cmAlliance.ca Magazine Spring 2015

AllÄąance Surrendered Saturated Satisfied CM

Hearing God’s Voice Quieting the heart and hearing the Spirit

United in Love Dancing like God is watching

ons Abandoning Assumpti Effective ways to build generational bridges

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2016

On mission. All the time.

Everyone. Everywhere.

May 30 – June 4, 2016 | Vancouver, BC Discerning God’s direction. Worship--lled evenings.

Inspiring seminars.

See cmacan.org for details.

Contents Features 6 Hearing God’s Voice

Quieting the heart and hearing the Spirit

44 United in Love

Dancing like God is watching

48 Abandoning Assumptions

Effective ways to build generational bridges

Plus 9 Love Letters to Our Church 10 The Power of Stillness 12 Led by His Presence 14 Despite Troubling Times 16 A Wonderful, Horrible Season 18 As in the Days of Elijah

41 Impressions

Moving Beyond His Past

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Now You Know Go and Make Disciples

30 Perspectives

On a Deeper Journey

35 Practice of Prayer Operation: Intercession

51 Resources

Alliance-Generated Resources

20 Stepping Out 22 Engaged Fully 24 A Spiritual Check-up 26 More than Warm Feelings 28 Our Values 33 Fearlessly Taking a Stand 34 Forgiveness Across Borders 36 Negotiating with God 39 Managing Conflict in Christ 40 Relational Discord 42 Beyond Balance 46 Defying a Trend 50 Recognizing God’s Little Agents 52 Your Voice Counts

Note: Personnel Updates will no longer be in the print magazine but are available at cmacan.org/personnel-updates

SPRING 2015

Departments

Allıance

EDITORIAL

CM

A Resource for Transforming Canada and the World

cmAlliance.ca is the national publication of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada.

Founder A.B. Simpson President David Hearn Director of Communications Carol Roycroft Assistant Director Denise Lodge Associate Editor Gladys Thompson Copy Editor Katie McNamara Editorial Assistant Debra Marritt Design Devon J Andrew Design Inc. Consultant Peter White Web Coordinator Matthew Caldwell All Scripture references from the Holy Bible, New International Version © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Agreement No. 40064689 ISSN: 1918-4646 All articles are copyrighted by The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada except where indicated and can be reprinted only with written permission.

Submissions Writer’s Guidelines are available at www.cmacan.org. Send electronic inquiries or manuscript submissions to magazine@cmacan.org.

No responsibility is assumed to publish, preserve or return unsolicited material.

For more information or reprint permission: contact Gladys Thompson, The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, 30 Carrier Drive, Suite 100 Toronto ON M9W 5T7 Phone: 416.674.7878 ext. 202 Fax: 416.674.0808 e-mail: magazine@cmacan.org Member of the Canadian Church Press

Distinctively Canadian Totally Alliance 4

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A Matter of the Heart

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friend of mine poked me in the stomach and suggested I was not physically fit. I must admit, I was provoked to prove him wrong. A new fitness centre was offering free evaluations, so I decided that this would be a great venue to affirm that I was in better physical condition than my friend had suggested.

When I arrived, the two instructors that met me at the door quickly swept me away into a small room for my evaluation.

I was instructed to step up and down on a small riser, keeping tempo with the rhythm of the music. The tempo increased until I was unable to continue.

The instructor warned me to stop if I felt dizzy.

What was offered as a caution was received as a challenge. I began the test with confidence and resolve. At Level 3, the room began to spin and then everything went dark. When I awoke, one of the instructors had his muscular arm over my shoulders. He looked at me with great alarm in his eyes and said, “Mr. Hearn, we thought you were dead!”

I learned that day we can assume that we are in better physical health than we actually are. What is true in the physical realm is also true in the spiritual realm. The heart of the matter is always a matter of the heart.

This issue of cmAlliance.ca is all about the heart, the spiritual dimension of our lives. Spiritual and relational vitality are essential for the healthy and growing believer. Are we surrendering to and saturated by the Spirit, the One who satisfies our every longing?

You are invited into a sacred space of honest reflections around relational and spiritual realities. Topics ranging from spiritual discernment (by David Chotka) to a downpour in Niger (by Lisa Rohrick) will inspire you and call you to deeper intimacy with Jesus. Murray Derksen shares about healing relationships between Canadian and American International Workers, and Tony Sammut provides insight into the inter-generational Church.

I invite you to a spiritual workout that will revitalize your relationships and your intimacy with God! Blessings, Dave Hearn President

Mailbox

To submit a letter, write to magazine@cmacan.org or cmAlliance.ca, The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, 30 Carrier Drive, Suite 100, Toronto ON M9W 5T7. Letters may be edited for space, clarity and style.

Submissions constitute permission to use. Include your name, city and province.

HE ARTFELT THANK S On behalf of all my colleagues who serve our churches as Transitional Pastors I want to say a heartfelt thanks to you and the other editors of cmAlliance.ca for publishing “Bridging the Gap” as a feature article in the recent issue.

Thanks as well for the wonderful layout and graphics.

—Gerry Teichrob

A PLEA FOR BETTER WORDING Thanks for such an amazing Fall edition of cmAlliance.ca . . .

The role of our magazine is not a small one as it mirrors for the whole family who we are and who we are together being called to become. The vision that God is placing in President David Hearn’s heart is being adopted across the country and is directly impacting how I am serving Christ. It is also great to see our leaders contribute to this edition so many glimpses into God’s work among the nations, here and abroad.

However, I need to plead for a better wording when you seek to draw the picture of our multi-ethnic Canadian Alliance portrait (middle spread…and inside back cover) . . . We do not have French churches within the Canadian Alliance . . . However, we do have . . . many French-speaking churches . . . maybe we should simply speak of our great diversity of C&MA congregations in terms of language of worship. We would no longer speak of our six Spanish churches (whose members are probably not people from Spain), but of six Spanish-speaking congregations or churches. No easy question, I will admit, but one which surely needs to be addressed by a church family that is “Missionary”. . . . . . let us continue to worship and serve as one single C&MA family belonging to one people, God’s redeemed.

—Jean (John) Martin

THRILLED TO PASS ON A COPY I want you to know that this latest cmAlliance.ca is excellent. Please pass my appreciation on to your team.

I wish we could ensure that every person of leadership and influence in our churches could read through this last issue. It communicates our vision and passion, it tells the story of our joy of inviting the Spirit of Christ into the ministries we give ourselves to each day, and it is all about a people learning how to become a movement together.

I am truly thrilled to pass on this copy.

—John Healey

SURVEY RESPONSES REGARDING THE FALL 2014 ISSUE: n The last issue was particularly great, with the Manitoba kids raising money for wells in Niger the first article we read! That’s an issue I read from cover-to-cover at one sitting! Loved the articles

by Ian Trigg and Gerry Teichrob. n The last magazine was really great. It made me feel like I was part of an important movement in the Kingdom. n The one-page articles on the districts in the last issue are very good. n This last copy may have been a little bit too long, but much appreciated. n This last issue had too many one-page articles—nothing really in-depth.

Editor’s note: A letter of apology was sent to Jean and the wording changed in the online version.

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FEATURE

HEARING God’s

Voice God is speaking. Not God spoke, but God is speaking. He is by his nature continuously articulate. He fills the world with his speaking Voice…whoever will listen will hear the speaking (from) Heaven.

A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

David Hearn, President of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada

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Quieting the heart and hearing the spirit

BY DAVID HEARN

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very new journey begins with a courageous first step. Several months ago, I took a bold step in the direction of learning to hear God’s voice more intimately in my life.

It feels strange writing these words, because listening to God would be a given after 33 years in full-time ministry; however, I developed the ability to operate on biblical principles without personal intimacy.

One of my liabilities is my high-speed, Type A personality. I found it easier to record a quick sound bite of wisdom than to sit, be still, and allow the Holy Spirit to have my undivided attention.

That changed last year when I was invited to go on a two-day “listening” retreat in Huntsville, Ont. Alliance pastor Jeff Roy has established a ministry known as 3crosses. It involves in-depth teaching on how to listen to God, along with a guided three-hour journey through the wilderness.

At first my heart was resistant to the silence. I was easily distracted, but became better at managing my discomfort and hungered to hear God’s voice.

INTOXICATING PRESENCE In order to do this, I had to assure my mind that I would have plenty of time to assess the source of what I heard with the Bible. I am convinced that God speaks to our hearts and our minds by incorporating our ability to feel and to reflect in order to understand his voice (see Hebrews 8:10). Once the internal civil war was at rest, I heard God say: David, my son, I love you. Before the foundations of the world I knew you, and I called you to serve me.

Do you understand the magnitude of my love for you? None of this was by chance, but all part of a grand design.

You have been chosen, you have been loved, and none of it is based on performance. I chose you because I delighted in you.

Let my love be the fuel of your service. Fall fully into my embrace. Stop performing; stop trying so hard.

Photo Courtesy Darryl Chapman

I was stunned by what I heard because it targeted my greatest fear—failure. Each time I entered into a new level of leadership, I felt very inadequate. In this tender moment, God spoke of love without performance. God continued to speak, David, my son, release your image to me. You want to be seen as a good and strong leader, but at times it consumes you. I am in charge, not you. Just show up and let me lead in you and through you.

I am the audience, and I am pleased. Stop the performance and be you. Be authentic, transparent, and humble. Release yourself fully to me. I am enough!

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David Hearn at 3crosses Spiritual Formation Centre Photo Courtesy Jeff Roy

The reoccurring phrase, “I am enough!” dominated my thinking. I was releasing control and becoming intoxicated with his glorious presence.

THE ULTIMATE TEST How do we know if what we hear is the voice of God? I record everything I hear God saying to me in a prayer journal. I do this for two reasons: first, I want to be able to refer back to God’s guidance and see patterns of direction; second, I want to test these words against Scripture and the wisdom of other godly people.

The ultimate test is always the written Word of God. In 2 Peter 1:20-21 it says, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

IS THIS BIBLICAL? One of the initial hurdles I needed to overcome was a LISTENING IN LEADERSHIP simple yet profound question, “Is this biblical?” I became In my own faith journey, I convinced myself that I was not convinced that listening to God is not only biblical but able to hear God’s voice like others; therefore, my approach mandatory for a passionate disciple. was to be a creative “borrower” of what others were In John 16:13, Jesus promised, “…the Spirit of truth…will hearing from God. guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he My own insecurity and fear led me to become a victim of will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is the church-growth movement. I moved into a technocratic yet to come” (emphasis mine). and programmatic style of leadership—borrowing the latest In the Book of Acts, God did not communicate in vague working model of successful church. images or cryptic signs but spoke clearly and specifically to I will never forget the day a woman in my church asked, his followers: “So who is the latest megachurch pastor we are following this year?” I was hurt by her criticism and deeply convicted by n Empowering: Acts 6:8-10 (NKJV) “And Stephen, full her accuracy. of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among My fear of getting it wrong led me to retract from listening the people…And they were not able to resist the wisdom to the Holy Spirit with a humble, expectant heart! When I and the Spirit by which he spoke.” stepped into this new role of leadership within The Christian n Directing: Acts 8:29 (NKJV) “Then the Spirit said to and Missionary Alliance in Canada (C&MA), I determined Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’ ” that I would no longer borrow. I wanted to lead from a fresh n Confronting: Acts 9:4-6 “Saul, Saul, why do you encounter with the Living God. persecute me?...I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting…

As I sat among the trees in Huntsville, seeking God for his Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told wisdom, I heard his voice say, what you must do.” n Instructing: Acts 9:11 “The Lord told [Ananias], ‘Go to This new calling is going to be your most challenging. I want the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man to wake up a sleepy denomination. I am not finished with the from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.’ ” C&MA, but there has been a drift: n Re-schooling: Acts 10:15 “The voice spoke to [Peter] a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has Mission without power! made clean.’ ” Programs without passion!

Worship without intimacy!

In all of these instances, the voice of God was clear and compelling, so I asked myself, “If God spoke so abundantly Many are longing for more! Tell them there is more! throughout the early Church, has he suddenly stopped speaking today?”

My voice will be heard! This is my mission and it cannot be Some might suggest that God has spoken in his stopped!

Word and therefore has no need to repeat himself in the present. The same argument could have been used by This has become a deep mandate in my soul. our forefathers who had the ancient text and yet were Rev. David Hearn is President of The Christian and Missionary still spoken to directly by God. I believe that God is still Alliance in Canada speaking powerfully to his followers today.

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Love Letters to Our Church A congregation shares their thoughts, reflections, and dreams

BY LESLIE WILKINSON

Baptism of Allison Rock with Graham Clinton Photo Courtesy Sheryl Clinton

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irthdays come and go; some are filled with extravagant sense here.” The written thoughts were wrapped in their gifts, while others pass unadorned. In an age when simplistic style of honest reflection—a gift of encouragement everyone seems to have everything they need, when to the church and all of its body. buying a unique present seems to be a chore, it Seemingly, unknowingly, we were treating is hard to believe that a pen, some cue cards, each other in an accepting way and were and faith could be a great gift. sharing of ourselves in our uniqueness.

