Category: Making Connections

In other community housing news, Aspen Green Society is now open for occupancy. Aspen Green is a 4-storey housing development 54 residential units operated within the Beulah Gardens Homes Society, a not-for-profit organization with a vision to “be the choice of housing for seniors; a community at its best.” Beulah Gardens is a partner ministry of CBWC, and has been operating in Vancouver, B.C. since 1951.

The affordable housing campus has a number of buildings which offer various degrees of assisted to independent living for seniors. Throughout the week, there are activities and gatherings which contribute to a sense of community among the residents and staff.

Aspen Green is the newest building at Beulah Gardens. Construction began in 2016, and was recently completed. Units are listed for sale with a unique life lease opportunity which is designed to shield people from market fluctuations.

As houses prices in Vancouver continue to be out of reach for most, Beulah Garden Homes continues working towards solutions.

A new modular housing unit for homeless people has caused conflict in Vancouver this winter. Here’s how one of our churches responded, as reported by The Vancouver Courier. See the original article here.

By Mike Howell

Westside Baptist Church will provide food, clothing to new tenants

A south Vancouver church is reaching out to the non-profit housing manager of a soon-to-be-opened 78-unit modular housing complex in Marpole for homeless people and wants to donate food and supplies to tenants once they move in next month.

Felix Loo, a member of Westside Baptist Church on Ash Street, said it was important to him and other members of the congregation to welcome the area’s new neighbours after the pushback from other residents who don’t want to see the complex built.

“We don’t want to send a message that this group of people are not welcome in our community,” said Loo, who said the church is about 10 minutes from the modular housing site at West 59^th Avenue and Heather Street. “As a church in the community, I think one of the most important mandates is to reach out to this group of people — not for the purpose of proselytizing, but to actually try to integrate them into the community.”

Loo, who works for the BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, said he wants to first check with Community Builders — the non-profit hired to manage the complex — before it builds “kits” for tenants. He imagines toiletries, some clothing and food will be provided in the donations.

Loo pointed out Westside Baptist has a sister church in Grandview-Woodland, the Grandview Calvary Baptist Church, which is close to seeing the opening of a 26-unit housing project at East First Avenue and Victoria Drive for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness

Julie Roberts, the executive director of Community Builders, said she was “heartened” by Loo’s gesture, noting other neighbours in the area have come forward to get involved in welcoming the tenants. Roberts said she planned to get in touch with Loo.

“It’s going to go a long way for the tenants who are moving in to know that they’re welcomed by members of the community,” Roberts said.

Meanwhile, the Caring Citizens of Vancouver Society say they will appeal a B.C. Supreme Court decision Jan. 18 that dismissed the group’s petition, which aimed to stop the Marpole project.

Madam Justice Joyce DeWitt-Van Oosten dismissed the petition from the group, which is comprised of Marpole adults and children. DeWitt-Van Oosten said the City of Vancouver didn’t fail to provide proper notice of a hearing on a bylaw associated to the project.

She added that Gil Kelley, the city’s director of planning, acted within his authority to approve the project, which was done without going to a public hearing — a step the society wanted.

“We’re very disappointed, we’re very surprised,” said Derek Palaschuk, spokesperson for the society. “The reason we filed this petition was for the protection of our children. We believe there’s a real danger to them. That temporary housing shouldn’t be located across from an elementary school and so close to the high school.”

The society and others associated to the “right idea, wrong location” movement have pointed out the city’s agreement with B.C. Housing to establish tenant mix calls for a minimum of 20 per cent of units be made available to tenants identified as “service level three.”

Tenants classified as “service level three” are people who don’t engage with treatment or support services, have poor housekeeping and are susceptible to hoarding and poor hygiene.

They also have “an extensive criminal history indicating high risk to re-offend, can create security problems through aggressive and intimidating or intrusive behaviour [and have an] inability to sustain personal relationships.” They are prone to “frequent conflict with others, poor communication skills and history of property damage,” the agreement said.

