2 Timothy 2:2 says,
“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
This is one of Harold Browne’s favourite verses and one that he often quoted as he led in Christian Service Brigade.
Back in 1994, Harold was fully involved with CSB. He was a Board Member and a Regional Director. But that was the year that CSB collapsed in Canada. Our Charter had been revoked by CSB US, the Staff was fired, and the Board of Directors resigned. Only two men were left to serve as Regional Directors: Harold Browne and Wayne Pedersen.
Harold provided the administrative leadership; Wayne provided the drive. They shared a common vision. So, in 1997, they formally re-established CSB in Canada with a new Board, and Harold as its President.
In 2000, Harold worked with Gord Banman to establish the CSB Warehouse in Winnipeg. In late 2001, Ron Carnahan and Howard Pike joined the Staff. Wayne Pedersen moved into education in 2002. Then Steve Grove joined us in 2003. Others came and went, but there we were, for the past twenty years, five amigos – Harold, Gord, Ron, Howard and Steve – working together to build CSB in Canada.
During the 2008, John Launstein became our President, and Harold quietly because the Office Manager and kept the CSB ship moving forward. When Steve Grove became President in 2016, Harold was recognized as our Vice President, and still managed the Office. In 2021, Howard Pike took on the Presidential duties, and Harold was still there, being a mentor, a confidant and a friend, not just of the Staff and Board, but of every man and boy involved in the CSB ministry.
Harold was a disciple of Jesus Christ and was living out 2 Timothy 2:2. What we heard Harold say about Christ and God and the Gospel, and about Christian Service Brigade, we saw it in his daily life. And he shared it. He entrusted it to reliable, faithful men, men whom he trained in order that they could teach others also.
We are going to miss Harold and his calm leadership but we’ll be okay. All of us will, because God is in this, and He loves us, and He wants the very best for us. Because…
Now (as always) we trust in God,
To keep us Bright and Keen for Christ.
Because we love Him, because we want to serve Him,
Until we see Him face to face.
Amen!
