live A Baptist resource for women on a mission May - June 2018 · $3.50
A CALL TO CONNECTION SOUL SISTERS Cultivating spiritual friendships (p3)
ROOM TO PRAY Back to School 2018 (p7)
YOUNG GIRLS / OLD SOULS (p16)
live in this issue Connect to Mission 7 » ROOM TO PRAY Back to School 2018 14 » Lost Boys of Bolivia Connect with Others 3 Soul Sisters 16 Young Girls/Old Souls 20 UPTICK An Investment that Appreciates with Time 22 UPTICK Baptist Women 22 » We Remember BIBLE STUDY 18 Bible Study: God and Our Kids
Cover photo credit: RobertZunikoff/Unsplash.com
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cONNECTING “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works,” I read in Hebrews 10:24. I heard those words during my time at NABWU’s New Dreams Assembly last October, seated three rows from the back in a workshop on social media. That call has shifted my approach to several aspects of my work with Baptist Women. It’s given me a desire to hold myself accountable to use all the communications tools we’ve got, in ways wise and wonderful, to encourage you and motivate you to continued acts of love and good works. That call has also led us as an organization to consider creative ways in which we can call women to come together around the presence of Christ (to coin Ruth Haley Barton); to share our spiritual lives with each other; to grow together into Christ who is the head of us all; to serve the vulnerable around us (which is one of the reasons why we fast). We’re so pleased therefore to launch three fresh programs designed to help you gather together. You’ll read about them in this issue. The Passion Translation renders Hebrews 10:24 this way: “Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love.” Mission serves the Beloved. And I’m so proud of the beautiful works rendered by Baptist Women for over 100+ years; expressions of love that resonate with the younger Baptist women you’ll read about in this issue and who themselves serve with the same wisdom, wonder and stamina as did our foremothers. Look for photos and some reports on our April conference in the July/August issue. RJ
VOLUME 91, NUMBER 3
live (formerly The Link & Visitor) began as The Canadian Missionary Link (1878) and Baptist Visitor (1890). Published bi-monthly by Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec 5 International Blvd., Etobicoke, ON M9W 6H3 416-620-2954 Fax 416-622-2308 bwoq@baptist.ca www.baptistwomen.com Executive director Diane McBeth Editor and communications director Renée James 416-651-8967 rsejames@gmail.com Art director Donna Lee Pancorvo of GEPM Group Inc. (www.gepmgroup.com) Contributors Jennifer de Luca, Linda Ellsworth, Jessica Hartwick, Laura Matthews, Diane McBeth, Monique Tatsu, Laurena Zondo Circulation and subscriptions Subscriptions 416-620-2954 live@baptist.ca Subscriptions Individual: $20* (direct or through promoters) US & overseas: $39 All currency in $C unless otherwise noted. The publication of comments, opinions or advertising does not necessarily imply CBWOQ agreement or endorsement. All material is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in print or on websites without permission. Advertising inquiries and freelance submissions should be addressed to the editor. Member, Canadian Church Press. ISSN 2293-5096. Canada Post Customer Number 1008592. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada for our publishing activities. *includes HST
connect with others
SOUL SISTERS Cultivating spiritual friendships
Since 2016 we have been asking ourselves: • How can we create a culture in Baptist Women where it feels natural to talk about spiritual life? We wanted a new model. Existing models for mentoring, disciplemaking and spiritual accompaniment are generally hierarchical. There are models for spiritual direction but they require trained directors and generally cost money. We wondered: • How can we pass on spiritual life in a non-hierarchical way? Between peers and without cost? • How can we make it relational rather than content-based? Soul Sisters is our attempt to answer those questions. How this program will work We encourage you to find at least one other person you can talk to or meet with regularly. You can meet in pairs or in small groups. You decide how often, and whether in person, by phone or by Skype. To get you started, we’ve created a series of questions you may use. However, if you feel more comfortable just sharing and praying together, disregard those prompts and go for it. Of course, it is essential that we each be committed to confidentiality. Be someone your Soul Sister can count on. We will gradually publish resources at baptistwomen.com to help this process along. However, the most important thing is to begin sharing with each other. We hope that as time goes by you will be able to say with the apostle, “Dear friend I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul” 3 John 1:2 (NET).
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Instructions for when you meet Our culture does not teach us how to be good listeners. We interrupt; we pre-plan our answers while others are still talking; then once they pause, we give advice, try to fix people, perhaps even judge them. The following steps are designed to help us get beyond those habits, but let’s give each other grace while we learn.
