Quadra Island Bible Church was birthed out of Camp Homewood on Quadra Island. Camp Homewood was founded by Alf and Margaret Bayne in 1948, and they began Sunday School classes in various homes on the island.
Camp staff led the Sunday School and added Sunday services, and these became a church in 1950. This church was incorporated as Quadra Island Bible Church in 1977, and in 1982, they completed the first phase of their church building, and “moved in,” completing the final phase in 1986.
In 1989, Quadra Island Bible Church joined with the LPD/EFCC, and we value them and their ministry on Quadra. In November, 2019, the church welcomed Brent and Lynn Austring as their new pastor. Brent and Lynn also serve part time with North American Indigenous Mission, and we are thankful them and for their part on the team for God’s next chapter for Quadra Island Bible Church.
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Gung Hey Fat Choy, meaning, “wishing you great happiness and prosperity,” is a traditional Cantonese greeting of the Lunar New Year, but what about, “Gung Haggis Fat Choy?”
Vancouver is home to people from all over the world, and increasingly, we are seeing a “fusion” of cultures. Near Karen and me, there are several “fusion-food” restaurants, often offering “Indian-style Chinese Food.” Though I very much enjoy Chinese food, and some Indian food, I’m not sure that I would enjoy “fusion food.”
There also can be fusion of culture. Tomorrow, January 25 brings a fusion of cultures that occurs only once every sixty years. Tomorrow is both “Robbie Burns Day” and the Lunar (Chinese) New Year. .
Robbie Burns (1759-1796) was a Scottish poet and lyricist, and while you might not know the name, you will recognize at least one piece of his work, often sung at New Years, “Auld Lang Syne.”
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne?
Robbie Burns day is celebrated by gathering for Burns Night, featuring the public reading of Robbie Burns poetry and a dinner featuring the traditional Scottish fare of haggis.
In 1998, Tony Wong (aka Tony McWong), a Vancouver resident, saw the opportunity to celebrate both his Chinese tradition and to add Scottish tradition, by combining the celebration of Chinese New Year and Robbie Burns Day into a fusion festival. Since its humble beginnings, it has grown into a large banquet and celebration (see below).
The menu reflects the blend of culture, with a meal that features deep-fried haggis wontons, haggis dim sum, and haggis lettuce wrap.
While this is all meant in good fun and friendship, it gives me a glimpse of the early church and also of our EFCC Churches today.
When I think of the Early Church, I think of the “fusion” of the Jews and Gentiles into one church family. The came together with different cultures, languages, customs, diets and traditions, but somehow, they were called to become one in Christ – God’s new building (Eph. 2:11-18):
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Making one from two was not always easy – it took a lot of grace and some dialogue. After the Jerusalem Council, the apostles and prophets wrote a letter to Gentile believers which stated,
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings.
We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell. (Acts 18:24-29)
As I travel about our district churches, I enjoy and celebrate the diversity of language, cultures, sizes and styles of churches and “styles” of worship – also the variety of foods!
As we speak of the ethos of the EFCC, our “calling” is, “In essentials unity; in non-essentials charity; in all things, Jesus Christ.” Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and in obedience to His Mission, we can enjoy both unity in the Truth, while also celebrating our different styles, cultures and settings.
When I observe conflict and division in churches, it is almost always over matters of style (non-essentials), rather than truth (essentials). Through this, I have created a chart to help identify the source of conflict. Scripture calls us to “hold fast” to some things (convictions and values). It also calls us to “get rid” of some things (sinful behaviour). Some other things we are to “hold lightly,” and yet other things are simply not worthy of our attention, and we should “avoid” them. Here is the chart below:
HOLD_FAST_and_LETTING_GO_Chart.pdf
If you have experienced conflict, of what nature has it been? Has it been a matter of conviction and values, or has it been a matter of personal preference? Has it been a matter that simply is not worth one’s time? How important is it in light of our mission and anticipation of the Lord’s return?
I am always encouraged by the words of Paul in Romans 15. After writing of the “differences” between Jew and Gentile believers in Romans 14, he writes,
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ (has already) accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Rom. 15:5-7).
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Last weekend, it was special to spend a weekend with the people of Christ Community Church in Ucluelet. This is our most western church, and has a special place in the lives and hearts of the people of the region.
As we met, it was a joy to hear their hearts for their shared mission, which is: We are a community of followers of Jesus Christ, committed to live by faith, to be known by love, and to be a voice of hope.
Please pray for these brothers and sisters, as they reach out to and make disciples on our West Coast.
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Medical Assistance in Dying
The Department of Justice is currently soliciting input from citizens regarding changes to current laws regarding medical assistance in dying. This is an opportunity for Christians to speak into this issue, so please take the opportunity to complete the survey and speak for the sanctity of life.
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cons/ad-am/index.html
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Please pray for:
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Upcoming Events:
Missions Fest
Jan 31- 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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Sammy Kabyemera – mission to Uganda with EFCCM
Pastor Sammy Kabyemera of Jesus Grace International Church is going on a short term mission to Uganda, where he has lived in a refugee camp and planted churches, before coming to Canada as a refugee. Please consider supporting him in this February mission. He writes:
Dear brother and Sister,
I hope this letter finds you well. Thank you for your prayers about Uganda mission. The Lord has already opened the door for Uganda mission. On February 09 – February 21st, two weeks from today, I am going to join Petros Yergatian and Dave Penner of EFCCM in Uganda Kampala for two weeks mission where we will be reaching out for the lost . The ground is favorable. Five churches in Uganda are waiting for us. There is an urgent need of 1200 Canadian dollars for the accommodation, transportation, food and other expenses for that period of two weeks in Uganda. Would you prayerfully consider assisting me in this need as the Lord will show you. The money is to be sent to the EFCCM Account :2-7295 for the receipt .
Thank you for your prayer and your financial support .
Sammy
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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.
All Pastors are expected to attend, and all others are welcome to join us!
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:
