It’s Monday Again
The World Hope International (Canada) Gala on Friday night was a tremendous success! With more than 130 in attendance, the passion and vision of the team of presenters was inspiring and heartwarming. Keynote Haley Clark (Director of Anti-Trafficking and Anti-Gender-Based Violence) followed an excellent evening of presentations by Deborah Gilbert (Missions Pastor @ Cornerstone), Dave Flanagan (Board Member & Business Partner), and Executive Director Tanya Nace.
A challenge was given to raise $15,000 for the Hope Fund – and when the total was announced, those attending had given more than $20,700! It was an encouraging night for the future of ministry to the lost, the least, the last, and the lonely of our world.
World Hope Canada Board of Directors convened on Thursday and Friday in the Edgett Boardroom to explore progress in several areas of management and programming. It is an honour to serve with this great group of Kingdom influencers – we are blessed by the leadership of Tanya Nace!
Amherst (Evan Oxner) hosted an outreach event last night with Vancouver comedian Leland Klassen and celebrated 93 in attendance as this growing church family leveraged this opportunity to invite guests from the community.
It was a joy to preach on Palm Sunday yesterday in Miramichi (Carl & Evelyn Brewer). This amazing ministry couple have been serving with faithfulness and fruitfulness over recent months and there is a spirit of anticipation for the future. See below for more detail regarding the Town Hall meeting with this congregation after we enjoyed connecting over lunch.
The spring DBA meeting was honoured to include our General Superintendent Wayne Schmidt and National Superintendent Stephen Elliott as they conducted my initial two-year term DS Review. The DBA unanimously recommended an Extended Call for re-election by the July 11th District Conference. The DBA also approved a 5-Year Horizon Storyline (Mancini Vision Frame) for the next chapter of Kingdom impact through the Atlantic District. I am eager to share the initial steps of this values-driven vision in my DS Report this summer.
1895 for Beals Island (Nick Wilson). 1912 for Jonesport (Andy Phillips). A combined total of 231 years of local church ministry was celebrated yesterday as these two historic churches families officially concluded their individual ministry in preparation for the birth of a newly merged congregation on Easter Sunday – The Reach Wesleyan.
Former Beals Pastor Peter Thomas (pictured above) brought a powerful message reflecting on how to be a missional church. New Lead Pastor of The Reach, Andy Phillips, had this to say about the final service at Jonesport, “As we close one chapter, God is starting a new chapter so that the story of the church continues to grow for His glory. We are thankful for those who have laid the foundation of faithfulness with Jesus Christ that allows us to build a future reaching out with God’s love to all people!”
All credentialed ministers should have received an email invitation from Headquarters (not District Office) explaining an improved process for the completion of your Annual Service Report (ASR). The first email was to create an account for the new Pastor Portal. A second email was sent with instructions for the completion of your ASR. If you have not received both emails, please check your junk and spam folders. To insure you receive instructions for this new process, please email districtreports@wesleyan.org with your name, district and preferred email address, with a CC to office@atlanticdistrict.com. Here is copy of the FIRST email you should have received (with a private username and password):
“As you may have heard, The Wesleyan Church is updating our reporting systems, including the ability to complete your Annual Service Report (ASR) from a mobile device.
In transitioning to this new system, a new account must be created for your personal profile. You will use this account to complete your 2019 ASR. This account information is only for the new portal system — It does not affect the account information used for the old portal. As we continue to develop, add features and transition to the new portal, we will be migrating to a single username and password.
This email only includes your new account information. It will NOT take you to the new ASR form. You will be receiving a second email with “2019 Annual Service Report” in the subject line that will include a link sending you directly to the ASR form.
If you have questions, please contact your District Office administrator, Karrilee Bremner, via phone (506-383-8326) or email (karrilee@atlanticdistrict.com).
Instructions:
- Click the “Set Up Account” button below.
- Log in using your username and temporary password.
- You will be prompted to change your password and setup password reset information.
