FORT LANGLEY
EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH

– our LPD Church of the Week

Fort Langley EFC, begins what it calls a “hybrid” approach to worship and ministry this Sunday.

Since March, the church has been streaming its services, and in this has been challenged to “keep in touch” as a congregation.

Like every congregation, Fort Langley is composed of a range of people of all ages and also those with varied levels of comfort as to gathering together in these days of COVID-19. Being sensitive to the needs and convictions of one another, they are providing both streaming and live options for joining together in worship each week. Please pray for them as they launch this “ReStart” initiative this Sunday, October 4, and see their website for more information and registration: https://flefc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events

Please pray for the leadership team at Fort Langley EFC. Lead Pastor Jason (Susanna), Associate Pastor of Youth and Young Adults, Erwin (Renee) Van Ramshorst, Children’s Ministry Coordinator, Mary Ann (Linc) Dance and Brittany Martin, Director of Worship Ministries.
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Thinking of “re-opening” your church? Reluctant to “re-open” your church? Here is an article to consider. Pastor Danny Franks challenges us with the words, ” Church leaders, never in our lifetime have we faced a leadership challenge like we’re currently facing. Let’s rise to the test, love our people, and help those on the outside feel like there’s a place for them inside.” Here is a link to his article, “4 Principles for Welcoming Church Guests in the COVID Age.” 4-principles-for-welcoming-guests-in-the-covid-age

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How are you doing mentally and spiritually these days? A recent Leger poll has found that people are feeling more depressed now than early in the summer, when it appeared that we were getting ahead of the pandemic.

Now, with talk of a “second-wave,” just in time for the flu season, people are feeling more pessimistic, partly due to their isolation from others. An important finding is that people benefit from connecting with others on a regular basis.

covid-19-poll-ubc-scientist-say-mental-health-continues-to-suffer

While there are studies as to how people are doing as they cope with the pandemic, how are you doing as a leader? Are we keeping on top of things?

Dan Reiland offers an article, in which he challenges us to reflect, and asks, “How Are You and I Changing as Spiritual Leaders?  He suggests that, “None of us can lead effectively if we are not self-aware, so knowing how COVID has changed you, little or great, is vital.” Here is a link to his article, “COVID-19 Has Changed Us – 9 Questions To Help Discover How.” covid-19-has-changed-us-9-questions-to-help-discover-how/
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LPD Pastor and Staff “Virtual Cruise”
Wednesday, October 28

The Pastor and Staff Cruse has become a tradition in our LPD over the past 20 years…

With BC Ferry COVID Protocol requiring face masks and social distancing, it is not practical/possible to hold a “live” cruise, so we will look forward to a “Virtual Cruise” via ZOOM.
Please plan to join us from 10AM – 12Noon, and enjoy this time of connecting, learning and growing together. 
Details and ZOOM link will be sent in the coming weeks!

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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)

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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:

1. Congregational Meetings – whatever your bylaws state, the BC Government is accepting “virtual meetings” for annual and general meetings. Here is a link to the government communication about this:  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/business/not-for-profit-organizations/societies-agm-covid-19
2. 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.
3. 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!
4. Online Giving Options for your church – helpful, especially when your church cannot physically gather.

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Please pray for:

• Pray for one another. As I communicate with churches and leaders, I am aware that churches are steaming services, ZOOMING services, meeting live and offering a combination of the above. Pray for unity. Pray for “connectedness” and pastoral care in our churches. Pray for our witness and outreach to our world that so desperately needs hope.
• Pray for the Church of All Nations, and for church planting missionaries Jorge and Emily Lin. This church plant is a joining of the people of New Westminster EFC and new people, with a common heart and mission, to be a church that makes disciples of all the nations. They define themselves as, “a church family made of life groups of all nations. We gather as a large group to worship as one church and celebrate the God Stories of Transformation that happen in our life groups.” Please pray for our leadership/strategic planning meaning, Sunday, November 4 at 12:30PM.
• Tom and Sandi Ford and family.  Tom had additional surgery last week, to address what was not healing after his last surgery. Pray that he will heal, that he will receive prosthetics, and that he will be able to receive a kidney transplant.
• Henry and Kim Ngugi – EFCCM Missionaries to Kenya: https://movedchurch.org/
• 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.