Around Town: Mark Husbands, Reaching Cities, Willingdon & Blue Mountain . . .

Two of our major schools will soon have new leaders. An April 9 release from Trinity Western University (TWU) announced that Mark Husbands will leave following the completion of his five-year term as President and Vice-Chancellor at the end of June.

Jeff Greenman had let it be known that he will step down as President at Regent College by next June.

The TWU release noted “several areas of significant growth and innovation” under Husbands’ leadership:

• establishing an inspiring vision statement to complement its enduring mission statement;
• unveiling a new expression of the institutional brand to express a new brand promise, ‘Equipped for Life’;
• increasing enrolment to the highest levels in institutional history – an overall increase of 43 percent since 2018;
• launching a forward-reaching university strategic plan, TWU 2030: Every Graduate Equipped;
• building the state-of-the-art Robert G. Kuhn Centre as a multi-functional facility for students and faculty;
• opening a second TWU Richmond location in Lansdowne in addition to its existing location in Minoru;
• launching its first PhD program, a Doctorate in Nursing, to equip students for health-care leadership;
• creating the inaugural Office of Inclusive Excellence to foster greater inclusion and belonging across campus;
• establishing a new Centre for Calling and Career Development to help students to launch well;
• instituting an annual Day of Learning in a move toward greater reconciliation with our Indigenous community;
• eliminating all outstanding bank debt and reducing total institutional debt by over $4 million;
• investing $49 million in infrastructure to enhance learning spaces and living environments for students; and
• strengthening TWU’s financial position by adding $18 million to the university’s endowment.

During this period of leadership transition, Dr. Todd Martin will serve as interim president while also continuing in his role as provost. The university has begun a search for its sixth president since it was founded in 1963. TWU now has four locations in Canada: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru and Ottawa.

Jeff Greenman will remain at his post for more than a year, but has announced his plan to leave:

On February 27, 2024, Jeff Greenman, President of Regent College, announced the beginning of a presidential search and transition process that will culminate by June 2025. Jeff became Regent College’s fifth President in 2015; prior to assuming his present role, he served as Regent’s Academic Dean and Executive Vice President.

Go here for the full announcement, which has links to Greenman’s letter to the Regent community and Board Chair Earl Phillips’ letter about the upcoming transition.

Reaching Cities for Christ

When members of The Gospel Coalition (TGC) hold their third national conference in Vancouver next week (April 22 – 24) the theme will be Acts Once Again – “pointing to the reality that Canadians need to remember how the earliest Christians ‘turned the world upside down’ by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a culture hostile to the truth of Jesus.”

A major element of the gathering, and a pre-conference event, will be City to City Canada, a new ministry led by Brett Landry, who is best known locally as Lead Pastor of Christ City Church in Vancouver.

He wrote April 9 on the TGC site about their pre-conference event – ‘Reaching Canadian Cities for Christ’:

With a passion for urban centres, City to City Canada equips pastors, leaders and church planters with the tools, training and resources necessary to establish thriving, gospel-centred churches in diverse Canadian cities.

Rooted in the mission and values of its parent organization, Redeemer City to City, we work collaboratively with local churches and networks to address the unique challenges and opportunities of urban ministry in the Canadian context.

Led by experienced practitioners and supported by a robust network of global partners, we are committed to seeing cities transformed by the power of the gospel, as churches multiply and engage with the spiritual, social and cultural needs of their cities.

We do this through city movements, church planting and church revitalization.

Pre-conference event

• • City Movements

At the pre-conference event we will discuss the need for collaborative approaches to city-based ministry by hosting Mark Reynolds, Senior Strategic Advisor for Redeemer City to City. He provides strategic counsel to leaders implementing City to City’s “hub city” strategy.

Hub cities seek to increase ministry impact in their cities in partnership with our global partners through city-wide collaboration, starting and strengthening churches, initiatives that serve the flourishing of a city and resourcing other cities. He will share City to City’s vision for reaching cities.

• • Church Revitalization

We will hear from Andrew Katay, Executive Director of City to City Australia, and Jamie Bester, Director of Revitalise Australia. They will be discussing their ministry of church revitalization that has already worked with over 200 churches in 20+ denominations. They will present the theological underpinnings of gospel-renewal as well as the practical outworking of the ministry of church revitalization.

Revitalize Australia provides training, resources, and coaching to pastors and church leaders. The ministry emphasizes gospel-centred approaches to church health, leadership development, and strategic planning to help churches navigate challenges and seize opportunities for growth and impact.

• • Church Planting

We will also talk about church planting. Tim Keller said, “There are two primary rationales for church planting: we plant churches because the Bible calls us to participate in God’s mission in this way and because it is one of the most effective ways to evangelize people.”

The population of Canada is growing, but more churches are closing than are being planted. We will look at the present and future need for more churches. We want to plant more and better churches, faithful to the clear teaching of Scripture, and centred on the gospel of Jesus.

Along with Brett Landry, speakers for the ‘Acts Once Again’ TGC event include international and Canadian guests such as Michael Reeves (President of Union School of Theology in the UK), Tim Challies (author and pioneer Christian blogger from Toronto) and Robert Kim (Chair of Church Planting and Christian Formation at Covenant Theological Seminary).

Several local pastors will also be leading the way: David Short (St. John’s Vancouver); Sam Chua (Westlynn Baptist Church); Kendra Gerbrandt (Christ City Church); Rob Godard (Cloverdale Baptist Church); and Mark Burch, Ezra Okoti and Kristal Toews (Northview Community Church).

Go here to register for the TGC Conference; you can select the City to City Canada pre-conference event there as well.

Willingdon & Blue Mountain

Willingdon Church has planted churches over the years, but now it is taking on another church as a campus. And that church is from another denomination.

Willingdon announced a ‘Blue Mountain Campus Info meeting for April 28, saying:

Willingdon Church and Blue Mountain Church are about to start on a new journey together. For over 80 years, the church at Blue Mountain has gathered to worship Jesus. Willingdon Church is excited to be part of God’s answer to continue the gathering of fellow believers at this location in Coquitlam, into the future.

Blue Mountain’s Transitional Lead Pastor Mel Fehr spoke about the transition as he began his April 7 sermon:

We’re [taking] another step in this journey of merging with Willington Church to become a a campus. Starting today we’ll be tracking together with Willingdon in the Sunday teaching. As we move forward the goal will be that, for the most part, the Sunday teaching in this campus will track with the teaching at the main campus.

One of the questions that always emerges when you talk about the idea of a campus church is, does that mean the preaching is going to be on the screen by video? No, the goal will be to have the majority of the preaching live. . . . The teachers will be different there and here, but the teaching will be from the same passage. 

Until the end of June preaching will be shared by Fehr, director of worship and youth ministry Brian Manucduc and Willingdon pastoral staff. After that, much of the preaching will be done by the new campus pastor.

Willingdon and Blue Mountain both take their names from the roads they’re on. The former is on Willingdon Avenue in west-central Burnaby, just south of BCIT, while the latter is not too far past past the Burnaby-Coquitlam border on Blue Mountain Avenue at Austin Avenue.

Willingdon Church is part of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, while Blue Mountain Church is part of the the Baptist General Conference of Canada.

Apr 2024

Created for Connection: Hold Me Tight® for Christian Couples (2 Saturdays) – April 13, 2024 - April 20, 2024 at 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
The Big Picture – April 18, 2024 - April 20, 2024 at 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Paul Stevens: Book Launch & Lecture – What I Have Learned About the Faith & Work Connection – April 18, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The Brentwood Katz, with Rhian Walker – April 19, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
1Life Foundations Conference: Called to Lead – stewardship, leadership & the generosity of God – April 20, 2024 at 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Together for Good Marriage Workshop – April 20, 2024 at 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Bible Saturday: Rikk Watts: Exploring Jesus' Identity & Understanding of His Death in Isaiah 40 & 53 – April 20, 2024 at 9:30 am - 11:45 am
Earth Day Event – April 20, 2024 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Requiem Mozart: Life, Love & Loss – April 20, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dawn Pemberton in Concert with Michael Creber – April 20, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Steve Dawson & The Hooded Mergansers – April 20, 2024 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Partnership as Mission: Essays in Memory of Ellie Johnson – April 21, 2024 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Fundraising Concert with The Soda Crackers – April 21, 2024 at 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Jazz Vespers in the Valley with The Trevor Whitridge Quartet – April 21, 2024 at 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Jazz AWE – April 21, 2024 at 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Grieving Faithfully: A Night with Tim Challies – April 21, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Earth Day Neighbourhood Clean Up – April 22, 2024 at 12:45 pm - 3:00 pm
Acts Once Again: Reaching Canadian Cities for Christ – April 22, 2024 - April 24, 2024 at 1:30 pm - 12:00 pm
2024 Human Resources & Employment Seminar – April 24, 2024 at 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Jazz Evensong @ Brentwood: Michelle Carlisle & Friends – April 24, 2024 at 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Loaves and Fishes: Vancouver's Hidden Helpers – April 25, 2024 - June 7, 2024 at All Day
One Conference – April 25, 2024 - April 26, 2024 at All Day
Peace Portal Alliance Church Tax Clinic – April 25, 2024 - April 30, 2024 at All Day
Tax Clinic – April 25, 2024 - April 30, 2024 at All Day
Tax Program – April 25, 2024 - April 30, 2024 at All Day
Tenth Tax Help – April 25, 2024 - April 30, 2024 at All Day
Salvation Army Gateway of Hope Tax Clinic – April 25, 2024 - December 31, 2024 at 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Our Lady of Good Counsel Tax Clinic (Saturday, Sunday) – April 25, 2024 - May 26, 2024 at 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
TWU School of the Arts, Media + Culture presents Equipping Lectures (last Thursday of each month) – April 25, 2024 - May 30, 2024 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Public Meeting about the Online Harms Act – April 25, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Prayer & Fasting Gathering: Loving Muslims Together Network (last Friday of each month) – April 26, 2024 at All Day
Intercultural Development Workshop: Expand Your Intercultural Horizons – April 26, 2024 at 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Suicide Intervention Training with Dr Laura Bulk and Michael Lee – April 27, 2024 - April 28, 2024 at All Day
Spring Craft Fair – April 27, 2024 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Fraser Valley Festival of Praise (2 events) – April 28, 2024 at All Day
Woven In: The Story of Job – April 28, 2024 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Jazz Vespers with Leora Cashe – April 28, 2024 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jacob Moon – April 28, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Alpha Canada: Come & See – April 30, 2024 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

