Category: BCY News

Ministry News

Introducing New Pastors:

Mr. Silas Kittikundamrongpon, Youth & Young Adults Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church
My name is Silas Kittikundamrongpon. I was born in Chiang Rai, a small town in Northern Thailand. I was born into a Christian family. My father was a pastor, and my mother was a school teacher. I also have one younger sister.

Looking back, growing up in a devout Buddhist country taught me much, laying the foundation for the future in terms of cultivating relationships and sharing the gospel with people of different faiths. My family and I moved to Australia in 2004, and I was baptized there in my teenage years. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature in 2018. I moved to Vancouver to pursue education in Theology at Regent College, graduating with a master’s degree in Theology at the end of 2022.

I joined Trinity Baptist Church in early 2023 as a pastor of youth and young adults. I love the scene in Revelation 7 depicting the multitude of every nation, tribe, people, and language coming together before the throne of God. I see Trinity as a small glimpse of that; people of different backgrounds coming together in unity. I enjoy the presence of the younger generations, cultivating relationships and growing deeper together in the knowledge of the Lord. I am fascinated by contemporary youth culture, including its many opportunities and challenges. I am excited to see and participate in what the Lord is doing in such a time in history. I enjoy reading and collecting books. I am in the process of building my own library in my study.

Dr. Luz Figueroa, Family Pastor at West Point Grey Baptist Church
Dr. Luz Figueroa is the founder and director of Entre Niños—a ministry with global reach. Luz has a Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation from Carey Theological College. She also has the Master in Divinity equivalent and a Doctorate in Theology and Leadership from Bethel Seminary. She has served as a children’s and family ministry pastor, speaker, writer, 

and academic professor. She is passionate about education and the Christian spiritual formation of the family. She resides in Vancouver, BC, with her husband José. They have two married children and are the proud grandparents of two of the sweetest granddaughters and one adorable grandson.

We welcome back these pastors who are serving in an Interim role:
Rev. Awlywn Balnave at Berea Baptist Church
Rev. Bob Bahr at West Vancouver Baptist Church

Fond Farewells:
Pastor Mike Oshiro for 15 years of ministry at The Forge Church
Rev. Chris Kibble Interim minister at West Vancouver Baptist Church

We were saddened to hear the news that Heritage Mountain Community Church voted on the closure of their church and ministry after 21 years of faithfulness serving the community of Port Moody. They had just recently affiliated with the CBWC after years of looking for a denominational home. We rejoice in the many hearts and lives touched by God through their ministry being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Upcoming Event!

Register for the BCY Regional Retreat here and view the brochure.

Transitions

By Grace Wulff

This week it will be three weeks since I “retired.”
I really don’t like that word; it sounds like I’m tired… And although that is true, I’m seeing this season of my life as changing gears, transitioning.

Retiring from ministry or any life’s calling is foreign to me. I’ve long believed (and have been told) that we follow our calling for life. There is always service to be done, a purpose to life. But I have stepped back from the intensity of my position as a hospital chaplain and am taking a rest.

Or at least that is my intent! I think of other major transitions in my life—the day I became a widow at age 37, and my life as I knew it was finished. It took time to grieve, to mourn, and establish a new normal. Remarriage was another big transition. When my hubby and I found ourselves without work in our early fifties, we faced another major shift, a challenge to learn new skills; he started a painting business, and I found myself led to a ministry role.

These transitions didn’t come without feelings of loss, grief, learning, adjustments, and at times, even depression. So, I’m not surprised to find myself on this new journey with all of its emotions.

Major transitions can be very unsettling. I’m finding this to be true, all over again. Life feels sideways, even upside down. The familiar has changed. Who am I in this place? I remember, as a new widow, thinking, “Am I still married… or not?” It can feel discombobulated. Yes, that is how I feel. I like that word!

I’ve watched many reach this step of “retirement,” some with absolute joy and anticipation, where others take time to find their way. There is a loss of identity, and even purpose. But there is also relief.

I want to be intentional about this journey. I will read and learn more. I want to move and be active. I want to nourish my connections with family and friends. If there have been painful conclusions, there must be time for process, for counselling, for forgiveness.

I want to grow in my spiritual life, to go deeper. I want to find time for creativity. But yes, there is also time for naps. It doesn’t all have to be done today.

Who knows what the next steps will be. I’ve been encouraged to take a sabbatical, a step back, a time for deep rest and freedom from responsibilities.

And then, I will trust God to guide the way. I think of Moses leading the people of Israel at age 80. There are many authors who started their writing careers in their seventies. I know many who continue to serve and teach, to counsel, to provide spiritual direction, and to be active in ministry, no matter their age. There is a world of possibilities.

