Under Sail

The Beulah Wastewater Project construction phase is now underway in serious fashion.  The lagoon is the first item of business and will be constructed over the next two weeks, assuming the weather cooperates.  The piping will begin mid-September, and the target for completion is October 31^st, again pending weather and barring the unforeseen.  The project, to date,  remains on schedule.
Joanne and I traveled to Newfoundland by land and sea August 21-26.  We shared a meal with church planters Kevin & Laura Myers (Sydney – New Roots) in Sydney, NS on the 21^st prior to catching the ferry to Argentia.  The Myers are building relationships with new people, and deepening the ones they already have. They are also working at developing their core group and launch team.  The Myers are purchasing a house which is an exciting chapter for them.
While on “the Rock,” we renewed acquaintances with several people in the Mount Pearl- Solid Rock Wesleyan Church. We had supper with Pastor Mark & Susan McCluskey on Saturday, and then spent the evening with them.  They are very excited about their new assignment, and are being well received by the congregation.  Pastor Mark’s passion for evangelism is very evident.  I installed him as pastor on Sunday morning, August 23^rd.
Sunday afternoon, we connected with church planters Darren & Janel Clark who lead the St. John’s – Avalon Wesleyan church plant in the downtown area of St. John’s, NL.  We enjoyed the fellowship and the conversation, and especially the talk around “catching men and bearing fruit.”
We took a couple of days to enjoy Newfoundland on the way back to the Channel-Port aux Basques ferry.  It gave us opportunity to get a better sense of the province, and also some of the other towns and communities such as Grand Falls-Windsor and Corner Brook.
Pastor Rod and Joy Guptill are settling in well as the new senior pastoral couple at Wood’s Harbour Wesleyan. I installed Pastor Rod this past Sunday.  The Guptills have been there four Sundays and four people have been saved!  They will be having a baptism in the next couple of weeks to celebrate with those taking this next step of obedience.
Pastor Peter Hayes, Havelock, NS Wesleyan, had the wonderful opportunity to baptize two children from their church on August 16^th.  Two others are going to be baptized this fall.  PTL!
Pastor Raymond Fancy, Amherst Wesleyan, shares a praise note – on Sunday, August 2nd, over 65 people gathered at a riverside in their vicinity and witnessed the baptism of six people!  The day concluded with an evening concert with the Courier’s.  It was a great day!  Further, plans are under way to receive new members the end of September, and they are now busily preparing for this year’s VBS which will be held as a “Back to School Bible School” September 8-12.
Miramichi Wesleyan Church continues to move forward with a major building program. Pastor Gary Churchill says they put up 110 feet of wall last week, and will put up 164 more feet this week (among other things).  The pastor and people are very appreciative of the donated labour and resources from various individuals and churches.
Selinda Ingalls is overjoyed to announce that she has crossed the threshold of financial support needed to return to the mission field.  She has received notice of final release from Global Partners, and is cleared to purchase her airline tickets.  She won’t have an exact departure date until the tickets are purchased, but she will be flying to Zambia sometime near the end of September.
Robin White, missionary to Japan, took part in a joyful day at Immanuel Nagoya Church. After a good morning service, they celebrated the baptisms of three sisters in Christ.  Baptism is always a time to give thanks, and Robin says he loves how the Japanese church treats it like a real event — something the whole Church Family gets excited about, celebrates, and remembers.  Pray for Robin, especially as it relates to his language studies, his involvement in the church services, and the relationships he is building with the people.
The Huddle is a children’s ministry training event sponsored by the Spiritual Formation Department of The Wesleyan Church – Children’s Ministry. It is intended for everyone in the local church who cares about children’s ministry, or in some way serves in the children’s ministry.  The Presque Isle Wesleyan Church is hosting this event Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 9 am – 3pm.  The cost is $25/person or $99 for four or more from the same church, and lunch is included.  Discover practical ideas, see new resources, and connect with others involved in children’s ministry.  For more information, go to www.wesleyankids.org or call (317) 774-3891
Pastors: Three questions and four words – Is anyone getting saved?  Are you baptizing anyone?  Are you faithfully “sowing the seed?”  Catch men.  Bear fruit.
“A cobbler gives God the highest praise when he makes the finest pair of shoes.” – Martin Luther