CBOQ Sunday 2015
THE
CANADIAN BAPTIST
WHAT KIND OF CANADIAN BAPTIST ARE YOU? 10 Five things YOU can say to help a pastor out. 26 How to Plant a Church 12 WHAT DOES A PASTOR DO, EXACTLY? 22 Are you a Balm or a Bomb to your Church? 25
What's so Great about Being a Baptist? A family of churches Transformed by Christ Revealing God’s kingdom
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Knowing Being Doing
Ph.D. M.A. M.Div. M.T.S. Graduate Diploma in Ministry Graduate Certificate Programs
mcmasterdivinity.ca 2
1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1
proud to be part of the CBOQ family
table of contents
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Events Becoming our Real Selves Blown Away Starting Children Off Right Investing in our Future Present
Cover image: Rev. Sue Carr on opening day at 541 Barton St. in Hamilton, ON., an innovative eatery and exchange where food, faith and friendship meet. For more about 541, go to baptist.ca/a-goodexchange.
What’s so Great about Being a Baptist?
7 Signs You Might be a Canadian Baptist
All Rev’d Up
How to Plant a Church
Mission & Church Planting
Why Summer Camp is Worth It
Getting to Church without Starting a War
What Does a Pastor Do, Exactly?
Are you a Bomb or a Balm to your Church
5 Things You Can Say & Do to Encourage Your Pastor
Compassion Changes Everything
Editor: Jacqueline Solomon, Communications Associate, CBOQ
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4 PHOTO CREDIT: HESTER BARNARD
PHOTO CREDIT: HESTER BARNARD
Greetings from Tim McCoy Hello Canadian Baptist friend, This magazine is for you. We have put together this special edition of The Canadian Baptist to give you a chance to see what we at CBOQ get to see every day – the amazing vibrancy and life of our Canadian Baptist family. Wherever you are, I’m thrilled to share with you these pages of stories about how we’re sharing the love and salvation of Jesus Christ brought to life through women and men, young and not-so-young, all across Ontario and Quebec. I hope you find a family connection as you read of the power of the Gospel at work today in our communities and our world. I hope you’ll receive encouragement from what you’ll find out about life in a Canadian Baptist church and what it means to be connected to this historic and progressive family. Together now since 1888, we have been seeking to find the Mind of Christ. We know he is present among us and we remain focused on joining God’s redemptive purpose for humankind as we cooperate in mission, education and local community ministry.
Thank you for the part you play in making our Baptist family a relevant, strong and empowered force of the redeeming power of Christ. I hope you enjoy every page and will join me in praying for those who are seeking community, salvation and hope. Together, let’s help them find it in Christ. I believe we are in store for so much more than we can imagine. I am reminded of this through the words of the Apostle Paul when he writes in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’” (NLT) Journeying with you, Tim McCoy Executive Minister, CBOQ
PHOTO CREDIT: HESTER BARNARD
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What’s so
GREAT
about Being a
BAPTIST
?
By Gary Nelson
“You should read this,” they would say when I
was the head of Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM). Well-meaning die-hard denominational Baptists, fearful that I was not Baptist enough, would hand me books, articles or refer me to websites on Baptist distinctives. One person even went so far as to suggest that I take a course on polity and practice and read up on our Canadian Baptist life. I have, by the way. It was mandatory for ordination out West. I confess, however, that I found all these resources equally inadequate and equally dull. They appeared to want to help me understand how we were uniquely different from others who call themselves Christian. That was the problem. The old Christendom framework of denominational differentiation rings profoundly hollow in post-Christendom Canada. They shed light on my historical roots but failed dismally to enlighten my ministry and faith life in present day realities. Now before anyone indignantly whips off a letter to the editor of The Canadian Baptist, understand that I am proud of my denominational heritage. I have generational roots! They stretch back into the Maritimes and contain four generations of ministers in Canadian Baptist life. My childhood was nurtured entirely in a Canadian Baptist church 6
in Calgary. As head of CBM, I celebrated with other global Baptist leaders the 400th anniversary of our Baptist beginnings in Amsterdam a few years ago. I love the unique place we hold in the fabric of Canadian religious life and the rich heritage of influence that is ours! Our global beginnings were small but remarkable. At a key moment in history, our forbearers involved themselves in a groundbreaking attempt to return the church to its roots as a missionary movement. They believed passionately in the revolutionary nature of life in the church. During the Radical Reformation, they set up communities of faith that were no longer willing to hold to the state church idea where nominal and devout believers gathered together. They believed only in a Church that was visible, a gathered people of committed faith. They symbolized that incarnational emphasis in the ordinance of baptism that affirms our salvation through an encounter with Jesus Christ and our dependence on him in everything we do. It was complete and life changing, representing a taste of what might be in God’s new created order and it got lived out in a community of faith called the local church.
We Christians who name ourselves Baptists need to return to this radical concept of the church. We do need to rediscover our historical roots, not for differentiating ourselves from other denominations, but for mission, ministries of justice, compassion and evangelism in the local context. One of our distinctives is the idea of the ‘autonomy of the local church.’ Placed in the lens of missionary living, it stimulates a dynamic engagement of church and context. In fact if you see autonomy of local churches in the eyes of mission and the lens of our heritage, it suddenly becomes a missional advantage to be Baptist. Simply put, we Baptists do not believe in the franchising of the church. We have no cookie cutter approach where all of our churches in a city look the same and cannot be distinguished Reforming the church in from each other. Each early seventeenth-cencongregation, because tury England was a of the autonomy of the local church, has the dangerous enterprise. potential to become a local missional However, dissenters such expression of the Body as the well-to-do layof Christ, uniquely person Thomas Helwys suited for the particular sought to do just neighborhood in which that. In 1611, Helwys God has placed them. led his small band of They shape themselves to followers to London and the contextual needs of their community because no hierarchy imposes form or strategy. Our roots are a counterpoint to the desperate desire to find uniformity of solutions to the problems we face as churches in the twenty-first century. Every few years, someone suggests a new one-size-fitsall solution. Sing choruses! Do natural church development! Associate with Willow Creek! Go reformed! Get in touch with the next wave of the
Spirit! This idea of a single solution for all churches is a myth of fearful people trying to find the magic quick fix solution to their circumstances. A missional view of the autonomy of local church creates possibilities. It provides the fertile ground for a local church to enter the hard work of shaping ministry to a particular context. The only foundational framework shaping each unique local missional expression is our forbearers’ belief in a radical, visible and faithful church life. What it looks like is up to the work of the people of God who call themselves Baptist in a particular community.
