The Canadian Baptist

Cover

WORKING TOGETHER FOR GOOD

Reaping a harvest in Southern Ontario

TRUTH IN LOVE

Dealing with Toxic Personalities in Ministry

IMAGINATIVE HOPE

A Collective Canadian Baptist Voice on Engaging the Next Generation

THE PRINCESS AND THE TEA

POURING IN CBOQ Assembly 2017

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Dear Canadian Baptists, I’m so excited for you as you begin your journey through these collected stories of churches working together in order to increase their Kingdom impact in their community. This year’s The Canadian Baptist is filled with stories of hope, innovation and ideas, and gratitude for God’s favour. We continue to be encouraged by the wonderful stories of creative leadership, life transformation, inter-generational involvement and God’s blessings pouring over meaningful prayers of faithful Canadian Baptists.

One of the exciting and wonderful aspects of ministry and mission is the idea and use of networks for support.

Throughout CBOQ, associations, ministerial meetings, small group Bible studies, book clubs and many more offer opportunities to connect. But beyond just meeting with friends, we have the opportunity to work alongside other like-minded church families to accomplish exponentially more than we could ever do alone. In all of this there is a significant opportunity to pour into the lives of one another for mutual support as we journey togeth-

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er as a family of churches. As members of the holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5) we are called to offer prayers and proclamations to our fellow Christians, pouring into their lives with love, encouragement, hope, direction, correction and peace. We are to be agents of reconciliation and recognise where God is at work among us, building up the body (Ephesians 4:12) on our way to reaching unity and the fullness of Christ.

In today’s parlance, our “priestly class” is our clergy. Caring for our faith leaders is necessary and required of us according to God’s word. Throughout CBOQ, we believe that the power of story allows us to provide many aspects of encouragement, instruction, inspiration and direction. Your stories ,captured here and elsewhere throughout the year, allow us to carry on the important task of building up the body through the equipping of one another.

Thank you for sharing and trusting us with your story, the CBOQ story.

Let us work together to pray for one another, challenge one another and

care for one another along the way.

This great family of churches known as CBOQ is revealing God’s kingdom daily. Thank you for your part in advancing and supporting the vision and mission of CBOQ. We are better together because we walk together.

Bless you on the journey, Tim McCoy Executive Minister, CBOQ

Tim McCoy has served as the Executive Minister of CBOQ since 2010. In his work and ministry, Tim is faithfully committed to CBOQ’s five strategic priorities which include: CBOQ Identity, Church Planting, Clergy Care (this year’s theme) and Next Generation.

CONTENTS

5 About Assembly 8 Working Together for Good 13 The 60s Scoop 16 Worship for the World 17 Imaginative Hope 20 Structuring for Faithfulness 23 Truth in Love 25 Top 10 Signs You Might Be Toxic 26 In Step Together 28 The Princess and the Tea 31 7 Day Missional Challenge 32 Quiz: Finding your Gifts 35 Giving to CBOQ

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So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-13

Pouring In Equipping each other in the fullness of Christ

SPEAKER: GORDON MACDONALD

WORSHIP LEADER: STEVE BELL

Chancellor of Denver Seminary, author of Building Below the Water Line and Going Deep

Singer/songwriter Steve is known equally for his story-telling, social commentary and theological insights as he is for his music.

CBOQ ASSEMBLY

JUNE 8-10, 2017 Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale | 6750 Mississauga Rd | Mississauga, ON | L5N 2L4 4

BAPTIST.CA/ASSEMBLY

BY BRIAN CRAIG, Director of Leadership Development, CBOQ

ABOUT ASSEMBLY

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s we entered into the serious planning stages of our CBOQ Assembly 2017, we felt led to emphasize our CBOQ strategic priority of “Clergy Care.” Our leadership team became convinced that Gordon MacDonald was the voice we needed to help us reflect on what it means for our ministry leaders to be cared for, and what true mutual nurture can look like in our Christian communities.

Soon we discovered he was willing and available to be that voice.

So in preparation, I went back to the shelf filled with books by Gordon that I’ve accumulated over the years. I started with the recent ones, and then worked my way back, traveling across time through my years of ministry. Late one afternoon as the winter sun sank outside my office window, I picked up Renewing Your Spiritual Passion. I’m not one who often writes in my books, beyond a simple asterisk, or some ragged underlining. But scrawled in the margin from sometime in about 1990 was the comment, “There’s always more to do—it’s never done, even when you’ve given it all!” Something in Gordon’s deeply personal and pastoral writing had spoken to my soul, giving me permission to confess the struggle I was feeling as a young pastor.

That simple, not-too-profound written cry (or maybe even prayer) is an all-toocommon feeling for most of us, and certainly for almost every pastoral leader with whom I speak. Often it’s the Monday morning doldrums that follow even the most satisfying Sunday events, let alone the ones where we felt we failed somehow. Or often it’s about the external motivations that drive our choices in ministry. Sometimes it’s because in the business of caring for others,

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faith is the only way that we will sustainably fulfill God’s mission for our churches, ripples of grace extending to all around us.

we’ve neglected to care for our own soul by being together with Christ.

And too often, pastors don’t feel able to turn to their own congregation; no one wants a whiny pastor! As I further scanned Gordon’s writings, he offered all those reasons I just cited, this time in his book, Building Below the Water Line.

But the responsibility for a pastor’s ongoing health in ministry lies not only with the pastor alone. How can we be churches where mutual care allows all of us, pastors included,

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to grow strong for the sake of the mission God has for us? Our Assembly text this year is Ephesians 4:11-13, which describes the nature of the people of God: God places gifted leaders among us who equip others, so that together we’re all being filled up with the whole measure of God’s goodness. That’s where the image of “Pouring In” comes into play. As pastoral leaders pour into others, others in that congregation need to be pouring into the lives of the ministry leaders. The cycle of mutual care within the community of

Dr. Gordon MacDonald

As Gordon MacDonald has been preparing for our Assembly, he’s provided us with titles for his talks that provide intriguing clues as to how we might pour into each other’s lives.

All on their own, these titles suggest steps that help answer my marginscribbled prayer. “Better Together: A Leader Never Walks Alone.”

“Intentions: A Leader Knows How to Manage Him/Herself.” “Repairs: A Leader has a Repaired Memory and an Active Imagination.” Drawing from his 50+ years of ministry, we look forward to how Gordon will pour into our family of churches, that we might be communities of mutual care.