So, instead of saying I’m retiring—I’m relearning, and I’m resisting the notion that I’m done. There are new beginnings as I transition into a new phase of life.

This past year my word was joy. I tried to start each day with the words, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” I want to continue that. My word for 2023 is “Hope.” I am thankful we can live each day with hope, whatever tomorrow will bring.

“See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?” ~ Isaiah 43:19

This regional newsletter is published quarterly within the CBWC’s monthly newsletter, Making Connections. Have a story idea? Email our senior writer, Jenna Hanger: jhanger@cbwc.ca

Trinity Baptist Church’s Inaugural AIA Basketball Summer Camp

Alvin Jordan, Pastor of Children and Family Ministries
Trinity Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC

What a privilege it was to host a children’s summer Basketball Camp from July 4-8, 2022! We teamed up with “Athletes in Action,” a ministry of “Power to Change” which runs Christian sports camps all across Canada. Two coaches were provided by AIA, who worked alongside the 12 volunteers from Trinity Baptist Church, to not only teach basketball skills but to help campers grow physically, socially, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Congregational members also helped as part of the snack team, with billeting and feeding the AIA coaches, and as prayer warriors who interceded for our whole camp.

This camp was designed to be an outreach camp, so I was very intentional about personally inviting community kids who 1) do not know Jesus, and 2) were kids from the community whom I could follow up with. There were many school yard conversations with other parents and flyers handed out at the public elementary school my kids attend. We had 26 kids registered out of the maximum 30 kids we could have registered, with many of coming from the local school! Out of the 26 kids registered, 17 indicated they do not belong to a church, so 2/3 of campers were unchurched. There was also an excellent ratio between kids and coaches —2 to 1 in fact!—meaning the campers all had personal, individual coaching and attention.

Our camp was a full day camp from 9am to 3pm. For the volunteer team, we started each day with a devotional and prayer; we prayed for the kids that they would know Jesus. After doing morning basketball skills, we had a teaching time, splitting into small groups. We went through a booklet called “More Than a Game” which introduced the children to God.

On the last day of camp, I shared the gospel message with the whole group and invited everyone to pray with me a prayer to know Jesus. The response was very positive. Many of the campers indicated to us on a form that they would either like to “know more information about Jesus” or they “chose to know Jesus for the first time.” I look forward to following up with kids and parents.

It was great working with “Athletes in Action,” getting to know and billet the 2 AIA coaches and seeing the enthusiastic support of the congregation in various aspects of camp. It was a great camp filled with lots of basketball skills and games, new friends and new learning about God for most of the campers.

This basketball camp was intentionally scheduled in early July as an outreach and lead up to our VBS-style “Kids Bible Adventure Week” in August. Within days of the AIA basketball camp finishing, almost 25% of the unchurched campers have already registered for our VBS kids camp. I anticipate more basketball campers joining “Kids Bible Adventure Week” in mid-August! To God be the glory! Awesome to see what God is doing in these young lives!

North Okanagan Community Chaplaincy 

Being Truthtellers and Peacemakers in the Heart of the City July 2022

One morning, as we sat across from each other reading our Recovery Bible and discussed one of the steps to moving forward with faith addiction free, one person shared about being stabbed in the head and trying to move forward with their life. Another shared how since accepting the Lord, the voices in their head are getting less and less. This person is not a regular volunteer in our ministry, and I had the privilege of performing their baptism. Unfortunately, it is a rare occurrence when you can tangibly see people moving forward in their faith.

Recently, I was in one of our parks looking for someone who I have been helping. I was speaking with a bylaw person regarding this, when an older gentleman stood behind listening. He then began to complain about the garbage in the park and the homeless. He referred to our homeless population in a way that meant they should be disposed of, much like the garbage they create. I can only say that the Lord and His grace enabled me to respond, rather than react, to this man who also is in need of a saviour. I often get asked how we can continue to feed, serve and love our marginalized population? I can only say that it is by His grace and recognizing these are our Lord’s children. I, too, was once one of these homeless folks. As I hear and find out about the high death rate among our homeless population, I also say we need prayer. Our front-line workers need prayer, many who are not Christ followers. I also say, “It ain’t working folks!” The system is failing us all. Harm reduction and safe supply may stop someone from over-dosing or dying, but they are still in the midst of addiction. We need more recovery, detox and supportive living homes.

This is a big topic, with lots of varying viewpoints. As the church, as Christ followers, we have the answer. Simply put, we have Jesus. And we can share His love with others in very simple and practical ways. On and off the streets, people are dying from drugs that are designed to kill. Our ministry gets to walk alongside our homeless men and women. By building relationships, we are getting to share the love of Jesus in real and practical ways. We even get to use words sometimes. Find a way in your own family, church and community to reach out and love someone in Jesus’ name. You may save a life.

