It’s Monday Again
Meet Dr. Piotr Gasiorowski. He is pictured above (lower left) in a Zoom with pastoral team members from Journey (Matt Maxwell) and with Kari Broad (Kings Church). Piotr leads our Wesleyan Church in Poland and he has already been to the Ukrainian border multiple times to help refugees in need. Journey Church has received CRA approval to initiate a partnership with The Wesleyan Church in Poland to support Ukrainian refugees.
CEO Tanya Nace of World Hope International (Canada) shared this inspiring update…
Thank you to our amazing donors! Because of you, we sent over $4M dollars worth of medicine to Moldova on this 747 (upper left) and more will be flown over this next week. We have partnered with MAP, Lift Non-Profit Logistics, UPS, Globus Health and the Nazarene Church as we continue to respond to the invasion of Ukraine. Our response will continue through the provision of supplies, medicines, partnering on the ground as needed and helping with the protection of trafficked individuals. We will keep updating you as it progresses. If you have not yet been able to give to this emergency response, you can CLICK HERE to provide support today!
Kings (Brent Ingersoll) held a packing party last week (upper right). Executive Pastor Andy Broad shared, “We had about 25 people come out to pack up a few dozen boxes of supplies that were quickly donated over five days.”
Journey (Matt Maxwell) continues to coordinate efforts for Ukrainians in the following ways:
- Over $25K raised, plus thousands more in donated products
- Purchased medical supplies (some have already been shipped – see above)
- $10,000 given through World Hope Canada
- Working shoulder to shoulder with the Ukrainian Community of Fredericton
- Working with Kings Church helping them ship their items
- Nine pallets shipping early this week through Midland for free from Saint John & Fredericton to an Ontario departure point
- Working locally in Poland with Dr. Piotr Gasiorowski who has been assisting the Ukrainian Government in shipping medical/humanitarian supplies from Poland into Ukraine
Welcome to new staff at The Ridge (Mike Agrell)! Honey-Lee Beaulieu will be leading youth ministry and Marissa Green will be overseeing children’s ministry. In other district news…
- David (Melissa Tysick) will be joining New Hope (Scott Prime) this July as Campus Pastor at the Kingston location. The Tysick’s shared, “Please be praying with us as we will be moving (still searching for a place), starting a new job and having a baby all within a few weeks of each other!”
- Luke Anderson received a 95% vote yesterday for a Four-Year Call as Lead Pastor of Connection – congratulations!
- Brian (Kim) Gilroy received an unanimous vote from the members of Islandyesterday for an Initial Two-Year Call and will be officially responding early this week to this invitation as Lead Pastor beginning in July.
About 500 Wesleyan leaders gathered in Orlando this Tuesday for an energizing and empowering Pre-Conference to Exponential. This fast-paced, speaker-rich event was coordinated with excellence by Church Multiplication and Discipleship (CMAD). I enjoyed connecting with many Kingdom colleagues including Jon Wiest (Groundswell)! This premier week provides incredible resources to stoke the fires of multiplication.
Are you looking for a resource that your church could use to help people discover and live out their God-designed missional calling?
- Ed Love’s team partnered with Jon Wiest (through Groundswell) and created a version that any church can use at any time. LIVE SENT is a timely resource to help people clarify who they are in Christ and how they can use their gifts to pioneer a new mission that will reach people who are far from God. In this five-session course, participants will learn how to discover their calling and discern the voice of God in your life and ministry. Jesus told his disciples in John 20:21, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” It’s time for every follower of Christ to discover their calling and “live sent!”
This DIY resource is FREE for individuals and groups within a local church setting. Simply download the PDF leaders guide, personally invite your participants, craft a timeline for connection/coaching, and link your participants to the online platform. The Leaders Guide and details can be found here => LIVE SENT!
GP Roundtable (Missions Pastors/Directors)
Global Partners would love to invite you to lunch followed by a round table discussion to talk about all things missions! James Winn, Director of Mobilization, and Michalla Arbour, Regional Mobilizer, will be at the District Office on Thursday, March 24 (Noon – 3:00 p.m. Atlantic Time). They would love to share with you about some of GP’s newest initiatives as well as give you some updates from around the world. In addition, they’d love to hear from you about how GP can serve you better, especially as it relates to sending, partnerships, resources, and short-term teams.
