Joining the civility revolution
by Rev. Dr. Ed & Janice Hird
Canadians used to be known for how polite and kind we were. We were famous for saying sorry, and putting others first. Have you noticed that many of us seem to becoming a lot ruder and insensitive? The COVID lockdowns didn’t help. It often brought out the worst in people and forced many into lonely isolation. What can we do about the anger and nastiness that seems to be sweeping much of Canada?
There’s good news. Alexandra Hudson and her mom Judi Vankevich have launched a civility revolution, to bring back civility and kindness to our public and private lives. We recently attended The Soul of Civility book launch for Western Canada where Alexandra and Judi cast their vision for how goodness and decency can be brought back into the very fabric of how we do life together.
Hudson came home to B.C. from her new home in Indiana. This was part of her 35city book tour – from Canadian Parliament to speaking at the Alabama Supreme Court
– promoting the conversation around the need for civility. Hudson attended TWU in Langley, B.C. and followed that with a Masters’ Degree at London School of Economics on a Rotary scholarship.
Vankevich is internationally known as Judi The Manners Lady. She is an awardwinning singer, family entertainer, educator, and author. Her book and videos help the often forgotten Ten Commandments come alive for children. Her CD, It’s Fun to Have Good Manners! won Best Children’s Album of the Year for the Covenant Awards. Her new children’s book, The Bad Manners Monsters and The Kindness Keys, is an allegory to help children (of all ages) “take every thought captive.”
Vankevich first launched the non-profit Civility Project in 2003. Langley, Abbotsford, and Vancouver were the first communities in Canada to celebrate National Manners and Character Day and now they are planning on launching the Civility Movement across Canada and the US.
Hudson said that her parents, Judi and Ned, a TWU Professor, are wonderfully intellectually curious. They gave her their love for the great Russian Christian philosophers like Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Solzhenitsyn. Her upcoming book is on autodidactic learning, which is self-taught and ongoing. She wants Christians to more intentionally reclaim their robust intellectual and historical heritage.
stopping to think and then conversing quietly and gently with them.
A city councilor from Carmel, Indiana invited Hudson to launch their communitywide, multi-event civility conversation with the theme, “We Can Do Better.” Hudson shared how we can recover civil community through learning to ‘porch’ together. By this, she means not just relying on impersonal social media, but actually hanging out together in person on each other’s porches, front lawns, coffee shops, or similar shared spaces. The civility revolution can start in very small ways. Our internet algorithms encourage us to hide from others in our self-absorbed silos, never deeply listening to those who might think differently than us. Our highly divided culture often encourages us to fear those who hold different views on specific issues. Hudson encourages us to rediscover the humanity of every person who are all made in God’s image. So, all people are of deep inherent worth and dignity. Civility is not yelling at the other person to make your point, but
As a dual Canadian/US citizen, Hudson has been active in politics in both Ottawa and Washington, DC. Sometimes she met aggressive, impolite people in the public realm. What concerned her more though was outwardly polite people who were just as ruthless, first using and then discarding others. This is why she prefers the concept of civility, because it speaks of genuine character. Civility is not about pretending to just fit in, but rather graciously listening and then speaking your truth in difficult situations.
She observed that as family, faith, and friendships have fragmented, politics is inappropriately filling the vacuum. The political culture wars are endless. People never get a break from politics, which Hudson says, ends up harming our souls and family life. Politics, which is a good thing, has become for many an idol, the ultimate source of meaning and purpose. What if we spent more time with our family, friends and colleagues celebrating the sublime beauty of God’s creation? Wouldn’t that be revolutionary in our deeply conflicted culture?
We thank God for this mother-daughter Christian team who have not given up on kindness and civility.
BC Christian Academy – 500 Students
BC Christian Academy (BCCA) recently marked a significant milestone in its journey of faith and education, celebrating the enrollment of 500+ students.
This momentous achievement does not only reflect our growth but also underscores the unwavering commitment of BC Christian Academy to its core values.
In the words of Mr. Ian Jarvie, the Head of School, “Today we celebrate a momentous landmark in BC Christian Academy’s history. In fact, we have reached 503 students from K-12 as of today! What a blessing it is to share with our school community God’s blessings and faithfulness over the past 32 years!” With heartfelt appreciation, Mr. Jarvie acknowledged the divine blessings and the steadfast support of the community, which have been instrumental in this remarkable surge in enrollment.
The journey to this milestone began decades ago, rooted in BCCA’s steadfast commitment to its foundational principles: Christ, Community, and Compassion.
Since its inception in 1992, the school has diligently nurtured these values, shaping its identity and purpose. Mr. Jarvie reflected on this journey, emphasizing how the focus on these values has not only attracted new families but also fostered a deep sense of belonging and unity among the BCCA community.
As BCCA continues to flourish, Mr. Jarvie reiterated the school’s commitment to remain faithful to its calling, steadfastly pursuing its vision of “equipping students to impact the world for Jesus.”
With hearts full of gratitude to God, whose unwavering guidance has faithfully authored BCCA’s story and the community whose steadfast support has made this milestone possible, BCCA embarks on the next chapter of its journey in shaping hearts and minds for generations to come. To learn more about BCCA, please attend our C Our Story tour. Book now at bcchristianacademy.ca and be part of our transformative story.
Alexandra Hudson on the left with her mom Judi Vankevich
The blessing of a Mother Building Strong Families in Canada
by Dr. Neil Campbell
In an era where the very definition of family is undergoing profound transformation, the traditional family structure, as we have known it in Canada, finds itself under scrutiny and redefinition. As debates rage on about what constitutes a family, it becomes increasingly evident that the strength of a nation is tied to the strength of its families. A survey done several years ago found that everyone wants to have a strong marriage and their children to turn out ok.
In our travels we found that the tiny nation of Singapore has the motto “Strong families build a strong nation.” In fact, parents are required to take yearly classes to help equip them to fulfill their roles of raising well-adjusted and strong children. The essence of this motto underscores a universal truth: the family serves as the cornerstone of society. It is within the family that values are instilled, character is molded, and faith is passed on.
This new monthly article series aims to provide readers with practical tools and tips to empower them in raising the next generation. Central to this is the recognition of the pivotal role that both fathers and mothers play in shaping the character, values, and faith of their children and grandchildren. God designed that empowerment to prosper from His heart, through parents towards all His children. This empowerment to prosper answers two questions, ‘Who Am I?’ and ‘Why Am I here?’
There are seven critical times of blessing in a person’s life that answers these seven key identity questions that help shape their life. The word blessed comes from the Greek word eulogemene which literally means to speak well of, to affirm, to bless. From this word we get our English word eulogy where we usually speak well of someone at their funeral but God has designed that we would ‘eulogemene’ our children at those seven critical times in their lives.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day this month, we will look briefly at the first four critical times of blessing and how a mother has a profound influence in shaping the lives of her children. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is an example of how a
mother is the primary shaper of identity in the hearts and minds of her children in their formative years.
In the annunciation the angel of the Lord blessed Mary with these words, “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” (Luke 1:28 KJV).
The blessing of the angel prepared Mary to conceive, by the Holy Spirit. Thus, answering the identity question at the moment of conception, “Am I welcome in this world?” Life begins at conception, where the genetic blueprint of a child is laid down, reflecting the image of God in which they are created. God sent the angel to bless Mary and put her heart at ease so she would be prepared to receive the news and welcome this child.
Several years ago, we watched the movie portrayal Jesus of Nazareth. Mary is a young girl and is starting to show. The people in her small community are noticing and wondering what has happened, was she unfaithful to Joseph or perhaps it was Roman soldier. Mary’s father sends her to stay with her older cousin Elizabeth who is six months pregnant with John the Baptist. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” The blessing in the womb answers the identity question, “Is there a safe place for me?” It is within the womb of a mother that a safe place is provided, nurturing the precious gift of life entrusted to her care. Today we see that the womb of a woman is not always the safest place as 50 percent of children conceived out of wedlock are aborted in Canada.
The third critical time of blessing is at birth, and it answers the question, “Will my needs be met in this world?” Only God could orchestrate this blessing for His Son. He sends out the angels of heaven and they announce his birth to the shepherds. They went and saw the baby in the manger and they returned praising God (Luke 2:8-20). The birth of a child is a
The Elisha Code
by David Kitz & Dr. Ed Hird
Is there a “hidden code” to the Bible – a code hidden in plain sight-we have been missing for generations? By studying the ministry of Jesus, we can rediscover the blueprint he was following to launch the first-century church. It is a blueprint patterned after the prophetic Old Testament ministries of Elijah and Elisha. Together, let’s crack the Elisha Code, renew our first love, and become participants in the next great endtimes revival – a revival marked by a double portion of Christ’s miraculous anointing.
time to welcome them into this world where the newborn bonds with the mother and father. A child in biblical times was given a name that would represent their character and their destiny. The angel Gabriel gave him the name Jesus (Yeshua) which means God Saves, as his proper name, which expresses both his identity and his mission. Likewise, it is important to ask the Lord for a name for our children as there is a prophetic meaning and destiny for them. Our youngest grandson’s name is Jude (Son of praise), Alexis (Defender of others), Neil (Champion of men).
Blessing at early childhood addresses the question, “Who can I trust in the world?” In the biblical story, we find an example of trust and provision in the story of Jesus and the gifts brought by the wise men. In Matthew 2:11, it is recorded, And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. This act of presenting valuable gifts to the infant Jesus symbolizes not only the acknowledgment of His Divine Nature but also the provision for his parents to provide for him. Just as Jesus was provided for and protected in his infancy, so too we can trust in the provision and care extended to us, especially in the formative years of childhood by our mothers. As mothers, we need to teach our children that they have a Father in Heaven they can fully trust. Our children learn that through our example of trusting God.
We honour the role of mothers this month and bless each of you to prosper emotionally, spiritually, and physically as you teach, train and bless your children and grandchildren in these critical times in their lives.
To learn more about “The Power of a Parent’s Blessing” check out these free resources at https://familydreaminstitute.ca/families/building-strong-families/
Community
Delta Hospice Society (DHS)
by Jack A. Taylor
Angela Ireland (President of DHS) and Dr. Will Johnson teamed up together to reaffirm the life of the Delta Hospice Society in a Youtube video titled The Story of Euthanasia Johnson has been fighting the onslaught of euthanasia now for 30 years and Ireland led a two-year battle to save the organization from a hostile takeover by activists. During that struggle the society grew from 200 members to over 12,000.
