This past weekend Karlene and I made our first trip together to beautiful British Columbia! Pastor Ken Dryden (not the hockey player, though he is related) invited us to be with Lakeside FM Church in Salmon Arm, BC on Sunday morning and then with the BC network this week. Lakeside is prayerfully asking how to accept responsibility for their community. As I met with their leaders I learned that the process of discovery has been faith and church-family building.
They (Lakeside leaders) told me that Pastor Ken clearly had a vision but was very careful to help them listen to each other and the Lord. He did not tell them the vision, he helped them discover it. Currently, their board is studying Ruth Haley Barton’s Pursuing God’s Will Together. The leaders not only spent time publicly discussing their big ideas but also made many home visits as a form of follow up to those discussions. The purpose of the visits were not to “convince” members to come on board with the vision, but to listen to concerns, clarify and pray. As result of their prayerful and church-family sensitive process, they are enjoying wonderful unity and expectation of what God has in store for them.
I don’t want to say too much about their big idea, as I want them to tell you, but frankly, even if the current plans do not come together, Lakeside has already learned valuable lessons. They have learned and are continuing to learn what it means to hear from God together, and to say yes to creative, innovating ideas that I assure you will impact their community! In fact, just like New Heights FM in Mission, BC with their sanctified imagination café project, inspired several of you to ask better questions about accepting responsibility for your communities, I believe this one will challenge you forward as well. You can see what New Heights is doing by visiting their website: http://newheights.ca/
The next couple of days I am with the BC Network – they know where and how to meet in style! The hotel overlooks a beautiful lake and we are surrounded by mountains!
Two young men are here from one church that has hired one as an intern and one into a part time position (Zach and Ben). Zach is in Bible College and Ben is a history major at university. They are both hearing from God and their church family that they have gifts and graces suited for pastoral ministry. Solid, Godly, good humoured men with obvious desire to hear God’s calling and pursue it. Discipleship!
Last week I was with a united and motivated Frankford church and they are mentoring a young married couple into youth ministry. I loved hearing about their journey back to faith and their excitement for Jesus! AND the Frankford leadership have appointed a 16 year old into lay ministry! Pastor Bruce has had her preach and she has taken on various leadership positions. I was impressed with her poise and obvious leadership gifts, and look forward to what God has in store for her and for us! Discipleship!
This is what healthy churches do.
| Pastors and leaders: who are you mentoring? Are you identifying future pastors? What significant ministry opportunities are you offering them? Are you naming each others gifts? |
Please pray for the Regional Gathering in Quebec this weekend!
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 – Now Overdue!
If you have not yet submitted the annual report please do s0:
English:http://www.formsite.com/reports/form141/index.html?1406294972546
French:http://www.formsite.com/reports/form144/index.html?1420832672433
LOCATIONS & DATES
- QUEBEC @ Rosemont FMC, 3553 rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal [Montreal] March 17, 2018
- EASTERN & CENTRAL ONTARIO-EAST @ Wesley Acres, 1391 Wesley Acres Road Bloomfield, ON [Bloomfield]– March 24, 2018
- NORTHERN ONTARIO @ St. Joseph Island FMC, 1589 Hilton Road, Hilton Beach ON [St. Joseph’s Island] April 7, 2018
- CENTRAL ONTARIO – NORTH & EAST GTA @Wesley Chapel, 2385 Warden Ave, Scarborough, ON [Toronto] – April 14, 2018
- NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO @ Dryden FMC, 261 Van Horne Avenue, Dryden, ON [Dryden] April 28, 2018
- BRITISH COLUMBIA @ New Heights Community [Mission] May 12, 2018
- ALBERTA @Westpark Church of the Nazarene, 3920 57th Ave. Red Deer, AB [Red Deer] May 26, 2018
- SASKATCHEWAN @ Arlington Beach Camp [Cymric] June 2, 2018
- MANITOBA @ Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre, 3550 Victoria Ave, Brandon, MB [Brandon] – June 23, 2018
Please see the website for more details – https://fmcic.ca/regional-gatherings-2018/
MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays – Don’t Just Stand There, Say Something: Intention vs. Action in Evangelism :https://fmcic.ca/dont-just-stand-there-say-something-intention-vs-action-in-evangelism/ New
News & Stories Blog – A Church with Mission in mind – Interview with Greg Elford :https://fmcic.ca/a-church-with-mission-in-mind-interview-with-greg-elford/
the conneXion – a Free Methodist theology blog: 3 Minute Theology 2.5: Knowing the Bible Inside Out: https://fmcic.ca/3-minute-theology-2-5-knowing-the-bible-inside-out/
New Leaf Podcast: Anna Spray -Table Church: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-51-anna-spray-table-church/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FMCIC
Do you know someone who would like to receive CliffsNotes? They can now sign up through the website at:https://fmcic.ca/cliffsnotes-signup/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
None
SCHOLARSHIPS
The next deadline is October 15, 2018 to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for courses taken during both the spring/summer and fall semesters of 2018.
