cmAlliance Magazine Fall 2011

All覺ance

CM

A Resource for Transforming Canada and the World

Discipleship Who needs it? urch The Elephant in the Ch The urgent need to reclaim the process of spiritual transformation

The Everyday Disciple Giving back power to ordinary people

Under-the-Street Kids Restoring the lives of children living underground

Zone Dispatches From A War Poignant insights of an army chaplain in Afghanistan

FALL 2011

GENERAL

ASSEMBLY WINNIPEG

JULY 3 - 7

MARK THE DATE AND JOIN US!

. . . ride forth victoriously from sea to sea

IN YOUR MA JES T Y RIDE FORTH VIC TORIOUSLY IN THE C AUSE OF TRUTH, HONES T Y AND JUS TICE; LE T YOUR RIGHT HAND ACHIE V E AWESOME DEEDS. P SA LM 45:4 ( NI V )

Contents Features 10

The Elephant in the Church

The urgent need to reclaim the missional process of spiritual life transformation

13 Is Your Youth Ministry

39 Under-the-Street Kids

How God is restoring the lives of children living in an underground community

42

Fighting Malaria

43

Beauty In Brokenness

48

Dispatches From A War Zone

Actually Discipling Teens?

The desperate need to move young people toward Christlikeness

15 The Everyday Disciple

Giving back to ordinary people the power to follow Jesus and help others follow him

19 It Only Takes One

Her willingness to share her life with them forever changed a group of younger women

Canadian generosity at work dealing with this disease and saving children’s lives The meaning of this Scripture verse comes alive through her personal experiences The poignant insights of an army chaplain as he goes about his daily duties

20 What Happened to the

Spiritual Role of Parents?

25 Mentor A Child—Change A Life

How making this Kingdom investment can have a lasting impact

28 What Our Churches

Say About Discipleship

30 Breaking the Cycle

Strategies to help reduce the rate at which young people are walking away from their faith

33 Making Disciples By Design

How one church embodies the message of Christ and teaches congregants to do the same

36 Stepping Out In Faith

How this small church is ministering to families of children with special needs

38 Four Fold Kids

Children study God’s Word while learning the meaning of the C&MA symbols

Departments Feeding Your Mind

8 Discipleship – To Read or Not to Read

Justice and Compassion

46 Contest – Calling All Kids 47 Flooded with Kids

Missions Update

45 Experiencing Practical and Spiritual Fruit

Now You Know

54 Seamless Link – A New Paradigm

Personnel

50 Personnel Updates

Perspectives

23 Children Matter

FALL 2011

For a church to assume primary responsibility for nurturing children in the Word is a mistake

Resources

44 Alliance Generated Resources Fall 2011

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EDITORIAL

Allıance

CM

A Resource for Transforming Canada and the World

Where’s the Fruit?

cmAlliance.ca is the national publication of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada.

T

Founder A.B. Simpson President Dr. Franklin Pyles Editor Barrie Doyle Associate Editor Gladys Thompson Design Devon J Andrew Design Inc. Consultant Peter White All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, New International Version © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Agreement No. 40064689 ISSN: 1918-4646 All articles are copyrighted by The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada except where indicated and can be reprinted only with written permission.

Submissions Writer’s Guidelines are available at www.cmalliance.ca. Send electronic inquiries or manuscript submissions to magazine@cmacan.org.

No responsibility is assumed to publish, preserve or return unsolicited material.

For more information or reprint permission: contact Gladys Thompson, The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, 30 Carrier Drive, Suite 100 Toronto ON M9W 5T7 Phone: 416.674.7878 ext 211 Fax: 416.674.0808 e-mail: magazine@cmacan.org Member of the Canadian Church Press

Distinctively Canadian Totally Alliance 4

cmAlliance.ca Fall 2011

here’s an elephant in our church. It’s there. We know it. We talk about it. But we don’t know what to do about it. The elephant’s name is Discipleship.

We all know we should disciple others. We develop programs for discipleship. We agree we should be doing it. But quietly we confess to ourselves that we don’t really know how to do it well and, frankly, sometimes we’re not very successful at it.

We acknowledge that discipleship demands time, effort, patience and perseverance on the discipler’s part. Unfortunately, in our instant society, if we don’t see immediate response and success, we deem a project or program a failure and move on.

So, how do we disciple? What does it mean? Where is the spiritual fruit? This Fall issue takes a look beyond how we worship (Spring issue) and into the meatier subject of discipleship.

Read the articles and feel free to respond—positively or negatively—to the thoughts and ideas expressed. Let’s begin a dialogue on effective discipleship in Canadian Alliance churches.

Remembrance Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made by our armed forces. This issue looks at the blog of an Alliance chaplain who served in Afghanistan. Read about the ramp ceremonies, then remember and reflect.

We also take a look at children’s ministries at home and overseas. How are we ministering to our future Alliance church in Canada? How are we ministering to needy children overseas? Read and enjoy!

The kids, too, can get involved in this issue—there’s a colouring section for them to enjoy. Also check out the exciting new contest for our kids.

Discipleship and kids. Sort of goes together, don’t you think?

Barrie Doyle

Mailbox BEST YET! I have just received my copy of Alliance.ca. It looks like the best yet! I particularly noticed the last pages re Personnel Updates. That was needed. Thanks for a job well done!!

—Milson DeGaris

COULD BE BETTER SERVED I am impressed with the quality of the magazine but wonder if it really serves the Alliance across Canada. I could find similar articles in Christianity Today or the Canadian equivalent, Faith Today.

If there is a gap to be filled it lies in informing us about Canadian missionaries and their fields, news about our churches across the nation and articles on Alliance doctrine and teaching re the Deeper Life. I still receive Alliance Life from the U.S. and wonder why we aren’t producing a Canadian version.

We could be better served by reinforcing our Alliance distinctive—missions and the deeper life. It looks to me like we are just copying something already available.

—Peter Hay WE LOVE IT!! . . . I know that the Freemans do enjoy the magazine as Mrs. Freeman was sharing with how she likes to read the ‘Personnel Updates’ section and Gordon was thrilled about the articles on Worship with features of A.W. Tozer whom he absolutely loves!

Thank you for Alliance.ca. We at Immanuel Alliance Church love it!!

—Connie Schubert READ AND ENJOY Thank you for sending me a copy of Alliance.ca. I greatly appreciate it. I am 96 years old . . . T he magazine is always read from cover to cover and I do enjoy all the articles and then pass it on.

—Clara Waldner

WELL DONE First impressions look great . . . I’ve glanced through it and have it on my pile to read. Well done.

—Ernie Klassen

QUALITY PUBLICATION Can’t wait to read the new edition.

You are creating a quality publication here. Thank you.

—Elizabeth Chotka

THOROUGHLY ENJOYED I thoroughly enjoyed—and continue re-reading—your Spring issue. Is it possible to receive your magazine in digital format? Or to receive specific articles in pdf format, for instance? I don’t want to lose them, but neither do I want to pile up magazines.

Thanks for your attention, and God bless your ministry.

—Marg Jank Editor’s note: Thanks for your note Marg. The magazine articles, as always, are available online at www.cmalliance.ca and you can download any of them in pdf format.

Fall 2011

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Mailbox

To submit a letter, write to magazine@cmacan.org or cmAlliance.ca, The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, 30 Carrier Drive, Suite 100, Toronto ON M9W 5T7. Letters may be edited for space, clarity and style. Submissions constitute permission to use. Include your name, city and province.

Take Issue With I take issue with Larry Thiessen (Worship – By the Book) over his statement that a ‘hue and cry’ came from the ‘crowd.’ The ‘music’ we now have to endure did not come from us; it came from that oxymoron ‘Christian Rock.’

Noise has replaced music, a concert has now replaced worship.

It would be a little more bearable if it were not for the drums.

Played incessantly and always loudly, in small auditoriums, this is torture to the ears! The ultimate insensitivity is when they are played during Communion.

Some months ago a band descended on us from Ambrose.

These people had no idea who they were ‘ministering’ to. I use the word ‘ministering’ with deep reservation. The service was labeled ‘traditional’ but it never sank in, they Rock & Rolled as though they were accompanying Elvis Presley or the Rolling Stones.

I could go on at length about us losing theological cognition through lack of substantive hymn singing, but I am sure you get the drift and realize how old I am. BUT puhleese, don’t feed us the fiction that it came from us.

—B. Camper

PRINT TOO SMALL I have received the Spring copy of cmAlliance.ca magazine. I wish I could read it, but the print is too small!

I am a young senior, a long-time member of The Christian and Missionary Alliance. I used to enjoy reading our publications.

My question is: why does the print have to be so small? Could you not reduce the content as necessary so that the print could be enlarged, so that everyone could have the freedom to read this publication?

Surely, I am not the only one with this concern.

I thank you for reading my letter and hope for some consideration and change.

It troubles me that this is a recent trend in publishing. It seems the senior population is forgotten or overlooked.

—Shirley Fahlman

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HIGHEST PRAISE Your current magazine re Worship deserves the highest praise. We have found it both informative and challenging.

—Elmore Brampton

WONDERFUL JOB I love the magazine—you are doing a wonderful job for the glory of God. —Myrna McCombs

ONE QUESTION You asked about “What is worship?” One way to look at worship is that it is one ‘ship’ in a healthy Christian’s fleet. The other three ‘ships’ are fellowship, stewardship and discipleship . . . .

Also one question about the Spring 2011 magazine article entitled “Communion As Worship.” The author mentions on p. 25 that the Sunday of Jesus’ resurrection was the Feast of Firstfruits. My understanding of this from Numbers 28:26, Leviticus 23:15-17 and Deuteronomy 16:9-10 is that this feast is also called Pentecost and the Feast of Weeks, which comes seven weeks after the resurrection week. Thanks for further understanding on this.

—Jon Kurnik Editor’s note: Pastor Kerr suggests: “you might want to read on the subject of Feast of Firstfruits and Pentecost (also called Shavuot or Feast of Weeks) at: http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2797 Check out this article too: http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1497.”

FANTASTIC MAGAZINE Thank you for your fantastic magazine. As a relatively new Alliance member, I am learning a lot about all the work the members are doing and also becoming more understanding of how powerful God’s love is when we follow his prompting.

May God continue to bless this ministry.

—Janet Grimmett VIEW ON GIVING The article “Stewardship as Worship”

by Keith Pickerill, C&MA Canada, hits the nail right on the head in ‘Worship is Surrender.’ It leaves us with a question by Phil Van der Veen, Peace Portal Alliance, “What does all this have to do with you (me) specifically?”

I used to think that giving to the Lord should be at least 10 per cent of my income. But in recent years I have realized, the 43 per cent of my giving that Revenue Canada returns

to me, is not really mine.

If it is mine, I have not really given the Lord as much as I might think, i.e. the 10 per cent giving minus the 4.3 per cent returned to me is really only about 5.7 per cent giving.

Therefore, in recent years I have given the Lord 15-20 per cent. In ’09, I gave 16.4 per cent and 7 per cent was returned.

In ’10, I gave 20 per cent and 9 per cent was returned.

Also, I have a reasonable pension income and my wife also has a small pension income. So last year the Lord laid on my heart to use Income Splitting. Lo and behold, I actually received 11.4 per cent back and my

wife got money back she had not yet given to the Lord. Where does that leave us in our tithing?

We are now in a position to give even more to the Lord. “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

We must talk it over with the Lord first, and our accountant next. The Lord tells us to “Do good” and “Give cheerfully” (see 1 Timothy 6:17-19 and 2 Corinthians 9:7). The Lord, he is good to me. Amongst a multitude of blessings, I am a cancer survivor for over 23 years now.

I hope there will be other Christians who will share my view on giving.

—Gerry Doeksen

A SPECIAL THANKSGIVING OFFERING

From your church to the ends of the earth.

Celebrate the journey!

• Give. Your giving is always critical and is the only way we pay for these special and ground breaking ministries.

• Pray. Our prayers for our workers uphold them in difficult situations, encourage them and protect them.

• Serve. Ask God if he wants you, whatever age and whatever stage in your life, to serve in practical ways overseas.

Your special gift to this Thanksgiving Offering will help continue the Alliance history of innovation and creativity in sharing the gospel.

Fall 2011

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feeding your mind

DISCIPLESHIP TO RE AD OR NOT TO RE AD

Addressing the tension between learning about something on paper and actually doing it

BY LARRY THIESSEN

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even thousand, two hundred Christian discipleship anyway? and ninety-eight. What’s Actually this whole exercise that you say? 7,298. That, my of trying to find the best friends, is the number of book resources on discipleship seems titles listed under the category a bit counterproductive. After all, of ‘Christian Discipleship’ on a if discipleship is synonymous popular online book retailer. with apprenticeship, as I believe Can you imagine? Seven it is, shouldn’t the focus be thousand, two hundred and ninetyon doing and not reading? eight. That’s a big number and it Isn’t that what apprenticeship poses quite a challenge for me since is all about? Didn’t Jesus instruct my assignment here is to us to follow him, doing give you some suggestions what he did? I don’t . . . we just on what might be the seem to remember him might find ‘best’ resources on the telling us to read all we subject of discipleship. can about him and hope it easier to In fairness, the category that this might help us read about be better disciples. of Christian discipleship is defined in a rather And given the discipleship broad way, encompassing number of books than everything from 100 (remember 7,298) practise it Bible Verses Everyone written on the Should Know by Heart to subject it could Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story be said that we just might of a Former Planned Parenthood find it easier to read about Leader’s Journey Across the Life discipleship than practise it.

Line and everything in between.

During the years when I sold That covers quite a bit of territory books I often wondered, with all and includes a large number of titles the books being written on how that probably don’t exactly fit the to be a follower of Jesus, why description of discipleship, serving we weren’t the best examples more as a catch-all for anything ever of true discipleship. that resembles the activities and We certainly had enough attitudes of following Jesus. But to read on the subject. Perhaps it does beg the question: what is I should tell you to forget

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about the books and get out there and just do something. But that doesn’t seem appropriate.

When I stop and think about the relationship between reading about discipleship and practising it there doesn’t have to be this either/ or dichotomy between the two.

The question really is: “How does reading make us better disciples?”

The primary benefit of discipleship manuals, of course, is that they are written with years of knowledge. They provide examples of how to practise the ways and means of being faithful disciples. They allow us to learn from those who have gone before us and they become a gold mine of resources provided, of course, that we take all of the information, apply it to our lives, and then get out there and practise.

So, is it possible to pick out a few must read books from the lot? Here’s a start.

It might be best to begin with a classic on the subject.

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP

by Dietrich Bonhoeffer This timeless book challenges the notion of ‘cheap grace’ stating unequivocally that being a true follower of Jesus is a costly pursuit.

Bonhoeffer himself practised this belief to its ultimate end, sacrificing his life in the last days of World War II. The Cost of Discipleship compels the reader to face himself and God in any situation and is foundational reading for anyone wanting to be a follower of Jesus.

THE GREAT OMISSION

by Dallas Willard Dallas Willard boldly challenges the idea that we can be Christians without being disciples. According to Willard, the word disciple occurs 269 times in the New Testament while Christian is found only three times — being first introduced to refer precisely to disciples of Jesus.

