CBOQ SUNDAY 2020
Walking Humbly Through Life and Leadership A LONG JOURNEY
THE CANADIAN BAPTIST
KAMRAN’S STORY
JUSTICE LEAGUE
WHOM SHALL I SEND?
WHO WE ARE:
WHY CBOQ ASSEMBLY
A CHURCH PLANTING MOVEMENT
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Dear Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec, Our identity is clear. We are a covenant people bound together by a shared understanding and celebration of the great hope found in Jesus Christ. Since 1880, Canadian Baptists in Ontario and Quebec have been gathering, working and praying together on a mission to share the Good News of Jesus, and to enjoy the hope and love that accompanies a relationship with God and other believers. Much has been given, much has been required and much has been accomplished through you, our remarkable Baptist family. It is with great joy that we learn about, collect and share the stories of how God is blessing Canada through the hearts and hands of CBOQ churches. Reflecting the identity of Jesus, we are walking in step with the Holy Spirit and developing a cadence and rhythm in mission and ministry. To do so with you is a privilege and a blessing. In the pages that follow, we get to read and experience, together, the difference Christ has made in the lives of others through the efforts of people within our family of churches. I’m reminded of what happens when we embody the teachings of Jesus instead of merely believing them. I’m excited about small churches finding new life through revitalization and the joy that comes from discovering vision and purpose again in the same community where they were founded one hundred years before. I am thankful for our gatherings that promote our mission and engage in what God has guided us toward in local communities as Baptist families. It is good to walk with you. Welcome to this collection of stories of how we, the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec, are following God through the footprints of Jesus—how we’re celebrating the freedom that comes from acting on God’s nudge to us through the Holy Spirit. May you be inspired to go and change the world through the power of Christ. With love and blessings,
Tim McCoy Executive Minister, CBOQ
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Table of Contents 6
20
An Unexpected Gift
8
Walking Humbly Through Life and Leadership
24
A Long Journey
A Clear Reflection
11
28
The Canadian Baptist Justice League
Who We Are: A Church Planting Movement
32
15
The Power of Small Church / Deep Roots
Whom Shall We Send?
17
34
Quiz: Ready to be a Delegate?
Feels Like Home
An Unexpected Gift
By Jacqueline Solomon Communications Associate, CBOQ
He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. – John 21:5-8 e all want to feel like there’s a connection between the good work that we do and the results that we get. We want to feel like we are making an impact that is connected to a story of our own hard work, virtue and greatness. But sometimes the grace of God is so evident and incomprehensible and independent of us, that we are left in wonderment and awe.
W
About two years ago, a few Iranian visitors began to arrive. Not only did they arrive, but they were eager to be baptized: “Over the years we’ve seen a few people come, but for the first time we had more than one or two. They were coming to the Bible study, and they requested baptism… We baptized seven people—the largest in the church at one time,” says Pastor Paul.
God has a way of upending things.
And while seven new baptisms is newsworthy in and of itself, the story was just beginning. To meet the needs of the new Christians who were joining their congregation, they decided to run an Alpha program. Alpha was able to provide Farsi subtitles for those who were still learning English. People began to arrive and bring friends.
“I went away on vacation and I came back and there were probably two dozen people in the church I didn’t recognize,” says Pastor Paul Gibbon of Thornhill Baptist Church. Pastor Paul has some experience with God’s direct involvement in the ministry of his church. Pastoring the church since 1990, it was a steady but smaller congregation. While over time it had begun to diversify, reflecting the changing community, its numbers remained fairly stable for the better part of three decades. But then something began to change.
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“
It’s been a real eye-opener to me to see how many people are thirsty for the Gospel, and the lengths that they’ve gone to to learn about Jesus...
“We didn’t do anything to publicize this, or say that we were doing an outreach to the Persian community. More and more people were coming… many had been involved in the underground church in Iran,” says Pastor Paul. “We had to start a waiting list for baptismal classes. Through this current year… this is the sixth “special” baptism [service] we’ve had in 2019. After tonight it’ll make 104 people this year.” At this point there could be a temptation to take credit for the explosion of new believers. Certainly it would be gratifying to be able to point to a particular outreach or initiative that could explain this success, or perhaps create a path to replicate it elsewhere. But it is in this moment where Pastor Paul’s humility and faith shines the brightest: “I’ve never seen anything like it. I can’t explain it. We haven’t done anything… over the years we’ve done intentional outreach… but this was completely out of the blue. I had no idea how the Holy Spirit was working in Iran amongst the people there. It’s been a real eye-opener to me to see how many people are thirsty for the Gospel, and the lengths that they’ve gone to to learn about Jesus… to get a Bible, which in itself is a crime in Iran… and they’ve decided to become followers of Jesus. A number of them have been arrested and their house churches have been raided. A number have experienced rejection by their families. Many of them have left everything behind to come here.” “I’ve asked people why they wanted to come here, and they say, ‘Well you accepted us. You helped us even when you didn’t know us. You smiled when we came.’ It’s made an outsized impact on them. They’re extremely gracious people and they want to help and contribute and be involved. They haven’t just been baptized and gotten their refugee status and left. They’re still here. They take Bible study very seriously. They take Christian service very seriously. It’s changed their lives,” reports Paul. When churches experience rapid change, there can sometimes be challenges. Adjusting to the massive influx of people (their congregation has tripled) hasn’t always been easy, and some have found it more challenging than others. And yet, Thornhill Baptist Church continues to welcome newcomers. They continue to be the church they’ve always been— faithful, friendly and welcoming. One thing that everyone agrees on is that this is God’s doing, and Thornhill Baptist Church, in faithful obedience to God’s call, has risen to the challenge. 7
A Long Journey Hearing about the baptisms at Thornhill Baptist Church is exciting, but the meaning of it is so much deeper than numbers. Who are the people being baptised? What are their stories? While many people can’t share because of the danger it would pose to themselves or family members back home, Kamran offered to give a picture of what it means to become a Christian in Iran—a country where converting to Christianity is illegal. What follows is his own story, in his own words, which he shared on the day of his baptism:
I
was born into a Muslim family in Iran. My family were open-minded Muslims and did not practice Islamic faith regularly but my father’s side of the family was religious.
