Around Town: Missions Fest, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, UGM housing . . .

The biggest event on the horizon is Missions Fest, which will be held at the end of next week (January 26 – 28) at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

What I love about Missions Fest is the opportunity to meet the regular folks engaged in missions. Unlike Francis Xavier (see accompanying story), most of them won’t be celebrated 20 years from now, let alone 465. But they – the great majority of them anyway – are sharing the Gospel to the best of their ability at home and around the world.

The theme of Mission Fest this year is ‘What is the Gospel?’ Here is the overview:

You have a place in Christ’s mission. Knowing what the Gospel is, is central to fulfilling your mission. That’s why we’re asking ‘What is the Gospel?’ It’s part of our ongoing journey of expanding our understanding of God, his kingdom and our role in it.

If you asked 10 people what the word Gospel means, you would probably get 13 definitions. We commonly use the word to refer to books in the Bible, the atoning work of Christ, an evangelistic message, a style of music and more. Commonly used terms are often the hardest to define. That’s why we’ll be looking hard at the word ‘Gospel’ at Missions Fest Vancouver.

Jarrod McKenna “subscribes to the wacky idea that Christianity should look like Jesus.”

Jarrod McKenna will share an activist pastor’s perspective. Mike Goheen is going to lead us on a journey through Scripture to discover Gospel’s deep meaning. Alycia Wood, an apologist from Ravi Zacharias Ministries will explain why Gospel is essential to her ministry. A missionary from a closed access nation in Asia will share how Gospel is birthing a movement of passionate Christ-followers.

Also, visit the Film FestivalMini ConferencesSeminarsExhibits and more.

Tonight (January 18), there will be a Pre-Conference Rally for Missions Fest at Cariboo Road Christian Fellowship in Burnaby:

First, we want to worship and pray about the upcoming conference. We’re really looking forward to having church: untitled lead us in worship. Second, bring your friends, family and strangers off the street to sign up to volunteer.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Every year, during the third week of January, churches all over the world gather to pray for unity. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will take place January 18 – 25 at several churches in the Metro Vancouver / Fraser Valley region.

At least once a year, Christians are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21). Hearts are touched and Christians come together to pray for their unity. Congregations and parishes all over the world exchange preachers or arrange special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. The event that touches off this special experience is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Traditionally the week of prayer is celebrated between the feasts of St. Peter and St. Paul. The theme for the week of prayer in 2018, “Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,” is inspired by Exodus 15:6. The resources for the week have been prepared by members of different churches in the Caribbean.

These Metro Vancouver churches will host services:

There are also several services in the Fraser Valley.

UGM women’s housing

Minister of Housing Selina Robinson (third from right) with fellow MLA Judy Darcy and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson at housing announcement. UGM photo.

Union Gospel Mission is one of four organizations which will receive provincial funding to help house people with modest incomes. A CTV News story said:

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has promised an $83-million investment in four projects [450 units] all located in the Downtown Eastside.

Minister Selina Robinson said Tuesday [January 16] the units will be geared towards low- to moderate-income households, with renters paying between $375 and $1,272 per month. . . .

Union Gospel Mission already operates a stabilization program that includes live-in suites at the site on Cordova, but the investment will help cover the cost of a brand new building, “expanded and rebuilt from the ground up,” spokesperson Jeremy Hunka said.

The new Women and Families Centre will be home to 63 units – 36 family units and 27 treatment units – UGM’s largest expansion in more than 75 years.

Go here for the full story.

Jan 2018

Calvary Worship Centre Women's Conference – January 18, 2018 - January 20, 2018 at All Day
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – January 18, 2018 - January 25, 2018 at All Day
Women in the Word Workshop – January 18, 2018 - January 20, 2018 at All Day
ReFrame Vancouver: Cultivating 24/7 Christians – January 18, 2018 at 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Service – January 18, 2018 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Missions Fest: Pre-Conference Rally – January 18, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Service – January 18, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
CYW Vancouver – January 19, 2018 - January 20, 2018 at All Day
Norm Strauss – January 19, 2018 at 12:00 am
Norm Strauss – January 19, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Emerging Adulthood Mini-Conference – January 20, 2018 at 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Kelita's CD Release & 70s Music & Comedy Concert – January 20, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Learning for Lent – January 22, 2018 at 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Silence*Stillness*Movement*Sound: Doing Anthropology of Contemplative Christianity with the Whole Self – January 24, 2018 at 12:00 am
St. Francis Xavier Relic Pilgrimage – January 24, 2018 at 1:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Service – January 24, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Service – January 24, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Gabriel Mark Hasselbach & Friends – January 24, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Canada Summer Jobs Webinar – January 25, 2018 at 9:00 am - 9:45 am
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Service – January 25, 2018 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
St. Francis Xavier Relic Pilgrimage – January 25, 2018 at 12:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Missions Fest 2018: What is the Gospel? – January 26, 2018 - January 28, 2018 at All Day
Three Second Peaks: Paintings by Neil Peter Dyck Gallery Exhibit Opening Reception – January 26, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Cathedral Organist Denis Bédard – January 26, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
CEO Global UBC Kick-Off – January 27, 2018 at 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Jazz Vespers with Company B Jazz Band – January 28, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm
Jazz Vespers: Glenda Rae, Brett Wade, Miles Black – January 28, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Why Not Canada? – January 29, 2018 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Gender Matters – January 29, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
FoodSafe (Level 1) for Food Program Participants & Volunteers – January 30, 2018 at 8:45 am - 3:30 pm
Why Not Canada? – January 30, 2018 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Dr. William Newsome: Neuroscience and Consciousness – January 30, 2018 at 1:10 pm - 2:25 pm
Dr. William Newsome: Of Two Minds - A Neuroscientist Balances Science and Faith – January 30, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
An Evening with Stella's Voice – January 30, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Dr. Janet Soskice: The Incredible Lady Bible Hunters – Sisters of Sinai – January 31, 2018 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Dr. William Newsome: Of Two Minds - A Neuroscientist Balances Science and Faith – January 31, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Creative Writing with Matthew Dickerson – January 31, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: Jennifer Hayes & Friends – January 31, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Feb 2018

New Generations – February 1, 2018 - February 3, 2018 at All Day
Unity of Spirits Art Exhibition – February 1, 2018 - February 2, 2018 at All Day
Talks with Tom: Amidst the Busyness – February 2, 2018 at 7:00 am - 8:30 am
G. Peter Kaye Lecture: Janet Soskice – February 2, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Janet Soskice: Inclusivity and Christology Revisited – February 3, 2018 at 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Mental Health, Faith & Youth: A Sanctuary Workshop – February 3, 2018 at 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Stayed on Freedom: A Musical Celebration of Black History Month – February 3, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Perspectives Course (Sunday evenings) – February 4, 2018 at 6:15 pm - 9:15 pm
Evening of Lament for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women – February 5, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Perspective Course (Monday evenings) – February 5, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Kairos Course (Tuesday evenings) – February 6, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Multiply 2018 – February 7, 2018 - February 8, 2018 at All Day
Dr. Mary McCampbell: "We are Changed Souls": Prophetic Critique & Post-Secular Hope in the Fiction of Douglas Coupland – February 7, 2018 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Art Exhibition: Opening Reception of Adrift by Jenny Hawkinson – February 7, 2018 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
An Evening with Ed Stetzer: The Future for Canadian Evangelism, Renewal & Church Planting – February 7, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: The Kristian Braathen Trio – February 7, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
RockRidge Canyon Unplugged Weekend – February 9, 2018 - February 12, 2018 at All Day
Re-Enchanting Discipleship: Christian Life in a Secular Age – February 9, 2018 at 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
James K.A. Smith: Re-Enchanting Culture – February 9, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Don Stewart, Mike Henry, Kenny Wayne – February 11, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Maria Ho & Friends – February 14, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hfour Studio – February 15, 2018 at 12:00 am
Book Launch: Dr. Bruce Hindmarsh – The Spirit of Early Evangelicalism (with Mark Noll) – February 15, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Ruined by Lynn Nottage – February 15, 2018 - February 17, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Samson Movie in Canadian Theatres – February 16, 2018 at 12:00 am
Worship Central Conference – February 16, 2018 - February 17, 2018 at All Day
Voices for TRAC (Trinity Refugee Awareness Campaign) – February 16, 2018 at 7:30 am - 9:30 am
Date Night Comedy Tour – February 16, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Renovaré: The Listening Life – February 17, 2018 at 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
You are My Beloved: A Lenten Retreat – February 17, 2018 at 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Prophecy Speaking Today Workshop – February 17, 2018 at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Alio Modo featuring Vancouver Viols – February 18, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Jazz Vespers: The Hot Mammas – February 18, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Gospel Music Workshop – February 19, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
FaithTech YVR Coffee Shop Takeover – February 20, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Water from Stone: Opening Reception – February 21, 2018 at 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: The Doe Bender Group – February 21, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Let's Talk Marijuana (indoubt:live) – February 22, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Rise (Worship Leader Training) Conference 2018 – February 23, 2018 - February 24, 2018 at 6:30 pm - 2:30 pm
One Game = One Giant Step of Youth – February 23, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
The Bible: Why We Can Trust It – February 24, 2018 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Workshop: Songs of Justice, Songs of Freedom, Songs of Hope – February 24, 2018 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Flavours of Hope: Pop-Up Community Dinner – February 24, 2018 at 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Vancouver Cantata Singers: Cantus Missae - Rheinberger and the Romantics – February 24, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Spirit(us): An Evening with Kiya Tabassian – February 24, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Concert: Songs of Justice, Songs of Freedom, Songs of Hope – February 25, 2018 at 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Jazz Vespers – February 25, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers with Roma Swing Trio – February 25, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Jazz Vespers: Olaf DeShield – February 25, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Income Tax Ministry (Tuesdays & Saturdays) – February 27, 2018 - April 24, 2018 at 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
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1 comment for “Around Town: Missions Fest, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, UGM housing . . .