Faith Today is the leading national magazine for Canada’s four million evangelical Christians across more than 40 denominations. Each issue brings insight into Canadian culture, Christian life and ministries making a difference. Our award-winning team profiles leading Evangelicals, digs up unique Canadian stories and keeps you up-to-date on critical issues that resonate across the country.

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Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the

labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of

the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.”

Matthew 9:37-38

BY JACQUELINE SOLOMON Communications Associate, CBOQ

WORKING TOGETHER FOR GOOD

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fter a long winter, it seems impossible that anything should ever grow. After months of brown and gray, the first bright green of spring seems almost artificially colourful. Despite the stretch to your imagination, do your best to remember a warm summer evening, when twilight stretched out forever and the breezes were warm and pleasant. Imagine the steps of an old brick church in a small town in southern Ontario. Did you picture it empty? It’s evening and churches in small towns are often in decline. But this one—Scotland Baptist Church, near Brantford, is startlingly different. Instead of chirping crickets or silence, there is a large group of men gathered together, laughing and speaking Spanish. Cars are pulling into the parking lot, dropping off still more people who all arrive with smiles on their faces.

An amazing opportunity for partnership has opened up in southern Ontario that has brought many different gifts together from many different churches to create something beautiful. Ten CBOQ churches in the area are working together to support a ministry to primarily Mexican migrants, bringing harvesters in from the fields to a Sunday evening service at Scotland Baptist Church where they are reaping a new crop of Christ-followers. Drawing on the skills and donations of several congregations, they are working together to grow something that will provide eternal fruit, pouring the Gospel and the love of Christ into the lives of migrant workers. We are excited to be able to introduce you to just a few of the people who are involved in this vibrant and important ministry.

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early two decades ago, Pastor Alex Valle of Cristo Para Todos had a vision to start welcoming migrant workers into the church. Together with his church family they began visiting the farms, but needed a partner with a building suitable for hosting their services. With limited space and a less convenient location, Pastor Valle knew he would need help with a hosting space. When the call went out it was Scotland Baptist Church that opened their doors to welcome them. Despite an aging and dwindling congregation, the people at Scotland Baptist decided to be a partner in ministry…and in the men came! Lives were changed and people met Jesus.

ALEX VALLE Pastor, Cristo Para Todos Cambridge

After spending some years in his native El Salvador, Pastor Valle returned recently to Cristo Para Todos with a renewed passion and vision for outreach. When he returned, he found a congregation of people interested in helping and partner CBOQ churches who were willing to join in. With an expansive and contagious vision, Pastor Valle hopes to expand the ministry to reach more people, connecting with more farms and bringing the Gospel to more people. His love of God and care for people are evident in the way he speaks about his ministry.

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astors Andrea and Nelson Chang are church planters to the core. When they left the big city of Dallas to come to Canada to study, they began to explore ministry opportunities with CBOQ. Little did they know what God had in store for them! After years of urban ministry, upgraded education, discernment and some financial assistance from CBOQ, Andrea and Nelson are pastoring a re-planted, growing Scotland Baptist Church.

And God is working through them! They are reaching out to the young people in the community. Local residents who had never set foot in the church have started investigating.

They have strengthened their connection with Pastor Valleand Cristo Para Todos, taking up Scotland’s mantle of hospitality. They’re using their significant logistical skills, building into Pastor Valle’s ministry. Even their southern warmth is valuable. The Changs have approached farm owners, securing their permission to talk to the workers and give them information about the church. “It’s been neat to see how our gifts have come about. None of it could happen without Beth taking the lead on coordinating the churches. It couldn’t happen if Pastor Valle and his team wasn’t here because they speak the language. They come out on Saturdays to visit the farms and remind them,” says Nelson.

ANDREA AND NELSON CHANG Pastors, Scotland Baptist Church 9

When Beth first got involved with the ministry to migrants, things weren’t going so well.

BETH VAN SICKLE Volunteer, Queensway Baptist Church Brantford

While Andrea and Nelson are talking to the farm owners, Beth is coordinating the churches for meals and volunteers and Pastor Valle is preparing his sermon and expanding his vision, Vinicio Reyes is gathering the workers.

Friendly and humble, Vinicio has been working faithfully in this ministry for decades. “We have the opportunity to witness to people about God. It’s an easy way to share the Gospel because these people are willing to hear…when they see we’re not preaching a religion…what we do for them and how we do it, they see we’re not the same as any other religion.” Like Pastor Valle, Vinicio has big ideas for the future of the ministry. He wants to build connections with churches in Mexico to ensure that new believers have the opportunity to be discipled and mentored in their faith when they return home. His passion is for the long-term spiritual health of the people who first meet Christ while working in Canada.

For Vinicio, every farm is an opportunity to share Jesus with new people. He is hoping to find ways to get people from the farms to the church in areas where transportation can be difficult.

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Cristo Para Todos was without a pastor and the congregation at Scotland was worn out. Despite it still being an important ministry, those who had provided support for many years needed to take a step back. Things were looking likely to shut down. When Beth found out about the state of the ministry, she felt that she needed to do something and decided to get involved. A gifted organizer, Beth took up the role of coordinating the ten different churches involved, and began developing the serving schedule, organizing meetings and began running an ESL class before the evening service. Through her ministry and the ministry of others, she has seen workers come to Christ, making genuine commitments to Jesus. Whether it’s helping people access a doctor or sort out how to use the Flipp app to get good prices on groceries, Beth has walked alongside many farm workers as they adjust to life in Canada. “Different churches have different skill sets and passions. Together they make it happen. They do what they do best and it works,” says Beth.

VINICIO REYES Volunteer, Cristo Para Todos Cambridge

Tomas is one of the migrant workers on a farm not far from Scotland. It was in the workers’ barracks that his coworker, Antonio, began sharing the Gospel with him.

His interest piqued, he accepted Antonio’s invitation to come to Scotland Baptist Church and his life has never been the same.

Nominally Catholic, Tomas began to grow in his personal faith and awareness of God’s call on his life. Upon his return to Mexico, he sought out a pastor and fully accepted Jesus into his life. Committed and passionate, Tomas then began to share his faith with his family—a difficult challenge given that they were culturally Catholic. While they had a rocky start, Tomas persisted. He smiles warmly as he shares that his whole family has since come to Christ.

TOMAS Migrant Worker

Now Tomas has built a church on his property in Mexico… and his community is growing. While it started with just one, Tomas is now part of a worshipping community of about 45 people.

