Harold G. Mackay
Harold G. Mackay was born on May 7, 1907 in Galt, Ontario Canada. Coming from Scottish ancestry, Harold's grandparents emigrated from Scotland to Canada in the nineteenth century, settling in southern Ontario. Harold was the second child, being preceded by one older sister of seven years. Harold's salvation came on May 24, 1926 at the age of nineteen. The place was the Galt Gospel Hall in Galt, Ontario, Canada. From this same assembly he was later commended to full time service. The next step was a visit to North Carolina. He was accompanied by the man who led him to Christ, a kindly man named William Gillespie Sr., a wise and successful soul winner. The year was 1928, and the journey was to Asheville in the North Carolina mountains.
Through the winter months there was a definite moving of the Spirit of God. Several preachers from the assemblies were already laboring there. Harold and William took up residence in a house, with two of them. A wooden sided tent, complete with coal stove, was secured and preaching got underway in an area known as Canton. God graciously honored the preaching of His Word. Souls were saved and the work continued through the winter months.
Returning to Ontario in the spring, Harold ministered in assembly halls and tent meetings, accompanied this time by William Gillespie Jr. The labors there for the Lord continued for the next two years. Next was pioneering work in West Virginia, then back to Galt Ontario where Harold met Gertrude Marjory Eckert, known as "Gertie." They met at a Bible Conference in the nearby city of Hamilton. They were to see each other frequently, and Harold was invited to the Eckert home. Interest in each other soon led to affection and then true love. Harold continued preaching in West Virginia from a gospel tent in West Hamlin and Salt Rock. Soon he proposed marriage by way of a letter to Gertie on August 30,1931. On November 25'th. in a private ceremony attended by the two families and a few friends, they were united in marriage. The marriage took place in the home of Gertie's parents in Kitchener, Ontario.
A little more than two years later, God gave a firstborn son. On March 30,1934 a nine pound son named John was born. Three years later, another son named Stanley followed. Another several years following, when by now living in Greensboro, a third son named Ronald George was given. The permanent move to North Carolina had come in 1939. Here was to follow a lifetime of service. This included the work at Forest Avenue Tabernacle and ministry in other areas. In the year 1943, radio work began from the station W.P.T.F. in Raleigh. The Lord continued to bless in ways mighty to behold. The later 1940's and early 1950's were busy with work in and around Greensboro. Another radio broadcast followed from there, being aired on station W.B.I.G.
The Christian life is one of hills and valleys. In 1950, Gertie's mother went to be with the Lord, followed by her father two years later. Harold's mother was called home to heaven in 1953, and followed later by his father in 1963. In 1964 the Lord permitted Harold to be led into "the valley of the shadow of death," where he underwent brain surgery. Partial facial paralysis ensued and was thereafter a part of life for Harold. The paralysis hindered his ministry substantially at first, but by 1966 he was able to resume a full schedule of services.
Soon, plans for a new assembly in Greensboro were proposed. The ground breaking ceremony took place on March 27, 1966. The Shannon Hills Chapel was underway. The first use of the new building was for a wedding on June 3, 1967. The assembly was purposefully built large. Because this was unusual, an article written by Harold was presented in the August 1967 issue of Interest magazine.
Another high point came in 1972. A much desired and long awaited trip to Israel was made. Oh what joy to see the Pool Of Bethesda, Mount Moriah, the Temple area, the Wailing Wall, the Jericho Road, Masada, the Sea of Galilee, seaport of Acre on the Mediterranean, Mount Carmel, Caesarae, Shechem and Jacob's Well. There was to be another trip also, this one in 1978 and celebrating fifty years of service for the Lord.
So much more continued to center around Harold's ministries in North Carolina. Meetings were held, the gospel preached, and several trips were made to Park Of The Palms in Keystone Heights, Florida. Other Bible Conferences continued also, such as the well known Skyland Conferences. The minor facial paralysis continued to plague his ministry, and over the years general health gradually began to decline. Finally the decision was made for the Mackays to move to the Pittsboro Christian Village in nearby Pittsboro, North Carolina. The move came on March 2,1992. It was a comfort to have available this beautiful home with twenty-four hour nursing care and an adjoining chapel. It was only a forty-five minute drive from their former location in Greensboro. Their room was airy and attractive, already decorated with family pictures and scripture text plaques they had chosen to take.
Harold G.Mackay's homecall to Glory came on a sunny Sunday morning in April 1993. A Presence unseen by others, approached a frail form in a hospital bed and whispered "Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." At the long awaited beckoning, Harold G. Mackay arose eagerly from that form and ascended with rising worship into the presence of his Savior. The funeral was conducted on April 21,1993 at the Shannon Hills Chapel, and the body lain to rest in a quiet corner of a cemetery near the Mackay home of forty years.
A wonderful book detailing the life and ministry of this giant for God, has been written by his daughter in law, Helen Mackay. The book is available from Gospel Folio Press and currently is listed at Gospel Folio Press. Other books by H.G. Mackay include
Assembly Distinctives
The Story of Your Bible
The Study of Your Bible
Harold G.Mackay was a true pioneer for God. The Shannon Hills Chapel, the Bristol Bible Conference, and several books plus recorded messages larger in quantity than any other speaker found in the V.F.C. Library, will continue to carry forth the ministry of the Canadian from the small Galt Gospel Hall in Galt Ontario.
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