Thank you. God Bless,

Reverend Chuck Harper, C.Min.

BCY Women Autumn Celebration 2022

This regional newsletter is published quarterly within the CBWC’s monthly newsletter, Making Connections. Have a story idea? Email our senior writer, Jenna Hanger: jhanger@cbwc.ca

Comings & Goings Within the BCY Area

Melanie Ihmnels is the new Hospitality Pastor/Manager at The Mustard Seed Street Church, Victori

Mark Wong is the new Associate Pastor at Westside Baptist Church

A HUGE thank you and appreciation to the following for their dedicated service and ministry!

-Joy Banks, Associate Pastor has resigned from Grandview Calvary Baptist
-Joan Dosso, Worship and Arts Pastor has resigned from Emmanuel Baptist Church Victoria
-Stephen Hasbrouck, Senior Pastor, Fairview Baptist Church has moved on to Baptist Housing as Chaplain
-Andrew MacDonald, Associate Pastor, New Life Community Baptist Church has moved on to a ministry call in California
-Stefano Piva, Lead Pastor of West Point Grey Baptist Church has resigned
-Sean Lewis, Lead Pastor of The Mustard Seed Street Church has resigned
-Philip Wambua, Youth Pastor of New Life Community Baptist has resigned
-Ken Nettleton, Lead Pastor of New Life Community Baptist Church has moved to Alberta and is now a chaplain in Calgary
-Wayne Snider, Interim Pastor at FBC Nanaimo has resigned
-Garth Borthistle’s transitional contract has been completed at FBC Nanaimo

This regional newsletter is published quarterly within the CBWC’s monthly newsletter, Making Connections. Have a story idea? Email our senior writer, Jenna Hanger: jhanger@cbwc.ca

Clarity, Please

Larry Schram, BCY Regional Minister

I love clarity and I know I am not alone in my appreciation. Indeed, multiple times a day, I am engaged in conversations and ministry appointments that are all about clarity—the pastor wrestling with their ministry placement, the church struggling with best practices amid Covid protocols, and inquiries exploring ordination are all about finding clarity. A church questioning the process around our Identity Statement, the local church elder who wants help discerning how to respond to a church conflict, and the seminary student questioning biblical interpretation—all are seeking clarity. Almost every day as a regional minister, I wrestle with questions from someone pursuing clarity. Is autonomy really a biblical value? How do we know if something is a disputable matter or not? Why do different Baptist associations hold different positions on some issues, and yet all claim that they are being biblically faithful? We seem to be living in a time when clarity is fervently sought.

I believe that clarity is also important to Jesus. When I read the gospels, I see how time and time again, Jesus brought clarity to those who listened to Him. He challenged the teachers of the law who confused people with their complex and self-serving interpretations. Instead, Jesus often brought absolute clarity about God’s intentions. He also made it crystal clear that anyone who chose to follow Him would not fit into the surrounding culture very well. He was very clear about why He came and what His purpose was in coming. Further, He was shockingly clear that the whole purpose of anyone who chose to be His disciple was to be a servant in the Kingdom. I love that clarity, even if I don’t always like its implications in my life.

I love it so much that it has become part of my daily prayers: “Jesus, grant us clarity about what you desire and what really matters.” I believe that Jesus is the only one who can bring clarity about what really matters in these confusing and challenging days. Candidly, I don’t always get an instantaneous answer to my prayer, but one thing always becomes clearer: I need to keep my eyes fixed on Him. When I do, I always find some clarity.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12: 1-3

Please join me in praying daily that Jesus will grant clarity to these three areas of need:

Our Ordination Prep Candidates

• Greg Pearson – FBC, Victoria
• Diana Zhao – Joy Fellowship, Vancouver
• Jasper Song – University Campus Baptist Church, Vancouver
• Kent Dixon – Braemar Baptist, Edmonton
• Tim Challen – Virden Baptist, Manitoba

May Jesus grant them great clarity on their pathway to Ordination.

Our Interim/Transitional Pastors:

• Garth Borthistle at FBC Nanaimo
• Scott Hemenway at New Life Duncan
• Laura Nelson at Berea Baptist Church, Surrey
• Chris Kibble at West Vancouver Baptist
• Lorne Wilms at Mill Bay Baptist
• Awlwyn Balnave at Olivet Baptist, New Westminster
• Terrance Froese at Grandview Calvary Baptist, Vancouver

May Jesus grant them increasing clarity in their ministry settings.

