live magazine - January/Febraury 2020 issue

live A Baptist resource for women on a mission January – February 2020 · $3.50

PREPARING TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO

Executive Director Highlights 2019 (p3) Touchstones for doing mission (p9) 2020 Strategic Giving Projects (p15) Declaring the Goodness of God

2020 Baptist Women’s Conference (p19)

live in this issue COLUMNS/RESOURCES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT 3 Executive Director Highlights 2019

BIBLE STUDY 6 Chosen | Holy | Called

FEATURES connect to god 9 Touchstones for doing mission It may start with spaghetti dinners connect to MISSION 12 Community Engagement Releasing the kingdom of God 15 Strategic Giving 2020 A history of helping connect to others 11 A History Moment 11 We Remember 18 Gifts of Securities (stocks, mutual funds) 19 DECLARING THE GOODNESS OF GOD chosen | holy | called Baptist Women’s Conference 2020 conference information, workshops accommodation and registration

Life Memberships We will list 2019 Circle Life and Dominion Life Membership recipients in the March/April issue.

Cover photo: Unsplash.com/GaelleMarcel

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cONNECTING “I will make a way” (Isaiah 43:19b).

One day in my writing class, our teacher, Maureen, told us to find a partner and each take turns being blindfolded. For five minutes, the other person was to guide us through Maureen’s house, prompting us with voice and hands. The blindfolded were not to make any suggestions or give orders. After five minutes, we switched roles.

I learned three things about how to get ready to obey God. i) To hear the voice of my guide, I needed to lean in. When I didn’t lean into her, bending close to hear her words, her voice was lost in the volume of all the other voices guiding my classmates. ii) To really listen to and obey my guide’s instructions, I had to turn off the ticker tape of thoughts, words and sentences running in my head. I had to lay down my need to control. iii) I had to trust my guide to get me back to my seat safely. My guide could see and therefore guide me around obstacles: furniture and my other classmates. I could not do it on my own.

As you prepare to do, or continue to do, mission this year, remember that Almighty God speaks to you. He touches you gently, guiding you on paths toward a deep connection to mission that He alone makes smooth. He’s already prepared the good works to which He’s called you. So, lean in, turn off that ticker tape and trust. That’s all you can do. Let God do the rest.

PS: For fans of the television series Murdoch Mysteries, Maureen is the author of the books on which the series is based.

RJ 

VOLUME 93, NUMBER 1

live (formerly The Link & Visitor) began as The Canadian Missionary Link (1878) and Baptist Visitor (1890). Published bi-monthly by Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec 5 International Blvd., Etobicoke, ON M9W 6H3 416-620-2954 Fax 416-622-2308 bwoq@baptist.ca baptistwomen.com Executive director Diane McBeth Editor and communications director Renée James 416-651-8967 rsejames@gmail.com Art director Donna Lee Pancorvo of GEPM Group Inc. (gepmgroup.com) Contributors Linda Ellsworth, Diane McBeth Circulation and subscriptions Subscriptions 416-620-2954 live@baptist.ca Subscriptions Individual: $20* (direct or through promoters) US & overseas: $39 All currency in $C unless otherwise noted.

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We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada for our publishing activities. *includes HST

executive director’s report

Scenes from our 2019 Women’s Conference

Executive Director Highlights

As I travel, I am so impressed by your dedication and heart for God, and for your faithful support of Baptist Women over 143 years.

Looking on 2019, I notice a number of areas where we can see progression over the last few years.

Prayer Back in 2016 Rev. Jill Weber, founder of the Greater Ontario House of Prayer, spoke at our spring Conference. Her daughter Hannah set up our first interactive prayer room. Our staff felt God leading us to build on that with a one-day prayer conference in the fall.

By 2017 we were ready to launch Room To Pray, a call to set up prayer rooms for which we created lots of resources including live magazine articles, blogs, and even Pinterest pages for ideas.

It was exciting to see how many of you took that on—even CBOQ events started including interactive prayer rooms.

In 2018 we introduced fasting—sometimes from food, but also fasting from criticism at

Thanksgiving 2018 and fasting from gossip in 2019. We also began a prayer network pilot project.

In 2019 we invited women to prayer walk or drive. We began sharing testimonies about Prayer Walking. We held a small fall training event at Heron Park Baptist Church in Scarborough for women to experience prayer walking themselves.

We are so pleased to hear about different groups (and whole churches) who are moving out to walk and pray for their community.

Spiritual Formation We’ve seen a similar trajectory with spiritual formation. It started at our 2015 spring conference with two sold-out workshops on walking a labyrinth. I remember opening the door to check on it . . . and having a powerful sense of the presence of God. “We need to do more of this!” I thought. Since then we’ve had many more workshops on spiritual formation practices, with everything from different forms of Bible reading to devotional art and dance. live • January - February 2020

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executive director’s report

After several years of searching for a program we could use for mentoring or peer spiritual direction, we finally gave up and created our own. In 2018 Soul Sisters was born. In 2019 we added Soul Sisters 2. Soul Sisters 3 and 4 are being prepared for launch at the Spring Conference.

You send us wonderful stories about how women are finding a safe place to truly open their hearts to God and to each

other. You are experimenting with things like silence, lectio divina, and the prayer of examen. We see you learning how to be spiritual companions to one another. Some of you have started to grow in pastoral gifts. All that causes a lot of rejoicing in our office.

Inclusion and Support of Younger Women In this area we are building on the efforts of many who

We Need You . . . . . . to pray. Intercession makes all the difference. Are there a few people you can gather to pray with you? . . . to be connectors. Are you willing to be a point person your church or area? We need a core of people who can spread the word about events and resources. If you are willing, please email Renée James at rsejames@gmail.com or phone her at 416-651-8967. . . . to support us financially. Great things are happening, but new opportunities require new resources.

• Are you able to become a monthly donor? Monthly giving provides a stable foundation for good stewardship. It’s also a troublefree way for you to sow into the kingdom and make a genuine and lasting difference in the lives of the needy. It’s easy.

Simply mail a void cheque to: Baptist Women, 5 International Blvd, Etobicoke ON, M9W 6H3, and tell us how much you would like to give.

• Would you include CBWOQ in your will? Our history shows us that we have often made great strides ahead because of the legacy of those who went before. There is still so much we can do!

Thank you! You are making a difference that will last for generations.

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have gone before us. A key advance happened in 2016 when we changed our conference strategy—moving from a full weekend at a hotel to a Friday night/Saturday in a church and putting it under the direction of someone young. That made it much more accessible.

Then in 2019 we added a youth track. How wonderful to see those groups of teens wander through the lobby!

In 2018 we were privileged to be the first Canadian organization to host Uptick groups.

This year-long training experience for women leaders 22–35 is highly valuable for the kingdom. We’ve also had the wonderful bonus of many of them participating in our own programs.

Intimate Connection with Mission Although new things are beginning, our commitment to mission hasn’t changed. This year we gave more than $50,000 to CBM for international mission.

Thank you for your generous gifts. That money has accomplished so much. By the end of January we will have concrete updates from CBM on the projects your fundraising efforts and donations supported.

They’ll be published on our website (in the causes section) and in ELINK. (See page 12 for the exciting new opportunities for 2020.)

CONNECT TO GOD

You also gave generously for 12 women to receive conference bursaries.

You supplied funding so we could give grants to a number of new initiatives—all led by women, and all making a real difference in the lives of women and children. These included: • grants to First Baptist Church in Welland and Lakefield Baptist Church for inter-generational ministry • a grant for a young woman to connect with youth at Ohsweken and help facilitate a clothing/food bank • a grant to Oneida Baptist Church for a new initiative with vulnerable girls.

Now it’s time to look ahead to 2020. Any of our staff are happy to come speak at your group or church. We like to lead workshops (Renée on prayer, prayer walking, writing and more; Diane on Soul Sisters, identity, and spiritual formation; Laura on Uptick . . . and all of us on the theme.)

There is no charge.

Diane McBeth executive director  Top L: Lydia’s Daughters 2 conference—a moment of reflection and prayer; R: Lydia’s Daughters 2 conference—female clergy nail laments to the cross; Middle: Board members pose at our Spring Conference; Bottom: A few Uptick alumni All photos by Josh del Rosario

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BIBLE STUDY

Chosen | Holy | Called . . . declaring the goodness of God

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by Linda Ellsworth Linda is the member care coordinator for Christian Camping International, Canada.

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“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

CONNECT TO MISSION

Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-9 What is “the very thing” for which God is prepping us? _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

We have just celebrated the Christmas season, but it took months!

I am talking about preparing the Muskoka Advent Choir to present eight Christmas concerts over three weeks in venues ranging over a 240 km distance.

In the months prior, my to-do list had no less than 17 items, each of them a four-week project with its own to-do list.

We have all worked diligently to prepare for an event or occasion in our lives: a wedding, a special holiday, a job interview, an important assignment. Preparation is part of life; a part in which we express and use our God-given gifts. And yet, have we ever come to terms with the fact that God is constantly “prepping” us for His use and for His glory?

What is our responsible reaction to this holy preparation? (see verse 9) _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ God definitely prepares His people!  Through years of vigorous musical training, God prepared George Johnston (former pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Gravenhurst) to accept the challenge of establishing the Muskoka Advent Choir.

George fulfilled that role for 20 years, influencing the lives of multitudes of singers and those who packed the churches to be blessed by the music of Christmas.

Some 58 years ago, God had also begun “prepping” a little seven-year old girl who hated piano lessons, by having 17-yearold George play for Sunday night hymn-sings at Weston Baptist Church. Awestruck with the talent God had placed and prepared in George, she continued with her piano lessons, and voice lessons, and cello and then went on to Bible college, singing in a wonderful acapella choir while earning a degree in Christian Education/ Music. Her music courses included one on choral conducting.

After graduation, she and George

didn’t cross again until 45+ years had passed; that girl was directing a Baptist camp and they ran into each other at a CBOQ spring Assembly.

Three years later, the girl and her husband went to a wonderful Christmas concert in Bracebridge.

You can imagine her shock when the choir director appeared . . .

George Johnston! The next year she had the joy of singing in his choir. Two years later George retired and that little girl, after 58 years of preparation, “inherited” the Muskoka Advent choir. With God, there are no coincidences!  In Scripture, there is another young woman (likely 14 or 15 years of age) whom God prepared to perform an unparalleled task for Him. Her name was Mary.

READ Luke 1:26-38 In reading this beloved story once again, describe three insights indicating that God had indeed been preparing Mary throughout her short life for the task for which He had chosen her. _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Notice that Mary was from a small city called __________________ READ John 1:43-46 What was the Jewish “take” on this little city? _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ live • January - February 2020

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Why do you think God chose this city as part of Jesus’ heritage on earth? _________________________ _________________________ READ Luke 3: 23-38 From what town was Joseph? _________________________ READ Micah 5:2 What was the significance of Joseph’s place of birth? _________________________ _________________________ Can you see the amazing path of preparation presenting here, from Old to New Testament, as God unfolded His plan?

READ Luke 1:38-55 The most amazing thing about this story is the poise and comprehension Mary demonstrated when the angel presented her with astounding news. If an angel had appeared to me with the same announcement, I would have _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ I believe Mary’s reaction shows that she must have had previous teaching in the Scriptures . . . an incredible occurrence for a Jewish young woman of that time period.

Mary’s Song Her first reaction, following the announcement, was to _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ 8

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In verse 38 we see Mary’s obedience _________________________ _________________________ In verses 41-45 we read of Elizabeth’s _________________________ _________________________ Verses 46 and 47 tell us that Mary _________________________ _________________________ Verses 48-50 acclaim God’s _________________________ _________________________ In verses 51-55 Mary makes the association with Old Testament _________________________ _________________________ The story of Mary, chosen and prepared by God, illustrates for us today how He chooses the “weak things of the world to confound the wise” and uses them to bring glory to His name.