Deputy city manager Paul Mochrie told the Courier Monday the city was “very pleased” with the court’s decision. Mochrie said the petition didn’t delay construction of the complex, although a separate court injunction was needed in December to ensure crews would not be impeded by protesters.

Asked about the society’s plan to appeal the decision, Mochrie said the city will continue working on the project to get it open for tenants next month. He said there had been no other court action against the city related to four other sites it has identified for temporary modular housing.

“We haven’t seen anything thus far that’s remotely like Marpole,” he said.

Last September, Premier John Horgan announced Vancouver would get $66 million to build 600 modular housing units for homeless people. The city’s last homeless count showed there were 2,138 people without a home.

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This article was originally published in the Vancouver Courier on January 22, 2018. It was shared in our February 2018 issue of Making Connections. Subscribe to the Making Connections monthly newsletter here.

 

Jason Krueger joined CBWC last fall as the President of the CBWC Foundation. This is the first installment of a new quarterly column from the Foundation. Keep an eye on this space for reflections and stories from their work among CBWC churches and ministries.

Standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27

Upon joining the CBWC family last October as President of the Foundation, I was warmly welcomed and made to feel at home. Our staff and board members at the Foundation take joy in sharing purpose with CBWC leaders, and there is a sense of excitement and comradery in working together. We have established the groundwork for a mutually trustful and supportive relationship. I am humbled to serve alongside our denominational and ministerial leaders as we seek to glorify our Lord.

I thank the many people who faithfully support the CBWC Foundation. We invest the financial gifts from our constituents to meet the long-term needs of the CBWC family. With the funds we receive from our depositors, we advance loans to support the ministry needs of our churches and partner agencies.

Here are some recent highlights of partnerships we’ve had with CBWC churches:

Clive Baptist

Last November, Clive Baptist Church http://clivebaptist.ca in Alberta celebrated retiring their mortgage from the Foundation. Their rich history goes back almost a century, and the loan enabled them to renovate and expand their church, something they’ve been envisioning for over 10 years.

“The financial support from the Foundation made a huge difference for us,” said Senior Pastor Jamie Veitch. “We loved partnering with an organization that shares our mandate to spread the gospel and knowing that every dollar in interest incurred would be designated toward further Christian work.”

No celebration is complete without a little fire. Here’s Senior Pastor Jamie Veitch igniting the mortgage papers in a mortgage burning ceremony. 

Bonnie Doon

Is it not amazing how the Lord opens doors? When the congregation and leaders of Bonnie Doon Baptist Church closed their doors for good, they donated the 103-year old building to the CBWC. Now, a Haitian church called Evangelical Emmanuel Fellowship Church has moved into the building, giving new life and opportunity to that flourishing congregation. The Foundation was honored to provide renovation financing for this beautiful community of believers.  “I share in the excitement and energy this congregation has for the Kingdom,” said Dennis Stone, CBWC’s AB & NWT Regional Minister.

The 103-year old Bonnie Doon church, soon to be the new home of a flourishing Haitian church in Edmonton.

 Mill Bay 

In late 2017, the Foundation was thrilled to come alongside Mill Bay Baptist Fellowship, BC with construction financing. Since their beginning in 2011, the church has met in a community centre’s multipurpose room. Determined to deepen and strengthen their roots in the community, they bought a small triangle of land a few years ago, and began construction on the church building in August 2017. They hope to celebrate Easter in their new church.

“The MBBF Church Family is extremely grateful to the Foundation for the support received to finance the purchase of our 5 acres and once it was repaid, to finance the building of our first ministry centre,” said Mill Bay Pastor Norm Sowden. “We really appreciate the interest shown in our ministry by the Foundation staff, and also the great cooperation in the entire process.”

We pray the Lord continues to bless this church and their neighbours, and impact the international college students and members of the Malahat First Nations community on Vancouver Island.

Mill Bay Church under construction. Nearly done!

