KURIOS: Discovering the Joy of Loving God With our Whole Self

“Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” 

In one sentence, that is what Kurios is all about: inviting young adults to discover the joy of loving our God with our whole person. 

 We intentionally and actively focus our discipleship on an integrative spiritual formation model, which means paying attention to all areas of our lives and bringing those together under the Lordship of Jesus. 

 We attend to our heart and our emotions, learning to feel them and embrace them as a gift for ourselves and others. Living in community opens us to depth and to the emotional vibrancy of relationships. Together we seek to experience God’s emotions toward us—and as we do, our hearts grow in love. 

 “I’ve noticed that since I’ve been home from Kurios, I’ve been just so much more confident in myself, more confident in God’s love for me and more confident in my ability to love others… I’ve been able to stand a lot taller. It’s been really amazing.”  

Grace, Kurios 2023-24 

 We attend to our souls, discovering a rhythm of forgiveness, freedom and healing as we practice gratitude and the awareness of God’s presence with us. Our daily prayer practice together shapes us. We listen to God through His Word made alive through the Spirit. As we do, our souls grow in love. 

 “My biggest takeaway would probably be being able to learn the importance of prayer and how prayer is a two-way street, not a one-way street with God, and how it is a conversation.”  

Mia, Kurios 2022-23 

 We attend to our minds, wrestling with Scripture and how to live it out in our world. We challenge each other’s ideas in respectful pursuit of truth and wisdom. We learn to critically examine the messages we are bombarded with in our culture and develop an understanding of both God’s story and our place in it as His precious children. As we do, our minds grow in love. 

 “One area that impacted me after Kurios was a love for books about theology and for reading about my faith. Before I went to Kurios, I only really had the Bible and, like, children’s books about Jesus and how much He loves me, which is great. But Kurios introduced me to books that deepened my faith and were more serious and grew a love in me for reading those.”  

Eva, Kurios 2021-22 

 We attend to our bodies – our “strength.” We seek healthy habits for our physical selves, learning together to eat well and finding enjoyable ways to be active. We rejoice in opportunities to serve others and discover God already at work. Living in Jasper inspires us to embrace the physical world and to get into the real world that God has made for us to enjoy and steward. We do all these activities as acts of worship. As we do, our strength grows in love. 

 “Work is worship.”  

Tanya, Kurious 2023-24 

  Sometimes people ask, “What’s different about Kurios?” We invite young adults to discover a different way of living, to find a rhythm of life that begins each day with community prayer, embraces the upcoming day as a gift to be enjoyed, and then ends each day with community prayer expressing our gratitude for all we have received. We actively arrange our pursuits to ensure attention to the whole person as created in the image of God, and we are invited to flourish as we respond to who God is and all God has done. 

  As we do, our whole selves grow in love for God and in love for others. 

 To find out more about Kurios for yourself, or someone you know, please follow this link!  The 2025/2026 cohort is still accepting applicants.  

From Hymns to Hotcakes: A Stampede Tradition

Once again, Calgary welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors, July 4-13, to what is billed as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”—the Calgary Stampede. The world-famous Stampede rodeo began in 1912, right around the same time that GoodTree Church (formerly Crescent Heights Baptist Church) was planted by members from First Baptist Calgary. While the first official Stampede breakfasts were held in 1923, the tradition of churches hosting them, like GoodTree Church, became more widespread in the 1950s. Since that time, Calgarians, including CBWC church congregations, have extended Western hospitality by hosting pancake breakfasts as an act of generosity and fellowship during the 10-day celebration. 

Longtime GoodTree Church member and historian, Ian Clarke, writes: “Many years ago, GoodTree Church (then Crescent Heights Baptist) joined in the fun by serving up a delicious Stampede Breakfast on the roadway in front of the church on the second Saturday of “Stampede week.” Each year, the road is closed to traffic and populated with the church’s tables and chairs. Throughout the morning, it is not uncommon for the church to serve over 400 hungry visitors who are also entertained by some lively western gospel music. Our Stampede Breakfast has become well known throughout the community, and a gracious neighbour has also provided a cash grant to help the church defray some of the costs. It is all great fun for the visitors and volunteers alike, as we display Christian generosity and community spirit in the final days of each year’s Stampede. This year our Breakfast was held on the morning of Saturday July 12th.” 

We are thankful for our churches who extend koinonia during the Calgary Stampede—a time for believers and seekers to connect, share stories, and bear witness to the surrounding community of love in action, one hotcake at a time.  

