Atlantic Connexion

Sep 9, 2025 | Atlantic Connexion, Kingswood University, World Hope Canada


Digby Wesleyan (Andrew Maves) is coming to the end of a fruitful summer! Andrew shared, “The church family has a foundation of volunteers that keeps our festivals going. The fingerprint of the Father was all over Lobster Bash, Scallop Days, 50th Woodsman Competition, and Wharf Rat Rally! From feeding the masses to the blessing of the fleet and blessing of the bikes…we saw lives changed. God is so good. We finished off the summer with our second baptism of the year with 10 more dunked this weekend…all to His glory! God is good. Beautiful things are weekly occurrences. We are blessed.”
A year ago I attended the 20th anniversary of the Blessing of the Bikes and met this lady. It was Maggie’s second Sunday @ Digby Wesleyan and she was hooked! We sat together in the service that day and she was so impressed with the church family. It was incredible to see this picture of her baptism on Sunday – one year later! Every number has a name, and every name has a story of transformation. I love what Andrew said, “Beautiful things are weekly occurrences.” So many great reports of the Spirit at work in Digby – PTL!
Solid Rock Wesleyan (Peter Hayes) had an exciting baptism Sunday on August 24th. Peter shared, “Simon McInnes has been discipling the father who was baptised over the last year and he asked if he could be baptized along with his son. Since Simon has been discipling, he shared the honour of baptizing the Dad with my help, and then immediately following, the father helped Simon baptize his son. I believe this is the heart of marketplace discipleship and am excited to watch it happening at Solid Rock! Praising Jesus for all He is doing here! The hugs say it all! They are both super excited to be following Jesus.”
Kings (Brent Ingersoll) celebrated 56 baptisms this Sunday
across their five locations – PTL!

CLICK HERE for Our District Culture of Care Promo Video
(With Jay & Sharon Guptill)
After a very brief introduction at District Conference regarding the nearly two-year process for our new Culture of Care, we are pleased to offer this video overview of the many opportunities you and your pastoral family members will have to engage in high-calibre care that is both preventative and restorative.
  • A key first step for our Ministerial Tribe is to take part in the following assessment – all credentialed ministers will be receiving more detail in a separate email this week.

OCTOBER ASSESSMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
Coming in October:
Flourishing in Ministry: Well-Being Assessment
for all Atlantic District Pastors
The Atlantic District aims to cultivate a healthy culture of care, support and safety for all pastors and their families. To that end, we are engaging the services of Dr. Chris Adams, a leading researcher in clergy wellbeing at the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. Dr. Adams will be conducting the Flourishing in Ministry Assessment (FIM) of the wellbeing of all Atlantic District clergy. The assessment will take place October 7-22. More details to come in the following weeks.
  • CLICK HERE for a thorough website overview of our Clergy Culture of Care.
Blacks Harbour Wesleyan (Ken Banks) held its annual Community Service over Labour Day Weekend. Ken is pictured with the two local Mayors in the county. The bottom picture was taken this Sunday as the church prayed over the children present as they begin a new school year.

The annual Golf Classic of Kingswood University was a huge success! Such a great day with a new record high of $81K raised for student scholarships (President Christman cast a vision for $80K for the 80th year of Kingswood which began in Woodstock in 1945).
  • Nathan Perry (Saint John First Wesleyan – Graham Perry) raised nearly $3K himself as the highest fundraiser of the event – for the third year in a row – an impressive young leader in his last year of high school! It was so encouraging to see pastors from around the district present to support this important event.
President Christman started a new tradition with the annual Freshman slip-n-slide. CLICK HERE to check out his wardrobe for the event! Now that’s a secure leader – ha!


Every four years, the National Wesleyan Women of Australia hold a retreat. Women from Wesleyan Methodist Churches across Australia and the South Pacific region come together for a time of rest, learning and connection. This year, 240 women gathered in the Brisbane area, and Tanya Nace (CEO of World Hope International – Canada) had the honour of being their guest speaker.
  • She shared about God’s goodness, wisdom, and peace and had the opportunity to spend time with fellow women clergy who were in attendance. She witnessed God working in a mighty and transformative way. National Women’s Director, Alaina Westaway, had this to say, “It was an absolute privilege and honour to have Tanya as the speaker. Her wisdom, knowledge and sense of humour were an inspiration for all women attending.”
Tanya also spent time with the Toowoomba Wesleyan Methodist Church’s staff and young adults, and preached at Axis Church in North Lakes (Brisbane area) on Sunday.

The Little Church That STILL Can!
Lower Hainesville Wesleyan (Peggy Yetman) has had some meaningful and effective connections with this small rural community in recent weeks.

Co-Vocational Maties?
Andy Phillips (The Reach Wesleyan) & Kevin Jackins (Community Wesleyan) serve as Lead Pastors in Maine and were surprised to find each other in Eastport at the annual Pirate Festival this month! Not sure all co-vocational options are suited for men of the cloth – ha!

Keep your eyes peeled from the crowsnest for some new church signs in Maine…

  • Repent, ye scallywags, or walk the plank!
  • Sermons on Sunday, treasure on Monday!
  • Turn yer hearts to Jesus, and yer sails to the wind!
Speaking of scurvy landlubbers taking to the water…
Don’t miss this great opportunity to jump-start your men’s ministry this fall…
CLICK HERE to register!
I always enjoy my monthly Zooms with the North East DS’s. We connected this Thursday and it is my Pastor Cluster time for encouragement and wisdom with a regularly focus on multiplication. All credentialed ministers will be receiving information this week about the return to Pastor Clusters next month. Stay tuned!
Congratulations to Shaun & Morgan Miller (Kingswood University) on the September 5th birth of their son, Nolan Robert Miller, weighing in at 9 lbs. 2 oz. & 21 in. O happy day!
  • How can we put enough salt in the wound of self-focussed discipleship to inspire healing to close the gap to focus my life on others? (Ethan Linder)
  • Spirit-led work does not have the pressure to produce. We don’t force anything on anyone. The Spirit flows through opportunities and rhythms because of how we are living out our real faith. (Jeff Clark)
  • How can I be stretched on mission to have a bigger cup to fill that can be poured out for others. (Ryan Ott)

CLICK HERE to Register Your Children/Youth Workers