BCY News Archives - Page 5 of 7 - Canadian Baptists of Western Canada

Eleanor Joan Rutherford

October 24, 2013 — The CBWC is saddened to learn of the death of (Eleanor) Joan Rutherford on October 16, 2013 who served as a missionary in India and Bolivia with Canadian Baptist Ministries.

Joan was born on May 2, 1924. Although named Eleanor Joan, she preferred to be called Joan. She graduated from the Vancouver General Hospital School of Nursing in 1950. She was appointed as a missionary nurse in 1953 by Canadian Baptist Ministries. She served in India from 1953 to 1968 and in Bolivia from 1974 to 1989. She enjoyed many years of retirement and kept very busy in church activities at Olivet Baptist Church in New Westminster.

Joan was predeceased by her parents Jack and Marjorie, brother Bill and sisters Audrey and Barbara. She is survived by sister Mary Gilmore, brother Jack (Opal) and Bob (Viola), many nieces and nephews and her church family. Joan’s gentle smile, sense of humor and comforting presence will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Please remember Joan’s family and friends in prayer.

A memorial service will be held at Olivet Baptist Church at 613 Queens Ave., New Westminster, BC at 1:30 pm, October 26th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Olivet Baptist Church.

Announcement Regarding Heartland Regional Minister’s Role

Devin Seghers, our brother in Christ, continues to be recovering from the trauma of his injury incurred almost a year ago. While Devin is broadening his activity to include some social interaction and some re-familiarization with normal life, he is still a considerable distance from coming back to work.

We are encouraging Devin to engage in the activity of ‘returning to life’ rather than to feel the pressure of ‘returning to work’.

In light of Devin’s need for ongoing healing, Wayne Larson and Faye Reynolds will be sharing the task of Heartland Regional Minister for the time being. Wayne is well familiar with the area as a former regional minister. Faye has extensive experience of the region in her many and varied roles of ministry.

We continue to pray for Devin and Joan. We pray for Wayne and Faye as they engage in these new responsibilities.

Contact Wayne and Faye at the following numbers:

Wayne: (780) 983-3186

Faye: (403) 381-2925

And also continue to remember and contact Jenn Gurel, our Heartland Region Administrator at (306) 789-2900

Katsumi Imayoshi

September 26, 2013 – We mourn the passing of Rev. Katsumi (Kutch) Imayoshi who went home to glory on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at the age of 92.

Kutch served faithfully in several CBWC churches including First Baptist Nelson, First Baptist Kelowna, Southwest Community Baptist in Kamloops, Grandview Calvary Baptist in Vancouver and First Baptist Vancouver. Although he “retired” two years ago, Kutch remained active in ministry of many kinds and will be dearly missed.

Please keep Kutch’s three grown children and their families in your prayers. Plans for a memorial service have yet to be announced.

Jake Kroeker

September 10, 2013 — We were saddened to learn that Rev. Jake Kroeker has passed away on September 7, 2013. Jake was one of the CBWC’s longest serving pastors.

After graduating from Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville Kentucky, Jake was pastor of Avalon-Emmanuel Baptist in Saskatoon from 1970-1981. From there, he moved to Emmanuel Baptist in Victoria where he served from 1981-96. He was pastor of First Baptist in Calgary from 1996 until his retirement in 2008. Jake most recently served as the interim pastor of Altadore Baptist in Calgary from 2012-13. Throughout his long and fruitful ministry, Jake also served on many CBWC boards and committees.

Jake leaves his wife Marilyn and his adult children. Please pray for them in this time of loss.

A celebration of Jake’s life will be held at First Baptist Church Calgary on Sunday, September 29^th at 2:00 PM. There will be a brief Interment Service for immediate family only.

Les Funk, October 9, 1930 – August 7, 2013

August 13, 2013 – The CBWC is saddened to learn of the passing of Rev. Les Funk, who went to his home in glory on August 7, 2013 in Victoria. Les served as pastor of many CBWC churches in Alberta and BC during a long career between 1961 and 1996. He was 82.