- Follow the instructions for resetting your password. A PDF guide is available here.”
Votes/Reviews/Transitions
- It was announced by Interim Lead Pastor Jamie Cambers this weekend that Matt Fahringer (Crosspoint) has concluded his service as Children’s Pastor.
- In a congregational meeting in Miramichi (Carl & Evelyn Brewer) yesterday, it was announced that Anton & Louise Topilnyckyj will be coming to interact with the church family on the weekend following Easter to explore potential Pastoral Appointment by the District.
Congratulations to Scott & Brittany Trafton on the April 9th arrival of Cora Grace pictured below with Mom & super proud Grandma!
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints (Psalm 116:15). Ellen joins me in expressing sincere condolences to Rev. Bernard Brown on behalf of the Atlantic District for the passing early this week of Jean, his dear wife of 63 years. Her full obituary, graveside service details (May 24th), and memorial donation information is available on the Giberson-Dorsey Funeral Home website.
Easter THOTS:
- Jesus’s resurrection is the beginning of God’s new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven. That, after all, is what the Lord’s Prayer is about.
- The resurrection proclamation could not have been maintained in Jerusalem for a single day, for a single hour, if the emptiness of the tomb had not been established as a fact. (Paul Althus)
- We shall never understand the extent of God’s love in Christ at the Cross until we understand that we shall never have to stand before the judgment of God for our sins. (Billy Graham)
Attention all parents, teens, and youth leaders/pastors! One Conference is back again this year May 31 – June 1. This is a great opportunity for students to go deeper in their faith and meet other youth from across the Maritimes.
#globalcollective #raisingleaders
It was Forty Days after the resurrection that Jesus spelled out his mission for the church, go into all the world making disciples. This year on June 2nd the churches of the Atlantic District are being asked to respond to that mission with a special offering.
Amplify Leaders is an initiative of Global Partners to train pastors worldwide. On average, we can train a national leader for $ 2,400.00 over a three-year period. $800.00 a year. Each Atlantic District Church is invited to receive a special offering on June 2nd specifically to train & empower pastors in the majority world to fulfill the Great Commission.
For more information or promotional material contact our District Director of Global Partners Denn Guptill (denn@cornerstonehfx.ca).
Caton’s Island Director Dean Stephenson reports that summer camper registrations are already up over this time last year – don’t delay getting the word out to your students and parents/grandparents to make sure they can attend their preferred camp!
Riverside Camp Dates & Registration info is now available – Matt Maxwell (Journey) is the Evangelist for Family Camp (July 28-31).
A Word from Caton’s Island Overseer – Brian Murray!
A call to carpenters and those handy with tools! Caton’s Island has become a shining light on our district. Throughout the years, hundreds of young people have received Christ as their Saviour and have continued on to become great leaders of this ministry.
Caton’s Island is now preparing to embark on its largest and most ambitious project; to extend the present kitchen and dining room to seat 400 people and to make a fully equipped restaurant quality kitchen. The Choate Dining Hall Expansion begins this spring.
We ask our pastors to present this project to the congregation and to set up teams that will coordinate with Brian Murray who is overseeing this effort. Formal plans for all required equipment, electrical, plumbing, and other materials are near completion and we have presently raised $170K+ towards the total cost of $220K for Phase ONE which will be completed this summer. We do not wish to go into debt for this project, therefore we shall build in phases beginning with the structure this year. Then trusting those who see the great potential of Caton’s – to pray and donate time, expertise and finances. We have presently hired on-site manager and he will be developing and planning the work schedule along with Brian as project manager and Caton’s Overseer.
Pastors, if you would, please share this good news with your church family! Send your people and their questions for how to get involved to Brian Murray (spencerbrian@xplornet.com, 506.375.4330).
THE GATHERING RESOURCES are online and include full videos of General Sessions and all Seminars. We thank God for being in a denomination which cares so deeply about investing in our leadership.