August 2004 by Free Methodist Church In Canada

The Free Methodist Church in Canada August 2004 - Volume 1 Issue 6

COVER I dare you to move by Rev. Scott Williams

Reflecting the diversity of ministry expression within the Free Methodist family

I dare you to

by Scott Williams

PAGE 2 Editor’s Desk Student Ministries God being our helper

PAGE 3 Life is good and getting better! By Bishop Keith Elford

PAGE 4/5 Passages World Relief Canada Laurie Cook interviewed about The Free Methodist Church in Canada’s role by Donna Elford

PAGE 6 One Hundred Years Young! Thornbury celebrates a century of ministry Picton Youth Ministry Goes Public with Skate Park Project by Andrew MacKay

PAGE 7 Adventures In Doing The Ridiculous, Helping Pigs Fly… or Planting A Church by Joseph Moreau

PAGE 8 Renewed Energy for Urban Ministry in Manila by Dan Sheffield Missionary update Linda Stryker, Lois Meredith Frankford signs agreement with Cuba FM leaders #40008369.

MOSAIC 4315 Village Centre Court Mississauga, Ontario L4Z 1S2 Tel: 905-848-2600 Fax: 905-848-2603 www.fmc-canada.org For submissions: howdenl@fmc-canada.org Dan Sheffield, Editor-in-Chief Lisa Howden, Managing Editor and Production Mailed under Publication agreement #40008369. Return postage guaranteed.

“Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (MSG)

few summers ago, in the spirit of the family vacation, we all got in the car and headed out to the farm in Saskatchewan. We were nearing a small town in rural Alberta called Redcliff when the fuel pump on the truck died. We coasted into the first little dive we could find and took a room at the local 5 star hotel. We knew it was a five star hotel because the stars were painted on the doors. There were four of us in a room that was, I kid you not, twelve feet by eight feet… for two days. We soon learned all the wonderful benefits of a rural garage. They did not have any of our needed parts in stock. Jed, the mechanic with one good tooth in his head (and he wasn’t even taking very good care of that one!), explained to us the benefits of rural pricing and so we spent at least two hundreds dollars more than we would have had we had the repair done in a city. Finally, after more than two days of watching the wheat grow and chasing unknown arachnids around our hot hotel room, we begrudgingly paid our bill and were thankful to get on our way. We had done nothing but sit and stare and complain for what seemed like an eternity. No car, no entertainment, three channels on the television and Esso food for the first third of our vacation. We no sooner cruised out of the garage and had gone only about 70 metres when we started down a steep hill... right into Medicine Hat. Travelodge’s, Canadian Tire Store, numerous full-service garages… the works. They had a Silver City Theatre, malls, pools... you can imagine it. Without a word of exaggeration, Redcliff is right on the outskirts of Medicine Hat. We looked at each other and just started to laugh... I often think of that experience and realize that it has several life lessons for me. The first and most obvious one is — bring a map! Only slightly less obvious than that lesson is the growing realization that many of us, myself included, often live on the edge of tomorrow and do not understand what is waiting for us just over the hill. We settle for a life that we do not love and pine for a fresh start, but we do not actually get out of the hovel and start down the road into a fresh beginning. We are painfully aware that something is not right though we are unwilling to let go of the land we know and look forward to a shore we cannot see. President Harry Truman used to tell the story of a

man who was hit on the head and fell into a deep coma. He stayed there for along time. People thought he was dead so they sent him to a funeral home and stuck him in a coffin. At 2:00 a.m. all alone in this dimly lit room, he sat up and looked around. “Good night!” he said. “What’s going on? If I’m alive, why am I in a casket? And, if I’m dead, why do I have to go to the bathroom?” That story makes me laugh and it makes me think. How many times have I been unable or unwilling to understand what is going on? I have often become despondent because I have not understood God’s bigger plan for my life and feel shackled by the events of the past. Understanding that we can start fresh and be forgiven is a fact that many of us have a hard time ingesting. We constantly We often live play the tapes of our past failures and on the edge convince ourselves that we are terminal. We lay in the casket and of tomorrow wonder if we can ever be truly alive again. and do not For many of us this is not just a understand platitude or a hypothetical problem. Like many of you, I live in a reality what is that I did not choose, and I’m regularly tempted to feel sorry for waiting for myself, blame someone else, or us just over simply give up. The need for forgiveness and the belief for new the hill. beginnings gives many of us hope and help in a world that tends to condemn and pronounce judgment on us all the time. Many years ago, as a white-water canoeing guide, I was often called upon to take groups across an infamous northern Saskatchewan lake called Nipew Lake. We always tried to get across Nipew Lake early in the morning before the waves got up. It’s a big lake and nasty from about nine in the morning until six at night every day. It’s a long paddle. I’ve been stranded on the lake several times, taking refuge on islands or inlets. We try to get on the lake by about six am. Usually that is evilly early but I have learned that if I sleep in, the price is too high. It is usually foggy on the lake and we are headed for a tiny inlet eleven kilometres away. I could not afford to make mistakes. I have learned how to read

“

continued on page 3 - I dare you to move

M O S A I C

EDITOR’SDESK

I love that clean page!

t has been an enjoyable beginning to my time with the FMCiC. I am appreciative to all those who have welcomed and given me words of encouragement as we get set to embark on this journey. God has really given me a sense that we have been brought together by Him, for His purposes. I have been involved in youth ministry for about 17 years (wow … that means I am getting old!) and up until about 4 years ago was doing that bi-vocationally while working as a physiotherapist. I am fortunate to be accompanied on this endeavour by my wife of 12 years Paige and my 4 children: Jackson (7), Oakley (6), Jazmin (4) and Zachary (3).