Les was born in 1930 and received his BA from Bethel College in St. Paul Minnesota in 1958. He graduated with a Diploma in Theology from McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario in 1961. He was first called to the pastorate by First Baptist Church in Pincher Creek, AB, where he served as solo pastor from 1961 to 1965. He served at Delwood Road Baptist in Edmonton, AB from 1965 to 1977 and then at First Baptist, Nelson BC from 1977 to 1982. He served at Elk Lake Baptist in Victoria from 1982 to 1994. After retirement, he took on the role of interim pastor at Comox Community Baptist in Comox, BC from 1994-95 and served as interim pastor at First Baptist Church in Chilliwack, BC from 1995-96.

Les was known for his ability to relate well to all people and for his love of worship. He had a strong interest in arts and drama and often sought to incorporate this creativity into worship services. Les cared deeply for people and especially valued meeting with congregation members and people in the community on a one-to-one basis. He was known as a very good preacher and teacher who explained his ideas clearly and with the needs of his listeners in mind. Throughout his career he was actively involved in camping ministries and was much in demand as a speaker, camp board member, drama teacher and chalk artist.

Please remember in prayer Les’ family and friends. He is survived by his wife Lucille and children Maureen and Steven.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, August 24th at Elk Lake Baptist Church in Victoria at 1:30pm.

High River Compassion Project

“Come unto me all you are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

The Need

The town of High River AB has been devastated by flood waters. The National news media is telling that story for all to see. It is estimated that two-thirds of the homes in a town of approximately 13,000 residents have been affected. Many homes will be bulldozed (current estimate is 1,000). Others are at varying stages of drying out in preparation for restorations. Mountains of flood-ruined furniture and contents lie in the streets at the time of this writing. Current reports say that all churches are flooded and not able to accommodate worship and ministry. Some, including the High River Baptist Church have been condemned for demolition (see www.cbwc.ca and national news media sites).

DONATE ONLINE TODAY

Project Background

Through the caring initiative of the Compassion Ministries of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Ottawa ON, an inquiry was made on or about June 28, as to how they could best express the compassion of Jesus for the residents of High River. In ensuing conversations with Jason Johnson, Pastor of High River Baptist Church, the Ottawa folks proposed the purchase and distribution of mattresses to those with the greatest need. Pastor Jason and leaders in HRBC affirmed the value of that offer and encouraged others outside of High River to proceed to build the project.

Conversations have been continuing and have led to an affirmation and partnership in this project with the Canadian Baptist of Western Canada, Metropolitan Bible Church (Ottawa) and with Sleep Country Canada for publicity, receiving donations, offering HR residents a free mattress (in Jesus’ name) and purchase & delivery of mattresses for victims of the flood in High River.

Developments:

Compassion Ministries of MBC contacted the CEO of Sleep Country Canada and through her staff received an exceptional quote on good quality name brand mattresses.
MBC accepted responsibility to design an information brochure to hand out with each mattress to inform the recipient of the source of the gift from the people of God across Canada and to emphasize a message based upon Mat. 11:28, that Jesus offers “rest” to anyone who comes to him and to say that the gift is given “in the name of Jesus”. Contact information for HRBC is included on the brochure should a mattress recipient wish to take some next step in exploring the fullness of the “rest” that Jesus has to offer.
Local CBWC Calgary people, in conversation with Pastor Jason Johnson and other leaders of the High River Baptist Church, began to build some infrastructure for the project considering how to publicize the project, receive donations, purchase mattresses and manage the distribution of mattresses in both a compassionate and an equitable manner, recording mattresses recipients so that a duplication of gifting does not occur.
Offers of a mattress to a household will be made in person in neighbourhoods of High River by volunteers (including some pastors) from churches in Calgary and area, and acting upon the advice and direction of Pastor Jason and his church leaders.
A brief assessment questionnaire will be used to determine greatest need so that those who will not have insurance coverage will be given greatest priority.
Mattresses will be ordered from and delivered and set up by Sleep Country at the home of the recipient in High River.

