Vol 5 No. 12 An Easter Preview

I recently wrote a devotional for the CBWC’s Kitsilano Christian Community Lenten booklet.  I wrote on Easter Sunday and had a 450 word limit.  I took 1150 words the first time round and 630 the second.  The editors were patient.  Attached is the full length piece which is offered in hopes that it might re-affirm your walk with Christ as we all come to celebrate His resurrection this Easter morning.

 

Warmly

In Christ,

Jeremy

jbell@cbwc.ca

 

John 20:11-18

Christ is Risen

He is Risen Indeed

Christ is Risen

He is Risen Indeed

 

I wait all year to say those words, to hear them from others and to repeat them over and over all Easter day long. There is no more wonderful, mysterious or powerful greeting. No greater cause for celebration. It is a burst of joy that needs no apology, no modifying for the moment, no accommodation to the deadly boredom of muted emotion. There are many things I do not understand, grasp nor comprehend in this journey of faith, but this I seize on. “Christ is Risen” and in Him and with Him I shall too. I stand with Karl Jung who, when asked near the end of his life whether he believed in God, replied “No I do not believe, I know. I may believe a great many things but I am very particular on what I say I know. This I know, that on the third day Christ rose from the dead.”

I am also very particular about whose voice I wish to hear in scripture on this matter. There is a veritable chorus of people to choose from, but it is the company of Mary Magdalene whose company I most often keep on this Easter day.

“Mary stood weeping outside the tomb” begins in a place I often find myself; overcome by the circumstances of the moment I can be blinded to the God who is present. Sometimes, as in Mary’s loss, there is every reason to be overcome. Edward Murrow once wrote “for some things there are no words.” I would add no words, just tears. Mary has that wonderful encounter with the angels in the empty tomb. As western intellectual pride has tried to out enlighten the Enlightenment Christians have often exchanged mystery for the mundane. I’ve never met an angel. I know those who have. I believe their experiences even though I have not shared them.

Mary has another experience that I deeply cherish.  An experience that while I was not present for it, it is mine, as if I was there that day.  Like Mary, I often natter on about how someone has hidden Jesus from me (v. 13b – 15). It is a blame game which would be humorous if it didn’t look like a simplistic theological version of “Where’s Waldo?” Mary really wants to know where Jesus is and in her tears, pain and flailing cannot see Him.  I love Mary and her story for this. It is a measure of her genuine search and love for Jesus that when she does apprehend him, she responds in joy. I have often searched, not wanting to find. I know many like myself. I know few like Mary. It is what happens next that overwhelms Mary and overwhelms me each time I read it.  Jesus says just one word.  Mary.  She is known by Jesus and in his call to her she knows the resurrection personally, powerfully and completely.

Mary’s gift to us is that she makes this mysterious event real, intimate and touching personal. She seeks Jesus openly and without reservation. She is not bound by the mediocrity of metaphor. She is not tempted by a triumphalism that is blinded to the peril and pain of our world. Many would have enjoyed the Dali Lama’s response to the question “Can you be a Christian and a Buddhist?” to which he diplomatically and soundly replied “at some point you will need to choose between re-incarnation and resurrection.” Or N.T. Wright, when he states that the bodily resurrection of Jesus is a clear and new concept in ancient and modern thought.  Wright suggests its uniqueness has a powerful and simple truth: Christ is indeed risen.  Despite all their declarations, it is Jesus calling Mary by name that touches me. He has called me by name too. It is in the intimacy of that naming that calls me to the joy of resurrection this Easter Sunday morning.

John Updike is compelling in selections from his Seven Stanzas at Easter.

 

Make no mistake

if he rose at all

it was as his body:

if the cells dissolution did not reverse, the

molecules reknit, the amino acids rekindle,

the church will fall.

 

It was not as the flowers,

each soft Spring recurrent;

it was not as his Spirit in the mouths and

fuddled eyes of the eleven apostles;

it was as his flesh; ours.

