Many Abbotsford churches are displaying the same message over the Thanksgiving season.
More than 30 Abbotsford churches (and a couple of schools) are posting the same Thanksgiving message on their signboards for two weeks:
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.
The initiative is sponsored by the Abbotsford Christian Leaders Network (ACLN). In a letter to fellow pastors, ACLN chair (and senior pastor of Heritage Alliance Church) Tim MacIntosh asked:
Wouldn’t it be amazing for people to encounter the same simple message again and again and again as they drove around Abbotsford? And wouldn’t it be amazing if curiosity drove them to the internet and they encountered the same explanatory message on website after website after website?
Participating churches will have the message on signboards outside their churches (except for a couple that don’t have such signboards) and on their web homepages.
The ACLN is “an affiliation of Christian leaders representing a broad range of churches, non-profit organizations, educational and government institutions and businesses” in the Abbotsford area.
Asian Canadian Christians: Two Generations / OMF Legacy
A pair of conferences this month will shed significant light on the current situation of Chinese/Asian Canadian churches and on one of the major historical influences on those churches. Two Generations Leadership Conference will be held at Regent College October 16 – 17, and a week later two events (October 23 – 24) will highlight the legacy of pioneering missionary to China, James Hudson Taylor.
Two Generations Leadership Conference
Asian and Multicultural Ministries in Canada (AMMiC) will host Two Generations Leadership Conference. “Equipping Leaders For Two Generations Ministry in the Asian/Chinese Canadian Churches” is the third in a series.
The proceedings of the earlier two conferences – in which many of the same participants “explored the relational aspect between the different generations in Asian North American churches” in 2011 and 2012 – are recorded in Looking Back, Looking Forward: A Dialogue Among North American Asian Christians.
(Not related to the conference, but covering some of the same ground, is a new book by local author and teacher Matthew Todd. English Ministry Crisis in Chinese Canadian Churches aims at “the retention of English-speaking adults from Chinese Canadian churches through associated parallel independent English congregational models.”)
Hudson Taylor Legacy Series
James Hudson Taylor left a powerful legacy.
All year, OMF Canada has been celebrating the 150th anniversary of James Hudson Taylor calling out to God on Brighton Beach for workers to help him take the gospel to the unreached inland provinces of China. The culmination of a series of presentations will take place the weekend of October 23 – 24.
Jamie Hudson Taylor – the great-great grandson of James Hudson Taylor, and still involved with the ministry – will speak to a youth audience on Friday evening, and then during the Heart for Asia Conference on Saturday. Both events will be at Evangelical Chinese Bible Church in Burnaby.
Several other speakers will join Taylor on Saturday as they address these workshop topics:
- Persecution: Victorious living in the midst of the rejection of Jesus.
- God at work in Quiatou: How God has been working to birth a new church and to open doors for hundreds of children to hear about him through Bible stories.
- Doing what it takes to bring Jesus to hard places: This workshop will bring you to some of the most difficult places in East Asia and consider the multiple ways and means of bringing the good news of Jesus.
- Creation to church: Understanding God’s mission to the world from a story perspective and using his story, ie, “God’s Big Story,” in evangelism.
- What is life like inside one of the five remaining communist regimes in our world – for the church, for the poor, for the exploding number of youth?
- Japanese evangelism: Obstacles preventing Japanese from coming to faith and how God overcomes them.
MY House opens in Mission
MY House in Mission celebrated its opening recently.
Youth House – MY House to the youth who spend time there – held its grand opening September 30.
The effort had wide support in the community; Greater Vancouver Youth Unlimited was joined by Mission Community Services and several other groups in its bid to offer “homeless, street-entrenched and vulnerable youth (ages 12-22) a place to find safe access to showers, laundry, meals, employment opportunity, life skills, youth-specific medical care and trusting relationships with caring adults.”
A release from Youth Unlimited – which is part of the international Youth for Christ movement – read (in part):
This facility is the result of an amazing story of the greater community working together to come up with a way to help homeless youth. MY House is a collaborative effort and is not owned or operated by one single entity. It is operated and governed by a collaboration of community organizations, local government, churches and concerned citizens.
“Two years ago a committee was started to help find a solution for homeless youth in Mission,” explains Calvin Williams, Youth Unlimited youth worker. “Things were getting worse and we knew we needed to do something about it.”