A directional flow for funds has been arranged through the denominational office of the CBWC (Canadian Baptists of Western Canada) in Calgary for CBWC churches and individuals. The Calgary office will keep an account of donations for the “H.R. Mattress Compassion Project”. Funds can then be transferred electronically to the Mattress Company for purchase of Gift Cards.

***NOTE TO OTHER DENOMINATIONAL GROUPS OR ORGANIZATIONS:

Sleep Country will happily set up a transfer account for your organization should you wish to conduct your own collection and transfer of funds to Sleep Country for this project. To arrange for this please see contact information below for Hugh Fraser (CBWC Pastor).

To Donate:

Send cheques or direct fund transfers to the office of the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada or use the “Donation” tab on the CBWC website (www.cbwc.ca) and click on “Disaster Relief Fund”. Until a specific tab is set up for the “High River Mattress Project”, you will need to notify the CBWC office that your gift has been sent and you wish it designated specifically for the Mattress Project. Donate Online Now

Duration of the Project:

As the entire town of High River remains in a State of Emergency as of July 6, 2013 and the renovation and rebuilding of homes will carry on for months (and certainly into 2014) we are projecting this project will remain active through into the fall of 2013. An end date will be posted on the CBWC and MBC websites.

Contact Information

To Donate:

Online Donations

By phone or mail:

CBWC

Suite 1100, 550 – 11 Ave. SW

Calgary AB

T2R 1M7

Phone Contact:

Louanne Haugan (CBWC – Disaster Relief Coordinator)

1 403 228-9559 ext. 301

lhaugan@cbwc.ca

For additional Inquiries about the project or the involvement of your organization:

Hugh Fraser (CBWC Pastor)

hfraser@shaw.ca

High River

For local information (and for contact with Pastor Jason Johnson):

Beryl Harbridge (Admin. HRBC)

High River Baptist Church

rbharb@platinum.ca

1-403 651-4398

Ottawa

For Donations:

2176 Prince of Wales Drive
Ottawa, ON K2E 0A1
1 613 238-8182

www.metbiblechurch.ca

MBC Compassion Ministries

Becky McGregor

metcompassion@gmail.com

metcompassion@metbiblechurch.ca

Congratulations to OEC Candidates

OEC 2013 (18) — BC/Yukon Regional Minister Rob Ogilvie, Dr. Axel Schoeber, OEC Candidate David Jenkins & Sue Ferguson, moderator of Kitsilano Christian Community and Executive Minister Jeremy Bell

June 3, 2013 — Congratulations to six pastors who passed the CBWC’s Ordination Examining Committee at the end of May. They were welcomed by delegates at The Gathering, the CBWC’s biennial assembly in Calgary, May 30 – June 1, 2013.

The following pastors are now eligible for ordination at their home churches:

Edgar Unrau of Calvary Baptist, Chemainus, BC
Amanda Hecht of Faith Community, Wakaw, SK
Eijiro Campo of First Baptist, Calgary, AB
Ceu Hrin of Vancouver Chin Baptist, Vancouver, BC
Cung Bawi Thawng of Vancouver Chin Baptist, Vancouver, BC
David Jenkins of Kitsilano Christian Community, Vancouver, BC

Examiniers commented on the theological depth and spiritual maturity of each of the candidates and believe them to be very worthy of ordination. Congratulations!

Twelve pastors who passed OEC in 2012 were also welcomed. Five pastors had their prior ordination recognized.

We would like to thank Dr. Axel Schoeber for guiding the candidates through the ordination process, as well as the members of the Ordination Examining Committee who did such a thorough yet gentle job of examining these candidates for ordination.

New President of Carey

April 23, 2013 — The Carey Board of Administration and Canadian Baptists of Western Canada are pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Dr. Colin Godwin to the position of President, effective July 15, 2013. “Colin brings enthusiasm for the training of believers in all walks of life and will also contribute to the missional element that is embedded in the DNA of Carey,” says Dr. George Sears, Chair, Carey Board of Administration.

Colin holds a B.A. in History and French from the University of Guelph, an M.A. (Theology) from the University of St. Michael’s College (Toronto), an M.Div. from McMaster University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Wales. Colin’s Ph.D. dissertation on sixteenth-century Anabaptist mission was published by Pandora Press in 2012.