He goes on to say that “the

New Testament is a book about disciples, by disciples, and for disciples of Jesus Christ. What we see in the earliest Church is that of a special type of person. All of the assurances and benefits offered to humankind in the Gospel evidently presuppose such a life and do not make realistic sense apart from it.

“The disciple of Jesus is not the deluxe or heavy-duty model of the Christian—especially padded, textured, streamlined, and empowered for the fast lane on the straight and narrow way.

He or she stands on the pages of the New Testament as the first level of basic transportation in the Kingdom of God.” The Great Omission teaches us that in the school of life, we are apprentices of the Teacher whose brilliance encourages us to rise above traditional Church understanding and embrace the true meaning of discipleship — an active, concrete, 24/7 life with Jesus.

THE PURSUIT OF GOD

by A. W. Tozer One more classic text. Here is how Tozer himself describes the book.

“This book is a modest attempt to aid God’s hungry children so as to find him. Nothing here is new except in the sense that it is a discovery which my own heart has made of spiritual realities most delightful and wonderful to me.

“Others before me have gone much farther into these holy

mysteries than I have done, but if my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle at its flame.”

So there you have it. Out of all the books that could be considered on the topic, these are the best recommendations I could give. I realize that there is not a ‘how-to’ or ‘X number of steps to being a better disciple’ among them.

All these books are foundational as I believe it should be. Following Jesus is, after all, a practiced lifestyle lived, as Dallas Willard says, 24/7. By starting with the right foundation we might not need all of those other 7,295 books.

Who knows, in the time it has taken to write this column the number might be 7,299. May God help us all to be ‘doers of the Word and not readers only.’ Nevertheless . . .

Read on.

Larry Thiessen lives in Calgary, AB and is the former manager of Christian Publications bookstores

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FEATURE

The urgent need to reclaim the missional process of spiritual life transformation

BY TIM MOORE

The Elephant in the Church 10

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he local church has had a strong run at …IT IS A MOVEMENT congregation is not to be inward gazing, reforming weekend worship services. searching for that which needs fixing in The dust is settling on the worship our lives, but making disciples who are OF INFILTRATION, music wars. Some of us are straining taught to obey God. to read church e-bulletins while others The Church’s mission is to penetrate PROCLAMATION AND are endeavoring to grasp the value of the world, proclaiming the Good electronic Bibles, projected PowerPoint News; it is a movement of infiltration, REPRESENTATION Bible verses and preaching from electronic proclamation and representation which tablets. Oh the changes necessary for leads to spiritual transformation.

WHICH LEADS cultural relevance!

Remember the Gospel? Of course you With these pertinent and culturally do. The Good News of the evangel—that TO SPIRITUAL appropriate ministry reformations comes victory has been won, that we are loved, the fear of how they will be received forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, restored, TRANSFORMATION or practised by our congregations, and justified, rectified, purified, sanctified whether they have caused an ecclesiastical and occupied? The Easter sermon in drift. Shall we now return to our mission?

1 Corinthians 15:1-3 admonishes us to But there’s an elephant in the room. remind ourselves of the things upon Now is the time to return our which we take our stand. That Good attention to the process of spiritual life News is the Bible story. transformation. It’s a process called While our church may be one that is discipleship—walking with or being with deeply connected to God, others, ministry a protégé in an effort to model and teach and the world, do we realize that spiritual what they need to know, do, or become to be like Jesus. transformation is a process God initiates, continues and There was a time when Christians received that name completes? Do we seek to make disciples? Do we move our because they were like Christ (see Acts 11:26). attendees or members through a discipleship process?

Sadly, today Christians are labeled as such because of Can we identify what we believe to be the best their noticeable hypocrisy, religiosity, judgmental attitude environments in which to place people for spiritual and angry salesman-type approach to winning the lost. transformation? Are we committed to only offering these The Greatest Commandments (see Matthew 22:37-40) kinds of environments so nothing competes with the and the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:19-20) are transformational process? obviously revolutionary. But as novelist George Orwell Let’s not drift from the core mission of the Church— wrote: “We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement that of making disciples. We know that drift never of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men.” corrects itself; it must be addressed.

Let’s be committed followers of Christ and carry out It may be likened to your vehicle’s wheel alignment. the obvious first duty set out for us in Scripture—make To correct that dangerous drift towards the shoulder of disciples for Christ’s sake. Non-discipleship is the the road, a mechanic must realign your wheels. A stop on elephant in the Church. the side of the road for a brief tire-kicking session will not There’s an obvious truth that causes saints to squirm: correct the problem.

The church exists for mission (e.g. “Love God, Love In addressing life transformation in our ministries, Others, Serve the World” or “To know him and make him we drift towards complexity and we multi-task. We add known”). programs to cover needs; yet all the while we do not run The Church lives by mission as fire lives by oxygen. these additions through the Gospel’s transformational The Church does not exist for itself. lens, mission, and vision or core values necessary to This collides head-on with the self-indulgent, egoevaluate and measure the outcomes of the add-ons. driven, psycho-babble mentality and three-guitar ooze The second action we take is to outsource the task of that dominates evangelicalism today. Look at bestselling disciple-making. May I suggest we cannot outsource the Christian books, listen to the television evangelist, talk to mission of the Church—the spiritual transformation of the average parishioner and you find the common thread people! We cannot outsource our core! Everyone in the is the preoccupation with felt needs! fellowship is a ministering member in this discipleship If the Church is going to obey Christ in her mission, process. this has got to stop.

How do we address the drift?

Christians won’t stop having needs, real or felt.

First, clarify the discipleship process. Create a However, the preoccupation and prioritizing of felt needs blueprint of how to get to what people are to be. View over Christ’s command to make disciples needs to change. discipleship as a process, not an information dump. The The focus of a church’s staff, leadership, and core whole vision/mission statement of the ministry ought to

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…NON-DISCIPLESHIP

be about discipleship.

Second, be cautious not IS THE ELEPHANT IN to over-program early in the discipleship process.

THE CHURCH Allow the explorer to investigate the Church, the Word and the character of Christ. With exploration comes discovery. Didn’t your teachers say that when you discover the truth you will own it? Once the discovery is made, growth happens along with surrender—and that just might be the spiritual transformation we seek.

Third, ensure the mission of your ministry is

deeply embedded in the discipleship process. With the entrenched mission in place, live the process of spiritual transformation.

Last, be careful to align all your ministry departments with the same spiritual transformation process. Align your team and ministry with a single cohesive strategy. If you do too many things you will not do anything well.

Dallas Willard coined the phrase ‘non-discipleship is the elephant in the Church.’ Spiritual transformation is an enormous task.

For the sake of our churches, we must send the elephant packing.

Rev. Tim Moore is Associate Professor of Youth Ministry at Ambrose University College

Discipleship . . . Where’s the Fruit?

BY TIM BEADLE

ON HIS WAY TO VISIT THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM, Jesus was looking for something to eat. He approached what appeared to be a healthy fig tree in ‘full leaf’ (see Mark 11).

From all outward appearances it seemed healthy.

He knew fig trees bore fruit at the same time they grew leaves, so to find a tree with all leaves and no figs meant it wouldn’t produce any fruit that season. It had used all of its ‘sappy strength’ growing leaves rather than fulfilling its purpose of fig production!

Jesus found the temple in Jerusalem just as barren. The casual observer might have thought the temple was in full operation. There was an endless stream of people entering into it … an endless cloud of sacrificial smoke ascending out of it, and because of that, one might assume the blessing of God would continually be descending upon it.

But nothing could have been further from the truth.

Jesus cleansed the temple, claiming it had become a den of robbers rather than the house of prayer for all the nations. It

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had endless programming, but in terms of ‘fruitfulness’ the branches were bare.

Studies throughout our districts reveal only 10-20 per cent of our churches have a strategy in writing related to a discipleship process or a clearly defined pathway to spiritual maturity in their churches.

Across our country, throughout our churches, there is a growing number of leaders looking and longing for spiritual fruitfulness in the Church.

Consider these questions if your heart is aching for spiritual fruit: 1. If you were to conduct an honest evaluation of the fruitfulness of your church, how would you describe your ‘tree’?

2. What would ‘next steps’ look like for your church in creating a written discipleship process in the coming year?

3. What changes would have to occur to find a healthy balance of activity in your church that produces spiritual fruit?

Rev. Tim Beadle is Church Coach in the Western Canadian District of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada

FEATURE

Is Your Youth Ministry Actually Discipling Teens?

BY DAVE BROTHERTON

The desperate need to move young people toward Christlikeness in a clear and focused manner

I

was visiting a church youth group a couple of weeks ago After working with the ministry team for a few days, it and ended up sitting down to talk with a kid that goes became clear that, although they have a youth pastor and to this youth group every week. He began to tell me about about 25 kids meeting every week, this ministry has no the million questions he has and how he is struggling to try to follow God. HIS BIGGEST FRUSTRATION IS THAT NOBODY, NOT EVEN THE His biggest frustration is that nobody, YOUTH PASTOR, IS GIVING HIM ANY GUIDANCE not even the youth pastor, is giving him any guidance, let alone walking with him!

Despite the fact that he has talked to the youth pastor after actual plan in place to help this student (or the others) to really move forward in their faith. the Wednesday meeting a couple of times, there has been In fact, I’m not sure that the rest of this church no direction or help. has a plan for intentionally generating movement in He has never been contacted outside the mid-week discipleship. The church has it all on paper, and it is youth group meeting, and never been counselled or brilliant; but I didn’t see it in action! guided in his spiritual journey apart from the group teaching by the youth pastor . . . a nd this kid is longing The youth meet every Wednesday. They have some for it!! fun and do a Bible study, but there is no discipleship

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happening at all. I would hate to think that this scenario is common, but I can’t help but wonder when I see churches are busy with great programs, buzzing with activity and still have no discipleship going on. . . . MOST KIDS From my experience of over 25 COME TO YOUTH years in youth ministry, both in the church and para-church, I can GROUP WEEK say with all honesty, that most kids AFTER WEEK come to youth group week after BECAUSE THEY week because they want to learn, WANT TO LEARN, change, seek, ask, discover, impact their world, grow and thrive . . . not CHANGE, SEEK, because of the games!

ASK, DISCOVER, If they are looking for fun and IMPACT THEIR games, why would they even look WORLD, GROW to the Church? Would you? I think we might just be confusing kids AND THRIVE . . . by bringing them to church and spending more time goofing off than talking about life . . . a nd God. If this is your church, or your youth ministry, I challenge you to try an experiment. Over the course of the next 4-6 weeks, slowly switch your program from 75 per cent games/25 per cent learning to 85 per cent learning/15 per cent games.

You will likely be surprised after a couple of months to see that your attendance will stabilize and probably even grow. You will also likely see the kids will be more open to bring friends. Why? It is true that fun and games may attract kids; but it is equally true that fun and games will not keep kids. Kids will stay because there is value! Kids will stick around because we are talking about important, life relevant things in the context of relationships with depth.

Yes, fun and games will keep some interested . . . about 17 per cent to be precise. We need to ask ourselves, “Am I ‘planning’ to miss the other 83 per cent?”

We need to plan with a clear picture of where we are going in discipleship. Spiritual development is a

journey—have you clarified the destination? Have you intentionally laid out the pathway?

Discipling young people and mentoring them towards a well-balanced, mature, godly life may happen occasionally if approached in a haphazard way; but will not happen consistently without an intentional plan. Why do we even have a youth ministry if we are not really doing this?

Is it really nothing more than teenage babysitting or keeping the kids out of trouble or giving them some positive influence? Let the YMCA do that! Let’s be the Church! Let’s be all about discipleship.

I hope that we are asking ourselves, “Where will these students be in 10 years?” Will they be searching for more fun and games? Will they be bouncing from one thing to the next, looking for the superficial?

Will they be solid leaders in our churches? Will they be elders? Will they be heading into ministry?

These things can be reality if we lay solid tracks for them to run on, providing the constant attention and guidance along the way. What things are we intentionally providing that will take these kids to where we desire to lead them?

Here are some questions for contemplation: n Do you plan your youth event/activity and then figure out how to bring a Bible lesson into it? Or do you lay out the year’s discipleship plan and then ask, “What is the best thing we can do each week to accomplish this? n Is more than 50 per cent of your group time spent creating fun? Or is more than 50 per cent of your group time spent creating solid young men and women of God? n How much of your youth leader’s time (volunteer and paid) is spent investing in the lives of young people outside of the group time?

Rev. Dave Brotherton is National Youth Ministry Director of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, Director of Legacy Youth Conference and Associate Professor of Youth Ministry at Ambrose University College

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE Geiger, Eric and Jeff Borton, Simple Student Ministry: A Clear Process for Strategic Youth Discipleship, Broadman and Holman 2009.

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FEATURE

THE EVERYDAY DISCIPLE Giving back to ordinary people the power to both follow Jesus and help others follow him

BY DAVID FREEMAN

WE ALL KNOW THAT THE LAST INSTRUCTION OF JESUS TO his disciples was to “make disciples.” However, I think we have either reduced the command so that it refers only to evangelism, or we have complicated the command so that it refers to formal ‘discipleship’ programs.

I am in favour of both evangelism and formal plans that lead to the maturing of disciples. However, I fear we have lost the power of ordinary disciples who constantly, in their everyday lives, are both disciples and people who disciple others.

After all, is not the last discipleship command of Jesus simply a restatement of his initial discipleship invitation: “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17)?

That first discipleship invitation gives us the essence of discipleship: A disciple of Jesus is someone who follows Jesus and who helps others to follow him (i.e. is a “fisher of men”). Note that the two go hand-in-hand.

When Andrew and Simon left their nets in response to the invitation, it was a response to both aspects of that invitation: they were willing to follow Jesus and they were willing to become fishers of men. In other words, by definition, a disciple is also a discipler.

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A DISCIPLE FOLLOWS JESUS • • • The first aspect of being a disciple is that a disciple follows Jesus. A follower of Jesus is transformed by the experience of being with Jesus. That transformation is evident in a number of areas. The core transformation that happens is in the disciple’s character.

A DISCIPLE As Jesus said, “everyone who is fully trained OF JESUS IS will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).

SOMEONE As a disciple spends time with Jesus, the WHO character of Jesus (e.g. the fruit of the Spirit) begins to be reflected in the disciple. Thus FOLLOWS Jesus looked at Simon and, knowing the JESUS AND transformation that will take place in him, WHO HELPS renames him Peter; Nicodemus was told that OTHERS TO he must be born of the Spirit; and Zacchaeus FOLLOW HIM had a change of heart when salvation came to his house. A disciple is changed from the inside out as Jesus is followed.

A second transformation in the disciple is a change of perspective, or worldview.

This involves changing one’s mind about what is true and embracing a new set of values. Most of the teachings of Jesus, whether in clear statements or in parables, were designed to challenge his disciples to see the world in a new way.

Statements like “You have heard it said, but I say unto you . . .” or “This is what the Kingdom of God is like . . .” taught the disciples new truths. Statements like “You cannot serve both God and money” and “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” taught the disciples new values. New truths coupled with new values meant a transformation of perspective.