When I was in grade three, I befriended a classmate who was a Christian. We became friends and once, at Christmas time, I was invited to his house. I was fascinated by the celebration; it was my first introduction to Christianity. When I got home, I asked my parents “Why can’t we celebrate Christmas like my friend?” They replied that we were Muslims, not Christians. Later on, as our friendship developed, out of curiosity I wanted to find out more about his religion. Discussing it at home, however, alarmed my parents and they moved me to another school the following year. When I was 16, my father passed away from a heart attack, leaving me in deep grief. Sometime later, my mother’s sister and her husband, who is a British Christian, and my cousin came to Iran for a visit. During their visit, we travelled to Shiraz to visit the rest of the family. On the way there, my uncle shared inspiring stories and verses from the Bible. This was my first exposure to the Bible; it made a lasting impression on me and helped me cope with the loss of my father. Also, on the way to Shiraz, we stopped in Isfahan to visit the Vank Church, a cathedral built in the 17th century by forcibly displaced Armenians. It was an exhilarating experience for me, which filled me with a powerful feeling of peace and serenity. Since then I have visited that place several times to reflect. I wanted to learn more about Christianity, but my access to reliable resources was extremely limited. Distribution of Christian literature in Farsi was strictly forbidden and involvement in such activities could result in harsh punishments and imprisonment. Also, participation in church ceremonies is forbidden for Muslims. Churchgoers are required to register with the authorities and attendance in church by Muslims and non-registered people could result in arrests and church closures. But while studying, I met a Christian convert at the gym and we became friends. Because of my interest, we met frequently to discuss Christianity. The more I learned, the more I grew interested in the concept of the Christian faith—so much so that we started to meet up at my house to pray together. Prayer in Jesus’ name became a lifeline for me. My friend would bring me materials from the Bible to study and worship together. Unfortunately, we had to meet in private for fear of being reported and arrested in a setting like a home church.
8
I tried to be very careful because I did not want to jeopardize my education, employment or my life and so I tried to keep my interest in Christianity a secret and worshiped in private. Throughout, I always remembered that the Lord would never abandon me. In 2012, I began to work in a company where my position allowed me to travel to different countries, mainly in Europe. During these trips I had the opportunity to visit different churches and attend services whenever possible. During a business trip to Paris, France, I visited Notre-Dame Cathedral. To me it was not just a tourist attraction, but a place where I felt God’s presence in my body and soul. I felt Jesus warming my heart with his mercy and love and I felt blessed with a heavenly peace similar to my visit to Vank Church in Iran. It was then that I converted to Christianity in my heart and soul, though I was not yet baptized. I was hungry to receive and read the Word of God. In France, I was overjoyed to receive a Bible. To bring it to Iran, though, I had to pack it covered in newspaper, hidden between my clothes in my suitcase. For the next few years, I traveled extensively and visited churches whenever possible. But in 2018 I ran into difficulties. One of my colleagues was a radical Muslim. He began making life very difficult for me and started threatening me. I found his attitude hostile and alarming and it caused me deep anxiety. My life became so difficult that I could not concentrate on preparing for my PhD thesis or continue my business. Instead, I had to seek medical help for anxiety and depression. I was aware that he could make serious problems for me. As I could not predict what he might do next, I decided to travel abroad and visit my family in Canada to seek some peace of mind. I left my business, studies and emotional ties behind. While in Canada I kept studying the Bible to give me strength and I would also go to different churches here and there when I felt comfortable. Later on, I met an Iranian, a Christian convert who encouraged me and helped me to choose a church that I felt comfortable with. It was she who introduced me to Thornhill Baptist Church. This gave me the encouragement to overcome my fear and live life the way I wanted and also gave me the opportunity to enrich my faith and meet new Christian friends. I became a church member and started going to Sunday worship sessions and Bible study classes every week. I felt so good about the staff at the church, in particular Pastor Paul Gibbon, Pastor Gloria Stafford and Pastor Michel Belzile. They helped me a lot to gain a true understanding of Christ and Christianity. Pastor Gloria, who is a registered psychotherapist, helped me a lot to recover from my hardships and I attended counselling sessions with her. Today I am going to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and now I have reached the summit of salvation, receiving God’s grace in my life. 9
The Canadian Baptist Justice League By Taylor Murray Canadian Baptist Historical Society
T
oday, some might identify Baptists by their enthusiasm for potlucks and their emphasis on believer’s baptism, but did you know that they were once known for their social action as well? Within Canadian Baptist history there are fascinating and inspiring examples of individuals and groups that advocated not simply for themselves, but also for the rights of marginalized people across the country. In the twenty-first century—as we are faced with a host of new challenges—it is worth briefly reflecting on a few of them from our history. We begin by looking back to the early-twentieth century, at a time when Baptists advocated for regulations and improvements to safeguard working-class Canadians. Rapid urbanization and industrialization had created increasingly unsafe working conditions. In response, in 1913, Baptists in central Canada adopted a social service platform that supported “the protection of the worker from dangerous machinery, occupational diseases and mortality.” They also sought “suitable provision for the old age of workers…, those incapacitated by injury, and for the needy widows.”1 Baptists elsewhere in the country followed suit, including Baptists in the Maritime Provinces, who in 1921 released their own platform that argued that “[t]he help should be greatest where the need is most.”