 

Let us not mock God with metaphor,

analogy, sidestepping transcendence;

making of the event a parable, a sign painted in the

faded credulity of earlier ages;

let us walk through the door.

 

In previous years, on the night before Easter Sunday, I would go down to the place where we were going to celebrate the Sunrise Service at the Planetarium.  In the dark.  By myself.  To pray.  I would pray for Kerry, Jessica, and Andrew. I would pray for many of us at Kits church. I would pray for the city spread out before me and I would pray for the world under the canopy of that night sky. Then I would wait in the silence, in the dark, and experience the senseless empty dark, the soul scouring silence of this world and my life without Christ risen. I would breathe it in. Shudder at the emptiness. And go home to wait the morning.

Never was Easter so met in me then when I took Mary’s story in John and replaced her name with my own. I heard and experienced Jesus calling out “Jeremy.” It is a very emotional exercise to imagine and experience. While “Christ is risen” now rises from my heart each day, not just on Easter day, it is in this time and place that “Christ is risen” arises from every fibre of my being as in no other day.

 

Prayer:

Lord, You are risen, risen in full form; spirit, body and glory. I thank You for the gift that You are. I ask that this gift, this full gospel of redemptive change and renewal would come to me this day, to me Lord, to our family, friends, church community and world. May I always remember the fullness of who You are.  Might I recall Augustine: “My heart is restless until it finds its rest in You.”

 

In Christ’s name,

 

Amen.

 

Vol 5 No. 11 The Carey Erb-Gullison Professor Of Family Ministries

Carey Theological College installed Dr. Paddy Ducklow in the Erb-Gullison Professor of Family Ministry Chair on February 26th, 2009 at West Vancouver Baptist Church.  The locale was wonderful; as Paddy became a believer there, he and Carol married there, and his mother came to faith and was baptized at West Vancouver.  Paddy led the singularly most balanced and exciting youth community during the Jesus Movement at West Vancouver in the late 60’s and early 70’s; it was called “Salt Circus”.

Here’s what the service program said about both Paddy and Evlyn and Ben’s life.

Paddy has more than thirty-five years of pastoral experience, most recently serving for the past fifteen years as the Senior Pastor and Team Leader of Capilano Christian Community in North Vancouver.  Paddy is a registered psychologist with extensive experience working in the areas of marriage enrichment, parenting, conflict, interpersonal relationships, and family systems.  He loves the church and is committed to transformation through personal communication.

The Erb-Gullison Chair of Family Ministries was endowed in honour of Evlyn Erb and Dr. Ben Gullison, partners in marriage and in ministry.  Growing up in India as the child of missionary parents, Ben dreamed of bringing the best to the poorest in rural India.  He trained as a physician and Evlyn as a theologian.  The fruit of their shared work is Operation Eyesight, one of the first organizations to target eye health in the developing world.  Since 1963, Operation Eyesight has treated more than 33 million people for potentially blinding conditions.  In 1980 Dr. Ben Gullison was named to the Order of Canada.

I have known Paddy since I was in my 20’s and deeply respect his work and person, as do so many others.  I knew Evlyn and Ben from the age of 15 and always enjoyed their kindness, character and person.  I think of them often and like others, miss them still.

The first Erb-Gullison chair was occupied by Roy Bell, 1989-1995 and then Mark Davies from 1995-2007.  The Chair is endowed.  I was reflecting on what these professors brought to their discipline and teaching.  Here are some of my thoughts, which are incomplete.

  • They are all comfortable in themselves
  • Despite its challenges,  they all deeply affirm the church of our Lord Jesus Christ
  • They all radically and enthusiastically affirm marriage as a gift from God and believe in teaching and affirming good marriage.
  • They are all comfortable about speaking and reflecting on human sexuality, which cannot always be said of Christians
  • They are all scholarly, pastoral, and exceptional teachers
  • They are (fortunately) warm, engaging and funny.

