Wildwood Community Church
– our LPD Church of the Week
Wildwood Community Church is located in Bowser, BC. Originally planted by the Shantymen, in 1957, the church met in what was then called (and literally was) “the old schoolhouse.” The building was moved to the current site, renovated, an addition was added, and has housed “Wildwood Community Church,” ever since.
In 2002, Wildwood Community Church joined the LPD/EFCC Family, and we are glad for their presence and part in the LPD/EFCC Family. On February 13, Pastor Rick and Sandy McAllister retired from pastoring Wildwood, a ministry that they had enjoyed since 2011.
Please pray for this church family as they serve on Eastern Vancouver Island, and as they seek the Lord for the future.
Five Words that Have Shaped My Past Twenty Years
As I write this edition of my “Five Minutes on Friday,” I am aware that this will be my last one in my present capacity as your district superintendent. While I plan to continue this ministry through to the end of May, and anticipate that Evans will assume the position on June 1, my role will change to that of caretaking our district, readying things for and supporting Evans as he begins. I have great peace about this, and am thankful for how God has led.
Such a time brings reflection, and I would like to share with you five words that have shaped my life and ministry over these twenty years of service as LPD DS.
Motives:
“Am I acting out of faithfulness, fickleness or stubbornness?”
I still remember the meeting with the LPD Board, when they asked me to let my name stand to become DS. It was early 2002. I knew that Ken Lawrence’s term was that of interim, but was not aware that I was in the sights of the Board to become the full-time DS. I wrestled with this, and was torn between my love for the local church and the sense that God was calling me to leave what I knew and to trust Him to take leadership of a rather fledgling Lower Pacific District.
I sought clarity of God’s call and my motives. If I was to remain on as lead pastor at North Delta EFC, would that be an act of faithfulness and obedience, or would it be that of “stubbornness?” Was I being obedient to God’s call to remain – or was I like a modern- day Jonah, resisting God’s call to venture out and to trust Him? Similarly, if I were to leave to serve as DS, was this an act of “fickleness,” where I was leaving to escape something?
I recall driving to Crescent Beach to have some time alone with God on this one. During this time, I became convinced and at peace that God was calling me to the DS ministry, and I met with the Board that evening to inform them that I would let my name stand. Their first question to me, was, “What do you need to earn?” Let’s just say that it was a step of faith for all of us! 😊
We have all see the term “call” used both honestly and also disingenuously as people have come and gone. A call is what sustains a person in ministry, motivates us and reminds us to whom we report.
Heart:
“Have I made a difference in the local church today?”
Above my desk is a sign I made for myself as a reminder of my calling as I began the ministry of DS. It simply states, “Have I made a difference in the local church today?”
It is an intentional reminder of both the “why” and “what” of my service as DS. I love the local church. I miss leading the local church, and I understand that we are here to support churches and their leaders. We do not “use” churches toward our district goals and mission – our mission is to serve them, and this has motivated me every day.
I trust that we have “made a difference” in your local church, and I trust that Karen and I will continue to do so, however God leads in the days ahead.
Mission:
“What am I/are we called to do – and to not do?”
In 2004, our district board took time in a “mini-retreat,” to reflect on and clarify our mission. We left the retreat with the LPD Mission Statement that still serves us today. It reads, “By God’s grace, we are committed to encourage and resource our growing family of churches to reflect Jesus Christ.”
These words are very intentional.
Our mission defines both what we believe we are called to do, and also what we believe we are not called to do. This has served as a daily guide to our service.
Attitude:
“What is God up to?”
It has been my heart to have mission determine policy, rather than for policy determine mission. While we need to have policy and procedures, these need to further and not restrain mission.
Churches in decline are focused on policy and management. Rather than being mission-focused, they focus on what their policies (or rules) will allow them to do/not do.
I am so thankful for a supportive board, who have provided skills and fresh policies to enable us to facilitate what we believe God is up to. From church planting to creative missionaries, God has been up to some special things!
Randy and Lore Wollf were the first of many LPD Missionaries. Currently, we have eight district missionaries, and we have recently adopted four more, the pastoral team of TEBAH Church, a Korean church plant that is joining us at our district conference, giving a total of twelve.
In 2005, Randy and Lore, former associate pastor at Langley EFC felt called to begin a new ministry, a network of house churches that they named, “The Journey.” We stepped out in faith with them and developed policies to enable us to “hire” them as church planting missionaries. We even changed our district bylaws to accommodate them. I am so glad that we did!
During my service with the LPD, I have been so thankful for our LPD Board, and for their competence to assist with developing and evaluating polices that further mission. We ask, “What is God up to?” We then seek to discern what God is doing in a given situation, and come to an understanding of what He invites us to join Him in.
Goal:
“He walked with God and practiced what he preached.”
When pastoring at North Delta EFC (now known as Northside Community Church), I did a book study with our team of elders. One assignment that came with this was the exercise of writing ones’ own epitaph – what we would like to be remembered for. Mine was simply, “He walked with God and practiced what he preached.”
In ministry, we can get used to titles and our identities can be wrapped up in positions, churches or titles. “Pastor.” “Reverend.” “Dr…” One of my most painful memories in ministry was to be a part of removing the ordination of an elderly pastor whose actions had disqualified him. Though the action was both warranted and necessary, we felt we had removed his identity.
As I reflect on both life and ministry, I have seen many leaders rise, fail and fall. Perceived to do “great things” for God, some have in fact walked away from God. Others have preached one thing and lived another.
Titles and vocational positions aside, I pray that by God’s grace, I will know the joy of walking with God every day, and humbly preach what I have first preached to myself and applied to my own life. May our children and grandchildren live to love and serve God.
While I have certainly lived and served imperfectly, God has always kept his end of the deal. As we are reminded in 1 Cor. 1:9, “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord is faithful.”
Thank you for the privilege of being both your servant and that of our Lord through these twenty years. It is a joy and privilege, and we trust to finish well at the end of May!
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LPD Upcoming Events:
LPD Conference – Saturday, March 5
Grace Hanin Community Church
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Church Boards 101
A practical workshop for church boards that will resource your church leadership to:
– please watch for details next week!
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LPD Pastor and Staff Cruise
Wednesday, June 1
Plan to join us for this “cruise” aboard BC Ferry, “Coastal Inspiration,”
as Evans Hundermark takes command as “skipper” of our Lower Pacific District.
Please save the date, and watch for details in the weeks ahead.