“Every life is a precious gift, and every life is always of equal value,” is the first core value of the society. This is paired with a second value that “No person has the right to shorten or end another life.”
Ireland initially engaged with the society out of gratitude through her own journey as a cancer survivor. She became president in 2019.
Following the model of hospice set up by Dame Cicily Saunders in 1967 in London, modern hospices focus on excellent clinical care, education, and research. The first Canadian palliative care units opened in 1974 in Winnipeg’s St. Boniface General Hospital and in Montreal’s Royal Victoria Hospital by Dr. Balfour Mount. In 1981, the Palliative Care Foundation in Toronto proposed a definition of palliative care. They state that “palliative care is active compassionate care of the terminally ill at a time when they’re no longer responsive to traditional treatment aimed at cure and prolongation of life and when the control of symptoms, physical and emotional, is paramount. It is multidisciplinary in its approach and encompasses the patient, the family, and the community in its scope.”
The rulings
The society rose to life as a non-profit and charity in 1991 during the turmoil of the Sue Rodriguez case. While Rodriguez (suffering with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – ALS) lost her case 5-4 at the Supreme Court, it opened the door to a public discussion which saw the revised Supreme Court rule 9-0 (in February 2015 during the Carter case) that doctors could now kill patients under strict guidelines. That ruling had serious implications and impact for the society which had “developed out of a need to support families living with the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness as well as those who are bereaved.”
The safeguards put in place by Justices Beverley McLach-
lin, Louis LeBel, Rosalie Silberman Abella, Marshall Rothstein, Thomas Albert Cromwell, Michael J. Moldaver, Andromache Karakatsanis, Richard Wagner, and Clement Gascon, were soon circumvented and patients could shop around for a willing physician to end their pain.
Johnson points out that an anesthesiologist named Peter Admiraal had started circumventing the law in Holland during the 1980’s through ‘mercy killing’ and the police empathized with his efforts and refused to prosecute. This doctor told Johnson in the 1990’s of his concern over euthanasia if it ever became legal because there was no way to control it. Johnson notes “there is no way to put the genie back in the bottle.” He says “the autonomy of the individual has been made into a religion – the only religion of those pushing for euthanasia.”
On September 29, 1994, during the Canadian Senate Special Committee on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide (17), Dr. Karl Gunning testified the following:
“The lesson we can pass on to the world is that when you admit that killing is a solution to one problem, you will have many more problems tomorrow for which killing may also be a solution. Once you take away the dike that protects us, and if you only have one hole in the dike – and we have some experience with dikes in Holland – there will be a big flood, the dike will break, and the land will be flooded. That is exactly what is happening now in Holland… We talk about the slippery slope. Holland is no longer on the slippery slope; it has turned into Niagara Falls, which we will go down quickly.
The Canadian government has not walked into this path blindly.
Mind virus
The first purpose of DHS is “to provide compassionate care and support, consistent with the principles of Palliative Care, for persons in the last stages of living, so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible, until their natural death.” This fits perfectly with the third value of the society that “end of life care is the enrichment of life to its natural end. The social, legal, cultural, political, and health care
changes in Canada since 2016 have spun a web of lies to undermine this purpose and value.
Johnson says that “we’ve been given a mind virus that stops people from thinking clearly about the problem that is being managed.” This is seen even in the name Medical Assistance in Dying which makes euthanasia “palatable and acceptable.” The implication is that patients can’t be helped to die in any other way. He thinks parents need to wake up because even kids are at risk in a ‘real and present danger.’
“The drugs administered in MAiD are the same as used in death row executions.” It appears peaceful because it’s a paralytic. The first freezes your ability to respond then the rest of the drugs work to stop your heart and to allow your lungs to fill up so that you drown.
Euthanasia deaths have risen from 1,018 in 2016 to over 13,241 in 2022, with around 50,000 lost to MAiD throughout Canada. 63 percent had cancer and 19 percent had heart conditions. 91 percent of MAiD deaths were performed by doctors. There were 1,837 licensed practitioners as of 2022. A rise of more than 30 percent happened in 2022 as the practice became more accepted in the health care system. DHS has now implemented an Advance Directive for their palliative care which instructs medical personnel “Do Not Euthanize.”
Rebecca Vachon, health program director at the publicpolicy group CARDUS said “It’s alarming that four percent of all deaths in Canada last year involved euthanasia, ‘especially when we’re looking at continuing to expand eligibility.’” DHS has a fourth value that “Palliative care is the medical, social, psychological and spiritual care of a dying person” and affirms in a fifth value that “Palliative care never involves euthanasia, assisted suicide or any other intervention intended to hasten death.” 20 percent of MAiD recipients did not receive palliative care even though 88 percent had access to it.
The loss
The first ‘Celebrate a Life Campaign’ happened during the Christmas season of 1991 and the Delta Community Hospice Foundation arose to manage funds in 1995. $8.5 million was raised by DHS to set up two buildings at 4635 Clarence Taylor
and faithful friends and is thankful to enjoy God’s favour.
Having completed a ‘Bachelor in Chemistry’, a ‘Masters in Managerial Psychology’ and ‘Certificate in Governance’, she is also thankful for her education. God has led her in an Organizational and Learning Development career for twenty years, and currently she is Executive Director of a Non-profit Community Organization in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.
Change has not only been a constant companion for Oluseun but something she enjoys studying, exploring it from multiple perspectives, including sustainability, human changes, relocation from Nigeria to multiple countries including Canada, educational learning etc. Now living in Kitchener-Waterloo, Oluseun chose it because the people were friendly, often smiling, which made her feel right at home. That was one of her easier decisions to make! Is it always this comfortable to adjust to change? Does she like to change?
“No!” Oluseun admits. Chuckling she adds, “I do not like change, or at least I’m not quick to like it, but I’ve learned
gerian chant,: “Who, did it?” She sings the answer: “Jesus! Oh my God…”
What does the Bible have to say about change and innovation? Oluseun notes that studying Nehemiah offers amazing instruction for business leaders. For example, after immigrating to a new country, Nehemiah hears about trouble back home. What does he do first? He stops and prays! Next? He comes up with an action plan that includes human and other capital resource planning. He assigns responsibilities to individuals and appoints timelines for tasks. When opposition appears – as it inevitably does –Nehemiah does not react, but confidently reallocates team responsibilities, sets new timelines, and trusts God. What an example!
Oluseun has two favourite authors: John P. Kotter, who wrote Leading Change and Heart of Change: Real-Life Stories of How People Change Their Organizations plus Jim Collins, author of Good to Great
Exploring Biblical principles
Angels There For You
Seniors managed to live longer with the Revolutionary Holistic approach to Home Care of Angels There for You Home Care
Angels There for You Home Care was born in 1999 out of love and compassion for seniors who were losing their home and their independence. The main goal for Angels owner Patricia Cruz, was to support seniors to remain at home as long as possible and her main purpose was to find the key to support seniors to live their last days feeling appreciated, respected, loved, and cared for.
Over 25 years Angels Home Care has helped thousands of seniors across the lower mainland with its Revolutionary ‘Holistic Home Care approach’. This revolutionary approach has challenged the traditional home care approach. Seniors have not only recovered faster and gained their independence but they found purpose in living longer.
Helping Seniors to age in health and wholeness
Living longer is the goal of every human being, but it is most important to live a life feeling useful, appreciated, cared for and cared about. Angels understands that caring for seniors involves addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of every client. Angels’ caregivers undergo a comprehensive training to understand their client’s psychological, emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.
“Understanding senior’s needs is the key to provide an effective home care,“ says Patricia Cruz.
“Caregiver’s empathy and compassion are the most important traits to provide the care desperately needed by seniors and their families.”
The Revolutionary approach to home care has improved the lives of many seniors who found the idea of leaving their cherished home and moving into a care facility very stressful. Angels approach
support your leadership vision.
Secondly, avoid unnecessary impatience. Even if you have the right plan, your plan can fail if you move too fast. Be patient. Be humble and actively seek to listen. Flexibility, and openness to realigning priorities, reassigning responsibilities and making other adjustments are all part of good change management technique. Success takes time. In fact, transformation is usually a bumpy ride journey, not an instantaneous fix or overnight trip.
“Connecting your Sunday Faith to your Monday Work” The Canadian Christian Business Federation exists to support business leaders in the study and application of Biblical Leadership Principles with peers in order to transform lives, strengthen businesses, and positively influence and impact our world. www.ccbf.org
Nancy Kingdon is an author and freelance writer who writes and donates these stories as a gift to the CCBF ministry. She may be reached through: www.writinglegacy.com
makes possible for seniors to remain safe in their own environment. Seniors not only feel cared for but truly understood. The Angels approach mission is to boost self-confidence, foster emotional stability, and provide a sense of purpose to their clients.
Patricia Cruz emphasizes that the emotional stability gained from staying in one’s home is immeasurable.
Tailored support for independent living
Every client has a unique personality and Angel’s care assessment manager prepares care plans encompassing a wide range of services to fit the needs of every client’s personality and health-related needs. Services range from personal care, nursing to companionship and assistance with daily tasks. However, extraordinary services are provided to keep clients mind active with games and memory drills. Healing Massages, exercises, and positive
outlook of life as well as a good portion of good sense of humour are some activities that sets the Angels approach to Home Care apart from other home care providers.
What does the Angels Home Care future look like?
Looking ahead Angels Home Care is determined to make caregiving more accessible to all seniors. With the rising demands of the sandwich generation – those who care for both children and aging parents – Angels Home care provider aims to integrate technology to enhance safety, communication and provide peace of mind to family members. Reducing financial stress by offering technology and gadgets that will provide friendly and affordable options to keep home care safe at home.
To learn more about Angels There for You visit http://atfy.ca.
Life & Family
Dear daughter with an unexpected pregnancy
by Rebecca Peters
Although you are not my daughter, you are a daughter to someone, and although I am not your mother, I am a mother to three. And so, I am writing to you as if you were one of my three.
If you were to tell me about your unexpected pregnancy, oh how I would have a million things running through my head and my heart, but probably not as many things as you have running through yours. First, I would try my best just to listen. As a mom, that’s hard to do because we usually have opinions and want to help and direct. But I would listen. Because I know you have so much inside of you that you just need to get out. Keeping it inside is overwhelming and confusing and painful. Like too many people
cornered into a small space. Sometimes, the loudest voices or feelings become the most important, but the quietest ones need to be heard and given space too. In fact, sometimes the quietest voices or feelings need to be listened to the most. Letting everything out of the crowded space within you, gives each thought and feeling the space to be heard.