Thanks be to God for Carey and for these outstanding teachers.

Warmly

In Christ,

Jeremy

jbell@cbwc.ca

Vol 5 No. 10 The Listening Sessions & A Small Suggestion

I have been asked about whether the Listening Sessions are a good idea or not.  That’s a fair and good question.  Let me begin by reminding each other what the questions for the Listening Sessions have been these last three years.

In our first year:

  • What does God ask of you? 
  • What resources has God provided? 
  • What remaining resources do you still need? 
  • How can we (in the churches of the Union) support your call of God this year? 

Our second year we travelled out into the country more.

  • In what ways does your church engage and make a difference in your community?
  • In what ways does your church partner to minister with other churches?
  • In what way can your church energize or enhance the work of our denomination (our family of churches in Canadian Baptists of Western Canada) in the next year?

The questions for this year are a little different again.

  • Where and how has God been at work in your community? 
  • Where and how is your church engaging God’s work in the community?
  • How can we continue to partner to do God’s work in the community?

Let me comment on the sessions in point form.

  • These questions form a basis for personal and the wider Christian Church to ask essential questions of God
  • These questions encourage the Spiritual discipline of listening to God and always talking to God; silence, not just natter
  • These times of worship challenge us
  • The reflective and wise counsel that John Prociuk gives, brings us to a stronger place in God as well as in each other.
  • Stronger churches, who may see little value or need, must be more generous in sharing with those churches who are weaker and need their resources, wisdom and help
  • Weaker churches must not be afraid nor too proud to come in need, to receive, so that one day they might share with others
  • These sessions have been dominated by two themes:   1. God’s faithfulness and 2. Our need to spend listening time with God
  • We sometimes worship our independence in the CBWC.  The Lord insists we worship Him over autonomy and declares our responsibility to care for others.
  • We are immensely blessed in the CBWC and God will continue to honour and bless what He has called us to if we wait on Him and encourage each other.

 

Here are the dates for the 2009 Listening Sessions:

 

March 28 Saskatchewan

May 2 Manitoba

May 23 Lower Mainland #1

Sept 12 Alberta – Peace Country

Sept 19 Lower Mainland #2

Oct 17 Okanagan

Oct 24 Alberta – Calgary

Nov 14 Alberta – Edmonton

Nov 28 Vancouver Island

 

There are several new ways we are trying to evaluate and re-frame these times.  Please pray for their unfolding this year and thank you for your prayers in advance.

 

Warmly

In Christ,

Jeremy

jbell@cbwc.ca

Vol 5 No. 9 The New Pastor’s Orientation

This week is a follow- up on the March issue of “Making Connections”.  Last week we engaged in the annual New Pastor’s Orientation session.  It was a wonderful time of fellowship and sharing.

These annual orientation sessions help people who are new to ministry within the denomination find their bearings.  They learn more about our Baptist identity through sessions that look at our Baptist roots and church traditions.  They find out about the many resources and resource people available to support their work in areas as diverse as Children and Family ministries, ministries to the homeless and short-term missions.  They also learn about the ministerial and administrative services available, such as conflict resolution, loans or Pensions & Benefits administration.

Perhaps most importantly, our new pastors get to know the family they are becoming part of.  Through fellowship, they connect with senior CBWC staff as well as with other pastors who share their interests and ministries, beginning a conversation that allows them to offer each other mutual support, resources and encouragement.  It is an important early step in our journey together with God.

New pastors attending in 2009 were:  Joel Amzil, Pieter and Brina Basson, Neil Bell, Sara Bywaters-Baldwin, Bill Cottrill, Tyler Crawford, Chris Hiebert, Shaun Jessop, Derek Kaemingk, Gloria Lee, Pierre Leroux, Lou Leventhal, Peter Ma, Brandon Milan, Sharon Onciul, Jared Patterson, Chris Pollock, Cherian Poonnoose,  Pam Reichenbach, Betty Reitan, Robin Ross, Joel Russell-MacLean, Dan Rutherford, Bobbi Salkeld, Clarke Scheibe, Thomas Stevens, Travis Stewart, John Thwaites, Hrengsa Vanlalsiama, Graeme Watt, and Chris and Anne Wilson.

