Category: Heartland News

The Heartland Area Resource Team (HART) 

By Mark Doerksen

One aspect of my work as the Heartland Regional Minister is to work with some individuals who are not only part of the CBWC board, but also make up the Heartland Area Resource Team (HART). We meet to discuss issues pertinent to the Heartland Region of the CBWC. I have had the privilege of working with some stellar volunteers, so good in fact, that they were drafted away from HART for further responsibilities exclusive to the CBWC board. 

The CBWC board’s nominating committee does a lot of work in seeking new members to join HART, and the other regions as well. In the Heartland, we have two provinces to work with—and though we have fewer churches in our provinces—the nominating committee works hard to find some balance between pastors and laity, men and women.  

These HART members commit to 2-year terms, and they have various tasks that they are responsible for. They pray for me, and they check in with me to see how I am managing in my role, something I appreciate very much. They help make decisions regarding items such as Manitoba camp grants, and they help me keep tabs on the churches in our region. Importantly, they also help conduct interviews for new pastors, and those who are seeking credentials within the CBWC. 

Currently HART consists of Joel Russell-MacLean, Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church Regina, and Lorraine Hernaez, whose home church is Filipino Evangelical Church in Winnipeg. Our newest member is Crystal Peters. She attends Asquith Baptist Church and is the part-time administrator there. Cindy Emmons, the Heartland Area Administrative Assistant, also attends and organizes these meetings. 

One of the aspects of being on HART is the ability to connect with others from across the CBWC for shared work. Our team members truly appreciate the opportunity to meet folks from other churches and working with Executive Staff at board meetings. I appreciate the dedication and the hours that these volunteers put in, and their concern for our association of churches.  

I end this article with 2 requests. If this sort of work is of interest to you, please let your Regional Minister know. And secondly, please pray for these folks and their responsibilities. 

Introducing our newest HART member: Crystal Peter

My name is Crystal Peters, and I’m a proud prairie girl with strong farm roots. I grew up at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Saskatoon, SK, and eventually ended up working there as an Associate Youth Pastor while also completing my Youth Ministry B.A. from Briercrest. I have been married to my best friend Darren for 17 years, and together we have three beautiful daughters. City life did not suit us, so we moved to Kinley, SK, which we’ve happily called home for almost 13 years. Our family has been attending Asquith Baptist Church for the past three years, and last Fall I was hired as the Office Administrator at ABC. In my free time you’ll find me hanging out with my family, caring for my dogs Winnie and Walter, watching baseball, and volunteering at the church. 

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

Hopefully Making Connections

By Mark Doerksen

I grew up in a farming community, and prefer green coloured machinery, based purely on nostalgia. My dad and his brother owned a John Deere 4020 in the early 70’s (and a brother of mine owned one too), so that admittedly influenced me. Negatively, some might suggest. 

Nevertheless, I am interested in agriculture—in all sorts of it. I am interested in conversations around Community Supported Agriculture.  I am interested in large grain farms, and how that works. I am interested in what people plant in their gardens, and I look forward to planting season coming up in Manitoba. Mary and I have taken to raised garden beds. We appreciate the process of growing our own food. We’re not good at canning but would suggest that there is nothing better than a sun-kissed tomato, ripened on the vine. 

In the Heartland, as you might imagine, there are a variety of expressions of agricultural interests. If you go to Asquith, SK, you might find people in that congregation who are well versed in Massey Ferguson equipment. If you head to Moose Jaw or Ormiston, you’ll find people who are involved in the production of beef. Some folks in Dauphin also have a long history of working with cattle. Broadway First Baptist has done some work in planting a community garden.   

So, with all these expressions of agriculture, you might not be surprised to discover that there are all sorts of opinions about things like soil conditions, plant care, weed control, and so forth. I truly am grateful for opportunities to talk about such matters, and especially so when the people I speak with help me understand their contexts, concerns, and practices. 

In addition to this interest, I am also engaged in reading theologically about stewardship. Trust me, some of the material is difficult to read! One fellow I read suggested that every lawn should be turned to a vegetable growing area. I was ‘offended’.  I like to use my John Deere JS28 to mow in straight lines, altering the pattern each time, and I’ve even attached a homemade striping kit to it. Turns out I may have a problem, but I do come by it honestly. 

All this to say two things. First, springtime planting season is upon us, and echoes of Ecclesiastes 3 are in mind here. I am grateful for the changing seasons and was ready to trade in winter for spring some time ago now. Second, how does faith inform whatever agricultural practices we participate in? What does it mean to steward our animals well? What differentiates a Christian grain farmer from others? What does it mean to understand stewardship in our own backyards? Is there a theological reason we might hang a planter from our urban apartment balcony and maybe grow a few vegetables? 

I readily admit that I am naive about a lot of this. I’m trying to learn more; through books, resources at the JMN website, conversations, and farm tours.  I am also hopeful; hopeful that I can make some changes personally to better understand stewardship and care for the resources that I am responsible for. I look forward to connecting with others who want to continue this conversation.  

The Peace of Christ, 

Mark 

The Hand of God over a Lifetime

Personal testimony from Swift Current, SK

Greetings! My name is Karie Godthjaelpsen. I am the Children’s and Family Ministries Director for Community Baptist Church in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.  

I was born into a Christian home in 1966. We lived in a small rural farming community called Riverhurst, SK–which is approx. 50 km from Swift Current. My family moved to Saskatoon when I was 7 years old, for my dad to pursue a career in heavy-duty mechanics. My mom was an elementary school secretary. After we moved to Saskatoon, we began attending a small Baptist church called Emmanuel Baptist Church, which sat a block around the corner from our home. I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was 9, during VBS in 1975.

That church became our permanent church family, and the relationships from that congregation have continued for more than 50 years (even though the church outgrew its original building and eventually built a new facility further away from our home). I was baptized in the new church in 1979. 

I was an active teenager and was always involved in Sunday school and youth group. I spent a couple of summers as a camp counselor at Christopher Lake Baptist Camp. After high school graduation, I set off to attend Carleton University in Ottawa, ON in hopes of becoming a journalist. Unfortunately, those dreams didn’t come to fruition, and I returned home to Saskatoon in 1989 to work as an international chemical buyer for a large, worldwide chemical company. I spent over 15 years working for that company. I wasn’t living a very godly life during that time, and I became pregnant with my first son who arrived in November 1990. I married his dad the following spring in May of 1991. My second son arrived in July of 1993. In 1996, I divorced my husband after living through a physically abusive and violent relationship with him (for which he was incarcerated). Although I wasn’t pursuing my relationship with God at that time, I knew God was pursuing me! Today, my favourite painting is the one of Jesus running after that lost, dirty lamb… 

In 2007, I had an opportunity to move to Swift Current and work as a purchaser for a farm implement manufacturer. I was anxious to leave Saskatoon as it didn’t feel like I belonged there, and I didn’t like city living. I had recently started seeing a coworker (Chris), whom I’d known for many years, and I was unsure if he would be interested in moving to Swift Current. Still, I was ready to move and so I did. Chris did eventually join me in Swift Current, and we married in 2009. Upon arrival in Swift Current, I felt Jesus calling me more strongly than ever. I felt Him leading me back to my faith, and it was during this time that I began attending Community Baptist Church. Chris started attending as well. He accepted Jesus as his Savior and was baptized in 2008. I joined the mission’s team, became active in our church and was invited to speak on occasion. I discovered my love for public speaking during this time. I know that’s weird because most people are terrified of doing that, but for whatever reason, it has come natural to me. God opened this door for me by enabling me to speak His truth and offer His love to others using my personal testimony and experiences. 

