Monday Again
Caton’s Island launched its summer of ministry this past weekend with a brand-new July Family Camp at the conclusion of training week for 55 full-time staff (not including CIT’s – counselor-in-training which occurred earlier in June). The August long weekend Family Camp has been sold out months in advance for the past two years, prompting a decision to offer an identical opportunity on the July long weekend. Eleven families, six of which were on the Island for the first time, enjoyed a fantastic time of fun and activities (including an excellent fireworks show on Canada Day) with David Hockley (Yarmouth) as the special speaker. Plus, God blessed them with a spectacular rainbow! Director Dean, we couldn’t help but notice your Stephenson Center took the place of the pot of gold!
This cabin (pictured above) is on schedule for completion by mid-July as a last-minute construction. The July 15th camp has 180 registered campers (30 more than any previous camp week in Caton’s history) and some would have been turned away without the rush construction of the 17th cabin. Several of the Caton’s Island Camps still have registrations open, but many are full, so don’t delay in making sure your students are registered soon!
For more details on the exciting plans for THIS Saturday @ Beulah Camp please see below in Upcoming Events. Beulah Family Camp begins with a Prayer Covering Service this Friday @ 7:00 p.m. in the Tabernacle. All schedule and event details are available online and camp handbooks may be picked up from the Beulah Office which will be closed today (July 2nd) for Canada Day. Special appreciation to Executive Director of Camp Ministry, Andrea Gunter, and her army of volunteers and staff for the tremendous efforts made in preparation for another historic Kingdom event which has occurred every July at Beulah Camp since 1894!
A very important feature of Beulah Family Camp will include the introduction of the six Atlantic District Core Values (Exploration Essentials – pictured below) as identified through a year-long process and approved by the DBA. These will be presented in the Monday – Wednesday mornings (two per service) by myself, Seth Fancy (Kings), AJ Plaizier (Yarmouth), Mark Brewer (Crosspoint), AJ Thomas (Deep Water), and Denn Guptill (Cornerstone).
- Amherst (Evan Oxner) had about 20 volunteers out to help run free activities for families during the downtown Canada Day Celebration yesterday. Evan highlights, “We had tons of foot traffic and a lot of great connections!”
- I enjoyed worshipping with Kings Halifax (Campus Pastor Seth Fancy) yesterday for their Canada Day Service. Kings (Brent Ingersoll) has experienced an incredible year of kingdom multiplication with the October 2017 launch of Kings West (with incoming Campus Pastor Adam Brewer) and their first out of province satellite in Halifax. Seth reports that the month of June averaged 150 with four more baptisms scheduled for August. Oliver Locke will be transitioning from Kings to join an E3 church planting team in the Annapolis Valley.
- Vince Robertson (Head of Millstream) reports taking in two new members yesterday as he and Karen prepare to conclude their ministry en route to West Head as they pass the baton of leadership to Kathy Jeffries.
- And speaking of West Head, John Symonds reports four baptisms yesterday which totals 11 for the year.
- Woods Harbour (Jason Parker) had 98 in attendance yesterday. Praise God for one first time decision to accept Christ from a young adult in response to a message on Pentecost. Woods Harbour has been partnering with Yarmouth (AJ Plaizier) in the delivery of a sermon series based on Acts, and has averaged 99 in May, 98 in June.
- The Wesleyan Church celebrated 50 years of ministry on June 26, 2018. More will be said about this at District Conference but this Wesleyan Life article gives the full story including a 3.5 minute video narrated by General Superintendent Wayne Schmidt. In honour of this historic union, many tuned in to hear the actual merger service through an audio recording that was made available last week at the exact hour it occurred 50 years ago and will continue to be available on The Wesleyan Church’s Facebook page.
- Presque Isle (Bud Fancy) announced this weekend that Victoria Rowe will be joining his team as Pastor of Worship Arts.
- I was privileged to be part of a rather unique Zoom meeting this week initiated by Bishop Cliff Fletcher of the Free Methodist Church in Canada. This “toe in the water” conversation included Wesleyan and Nazarene leaders (notably our National Superintendent Dr. HC and National Director Ian Fitzpatrick of the Church of the Nazarene Canada). There is a growing desire to find ways we can work together across Canada for Kingdom wins in the days ahead.