We thank God for them and rejoice in their ministry among us.

I am also thankful for the sheer diversity of our folk.  We had Robin, Graham and Betty from a large multi-staff church (Trinity-Sherwood Park, Alberta).  We had former Welsh and English folk, like Neil from West Vancouver and Tom from Okanagan Falls.  Pierre works at the Mustard Seed Hope Farm in Duncan and Chris from Mustard Seed Victoria.  We had Clarke, originally an American from L’Abri Fellowship on Bowen Island and Hrengsa from Southeast Asia and Winnipeg.  Travis Stewart roomed with me and Gary Nelson in McKenzie 32 years ago and Dan Rutherford, another Vancouver Islander comes from Gateway.

Paddy Ducklow was new to our mix as he spoke on boundary and border issues in the pastoral relationships.  Claudia Wakeman piloted the contact and registration process and Shelby Gregg was the on-site host and navigator.  Thanks Shelby and Claudia so very much.  We shall miss Sam Breakey’s speaking and encouraging of us.  We are thankful for Sam, Brian Stelck, Ken Thiessen, John Prociuk, Rob Olgivie, Sam Chaise, Axel Schoeber, Dennis Shierman, David Holten, David Connop, Faye Reynolds, Rod Olson, Mandi Hecht, Nadia VanderKuip, Claire Mclean, Lynn and Larry Pearce, Stu Dinsmore and Bill Mains who all contributed to our sessions.

Warmly

In Christ,

Jeremy

jbell@cbwc.ca

 

P.S.  Check out the group picture in the “Making Connections” issue.

Vol 5 No. 8 Lent

Dear Folks,

While it may not be familiar to many of us, the language of faith for 23 million Canadians is the language of the church year or cycle.  This pattern can become repetitive, banal or over-ritualized. It can also be a meaningful framework for recalling all of the mysteries and gifts of God throughout the year.  I heard of one church who started using the Christian year or cycle and a learned, wise and otherwise careful church member announced that the “church was leaving the denomination”.   Nonsense.   If we are not at least aware and cognisant of this historical faith language we reject an opportunity missiologically to welcome and embrace many of our fellow Canadians who are alienated from their church homes.  I ask several questions of innovations in our churches; are the scriptural? (Lent passes the test in that it is not opposed to either the content nor direction in Scripture.) Is it harmful?  (no, used wisely, certainly not), and finally can it be helpful? (yes, welcoming and using culturally, incarnational language),

I have attached some readings from the Gathering for Worship, Lent Section, pg. 371-374.  As well, here is the link for the William Carey Institute which has prepared an Online Devotional for Lent, “The Mystery of the Cross”, www.williamcarey.ca.  You will also find attachments to this Newsletter that will give you patterns being followed in two of our churches, as well as helpful links to Lenten material on the web.

Warmly,

In Christ,

Jeremy

jbell@cbwc.ca

 

Lent: Following Jesus

 

The period of Lent has traditionally been a period of self-examination,

penitence and preparation for Holy Week and Easter. In many churches,

worship will follow the story of Jesus and the approach to Jerusalem and

offer a continuing engagement with the promise and challenge of discipleship.

In prayer we can follow Jesus’ story and pledge our commitment,

seeing the church as a community of disciples.

 

Deuteronomy 30.19–20; Psalms 51.1–4; 51.10–11; 103.8, 10–12;

Isaiah 1.18; 30.15; 55.6–7; Joel 2.13; Micah 6.6, 8; Matthew 16.24–26;

Romans 5.6–8; Ephesians 6.18; Philippians 4.6–7; Colossians 1.24–27;

Hebrews 10.19–22; 1 John 1.8–9.

