Monday Again
Gloria and I will complete a very relaxing floating vacation today and plan to be back in the office tomorrow – Tuesday. It has been great to have this break and I am looking forward to being back in the saddle as we face the very busy and demanding spring season in district life. This is the time of pastoral recall and search. Please pray for His will and way in these things as it is both needed and requested.
Across our district we have recently seen winter’s fury in action with heavy snow, freezing rain and Arctic air. For several days, Beulah was without electricity. Our hats are off to Bruce and Roxie Cheney and all who assisted them in so many ways during those days. There was no damage to district properties at Beulah and great effort was expended to protect our assets there. The experience also served to help us identify more complete preparations that we can make in anticipation of future outages of this kind.
AJ Thomas resigned yesterday as Lead Pastor at Deep Water in Halifax. I have been in communication with their Vice Chair and will be working with the church leadership as a new pastor is selected. AJ and Kelly are seeking the Master’s direction for their next ministry assignment, and while I cannot speak for God :), that assignment must surely be here in our district.
Maximizing Impact is a program that will concentrate on churches that have unrealized potential and are led by leaders with untapped potential. These churches will, with LBA buy-in, do an extensive self-study leading up to a Consultation Weekend under the direction of an outside consultant. The entire process is aimed at Maximizing Impact of the church. Our pilot project is Corbett Ave where I have met with the Lead Pastor and then later with their LBA, which unanimously approved the concept. They have completed the self-study and the Consultation Weekend is coming up in early February. Be watching for reports and opportunities for other churches to be involved.
Snowbirds take note. The annual Atlantic Snowbirds Breakfast will take place on Saturday, Feb 1, 2014 at the Country Kitchen in Brooksville at 9 AM. Gloria and I will be honoured to host this event and all who attend will be guests of our district. We will be receiving an offering, the proceeds of which will help fund the Jesus Film, the most effective evangelistic tool in the history of Christianity. See many of you there.
A couple of weeks ago I asked you to remember Nick Graham and Karen Cooney in prayer as they face serious physical challenges. Karen had surgery last week and Nick is facing extensive tests and surgery preparation sessions this week in Halifax. Please continue to pray. Thanks.
THOT: “Be not afraid to welcome Christ and accept His power. Be not afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To His saving power, open the boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Be not afraid. Christ knows what is in man. He alone knows it.” – from the papal coronation speech of John Paul II.
SECOND THOT: “True followers are rising up who refuse to be spectators or consumers. Jesus told us to go and make disciples, so we refuse to sit and make excuses.” – Francis Chan
