Honouring Max Solbrekken: My Dad called me "his shadow". I went with him everywhere he went from about 3 1/2 years old until six, when I started school." - Rev. Ken Solbrekken

 

    Pastors Max & Ken Solbrekken at Faith Cathedral 
  Edmonton AB, 1989. Ken is presently the District 
     Superintendent for the P.A.O.C. in Alberta & NWT.
     Honouring Dr. Max Solbrekken       

On His 80^th Birthday, May 15, 2013

Ken Solbrekken said:

“I want to close just by saying that May 15^th was always a very important day in our home, because it was always our dad’s birthday. And so when May 15^th rolled around we always remembered and celebrated, sometimes not with him there because he was not always home. 

Just like the song you heard that sometimes you’re somewhere else for the Lord, but you’re doing work for the Lord elsewhere. I remember as a child that he would go off for not just weeks but for months and it didn’t make a lot of sense but we always heard and saw the great reports that happened after and somehow God always made sense.  

I just wanted to share some of my thoughts with you I’m really speaking on behalf of our family that has given me the opportunity to do this so I’m going to closing with these thoughts:

Dear Dad,

Today is your 80^th birthday, what a milestone. As a little boy I never really expected this day would come or at least not this soon, but here it is. For more than 50 years I have watched you serve the Lord with all your heart, soul, and strength. When I was a child you called me your shadow because wherever you went I wanted to be there. 

That began for me around the age of 3 and a half and ended abruptly in grade 1 when I had to go to school. Because you always felt the call to preach the gospel throughout the world, you soon became known as a missionary evangelist. Probably more fittingly and Biblically you should have been called or had the title an apostle; however I can’t remember titles ever being important to you. 

But like John the Baptist you wanted to be a voice, declaring in the wilderness or the city blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Jesus has always been on your lips and in your heart. This was etched into my own heart as I watched you sign your name using your signature Scripture from Hebrews 13:8. It says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever”. 

Throughout your 50 years of ministry 10s of thousands understated have heard the message of life and many multitudes have miraculously been healed in their bodies. What a heritage and legacy that you leave behind and that you give us. God has given us through you this legacy to carry on. All of us that are in the room today. As tremendous as this has been, we your family and you have had to pay a very high price, saying goodbye way too many times, as you would head out on yet another Mission. 

Air Canada became a very big part of our world, and the drive to and from the airport a regular routine. No doubt the airlines were very thankful for all the flights you took, helping them pay their bills. You always came back with many stories of divine encounters of people sitting next to you and of course wherever you went. 

Even though you were the head of the home and bigger than life, Mom was the real hero as she adjusted to weeks and sometimes months of being alone raising 6 children, and having be a jack at all trades, and the master of many. To this day in her 80’s she still continues to amaze us with her inventions and entrepreneurial spirit. Somehow God has always kept us safe and provided for our needs

Psalms 90 has been so meaningful that I would like to share it with everybody here today. It says:

“Lord you have been our dwelling place throughout all of the generations. Before the mountains were born or be brought forth, the whole world. From everlasting to everlasting you are God. You turn people to dust saying turn to dust you mortals. A thousands years in your sight is like a day that has just gone by or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death. They are like the new grass of the morning. 

In the morning it springs up new but by evening it is dry and withered. We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation.  You have set our inequities before us or before you. Our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath.  We finish our years with a bond; our days may come to seventy years or eighty if our strength endures. Yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow for they quickly pass and fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger. Your wrath is as great as your fear that is in your do.

Verse 12 says “Teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. Relent Lord, how long will it be. Have compassion on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, so that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years that we see trouble. May Your deeds be shown to your servants, Your splendour to their children.  May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us. Establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands.”

I’d like to read verse 17 again: “May the favour of the Lord, our God, rest on us. Establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Dad happy 80^th birthday, and many blessings on your 50^th year of full time ministry. May every prayer that is in your heart be answered and a rich and anointing of the Holy Spirit. May the years ahead of you be greater than the previous combined.  Greater in magnitude and greater with the revealed and manifested presence of God.  Touching all those that you touch and minster to. Congratulations on this day! 

Love, Ken