Atlantic Connexion

Sep 23, 2025 | Atlantic Connexion, Caton's Island, Wesleyan Church of Canada


  • It was an exciting day at Tidal (Jim Clements) with new KU President, Dr. Rick Christmas preaching in Moncton and a coordinated series taking place at the other two locations in Miramichi and Shediac.
Tidal – Shediac is blessed to be the home church for the ladies of Naomi and Ruth Women’s Recovery Centre. The Shediac location will soon be one-year old and this Sunday saw 164 gather to worship. New Campus Pastor Nathan Adams shared, “We celebrated with them as seven very genuine women in recovery got baptized along with two boys of one of the ladies. Most amazing of all was that a consultant for the center was brought to the renewal of her faith by the example of the ladies and the leadership and was also baptized. It was a community celebration with family members coming in and another Shediac church showing their support too. This topped off a morning at Tidal Church that saw people also coming to faith in the service.”
  • Launch Pastor Austin White has recently accepted a teaching position at Moncton Christian Academy and he had this to saw about the new Campus Pastor. “For years I’ve admired Pastor Nathan’s love for prayer, passion for Gods Word & dynamic leadership. I couldn’t be any more excited for him to be the campus pastor @ Tidal Shediac, great days ahead!”
In other Pastoral transitions, Joel Bridges resigned this Sunday as Lead Pastor of Trinity Wesleyan to accept a full-time position after Thanksgiving in a local funeral home. Thank you Joel & Kia for investing seven years of pastoral leadership! Brian Murray has once again accepted district appointment as Interim Pastor for the coming months beginning on October 19th.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month
 
  • CLICK HERE for all Pastor Appreciation Month Resources provided by our Wesleyan HQ.
  • CLICK HERE for a helpful article to share with your church family about this important month ahead.

Crystal Wesleyan Friend Day!
Crystal Wesleyan (Jim Bechdol) had an encouraging Friend Day this Sunday with 23 in attendance and two new guests indicating interest in coming back soon. To put this into perspective, the village of Crystal, Maine has a 2025 population of 250 with a median age of 58.2 years old. That would be like a Friend Day at your church with more than 9% of your community showing up. Do the math – well done, Pastor Jim! We are so blessed by those who faithfully minister in small rural communities.
NATIONAL CHURCH HEALTH UPDATE
There will be two upcoming LIVE presentations with Q&A (Microsoft Teams) about the imminent switch to the Canada Life Health Plan from Medavie Blue Cross effective October 1st.
Thursday, September 25th @ 1:30 p.m. Atlantic Time:
Monday, September 29th @ 3:30 p.m. AtlanticTime:
National Superintendent Steve Elliott will share a link this Thursday afternoon September 25 for those who want to see the recording of the presentation.
 

Blacks Harbour Wesleyan (Ken Banks) co-hosted a family fun day with a church family in the community on Saturday, September 20th. It was an initiative to connect families in the community with one another. Free hotdogs, chips, drinks, desserts and treats were available. Multiple lawn games were set up for people to enjoy. Invitations had been distributed at the local elementary school, and several area families stopped by to take part.
  • Ken shared, “New contacts and friendships were made. Dozens of our church attendees supported the initiative by volunteering. A donation of $9,000 has been given to the church for future events and ministry within our local community and elementary school. We are currently collecting boxes of cereal to donate to the elementary school for their breakfast program with a goal of 100 boxes by Thanksgiving Sunday.”