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If you have more than two or three women, choose a facilitator. You can keep the same one for all the sessions or rotate. The facilitator asks the questions, invites people to respond, and also gently brings the session to an end when time is up. (You may want to agree on a signal that means, Time to say your last sentence or two.) Pray and invite the presence of Christ. Remember He promises that where two or three are gathered in His name He will be in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20).
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Virtual Table Let’s connect You and your group are invited to meet with executive director Diane McBeth. Arrange a visit or a web conference and tell her about your group—your history and your hopes. To get started, e-mail Diane at dmcbeth@baptist.ca or phone our office: 416-620-2953 and leave a message.
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Be silent. Start with one to two minutes. Don’t pray or think over things—just rest with God. Sometimes we need to be quiet and slow down in order to listen well (both to God and to others). Whoever you’ve chosen to keep time can briefly pray or simply say Amen when time is up. Read the first question aloud. Let one person answer while others listen without interruption. Remember to speak for only two to three minutes at a time. (This will get harder as you get more comfortable with each other.) Remember to speak of your personal experience. Have a brief silence to receive their words.
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Let the next person answer.
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Repeat the process with the rest of the questions.
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Pray for each other.
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Overview of Questions for Soul Sisters For complete session outlines, visit baptistwomen. com/resources. We will offer online practice sessions to make it easy to lead a Soul Sisters group. Contact Diane at dmcbeth@baptist.ca. SESSION ONE: Who am I? 1. Share with the others the story of how you came to Christ. 2. Share a favourite Bible verse. What stands out to you about it? 3. Pray for each other Decide when we will talk next.
Praying Scripture Praying Scripture can broaden your prayers and it can give you confidence that you are praying the will of God. It’s easy to do. Read a few verses. (If a number of people will pray, you can choose to each read one verse before you pray, or you can read a short passage and then each pray as you are led.) You can choose verses of praise or petition. Some possibilities include: 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Philippians 1:9-11 Colossians 1:9-13 Here is an example of how to pray Ephesians 1:16-20: “Lord, I thank you for ---. Please reveal Yourself to her so that she can know You more and more deeply. Help her to have ever deeper assurance that You have called her to good things. Let her have great faith and experience Your great power. ThankYou that You compare the power we can have, to Your power when You raised Christ from the dead. Thank You for Jesus.”
SESSION TWO: What is in my soul? 1. Check in: Let’s each share one high point and one low point since we last spoke. 2. Where would you like to grow in your relationship with God? 3. Describe a time in your life when you felt especially close to God. 4. Pray for each other. Set a date and time to talk again. SESSION THREE: Am I growing spiritually? 1. Check-in: Let’s each share one high point and one low point since we last spoke. 2. Where do you see spiritual fruit in your life? Where are the growing edges where God is inviting you to stretch? 3. Choose parts of Ephesians 1:16-20 to pray for each other. SESSION FOUR: What is in my way? 1. Check-in: What has been happening in areas you have been praying about? 2. What barriers are there in your life with God? 3. Pray for each other. Pray that you may experience growing peace and freedom. Pray for the people/ situations you are angry about—pray they would receive as many blessings as you can think of. When can you share again? Mark a date and time. SESSION FIVE: Lord, increase my faith. 1. Check-in: How are you, really? 2. Think about the most formative spiritual experiences in your life (other than when you first met Christ). Take turns sharing the first one, for two to three minutes each. Repeat with one or two more experiences each. (Watch that times do not grow longer than your original agreement.) 3. Pray for each other and for God’s anointing and fruitfulness. Set the next date.
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SESSION SIX: I appreciate you, my friend. 1. Check in: Share one high and one low. 2. How has God been transforming you? 3. Describe a time when God seemed to be using you. What spiritual gift might you have? 4. Pray through Ephesians 3:16-19 for each other. Confirm your next meeting. SESSION SEVEN: Aiming for transformation 1. Imagine yourself and your life if you had never accepted Christ. 2. How are you different from what you were five years ago? 3. In what ways would you like to be different five years from now? 4. Pray through Philippians 1:9-11. Don’t forget to set your next meeting. SESSION EIGHT: Spiritual formation 1. Let’s try something different this time. The ancient practice of examen is one way to facilitate personal reflection. People often follow it just before they go to sleep. Take turns reading one step of the examen at a time. 2. After each instruction, leave one minute of silence for contemplation. 3. After completing the examen, let each person share something they noticed. 3. Close by praying out loud for each other.
