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CHAMPION LIFE CENTRE Two Decades of Saving Lives
20TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
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20TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Are You A Life Saver?
STAFF BOX
What can we tell people when we evangelize? What should we say? First, we should tell people that we all are in need of salvation and that Jesus is the salvation that we need. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Then we need to tell them that Salvation is found in Jesus.
“I am scared - they might think I’m weird”... “They might start to avoid me once I make an attempt”… “What if they reject me?”…
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. ... Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:16,18)
Ever heard muttering these words to yourself when faced with the chance to share the good news to others?
Lastly, we must tell them that Jesus is the only means of salvation.
What can be more important than sharing the lifechanging message of the Gospel? NOTHING.
“It is by the name of Jesus Christ... Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10,12)
Jesus left us with a sacred mission. He commanded us to: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Mat 28:19, 20a) However we have the spirit of fear that paralyzes us from doing what we are tasked to do. This single particular mission seems to be daunting, especially here in North America with the proliferation of liberal ideals and a laissez-faire culture. We, as true disciples of Jesus must learn to step up and overcome that fear. We must start rebuking that negative spirit and start acting like a genuine part of God’s army… start realizing that “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) How do you take the first step to becoming a Lifesaver? One way is by doing a small act of kindness to people you know and more so, to people you do not know. Offering a free pop or a bottle of water on a hot summer day to people in the park will make a lot of difference. Kindness builds the bridge for the person to receive a touch of love from God. It makes you win the heart before it confronts the mind. Learn the power and impact of “showing God’s love in practical ways,” and you will be able to develop new acquaintances whom you can invite to church and share the love of Christ!
Twenty years ago, Pastor Jerry Berenguer and his wife, Elvie have decided to bravely and faithfully follow this ultimate command to make disciples of all men. And today, these leaders of Champion Life Centre stand tall as they were able to save thousands of lives in Canada and some areas of the world, bringing people to their salvation as they come to know Jesus, and making faithful disciples out of each one of them. For two decades, this couple has successfully and prayerfully preached the Word to the people; correcting, rebuking and encouraging each individual—with great patience and careful instruction, just as how Paul instructed Timothy when he has given him his charge. (2 Timothy 4:1-2) May the Berenguers and all of the stories that we featured in this 20th Anniversary issue be a constant source of inspiration to all of us as we undertake to become Life Savers ourselves.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jerry Berenguer MANAGING EDITOR Viviene Lotilla-Dela Cruz ASSOCIATE EDITOR Irene Aruta-Acut SECTION EDITORS Features Section: Kris Millan Youth Section: Hannah Belleza LAYOUT, DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY Bink Media & Design NEWS COORDINATORS/CONTRIBUTORS Brampton: Michelle Berenguer Scarborough: Renee Joyce Versoza / Lorraine Mendoza London: Edison Fernandez Calgary: Marycris Reyes Events Photography: Marlon Dela Cruz CONTRIBUTIONS Is there anything you would like to share with us? Comments, suggestions and reflections from contributors are welcome! Email us your letters, articles, and CLC announcements at CLC_Chronicles@yahoo.com ADVERTISING To get advertising information, email us at CLC_Chronicles@yahoo.com. The Management of the Champion Life Chronicles reserves the right to refuse or edit submissions and advertisements on the basis of legal, space or taste considerations. Check out our E-Edition Online! You can find the electronic version of Champion Life Chronicles by heading to http://issuu.com/bananaink/ docs/clc_20th_anniverary Champion Life Chronicles is a quarterly publication of Champion Life Centre.
VIVIENE LOTILLA-DELA CRUZ Managing Editor
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MESSAGE FROM THE LEAD PASTOR HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY! They say, “time flies, when you are enjoying yourself”. That describes the journey we have with Champion Life Centre. It has been 20 years of building the church through the challenges, but we have enjoyed every moment of the journey. Through the years we have seen hundreds and thousands of people come to Christ through all our services, crusades, conferences and missions around the world. We have planted satellite churches that are making a difference in their communities. This year’s theme describes the passion in our hearts to be a life saver. I am grateful to God for His faithfulness over the years as we celebrate two decades of saving lives. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers, workers, leaders, office staff and pastors who have dedicated their lives to serving people and sharing the love of Christ. I am blessed to be leading a wonderful family that is growing and maturing as sons
and daughters in the house of God. To all our friends, colleagues, and ministry partners who stood with us over the years, I am grateful for your prayers and support. As we celebrate this milestone, I am excited about the next twenty years ahead of us should the Lord tarry. Our ministry is positioned to impact our communities and reach the nations. I am excited to see the next generation who are the emerging leaders who can take our church to the next level and beyond. On behalf of my family, I would like to say congratulations, for a job well done and happy anniversary to all!
Ptr. Jerry Berenguer Lead Pastor at CLC
WHAT’S INSIDE? 02 03
From the Editor’s Desk Staff Box Message from the Lead Pastor
04-05
The Berenguers: Modern Day Life Savers
06-07
The Quarter at a Glance
08-09
Meet our Champions: The CLC Pioneers
10-11
Champion Life Centre: Two Decades of Saving Lives
12-13
Sermon Snippets: Impacting our World
14 Feature: How to Win People to the Lord 15 Reflections: ‘Because You Shared’ 16 Youth 412 17 Family Life: I’m Dating an Unbeliever 18-19 CLC Satellites 20 CLC Ministries 24 For Your Inspiration, What’s Up and Coming? Bible Humour
20TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
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THE BERENGUERS:
Modern Day Life Savers
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“Twenty years ago, Lead Pastor Jerry Berenguer, with the help of his wife Elvie, just wanted to share the hope they found in Christ to the people they knew. The small group that was created from this desire began holding services in Brampton, Ontario and through time, grew in faith and in numbers. They were energetically positive, bounding from week to week, excited about what God was doing among them. ” Today, Champion Life Centre is reaching out to many lost souls through its multiple locations in Ontario, Canada as well as in Africa and in the Philippines. It was the realization of needing to go beyond the four walls of the church and reach out to people to where they are and bring transformation into their lives and communities and ultimately, nations that birthed a greater vision in Pastor Jerry and CLC.
