Under Sail
The aftermath effects of Hurricane Sandy are still being feltby Wesleyans along the east coast. Recovery efforts from the storm will extend for weeks and possibly months. I sent information to our pastors last weekend on how churches or individuals could participate if they wished to make a donation to the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Initial questions or requests for more information about Wesleyan relief efforts should be directed to the Communication office at The Wesleyan Church Headquarters. For further information, e-mail communications@wesleyan.org or call 317.774.7907.
The Wesleyan Church has launched a global prayer initiative entitled “called2pray.” The purpose is to call The Wesleyan Church to be a movement of prayer around the world that would seek to hear God’s voice and focus on missional priorities. This isn’t a case of the “West praying for the Rest.” It really is all of us praying for all of us. The goal is barrier breaking prayer that leads to a global harvest of evangelism and church planting. You can be part of this. For more information, or to register, go to the website at www.called2pray.com
Halifax-Deep Water celebrated their 5th Birthday this past weekend (November 4)! They have grown from an average of 55 in their first year to an average of 223 in the last church fiscal year. They had 357 people attend the birthday celebration which was held at the Dalhousie University SUB. Pastor AJ Thomas’s message was about “The Bride of Christ,” and it ended with an actual wedding! Carmen Howard and Jarrod Peckham were married by Pastor AJ in the service. It was very powerful day that Deep Water won’t soon forget! Everyone enjoyed a piece of wedding cake following the service. Most importantly, two people stood to receive Christ at the end of the message. Earlier in the service, I brought greetings on behalf of the District, and also presented Pastor AJ with a gift of $5,000 from the District to help Deep Water move forward in accomplishing their vision to reach the downtown area of Halifax, and beyond.
Lead Pastor L.D. Buckingham reports that Moncton Wesleyan held three services the weekend of October 6-7, and 3,068 people attended the “Heaven is For Real” ministry event that was held with Rev. Todd Burpo.
Senior Pastor Bud Fancy shares that 57 men attended the annual Presque Isle Wesleyan (PIWC) Men’s Prayer Summit the first weekend in October. They had 630 in church that same weekend (lya 553). On another note, PIWC recently sent 20 people – 10 men and 10 women – to La Gonave, Haiti for 8 days. Pastor Bud led the Team. He said they got caught in Hurricane Sandy, and experienced 25 inches of rain in 36 hours! They had a wild time getting to the mainland. They rented 2 “fly” boats (20 ft. speed boats, each with three 75 hp motors) and traveled 12 miles of open ocean at full speed in 6-8 ft. waves to get to the mainland. Pastor Bud says “they were literally skipping on the waves, pretty hairy!” It was a great trip with an excellent team. God truly helped, and good ministry happened.
Pastor Gary Churchill, Miramichi Wesleyan, reported recently that one of their ladies led her neighbour to Christ, and she and her three girls were in church the next Sunday. Right after that, one of their men led a co-worker to Christ. Miramichi’s average attendance has been up every month since May. The last Sunday in September they had 85 people present, which is up 25-30 over their normal attendance.
Pastor Ryan Farrell reports that Nackawic Wesleyan has raised to date $6,195 to dig wells. There were 66 present in the morning service, October 14th (lya 58).
Beulah/Browns Flat Fellowship served over 200 turkey dinners on Canadian Thanksgiving Monday. The proceeds went to The Fortress Ministry in Swaziland. $3,800 was raised!
Senior Pastor Dave Wilcox, Yarmouth Wesleyan, shares good news from his neck of the woods. Recently they baptized six individuals – three adults, one teen, and two children. One of the adults was in her 80’s! It was a great day! Yarmouth Wesleyan is next to the new high school and the kids have been walking through the church property to get to the local eateries for lunch. They decided to mow a path through the field to make it easier for them, and have set up picnic tables to give them a place to eat. The feedback is that this has meant a lot to the students. Last year, Youth Pastor Kyle Belden started having Mac & Cheese on Mondays in his apartment as a way to connect with the teens. They are now having it in the church building. On October 22nd they hosted 112 teens and went through 48 boxes of Mac & Cheese! Pastor Kyle set up the gym and opened the youth room. To use an overused word, it is an “awesome” outreach. It gives these young people a chance to experience the church in a non-threatening way.
New Mayor: Municipal elections were recently held in the Yarmouth area, and the new mayor of Yarmouth is Pam Mood who happens to be a member of the Yarmouth Wesleyan Church. Several of the Atlantic District churches may be familiar with her as she is also a motivational speaker, and has spoken in some of our churches. It is a good thing for God’s people to be involved in the political arena in their communities, as God directs.
Pastor Bill Lea shares that West Head Wesleyan’s fall ministries are doing well. Over 40 children registered for their mid-week program, and then several more started after October 14th. West Head has had four people give their lives to the Lord this year so far, and they baptized five people in the ocean on Canadian Thanksgiving Sunday (October 7th). Pastor Bill says it was great to stand in the water and count about 65 people on the shore in support (lya 89). The Sunday School is a very strong ministry and outreach in this church, and their high this year so far was 140 (lya in S.S. = 128). New people are attending their services and the pastor is encouraged with the steady growth. God is amazing!
