Around Town: Regent College transition, Mission Fest, Crescent Beach miracle . . .

Regent College has chosen one of its own to take on leadership of the school.

Their Board of Governors announced November 3 that Dr. Paul Spilsbury has been appointed as the sixth President of Regent College. He is currently Vice President and Academic Dean.

Here is part of the board’s statement:

Paul will begin a five-year term as Regent’s President at the beginning of July 2025. He will succeed Dr. Jeffrey Greenman, who will continue to serve as Regent’s President until the conclusion of his term at the end of June 2025.

Jeff expressed deep enthusiasm for Paul’s appointment:

In over 30 years as a director, academic dean and president in three institutions of Christian learning, there has been no one that I respect more, admire more or trust more than Paul Spilsbury. He has the maturity, knowledge, skill and experience needed to lead Regent with excellence. Paul has my full and enthusiastic support as he takes up this responsibility.

Paul first joined the Regent College community as a master’s student. After graduating from Regent, he completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge (Queens’ College).

After the conclusion of his doctoral work on the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, Paul joined the faculty of Canadian Bible College in Regina, Saskatchewan. He served there as Professor of New Testament and, in his roles as Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs, played an integral role in the early formation and development of Ambrose University in Calgary.

In addition to his leadership roles, Paul serves the Regent community as Professor of New Testament. His teaching covers the full range of the New Testament, with a particular focus on the Pauline epistles and the Book of Revelation.

Paul is a frequent speaker at churches, retreats and conferences. He is also a juried member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, working primarily in watercolours. Paul is married to Bronwyn, and they have two adult sons.

Speaking on behalf of the Regent College Board of Governors, Chair Earl Phillips said:

The Presidential Search Committee’s discernment process was a revelation for the Board. We knew Paul well as a very capable Academic Dean. Now we know Paul as the one called by God from among several strong candidates. He has shown the vision, passion and ability to lead Regent, and we look forward with great confidence to his tenure as President.

Go here for the full statement, and for a conversation with Paul. The first four leaders of Regent College were James M. Houston, Carl Armerding, Walter Wright Jr. and Rod Wilson. (The first two were actually Principals, the latter two Presidents.)

Mission Fest BC 2025

Well, after a long wait, Mission Fest has been confirmed for next year. That’s great news, though maybe not quite the news that Vancouver residents had been hoping for.

After having been located in Vancouver (originally Burnaby) for 40 years, this year’s gathering will take place in Chilliwack. Mission Fest Vancouver will become Mission Fest British Columbia.

Here is the announcement from Mission Central:

After months of searching and waiting on the Lord, we have a conference location and dates! We’ll have more on that story soon, but the short version is that God has led us to the Fraser Valley, so we’re calling the conference ‘Mission Fest British Columbia’ (or BC) this year!

WHEN: February 13 – 15, 2025
WHERE: Chilliwack Heritage Park (44140 Luckakuck Way, Chilliwack)

Last year Mission Fest nearly didn’t go ahead, after the Mission Central board (which oversees Mission Fest) decided that the 2023 Missions Fest at the Vancouver Convention Centre would be its last. But James Bonney and Steve Schroeder felt that God was leading them to carry on the movement, and Mission Fest took place at Westside Church in downtown Vancouver February 15 – 17.

Go here for the rather inspiring story of how last year’s Mission Fest came about, and here for a brief wrap-up following the gathering.

On a related note, Light Magazine recently posted a comment by John Hall, who was Executive Director of Missions Fest / Mission Central for almost a decade. In ‘Defining Mission,’ he said:

Many Christians from a Protestant background would define mission as crossing from one culture to another for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. . . .

Below are three knock-on concerns I have with using the definition above.

• • We believe that mission (for the most part) is the job of a missionary.
  • Mission happens away from home.
  • If I do share the Gospel locally, that is called evangelism.

Go here for the full comment.

Crescent Beach miracle

Peter Klenner is a persevering man. He, his family and his flock have patiently waited and believed that for the ideal building for their church. Klenner is Pastor of All Saints Community Church and a Bishop of the Anglican Mission in Canada.

At times it seemed that the dream was too big, but it has been realized. Ed Hird, an elder of the church, wrote about it recently for Light Magazine.

Here is a portion:

All Saints Community Church has seen many miracles in Crescent Beach. Our journey to Crescent Beach can only be described as miraculous. Many people have supported us, prayed for us, visited with us, and told others of our story. Thank you. . . . .

During the middle of a global pandemic, while everything was pretty well shut down, God provided a way for us to purchase the Roman Catholic church building in Crescent Beach known as Holy Cross Church. On April 1, 2021 we took possession of the building. Holy Cross Church became All Saints Community Church! Christians have been praying and worshiping in this building since 1946.

So many visitors to Crescent Beach drop by our seaside church, giving us an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. Many are new immigrants who have never been in a church building. . . .

When we needed to pay back our building loans, God gave us 2 Chronicles 20:17:

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.

This gave us the courage to keep on praying and trusting God for the miraculous breakthrough. The Lord kept saying: “Give me your best and trust me for the rest.” We are so grateful that God found a benevolent foundation in 2024 who bought the building, enabling All Saints Community Church to continue meeting here until Jesus returns.

Go here for the full article.

I posted articles about what the church called ‘Project Oikos’ in 2020 and 2021, as well as an open letter in 2023, in which Klenner said, “We are on a mission to save the last existing church in Crescent Beach, Surrey.” (Not that I was in any way responsible for what the church has accomplished; I’m just one of many who has been very pleased to see them safely at home in their cherished building.)

Events & Jobs

Events are listed below, but there is also an Events page and a Jobs page on the Church for Vancouver site.