While it reflected many of the same principles as the 1913 platform (e.g., each protected the rights of women and children), the later platform went as far as to argue that “[t]he resources of the earth . . . should not be monopolized by the few to the disadvantage of the many.”2 Baptists remained acutely aware of social needs in Canada throughout the rest of the century and some even sought change through political means. There was a time when two of Canada’s most prominent politicians were Baptists: Tommy Douglas and John Diefenbaker. Douglas, the Premier of Saskatchewan and subsequent leader of the federal New Democratic Party, introduced single-payer health care (Medicare) into Canadian society; Diefenbaker, the nation’s Prime Minister, introduced Canada’s first Bill of Rights, which enshrined “the dignity and worth of the human person” into our nation’s laws in 1960. Although they sat on opposite sides of the political aisle, they shared a faith—and in their separate ways each advocated for the marginalized.
“
[t]he resources of the earth . . . should not be monopolized by the few to the disadvantage of the many.
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“
While we have not always “gotten it right,” these examples show that the impulse for social action has been part of the Canadian Baptist DNA for many years.
Even Canada’s multicultural identity, for which the country is known around the world, was influenced and in part shaped by a Baptist: Watson Kirkconnell, the so-called “Prophet of Multiculturalism.” In the face of xenophobia and a public policy of assimilation, Kirkconnell, a professor and later university president, argued that “ethnic diversity” and “national unity” were not mutually exclusive and that including a plurality of cultural backgrounds into Canadian society could actually enrich it. He therefore began advocating on behalf of immigrants and ethnic minorities, and even defended them during the increased hostilities of the Second World War when the general public questioned their loyalties.3 While we have not always “gotten it right,” these examples show that the impulse for social action has been part of the Canadian Baptist DNA for many years. What does this mean for us today? How will we respond to refugee crises or prejudicial government policies against people who believe differently from us? As Canadian Baptists chart a path forward, it helps to look backward for inspiration. ––––– Taylor Murray holds an MA in Theology (Christian History) from Acadia University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Theology (Church History) at McMaster Divinity College. He is a Member at Large with the Canadian Baptist Historical Society and currently sits on the Administrative Committee of the Acadia Centre for Baptist and Anabaptist Studies. He has contributed to several books, journals, and encyclopaedias, writing primarily on Baptists in Canada and the history of evangelicalism in North America. photos (top to bottom): Watson Kirkconnell [Acadia University Archives] John Diefenbaker [Public Domain, Canada] Tommy Douglas [Public Domain, Canada] Canada Bill of Rights [Public Domain, Canada]
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CBOQ
JUNE 11-13
HILTON MISSISSAUGA/MEADOWVALE 14
ASSEMBLY 2020
BAPTIST.CA/ASSEMBLY
Whom Shall We Send?
By Dana Barber Member Care Specialist, CBOQ
C
BOQ Assembly happens every year. It’s a vital time in the life of our Canadian Baptist family. It is life-giving, future-shaping and bond-building. But did you know that your church is an important part of CBOQ Assembly? Every member church of Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec is invited to send delegates to join the voices at our annual gathering on behalf of your congregation.
How does your church decide who represents them?
Why is choosing delegates important?
Sometimes this happens in church business meetings where it can seem more like an auction. “Assembly delegate opening, going once, going twice, sold to the highest bidder” with no explanation or discussion. Or perhaps leadership doesn’t even ask anymore because it’s the same people who have always gone, are going and will go again and no one in your church need “concern themselves with it”. No report will follow; no mention of our vast family of churches. Or… maybe your church gets excited about the chance to educate new people and remind veterans of what happens at CBOQ Assembly and what the responsibilities of a delegate are. Each church may do this differently, but what matters is that your church is represented… and represented well. Sending delegates to CBOQ Assembly is important because it means your congregation, church and community of believers will have a voice and a chance to be encouraged. This is a “not to be missed” opportunity.
