Rally in the Valley, Easter, Beulah and More
Rally in the Valley was held at Kings Valley Wesleyan (KVWC) May 4-5 and experienced record registrations of over 580 teens from across the region. Attendance was over 650 for the Friday evening concert and rally. The Holy Spirit was in the place in a very marked way. Both Lead Pastor Jim Agrell and Associate Pastor Brent Ingersoll told me there were record numbers of commitments with hundreds responding publicly in each service. Jeff Eckart was the guest speaker. Jeff started a ministry in the USA called Claim Your Campus, and he is a former Youth Pastor at Kentwood Community Wesleyan Church in Michigan. Special thanks to Dave Mason, Youth Pastor at KV, and the Team that worked with him to put together this God-impacting event. God is good!
Easter Attendance: The Atlantic District had an Easter Sunday attendance of 11,182 in the midst of a snow storm and inclement weather that impacted over 80% of our churches. Three of the churches had to cancel their Easter services. However, the really good news is that 88 people gave their lives to Christ, and 50 were baptized!
Pastor Graham Perry, Trinity Wesleyan, Florenceville-Bristol, NB, shares that in their recent Annual Missions Convention on April 29th the congregation committed to giving $23,448.00 in the next year to missions through their Faith Promise giving. This is above and beyond the Tithes and Offerings. The special speaker for the weekend was Rev. John Croft who is Director of Missionary Funding for Global Partners. John will be succeeding Rev. John Connor as the new Global Partners Director of the Jesus Film Ministries, January 1, 2013.
Halifax-Deep Water Wesleyan Church is less than 5 years old and their 7th missions team was on the ground in Haiti last week. This medical team ran a clinic for people who otherwise wouldn’t have regular access to health care. A worthy ministry done in Jesus’ Name! AJ Thomas is the Lead Pastor.
Beulah Camp 2012 is set for July 6-15. Pastors Steve Wilson and Larry Wilson are the special speakers; Scott & Elizabeth Rhyno are the worship leaders and will coordinate our music; EXALT will be returning – it’s the 10th anniversary of this Choir; the Webb Family will be joining us for a service mid-week; ministries for children and teens will be happening through the week; other special events will be taking place as well. Check it out on the Beulah website which has been re-tooled, and is now up and running – www.beulahcamp.com
Beulah Camp Work Day is going to be May 26th, with a rain date of June 2nd. There are always a number of things that need to be done in order to prepare for the camping season. This is a great opportunity for the men, women, and teens of your church to be involved in a broader ministry while at the same time building relationships with each other. Put this information in your church bulletin, and if you have a group that would be willing to take part, please contact Bruce and Roxie Cheney at Beulah Camp, and let them know how many from your church will be participating. This information will aid in the planning of the projects, and also the meal preparation. Contact Bruce at Cheney@beulahcamp.com or (506) 468-2900.
Recent DS Church Visits:
Westchester, NS (April 1) – There were 25 people present in the service (lya 23). Since my last visit several months ago, the platform area has been upgraded. The railing along the front edge of the platform has been removed which opens up this whole area. It has made the platform more useable for musical groups, and special events. New carpet has been laid which brightens up the front of the church. The congregation is sensitive to the needs in the community. Recently they took part in a community-wide event that was held to assist a local family that had lost their home and business in a fire. Pastor Linda Fillmore is helping the Westchester congregation to be strategically involved in local ministry beyond their four walls.
Shelburne (April 15) – I preached the message and then held a congregational meeting following the service to up-date them on the pastoral search and transition as a result of Pastor Ben Medel’s resignation. There were 35 in attendance (lya 40).
Beals (April 22) – Pastor George Woodward has done a good job in leading this church. You can sense the love and unity when you enter the door. The church has seen people come to Christ in the past year. I met three men who readily bore witness to this as I spoke with them in the lobby before and after church. Pastor George is making plans for an ocean baptism this summer. There were 49 people in church (lya 45). Attendance has doubled in the last three years, and giving has increased. PTL! Several people gave Joanne birthday cards, as this day was her actual birthday. She spent the first two years of her life on Beals when her dad pastored the church. The recognition was a very thoughtful touch by Pastor George and people.
St. John’s – Avalon (April 29) – I traveled to St. John’s, NL to be present when Pastors Darren & Janel Clark announced their resignation to their congregation on Sunday morning. I also conducted 3 related meetings while there, attended the evening service at Mount Pearl – Solid Rock, and met with Pastor Stuart Marples and the Solid Rock LBA.