The “proof” of preparation in Mary’s song is demonstrated through: • Obedience (both Mary and Elizabeth) • Affirmation (by Elizabeth, of God’s divine intervention) • Adoration (by both Mary and Elizabeth) • Acclamation (of God’s enduring mercy and faithfulness) • Association (of His plan throughout all of Scripture) • Action (Mary willingly followed the preparation and planning of God by continuing on His chosen path . . . no matter how

difficult) “But” you say, “I am not a Mary.

What does this mean to me?”

READ Ephesians 2:1-10 Read each of these verses with a fine-tooth comb and align this song of Paul’s into the proof of preparation outline we’ve just reviewed. _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Having dwelt in the richness of Scripture, outline below the preparations God has both made and continues to make in your life. _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ The final outcome of preparation is ACTION! What action has God prepared you for in the coming week? Month? Year? _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ READ Psalm 139.

Read it again, out loud. Read it joyfully to the Lord, for all His planning and preparation of the person who is YOU. “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with You. Search me. Try me. Know me. Lead me!” 

CONNECT TO GOD

Touchstones for doing mission It may start with spaghetti dinners Rev. Jill Weber is the founder of the Greater Ontario House of Prayer (GOHOP). She recently moved to the United Kingdom to serve on the global leadership team of 24-7 Prayer Network, a role in which she connects with Houses of Prayer around the world. live magazine sat down with Jill to talk about what it takes to prepare the way of the Lord; to obey His call to mission. In that conversation, she emphasized the connection between authentic experience of God and mission.

“And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people’” (Matthew 4:19 NRSV).

“Jesus continues to be the goal. He is the Destination, the Way and the Companion on the Way. Mission is not the goal, ” Jill affirms. Encounter (authentic experience of God) and mission are not two separate things.

The place of encounter is the place of mission (Acts 3).

She also recognizes that Jesus does the making . . . not us. He is the element, literally between encounter and mission. In Him, and as we follow Him, we are literally being made into fishers of people.

It takes discipline though, to hold encounter and mission in balance and to discern where God is at work while one is in the messy middle of doing mission. Jill suggests some key touchstones for any woman who wants to do mission from that place of encounter.

Unsplash.com/MaeMu

Learn how to pay attention Can we actually be where we are or do we step into mission already preoccupied? How can we live in the moment in mission and where God is present? live • January - February 2020

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Before doing any mission outreach, Jill strongly advocates for our need to know how to quiet our hearts and minds and make space. “Practice spiritual journalling, silence and solitude. These are all great ways to de-clutter our hearts and minds so that there’s room to let someone in . . . to our prayers and into our hearts.”

We make space within us for God and for people. For Jill, the question becomes: “Can we enter into that space with the expectation that we’ll find God there?”

Practice wonder One of the great benefits when we de-clutter is that we realize God is omnipresent. In some places we may find His image is distorted but He is present.

Practice hospitality Do we receive others who are not like us; those who are “other?” So often we are scared of others. We judge people and we project our own inadequacies and fears onto them. Mission is about practicing hospitality.

Choose community Practicing hospitality underlines the importance of community.

Spiritual practices are always easier to do in community. That’s the way God designed it. “In Hamilton [with GOHOP] we built a community of shared practice. We gathered a group of people who wanted to explore a variety of spiritual practices,” says Jill. “To go on 10 live • January - February 2020

mission, create community first— a group of co-conspirators—and build shared practices.”

As Jill and the GOHOP ministry moved outward and forward, she didn’t start doing mission on her own. “There were perfectly great ministries already at work in Hamilton,” she remembers, so they connected with them.

Understand the importance of relocation When Jill and her family moved forward into mission, they physically moved themselves (and GOHOP) into one of the most fragile yet resilient neighbourhoods in Hamilton. And she changed her schedule to be mentored by Rev. Sue Carr, a CBOQ chaplain in the Barton Street community. For three years, Jill shadowed Rev. Sue Carr. As Jill puts it, “I hid behind the coffee table, set up chairs, and watched.” Jill learned how Sue did ministry; how she created a safe space for all the vulnerable she served.

Jill admits that her mentorship

by Sue wasn’t your typical mentorship. “Mentoring is not what we think it is. We’ve made mentoring consumerist; not what Jesus modelled it to be. ‘Come and follow me,’ He says. People wandered around with Him.” She cautions that while you do need to relocate, you don’t need to relocate your family. You simply need to find the poor and be with them. This is the dance of invitation and challenge that women

who want to grow in mission will ultimately face: not only to find those co-conspirators with whom to build shared practices, but to also search out those women and groups already serving the poor.

“Go and help them; learn from them,” says Jill, “and don’t underestimate the power of presence.”

Explore and experiment Another life-giving touchstone Jill never underestimates is the

Even The Sparrow For those interested in gathering women to form intercessory prayer groups in their churches, Baptist Women will host a training session in late March using questions, insights and lessons learned from Jill’s book, Even The Sparrow. Contact Renée James at 416-651-8967 if you’re interested in being part of this group.

CONNECT TO GOD

language of exploration and experimentation. “We’re scared of doing it wrong and we all suffer from the need to do mission right . . . the first time. Frame your activities as experiments—we all know that experiments may fail,” she admits.

Jill’s expansion of GOHOP’s ministry to relocate into that resilient Hamilton neighbourhood; to practice communal living; to do spaghetti suppers for everyone who showed up at their kitchen table every Tuesday night without fail “except Christmas and New Year’s;” to run the prayer room in the basement of 541 Eatery and Exchange on Barton Street; to host Hamilton’s only prayer truck in the alley at the side of a youth centre . . . these ministries have in essence

been answers to her question: Can we be people of prayer right in the middle of it all in this tough neighbourhood? Can we incarnate the presence of Jesus? This is the question for all of us as we move outward and forward in mission.

“I’m not fussing about what works or what doesn’t. I’m just trying.” Heady words indeed from a woman whose ministry has taken her from local church youth group leadership to starting a regional House of Prayer to becoming part of 24-7 Prayer’s global leadership team.

Untangle yourself from outcomes Jill admits that she didn’t have a clue 18 years ago when she began ministry . . . and she still doesn’t.

