MATHESON, DR. GORDON Johnstone Minister at Zion - Nov 03, 1977 - present

Born: Aug 9, I933 Ordained: May 6, 1964

Gordon Johnstone (middle name afier the Doctor who delivered him) Matheson was the only son of Alex and Hannah Matheson. He was born August 9, 1933, in North Sydney, Cape Breton, where he received his primary education in North Shore, Cape Breton and secondary education in Sydney Mines graduating from Sydney Mines High in I952. In the fall of 1952 he was hired by Old Sydney Colliery, in Sydney Mines. In 1953 he received his third class engineers papers, 1954 his second class and in 1955 his first class engineers papers.

On October I, 1955 he married Azalia Guy of Sydney Mines and in 1956 entered Xavier Junior College in Sydney, a division of St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish to study engineering. In I956, while at Xavier College, Gordon decided that engineering was not for him. From his years of working with and being in the Youth Groups of his Church and with the encouragement of his home minister, Rev. Douglas A. Wilson, and the Priest at Xavier College who saw his work with other people, Gordon found his calling for a career in Christian work.

He entered Gordon College, in Wenham Massachusetts in 1957 where he studied Arts courses for two years. During the summers of 1958 and 1959 he was student minister of Tatamagouche Pastoral Charge. During his summer stays in Tatamagouche he organized and directed the first Bible School in the history of the church, which attracted children from all denominations. In the Fall of 1959 he went as Youth Director of Knox Presbyterian, in Burlington Ontario. In the Summer of 1960 he worked at Scottlea Presbyterian Church, St. Catharines Ontario. He was the first person to be appointed in their extension work at that Church.

In the Fall of 1960, as they were expecting their first child, they returned to Sydney Mines, where he again attended Xavier Junior College to complete his Arts Courses. Guy, their first child was born January 21, 1961, in Sydney Mines.

In the summer of 1961 he was a student minister at Orangedale, River Denys and Camp MacLeod, in Cape Breton. 1n the Fall of 1961, he entered Presbyterian College, Montreal. During his studies in Montreal, he was a student minister at St Matthews, Montreal, where he and Azalia enjoyed a most successful "inner city" ministry. He graduated from Presbyterian College and was ordained in the Presbyterian Church In Canada May 6, I964. _

On June 1, 1964, he was appointed Territorial Missionary In the Presbytery of Peterborough, Ontario, where he had a seven point charge in Lakefield. Their second child Grant was born in Peterborough, May 2, 1965.

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