– our LPD Church of the Week
In 1975, some recent immigrants from Hong Kong stepped forward in faith to plant the first Chinese-speaking church in our Lower Pacific District.
Having settled in Vancouver BC, they purchased what was known as Bethel Evangelical Free Church, a church planted in 1936. Situated on Nanaimo Street, just south of Broadway, the church had reached out largely to Scandinavian immigrants.
Over the years, the community demographics began to change. Names like Urang and Olson were succeeded by names like Ng, Chan and Lee. It was time for change. Bethel EFC became Vancouver Chinese EFC.
This church building was both dated and small, but it gave the church a start. An English ministry was started in 1978, and the church later added a service in Mandarin. They have also “mothered” the birth of Richmond Chinese EFC, Burnaby Chinese EFC and Port Coquitlam Chinese EFC.
I well recall frequently visiting the Nanaimo Street location, where we would have three morning services. At the end of one service, people would be ushered our the front fire escape, as the next service would be ushered in through the tiny front entrance and foyer.
By God’s grace, the church was able to build and relocate in 2008 (see photo at top), and now are located at Broadway and Rupert. Like all churches, with COVID, they have introduced online ministry options and are looking to regather as they are able in the weeks ahead.
Please pray for them, as they serve and continue pastoral searches, and as they reopen physical services. We are thankful for the people of Vancouver Chinese EFC – may they continue in the pioneer spirit with which they were first planted.
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Stay Apart – Keep Connected
While driving to the airport the other day, the sign on the side of the road read, “Stay apart; Keep connected.” There are many variations on this theme, but all send a message that while we may need to social distance, we do need to keep socially connected.
As churches, we resonate with this theme – and also the mixed message that it sends. How can we stay connected while we need to also remain physically apart?
COVID has changed so much in our lives! Next Wednesday, I will be privileged to conduct the wedding of a nephew. He is a recent resident of Vancouver, and four months ago, met the lady who is now his fiance (who attends the same church) online. Karen and I have had them in our home on two occasions, yet my brother and sister-in-law, who are Canadians living in Minnesota, have yet to meet their soon-to-be daughter-in-law, other than a wave from a distance as they arrived at the airport and entered their mandatory two weeks of isolation. They will come out of their isolation on Sunday, three days before the wedding!
As I connect with pastors, worship leaders and others, I am hearing over and over of the struggle to keep connected while staying apart.
ZOOM is helpful, but as we see one another online, we are reminded that this is a somewhat poor substitute for meeting together physically.
As we “deliver” a service online, our communication is one way. We provide worship and a message, but we do not worship together, and as we preach, we do not engage our congregation – we simply speak into a camera.
The feedback that we do receive may more likely be that of where we have failed to deliver what people are looking for more than any blessing received. By the way, who is listening anyway?
Meeting together has its challenges too. While we long for the fellowship, we can only gather at a distance from one another. What we really miss is the joy of singing together, the greeting and interaction in the foyer, and the catching up with one another. That doesn’t work online – nor does the coffee!
This week, I have come across several articles that speak to our desire to be connected while we must be physically apart.
The first, from Christianity Today is titled, “It’s Not Enough to Broadcast a Service. Churches Need to Foster Community.” Adam Graber, speaking of the “drop” in attendance online writes, “There’s something about going to church that hasn’t yet sufficiently translated online. Churches are understandably focused on what happens in the sanctuary one hour each week. Long before the global pandemic, a lot of effort went into creating that 60 to 90-minute event. Once the pandemic hit, that same kind of energy went into translating that service into an online format. But something got lost.
On Sunday mornings before COVID-19, while church staff planned and prepared for what happened inside the sanctuary, something else was going on outside in the foyer, in the atrium, on the patio, in the welcome area. Something less planned, and for some churches, less intentional. People stood around talking. They shared their lives. And at the edges of sanctuaries, or in dedicated rooms, people prayed together for various needs. Before COVID-19, the church building bound together worship, community, and pastoral care.”
Here is the link:
zoom-church-covid-attendance-decline-lessons-community.html
As you reflect on this article, how is your church doing at connecting?
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A second article was forwarded to me by Philip Yung, Lead Pastor of Hope City Church, and Director of Church Planting and Development on our LPD Board. This article likens the church to a basketball team, Does the church exist to provide a “good game” for the spectators, or to engage the team in an effective game?
Writer, MIchael Krause, poses the question, “Is Online Church an Oxymoron?” Here is the link: is-online-church-an-oxymoron-guest-post
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A third article, send to me by my counterpart, Rob Cave, DS of the Canadian Prairie District, asks how we as pastors are doing in the midst of COVID. Ministry has changed, as has our “rythm” of ministry. We may be lonely. We may feel overworked and perhaps “underappreciated.” Writer, Ed Stetzer, in his article, “Four Important Reminders for Pastors Dealing with Mental Health Issues,”
asks about our mental fitness for ministry?
four-important-reminders-for-pastors-dealing-with-mental-health-issues?
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On another note, there was an interesting article in the Vancouver Sun this week regarding the “repurposing” of a church for community purposes.
Acknowledging the “secularization” of our society, the United Church of Canada is closing one church per week in Canada, and is looking for ways to re-purpose their buildings for the community. In this article, it also references that the Anglican Church of Canada’s own statistics predict that they will, “lose all their members by 2040.”
historic-delta-church-turning-into-secular-community-space
I offer this as a rather sad commentary on churches that have lost their way. Having departed from the faith they have known and the focus on our unique hope in Jesus Christ, they simply accept obsolescence. Last I checked, the Gospel remains uniquely Good News!
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As I began my day this morning, I spent a few moments in “My Utmost For His Highest,” with Oswald Chambers. I pass on his word of encouragement for today:
The New Testament notices things that do not seem worthy of notice by our standards. “Blessed are the poor in spirit….” This literally means, “Blessed are the paupers.” Paupers are remarkably commonplace! The preaching of today tends to point out a person’s strength of will or the beauty of his character— things that are easily noticed. The statement we so often hear, “Make a decision for Jesus Christ,” places the emphasis on something our Lord never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him— something very different. At the foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is the genuine loveliness of those who are commonplace. I am truly blessed in my poverty. If I have no strength of will and a nature without worth or excellence, then Jesus says to me, “Blessed are you, because it is through your poverty that you can enter My kingdom.” I cannot enter His kingdom by virtue of my goodness— I can only enter it as an absolute pauper.
The true character of the loveliness that speaks for God is always unnoticed by the one possessing that quality. Conscious influence is prideful and unchristian. If I wonder if I am being of any use to God, I instantly lose the beauty and the freshness of the touch of the Lord. “He who believes in Me…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). And if I examine the outflow, I lose the touch of the Lord.
Who are the people who have influenced us most? Certainly not the ones who thought they did, but those who did not have even the slightest idea that they were influencing us. In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring.
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LPD/EFCC Pastor and Staff Orientation
Monday, September 28 – online
This is a requirement for all seeking credentialing in the EFCC, and is most helpful for all incoming pastors and staff.
Please mark your calendars and watch for information.
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Please Remember our LPD Missionaries:
Here is the link to their information and how to support them:
Please remember all of our LPD Missionaries (and all missionaries) at this time.
https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/donations
LPD Missionaries
Dan and Sharon Williams (Osoyoos Project)
Steve and Gillian Sharpe (Missionary of Church Planting Development)
Jonathan and Harmony Ng (Inner City Ministry)
Noel and Lynda Macasaet (New Living Assembly)
Jorge and Emily Lin (Church of All Nations/”new”New West EFC)
Joshua and Nicole Fast (Priceless Youth Ministry)
Allen and Hannah Chang (Steveston Project)
Daniel and Joyce Wong (Steveston Project)
Nathan and Amber Kinsey (Winsome Games) –beginning September 1.
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HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR CHURCHES REGARDING COVID-19
We in the LPD are here to serve you and your church through this time. Josephine has been continually updating our information, so has the most current information available on resources available to you and your church in this time. Please email Josephine
Please contact us for:
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Please pray for:
