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