SERVE Impacting Whitehorse, YK for the Kingdom

In the Fall of 2019, preparation began for SERVE to be held in Whitehorse, Yukon, and then—just a few short months later—it would need to be canceled. For more than 5 years, people prayed that this opportunity might be possible again and, praise God, from July 6-12, 2025 more than 175 youth and leaders from 12 churches traveled to the Yukon to serve the community by being the hands and feet of Jesus.   

During the week, more than 4000 hours of service were poured into Whitehorse and the surrounding communities. Projects included “fire smarting,” day camps, painting, light construction, and much more. On the final day of the week, SERVE participants hosted a free BBQ and carnival in Rotary Park. One of the attendees commented, “My family and I moved to Whitehorse a while ago and haven’t really felt at home. Today is the first day we have felt like we were truly part of a community.”  

Another Whitehorse resident, who had a group of participants serving at her home said, “[They’ve been] picking weeds and stuff. It’s a lot of work, and it’s been helpful to have them. Oh my goodness, you guys have just made my day. Phenomenal!” 

Each evening the sanctuary at Riverdale Baptist Church was filled with the praise of His people. SERVE youth, sang, danced, played, prayed, heard from God’s Word and considered what it means to join God in what He is doing in the world.   

As a part of this call to SERVE our world, Canadian Baptist Ministries led an event on Thursday afternoon as a part of their Active in Mission initiative. Youth competed in 4 different games from countries around the world that are facing serious food insecurity. Getting active led them to want to take action, and they donated over $1,000 to provide food for those in our world who need it. If you would like to contribute to the SERVE 2025 Active in Mission Team, please visit activeinmission.ca/t/serve  

SERVE has had a profound impact on our participants. One youth reflected, “[It’s amazing] seeing everyone work together and to share a trait that we love Jesus and want to be like Him. We want to love others and just serve them, even if they don’t know Jesus and just, I guess, share His Gospel that way by showing His love through serving others.” Another participant added, “And it’s been really cool to get to know other teams from across Canada, work together and show God’s love to the people around us.” 

One youth reflected on the impact SERVE has had on her youth group, “I really enjoyed this week since we got to know each other a lot, and then we bonded a lot. It will make community service at our church better.” 

SERVE was only made possible this year by the tireless effort of the incredible members of Riverdale Baptist Church. On behalf of all this year’s SERVE participants, thank you for being wonderful hosts and serving us so that we could better serve the beautiful city of Whitehorse.   

Thank you, God, for the kingdom impact that took place during SERVE 2025 and for the legacy that it will leave in the city. 

Please consider having your church send a team to SERVE from July 5-11, 2026—which will be hosted by Brightview Community Church in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.  For more info visit cbwc.ca/serve. 

From Passion to Provision: Active in Mission

Pauline’s Journey to Food Security 

Pauline Kagendo, a 34-year-old mother of two from Giconjori village in Embu County, Kenya, is a powerful example of how communities can thrive when local strengths and passions are nurtured. Living on a small piece of land, Pauline always had an enthusiasm for poultry farming, but limited knowledge and resources made it difficult to succeed. She struggled to grow her chicken population, which left her feeling discouraged. 

But Pauline’s story took a turn for the better when she connected with the ACC&S Embu Food Security Project, supported by Canadian Baptist Ministries and their partnership with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. The project built on what Pauline already had: her passion, resilience, and willingness to learn. Through the project’s training sessions, Pauline gained important knowledge in poultry care—from feeding and vaccinating to providing proper housing. 

 Within a year, Pauline was not only hatching and collecting enough eggs to feed her family but also selling the surplus. She began using manure from the chickens to improve her crop yields, helping her provide nutritious and diverse food for her family.  

 Through the Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) supported by the project, Pauline has also learned to save and access low-interest loans, building her financial confidence and enabling her to grow her business sustainably. 

 Pauline’s journey shows what’s possible when local people are equipped to build on their own assets, talents, and dreams. 

 Active in Mission is our chance to contribute to food security initiatives around the world like ACC&S Embu, as well as projects right here in Canada, as retired CBWC Pastor Clark Gietz explains in this brief video: 

CBWC Staff Lace Up for Active in Mission 

 This summer, CBWC staff is hoping you’ll donate or join the efforts with your own chosen activity. Whether you run, walk, cycle, swim or give, your efforts will raise vital funds for local and global food programs. 

 Our Regional Ministers have been putting on the miles during this Active in Mission campaign: Mark Doerksen goes for daily walks, Brian Louw recently ran a 10k, and Tim Kerber has been cycling up a storm, logging 470km on his bike in June alone.  

Brian Louw

Esther Kitchener

Communications and Development Director Louanne Haugan has been paddleboarding, and Executive Assistant Esther Kitchener spent her June holidays hiking over 200km on Vancouver Island. 

