Faith fuels decades of volunteerism

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This article was published 10/07/2023 (676 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As Susan Giesbrecht sits behind the conference room table at The Carillon office, she seems puzzled that anyone would want to tell her story. In fact, she told staff before agreeing to the interview, she wouldn’t even consider it except for the fact that her story might inspire others to give back.

After all, giving back is something she’s been doing her whole life.

Now approaching 90, (her birthday’s in August), Giesbrecht is not easing up, devoting several days a week to sharing her faith with others. In many ways, it’s the same thing she’s been motivated to do her whole adult life.

Born in New Bothwell, Susan began her professional career teaching the Bible in Manitoba schools before becoming a missionary in the West Indies, specifically in Saint Lucia and Grenada. She spent many years as the secretary at the Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church in Steinbach and continues to teach Bible study at Bethesda Care Home, creating her own lessons from scratch.

Even after going through the pandemic and being well beyond what many would consider retirement age, the thought of quitting seems completely foreign to her.

“They’re my people,” she said. “I’ve never thought of quitting. I still don’t.”

But to tell the story of her volunteer work is to tell the story of her faith. And to tell that story one has to go back in time to when her parents were looking for answers.

As a child, Susan said she didn’t grow up in a religious home. But she’s been told how her parents changed their perspectives.

Her father, looking for answers, began to read the Bible. He found Geneses and Exodus interesting, but when it came to Leviticus, his resolve faded.

“He said, I closed the Bible and I said to God ‘I can’t handle this. I know you’re a just God but I’m finished with my Bible.”

Some time later while getting the cows in for morning milking he had a thought come to him, to open his Bible, she explained. When he did, at random, he opened it too Acts 13:38-39.

Giesbrecht recited the verse from memory which states everyone who believes in Jesus is forgiven, something that wasn’t found in the law of Moses, which of course was what her father had been reading.

Her mom though was not convinced it could be that simple.

“She said ‘Frank, now you’re going too far,” Susan said.

But that night her mother felt a nudge to open her Bible as well, this time to Hebrews 8:12.

“I still marvel at how she even remembered the reference because they didn’t know the Bible,” Susan said.

Her mother waited until her father woke up and together they looked up the verse, which stated that their sins and iniquities would be remembered no more.

“And that’s how she got peace with God. Isn’t that exciting?” Susan asked.

Ten-years-old at the time, that faith is something that has never left Susan, and has been the motivation for her volunteer work ever since.

Her first job was teaching Bible study in public schools in the Dauphin area. Susan said they would teach at the end of the school day and move on to new schools as needed.

While attending the Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church, she took in a mission’s conference, inspiring her to apply.

For the next 18 years, beginning at the age of 25, Susan served, one year in Saint Lucia and the remaining 17 in Grenada.

Through that time, she was involved in organizing a Sunday school class, which she said grew into a youth group, which grew into an adult Bible study which grew into a church.

Her mom’s failing health brought her back to Steinbach where she arrived to spend on evening chatting with her mom and the entire family. The next morning, her mother died.

“My mom’s last words were, ‘just keep looking up’,” she said.

After finishing a few more months in Grenada, Susan moved home permanently, taking on the role of church secretary that she kept for the next 20 years.

After her father died in 1997 at 100, after spending time in the Bethesda Care Home, she saw an opportunity to help there.

In January of 1998 she began teaching a weekly Bible study, something that grew into two weekly commitments she continues to this day. (She also hosts a Bible study in her condo building).

She also introduced the Operation Christmas Child shoe box project to residents in 2004.

“It had never been done at Bethesda Place and I thought those people, they need to have self-worth too,” she said.

And while her audience has changed over the years, Susan said her method, using lessons she still painstakingly creates, has one consistent theme.

“My philosophy is unless you’ve communicated, you haven’t taught,” she said. “I’ve had to change the approach and also sometimes the application.”

Susan remains active, walking from her home to Bethesda Place as well as dedicating 40 minutes to walking in her condo every morning. She makes time to meet friends for breakfast, and walks to church on Sunday. “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” she said with a chuckle.

And she encourages others to get involved as well.

“There’s always such a variety of places of where to serve or what to do,” she said. “It gives you so much worth. I find it blesses you and it blesses them when you serve.”

While she doesn’t commit Bible verses to memory at quite the same pace that she used to, Susan said it’s important for her to retain those pieces she can.

“We don’t know what’s ahead. In other countries they aren’t even allowed to have a Bible,” she said. (The bible is currently banned in 52 countries).

Pointing at her head she said “and if you have it here they can’t take it away.” Pausing for a moment she placed her hand over her heart. “And here too,” she added.