CBOQ Sunday 2019

CBOQ SUNDAY 2019

PLANTED TO FLOURISH BEING THE CHANGE

PRACTICE HOSPITALITY

WALKING IN GOD'S WILL

WORLD PEACE BEGINS HERE

WHY CAN'T THEY

CHURCH IS DEAD!

JUST GET OVER IT?

LONG LIVE THE CHURCH

CBOQ ASSEMBLY 2019

MA

DPT

NEW FORMAT

PhD

HYBRID

CBOQ’s Seminary

MDiv MTS

Our Doctor of Practical Theology allows students to conduct in-depth research for their ministry

mcmasterdivinity.ca

CertCS

DEAR CANADIAN BAPTISTS OF ONTARIO AND QUEBEC, Being called by Christ to be part of his work in this world is humbling. To know that our great and loving saviour has given us a ministry of reconciliation in this lost and hurting world can be both exciting and daunting at times. We all need to be encouraged by our CBOQ family as we work serving Christ. Our hope is that the stories and articles contained here do just that.

Paul reminds the Thessalonians that: “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11) I love those words that remind us that “Christ died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” This call is also for all of us for whom Christ died. Therefore, let us hold to these words as well and continue to encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. May you find ways to do this not only in your churches but also among our larger CBOQ family. As I am reminded of what our Executive Minister Tim McCoy would say, “we are better together.” Praise God, I believe we are!

Thank you for being my brothers and sisters in Christ and may we all live together with him.

wayne melnechuk

Acting Executive Minister

3

TABLE OF CO

6 planted to flourish

12 being the change

10 millenials in ministry

4

20 just get over it

16 missional roots

26 practicing hospitality

ONTENTS 32 the church is dead

36 border crossing

35 holy horticulture

40 congregant in a crisis

38 shift

-- thanks for reading! keep up-to-date with more stories at baptist.ca

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PLANTED TO

by DALLAS FRIESEN director of church life and leadership, cboq

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

– 2 timothy 1:7

A

change can leave us floundering in uncertainty. We find ourselves at an unfamiliar crossroads— unsure about what to do next. dramatic

I wonder how Joseph’s brothers and sisters-in-law felt as they left the Promised Land for Egypt. I wonder if that was the uncertainty that other families felt, centuries later, when they were exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon. Perhaps that was part of Mary and Joseph’s experience as they fled into Egypt. Did that also ring true for a Filipino missionary couple as they left the comfort of their home to plant a church in far-off Ontario?

We know questions and doubts are part of the experience of immigrants moving into Canada. Questions and skepticism are part of the experience for many who have never attended a worship gathering as they walk across the threshold of a church door. Questions and anxiety are part of the experience of those who have dedicated their lives to their church family only to show up at a Sunday gathering and realize that the whole experience feels completely foreign to them.

For all of us, in various ways, change happens, leaving us feeling lost on an alien landscape. While it is disorientating, change provides significant opportunities. Among the myriad of changes happening today, three are worth noting and navigating as a CBOQ family.

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Flourish Rev. Dr. Laurie Barber, a nowretired director at CBOQ, has long been a prophet in our CBOQ family proclaiming, “God has brought the world to the Greater Toronto Area—we have a mission before us.” And the phenomenon has spread beyond the GTA across urban and rural Ontario and Quebec. The world is here.

1

The latest census data indicates an increasing percentage of people that have no religious affiliation. We call these people the “nones” and “dones”—those that have no religious affiliation and those that are done with church.

Despite high connectivity, people feel isolated. Social anxiety, organizational loyalty and more are shifting how friends and neighbours gather and spend their time.

Growing diversity, secularization and changing community gathering patterns are new terrain. We can see this new landscape as threatening to how we understand our mission as a church or as an invitation to get back to the basics of what the Church is called to be and do.

2

3

NONE

?

NONE

DONE

DONE

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“

Different, but beautiful.”

Thankfully, this new land may not be quite so unfamiliar as it seems.

Jeremiah 29 tells the story of God’s people being taken into captivity. Removed from their land, customs and way of practicing their faith, God’s message to his people in exile was, “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.” God’s people were to seek him with the promise, “I will be found.”

We each have our own journey ahead.

Will we succumb to the anxiety of our age or will we be planted by streams of living water?

Will we alienate those who have been marginalized or will we be known for our hospitality?

Will we perpetuate ideological divides or will we be agents of reconciliation?

Will we submit to the Lordship of Christ or our own desires?

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As Baptists we state that we want to be a people that live under the Lordship of Christ—even on this new, foreign terrain. We recognize who is on the throne and our response is to practice on earth as it is in heaven.

At Assembly this year, we want to explore together what it means to be people that are planted. We want to explore how we can flourish in the life of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. We also recognize that we can only flourish to the degree to which we can lament the suffering around us. And so we want to practice communal lament by valuing each other’s stories as an opportunity to meet Jesus in the people and places that we too often overlook.

We have invited Soong-Chan Rah to encourage and challenge us to see some of the crossroads that are before Canadian churches and to call forth a faithful and prophetic response in these troubled times. We are praying that our time together will be full of praise and celebration like we have never experienced before as well as developing our heart and language of lament.

Revelation 22 provides us with the final vision of the story we find ourselves in. It begins with our roots in a garden with a tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

After a long trek, the story ends with us transplanted to our new home—a city that has a river flowing from God’s throne with trees on each side bearing leaves that are “for the healing of the nations.”

Here is the radical journey that is before us all—we all live in troubled times, full of total and utter uncertainty.

Our choice is to cast that anxiety on to others or to be planted to flourish in this new landscape so that we can extend grace and hope to others.

Different, but beautiful.

learn more about our assembly speaker, soong-chan rah at his website: www.profrah.com

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MILLENNIA Last year at Assembly, we were “Leading with Love” as we gathered to be inspired in making our churches into places where youth are engaged and passionate about following Jesus. This year, we are digging in to be “Planted to Flourish”. We will imagine how our churches can respond to the seismic changes within our culture with hope, humility and passion. We asked a number of 35 and under CBOQ pastors these three questions to hear their voices on where God may be leading the Church in the future: 1.

2.

3.

What encouraged you to pursue pastoral ministry?

What do you appreciate about being Canadian Baptist?

What excites you about the future of the church?

Here, you will find profiles of these pastors along with their response to one or more of these questions.

We pray that as you get to read their point of view you will be inspired about what God is planting now for CBOQ’s future harvest.

HANNAH FAIRBANKS, 25

Immanuel Baptist Church, Toronto youth & family ministry worker It was a combination of things. Growing up as a missionary kid, I was exposed to ministry from a young age which influenced me greatly.

I was also encouraged into ministry by key relationships with people who invested, encouraged, equipped, and empowered me: basically gave me opportunities. Ultimately, I felt God's calling to go into youth ministry, to invest and pour into youth.