 

I ask that you uphold the Foundation in prayer, as we discern how best to honor God through our operations.  Should you wish to discuss how you may be a support to CBWC through the Foundation, please do not hesitate to contact me (jkrueger@cbwcfoundation.ca), Ray Chan (rchan@cbwcfoundation.ca) or Chris Reid (creid@cbwcfoundation.ca)

 

Jason Krueger

President CBWC Foundation

What is the CBWC Foundation?

As the autonomous financial branch of the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada, the Foundation’s mandate is to receive various gifts and manage them for the long-term benefit of CBWC and its ministries. We offer savings accounts for individuals, provide loans to CBWC churches and ministry partners, provide grants to ministerial students, manage Foundation and Partner investment portfolios, and provide stewardship support to all our constituents. Returns from our activities directly support CBWC and its ministries.

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This article was published in the February 2018 issue of Making Connections. Subscribe to the Making Connections monthly newsletter here.

Have you ever wanted to build a wild bear habitat at a wildlife park? Oh, you didn’t know that you did? Me neither!

Luckily—for bears and for CBWC youth—Hannah Juras is all over it. She’s planning this year’s SERVE (a youth-work-retreat-camp-thing that CBWC youth do every year), and building bear habitats is just one of the work projects she’s got lined up.

“One of our biggest work projects is the wildlife park in town. It’s essentially a zoo, but not,” says Hannah. “There will be students rebuilding bear habitats and working with animals who can’t be out in the wild anymore. They’ll be alongside professionals who are figuring out how to care for them in this context.”

SERVE is happening July 1-7, 2018 at Southwest Community Church in Kamloops, B.C. where Hannah is the youth pastor. (You may remember Southwest from an article a few months ago). Registration for SERVE is now open.

The wildlife park is just one work project. She’s also trying to get some students out to Cache Creek to help with restoration work needed from last summer’s devastating wildfires. In addition, there will be a bunch of projects in town.

“I’m really excited for our church. I think this is a big thing for us,” Hannah says. “We’re kind of lone rangers out here, as a CBWC church. This is a chance for, not only our youth, but for our adults to mesh with CBWC, to feel part of something bigger.”

Teams of volunteers have been working with Hannah to plan the week-long event, covering everything from where the students will sleep to what projects they’ll work on to what they’ll eat. They’re expecting anywhere from three to four hundred youth to register.

“I’m excited for this as a host. Somewhere around day three the conversation changes, you know. You’ve exhausted the small talk and caught up on Stranger Things, so deeper topics start to come up,” Hannah says. “And I’m looking forward to see how our church might latch onto this afterwards. How it will change our service mind in the years to come.”

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This article was published in the February 2018 issue of Making Connections. Subscribe to the Making Connections monthly newsletter here.

The CBWC Board had their first meeting of the year at the end of January. There’s a few familiar faces, some who’ve entered new roles, and a few people who just joined the Board last summer. Here they are!

Kayley Rich, President 

Kayely is a business owner, consultant, counsellor, and ordained minister. She joined the CBWC board in 2013 as a Heartland Representative and served as VP of Personnel & Program before beginning her term as President in 2017. She is very grateful for the support of her husband and young kids as she seeks to serve our denomination. Kayely and her family live in Regina, SK where they enjoy being part of the First Baptist family.

 

Nora Walker, VP of Personnel and Program 

Nora has been an active member of First Baptist Victoria since 2001. For the past nine years she has served as Board chair. She also serves on the BCY Regional Board and The Mustard Seed Community Board in Victoria. She loves coordinating the BUMs (Baptist Union Ministers) lunches for Vancouver Island, as well as the Vancouver Island prayer chain. She is always looking for ways to connect our family of churches together. By praying for each other and fellowshipping together, we build relationships in Christ that deepen our walk with Him and one another. Coming into her new role as VP of Personnel and Planning she is excited to meet and serve more of our amazing CBWC tribe.

 

Herb Ziegler, VP Finance

I was raised in Stettler, Alberta where my parents and I attended Stettler Baptist Church until I was about 17 years old. I then moved to Edmonton to attend university where I obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering. This led to a career in the Alberta oil and gas industry for 36 years. My wife and I both retired in 2010. In 1982, I married my wife, Karen, and we raised three children that have been on their own for about six years now. We have two grandchildren so far.

For about the last 20 years, Karen and I have been attending Trinity Baptist Church in Sherwood Park. My wife Karen started and ran Trinity’s preschool program. Following retirement, I have become much more active in the work at Trinity. I am now on Trinity’s Council, Finance Committee, and the Property Team.

Now that I am retired, I keep occupied with church work, operating our ranch, maintaining our acreage and rental properties. We also like to go fishing, quadding, snowmobiling and camping with friends at our lake property.

 

Steve Simala Grant, VP Planning

Steve loves God, his family (Joanne and Thomas), and the church—in that order. He spent a decade leading youth and family ministry in the 90s, another decade as a lead pastor, and is back in his happy place in family ministries half-time at Laurier Heights Baptist Church in Edmonton. In the other half-time, he drives a bobcat and builds cool outdoor stuff. He is also pretty happy in a kitchen showing love through cooking. His dream and deepest prayer is that kids, teens, and families experience the incredible transforming love of God, and then experience the great joy of God using them to help others experience that same love. This is Steve’s first year being on the CBWC Board.

 

Cal Malena, BCY Regional Representative

Cal is presently attending First Baptist Church in Prince George, B.C. After starting out in the oil patch as a chemical engineer, he attended Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, and later did his doctoral studies through Golden Gate Seminary in San Francisco, CA. Cal served at First Baptist Lethbridge for three years and then 26 years at Emmanuel Baptist in Saskatoon, before going to Prince George in 2010. Cal has been very involved with Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM), serving on the Board for ten years including a term as President. Cal is married to Joanne and they have four adult children. For fun, he likes to run, play golf, and build robots.

 

Greg Sumner, BCY Regional Representative

Greg was born and raised in Western Canada. He received his High School and College training in Ontario where he met his bride (a westerner named Colleen). They married in 1973 and moved back out west to Alberta. Greg started his career in Marketing and property development for a junior oil company for 7 years. They then partnered in a family auto parts business for 10 years in Dawson Creek, B.C. It was there where they both came to the Lord at 30. They then moved their young family of three back to Ontario in 1990 to get further training at Tyndale (formerly OTS/OBC). They were in church planting in Oakville, ON for 14 years with AGC. Upon graduation (a late bloomer at 45), he became the Executive Director of a Christian Retreat and Conference Centre (Presbyterian). As their last child left the nest, they moved back west to Vancouver Island where they could be close to Greg’s aging parents. He worked at Camp Qwanoes (FEBC) for a year as their Development Director and then was called as a Pastor to New Life Community Baptist in Duncan. After 8 1⁄2 years, they were called to Vernon, BC from 2010 to 2013 to assist two churches (Alliance and EFCC) in their merge and building program. They thought they would eventually retire in the Okanagan, but God had other ideas. New Life called Greg and Colleen back to the Island to take on the role of Transitional Pastor. Once their lead Pastor was called, Greg was asked to stay on half time as their Congregational Care Pastor. They love Duncan and the Island so much, they sold their house in Vernon and have permanently taken out their citizenship on Vancouver Island. The West won!!

Greg’s business and church background with a variety of denominations and other not-for- profit board positions enables him to bring a variety of perspectives to the table. In his semi-retirement years (do Pastors retire, or re-tread?) Greg looks forward to serving together on the CBWC Board as a way of giving back to the denomination that has helped him so much in many years of his 25 years of ministry. As the song goes, see you in September.

 

Callum Jones, BCY Regional Representative

Callum was born and lived most of his life just northwest of London, England. He became a Christian during a Russian language lesson at High School in 1981 and was baptized in July 1982. When he finished seminary training at the London School of Theology in England in 1989, he pastored a Baptist church not far from his home town for over ten years. In 2001, he was invited to become Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church, Penticton, BC. Two years later he became Senior Pastor. In 2017, Callum became Senior Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, where he especially enjoys Trinity’s rich cultural diversity. Callum comes from a rich musical background and enjoys playing jazz piano, though he wishes he’d practiced more when younger. He loves to meet new people, read, travel, watch movies, study theology, and explore how the Gospel of Jesus Christ relates to everyday life. In 2015, he and his wonderful wife, Catherine, welcomed a boy and girl into their lives: Dakota, who will soon be 13, and Skylyn, who is 10. This year he and Catherine celebrate their twenty-ninth wedding anniversary. Callum holds a PhD in Western Canadian Baptist history.

 

Jason Johnson, Alberta & NWT Regional Representative

Jason currently resides in High River with his wife Jana and their three girls, where he serves as Senior Pastor with High River Baptist Church. He has also pastored churches in Calgary and Brownfield, AB over the last 15 years. Originally from Vancouver Island, through the years he has served in various roles at the CBWC including Alberta area committees, OEC member, retreat planner, and a student at Carey College. He has a passion to see churches healthy in all matters of justice, truth, mercy and worship standing on His Word as the embodiment of the hands and feet of Christ.

 

Linda Rochow, Alberta & NWT Regional Representative

Linda is married, has three adult children and a plus one, son-in-law. She is a proud Grandma of one little one. Linda is a lay leader at Altadore Baptist Church in Calgary in which she has been involved with leadership, administration and spiritual care over the last 30 years. She is an advocate for the ministry of camp and currently sits on the Gull Lake Camp Board. Linda is an organizer of people and of things. She has a real heart for coming alongside people in their journey. As this is Linda’s last term on the board, she is looking forward to being part of future direction for CBWC under the leadership of our new Executive Minister/Board.

 

Connie Shalagan, Alberta & NWT Regional Representative

Connie is involved at McLaurin Baptist Church in Grande Prairie, Alberta. She is married to a wonderful man, Dylan, and is currently staying at home with her 3 young boys, Hudson Mason and Dawson. She is on the board for Camp Wapiti and is heavily involved there. Prior to children, she did her theological training at Vanguard College and then was the Youth and Young Adults Pastor at McLaurin Baptist Church, and has kept involved with the denomination when able. She enjoys crafting and creating things, and enjoys relaxing with a book or movie or some good food.

 

Ravi George, Heartland Regional Representative

I have been attending Broadway First Baptist Church Winnipeg since I was eight years old. My family and I were refugees from Laos, and were sponsored by BFBC May, 1980. I was on the Deacon’s Board for three years and serve on the Hospitality Commission. I met my husband Kefin in college in 1992 and got married in 1996. We have two boys, Dylan, 14 and Rhys, 12. I have worked in the Financial Service Industry since 2002. I love going out to eat and trying new food, and enjoy sharing it with my family and friends.

 

Loralyn Lind, Heartland Regional Representative

I’m a pastor serving in Dauphin, Manitoba. I’ve been a wife for 32 years, a mother for 26 years and the owner of a really cool 1974 Bowler trailer for a couple of years now. When I wrote this bio a few years ago, I did so after spending the day reading my Bible, some Henri Nouwen and a beautiful poem in my Books and Culture magazine. I am completely content. I live in the moment.

 

Sandra Goetz, Heartland Regional Representative

Sandra was born and raised in Edmonton. She married her high school sweetheart, Joshua, in 1995. They have three boys, Benjamin, Nate, and Samuel, and one daughter, Rebekah. Their oldest, Benjamin, is heading off to Bible College—which happened far too quickly. Sandra has lived in Asquith, Saskatchewan since the fall of 2006 and has been the office administrator at Asquith Baptist Church since 2008. Sandra attended North American Baptist College and earned a Certificate in Biblical Studies in 1994, and Office Administration from NAIT in 1995. She is an avid reader, loves to travel any chance she gets, and loves spending time with her family and watching her kids compete in football, basketball, and volleyball.

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This article was published in the February 2018 issue of Making Connections. Subscribe to the Making Connections monthly newsletter here.

by Sam Breakey

A wildfire began southwest of Fort McMurray on Sunday, May 1, 2016 that impacted the bustling city like no other natural event. Two days later, nearly 90,000 people were racing north or south to escape the inferno that indiscriminately destroyed property and livelihood. We thank God that Canadian Baptist people and congregations contributed finances and volunteer hours to respond with Christ’s love.

The physical rebuilding of Fort McMurray began over a year ago, in some ways the deep work of healing the community is just now beginning. On your behalf CBWC is partnering with Fort City Church to support this work.

“PTSD is just peaking in the community now,” says Fort City Pastor Doug Doyle. Fire fighters and medical first responders were particularly affected by the disaster, but have taken at least a year to admit they’re experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. Pastor Doyle has noticed that the fire has exposed cracks in their self-sufficiency and they are seeking answers to questions they have never asked before.

 

Families are stressed emotionally and financially. In many cases, people who completely lost their homes are already settled in new houses, but many whose homes were only partially damaged are still waiting for insurance to cover repairs. Even pets are dealing with severe PTSD. There are stories of dogs who were trapped in homes during fire, now barking all day long and scratching windows to get out when their owners are at work.

Through this, churches have become a source of comfort and community. First responders, who were already part of Fort City, got permission from the city to use the church as a spiritual care centre for their colleagues during fire. The building became a symbol of consolation for those who are hurting, where even men could express their fear and pain. This relationship of care has continued and deepened, so that now many first responders who were not part of a church family before the fire are now attending Fort City. These newcomers attend about once every eight weeks, but in that timeframe the church sees about 1,000 different people.

“Conversations with neighbours always go back to the fire. But people won’t go to groups or counsellors,” Pastor Doyle said. “They will go to beer and wing nights, though, organized at restaurant where casual conversations open up the heart.”

To respond to this window of need and opportunity, Fort City has hired two Wildfire Pastoral Associates on one-year contracts. The job posting described them as ‘spiritually passionate, adventurous young adults.’

 

CBWC has entered into a partnership with Fort City, to fund 50% of these salaries and provide some PTSD counselling for first responders over the next twelve months. For various reasons, including local volunteer burnout, funds raised by CBWC for Fort McMurray fire relief have not yet been exhausted by other partnerships CBWC has in Fort McMurray. Charity law requires that all monies raised be spent in the area, so I connected with Pastor Doyle at Fort City, and am really looking forward to supporting their ministry. The church has also agreed to help us explore planting a CBWC congregation in the community.

Fort City’s community life and ministry have been energized in the last 18 months. Their involvement in the community is strong, and they are committed to providing a ‘holistic mission of word and deed.’

While the city was evacuated, Fort City started live-streaming services, which have become an important connection point for the community. They continued streaming since returning home, with a geographically wide community.

This November, after a couple of baptisms in the morning service, Pastor Doyle felt led to invite anyone who wanted to be baptised to come forward then and there. No one did. It was the first time he had ever given such an invitation. What he didn’t know was that a young woman was watching the live stream broadcast from home. She took the invitation literally. She told her boyfriend to get up because they were going to church; she wanted to be baptised in the second service.

They’re also the only church in Fort McMurray who sponsored a Syrian refugee family which turned out to be a long news-making process. (While waiting in an airport in Jordan, the mother’s water broke. She kept the matter secret because she feared not being allowed to come to Canada. She then went through Amsterdam still keeping it a secret. She did not tell anyone till they landed in Toronto. There the baby was delivered, but with difficulty. Apparently she had ‘shut down the nerves in her pelvis so severely’ that she needed considerable muscle relaxants to deliver. The news of her delayed delivery was on TV news on three continents.)

God is at work in Fort McMurray. Thank you for your generosity in supporting their healing and recovery.