Dear Daughter, what are you feeling? If you can’t tell me, I encourage you to find someone you can talk to who will listen. It’s good to have a safe space to let it all out. I would also encourage you to write out your feelings and thoughts. I do that when I have a big decision to make or even when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Somehow, getting it all out on paper helps me sort through everything.
When you have shared or written out all your thoughts and feelings and given yourself space to pause and breathe, you are ready to gather information. There’s a saying, “Ignorance is bliss.” But ignorance is not bliss; ignorance can lead to pain and choices we would not make if we knew more. I want you to know that knowledge is power, and you have the right to accurate information about your situation. I encourage you to make sure you understand the pros and cons of each option for an unexpected pregnancy: abortion, adoption, and parenting.
Lastly, I would ask you to share what’s in your heart. Putting aside what everyone else thinks or says, what is your heart telling you to do? If you could make fear be quiet, what would you do?
Statistics Canada reported that in 2022 Canada’s fertility rate dropped to an all-time low of 1.33 children per woman in her lifetime. Since the replacement rate would require a minimum of 2.1 children per woman, we have dropped way below that level.
We are now seeing the effects of declining birthrates. The fact that our population is aging is resulting in shortages of doctors, healthcare workers, and other sectors of society.
Our govenment is trying to solve the obvious problem by increasing immigration to levels that are resulting in shortages of housing, but are not solving the problem.
Abortion is the killing of a preborn child in the womb and its acceptance and promotion has to be opposed. As Christians we should ask ourselves: “What would Jesus do?”
Since abortion is legal in Canada at all stages of development, women have been misled to believe that abortion is a choice in an unplanned pregnancy.
Often they are not getting support to give life to their baby from those who are closest to them. That has to change
Ora et labora
Gerhard Herwig
Once you let every thought and feeling out, I encourage you just to breathe. Like literally – breathe. We hold our breath when we are in pain, and we rush to make the pain go away. As much as you feel like running away from this, I encourage you to pause and breathe. There is no “easy fix,” so rushing into a decision might bring temporary relief but leave you with long-term regret. When pain or difficulty is not easily “fixed,” we must learn how to breathe through it. This can help us calm down physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Dear Daughter, there is no one else like you, and I love that. You are unique, and your situation is unique. I want you to know that this unexpected pregnancy does not define who you are as a person. This pregnancy may have suddenly changed your life, but it does not have to limit it. You are incredibly strong. But you also don’t have to face this alone. Help is available for you – help to make an informed decision and help after you decide. We all need help and support. It’s ok to ask for it. So, dear Daughter – ask for help, ask for information, and take the time you need to make the best decision for you. You can do this. I believe in you. You are not alone.
If you need to talk to someone about an unexpected pregnancy and would like accurate information on your options, go to our website: https://pregnancycarecanada.ca/looking-for-help/. You can find a pregnancy care centre near you or you can connect with someone online who can help. We’re here for you. Reprinted with permission from pregnancycarecanada.ca
Rachel’s Vineyard Weekend Retreat –Healing After Abortion
Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreats offer a beautiful opportunity for healing to any woman or man who has struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of an abortion. The retreat focuses on God’s love and forgiveness in a non-judgmental environment. The event is open to, and welcomes, individuals of all denominations.
This year Rachel’s Vineyard will be held on May 24-25, 2024. The weekend begins on Friday afternoon and concludes on Sunday afternoon. The cost is $280 per person and includes lodging for two nights, meals, and materials. For those needing financial assistance, sponsorship is available. To register please call and ask for either Sara or Doreen at 604-525-0999 or email info@pacscanada. org. Registration deadline is May 17, 2024.
Rachel’s Vineyard Vancouver is a joint venture between Post Abortion Community Services and the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
Encounter God’s love
This summer why don’t you consider signing up for our School of Ministry - Coordinator Training? This course has been transformational for many individuals and changed the direction of their lives. If you mention that you read this advertisement, you can save an additional $300.00 by registering before the end of May.
This 8-day training is designed to help you experience the life-changing power of Jesus in your own life as you experience personal transformation, as well as be equipped to minister to the hearts of others.
You will experience spiritual transformation in your relationship with God, your friends, family, and co-workers. You will learn the process of ministry called Jesus Wonderful Counsellor that will equip you to minister to the hearts of others any place and any time.
For more information email canada@familyfoundations.ca or call Neil or Annette Campbell at 403-720-6772.
Every life a gift -
Cresent in Delta (completed in 2009). The first was a ten-bed hospice and care facility named the Irene Thomas Hospice. The second was a 7,500-foot supportive care centre named The Harold and Veronica Savage Centre for Supportive Care. An initial service agreement with Fraser Health Authority in 2010, including $1.5 million funding, turned into a nightmare for the society after Bill C-14 brought in MAiD and Bill C-7 expanded application.
When DHS refused to compromise on its commitment to Palliative Care the government cancelled their service agreement. They persevered. There was 25 years left on their 35-year lease agreement and this now came into question. The society was evicted from the property and since the buildings were fixtures on the land, these were expropriated. They have had to reduce their current services from 7,500 square feet to 200 square feet.
Creative fundraising events such as Celebration of Trees, Garden Tour, and Cottage Thrift Store had been used to supplement donor income. Back in 2005, Delta Hospice was chosen as one of eleven sites in Canada
Continued from page 4
piloting the Hospice Palliative Care Standards for the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA). It received full accreditation in 2006.
2021 saw the loss of the property and buildings set up by DHS. Despite Bill C-277 (Framework on Palliative Care in Canada Act) passed in 2017, and Health Canada’s endorsement, MAiD has overrun the purposes and dreams of DHS for now. A historic vote of its members on April 4, 2022, stated that the “Delta Hospice Society is pleased to announce that an overwhelming majority of members – 76 percent - endorsed the new constitution and bylaws while returning all 10 life-affirming directors to the Board, protecting Delta Hospice Society’s right to reject Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) advice and activities within its private national organization.”
Current practice
DHS continues in its purposes “to utilize and coordinate community services, professionals, volunteers and family to care for the needs of the patient, consistent with the principles of Palliative Care.”
About Pregnancy Options (Care) Centres
Who comes to a pregnancy options centre? Many people probably have a preconceived idea of who goes to a pregnancy centre – a teenage girl who has a “risky” lifestyle. In reality, the scope of clientele is much broader. Unplanned pregnancy crosses all boundaries, there is no demographic that is not affected in some way. What do PCCs do to help? Regardless of a client’s beliefs or back-ground, PCCs offer the practical help and hope many are looking for. This includes medically accurate information on the options available when facing a pregnancy decision: abortion, adoption and parenting. Knowing that none of the options is an easy solution, centres provide support in relation to each option.
In addition, many PCCs provide referrals for financial aids and housing, sexual health information and school presentations, and material supports such as baby supplies and maternity clothing for clients.
Beyond these tangible means of help and support, pregnancy care centre staff and volunteers offer unconditional love.
Spring Baby Bottle Campaign
Mothers Day to Fathers Day: May 12 – June 16, 2024
Each year the pregnancy care centres in the Lower Mainland have an annual campaign in support of their local centre. Baby bottles are provided to your church or group to be filled with spare change, bills, cheques or credit card donations. The funds that come in help to continue providing free services including pregnancy tests, options & peer counseling,
education & support, and mom & baby supplies.
Through your charitable giving, resources to support vulnerable pregnant women and their families are made possible.
Please support your local centre today. Spare change can make real change!
(Please see the ad below for contact info on the centre nearest you)
Suggestions for Christians to be of help?
Please don’t assume. If we really want to help, we need to watch our conversations and our language. We can never know for certain who in our midst has experienced an unplanned pregnancy or abortion. One in three women have an unplanned pregnancy and one in four women have had an abortion.
Please don’t judge. Whether it’s an unplanned pregnancy or a woman who has had an abortion, there is no way we can fully understand their emotional, mental, spiritual and physical circumstances. Only God knows, and He always chooses love and forgiveness first.
Please listen. Each and every person has a story to tell, if there is someone who cares enough to listen. There is usually a place for us in their story, but we only see it when we pause and listen with our hearts.
Please believe. Believe in them and believe for them. So many are without hope. We have an incredible opportunity to be the light that directs them to the hope we have, and they can find, in Jesus.
A Spotlight on Christian mission and ministry
Menno Simons, Father of the Mennonites
By Rev. Dr. Ed and Janice Hird
How many Mennonite or Mennonite heritage people do you know? In the Fraser Valley alone, there are at least 24 Mennonite Churches, led by over 100 pastors. Menno Simons has birthed a remarkable Mennonite movement of around 200,000 in Canada and over two million people in at least 86 countries.
If you attend a church, like millions of Baptist, Pentecostal, Alliance, or independent congregations, that practice believer’s baptism, you can thank Menno Simons. And if you value freedom of religion and conscience, you can thank Menno Simons. Many of his ‘unusual’ ideas have become normalized in evangelical Christian culture.
Menno Simons (1496 –1561) grew up in poverty as a peasant in Friesland, Holland. At an early age, he was enrolled in a monastic school, possibly at the Franciscan monastery in Bolsward, to prepare for the Catholic priesthood. In March 1524, at the age of 28, he was ordained at Utrecht and assigned to the parish at Pingjum, near the place of his birth. Seven years later in 1531, he became the village priest in his home parish at Witmarsum. Simons learned Latin and some Greek, but never read the Bible out of fear that it would lead him into heresy. Instead, he did a lot of cardplaying and drinking as the parish priest. He commented: “Finally I got the idea to examine the New Testament carefully.” After reading Luther’s books, Simons became known as an evangelical preacher because he began preaching from the bible. Simons’ favourite bible verse was 1 Corinthians 3:11 “No one can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, Jesus Christ.” Luther never met Simons and didn’t appreciate Anabaptists.
Simons’ first exposure to ‘rebaptism’ came when
he heard of Sicke Snijde’s beheading following his adult baptism. The idea of believer’s baptism initially ‘seemed very strange’ to Menno as he had baptized his churchgoers only as infants.
In 1535, his brother Pieter, and some people from his congregation, were among a group of 300 Anabaptists killed during a violent revolution led by Jan van Geelen in Munster, just a few miles away from Simons’ parish. Of the ones who did not lose their lives in the attack, 37 were then beheaded and 132, both men and women, were taken to Leeuwarden, where another 55 were executed after a short trial. Simons admired their zeal compared to his own complacency: “I saw that these zealous children, though in error, willingly gave their lives and their estates for their doctrine and faith…But I myself continued in my comfortable life and acknowledged abominations simply in order that I might enjoy comfort and escape the cross of Christ.”
