July 2006 by Free Methodist Church In Canada

The Free Methodist Church in Canada July 2006 – Volume 3 Issue 3

Reflecting the diversity of ministry expression within the Free Methodist family

COVER Forget about inviting him without his bride by Bishop Keith Elford PAGE 2 Editor’s Desk How our stories change lives by Jared Siebert PAGE 3 Meet Joanne Bell: Stewardship Development Director by Joanne Bell Rob’s five book picks by Rob Clements PAGE 4 Three Steps to Peace by Dr. James Rennie PAGE 6 FM Helping Hands in Katrina-ravaged Mississippi By Grant Sigsworth Sowing and Reaping By Lavern Snider Passages PAGE 7 Student Ministries Bible Quizzing by Andrew Brown PAGE 8 Destination: Accra Ghana by John Mark Cockram

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

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WONDER ABOUT THE APOSTLE PAUL SOMETIMES. Right in the middle of a beautiful explanation about how marriage works, he veers off in another direction and writes, "…Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant Church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." (Ephesians 5:25-27) Then we think we get it. Life in our marriages is to be a slice of Christian community! Love each other in the same way as Jesus loves us and when the church gathers its constituent families, there's a growing richness and radiance because Jesus' influence has been released in our relationships at home. Yet, might there be more in what is pictured but left unsaid? To give us a way of thinking about God's relationship with the Church, the Apostle Paul has taken up a metaphor that is also found in other places in the Old and New Testaments – the metaphor of God's people being His deeply cherished Bride who has made a covenant to love Him back and to live life with Him wherever He is going. It's an interesting metaphor that the Bible chooses; and while the metaphor has limits, we cannot get past the reality that major choices made by one marriage partner deeply impacts the life of the other. For example, when Donna and I were married in May 1973, we thought we were going to a youth pastorate in St. Petersburg, Florida. We never got there. The adventure led us instead to be bivocational members of a church planting team in a village of high-rises in North York here in Toronto. Once settled there, we thought we would be urban people for the rest of our lives, but the adventure led us to the suburbs of Whitby, the wheat lands of Saskatchewan, the foothills of the Rockies, and back to the urban sprawl of Mississauga from where we now travel to many parts of Canada and other parts of the world. Neither of us could have imagined where life has taken us. But married love says that we will love each and we will live life with the other wherever it takes us. So, in our discussions these days about the nature of the Church, we cannot talk about the Church without talking about Jesus. "Christ loved the Church," the Ephesians passage tells us and the context tells us that the Church lives with Him in a covenant relationship of love. My point is that we cannot talk about the Church without talking about Jesus; and we cannot talk about Jesus without embracing His passion for His creation as it stood originally (with pride, He stood back and looked at it and said, "This is very good!"); and His creation as it is presently-distorted and disfigured by the impact of sinful choices (and with mercy He says, "This is worth saving."). He emptied Himself to give Himself, not because He was ordered to, but the picture of our passage says He made passionate, self-giving, sacrificial choices (we get a glimpse of this on Thursday night in Gethsemane, but these choices are there in every major move) – in His incarnation (He left heaven); in His death (He left life among those He loved); in His resurrection (He returned from death rather than going on into eternity); and in His ascension (He made the choice to hand over His mission to some very ordinary people). Here is what we have to "get". The Church cannot think

in a detached way about Jesus' incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension. We are married into an ongoing life of incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension. In the ascension, we have a future hope in heaven that is real, where we will see Him face to face in the middle of a triumphant community of fully abandoned disciples! In the resurrection, we have the promise of Romans 8:11, "If that same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is living in you.…" The rest of the verse talks about the resurrection of our mortal bodies, but the first part of the verse talks about the present reality. The spirit of the resurrected Christ is living in us now! We are tied to Jesus' cross, Paul says, in daily crucifixion of our self-centeredness. Finally, we have covenanted to love Him back and to live life with Him in an incarnational lifestyle of walking out of healthy, holy huddles into the world where we live as salt and light among people, bringing love and holiness to bear upon sin, hurts, and needs. His mission is to When one ponders the choices in the woo, win, and incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, one understands there is a deep heal the passionate throb behind each of these intense community of experiences. His mission is to woo, win, and people that he heal the community of people that he calls calls His Church His Church so that they can walk with Him, and together be a dynamic, transformational so that they can influence in the world. walk with Him, There is a deep bond between Jesus and and together be His Church – so deep that people are idiots who think that they can detach and love Jesus a dynamic, but not love His Bride. Of course, you say, transformational that is what one would expect a Bishop to say influence in the and believe because he is so enmeshed in the world. Church, but show me this in the Scriptures. Instead of finding a proof text for you, I would simply say, replay the story of the incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension. It is a story filled with passion and devotion. Though Jesus loves us person by person, He is not seduced by the offer of individualistic, private affairs. He is in covenant relationship with His Bride and they are on a mission of holy love to bring wholeness to creation, culture and communities. Forget about inviting Him to your house and telling Him to leave His bride at home. So, if He won't come without His Bride, what's it like to live life at home with Him? The Church cannot live in a harmonious covenant relationship with Jesus and ignore His incarnational mission to woo the stained, distraught, disfigured persons yet-to-be-fully-embraced as His Bride. Listen, He still sees His yet-to-be-embraced Bride as he moves around the neighbourhoods of the world. He is clear. He came to give Himself up for her…. to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to Himself radiant without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Now don't let Paul throw you as he morphs his metaphor from talking about the fiber of marriage to talking about the fiber of expensive cloth. Jesus dreams of those He sees soiled

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His bride – continued on page 2

M O S A I C

I’ m with Him

Michael Coren, sometime ago, told a story about leaving work and being asked by a panhandler for some cash. “I’m not going to give you any money,” he told the man, “but if you’d like to join me, I’ll buy you a meal.” The man readily agreed, and after assembling his posessions (a great many plastic bags) they proceeded to walk down the street. They were greeted at the reception desk of a casual restaurant by the host who doubtfully asked, [insert arched eyebrow here] “Are you together?” Michael glanced at his dinner companion – he took in the sight of his unwashed hair, scraggly beard, his dishevelled clothing – and replied, “Yeah, he’s with me. Table for two please.” I have often wondered what was going through this man’s mind as they entered the restaurant. I imagine that he might have held his breath when the host asked the question “Are you together?” ... I have no doubt that he had experienced rejection before, most likely he had come to expect it, and perhaps he was steeling himself for the worst. Can you sense his dread? In a very real sense this is our story. Our own clumsy attempts at righteousness, without the covering of Christ, made us look spiritually unkempt. In the presence of Jesus’ purity we simply could not measure up. And so I imagine myself standing beside Jesus when someone asks, “Is she with you?” Who could fault them for asking when I am as aware as they are of the great chasm that separates me from God’s holiness? Isaiah 64:6 declares, “Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved? We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are grease-stained rags.” [The Message] And so, I hold my breath, dreading the rejection that will inevitably come next – but just before despair and real horror set in Jesus speaks, “It’s okay, she’s with me.” With those words I am welcomed; I am accepted; I am made complete. This is the grace that has been extended to us; the forgiveness we have freely received. I am no longer viewed through my own “righteousness” but through Christ’s unblemished work that has brought forgiveness to me. Wow, that is amazing love. Lisa Howden Managing Editor

You have had the opportunity to build skills and experience in the full range of development and fundraising, such as direct appeals, special events, and major gifts and planned giving. Marketing and branding have been particular areas of strength. But….. working towards the alleviation and even the eradication of Poverty in a world full of injustice for the poor has a very real attraction for you. Now is your chance to reenergize your career and truly make a difference.

