Under Sail
Pastoral Recall Votes Conducted & Accepted:
Four-Year Call – Graham Perry, Mount Pearl, NL – Solid Rock; Bill Lea, Doaktown, NB; Glen McVicar, Lower Brighton, NB; Ron Mercer, Lower Hainesville, NB
Extended Call – Ken Banks, Truro, NS
Further Pastoral Resignations: Neville Gosman (Sussex, NB); Carl & Evelyn Brewer (Nackawic)
We have, at this point, nine churches undergoing a senior or solo pastor transition. Jeff Hoyt preached in Black’s Harbour, NB yesterday and received a unanimous vote on an initial two-year call to serve as the church’s pastor. He has accepted the call. Other churches are in the interview and candidacy process. I have met with most of the LBA’s that are in the search process and I will be conducting LBA meetings with Sussex and Nackawic within the next week. This is the single most important decision that a church makes so please keep the pastoral transitions in your prayers
The weekend of March 9th I shared in the service at Charlottetown Sunrise, PE. This church is five years old and on that weekend there were about 50 people present. I brought the message, but I also had the privilege of dedicating Nathaniel Gregory (b. Feb. 8th), the son of Pastor Greg and Shera Hanson. Nathaniel is their first child. This was particularly meaningful for me as I was Shera’s pastor at Dartmouth Hillside when she was a little girl, and I was Greg’s pastor at Fredericton First when he was a teenager. It was a joy to talk with the people after the service and hear some of their stories of how they came to faith and were baptized as a result of the ministry of this church.
Special thanks to Arnold and Georgina Hayes for making the arrangements for the annual Atlantic District Snowbird Breakfast at Brooksville a couple of weeks ago. There were 58 people present. Everyone enjoyed the fellowship and no one went away hungry!
Rev. Ken Foote has finished his 10th round of chemo. On April 1st he and his wife Judy will be meeting with their doctor to decide if Ken should proceed with radiation or not. This is a difficult decision, and they are asking that people will pray that they will make the right decision given the situation they are in.
Rev. Richard Myers passed away Tuesday morning, March 25th, around 4 am. He went peacefully and in his sleep. He was 55 years of age. Richard had a long and debilitating struggle with MS for over 20 years. He was a graduate of Bethany Bible College, and was ordained in 1977. He served pastorates in Liverpool, NS; Millville, NB; Easton, ME; and Lower Brighton, NB from the mid-70’s through the late 80’s. His funeral was held in the Hartland Wesleyan Church, Thursday, March 27th with Dr. H.C. Wilson bringing the message. All three of Richard’s children shared in giving the eulogy. Our prayers are with his wife, Shirley, their children, Kevin (Laura-Lee) Myers, April (Ken) Banks, and Katie-Lynn Myers, and the extended family. I want to personally thank all of our ministers and spouses that made such a concerted effort to be present at the funeral. I know distance and other obligations were a factor for some not being able to attend, but about 60 of you were there. I know your presence really meant a lot to the Myers family.
Olivet Wesleyan in Fredericton, NB had 342 present Easter Sunday and $14,334 in their offering! Tim Guptill is the senior pastor.
Fredericton Corbett Ave. Wesleyan also had a great Easter Sunday morning service with 272 present. Pastor John Symonds reports that they had to bring in 20+ chairs to seat everyone. It was a powerful service with many new people to follow up!
Hartland Wesleyan Church had an exciting Easter Presentation last weekend. They did a “Walk Through Jerusalem” with twelve scenes highlighting the Passion Week. It involved a cast of 80 people, and 400 people took the tour on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Pastor Mel Norton reports that they have had very positive feedback and lots of contacts from the community as a result. PTL!
Pastor Ken Banks, Central Nova, Truro, NS was invited to be the speaker at Truro’s interdenominational Good Friday service held at the First United Church in town. This service is open to the entire community and there were well over 300 people in attendance. Pastor Ken spoke on “Why the Cross?” Many people were there that do not hear this kind of message in their church or denomination. Pastor Ken shared that the crowd was quiet throughout and he believes it was well received.
The week of March 17th I attended the DS Institute in Orlando, and also the General Board Meeting by invitation. The DS’s that do not serve on the GB were invited to attend when the GB sat as the Committee on Memorials. This allowed us to hear first-hand the discussion on the memorials to be presented to General Conference in June. We were also given opportunity to ask questions, have a voice without vote, and be a part of the on-going dialogue. I felt this was a very positive initiative on the part of the General Superintendents and the GB. Joanne and I concluded this week with a short cruise over Easter weekend in honor of our 35th wedding anniversary. It was a beautiful thing to see the Easter sunrise from the deck of the ship.
Pastor Mike, Nikki, and Austin White had a car accident in Houlton, ME a couple of weeks ago. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt but their car was totaled. Mike ended up with a sore neck and lower back but we are glad to report that they were able to return home after a couple of days of recuperation at the homes of friends and family.
Pastor Dwayne Hopkins continues with his chemo treatments this Thursday (April 3). On his CaringBridge site he says: “I have been doing rather fine since the last treatment. I am right now in the period of time when my immune system is in the tank. I stayed out of the way on Sunday so as to keep safe – or maybe keep safer. I am battling a bit of a cold, but seem to be getting the upper hand on it, now.” Thanks for your continued prayer support for Dwayne, Melodie, and their family.
There are two Alpha Conferences coming to our region this spring and fall. Some of our churches have used this effective means of reaching people for Christ. The Alpha Course is a ten-week, practical introduction to the Christian faith. An Equip and Refresh Conference is an opportunity to find out more about Alpha – and if you’re already involved in running Alpha, it’s your chance to take your course to the next level. There is a conference in Fredericton, NB May 23-24 and one in Dartmouth, NS September 26-27. Information and registration details can be found at www.alphacanada.com/events
On April 26th, 2008, Presque Isle Wesleyan Church will be hosting a live simulcast featuring well known marriage and family speaker & writer Dr. Gary Smalley along with Dr. Les Parrot, Dr. Henry Cloud, and Erwin and Kim McManus. The conference will begin at 9:30 AM and be finished by 3:30. The cost of the conference is $40.00 per couple which will include a hot lunch. For further information please contact PIWC at 207-764-0021 or email Pastor Wayne at pastorwayne@piwc.org
Yesterday I spoke at King’s Valley Wesleyan Church in Quispamsis, NB. It is always a delight to be part of their services and enjoy an opportunity to not only be with the church people but our family connection as well. Pastor Don (Janet) Ingersoll has served this church for eighteen years, fifteen in the senior pastor role.
Pastors, it is only four weeks to the end of our fiscal year. It’s not too soon to begin to pull together the data you will need to fill in year-end statistical reports, and prepare for your annual meeting. “Just a thought,” as a famous leadership guru likes to say.
“An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.” – A. W. Tozer
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