Banff 2024—A Invitation to Rest

By H. Hamm

A trip to a historic castle in the Rocky Mountains. A collection of over 200 Kingdom servants, all seeking the goal of restoration together. If those old walls (and chandeliers) could speak, they would say the attendees are well on their way to the REST that was sought (and also that which wasn’t).

With lovely accommodations, nutritious and enticing meals, many available options for physical relaxation and views to deeply absorb, guests couldn’t help but receive some measure of restoration.

The gifts received went beyond what the eye could see and the body could feel.

Many hearts, hands, and minds went into filling up the proverbial “reservoir” so that guests could, in turn, return home with gifts to offer from the overflow.

Carolyn Arends and Spencer Capier gave the gift of music, both in performance and in shared worship. Their talent is undeniable and speaks of their many years making music together. Carolyn also gave the keynote address on Tuesday morning, encouraging guests to live as “Reservoir Christians” rather than “Channel Christians.” This was based on a quote from Bernard of Clairvaux which encourages us to let the ministries we receive fill us up before we begin channeling out to others. Many are quick to do the latter. May we sit with the idea of our belovedness until we believe it and then move from that place into ministry. Too often we serve FOR acceptance rather than FROM acceptance.

Each morning there was an opportunity to receive encouragement from within our own CBWC pastoral team. Tyler Graftaas (Calgary), Scott Simpson (Calgary), and Rebecca Thornber (Vancouver) shared beautifully and with insight from the 3 “lost & found” parables on the unexpected nature of God.

Another guest presenter was Skye Jethani, a pastor/theologian/comedian/podcaster/ family man from Chicago. Many listeners of his podcast, the Holy Post, were already accustomed to his wit and passion as a teacher. Over three sessions, he challenged everyone to make space for God to do the work, even if that means God going outside God’s own script. The invitation was to let go of the outcomes, to carefully consider why we do what we do in our lives and in our churches, and to simply answer the call to be the presence of Christ wherever we find ourselves—whether we specifically chose that situation or not.

Daily worship with Craig Bosnick and his team was like a taste of heaven. There’s nothing like singing with multitudes of church leaders; encompassing race, gender, age and perspective all together in one voice of praise to God.

Many took in other opportunities for enrichment including the Kairos Blanket exercise with Jodi Spargur and TiMTalk presentations from Bryana Russell and Tim Warkentin.

A collection of ordinary and extraordinary moments graced our visit and will remain in memory. The castle-sized fireplace brought ambiance to the hall, along with a bit of extra smoke that caused a stir one evening! A special dessert which must not be named, but rhymes with Leaver Snail, delighted our taste buds on a dark, cold evening. We bid a fond farewell to one of our regional ministers, Larry Schram, with a prayer and a Tilley hat fit for adventure. A collection of youth leaders took down Peter Anderson at glow-in-the-dark bowling, even as he gifted them with pizza.

Perhaps most significantly, the Holy Spirit met everyone present in agreeably sacred places like Stillpoint, and also around meals, in the pool, and on the hiking trail. May the ministry received be multiplied, both within the recipients at Banff and to those met along the way in the aftermath. Hope to see you there next year! Mark your calendars Nov 10-13, 2025.

A Tribute to Larry Schram

upon his retirement from the position of Regional Minister in the BC/Yukon region

Larry, God has gifted you in unique ways (including football in college, who knew!?) 

You are a wise discerner. You are someone who, after you listen to someone, can discern quite quickly what the real underlying issue is. You’re also amazingly good at giving the three action steps that are needed to address the issue.  

Larry, we rejoice, and thank God, for what you have been to us. We rejoice, and look forward to, what that next adventure might hold.  

CBWC Staff Christmas Traditions

My First Advent

By Grace Wulff

It was 1982, a year of change.

I was a young mom with two incredibly active toddlers. We were anticipating moving from our small townhouse to a bigger house in a neighbourhood where we would raise our kids.

My husband was not often around, a busy paramedic working long hours—and in the midst of this season, I received the call that my beloved Grandma had died. We were close. It was my first close encounter with death, and I was shaken. To add another level of complexity, my husband’s brother came to live with us. He was a missionary in South America coming home to prepare for his wedding and we wanted to make it special.

So, when I was overcome with nausea, I put it down to grief, and nerves, and exhaustion. But alas, to my surprise, I was pregnant with our third child.

While some women glow with pregnancy, I suffered with severe morning sickness that lasted months. Gone were my plans to prepare wonderful meals for my brother-in-law. It rather became a summer and fall of survival-mode.

Dad often said, “This too shall pass” … and so it did. I found myself in our new house, creating a home, while resting a great deal of the time. I wanted to be excited about the pregnancy, I truly did.

And then something happened to shift my thoughts; to change my focus. I don’t remember who gave me the book, but it was a simple activity book to prepare for Advent. Back then, Advent was foreign to me—something practiced by other churches, not mine.

