It’s Monday Again

A high quality quasquicentennial (125th Anniversary) was celebrated this weekend at Crosspoint (Jamie Cambers – Acting Lead Pastor). To say this was well done would be a vast understatement. The three services included video greetings from a wide range of former pastors (or from their surviving family) as well as an excellent video overview of the history of this great church. It is not a brief compilation, but for any IMA subscribers who have historic Olivet-Crosspoint connection, it will be time well spent – and you will learn how old milk trucks were converted to introduce bus ministry to our conference in 1954.

Each service ended with honouring at least one long-standing member of the church followed by baptisms (two per service). Spirits were high in worship and meaningful gratitude for all God has done and will continue to do. I have never witnessed a church anniversary celebration with greater excellence, engagement, variety, fun, creativity, passion, and spiritual focus for the future. Plus, there was an unlimited supply of cupcakes! Jamie, you and your team set the gold standard. So proud to stand with you.

Kingswood University held graduation ceremonies this weekend for the Class of 2019. There were many highlights to celebrate as President Lennox and Dr. Janet Starks (VP of Academic Affairs) orchestrated meaningful components throughout the Baccalaureate & Commencement services. National Superintendent Stephen Elliott was the Keynote Speaker on Friday evening and gave a powerful challenge to the graduates (beginning at time mark 29:15).

Commencement Speaker, Rev. Anita Eastlack was conferred an honourary doctorate degree in recognition of her leadership as Executive Director of the Church Multiplication and Discipleship Division of HQ and as a trailblazer for Ordained women as the first female District Superintendent.

On Thursday afternoon I had the privilege of interacting with the returning Interns of the Class of 2019 in the Benson Athletic Clubhouse.

USF NOTE: This is the final week to remit USF for Fiscal Year 2019 (April 30th). Please email Karrilee to let her know if you are mailing in any final cheques this week. Funds received after this weekend will not be credited to your total.

Ken Nash conducted another Zoom Cohort Session on Thursday addressing Satellite Campus Ministry strategies.

Kings (Brent Ingersoll) locations celebrated 25 baptisms the end of April and this coming Friday & Saturday will host the XY Men’s Conference. Today is the final day to register!

World Hope International (Canada) Board of Directors convened by Zoom on Wednesday evening to address continued business from the onsite meeting in early April.

April 30th was the big day for Global Partners Missionaries Robin & Yoko White! Congratulations to you both on this happy occasion. The Whites will be with us during Beulah Family Camp this summer.

About 300 gathered at Kings on Monday afternoon to celebrate the life of Mrs. Kay Ingersoll and express loving support to the extended Ingersoll family. Eulogies were shared by grandson Jonathan LeRoy and by Kay’s daughter, Joanne, and grandson Brent Ingersoll delivered an impactful message from The Word. It was a beautiful service that honoured a beautiful lady.

On Saturday, Amherst (Evan Oxner) facilitated its first Stronger Together Workshop.  The focus of this event was to teach people how to support bereaved adults and children. This included general information about grief, the differences between adult and children and how to support them.  It will be an annual event and it will be more widely promoted next year.

Dr. Lenny Luchetti serves as Professor of Proclamation at Wesley Seminary. He is known as an “insightful professor with a pastor’s heart.” Lenny is the author of Abingdon’s Preaching with Empathy: Crafting Sermons in a Callous Culture (Fall 2018) as well as Preaching Essentials: A Practical Guide, which has been nationally recognized by Outreach and Preaching magazines as one of the best books on preaching in its publication year.

This summer at Beulah Family Camp, Lenny will serve as our first Evangelist. In addition to preaching Sunday through Wednesday, he will be offering an afternoon workshop on Wednesday, July 10th, entitled Practices for Preaching with Empathy in a Culture of Apathy. The first 50 pastors to register on or before June 1st will receive a complementary copy of his book courtesy of the Atlantic District.

Pastoral Transitions

• Jay Guptill (Hillside) announced yesterday that Daniel (Natalie) Mansvelt will be joining his staff as Youth and Young Adults Pastor.
• Drew Donovan (Moncton) has been selected as the new Program Director and Assistant Professor of Youth and Children’s Ministries at Kingswood University.

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:

• Unseen seeds of faithfulness bear the long-term fruit of true prosperity. The reality of this life will be swallowed up in a greater reality – like waking from a dream we were sure was the ultimate reality. (Brent Ingersoll)
• You will either be a “Yeah, But…” type of person or a “But God!” Kingdom leader. (NS Stepehn Elliott)
• Change is hard but complacency is harder. If you don’t like change, you’ll like irrelevance event less. (Carey Nieuwhof)

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).