Pastor Jerry and the leaders of CLC developed a place with positive energy by getting people working, focused on the Great Commission, working in their skill set areas, celebrating successes and laughing about failures. The Great Commission is the Vision above all visions, and in varying ways we express it to release focus and goal setting to draw people to a common cause. Doing the work of God together with the Spirit of God.
“We want to make a difference in our community and yet have the world view in mind” said Pastor Jerry. “ My hope is that we would have a church that would empower lives to impact our world. That means we need to have a church that will address the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of every individual”. Presently, Champion Life Centre holds a global vision with a local impact.
One of the ways the church exhibits its love for God and for the people He loves, is to have a passionate, organized, Spirit-inspired attitude to reaching lost souls for Christ and growing them into disciples. Through Ministries of mercy, empowerment, evangelism, and replication, CLC is able to be the hands and feet of Jesus for the past 20 years. A functioning body to reach
Running with this vision did not come without its own struggles and hurdles to triumph over. Pastor Jerry learned early in his journey as a leader that his greatest weapon to overcome any struggle and battle that came along is prayer. Prayer allowed him to focus on God rather than the challenges ahead. Also, having the faith that God will provide the resources to accomplish the vision helped him to continue to overcome. Ultimately, it was his persistence not to give up in spite of the challenges and the guiding of the Holy Spirit. There were many instances when he felt like giving up but when he persisted, he saw the fulfillment of God’s promises. Pastor Jerry states, “Oftentimes we quit too early and don’t see the fruit of our labour because we didn’t persevere.” To have the ability to share an idea or vision to your core leaders and congregation can be a daunting task for any Pastor or leader for that matter. Pastor Jerry admits that in the early years he struggled with expressing the vision and often times the miscommunication became the reason for the delays in the fruition of God’s plan. Nevertheless, an environment with energy of Vision that makes molehills out of mountains, a warrior out of a worrier and a team-member out of the shy-bound soul were created. We breathe deeper when we inhale vision; and all our muscles function better and it takes leaders to create this environment. They get vision from God, throw the vision at people, and throw people into that vision.
“When asked what the greatest strengths of the church were, Pastor Jerry can proudly claim that it is the love of worship and its leaders” the lost and become an extension of God’s mercy and love. With these ministries, CLC is equipped to create a church culture that successfully produces Christianity largely together with the unquenchable yearning for the Holy Spirit. When asked what the greatest strengths of the church were, Pastor Jerry can proudly claim that it is the love of worship and its leaders. In the span of two decades, the church has birthed worship teams that provide a worship experience that leaves the individual blessed and inspired. Worship has also become prayerful and intentional that empowers the people to co-create a worship experience—both as individuals and as a body, both at home and when together. The desire to simply worship the Lord with a pure and contrite heart has become a building foundation at CLC. However, as Pastor Jerry states, the leadership at Champion Life Centre is not only a core but a solid foundation. A strong organizational foundation is
prepared for and built in the beginning. The vision cast from leadership, distributed by management, and implemented by the staff can only strengthen or weaken that foundation. To quote the great leadership expert John C. Maxwell in his book, Developing the Leader Within You, “Everything rises and falls with leadership.” So it’s up to strong leaders to lay strong foundations in order to grow strong organizations. Easier said than done but the leaders at CLC are effectively leading because they stand firm upon their foundation of character, integrity and identity in Christ. With that, the congregation is awash with honour; and you can feel it. The chief source of this comes not from hen-pecked followers, but from leaders who know how to be fathers. The father-hearted leader deals not in envy, competition or law making; but in grace, opportunity and making his piece of God’s garden a field of dreams for his flock. Honour should be seasoned with good humour and never based on insecure flattery but rather a spirit of cooperation. It is the Godly men and women that join Pastor Jerry who are continually trusting in Him in faith to build and run His church. Champion Life Centre is dedicated to creating communities of faith that live the Christian life. For the past 20 years, it has grown into a type of church that trains and launches people into the ministry of their everyday lives. The kind of church that trains and retains people to receive the ministry of the Church. Evangelism has become about training up disciples and launching them out to serve the world and share their story—and helping foster a community so alive and beautiful that people can’t wait to join. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
By Irene Aruta-Acut
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The Quarter at a
Glance
SCARBOROUGH WOWED THE AUDIENCE ON FMF’S 1 0 T H A N N I V E R S A RY By Renee Joyce Verzosa On March 24, 2012, people from different Filipino churches have gathered in celebration of the FMF 10th year anniversary at the Global Kingdom Ministry facility. The Filipino Ministerial Fellowship (FMF) is an association of Filipino Pastors here in the GTA. Their main goal is to help encourage pastors and help foster unity among God’s workers. To celebrate its 10 fruitful years of service and encouragement, the pastors who pioneered the
FMF were recognized and awarded. One of the great pioneers is our very own, Pastor Jerry Berenguer. In support of the FMF celebration, the talented Creative Arts team of CLC Scarborough presented 2 special numbers along with the other special numbers from the other churches. The celebration was definitely a great evidence of God’s goodness and faithfulness throughout the years, to His people through the service of these pastors. Different churches gathered together to rejoice and have fellowship with one another. What better way to celebrate than to acknowledge the pioneers of this ministry and give back the glory and praise to God? Praise God for the success of FMF on its 10th year and for the years to come. All the glory belongs to Him! food along with a song number rendered by Rhett Dela Cruz. Another game was played afterwards. Then, a dance number was performed next by Rhett Dela Cruz, Dave Mariano, and Jed Topacio. After the fun and games, a valentine-special sermon was delivered by Pastor Roy Verzosa entitled, “How’s Your Love Life? Romantic or Rheumatic?” Another dance number was performed after the sermon. Then everyone danced the night off. It was a blast!
H O W ’ S YO U R L OV E L I F E ? R O M A N T I C O R R H E U M AT I C ? By Renee Joyce Verzosa Held at the Rembrandt Hall last February 11, 2012, CLC Scarborough hosted a successful valentines dinner dance. The event started off with fun games to break the ice and gave everyone the chance to meet new people. Dinner came next, which served a very appetizing
“Marriage starts out as an ideal then it becomes and ordeal, and then we begin looking for a new deal. But what we need to do is not to look for something new, but to take something old and keep it fresh and wonderful. To keep our life from getting old and rheumatic, we need to understand the way God designed it.” – Pastor Roy Verzosa Filled with fun games to break the ice, delicious food, song and dance numbers, and a good feeding of the Word, both couples and singles really enjoyed their time. It was a night for couples and friends to remember!
B R A M P TO N ’ S PA N D A - M A N I A By Michelle Berenguer This March featured CLC’s very own Champion Kidz in its yearly March Break Vacation Bible School. Just like the outdoors, the entire church building was transformed into a live jungle for the kids of CLC and the Brampton community to learn about God and have fun all at the same time. For 5 days, every child was invited to vacation off into the jungle to experience Panda-mania! Stations for storytelling, arts/crafts, games, snacks and movies filled each day with excitement for each and every child to enjoy. Every activity, from every craft, to every snack not only catered to the pandamania theme, but more importantly emphasized God’s heart for His creation, especially His heart for the kids themselves. With the help of all of the dedicated CLC volunteers and group leaders, each child was able to grow into a deeper level of their purpose by understanding how God fearfully and wonderfully made them. At the end of the week, each of the children performed in a mini graduation ceremony on stage at CLC Brampton in front of the congregation, where each of them were recognized, applauded and given certificates of participation.
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LOVE IN THE WILD By Christine Millan It was a night of fun and love as CLC Toronto celebrated their African Safari-themed Valentine’s event called “Love in the Wild” on Saturday, February 11, 2012. The decor and the outfits of those who attended corresponded well with the wild theme. The night was hosted by two beautiful young ladies, Mylyn Alcantara and Melody Go. First among the special performances was the beautiful rendition of “Colors of the Wind” by Ms. Pocahontas of the night, Benisa Sanchez. There was a self-composed rap performance rendered by Eddie Santos, with impromptu diva-style appearance during the performance by Miss Melody Go. An energy-filled African style dance was presented by the women, led by Mrs. Medilyn Alcantara, to the song of “Wakawaka” by artist Shakira. This presentation got quite a few good laughs and applause. However, the trophy for most comedic performance of the night went to the men’s group, who presented an animal-themed skit to the tunes of “In The Jungle” and “Circle of Life”. The star of the story was Mr. James B.T. Stott. Two games were presented during the night to determine Mr. and Mrs. African Safari, a.k.a. Mr. and Mrs. Valentine 2012. The throne went to Pastors Henry and Mindy Laxamana for their extraordinary presentation of animal courtship rituals. Everyone was in good and adventurous spirits as they watched, ate, participated, and laughed along with their beloved friends and loved ones on this special night.
AT T H E C R O S S By Michelle Berenguer The cross- the focus of every Good Friday as well as the symbol of Christ’s dying love for us. This Easter, CLC Brampton held a candlelight service “At the Cross” as an opportunity to remember the Light that came into the world to save us. As the sanctuary began to fill up with faces from the CLC congregation, family, friends and the rest of the community, the afternoon began in songs of worship, praise and adoration to the Lord. Jheo Navarro then rendered a song which proclaimed that there was “no greater love than this”,
where Christ would choose to lay down His life for us. Shortly afterwards, CLC’s Creative arts and drama team reenacted the crucifixion scene to bring each one into a live version of what it would have been like for Christ those many years ago. Tears and hearts were drawn yet again to the sacrifice and love of the Father at the cross, as Pastor Jerry continued with the message of salvation to all those who attended that day. As a result, many turned their hearts to the Father not only receiving the gift of salvation but also recommitting their lives to Christ. It was surely at the cross that we have all been given a new start, at the cross where we are saved, and at the cross where God continually proves His love for us.
T R E N D S : A R E YO U C R E AT I N G OR JUST FOLLOWING? By Irene Aruta-Acut Young adults from Scarborough, Toronto and Brampton church gathered on Friday, March 30 to hear the Word in a more sophisticated fashion for CLC’s first ever Young Adults meeting. The trendy vibe and atmosphere of the night catered to our young men and women in their twenties and thirties looking to gather with a more relatable group. Refreshments and light snacks welcomed the group just before getting-to-know-you games were introduced by our emcees, Jamie Roxas and Kristine Berenguer. Since hash tagging and creating trending topics on social media platforms such as Twitter function as beacons in order for users to find and “follow” or “list” other users of similar interest, the challenge that evening was for each person to question which
direction they were moving in their lives; following a trend or creating a trend. Worship leader, Jerry Doton, pleasantly delivered the Word around the topic with scripture from 1 Kings 3:5-12. To go along with the theme of Trending Now, each person was also asked to bring a fashion item from their personal wardrobes to exchange with each other. It was a successful evening that left each individual looking forward to the next meeting.
MEET OUR CHAMPIONS
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The CLC Pioneers In this special anniversary issue, we, at Champion Life Chronicles, would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge and honor the faithful pioneers of the CLC Ministries. These brothers and sisters have labored and endured alongside Pastor Jerry and Pastor Elvie Berenguer to see CLC to where it stands now, and continue to labor in faith. Each of these pioneers were asked the following questions: WHEN AND HOW DID YOU START AT CLC (FORMERLY JFM)? WHAT MADE YOU STAY THIS LONG AT CLC? DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO IN THE MINISTRY TODAY. Read on and be blessed...
