Mrs. Verna Ramer and her husband, the late Mr. Gordon Ramer, visited Colborne Church in its beginnings in 1937.  As a young couple, they sensed the call of God on their lives to move to Colborne from Stouffville to serve as support for the young congregation.  When describing how she and her husband felt about their new surroundings she said, “We lived in Thomas Brown’s house until our apartment was ready in the same block above the church.  We all helped with it, Mr. Sider too.  We had lots of fun working together so we didn’t get homesick.”  Whenever she and her husband became discouraged with the progress of the church, they reminded themselves of their call, and with the assurance that they were where God wanted them, they pressed on.

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Mrs. Ramer reflects on the purchase of the church building on King Street: “One great highlight was when we were able to buy the twelve-room Walker House on King Street East.  It was a lot of work making it back into a church again.  We all had to work long hours at least two weeks before the opening date.  The Church was filled for the opening and from then on it was much easier to get people to attend.” 

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Regarding finances Mrs. Ramer comments, “Of course when there is only a small congregation one wonders how it will get paid for.  We just had to reach out in faith; the Lord took care of the finances.  It wasn’t too long before we were able to burn the mortgage; that was a real praise meeting with almost a full church.  It was well advertised and many of the townspeople attended.”

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The addition of several buildings was also a highlight for Mrs. Ramer: “How nice it was to have our own parsonage so that the pastor did not have to live in a rented house.  It is just like the Lord to provide our need and for His work.  Friendship House met our needs.  We thank God for His provision of the Prospect House.”

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​Perhaps Mrs. Ramer’s final remarks characterize the real heartbeat of the congregation: “It is rewarding to see how the Lord has worked down through the years, and it is encouraging to see new families coming in.  God is so good.  Oh yes, things didn’t always go smooth; there were problems to overcome, etc. but God helped us through.  Many years have come and gone, but God has always provided someone to take their place.”

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Interview with Verna I. Ramer, Prospect Missionary Church, 15 November 1988

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Perhaps Mrs. Ramer’s final remarks characterize the real heartbeat of the congregation: “It is rewarding to see how the Lord has worked down through the years, and it is encouraging to see new families coming in.  God is so good.  Oh yes, things didn’t always go smooth; there were problems to overcome, etc. but God helped us through.  Many years have come and gone, but God has always provided someone to take their place.”2

2 Interview with Verna I. Ramer, Prospect Missionary Church, 15 November 1988.