live magazine Nov-Dec 2022

TRUST BUILDING AS STEWARDSHIP Stewarding faithfully

NOV/DEC 2022

FROM PAPERWORK TO PLANNING MEALS Stewarding the call to newcomer ministry

A BAPTIST RESOURCE FOR WOMEN ON A MISSION

STewardship No one has ever become poor by giving

MARK THE DATE Baptist Women’s in-person spring gathering in 2023

Contents November/December 2022

F EAT URES 8 Trust Building as Stewardship Stewarding faithfully 10 A Godly Grocery List?

Stewarding our food 12 Stewarding Your Health An interview with Dr. Kate Witheridge

Vol. 95, No. 5

CO N N ECT TO M I SSI O N

15 Life Circles An update from Rev. Diane McBeth on her trip to Liberia 16 From Paperwork to Planning Meals Julaine Palmer stewards her call to newcomer ministry 17 Report on First Oneida Baptist Church Kitchen Fundraiser Thank you!

18 Kids and Stewardship What could this look like?

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12 CONNECT TO GOD

4 Free to Love Give and receive 5 Shaped by Love Shaped to Love Rev. Amanda McCulloch 6 Complete

A Transformational Discipleship Program for Women at Any Stage and Any Age 7 Bible Study The Power of Generosity COVER PHOTO KIRA AUF DER HEIDE (UNSPLASH.COM)

19 Faithful Ministry Through Constant Change Strategic giving updates from Germany and the Golden Triangle region 20 2023 Great Canadian Bible Study

Deborah and Jael: Women of Courage

CO N N ECT TO OT HERS

21 Stewarding Our Spiritual Gifts Can we be agents of radical and redemptive love?

22 Book Club Review 7 Attitudes of a Helping Heart 23 Stewardship as Gesture Giving the gift of time 23 We Remember

Executive Director Helena Bergen Editor & Communications Director Renée James 416-651-8967 rsejames@gmail.com Art Director Jennifer Au (jenniferau.com) Contributors Jessica Banninga, Helena Bergen, Linda Ellsworth, Kathy Gust, Renee James, Dr. Michelle Louis, Rev. Diane McBeth, Rev. Amanda McCulloch, Dr. James Pedlar, Kathleen Wilson, Rev. Tanya Yuen

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 Circulation & Subscriptions 416-620-2954 live@baptist.ca Subscriptions Individual: $20* (direct or through promoters) US & Overseas: $39 All currency in $CAD unless otherwise noted.

The publication of comments, opinions or advertising does not necessarily imply CBWOQ agreement or endorsement.

All material is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in print or on websites without permission. Advertising inquiries and freelance submissions should be addressed to the editor.

Member, Canadian Church Press. ISSN 2293-5096 Canada Post Customer No. 1008592 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada for our publishing activities. *includes HST

L ET T ER FRO M EDI TO R

A Theology Of Presence AS ADMINISTRATIVE PASTOR at Walmer Road Baptist Church during the early 2000s, I helped the congregation re-imagine what its renovated community space – the Walmer Centre – could mean to them, and to the Annex neighbourhood in which the church building/ Centre sat. Part of that re-imagining involved writing a case for support – a document that congregation leaders could talk through with potential large gift donors. We felt the weight of Walmer’s history and the possibilities of what God could do through us as we trusted Him with this large physical space that, truth be told, felt almost too large for us.

Working on that document impacted my ideas about church buildings, community, stewardship and mission. To those who say “church” isn’t a building, I now say “Yes, and…”

Buildings are important. They alter landscapes, mark history and suggest future.

Buildings mark the presence of a community inside its walls – in Walmer’s case, a presence measured in the hundreds of years.

Stewardship – that disciplined caring of all we’ve been given for God’s glory – presupposes presence, and a longterm presence at that: God’s presence in us, and our presence in neighbourhood, workplace, church building. Presence is ground zero for the radical hospitality to which the Church is called. To which we are all called.

“Presence is relational rather than programmatic; it is communal rather than institutional; it is conversational rather than presentational.

Presence is a matter of taking up residence in the midst of the world; it is simply our way of being…it is a garden which we painstakingly and lovingly cultivate in the hope that understanding and trust will take root and grow there.”

That quote resonated with me almost 20 years ago, painting a picture of what the Walmer Centre could offer to the Annex – the gift of presence; of hospitality. And it did; at its peak, the Walmer Centre would welcome 650+ visitors into its spaces every week for art shows, live theatre, dinners for the souls who lived in the rooming houses that sprinkled the neighbourhood, AA and NA meetings, a food bank… the list goes on.

That quote takes on a bittersweet resonance as all of us regroup in a new almost-postCOVID season and begin to gather in-person again – in our women’s groups and circles.

It rang true for me as I digested pastor and author Preston Pouteaux’s challenge to live the way Jesus did – to really love our neighbours the way He would. That’s presence.

Have a wonderful Advent and Christmas.

Jesus has come. He will come again. And look out for your January/February 2023 issue when we focus on Baptist Women’s target of living out the Great Commission.

Renée James Editor

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022

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Free to Love

BY KATHY GUST

First, spend some time in prayerful reflection using the following questions.

1. What does my relationship with God look like these days?

2. How do I feel about where I’m at with God? 3. Where have I been noticing God’s presence or movement in my life?

4. What is God’s invitation to me?

5. How would I like to respond to that invitation?

WHAT IS THE HOPE and purpose of the Christian life on this earth? Quite simply, it is love. Love for God, love for others, love for ourselves. Compassionate, patient, hopeful, forgiving, abiding, love.

Jesus came to set us free so we can live lives of love.

Freedom is required for love to bloom fully. This freedom expands and grows over time as we follow Jesus and become more aware and attentive to the reality of God with us in our everyday lives.

Understanding that inner freedom is necessary for the Christian life is crucial because, too often, we’re inundated with shoulds without enough emphasis on how do we get there. It goes something like this: “As a Christian, you should be generous, you should be forgiving, you should evangelize, you should give, you should use your spiritual gifts, you should hear God’s voice, you should be hospitable, you should share God’s love and light in the world.”

To be clear, these postures and actions absolutely blossom in the life of someone who is in love with God and following Jesus. However we forget that this kind of life – of being generous, forgiving, using our gifts, and following God – happens over time and as a result of our relationship with God. We do not have to figure out any of it on our own. While all people have a natural capacity to love (we are, after all, made in God’s image), receiving the fullness of love in the deepest parts of our very selves and then offering that love in the world, requires God’s guidance and help.

So, how do we come into a more profound experience of freedom in our lives so we can share more of God’s love and generosity in the world?

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I’ve found that looking at God’s actions through the lens of inner freedom often adds an extra layer of insight, understanding and anticipation (the relief of being Freedom is set free brings me a lot of required for love joy). It also gives me courage to continue to say yes to bloom fully. to this journey toward a deeper relationship with This freedom God (because let’s face it, expands and the journey can sometimes grows over time be extremely challenging!)

