Quadra Island Bible Church

– our LPD Church of the Week

Quadra Island Bible Church was birthed out of Camp Homewood on Quadra Island. Camp Homewood was founded by Alf and Margaret Bayne in 1948, and they began Sunday School classes in various homes on the island.

Camp staff led the Sunday School and added Sunday services, and these became a church in 1950. This church was incorporated as Quadra Island Bible Church in 1977, and in 1982, they completed the first phase of their church building, and “moved in,” completing the final phase in 1986.

In 1989, Quadra Island Bible Church joined with the LPD/EFCC, and we value them and their ministry on Quadra. We are thankful for the ministry of Pastor Brent and Lynn Austring, who have been serving since 2019. Brent and Lynn also serve part time with North American Indigenous Mission, and we are thankful for them and their part on the team  of servant leaders at Quadra Island Bible Church.
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So, Who Is My Neighbour?

So asked the confident teacher of the law, after Jesus had told him to do as he professed to know, to “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”(Luke 10:27).

Jesus answers the question of the teacher by telling the familiar parable of “The Good Samaritan.” Interestingly, Jesus does not answer the teacher’s question by defining for  him who his neighbour is. Instead, He helped him understand what it is to be a neighbour – a neighbour is the one who helps out his neighbour in need.

All of us have seen our neighbourhoods change. My family emigrated from Northern England and Scotland. Karen’s family emigrated from Denmark. Today, while 90% of the population growth of of greater Vancouver can be attributed to the arrival of new immigrants, 70% of these come from Asia, as in China, Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines, India, and other Asian countries.

Today, 43% of Greater Vancouver is composed of those of Asian heritage – we are known to be, “the world’s most Asian City outside of Asia.” By 2031, it is predicted that only 40% of the residents of Metro Vancouver will be Caucasian – so that means that in my lifetime, I , as a Caucasian have become a minority.

I celebrate this. My grandparents and mother were blessed to find a new life in Canada, and I am thankful that we can welcome others to share in the benefits we enjoy.

We have seen this demographic change in our district, with the majority of our “new” churches being composed of those of Asian heritage. We are so thankful for each one! We welcome those of Chinese heritage – both Cantonese and Mandarin speaking; those of Korean heritage; those of Japanese heritage; those of Filipino heritage; those from all nations!

Though we have the largest South Asian population in the world outside of India, there are very few churches composed of people from South Asia. Many of the  neighbours of Karen and me on out street are of South-Asian Heritage, and we  enjoy learning to be good neighbours to them.

Karen and I are blessed to have some special friends who have committed themselves to be neighbours and salt and light to our South Asian newcomers. They have learned the language, and have made it their priority to be a blessing to this community. Their names are Sam and Judy Paras, and we have known them for the 29 years that they have devoted themselves to be godly neighbours and a positive witness to South Asians in our region .

The month of April brings Vaisakhi, the harvest celebration of the Sikh Faith, that is timed with the solar new year. This year, Vaisakhi will be on April 14, just one day before our Good Friday.

Though the Sikh Community has cancelled the public celebrations and parades, due to the unpredictability of  changing COVID policies,  it will be celebrated, just the same.

With Vaisakhi being this month, I encourage you to read the following article and to join us in praying specially for our Sikh neighbours. The information below is both timely helpful:
5_Days_of_Prayer_for_Sikhs_2022_3_WEB.pdf
Let’s meet our South Asian neighbours, and let us learn to be godly neighbours to them!
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Help For Ukraine:

We can provide assistance and relief to those in Ukraine through the EFCC/EFCCM Benevolence Fund:

https://efccm.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35cdcfb2f7c7bd4726822add2&id=b107c9248f&e=7182060ed5

This fund is being used to send relief to Ukraine and surrounding areas to help with emergency evacuation for refugees, food, blankets, pillows etc. These funds help with real life physical needs.

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Upcoming LPD Events: