Under Sail

Christmas Greetings as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Life in our churches is always busy during December but what a wonderful season of ministry as we share God’s Good news!
Pastor Graham (Rebecca) Perry, Mount Pearl, NL – Solid Rock Wesleyan Church, reports that this is his fourth Christmas in Newfoundland. Friday (12-21-07) the entire congregation is invited to an “open house” hosted by Graham and Rebecca in their home. This has become somewhat of a tradition for the Perry’s and the folks at Solid Rock. Christmas Eve is the strongest service of the year for this church and it always has great outreach opportunities. Pastor Graham is expecting over 100 people to be present at the Christmas Eve service (lya 57) This year, for the first time, the church will receive a “Birthday Gift for Jesus” offering. The entire offering will be given away to people in need. They will help people within the church but also people out in the community with no connection to the church.
Church Planters Darren and Janel Clark, Conception Bay South (CBS), NL – Avalon Wesleyan Church, are working at secular jobs in the community, and laying the groundwork for the public launch of their church in 2008. Special thanks to the following Atlantic District Wesleyan Churches for your help in the last few months in support of Avalon Wesleyan: Sunrise in Charlottetown; Cornerstone in Hammonds Plains; Solid Rock in Mount Pearl; and Havelock, NB. And special thanks to the Metro Halifax Area Ladies for taking a special offering for Avalon during a ladies weekend this Fall. Pastors Darren and Janel are currently looking for a facility to rent for their up-coming “preview services.” They are planning to begin with monthly preview services in March, April, and May. They will conduct monthly community events in the summer, and then have one more preview service in September prior to the launch of their weekly services in October, 2008. This is an exciting time and a stressful time all wrapped up in one package. So pray for the Clarks and the continuing development and strengthening of their Launch Team. Many details have yet to come together, but God is able, and He wants to reach the unsaved and un-churched people of CBS, NL with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The General Department of Evangelism & Church Growth (E&CG) and Bethany Bible College (BBC) are making available a wonderful opportunity January 15-16, 2008 at BBC. They are putting on a Church Planter Pre-Assessment Seminar. The College has generously opened this event up to people outside the student population. Those of you who may have an interest in church planting, or are wondering if you have the gifts to plant a church, should seriously consider attending this event. Rev. Chris Conrad, Director of Church Planter Development for E&CG, will be the main presenter. Chris planted a very successful church in Spearfish, SD, while I was the DS in the Dakota District. I can tell you first-hand that he comes to this event not only as a presenter, but as a seasoned practitioner. The cost of the pre-assessment event is normally $550 per person but anyone who has any intention of serving as a Wesleyan pastor can attend for free. The cost for those outside The Wesleyan Church is $50. Meals and accommodations will be your own responsibility. The seminar begins at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday (after chapel). Dr. Stephen Elliott, Director of Church Planting & Pastoral Ministry Programs at BBC, is the contact person at the college for the seminar. If you would like to register for this event, or require additional information, please contact Dr. Elliott at elliotts@bbc.ca and he will be more than happy to assist you.
Up-dates on those with physical needs:
* Shelley Berry, wife of Dr. Dan Berry (DS, South Coastal District), is now recovering at home under the care of her family. She was severely injured in an auto accident in September. She remains in a coma, though she is demonstrating some responsiveness. Caring for her at home is creating several challenges but they are striving to provide her with the best care possible. Your continued interest and prayer support is appreciated by the family.
* In a recent communication to the northeastern area DS’s, our area General Superintendent, Dr. Earle L. Wilson stated that this has been the most difficult time in his life physically, to date. He continues to press on with his responsibilities in the face of having to battle the effects of his recent surgery. A second MRI revealed that the surgery was not totally successful in that not all of the calcium was removed from his neck. This is the reason for the continued pain. Further procedures will most likely be needed to help him find relief from the intense pain he is suffering. Your prayers for him and his wife, Sylvia, are most appreciated.
* Dan Foote, son of Rev. Ken and Judy Foote, contacted me with an up-date on his dad (12-13-07). Pastor Ken is back in the hospital for his fourth round of Chemo. They are now planning on doing his reassessment in January. Ken’s spirits have improved. Please continue to keep Ken and Judy and their family in your prayers.
