Digby Wesleyan (Andrew Maves) had two packed services on Sunday morning which were immediately followed by a community funeral for a young man’s family. After the funeral reception, the pastoral team headed to the water for their third baptism day since early May. Three more transformed lives to celebrate – PTL! If you remember Maggie’s baptism from a few weeks ago, the bottom pic is her husband who has since come to faith too! When Andrew shared this fantastic news he asked a question with an immeasurable answer, “How awesome is God?”
Culture of Care – Flourishing in Ministry Assessment
- All credentialed ministers received an email last week with a link for your confidential FIM Assessment as outlined below in the Culture of Care item. Thanks in advance for your priority completion of this item as we take a deep dive together in shaping a meaningful culture of care for our pastoral families. If you did not receive a copy, please CLICK HERE to send our Clergy Care Advocate, Dr. David Higle, your preferred email address to receive a new link which must be completed on or before October 22nd.
The Reach Wesleyan Wesleyan Baptism
The Reach Wesleyan (Andy Phillips) had another big day! Andy shared, “We celebrated God’s grace at work in this young family’s lives this past Sunday! Joe, Carolyn, and Vienna have been coming to The Reach since January and wanted everyone to know their commitment to Jesus Christ! To God be the glory!”
District Ministerial Registration Now Open!
- CLICK HERE for all the details of our end of January District Ministerialand for the online registration form.
Keep in mind that incredibly economic housing available at Kingswood University will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. KU will reach out to follow-up within a brief period of time upon registration to confirm your lodging needs.
Live Well Community (Tim Long) celebrated baptisms the first weekend of the month – Praise God! Assistant Pastor Angela Love shared, “Saturday, Oct 5th we baptized two people, one from Westport Baptist Church where I preach once a month…when a young lady, approached me for baptism after a September service. The second is a grade 10 student, who has been attending the outreach Oasis Youth program for 2 years, run at Islands Consolidated School. Tim graciously agreed to come into the water with me and God provided a beautiful warm day for us to go into Lake Midway for the baptisms. Praise God for all that He is doing in our midst!”
Amherst Wesleyan (Evan Oxner) celebrated two more baptisms on Sunday and Assistant Pastor Bradford Jordan baptized a teen at Connection in Truro where Emma Mullen (soon to be the new Campus Pastor in November) was preaching!
Canada Life Health Plan Info
- CLICK HERE for the “Welcome Package” PDF to Canada Life.
- The primary reason for this shift is to keep our premiums at the current rate as long as possible. Staying with Blue Cross would have resulted in significant increases. You will continue to submit the same monthly rate for Canada Life.
- All of your current team (including support staff) should have received communication directly from Canada Life regarding the shift to their health insurance from Medavie Blue Cross. If any of your employees have had opportunity to register yet, please get them to reach out to Karrilee to get in the plan ASAP.
- There is a reset on all coverage, so the next three months will allow for a full year of coverage before it resets again in 2026. This is a value-add bonus!
- CLICK HERE for the one-hour recording of the Orientation Session with Canada Life.
You will be able to register for My Canada Life at Work on October 2nd.
QUESTIONS? Please call 1-800-957-9777
New Kingdom Location in Windsor, NS
Dedicated for October 19th Launch!
New Hope Wesleyan (Scott Prime) is preparing to launch its third Kingdom location on October 19th. Scott shared, “On Sunday, Oct. 5 at THRIVE, the congregation united in worship and prayer to dedicate our new Windsor Campus to God, believing for His Spirit to move powerfully in Windsor and beyond!”
- Here’s an exciting word from Campus Pastor Jason Parker, “To say I was encouraged by our turnout on Sunday evening for THRIVE in Windsor would be a HUGE understatement. We saw 100 adults gather to pray and intercede for our New Hope Windsor launch, with representation from all three of our campuses. What a sense of optimism and anticipation as we prepare to launch!”
First Regional Disciple-Maker Conference Now Official!
Executive Director Tami Mutch-Ketch met last week get the initial planning underway for a regional disciple-maker conference on May 2, 2026, in Presque Isle, Maine. Pastors Jason Blaikie & Victoria Rowe (of Framework), Rich Thomas (Easton Wesleyan), and Kevin Jackins (Community Wesleyan) met with Tami this week to share how they are witnessing a move of God within individuals expressing the desire to learn how to share Jesus in their communities, homes, and workplaces.
- Praying on Offense is proving to be an effective strategy in teaching us to listen and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Contact Tami at tami@atlanticdistrict.com if you want to be involved in this exciting initiative or if you want to discuss how this may be done in your region.
- CLICK HERE to be reminded by Jeff Clark of the 1-3-2 strategy to storm the gates of our God-directed one space.
- CLICK HERE for this recent update from WesLife about the spiritual momentum the Spirit is building through this God-anointed approach in Praying on Offense.
- What to know more about Marketplace Disciple-Maker resources? CLICK HERE to engage the GodWorx treasure-trove of effective ways to sow Gospel influence outside the walls of your church!
- Ever think that God ONLY calls people to vocational ministry in Kingdom leadership of the Church? Think again. CLICK HERE for the manuscript of an inspiring message preached recently to challenge those with an equal calling to steward disciple-making through marketplace influence.