Our CBWC Family of Churches as we prayerfully seek clarity on what it means to be a family of churches. May we all fix our eyes on Jesus.

This regional newsletter is published quarterly within the CBWC’s monthly newsletter, Making Connections. Have a story idea? Want to tell us how great we’re doing? Or how terribly? Email our senior writer, Jenna Hanger: jhanger@cbwc.ca

Good News

By  BCY Regional Minister, Larry Schram

Most news sources these days are filled with stories of death, disasters, missing persons, morally failed leaders, pandemic restrictions, and dire climate change predictions. Church prayer chains, likewise, request prayer for people battling health challenges, relationship breakdowns, Covid exposures, overwhelming grief and loss, and heated polarizations. In addition, my email inbox and messaging services overflow with updates and requests that cover all the topics above, only now it is very personal: I know the people involved.

It is no wonder that I come to the end of most days just wanting to hear some good news for a change. I am very sure that I am not alone in this desire.

As followers of Jesus, the phrase ‘good news’ carries two primary meanings for us. We know the Gospel is good news in all its expressions, and every time someone repents and believes this good news about Jesus, the angels in heaven rejoice. So do most of us, for this is miraculous grace. In addition, good news is information that comes to us as pleasant, positive, and a blessing that we can rejoice in. This is what I pray will occur for each of our churches and pastors these days. That we will regularly hear some good news of salvation, steps of faith, and answered prayer with the pleasant and blessed reminder that, despite all the bad news that fills our days, our Lord is still at work.

What follows are some reminders that our Lord is indeed still at work and that there is still good news to hear. Let’s rejoice in it and be quick to pass on all the pleasant and positive good news we can.

Larry Schram, BCY Regional Minister.

Baptisms – The Good News of People Immersing Their Lives in Jesus

Food Bank Drive – The Good News of People Helping the Hungry

Clark Taylor, First Baptist Church, Penticton, BC

A couple weeks ago, across BC, was the Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Salvation Army. Some of the youth and adults from Penticton First Baptist Church, along with Pastor Les and Clark, took part. We delivered about 200 bags on Wednesday after school. We returned early Saturday morning and picked up bags that had been left on the doorstep of homes. After filling the vehicles, we dropped them off at the Penticton Salvation Army Food Bank. The Food Bank collected over 11 000 pounds of food! It was a wonderful day of walking and gathering food, and our youth are excited to do more routes next year.

Affiliation – The Good News of People Joining the Family

By Paul Truman

This fall, Heritage Mountain Community Church is celebrating 21 years as a church in Port Moody. Ask any of them and they’ll share what the ministry direction ‘Form the Heart’ means to them. Pastors Paul Truman and Deanna Hackett lead by respecting the uniqueness of each heart and encouraging a lifestyle that cultivates relationship with God. As heart formation continued through the obscurity of the pandemic, the church was delighted to share in seven baptisms at Sasamat Lake in early September. Usually meeting in a performing arts theatre that reopened in October, they were delighted to be together again. This beach gathering was far more than seven people identifying with Jesus; it was a whole community sharing faith that God is continuing to form their hearts. Over the past years, the church has been discerning a denominational home where they can live the calling that God has given them. In June, the members voted unanimously to pursue affiliation with the CBWC.

Ordination – The Good News of People Saying Yes to the Call of Jesus

The first woman ordained by Trinity Baptist to the Gospel Ministry, Rev. Dr. Doris Kung-Poon.

This regional newsletter is published quarterly within the CBWC’s monthly newsletter, Making Connections. Have a story idea? Want to tell us how great we’re doing? Or how terribly? Email our senior writer, Jenna Hanger: jhanger@cbwc.ca

Starting What Can’t Be Finished 

The guide’s voice, well-rehearsed and modulated, faded into the background. The size and beauty of the cathedral filled my thoughts as I contemplated climbing the nearby bell tower to capture it with my camera. Santa Maria Del Fiore—Saint Mary of the Flowers—is part of a world heritage site, and is the largest dome ever constructed in the Renaissance. After many guides in many cities, I had developed a habit of listening for a while, disengaging for a time, and then returning to the guide’s monologue. I focused again on the guide’s voice just in time to hear, “They built the building without knowing how they would finish it.”

They did what?

The guide explained that they built the Cathedral knowing that they couldn’t finish it. They didn’t know how to build a dome 150 feet in diameter and 180 feet in the air. But they started building anyway, believing that someday someone would be able to finish it. Finally, after almost 100 years of gathering inside walls under an open sky the construction of the dome began which took another 100 years to complete. In other words, once the walls were up, it took almost two centuries for the cathedral to be completed!