In 2012, Chris and I decided to move to BC thinking we would enjoy our retirement there. We purchased a property, but our kids rarely came to visit due to travel costs and time availability. We finally came to our senses in 2021, sold the property, and moved back to Swift Current where our kids and grandkids live. We came home to Community Baptist Church as well. 

 PRESENT: 

Fast forward to the present…our boxes were barely unpacked before our church moderator approached me about filling the Christian Education Team Leader position on church council. At first, I was a bit apprehensive because it involved overseeing Sunday school etc., and I felt inexperienced in that area. But God nudged me, and I accepted the position. I worked hard on developing Sunday school curriculum, putting volunteer schedules together, coordinating VBS and teaching Sunday school. I worked in this position as a volunteer for 2 years until the opportunity to apply for the Children’s and Family Ministry Director position came up. I applied for it and the church voted in favour. On August 1st, 2024, it became my new, part-time job.  

I also sit on an active working board of directors for our affiliate church camp, Admiral Family Bible Camp, and I spend one week there every summer teaching lessons to junior youth and senior youth. This past January, I started up our church youth group, which hasn’t been in place since 2014. We have 5 regular teens, sometimes as many as 12, every Thursday evening. 

In January 2025, I started my “other part-time job” with the Swift Current Ministerial as the Community Resource Coordinator for the “People at Risk” (PAR) Project. This project is in the infancy stages of eventually establishing a transition house for homeless male individuals 19+ years in Swift Current. I have spent the past 3 months doing research on homelessness—interviewing agencies involved in outreach programs and developing friendships/trust with some of our local homeless individuals. 

In conclusion, I can say God has blessed me beyond belief! I never thought in a million years that I would be working in not only one, but TWO purpose-driven jobs that are helping to further the kingdom of God! 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 

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

Looking Out for the Other

By Mark Doerksen

If you’re like me, there are times when you will look back in history to help give perspective to the present. I have done so in my position within the CBWC, thanks in large part to a book written by Rev. C.C. McLaurin. It’s entitled, Pioneering in Western Canada: A Story of the Baptists. It was self-published in 1939. McLaurin describes how he was hired out of the Brandon Church. He had 24 years’ experience, 

was in the prime of his life, in vigorous health, and was selected and appointed at a salary $200 less than he was receiving as a pastor (p. 146).

Interesting, I thought, and gleaning no lesson from that I decided to read further. McLaurin then reports on page 179 that the first superintendents of the Manitoba and Saskatchewan region worked under quite arduous conditions. In fact, Rev. T. M. Marshall, in his first year covering the area, took on the task that “necessitated his travelling between 20,000 and 30,000 miles a year in days before motors were in use.”  He worked most with struggling churches, organized new ones, and succeeded in developing an interest in missions in the older and stronger churches. Apparently Regional Ministers have never had it so good as we have it now! 

Our CBWC history has plenty of interesting tales: stories of incredible dedication and a mission impulse that helped establish many churches across western Canada. And, strikingly, there are plenty of stories of how churches voluntarily associated with other churches to support each other, and to work together to support overseas missions. It seems as though people from Winnipeg, in the early 1900s, had no trouble at all getting on their horses or into their wagons and heading down to Emerson for a meeting of local churches. For a further example, Winnipeg First Baptist Church was known for its work with a local reservation here, working with folks who were part of the Indigenous community at Peguis and around the lakes. I find these stories both admirable and inspirational. 

These days, it sometimes seems that our churches are more interested in autonomy than association. It’s especially true in times of disagreement, and if Bill Brackney was right, we can put some of the blame on E. Y. Mullins, dating back to 1912 or so. Yet, I think we have so much to gain by leaning into our association of churches. This is happening already, and as an example, it happens when our ministers get together and pray for each other. I’ve also seen it happen when one church announces a need and another church from our association responds by donating a projector, for instance. We do this in our shared work in evangelism, relief, and development via Canadian Baptist Ministries. It’s quite evident at SERVE, when our youth groups come together, or when our camps do their summer ministries. I know for a fact that the ministry of Ormiston Baptist Church was extended because of how they partnered with Community Baptist Church Swift Current. 

I guess what I’m saying is that I appreciate when our churches support each other, and in doing so they often strengthen their ministry potential. Thank you for doing so. But I am also wondering aloud if there is a way for us to improve. If your congregation does not pray for a sister church during your congregational prayers, would you be able to start? Can we be better at sharing resources? Can we lend a church a copy of our bylaws so that they have a template from which to work as they refresh theirs? Can we find a way to compare best practices for ministry? Is there a way to make our needs known so that other churches are aware of needs that they might help with?  

May God bless you in your ministry. And if you have any suggestions for me on this matter, I’d love to hear from you. 

Peace, 

Mark Doerksen 

Ormiston Baptist Church

By Carol Luther

This is a synopsis of the life of Ormiston Baptist Church, which has been instrumental in the life of Bill and Carol Luther, a recently retired pastoral couple. 

The ministry in Ormiston, Saskatchewan, began in 1958 when a group of 16 people became Charter Members. The first pastor of the congregation was Roger Barnard, who came with his wife Marilyn from Missouri, USA, and served in Ormiston and sister congregations in Viceroy and Cardross.  

It was through the Barnard’s ministry that the Luther family all became believers and, following Bill’s graduation from Millar College of the Bible and Winnipeg Bible College, he had a tent-making ministry off and on throughout all the remaining years.  

Bill and I have been blessed by humble and dedicated pastoral care throughout the decades. Some of the names that come to mind are Irwin W. Reitan, Wilbert Erickson, Bill Hall, Alan Harstone, Richard Larsen and William H. Luther. In addition to other names, many young couples had opportunities to learn what is involved in ministry while pastoring in the summers. Some have gone on to have fruitful ministry elsewhere.  

We are situated in an isolated area of south-central Saskatchewan. Over the years the region has been challenged by two significant developments: first, the closure of the Ormiston Salt Mining & Smelting Company, which employed many in the area; and second, the growth of farm sizes, which has resulted in fewer people in the community. Many churches in the surrounding communities closed, so people of other faiths would worship with us. Meanwhile, our God has supplied individuals who were particularly gifted to meet the needs of ministry, in leadership, teaching, caring for the property, bookkeeping and social convening. All have willingly and competently served.  

A full program of ministry happened when we had a larger congregation, but even in recent years we still had Sunday School, Worship Services, a regular Youth Group (which involved mostly non-church kids) and our yearly week of Vacation Bible School. These were well-received and supported by the community; some grandparents would make sure that week was part of the kids’ summer fun! A few of the years we had nearly 30 kidlets! During COVID, everything shut down for a while and it was hard to start it all up again. Also, we are all older now.  

Upon Bill’s retirement in December 2022, Community Baptist Church Swift Current has partnered with Ormiston and we have been able to stream their services for the past while. 

Family names who were a part of the Church over the years include Frentz (The Hunter Brothers singing group is of this heritage!), Passmore, Godard, Zabolotney, Message, Luther, Dowkes, McCracken, Hovanes, Watamanuk, McNutt, Ray, Jones and Duncan.  