At in2one Community Church We were functioning as a kindred clan in Stouffville, Ont., Pastor Graham made up of God’s people, regardless of Clinton decided to do something background. creative to celebrate the church’s third birthday.

GOD’S PROVISION The gift began with the exchange The second recurring theme was of some pens and cue cards God’s provision for the members handed out to each member of the of in2one and the realization that congregation—kids and adults alike. continued prayer had been received The instructions were simple; Pastor and answered by God. Graham encouraged us to “shop” for One cue card read, “I’m thankful for thoughts, reflections, or dreams for in2one God helping me realize what he wants me Matt and Eli Smith Photo Courtesy Allison Rock Community Church. to do with my life.” Perhaps said best, “in2one He urged us to spend time with God and seek has helped to strengthen my faith and confidence his direction: “Don’t hold back, be honest and write on the in God’s perfect plans and provision because I have seen cards anything that you feel God needs to say.” A very bold it already so many times in my life here and the lives of and daring request for names to be anonymous was made. others at in2one.” There is no greater present than receiving What was written on those cards surpassed all confirmation that you are travelling along a path laid out by expectations and revealed the bounty of God’s great love. our Lord.

To inspire all who are weary of looking around for a gift to SENSE OF FAMILY celebrate with your church and its members, look no further Two prominent themes were revealed in the written responses. than a pen, some cue cards, and faith that God will give you a The first was the sense of family at in2one. One card read, gift beautifully wrapped and never to be unused.

“Over the past couple of years, we have found our home here Leslie Wilkinson, her husband Fraser and their two children are new —a family that isn’t perfect, isn’t polished, just like us.” to The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada and have been Another stated, “I am thankful for the taste of home that attending in2one for about two years is in2one, for the compassion and genuine community I

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THE POWER OF STILLNESS Giving the voice of God a chance to work in and for you

Photo Courtesy Lisa Rohrick

BY A.B. SIMPSON

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t was “a still small voice” or the sound of a gentle stillness.

Is there any note of music in all the chorus as mighty as the emphatic pause? Is there any word in all the Psalter more eloquent than the one word, Selah (Pause)?

Is there anything more thrilling and awful than the hush that comes before the bursting of the tempest and the strange quiet that seems to fall upon all nature before some preternatural phenomenon or convulsion? Is there anything that can so touch our hearts as the power of stillness?

SWEET STILLNESS The sweetest blessing that Christ brings us is the Sabbath rest of soul, of which the Sabbath of creation was the type.

There is, for the heart that will cease for itself, “the peace of God that passeth all understanding”; a quietness and confidence, which is the source of all strength; a sweet peace, “which nothing can offend.”

There is, in the deepest centre of the believer’s soul a chamber of peace where God dwells, and where, if we will only enter in and hush every other sound, we can hear his “still voice.”

A score of years ago a friend placed in my hands a little book, which became one of the turning points of my life. It was called “True Peace,” and was an old medieval message. It

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had but one thought, and it was this—that God was waiting in the depths of my being to talk to me if I would only get still enough to hear his voice.

STILLNESS CHALLENGED I thought this would be a very easy matter and so I began to get still. But I had no sooner commenced than a pandemonium of voices reached my ears, a thousand clamoring notes from without and within, until I could hear nothing but their noise and din.

Some of them were my own questions, some of them my own cares, and some were my very prayers. Others were the suggestions of the tempter and the voices from the world’s turmoil. Never before did there seem so many things to be done, to be said, to be thought.

In every direction I was pushed and pulled and greeted with noisy acclamations and unspeakable unrest. It seemed necessary for me to listen to some of them and to answer; but God said, “Be still, and know that I am God.” THE GOD OF STILLNESS Then came the conflict of thoughts for the morrow, with its duties and cares. But God said: “Be still.” And as I listened, and slowly learned to obey, and shut my ears to every sound, I found after a while, that when the other voices ceased,

GOD WAS WAITING IN THE DEPTHS OF MY BEING TO TALK TO ME IF I WOULD ONLY GET STILL ENOUGH TO HEAR HIS VOICE Dr. A lbe

or I ceased to hear and heed them, there was a still, small voice in the depths of my being that began to speak with an inexpressible tenderness, power, and comfort.

As I listened it became to me the voice of prayer, and the voice of wisdom, and the voice of duty, and I did not need to think so hard, but that “still, small voice” of the Holy Spirit in my heart was God’s prayer in my secret soul; was God’s answer to all my questions; was God’s life and strength for soul and body, and became the substance of all knowledge, and all prayer, and all blessing; for it was the living GOD himself as my life and my all.

We cannot go through life strong and fresh on constant express trains, with ten minutes for lunch; but we must have quiet hours, secret places of the Most High, times of waiting upon the Lord, when we renew our strength, and learn to mount up on wings as eagles, and then come back to run and not be weary, and to walk and not faint.

THE WAY OF STILLNESS The best thing about this stillness is that it gives God a chance to work. “He that entered into his rest hath ceased from his own works, even as God did from his.”

When we cease from our works, God works in us; when we cease from our thoughts, God’s thoughts come into us; when we get still from our restless activities, “God worketh in us both to will and to do his good pleasure,” and we have but to work it out.

Beloved! Let us take his stillness; let us dwell in “the secret place of the Most High”; let us enter into God and his

rt B. Sim

pson

eternal rest; let us silence the other sounds, and then we can hear “the still, small voice.”

Then there is another kind of stillness: the stillness that lets God work for us, and we hold our peace; the stillness that ceases from controversy, and self-indication, and expedients of wisdom and forethought and let God provide and answer the unkind word, and the cruel blow, in his own unfailing, faithful love.

How often we lose God’s interposition by taking up our own cause and striking for our own defence.

There is no spectacle in all the Bible so sublime as the silent Saviour answering not a word to the men that were maligning him, and whom he could of laid prostrate at his feet by one look of Divine power, or one word of fiery rebuke. But he let them do their worst and he stood in the power of stillness—God’s Holy Lamb.

God gives to us this silent power, this mighty selfsurrender, this conquered spirit, which will make us “more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Let our voice and our life speak like “the still, small voice” of Horeb, and as the “sound of gentle stillness.”

Then after the heat and strife of earth are over, men will remember the morning dew, the mellow light and sunshine, the evening breeze, the Lamb of Calvary, and the gentle, Holy, Heavenly Dove.

Dr. Albert B. Simpson founded The Christian and Missionary Alliance; an excerpt taken from The Holy Spirit or Power from on High (Volume 1) and edited for space

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LED BY HIS PRESENCE Following the fire of God

BY DAVID CHOTKA

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ow do we know when God has spoken?

God leads by his Presence, which we can hear, see, and feel. He yearns that we pay heed to this first and foremost.

Paying heed begins with the assumption that we are a people of the Word; Word and Presence together point us forward in our journey with God. This pointing is called guidance; our perception is called discernment.

There is an evocative picture of discernment in the Old Testament when Moses received the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. These words were accompanied by a mandate to construct a tabernacle, a “tent of meeting,” where heaven and earth would meet together, intersecting two realities so utterly alien to each other they could not “meet” at all (see Exodus 25).

We cannot fry ice; the two cannot mix. The ice would be consumed by fire.

We cannot intertwine God, the Uncreated Consuming Fire, with fallen creatures of dust and ashes—even the ashes would be consumed.

Apart from atonement, heaven and earth cannot meet.

FOLLOWING THE FLAME Moses ordered the construction of a meeting place where the Ten Commandments were deposited in the Ark of the Covenant. Sacrifices were also made here to make it possible for the Creator and the created to communicate. Above the tablets stored in the Ark, above the tent that housed the Ark,

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God’s Presence “spoke” nonverbally. The command was primarily nonverbal.

Notice how the ancient tribes were told where to camp: On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. (Numbers 9:15-18) (emphasis mine).

The word “command” literally means “mouth” in the Hebrew.

We use our mouths to speak, yet we know most intimate communication is far more than mere words.

Israel understood the movement of the Presence above the Ark of the Covenant as the nonverbal command. They understood and they obeyed.

Now we live under a different covenant. Does this nonverbal commanding and obedience carry over to us from the ancient Hebrews? Is it different now? The answer to both is yes.

Jesus left us with a different kind of gift. In the Old Covenant, the movement of the Spirit was external and could

be observed with eyes; now, the movement of the Spirit is within, and we, like the wilderness generation, also sense and feel this leading.

A COMPASS POINTING TO GOD When the risen Lord appeared on the road to Emmaus, the two disciples didn’t realize it was him until he broke bread and vanished. When the bread was broken, the Bible tells us that “their eyes were opened and they recognized him…”

(Luke 24:31).

This was a new thing to them; something was happening, and it was happening inside. There was a fire helping them to know where to camp, so to speak, but this was an internal fire pointing to Jesus, our atonement, as they heard the Word.

The Spirit of the Lord was speaking nonverbally.

“They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:32).

and intentionally listen and seek his Presence. Then you will be able to hear, see, and feel his leading.

Rev. Dr. David Chotka is Sr. Pastor of Spruce Grove Alliance Church, AB, and Chair of the Alliance Pray Team; he is an internationally known speaker and the author of two books on prayer and discernment

1, 2 The Autobiography of George Muller (Whitaker House, 1984)

HEEDING THE FIRE There is likely none more famous for living a life of answered prayer than George Mueller of Bristol, England.

He had no resources to call his own; he was usually penniless, yet he was consistently determined to raise abandoned orphans, giving them food, shelter, and an education from the moment they came into his care until they were launched into life.

Some 10,033 children were raised by Mueller’s determination. He did this by telling only God of his needs—and the necessary resources came in.

From his autobiography, we learn something of the way he discerned: he paid heed to the fire!

When he was attempting to determine his life direction, Mueller gave his word to serve in Bucharest, Romania.

Then an older man named Hermann Ball asked him to consider replacing him in working with Orthodox Jews in Poland. Mueller “felt… a strong desire to take his place…the Hebrew language suddenly became exciting to [him]….”1 Without knowing about this conversation, another man from the London Missionary Society asked Mueller if he had ever considered becoming a missionary to the Jews. Once again, he felt something: “our conversation burned like fire within me….”2 Mueller lost all desire to go to Bucharest. He asked God to restore his longing for Romania, which God did.

Mueller was told there was a war in Bucharest and that he could not go, so he went to London to prepare to work with the Jews. From London he was led to Bristol where, led by internal fire upon the Word, his work with orphans began.

God spoke when he wanted to direct the movement of the Israelites and guide the course of George Mueller’s life. Is God trying to speak to you in order to direct your life according to his purpose? Pay heed to the fire of God

A few children cared for in George Muller’s orphanage

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2016 IS COMING SOON JOIN A MOVEMENT OF PR AYER LE ADING UP TO THIS GOD-ANOINTED GATHERING

“. . . if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

– 2 CHRONICLES 7:14 –

To learn how to join an intercession team for the months leading up to General Assembly 2016, visit allianceassembly.com

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DESPITE TROUBLING TIMES God’s protection in the midst of trauma

BY RON BROWN

Civil unrest in Guinea 2007

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he guard knocked on the International Worker’s bedroom window. He informed her that he could hear the voices of bandits outside the compound walls plotting to scale the wall and break into the house. The worker called her housemate, and they began to pray for God’s protection.

These workers had come to Africa to announce the Good News of the Kingdom. It was obvious these two women had been obedient to the heavenly calling, yet in that time of faithful obedience, they found themselves in great need.

After time in prayer, they went back to sleep with peace in their hearts.

The guard knocked on the window again.

“They’re gone,” he said.

“What did you do to make them go?” queried the worker.

He told her that he had walked the perimeter of the wall reading his New Testament. The worker recalled that she was inside praying at the same time.

“What happened?” she asked.

The guard explained that he could hear them saying, “We need to move on; there are too many men in white robes standing on these walls, we won’t be able to get in.”

So they left.

As numerous countries in Africa are perceived to be nations of high security alert, traumatic incidents continue to affect the lives of International Workers.

In 2014, 22 Alliance workers in Guinea were evacuated out of the country due to the Ebola crisis. A decade ago, 77 C&MA workers were evacuated out of Ivory Coast

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Photo Courtesy Colette Baudais

following a sudden, violent rebel takeover. In 1991, 38 Alliance workers had to suddenly depart from their ministries in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to political unrest.

In a 2005 study,1 workers who experienced traumatic events during their career in Africa were asked how they could relate to the promise of God’s keeping power. Five themes emerged from their thoughts: 1. THEY STILL BELIEVED IN GOD’S KEEPING POWER The overwhelming conclusion arising from the data of 35 testimonies was the fact that the promise of Matthew 28:20 is true. “. . . I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Not one person questioned this promise.

The data yielded the unanimity of a deep sense of the Presence of God in the midst of trauma. Even during a horrific rape, a worker testified of God’s Presence with her. Not once did anyone ask why God had forsaken them; rather, there was strong affirmation of a loving, heavenly Father who cares deeply and walks alongside his beloved children as they go through trials and tribulations.

2. THEY SAW THE BIG PICTURE OF REDEMPTION God is at work in the world and is carrying out his global plan of redemption. Political evacuations, at times, serve to move workers to different portions of God’s vineyard. One country’s loss was another country’s gain. God continues to build a redeemed people for himself despite troubling times. Workers were reminded of what God is doing all

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were still in the country where they began their service over the world and how even an evacuation could play a role within the redemptive plan of God for the nations.