I have a general routine that I follow when I start a new project. It's a sign that has become very recognizable to most of the Ministry Centre staff. All the loose items on my desk are examined, sorted, filed or discarded (which is no small feat . . . I must admit to not being as tidy as some of my co-workers). My existing work folders are placed off to the side. I satisfy myself that I have all my favourite pens on hand, my ruler is ready and, if I'm feeling really ambitious, I run a cloth over my desk. Only after all this is completed will I bring out new sheets of looseleaf paper and place them on top of my desk. Okay, so you may have already established that I'm a bit quirky but these are the marks that accompany a new project for me. There's something about starting fresh, about reaching into my drawer and pulling out a clean page that really inspires me. I don't like anything that I've done in the past in sight. No reminders of previous performance — good or bad. At that moment, anything is possible and the choices are endless. I have an uncle who, at every social gathering talks about that winning goal he made in minor league hockey back in the day . . that one shining moment, the time he stood apart from everyone else. In many ways that goal, as fantastic as it was, impedes him from moving forward. It keeps him in the past — just remembering something that happened a long time ago. He needs to turn the page and start thinking about the possibilities that the future holds. I think we all have areas in our lives where we live in the past. Remembering defeats as well as victories can be burdensome if we carry them around with us instead of laying them down and allowing God to shoulder the load. We can move faster and accomplish much more without a weight tied to us. That's why I love opening my drawer and pulling out some clean pages to write on. It's a reminder to me that God's very nature is redemptive. We can run to him, unload and move forward into the purpose and plans that are lying ahead.

God has really given me a heart and passion for young people and more recently a heart for those working with young people, and so I am very excited about joining you in this ministry capacity. In the past few weeks I have had some opportunity (mostly via email) to start to get the feel for where we are in terms of student ministry. Here are a few excerpts of what I have been hearing … “ I think the youth (leader) turn over rate is now around 2 years, but it used to be even less then that … I’m hoping to defy the odds. Ha…actually I would like to be involved in youth ministry for a very long time … I think there is definitely something to say about staying put in a situation for a long time.” “ Our Youth Ministries program is all but nonexistent … there are a “few” teens around ... (but) hardly enough to make up a Youth Group and they really have no desire at this point in time. If I had some backup help, that would be different, but no one wants to volunteer. Anyway, that’s our dilemma here.” “Do you come to speak with youth leaders, to help them with their youth ministries? If you can help us out that would be wonderful. We have a youth group of approximately 30-40 teens. We still feel the need for some help as youth leaders.”

seems to be the desire to go beyond where we are. With this in mind, the initial thrust of our Student Ministry initiative will be the creation of regional Student Ministry Leader Networks. Matthew 10:24-25 says, “A student is not above his teacher…It is enough for the student to be like his teacher…” The philosophy behind Leader Networks is that (as the verse intonates) the strength of any student ministry is only as strong as its leadership. While perhaps different in process these networks should all be serving to encourage, support and train our Student Ministries Leaders. Tim Smith has written a book entitled “Nurturing the Soul of the Youth Worker” and this I believe is where we would like to end up … with “Networks that Nourish”. This summer I will be meeting with as many people (students, ministry leaders, pastors, denominational leaders) as possible to hear their needs, wishes, thoughts and questions with regard to Student Ministries. I will hopefully have the opportunity to meet with some of you as I visit our camps this summer. I would love to hear from anyone involved in any way with student ministry and once again I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with you as we seek to strengthen the faith and maturity of our students.

In Christ, “(Regarding the Student Ministries Director Andrew Brown Position) I think that is awesome; there isn’t Student Ministries Director enough connection and accountability within Andrew Brown will be continuing in his role as this denomination amongst the youth pastors.” President of Reach Forth (www.reachforth.net), As you can see there are all kinds of a multi-denominational evangelistic sports and different situations, but the common theme youth ministry in Hamilton, ON.

“The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher.” - Thomas Henry Huxley, Life and Letters of Thomas Huxley

Lisa Howden Managing Editor

Like thy Neighbour? The religious differences between Canada and the U.S. CND

Attend church weekly

19%

38%

You don’t need to go to church in order to be a good Christian (% agree)

80%

55%

Very important to encourage non-Christians to become Christians (% agree)

26%

53%

All great religions are equally true and good

67%

55%

How important is religion for guidance in my day to day life (% very important)

19%

40%

Canadians and Americans share a continent, a dominant language and, at a quick glance, a similar history. Yet as these countries grew, so did their distinctions — differences that now capture attention around the world. Canadians and Americans still dress alike, like the same books, television shows and movies, and trade more goods and services than ever before. But from gay marriage to drug use to church attendance, a chasm has opened up on social isues that go to the heart of fundamental values. Canadians often look to America for models of effective ministry, because there are so many believers who are also belongers in the United States. We think they have the answers. We forget the questions may be different. Given the clear differences between the faith experiences of the two countries, it is clear the challenge of encouraging Canadians to integrate Church and faith demands a “made in Canada” solution. The challenges are here. So are the solutions. statistics taken from Ipsos-Reid, Sept/Oct. - 1996 & 2003

