Under Sail
There have been many Kingdom gains across our churches in the last 4-5 weeks. Several of our churches reported record attendances for Christmas events and Christmas Eve services, baptisms, and people coming to know the Lord. These were wonderful opportunities to share the Gospel with folks that don’t necessarily attend church every week. Here are a few snippets from across the last few weeks (in no particular order):
- On Sunday, January 20th, Lead Pastor Brent Ingersoll shares that Kings Valley Wesleyan baptized 38 people and had 21 people saved!
- Pastor Peter Hayes, Havelock, NS Wesleyan, shares that they hosted their first Christmas program in their new church building on Christmas Sunday (December 23). There were 279 present in the service (lya 80)*.
- On December 16th Pastor AJ Thomas reports that Halifax-Deep Water baptized seven people, and eight people gave their lives to Christ. This past Sunday (January 27th) they baptized another five people!
- Pastor Mark Brewer told me yesterday that Fredericton-Crosspoint is still growing, their attendance is now consistently north of 500, and they are planning their next baptism service for Easter.
- Pastor David Hockley shares that Ingomar Wesleyan has averaged over 50 (lya 39)* for the five Sundays prior to Christmas Sunday.
- Pastor Jason Rooney from Monticello Wesleyan shares that on Christmas Sunday (Dec. 23rd) they had the highest attendance since he became the pastor. There were 60 people in the service (lya 26)*, including two who listened by phone!
- Pastor Matt Maxwell, Fredericton-Journey, says they have held baptisms over the last three Sundays and a total of thirteen people have been baptized! They plan to baptize three more people this Sunday making a total of sixteen (unless of course others “jump in”)!
- Moncton Wesleyan’s 40th Living Christmas Tree under the direction of Associate Pastor Don Ingersoll saw sold out crowds totaling 12,400 people. 317 people received Christ! Pastor L.D. Buckingham is the Lead Pastor.
*lya = last year’s average worship attendance
The 2013 Atlantic District Ministerial was held at Kings Valley Wesleyan last week (January 24-25). Dr. Keith Drury, former Associate Professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, former denominational leader, and a prolific writer, was the special speaker. Dr. HC Wilson joined us for a session to talk about the challenges and opportunities facing The Wesleyan Church in Canada. There were 144 in attendance. It was a great time of instruction, fellowship, and worship. Thanks to Lead Pastor Brent Ingersoll and the entire KV Team for being such excellent hosts.
We have been invited back to KV next year. The dates for District Ministerial 2014 are February 4-6, 2014, and our special speaker is Rev. Mark O. Wilson, Lead Pastor at The Wesleyan Church in Hayward, WI. Pastor Mark is the author of Filled Up Poured Out.
Children’s Ministry Training Opportunity: The Huddle will be on location at Crosspoint Wesleyan Church in Fredericton, NB, March 23, 2013. Pastors Mark Brewer and Dan Lamos are the keynote speakers; workshop leaders are Linda Lamos, Andrea Gunter, Rod & Toni Wasson, and Dr. Pattie Peterson. This is a one-day, affordable event for your entire team of children’s workers – $25/person or $100 for four or more from the same church. To register contact Linda Lamos at linda.lamos@kingsvalley.ca
The Hillside Rally (for teens) will take place February 22-23, 2013 at Hillside Wesleyan Church in Dartmouth, NS. Contact Pastor Tim Long for more information and registration details at tim@hillsidewesleyan.com
Rally in the Valley 2013 (for teens) will take place on May 3-4, 2013 at Kings Valley Wesleyan in Quispamsis, NB. Pastor Dave Mason says the KV Worship Team will lead the music, Matt Deprez is the special speaker, and Manafest is the guest artist for the Friday night concert. For further information contact Pastor Dave at dave.mason@kingsvalley.ca
Beulah Camp dates are July 5-14, 2013. The speakers are Rev. Dwight Robertson, President of Kingdom Building Ministries, and Rev. AJ Thomas, church planter and pastor of Halifax-Deep Water Wesleyan Church. Rev. Scott & Elizabeth Rhyno will be returning to lead our worship and oversee the music. District Conference will be July 11th and the Ordination Service will be July 12th.
There were 56 people in attendance at the annual Atlantic District Snowbirds Breakfast in Brooksville, FL on January 12th. Attendees purchased their own breakfast. The Atlantic District will contribute an additional $560 this month to the Jesus Film in Cuba ($10 for every person who attended the breakfast).