 

Confession

 

Lord, we remember the depth of your love for us,

and we repent of our half-hearted discipleship.

 

We have been called to deny ourselves:

forgive us for putting self-interest

before the interests of your kingdom;

forgive us that Christ’s Lordship in our hearts

has been challenged by our ambition, our appetites,

our desires, and our needs;

forgive us for the times when self-interest

hindered our care for others.

 

Lord, we have been called to carry a cross:

forgive us for complaining when it has weighed heavily upon us;

forgive us that, having received so much,

we have sacrificed so little;

forgive us for the limits we have set to Christian love;

forgive us that we have settled for mediocrity,

resisting the fire and passion of Christ’s love upon the cross

 

Devotion

 

Lord Jesus Christ

you have walked where we walk

and now you help us in our weakness:

blessed be your name

 

Lord Jesus Christ,

you have been tempted as we have

and now you come to help us in our danger:

blessed be your name.

 

Lord Jesus Christ,

you have suffered for us

and now you help us when we reach our wit’s end:

blessed be your name.

 

Lord Jesus Christ,

you were deserted and betrayed,

and now you are with us when all others have gone:

blessed be your name.

 

Lord Jesus Christ,

companion Christ,

friend and saviour,

we adore you,

we love you,

we need you:

help us to follow

 

Intercession

 

Lord of Lent, come to your Church

and ask us your hard questions.

Are we faithfully proclaiming your gospel?

Are we demonstrating in our life together

the justice of your kingdom?

Have we welcomed the weak

and given prominence to the poor?

 

Come to your Church

to spring-clean our ways of life,

our structures and priorities.

Point out to us the cobwebs,

the dirt, the extravagance and the waste.

Create in us a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within us.

 

Lord of Lent,

renew our lives.

 

Lord of Lent, come to the nations and challenge our idolatries.

Spring-clean the sordid cupboard of this world’s false gods.

Sweep out the false pride,

the self-seeking, the deceit, corruption and lies.

May the kingdoms of this earth

seek justice, peace and the integrity of creation.

May we look beyond immediate advantage

to seek the common good,

and be drawn to it, as a lark to the dawn.

Especially we ask for your cleansing hand in …

 

Lord of Lent,

renew our lives.

 

Lord of Lent, look with compassion

on those whose minds are full of anxiety and bewilderment.

We remember people who are lonely,

imprisoned, despairing and humiliated.

Clear away from them all unnecessary feelings

of fear, guilt and self-hatred.

Assure them that when you spring-clean our hearts and minds

you know what you are doing,

for you have been there, one of us,

and you are to be trusted.

 

Lord of Lent,

renew our lives.

 

For ourselves, Lord,

we pray that your spring-cleaning

would be thorough and true this Lent.

Show us clearly these effortless sins

we no longer even notice,

and help us to address the sins

which sit on our shoulders every day,

our constant companions.

Give us both discipline in dealing with some faults

and gentleness in dealing with others,

and help us to know the difference.

Create in us a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within us.

 

Lord of Lent,

renew our lives,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Teach us to Pray

 

Lord, lead us into the wilderness

that we may meet you

in the flame that burns but does not destroy.

Help us to put aside our business and stress

and to rediscover silence.

Help us to shut out the clamouring voices

that are around us and inside us,

and listen only for your voice.

 

Lord, teach us to pray.

Through prayer,

lead us into a deeper communion with you

and nurture within us

a greater concern for your world.

 

In silence and prayer,

help us to find you

and to be found by you,

that we might be remade

in the likeness of Jesus Christ,

in whose name we pray.

 

Vol 5 No. 7 Items for Prayer

Dear Folks,

We pray regularly, for many things.  We don’t often share those concerns together so I write now that we might subsequently marvel at what God is doing and what He will continue to faithfully do.  Here are a series of things we are praying for and many people whom we care for.