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Examen 1. Invite God Ask God to reveal Himself to you. Then sit quietly. 2. Be thankful Recall the day and give thanks for the people and events it contained. Give a sacrifice of praise for anything that was difficult. 3. Notice emotions Pay attention to what you felt during the day. What might God want to reveal to you through those emotions? Ask God to help you untangle your experiences. 4. Notice God What were your God-moments today? When were you aware of Him? What do you think He was doing? 5. Bless tomorrow Give tomorrow to God, who is absolutely trustworthy. Offer yourself to Him in love. Rest. Note: Try doing this at night for the next few weeks. You can try an audio version of examen at http://pray-asyou-go.org/prayer-resources/the-examen/
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ROOM TO PRAY—Back to School 2018 This year, Room To Pray launched with a call to pray and fast during April as a way of preparing ourselves for our Women’s Conference and its theme of Come Thirsty | Drink Deeply ... because there’s more. You’ll find that guide along with tremendous resources (Bible studies, blogs, links to articles and books) at baptistwomen. com/resources and in our March/April issue of live magazine (guide only). Now we invite you to host Back To School prayer rooms in fall 2018 at your church. To offer you some ideas on how to set up this prayer room, Monique Tatsu from First Baptist Church, Chatham took the lead, having conversations with 10- to 18-year-olds: her Sunday School class, her own kids and the high school youth who do a cooperative learning program at her workplace. She noticed several common concerns as they talked about school: technology, violence, peer pressure and self-esteem. In Psalm 91 David gives us two images of God: a mother hen who covers our kids and youth with His feathers and under whose wings they find refuge, and a fortress, a God whose faithfulness is their shield and rampart. The prayer station ideas you see in this guide are based on Psalm 91 and on Monique’s conversations. These ideas can be used either for you to welcome children to pray, or for you to pray for your children and youth. (You may want to adapt some of the instructions.) Our prayer is that all visitors to Back To School prayer rooms will leave having met with God and having had a revelation of how loved they are, deeply valued and thus gifted with purpose and agency to make a difference in the world.
“I strongly encourage you to meet with your kids and youth and initiate some honest talks about what they are facing and how they’d like to see the prayer rooms. The more you involve them in the planning and creating, the more specific to your church the room becomes.” ~ Monique Tatsu
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ROOM TO PRAY THE PROCESS 1. Gather other interested people to be part of the planning. 2. If possible, invite children and youth at your church to be part of this process. Ask them: • What are their concerns and thoughts as they go back to school in the fall? • How can the whole church pray for their concerns? 3. Consider how the whole church can use the prayer room. • Start small: Have one prayer station built each week, leading up to September and keep all the stations up for the first two weeks that kids/ youth have returned to school. • Designate a Back-to-School Sunday: Have Sunday School children, youth and their teachers take as much of the service as possible. Set up the prayer room at least one week prior and invite the congregation to visit before that Sunday and on the Sunday itself. • Have a Back-to-School lunch on a Sunday in September. As part of that Sunday, have Sunday school and youth groups use their class time to visit the prayer room, then invite the adults to visit the prayer room after the lunch. Visit baptistwomen.com/resources to find a prayer room guide with a list of helpful hints on how to set up a room.
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Salt of the Earth You’ll need • A table covered with cloth • Salt shakers (no more than 5, set on the table) Scripture to print out and place on station “You are the salt of the earth. But suppose the salt loses its saltiness. How can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything. It will be thrown out. People will walk all over it” Matthew 5:13 (NIRV).
Instructions for visitors Salt makes things taste better. Salt preserves things. Salt makes things more interesting. Salt brings out flavours in food. Put some salt in your hand and taste. Then pray about how you can be salt in this bland world, and what that means. Why this station? My 10-year-old shared that kids at his school didn’t seem to know what they wanted to do in the future; they didn’t have a sense of how they could make a difference in the world. I found this station idea at ministry2youth.com. ~ Renée
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Pray for Your School You’ll need • large picture of the schools and universities your church children and youth attend or a map of the city with schools and universities labelled • corkboard • small pieces of paper and pens • push pins • Bibles Place the school pictures/map on the corkboard so that students can pin their prayers on top of them. Scripture to print out and place on station “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion” Ephesians 6:18a (NLT).
Instructions for visitors There’s a saying: We don’t talk to our friends about God because we don’t talk to God about our friends. Too often we forget to pray for our friends and for our schools. In this verse, Paul is saying that God asks us to pray “on every occasion” not just in our homes or churches but at all times. You might be saying: How do I do this? The answer: By praying quick, brief prayers throughout your day, in every situation. This allows God’s desires and teachings to be with you through your whole day. Find a place to be by yourself and use the paper provided to write a prayer for your school and another one for your friends.