founded what is considered to be the first Baptist Church on English soil. Helwys soon after published his famous work A Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity (1612). This attack on the Church of England and defence of religious liberty got him into trouble, and he died in Newgate Prison in 1616. Contributed by Gordon L. Heath, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Christian History Director, Canadian Baptist Archives
There is much to learn from our roots. It may be time to recover some of them. They certainly were unsettling ideas at the time. They were radical and revolutionary in such a way that King James (yes, that King James) found them unbelievably disturbing. No wonder he threw one of our forbearers, Thomas Helwys, into prison for the rest of his life. Nothing is more unsettling than a faith actually lived out.
Rev. Dr. Gary Nelson is the President of Tyndale University College and Seminary, the former General Secretary of Canadian Baptist Ministries, a member of Mimico Baptist Church and our guest speaker at CBOQ Assembly 2015. 7
1. You take things personally. When it comes to faith, you don’t just blindly follow the flock – you need to know for yourself. Getting to know God better is one of the driving forces in your life, and part of that is getting back to the basics – your Bible.
YOU MIGHT BE A
PHOTO CREDIT: HESTER BARNARD
CANADIAN
BAPTIST
2. You like to share. You know what you’ve been given and you want to share it, not hoard it. Even if you’re shy, or it’s hard to open up for other reasons, that desire to help others know Jesus is written into your DNA. 3. You play well with others… most of the time. You don’t need anyone bossing you around or dictating whom your pastor should be, but you like being part of a bigger family of people who love Jesus. Basically, you’re here because you want to be. 4. At some point, you’ve been in front of your church in your bathing suit. Yes, you probably had a white cover over top of it, but there was a moment that you found yourself professing your love for our amazing God in front of everyone on the day you were baptized. (If you haven’t done it yet, talk to your pastor!) 5. You have direct access to a VIP. You don’t go through anyone but Jesus to talk to God. You approach him with all your concerns, worries and worship, and you are part of a community of people who will pray for you and with you. 6. You care about others. Whether you volunteer at a local soup kitchen, teach English to newcomers, or keep an extra chair open for someone who is alone for the holidays, you know that being loved by God inspires us to share his love in tangible ways with others. 7. You like to eat.* The potluck lunch has long been a staple of the Baptist community, and let’s face it – eating together is a big part of being a family. You might even know who the best cooks in your church are. *Not a theological distinctive.
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Meet a few of the newest members of our CBOQ ordinands. We’re pretty excited about them. Rev. Paula Willis Chaplain, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto Grace Health Centre Yorkminster Park Baptist Church Toronto, Ontario Ordained: Jan. 7, 2015 When Mary spoke to the servants so long ago she said to them, “Do whatever he tells you.” Jesus says to all of us “... love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” My vision for ministry is simple; it is to do as I am told by Jesus. In the Cloud of Unknowing it says, “Never confuse the worthiness of your calling with who you are.” Those words are not only for prayer but for all ministry. Ordination is confirmation of one’s smallness and God’s grace. We are called to follow Jesus, proclaim the Word, and to be servants of the Lord. I am so thankful to join those who have gone before me.
Rev. Yoon Sok Kang Associate Pastor Westmount Baptist Church Montreal, Quebec
Rev. Greg Kay Worship and Mission Pastor Spring Garden Baptist Church North York, Ontario
Ordained: Dec. 14, 2014 Yoon Sok is Korean, but he grew up in Argentina where he worked as pastor and missionary for a few years. His mother tongue is Spanish, which is where his passion to serve the Latin Community comes from. Now in Canada, Yoon Sok is excited to reach out in Montreal’s Spanish-speaking community and develop new ways of connecting and sharing Jesus. To Yoon Sok, an ordination is a service of petition for God’s continued blessing and a service of submission to God’s authority revealed in those who have been set aside for ministry.
Ordained: Dec. 7, 2014 Greg’s desire for his ministry is that it equips, encourages and gives opportunity for the community to move in a rhythm of living worship that witnesses to God’s Kingdom through gathering for communal worship and scattering for participation in God’s mission in the world. Ordination into pastoral ministry to Greg is the recognition, affirmation and blessing of God’s call by the local church and the assembly of churches.
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1. What does CBOQ stand for? a. It’s a misspelling of BCOQ b. Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec c. I have no idea 2. When I move to a new town, one of the first things I do is check out the: a. Location of the First Baptist Church and coffee shops b. Nearby familiar-feeling churches and coffee shops c. Mid to large sized buildings with crosses on them and coffee shops 3. When I look around my church I see: a. My great grandparents’ names under the stained glass windows b. An ad for Assembly 2015 and a few youth wearing Blizzard and Avalanche shirts c. People… mostly people. What are you getting at? If you got mostly As: You are a dyed-in-the-wool Baptist. You have been a faithful part of the Canadian Baptist family for a long time, and we are thankful to have you. Your commitment to expressing your faith as part of our community is very important to us.
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4. And speaking of which, Assembly is: a. The annual general meeting of the CBOQ family, and I’m already signed up. As were my parents before me and their parents before them. b. Some sort of decision-making event for my church and some of the other churches around c. Um… They have them at schools for special announcements and holidays 5. Camp Kwasind is: a. Where I went to camp and where I sent/will send my children every summer b. A Christian camp for kids somewhere in Ontario c. Camp what? 6. When you hear “Sharkey,” you think of: a. Your childhood and adolescence as part of a CBOQ church youth group b. The Avalanche/Blizzard events c. Jaws
If you got mostly Bs: You’re a coincidental Baptist... which isn’t a bad thing. You know you’re in a Baptist church, and you love your community, but it isn’t the denomination that keeps you there. We’re thankful that you have chosen to be a part of one of our churches, as we follow Jesus together.