Is searching for a

MALCOLM GLADWELL, in his book "Blink" learneing from books and seminars at our meetings, describes the interesting research work of Vic Braden, there is much more going on here than first meets the one of the world's top tennis coaches. Vic has studied eye. The power of a network lies in the fact that over hours and hours of video tape and used advanced time and through the sharing of our stories we are digital imaging techniques all in an effort to able to learn so much more about church leadership understand what makes the great players so great. than any book or conference could dare boast. We "Almost every pro in the world says that he uses his learn much more than mere tips and tricks for wrist to roll the racket over the ball when he hits a leadership when we walk side by side with each other. forehand" but as Vic Braden has discovered this is just We learn the value of support and friends. We learn not the case. Through digital video imaging he is able the importance of accountability. We learn that to break each of their movements down into the sometimes you can do everything right and things can component parts and discover what their secret is: still go wrong. We pray for each other. We care for talent. That's right, they can do each other. All of this can shape us what they do because they have a into better leaders. gift. Sounds simple enough. Consider this: it is a However, Vic Braden has made a commonly held statistic that 2/3 of much more interesting discovery all church plants fail. While I can't about athletes; he has discovered verify the truth of this or point you that there is a gap between the truth to the study that made the claim I We learn the value of of what the athlete is doing and the have heard it stated in many support and friends. We athlete's experience of that truth. seminars and books. It's certainly a Many of these tennis pros, after bleak statistic. It certainly doesn't learn the importance of they retire, take what they "know" make you want to rush out and start about tennis and teach it to others. a new church does it? Now accountability. We learn When they coach their students on consider this: every one of the that sometimes you can how to have a killer forehand they church plants that started in the encourage them to use their wrists Church Startup Network in Eastern do everything right and to roll the racket over the ball. Ontario is still going strong. To things can still go wrong. While this gives the student what do I attribute this good news? something interesting to try and Well, I'd love to claim that it was We pray for each other. practice it most likely won't do my brilliant teaching and incisive much to improve their tennis game. leadership… but anyone that We care for each other. I have noticed this same actually knows me can quickly All of this can shape us phenomenon in the world of books dispel that myth. Here are some and conferences on the church. good guesses: We have some top into better leaders. The writers and speakers distilled quality planters in that network. the truth of their own stories into a Local churches in that area, and series of easy to digest principles across the country, are working very and tips. They create a presentation of these hard and giving sacrificially to support church principles and tips which they convey to an eager planting. Ask any of the folks in that network and audience. The audience is curious to know the secret they will say that the support and learning they of exactly how they too can grow their church of 50 receive from each other has been invaluable to them. people to 5,000 in six easy steps. Some of the things These types of top quality bonding and learning they hear are true and helpful. Some of the things experiences are common in many of our networks. It they hear might be interesting to try and practice but is because of this fact that the National Leadership won't do much to help our churches. The truth of Team has committed itself to improving the network how to lead a church to health or how to plant a system in our movement. It is also because of the church is very complex. Sometimes it is more power of these networks that I am partnering with complex than a book or seminar may lead you to national groups like Resonate.ca and others to create believe. While these types of resources are often very a national network of church planters. We hope that helpful The Free Methodist Church in Canada has at this will be one of the single greatest contributions we least one other way to help our leaders lead churches. can make to the growth of new kinds of churches in Enter the Free Methodist church networks. Canada. While on the surface it might appear that these networks are no different from a series of books or Rev. Jared Siebert is Director of Church Growth seminars, and we certainly do share what we are Ministries for The Free Methodist Church in Canada.

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Director of Development World Relief Canada is one of Canada's most well respected and relevant NGO's working internationally in Africa and Asia, sectorally in food security, agriculture and microfinance. WRC is a key partner in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank as well as being in a leadership position within the Integral Alliance, an international body of like agencies, as well as being a recipient of ongoing program funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). WRC partners with the 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. Using a full range of fundraising methods you will engage individuals, businesses, foundations and the church community in soliciting support for World Relief Canada's programs designed to respond to the basic needs of the poor and suffering people of the world. To respond to this opportunity, please contact Laurie Cook, CEO email: lcook@wrcanada.org 600 Alden Road, Suite 310 – Markham, Ontario L3R 0E7 Phone: 1 800-567-8190 or 905-415-8181

His Bride ... continued from cover and disfigured…. as radiant, without stain or wrinkle. To follow Paul's morph, let's go to the dry cleaners and ask the question, "What is the difference between a stain and a wrinkle?" In the instance of a stain, there has been an invasion by a foreign substance that has changed the chemical composition of the cloth. The mustard and ketchup have penetrated the fabric and the only solution is a deep, cleansing treatment. A wrinkle is different. There is no chemical invasion. Wrinkles come when fibers are forced out of their natural position and bent and disfigured. Warm steam will moisten them and release them back to fit and flow as intended by their creator. The stain left by sin on lives, families, and whole cultures is very deep and pervasive. Only the cleansing power released through the shed blood of Jesus can deal with its ultimate ugliness. And only the deep healing power of the warm, gracious love of His

Spirit can release and heal the disfigurement of the twistedness that entered the whole created order after the Fall. None of us can ever guess where life will take us once we enter covenant relationship with Jesus. His first disciples could never have imagined the paths that they would travel with Him, the experiences they would have, and the place where each found himself at the time of death. Neither can you or I; but this we know for sure: we experience the fullness of our relationship with Jesus only when we embrace the future hope promised by His ascension; the daily power released through His resurrection; the essential refocusing in daily dying; and the adventure of living incarnationally in our local and global neighborhoods. Rev. Keith Elford is the Bishop of The Free Methodist Church in Canada.

3 M O S A I C

I RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH A PASTOR TO talk about my new position as Stewardship Development Director. During our conversation I shared a little about my background and my personal journey regarding stewardship. When I finished he said “Thank you for sharing. Now my spirit is ready and willing to accept your ministry.” After our meeting I spent some time thinking about his words. We are often much more receptive to hearing from someone who not only has knowledge of a subject but also has had some real world experience – both good and bad. So I thought I'd conduct an interview with myself to share a little of my story. Why were you interested in this position?