The third transformation in the disciple is a natural consequence of the change in character and in perspective—a transformation of lifestyle. Followers of Jesus begin to have a different set of priorities than they used to have and therefore they begin to act differently than they did before.

Jesus told his disciples, for example, that they could seek the Kingdom of God first, that they could quit worrying, that they could store up treasures in heaven and that they could turn the other cheek. Over time, disciples begin to build their lifestyle around the priorities of Jesus.

A fourth transformation in the disciple embodies all of the other transformations—a transformation in relationships. Those who follow Jesus begin to love others and serve others.

Jesus both taught and modelled a lifestyle of love and ministry, radically illustrating what it means to be other-centred, including relating to those who are most vulnerable and who are most unlovable. As disciples are transformed in character, perspective and lifestyle, their relationships are also transformed.

Now, no doubt Andrew and Simon and the other early disciples did not fully recognize the implications of their

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BEING A DISCIPLE IS A LIFELONG PURSUIT WHICH IMPACTS ALL OF LIFE

decision to follow Jesus. But then that can be said of all of us.

After all, discipleship is a process, not a destination. It is a lifelong pursuit which impacts all of life.

Let me say that again—being a disciple does not start at conversion and end at some defined or undefined state of maturity. Being a disciple is a lifelong pursuit which impacts all of life, day by day.

Let me also point out that growing as a disciple does not simply involve growth in commitment to Jesus. I appreciate the intent of those who express their goal as making “fully devoted followers of Jesus.”

But Jesus said that if someone wants to follow him, that person must be willing to take up his cross daily. Simon and Andrew left their nets when Jesus called them—that is a high level of devotion starting from day one!

However, their progress as disciples was to learn over time the implications of their devotion to Jesus. Jesus assumed that his disciples would be fully devoted. What he did not assume is that his disciples would understand all of the implications of that devotion—thus he taught and modeled that for them as he spent time with them.

A DISCIPLE HELPS OTHERS FOLLOW JESUS • • • The second aspect of being a disciple is that a disciple helps others to follow Jesus. Andrew was introduced to Jesus by John the Baptist, spent a day with Jesus, looked for Simon to tell him “We have found the Messiah” and then went with him to see Jesus.

Jesus met Philip, who responded to the invitation to follow, then found Nathanael and invited him to “Come and see.” Matthew responded to the invitation to follow Jesus and soon after hosted a dinner for his friends and Jesus. Each of them, apparently instinctively, knew that one does not follow Jesus by oneself; a disciple helps others follow Jesus too.

It seems to me that the missing element of discipleship in most churches is the recognition that every disciple helps other disciples to follow Jesus and that such help is an everyday aspect of being a follower. Somehow we have assumed that it is mature disciples who teach immature disciples and that therefore ordinary, everyday disciples are not important to the discipleship process.

We have done so, perhaps, because we have confused leadership development models with discipleship. We think of the relationship of Barnabas to Saul and of Paul to Timothy as models of discipleship when, in fact, they are models of leadership development.

My point is that ordinary, everyday disciples, not just super-disciples, make disciples. As a disciple, I have the responsibility and opportunity to help others follow Jesus.

Similarly, those around me who are disciples are helping me to follow Jesus better too. How does that happen?

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A neglected insight into the discipleship process is found in the relationships that the disciples had to one another as they followed Jesus. The disciples not only related to Jesus, they related to one another.

What discipleship principles can we learn from them?

1. Travel With One Another Note that Andrew took Simon to Jesus and that Philip took Nathanael to see Jesus—they did not just send them to Jesus. The disciples travelled, not only with Jesus, but with one another. They spent hours, many hours, together.

They walked together, ate together, sailed together, watched Jesus together, sat down on the hillside together, listened to the teaching of Jesus together and they learned together. And they not only learned from Jesus, they learned from one another. How could they help but learn from one another?

The simple discipleship principle that we can apply today is that disciples help one another follow Jesus when they travel through life together. That means doing more than showing up in large church gatherings or even small group gatherings, essential as those gatherings are.

It is the informal contacts between the formal meetings that are most important. It is when disciples who are following Jesus walk through life together with other disciples who are following Jesus that they are able to help one another develop transformed character, transformed perspective, transformed lifestyle and transformed relationships. Churches need to encourage and make room for disciples to simply travel together.

2. Talk With One Another Reading the four Gospels we get a glimpse of the conversations of the disciples. We know they argued with one another, asked questions of one another, and they no doubt tried to answer one another’s questions.

One can almost hear them asking: “What did he mean by that?”; “Why did he do that?”; “Who is he, that even the winds and waves obey him?” Even their arguments were often their attempt to make sense of the teaching and life of Jesus.

The discipleship principle that we can apply today is that disciples are able to help one another follow Jesus as they share what they learn, as they report how God has worked in their lives and as they express their questions.

They can discuss what they read in Scripture, what they hear taught from the pulpit and what they study in small group sessions.

Most importantly, they can grapple with how that truth impacts their lives. They help one another follow Jesus as they build relationships of trust with one another, encouraging each other to develop character that reflects Jesus, clarifying one another’s understanding of truth, challenging one another’s values and testing one another’s priorities.

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Again, I suggest that this happens as disciples travel through life together. It is not a formal “I am the discipler and you are the disciplee” kind of relationship. That is why even new disciples can help more experienced disciples follow Jesus.

The most effective discipleship is simply ordinary followers of Jesus who are willing to receive input into their lives from other followers of Jesus and who are willing to share insights in return. I wonder what impact Christians would have if each one made the simple commitment to talk with Jesus and to talk about Jesus with at least one other person each day.

3. Team Up With One Another Jesus modelled servanthood throughout his ministry and he taught his followers to do the same. From the simple task of distributing bread and fish, then collecting up the leftovers to being sent out in pairs to preach repentance and heal the sick, Jesus expected his followers to work together for the sake of the Kingdom.

Indeed, no doubt it was as they served together that they experienced the most growth in character, in understanding truth and in reorienting their values and priorities.

The discipleship principle that we can apply today is that followers of Jesus are able to help one another follow Jesus when they team up for service. That may involve participation in one of the structured ministries of the church, but it may also involve simply seeing a need in the community and addressing it.

The service may range from simple acts of kindness to addressing issues of justice or sharing the Good News of the Kingdom. The ministry may serve an individual, a family or a whole community.

Most importantly, it will be done in the name of Jesus and as an extension of the ministry of Jesus in our world. And in the doing of ministry together with other followers, disciples will experience what it means to follow Jesus, will be transformed in the process and will be helping their team members to follow Jesus.

THE EVERYDAY DISCIPLE • • • I believe that churches should have a discipleship plan and process that invites everyone to become disciples, that helps new disciples become oriented to their faith and that facilitates all disciples to continue to be transformed.

That process will have some formal and structured elements. But central to any discipleship plan should be the unleashing of ordinary disciples to follow Jesus and to help others follow Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit—everyday!

Rev. David Freeman, BRE, MEd is Vice-President, Strategic Interface for The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada

FEATURE

IT ONLY TAKES ONE Her willingness to share her life with them forever changed a group of younger women

BY RHONA HATHAWAY

M

rs. A was an extraordinary woman. Not because she lived an adventurous life or experienced amazing events, but rather because she was obedient, transparent and completely devoted to her Saviour.

In contrast, we were a small group of young women from non-Christian families lacking a much needed spiritual role model in our lives. Knowing we needed help, we sought to find someone willing to be our spiritual mother. This is where our lives intersected with another woman in a way that would forever change and shape us.

Mrs. A., as we lovingly called her, was in her 70s, very conservative and most definitely cut from the ‘June Cleaver’ mould. We were in our 20s, idealistic and much more liberal minded. Yet together we forged ahead to develop a close relationship where we laughed, cried, questioned, hoped, prayed and lived life in mutual transparency.

While our relationship started with Mrs. A. encouraging us, the roles often changed and in the end, we were the ones to come alongside her, to support and encourage her as she struggled with her husband’s terminal illness.

Even then, as she faced her husband’s death and her certain widowhood, she continued to show us how to live with hope in Christ no matter where our journey takes us.

Mrs. A. would be the first person to say she had nothing special to offer—no Bible college degree, missionary experience, or specialized discipleship training. However, she had married, raised a family and lived a godly life even while experiencing joy, sadness, discouragement and fear.

She had everything we were looking for and needed – faith, honesty, humility and most importantly, a willingness to share her life with us.

This is the essence of discipleship—living a transparent life in relationship with others. If we are truly honest, we will admit that we deeply crave intimate and safe relationships with others where we can be real without fear of rejection.

In his book Transforming Discipleship, Greg Ogden writes, “At the heart of discipling is a relationship in which one or more believers assist or invest in each other in order to grow to maturity in Christ.”

Ogden suggests that a small group of three or four lessens any assumed hierarchical structure, thus alleviating the pressure felt by leaders to have all the answers and enabling mutual growth. In our small group setting with Mrs. A., we were there for her when she was the one in need.

For some time now, church leaders across the country have been concerned about the lack of discipleship in local congregations. Many discussions have ensued as to the best way to do discipleship. Where and how should it begin?

Meanwhile, another generation of believers is struggling with the …we deeply uncertainty of how to live out their crave intimate Christian faith. How many more training seminars and conversations do we need and safe before we are ready enough to begin the relationships work we are all called to do: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, with others baptizing them in the name of the Father where we and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” can be real (Matthew 28:19).

It only starts when one person is without fear willing to invite a few others to join them of rejection on an honest journey towards Christian maturity, shining the light of God’s Word on the highs and lows of life. It only takes one to be obedient to the call. It starts with me. Will you join me?

Rhona Hathaway is Pastor of Children and Family Ministries at Crossroads Church, Medicine Hat, AB, and District Women’s Ministry Coach with the Western Canadian District of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada

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FEATURE

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For a church to assume primary responsibility for nurturing children in the Word is a mistake

BY CAMILLE HENRY

W

hen I started out as a student ministry pastor, parents weren’t the enemy but they were indirectly disregarded.

I can’t tell you what pivotal event happened to change my thinking but I can tell you now that I regret not paying more attention to the needs of parents in those early years of ministry.

Why were the parents neglected?

Here it is. I arrogantly believed that the few hours I spent with students were good enough to produce fully devoted followers of Christ—disciples. I have since repented of that foolish and prideful thinking.

I now wonder if I was the only one because, in the world of student ministry, we are shaking our heads at the number of churched students and adults who are walking away from their faith. Some of us might be wondering what went wrong.

Did I preach the wrong messages? Were my illustrations ineffective? Were the small group studies too weak? Did we play too many ‘drink the pop out of a dirty sock’ or ‘chubby bunny’ games? Not enough retreats? Not enough mission trips?

I have been privileged to minister to students for almost 13 years and I’ve seen the student ministry trends cycle and recycle over the years. In that time, I have come back to what my youth pastor taught me.

The trends come and go, but what is important are the relationships where we teach and model the journey of walking with the Lord together. It’s discipleship. It is teaching and it is modelling.

As I research ministries like Mark Holman’s Faith at Home and Reggie Joiner’s Think Orange and observe what is happening in the lives of families and marriages around

me, I wonder if we have done a disservice to parents. Have we taken the role of discipling other people’s children too far?

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 says, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (NKJV).

This passage states that the responsibility of discipling children belongs primarily to parents. Yet we, the Church, have said, “Come and let us disciple your children and teenagers.” We have segregated them into different parts of the church facility and have taken on the role of discipling other people’s children.

We have indirectly trained parents to believe that the Children’s and Student Ministry Pastors will complete the task of discipling their children in the same way they expect the piano teacher to teach their children to be accomplished musicians.

The challenge to us as leaders is to seriously consider the message in Deuteronomy 6:4-7—that the discipling of children is the responsibility of the parents.

Let me be clear about the role of the Children’s and Student Ministry Pastor. Children’s and student ministry continues to be of great value, especially if you want to be a church that reaches out to the community.

They will reach and disciple children and students

HAVE WE TAKEN THE ROLE OF DISCIPLING OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN TOO FAR?

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REMIND THEM OF THE AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY AND HONOUR THEY HAVE TO DISCIPLE THEIR CHILDREN

who do not have faith-based homes. They are also needed to enhance, build upon, resource and amplify the discipleship that should be happening at home.

I still believe that there is great value in having separate spaces and ministry times for students and children along with opportunities for all to come together. However, more and more the Children’s and Student Ministry Pastors will need to expand their reach to include parents.

In the entertainment industry, parents are portrayed as busy, self-absorbed, bumbling fools who can’t get anything right. And our culture, including our congregations, believes that lie of who and what a parent should be.

Besides Mother’s and Father’s Day, what are we doing to uplift, teach and empower the parents in our churches to fulfill the role the way God intended?

I have a strong-willed but sweet four-year-old named Chloe. The journey to have her was long and hard but nothing prepared me for the shock and feelings of inadequacy when my husband and I realized that we were responsible to help her know God and live a life that pleases him.

It was one thing to take someone else’s child as a student for a few hours a week and be their pastor but this was totally different. I remember saying to myself, “What have I gotten myself into?”

We knew that we could keep her fairly healthy and well-adjusted but to take care of her spiritual growth?

What an honour and humbling responsibility! We knew that as amazing as our Children’s Department is, this was our job to do and we started working on it right away.

We read all the books about praying for children, looked for all the right Veggie Tale videos, spent hours picking the right bedtime devotional and read every Dobson parenting book available.

All those things are good and we found some great resources but when we came back to Deuteronomy 6 the message was clear. God asks Chris and me to love him first, and then model and teach it to Chloe.

Chloe needs to hear us talking about God daily. We need to be looking for teachable moments where God is talked about, praised, thanked, and spoken to.

If it is Chris’ and my expectation that Chloe will continue to walk with the Lord, past junior, senior and university graduation, then it starts with us. Chloe needs to see and hear her parents live a life surrendered to our Saviour.

I believe the parents of the students I serve know that it is their job to disciple their children but what am I doing to help them? Firstly, I speak highly of parents in front of the students. I remind our students that their parents have great knowledge, experience and love them more than I could. If I want my students to honour their parents, they are going to see me do it.

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I make sure that the parents in our ministry know how to be in contact with me and I am in contact with them on a regular basis. There is much more that I want to do . . . start small group studies and prayer times for parents, encourage family events where parents are welcomed and not shunned, research and read so that I can offer resources to parents, and most of all, pray for them.

I have not written a perfect program or curriculum but my heart is beating for the restoration of the family the way God intended. I’m not planning a protest but something needs to be done.

I want to be proactive so as the Student Ministry Pastor I am working on ways to help parents disciple their children.

But it can’t just be the Children’s and Student Ministry Pastors doing it.

If we want the children and students in our churches to continue their faith into their adult lives, then there needs to be a plan to disciple their parents. Who is doing that in your church? If parents are not discipled, how can they disciple their children?

If you haven’t already, please take a look at what is happening in the families in your church. Talk to the parents in your church. Remind them of the awesome responsibility and honour they have to disciple their children. Ask them if they need help. Do they feel equipped?

Do they know what the Description of a Discipled Person is for their children? Do they need assistance knowing those things? If there are single parents, talk to them and see where they might need help. Pray, think and dream about what you can do for the families in your church and community.

My intention is not to be critical or create more work for our pastors BUT CAN WE and boards. These words come from ALSO BE A a heart that is aching by the statistics and the realities of broken families, PLACE THAT marriages and adults who are IS PROACTIVE walking away from their faith.

IN HELPING The Church has been called OUR PEOPLE a hospital for broken people and rightly so. But can we also be a place AND THEIR that is proactive in helping our FAMILIES LIVE people and their families live the way THE WAY GOD God intended?

INTENDED? What happened to the spiritual role of parents? Maybe they are not as equipped as we think they are. Let’s help parents be disciples so that they can reclaim their role as disciplemakers.

Camille Henry is Pastor of Student Ministries at Unionville Alliance Church, ON

perspectives

Children Matter Providing them with an opportunity to discover and follow Jesus

BY PETER WHITE

Photos Courtesy Dan Marritt

IN HIS BOOK Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, researcher and author Dr. George Barna writes that all facets of moral and spiritual development—whether it relates to our concept of the world, our faith or our behaviour—start by the tender age of two years.

After that, the process accelerates and by the age of nine, the spiritual foundation of a child’s life has been laid and will undergo very little change from this age onwards.

Studies show that between 60 per cent and 85 per cent of people who make a decision for Christ do so between the ages of four and 14 years.

These data confirm evidence that children and young people are the world’s most fruitful mission field.

According to current figures from Statistics Canada, children under the age of 14 years form approximately 17 per cent of this country’s population. That amounts to roughly 5.6 million children and young people.

With such a significant proportion of the population in its most impressionable stage of development, children and young people should matter to the Church. It therefore seems vitally important that we take advantage of every opportunity to bring the Word to them in an effective and systematic manner. cmAlliance.ca recently interviewed Dr. Franklin Pyles, President of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, and asked him to share some of his thoughts on this subject.

What are some of the different types of children’s programs you have seen across Canada?

The Canadian Alliance provides programs for children in three basic venues, with some variations.

Sunday morning gives churches a chance to minister to the children of congregants. This used to be Sunday School but, in many places, it has been reduced to a program run during the adult service time.

Second, there are during-the-week programs which are very valuable in bringing the ministry of the Word to neighbourhood people. And finally, there are various summer programs.

Why is the investment in summer children’s programs so important to a local church?

The investment of time, talent and money in any children’s program is one of two of the wisest investments the church can make. Survey after survey show that children make commitments to Christ that last a lifetime, and that the foundations of a life of belief are laid in childhood.

As a result of solid summer programs, the church is able to partially fulfill its obligation to pass faith to the next generation.

What are the advantages of being able to minister directly to children through summer programs?

Summer programs, be they a Vacation Bible School (VBS) or various camp programs, offer an extended time for relationship building and for teaching the Word in a manner whereby the narrative as a whole can be grasped.

In this way, not only is the heart touched but also an understanding of the Word is given which makes further teaching in the teen years possible.

How does a VBS differ from a regular Sunday School program?

In Sunday School, we want to communicate a particular set of truths with some life action as a desired result. Much of what is taught has to do with the child in the family—the behaviour of the child in relation to her parents and to her siblings for example. And there are moral lessons, such as the lessons of the Ten Commandments, which can form the foundation of a lifetime of moral living.

But in every children’s program, the story of Jesus—his birth,

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Photos Courtesy Dan Marritt

life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and glorious return— must be taught again and again.

Every child who comes out of any of our children’s programs should be able to narrate Christ’s story without hesitation.

looked at me and said, “that’s you talking” which it was, but then he just snapped back into the experience. It told me how different the learning process is for children, how they enter in and receive what we are teaching.

What are two or three of the most interesting experiences you’ve personally had being involved in VBS programs?

I won’t mention how we left a child on Belle Isle in Detroit and I, as pastor, had to endure a tongue lashing from a Detroit policewoman.

I might mention my wonder when, in the midst of using a lion hand puppet, a five-year-old suddenly

Are there any additional thoughts you would like to share about the value and importance of children’s programs?

That our children have been affected by electronic media is undeniable.

However, they are bright and eager to learn, so we must never think that the necessity of speaking on a child’s level means that we must dumb

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down the experience.

This spring I had the privilege of meeting pastors from two tribal groups that our Alliance International Workers have ministered to for much of the 20th century. These are people I learned about as a child and I was challenged by my teachers that they were lost, they needed Christ, and that I should give money and give my life for the cause of spreading the Gospel.

We must not hesitate to continue giving our children solid teaching and heart-burning challenges.

Peter White is an independent communication, media and adult education consultant

FEATURE

Mentor A Child Change A Life How making this Kingdom investment can have a lasting impact

BY MELODIE BISSELL

I

remember the phone call vividly: “Melodie, your mother and my mother are good friends. Could I take you out for hot chocolate after school next week?”

Deb Kuyers thus entered my world. I was barely out of elementary school and this beautiful, vivacious high-school senior wanted to spend time with me! That phone call changed the course of my life.

Forty years later, I still remember the investment Deb made in my young life as a mentor.

I salute my mother for encouraging Deb to call me. Though my godly, stay-at-home mother was a Sunday School teacher, elder’s wife and Good News Club® teacher, she recognized that other Christians could play an important role in building on the spiritual foundation she and my father had laid.

Deb is one ‘hero of the faith’ in my life. Others are Sunday School teachers, club leaders and ministry leaders.

Don’t misunderstand; I believe it is the responsibility of Christian parents to raise their children in a Bible-based, Christ-centred environment. I have had the privilege of leading all three of my children to Christ. Together, my husband and I are laying the foundation for their faith.

OTHER GODLY ADULTS MAY However, I know that where we fall short a club leader, ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT Sunday School teacher or the parent of a friend can OF A NATURAL OR SPIRITUAL GIFT provide the additional strength and direction they need through mentoring. Other godly adults may encourage the development of a natural or spiritual gift we, as parents, are unable to develop.

Touching the life of a child can occur naturally. Encouraging words are cherished and life altering. They make a child feel valued and eager to excel—a caring, ‘cool’ adult noticed them! Those words may be penned in a secret diary, cherished deeply in a heart, becoming a catalyst for future success.

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As a mentor, be intentional in building a relationship with the young person, not only for the purpose of determining where they are on their spiritual journey, but also to identify similar interests. Ask God to show you how to help this child mature spiritually.

Take all precautions for safety and protection for yourself and for the young believer in your care.

Here are some things to consider: n Make a point of showing affection to all children in open places. n Children need touch as we all do, so give them a high five, pat on the back or a side hug, but always in view of others. n If a child needs to be comforted, do it by placing your arm around a shoulder and giving a gentle hug from the side. n Always respect the integrity of a child. Allow them to back away from your well-intentioned affection if they wish. n If the child needs to have a private conversation with you, always stay in view of the group or leave a door open. n When mentoring children, do it in public, preferably with a small group of children, and always with the knowledge of the parents/guardian. n Use the two-adult rule—at all times attempt to have two adults who are not in the same family caring for children.

Working with another mentor, choose two young people you want to spend time with. Begin by looking

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close at hand to find a child who could benefit from an additional spiritual role model in his or her life—they could be your niece or nephew, the grandchild you love spending time with or the doorbell ringer from next door.

Contact their parents and discuss your plans. It is crucial to celebrate the parent and child relationship, honouring their relationship above your own.

FORTY Most parents are honoured and pleased to have another adult invest in YEARS the life of their child. Often the most LATER SHE thankful are single parents who know ASSURES that another male or female role model ME SHE will aid in the emotional and spiritual development of their child.

IS ONLY Deb Kuyers taught me about oneA PHONE on-one evangelism among my school CALL AWAY friends, how to be selective in choosing friends, take a stand against peer pressure, lead a new-believers Bible study and pray for a godly spouse.

Today, Deb continues to celebrate with me from afar as God blesses my life and ministry. Forty years later she assures me she is only a phone call away!

Will you mentor a child and change a life?

Melodie Bissell is the National Children’s Facilitator for The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada. A version of this article was published in Evangelizing Today’s Child, May/June 2003

MENTORS IN ACTION! Diane, a 52-year-old grandmother, enjoys pancake breakfasts with Katie at McDonalds every other Saturday morning. As they talk and laugh, they refer to a Precept Bible study for children. Both return home with wonderful new memories and truths to apply to their lives over the next two weeks. They promise to memorize a verse and journal how God works in their lives. Katie aspires to be like Diane one day. Diane envisions how her life would have been different if someone had taken the time to personally care about her.

Ted schedules time to meet with a young friend of his son. Ted hasn’t planned an agenda. Danny brings the latest CEF Mailbox Club® lesson he received in the mail and Ted serves up milk and cookies. He then coaches Danny through the lesson. Danny gives Ted a hug before he leaves. “Thank you,” he says. “Matthew’s lucky to have you as a dad! If you weren’t here I wouldn’t be able to read all these words and fill in the answers.”

Bonnie looks at her watch. She anticipates greeting Patrick when he is dismissed from school. Patrick has no parent to go home to. Bonnie, with her co-mentor, meets Patrick and his buddy and they walk home together. Often they stop for ice cream and take a detour through the park.

On a park bench, Bonnie pulls out a copy of The Wonder

Devotional Book. They go through the seven readings covered since they last met, discussing comments they scribbled at the end of each page. After sharing highlights of the week, they pray. Then Bonnie and her co-mentor accompany Patrick and his buddy to their housing complex and wave goodbye. Bonnie whispers a prayer, “Thank you, Father. I love my role and I love these kids!”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES For more information on Bible study resources for children from Precept Ministries, visit www.preceptministries.com.

To learn more about the CEF Mailbox Club call 1-800-300-4033.

Order The Wonder Devotional Book from CEF Press, 1-800-748-7710

WHERE TO BEGIN n

Nurture an inviting disposition and seek children in your sphere of influence. n Ask God to help you see children from his perspective. n Determine what safeguards need to

be put into place; e.g., contacting the parent/caregiver and requesting written approval. n Identify a common interest; e.g., sewing, fishing, basketball, fast-food restaurant.

Invite the child to join you in this activity. n Determine and establish the purpose of your mentoring role and guidelines. n Select suitable curriculum or helps. n Touch base often

through the parent.

Keep your promises and honour confidences but don’t make promises you can’t keep. n Regularly evaluate your progress with the child. n Bathe your mentoring relationship in prayer. n

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WHAT OUR CHURC

A disciple is to REJOICE in our Heavenly Father, FOLLOW the example and teachings of Jesus, MULTIPLY by making disciples, TOGETHER in/with the Body of Christ.

MISSION ALLIANCE CHURCH, BC

Our strategy at Yarrow Alliance Church by the grace of God, is to grow warmer through fellowship, larger through evangelism, stronger through worship, deeper through discipleship, and broader through ministry.

As physical exercise is for the body, spiritual disciplines are training for the soul. Thus, we want to be holistic and intentional about this area of discipleship. We not only want to teach this, we also want to help people practise this in their lives.

DTU (Discipleship Training Unleashed)—this is an intensive discipleship training opportunity for men who want to go the “extra mile” with God. We are committed to supporting men on their adventure to fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples.

YARROW ALLIANCE CHURCH, CHILLIWACK, BC

PARKVIEW ALLIANCE CHURCH, VERMILION, AB

GRANDE PRAIRIE ALLIANCE CHURCH, AB

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FEATURE

RCHES SAY ABOUT

Adult Discipleship seeks to equip adults with the essential building blocks for kingdom living and godly relationships …

GEORGETOWN ALLIANCE CHURCH, ON

Discipleship Pathways—For believers in Christ, the journey towards spiritual maturity is not optional. However, because we are unique and our life situations are different, we don’t all have to pursue this journey in the same way.

In following with A. B. Simpson’s (founder of the C&MA) philosophy of discipleship and maturity in Christ through service and missions, the English ministry has encouraged and incorporated the participation of the Body of Christ in the worship service.

The Sunday@9 ministry is dedicated to making disciples of Jesus Christ. Through the provision of a wide variety of classes, workshops, activities and events throughout the year, Christ followers are encouraged to mature in their journey with God.

TRAILVIEW ALLIANCE CHURCH, SWIFT CURRENT, SK

NORTH YORK MANDARIN ALLIANCE CHURCH, ON

CEDARVIEW ALLIANCE CHURCH, NEPEAN, ON

a Disciplemaker Spring 2011

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FEATURE

Strategies to help reduce the rate at which young people are walking away from their faith

BY DAVE BROTHERTON

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FEATURE

C

urrent Canadian church statistics show that 60 per cent of kids involved in church children’s ministries drop out of their church involvement between Christmas of their sixth grade year and Christmas in seventh grade.

This is a staggering and devastating truth. There are many factors that feed into this, and I think that EVEN CHILDREN relationships are, in some way, THAT ARE WELLa significant point of correction CONNECTED for most of them.

WITH GOD AND As kids are approaching Grades 5 and 6, they are facing DEMONSTRATE a huge transition into the ACTIVE SPIRITUAL new world of Youth Group.

LIVES OFTEN For some, this can’t happen STRUGGLE MAKING soon enough; for others, it simply means the end of being THIS TRANSITION forced to go to Sunday School.

Even children that are wellconnected with God and demonstrate active spiritual lives often struggle making this transition.

Through tracking this in my own ministry, and comparing it to the experience of three other youth pastors over a period of several years, I suggest we look at three ‘relationships’ that are critical for a child’s potential connectedness in this new world of student ministries.

1. ‘Child to Child’ Relationships The single, most important factor in transitioning your child into the youth program is the friendships they have with other students who will be there. New children very seldom stick around unless their best friends are there.

Good motivation or not, your child will want to be there if the relational value is high enough. // Things you can do to assist n

Work hard to have your child develop at least a couple of solid friendships with other kids who will be in these youth programs. Get them together more often. Create fun things that your child will be excited about doing and then do them with the right people. Obviously this will work best as a ‘long-term strategy’ that starts by Grade 5 but this can be done at the last minute, through the summer, to make it more likely that your child will want to attend these new youth programs. n Once Youth Group kicks off, carpool with these kids as you travel to Youth Group. They will feel far more confident in the safety of numbers. n If they don’t have these friendships at the church already, have your child bring their own friends to Youth Group.

It might get them over the fear of not knowing anybody and allow them to come with a safety outlet. However, unless they connect beyond those friendships (at least with the program or a volunteer), it isn’t likely to last. n A few weeks before the programs begin, and into the fall,

have the whole group over to your house (planned youth event or not). Get them together and build a group that wants to be together.

Bottom line? Statistics tell us that your child will most likely attend consistently if they want to be with the people there.

Children that have been very involved in other activities, like sports, have probably built their deepest friendships outside the church. Children in these situations usually have greater difficulty connecting in youth programs.

While these other activities are fantastic and provide tremendous benefit, as your children grow, they will want to stay involved in whatever activities their closest friends are in. If you want them well-connected in Youth Group, some work may be necessary.