A History Moment In 1974, women celebrate 100 years of mission in India To celebrate the centennial of Canadian Baptist foreign missions, three guests from India addressed the 1974 BWMS convention at Queen’s University. Veteran missionary Jessie Rosser presents the issues facing India then—too much or too little leadership in some churches, and continual crises of flood, drought, unrest, over-population and lack of health education.

From Our Heritage Becomes Our Challenge, by Esther Barnes (2013), page 272.

She’s the first to say that the only thing she knows how to do as a leader is to listen to God with the intent to obey. “I actually don’t know what people need; my brain isn’t big enough,” she laughs. “I just have to get over myself and pay attention to what God is doing. That’s the outcome.”

Today her modus operandi, even though her church is 1,200 people strong, is simply to be fully present and fully loving. “What’s God building in this conversation?” she asks. “We underestimate the power of the catalytic moment; the moment of encounter.”

Authentic experience of God and intimate connection to mission. Both begin and end, it seems, with encounter. 

We REMEMBER Each generation has the opportunity to fuel mission for the next. We are thankful for the following gifts: In Memory of Agnes (Nancy) Fox, London Kathleen Pritchard, Hamilton Elaine Slewelling-Jones, Peterborough Doreen Wilson, Monck IN HONOUR OF Ina Evans, Stayner (97th birthday) Grace Kanwisher, Ottawa (90th birthday Jenn L. Myers, Wallaceburg (special birthday) Mary Runham, Stayner (101st birthday)

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CONNECT TO TO MISSION MISSION CONNECT

Community Engagement Releasing the kingdom of God

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CONNECT TO MISSION

At last June’s CBOQ Assembly, congregational associate Cid Latty facilitated a workshop that literally bused participants into Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood and dropped off, armed with a walking route, a map that detailed key sites in the area and a list of questions to ask as they stopped, looked and prayed. Participants were literally immersed in Parkdale, an area that copes with poverty.

You’ll find Dale Ministries, one of CBOQ’s churches in Parkdale. Led by Rev. Erinn Oxford, the Dale is a community organization and church without its own walls. All its events and relationships happen in buildings and spaces scattered across Parkdale’s blocks, from the local Coffee Time to the Salvation Army Thrift Store to Bonar Parkdale Presbyterian Church.

As Baptist Women explores how connection to mission flows out of one’s authentic experience of God, live magazine sat down with Cid to talk about community engagement and why listening to God is an integral step in such engagement.

live: What gave you the idea to have an immersive experience like a learning/prayer walk through a neighbourhood like Parkdale?

Cid: The theme of Assembly was lament. So this workshop wanted participants to explore their response to poverty. We wanted to locate them in a place where they could see the need for transformation.

What did you want participants to experience; to bring back to their own church and community contexts?

We wanted them to feel the reality of poverty and the injustice that big money can do. For example, the McDonalds that’s going to be torn down for condos is the only 24-hour place where people who live in the rooming houses can go and be warm, dry and have free refills.

Hundreds of people in the area live in houses where rooms are rented out for $500/month . . . until those houses are sold and rebuilt into big homes with gates around them. Where do the people who used to live in those homes go?

As part of the group’s take-aways, you suggested some great questions for participants to consider.

Why these questions?

Could my church host a Bible study in a public space like a coffee shop? This was a question to invite us to think about what it means to be intentional in your neighbourhood; to really be there at your local coffee shop and get to know the manager or the owner. Could you be there all the time? When you are, a relationship starts and builds.

What does poverty look like in my own community?

Poverty takes all kinds of different forms. In some communities it’s poverty of information because they live • January - February 2020

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aren’t online so they can’t know lots of stuff or receive it. There is emotional poverty, loneliness, lack of meaningful work.

The key thing is: Can we look and respond to the poverty that’s prevalent in the community that we’re in? And what would it look like for us to respond to poverty that’s not financial?

Baptist churches are founded on community. So when the poverty in our society is the poverty of loneliness, our churches have the antidote to that problem.

What we need to do is have a kingdom mindset that the healing balm of God is effective in our wider society. We have to believe that Jesus is Lord. We have to have confidence in the Gospel—that it works. And the courage to try new things.

Recommended Reading • God Space: Where Conversations Happen Naturally, by Doug Pollock (LifeTree. July 2009) • The Enemies of Excellence - 7 Reasons Why We Sabotage Success, by Greg Salciccioli (Crossroad, 2011) (This is a book about building confidence—an easy short book to read) 14 live • January - February 2020

For someone who feels the need to engage, yet is also feeling overwhelmed, what should her first step be?

1. Get with somebody who loves Jesus more than you do.

2. You need to ask God to open your eyes so that you can see the needs around you, financial and otherwise.

3. Go for a walk around your neighbourhood and ask God to show you what He sees. And as you’re walking and listening to God, you need to be ready to respond to what God says to you as you’re walking around. For example, as part of the workshop, we stopped and prayed for a tower block that had 400 apartments. A lady came up and said: What are you doing? I knew that this was not a casual encounter so I told her we were doing a tour. We then had a quick conversation in which we were able to share about Jesus with her.

4. Reward yourself after you’ve done the walk as a way of encouraging yourself in the Lord (like David did). We need to encourage ourselves with the small wins and not despise them. It’s the very small things that matter.

What makes for a successful community outreach?

One of the key things we need releasing from is the fear of failure.

Our purpose is not to fail, obviously, but to be faithful to the call

of God so that when we do fail, it doesn’t prevent us from moving forward. Success in biblical terms is about being faithful to what God has said we should do.

So the question is: What has God said you should do?

So how do we hear God? Prayer and fasting equip us to do the things that God has called us to do. Through prayer and fasting we have the privilege of committing ourselves to God, humbling ourselves in prayer and being reminded of our need for Jesus every time we feel hungry.

The ability of prayer and fasting to release a breakthrough is key to everything we’re attempting to do, whether in small groups or as a church, because what we’re seeking to do is address a spiritual battle against an enemy that opposes everything we seek to do for God. So when we pray and fast we’re addressing the spiritual context we’re in, so that the release of the kingdom in our context can take place.