As I contemplated this incredible story, I alternated between wanting to admire their faithful commitment and wanting to lecture them on the words of Jesus. After all, Jesus said that no one should begin a project that they couldn’t complete. (Luke 14:28) Yet the people of Florence felt that God called them to build the cathedral, and that, therefore, He would also send someone to help them finish it, so they started what they couldn’t finish. Later that day, as I looked at the beautiful dome from the bell tower I prayed, “How could this be Lord? You warned against starting what couldn’t be finished!” Then the Spirit whispered, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5)

In our highly pragmatic, strategic, and efficient world it is good to remember that sometimes faithful obedience to our Lord means that we will start something when we have no clue how to finish. He doesn’t ask us to understand, but He does ask us to trust that even when we can’t, He always finishes what He starts. (Phil. 1:6)

-Larry Schram ,BCY Regional Minister

Here are just a few examples of how this truth gets worked out in ministry:

Called to Start what will never be finished—New ministry beginnings: Matthew Fox starts July 1st at Comox Community Baptist Church, Stefano Piva starts in August as Lead Pastor at West Point Grey Baptist Church.

Called to finish when the work isn’t done—Retirement: Norm Sowden retires July 31st and Jack Leighton retires October 31st.

Called To Do What Can’t Be Fully Paid For (Summer camp)—Keats Camp:

“When we lookback on our lives, there are key moments that have set the direction of our future. For many, camp is the place where that happens. For Keats this year, the practical reality is that we will run a significant deficit (even with offering 8 weeks of camp), but have been called for over 90 years to provide quality camping to children and youth and are stepping out in faith. We know that this year’s loss is miniscule in comparison to what God can and will accomplish this summer through our staff, volunteers, campers and guests. It is the generations of testimonies, support and conversations that carry us along in faith to get through these challenges.”

Blessings,

Stan Carmody // Executive Director

Called to build when the future is uncertain—Beulah:

Beulah provides an affordable place to live for maturing, financially challenged adults, in Jesus’ name. More than housing, we provide a community of love, support, and grace. Presently, the waiting list to get into an apartment is 3 years. So, based on the growing need, with a conservative financial approach even though the future is uncertain, our board has approved a plan of adding two 64-unit buildings in the next 5 years. We believe that what we do is an extension of Christ’s call for His people in Vancouver. We are missionaries, not landlords.

– Jamey S. McDonald, Chief Executive Officer, Beulah Garden Homes Society

This regional newsletter is published quarterly within the CBWC’s monthly newsletter, Making Connections. Have a story idea? Want to tell us how great we’re doing? Or how terribly? Email our senior writer, Jenna Hanger: jhanger@cbwc.ca

April Devotion

from BCY Regional Minister Larry Schram

I was listening to a sermon recently, and it struck me that too often in my life, I have approached Jesus like a condiment. I have asked Him to add something to my life, like zest to a meal, forgetting that He is much more than that. In fact, His clear call to me is not to add flavour or zest to my life, but to yield my life to Him in all things and follow Him.

In Mark we read; Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (8: 34) It is kind of hard to miss the point of Jesus’ words. If I want to walk with Him, I start by denying myself. This is more than the habits of self denial, like so many of the common practices of Lent. Instead, denying myself is to give up ownership of myself, to disregard myself, or as Eugene Peterson framed it, accepting that I am not in the driver’s seat. To deny myself is to trust Jesus enough that I yield to Him in all things. When I do so, my identity and purpose are found in Him, and not in anything else this world can offer me. In other words, I do not add Him to my life as a meaningful addition—I let Him rebuild, refocus, and redefine my life in every way as I follow Him.

I was convicted by what I heard in that sermon, and it made me think. I cannot truly follow Jesus and syncretize my faith into a personal brand, like some people try to do. Likewise, I cannot treat Jesus like a convenient value added addition to my life—a spiritual condiment, if you will. Neither can I hold back some part of my life as my personal identity that is somehow private and beyond the claims of Christ. Instead, His invitation is clear, and all I need to do is trust Him enough to yield everything to Him and follow Him in all things. All it will take is everything I have, but what I gain is worth the cost of this denial: I gain a life under the Lordship of Christ.

Therefore, I choose to yield and follow Jesus.

Changes in Leadership throughout BCY Regional Churches

Gregg Cochrane began his ministry as Associate Pastor at Gateway Baptist, Victoria on Jan. 30, 2021.

Lee Young’s starts as Lead Pastor at Summerland Baptist on April 1, 2021.