- To RSVP for lunch CLICK HERE
- To join by Zoom @ 12:30 p.m. Atlantic Time on March 24th please add this link to your calendar (Passcode: 715006)
- https://zoom.us/j/5062327453?pwd=TTBnaWIwNVBvMTljdW1wS0tHRU5qQT09
CLICK HERE for more information about “Small Church Partnership” which will be zeroing in on the importance of creating partnerships between churches, schools, and the local community, and how to make them happen. This Zoom presentation will take place on Tuesday, March 22nd @ 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Ellen joins me in expressing condolences on behalf of the Atlantic District to Nancy & Glen and the extended family on the passing of their mother, Ethel Cameron, who was promoted to glory yesterday evening. Her life as a pastor’s wife and ministry partner is a cherished part of our district family history. She was cousin to many of our current ministerial tribe including Gene Hudson, HC Wilson, Debby Symonds, and myself. Funeral details are pending.
Points to Ponder
- Little churches win the day. Big churches don’t reach into all the nooks and crannies. Empower and release disciple-makers. (Ralph Moore)
- Strategies do not plant churches. It is the power of the Holy Spirit at work through powerful obedience. (Jesse Pratt)
- The excellence of God’s power is not about us – it is about God in us. (Sam Abraham)
National Superintendent Steve Elliott (The Wesleyan Church of Canada) is calling Wesleyans to partner financially with World Hope International (Canada) as our official relief and development arm. CEO Tanya Nace gives stellar leadership to this world-class, highly effective and trustworthy organization. World Hope International is working with global and local partners in response to the invasion of Ukraine and the outflow of refugees into neighbouring countries. CLICK HERE for more information on how to give through WHC.
Praise God for the exciting announcements regarding the March lifting of pandemic restrictions! It is becoming increasingly likely that Beulah Family Camp (BFC) will return in 2022. Final decisions regarding BFC will be determined by the DBA shortly after Easter. I am pleased to announce that in addition to having Kelly Jay back as our Worship Leader, we will be challenged and inspired by two premier leaders and preachers in The Wesleyan Church, Rev. Mick Veach (upper left from Kentwood Community Church) and Dr. Steve DeNeff (upper right from College Wesleyan Church). CLICK HERE for the Camp Evangelists’ bios.
I joined David Zigler (Coastal Community) and AJ Plaizier (Yarmouth) in February to share our perspectives and experiences in developing and implementing what Pete Scazzero calls a Rule of Life. This was a companion conversation for the panel discussion offered on February 10th regarding Emotionally Healthy Leader. If you are new to the idea of having a Rule of Life, you will find the following resources helpful:
- CLICK HERE to watch the recording of our conversation about having a Rule of Life (Feb 24th Zoom).
- CLICK HERE to review why Emotionally Healthy Leader is so different from just any book on pastoral leadership (Feb 10th Zoom).
- For those of you just getting started, CLICK HERE for an excellent resourceprovided by Dave Zigler to walk you step-by-step through the creation of your own Rule of Life.
- CLICK HERE for access to additional materials that will help guide you through the prayerful creation of your own Rule of Life.
Pastor Cluster Leaders are encouraged to use these resources to inform and inspire the journey of renewal unfolding in the months ahead in our Clusters. I completed my 48-hour retreat in February to develop my own Rule of Life. I will be praying for each of you to make it a priority sometime before summer to go on a personal retreat as you ask the Lord to show you better ways for better days of abiding in The Vine.
Registration for Caton’s Island camps skyrocketed in the opening week of February 15th with 397 registrations plus 45 families for the two family camps. Registrations are continuing to roll in! Don’t delay registering to ensure the camps/dates you want for your family summer schedule are still available.
Our HQ Next Gen team will be offering three intentional cohorts designed to explore in community the topics of a Christian sexual ethic, kids’ ministry best practices, and becoming a better pastor/theologian. Our Next Gen team will be hosting these practical and formative cohorts starting the week of April 4th. To sign up for one or multiple of these cohorts, you can email carlsonc@wesleyan.org or click the button below!
World Hope is looking for team members to join two short-term mission teams in Bosnia. (CEO Tanya Nace is pictured in Bosnia above enjoying the beautiful lookout over Livno.) These teams will be leading English camps for kids for World Hope International (Bosnia) in June. If you’ve been wanting to do a missions trip, this might be the one that God has for you to join!
For more details, please CLICK HERE to email Tanya Nace.
Registration is open for Kingswood University’s Fall Vision Tour Cruise. For more information or to reserve your spot, contact Debbie Benson (506-432-4411 or bendsond@kingswood.edu).