3 M O S A I C By

Bishop Keith Elford

ummer is a wonderful time of the year; but when the leaves start to turn and the cool autumn air is crisp, we’re coming into my favourite season. When I was a kid, I headed off to school with new clothes, new shoes, and notebooks with fresh, clean pages. As a teenager, I looked forward to the cross-country races at the various regional meets. As a pastor, it was wonderful to feel the fresh energy as members of the congregation returned from summer vacations and camps and everything picked up again in the ministries of the church. Autumn is a time of new beginnings. Can I talk with you about what’s on my mind as we begin another season of this vital ministry of birthing and developing growing communities of faith that will make a difference in the villages, subdivisions or metropolitan areas where they are located? It’s healthy relationships. Let’s think about what one sees and hears and feels when relationships with God, with other team members, and with the neighbourhood are wholesome. In summary, one sees loved, happy, engaged people. Loved people have a richness about them. Needy people are draining, but it doesn’t have to be so. In healthy congregations, one finds a wholesome culture that influences people to look in all the right places for each of the various dimensions of the love that all of us need. Intimacy with God is found in time alone with Him and His word, not in frenetic fussing over one more project. A network of trusted, caring friendships is developed when one makes the time to show up for regular encounters with others who are committed to life together and then when one goes further and takes the risk to drop down below surface chatter and polite smiles….. and be real. The wider buoyancy of being loved by and connected to an extended spiritual family comes in the larger group experience when one relaxes, looks around and enjoys others being who they are as they interact with others…and especially as they express themselves in worship. Small group life is rich, but it’s also wonderful to be loved for who you are by people you may not know that well. Both give one a sense that Jesus is there. Happy people have energy – even when they are working very hard. Frustrated people are just no fun to be around. What’s more, happy people who are involved in ministries that fit who they are, are often more effective in what they are trying to do. Alan Retzman is always learning new things about the experience of “life together” in congregations. He wisely observed on one occasion that conflict in a church is often rooted either in person-to-person relational

D A R E

Y O U

T O

a compass. I know about things like declination and magnetic north vs. true north. My compass is worth several hundred dollars. When I’m in the fog and I have eleven canoes and twenty-two potentially dead people… I have learned to trust my compass, not my eyes. I don’t trust my ears; I don’t even trust my experience. I have tried to fake it in the past and gotten caught… a six hour detour. If only I could trust God’s promises like that . . . Not my eyes, not my ears, not even my experience . . . only his compass. Regardless of how I feel, regardless even of the past and my many failings, God forgives me. That forgiveness does not depend on whether or not I believe it, it just is. It does not matter how little I claim his grace, it is not dependent on anything I do, it is a simple fact. God gives me a fresh start. God forgives me. All I have to do is accept it… But often that is the hard part. Lately I have been listening to a song called “I Dare You To Move” by Switchfoot. The words continue to challenge me and remind me that it is up to me whether or not I will grab hold of God’s promises of forgiveness and wholeness. Whenever I read or hear these words it stirs something deep within me… Welcome to the planet, Welcome to existence. Everyone’s here, Everyone’s here. Everybody’s watching you now, Everybody waits for you now… What happens next? I dare you to move, I dare you to move. I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor I dare you to move, I dare you to move Like today never happened, Today never happened before The tension is here, between who you are and who you could be. Between how it is and how it should be.

issues or in ministry-to-ministry administrative “disconnects”. These “disconnects” result when one ministry group finds itself sideways to another; and then as more things jam up, In healthy everybody begins to wonder why ministries are not moving forward. communities of In healthy communities of faith, one doesn’t find leaders “having it out” in the middle of the ministry road while ministry traffic piles up Christian faith, behind them or melts away as people look for there is always exits to other ministries that have some motion, flow and direction to them. In happy, energetic a passion to ministries, the bottlenecks are busted, functioning structures are constructed and person to person tensions are worked through, leaving a feeling of connect to the flow — person to person and ministry to ministry. neighbourhood. People engaged with making a difference in their community have passion; self-preoccupied people are tedious. Of course, each of us engages with our neighbourhood according to who we are, and we each express our passion according to our temperaments. But in wholesome congregations, there is an environment where healthy passion flows naturally (and even builds) because here are people who “get it.” What do they “get”? They understand Jesus’ heart. They identify with His self-understanding that He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life … for others (Mark 10:45). They readily and gladly grasp His metaphors of “salt and light” (Matt. 5:13 – 16). In healthy communities of Christian faith, there is always a passion to connect to the neighbourhood. Usually this comes with sensing, then seeing, then meeting a need. Sometimes the connection is so subtle that it is hardly perceptible, yet the effect is that life is a little more pleasant in the neighbourhood. Other times, the engagement is very open and obvious, and in some cases it may even eventually work its way beyond the neighbourhood to regional and even international webs of relationships. Autumn is coming. It's a season of new beginnings in the flow of congregational life. Life sure is good when it revolves around Jesus and focuses on what's on His heart. It's even better when His life flows out through the lives of loved, happy, engaged people serving Him together and making a difference in their local, regional and global neighbourhoods.

