We move on in the third week of reporting on the Alberta Listening sessions. I want to comment on the fact that we are deeply grateful to John Prociuk, Ryan Sato and Faye Reynolds for leading us in this endeavour and never take their good care and work for us for granted. It was great to see folk all the way from Cranbrook, which was quite a hike, to see Greg Butt settled in Pincher Creek and to see encouraging renewal in the Nanton church with Stephen Pike. It is not an accident that Sam Breakey is a true catalyst for much of this encouraging news out of Alberta. It should also be noted that each of the three Alberta listening sessions included a church that had experienced a significant challenge and turn around over the last year; Dawson Creek, Red Deer and Nanton.
Thanks be to God.
The primary challenge facing our Alberta churches is that amidst great prosperity, people tend to move away from the faith. There is also amidst great prosperity, an influx of new people. Given both those observations, there should be some strong growth and some new planting occurring in Alberta. This is not yet the case and we need to encourage and pray for that.
Warmly,
In Christ,
Jeremy Bell
Southern Alberta/Cranbrook – 6 participants
Claresholm – will encourage caring missional endeavours in our community and around the world; will work in unity with other churches of the CBWC; will pray for our fellow churches and servants of the CBWC; will share our resources with the CBWC; will continue to present Jesus and glorify God is doing all these things
Pincher Creek – will continue to support the ministries of Mill Creek Camp, and offer prayer in support of the denomination and our sister churches as they seek the will of God
Cranbrook – will commit to greater prayer, more communication, and seek better awareness in order to more ably participate with the denomination
Lethbridge – will be faithful to the budget; share resources; and pray for a deeper movement to the heart
Nanton – will subsidize community children to go to Mill Creek Camp and support teen participation in a CBM mission trip; will seek to raise our financial support to CBWC and encourage participation in CBWC and CBM events and projects
Mill Creek Camp – will love every camper that walks on our property with the hope of glory – Jesus in each of them