- At the invitation of the Sussex LBA, Dr. HC Wilson has accepted the opportunity to serve as the ministry re-entry mentor for incoming Lead Pastor Jim Agrell. About 20 gathered earlier in June at the District Office to share in a brief Reinstatement Ceremony for Jim & Diane as I was blessed to return his Ordination Certificate on behalf of the denomination. Dr. HC shares, “I was honored to speak yesterday morning in Sussex on the topic, It’s Transition Time. There is a two-week window between Don Ingersoll concluding his service there last week and Jim Agrell beginning his service on July 15th. There was a very good crowd present and an air of optimism seems everywhere present. Onward and upward!”
Prayers are requested and our sincere condolences are offered today for the family of Steve Sinclair (The River) whose brother Bernie (68) passed away on June 26th while hiking with his daughter in Alaska. They remember and celebrate his life in a memorial service today at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) in Plymouth, MA.
Thot: I am a missionary, heart and soul. God had an only Son, and He was a missionary and a physician. I am a poor, poor imitation of Him, or wish to be. In this service I hope to live; in it I wish to die! (David Livingstone)
On Second Thot: I’m just having a ball plagiarizing Jesus. (Duffy Smith)
Bonus Thot: Preaching is carpentry. Others lend you tools, yes, and teach you to use them. But the finished sermon must be shaped by your hand, out of the hardwood of Scripture. (David Drury)
All new for 2018… Check out this summers lineup! Special events, breakfasts, dinners, movies, services and more. Every weekend a great lineup for the whole family. Check out the schedule and don’t miss a minute of the fun!
Check out the radio ad with musical promotion of the three-artist July 7th concert.
Beulah Family Camp accommodations and programs are filling up fast. This packed 9-day Kingdom experience includes many opportunities for the whole family in worship, fellowship, discipleship and leadership development. For those involved in leadership of children’s ministry please make special note of the “KidMin Mini Huddle” on July 10th! TONS of FREE resources to give away, encouragement and AIR CONDITIONING! Plan to be there in the Upper Room of the Beulah Hotel (Dining Hall) at 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. on the Tuesday of Beulah Camp.
Kingswood Strawberry Shortcake Reception
Come and enjoy a free Strawberry Shortcake on Thursday evening of Beulah Family Camp (July 12) following the evening service in the grassed in the area below the Tabernacle Main Entrance. Those in attendance will be able to hear an update on several Kingswood University initiatives including KU Extended, purchase KU branded items and enjoy great fellowship.
Raising leaders matters. This value will receive special highlight on Friday, July 13, at 1:30 p.m. during Beulah Family Camp. This 1.5 hour workshop will feature Duffy Smith in a session entitled, “Raising and Releasing High Capacity Kingdom Leaders.” As pastors we often fail to understand the best practices to engage and empower high capacity lay leaders for Kingdom purposes. Like the workshop with GS Wayne Schmidt last year, this is entirely optional. Duffy has a lifetime of marketplace influence and is deeply passionate about helping pastors experience the joys and impact of unleashing the Kingdom force often overlooked or unharnessed in high capacity lay leadership. You are encouraged to make plans on Ordination day to stay for this afternoon session and to invite one or two of your key lay leaders to share in this workshop.
For those who enjoy the summer ministries of Riverside Wesleyan Camp 2018 registrations are open and filling up quickly. Elementary School Camp is July 9-13, High School Camp is July 15-21, and Middle School Camp is July 22-28. Make note of the new Family Camp schedule, which is now Sunday through Wednesday starting July 29th (Mel Norton is Camp Evangelist). Visit www.riversidewesleyancampground.com for more information and to register online.
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!
Wesleyan clergy & spouses are invited to register this summer. Registration opens June 1, 2018.
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!
- Moncton (Hillside Baptist) on Aug. 9-10th
- Lower Sackville (Rock Church) on October 18-19
Kingswood Extended launched on May 1, 2018 as the newest initiative for ministry education from Kingswood University. Aimed at providing quality online ministry education at the certificate, undergraduate, and graduate levels, with the flexibility to accommodate the unique demands of work, life, and ministry, the program is proving to resonate with churches and districts across the Wesleyan denomination. In the first six weeks, over fifty students have enrolled in the certificate-level Flame and Correspondence Courses, which are ideal for those looking to further their ministry training or are pursuing ordination through The Wesleyan Church.