• Allen Jacques began his Youth and Young Adult Ministry at Elk Lake Baptist, Victoria Sept. 1, 2020.
• Matthew Fox with began his ministry at Comox Community Church on July 1, 2021.

Laura Nelson is retiring from Olivet Baptist, New Westminster on June 30, 2021. A note from Laura: It has indeed been a privilege to be the Senior Pastor at Olivet for the past 12 ½ years. The years have flown by, and it is amazing to look back at all the things that have transpired and the incredible people I have come to know and love. With being at the church for so many years, turning 66 this month, and coming out of this season of COVID-19, I felt it was time for me to retire/resign. I have written a book, which came out last March called, Avoiding the Potholes: Preventing Clergy Sexual Misconduct. My prayer is that I can do some coaching/mentoring for people who are struggling in this area, do some speaking, and fill-in preaching, periodically. I am not looking to retire, but rather to renew and refocus.

Upcoming Events

Ordination Examining Council dates: May 4-5, 2021

New Minister’s Orientation: Jan. 17-19, 2022

The BC Convention AGM is on Wed. June 9, 2021 (ZOOM)

BCY candidates for Ordination are: Jennifer Friesen of White Rock Baptist and Jake Tucker of Grandview Calvary, Vancouver

This regional newsletter is published quarterly within the CBWC’s monthly newsletter, Making Connections. Have a story idea? Want to tell us how great we’re doing? Or how terribly? Email our senior writer, Jenna Hanger: jhanger@cbwc.ca

We call this newsletter Making Connections and it is well named.  After all, a connection is defined as: “a relationship in which a person, thing, or idea is linked or associated with something else,” and this newsletter attempts to promote exactly that. In fact, with this BCY regional focus, we want to tell some stories with words and pictures about how some of us are connecting in these unusual days.

I am impressed with the variety of ways our churches are connecting. Zoom gatherings and meetings, live stream and pre-recorded services, and YouTube channels abound in our churches. We obviously feel the need to connect, with physical distancing and COVID-19 sensitivities in place, and we have found ways to do so. May this issue of Making Connections encourage you to keep making them with our CBWC family as well. 

Larry Schram

BCY Regional Minister

Update from FBC in Port Alberni

“And let us not neglect our meeting together…” Hebrews 10:25

How do you do that while in the midst of a global pandemic? That is something our leadership team have asked and kept a priority throughout it all. Yes, we moved everything online, but there was still something missing. During the early part of the pandemic, I would have conversations with our congregation and the main thing that kept coming up was, “When can me meet together again?”

Now, I knew how important relationships and the opportunity to connect was in our church, but now I was seeing it from a different perspective. People in our church would be crying as they expressed how much they missed their church family. I then realized, that for some in our church, the only time they would experience any type of deep, loving and quality fellowship was when they would walk through the doors on a Sunday morning. So, it became the leadership’s main goal to find a way so that we could gather together.

Then everything changed in late May, when the province changed some of their language regarding mass gatherings—drive-in services were now an option. So, we immediately discussed the option and what it would take to provide a drive-in worship service. We purchased an FM transmitter and once it arrived, we spent roughly 1-2 weeks figuring out how to best set everything up. So, on Sunday, July 19^th at First Baptist, we held our first ever drive-in worship service. We had a team of volunteers that greeted people as they drove onto the property and a parking team that directed them to a spot in our back field. To be honest, it couldn’t have gone any better, and was definitely beyond our expectations. The live music, worship leading and sermon all being broadcast over the radio and being listened to in the comfort of everyone’s car. The joy and the smiles from ear to ear as people drove in and left after was all worth it. Our little church found a way in a global pandemic to not neglect our meeting together. We have seen roughly 30 cars show up every week (with new people coming every week) and recently had the opportunity to serve communion to everyone as well.

Who knew that roughly 15 years ago, as God was leading the church in finding a new facility to call home, one that could be used to bless the community (which it has), that it would be used to bless us so that we could provide the opportunity to gather when so many are unable right now!

