It was 30 degrees in Vancouver on Sunday: Happy Mother’s Day indeed!
Saturday was the BC Regional Gathering and we were hosted by the New Heights Community Church family. This church family purchased a building on the main street of town (Mission, BC). In order to do so, the city required that they create a foundation – there was a lot of very good thinking that went into this project and when Pastor Greg is back from his sabbatical I know he’d talk about it with you, if your church is prayerfully thinking in that direction. They rent out apartments on the top floor, run a very quaint café on the middle floor / main floor, and have a multi-functional space on the lower level which becomes worship space Sunday morning. It is creative-missional thinking!
Several of our BC churches had to drive hours to attend this Regional Gathering – and I am so thankful to them for making the effort. It was good dreaming and praying together!
Sunday I was with our New Westminster FM family. I am so pleased that they are asking good questions of the Lord about their next steps. I continue to pray for courage for all of us as we ask our Father what it means to accept responsibility for our community, and then step into His answers!
Here are a few questions for your leadership team and I’d love to hear your answers:
– What does it mean to be courageous as a church family?
– Are we courageous?
– Would our community call us courageous?
– Would they send their kids to us to learn courage?”
Biblical courage was the stuff of taking on a giant in a life or death fight, and walking around a city 7 times while being ridiculed. Courage in the Bible is leaving your home, taking on governments, giving all your money away and being humiliated, beaten, killed on a cross but still forgiving… I wonder how our definition of courage compares? I wonder what it will look like for your church family in your community? Exciting to wonder…
Last week the NLT experienced a “22 Hour Directed Prayer Retreat” with an organization called Souly Business. A Christian businessman felt God’s call into ministry some time ago, and now blesses Christian organizations and churches with this opportunity – for free. It was a very rich time with the Lord. The goal was to hear from the Holy Spirit. We did – very clearly. God spoke to us about His trust in us as leaders. He spoke to us about our trust in Him. He spoke to FMCIC about… Well actually I am going to wait for Ministers’ Conference in the Fall to talk to our pastors about that. I mention it here because the NLT was reminded that God is eager for you and us to be in His presence together. He longs for us to show up to hear. He waits on us – imagine that, God waits on us to be present with Him.
FMCIC, we need to take seriously His invitation to be present with Him. Like no other time in Canadian history is a revival essential – revival comes out of prayer. Not soft, “thank you for this food, save my neighbour, Amen, pass the Ketchup” prayer.
My friends, just a reminder to PRAY – would you take a day or meal this week and fast for FMCIC.
The Alberta Regional Gathering at Westpark Church of the Nazarene is taking place Saturday May 26, 2018. To register click here for the form: https://fmcic.ca/wp-content/uploads/Alberta-Registration-Form-2018.doc
LOCATIONS & DATES
- ALBERTA @Westpark Church of the Nazarene, 3920 57th Ave. Red Deer, AB [Red Deer] May 26, 2018
- SASKATCHEWAN @ Northview Community Church [Regina] June 2, 2018 *REVISED*
- 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 – Church Growth: Use The Principles, Don’t Buy The Hype: https://fmcic.ca/church-growth-use-the-principles-dont-buy-the-hype/New
News & Stories Blog – Everyone Benefits from Internships: https://fmcic.ca/everyone-benfits-from-internships/
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
PHOTO GALLERY
BC Regional Gathering
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
Pastor Cathleen Getchell, Lead Pastor at Kingscourt Free Methodist Church, Kingston, ON – approved for ordination
Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
Cathleen Getchell, Kingston, Ontario – date TBA
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/)
Théologie de Wesley
6 au 8 juillet 2018 à l’Église Méthodiste Libre de Rosemont, Montréal, QC
Personal and Church Stewardship
6-week online course – start date TBA
6-week online course (FRENCH) – start date TBA June 2018
Culture and the Missional Church:
Next course Fall 2018 in Ontario – 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.
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/
CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON
Centennial Chapel FMC, Kamloops, BC
Marmora FMC, Marmora, ON
Odessa FMC, Odessa, ON
Thunder Bay Free Methodist Church, Thunder Bay, ON
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON
Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 289-228-1225 (deadline to apply in brackets)
Asbury FMC, Perth, ON (May 29)
Madoc Wesleyan/Free Methodist Church, Madoc, ON (May 29)
Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK (June 12)
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)
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON (Tom Gurnick – Interim Pastor)
Grapeview FMC, St. Catharines, ON (Dan Sheffield – Transition Pastor)
Richmond Hill Chinese & English Churches, Richmond Hill, ON
West Springs FMC, Calgary, AB
Weyburn FMC, Weyburn, SK
PASTORS IN TRANSITION
Glen Coates
David Greene
Kim Henderson
Jason Johnson
Fred Merritt
Jay Mowchenko
Derek Spink
Randy Williams
Grant Wolfe
Mary-Elsie Wolfe
Wesley Wood
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
Summer Intern – Wawota FM Church
Worship Coordinator – Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church
Office Administrator – Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church
