Local residents who truly care about Kingston have blessed us, in North Kitsap, beyond belief.
Consider people who have lived in our community and committed their free time to make this a better place to call home. Names like: Dwaine Sabin, Cy Wise, Ed Moon, Bud Meredith, Kathy Sutton, Tom Waggoner, Pete DeBoer, Quentin Gillman, Rick Bjornson … the list could go on and on. These are community leaders who stride out in front to help us accomplish what ever the community might need.
When thinking about prominent leaders, I see we are about to lose two bright, shining lights and local church leaders, Scott and Leilani Montagne, to their new calling in the Big City (Seattle). The title “pastor” is a tough vocation to have; however, Scott and gifted musician Leilani have been open to God’s priorities in their lives. Church leaders today don’t have a private life and are held to a far higher standard of accountability by society than you or I. Pastors are often asked to be the interpreter of life’s triumphs and tragedies. They are literally God’s hands, feet and voice to serve us.
Although I’ve never been a member of Bayside Church, I have watched Pastor Scott share in the happy occasion of marriage, the dedication of infants and the frustration and completion of two building projects. I have listened to inspirational anthems at funerals of those accepting God’s plan of salvation, and shed tears at the loss of young people who perished outside of their faith.
Scott and Leilani are people called of God to share those mountaintop experiences of life and to help us out of the pits we all find ourselves in along life’s road. Scott has been blessed with leadership skills most of us envy. He has maturity and insight to see solutions most of us can’t. Thank you for being faithful to your calling in God’s work. Thank you for being a positive example to our community’s youth and an eager servant to North Kitsap Fire & Rescue as their chaplain. Thank you for seeing the need for a food bank and establishing ShareNet.
John and Carol Bruce
Kingston
