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No rocking chairs for David and Norma-Jean

By Ann-Margret Hovsepian

David Mainse may have stepped down as president of Crossroads Christian Communications this past summer, but he hasn’t stepped down from ministry. He and his wife Norma-Jean are as busy as ever. “We won’t be sitting in rocking chairs,” quips Norm-Jean, emphasizing the point that the senior Mainses have not retired. They’re both still involved with some Crossroads activities, such as helping raise funds for the Circle Square ranches and Norma-Jean organized this year’s women’s conference, a responsibility she will now be turning over to Ann Mainse, her daughter-in-law.

The former host of 100 Huntley Street is on a mission. Actually, he’s on a couple of missions. “My cause at the moment is to seek to overturn, in some way, the decisions of the British Columbia and Ontario courts of appeal,” he says, referring to his involvement in a social action issue to save the word “marriage” for traditional couples. “I’m supporting members of parliament [who oppose the redefinition of marriage] in a non-partisan way. My goal is to work with these people to make sure they’re re-elected.” He plans to continue being involved with this issue at least until the next federal election.

A second passion for David and Norma-Jean is “working with native peoples and letting them know how special we think they are and how deeply we appreciate them,” he says. “Every time I see a native person, I want to hug them,” adds Norma-Jean.

The Mainses have always approached ministry as a team. “After we got married, I answered a call to preach,” says David. “The congregation wanted to know if Norma-Jean played the piano. They probably voted for me because we are a team!” Norma-Jean adds that their four grown children are also part of the team. “We thank the Lord that all of them are serving Him,” she says. The Mainses have 16 grandchildren, one of them married.

When asked how he feels about having passed on his work at 100 Huntley Street to his son Ron, David says he feels very much at peace. The Crossroads board had begun to talk about David’s successor about two years after he underwent open-heart surgery. “I moved up my resignation,” he says, “after hearing the Prime Minister’s statements about same-sex marriage.” The board unanimously settled on Ron as the most experienced candidate. “He’s doing very well,” says the proud father. “He was brought in as one of the vice-presidents about five years ago. One day they brought him to a board meeting for a report. Ron withstood me on a point — he won the day and I was never so proud of him. He was not afraid to confront his father at the meeting. He was strong.”

David speaks joyfully of his past work at 100 Huntley Street and says that much more was accomplished than he had ever hoped for. “It’s important to ask largely. I thought I was… but God has always done much more than I asked for. I hope and dream that it will continue as it has: a lot of people calling in for salvation.” He says that all his work on the marriage issue pales in significance when compared to the salvation of one soul.

The Mainses speak of being “salt and light” and how they feel a need to put a greater emphasis on being salt at this point in their ministry, part of the reason they have stepped aside from management roles. “If we’re not being ‘salty’ and we’re being trampled underfoot,” says David, “how can we be effective light?” Norma-Jean adds: “We want to do all we can to be salt and light as we feel the Lord’s return approaching.”
Challenges in the Mainses’ ministry are faced with prayer, faith and action. “It’s a real joy to serve the Lord — it doesn’t matter what avenue,” says Norma-Jean. “Nothing it too hard when you think of Calvary. It’s a joy to say to God: ‘I’m available. Use me.’”

Ann-Margret Hovsepian is a regular contributing writer for Maranatha News. She lives in Montreal, Quebec, and can be reached at: ahovsepian@maranathanewspaper.com.