“

M O V E

continued from cover . . .

Maybe redemption has stories to tell. Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell Where can you run to escape from yourself? Where you gonna go? Salvation is here… I dare you to move, I dare you to move. I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor I dare you to move, I dare you to move like today never happened Today never happened before When we were children there were few things more sacred than the “dare”. Like a Pavlovian dog I would stir to the challenge of the dare. If someone dared to me do anything, no matter how stupid, I felt compelled to rise to the call. I dare you to move. I dare you. I dare you to claim God’s promise of forgiveness and for once act like you are forgiven. I dare you to start fresh right now. To live like you are truly alive. To stand up and let God give you the freedom of tomorrow, right now. I dare myself too. I think the Rolling Stones said it well in their old song, “You can’t always get what you want… but if you try sometimes, you just might find, that you get what you need…” Life isn’t perfect. In fact I’ve found it isn’t even fun for many of us. But the truth of scripture reminds me that God makes everything new. It’s up to us whether or not we want to live like that is true or not. I dare you to move. Rev. Scott Williams is senior pastor at New Heights Free Methodist Church in Mission, BC

M O S A I C

Passages Appointments Nathan Umazekabiri, Pastor St Henri FMC, Montreal, QC June 9 , 2004

Ministerial Candidates Michael Garner Matthew Turvey

Approved for Ordination Daniel Massey (service on September 26) Elisabeth Natividad (service on September 19)

Churches in Transition Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON Eastern Koinonia FMC, Toronto, ON Karen Crescent FMC, Orillia, ON Killarney FMC, Killarney, MB New Hope FMC, Bracebridge, ON O'Connor FMC, Kakabeka Falls, ON as of Dec. 31, 2004 Richmond Hill Chinese FMC, Richmond Hill, ON Roblin /Grandview (MB) FMC Souris Valley Community Church, Estevan, SK Timmins FMC, Timmins, ON Vennachar FMC, Vennachar, ON

Pastors in Transition Germain Fortin Norman Shepstone Mike Smeltzer Dale Vinkle Scott Woolhead

New Assistant Superintendent Rev. Don Miller (replaces Rev. Vic Stonehouse)

Received by Transfer Richard Finlay (from PAOC)

JOB OPPORTUNITY

“A

re you hungry?" It's a question often used on a daily basis with family or friends when thinking about the next meal or snack. But for others in our world that same, simple question only prompts despair as 25,000 people die daily from hunger or hunger related causes. It doesn't have to be that way. World Relief Canada (WRC), a partner organization with The Free Methodist Church in Canada, has created a wide range of strategies and developed effective channels for addressing the problems associated with hunger. One such strategy is to put focus on the problem of world hunger in our services, classes or small groups on World Relief Sunday on October 3rd. “Closing the Gap”, the theme chosen for this year, calls us to join with other congregations across Canada "…in closing the gap on poverty, hunger and pain so that together we can shine the light of Jesus Christ in places of great spiritual darkness." World Relief Canada not only has strategies and channels for helping those caught in a spiral of poverty and hunger, but as a registered charity in Canada, has the added benefit of being eligible to receive matching grants from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for most projects. Donations and World Relief Sunday offerings literally grow from the matching grants of a ratio of 3:2 (CIDA provides $3 for every $2 raised by World Relief Canada) to 4:1 depending on the project. The funds raised through the special one-day offering are used in three strategic ways. The first is response to major disasters, the second for sustainable development projects and third, development education and partnership development. When major disasters strike, relief and rehabilitation projects focus on emergency relief such as food, safe drinking water, temporary shelter, medical supplies, and trauma counseling. However, the majority of World Relief Canada's projects focus on sustainable development such as micro-enterprise development, micro-credit, housing development, literacy, health education, agricultural technology, farm inputs, developing water resources and gender training. Through development education and partnership development World Relief Canada also focuses on environmental issues, gender empowerment and other key social justice issues. World Relief Canada's mandate doesn't include maintaining staff overseas. Instead, their approach is to work through church partners, training local leadership to organize and administer the projects in the areas where they live. Canadian-based project officers regularly visit the fields for the monitoring of ongoing work. World Relief Canada's website <<www.wrcanada.org>> has detailed information including hunger facts resourced from The Hunger Project (United Nations), listings of current projects, curriculum resources for more teaching in this area, and further explanations on microfinance projects that empower poor people to take control of their own lives. As a partner organization, there is an agreement with WRC that 30% of offerings received from our congregations be sent to our own Bishop's Relief fund. With these funds our leaders are able to target specific needs within our own church family overseas when there are international disasters or hardships affecting people connected with Free Methodist congregations. These funds are either funneled through the Free Methodist Church of North America or (where appropriate for CIDA matching grants) back through World Relief Canada. The CEO of World Relief Canada, Laurie Cook, worships at Trulls Road FMC in Courtice, ON.