The Church property has recently been transferred to the newly formed Ormiston & District Historical Society Inc. established by Bill Lamberton. Bill, along with members of his family, grew up in our church and has been an encouragement and support to the congregation over the years. A committee is being formed and opportunities for use of the facilities in the future is being discussed, as the Lord leads.  

Ormiston Baptist Church Inc. will officially be closing after our final church worship service on Sunday, December 29, 2024.  

As our Lord God has been faithful to us, we trust Him to lead as we contemplate the future. May we all continue to serve Him wherever He may lead. May we never forget this community and the people here who have been touched by the hand of God through the presence of the Church! 

Heartland Regional Minister Mark Doerksen recalls driving to Ormiston for the first time noticing the vast landscape and wondering how the infrastructure worked in these small, isolated communities. In the midst of the landscape and the challenges they faced, it was clear to Mark that Ormiston Baptist Church and the ministry of the Luthers was still a very important part of the community. If anyone needed care, the Luthers would be the people that were called. Even though the church is officially closing, its ministry and witness shall continue. 

Thank you to Ormiston Baptist Church for continuing to be the Church during changing and challenging times. 

CBWC Churches Working Together: Ordination

By Mark Doerksen

One of the ways that the churches of the CBWC work together is through the ordination process for pastors. The main logistical information for the ordination process can be found in the CBWC Ministerial Protocol Manual—the manual that applies to both our churches and pastors. Ordination is part of our credentialling process, and it is a recognition of an individual who has been called to gospel ministry, has completed appropriate training and has been examined for the presence of abilities, gifts, and character becoming of the pastoral office. The theological foundation for ordination is found in both the Old and New Testaments, where the laying on of hands signified the investment of a person with leadership responsibility and authority, according to Baptist theologian Stan Grenz. 

If your pastor has not been ordained, you can start on the process by contacting your CBWC Regional Office. The process involves various steps including church interviews, a church vote, regional interviews, educational requirements and a completed course in Baptist Identity, to name a few. As a pastor moves forward through the process, they are also required to attend the Ordination Preparation Workshop put on by our association of churches. At the workshop, candidates receive further training and are required to put together an ordination paper which includes various items such as theological beliefs, biography and testimony, and philosophy of ministry. Workshop participants present their papers to their fellow ordination candidates as well as two executive staff members in a “mock” council, with feedback given as they prepare to present their papers to the actual ordination council. Normally, around Assembly, a council is made up of Executive Staff and representatives from each region, and ordination candidates are given an hour to field questions. The council does further discernment in their time together and normally recommends the candidate back to their home church for ordination, though sometimes other, more difficult, conclusions are reached. In this way, the local church partners with the association of churches to discern the giftedness of their pastor. 

One of the important aspects of ordination is that the calling of a pastor is affirmed by a local congregation; it is not something that a pastor can proceed with on their own. As one author writes, “God calls, but the church must also call.”  The calling of the pastor must be affirmed by the congregation and then the congregation partners with the association of churches to give further affirmation. It is no small thing for a congregation to affirm their leader in this way and, no small thing that our churches work together to help with the discerning process. Five candidates will be working towards their ordination in 2025, and if you as a pastor or a leader in your congregation would like more information on this, please contact your Regional Office. 

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

Allowing Jesus to be Lord—In all Areas

By Mark Doerksen

As you read this, summer may well be nearing its end, but I thought I would write about an experience I had on one of my weeks of vacation this summer.

We had a family wedding to attend in Vancouver, but for a few days prior to that, we decided to take the train from Vancouver to Seattle and spend a few days there. We visited the Pike Market, and even found ourselves at the Starbucks Reserve restaurant, where some Starbucks coffee is roasted. Mary and I would make our way there in the early morning, waiting for the kids to wake up and join us.

I had decided before the trip to read a book by Wendell Berry called The Hidden Wound. It’s a book about his experience as a farmer from Kentucky, whose family had owned slaves some time earlier. I appreciated his witness, as he relayed the experiences of his childhood, and hearing the stories of previous generations of his family. Berry noted that he had inherited the constraints of racism, and he was trying to figure out how to recover and respond to the reality that he found himself in.

One of the examples Berry gives in his book has to do with local churches during the time of segregation. In an incisive way, Berry writes about (critiques) the church, and messages from the pulpit in that era, how the main message was about how to get to heaven without obeying the moral imperatives of the Scriptures. Practically, masters and slaves would attend church together at times, and the only way that could happen was if the gospel was “hollowed out”—that is, certain parts of the Bible were ignored altogether so that both races could attend church together.

So, since my vacation, thank you Wendell Berry, I’ve been thinking about this from my perspective.Where have I hollowed out, or silenced the Scriptures, for my own life? Where do our churches hollow out the Scriptures because of the sticky situations in their context? Do I really want to know what the Scriptures say about money? Do I really want to know what the Scriptures say about greed? Do I really want to know what the Scriptures have to say about sanctification?

To make matters worse, this topic is echoed in what I have been reading in Michael Gorman’s work on the book of Romans. The message has gone from mono to stereo for me.  Gorman is famous for the word “cruciformity,” the idea that a life of faith must seek to follow the example of Jesus. He also uses the phrase believing allegiance, which means that belief must be accompanied by following Jesus as Lord. Upon retrospection, are there areas in my life where I am deliberately not allowing Jesus to be Lord?

I am not totally dismayed or discouraged. For example, I think that our churches are concerned with both a confession of faith and a deepening discipleship amongst members. There are challenges in the way to see this happen, individually, culturally, corporately, and so on, which makes me all the more grateful when I see people in our churches with faith that seeks to see Jesus as Lord. I see this regularly as I visit churches, individually and corporately—and it’s a privilege to see. Be encouraged, and keep at it!

The Peace of Christ,

Mark

Not Knowing the Answers

By Luke Rafuse, Associate Pastor of Next Gen and Outreach at Westhill Park Baptist Church

My journey into ministry began with the ministry I received from faithful men and women. I grew up in a Christian home with loving parents and a solid church family. During adolescence, I was both curious and serious about my faith but inwardly, what I was really seeking was assurance that my faith was legitimate. When I thought of my relationship with the Lord, I often found myself struggling to know for sure that I was saved or that Jesus had his hand on my life. Though I wasn’t aware at the time, I see now a lot of the questions I had really were God’s way of working out my faith as he placed people in my life who were capable of both answering and assuring me of the deeper questions in my heart.

Looking back now, I understand the Lord saw my shaky faith and guided me to a weekly Bible study outside of youth that was designated as “just for boys.” The weekly meetings consisted of Bible study but also life skills, where we learned how to cook, do laundry, maintain cars and stay in shape. The catch, however, was that this male-only weekly meeting was led by a woman in our community named Cheryl with a heart to see young men grow up to love Jesus with everything they have. She desired to see us become responsible, hard-working, honest and strong in our faith so she planned weekly meetings and tasks that would accomplish those goals. Naturally, those teenage years were a lot of fun though not without growing pains and challenges but what I cherish most about those days is that Cheryl also made time for me to process things I was struggling with and was always willing to listen and pray. It didn’t matter the subject or the issue at hand, she was willing to prioritize me and help me discover that God would meet me where I was and help me move forward under His guidance.