MY House became a reality through the efforts and generosity of over 2,000 volunteer hours, $20,000 in donated cash, $65,000 in donated professional services and $37,000 in donated product and supplies.
The building that is now MY House was once an abandoned house frequented by squatters, crime and drug users and was ready to be torn down. This summer, renovations were complete and MY House opened to some of the teens late August.
A second phase of the project will allow for overnight stays.
John Stackhouse on Spencer Capier
It’s good to see that John Stackhouse hasn’t forgotten his old friends on the west coast now that he’s moved on from Regent College and relocated to Crandall University on the east coast. Note his recent blog comment:
Friend Spencer Capier’s new album, Musical Chairs, accompanied me today on a gorgeous drive up the Acadian Coastal Road north of Shediac, New Brunswick. Somehow the funky combination of bluegrass and various electric and electronic instruments bridged the gap between old and new, just like the various little communities I passed through sporting their Acadian colours and state-of-the-art TV satellite dishes.
For the whole comment go here.
Sep 2015
Speaking My Mind Toastmasters Club – September 28, 2015 - December 14, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pmOct 2015
R. Scott Smith: Facts, Values and Modern Myths About Ethics (two lectures) – October 7, 2015 - October 8, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pmChristopher Kasongo / Sadao Watanabe: Through the Eyes of the Beholder – October 8, 2015 - October 15, 2015 at All Day
Mental Health Week - The Thief: Anxiety – October 9, 2015 at 7:00 am - 8:30 am
Jordan Klassen – October 9, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
White Rock Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship ALL DAY EVENT – Business Men's Life Stories – October 10, 2015 at 9:00 am - 10:00 pm
War Room: A Private Showing – October 10, 2015 at 9:45 am - 12:00 pm
A Jubilant Thanksgiving: Celebrating 30 Years of Fujian Evangelical Church – October 11, 2015 at 12:00 am
Homelessness Action Week – October 11, 2015 - October 17, 2015 at All Day
Thanksgiving Jazz Vespers – October 11, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Kairos Canada: Gendered Impacts Symposium – October 13, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Journey Discipleship Course (Tuesdays) – October 13, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:45 pm
Public Lecture Series: Competing Paradigms: Christianity and Naturalism – Challenges to Religion – October 13, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: LJ Mounteney – October 14, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
New Wine Renewal Conference (and Leaders' Day) – October 15, 2015 - October 17, 2015 at All Day
Inklings Institute of Canada: Tea Party for Alice in Wonderland's 150th Anniversary – October 15, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Hungry for Life Leaders Conference – October 16, 2015 - October 17, 2015 at All Day
Two Generations Leadership Conference – October 16, 2015 - October 17, 2015 at All Day
Women's Weekend – October 16, 2015 - October 18, 2015 at All Day
Genesis Through Ancient Eyes: The Lost World of Adam and Eve – October 16, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Strings of Hope – October 16, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Dying in Canada: A Pastoral Approach – October 17, 2015 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Highlands Annual Gigantic Flea Market – October 17, 2015 at 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Hello Neighbour Project (Homelessness Action Week) – October 17, 2015 at 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
James Coggins: Book Signing for 'Springtime in Winnipeg' and 'Je Me Souviens' – October 17, 2015 at 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
lifeTOUR 2015 – October 17, 2015 at 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Norine Braun Band / Rae Dawn and Eco Systems – October 17, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Theo's Feast – October 17, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Dr. Jason Lisle: Apologetics and Astronomy – October 17, 2015 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Stand on Guard: Election Prayer Night – October 17, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Faculty and Friends Recital Series – October 17, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
John Walton: Genesis Through Ancient Eyes – October 17, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Vancouver Cantata Singers: Angeli Archangeli – October 17, 2015 at 7:30 pm
United in Prayer City-wide Rally: Canada at the Crossroads – October 18, 2015 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Ancient texts; modern science: two leading scholars share their views on Adam, Eve and evolution – October 18, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Diana Butler Bass: God in a Post-Religious Time – October 19, 2015 at 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Hope for Dalit Women: More Precious Than Pearls – October 19, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Canada's Thanksgiving Concert Tour: Greater Vision & The Browns – October 19, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Public Lecture Series: Competing Paradigms: Christianity and Naturalism – Structures of Theories and Evidence – October 20, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Managing Me, Loving You – October 21, 2015 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Dan Law: Visions from the Slash - Sculptural Meditations on Heaven & Hell (Opening Reception) – October 21, 2015 at 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Laudato Si Symposium: Climate of Change – October 21, 2015 at 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Gender Cafe: Silenced: The Untold Story of the Fight for Equality in the RCMP – October 21, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: 6 Degrees – October 21, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Bright New Day Reconciliation Circle – October 22, 2015 - October 23, 2015 at All Day