5 M O S A I C

www.wrcanada.org Posters, and bulletin inserts, available in English, French and Chinese are available for congregations in August. A five-minute video that quickly brings together the most important issues to consider when focusing congregations on world hunger is also available. Laurie Cook, CEO for World Relief Canada, also just happens to attend our Trulls Road Free Methodist Church, in Courtice, Ontario. In commenting on his work with World Relief Canada, Cook said "The essence of why I love what WRC does is wrapped up in the statement 'World Relief Canada partners with the evangelical church in Canada and overseas to respond to the basic needs of the world's most oppressed, poor and suffering people, empowering them to meet their own needs in the name of Jesus Christ.' I am so thankful for a ministry like ours that comes alongside the church in developing countries and assists them to portray the love and redemptive work of Christ and restore people's lives and family to God given health. The facts that our work is of the highest quality in terms of development and is secure and effective are important and reassuring. However this only takes on real significance when you look into the face of the single mother in Rwanda who has been able to reclaim her dignity and ability to provide for her family through a small loan and the support of a Christian microfinance group." About one-third of our congregations participated in World Relief Sunday last year so there's lots of room for more participation. Together we raised $46,000. Imagine what we could raise if more congregations just took a few moments in October to focus on this ministry that empowers people to meet their most basic of needs. If we work together, Closing the Gap on poverty and hunger isn't just an empty slogan but a real possibility. by Donna Elford

THE AGENCY:

World Relief Canada was formed in 1982 as the relief and development assistance arm of the evangelical church community in Canada, and is an agency working in partnership with overseas church partners to assist and empower the poor in the developing world.

THE POSITION:

The Program Officer, based in Markham Canada, will: · Administrate assigned programs based on applicant's education and experience in the areas of micro-banking, agriculture, community development, and/or relief. · Review program proposals and reporting, provide funding support and technical advice, for our overseas partners as they plan and execute overseas programs. · Include three trips a year overseas for three weeks at a time for the purposes of planning, assessment and training with overseas partners.

The Free Methodist Church in Canada

2003 Congo Relief Burundi Relief Haiti Relief

$5000 $5000 $3000

(US) (US) (US)

2002 Afghanistan Relief

Sent via World Relief

$5000

(CDN)

Total funds distributed 2000-2003

$32,758.00

Rev. Dan Sheffield, Director of Global and Intercultural Ministries, is a member of the board of directors of World Relief Canada.

Hunger facts w Someone dies from hunger every 3.5 seconds.

w 6 million children under the age of 5 die every year as a result of hunger.

w About 25,000 people die every day from hunger or hunger related causes, down from 35,000 ten years ago. Three-quarters of the deaths are children under the age of five.

w As well as causing death, chronic malnutrition also causes impaired vision, listlessness, stunted growth, and increased susceptibility to disease.

w At least 1.2 billion people - a fifth of the world's population - are living on less than $1 a day. w Today 10 per cent of children in developing countries die before the age of five, down from 28% fifty years ago.

w It is estimated that some 800 million people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition about 100 times as many as those who actually die from it each year. w The basic health and nutrition needs of the world's poorest people could be met for an additional $13 billion a year.

THE QUALIFICATIONS:

The applicant should: · Be a Christian with strong commitment to holistic ministry with the poor. · Have a university degree in business/ micro-banking, agriculture, community development or a related field. · Have overseas experience in at least one of the above-referred areas. · Have good interpersonal, training, planning, assessment and reporting skills. · Be proficient at financial review/ analysis and be computer literate. · Be proficient in English is essential. French would be an asset.

Apply with a resume to:

Mr. Laurie Cook, CEO World Relief Canada Suite 310, 600 Alden Road, Markham, ON L3R 0E7 Fax: (905) 415-0287 E-mail: lcook@wrcanada.org

Although we appreciate every application, only those being interviewed will be contacted