Sam

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This article was published in the January 2018 issue of Making Connections. Subscribe to the Making Connections monthly newsletter here

CBWC churches and leadership reached the end of eleven weeks of prayer and discernment, initiated back in September.

Executive Minister Rob Ogilvie felt strongly about beginning his new role in a posture of listening. Based on the responses he’s heard so far, the decision resonated with many of our churches.

“It was quite striking that so many people were involved and engaged. It was very affirming to me, what so many people have said about wanting to engage in this, and being glad that this is what we’re doing. It’s a good way to start,” he said.

“We don’t often have activities that bring us all together, and even still it’s not like everyone participated, but it’s enough that it becomes common talk among the people.  Originally the idea was that the board and staff would pray together, so with this many churches involved, that was a great bonus.”

 

First Baptist Church in Edmonton incorporated the denominational prayer focus into their regular listening prayer sessions. The theme that continues to come up in their sessions is seeking meaningful connections with their aboriginal neighbours. Pastor Ryan Sato says the denomination’s decision to adopt UNDRIP as a guide for reconciliation resonates in their neighbourhood.

“We’re a downtown church and we recognize our shortfall in loving and serving and understanding our aboriginal neighbours. We are committed to finding meaningful, hopeful ways of listening to and cultivating authentic friendships with our aboriginal neighbours,” Ryan said. “We’re praying for a miracle of connection, mutual kindness, peace and well-being (Jeremiah 29:7).“

Taking action on this is a slow process, Ryan says. “We’re trying to do anything quickly, because we think that’s part of the problem, the quick fix-ish initiatives.” One small first step they took in December was to host a blanket ceremony for the community. It’s an activity lots of people are already familiar with, and is a meaningful way to educate people on Canada’s Indigenous history.

Trinity Baptist in Winnipeg also participated, folding the scriptures and prayer focus into their regular weekly prayer meetings. Pastor Brad Warkentin says the experience increased his church’s sense of belonging within the denomination.

“We’re on the fringes this far east. We don’t have the critical mass of Alberta’s CBWC churches. Being part of a wide-scale prayer initiative increased our feeling of affinity with the denomination,” Brad said.

The listening prayer resonated with their posture of response over initiative. “It’s something we’re really convinced about, this focus on response to God’s actions over initiating our own programs. When we heard the denomination wanted to do this, we were thrilled.”

The CBWC Board and leadership are meeting in January to review the common themes from their own prayer and responses received from the denomination. Stay tuned for what our response will look like!

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This article was published in the January 2018 issue of Making Connections. Subscribe to the Making Connections monthly newsletter here

How do you hear the voice of God? How do you discern a call to ministry? In its second year, the Potential Impact conference will gather young adults from across the denomination who are interested in entering the ministry to answer these questions.

As most of us over the age of 30 can empathize with, trying to decide what to do with your life is a staggering decision to make. Organizers of the Potential Impact conference hope to support young adults who are in the midst of that decision process.

“The next generation of Christian leaders, they’re at that stage right now asking, ‘God, what do you want from me?’” said Dennis Stone. “So having people to bounce ideas off of, being able to hear and see others goingthrough the same thing can be encouraging.”  Dennis is our Alberta Regional Minister, and having been involved with pastoral placement and settlement, he saw a need within CBWC to better support young people, after youth group and before seminary. With this conference, Dennis hopes to help address that gap.

In small groups, participants will dig into spiritual discernment and direction, with support from peers and coaches. It’s meant as a place to dive deep into the questions about the call to ministry, alongside others who are going through the same thing.

The conference is based equally in the practical considerations as the spiritual discernment. Questions like, what is the job market for pastors? Where should I go to school? Will I have to move? will also be addressed.

Here’s what some 2017 participants said:

• “I was able to answer some questions and really look back at my life to see where I should go from now.”
• “I don’t know the exact details of my direction, but I do know that I am to make the most of where I am.”
• “I’ve known where God is calling me, however I’ve been trying to not go there. This weekend helped to accept the calling.”