APRIL & ADOR VICTORIA We were both invited by a friend to attend a Bible study in March 1994. At the time, we were curious to see what a Bible study is and so we went. The topic was regarding marriage which was what we needed to know because our marriage was still in its early stages. We learned the roles of a husband and wife, a father and mother – something that we did not know how to do before. God instilled in us a passion to love Him and serve Him. Over time, we learned His principles and embraced His plan for our family. We strongly believe that God put us in the CLC home to raise us up in a Godly family environment with a spiritual father and mother. To date, we are still growing and still learning and imparting who we are today to our own sons and daughters. Ador and April are now pastoring full time in CLC Brampton. April also serves in the administrative operations of CLC.
SUSAN PACAG My family and I were new immigrants in Canada in 1992 when we joined the newly started Jesus First Ministries. Brother Rey Manipula, who was our neighbor at the time, invited us. Since then, God put me into the different ministries where He wanted to use me. I grew more and more under the leadership of Pastor Jerry. His anointed teaching, being rooted in the Word of God, and right discipline with fatherly love, are some of the reasons why I am still in CLC, formerly JFM. At present, I am entrusted by the Lord and the ministry to handle the finances of the church and was chosen to be one of the L5 of CLC Brampton.
MARLON & LANI VICTORIA In 1995, we were invited by my brother, Ador and his wife, April to attend a Bible study at Pastor Jerry’s basement. Since we accepted Jesus Christ and joined Jesus First Ministries, we’ve never looked back. We believe that in any ministry, if Jesus is not in the centre of it, that ministry will not stand. We follow Jesus Christ and His presence is in Champion Life Centre. Through the leadership of Pastor Jerry and Pastor Elvie it is an honor and a privilege to serve God. We are part of the Leaders of Five, currently serving in the Board of Directors, leading a care group, and heading the Ushering Ministry.
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WHEN AND HOW DID YOU START AT CLC STACEY PHILIPS (FORMERLY JFM)? WHAT MADE YOU QUINTIN & ROSE LOOY STAY THIS LONG JUDITH ROSALES AT CLC? DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO IN THE MINISTRY I first started in JFM in 2000 after buying Pastor Jerry’s house. We were not looking for a house in Brampton, we were looking in Mississauga because of my mom’s work. We just stopped by on the way to the realtor’s office and when I walked in the house I felt the presence of God in the house. We put an offer to buy, trusting God that if He allows us to get the house He would make a way.
In 1993, I, my wife, Rose, and our son, Joshua started attending a Bible study from a small group called Jesus First Assembly which is now currently called Champion Life Centre. This small group was regularly meeting every Sunday in a very small room on the second floor of Chingaucousy Library which was located across the Bramalea City Centre in Brampton, Ontario. This was the place where I first met the man of God, Jerry Berenguer, whom I now call a prophet. A few years later, we moved in 1A Knightsbridge Road, a few steps from the Chingaucousy Library. Then we were able to buy our first building at #25 Selby Road, Brampton,Ontario. This was the place where I started to become a volunteer driver at the same time host for Bible studies for four consecutive years. I was appointed, elected and re-elected as one of the Board of Directors. I think we stayed this long at CLC mainly because of our faith in God’s words. Not by men.
I am actively involved in the outside maintenance of our church building. My wife, Rose, is one of the ushers.
When I made a deposit, I decided to drive by the house and take a look. Coincidently the homeowners, Pastor Jerry and Pastor Elvie, were just getting home and they saw us pull up beside their driveway. They invited us in the house to give us a “personal tour” and then they told us that they were praying for a Christian family to buy the house because the church, JFM at that time, was started in the basement of the house. They prayed for us that we would get the financing and Pastor Jerry gave me a card with the church address to visit. All this happened in August of 2000. In October 2000 I went to visit JFM. I did not attend JFM again after that. However, one day I got a message from the church, just checking up on me. It made me feel very special. Since then I’ve been attending JFM, now CLC. When I started JFM I was placed in a care group where I built relationships. I grew tremendously in the first few months being at JFM. I think what is keeping me here is the lifelong relationships that was built in the beginning and knowing my place in God’s kingdom. I know that He placed me here for a reason.
I was a member of the Board for more than 3 years. I’m now a part of the L5 and the head of the Children’s Ministry in the Scarborough,Toronto, and Brampton location.
My start at CLC dates back to around 1987/1988. Pastor Jerry, Pastor Elvie, and I shared common friends who invited me to the Bible study. We were all single then. I started attending a singles’ Bible study group in Toronto. Eventually, a vision was put in Pastor Jerry’s heart to start a church ministry. I was with Pastor Jerry Berenguer when he started the church. What kept me working in the ministry and working with Pastors Jerry and Elvie were the friendships that were formed for more than 20 years as well the growth and spiritual maturity that I’ve experienced through all these years. I am now involved in the Children’s Ministry. I am currently assisting in the nursery.
By Christine Milan
CHAMPION LIFE CENTRE Two Decades of Saving Lives 1998 Relocated to Knightsbridge Became a Multicultural Church
DECEMBER 1991
TORONTO
Basement of 94 Carter Drive
Church plant in Toronto Held 3 services weekly, 3rd service in Mississauga at the World Vision Bulding
1992 BRAMPTON
1ST Service at Chinguacousy Library
LONDON
Relocated Sunday Worship Services to Maharajah Banquet Hall
Church plant in London
NOVEMBER 3,1997 Bought a new building - 25 Selby Rd.
