It’s Monday Again

It was a privilege to be with Mel Norton yesterday as we served the congregations of Beals (Nick Wilson) and Jonesport (Andy Phillips). After a combined service in each church over the past two Sundays, the congregations worshipped separately yesterday morning in preparation for a historic merger vote. Members and adherents were encouraged to participate and the aggregate total of all votes for both congregations was 75% in favor of merger. The LBA of each church family is to be commended for their excellent work – stronger together! The first service of the new church will be held on Easter Sunday.

Jim Agrell (Sussex) shared, “Praising God for the 6 Believers who were buried in the waters of baptism, and raised into a new life with Christ [yesterday] morning.”

Executive Director of World Hope International Canada, Tanya Nace announces:

This week, we launched information on a new project in partnership with Give Power, Katadyn and World Hope International.  We are going to set up a solar powered water farm to provide potable water for the island of LaGonave in Haiti.  This project will also provide much needed water for the Wesleyan hospital.  A photo journal with more information can be found on the World Hope website. 

The first of six DS Zone Dialogs was held this Wednesday at Cornerstone (Denn Guptill) and also included leaders from Connection (Ken Banks), Deep Water (AJ Thomas), Hillside (Jay Guptill), Metro (Aaron Birtch), New Hope (Scott Prime), and Westchester (Karen Purdy). I am grateful for the excellent contribution of these leaders as we continue to listen and shape the values-driven vision of the Atlantic District.

In additional Halifax news yesterday, Metro (Aaron Birtch) voted 90% in favour of being adopted by Deep Water (AJ Thomas). The final service of Metro will be celebrated on February 24th and the congregation will join with Deep Water in preparation for a relaunch as a satellite campus in the BLT (Beechville-Lakeside-Timberlea) at a TBD time following the successful launch of Deep Water Dartmouth this fall.

The second Ken Nash Multi-site Satellite Cohort (see last week) began this Thursday with four Atlantic District churches (Cornerstone, Deep Water, Moncton, & Presque Isle) and one CBAC Lead Pastor (Tammy Giffen of Groundswell) and one PAOC Lead Pastor (Mike Miller of Nova). The first cohort is an accelerated half-year format concluding before Beulah Family Camp and the group pictured above will meet approximately every month through the end of 2019. This is an exciting season of Kingdom collaboration for Kingdom mutliplication!

National Superintendent Stephen Elliott provided inspiring and substantive leadership as he chaired his first onsite National Board meeting on Friday & Saturday in Ottawa.

In addition to our three Superintendents, our National Board includes (from left to right) Mark Parker, Kelly Wieler, Scott Muise, Sharon Guptill, Estherlita Griffiths, & Suhanya Edwards. This meeting was marked with an exceptional sense of chemistry and commitment to the clarity and unique contribution of The Wesleyan Church of Canada. Our first National Conference will convene on an island just south of Montreal on August 14-15 this summer. Stay tuned for more details!

Matt Maxwell (Journey) shared this report from last Sunday, “Great service today. Had another baptism. I had the privilege of baptizing Doug Graham’s granddaughter (Brent and Amanda’s daughter, Ivory) – who I also had the privilege of dedicating 8 years ago! Testimony to longevity.”

It is a privilege to meet monthly with the Northeast DS’s as we embrace mutual voluntary submission for accountability in best practices to superintend a movement. In our Tuesday Zoom, the multiplication resources of Exponential were discussed with unique application for our local churches.

Votes/Evaluations/Transitions

• Mike Agrell (Maple Ridge) received an 89% vote yesterday for a four-year call as Lead Pastor.
• Ben & Bayley Medel (Corbett Avenue) announced this weekend that their service will conclude at the usual time of pastoral transition this July.
• On Monday evening, Island LBA passed a unanimous recommendation for a congregtional vote on March 3rd for Aaron Reimer with a four-year pastoral call.
• Executive Director of Camp Ministry Andrea Gunter will conclude her service this Friday, February 15th. We are grateful for the incredible contribution she has offered during her brief season of leadership. My God bless and anoint you Andrea as you soon begin serving as VP of Enrolment at Kingswood University.

Special prayer is requested for Jason Rooney (Monticello) and Bud Fancy (Presque Isle) as they are both scheduled for surgery today. Jason has gallbladder surgery at 11:30 a.m. Eastern and Bud has surgery this afternoon for large kidney stones.

THOTS:

• Transformation of desire to be like Jesus without empowerment of will to live it is a miserable life. (Chris Bounds)
• The heart of the Christian faith isn’t about satisfying yourself, it’s dying to yourself. (Carey Nieuwhof)
• We can’t defeat shame by whittling down God’s law to fit our behavior. We need the good news of God’s forgiveness instead. (Wesley Hill)

Retreat to Advance (Feb 26-28): Especially for those who missed The Gathering, there will be a “Retreat to Advance” offered at Beulah Camp and Conference Center on February 26-28. Attendance is optional and the program will vary somewhat from previous formats. This will include opportunity for prayer and meditation, teaching from Dr. Allen Lee (District Clergy Care Director and KU Program Director and Professor of Christian Counseling), and an in-person workshop with EFC Director of Research and Media Relations – Rick Hiemstra. The only cost for those who register will be travel to/from the event. To register please email Karrilee on or before February 15th.

The Buckingham Leadership Institute (Kingswood University) is offering a new leadership opportunity for “Express Mentorship” the end of February. Details regarding this two-day event are offered with online registration for this excellent opportunity to deepen the effectiveness of your leadership in the local church.

Mark your calendars for Exponential East, March 4-7, 2019. We are offering a $69 leader registration price and $29 for spouses. Click here to register. Contact Rhonda Moore with any questions.

Children’s Ministry Pastors and Lay Leaders: NEXT registration for Saturday, April 6th, in Halifax is now open @ http://cbacyf.ca/next. The first 100 participants to register through their Wesleyan Church using the code “NEXT2019” will receive a $20 scholarship discount from the Atlantic District.

In EFC’s Canada Watch (Oct/Nov), the lead article by David Guretzhi deals with the question “How do Christians live out our witness in this new context?” It is both inspiring and challenging—well worth reading.

The Oct/Nov Canada Watch edition also contains an article on Renegotiating Faith. CCD Pastor Rick Hiemstra explains the research in a 25 minute interview or watch the 45-minute webinar recorded in early October featuring key members of the research team.

Another valuable resource from EFC is the Palliative Care Toolkit.  View the booklet online or request your own copies at 1-866-302-3362 (toll-free). EFC is requesting prayer for their submission against Expanding Access to Assisted Suicide.  Read the background story.

Keep up with what the EFC is doing as they seek to be a positive influence and to apply biblical principles to contemporary issues.