WHAT DO YOU APPRECIATE ABOUT BEING CANADIAN BAPTIST? JOHN CULLEN, 28

Lorne Park Baptist Church, Mississauga youth and young adults director I enjoy being a part of a family of people whom I have grown up with at camp, retreats and church. CBOQ has provided many great opportunities to grow in my faith and experience God in new and exciting ways. I have taken interest in those opportunities and taken leadership in a few of them. I hope to provide the same (or better) experience than my time growing up.

YOUTH 10

LUCAS JERVIS, 29

Avenue Road Baptist Church, Cambridge youth ministry worker Honestly, it was an act of God. I had dropped out of pursuing carpentry to go to Emmanuel Bible College, and now, seven years later, God has little by little pushed me towards lead pastoral ministry.

CURTIS LAI, 28

North Toronto Chinese Baptist Church youth pastor I have always known from a young age that God gave me a heart for pastoral ministry.

When God places a calling on your heart, he brings it to fruition—no matter one's age.

What encouraged me along the way was being able to experience first-hand the fruits of youth ministry in my local church. The gospel was preached—and preached robustly—to us in our youth. And the earlier the gospel is preached in the hearts of young men and women, the more time it is given to grow and bear fruit by the power of the Holy Spirit!

BENSON DUONG, 25

Agincourt Baptist Church, Scarborough youth assoc. pastor & worship director I love being Canadian Baptist! It means being part of a family of churches that can do greater things for God together than we can apart. I love that the Baptist family is one that celebrates diversity, believes in the local church and fixes its eyes on Jesus.

MELISSA MEMMOTT, 32

St. George Baptist Church lead pastor It is more of the who than the what. Many individuals – my spouse, parents, pastors, professors, and friends– encouraged me along this journey. They all challenge me to listen carefully to the voice of God in loving him and in serving others.

LEAD

JESUS

NO FEAR

HELEN LENZ, 26

Blythwood Road Baptist Church, Toronto interim associate pastor of family engagement and outreach I appreciate the degree of investment which Canadian Baptists have made into discipleship. They are aptly concerned with the all-important question of what it means to take God's Word seriously, and what it looks like to follow Jesus in a way which reflects that.

JEREMY RANASINGHE

Spring Garden Baptist Church, Toronto discipleship ministry assistant What I appreciate most about being part of the Canadian Baptist family is the uniqueness of each church under the same denomination. I’ve had the pleasure to experience worship at a number of different CBOQ churches. Each of them worship God differently, but in a way that truly glorifies him. Church autonomy is a beautiful thing.

EVAN WALLACE, 26

Fallingbrook Heights Baptist Church, Scarborough children's director [I appreciate] being connected to a group of people who want to foster healthy Christ-led relationships.

GROW

WHAT ENCOURAGED YOU TO PURSUE PASTORAL MINISTRY?

ALS

R

SOVEREIGN

BRIAN YU, 33

The Change Community Church, Scarborough co-lead pastor God is definitely still with us. I see the Holy Spirit moving especially among the younger generation. I've seen a spiritual hunger in the eyes of 20-year-olds and they genuinely want to follow Jesus. And they're willing and wanting to be led by people who are also genuinely wanting to follow Jesus. I've witnessed a passion in these young folks to go all out for the Kingdom of God.

KEVIN MAKINS, 32

LOVE

WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH?

GOD

Eucharist Church, Hamilton / founding pastor We get to be the Church at one of the most exciting times in human history. In Canada, Christendom has ended, the last breaths are fading and a whole new chapter of the Church is beginning. This is terrifying stuff. We're going to watch thousands of churches close across the country, and our buildings will continue to become luxury condos and high-end restaurants. We are going to continue to lose political power and social influence. We will be relegated to the margins of society, and I think that's a good thing. We have an opportunity to once again exist subversively in society, loving and serving our neighbours, seeking to live humble and gracious lives that become part of our witness.

We will have to discover (or re-discover) how we will gather, how our leadership structures work, and how we can be faithfully present in our neighbourhoods. This is such terrifying stuff, but it's also such a massive opportunity. If we stick together, rooted in Jesus, we will continue to bear good fruit in the most unexpected places. What a time to be alive!

KARRA OVERHOLT

CHRISTOPHER ROSEVEAR, 27

Church on the Rock, Hamilton / youth director

Uxbridge Baptist Church associate pastor of youth and young adults

As a youth pastor, I get to influence a lot of young leaders. I am excited that as they grow older and go off to different churches, they will bring their gifts, talents, and heart after Jesus to aid in making healthy churches. I have seen places in Canada where the churches have lost their first love and have seen churches across Canada where they are vibrant and growing in intimacy with Jesus. My hope and excitement is that the Church in Canada, Christ’s Bride, will continue falling back in love with her first love, Jesus—that people will come to church to find real hope, Jesus, and will see their lives utterly changed by the power of the Gospel and that through the power of salvation, repentance, redemption and restoration the Kingdom will expand and people will experience real zoë life with God.

If I were to name one thing that has me excited about the Church’s future it’d be Kingdom imagination. Already I see the church responding to struggles in our culture with fresh expressions of Gospel thinking. As struggles continue, I believe we’ll see God’s Spirit inspire even more creative expressions to meet the challenges we face.

JAYSAR ESTERON

Burlington Missionary Baptist Church youth pastor

RYAN MARTHINSEN, 34

Queensway Baptist Church, Brantford pastor of family ministries The Canadian Baptist community, to me, is characterized by one word: partnership. I love the spirit of support and camaraderie within CBOQ. I appreciate all the support we get not only from the CBOQ staff, but also from our local associations and sister churches. There's a feeling that we're all in this together. I also have great appreciation and respect for CBM who leads our missionary efforts with authenticity. Even when we disagree, I love that we can disagree respectfully, while focusing on what unites us: the love and calling of Jesus Christ.

FUTURE

S

in Ministry

I am excited to see the generations coming together in humility and excitement where the seniors know how to invest and build up the young, and where the young are hungry for mentorship and fellowship with their elders.

I am excited to see the church family present one Gospel to a watching and waiting world. I am excited to see God imprint his Gospel story into the lives of his people in such a way that this watching world cannot deny. I am excited to see citizens of heaven execute the will of the Father here on Earth.

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BEING

e g n a h C The (COMMUNITY CHURCH)

An interview with Eric Hart & Brian Yu of The Change Community Church in Scarborough

Ay me! for aught that I could ever read, Could ever hear by tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth.

— william shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Tale

by JACQUELINE SOLOMON communications associate, cboq

I

f you ’ re walking in the centre of god ’ s will ,

the pieces will fall into place. Your ministry will be one success story after another. Your fellow congregants will be gracious and generous. Your children will be wellbehaved and better looking. Your spouse will always agree with you. Your home will be spacious and sparklingly clean. Your bank account will be full and your teeth will be six shades whiter. …Right?

