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Things were going so well for our church plant that we have been planning to launch next September, right after Labour Day. After discussing it more with my wife and praying, it seemed that God wants us to move the launch up to January. Let me tell you how we came to this.
We are seeing so much interest in the community about Pathway, especially from people who do not following the teaching of Jesus Christ. Most of these people would not feel comfortable joining a home Bible Study yet, especially since most Canadians are very private people and we feel uncomfortable being in someone else's home when we don't really know them.
Leigh and I were talking about this and she thought we should launch in January, right after Christmas break. We have a theatre available to us to use, but if we are going to do a small launch in a huge theatre, things may look very disproportionate and bring discouragement to visitors.
So Leigh suggested a community centre in our neighbourhood that has a city transit stop right in front of it. We couldn't sleep very well that night because we were both so excited.
We went to a friend's place after church the next day and got home about 5:00 pm. I was too excited and told Leigh that I was going to go prayer walk around the community centre.
The night before, a friend of mine who was second in command for Canada Day celebrations in Medicine Hat contacted me and wanted to talk to me more about our church. So after I prayer walked around the community centre, he and I went out for coffee at Tim Horton's.
He let me know some things that were going on in his life and asked me what the vision of Pathway was. When I told him, his said he was in. I told him that we were thinking about launching in January and I told him which community centre we were hoping to do it in. He told me that he knows the people in that community centre very well and has rented many times. He basically told me that he could get us in there. On top of that we have half our worship team put together now and tonight will be our third Bible Study in a row. I'm not talking about once per week, this has become a once per day thing now. God is on the move.
On top of that, we started our student ministry. We have had two meeting so far, and I started a facebook group for it. We have so much interest in the student ministry at Medicine Hat College that we have more people on the Facebook group then in the ministry itself. I think God is about to do something great in Medicine Hat.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
The Summit
The summit is now over and I am waiting for a ride to the greyhound so I can get back to Medicine Hat. We had over 70 people at the summit all with the same mindset -- how do we plant churches in a country where people are so unchurched? We had Canadian born, and immigrated church planters there, we had American church planters who are investing their lives into Canada, we had partner churches from Wyoming, Colorado, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia up there asking us planters all the same question, "How can we partner with you to see the Good News of Jesus Christ come to Canada?"
We are in a culture that is so unchurched that most mission teams don't understand why the church planter says don't share the Gospel when you come up. Most of Canada is so unchurched that if you would try to share the Gospel in most cases it would be like trying to teach calculus to somebody who is just learning to count to 10.
Relationships. That's the key. Developing relationships and building community among people who do not yet have a relationship with Christ in order to have them see Christ lived out in you.
Pray for the prosperity of the city. Be involved in helping the city prosper. Jeremiah 29 goes well into that.
Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, and be as real as real can get.
You may be wondering why this matters to you if you are not in Canada and are not really thinking about coming to Canada. Well, in South Carolina alone, during the lifespan of this generation's pastors, the percentage of South Carolina's evangelical population will drop into the single digits this generation. That's not including Georgia, or Texas or Louisiana. The Bible Belt is deteriorating and I believe it is because we have been doing church and not building the Kingdom.
It is very humbling when people who were teaching us at the summit were telling us that we are doing better at church planting up here than the Americans are down south because we need to do it out of necessity and not convenience.
I met a church planting strategist from Quebec who told me about 5 cities in Quebec, Hull, and Troi Rivier to name a few. These 5 cities are the most unchuched cities per capita in North America. One does not have to think very long about how these people's personal lives are and what their homes are like.
Church planting is not about building buildings are having nice services with excellent choirs, but is also about exposing a dying people to the living God in order to see transformed lives and communities.
All in all the summit was good. The days were long, we would start at 8:00 am and I would get home at 11:00pm, but we left refreshed, excited and encouraged.
We are in a culture that is so unchurched that most mission teams don't understand why the church planter says don't share the Gospel when you come up. Most of Canada is so unchurched that if you would try to share the Gospel in most cases it would be like trying to teach calculus to somebody who is just learning to count to 10.
Relationships. That's the key. Developing relationships and building community among people who do not yet have a relationship with Christ in order to have them see Christ lived out in you.
Pray for the prosperity of the city. Be involved in helping the city prosper. Jeremiah 29 goes well into that.
Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, and be as real as real can get.
You may be wondering why this matters to you if you are not in Canada and are not really thinking about coming to Canada. Well, in South Carolina alone, during the lifespan of this generation's pastors, the percentage of South Carolina's evangelical population will drop into the single digits this generation. That's not including Georgia, or Texas or Louisiana. The Bible Belt is deteriorating and I believe it is because we have been doing church and not building the Kingdom.
