We’re Here for You During COVID-19

We’ve all been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic relationally, socially, psychological, physically or economically. As Christ followers, this is a time where we can nuance the narrative of fear and anxiety to one shaped by hope. As a family of churches, let’s continue to pray for one another!

On this page, you’ll find access to resources, ideas and reference materials you can use personally and for your church. And we’re just a phone call away if you have any questions. 

Support for Leaders in the Midst of a Pandemic (Including a Free Book!)

CBWC Sermon Videos and CBWC Sunday Service Video – Available mid-October
Preaching online can be a daunting task. We want to give you a chance to take a break this fall:

  • Disruptive Hope Sermon Series: in the coming weeks, you’ll find a 6-week Advent Preaching Series. These downloadable sermon videos by CBWC Executive Staff can be used individually or as a series from November 22 to December 27. Visit our Advent Resources page.

     

  • CBWC Sunday: Each year we ask that you set aside a Sunday in November to celebrate what it means to be part of the larger CBWC family and its shared ministries. This year, we are inviting you to celebrate a bit differently!  On the Sunday that would have followed Banff Pastors Retreat, November 8th, we’d like to bless you with all of the pieces needed for an online service. It will be up to you as to how to use the pieces—whether to pick and choose certain elements and add them to your worship service, or download the entire service in a single, stacked format. Visit the CBWC Sunday page for details.

    In this extraordinary season when you’ve faithfully attended to the needs of others, often at the expense of your own health and well being, we are pleased to offer these Sunday “gifts” to both you and your congregation.     Watch for more details in October.

Pastoring the Pastor Webinar Series Fall 2020
CBWC is offering a free webinar series for pastors, chaplains and ministry leaders. Visit the Pastoring the Pastor page to register for topics such as Digital Mission, Regulating Self, and Facilitating Crucial Conversations. 

Reduced Rates for a Room at Banff
Nov. 2-5, 2020: Because of our longstanding relationship with Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, they have agreed to retain our substantially reduced conference rate for the contracted dates that the conference would have been held. If you would like to take advantage of booking a room at the Banff Springs Hotel over the nights of Monday, November 2 (arrival) to Thursday, November 5 (departure), please call 604.225.5916 for the discount code before October 19.

A Gift of a Free Book for Pastors and Ministry Leaders
We know how important it is to keep learning and growing in leadership skills especially during a season of disruption. And, we know how fun it is to get a free book! Register here to choose your book. Choose an ebook or hard copy in a language of your choice if available:

  • Digital Mission: A Practical Guide for Ministry Online by Bryce Ashlin-Mayo 
  • Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler   
  • A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing by Scot McKnight  
  • God and the Pandemic: A Christian Reflection on the Coronavirus and Its Aftermath by N.T. Wright   
  • Leading in Disorienting Times by Gary Nelson

Online Leadership Tools

Dealing with Finances and Church HR

Government Financial Supports

 

Receiving Tithes & Offerings

    • E-transfer instructions: Someone with signing authority on behalf of your church may visit your local bank to register your church’s email address and begin accepting e-transfer donations. Setting up e-transfer this way ensures that all donations are transferred directly from one institution to another, without need of a password. Deposit notifications are emailed to the church identifying the name of the donor and amount of the gift to ensure accurate tax receipting.

 

 

Church HR Resources

Tech Tools for Virtual or Hybrid Church Services

If you’re new to hosting online, livestreamed or hybrid gatherings, you’re not alone! The good news is that there are tons of resources on YouTube and around the web that can point you in the right direction. Here are a few to get you started:

Meeting in Person? Here's What You Need to Know

We wish to be responsible citizens and stay informed of the continued risks and precautions associated with this pandemic. Our churches must navigate this season faithfully and safely. Our national, provincial and local government health authorities are still our best source of that information.

We encourage you to read through the Guide to Reopening Churches from the Humanitarian Disaster Institute and Canadian Baptist of Atlantic Canada’s 2020 Church Reopening Plan. Then, check out these resources based on your province:

 

British Columbia & Yukon:

 

Alberta & NWT:

 

Saskatchewan:

 

Manitoba:

 

*We recommend that churches ask attendees to voluntarily register to assist with public health contact tracing should someone in attendance test positive for COVID-19. Online registration is encouraged as a first choice. If your church is registering attendees on site, you may use the AB Attendance Sheet as a template, taking into account your provincial/territorial guidelines.

“Any church, regardless of size and location, can reopen safely and faithfully if it will thoughtfully take its time, adapt, and innovate. Remember, the church has never closed. The church remains open, even as we don’t physically gather in our building. All of this so that we might fully love our neighbors as we love ourselves.”  – Alex Shanks, “Why Reopening a Church is Different”

“Esther, please thank the staff on my behalf for the resource ideas. I particularly appreciated the selection of free online meeting apps that were recommended. I’ve found this to be a confusing time but as I prepared for the webcast that I put online last Sunday, it struck me that although I wouldn’t be meeting face to face with my brothers and sisters, I would be meeting with them in God’s Word. The Bible suddenly became holy ground in a new way for me, and I trust it did for my church family as they later joined me online on Sunday morning. Good health and God’s blessing to you all.” –  Brent Reilly

“Thank you for serving us your churches so well! Praying for you all in this time!” – Pam, Strathcona Baptist Edmonton

“CBWC churches I would like to encourage you. At New Life we have been offering to our congregation ways to give/tithe online for many years. New Life is a diverse church of all ages, and all age groups have joined in. So be encouraged at this time! Feel free to contact me on ways to take gifts and tithes online.” – Henry Wikkerink henry@newlife.ca

This page will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.