Each of these people have had a part in building the Kingdom of God. Each of them has used their unique skills and abilities to build up the body according to the gifts that God has given them. And there are still more opportunities to seize.

Some volunteers bring food. Others manage the small clothing bank. There is no shortage of work to be done, or people to connect with.

And the vision grows.

Pastor Alex and Vinicio already have big dreams for the future, but they don’t have to go it alone.

They are part of a family of Canadian Baptist churches that are bursting with the exact talents that God wants them to in his service.

“I like to listen to the Word because here we feel alone.

This is a good opportunity to feel connected. And we share the Gospel over here… at home, too.”

—Antonio

talu s e

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THE 60s SCOOP

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BY JACQUELINE SOLOMON Communications Associate, CBOQ

O Canada.

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e’re the good guys, right? 150 years of being noble peacemakers and upstanding global citizens. But before we lapse into too much self-congratulation, we must acknowledge our shameful track record with our indigenous peoples. Over our colonial history, we have inflicted disease, violence, and discrimination. We have taken their children, ignored their missing and murdered women, and attempted to erase their cultures. For a nation that prides itself on kindness and tolerance, we have a lot to answer for.

Marcia was one of the children caught up in the 60s Scoop. She was born into a family living on a reserve on Misema Lake near the Quebec-Ontario border in remote northern Ontario, seemingly far from the reaches of colonial culture. But there came a day while she was little when armed police showed up, stole the children and took them to new homes for their “cultural education.”

Some children were placed in misinformed but well-meaning foster family. Marcia was not. Rather, she was placed with a series of horrible foster families. “I suffered abuses.

The multi- and many variety of abuses there are,” says Marcia. “People didn’t know how bad it could get. So there’s almost an incredulity to it. Canada doesn’t do this to its children…but the reality is that this happened in Canada to thousands upon thousands upon thousands.”

And yet, there are few better examples of Christ-like forgiveness anywhere than in Canada’s indigenous peoples. Rather than hitting back, they are working through truth and reconciliation; seeking ways to build new As part of the 60s Scoop, nearly 20,000 inbridges, rather than leave the gap wide. digenous children were taught to disregard their own culture, language and identity. In Some of the churches in our family have an environment that lacked any semblance felt God’s stirring to respond to Canada’s of accountability, vulnerable children were First Nations: to learn, walk in partnership subjected to the worst kinds of abuse. “Peoand, essentially, start from the beginning to ple saw a social worker several times with no establish right relationships. Highland Bap- results. Abuses were tolerated, and I say toltist Church in Kitchener is one example. In erated because as much as one can say that October, they hosted a conference called Canada’s desire [was] to have their doors “Resetting the Relationship.” While we can’t open with love and compassion…it allowed undo the mistakes of our national past, the for others to open their doors with ill intent.” conference recognized that Canada and the Church need a do-over when it comes to its Sadly, there seems to have been no shortindigenous populations. We are blessed that age of ill-intentioned people. And even with they are willing to give us the opportunity. sporadic visits from social workers, how can One of the guests in attendance was Chief Marcia Martel of Beaverhouse First Nation.

Approachable and unassuming, Chief Martel wears her leadership humbly. She is one of those rare leaders who can command respect without seeking the spotlight. Over an Ethiopian meal near the conference, Marcia shared some of her story and her connection with Canadian Baptists.

a child open up about abuse if they’re not going to be removed from the home immediately? When a child has to eat dinner with a monster every night, the last thing he or she wants to do is make it angry.

Even once she was out from under her foster parents’ care, life wasn’t easy for Marcia.

“If you do not believe you are worthy of 13

As chief of Beaverhouse First Nation, Marcia sits on the Wabun Tribal Council.

“The Wabun Tribal Council has a meaningful name to live up to.

‘Wabun’ actually means sunrise and can be easily related to a new day, a new start or a fresh beginning. It is similar in meaning in both the Cree and Ojibwe languages. The sunrise is a part of the day that is special to traditional Native people.”—wabun.on.ca © 2017 Google

(Accessed on Jan. 20, 2017)

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people who will treat you nicely and only have skills for dealing with people who treat you badly, those are the people you end up with,” says Marcia.

Suicidal thoughts were a daily reality for her, yet she soldiered on. But then something happened: Marcia had a son and, as children are wont to do, he changed everything.

tioning, I’d seen too many things to question it. I’d experienced too many things to know that it wasn’t a lie. He didn’t spare me from the abuse over the years…as many times as you say, ‘God, please don’t let these people hurt me.’ But these people have free will.” Despite it all, Marcia believed in God’s mercy and love.

She had never wanted children, and no wonder, given her experience of childhood. But having a child led Marcia to ask some difficult questions. She knew of the risks of abused parents becoming abusers, but Marcia was determined to do things differently. She wanted her son to know every day of his life that he was loved. He was cherished.

By the time her son was two, in 1993, Marcia knew it was time to make a choice. “I gave the guidance of my life over to God; I trusted my very eternity with the Creator.”

By some miracle, faith had always been a part of Marcia’s reality. She knew that God was real. “I was told about God when I was little.

I believed people—I was little. By the time I reached the age of ques-

As her son grew, Marcia realized that they would need to be part of a church—a community of people to worship and grow with. But where does an indigenous single mother fit in? Certainly not in all churches, where some parents kept their children away from her son. When she found Tower Street Baptist Church in Kirkland Lake, it was the right fit.

They were welcoming without being

overwhelming. But there was a learning curve there too. A lack of understanding led to periodic concerns from some people about indigenous traditions, but Marcia is truly an am-

During the 60s Scoop, which lasted until the 1980s, the Canadian government took indigenous children from their families and placed them with mostly white, middle-class families for fostering or adoption. While the practice has now ended, the long-term effects of what has been referred to as cultural genocide still linger.

For more information on the 60s Scoop, go to: https://goo.gl/LhC81W

bassador for her culture and people.

She has a wry sense of humour that carries her through, and enough grace to be patient with “stupid” questions.

Now Marcia is the Chief of the Beaverhouse First Nation, and has been integrated in to her community as a spiritual and cultural leader. Grandmother to many, she sits with the elders. “I’ve lost family, friends and community. I’ve lost the things that tied people together in communities.

Yet I was able to somehow have that life in my community come back to me in a bundle.”

Now Marcia is leading the legal case against the government in the 60s Scoop, a case that forces all of us Canadians to acknowledge the national sins of our past and seek the

opportunity to start again on a foundation built on mutual respect. There is hope of reconciliation. There is a chance to reset this relationship and learn from each other.