October 15 is also the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships.
Here is the link for both types of scholarships: https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES
Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
June 1-3, 2018 at Hampton FM Church, Saskatoon, SK
Wesleyan Theology:
June 1-3, 2018 at Holt FM Church, Mount Albert ON
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)
Personal and Church Stewardship
6-week online course – start date TBA
8-week online course (FRENCH) – begins April 9, 2018
Culture and the Missional Church:
Next course date and location TBA*
(*these locations will be selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)
Registration is online for all courses at this link: https://fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/. Those tracking for credentialed ministry should take the Heart course first and then Wesleyan Theology if possible.
CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
None
Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 289-228-1225.
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON (deadline April 3)
Dryden FMC, Dryden, ON (deadline April 10)
Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK (deadline March 20)
Madoc Wesleyan/Free Methodist Church, Madoc, ON (deadline March 20)
Marmora FMC, Marmora, ON (deadline April 3)
Thunder Bay Free Methodist Church, Thunder Bay, ON (deadline March 20)
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON (deadline March 20)
Preparing Profiles
(If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Susan in the Leadership Development Office [[email protected] or 289-228-1225] and the profile will be emailed to you as soon as it becomes available.)
Athens FMC, Athens, ON (Angel Valentin-Transition Pastor)
Asbury FMC, Perth, ON (Hanford Branscombe-Interim Pastor)
Centennial Chapel FMC, Kamloops, BC (Vern Frudd-retiring May 31, 2018)
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON (Tom Gurnick – Interim Pastor)
Grapeview FMC, St. Catharines, ON (Dan Sheffield – Transition Pastor)
Odessa FMC, Odessa, ON
Richmond Hill FMC (English & Chinese), Richmond Hill, ON
Tabernacle de la Grace, Montreal QC
West Springs FMC, Calgary, AB
Weyburn FMC, Weyburn, SK
Functioning with approved local arrangements
Avonlea FMC, Avonlea SK
Campbell’s Bay FMC, Campbell’s Bay, QC (Orville White)
Church On The Hill, Orillia ON (Charles Tanner)
Cordova Mines FM Fellowship, Cordova Mines, ON
Eglise Chrétienne Méthodiste Libre de Le Gardeur, QC (Duplan Auguste Lython)
Enterprise FMC, Enterprise, ON
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON (Robert Boutilier)
Killarney FMC, Killarney, MB (Raymond Riglin)
Markham FMC, ON (K.K. Leung)
Roblin FMC, Roblin, MB (Heath Butler)
Surrey FMC, Surrey BC (Nathaniel Prakash)
theStory, Sarnia, ON (Joshua Walters)
Timmins FMC, Timmins, ON (Lewis Byer)
Wesley Chapel Japanese FM Church, Toronto, ON (Misa Mochinaga)
Yarker FMC, Yarker, ON (Ken Babcock)
PASTORS IN TRANSITION
Glen Coates
David Greene
Kim Henderson
Jason Johnson
Fred Merritt
Jay Mowchenko
Derek Spink
Chad Vankoughnett
Grant Wolfe
Mary-Elsie Wolfe
Wesley Wood
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Associate Pastor of Next Generations – Trulls Road FM Church
Director of Youth Ministry – Trulls Road FM Church
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
Associate Pastor – Barrie FM Church
Cadet Chaplain – Vernon, BC
