karl Csaszar conducted the exchange of vows between pastor and churches and leaders from both churches and from other churches in attendance gathered around Hal and Barb for laying on of hands and prayer led by Rev. Horsman. Hal and Barb’s home church Skyline Acres Baptist chartered a bus to bring a large representation of the church family there to support them in their new ministry. Greetings were brought from other churches and the service closed with a joyful rendition of I’ll Fly Away led by the musicians and the benediction prayer by Pastor Hal.

From left: Rev. Dr. Karl Csaszar, Moderator York Association, Dr. Susan Schriver, soloist, Pastor Hal and Barb Babcock, Rick Haminga, Search Committee Chair and Rev. Jerry Horsman, Regional Minister. Absent from photo, Rev. Watson Williams.