“If you have the ability to help guide how to change this world to a better place, then step up. It’s everyday common people that make those changes…that step up to those challenges for what needs to happen in We still have a long way to go, but this world…I thought the commonGod is moving in our family of ality of the 60s Scoop was pain, but churches. There are exciting points there’s something greater—love. of connection and opportunities to Love for our community, for ourreach out: the New Paths confer- selves, and that is far stronger than ence at Lorne Park Baptist Church, any pain,” says Marcia.

Mississauga, a few years ago; another in Thunder Bay; Resetting the Rela- The road to reconciliation is a long tionship at Highland Baptist Church; one, but we are headed in the right diplus the many smaller connections rection. As we build our relationships and missional initiatives that fly un- with our indigenous neighbours, and der our radar. We sense that God is those within our church families, we moving among us as Canadian Bap- have enormous opportunities for tists respond to God’s call for recon- mutual learning and growth. ciliation.

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Let’s take a quick look at the scriptures and see some of the things we can understand together about what happened at Pentecost. In Acts 2:114 we see that “they were all together” and that people “began to speak in other languages as the Holy Spirit enabled them.” Secondly, we are told there was a sound as people speaking in other languages bewildered the hearers and they heard their own native tongue (note here that there were people there from Africa, Asia, Europe, and so on). What they heard FOR was people declaring the wonders of THE God. In this context of corporate worship people were not driven apart, A CBOQ Worship Conference rather everyone’s voice was heard and people were brought together.

BY CID LATTY The result of this was that people Congregational Development put their faith in God and formed Associate, CBOQ an assembly (or church) of believers hen my brother-in-law re- who fellowshipped, worshipped and cently lost his cell phone, served the Lord together. he said he hadn’t lost it—he had misplaced it. Forgetting The “Worship for the World” conwhere you left your cell phone is ference seeks to remind us of what no small matter because they are so it means to embrace a Pentecost permuch more than they used to be; we spective that includes and recovers use them to shop, check the weather, worship in which a diversity of exsocialise, navigate our way, to bank, pressions is heard in one accord. We book holidays and we even take it aim to do this through the multifacto bed at night. Occasionally, we use eted forms of worship, which incorthem to talk to people! So, I was sur- porate our cultural differences, and prised that my brother was so calm by offering resources for your world of worship: for your church, for the about it. place where you live and serve God. Our minds are amazing. The fact is The conference will encourage us to that we do not forget anything—we take small, meaningful steps to winsimply struggle to recall information somely develop worship that is inand that is called amnesia. I believe clusive. So what does the conference this is true today when we think about look like? It will take place at Pentethe story of Pentecost. It is not that cost 2018, starting with a café-style we have forgotten to celebrate it but worship event, providing inspirationwe do have amnesia when it comes al teaching, interactive workshops and to the implications of what we cel- plenary sessions to explore the theme and ending with a collective worship ebrate.

WORSHIP WORLD

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experience. Worship resources will be available to help you as you go home.

The vision is simple but the task is not. Even so I believe that together we can winsomely work towards that which best reflects the kingdom of God. We may not be there yet but as we “press on” (Philippians 3:14) we may just glimpse something of that heavenward goal in our worship today.

We hope you can join us at Pentecost May 2018.

SAVE THE DATE Worship for the World A CBOQ Worship Conference Pentecost May 18-19, 2018 An intercultural worship event world music • • inspirational talks • interactive workshops • • worship resources • • café style worship • •

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For more details contact: CID LATTY Congregational Development Associate clatty@baptist.ca 416-620-2937

IMAGINATIVE HOPE A Collective Canadian Baptist Voice on Engaging the Next Generation

BY MATT WILKINSON Director of Next Generation Ministries, CBOQ Chair, Canadian Baptist Youth & Family Team

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he Canadian Baptist Youth & Family Team, a representative voice of Canadian Baptists across the country for over 15 years, has a mission to serve as “leaders in the family of Canadian Baptists, to advocate and make possible national and global synergies in the areas of youth, family and young adult ministry.” One of the priorities in fulfilling this mission was to provide a national voice on ministry to the next generation.

vited 50 influential Canadian Baptist leaders from across the country, representing the wide diversity in our churches, to Niagara Falls for four days for the Canadian Baptist Youth & Family Ministry Forum. This gathering sought to reveal and address the obstacles and opportunities facing us as the church as we engage and minister to those who are ages 10-18 in Canada. From the opening address from Dr. John H. Wilkinson, to the insights shared by our keynote facilitators—Dr. Dave Overholt, Dr. To accomplish this goal, we needed Anna Robbins, Dr. Steve Brown and a broader gathering of youth and Dr. Gary Nelson, and the deep and family ministry leaders to give shape honest discussions by participants to this voice. In April 2016, we in- in cluster groups, came the cumula-

tive voice which we have called The Imaginative Hope Report, which is to be distributed to each Canadian Baptist church.

The “Imaginative Hope Report: Revealing the Obstacles and Opportunities to Reaching and Engaging the Next Generation with the Gospel” is to be a national voice on ministry to the next generation for Canadian Baptist churches formed by those Canadian Baptist Leaders who have a a renewed love for their relationship with Jesus and the local church, along with a passion to see this emerging generation encounter the transformative work of Jesus in their lives.

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In recent years there has been significant research tackling one key question: Why are we losing our young people from the church? While this has been hugely beneficial, it’s no longer the most crucial question to ask. Why? It is because our under 18s are no longer the millennials who left, but they’re Gen Z—the generation that never came in the first place.

The question we need to ask now is: What must we do to reach and engage young people with the person and message of Jesus?

we needed to have a clear awareness of what is preventingt the church from reaching youth and what opportunities in our current culture the church take advantage of to reach and engage today’s youth.

So now, as we interact with this post-Christendom, post-modern, and post-literate generation, there is great hope. Our hope is rooted in a new reality that we can imagine and desire to see come into reality throughout our churches. There is still great op-

“...do whatever it takes to reach and engage this next generation with the Gospel and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.”

The time is now for a new era of evangelism, discipleship and empowerment of this generation as they relate to and understand the Church— the Body of Christ—and encounter the transformative power of Jesus Christ. To make the necessary shifts,

position to being a follower of Jesus, joining the local church and being united as the body of Christ in our country. But there can also be a brighter future for our young people, their world and the Christian faith community as we take serious this

IMAGINATIVE HOPE Reaching and Engaging the Next Generation with the Gospel A Report from the 2016 Canadian Baptist Youth & Family Forum

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call to the Imaginative Hope. (Download a copy at imaginativehope.ca.)