Please pray for:

  • For the Alberta Region as they seek a new Regional Minister
  • For Sam and Nancy Breakey as Sam transitions to the Edmonton Mustard Seed
  • For Pat Flaten as she leads the planning for Assembly in Banff and for Lisa Gould as she, along with David Holten look to the staffing side.
  • For the listening/partnering sessions March 28th in Saskatchewan and for John Prociuk and Ken Thiessen as they lead them.
  • For the CBWC Board that meets in two weeks and David Simpson, our President
  • For Sam Chaise and the William Carey Institute, for Esther Kitchener, the Administrative Associate there, for Sam and the death of his mother in January and the CBWC Board nominating committee chairs.
  • For Executive Staff evaluations during the Spring
  • For those beginning new positions; Tom and Harriet Cowan at First, Victoria; Laura Nelson at Olivet in New Westminster; Axel Schoeber and Paddy Ducklow at Carey Centre.
  • For the Strategic Planning sessions at the end of this month at Carey
  • For the Baptist World Alliance meetings at the end of the month and the day- long meetings of religious liberty around the world.
  • For the New Pastor’s Orientation held next week at Carey on Monday and Tuesday.
  • For our own spiritual journeys and personal discipline during the approaching season of preparation, for Lent amongst ourselves and our churches
  • For Justice, safety and well-being amongst the poor, the unemployed and those in transition during these troubling economic times.

 

Warmly,

In Christ,

Jeremy

jbell@cbwc.ca

Vol 5 No. 6 Assembly

The CBWC church family has a long and encouraging history of the time spent together at Assembly.  We have for some years now had biennial assemblies, with the alternate year a focus on the Regions having their own gatherings.  We have moved, starting this year to an annual assembly which will also afford time for the regional clusters to meet, encourage and resource together.  Why move from biennial to annual?  We found that every two years was too much of a gap between meetings losing the momentum of re-building a sense of family together.  If you missed assembly on one year, say 2009 you will have missed four years by the time you attended the next one.

We are committed in these gatherings to:

  • Worship the Living God
  • Experience His gracious love, work and presence amongst us
  • Covenant to work together and serve each other, our communities and the

larger world.

This is crucial time as we wait on God, celebrate His presence and live out what He has called us to.

Assembly is the responsibility of the Board and its wishes are enacted by staff along with a whole array of volunteers.  The Assembly committee is chaired by Pat Flaten and I am grateful to her for leading the planning process with such care and thoughtfulness.  The committee members are: Lisa Gould, David Holten, Jeremy Bell, Devin Seghers, Mary Dyk, Jan Paasuke, Shelby Gregg and David Simpson.

When we gather together at Assembly, our primary purpose is to worship our living and loving God.  Worship comes before everything else, and from that comes everything else.  This is not spiritual spin or correctness.  It is simply true.  You leave Assembly saying:  “I was in the presence of God, I heard God, I heard His stories, I heard about His faithfulness.  I know that He is faithful.  He will be faithful to me, even as He has been faithful down through the years to others.”  That’s all anyone needs.

Now is the time to make your plans to attend our annual Assembly in Banff.   This year, Assembly is being held April 23-26 at Banff Park Lodge.  I would like to encourage all pastors, moderators, diaconal leaders, church staff, church members and leaders of our partner ministries to join our larger community to proclaim before God and each other our unity and our shared desire to glorify God.  Worship is the unity we have in a denomination so diverse in geography, ethnicity, culture and theology such as we happen to be.

We will have Mark Buchanan, author and pastor of New Life Church in Duncan as our keynote speaker addressing the topic of Leadership.  We will tell stories, sing together and listen to each other, eat meals together and have special break-out groups.    And, as usual at Assembly, business will get done and decisions affecting our future service to God together will be made.

Rev. Joan Dosso from Emmanuel, Victoria, will lead worship along with her brother Ken Dosso from Lethbridge.    Knowing that the Lord Himself is our audience in all we do, one of the primary purposes of Assembly is to resource our churches.  We will also highlight several missional networks with short power point sessions.  There will be discussion time and time to network with these ministries to explore ways of partnering with them or doing something similar in your own church. By doing this very specific resource-based work around what God is calling us to do, we can build community. By asking one another “can you help me with this and walk with me and mentor me?”   we develop friendships, mutual resourcing, affirmation and prayer together.  It sets up a paradigm where by acknowledging the faithfulness of God by sharing with each other, we experience God’s faithfulness.  That is the essence of our community.

Krystaal, an internationally known music group whose members are from Zaire, Saskatoon, and Toronto, will be sponsored by CBM for an evening of celebration.  Dr. Bruce Milne will preach Sunday morning.

The Information Package is being mailed to churches this week.  It is also available on the website at www.cbwc.ca.

Please make every effort to attend.

 

Warmly

In Christ,

Jeremy

Vol 5 No. 5 A Great Debt and Deep Thankfulness

On Monday, February 2, Pat Nixon, an esteemed and valued colleague and Director of the Mustard Seed Ministries announced the appointment of Sam Breakey as the Managing Director of the Edmonton Mustard Seed.  As our title declares, Sam is someone to whom we owe a great debt as a family of churches and someone to whom we feel a deep thankfulness for his service to us as the Alberta Regional Minister over these eight years.

Sam is someone who is beloved in our midst.  I have never known him to place himself above anyone; he is neither deprecating nor disrespectful.  He is called and meets the Lord’s call to love, serve and care for others in Christ’s name, and he does this with sincerity and distinction.  Sam has led and encouraged, along with the Regional leaders in Alberta, a diverse, creative and highly gifted cluster of churches, camps and ministries.  He has been supportive even when his deeper wisdom told him otherwise.  I have seen him receive unhelpful and unjust criticism and not return in kind.   Sam’s ministry is marked by others with gratefulness, respect and thankfulness for the service, prophetic voice and clear leading he has offered.  Sam’s work not only covered the original mandates of pastoral, church and institutional care but also included the whole area of church pastoral settlement.  Sam’s enduring legacy to us will continue to be the myriad of stories that each of us will cherish.   His work in framing and structuring the settlement process will have enduring influence for decades to come.  I have personally benefitted from Sam’s (often with Faye Reynolds) leading in reflections and prayers at various gatherings.

We continue to give thanks and support to the work of the Mustard Seeds in Calgary and Edmonton in their partnership, and the Victoria Ministry as well.  We know that Sam will be welcomed by them and will serve and lead well.

The process of transitioning the Alberta Regional Minister’s ministry will be up to the CBWC Board in partnership with the Alberta Regional leadership team headed by their moderator, Tim Kerber. This group will include Pat Flaten, the Vice President of Personnel and Programme; Bill Mains, the Coordinator of Human Resources;  and David Holten,  the Director of Administration and Finance.  These two groups will review the present job description and consider if there is need of any changes.  A ministry description will be posted in various settings to elicit enquires and a discerning, interview and placement process will ensue.    The appointment of an interim Regional Minister will be made sometime in March.

The Lord be with both Sam and his wife Nancy in this transition with the “Seed” and with the Alberta Region.

 

Warmly

In Christ,

Jeremy

jbell@cbwc.ca

Vol 5 No. 4 Finances “R” Us

I recently heard an announcement for finances at a local church which mirrors my own understanding of what each Christian and every church should be able to say.  The presenter was clear, respectful, low key and direct.  He said this, “I want to tell you that we have treated the Lord’s money and yours with respect; we have endeavoured to spend what we said we would spend and we have done that.  Second, I would like to tell you we are about $40,000 from our commitment to God and His work amongst us and through us and I would ask you to thoughtfully and prayerfully consider your response to that challenge.”  He said this second part with respect and a sincere belief that God would move people and that people were trustworthy to respond.  “Lastly,” he said “God is faithful in all things, including money.  I know that in our own family life and if you would like to hear of that story please speak to me after the service.”