Grade 11 students through to 24-year olds from all CBWC regions are invited to the beautiful oceanfront Keats Camp in B.C.. The conference runs from Thursday evening April 26th, 2018 until Sunday, April 29, at noon. Registration is $200.

• Find the brochure here: https://cbwc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Potential-Impact-2018-Brochure.pdf
• Register here: https://cbwc.ca/events/#potential-impact

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This article was published in the January 2018 issue of Making Connections. Subscribe to the Making Connections monthly newsletter here

The CBWC would like to acknowledge with much gratitude the service of the following people who will be transitioning from their employment with us, some for personal reasons and life changes; some because of our need to realign budget priorities.

We have been truly blessed by the gifts and willing hearts of our colleagues and would like you to join us in thanking them for their faithful contributions:

• Dana Cupples who has been with the CBWC in a variety of capacities for over 25 years
• Rod Olsen who has served for 12 years in our campus outreach and refugee ministries
• David Holten who has gradually been retiring from the financial portfolio
• Heather Thomson who has assisted in event planning
• Joell Haugan who has served the Heartland in encouraging church planting
• Jenn Gurell who worked in the Heartland office.

We pray God’s hand of blessing and guidance to be upon each one and we also celebrate that they will continue to participate in our CBWC family in various ways.

Faye Reynolds

Director of Ministries

A little church that could. They started almost seven years ago when an ad hoc bible study got too big for its living room. With a vision to reach out to the community, the group of mostly seniors formed a church in the Mill Bay Community Hall—and were not unaware that five churches had previously been started there, yet only one remained.

“We are determined to change that statistic,” says lead pastor Norm Sowden. Looks like they’re doing it too. A few years ago they bought a pie-shaped piece of land beside the famously steep Malahat Highway, and this August began construction. Norm hopes to be celebrating Easter in their new home. Yes, Mill Bay Baptist Fellowship is here to stay.

“We’re a very active church family,” Norm says. “One member likes to say that while most churches follow an 80:20 rule—where 20 per cent of the congregation are involved, and 80 per cent benefit—here, the numbers are reversed.”

Mill Bay Baptist was the first church on Vancouver Island to sponsor a family of refugees from Syria, who arrived one year ago. “The whole community jumped in to help. All the Cowichan Valley, including people who don’t go to church, got involved,” Norm says. They’re also supporting Grace Cowichan Church in a church plant with the Malahat Nation near the new church home.

The church was started by mostly seniors, but has grown younger and younger every year.

“Thankfully the board had the vision to invite Tammy Klassen to be our Pastor of Family Ministries, and she’s been amazing at helping us do intergenerational things.”

The first thing the church did with their pie-shaped plot was to build a playground. The second thing they did was to plant a garden.

“The seniors, teenagers and kids all work together on the garden, planting seeds and weeding and harvesting,” says Norm. “It’s so great to see them all doing things together. Neighbors have dropped in for veggies and lots have been donated to the food bank in Mill Bay.”

But with their growth in families, they’ve more than maxed out their current rental space: two-year olds and 12-year olds have Sunday School in the same room, and there’s no nursery.

 

“It’s really difficult to reach young families when we don’t have a great space for their kids,” Norm says.

The small community of Mill Bay is growing around them, and Norm and the church want to be able to welcome people in. That’s where the new building comes in. True to form, the Mill Bay Baptist Fellowship family is heavily involved in the construction. One member is the General Contractor, several members with construction experience are on the team, and a small hired crew works alongside volunteers.

Prayers for safety and cost control are appreciated as increasing timber prices and uncertainty about the North American Free Trade Agreement have driven up cost of materials. Anyone in the area keen to help church construction can get in touch with Pastor Norm for more information. He can be found at ansowden@shaw.ca.

“We’re extremely grateful to be part of a wider church family, both the churches on the Island and the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada, the CBWC Foundation and Canadian Baptist Ministries,” says Norm.

“We’ve received lots of feedback that people are praying. We really love being part of this church family.”