We hope that this booklet will provide church leaders with insights and practical resources to be a church community that more effectively reaches and engages this next generation by addressing obstacles and responding to opportunities. It’s time to let this next generation lead, engage with the key cultural issues of our time and give intentional focus to ministry to kids and youth in our churches and communities.

“Imaginative Hope” is the collective work of those who participated in the Canadian Baptist National Youth & Family Ministry Forum 2016 and is endorsed by the Executive Ministers of each Canadian Baptist region and the Executive Director of Canadian Baptist Ministries. It reveals to the Canadian Baptist church the necessary steps of change to do whatever it takes to reach and engage this next generation with the Gospel and the transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

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STRUCTURING FOR FAITHFULNESS

BY DALLAS FRIESEN Director of Congregational Development, CBOQ

Have you ever felt that your church structures aren’t quite working? Is it a struggle to engage younger generations and integrate others into the life of the congregation? You have great people, with big hearts to serve God and others and yet...

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n the Imaginative Hope report, seven major obstacles were identified as challenges for churches including: “We, as Canadian Baptists, have created church structures that hinder needed change.” Those at the forum identified that our churches have missed an opportunity to live the Gospel in the very way that we structure and gather as churches.

hoods can become more welcoming and healthier in the name of Christ.

Organizing around “Church Autonomy and Association” means your church can be nimble and responsive in a localized, decentralized mission in your neighbourhood and you can do that within a family of Canadian Baptists.

Here are three ways Canadian BapAt our core, Canadian Baptists are tists can structure for relevant faithwell lined up to do ministry in 21st fulness to God and the people we Century, Post-Christendom Central serve in 2017.

Canada. Organizing around “The Priesthood of All Believers” means ...something isn’t quite right. we utilize everyone’s gifts and talents so your communities and neighbour20

PRACTICE RESURRECTION THROUGH CONVERSATION

ROBUST DISCERNING LEADERSHIP TEAMS

SIMPLIFY

The way we talk matters. We can practice resurrection every time we converse. How are we doing at listening? I was taught as a young disciple of Christ, “We need to earn the right to be heard.” We can’t jump in to tell someone about Jesus if we haven’t earned the right to be heard. These days we might even have to “earn the right to listen.” Can we be communities that converse well? I have been in a Holy Spirit-infused conversation when afterwards someone asks, “Were we just talking or praying?”

Some churches have created a set of “table rules” or “conversation guidelines” that highlight the parameters around the ways people talk when we gather as a community of Christ.

There is a biblical precedence for church communities to acknowledge those in their midst with wisdom and maturity to give guidance, direction and leadership for care and mission of the church. There has never been a greater need for our teams of elected church leaders to become robust in their abilities to discern God’s leading together, to direct the mission of the church, and to protect the church from the countless internal and external attacks. Does your board need to adopt a discerning process? One church took a whole year to teach its board a discernment process because they recognized that while everyone on the board had their own way of discerning the Holy Spirit personally, they hadn’t learned to do that collectively.

The complexity of many of our church structures hinder effective ministry. Simplify. Find ways to simplify your organizational structures to utilize fewer elected officials. Find ways to streamline meetings so your meetings are geared towards follow-through, action and accountability. Make thankfulness—and not complaining—central in your conversation and you will discover that the transparency and accountability in your structures increases as people take responsibility for utilizing their gifts and talents for the sake of God’s kingdom. Multiple CBOQ churches over the last half a dozen years, have restructured their organizational structures in order to require fewer people and to make a culture shift in the way they govern.

To help your church establish a structure for faithfulness, we have developed a series of Board Resources that we believe can help your church converse differently and discern robustly. They will also help simplify your processes. You can find those at baptist.ca/board.

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TRUTH IN LOVE

Dealing with toxic personalities when you’re in ministry

By Renee James

me long for a workplace whose cul- others (Romans 12:4-5, NIV).” ture honored and respected all staff and where leadership knew how to Belonging to all the others meant t was at church that I learned how lead! that quitting my role as administrative harsh Christ-followers could be. pastor because of six years worth of My hope turned to a keen sense of toxic buildup with members of the Growing up with high-profile rel- grief when members of the church’s leadership team wasn’t an option. atives who’d planted churches and leadership team behaved the way my pastored pastors meant that I had ad agency bosses and peers had. We Was I patient enough, strong enough seen the positive and negative sides all knew better... didn’t we? to take Romans 12:5 seriously? I’d of ministry from an early age. I had ask myself this question on the days learned early on to only volunteer for We didn’t. In six years, it had gotten when I limped home from a deacons’ under-the-radar jobs where I didn’t to the point where I knew that a key meeting or a pastoral team meeting have to exercise my spiritual gifts of volunteer leader on my administra- wanting nothing more than to nevleadership or discernment…I wanted tive team didn’t think that I belonged er return to work…church ministry to worship, not be at war. on the leadership team. And I also was too hard, too lonely, too “crazy.” knew that our interim senior pastor What did it mean that I was a memHowever, I couldn’t fly under the ra- had always wondered what I’d been ber of this church and that I theredar for the years I served as an ad- doing playing at pastor. But we all be- fore belonged to each person who ministrative pastor at my church. longed. I belonged: “For just as each called that church home…just as My church needed a particular kind of us has one body with many mem- they belonged to me? of leader and I thought I was ready bers, and these members do not all for the challenge. Eighteen previous have the same function, so in Christ At the time, I wasn’t sure why I chose years of dealing with insecure bosses we, though many, form one body, to stick it out. But I knew that until and ego-driven clients and peers in and each member belongs to all the I truly understood what Paul’s words my advertising agency career made Communications Director, CBWOQ

I

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about belonging meant, I would not learn the lessons the Spirit wanted to teach me; lessons on why I needed to go to work every day, no matter how crazy those days became. Lessons on how I needed to work. Here are three of those lessons.

I learned that toxic ministry team members didn’t let me off the spiritual transformation hook. Did I dare trust that the Spirit would help me walk through this sludge in such a way that I’d emerge on the other side with a bit more of Jesus in my soul?

I also needed to learn that belonging to members of a body meant I needed to own and celebrate my gifts and my calling. I had to believe that my church needed those gifts. Even more important, I had to choose who defined me. I am the Lord’s.

