We Cannot Gather, But We Are Free to Share Good News!

As I sit down to prepare this “Five Minutes on Friday” on Thursday afternoon, I, like many of you, am “tuned in” to Dr. Bonnie Henry at 3:00PM Thursday. Due to the urgency of this information, I am sending this newsletter out early.

I have not looked forward to this, as I had received a “heads-up” from a briefing held with with BC religious leaders yesterday, and the news is not encouraging – no gatherings for the next two weeks (or more), and that puts us into Advent – and this could be extended. Furthermore, as travel and family gatherings are restricted, we will all hope that this can be lifted in time for Christmas with family…

In short, here are some highlights from the new Province-wide restrictions, effective midnight, December 19- midnight, December 7th:

1. All live worship services are suspended through midnight December 7th. We can continue to stream, meet on ZOOM or other electronic means:

Worship Teams can practice and record, but please follow good workplace COVID Policy.

2. Masks must be worn in all public spaces:

3. Live Children/Youth Ministries are suspended.

4. Weddings and Funerals are restricted to 10 people, including officiant:

Here is the link to the entire directive. See, “Social Gatherings and Events” : GCPE_AM_COVID_1_NOTIFICATION_BCGTIFICATION

Here are some thoughts.
While Assembly may be restricted, sharing the Good News is not.
We are called to respect and pray for those in authority (1 Tim.2). This is not a case where we can say with Peter and the other Apostles that “we must obey God rather than human beings.” (Acts 5:29).

We cannot gather, but we can share the News. How can we do this personally? How can we do this corporately?
Our small group is sharing the video series “Discipleship Explored” each week. We do this through ZOOM, and it works very well. Others are sharing Alpha and other ministries online. If you need some help about setting this up, please contact me.

While the Focus is on Physical Health, Mental and Spiritual Health is a huge concern.

A Vancouver Island doctor writes that since April, “…suicide deaths have doubled and suicides have increased dramatically” in BC.

How are we doing? How are the people in our church families doing? How are our communities doing? How can we encourage one another in Christ, and take a message of Hope to our communities? How can we serve and bring cheer?

Here is a short word of encouragement from Tim Keller, “Trusting God in Difficult Times”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pXWZNtxS0Q

May God bless you as you serve and guide your churches through this time of challenge and opportunity! You are in our prayers, and we are here to be an encouragement and resource to you.

While we can focus on the coping day to day, let us also look ahead, to the day when we move on COVID. Dan Reiland has some good counsel for us to this end, “Five Traits That Will Build Again.”: 5-traits-of-churches-that-will-build-again/

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Pastor Sammy Kabyemera of Jesus Grace International Church presents us with an opportunity to minster to brothers and sisters in Ugandan refugee camps.
Pastor Sammy is inviting us to participate in a special Christmas offering for those in the Kyaka Refugee Camp. He writes, “These children need basic necessities year round. But at Christmas time I am hoping to give them an extra special gift for food ,clothes or at least toys. Please help me send love and joy to them in this holiday season in the name of Jesus.” As I write, Pastor Sammy is setting up mechanism for giving online – please look for this information as it is available:
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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 info on:

Practical Application of COVID Policy.
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
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 with us, as government policy is changing weekly, even daily!
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. This has been a tough week for us all. With new closures and restrictions, may we find peace in Christ, and fresh ways to creatively share the Good News of Great Joy – to All People!
Rev. Jim Scobbie, who pastored Emmanuel EFC in Steinbach passed away last Friday, have contracted COVID. Pray for his wife Ena and family, and for those who are ministering to them on behalf of us all. Jim was a great pastor, encourager, leader and friend in the EFCC.
Pray for the Church of All Nations, and for church planting missionaries Jorge and Emily Lin.
Pastor Tom and Sandi Ford and family. Here is a video update and greeting from Tom: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DD_BazLq2t4f016y1g0gk6s-tbasmiMs/view
Henry and Kim Ngugi – EFCCM Missionaries to Kenya: https://movedchurch.org/ Please see their latest newsletter.
Nathan and Amber Kinsey. Nathan (Coach K), LPD Missionary, leading Winsome Games, a ministry to reach out to children and youth through sports.

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.