Under Sail

Pastoral Placements:
Pastors Carl and Evelyn Brewer have reconsidered their retirement from Nackawic, NB, and will continue for at least another year. Pastor Carl’s work load will be adjusted to provide some relief for health purposes. Pastor Evelyn will share more of the preaching responsibilities, and the summer schedule will be adjusted to ease some of the ministry pressures.
Pastor Rob (Vallerie) MacCallum, Pastor of Ministries at Sussex Wesleyan, received a strong vote this past Sunday and will become the Senior Pastor of the church at the regular time for pastoral changes.
Pastor Ben and Sarah Canney have both been hired to work with Kathy Shanks and the Admissions Team at Bethany Bible College. This will be effective August 2008. Ben is currently the youth pastor at Perth-Andover Wesleyan.
Central Nova Wesleyan in Truro, NS has hired Chad Cummings as their youth pastor. He is expected to join the staff following Beulah. Pastor Chad will start out on a part-time basis (25 hours) and move to a full-time position as growth and finances allow. Pastor Ken Banks and the congregation are excited about this opportunity and believe it will be a benefit and blessing to their ministry in Truro.
Six churches that are in pastoral transition have secured a new pastor, and four other churches continue in the process.
The District was involved in an intense week of funeral services with Natalie Brown’s funeral April 23rd, Mrs. Georgia Jewett’s funeral April 29th, and Rev. Norman E. Trafton’s funeral April 30th. All three were triumphant home-going victory celebrations. I want to thank the Atlantic District pastors, ministers, and spouses for their support at all three funerals, and especially at Pastor Trafton’s. There were 125 ministerial personnel in the honor guard that formed at the close of the service. It was a fitting tribute to this Christian statesman. The Trafton family asked me to express on their behalf their thanks for the support, prayers, cards, and for the many people that showed up for the visitation hours and the funeral. The Jewett family and Natalie’s family expressed their thanks and appreciation as well.
In the month of April the Atlantic District Board of Ministerial Development (DBMD) conducted 43 interviews with individuals in various stages of ministerial preparation.
Beulah Camp Opportunities:
Trailer for sale: Lev Bradley has a 35-foot fifth wheeler for sale in good condition. For more information contact him at 506-763-2303.
Cottage for sale: Contact Faith Miller at (506) 684-2503 or danfaith@aernet.ca for details.
The Beulah Camp Caretaker, Garry Campbell, and Pastor Wayne Briggs are putting together a clean-up day for Beulah Camp on Saturday, June 7th. All the help we can get will be greatly appreciated. Pastors, could your church’s Men’s Ministry organize a group to come from your church? Let Garry Campbell (506-468-2152) or Wayne Briggs (506-468-2152) know if you can send a group and they will have work lined up for them. Thanks in advance for your help.
Beulah Wastewater Project – Richard McLean, assistant to the Hon. Jack Keir, MLA for Fundy-River Valley, reiterated to us recently that Mr. Keir is of the opinion that we should get this project started as soon as possible. Mr. Keir has been approached by us about preparing a letter to provincial and federal decision makers to help with the process. According to Mr. McLean, he has not sent a letter as yet, but he stated in a recent email that they have spoken with MP Greg Thompson’s office, and they will stay on this.
There have been advance preparatory costs prior to the major construction we are anticipating, and the offering at Beulah camp last summer has helped immensely in caring for these necessary and important expenses. Significant advancements most often require more than one step. This major project will require the sacrificial giving of people beyond what has already been given to date. We need another historic offering the last Sunday of Beulah 2008. Beulah needs to go to a new level in providing ministry opportunities, and this large investment is one step on that journey.
“Rally in the Valley” was held at King’s Valley Wesleyan Church (KVWC) in Quispamsis, NB May 2-3. This is one of two regional district youth rallies that are being held this month in place of the annual youth rally. It was one great weekend. 350 students were present along with another 50 adult youth sponsors. There were 100 volunteers from KVWC that helped to make things happen, and most importantly, 25 students made a decision to follow Christ! Thanks to Mark Brewer, our DYP; Dave Mason, the Student Ministries Pastor at KV who orchestrated the logistics; A.J. Thomas, special speaker for the weekend; Brent Ingersoll, worship leader; and many others too numerous to mention who helped put this event together.
