Reflecting on Sacrifice: A Remembrance Day Tribute

By Rev. Dr. Jim Hardwick, retired CBWC chaplain 

Thank you for taking the time to reflect, remember, and pray for those who continue to stand guard—on ships, in aircraft, and on the ground—facing those who would oppress others. This year, following my recent retirement, I find myself reflecting deeply on the dedication of colleagues and countless others who have served our nation. Their courage and resilience form the backbone of our national story, and it is our duty to ensure their legacy endures. 

Remembrance Day offers Canadians a solemn duty to honour those who have sacrificed for peace and freedom. It is a day of profound significance—a time to 

remember the bravery and selflessness of those who served in conflicts such as the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, the Gulf War, the Bosnian War, the Afghanistan War, and ongoing peacekeeping missions. 

The sacrifices made by Canadians in these conflicts have protected the freedoms we cherish today. Their influence continues to shape our society’s values, from historic battlefields to present-day operations. Passing their stories on to future generations is a shared responsibility. For the military, “Remembrance” is not just a day; rather, it begins on the last Friday of October and ends on November 11th. This period is especially poignant for military personnel as we attend various parades and schools across the nation. During this time, prayers and support for those facing these challenges are especially needed. This is an invitation for us to spend the week praying for all those who have served, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and those who continue to suffer in silence. 

Christ’s teachings strengthen us as we honour the fallen, and the Apostle Paul’s call to support the faint-hearted inspires communities to reach out to veterans, particularly during Remembrance Week. Amid global tensions, the necessity of upholding peace and committing to nonviolence is ever-present. Such challenges demand ongoing dialogue, understanding, and resolve. 

I will personally spend the week reflecting on the memory of several of my comrades—including Major Ray Ruckpaul, Master Cpl. Kenneth Chad O’Quinn, and Cpl. Matthew Dinning—all of whom were extremely professional young Canadians. I also remember the impact of service on mental health, including those lost to suicide after returning home. On November 11th, as communities gather at memorials, we reflect on the service and sacrifice of all veterans. As I have encouraged our Chaplains: “keep your eyes and ears open to watch for those who are struggling.” The enduring consequences of war, both physical and emotional, call for continued support and recognition of these servants. Let us commemorate them, pray for peace and justice, and remain committed to building a better future. May we never forget the costs paid for the freedoms we enjoy.  

Within our Christian faith, Remembrance Day is more than commemoration; it is a reaffirmation of core values—compassion, justice, and peace (thinking of Micah 6:8).  

Consider taking a moment in your church service on November 9th to reflect and remember. Honouring those who gave their lives in service reminds us of the ongoing importance of pursuing peace and standing against injustice (thinking of John McCrae’s Remembrance Day poem: “To you from failing hands we throw…”). 

Rev. Dr. Jim Hardwick, CD 

2025 Executive Staff Retreat: A Time for Pause and Prayer 

“I lift my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1 

This past September, CBWC Executive Staff met in the foothills of the Rockies for a time of pause and prayer at King’s Fold Retreat and Renewal Centre. It has been our pattern over the past few years to gather here, in advance of September Board meetings, for a time of encouragement, learning, and planning for the year ahead.  

This year, there was an added sense of appreciation for the special bond we share as a team, as this was our last retreat under Rob’s leadership as Executive Minister. Conversations and biblical reflections centered around themes of change and loss, as well as God’s faithfulness in the days ahead. 

With Brian Louw joining staff earlier this year, we created additional space for team building, which included a hike in the foothills and a two-team ‘best ball’ golf game. You learn quickly who has a competitive streak, and Brian fits right in! 

In these days of rapid change and growing rifts between nations, taking the time to pause and pray for guidance and discernment so we may serve our churches well was a balm to our collective souls. 

Jim King – A/V tech in Banff and Beyond 

With Hannah Hamm 

It’s possible that we fail to notice the humans behind the scenes at our CBWC gatherings such as Assembly and the Banff Pastor-Spouse retreat. I recently had a chance to visit with Jim King, our Audio/Visual tech extraordinaire. Read on to hear about his unique and interesting career path and make sure to look up at the sound booth this November in Banff to say hello!  

HH – Hi Jim! Thanks for making time to help us get to know you! How long have you been supporting the audio-visual needs of the CBWC at events like Assembly and the Banff retreat, and do any challenges or memories stand out from those times? 

JK – The first event was Assembly 2011 and that was held at the Banff Park Lodge.  I suppose I must have done a pretty good job because then I was asked back each year since. 

HH – Wow, how many years is that altogether now? I guess minus the COVID years, those ones don’t count. 

JK – What is that, 2011 to 2024? 13 years? So, I provided all the same audio/video services for the Pastors conference that same year, 2011, which was held at the Banff Springs Hotel. And of course, that was pretty exciting because,you know how the Banff Springs is—it has a reputation for being very, very swanky. And it was! It was very nice. You know, you get treated like royalty and pampered a little bit. 

I’ve got a hint to share. The gift shop. I bought a book about Banff Springs, and it gives you all the insights as to how it all came about and how it was tied in with the railway. It’s actually quite an interesting read. I love that kind of thing.  

HH – Me too! OK, next thing curious minds want to know. Where did you get started in this field and how has your field of expertise expanded over the years? Is this your full-time job? 

JK – As far as the ‘live sound’ type work, it’s not full time. I do a lot of other audio-visual work. So, if you’ve been to the likes of OPA restaurants, the fast-food chains, or some of the Shaw stores that are in the malls, I’ve done audio and video installs for those types of commercial applications and boardrooms. 

HH – It sounds like your work is quite varied! 

JK – Yeah. So, the live sound stuff, that started with me providing audio for, believe it or not, CD and album release parties with the record label. Back in the day, they were called release parties. What we did was provide microphones and speakers on stands, and then what we call a ‘press box.’ And what the media would do is they would plug into this press box and then everybody gets the exact same audio feed, and with good quality. We would provide that for various big-name artists.  

HH – Can we know who some of these artists were? 

JK – There was some stuff for The Tragically Hip (most of this is going back to the early 90s). The Tragically Hip, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, and Hothouse Flowers. Terry Clark would be another one, and I can tell you not all artists are created equal.  

(Here is where Jim recounted to me a story of one famous singer who didn’t exactly behave well and with whom he didn’t see “eye to eye.” I’ll withhold the singer’s name from this version of the story, but feel free to ask Jim if you see him in Banff.) 

JK: Garth Brooks was a completely opposite case of that. We did the album release party for, I think it was, the Fresh Horses tour. 

He comes into the room and he’s like, “What are you doing?”  

I said, “Oh, I’m Jim. I’m providing  the audio for your release party here.” And at the end of it, he says, “Are you going to be going to the show tonight?”’” 

I said, “Yeah, yeah. I’ve got tickets through the record rep’, and he said, “Perfect. I’m glad you’re coming and thanks for all the work you do!” 

Next day, I travel up to Edmonton, to the Northlands Coliseum, and similar thing, but this time as he walks through the door, he kind of stops in his tracks and he looks at me. He points and he goes, “Jim.” 

He says, “Oh, are you doing the same thing?” I said “Yeah, I guess I’m stalking you,” and you know, it was all casual conversation. And here I was doing all this audio for him again for this release. He ended up insisting I stay for the show again that night, and made sure I was given tickets.  

So that was that was how I got into the beginnings of doing live sound and then, of course, that’s worked its way up to doing such events like the kids and Family Day shows at the Calgary Stampede Grandstand and doing a bunch of MC work as well. So yeah, like I said, not a full-time job, but there’s definitely some frequency to it. 

HH – Can you tell me more about your work with the Calgary Stampede? 

JK – So, I would work with every band that came across that stage, and even some of the kid’s groups like The Big Comfy Couch, Thomas the Train, and My Little Pony. I got to work with a bunch of those sorts of kids’ programming artists and made friends with them. We also had a long running hypnotist, Terry Stokes, and he was there, I think, 42 years. 

There’s always so much fun with when working with these people because for 10 days of the Stampede you became this little family, right? And we always used to joke about how we’re going summer camp here. It wasn’t Stampede; it was summer camp.  

HH – That gives a whole new perspective on the Calgary Stampede! What are some of the other unique places your work has taken you? 

JK – Part of my career, for at least a period of six years, had me flying in the Global News helicopter above the city of Calgary five days a week. So, that’s one definition of, you know, high profile. I was on the 5:00 and 6:00 news every day, gathering traffic news stories, getting live and breaking news covers for the viewers and whatnot.  

I’ve always loved aviation. It’s always been something that I was interested in, so when the opportunity came up to learn this and get involved, I said “Sure, why not?” 

HH – Perfect. Nice mixture of things you love to do. One more question; Does faith in God impact your work specifically in any way? 