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

— 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Maybe not.

We are called to be overcomers. Just because we’re walking in the footsteps of Jesus, doesn’t mean the work is going to be easy. But it will be good work.

And so it is with church planting. It’s a hard road that takes commitment, patience, perseverance, humility, long-suffering and a lot of love. It is not for the faint of heart. But for Brian Yu and Eric Hart of The Change Community Church, Scarbrough, it’s also the unquenchable passion of their souls.

12

e

Brian and Eric met in 2010 when they were both youth pastors at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Church, Toronto. Eric was the current youth pastor, so when Brian—a former youth pastor himself—showed up, Eric halfexpected to receive a pink slip within days. Instead, the two found they worked well together, and formed a fast friendship and a common interest in church planting. In 2013, with Eric and Brian exploring God’s call, the two started a prayer meeting with Bethel, Eric’s wife, that quickly expanded to a weekly Bible study of common friends.

Over time, the group grew to the point where they believed they were ready to grow into a church. By August of 2014, they were renting a facility and meeting every other Saturday for worship, and just like that, The Change Community Church was born. And even at its beginnings, there were new commitments to Jesus and baptisms… but still… their gatherings weren’t developing according to their expectations.

“

During their walk through the wilderness, they wrestled with the objective of church planting, navigated changes to the team and even came to nearly dismantling everything they had started.”

By December, both Eric and Brian had to acknowledge that their model wasn’t working. Instead of growing a new community, they found that their attendees were committed to other congregations and they were spending so much time and money on the Saturday gathering— and trying to get it just right—they weren’t able to discern where God wanted them to go. After just four months, they placed services on an indefinite pause and headed into their wilderness year.

For over a year, Brian and Eric and their core team let their idea of church planting lie fallow, focusing on individual discipleship opportunities instead. During their walk through the wilderness, they wrestled with the objective of church planting, navigated changes to the team and even came to nearly dismantling everything they had started. And yet, the call of God persisted!

After some delays, they began again, meeting to pray, to dream and to chase God’s heart. And they took it seriously! Through sickness, new babies and the feeling of uncertainty, they faithfully continued to pray and trust God with his greater plan.

“

Soon they were meeting regularly, baptizing people wherever they could—in inflatable pools, bathtubs and even an illicit trip to an unoccupied condo pool.”

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That prayer led them to a new-to-them approach—the house church model. Instead of renting a facility, they, along with a new starting group, began to gather in Eric’s “cozy” condo living room on Sundays. Instead of focusing on the order of service, they focused on the people. Soon they were meeting regularly, baptizing people wherever they could—in inflatable pools, bathtubs and even an illicit trip to an unoccupied condo pool. By the time the gathering was threatening to grow beyond the living room, they had to acknowledge their need of a larger space.

And they are courageous! The church community regularly engages in evangelism, heading to public places to offer to pray with people and share Jesus with them. They are driven by a passion for others and a love of Christ that is contagious.

They are actively seeking the presence of Jesus, and diving into how the spiritual gifts will be used in their community.

“We want to see a piece of heaven here on earth. Whatever is happening in heaven, we want to see some of that here,” says Eric. “We’re really open to whoever walks through our doors, whether you have it all together

By September of 2017, they began renting or not. It is our prayer that God would We want to see a space from a local Catholic school. There help us to bring heaven to them,” shares were more baptisms and, slowly, they Eric. And Brian agrees. “We lead with piece of heaven witnessed new commitments to Jesus. relationships. Our worship services are here on earth.”

Even so, it hasn’t been easy. As they have simple… no frills. We want to keep it experienced greater ministry impact, they’ve simple because we want to focus on the also experienced more spiritual warfare and opposition. “We’ve relationships—our collective relationships with each other come to the realization that we are missionaries all the time… and with God.” When we started to engage in evangelism more regularly, the Enemy presence started to ramp up and started to discourage And they have seen fruit. Not only have they welcomed us,” says Eric. Exhaustion, sickness and conflict have all reared new believers to care for, but their burgeoning church is also their ugly heads. caring for them. They have experienced support, love and accountability from their congregation as they continue to see Thankfully, both Brian and Eric have taken this as a reminder what God has for them. to keep prayer—asking for God’s provision and protection— at the centre of all God wants them to pursue with their Church planting is not for the faint of heart or for those who community. They’re also supported by other prayer warriors want an unimpeded course. It is, however, for those who are and intercessors who continue to keep them in their prayers. faithful, tenacious and dedicated to continually seeking the will of God, even in the face of opposition.

“

want to find out more about church planting? baptist.ca/church-planting

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What’s inside matters.

What you will do and who you will become are two very different things.

Tyndale challenges and empowers students to thrive through an academic and community experience that feels like home.

With no crowds, everyone stands out. Professors are mentors, students become family and the experience changes lives and aligns you with your purpose.

Redefining Community & Learning.

Toronto, ON | www.tyndaleu.ca 15

MISSIONAL ROOTS OF THE Chinese church

by PAUL LAM church life and leadership associate, cboq

I

Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church (SCBC) for almost ten years. I always heard rumours that our mother church, Toronto Chinese Baptist Church was given as a gift by the Hungarian Church. I had no idea what they meant by this. was a pastor at

After a little internet research, I stumbled upon some newspaper articles. What I found startled me.

In 1886, Beverley Street Baptist Church (BSBC) was planted as a mission church by Jarvis Street Baptist. At its height, Beverley was around 660 people but went through a crisis. Most of their congregation had moved away and they were down to about 30 people (Wice, 1962).

What were they supposed to do?

They had a choice: close down their doors or continue on.

They decided to continue on.

Now, this ancient red-brick building at Beverley and Sullivan Street is as busy as the most successful suburban church.

They have four congregations going full steam with twice Sunday services and a combined membership of nearly 700 (Wice, 1962).

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“

They opened their doors and their hearts.”

How did this happen? Beverley Street Baptist started paying attention to the neighborhood. They started to notice all the new immigrants to Canada. They opened their doors and their hearts.

For a great many years it was just the English speaking congregation meeting there. During WWII the district changed, but it was the great influx of immigrants in 1945 and later that really settled the church’s future. Besides the “language” congregations now there, Beverley street has housed four others: Czechoslovakian, Hungarian, Swedish, and German. All eventually went their own way.

Three of them bought buildings formerly used by a United Church, a future Pentecostal church and a Jewish synagogue Now the Estonian congregation is about to leave its old home, graduating to a building in the central east end. The spirit of Beverly street persists, however, as it seems likely that an Italian congregation will move into the building. As well, a burgeoning Chinese community is growing nearby.