When you are finished, come back and pin your prayers on top of your school. If you can’t find your school or university, just place your papers on the map. If you are not a student, pray for all schools and universities you see here. Why this station? I created this station a few years ago when my kids were both starting new schools. They had anxieties over leaving, fitting in, making new friends, what to wear on the first day ... We talked about praying not only for their needs, but for the needs of all the students at both schools. ~ Monique
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Leave Your Prints You’ll need • moon sand (available at a department store or toy store) • several containers (at least the width of a handspan and deep enough to hold a medium-sized bag of moon sand) Scripture to print out and display at station “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere, in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” Acts 1:8 (NLT).
Why this station? This is a Pinterest idea that illustrated the chat I had with high school students who do cooperative learning at my workplace—a senior living facility. Their high school is right next door to the facility. We had been discussing seniors, the wisdom they’d learned from experience and how seniors leave strong legacies. One student said: “ I wonder what we will be leaving behind.” That led us to talk about the power of their generation and what their legacy will be. ~ Monique
Instructions for visitors Right before He went back to live in Heaven, Jesus commanded His followers to take His truth around the world.
As you make impressions in the sand, ask God to mould your life into one that points people towards Him.
Spend a moment making impressions in the sand.
Pray that God will help others see the truth about who He is and that He will use you to make an impact in their lives.
As you press the sand, notice how you leave your fingerprints. As you move through your life, you leave your prints on the people around you. You impact them. So... are you impacting them for good or for evil? Are you pointing them toward God or away from Him?
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Sparrows You’ll need • small table with tablecloth • nature items—birds, bird nests, twigs, feathers etc. to decorate the station • Where’s Waldo? book • magnifying glass
Why this station? Our Sunday School class had been talking about being special in the Lord’s eyes. One student asked: “But if there are billions of people in the world all speaking at the same time, how can He just hear me?” I’m sure kids must feel small (as do we). I created this prayer station to show them that God is omnipresent.
~ Monique Scripture to print out and display at station “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” Luke 12:6-7 (NIV).
Instructions for visitors Do you realize how special and loved YOU are? God loves you so much He sent his only Son to die for you and me! Think about your busy day-to-day routine at school. Do you ever feel that you are just lost in the crowd? A small fish in a big ocean? It is easy to feel that way sometimes. When you do, remember this. Even with all the people in the whole world, God can easily find you and be with you at every moment. If His eye is on the sparrow, He is—for sure—watching you! Look at the Where’s Waldo? book and try to find him. Think about how God finds you in the world and keeps His eye on you at all times. You are never alone!
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Come Away Scripture to print out and place on coffee table or on wall near space “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” Philippians 4:6 (NLT). “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” Psalm 119:105 (NLT). “Come to me, all of you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28 (NIRV). ministry2youth.com
You’ll need • a carpet, big cushions, pillows • some Bibles, journals/pens on a coffee table • heart paper (you’ll find this at a dollar store or create your own) • dollar store battery candles and tealights Create a quiet space with mood lighting where youth and kids can just lie, kneel, sit ... and be still.
Why this station? Sometimes it’s hard for kids, youth and even young adults to express their thoughts. Even in my conversations with kids I felt they were still holding back some deep thoughts that perhaps were too personal or that they just couldn’t express. ~ Monique This station is a combination of ideas from Monique and ministry2youth.com. We hope this space gives everyone, especially our kids and youth, some space to rest, pray, be alone with God. God will meet us there. ~ Renée
Instructions for visitors Rest. Sit or lie down and rest.
and just pray for them. No gimmicks. No tricks. Just pray.
Read from the Bible. Pray. Just think of three people in your life, maybe some kids at your school, who need to know the love of God. Write their names on some heart paper
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Journal, doodle, write a note to God, or just sit and be still in the presence of God. Stay here as long as you like.
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Wipe Your Sins Away You’ll need • a large picture of the crucified Jesus (or any art depicting Jesus’ death) to hang on a focal wall • poster board taped to the wall near the picture of Jesus • 3 or 4 small dry erase boards • dry erase markers, felt pens and Sharpies • sponges to wipe erase boards • small table on which to arrange supplies Scripture to print out and place near the station “You are tempted in the same way all other human beings are. God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted any more than you can take. But when you are tempted, God will give you a way out so that you can stand up under it” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIRV).
ministry2youth.com
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” I John 1:9 (NIV).
Instructions for visitors The picture on the wall is of Jesus on the cross. He died on the cross so your sins would be wiped away, and you would be made clean. On a dry erase board write something that separates you from God. It may be a sin you struggle with, someone you need to forgive (at school or wherever) or an attitude about something you need to get rid of.