If you got mostly Cs: This may be the first time that you realized you were in a Baptist church. Maybe “Baptist” isn’t in your church’s name. The thing is, you’re still part of the family. We’re thankful for all our churches, and that regardless of the church name, the focus is on loving Jesus and each other.
LOOKING A RESOURCE TO HELP TRANSFORM YOUR CHURCH
by discerning and participating in the mission of God.
What path do you follow when the way is not clear? Looking Up
路
Looking Around
路
Looking Back
路
Looking In
路
Looking Forward
for more information visit www.baptist.ca/Looking
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by Clint Mix, Director of Mission and Church Planting, CBOQ
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It’s tempting to look for a step-by-step plan - a right way to do things... ...but some things are more complicated. There are as many right ways to plant a church as there are people to be a part of them. Here are a few broad categories.:
Inspirational Like Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) or Peter’s “Macedonian call,” sometimes people plant a mission and/or a church in a community because they have been inspired or called by the Holy Spirit to a specific place and people and to be a representation of the Body of Christ in a community. Has the Holy Spirit inspired you to plant?
Accidental Perhaps you’ve heard it said that Canada is a mission field, and it’s true. We should remember to act the way missionaries in other parts of the world do. We should set out to serve in mission, discerning needs and responding with the love of Christ. When we do this well, those serving and those being served want to gather together and celebrate God’s goodness. But be careful – churches start this way! What serendipity! In CBOQ, Revive, Joshua Ministries and a few others began this way. This method requires a church to set out in mission that has both permission and potential to mature into a new expression of the body of Christ (a church). Is your church being led to launch a mission that has permission and potential to become a church?
Intentional There are churches that have discerned that what God wants them to do is to multiply their congregation. Scripture encourages this and experience shows us that this is a key way to reach people with the Good News of Jesus. CBOQ churches like Brampton Chinese, the Logos churches, Greenhills Christian Fellowship, Toronto Chinese Baptist and others are intentional about planting new churches. Is God calling your church to plant new churches?
Incidental Sometimes churches are planted because of changes in our community. The Apostle Paul tells us that “God determined the time and place where humanity lives…” Sometimes God brings a people group (age demographic, sub culture, ethnic group, etc.) into our community. This is not something the church planned or felt inspired to do, rather, it is simply responding to the changes that are taking place around us. Within CBOQ there are many examples of new churches that have begun in this way. Could you ask and answer the question “Who is my neighbour?” Maybe God is inviting your church to provide a new church to a specific group of people that live near you?
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& MissionChurch Planting by Clint Mix
CBOQ exists to equip churches and leaders as they engage in their mission from God in their community. “What is God calling us to do? What does he expect of us?” It’s a question we are each called to answer in different ways. One essential way we understand God’s mission is to pause and think – really think – about what the Word says. Let’s look at a couple of clear reminders. Sometimes we act as though Jesus is taking a divine roll call. It is as though his call was to “Go into all the world and make attendees.” Rather, Jesus told us to “make disciples.” (Matthew 28:16-20) We are called to “baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” and to “teach (people) to obey everything that Christ commanded.” These actions take place in and through a worshipping community: a church! Arguably the most famous missionary (next to Jesus, of course!) was the Apostle Paul. He modeled church planting. Most of the New Testament is compiled of Paul’s letters to the churches he was instrumental in starting. He went into different cities, started a church, established the leadership and then moved on. This was so much the case that he worked himself out of a job. He said that he had “fully proclaimed the gospel.” (Romans 15:17-24) 14
But there are already lots of churches and many of them are struggling. True. However, beyond the teaching of the Bible, the evidence is clear: in addition to our existing communities, we are called to plant new and fresh expressions of the Church. Why? New churches can reach new generations, new residents, and new people groups. Younger adults are often more likely to find a home in newer congregations. Long-established congregations develop traditions that often make no sense to younger generations or new Canadians, so they are not reached. New congregations almost always reach new residents better. In older congregations, it may take 10 years before new people are accepted into leadership and influence, but in a new church, new people tend to have equal influence with long time members. New congregations consistently reach newcomers to Canada better. New immigrant groups usually can only be reached by churches ministering in their own language. If we wait until a new group is integrated into our culture long enough to come to our church, we will wait for years with little impact. Back to our original question - “What is God calling us to do? What does he expect of us?” He expects us to participate with him in his mission of redeeming all things; to make disciples who make disciples! Go and do that!
Why should your congregation send your ministry leaders to Reignite? The core of ministry leadership is an ongoing relationship with God. Reignite is a time to draw aside to nurture that relationship. The core of the relationship with God is a conversation of prayer with him. This year, our Reignite theme speaker will be Sunder Krishnan, challenging us in the area of his passion: prayer. And we’ll be holding the event in a place dedicated to spiritual growth and nurture, Jackson’s Point Conference Centre. We remain committed to practices of spiritual discipline through the encouragement of colleagues walking the same path. Reignite allows us time to deepen those friendships.
We flourish when we have more support for that kind of accountability. This year in moving Reignite to a new venue, we have reduced costs, so more will be able to participate. We have many great pastors serving our congregations. Their continued greatness has to do with the greatness of the partnership achieved when pastor and congregation support and serve each other. In looking to the year ahead, build in new ways to help your pastor to thrive in his or her shared ministry. Brian Craig Director of Leadership Development, CBOQ
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She Matters to Ken! The CBM Advocacy Campaign She Matters continues as together we end the injustice of gender bias in education and seek to improve access to quality education for girls around the world. Make investing in her potential a priority. Take action at shematters.cbmin.org. Sign and send a letter to the Prime Minister urging the government to strengthen its existing support for the education of girls in the global community. Let him know She Matters ! ACTION #2: Got a SHE that you value? Take a picture, post a tweet. Tell the world why SHE MATTERS to you. We are building a wall of support on social media. Just use the hashtag #CBMSheMatters See who’s on the wall at the advocacy site.