Seeing Munster as the apocalyptic New Jerusalem, the Munsterites had embraced polygamy and forced people to be rebaptized on pain of death. This shocked Simons and so he denounced the Munsterites and embraced non-violence: “The regenerated do not go to war, nor engage in strife. They are children of peace who have beaten their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning forks.”
We are called, said Simons, to be a church of peace: “True Christians do not know vengeance. They are the children of peace. Their hearts overflow with peace. Their mouths speak peace, and they walk in the way of peace.”
Simons was careful, thoughtful, and reflective, a welcome contrast to the more extreme Munsterite
Intercede International: Ukraine – the war and refuge for ukrainians
Intercede International is a mission board whose main focus is assisting indigenous (national) missionaries working within their own or a neighbouring culture. Intercede raises awareness among Canadians of their work and provides financial relief and development aid and intercessory prayer support. Intercede also hosts national missionary leaders to speak in churches in Canada and at Intercede Mission Events.
As the world focuses on the war in Ukraine, God is at work powerfully through two Ukraine-based ministries partnered with Intercede International. One, Father’s House, with help from Christians in Canada, has helped 160 vulnerable children to escape safely from the Kiev region to Germany where they are being cared for. The other ministry, Good Samaritan Mission, again with much help from Christians giving to Intercede have been able to collect food and medical supplies for first aid and sending them to the hotspots of the war in Ukraine. Intercede’s GSM partner is also distributing Bibles to thousands of people requesting them throughout Ukraine and also to Ukainian refugees in Poland, Romania and other countries. These ministries need the continued prayers and support of Canadian Christians.
Established in Canada in 1953, Intercede International was raised up by God to establish, encourage and strengthen an indigenous New Testament witness for our Lord Jesus Christ among all nations, by providing intercessory spiritual and material aid to Christians who are impoverished, few or persecuted – and to encourage a Christian witness to the international community in Canada.
Intercede partners with 49 indigenous missions worldwide – impacting people groups in more than 50 nations.
Discover the joy of partnering with Indigenous Missions! For further Information please check out our website at www.IntercedeNow.ca . Contact us at: 1-800-871-0882 or friends@IntercedeNow.ca .
Choose one free book when signing up for Intercede newsletter mailing:
Interceding for His Children by James S. Eagles
It All Started With a Shoemaker by Eliud Herrara
Under The Rubble by Barb Lataillade
Clay in The Potter’s Hand and He Alone by Dorothy Sun
The Man In The Fiery furnace by Dr. Freddie Sun
Tapestry: Poems and Meditations by Margaret Anne Eagles
Anabaptists. When he became an Anabaptist on January 12, 1536, he joined a movement in dangerous peril. Almost all of its initial leaders were dead, either by disease (Conrad Grebel) or execution (Felix Manz, Michael Sattler, Hans Hut, Hans Denck, Balthasar Hubmaier, Georg Blaurock, and Jakob Hutter). Melchior Hoffman who brought Anabaptism to the Netherlands was in prison. Anabaptist leaders usually died within two to three years. The authorities conveniently lumped the Munsterites and the peaceful Anabaptists together. Baptist historian William Estep suggested that the history of Anabaptists can be divided into three periods: “before Menno, under Menno, and after Menno.” His decision to get rebaptized was very costly: “I prayed to God with sighs and tears that He would give to me, a sorrowing sinner, the gift of His grace, create within me a clean heart, and graciously through the merits of the crimson blood of Christ, He would graciously forgive my unclean walk and unprofitable life.”
After Simons’ rebaptism in 1536, he became a fugitive. He spent a year in hiding, seeking God’s direction
Interceding for His Children by James S. Eagles
A collection of personal memoirs. Reflections over a period of 50 years. James shares from own personal experiences, his own struggles, the story of his salvation and call of God, and his relationship with Jesus in his life. He also shares from his collection of inspiring testimonies of some of the indigenous missionaries from nations around the world who he met through his work with Intercede International
Call, or write, today to receive your free copy by contacting Intercede International by phone at 1-800-871-0882 ext 1 or 905-871-1773, or by email at friends@intercedenow.ca, or by mail to 201 Stanton Street, Fort Erie, ON, L2A 3N8
Menno Simons
A Spotlight on Christian mission and ministry
A Spotlight on Christian mission and ministry
for his new ministry. During this time, he wrote Van de geestlijke verrijsenisse (The Spiritual Resurrection), De nieuwe creatuere (The New Birth), and Christelycke leringhen op den 25. Psalm (Meditation on the Twentyfifth Psalm). More than 40 of his writings survived. In 1537, he was ordained by the Anabaptist leader Obbe Phiips, and married Gertrude. They had two daughters and a son. Only one daughter outlived him. Many, including Herman and Gerryt Jansz, were arrested, charged and beheaded for having taken Simons as a lodger. In 1544, Jan Claess’ head was cut off on Amsterdam’s Dam Square and stuck on a stake; his body was placed on a wheel to be eaten by animals and birds. His crimes included rebaptism by Simons and publication in Antwerp of about 600 copies of Simon’s books. In 1549, Elisabeth Dirks, was arrested on suspicion of being Simons’ wife (she wasn’t), endured imprisonment, inquisition, torture, and finally death.
Simons taught the Mennonites, in the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount, to value simplicity and avoid pride: “I voluntarily renounced all my worldly honour and reputation…and at once willingly submitted to distress and poverty, and the cross of Christ.” In 1542, the Holy Roman emperor Charles V promised 100 guilders reward to bring about Simons’ arrest. In 1543, the Netherlands ordered the death sentence for anyone publishing, spreading, or reading Simons’ work. Pardon of all crimes, and 100 guilders, was promised in 1544 to criminals who could deliver
Menno Simons to the government. Simons’ publisher John Claus was executed that following year. Around this time, the term ‘Mennist’ or ‘Mennonite’ came into use, a phrase that Simons tried unsuccessfully to discourage. Finally in 1544, the Simon’s found safe refuge in a Holstein cottage near Lubeck, Germany. After his peaceful death in 1561, he was buried in his garden. In the 1550s, between 2,000 and 4,000 Mennonites were tortured, beheaded or buried alive. The stories of the martyrs are recorded in the 1660 Martyrs Mirror by Thieleman J. van Braght.
Simons’ sought to establish a believers’ New Testament Church. His desire to separate church from state was unusual in a time of state churches. He saw the church’s identity as a spotless bride ready for her coming husband. His pacifist convictions brought great suffering to his Mennonite followers who left Holland, then Prussia, then South Russia (Ukraine), and moved to Canada in order to say no to violence. While Canada initially promised military exemption and private schools in the language of choice, the government reneged on their educational promise, forcing Mennonite children to attend public English schools. Over 7,000 Mennonites moved to Mexico and Paraguay because of this betrayal by the Saskatchewan and Manitoba governments. In 1920 to 1921, Canada banned Mennonites from entering Canada because of their unCanadian pacifist views. Then again from 1929 to 1945, Mennonites were not permitted to move to Canada.
Northern Canada Evangelical Mission
Our missionaries are active across Canada in evangelism, discipling, and ministering to the needs of the whole person. We do these within the framework of the bigger picture – we believe that establishing local fellowship groups and churches is central to the Great Commission and the building of God’s Kingdom among Canada’s First Peoples.
There are still many Aboriginal communities without a healthy Bible-based church. Can you imagine anything
more rewarding than seeing, firsthand, a church planted where there previously wasn’t one?
We have career church multiplying opportunities, as well as short- and long-term ministry openings in Bible camps, publishing, television, office, and facilities maintenance. Visit our website (www.ncem.ca) or call 306-764-3388. See how God is working among Canada’s First Peoples when you tune in to our TV program Tribal Trails or watch anytime online at www.tribaltrails.org
Lighthouse Harbour Ministries
Jesus made the bold statement shown above as He prayed for His disciples. It is a wonderful, powerful declaration that there is ultimate truth and that its source is God Himself.
In a recent meeting with a Chinese chief officer aboard a freighter in Vancouver, a Lighthouse chaplain was blessed to be able to use God’s Word to answer some of this seafarer’s many questions about, and struggles with, the Christian faith. One particular issue the seafarer
“Your Word is truth.” (John 17:17)
was wrestling with was his witness of public figures who claimed to be Christians but did not seem to follow Jesus’ teachings. In response, the seafarer and chaplain together looked at Scripture and, by God’s grace, the mariner was willing to accept God’s Word as authoritative; His truth seemed to dispel confusion. Thanks be to God for His truth!
For volunteer opportunities to share The Truth, contact: info@sealight.org www.sealight.org
CSB - Christian Service Brigade
There’s always something going on with CSB. Across Canada, CSB Units are wrapping up their seasons of ministry. In BC, they’ve concluded their Father & Son, Men & Boys “Tough Guys Campout”. In Alberta, they’re getting ready for their summer camping ministry with Camp Teepee Pole. In the Prairies, groups are planning their season-ending weekends. In Ontario, they’re finishing with StocKar Derbies and training. And in CSB’s Atlantic Region, they are getting ready to launch two or three
Christian Friends of Israel
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness... and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give... You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the
new Units this Fall. But that’s not all.
CSB Canada is relaunching its national Head Office in Vancouver with a new address, phone number and office systems. The CSB Store is moving to Kentville, Nova Scotia, to support the new growth happening in the East. Why? To assist churches as they reach out to men, boys and families in their communities. CSB builds men who build boys for Christ.
Contact CSB at www.csbcan.ca/news/
Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth. Isaiah 62:1-4,6-7 ESV
A major theme of Simons’ writings is the new birth. He was strongly Christ-centered, desiring believers to not just talk the talk, but also walk the walk as new persons. Out of his deep suffering came a conviction of caring for other hurting people: “True evangelical faith … cannot lie dormant. … It clothes the naked, it feeds the hungry, it comforts the sorrowful, it shelters the destitute, it serves those that harm it … it binds up that which is wounded … it has become all things to all people.”
Simons’ compassion has inspired the MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) to help millions, particularly those who are refugees. Many lost people first meet Jesus through the practical caring of Mennonites. Encouraged by the example of Menno Simons, Mennonite communities regularly show the highest level of charitable giving in Canada.
Like their founder, Mennonites tend to be independently minded people. Life for Mennonites is often like a Mennonite patchwork quilt of joy and suffering. Because Mennonites fight with words rather than weapons, they have developed a rich body of literature exploring their history and identity.
