Success and Service

As we journey through COVID together these days, we all find it difficult to innovate and initiate new ministries. Everything seems to be a hassle…

COVID policies and recommendations seem to change daily. There are those that are from Dr. Bonnie Henry, those from the “internet,” those from friends, and those that reflect our personal comfort level.

When we plan, there is no consensus of opinion and no manual to follow. Regulators, parents and individuals have a diversity of opinion. (Our LPD can help, but you will need to gear your policy to the needs and context of your church). One thing for sure – “one size will not fit all.”

As I write, more district churches are “re-opening” as they are able. Small groups are proving to be the “life-line” of connection in local churches. A “broadcast” service is at best one-way communication and honestly, people have been “channel surfing” to see what is happening in other churches. No matter how hard we work or how “professional” our taped services appear, there are “better” services out there. What makes ours special are the personal relationships and connections that we maintain and grow.

Let’s encourage one another and learn from one another as we seek to both innovate and initiate ministries this fall. Let’s pray for one another – and share what we are learning!

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23,25)

Are you and your ministry considered successful in this day of COVID?
What does “success” in ministry look like today? Views of our online services? Number of ZOOM participants? Budget being met?

Admit it or not, we may be more prone to seek affirmation in ministry than we like to acknowledge.

Pre-COVID, we might get feedback from the congregation at the door of our church. Today, it may come via email or text, and it may be more focused on expressing one’s disappointment than giving accolades.
Pastor and author Dan Reiland writes, “… most church leaders admit they don’t really know how many people are still part of the congregation, their buildings are not full, and many of their best leaders are not ready to come back.“

In his article, “Five Helpful Thoughts on Leading in Transition and Preparing for the Future,” Reiland challenges us to think like church planters, and offers some timely counsel for us leading, both now and in the “new future” post- COVID:

preparing-to-lead-the-post-covid-church/

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As we consider significance in ministry, Oswald Chambers reminds us that we should not, “… rejoice in our successful service for Christ, but rejoice because of our right relationship with Him.”

Usefulness or Relationship?

By Oswald Chambers

Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven. —Luke 10:20

Jesus Christ is saying here, “Don’t rejoice in your successful service for Me, but rejoice because of your right relationship with Me.” The trap you may fall into in Christian work is to rejoice in successful service— rejoicing in the fact that God has used you. Yet you will never be able to measure fully what God will do through you if you do not have a right-standing relationship with Jesus Christ. If you keep your relationship right with Him, then regardless of your circumstances or whoever you encounter each day, He will continue to pour “rivers of living water” through you (John 7:38). And it is actually by His mercy that He does not let you know it. Once you have the right relationship with God through salvation and sanctification, remember that whatever your circumstances may be, you have been placed in them by God. And God uses the reaction of your life to your circumstances to fulfill His purpose, as long as you continue to “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7).

Our tendency today is to put the emphasis on service. Beware of the people who make their request for help on the basis of someone’s usefulness. If you make usefulness the test, then Jesus Christ was the greatest failure who ever lived. For the saint, direction and guidance come from God Himself, not some measure of that saint’s usefulness. It is the work that God does through us that counts, not what we do for Him. All that our Lord gives His attention to in a person’s life is that person’s relationship with God— something of great value to His Father. Jesus is “bringing many sons to glory…” (Hebrews 2:10).

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LPD/EFCC Pastor and Staff Orientation

Monday, September 28
– at Johnston Heights Church
9612 – 152 St. Surrey
8:30AM – 4PM

This is a great opportunity go get to know our EFCC Family, and is a requirement for all seeking credentialing in the EFCC.