cbmin.org
CBOQ SHE MATTERS ad.indd 1
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Helping people find clarity at midlife, so your second half is your best half. It was a pleasant surprise the first time I saw it. “The research shows that the richest contribution leaders make is usually after age 40.” Surprising, because our culture says, “It’s all downhill after 40.” Pleasant, because I was 49 – I was not ‘done!’ In fact, it told me I had much to offer, probably my best ever. By midlife, life has delivered hard knocks, and things are not as clear as we used to think they were. We become aware that we need to think again – deeply this time – but we are so busy we can hardly keep our balance. Our load continues to increase, and we are acutely aware that we need to improve our leadership. At CREST, we get it. Our program is designed specifically for midlife leaders. We get it, because we are also midlife – and invite you to a transformational journey with others like you. Dr. Dan Reinhardt, CREST President
Check us out at www.crestleadership.ca
“I believe camp is a ‘must have’ experience for every young person.” by Matt Wilkinson Executive Director, Camp Kwasind Growing up, I could hardly wait to get to summer camp. I remember my dad once sharing with me that he and mom would do whatever they could to ensure that my brother and I could go to camp each summer. They knew that it would help build our confidence, give us opportunities to try new things, allow for new friendships, and lay a solid foundation in our Christian journey. If you never have had the chance to experience camp, it might seem that it’s just a fun week for kids to be away from their parents (or perhaps a chance for parents to have a break). But I believe camp is a “must have” experience for every young person. Camp can have so much positive impact in a very short time. It allows campers
the opportunity to explore faith, try new activities, develop responsibility, and grow in character. Year after year, former campers share that it was there that they had some of their best memories, grew spiritually, and made lasting friendships. In recent years, the importance of camping ministry has been highlighted in a Canadian study commissioned by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada entitled Hemorrhaging Faith. The study revealed that a high percentage of young adults who have stayed committed to the faith attributed it to their experience of both attending and serving at a Christian camp. There is something truly transformative and life-changing about getting the chance to go to a Christian camp. As CBOQ churches we must continue to raise the importance of this ministry in our communities. For over 70 years,
CBOQ’s Camp Kwasind has provided a fun, safe and affordable camping experience; a camp where children and youth know that they belong; where committed staff care about them; and where we work hard at creating lasting memories and being a living demonstration of God’s love. Recently, I received this encouraging message from a mom of four kids, all of whom were at camp last summer: “I am thankful for how camp is pouring into our kids & youth and pointing them in the right direction. This is a parent’s dream...to have others positively invest in their kids for the sake of the kingdom. Priceless!” Whether you choose Kwasind or one of CBOQ’s other partners, summer camp is an invaluable experience for young people.
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“...on this rock I will build my Church...” Matt 16:18
For more information visit:
www.camponeida.com
CBOQ_Ad.indd 1
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Where is God taking YOU this summer?
Men’s Work Week April 22-25, 2015 Please contact jjneely@vianet.ca if interested!
2015 Summer Camps and Wilderness Trips for Youth
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To learn more and to register visit:
www.coldwatercanada.org
ALPHA IS FOR EVERYONE 24 million people have done Alpha in 169 countries. ALPHA’S VISION IS FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH We are passionate about resourcing churches from coast to coast, with easy-to-use, flexible tools.
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Getting to Church without Starting a
war
“Teenagers who do not go to church are adored by God, but they don’t get to meet some of the people who love God back.”
An Interview with George Mah
-Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
Ah! The dulcet sounds of a Sunday morning. Coffee pouring warmly into a cup, children clad in stylishly appropriate clothes sitting demurely at the table, finishing their well-rounded breakfast. Keys in their appointed place, ready to be seized. Polite conversation on spiritual matters bubbling up here and there. If that is how your Sunday morning goes, you either need to write a parenting manual or ensure that your real family hasn’t been body-snatched.
“You haven’t even gotten dressed YET?!”
“We’re going to be late, AGAIN!”
“I don’t care how you feel!
You’re COMING!”
Doors slamming. Parents shouting. Kids sulking. For some of us, Sunday mornings are the best times to truly show how much we need the grace of God. It’s easy to think that this is how it has to be – teenagers particularly must need to be dragged or forced to church. But what if there was another way? What if the most connected generation in history actually felt connected to their church family? 20
Pastor George Mah of Logos Baptist Church Milliken knows what it is to resist being dragged to church. The son of a pastor, George grew up under the church microscope. He knew that everyone had their expectations for him, but it didn’t make being a part of a church community terribly appealing. It wasn’t until a youth pastor took an interest in him as a person that he really connected with his faith and
with God. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that George is committed to “taking an interest” in the youth in his community. Part of how he does it is by integrating the youth into the bigger church family. “We don’t like to silo kids… We try to let them know that they’re a vital part of the family. We come up with creative ways for them to get involved. We try to get people
to take an interest in them,” says George. “It’s easy to expect kids to be a certain way through how we were brought up. Sometimes there’s tension and friction, and it can cause unnecessary arguments and relationship fallouts. We need to be intentional about bringing parents together to have those talks and give them segues into their kids’ lives because a parent’s job is to be a pastor at home. “[Parents] spend a lot more time being influencers than pastors or practitioners ever do. We just want to bring them on as partners. We don’t want to preach two separate Gospels – one at home and church – and another from the media. That’s one way we can bridge those relationships – by being intentional about giving parents resources to bless their kids.” While they have youth-specific programing, summers are a time when the whole church family comes together. Old and young meet together in groups to talk
about how they’re doing and learn from each other. By spending time helping build intergenerational relationships, youth feel accepted and included and adults can grow in understanding of their young leaders. Given this drive to integrate better, where does George believe the future of youth ministry lies? “Youth ministry in the future will be more cross-cultural, more intergenerational and less siloed… It’s a spider web – it’s part of everything. That’s the only way it will survive and thrive. If you put youth ministry in a silo, it’s great for [youth for] those four to six years, but after that it’s never the same. We do well for six years… and then we lose it. Until it’s more cross-cultural and intergenerational it won’t be sustainable. It has to be community-centred within and with people around.” But it isn’t just the youth who benefit from an integrated approach.
