He harshly rebuked the young boys who walked up his driveway on a hot day. All they wanted was a drink of water. “Go to your own home and get a drink.” As Mary tells the story, a short while later her father grabbed a pitcher of water with some cups and raced across the field with Mary in tow to catch the boys as they were just about to enter their own yard. Why? He remembered the Bible verse that says that when we entertain strangers, it may just be that they are angels of God. That was the kind of man my father-in-law Ross McIntee was.

Ross was a man of God, strong of character, humble of disposition, consistently ethical and passionate in his desire to help others come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. When I tied the knot with Mary, I gained a spiritual mentor and a Christ-like model of a man. He worked hard all his life, initially as a welder, advancing his way up to general foreman of a nuclear boiler manufacturing plant in St. Catharines, Ontario (Canada). That was his day job.

In today’s Christian vernacular, you could call him bi-vocational. His first love and life calling was serving the Lord and shepherding God’s people in the church. Growing up in a Christian home, he came to saving faith in Christ at the age of 17. The genuineness of his faith and level of his commitment to serving resulted in his being recognized as an elder in his church at the relatively young age of 28. Along with a team of much older men, he began a lifelong passion for shepherding other Christians in their life and walk with the Lord.

Ross teamed up with seasoned men in putting on evangelistic events in the community. He was all in! Stories can be told of their bold, public preaching and sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the town parks of the area. He racked up many miles in his car to reach out to the neighboring communities of Thorold South and Port Robinson, teaching children the great truths about Jesus Christ. For more than 50 years, he was known as a man who cared about people. He performed weddings and funerals, provided spiritual counsel and preached in his home church (also called “assembly”) and around the area.

He was a gentleman, but you had better not try to bully him. He could handle the rough and tough welders under his charge and those who would try abusing him for being a Christian. Family lore tells of the time when he was fearlessly sharing the gospel on Queenston Street in St. Catharines when a large, inebriated man accosted him, grabbing the front of his shirt, fist ready for action. Now, Ross was not a small man by any means—he had what might be called a barrel chest and hands large and rough from working as a welder. But his response, not pugilistic but unflinchingly firm: “In the name of Jesus Christ, put me down.” The hulking man let go and walked off sulking.

When I began dating Mary, it became evident that I had better win her father over. He was a man of conviction and, at root, a strong man—he worked his way up from welding to become a disciplined foreman over a rough and tough nuclear boiler welding crew. He was a no-nonsense man; I had better be careful! His hands were large and calloused from doing who knows what. I quickly found out he and I shared a cultivated enjoyment of ice cream, so every date with Mary began with an appropriate offering to her protective father. A purchase at Avondale for a half-gallon of the cold, creamy stuff showed the sacrifice I was willing to undergo to appease the potentate of the house and my hopeful future bride. My efforts sufficed and I won him over (and his daughter too)!

Ross and I bonded deeper because of our mutual commitment to the Lord and serving His people. He became my example, my mentor, and a hero of faith to me. He has since entered the Lord’s presence and received not only an abundant welcome by God (2 Peter 1: 11) but also the rich reward of hearing our Lord’s accolade announced to him and before all of heaven: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:23).

In honor of him, I continue to regularly enjoy ice cream!