It’s Monday Again
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Jesus spoke those words from a mount in the most famous sermon of all time. A timely and timeless message for the city of Fredericton.
Our three F’ton churches offered key points of comfort as they gathered to worship this weekend. In addition to a special prayer focus in their services, Mark Brewer (Crosspoint) expressed the heart of the city in this Facebook Video posted on Friday evening.
Jason Vienneau (Corbett Avenue) took a special offering for the victims’ families. If you would like to participate in this tangible expression of love and support please contact the church to determine the best way to add your gift for these hurting families.
Journey (Matt Maxwell) had a beautiful service yesterday morning, led by Outreach Pastor, Scott Wood, as the four people who lost their lives in this tragedy were remembered and honoured.
Retired Police Officer Jan Smith who attends Journey, came to the altar and was prayed over with thanks for her many faithful years of service to the community of Fredericton (pictured above). This was followed by prayer for the victims, their families, Fredericton City Police, and other first responders who put their lives on the line every day, that God would bring peace, comfort and healing to all those involved.
- I was encouraged to be with Lisa Graden (with husband Lee pictured above) for her Pastoral Installation at Crystal yesterday morning. Nearly 40 gathered for a spirited service including the young man standing next to me – Jacob Jordan. He is 15 years old and has had a clear calling from God to become an ordained minister in The Wesleyan Church since he was 8 years old. He will begin taking online courses this year, and will enter the DBMD process next spring (after he turns 16) as perhaps the youngest prophet-in-process ever interviewed. #raisingleaders #getreadyKU
- Jonesport (Andy Phillips) & Beals Island (Nick Wilson) just concluded their combined Vacation Bible School. The theme was “Babylon: Daniel’s Courage in Captivity!” It was a great week with 31 children present and 20 helpers from both churches. Most importantly, 8 children made decisions to follow Jesus! For any of you have had the privilege of visiting Beals Island you will recognize this pipe organ…
- Last night these churches combined for a hymn singspiration followed by desserts at Beals Island. From left to right pictured above – Andy (song leader), Nick (host), Joan Beal (piano), and Danny Davis (organ). There were 65 in attendance for a great night of worship. #strongertogether
- Praise God for the baptism celebrated at Havelock, NS (Shawn Craven) yesterday!
- Vince Robertson (West Head) had the privilege of leading a man to Christ recently in the early days of his new pastoral charge. This man had been fighting cancer. His mother had prayed for 40 years for his salvation before she passed away. Vince asked if he was ready to settle things with God. He said yes and in less than a week, he was with Jesus. Every number has a name. Every name has a story. And every story matters. Numbers count.
- As the summer comes to an end, tens of thousands of students across Atlantic Canada get ready to return to their university towns. This presents a unique opportunity to local churches in these towns to minister to these young adults. If you know of any students headed to university/college, please pass on this list of the churches and follow-up with them to encourage their involvement in the early weeks of settling into school.- Fredericton: Corbett Avenue, Crosspoint, Journey
– Saint John: Kings, Saint John First
– Halifax: Cornerstone, Deep Water, Hillside, Kings, Metro - And while we’re on the topic of young adults and university, this challenge from James Emery White’s blog may help to ignite a sense of urgency in helping these young people to stay connected with their faith through the church.
- And speaking of college, I trust all our churches regularly promote our five excellent Wesleyan schools (especially Kingswood University) – here is a great website to spread the good news about Wesleyan higher education (www.we-5.org)
- I attended the Global Leadership Summit in Moncton this past Thursday & Friday along with Executive Director of Camp Ministry, Andrea Gunter, and a host of leaders (pastors and lay) from many of our Wesleyan churches. If you have been tracking with recent events leading up to the GLS, you will be pleased to hear this word of summary (with which I fully agree) from Brian Dodd as tweeted over the weekend, “The demise of the Global Leadership Summit was greatly over-exaggerated. For 2 days I watched Craig Groeschel show leadership during times of crisis like I’ve rarely seen.” Brian is a well known Kingdom blogger and provides this excellent summary of the GLS in addition to the Top 50 Leadership Quotes from churchleaders.com.
- Education and Clergy Development division at HQ is pleased to inform you that Wesleyan pastors are being invited to participate again in a national study on clergy wellness. Dr. Matthew Bloom of Notre Dame University is the principal researcher with whom they are working directly. The survey will be sent out September 18, 2018. This Lilly Endowment study focuses on the factors that best contribute to the ability of clergy to thrive in ministry over a lifetime. The more data collected the greater the effectiveness of this study in guiding our denominational leadership to invest in you – the Kingdom front-line. Please take time to read the email you will receive tomorrow (August 14th) with more detailed information in preparation for the September 18th survey.