It will be exciting to see what God does next! (Wice, 1962) So how did we get here? In 1960, there was a large influx of new immigrants from Hong Kong. The English pastor, Joseph McDermott began to notice the growing Chinese population. BSBC decided to plant a Chinese congregation.

In 1967, the Chinese worship began with only 12 people in the basement. In 1968, they called Andrew Wong be their pastor. Through various ministries, such as Bible studies and ESL classes, the church grew quickly. In just four years, by 1972, the Chinese church took over Beverley Street Baptist Church and the church became Toronto Chinese Baptist Church (TCBC).

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1974

SCBC plants MCBC

Mississauga becomes independent

East Toronto established

1975

TCBC plants Windsor BC

1986

1989

1987

Scarborough Chinese BC established

TCBC planted a number of churches and those churches planted other churches. Thousands and thousands of people have called these Chinese churches their home.

I am touched by a number of things when I think about this story.

Beverley Street Baptist demonstrated a willingness to welcome people who didn’t look like them, think like them, or talk like them. This could not have been easy or natural.

Yet, BSBC welcomed new immigrants in the name of Jesus Christ. They also gave them the freedom to plant their own churches with little control.

“

They had been practicing a life of sacrifical love and community for a number of years.”

Following where God leads

SCBC moves to new site

ETBC plants North Toronto BC

2019 & beyond

2007

SCBC plants Pickering BC

Something had to die in order for something to be born again.

I am not sure what was going through BSBC heart and mind as they sold the building to TCBC. Were they celebrating? Were they lamenting? In my heart, I see them celebrating. BSBC had a tradition—a good one. They had been practicing a life of sacrificial love and community for a number of years. Giving up their church to the Chinese church was a natural outpouring of their communal love and habits.

I realize that the roots of the Chinese church came from a church that started to pay attention to their neighbourhood. Thousands of people were impacted because this church opened their hearts and their doors. We are excited to see what the Chinese church will do next with their passions, gifts, and resources.

Who is God calling you to welcome in your community?

reference: Wice, Aubrey. “Church in Action: One Church… Four Languages.”

The Telegram, September 6, 1962

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Through CBM, Canadian Baptist churches in Ontario and Quebec are embracing what they believe together.

May this CBOQ Sunday ignite your church’s mission to heal a broken world.

cbmin.org

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WHY CAN'T THEY JUST

get over it?

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.

They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

– revelation 7:9-10

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by JACQUELINE SOLOMON communications associate, cboq

“The Church needs First Nations people… This body has been separated for a long time, but it’s time to bring it together now.”

– jonathan maracle / musician, mohawk nation

A

news report begins on the truth and reconciliation commission

someone nearby grumbles, “Why can’t they just get over it?!”

and

A verdict is announced acknowledging that Canada committed cultural genocide against First Nations families and a colleague rolls her eyes and mutters, “Why can’t they just get over it?”

Have you ever said that? Have you ever thought it?

“Imagine that there was one incident a year for the last 100 years. And at year 30, we were told, ‘Get over it.’ And we did. And five years later, there were five more incidents. And we were told, ‘Get over it.’ And we did. How long do we need to keep ‘getting over it’? If the behaviour hasn’t changed, then people can’t really just keep getting over it,” says Terry LeBlanc, Director of NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community and Indigenous Studies Program Director at Tyndale University College.

An injury can’t heal if the cause is re-inflicted on a regular basis. The injustices that have been committed against indigenous peoples in Canada aren’t minor paper cuts, they are deep wounds on the personhood, identity, freedom, society and culture of First Nations people. It is a centuries-long initiative to erase culture—to “take the Indian out of the child” as though it were a disease to be exterminated instead of a reflection of the image of God. In the last decade, most Canadians have learned a fair bit about how this was done and our collective role in the process.

Thanks largely to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), we’ve learned about the residential school system, which removed children from their families and communities, fracturing families and forcing them to deny their culture, often in viciously abusive environments. We’ve learned about the 60s Scoop, the practice of taking indigenous children from their families and giving them to (mostly) white families to raise.

We continue to learn about murdered and missing indigenous women and girls— mothers, sisters and daughters who have and are still vanishing without a trace. Even if one chooses to disregard the atrocities of a century ago, there is still a glut of examples from the present showing that in many ways, we haven’t changed much.

And even so, people still ask, “Why can’t they just get over it? We said sorry, didn’t we?”

“

Don't look at us as a problem to be solved. We're not your poor brother or sister.

We are your friends and we are children of God.”

What exactly is this asking? Are we really asking people to forget the multitudinous offences that Canada has committed (and continues to perpetrate) without seeking real justice or reconciliation? Is that the kind of true repentance and reconciliation that Jesus would be satisfied with? Have we really abandoned our belief that our way of doing things is the only right way? Recognizing ethnocentrism in ourselves—the belief that our culture, our paradigm is the only right one—is painful, because it means we need to face some of our darker impulses. We need to acknowledge the ways in which our views on indigenous people are shaped by our own colonial history. How do we do that?

“Don’t look at us as a problem to be solved. We’re not your poor brother or sister. We are your friends and we are children of God. And although people will say, ‘Yeah, I believe that,’ there’s still a divide as in ‘we have what you don’t have and we need to share with you’… It includes evangelism. It’s like people think we don’t have the Gospel and they have to bring us the Gospel. That’s probably one of the biggest pitfalls. There’s still the perception that the answer comes from the dominant society to us,” says Shari Russell, Territorial Indigenous Ministries Consultant with The Salvation Army.

It can be hard for those of us in the dominant society to acknowledge that we might be the problem—that our ways might not be God’s ways. It hurts to acknowledge our own responsibility in the status quo, not just in a historical sense, but in the ways we keep negative attitudes towards indigenous people alive.

“We have language and understandings of the church and of mission that are so influenced by historical, even heretical, thinking and we have to get past that… We’ve allowed our understanding of mission to be tainted by colonialism. The way I think that we can at least begin to move forward is to listen, to not assume that we know everything and to develop friendships and relationships with indigenous peoples. It’s eye- and heart-opening as we widen our understanding of who God is as Creator, how we live in Creation and how we treat one another as family… it’s very rich. We need indigenous Christians in the Canadian church to make us whole,” says Aileen Van Ginkel, Vice-President, Ministry Services at the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

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“

It's going to be messy and we've never done this before...we don't know what it's going to look like.”

As we go a little further, some small light seems to creep in. Could it be that it is not indigenous people who have something to “get over”? Because what do we mean when we say that? What would “getting over it” look like? Would it look like indigenous people, fully assimilated, working in corporate jobs, living in the suburbs, quietly blending in with those around us? Would a “gotten over it” church look much like another prayerworship-sermon-prayer Sunday morning church? Is it necessary to Jesus that indigenous people conform to the dominant society’s expectations, or do we, perhaps, think that way because it makes us feel more comfortable?

