New Living Assembly
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New Living Assembly meets in Chilliwack, and like the rest of us, has found a way to currently “meet” virtually.
Being a church that is composed largely of people of the Filipino Community, social distancing and meeting virtually is something contrary to their culture. When I have visited with their church, the church is full, their fellowship is warm, the hugs are sincere and the food is always wonderful!
Pastor Noel and Lynda Macasaet have adjusted to our current reality, and now minister from their home each week. They are faithful servants. You can learn about the church at their website : http://newlivingassembly.com/ .
In January, New Living Assembly gave birth to a second church, this one in Agassiz. Jesus Is Our Salvation, in partnership with JIOS Surrey. God has his hand upon both groups, and we are thankful for them!
Please pray for New Living Assembly, as they minister to the Filipino Community and beyond, and as they seek the Lord for a new place to meet, once they are able to assemble again.
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Ship Wreck or Ship Shape?
On Wednesday, I gathered (virtually) with pastors and staff from many LPD Churches – and beyond, for our semi-annual LPD Pastor and Staff Cruise. People gathered from Sointula to Cut Knife, Saskatchewan, where Matt and Mary Howard (former interns at Wildwood Community Church) now pastor at Good Shepherd Community Church (EFCC).
It was great to gather, and to share, but, just as in our local churches, we really do miss gathering together. “Virtual” cruising is safe. We can do it from the comfort of our own homes or offices, but it is not the same as being on the sea.
I am one who loves to be on the sea, not virtually, but to enjoy the sights, to smell the sea, to feel the wind, and to “harness” it for our sailboat.
As our family would sail the Gulf Islands aboard our sailboat, and anchor in a cove for the evening, a tradition was for me to end the day by reading shipwreck stories. Looking back, this maybe wasn’t the best idea, as we crawled into our berths for the night, but everyone enjoyed this. There are a lot of wrecks to learn about – in fact, the west side of Vancouver Island is known as the, “Graveyard of the Pacific.”
Reading the accounts of many of the shipwrecks recently, I was struck by a common cause of the wrecks. Many of the ships had been sailing northward, from California to Seattle and other ports in northern Washington (Oregon Territory in earlier days). As they headed north, they would need to round Cape Flattery, and head south into the Straight of Juan de Fuca.
Tides could be strong and winds at time fierce. Visibility was often limited by fog or darkness, and mariners often relied upon “dead reckoning” to determine their position. Sadly, their estimates were often unreliable. While they believed they were rounding Cape Flattery, they were sometimes nearing the shores of Vancouver Island. Unable to escape the force of the tides and winds, they would be driven ashore and wrecked.
Many of these ships had proved their capability, in sailing all over the world, and they were manned by experienced and seasoned crews. Their demise was simply that by failing to accurately determine where they were (their bearings), they sailed in the wrong direction until it was too late. This was true of the S.S. Valencia, which was wrecked in 1906, with the loss of 100 lives.
The story can be repeated in many contexts, including church. The way forward is determined by first assessing where we are at (our bearings).
In this time of “pandemic,” how do you determine the bearings of your local church?
Here are some questions I suggest that you ask your church family and leadership:
How do we measure attendance? From those physically attending to “views” on YouTube?
How do we measure the impact of our ministry in making disciples? What are the markers?
Are we financially sustainable? “Viewers” may not be “givers.” A report at a podcast I attended this week reported that charitable giving was down in the neighourhood of 30-40% since March. How is your church doing?
How are the children of our church doing? Children’s ministry has been specially impacted through this time. Schools have been closed. Sunday School, sports and clubs are suspended. How are we reaching children and assuring them of their importance to us and to God?
Who is in our congregation? Who will be there when we can gather again? In 2001, John Naisbitt, wrote the book, “High Tech/High Touch / Technology and our Search for Meaning.” He challenged us to appreciate the value of technology, but also to recognize its limitations and the need for human “touch,” meaning and relationships. In these days of “virtual church,” how are we keeping our people connected? How are we reaching out to them?
What are we learning? Predictions are that we will not be going back to “normal” for a year or two. I suggest that we will never go back to normal, and if we try to, we have failed to learn anything. We can become better! What can we best do in small groups? What will we do best when we can gather together? How will gathering forward our mission? I suggest that the new paradigm may mean a move from the assembled church being divided into small groups, to small community groups assembling together to celebrate, to “tell the stories,” and to be encouraged together.
What direction will you take in “re-opening?” Some of your people are fearful. Some are anxious to meet face to face. What approach will you take, and what will you hope to accomplish? (Please check with our office regarding policies and procedures for re-opening).
Tim (Emily) Stewart at Parkdale EFC is the first to attempt a “hybrid service.” Here is a link to his introduction to this. Parkdale_Phase_2a.pdf
Over my years of ministry, there have been various “waves” of courses to take in leading the church. Today, for the first time, there is no designated course to follow, other than taking our bearings and trusting God to guide our way forward. Please take time to assess “where you are at,” and plot the way forward from there. Different “bearings” will demand different courses. How well we “take our bearings” could make the difference between being shipwrecked or ship shape!
I am proud of you and the way that our churches are rising to the occasion – from ZOOM to Facebook, from “Hybrid” services to delivering sermon manuscripts, churches are “getting their bearings,” and choosing the course accordingly! We are here to be alongside!
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I am posting a brief video greeting to you and your church, and to whoever you want to share it with. Be encouraged!
A Greeting from Rob Stewart, DS
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Upcoming Opportunities
EFCC National Conference – Virtual
June 27, 2020
With COVID-19 response, we are unable to physically meet for EFCC National Conference this year. We will be meeting for an abbreviated conference on June 27. Here is a letter from George Budd, EFCC Board of Directors Chair:
Letter_from_the_Chairperson_of_the_EFCC_Board_of_Directors.pdf
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Coach’s Corner – with Steve Sharpe, LPD Missionary of Church Planting and Development. Steve shares coaching insights for pastors, church leaders and church planters. This week, he writes on, “ABC DISCIPLE MAKING: B is for BASIC TRAINING.” Here is the link: DISCIPLE_ABC_29May2020.pdf
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Please remember all of our LPD Missionaries (and all missionaries) at this time.
Here is the link to their information and how to support them:
https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/donations/
LPD Missionaries
Dan and Sharon Williams (Osoyoos Project)
Steve and Gillian Sharpe (Missionary of Church Planting Development)
Jonathan and Harmony Ng (Inner City Ministry)
Noel and Lynda Macasaet (New Living Assembly)
Jorge and Emily Lin (Church of All Nations/”new”New West EFC)
Joshua and Nicole Fast (Priceless Youth Ministry)
Allen and Hannah Chang (Steveston Project)
Daniel and Joyce Wong (Steveston Project)
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HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR CHURCHES REGARDING COVID-19
We in the LPD are here to serve you and your church through this time. Josephine has been continually updating our information, so has the most current information available on resources available to you and your church in this time. Currently, six LPD Churches have successfully applied for assistance, with our help. There are several resources available for Non-profits, and we will be glad to share these with you. Please email Josephine.
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Please pray for:
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