2. ‘Child to Youth Leader’ Relationships There is no question that children who already know (and like) the youth leaders will be more eager to jump into new youth programs. // Things you can do to assist n

Churches can facilitate making these ‘people links’ throughout Grades 5 and 6. It could happen either by youth leaders being visible throughout the final years of Children’s Ministry, or by allowing Grade 5 and 6 leaders to move up to Junior High with the children with whom they already have relationships. n Create a fantastic Rights of Passage that embraces the child’s strengths and future dreams. Beloved children’s ministry leaders can effectively pass the baton to the youth leaders. n Invite the youth leaders into your home prior to the program launch. Allow your child to get to know, become comfortable with and desire to hang out with them. The leader can paint a realistic picture of the program. Your child needs to trust adults other than you. They need to trust that the program won’t be lame, that they will be heard and valued, and that they won’t be embarrassed.

They need confidence in the person leading.

Bottom line? Children who have been looking forward to getting into programs led by a leader they admire will have a much higher likelihood of connecting once they get there.

3. ‘Parent to Youth Leaders’ Relationships You should know the people who will be leading your child at church! Parents who are more actively aware (not necessarily ‘involved’), and working hand-in-hand with the youth leaders, increase the likelihood that their child will feel connected. // Things you can do to assist n

Be ready to allow others to help you lead your child.

This is more difficult a task than you might think. It

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means giving your child the freedom to grow and explore through the prompting of other adults and being confident in those adults as they speak into your child’s life. This means allowing other adults to know things about your child that you don’t know and giving them the freedom to hold confidential information about your child. n Know clearly that this is not about removing your spiritual responsibility. The youth leader can’t do

BRIDGING EVENTS TO CONNECT TWEENS WITH YOUTH

BY JAN GRAY

Our Grade 7s were disappearing every September. Once they graduated from elementary school, they felt lost and unconnected with the youth. Something needed to be done to make the crossover easier and help our tweens feel at home.

Youth can be so intimidating. Our solution was to involve the youth and Youth Pastor in our weekly Grade 5 and 6 meetings during the month of May. We called them Bridging Events.

The youth became our small group leaders and connected with our tweens.

In June, our Grade 6s were invited to attend the last three youth nights and sit with their small group leader. The Children’s Pastor attended as well, to the great relief of many parents. The youth continued to connect with the almost Grade 7s and in September we not only had close to 100 per cent retention but they invited their friends as well.

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Throughout our year, we conducted a quarterly mini youth night for our Grade 5s and 6s. We had the youth band play, the Youth Pastor shared stories with them and they played the ‘gross and yucky’ games.

When September came around, they knew what to expect and were able to participate and feel like they belonged. Those Grade 5 and 6 students are now our youth leaders and are paying it forward.

anything more than come alongside you and work with you. Don’t dump your spiritual parenting responsibility onto the church or other adults. Take the attitude that you need help—work together with them to create the best-case scenario for your child. n Communicate with the youth leader about your child’s needs, learning style, strengths, etc. The better they understand your child, the better they will be able to connect with and assist them.

Bottom line? Don’t assume anything; the better you understand the leader’s mind, plan and strategies and the better they understand yours, the more successful it will be for your child.

The Youth Group can be a whole new world for your child. Do all you can to make this an exciting opportunity— not just a ‘big fun event’. Prepare them to pray out loud, to read and understand the Bible, and to share their lives in front of others. Teach them about confidentiality and the safety that comes with it.

Finally, your child will be more likely to desire to attend and connect if the relational temperature is strong. Work hard to heat that up . . . BEFORE they get there.

Rev. Dave Brotherton is National Youth Ministry Director of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, Director of Legacy Youth Conference and Associate Professor of Youth Ministry at Ambrose University College

Jan Gray is Children/Family Pastor at Terrace Alliance Church, BC

(Note: These bridging and youth events took place at Chilliwack Alliance, BC with the former Children’s Pastor, Jan Gray and Youth Pastor, Scott Street. The youth continue to connect and there is a great working relationship between the new Children’s and Youth Pastors.)

Gift Catalogue online at www.cmacan.org

FEATURE

MAKING DISCIPLES

BY DESIGN

How one church embodies the message of Christ and teaches congregants to do the same

BY MELONIE TAM

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rowing up as a missionary kid, I knew ‘God’s work’ was about making disciples. As I watched my parents teach in a seminary and pastor in Taiwan, I knew that spreading the Gospel was related to proclaiming God’s Word. I remember handing out gospel tracts to strangers in hopes that they might come to know God and his love for them.

For me, discipleship was about capturing the ‘truth’ in word or on paper, and making sure others got it. Although this often seemed like an incredibly scary task, it was what I believed discipleship was all about.

Along with this, my black and white personality made it easy to accept a Christianity where telling people about the ‘truth’ was my primary responsibility. If necessary, we could also start up a discipleship class for new believers to build a solid foundation for their faith. I was pretty

convinced that if everyone could just get the right ‘truth,’ it would mostly take care of our job as Christians.

In God’s grace and mercy, he knew my understanding of discipleship needed some tweaking (to say the least!).

He has been teaching me to surrender my own ideas of discipleship and to simply follow Jesus.

As God changes the world one disciple at a time, I know it must start with me. Over the past eight years, God has continued to bring me into contexts that have shaped and redefined my concept of what being a follower of Christ is all about.

Firstly, it was during seminary when my understanding of ‘truth’ was radically changed. I still remember that day when Dr. Peter Ralph said with such simple profundity: “Absolute truth may be known only in relationship to Jesus Christ.”

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THIS BEGAN TO CHANGE MY WHOLE APPROACH TO LOVING PEOPLE AND CONNECTING THEM WITH CHRIST

Photo Courtesy Peter Quinlan

I had grown up with the notion that ‘absolute truth’ and connecting them with Christ. was the end goal we were pursuing. Knowing the ‘truth’ It was no longer about imparting knowledge and and convincing others of the same was how we got saved. correcting them when they didn’t ‘get’ it. It was about I don’t think I intentionally left Jesus out of the picture, embodying the message and love of Jesus Christ in my but somehow I ended up focusing on the ‘truth’ more than words and actions—and teaching others to do the same. on Jesus.

Out of this change in understanding have come two And yet, when Dr. Ralph spoke those words, for me it developments in how we approach discipleship as a was a completely new way of looking at ‘truth.’ In essence, church. I share them with you in the hope it will be an he was saying that discipleship is all about truth that encouragement as you continue to surrender your picture starts with a capital ‘T.’ Jesus, the Truth, is the only of discipleship to God and go where he leads you as truth we can know. you disciple others.

SMALL GROUPS In our small groups, Secondly, my definition of discipleship one intentional change we made in was broadened when our discipleship choosing and equipping leaders was group leader, Ed Kang, described that leaders are chosen based on discipleship using the example of the mission God has placed on a picture. Imagine that you are their heart. holding onto the hand of Christ We used to choose leaders while, in the other hand, you based on their desire to lead, hold onto the hand of your coupled with the need for new friend, family member, or groups (based on the number whomever God has brought of people registered). However, into your life. that often felt like we were Discipleship is simply the just plugging people into places act of bringing that person’s without teaching leaders to discern hand closer to the hand of Christ.

God’s will and how he was calling Anything you do to encourage that them to be and make disciples. person towards knowing Christ is part So our conversations with potential of the discipleship journey.

Photo Courtesy Peter Quinlan leaders now focus on what they sense God These two learning moments began to is saying to them and who they feel God wants them to challenge the ways I had envisioned sharing the Gospel. disciple. This process is a lot harder because I can’t just For so many years, I had viewed truth as words and hand them a book and ask them to lead their small group beliefs that saved us. But Jesus is the One who saves us.

This began to change my whole approach to loving people through a study.

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THE INTENTION BEHIND EACH GROUP IS SIMPLY TO FACILITATE A CONVERSATION WHERE WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW JESUS We all have to remain in a posture of prayer and listening to know what God wants to do through the leaders and the groups he forms. This change in how we organize small groups has opened our eyes to see God more—how he works and moves and births new groups that we would have missed if we only relied on numbers and curriculum.

E4:12 GROUPS About two years ago, we started what we call E4:12 groups. The name is based on Ephesians 4:12 and our belief that God has mandated church leaders to equip the Church for his works of service and to build up the Body of Christ.

We also define E4:12 as being ‘Equipped 4 Your 12’ (with the ‘12’ representing the people God has brought into your life to disciple). We want to teach that we are all called to be and make disciples.

These groups meet for six sessions, every other week, over a three-month period. The intention behind each group is simply to facilitate a conversation where we talk about what it means to follow Jesus. These groups are open to people at all stages of their Christian walk and form whenever the need arises.

Each time we meet, we eat together and provide some discipleship-related teaching. However, most of the emphasis is placed on connecting the learning with action and obedience. Each time, we ‘practise’ different aspects of discipleship and ministering to one another.

As far as the content goes, we use some basic discipleship training materials. However, each group also

takes on a life of its own as the journey for each person is unique. Leaders are trained to ‘customize’ each session according to the needs of the group as they discern the Holy Spirit’s leading.

The reason why groups only last for six sessions is because we don’t want people to get stuck in these groups.

We want to continually train and release them into their workplaces, schools, and families. We also encourage members to join new E4:12 groups that start up, where they are trained in a leadership role.

Through these groups, our people have embodied Christ’s teaching that discipleship is about being and making disciples, and have been propelled into new areas of discipling others. So far, these E4:12 groups have become one of our primary training grounds for followers of Jesus Christ.

When I stop to think about how enormous the task of discipling the entire world is, I easily feel overwhelmed. It feels impossible. And yet, Christ started with a small group of people and showed them how to do the same.

So will we follow his example and continue to be faithful in the places where he has placed us? Will we continue to strive towards making Truth known? By God’s grace, we will do our best at living and loving as Christ did and teaching others to do the same.

Melonie Tam is Pastor of Discipleship Ministries at South Edmonton Alliance Church, AB

9

q

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

(Psalm 82:3-4)

ARE YOU INVOLVED YET? For more information visit

www.defenddignity.ca

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FEATURE

Stepping Out in Faith How this small church is overcoming the odds and ministering to families of children with special needs

BY BARRIE DOYLE

I

n some ways they are ‘the forgotten’ and are largely ignored in our congregations.

Families struggling with the burden of a child’s disability are both visible and yet invisible. Pastors and church members are aware of them and support them in prayer and in times of crisis, but they are ‘invisible’ in the regular day-to-day activities of church life. The crushing load of caring for the children often drains a family’s spiritual, physical and emotional resources, unseen by the church.

In Toronto, Midtown Alliance Church is working to alleviate some of the burden with a unique ministry to children with special needs and their families. Club Oasis is headed by Pastor Cynthia Tam, an occupational therapist who works closely with these families and their children.

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“The families are suffering. The kids are suffering,” Pastor Tam says bluntly. “They carry a heavy burden and the church needs to help.”

The program is designed as a respite for the parents. “It helps parents get away for a break,” she said. “Parents are freed to do the things they need or want to do while we play games, sing songs and tell stories to their kids.” Club Oasis is offered every second and fourth Saturday mornings at the church “and the parents love it. One family is moving from the city and has already told us they are going to truly miss Club Oasis.”

The program is open to all families. She says the majority attending are non-Christian and the church is sensitive to that reality. “We do try to do some outreach, particularly as we read Bible stories to the

children.” Parents are always advised and are given the choice of opting out of the Bible story portion, though they rarely do.

Ministries such as Club Oasis offer extended support to those families. Although the church doesn’t even have the finances to advertise the program, word of mouth has ensured a steady growth.

“The children are primarily autistic. Kids with developmental, intellectual and behavioral problems,” Tam says. The program is limited as they try to provide one-on-one care for the three-hour morning sessions. “We have nine volunteers who work with me. Some have considerable experience working with people with disabilities, while others do not.” One thing they have in common, however, is a deep love and heart for these kids and families. At present, 10 families are registered with the project.

Midtown Alliance is a newer Alliance church plant. Manjohn and Christina Wong planted the multicultural church after seven years as International Workers in Amsterdam, Holland. The church operates out of a Christian Reformed church in the heart of the city.

The tiny church was overwhelmed by Cynthia’s proposal when it was first presented says Manjohn.

“I felt definitely that we were hearing from God, but I was concerned. From a very practical perspective it was totally impossible,” he said. “We are a small church, we don’t have the people, we don’t have the money, and we don’t have the space.” Practical issues such as insurance also loomed.

“But I told Cynthia, if she wanted to try, I would back her 100 per cent. I felt that if it failed, it would not be because we didn’t do our part; that we didn’t listen to God. We would go by faith.”

As the ministry started, he says, it was obvious that “God was in it.” In short order, they obtained incredibly affordable insurance, volunteers and space. “God truly opened all THE the doors,” Manjohn said.

PRESSURES Slowly, the church is PLACED building relationships with the special needs families ON THESE who come from all over the PARENTS community and from various ARE backgrounds. The pressures INCREDIBLE placed on these parents are incredible, both Cynthia and Manjohn note.

They have to work, are burdened by huge expenses, have the emotional pressures of caring for their special needs kids and they are often isolated from normal families and relationships. Having a relationship with believers is a welcomed blessing.

Ministering to families with children with special needs is a step of faith, both Manjohn and Cynthia agree. But it is a step that churches must take if they want to build caring relationships with their CHURCHES communities. For Midtown ARE OFTEN Alliance, it has inspired the church to seek out other ways of RELUCTANT helping. “We now have people TO HELP ministering to those in the BECAUSE sex trade, the mentally ill and THEY DON’T ex-convicts among others.”

“We need to overcome the KNOW HOW fear of the unknown,” Cynthia commented. “Churches are often reluctant to help because they don’t know how.

The answer can be easy,” she says. First, “step out in faith.” Churches can encourage their members or small groups to ‘adopt’ families with special needs children.

“You can mentor them, help them with some of their care issues and provide support and respite for the parents. When we recognize them as part of the Body of Christ and share their burdens and joys, we are ourselves enriched.”

Pastor Manjohn agrees. “In the past, as a pastor, I was reluctant and had reservations about ministering to such families,” he said. “I didn’t know how. I wondered why some other church, a larger church with more people and more resources, couldn’t help. I shied away.”

Club Oasis, however, has changed his perspective. “Now I know I was wrong. My advice to other churches is to step out in faith. God will supply the needs if he calls us to the ministry. It’s scary, but God is with us!”

Many of the families touched by the Club and other ministries to the disadvantaged are beginning to respect the church, he adds. For the parents of kids with special needs at Club Oasis, it is enough that individual Christians and the local church care for them in practical ways.

“Now they see that God is no longer irrelevant in their lives. They see a God who loves them. He is real.

He is genuine.”

For the church, it is a practical demonstration of justice and compassion.

Barrie Doyle, APR, author of the book The Media and the Message, is Director of Communications, The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada

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FEATURE

Photo Courtesy Rexdale Alliance

Four Fold Kids Encouraging children to study God’s Word while learning the meaning of the C&MA symbols

BY MELODIE BISSELL WITH HEATHER PEAT

Joshua Joshua Guinness Guinness

Four Fold Kids was initially written for the Religion in Life badge for Scouts and Guides. The National Children’s Network Team is making it available to our Alliance churches to be a stand-apart award program which could be done in class, midweek programs or as family projects.

