It’s Monday Again

Hundreds came yesterday to pay their respects to the late Mrs. Kay Ingersoll and express loving support to the extended Ingersoll family. The sanctuary of Kings Church was filled throughout the visitation with loving memories shared in honour of this special and deeply cherished lady. Among many other accomplishments in her 90 years, Mrs. Ingersoll served faithfully at the side of our longest serving District Superintendent (1960-1988), Rev. H. R. Ingersoll. At 2:00 p.m. today many more will gather in celebration of her life and in the spirit of I Thessalonians 4:13 because we do not grieve as those who have no hope.

The Buckingham Leadership Institute Believability Honours Gala on Friday night at Kingswood University was a powerful night of inspiration and a first-class meal for nearly 170 who gathered to celebrate extraordinary Kingdom impact in our region.

Special honours included “A Leading Model of Celebrate Recovery” with Adam & Julie Brewer of Kings Church (left). The evening concluded with the deserving “Believability Lifetime Achievement Honour” for Dr. H. C. Wilson. Approximately $25K was raised for the BLI ministry and a special promotion was announced regarding the digital production of the Express Mentoring resource which will be available soon. Thanks Pastor B (and Dave Steeves) for all you do to continue to show us what excellence looks like in Kingdom leadership.

The Beulah Session of the Camp Board convened on Thursday under the leadership of Beulah Interim Overseer Stephen Bradley. Concerns were addressed with appreciation for his excellent service in Caretaker Bruce Cheney’s report regarding the impact of this second year of flooding. Updates for the 2019 Beulah Family Camp (July 5-14) schedule will be posted soon for your review and advance planning.

SAVE THE DATE: Beulah Camp Caretaker Bruce Cheney is pleased to announce the annual workday is scheduled for May 18th with May 25th as a rain date. We will have lots to do so please mark your calendar and plan to help us again this year. Last year we had over 100 volunteers and we had a fun and productive day. A great meal will be served at noon. Hope to see you on workday!

Journey (Matt Maxwell) is playing a key support role once again as the operational command center for Samaritan’s Purse as they have come to Fredericton to assist in flood recovery ministry.

Our monthly DS Zoom meetings with General Superintendent Wayne Schmidt are always a highlight. All DS’s have been invited to participate in a three-weekend Exponential Cohort exclusive for Wesleyan denominational leaders which will begin in November. These are truly exciting days of Kingdom synergy as we explore greater effectiveness in Kingdom multiplication to close the Gospel gap in North America.

Blacks Harbour (John Symonds) exceeded their missions offering goal of $4K as 91 were present to be challenged with the value of a global collective as delivered by Peter Hayes and his daughter Makaila.

Pastoral Transitions

• Mark Brewer announced his resignation as Lead Pastor during Crosspoint weekend’s services. This concludes 15 years of ministry for Mark & Liz beginning as Youth Pastor. Mark shared that this summer he will be joining the pastoral team in Yarmouth (AJ Plaizier) as Assistant Pastor, which was also announced on the South Shore.
• Anton & Louise Topilnyckyj spent the weekend in Miramichi and have accepted district appointment for him to serve as Lead Pastor beginning on the second Sunday of May. Special thanks to Carl & Evelyn Brewer who will conclude their 5+ months of interim ministry next Sunday. You are both amazing Kingdom servants and we are stronger together because of you.

A Mother’s Day Opportunity from Executive Director Tanya Nace with World Hope International (Canada): If your church is interested in giving to a project for Mother’s Day in lieu of individual gifts, the Enable the Children (ETC) project is perfect! World Hope just hosted a beach day for the ETC kids. It is truly amazing! Check it out here.

This program is a gift to mothers because their children are cared for physically, spiritually and socially. World Hope is working to remove the stigma that disabled children are demons, as society in Sierra Leone likes to teach. Imagine what it would be like to be a mom in a society where your children are viewed as evil just because they have a disability whether physical or intellectual. A few other fun ETC videos are posted @ https://youtu.be/OpvepJMRt84 or  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUE1murheCw&feature=youtu.beew

THOTS:

• The key is defining reality in a way that ignites reimagination. (Bill Couchenour)
• Finish what you started… because you said you would.
  (Darren Clark on lessons from his late mother, Diane. Beautiful eulogy Darren!)
• Everyone loves hearing about change until you change the thing they love. If we will do what we can – God will do what we can’t! (Pastor B)

Attention all parents, teens, and youth leaders/pastors! One Conference is back again this year May 31 – June 1. This is a great opportunity for students to go deeper in their faith and meet other youth from across the Maritimes.

It was Forty Days after the resurrection that Jesus spelled out his mission for the church, go into all the world making disciples. This year on June 2nd the churches of the Atlantic District are being asked to respond to that mission with a special offering.

Amplify Leaders is an initiative of Global Partners to train pastors worldwide. On average, we can train a national leader for $ 2,400.00 over a three-year period. $800.00 a year. Each Atlantic District Church is invited to receive a special offering on June 2nd specifically to train & empower pastors in the majority world to fulfill the Great Commission.

For more information or promotional material contact our District Director of Global Partners Denn Guptill (denn@cornerstonehfx.ca).

SAVE THE DATE: Beulah Camp Caretaker Bruce Cheney is pleased to announce the annual workday is scheduled for May 18th with May 25th as a rain date. We will have lots to do so please mark your calendar and plan to help us again this year. Last year we had over 100 volunteers and we had a fun and productive day. A great meal will be served at noon. Hope to see you on workday!

Caton’s Island Director Dean Stephenson reports that summer camper registrations are already up over this time last year – don’t delay getting the word out to your students and parents/grandparents to make sure they can attend their preferred camp!

Riverside Camp Dates & Registration info is now available – Matt Maxwell (Journey) is the Evangelist for Family Camp (July 28-31).

A Word from Caton’s Island Overseer – Brian Murray!
A call to carpenters and those handy with tools! Caton’s Island has become a shining light on our district. Throughout the years, hundreds of young people have received Christ as their Saviour and have continued on to become great leaders of this ministry.

Caton’s Island is now preparing to embark on its largest and most ambitious project; to extend the present kitchen and dining room to seat 400 people and to make a fully equipped restaurant quality kitchen. The Choate Dining Hall Expansion begins this spring.

We ask our pastors to present this project to the congregation and to set up teams that will coordinate with Brian Murray who is overseeing this effort. Formal plans for all required equipment, electrical, plumbing, and other materials are near completion and we have presently raised $170K+ towards the total cost of $220K for Phase ONE which will be completed this summer. We do not wish to go into debt for this project, therefore we shall build in phases beginning with the structure this year. Then trusting those who see the great potential of Caton’s – to pray and donate time, expertise and finances. We have presently hired on-site manager and he will be developing and planning the work schedule along with Brian as project manager and Caton’s Overseer.

Pastors, if you would, please share this good news with your church family! Send your people and their questions for how to get involved to Brian Murray (spencerbrian@xplornet.com, 506.375.4330).