Please pray for
Richmond Chinese
EFC
– our LPD Church of the Week
Planted by “founding members,” sent from Vancouver Chinese EFC in 1983, Richmond Chinese EFC is located on Number Five Road.
“Number Five Road” is also known as the “Highway to Heaven,” as one can find places of worship for all of the “world religions”along this road. While we acknowledge that we live in a pluralistic society, where many religions might share similar moral values, there is only one faith that addresses mankind’s sin and provides a way of salvation, provided and paid in full by God Himself. This is Good News!
We are thankful for the faithful witness of Richmond Chinese EFC through the years, and for their ministry in both Cantonese and English. Pray for them as they minister to the community of Richmond, in which more than 50% of the population is of Chinese descent.
We are thankful that the church has called their senior pastor, Rev. Dr. Wong Tin Yat, who is currently in Hong Kong, where has been serving as an Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Alliance Bible Seminary. Pray that he and his wife, Dr. Kim Lai Ng will receive their visas that will enable to come to Canada this spring.
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Ready to Give Up?
Thom Rainer writes that the majority of pastors he connects with are considering resignation. While this has not been my observation among our pastors, I agree that many pastors have grown weary in this season of COVID. They are busier than ever. They are tired of working with people who will be unhappy, no matter what they do, and dealing with constantly changing COVID protocols.
If you are a pastor, you might identify with this. If you are a “lay person,” how can you support your pastor at this time? You can read Rainer’s whole article here:
why-many-pastors-are-ready-to-quit
To those who might identify with what Rainer writes, Cory Nieuwhof offers some timely encouragement in his article,“Why You Shouldn’t Quit Ministry Right Now, Even Though You Feel Like It.” Here is the link:
why-you-shouldnt-quit-ministry-right-now-even-though-you-feel-like-it
Finally, I am resending an excellent article by Darrell Johnson, a former pastor and professor at Regent College. His article, titled simply, “Don’t Give Up,” is a great word of encouragement to all – both vocational pastors and volunteers.
As I have recently studied the Book of Jeremiah, I have been encouraged by the faithfulness of this prophet of God. Talk about a thankless task! While he was faithful to proclaim God’s words to people, everyone in Judah seemed to oppose him and many wanted him silenced. Simply put in today’s terms, his words did not “fit their narrative.”
Jeremiah’s last sermon, given to people who willfully disobeyed God by fleeing to Egypt, and chose to worship and trust the Egyptian “Queen of Heaven” rather than the Sovereign God, was dismissed as lies. Over time, his words were proven true.
Times of hardship and times of COVID test and reveal our foundations as Christians and as leaders. This was true for Jeremiah, and is just as true for us today. God, through Jeremiah proclaims:
This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:5-8
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Right to Life Sunday – January 17
Whatever one’s politics, one of the implications of the election of Joe Biden to President of the USA has been the promise to re-establish funding funding for global abortion services. Though Biden identifies as a devout Catholic, his party is committed to fund abortions services globally biden-readies-sweeping-rollback-trump-era-abortion-crackdown even though 70% of Democrats oppose this biden-is-set-to-reinstate-u-s-funding-for-global-abortion/
Politics aside, I was moved by the affirmation of life that Donald Trump gave, just before leaving office. In his Sanctity of Life Declaration, he states in part,
Every human life is a gift to the world. Whether born or unborn, young or old, healthy or sick, every person is made in the holy image of God. The Almighty Creator gives unique talents, beautiful dreams, and a great purpose to every person. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, we celebrate the wonder of human existence and renew our resolve to build a culture of life where every person of every age is protected, valued, and cherished…
As Christians, our engagement must be more than “how we vote,” or identifying as “pro-life.” We also have the opportunity to support those who choose life, and also those who provide hope, support and options to those facing pregnancies that are unplanned and seek help. We are so thankful for our daughter-in-law, Emily’s ministry with such a ministry in Victoria.
Here is a helpful article for how you and your church can positively minster to mothers and those who provide support services to them. With COVID, we may need to do some “work-arounds,” but the ideas are sound.
4-steps-churches-can-take-to-advocate-for-the-unborn-and-their-mothers
Some friends sent me a link to a current documentary, “Obsessed: Canada’s Coercive Diplomacy,” focusing on our Canadian Government’s attempt to ideologically influence African Nations and our funding of global abortion. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAfjV2bayyo
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Annual Requirements for All EFCC Pastors and Ministry Leaders
As EFCC pastors and staff within the EFCC, we are called to uphold the beliefs, ethos and professional standards that should be expected of all ministry personnel. If you are a pastor or employed as a ministry leader, we expect you to complete your annual requirements each January. If you have not yet completed your documents for 2021, please do so a.s.a.p. This can be done online at the following link:
efcc-credentialing/mscreport/
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Upcoming Dates:
LPD Annual Conference – virtual…
Saturday, March 6, 2021 – 10AM – 12noon.
Registration info will be sent out soon, but please save the date!
