Town + Field Church
– our LPD Church of the Week
Thanks to Anna (Ben) Crumback at Sointula Community Church for producing the Church of the Week!
Why should I come to
your church? Why should anyone come to your church?
Or, if you didn’t
“work” at your church, would you attend it?
This question can and
will be answered in a number of ways, and in a number of contexts. Some would
appeal to loyalty, devotion, and even to guilt. Church attendance might be seen
to be a measure of one’s commitment to following Christ. Non- attenders
or those who attend infrequently are simply viewed as not serious about
their faith.
Others might think more about “loss prevention,” and run about
seeking to emulate growing churches through embracing the latest trends – from
specialty coffee to the latest in worship music, all efforts are made to cater
to people’s wishes and to hopefully keep them coming.
Still others will scoff at such efforts as simply giving in to
“consumers.” In their minds, such efforts will simply result in the
church becoming a kilometer wide and a centimeter deep.
All of the above fail to acknowledge and appreciate that Christians are
actually seeking something far deeper and meaningful – something that is both
authentic and will encourage them to grow in their knowledge and experience of
God in their life and faith.
Dan Reiland, in a recent article suggests seven reasons that guests will return
to church. Please rad this over, and see if it aligns with your understanding
of why people do – or do not attend your church.
Top-7-reasons-guests-return-church/
As you read this
article, I would encourage you to reflect on your church. Your church is not
competing with others or appealing to “consumers.” Such efforts never
end well.
People in your community are seeking to know the Living God in the context of
an authentic community of fellow-beleivers.
AROUND THE LPD:
Last Sunday, Karen and I enjoyed
being with Parkdale
EFC in Victoria, where I was able to preach, as our son Pastor Tim Stewart,
and wife Emily were on a “field trip” for his DMn Studies at TWS/ACTS
Seminary. Karen and I also have enjoyed a special time watching our Victoria
grandchildren, Miriam, Malcolm and Wesley!
This Sunday,
I look forward to being with Fort
Langley EFC, to recognize and affirm the calling of Jason and Susanna Lavergne
to serve as Lead Pastor. We are thankful for the way that God has led, both in
the church and in the lives of Jason, Susanna and family. Jason has served as
Youth Pastor, Associate Pastor and now as Lead Pastor
Please pray for:
Upcoming Events:
“Arise Ministers
Conference”
We are thankful for Pastor Sammy Kabyemera (Eva),
who pastor Jesus
Grace International Church, a church in Vancouver. Sammy, Eva
and their six children came to Canada as refugees from Congo, via an Ugandan
Refugee Camp.
While their church ministers primarily to African Immigrants, they retain a
heart for the people and church of Africa. Sammy is troubled by the spread of
the “prosperity gospel” in Africa, and is burdened to see that
pastors are grounded in the Word of God and equipped to teach and guide God’s
people.
Sammy is trusting God to travel to Africa for a mission trip to train and equip
African Pastors through a conference that he has been asked to speak at. Please see the attached email, to
learn more of this conference, and the need in Africa, and how we can support
this important ministry to brothers and sisters in Africa.
Arise_Pastors_Conference_2019.pdf
Please prayerully
consider giving towards this mission
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CAMP EVERGREEN
August 5-10
This local summer camp is affiliated with the Lower Pacific District, and provides a great opportunity to extend your church ministry through camp, and to follow up afterwards. Many district families, including ours have benefited through this ministry, both in the children’s camp and leadership development in the LTD program. This summer, there is a children’s camp (Aug. 5-10), a teen camp and the LTD Leadership Program. Check out their website for details:
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LPD Pastor and Spouse Retreat
Nov. 22-24, 2019
Hello LPD pastors, we’d like to invite you to join us on Nov. 22-24, 2019 for a Pastors’ retreat! We’d like to encourage you to take a breather in late November (before Advent begins) with your fellow pastors at Camp Charis in Chilliwack.
Registration is open
on our LPD Website. Please see:
https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/event/lpd-pastor-and-spouse-retreat/