Fredericton – Crosspoint (May 6) – Crosspoint holds three Sunday morning services at 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30. They have been over 500 in attendance the last three weeks – 501 (April 29), 510 (May 6) and 521 on Mother’s Day (lya 424). The spirit and the momentum are excellent. The Sunday I was there Assistant Pastor Mark Brewer brought the message. It was scriptural, relevant, and well done. Pastor Tim Guptill is the Lead Pastor.
Pastor & Church Transitions
Pastor Mike Agrell will be returning to the Atlantic District having accepted the position of Family Life Pastor at Maple Ridge Wesleyan Church. Nick Graham is the Lead Pastor.
Pastors Darren & Janel Clark resigned from St. John’s – Avalon on April 29th after serving 6 years in NL and planting the Avalon church. The Clarks are going to move to Sydney, NS and will become involved in the Sydney-New Roots Church Plant as tent makers. Kevin Myers is the Church Planter and Pastor of New Roots. Both couples are excited about the future.
Dave Ziglar candidated at Scarborough-Coastal on April 29th and has accepted a 97% positive vote to be their next pastor.
Congratulations to the Gilberts! Payson Malia Gilbert was born on May 9, 2012, weighing 7 lbs. 15 oz. She is the daughter of Stefan & Deborah Gilbert, and little sister to Capri. Proud maternal grandparents are Pastor Denn & Angela Guptill, Cornerstone Wesleyan, Hammonds Plains, NS. Stefan has been appointed as the pastor of the Hope Wesleyan Church in Shelburne, NS and will start there in mid-June.
Congratulations to the Plaiziers! Adele Joy arrived in this world on May 12, 2012, just in time for Mother’s Day! She weighed 5 lbs. 6 oz., and is the first child of Lead Pastor AJ and Julia Plaizier who minister at the Corbett Ave. Wesleyan Church in Fredericton, NB.
On March 27, Rev. Duane MacLeod received the prestigious Board of Governors’ Award during the first annual Dalhousie Impact Awards ceremony in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A second year student at Dalhousie University School of Nursing (Yarmouth site), Duane was the first distance student, as well as nursing student, to obtain this honor. The Governors’ Award recognizes outstanding Dalhousie students (up to four maximum per year) who maintain high academic standards while demonstrating exceptional contributions or leadership outside the classroom. As a recipient of the award, Duane was presented with the Dalhousie Scarf, an impact award, the Gold Governor’s Pin, and a monetary gift. Congratulations! (Reported in News at Kingswood, May 9, 2012) Duane is a former staff member at Yarmouth Wesleyan.
The 12th General Conference of The Wesleyan Church will be a pivotal point in our church’s history. The decisions made during its conference sessions will impact its missional journey for years to come. Wesleyans around the world have already been praying for General Conference 2012 which will be held June 2-6 in Lexington, KY. Please add your prayers for God’s help and direction during these important days that God’s will and purposes would be accomplished, and that God’s Holy Spirit would be poured out on every session, event, and participant.
Sandra Moon, Vice President of Development, Kingswood University, has posted the information on the Kingswood Classic Golf Tournament which is set to go on June 16, 2012. This is a great opportunity for the golfers (and duffers!) across the Atlantic District (and beyond) to have a great day of fellowship and fun, and assist KU in a strategic way. Sandra says that thanks to the Corporate Sponsors, all golfers will play for free and 100% of their pledge support will go to Kingswood University Scholarships and Financial Aid. Scholarship naming rights will go to the top 3 fundraising teams. Will your church have a team with a scholarship named after it? Maybe you can encourage a team or two from your church to be part of this year’s Classic. Check out the website for details at www.kingswoodclassic.ca
Follow 2012 – This year’s International Wesleyan Youth Convention is fast approaching. Thousands of students have had their life altered because of their encounter with Jesus at these events. God moves, students respond, and lives are forever changed. Follow 12 will take place in Louisville, KY, December 28-31, 2012. For details go to: mywycon.com
“If you can’t do great things, do little things with great love. If you can’t do them with great love, do them with a little love. If you can’t do them with a little love, do them anyway.” – Mother Teresa
“Love is mostly something you do, not something you feel. The circle of connection is marked by servanthood.” – John Ortberg
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.” Romans 13:8 (NIV)