BRAMPTON Purchased new home 55 Hedgedale Rd. Brampton, ON
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2008 First Saturday Overdrive service
2009 SCARBOROUGH 2007
2009 CALGARY
Church name changed to Champion Life Centre after 15 years with a fresh vision and mission.
Church plant in Calgary, Alberta
Church Plant in Scarborough
2011 CLC Yearly Fellowship
2007 Launch of Hedgedale Community Centre in 2007 as a “bridge of hope” to cater to the needs of the community.
SERMON SNIPPETS
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IMPACTING OUR
WORLD MATTHEW 5:13-16
Adapted from the sermon of Pastor Jerry Berenguer Edited by Hannah Belleza
As Christians, we have a responsibility to impact our world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m not talking about just conversion, but a transformation that will take place in the lives of people around us. Our world is looking for answers to what is happening around them. More than ever before, we have the opportunity to lead them in the right direction. Jesus taught His disciples to make a difference with their lives. He taught them that in order to bring change to a community; they have to take an active role.
The Salt of the Earth
Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Jesus gives a declaration, YOU ARE THE SALT! As we look at what salt does, we can see how we can be salty today. As it was true then, it is still true today that salt has many applications. Lets look at some practical applications of salt that can help us.
In verse 13, Jesus uses this metaphor of salt to show his followers how valuable they are and their great purpose. Technically speaking, if salt is not salty it’s not really salt. Jesus uses this illustration to emphasize the danger of losing purpose. The purpose of salt is to be salty. If it isn’t then we cannot use it. In the same way, a Christian who loses his purpose is not useful to the Lord. A Hidden Influence
1. Salt gives taste. In the old days, until today, salt was applied to food. Salt by itself doesn’t taste very good but when it’s applied to food it unleashes the flavor. As Christians we are God’s “seasoning” in the world. Christians should be adding spice to a spiritually tasteless world.
13 and the works of Satan. The New Testament presents Christ as the personification of Salt is a preservative that holds back light. In John 8:12: “I am the light of the decay. Used in this way, salt doesn’t make world. Whoever follows me will never walk something good; it just keeps it from going in darkness, but will have the light of life.” bad. God has put us into a rotting and dead The Bible makes it clear that all who catch world in order to preserve it. But, to do that, and reflect the light of Christ are themselves we must be connected to our community. called “light.” 3. Salt creates thirst. Matthew 5:14-15: “You are the light of the They say that it’s the reason why a lot of world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. restaurant buffets have salty food – you Neither do people light a lamp and put it end up drinking more water so you make under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, fewer trips to the buffet. When we’re mixing and it gives light to everyone in the house. up with those who don’t know Christ, God Homes back then generally had just one uses us to make people thirsty for Jesus. room which served as a combination living That’s what’s behind Colossians 4:6: “Let and dining area. To one side would be a large your conversation be always full of grace, chest containing pots and baskets and bowls. seasoned with salt, so that you may know As evening drew near and darkness fell, the how to answer everyone.” When we treat chest would be placed in the center of the people with gentleness and respect they will room for use as a table for supper. A candle be more apt to listen to our message. or lamp would be carefully lit and placed on In all of these three cases, salt must be the top. It was the only light in the room. brought into contact with its object in order As the family gathered for supper, they for its power to be released. We cannot turned their backs to the darkness and the impact our community and our world in light illuminated their faces. Those listening the four walls of this church. The only way knew the importance of the single source of we can make a difference is by going out light in the center of the room. And when there where the people are. If we’re serious Jesus mentioned the idea of someone taking about obeying the command of Christ then a bowl and putting it over the light, I picture we need to penetrate lives with the message them laughing at the very foolishness of the of the gospel. When Christians get right with thought. It would have been ridiculous to God and begin to express their Christianity cover the only light in the room! through their lifestyle, our neighborhoods and workplaces cannot help but be changed. Being Light 2. Salt is a preservative.
What difference are you making? Have you lost your saltiness? A Visible Light
Influence
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There are at least three functions of light. 1. It drives out darkness.
The first function of light is to drive out darkness so that we can see. John 1:4-5 says Salt is a hidden but powerful influence. Light this about Jesus, “In Him was life, and that on the other hand, is a visible and revealing life was the light of men. The light shines influence. Before Adam and Eve were created, in the darkness, but the darkness has not the Almighty brought light into being In understood it.” Jesus came to get rid of the Genesis 1:3-4: “Let there be light; and there darkness but many people don’t like having was light. And God saw that the light was His brightness around because it hurts their good.” Throughout the Bible, light represents eye. Light helps to reveal things as they truth, grace, and the awesome activity of really are. God, while darkness symbolizes sin, evil,
20TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
2. It gives guidance. When we live out our faith in the midst of our family, friends, and neighbors, our life can guide people to the right path. Psalm 119:130 says, “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Jesus has passed the torch to his disciples. He moved on so we could step in. Just as His manner of life and speech illuminated the way out of darkness into a relationship with the Father, in the same way, by the way we live and the things we say, we are to guide people to the light of the world. 3. It reveals what is there. Psalm 34:5 says, “Those who look to Him are radiant.” As we turn our attention to Christ and savor His presence, His light will radiate on our faces and people will want to experience what we have. When we shine for Jesus, people will “see” or “know” that what we do come from God. By allowing Jesus to brighten our lives, we will reflect His love to others. If He does not make a difference in your life, then you either need to be born again or you need to repent of sin and allow Him to rekindle the fire. Practical Tips: Here are some practical ways to be the salt and light of the earth: · B y forgiving someone who has wronged you · B y standing up for someone who is being criticized · B y making a stand for sexual purity by pledging to save yourself for marriage · B y having regular Quiet Times with the Lord and family devotions · B y showing mercy to people in need · B y volunteering in community services
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HOW TO WIN PEOPLE TO THE LORD By Christine Millan Making disciples of all nations is the great commission given by Jesus to his followers. It is our responsibility to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and continually learn from Him and then to lead others to Him as we take our Journey of faith.