God used those teenage years in that small group to shape a vision in me for ministry as Cheryl poured into hours and hours of her time mentoring and shaping me and several other young men into the people God was calling us to be. That output of love made me want to do the same to others, so after High School, I attended Briercrest College and Seminary to study ministry.

But as I entered into a new season of independence, the Lord once again provided a new mentor (the former pastor of my home church!) into my life. During my four years of school, Shawn would call me to walk with God as he did. We met for lunch to go through Scripture, confess sin and pray for each other as we dealt with the challenges of life. Being formed, encouraged and loved by someone who was already far along in their walk with Christ helped me understand that finding the assurance isn’t really about knowing all the answers but knowing the One who has the answers and it further shaped the desire to go and do likewise for other young people. I knew once I finished at Briercrest, I had to follow Jesus into the places and to the people who were looking just as I was and to help them find and know the truth.

Ultimately, my being in ministry is rooted in that desire, to know Him who gave himself up for me and help others discover Him as I did. May God use us to have such an impact in our day.

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

A Wider Family

Mark Doerksen, Heartland Regional Minister 

During the week of May 12, I will have the privilege of being a part of both the Ordination Examining Council, and the New Minister’s Orientation and the CBWC Assembly. It is always good to hear of how God is working in our midst, how God continues to call people to ministry, and how God calls people to ministry within the CBWC. Sometimes we get to hear of God working for a long period of time in a person’s life on the other side of the globe, and somehow, they end up landing in one of our churches. There is lots of good in these stories.

At the New Minister’s Orientation, we further get to hear about people new to the denomination, and get to talk about denominational life. There’s lots of good about this denomination and I, for one, really appreciate the pastoral care offered by our association of churches. Another area that we will talk about is that of Baptist history and distinctives. We will undoubtedly speak about the autonomy of the local church, and also hear about associational life—messages best heard at the very same time, I’d say.

The ideas of autonomy and the association of churches was brought home to me, yet again, a couple of weeks ago. Our son, Micah, and I were on a road trip through Alberta. We ended up visiting some folks who attend Brownfield Baptist Church, a rural church in central/eastern Alberta. That church does a bunch of great stuff, and they have a great group of people. Yet when I thought of that church in its context, it was clear to me that they were similar yet different than some of the rural churches in the Heartland region. I’m sure there are plenty of similarities amongst our rural churches, such as great people and great initiatives, but I’m also quite certain that Brownfield Baptist Church in Alberta is not like Shoal Lake Baptist Church in Manitoba. Each church has unique challenges and opportunities. This leads me to think that perhaps autonomy might be something that churches embrace more readily because they can see that they aren’t exactly like other churches. Why bother connecting if we’re not the same—or so the logic goes.

Yet, I also think that if we are part of an association of churches, we should be interested in the churches around us. We ought to be checking over our shoulders to see how the other churches are doing, praying for them, encouraging them, sharing best practices, and so forth. It’s not an easy time to be the church, and any encouragement that we can receive or offer is, in my opinion, very worthwhile.

This notion of checking over our shoulders to see how other congregations are doing is not new. When we see the New Testament model of Paul visiting churches, and taking up an offering for the church in Jerusalem, we can see the concern that Paul modelled and nurtured between churches (2 Corinthians 8). Certainly, our churches are all unique, and there’s much to celebrate in that. The harder part is for our congregations to look out for the other. I want to encourage yours to give it a try if you haven’t already done so. I am always encouraged, for example, to hear of a congregation praying for another congregation because contact has been made and requests have been offered. Perhaps that’s a great place to start.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 2 Cor 15:58.

-Mark.

Prasanth Jonathan

Lead Pastor at Thompson First Baptist Church

I was born and raised in a traditional Christian family. While I had been active in church activities since a young age, I lacked a personal connection with Christ. The famous philosopher Pascal once said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God Himself.” This truth resonated with me. In 1992, through the ministry of Campus Crusade, I finally filled this vacuum by accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

From that moment, God instilled in me a burning desire to share His truth with the world. In 1999, God spoke to me through the scripture, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few… Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” I knew I had to respond. Accepting His call, I began my journey as the campus ministry director for Youth for Truth.

My mission has since taken me across various parts of India and the UK, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. One of my guiding scriptures has been 1 John 2:6, “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” It is my deepest desire to reflect Christ’s character in my life so that He may be glorified. God gave me a clear vision to make disciples, encouraging and supporting them to grow in Christlikeness and bear much fruit. Over the last nine years as a pastor, I have dedicated myself to supporting disciples transform to conform to Christ-likeness.

After my ministry in the UK, we returned to India, serving in the state of Tamil Nadu. Our mission was to train pastors, elders, and laymen in discipleship, and God enabled us to plant a church there. When the church matured, God directed us to move. We prayed for guidance on our next steps. During this time, my wife, Michelle, applied for a position at the University of Manitoba. She was selected for Thompson, a place we had never heard of until the interview.

Our initial research on Thompson revealed many negative news stories, leaving us uncertain about God’s will for us. Moving from a busy city of 2.9 million to a small town of 14,000 was daunting. Yet, God’s call was persistent. We entered a season of discernment and felt a strong conviction to follow His lead to Thompson. Coincidentally, I came across an advertisement for a senior pastor position at Thompson First Baptist Church, which seemed to align perfectly with God’s plan for us.

Now, over a year later, we have witnessed God’s faithfulness. We have been blessed with a loving and caring community here in Thompson. Michelle, who works as an Assistant Professor at the University of Manitoba Northern Social Work Program, and our two children, Joanne and Jeremy, have all settled in well. We are excited about how God is using us in His service at Thompson.

Reflecting on this journey, I am reminded of the faithfulness of God and the importance of obedience to His call. Our story is one of transformation and trust—a testament to the power of

answering God’s call wherever it may lead. We look forward to continuing our ministry and witnessing the incredible ways God will work through us in this new chapter of our lives.

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

Bearing Witness

By Mark Doersken

Once again, I’ve been thinking of the notion of “bearing witness” in the context of my life and ministry, and how important it is.

The first example is from life in my neighbourhood. Mary and I live in what is known as Old St. Vital in Winnipeg. Quite a few years ago now, we put up a lending library on our yard. We did so because the street that we live on lends itself to this; it is a quiet street with plenty of 

pedestrian traffic. This library has been a busy place over the years, not just for the books, but also for conversations. Especially in warmer weather, we’ll often chat with our neighbours as they’ve stopped to take out a book.

About three weeks ago now, the doorbell rang at our house, and as I opened the door a woman was using the speaker phone on her cell. She said to me quickly, “My Dad wants to talk to you.” After a few sentences, I realized I was speaking with my neighbour from a couple of streets over, and he had sent his daughter to our place because he has difficulty getting out in the winter. It turns out that his wife had passed away, and based on one of our conversations by the library, he had remembered that I was a minister—and would I be able to help plan a service? Thankfully, I was able to do so, and a few days later, I was able to meet with the family and get the service organized. Conversation about God and about Jesus ensued, and it was one of those seemingly rare conversations with a neighbour where I was able to directly bear witness as to why Jesus is so important. I was thankful to God for the opportunity to get to know him and his family better, and to be able to speak plainly about Christ.