3. THEY BECAME OPEN TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES One positive outcome in the midst of various traumas was the opportunity to begin a new assignment. One woman said her nature reacted against getting into a rut, so she almost welcomed evacuations, as hard as they are to live through.

For her, they opened the door to new and challenging ministry opportunities.

In the past, workers often came to Africa with a career destination involving only one country. Today’s workers often have multiple careers in a number of countries. Among those interviewed, only 10 out of 35 were still in the country where they began their service.

The positive side of this kind of transition is that there is a certain opportunity to start with a “fresh page;” mistakes of the past do not have to be repeated in the next venture. Transition has provided opportunity for lessons learned the hard way to be practised in new situations.

4. THEY FOSTERED STURDY RELATIONSHIPS Because of the strong evidence that good relationships served as a key factor in sustaining victims through and after trauma, it goes without saying that building, fostering, and nurturing relationships within teams both nationally and regionally is of utmost importance.

Doing things that contribute to the team’s relationships had been a high priority for leadership teams who were later affected by trauma. Strategic plans included team-building events, and budgets provided for things like prayer retreats and field forums to ensure that healthy team relationships were functioning well.

Data shows that in the day of trouble, workers were sustained by their healthy network of relationships.

5. THEY LIVED IN SCRIPTURE The workers interviewed were rooted in God’s Word. They easily quoted passages that had provided an anchor for their souls. Others used Scripture to explain their understanding of suffering and how they actually expected trials in this life.

Several mentioned the benefit of memorized verses that they repeated during difficult days. Following his trauma, a worker woke up singing and feeling very close to God. God ministered through Scripture, and his voice was heard.

God provided everything needed to carry on the work of the Kingdom. The data revealed that International Workers on the field experienced the protection of God and proved that he walks with them. Through sturdy relationships and God’s Word, they found strength and nurturing in the journey.

In high security nations, International Workers continue to walk in the confidence of God’s promise: “. . . I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

Rev. Dr. Ron Brown is a Seamless Link Advisor for the Western Canadian District, a C&MA Missions Coach, instructor in Intercultural Studies at Ambrose University, author and sits on the National Coordination Team for Kairos Canada, ronaldbrown.ca

1 Brown, Ronald. 2005. Self-identified retention factors by Western missionaries in Africa who have experienced traumatic events. D.Min. project. Trinity International University.

Keeping It

Real

the

global vault

Canadian Alliance Biography Project Powerful mini-biographies of real people who have journeyed in mission in the real world making a real difference for Christ.

Read their stories on our website www.globalvault.ca

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A Wonderful, Horrible Season The treasure of God’s love rediscovered through suffering

BY MATT BODA

Slowing down resulted in a heightened ability to hear God’s voice

S

ince 2001, I have suffered with Crohn’s Disease and its accompanying symptoms. In April 2014, my doctor told me that after five progressively worsening colonoscopy results, surgery would be required to take out my colon to avoid cancer. The doctor’s words initiated a crisis of pain for me and my family.

SUFFERING IN SILENCE IS FLAWED I walked out of the doctor’s office with my head reeling as a hundred questions formed in my mind and tears flowed from my eyes. My wife Jamie was in Minneapolis meeting our firstborn granddaughter, and I was determined not to tell her the news until I could do it in person the following week.

Alone with my thoughts as I drove from the hospital to church, I fought the urge to go home, crawl into bed, sleep this off, and get my game face on for the next day.

Suddenly I heard God say to me, “You’re not going

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home, Matt. You’re going to that meeting. You’re going to tell your team and ask them to pray for you.” With great difficulty, I did just that.

In tears, I shared my news with my closest teammates.

Their response was beautiful as they shared Scripture, prayed, and encouraged me. These were the first of a string of family and friends who came alongside me in this difficult season.

I learned something about community that day: I needed others to speak God’s word when I couldn’t hear it.

I needed partners who would pray when I could not. This experience with community has significantly increased my spiritual vitality.

I now understand why the New Testament contains specific commands about how we need each other not only when we walk through difficult times, but also every day. Hebrews 10:25 tells us to live life together and encourage one another.

Being forced into a zero productivity zone as a recovering patient brought about another surgery that was performed inside

Matt Boda

Photo Courtesy Erik McRitchie

ZERO PRODUCTIVITY ZONE All my life I had taken pride in my ability to produce. My pathway to success was to outwork others. “Get er done!” was my motto, and productivity was how I measured up.

And then along came this wonderful, horrible season of surgery in which I was ordered not to produce anything.

Being forced into a zero productivity zone as a recovering patient brought about another surgery that was performed inside. Slowing down resulted in a heightened ability to hear God’s voice and his reminder that I did not have to produce in order to bring him joy.

The words spoken at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:17 came to mind: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” I embraced these words as never before.

This time of quietness brought greater spiritual vitality to my life.

A LESSON IN BROKENNESS ACKNOWLEDGING “THE VEIL” I learned a lesson about brokenness in this season of On Tuesday, October 7, 2014, I checked in at the Peter suffering. This came from spending a quiet month at Lougheed Medical Centre in Northeast Calgary at home in recovery. Quiet times with God happened 7:50 a.m. regularly, and I often found myself talking with him It was zero hour for a surgery to remove my colon about the state of affairs in my life. and reconstruct my digestive tract into something that There is something about a season of suffering that works (enough said about that). Jamie commented on causes the sufferer to think unique thoughts, ones how the operating room felt like a locker room where that rarely come in joyful seasons of life. Being alone all the medical staff were getting their game face on and provided opportunities to ponder life and take a ruthless catching up on the previous evening’s activities. moral inventory that rarely occurs on the treadmill of “Hey, have you tried that new pizza-burger at Boston 21st-century living.

Slowing down and hearing God’s voice helped to shape Pizza? Dude, you’ve gotta try that thing. Amazing!” my view of my own brokenness in a way that increased The thought bubble over my head at that point would the spiritual vitality of my life as I reached out for him. have clearly read, “Hey, buddy, seriously, I need you to For all these things, I am profoundly thankful. The stop thinking about food and think about my colon!” journey of pain has afforded me with gifts too precious My surgeon introduced himself and then began the “talk.” In a most serious demeanour, he said, “As you know, to value. St. Ignatius spoke of “finding God in all things.”

Augustine wrote, “In my deepest wound I found You Lord, this is a very serious surgery.” and it dazzled me.”

I have to admit how much his words rattled me. I’ve In some small way, my season of suffering has given been known to live in denial from time to time, but those me a similar experience. I found God in a dazzling way words shook me deeply. through suffering.

In moments like that, I realize how very close we can be to “the veil.” Hearing those words from my surgeon Rev. Matt Boda serves as Lead Pastor of RockPointe Church in was a sobering experience on a Tuesday morning at ten Calgary, AB, a multi-site church with three congregations minutes to eight.

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As in the Days of Elijah And the heavens gave rain

BY LISA ROHRICK

Harvesting millet in Niger Photo Courtesy Lisa Rohrick

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A

few of us gathered under a tree on a hot, dry afternoon in Niger, West Africa. It was early September, normally the middle of the rainy season, but not one drop had fallen for nearly a month.

Five believers came to see me that afternoon and confessed to lying about some money, which is acceptable in this culture if it means taking money from a “rich” person. They admitted to being wrong and said they were carrying around shame that made them want to run and hide from me, but they wanted to follow Jesus too much to do that, so they asked for my forgiveness. It was beautiful.

Our chat was interrupted a few times by others stopping by I TOLD THEM to greet us. In those exchanges, ABOUT ELIJAH the condition of their dry and scorched crops was discussed. … HIS PRAYERS The corn was already lost, but FOR RAIN WERE perhaps other crops could survive if it rained soon.

ANSWERED. Before ending the conversation, we prayed together, pleading with God to send rain that night. I told them about Elijah, who is described as a person like us in the Book of James. His prayers for rain were answered. Interestingly, just one verse earlier, we read the admonition to “…confess your sins to each other and pray for each other…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).

I was tentatively planning to visit another village the next morning; it was twenty-five kilometres down a sandy trail that disappears when it rains. I texted one of my teammates that evening saying that I hadn’t been able to get in touch with the person I wanted to see in the village.

Then, rather doubtfully, I added, “But it’s going to rain tonight, right? So maybe I can’t get there anyway.”

That night, I stretched my mattress out in the back of my truck. I could have slept in my friends’ house, but it was cooler outside. I must admit, I wasn’t really expecting rain. I reminded the Lord of our prayer as I closed my eyes on the bright moon and clear sky.

Imagine my joy when I was awakened by a loud crack of thunder at 4:20 a.m.! I grabbed my bedroll and scrambled out from under my mosquito net; I felt a few cool drops of rain as I ran for the house. The clouds opened and released a downpour. It continued to rain into the morning, and I quite happily did not try to go to the other village.

Regular rains continued for the next month. As the believers were busy harvesting their millet and other crops, they praised God that he answered our prayers and provided for their needs. Those men were made righteous because they had confessed their sins. Their prayers were thus powerful and effective; the God of Elijah heard, “…and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops” (James 5:18).

Lisa Rohrick is an International Worker in Niger, Africa

LIFE IN NIGER

In the United Nations Human Development Report for 2014, Niger’s Human Development Index (HDI) ranking is last of the 187 countries included in the report. HDI measures aspects of livability, including life expectancy, mortality, equality, education and income.

No country scored lower than Niger.

On average, life expectancy at birth is

58 years

A student entering school in 2012 could be expected to study for approximately

5 years, Child labour is also a problem, as

less than any country except Eritrea.

43%

of people ages five to 14 worked.

Niger also had the highest adolescent birth rate of all countries, with nearly

205 births Less than

1/3

per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19.

of people ages 15 and older were literate. 1

According to the World Food Programme, it “is estimated that

2.5 million

people in Niger

are chronically food-insecure and unable to meet their basic food requirements even during years of average agricultural production.”

1 8 in

children never reaches the age of five and 42% of children are chronically malnourished.”2

To learn more about Life in Niger check out: 1 United Nations Human Development Report for 2014 at hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr14-report-en-1.pdf 2 United Nations World Food Programme at wfp.org/countries/niger/overview

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Stepping Out Knowing God in mind and spirit

C

an we honestly say that we understand God? We learn about God from experience, education, vocation, from Scripture, and from revelation. “But these are written that you may believe . . .” yet there must be so much more (John 20:31).

We cannot possibly comprehend the God who is, but at times, we use our limited knowledge to create walls within the Body and somehow believe it is righteous. We can enjoy our relationship with the God we know, or we can move deeper and engage with the God who is.

There is more to discover about God. Those who love him want to know him, and to know him requires a willingness to look for him in new places and to experience new things.

Your spiritual growth requires you to work at it; your spiritual growth requires you to risk.

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There are times when we can be overwhelmed with wonder. Our surroundings or experiences can be too grand to comprehend in the moment. We simply know there is more to these times than we can appreciate.

There are times when, in worship, our spirits seem to rise beyond our minds’ capacity to express. It builds, like water behind a fallen tree in a stream, until it simply spills over or forces the blockage to move.

There are times when answers are extended, but they fall shallow at our feet; they don’t begin to approach the issues at hand. A conviction rises that demands answers that must exist, yet we may feel trapped from not knowing where to look.

And there may be times when the warmth and security of God has surrounded you, penetrated within, and stretched its protective borders outward so that, in this place, you are

Photo Courtesy Lisa Rohrick

BY DAVID COLLINS

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE CAN BE OVERWHELMED WITH WONDER safe. In this place, you know how it feels to be cherished.

In this place, love touched you, and life began to flow throughout your entire being.

These times did not occur within our neatly defined experience, understanding, doctrine, or form; they were organic, living, breathing, moving to those places of intimacy that silence our logic.

RECONCILING MIND AND SPIRIT It may very well be true that the Spirit of God converses more with our spirits than with our minds. It may be that our spirits grasp concepts that we know without doubt are true yet we are unable to express those profound convictions with much clarity. Our words lack effective expression.

Over time, our minds begin to develop a trust relationship with our spirits. It comes from having convictions rise up that logic presses down, yet time proves logic faulty. When our spirits raise options that tempt our logic to offence, our minds remember previous times and begin to consider the option. Time after time, we repeat this struggle of conviction versus logic, with hindsight guiding our future decisions.

We were never created to place our minds on hold, nor were we created to suppress convictions of soul and spirit that may not yet have a logical, experiential foundation. Our invitation is to listen to the Spirit of God, to become familiar with his voice (as sheep to their shepherd), and to obey.

PURSUING A GRAND GOD Imagine trying to comprehend the extent of the knowledge of God. It would be foolish to think it was possible, yet how much do we actually know about God, his desires, intentions, and motivations?

It is easy for us to acknowledge that we know little in comparison to God, yet we feel comfortable pursuing him within very defined and limited parameters. When others attempt to explore the mysteries of God in unfamiliar ways, we can be quick to analyze, categorize, and, at times, vilify what we do not understand.

We become more concerned about the expression rather than the intention. We want to protect what we understand and are often fearful of losing control.