About two years before I started as Stewardship Development Director, I felt God's prompting to consider a change in my work life. So I began to make adjustments in my business which enabled me to seek God's direction and prepare for what he had planned. I always felt a strong pull to work for a Christian ministry but I didn’t know exactly what that would be. In August 2005 I saw the ad for my position. When I read the job description I felt like I had come home. It was perfect for me from an experience and education perspective, but even more importantly from a spiritual and ideological perspective. I applied, was interviewed and offered the job. I firmly believe that I am placed exactly where God wants me. What education and experience do you have that relates to this position?

Well, let's start with my education. I have an economics degree from University of Waterloo and a Master of Business Administration from York University. In terms of work experience, I have over 16 years of business experience which includes seven years in the area of fundraising and stewardship. For the past 11 years I operated a management consulting business. During this time I was involved in the development and delivery of adult education curriculum. I also spent a great deal of time working with non-profits and charities in the area of marketing, public relations and event management. Throughout your career have you ever worked for any Christian ministries?

Yes, I have. I was the Business Manager at Aldersgate College in Moose Jaw and also spent several years as the Conference Administrator for Wesley Acres and the Canada East Conference of The Free Methodist Church. I have also worked with The Wesleyan Church, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and Silver Lake Camp. Tell us a bit about your responsibilities as Stewardship Development Director.

The job is split up into two major areas of responsibility. The first is stewardship development and training and the second is planned giving.

What do you mean by stewardship development and training?

There are 2,350 verses in the Bible that speak about money and possessions. The Bible gives us direction about everything including: investment diversification, debt, cosigning a loan, saving and giving. So my role is to help people learn, understand and implement the biblical principles of stewardship – God owns everything; he is our provider; we are to be faithful stewards of all that he entrusts to us. And that's not just our money and possessions. The Bible also speaks clearly about how we use our time and talents. Why is this important enough to hire someone specifically for this area?

Well, the reality is that many of us don't understand what the Bible says about stewardship. And if we do know it, we aren't very good at putting it into practice. Statistics show there isn't any difference in how Christians and non-Christians manage money. Here are a few stats that might shed some light on why this is such an important ministry. Z Z Z Z Z Z Z

money is God's number one competitor for Lordship in our lives (Matthew 6:24) 50% of all Canadians have less than $2,500 in savings (Statistics Canada) the average debt per Canadian household stands at over $70,000 (Vanier Institute of the Family) the number one reason couples cite for divorce is money (Statistics Canada) 85% of pastors feel ill-equipped to teach on biblical financial management (Barna Research) only 3% of Christians tithe 10% or more of their income (Barna Research) the average Christian gives 2.5% of their income to God's work and pays almost 10% to debt interest (Barna Research)

37% of regular church attendees give nothing (Barna Research)

So how do you do this?

I meet with pastors to let them know about my role and about the resources that are available for implementing a stewardship ministry. I encourage pastors to identify someone in their congregation who has a passion and is willing to take the lead in implementing a stewardship ministry. I can then train and resource that person who in turn can do the same for others within the local church. As my time and travel schedule permits, I am also available to facilitate workshops and seminars. I've already met many people who have humbled themselves and admitted that they could be doing a better job of managing their money. So I’m also helping individuals and couples examine their financial situation and implement changes to get them on the road to financial freedom. And when I can’t physically be there myself, I am happy to help them find a Christian advisor who can help.

The Cross of Christ by John R.W. Stott I have found myself coming back to this book many times since I first read it in university. I can think of no better introduction to the centre of our faith. Stott, both in his writing and his remarkable ministry, personifies to me what it means to be an ambassador of Christ in our age. Your God is Too Safe by Mark Buchanan I really like this book. Not because it says anything particularly unique, but rather because it is a beautiful expression of what Christians across the centuries have known about the Christian journey – and this from the pen of a rural Canadian pastor. The Gospel in a Pluralist Society by Lesslie Newbigin I think this book should be required for all Canadian pastors. Newbigin, a missionary to India, reflects on the meaning of the idea of public truth and what it means for Christians in a post-Christian society. Ask your congregation to read this before jumping on any Christian political bandwagon. The only books that influence us are those for which we are ready, and which have gone a little farther down our particular path than we have yet got ourselves. ~ E.M. Forster

What about planned giving – what is this?

Many people want to invest over and above their tithe in their church, in missions, in other ministries such as youth and camps, but do not have the resources to give a cash gift today. A planned gift allows people to make a significant investment in ministries they care about through their estate, gifts of securities or life insurance, charitable annuities and other means. By working with Christian advisors, people are often surprised to find that they can structure their financial planning to include significant planned gifts without impacting their current financial position. Have you always been a faithful steward?

I wish I could say that I have. But that is not my reality. My parents have been wonderful role models for me. They have been faithful in tithing as well as in managing the other 90% of their income for God. So I saw this from an early age – but putting it into practice myself was challenging at times. When I started working at Aldersgate College I took a significant cut in pay from the position I left in Toronto. I was also working long hours – spending time with the students outside of my work day. I found it difficult to tithe since I was used to living on a substantially higher income, so I began to rationalize that the pay cut was really sacrificial giving since I left secular work for ministry. And I wasn't being paid for the work I did over and above my 8 hour day. Wasn't that being generous? One day my assistant told me that we didn't have the funds to make payroll. I closed my door and began to pray for God's provision. God quickly answered my prayer, but not in the way I expected. He said "How can you expect me to bless the work of your hands when you are being disobedient?" Wow. I hadn't thought about the ramifications of my personal disobedience on this ministry. At that moment I confessed and asked forgiveness. At Aldersgate, the mail always came in the morning. We hadn't received any funds that morning. During lunch my assistant decided to take a chance and go to the post office to check our box. She found one envelope. It contained just enough to cover what we needed for payroll that day. Now I know God doesn't always provide like that – but I think he knew I needed that concrete blessing to firmly embed his promise of provision. I'd like to say that it was clear sailing from that day until now but that would not be true. I've had my share of bumps along the way, including credit card debts, that have thrown me off course. But as I confess and change my ways, he has been faithful in blessing my obedience. If you would like to talk to me about my role or would like information about stewardship or planned giving, please contact me: Joanne Bell, Stewardship Development Director Telephone: 613.545.1335 Fax: 613.545.1606 Email: bellj@fmc-canada.org

Jesus and the Victory of God by N.T. Wright This book is mammoth. But if you really want to understand what Jesus meant in his context then this is the best place to start. If our Lord does not return before then, I'm convinced that two hundred years from now, when the bestselling Christian authors of today have been long forgotten, Christians will still be reading N.T. Wright. (For a lighter introduction to this profound writer, try reading his sermon collections Following Jesus and The Crown and the Fire.) The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis [Disclaimer: No, Disney did not pay me to write this!] I have found this book especially helpful as a discussion starter about all things spiritual, and as a way to introduce people to other works of C.S. Lewis besides his Narnia Chronicles. If you've already read everything by Lewis, read his Lewis's literary mentor, George MacDonald. Rob Clements is a Christian publishing consultant and a ministerial candidate at Trulls Road Free Methodist Church.