Pastor Scott Lewis, Lower Hainesville Wesleyan shares that they had a great weekend recently (Oct. 18-21). On that Friday, 16 young people attended the youth group. On Saturday they held an auction at the Upper Hainesville Hall and they raised just over $1000 dollars to help the church out this winter. Sunday, they had a baby dedication and there were 47 people in church, giving Pastor Scott, as he puts it, “another chance to plant seeds by preaching the gospel of salvation.”
Good things are happening at Amherst Wesleyan Church (AWC). Pastor Raymond Fancy shares that on October 21st they held their 4th annual Music Night in support of the local Foodbank. All the area churches were invited, along with the community, and over 300 people packed into their sanctuary. Nine different musical groups participated, ranging from the AWC Praise Team, church choirs, men’s choirs, and even the local elementary school children’s choir. The event raised over $1,200 in cash for the Foodbank and in addition collected a “truckload” of groceries estimated to be valued at over $2,500. It was a great community effort with a great spirit present in the service.
Pastor AJ Plaizier reports that Fredericton-Corbett Ave. Wesleyan had an encouraging Sunday this past weekend! For the first time since AJ assumed the Senior Pastor responsibilities they broke through the “300 barrier.” There were 310 people in church – 103 in the first service, and 207 in the second service.
Truro – Central Nova had 95 in church on October 21st (lya 89). Ken Banks is the Lead Pastor. I was privileged to be with them on this Sunday and preach the message. Several upgrades to the building have taken place in the last several months. They have installed an elevator, and painted and remodeled the lobby. Downstairs they have installed new flooring, redone the nursery, and also painted. It is brighter and much more inviting. The Local Board is working with Church Solutions as they make plans for the future.
Sydney, NS – New Roots has been meeting at the Holiday Inn (formerly the Delta Hotel). I was present on October 28th when they held their last service in the Hotel. Beginning November 4th, they started holding their services in Sydney’s Empire Theatre Complex on Prince Street. This will be a good move for them visibility-wise. Most people in town know where the theatre is, and it’s in a well-travelled area. Pastors Darren & Janel Clark moved to Sydney from Newfoundland this past summer. They both now have jobs and are helping Pastor Kevin & Laura Myers with this work, which has been a real encouragement. Continue to keep New Roots in your prayers.
Pastor Denn Guptill is our new DDGP and makes the following requests: “As your new DDGP (District Director of Global Partners) I am just getting my feet wet and finding my way around the position. It would be great if each church could send me the contact info for their missions point person. As well, we are putting together a website www.gpatlantic.ca where updates and information about all of our Atlantic District GP Personnel can be found. As part of that we would like to partner with area churches to promote their short- term trips. We will post info about your trip and whether or not there are opportunities for folks from other churches to take part. The site can also be used when you need a specific skill for a short term team.” For more information please contact me at denn@gpatlantic.ca
Houghton College President Dr. Shirley A. Mullen has been named one of Christianity Today’s “50 Women You Should Know” for her outstanding role in shaping the evangelical church culture. President Mullen receives this honor along with the General Superintendent of The Wesleyan Church, Dr. Jo Anne Lyon. In addition, suchwell-known women as Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer, Condoleezza Rice and Sarah Palin were also cited. The “50 Women You Should Know” article appeared as the cover story of CT’s October 2012 issue. Author Sarah Pulliam Bailey writes that these women are “profoundly shaping the evangelical church and North American society.” Dr. Mullen is a native of Nova Scotia, and is the daughter of Rev. Laurence and Vesta Mullen.
Houghton College will open two new locations in Niagara County for their Adult Education Program in 2013. The first location to open will be in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and classes will begin on January 16, 2013. The second location will be in Lockport, N.Y., and classes will begin in the summer of 2013.
The Board of Trustees of Kingswood University bestowed upon Dr. L.D. Buckingham the title, Trustee Emeritus, in their recent meeting in October. Pastor Buckingham tendered his resignation having served on the Kingswood Board of Trustees for 35 years (1977-2012). He is only the third person in the university’s 67 year history to be given this honour.
Kingswood University staff and students are benefiting from the new PotashCorp Civic Centre. Built on land donated by Kingswood University, the year-round fitness and pool facility is adjacent to the university and houses a fitness centre, an indoor aquatic facility that includes a therapy pool, and a track for walking or jogging. It serves the greater Sussex area. After eighteen years of dialogue, the long-awaited, official opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the PotashCorp Civic Centre was held on Friday, October 19. Several government leaders were on hand to speak at the ceremony, and Kingswood board members, staff, and students had the privilege of attending the ceremony. All Kingswood students have memberships and are able to take full advantage of all the benefits the PotashCorp Civic Centre brings to the community.
“Noise proves nothing – often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she had laid an asteroid.” – Mark Twain
“Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.” – Unknown