  1. DECEIVERS EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW: CH. 1 (Part 3) – Jan Markell: Religionist Deceivers Rampant

    By Jan Markell -October 7, 2019

    Part three of Jan Markell’s Chapter “Religionist Deceivers Rampant,” an exclusive preview of Terry James’s book “Deceivers: Exposing Evil Seducers & Their Last Days Deception.”

    New Ways of Doing Church

    New ways of doing church were going to stoke the fires inside the evangelical church. These new ways would go by various terms, such as “seeker-sensitive,” “purpose-driven,” “gospel-lite,” “church-growth movement,” and many more. None of these movements were very healthy, and they would weaken the Church — and strengthen the apostasy — even more.

    Somebody came up with a slick phrase that today’s evangelical church is all about “nickels and noses” — in other words, how to fill offering plates and pews. Certainly all churches do not operate like this, but too many do.

    It would quickly become apparent to me that Satan was making a last-days move to weaken the Church so that end-time Christians would be more vulnerable.

    Hipster Church

    Why would any church want to abandon senior citizens? Don’t they represent stability, and aren’t they reliable tithers? But today’s church has chosen to target the under-45 age group while abandoning the seniors who will never accept the hipper sermons, gospel rock music, casual dress and what they might perceive as majoring in minors from the pulpit.

    Older folks want to talk current events, Bible prophecy and even politics. The younger crowd wants to “feel good,” have “experiences,” and sway to the beat of a drum and bass guitar. In today’s church world, the two are having a hard time mixing, and the current Church is consequently taking a pounding.

    In some churches, there is watered-down preaching, making the younger sheep ripe for the slaughter; false teaching; gospel-lite messages; and little being taught that will make a difference for eternity.

    When I started in ministry, all ages blended and did just fine. By the late 1990s, it seemed that the younger generation called all the shots, and that church leadership caved to them. Senior citizens sat in the church foyer during what amounted to a rock concert during the worship time. They then wandered into the sanctuary just for the weekly message.

    How tragic.

    A more recent movement that has tapped into this is called Postmodernism, also referred to as the Emergent Church. This movement emphasizes experience over reason, subjectivity over objectivity, spirituality over religion, images over words, and feelings over truth. These are the reactions to modernism and are thought to be necessary in order to actively engage contemporary culture. This movement is still quite new, so there is not yet a standard method of “doing church” among the groups choosing to take the Postmodern/ Emergent mindset.

    This movement is also all about ecumenism. It stresses unity among many different religions and seems to celebrate Catholicism.

    Some 15 years ago, once-solid churches began to target young adults by having a special Emergent service. Windows were darkened, candles were lit, sofas were brought in, and informal “services,” very unstructured, were conducted. A Bible likely wouldn’t be a part of the worship agenda, but sharing feelings, thoughts, and ideas were. Some of the participants even brought arts and crafts projects to work on during these sessions.

    In 2004, Christianity Today dedicated an entire issue to “The Emergent Mystique.” These churches are a new generation unique in style, leadership, worship, prayer, and more. They are progressive and unbiblical, and almost all are flirting with heresy. Even in my youth, I cannot imagine being attracted to such waywardness.

    During an Emergent church service, congregants are more likely to pontificate with peers and would flee from having to sit through a verse-by-verse sermon. If a sermon focused on hell, they would be out the door. Emergent Rob Bell suggests there likely is no hell. These young adults would rather learn that all faiths uniting is just fine, and aligning with Rome might be the best idea they’ve heard in a long time. Other Emergent/ Postmodern fathers include Brian McLaren, Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones. There are many other leaders in the movement, but these are the most prominent. If one could sum up their belief system in a sentence, it would be that we cannot know absolute truth.

    The reliable website gotquestions.org says this about this movement:

    The dangers of postmodernism can be viewed as a downward spiral that begins with the rejection of absolute truth, which then leads to a loss of distinctions in matters of religion and faith, and culminates in a philosophy of religious pluralism that says no faith or religion is objectively true and therefore no one can claim his or her religion is true and another is false.

    More apostasy running amok.

    The Laughing Revival that Wasn’t So Funny

    Sometime during the 1990s came the “Toronto Blessing” and “Pensacola Outpouring.” Good Christian friends of mine considered these streams to be solid and a move of God. What was I missing? I watched clips from the various venues and saw no order, only confusion — and God is a God of order. How could rolling on the floor and barking like a dog be “in the spirit”? What verse in the Bible suggests we act in such insane ways? My Bible tells me to do all things decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14: 40).

    Others who believed in a similar manner were stressing that we were to get “drunk in the spirit” and laugh uncontrollably. I saw more film clips of people growling, dancing, shaking and weeping uncontrollably. I realized that another atom bomb had struck the Church, and for better or for worse—likely for worse—it was going to leave its mark. It wouldn’t be a healthy one.

    I wondered why some “new way of doing church” couldn’t come along that was stable and sound. People seemed to be pursuing experiential highs, signs and wonders, and an overdose of emotionalism. None of this was built on the foundation of sound teaching and preaching. It was all experience. Talk about “tickling the ears”!

    When You Criticize “America’s Pastor”

    I was both praised and pounded for suggesting that “America’s Pastor,” Rick Warren, might be causing damage to the Church. He seriously put down eschatology, saying it would distract people from their purpose. As an author myself, I was intrigued with any book that would sell over 25 million copies, as his Purpose Driven Life did. It was clearly a publishing phenomenon. But I’m not sure anybody was prepared for how Rick Warren would introduce a new way of doing church, and it wasn’t very healthy. There would eventually be two dozen new ways of doing church, but Warren’s seemed to be the first option in the evangelical community.

    Warren believes the Purpose-Driven principles are so important and so unique that he asks pastors to lead their congregants with his church programs, messages, worship, and even private devotions for 40 days. Rick Warren gives pastors his 40-day challenge: follow his principles in the purpose-driven formula and your church will get bigger, better, stronger, richer and more. How did churches grow before his formula came out 15 years ago? Somehow they grew and thrived and never resorted to his new way of doing church. Imagine that!

    Suddenly, churches with 100 members have imagined that they would become mega-churches if they followed the Warren formula.

    Warren also quoted a number of well-known Roman Catholics, but did not note how they believe and even promote concepts against clear teachings of the Scripture. These quotes include those from Brother Lawrence, Madame Guyon, St. John of the Cross, Henri Nouwen, Mother Teresa and John Main.

    In 2011, he tapped into three men who were not only unsound, but they had some ties to the New Age Movement. Warren went on a weight-loss kick for his entire church by embarking on “The Daniel Plan.” To accomplish his personal goal of weight loss and that of thousands of church members, he enlisted the likes of Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Daniel Amen. Their books and websites blatantly promote the dark side, including yoga and reiki. Yet Pastor Warren proudly featured them in his pulpit for many weekends of rah-rah cheerleading with healthy weight-loss goals.

    One attendee said the event was a “pagan palooza.” Apparently, during these sessions on improving health, the leaders conveniently avoided spiritual health! I concluded that end-time apostasy was just going to keep on rolling along like old man river. Or was I just getting hyper-critical? I was beginning to doubt myself! Yet sticking only to the truth of Scripture was getting hard to find. The gimmicks just kept galloping along.

    Many smaller churches that went the “Purpose-Driven” route now have closed their doors. Church isn’t a formula. It’s people meeting together to encourage one another and learn from solid Bible preaching and teaching.

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