An example of one such person who is active in reaching out to people in the Toronto community is Kat Alimurong. Hence, I decided to interview her to get tips on how to reach out better. Below is her response:
Therefore, I wanted to do the same thing from the time that I came to know the Lord. I have a passion to invite people to church, not just to sit in the services, but to experience a life of following Jesus. There are challenges in sharing the word because I get different reactions every time but I consider those challenges to be “colors on the painting”.
S — ee them as people who need the Lord. Anyone without Jesus is like a lost sheep. M — irror the love of Christ to them. Build relationships with them. Get to know them. Sharing the Gospel is not like selling a car. You have to build relationships with people so that you can share the gospel to them in a way that is relevant for them. I — nvest time. Uphold them in prayer and make yourself available to be a friend to them in times of need.
I will answer this question in two segments. First, I’d like to share my own personal experience on how I came to know the Lord.
I am also very blessed that I have started training as a care group leader to a group who composed of mostly my friends, some of them from the time that I was still an unbeliever, too. Thank God that He poured out the desires in my heart to really invest time in prayer and sharing to the lives of these people.
One of the key things I remember is that those who shared to me about Christ did not give up. I remember those people and highly give credit to them.
Now I would like to share some tips on how to approach people when sharing about Christ. I simply put them in the acronym: S-M-I-L-E.
E- njoy every moment! Never get tired of serving!
L — ive it! Let your light shine! Make sure that the Gospel you are presenting is the Gospel that you, yourself are living.
Kat has recently received the prestigious Philip Award for Evangelism from CLC Brampton and is currently a backup singer for CLC Toronto’s Worship Team.
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Because you
Shared
By Lorraine Mendoza
Because someone shared, Life’s never been the same. I’ve come to know a Savior Who calls me by name.
They encouraged me To live a godly life. To pursue righteousness Despite suffering and strife.
Try to take a few minutes To share on the bus, God never said He was Too busy for us.
As a little girl, I heard about Christ, But had not fully understood He paid the ultimate price.
They picked me up Every time I fell. They never gave up Because they knew very well...
Or in the office As people fight for their right, Stay true to the faith And shine your light.
A God so powerful Yet in humility, Came as a man To set us free.
How each and every soul Is important to Christ. For every individual, His life was sacrificed.
Even in the home, If people don’t know the LORD, Keep sharing His Truth Even if they get bored.
As I grew in faith And served in the ministry, I encouraged young believers Who were just like me.
Don’t be discouraged If you feel you did not succeed. For in the heart of that person, You’ve planted a seed.
Then I realized The importance of sharing, Of loving, of serving, Of friendship and caring.
Let’s not give up There’s much work to be done. Let’s share Christ till all souls For His kingdom are won!
To take the time To ask how they are. To bring back a brother or sister That has strayed very far.
Remember how vital Your role can be In changing a life significantly.
He took our sins As He died on that cross. He came to seek And save the lost Yet as I grew up, I only talked the talk Sadly however, I didn’t walk the walk. Frustration from the past Caused hurt to bottle up inside. Insecurity and brokenness I tried my best to hide. But the LORD saw me And poured out His love and grace. He pursued me through people I met face to face. These people cared About my very soul. They pointed me to The ultimate goal.
Things done for the LORD Are the only things that last. Nothing else matters, Not even the past. So let’s stop making excuses Of having no time... For there’s a dying world out there Full of sin and of crime.
Know that all things Work together for good God will reward you As He said He would. Who knows one day You’ll see how these people have fared. You may see them in Heaven Just because you shared.
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YOUTH 412 CONFESSIONS OF A LOVE-A-HOLIC By Mylyn Alcantara (CLC Toronto) I’ve always prayed for the perfect fairy tale, but why is God still keeping my prince charming? Sometimes, waiting for God’s will can take forever. Or at least it may seem like forever. To be honest, I know I’m only twenty-one (in adult terms, that’s very young), but there are certain times when I feel like I’ve been waiting a million years for that one person that God has prepared for me. Recently, everyone appears to be getting into relationships – boyfriend, girlfriend or even just a special someone. Sometimes, I do feel like I’m missing out on the love train and my
PARENT/ YOUTH TIME OUT By Josephine Lopez (CLC London Youth Leader) On February 18, 2012, CLC London held its first ever Parent and Youth Timeout. It was a night where Parents got to spend time with their youth during their youth fellowship. It was a youth gathering unlike any other. During the Youth Leadership 2012 Planning Meeting, the Lord impressed in everyone the importance of having the parents become more involved in the lives
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
patience starts to run a little low. Sometimes, I ask God “when will my God’s will ever come?” That’s when I met this boy. He made me feel happy and giddy inside. He said all the good things I wanted to hear, and he seemed to have everything I wanted on my list. Except for one – he didn’t have Jesus inside his heart. Still, I was convinced that maybe through my life, he would learn to love God and start living for Him. However, I had a wrong mindset. Soon enough, he influenced me more than I influenced him. At one point, it felt like he became the top priority instead of God. It became apparent to me that whenever I am disconnected with God, my life is always a mess. I am absolutely dysfunctional without God. As soon as the storms in my life hit, this boy was nowhere to be found. It honestly felt like the greatest deal of pain when he left, but it was just God’s pruning. Although it was hard, God showed me the things that needed change in my life – the old habits, the bad company, and even the need to be with someone. This is when I realized how much God loved me. He loved me so of their youth when it comes to their spiritual growth and maturity. Since then, the congregation and the parents were encouraged and rallied to join and support their kids on the Parent and Youth Timeout with the theme entitled “Snow White and the 7 Do’s” which is based on the Youth’s Winter Theme “WipeOut, White-In”. On regular weekly fellowships, parents would just drop and pick up their young people to and from the venue, but this time the parents were able to experience and see what their youth are involved in. One of the highlights of the night was the time when both parents and youth were asked to anonymously write something that they’d like to say to each other that they could never boldly say face to face. All these notes were collected and as agreed by all, they were read out loud and everyone gets to hear the wishes, requests, prayers and expectations of both parents and youth. It was an eye opener and a heartmelting moment most especially for the parents. God’s presence and love was so ever present that night that it caused the parents and youth to come
Compiled by Hannah Belleza much that He wanted the best for me. Throughout this experience, I have learned to humble myself before God and to surrender my all to Him, including my love life. He has never failed to give me peace and pure joy in the midst of trials. I even became more thankful for the great support system in my life. God sent me amazing older sisters in Christ to encourage me and be my role model in waiting for God’s answer, and my family supplied me with hope and support. I am truly blessed with love! Although waiting for God’s will seems to take forever, God’s best is always worth the wait. I always tell myself that instead of getting frustrated, take the time to fall in love with Jesus daily. It’s the best love ever, and it’s guaranteed that He will love me back! For now, I need to focus on being the woman that God wants me to be, set my priorities straight (school, ministry, etc.), and in God’s perfect time, He will let the right man come into my life. *Mylyn Alcantara is going to Baja, Mexico from July 14- July 21 along with Global Expeditions. If you would like to donate, you can visit http://www.teenmania.ca and her ID number is 2660247 under Global Expedition Missionaries.
