Bishop Emeritus Donald N. Bastian, born in Estevan, Saskatchewan, passed to his eternal reward with the Lord on April 4 of 2024, at age 98. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 75 years, Kathleen, his four siblings and by son Donald. He is survived and lovingly remembered by four children Carolyn, June, Robert and John David as well as seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Bishop Bastian took high school studies at the Free Methodist Church’s Moose Jaw Bible College and Lorne Park College. He became the first in his family to complete a bachelor’s degree, from Greenville University in Illinois, and then a Master of Divinity at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky. Later in life he was granted four honorary doctorates, the final one from Asbury Theological Seminary. Bishop Bastian was the author of four books including “Belonging”, the long-used and often-updated membership training book of the Free Methodist Church; as well as hundreds of articles, for Light and Life magazine and Christianity Today, among others.

Together, Bishop Bastian and Kathleen served Free Methodist churches in Lexington, Kentucky, New Westminster, British Columbia, and Greenville, Illinois as the college pastor. He was elected to the bishopric of the Free Methodist Church – USA in 1974. Later, he became the inaugural bishop of the Free Methodist Church in Canada, having led the latter body from being part of the American church to Jurisdictional status and then to the standing of a full general conference. Bishop Bastian was a pastor’s pastor, mastering his calling through biblical preaching of great power and influence; attentive pastoral care for his congregation of all ages; and skillful administration.