M O S A I C

Three Steps

PEACE

Un d e r s t a n d i n g t h e s p i r i t u a l “ b u s i n e s s” o f f o r g i v e n e s s a n d re c o n c i l i a t i o n . “I am so hurt and angry I don't know what to do?” said a young Christian wife and mother of two. After 10 years of marriage her husband had been unfaithful to her. In her pain and confusion she had come seeking Christian counsel. “He says he is sorry and wants to work on the marriage, but I am devastated. I am so angry, sometimes I want to hurt him back. I know this is not godly, Dr. Rennie, so what can I do to get peace in my life?”

n a daily basis in my practice, I meet people who, like this woman, have been unjustly treated, and they are often angry, hurt and confused. Apart from offering comfort, it is imperative to offer the wisdom of God to break through the confusion, to outline a plan to address the injustice and work through it in a way that honours God. There is a three-step plan for peace revealed in God’s word that powerfully promotes peace. The steps, in set order, are: making peace with God, finding inner peace, and making peace with others. As I offered this plan to my patient, so I offer it to you.

forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25] Some people might say, “It is enough that I made the decision in my heart. I don't need to pray about it.” However, forgiveness is a business transaction which requires two parties, you and God. The right of revenge is to be given up to God who alone has the right to administer judgment for sin. [Romans 12:19: 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.] Forgiveness is therefore an act of faith in God’s justice. If one does not believe

in God’s justice, then forgiveness is really a giving up on justice altogether, a kind of hopeless acceptance that justice will not be served. Forgiveness is an act of obedience to God. Forgiveness is an obvious command of God. I am to forgive because I have been forgiven. I must see that forgiving others is a small price compared to the great price of my own forgiveness. The parable of Christ in Matthew 18 illustrates this well. Note that there are serious consequences to unforgiveness ... [Matthew18:34-35: 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." and Matthew 6:14-15: 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.] 35

[Step 1] MAKING PEACE WITH GOD Whether I am the one who has been offended or the one who has offended, I must make peace with God first, either to forgive or to be forgiven. Forgiveness is the key to peace with God. How is this accomplished?

“ One of the greatest

misunderstandings that many

Christians fall into is to confuse the business of

Forgiveness is a legally binding transaction where one surrenders the right to collect on a debt. It is the centrepiece of the Lord’s prayer. [12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:12,14,15] The word for forgiveness

is the Greek word, ‘APHIEMI’, and it means “to send away from.” Combined with the Greek word for debts, ‘OPHEILEMA’, we get the idea of giving up the legal right to collect on an account of sin. In other words, we give up the right to get revenge or to get even.

forgiveness with

Forgiveness is business, NOT emotions. One of the greatest misunderstandings that many Christians fall surrounding it. into is to confuse the business of forgiveness with the emotions surrounding it. There are usually emotions of anger and hurt, and perhaps fear when we have been sinned against. Someone might say, “I feel I have forgiven the person who faulted me because I don’t feel badly or angry about it anymore.” But our feelings can deceive us. If the business has not been done, it is not done! Another person might say, “I have obviously not forgiven that person, because I am still angry about it.” But these are only the emotions around forgiveness. Forgiveness itself is business, spiritual accounting. We make a choice to forgive despite our feeling and once that business is done, it is done! It does not need to be repeated again and again simply because we feel it is not done. We need to believe it is done, and rest on that fact. the emotions

Forgiveness is for guilty people. Someone might say, “I know he did wrong to me, but I can understand that he didn’t mean it. He was just upset, and so I forgave him.” Often what is being done is not forgiveness at all, but rather excusing the offending party. In order for someone to be forgiven, he must first be truly guilty. Another person might say, “I can’t really say that he is guilty because he doesn't think he has done anything wrong.” Guilt is not to be determined by what the other person thinks, or even by what I think, but rather what God thinks. If he is guilty according to God’s standard, then he is guilty, and needs to be forgiven. Forgiveness is toward God first. Forgiveness is first and foremost a transaction I make with God. It is expressed in prayer to God. [25And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone,

[Step 2] FINDING INNER PEACE There are natural means to find inner peace after we have been wronged. Some of us are able to so minimize the offence that it no longer affects us. We say to ourselves, “Don't sweat the small stuff ”, and we will to forget the offence and move on. The problem here is that truth is lost in the effort to get back to peace. The Bible opposes any way that denies the truth. Peace without truth is not true peace! [Zechariah 8:1619: 16 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; 17 do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this," declares the LORD. 18 Again the word of the LORD Almighty came to me. 19 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace."]

Others, who are not so able to forget, seek to control disturbed emotions by distracting themselves. “As long as I don't think about it or are reminded of it, I'll be okay.” This becomes enslaving, because reminders have a way of intruding on our consciousness, and we are constantly frustrated. Others learn to cover their angry or sad emotions with emotions they are more able to handle. They may employ fear to cover anger, in which case the more angry one is, the more fear is necessary to cover it. This can lead to anxiety disorders, like unexplained panic attacks. Still others anaesthetize their emotions with drugs, prescription or otherwise. God shows us a supernatural means to find inner If you are angry, tell God you are peace.

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angry. Anger itself

Bring your troubled mind and emotions to God in prayer. Be specific. If you are sad and hurt, ask Him to comfort you. [II

is not a sin, but if you have lost

Corinthians 1:3 - 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,] If you are angry, tell God you are angry. Anger itself is

your temper you

not a sin, but if you have lost your temper you will also have to ask the Lord to forgive you. [Ephesians 4:26 - 26"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,] Ask Him to give you self-control and peace. [Phil.4:6-7: 6Do not be

forgive you.

will also have to ask the Lord to

anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.] This will not work

if you are still unwilling to forgive. Pray for the wisdom and courage to seek to make peace with the one who wronged you. Keep bringing your emotions to God. Emotions are like the waves of the sea, they keep rolling in at intervals. Each time the emotions rise, take them to the Lord in prayer again. Keep on asking and you will keep on receiving. [Matthew 7:7: 7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock

5 M O S A I C

and the door will be opened to you.] On hearing this, one patient said, “Then I would be

or reject. God never demeans forgiveness by giving it where it is not wanted. [Matthew

praying all day long!” But surely that is the point. God wants us in His presence all day long! [I Thess. 5:16-18: 16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all

7:6: 6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.]

circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.]

Pray a blessing on the one who wronged you. No longer seek to forget the offence or the offender, but rather pray for your enemy on a daily basis, and indeed as often as you think of the offence. In this way you will keep your heart in positive territory, and not sink into bitterness and hatred. It is hard to curse those who you are choosing to bless. [Matthew 5:43-44: 43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, and Romans 12:14: 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.]

When asked to forgive, I must forgive. This applies even when I doubt the other person’s sincerity. [ Luke 17:4: 4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."] Remember, the goal in dealing in forgiveness is to honour God and obey

Him, not to change the other person, or to get him to stop sinning. Sometimes our attitude is, “I won’t forgive him until I see a change in his behaviour.” God alone sees the person’s heart. Let God be the judge. Act on faith, not feelings, and give grace when it is requested.