M O S A I C

6 PICTON YOUTH MINISTRY GOES PUBLIC WITH SKATE PARK PROJECT

Thornbury Free Methodist Church

ONE HUNDRED YEARS YOUNG! Many years ago, the renowned judge and poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes, wisely observed, Little of all we value here Wakes on the morn of its hundredth year Without both feeling (and looking) queer. In fact, there’s nothing that keeps its youth, So far as I know, but a tree and Truth. But old Oliver Wendell Holmes had it wrong! Something has “kept its youth” after 100 years! The roots of the Thornbury Free Methodist Church were formed in 1904, and a century later the church is still going strong — still preaching the Gospel in the Beaver Valley — still spreading the Good News! Here’s how it all began. In 1898 an earnest young evangelist named Frank Goff, who hailed from Sand Bay, near Gananoque, Ontario, felt called by God to go to the town of Meaford, a bustling port on the shores of Georgian Bay. Unsure of just where Meaford was, Goff visited his local railway station and asked the agent if he could purchase a one-way ticket to that destination. Arriving in Meaford, Goff immediately began holding a series of tentmeeting revivals. Hundreds flocked to hear his powerful preaching, and many people came to know the Lord. At that time, Rev. Goff did not have a church of his own, but was frequently invited to preach in other local churches. Several years later, he established the Holiness Workers’ Church in nearby Clarksburg. In 1904 the name was changed to the Gospel Workers’ Church. Frank Goff’s ministry was so blessed that soon he and his followers opened satellite churches in ten other neighboring communities. The Gospel Workers laboured on through the first World War, the Great Depression of the 1930s and World War II. When Rev. Goff departed to be with the Lord in 1944, the church came to a crossroad. To carry on his evangelical outreach, the congregation elected to join the Free Methodist Church. In 1962 a new Free Methodist Church was dedicated in Thornbury, built on the site of the former Gospel Workers’ Church. In 2004, under the leadership of Pastor Bob Lay, the Church continues the Gospel Workers’ 2 traditions of preaching and outreach. The years have seen many pastors come and go, and changes in forms of worship, but, (praise the Lord!) the Message remains the same. The Centennial Celebrations began with a “Meet and Greet” hour at the church on Saturday afternoon, June 12th . Happiness mingled with feelings of nostalgia as visitors viewed displays of old photographs and other memorabilia in the sanctuary, while in the lower auditorium video and slide presentations were shown. Following the fellowship time, the Rice and Don group proceeded the few steps to St. Paul’s Waverley Buckingham on Saturday concert Presbyterian Church next door, where dinner was served to almost 150 people. Back at the Free Methodist Church, it was “standing room only” as guests and local residents alike enjoyed a concert featuring the ministry of the well-known southern gospel quartet “Middle Cross” and other musicians. On Sunday, June 13th, Clarksburg native Rev. Dennis Camplin, former Western Conference Superintendent and Superintendent of Personnel, Canada Conference, delivered a message on the theme “Occupy till I come” (Luke Rev. Dennis Camplin preaches at 19:13 KJV), stressing how the Lord’s people must the Sunday evening service. make the best use of the time and talents He has given them until His return. Rev. Robert Buchanan, former Conference Superintendent, Canada East, whose Scottish forebears first settled in the area in the mid-1800s, was an appropriate choice to give a detailed and fascinating account of the church’s history. Rev. Jim Carne, former Thornbury Pastor, served as Worship Leader, and member Dave Randall, whom God has blessed with a magnificent voice, ministered in music. Following the service, a light lunch was served. So ended the first 100 years! Someone once said, “How can you know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been?” While the Centennial Celebrations served to remind the Thornbury congregation of the pioneer work of Rev. Frank Goff and his successors, Pastor Bob Lay and his present flock look towards the second century with renewed faith and confidence. “Occupy till I come!”

On a sunny Saturday in June, a dedicated group of teens woke up early to help set up chairs, tables, food, sun shades, garbage cans, sound equipment and skateboard ramps for a competition that most of them wouldn’t be competing in. Every year for the last 4 years the Youth Group at the Prince Edward County Free Methodist Church has hosted a skateboard competition to raise funds for the Picton Skate Park. On average about 500 people come out to see the event, and some even drive more than 2 hours to compete. This year there were 42 participants ages 8-20, which is 10 more than last year. It was nice to see so many people coming out to the event. Although I love skateboarding and watching competitions, we don’t go through months of preparation every year simply to help skateboarders. Each year we try to share Christ with the skaters in a special way. Over the years we have done things like give out Christian Skateboard Videos packaged with the Jesus Movie. One year I gave out a home made video featuring the top skaters in Picton and my personal testimony about how Christ has impacted my life as a skateboarder. We bring in a Christian DJ who plays mostly Hat trick Christian rock and rap music. We also set up a booth with information about the ministries available to youth. All these things have played a part in leading people to Christ but we believe that one day a year isn’t enough contact with people to truly impact their lives. Each Wednesday after school we go to the Skate Park to build friendships with other skaters. It is all part of our youth ministry’s purpose, to see the skaters get involved with the Friday Night Youth Ministry and eventually become active in a church. This year the town of Competition Group Shot Picton has formed a committee to build a world class concrete skate park. The current park is not too bad, but we are running out of space, and concrete will be much safer than the wood and metal ramps we now have. Each year about $1200 is raised through the competition and various other fundraisers which usually adds up to just enough to maintain the ramps we have and build one new ramp. With the help of the town, the Picton O.P.P., the Parks and Recreation Department, Staff at the High School and a local service club we will be able to provide the skaters with a facility everyone will be really proud of. The most exciting thing for me is that Christian teenagers are the ones doing all the work behind this project. We held meetings at the High School inviting anyone interested to attend. Oddly enough, the majority of the Back slide flip people who showed up just happened to be from our church youth group. I believe this is going to be a powerful witness to the people of Picton. For one reason or another, today’s church has developed a reputation for being self-serving and it is our prayer that we can be a part of breaking that myth. We want to be known as a church that cares about our community. It seems like a big challenge, but God is working through us and because of his grace, we will continue on. by Andrew MacKay, Assistant Pastor (supply) at the Prince Edward County FMC in Picton, ON.

7 M O S A I C

ne recent Sunday morning at 11:07 in the Glebe of Ottawa (an upscale artistic neighbourhood), a man in his mid 20s approached me after our version of a contemporary worship service. He never went to church, never read the Bible. In fact he did not believe in God. Here is what he said to me that morning: "I don't believe in God, but I can hear God in this place!" He received Christ on the spot. Took a new Bible from me. Has been discipled for several weeks and is now sharing the gospel with his many friends who were in the same boat as he was. He is helping with ministry at our church. He came to Ecclesiax just once and heard God! Ecclesiax, a new kind of church in the heart of Ottawa, where God sightings are occurring regularly. How do we spot God? In His many activities as He moves around our community and in our people. We see people meeting Jesus. We are upper middle class artsy urban Ottawa, where Ed Broadbent was elected as M.P. with quite a majority from what I understand. And yes, we are even compelled to love those NDPers. Go figure, this is our mission field. So yeah, we have to believe that pigs can fly, to quote a good friend of mine.