Once you have written it down, wipe it clean. Look at the clean board and remember that Jesus makes your soul as fresh and as clean as that board you’ve just wiped. On the poster board write a note of thanks to Jesus for what He did. Why this station? I wish I’d had an opportunity to do this prayer when I was a teen. The words I’d have written on a dry erase board: anger, guilt, doubt, fear. ~ Renée
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Lost Boys of Bolivia
by Laurena Zondo Laurena is the former editor of CBM’s mosaic magazine. She has a heart for the empowerment of vulnerable children and youth and is co-founder and director of A Peace of Life, an Africa youth peace and social enterprise registered and based in Rwanda. 14 live • May - June 2018
He was only eight years old when his father abandoned the family. He saw his mother struggle alone to provide for him and his younger sisters. It’s a common story in the notorious “red zone” of Cochabamba, home to gangs, high levels of poverty and broken families. It’s a tough place to keep hope alive. Getting an education can help break the grip of poverty, but delinquency rates are high as children often have to work to help support the family, and they lack support and nurture at a critical stage in their development. The only work the boy’s mom could find was selling orange juice on the street. Worried about the dangers her children would face on the street, she often kept them locked up in the house when she went to work. But then the family heard about Jireh, a project for vulnerable children that Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) supports. The boy started to attend. He received help with his homework and was encouraged to stay in school. He made new friends. It opened up his world. “Before, I did nothing. I just stayed in my house.” Through a local church, Jireh offers an integral approach to care, from helping to meet some of the practical needs of children and their families to providing emotional and spiritual nuture. It is creating stronger
bonds in the family based on Christian principles and helping children to have hope that God is always with them. “They teach us things in life, and help us with what we need… I have been taught the word of God and I feel more comfortable here.” He recently completed the first grade of secondary school and has hope for a brighter future. “I want it to go well for my family… that my mother rests while I work to give everything… I want my sisters to study and become professionals… and I want the church to grow and that more people come to help.” In another area of Cochabamba, a nine-year-old boy lives in prison with his parents and siblings. It’s a common practice in Bolivia among poorer families who have no other options when a parent becomes incarcerated. His father received a 15-year sentence. The boy has grown up in prison. “It’s a very ugly place for my family.” At least the family can leave the prison during the day. The boy goes to school while his mother tries to earn money by selling paintings that his father makes in prison. If she does not sell any paintings, the family will not eat. After school, the boy heads over to Casa de la Amistad (Friendship House), a CBM-supported project for children who have an incarcerated parent. At the Casa, children get a hot, nutritious meal. For many, it will be their only meal of the day. They also get help with homework as well as other assistance including counselling, health and hygiene training and medical attention. The Casa is a place of refuge for children in need of a safe space. “It’s where I can forget the ugly moments that happened with my family… where I can change my life and where I can eat every day … now I learn a lot more about the Word of God and when I grow up I want to be different. “ Later in the day the boy’s mother picks him up and together they continue on, hoping to sell a painting. There are days they return to prison in the evening with no money. Mom was not able to sell any paintings. He dreams of the day when it will be different. “I pray to God that I can improve my family’s situation and my dad can get out of prison… If there was not this project, I do not know what we would do, but I know that God will never leave my family.” Jesus came to seek the lost. So too do these projects. Through the love and care offered at Jireh and the Casa, some of the most vulnerable children in Bolivian society are reached. Programming continues to expand, to offer more assistance to older youth and parents, from life and vocational skills training to family counselling and spiritual guidance. It is helping to strengthen families and improve life—including re-integration into the community.
Photos courtesy CBM
Since 2017, Baptist Women has supported IMI projects in Bolivia similar to Jireh and Casa. You’ll find a report from Kallie Hutton on the IMI program and projects in your March/April issue of live magazine. Kallie and her husband Tim are global field staff in Bolivia. Want to hear more? Kallie and Tim will be in Canada this July to September. Contact CBM for more details. Or visit www.timandkallie. com for more inspiring stories and photos. Note: To protect privacy, children’s names have not been included.
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Photos courtesy Jessica Hartwick and Jennifer de Luca
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t Scenes from the launch of Young Girls / Old Souls
by Jessica Hartwick Jess Hartwick has served in youth ministry since 2014. She’s now on staff as youth director at First Baptist Church, Welland and Dunnville.