The Global Leadership Summit – October 22, 2015 - October 23, 2015 at All Day
Rezoning Application Open House – October 22, 2015 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Chief Dr. Robert Joseph: The Institute of Indigenous Issues and Perspectives Launch – October 22, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Joshua Hyslop – October 23, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Hudson Taylor Legacy Series: Y2Y Night (Youth 2 Young Adults) – October 23, 2015 at 7:15 pm - 9:30 pm
Early Music Vancouver: Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 – October 23, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conference – October 24, 2015 at 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Building Blocks of Faith-based ESL Ministry – October 24, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
God: Closer Than We Can Imagine - A Saturday Retreat in the City – October 24, 2015 at 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
Hudson Taylor Legacy Series: Heart for Asia Conference – October 24, 2015 at 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Installation of Regent College's Fifth President: Symposium – October 24, 2015 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
M2/W2 Annual Dinner & Silent Auction – October 24, 2015 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Roy & Rosemary in Concert – October 24, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
J.D. Miner – October 24, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Music at Queen's: Lyric Singers – October 24, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Vespers: Jaclyn Guillou – October 25, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
The 5 Love Languages: Gary Chapman (Live) – October 26, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Public Lecture Series: Competing Paradigms: Christianity and Naturalism – Evidence in Religion – October 27, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
The 5 Love Languages: Gary Chapman (Live) – October 27, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Complex Communities: Concepts and Tools for Better Communication – October 28, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Dr. Sargon Donabed: The Middle East, Minorities and the Islamic State: past, present and future – October 28, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Earth & Spirit: A Speaker Series Exploring the Relationship Between Justice & Faith (Wednesdays) – October 28, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: Ray Levesque – October 28, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Illustrated Alice: Celebrating 150 Years of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – October 29, 2015 - October 31, 2015 at All Day
Joel Thiessen: The Meaning of Sunday: The Practice of Belief in a Secular Age – October 29, 2015 at 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Janet Epp Buckingham: Magna Carta, Rule of Law and Religious Freedom – October 29, 2015 at 1:10 pm - 2:30 pm
Creatures of God: Human Nature and Evolution for Evangelicals and Catholics (part one) – October 29, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Keep Anglicans Talking – October 29, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Panel Discussion: How should Canadians Respond to the Problem of Religious Freedom in Iraq and Syria? – October 29, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Smoke on the Mountain by Alan Bailey and Connie Ray – October 29, 2015 - November 1, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
KAIROS Canada: Forum on Fracking – October 30, 2015 - October 31, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Hallelujah Night – October 30, 2015 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Chapel North Shore – October 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Tri-Cities – October 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Vancouver – October 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Creatures of God: Human Nature and Evolution for Evangelicals and Catholics (part two) – October 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Ignite Worship! – October 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Soulkitchen Fundraising Dinner – October 30, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Rod's Roots and Rock Gospel Jam – October 30, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Growing In Faith Through Worship: Celebrating and Nurturing Differing Abilities in the Church (Part I) – October 31, 2015 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Dramatic Reading: The Man Born to be King (Dorothy L. Sayers) – October 31, 2015 at 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
'Red-Black-Yellow' Gospel Night (Cantonese) – October 31, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Nov 2015
Tass Saada: Once an Arafat Man – November 1, 2015 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pmThe Refugee Crisis: Ways to Respond – November 1, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
David Collins: Digging Deeper (Mondays) – November 2, 2015 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
REconneXion – November 3, 2015 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
The Inklings Institute: Owen Barfield on Idolatry – November 3, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: Holly Burke – November 3, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Leon Bridges in Concert – November 3, 2015 at 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Entrepreneurial Leaders Conference 2015 – November 4, 2015 at All Day
REconneXion – November 4, 2015 at 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Vancouver Pastors Prayer Fellowship – November 4, 2015 at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Business By the Book: John Fluevog – November 4, 2015 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Iranian Ministry Conference – November 5, 2015 - November 7, 2015 at All Day
The Diary of Anne Frank – November 5, 2015 - November 7, 2015 at All Day