JK – The simple short answer to that is yes, of course. I’ve always believed that that God will never give you more than you can handle, and that’s just a philosophy that I’ve that I’ve always had and always believed in.  

So, I’ve always believed that if you have a chance to do something (and this is what I was sort of referring to earlier), if you have a chance to do something, take it. That’s the answer. A lot of times people have said to me “Oh, Jim, you’re so lucky.” Well, I don’t think that it’s luck. First, it’s been God giving me the blessing and the opportunity to do something. And second, imagine you’re approaching something new and you want to ask a question but you’re afraid or shy to do it; if you don’t ask, the answer was always going to be “no.” 

And so that’s how I’ve raised my kids that way, to do the same thing. You know if there’s something you’re curious about, just ask. I think that again, going back to the question, yes, God has played a big role and as I say, never, never given me more than I can than I can handle. The Lord has definitely played a role and given me the opportunity to travel to these places that I would probably never have ever been to in some cases and to have these opportunities. 

HH – Is there anything else that you would like to share from your unique perspective behind the scenes? 

JK – The only thing that that I really wanted to add is just to encourage people to have a little bit more understanding and patience with people, particularly as it relates to what I do with the CBWC. I’m not suggesting that anybody has ever been mean or vindictive or any of that kind of thing towards me, because they haven’t—but it it’s kind of a general thing in any other any other job such as an event planner, like Esther, for our pastor’s conference. And I think this is more of just a blanket statement. It’s to understand how much planning it takes to put on these types of events. 

All the calls and emails and the behind-the-scenes preparation. Planning, literally, is weeks and months ahead of what everybody sees. You know, the guests show up, they sit down and do whatever they’re instructed to do. If it’s a Bible study or if they’re just taking in one of the speakers or musicians for that session. You know my encouragement is just to have some understanding of how much work and effort that it does take.  

In our industry, in the sound industry, very few people say that you did a good job. But of course, when you mess up or something’s wrong, you’re the star of the show now, right?  

(After our conversation we both agreed that Esther Kitchener, and other humans behind the scenes, should have a shout out).  

HH – Such a good glimpse into your perspective! We are thankful for all the unseen work that you (and the team) do. Thank you so much for telling me all about your life and your job today. That’s been awesome. See you in Banff! 

Humans of the CBWC–Jenna Hanger & Legacy Fibers 

It’s been just over a year since I made the decision to step back from my role as Senior Editor and Writer for the CBWC to help support our farm’s new venture; growing and selling industrial hemp. From confusing our neighbours with the fast-growing, suspiciously smelling plant, to having to invent parts and reconfigure the processing line every few months, it’s been an adventure since we started Legacy Fibers in 2023. 

For a few years previously we’d been searching for something to diversify our farm operations. When we met as a family to discuss what we wanted for our farm and for the future we landed on two things; something that would create a firm foundation for our children’s futures and create job opportunities now. When we learned about hemp during a chance conversation with a farmer while on vacation, we were immediately intrigued. Not only is the plant good for the environment and green initiatives, but there are also hundreds of products that can be made from hemp. We just needed to pick a direction and go for it. 

It felt straightforward, and maybe even an answer to prayer for what we had been searching for. 

After some research and conversations, we jumped in, quickly discovering that starting a business––especially a business that is at the beginning of establishing an industry––is anything but straightforward. It’s more like a rollercoaster with good days and bad, exciting meetings, periods of silence, machine breakdowns and breakthroughs. 

This past year we hit some important milestones. We started our own brand of animal herd bedding for large and small animals called Legacy Hemp Premium Bedding. Currently, we are in six stores across Alberta and soon to be on the shelves at UFA.

We have also done some trials this summer with plant mulch and weed suppressant using the fibre part of the plant, which has been exceedingly promising. We had it tested for use as biopolymers, pulping and concrete additive, amongst other things. 

Throughout this year we’ve had a lot of conversations about why we are doing this, why we are adding a heavy workload and stress on top of an already busy farm operation. There is a mix of answers. Starting a business has always been my husband’s dream—since we were in our early twenties—and we know as Christians we are called to be good stewards of the resources gifted to us. As farmers in Canada much has been given, and I believe much is expected. Because of this there has been a challenge to evaluate what success looks like. Of course, the hope is that Legacy Fibers will take off and be financially viable. But if that is the only end goal, I don’t think it’s enough. 

If we truly believe God led us to this opportunity, it must be about more than what it can do for us; how it can help people. This is the legacy that has been passed to me from my own family. As far as I can remember, my parents have always had extras around our dinner table. Someone in need of counsel or help. Someone in need of employment or a place to get back on their feet. Our family farm was that place for many. This is the heart behind a lot of what we do, and what we hope Legacy Fibers can achieve in the future. 

Creating employment has been the first part of this. Our farm is currently able to employ seven additional people––two of whom are refugees from Ukraine––as well as support three families (mine, my sister’s, and parents). This wouldn’t be possible if we weren’t trying to diversify our operations. Beyond that, we are continually thinking outside the box for how this business could reach and affect others. 

We don’t know where this adventure will lead us. It is possible we will look back at it as something we tried before trying something else. Or it could be a lasting legacy that our children build their own lives from. Either way, we are excited to see how God uses it and how He might use us in it. 

Disciplemaking: The Core Mission of the Church 

Have you ever Googled “What does Jesus say is the core mission of His Church?” Some websites emphasize that the core mission is from the Great Commission. Others say we must practice justice and mercy—or know, love, and represent Jesus. Still others say the core mission is to worship, serve, preach and proclaim the Gospel. These are all good and right answers. Embedded in each is the idea that the core mission of the Church is to make disciples. Yet in our western world today, one of our primary struggles is helping people move from being good church attenders and servers, to disciples who make disciples who make disciples. 

Author Neil Cole notes that, “Ultimately each church will be evaluated by only one thing. It’s disciples. Your church is only as good as its disciples.”i 

Disciplemaker cohorts learn, think about, and discover together how to move from growing ‘church attenders’ to growing ‘disciplemakers’. We invite you to consider joining our 2026 Cohort. Discover with others what your particular community can do to prioritize disciplemaking that reaches the neighbourhoods around you with the Gospel! 

~ Shannon Youell and Cailey Morgan, CBWC Church Planting Team. 

Disciplemaking Cohort 2026 Details: 

A 5-session practical Zoom cohort. Come bring your stories, roadblocks, listening ear, and hard questions to this applied-book-club-meets-disciplemaking-incubator workshop series. 

2026 Session Dates: 2-hour Zoom, once a month, January to May. Dates and times TBD in consultation with participants. 

• January: Introductions and What is Discipleship? 

• February: Brad Brisco’s ReThink and the Centrality of Discipleship and Mission 

• March: Matt Lake’s Crossing the Discipleship Chasm and “the Wicked Problem” of Discipleship 

• April: Eun Strawser’s Centering Discipleship and Establishing a Discipleship Pathway 

• May: Randy Reese’s Deep Mentoring and Examining Our Own Hearts and Stories 

Cost: Participation is free, but you’ll need to source your own copy of your assigned book. 

What We Expect From You: 

• Each collaborative session will focus on an aspect or perception of multiplicative discipleship. You will be expected to bring your own ideas and experiences to the sessions, as well as engage in experiments in your context between sessions. We will share in the work of reading and gleaning from books, we’ll all read Brisco’s brief e-book Rethink to establish some shared ideas and language, and you’ll also be assigned one other book from our list to read. You’ll be asked to bring the learning and questions from your book to the conversation. 

• We hope that each participant will intentionally pray for others in the group between sessions.  

• We expect each participant to write a 400 to 1000 word entry for the Church Planting blog. This will be drawn from your personal discipleship journey, epiphanies as a disciplemaker, roadblocks, and/or learnings on the how, what, and why of making disciplemakers.  

What You Can Expect To Do: 

• Engage a Scripture passage 

• Think critically about the core mission of the church 

• Share the fruit of experimentation/experiences/homework from the last month 

• Discuss the feature book, hearing especially from the readers of said book 

• Process how the topics apply to our specific contexts 

• Pray for one another 

If you’re interested in joining us, please contact Cailey at cmorgan@cbwc.ca before December 12. 

—– 

1. Neil Cole, Ordinary Hero: Becoming a Disciple Who Makes A Difference (Grand Rapids MI, Baker Books: 2008): 185. 

CBWC Foundation Welcomes New President 

On behalf of the CBWC Foundation Board, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. Jamey McDonald as Foundation President, effective November 1st, 2025. 

Jamey brings a wealth of pastoral and administrative experience, along with a deep passion for Gospel ministry. This has been particularly evident in our local congregations and partner ministries. Since 2017, Jamey has faithfully served as CEO of Hopehill Community Living, a valued CBWC partner based in Vancouver. His visionary leadership and commitment to community make him uniquely suited to guide the Foundation into its next chapter. 