Jesus, when asked, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:28-29). It’s the age-old issue; it’s either true, or it isn’t. Do I believe? It ripples

through my understanding of my identity.

Will I continue to allow others to define my value, or will I believe I carry the image and likeness of God? My value is established by the One who defines what is valuable. He speaks those words to my soul and reminds me that his love of my offenders is no less than his love for me.

RETHINKING OUR ROUTINES We have mastered the Great Commission to the point of going into the world and teaching people everything that Jesus commanded. But he whispers back, “That is not what I asked you to do. I wanted you to teach them to obey.” The form without the heart is sterile, lifeless, religious; it leads us to want people to worship in specific ways rather than to ensure they are able to express the passion within their souls to God. It leads us to want to ensure we reach out through planned initiatives, so we plan them and invite people to participate, yet we neglect celebrating their stories of seeing Aslan on the move. Subtly, it becomes a monument of achievements for God rather than a mighty army moving out obediently to the rhythm of the Spirit’s voice.

Why stay within the confines of the familiar if the God who is invites us to know the real him, not who we think he is. “Come to me,” he says, “step out of your box.”

Rev. David Collins is a licensed worker with The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, founder of Paradigm Ministries and author of Out of the Box: Moving from Religion to Intimacy with God, Reflections: Holiness/ Wholeness, and a 4-part DVD series entitled Digging Deeper

FOR MORE INFORMATION Check out Paradigm Ministries at: Web: paradigmministries.ca Tweet: ParadigmMin Facebook: Paradigm Ministries

Intimacy with God Workshops: Digging Deeper (four-part series) Becoming Intentional (four-part series)

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Engaged Fully

BY GORDON T. SMITH

The greatest gift that the church gives to its members is drawing them into fellowship with Christ Jesus.

I

t is clear from reading the letters to the Ephesians and to the Colossians that it is vital to both the ministry of the church and the ministry of the pastor that newborn Christians are brought into a fellowship of believers who are on a journey towards maturity in Christ (see Ephesians 4:11-15; Colossians 1:25-29).

Conversion is a beginning, the launch of a life of spiritual growth. When growth does not happen, something is deeply out of sync; when growth does happen, we have something of profound beauty—a person who has grown up in Christ.

It is important to ask if this is the agenda of our churches. If so, is this integral to the ministry of our pastoral staff? Is this something that the elders monitor?

And, if so, what do they monitor? How do we know we have a congregation that is truly committed to Christian discipleship?

In response, I find it helpful to think in terms of four markers: wisdom, work, love, and joy.

WISDOM First, those who are mature in Christ are wise. Wisdom is a crucial indicator of spiritual maturity, which is the fruit of teaching, knowledge, and understanding. It is

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evident, in part, of moral integrity. A wise person knows and lives the truth; a wise person has depth and breadth of understanding and a life that reflects this understanding.

To this end, the mark of a church is that it is a teachinglearning community, for there is no wisdom without knowledge and no knowledge without teaching. We make disciples by teaching, but it is teaching toward a life lived in wisdom; it is understanding that is lived out. To grow older and not wiser is a tragic thing; to grow older and wiser is to know the deep joy and grace of being a mature disciple.

WORK Second, those who are mature in Christ have the grace and courage to do the work to which they are called with humility, generosity, creativity, diligence, and courage. They do good work, and they do their work “as unto the Lord” whether they are artists, business people, homemakers, educators, or pastors (see Colossians 3:23).

They are not overworked but are fully engaged. They are not fretful and frenetic in their work; rather, they live lives with a healthy balance of work and leisure, work and Sabbath rest, work and a deep commitment to their key relationships.

Are you truly committed to Christian discipleship?

LOVE Third, those who are mature in Christ know what it means to love others as they have been loved.

To love means several things. To love is to offer radical hospitality, to welcome others in Christ (see Romans 15:7). To love is to also serve with generosity, for, in many respects, to love is to serve; a husband is called to love his wife and give himself in radical service for her, sacrificial service, as Christ served the church (see Ephesians 5:25).

Then, to love our neighbour is to be patient, forbearing, and forgiving (see Colossians 3:12-14).

Indeed, in the end, we do not love until we have learned to forgive one another.

JOY Fourth, one of the key indicators that we are mature in Christ is that we are growing in our capacity for joy—a deep and resilient joy in a fragmented and troubled world.

We will sorrow; we will experience loss and disappointment; we will know the pain of suffering; in the end, we are not emotionally defined by the troubles of this world, but by the reality that Christ is on the throne of the universe.

Emotional maturity is an essential element of spiritual maturity. Nothing so marks this dimension of our lives as the joy that we have and know in Christ. Those who are mature in Christ are not bitter, cynical, angry people, but individuals who live in a deep and resilient joy.

PORTRAIT OF MATURITY Thus, a congregation will be a teaching-learning community; it will be a community that empowers and equips women and men for the good work to which they are called; it will be a community that embodies the call to love one another at home and in the world. The church will be a community that draws its people up into the fellowship they have with the ascended Christ, the One in whom they have the joy of God. Indeed, in all of this, I cannot stress the following enough: each of these is the fruit of the Spirit’s work in our lives. The Spirit specifically draws us into each of these qualities by bringing us more deeply into fellowship with Christ, because they are all found in him. The greatest gift that the church gives to its members is drawing them into fellowship with Christ Jesus. We are mature, but we are mature in Christ. This is the grace of the Spirit in our lives.

Is there more to spiritual maturity than these four?

Of course; and yet, you will find that each of these four is consistently witnessed throughout the history of the Church. While there are other dimensions of maturity, they will fall into place more naturally when these four characteristics of maturity are emerging in our lives and in our faith communities.

Rev. Dr. Gordon T. Smith is President of Ambrose University in Calgary, AB and author of several books, including the recently published Called to Be Saints: An Invitation to Christian Maturity

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A Spiritual Check-up

Every two years, The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada conducts a national survey to measure growth and health as reported by its family of churches. In 2013, 146 churches across Canada completed parts of the survey. Here is some of what was learned:

Tracking Our Transformation LIFE Transformation Vitality

83

Spirit-filled Life

%

of churches believe spiritual vitality in their church is growing

17

%

believe that it has plateaued

18 67

%

%

report evidence of the Spirit-filled life is common

50

%

intentionally invite people to experience the fullness of the Spirit

report growing evidence of the Spirit-filled life

Relationships say it is normal for congregants to intentionally develop relationships in order to share their faith

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32

%

48

%

report that such relationships are developed incidentally

Church Transformation Apologetics

21 % 50 %

18

86%

are beginning to address this

have a functioning discipleship process

26

work together to discern the mind of Christ

have a “pray first” practice

78%

equip believers to explain the basis of their beliefs

Discipleship

%

64

%

regularly encourage water baptism

%

have a process that is not fully working

25

%

are beginning to discuss their process

44

%

focus ministry to the non-religious:

33%

to new Canadians

23%

to Aboriginal Peoples

5 -12

%

to people from various specific religious backgrounds

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More Than Warm Feelings Yearning for encounters with God BY JEFF ROY

Photos Courtesy Jeff Roy

A

bout 25 years ago, God called me away from the city and the five businesses I was running. Up to that point, I had tried everything the world had to offer. I found myself disillusioned: I felt successful but empty.

God spoke into this emptiness and called me to head to the mountains, build a log cabin and live a simple life. In today’s language, he called me to go off the grid.

His call was very real and came to me through words, music, books, movies, situations, other people, and the Scriptures. During this time, I surrendered to him as Lord, told him I would not fight him anymore, and that I would follow him wherever he led. This brought me peace and satisfaction, but it was only temporary.

As I attended seminary, became a pastor, and planted a church, I grew in “head” knowledge. Even though I continued to yearn for those close intimate encounters with God that first drew me to him, they seemed elusive.

Do not misunderstand. Although challenging, the church plant was taking root and growing, and good people were coming to faith. I loved the Lord and at times felt and sensed him moving, but something still seemed to be missing.

All told, it would be three years of ministry with the Presbyterian Church and 11 years of ministry with the Alliance before I would reconnect with God in that same

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close, intimate way in which he originally drew me. My journey into a deeper prayer life with God began just as the church plant stabilized and took on full-time staff. It was wonderful. I began to pray and wait for him to speak back in that “still small voice” (see 1 Kings 19:12; Psalm 46:10).

BEING STILL AND KNOWING Slowly, I learned to quiet the part of my brain that rambles, to enter into the moment, and to hear the Holy Spirit speak words of encouragement, edification, and exhortation. It took time, but I began to be able to calm myself and sense the One who lives within.

God led me to read or reread books from great writers such as A.B. Simpson, A.W. Tozer, Andrew Murray, Henry Blackaby, Watchman Nee, and Major Ian Thomas.

I came to see that these men had a deep, vibrant, two-way relationship with the Lord that was based on more than just the warm feelings of God’s presence.

ROLLING THUNDER OF TRIALS Strangely enough, as I began to connect with God in a deeper way, our church plant encountered a storm. When the dust settled, I found myself without staff and only half of my salary. We were struggling to stay alive. As I watched things crumble around me, I went through a

period of brokenness like I had never before experienced.

Yet, in the midst of this storm, God continued to meet with me and carry me; indeed, it was him and his words of comfort and guidance that supported me through that difficult time.

What is most important for us to realize is that God wants to journey with us not only in the midst of the storms of life, but also every day, moment-by-moment. He wants to be intimately involved with us as we go through life. He wants to be with us always, ready to lead, love, encourage, guide, convict and rebuke through his still small voice. He calls us to get connected to him at the start of the day and seek to stay connected throughout the day.

A NEW VISION God led us to focus on this at 3crosses: a genuine two-way relationship with the One who lives within and with us.

He led us to renovate our building to be the 3crosses Café.

It is a cozy meeting place for people to share with one another what God is saying to them and how he is leading, affirming, and encouraging them. In a café-style gathering, we pray, worship, and share.

There is a natural, Spirit-led ebb and flow to each service. Teaching flows from how God is moving and speaking to those in attendance, through Scripture, prayer, video, or encounter. We seek to tune into what God is doing in our lives, individually and together each week. We love to have visitors come in and share their views and thoughts on spirituality.

This environment not only facilitates the growth of those committed to 3crosses Café, but attracts those who have rejected traditional church to come and share in a very comfortable setting. The 3crosses Café is also equipped with showers and bunks and a kitchen to serve meals for those who come.

TEACHING HOW TO LISTEN God also led us to purchase a 35-acre parcel of land just west of Huntsville, in northern Ontario, with beautiful scenic views of Lake Vernon. Called 3crosses Spiritual Formation Centre, we have developed trails and an mp3 guided experiential walk called “The Jesus Experience.”

Groups of men, women, and young adults come to 3crosses and go through the teaching on listening prayer and then embark on a solitary three-hour hike to places like “Gethsemane” and “Golgotha.”

God has made it very clear that everything we do leads to that point where people open up to him and connect with him personally on the side of the mountain. The highlight of the retreat is “the debrief,” when people read from their journals and share how they encountered God.

3CROSSES EXPERIENCES: “Do you want more of God? At 3crosses, you will not only experience more of God through teachings in a group setting, but you will also spend time alone with God in the ‘Garden of Gethsemane,’ ‘the cross,’ and other locations on 35 acres in the heart of the beautiful Muskokas.”

—Bill Andrews, Chair, Elder’s Board Burlington Alliance “3crosses is the most powerful spiritual ‘retreat’ experience I have engaged in. The Jesus experience has contributed significantly to enlarging my heart by experientially developing a significantly richer and deeper appreciation for Jesus, his love, grace, and forgiveness to me. To sit . . . with Jesus, and be with him as he contemplated the cross for me was a powerful experience. My depth of appreciation for the love and forgiveness I have received and the cost, the sacrifice, for me, is humbling.”

—Phil Miller — 3crosses participant

FOR MORE INFORMATION 3crosses.ca — information about the 3crosses Spiritual Formation Centre livingit.info — information about the 3crosses Café and Church Muskoka Style

Rev. Jeff Roy is Sr. Pastor at Huntsville Alliance Church, ON

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perspectives

On a Deeper Journey A movement toward a holy boldness Photo Courtesy Erik McRitchie

AN INTERVIEW WITH BRENT TRASK

BY GLADYS THOMPSON

We will never know true unity within diversity unless the Spirit leads the way

I

n the Fall 2014 issue of cmAlliance.ca, President David Hearn introduced four initiatives, each served by a volunteer team, to move The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada (C&MA) toward becoming a healthy mosaic of people, risking all to invite those who have not heard of God’s saving grace to know and serve Jesus Christ and his Kingdom.

One team focuses on relational and spiritual vitality. Gladys Thompson, Associate Editor of cmAlliance.ca, recently interviewed Rev. Brent

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Trask, District Superintendent of the Western Canadian District and chair of this team.

W H AT IS T H E V ISIO N O F T H E R E L ATIO N A L A N D S PI RIT UA L V ITA LIT Y T E A M?

Our desire is that the Alliance will be (1) a mosaic of people, (2) experiencing Christ in all his fullness, (3) engaging in healthy relationships, (4) united in diversity, and (5) embracing our collective identity.

Without a clear understanding of the

Holy Spirit and a dynamic encounter with him, all of our plans, strategies and desires will not prove eternally fruitful. Without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing.