If so, the cultural genocide persists and we Christians are still among the perpetrators.

When we hack at the roots of a culture and then blame the tree for not growing according to our specifications, we deny ourselves the beauty of the tree, growing as it was intended.

When we do this, we hurt others and rob ourselves of the depth and beauty that indigenous culture can offer us. This is not how Jesus would have us treat those around us.

“The Church needs to re-engage their theology of lament. that part of the problem: wanting the quick answers and to just ‘make it right’… We don’t need to rush it. Let it hit you deep into the core of who you are. Let it make you uncomfortable and unsettle your heart,” says Shari.

It sounds simple, but it is one of the hardest things to do—to allow ourselves to feel uncomfortable, to ask difficult questions and to take time to consider our answers. The path of reconciliation isn’t an easy one, but it is a good one. In the words of Shari Russell: to be messy and we’ve never done this before… we don’t know what it’s “ It’sgoinggoingto look like. It will be messy and there will be pain on both sides, but we need to have a strong commitment from one another that we’re going to do this. As indigenous peoples, I will say our elders have set an incredible example… The TRC was because they advocated for it. They, as people that have gone through residential schools and survived that, they’re the ones that say that they want reconciliation.

That says a lot about who they are as people and just the immense understanding of God’s great love and grace that they have, that they want to be reconciled with the very people and institutions that brought them so much pain. And as indigenous peoples, we’re still here… we invited you in. We started with a hand of hospitality and we still extend it. We’re committed to this, and it doesn’t mean that we always do it well, and sometimes you will experience our anger. We express our anger so that the truth is out there and we can work through it.

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“

Reconciliation is not a destination.

Reconciliation is a journey.”

As the hand of reconciliation and hospitality has been outstretched, how will we as churches respond? Are we open to learning a more complete history? Are we willing to release our vice-like grip on cultural dominance, to admit that our way of doing things isn’t always the only right way? Are we open to learning from others in humility and grace? Are we willing to be messy, complicated and persistent? If we are willing to begin walking together again, then it’s time for us to “just get over” some of our preconceptions, our biases and our misplaced sense of self-righteousness and walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Are we willing to take part in the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-19)?

“Reconciliation is not a destination. Reconciliation is a journey. If we think it’s a destination then we’re imagining that there’s some event at some point at some time in some way that will solve all the issues… Reconciliation even with God is a process…

[Let’s] shift away from a destination theology of any sort to a journey theology. We’re really about seeking to walk out our life with God and with other people in a good way.

How do we journey in a good way? The journey is reconciliation,” says Terry LeBlanc.

Let us begin again to walk the good way together.

23

24

25

PRACTICING

Hospitality 26

Lis Lam is a food blogger, writer, and speaker who believes in a radical hospitality that changes the world. She develops recipes and writes from her Korean American background at: www.thesubversivetable.com

by LIS LAM scarborough chinese baptist church

I

the ancient near east , hospitality functioned as a regular, absolutely vital practice in society. The absence of regular hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores necessitated the kindness of complete and total strangers. Most travellers simply could not carry enough food and water for their entire journey; they depended instead on stops along the way — towns and cities, well-known oases and wells. In this way, hospitality sometimes meant the difference between life or death. n

There were mutual benefits to hospitality, for both host and guest.

The guest would receive food and lodging. The host would receive information—news, current events, social happenings. This was an era when non-city dwellers lived for vast stretches of time with little contact to the outside world and with no access to newspapers or the internet. Information was a form of currency. In this way, both would receive. Both would give.

In the Bible, we see hospitality primarily as an act that protected the weak and vulnerable in their travels. That’s why those who practice hospitality in the Old Testament are commended and honored. In Genesis, Abraham practices hospitality to three strangers. They leave him with the good news that in one year’s time, Sarah will give birth to a son, just as God promised. But in Judges 19, we see the opposite.

When people refuse to use their power and privilege to protect a visitor, we see the devastating consequences: an innocent woman is assaulted and left for dead on a doorstep. The inhospitable nature of this violent act underscores the evil and depravity of not only the town but of the time itself. Something needs to change in Israel.

“

It's not an exaggeration to say that Jesus' eating habits changed the world.”

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In the New Testament, we see a different dimension to hospitality.

The context of the Roman occupation gives us a picture of the hierarchy and social stratifications that divide people. On one end of the spectrum lie the powerful—the wealthy, politically dominant, whole, and religiously moral. On the other end lie the nobodies—the poor and sick, the social outcasts, the dubiously immoral.

Then Jesus enters and upends all of these social conventions. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Jesus’ eating habits changed the world. Through a simple meal, Jesus rejected the social systems of exclusion that kept people apart. By eating with “sinners” and outcasts, he welcomed everyone into communion with him.

Jesus offered a hospitality that was so dangerous, his enemies put him on a cross for it.

Nowadays, the meaning of hospitality has completely changed.

People usually host once or twice a year. Usually with close friends and family. And most likely during a major holiday. But in the biblical tradition, hospitality was not a glammed up meal or something that people did when they had the spare time and resources to do so. Hospitality was a radical, dangerous practice formative to the people of God. A societal necessity that ensured healthy, flourishing communities.

Today, we can also choose to participate in this kind of hospitality—one that breaks barriers, seeks peace and reconciliation, views the stranger as family and actively chooses to protect the weak among us. We can reflect the unconditional welcome of God and use our power and privilege for more than our own needs. Instead of passive indifference, we can participate in the cosmic redemption of the world with God. That’s the kind of hospitality we need to change ourselves first and then the world.

suggestions for practicing an everyday hospitality that changes the world The most important part of hospitality: Be open to friendship. By nature, we tend to gravitate toward people who are just like us.

Instead, let’s make our circles bigger. Be willing to talk to people you normally wouldn’t. Here are some other suggestions to get you started:

□□ Invite someone over for dinner.

If you don’t cook, order pizza.

□□ Invite someone over for dinner who

is different from you. Different age, background, ethnicity, line of work, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, etc. Look for commonalities.

□□ Cook a dish from your family history.

Talk about the dish. Ask others to talk about a treasured dish in their family history.

□□ Cook a dish outside of your family tradition.

Be willing to try new flavours and cooking methods.

□□ Organize a playdate with your kids or nieces and nephews. Share a meal together.

□□ Organize an appetizer party with your

neighbours. Ask everyone to bring an appetizer to share. Provide drinks and treat it like a casual cocktail party. Be sure to invite neighbours you don’t know as well.

□□ The next time someone asks you for spare

change, ask if they would be willing to share a meal with you instead. Ask about their story.

Share your own story.

for more on hospitality: Pohl, Christine D. Making Room: Recovering Hospitaltity as a Christian Tradition. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing, 1999.

Wirzba, Norman. Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011.

