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By Narayan Mitra
IN MARCH, Kamloops native Larry Boss returned from
overseas to be lead pastor at the Alliance Church.
Before moving back home, Boss, 51, pastored
international churches in such diverse locations as Warsaw, Poland and
Cairo, Egypt.
Born in Ontario, Boss attended high school in Kamloops;
he later graduated from Briercrest, a Christian school in Saskatchewan.
Boss then went to work in the financial field all over B.C. for the next
eight years.
“These were the years when I drifted far from
God. Then in 1978, when my life was falling apart, an experience with Jesus
totally transformed me.” As a result, he took further theological
studies in Regina.
While pastoring Hillsdale Alliance in Regina, Boss felt
an urge to respond to God’s call for missionary work. Just at that
time, an opportunity to go to Poland in response to field work being done
by his denomination opened up.
“Communism had just crumbled in Poland. With some
sentimental ties through my grandfather, who had emigrated to Canada from
that country years ago, things seemed to have fallen into place.
“Barbara and I spent 10 great years in an up and
coming international church in Warsaw.
“The vacuum in people’s hearts, left behind
by the disappearance of socialism, brought many to seek for higher
fulfillment in lives. The churches became active to fill in the
void.”
A fruitful ministry in Europe was difficult to leave
behind, but the Bosses felt God tugging at their hearts again. This time it
was to the mysterious Middle East, to Egypt’s capital city of Cairo.
A 60-year-young international church, patronized by
over 50 denominations and almost equal number of nationalities, was to be
their new learning experience in world missions.
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Weekly attendance in four services exceeded 2,000, but
the strength of the church lay in its 400-plus small groups drawing upward
of 4,000 people.
“A dynamic and growing interest in Christian
truths is fuelling such high numbers. The Egyptian Coptic church under her
present pope has brought new life, particularly among younger
adherents.”
Packing suitcases to return to the familiar
surroundings of the Tournament Capital has already proved exciting for the
Bosses. The church has enthusiastically welcomed this “caring person,
sensitive to the Holy Spirit,” according to Doug Gleddie, the chair
of elder board who has known Boss for 30 years.
“By his personality and compassionate heart, he
draws people – and because of this, we expect the church to
grow. He seems to tell the Lord, ‘Don’t let us get in your way,
God – just lead us’.”
Kamloops Alliance offers two services on Sundays, along
with a plethora of ministries to singles, youth, and children provide
strong links to the community.
For more information: kamloopsalliance.com.
July 2008
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