Healthy relationships are a by-product of a Spirit-filled life, and we will never know true unity within diversity unless the Spirit leads the way.

W H AT WO U L D A R E L ATIO N A L A N D S PI RIT UA L LY V I B R A N T A L LI A N CE CH U RCH LO O K LI K E?

Christ-Centered. Spirit-Empowered.

Mission-Focused. The primacy and permeation of these three markers in all our lives changes everything!

These words immediately rang true in my heart the first time I heard

We are becoming tangibly engaged in bringing the life and love of Jesus directly into our communities our president say them. As he has been unpacking these markers in every Alliance gathering possible for the past two years, I have witnessed immediate and astonishing embracement coast to coast.

This is the signature of God moving in our family and speaking into our identity. As a result, we are adopting this identity and asking how it applies to each aspect of our mission.

W H AT E XCIT E S YO U T H E M OS T A BO U T R E L ATIO N A L A N D S PI RIT UA L V ITA LIT Y TA KI N G H O L D O F T H E A L LI A N CE?

As a pastor, I knew my local church and didn’t see much beyond that.

One of the incredible benefits of being a district superintendent is travelling to scores of our churches and mission posts, seeing the big picture of what God is doing.

In most places I have visited, there is a groundswell of growing thirst for more of him; the deeper life, the hidden life, the Spirit-filled and Spirit-fuelled life. There is a passion to be transformed by the Spirit of holiness. There is a longing for the supernatural as the new normal.

To come alongside this hunger, the Relational and Spiritual Vitality Team will be initiating and encouraging tutoring in the school of the Spirit.

Our aim is that by 2016, every Alliance licensed worker will experience afresh the fullness of Christ and will be equipped to lead others into a deeper Spirit-filled life.

And then by 2018, that half of our lay leaders will also have experienced the deeper life of the

Spirit and be equipped to lead others to walk with Jesus in fullness.

T H E R E A R E M O R E T H A N 1,600 LICE N S E D WO R K E R S ACROSS C A N A DA, M O R E T H A N 200 I N T E R N ATIO N A L WO R K E R S I N 40+ CO U N T RI E S, A N D T H O US A N DS O F L AY L E A D E R S; H OW D O YO U PL A N TO B RI N G T HIS V ISIO N TO FRU ITIO N?

A summary of the recommended way forward is two-fold: 1. To gradually provide each worker with a Holy Spirit engagement and renewal process through: • New worker orientations, retreats, training, deeper life resources, Holy Spirit Encounter retreats, training experiences, District Conferences, and General Assembly.

2. Thereafter, a vitalized core of leadership will, in turn, train our lay leaders in matters of the deeper spiritual life.

The Western Canadian District committed to this course of action by offering Holy Spirit Encounter retreats in 2014 as pilot projects. In 2015, our team will sponsor similar events in the other districts.

A key factor in determining success will be in multiplying effective Encounters over the next few years. In time, as we equip leaders, these Encounters will be increasingly hosted and led by our pastors, elders, and International Workers as regular disciple-making ministries through our local churches.

This course of action has been fully discussed with other District Superintendents, the Global Ministry Lead Team, and the Five “S” Strategy Teams, but it is still in the process of being shaped and owned. Each region is free to improve and implement this to fit their unique context.

SI N CE YO U R DIS T RIC T H A S A L R E A DY I N CO R P O R AT E D A

YOUR RELATIONAL AND SPIRITUAL VITALITY TEAM Chair: Brent Trask David Hearn Fred Sebastian John Healey Judy Wiebe Merinda Enns Murray and Michelle Derksen P. Jones If you have questions, comments or ideas—please contact the chairperson at the Western District Office.

PROTOT Y PE O F A H O LY S PI RIT E N CO U N T E R R E T R E AT, CO U L D YO U D E S CRI B E W H AT IT IS LI K E, W H AT H A S TA K E N PL ACE SI N CE YO U S TA RT E D, A N D T H E O U TCO M E?

For most retreats, 20-25 people have gathered for an evening, a day, and a morning centred on Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21. We encourage participants to go deeper with God and access the power he has promised to us to use for his glory.

There are times of teaching, worship in song, silence, solitude, waiting, equipping, and experimentation. The highlight is the prayer ministry, seeking healing and renewal in Christ.

About 150 people, mainly pastors, have participated. The results and testimonies have been delightful.

H OW W I L L T H IS H E L P YO U M OV E FO RWA R D I N TO T H E OT H E R FI V E DIS T RIC T S A N D T H E I N T E R N ATIO N A L MISSIO N FI E L DS?

All of our District Superintendents and Canadian Regional Developers

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have participated in an Encounter event, and some have already begun to replicate them in their own area.

I sense that our entire C&MA family is on a deeper life journey, simply out of obsession with the loveliness of Jesus, to know him in the fullness of his love and glory and to make him known.

A R E T H E R E R E S O U RCE S R E L AT E D TO T H E S E H O LI N E SS E X PE RI E N CE S?

Providing resources is of high value to us. We have a lot more to do in this area, but for starters, you can go to transformcma.ca – Deeper Life Resources.

IS T H E R E A N Y T H I N G E L S E YO U WO U L D LI K E TO A D D?

Life change is happening, new ministries are emerging; we are becoming tangibly engaged in bringing the life and love of Jesus directly into our communities and into situations where mercy and justice best express the Gospel. Sending and supporting the great global cause of Christ is still a hallmark of our character.

We are grateful. We must not minimize all the rich blessings of his kindness and grace that we enjoy.

The C&MA in Canada has experienced pockets of the move of the Spirit, but we want a sweeping of the Spirit!

A good metaphor for this is the prophecy in Ezekiel 47, where the river of life flowing from the Temple of God is ankle deep. Further on, it is kneedeep, and then waist-deep, until finally, it is over Ezekiel’s head.

Could God be appointing us to something more?

It is time to move forward in our relational and spiritual vitality.

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HOLY SPIRIT ENCOUNTER PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK At the Holy Spirit Encounter retreat, I encountered God in a profound way, with blessings and lessons far beyond what I could contain in one letter. As a guy who leans toward quiet contemplation, this retreat was intense and stretching; nevertheless, everything was couched in love and security which made the environment conducive to even a monkish geek like me.

– Mike

I went to the retreat as a wounded soul, and it brought significant healing.

While worshipping, the only way I can describe what happened is that I had an internal sensation, as if a wound closed, and my heart began to fill for the first time in months – first with God’s Presence, and then with praise. Unprompted, [someone] prayed with and for me, and there was a tangible sense of a “return of the anointing” (how can this be described in any human tongue?). Shortly after that, gifts of the Spirit began to re-emerge as in former days. The laboured breathing of stress-induced asthma vanished, and joy returned.

The event was profound. For me, the sense of God’s manifest Presence was exquisitely sweet. Thank you, not just for getting me to the retreat, but also for seeing the need for events such as this.

– David

Before the Holy Spirit Encounter seminar, I was bracing myself for this new year. I didn’t really want a new year, because the old one was so difficult. I was fearful of what might happen, but something happened. There was no new teaching; in fact, nothing was new at all, except that everything changed. There are no guarantees of a pain-free year, but I have a deeper awareness of God’s presence today and his gentle love. I have no fear.

– Connie

Fearlessly Taking a Stand HOW THE FAITH OF A MAYOR IMPACTED THE NATIONAL CHURCH

BY DEREK AND BONNIE BURNETT

G

od led Reverend Yotsanan, a pastor in Thailand, to plant a church in Phuket. One day, Mayor Phaiboon knocked on his door. The mayor was a professing Christian who showed up at Buddhist temples and Muslim mosques as often as he did at Christian churches; after all, it was good for votes.

During his visit, the mayor confided to Yotsanan, “I have cancer, and I heard that you pray to God for healing. Would you pray that God would heal me?”

The Lord led Rev. Yotsanan to reply, “No, I will not pray that he will heal you. Instead, I will pray that, like Hezekiah, he will extend the years of your life; but you must agree to four conditions: n You must follow Christ alone.

Stop going to temples and mosques and worship only Jesus; n You must learn God’s Word by attending Bible study and be active in the ministry of your church; n You must write your testimony and allow me to pass it around the island; n You must serve the Lord for the rest of your life.”

“Does that mean I cannot be mayor anymore?” he asked.

“You can serve as mayor if that is where the Lord leads you; but whatever you do, it must be for the Lord.” He agreed to the conditions, and Rev. Yotsanan prayed for him.

Mayor Phaiboon’s cancer has been in remission ever since.

This began the mayor’s faith journey. He has taken a public stand for Jesus, honouring every promise he makes.

He regularly attends ministerial meetings, supports local

churches, and often donates supplies to Christian functions on the island. Mayor Phaiboon stands out fearlessly as a child of the living God in a 98 per cent Buddhist country.

Rev. Yotsanan’s church eventually outgrew its place of worship, so the Lord told him to begin meeting at city hall.

“City hall?” he protested. “But, Lord, this is a Buddhist country! The government will never allow us to worship at city hall.” The Lord answered him, I AM Lord of that place!

Yotsanan went to the mayor explaining that the Lord was leading his church to meet at city hall. Mayor Phaiboon enthusiastically agreed.

Yotsanan cautioned him that he could lose his position if he gave permission for Christians to worship on public property, but Mayor Phaiboon insisted on obeying God’s leading. The fellowship of over 200 believers began worshipping on the grounds of Phuket City Hall that week, and not one person has protested.

When God moves, he looks for men and women who are willing to believe that he can do the impossible. Dwight Martin of the eSTAR Foundation, Thailand, reports that the church in Phuket is one of the fastest growing in the country, and we believe it is partially due to the bold faith of these two men.

Mayor Phaiboon stands out fearlessly as a child of the living God in a 98 per cent Buddhist country

Rev. Derek and Bonnie Burnett are International Workers who have served in Thailand since 1999; they planted an English-speaking church in Phuket in 2014

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Forgiveness Across Borders Healing from the impact of a past decision

BY MURRAY DERKSEN

A

lthough it doesn’t happen often, I was at a complete This issue, and many others, had caused a rift in the loss for words. Here I was in Latin America, standing relationship with our American colleagues. The leaders in before my colleagues from both International Ministries the room had not been a part of the decisions implemented in (C&MA-U.S.) and Global Ministries 1998, but we had all lived with the impact.

(C&MA-Canada).

After asking for forgiveness from MY HEART We were just ending our third day our American colleagues, and after an together. Rev. Fred Hartley, Founder leader from International BURNED WITHIN American and President of the College of Prayer Ministries stood and asked for forgiveness, International, had led some deep studies we experienced an awkward moment of ME … I KNEW I of prayer and the Word. We all had learned not knowing how to proceed. Wisely, Fred so much and experienced the unique Hartley stood and asked, “Would you like HAD TO STAND presence of the Spirit among us. some help?” We gladly accepted.

UP AND ASK FOR It was our final day, and we were Fred led us through a process that not preparing for a time of communion and only allowed us to seek forgiveness among FORGIVENESS prayer for healing. The floor had been us, but also gave us opportunity to pray opened up for confession and my heart blessings over people who had been born burned within me, as did the hearts of a couple of other in various countries. We ended our time with communion leaders with whom I had been in conversation. I knew I had and a powerful time of prayer for healing. to stand up and ask for forgiveness.

Did we solve the world’s problems? No, but we experienced In 1997 the decision was made, for various valid a new level of unity that we had not shared before. reasons, that The Christian and Missionary Alliance We are now planning a gathering in 2015 where all in Canada needed to separate its missions operations American and Canadian personnel working in Latin from the United States. This change caused a lot of pain America will come together in one regional retreat. What for many people, especially couples who had married was once pulled apart, for legal and organizational reasons, someone from the other country and were forced to is now being reunited by a move of the Spirit of God. choose which would be their sending nation; as a result Rev. Murray Derksen is Canadian Regional Developer for the of this change, they had to give up many relationships in Caribbean Sun Region their homeland.

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practice of prayer

Operation: Intercession Breaking the spirit of contention at General Assembly

BY BRENT FARQUHAR Intercessors at General Assembly 2014 Photo Courtesy Darryl Chapman

…by prayer and petition…present your requests to God (Philippians 4:6)

J

esus walked in intimate fellowship with his Father, always attentive to his directing voice. In his Spirit-filled humanity, Jesus modelled prayerful dependence.

His disciples saw something significant happening through Christ’s intimate relationship with his Father.

It has encouraged me to keep pressing into prayerful dependence and Spirit-directed intercession He describes his prayerful dependence in John 5:19: “…the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”

I saw this happen at General Assembly 2014, and it has encouraged me to keep pressing into prayerful dependence and Spirit-directed intercession.

In response to the National Ministry Centre’s invitation to pray throughout General Assembly, 24 dedicated intercessors made the journey to Ottawa last July. They received strong

promptings from the Holy Spirit to join together in united, concerted, believing prayer for a fresh work of God’s Spirit.

The Spirit quickly united this group for strategic intercession on behalf of the Assembly. Many testified of the extraordinary unity and anointing that was tangibly experienced as they prayed.

Committee reports came in on the Thursday morning, and contentious issues were soon to arrive on the floor.

