Pastor John Irvin served as our Pastor Emeritus for Master's Harbor Ministries from 2010 until the day he was called home by the Father. Before joining the staff at Master's Harbor, Pastor John had already touched the lives of many of the staff, sharing his knowledge of the bible and passing on the wisdom he amassed over 40 plus years in the ministry.   Prior to his call in the ministry. He served our country in the US Navy. Which Included a tour of duty in the Korean Conflict aboard the USS Missouri. Pastor John held many positions while serving in the ministry. After graduating from Hannibal LaGrange College. He was ordained into the ministry at the First Baptist Church in Boonville, Missouri. The first church he served as pastor was at Sulphur Springs Baptist Church in rural New Franklin. He then served as pastor at the First Baptist Church in Auxvasse, Missouri. At the time of his retirement, he was pastor of Disciples for Christ The Lighthouse in Woodland, California where he also coordinated a radio ministry called The Lighthouse. In his later years he spent time singing and ministering in hospitals and nursing homes. He was a devoted Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather. We here at MH had the pleasure of sitting with John and his wife Bobbie of over 56 years, as they ministered and prayed over us, (sometimes over buckets of KFC, John's favorite meal). Pastor John was a valuable resource and will forever be a part of our ministry, both in this tribute page and in the banner which adorns each page of our website. Included on the banner you will no doubt notice the lighthouse. The lighthouse symbolizes a light in the darkness to guide ships safely into harbor, amidst the storms and rocky shores which threaten to destroy them. John's ministry and life was an embodiment of the lighthouse, but instead of guiding ships safely into port, John guided souls away from the destruction awaiting them and into the arms of their Father in Heaven. John loved lighthouses and collected several over the years.  His favorite song was "I thank God for the lighthouse". Likewise, the lighthouse was the inspiration behind our ministries namesake, Master Harbor, where one can find peace from the storms of life.. The light shown from the lighthouse represents the light of Christ guiding his children safely home. John was a lighthouse to all of us who knew him, and we give praise to God that John now gazes upon the face we can only preach about until it is our turn to join our brother, and our Father, in Heaven. We thank God for the lighthouse, and we thank God for sharing with us his servant, Pastor John Irvin. May we faithfully carry the torch he lit so long ago.

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