Any final words for our readers?

We must seek the face of Jesus more than the latest techniques and missional ideas. The Holy Spirit is the greatest evangelist and all we need to do is make sure we’re walking in step with Him. 

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Strategic Giving 2020 A history of helping

Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec has a proud history of raising support for the poor in India and for single female missionaries. We hope you feel that sense of history as you read about 2020’s opportunities to raise funds for several specific overseas projects.

Clockwise from top left: Women of the Mising Tribe in Assam weave beautiful cultural shawls to sell • Young people from the Mising Tribe are trained to equip them for future employment • Pastor Xiaodan Gang • Lillian Yang • A Soura widow; one of many who receive training and funds to help them provide for themselves and their children.

All photos courtesy CBM

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INDIA In the 1800s, A.V. Timpany rallied Baptist women in Montreal and through Ontario to do what mission boards of the day did not have capacity to do—send support to help suffering women in India.

Mission circles quickly formed, and multiplied across Ontario to respond to his appeal. Today, Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) has let us know that the need is just as great. A number of you have supported India for many years. Do you still feel called?

Soura Widows Fundraising target $13,000 CBWOQ has committed to being the sole funders of this project to empower Soura widows.

Over 95 per cent of the Soura community live on the hills and mountains and nearly 70 per cent of the people are illiterate. With no cleared lands for cultivation nor irrigation, people depend on seasonal cultivation during the monsoon season between June and November. With very irregular labour work at low wages, whatever income comes from the cultivation is not enough to support their families for the whole year.

Husbands take the key role in supporting the family and to do so many of them must go outside of the community to obtain regular labour work. Unfortunately, when husbands die, entire families become hopeless and helpless and it is hard for the widowed mother to go out for work, especially if they 16 live • January - February 2020

have young children. In most cases, after the death of their father, children stop going to school as they need to assist their mother in work and in managing the family.

CBM’s church partner in the region has identified many widows whose low annual incomes put them and their families at severe risk. This project provides income generation for 120 widows so that they have a dependable income source to support their children.

The widows engage in seasonal business activities, such as purchasing and selling cashews, tamarind, turmeric, bananas and pineapples.

Some also tend vegetables or run a local grass broom business. Since the community lives in a mountainous area, some also rear goats and chickens.

Coverage $56 provides a widow the opportunity to participate in two business training workshops. $215 gives a widow a small business loan.  Empowerment of Children, Women and Youth—the Mising tribe in Assam Fundraising target: $20,000 CBWOQ has committed to being the sole funders of this project to create economic independence for people of the Mising tribe.

Assam is one of the least developed states in India and poverty is a serious issue, particularly among youth and women because they lack skills, education and employment opportunities.

Project leaders hope to serve this unreached and under-engaged community by sharing the gospel and practically demonstrating it.

Project activities and outcomes include educating children, providing computer training, mechanics and tailoring training and increasing literacy rates. This project also provides the raw materials and training for 15 women in weaving and knitting cultural shawls.

Through these activities, people of the animistic Mising tribe come to hear about God and experience His love, as expressed through the care and support they receive from the local church.

Coverage $175 trains one young woman in tailoring for a year. $220 provides raw weaving materials for one woman. $325 provides computer training for one youth for a year. $425 buys supplies and materials for one tutoring centre. $1,500 buys one motorbike for an evangelist.

More information to come

Throughout 2020, live magazine will feature articles and photos about these initiatives. Find information at baptistwomen.com/causes and posts in our FaceBook group. We’ve tried to make it easy for you to fundraise by breaking down some of the projects into bite-sized chunks you can track.

CONNECT TO MISSION

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Rape Victims Fundraising target: $5,000 It is difficult and disturbing to hear first-hand accounts of rape as a weapon of war. Through our continued support of this project, we build on the interest already raised in 2019’s strategic giving program for this work.

This project focuses on wounded vulnerable women in a country in civil war. Rapes are particularly violent and victims often need significant medical care. They are often ostracized from their communities, losing their support systems.

For almost five years we have been prayer partners with the Women of the African Continental Union. Are we also able to help our African sisters practically?

Coverage This project covers medical help, counselling, community workshops to counter stigmatization and training for economic independence for the women.  SINGLE FEMALE MISSIONARIES You may know someone whose grandmother or great-grandmother would donate their butter and egg money to their mission circle . . . just to support a single female missionary. In fact, most mission circles of the day took their names from the female missionary they supported. Almost 150 years later, the need to support single female missionaries still remains, though

now they may be national field staff who work alongside CBM and their local partners. National field staff often do not have a solid base of financial support so CBM has asked if Baptist Women can help.

Could some of our groups “adopt” these women and surround them with prayer . . . and funds?

Lillian Yang (Golden Triangle) Fundraising target: $7,500 Working alongside Chinese Ministries Team Leaders Conrad and Fiona Kwok, Lillian’s main duties are equipping local pastors and laypersons through Christian education/theological training in Bethel Bible Institute. She will assist local churches, organizations and seminaries to develop training ministry in sharing the gospel and expanding community outreach.

She will also help manage existing projects while identifying new and potential opportunities and updating Canadian churches. She will assist in arranging and scheduling SENT teams and working with them while they are on the field.

Previously, Lillian was in ministry in Thailand for several years, leading Bible study, preaching, translating and participating in children’s and women’s groups. She has served as a lecturer at Bethel Bible Institute in Thailand. Lillian brings a strong seminary background to her role with an MA (major in pastoral ministry) from Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary and an MDiv from China Evangelical Seminary in Taiwan.

Pastor Xiaodan Gang (Germany) Fundraising target: $7,500 Did you know that many Chinese students are so eager for further education that they learn German in order to access free university education in Germany? The CBM team in Germany works primarily among these students, most of whom have never heard the gospel—but are interested. The vast majority of the students will return to China after they graduate and enter into professions or work as civil servants.

Pastor Xiaodan Gang serves with CBM in Germany as part of the Chinese Ministries Team. She joined the team in 2011, working in partnership with the local organization, Forum for Mission to Chinese, in Germany (FMCD).