Youth have a lot to offer a church family, and George is the first to advocate for them. “[Youth bring] vibrancy, creativity, energy and courage. They’re not afraid to speak their minds; they bring in current culture. We often live a life that’s comfortable. But the kids bring chaos and tension and it helps shake things up. They bring opportunity for us to invest in each other, which brings opportunity for growth… It helps us to get back to proclaiming the Gospel in a way that makes sense. Kids help us do that. We often talk over peoples’ heads, but kids force us to get to the basics. “Youth ministry forces us to be real and intentional. If we can connect to the younger generation, it helps us connect with the people around us. It feels alive. There’s never a dull moment with kids around.” Rev. George Mah is the Pastor to Youth at Logos Baptist Church Milliken in Ontario.
Created to Belong
cboqyouth.ca @cboqyouth /cboqyouth 21
What does a Pastor
Do, Exactly? Shrouded in mystery that involves intimidating theological tomes and off-beat office hours, here is the definitive answer to the question What does my pastor do all week?! PHOTO CREDIT: DELICATE IMPRESSIONS
by Margaret Smart-Wheaton
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ant work cannot be done on our own or by our own strength and so there is prayer, conversation, reading, studying and seeking that is hard to add up in hours. But I expect that when you read “behind the scenes look” what you really want is not an examination of the pastor’s soul but once and for all an answer to that question, “What do pastors actually DO?” The joke is that pastors only “work” one morning a week – Sunday. But anyone who really A “behind the scenes look at the life of a pastor” should be a breeze to write since I have been living the daily life of a pastor in this same small church for almost 15 years. Tracing the threads of my days is simple enough. What is difficult is presenting it to you as “typical.” I know many pastors and each of us serves in ways that are as unique as our personalities, communities and churches. What is consistently “behind the scenes” for pastors? It is the real work of immersing ourselves in God’s word in order to be faithful in our interpretation, understanding and living. What is unseen is the mental and emotional work that comes from sorting through division and criticism, and the deep pain we feel as we walk with the lost and the suffering. What drives days and evenings spent in meetings and studies and hospitals is a passionate desire to see the body of Christ strong and beautiful. Our most import-
What is consistently “behind the scenes” for pastors? It is the real work of immersing ourselves in God’s word in order to be faithful in our interpretation, understanding and living.
knows or cares for the life of a pastor knows this is neither funny nor true. What does ring true for me is that, as a pastor, I live each week from Sunday - toward Sunday. Following my day off, I enter the office on Tuesday morning ready to clear away the Sunday before: phone calls and e-mails about issues raised, booking visits with people who seemed in need, filing away sermons and worship notes. Then it is on to planning, to read and pray through this week’s scripture and to study and sing my
way into the next Sunday. Preaching and worship are the foundation of what I do – everything else flows from and around this. As the week unfolds the scriptures I preach come alive. They echo through my mind during visits, lurk in the corners of conversations at the post office, challenge my own life unearthing sin, speaking love, bringing wisdom and understanding. As the days pass, time is spent selecting hymns, touching base and brainstorming with our music team leader, confirming the participation of lay leaders, typing up the bulletin which involves ensuring all the various groups and events are well-planned, promoted and ready to go. By the end of the week God will have woven through study, prayer, life and a million mundane moments a holy Word ready to be put down on paper and preached. I work more than Sunday morning, but Sunday is always on my mind. Also each week is filled with various connections – team meetings, mentoring, planning, visits, prayer and events so that my family and I live the rhythm of life defined by
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these encounters. But each week also holds its surprises. Sometimes it is a delightful surprise – preparing a couple for marriage, a family for baby dedication or an individual for baptism. Sometimes it is gut wrenching – sitting in hospital with family as they say a too soon good bye. Often it is simply stopping in the middle of what I am doing to connect with the person who just “dropped in” and sharing in the burden of carrying a heavy heart before God. Then there is always the stuff of simply keeping the church moving. There are tasks that often lay people do not have the availability or gifts to take up but still must be
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done. There are things like filling out grant applications, finding resources, learning about and drafting policy and procedures, registering teams for youth events, following up on mission projects and a million other little jobs like updating social media, websites and preparing projection and, yes, I have even been known to vacuum on occasion. None of these tasks are things that every pastor will do or even should do. But whatever we pastors do “behind the scenes” it is what we believe is necessary so that when you, the church, arrive to study, pray, worship, and lead, we are all prepared and free to move for-
ward together into the presence of God. We do our work so that wherever it is that you work - you are equipped and empowered to minister in your world.
By Rev. Margaret Smart-Wheaton First Baptist Church, St. Marys, ON
1. It’s Sunday morning. Your favourite spot to sit is occupied by a newcomer to your church. You: a. Sulk for a moment and then forget about it. b. Use it as an opportunity to introduce yourself and find our more about them. c. Ask them to move. That’s your spot. 2. Your pastor’s sermon goes on a little longer than normal. You: a. Check Facebook, Twitter and read your emails on your phone. b. Leave it alone and say nothing. You’ll deal with it if it becomes a habit… maybe. c. Leave a strongly worded anonymous note under the pastor’s office door. 3. Someone in your church tells you about a scandal involving your good friend, a fellow church member. You: a. Keep out of it. It’s none of your business. b. Ask your friend about what’s happening in his or her life. c. Immediately call over your other friends and fill them in on what you heard so that they can “pray about the situation.” 4. Your church needs new carpet. You’re on the decorating committee, and things don’t seem to be going according to your preferences. You: a. Say nothing, then grumble about it to your friend later. b. Respectfully voice your preferences, but allow the group to decide together. c. Stand up for your favourite shade of beige, using expletives if necessary. This is your church, and everyone needs to know that.
