– our LPD Church of the Week
Thanks to Anna (Ben) Crumback at Sointula Community Church for producing the Church of the Week!
Town + Field Church has been known for many years to us as “Langley Evangelical Free Church.” A change of name has not simply been for the sake of change, but reflects both its heritage and its mission. “Town” represents the roots of the church in what was once the town of Langley. It also represents the heart of the church to be a community in which everyone belongs. “+” represents the cross of Christ, and that Good News in Christ is preached. “Field” is the mission, to go from the church to the mission field of the local community and the world.
Pray for Town + Field Church, as they are now in a time of pastoral transition. Darren and Wendy Young served as Lead Pastor of the church for 14 years, and in October, Darren accepted a position with The Leadership Network. Pray for acting Lead Pastor, Matt and Val Myers, and for the staff and volunteer team, as they minister and seek the Lord for the future. God’s work is moving forward as they trust Him for the next steps.
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Around the LPD:
Last Sunday, it was a joy to join New Living Assembly, as they launched their second “campus,” with weekly services beginning in Aggasiz. Charlz and Ruth Sebastian will lead this work, in partnership with Pastor Noel and Lynda Macasaet.
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Do we reflect Christ, or do our ministries reflect us?
Last Fall, while walking our dog “Gus” late one evening and listening to “Haven Ministries,” I was introduced to a book by Roy and Revel Hession, titled, “We Would See Jesus.” It seemed to provide an important message, so I ordered a copy and read it. Moved by the simple, yet profound words, I ordered copies for our district board, and have shared excerpts with fellow leaders in the EFCC.
I believe that the book speaks to the need and lack of health in many Christians, and thus churches, ministries and Christian organizations. The chief end of mankind, as stated in the Westminster Catechism is to, “glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” (see Micah 6:8, Mark 12:30). This pursuit of God, the authors suggest, has been substituted today by two wrong emphases in Christian’s lives:
They write,
To concentrate on service and activity for God may often actively thwart our attaining the true goal, God Himself. At first sight, it seems heroic to fling our lives away in the service of God and our fellows. We feel that it is bound to mean more to him than our experience of Him. Service itself seems so unselfish, whereas concentrating on our walk with God seems selfish and self-centred. But it is the very reverse. The things that God is most concerned about are our coldness of heart toward Him and our proud, unbroken natures. Christian service of itself can, and often does, leave our self-centred nature untouched.
That is why there is scarcely a church, a mission station, or a committee undertaking a special piece of service, that is without an unresolved problem of personal relationships eating out its heart and thwarting its progress. This is because Christian service often gives us opportunities for leadership and position that we could not attain in the secular world, and we quickly fall into pride, self-seeking and ambition. With those things hidden in our hearts, we have only to work alongside others to find resentment, hardness, criticism, jealously and frustration issuing from our hearts. We think we are working for God, but how little of our service is for Him is revealed by our resentment or self-pity when the actions of others or circumstances or ill-health take that ministry from us.
Alas! In this condition, we are trying to give to others an answer that we have not truly and deeply found for ourselves. The tragedy is that much of the network of Christian activity and service today is bent on propagating an answer for people’s needs and problems which few of those propagating it are finding adequate in their own lives. We direly need to leave our lusting for ever-larger spheres of Christian service and finding the deep answer for life in Him. Then, even if we are located in the most obscure corner of the globe, the world will make a road to our door to get that answer. Our service of help to our fellows then becomes incidental to our vision of God and, ideally, the direct consequence of it. (pages 24-26).
As I read these words, I asked myself, “Is this true of me?” “Is this true of us?”
How much of our Christian ministry is led by people who themselves are neither pursuing Christ, walking with him or reflecting his presence in their lives?
How tolerant have we become of unhealthy relationships, of disunity or of simply, “bad/sinful behaviour?”
When we speak of evangelism, of making and growing disciples, and of sharing our faith, how much ministry is hindered by our own emphasis on human effort and methodology, and hope to “create” experience, rather than simply pursuing Christ and reflecting Him?
Over almost 40 years of vocational ministry, I have served through various trends and themes in church leadership. From “the church growth movement” to “signs and wonders;” from “seeker services,” to the “ancient-future;” from an emphasis on visionary leadership to servant leadership, I have seen a lot of change. While I have learned something from each of these movements and emphases, none of them has in itself led to effectively producing disciples of Christ.