Last week, Denn Guptill, our District Director of Global Partners, joined 50 other GP Advocates from across North America for GO Global a three-day event held in Indianapolis. The purpose of the gathering was to share best practices for supporting our GP personnel and to explore new ways local churches can engage more effectively with Global Partners to reach the unreached.
- If your church is looking for opportunities to partner with our global Wesleyan family, CLICK HERE to contact Denn Guptill (Cornerstone Wesleyan).
Atlantic District Global Partners Missionaries, Robin & Yoko White recently had opportunity to take part in a rather unique and highly specialized bridge-building ministry to connect with those far from God in partnership with Gallery Nani.
- Robin shared, “Please watch THIS VIDEO to get a walkthrough of the exhibit and hear some greetings from our friend Peter, from Gallery Nani. In short, the event was a great spiritual bridge-builder, and we were encouraged and inspired to think about how we can engage more with the community through the arts.”
Another Love Week Impacts Lives!
River Valley Wesleyan (Darren Clark) completed their annual Love Week earlier this month. Darren shared, “This year you gave over $2000 [doubling last year] As a church we:
– Blessed the teachers and staff of 3 local schools.
– Blessed the officers and staff of the Westfield RCMP.
– Blessed the Blossoms Daycare staff in our building.
– Had the Great Toilet Paper Caper, and blessed about 50 homes next to the church.
– Gave food money to a family in need.
– Donated money to help the food pantries in our town.
– Worked on a house in need of help and repair.
– People donated toys to Katrina’s toy drive for the Pediatric floor at the Saint John Regional.”
– Blessed the teachers and staff of 3 local schools.
– Blessed the officers and staff of the Westfield RCMP.
– Blessed the Blossoms Daycare staff in our building.
– Had the Great Toilet Paper Caper, and blessed about 50 homes next to the church.
– Gave food money to a family in need.
– Donated money to help the food pantries in our town.
– Worked on a house in need of help and repair.
– People donated toys to Katrina’s toy drive for the Pediatric floor at the Saint John Regional.”
KIngswood’s Trustee Executive Committee Prepares
Kingswood University will be celebrating the Inauguration of our new President Rick Christman this Friday night after the full-day meeting of the Board of Trustees. As board chair I enjoy the privilege of convening our Executive Committee semi-annually to prepare for our Fall & Spring Sessions.
- Friday evening’s Inauguration Service (more details below in Upcoming Events) will be one for the history books as we will also be burning the mortgage and celebrating a debt free institution as of earlier this month – PTL! So many encouraging things to celebrate as momentum builds under the influence of our new President. Everyone who can attend is warmly welcome to do so – you won’t regret it!
Advent Is Coming!
CLICK HERE for an excellent FREE Advent Kit offered without cost from Headquarters in partnership with rebranded contributions provided by Tidal(Jim Clements).
“The Greatest Gift” used these scriptures and themes as jumping off points for a team of Hispanic pastors to create original sermon outlines in Spanish and for a team of Wesleyan Children’s pastors to create lessons and slides for children that can accompany the adult series. Thank you, Tidal team for generously sharing raw materials for the creation of this free Advent series!
One of our own ministerial team members has also offered the following items for use at no charge. These are two original Christmas plays for use in the local church authored by Brian Gilroy (Island Wesleyan).
- CLICK HERE for More!
- CLICK HERE for The Christmas Practice
A Time to Lament & Listen
A couple of weeks ago, I set aside two full days to spend with the Lord to Lament & Listen. Soul work is never convenient or easy, but it is always fruitful for growth that matters. I was blessed to have a couple of spiritual directors to interact with during these days “on the mountain.”
- A recent sermon on the discipline of lament by Denn Guptill captures it so well. “When we cry out in lament, we are standing in our pain and reminding God of his promises. Lament doesn’t mean we’ve given up on God. It means we’re holding on to Him. Sometimes the most faithful song we can sing is in a minor key.”
Psalm 34:4 (NRSV), “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”
Ellen joins me in expressing condolences on behalf of the Atlantic District family for daughter-in-law Lydia, and all the children & extended Bridgeo family on the October 7th passing of their dear mother, 95-years-young – Mary Bridgeo. Mary has been one of our cherished ministerial widows since her husband Bruce’s passing twenty years ago.
Please CLICK HERE for her obituary with opportunity to share personal condolences to the Bridgeo family. Her funeral service will be conducted by Rev. Steve Bradley at the Beulah Camp Dining Hall later today @ 2:00 p.m. I am honoured to be present and will bring remarks on behalf of our district family.
- Leadership in the past meant coming up with solutions. Today it is learning how to ask new questions that we have been too scared, too busy, or too proud to ask. (Tod Bolsinger)
- While the work of “sanctification” must remain the purview of the Holy Spirit—and never under our control or manipulation—this recognition of a decisive commitment and a hunger for God’s work in our lives that goes beyond the pronouncement of our freedom from particular sins made possible by the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus—still seems to be an important distinctive of the Wesleyan tradition. For Wesley, this ongoing work of the Holy Spirit was framed more in therapeutic than legal terms—the Holy Spirit restoring in us the wholeness of the Divine Image that had been twisted in the Fall. It seems a message that, if anything, is more relevant in today’s world than ever. (Laurence Mullen)
- Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. (Jack Welsh)