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“The kids were slowly getting started, but after Christmas, with a few incentives and working as a class to earn points, our kids really took off,” says Heather Peat, Pastor of Family Ministries at Rexdale Alliance Church in Toronto.

“Joshua Guinness was the first one to receive his certificate, but within four months we had eight children complete Level One— Yellow, Jesus Christ is Saviour and some working hard to finish Level Two—Green, Jesus Christ is Sanctifier.

“Since this program was new to all our children, we started everyone at Level One, allowing them to continue to the next level when the first is finished. Even our Grade 1 and 2 classes are moving quickly toward completing the first level by the end of the term.

“We have used this as a program parents can work on with their children and a number have remarked how they have enjoyed reading through the Book of Mark with their child.

Teachers mark the points on a form for each section finished and when it is completed, the child receives a certificate. For Level One we have also given them a copy of What the Bible Is All About—A Bible Handbook for Young Explorers.

“It is great to have our children following a program that gets them into God’s Word while learning Bible skills and the meaning of each symbol of The Christian and Missionary Alliance logo. Through this they are developing a deeper love for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

“Parents are learning this as well. They are looking for ways they can disciple their own children, raise them to be spiritual champions and bring much honour to our Lord and Saviour. This has helped our parents to work toward that goal.”

Rexdale’s junior and senior kindergarten children also wanted to learn verses and in

the past two months, eight children have memorized Psalm 23, while one keen little boy has completed Psalm 100 and Psalm 1. He is now working on 1 Corinthians 13.

“A child from our Chinese church has managed to say Psalm 23. Cynthia is only in kindergarten and her mother does not speak English well. She has learned to read the words in class and worked on her own at home.”

For more information about this resource contact info@cmacan.org.

Melodie Bissell is the National Children’s Facilitator for The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada.

Heather Peat is Pastor of Family Ministries at Rexdale Alliance Church in Toronto, ON

Hey … become a Four Fold Kid today!

Memorize Scripture, read books of the Bible, learn the symbols of The Christian and Missionary Alliance, help plan a worship service, discover who our International Workers are, interview someone who has stories to tell of our denomination, research the life of our Founder, A.B. Simpson, and get involved in justice and compassion. Certificates are earned with each level.

Ask your pastor for details on the Four Fold Kids award program today. Four levels of experiencing the Word, Worship and Witness. Four Fold Kids is also available through your Religion in Life badge with Scouts and Guides.

FEATURE

FEATURE

KIDS How God is using this ministry to restore the lives of children living in an underground community

BY SPEAK4JUSTICE Photos Courtesy Speak4Justice

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“Hey Anya*!” called out a teenager in filthy, tattered clothes.

“Jonny! Where have you been?” Anya hadn’t seen him since he disappeared from the orphanage where she volunteered in her Central Asian city.

“Come see where I live, Anya,” he replied.

Anya knew if she didn’t go with Jonny now, she would likely never see him again.

They weaved in and out of the streets, along the top of a narrow wall, over large water pipes and beside railway tracks to an open manhole. Grinning, Jonny said, “Here’s my front door!”

Anya’s eyes widened. He lived down there? She knew having come this far she had to follow him down into the darkness, so she took a deep breath and climbed down the rusty ladder.

She paused until her eyes adjusted.

Children and teenagers crowded the garbage-strewn underground passageway between huge hot water pipes.

The air was rank with the smell of unwashed bodies.

SHE KNEW HAVING COME THIS FAR SHE HAD TO FOLLOW HIM DOWN INTO THE DARKNESS, SO SHE TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND CLIMBED DOWN THE RUSTY LADDER

Jonny led her back into the darkness, stopped, and said proudly, “This two meters by two meters is my home.”

Anya learned the harshness of life in the underground community, especially for girls. A fourteen-year-old girl told Anya, “I’ve been raped here every day since I came when I was eleven.”

Most of the kids sniff glue to numb their pain; many of them use alcohol and drugs.

LIGHT IN A DARK PLACE That cold day in early 2004, God motivated Anya to start Arms of Love, a ministry to Jonny and others like him who beg and steal on the street by day, and sell themselves and sleep underground between the hot water pipes at night.

Since then, every Tuesday and Friday afternoon, 20 to 30 street kids crowd into Anya’s

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one-bedroom apartment. They leave their smelly shoes in the narrow hallway and then take turns bathing. Anya and her helpers wash the kids’ clothes, de-louse their hair, treat their cuts and scrapes, and give them a hot, nutritious lunch. Then they teach the kids about Jesus in a fun, interactive way.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I asked the group of street kids at Anya’s apartment.

“I want to be president,” said Peter, who looked about 12 but was really 17. “Of the United States,” he added with a grin, and everyone laughed.

“If you can’t be president of the United States, what would you like to be?” one of the leaders asked.

“I want to make a home for many street kids and help them have a better life and learn about Jesus,” he replied.

Peter’s mom has been in prison for many years. Since Peter can’t read or write, he asks Anya to help him write a letter to his mother every week. His mother never responds, but he writes anyway. Each week he dictates, “I miss you and will help you as soon as I can. I’m saving up money so I can help you when you come.” He keeps hoping and waiting.

MINISTRY OF HOPE Anya says, “These kids readily accept the hope that Jesus offers. They give their lives to him, and pray more than we do. They pray when they’re cold, when they’re hungry, when they’re about to steal. They pray about everything!

“But most of the kids are illiterate. They have no identification papers and therefore do not exist in the eyes of the government. They have nowhere to go and have no hope of an education.”

She continues, “It’s easy to say to the street kids, ‘God loves you. Go pray to him,’ but that’s cheap talk. I asked God for more opportunity to practically minister to these kids, and he gave it to me.”

Anya started the Adaptation Home for young women serious about leaving street life and prostitution. Three

Photos Courtesy Speak4Justice

CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS CROWDED THE GARBAGESTREWN UNDERGROUND PASSAGEWAY BETWEEN HUGE HOT WATER PIPES

women and their children can stay for up to a year to grow spiritually, heal emotionally and learn a trade.

Sarah’s uncle allowed her to live in his home, but at a high price. He raped her three to four times a week from the time she was eight years old. At the age of 15, Sarah ran away. With nowhere to go and no money, in desperation, she sold herself on the streets and numbed her pain with alcohol. She gave birth to a son and became deeply depressed. Pregnant with her second child, she took a knife and started to cut on her arms.

Lisa, who, from the age of eight, had been ‘rented out’ by her mother to many men, saw Sarah trying to end her life and urged her to go to Anya. Sarah found shelter at the Adaptation Home and gave birth to a baby girl.

As I rocked the sweet baby in my arms, I prayed God’s blessing and protection over her.

Three-year-old Sophie wandered the streets alone, searching for her mother. When Anya found her, she asked the little girl, “Where do you live?”

“I live in a hole in the ground with my mommy,” she replied. “I have many, many daddies. My mommy went away and didn’t come back. I waited and waited, but then went to find her. She’s gone.”

Sophie sat on Anya’s lap and lifted her sweet face to Anya. “Can I call you Mommy?” she asked.

Anya’s eyes filled with tears, and she thought of the many motherless children on the streets. She asked herself, “Who is their mom? Who can they call Mom?” She remembered the picture depicting what one street kid dreamed for the future. It simply said, “Everyone loves US!” *Names have been changed to protect identities To learn more, go to www.speak4justice.wordpress.com

HOW CAN WE HELP? 1. PRAY FOR INNER HEALING FOR THE CHILDREN Anya says, “Many of the children experience unimaginable abuse. A boy came to us with his head covered with scars. His mother had beaten his head with the high heel of her shoe because of her rage at his father leaving.

The children need to learn to forgive. They accept Jesus’ love, but they cannot forgive their abusers.”

2. PRAY FOR INNER STRENGTH FOR ANYA AND HER HELPERS Working with these children and young people can be very discouraging. They are deeply wounded and do not always continue to follow Christ, even after accepting him and being ministered to by the Arms of Love ministry.

Anya and her helpers need perseverance and love.

Photos Courtesy Speak4Justice

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cmAlliance.ca 41

FEATURE

Fighting Malaria

Canadian generosity at work fighting this disease and saving children’s lives

I

t was a rainy morning in the village as I sat in a dark and quiet hut, wondering what I could possibly do or say to ease their pain. Others came and whispered words of condolence to the hurting parents.

Karim and his wife had just lost one of their 10-monthold twins to malaria. Finding no words, I opted for silence as I watched the surviving twin cling to his mother’s arm.

Her other arm, which the previous day had cradled his brother, was now empty.

This is not rare in Niger, West Africa, a country where 11 per cent of newborns don’t survive their first year, and one quarter of the children do not live to see their fifth birthday. Malaria, a disease carried by mosquitoes, is the number one killer behind these horrible statistics.

Numbers can paint a sterile picture. But the death of a child I knew brought them to life. I’d held him in my lap.

I know his parents and have visited many times in their home. For the second time in their marriage, Karim and his wife suffered the pain of losing a young child.

One of the ministries of the Alliance team in Niger is the distribution of highly-subsidized mosquito nets treated with insecticide. They cost us about $10 each and we sell them for about 25 cents. We can do this because of the generosity of Canadians.

We do this because sleeping under bed nets has been shown to be the most effective tool in the fight against malaria. Along with the distribution, we provide basic teaching about the cause and prevention of malaria, as well as the use and care of mosquito nets.

We normally accompany our health teaching with a moral story, often from the Old Testament. We chose to tell the story of Noah along with the mosquito net

BY LISA M. ROHRICK

distribution because rain brings two things that are bad news for the Fulani people with whom we work—mosquitoes and rainbows.

The Fulani are afraid of the rainbow, believing it is a serpent in the sky that drinks the rain and prevents it from falling on their thirsty fields. Many have reacted with surprise when hearing that the rainbow is a sign that God keeps his promises. In one village, a group of men gathered to hear more stories wanting to learn more of God’s Word.

Though we have distributed several thousand nets in a number of villages, it feels like we have just scratched the surface. We did the first couple of distributions with the help of volunteers from Canada.

But for the last two years, we have trained a team of Nigerien friends to do the teaching and distribution, enabling us to reach a larger number of villages.

Last year was a particularly bad year for malaria in the region of Niger in which we work. The head nurse at the clinic servicing the area told me that he and his staff were run off their feet trying to keep up with the malaria cases. “But,” he added, “we are hardly seeing anyone from the villages that have received mosquito nets.”

The nets are making a huge difference saving many lives, especially those of small children. It is too late for Karim’s little boy. But there are many others constantly being threatened by this deadly disease. With your help, we will continue the fight to save children’s lives.

Lisa Rohrick is a Canadian Alliance International Worker who served for five years in Benin and has been ministering in Niger since 2004 Photos Courtesy Lisa Rohrick

FEATURE

BY LYNN SU

Beauty In Brokenness The true meaning of this Scripture verse comes alive through her personal experiences

F

or a long time I have loved Isaiah 61:3 and the imagery behind how Christ can turn ashes into beauty. But I hadn’t fully experienced it until I came to Africa. Currently, I’m serving as a Global Ministries Apprentice in Ghana, West Africa in partnership with other like-minded organizations in relation to children and compassion work.

One of the things I learned very early was how much we are wounded by brokenness when you see it everywhere. During my second week at a local children’s home, I held a baby girl who was severely malnourished and in need of a blood transfusion. After much prayer and care, the child was nursed back to health. But sometimes I wonder why innocent children should have to suffer.

There have been countless stories I have heard about the journeys of some of these children. Their former lives have not been pretty, but one of the things I take refuge in is knowing there is beauty in brokenness. For some reason, I think there is an unexpected beauty that can shine in stories of struggle.

I disciple a group of teenage girls at one of the children’s homes here and I love our times together.

Some of them have lived on the streets or came from abusive families, and I cannot begin to imagine the lives they have lived.

They have seen some pretty ugly things and are the most genuine girls I have ever met. I love that they are so candid and real with me. When I hear them talk about their former lives and how they have found freedom in Christ, I see the joy in their eyes.

It is true—when Christ penetrates a heart, he can truly turn any life around. We talk about their dreams for their futures. I am thinking how some of them might talk about becoming doctors, lawyers or other moneymaking professionals because now they have a second chance at an education.

But, no, they talk about how they want to give back and do a similar type of ministry to help girls get on their feet. I then realize there is beauty in brokenness and that the rest of Isaiah 61:3 will play itself out.

Though my heart breaks every time for the children here, I know one day, the Lord will use them for his glory.

Lynn Su is serving as a Global Ministries Apprentice in Ghana, West Africa Photos Courtesy Lynn Su

resources

Alliance Generated Resources

FORGOTTEN VOICES

BY BARBARA HOWE // tells the stories of 40 amazing women who had a significant role in the history of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada and who inspire us by their unimaginable trust and faith. You will be encouraged to see how one life can influence countless others and discover the effectiveness of prayer and perseverance.

With nearly 90 photos, this well-researched book is a compelling and inspirational read.

Barbara Howe has teamtaught adult Bible classes and served as a part-time Pastor of Adult Ministries.

She and her husband, Rae, live in Calgary, AB and are members of Southview Alliance Church. For more information go to www.forgottenvoices.ca.

Cli c k

CONFESSIONS OF A NOT SO AVERAGE GIRL

NOT BEYOND YOUR REACH

BY DONNA LEA DYCK // is an easy read for preteens or teens. It is a true account of growing up in an alcoholic home while inviting Christ to come into the middle of the mess.

Rev. Colin McCartney, UrbanPromise Toronto says, “Wow, what a book! Donna is thoroughly versed in what is happening in the world of adolescence. Her own story of painful life experiences, sprinkled with the hope of Christ and the overall healing of Jesus, is powerfully told.”

BY MELODIE BISSELL WITH DONNA LEA DYCK // will deepen your understanding of at-risk youth/ children and bring clarity on how to reach and teach them effectively. It also equips youth sponsors with a leader’s guide to be used in conjunction with Confessions of a Not So Average Girl.

Donna and her husband, Bill, have been serving as lead pastoral couple in Toronto Alliance Church for the past 17 years. Contact Donna at donna@notsoaveragegirl.com.

Available from Winning Kids Inc., 1-877-455-3555; www. winningkidsinc.ca; or your local Christian bookstore.

! ! F li p

Whether you choose to Click or Flip, it’s easy to catch up on the latest news from and about the Alliance family of churches in Canada.

Simply Click online at www. cmalliance.ca to find the latest Alliance.ca articles or re-read past issues. You can also access 44

cmAlliance.ca Fall 2011

As National Children’s Facilitator for The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, Melodie also coauthored Plan to Protect ® and Winning Kids Children’s Ministry Assessment.

She travels extensively as a speaker and trainer.

Contact her at mbissell@ winningkidsinc.ca. Available from Winning Kids Inc., 1-877-455-3555 / www. winningkidsinc.ca or your local Christian bookstore.

