From Scotland to Canada: The Life of Pioneer Missionary Alexander Stewart
By Glenn Tomlinson
Foreword by Donald E. Meek
Afterword by Michael A.G. Haykin
Available from Joshua Press June 2008 here.
Alexander Stewart was converted to Christ during the dramatic revival in Moulin, in the Highlands of Scotland, in 1799. This revival fuelled a strong outpouring of missionary activity and church planting throughout Scotland. Stewart felt the call of God on his life and attended Robert Haldane’s Theological Seminary, following this with years of evangelism and church planting in Perthshire.
In 1818 Alexander and his wife, Janet, with their young family, emigrated to Upper Canada—the New World was opening up and many Scots were taking advantage of the promise of free land, employment opportunities and the excitement of a frontier life. Alexander saw it as an opportunity to bring gospel light to the settlers and new immigrants, as well as a place to raise his family. They eventually settled in York (now Toronto) and established the first Baptist church there. Stewart’s church planting and preaching ministry also extended to the surrounding townships of Esquesing, Chinguacousy and Eramosa.
Alexander Stewart’s story is one of persistent zeal for the extension of God’s kingdom and a fervent desire to do what he could to bring the gospel to a young country. Glenn Tomlinson has extensively mined the archives and resources from this time in Scottish and Canadian history to bring us this compelling story of a man determined to establish centres for the gospel in Scotland and Canada.
About the author… Glenn Tomlinson was born in Toronto, Ontario and raised in a godly Christian home, coming to faith in Christ at an early age. A graduate of the University of Toronto in Commerce and Economics, he worked in the financial services industry for fifteen years. During this time he also served in leadership roles at Jarvis Street Baptist Church, Metropolitan Baptist Church and Port Perry Baptist Church, all in the greater Toronto area. Recognizing God’s call on his life, he entered vocational ministry in the summer of 2005, taking up the position of pastor at Sovereign Grace Community Church, Sarnia, Ontario. He was ordained in 2007. Glenn is a student of church history and has written articles for The Gospel Witness and co-edited From strength to strength: a pictorial history of Jarvis Street Baptist Church. He is married to Sonja and they have four children.
Working out Salvation with Fear and Trembling 