Second, notice areas of unfreedom. To find them, we may look for situations and instances when our love most definitely isn’t blooming – when our generosity of heart could use some improvement; when we’re harbouring things like jealousy, bitterness, pride, or greed. When we become aware of these areas of unfreedom, we bring them to God and ask for help. We then begin to explore the sources of these unfreedoms, discovering what pain or circumstance lie at their roots, and accessing any help we need (through therapy, prayer, talking to a friend, learning, etc.)

Jesus offers us freedom. Sometimes, this freedom is birthed in our lives suddenly. However, it’s often a process that happens slowly and expands over time as we engage in a relationship with God. We hasten our freedom by becoming more aware and attentive to God’s presence in our lives and by being willing to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

How has God been moving in your life lately? What is God’s invitation to you? What is God setting you free from? How might that freedom increase your ability to receive or give love in the world?

Kathy is a spiritual director living in Burlington, Ontario. She believes that the Christian life leads to more love, joy, peace, patience, hope, and kindness in the world and is passionate to see people engaged and growing towards a closer walk with Jesus. For more about Kathy, visit her website at kathygust.com

PHOTO MITCHELL HARTLEY (UNSPLASH.COM)

Once you have a sense of God’s invitation or action in your life, ask yourself and ask God: What might Jesus be setting me free from?

What might Jesus be setting me free for?

C O NNECT TO GO D

Shaped by Love Shaped to Love

Bernice’s Picks

Rev. Amanda McCulloch on being loved and accompanied by a loving God. Q: How have you and your call to ministry been shaped by Love?

One of the primary ways I have been shaped by love is through the love and encouragement of others. People who make the love of Christ real in my life surround me. When I reflect on the past several months, I realize that I have been wrapped in the encouragement, prayers, and support of so many people – a pastor’s support group I belong to; my colleagues; my husband, kids and family; former professors; other CBOQ pastors, and friends. Whether it has been through cards, emails, hugs, texts, supper delivered to my house or receiving flowers, I have been shaped, strengthened, and sustained through these acts of love.

A deep knowing that God is with me and will not leave me has also shaped my call to ministry. The call of Moses has always been a great encouragement and comfort. Despite the long list of reasons why Moses did not think he was qualified for the leadership position God called him to, God promised to be with Moses. As a leader and pastor, I too know that I am loved and accompanied by a loving God.

SALE

Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ Timothy Keller $18

Q: How has that shaping formed your approach to ministry and in particular your call to pastor?

Karen Wilson, the main speaker of CBWOQ’s spring 2021 conference, had a profound impact on me. At that conference she encouraged us to “do it afraid.”

Karen said that we can choose not to do something because we are afraid, or we can go ahead and “do it afraid.” After the conference I immediately wrote those words in my journal, and they continue to be a source of encouragement to me.

Being surrounded by loving and encouraging people, knowing that God will not leave me, and being challenged to “do it afraid” gives me a sense of freedom, support and courage in my call as a pastor. I hope that I can and will continue to lead with this courage and with a posture of openness to God’s leading.

SALE

Introduction to First Nations Ministry Cheryl Bear-Barnetson $19

Q: What would you like to say to women who may be feeling a call to ordained ministry?

Do not do it alone. Surround yourself with people who can encourage you, offer you wisdom, challenge you, mentor you, pray for and with you, and cheer you on. Talk to other women who are currently walking through the ordination process and talk to women who have already been ordained. Without companions along the way, the journey towards and after ordination becomes too lonely and challenging. Don’t go it alone.

Rev. Amanda McCulloch is the lead pastor at Highland Baptist Church in Kitchener, a role she assumed in early September.

All books available from Read On bookstore.

Free shipping on all orders.

5 International Blvd.

Etobicoke, ON M9W 6H3 tel: 416-620-2934 fax: 416-234-8840 e-mail: books@readon.ca

READON.CA

CO N N ECT TO G O D

Complete: A Transformational Discipleship Program for Women at Any Stage and Any Age

John 15:11 (NIV)

Program Details This session of Complete begins in January and will be facilitated

by Hilary Vanderwater and Joan Peacock. It will run through December 2023. We will meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month via Zoom for 90 minutes.

You’ll find meeting dates at baptistwomen.com/resources at the end of November.

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DO YOU LONG TO BE transformed through the Holy Spirit into Christlikeness?

Do you long for an intimate relationship with God through Christ? Do you long to be a true disciple or student of Jesus?

Complete is intended to ground you in your identity as the beloved of God and allow you to explore characteristics of Christ into which you may mature. Practical ways in which you may nourish and nurture these characteristics are explored.

The characteristics the program explores include character, intimacy with the Father, brokenness, ministry, and integrity, among others. We will guide our thinking with the book Outrageous Love, Transforming Power by Terry Wardle.

We will also explore other topics which relate to our transformation including spiritual formation practices, knowing ourselves and seeing the world through the eyes of Jesus.

Commitment It is expected that you will do your best to attend each monthly session, having prepared yourself. In return, you will receive a group of women who will confidentially support you in your journey.

Women of all ages value this program and this group. The richness of sharing between generations has been evident from the start, and we encourage women of all ages to join us.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022

Resources You will need to purchase Wardle’s book and possibly one other resource. Costs should not exceed $40 for the year. If costs prohibit you from joining, please let our registrar know – financial help is available.

Register Please register by contacting Joan at joanpeacock@gmail.com.

PHOTO ARJUN KAPOOR (UNSPLASH.COM)

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

BI BL E ST U DY

THE POWER OF GENEROSITY

BY LINDA ELLSWORTH Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. Hebrews 10:23–24 (ESV) Do we know from Scripture why God wants us to exhibit generosity as a lifestyle? On December 25, we celebrate the giving of the greatest Gift the world will ever receive.

The “why” of generosity lies in the “in Him we have…” relationship Read Ephesians 1:1–14 Can you find and list the 13 “In Him” statements listed here? These powerful statements alone should prompt us to pour our lives at Jesus’ feet.

How then as women who love Jesus, are we to give?

Out of gratitude, as the Father gave the Son Read John 3:16; Romans 3:23–26; 6:23 Based on these verses, how and why has God shown His generosity to us?

Out of obedience, as the Son gave His life Read Philippians 2:3–11 List the things that Jesus willingly gave up in order to obey the Father.

Part of being generous is looking out for the interests of those around you (Philippians. 2:3). How can you do this today? List the things that you need to give up in order to give out in generosity.

Out of love, as Jesus displayed and taught Read Matthew 10:5–42 Jesus is sending you out into the world today. What life-style principles can you learn from His charge to His disciples? How does a generous spirit fit in with these principles?

Those who gave their all

The Anointing of Jesus | Read Luke 7:36–8:3 What was Jesus’ response to the woman’s actions?

What was Jesus’ response to the Pharisees?

Why do you think the first three verses of Chapter 8 are included here?

What did you learn about generosity?

The Widow | Read Luke 21:1–4 In what ways can you identify with these 4 verses?

Do you tithe? Do you more than tithe?

Where might God be directing you to give of your financial resources today?

With what attitude will you give?

Those who refused to give their all The Rich Young Ruler | Read Luke 18:18–30

Do you identify with any of the characteristics of this young man?

Upon confrontation and challenge to give his all, the rich young ruler declined Jesus’ call. What was the result of his refusal to be generous?

Have you ever turned away from a need and withheld your generosity? How did you feel?

What did Jesus promise His disciples who gave up all to follow Him?

Generosity and its rewards Read 2 Corinthians 9 What 3 lessons can you learn from Paul’s exhortation to the church at Corinth regarding giving?

Read Matthew 6:1–4 How should you give of your time, talents, love, and resources in a way that brings glory to God, and not to you?

What and to whom shall you give of your time, your talents, your love, and your resources today?

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

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022

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WHAT DO WE RISK WHEN WE TRUST SOMEONE? WHAT DO THEY RISK WHEN THEY TRUST US?

BY DR. MICHELLE LOUIS

IN 1 CORINTHIANS 4:1–2, the apostle Paul

offers a perspective on trust that anchors it in an imperative: “…this, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.

It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” Another translation renders the final part of verse two as, “…it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”

This passage highlights trustworthiness as faithful stewardship. It conforms to a pattern that exists throughout the Bible in which God’s character or nature is revealed in what God does, and this demonstration is offered as a model for living in ways that conform to God’s image. For example, because God first loved us and called us beloved, image-bearing involves loving one another (1 John 4:7–8).

The God who reconciled us to himself through Christ gave us a ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18), and we are beckoned by a Creator God to be creative and fruitful (Genesis 1:28). Likewise, this invitation from our faithful and trustworthy God in 1 Corinthians 4 is to be people who can be trusted.

Defining Trust However, even with an intuitive understanding that trust creates an emotional climate in relationships that makes growth possible, many people still struggle to define what trust entails.

One particularly succinct definition comes from author Charles Feltman, who writes that trust is “choosing to make something you value vulnerable to another person’s actions.”

This definition contains several noteworthy components. First, it clarifies that trust is a choice that is based on a risk assessment. Framed in this way, it becomes clear that it is important to bring greater awareness to the nature of that risk assessment for ourselves and for others. What exactly is trust requiring someone to make vulnerable in a particular situation? Some possibilities include safety, treasure, future plans, relationships, or

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PHOTO JEPPE HOVE JENSEN (UNSPLASH.COM)

TRUST BUILDING AS STEWARD SHIP

T RU ST BU I L DI N G A S ST EWA RD SHI P

reputation. Building the practice of understanding more precisely what others are putting at risk when they decide to trust you can help you become a better steward of their trust. Likewise, identifying exactly what you are risking when you trust someone else can help you make a more informed decision about how to proceed.

Stewarding Faithfully Feltman’s definition also emphasizes that actions are the currency of trust as it develops over time. Although trust exists at the emotional level, it is cultivated behaviourally in the choices we make about how to steward the valuable things that are placed in our care.

We are called to have “a manner of life worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27) – to be honest, responsible, wise, and careful in our handling of the gifts with which we have been entrusted. These descriptors of faithful stewardship (honesty, responsibility, wisdom, and care) align closely with Feltman’s model that presents four separate aspects of trust: SINCERITY is reflected in integrity and unity between beliefs and actions. It is demonstrated when values and stated priorities are clearly reflected in decisions and behaviours.

RELIABILITY is a measure of dependability and consistency over time in fulfilling commitments. This element of trust requires time to develop because it inherently depends on a series of observations, not just a single occasion of follow-through.

Reflection and Action Consider a recent situation when you were not trusted to the extent that you had hoped you might be. For example, someone may have withheld information from you or hesitated to entrust you with a project or responsibility.

1

Although the situation may be more complex, for the purpose of this reflection, focus on taking the perspective of the person who had reservations about trusting you. This challenging exercise requires humility and discernment, and it can generate important insight.

2

From the vantage point of that other person, which of the four elements of trust (reliability, competence, sincerity, or care) might have factored most strongly into their hesitation to trust you?

3

Prayerfully consider what specific actions you might take or avoid to build greater trust in this area. Invite God’s wisdom and strength to guide you into living in ways that enable you to grow into an increasing embodiment of trustworthiness in your relationships.

COMPETENCE is demonstrated when a person has suffi-

cient skills, knowledge, or training to accomplish a task in a way that aligns with a desired outcome or standard of performance. Competence also requires grounding in a realistic appraisal of one’s own capacities and limitations so as to know when to ask for help.

CARE is relating to others with genuinely good intent and a commitment to uphold their best interests. It is a commitment to see beyond oneself and to place love at the center of decision-making.

As we seek to honour God through developing our trustworthiness, these four elements can help transform trust from an abstract concept into a concrete set of qualities that are evidenced in particular behaviours. This model allows for an understanding of trust as something that is not simply either present or absent, but instead as existing in varying degrees across multiple dimensions.

Indeed, one benefit to considering these four aspects of trust is that it allows for more specific conversations

about contributors and barriers to trust that exist in relationships. For example, we may trust someone’s competence in a particular area based on that person’s education or training, but have concerns about reliability after observing inconsistent follow-through on commitments.

Using more precise language about trust can enhance the stewardship of trust by presenting a nuanced perspective of the multiple factors that contribute to trustworthiness and a greater awareness of how it can be built.

In all the roles we play – whether as ministry leaders, spouses, parents, or volunteers in the community – we are invited to be thoughtful stewards and to act in ways that align with our commitments. May our trust in the God who is true, reliable, capable, and endlessly loving, manifest in the stewardship and deepening of these very qualities in our own lives such that we may indeed be found faithful.

Michelle is the founder and principal at The Leading Mind, LLC. She is a certified coach and a member of Arrow Leadership’s ministry team.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022

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A GODLY GROCERY LIST? STEWARDING OUR FOOD

PHOTO JONATHAN KEMPER (UNSPLASH.COM)

BY DR. JAMES PEDLAR

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A G O DLY G RO CERY L I ST

M

Y WIFE takes great satisfaction in making lists; I do so only when absolutely necessary. Grocery shopping is one of those times when a list is absolutely necessary. I know I’ll forget something if I can’t tick off those items one-by-one!

A grocery list tells a story. It says something about our culture, age, household, health, and financial situation. It should also say something about our faith.

Most of us don’t realize that eating is an act of Christian stewardship. Our need to eat is woven into the very fabric of creation – life in God’s good world requires food. God did not create us as self-sufficient beings. We must eat to live, and in order to eat we must rely on God’s gifts: land, sunlight, rain, pollinators, chickens, farmers, grocers, truck drivers, family, friends… and on and on it goes.

Life in a Canadian city obscures this truth. Food is conveniently and abundantly available, and we don’t usually think about how it got from the ground to the grocery store. Food’s abundance creates an illusion of self-sufficiency. Most Canadians can buy whatever food we need whenever we need it.