together on their knees in prayer and total surrender to Him. It wasn’t just a pleasant sight, but it was a glorious moment in the presence of the Lord! What an awesome and loving God we serve! At the end of the night, parents unanimously requested to have this event on a quarterly basis. Praise God! CLC London’s next scheduled Parent and Youth Timeout is on April 28, 2012 with the theme entitled “Beauty at its Best” based on the Youth’s Spring Theme “Spring Cleaning – From the Inside Out”. The church will always be there to nurture and disciple our young people to grow and mature in their relationship with the Lord, but the church can’t do it alone; the church needs the partnership of the parents under the leadership and direction of the Lord Jesus Christ. Together, we will be able to raise our young people to be the people God created them to be – not just inside the church, but most importantly outside the church. Together, let’s help them realize their God-given potential in every area of their lives. They are the future leaders of our church, city, and nation.
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“I’m Dating an Unbeliever” By Hannah Belleza
“Do you think it’s okay to be in a romantic relationship with an unbeliever?” I can’t count the number of times my friends have asked me this. The plain and simple answer to that can be found in 2 Corinthians 6:14: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” Maricar Aruta of CLC Scarborough has had the privilege and blessing of having been in a godly relationship with her husband before they were married. She shares her experiences with her husband, Alex when they were still a young couple to encourage the young people of CLC to pursue godly relationships. Alex and I met at church and became friends. We didn’t tell each other this until later, but there was an immediate attraction between us. We kept our feelings secret from each other and remained friends. We were both involved in the Praise & Worship ministry and Youth group. As we continued to spend time together, it was obvious that our feelings were getting stronger. As we started dating, we were faced with trials and challenges. Our love for each other was questioned by our church leaders, family, and friends—maybe this was just an infatuation and would soon fade away. Our families feared that I would get pregnant out of wedlock. This challenged us to prove them wrong. Then, the “no-datinguntil-18” rule came to effect. With Alex being younger, we were forced to break-up. It was difficult for us, but we obeyed. We knew if we could overcome this trial, it will not only make our relationship stronger, but we will also receive the blessing of God because we obeyed our leaders and parents.
When we were allowed to date again, we knew we needed to keep God the centre of our relationship. Our youth leader gave us a choice to meet with him once a month to talk about our relationship and make sure that we continue to walk in line with God. He would always remind us how our relationship is like a triangle—with God being at the top and us at the bottom. As we continue to focus on God, He will bring us closer to one another. Maricar also shares her reflection on how things would have been like if she or Alex had been a non-Christian when they were dating. In any relationship, temptations are always there. Ultimately, it is your decision whether to sin and give in to temptation. We strived to keep the purity in our relationship by praying together and memorizing Bible verses. If one of us weren’t a believer, it would be difficult to understand the reason behind prayer and memory verses. Also, our priorities would have been different if one was an unbeliever. For example, one may decide to watch a movie instead of going to church. Usually, the believer ends up compromising his/her faith and neglects it altogether. Giving up on the relationship would also be easy to do if one was not a believer. It would be difficult for the unbeliever to forgive and set aside his/her pride, which can easily lead to fights, arguments, and eventually, breakups. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” In 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Bad company corrupts good character.” If you are in a relationship where God is the centre, you will encourage one another to get closer to God. You will work towards the same spiritual goal and that is to please Him.
Dating is a preparation for marriage; therefore, whomever you date should be someone who will respect your purity and help you grow in your faith in God. Maricar’s advice for youth and young adults who are currently in ungodly relationships with nonBelievers? Evaluate your relationship and check whether it is bringing you closer to God. If it is not because the other person is not a Christian, pray together and bring him/her to church so that he/she may come to have a relationship with Jesus. If that person decides not to get close to God, then that relationship is not the will of God for you. Alex and Maricar Aruta are currently the leaders of the Praise and Worship team of CLC Scarborough. They are also well-loved by the Young Adults Group of the said satellite, which they are presently heading.
CHAMPION LIFE CENTRE SATELLITES By God’s grace, in the past 20 years Champion Life
London. In addition, CLC has planted churches
Centre was used by the Lord to establish several
in Ghana, Africa and has affiliations in the
churches in Ontario who are now independently
Philippines. CLC is blessed by God to be a blessing
operating with full-time pastors.