Decisions made at CBOQ Assembly shape the direction of this family of churches. It is our business meeting, and the opinion of every church matters. More than that, it is also the time we gather to learn, network, be encouraged and encourage, share ideas, pray for one another and seek God’s face in each other’s company. Choosing and equipping delegates is critical because when it comes time to vote, Your church needs someone who represents the foundation of what your community believes. Equipping those you select as delegates is an essential part of this process. Take time to inform your delegates of the church’s collective wishes before sending them to Assembly. This will help your delegates vote and comment on matters that are important to your faith community. Have you prepared them to be listening for what God wants next for your church? Are they ready to share ideas to bless others? 15
Let me encourage you to consider these questions before selecting your church delegates:
• Did you know that anyone can register for, attend, and participate in many parts of CBOQ Assembly without being a delegate? • Does your church send the same people so often that our church never talks about CBOQ Assembly anymore? Is it time for this to change by sending someone new or by creating more dialogue about CBOQ Assembly? • Would it help if you sent an experienced attendee with a new person and a young adult? This fulfills your three eligible spots (or more, if your churches has 100+ members). • CBOQ Assembly is a learning experience. Is there someone who could use a greater point of contact with our broader Baptist family? • Who will represent your church’s collective beliefs before their individual agenda? • Is there someone in your church who is ready for a growth experience? Why is attending CBOQ Assembly important?
CBOQ Assembly has been likened to our family reunion. If your family planned an annual reunion and only the same four aunties showed up, would it be much of a reunion for the other 50 members of the family? No! We need every church. We need our member churches from the north, south, east and west. If members of the family don’t show up, they miss a wonderful opportunity to build supportive relationships and share their ideas with the rest of the family. The same is true for us, CBOQ: A family of churches—almost 350 churches rooted in Christ. When your church does not send representatives to attend CBOQ Assembly, there is a gap; a missing voice. God has uniquely gifted each one. Don’t miss this chance to bless and be blessed!
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Once your church has selected delegates for the up-coming CBOQ Assembly, be sure to prepare them well. Here are some tips for how your church can do that:
• Talk Even before you have selected your delegates, start a conversation about what CBOQ Assembly is and what delegates do • Keep Talking When information about the upcoming Assembly arrives, don’t just assume the delegates will handle that. Discuss how your church would want them to vote about, or address matters of business • Explore Look through Assembly materials together and consider what learning opportunities would best benefit your church, the community, and the individual • Pray Ask God for wisdom before, during, and after • Be Clear Set expectations for reporting to the church after CBOQ Assembly
Are you ready to be a delegate at Assembly?
When I hear “Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec Annual General Assembly” I think:
A. What’s that? B. Isn’t that where Earl and Pearl vacation every
year? C. I would like to know more about this. D. Sign me up. I like new experiences and I love our church! My response to mention of church membership is:
A. B. C. D.
Church what? I’m considering being a member of my church. I’ve done that. Active membership is very important to me.
The idea of a business meeting:
A. Sends me running from the room B. Changes my heart rate instantly C. Intrigues me D. Motivates me to get down to business I would consider myself:
A. Someone who loves to pick fights even about
topics I find unimportant B. A hot mess with tunnel vision C. Enthusiastic and curious about what happens at my church D. Able to focus on a task without my personal opinions being a distraction
When I think about the future of CBOQ:
A. I don’t think about CBOQ B. I want to learn more about why it matters C. I feel hopeful about what God is going to do
through our family of churches D. I want to be a contributor and see God glorified Next time I am in a church business meeting and Assembly is mentioned, I will:
A. Quietly slip out the back B. Be interested to see who is going C. Consider nominating someone that I think
would do a good job D. Check my work schedule and volunteer to attend In my opinion, the best thing about being a delegate at CBOQ Assembly would be:
A. Staying at the hotel, gossiping and meeting
Christian singles B. Swag, resources and seeing we are part of something so much bigger C. Gathering ministry ideas for my church and doing my part D. Faithfully helping to shape the future of CBOQ by representing the church I love
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Mostly A
Mostly C
Run! Do not get yourself nominated to be a delegate at Assembly. You would be welcome to attend, but clearly you would appreciate it if someone else made the decisions this year.
Maybe this is your year. Your enthusiasm for your church seems like a good place to start. The Assembly experience may encourage you to see Kingdom building across Ontario and Quebec in a whole new light. Talk to your church leaders and see if this is a good fit for you.
Mostly B
You are ready to learn more about the role your church plays in Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec. Definitely consider attending the free Thursday, June 11 evening session to get a glimpse of the action at CBOQ Assembly.
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Mostly D
A good fit. It’s time to think about who else may be a good fit for the delegate role too. Each church is limited in the number of delegates they can send, so choose wisely. Are you over the age 25? Look around and see what young adult you could also recommend as a delegate. Start praying about what your role will be. Will you represent your church as a delegate or by preparing those who are? Seek even greater wisdom. Are you 18-25? Your voice matters! Talk to your church leadership about representing your church at CBOQ Assembly 2020!
