A Son Comes Home for Father’s Day – A Story of God’s Grace – Five Minutes on Friday with the LPD

Please remember,
Jubilee Chapel
– our LPD Church of the Week.
Thanks to Anna (Ben) Crumback at Sointula Community Church for producing the Church of the Week!

I have never met a dad who feels worthy of honour…

As Father’s Day approaches, somehow, we dads somehow  feel undeserving of either tribute or recognition. We always think that we could have/should have done more to be a better dad. As we have wrestled to balance life, faith, marriage, family and a vocation, we have often have found ourselves pulled in many directions. Even so, our Heavenly Father uses the image of a human father to describe his love for us … “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:13,14).

Father’s Day brings mixed emotions for me personally. I miss my dad – he passed away 11 years ago, next weekend, one week after Father’s Day, 2017. I am also humbled by Father’s Day, as both our children and grandchildren honour me in some way. I am blessed, and I am thankful.

Today, I want to share the story of a friend, fellow pastor and dad, Chris (Verna)Wilson, pastor of Nanoose EFC.

This will be a very special Father’s Day for Chris! His son Bob, age 54, has asked to be baptized this Father’s Day, by his dad, Chris – the celebration of the coming home of one who has wandered from God, but has found him faithful, present and good. Chris has given me permission to share his son Bob’s story.

Here is an excerpt from what Bob wrote:

I am 54 years of age now, and how I made it this far, it has to be God.
I have been addicted to Alcohol and Drugs, for the majority of my adult life. I have been through several 90 day treatment programs, countless detox centers, homeless shelters, I have dumpster dived.
I have been admitted to hospital several times on failed suicide attempts, some where I should not be here today.
I don’t mean to be graphic, but in order for you to see the drastic change in my life by my acceptance as Christ as my personal Saviour. I feel the need to tell you a little bit of background information…

Please read the full testimony at this link: Bob_Wilson_testimony.pdf
We praise God for his good and faithful work, and we rejoice with you, Chris, Verna and Bob!
Chris and Verna have served faithfully at Nanoose EFC for almost 15 years, and come the end of September, will be stepping down from pastoral ministry. We trust that they will be used in part-time time itinerant ministry and encouragement. Chris has been battling Parkinson’s, and has found God’s grace sufficient in both life and service. We are thankful for them and for what God has done!

Revitalize and Being a Gospel-sharing People.

In the EFCC, we have been speaking of Revitalize and being a Gospel-sharing people. I am encouraged by the stories I am hearing of people coming to Christ – people like Bob above.

Here is an interesting article on sharing the Good News in a way that is both relevant and from the heart. Here is the link to, “Effectively Proclaiming the Gospel to an Idolatrous Culture.” effectively-proclaiming-the-gospel-to-an-idolatrous-culture/
Please pray for:

• Pray for Fathers and especially for pastors, volunteer church leaders and families. One of qualifications for ministry is the health of one’s family, and we need to pray for both priority and spiritual health of our families.
• Joel and Ingrid Chiri. We have appreciated them as a part of the Rock Christian Fellowship,  and now they seek the Lord to open a new opportunity for them to serve.
• LPD Board. We are scheduled to meet on June 20. 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/Comox. They are now readying their new building for ministry, and hope to be ready to move in by September. 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. Pray for affirmation of God’s direction as the congregation meets on Sunday.