 “I’ve always cared a lot about food insecurity but had never found the mind space to ‘jump in’ on this fundraiser before,” says Senior Writer Hannah Hamm, who is participating in AiM for the first time this year. “I’m aiming to walk 500 km, and much of that will be in Italy! I can’t help but feel the huge privilege of a sabbatical trip to Europe while so many don’t have enough food to eat on a daily basis. As I explore a few epic new cities, and some different countryside than usual, my prayer will be that I can make a small difference by being Active in Mission.” 

 There’s still time to get Active in Mission and help Baptists Canada-wide reach our goal of $100,000! Donate or sign up today: activeinmission.ca. 

Between January and August this year, we are journeying through these reflections on the Lord’s Prayer, used with permission, by Carolyn Arends.  

The Lord’s Prayer was the theme of our Assembly this May.  

If you missed the first editions, you can find them in past issues of Making Connections: cbwc.ca/newsletters 

The universe in 57 Words–Part SEVEN

By Carolyn Arends

DAY SEVEN 

PETITION SIX 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

This portion of the Lord’s Prayer has given commentators the most fits over the centuries. Would God ever actually lead us into temptation, such that we need to ask him not to? 

 TESTS AND TEMPTATIONS 

Darrell Johnson helps clarify this seemingly confusing petition. He points out that pierasmos—the Greek word translated as “temptation” in Matthew 6:13—can also mean “test” or “trial.” When translated as “temptation,” it refers to a deliberate 

attempt to ensnare a person in something evil. But when the word is translated as “test,” it refers to something positive—the way gold is tested by fire to be both evaluated and refined. 

These two different meanings of pierasmos are seen in the first chapter of James. Verses 2–3 read, “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” This passage points to the truth that we usually experience the most growth through the hardest stretches. 

 In verse 13, James cautions, “No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one.” Here, using the very same Greek word, James is making it clear that it is never God’s intention to lead us into evil. 

 So why is pierasmos translated as “temptation” rather than “test” in Matthew 6:13? Perhaps because we’re tempted to misread our trials to mean that God is no longer with us or for us. Satan took this tack in the wilderness. But Jesus was too thoroughly acquainted with his Father’s goodness to fall for Satan’s lie that God could not be trusted in a time of trial. 

 When trials inevitably come, Jesus teaches us to pray that Satan won’t convince us that God has abandoned us. Johnson’s paraphrase of Matthew 6:13 reads, “Father, as you lead us to the test, do not let the test become a temptation, but rescue us from the one who seeks to destroy our faith, and work in us the same confidence in you that Jesus has.” 

 We see again why the first petition is for the hallowing of God’s name. Jesus knows the only thing that can defeat us is if we become permanently convinced that God is not good. 

 DELIVER US FROM EVIL 

 The final thing Jesus teaches us to ask for is deliverance from evil, which indicates that evil is real and we shouldn’t underestimate it. There truly is an enemy who would love to devour us. Remember, this enemy’s primary modus operandi is attempting to deceive us into thinking God cannot be trusted. 

 But if Jesus is realistic about evil, he is also utterly confident about its defeat. He knows we are not in some dualistic battle where good and evil are equal opponents and the outcome is uncertain. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. 

 As a church kid, I loved the special Sundays when missionaries on furlough brought reports. There is one visit I’ve never forgotten. 

 The missionary couple was stationed in what appeared in photos to be a particularly steamy jungle. One day, they told us, an enormous snake—much longer than a man—slithered its way through their front door and into the kitchen of their simple home. Terrified, they ran outside and searched frantically for a local who might know what to do. A machete-wielding neighbor came to the rescue, calmly marching into their house and decapitating the snake with one clean chop. 

 The neighbor reemerged triumphant and assured the missionaries that the reptile had been defeated. But there was a catch, he warned: It was going to take a while for the snake to realize it was dead. 

 A snake’s neurology and blood flow are such that it can take considerable time for it to stop moving even after decapitation. For the next several hours, the missionaries were forced to wait outside while the snake thrashed about, smashing furniture and flailing against walls and windows, wreaking havoc until its body finally understood that it no longer had a head. 

 Sweating in the heat, they felt frustrated but also grateful that the snake’s rampage wouldn’t last forever. At some point they had a mutual epiphany. 

 I leaned in with the rest of the congregation, queasy and fascinated. “Do you see it?” asked the husband. “Satan is a lot like that big old snake. He’s already been defeated. He just doesn’t know it yet. In the meantime, he’s going to do some damage. But never forget that he’s a goner.” 