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□□ Organize a dinner party. The next time you

plan for a dinner party, expand your invite list to include people outside of your closest circle of friends

chicken bulgogi recipe

H

ere’s an easy introduction to Korean BBQ. Sweet, salty bites of chicken. Crisp, crunchy lettuce wraps. And that spicy, garlicky sauce that makes everything addictively delicious. This can be a dinner time staple or you can easily double the recipe and invite some friends over for Korean BBQ at home! Find the full blog post and additional instructional pictures at thesubversivetable.com/chicken-bulgogi/ ingredients

method

□□ 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch long pieces (about 8-10 thighs, depending on size)

1. Combine marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Add chicken pieces and mix thoroughly until well combined.

(Marinate at least 30 minutes, but preferably overnight.

If cooking immediately, let stand at room temperature.)

marinade

□□ 1/4 cup soy sauce (not the low-sodium kind) □□ 1/4 cup sugar □□ 2 tbsp mirin or rice wine (optional) □□ 2 tsps sesame oil □□ 1 small onion thinly sliced □□ 3 green onions chopped (save some for garnish) □□ 6 cloves garlic minced □□ 1 inch fresh ginger minced ssam sauce (optional)

□□ 1/4 cup doengjang (fermented Korean soy bean paste or miso paste) □□ 1 tbsp gochujang (fermented Korean chile paste) □□ 2 garlic cloves minced □□ 1 tbsp mirin or rice wine □□ 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or white vinegar if you don't have it) □□ 2 tsp sesame seed oil □□ 1 tsp sugar

2. Heat a cast iron or non-stick skillet over medium high heat and add neutral cooking oil. Let the oil heat up for a few seconds and then add chicken pieces in batches. do not overcrowd the pan !

3. Cook chicken until nicely browned on one side, about 3-5 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook to the other side, until fully cooked, another 3-5 minutes. The chicken should be browned and crispy looking on the edges. Transfer to a large plate. Repeat process.

Add additional oil if necessary, adjusting the heat when needed.

prep time: 5 minutes cook time: 20 minutes total time: 25 minutes

4. Loosely cover finished chicken with foil while you cook the remaining chicken. When finished, garnish with reserved green onion.

5. While the chicken cooks, make the ssam sauce. Mix ingredients in a medium size bowl. Transfer to a smaller serving dish and set on the table.

6. Serve Chicken Bulgogi with lettuce wraps, ssam sauce, and rice. To eat, take a lettuce wrap and pile with a small spoonful of rice, chicken bulgogi, and a dab of ssam sauce. enjoy!

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CBOQ Children & Family exist to serve God by developing and mobilizing frontline children and family ministry leaders across Ontario and Quebec in partnership with Christian family agencies in engaging children and empowering families to reach their God-given potential. (cboqkids.ca)

10 MINUTE TRAINING Have 10 Minutes? Join Tanya Yuen on Facbook for a live presentation of various topics related to children and family ministry. cboqkids.ca/10

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HORIZONS is an online training program for leaders working in children’s ministry who want to develop their skills and learn more. Participants are matched with a CBOQ mentor to accompany them through the course. This program is self-paced and FREE for anyone interested, paid or volunteer. cboqkids.ca/horizons

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Next Season: November 2019

Transition 101 is a collaborative event for high school grads hosted by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Power to Change, Ambassadors for Christ, The Navigators and CBOQ. We believe it is vital to connect graduating high school students going to college or university with a local faith community, both on campus and in a church. Next event: June 1, 2019

YPR

Youth Pastors' Retreat: Calling all CBOQ youth pastors and leaders to join together for three days of fellowship, networking and learning. Our time together will include: peer learning, opportunities for ministry coaching, some wacky group games, and moments to relax and reflect especially around your soul. October 7-9, 2019 / Details coming soon!

31

THE CHURCH IS DEAD,

by DALLAS FRIESEN director of church life and leadership, cboq

Long live the Church!

T

I have had to sit with a congregation as it discerns if it is time to close. These conversations are never easy. There is usually a sub-group that does not want to see the church close.

Inevitably someone will proclaim, “if everyone just tries a little more things can turn around.” By contrast, there is often an equally strong voice that has served countless hours and states that the group has to face the inevitable and that they simply don’t have the energy to keep going. Generally, there is also a third group that sits silently. They too love their congregation, but either choose not to speak or struggle to articulate their thoughts and feelings. oo often in my years of working with cboq

In this situation, are you:

The Vocal Optimist?

The Steady Realist?

The Silent Thinker?

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“

God's church will never die and not every congregation will survive.”

Helping congregations prayerfully navigate these conversations is complex. All kinds of questions get asked. Sometimes theological questions arise about the nature of God and his bridegroom, the Church. Often the questions are more practical. Always, the questions are personal.

Sometimes I imagine the tone and excitement of the conversations the original planting group might have had.

There are similarities between the group of people that plant a church and the group that are with it when it closes. Often they are fairly small—sometimes just a handful of people, sometimes a dozen or two. Often the groups do not have a lot of resources and are facing rising financial constraints.

What’s the difference between the two groups? One had the expectation that God was going to do something in and through them; the other sits with more of a heaviness of the loss that is before them.

God’s church will never die and not every congregation will survive. It is one of the paradoxes of our faith. How do we make sense of this?

!

“

Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” – JOHN 12:24

Growing up on Vancouver Island, I used to love walking in the forest. While this is not limited to the west coast, if you walk through a forest, you will occasionally come across a “nurse log.” A nurse log is a tree that once was alive and beautiful. It grew from a seedling to a mature tree but when it died, it fell to the forest floor. Over time, the fallen tree provided the right environment and ingredients for a seedling to sprout up and grow into a healthy tree.

Scripture does not talk about nurse logs. But again and again throughout Scripture, we see God taking what is broken or dead and turning it into something new. In John 12:24 we read, “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (NIV).

Disciples of Jesus often talk about the rhythm of dying daily to self for Christ to be made alive in us. We celebrate the pattern of death and new life through the waters of baptism. It’s a big deal for us—it’s in our Baptist name.

What happens when we extend “dying to self ” to our congregations? What do we as a congregation need to let go of so that God can do something new in and through us? What might it look like for our congregation to be reborn?

THREE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STRUGGLING OR AT RISK CONGREGATIONS 1. collectively seek god in a new and fresh ways There may be an opportunity to prayerfully lament the health of the congregation. There may be an opportunity to prayerfully confess. You may want to search the Scriptures together and ask God to reveal a passage or word for your congregation for this next season.

2. search for creative possibilities The great news is that when you have nothing to lose you can seek creative and radical possibilities.

Many congregations are revisioning what it means to be the Church. There are some helpful questions in CBOQ's Thrive materials that can help your congregation ask some important questions.

