Lakeside Community Church Annual Report

P A S T O R S ’ R E P O R T
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I
am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. For I will
pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out
my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will
spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.”
I S A . 4 3 : 1 9 , 4 4 : 3 - 4
These are verses that have come up a number of times
in the last few years. They are a picture of flourishing life
where once there was a dryness and death. They have
encouraged us to live with faith and expectation that God
is at work around us. To open our eyes to see new things.
To have hearts that embrace and celebrate the evidences
of God’s handiwork.
Joel Thiessen is a professor of sociology at Ambrose
University College in Calgary (where our intern Adam
Koning attended) and the director of the Flourishing
Congregations Institute. Through their research of
churches in Canada they have unearthed three strands
that they believe are common to those churches that are
growing rather than shrinking.
1. Growing congregations have a clear self-identity;
they know why they exist and they have an ethos
that is willing to try new things and take risks.
2. There were internal catalysts, such as having the
laity actively involved, making sure the place is
welcoming and inviting and that there’s diversity
across ethnic, age and gender lines.
3. Lastly, Thiessen said it appears flourishing
congregations are heavily engaged in their own
neighbourhoods. They are part of what is going
on around them and involved in important societal
issues that affect their neighbours.
I wonder, how closely these things describe us? Let’s
embrace what God is doing and find fresh meaning and
purpose as we live out our calling as a church.
Throughout this report we have scattered quotes from
individuals from our Lakeside family. Along with the
usually financial information and Nominating Report etc.
please read these brief testimonies to God’s work among
us and give thanks to Him.
I N C H R I S T ;
P A S T O R K E N D R Y D E N