Kings Valley Wesleyan Church, on December 16th, gave Associate Pastor Brent Ingersoll a 94% affirmative vote on a 2-year initial call to be the Lead Pastor at KV. He had been serving as the Interim Lead Pastor for over three months prior to the vote.
Resignations: Wayne Briggs (Browns Flat Fellowship); L.D. Buckingham (Moncton); Nelson Koonce (Bangor-Pathway); Mel Norton (Hartland); Kirk Perry (Grand Harbour). Tim Branscombe, Associate Pastor at Grand Harbour, has also resigned.
Pastor L.D. Buckingham announced this past Sunday that his last Sunday as Lead Pastor at Moncton Wesleyan will be June 23, 2013. He will have served 44 years as pastor at MWC. Lead Pastor-Elect Tim Guptill will take the full responsibility as Lead Pastor at that time.
Recall Votes: The following churches will be conducting a recall vote on their lead pastor sometime during the first two weeks of March: Dartmouth-Hillside (Jay Guptill); Fredericton-Corbett Ave (AJ Plaizier); Halifax-Metro (Kevin Wilson); Hampton-Island (Joel Wydysh); Havelock, NS (Peter Hayes); Ingomar-Faith (David Hockley); Miramichi (Gary Churchill); Norton (Randy Forbes); Seal Cove (Ward McComiskey).
Our Sympathy:
Audrey McElhinney, wife of Rev. John McElhinney, and mother of Pastor Dave McElhinney, Lead Pastor at River Valley Wesleyan in Grand Bay-Westfield, NB passed away December 14, 2013. A service celebrating her life was held Sunday, Dec. 16th, at River Valley Wesleyan, and a second service was held on Monday, Dec. 17th from the Britton Funeral Home in Hartland, NB.
Roberta McGarrigle, mother of Elaine McComiskey, died peacefully at the Saint John, NB Regional Hospital on Thursday, December 20, 2012. Elaine is the wife of Pastor Ward McComiskey who serves as the pastor of the Seal Cove Wesleyan Church. The funeral service was held December 23rd at Black’s Harbour Wesleyan with Pastor Dave McElhinney and Pastor Mark McCluskey officiating.
Grant MacCallum, father of Lead Pastor Rob MacCallum who serves at the Sussex Wesleyan Church, went home to be with the Lord on Christmas morning. He had just been admitted to Palliative Care at the Kiwanis Nursing Home in Sussex, NB the day before. He was 90 years of age, and in the words of Pastor Rob, “He was home for Christmas.” He is survived by his wife Ruth.
Rev. Bertram Hicks, age 95, died on Friday, December 28th at the Sussex Regional Health Centre. He and his wife, Avis, retired in 1982 to Havelock, NB. He was a pastor with the Reformed Baptist Church, and then The Wesleyan Church after merger. He served the following churches and ministries: Westchester, NS (1946-1948); Woodstock, NB (1948-1955); Professor at Bethany Bible College (1955-1959); Truro & Londonderry, NS (1959-1964); Havelock, NS (1964-1968); Hartland, NB (1968-1976); Sandford, NS (1976-1982). He also held a number of denominational and district offices over the years of his ministry. His funeral was held at the Salisbury Funeral Home, on Monday, December 31st with Pastor Reg Thomas officiating, assisted by Pastor Jacob Ebbett. Pastor Reg Thomas’s wife, Janice, is a daughter of Pastor Bert & Avis Hicks.
Ivan Ricker, father of Pastor Hazen Ricker, passed away January 9th. He was in his 99th year. The funeral service was held in the Presque Isle, ME Wesleyan Church on Monday, January 14th, Pastor Bud Fancy officiating. We thank God for this godly layman and his strong legacy.
We extend our condolences to all of these families. I know they have appreciated an interest in your prayers, and continue to do so in these days of adjustment.
Pastor Peter & Cathy Hayes, Havelock, NS Wesleyan, are celebrating a new addition to their family – a baby boy! Seth Warner Hayes was born January 13th, weighing 9 lbs., 12 oz. He was in the hospital until January 23rd because of respiratory issues but he is home now, and doing well.
“Healthy churches are constant in prayer…Sporadic prayer will not keep (or get) a church healthy. It must be an ongoing lifestyle.” – Charles Arn
“Nothing shows a man’s character more than what he laughs at.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