We invite you to join us in extending a warm welcome to Jamey in his new role. 

At the same time, we extend our deepest gratitude to Bob Webber, who generously served as Foundation President for the past four years. Bob’s faithful leadership has strengthened our capacity to serve the broader CBWC community. We pray for God’s continued blessing as he enters retirement. 

We remain committed to stewarding resources for Kingdom growth and are encouraged by the Foundation’s continued financial health. 

By Sam Breakey, CBWC Foundation Board Chair 

CBWC Foundation Financial Highlights (5-year snapshot) 

Metric 2020/2025 (YTD) 

Total Assets Under Management $15,203M/$20,174M 

Loans to Churches/Ministries $12,074M/$15,389M 

CBWC Mission Grants $614,997/$800,000 (annual) 

Total Equity ($223K net increase) $15,133M/$15,356M 

What’s Happening

We’ve got some great events on the horizon: 

• Join us for Banff Pastors and Spouses Conference November 10-13! Registration closes October 9, so head over to cbwc.ca/bpc to sign up. (PS: don’t forget to check out CBWC Sunday resources for November 16, so you don’t need to prep a sermon while at BPC!) 

• And please spread the word about the Kurios Discovery Weekend taking place November 28-30 at the Kurios home base in Jasper. This amazing retreat gives young people (Grade 11 – Age 23) a weekend away to rest and reset while also getting a taste of the Kurios experience. Cost is $75. Get details or register at kurios.ca/discovery 

• There are still spots left for the free Making Disciplemakers 2026 Cohort, which will meet monthly starting January. cbwc.ca/disciplemakers 

October 2025 Print Edition

We are deeply grateful for each and every one of you who participates in the shared ministry of the CBWC and its churches. As you read through this special Thanksgiving edition of our Making Connections newsletter, we hope you are encouraged by the stories and reflections that celebrate the goodness of God among us. Happy Thanksgiving!

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).

Click to Read

Praying Together for Our Next Executive Minister

Dear CBWC Family,  
   
As we begin the significant process of selecting our next Executive Minister, we want to ask for your prayer support! It is important that we walk this road together as a family of churches, and so we need your prayers for God’s wisdom and direction at every step. Pray for God to lead us in this search process and that He would be working on the heart of the individual that is right for this calling.  
   
We also value your insight. If there are qualities, gifts, or kinds of leadership you believe will help our churches thrive in the years ahead, please share them with us. This is not about the past, but rather about seeking God’s heart for the future. You can send your thoughts to Shannon (Search Committee chair) at emsearchcommittee@cbwc.ca by September 15, 2025.  
   
Thank you for standing with us in prayer, for speaking into this process, and for your faithful commitment to God’s mission among us.  
 

With gratitude in Christ,  
The CBWC Search Committee 

Banff Pastors & Spouses Retreat–A Spouse’s Perspective

By Kyle Turner

I’ve had the pleasure of attending the CBWC Pastors and Spouses Conference a few times as a pastor’s spouse, and I have played bass on the worship team a couple times. This year, I have the added perspective of representing the BCY region as a CBWC board member.  

The CBWC has been part of my life for a long time. First Baptist Church Kelowna has been my home church since I was born and, through my church, we’ve been part of the association for as long as I can remember—back when it was still the Baptist Union and church softball was a big deal.

Growing up, I never thought I’d be attending the pastors and spouses conference, but the Lord works in mysterious ways. Regardless of where I thought I’d be, my wife Carlee and I are so grateful for the opportunity to be sent to Banff by our church.  

Banff is a place of fond memories for me. Carlee and I spent our honeymoon there almost 13 years ago and every time we return, just a month short of our anniversary, we are reminded of just how meaningful this mountain town is. Banff is a stunning place—there’s no better display of God’s creation, in my view, than the Canadian Rockies. And the Banff Springs Hotel is a masterpiece of architecture and engineering—a beautiful expression of the creativity and skill God has given humanity. As a carpenter and renovator, I have a unique respect for the craftsmanship it took to build this space. I could spend hours wandering its halls, and I often do. 

We’re big fans of Banff, and staying at the Banff Springs is something we wouldn’t normally be able to do on our own—so we’re incredibly thankful to the CBWC for making that possible. It truly is a gift. 

As a pastor’s spouse, I love the chance to take a week off to relax and explore. Even when I need to work remotely, it’s hard to complain when the “office” looks like this (see attached picture). Between disconnecting, getting a spa massage, reconnecting with CBWC friends and enjoying amazing food, it’s always refreshing and restoring. 

I also appreciate the flexibility to step in and out of sessions as I like. As an introvert, I value my downtime, but I’ve really enjoyed the speakers in recent years. It’s great that the CBWC brings in experienced leaders with fresh perspectives to enrich the conference. While I look forward to future conferences with the CBWC, I am sad to hear that our “tenure” at Banff Springs is ending. I will treasure the memories made here and continue to look forward to “touring the castle” with my wife and daughters whenever we pass through Banff. 

Registration is open for Banff 2025 until October 9. Sign up today at cbwc.ca/bpc 

Humans of the CBWC–David Vandergucht

David Vandergucht is a member of Argyle Road Baptist Church in Regina, SK, and also serves on the CBWC board. David was asked to sit on our Marketplace Panel at Assembly in June and the following reflections stem from that conversation.  

Hi, I’m David. I work in government as a water quality scientist. My work largely concerns understanding how water quality in the environment is changing over time and the role that humans play in that. At Assembly we were asked to discuss how we see our work fitting in with the Kingdom of God. 

I’ve never considered my work a calling—maybe that’s part of my personality, or part of how I think God speaks to me—but I’ve never had a sense that God has specifically made or called me to do this work out of all the other things He could ask me to do.

I do see my work as important work that uses the talents and gifts that God has given me, and I thank Him for providing work that feels meaningful and supports my family. I see my work as my way to live out 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12:  

“…and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”  

I see this as a bit different than working in full time Christian ministry, where the language of calling seems to fit better in my mind.  

While I don’t consider my work a calling, I have colleagues who do. Work that involves stewarding or caring for the environment seems to lend itself readily to a sense of calling even to those who don’t have a particular faith. I’ve found that scientists are often highly educated and motivated people who are happy to have meaningful work to do in the areas in which they’ve trained. This makes for very motivated and diligent colleagues and makes my work environment more encouraging because people care about what they are doing.  

In my approach to work, I consider Colossians 3:23 as applicable:  

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…”  

I consider doing my best as part of living out the Christian faith. I don’t think I stand out as especially motivated though, because my colleagues also find deep meaning in their work. 

Increasingly, I realize that caring for the earth is one of the key tasks that God has charged humankind with, and so I find that the outcome of my work has value in God’s Kingdom. I also see it as a responsibility to treat my colleagues, and those we serve, well. I see that as part of my Kingdom work.  

Government isn’t always an encouraging environment, but I try to do my best to be supportive as we work together to accomplish important tasks. 

Truth & Reconciliation in Canada

Lyle Blackbird is the Pastor of CBWC Bethlehem Aboriginal Fellowship in Winnipeg, MB. Here is some of his story as published in their summer newsletter. 

The Healing Journey 

 Luke 17:11-19 tells the story about a healing journey. It is about the 10 men with leprosy who were healed as they returned to the priest for verification of the cleansing. 

 Perhaps it was the same priest who exiled them in the first place.  

 Only one, a Samaritan, when he saw he was healed, turned around to thank Jesus. As part of their healing journey, they had to go back first. And one in particular had a personal experience. As he was willing to take the journey back, he noticed healing started to take place. It moved his heart, and he was thankful. 

I am also on a healing journey. I come from a family of three generations of Residential School Survivors; my mother and her siblings, her parents and her grandparents. Some went to Portage la Prairie and the rest to the Birtle school. We lost three of our relatives at the residential schools. My home was broken as well with a lot of violence and alcohol. My younger brother was adopted out and I haven’t seen him since. My mother died a violent death when I was 17. Her coping mechanism from all the pain was medicating herself with alcohol.  

 I am still broken by all of this—it is called transgenerational trauma. Here is how it works. When all the students came out of the residential schools and started their own families, they brought all the negative environment of the schools that was within them into their homes. It was an explosion of collateral damage fueled by collateral violence. The things they were not willing or able to talk about or deal with got unleashed on their children. 

I went back and visited the residential school that my mother and family attended. It is still standing, dilapidated and damaged. As I gazed upon the school, it conveyed a strong message that spoke the word “damages” to me. This word mirrored my personal and family damage inflicted upon us.  

 As I was leaving the grounds crossing a field, I couldn’t help thinking that perhaps I was walking on the burial places of my relatives. They were just children. As I continued to walk through the field, I saw little white butterflies all over the field everywhere which also spoke to me of the children. 