It is very humbling when people who were teaching us at the summit were telling us that we are doing better at church planting up here than the Americans are down south because we need to do it out of necessity and not convenience.
I met a church planting strategist from Quebec who told me about 5 cities in Quebec, Hull, and Troi Rivier to name a few. These 5 cities are the most unchuched cities per capita in North America. One does not have to think very long about how these people's personal lives are and what their homes are like.
Church planting is not about building buildings are having nice services with excellent choirs, but is also about exposing a dying people to the living God in order to see transformed lives and communities.
All in all the summit was good. The days were long, we would start at 8:00 am and I would get home at 11:00pm, but we left refreshed, excited and encouraged.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
What I'm Thankful For
We just finished celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend, and I thought it would be a good idea to put into writing about what I'm thankful for.
1. Jesus Christ.
Just because I am a follower of Christ does not make me perfect. As a matter of fact, as I try to live my life according to His standards I find myself lacking in so many parts and find myself as far away from perfection as one can be. That's why I'm thankful for Jesus, because I am found perfect in Him by Almighty God. Even though I mess up, and miss the mark time and time again, I experience His grace in my life.
2. My Wife.
My whole family was at my parents house in Calgary this weekend for Thanksgiving. I am staying here all week for a church planting summit in Calgary while my wife and kids left yesterday to go back home to Medicine Hat. My wife is my biggest supporter, and I really miss her right now.
3. My Kids.
I have the great opportunity of working from home. Because of that, I get to be around my kids a lot. Even though they go to school, I am at home when they come home, and most of the time I get to go and pick them up. My two boys are like bear cubs that play hard with each other, but they love each other dearly, love their family and their friends. Our oldest is in kindergarten and has WAY too many girlfriends.
4. For what God is doing.
I am definitely experiencing the grace of God right now in how the church we are planting is coming together. We now have about 20 people together for Bible Study and will have to split it up into 2 home groups next week or the week after. We also started our College Ministry at Medicine Hat College last Friday with six students.
5. Our Sponsor Churches
Without the financial, and volunteer support of our sponsor churches and the North American Mission Board, we would not be able to accomplish what is being done up here right now.
6. Deep Fried Turkey
I had a turkey deep fryer in Texas, but the pot produced a pinhole, so we got rid of it. I went out on Thursday on bought a deep fryer, and we deep fried a turkey up here in Calgary and roasted one also. The deep fried turkey did not make it back to the refrigerator, so we are left eating a whole roasted turkey for the rest of the week.
7. Having American Friends and Family
My wife is American and both kids are dual citizens, and that means we get to do this all over again next month with our American friends!
1. Jesus Christ.
Just because I am a follower of Christ does not make me perfect. As a matter of fact, as I try to live my life according to His standards I find myself lacking in so many parts and find myself as far away from perfection as one can be. That's why I'm thankful for Jesus, because I am found perfect in Him by Almighty God. Even though I mess up, and miss the mark time and time again, I experience His grace in my life.
2. My Wife.
My whole family was at my parents house in Calgary this weekend for Thanksgiving. I am staying here all week for a church planting summit in Calgary while my wife and kids left yesterday to go back home to Medicine Hat. My wife is my biggest supporter, and I really miss her right now.
3. My Kids.
I have the great opportunity of working from home. Because of that, I get to be around my kids a lot. Even though they go to school, I am at home when they come home, and most of the time I get to go and pick them up. My two boys are like bear cubs that play hard with each other, but they love each other dearly, love their family and their friends. Our oldest is in kindergarten and has WAY too many girlfriends.
4. For what God is doing.
I am definitely experiencing the grace of God right now in how the church we are planting is coming together. We now have about 20 people together for Bible Study and will have to split it up into 2 home groups next week or the week after. We also started our College Ministry at Medicine Hat College last Friday with six students.
5. Our Sponsor Churches
Without the financial, and volunteer support of our sponsor churches and the North American Mission Board, we would not be able to accomplish what is being done up here right now.
6. Deep Fried Turkey
I had a turkey deep fryer in Texas, but the pot produced a pinhole, so we got rid of it. I went out on Thursday on bought a deep fryer, and we deep fried a turkey up here in Calgary and roasted one also. The deep fried turkey did not make it back to the refrigerator, so we are left eating a whole roasted turkey for the rest of the week.