May 2024

Film Screening: Making Peace With Creation – May 1, 2024 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Cultivate: Church Planting Conference 2024 – Rhythms & Rituals – May 2, 2024 - May 4, 2024 at All Day
'Virtuous Atheists': Unbelief in Postwar Canada – May 2, 2024 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Dr. Stefan Paas: Christian Mission in a Post-Christian Society – May 3, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Worship for Justice Tour presents Don Moen & Paul Baloche, with Brooke Nichols – May 3, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
'You Alone, Lord' Moms Retreat – May 4, 2024 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Bible Saturday: Bruce Waltke – How to Read and Understand the Creation Account of Genesis I – May 4, 2024 at 9:30 am - 11:45 am
Multicultural Temple Tour – May 4, 2024 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
The Chosen Bible Study – May 4, 2024 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Amabilis Singers Spring Concert 2024 – May 4, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Vespers in the Valley with Kim Greenwood & Friends – May 5, 2024 at 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Regent College 2024 Convocation – May 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Addictions Course with Dr. Quentin Genuis (2 evenings) – May 7, 2024 - May 14, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Vancouver School of Theology 2024 Convocation Ceremonies – May 7, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
March for Life Victoria – May 9, 2024 at All Day
The Gathering: Bloom Where You're Planted – May 9, 2024 - May 10, 2024 at All Day
Western Regional Conference on Christianity & Literature 2024 – May 9, 2024 - May 11, 2024 at All Day
BC Leadership Prayer Dinner – May 9, 2024 at 5:15 pm - 8:00 pm
'ConVersing/ConServing: Care, Creation, Communion' with Marilyn McEntyre – May 9, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
57th Annual BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast – May 10, 2024 at 7:30 am - 9:15 am
'Keeping Common Ground: Land, Language and Love of our Neighbour' with Marilyn McEntyre, Bob Ekblad, Loren Wilkinson, Patricia Victor Switametelót – May 10, 2024 at 9:00 am - 10:15 am
Deep & Wide: A Conference on Ecclesial Engagement with Disability Across Canada – May 10, 2024 - May 11, 2024 at 4:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Crochet & Knitting Club – May 11, 2024 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Good Noise Gospel Choir 20th Anniversary Gala Concert – May 11, 2024 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Lions Gate Sinfonia – May 11, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Pulling Out All the Stops – May 11, 2024 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
The Struggle for a Godless Canada – May 14, 2024 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
The Welcome Table: Journey Home Spring Gala – May 14, 2024 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
A Case for the Existence of God – May 16, 2024 - June 9, 2024 at All Day
FaithTech Vancouver | Discovering Redemptive Technology – May 16, 2024 at 6:00 pm - 7:45 pm
May 'Almost' Silent Retreat – May 16, 2024 - May 18, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Living Laudato Si': The Challenge and the Promise – May 17, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
GO Day 2024 – May 18, 2024 at All Day
International Day for the Unreached – May 19, 2024 at All Day
Women in Leadership Collective Webinar – May 21, 2024 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Evangelism: An Evening with Shaila Visser – May 21, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
What’s on Your Mind? Insights on the Next Gen with David Kinnaman – May 22, 2024 at 10:00 am - 11:00 am
The Gospel, Discipleship & Cultural Engagement – May 22, 2024 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Stephen Fearing – May 24, 2024 at 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Cross Cultural Ministry Training (two gatherings) – May 24, 2024 - October 19, 2024 at 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Higher Calling – May 24, 2024 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Politics in the Pulpit Conference: The Local Church’s Responsibility in Political Engagement – May 25, 2024 at 9:45 am - 3:00 pm
Sweet Sounds on Sussex with Linda Szentes & Friends – May 25, 2024 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Vespers in the Valley 'Caribbean Style' featuring the Steel Drums of Sweet Pan – May 26, 2024 at 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Hymn Fest – May 26, 2024 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
20th Anniversary Celebration Ridge-Meadows Celebrate Recovery – May 26, 2024 at 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm
17th Annual FIRST UNITED Golf Tournament – May 27, 2024 at 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
CityReach’s 20th Celebration Open House – May 28, 2024 at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Prayer & Fasting Gathering: Loving Muslims Together Network – May 31, 2024 at All Day