 For me, the way forward was the way back as well. I wasn’t able to go forward unless I went back, to try to reconcile all this. It has been said that it took generations to get to this point, and it’s going to take generations to come out of all this as well. This is why we have chosen to go back and address these issues with the Church, past and present, as well as harmful government policies that are still in effect today.  

 Reconciliation for me is a journey of healing for myself, my family and my church. We need to deal with this brokenness first, in order for any kind of reconciliation to take place.  

The journey continues…. 

 Pastor Lyle Blackbird 

To read the full newsletter—including photos and inspiring personal responses to the question “What does reconciliation mean to you?”—click here.

AiM Global Food Stories

Feeding Hope One Step at a Time 

All throughout the summer, groups have been gathering to get ‘Active in Mission.’ This fundraiser is all about Feeding Hope in our communities both locally and globally through food programming. So far this year we’ve raised over $62,000 in cooperation with Canadian Baptists across the country.  

We celebrate with Mill Bay Baptist Fellowship on Vancouver Island, who surpassed their fundraising goal! On August 4, a small but committed group from MBBF walked 10 kilometres in support of Active in Mission.  

“We enjoyed the time walking together,” says Mill Bay Pastor Tammy Klassen. “Shout out to retired CBM missionary Dorothy Sowden (not pictured) who did a lap of her block while still recovering from a hip replacement this spring. We ended the walk with a BBQ to celebrate.”  
 
Half of the funds raised from Active in Mission are distributed to partner ministries in several nations around the globe through Canadian Baptist Ministries. The other half is distributed to Canadian Baptist churches. What all the funding recipients have in common is a mission to address food insecurity. In the past, CBWC churches have received grants to support ministries like neighbourhood pantries and community gardens. 

To learn more about food security, check out this video from Canadian Foodgrains Bank: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c5ZN7BseNA 

While the time for summer fun may be drawing to a close, it’s not too late to participate in Active in Mission 2025! The donation page is still open: activeinmission.ca 

Sabbatical Leave: The Sacred Rhythm of Rest

One of the many ministry resources that the CBWC provides to its churches and pastors is our Sabbatical Leave Plan. It was originally approved by Assembly motion over 40 years ago, at which time funds were transferred from the CBWC’s budget to a Trust Account set up for this purpose. Even though this benefit has been around for decades, we have seen an increase in participation over the last several years.  

 Both professional development and rest are essential to the well-being of our pastors. The Banff Pastors and Spouses Conference and the Regional Pastors Retreats are only two examples of how the CBWC assists in professional development. It is also the responsibility of the local church to ensure pieces are in place to promote the mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing of its pastors—as part of ongoing pastoral care. 

 The creation story depicts the importance of Sabbath. Genesis 2:2 reads, “By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work.” When we rest, we align ourselves with God’s sacred rhythm of rest. Sabbatical leave is not a vacation—it’s a time for spiritual reflection, prayer and reconnection with God. Rest is not a luxury—it is a necessity for sustainable life and ministry.  

 Following this pattern, a pastor may be eligible for Sabbatical Leave after seven (7) years of full-time service in the CBWC or its associated churches and following five (5) years in the particular situation where the sabbatical is approved. 

 Sabbatical leave is defined as any period of up to four months exclusive of vacation time. There are recognized benefits of pastors taking smaller sabbatical breaks more frequently (every second or third year) rather than waiting for a five-to-seven-year accumulation. Longer sabbaticals can increase the likelihood that a pastor may find it difficult to return to their former position; however, it also creates opportunities for other leaders to step up and may, in fact, strengthen the church’s leadership and resilience.  

 The Sabbatical Leave Plan is not considered a mandatory benefit. The application process starts with the local church contacting the CBWC office to set up a sabbatical account in the name of their pastor along with the first contribution. Contributions are received as follows: one half of one percent (.5%) of the pastor’s salary is deducted at source, matched by both the church and the CBWC for a total contribution of 1.5%. Contributions are held in a trust account in the name of the pastor, and each year, the CBWC adds accrued interest.  

 It is recommended that a pastor seek sabbatical approval by his/her church at least six months in advance of the proposed leave, provided this is a benefit agreed upon in the terms of employment. The CBWC requires a copy of a Board motion supporting the pastor’s sabbatical leave and approval by his/her Regional Minister as part of the approval process.  

 It is critically important that the church and the pastor agree in advance on how the funds held in the pastor’s trust account will be disbursed. Will the funds be sent to the pastor, the church, or will it be a combination of the two? The CBWC recommends that the church pay at least 67% of the pastor’s salary while away on sabbatical leave, so consideration must be made by the church for the cost of bringing in itinerant speakers if there are no other staff members or laypersons who can fill in. At the same time, if the pastor is away for an extended period on educational leave, it may be that funds are best designated to the pastor to pay for course fees and travel expenses if away from home. Good communication in advance is paramount, so no one is caught off guard once sabbatical leave has started. We now require Board Chairs to sign off on the Sabbatical Withdrawal Application Form to ensure all are in full agreement.   

 Pastoral ministry can be emotionally, physically and spiritually demanding as pastors often carry the burdens of their congregants and communities, especially during seasons of profound change. Without a plan in place for intentional rest and renewal, the overall health of an entire church may be affected. For more information on the CBWC’s Sabbatical Leave Plan, please visit our website at www.cbwc.ca/churchtools or reach out to your Regional Minister.  

“And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!” – Thessalonians 5:12-13 MSG 

Carey Update on Timothy Hall

Timothy Hall, Carey Theological College’s second student residence building at the University of British Columbia, is now fully operational and fully occupied by 104 students. The new building offers a range of suites, from studios to three-bedroom apartments, along with thoughtfully designed shared amenity spaces. It significantly enhances our ability to accommodate students and provide them with a nurturing environment that fosters their academic and spiritual growth. 

Carey is grateful for donors who made this dream a reality, to the glory of God. The building project was started during the pandemic, when many other building projects were suspended or stopped altogether. It is a testament to the vision, careful planning, and most importantly, the faith of Carey’s Board, staff and development professionals that the building stands completed today.  

Looking ahead, I am excited about the growth that Timothy Hall will bring to our community. This new building will offer students enhanced opportunities to deepen their faith and academic knowledge in a vibrant Christian environment. Our vision for Timothy Hall is rooted in the words of 2 Timothy 2:2: 

 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” 

We see this residence as a place where students will be ministered to and built up, becoming strong Christian men and women who are capable and mature in their faith, prepared to teach and disciple others. 

Timothy Hall will generate additional funds to support the growth of Carey Theological College. We remain committed to training pastors who can “preach the Word faithfully, in season and out of season; reproving, rebuking, and exhorting, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2). 
 
We praise God for the continued growth of Carey and the opportunity to equip the next generation of leaders for His Kingdom. 

 
Rev. Dr. Colin Godwin 
President, Carey Theological College 

KURIOS: Discovering the Joy of Loving God With our Whole Self

“Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” 

In one sentence, that is what Kurios is all about: inviting young adults to discover the joy of loving our God with our whole person. 

 We intentionally and actively focus our discipleship on an integrative spiritual formation model, which means paying attention to all areas of our lives and bringing those together under the Lordship of Jesus. 

 We attend to our heart and our emotions, learning to feel them and embrace them as a gift for ourselves and others. Living in community opens us to depth and to the emotional vibrancy of relationships. Together we seek to experience God’s emotions toward us—and as we do, our hearts grow in love. 

 “I’ve noticed that since I’ve been home from Kurios, I’ve been just so much more confident in myself, more confident in God’s love for me and more confident in my ability to love others… I’ve been able to stand a lot taller. It’s been really amazing.”  

Grace, Kurios 2023-24 

 We attend to our souls, discovering a rhythm of forgiveness, freedom and healing as we practice gratitude and the awareness of God’s presence with us. Our daily prayer practice together shapes us. We listen to God through His Word made alive through the Spirit. As we do, our souls grow in love. 

 “My biggest takeaway would probably be being able to learn the importance of prayer and how prayer is a two-way street, not a one-way street with God, and how it is a conversation.”  

Mia, Kurios 2022-23 

 We attend to our minds, wrestling with Scripture and how to live it out in our world. We challenge each other’s ideas in respectful pursuit of truth and wisdom. We learn to critically examine the messages we are bombarded with in our culture and develop an understanding of both God’s story and our place in it as His precious children. As we do, our minds grow in love. 

 “One area that impacted me after Kurios was a love for books about theology and for reading about my faith. Before I went to Kurios, I only really had the Bible and, like, children’s books about Jesus and how much He loves me, which is great. But Kurios introduced me to books that deepened my faith and were more serious and grew a love in me for reading those.”  

