Under Sail

Good News!  The Beulah Wastewater Project (officially called the Brown’s Flat Project by the government) has been approved!  It was officially made public in a joint announcement by the NB Premier Shawn Graham, and the Hon. Greg Thompson, MP for New Brunswick Southwest, and Minister of Veterans Affairs.  The announcement took place in McAdam, NB last Friday.  I was privileged to be present to represent our Project, one of four approved projects actually named in the presentation.  André Chenard, Green Infrastructures Director for the PNB, called me today and said a “letter of offer” was being prepared, and would be sent later in the week.  When this is received, and accepted by the District, we can proceed to put the project out for tender.  We will not have the project completed for Beulah 2009, but it will be underway this summer, and hopefully completed before another winter is upon us.  Again, we thank God for His faithfulness and favor in this endeavor.   We also thank everyone who has made this a matter of prayer.
Resignations (since the last Under Sail): Steve Bean – Wood’s Harbour.  I have met with all the LBA’s except one, and I’m scheduled to meet with them this week.  Pray that under God’s direction each of our churches would experience “the right person being in the right place at the right time,” as it relates to their pastoral leadership.  And pray that the pastors and ministry personnel who are in transition would know the specific leading of God in their lives.  These important decisions impact not only themselves, but their families, the churches they leave, and the churches where they take up new responsibilities.  Currently we have eleven churches in pastoral transition.
Pat Wager, wife of Central New York District Superintendent Wayne B. Wager, died Saturday, February 28, 2009, after a battle with cancer.  Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 3, at Lyncourt Wesleyan Church in Syracuse, New York (1:00 – 4:00 p.m., 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.).  The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, at Pulaski Wesleyan Church, Pulaski, NY. There will be visitation prior to the service, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.  We extend our condolences and prayers to Pastor Wayne and the family during these days of loss and adjustment.
Dartmouth – Hillside Rally Leadership Change:  Dartmouth – Hillside has had a leadership change in the area of youth ministry.  Rob McDowell has stepped out of the youth pastor role and Tim Long is now the new Youth Pastor at Hillside. Tim, after a number of years in the corporate world, is now pursuing full-time ministry.  These changes also affect the Hillside Youth Rally.  Pastor Tim is now the point person for this year’s Rally.  The “nutshell” details for the Dartmouth – Hillside Rally are:
Date: May 8th-9th (Not the long weekend)    Speaker: Mark Brewer
Worship: The Jason Vienneau Band        Cost: $30
More info will follow.
Caton’s Island Fund Raiser:  Supporters of Caton’s Island, under the leadership of Christie Ruff, are organizing a fund raiser for a major project on the Island.  It will be a catered four-course dinner featuring live entertainment and will take place April 24th, 6:00 PM, at King’s Valley Wesleyan Church (KVWC).  The cost is $100 per plate, and a receipt will be issued for tax purposes in the amount of $70.  Caton’s Island Director, Dean Stephenson, and those who assist him, are constantly working at improving and developing the Caton’s Island campus.  The Camp Board has determined that one of the next major projects that must be addressed is the building of a new and improved washroom facility.  We need to raise approximately $60,000 in order to proceed with this project.  We are relying on the upcoming Fund Raiser Dinner (and God’s faithfulness through His people) to help us take a significant step toward accomplishing this.  You can help by purchasing tickets for yourself and others, promoting the event in your circle of influence, and/or making a donation.  Dean and Christie are anticipating 400 – 500 people at this event.  Tickets went on sale today at KVWC.  Contact Christie Ruff (506-849-1783) or Dean Stephenson (506-375-8592) for tickets and/or further information.
Joanne and I visited with Pastor Hazen and Norma Lee Ricker last night on our way home from our weekend travels.  Norma Lee continues to be in good spirits in spite of her health challenges. A good friend of hers, Brenda Keith, is keeping interested people updated via email.  You can contact Brenda at bren.keith1@gmail.com if you would like to receive these periodic updates on Norma Lee.
Pastor Joel Wydysh, Hampton PEI – Island shares that the children’s ministry room (Upper Room) in their facility has been completely gutted and is being rebuilt.  This has been a much needed upgrade.  All the labor and funds were donated in three weeks.  Also, they are sending their third team to Malawi in the same amount of years.  The new team leaves March 20th on a two-week building project with Lifeline Malawi.  The team has raised over $15,000 towards the project already, in addition to their expenses for the trip.  Those who wish to follow the team can do so at http://malawiteam.blogspot.com/
Pastor Dan McGuire and the folks at Head of Millstream Wesleyan Church are working at developing both personal and church ministry in their “Jerusalem.”  They are planning to have a Wii Bowling tournament at the church for the children in the community.  This is an example of a smaller church using creativity in the face of limited resources to find a way to connect with people that do not normally come through their church doors.  Way to go!
The following pastors have received and accepted Pastor Recall Votes from their churches:  Jay Guptill – Dartmouth Hillside (4-yr); Tim Guptill – Fredericton Crosspoint (extended); Ward McComiskey – Seal Cove (4-yr); Dan McGuire – Head of Millstream (extended); Mel Norton – Hartland (4-yr); John Symonds – Fredericton Corbett Ave. (4-yr).  Some other votes are yet to be conducted in the next two weeks.
“Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill