GOOD NEWS – and Helpful Resources – in the Midst of COVID-19

Richmond Chinese

Evangelical Free Church

– our LPD Church of the Week

– thanks to Anna Crumback (Ben) of Sointula Community Church for producing the Church of the Week.

In these past weeks, there has been a lot of uncertainty and fear – to say the least…

We have seen both the worst and the best in people – from selfishly hoarding to generously sharing. As Mr. Rogers would say,
It is also a time when our faith is tested. Do we trust God, or have we, in all honesty found that our hope and trust has been in people – our pastor; our financial advisor; our government officials…

While we are thankful for all of those who look out for us and serve our interests, at the end of the day, our current circumstances are out of their control. Not so with God, however.

If you are like me, a “fixer” by nature, you may have found yourself asking how and when this virus situation and it’s impact will be remedied. The fact is that no one really knows. God does, however, and COVID-19 has not taken Him by surprise.

We walk by faith and not by sight…

Thursday morning, I was encouraged by my reading in, “My Utmost For His Highest,” and the life and example of Moses. As Chambers writes, “Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading.” Here is the reading:

Abraham’s Life of Faith

By Oswald Chambers

He went out, not knowing where he was going. —Hebrews 11:8

In the Old Testament, a person’s relationship with God was seen by the degree of separation in that person’s life. This separation is exhibited in the life of Abraham by his separation from his country and his family. When we think of separation today, we do not mean to be literally separated from those family members who do not have a personal relationship with God, but to be separated mentally and morally from their viewpoints. This is what Jesus Christ was referring to in Luke 14:26.

Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason— a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world.

The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process. We feel the presence of God around us when we pray, yet we are only momentarily changed. We tend to keep going back to our everyday ways and the glory vanishes. A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles’ wings, but is a life of day-in and day-out consistency; a life of walking without fainting (see Isaiah 40:31). It is not even a question of the holiness of sanctification, but of something which comes much farther down the road. It is a faith that has been tried and proved and has withstood the test. Abraham is not a type or an example of the holiness of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith— a faith, tested and true, built on the true God. “Abraham believed God…” (Romans 4:3).

Wisdom From Oswald Chambers

We are not to preach the doing of good things; good deeds are not to be preached, they are to be performed. So Send I You, 1330 L

GOD IS USING THE COVID-19 VIRUS AMONG US

As I communicate with the leaders of our churches, I see God using the challenge of Covid-19 among us. Here are some observations:

1. We see the value of “meeting together.” In this time of “self-isolation” and “social-distancing” we miss gathering together for encouragement, fellowship and worship. We miss the handshakes and hugs. (Hebrews 10:24,25). When we can meet again, we will appreciate our fellowship all the more!
2. “Church” is not the building – its us! When an arsonist torched Parkdale EFC in Victoria some years ago, they gathered  for worship in the park across the street. A TV crew arrived and filmed the gathering, and the reporter asked then Pastor, Ken Strom how the congregation would manage without the church. Ken simply pointed to the people and said, “These are the church – that is simply the building.”
3. We have been reminded of the need to reach out to one another – personally. Ministry is more than programs to which to invite people. It is care for one another. In a time when people feel a need for fellowship, isolation is tough – and especially for those most vulnerable. we are all in this together!
4. We have come to embrace technology. Who thought you would be doing Bible Studies via “What’s App,” “Skype” or other platforms? Some churches have been streaming their services and messages. This has been good! We will not replace gathering together, but we will increase  our ability to impact our communities.
5. We are gathering to pray – physically and electronically. God is capable of receiving all means of communication, and our people feel compelled to call out to Him.
6. We are having opportunities to share our faith in this teachable moment. People are receptive as we have see the frailty of our systems and government.
7. We are having opportunities to minister in Jesus’ Name. Reach out to neighbours who are vulnerable. Offer to babysit, to give rides and to share.

What opportunities are you seeing God providing for you in this time of COVID-19?
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Henry and Kim Ngugi

EFCCM Missionaries to Kenya

It is exciting to know that God is calling some of our own to service overseas! I had the privilege of being Kim’s (then Kim Holbrook) pastor at North Delta EFC, and her dad, Bruce served alongside as youth pastor. She married Henry, after meeting him in Kenya while on a short term mission, and they returned to Canada so Henry could pursue theological studies. While studying, Henry interned at New Westminster EFC, while our son, Tim (Emily) Stewart pastored there.

We are excited and thankful for how God has led and called Henry and Kim, and we invite you to join in their prayer and support team. They trust to travel to Kenya to begin this ministry in September of this year. Here is a link to their newsletter, “The Daily Move.”

TheDailyMoveMarch.pdf

Website:

https://movedchurch.org/

***
Please pray for:

• Tom and Sandy Ford and family, as he awaits transplants, made necessary through the impact of his diabetes. He asks for urgent prayer for healing of the ulcer on his foot and for physical strength to undergo a kidney transplant. Hosanna EFC, where Tom has served have set up a GoFundMe page for Tom and family, and we encourage you to participate in this ministry to Tom and his family. https://www.gofundme.com/f/2020-care-package-for-the-ford-family
• God is sovereign and in control. May God use the COVID-19 virus to His Glory. May He protect the front-line service providers, and may this be a “teachable moment” for our world.
• Pray for churches and believers around the globe – may we be communicators of Hope and Peace in Christ – and may we live in a way that illustrates this.
• Josh and Clara Lok, as they have successfully completed their church planter assessment, and we look forward to moving forward with them toward church planting.
• Town + Field Church, in their time of pastoral transition. Pray for Matt (Val) Myers and team, as they provide interim leadership. Pray for their pastoral search process. http://townandfield.ca/leadpastorhiring/.
• Fort Langley EFC, in their search for an Associate Pastor of Youth and Young Adults. https://www.flefc.org/news/hiring-associate-pastor-of-youth-and-young-adults–210
• Joshua and Nicole Fast, LPD Missionary, beginning “Priceless Youth Ministries,“ a ministry to families of special needs children/youth.
• The Steveston Project Team – Allen and Hannah Chang and Daniel and Joyce Wong. We are thankful for their fresh vision and growth, and we look forward to what God will do in the days ahead.
• 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) – D.S., Tim Stewart (Emily) – Innovative Ministries, Sang Hyun (Sam) Cho (Eun Young) – Korean Church Liaison; Phil Yung (Grace) – Church Planting, Philip Leung (Karen) – Chinese Church Liaison and Josephine Papp, LPD Office Administrator – Recording Secretary.