But here was an invitation to enter into a sacred time of waiting; a time of change. As I began to think about it, I started to relate to Mary.

Heavy with child.

A world of unknowns.

Praying for her baby.

Advent became real to me. We, too, could embrace this time of waiting with anticipation and hope; each day focused on preparation for our new baby. This was wonderful to teach my children, and we began an advent adventure that has now repeated itself over forty years.

It was simple, really. Each day as we waited for Jesus’ birthday, we could choose an activity to help us prepare. The kids helped me make cards and cookies, gifts we gave away. One day we made homemade “snowballs” out of cotton and sent them to their uncle who was serving in the army overseas. Of course we had a “snowball” fight first, before we packaged them up with our love.

One day we turned on our outdoor Christmas lights, making it a celebration of light. I can’t remember every activity, but I remember the joy we shared that made the waiting so much easier. And it was joy that we could share with others.

On Christmas day, we served birthday cake for Jesus and sang. It was very meaningful, and we knew that soon we, too, would welcome a new baby into our home.

My third child arrived weeks later, in early February. This daughter, now a busy mom of four, celebrates Advent each year with her children, and I delight in finding resources for my grandchildren to think about in this season of anticipation and preparation.

Advent has become so commercialized, associated with cheap chocolate calendars or other treats, but I keep coming back to the simple truth of this invitation.

To wait with hope.

To focus on the coming of Jesus.

To quiet my heart in the midst of busyness and receive the gifts in the waiting.

Doctine of Discovery: Exploring Its Hidden Roots

We are pleased to invite Jodi Spargur (Red Clover/CBM), and David Nacho (FBC Vancouver) for an hour of teaching on the Doctrine of Discovery (DoD), its historical arc, and what the DoD has to do with us as Baptists. We will also hear from Indigenous voices speaking on the impact of the Doctrine of Discovery on them today.  

To register for this webinar, click HERE. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered emails 24 hours in advance of this event. 

 Partner Spotlight: Carey

Letter from our Dean of Student Residents
By Rafael Franco, Dean of Student Residents, Carey Theological College

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has prayed for and supported Carey’s student residence program over the years. In my role as the Dean of Student Residents, I have the privilege to spend time with these young UBC undergraduates. I get to watch them pursue their dreams, build community, and form bonds that will last a lifetime. 

I think this is the fruit of the faithfulness of God’s people.  

 From the steadfast prayers of parents who have entrusted us with their children, to the generosity of partners who trust our mission,

God has blessed us through the Body of Christ; people who care immensely about the ministry we serve in.  

 Let me share what two of our students, Grace and Kristina, have said about their experience of living at Carey:  

  “I’ve developed a consistent prayer life this year… and it’s because of how I’ve grown in my relationship with God at Carey. I also feel like I’ve become more confident and sociable this year as I’ve been getting to know more people at Carey.”  

— Kristina, Carey Student Resident 

 “The most valuable thing about living at Carey has been making friends with loving people who are not afraid to call me out when I am wrong. The Carey community has truly helped me understand Proverbs 27:17, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.’”  

— Grace, Carey Student Resident 

 Their testimonies reflect Carey’s heart: a place where students are not only learning but also being shaped as leaders to serve out God’s calling for their lives.  

Carey staff touring the 2-bed unit of Timothy Hall

Looking to the future, I am excited about the growth resulting from our new building. We have a new student residence building slated for completion in late Spring 2025. The building will welcome an additional 104 beds to our current capacity of 44, bringing even more opportunities for students to grow and flourish in our community. 

The vision we have for this new student residence, Timothy Hall, is inspired by a passage beloved by our president, Rev. Dr. Colin Godwin:

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”

 — 2 Timothy 2:2

We want Timothy Hall to be a place where students are ministered to and built up, ultimately leaving as Christian men and women, capable and mature in their faith, able to teach and disciple those around them. 

Drawing closer to Timothy Hall’s opening, I cannot wait to meet the students God will bring to our doors. Many of us who are passionate about student ministry at Carey are busy envisioning programming that will shape and point our community to Christ. We do not take lightly the grace that God has given us to be a beacon of light on UBC campus. Carey is filled with hopeful expectations of great things from God.

Timothy Hall will be completed late Spring 2025

Currently, applications to our student residence for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic year are open. If in your churches there are UBC students, current or prospective, in need of on-campus housing, please share the exciting news with them. Invite them to take a look at our webpage or fill out an application form. Carey is grateful for the partnership with CBWC, and over 15% of the students in our program are part of the CBWC denomination.  

 Thank you for listening to our story. I hope you are encouraged, as I am, in the work God is doing in our community. If you want to support our ministry in Timothy Hall, please take a look at this page to see what our needs and prayer items are as we take this next step forward. What we are achieving is only possible because of many faithful prayers and supporters in our mission.  

 In Christ, 

 Rafael Franco