Individual Notes
Note for: Jacob Henry QUIRING, 10 JUN 1913 - 2004
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Occupation: Pastor
Religion: ME
Individual Note: A tribute to Jacob H. Quiring 1913-2004
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Jacob Quiring was born in Hepburn, Sask. in 1913, and grew up on his parents'
farm near Dalmeny. Through the influence of godly parents and the teaching to
which he was exposed in the Mennonite Brethren Church, Jake embraced the gospel
early in his life. He was nine years old when he committed his life to Christ.
He began to witness to his new-found faith among his peers, was baptized, and
became a member of Dalmeny (Sask.) MB Church.
At home the family spoke the Mennonite Low German, in church High German was
used, and when Jake enrolled in the local public school he had to learn to speak
English. Like many youth of farming communities in the 1920s, Jake dropped out
of school after grade eight and threw himself body and soul into farming. His
love for the land, however, did not quench his passion for Christ and His
church. He was still quite young when he was asked to teach a boys' Sunday
school class, and he preached his first sermon at 15.
Jake's dream was to become a farmer and to serve the church gratis as pastor and
teacher part-time, a practice not uncommon in the Canadian MB Church at that
time. The call to full-time service became louder, however, as members of his
congregation encouraged him to devote all his energies and gifts to ministry.
A growing call
Jacob H. and Anne Quiring
After two years in Dalmeny Bible School, and three more in Winkler (Man.) Bible
School, the desire to spend his life in Christ's service grew even stronger. He
stayed home between his fourth and fifth years at Winkler to finish his high
school. While attending Winkler, he fell in love with Anne Enns, a fellow
student from nearby Kronsgart, who was to become his life's companion through
many years of public service and now mourns his death.
Before they married, Jake accepted an invitation to teach in Coaldale (Alta.)
Bible School. He gave himself wholeheartedly to teaching and preaching, and
though in his early 20s, soon gained the respect of the Coaldale community and
the Alberta churches. He carried a heavy teaching load, but there was always
time for a letter to his beloved Anne. The next summer, Jake went to Manitoba to
marry his bride and to bring her to Coaldale.
I entered the Coaldale Bible School in 1939 as a brash 16-year old, and for
three years Mr. Quiring (I never called him Jake until later in life) was one of
my highly-respected instructors. I could not have dreamt that some 10 years down
the road we would be colleagues at MB Bible College in Winnipeg. Our paths
crossed repeatedly in the last 65 years until, in the end, we were fellow
members of Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford.
After eight years of Bible school teaching, in Coaldale and then in Dalmeny,
Jake's home church ordained him. By then he realized he needed more formal
education. The Quirings made their way to Hillsboro, Kan., where Jake earned his
BA degree at Tabor College. He joined the faculty of the Bible College in
Winnipeg, earning a Bachelor of Divinity on the side. He was a highly-respected
college teacher and was frequently invited to speak in churches across Canada.
Wearing two hats
Jake wore two hats most of his life, that of a teacher and a pastor. After
serving at MBBC for 10 years, he accepted the pastorate of Winkler MB Church,
where he had a fruitful seven-year ministry. He returned to the college in
Winnipeg in 1962, also serving as president. After several years, he became
pastor of Bakerview MB Church. During his nine years there, the congregation
grew from 173 to 430 members. Following this very enjoyable pastoral interlude,
the Quirings spent three school terms teaching in a Bible school in Austria.
Jake continued to serve part-time in several B.C. churches in retirement and
even in his 80s occasionally accepted invitations to preach.
Throughout his life, Jake took a keen interest in the MB Church. He was an
influential leader in a former generation, serving as moderator of provincial
and Canadian conferences and on Conference boards. Although he could offer sharp
criticisms of its ways, his love for his denomination was constant.
He was blessed with a keen mind, a good measure of humour and common sense, as
well as the gift of communication. The way he structured his lectures and
sermons made it easy for listeners to follow. He laced his speeches with
illustrations taken largely from everyday life and his own observation.
He has not left us theological books, but did produce several interesting
manuscripts in which he reflected on his life and his church. "The Mennonite
Brethren Church and I" represents his recollections, observations and
evaluations of his denomination. In "Nostalgia," he reminisces on his childhood
and youth. That their marriage was a true love story is seen clearly in "Two Are
Better Than One." As college teacher he contributed numerous articles to the
journal, The Voice, as well as editing the publication for some time.
The treasure of family
For ten years the Quirings were childless. They decided to adopt a girl, Lois,
and a boy, Robert. Then, rather unexpectedly, two children - Linda and David -
were born to them. Jake loved children and, together with Anne, did all he could
to bring them up in the spirit of Christ. They treasured their children and
grandchildren.
The joys of family life were also mixed with considerable pain. They lost their
married daughter Linda, through cancer, when she was 29. They had to observe,
with great sadness, Robert's suffering from schizophrenia. Eventually he had to
be put into a care home.
Many people did not know that Jake was a skilled craftsman. He had his basement
full of woodworking tools and produced the finest pieces of furniture,
grandfather clocks, and a host of other items.
Jake was a man of great integrity and honesty. He reflected deeply on the great
verities of the Christian faith, and often wrestled with theological questions
and even spiritual doubts. In his earlier years he struggled with a lack of
assurance of salvation, but was helped when Dr. A. H. Unruh, then principal of
Winkler Bible School, encouraged him to trust in God's Word, not in his own
feelings. He remained loyal to Christ throughout his long life and looked
forward to the day when life's mysteries would be cleared up.
At the end of a prayer reflecting on the goodness of God in his life, he wrote,
"May the beacon of faith and hope illumine my pathway up to Journey's end, and
grant me a joyful and triumphant entry into your eternal kingdom." Jake entered
that eternal kingdom July 24 and is now with the Lord.