5. You’re on the soundboard. Your church’s worship team has a singer who keeps singing off pitch. You: a. Silently wish them a bad case of laryngitis. b. Turn down their microphone a bit, and turn up the others. They look so blissful as they worship. c. After the service, tell them just how awful they were. Suggest that they not sing anymore. You’re just being honest, after all. 6. You disagree with a minor theological point your pastor has made. You: a. Leave the church. b. Talk to your pastor sometime about your thoughts and questions. c. Loudly demand an explanation at the next general business meeting. 7. You heard that someone you know well in your church is seriously ill. You: a. Hope they get better. Then wonder whether there will be snacks after the service. b. Pray for them, call them, visit them or bring them some food. c. Tell them they’re sick because they don’t have enough faith. 8. A call goes out for volunteers to help with a community barbecue that your church is hosting for the neighbourhood. You: a. Fake a coughing fit and leave before anyone can ask you directly. b. Think through your schedule and figure out how you can best help. c. Take over the whole thing and then complain loudly about how no one else helped as much as you did.
Turn the page to see how you did...
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If you got mostly As:
If you got mostly Bs:
If you got mostly Cs:
You’re physically at your church, but that’s about it. If Christianity was just a spectator sport, you’d be doing fine, but being part of a vibrant community means getting involved. Whether it’s signing up to help out at Sunday School or joining a small group, you need to plug in and get connected. Church is about being a part of a family, not just being entertained. You could be a balm, but right now you’re just an unopened jar.
You don’t hide from problems, but you do your best to figure out positive ways of dealing with them. Basically you want your church to be a safe place for people to come. You support your pastor and fellow church members, while recognizing that we all make mistakes. Conflict happens, but you’re committed to dealing with it by being as kind and compassionate as possible. Congrats. You’re the balm.
Yikes! You are the kind of person that pastors secretly hope will “feel called” to go elsewhere. Not only do you love to stir up trouble, but you justify it with quasi-spiritual language. You’re the bomb... but not in a good way. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29
A little love goes a long way when you’re in a community of faith.
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TOP Things You Can Say & Do to ENCOURAGE your PASTOR Let’s face it - we all need a bit of encouragement now and then. Here are some ideas to make your pastor’s day.
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1. Hugs speak volumes. Not everyone is comfortable with hugs, but if you are a hugger (and your pastor is too), then a hug is a sure way to encourage your pastor. 2. Celebrate a “10.” We all like to feel that we are noticed, and your pastor is no exception – look at the work they have chosen! Deeper still is the personal sense of who they are, and an acknowledgement of a milestone birthday of your pastor will let them know you are all genuinely glad God brought them into being and into your midst. 3. Give them a Christmas gift monetary or otherwise. A gift tells them how valued they are and validates them in the Christmas experience. 4. Give them a handwritten note Your hand writing is your heart’s paint brush, and in this world of impersonal emails, a small encouraging note in your individual script is a blessing from above. (We hold onto those your know... our little secret.) 5. Tell your pastor you prayed for them this week (which implies that you did). It shows that you were thinking of them in a spiritual light and is an acknowledgement of their frailty and need of God’s direct care and provision. By a Quebec-based CBOQ pastor who, for reasons of humility, chooses to remain nameless.
Compassion Changes
Everything by Dave Stewart Our first Compassion Experience Youth Team partnered with CBOQ Youth and The Lighthouse Project in the Dominican Republic in March of 2005. Now, nearly 10 years later, we are sending our sixth team in 2015. The impact of these experiences has transformed our ministry to youth and to the whole church. At the end of this March Break Experience, we will have had 49 different youth (nine of which have returned for a second time and one for a third) and 12 different adult leaders who have experienced the blessing and challenges of ministry in a different culture. Out of these empowering opportunities, four other smaller youth teams were birthed and ventured to the D.R., Ukraine, Japan, and Haiti on shortterm experiences. A team of adults also went to Haiti to serve the Lord there.
vated our church to sponsor the construction of 11 wells in India to provide clean drinking water daily to over 845 people in the name of Jesus Christ. Two adults have received leadership training through our connection with CBOQ Youth and are now trained to lead teams of our own. Team members have gone on to support Christian relief organizations and some to support children personally that they had not previously supported.
been made safer through the building of infrastructure. Connections to God have been established as these communities have witnessed that it is through God that all this has been accomplished. If you had asked me 10 years ago if I thought that this would be possible, I would have been very sceptical. Today it is a reality. God has developed a “culture of change” among many people of our church. There is nothing more empowering as a believer than to partner with others in bringing change into this world. We are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ in this world. Jesus came to serve the poor, the captives and the oppressed, and to give hope to the hopeless. He put the highest value on human life and called us to do the same. Serving God compassionately in this way is both tremendously contagious and fulfilling!
Our entire church has been made aware of the basic needs of several communities in our world today and has had the pure joy of seeing God’s power and love transform Once people see the value of serv- these communities through our Rev. Dave Stewart is the Associate Pastor at ing, it changes them. But the trans- connection with CBOQ Youth and Harmony Road Baptist Church in Oshawa, ON. forming aspect of these experiences other Christian organizations. is also seen locally. Upon the return to Canada, one of our teams quick- Children are being educated ly formed a partnership with a local through the Christian schools Christian Pregnancy Help Centre that have been built. Clean wain providing care for the needy of ter is now provided by the waour community. Through our Mis- ter treatment facility that has sion Board, another project moti- been built. Communities have
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Investing in our Future
Present
The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them. Mark 10:13-16 (The Message)
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There are few things lovelier than a child’s first confession of faith – a genuine trust that God is there for them and loves them. Before the fears of the world creep in, before the conflicts and desires of adolescence take main stage, there is a time of openness to learning about Jesus that is unique in our lives. Even so, it is easy for us to think of children as future contributors to our church family. We welcome them for special occasions like Christmas plays or Mother’s Day presentations, but in the every day life of the church there is a temptation just to keep them occupied so that the adults can grow spiritually.
An interview with Miriam Little & Leticia Reyes
Miriam Little is the Director of Children’s Ministry at Yorkminster Park Baptist in Toronto.