A couple of weeks later, I was at the Heartland Pastor and Spouse Retreat at Russell, MB. Our speakers were Sam and Pauline Doerksen, and they spoke to us about resiliency in ministry, for three sessions. They spoke of their own journey to set the table for us all, speaking honestly and reflectively about the hard times of ministry, and how they got through them. After each of their sessions, Cindy Emmons and I had arranged to have 3 different folks respond with a vignette of resilience in their lives, as well. I am convinced that Sam and Pauline’s bearing witness to their ministry, to the difficult aspects of it and the ways forward, was powerful for our group because their vulnerability enabled others to be vulnerable as well. The vignettes we heard were also powerful reminders of Christ’s presence in ministry, and they enabled others to know who to turn to should they experience similar circumstances.

Bearing witness, as I see it, comes in different forms. Our willingness to be vulnerable and humble as we bear witness to Christ can be a huge help to others in their journeys as well.

Peace,

Mark Doerksen
Heartland Regional Minister

Kenny Warkentin, Associate Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, Winnipeg

“I am great-looking, talented, and creative. I am Tina Turner. I love life and will BE SOMEONE someday and will look back at all this and laugh.” This is a quote written in my journal on March 10, 2005. I had recently ended an eight-year relationship with my gay partner. Two days later, my life would take an even more drastic turn, a direction so different from what I knew that it shocked everyone—including myself.

“Yes God, I love You and will follow You. I trust You, but I’m not so sure about your children!”

This was my response to God after He spoke to me on March 12, 2005. I had gone for a morning run and cried a feeble help to God. His response? “You don’t have to go back to Egypt!” Immediately, I knew that this was my tightly-held gay identity, and a joy filled me to overflowing. He said that if I would put my trust in Him, he would provide all I would need. Humanly speaking, the road ahead didn’t look very appealing. I knew deep down that I would most likely wrestle with same-sex attraction (SSA) all my life and yet, spiritually speaking, I was filled with such love that it was easy to surrender and place my life, gender, attractions, and desires into God’s hands. I counted everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Phil 3:8)

To gain perspective, I grew up in the Church and accepted Jesus as my savior at an early age. I knew I was called to serve Him, but my identity and attractions seemed off. Festering gender dysphoria and attractions toward guys, I felt God had made a horrible mistake. How could this be? Had I not accepted Jesus into my heart? Did I not love God? My internal questions propelled me to please God by doing all the right things, and yet—I lived a life of duplicity. A good, Christian man on one hand, and a gay man on the other. Most of the messages in the 90’s that I heard in church about gay people weren’t so great, so I kept my mouth shut. Eventually, I opened my mouth to proclaim, “I’m gay and was born this way!” I embraced this as my identity, and since I could not reconcile this with the word of God, I walked away from the church for 8 years.

So, to hear this call to not go back to Egypt (gay identity), I knew there was a call to re-enter church life and to be open with my Christian brothers and sisters. This felt terrifying. Would I be rejected or embraced? God began to show me that living transparently was life-giving. It didn’t mean my struggles lessened, but it brought about freedom and authentic friendships. Sensing a call into ministry, I joined a para-church organization that focused on obedience to the word, discipleship, and prayer ministry. I had the honour of hearing many stories of relational and sexual brokenness, and witnessing the Holy Spirit reveal the gospel message of ‘good news,’ which is that God loves extravagantly, and He can redeem all things.

Amid coming to peace with being a single man with SSA, God surprised me and brought into my path a woman named Paula—who had her own journey of redemption—and we became good friends. God birthed in us a deep love and attraction toward one another, and we married in 2007. Never would I have imagined this. It didn’t mean I was ‘fixed,’ but it meant that God had a plan and a purpose, and we knew this was His good and pleasing gift for our lives.

Pastoring a church wasn’t high on my bucket list. Truthfully, it was not on my list at all. I was content in para-church ministry, growing in my knowledge of the word and sharing God’s testimony in my life. We were members at Trinity Baptist Church in Winnipeg, led a small group, and I was on the worship and teaching team. After seven years in para-church ministry, I sensed that God was asking me to resign and trust Him with the next leg of the race. Three days before my last day, the elders of Trinity came and asked if I would consider coming on as the Associate Pastor. Paula and I took that into the prayer room over the summer of 2013 and both felt confirmation. I accepted and have been in this role for 10 years. Looking back, I am reminded of the ways God has called me/us into radical trust. I’m reminded that He delights in taking those who feel like they don’t have the skills (goods) or strength, but are willing to say yes to His invitation of service. Then He says, “Watch Me move on behalf of My kingdom!” I’m reminded that God does the impossible things so that He gets all the glory and fame. My prayer has been, and continues to be, that the Church would grow in their obedience to God’s word and be a safe place for all to come and encounter God’s love in and through the body of Christ and be transformed, by submitting everything over to Jesus.

Paula and I, along with our daughter, enjoy art, music, dance, gardening, writing, and opening our home to hospitality. I can often be found in the kitchen baking bread and trying out new recipes. We live in the north end of Winnipeg and see relational, emotional, physical, and spiritual poverty which often brings us to tears. In this place, we are reminded of what God can do. Before Christ, we were just as poor. Our poverty might have looked different, yet we were in the same boat, paddling the same waters. We are so very thankful that God had a rescue plan for us, and He has a rescue plan for everyone around us. His name is Jesus. I/we are very grateful to be part of the CBWC family and have formed wonderful friendships with others who are on mission together.

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

The Power of Small Things

By Mark Doerksen

I come from Mennonite heritage, and my library contains some books on Mennonite history, including the arrival of many Mennonites in Manitoba in the years 1874, ‘75, and ‘76. Apparently, my descendants are from the 1874 batch. In re-reading some of the history of the denomination I grew up in, I came across a paragraph that mentioned some of the trials of those first Mennonites to Canada, and given that I’m writing from Winnipeg, you might not be surprised to find out that mosquitoes are mentioned regularly as a trial. The historical authors thought it important to describe their scenario in this way, “Even in their tents, sleep was almost impossible because of the mosquito plague.” People continue to joke about mosquitoes being the provincial bird of Manitoba to this day.

You may find it odd that I’m writing about mosquitoes at this time of year, but I bring up this subject because of something that I heard at a seminar put on by West Vancouver Baptist. Margaret Cottle is a physician, and she was making a presentation on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). She has a lot of concern about the matter, and at minimum, she certainly wants Canadians to pump the brakes on where things are headed. I found the seminar informative, concerning, and helpful—all at the same time. As she neared the end of her presentation, she made a few remarks about “the good news,” remarks that I have been thinking about quite a bit. She said, “When things get darker, Christians get to shine.” She also said that presence is always better than perfection when caring for someone. And finally, she said, “Never underestimate the small things. Imagine a mosquito in a dark room.” Her metaphor was great for me, as I know firsthand the effectiveness of those little creatures, especially when one is trying to get some sleep. Her point, of course, is that the more we connect with people, even in small ways, the less inclined they will be to loneliness and despair.

This publication is known as Making Connections, and as such, I wish to reiterate how important the concept of the “small things” is in our wider family of churches and in our congregations. We may think it’s a small thing to pray for sister churches in our Sunday services, but I’m not sure that it is. We may think it’s a small thing to encourage our pastor to be a part of a local ministerial cluster group, but I’m not sure that it is. And at a local level, we may think it’s a small thing to phone someone we haven’t seen at church for a while, but I’m not sure that it actually is. We may think it’s a small thing to send a card to a senior because we’ve passed them at church and haven’t had the chance to chat in the church lobby for a while, but I’m not sure that it actually is. You may think it’s a small thing to show up at the piano recital in support of a child you teach in your Sunday school class, but I’m not sure that it actually is.