Eva, Kurios 2021-22 

 We attend to our bodies – our “strength.” We seek healthy habits for our physical selves, learning together to eat well and finding enjoyable ways to be active. We rejoice in opportunities to serve others and discover God already at work. Living in Jasper inspires us to embrace the physical world and to get into the real world that God has made for us to enjoy and steward. We do all these activities as acts of worship. As we do, our strength grows in love. 

 “Work is worship.”  

Tanya, Kurious 2023-24 

  Sometimes people ask, “What’s different about Kurios?” We invite young adults to discover a different way of living, to find a rhythm of life that begins each day with community prayer, embraces the upcoming day as a gift to be enjoyed, and then ends each day with community prayer expressing our gratitude for all we have received. We actively arrange our pursuits to ensure attention to the whole person as created in the image of God, and we are invited to flourish as we respond to who God is and all God has done. 

  As we do, our whole selves grow in love for God and in love for others. 

 To find out more about Kurios for yourself, or someone you know, please follow this link!  The 2025/2026 cohort is still accepting applicants.  

From Hymns to Hotcakes: A Stampede Tradition

Once again, Calgary welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors, July 4-13, to what is billed as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”—the Calgary Stampede. The world-famous Stampede rodeo began in 1912, right around the same time that GoodTree Church (formerly Crescent Heights Baptist Church) was planted by members from First Baptist Calgary. While the first official Stampede breakfasts were held in 1923, the tradition of churches hosting them, like GoodTree Church, became more widespread in the 1950s. Since that time, Calgarians, including CBWC church congregations, have extended Western hospitality by hosting pancake breakfasts as an act of generosity and fellowship during the 10-day celebration. 

Longtime GoodTree Church member and historian, Ian Clarke, writes: “Many years ago, GoodTree Church (then Crescent Heights Baptist) joined in the fun by serving up a delicious Stampede Breakfast on the roadway in front of the church on the second Saturday of “Stampede week.” Each year, the road is closed to traffic and populated with the church’s tables and chairs. Throughout the morning, it is not uncommon for the church to serve over 400 hungry visitors who are also entertained by some lively western gospel music. Our Stampede Breakfast has become well known throughout the community, and a gracious neighbour has also provided a cash grant to help the church defray some of the costs. It is all great fun for the visitors and volunteers alike, as we display Christian generosity and community spirit in the final days of each year’s Stampede. This year our Breakfast was held on the morning of Saturday July 12th.” 

We are thankful for our churches who extend koinonia during the Calgary Stampede—a time for believers and seekers to connect, share stories, and bear witness to the surrounding community of love in action, one hotcake at a time.  

SERVE Impacting Whitehorse, YK for the Kingdom

In the Fall of 2019, preparation began for SERVE to be held in Whitehorse, Yukon, and then—just a few short months later—it would need to be canceled. For more than 5 years, people prayed that this opportunity might be possible again and, praise God, from July 6-12, 2025 more than 175 youth and leaders from 12 churches traveled to the Yukon to serve the community by being the hands and feet of Jesus.   

During the week, more than 4000 hours of service were poured into Whitehorse and the surrounding communities. Projects included “fire smarting,” day camps, painting, light construction, and much more. On the final day of the week, SERVE participants hosted a free BBQ and carnival in Rotary Park. One of the attendees commented, “My family and I moved to Whitehorse a while ago and haven’t really felt at home. Today is the first day we have felt like we were truly part of a community.”  

Another Whitehorse resident, who had a group of participants serving at her home said, “[They’ve been] picking weeds and stuff. It’s a lot of work, and it’s been helpful to have them. Oh my goodness, you guys have just made my day. Phenomenal!” 

Each evening the sanctuary at Riverdale Baptist Church was filled with the praise of His people. SERVE youth, sang, danced, played, prayed, heard from God’s Word and considered what it means to join God in what He is doing in the world.   

As a part of this call to SERVE our world, Canadian Baptist Ministries led an event on Thursday afternoon as a part of their Active in Mission initiative. Youth competed in 4 different games from countries around the world that are facing serious food insecurity. Getting active led them to want to take action, and they donated over $1,000 to provide food for those in our world who need it. If you would like to contribute to the SERVE 2025 Active in Mission Team, please visit activeinmission.ca/t/serve  

SERVE has had a profound impact on our participants. One youth reflected, “[It’s amazing] seeing everyone work together and to share a trait that we love Jesus and want to be like Him. We want to love others and just serve them, even if they don’t know Jesus and just, I guess, share His Gospel that way by showing His love through serving others.” Another participant added, “And it’s been really cool to get to know other teams from across Canada, work together and show God’s love to the people around us.” 

One youth reflected on the impact SERVE has had on her youth group, “I really enjoyed this week since we got to know each other a lot, and then we bonded a lot. It will make community service at our church better.” 

SERVE was only made possible this year by the tireless effort of the incredible members of Riverdale Baptist Church. On behalf of all this year’s SERVE participants, thank you for being wonderful hosts and serving us so that we could better serve the beautiful city of Whitehorse.   

Thank you, God, for the kingdom impact that took place during SERVE 2025 and for the legacy that it will leave in the city. 

Please consider having your church send a team to SERVE from July 5-11, 2026—which will be hosted by Brightview Community Church in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.  For more info visit cbwc.ca/serve. 

From Passion to Provision: Active in Mission

Pauline’s Journey to Food Security 

Pauline Kagendo, a 34-year-old mother of two from Giconjori village in Embu County, Kenya, is a powerful example of how communities can thrive when local strengths and passions are nurtured. Living on a small piece of land, Pauline always had an enthusiasm for poultry farming, but limited knowledge and resources made it difficult to succeed. She struggled to grow her chicken population, which left her feeling discouraged. 

But Pauline’s story took a turn for the better when she connected with the ACC&S Embu Food Security Project, supported by Canadian Baptist Ministries and their partnership with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. The project built on what Pauline already had: her passion, resilience, and willingness to learn. Through the project’s training sessions, Pauline gained important knowledge in poultry care—from feeding and vaccinating to providing proper housing. 

 Within a year, Pauline was not only hatching and collecting enough eggs to feed her family but also selling the surplus. She began using manure from the chickens to improve her crop yields, helping her provide nutritious and diverse food for her family.  

 Through the Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) supported by the project, Pauline has also learned to save and access low-interest loans, building her financial confidence and enabling her to grow her business sustainably. 

 Pauline’s journey shows what’s possible when local people are equipped to build on their own assets, talents, and dreams. 

 Active in Mission is our chance to contribute to food security initiatives around the world like ACC&S Embu, as well as projects right here in Canada, as retired CBWC Pastor Clark Gietz explains in this brief video: 

CBWC Staff Lace Up for Active in Mission 

 This summer, CBWC staff is hoping you’ll donate or join the efforts with your own chosen activity. Whether you run, walk, cycle, swim or give, your efforts will raise vital funds for local and global food programs. 

 Our Regional Ministers have been putting on the miles during this Active in Mission campaign: Mark Doerksen goes for daily walks, Brian Louw recently ran a 10k, and Tim Kerber has been cycling up a storm, logging 470km on his bike in June alone.  

Brian Louw

Esther Kitchener

Communications and Development Director Louanne Haugan has been paddleboarding, and Executive Assistant Esther Kitchener spent her June holidays hiking over 200km on Vancouver Island. 

 “I’ve always cared a lot about food insecurity but had never found the mind space to ‘jump in’ on this fundraiser before,” says Senior Writer Hannah Hamm, who is participating in AiM for the first time this year. “I’m aiming to walk 500 km, and much of that will be in Italy! I can’t help but feel the huge privilege of a sabbatical trip to Europe while so many don’t have enough food to eat on a daily basis. As I explore a few epic new cities, and some different countryside than usual, my prayer will be that I can make a small difference by being Active in Mission.” 

 There’s still time to get Active in Mission and help Baptists Canada-wide reach our goal of $100,000! Donate or sign up today: activeinmission.ca. 

Between January and August this year, we are journeying through these reflections on the Lord’s Prayer, used with permission, by Carolyn Arends.  

The Lord’s Prayer was the theme of our Assembly this May.  

If you missed the first editions, you can find them in past issues of Making Connections: cbwc.ca/newsletters 

The universe in 57 Words–Part SEVEN

By Carolyn Arends

DAY SEVEN 

PETITION SIX 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

This portion of the Lord’s Prayer has given commentators the most fits over the centuries. Would God ever actually lead us into temptation, such that we need to ask him not to? 

 TESTS AND TEMPTATIONS 

Darrell Johnson helps clarify this seemingly confusing petition. He points out that pierasmos—the Greek word translated as “temptation” in Matthew 6:13—can also mean “test” or “trial.” When translated as “temptation,” it refers to a deliberate 

attempt to ensnare a person in something evil. But when the word is translated as “test,” it refers to something positive—the way gold is tested by fire to be both evaluated and refined. 