- On Saturday, 50 people learned how to operate a desalination unit to pump fresh water soon after a natural disaster. Cornerstone (Denn Guptill) hosted World Hope International – Canada’s training and were joined by John Lyon (President of WHI US) and John Wright (Katadyn Water Filter Specialist). Huge thanks to Myles Hutt (Kingswood intern) and Deborah Gilbert (Missions Pastor @ Cornerstone) for organizing a very successful training day!
Congratulations to Brad & Tracey Eisan (Faith) on the August 11th arrival of Noah Norbert Eisan (8 lbs. 14 oz.)!
GLS Thot: I wanted God to meet me in my faith, but God wanted to meet me in my faithfulness. (Erwin McManus)
On Second GLS Thot: You can have control, or you can have growth – but you cannot have both.
(Craig Groeschel)
Bonus GLS Thot: It is casualness that makes us comfortable. And it is casualness that is killing us. (Juliet Funt)
What an opportunity we have to partner with Craig Groeschel, John Maxwell, Erwin McManus, Danielle Strickland along with a truly impressive and diverse faculty of 15 speakers on what’s shaping up to be another amazing GLS. We believe that, as in the past, God is going to powerfully anoint and inspire through this event once again this year. So, if you’re looking for some fresh inspiration and highly actionable learning for you and your team this summer, I’d love to have you join us!
- Lower Sackville, NS (Rock Church) – October 18-19
- Lewisporte, NS (Emmanuel Convention Centre) – October 18-19
- St. John’s, NL (TBA) – October 25-26
Click here for more info and/or to register.
BYF RETREAT 2018
September 28 – 30
Dr. Stephen Lennox, President of Kingswood University is our guest speaker. Dr. Lennox is a Christian statesman and prolific writer. He has authored several books on the Old Testament. We are so excited to have him with us for this weekend!
Our worship leader for the weekend will be Rob & Marti Tafton.
PDF Brochure and Registration Form
Join hundreds of women at from all over the east coast as we come together to worship God and have fun! Our goal is to create an atmosphere where every woman at Harvest will experience an encounter with God that will impact their life and the people in it.
Join us this fall at Kings Church, October 19 & 20, with special guest speakers Annie F. Downs and Heather Semple. For more information, or to register visit www.harvestconference.ca or call 506-847-5343.
A Christian Leadership Response to the Shifting
Landscape of Canadian Religious Freedoms
What: High order Christian-based legal insights and recommendations for the shifting landscape of Canadian religious freedoms
When: October 4 @ 10:30 a.m. Atlantic Time
Where: Zoom-inar
Who: Derek Ross, Executive Director & General Counsel for Christian Legal Fellowship
How: Pastors and lay leaders may register by email with the Atlantic District (office@www.atlanticdistrict.com) All AD credentialed pastors who register AND attend the Zoominar will receive a complimentary copy of the June 2018 publication, Hope for Nations: Standing Strong in a Post-Trust, Post Christian World (John Dickerson).
“Times of great social upheaval are times of great spiritual opportunity,” writes Dickerson. “You can live the adventure of this era with great purpose. You can know with confidence that the Creator of the universe appointed you to bring light and life to this moment in human history.”
Check out this recent radio interview with Derek Ross and Barry Bussey (Director for Legal Affairs of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities since 2011) on The Drew Marshall Show (begins at 1:40 in the MP3 file) for a sneak peek on some of the insights you will learn in this Oct 4th Zoominar.
YARMOUTH WESLEYAN CHURCH
Thursday, November 1st, 9:30-4:30
Keynote Speakers Including : AJ Thomas, Kevin Vincent, Brent Ingersoll, Mike Miller & L.D. Buckingham
THE ROCK CHURCH HALIFAX
Friday, November 2nd, 9:30-4:30
Keynote Speakers: Jerry Reddy, Father James Mallon, AJ Thomas, Kevin Vincent & L.D. Buckingham
For more information and to register pease visit the BLI website.
January 9-12, 2019
Orlando, Florida at The Caribe Royale
More than a minister’s conference. The Gathering is a reunion of ministry family and friends. A sabbath for our souls. Coming together to stop, rest, pray, play and thrive. A chance to celebrate what God is doing in our lives and ministry through meals, stories, inspiration and worship. We know this will be a gathering you won’t want to miss!