I write this, then, as an encouragement for us to allow the “provincial bird of Manitoba” to inspire us to follow through on the small things. Let’s listen to the small voice inside us that prompts us to the good. Let’s be tenacious about connecting with each other, checking in on others, and in so doing, encouraging them.

Reflecting on Some Baptist Distinctives

By Mark Doerksen

In November, many CBWC churches participate in something called a CBWC Sunday. It’s a chance for churches to hear about some of the resources that are available through the denomination, and for the CBWC to thank churches for their ministries. On the first Sunday of November, I was able to be with the folks at our Prince Albert church, and was privileged to witness a baptism. The pastor asked several questions, and the candidate announced, “I believe Jesus is Lord!” It’s so good to witness these events in our churches and to hear such words spoken, especially given the culture of which we are a part.

I still think baptisms are miracle stories, stories of God working in people’s lives, and of God working in local congregations. Of course, as Baptists, we can also look back on our trajectory of faith to discover how much of a risk it was to baptize non-infants, and to moor ourselves in that tradition as we continue to express faith as Baptists.

That Sunday I also had the chance to speak about Thomas Helwys, one of the initial leaders of the Baptist movement. In the early 1600’s, about the time of King James I, Thomas Helwys and John Smyth wished to start a new movement, and moved from the UK to Amsterdam to do so. Eventually, that relationship soured, but Helwys’ writings from that time remind us of how radical his beliefs were. In his attempts to return to New Testament practices, he came to believe that baptism must happen upon a person’s confession of faith, a position quite far removed from the Anglican position of his time. He also wrote much about the separation of church and state, and about religious liberty. It was not, according to Helwys, the king’s business to have spiritual authority over a person. In his book entitled The Mystery of Iniquity, he wrote “For a man’s (sic) religion to God is between God and themselves. The king shall not answer for it. Let them be heretics, Turks, Jews, or whatsoever, it appertains not to the earthly power to punish them in the least measure.”

Interestingly, Helwys knew that the witness of his congregation would take on fuller meaning if it moved back from Amsterdam to the UK. And so, he and his companions did so. Not long afterwards, Helwys was imprisoned, and died in that prison at about the age of 40. His foundational work, however, continues as Baptists globally are influenced by his writings and theological ideas.

I find stories about baptism encouraging, and I find historical emphases and stories encouraging too, at least most of the time. We have much to be thankful for as we celebrate being an association of churches and embody Baptist ecclesiology and history, looking back on how God has worked and continues to work amongst us. Certainly, there are heavy situations around the globe at the moment, yet I trust you see God at work in your life, in your church, and in our association of churches.

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

Tragedy in Dauphin, Manitoba

By Mark Doerksen

A recent tragedy in Manitoba was a horrific accident where 16 senior citizens from Dauphin, MB, were killed. With tragic memories from Humboldt, SK, in the not-so-distant past, here again a community will need to come together in grief and support for families, both now and for the future.

As things turned out, our Westman Cluster of pastors was scheduled to meet in Dauphin on Thursday June 22. As a group, we gathered at Pastor Loralyn Lind’s house around the television as the names of the crash victims were released. It wasn’t an easy broadcast to watch.

Later that evening, folks from the community of Dauphin met at the local hall for a memorial service. There were several members of the clergy, from various traditions, who led the community in prayer, singing, and words of consolation. Loralyn, who had been on the planning committee for the service, lit candles as names were read, and closed the service with the benediction.

Second, Loralyn and Tim were encouraged to minister in these ways by their churches. These congregations understood the importance of sending them to care for a community reeling with grief. I am grateful for pastors and congregations such as these.

Have a safe summer!

Mark

The Long Game

By Adam MacDonald, Associate Pastor at Westhill Park Baptist Church

God isn’t in a hurry, and sometimes he plays a long game.

This is a lesson that I’ve been learning in my first few weeks of pastoral ministry, and has been reinforced by the path I took to arrive here. Now that I’m in the role, I find myself impatient to get things rolling, and have discovered how many things really do take time to germinate, root, and grow, regardless of how fast I want them to happen. This is ironic, since it is almost thirty years between when I first started feeling a call to ministry and my first official church staff role.

I grew up in a family where church was a significant part of life. When I graduated high school, the roast / prediction speeches included a reference to Pastor Adam riding a motorcycle up the aisle of his church. (This has not happened so far). I went boldly off to attend Canadian Bible College, where I met my wife Karen, and managed to squeeze my 4-year program into 7 years. Those years included moving back and forth to Kingston, ON, getting married, and exploring future job possibilities. We thought we were moving back to Regina for one year to finish my Bachelor of Theology. That was 24 years ago this summer and we’re still in Regina. I discovered after high school that I actually did like being a student, and since we were living within blocks of the seminary, I completed my MDiv. We’ve always been very involved at our churches, including a period of time where I was on the preaching team and two different times on the board. To my ongoing surprise, and a bit of confusion, none of these seasons involved being part of a pastoral ministry team. I had always thought that it would, but for various reasons it didn’t, and eventually I concluded that it just wasn’t going to happen. So I focused on things that I loved to do, like teaching Sunday School, sometimes for adults, sometimes for children. I’ve enjoyed teaching each of my kids (Jack 18, Julie 16, Elizabeth 11) as they passed through my various classes.

Until this spring, when I noticed a change in my thinking. God isn’t in a hurry and he plays a long game. Through various conversations with our lead pastor and others close to me, I felt that it was time to seriously consider the position of Associate Pastor at Westhill Park Baptist Church. I started in that role on April 1, 2023. It’s been such a good fit that a close friend, who is an atheist, has commented on how well it seems to suit me and how much I’m enjoying it! I truly am enjoying it, and am looking forward to participating in new ways with what God is doing here.

Update from Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church

Written by Mark Doerksen

In the mid-summer of 2022, Ukrainians displaced by the war with Russia began to come to Winnipeg. At first many people came and would be ministered to by the folks that make up Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church (UEBC). UEBC is located in the William White neighborhood in Winnipeg, and this year will be celebrating 120 years of ministry.

The congregation has grown since then, in different ways. First, the church has gained some additional members, including church leaders. Second, the congregation has grown in what it means to serve folks who have been displaced and are now seeking to settle in Canada. It hasn’t always been easy, and it’s difficult to predict how many people need to be helped, and some folks who have started in Winnipeg have already moved to places like Calgary and Abbotsford. Over the past year, the congregation has learned that helping these displaced folks over the long haul requires motivation, energy, resources, and perseverance.

In terms of motivation, Pastor Alex Andrusyshyn relies on a couple of things. He has seen how the government of Canada and the government of Manitoba has been very helpful to Ukrainians, and feels as though the church should also be seen as helpful in supporting these newcomers. Second, and more from a theological perspective, the congregation relies on the story of the Good Samaritan to keep them motivated.

In terms of energy, Pastor Alex notes that the congregation is getting weary. The initial challenge and excitement has ebbed a bit, and now people are feeling the effects of supporting folks for the long term. They have also learned, by way of experience, to take a “step by step” approach to helping. Food hampers and a visit might be the first step in connecting with folks, and eventually an invitation to church, and then meeting needs of clothing and furniture after that.