YOUNG GIRLS / OLD SOULS
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When I first came to Christ in 2014, I was part of a women’s Bible study that identified one’s core callings. Through that study, I clearly saw that God had radically changed the direction of my life, but it wasn’t to just stand still; there was work to be done. I spent a year of saying yes to whatever came across my path through the church, which included jumping straight into a Muskoka retreat with the kids, joining our Baptist Women group on outings and serving on Sunday mornings. One of the ladies from the Baptist Women group taught me how to make a proper pot of coffee and showed me the beauty in our ushering/ greeting ministry—I could learn everyone’s name and “also,” she would say with an infectious smile, enjoy “free hugs!” Spending time with these wonderful women reminded me of some amazing older women that had been key figures in my life growing up; teaching me how to find my voice, encouraging me and listening to me when I needed someone. In 2016 CBWOQ challenged our church group gatherings to prayerfully choose an anchor cause and presented three areas: children and youth at risk, vulnerable women, and food and community development. God showed me that my passion for youth ministry, and experience and enjoyment of being a part of Baptist Women’s ministry could be connected, but I wasn’t sure how yet. I prayed for Him to show me. I talked with my good friend and mentor, Jennifer de Luca. When we came together to vote on an anchor cause I suggested somehow bridging this gap between the young girls and these wise “old souls.” I continued to pray. Not long after that, Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec put out a curriculum called Transitions that focused on mentoring. God used that curriculum to show me how my vision could become real; through mentoring, we could build a bridge between generations in order to grow closer to Jesus. Equipping people to cross it is where the mission would be. The desire of Young Girls / Old Souls is that it be a
stepping stone for mentoring; a bridge to a common ground where we intentionally gather once per month, as women of all ages, to participate in an activity designed to be applicable and accessible for all. It fulfils a practical need in that there are young women all over who are growing up in a generation becoming more and more disconnected from people, and as a result, they will lack the skills and knowledge that older generations have. These monthly gatherings center around an activity designed to teach those skills. The project also fulfils a spiritual need. In Transitions, I read these words from James Frazier, author of Across the Generations: “‘The best way to be formed in Christ is to sit among the elders, listen to their stories, break bread with them, and drink from the same cup, observing how the earlier generations of saints ran the race, fought the fight, and survived in grace.” Transitions continues: “However, it’s not often we see children and youth relating deeply with adults from their communities, despite the research showing that young people desire to be mentored” (Transitions, Section 3, page 18). The month we intended to launch Young Girls / Old Souls, our Baptist Women group was already planning to gather and knit some baby items for a local mission called Elisha House. We took that idea and used it as our jumping off point to bring out young girls who do not know how to knit, creating a space for them to learn from these amazing women; serving alongside one another and getting to know each other. Our hope is that by providing a place to take those first steps towards sharing life with each other, the friendships built here will go beyond the walls of the church and move into deeper, more intentional mentor-type relationships. Through this process we ourselves come closer to God.
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BIBLE STUDY
God and our Kids Open-ended conversations
In the ‘50s Rosalind Rinker published a little book called Prayer: Conversing With God, one of the most influential evangelical books of the late 20th century. Our question today is, “How do I maintain a meaningful conversation with God... especially about my children?” If you are single, or do not have immediate family, do you pray for the children God has brought into your life? While there are many examples of great prayers in Scripture, the most beautiful conversation recorded is that of Jesus as He earnestly pleads for His group of followers in John 17. What can we learn from this conversation between the Son and His Father?
READ: John 17. Let the incredible love of Jesus envelop you. Your initial thoughts? _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ The premise READ John 16:31-33. The premise for Jesus’ prayer in John 17 is found in when His disciples finally agree to believe what He has said about Himself and His Father. On what do we base our pleas for our children? _________________________ _________________________ _________________________
by Linda Ellsworth
READ Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4 and 2 Timothy 3:15. What is our God-given responsibility? _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ What is our God-given promise? Proverbs 22:6b _________________________ _________________________ _________________________
Linda is the member care coordinator for Christian Camping International, Canada.
The purpose The PURPOSE of Jesus’ prayer is found in John 17:1-5.
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_________________________ _________________________ _________________________ When I pray for my children/grandchildren, is my purpose in line with that of Christ in His conversation with God? ________________ What needs to change? _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ The plea The plea for His “children” (disciples) is found in verses 6-19. READ verses 6-8. In this part of His prayer, Jesus assures the Father that He has followed the desire of God’s heart by: a) “Manifesting” (clearly revealing)... (verse 6) _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ b) Giving them the ... (verse 8) _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ The outcome of which is that they (verse 8b) _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ “I have, and am, faithfully following the call of God to clearly reveal
the Word and character of my Father to my children.” _________________________ _________________________ _________________________
God, His faithfulness in teaching the words of God, and His love for those God had given Him, resulted in God using their changed lives to turn the world upside down!