These two different meanings of pierasmos are seen in the first chapter of James. Verses 2–3 read, “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” This passage points to the truth that we usually experience the most growth through the hardest stretches. 

 In verse 13, James cautions, “No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one.” Here, using the very same Greek word, James is making it clear that it is never God’s intention to lead us into evil. 

 So why is pierasmos translated as “temptation” rather than “test” in Matthew 6:13? Perhaps because we’re tempted to misread our trials to mean that God is no longer with us or for us. Satan took this tack in the wilderness. But Jesus was too thoroughly acquainted with his Father’s goodness to fall for Satan’s lie that God could not be trusted in a time of trial. 

 When trials inevitably come, Jesus teaches us to pray that Satan won’t convince us that God has abandoned us. Johnson’s paraphrase of Matthew 6:13 reads, “Father, as you lead us to the test, do not let the test become a temptation, but rescue us from the one who seeks to destroy our faith, and work in us the same confidence in you that Jesus has.” 

 We see again why the first petition is for the hallowing of God’s name. Jesus knows the only thing that can defeat us is if we become permanently convinced that God is not good. 

 DELIVER US FROM EVIL 

 The final thing Jesus teaches us to ask for is deliverance from evil, which indicates that evil is real and we shouldn’t underestimate it. There truly is an enemy who would love to devour us. Remember, this enemy’s primary modus operandi is attempting to deceive us into thinking God cannot be trusted. 

 But if Jesus is realistic about evil, he is also utterly confident about its defeat. He knows we are not in some dualistic battle where good and evil are equal opponents and the outcome is uncertain. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. 

 As a church kid, I loved the special Sundays when missionaries on furlough brought reports. There is one visit I’ve never forgotten. 

 The missionary couple was stationed in what appeared in photos to be a particularly steamy jungle. One day, they told us, an enormous snake—much longer than a man—slithered its way through their front door and into the kitchen of their simple home. Terrified, they ran outside and searched frantically for a local who might know what to do. A machete-wielding neighbor came to the rescue, calmly marching into their house and decapitating the snake with one clean chop. 

 The neighbor reemerged triumphant and assured the missionaries that the reptile had been defeated. But there was a catch, he warned: It was going to take a while for the snake to realize it was dead. 

 A snake’s neurology and blood flow are such that it can take considerable time for it to stop moving even after decapitation. For the next several hours, the missionaries were forced to wait outside while the snake thrashed about, smashing furniture and flailing against walls and windows, wreaking havoc until its body finally understood that it no longer had a head. 

 Sweating in the heat, they felt frustrated but also grateful that the snake’s rampage wouldn’t last forever. At some point they had a mutual epiphany. 

 I leaned in with the rest of the congregation, queasy and fascinated. “Do you see it?” asked the husband. “Satan is a lot like that big old snake. He’s already been defeated. He just doesn’t know it yet. In the meantime, he’s going to do some damage. But never forget that he’s a goner.” 

 That story is a picture of the universe. We are in the thrashing time, a season characterized by our capacity to do violence to each other and ourselves. The temptation is to despair. We have to remember, though, that it won’t last forever. Jesus has already crushed the serpent’s head. 

 There is still a waiting. In some cases, the redemption and healing Jesus obtained for us on the cross may not come in fullness until we are face-to-face with our Victor—but come it will. Guaranteed. 

 One wondrous mystery is that although the end of the story has already been determined, God is still using us to write it. We have the dignity of causality. Because Jesus lives in us through his Spirit, we are called not just to anticipate the ultimate reign of his kingdom, but also to play a part in bringing it to fruition. 

 And so we live inside the prayer Jesus taught us. We affirm that the kingdom is at hand. We sign up for the revolution. 

 We ask God to do what only he can do—and to do it in and through us, even now. 

 Suggested song: “The Last Word (Love Was Here First)” 

Renovare.org/universesongs 

 The Lord’s Prayer 
(Dallas Willard Paraphrase) 

 Dear Father, always near us,   
may your name be treasured and loved,  
may your rule be completed in us— 
may your will be done here on earth  
in just the way it is done in heaven. 

 Give us today the things we need today,  
and forgive us our sins and impositions on you  
as we are forgiving all who in any way offend us.  

 Please don’t put us through trials,  
but deliver us from everything bad.  

 Because you are the one in charge,  
and you have all the power,  
and the glory too is all yours—forever—  
which is just the way we want it!  
AMEN! 

 LIVING INSIDE THE SIXTH PETITION 

Do you face a temptation to doubt God’s goodness and the fact that he is with you and for you? As you pray for deliverance from evil and oppression, “pray back” God’s character as the Deliverer: 

• the One who freed Israel from Egyptian captivity
• the One who welcomed outcasts and healed the sick, freeing them from estrangement and illness
• the One who delivered us from death and decay on the cross

Use this last day inside the Lord’s Prayer to gather up the threads of all that you’ve explored throughout the journey. Be sure to journal anything you’ve heard from God, as well as the questions and petitions that remain. 

 To download the full resource: https://renovare.org/books/the-universe-in-57-words 

Excerpts used with permission from a book entitled 

the universe 
in 57 words 
SEVEN DAYS INSIDE THE LORD’S PRAYER 
By Carolyn Arends 

 This resource has been influenced by more authors, preachers, teachers, and fellow pray-ers than I can credit or even remember. But I am particularly indebted to the following works: Fifty-Seven Words That Change the World, by Darrell Johnson; The Lord and His Prayer, by N. T. Wright; The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard; Prayer, by Richard Foster; and Eugene Peterson’s “Jesus and Prayer” lectures for SPIR 604 at Regent College.  

Rooted in Relationship: White Rock Youth in Kenya

This past May, a group of students and leaders from White Rock Baptist Church in Surrey, BC, travelled to Kenya on a SENT trip with Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM).  

 For Youth Pastor Hannah Juras, it was never just about travel or service—it was about transformation, connection, and reimagining what it means to be part of God’s mission in the world. 

After a cancelled trip in 2020 and several years of decreasing global mission engagement, Hannah saw a growing need within the church.  

“We were looking for something deeper than just a trip,” she said.

“Our students were craving something that would stretch them.” Partnering with CBM offered a chance to rebuild global relationships and expand the students’ understanding of justice and service. 

 Over two weeks, the team was immersed in the ministries of CBM’s local partner, the Africa Christian Church and Schools (ACC&S), visiting Nairobi, Thika, and Embu. They saw first-hand the impact of initiatives focused on food security, mentoring vulnerable children, and walking with youth at risk. But more than any program, it was the people who left a lasting impression. 

 “The days spent with local youth were everyone’s favourite,” said Hannah.  

One unforgettable moment came after a youth-led church service. As it ended, White Rock students naturally dispersed into small groups with their Kenyan peers. They shared stories, laughter, and prayer; no adults needed, just presence.  

 “It was the definition of fellowship,” Hannah reflected. 

 The trip offered a meaningful moment in White Rock’s global engagement; one shaped not by charity, but by mutual transformation. “This experience helped our students ask big questions about what sustainable, holistic mission really looks like,” said Hannah. 

 In the end, it wasn’t flashy projects that left the deepest mark. It was quiet faithfulness: a community farm, a dedicated youth mentor, a shared meal. “Even something as simple as chicken farming can radically change a life,” Hannah shared. “I hope our students carry these stories forward, thinking creatively and faithfully about how God is calling them to live out word and deed.” 

You’re Invited: Banff Pastors & Spouses Conference 2025

Theme: Faith in Motion: Steadfast Discipleship in a Shifting World 
📅 Dates: November 10–13, 2025 
📍 Location: Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, AB 
Registration is now open! 

Since 1976, the CBWC has been incredibly blessed by the generosity of the Fairmont Banff Springs, which has provided deeply discounted rates so that pastors and their spouses can gather in one of Canada’s most breathtaking settings. Year after year, they have come from across Western Canada to experience renewal, community, encouragement, and rest. 

At this year’s conference, we will reflect on what it means to lead with steadfastness in a world marked by rapid cultural, social, and political shifts. As pastoral leaders, the call is not only to guide and teach, but to inspire the Church to respond faithfully and creatively to the challenges and opportunities of our times. 

When the world feels uncertain, it is natural to feel weary or to retreat. But God’s Word reminds us that His faithfulness and love remains firm—unchanged by shifting culture or circumstance. The Banff Pastors and Spouses Conference offers space to rest in that truth, to be spiritually refreshed, and to reconnect with fellow leaders who understand the weight and beauty of ministry. 

We hope you can join us as we explore and learn together with Rev. Dr. Lennett Anderson and Rev. Renee MacVicar. 

If your pastor or their spouse has never attended the Banff Pastors and Spouses Conference—this is the year to send them! 