Gentle and soft-spoken, it is no surprise that children gravitate toward her. They can see the obvious – Miriam values children. She values their contributions not just to the future, but also to the present life of the church. “I believe that we need to lay the foundation for Christian spiritual discipleship early in a person’s life in order that we can keep them in the faith. People are the most receptive to hearing God’s message when they’re young. Then their faith helps carry them through difficult times in their teen years. The investment in children is of eternal value and it’s worth it… Children are surprisingly open and able to learn spiritual truths at a very young age,” says Miriam. “In our Preschool and Kindergarten class, I am often delighted to hear the children volunteer to pray out loud, spontaneously bringing their requests to God.” One person in her congregation who is dedicated to investing in children is Leticia Reyes. Leticia has been a faithful volunteer for some time, but that doesn’t mean it has always been easy. Teaching little people, like most worthwhile endeavors, can sometimes be challenging.
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6 (NIV) “I felt that I wasn’t doing a good job and I wasn’t engaging the kids… because I had no training with teaching, and I had seen what the other teachers do in Sunday school,” says Leticia – a sentiment common among Sunday school teachers faced with kids with whom it is harder to connect. But despite her frustration, she persevered, attempting to follow God’s call on her heart. As is his way, God provided just the encouragement she needed. “There was a time back in spring last year where I realized that it wasn’t about me. Even though I was their teacher and I wanted to be good at it so that they can learn, it wasn’t about me, it was about God. So, once I realized it was about God and we can do all things through him, I realized that I would bring what I could and prepare my lessons… then he would do the rest. “After I realized that, every class after that… I wouldn’t call it perfect, but it has been so much better. I feel like things run smoothly and whatever [God]
wants for the children that day, it’s there… Every week I have my doubts, and then at the end of class it was great. I guess as human beings we will be like that.” Miriam smiles when she thinks of her team of committed volunteers. They are a big part of why she is able to include children in the life of the church. One way children are involved is through mission projects. Each year, the children take the lead in two projects – one for overseas missions, one for here at home. They engage with the work, they speak to their church family – they influence the church and are valued current members. Their contributions aren’t just tolerated; they’re valued and respected. Why does Miriam personally stay committed to children’s ministry? “It gives me joy to see children grow spiritually and serving in the church.” Is God calling you into children and family ministry? Pray about it, talk to your church leadership, and be a part of bringing the little children to the hands of Jesus.
Starting Children Off Right Great Sunday school programs can help, but they’re not nearly enough to ensure that children are on the right track. Parents are the most important influencers of their children’s spiritual health. So what do parents need to do to give their kids their best start? Here are a few tips from Miriam on how to start children off on the way they should go. Be authentic in your own walk What you model for your child speaks the most into their life, so nurture your own spiritual life. Practice sharing with your children things that you’re struggling with and things that God is answering for you. Where is your spiritual journey going? While we need to ensure that it isn’t more that they can handle, kids can be aware that the parents are on a journey too.
Prioritize spiritual things The church and the family need to work together. Find out what your kids are studying each month. If your church has devotionals for kids to do with their parents, do them together. Pray with your children, talk to them about God, and make sure that Jesus is at the centre of your family’s life.
Go to church Find a church that honours children and sees them as spiritual beings and part of the congregation. Then show up – regularly. It shows the child that God is important and it means not only that they know others at church, but also that they are known, and loved, by a family of people who love Jesus. 29
y a Blown Aw Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Psalm 71:17
By Jacqueline Solomon
People are social creatures. Teenagers are pack animals. And maybe it’s that pack instinct that helps them to enjoy the wildness of Avalanche and Blizzard, CBOQ Youth’s annual (epic) retreats.
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It’s a way to spread the word to everyone about God and to worship and have fun.
It’s awesome. The snow and worship and enthusiasm here are unbelievable. Woohoo!
It is a beautiful winter snow-filled experience and I get to learn more about God.
Natalie - Middle East Baptist Church Mississauga, ON
Jocelyn - First Baptist Church Kingsville, ON
Carly - Fourth Ave. Baptist Church Ottawa, ON
No where else will you see greater joy than in a bunch of kids swinging from mind-numbing heights, scaling the walls, hurtling backward down hills on inner tubes, or falling on their faces while trying out snowshoes for the first time. There are screams, there is laughter, there is friendship and, despite the cold, there is warmth.
where you have the opportunity to really spend time with these kids. That’s not a whole lot. I think these retreats are important because it gives a whole weekend to leaders and youth to really bond and connect. When I was a youth I may not have become a Christian during the big sessions or the most spiritual high moments of the retreats, but I had some amazing leaders that I was able to talk to. They ended up being great mentors in my life, which resulted in me deciding to follow Christ. So it really does allow for relational ministry,” says Jeremy Ranasinghearachchigedon, a Team Captain at Blizzard.
All of us have a built-in need to connect with others, to interact and enjoy camaraderie, friendship and a sense of belonging. When we form connections with people who build us up, we are stronger, happier and can pass the good along. When we form connections with people who pull us toward destructive behaviours, things can It is those connections that can get dire quickly. help young people through some of the difficult parts of life, and No one is more in need of connec- help give them the sense of betion than the average teenager. longing and strength they need to Regardless of the medium – digital understand how much God loves or otherwise – teenagers are in the them and what a relationship with process of defining themselves, in him means. part through the relationships they make. Helping them to make “Youth events like Avalanche and healthy connections with God and Blizzard are mountaintop expewith others is a big part of why riences. They’re moments where CBOQ hosts Avalanche and Bliz- students and leaders meet God in zard. different ways for inspiration and encouragement as they grow in “Avalanche and Blizzard help con- their everyday walk,” says Alvin nect kids with their leaders. Hav- Lau, Youth Ministries Associate at ing been both a youth and a lead- CBOQ. “These moments become er at church, I can say first hand markers in their faith journey, anhow hard that is. Depending on chor points to reflect and acknowlhow your church does their youth edge those memorable moments program, there are maybe three with Jesus. Gathering together, to four hours a week – at most – they witness a deeper glimpse of I love Avalanche and it’s super fun, and you should come. I love it because it’s great.
I love going because it’s a fun time in the snow and you get to learn about God.