7. Having American Friends and Family
My wife is American and both kids are dual citizens, and that means we get to do this all over again next month with our American friends!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Can New Rubber Equal New Life?
This past summer I introduced myself to Jay and Andrea, a new family on our street that has a young daughter in Riley's kindergarten class. Jay is in construction and trying to get his mudding and taping business off the ground while working another construction job, and Andrea is a stay at home mom who is expecting another little one in December.
I walk to Tim Horton's about 3 times per day. It's about a five minute walk and I have to walk past Jay and Andrea's house to get there. About three weeks ago, I was walking home with my large double double, and Leigh's ice cap when I had a great conversation with Jay and Andrea. That conversation turned into a Gospel presentation. Andrea asked a great question and that was, "Can you ever do anything so bad that God will never forgive you?" I quoted Scripture to her from Romans 8:38-39 and that seemed to help her very much. For the next few weeks we didn't talk much. I saw Andrea at school when I would pick up Riley, we would have small talk, but nothing much.
Now this is where the story gets interesting. Last year somebody gave us a minivan. The CNBC (at that time CCSB) put brand new all season tires on it for us as a gift, and two weeks after we moved to Medicine Hat, the van gave up her last breath and died. Two weeks after that we bought our Jeep; however that van has stayed in our front driveway to this day. It has brand new tires, and I just can't bear sending the van to salvage with brand new tires. I wanted to give somebody the tires, but have not seen anybody in need.
Yesterday I was walking to Tim Horton's and spoke with Andrea and Jay and noticed that all four tires on their car were almost bald, and the snow is going to start flying in about 2 weeks. I told them about my predicament with the van and told them if the tires fit, they can have them for free. After I grabbed my double double, Jay came down to my place to check out the tires, and they will fit his rims on his car.
On my way back from Tim Horton's tonight Jay came running out of his house to meet me and after talking about Alberta Beef for five minutes he brought up the subject about God. He said, "Andrea didn't tell you this because it seemed a little too weird, but the night before you offered us the tires she prayed and asked God how we are going to pay for new tires." So here is two grown bald men, one with tattoos from his neck down and the other in a black hoodie, under a street light talking about the goodness of God. Both Jay and Andrea have not yet started a relationship with Jesus, but I invited them to go to Bible Study with us tomorrow night. He said, "I'm not sure if Andrea would go, but I really want to."
So can new rubber equal new life? I don't know, but when we give ourselves and our possessions away for the Kingdom of God, He has a way of using that to make Jesus more attractive to those He died for.
I walk to Tim Horton's about 3 times per day. It's about a five minute walk and I have to walk past Jay and Andrea's house to get there. About three weeks ago, I was walking home with my large double double, and Leigh's ice cap when I had a great conversation with Jay and Andrea. That conversation turned into a Gospel presentation. Andrea asked a great question and that was, "Can you ever do anything so bad that God will never forgive you?" I quoted Scripture to her from Romans 8:38-39 and that seemed to help her very much. For the next few weeks we didn't talk much. I saw Andrea at school when I would pick up Riley, we would have small talk, but nothing much.
Now this is where the story gets interesting. Last year somebody gave us a minivan. The CNBC (at that time CCSB) put brand new all season tires on it for us as a gift, and two weeks after we moved to Medicine Hat, the van gave up her last breath and died. Two weeks after that we bought our Jeep; however that van has stayed in our front driveway to this day. It has brand new tires, and I just can't bear sending the van to salvage with brand new tires. I wanted to give somebody the tires, but have not seen anybody in need.
Yesterday I was walking to Tim Horton's and spoke with Andrea and Jay and noticed that all four tires on their car were almost bald, and the snow is going to start flying in about 2 weeks. I told them about my predicament with the van and told them if the tires fit, they can have them for free. After I grabbed my double double, Jay came down to my place to check out the tires, and they will fit his rims on his car.
On my way back from Tim Horton's tonight Jay came running out of his house to meet me and after talking about Alberta Beef for five minutes he brought up the subject about God. He said, "Andrea didn't tell you this because it seemed a little too weird, but the night before you offered us the tires she prayed and asked God how we are going to pay for new tires." So here is two grown bald men, one with tattoos from his neck down and the other in a black hoodie, under a street light talking about the goodness of God. Both Jay and Andrea have not yet started a relationship with Jesus, but I invited them to go to Bible Study with us tomorrow night. He said, "I'm not sure if Andrea would go, but I really want to."
So can new rubber equal new life? I don't know, but when we give ourselves and our possessions away for the Kingdom of God, He has a way of using that to make Jesus more attractive to those He died for.
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