Update from Pastor Andrea Tisher from Southwest Community church in Kamloops

1. I did a series in 1 Thessalonians this summer. For the first week, we heard the story of Paul going to Thessalonica in Acts. I then did a 5-minute intro about how to read an epistle and a bit of background on what we know about Thessalonica at that time. Then I read the epistle. All the way through. Like it would have been read in a 1^st century church gathering. I worried about it being some kind of cheating, but it was a great way to introduce the concept of an epistle and set the tone for the rest of the series, because we got to hear the whole thing in context. (I’m about to preach the last message in the book and now I’m thinking, “Maybe we should read the whole thing again!?!?” Ok. That would be cheating. Back to sermon prep for me!)  
2. We did a pulpit swap with FBC Kelowna. Kevin Green and I preached twice on one Sunday and not at all on the other one. This worked great by syncing our summer series up so that we were aligned for at least those two weeks. 
3. I ran two 6-person groups of Faith, Grief & COVID-19. One was an in-person group and the other was a group on Zoom. Both worked really well, and I really enjoyed getting to know those twelve people in new ways. It was also two really interesting “slices” of the congregation. A group of 6 who otherwise would likely never end up in a “small group” together. I highly recommend it as a resource, and it worked well in both formats! 
4. In the last week of my vacation, the church is going to meet at two locations for distanced picnics. They’ll take a Sunday off from needing the tech side covered, someone to preach, etc. I’m hoping that’s a good chance for folks to connect in person. 

Photo update from Living Hope Church

Social distancing at Youth Group.

Sunday morning at Living Hope Church.

Living Hope food bank collection.

This regional newsletter is published quarterly within the CBWC’s monthly newsletter, Making Connections. Have a story idea? Want to tell us how great we’re doing? Or how terribly? Email our senior writer, Jenna Hanger: jhanger@cbwc.ca

Discovering Peace

By Sarah Emanual

I grew up in a loving, Christian home. My mom chose to follow Christ when I was pretty small, and my dad not too much later. I made the choice to follow Christ one night when I was about 4 or 5, mostly out of fear of not going to heaven. From the time that I was small, fear was a constant companion. It gave me nightmares, and it made me say no to a lot of things- out of fear of not fitting in, not being good enough or being made fun of.

In high school, I spent a year eating my lunch alone and hiding at a new school because I was afraid of sitting by myself in the lunchroom. I strived to follow Christ though, and my youth group became a huge part of my life. I was there every chance I got and became good friends with my youth leaders. My high involvement, and desire to follow Christ, soon gave me the title of ‘the perfect youth’. I took a couple years off of school after high school, working and volunteering in our church and denomination. But by the time I went to university I was ready to shake off some of that ‘perfect youth’ title. I had been living by this title and doing what everyone expected of me, afraid of letting my family and friends down. When I started university, I desired to figure out who I was apart from who everyone expected me to be. I still attended church, but I also made many poor choices as I struggled to figure this out. One day, as I was struggling between living for Christ, and living for the rest of the world, I felt God asking me to choose. Enough was enough, and it was time to stop this balancing act. I needed to make the choice between following Christ or following the world. In that moment I knew that the choice I needed to make was to follow God. He really was my everything, and I knew I could not live my life without Him.

That still did not erase all my fears, though. I still had many, and shortly after the birth of our second child I began to struggle with postpartum anxiety. My body experienced anxiety attacks, and my mind struggled with new fears. I kept trying to shake my fears, and give them to God, but they kept coming back to haunt me. Then a change started. I was on a girls’ trip with a couple of my best friends. We had taken a day to go on a mountain biking tour in the mountains of Oregon. One of the stops on the tour was a natural water ‘slide’ down a waterfall. That old familiar fear rose up. I didn’t want to take the risk and jump off the side to go into that waterfall. But in that moment, I began to question that fear. Was my decision to skip out on that experience based on the true desire not to go? Or was my decision to skip out based solely on being afraid to go? I was about to let fear dictate once again, and if I did, I would regret not going. So, I went. I slid down that waterfall and took the first step into letting go of my fears. That first step in giving them over to God.

Fears still haunted me, but I began the process of looking at them differently. The verses in Philippians 4 began to take on new meaning. “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again- rejoice! …Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4, 6-7 NLT) With God, fear no longer had the same grip on my life as it had. It was still there, but it wasn’t the same.

In February 2016, I was faced with my biggest fear. For over six months I had experienced changes and pain. The doctors could not figure out what was the cause. As I was still nursing our youngest child at the time, one of my doctors brushed it all off at ‘nursing problems’ and strongly advised me to stop nursing my 6-month-old immediately, suggesting that as soon as I stopped all my problems would stop. I was not so convinced. Things kept getting worse and worse. Finally, I was sent for another routine ultrasound to try to figure out what was going on. On February 12^th I first heard the words inflammatory carcinoma. I send out an urgent prayer request and I was filled with a peace that could only come from God. On February 15^th, I learned that I had not only one, but two types of aggressive breast cancer. Over the course of the next 10 days, I would also learn that it had spread to multiple parts of my body, making my case Stage IV breast cancer. Things were looking very grim indeed. I was facing my worst fears- that of dying from cancer and leaving behind those I loved. In this time though, God was there in many different ways, one of those being through my oncologist who told us that “there is always hope.” I had my port placed and started heavy duty IV chemotherapy on February 26, 2016.