We need a movement of God's people into prefer the term paradoxical. neighborhoods, to live out and be the new Sort of like: God-man or die future of Christ. It must be a movement that to live (both concepts are demonstrates how the people of God have found in the Bible). Growth a vision and the power to transform our has been something that we world. This is not the same as current have surrendered to God. attempts to grow bigger and bigger Now, as I type that, I know it churches that act like vacuum cleaners, sounds very nice and spiritual sucking people out of their neighborhoods and every evangelical church into a sort of Christian supermarket. says the exact same thing: it is Our culture does not need any more all about Jesus and prayer and churches run like corporations; it needs God and the Bible and reaching local communities empowered by the gospel vision of a transforming Christ the lost and… ad infinitum. But who addresses the needs of the when you start with three people and context and changes the polis into say how do we plant a church from a place of hope and wholeness. scratch? What matters? What does not? The corporation churches we are Things get a bit more clear. Honestly! cloning across the land cannot I am not making this up or trying to birth this transformational vision, sound like I have it all figured out. In because they have no investment fact, I do not have it figured out at in context or place; they are all. But ohhh, thank my Heavenly centers of expressive individualism Father that this piece of flawed with a truncated gospel of humanity can go running to Him personal salvation and little else. and ask for help… for wisdom… Our penchant for bigness and for encouragement to stay the numerical success as the sign of course. The incredible thing is God's blessing only discourages and that He truly desires to help His deflects attempts to root communities children out when we obey of God's people deeply into Him. Disobey Him and He will neighborhoods. And until we bypass you. If we think we have build transformed communities there the perfect plan He will let us go is no hope for a broken earth. and do our own thing minus His Alan Roxburgh presence. Sure, we can do some pretty incredible things with tithes and a group of like minded people. I mean we can actually shoot for the stars… tower of Babel ring a bell anyone? Planting a church designed to reach out to a different kind of culture that has pretty much given up on institutional religion is the hardest thing in the world to do and it is the easiest thing in the world to do (oh oh, there is that nasty paradox again). Hard, if it is up to me and my dusty brain alone. Easy, if it is a God directed dream and people are obeying what HE says.

Let me share a brief background. Ecclesiax (Greek for: called out people of Christ), was birthed over a year ago now. Was given space in the old 5th Avenue building in the Glebe. Our mission, reach people in the Glebe with the gospel of Christ. Strategy? Prayer and fasting. Begin developing a core team from scratch. Exegesis of the community. Renovating a portion of the building into an art gallery. Begin networking with people in the Glebe and develop relationships. Result: a slow but steady growth of community with the majority of the people coming from no-church situations. Last week we had another God sighting. A woman who had attended Ecclesiax a hand full of times and seemed quite aloof, slipped me a note after Sunday morning. What did the note say? "I need God in my life!" On Monday she showed up with her occult material and ouija board in her arms requesting that she be allowed to burn it in our fire place. I asked her if she was doing this because she wanted to or because she felt some kind of pressure? She adamantly stated that this was her deepest desire. She proceeded to light the stuff on fire and then made a profession of faith. Prayers were said against evil spirits breaking off any bondage they may have had her in. Her face changed to one of brightness. Light, really. Here's a note she sent me: "thank you for being there for me the other day when we burned the ouija board and book. Your welcome to me at Ecclesiax means so much and I am excited to learn and experience more with God and everyone at Ecclesiax, so SOME FINAL GOD SIGHTINGS far everyone is so amazing and special. Thanks again. See you Sunday m A French UN worker living in the Glebe enters our gallery and asks what she can do for us? She is spreading the word about us around the (signed)" neighborhood. She is now entering a discipling relationship with one of our more mature m A famous Canadian sculptor hears about us and comes down to see if there Christian women. really is an art gallery inside a church. He and his wife have now become Numbers you say? Well, we don’t have Willow Creek type numbers to patrons and are helping us get the word out about who we are and what give you, but I can tell you this. Started with three. Grew to eight. Shrank to we believe. He is 70 years old and walked away from the church when he five. Grew to nine. Grew to ten. Grew to fourteen. Shrank to nine. Grew to was 15 because his pastor said, "artists are not that important to God." He eighteen. Grew to twenty one. Grew to thirty two. Now at thirty eight. now sees that there is a church that says artists are loved by God. He is Each step of the way has been brutally hard. Each step of the way has giving us one of his artworks (he commands $3000 to $85,000 in art been delightfully pleasant. Hmm, that sounds contradictory! Actually, no we commissions and has been producing fine art for 35 years). m A medical doctor on a one year sabbatical to pursue her true dream of being a painter has expressed an interest in Ecclesiax and asked if we could highlight her paintings of Baffin Island? She lives just a 2 minute walk from our building. She is coming to our house for a BBQ so her kids can play with our kids. m Our next door neighbours across the street on 5th Avenue in the Glebe enroll their children in anything we do for kids in the community. They have spread the word to other families with kids in the Glebe. Our kids’ programs are now packed out and we have the problem of not having enough children's workers. m We have many many connections with people in our community who are now ready to come and see what Ecclesiax is about. The good problem we have is space to fit them all in. How can YOU help Ecclesiax? Can you pray about calling me? If you get the urging from God to call me and talk, here is the number: 613.797.3161 I have a funny feeling God wants to say something to you about church planting. Rev. Joseph Moreau is Church Planter at Ecclesiax in Ottawa, ON

