Who do you serve, and who do you “work for?”

Please remember,
Abbottsford EFC  “Abby Free”

– our  LPD Church of the Week.

Thanks to Anna (Ben) Crumback at Sointula Community Church for producing the Church of the Week!

This week’s Church of the Week, Abby Free is pastored by Randy (Allana) Lemke. We are thankful for them and their ministry. What few of us may know is that Allana is also a Support Teacher for Heritage Christian Online School – and Producer and Managing Director of Lighthouse Theatre, composed of students of the school.

If you have the chance, please plan to see this production too. It is at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, and runs from May 24-26 at 7PM, and a Saturday matinee. Info and tickets can be obtained at: http://www.chilliwackculturalcentre.ca/event/rodgers-hammersteins-cinderella/

Who do you serve, and who do you “work for?”

Have you found yourself asking that question recently? Whether you be a volunteer in ministry or in vocational ministry, we can feel pulled in many directions.

• as a worship leader/pastor, you minister to a wide variety of musical taste – and talent.
• as a nursery worker, you deal with high and differing expectations in terms of child care.
• as one speaking, you speak to a wide spectrum of ages, biblical knowledge, needs and Bible translations/paraphrases…

I have been studying the Book of Hebrews in my personal reading these days. On Wednesday AM, a verse spoke to me that for some reason, had passed me by on other occasions. It is found in Hebrews 6:10 and simply reads, in context:
Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. ¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. ¹¹ We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Did you catch verse 10?

1. God is mindful of our work – as we have helped and continue to help his people.
2. Helping God’s people is an expression of our love for God.
3. God does not forget – as an old pastor friend once said, “God keeps the books.”

Here’s some things that encourage me and that I take away into this weekend:

• As we look to Sunday, let’s remember that our service to God’s people is really an expression of our love and worship for God – who is both our and our congregation’s Father. As a parent and grandparent, I get this! If you love and care for my children and grandchildren – you love and care for me as well! 
• The word translated “help” in the NIV is really the word “serve,” from which we get our  English term “deacon.” We are about service.
• While we serve God’s people, Christ died and rose to make them His people. As Peter reminds us, they are God’s flock, entrusted to our care (1 Peter 5:2). While we and those we serve are far from perfect, we do bear the Name of  our Lord.

May God bless you and others through you this weekend as you serve.

Sharing our Faith: News about the Good News!
People are, for the most part, sharing their faith differently that before. Here is an article on a recent study from LifeWay. Also, the non-churched are more open to hear the Gospel than you might think: https://www.lifeway.com/pastors/2018/05/18/christians-are-more-intentional-less-evangelistic-since-1993/

We in the EFCC conducted a survey of churches and leaders regarding evangelism for Revitalize, our shared initiative regarding sharing the Gospel as God’s people in the EFCC. Here are some results of a similar survey to a wider audience. Do you relate to any of the reasons that people state that they are less evangelistic than before. Please discuss this with your leaders and small groups.  https://www.lifeway.com/pastors/2017/02/06/reasons-churches-less-evangelistic-today/

Please pray for:

• Joel and Ingrid Chiri. We have appreciated them as a part of the Rock Christian Fellowship leadership in Ladysmith. Joel and Ingrid have sold their home, and are planning to move, as the Lord opens opportunity for them to serve.
• Pray for me, as I speak at Fort Langley EFC on Sunday AM, and then head to the Island to speak, and to meet with the leadership of The Rock Christian Fellowship on Sunday evening.
• LPD Board: Board members are Randy Lemke (Allana) – Chair, Patrick Chan (Sarah) – Property and Finance, Ben Crumback (Anna) – Island Liaison, Charles Labun (Carolyn) – Church Board Liaison, Rob Stewart (Karen) – DS, Tim Stewart (Emily) – Innovative Ministries, Kenneth Tsang (Mabel) – Chinese Church Liaison; Paul Yang (Jin) – Korean Church Liaison; Phil Yung (Grace) – Church Planting and Josephine Papp, LPD Office Administrator – Recording Secretary.
• Quadra Island Bible Church in their pastoral search.
• Christ Community Church (Ucluelet) in their pastoral search.
• North Delta EFC, in their search for an Associate Pastor for  youth and small groups.
• Pastor Lorin and Jeanette Bergin, as they trust the Lord for health and their future, and also FLEFC, as they seek the Lord and journey together with Lorin and Jeanette in the days ahead.
• For Jorge and Emily Lin, new LPD Church Planting Missionaries.They are entering a residency program in preparation for planting an international church.
• The Steveston Project Team – Allen and Hannah Chang and Daniel and Joyce Wong.
• Central EFC in Courtenay/Como. This week, they are to finalize the purchase a building for their church and ministries. Our district is glad to assist them with a mortgage for this.
• Steve (Gillian) Sharpe, in his ministry as LPD Missionary of Church Planting Development, serving both our LPD Missionaries and Church Plants and church planting in the EFCC. Pray for Steve and Gillian as they are serving, along with Ralph and Karen Hardy in transition and renewal at New Westminster EFC.

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“Pastoral Approaches: The Church & Same-Sex Attraction.” Saturday, October 20 at Richmond Chinese EFC, 9AM – 4PM. This is a follow up and further resourcing of our LPD Conference presentation. All pastors and lay-leaders are welcome! Cost: $10.00 per registrant.