MAJESTY IN MOTION

BY STEWART BROWN // is an award-winning book that aims to increase your understanding of biblical encouragement.

Three core meanings of this concept are explained and illustrated, along with a daily plan for practise in life. With an application guide at the end of each chapter, it is excellent for personal, couple, and small group study.

A practical three-hour workshop called ‘Encouraging Mentors – Encouraging Church’ is available for your church or group.

The workshop includes an 18-page workbook and handy reference. Contact author Stewart Brown at revstewart@hotmail.com or check his website at www.oneheartministries.ca for more info or to book a workshop.

It’s This Easy To Stay Informed video articles and segments from our Alliance Alive DVD magazine.

Or Flip the pages in this issue and fill out the form to receive either or both Alliance.ca magazine and Alliance Alive DVD each Spring and Fall.

Either way, you’ll enjoy reading

about our unique churches, vibrant and innovative ministries, and dedicated workers as they minister at home and abroad.

JOIN US TODAY!

missions update

Experiencing Practical and Spiritual Fruit

A glimpse into the advancements made by our workers around the world

BY JAMES R. FOSTER

I

n the midst of economic downturns, persecution against the Church and natural disasters demanding more compassion, resources and sacrificial giving, sometimes it’s difficult to see progress.

This is particularly true when you witness the impact overseas work has on the members of our own international team.

Recently I had lunch with one of our couples who have just returned to Canada to take care of medical needs and restore some of the emotional and spiritual wellness taken from them by the intensity of ministry.

My time with this family— they had two children under five in tow—reminded me that they are making very real and personal sacrifices to bring the amazing news of a loving God to those who will never hear without such selflessness.

There are many others like this couple. And yes, things are progressing!

Let me give you a glimpse into some of the wonderful advances

that have been made: n Two new churches were recently started in Warsaw and Bialystok, Poland through the partnered efforts of Alliance workers. n The church in Mannheim, Germany has been successfully transitioned to local German leadership. n In two African countries, our workers are planting churches indirectly through the national leaders they are training within the local religous context. One home group was also recently started in the region. n While on a prayer journey through the Sun region, a small team of trained intercessors visited the capital cities of Mexico City, Havana and Caracas. Many spiritual issues were identified, prayed through, and communicated to the local teams. n The mission team in Guadalajara, Mexico is finishing work on the third church plant, with the fourth planned for summer 2012. Mexico City’s most recent church plant is La Conexion, which is still growing. The plan is to plant the next church in the Benito Juarez area. n In Panama, we have four church plants in process among the Chinese diaspora. n Seamless Link partnership commitments of a number of Canadian Alliance churches have resulted in ministry teams in the Arabian Peninsula, Serbia,

Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Guinea, Congo, North Africa, Niger, Ghana, Caribbean, Venezuela, and Mexico receiving promises of shortterm ministry teams, prayer networks, and the financial means to provide for their workers and ministries. n We are helping the Venezuelan C&MA national leaders realize their aggressive goal—that their nine national churches will plant 83 churches in the largest municipalities over the coming 20 years. Our team of three workers is now finished their language studies and are settling into Caracas. But there is a serious need for more workers.

We are indeed We are making progress.

But, and you indeed have surely making heard this progress before, without sacrificial giving from Alliance churches and individual donors to the Global Advance Fund that matches the personal sacrificial giving by our workers in the field, that record of advancement might be in jeopardy.

We want to be able to look that newly returned couple in the eye and say, “Yes, we too are sacrificing for the same goal you are!”

Rev. James R. Foster is Vice President, Global Ministries for The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada

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contest

Justice and Compassion Contest Calling all kids, moms and dads — Check it out!

J

ustice and compassion is how Christians respond to people in need in our communities and around the world. We are looking for children making a difference to the needy through acts of charity and mercy. If you are doing something in your community or somewhere in the world, you can enter our contest and win a special prize!

n

Who: Children 12 years old and under who live in Canada and attend a church or ministry of The

Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada. n What: Tell us your stories of justice and compassion. The project must be something that you personally started and/or participate in. n How: Write a story of 250-500 words to tell us about your project and the difference it has made in your life and the lives of the people you have helped. (Photos are encouraged but not necessary.) n When: The contest runs from

September 1, 2011 to February 28, 2012. n Prize and Recognition: The top 10 selected entries will be showcased at General Assembly in Winnipeg, July 2012. The winner will be announced at General Assembly and in a future edition of Alliance.ca. A cash gift of $250 will be donated towards the project.

Submit your entry by email to: csmithdebanne@gmail.com

Alliance work teams serve around the world, combining faith and works; showing the love of Jesus not only through their prayer and spiritual impact but also through hard work and productive effort.

• October 8 -21, 2011: Mexico City, Mexico – Team of six to eight men to erect steel on second floor of Atizapan Short Term Ministry Centre.

• February 4 -18, 2012: Mexico City, Mexico – Team of 10 -12 to install “Q” decking on second floor of Atizapan Short Term Ministry Centre and pour concrete.

• February 25 - March 10, 2012: Panama City, Panama – Team of 10 -12 to construct cupboards and build partition walls for the community centre at the Cerro Viento Chinese Alliance Church.

ALLIANCE

• March 17-31, 2012: Rio Chico, Mexico – Team of 10 -12 to continue construction at the Base Camp, building a second mezzanine floor in the storehouse and also visiting the boarding school for the Tarahumara Indians at Guacaivo.

Costs for short-term mission trips are approximately $2,500 to $2,800 per person.

Fall 2011/Spring 2012

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Check for other international work project opportunities as they become available: Art Wiens - International Work Project Coordinator Tel: (306) 949-0183 or Cell: (306) 536-0802 Email: wsw@sasktel.net OR Peggy Hlushko • Email: kphlushko@sasktel.net • Tel: (306) 949-9668

ALLIANCE JUSTICE AND COMPASSION

Flooded with Kids Using this opportunity of nature to develop a deeper relationship with those in their city

BY TIM CLARKE

Photo Courtesy R. Reichert

T

and provincial representatives.

During these meetings, we reviewed the regulations and rental agreements for daycares. Our building met (for the most part) their regulations and we were able to compromise on the rest. The fire marshal also had to re-examine our facility. Due to daycare regulations, we had to keep the doors locked and put in door bells.

Yes, there were a few inconveniences and lots of noise. What was to be a single room rental turned into them spreading throughout the whole building with little ones everywhere. I couldn’t even go to the washroom without a couple of threeyear-olds asking where I was going, when I’d be back and if I put the lid down or up!

Fire alarms were set off; what little kitchen space we have disappeared and our flowerbed in front of the building was well-picked through. There wasn’t a quiet place in the building for a month.

For us, we had the chance to

serve and develop a soft heart for these little folks. I guess it seems kind of simple and not very exciting, but it was very fulfilling. We made some new friends and even had a family show up one Sunday because their grandchild, who attended the daycare, wanted to see what happens in a church on a Sunday.

Now that they are gone, we miss the noise and chalk art on the sidewalks. We miss our new friends.

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, don’t hesitate to help out. Don’t get too caught up with details and how it will work, but rather view it as an opportunity to serve a neighbour and figure it out as you go.

Our goal as a church is to become an important piece of our community. We hope that if one day we were no longer here, people would have a sense of loss; they’d miss us. It is opportunities such as this flood that allow us to develop a deeper relationship with those in our city.

Rev. Tim Clarke is Pastor at Grand Valley Community Church in Brandon, MB

Fall 2011

cmAlliance.ca 47

faith and hope in action

he Spring of 2011 saw the worst flooding in recorded history in Brandon, Manitoba. In our city, no homes or lives were lost and the flooded river was contained within a massive sandbag and dike system.

Compared to some other communities in Canada this spring, we were very fortunate. The flood caused more inconveniences than actual damage. Over three hundred families were evacuated as well There as many businesses and a school that wasn’t also housed a large a quiet daycare.

During the monthplace long evacuation, in the Grand Valley Community Church building opened its doors for a to the Fuzzy Bear month Daycare. Several years ago, we had been asked to be their back-up location in case of emergency. This was a rather informal arrangement until two weeks prior to the evacuations. At that time, we met with the daycare

FEATURE

The poignant insiGhts of aN army chaplain as he goes about his daily dUtiEs

BY AL NIKKEL

In July 2011 the final operational military troops were pulled out of Afghanistan, leaving a training force behind. On this Remembrance Day, as we reflect on the 157 war dead from that conflict, as well as the dead from previous wars, we also acknowledge the vital role played by military chaplains.

Alliance chaplain Capt. Al Nikkel recently returned from service with the Canadian army in Afghanistan. He was stationed at Camp Nathan Smith (CNS) and later at Kandahar Airfield (KAF). During his tour of service he blogged about his activities and reflections. Here are excerpts from his blog Khecking in from Kandahar.

I

t seems like just yesterday we landed in KAF and help provide that. As chaplains, we say we are here to made our way into the city to CNS, home to the minister to our own, facilitate the worship of others Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (KPRT). and care for all.

CNS is a smaller camp than KAF but has great I have conducted four memorial services food and accommodations as us army types to date. Each time there is a Canadian Ramp measure them.

Ceremony at KAF, we conduct a memorial.

PEOPLE My quarters consist of an 8 foot by 20 foot There are ceremonial aspects, including my ALSO box. Called an ISO, it is really a glorified sea role of sharing pastoral thoughts and prayer.

NEED container, finished with interior walls, lights There is the playing of Reveille and the lament and an air conditioner which makes a huge and the members of the fallen soldier’s unit HOPE AND difference at night. My ISO includes a desk, march past, then the Last Post and the national ONE OF bookshelf, wardrobe and bed and sits next to anthem.

MY ROLES three more units which make up the chapel.

The most moving part for me, by far, is IS TO HELP I am located above our post office with a watching as each Canadian soldier on parade small balcony and a mountain view. The only pays his or her respect. A picture of the PROVIDE downside is that it is directly across from our member we have lost is placed at the front of THAT helipad and every time a helicopter lands and our memorial and at the close of the service takes off, the ‘moon dust’ as we call it, makes the soldiers march up two by two and, in turn, its way through the numerous cracks, since salute and march off. it really is a glorified sea can! I am getting a good For most of our soldiers here, life can be pretty workout with the mop and bucket trying to keep the hectic. You hear some wonderful stories of courage, sand box, which also doubles as my chapel, clean. passion, purpose and vision. You sometimes hear anger, I am responsible for the pastoral, spiritual and frustration and resentment. You sometimes hear guilt: religious care of our members as well as the civilians “Why wasn’t it me?” attached to us here at KPRT. I also serve as a moral and Each day brings a potpourri of emotions and ethical advisor to our leadership team. experiences. On some days you see the best and Although we live in a relatively secure place, we sometimes you also see the worst. But then as Padres are in the middle of a war zone and in wars, people we deal with humanity and humanity, we know, is far die. People also need hope and one of my roles is to from perfect.

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Photo Courtesy Al Nikkel

While soldiers travel light, one side benefit is conducted two services, one in the morning and one that they travel together. The camaraderie and in the evening at the base of the Canadian Memorial. friendships that develop become quite close. It is Marked out on the side of the mountain, in rocks one thing to have to leave a place or leave behind painted red and white, is a huge Canadian flag. something one has become quite attached to.

At the base of the flag, stones have been placed, Relationships, on the other hand, need never be left painted with the names and unit colours of those we behind. Even death, while it can take one’s physical have lost here in theatre. There was not one soldier presence from us, can never take present, myself included, who away the heart of the relationship. did not personally know at If there is one thing you can least one of the names on the IT REMINDS US TO LEARN count on in Afghanistan it is memorial stones.

FROM THE PAST, AND THAT this: expect the unexpected. I At the close of the service, THE FREEDOMS WE POSSESS was filling in for one of our other each soldier came forward TODAY CAME AT A HIGH PRICE chaplains and found myself at and placed his or her poppy Forward Operating Base (FOB) next to a stone. Beams from Masum Ghar, located along the flashlights with coloured filters Arghandab River. The camp has literally been carved darted through the darkness as members looked for out of the side of a mountain. No matter where you the stone of the person he or she knew. (We avoid go, you are either walking up or down. ‘white light’ at night as it makes for easy targeting by It has a panoramic view of a lush green valley insurgents.) surrounded by mountains. It really is a beautiful I have never been more proud to be a Canadian. It place. And yet, sitting out at night, you not only see was also a poignant reminder of why Remembrance the stars but also the tracer rounds across the valley, Day is so important. It reminds us to learn from the reminding you that this is a dangerous place as our past, and that the freedoms we possess today came at coalition partners face down a very real enemy. a high price.

I found myself at FOB Masum Ghar for Captain Alan Nikkel is an Remembrance Day. The nature of living and working Alliance reserve army chaplain in a war zone is such that operations do not stop with the Canadian Forces for the sake of a memorial service. As a result, I

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personnel updates

Personnel Updates

The following personnel changes are as reported by the district offices for the period from February 1, 2011 – July 31, 2011 (deaths from January 1 – June 30, 2011)

FIELD ASSIGNMENT n Guinea: Trevor and Cindy Munn, Church Ministry. n Guinea: Joze and Jocelyn Reverente, Church Ministry. n Mexico: Andrew and Claudia Martens, Church Ministry.

Returning to the field following Home Assignment: n Cambodia: Rev. Bill and Ilana Lobbezoo and family in July.

The Lobbezoos are involved in church ministries. n Costa Rica: Curtis and Linda Doell in July. The Doells are in involved in compassion ministries. n Niger: Dr. Ace and Cecilia Cheung and family in July.

The Cheungs are involved in compassion ministries. n Serbia: Daniel and Vera Kuranji in April. The Kuranjis are involved in church ministries. n Spain: Maida Anderson in May. Maida is involved in support ministries.

Concluding or Retiring from the Field: n Leung, Stanley and Rosa and family concluded their service with Global Ministries July 31.

HOME ASSIGNMENT On six-month Home Assignment: n Aruba: Gabriel and Iris Li in June. n Hungary: Steve and Audrey Zub in June, following which they will conclude their

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work with Global Ministries December 31, 2011. n Poland: William (Bill) and Diane Finnemore in April, following which they will conclude their work with Global Ministries September 30, 2011. n Russia: Perry and Lynda Friesen in June, following which they will conclude their work with Global Ministries December 31, 2011.