“W

ell, Dan, you have caused quite a problem for me.” These were the words of the Philippines’ Bishop Jim Tuan when we met at World Conference in Zimbabwe last November. It seemed that Rev. Manny Manongsong, Northern Philippines conference superintendent and pastor of the well-established Amparo FMC in Manila, had asked to be relieved of his duties. Metro Manila is a global city with approximately 14 million people. The Free Methodist Church began ministry in The Philippines in 1949 on the southern island of Mindanao. Church-planting work only began in Manila in 1974. Pastor Manny was a teenage street kid in Manila selling newspapers when he heard FM missionary Ray Streutker telling bible stories in the neighbourhood. He committed his life to Christ, was discipled and eventually went to bible college to train for pastoral ministry. Following bible college, Manny and his new wife Esther (also a bible college graduate) were appointed to Manila, where they began planting churches. Since 1984 they have planted 3 churches, including the Amparo church which Manny has pastored for many years. This church grew, was able to purchase property and build a nice worship facility. Manny and Esther now have 2 children; their Pastor Manny Manongsong and daughter is in 3rd year university, their son in the city of Makati high school. In 2002, Philippine FM leaders invited me to help them think through the challenges of urban ministry. Most FM pastors and churches have been focused on rural and village ministry and urban ministry training was not being provided. Since 2002, I have conducted three teaching, training and strategic planning processes; the most recent in mid-June this year. The problem raised by Bishop Jim Tuan was that Pastor Manny wanted to start church planting again! Pastor Manny said that these workshops had helped him to realize the continuing needs for new churches in Manila, and that his primary gifting was as a “church-planter” not as a

missionary update Linda Stryker

Miss Linda Stryker, Canadian Free Methodist missionary nurse, provides a link between the Free Methodist Church in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the North American FMC and various aid and United Nations organizations. Part of this responsibility includes being coordinator of FM health ministries in the DRC. In spite of the ongoing war, which has caused extreme poverty and the displacement of tens of thousands of people within the country, the Nundu Deaconess Hospital, nursing school and some 35 health centers continue to function to some degree, thanks to courageous efforts of Congolese staff and ongoing support of donors. Also because of the war, more than 10,000 Free Methodist members are still in refugee camps in neighboring Tanzania. Linda facilitates contact between them and their family and friends in the DRC. She also works alongside church leaders in various aspects of training. Linda Stryker has also recently been released from medical leave and has begun speaking in camps and churches in North America. She is thankful for everyone’s prayers during her months of recovery following pulmonary emboli (blood clots). Linda requests prayer for travel safety and God’s special anointing as she speaks in churches. Pray hearts will be stirred to have greater involvement in global ministry because of what she shares.

Lois Meredith

Following three months of home assignment in Canada, Lois returned in mid July to her ministry in Nairobi, Kenya where she is involved in administrative support and Christian education development. Lois has completed more than 34 years of missionary service in Africa.

Makati - Guadaloupe community where Pastor Manny and his family are planting a new congregation.

traditional pastor. So he left his Amparo church and identified an area of Manila (Makati-Guadeloupe) needing a new church. He went without financial support from the conference (because they hadn’t planned for new churchplants), believing that this move was of God. In April this year the churchplant was officially launched in the function room of an office tower. When I shared God’s word with the congregation in mid-June there were already more than 80 in attendance! Other pastors and lay people in Manila have now begun to look at the possibilities for new ministry. The sense of discouragement about urban ministry is being lifted as gifted workers like Manny and his family demonstrate that God will reward a bit of risk-taking! Dan Sheffield is Director of Global and Intercultural Ministries for The Free Methodist Church in Canada

Frankford signs agreement with Cuba FM leaders

In June this year, Rev. Alan Adams, representing the Frankford FMC in eastern Ontario, signed a ministry development agreement with leaders of the Free Methodist movement in Cuba. The agreement states that the Frankford church and its ministry partners will take a partnering role in developing the ministry capacity and organizational structures of this fledgling group of churches. Free Methodist ministry began in Cuba in 1996 when Costa Rican FM leader, Jorge Gomez traveled to Cuba and encouraged several pastors of compatible, independent Christian fellowships to join the Free Methodist family. Costa Rican and Dominican Republic FM leaders nurtured this relationship over the years as best they were able given the distance and costs involved. Until this past year, when a Canadian relationship was initiated. The active need amongst this group of pastors and churches is for leadership development and encouragement in ministry. Since only a few denominations are recognized by the Castro government, the Free Methodist groups worship in homes. Although there is no harassment, they are not officially sanctioned and must be careful to not draw attention to themselves. At present there are 43 congregations in this loosely organized fellowship. Most churches are in the eastern part of the island. For further information about this developing work in Cuba, contact Pastor Alan Adams at: alan@alanadams.com