MIF 11:6 (Nov-Dec 1979)
“Precious In The Sight Of The Lord
Is The Death Of His Saints”
(Psalm 116:15)
By now most of our readers, if not all, know that Mrs. Mayse Gunn, the beloved wife of our esteemed associate editor, Mr. James Gunn, passed into the presence of Christ-on July 9, 1979 (we would have published this in our last issue, but the printing schedule did not permit it). What most of our readers may not know is the Mrs. Gunn suffered through the various stages of multiple sclerosis for some 45 years, having been the longest case of this debilitating malady on record in Ontario. Nevertheless, in spite of her great handicap she pressed on faithfully midst family and assembly responsibilities with courage and confidence in the Lord.
On several occasions it was the editor’s pleasure to meet Mrs. Gunn, including a brief memorable visit in 1969 which my family and I had with our brother and sister in their former home at Midland, Ontario.
Since its inception in 1955, Ministry in Focus magazine (then entitled Food for the Flock) was very close to Mrs. Gunn’s heart. Behind the scenes in past years she was involved in those tasks familiar to any editor, such as reading, evaluating and correcting manuscripts.
Mrs. Gunn’s funeral service was taken by Dr. James T. Naismith of Peterborough, Ontario, who was assisted by Mr. J. Boyd Nicholson, Sr. of St. Catharines, Ontario. Both brethren are committee members of Food for the Flock, Inc. which assumes the responsibility of publishing Ministry in Focus. Mr. Gary Pickle of Don Valley Bible Chapel, Toronto, sang Mrs. Gunn’s favorite hymn, “My Jesus, I Love Thee.”
On behalf of the magazine committee and our reader family, we extend further to Brother Gunn and his family our loving sympathy, at the same time assuring them of our continued prayers.
Perhaps there is no more fitting way to conclude these brief remarks than to quote the last two stanzas of Mrs. Gunn’s favorite hymn:
I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow,
“If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.”
In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow
“If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.”—The Editor