A Pastor’s U-Turn – Five Minutes on Friday with the LPD

Please remember,
Grace Hanin Community Church
– our LPD Church of the Week.
Thanks to Anna (Ben) Crumback at Sointula Community Church for producing the Church of the Week!

Last Sunday, it was a joy to join with Grace Hanin Community Church, along with EFCC National Mission Director, Neil B. and LPD Board Vice-Chair, Charles Labun. as they celebrated their 15th anniversary.

It was a joy to welcome this church into our LPD/EFCC Family at our district conference in March. A highlight for me on Sunday was to witness how many people have come to faith in Jesus Christ through the people and ministry of this church over its first fifteen years.

May God bless and use you to his glory, Grace Hanin Community Church!

So, how are things between you and God?

Does that question make you feel uncomfortable? A former colleague of mine used to say that whenever he would be asked that question, he would just immerse himself in work for God. Sometimes “doing” really is easier than “being.”

On this thought, I was encouraged through the reading of “My Utmost For His Highest” on Thursday. It reads as follows:
The Greatest Source of Power

by Oswald Chambers

Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do… —John 14:13

Am I fulfilling this ministry of intercession deep within the hidden recesses of my life? There is no trap nor any danger at all of being deceived or of showing pride in true intercession. It is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit through which the Father is glorified. Am I allowing my spiritual life to waste away, or am I focused, bringing everything to one central point— the atonement of my Lord? Is Jesus Christ more and more dominating every interest of my life? If the central point, or the most powerful influence, of my life is the atonement of the Lord, then every aspect of my life will bear fruit for Him.

However, I must take the time to realize what this central point of power is. Am I willing to give one minute out of every hour to concentrate on it? “If you abide in Me…”— that is, if you continue to act, and think, and work from that central point— “you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). Am I abiding? Am I taking the time to abide? What is the greatest source of power in my life? Is it my work, service, and sacrifice for others, or is it my striving to work for God? It should be none of these— what ought to exert the greatest power in my life is the atonement of the Lord. It is not on what we spend the greatest amount of time that molds us the most, but whatever exerts the most power over us. We must make a determination to limit and concentrate our desires and interests on the atonement by the Cross of Christ.

“Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do….” The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and what appears to be his free choices are actually God’s foreordained decrees. Is this mysterious? Does it appear to contradict sound logic or seem totally absurd? Yes, but what a glorious truth it is to a saint of God.

This is a good reminder of what “drives us,” and what empowers us as God’s servants.

So, how are things between you and God?

Here is a thoughtful article from Mark Dance, “A Pastor’s U-Turn.” He writes:

Like David, pastors are shepherds who experience dangerous temptations which can lead to devastating results. Our private failures often result in public collateral damage. I pray this post reaches some who are still on the edge of the cliff, instead at the bottom of it.

Here’s the link: a-pastors-u-turn/

Please pray for:

• Me, as I minister at Vancouver Chinese EFC on Sunday morning.
• Karen and I give thanks for a new addition to our Stewart Clan. Adam Robert Stewart was born to Jon and Jackie Stewart on Wednesday, a brother to Erin, Amy and Carrie.
• Joel and Ingrid Chiri. We have appreciated them as a part of the Rock Christian Fellowship,  and now they seek the Lord to open a new opportunity for them to serve.
• 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) – DS, Tim Stewart (Emily) – Innovative Ministries, Kenneth Tsang (Mabel) – Chinese Church Liaison; Paul Yang (Jin) – Korean Church Liaison; Phil Yung (Grace) – Church Planting and Josephine Papp, LPD Office Administrator – Recording Secretary.
• Quadra Island Bible Church in their pastoral search.
• Christ Community Church (Ucluelet) in their pastoral search.
• North Delta EFC, in their search for an Associate Pastor for  youth and small groups.
• Pastor Lorin and Jeanette Bergin, as they trust the Lord for health and their future, and also FLEFC, as they seek the Lord and journey together with Lorin and Jeanette in the days ahead.
• For Jorge and Emily Lin, new LPD Church Planting Missionaries.They are entering a residency program in preparation for planting an international church.
• The Steveston Project Team – Allen and Hannah Chang and Daniel and Joyce Wong.
• Central EFC in Courtenay/Comox. The purchase a building for their church and ministries was completed on Thursday of this week. Our district is glad to assist them with a mortgage for this.
• Steve (Gillian) Sharpe, in his ministry as LPD Missionary of Church Planting Development, serving both our LPD Missionaries and Church Plants and church planting in the EFCC. Pray for Steve and Gillian as they are serving, along with Ralph and Karen Hardy in transition and renewal at New Westminster EFC. Pray for affirmation of God’s direction as the congregation meets on Sunday.