Three simple parts:

We are careful with God’s money.

We have some challenges before us.

God is faithful.

 

There is a sense that I need say no more about money than what I have just written.  God is faithful, the churches of the CBWC are open, faithful and responsive to our call to ministry and resourcing together in Western Canada.  Let me share just a few other comments.

The economic times we find ourselves in the world, with our largest trading partner, and in Western Canada are the most challenging in most people’s living memories.  The crucial concern is one of anxiety.  As Christians we seek to be faithful money managers and to place our concerns in the care of a faithful God; “both and” not “either or” concepts.  The budget of the CBWC was reduced from $3.9 million to $3.1 million at a recent meeting of the CBWC Board.  This is as a result of a conscious choice to reduce our monies from the Baptist Union Development Foundation (BUDF).  We have taken measures to increase our challenges to one another in terms of our giving, cutting costs, strengthening what we are called to do, and postponing some new initiatives.

  • 20 churches gave more in 2008 than in 2007.
  • Contributions were up $30,000 in the same period.
  • 58 churches have increased their giving over the last 5 years.
  • 3 of our camps had increased attendance last summer and met their financial targets.
  • Over 1000 new people have started attending our CBWC churches in this last year.
  • Urban camping grew from 440 participants to 870 this past year.

God is indeed faithful!  We are very encouraged at the growth, commitment and new life amongst us.

I thank God for His consistency when that is not always true of me.  I am deeply appreciative of the BUDF’s support, of David Connop and David Holton’s skills and integrity in handling our finances, and for a CBWC Board who balance responsibilities with responsiveness to God’s call.

As Edith Jose used to sign off when she wrote her weekly column for Old Crow “There’s the news for now.”  It may be cold in the land my friends, but there’s a fire, the fire of the Holy Spirit burning within us.

 

Warmly

In Christ,

Jeremy

jbell@cbwc.ca

Vol 5 No. 3 Park Your Politics and Pray!

The Republic to the south of us has crowned their king for the next four years.  It is always interesting observing our complicated neighbours; they declare a separation of faith and public life but God is very present in the public domain, they eschew royalty but embrace the pomp, ceremony and privilege that go with it.  Never mind, we Canadians have our own complications.

There are many things to say about Barak Obama’s inauguration, ignoring it is not however an option.  Our title declares the theme of this week’s unusual newsletter topic; Park your Politics and Pray applies not only to today’s current celebrities but is my imploring of us all to re-covenant to pray for those who lead us; from school boards to those Ottawa to neighbouring nations to lands far away.  Public leadership is complicated.  Some of those perspectives are caught in the phrases below:

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.   Lord Acton

Power corrupts and absolute power is a blast.  Hill Rat (an American Congressional aid’s memoir)

My country right or wrong is like saying my mother drunk or sober.  (A reality check from G.K. Chesterton

The line between good and evil travels through every human heart.  Alexander Solzheinitsyn

I find myself centred when I read Hebrews 11.  It has so much to say that in your own reading the Holy Spirit will guide you past the obvious.  Two unusual things; verse 14b is the verse inscribed on the Order of Canada medal.  Ben Gullison (a pioneering eye surgeon who co-founded Operation Eyesight) was a recipient of the medal and shared that with me.  The second unusual observation is verses 32-40; especially the rare find of the name after Gideon.  I heard it read at my church on Sunday and had never noticed it before.

So please read Hebrews 11 posted below and the magnificent I Timothy 2:1-2.

Hebrews 11

1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.

3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he[a]considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring[b] will be reckoned.”[c] 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

23By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea[d] as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[e]

32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

1 Timothy 2:1-2

1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

 

Warmly

In Christ,

Jeremy

jbell@cbwc.ca