The new ministers at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Outlook are settling into a town they describe as friendly and a community they very much want to get to know.
Mac and Lila de Waal are coming to Outlook from Alberta, where they served in different congregations. At Bethlehem they will be working together, something they haven’t been able to do for a few years.
Lila entered the ministry first, after hearing a call in her late teens. Time at Bible school solidified that path but not in the way she first anticipated. “I thought I was going to do mission work,” Lila explained, “but the Lord said, serve at home first.” She was in ministry for six years before marrying Mac, who was a journeyman plumber and gas fitter. Mac describes himself as the clergy spouse until one night when he had an unforgettable dream. “I don’t remember dreams, but I still remember that one,” he remarked.
In his dream Mac was being ordained in his home congregation. He didn’t know what it meant since he’d never seen an ordination service before. So he talked with friends and although they felt Mac had gifts for ministry, told him it was something he would need to work out with God.
One evening Mac attended a Bible study and decided that if the pastor brought up the topic of going into the ministry he would talk to him about it, even though it was a conversation he didn’t want to have. “So I walked into the door of the church, “ Mac explained, “and the pastor was coming down the stairs and he just looks at me. He didn’t say hi, he just says, ‘Mac, I have this real sense of God’s call on you for ministry.’” After a day of prayer and fasting the call became clear. Mac and Lila began planning for seminary.
First they had to tell his parents, who were preparing him to take over the family business, and then there was the news that Mac and Lila were expecting their first child, but through it all they felt God’s faithfulness. “The Lord has taken very good care of us,” Lila said. Mac added, “The process has been affirmed all the way along. That particular dream had elements in it that we saw fulfilled throughout the journey. God’s hand was in it the whole time.”
They worked together in a mission congregation in Lac La Biche, AB and then moved to Medicine Hat. Lila has been serving at Victory Lutheran Church, and Mac at parishes in Bow Island and Foremost. Though both felt truly blessed in their individual ministries, they longed to work together again. The move to Outlook means that is now happening. Lila said, “For the last seven years, over and over we would say, ‘Oh, I wish I was doing this with you.’” Mac remarked, “I feel like I am better when I work with Lila. I’m more creative. We feed off each other a little bit.”
Lila is a diaconal minister, a title created for those called to professional ministry in Word and Service, and Pastor Mac is ordained, called to a ministry of Word and Sacrament. They have two adult children; Hannah who graduated with a degree from CLBI in Camrose and will be heading to Vancouver to enroll in a chaplaincy course; and Peter who graduated with a diploma from CLBI and is interested in cabinet making and sound systems.
As Mac and Lila get settled into their new surroundings they have felt warmly welcomed. “People are very friendly,” Lila said. “We’ve met most of our neighbors already. In 10 years we didn’t get to know all our neighbors in Medicine Hat. People here are way more friendly. They ask questions and they want to know you.”
The de Waals want to get to know the community in return. “That’s where ministry happens, “ Pastor Mac said, “in the community. Not that there isn’t ministry in the church, but the real evangelistic mission, what the church is about, is to go and make disciples, and the only way we’re going to be able to do that is to go out and be with the people and love them into God’s community.”
Mac has been involved in chaplaincy roles with the RCMP, Legion, hospital and college, assisted with suicide prevention and disaster preparedness programs, worked with victim services, and been part of groups that funded community initiatives. “I like to be involved in those types of things so I have to figure out how it works here and how it would look to be involved in this community.” When he has free time he pursues woodworking. “I like to make sawdust,” he said with a smile. “Sometimes a project will come out of that sawdust.”
Lila has sung with community choirs, and been involved with library and refugee work. Together they enjoy riding bikes, canoeing and cross country skiing and they are looking forward to exploring this area they now call home.
But first the focus is on getting to know people here. “I look forward to working with people that clearly have some energy and drive to be about God’s work,” Pastor Mac stated. “We’re very glad to be here and to start this ministry.”