But Christians should know better. One of the first things Scripture tells us is that food comes from God. “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” (Genesis 1:29) God also gave humankind a vocation to “be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” (Genesis 1: 28–29). And God put Adam and Eve in a garden and tasked them with working it and caring for it (Genesis 2:15).

These things are all connected. In order to increase in number and fill the earth, humans had to care for the earth and cultivate food in ever-increasing amounts.

Agriculture is the root of all human culture, because without agriculture we cannot live together in towns and cities; each of us would be forced to subsist on whatever food we could find or grow for our own household.

God gave us this earth with all that we need to sustain ourselves, but He also tasked us with taking care of it—stewarding the land and the animals so that we can continue to fill the earth, developing human life in a way that is sustainable and respects the goodness of all of God’s creatures.

So eating is not an “unspiritual” activity; it is deeply spiritual because it is tied up with our basic calling as human creatures: to steward the good gifts God has given us.

So, what would it mean to eat as an act of Christian stewardship?

First, eating as a steward means learning how our food is produced. Is the land being sustainably farmed? Are the animals raised and cared for in a way that reflects their goodness as God’s creatures? Are the workers involved in food production being treated in a way that respects their dignity as God’s image-bearers?

Second, eating as a steward means eating healthy food.

Our dependence on food reminds us that we are embodied creatures, and that our bodies are part of the good creation that God has given us. Are we eating in a way that fosters bodily health and enables us to continue to serve others with whatever strength God has given us?

Third, eating as a steward means practicing gratitude and generosity.

When we recognize food as a gift of God, we realize that we don’t provide for ourselves; everything we have is a gift of God to be received gratefully and shared generously. Food is a collective good that God has given to all humanity and we are entrusted to steward it faithfully.

If God has given us more than we need, we are called to share with others.

Eating as a Christian steward is challenging, and those of us who struggle financially have less freedom to make choices about food consumption. But we can all aspire to a better practice of food stewardship, and there are some basics that can keep us moving in the right direction. The more we eat whole foods, the more we understand where our food comes from, the more we cook for ourselves, and the more we gratefully appreciate the food we are eating, the more our eating will reflect our care for creation and foster love for the Creator.

So, what story does your grocery list tell? Is it the story of a servant, ready to give account for what you’ve done with the good things God has given into your hands?

EATING IS AN ACT OF CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP.

James Pedlar is Associate Professor of Theology at Tyndale Seminary, where he holds the Bastian Chair of Wesley Studies. He is a Free Methodist pastor and an aspiring gardener.

Norman Wirzba is the most important voice in the contemporary discussion of food’s relationship to Christian spirituality. See his book, Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating (Cambridge University Press, 2019), or watch this video of a talk he gave on the same subject at Yale Divinity School: youtu.be/4VCYSRrqSsM NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022

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Stewarding Your Health Live Magazine interviews Dr. Kate Witheridge

BY RENÉE JAMES

So many of us don’t view our health (physical, mental, emotional) as one of our most precious resources and a gift to steward. Or we don’t consider it as important as stewarding our money, talents and or spiritual gifts. Why this disconnect?

Sermons I’ve heard about the body and physical health all emphasized not using substances and not being sexually promiscuous. The messages of “you are made in God’s image” and “your bodies are God’s temples” seem to centre around sexuality, substances, and gluttony and not at all about taking care of our physical and mental health.

Depending on the generation, women’s bodies have also been viewed as the stumbling blocks of men. If we’ve communicated to women that their bodies are “sinful” in some way (“cover them up”), then why would women

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make any effort to work out, be physically fit, eat well, take care of their skin (not just to be pretty, but to ensure that they are not at risk of skin cancer).

Busyness can lead to saying “I’ll do X (health related behaviour) later…” I often talk with clients who view nonwork activities as extra. Exercise, rest, fun, hobbies aren’t important or productive compared to the to-do list of life.

We’ve placed mental, physical, and emotional health on the periphery compared to spiritual health. In addition, we focus on our bodies wasting away versus taking care of the bodies that we have no matter which stage of “wasting away” we may be experiencing at any given moment.

If you had to preach about stewarding your body and mind, what would you preach?

What are we consuming? What does mental health look like – for you? We can use our bodies to help other people.

We are made in God’s image, so how do we take care of God’s image?

What are the barriers (personal, systemic, cultural) today, in Ontario and Quebec, that prevent women from really putting their health first?

The “Should’s”

Women live with explicit or implicit “shoulds” that lead them to prioritize other people (partner, children, family) over their personal wellbeing. Cultural expectations of women as caregivers, sacrificing for others, taking on emotional labour – these are all “shoulds.”

Prioritizing health and wellness, including adding in times for rest can be seen as “selfish,” either by the woman herself or by others. Women can be made to feel guilty for taking time for their physical health. I think of friends training for marathons or triathlons and the comments they receive like: “Don’t you feel bad about being away from your kids for training?” In general, men are less likely to be asked about this.

PHOTO SK (UNSPLASH.COM)

I exercise now because I need to move my body to feel good; I need to manage my own mental health and stress, and I want to place a greater emphasis on being a steward of God’s creation (me).

PHOTOS FROM LEFT NADINE RUPPRECHT (UNSPLASH.COM), SANDRO GONZALEZ (UNSPLASH.COM), RAYCHAN (UNSPLASH.COM)

ST EWA RDI N G YO U R HEA LT H

The Gendering of Household labour

If women are the ones who cook, clean and provide most of the childcare, there is less time and energy for physical activity, or space for mental restoration and personal reflection.

Culture

The idea of being “healthy” has been contaminated with diet culture and expectations of a certain body image. Being healthy is no longer about balance. Exercise has been framed in terms of going to the gym, Pilates classes or running versus just moving our body in whatever way supports our physical health journeys.

Safety and Equity Issues

Women grow up with explicit messages about needing to protect themselves from men who may harm them. Messages like, “carry your keys…bring mace/bear spray…don’t go out after dark…alone…etc.” Some women don’t feel safe exercising due to harassment, catcalling, assaults. Black or Indigneous women, or women

of colour, may also not feel welcome in exercise or fitness spaces.

Health disparities and inequity in access to health services may lead to women not seeking out healthcare, more severe disease, and poorer health outcomes.

Tell us about the connection between mental health and exercise.

Emotions love emotions and objects at rest stay at rest. So how do we counter this? Exercise and taking care of our health helps us shift out of both these cycles. If someone is feeling depressed and has low energy, her lack of physical activity can contribute to ongoing low mood, fatigue and a lack of interest or enjoyment in life. For mild to moderate depression, exercise can be one form of treatment (depending on the underlying reasons for the low mood).

Anxiety is our body’s “fight-or-flight/threat” response, or as I say to my clients, “how our body responds when we’re being chased by a bear.” Taking time to exercise and “burn off ” that fight-or-flight response can be really helpful.

Mental health concerns begin when there is an imbalance between activities that take energy and those that restore energy. We use the image of a bank. We need to put money into our bank because life is constantly withdrawing from it. Without those “deposits” we’re overdrawn and can feel more depressed, tired, anxious, burnt out, irritable (the fight part of the “fight or flight response).

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ST EWA RDI N G YO U R HEA LT H

Inherent self-worth is so key: We are all made in the image of God. We reflect God. God made us. So taking care of ourselves means we are taking care of God’s creation.

We all experience stressors in life and our ability to manage stressors may depend on whether or not we have addressed vulnerability factors.

What are vulnerability factors?

Lack of sleep, exercise, healthy eating, substances in moderation, fun and accomplishment are what we call “vulnerability factors.” So if I haven’t slept well, have only had coffee all day, and haven’t moved my body in days, getting stuck in traffic will likely lead to a more intense emotional response than if I have gotten enough sleep, eaten breakfast, and walked for 15 minutes around the block.

Share your top 5 tactics we may use to fight for, reclaim and maintain our health.

1 Set a goal that is manageable and sustainable. I

use something called “the 15-minute rule” (the amount of time is not important). If you feel tired, overwhelmed or a task feels like too much, commit to doing an activity for a certain amount of time or a certain number of times, e.g. you could walk for 15 minutes or walk two blocks in one direction and two blocks back.

Figure out the activities that restore you. This 2 may be physical exercise, but it may also be reading a book, sitting in silence, baking cookies. Check in on “breaks” that might not help you feel better and instead are simply just ways to disconnect versus restore, e.g.

Netflix marathons or scrolling on your phone.

View self-care/healthcare as important and serv3 ing a purpose rather than something that is an additional stressor or “ask” of your time. If we view rest/exercise/fun as something that is refilling our “bank,” it has a purpose.

“Validate the valid.” Acknowledge that your 4 needs, wants, wishes, and health are just as important as everyone else’s. There are times when we may choose to sacrifice our needs for others, but this cannot happen 100 per cent of the time without negative effects.

Remember Highway 401. When we are on a road 5 trip, we make sure that we take breaks to stop, buy gas (or recharge our car’s batteries), eat, sleep, stretch, recharge outselves. Just like you wouldn’t want to run out of gas in the middle of a 401 road trip and then be really stuck, you want to take care of your health early on before more serious concerns arise.

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What can those of us who have resources and good health do – to make sure health isn’t a privilege, but a right for all women?

1 Address safety issues and advocate for programs

that ensure that women can exercise safely and without harassment. Think about culture as well – Muslim, Black, Indigenous women and women of colour may already be harassed so they won’t go for that walk etc. Can we advocate for spaces where women can gather to work out together, eat together? Advocate for gyms where women can wear what they want with fear of harassment.

Find ways to come alongside women who want 2 to engage in healthy practices but need support, e.g. be an activity partner; encourage other women if/when they are feeling guilty about taking time for themselves; take care of their kids if they need an hour to attend a class.

Identify causes that minimize those vulnerability 3 factors and support overall health, e.g. foodbanks, work training programs for women, community hubs with spaces where women can gather and children can learn, etc. There are community organizations that provide no or low-cost mental health treatment. Donate or support any fundraising efforts they might have.

When voting/advocating for causes, check to see 4

if being able to say “no” or voting against something is due to the privilege of not needing that resource as a woman with money/resources/community/support.

What one thing do you want women to take away from this interview?

Inherent self-worth is so key: We are all made in the image of God. We reflect God. God made us. So taking care of ourselves means we are taking care of God’s creation. We are worthy of taking care of ourselves; of respect; of love.

This is so important.

What do we need to do so that women truly believe and live that?

At church, we need to celebrate women right where they are at and we need to ask ourselves: What messages do we send when we only celebrate some things and not others?

We also spend a lot of time talking about sinful we are, but God created us. Creation is good. If God thought we were irredeemable, He probably wouldn’t have sent Jesus. We gloss over John 3:16 and yet it’s clear: God loved the world so much! He didn’t want that separation to be there! God wanted and wants to be with us.

Truly, I feel this is my job half the time – to get people to believe this!

Dr. Kate Witheridge is a clinical psychologist working at the University of Toronto. Her work focuses on anxiety, depression, trauma, and difficulties adjusting to new stressors. She is a volunteer leader at Runnymede Community Church in Toronto.

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Life Circles An update from Rev. Diane McBeth on her trip to Liberia SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER that back in 2016, Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec held a one-day Prayer Conference. Our theme was Ephesians 3:20 (NIV): “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” I don’t think the truth of that verse has ever been more obvious to me than during my trip to Liberia this August. Thank you so much for praying! Let me tell you a little of what God did.

I arrived during the opening session of the conference for Baptist Women of West Africa. Four-and-a-half days later, the conference transitioned into the All Africa Congress for Baptist Women. By that time, we had grown to 500 women from 20 different countries.

As many of you know, I have written a spiritual formation resource geared to an international audience called Life Circles and I am volunteering with Baptist World Alliance Women to share that resource. My goal for the Liberia conferences was simply to introduce concepts of spiritual formation and invite women to participate in online training with me during the year. I hoped they would appoint at least one person from each region. I was happy to begin in small ways.

But God did so much more than I had even dreamed of.

I made many wonderful friends during the regional conference, and some have the potential to sponsor future training in their own countries. But the big breakthrough came on the second day of the All Africa Conference. I was given five minutes to introduce Life Circles and invite women to a workshop directly afterwards. So many came that we would not have fit in any of the classrooms. We met in the main auditorium and briefly tried some of

the practices most of you have heard about— things like intentional silence and praying Scripture over each other.

Women from the workshop signed up for online training and more came to me in the following days asking to be added to the list. Several women asked me to pray for them between sessions. By the end of the conference, more than 70 women had asked for follow up information.

There was so much thirst for more of God. As I write this, I am in the middle of preparations for the online training. During October and November there will be three workshops each in French and English, as well as two sessions for group facilitators. Then next year, we hope to do another set of sessions between January and March. Isn’t God amazing? Please keep praying.

All this is in fulfillment of promises from God. Some time ago, God began to stir my heart again for international mission. My first thoughts were things like, “I’m too old. It’s too late. How could that possibly happen?” But God strongly impressed on my heart, “Can a nation be born in a day?” That question comes from Isaiah 66:8 and God is asking it rhetorically. The obvious answer is, ‘Of course. God can do anything He wants.’ However, our true question for God is often not “Can you?” but “Are you willing?” (Matthew 8:2) Is God willing to sometimes set aside the gradual process of sowing and reaping that He himself established? Well yes, yes, He is. Sometimes He will bring a ministry to birth in a day.

He really does do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”

Diane is a past executive director of Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec.

CBWOQ ‘s finance committee and Board recently approved a grant of $2,500 for the Life Circles program.

This will be a great start toward the expenses for me to do more in-person training at the Central Africa Regional Conference of Baptist Women in July or August 2023. Thank you so much!

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From Paperwork to Planning Meals Julaine Palmer stewards her call to newcomer ministry THERE WAS NO “road to Damascus” moment for Julaine Palmer when it came to her decades-long ministry to refugees and newcomers to Canada. “It was just always there,” she says, fuelled by her lifelong interest in different countries and missions, and a two-year experience at an international school. Being part of congregations receptive to refugee and newcomer ministry also helped.

In fact, since the 1980s, Julaine and her husband George Neil have been involved in refugee sponsorship at every Canadian Baptist church they’ve attended. “We never thought about it,” she declares. “We just did it.”

Obedience and generosity mark Julaine’s ministry – so evident in 1988 when she and George obeyed her sense that

Julaine’s Tips for Welcoming Newcomers 1 Keep on top of the paperwork

There’s a lot of paperwork when sponsoring a refugee!

2 Always be part of a team

It’s so helpful to draw on different talents, gifts and interests.

3 Integrate newcomers

Use meals for vocabulary building.

4 Read up on refugee sponsorship

rstp.ca (Refugee Sponsorship Training Program) offers a wealth of information. Make it your first go-to resource.

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God wanted them to open their home to three Vietnamese siblings who were living in a refugee camp in Malaysia at the time and had been turned down for sponsorship by a family. The youngest was three years old. The children arrived in Canada on January 21, 1988. That day became Airplane Day in the Palmer family; a day on which George, Julaine and the children celebrated their arrival.

At the time of writing this profile, it’s week two of Julaine having opened her home to Rolan, a “kind and thoughtful” young man from the Middle East. A small group of Gilmour Baptist Church congregants and friends put up the funds required for Rolan’s successful sponsorship. Julaine faithfully stickhandled the paperwork and has opened her home to him, probably for a year.

As a former lawyer, Julaine remains undaunted by the realms of paperwork sponsoring a refugee demands.

Nor does she shy away from holding the federal government accountable. “The delay in processing applications is shameful,” she declares. “Canada is a country built on immigration but the government hasn’t backed up its talk with adequate funds.”

Sharing her gifts of administration and advocacy is one thing. Having to grow in other areas… quite another. “It’s a big stretch for me after newcomers arrive. I’m more task-oriented and it’s important to spend time with newcomers once they arrive,” she says, “making connections and talking. That’s not my personality or strong suit.”

Fair enough, but invite Julaine to share more about the impact of newcomer ministry in her life and her tenderness comes through. “When Roland came to church that first Sunday, I told him not to spend time thanking me for doing the paperwork,” she shares. “I said to him how

PHOTO STEFAN VLADIMIROV (UNSPLASH.COM)

BY RENÉE JAMES

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thankful I was, and the church was, that he was here at last.” Her voice clutches and you can hear the tears.

Julaine’s tears speak to a deep recognition of her place in God’s plan; a sense which translates into her refusal to count the cost of her home-based hospitality. “Newcomers and refugees become your family,” she insists. “You don’t really count the cost. They are your children or grown children and so it all comes naturally.” She’s the first to admit that this is a good thing for her – a naturally frugal person.

Opening her home “feels different somehow than supporting someone else’s refugee ministry,” she says. “I’ve been fortunate to live in Canada; to have had a good education, solid job, supportive husband and the resources to share. And the church has always been supportive – pantry showers, furniture donations and more. God works out things like that all the time.”

God works out things. Julaine understands, perhaps better than most, the barriers that may stop someone from getting started opening their homes, and lives, to welcome a stranger. She understands the food barrier – so much of hospitality involves the preparation and offering of food, so what to cook and how are valid concerns. No one wants to get it “wrong.” “Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” she offers.

She also understands the powerful barrier that fear becomes, particularly for those who have not grown up in large cosmopolitan areas. “We can be afraid of the different,” she suggests, “especially when we’ve lived in homogenous towns or neighbourhoods, and our families have lived in those areas for generations.

People interpret God’s call to live out the Great Commission as a call to go overseas when perhaps missions can happen right in your community – any place where there are refugee settlement organizations that rely heavily on volunteers.”

Don’t be afraid. God works out things.

Report on First Oneida Baptist Church Kitchen Fundraiser

Helena Bergen (third from left) presents CBWOQ gifts to Oneida women

BY HELENA BERGEN

“And we know that for those who love God all things work for good for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 THIS PAST MAY, we put out a call to assist the women at First

Oneida Baptist Church in restoring their kitchen in the aftermath of a fire in the basement of their building. The kitchen at First Oneida lies at the heart of the church’s presence in the Oneida First Nations community in southwestern Ontario. Hundreds of cups of coffee and meals for kids, youth, families, and every generation of women in the community flow from this kitchen.

In a very short time, our fundraising goal for re-stocking the kitchen and improving its function was not only met, but surpassed. What a joy it was to see women respond without hesitation and what a display of unity. It was also a wonderful blessing and encouragement to the First Oneida church and an affirmation for them as they began the work of getting back into their building. Other groups in the Baptist family also came forward to assist with other aspects of restoring the building while another church in the community opened up their space so First Oneida could continue to meet in the interim.

We are deeply grateful for everyone who lifted Oneida up in their prayers these past months and for all the women and groups of women who sponsored the purchases of items needed for the kitchen. Thank you for your generous giving, prayers and messages of love and support. May God’s blessing be upon the givers, the gifts, and upon First Oneida’s continued presence and ministry in the Oneida community.

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What could stewardship with kids look like?

BY REV. TANYA YUEN

“HOW CAN WE get the kids involved in understanding stewardship?” I remember someone asking me this at a deacons’ meeting where stewardship was the focus of our discussion. We were observing both the decline in financial giving and the increasing challenges due to lack of volunteers in many of our ministries. “At last!” I thought as I suggested that we could ensure kids were present in the worship service while tithes and offering were being collected and even involve them in collecting the offering during worship.

There is actually more to that question then simply how we teach kids stewardship. Further reading and study helped me to understand that it is really more of a question about how we (adults) continually cultivate the environment surrounding kids so that they respond in gratitude and generosity both personally and in the community around them.

It is important that we cultivate that environment from when they are quite young by modelling stewardship, having intentional conversations and teaching about stewardship, and finding different ways to weave tangible examples of stewardship through daily life.

At its core, stewardship is all about having an “others first” mentality.

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in very practical, hands-on ways with kids, both within families and within church communities, invites them to become grateful and generous people who look out towards others.

Stewardship, like so much of what we hope kids will learn, is an ethos within which kids must be immersed, over and above receiving instruction. Allowing toddlers to ‘help’ with household chores, despite it likely lengthening the time needed to accomplish a particular chore, develops a sense of looking around for needs to be met that continues to grow as kids get older. Incorporating simple practices of “give some, save some, spend some” with young kids as they receive money for birthdays or other occasions instills a financial stewardship mindset from a young age. Relating Bible stories to their lives and the issues of today helps kids develop a “theology of stewardship” as it relates to areas like creation, their bodies, talents and spiritual gifts, time and priorities, relationships, and financial and material possessions.