In terms of resources, the congregation appreciates the support given by the CBWC family, and notes that many newcomers still need items such as food hampers, beds, clothing, and the like. As the congregation networks locally for those in need, some families are hoping to settle in Winnipeg for the long haul. UEBC is committed at the moment to 2 single moms, their children, as well as a husband and wife and their 3 children, in addition to the folks that come intermittently for help.

In terms of perseverance, Pastor Alex and the congregation are certainly feeling weariness, but are committed to helping as long at it takes. Over the past year different strategies of support have been developed, and sometimes there is plenty of need, while at other times, the need is not so acute. The need, it seems, comes in waves as Pastor Alex describes it.

Please continue to remember this congregation in your prayers, and please remember to pray for those displaced by the war. If you would like to connect more directly with a family that UEBC is helping with, please contact Pastor Alex at the church.

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

Opportunity to Help Those Affected by Food Security

In 1983, the Canadian Baptist family became a founding member of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB). This year, they are celebrating their 40^th year. The churches of the CBWC have supported the CFGB in various ways over the years, and many farmers from our churches have been very generous with their resources in supporting the work of CFGB. In 2014, I was able to participate in a Food Study tour with CFGB, with stops in Sierra Leone and Burkina Faso. It is difficult to see a community devastated by famine. But it’s also incredible to see how CFGB comes alongside to support such communities, not just in urgent cases, but also through training in sustainable agricultural practices.

Food insecurity today continues to be a significant issue. The cost of groceries is a huge concern. The amount of people having to rely on food banks continues to increase. While farms increase in productivity, there are still serious issues in getting food to places that are affected by famine, war, and so forth.

In the Heartland, some of our churches are involved in food banks. A church may host a food bank on a regular basis in their community, or a church may volunteer at a food bank—sorting and organizing donated items. I think that if we were to do an official audit of how our churches across the CBWC are involved in food security issues, we would be encouraged by our involvement. Many of our churches are involved in such ministries without much fanfare or our hearing of them. If you’re a part of a community involved in such a ministry, keep at it!

This summer, Canadian Baptist Ministries through their Active in Mission program, is inviting all the Canadian Baptist denominations across Canada to band together to raise $100,000 for those affected by food insecurity. The monies raised will be used both overseas and here in Canada. In our CBWC context, the monies raised will be distributed to churches involved in foodbank-related ministries. More information will be coming, but if you’re interested in this venture, you can form a team and raise money by walking together, biking together, jogging together, kayaking together, or by some other activity you come up with.

I am so encouraged by the churches in the Heartland, and in the CBWC, that minister faithfully to those affected by food insecurity. I am also encouraged by this opportunity to join other Canadian Baptist churches across Canada in raising money for those who need assistance from a food bank from time to time. Please stay tuned for further information.

Mark Doerksen

“Feed My Sheep”

A testimony by Cheryl Johnson, First Baptist Church Regina

On Sept. 1, 2022, I started as the Children and Family Pastor at First Baptist Church Regina.  I marvel as I see the hand of God bringing me full circle from the early 90s, when I felt a call to ministry, to being in ministry now. Sometimes it was hard to see how this all would come to fruition. The prompts often felt like they were leading me in the opposite direction.

I grew up in a home where faith was woven into our lives and I eagerly wrapped that cloak of faith around myself. After graduating high school in North Battleford, I attended Canadian Bible College in Regina, SK. I went with the intention of studying for one year but ended up staying long enough to earn a Bachelor of Theology degree (along with my husband, Mark, who I met there). God had also given me a dream of becoming a teacher and so I went on to take my Bachelor of Education at the University of Regina. I taught elementary school for a few years and then, after having my first child, I felt called to stay home and raise our two boys (Adam is now 19 and Dustin is 17). During this time, I became involved with a wonderful community of Christian women. Our children were cared for while we studied God’s word and learned about being a woman of God. Through this group, I was encouraged to enter a two-year course to become a Spiritual Director. This course taught me about a personal God who loved me and was involved in every part of my life.

As my kids both entered school, I began to consider re-entering the work force. While I looked into teaching again, that door did not re-open but God sent me in a new direction where I began to work casually in the English testing area of Saskatchewan Polytechnic. That led to a 9 year career with SaskPolytech, spending the last 6 as a Supervisor for the South Test Centres. During the pandemic, I began to feel the Spirit’s leading to move on to something else. I looked at higher paying jobs in more senior positions. I considered working from home on the farm that we had moved to in 2017. Working remotely would allow me to be closer to the animals I had grown to love, especially my sheep. In the spring of 2022, I began to have issues with my eyes which were exasperated by spending nearly 8 hours a day on Zoom. I realized that working remotely was not an option for me and I once again called on God for direction. While on vacation, the Spirit whispered to me that there was a position at my church for a Children and Family Pastor. I hadn’t paid attention to it previously but I followed the Spirit’s nudge and looked up the position online. It was a full-time position doing what I loved, teaching children and ministering to families and other members of the congregation. After dialogue with mentors and those closest to me, I applied and am now in a job that feels like home. I really love teaching about God and ministering to our congregation and community.

I never would have dreamed that these various jobs and activities would lead me back to the calling I first felt at Bible College, but it did. Jesus said, “Feed my sheep”. I live in awe and thankfulness to the Lord that I now do that, both literally and figuratively, on my farm and in my ministry at First Baptist Church.

Cheryl Johnston

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

Networking Conversations

By Mark Doerksen

There certainly are challenges in church life these days, as things have not necessarily returned to how they were before the pandemic. Many churches have seen a decline in attendance, and this is true cross-denominationally. This is only one challenge, and there certainly are others.

In the Heartland Region, we have been working with various challenges that are being met by denominational connections. When a church makes known a challenge they are facing, often I can think of a church in a similar situation, and then network the churches for further conversations. It’s these networking conversations that are vitally important in my work, and I’d like to offer a couple of examples of what I mean.

Cornerstone Baptist Church here in Winnipeg had its last service at the end of October. They have some stellar volunteers that are working to see that the building is cleaned up, organized, and ready for potential sale. We had hoped that a CBWC church could be the next owners of that building, but that has not proven to be the case. However, one of our local pastors knew of a 20-year “church plant” that is looking for a building, and so that church plant was put in contact with the CBWC. Conversations around the sale of the building continue, and the CBWC Foundation has been vital in things moving forward. I’m grateful for such developments.

At our church in Ormiston, SK, Bill and Carol Luther are stepping aside as the primary church leaders. They have served well and faithfully for many years and will continue to be involved in the church. The congregation, at the moment, will not be looking for another pastor, as they will experiment with online resources available for them on Sunday mornings. They did, however, have questions about improved technology to facilitate Sunday morning gatherings, and so I was able to network them with another CBWC pastor who is tech saavy and willing to help, and was able to talk to the church about different Sunday morning options that are already being used by some rural CBWC churches within the denomination. Again, networking conversations are vitally important, and though the details of this network are not finalized, I’m pleased that the resources we have within the denomination are helping churches presently.