NOTE: A 2024 poll of pastors and chaplains indicated that meeting in Banff remains a priority, though not necessarily at the Banff Springs Hotel, and not necessarily on an annual basis. In response to this feedback, Banff 2026 will be held at the Banff Park Lodge. Additionally, we will be shifting to a biennial (every other year) gathering schedule, alternating with the in-person Assembly. This approach supports both financial stewardship and deeper engagement with local ministerials. 2026: Banff, Online Assembly; 2027: Assembly, Regional Gatherings; 2028: Banff, Online Assembly 

Resources for Feeding Hope This Summer

We at CBWC have been participating in Active in Mission for several years because food security—or lack of it—can impact all of us.  

With Active in Mission, individuals and teams can choose an activity to raise funds for food security initiatives. Our national goal is to raise $100,000—half of which will be distributed to churches in Canadian Baptist denominations who are working to alleviate hunger locally. The other 50% will support food programming internationally, helping communities become more resilient with conservation agriculture and food-related, income-generating initiatives. 

Hunger in our world is a huge issue that can feel overwhelming, so we’ve put together some simple ways to start thinking and acting in ways that support food security—starting in our own hearts!  

– Gratitude and Prayer. Jesus instructed His followers to pray, “Give us today our daily bread.” At Assembly this past May, Dr. Carmen Imes reminded us of this call to rely on God and to support one another when we need provision. This neat resource is a collection of table graces from around the world that can help us turn our eyes up to our Heavenly Father and consider His generosity to us. 

– Learning. Check out this video from Canadian Foodgrains Bank on Food Security. 

– Youth Engagement: CBM has created the Feeding Hope Challenge: a 2-hour, guided youth event to help the 12-18 year olds in your community learn about food security, fundraisers, participate in active challenges, and get to know the work of CBM around the world. Download the guide here. 

– Activity. It’s not too late to register your church, gather your team and get active to raise money. Get creative or keep it simple: West End Baptist Church in Nova Scotia is hosting a mackerel fishing event, Joe Bridi from CBM is cycling to work for 2 months, and NewGate Baptist in Calgary has mobilized their Run/Walk Club to raise funds. Here’s a 90-second instruction video on getting signed up. 

– Financial Support. Together, we’ve raised $445, but we’re not yet at our goal. Help us get there by donating at activeinmission.ca. Scroll down to the “Fundraisers” listing to find churches and individuals—as well as a team of CBWC Staff—to support.  

Thank you for Feeding Hope with us! 

Humans of the CBWC: Heather Leung

Heather Leung is an RN working in an Outpatient Diabetic Nephropathy  

Prevention Clinic, which is a fancy way of saying that she works with people who have diabetes with hypertension and/or chronic kidney disease. In short, her clinic consists of herself and a Registered Dietitian who meet with clients to help ensure their medications are working for them and whether any diet or lifestyle choices would be helpful to improve their diabetes or help slow the progression of loss of kidney function.  

Heather sat on a panel at our recent CBWC Assembly, and here are her answers to some very good questions:  

At the Big-Picture level, how do you see your work as contributing to the Kingdom of God? Do you see your work as a God-given calling? 

 “Naturally, healthcare is seen as the healing hands of God; serving others to provide comfort, especially when they are at their most vulnerable. On the frontlines, we exemplify Jesus by showing dignity & respect to the person we are attending to. I also see healthcare as the revelation of God through us, His created beings. When you think of the delicate intricacies of all that has to work in harmony in order for our bodies to function, it’s amazing! In my clinic, we spend a lot of time teaching people how not to conform to the ways of this world. People with chronic conditions do have to be quite cognizant of their dietary choices in order to maintain good health. Scripture tells us that though everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial.  As each of us is uniquely and wonderfully made, some who are susceptible to the ill effects of certain substances or behaviours need to learn, then, what permissible things are not beneficial to them. 

“God-given calling? I’m not sure if it was God’s calling, or more so His mercy towards me. I would say that I struggled with my work for many years, not feeling very purposeful or fulfilled with it. Maybe this is due to me coming into my faith later in my life, I don’t know— but God has certainly been transforming me over the years and brought me to this particular clinic using this particular skill set. It has led to me appreciating the work I do in helping people to achieve a good quality of life while also improving or maintaining their health. I feel that my spiritual gifts include helping and encouraging, and I certainly do both of these with my clients.” 

We live in a fallen world and that fallenness infects everything, including our places of work. What parts of our fallen world seem to uniquely show up in your line of work? 

 “Well, we all know how broken our healthcare system is, but what I will say is that greed can really show its face in healthcare. Like when treatments are developed to help but then twisted to cater to the vain of this world. For example, many people have likely heard of Ozempic—it’s been in the news and advertised more and more recently. First developed to help those with diabetes manage their glucose levels, it was then marketed for weight loss when it was observed how effective it was in this sense. But then celebrities started buying it all up and caused a major supply shortage for those who needed it for their diabetes care. 

 “Greed is evident in the fact that my work is evaluated on quantity and not quality. So for instance, I could spend a 2-hour appointment with a client and really explain to them their disease process and the effects of their diet and lifestyle on preventing further progression of kidney disease, explain their medications to them, what they are and how they are of benefit to them. I can empower them to make changes and alleviate their fears, yet that time spent with the client is seen as the equivalent of a 5-minute phone call where I might follow up with someone to say that their lab results are good and to keep taking the medications they are prescribed. 

 “I also see it in terms of the expectations from some people that they should get things for free or something should occur within their preferred timeline. I don’t say this to criticize everyone, but I do get frustrated with the amount of people I do see abusing our healthcare system.” 

 What are some everyday, practical things you do in your job to consciously demonstrate Jesus? Or to demonstrate the kingdom of God to fellow co-workers or clients? 

 “Firstly, I would say that during my morning commute, my prayer focus is asking to be a good steward of God’s love to those I’ll encounter for the day. I know that my clients feel the genuine concern that I have for their welfare because they’ve expressed as much to me. There are times when I’ve gone above and beyond for some of my clients; mailing out certain forms for them or even dropping off glucometer strips at one’s home. There are also the little things that I do, like asking permission to take their blood pressure, or have them step on the scale to get their weight. If I am physically touching them as part of my assessment, then I’m explaining what I’m doing and why. I set my computer aside, make eye contact, and actually have a conversation with the person in front of me—rather than sitting with my face in my computer and going through my assessment questions, just ticking off the boxes in their electronic record. 

 “In terms of my co-workers, I will say that I am blessed that some of the people we share office space with do identify as believers, and so talking about God is commonplace and hasn’t been criticized by those who do not consider themselves to be believers. Through comments from my co-workers, I know that the peace & confidence I feel because of God allows me to remain calm in times of stress and be flexible with sudden changes. It’s been commented on numerous occasions that the laughter I bring to our workspace and the kindness that I extend towards each of them is noted and appreciated.” 

Between January and August this year, we are journeying through these reflections on the Lord’s Prayer, used with permission, by Carolyn Arends.  

The Lord’s Prayer was the theme of our Assembly this May.  

If you missed the first editions, you can find them in past issues of Making Connections: cbwc.ca/newsletters 

The Universe in 57 Words–Part FIVE

PETITION FIVE  

‘Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors’.  

If you’re praying the Lord’s Prayer with a group of people, the fifth petition is where the recitation can get a little messy. Are we asking God to forgive our “sins,” our “trespasses,” or our “debts”?  

Each of these words gets at a different nuance of the same problem. I grew up with the “trespass” translation, and it’s helped me think about the ways I violate God’s loving rule. But lately I’m leaning into the language of “debt,” because it hints at how entirely in hock I am to the extravagant and unmerited goodness of God. Trevor Hudson likes to pray, Lord, I thank you that I am waking up to a day I have not made, to enjoy a salvation I have not earned.  

Greek scholars tell us that the words translated as “forgive” and “debts” in Matthew 6 are financial in nature; the petition is really a request to “clear the ledger.” Imagine walking into a bank where you owed an enormous loan and requesting that your debt be erased. The fifth petition Jesus teaches us might be the boldest one yet!  

NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS  

The fourth petition required us to recognize the fact that we don’t have what it takes to live a full life. Now, the fifth petition acknowledges the reality that we don’t have what it takes to live a righteous life.  

Old Testament scholar Bruce Waltke suggests that it is helpful to think of “righteousness” as right relationship in four directions— with God, with each other, with ourselves, and with creation. All the wreckage in the world—and in our own lives—comes down to failures in loving in one or more of those relationships.  

Just like regular Eucharist can help make us aware of our dependence on Jesus for all we need to live a full life, a regular practice of confession can help wake us up to our dependence on Jesus for all we need to live a righteous life.  

And so Jesus bakes a frank confession into the first half of the fifth position. “Forgive us our debts,” we pray, confessing them and accessing their only remedy with one simple phrase. We are beggars at the bank requesting that our ledger be wiped clean, praying with shocking boldness because Jesus said we should.  