Presently,
to the nations. Starting with local crusades in
CLC is one church with multiple locations in
the area, the Church has sent mission teams to
Brampton, Toronto, Scarborough, Calgary, and
Asia, Africa, also North America and Europe.
BRAMPTON
CALGARY
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LONDON
TORONTO
SCARBOROUGH
CHAMPION LIFE CENTRE MINISTRIES Twenty years of serving through our various ministries and counting... CHAMPION LIFE CENTRE MINISTRY LIST: Young Adults
Seniors’
Youth
Christian Education
Children’s Church
Discipleship Leadership Training
Mens’ Ministries
Womens’ Ministries
Ushering Parking Control Technical Transportation Building & Maintenance
Communion Food Bank Hospitality Social Single Parents’ Kitchen
Praise & Worship
Bookstore/Library
Installations
Family Life
Information Technology
Networking
CARE Group
Web Design & Management Computer Repairs & Software
MULTICULTURAL MEMBERS
Nursery Primary Junior Senior Vacation Bible School
Creative Arts
Music Dance Drama
Media
Video & Tape Production Newsletters Desktop Publishing Promotions
COMMUNITY SERVICES
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YOUTH HANGOUT
CHURCH PLANTS
20TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
MULTICULTURAL MEMBERS
MISSION IN AFRICA
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
INTERNATIONAL MISSION IN JAPAN
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
FEEDING PROGRAM
20TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
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THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS
Congratulations to Champion Life Centre on your 20th Anniversary!
Pastor Jong and Nikki Duterte 951 Wilson Ave. Unit #3 North York, Ontario M3K2A7 Telephone: +1 (905) 497- 9465 Email: winontario@rogers.com
Congratulations to Champion Life Centre’s 20th Anniversary!
E. Excel International Inc. www.eexcel.net
George Chu Ph.D. & Julia Lin Ph.D. Independent Diamond Master 905-399-1012 gchu@cogeco.ca & jlin@cogeco.ca
Congratulations to Champion Life Centre’s 20th Anniversary!
Living Bridge Assembly Agape Church of Glory / Agape Christian Center www.agapechristiancenter.ca Ptr. Dr. George Chu & Rev. Dr. Julia Lin 905-336-1337 gchu@agapechristiancenter.ca jlin@agapechristiancenter.ca
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Warmest Greetings on your 20th anniversary from The Praise To Victory Ministry. May your labour bring more fruits of righteouness unto the life of the Champion Life Church . as a sweet smelling offering unto the Lord Jesus Christ. May you rise up as Mt. Zion an everlasting Church of the Lord. Pastors Tony and Lorrie Esguerra The Praise to Victory Ministry
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Congratulations on your 20th Anniversary! God’s Richest Blessings for your future!
Pastor Roger and Ingrid Malcolm Warden Full Gospel Assembly Senior Pastors
Warden Full Gospel Assembly 2210 Warden Avenue Scarborough, ON M1T 1V6 416.494.2201
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From all of us at
288 Cummer Avenue, Toronto - Ontario willowdalepc.com
Congratulations to Champion Life Centre on your 20th Anniversary! “We celebrate with you this important milestone in the history of Champion Life. We rejoice with your vision, and what the Lord has done through the Champion Life family. May the Lord use you the impact the nations.�
Pastor Alvin and Patricia Koh 288 Cummer Ave. Toronto, Ontario M2M 2E7 Tel: (416) 322-5105 Email: mail@life-spring.org
WHAT’S UP AND COMING? Life Saver Conference: Celebrating Two Decades of Saving Lives “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.” Proverbs 11:30 NIV
CONTACT US
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AT CLC BRAMPTON: JUNE 28 7:30 pm Welcome / Start of the 20th Anniversary Celebration – Speaker: Michael Puffet JUNE 29 9:30 am Leadership Training – Speaker: Michael Puffet JUNE 29 7:30 pm Youth and Young Adults Rally – Speaker: Michael Puffet JUNE 30 6:30 pm The CLC Vision: Being a LifeSaver and the Each One, Reach One Campaign — Speakers: Jerry Berenguer and Lorrie Gibbons JUNE 30 6:00 pm General Meeting – Speaker: Bill Moore JULY 1 10:30 am “Thanksgiving Service” – Speaker: Bill Moore “Bless Canada Festival” – A whole day event after the Thanksgiving Service
55 Hedgedale Rd. 905.455.9025 info@championlife.ca
BRAMPTON
TORONTO
Forest Hill United Church 2 Wembly Rd. 905.455.9025 toronto@championlife.ca SCARBOROUGH
Warden Full Gospel Assembly 2210 Warden Ave. scarborough@championlife.ca LONDON
1069 Clarke Road, Unit B London Ontario N5V 3B3 519.453.2131 london@championlife.ca
F.Y.I. (FOR YOUR INSPIRATION)
CALGARY
Why is it important to share the Word of God? Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
- Psalm 119:105
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
- 1 Peter 2:2
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
- Romans 10:17
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
- Revelation 1:3
Metis Centre 1539 43rd St. SE Calgary, Alberta 403.207.8815 calgary@championlife.ca
Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
PHILIPPINES
-Matthew 28:18-20
32 MRC St., Talipapa Novaliches, Quezon City +63.936.6939 novaliches@championlife.ca
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
SERVICE TIMES
- Luke 9:23
In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
Living Proof @ Youth Hangout Fridays @ 7:30 PM
- John 3:3
Sunday Service: Brampton at 10:30 AM Calgary at 11:00 AM Toronto at 3:00 PM London at 10:30 AM Scarborough at 3:00 PM
BIBLE HUMOUR
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
- Psalm 119:130
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
JOIN US! We are always looking for writers, contributors, and photographers. If you have a passion for design, publication, or writing please don’t hesitate to become a part of our team. Please e-mail us at CLC_Chronicles@yahoo.com
- Joshua 1:8
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the