Perhaps the question we each need to ask ourselves is this: “What do I do so that the kids in my care develop lives of responding in gratitude and generosity, both within themselves and toward the people and world around them?

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School: Teach kids to steward their possessions well by taking care of clothes, lunchboxes, backpacks, desks, chairs, books, etc. Help kids learn how their talents can care for and serve others. Invest in relationships.

Teach and model body stewardship by preparing and packing healthy lunches and encouraging them to be physically active and to respect their bodies.

Church: Invite kids to consider how they can serve the church: invite them to practice giving tithes and offerings, bringing food or other items the church may be collecting; helping with meal programs or special mission projects; helping in the worship service. Simple jobs for younger kids include handing out bulletins, assisting with collecting offering, helping pass out Sunday school materials or cleaning up craft items.

PHOTO TYSON (UNSPLASH.COM)

Kids and Stewardship

Home: Let younger kids ‘help’ with chores, e.g. make their beds. Give them money that they can be ‘generous’ with by looking for needs to meet. Have family serving opportunities, like cleaning up litter in local park.

As kids get older, have conversations about the cost of living and about creation care as you model turning off lights, not letting water run, and recycling items. Have family conversations about time stewardship, ways of serving together, family ‘mission’ projects, caring for home and material possessions well, and extending generosity.

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Faithful Ministry Through Constant Change

BY JESSICA BANNINGA

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CBM

Pastor Xiaodan Gang Fröhlich Serving in Marburg, Germany PASTOR XIAODAN serves with Canadian Baptist Ministries Chinese Ministries Team, ministering to Chinese students in Marburg, a university town. Many students encounter the gospel there for the first time, joining a church, getting involved in ministry groups, and even serving the church and community. In partnership with a local organization called Forum of Mission to Chinese in Germany (FMCD) and local churches, Xiaodan helps lead fellowship groups, Bible studies, services, and training programs for new leaders.

In August, five members from the team in Marburg attended a camp for the volunteers of Chinese churches from all over Germany. Pastor Gang shared: “The theme of the camp was unity in the church, which is a topic that is on the mind of people from our church as well. We are thankful that our staff team had time to think deeply about how we can treat each other lovingly despite differing opinions and how we can work together to build God’s kingdom.” During the camp, two staff members responded to the speaker’s call to come forward to be prayed for if they felt called to full-time ministry.

It is encouraging that young Chinese people come to faith and want to serve God here in Germany. Some of the staff that work with Xiaodan came to faith in the past two to three years and have become actively engaged members, leading worship, Bible studies and planning evangelism projects. While they face many challenges, God’s love is reshaping their hearts and they remain committed to their faith. Pray that Xiaodan will have wisdom in leading the staff team. Pray that team members will continue to grow in their faith and ministry skills, and experience Jesus in their life and ministry.

At the end of September, an evangelism outreach event took place during the traditional Chinese Moon Festival. In addition, Xiaodan and her team planned for an event that would welcome new students arriving in October. Pray that God will lead new students into the faith community.

Lilian Yang Serving in the Golden Triangle Region (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos) Serving in Thailand, Canadian Baptist Ministries National Field Staff Lilian Yang is originally from Myanmar. Her role is to help equip pastors and laypeople through Christian theological training at Thailand Bethel Theological Institute (TBTI).

Different areas of ministry are addressed, such as church planting, integral mission, and support for churches and their leaders.

Thailand

This year, Thailand has re-opened the country to welcome visitors and tourists. Airports have become busy, hotels have more guests, and Lilian leading Bible study at MBC

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many shops and restaurants have resumed their businesses. Schools are full of students, and churches are holding in-person services. At the same time, the pandemic still threatens to disrupt regular life.

September usually means the end of the rainy season in Thailand, but at the time of writing this many areas of the country have faced heavy rain and floods in the past month with schools, churches and business affected by flooding.

At TBTI, 35 students have graduated, and 13 new students have enrolled. The new semester started in May, and the students who live in Thailand could take courses on campus. However, around half of the students still attend online because the border remains closed. In the first semester, Lilian taught a two-week intensive course for 51 students. Pray for protection for the students and teachers at TBTI, as some of them have contracted COVID-19 recently.

Myanmar

Myanmar continues to be locked down as it struggles with COVID-19, conflict, and poverty. The number of internally displaced people continues to rise, and many children struggle to get to school safely. Inflation has made life even more challenging.

Unemployment has continued to rise over the past few years and women have less opportunities to find work.

Canadian Baptist Ministries is beginning a new project that will teach women how to sew, and empower them to earn and income and support their families. We look forward to seeing how God will work through this project to bless them.

Thank you for your generous ongoing partnership. We continue to witness God’s faithfulness at work through your support.

2023 Great Canadian Bible Study Deborah and Jael: Women of Courage Dr. Melody Maxwell has authored 2023’s Great Canadian Bible Study. Read her invitation to join her in exploring Deborah and Jael’s actions.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I had the privilege of spending a month with

Baptist women in Nigeria. I learned so much from their faith and determination. I still remember the beautiful sounds of their acapella singing. One song went something like this: “Make me like Deborah, make me like Esther, make me like Mary, to be used in your house, O Lord.” Hundreds of voices joined together in harmony to ask God to help them to follow the examples of biblical women. But who exactly was Deborah, and why should we want to be like her?

2023’s study features two notable women from the book of Judges.

Deborah was a judge and prophetess—a significant leader known as “a mother in Israel.” Jael, though not an Israelite, used her wiles to kill an enemy of the Israelites. ( Join in the study to discuss whether we should consider her a role model or not!) Both women courageously took action, despite living in a culture where men normally led. I look forward to learning together with you from their fascinating stories as part of the 2023 Great Canadian Bible Study.

How the study works Gather women from your church, pick a date in January (or a date that works for you and your group) and do the study.

This study raises funds to support a project endorsed by Canadian Baptist Women. Go to baptistwomen.com/resources to download your study and watch a video update from CBM global field staff in Bolivia on Eagles Wings, the project your donations will support.

Please remember to make your cheques out to Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec. Our bank will not accept them otherwise. You may note GCBS 2023 in the memo line.

Dr. Melody Maxwell is the associate professor of Canadian History at Acadia Divinity College and the director of its Centre for Baptist and Anabaptist Studies.

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Stewarding Our Spiritual Gifts Can we be agents of radical and redemptive love?

BY HELENA BERGEN

PHOTO AUSTIN KEHMEIER (UNSPLASH.COM)

I CAME ACROSS A STORY many

years ago that I have returned to numerous times since. I first read it in Philip Yancey’s book, Rumours of Another World, but it is also told in the book To End All Wars by written

by Ernest Gordon.

