It’s Monday Again

Wesleyan leaders from around the world gathered this weekend in Bridgetown, Barbados for the 4th International Conference of The Wesleyan Church which concludes on Tuesday evening. Our District Director of Global Partners (Denn Guptill) traveled with me to represent the Atlantic District and had the opportunity to preach yesterday morning for Mother’s Day Sunday with our Wesleyan brothers and sisters at Mount of Praise with District Superintendent McAthin Hinds.

The opening rally of the ICWC last evening featured a wide array of global leaders with about 1000 present to engage in worship with a Caribbean flare. It was an incredible night as those gathered represented ministry oversight in 99 countries and featured Pastor Alejandro Sicilia of Mexico City as the keynote speaker. The theme chorus of the ICWC includes these inspiring lyrics…

Another major Kingdom event occurred this weekend as Kings (Brent Ingersoll) hosted the XY Conference. More than 600 men gathered on Friday & Saturday to worship and sit under the ministry of The Word delivered by Kevin Myers (12 Stone), Mark Clark (The Village), & Brent. Journey (Matt Maxwell) had 23 present! XY Conference set a platinum standard for the future of men’s ministry in our region through the visionary leadership of Brent Ingersoll and his team.

• Brazil Lake broke the hundred mark yesterday morning (105 to be exact) for the first time since Kevin Myers arrived as Lead Pastor. They had a full weekend of Mother’s Day activities with Katie Mansvelt as special speaker.
• Aaron Reimer (Island) sent this encouraging note early last week, “We had a great LCC yesterday. We were able to celebrate (for the first time in recent memory) that we had both baptisms and an increase in average weekly attendance [for FY2019].”

Unfortunately, the Reimers found themselves at the Charlottetown Hospital on Wednesday night with their youngest son. Later that evening, 5-year-old Tal was airlifted with Vanessa to the IWK in Halifax for emergency surgery due to complications with an infection in his neck. We praise God for His healing touch on this young boy. This is the what Tal’s dad had to say this weekend…

“It’s been a long few days. Hopefully, about the time that IMA goes out, we’ll be getting good news that our son Tal will be ready to go home soon, but after a fast-moving infection resulted in him being air lifted from Charlottetown to Halifax in critical condition, we were in rough shape. Each step of the way, though, we’ve seen God’s hand at work through His people in their prayers and practical support, as well as a tremendous number of things that could go wrong – going right. We want to say thank you to our Atlantic District tribe and the incredible staff at the IWK for taking care of us in what feels like a week of weeks! #StrongerTogether

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 by clicking HERE on or before June 1st will receive a complementary copy of his book courtesy of the Atlantic District.

Pastoral Transitions

• Bradford Rogers (Deep Water) announced this weekend he has accepted the offer to begin as Youth and Young Adult Pastor at Moncton this July.

Alejandro ICWC THOTS:

• We aren’t called to take our structures into all the world – but to send disciples. Jesus loves the nations. A disciple has this love in their heart to reach the unreached. (Alejandro Sicilia)
• Disciples – they cannot be stopped, they will find a way. Discipleship is absolutely essential. Discipleship cannot happen by buying a book. The goal must be fully devoted followers of Christ. (Alejandro Sicilia)
• Events produce seekers of experiences. The disciple-making process is not centralized but decentralized. We need to start acting as an army instead of being huddled in a bunker. (Alejandro Sicilia)

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). Feel free to download the Canadian Church PDF OR American Church PDF to use for in-church promotion.

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!

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).