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Walking Humbly Through Life and Leadership He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8
O
ne meaningful event can make a world of difference for a young person who might be trying to navigate life and everything that comes with it. For a 14-year old Julien Busse, it was an event he attended at Uxbridge Baptist Church that piqued his interest and became a significant stepping stone in his journey towards ministry leadership. Today, almost a decade and a half later, Julien continues on that journey. It’s been one of various chapters, and one where different seasons and terrain require steady balancing and navigation – some more difficult than others. His season at Uxbridge Baptist Church as a high school student pointed him to and ultimately solidified his direction to step into ministry. Under the mentorship of former Uxbridge Youth Pastor Tim Teakle, Julien crafted sermons and helped run youth events. At the tail-end of his season at Uxbridge, Julien met Kathy McIntosh (Community Pastor) who presented him with the idea to get involved with CBOQ’s Blizzard youth retreats. From then onwards, he has been heavily involved at both Blizzard and Avalanche retreats as a Slingshot leader, team captain, and eventually, Slingshot Coordinator. In the same season of ministry, Julien would lend a hand to CBOQ’s Centre Court outreach event as support staff – and all this while completing a double major in Religious Studies and Psychology and minor in History at Redeemer University.
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By Josh Del Rosario Digital Media Specialist, CBOQ
After two years of coordinating the Slingshots at the CBOQ youth retreats, Julien secured a position at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in Winnipeg, with their “OuttaTown Gap Year Discipleship program.” For some time, Matt Wilkinson (Camp Kwasind Executive Director) had encouraged Julien to join Camp Kwasind staff, but with other commitments, Julien was unable to take on the opportunity. But at last, opportunity and season of life aligned as the position with the CMU freed up his summers and opened the doors for him to get his feet wet at Camp Kwasind.
“
Whatever time or season we find ourselves in, we just need to walk humbly with God, knowing he’s been there already.
From Cabin Leader to Cabin Leader Coordinator to a newly formed “Cabin Leader Developer” position that he is set to step into in the summer of 2020, Julien has been offered the ground to cultivate his God-given gifts to equip, disciple and inspire the next generation of leaders. Throughout the many chapters and seasons of his life, many leaders have poured into Julien, equipping and mentoring him to be the leader that he is today. He credits mentors like Tim Teakle, Kathy McIntosh, and Matt Wilkinson, for empowering him to lead, and people like Alvin Lau (Youth Ministries Associate, CBOQ) who Julien says, “took a lot of chances on me and put a lot of trust in me…and has shown a willingness to work with rough-around-the-edges individuals.” With a keen recognition that individuals must be uniquely supported (just like he was), Julien endeavours to walk with the young, up-and-coming leaders he oversees at the CBOQ retreats, Camp Kwasind, and the charge he has at Dundas Baptist Church as Youth Pastor – a position he’s held for the last 14 months. But while his journey into leadership has steadily progressed, it hasn’t been without struggle. In a moment of vulnerability, Julien reflects and admits to enduring over a year of the most difficult season of his life. “Balance has been a huge theme in my life, but so has seasons and rhythms,” Julien describes.
“This past year, I’ve had the biggest desert season I’ve ever gone through. And that’s never been something I’ve experienced before…But coming out of it now, just to see the goodness of God throughout all that, and to recognize why I was going through that desert season, has been much more rewarding than to never have gone through it.” With a grateful tone, he continues saying, “whatever time or season we find ourselves in, we just need to walk humbly with God, knowing he’s been there already.” Wherever this season takes Julien next, he strives to be a leader who is attentive to the needs around him and aims to show the same care, guidance and encouragement he was given as he was budding as a leader himself. 21
You’re Invited to Celebrate 70 Years
Annual Open House Sunday, June 28, 2020 - 3 p.m.
3 p.m. - Worship 4 p.m. - Tour our Campus 5 p.m. - Dinner 7 p.m. - Campfire Donations for dinner are appreciated
Hagersville
Cayuga
5
3
Jarvis
sk Rd.
6
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18
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www.CampOneida.com
Port Dover Lake Erie
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Sandu
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e Simco
53 Selkirk
m Rd.
Rainha
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Camp Oneida
335 South Coast Dr., Nanticoke, Ontario
A Clear Reflection
I
dentity is central to how we see ourselves. Our sense of identity, particularly in relation to others, begins the moment we are born and continues as we, as young children, begin to absorb who we are from the people around us. Erik Erikson, in his theory of child development, lists identity formation as a key stage for young people 12-18 years old. As Christians, we recognize that the centrality of our identity must be rooted in Christ; otherwise a myriad of voices attempt to define who we are. In our monthly email newsletters this year, we’ve been focusing on the “I AM” statements of Jesus. In the context of children and youth ministries, here are some observations we (Tanya Yuen and Alvin Lau) have ruminated on.
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It is God’s love and grace which define him and change us, so we try to keep those attributes at the core of our identity.