3. turn outward One of the reasons that congregations often struggle is they have focused more on their spiritual health than the salvation and well-being of those outside the church. Explore how you can serve the community or maybe your congregation could explore blessing a church plant with your building.

FIVE OPTIONS FOR STRUGGLING OR AT RISK CONGREGATIONS While we live in an age of anxiety we need not be anxious about the future of the church. The Church in central Canada is going to look very different than it has in the past. Struggling or At Risk congregations have five options before them. Each option has some positive and negative elements. The congregation can: 1. The congregation can continue in its current trajectory.

2. The congregation can make small or simple changes.

3. The congregation can make significant or radical changes.

4. The congregation can discern closing and offering its resources as a legacy for church planting.

5. The congregation can look for merger possibilities.

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l

info@emmausformation.ca

HOLY

Horticulture IF YOUR CHURCH WAS A TREE, WHAT KIND OF TREE WOULD IT BE? 1. SPROUT Just starting out!

A wee church plant, still figuring out which way is up.

2. SAPLING Established, but still vulnerable. Your congregation is growing a bit, and you have some key core members, but you’re aware it could go either way.

3. YOUNG TREE You probably have a good swath of ages in your congregation, though you may be skewed to the younger end of the spectrum.

4. MATURE TREE Your church is a healthy size, probably has one or more full time paid ministry staff and a good representation of all age groups and, hopefully, a solid amount of ethnic diversity as well.

5. BLIGHTED TREE Your church had its glory days, but those days seem to be over. Maybe your church board isn’t healthy or your congregation seems to be dwindling. Perhaps people aren’t building community or being deeply nurtured and challenged in their faith. Whatever it is, your church is sick and needs care. There’s hope, but something will definitely need to change to move it off its current trajectory.

6. ZOMBIE TREE (REV. 3:1) Your church might appear to be alive, but it isn’t. Whether you have entrenched conflict, shrinking attendance, or a lack of love for your fellow brothers and sisters, your church died a while ago. At this point, you’re just going through the motions. It might be too late to save your church from itself or the circumstances around it, but the good news is that God can resurrect anything that is fully surrendered to him.

7. NURSE LOG Your church is closing its doors. The church that was is no more, but the seeds you planted are growing anew. Maybe new congregations are meeting in your old church building. Maybe a re-plant has completely changed the culture of your old church. Maybe your building is home to several churches, each speaking a different language. In the death of your church, the Church is flourishing.

35

BORDER

by ALVIN LAU youth ministries associate, cboq

Crossin

We will not hide [these truths] from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

– Psalm 78:4 (NIV)

M

of their congregation. Yet, a significant number of our CBOQ churches have youth from their neighbourhoods who connect through a mid-week program or other channels but never darken the door of a Sunday service. While they believe mentorship and intergenerational relationships are important, I often get this question: “How do we disciple them if they’re not here on Sundays?” Good question! Here are a few observations and considerations (along with insights of a few CBOQ youth leaders). any churches would say this is a key purpose

WHO AND WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

Some adjectives often used about the church: irrelevant, archaic, too comfortable, judgemental. For many, the image that most reflects this is the Sunday service (i.e. the weekly one-hour gathering.)

Most would attest “the church” isn’t an event or a building; it’s the people. If that’s the case, what defines the church (and by extension the “success” of a church) encompasses all the different touchpoints the body of Christ has: the midweek youth group, the after-school drop-in, the coffee shop Bible studies. It includes all the ways the group (or segments of the group) engage.

36

THE DISCONNECT

Part of the problem is the various segments don’t always overlap. In many instances, we assume the Sunday service is the non-negotiable time for “the church” to gather and so it’s the primary (if not only) time for discipleship (translation: listen to the sermon). So if someone doesn’t come on Sunday, they can’t be discipled. We may not state it as such, but that’s essentially what we’re insinuating.

CROSS-CULTURAL ENDEAVOURS

If we can’t assume that Sunday morning is the most effective time for discipleship, what does it look like? Perhaps we need to approach it like any other cross-cultural endeavours. We cannot assume that youth should adapt to the culture of Christianity you may be used to especially if that culture isn’t part of their background (and for most of Generation Z, it isn’t).

One could argue the culture of Christianity you’re familiar with is not the only cultural pathway for the Christian faith.

ng HERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO CONSIDER:

• Interacting with youth doesn’t just happen in-person.

Face-to-face dialogue is one vital venue for discipleship.

However, the digital world (e.g. texting, social media, etc.) is just as real as the physical world for many youth. While it may be hard to connect with them in person (because of scheduling conflicts), digital connections allow for more opportunities to interact with a youth.

• In-depth conversations are key in faith formation. As the previous point suggests, they are much harder to come by.

Digital connections allow for more frequent engagements, for example, the group is studying about prayer. While it’s helpful for everyone to spend one hour together studying this, it’s not always practical for that to happen. Because a digital channel is available, you can engage in smaller, more frequent segments (e.g. a text every other day asking a question or presenting a thought about prayer).

“

We cannot assume that youth should adapt to the culture of Christianity you may be used to especially if that culture isn’t part of their background (and for most of Generation Z, it isn’t).”

Psalm 78:4 reminds us that it’s our (i.e. the older, more spiritually mature generation’s) responsibility to pass on the truths of God to the next generation. We can’t expect them to receive God’s truth in the way we want to present it; we need to share the Gospel in a way that makes sense to them.

As such, no matter what our age, no matter if they ever step foot in a Sunday service, it’s our responsibility to pass on God’s truth to them, in whatever way they can receive it best.

Hannah Fairbanks (Immanuel Baptist Church, Toronto), Aaron Harwood (First Baptist Church, Strathroy), Lucas Jervis (Avenue Road Baptist Church, Cambridge), Jonathan John (recently at Calvary Baptist Church, Toronto), Karra Overholt (Church on the Rock, Hamilton), and Curtis Sheen (Little Bethel Church, Hamilton) for their contributions. special thanks to

• A person’s sense of belonging isn’t just what happens when they’re there; it’s what happens when they’re not there. It’s good to converse regularly with a youth when you’re able.

However, it’s just as vital to ensure they know they were missed when they’re absent, whether it’s a text message, a phone call or a hand-written note. One key question a youth (or anyone really) asks when stepping into a church community is, “Do I belong?” If they sense they don’t have a place, don’t expect them to return.

37

SHIFT T

by CID LATTY congregational development associate, cboq

church landscape is changing as incredible Rather, all voices were heard together. The result of this was demographic shifts take place globally. Christianity is that people put their faith in God and formed an assembly experiencing a new paradigm as the majority of the followers (or church) of believers who fellowshipped, worshipped and of Jesus now live in the global south. For centuries, Christianity served the Lord together. Could it be that because our context was shaped in the melting pot of western culture but now–as today is so primed with cultural diversity it leads to the same Wesley Granberg-Michaelson declares– “…all that is changing. kind of worship, altogether accelerating our mission impact?