Colin and Karen Godwin moved to Nairobi, Kenya in July 2010 to serve as CBM Africa Team Leader, providing strategic planning, managing staff and connecting with CBM’s partners in Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Rev. Sam Chaise, General Secretary of Canadian Baptist Ministries, says, “Colin has been an important part of CBM’s ministry, first in Europe and then in Africa. While we are sad to see him leave CBM, we are pleased to see him move into leadership at Carey, which is an important Canadian Baptist institution of learning and ministry formation. CBM has had a long-standing partnership with Carey to deliver theological education and leadership training around the world, and we look forward to the continuation of that partnership.”

Colin Godwin succeeds Dr. Brian Stelck, who has led Carey as president for the past 19 years. With Dr. Godwin’s appointment, Carey is perfectly positioned to continue its ministry of delivering accessible, practical, and tranformational theological education throughout Western Canada and beyond.

Gipp Forster

April 17, 2013 — We are saddened to announce that Gipp Forster passed away Monday April 15 – his birthday – at the age of 76. He had been suffering from cancer of the esophagus.

Gipp lived what he called a ‘multi-faceted’ life. Born in 1937 in Ottawa, he was raised by an aunt and uncle in Greenville, South Carolina until 1944. He journeyed back and forth between Ottawa and Greenville every summer and developed a lifelong love of travel.

An ordained pastor with the CBWC who love the poor, Gipp worked on the streets of Victoria serving people who were vulnerable and marginalized. He helped found the Mustard Seed Church and food bank, which later gave birth to the Mustard Seed ministries in Calgary and Edmonton.

“He was helping people that nobody else would approach,” said former CFAX announcer Barry Bowman. “He was one of the most humble, self-effacing men you’d ever meet and he was constantly surprised at attention he received…He had almost a child-like wonder of what was going on in life.”

He later became well known as a radio broadcaster, author, humorist and poet throughout Canada & the United States. His ‘Ramblings’ radio vignettes which originated on Victoria’s CFAX radio have been broadcast across North America.

Looking rather like Santa Claus and loving Christmas to the point where he played Christmas music year round and went to extraordinary lengths to decorate his home, Gipp broadcast many Christmas vignettes. ‘It Feels Like Christmas’, a series of minute long stories about the Christmas spirit, charmed listeners in more than 75 cities each year. Some of Gipp’s Vignettes can be seen on youtube.

Gipp met his wife Donna when she volunteered at the Mustard Seed food bank. They were married for 23 years. She describes him as “probably the most gentle man I ever knew. He was supportive — he let me fly.”

Gipp was a member of Gateway Baptist Church in Victoria. A memorial service is planned for Friday, April 26 at Gateway Baptist at 1:30 p.m. Rev. Norman Archer will officiate.

Please pray for Gipp’s wife Donna, his family and friends during this time of loss.

Bruce Milne Teaches Regent Course

April 16, 2013 — Dr. Bruce Milne will be teaching a two-week course on the Book of Acts at Regent College during its Spring/Summer session in Vancouver, June 3-14.

Dr. Milne’s course, The Book of Acts: Witnesses to Him to the Ends of the Earth is open to anyone as either credit or an audit course.

The Book of Acts tells the exciting story of how the pre-eminent reality of all history—the coming and mission of Jesus Christ—was communicated during the first generation of the church. Through detailed exegesis of the text, we will attempt to relate Luke’s account to present missional realities and rekindle a sense of commitment to the church’s worldwide calling.

Before serving as senior pastor of First Baptist Church in downtown Vancouver from 1983 to 2001, The Rev. Dr. Milne taught for a year in Nairobi, Kenya, served as a church-planter in Scotland, and taught theology at Spurgeon’s College in London. His books include Know the Truth, The Message of Heaven and Hell, and Dynamic Diversity: The New Humanity Church for Today and Tomorrow. Now retired, Dr. Milne and his wife Valerie enjoy spending time with their two children and three grandchildren.

Registration information is available from Regent College. First-time students can receive a discount with information from the attached form.