A couple of weeks into chemo I was sitting at home, alone on the morning of Palm Sunday, when my fears sent me spiralling. I hadn’t experienced an anxiety attack for a couple years, but I was headed into the worst one I had ever had. I asked my family and a couple of close friends to pray for me in that moment. I was so fearful that this would be the end. That cancer and chemo were it. I was chained to fear, a slave to it. I doubted God. I doubted that He was in control and had the final say. In those moments though, I knew I had to give all to Him, and let Him take care of it all. I was not strong enough to deal with this on my own. The fear that held me captive my whole life started to be stripped away. The chains were broken. God had control of the past, present and future. He was my hope.

Over the next few months I finished chemo and went on to surgery and radiation treatments. I started on a targeted therapy. I heard the words ‘no cure’ many, many times. And though I continued to struggle with fear getting its way back in, I felt God’s peace guarding my heart and mind. A year after I started chemo, I ran and finished the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Me, a self-proclaimed non-runner. This journey with cancer being a marathon, not a sprint. A year after I finished my last round of IV chemo, I was told that there was no evidence of active disease! Then, less than a month later, they found new disease. Surgery and radiation all over again, and areas of cancer we thought were gone, came back. My faith was being tested again and again. During this time, we also prepared for a big move. We had been living in Arkansas for four years, and were preparing to move back to BC. A big move, radiation treatments, changes in medical systems-—God carrying us through it all.

Shortly after our move, the doctors started to question whether or not the targeted and hormone therapies I was still on were working the best for me. So, we began changing and adjusting my medications. In amongst all of this, I continued to learn what it meant to rest in God and to thrive despite my circumstances. We homeschooled and lived daily life. Celebrating life two, then three years past diagnosis. Each day and year being a gift. Figuring out what it meant to live with cancer. Then, in September 2019, things really began to change. My body was not handling one of my medication changes well, and the spots in my liver that we had been monitoring carefully, began to grow more quickly than what my oral medication could take care of. My oncologist said the next step would be to go back on IV chemo. I had my first dose, and then things quickly went downhill. My body reacted to the chemotherapy badly. My liver numbers increased rapidly, and within a few days I was told my body was no longer strong enough to continue on with chemotherapy, or any kind of treatment. I was sent home with the news that I probably only had a couple weeks left. While we were deeply saddened over this, I was not fearful. I was at peace knowing that I would soon be with my Saviour and King. I was set up with home care, and friends and family quickly arranged travel to come say their goodbyes. I grew weaker and weaker. I could feel myself slipping away. Each time I fell asleep I wondered if that would be the time I would meet my Jesus face to face. And then things changed again. I started getting stronger, and reaching medical milestones we didn’t think were possible any more. And within just a few short days, my bloodwork levels began to look good enough to try chemotherapy again. There is no earthly explanation for this, though we’ve certainly tried to find it. We are still surprised and confused by all of it. The only One that is not surprised or confused is God. He knows, and He’s in control.

It’s been months now, and the fall all seems like some sort of dream. I’ve been able to go off of IV chemotherapy and have started on chemo pills. I feel stronger and have been able to do many things I did not think would be even possible a few short months ago. I can go for long walks instead of barely making it from my room to the front porch. I can climb the steps three floors to the chemotherapy unit at the hospital. I was able to go on a much-needed vacation with my husband to Mexico at the beginning of March, and I’m able to ride my bike up the hill in front of our house. We also got to celebrate another year of life on February 12^th, making that four years since my diagnosis, despite all the odds being against such a milestone.

In October I was told I was going to die very soon, but strangely enough I was not fearful. I knew that I could trust God in ALL things. That He is in control. I was at peace. Does this mean all my fears are gone? No. Living with cancer, and this current world situation with COVID-19, has brought to surface many fears I thought were long gone. It’s not easy living in a world of ‘what ifs’. I’ve been struggling with doubt and fear a lot over the past few weeks. When I stop looking to God, and start looking at everything else, I start to lose sight of His promises, and start to let fear haunt me again. My battles with anxiety resurface. Then I remember the verse that comes after Philippians 4:4-8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:9 NLT) Fixing my mind on Christ, and on God’s Word. I don’t know what the future has. But, He does! He is in control, and He has already won! “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

Community Photos

David Dawson and his family’s farewell from Emmanuel Baptist, Victoria.

This regional newsletter is published quarterly within the CBWC’s monthly newsletter, Making Connections. Have a story idea? Want to tell us how great we’re doing? Or how terribly? Email our senior writer, Jenna Hanger: jhanger@cbwc.ca