Christianity has become a non-western religion.” (Future Is this something you could imagine happening?

Faith, 2018). Now, the forces of globalism and migration in the church in western cities increasingly transform it as people The ‘Worship for the World’ Conference seeks to provide a from different nations make up the constituency. This presents context for this to take place. The purpose is to equip us to both a challenge and an opportunity for the western church embrace a Pentecost perspective that recovers worship with as various ethnicities bring their own influences to bear. Will a diversity of expressions. The practical sessions will offer the church ignore this new reality, multifaceted forms of worship, resist it or embrace it? As many which incorporate cultural churches deal with the issue of differences and provide us with What they heard was revitalization, could it be that the resources for worship – in the the uncommon sound of Holy Spirit’s answer is already in churches, the places where we live worship, giving expression and where we serve God. ‘Worship front of us? for the World’ will encourage us to the wonders of God in The cultural diversity that has to take small, meaningful steps to the context of diversity. ” emerged in churches mirrors, in winsomely develop worship that is some ways, the context of the inclusive. story of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-14. There had been a migration of people as they gathered from distant lands for a Jewish The conference will start on the Friday night with a prayer festival. The diversity would have been visible as people came concert, highlighting various forms of prayer. On the Saturday with their own cultural customs, languages and perspectives. morning there will be a café style worship event followed by While the believers “were all together” they “began to speak in inspirational teaching, interactive workshops and plenary other languages as the Holy Spirit enabled them.” This diverse sessions exploring the theme of diversity in worship. Finally, sound bewildered the hearers around them as they heard their there will be a collective worship experience and worship own native tongues being spoken. There were people there resources will be available for you to take away and use when from Africa, Asia and Europe—amongst other places. What you get home. they heard was the uncommon sound of worship, giving expression to the wonders of God in the context of diversity.

At a time when cultural diversity is increasingly visible, we They were not driven away to express themselves separately, hope you will join us at ‘Worship for the World’ and become through their own cultural identity, as seen in the story of equipped to step into this unprecedented moment with God. Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). he

“

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39

CONGREGANT in

a crisis!

Your community has changed. Your church has shrunk. The coffers are empty and you can’t pay your pastor. Sunday attendance has dwindled to a faithful few. The roof is leaking and the foundation is cracked. The nursery is gathering dust and the piano is out of tune. It’s a hard, sad reality, but sometimes it’s time for a church to close and, hopefully, find some new way for its members to live out their mission from God. So when crisis hits, who are you? Are you the Outspoken Optimist? The Ready Realist?

The Dreary Doomsayer? Or are you Safely Silent?

1. YOUR CHURCH BOARD (WHICH IS MOST OF

THE PEOPLE WHO GO TO YOUR CHURCH) MEETS TO DISCUSS CLOSING. YOU:

a. Insist on calling it a revival meeting and come with fundraising ideas for a new roof. b. Come prepared to consider options—closing, replanting, moving to a new location, or just taking some time to discern what’s best. c. Arrive at the meeting early with a large “for sale” sign to put on the church lawn. d. Listen to people’s ideas, but keep yours to yourself.

2. FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, YOUR CHURCH THAT SEATS 250 HAS HOSTED 15. YOU:

a. Make 27 suggestions and then resent everyone who doesn’t share your “vision,” while openly questioning their faith. b. Suggest starting a discernment process to determine how God is leading your church. c. Know the problem is kids today.

You then spend Sunday afternoon scowling at everyone under 30. d. Observe quietly. Maybe it’ll be different in another six months.

3. YOUR CHURCH INVESTIGATES REPLANTING:

BRINGING IN NEW LEADERS AND PEOPLE TO TRY AND START SOMETHING NEW IN YOUR CHURCH BUILDING. YOU:

a. Think it’s fantastic, so long as they understand the way things are done around here. b. Grieve what was and look forward to what’s next, recognizing that it may not look exactly the same as it did before. c. Are unfriendly to the new leaders and possessive over the building. They’ll get the key over your dead body. d. Feel glum, but don’t complain.

There’s nothing you can do, anyway.

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4. THERE’S A HIGH SCHOOL ACROSS THE

STREET FROM YOUR STRUGGLING CHURCH, BUT NONE OF THE KIDS DARKEN THE DOOR EXCEPT TO EAT PIZZA ON THE FRONT STEPS. YOU:

a. Tell the kids they should come to a church service at 10 sharp on Sunday morning.

When Sunday rolls around, you’re confused as to why they didn’t show up. b. Consider whether your church has capacity for a homework club, tutoring or a gym for a rousing game of floor hockey. And if not, consider whether replanting might help with that. c. Keep scowling at all the students. The weight of your disapproval will convict them. d. Ignore them.

Taking care of kids is the school’s job.

5. DESPITE YOUR BEST EFFORTS, KEEPING

YOUR CHURCH BUILDING AS-IS IS NO LONGER TENABLE. HOWEVER, THERE’S A NEED IN YOUR COMMUNITY FOR HOUSING FOR SENIORS AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONVERT YOUR CHURCH INTO A RESIDENCE. YOU:

a. Ignore the red numbers on the balance sheet.

God owns the sheep on a thousand hills. The money will come from somewhere. b. Consider whether re-establishing your church in the new seniors residence might be a possibility, providing spiritual care and nurture to older congregants. c. Start scowling at both the under-30s and the over-70s. They’re all after your church! d. Whatever. It’s been a slice, but you’re just done.

ANSWER KEY MOSTLY A's

It’s great to be positive—to have vision and energy for your church. It’s great to believe that God, who really can do anything, can continue to use your struggling congregation. At the same time, it's possible you are ignoring the thinning atmosphere around you. Maybe it’s time to get your head out of the clouds and see what opportunities God actually has right in front of you. But keep using that vision of yours!

MOSTLY B's You’re pretty balanced. You see the problems realistically, but you still believe that God has a purpose for your church family— with or without the building. Even if things change, and it’s difficult (as it very well may be), you know that you are in the centre of God’s hand and it’s up to him to guide your church.

MOSTLY C's Good gravy! Are you imbued with the Spirit of God or not? Have you experienced the redemptive love of Jesus or not? God can do amazing things through us when we have faith, but even Jesus didn’t do miracles in places without it. (Matt. 13:58) Open your mind and heart to the possibilities that God has put before you. You could be the lifeline for a struggling neighbour, friend or relative.

MOSTLY D's Playing it safe, eh? It’s good to keep quiet sometimes—to spend some extra time thinking through your response, rather than just reacting. But at this point, it seems like you’re just avoiding the responsibility of caring for your church. Maybe you have something important to share. Share it! The kingdom is richer with you in it, fully engaged.

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