He’d bought me with a price and that meant I didn’t need to succumb to the cultural norms and spiritualized expectations, none of them biblical, that swirled around the leadership team and defined much of how staff, volunteers and the congregation treated one another.

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One day as I picked up the phone to finally lodge an official complaint with the chair of the deacons board, God spoke to me. “Speak the truth in love.” Truth was on my side. I had the e-mails to prove it. Love—not so much. I hung up the phone and began to pray.

I began to pray for me…for the baggage I’d lugged with me from my ad agency career into my pastorate.

Those prayers were even harder. Why did I have to pray for my “stuff ?”

This conflict wasn’t about me, was it?

“Give me your baggage,” God said to me one day. “You’ve travelled around this mountain long enough.” I prayed out my insecurity (Lord, I don’t even look like a Baptist pastor according to some deacons), my fear (Lord, what if I’m misunderstood, or not even heard?), my longing for a workplace that felt like home (Lord, I didn’t expect ministry to be this lonely. Don’t be silent. Help me.)

After four months of hard prayers I woke up one day, ready to pray the

best for those team members. That day I called the chair of the deacons’ board and our new pastoral team leader. The hard conversations could now begin.

God had led me to this position and he would lead me to the next. I could count on him to speak to me plainly through Scripture and during my prayer times. At no point did I feel “released” from the hold of Romans 12:5. Far from it. The more I sank into the work of praying truth and seeking love, the more I recognized my need to remain in my position.

The work that Jesus wanted to do in me couldn’t be done any other way.

You belong to the community you lead—the one in which you work and worship, just as its members belong to you. That’s a divine promise that’s not easily lived out. But it’s yours.

Renee is the editor of CBWOQ’s award-winning magazine - live. She is also a regular contributor to several magazines, including Christianity Today Women and Gifted for Leadership.

TOP 10 SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE

TOXIC

We’re all works in progress. We are a

new creation in Christ, but sometimes along the way, we pick up our old suitcases and haul them along for the ride. The trouble is, that old baggage is radioactive. It can do some serious damage to ourselves and everyone around us.

Every so often, it’s a good idea to take a step back and ask ourselves, “What’s my baggage?

What am I carrying around that doesn’t belong to me anymore?” Here are ten indications by Renée James that maybe it’s time to check that luggage... and never pick it up again.

1. The decorating committee has removed you from plantmaintenance duties in the sanctuary.

6. People avoid working with you on church projects but you prefer that. You have total control then.

2. You know in advance that you will never ever make it to meetings on time.

7. You always turn down requests to mentor young people. No one helped you figure out how to do ministry when you started.

3. You visit other churches on the Sundays when your senior pastor preaches on the fruit of the Spirit.

4. You WILL win the Calvin debate with the youth leader.

5. Each Sunday, you list every typo on the music slides and in the bulletins and leave that list under the church office door before you leave the building.

8. Your granddaughter will never marry that boy. His grandfather lost the Calvin debate.

9. You secretly enjoy being part of heated worship discussions that end badly.

10. You believe messy hair is a sign of second-class citizenship in heaven.

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IN STEP TOGETHER How Three Churches in Hamilton Are Sharing in Overseas Mission

By Leanne Friesen, Pastor, Mount Hamilton Baptist Church

I

n 2015, Mount Hamilton Baptist Church began to explore their next partnership through CBM’s STEP program. Having had a transformative experience through a STEP partnership with Kenya in the past, they were ready to begin again.

Around this time, the lead pastor was sharing with some CBOQ pastors in the city the great opportunity STEP allows to build a heart for overseas mission within the congregation, and encouraged their churches to participate. However, when they heard the expected giving amount ($10,000/ year), they lamented that this was not realistic for their congregations. Furthermore, they also didn’t think that as smaller churches that they would have enough people to fulfill the short term vision trip component of STEP. This was when the idea came to be: “Why not be partners together?” The smaller churches could give a financial amount that was reasonable for them, and the three churches could do a joint mission trip. CBM was immediately on board, and after a meeting with leaders from all congregations and CBM representatives, they were ready to move forward with

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a STEP partnership with the work in One pastor writes: “It has been a joy Lebanon. for all those involved to be able to partner not only with overseas minisOn a chilly evening in January 2016, try through STEP, but to grow closer the congregations of Wentworth to one another as we join together in Baptist Church, Little Bethel Baptist mission.”

Church, and Mount Hamilton Baptist Church met for a potluck, featuring a number of Lebanese dishes, and the STEP covenant service together. Since then, the churches continue to partner in other ways. The last Sunday of each month has been set aside for learning about and praying for partners in Lebanon in all three churches, and pastors from each church takes turns preparing what will be shared. In November, there was a meeting for all those interested in attending a vision trip to Lebanon with members from each church in attendance. They look forward to a diverse group representing all three churches participating, and fundraising and training will be a collaborative effort.

STEP is a global discipleship program that provides churches with the opportunity to engage more significantly in global mission through a three-way partnership with CBM and one of its global partners.—CBM For more information on STEP, go to cbmin.org.

cbmin.org

When the world looks to us they see you.

CBM is honoured to support the global mission work of CBOQ churches like yours.

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The Princess and the

BY JACQUELINE SOLOMON, Communications Associate

Tea

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H

ave you ever seen a little girl dressed up as a princess?

Perhaps it was your own daughter. Perhaps it was a little girl out with her family with her favourite dress pulled over her pyjamas. If the little girls in your life aren’t into dresses, then perhaps your household equivalent is hockey gear or a tiger costume. Whatever the outfit, if she has chosen it herself, she probably has a bit of a glow about her—a sense that she is special. Regardless of how they express it, girls need to feel valued, cared for and special. Yet, our world is often at odds with girls’ self-worth, instead preferring to provide a steady stream of unattainable ideals and impossible goals.

For the past few years, Kingsway Baptist Church in Toronto has hosted a Princess Tea. It’s a chance for the girls in the congregation to don their favourite outfits and gather to“Elizabeth wanted to chase that dragon, but she didn’t have any clothes. The gether with the other women in the church. But more than that, the event only thing she could find that wasn’t burned was a paper bag. She put it on draws in people from the community, over her head and went off after the dragon.” making in an opportunity for some people who don’t go to church to Robert Munsch, The Paper Bag Princess start getting comfortable with walking through the doors. For two hours,

they get to know each other over tea and cakes. They are celebrated, encouraged and most importantly, learn something incredible: they are princesses. As daughters of the King, each of these little girls is given the opportunity to hear that at their core they are beloved children of their Father God—that who they are is important to him. Throughout the event, they laugh, talk, play, dance and run gleefully around. It is a moment of delight for the girls and women alike.