 That story is a picture of the universe. We are in the thrashing time, a season characterized by our capacity to do violence to each other and ourselves. The temptation is to despair. We have to remember, though, that it won’t last forever. Jesus has already crushed the serpent’s head. 

 There is still a waiting. In some cases, the redemption and healing Jesus obtained for us on the cross may not come in fullness until we are face-to-face with our Victor—but come it will. Guaranteed. 

 One wondrous mystery is that although the end of the story has already been determined, God is still using us to write it. We have the dignity of causality. Because Jesus lives in us through his Spirit, we are called not just to anticipate the ultimate reign of his kingdom, but also to play a part in bringing it to fruition. 

 And so we live inside the prayer Jesus taught us. We affirm that the kingdom is at hand. We sign up for the revolution. 

 We ask God to do what only he can do—and to do it in and through us, even now. 

 Suggested song: “The Last Word (Love Was Here First)” 

Renovare.org/universesongs 

 The Lord’s Prayer 
(Dallas Willard Paraphrase) 

 Dear Father, always near us,   
may your name be treasured and loved,  
may your rule be completed in us— 
may your will be done here on earth  
in just the way it is done in heaven. 

 Give us today the things we need today,  
and forgive us our sins and impositions on you  
as we are forgiving all who in any way offend us.  

 Please don’t put us through trials,  
but deliver us from everything bad.  

 Because you are the one in charge,  
and you have all the power,  
and the glory too is all yours—forever—  
which is just the way we want it!  
AMEN! 

 LIVING INSIDE THE SIXTH PETITION 

Do you face a temptation to doubt God’s goodness and the fact that he is with you and for you? As you pray for deliverance from evil and oppression, “pray back” God’s character as the Deliverer: 

• the One who freed Israel from Egyptian captivity
• the One who welcomed outcasts and healed the sick, freeing them from estrangement and illness
• the One who delivered us from death and decay on the cross

Use this last day inside the Lord’s Prayer to gather up the threads of all that you’ve explored throughout the journey. Be sure to journal anything you’ve heard from God, as well as the questions and petitions that remain. 

 To download the full resource: https://renovare.org/books/the-universe-in-57-words 

Excerpts used with permission from a book entitled 

the universe 
in 57 words 
SEVEN DAYS INSIDE THE LORD’S PRAYER 
By Carolyn Arends 

 This resource has been influenced by more authors, preachers, teachers, and fellow pray-ers than I can credit or even remember. But I am particularly indebted to the following works: Fifty-Seven Words That Change the World, by Darrell Johnson; The Lord and His Prayer, by N. T. Wright; The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard; Prayer, by Richard Foster; and Eugene Peterson’s “Jesus and Prayer” lectures for SPIR 604 at Regent College.  

Rooted in Relationship: White Rock Youth in Kenya

This past May, a group of students and leaders from White Rock Baptist Church in Surrey, BC, travelled to Kenya on a SENT trip with Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM).  

 For Youth Pastor Hannah Juras, it was never just about travel or service—it was about transformation, connection, and reimagining what it means to be part of God’s mission in the world. 

After a cancelled trip in 2020 and several years of decreasing global mission engagement, Hannah saw a growing need within the church.  

“We were looking for something deeper than just a trip,” she said.

“Our students were craving something that would stretch them.” Partnering with CBM offered a chance to rebuild global relationships and expand the students’ understanding of justice and service. 

 Over two weeks, the team was immersed in the ministries of CBM’s local partner, the Africa Christian Church and Schools (ACC&S), visiting Nairobi, Thika, and Embu. They saw first-hand the impact of initiatives focused on food security, mentoring vulnerable children, and walking with youth at risk. But more than any program, it was the people who left a lasting impression. 

 “The days spent with local youth were everyone’s favourite,” said Hannah.  

One unforgettable moment came after a youth-led church service. As it ended, White Rock students naturally dispersed into small groups with their Kenyan peers. They shared stories, laughter, and prayer; no adults needed, just presence.  

 “It was the definition of fellowship,” Hannah reflected. 

 The trip offered a meaningful moment in White Rock’s global engagement; one shaped not by charity, but by mutual transformation. “This experience helped our students ask big questions about what sustainable, holistic mission really looks like,” said Hannah. 

 In the end, it wasn’t flashy projects that left the deepest mark. It was quiet faithfulness: a community farm, a dedicated youth mentor, a shared meal. “Even something as simple as chicken farming can radically change a life,” Hannah shared. “I hope our students carry these stories forward, thinking creatively and faithfully about how God is calling them to live out word and deed.”