By Alvin Lau, CBOQ Youth Associate and Tanya Yuen, CBOQ Children and Family Associate
I am the way and the truth and the life. – John 14:6 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. – John 10:9
Mass media, social media and personal relations tend to influence who we understand ourselves to be. The digital world adds another layer of filters which both influence how we see ourselves and what we want other people to see. Pastor Rob Kamerman (Living Water Community Church, Thorold) shares, “We have and will continue to speak to the youth about filters, particularly as they represent themselves and Christ on social media. The theme of this year’s retreat provides an opportunity for us to discuss how we portray ourselves on social media, who we really are and how Christ sees us.” Jesus reminds us that he is the way, the truth and the life. John reiterates that Jesus is the only gate. Later in John 10:27, Jesus states his sheep listen to his voice. To understand who we really are, we need to move away all the other filters and voices to solely hear Jesus define our identity in him.
I am the Good Shepherd. – John 10:11
I am the bread of life. – John 6:35
In children and youth ministries, we sometimes focus on behavioural modifications rather than the sense of a person. It may not be stated that way, but our unspoken objectives are clear. Many parents speak of how they want their children to be “good people” (i.e. people who don’t get in trouble). Those who are compliant tend to receive favour while those who seem more disruptive are considered “problem children”.
When we asked Derek Wong (Children’s Pastor at East Toronto Chinese Baptist Church) how ETCBC is helping kids/families be grounded in their identity in Christ, he lists, “Memory verses, engaging Sunday school curriculum, worship music directed to the greatness of Christ and how he transforms us!” Rici Be (Montreal Chinese Baptist Church) shared the ways they are incorporating the monthly family faith conversation resource (cboqkids.ca/clear) to build up their Sunday School classes and create interactions. He shared that the kids are really enjoying being reminded of who they are in Christ, especially that they are a child of God. The emphasis for both churches isn’t on the activities, but on whom those activities direct. Jesus reminds us that he is the bread of life. In other words, he is the primary source from which life comes. This includes our identity. It includes our Canadian Baptist identity. While there are certain adjectives and characteristics that define a Canadian Baptist, those elements cannot (should not) exist apart from the identity Christ gives us.
At Malvern Baptist Church, Scarborough, Pastor Ryan Lawrence observes, “It is so easy to fall into legalism and behaviour modification in children’s ministry. It comes more naturally to us, and in the short term may get kids to be good boys and girls. But it distorts who God is and does not lead to deep heart change. It is God’s love and grace which define him and change us, so we try to keep those attributes at the core of our identity.” Jesus as the Good Shepherd is not primarily interested in our behaviours. Our actions do reflect to some degree who we are, but to focus on certain behaviours and hope it reframes a person’s identity misses the point of the Good Shepherd. Jesus is good and he wants his sheep to trust him in his direction. He wants us to trust him and what he has for us.
It’s clear (pun intended)—all three examples demand— of what and from whom are you drawing your identity? On what and whom are you focused? The Sunday School answer is “Jesus”. I wonder if our motives, our actions, our words and our programs reflect that? By constantly bringing the focus back to Jesus, may he define who we are. 25
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Who We Are: A Church Planting Movement By Dallas Friesen Director of Church Life and Leadership, CBOQ
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ood ideas spread. Great ideas create a movement.
When Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life,” a movement began. In our age of anxiety and chaos, Jesus is saying, “I will be your guide and show you the way.” In an era when fads and bad ideas get endlessly thrown around, Jesus says that he is the truth. At a time when people are longing to be seen and heard, Jesus says, “I am the life you are looking for.” Jesus began a movement of people committed to following the life, teaching and salvation that he offers. For the last 2000 years, that movement has looked like churches being planted throughout the world. For the last 200+ years, our family of churches has been full of people—like you—that have been compelled by the conviction that Jesus provides the way, truth and life. As a result, we have been planting churches throughout Ontario and Quebec. Today, you are a part of that movement. While exciting to be a part of a church planting movement, it doesn’t come without its challenges. Planting churches begins with people sharing their faith in Jesus Christ. Shockingly, according to a 2017 Angus Reid report, only 29% of religiously committed Canadians view “evangelism” positively, while 8% of all Canadians view evangelism positively. We have a missionary crisis in Canada. We have people that believe Jesus is the way, the truth and the life but they don’t see sharing in a positive light. Our church planting movement only continues as people share the greatest news. Furthermore, many of our churches describe themselves as stagnant or in decline and the idea of church planting can seem wildly insurmountable. Our church planting movement continues as churches share Jesus’ love. 28
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We have a missionary crisis in Canada. We have people that believe Jesus is the way, the truth and the life but they don’t see sharing in a positive light.
I get it. Church planting sounds like a good idea that others can consider doing. I invite you to consider, even if just for the length of time it takes you to finish reading this article, how you can be involved in our CBOQ church planting movement. From our earliest days, we have been supporting each other in church planting. First in the 1800s, as new immigrants moved into Canada and settled throughout Upper and Lower Canada they began planting Baptist churches. Another wave of church planting exploded in the 50s and 60s as people moved into suburban areas. In the 80s and 90s there was yet another wave of new Canadians—particularly from Asia and South America—that planted language-specific Baptist churches. As a family of churches, we continue to plant a couple churches each year. But what if God is inviting us to pray boldly and build our capacity to plant more?