There’s even a visit from a “real” princess who is there to reaffirm that each of these girls is special for who she is.

Whether the girls are in gowns or hockey gear, the Princess Tea reminds them that they can step into life knowing that they are beloved, connected and important. They leave knowing that their church is a place that values them and what they have to offer. They even get to choose a

tea cup keepsake to take home, donated by the older ladies in the congregation—a reminder to carry with them of an event that many of the girls now spend the whole year looking forward to.

Children’s ministry has a seemingly infinite capacity for creativity and joy. It is an opportunity to plant good seeds into young hearts and show them that there are many people who care for them.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

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7 DAY MISSIONAL CHALLENGE Everyone seems to be telling us to be more mission-minded but few give us practical ways to do it in the midst of our busy lives. Take a week and try the Missional Challenge! We have based it on a monastic weekly schedule that includes prayer, scripture, manual labor, service and hospitality.

Our prayer this week is that together we might ‘live up to what we have attained’ in Christ (Philippians 3:16).

DAY 1 Start the week with God. To spend time with God is not a waste of time but the fuel for our missional activity. Spend time with God in a way that may be new to you today. You could search for a scripture, poem, hymn or sacred song to give focus. Take a walk and pray as you worship God. DAY 2 Live simply. Give away something that is valuable to you. Other ideas: pay for someone’s cup of coffee, get the next person’s food, toll, gas, etc.

DAY 3 Serve. Recall what inspired you to become a Christian. Give the people who come to mind a call or send an email to say thank you. Look to serve someone today in what we might call the mundane things of life. Who do you know who needs Jesus? Spend time with them today. Pray for an opportunity to share faith with them.

DAY 4 Believe. We have been taught to say ‘In Christ’ but rarely have we been taught to say ‘I can,’ Let us memorise the whole verse today: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ Philippians 4:13.

DAY 5 Practice hospitality. Send a friend or family member a word of encouragement today. Make or buy cupcakes to leave in the kitchen at work for people to take for free. Find a way to offer your skill set today. Take someone for lunch or find a way to use your home to host someone you know. Intentionally speak words of encouragement today.

DAY 6 Love. Ask God to show you someone you can be a person of peace towards. Find a food bank that you can serve in some way. foodbankscanada.ca DAY 7 Pray for the world. Take one issue from the news today and pray about it. Remember to pray for those who are being persecuted. For more details about praying for the persecuted church see: www.idop.ca See also CBM prayer line at cbmin.org/prayerline.

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1. A toddler comes up to you and smiles, then pats your knee leaving behind a damp patch of drool and cookie crumbs.

You: a. Stifle a gag, step backwards and wipe off your knee while scanning the room for the child’s parents. b. Smile politely, dust yourself off and go get yourself another cup of coffee. c. Get down on the toddler’s level, smile at them and ask them how their cookie was. d. Flee the premises.

FINDING YOUR

GIFTS Some of us think we’re not good at anything; others of us think we can do it all. Both extremes have one thing in common—they’re absolutely wrong. Each of us has God-given gifts to share with our churches and our communities. Sometimes the trick is figuring out what they are. Here is a (totally unscientific) quiz to help you figure out how God has gifted you!

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2. You are looking over the financial report at your church’s general meeting. You: a. Notice an error and think about how you could correct it. b. Fall asleep. c. Stare blankly at the numbers. You have no idea what any of this means. d. Burst into tears.

3. While tidying up the church kitchen, you start singing your favourite worship song/hymn. People around you: a. b. c. d.

Turn on the radio and crank the volume.

Start singing along.

Start tidying up in a different room.

Make requests.

4. A teenager in your congregation is looking for some guidance in their spiritual life. You: a. Launch into a rant about how kids today are totally useless. b. Ask what’s wrong with their parents. c. Think about how you’d like to be a constructive part of a young person’s spiritual journey. d. Friend them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat and bombard them with Scripture verses.

5. In a conversation with a fellow church goer, a subject comes up about which you strongly disagree. You: a. Listen to their opinion, then respectfully share your own.

Whether or not you come to an agreement, the other person feels heard and cared for. b. Throw your coffee in their face. c. Tell everyone in the church about how wrong the other person is. d. Keep your opinions to yourself. This isn’t your rock to die on.

6. When listening to a friend talk about some serious 8. Your church is having a pot luck. You: difficulties in his/her life, you: a. Tell everyone what to bring, what to do, assign a. Nod and make sympathetic faces while backing duties and supervise. slowly away. b. Direct traffic, help people figure out where to b. Remember them all week and pray for them each plug in crock pots, organize teams to set up and time. clean up and remember to have some fun. c. Offer them a hug and make an appointment to c. Show up empty-handed, eat and leave. meet for coffee later in the week. d. Offer to help with whatever needs to be done. d. Launch into a list of everything in your life that 9. You find yourself in front of a crowd of smiling faces isn’t going well. with a piece of paper in front of you to read to them.

7. Someone new is visiting your church. You see them at You: coffee hour, hovering, but clearly wondering if they a. Pass out. should leave. You: b. Smile, glance down and read. It’s no big deal. a. Greet them warmly, introduce yourself and bring c. Break into a cold sweat and forget how to read. them over to a group of people chatting. d. Feel nervous and get clammy hands, but you start b. Stand there. If they want to talk to you, you’re reading anyway. right there. c. Hand them several pamphlets about your church 10. The Dewey Decimal System is, to you, a thing of: and walk away. a. Beauty d. Walk over to your most gregarious friend and b. Nightmares drag them with you for the introductions. c. Mystery

PRE-RETIREMENT WORKSHOP This May, CBOQ is offering a oneday pre-retirement workshop for our 55+ members. The workshop is free for CBOQ Pension Plan members.

You’ll learn relevant guidelines and tips to help you prepare for retirement. Space is limited, so register early! Priority will be given to first-time attendees.

DETAILS Date: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 Time: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Place: Holiday Inn, Toronto Airport 600 Dixon Road

Toronto, ON M9W 1J1 REGISTER NOW! Please email Spencer Lee at slee@baptist.ca.

Deadline is April 30, 2017! For more information, go to baptist.ca.

