A Thanksgiving Greeting from Bishop Linda
Dear Pastors, Leaders and others serving our Free Methodist local churches,
This Thanksgiving, we are especially grateful for you. Thank you for sharing your stories with our Communications Team—stories of faith, hope, and God’s work in your communities. As we’ve shared them on our social media platforms, they have inspired, and encouraged so many across our Free Methodist family.
Your willingness to be welcoming, authentic and creative in your outreach reminds us that we are stronger together.
Your willingness to be hopeful, authentic and creative in your outreach reminds us that we are stronger together. By sharing your stories, you are helping others see Christ at work in ordinary moments and in extraordinary ways. Your voices matter, your ministry makes a difference, and your stories reflect the goodness of God at work across Canada and around the world.
With deep gratitude,
Lisa Howden
Director of Communications
lisa.howden@fmcic.ca
A word of gratitude from the Director of Intercultural Missions Rev. Adam Kline
In this season of Thanksgiving, I am grateful to God for the opportunity we have, as Free Methodists in Canada, to extend the warmth and welcome of our banqueting tables. We have been blessed with abundance upon this land, and God has called us to offer our firstfruits for His divine purposes. Purposes that include welcoming the foreigner, loving our neighbour, and reconciling ourselves to those who first welcomed us in covenant and treaty. The Spirit of God is moving mightily in this time, so let us not forget to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly.
Upcoming opportunities…
Friends for Dinner: https://friendsfordinner.ca/hosts/It’s not too late to register, pull up an extra chair, and host international students for Thanksgiving! There are more than a dozen cities across Canada already organizing this important outreach. If you or your congregation are in one of these cities, please sign up, spread the word, and join the effort to extended the hospitality of Jesus Christ to young men and women who are already here!
Welcome Church Events: https://www.welcomechurch.ca/announcements/The FMCIC partners with Welcome Church, an EFC project equipping congregations across Canada to welcome newcomers. In the month of October there are four Welcome Church events that Free Methodist churches are participating in and/or hosting. This is an opportunity to learn, collaborate and share your own experience. If you’re in the region of Thunder Bay, Sault Ste Marie, Sudbury or Vancouver this month, please consider registering and sharing this opportunity with others!
Diaspora Church Seminar: https://biblesociety.ca/diaspora-seminar-toronto-oct18/ The FMCIC partners with the Canadian Bible Society who are hosting a seminar this month for Intergenerational Diaspora communities. Language can be one of the most significant barriers in immigrant churches. Different generations often have different language skills and preferences, leading to communication challenges and cultural misunderstandings. These differences can affect faith conversations, create divisions and make discipleship difficult. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but together we can reflect on creative, practical approaches to bridging language gaps in ways that suit your ministry context.
Thank you to the National MEGAP Committee for their faithful service! This volunteer group of both clergy and lay members interviews candidates throughout their credentialing journey and prayerfully discerns status changes and appointments of ministers.
In August, the committee gathered for business and training – thank you for the important work you do to serve the Free Methodist Church in Canada!
Sincerely,
Kevin Stenhouse
Director of Ministerial Formation
A large group of families and individuals gathered together to send some Christmas cheer to the students and staff at the FMCIC school in Ghana. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about Ghana, the school, and about the important ministries of ICCM. Together over 70 cards were hand made for this special project.
If you would like to learn more about ICCM and their work in Ghana or in other locations please email Paula Moriarity, Director of Global Missions and Director of International Child Care Ministries (ICCM): Paula.Moriarity@fmcic.ca
Welcome two new Church Planting Coaches!
We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you this Church Health Thursday! Please join us in warmly welcoming two new Church Planting Coaches to our team: Rev. Joseph Seidu and Rev. Evan Garst.
Rev. Joseph Seidu will serve as our Church Planting Coach for church planters from diverse cultural backgrounds, providing specialized coaching and support to these immigrant church planters and sponsoring churches across Canada. He currently serves as the Lead Pastor at Glorious Hope Community Church in Winnipeg, MB, and brings a wealth of experience as a church planter, pastor, and mentor. Joseph has a deep passion for walking alongside leaders who are planting churches within culturally diverse communities across Canada.
Rev. Evan Garst rejoins us as our Transition and Church Planting Coach for Eastern Canada. A familiar and valued member of our church planting team in the past, Evan is a gifted coach with a heart for leadership development. His natural teaching ability and commitment to investing in others make him a dynamic addition to our team once again.
We are grateful for the unique gifts and perspectives that both Joseph and Evan bring, and we look forward to the ways they will bless and support our church planting community.
Please join us in welcoming them both! If you have any questions or would like to learn more about church planting, feel free to connect with us: lorilee.bishop@fmcic.ca
Jervis Djokoto
Senior Director of Church Health
MINISTERS CONFERENCE VIDEO RECAP
Everything is a Gift
The Creation Story tells us that everything is a Gift from God.
If this is true – what should our response be?
We should be grateful.
Gratitude is a choice. When we forget to give thanks, we begin to think we are the author and owner of all of we have – and we become proud and forget God.
Gratitude is also our secret weapon against the world. You see, the world needs us to be malcontent. Always comparing and competing to keep us in an endless cycle of consumption.
Being grateful also leads to contentment in all circumstances, which Paul tells us is the secret to life. (phil 4:). And Generosity is the overflow of a grateful heart.
If you want to live counter to this world – choose gratitude.
When you feel dissatisfied or envious – STOP. Breath. Look around and express thanks.
If you want the life that is truly life, Be rich in good deeds. Be generous and willing to share.
Just like Jesus.
Sandy Crozier
Director of Generosity and Support Services
Sandy.Crozier@fmcic.ca
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” – John 15:4 (NIV)
Our National Prayer Team (NPT) has several resources for your prayer ministry. If you would like to learn more or connect with the NPT please visit our website at: https://fmcic.ca/prayer/