A CONTINGENT PETITION?  

But what do we make of the second half of the fifth petition: “For give us our debts . . as we forgive our debtors”? This is the only part of the Lord’s Prayer that seems to be in some way contingent upon us. And it’s the only petition that Jesus amplifies after instructing his followers how to pray. “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” he declares, “but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14–15).  

As I’ve wrestled with this part of the Lord’s Prayer, two things have come into focus.  

A Warning against “The Secular Loop”  

First, I think Jesus is cautioning us not to place ourselves in what theologian John Stackhouse calls “the secular loop.” Consider the passages earlier in Matthew 6, where Jesus warns against giving to charity or praying purely for show. In both cases, folks who have removed God from the equation and are seeking human approval have already “received their reward” (Matthew 6:2). In other words, if we want to operate solely on the human level and leave God out of it, he’ll let us—at least for a while.  

When we refuse to forgive, Stackhouse argues, we appoint ourselves ruler and judge, supplanting God and once again choosing to operate on a purely human level. That may be one reason why our own unforgiveness prevents us from receiving the forgiveness we ourselves so desperately need—we’ve cut the God who forgives out of the equation.  

This applies, by the way, even to withholding forgiveness from ourselves. “I’ll never forgive myself” is an atheistic statement, because it appoints the self as ruler and judge.  

A Concern for Relational Wholeness  

Ruth Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, was asked, “What is the secret to a lasting marriage?” Given the idealistic light in which we saw her husband, her answer surprised me.  

“Forgiveness.”  

Jesus knows we have no shot at staying in relationship with one another without the power of forgiveness. He also knows unforgiveness hurts us more than the perpetrator. As Marianne William son famously put it, “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison yourself and waiting for the other person to die.” 

So it makes sense that Jesus, the Lover of our Souls, would include a deep concern for relational wholeness—with God, with each other, and with ourselves—into this petition.  

 BUT WHAT IF I CAN’T FORGIVE?  

Maybe you’ve been treated so wrongly and been wounded so deeply that the idea of forgiving the perpetrator seems obscene. What should we do when forgiveness seems impossible?  

Many people have experienced horrific harm and lasting trauma. Jesus knows this. He sees what happens and does not take it lightly. He knows it takes time to access painful memories and work through anger. Even after taking these steps we may still have ill will in our heart for the perpetrator. The inner sense of having truly forgiven someone can’t be forced—it’s a gift from God. Our part, after doing what we can to grieve the offense, is to take a step of faith to say, “I’m willing. I’m willing to be willing. I choose to release the person as best as I am able.”  

God will do something beautiful with whatever opening we give him. Forgiveness doesn’t mean we place ourselves in harm’s way or remain in toxic relationships. Rather, forgiveness is a journey toward abdicating the judgment seat and being released from the bondage of resentment.  

Arriving at the ability to forgive someone is a process—sometimes a slow and painful one. But where I used to think it was something God demanded of us, I see now that it is something he longs to give us. So we pray the first half of the fifth petition, recognizing our deep need for right relationship. And then we pray the second half, giving God permission to cultivate forgiveness inside of us, however long it takes. As with all the other petitions, we’re asking God to do the good and beautiful things that only he can do. 

 Suggested song: “Willing” renovare.org/universesongs  

LIVING INSIDE THE FIFTH PETITION  

Consider praying through this liturgy for confession:  

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.  

Then read Psalm 103:10–12 as assurance of forgiveness:  

[The Lord] does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. 

To download the full resource: https://renovare.org/books/the-universe-in-57-words 

Excerpts used with permission from a book entitled 

the universe 
in 57 words 
SEVEN DAYS INSIDE THE LORD’S PRAYER 
By Carolyn Arends 

 This resource has been influenced by more authors, preachers, teachers, and fellow pray-ers than I can credit or even remember. But I am particularly indebted to the following works: Fifty-Seven Words That Change the World, by Darrell Johnson; The Lord and His Prayer, by N. T. Wright; The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard; Prayer, by Richard Foster; and Eugene Peterson’s “Jesus and Prayer” lectures for SPIR 604 at Regent College. 

Summer Hospitality

By Hannah Hamm

During the long, hot days of a Canadian summer, many of us have the opportunity to consider opening up space for others, literally or emotionally. Perhaps we are inspired to invite some friends or neighbours over for a simple BBQ; Invite the church family for a picnic on the lawn or at the beach; Maybe plan to share a cold drink together after a long, hard day working the land; Provide a simple meal for a local firefighter and their family, or a co-worker.  

However you are inspired to gather, take heart in knowing that your Creator modelled hospitality from the beginning and smiles when we follow His example.  

Food and drink, when shared, carry with them a certain positive power for connection. Jesus knew this, and we can all agree He participated in some beautiful culinary interactions. From the wedding feast to the fish fry on the beach, and everything in between, Jesus brought depth and meaning to the word ‘hospitality’.  

Before you decide that I’ve set the bar too high by citing Christ as an example, remember that no one, especially not God, expects perfection or even a certain level of talent. Offer what you can, knowing that whatever is offered with generousity of heart is blessed. 

A quote from Shauna Niequist to inspire you: 

‘Many of the most sacred moments in my life–the ones in which I feel God’s presence most profoundly, when I feel the goodness of the world most arrestingly–take place around the table. Something extraordinary happens when we slow down, open our homes, look into one another’s faces, and listen to one another’s stories around the table.’ 

Some good advice I’ve received over the years with regards to hosting: 

• Leave some of the prep for your guests to join in on as they arrive. Including them makes them feel less guilty for being ‘pampered’. 

• If conversation isn’t a particular gift of yours, consider having some question cards available to kick things off. ‘If you could travel to any time or place, where would you go?’ or ‘What are some food memories you have?’ 

• Though it’s true that common wisdom suggests one shouldn’t try out a new recipe for guests, I think that ignoring this one can model vulnerability and a willingness to fail. Kick that desire to get everything perfect to the curb…. 

Some great book recommendations in case you actually do have more time and space during summer and want to engage these ideas more:  

Henri Nouwen’s book ‘Reaching Out’ traces the thread of hospitality through understanding God’s hospitality to us, our hospitality to ourselves, and then–and only then–hospitality to others. https://henrinouwen.org/read/reaching-out/ 

Shauna Niequist’s book ‘Bread and Wine’ is full of stories of hosting and feasting (including great recipes). https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16182601-bread-and-wine 

A personal recipe recommendation that I’ve found is always a crowd pleaser, and can be served hot or cold, is from the Pioneer Woman, Potato Basil Fritatta. (follow the link for recipe and instructions)  

And two recommendations from our own Louanne Haugan: 

INSTRUCTIONS: 

Prepare the dressing by putting all dressing ingredients in a small jar. Shake well. Give it a taste and adjust if needed. 

Drain and rinse the black beans and place in a medium sized bowl. Stir in the diced red peppers, red onion, corn, jalapeño pepper and cilantro. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss to combine.  

 This is a great recipe to prepare in advance. I like to keep the dressing and salad ingredients refrigerated, tossing 15 minutes before serving. This is a bright, colourful salad that pairs well with barbecued chicken thighs (or any protein).  

INSTRUCTIONS: 

In a zip lock bag, combine marinade ingredients. Add the chicken thighs and toss with the marinade to coat. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours (4-6 hours is ideal). Let the chicken sit at room temperature for 15 minutes prior to grilling. Grill chicken on medium high heat for 8-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until chicken registers 160 degrees F. Transfer to a plate or cutting board, cover with foil, and let rest 5-10 minutes. Enjoy! 

New Education Grants at CBWC Foundation!

The Foundation has recently established two NEW grants for people training in ministry. We are committed to supporting the core values of the CBWC, and “Cultivating Leaders” is in our sweet spot! We have long had grants for pastoral training, and these two new grants are designed to engage additional needs within the CBWC community. 

Firstly, we introduce the Chaplaincy Grant to provide financial support to accredited CBWC chaplains for continuing education and professional development. Funding is available at $500 per course, up to an annual maximum of $2,000. 

Secondly, we introduce the Undergraduate Ministry Training Grant, which provides financial support to students pursuing theological training at an undergraduate level. Funding is available up to $500 per credit, up to an annual maximum of $2,000, with a lifetime maximum of $6,000. 

The Foundation has the privilege of making training grants available because of faithful stewards who made it a priority to “endow” legacy gifts to the Education Fund, namely a few key seed planters, namely George Segerstrom, Laura Kelly, Jack & Catherine Farr, Herb Grabowski and Lynn Symington. If you have a heart to grow CBWC ministry now or in the future, talk to us! We would be overjoyed to help you leave a legacy of ministry support. 

For more information on receiving a grant or leaving a ministry legacy, please contact Christine Reid at creid@cbwcfoundation.ca or call (403) 930-7004.