We have another church in the Heartland that is facing the future without a pastor, at least for a while. The congregation would like to continue, and as such, I am chatting with the leadership and discussing future options with them. One such option may well be within the denomination; Brownfield Baptist Church is working towards equipping rural churches through a ministry called Rural Light Ministries. It’s encouraging to me that I can point churches to options such as this, and that our CBWC churches are looking out for each other. Though these networking conversations in this case are only at the beginning stages, I am again reminded that the pandemic has—in some ways—taught us that audio/visual resourcing is a viable option for some circumstances.

Does your congregation have the desire to help other churches? Is your congregation facing a challenge that needs further perspective? I would hope that you’re encouraged to have similar networking conversations as you continue in your localized ministry.

Answering God’s Persistant Call

Kristen Kroeker – Pastor of Willowlake Church

I felt a call to ministry as a young girl and spent my years first in Northern Ireland with YFC, then in Winnipeg as an inner-city missionary, and finally as a children’s pastor in a large local church before stepping down. After being away from ministry for two years, I felt a call again. I knew that going back to my previous roles was not in my future, but I had no clue what was. In 2020, pandemic funding became available for students, so I started a M.Div. at the local theological seminary. I had no idea where it would lead, but the timing was right, the funding was there, and I was grateful to God for the opportunity.

As a student, I was invited at times to provide local pulpit supply. My childhood had been spent in a Baptist church where only men were permitted to lead, so I was surprised to be invited to preach at Willowlake Baptist. I appreciated God’s sense of humour in bringing my story full circle and was impressed by the CBWC’s long-standing support of women in ministry. This was during lockdowns, so my impression of Willowlake was limited to the 4 or 5 people who showed up to make an online church experience happen for the folks at home. I was drawn in by the sense of camaraderie, the joy (in a time of anxiety), and the deep care and compassion this group had for those in their community. That one invitation turned into repeated ones, and my appreciation for the church grew.

When a congregant tapped me on the shoulder to apply for their open pastoral role, I didn’t even consider it. The idea of female lead pastors was still so foreign to me that I couldn’t see myself in that role. We were attending a church of over 1000 people at the time, and bringing my pre-teen daughters into a small church seemed impossible.

But my hang-ups were challenged when I was assigned a new practicum as part of my seminary studies under the leadership of a female pastor in a smaller congregation. There’s a saying that “you cannot be what you cannot see,” and serving in that church opened our eyes to what had previously seemed impossible. Our children thrived in that small church. My husband and I were impressed by the humility and leadership the pastor showed, and the strong marriage she and her husband modelled. Our previous hesitations were being challenged in front of our eyes, and instead of, “That would never work,” we began to think, “What if…?” When the invitation came again to apply at Willowlake, I took it seriously. We prayed together about it. We visited the church as a family. My kids were determined not to return to a big church where they were lost in the crowd, and loved how welcomed they felt. My husband could envision his own role in the church, which surprised us. That “What if…” grew to “This is it.” God was persistent in His call, and we entered a season of discernment and answering the call with Willowlake Church.

It’s been only a few months officially as pastor of Willowlake, and God has been so good. It has been rewarding to get to know the people who make up Willowlake Church, and a privilege to be part of the

reopening process. It’s exciting to see people returning after long absences and programs starting up after a few years of shutdowns, and we look forward to what God has in store for us.

If you had told me five years ago, that this is where I would be today, I would never have believed you. But God has convinced me this is exactly where we are called to be. I think of those who had vision when I did not, who stepped into their callings and helped me to see what that faithfulness looked like, and I can’t help but think of the “great cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews 12 who help us put our faith in action and make a way for us to say yes to God. I hope to be such a person for future generations.

Celebrating Two Birthdays

By Jim Galbraith, Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church Prince Albert

Just over ten years ago, I was given a second birthday. Big deal, all of us Christians are born again, yes? Well, this one is not what you think.

On December 19, 2012, I received a donor stem cell transplant to treat Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Since the stem cells come from an unrelated donor, when they transform into the bone marrow that I needed, they produce blood with the donor’s DNA. This makes me a “chimera”—a single being with two different sets of DNA.

Because of this unique situation, the staff at the cancer clinic encourage us to mark our transplant day as our second birthday. My wife, Lori, has taken this up with gusto; I get balloons, a nice meal, and instead of a present for me, we’ve chosen to make my second birthday a day where I give a present to someone in need. In 2022, I turned “10”, and was able to help a young man in our city.

Without this treatment, I would have been dead and buried long before my 46th birthday. I am 55 today, with cancer long behind me. God has given me ten years post-transplant, during which two of my three sons have married, with the first about to have their first baby in February. Yes, I will be a grandpa a few days after you read this.

So, as a Christian, I guess I now have three birthdays; the OG (original), my conversion to Christ, and my donation day! I continually thank God for what He’s done in my life.

Retirement Thoughts from William H. Luther

If you have reason to drive south of Moose Jaw, you will soon notice that some towns are experiencing tough times. Communities such as Crane Valley and Ormiston have challenges ahead, as their economies have shifted by the closing of a nearby salt mine. There are mainly ranchers that remain, and the rolling hills of the area lend itself to this way of life. It’s a beautiful part of Saskatchewan, but you need to be tough to live there, and you need to get used to driving some distance to reach other communities. At Ormiston, however, you will find Ormiston Baptist Church, a church that continues in no small part to the leadership of Bill and Carol Luther. These fine folks have recently stepped aside from the formal leadership of the church, after many years of faithful service. We’ve asked them to write a brief note about their experiences, and we’re grateful for their leadership and wish them God’s continued blessings for the future.

Retirement takes my mind back some 70-plus years, to a little boy following his father outside to feed the cows. Stepping in my father’s footprints in the snow, I said, “I’m following in your footsteps, Dad!” An early love for cattle has been sustained throughout my life.

In the 1950s, while other denominations were reluctant to assist in a church-plant in Ormiston, SK, the CBWC (formerly known as The Baptist Union of Western Canada) got involved. The sister church in Cardross, SK was my first contact with the Gospel, and I surrendered to Christ’s call at age 10.

Following graduation from high school, God called me to study at Millar College of the Bible, where I realized an ability and love of preaching. After graduation and a further two years of study at Winnipeg Bible College and Seminary, I returned to the farm. The most important thing that happened during these years was marrying the love of my life, Carol.

Centralization was affecting the size of Ormiston Baptist Church and in the absence of a pastor, Area Minister Mel Ralston encouraged me to volunteer. Six years of ‘tent-making’ ministry followed. Sunday school, prayer meetings, Bible study, kids’ club, and youth group called for long days. The church experienced some growth, and we called a full-time pastor! Some 27 years passed, with various couples to pastor our church while I filled in as pulpit supply. In 2008, our church was at a crossroads. Attendance and resources were low, and God called Carol and I to accept the position of part-time pastor of Ormiston Baptist Church again. Fourteen years followed with preaching, teaching, leading youth group, and other pastoral duties.

I thank God for the wife He gave me. She is so gifted in music and people-skills, and she complimented my areas of weakness so well.

‘Stepping aside’ from pastoral ministry, I thank the Lord for His blessings, for the ministry of CBWC over the years, for a supportive, praying church family, for four daughters and their husbands, 18 grandchildren, and 1 ½ great granddaughters. I look forward to spending more time together with all of them!

In the years to follow, God-willing, I hope to continue assisting the next generation with the ranch work and our church with its ongoing ministry!

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