The Independent

Phil Kazak was a young, energetic pastor who was “purposefully evangelizing” when he came to Petrolia years ago.
His outgoing nature and his obvious love for the Lord made him instantly likeable.
So when the pastor who was known for talking to high school students about his faith and running the back roads around Petrolia, became ill, it was a difficult time for the community at Petrolia First Baptist Church. Kazak died in March 2019.
Deacon Harald Rust first met Kazak as he was taking his first church in Goderich. And he was on the committee charged with finding a new pastor when Kazak was hired. Rust says he was well-loved by the members, including the kids, whom he would challenge to all sorts of games sometimes taking on all of them at once.
Rust says he went out of his way to share his message. Rusts’ mother-in-law was from the south of France and she and Kazak, whose own mother was French, spoke in her native tongue with her.
Rust was among the members of the congregation who recently stopped to remember Kazak’s time on earth.
Members of the church have placed a bench on their front yard with a plaque bearing his name adding he “faithfully spread God’s love and blessings.”