During a break, I headed to the prayer room to inform the intercessors of the need for prayer. On arriving, there was laughter and joyful praise.

They informed me that I was walking into a breakthrough; they had just completed a deep intercession.

There had been deep groaning, weeping and Spirit-led intercession for the past hour.

Then a gift of faith was given.

Someone confidently declared, “It’s done.” Others shared words like “the spirit of contention is broken;” “the powers of darkness have been defeated;” “pride is uprooted;” “humility will prevail;” “breakthrough has occurred.”

They confidently shared specific things they sensed had been accomplished through intercession.

Then they described what would happen on the floor in precise detail!

Pacing at the back of the room at the business meeting, I wondered if I would need to share what the intercessors had brought about by prayer. Instead, I watched in amazement as speaker after speaker did exactly as anticipated by the intercessors. Each delegate exhorted us to lay down our various agendas in favour of unity and grace. I was overwhelmed by how accurate the words of the intercessors lined up with the corporate experience.

The intercessors’ prayers resulted in Kingdom blessings at the Assembly.

Only God knows what was bound and what was loosed that day.

Rev. Brent Farquhar is Assistant District Superintendent for the Central Canadian District, and a member of the Alliance Pray Team

General Assembly needs intercessors to pray during the gathering, which will be held in Vancouver, B.C., May 30 June 4, 2016. For those who feel the Spirit’s prompting to join this group, the Alliance Pray Team plans to engage in advanced intercessor training prior to Assembly. Watch allianceassembly.com for further announcements.

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g n i t a i t o g Ne d o G h t i w at b

s th n o i t s e Qu

The bazaar, the old traditional market, along the streets in Tehran

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ind

the m d r a b om

BY S A M

N A SSE

R

I WAS DESPERATE TO FEEL HIS PRESENCE AND WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT HIS PLAN FOR ALL HUMAN BEINGS

M

y religious background is Muslim. When I was eight years old, my grandmother taught me to pray three times and bow down 17 times a day, a practice called Namaz.

I knew I was a sinner; nevertheless, I loved God from the bottom of my heart. When I was 19 years old, I went to the United States to study civil engineering. I continued to pray three times a day and fasted one month a year to be close to God. My classmate invited me to a church that her father pastored. During the service, I heard that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. I thought this was blasphemy, so I left immediately.

I returned to Iran after receiving my bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and continually prayed to God, asking him to reveal himself to me. I was desperate to feel his Presence and wanted to know about his plan for all human beings.

QUESTIONING HABITS One time when I was fasting, I asked God, “Have you been hungry before? Is this the reason why you want me to fast?”

I also asked him, “Instead of making you happy by bowing down 17 times a day, why can’t I glorify you by praying deeply from the bottom of my heart?”

These thoughts made me quit praying and fasting.

One day, my mother invited me for lunch. She told me to pray Namaz before I ate. I told her that instead of serving God with my actions, I wanted to truly love him with all my heart. My mother asked, “Who brainwashed you?” I became angry and replied, “People who travel to Mecca are hypocrites! Their actions are not holy. They do not want to serve God.” I wanted to pray to God with a sincere heart. I still practised Namaz out of respect for my mother; however, there was a deep emptiness in my heart that I could not fill.

THREE REQUESTS When I was employed as an appraiser, arbitrator, and inspector of a high-rise building, my life was at risk, as I

MODERN PERSIAN BIBLE PUBLISHED According to Operation World, the Church in Iran is the fastest growing in the world.

The previous standard translation of the full Bible was very hard for Iranians to read, as it was over 100 years old.

The Iranian Church needed a modern, accurate, and easyto-read translation.

Iranian Christians are praying that the first modern translation of the Bible into Persian (Farsi), the New Millennium Version, will have a radical effect on the people of Iran.

This publication is the culmination of a project by Elam Ministries. For information on Elam’s Bible publishing program, please visit elam.com/page/bibles-and-resources.

was pressured by my superiors to commit financial fraud and sign illegal contracts. My conscience would not allow me to obey their illegal orders.

My family and I were persecuted for four years because of my honesty. They even tried to kidnap my 12-year-old son. My wife told me that if I wanted to make money, I would have to obey the rules.

My heart ached from sorrow and hopelessness due to the injustice that I was experiencing, and I wished I had never been born. When I was 40 years old, I wept and made three requests to God: 1. “God, show yourself to me.”

2. “God, show me the right way to reach you.”

3. “God, show me the right person who can guide me to you.”

I began to negotiate with God. I told him that I would not follow him anymore if he did not fulfill my requests.

AN INTIMATE CONVERSATION Four years later, with God’s hand on my family, we escaped from Iran and came to Canada as refugees.

Someone guided me to a church saying that they would be able to help us find lodging for our family of six.

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Buying and selling food at the bazaar in Tehran

I went to the church and observed people facing the cross and praying. I was standing in the back row when God spoke to my heart and responded to my cries: Are you looking for me?

I AM HERE!

God responded to my first I HELD THE request that he would reveal BIBLE CLOSE TO himself by referring me to John 14:8-9: “Philip said, MY HEART AND “Lord, show us the Father and REJOICED that will be enough for us.”

Jesus answered: ‘. . . Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. . . ’ ” In my second request, I asked God to show me the way.

God answered that through John 14:6, where Jesus says, “. . . I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Finally, God replied to my last request for a guide to him by showing me that members of the Church are the Body of Christ. In John 14:20, Jesus says, “. . . I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

God is love! God bless you!

Rev. Sam Nasser is a member of the Persian Catalytic Network Advisory Team

Are you looking for the right way?

I AM THE RIGHT WAY! Are you looking for the right person?

THESE ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE! God answered my requests in less than one minute!

I sat down immediately and asked myself, “Is this building holier than our holy temple in Iran?” I answered my own question, “This is Christ’s house.”

I then asked, “Is Christ more important than the prophet Mohammed?” The Lord responded, What you are thinking and feeling right now is true. You did not know Jesus before, and you have never read the Bible. Who spoke to you about Jesus?

I responded, “Jesus was speaking to my heart all these years.”

All the questions that had been bombarding my mind were answered by the Lord. I rejoiced and cried at the same time when I opened my heart to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour. Before I left the church, someone gave me a Farsi Bible.

When I got home, I opened the Bible. On the page I opened was 1 Corinthians 13; the chapter gave me the answers I had been seeking for so many years. I held the Bible close to my heart and rejoiced that finally, after 44 years, I found my answers, and most importantly, my God. I searched my whole life for the truth, and I found it. In John 8:32, Jesus says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

CONFIRMATION FROM THE WORD One month from the time I accepted Christ, the Bible further answered my three requests.

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NOW IS THE TIME FOR PERSIAN MINISTRY The Persian people are extremely responsive to the Gospel. Thousands are finding peace, love, and eternal life in Jesus Christ.

As stated in the Report of the President to General Assembly 2014, “In recent months, several new Kingdom partnership initiatives have been coming together, which we believe are being birthed by, and will continue to be shaped and utilized by, the Spirit of God.” An advisory team has been established to promote a collaborative outreach effort between churches of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada and individuals with the Alliance Persian work, both in Canada and overseas.

W E A SK YOU TO PR AY FOR: more workers to be raised up to reach Iranians n continued openness to the Gospel n financial provision n

For more information, please contact: The Christian and Missionary Alliance Eastern Canadian District 11 Stanley Court, Unit 12 Whitby, ON L1N 8P9 (905) 430-0955 office@easterndistrict.ca

Conflict is not sin. How we behave in conflict can make it destructive or productive. n There are roots and fruits of conflict. Every conflict has a root cause and ensuing fruit. It is only by addressing root causes that we can change the fruits of conflict events. n Self-awareness is critical. Most conflicts have both a self-centred aspect and a self-care aspect that need to be discerned in order to remove the log before addressing the speck (see Matthew 7:3-4). n

Managing Conflict in Christ Overcoming difficult situations

BY ALAN SIMPSON

T

he face of every local church has many expressions.

Sometimes it smiles, when hands are raised after an altar call. Sometimes it weeps, when a beloved member has entered glory. Other times, it groans, when repetitive, unresolved issues appear at a business meeting. There may also be times when it looks afraid, when conflict is encountered.

Here are a few examples of some difficult situations that have caused negative conflict in a congregation:

The elders dismissed a youth pastor without checking the employment standards. n The deacon committed adultery with the treasurer. n The founding pastor is not able to develop growth.

Let me suggest three approaches to conflict that help turn a difficult situation into a productive conversation.

Separate the problem from the person — See the other person as a worthy creation of God. I have learned to look for the gold in people while working around the dirt.

Listen before speaking — Most of us want to be heard.

Sometimes we want to be heard so much that we forget to listen. By listening first, we might hear new information or a new perspective that changes our approach and reframes the conversation into a productive opportunity.

Approach with a co-operative attitude — There are two attitudes in approaching conflict: adversarial and co-operative. The adversarial attitude says, “I must be right; you must be wrong,” while the cooperative attitude says, “Let’s listen to each other and work on this together so we can find a way that works for both of us.”

To turn difficult conversations into productive conversations, keep Romans 12:18 in mind: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Alan Simpson is an Associate of Outreach Canada in the areas of Conflict Resolution, Mediation and Transitional Ministries, and provides training seminars and leadership coaching

n

Every congregation faces conflict or challenging circumstances that may cause the members to scurry in fear, but this need not be the case. In my 30 years of ministry, I have seen the good, bad, and pretty much ugly side of difficult situations, and I have some good news: We are getting a little bit better at turning difficult situations into productive conversations.

To turn these situations into productive conversations, conflict must be understood. Here are some of my observations from working with more than 35 churches who went through a health assessment process when in deep conflict:

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES > Christian Mediation Canada promotes professional conflict resolution services from a Christian perspective. christianmediation.ca > Style Matters offers a conflict style inventory that gives detailed suggestions for optimizing personal conflict style. Free resources are provided. riverhouseepress.ca > AlanSimpson.ca offers facilitation, coaching, and mediation. alansimpson.ca

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Relational Discord Creating harmony in an atmosphere of mistrust

D

and D*, International Workers in the Silk Road Region, While she may have been mistaken in accusing her are volunteer administrators at an established company colleague without evidence, D and D knew that the that employs only local workers. Half of the workers are their company was where she belonged. This company is closest friends from the dominant religion. Volunteering Kingdom-minded and run by an administration that longs at the company gives D and D an opportunity to connect to see God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven. with these friends on a regular basis, Through the process of listening and providing them with a tangible Gospel counselling, D and D told her that God BLESSED ARE THE witness in their workplace. wanted her to remain, and that it was the Last year, two of these special right thing to do. She asked for a couple PEACEMAKERS, friends openly accused a newly of days to think about it, after which she FOR THEY WILL BE employed worker of a crime. While committed to staying, reiterating that a big their reasons for the accusation were was D and D’s encouragement.

CALLED CHILDREN reason certainly compelling, it was highly Part of what D and D do to create circumstantial. The new worker denied an atmosphere of Gospel community OF GOD any wrongdoing. at the company is to provide meals for Matthew 5:9 The resulting conflict split the staff the employees over which they share into two factions, creating a tense life together. During the conflict, the atmosphere of mistrust that weighed heavily on the staff and accused party and two other employees on her side refused administration. to join in the meal, signifying a deep fracture in employee At the height of the conflict, one of D and D’s friends relationships. D and D, however, continued to invite these decided to leave the company. She was the senior employee: employees to join in the meal. Thanks be to God, everyone at well-loved, respected, and the most qualified. She was also the company now eats together. on a journey of discovering Christ. She felt terrible that her D and D are thankful to have played a part in God’s plan accusation had resulted in what she described as “the worst to establish his peace among this group. of times” for the organization since she had arrived over a *Names have been omitted to protect their identity decade ago.

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impressions

Moving Beyond His Past From dealing drugs to dealing Jesus

BY PARRY STELTER

I

n the midst of a world that is filled with so much strife and trouble, it is refreshing and encouraging to come across an individual who has stepped out in faith. For many of us, stepping out in faith also includes putting the past behind us. Stepping into the First Nations Alliance Church in Edmonton, Alta., Warren Steinhaurer is the man who brings joy and encouragement to leave the past behind.

Warren was born in St. Paul, Alta. and has many family members from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. He grew up in both Edmonton and Saddle Lake.

When he was fifteen years old, he gave his life to Christ at our church, which used to be called Native Christian Fellowship and was run by Gary and Valerie Brumbaloe.

His mother was a recovered alcoholic who raised eight children by herself. Warren claims that he wouldn’t have known Jesus if his mother hadn’t taken them to church regularly.

Warren said, “Even though I knew Jesus, I loved to drink, do drugs, and sell drugs. I lived common-law with several women and had four children.

When I lost my common-law wife in a car accident in 1998, my world was crushed. I was a struggling single parent. This unstable life led me to nine months of jail time in 2009 and 2010.

It was while I was in jail that I heard Jesus knocking on the door of my heart. I decided to change my life like the woman at the well when she encountered Jesus.”

Isn’t this what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about, people meeting up with Jesus and receiving the water that causes us to never thirst again? Warren has been attending First Nations

Alliance Church on a regular basis for the past five years, and we have noticed the change. Warren has drunk deep of the water flowing from Jesus.

