The second Regional Gathering of the season was in Quebec – and in French! Worship time was once again joyful and significant. Pasteur Nathan (AKA L’Eveque de Quebec) was quite encouraged by the attendance, enthusiasm and spirit in the room. So was I and I was also pleased to visit with retired pastors who came out because they are still very involved in their churches (as mentors, leaders, preachers, etc).
As an aside, a few weeks ago I met with some of our retired pastors to begin a conversation about FMCIC and retirement. Pastor David Dyer has been so faithful in reaching out to our retired pastors (thank you our dear brother David!). We are going to explore other ways of connecting, inviting retired ministers into ministry, helping pastors prepare for retirement and ongoing support. Our church needs spiritual fathers and mothers.
Back to Quebec. On Sunday Karlene and I worshipped with Pastor Edrice’s church family in Laval. My very English wife prepared and sang a song in French – she was perfect! The worship team made it next to impossible to stand still as we worshiped. I can’t say that what I was doing was dancing, but it was a very cool sway back and forth! And we had to smile as we worshiped. Thank you worship team for helping me sing a joyful song unto our Lord!
It was a very full in their building. It was exciting to see and hear all the children that are a part of this church! I left quite encouraged by this vibrant church family, and I couldn’t help but wonder how Pasteur Edrice can pastor a church of 80 and work full time as a cab driver?!
“Father, thank You for all our bi-vocational pastors and their families. Thank You for the energy You give them to do all the work that they do. Thank You for Your provision. Thank You for their commitment and sacrifices for You – these inspire us (or at least they should!). Lord, bless them in significant ways even today. Make the little time they have to prepare sermons rich and full with Your inspiration. Bless them with meaningful family time, and protect their children in You. Holy Spirit fill their spouses with Your presence, and joy. Father, thank You for these Your servants.”
The next Regional Gathering will be held at Wesley Acres Retreat Centre, March 24, 2018. If you haven’t done so you can send in your registration by clicking the link: fmcicdev.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/Wesley-Acres-Registration-Form-2018.doc
LOCATIONS & DATES
- 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: Kevin Makins – Holy Shift: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-52-kevin-makins-holy-shift/ New
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FMCIC
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PHOTO GALLERY
Québec Regional Gathering
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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 – susan.deplanche@fmcic.ca 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 [susan.deplanche@fmcic.ca 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
Summer Intern – Wawota FM Church