We thank God for Menno Simons and his caring, peaceful and generous Mennonites who have made Canada a better place to live.
REACHING CANADA’S FIRST PEOPLES
Lighthouse Harbour Ministries
Persecuted for their faith
India
A Christian couple was recently sentenced to prison after accusations were made that they had been involved in pressuring others to convert to Christianity. Pastor Ramesh Ahirwar and his wife Sakshi are from the village of Vivek Nagar in Madhya Pradesh. A man had accused the couple of abducting his estranged wife Sapna (who also happens to be Pastor Ramesh’s niece) before allegedly pressuring her to convert, holding the woman against her will, and not allowing her to return home to be with him. He also purported that the Christian couple offered to build Sapna a home and give her money each month. The complainant, Abhishek, further claimed that the Christians attempted to convert him as well, offering him a job in return.
During the court hearing, Sapna testified that she was neither coerced into changing her religion nor offered any financial incentives. She stated that the pastor did not, in any way, pressure her to stay away from her estranged husband, but that she did so of her own volition. Despite Sapna’s testimony, the district court convicted the two believers and sentenced them to two years in prison, along with a fine.
China
On March 10, the members of the Maizhong Reformed Church in Fuyang, Anhui province, were gathered at a restaurant when their meeting was suddenly raided by local police. Without showing identification or giving reasons for the raid, the police began interrogating the Christians. Officials from the local religious affairs bureau, along with national security agents, also entered the restaurant and began taking pictures.
After questioning the believers who had attended the gathering, the authorities took 18 Christians, including two children, to the police station. The interrogation continued until well after midnight before Elder Chang Shun was given a 15-day administrative detention for “carrying out activities in the name of an illegal social organization.” This is the third time that Elder Chang has been detained within the past six months. Additionally, as a result of the raid, eight other church members were each given a 13-day detention.
Elder Chang’s wife, Li Yunyan, released a letter calling
Voice of the Martyrs
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for prayer and expressing deep concern for her husband.
Ukraine
In May 2023, Father Kostiantyn Maksimov, a priest from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, was taken by Russian occupation forces. Several other religious leaders have either been killed, tortured or reported missing after being detained by members of the Russian forces.
In late March of this year, the Regional Prosecutor’s Office for the occupation forces in the Zaporizhzhia Region announced that Father Kostiantyn was to face trial on charges of espionage. The prosecutors allege that the priest had reported the location of Russian air defences to the Ukrainian security service via Telegram, an instant messaging app.
In a separate incident, two priests from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine were convicted of “conducting missionary activities” in September 2023. Father Khristofor Khrimli and Father Andri Chui are from the Donetsk Region of Ukraine, an area currently considered part of Russia by occupational forces. Both church leaders were ordered to be deported from Russian territory, but since court officials claim that the region of their home is now within the jurisdiction of Russia, there was uncertainty at the time as to where the priests would be sent.
According to a recent update, the two men were deported to the country of Georgia in March. Since then, they have returned to Ukraine but are living in an area that’s under the control of the Ukrainian government.
Nicaragua
Under the regime of President Daniel Ortega, life for Christians in Nicaragua has become increasingly difficult. Many Catholic priests have been detained, often for being overtly opposed to the abusive actions committed by the country’s governing authorities.
According to another report, between the years of 2019 and 2023, the Catholic church experienced 1,200 cases of aggression, including dozens of arrests and expulsions from the country. More recently, on January 14 of this year, 19 members of the Catholic clergy were expelled from their posts in Nicaragua and deported to the Vatican. Included among these clergymen was Bishop Rolando Alvarez, a prominent critic of the Nicaraguan
president, who had earlier been sentenced to 26 years in prison on charges of treason.
While the Catholic church has been repeatedly harassed by the government, other organizations within the nation that stood against the regime were also targeted. In July 2023, the Red Cross was expelled from the country for criticizing the inhumane treatment of prisoners. The members of many other Christian organizations have been subjected to harassment and false allegations. Altogether, the government has seized the properties of numerous non-profit groups, including 256 evangelical Christian associations.
For one particular American-based agency, Mountain Gateway, this opposition has resulted in charges against 14 pastors, including three church leaders from the United States. All assets of the ministry were confiscated and the 11 Nicaraguan pastors, along with two lawyers, were accused of money laundering and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 12 to 15 years. Additionally, the Christians received huge fines of over $100 million CAD each. Charges have also been filed against the three American pastors. However, since these three Christian leaders were not in Nicaragua at the time of the arrests, they had not been detained.
Jon Britton Hancock, President of Mountain Gateway, stated: “This is not the outcome we hoped for, and it is heartbreaking to know that people who we consider family are sitting in prison for sharing the Gospel. We trust that God is in control of this situation and have faith that He will have the final say on this all.”
Olympic Faith – A Hero’s Journey
Have you ever noticed that in scenes where those on one side of a battle are trying to extract information or intimidate the opposition, devices of torture are often paraded in front of the captive? The deliberate display of what could be done to a body is often a more effective tool for achieving compliance than actually doing harm.
The threat of death, pain, and suffering is a powerful ploy used by the enemy to intimidate God’s children. He uses it to keep us from sharing the gospel. It also blinds us from seeing we are not defenseless. We are not vic-
tims. We have weapons and we have One who fights with us…His hand over ours.
For over 50 years The Voice of the Martyrs Canada has told stories of a victorious Church. This is the subject of our vomcanada.com/olympicfaith.htm women’s retreats - The Hero’s Journey. Dr. Foley, retreat speaker & co-founder of Voice of the Martyrs Korea, has pioneered various discipleship programs to North Koreans for more than 15 years. She will walk Canadian women through the process of the hero’s journey, in which we will learn
to see our own painful stories through the eyes of a victor, not a victim. This is not about positive thinking. It is about the redemptive power of the cross. The area of your greatest pain becomes the area of your greatest testimony and platform to minister from. A platform that would not exist without those difficult, painful climbs to the high place of His Presence.
“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.”
— Psalm 66:16
Arts
Angel Studios presents Sight – an incredible true story of perseverance and faith
By Marion Van Driel
Based on the inspiring true story of Dr. Ming Wang, Sight explores the common ground where faith and science meet. Musician, dancer and ophthalmologist, Dr. Wang is one of a handful of laser eye surgeons in the world to hold a doctorate in laser physics. Wang’s lifelong passion is to provide free sight-restoring surgeries for orphans the world over. He has won numerous philanthropy and achievement awards for his work in sight restoration.
Against all odds
Based on his autobiography From Darkness to Sight, the film, starring Terry Chen (Almost Famous) and featuring Greg Kinnear (As Good as it Gets), depicts Dr. Wang’s remarkable journey from childhood poverty in Hangzhou, China, to celebrated eye surgeon and philanthropist in the U.S.
As a boy, Dr. Wang survives dark, traumatic events during the Cultural Revolution in China (1966-1976) in which the government closes schools and universities and deports the country’s youth to rural labor camps. To avoid deportation, Wang learns to play the ehru – a Chinese violinand practices dancing. Becoming accomplished in both, he and his brother join a song and dance propaganda troupe.
When the universities open again in 1976, Wang has lost three years of high school education and is acutely reminded by his mother that there is no guarantee of educational institutions remaining open. Receiving an education is urgent - and crucial to overcoming poverty. His struggle includes grueling 19-hour days of study, and against all odds, Wang becomes one of four students in his province to gain university entrance. His persistence there wins him a teaching assistant position in Maryland. Despite fac-
On the trail
ing discouraging racism, Wang completes both medical and laser physics doctorates, graduating magna cum laude with the highest honours from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Faith and science
Throughout his studies, Wang struggles with the idea that random evolution could result in such a complex structure as the human eye. He asks a professor about this. “The professor opened a window to the Lord in my heart,” explains Wang. “I began to understand that there is a Creator for everything, so I became a Christian.”
doned. Treating Kajal is one of the greatest challenges and joys Dr. Wang will experience.
In his research to reduce scarring to the cornea after injury, Wang encounters an ethical dilemma. Praying for wisdom, he feels God leading him to persevere (James 1:4) in finding a way to conduct his research without compromising his values. Not until twenty years later does he experience a breakthrough, which, according to Wang, is an answer to his decades-earlier prayer. Looking back, he also recognizes that his childhood struggles, and darkness have helped him connect emotionally with many of his patients, in understanding and compassion.
Healing and redemption
After forming the Wang Foundation for Sight Restoration, Wang meets Kajal, a six-year-old orphan from India, intentionally blinded by her stepmother and then left aban-
Throughout his career of performing over 55,000 surgeries (4,000 on fellow physicians), Dr. Ming Wang relies on God’s guidance and healing. He harnesses his past darkness to bring hope to the present. Wang’s focus, tenacity, humility and faith have created a ripple effect that has impacted the lives of countless people worldwide.
The film is engaging, realistic and inspiring. Sight was awarded “Best Picture – Gold Crown” by International Christian Visual Media (ICVM).
On May 24, 2024, Sight will be released in theatre’s across the U.S. and Canada, by Angel Studios. It will also become available on various media streaming networks.
by David Clements, Ph.D. (Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies at Trinity Western University)
The motto of the Langley Field Naturalists (LFN) is “to know nature and keep it worth knowing.”
As I read the book launched by the LFN in December On the Trail: 50 Years of Engaging with Nature I reflected a lot on the meaning of the motto.
The motto is about what it means to be a naturalist, and not just a Langley Field Naturalist.
To be “on the trail” means you are setting out to explore some part of nature, and you’re bringing your deep sense of curiosity.
Even if you happen to know much about what you will see on the trail, you’re not done “knowing nature” because every day on the trail is different.
At LFN meetings, members are encouraged to share recent “sightings” – usually an unusual bird species sighted in the area, or perhaps a whimsical thing like racoons at a bird feeder.
Chapter 2 of the book on “People Power” delves into the
legendary record of key individuals who have sought to know nature and keep it worth knowing in Langley.
The chapter covers many significant LFN members and starts with founding members who I will briefly give tribute to here (but you really must read the book!).
As Phil Henderson writes “Glenn Ryder was one of the world’s great naturalists.”
How could this reclusive individual, who spent most of his days roaming the woods for 70 plus years (until his passing in 2013) have attained such stature?
Ryder really knew nature, and through long hours of careful observation, making extensive illustrated notes, was able to catalogue many species in our area, including rarities like the Pacific water shrew.
The book includes a sketch Ryder made of a family of Pacific water shrews caravanning, whereby the young shrews form a caravan behind their mother “tail in mouth” style.