“I came to Christ after my kids were grown... how do I start now?” _________________________ _________________________ _________________________
The plan READ verses 13-20a. Jesus” plan for His disciples is clearly laid out in verses 13-20a (ICB):
The protection READ verses 9-12, preferably in the International Children’s Bible version. Jesus prays for God’s protection of His children in verses 9-12. Talk about a promise in prayer! Can you grasp the example of Jesus here? All that we have is given us by the Father ...including our children. They are not ours. They are simply “on loan” from God, our Father, to accomplish His work on earth. Take time to rewrite verses 9-12, inserting names of your children/ grandchildren where Jesus refers to His children (disciples). _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ For those of you who came to Christ later in life, and those with children who have left God behind, take courage. Jesus only had His disciples for three years. Yet in that time, His exemplary walk with the Father, His consistent conversations with
In this section, Jesus’ plan and prayer for His followers is three-fold: a) That they would have His _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ b) That they would be kept _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ c) That they would be _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Take a few minutes to rewrite verses 13-20a as your prayer, inserting the names of your kids/grandkids: _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ The progeny The final part of Christ’s prayer is for the spiritual progeny resulting from the witness of His disciples.
_________________________ __________________________ Through those “kids” for whom Jesus prayed, all of Christendom was born! He prayed that their “offspring” might be ___________________ _________________________ as He and the Father were. He prayed that because of their lives, the world would believe that (verse 21)___________________ __________________________ He prayed that they would be given God’s _____________________ _________________________ (verse 22) and that they would behold ______________________ __________________________ _________________(verse 24). He prayed that they would experience “oneness” with Himself and the Father so that the world would see and recognize __________________________ (verse 23). Christ ends this prayer with a great and precious promise. READ verses 25 and 26. As we enter into this conversation with God about our children and grandchildren, let us truly believe that as we “pray without ceasing”, great things will happen (James 5:16). Let us pray with the conviction that our children and their physical and spiritual progeny can set the world on fire for Jesus.
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Uptick
Uptick 2018
an investment that Appreciates with time
Photos courtesy Laura Matthews
Last year, two CBWOQ women, Laura Matthews and Jennifer de Luca, were part of the North America group of Uptick. Three more women are part of Uptick North America this year: Abby Davidson, Meghan Matthews and Kathleen Wilson.
Laura Matthews Last spring was a season of transition as I moved from the joyous flurry of youth ministry and deeper into women’s ministry. At the same time, I was given the opportunity to be mentored alongside nine other female leaders in a program called Uptick NABWU. But, I was not fully awake. I was caught in a cycle of relying on my strength alone—a recipe for burnout. Thankfully, God is gracious and knew this. He made it clear that I should say yes to this invitation, and I’m so glad that I did! Last spring, during our first meeting in Waco, Texas, God woke me up to His real invitation: rest. I had become so intent on doing for God that I had forgotten how to be with God. Our deepest
And this year, as Uptick graduates, Laura and Jennifer are now leading an Uptick Baptist Women group. Here’s what they had to say about their experiences.
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learning that week was discovering sustainable rhythms of leadership; working from our rest, not resting from our work. This was incredibly eye-opening for me, and a lesson I needed to learn in community. It was God’s way of reminding me to rely on His strength and of the blessing that comes when journeying with others. My deepest joy in this process was praying and learning with new friends who became close sisters. Uptick changed my life and continues to shape my spiritual journey. Being invested in by women who have already walked many challenging roads as female leaders was a privilege. Observing living examples of women who pastored, taught at post-secondary institutions and ran non-profits was a true highlight. Often, the majority of examples shown in ministry are male-dominated. While we need our brothers we equally need our sisters. Uptick made sure to show us that equity can exist ...very encouraging yet simultaneously challenging as there is still much need for growth and improvement in heightening female voices and leadership in the larger Christian context. However, with Uptick, I was generously given the tools to sharpen my voice and confidence in leading for the kingdom. Uptick allowed me to see myself the way Jesus does: worthy, equal to my brothers, and loved, for God made me female—intentionally. Presently, I continue to meet
focus was how we presented ourselves in the public eye and also how we spoke in public. We worked with a speech and voice coach, Kate Burke, who warmed us up with her interactive Scripture immersion, an experience which brought us a whole new way and understanding of how to read and meditate on Scripture. Later, we spoke for her Jennifer de Luca From the moment I was asked to while she listened and critiqued us. join in this Uptick NABWU experi- Now public speaking is not one of ence, and through most of the year my strengths and knowing I was to follow, I’d ask myself—why me? being evaluated, my nerves took When I met the women I was going over! It must have been quite the to spend the next 10 months with, I sight to see as she had me run on the spot and try to push a piano really asked why me? I was now a part of a group of ex- while speaking. Now I was nervous traordinary leaders and sitting be- and out of breath! Also in those sessions, Karen side peers, several of whom were ordained, working in universities Pulliam Bowles, of The Etiquette with student ministries, teaching School of the Commonwealth, in as assistant professors of Christian Virginia, taught us the importance studies, holding positions on of how we present ourselves as boards and executives for BWNA leaders and why it matters. Now you may be thinking OK, (formerly NABWU), being lead paswhat does pushing a piano while tors and so much more! I did not hold myself in the same speaking and learning proper etiesteem I did these other women— quette have to do with leadership? so why me? God answered this Well in my personal experience... a question for me, but was I ready to lot. Those lessons in public speakhear what He had to say? You are ing and etiquette were the bow My beloved child. My thoughts are that completed my leadership above your thoughts, My ways above package. They were areas I needed yours. I have a plan for your life. You to be exposed to and learn about— will be tested and stretched. All I ask and I did. Uptick challenged me. It is that you follow Me. Trust in Me. Put in the work as your labour is not in stretched me, it nurtured me—and vain. You will stumble, but I won’t let God used it to mould me. I will foryou fall. I will see you through to the ever be grateful to those who saw end. You are a leader in MY kingdom. in me what I couldn’t see in myself, I most enjoyed our sessions in and for the encouragement along Charlottesville, Virginia. A main the way.