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ANSWERS 1. If you answered a, b or d, probably the nursery isn’t for you. Don’t force yourself to look after the little ones if you hate it. They’re smart and will figure it out. If you answered c, you’re kid approved. Children need leaders who genuinely like them.

2. If you answered a, congratulations! You actually noticed an error, which means you probably have some mad financial acumen. Consider volunteering to help your church treasurer, or consider being mentored so that you can take that mantle when your current treasurer is ready for a break. If you answered b, c or d… leave the accounting to someone else.

3. If you answered a or c, it’s bad news for you. Even if you love to sing, other people don’t love to listen. So belt out your favourite worship tunes in the shower or from the congregation, but maybe don’t try and lead the worship team. If you answered b or d, you might be a gifted worship leader. Maybe it’s time to get involved.

4. It’s hard to be a teenager. Young people need allies who want to build them up, not tear them down. If you answered a or b, leave the mentoring to people who enjoy being around teenagers. If you answered c, you might be the right person for the job. If you answered d, you have serious boundary issues. Get some guidance before you jump in.

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5. Boards, deacons and councils need people who can handle conflict well.

There will definitely be times where it will be important to resolve disputes in a constructive way. If you answered b or c, stick to the shallow end. (And possibly get some counselling.) You are not emotionally mature enough to make decisions for your church. If you answered a, you are well prepared to head into more boisterous waters. If you answered d, spend some timing thinking about whether you could take on the challenge of disagreeing peaceably and seek resolution.

8. If you answered a, don’t be surprised if people don’t seem appropriately grateful for your help. While you might think you’re providing leadership, you might in fact come off as overbearing and controlling. Remember—potlucks are supposed to be fun. If you answered c, come on! You can do better than that!

Even if you can’t bring anything, stick around. Make some friends. You have something to offer. If you answered d, those who answered b will thank you.

Someone needs to lead (without controlling), but helping hands are important too.

6. If you answered a or d, you’re definitely not cut out for prayer ministry just yet. In fact, you’re probably not such a great friend. If you answered b or c, you may be a good fit for your church’s prayer ministry. Praying with people and for people are both important parts of Christian ministry and have a life-changing and life-giving impact on those around you.

9. Not everyone has to do everything in your church. If you answered a or c, you don’t need to force yourself to stand up in front of the crowd. Serve in other ways! But if you answered b or d, let your pastor know that he or she can call on your if help is needed for reading announcements or leading corporate prayer.

7. If you answered b or c, you might want to think about how you approach people. To the visitor, you may seem unfriendly or even judgmental. If you answered a or d, well done! You noticed the new person, were warm and friendly and, if you’re not the most extraverted person out there, you got back up when you needed it. Your church’s welcoming committee will be happy to have you.

10. Who doesn’t have a severely overdue church library book kicking around?

Managing a church’s resources is an important job. If your church has a library, and you answered a, you might already be the church librarian. If not, maybe you should be, or at least you could help the person doing the job. If you answered b, maybe just work on returning those books. If you answered c, ask your church librarian for help!

CANADIAN BAPTISTS OF ONTARIO AND QUEBEC

CBOQ exists to equip our churches and leaders to engage with their mission from God in their community. Together we’re starting new churches and fostering fresh expressions of the Gospel. We’re helping churches respond to rapid change in our culture and communities through coaching, workshops and resources. We’re providing grants to help congregations explore new missional ideas and opportunities.

We’re supporting our pastors and leaders through training, networking, benefits, pension and life-giving events. We connect our churches and leaders together so that we can build each other into a vibrant, Christ-centered community.

We’re caring for the next generation of Canadian Baptists by developing cresources for leaders, hosting transformative events and retreats and providing opportunities for young people to see God at work through the world around them in the great outdoors.

We’re helping our family of churches to build a sense of who they are and what God is of them as we are transformed together into the Church we need to be for this generation and the ones to come.

Together, we’re building the Church for the sake of Christ.

I want to join with CBOQ today in supporting and growing our family of Canadian Baptist churches.

Name (Please print clearly.)

Address City Province Postal Code Phone Email Legal Information • I/We may revoke my/our authorization at any time by giving 30 days notice to CBOQ in writing.

• I/We have reourse rights if any debit does not comply with this agreement.

Enclosed find my gift of $ by cheque I authorize CBOQ to make monthly automatic withdrawals of $ from my account starting on the 30th of . (month) Please enclose a void cheque.

I understand that I may cancel this authorization at any time by notifying CBOQ in writing.

For credit card donations, please go to baptist.ca/donate.

• For more information on cancellations or recourse rights, I/we may contact my/our financial institution or visit www.cdnpay.ca.

5 International Blvd | Etobicoke, ON | M9W 6H3 | Phone: (416) 622-8600 | Fax: (416) 622-2308 | info@baptist.ca | @CBOQ | www.baptist.ca

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EVENTS MARCH

5-7

9

Miroslav Volf Conference McMaster Divinity College mcmasterdivinity.ca

7 Assembly registration early-bird deadline baptist.ca/assembly

18 Raptors 905 Faith/Family Day cboqkids.ca/raptors905

10 Pre-Retirement Workshop baptist.ca

4-7

31 Centre Court cboqyouth.ca/centrecourt2017

18

SEPTEMBER

APRIL

Incubator: Encouraging Missional Imagination baptist.ca

JUNE

8 Kwasind Camp in April kwasind.com 15 CBOQ grant application due baptist.ca/grant-funding 24-27 New Pastors Orientation baptist.ca/npo

MAY 3-5

Kwasind Work Weekend

The Pursuit ‘17 A Christian Ministry Conference the-pursuit.ca

3 Transition 101 transition101.ca 8-10 Assembly 2017: Pouring In baptist.ca/assembly 11 National Day of Prayer for Youth prayforyouth.ca 15 Cafechurch Envisioning Day baptist.ca/cafechurch 24 Reel Family Time cboqkids.ca/reelfamily

JULY 2

Summer Camp begins

AUGUST Kwasind celebration weekend

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Incubator: Encouraging Missional Imagination baptist.ca

OCTOBER 2-4 15

Youth Pastors’ Retreat CBOQ grant applications due!

NOVEMBER 6-8

Reignite 2017: Pastors’ and Ministry Leaders’ Conference baptist.ca/reignite 19 National Day of Prayer for Kids prayforkids.ca

A family of churches Transformed by Christ Revealing God’s kingdom 5 International Blvd | Etobicoke, ON | M9W 6H3 | (416) 622-8600 @cboq | info@baptist.ca |baptist.ca

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