“

God presents the

[Step 3] MAKING PEACE WITH OTHERS Transacting forgiveness with another person is a command of God. In Matthew 5:24 [24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.] there is a directive to the one who has done the wrong and in Matthew 18:15 [15"If your

gift of forgiveness to me as a

gracious offer which I am free to accept or reject. God

brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.] there is the same

never demeans

directive to the one who has been wronged. In both instances the command is to “Go” and be reconcilled. Therefore, to neglect going to someone to make peace can be seen as an act of disobedience.

giving it where it

If the other person refuses to transact, I must continue to show the grace of love. Matthew 18 describes the further steps one may take if both parties are under the authority of the church. All these steps are to be done in love with a view to restoration. It takes much grace to return love when evil is being done to you. [Matthew 5:43-44: 43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,] It requires the control of the Holy Spirit. [Galatians 5:22: 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,]

forgiveness by

If there is no agreement, I must still recognize the spiritual benefit. is not wanted. There is honour to God because His grace and truth are being upheld. There is blessing to the other person. A spiritual seed is being planted that may take time to bear fruit. [James 3:18: 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a Forgiveness is to be seen as a gracious gift. In Ephesians 4:32 [32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, harvest of righteousness.] There is personal blessing for me, because I am doing the 9 just as in Christ God forgave you.] the Greek word for forgiveness is different from the work of a peacemaker. [Matthew 5:9: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be Greek word used in the Lord’s prayer. This new word, ‘charizomai’ literally means “to called sons of God.] If I suffer for doing right, I am blessed. [Matthew 5:10-16: 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the grace towards another person.” The words of I Peter 3:9 [9Do not repay evil with evil or 11 insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.] convey the same idea, “giving a blessing instead.” In the same gracious

spirit that forgiveness comes to me, I am invited to give it to others. It is to be offered as a gift. Forgiveness requires a mutual agreement. On a personal level we are to forgive in the same way God forgives us. Note the ‘just as’ in Ephesians 4:32. God gives forgiveness if I confess my sin [I John 1:9: 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.] I am, by my confession, humbly admitting that I need the gift of forgiveness. Likewise, there is the same if in Luke 17:3 [3So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.] and Matthew 18:15 [15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.] Therefore it is not biblical to

unilaterally give forgiveness. If I have sinned, I can initiate the transaction by asking for forgiveness. But if I have been sinned against, I can only make an offer to transact forgiveness, i.e. “I would like to forgive you. Would you like to be forgiven?” I must leave room for the other person to express agreement with the truth that he has sinned, and ask to be forgiven. If I don’t provide this liberty for the other person, then the gift of forgiveness may well be given where it is not wanted, and therefore may be despised. God presents the gift of forgiveness to me as a gracious offer which I am free to accept

kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.]

My prayer is that God will indeed bless you as you seek to follow the path of peace. Dr. James Rennie is a General Practitioner in private practice in Ontario, Canada. For 17 years he has specialized in Bible based and faith based counseling and psychotherapy. He maintains a busy schedule of Bible teaching in various churches and has conducted numerous seminars on counseling related topics. Prior to this, Jim and his wife Kathy, an RN, spent 14 years in medical missionary and church work in Zambia, Africa. This article is copyrighted material used with permission.

M O S A I C

Left to right: Rev. Barry Taylor,Hiroko Miwa, Lois and Rev. Lavern Snider; Kitakyushu, Japan

Sowing & Reaping FM Helping Hands in Katrina-ravaged Mississippi The violent sound of Hurricane Katrina, ripping, flooding and wrenching its way inland from the US Gulf Coast last August was irrepressible. Then it passed, leaving a tranquil but ugly wasteland of destruction and death. The "invisible" Gulf coast of Mississippi, little reported by the media, suffered over 300 deaths, many by drowning from the 30-foot storm surge that Katrina's winds pushed inland for more than a kilometer. Thousands of homes and stores just collapsed or were sucked out to sea, leaving the foundation and a slab with steps running up to the floor level. If they remained standing, many homes were flooded up to the 3rd story. Rain poured through gaping holes in roofs, leaving waterlogged interiors that could only be salvaged if stripped to the studs and reconstructed, re-furnished. But who would do all that work? Local skilled tradesmen were busy resuscitating their own premises. Within hours of Katrina's passing, Acting Superintendent Lewis Bunn of the Free Methodist Gulf Coast Conference was in the worst-impacted areas. Assessing the damage, Lewis would discern how our denomination might respond. In due course, collaborating with Amish and Mennonite relief agencies, the FMC's Bishops' Fund resources were used to lease Camp Gospel, a retreat and training centre of the Gospel Singers Association of America located in Pass Christian, Mississippi. This town of 7000 had taken the brunt of Katrina and much of it had been reduced to rubble. Perhaps 3/4 of those residents are no longer there – most have not come back because there is little to nothing to come back to. Camp Gospel, situated on the beautiful wide beaches running along the whole Mississippi coast, became the residence, mess hall and meeting centre for the volunteers – FMs, Amish and Mennonites mingling. Ken Lawrence and wife Lee from Michigan drove down in their RV, accepting an invitation to become the hosts and foreman for the FM volunteers involved in mucking out waterlogged homes and in reconstruction (repairs, roofing, electrical, insulation and gyproc). Women also could help in relief kitchens and food and clothing distribution centres. By mid-March this year over 600 Free Methodists had responded to Lewis and the Lawrences – including 12 who journeyed from four Ontario churches. Whitby FMC heard about it, connected with Lewis, then put out the word to other churches. Snowbirds Ralph and Dawna Monette of Almonte FMC caught the vision. Enroute to Florida in January they diverted to Pass Christian, investing several weeks in support to the relief effort. Following suit in February, Ken and Dianne Richards of Dresden FMC, driving back from an Arizona vacation, made Camp Gospel their home for two weeks. The Canadian connection grew in March. Grant and Olwen Sigsworth Katrina – continued on page 8