online with one of my Uptick sisters, an East Coast Canadian pastor. We are prayer partners and she is a wonderful source of encouragement. We help each other to live into the lessons learned and the growth that awaits us, even beyond the formal Uptick experience.
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Uptick Baptist Women This year, we have launched our very own Uptick Baptist Women (UBW) in response to our shared desire to pay our experience forward and invest in female kingdom leaders in our local context across Ontario and Quebec. When God opens your heart to new possibilities and affirms the direction of your thoughts and prayers, it’s hard to avoid doing something about it—so we’re on the move with God. At Baptist Women, we have targets to develop leaders and invest in the next generation. Our vision is to mobilize and equip leaders who know how to listen and hear God’s voice, how to work and lead from their rest, how to discern their callings, and how to build a discipling culture in their congregations and communities ... leading to decades of servant, and sustainable, leadership. During UBW we will tend to the spiritual and personal growth of women through online and in-person meetings. Participants will also be exposed to female kingdom leaders in our denomination, thus expanding their network of sisters in ministry. When we invest in the health and wellbeing of influential leaders, we are directly impacting the function and health of individuals and congregations. Our prayer is that this Uptick movement would continue to grow and draw people closer to the heart of who Jesus is and how Jesus led. Seven Baptist women began their UBW journey in March and will continue until December when this cycle ends. Please pray for a year of fruitful learning and breakthrough growth! Laura Matthews, program coordinator with Baptist Women
Bernice’s Pick ... Broken Hearted Joy by Raymond Mowla On sale $10 It is not every day that you meet a Muslim convert, born and raised in Canada, in prison twice, and into addictions of every kind. Raymond’s journey is unique but not impossible for anyone who longs for recovery in any stage of life. Check out his testimony in this book.
All titles available from ReadOn Bookstore 5 International Blvd. Etobicoke, ON M9W 6H3 Tel: 416-620-2934 Fax: 416-234-8840 E-mail: books@readon.ca www.readon.ca
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WE REMEMBER These gifts in memory or in honour of family, friends and others you value will continue to bring good from their lives. Thank you. In Memory of Sheila Davies, Hamilton Margaret Haley, Springford Lorraine Halvorsen, London (formerly Toronto) Eleanor Hudson, Midland Pearl Johnston, Barrie Virginia Keith, Lakefield Norma McKenney, Springford Grace Neamtz, Welland Marjorie Pogson, Whitby Debrah Slaght, Springford IN HONOUR OF Meta Avey, Tillsonburg (90th birthday) Nola Green, North Bay (Long-time member) Madeleine Jenkins, Aylmer (Past president (2017) of Dr. Dorothy Timpany Mission Circle) CORRECTION: We apologize for incorrectly spelling the name of Debrah Slaght in the March-April issue.
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CALLING ALL WOMEN PASTORS IN THE CBOQ!
September 25, 2018 9:30am to 4:30pm Mount Hamilton Baptist 626 Upper Wentworth St. Hamilton, ON
cost, speakers, breakout sessions and more!
email bwoq@baptist.ca to save your spot and receive an invite!
Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec we facilitate authentic experience of God interactive prayer rooms peer spiritual direction Uptick Baptist Women annual spiritual life conference regional events + retreats live magazine + blogs web resources + links
we foster intimate connection with mission strategic giving to international mission grants for local initiatives advocacy for social justice cross cultural experiences (international + in Canada)
education on issues
we invite you to join a group or start your own! sign up for e-link; join our Facebook group; subscribe to live magazine or contact us at 416-620-2954
www.baptistwomen.com
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“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds... “ Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)
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