The story that Yancey describes is of a radical transformation that swept over a prisoner of war camp in Japan during the Second World War. In this camp, death and disease were rampant, and the survival code was every man for himself. That is, until an incident in which one prisoner stepped forward to take the blame for a tool believed to be missing. In doing so, he saved the lives of all the other prisoners whom the guards were threatening to kill, but he himself was beaten to death. Later, the mistake was realized, and all the tools were accounted for. All the prisoners were deeply shaken, and one man recalled the words of Jesus, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Attitudes began to shift, and men began to give proper burials and respect for the dead. They also began to care for the sick and dying among them and rather than stealing from each other, they began to share the things they had access to. They offered any expertise they possessed and they put it to use for the wellbeing of their fellow prisoners. A tiny church was built where men gathered for prayers each evening.

The difference was unmistakable.

Mr. Gordon says that, “Death was still

with us – no doubt about that. But we were slowly freed from its destructive grip…True, there was hatred. But there was also love. There was death.

But there was also life. God had not left us. He was with us, calling us to live the divine life in fellowship.”

We all have something to bring to the table Another story of transformation A few years ago, I attended a twoday workshop that had an equally profound impact on me. In that workshop, I heard a second story of another community that experienced transformation – this time from Preston Pouteaux who was one of the presenters. Preston talked about the long, slow work he and his wife did, of learning to truly love the neighbours in the new suburb they moved into, and the beautiful community that developed there as they invested themselves in it. It hit me then: What God had done in the POW camp and what he had done in Preston’s neighbourhood, He could do in mine.

Stewards of God’s grace The radical transformation that took place in the camp, and that Preston and his family ushered into their new neighbourhood, can take place in our churches, neighbourhoods and communities, too, when we steward, in love for God and those around us, the “manifestation of the Spirit” that God has placed in us (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Our biblical mandate comes from Peter: “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10 NRSV) So, what exactly is a steward? Here is a dictionary definition that I find helpful: a steward is “a person who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.”

Truly the Church, made up of Jesus’ followers, is the agent through which God ministers His presence in this world. Those who make up the Church are given gifts that are “derived solely from the Spirit – they are gratuitous, the effects of God’s grace.” Spiritual gifts are given to us to “administer” God’s goodness – his love, mercy, compassion, truth, healing, acceptance, life, light and hope – to others. Gifts come in many forms, but ultimately, their purpose is that the Church is equipped to carry out the ministry of reconciliation until Christ returns (1 Corinthians 5:19).

We all have something to bring to the table, and it is significant for the flourishing of life around us that we do, in fact, bring it and offer it.

Helena is executive director at CBWOQ.

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BOOK CLUB REVIEW

7 Attitudes of a Helping Heart

BY RENÉE JAMES

AS SOMEONE WHO NEVER GAVE CREDENCE to the “Third World” or “part of the

developing world” monikers attached to my country of origin, I approach books about ministry to the poor with caution and a fair bit of trepidation, especially when those book are written by mainly white North American or European men.

Unconscious bias, prejudice and stereotyping seem to be the unquestioned normative lenses through which these authors share. Let me be clear: We are all called to love the poor, and I don’t mean the spiritually empoverished. Jesus’ teachings and example leave little if any room for interpretation. I mean the physically poor.

Imagine my surprise then, when author Christopher Frame, in his book 7 Attitudes of Helping Heart steps outside those lenses and challenges my assumptions that his book won’t be any different. Through his stories, culled from his international travels, he lays bare his real-time struggles, his guilt, his frustration when asked to give money, buy food, buy a “better” blanket for someone.

A quick read, Frame posits that we cannot grasp the full meaning of Jesus’ exhortation to care for the poor unless we care for our hearts; unless we grapple with empathy, suffering, humility and holiness.

I finished the book deeply convicted – not about giving more – but about my inability to truly see imago dei in the solitary man who stands, either at the doors of the Toronto public library at the corner of our street, or in front of the Portuguese sports bar on Oakwood, talking quietly to himself. His hand-me-downs have become, imperceptibly, more and more frayed week by week as I hurry my nephew pass him, eyes down, walking as fast as I can – Tristan needs to get to school on time after all.

Frame helps us to explore what it means to be poor, to serve the poor and in so doing, he helps us explore our hearts. For that reason alone, this is the book to discuss with your book club group as we enter the season of year-end giving and Christmas.

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Stewardship as Gesture Giving the gift of time

BY KATHLEEN WILSON

We Remember

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Each generation has the opportunity to fuel mission for the next. We are thankful for the following gifts:

Ephesians 4:11–12 (NIV)

IN HONOUR OF

IN 2017, I was blessed with the opportunity to prac-

tice stewardship in a non-fiscal, way through the work of Canadian Baptist Women of Ontario and Quebec (CBWOQ). I joined CBWOQ’s board that year and it became an opportunity to make an impact.

During the early years of being on the board, I also experienced Uptick, connecting with and journeying alongside fellow female leaders from across Canada and the U.S. It was a time of meaningful pruning and re-growth which helped me truly understand the tremendous impact that time and talents can have within the scope of one’s ministry.

Coming out of my Uptick experience, I began to co-lead Uptick Baptist Women alongside Laura Matthews, CBWOQ’s events coordinator and Uptick Baptist Women founder. At the heart of Uptick Baptist Women is our belief that each woman has a voice ordained by God to speak with confidence and conviction – to speak truth to situations through the lens of love and compassion.

Building a Discipling Culture by Mike Breen has been our study guide. Breen uses the concept of lifeshapes to illustrate various spiritual practices and disciplines every leader can leverage within their own contexts. The Pentagon lifeshape talks about building up the body of Christ and emphasizes the need for those with varying capacities to respond as their abilities allow. This can be applied to how each of us navigates stewardship – how we respond to the needs of the Church by investing in its relational and missional capital through our own God-given gifts. We all have much to offer. God has designed us for this.

We are called to be faithful to the needs of the Church, financial or otherwise.

In reality, I don’t always have the ability to offer financial stewardship in the way that I feel would make the most impact. However, what I know makes an impact is the gift of time. Being a CBWOQ board member, co-leading Uptick, and taking part in various ministry initiatives have all allowed me to respond to a call from God to contribute not only to the work of my own church, but also to the broader work of Baptist Women in Ontario and Quebec. What a privilege and a joy.

Dorothy Gerber, Peterborough, 100th birthday IN MEMORY OF

Marguerite Burns, Ottawa Florence Costerus, Niagara Falls Queen Elizabeth II, England Gary Hill, Niagara Falls Isabell Kinch, Smith Falls Judy Lumley, Sarnia Marion Smallwood, Campbellford Janet Spittal, Whitby

Kathleen attends Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Toronto, where she has served on the church’s missions board and loves to sing in the choir.

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022

LIVE MAGAZINE

23

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In ministering to each other, each from the riches that he or she possesses, we work together for the full coming of God’s Kingdom.”

Henri Nouwen, A Spirituality of Fundraising

How we connect with each other has had to change, but Live magazine keeps our bonds lively and strong.

Let a woman in your community know about Live magazine. A subscription costs just $20. Pay at baptistwomen.com or call the editor, Renée James. Choose from three formats: print, audio (CD) or online.

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