Here are four ways that you and your church can participate in the church planting movement:
1. As an individual or small group: • Explore God’s heart for church planting as described in the book of Acts and throughout the New Testament • Pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen our church planters and church plants. Get to know them and ask how you could journey with them as a church (For more information, contact Cid Latty, Congregational Development Associate at clatty@ baptist.ca)
PRAYING FOR CHURCH PLANTERS
O Lord, thank you that you are the way, the truth and the life. May we share Your way, Your truth and Your life with others boldly. Give strength, endurance and courage to those who have committed their lives to planting new churches in Ontario and Quebec. Amen.
2. If you are a part of a missions committee: • Share church planters’ stories of seeing people transformed through the power of Christ as well as their challenges with your congregation 3. If you are a board member: • Help your church explore committing to a fiveyear church planting strategy • Pray that over a five-year window your church can either become a planting church or a supporting church
CBOQ CHURCH PLANTS
These are the number of CBOQ Church Plants by decade over the last four decades. Let’s boldly pray that the movement will continue. 1980s: 18
2010s: 25
1990s: 33
2020s: ?
2000s: 17
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The Power of the Small Church By Cid Latty Congregational Development Associate, CBOQ
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mall churches want to be faithful and are looking for ways to succeed and serve. I love small churches because they can be diligent in serving and responding to immediate needs using everyone’s gifts. These churches have a story to tell of God’s faithfulness: how they have struggled in times of pain and yet, with encouragement, how they are often willing to attempt new things for the sake of the kingdom. It is evident, based on even a casual glance, that churches in many places need revitalization. Many churches are stuck, plateaued or sliding into decline.
Deep Roots
The good news is that some small churches are seeking a turnaround and are taking important steps towards revitalization. We know that God works in the big and the small, bringing light and life to his people wherever they are. If your church is small, I hope you will take encouragement from the two stories that follow. Your church doesn’t have to be big to be used mightily. After all, no one thought anything good could come out of Galilee… and look how that turned out.
By Lisa Brewitt Pastor, Sidney Baptist Church
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n September, Sidney Baptist Church celebrated 190 years of ministry. One of the founding CBOQ churches and located in the countryside 10 minutes north of Belleville, Sidney Baptist Church faces the challenge of being in the middle of farmland, isolated from towns and the city. It presently is 21 congregants strong!
How did your journey of revitalization begin?
I came to Sidney Baptist Church in December of 2017 to do four weeks of pulpit supply. I found one of the warmest, most welcoming churches I have ever stepped foot in. Yet, I also saw a handful of people, all over the age of 50, wondering if they had a future together. Things had gone sideways for them for a few years and they had lost a lot of people. I certainly didn’t think I had a future with them either but, after a clear and surprising call from God to stay, two years later I’m still here. 32
What inspired you? What continues to inspire you?
Was there a catalytic moment or has it been a slow process?
Love is inspiring—God’s love for his church and our love for him, each other and for the community. The congregation’s willingness to engage in prayer, discussion and serving keeps us all hopeful. If the people have a willing spirit, rebuilding is possible. They are also teachable. If I didn’t see this combination of love, willingness and responsiveness to God, I would not have had the same kind of hope for revitalization.
Definitely it has been a slow process but it has yielded much fruit. Working through the Thrive process helped us think differently. It opened up possibilities. When people can’t see possibilities they lose hope. By listening to God and each other we also grew stronger as a community, gained the hope to continue and developed a plan for first steps and experiments in outreach. There has been a deepening of commitment to God and each other as evidenced by six adherents becoming members, five long term believers taking steps of fuller obedience by being baptized, two members went with Canadian Baptist Ministries on a short-term mission trip and giving increased. People only do these things when they have hope of a future together.
How did you and your congregation hear the voice of God in this process of revitalization?
We put everything on the table: closure, disappointment, hope, dreams, mistakes, lessons learned, visions of glory and defeat, fear of the work it would take, fear of change. Everything was fair game to name. Getting it out in the open before God and each other was important. We also decided to make faithful discipleship (including reaching out) and the kingdom of God the priorities, not church growth. We worked through the Thrive process as a framework for prayerful discussion. We listened to Scripture and to each other. We looked at our spiritual gifts, strengths and limitations, our identity in Christ and as a Baptist church, our context, including physical location and local demographics. When we hit a roadblock with no clear leading or ideas regarding outreach, we took a two month break to pray and to take some “field trips” to a sister church to see how they were doing outreach. Then we returned to our Thrive discussions and came up with 16 ideas for outreach but narrowed it down to two—one ongoing and one annual event.
When we think about the long-term future of the church, we are still in a vulnerable place. But we are walking with God and each other, reaching out to our community and being willing to live with the mystery of our future. It’s a good and freeing place to be.
