It’s summer, a time when my schedule slows down some. I’m grateful for such a time. I get to catch up on a bit of reading, which I like to do in the mornings, outside at a lovely spot in front of our house, drinking 454 Horsepower Kicking Horse Coffee. It’s a great way to see some neighbourhood routines; the bus coming at the usual time, some neighbours leaving frantically for work, and saying hello to my neighbour walking his dogs.

In writing this update, I look back at my calendar and recognize that not all seasons are like this one. There is plenty going on in our churches, with different discussions happening with different churches. A familiar one these days is the conversation about calling a pastor. It isn’t an easy time to do so, and this requires time and patience, and I’m happy to work with my colleagues in helping churches find the right pastor for such a time as this.

Looking back on the calendar also reminds me that there is a wide array of issues happening within the Heartland, and some are more difficult than others. In April, I was able to get to Swift Current and spend some time with Joell Haugan, whose cousin had passed away in that horrific bus crash in Humboldt, SK. I was able to attend the ministerial in Saskatoon as well, and am really pleased that I get to attend that on occasion. I’m grateful to Blake and Betty Anderson, who work hard at organizing such meetings.

At the end of April, Carey Hall was the site of the denomination’s New Minister Orientation. This is always a good time, introducing the denomination’s staff and resources to new pastors in our midst. It’s always a reminder, too, that God is at work all over, as most pastors have stories of faith that do not necessarily originate within the CBWC (mine included). I think this is a great resource for pastors in our denomination, and I’m grateful for all the work that goes on to make it happen.

At the beginning of May, I attended the National Staff Meeting of the Canadian Baptists in Guelph, ON. The Executive Staff from our sister denominations get together on occasion to talk about all sorts of interesting topics, ranging from a proposed new worship manual, to steps of accreditation, and church planting. It may be hard to believe, but when you lump all these denominations together, we become the 2^nd largest evangelical voice in Canada. I’m happy to report that there are fine people who serve these denominations.

Of course, there have been significant moments in the congregations as well. I was privileged to be part of the farewell service of Dave and Janet Bonney at Neepawa. It sure is good to be part of such a service and to hear the impact that a pastor makes on people in a community. I was able to attend Cornerstone Baptist’s 20^th anniversary, and just preached at Filipino Evangelical’s 35^th anniversary. There’s lots of good stuff happening there, and it’s always a pleasure to be in that community.

On July 15^th, I had the opportunity to be part of service to mark the closing of a church after 92 years of ministry. Hyas Baptist Church has a long and great history, but the time has come for the church to close. This is surely difficult, but not without a sense of God’s faithfulness over these 92 years of witness in that community. I personally would like to thank this congregation for their ministry over the years, and for their support of the denomination. I am grateful to those who helped plan the service, and to those who were able to attend. Please remember these folks in prayer.

I hope you are having a good summer. Mary and I are mainly staying near our home, and we’re hoping to do some day trips to hike some trails at different parts of the province. I look forward to a change of pace, eating lots of watermelon, and spending time with family.

Grace and Peace

Mark

Meet Our People: Alisa Powers

One of our favourite parts of this newsletter is introducing you to people in the Heartland region. This month, it’s Alisa Powers, the Outreach and Family Ministries Pastor at Moosomin Baptist church. 

When I first moved to Regina I met some amazing people with the same passion for the lost that I had. Together, we started a bus ministry called LOVE LIVES HERE – REGINA. The bus—still on the streets today—is a travelling coffee house which offers prayer, counselling, emergency care and food to the people on the street: the homeless, prostitutes, gang members, pimps, johns and street kids.

After serving on the street bus for a few years, I became discouraged seeing so many youth growing up with little change in their life circumstances. They had no hope for the future outside of drugs, crime, gangs and prostitution. I remember crying out to God in anguish, “God there is so much more out there for them.”

It was that night the Youth Advantage Inner City Outreach Project was born. I was 19 years old, had grown up in a farming community and knew very little about this lifestyle I was seeing every day. But God used me anyways. Over the years our ministry developed rapidly. We had safe houses, a drop-in centre, mentorship program, youth group, bus ministries, counselling and emergency care.

Over the years we had 500+ children and youth stay in our homes, 13 of them long term, and I was blessed to raise five of them until they were old enough to be on their own. My children were the ones that Social Services did not know what to do with. I was their last hope. They were often labeled as “throw away” kids by their social workers. Raising my kids were the hardest years of my life but it transformed me into the person I am today. They brought out the very best in me. I loved them like a mom, and they knew it.

In the summer of 2017 one of my daughters was killed by the lifestyle she had been taken out of. She was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. It saddened me beyond anything I had experienced before. I felt lost in my own sadness, but God took me closer and deeper into his love than I’d ever experienced. What a privilege it is to be allowed closer and deeper into his presence.

After many years working in various inner cities—Detroit, Los Angeles, Toronto, Winnipeg, Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina—I was tired. I decided to take a six-month sabbatical and stay with a family friend in Carnduff. Well, God had different plans for me. As I was resting, I noticed that the people I’d put in place in Regina to serve in my absence were full of passion and had the energy I was lacking. With my ministry in good hands, and a new life in a small town, I decided to stay. Eventually I moved to Redvers, about half an hour outside of Moosomin. On one Sunday drive, I found myself at Moosomin Baptist Church when their service was about to start, so I went in. It reminded me so much of my country church back home and I loved it.

After two years of attending the Moosomin Baptist Church I joined their staff as an Associate Pastor. In the almost two years that I have been here God has blown away all my expectations. Our children and youth programs have grown so rapidly that we barely have enough room for them all. Our church is alive and a very exciting place to be right now. I have appreciated so much the opportunity that I have to serve here at Moosomin Baptist Church and look forward to what God will continue to do in my ministry.

Settlement Report