Merry Christmas! Five Minutes on Friday with the LPD

Good morning friends,

Just one week until Christmas Day! 

This Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Advent. Thursday is Christmas Eve – and Friday is Christmas Day… Perhaps sadly, I have already received our first Boxing Day Sale ads – 30%-70% off on December 26!

Please pray for one another through this season.

• As I am in contact with pastors and churches, I am aware that accidents and sickness continue to happen. Some of you are ministering to those injured and ill, and also their families. We are praying for you.

• Please pray for Mark and his wife Doreen in Sointula. Mark was seriously injured in a logging accident and is in VGH. Mark and Doreen are friends of Ben and Anna Crumback, who are ministering to them. Doreen is a member of Sointula Community Church.

• Surgeries happen too. Please pray for Pastor Edward Lee (Ruby) of Vancouver Chinese EFC, as he is scheduled to undergo coronary bypass surgery on December 21.

• Please pray for Patrick Chan, also of Vancouver Chinese EFC. Patrick has served as Church Chair and is a valued member of our Advisory Committee for Hope City Church. Patrick has had emergency brain surgery after a suspected stroke.                                                                                                               

As we minister, we might not feel that we have the answers. Perhaps we do not need to. In a recent article, “If I Only Knew Why,” Vaneetha Rendall writes from her personal experience, and how she has found peace in eventually surrendering to God.

May God bless you as you celebrate Christmas in your home, and as you share the Good News of Great Joy with family, friends and through your church!

• Please see the attachment featuring Jesus is Our Salvation Church, our LPD Church of the Week.
• Please also see my attached Christmas letter. Karen and I pray for you, for a Merry Christmas and God’s blessings in 2016.
• Please remember our refugees, and the ministry of the Middle East Friendship Centre in North Surrey. Adel Masoud, once a Imam in Islam, and now a brother in Jesus Christ through a miracle of God’s grace, directs this centre, along with his wife, Layla. This centre serves and reaches out to immigrants from the Middle East. They offer English classes, and a variety of services, and while doing this share the Good News.

Adel believes that the Centre is well situated and equipped to reach out to the coming refugees, and welcomes our partnership with them. There are both ministry opportunities and financial needs. Adel invites us to join them in ministering to the refugees already coming to our region. There are opportunities for donations, for volunteers and for those who will step forward to minister to these people from afar.

Please see their website for more information, or call Adel at (604) 288-5588.

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Upcoming Events:                                                                              

• LPD Conference – March 4,5 – 2016 –on the theme Coaching and Mentoring.

May God bless and keep you as you look to the Lord, and trust him for his good work through the week ahead.

In Jesus,

Rob                              

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This year, as our Lower Pacific District assists in the birth and revitalization of churches, we also step out in faith with local churches through providing financial support and seed money.  To this end, we appreciate the gifts of many district churches and also of individuals.  You can participate through both cheques and online through PayPal at our website. See LPD website for more info.