––––– Lisa Brewitt has pastored in Etobicoke, Hamilton, Oshawa and now commutes in all kinds of weather from Oshawa to Stirling to serve with Sidney Baptist Church because “It’s worth the drive!” She also volunteers with CBOQ’s Small Church Envisioning Days and the Spiritual Formation Team.
What are your hopes for your church family?
One of the things that was apparent as we worked through Thrive is that we have a loving, healthy community that is committed to God and each other. That love moves us outward into the broader community. Our hope is that as we are led by the Spirit and share his love, others will see that we have something to give, something they can be part of and Someone to live for.
Book Recommendations
Comeback Churches by Ed Stetzer Turnaround and Beyond by Ron Crandall Turnaround Churches by George Barna
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Feels Like Home
By Carl Walters, Pastor, Goshen Baptist Church, Tillsonburg and Jacqueline Solomon, Communications Associate, CBOQ
Newly endowed with a full-time pastor, new doors of opportunity seemed suddenly flung wide for the congregation. Naturally, they struggled with wanting to do everything that churches traditionally do. But no church can do everything and overstretching can often lead to disappointment. Carl found that his role was to help his congregation to recognize the mission of the church and – through prayer and God’s leading – created their vision statement: Growing deeper, becoming stronger and reaching further through Christ.
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oshen Baptist Church, Tillsonburg, is a typical, little rural church. Over its nearly 180 years, it has been part of a two- and three-point charge, sharing its pastor with other small churches in the area. Since the parsonage was next to one of the other churches, Pastor Carl Walters wondered aloud if in the past Goshen felt like the “leftover” church. About 14 years ago, Goshen Baptist Church was at a crossroads. The two-point charge they had been a part of had come to an end. With a small congregation, they kept going with part-time pastors who predominantly focused on preaching and pastoral care without time to do much more than that. About four years ago, Carl was in conversation with his friend, Pastor Kevin Babbey of nearby First Baptist Church, Delhi. Kevin recommended that Carl inquire if the church would be willing to take him on for a one-year contract as a full-time pastor. After thinking it through, the church decided to take a leap of faith and welcomed Carl Walters as their first ever fulltime pastor.
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To help people visualize this vision, Carl feels God gave him the image of a tree with three parts—roots symbolizing growing deeper in faith with Jesus; the trunk symbolizing growing together as a community of faith; and branches, symbolizing reaching out into the community. “I’m more of a teacher than an evangelist,” says Carl. “I wanted to re-establish the foundations of faith and help people grow.” In keeping with the church vision, Carl has focused on equipping his congregation to be able to speak to their friends about their faith. To that end, he shared about the “two gospels.” “There is the ‘big G’ Gospel—the salvation message…” says Pastor Carl. “…But there’s also the ‘little g’ gospel—how God’s salvation is good news in your own life – how you’ve been changed by accepting Jesus. Then when people ask, ‘Why should I become a Christian?’ or ‘What does your faith mean to you?’ they have an answer, with something about your life that they can also relate to.”
And the church is taking their well-being seriously. They have met to work through Thrive, a CBOQ resource to help churches flourish in their calling. While they thought they could make it through the entire resource in four hours, they were quick to discover that just the first section got them thinking so much that it became a longer term plan. Thrive revealed that they needed to work on the foundational pieces of who they are called to be as a unique congregation and family of faith. “My hope is that we’ll get well established and find patterns that work well and will help us reach out. Community is about who God is putting across your path, and who you already connect with. It’s who you can live out the Gospel with—we share with our peers,” says Carl.
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This little church is a family and we support each other and care for one another.
But that’s not all. Carl’s excitement for Goshen’s future stems from his congregation. Some have come from other churches or denominations. Others have long been a part of the fabric of the church. But the one sentiment that people keep sharing is that Goshen Baptist Church feels like home. “This little church is a family,” says Carl with an affectionate smile in his voice. “And we support each other and care for one another.” Pastor Carl has now been at Goshen Baptist for over three and a half years. The church doesn’t have many children. There are few young families, and adults that range from their 20s to their 90s. They may not have a children’s program or a youth group, but they have a thriving congregation of people that God has drawn together in love for him and each other. In the past Goshen Baptist may have felt like they were the leftover church, but just like in every home, sometimes it’s the leftovers that make the very best meals. ––––– Carl Walters grew up in CBOQ and has been involved in ministry most of his life serving in various roles at several CBOQ churches. Carl began vocational ministry at Selkirk Baptist Church where he began as the part-time Youth Pastor and then followed the call to become their full-time Lead Pastor. After serving there, he followed a call to serve as the Pastor of Youth and Family Ministries at Tillsonburg First Baptist Church, Tillsonburg, and is currently the Lead Pastor at Goshen Baptist Church. 35
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Providing possibilities
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canadian baptists of Ontario and Quebec
Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec partner as a family of about 340 churches. Together we are equipping and caring for pastors. We are helping plant new churches and connecting them with the resources they need to 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 telling our churches’ stories to encourage and inspire them. We are privileged to journey together with our member churches and associations as we serve Christ together.
To find out more about CBOQ, visit us at baptist.ca
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