On one-year Home Assignment: Cambodia: Kim Bui in July. n Guinea: Michael and Denise Dube and family in June. n Japan: Don and Carol Love and family in July. n Mexico: Nathan and Sandra Kliewer and family in January. n Taiwan: Lorne and Kathy-Lu White and family in July. n Thailand: Wade and Bonnie Paton and family in June. n

NEW WORKERS Brochu, Benjamin, Lead Pastor, Gospel Light Church, DeBolt, AB n Campbell, Ian, Senior Pastor, Southside Community Church, Milton, ON n Chan, Derrick, English Pastor, Richmond Capstan Alliance Church, BC n Chan, Rev. Joey, Chinese Pastor, Deer Park Alliance Church, Red Deer, AB n Chen, Derek, Assistant Pastor, Westside Calgary Alliance Church, AB n Cheung, Winnie Wai Kam, Pastor of Women’s Ministry, Zion n

Alliance Church, Markham, ON Chung, Hin (Edward), Senior Pastor, St. Catharines Chinese Alliance Church, ON n Chu, Jody, Spiritual Direction Lay Pastor, Toronto Chinese Alliance Church, ON n Crain, Brandon, Associate Pastor, Vegreville Alliance Church, AB n Davy, Alston, MinisterAt-Large, ON n Diamond, Joel, Pastor of Adult Ministries, Erindale Alliance Church, Saskatoon, SK n Du, David, Pastor of Mandarin Ministries, Community Alliance Church, Scarborough, ON n Dunbar, Dan, Transitional Pastor, Arabic Church of Calgary, AB n Fong, Daniel, Assistant Pastor, Kingston Chinese Alliance Church, ON n Fry, George, Senior Pastor, Russell Alliance Church, MB n Guinness, Cheryl, Director of Women’s Ministries, Rexdale Alliance Church, ON n Hrychiw, Deborah, Children’s Ministry Director, Kamloops Alliance Church, BC n Jacobs, Josh, Pastor of Youth and Young Adults, Erindale Alliance Church, Saskatoon, SK n Jones, Rev. Mike, Worship Architect, Beulah Alliance Church, Edmonton, AB n Lee, Ryan, Associate Pastor, Kindersley Alliance Church, SK n Li, David, Assistant Pastor English Ministries, Toronto Simpson Chinese Alliance Church, ON n Louie, Cristal, Director n

personnel of Children’s Ministries, Scarborough Community Alliance Church, ON n Love, Bethany, Youth Pastor, Praise International Fellowship, Calgary, AB n Mackneer, Mike, Pastor of Student Ministries, Bayview Glen Church, Thornhill, ON n Matson, Dianne, Adult Ministries, Redwood Park Church, Thunder Bay, ON n McNarry, Brian, Youth Program Director (part-time), Grand Valley Community Church, Brandon, MB n Mutters, Joshua, Pastor of Student and Young Adult Ministries, Paramount Drive Alliance Church, Stoney Creek, ON n Pattyson-Talbot, Maureen, Adult Ministries, Redwood Park Church, Thunder Bay, ON n Peters, Rev. Jeremy, Senior Pastor, St. Albert Alliance Church, AB n Pifer, Robin, Senior Pastor, Cedarview Alliance Church, Nepean, ON n Pinckard, Lucas, Adult Ministries, Redwood Park Church, Thunder Bay, ON n Piquette, Keith, Apprentice Church Planter, Crosspoint Church, Edmonton, AB n Quick, Matt, Pastor of Worship, Cochrane Alliance Church, AB n Reed, Miracle, Associate Pastor, Timbers Community Church, Prince George, BC n Rodiguez, Orly, Senior Pastor, Shaunavon Alliance Church, SK n Roffey, Jason, Pastor of Ministry and Operations, Mission Creek Alliance Church, Kelowna, BC n Safavy, Joseph, Senior Pastor, North Shore Iranian Church, North Vancouver, BC n Sauer, Nicole, Elementary Director, Kamloops Alliance Church, BC n Searles, Michelle, Director of Child Discipleship Ministries, Bayview Glen Church, Thornhill, ON n Sellers, Brent, Youth Pastor, RockPointe Church, Calgary, AB

Tam, Cynthia, Associate Pastor, Midtown Alliance Church, Toronto, ON n Ty, Jane, Preschool Children’s Pastor, Tenth Avenue Alliance Church, Vancouver, BC n Van Kesteren, Roy, Associate Pastor, Gregory Drive Alliance Church, Chatham, ON n Wang, Andy, MinisterAt-Large, ON n Wang, Rev. Barnabas Chun-An, Senior Pastor, North York Mandarin Alliance Church, ON n Wang, Li Yen, Mandarin Pastor, Victoria Chinese Alliance Church, BC n Wilson, Alison, Youth Pastor, Crosspoint Church, Edmonton, AB n Yanke, Jonathan, Senior Pastor, Rosthern Alliance Church, SK n Yin, Alan, Assistant Mandarin Pastor, Ottawa Chinese Alliance Church, ON n Zhen, Jimmy Jian Wei, Assistant Pastor, Toronto Jaffray Chinese Alliance Church, ON n

NEW CHURCHES n Oakville, ON: Oakville Creekside Alliance Church, joined the Central Canadian District PERSONNEL CHANGES Addison, Chuck, Minister-AtLarge, Chaplaincy, Victoria, BC n Armstrong, Caleb, No credentials n Bains, Rev. Steve, Unassigned n Bell, Rev. Jim, Unassigned n BevAqua, Joe, Unassigned n Blakely, Rev. Dave, Unassigned n Bowker, Vicki, Worker Emeritus n Cheng, Perry, Children’s Pastor, North Richmond Alliance Church, BC n Criss, Jesse, Unassigned n Crosswell, Rev. Joel, Senior Pastor, North Cowichan Alliance Church, Duncan, BC n Davis, Rev. George, Unassigned n Drader, Dustin, Unassigned n Engler, Rev. Hardy, Unassigned n Enns, John, Unassigned n Fernandez, Laurence, Unassigned n Friesen, Rev. Callin, n

Worker Emeritus Gao, Luke, Senior Pastor, Oakville Creekside Alliance Church, ON n Gonyou, Rev. Keith, Worker Emeritus n Halstead, Kyle, No credentials n Hart, Michael, Life Group Director, Coquitlam Alliance Church, BC n Hauer, Rev. Lewis, Senior Pastor, Morinville Alliance Church, AB n Hon, Mariana, Unassigned n Hubert, Rev. Shawn, Pastor of Connecting Ministries, Crossroads Church, Medicine Hat, AB n Iskander, Wagdi, Pastor to Muslims, Foothills Alliance Church, Calgary, AB n Janz, Rev. Steve, Unassigned n Jones, Rev. Mike, Unassigned n Krahn, Farrah, Unassigned n Leung, Anita, Minister-At-Large, assisting in District Women’s Ministry, Vancouver, BC n Lewis, Chris, Senior Pastor, Midland Alliance Church, ON n Llavore, Ronald, Unassigned n Magnus, Rev. Dieter, On loan with Power to Change, Langley, BC n Maxwell, Rev. Jordie, Unassigned n Munn, Cindy, Unassigned n Nguyen, Minh, Pastor, Brampton Vietnamese Alliance Church, ON n Olson, Rev. Anthony, Unassigned n Peters, Rev. Scott, Unassigned n Poonnoose, Cherian, No credentials n Reimer, Rev. Darin, Pastor, The Exchange Church, Saskatoon, SK n Rintisch, Rev. Ralph, Senior Pastor, Westlock Alliance Church, AB n Rioux, Rev. Joe, Senior Pastor, Kentwood Alliance Church, Red Deer, AB n Robertson, Rev. Doug, Unassigned n Rose, Dr. Bob, MinisterAt-Large, Surrey, BC n Schmidt, David, Lead Pastor, Alberta Beach Alliance Church, AB n

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Siemens, Rev. Myron, Senior Pastor, Harvest Hills Alliance Church, Calgary, AB n Smart, Rev. Mike, Associate Pastor, Trailview Alliance Church, Swift Current, SK n Smith, Rev. Chris, Assistant Pastor, Estevan Alliance Church, SK n Smith, David, No credentials n Smith, Joanna, No credentials n Torio, Manuel, No credentials n Tran, Rev. Dr. Wilson, No credentials n Wigmore, Jason, Youth Pastor, Milestone Alliance Church, SK n Wilms, Rev. Rob, Unassigned n Winslow, Rob, Associate Pastor, Trailview Alliance Church, Swift Current, SK n Wride, Rev. Daren, Transitional Pastor, Cranbrook Alliance Church, BC n Yu, Rev. Tung Hoi, Senior Pastor, Richmond Hill Mandarin Alliance Church, ON n

ORDINATIONS n Buettner, Rev. Cory, Associate Pastor, Yarrow Alliance Church, Chilliwack, BC n Crosswell, Rev. Joel, Senior Pastor, North Cowichan Alliance Church, Duncan, BC n Dimnik, Rev. Jason, Foothills Alliance Church, Calgary, AB n Dolsky, Rev. Dave, Devon Alliance Church, AB n Escamilla, Rev. Pedro, Spruce Grove Alliance Church, AB n Farmer, Rev. Drake, Drayton Valley Alliance Church, AB n Fox, Rev. Jamie, Pastor of Young Adult Ministries, Sevenoaks Alliance Church, Abbotsford, BC n Gonyou, Rev. Jonathan, Stony Plain Alliance Church, AB n MacLean, Rev. Robin, English Pastor, Windsor Chinese Alliance Church, ON n McLean, Rev. Steven, Associate Pastor, Oliver

And show your own self in all respects to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity [having the strictest regard for truth and purity of motive], with dignity and seriousness.

– Titus 2:7 (AMP)

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Alliance Church, BC Olson, Rev. Anthony, Unassigned n Pollock, Rev. Nathan, Sturgeon Alliance Church, Gibbons, AB n Ricalton, Rev. Earl, Assistant Pastor of Congregational Care, McDiarmid Drive Alliance Church, Brandon, MB n Ruigrok, Rev. Samuel, Edmonton Chinese Alliance Church, AB n Schmidt, Rev. David, Alberta Beach Alliance Church, AB n Suh, Rev. Inho, Youth Pastor, Vancouver Chinese Alliance Church, BC n Throness, Rev. Chris, Pastor of Middle School Youth, Coquitlam Alliance Church, BC n Wong, Rev. Ram, Assistant Pastor, Vancouver Chinese Alliance Church, BC n Zhou, Rev. David, Mandarin Ministries Pastor, Mississauga Chinese Alliance Church, ON n

personnel

With the Lord Deaths from January 1 – June 30, 2011

Addison, Karen, June 6, 2011 Mrs. Addison ministered alongside her husband Chuck for 32 years in Ottawa and then Victoria where Chuck is currently the Pastor of Church Administration at Victoria Pacific Rim Alliance Church. She is survived by her husband Chuck, daughter Krystal and son Gordon.

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Boldt, Dr. Walter, May 7, 2011 Walter Boldt served with the Alliance for 49 years and with the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada for eight years. His ministry began in Dawson Creek Alliance Church (BC) in 1954 followed by University Drive/Circle Drive Alliance Church in Saskatoon, SK. He served several years as a minister-at-large, as Interim Pastor at Dawson Creek Alliance Church, as well as Springbank Community Church and Harvest Hills Alliance Church, both in Calgary, AB. He is survived by his wife Doris, son Wayne and daughters Melanie Driedger and Sandra Backman.

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Gunzel, Dr. Jim, April 28, 2011 For 42 years Dr. Gunzel served with the Alliance. His ministry began as Assistant Pastor at the Churchill Alliance Church in Manitoba. In 1975 he became Senior Pastor of Coquitlam Alliance Church in BC followed

by Victoria Rim Alliance Church and Westshore Alliance Church, both in Victoria, BC. He is survived by his wife Marion, sons Kenton and Andrew and daughter Robin.

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Jaycox, Clarence, March 2, 2011 After serving with the Alliance for 56 years, Rev. Clarence Jaycox went to be with the Lord. His years of ministry took him to Fort Nelson, BC as well as Wapiti, Loon Lake, Peerless Lake and Grouard, all in Alberta. He was predeceased by his wife Ruth, and is survived by his five sons: Edward, Stephen, Paul, Forrest and David and his daughter Heather.

ministry at Peace Portal Alliance Church. Florence is survived by her husband Eldon, son Taylor and daughter Hayley.

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Leadbeater, Eva, January 31, 2011 Eva was the wife of Rev. Lloyd Leadbeater who served in ministry with the Alliance for a total of 15 years in Dartmouth, NS, Fredericton, NB and Cobourg, ON. She is survived by her husband Lloyd, daughter Janice Bickle and son Stephen.

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McCarthy, Irene, January 29, 2011 Mrs. McCarthy served with the Alliance for 17 years in Mission Creek Alliance Church, Kelowna, BC. She was predeceased by her husband Edward and is survived by her daughters: Joanne Soberlak, Bernie-Jean Worobey and Marilyn McComber and step-daughters: Vivian Foley, Valerie Field, Ruth Hahn and Nola Renfrew.

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McBride, Florence, May 12, 2011 Mrs. McBride supported her husband Eldon in ministry at Rexdale Alliance Church in Toronto for many years. She had been battling cancer for some time before they moved to Surrey, BC where Eldon began

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Rambo, Dr. Ruth, May 19, 2011 Well known to many Canadians, Mrs. Rambo served with the Alliance for 50 years. She worked alongside her husband David at Bridgton Road Alliance Church in Maine, followed by international ministry in the Philippines. They ministered at Canadian Bible College/Canadian Theological Seminary in Regina, SK prior to returning to the U.S. at the Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, NY. She is survived by her husband David and three daughters: Elizabeth Boda, Jody and Shelly.

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Warden, Lena, June 6, 2011 Lena had a great love for children and prior to working with the Alliance, she and her husband served in various types of children’s ministries. She ministered alongside her husband in Miami, Florida beginning the first Spanish Alliance Church among the many Cuban refugees flooding into that city.

Lena continued to bless others with her gift of hospitality in Surrey and Mission, BC. She is survived by Bert, her husband of 62 years, sons Len and Evan as well as daughters Gaileen, Judy, Joy Brougher, Lori Schmidt and Bonnie Salvog, 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

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With the Lord Fall 2011

cmAlliance.ca 53

now you know

Seamless Link A NEW PARADIGM Creating strategic integration and shared responsibility between the Local Church and International Worker-led ministry. n Strengthen International Worker engagement in Local Church ministry. n

Our ability to maintain current ministry is limited

are seen merely as the funding base and little, if

For more information and/or to arrange a meeting to discuss Seamless Link, please contact your district Seamless Link Advisor:

anything, else! By developing deeper relationships

Canadian Pacific District

that provide for more meaningful ongoing church

Steve Foster 1-877-850-2664 Cell 250-667-4827

engagement in overseas ministry, we can become a

Western Canadian District

movement of churches that, together, expands our

Ron Brown 403-265-7900

because of the old paradigm whereby Local Churches

overseas work and grows and strengthens the Local Church at the same time.

Tim Mackenzie 403-443-2034 Cell 403-443-0786

Canadian Midwest District Shauna Archer 306-586-3549

Central Canadian District SEAMLESS LINK UPDATE [July 1, 2010 to October 15, 2011 ] n 11 Covenants pending n 31 Covenants finalized n Over 100 current discussions

between Local Churches and International Workers in progress n 430 churches in Canada

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cmAlliance.ca Fall 2011

Marcus Verbrugge 905-962-8077

Eastern Canadian District Mike Linnen 905-430-0955 Cell 905-409-7159

St Lawrence District Lorilee Jespersen 418-833-7983

CONTACT YOUR SEAMLESS LINK ADVISOR TODAY

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.SEAMLESSLINK.CA

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Change the world.

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To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

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