BY GRETCHEN MURRAY
MANISTEE -- The Rev. Patrick Pointer knew he had a God-given talent long before he became a pastor.
Pointer, senior pastor at Manistee Assembly of God, is an accomplished artist who for about 20 years combined his love for wood carving with his job as a model- and pattern-maker for the automotive industry before finally settling on a career in the ministry.
"Everything I do in life is an extension of my ministry," Pointer said.
His award-winning carvings have been exhibited across the United States and Canada and his wood-carved waterfowl and automotive artwork can be found in many museums and private collections.
Each piece of his art carries a biblical verse. For example, his intricate duck carvings are accompanied by Psalm 91:4: "And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield."
"It's a God-given gift," Pointer said. "When something comes so naturally that you think everyone can do it, it's a gift from God."
Pointer credits God as being the master carpenter who lets him see an image in wood.
"I see it, and all I do is remove what's necessary for others to see it, too."
He put his art on the back burner while raising a family and establishing his ministry, but recently returned to carving as a stress reliever.
Pointer was commissioned to do two carvings for a special commemorative ceremony recognizing the 50th anniversary of the launching of the Edmund Fitzgerald, considered the most famous of the Great Lakes ships.
Pointer's art will be unveiled during an observance today at the Lake Erie Metro Park in Gibraltar, marking the same day the ship was launched as Hull 301 in 1958.
Pointer carved the three-dimensional ship's likeness into two-inch-thick slabs of African mahogany. The first piece titled "Fare Thee Well" depicts the "Fitz" passing the Great Lakes Engineering Works in River Rouge where it was built, and honors those who had anything to do with the ship from her launch to her final hours. The Bible verse Pointer chose to accompany it is from Deuteronomy 28:6: "Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out."
The second piece titled "Farewell" is Pointer's interpretation of the Edmund Fitzgerald the night she sank in Lake Superior in November 1975. The piece carries the biblical passage from Titus 3:15 (New King James Version): "All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen."
"For me to be involved in the 50th anniversary is a great honor," said Pointer, who was born and raised in Mount Clemens near Algonac State Park and as a youngster would watch the Edmund Fitzgerald churn into the St. Clair River.
He said today's event is meant to bring healing, not only to the descendants of the 29 crewmen lost that night, but for all those who built and maintained the ship.
"The Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest ship on the Great Lakes and now it's the largest ship on the bottom of the Great Lakes," Pointer said. Theories have been inconclusive as to what happened the night of Nov. 10, 1975, and the sinking remains a mystery, he said.
"I've always been disturbed by the line in the Gordon Lightfoot song, 'Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,' where he sings, 'Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours?'" Pointer said. "I believe the love of God always was there. He will lead us unto death as it says in Psalm 23. God's love was always there."
"For 33 years, people have been pointing fingers. Was it the weather, the builders, was it the fault of the captain and crew?" Pointer said. Most workers now are in their 70s, 80s and 90s. They and their families have lived too long caught up in speculations."
Pointer's thought is to bring comfort to the families.
"The construction of the Edmund Fitzgerald involved thousands of people, and I just want to be a blessing to everybody who had a connection to that ship.
"I want the person viewing this work to experience a moment in time. I want them to be able to look over the entire piece, experience it for themselves, and allow them to tell their own story."
The Edmund Fitzgerald commemorative activities taking place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today near Detroit are being streamed live online at www.ssedmundfitzgerald.com.
Gretchen Murray can be reached at gmurray@record-eagle.com.