Warren not only allowed Jesus to transform his life, but he now assists with the church’s new food hamper ministry, Helping Hands.

It was while I was in jail that I heard Jesus knocking on the door of my heart He also started a coffee ministry at First Nations Alliance Church called “He-brews” Coffee House. In this ministry, he opens up the church basement and transforms it into a

place where people can come off the street and be themselves. They can come to have their physical thirst quenched by the coffee or tea, but they can also find out more about the church and what it has to offer.

When people go to “He-Brews,” they will receive fresh-cooked bannock and soup, but the most important nourishment they will receive is an encounter with our Saviour. When they meet Warren, they encounter Jesus.

Parry Stelter is Chairman of the Board at First Nations Alliance Church in Edmonton, AB

Warren Steinhaurer Photo Courtesy Parry Stelter

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Beyond Balance Forcing mittens onto feet

F

or most of my adult life, January 1 meant a new round of New Year’s Recriminations. “I need more discipline! I need more organization!” Most of all, “I need more balance!”

Over the last few years, I’ve started to wonder if the reason these New Year pledges fall flat is because I’m running after the wrong thing; after all, seeking balance, by its very definition, implies that some things must be given up. Balance is a constant series of trade-offs. No wonder we can find it exhausting and rather depressing.

THE COST OF BALANCE Whenever we choose to do something, we choose to give up something else. What if the reason that you haven’t met a goal is not because you’re lazy and undisciplined; what if it’s simply because you’ve used that time to do something else, and that thing may have been as equally important, if not more so?

I’ve gained fifteen pounds over the last ten years.

For a while, I berated myself about this and desperately wanted to lose the weight; more exercise equals more balance, right? But lately I’ve decided that as long as I maintain what I weigh now, that’s okay. I don’t need to have the body of a twentysomething woman when I’m fortysomething.

In order to have that body again, I would have to add an hour of exercise to my schedule every day. Quite simply, I can’t do that if I also want to pursue the things I feel God is calling me to, so I’m letting it go.

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BY SHEILA WRAY GREGOIRE

WHAT IS GOD’S BEST FOR YOU? Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 7:35 that we are to live our lives in “undivided devotion to the Lord.” The quest shouldn’t be for balance, it should be for Jesus. As we seek more after him and his purposes for us, life becomes far less of a balancing act and far more embracing of who he made us to be.

In Acts 6:2, the early Church was facing a crisis of growing pains. Divisions were breaking out over the distribution of daily food. The apostles said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the Word of God in order to wait on tables.” Was waiting on tables a bad thing?

Nope. Stephen was chosen to do that, and he became the first martyr, but serving tables was not what the apostles were called to.

All Christians have a general calling to ministry, but we also have a specific calling to the place where we are planted. How do we figure out our role within that broader calling? It should be where our gifts, interests, and passions intersect with God’s open doors.

I feel called to speak and write, to mentor my universityaged daughters, and to lead the Bible quizzing program at my local church. I’ve led praise teams in the past, but it’s not where I feel called right now. If I try to do too much, I’ll end up with everything half-done. Using Paul’s analogy from 1 Corinthians 12, if I’m a hand, then it’s okay to be a hand. I don’t have to be a foot, too.

Unfortunately, the Church has a habit of trying to force

Instead of working to our strengths, we often work to our weaknesses. We zero in on the things we’re not good at, and we devote our time and problem-solving skills to bring those areas up to speed. If we each worked to our gifting, we’d likely be more effective in every area of our lives.

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK God calls us to work productively six days a week, and then he calls us to rest in him for one day a week to have time to think, meditate, and enjoy each other. That’s the real balance we need. If we took that time to rest, we’d likely start to feel God nudging us towards our real strengths and away from the “balance” we too often aim for.

Peter was impetuous but passionate; John was contemplative and mystical. They were both effective, but different. John didn’t need to become Peter to serve God, and Peter didn’t need to become John. They needed to fully surrender to God so he could work through them uniquely.

That wouldn’t be balanced, it would be undivided.

Don’t be everything to everybody; be uniquely you. That’s who you were created to be, even if it seems unbalanced.

Sheila Wray Gregoire is a speaker, author, and blogger. Sheila and her family attend Quinte Alliance Church in Belleville, ON

mittens onto feet. On my speaking tours, I meet many women’s ministry coordinators, and there’s a certain type whom I encounter all too frequently. She’s a whiz at organizing, but what she absolutely abhors is being a spokesperson.

In churches, as in all organizations, we are often promoted just above our areas of competence. The women who were gifted at organizing a women’s retreat now become the leader, forced to make announcements, drum up enthusiasm, and speak in front of a crowd. “I guess God’s just stretching me right now,” they conclude.

They don’t need to be stretched or to be good at everything! They just need to get back to what they were created to do, and hopefully see others stepping up where they should too.

WORK YOUR STRENGTHS Just as we’re all called to our own unique ministries in the church, we’re called to be unique at home. Perhaps your housekeeping skills leave a little to be desired, but if you can create an atmosphere where people have a rip-roaring good time, even if the house is never in tip-top shape, does it really matter?

Spontaneous people should work less to lists and more to creativity. Focus on what needs to get done, and then create a laid back tone where people can drop in anytime.

If you’re organized, don’t try to be spontaneous. Create a schedule and stick to it.

Cross Canada rides in 2012 and 2014 have raised over $500,000 which went to projects giving hope to vulnerable people across Canada and in Africa.

This summer, we invite you to join one of three weekend rides: We can’t do this without you.

May 29 – 31 University of Guelph, ON

June 5 – 7 Youth Farm Bible Camp, Rosthern, SK

June 12 – 14 Camp Chief Hector YMCA, Exshaw, AB

Visit loveinmotion.ca now to sign up or donate

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FEATURE

United IN

Love Dancing like God is watching

BY HEATHER HAHN

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I was reminded that God has invited all people groups to his party that will end the present age

I

n the busyness of planning my July wedding with my fiancé Andrés Cabezas Ulate, I felt both blessed and overwhelmed as I was reminded that we are made for more than this life and its celebrations.

Wedding planning became a call to worship for me. While sending the invitations, I was reminded that God has invited all people groups to his party that will end the present age. Life is a rehearsal for the great banquet and celebration we will experience; as his children, we will party united and unashamedly for eternity.

I thought about the indigenous groups with whom we work, who vaguely knew of this reality. Their children can’t tell you why they don’t like another group, but they continue to mimic the strong dislike one generation has passed on to the next.

As I reflected on these two realities, it occurred to me that we could have a taste of Kingdom reality close to my wedding day, so Andrés and I planned an additional wedding that the children could lead.

In Mexico, there can be many godparents in a wedding, each taking part in paying for certain aspects. The children were to be our godparents. They made us traditional rings and a unity rope, they prayed over us, and then we feasted together; last, but not least, we danced together.

We danced like God was watching, because he showed up in a powerful way. Kids who normally wouldn’t talk to one another were grabbing each other’s arms to swing around. When traditional music played from one indigenous group, children from another group stood up and danced. On that dance floor, it didn’t matter how old you were, where you came from, or what your parents did or believed.

Photos Courtesy Mariann Waguespack

God showed us his reconciling power on a dance floor.

When the unity rope joined me and Andrés together, all the kids from differing groups extended their arms and blessed us. Again, the differing origins weren’t divisive as our eyes focused on Jesus Christ.

It was nothing short of a miracle seeing kids previously indifferent to one another now serving each other cake and dancing together.

These kids are constructing with new building blocks for future generations as God invades their lives with his reconciling power. It makes me greatly desire the wedding feast of all times when every tribe, tongue, and nation will forget their differences and focus on Jesus Christ, our Reconciler and our Maker.

Heather Hahn is an International Worker who serves with Brave Heart Kids, an organization that contributes to the spiritual and material development of people living in the centre of Coyoacan, Mexico

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and spiritual vitality of Millennials in the Church today: community, dialogue, discipleship, and serving.

Defying a Trend

GOSPEL-CENTRED COMMUNITY As a generation naturally averse to institutions, Millennials crave authentic community centred on Jesus and his transformational Gospel. Slick programs, a beautiful building serving great coffee, and a talented worship band just don’t cut it. Young adults want the real thing—and that’s Jesus.

“The thing that excites me most,” Marc says, “is when people who have never been to church or are de-churched come back and say, ‘I never knew that about Jesus.’ ” Millennials want community, not crowds. Growing in Christ means living life with other believers—edifying and encouraging one another, and even eating together.

Photos Courtesy Mitchell Brown

Shepherding Millennials back to church

BY MARIA TRACE

M

illennials. What defines this generation of 18-30-somethings other than being Starbucks-loving, skinny-jeans-wearing, smartphone-obsessing young adults who want to change the world and are still living in mom and dad’s basement?

One trend we keep hearing about is Millennials bleeding from the church. Hemorrhaging Faith: Why and When Canadian Young Adults are Leaving, Staying and Returning to Church, a ground-breaking Canadian study commissioned by the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, has discovered that only 1 in 3 Canadian young adults who attended church weekly as a child still do so today. Of the 2 in 3 who no longer attend, half of them have even stopped identifying themselves with the Christian faith.

Marc Gagnon, Lead Pastor of Connexion Rexdale in Toronto, Ont., is a 20-something Millennial defying this trend.

“I realized there was a great opportunity to reach more people with the Gospel,” Marc explains. With the barriers— either real or perceived—to the doorstep of a traditionallooking church, Marc and several other visionaries at Rexdale Alliance Church launched a community church in 2012.

Connexion, a daughter church of Rexdale, is now home to dozens of young adults—and a mix of all age groups—who are new to the church, are returning after a long hiatus, or were born and raised in the Church.

What helps them grow in their faith are four interconnected foundations that contribute to the relational

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ONLY 1 IN 3 CANADIAN YOUNG ADULTS WHO ATTENDED CHURCH WEEKLY AS A CHILD STILL DO SO TODAY ENGAGING IN DIALOGUE Generation “Why” lives up to its name; Millennials are quick to question everything. “But they’d rather hear ‘I don’t know’ than a pre-packaged answer that doesn’t fit. They want to be part of a community that’s authentic and real,” explains Marc.

One way Connexion engages seekers and believers is by having a question-and-answer session after the sermon each week. People are invited to ask their questions, express their doubts, and dialogue about how this teaching from the Bible applies to their life.

Sixty-three per cent of young adults say they would attend church if it presented truth to them in an understandable way “that relates to my life now.”1 God’s Word must be understood as relevant if Millennials are to trust and obey what it says. That’s where dialogue comes in; that’s what Jesus did with his disciples.

ALONG-THE-WAY DISCIPLESHIP In our biblically illiterate culture, many young believers struggle to grasp God’s Word. Connexion hosts a monthly

prayer night called Engage, where the church corporately learns how to pray and read the Bible.

Marc leads the church through a personal devotional time. Each person reads a Bible passage on their own, and then Marc asks what was just learned about God’s character through his Word. Next, he encourages people to pray and wrestle with what they just learned about God. “It’s not telling them, ‘read your Bible,’ ” Marc says, “but ‘let’s show you how; let’s read it together.’ ” This is along-theway discipleship, like Jesus did with his own disciples, saying, “Come follow me.” Young believers best learn what it means to follow Christ when they learn together.

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OF YOUNG ADULTS SAY THEY WOULD ATTEND CHURCH IF IT PRESENTED TRUTH TO THEM IN AN UNDERSTANDABLE WAY

SERVING LIKE JESUS Sitting on the sidelines of life is not an option for most Millennials; young adults want to be involved in social justice and being part of something bigger than themselves.

Connexion Rexdale is home to about 100 people of all ages—and 60 of them are serving! “We want to be the Church that Jesus had in mind, and he never saw the Church as a place to go, but as a people—not as a religious institution, but as a movement of faith, love and hope.”

university degrees ministry training seminary education www.ambrose.edu 150 Ambrose Circle SW Calgary, Alberta 403.410.2900

MORE DISCIPLES, FEWER DROPOUTS It isn’t easy being a Christian Millennial with so many distractions in the world and so many disillusionments in the Church. While young men and women grapple with who Jesus is, what he has done for them, and how they will respond, the Church can be the vibrant community in which they experience the Living God for themselves.

Cultivating relational and spiritual vitality in Millennials requires intentional effort by both the corporate Church and each individual young believer who desires to become more like Christ. Young adults who grow as disciples need a Gospel-centred community that welcomes tough questions, journeys through life side-by-side, and gives people opportunities to serve like Jesus.

Maria Trace is a freelance writer who has written several articles for cmAlliance.ca 1 Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches That Reach Them, LifeWay Research

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FEATURE

ABANDONING ASSUMPTIONS I

t’s common to see most clearly the strengths of our own generation and the shortcomings of another’s. Being born in 1979, on the border between Generation X and Generation Y (the Millennials), I’ve often found myself falling into this same tendency—but on both sides of the border!

I find myself most often fitting the mold of a Gen-Xer (someone born between the mid-1960s and early 1980s), but there are certain parts of me that can’t escape the pull toward the Millennials (people born between the early 1980s and early 2000s), as most of my full-time ministry is in direct relation to Millennials. I relate to both the outsider’s perplexity toward this generation as well as the insider’s experience.