Hillside Wesleyan (Dave Dixon) hosted its first **Family Fall Fest** on Saturday – a day to connect with our community and show them the love of Jesus. Dave shared, “We had games, face painting, arts & crafts, a bouncy castle, along with a free BBQ. By the grace of God we had just about 400 people come out! We gave out about 15 Bibles, and numerous invitations to our Alpha group which is just starting up. We had an amazing team of volunteers come together to make this happen and I’m blessed to be leading a church with amazing people who have a huge heart to serve!”
Our Executive Director & I had the privilege of honoring **Carol Stephenson** for her **30 years of service** to Caton’s Island this past Wednesday. Tami shared, “During a lovely meal with Dean and Carol and presented her with the gift from the Atlantic District that was referenced at the District Conference in July. You will recall, Carol was unable to be present that day. We were delighted to present her with a trip to Toronto in November to attend the Beth Moore conference, a Bible teacher she follows and holds in high esteem. We are covering round trip flights for Carol and two of her daughters, Leah and Dinah. Her sister Connie will be joining them. Together, they will meet Carol’s sister Colleen, who lives in the Toronto area, for an enjoyable three days of visiting (they are staying with Colleen), Bible teaching and worship. We have purchased tickets to the conference for Carol, her two daughters and two sisters, along with a prepaid visa card for meals and other items to enjoy on her trip.”
  • And speaking of inspiring leaders who have invested their influence for a lifetime…

Three Wise Men!
One of the perks of my current Kingdom assignment, is the regular in-person opportunity to rub shoulders with amazing leaders across our region. During my travels this past week, I enjoyed the privilege of spending a few minutes in Woodstock with these three wise guys… I mean esteemed men of God! Thank you to **Dale MacDonald, Mel Norton, & Wayne Robertson** for persevering in the call God has placed on your lives.
  • Each one of these men have shown how faithfulness over the long-haul can be used by the Lord to transform lives and communities – we are so much stronger because of them and we stand on the shoulders of generations of leaders from the past who have laid foundations in the work we continue to serve!

CLICK HERE for Our District *Culture of Care* Promo Video (With Jay & Sharon Guptill and Dave Higle)
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.
  • CLICK HERE for a thorough website overview of our Clergy Culture of Care.
**Coming October 7th**
Flourishing in Ministry: *Well-Being Assessment*
for all Atlantic District Pastors
 
The Atlantic District aspires 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.
  • CLICK HERE to review the email sent with these details (see item #2).
Ellen joins me in expressing heartfelt condolences on behalf of our Atlantic District family to the extended Donald family of Browns Flat, NB on the September 18th passing of their family patriarch, **John Donald** at the celebrated age of 95. CLICK HERE for his obituary with opportunity to post your personal condolences to the family.
  • While the Atlantic Connexion remains a communication from the DS to the Atlantic Ministerial Tribe and rarely features the life events of our esteemed lay people, we want to honour this family for their immeasurable impact with their family business in generations of partnership with our district camp ministry. Not many achieve the level of community recognition this man earned – we honour your memory kind sir, you were a gentle friend to us all and will be dearly missed. We will do our very best to continue serving your family.
Simply put, John Donald is the best neighbour Beulah Camp has ever had. I am honoured to represent our Atlantic Tribe at his Celebration of Life later this morning in Saint John.
  • We are not called to love God in moderation. Love and obedience are inextricable. (Marc Jolicoeur)
  • Every time you make a decision, you put a mark on your soul. (Charlie Kirk)
  • Would the dynamic, powerful grace of Jesus Christ be as appealing in our eyes if He only used and worked through “flawless” people? (Rick Christman)

Kingswood University Homecoming – SAVE THE DATE!
Presidential Inauguration – Friday Evening (Oct 17th)
**SPECIAL ALUMNI CHORALE @ Presidential Inauguration**
All alumni are invited to participate in a **mass alumni chorale**, lifting their voices in praise during this grand celebration. Rev. Don Ingersoll (Class of ’81) will lead the chorale. Rehearsal will take place in Wesley Hall at 6:00 PM on October 17. If you’ve sung in a Bethany/KU chorale, singing group, or praise team, we need you! Please show up early and add your voice to this exciting night of celebration!
CLICK HERE for the full announcement
(Email Rob Trafton with any questions @ donorengagement@kingswood.edu)

CLICK HERE to learn how to match an extra $1000 for your retirement plan