Two other LFN founders, Al and Jude Grass, passionately advocated for the formation of Campbell Valley Park, and in so doing brought together other nature lovers to form the LFN.
I’ve had the good fortune of spending many hours with Al
Multicultural Temple Tour
Multicultural Services presents a compelling missional opportunity to initiate and build bridges with our diverse cultural communities in the Lower Mainland. The Temple Tour is a visit to a Sikh Temple, Muslim Mosque, Hindu Temple, and Buddhist Temple (Jewish Synagogue and Christian Church are optional) - a crash course on global religions and cultures. This tour is not just a visit; it’s an exploration of evangelism and a deep dive into your neighbors’ faith and culture. Elevate your multicultural awareness and equip yourself with powerful outreach tools.
Inviting all pastors, school principals, life group leaders, elders, and community leaders, seize this unique
To learn more, visit https://www.drmingwang.com/ or https://www.angel.com/tickets. To see the trailer, go to https://www.sightthemovie.com/videos/ and Jude, and indeed their love of nature is contagious.
I’ll leave you with an Al Grass quote from the book: “Getting a good list of birds is one thing but we also want to know how the birds live; that’s what I enjoy. Each one of our walks we hope someone goes away with knowledge they didn’t originally have.” Learn more at http://langleyfieldnaturalists.org.
This article first appeared in The Green Beat in the Langley Advance Times, and is reprinted with permission.
chance to enlighten and empower your congregations. Join us on May 4 or May 25, 2024, from 10 am to 3 pm, where light refreshments will be provided, and a Multicultural Training Certification awaits you. This tour will be led by missiologist Rev. Dr. David McLauren, a multicultural missional specialist. The registration fee is $149 per person - a small investment for a mega impact. Limited spaces so book your seat today! Uncover the tapestry of diversity, add color, and broaden your horizons. To register contact Shirley at 604 897 4224 or via email at multicultural2002@gmail.com. Sponsors are needed to help support this initiative. The time for action is now!
Events@lightmagazine.ca
Post your event free of charge in print and on our website. Email us at events@lightmagazine.ca. Include the following information:
Event name and type (concert, special event, conference, etc) • Date(s) • Time(s)
Music
Thursdays, 7:30 pm: Bez Open Mic night with Russ Rosen – Come as a performer or as an audience member. Sign up is at 7:15 pm and performances start at 7:30 pm at Bez Arts Hub, Langley. https://bezartshub.com.
May 3, 7 pm: Worship for Justice Spring 2024 Tour – with Don Moen and Paul Baloche with special guest Brook Nicholls. At WIllingdon Church, Burnaby. Info: https://uniteproductions.com.
May 11, 6 or 8 pm: Bez Gospel Choir Concert at Bez Arts Hub – With Director Lincoln Tatem, accompanist Dian Lines and band. Bez Arts Hub, Langley. http://bezartshub. com.
May 17 & 24, 7:30 pm: Piano Extravaganza featuring Giovanni Denoni – An amazing showcase of BC’s up and coming concert pianists ranging in ages from 6-18. These wonderful musicians will play with the orchestra. The finale will feature Chilliwack’s own Clinton Giovanni Denoni. All under the direction of Maestra Paula DeWit. May 17 at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre; May 24 at Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver. https://chilliwacksymphony.com.
May 24, 8pm: Stephen Fearing at Bez Arts Hub – Through a life of many relocations and countless months on the road performing, Fearing has become a gifted storyteller and true musical nomad with the ability to enthrall audiences of all sizes and attitudes. Bez Arts Hub, Langley. http://bezartshub.com.
May 31, 4 pm: Jazz Vespers at St. Andrew’s – featuring Karin Plato at St. Andrew’s United Church, North Vancouver. https://www.st-andrews-united.ca/jazz-vespers.
Jun 2, 7 pm: Leeroy Stagger at Bez Arts Hub – Prolific roots troubadour, Leeroy Stagger returns to the Bez stage. With a dozen or so albums and a who’s who list of greats that he has worked with, we’re really looking forward to this sophomore show in Langley. Bez Arts Hub, Langley. http://bezartshub.com.
Jun 7, 7 pm: Carmen (and other works) – Calvin Dyck, the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra and the Fraser Valley Academy of Dance will perform an exciting and visceral arrangement of Bizet’s opera Carmen written for strings and 27 percussion instruments played by five percussionists, at Abbotsford Arts Centre. https://www.calvindyck.com.
Jun 9, 7 pm: Bethel Music Worship Nights – With David Funk, Paul McClure, Hanna McClure and Abbie Gamboa. At Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver. Tickets, uniteproductions.com.
Theatre
May 8 & 9, 7 pm: Limbo – presented by The Kings School. Performed by the high school Drama students. 21783 - 76B Avenue, Langley. https://www.vtixonline.com/limbo-/4262/
May 16 - Jun 9: A Case For The Existence of God – by Samuel D. Hunter. Two young fathers, a mortgage broker, and a plant worker, desperate to buy a piece of land, meet to discuss a loan in an unassuming cubicle. As Keith and Ryan grapple with the realities of adulthood, a shared quest for meaning and belonging transcends the systems that fence them in. At Pacific Theatre, Vancouver. http://pacifictheatre.org.
May 17 - 25: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Presented by Gallery 7 Theatre. A play by Simon Stephens, based on the novel by Mark Haddon. Late at night, Christopher discovers his neighbour’s dog, Wellington, stabbed to death with a garden fork. Determined to solve the mystery of who murdered the pet, he embarks on an epic adventure where his world as he knows it will never be the same. At Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, Abbotsford. http://gallery7theatre.com
Seniors
Mondays, 10 to noon: Life’s stories – at Newton Senior’s Recreation Center 13775 -70 Avenue, phone: 778 998 5225 for info, everyone welcome for fellowship.
Thursdays, 10 am - 1 pm: GenMin seniors group drop-in – Cedar Grove Church, Surrey. https://the-grove.net.
In The Cross Maker series, Jack A. Taylor weaves a tapestry of creative history, powerful characters, and dynamic dialogue to bring to life a shadowy world. In a land where tragedy is as common as dust, triumph is about to make itself known. https://www.jackataylor.com
Location
Prayer, Worship & Retreats
Mondays, 8 - 9 pm: Vancouver House of Prayer – Live prayer together online via Zoom. Zoom Links are sent upon request on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/vhopca. 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 11 am: Canada Wide Prayer for Israel – Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/94966621615?pwd=ME9QY0pOVHp4amUyNk41dWNGci93UT09. Meeting ID: 949 6662 1615. Passcode: 737728
Wednesdays, 7:30 pm: Worship Wednesdays – Join us for a time of worship every Wednesday, where we lift up the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and experience His sweet presence in a beautiful personal way. Garden Park Tower Azalea Room, Abbotsford. Info: 604-832-2154; aandbministries@gmail.com; http://aboveandbeyondministries.ca.
2nd Saturday of the month, 7 pm: Contemplative Liturgies – with Taize-styled worhsip and meditations on prayer. At Fairview Baptist Church, Vancouver. Info: imago@shaw. ca, www.imagodeicommunity.ca.
Other Events
Tuesdays, 6:45 - 8:30 pm: Messengers of Hope Motorcycle Riders – Weekly coffee meeting Tim Horton’s, 2255 Sumas Way, Abbotsford. Contact Ed at 604-525-8041 Come for coffee, find out what we are all about.
Tuesdays, 7 pm: Build your speaking and leadership skills – Golden Ears Christian Toastmasters meets Tuesdays at 7 pm at Haney Presbyterian Church, Maple Ridge. In person or on zoom. Info Susan Gredley 604-764-2126 or sgredley@icloud.com.
May 4, & 25 10 am - 3 pm: Multicultural Temple Tour – With Rev Dr. David McLauren. Register and Info: multicultural2002@gmail.com.
May 4, 11, Jun 1, 8, 2:30 pm: The Chosen - a creative Bible study – We’ll gather to watch and discuss the TV drama series The Chosen. This series offers a fresh way to understand and experience the gospels. At St Andrew’s United Church, North Vancouver. To register contact Rev. Judith at minister@st-ansdrews-united.ca.
May 4, 7 pm: Celebrate the Journey - Hope Springs Forth – Presented by Adult & Teen Challenge BC. A night filled with delicious treats, inspiring testimonies of transformed lives, and stories of the power of God at work in the Lower Mainland. A Dessert Buffet will be served at 7:15pm. Tickets for this event are complimentary and RSVP only. Reserve online at teenchallengebc.com/events/hope-springs-forth.
May 9, 5 pm: Provincial Leaders Dinner – The dinner is a special gathering of the faith community on the eve of the BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast. Guest panelists: Anu George Canjanathoppil CEO of International Justice Mission (IJM) and Casandra Diamond, Founder and Executive Director of Bridge North. At Hyatt Regency Hotel, Vancouver. https://www.cityinfocus.ca.
May 10, 7:30 am: 57th Annueal BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast – We acknowledge the value of prayer, community and leadership. The BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast attracts people from all walks of life and spiritual backgrounds. Together we offer support and prayer for our leaders and we look forward to hosting you in-person in 2024. Speaker: Michael Audain OC OBC, Founder and Chairman of Polygon Homes Ltd. At Hyatt Regency Hotel, Vancouver. https://www.cityinfocus.ca.
May 14, 6:30: Journey Home Community Spring Gala – at the Royal Palace Banquet Hall (7845 Edmonds St, Burnaby). Together, we welcome refugee claimants who have fled persecution. https://journeyhomecommunity.ca
May 17 & 18: Jesus Is - A Mission Central Encounter Weekend – at Chilliwack Heritage Park. There will be four sessions during this conference, starting Friday night and continuing all day Saturday, and each one will be focused on the presence of Jesus. We’ll prioritize giving space, in worship and teaching, for people to know and experience Him. When you have Jesus, you have everything! Registration is free, with the opportunity to include a donation. To register: https://www.zeffy.com.
This Ordinary, Extraordinary Life
by April Yamasaki
Practical sermons for everyday faith, rooted in the ordinary, extraordinary life of Jesus. For sermon preparation or personal and group study, order from CSS Publishing (https://store. csspub.com) or your favourite local or online bookstore.
A free study guide is available at aprilyamasaki.com.
Online account …ing
Setting up a My Service Canada account
by Arnold Machel, CFP ®
“...but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer.”
- Numbers 8:25 (NIV)
Last month I wrote about the CRA My Account. If you acted on that article, you now have an account set up and can look up all sorts of useful information, get status updates, and upload documents when the CRA asks for them. If you haven’t registered yet, this can serve as your reminder.
Since we’re on the subject of government platforms, did you know they have another useful login? The My Service Canada Account (MSCA) allows you to access details about your Employment Insurance (EI), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), and much more. Here again, I strongly encourage you to register for an account if you haven’t already. You can register and sign in at www. canada.ca/msca.
Have you ever wondered what you are likely to collect from the CPP when you retire?
Many years ago, the federal government “fixed” the CPP by treating it as a true pension with segregated assets and actuarial reporting. At one point they promised to send each Canadian a regular summary of their benefits – a promise that was never really fulfilled. If I recall correctly, it only ever happened one year. With the lack of reporting, many Canadians are left wondering what their benefits are. It’s no wonder I hear many Canadians express a view that CPP won’t be there for them when they retire. In my opinion, Service Canada was (and maybe still is) one of the worst-run departments in the federal government. I think a large part of the blame for the lack of faith in the CPP can be put down simply to the poor reporting done by Service Canada.
The CPP is in great shape. You can reasonably expect it to be there for you. But how can you find out what you should expect? Service Canada no longer even tries to mail out annual statements. Fortunately, the internet has now made it easy to disseminate information – you just need to be signed up to see it in this case. Registering for the MSCA gives you access to lots of other personal data. For me, the CPP estimate is the most valuable, but there is much more. For example, you can also see what your CPP contributions have been in the past so you can dispute any issues if they’ve missed any years of income.
Once you log in, this info can be a bit difficult to find. Selecting the ‘CPP’ button and then the ‘Contributions’ link will bring you to another button that says ‘Estimated monthly CPP benefits’. From there you can see if you are already eligible to collect and what you would receive if you chose to start your CPP retirement pension next
month, at age 65, or at age 70.
Sadly, while the Levites in the Bible verse above retired at age 50, that isn’t an eligible CPP option. Although, maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Check out Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones on Netflix to learn why.
One small caveat about the estimates. On the website, Service Canada is quick to warn: “the amounts in this section are estimates only. Benefit estimates may not reflect recent changes to the CPP, or take into account future earnings, contributions, and CPP provisions that could affect your benefits. The actual amount of your benefit can only be calculated when we process your application.” The good news is that this usually means you will get a bit more than the estimate.
Now that you’ve established both your CRA My Account and your My Service Canada Account, the next time your financial planner or banker asks you for any governmentrelated financial information about yourself, you should be in the perfect position to impress them by pulling out your smartphone, logging in to the appropriate site, and providing them with the info they need right then and there instead of telling them you’ll get back to them.
Update on a previous article…
A few months ago, I warned you about the new trust reporting rules.
The good news is that the federal government changed their mind at the last minute. The onerous bare trust reporting rules will not be enforced for the 2023 tax year.
The bad news is that the federal government changed their mind at the last minute. I’m guessing they received millions of trust returns over the last few months. This means that the extra reporting for those individuals was an absolute waste of time and (in many cases) money spent on accountants to prepare the reports on time.
We’ll have to wait and see what happens with it now. Will they reintroduce the reporting rules with changes? Or try again as is? Or simply give up? Only time will tell. Fortunately, it sounds as though many accountants have decided to eat the cost of filing those returns (not fair to them – they worked hard to prepare those reports), but I’m guessing that many accountants feel bad charging their clients for something that’s of no value now. If your accountant wasn’t one of those, show them this article and ask them if they’d be willing to waive their fees. You never know. It may change their mind.
Arnold Machel lives, works, and worships in the White Rock/South Surrey area. He holds the Certified Financial Planner® designation, is the Founder of Visionvest Financial
Planning & Services, and sits on the board of Abundance Canada. Visionvest (his firm) has been voted Best Investment/Financial Advisor by Peace Arch News readers for the past three years in a row.
Questions and comments can be directed to him at dr.rrsp@visionvest.ca. Please note that all comments are of a general nature and should not be relied upon as individual advice. While every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, facts and figures are not guaranteed.
Camps Spotlight
10 reasons to work at a Christian Camp
by Kirk Potter
Christian camping gives meaning to a summer. It’s not just flipping hamburgers or stocking shelves, but investing in the lives of campers and fellow summer staff, through the ministry of organized camping.
It combines the beautiful outdoors with an opportunity for ministry. Working outdoors is a great way to spend a summer, but it is significant when it becomes an opportunity for ministry in the lives of young campers.
Great first work experience. For younger work crew or CIT (Counselors in Training), camp is a wonderful place to learn good work habits and gain that important first work reference.
Leadership training. Camps not only teach leadership principles during staff training, but the structure of a camp itself gives ample opportunity for staff to learn leadership through their responsibilities in the camp program.
Learn dependence on God. Long days of hard work or endless hours with young campers can stretch staff to the point of learning, in a practical way, how to depend on God.
Explaining your faith helps you to understand your own faith better. Sharing your own faith and testimony with campers and other staff helps to affirm and grow your your own faith.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Teaching Bible studies. The teacher always benefits the most. As a result, camp staff have a wonderful opportunity to grow in their own understanding of scripture and faith, when they open the Bible to prepare
and present cabin Bible studies with their campers.
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Experience campers coming to faith. It is an inspiring, life-changing experience to see campers come to the Lord. It is even more exciting when a cabin leader realizes that they were part of that process because of the investment they made in the lives of their campers during a week of camp.
10 9
Life-long ministry. Firsthand involvement in ministry often begins and reinforces a life-long commitment to ministry. Many pastors and missionaries, as well as committed Christian leaders in the work place, have their roots in camp ministry.
Life-long friends. Friendships formed from the common bonds and experiences of camp ministry are often life-long and life-altering.
http://christiancamps.ca
Camp Qwanoes –
Have you heard what God is doing at camp?
It seems like every day, there’s a new headline showing how broken, confused and lost our world is. Many in the younger generation are struggling like never before.
Christian camps such as Camp Qwanoes on Vancouver Island offer kids a chance to escape from the everyday and the perfect setting to discover life like no other in Christ.
If you are looking for a way to impact the lives of kids this summer, you need to hear about what God is doing at camp.
Here are a couple of stories from Qwanoes that show what happens when kids come to a place where they encounter the reality of God’s love:
A girl at a Jr. High camp said that her only relatives are her dad and a grandma. Her dad has told her that he doesn’t want her to be part of his new family’s life, so she is with her grandma and her grandma’s partner. After listening to the camp speaker, she said, “Now I understand why my family is the way it is… If my family wanted me, I wouldn’t need God.”
“Amy came to camp with an abundance of anger. She had attempted suicide quite a few times and was bitter at everything
and everyone. After realizing Qwanoes was a safe place, she spent an hour crying and sharing about her pain. She wanted to get rid of the hurt and start living for God. She began closing doors to her past and forgiving people. She let God forgive her and the weight lifted from her and she left camp leaving all of her baggage behind. The harshness about her was gone, and her true spirit of gentleness and joy was shining through!”
At camp, kids discover hope. Many lifechanging decisions, including thousands of decisions to follow Christ, have been made in recent years. While campers meet new friends and try exciting activities like zipping over the ocean or bouncing on a water trampoline or playing laser tag in the forest, they encounter the truth that they matter and are loved unconditionally.
It takes a very large team of people to make camp happen. Qwanoes hopes to welcome over 4,000 kids this summer – and the potential is amazing. This summer, you are invited to be part of loving kids to life.
~ Written by Julie Bayley, Qwanoes’ Associate Program Director (life@qwanoes.ca)
Every church a school, every school a church
by Howard Dueck
All churches together forming a local Christian school as a concrete expression of the Church of Jesus Christ discipling its own children while reaching the community children and families.
I sometimes walk into a church thinking, “this has the makings of a school!” A little mantra forms in my head and in my heart: every church a school; every school a church. The local church, a community of worship, spiritual nurture, teaching, discipleship, character growth, community outreach, service, and world mission, is a centre of learning. What if that learning was not restricted to ‘spiritual things’ but was understood as a shepherding responsibility for the growth in Christ in all things? This mandate flows inter-generationally, reaching next generations with a Spirit-filled, Word-based discipleship vision.
Sunday School was, in its origin, a school on Sundays. “Sunday Schools were founded in 1780 in Gloucester, England, by newspaper publisher Robert Raikes to take labouring children off the streets on Sundays. Religious instruction, later the main curriculum, was at first secondary to teaching reading and writing.” It was revolutionary, reaching out to the less-privileged working class who would otherwise not receive an education. Sunday schools have been limited almost exclusively to the Reformed or Protestant traditions, largely as a legacy of Swiss theologian John Calvin’s stress on rational learning. Raikes’ innovation, quickly copied throughout Britain, was brought to Canada, especially by the Presbyterian and Congregational churches. The Church of England (Anglicans) had one in Halifax in 1783. Methodism tended to apply the concept more broadly to the whole community of believers; between the visits of the ordained or licensed circuit riders or ‘saddlebag preachers’, lay lead-
ers maintained the congregation as church school with classes for all ages.
After becoming a fixture in western society, reaching millions, it was eventually relegated to religious education. This narrowed focus was part of a decline of continued marginalization to the point where today it is almost irrelevant to society at large.
Might it be time to revisit the origins of school on Sunday? A first glance would very quickly conclude that the original Sunday School is even more unnecessary than the contemporary version. Society is vastly different. Schools are universally available and obligatory for children. Child labor is outlawed. The need is not what it was.
But a second look reveals crumbling societal values, broken homes, increasingly little positive adult investment in children, an educational system increasingly opposed to Christ-centred education, and an encroachment of alternative religious views into mainstream western society. Even Christian homes are less and less characterized by parental discipleship.
Children spend more time in school than anywhere else. Their worldview, values and opinions are shaped by teachers who very often have a perspective very different than that of parents or the local church. In addition, local churches are often searching for a compelling vision for relevancy in their communities. Is it time that they be seen as more than places for funerals, weddings, Christmas programs and
Kaleo - How one year could change the rest of your life
Graduating from high school in 2024 or a recent graduate? Are you looking for a highly unique, proven program that has the potential to impact your life in the best possible way?
Since 2003 Camp Qwanoes and Briercrest College have partnered together to offer the Kaléo program, an eight-month foundational leadership college program that seeks to develop young Christian leaders. Students come from across Canada. The current group of students, about to graduate in April, includes the program’s 500th student!
In the Kaléo program, five components fuse together powerfully to create an ideal setting for significant growth and leadership development. Students experience caring community, fully accredited academics, front-line ministry, and the best of west coast adventure like multi-day sailing, surfing, and skiing or snowboarding excursions. Leadership training is woven into all aspects of the program.
was possible. Through everything they gain a strong foundation for more education, work, ministry, and whatever is next in their lives.
In the words of current students:
“Coming to Kaléo was the best decision I ever made.”
“Nothing could have prepared me for how transformational this year would be.”
“The adventures have been absolutely unreal. Whether climbing a mountain or living on a tall ship, the out-trips have been experiences of bonding, connecting to God’s creation, and fun.”
On an ongoing basis, students put into practice what they are learning through serving in a dynamic camp ministry setting, church ministry, outreach events, and a missions trip.
Sid Koop, a Kaléo program professor and Executive Director of Youth Worker Community, says, “The holistic element of the learning is fantastic.” Students who come to the Kaléo program grow more than they thought
“I’ve loved all the classes and professors… and gained a deeper understanding of the Bible, and the character of God.”
“This year’s been full of incredible growth, opportunity, and memories that will last a lifetime.”
“This program has been such a blast… I honestly had no idea what I was signing up for in the best way possible.”
Go to kaleo.ca to discover more about how one year could change the rest of your life.
~ by Julie Bayley, Qwanoes’ Associate Director
bingo nights?
The movement spearheaded by Robert Raikes and others transformed society. As more and more people saw the need for universal education, this vital building block was eventually removed from the Church. Similarly, higher education institutes, which almost universally originated from church contexts, have become ‘secular’, and in most cases, anti-Christian.
What if every church were a school; and every Christian school a church in the sense of being a gathering of believers and seekers worshipping, serving and reaching their community and beyond? Is it time for the church to re-engage with society on this most formative of levels? Is it time to put school back into Sunday, and Sunday back into school?
Howard Dueck is involved with the Canadian Christian Education Movement, CCEM exists to help churches, parents, and educators provide Christ-centered educational initiatives in their communities. http://.cemovement.ca
21 Celebrating Years
New books by Canadian authors
Pillow Fights & Sleepless Nights: Thriving as a Christian Camp Leader
By Craig Douglas William-Barnes Publishing
If you’re looking to serve at a Christian camp in any capacity, Pillow Fights & Sleepless Nights will help prepare you for your upcoming adventure and ground you in biblical leadership principles. Follow the stories of Madison, Jon, and some of the other camp staff as they mess up, learn, grow, and ultimately discover a deeper dependence upon God. You will be encouraged and challenged to grow in your own walk with Jesus. And that’s what camp ministry is all about: transformation!
Two Paths: Discover the Way That Leads to Life
By Craig Douglas Word Alive Press
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
(Proverbs 14:12, NIV)
As terrifying as it is to get lost in the wilderness, it’s much worse to lose your way in life. But God has not left us alone to figure it all out. He’s given us everything we need to find our way. Two Paths provides a biblical map to find the best trail, stay on it, and experience a fantastic journey with Jesus. Inspiring, riveting true-life stories and biblical teaching will encourage you to make choices that bring joy and success, regardless of circumstances.
“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:14)
About the author: Craig W. Douglas, MTS, has been discipling young adults for over thirty years. He is passionate about helping people grow in their faith, live out the gospel, and use their gifts to serve God. He has served as a Christian camp director at Timberline Ranch in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, since 2005. He enjoys hiking, kayaking, traveling, and spending time with his wife and family. You can connect with him at www.cwdouglas.com.
Pop-Pop’s Nursery Rhyme Parade
by Tim Huff
Castle Quay Books
Embark on a whimsical journey with Pop-Pop’s Nursery Rhyme Parade, a collection of imaginative and joyful poetry for children. This unique compilation blends tenderness and cheer, weaving ageless messages of kindness, courage, and belonging. Children and grownups alike will find moments of humour and connection throughout. Vibrant hand-drawn illustrations complement the endearing storytelling.
About the author: Tim J Huff aka “Pop-Pop” Huff has a deep heart for a world where children would truly know peace and inclusion. This is reflected vividly by his lifetime of service among young people and families in the margins, and in the inspiring content of the multiple best-selling books he has authored, co-authored and illustrated, helping children look at life first and foremost through the lens of compassion. This latest offering shines with Tim’s warmth as a tender-hearted grandpa.
Can I Take it to Heaven?
by Sandee Macgregor Castle Quay Books
Understanding heaven is a challenging topic for young minds. Young character Lucy is asking a big question that will unfold a truth about what God allows and what He desires most, is us!
She wants to bring her Bibles to heaven when she goes and asks the profound question of “Will God let me bring it with me? In her questioning she discovers the most important thing we can know about God is God’s love for us. He only wants our hearts. And the rest will work out fine.
About the author: Sandee Macgregor, was educated and trained as a teacher, but she is also an inspired writer, and the ward-winning creator and founder of a popular web site. She is the author of two top-selling devotionals, A MotherDaughter Devotional and Shared Journal Experience for Psalm 119 and A Devotional for Mothers and Sons: Walking in Wisdom Through Proverbs, which both encourage and enable the building of a deeper spiritual bond between a mother and her daughter(s) and her son(s) through reading Scripture. This is her first children’s illustrated book targeted at younger children. She is a faithful follower of Christ, wife to Duncan for 28 years and a mom to five children.
Just Act: We are the Solution to Poverty
by Angie Peters
Castle Quay Books
Poverty ended for Angie Peter’s family in one generation because of the intervention of ordinary people who cared. Just Act is an inspirational guide for people, businesses and community organizations who are concerned about poverty but feel hopeless about their ability to make any meaningful difference. Built upon the insights of people with lived experience of poverty, Just Act answers your questions, provides inspirational true stories, informs about effective initiatives, and addresses barriers to success. It then provides a step-by-step process to develop a comprehensive one-year action plan that can transform lives for generations to come.
About the author: Angie Peters is an inspiring and collaborative leader in Toronto’s social sector serving the communities where she grew up. In 2003, she left her executive role in telecommunications to work towards the end of poverty. She founded ZOË Alliance, an international social enterprise, before joining Toronto’s Yonge Street Mission in 2013 as President and CEO. In 2022, she hosted a Poverty Hack-aThon that has since birthed a city-wide multi-sector collaboration that is creating trust, action and momentum to build communities where everyone can thrive.
Humphrey’s Motel
By Emily B. Kerros
Word Alive Press
Neal Humphrey, a lonely bartender, stumbles over a dead body one night at the Pearl Motel with a beautiful out-oftowner. The dead man is Humphrey’s new landlord, Tedd Archer, savagely shot in his pinstripe pajamas. Inspired by his mother’s fascination with classic crime fiction and fearing he will be suspected for an argument with Tedd before his death, Humphrey sets out to find the murderer among Pearl’s plain Jane townsfolk and peculiar motel guests. He expects that unraveling the truth from the small-town gossip will be nearly impossible, especially when everyone seemed to dislike Tedd. But what Humphrey doesn’t expect to find is a missing novel worth a small fortune, his photographer frenemy being blackmailed for past sins, and a big-city detective hot on his heels.
About the author: Born and raised in a small town in Manitoba, Emily B. Kerros spent her bus rides to and from school reading her mom’s old collection of Nancy Drew Mysteries. Now there is nothing she loves more than a good mystery, especially golden-age classics. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s working her day job in a dental offi ce and enjoys puzzling, baking sourdough, and spending time with her family and her cat. She also loves browsing for hours in bookstores. Humphrey’s Motel, her debut novel, was shortlisted for the 2023 Braun Book Awards.
I Am the Prodigal, I Am the Eldest
By Betty Sawatzky Word Alive Press
The parable of the prodigal son is one of the most favoured stories in the Bible, and it’s one that many can relate to.
When Jesus shared the story, He was speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees, leaders in the synagogues who lived strict lives in obedience to the laws of the Torah. They harshly judged others who failed to meet their strict standards and showed little grace and mercy. By taking a closer look at the culture and traditions of the Israelites in Jesus’ day, we can dig more deeply into the meaning of this story – and yes, the story of the prodigal son is about so much more than a wayward son coming home.
In the novel, we meet Aziel, whose desire to experience life at its fullest pulls him away from the security of his family and community. This beautiful rendition of the famous parable reveals just how much our heavenly Father and His Son love us.
About the author: Betty Sawatzky is a reporter and writer living in Killarney, Manitoba. She has been pursuing a deeper understanding of our heavenly Father’s love since she gave her life to Jesus as a young teen. She has shared His incredible love through various children’s ministries and women’s Bible studies. Each season in her life has drawn her into a deeper understanding of our Father’s unconditional love and the sacrificial love of His Son, Jesus. When she’s not spending time with family or tapping away at her computer, she’s out fishing with her husband at one of their many favorite lakes in Manitoba.
The Most Important Lesson
By Gary Edwards
Word Alive Press
What’s the most important lesson you have ever learned?
It took almost fifty-seven years for me to learn the most important lesson, and it changed my life forever. It wasn’t until I suffered a cardiac arrest, was clinically dead for five minutes, and had a profound death experience that I finally realized I had been missing the mark most of my life. I’m here, thanks to God’s mercy, to share with you the lesson I learned. This lesson is for everyone. And the earlier this lesson is learned and applied, the better! Don’t waste time like I did. Get started now! You’ll be glad you did.
About the author: Gary S. Edwards has been in full-time Christian ministry since 2002. In 2011, he founded C-Quest, an evangelism-focused ministry based in Mexico. He is a husband, father, former teacher, and popular speaker at Bible camps, youth events, churches, and teacher’s conventions. An admitted adrenaline junkie, he enjoys travelling, flying, sports, board games, and competition of any kind.
Wounded Heart, Healed Spirit
By Carol Carley Word Alive Press
This is the true story of how a beaten and bruised twelve-year-old girl escaped the violent abuse of her alcoholic father to become a bold, victorious ambassador for Jesus Christ. Carol Carley shares how the power of God transformed tragedy into triumph. If you find yourself completely happy, living an unremarkable and predictable life as a Christian, and if you doubt whether miracles still happen, or whether you can get to know God in a deeper and more personal way, there’s no reason to open this book. But if you dare to believe that your faith can become exhilarating, that you can be intimately guided by the Holy Spirit, and that God can heal your past and empower you to overcome the chaos and challenges, this book will help you explore those possibilities.
About the author: Carol Carley was a reporter and lifestyle editor for the Moose Jaw Times-Herald. She was nominated for the 1991 National Award of Excellence for her in-depth research, content, and style of writing.