"He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow will return with songs of joy." (Psalm 126:6) How was the gospel seed planted in the heart of a young Japanese girl Hiroko Yamaguchi, in far away Japan? How did this result in great rejoicing at the Trulls Road Free Methodist Church? To answer these questions, let us tell you the story. In 1957, Canadian missionaries Lavern and Lois Snider heard God's call to missionary service. Appointed by The Free Methodist General Missionary Board and at the request of the Japanese bishop at that time, Rev. Kaneo Oda, the Sniders along with daughter Carol, set out by boat to Japan. Teaching in Osaka Christian College and Theological Seminary filled their days as they lived on the college campus. Desiring also to have a ministry in a Japanese community while maintaining their teaching positions, they moved to Nishinomiya, an hour's train ride from Osaka. Their new home was quickly opened to their Japanese neighbours for children, youth and ladies' meetings as well as for regular Sunday services. Among those who attended was Hiroko, a teen age girl from the neighbourhood. She heard the gospel message. You can imagine the Sniders' joy when 30 years later, now retired in Canada, they received word from Hiroko, now wife of a Japanese business man and mother of two grown children that she desired Christian baptism at the hand of the one who first planted the gospel seed in her heart. Hiroko, already travelling from Kitakyushu, Japan to the United Hiroko Miwa’s baptism by Rev Snider States, added a week long visit to Canada where she gave her testimony and was baptized at the Trulls Road Church. Her testimony follows….. "I believe in God. I believe in Jesus Christ's resurrection and the eternal life in heaven. I affirm all the facts written in the Bible. Through all my life I will live a Christian life. Over thirty years ago I met the Sniders. They lived in my neighbourhood and held Christian meetings in their home. I attended many of these meetings. Of course it was God's will that guided me to the entrance of Christian life. After that I used to go to church on Sundays listening to the preacher's sermons and singing hymns to praise God. I also used to attend Christian youth camps and I sometimes worked for the children's class at the Sniders' meeting. Rev. Snider guided me to the Christian life. He asked me several times if I would receive baptism. My parents did not want me to get baptized before marriage. They thought that being a Christian made looking for a husband more difficult. I did not agree with them at that point but obeyed them because I did not have much confidence in my faith. Their opposition was not the real reason why I did not get baptized. It was I who decided not to believe and be baptized. A long time has passed since that time. However, last summer I happened to learn that a daughter of my close friend had been baptized with her own intention though my friend's family is Buddhist. I was much impressed with her daughter's decision. That is what I could not do when I was young. One night in a dream I knew that I could not go forward leaving a precious baggage behind me. It was a kind of sign shown to me by God. My eyes were filled with tears and I recognized what was going on in my mind. I knew it was God's will, not mine, that was most important for me. I needed to go back and get that precious baggage of knowing Jesus and following Him. I don't know why I failed to believe earlier. But God knew what I should do. I needed to get my Christian life back on track. Rev. Snider sowed seeds in Japan. My soil was not ready to grow them when he was in Japan. But now, 30 years later these seeds have begun to grow up in the soil of my heart. I am very happy to let you know of my decision to follow Jesus. I want others also to know of my decision to follow Jesus." Led by Pastor Barry Taylor, the Trulls Road Church family rejoiced over this significant event. Many of the Trulls Road congregation had prayed for the work of their missionaries as did many of you who are reading this report. You have had a vital part in sowing gospel seed and of reaping a harvest of new believers. Let us keep prayerfully sowing gospel seed wherever we have opportunity. We never know when the seed will germinate and a new life in Christ will result. Written by Rev. Lavern Snider, a retired missionary and member of Trulls Road FMC

Passages

Vic Stonehouse, Interim Pastor The FreeWay, Oshawa, ON, May 3/06

APPOINTMENTS Ed Adams, Dir. of Ministry Placement (Supply), Harrowsmith, ON - June 1/06 Maureen Adams, Dir. of Mission Min. (Supply) Harrowsmith, ON, June 1/06 Ousman Ali, Pastor - Eastern Koinonia, Toronto, ON, April 1/06 Adam Beach, Min. Pastor (Supply) - West Springs, Calgary, AB, April 1/06 Angela Connell, Pastor (Supply) Marmora, ON, May 1/06 Judy Crowe, Pastoral Care Minister (Supply), Frankford, ON, May 12/06 Mozaly Jonas, Pastor (Supply) Sherbrooke, QC (April 25, 2006) Kevin Kay, Interim Senior Pastor, PineviewCloyne, ON, June 4/06 Jay Mowchenko, Lead Pastor Weyburn, SK, May 4, 2006 Philippe Reichenbach, Asst Pastor (Supply) - St. Henri, Montreal, QC, Mar 20/06 Pierre Sanambe, Pastor (Supply) - Source d'Eau Vive, Sherbrooke, QC April 25, 2006 Matthew Wiley, Pst of Student Min. & CE (Supply) Rice Road, Welland, ON, May 3/06.

MINISTERIAL CANDIDATES Holly Bennett (Peterborough, ON) Judy Crowe (Frankford, ON) Aaron James (Blue Mountain, Thornbury, ON) Joe Kupecz (Arlington Woods, Ottawa) Vikki Marrs (Crossroads, Salmon Arm, BC) Michael Stern (Asbury, Perth, ON) Matthew Wiley (Rice Road, Welland, ON) ORDINATION Robert Snider (May 7, 2006 Welland, ON) Jennifer Wagar (June 11, 2006, Verona, ON) APPROVED FOR ORDINATION Greg Elford (date to be arranged) Kimberley Henderson (Sept. 17, 2006, Sarnia) ORDAINED MIN. RECEIVED BY TRANSFER Ousman Ali (Eastern Koinonia, Toronto, ON) from Church of God Don Oldford (Vennacher FMC, ON) from the Independent Baptist Church Jessie Oldford (located at Vennacher FMC, ON) from the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland For a complete list visit: www.fmc-canada.org

7 M O S A I C

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105 I am always inspired when I come across an old saint who is able to quote long passages of scripture that they learned as a child. I love hearing how God faithfully used that Word throughout their lives to guide and direct them. One of the ministry tools that God has used in our denomination over the years to impart His Word has been Bible Quizzing. Many of you have told me about the powerful impact that this ministry had in your life and the benefits you received from this intensive study of God's Word. Several months ago I had the opportunity to meet the quizzing team from Dryden Free Methodist Church. What an encouragement to hear from them about how God is using Bible Quizzing in their lives. I've also had the chance to connect with the leadership of Free Methodist Bible Quizzing in the United States, and have been heartened by their desire to help us re-establish Bible Quizzing in Canada. While I realize that quizzing may not be for every youth group or young person, it certainly is one of the best ways I have seen for helping students study and learn the Word of God. It also is a great way to bring kids together for the purpose of building a solid core of spiritually maturing youth. I led a quiz team several years ago and saw firsthand how God used this ministry to benefit our youth group. If you are interested in getting involved in Bible Quizzing or would like to know more, I would love to hear from you! Andrew Brown is Student Ministries Director for The Free Methodist Church in Canada. You can contact him at andrew@fmdog.ca

"I have been in quizzing for two years. This year we quizzed on the books Romans and James. The reasons that I like quizzing are that it's competitive, and it's a time where you can spend time with your friends and get to know people. But the best thing of all is that you get to memorize God's word. I really like going to quiz meets because you get to travel and go places." Jacob Vandenbroeke, Grade 7, 2nd year Quizzer – Dryden FMC

"Before quizzing, I didn't read or memorize the Bible much. Although I still don't read my Bible as much as I should, I do read it more often. I have more motivation to do so. I have learned a lot about God and the Scriptures through quizzing these two years, plus, it's really fun!" Alyssa Harder, Grade 10, 2nd year Quizzer/Dryden FMC

