Youth pastor electrocuted hours after sharing life goals

TORONTO (Christian Examiner) -- A 25-year-old Canadian youth pastor was killed by a live wire while he explored the rooftop of an abandoned building earlier this month in Etobicoke, Canada, according to the Toronto Star.

Electrocuted while adventuring with friends early Saturday, Oct. 4, Stephen Spencer died instantly.

Hours before his death, Spencer held his usual Friday night church group at Islington Baptist Church, where he pastored young people.

That particular night, he asked the youth to write down their life goals and joined them in doing so by writing three things on a yellow, flower-shaped piece of paper.

His goals looked ahead to marriage and parenthood, and also embraced his current place in life. He wanted to have a ministry that encouraged people to follow God and he wanted to make awesome music.

Those who knew him shared two of those goals already were true about his life. He played guitar, drums, keyboard, bass, saxophone as well as other instruments and taught at the church.

Islington Pastor Todd Riley told The Star that Spencer was "a tremendous influence in raising up a number of young people and helping them develop or foster their own musical gifts. Sadly, his life was cut short, and he is dearly missed by one and all."

His mother, Rosanne Spencer, told the Star that "the church and Christian rock music were the most important things in Spencer's life."

"He reached out to all these kids," she said. "Those kids hung around him almost 24 hours a day. He changed their lives, he was giving them direction and he kept them out of trouble."

According to his mother, Spencer had an adventurous spirit and often told his younger sister that he was not afraid of death. He was the oldest of four children.

Toronto Police Det. Gary Burke said the abandoned factory building was up to code and is soon to be demolished.