One dismal November evening I met with Les Ferguson and his wife Ruth. Les has reached the time of life where he can look back to adventure and thrills, great joy and great sorrow.
Reflections - A Testimony of a Former R.C.A.F. Flying Officer
He was born 76 years ago in Port Elgin, Ontario.
Les wanted to fly and fly he did. At 19 he joined the Royal Canadian Airforce in 1943. He trained in Windsor, Centralia, P.E.I. then the Bahamas. Although Les said it was for the excitement he also felt it was his duty and as he said himself he would have been conscripted so why not be a step ahead!
Before he left for serious duty he married Ruth in 1944.
Les was a flying officer in the R.C.A.F. attached to the R.A.F.Coastal Command in Ceylon. I asked him where he flew and what he did. He told me he laid mines and targeted enemy ships…over Sumatra! He added that he spent more time on boats than in the air.
Although many of his young friends were killed Les never felt it would happen to him. 1946 he returned from war & the U.K.to his bride in Canada.
Les, when probed a little, confessed that his family although good church going people never talked about their religion and neither did he. However, his wife Ruth had been going to a bible study. This led to Ruth’s salvation and a desire that Les would also hear the gospel.
Ruth confided that Les was such a good moral upright man. However, through a consistent witness of a businessman, Les was confronted with the claims of Christ.
Dr Rae asked him one day if he understood the verse Romans 10 verse 9. Yes Les said he did.
The scripture reads "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation"
The Dr pointed out to Les that if this was the case he should tell someone about what he believed in his heart. So that evening he went home. He waited till he and Ruth were in bed, "with the lights out" added Ruth. This was the beginning of his Christian journey. He and Ruth were baptised together sometime later.
They joined the fellowship at Glebemount Gospel Chapel in Toronto.
When asked Les says the scripture that means most to him and which he would like to leave with his children and grandchildren is the verse from Romans 10.
Les & Ruth have been in happy fellowship at Bethel-Park Bible Chapel, Brantford many years and involved in the life of the assembly.
The flying years were exciting of course but his Christian experience and walk have been the most important and challenging of all.
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