I am convinced that discipleship transcends our methodologies, systems and programs. It comes down to our hearts, to our relationships and to our walk with God. It is from our relationship with God that all ministry flows.
The mission of our LPD is to, “by God’s grace, encourage and resource our growing family of churches to reflect Jesus Christ.”
But all of us who are Christians have no veils on our faces, but reflect like mirrors the glory of the Lord. We are transfigured by the Spirit of the Lord in ever-increasing splendour into his own image.
(2 Corinthians 3;18 – J.B. Phillips)
Do we reflect Christ, or do our ministries reflect us and our “lack of health?” My prayer for me, and for us as Christ’s people gathered in 2020, is that we may truly reflect Jesus Christ in our lives and churches, and outwardly to our world!
As we meet for LPD Conference this year on March 6,7, will be exploring the “heart” of discipleship, and our prayer is that it will further us toward this end. (Please see info below).
Please pray for:
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Upcoming Events:
The Evidence Showing the Creation of the Earth
a lecture by:
Paul Seung-Hun Yang, PhD.
Professor of Worldview and Creation Studies, Vancouver Institute for Evangelical Worldview& Associated Theological Schools of Trinity Western University & Lead Pastor of Jubilee Chapel
at
New Westminster EFC
7895 Canada Way, Burnaby B.C.
1PM, Saturday, January 18 – tea will follow.
All are welcome!
Please see the poster below:
The_Evidence_Showing_the_Creation_of_the_Earth.pdf
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Missions Fest
Jan31- Feb 1
at Canada Place.
This year, LPD Missionaries, Jorge Lin and Steve Sharpe will be presenting workshops on:
Discipleship that Transforms
Saturday Feb 1st at 11:00 am
Jesus has called us to live out the Great Commission, which has created a global disciple-making movement. However, obstacles get in the way of today`s Christians to become a great commission disciple-maker. Come and discover the journey towards transformation and discipleship.
Accountability to Grace
Saturday Feb 1st at 3:30 pm
Accountability to Grace ensures intentions are clearly set and met, with authenticity and transparency; without shame or blame. Accountability to Law ensures that we find faults; then count and cleanse. God’s grace is dispensed through his people for life-giving transformation, healing and wholeness.
Please plan to join us for these workshops, and the entire Missions Fest!
Info about workshops: missionsfestvancouver.ca/seminars
Missions Fest magazine: Missions-Fest-Magazine-FINAL.pdf
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LPD Conference
at
Grace Hanin Community Church
March 6,7
with Dr. Randy Wollf of ACTS Seminaries.
“The Heart of Discipleship”
As we meet for LPD Conference this year, will explore the “heart” of discipleship, by focusing on the themes of, prayerfulness, hearing and responding to God’s voice, a love for people and a heart bent on mission.
Discipleship has been the focus of much discussion among Christian leaders in recent years. While we have many “methods” of discipleship and “pathways” toward discipleship, we are humbled to recognize that the church has not done well to produce obedient disciples of Christ. Might we have missed the “heart” of discipleship, where we invite God to do what we cannot?
We are so glad to welcome our presenter, Dr. Randy Wollf, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Leadership Studies; Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary at ACTS. Randy (Lore) Wollf became our first LPD Missionaries in 2005, as they planted “The Journey.” Randy is a practitioner when it comes to church, and believes that there are several practical essentials for effective discipleship in our local churches that transcends our methods and effort.
Please plan to join us for this important time of sharing together, learning together and providing direction to the ministry of our Lower Pacific District. All are welcome to join us for the workshop with Randy on Friday, to the informal dinners with ministry colleagues on Friday evening, and the Saturday morning time for teaching, ministry reporting and decisions. We will end off with lunch together, including an informal fellowship lunch and prayer time for ladies in ministry and ministry wives with Karen Stewart. Also, we anticipate one or more churches joining our LPD Family at conference.
We hope to see you there!
Register online at: https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/event/lpd-annual-conference-2020/
Here is a conference poster and info. on the luncheon for pastor’s wives and women in ministry:
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