Xiaodan was born in Liaoning, China, and grew up in an atheist family. She first heard about and accepted Christ while studying in Switzerland. Baptized at the International Church of Basel in 2003, she later participated in the church’s city outreach and the seeds of mission were planted in her heart. In 2005, Xiaodan answered the call to full-time ministry and beginning in 2007, obtained theological training at St. Chrischona Theological Seminary in Basel. Her first exposure to student ministry came while serving as an intern at Hamburg Chinese Christian Church where she developed an understanding of the tremendous needs that exist among this group.  live • January - February 2020

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CONNECT TO OTHERS

Gifts of Securities (stocks, mutual funds) Did you know that if you sell mutual funds or stocks, 50 per cent of the profit is added to your taxable income? However, if you transfer stocks or mutual funds to a registered charity (like CBWOQ), then it does not trigger any Capital Gains Tax and you get a receipt for the total gift.

However, you must transfer those securities directly. Even if you sell them and immediately write a cheque—that still doesn’t count as “direct” in the eyes of the Canada Revenue Agency. You need to transfer the stocks or mutual funds themselves. Fortunately, that is not hard to do.

Gifts of Securities and your Will Managing Capital Gains Tax is especially important for your estate. Did you know that when someone passes away, their Terminal Income Tax is calculated as if everything they owned had been sold? That adds up to a lot of income and therefore a lot of tax.

However, if your Will includes a clause transferring a

Here are the steps to make a transfer

1 2 3

Go to baptistwomen.com/donate and click on the button to donate securities. Or you can write or phone our office to have one mailed to you.

Sign the form and take it to your institution holding the securities (e.g. your bank).

Ask them to notify us of the transfer. (Our contact information is at the bottom.)

That’s it. Our securities company will take care of the rest and we will issue you a receipt.

18 live • January - February 2020 Photo credit: Linda Wolfe

certain amount or percentage of securities (e.g. mutual funds or stocks) in kind to a registered charity (like CBWOQ) . . . then your estate is saved all Capital Gains Tax on that money. In addition, 100 per cent of that charitable gift is receipted and can be used to offset all the other income.

This is actually a great deal offered from the Canadian government. It has tax benefits for you and it results in a significant donation for us. You will be using excellent stewardship and also making a great impact for the kingdom, supporting vulnerable women and children across continents.

If you have questions please contact Diane McBeth.

For more information on reducing capital gains tax visit: https://turbotax.intuit.ca/tips/how-to-reducecapital-gains-tax-in-canada-6546 

Bernice’s Picks . . .

Start the year with a Bible study The Life We Long For: Meeting Jesus in a Study of the Gospel of John, Part 1 of 2

by Barbara Fuller for $14.99 The Life We Long For: Learning Love in the Gospel of John, Part 2 of 2

by Barbara Fuller for $14.99 All titles available from ReadOn Bookstore 5 International Blvd.

Etobicoke, ON M9W 6H3 Tel: 416-620-2934 Fax: 416-234-8840 E-mail: books@readon.ca readon.ca

CONNECT TO OTHERS

DECLARING THE GOODNESS OF GOD chosen | holy | called Baptist Women’s Conference 2020

Friday April 24 (7-9 p.m.) – Saturday April 25 (8:45 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Mississauga Chinese Baptist Church, 5520 Creekbank Rd., Mississauga, ON L4W 1X1 registration: $65 | CBWOQ lunch: $15 Keep this checklist and the following pages handy as you register for this conference.  Register early to get your choice of workshop  Need child care? Let us know on your registration form and apply for a bursary. Deadline: Monday, April 6, 2020.  Bursaries are available for costs like registration, lunch, transportation, accommodation, child care etc.

Download application form at baptistwomen.com  A youth track will run for young women 12-18 years old. Register for this track online.  This is a scent-free conference as many attendees do have allergies. Thank you for not wearing perfumes or scented lotions.  If you’d like to meet our board of directors, have lunch with them on Saturday. Indicate your interest on your registration form.  For live magazine promoters: we’d love to gather over Saturday lunch for a time of fellowship and sharing about the future. Just indicate this on your registration form.

Directions to Venue By car (from 401): 401 East or West • Exit Dixie Road—head south • East (left) onto Matheson Blvd. E • South (right) onto Creekbank Road, one block • Church is on the right • Front entrance is at the rear of the building.

On TTC/public transit • take Eglinton West buses to Renforth Station • walk to the West platform • board the 7 Southbound (bus) (run by MiWay—you may have to pay an extra fare) • exit at Creekbank Road at Sismet • Walk in to venue.

Speaker Dr. TaNikka Marie Sheppard is a mentor, minister and spiritual leader who helps churches, organizations and institutions positively engage and lead the next generations. She is the president of Baptist Women of North America (formerly NABWU).

Worship Leader Temeka Williams is a singer/songwriter and worship leader who communicates faith, strength, openness and optimism through her music. She brings her education in jazz music to all she sings, directs and creates as a worship leader. live live•• January January--February February2020 2020

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DECLARING THE GOODNESS OF GOD chosen | holy | called Workshop

Description

1. The Prayer Network

Start an intercessory prayer group at your church Renée James is the communications director with and watch what happens.

Baptist Women. An award-winning author and editor, she’s also the VP, communications/promotions for BWNA.

AM ONLY 2. The Saint John’s Bible: Seeing the Word AM ONLY

The Saint John’s Bible is a hand-written, illuminated copy of the Bible, done between 2000 and 2011. We will explore its art and then let it lead us into meditating on what God wants to say to us.

Facilitator

Brian Craig was a pastor for 35 years, having served on the staff of CBOQ. He has taught for seminaries globally. He now works with the Saint John’s Bible project at the Diocese of Hamilton.

3. CBM: What is God Doing All over the world unprecedented numbers of Canadian Baptist Ministries staff in Our World? people are coming to know the Lord, even in restricted access regions. The global Church is AM ONLY growing rapidly in so many exciting ways. Find out more about the current state of global mission and how you can be engaged in the vital ministries that are happening through CBM’s partners and Field Staff.

Introducing a spiritual formation group that will support you as you learn how to make space for spiritual conversations with friends and neighbours . . . while also going deeper with God and each other

Diane McBeth is the executive director of Baptist Women and creator of the Soul Sisters program. A former missionary, Diane has been searching for new, relational ways of reaching Canadians.

Life with Jesus can be a good time! If you’re looking for a fun, hands-on (probably messy!) experience, with tangible takeaways, this is the workshop for you!

(Note: Please wear or bring clothes or a smock you don’t mind getting dirty.)

Meghan Matthews is a passionate follower of Jesus, committed to the building of His kingdom.

Meghan works with CBOQ’s Next Generation department and is pursuing her MDiv at McMaster.

She is an aficionado of coffee and dark chocolate and is happily married to a cool guy named Jon.

People think hospitality means donning an apron and serving a glammed up meal. But Scripture and history show us a hospitality that defied institutional authority, challenged cultural norms, and made room for the outcast and marginalized.

Come discuss how the practices of our tables shape us and our neighbourhoods.

Lis Lam is an award-winning food blogger and writer who believes in a radical hospitality that changes the world. She develops recipes and writes from her Korean-American background at thesubversivetable.com.

7. Finding God in Someone God is good. We are all called to evangelism but Else’s Story how do we share the gospel effectively? In this workshop we will look at evangelism as an exerAM & PM cise in listening to God and to others.

Rev. Abby Davidson is a pastor at Blythwood Road Baptist Church in Toronto where she serves in family ministries and outreach. She lives in Scarborough with her husband and son.

8. Ready, Set, Now Go!

You are chosen and you are called for a time such as this! In this workshop, you will learn how to declare the goodness of God by using the natural engagement skills inside you. With the knowledge you will gain from the assessment, biblical examples, and the assistance of God’s Holy Spirit, you will become more confident in participating in God’s mission for the world.

Rev. Andrea Chang is an encourager and a motivator. She likes to nurture the gifts in others and help to bring them to maturity, while assisting others to see the gifts that God has placed inside them.

In this interactive workshop we’ll discuss foundational principles and best practices to hear God’s voice. We’ll explore why it’s important, what it looks like, and learn some tools of discernment to help us recognize the voice of God in our everyday lives.

Kathy Gust is a spiritual director and leader of the Barnabas Group, a ministry devoted to helping believers cultivate their ability to hear and discern God’s voice.

4. Soul Sisters 3 and 4 Becoming Missional AM & PM 5. That Sounds Fun! AM & PM

6. Subversive Hospitality AM & PM

AM & PM

9. Listening for God AM & PM

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DECLARING THE GOODNESS OF GOD chosen | holy | called Workshop

Description

Facilitator

10. Prayer Room: The Eucharist (capped at 10 people)

Spend an entire workshop session in creative prayer focused on the Eucharist and how we may declare the goodness of God. Slow down and meet with God, unhurried in this spacious hour of prayer.

Created by Monique Tatsu who attends First Baptist Church in Chatham, Ontario, and is hugely passionate about creative prayer and interactive conversations with God. She is married and has two beautiful children.

Experience Indigenous rights history you’ve probably never been taught in school in this interactive and moving workshop led by Indigenous elders.

You will leave changed forever.

KAIROS Canada Elders and Leaders KAIROS Canada is an ecumenical movement for ecological justice and human rights which brings together Canadians of faith and conscience to work together for extraordinary change.

AM & PM 11. KAIROS Blanket Exercise (capped at 30 people) PM ONLY 12. The Saint John’s Bible: Illuminating the Word PM ONLY

The Saint John’s Bible is a hand-written, illumi- Brian Craig (see above) nated copy of the Bible, done between 2000 and 2011. We will explore the art and then try our hand at creating our own illuminations.

13. CBM: Wealth of Nations You’ve probably heard the statistic that the richest 1% own 45% of the world’s wealth. How do the PM ONLY rich get richer? What contributes to nations staying in poverty? Is life fair? Join us for a fun, intergenerational group game where we will explore these questions and more, as we grapple with what it means to be followers of Jesus in our world today.

Louise Hannem is the coordinator for youth engagement and the SENT program with CBM. She began that role in 2019 after 12 years of pastoring churches in Halifax. With a degree in child and youth studies and an MDiv, she was ordained in 2012. Louise lives in Halifax with her two young daughters.

14. Stepping into Prayer

Unleash a movement through prayer-walking.

Discover the power of prayer-walking in your community and inviting others to join you. Please wear comfortable footwear for the prayer-walk during the session.

Laura VanDerHerberg is an intercessor who started a city-wide prayer walking movement in 2017, and is developing a 24/7 prayer room in Peterborough.

Fri PM: Late night eats and hang Sat AM: special youth workshop with Pastor Jess Sat PM: Choose your own workshop!

Jess Hartwick is 30 years young and lives in Welland with her husband, their tabby cat and ShepherdHusky. She serves as Family Ministries Director at FBC Welland. Jess is passionate about sharing the love she’s been given in Jesus with youth.

PM ONLY

YOUTH TRACK! Warrior Training (youth registration online ONLY—baptistwomen. com

Lauren Kennedy prays with and for people in Peterborough, and loves seeing God work in her city, workplace, church and young adults group.

She is an Uptick alumnus from the 2019 cohort.

Get Social With Us Get up-to-date conference information leading up to the event.

Join our Facebook group (Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec).

Follow us on Instagram (Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec).

If you wish to register online, visit baptistwomen.com.

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22 live • January - February 2020

Sandman Signature Mississauga Hotel 5400 Dixie Rd. Phone: 905-238-0159 From venue: 17 min walk 3 minute drive

Hilton Garden Inn Toronto Airport West/Mississauga 1870 Matheson Blvd.

Phone: 416-675-0411 Toll free: 1-888-675-0411 From venue: 15 min walk 2 min drive

Saturday, Apr. 25 10 rooms reserved

Friday, Apr. 24 20 rooms reserved

Saturday, Apr. 25 20 rooms reserved

Friday, Apr. 24 25 rooms reserved

• 2 queen beds and sofabed in each room

• 2 queen beds

• 2 queen beds • 2 double beds

Friday, Apr. 24 40 rooms reserved

Comfort Inn Airport West 1500 Matheson Blvd. @ Dixie.

Phone: 905-624-6900 From venue: 15 min walk 2 min drive Saturday, Apr. 25 10 rooms reserved

Room Type(s) Available

Date/# of rooms reserved

Hotel

• Parking • Shuttle to and from airport (when booked ahead) • Indoor swimming pool with slide • Accessible (elevator) • Next to a 24/7 Denny’s restaurant

• Parking • 25% off voucher for breakfast/ person at hotel restaurant • WiFi • Gorgeous indoor swimming and whirlpool • Accessible (elevator)

$122 (+ tax) Up to 4 adults/ room Price is fixed whether 1 or 4 adults stay, so make use of this great deal and split the cost.

Approx. $30/ night/person if 4 people share. $129 (+ tax) Up to 4 adults/ room (ask hotel if more can be included) Another incredible deal—book early to ensure this rate.

• Parking • Breakfast inc.

• Shuttle to and from conference venue • Shuttle to and from airport (when booked ahead) • Accessible (elevator)

Perks

queen or double $109 (+ tax) 2 adults/room $10 extra/person Up to 4 adults/ room

Price $$/Room

Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec CODE: AB53 Online group link: http://hiltongardeninn. hilton.com/en/gi/ groups/personalized/Y/ YYZMTGIAB53-20200424/index. jhtml CBWOQ CODE: 278651

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 Block of rooms reserved are released on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

Enjoy this great deal with some fun perks. Excellent value. Book early!

Canadian Baptist Women

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 Block of rooms reserved are released on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

Don’t delay. Book now for a great deal!

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 Block of rooms reserved are released on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

Get this awesome deal today. Great value in a beautiful space. Don’t wait.

Use this code/link/ name when making reservation

Book By/Release Date

Please book accommodation directly. Receive CBWOQ rates at the following hotels, all located within five minutes’ drive from the venue. Please note the “book by” dates.

CBWOQ cannot guarantee room availability or rates after these dates.

Accommodation

Conference Hotel Packages |DECLARING THE GOODNESS OF GOD | Friday April 24 to Saturday April 25, 2020

DECLARING THE GOODNESS OF GOD chosen | holy | called

declaring the goodness of God chosen | holy | called Registration 2020 Name________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address _______________________________________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________________ Province_______________ Postal Code________________ Phone (____)_________________________________________ Church and City _________________________________________________________________________________________ Age: q Teen q 20s q 30s q 40s q 50s q 60s q 70s q Prefer not to answer This is my first CBWOQ event q Yes q No If you need child care in order to come to the Conference, please apply for a bursary. q I will need coverage for child care. I will apply for a bursary. q Yes, I want to have lunch with our board of directors. q Yes, I’m a live magazine promoter and I want to have lunch with other live promoters. q I wish to volunteer at this event. Please phone me with more information. Phone (___)__________________________.

Photo policy: Photos taken at this event may be used in all CBWOQ publications, and social media for the sole purpose of sharing about this conference with the Baptist community at large. If you do not wish to have your photo taken, please identify yourself immediately during registration.

The program includes the brief transaction of annual business for Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec. Voting privileges are open to women who are affiliated with a CBOQ church; subscribe to the CBWOQ purpose: “ to enable women to reach others for Christ;” register at least 10 days before the conference starts (Bylaw 4:26a and 37) and sign and date below. Please sign and date below only if you fulfill these requirements.

Signature ______________________________ Date ____________________________

Workshops

All workshops are offered twice; once in the morning and again in the afternoon, unless noted as AM or PM only. Please select one workshop for AM and one workshop for PM. We will notify you if your workshop choice is full and will ask that you choose another.

My workshop choices: AM_____

PM_____

For young women (age 18 and under) registering for the youth track, please register online at baptistwomen.com.

Payment Mail-in registration deadline is Friday, April 17, 2020 q Lunch ticket $15 (per catered hot lunch) | 1 per registrant q Special food needs: q Gluten free q Vegetarian q Dairy free q Contribution to bursary/event fund*

Receipt requested q Yes q No (Receipts issued upon request for donations of $20 or more) q Registration fee ($65 workshops, coffee breaks, event) q I enclose a cheque payable to CBWOQ for

$___________________ $ ___________________ $ 65 $___________________

If you would like to pay with credit card, please do not use this form, but visit www.baptistwomen.com to register and pay online.

Bursary application forms can be found online at baptistwomen.com. Your application must be received by Monday, April 6, 2020.

*This fund was established to encourage women to attend CBWOQ events and conventions. Guidelines and application forms are available from CBWOQ’s website: www.baptistwomen.com or the office at 416-620-2954.

Cancellation Policy: 1. Cancellations before April 9: Refund of registration minus $15. 2. Cancellations after April 9: No refund. Exception: In the case of accident or illness of the registrant, or a death in the family: refund minus $15. 3. Registration forms without payment: These are not considered registered. No lunch will be ordered and workshop choices will not be held. These persons are still very welcome to register and pay on the day of the conference, but will need to go off-site for lunch and workshops will be subject to availability. (There are many restaurants within five minutes drive of the venue.)

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“None of us knows what the next change is going to be, what unexpected opportunity is just around the corner, waiting a few months or a few years to change all the tenor of our lives.” ~ Kathleen Norris Unsplash.com/StephenWalker

Give the gift of 20/20 vision in 2020 . . . with a subscription to live magazine.

A subscription costs $20 for six issues.

Has your address changed?

Send your old mailing label and your new address to: live Magazine Circulation Dept., 5 International Blvd., Etobicoke, ON M9W 6H3 PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NUMBER 40007159 REGISTRATION NUMBER R9703 RETURN UNDEliverABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: live MAGAZINE CIRCULATION DEPT. 5 INTERNATIONAL BLVD ETOBICOKE, ON M9W 6H3 live@baptist.ca

24 live • January - February 2020