The Church of the Sent
for
Life Proclamation
– our LPD Church of the Week
In 2002, our Lower Pacific District ministered in four languages – English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Japanese. I was just beginning my ministry as superintendent, and was approached by Allan Kotanen, then chair of Fort Langley EFC, regarding a Korean ministry beginning at their church.
A Korean family had begun attending the church, and they brought other Korean families with them. The husband in this family, Namgyu Lee, was studying, and pursuing a PhD. in New Testament studies. At the generous encouragement of the church, the Korean families began Korean services, and this led to a church plant. This became known as, “The Church of the Sent for Life Proclamation.”
This church plant grew, and became the first Korean-Canadian church in our district and the EFCC! We are so thankful for Namgyu and Heejoung Lee, and for their faithful ministry as church planters and pastoring the church over the years. Prior to COVID, this church met on Sundays at Willoughby Elementary School in Langley. Like all churches, they have had to adjust, and now are meeting via ZOOM.
I am thankful for the faithful ministry of Namgyu, Heejoung and their church. Please pray for them as they reach out through this time of COVID, and trust God for the future. They and other churches that have rented schools for Sunday services face uncertainty as to their ability to rent space in the future.
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A “Trust” Reality Check for Your Church…
“One generation commends your works to another, they tell of your mighty acts.“
(Psalm 145:4).
This week, “Proof Strategies” released an insightful study on Trust in Canada – “TrustCan Index.” The findings are insightful and might provide something of a reality check for us as Christians and church leaders today.
While we may view ourselves as the voice of truth today (preaching/teaching biblical truth), our society is not so convinced of this.
Medical doctors are the most trusted, and celebrities the least. Religious and spiritual leaders are in the middle, somewhat less than bankers and more than business executives.
Perhaps more revealing in the study is that younger people are less trusting than older people, and this is especially evident when it comes to Generation Z. “Gen Z” generally describes those who who were born between 1995 and 2010. Our eldest granddaughter is at the tail end of this generation.
The survey demonstrates that each generation is less trusting than the preceding one…
As I study this Gen Z generation, I believe that their lack of trust really reflects a failure on the part of adults and leaders to walk with integrity – and to be trustworthy.
Churches are not immune, and have not consistently provided a spiritual example and foundation to our young people. Many of the Christian values and assumptions that were somewhat “mainstream” thinking in my generation, and perhaps less so by Gen X and Millennials, are largely not shared by the Gen Z generation of our grandchildren and beyond.
As I reflect on all of the above, I am especially concerned for this upcoming generation. They have been impacted by the isolation of COVID, and have not had the advantage of gathering with other children and youth at church ministries.
LIfeway Research, in a recent study in the USA, has also found that Gen Z’s trust of churches and their leaders is very “middle of the road,” somewhere between teachers and the media.
Here is a link to the entire article,
3-trends-pastors-must-understand-to-reach-the-next-generation/
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Here is an interesting study on Gen Z from Pew Research.
“On The Cusp of Adulthood and Facing an Uncertain Future: What we Know About Gen Z so far…”
Please take time to peruse – and share the findings.
pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/05/14/on-the-cusp-of-adulthood-and-facing-an-uncertain-future-what-we-know-about-gen-z-so-far
So what?
The Canadian “Proof Strategies” study also offers some advice about rebuilding trust. Here is some good counsel:
The study suggests that trust is rebuilt in two primary ways:
Thinking of this advice, are not these the very things that we, as disciples of Christ should excel in and be known for?
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34,35).
In this time of pandemic in which people are looking for hope, for friendship and for someone who cares, we as church leaders can find ourselves caught up in the negative chatter about vaccines, church closures and all, and might find ourselves focusing on obstacles rather than opportunities to serve and reflect Christ.
May Gen Z’s and others see in me, and in all Christian adults in their lives, a love for Christ, a walk with Christ and reasons for Faith that make the gospel attractive (Titus 2:10) to their generation.
Is your church known as a “love for one another church?”
To view the whole Proof Strategies study, please follow this link:
https://getproof.com/what-we-do/cantrust/
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Upcoming Dates:
LPD Annual Meeting – virtual…
”Advancing the Gospel in Pandemic Times“
Saturday, March 6, 2021 – 10AM – 12noon.
We invite you to attend this important meeting of our Lower Pacific District.
Registration is open – and is free!
https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/event/annual-agm-zoom/
Please consider gifting your registration fees to:
LPD Ministry Care Fund
Thanks so much for joining us for our annual meeting this year. We appreciate it! We are sorry that we are not able to bring you a conference this year – we always look forward to gathering together with you, and to our fellowship together. As we are meeting online this year, the AGM is free. Registration fees for conference are typically $75.00 per delegate for the weekend ($65.00 for “Islanders”). As many churches have already budgeted for conference, we invite to donate your conference registration fee to a fund that we are establishing to invest in ministry personnel, the LPD Ministry Care Fund. We are establishing this fund to provide ministry retreats for pastors and spouses, to assist ministry personnel in times of special need, and to invest in the ministry and welfare of those who serve. If you are able, please consider donating conference registration fees toward this ministry to those who serve. Donations can be made by e-transfer office@lpd-efcc.ca, cheque, or paypal https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id%3D7JTC99H5NCDBU&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1612483441277000&usg=AFQjCNFKqLK3rmBX0_SHnHiff7pUQtB1kg. Please designate in the memo that the funds are for the LPD Ministry Care Fund.
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Need a B-r-e-a-k?
Matt Castle, a former youth pastor at Fort Langley EFC is now Executive Director of Camp Luther on Hatzic Lake in Mission.
As camp programs are suspended due to COVID, they are offering the use of their cabins for pastors and families – free of charge. Bring your own food dishes and cooking appliances, but you are welcome to stay for free and use the canoes and waterfront.
http://campluther.ca/
Spring break is March 15-26 – perhaps a few families can enjoy Camp Luther over this time (social distancing and all…). The camp would prefer for us to “book” a block of time for our district, and then they can also share the camp with others.
for more information.Please please contact Rob at the LPD Office
