By David Carson

'Pastor Bob' Birch and his wife Margaret.

Still an icon and inspiration, the legendary ‘Pastor Bob’ has lived against the backdrop of the dynamically growing city of Vancouver, through most of the twentieth century. He is a man who wanted his life to count.

In his 30s, Pastor Bob surfaced miraculously from a deadly disease – alive, but burnt-out as a pastor. He turned to fruit growing in the Okanagan.

In time, God brought him back to Vancouver – and cornered him into pastoring at St Margaret’s, where his clear gospel preaching grew eternal fruit in people’s lives. But he prayed for more until, 15 years later, out of his depth, out of his comfort zone, with problems at home and conflict in his church, this serious 60 year old was being loosened up by the Holy Spirit – and ambushed by a ‘hippie’ invasion.

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Through extreme prayer, he led thousands of (mostly young) people to lead lives full of meaning.

In his 70s, he pioneered Burnaby Christian Fellowship, another cutting-edge church; and in his 80s, he confronted Vancouver like an Old Testament prophet – and established a nationwide group of prayer warriors committed to extreme obedience to the Holy Spirit, for the sake of the destiny of Canada.

He was married to Dorothy for 47 years until her death in 1979, and then married Margaret in 1991.

Pastor Bob and Margaret are pleased to invite all to a ‘Celebration of the Faithfulness of God,’ December 1, 2 pm, at Harvest City Church, 7416 Victoria Drive, in Vancouver.

They request that there be no personal cards or gifts presented. Instead, there will be an opportunity to make a donation to the Canadian Bible Society,  and there will be some wonderfully designed large cards for guests to sign their names and give a greeting.

David Carson is pastor of First Century Church in Burnaby.

November 2007