Gospel Application

NOTE FROM REV. JEREMY GRAHAM

Gospel Application is:

the thoughtful, daily implementation of biblical truth in every area of our lives. As we hear and receive God’s living word, the Holy Spirit enables us to respond in gospel-centred, often counter-cultural ways, that glorify our Father and draw us into deeper union with Christ.

Our Gospel Application priority aims to equip and encourage the body of Christ at St. John’s to apply the gospel in our unique and challenging cultural contexts. Post-modern, post-Christian—whatever label you attach to our cultural moment—it’s clear that it requires the people of God to humbly discern how best to follow Jesus’ calling to be in the world but not of the world (John 17). In doing so we resist the twin temptations of retreating from our culture or uncritically embracing every cultural value around us.

In 2020, we began the year with several Gospel Application events:

• Evening Service Catechesis on the Ten Commandments • Youth Parent Night on the topic of pornography • Sunday School Parenting Series on “The Tech-Wise

Family”

However, our best-laid plans were short lived as the pandemic prevented us from completing several of our planned projects. In his mercy, the Lord opened two new doors for a continuing emphasis on congregation-wide Gospel Application during Covid: our Christ & Covid sermon series and blog, and the introduction of testimonies in our Sunday services.

CHRIST & COVID In June-July, we shaped our Sunday services around six hot-button pandemic issues: suffering, racism, hospitality, lament, mental health and medical perspectives on life and health. Each week, we invited scripture to realign our attitudes and behaviours to conform with Jesus and his gospel. We also created a blog to accompany the series, publishing apologetic videos, recording the testimonies of St John’s members and missionaries, and curating gospel-centred articles from around the web. The sermons and resources remain available on our website.

TESTIMONIES For years we’ve wanted to make testimonies a regular part of our Sunday worship. It’s an unexpected blessing of this pandemic season that we’ve finally been able to implement this wonderful ministry. The ability to pre record these testimonies in an informal setting has opened the door to including many of us who might not feel comfortable speaking in front of a room full of people. These testimony videos have added a new texture to our service, allowing candid glimpses from people of all ages into how Christ is powerfully working in this challenging season. We look forward to continuing to include testimonies as a regular part of our Sunday worship once in-person services resume!

JEREMY GRAHAM

REFUGEE COMMITTEE REPORT

The St. John’s Vancouver Refugee Committee works within the vision of the church as a community of contrast gripped by the gospel of God’s grace. We are guided by God’s commandment to love one another, and will wherever possible seek to invite and include refugees within the family of our Church.

In 2020, many members of our congregation were involved in the support of our first ever sponsored family, the Satar family who arrived in Vancouver in April, 2019. Our formal year-long sponsorship ended in April 2020, but our work with them in our midst and in our congregation continues. The Refugee Committee would like to thank all those who offer ongoing support and Christian love for them.

The work of the Refugee Committee and Refugee Welcome Team continued to expand in 2020, and we are thankful for the support of the Church in making three further sponsorship commitments. Our latest news is with respect to Madelyn and Adam who have had

The year 2020 started out with ambitious plans for missions activities at St. John’s. However, everything changed when the pandemic was declared on March 11, 2020. The short-term mission trip to Nepal was cancelled. Bidyuta Singh of Helping Point could not visit us from India. Andrew Buchanan could not leave for Japan, nor Habib* to the Middle East and North Africa. However, in the midst of the pandemic, God gave many wonderful opportunities for our missionaries to minister in the name of Jesus:

• In Cambodia, Ratanak was able to distribute over 500 food bags to the unemployed in the entertainment district and to the families of repatriated Cambodians. • In India, Helping Point served 3000 hot meals and distributed over 1000 food bags to the poor. St.

Simon’s School received upgrades to their buildings when the government used it as a temporary quarantine centre for migrant workers. • We have suspended our financial support for Malawi until disputes within the Diocese of the Upper their interview with Canadian immigration, completed medical exams and now await security checks before coming to Vancouver. Jack and Irena Tippet are in close communication with Madelyn and Adam. We expect their arrival in late 2021 or early 2022.

Shaza, the Syrian UBC student, whose parents, three brothers and sister we are also sponsoring, reports that her parents and siblings are delighted and eager to meet us. We begin the sponsorship application shortly.

The application process for Mazen and his family of three, waiting in Nigeria is in process. Aaron and Amy Roberts are in close touch with Mazen.

Please join us in praying for all three families during this waiting period. We also continue to support and pray for our partners Kinbrace Refugee Housing and Support and Journey Home Community.

JONATHAN BAYLIS & OWEN UNDERHILL

MISSIONS REPORT

Shire are resolved. We stand with our Malawian brothers and sisters in friendship and prayer through their diocesan crisis. • Closer to home, our local missionaries moved most of their ministries online. While this format was not ideal, there were opportunities to disciple across the country and even around the world. One missionary in Vancouver studied the Bible online with a family in Yemen!

In the midst of this online world, St. John’s was invited to fund an online education project at the theological school in Lake Malawi Anglican University. The Missions Committee decided to support the project using a portion of the Bequest Fund that was assigned to missions. We considered it an investment in the “Africa Mile Deep Strategy” to see evangelical theological education available in Africa. While our human plans were waylaid, we know that God’s purposes continue to be accomplished.