| ISLAND LIVING… |
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| As mentioned last week, Donnae and I have spent the week visiting our island churches. We have spent so many hours on the road, seeing new places, and meeting new folk. It has been a busy week but also a great one!
We met with Tim and Emily Stewart in Victoria (who so very kindly also lent us their home as a base to work from), we visited with Chris Burness and Dr. John Potts at the Rock in Ladysmith, ate excellent banana bread with Bill Norris and his wife Carolyn and his mother-in-law Shirley, had lunch with Amber Kinsey and watched Nathan in action running a sports camp, and spent an evening with Rick and Sandy McAllister. On Tuesday we had lunch with Dave and Lydia Koleba in Courtenay and then met Murray Garland and Allan from Quadra Island. Back on the road on Wednesday, and we travelled to Port Alberni to have lunch with Joe and Marianne Massop who pastor at Wildwood church in Bowser, and then on Thursday we enjoyed an amazing burger dinner with Dave and Megan de Jong who live in Nanaimo and pastor Christ Community Church in Ucluelet. This Sunday I preach at Parkdale EFC in Victoria and then set the sails for home on Monday morning.
What has stood out most for me as a highlight has been people’s stories. It was so wonderful to hear how God has worked and is working in people’s lives in personal and unique ways! I loved hearing how people came to faith, or how God led them to their church family, or how He has spoken clearly and directly to folk when facing a life challenge. There is something so powerful about sharing stories. It just seems to encourage and lift one up as well as build faith and inspire. I loved listening to them and only regret not having more time to drink more coffee and share in more wonderful God stories! |
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| Worship at ‘The Rock’ | | Rick and his retro radio collection |
| Something else that stood out for me on the island is the trees. Donnae and I took some time to walk through Cathedral Grove and visit these magnificent titans of nature that have stood unshakeable and solid, some for almost 1000 years!
They have faced fires, wind, storms, disease and still stand firm and strong, reaching high into the sky, a solid testament to their strength and size. |
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| They reminded me of our precious and loved island churches! If you had to visit them, you would find people that are warm and hospitable, quick to smile and welcome you, solid in their faith and their stand on the Word of God, friendly, and with a desire to see their church families impacting their communities for Jesus.
It hasn’t always been easy and even now some of them are facing trials and hardships, whether it is seeking out a pastor, dealing with an inner struggle, financial issues, or how to navigate the rough waters that ministry in a post-covid era may hold, but as tough as the struggles may be, like the trees that surround them, they stand unshakable in their commitment and conviction to continue as a light of Gospel hope and promise to their neighbours and communities. |
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| Like anywhere else in the world, our island churches live in a world of brokenness, pain, and hurt. Sin has left its mark here too. There is suffering here, and therefore, also the desperate need for Jesus and His Gospel.
Our island churches have jumped to the challenge – For some the focus is preaching healing and hope and sharing the Gospel story to those around them. For others the emphasis is discipling and growing believers to be mature Christians, faithful and skilled in the use of the Word. The methods they use are varied and creative, and it has been exciting to share in the vision and hope of each church leader we have met and to hear their vision for their church family and community. I look forward to following their progress in the years ahead. |
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| I think the secret to the enduring and persevering quality of our island churches is ‘community’. They recognize their need for one another and draw support and strength from each other.
In the attached photo, the tree in the middle is supporting a smaller and weaker tree which has wrapped its roots around the larger one drawing strength and support from it. A windstorm may easily uproot or blow the smaller tree over, but the support and strength of the bigger one helps both stand strong and unshakeable even in the strongest of storms, and have you ever noticed that the biggest and oldest trees are never found growing alone, but always in a forest alongside other trees!
Church are like trees. We need community, and we need one another. God plants and grows us. He plants us with purpose, and like trees we need one another too. This is what gives us strength and helps us to stand the test of time. Storms will come, and hardships will face us, but the strength we draw from one another will help us endure. |
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It’s been a great week of building new friendships and getting excited over seeing God at work on the island. Please pray for our island churches and the wonderful people that lead them:
- Pray especially for Quadra as they seek a pastor.
- Pray for Pastor Joe and Wildwood church. Wildwood will have a congregational vote about whether to call Joe as their permanent pastor in late August. They would be so encouraged knowing that you are praying for God to lead them in this decision.
- Pray for Pastor Rick, who was pastoring at Wildwood, as he enters a new phase of life.
- Pray also for Nathan at Winsome Games as he leads a number of sport camps in various communities over the Summer.
Oh, and the next time you are on the island, why not look up one of our island church leaders. You will find a warm welcome, a hot cup of coffee, and possibly some new friends as well! |
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| The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers. (Psalm 104:16-17) |
