So, how’s your church doing? How is your ministry going?
How do we answer these questions? What is our measure?
Sometimes, we may answer on the basis of our last Sunday Service – the attendance or the feedback we received. We might also answer on the basis of freedom from – or the presence of conflict and division.
An article I often go back to, though written in 1966, speaks with relevance to ministry today. It is perhaps the most succinct article I have seen as to the essence of effective pastoral ministry in an EFCA/EFCC Church. I offer it as a checklist for reflection on your ministry and church. It essentially speaks to five questions.
- Does my preaching have a point? When I speak from a scripture, have I merely informed people, or have I, on the basis of what scripture says, made practical application to hearer’s life and faith? A good exercise is for a speaker to summarize the “so what” of a message before delivery – in one sentence! If you can’t, then I do not believe you really know what you are talking about.
- Is worship truly Christ-centred? Am I as a leader focused on Christ, or am I focused on what people think?
3. Do I truly love people or do I simply “use” people?
4. Do I/we welcome the wounded and provide a place where they will find acceptance?
5. Do we help and equip people to share their faith?
These questions are perhaps neither original or profound, but together, they provide a rather useful checklist of my motives and focus in ministry.
Here is a link to the article by Wally Norling: My_Philosophy_of_Church_Ministry_Wally_Norling.pdf
As we in the EFCC focus on revitalization and sharing the Gospel, Wally’s words are timely.
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Update on Trinity Western University Law School
By now, you have heard about the Supreme Court of Canada judgement regarding the proposed law school at Trinity Western University.
Here are a couple of links for your information:
A statement from TWU President, Bob Kuhn:
A statement from EFCC Executive Director, Bill Taylor:
Please take time to read these, and continue to pray for the leadership and mission of TWU. May all of us move forward with both courage and grace with our eyes firmly fixed on Christ.
Please pray for:
- Baptisms at both Fort Langley EFC and North Delta EFC on Sunday. Fort Langley will be baptizing in the Fraser River and North Delta will be baptizing downstream at Crescent Beach. we thank God for these celebrations of new lives in Christ.
- TWU, as they prayerfully respond to the Supreme Court decision. May God yet open the door for the law school, and may we remain firm in our mission and.faith.
- 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. 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.
- Pastor Lorin and Jeanette Bergin, as they trust the Lord for health and their future, and also FLEFC, as they seek the Lord for his future plan for FLEFC.
- 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.
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- Camp Evergreen: 2018 Camp dates for children, youth and LTDs are August 6-11. See http://www.campevergreen.ca/ for information. This is an excellent opportunity to extend your church’s ministry to children and to also train young adults as Christian Leaders.
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- EFCC National Conference, August 9-11 in Lethbridge, Alberta. Pray for God’s guidance on this gathering of EFCC Churches – and better yet, plan to attend. Info is available at https://www.efccm.ca/wordpress/conference/
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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. Please register online at our LPD Website
