Hope vs. Politics and Religion

COQUITLAM CHINESE 
EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH

– our LPD Church of the Week

Thanks to Anna (Ben) Crumback at Sointula Community Church for producing the Church of the Week!

“Without hope and without God in the world” – so Paul describes the Gentile Ephesian Christians, referring to their state before they met Jesus Christ. He writes, “... 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.” (Ephesians 2:13,14).

When I think of these words, I think of the wonderful experience I had in 2013, to witness the Canadian Citizenship ceremony of Pastor Sammy (Eva) Kabyemera and their family of Jesus Grace International Church. They had come to Canada as refugees, from Congo, via Uganda, where they planted churches while in a refugee camp.
As a person privileged to be born in Canada, it was really special to witness Sammy and family become fellow-citizens of Canada, as Paul writes of the Ephesians, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household…”  (Eph. 2:19). Sammy and family are now fellow-Canadians, enjoying all the privileges, responsibilities and benefits that I do.

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, and in the church calendar associates this with hope. Hope will be the theme of my message this Sunday, as I preach at Quadra Island Bible Church.

We think back 2000 years ago, to a world awaiting the promised Messiah, and of the wonderful news of the Angel, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:10,11).

God sent a Saviour, Jesus, “to save His people from their sins,” (Matt. 1:21), but in that day, hopes of a Messiah of many Israelites had become for a rescuer to save their nation from the rule of Rome, not to save people from their sin.

While God’s Good News is just as good as it was years ago, so today, people’s hope for a “rescuer” is often more about politics, finances or simply “getting ahead,” than being saved from sin or hope of eternal life. Sin is denied and afterlife is ignored.

At meetings this week, EFCC Executive Director, Bill Taylor shared some findings about beliefs of Canadians about faith and life after death. While 95% of evangelicals believe in life after death (only 95%?), among the 50% of Canadians who are AASNs (Atheists, Agnostics, Spiritual and Nones) 65% believe that they will simply cease to exist after death.
When we proclaim the Good News this Advent and Christmas Season, we are mindful that in the 21st century, just as the first century, the majority of people are not so concerned about sin, salvation and life eternal as they are about daily life.

Share and live hope! We do not need to deny sin – it was for sinners like us that God sent a rescuer. Salvation and eternal life are not to be achieved by our efforts, but is given as an infinitely costly, yet free gift to all who will receive. Let’s show the world what a difference hope makes for we who believe – both today and in our futures.

Just as the hearts of many welcomed God’s gift of Christ as Saviour in the first century, so too will many welcome Him today.  From without hope to fellow citizens!

***

Faith and Politics in Canada
This week, Angus Reid published a survey on the feelings of Canadians and the faith of politicians. Interestingly, people report having less problem with the faith of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, an orthodox Sikh than Conservative Party Leader Andrew Sheer as a practicing Catholic.

The study finds, “A new public opinion poll from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute, in partnership with Cardus – suggests that it is not necessarily a leader’s faith that provokes negative or positive reactions, but how the leader approaches and handles the issue on the campaign trail.“

Here is the link to the study:

Religion-and-Politics/

Also, a 2015 study of Canadians by Angus Reid reports that 70% of Canadians are either “ambivalent” to religion, or inclined to reject religion.
Faith-in-Canada/
While “religion” is not attractive today, there is attraction to the message of hope and the witness of a transformed life.

Here is an encouraging story of a Sikh who came to hope in Christ!

I’m-a-sikh-and-this-is-what-i-believe/

Please pray for:

• Quadra Island Bible Church. Brent and Lynn Austring have began their service as pastor on November 1. I look forward to meeting with them and the QIBC church family this weekend as I head to Quadra for Saturday and to preach on Sunday morning.
• 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. Thanks for your prayers for them as they have sought the Lord and undergone the assessment.
• Pray for Matt and Mary Howard, who have been volunteering at Wildwood Community Church in Bowser, alongside Pastor Rick and Sandy McAllister.  Matt and Mary have accepted a call to serve as Pastor of Good Shepherd Community Church in Cut Knife, Saskatchewan, and will begin in January.
• Town + Field Church, in their time of pastoral transition. Pray for Matt (Val) Myers and team, as they provide interim leadership.
• Joshua and Nicole Fast, new Children’s Ministry Intern at Parkdale EFC, who is also now a LPD Missionary, as he begins “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. Pray for them, as they lead this developing work of God, and give thanks for the lives being touched through the Gospel. Pray for them and their leadership, as they seek the Lord for the next steps in this work. Pray for our Advisory Committee, as we meet on Wednesday, December 4.
• New Westminster EFC. The congregation was unanimous on Sunday, November 10, in confirming the call of Jorge and Emily Lin to become the church planting pastor of the church, effective, January 1, 2020. We are thankful for this, and for the transitional ministry of Ralph and Karen Hardy in leading to this.
• Tom and Sandy Ford and family, as he awaits transplants, made necessary through the impact of his diabetes.
• Christ Community Church is considering options for pastoral ministry for the future.
• 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, Paul Yang (Jin) – Korean Church Liaison; Phil Yung (Grace) – Church Planting and Josephine Papp, LPD Office Administrator – Recording Secretary. Please pray for provision of a Chinese Church Liaison.

Upcoming Events:

LPD Conference
at
Grace Hanin Community Church

March 6,7 – 2020

with Dr. Randy Wollf of ACTS Seminaries.
“The Heart of Discipleship”

Plan to join us for a workshop on Friday, March 6, followed by a fellowship supper, and on Saturday, March 7, for worship, a workshop, and our annual meeting. We will also have a fellowship lunch, and a luncheon for women in ministry and pastor’s wives.