Around Town: Stanley Hauerwas, Village Church, A Rocha, Missional Disciples . . .

Stanley Hauerwas will deliver the Laing Lectures at Regent College later this month.

Regent College Chapel will be full to overflowing when renowned theologian Stanley Hauerwas comes to town later this month to deliver the 2018 Laing Lectures, Theological Existence Today:

March 20: The Christian Message in the World Today
March 21: The Christian Message and Humanism
March 22: The Church and Civil Society

The talks will be first come, first serve, so be sure to get there early if you want a seat. (There will no doubt be overflow seating, but I remember hearing Miroslav Volf from the lobby in 2006 – good, but not quite as satisfying as being in the chapel itself.)

Here is how Regent College describes Hauerwas:

Dr. Stanley Hauerwas, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Divinity and Law at Duke Divinity School, is one of America’s most influential and respected public intellectuals. He has a reputation for speaking honestly and incisively into some of our time’s most pressing issues.

His numerous publications have advocated for nonviolence within warring societies and the pressing need for virtuous Christian communities. Recent works such as War and the American Difference (2011) have brought him to the forefront of public discourse regarding the relationship between politics and faith. In 2001, Time magazine named him “America’s Best Theologian.” He famously responded that “ ‘Best’ is not a theological category.”

The Laing Lecture Series has featured many impressive speakers over the years: Neil Postman (2000), Charles Taylor (2001), Peter Berger (2002), Margaret Visser (2004), Miroslav Volf (2006), Nicholas Wolterstorff (2007), Walter Brueggemann (2008), Susan Wise Bauer (2010), Albert Borgmann (2011), Rex Murphy (2012), Ellen T. Charry (2013), Ross Douthat (2014), Iain McGilchrist (2016), and Marilynne Robinson (2017).

Prepare yourself by joining the Lunchtime Lecture and Discussion on Stanley Hauerwas next Wednesday (March 14). It will be led by Regent College president Jeff Greenman and teaching fellow Jonathan Wilson.

Hauerwas will return to the UBC campus this summer to teach The Return of the Virtues at the Vancouver School of Theology, along with Jonathan Wilson.

Village Church reaches goal

Village Church has raised $10 million to buy this site.

Village Church has reached its ambitious goal of raising $10 million between last September and the end of February, in order to purchase land for a new ministry centre.

The property is located on the southeast corner of 56 Ave (Highway 10) and 148 Street in Surrey – adjacent to the building where its current leased Ministry Centre is located. The property is approximately six acres in size.

Village Church began in 2009 and now holds nine services in three locations in Surrey and Langley (and one in Calgary).

The church discussed its decision to buy and build instead of leasing:

For over five years we have been working alongside the City of Surrey looking at various options, initially searching for an existing structure that could be leased and/or bought and renovated. As we continued to grow, we eclipsed zoning allowances which ultimately resulted in the search for land. A thorough Lease vs. Build Analysis was conducted that led us to the decision to build.

A statement by pastor Mark Clark on the Village Church site celebrates the success of the $10 million campaign, but cautions that the process is not complete:

Please continue to pray that things would now move quickly at the city level. As we indicated to you in the fall, the February date was based on a best-guess as to when the vendor could deliver the newly subdivided land to us. There remain some internal issues within the city that we are pushing hard to see resolved in the coming weeks.

CBC News featured Village Church last summer: How an unlikely pastor started one of Canada’s fastest growing churches.

New president at A Rocha

An announcement earlier this month presages significant changes at A Rocha, “an international Christian organization which, inspired by God’s love, engages in scientific research, environmental education, community-based conservation projects and sustainable agriculture.” A Rocha Canada is based in south Surrey:

Markku Kostamo has led A Rocha Canada since its founding in 2001. In early years he was the executive director and, after a 2014 re-structuring to adapt to the organization’s growth, he was named president.

Since July 2017, however, Markku has been on medical leave.

In January 2018, he and the board of directors decided that he would not return to his former role.

This has been a season of significant adjustment as the national management team has adapted over the past seven months to managing the organization without Markku’s leadership. In his absence, Rick Faw, VP of programming, has taken on the role of acting president, and he will continue as interim president as the board turns its attention to a presidential search process.

“For those friends of A Rocha who know Markku personally – please know that he is doing much better now, and he and Leah and their girls are all fine,” says Rick Faw.

“It has been a hard season, but he and Leah have often noted that many good new things are growing as a result of the challenges. One of many good, long-term results of Markku’s leave is that the national management team has really united and stepped up to the challenge of leading the organization in his absence. Responsibilities have been distributed, the response to the Christmas fundraising appeal was excellent, and we are meeting our operational revenue goals,” he says.

“Markku’s contribution to A Rocha as a co-founder (along with his wife Leah) and more recently as president, cannot be overstated,” says VP advancement, Christie Goode.

“A Rocha Canada has grown from nothing to a budget of $2.4 million, 40 staff and creation care programming in four provinces,” she says. “It is a unique organization that engages both faith-based and non-faith-based partners to provide environmental education and conservation research and restoration, and it does so with a winsome spirit that inspires hope for the future. And a lot of that “spirit” of the organization is thanks to Markku and his gentle light-heartedness.”

For some time Markku has considered whether a role with A Rocha International might be in his future. Over the coming months, that will be explored with ARI staff and the Canadian board and management team.

A public event to honour Markku’s years of service will be announced soon.

Steve Bell, for A Rocha

In the meantime, here’s a way for Vancouverites to support A Rocha while enjoying a top-notch musical evening. I have seen Steve Bell perform in many settings and have never been disappointed. Next Thursday (March 15) he will give a concert at Glad Tidings as a fundraiser for A Rocha.

Here is how they describe the event:

Steve Bell is a songwriter, storyteller, and troubadour for our time. Over the course of a 25 year solo career, he has been sharing a message of love, hope and faith through songs, stories and writings.

He is a purveyor of truth and beauty and champion of kindness, on a focused mission to “encourage Christian faith and thoughtful living through artful word and song.” He is a mentor to many, and an advocate of numerous meaningful causes.

Go here to buy tickets.

Developing Missional Disciples

Missions Fest has created Mission Central as a way of keeping up with events and articles being presented throughout the year. Next up is one of their own events, Developing Missional Disciples, next Wednesday morning (March 14). Here is how they describe the gathering:

Mission Central is hosting a round table discussion as an opportunity for mission pastors and outreach leaders to network and to learn from each other around discipleship. This event will kick off reflection for the 2019 Missions Fest conference theme: Mission: Discipling.

Facilitator Jonathan Evans is passionate about discipleship on the margins. Some 16 years ago, he helped begin an incarnational community in the Downtown Eastside, 614 Vancouver.

As people travelled to Vancouver to join 614, a discipleship school began as a scaffolding for learning to be good neighbours and do no harm. Students saw the neighbourhood as their classroom and learned from a new culture. Prayer and spiritual formation were key to the learning experience.

24/7 Prayer started as an opportunity for students to encounter Jesus. Many had come with the idea to do great things for God but were surprised to see that God did something great inside of them.

Currently Jonathan is planting a church, Boundless Vancouver and pioneering Infinitumlife.com with his colleagues to create missional disciples in the 21st century.

The event is free, but there are only 24 spaces available. Go here to register.

Feb 2018

Income Tax Ministry (Tuesdays & Saturdays) – February 27, 2018 - April 24, 2018 at 9:30 am - 2:00 pm

Mar 2018

Apr 2018

Coastal Church Easter Sunday Services (9:30 am & 12:30 pm) – April 1, 2018 at All Day
Easter Sunrise Service at Trout Lake – April 1, 2018 at 7:30 am - 8:30 am
The Total Athlete with Jeremy Lin – April 1, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Celebrating Spirituality with People Who Have Dementia, with Gemma Jones – April 4, 2018 - April 5, 2018 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Film Screening: The Crucified King – a Documentary by Iwan Russell-Jones – April 4, 2018 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: The Hot Mammas – April 4, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Dr. Alison Marshall: Bayanihan & Belonging – Filipinos and Religion in Canada – April 5, 2018 at 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
EMS Canada 2018: Mission and Evangelism in a Secularizing World – April 6, 2018 at 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Comedy Night at the Bez – April 6, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Rainer Kunz: Discovering and Developing Your Strengths – April 6, 2018 - April 7, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Take 6 in Concert – April 6, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Biblical Worldview Weekend 2018 – April 7, 2018 - April 8, 2018 at All Day
Ratanak International's Emerald Gala – April 7, 2018 at 6:15 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Vespers: Cory Weeds – April 8, 2018 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Essentials for Understanding Dementia & Care, with Gemma Jones – April 9, 2018 - April 10, 2018 at 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Official Opening: Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre – April 9, 2018 at 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Dr. Jonathan Sarfati: Biblical Worldview & Creation – April 9, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jewish-Christian Dialogue: Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) – April 10, 2018 at 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
How to Host an Alzheimer Café, with Gemma Jones – April 11, 2018 at 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
The Choir of Royal Holloway – April 11, 2018 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Alzheimer Café and Dementia Care, with Gemma Jones – April 12, 2018 - April 17, 2018 at All Day
Bar Mitzvah Boy by Mark Leiren-Young – April 12, 2018 - April 14, 2018 at All Day
Rev. Malcolm Hedding - ICEJ Canada – April 12, 2018 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
About the Alzheimer Café & How to Help, with Gemma Jones – April 13, 2018 at 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Jordan Klassen in Concert – April 13, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Forever & Ever: A Christian Rock Musical – April 13, 2018 - April 14, 2018 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Iron Sharpens Iron – April 14, 2018 at All Day
International Student Ministries Breakfast – April 14, 2018 at 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Come and See What Happens at an Alzheimer Café, with Gemma Jones – April 14, 2018 at 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Rev. Malcolm Hedding - ICEJ Canada – April 14, 2018 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Rev. Malcolm Hedding - ICEJ Canada – April 14, 2018 at 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
All Above Me – April 14, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Ember – April 14, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Mercy at the Cross: An Easter Concert of Worship – April 14, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Rev. Malcolm Hedding - ICEJ Canada – April 15, 2018 at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Rev. Malcolm Hedding - ICEJ Canada – April 15, 2018 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Lift Every Voice – April 15, 2018 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Organ Concert: Edward Norman & Steve Denroche – April 15, 2018 at 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Essential Understanding for Dementia Care, with Gemma Jones – April 16, 2018 - April 17, 2018 at 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Defining Housing Justice: A Community Forum – April 16, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Arts, Faith and the Apocalyptic Imagination – April 18, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Relationship: Singleness & Marriage – A Conference with Dr. Tim Lane – April 19, 2018 - April 21, 2018 at All Day
TWU Men's Volleyball Team vs 'The Legends' – April 19, 2018 at 6:45 pm - 9:00 pm
Dr. Tim Lane: Redeeming All of Your Relationships – April 19, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

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Around Town: Stanley Hauerwas, Village Church, A Rocha, Missional Disciples . . .

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