Eliza - Kingsway Baptist Church Toronto, ON
Pascal - Whitby Baptist Church Whitby, ON
the body of Christ in her diversity and breadth. To worship with 400 other believers lends an energy few experience on a regular basis.” But events like Avalanche aren’t just for the kids – they’re for the leaders too. Building up youth leaders, and letting them really get to know the kids in their care can help them as they try to lead and share what Jesus means in all our lives. “We strive to empower leaders (whether they are church staff, volunteers or parents) to be the ‘pastors and priests’ of these students, recognizing they will journey with these youth long after the event. These events are also opportunities to experiment with innovative elements of youth ministry with the intention for youth ministries to incorporate and elevate their ministry efforts,” explains Alvin. Avalanche and Blizzard alone aren’t enough to disciple young people, but they are moments of connection, of joy, of friendship, of faith and fun that echo in our hearts and help us experience a sense of belonging in a bigger faith family.
It’s definitely worth the four-hour bus ride. Ethan - Queensway Baptist Church Brantford, ON
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Becoming our Real Selves by Kathy Smith, Principal Associate, ARC Ministries
We are a family of churches, a dynamic spiritual force, a whole greater than the sum of its parts. In all families, personalities, adversities, opportunities and reactions meet in challenging and great ways. Our collective gifts are multiplied like loaves and fish. The Kingdom is here!
Yet, we are a living paradox. We are cynical and inquisitive, callous and compassionate, stubborn and gentle, warm and guarded. We want to do things that are significant in the “grand scheme” -- the Kingdom of God. We want to do what is good, but don’t. We don’t want to do what is wrong, but we do it anyway. We bring all this, the gift and the rub, to our church family. In the now and not yet kingdom of God, as we are still becoming more and more like Christ, here are some things we can assemble to safeguard against destructive conflict: 1. Understand your role in conflicts Conflicts at their lowest level are focused on issues. As they escalate, we focus less on issues. We perceive people as the problem! Next we draw others in. What happens here is key to further escalation or de-escalation. Are we looking for someone to help us resolve our conflict, or to take our side? Will the person we draw in make the conflict theirs? Will they flee, or will they remain connected, helping 32
those directly involved to hear, understand and find resolution? Will our role contribute to antagonism, sabotage and polarization or careful communication, understanding and reconciliation? 2. Take pause for prayerful personal reflection By prayerfully reflecting on our interactions, we can better understand the gift and the rub we bring to our church family. The first chapter of Practicing Greatness: 7 Disci-
plines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders is “The Discipline of Self-Awareness.” Knowing our triggers (our family of origin baggage) and traits is a beginning to laying harmful things to rest. What is the Spirit directing your attention to? With whom can you dialogue to gain self-understanding? 3. Engage in corporate reflection Understand your church family. A timeline is a good way to take stock of high and low points
in your church’s history and identifing patterns contributing to unhealthy conflict. What is God asking your church to pay attention to, confess and seek the Holy Spirit’s help to lay aside? 4. Implement a behavioural covenant or guidelines Be intentional about how you will respond to differences in values, preferences, opinions and theology. CBOQ’s They Will Know Us By Our Love: A Commitment to Peace in Community is a helpful guide with a behavioural covenant. Implement this or another behavioural covenant and re-commit to it before congregational meetings. 5. Implement a strategy and provide training for dealing with conflict Conflict is an inevitable part of our human condition. We
have a choice: will we engage in conflict in unhealthy ways, or will we welcome conflict in healthy ways as a learning opportunity? Expect it and be ready to engage in healthy ways. Conduct conflict training for understanding and building skillful interaction. Have a strategy in place to navigate conflicts and deter them from becoming destructive. 6. Know when it’s time to ask for help When antagonism sets in it’s hard to resolve conflict without a third party (from within or from outside). Resolution is most likely before individuals seek to sabotage. Once the social structure becomes polarized, conflicts are often intractable. With early intervention, there’s greater hope of reconciliation.
Sacrificially reconciled, we are agents of reconciliation. So we pray: Oh God, let something essential happen to us, Something more than interesting or entertaining or thoughtful. Oh God, let something essential happen to us, Something awesome, something real. Speak to our condition Lord, and change us somewhere inside where it matters. Let something happen which is our real self, Oh God. Ted Loder, Guerrillas of Grace
arcministries.ca
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Who are the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec? We are YOU.
CBOQ is a family of churches, transformed by Christ, revealing God’s kingdom. Together we are training, equipping and caring for your pastors. We are helping you plant new churches, and giving you the resources you need to make your church thrive. We are creating experiences and opportunities for young people and their leaders to expand their love of God and love of each other. We’re providing grants for the innovative ministry projects that God has placed on your hearts. We’re telling your stories to encourage
and inspire our family of churches. We’re finding new opportunities, creating resources and working together to help make our church family stronger and more Christ-centred as we live out and share the good news of Jesus. Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec have been around for more than a century...
...and we’re just warming up.
Give to CBOQ today at baptist.ca/donate. A family of churches Transformed by Christ Revealing God’s kingdom I want to join with CBOQ today in supporting and growing our family of Canadian Baptist churches.
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EVENTS March 9-11 Women Clergy Retreat CBWOQ Kingfisher Bay, ON baptistwomen.com March 14 Canadian Baptist Historical Society Annual General Meeting Tyndale, Toronto, ON March 15 Centre Court Toronto, ON cboqyouth.ca/centrecourt
April 13-16 Women in Ministry Retreat CBWOQ Kingfisher Bay, ON baptistwomen.com May 1-3 Compassion Experience: Six Nations Six Nations, ON cboqyouth.ca/sixnations May 13 Pre-Retirement Workshop Toronto, ON baptist.ca/pre-retirement April 20-23 New Pastors’ Orientation Fair Havens Retreat Centre, Beaverton, ON baptist.ca/npo
June 11-13 Assembly 2015: Growing Up Together International Plaza Hotel Etobicoke, ON baptist.ca/assembly October 6-8 Youth Pastor/Worker Retreat Camp Kwasind Utterson, ON cboqyouth.ca/ypr October 26-28 Reignite Jackson’s Point Georgina, ON baptist.ca/reignite
A family of churches Transformed by Christ Revealing God’s kingdom 100-304 The East Mall | Etobicoke, ON | M9B 6E2 | Phone: (416) 622-8600 | Fax: (416) 622-2308 info@baptist.ca | @CBOQ | baptist.ca
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