Pastor_and_Staff_Orientation_2020_Invitation.pdf

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Journey Canada is offering a free webinar to introduce their ministry and to offer resources to pastors and leaders. Please see details below:
You are invited to this free webinar called Relationships, Sexuality & Identity on Tuesday, September 29 from 10 to 11 am. Presenter Scott Neufeld will be exploring the core message of Journey’s ministry and their approach to discipleship. You’ll also hear personal testimonies from people who are discovering Jesus with them in places of need and shame.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMucemoqjMvEtby7wk6of5TzuIvX1wygp0g

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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 at: office@lpd-efcc.ca

Please contact us for:

Current Information on the Federal Government Wage Subsidy Program. Recent changes will positively impact the eligibility of grants for churches. Please contact our office for information.
Resources regarding “restarting” and regathering in your church, and regulations for doing this. Several churches have been “re-opening,” as regulations permit. We are posting information on our website: https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/ By law, your church will need both a plan and a policy, and we can help you with this. Please check as government policy is changing weekly, even daily! (i.e. This week, the requirement for a pexiglass barrier for speaker/singers has been lifted in favour of a 3 meter spacial seperation).
Online Giving Options for your church – helpful, especially when your church cannot physically gather.

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Please pray for:

Tom and Sandi Ford and family. We are thankful that Tom got home from hospital on Monday, August 31! Pray as he continues to heal, hopes for prosthetics, and waits for a kidney transplant.
One another – may we see God-given opportunities in this time of COVID. May we be both creative and bold as we “launch” and “re-open” into fall ministries.
Shiya (Marshall) Janzen, military chaplain.Shiya has been transferred to Quebec. Please pray for a smooth transition to work, specifically: post – COVID lock down, in a second-language, in a new/army environment, and all the expectations and uncertainty that goes with it. Pray too for the kids as they seek to make friends and start school.
Vancouver Chinese EFC welcomes Johnny (Daisy) Mak as Interim Assistant Pastor, working alongside Job (Cindy) Chan, acting CSC Congregation Pastor, and Christopher (Sunnie) Chu as interim Youth Ministry Director (ESC), serving alongside Joseph (Jeanie) Yu, acting ESC Congregation Pastor.
Ryan and Talasi Guerra begin ministry as Lead Pastor at Town + Field Church on September 1. We are thankful for God’s leading in this search process – Welcome Ryan, Talasi and daughter Avra!
Darren (Lynn) Bute is coming to serve as Pastor of Youth and Young Adults at Town + Field Church. Ryan and Darren served together in a previous church, and look forward to serving together again. Welcome Darren, Lynn and daughters Vianne and Cloe.
Erwin (Renee) Van Ramshorst has begun serving as Associate Pastor of Youth and Young Adults at Fort Langley EFC. Welcome Erwin and Renee!
Nathan and Amber Kinsey. Nathan (Coach K) has just been approved as a LPD Missionary, in order to lead Winsome Games, a ministry to reach out to children and youth through sports. Welcome aboard Nathan, Amber and team! He began on Sept 1. Welcome Nathan, Amber and family!
Our 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) – D.S., Tim Stewart (Emily) – Innovative Ministries, Sang Hyun (Sam) Cho (Eun Young) – Korean Church Liaison; Phil Yung (Grace) – Church Planting, Philip Leung (Karen) – Chinese Church Liaison and Josephine Papp, LPD Office Administrator – Recording Secretary.

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Henry and Kim Ngugi -EFCCM Missionaries to Kenya

– are readying to head overseas on September 11!

We are excited and thankful for how God has led and called Henry and Kim Ngugi to serve with EFCCM, and we invite you to join in their prayer and support team. They trust to travel to Kenya to begin this ministry in September. Here is a link to a virtual presentation on their work in Gilgal, Kenya.

Website:

https://movedchurch.org/

As Henry, Kim and family prepare to leave, both monthly support and one-time gifts for expenses are needed! See the link above for details…

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LPD Women in Ministry:
Facebook Page

Karen invites all women church ministry staff and pastor’s wives to join. The purpose is communication, encouragement and prayer for one another. Here is the link to join:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/400921800271739/

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In 2020, our Lower Pacific District is assisting in the birth and revitalization of churches. We have also stepped out in faith with local churches through providing financial support and seed money. To this end, we appreciate the gifts of many district churches and also of individuals. You can participate through both cheques and online through PayPal at our website. See our LPD website at https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/ for more info.