"I joined quizzing about a year and a half ago. My first quiz meet was really fun. I was in the C division and I answered two questions. Last year, I didn't really pay attention to the Scripture. I studied it, but didn't think about it. This year, I paid attention to the Scripture and applied some verses to my everyday life, like, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you," "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath," and "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing; my brothers, this should not be." My favourite part of quizzing is the activity and praise and worship. I love the environment of the praise and worship. I look forward to it each quiz meet. I really love quizzing. I am going in it next year." Katie Plett, Grade 8, 2nd year Quizzer

team came seventh. It's a fun yet competitive way of memorization." Nathanial Puddicombe, Grade 7, Rookie Quizzer/Dryden FMC

"Quizzing is always competitive, but it's really awesome to see how everyone maintains an attitude of sportsmanship and encouragement. Those who don't thrive on the competition still have a great time at the meets and make lots of friends. The quiz meets usually have a fun activity that can make for some fond and hilarious memories (like me crashing into a tree downhill skiing . . . don't worry, I was fine). Quizzing broadens your horizons and helps you better understand people from other areas. Younger quizzers can have positive role models and friends in the older quizzers, and coaches have the opportunity to develop close relationships with the quizzers. Most importantly, quizzing has provided stability and growth in my relationship with Jesus Christ. Putting Scripture into my mind through study and memorization has made it so much easier to apply it to my life. That's why I think it's a great program. Try it and find out." Martin Wightman – 6th year Quizzer/Dryden FMC

Individual Dryden FMC's Top Team and 2005–06 r Finishes of the Quizzing yea Zone Tournament – Steinbach, MB Dryden Team 1 – Division A 2nd Dryden Team 3 – Division C 5th Martin Wightman – Division A 1st 3rd Jacob Vandenbroeke – Division C 4th C ion Divis – be icom Pudd l ania Nath 5th Luke Egli – Division C

/Dryden FMC

"The thing that most vibrantly stands out in my mind is our billets. Our billets were kind, generous, and friendly." Luke

Zone Tournament – Winkler, MB Dryden Team 1 – Division A 1st Dryden Team 2 – Division C 2nd Martin Wightman – Division A 3rd 3rd Jacob Vandenbroeke – Division C 4th C ion Divis – Nathanial Puddicombe 5th C ion Divis Luke Egli – Zone Tournament – Morden, MB Martin Wightman – Division A 6th

Egli, Grade 7, rookie Quizzer/Dryden FMC

"The best part of the tournaments is the quizzing. The C level is the level that I'm in. It's my first year quizzing, and I've done pretty well, I think. Our team is doing pretty well. At the final quiz meet, teams were doing their best, and our

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds." Deuteronomy 11: 18 We first heard about Bible Quizzing six years ago in Wawota SK. Three youths from the Wawota FMC studied and memorized Luke chapters 1-3. We were spectators at the first tournament in November in Regina, and had a team for the next tournament in January, having caught up with the Scripture to be covered. The rest is history. We were all hooked on this. When we moved to Dryden Free Methodist Church this became one of the priorities and the kids caught the excitement. This year Dryden FMC was privileged to have had nine quizzers: Martin Wightman, Heidi Vandenbroeke, Jessica Plett, Daniel de Groot, Alyssa Harder, Luke Egli, Nathanial Puddicombe, Katie Plett and Jacob Vandenbroeke. A typical district tournament (zone tournaments are smaller) starts Friday evening with preliminary rounds between the eighty to one hundred teams that come from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northern Ontario. The host churches billet the 400 to 500 quizzers and coaches, feeding them breakfast Saturday morning before they start the elimination rounds. More quizzing and a final match for each of the A, B, and C levels follow lunch at the church. After supper, the quizzers have a fun activity. It could be swimming or seeing local sights. The wind up for the day is back at the church for awards, praise and worship. It's late when they return to the billets for a little sleep before an early Sunday service and travel home. We've studied Romans and James this year; and Matthew, Hebrews, I and II Peter and John in previous years. That's a phenomenal amount of Scripture that is hidden away in hearts and minds! As a past quizzer, a mother, a youth worker, and a coach, I think it's a fantastic program! Luci Wightman – Head Coach, Dryden FMC "When I first started quizzing, I was amazed at the skill and knowledge the quizzers had. It blew me away knowing that it was possible to learn God's word to the extent of quoting verses at the slightest provocation. Now that I've been in quizzing four years, I find that quizzing has blessed me so much. When I'm having a bad day, or I'm just plain discouraged or mad, I find that the verses I'm learning pop into my head and help me through tough situations. I even find verses I learned four years ago running around in my head and I can quote them word for word! Over all, quizzing is such a good thing to participate in and I have never regretted joining it." Jessica Plett, 4th year Quizzer/ Dryden FMC

District Tournament –Brandon, MB tion) 1st Dryden Team 2 – Division C (Consola solation) 9th (Con A Heidi Vandenbroeke – Division SK Canadian Mid West Finals – Regina, tion) 7th sola (Con A ion Divis – 1 Dryden Team 7th C ion Divis – 2 Team en Dryd solation) 10th Martin Wightman – Division A (Con 13th C ion Divis – oeke enbr Jacob Vand

Memories of a Quizzer

As a high school student, quizzing was a wonderful opportunity to not only memorize scripture and learn from its teaching, but it was also a time to travel and meet other teens from other churches and communities. The benefit of having quizzed was the amount of Scripture you became familiar with. We also benefited from having a coach who was an encouragement and role model for our team. There was also teamwork, which built our self-esteem, giving us a sense of cooperation and a sense of belonging. I'd encourage anyone to take advantage of the opportunity to be involved in quizzing. Scripture's I have memorized continue to resurface, after all these years it continues to comfort and convict and challenge. "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin." Phyllis Slessor, Pastor to Keenagers – Barrie FMC

top: During the competition 2nd: Team strategy session e 3rd: Martin Wightman doing som ion arat prep l fina den below: Some embers of the Dry m Tea z Qui ist hod Met Free

Dryden Free Methodist Quiz Team and Coaches VISIT THE WEBSITE @ WWW.FMDOG.CA

Andrew Brown 178 Duke Street, Hamilton ON L8P 1Y1 905-527-3289 Email: andrew@fmdog.ca

Director:

Mailing Address: Phone:

D e s t i n a t i o n : In 2004 the Barrie FMC began exploring their involvement in global ministries. After leadership team personnel participated in a Global Awareness workshop with Dan Sheffield, a congregational audit indicated a strong desire to be involved in ministry in West Africa. In the summer of 2005 an Exploratory Team of six persons travelled to Accra, Ghana. The team came back with a proposal to involve the Barrie church in a new church plant in Accra. One of the interesting outcomes of this team was that team leader and local elementary school teacher, John Mark Cockram, began to think seriously about returning to Ghana as a cross-cultural missionary. Read the story below of how the Lord has been leading John Mark and Loreli and their two young girls.

n August 22 of this year, our family is moving to Accra, the capital city of Ghana, in West Africa. This move is happening in spite of the health dangers, lifestyle changes, and cultural adaptation that await us. Why would we want to move 8,814 km away from parents, friends and a great church? The short answer is the Holy Spirit has motivated us to take this assignment. The long answer is really a story: a story about changing priorities, surrender, and meeting needs. Loreli and I have been married for nine years. Both of us were raised by Christian parents who taught us the Bible and both of our families attended church regularly. While we were dating, Lori would often ask me if I had ever considered being a missionary. I replied firmly that I didn't think it was for me. When we married, we began several years of living for the things we thought we needed: a nicely decorated house, a car, advancing our careers, vacations. We were happy. God had blessed us with two daughters who have become wonderful friends. We were very comfortable, maybe a little too comfortable. Spiritually, we were restless. God had provided for us in so many materials ways, but we had yet to risk anything for our faith.

A c c r a ,

G h a n a

returning to Barrie, I spoke to Henry Church (Africa Director for Free Methodist World Missions) and he confirmed that he had been praying for a couple to come to Ghana to work with the teams that would be coming to serve as well. Now that I had become involved and seen what was possible, how would I respond to God? I began to think about why God had blessed us here in the West, but specifically, why had God blessed my family? Why had Lori and I been given our education, our positive church experiences, our skills and talents, our financial stability? The only answer I could find in the Bible was that God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others (2 Co 8:13-14) and that true discipleship has a cost (Mt 16:24-26). Lori and I had the skills and gifts to be of use to the church by going. Could we find a good reason to say no? What is motivating us to give up good jobs, a lovely home, the closeness of a wonderful church family, and the many comforts of Canada? The answer is that God has been changing our stubborn hearts into obedient hearts. Lori and I know that unity in the church is one of Jesus' priorities (Jn 17:22-23). We also know that we can, with God's enabling, be of use in promoting that unity by assisting our Ghanaian brothers and sisters in this assignment. We have had moments of reservation. As the summer begins, and we enjoy our home we ask ourselves, “Did we really just sell this place?!” Do we really know what we’ve gotten ourselves into? Most missionaries would say there's no way to know until you've done it. We're trusting God to provide for our family, and for our spiritual and emotional needs on the field. We look forward with anticipation to the challenges and blessings of building relationships with the Ghanaian believers. We're praying that unity within our denomination will be a testimony to God's grace and a door to the gospel in Ghana. Risks are not frightening when you place your trust in God – they become opportunities for him to be the strength in our weakness. Our hope is that the Ghana Free Methodist Church will become a sending conference in the very near future, and that our experience will be repeated in the lives of Ghanaian Christians.

Katrina continued from page 6

John Mark and Loreli Cockram [inset] their two daughters.

We joined Barrie Free Methodist Church when we moved back to Barrie from Toronto, where I had been finishing my teaching degree. We got involved in a small group and we began asking each other some tough questions about how we were living out our faith. It became very clear to me that I was not investing myself in my relationship with Jesus, nor was I serving his church. Out of those small group discussions, Lori and I were encouraged to get involved in active ministry. While I got involved in worship and teaching ministries, Lori became Missions Director at BFMC. Our pastor had us over for dinner to talk about the church's vision for missions and said to me jokingly, "You know you will be going to Africa?" I laughed, but I had no intention of getting involved. Missions was "Lori's thing." Through a survey of our congregation, the Missions Committee identified Africa as the part of the world in which our church would like to serve. Dan Sheffield put Lori in touch with Pastor Charles Tetteh, a national pastor who had returned to Ghana from the U.S. to start a Free Methodist Church. As plans were made to send a fact-finding team to Ghana to see how we could assist Pastor Charles and his church, I found myself being drawn into the planning and vision setting for our whole involvement with the Ghanaian FMC. I had spent a year at a bible college out west after high school, and at the time I had considered full-time ministry. When I returned home I set my sights on getting a degree and a job and didn't reconsider where my gifts might best be used. With Lori's involvement in missions, a whole range of thoughts and topics began to resurface, and we were able to work through some tough ministry issues together. The Holy Spirit was continually prompting me to give up my plans and be open to what God wanted for our family. Through Lori's prayers for the Spirit's softening of my heart, I began to more actively participate with Lori in missions. By the spring of 2005, I was the team leader for the team that was set to go to Ghana. Within a year, God had reversed my whole mindset! The trip to Ghana was both challenging and rewarding. There were many cultural differences that we attempted to understand (both our preconceptions and the African way of doing things). Pastor Charles had asked me to speak at a series of crusade meetings in two separate neighbourhoods. I felt a real peace each time I spoke. It was simply a feeling of being where I was meant to be. Our team felt the love of the Ghanaian church as they welcomed us. Our team saw tremendous potential for growth in Pastor Charles' ministry. Their vision to establish facilities for Christian education along with their churches fit well with BFMC's desire to assist women and children in Africa. We also saw a need in Ghana. With all of the vision and passion in the Ghanaian church, they needed partners who could assist them in making their vision a reality. On

from Whitby flew into still-beleaguered New Orleans and drove an hour east to Pass Christian for a week. While there, a whole carload arrived from Almonte FMC, bearing Assistant Pastor Rob de Vlugt, Gord Hay, Bob Anderson, Stewart Elder and Scott Barkell. Inspired by Monettes' e-mailed stories and photos, these five intrepids felt Katrina's call and couldn't wait. They committed to 28 hours of driving straight through to Mississippi, using their talents there during an intensive week of construction including upgrades to volunteer sleeping facilities at Camp Gospel. That same week, having heard that Ken Lawrence's FM Care Team vehicles needed some repairs, mechanic Brian Gallagher of Chapel Ridge FMC and a Mississauga friend arrived for a 2-day stint at Camp Gospel. Ken was ecstatic! God's provision took other forms as well. A Christian layman from Indiana arrived just after Katrina and led in developing a beachside relief facility containing two big-top tents. One became "God's Katrina Kitchen" where up to 1500 free meals continue to be served daily including takeouts and everyone is welcome – locals, contractors, volunteers, transients and anyone who walks into the tent. Dawna spent her day chopping onions and carrots, washing pans, etc. turning her hand to any job that needed to be done. She and others produced 200-250 take-out meals daily for volunteers working in homes. The other tent serves as a Distribution Centre for free clothing, food and household effects. Volunteers including Dianne have helped to sort tons of clothing that come in from donors and put them on hangars and racks, or collect groceries to fill orders placed by locals. Olwen worked there to register people arriving, getting to talk

Olwen Sigsworth registering local Mississippians arriving at Distributon Centre

with them and hear their stories. Many were heart wrenching; some people still are traumatized or feeling helpless to cope with their situations. Grant worked there some days to flatten hundreds of cardboard boxes that come through the Center. The local people were so grateful for the contribution which volunteers have made to bringing back some normalcy to their lives. The idea that Canadians would go that far was meaningful to them. The reward for all the volunteers in Pass Christian? New friends, Christian fellowship, opportunities to serve and witness and show compassion, memories to last a lifetime, and surely God's "well-done" for showing that because He cares, we care and must do our best to show His love when disaster strikes. The needs for volunteers will continue indefinitely. You can still help. Contact Lewis Bunn via Labseven@aol.com. Grant Sigsworth is a member of the Whitby Free Methodist Church in Ontario.