The Nova Scotia Regional District Youth Rally is coming up May 16-17, 2008 at Hillside Wesleyan Church in Dartmouth, NS. The theme is “Taking it to the Limit.” The Worship will be led by Jason Vienneau and a Band, and the special speaker is Mike MacNeil. The cost to the students is $30. Registrations and Flyers were sent to the churches. Should you have other questions contact Rob McDowell at 902-434-6333.
Moncton Wesleyan Church dedicated their new Celebration Centre May 4th. Two identical services were held to accommodate the crowds with a combined attendance of over 3,000 people. It was a very memorable occasion, with Dr. John Maxwell speaking in both services. Many pastors from the district and across denominational lines attended, as well as local, provincial, and federal government officials. Congratulations to Pastor L.D. Buckingham, the staff, and the congregation on taking this large step of faith for the Kingdom.
Congratulations to Rev. Carl and Maya Gilles on the birth of their daughter, Théa, born April 17th. She weighed 7.5 pounds and was 20 inches long. Carl was on the Moncton Wesleyan Church staff. They are currently raising funds so they can serve in Haiti.
Pastor Raymond Fancy – Amherst Wesleyan Church – reports that everything is going very well since the relocation. Their Sunday AM service averaged 100 in April. The old building held 100 packed out! The mid-week service has tripled, the evening service is well attended, and the youth group has been consistently growing…AND they ended the church year about $6,000 over budget! God is good! Best of all, Pastor Raymond shared that a little seven or eight year-old girl recently accepted the Lord during Junior Church…and that’s why we do what we do!
Joanne and I were in Newfoundland for the first time this past weekend. We met with Pastors Darren and Janel Clark as they prepare to launch the preview services for Avalon Wesleyan (see below).
We had opportunity to see some of the area surrounding St. John’s, as well as the city itself. We were at Solid Rock – Mount Pearl Wesleyan for this Mother’s Day weekend. I spoke at a Men’s Breakfast Saturday morning, and Joanne spoke at a Women’s Breakfast that was held simultaneously. The men did their own cooking at the church, and the women went to Smitty’s! I was privileged to preach in both services on Sunday. A highlight on Sunday morning was when Pastor Graham Perry presented me with a cheque from their church for $1,000 for District Church Planting. Solid Rock is only eight years old but they get it! They are already giving back in big ways. It was certainly an enjoyable experience for us, and we thank the pastors and the people for their kindness and hospitality.
Avalon Wesleyan Church will be holding three preview services at the Rabbittown Theatre in the center of St. John’s, NL. They are scheduled for Sunday evening May 25, June 8, and June 22. Invitations will be mailed out, radio spots will highlight the start-up, and the Bethany Bible College Chorale was in Newfoundland and helped to hang out door hangers advertising the preview opportunities. Let’s pray together that God will draw people to help as part of the start-up team, and that many will attend the services.
Pastor Eric Hallett, Saint John First Wesleyan Church, shares that they held a Missions night on Sunday evening May 11th for the purpose of getting an overview of Wesleyan missions work around the world. It was also a fitting occasion to honour Debbie Mitchell for her two decades of faithful service as a missionary with Global Partners (Wesleyan World Missions). Dr. H.C. Wilson, General Director of Global Partners, was present to offer a Global Partners update and also take a few moments to honour Debbie. She resigned from Global Partners effective the first of April and hopes to find work in the Saint John area near her present home. Haiti (her last appointment) and the La Gonâve Hospital still resonate in her spirit. Barry and Beth Gould from Amherst, NS and Pastor Carl and Maya Gilles from Moncton, NB have been endeavouring to raise funds during the past year. The Goulds are planning to serve for one year, and the Gilles plan to serve long-term.
Willow Creek’s Annual Leadership Summit will be shown in a number of satellite locations. The one in Moncton, NB is hosted by Hillside Baptist Church and will be held at Moncton Wesleyan Church August 7-8, 2008. The Summit will also have satellite locations in Halifax, NS at StoneRidge Fellowship in Lower Sackville, and Bethesda Pentecostal Church in St. John’s NL. Take advantage of this great opportunity to hone your leadership skills and hear from people in the church and in the marketplace who can help you grow as a leader. While serving as a pastor, this was an annual event for me, our staff, and key leaders. It provided a strong contribution to the development of our ministry team and subsequent growth. I strongly recommend it. Registration details and related information can be found on-line. Google “Willow Creek Association Annual Leadership Summit.”
“Leadership consists in getting people to work with, not for, you – particularly when they are under no obligation to do so.” – Fred Smith Sr.