As with every new generation, the Millennials have been labelled with many unflattering names: n Entitled and narcissistic – Social networking has made them masters of self-expression and personal branding.

Billions are spent on marketing to Millennials because of their number and the spending dollars—often their parents’ money—they have to use.

Unfocused – They are chronic multitaskers who are able to watch YouTube videos, text friends, and do homework all at the same time; some would say this behaviour is synonymous with an inability to focus.

Effective ways to build generational bridges

BY TONY SAMMUT

late 2000s, many of them have developed a perspective of instant gratification because tomorrow is uncertain. From the outside, this can be seen as having little appreciation for the past and little thought for the future.

MODELLING Screen Addicts – Television watching is not as popular among A LIFE OF Millennials, but they engage in INTEGRITY plenty of screen time. Between texting, social networking, IS KEY playing video games, and online browsing, this generation is trailblazing a whole new way of communicating and relating; some might say they are losing the ability to communicate face-to-face and develop deeper relationships.

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I have been wrestling with how I can help build bridges with the Millennial generation in order to see them become passionate and mature disciple-making followers of Jesus. This has significant implications for local churches and our mission to spread the Gospel to the emerging generation.

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Stuck in The Moment – Having been shaped by major world events such as 9/11 and the economic crisis of the

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How Millennial Are You? Take a quiz to see how “Millennial” you are, on a scale from 0 to 100: pewresearch.org/quiz/how-millennial-are-you

What follow are a few helpful values and practices to engage and equip the Millennial generation: n Relationships trump task and position – Millennials need to know that we care about who they are and who they are becoming. Pastors, teachers, and other leaders do not have automatic influence simply because of their position.

Millennials are not interested in being another nameless cog to make the church machine run smoother. They want bosses who are mentors and who call them to a greater purpose and genuinely desire their best.

Ministry is modelling – When I left my last post as a youth pastor, many of the farewell cards noted appreciation not for my “great teaching ability” or “biblical knowledge,” but for simply living, alongside my wife, as an open example of a Christ-centred life.

They recognize the fact that life and spirituality are more complex than the three-step, one-size-fits-all plans often given to them. They want to see Truth in action.

In this sense, Truth, for the Millennial, is a verb.

They have not abandoned any notion of Absolute Truth as some think, but they have an inborn suspicion of the “institution,” because they have seen the failures and broken promises of government, education, business, and the Church. This is the reason that “authenticity” is a buzzword for this generation. Modelling a life of integrity is key.

Since I can fail in that, modelling confession and repentance is equally necessary. Ironically, I’ve found that as Millennials have seen me acknowledge my shortcomings and repent of my sin, they listen more, not less.

Millennials Are… Millennials (or Generation Y) are the demographic cohort following Generation X. Millennials are also called Echo Boomers, referring to the generation’s size relative to the Baby Boomer generation. There are no precise dates as to when the generation starts and ends. Researchers and commentators use birth years ranging from the early 1980s to the early 2000s.

n

They want to make a difference – They’ve been called “the social justice generation,” and for good reason. Millennials are drawn to ministry that cares for poor, hungry, and abandoned people. According to Barna Group, they also share their faith more than any other generation today.

In my previous role as a youth pastor, we began taking a team to a First Nations reserve each summer to lead a week of day camp and support a couple in full-time ministry.

This experience played a significant role in leading one of our young adults to move into full-time ministry on a First Nations reserve.

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They need to be embraced from an early age as an integral part of the local church – The model for many churches is to keep the children and youth segregated from adults until they graduate high school. It is no wonder that they don’t feel much affinity to the local church once they are sent out of the youth program and into the adult community.

We need to find ways to break down silos in local church life and invite young people to serve and learn in “big church” from an early age; we also need to involve a network of adults in as much of our youth and

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young adult ministry as we can.

As Mark DeVries (author of Family-Based Youth Ministry and Sustainable Youth Ministry) has said, “If we want young people to grow into mature Christian adults, we need to surround them with . . . mature, Christian adults!”

In the church where I currently serve, we intentionally run our Sunday morning junior high program every other week so that we can involve the youth in serving alongside other adults.

Be patient – I have been mentoring a young man for several years, through his university days and now into his first “real” job.

Early on, I encouraged him to use his gifts and step into opportunities to lead others, but my encouragements were often met with hesitation and uncertainty; however, he has recently stepped into a leadership role within his church and is excited about the opportunity to invest in younger people. He is becoming a disciple-maker!

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The Millennials are a generation taking their place as today’s church leaders, business-people, technology gurus, and difference-makers. Despite their perplexities, they are a generation with incredible passion and unique skills that can be used mightily by God to see the Gospel spread.

Rather than letting their differences keep you distant or critical, draw near to them. Invest in them, walk with them, and see what God will do.

Tony Sammut is Pastor of Discipleship at Upper Room Community Church, Vaughan, ON

WHAT’S YOUR STORY? WE WANT TO KNOW. Share now at cmacan.org/stories

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Recognizing God’s Little Agents The unexpected ministry of children

BY KYLA G. WARD

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was particularly weary as I walked into church. Coming to participate in worship seemed like the right thing to do on Sunday, especially since I was the Children’s Pastor.

Where I really longed to be was in my bed, asleep.

That was when 8-year-old Erica walked into the foyer.

Her eyes caught mine as she darted across the lobby and collided with my tired legs. She hugged them tightly, long enough for the memory of my hurried week to fade. Her love came easily to me; I had been touched both physically and emotionally by her embrace. Together, we entered the sanctuary, and I accepted that she had become my minister.

Churches often talk about their ministry to children. In rare places, you may even hear discussions around what it looks like to do ministry with children. What captures my interest is something more precious—the ministry of children.

While it is true that the presence of children in our worship celebrations will likely pose distractions, there is a spiritual payoff for including them in our rituals and traditions. Children are wonderful ministers of God’s love, grace, and wonder.

I was recently encouraged in my understanding of grace by Natalie, age 7. While receiving communion, she

CHILDREN ARE WONDERFUL MINISTERS OF GOD’S LOVE, GRACE, AND WONDER

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Photos Courtesy Mitchell Brown

innocently ate her bread as soon as she received it. In our church, the practice is to wait to receive the gift together.

I quietly broke my small piece in half and offered it to Natalie when I noticed what happened.

After the service, a woman approached us and shared that she was moved by the situation. She noted that Natalie had received the offer of Christ’s body as a gift and wanted to partake in it immediately. The way she had eaten the Bread of Life without hesitation was a reminder that grace is freely given and need only be received with haste.

“Why do we say ‘amen’?” asked Kian, age 6. By spurring us toward wonder, children minister to the adult soul. It is the same kind of inquiry that was encouraged as the Israelites celebrated the Passover. Children were given the task of asking “why” to ensure that they would learn God’s redemptive story; further, it ensured the opportunity for children to minister to the whole community. Children frequently lead their elders with a freedom to openly question and consider the truth and mysteries of God. The ease with which a child offers love, the understanding that gifts are to be accepted, and the freedom to wonder and imagine are but a few of the ways that children lead us to the throne of our Lord. As we seek to build vibrant spiritual communities, I pray that we will learn to recognize these child-ministers among us and encourage them, foster them, and receive them with thankful hearts. “. . . and a little child will lead them” (Isaiah 11:6).

Kyla Ward is Children’s Pastor at Victoria Alliance Church, BC

resources

Alliance-Generated Resources Intersections

By Ronald W. Brown

Hijacked by Glory: From the Pew to the Nations

By Sunder Krishnan

These memoirs are inspiring, insightful, and impactful. The amazing keeping power of God, coupled with the call to engage in Kingdom risk, are evidenced throughout these true stories of the intensity of life in the Congo, political upheaval, open warfare, and life-threatening evacuations.

Brown’s creativity, passion for the Great Commission, and witty sense of humour come together in his writing.

If you are serious about serving Jesus, you will be inspired to take the risks demanded by the missionary’s vocation. This book will also encourage, inspire, and assist you in your own life intersections.

Krishnan presents a revolutionary approach to the seemingly impossible task of missions by showing the true motivation behind it—a passion for God’s glory, revealed in the love and mercy of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

You will be led into remarkable discoveries of God and the realization that being on mission with him is for his glory. Jesus’ heart for poor and marginalized people helps us understand the power source for our mission.

Intersections is available in Kindle, hardcover or paperback from your local Christian bookstore or online, at: amazon.com, lulu.com/spotlight/globalvault.

Available in paperback from Rexdale Alliance Church, this book includes questions for individual or group study.

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COUNTS Recent survey helps re-shape cmAlliance.ca

BY GLADYS THOMPSON

L

ate in 2014, we asked you, our readers, for your opinion of cmAlliance.ca: What did you care about?

How did you read the magazine? What has been helpful, and where is there room for improvement?

You answered, and we are thankful! We learned that our readers include people from eastern Canada to the west coast, Millennials to individuals in their 90s, those new to The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada (C&MA) to members who have been involved for decades. This magazine is read by people in small rural churches to those in large churches in metropolitan centres, and by our International Workers and people around the world.

Most respondents said they read our magazine to learn about our international and local work or to be inspired by stories of changed lives and global issues.

While a few respondents said it’s “time to let it die,” two-thirds said they would miss it if we did not have a magazine. That means a lot to us.

One woman said, “I am pleased with our magazine and pray the good work to be kept going and at the forefront for each of us to read, learn, enjoy and become a church knitted together by. . . a growing faith through knowledge.” Another person said that without the magazine, “we would lose our connectedness in a short time and become a bunch of independent churches under an umbrella organization.”

We’re making improvements based on your responses. We don’t want to make assumptions about

what you value; we want to keep hearing from you. In the current and following issues, you will see slight changes to the paper thickness, graphic treatments, and other ways that decrease cost of production.

We will continue to produce the print magazine, but we are also making the online articles more interactive.

The C&MA website has recently been updated to include a section to comment on and submit stories; visit cmacan.org/magazine to see how you can participate in this way. Readers will soon be able to choose to receive the magazine in the print format or to be informed when the latest issue is available online.

Fifty-three per cent of survey respondents said they read the Personnel Updates, so while these pages are moving from the magazine, they will be available in a printable PDF format at cmacan.org/personnel-updates.

Several articles from each issue are translated into French, and we hope to provide more translations in the future.

We look forward to providing you with an inspirational magazine that you will read and pass on to others. Thank you again for your feedback. We value your ideas, and believe you have a role in shaping the future of this magazine. If you missed out on the survey, but want to let us know your thoughts, please email magazine@cmacan.org. We’d love to hear from you!

Gladys Thompson, Communications Coordinator at The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada’s National Ministry Centre, is Associate Editor of cmAlliance.ca

now you know

Go and Make Disciples The heart of church ministry

BY DAVID FREEMAN

A

nswering Christ’s call to “go and make disciples” is at the heart of church ministry—or at least we want it to be; however, in a survey of Alliance churches last year, about one-third of churches that responded reported that they do not have a defined discipleship process, and less than 20 per cent of the churches reported that their discipleship process is working.

Delegates to General Assembly 2014 adopted the following resolution: That each member church establish and report what their process is for disciple-making to their District Superintendent

by December 31, 2015 and on a biennial basis thereafter.

The National Discipleship Team is available to help. Composed of representatives from every district and from Ambrose University, the team has many years of experience in local church ministry. They also know that, although many disciplemaking principles are transferable, every church needs to design a process that “fits” its situation. The team is available to help churches ask the right questions as they

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design a tailor-made discipleship process.

The Everyday Discipler, a newsletter created by the National Discipleship Team, is designed to help promote, encourage, and resource discipleship within the local church. We hope to provide helpful material that can be shared with other leaders, elders, ministry volunteers, small group leaders, and members of the local church who are involved in discipling others. Past issues are available at cmacan.org/everyday-discipler.

The National Discipleship Team has also hosted pre-Assembly seminars featuring well-known speakers such as Greg Ogden and Larry Osborne.

Although their books are available, having the speakers accessible for delegates to ask questions as they dig deeper into the content and apply it to their own situations is invaluable.

Watch for announcements about future pre-Assembly seminars.

In the meantime, feel free to connect with your district contact person.

We also have national teams that address discipleship with children and with teens. Feel free to connect with them through your district office.

Rev. David Freeman, BRE, MEd is Vice President, Canadian Ministries, The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada

YOUR DISTRICT CONTACT PERSON Lyall Mix (Chair) Central Canadian District lyall@wlachurch.org Tim Beadle Western Canadian District tbeadle@transformcma.ca

Tim Moore Ambrose University tmoore@ambrose.edu

Robin Haensal Canadian Midwest District robin@cma-cmd.ca

Cheryl Guinness Eastern Canadian District cheryl@rexdalealliance.org

Désiré Mounanga St. Lawrence District monanganzouba@yahoo.fr

David Freeman National Ministry Centre david.freeman@cmacan.org

Rhona Hathaway Alliance Women’s Ministries rhona.hathaway@cmacan.org

Todd Brown Canadian Pacific District todd@heritagealliance.ca

On mission. All the time.

Everyone. Everywhere.

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Ongoing needs.

One motivation: We’ve been sent.

GAF

See the centre envelope to give now.

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