* Pastor Dwayne (Melodie) Hopkins, Scarborough, ME – Coastal, met with an oncologist on December 12th concerning the lumps on Dwayne’s neck, and numerous enlarged lymph nodes. His doctor stated that this was likely something that Dwayne had had for several years, and not something that just took place over the past few months. According to Dwayne, “It is not life threatening, and we are most grateful for that news.” Dwayne will have to undergo some more tests, and his doctor encouraged him to seek a second opinion. The doctor projected that treatments would begin in about 6 weeks. The Hopkins are encouraged and positive but need a continued interest in our prayers.
* Loren Lewis, Pastor of Worship and Productions at Moncton Wesleyan Church, stepped down from his long-standing position on December 9, 2007 on the recommendation of his physician. Pastor Loren was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease a few years ago. The disease has progressed to the point where this change is necessary. The church asks for prayer for Loren and his family during this transition, and as he finalizes a long-term disability claim.
Here is an up-date on the Beulah Wastewater Project: 1) MLA Jack Keir continues to have a strong interest in the progress of the Beulah Wastewater Project. He is willing to follow up with Province of New Brunswick (PNB) contacts to see how things are progressing. 2) Additional surveying and soils testing has taken place along the proposed pipeline routing for the project. The results of these tests were positive. 3) The pipeline routing is close to being finalized pending mutual agreement with our neighbors about the routing across their property. This seems to be moving forward in a positive fashion. Natech Environmental Services, Inc. has taken the conceptual design on the sewer system to the next level of detail as a result of these conversations. We are awaiting a final sign-off on this from our neighbors. 4) The alignment of the lagoon and pipelines was modified to reduce the impact on the wetland. 5) The governments of Canada and New Brunswick have signed a Framework Agreement worth $541.6 million under Building Canada. This took place on December 7, 2007. Under this agreement, several million will be used to address infrastructure priorities in NB. The agreement identifies federal funding for infrastructure and outlines how the Building Canada Plan will operate in the province. 6) The signing of the above agreement is a positive thing. However, we are still awaiting information on where we stand with the piece of the funding that hopefully will be allocated to the Beulah Wastewater Project. Mr. Andre Chenard, who is with the Dept. of Environment (DOE) in the PNB, and also the Director of Green Infrastructure Programs for the province, is a key player in the financing. He looks after the provincial aspects of the infrastructure program. We are waiting to hear from him on where we stand with the federal funding, as well as the provincial funding. 7) I have a meeting with Mr. Chenard in the first two weeks of January and hope to gain better insight regarding the status of the Beulah Project. 8 ) Dr. H.C. Wilson has made contact with MP (NB Southwest) Greg Thompson who participated in the December 7th announcement, and who early-on was a strong proponent for our project. Dr. Wilson will seek an up-date and some clarification from Mr. Thompson’s vantage point.
I believe we are making progress but this matter needs our continued prayers. We need you to intercede that we will be able to get the necessary funding from the government, and also raise whatever additional funds are required beyond that. We must not underestimate how critical the positive resolution of this issue is to the future operation of Beulah Camp. Thank you for your continued interest and support.
Moncton Wesleyan Church is preparing to move into their new 2000 seat auditorium at the end of February. The staffing needs of the church are continuing to evolve. Four new staff appointments were announced last weekend (12-16-07). The new staff will begin their ministries on Sunday, January 13, 2008: Janice LaPointe-McLaughlin, Director of Music & Special Events- overseeing choir and special events. Jeep McLaughlin, Director of Technology & Facility- overseeing sound, lights, media, and facility usage. Chris Stephens, Pastor of Worship Arts- overseeing the regular weekly worship elements and worship teams. Megan Stephens, Director of Care- overseeing member care and working alongside the Pastor of Care.
The Atlantic District Office will be closed December 24th through January 1st for the Christmas holidays. Karrilee Bremner, Administrative Assistant to the DS, will be on vacation during that time. The office will re-open January 2nd. In case of emergencies, the DS can be reached on his cell phone at 506-866-3055.
“Despite our efforts to keep him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin’s womb and an empty tomb. Jesus entered our world through a door marked ‘No Entrance’ and left through a door marked ‘No Exit.’” – Peter Larson
May you all have a happy and blessed Christmas, and a wonderful New Year!