There is so much to tell and so little space to do it in. Here is a second instalment of news from our Union community.
This year’s Serve Program was on Vancouver Island with Ryan Sato and his capable co-leads. Here’s a brief report from Ryan. In case he doesn’t mention it, the numbers of kids grew from 40 in 2005 to over 160 this year.
SERVE 2006 was a fabulous event….Western Community Baptist Church hosted us beautifully, Pat MacDonald, Elizabeth Crossley, Katie Swift and the Victoria team covered a multitude of logistics, Randy Carter spoke with passion and high energy, Mike Oshiro and the worship team led us joyfully, and all the students and their youth leaders/youth pastors worked, prayed and praised their way through an incredible week. Plus, lest we forget, we raised over $3000 to be donated to the French Union Summer Camp (Camp Plein Aire Amitié)! ! !
Thanks for participating, thanks for giving of your energies to this event and thanks for being a part of the Baptist Union of Western Canada. This generation of youth and young leaders has been blessed with so many incredible gifts! May we continue to use our lives as a way of pointing people to Jesus, who lives in us and works through us for the Glory of God. Let’s not forget our theme verses of the week from 1 Timothy 4:
Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.
Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you.
Many of us are looking forward to Assembly 2007 in Banff this year. Marshall Miner, our Union Vice President has responsibility for this amongst his other responsibilities. Please pray for him and for Sam Chaise in that process.
An important addition to the Banff Pastor’s Conference is a Bible Teaching session in the mornings. I am very excited to tell you that Tom Cowan is leading us in a series on Jesus and prayer. I’ve always looked forward to having a component like this as a basis for our renewal at Banff.
You will soon be receiving a Union brochure / insert that highlight some of the news in these letters and more. This present newsletter format does not reach enough people and I would be greatly in your debt if you would give these a wider circulation. The first brochures are a series of five pieces over four months.
Lastly, on a personal note, I joined the work crew at Keats Camp for a couple of days this summer. Our son Andrew was on staff and was co-responsible for 20 or so youth in training that prepared the dining room for meals and washed dishes. I swept, cleaned, cleared, set tables and washed dishes. Great folk, good time with Andrew and was deeply touched by being part of this summer family. i introduced the Bible Study Resources that the Union provided camps. The introductory session involved about 60 folk and I exhorted them to write a new generation (even a new genre) of poetry and songs in the midst of a summer that God was using them.
Warmly
In Christ
Jeremy Bell