Thrive magazine Spring/Summer 2017

Spring/Summer 2017
THE NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP MAGAZINE
RUNNING ON EMPTY
THIRD-CULTURE KIDS
SOUL-CARE BEST PRACTICES
SOUL-CARE
PRONE TO WANDER

Spring/Summer 2017
FAITHFUL
TO
FINISH
by Steve Jones
THE
THE FIRST WORD
Oscar Wilde said: “I can withstand anything, except temptation.” Some might say the only way to get rid of temptation is
by giving in to it.
In one of my favourite hymns, the lyrics read:
“PRONE TO WANDER, LORD, I FEEL IT,
PRONE TO LEAVE THE GOD I LOVE;”
All of us have experienced seasons in our spiritual lives where our soul has felt particularly lean. A difficulty, disappointment
or depression has robbed us of the joy of our salvation.
In this edition of Thrive we’re featuring the critical importance of soul-care. Trials and temptations are a fact of life, and both
deplete our inner reserve. It would be prudent for each of us to learn how to respond well to these recurring facts of life.
• Trials are situations designed by God to help us grow to spiritual maturity.
• Temptation is designed by Satan to cause us to sin and hinder our spiritual growth.
Wise pilgrims learn to clearly identify both in life, benefiting from trials and not allowing temptation to rob one’s spiritual
validity. Those sojourners that consistently win over temptation will experience soul-health and receive the promise of
James 1:12 (NLT):
“God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who
love Him.”

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The promise and prize of resisting
temptation is the “crown of life”. This is
understood as receiving God’s blessing
over our life. When we consistently win
over temptation, we live and enjoy life
to the fullest.
Don’t let Satan get a foot-hold in your
life by playing the shame-game or the
blame-game. Be keenly aware of where
the enemy of our soul seeks to penetrate
our heart. His game-plan is spelled out
in James 1:14.
• DESIRE (James 1:14, NLT):
“… each one is tempted when by his
own EVIL DESIRES…”
Desires are not all evil. They can be
good, even essential — but any desire
to excess becomes destructive, bringing
harm to our spiritual and emotional life.
We can often be doing damage to our
life while pursuing something good, but
to excess. Temptation is often a fulfillment
of a legitimate desire, but done in a
wrong way or at the wrong time.
The second step in the Devil’s game-plan is:
• DECEPTION (James 1:14, NLT):
“… he is dragged away and enticed…”
The words “dragged away” create a
haunting term meaning “to be snared
in a trap”. The word “enticed” is a fishing
term, meaning “to be lured by bait”.
Different traps and bait work on different
fish and animals. The Devil knows
the bait that works best in your life.
You see, you desire, you start to nibble,
believing you’re smart enough to know
when to pull back. The deception is
complete — you’ve been hooked. This is
a sign of spiritual immaturity.
The third step in the Devil’s game-plan is:
• DISOBEDIENCE (James 1:15, NIV):
“Then, after desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin…”
The Message paraphrases this verse as
“Lust gets pregnant and has a baby: sin”.
James moves from a fishing metaphor
in vs. 14 to a child-birth metaphor in
vs. 15. What begins in our minds gives
birth to an action or destructive habit,
but it starts in the mind. Often what we
initially flirt with, we eventually fall for.
Marketing professionals know this and
use it to their advantage.
Desires lead to deception, which leads to
disobedience, which ends up in…
• DEATH (James 1:15, NIV):
“… and sin when it is full grown, gives
birth to DEATH.”
Death is the final consequence of our
tendency toward being “prone to wander”.
Instead of receiving the crown of
life, we receive death.
We all have free will; we have freedom to
choose the narrow path or wander from
it. However, God has not given us the
freedom to choose the consequences.
For the unbeliever it means separation
from God.
For the believer it means broken fellowship
with God.
The pastor and hymnist Robert Robinson
penned these familiar words in 1757:
“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love.”
But, Robinson finishes his thought and
his hymn with a final promise:
“Here’s my heart, O take and seal it;
Seal it for thy Courts above.”
In James 1:17-18 the Bible turns from
sin and evil desires (vv. 14-16) to God’s
goodness. Two things will help us from
wandering. We will focus on these two
realities in the following pages of this
edition of Thrive, entitled “Soul-Care:
Prone to Wander”.
THINK on whatever is good and perfect
(James 1:17) and remember our true
IDENTITY, for we are God’s choice possessions
(James 1:18).
God has adopted us into His family.
The Bible has given us absolute assurance
that has sealed us as His children
forevermore.
When those inevitable occasions in
life visit that seek to rob us of the joy
of this reality, the Bible challenges us
to refocus our thoughts (James 1:17)
and remember we’re Kingdom kids
(James 1:18).
This won’t make us immune to dark
days, but it will give sufficient light
for us to find our way back from our
wanderings.
Steven Jones is President of The
Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist
Churches in Canada. Follow Steve on
Twitter @FellowshipSteve

4 / thrive Spring/Summer 2017
THE FELLOWSHIP’S THEME VERSE FOR 2017
IS: “ROOTED AND BUILT UP IN HIM AND
ESTABLISHED IN FAITH, JUST AS YOU WERE
TAUGHT, ABOUNDING IN THANKSGIVING.”
COLOSSIANS 2:7 (ESV)
10 CARING FOR BODY AND SOUL
You can connect with us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/FellowshipNatl,
on INSTAGRAM: @FellowshipNatl and on TWITTER: @FellowshipNatl.
Come and join the conversation.
2 THE FIRST WORD
FAITHFUL TO THE FINISH / Steve Jones
5 FELLOWSHIP FOUNDATION NEWS
SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL CHURCH IN
PERPETUITY / Gord Baptist
6 OUT THERE
RUNNING ON EMPTY / Peter Hambrey
NEARLY BURNED-OUT IN
PAKISTAN / Terry Wiley
THIRD-CULTURE KIDS / Dave Marttunen
10 LOVE EXTENDED
CARING FOR BODY AND
SOUL / Denise Wicks
PROJECT UPDATE: BRINGING KIDS TO
CHRIST (POLAND) / Dan Shurr
ALBERTA WILDFIRE: ONE YEAR
LATER / Denise Wicks
SOWING THE SEED / Steve Jones
16 GROUND WORK
SPIRITUAL-CARE AMIDST SPIRITUAL
DARKNESS / Monique Saulnier
CHAPLAINCY SOUL -CARE / Richard
Flemming
18 UP TO SPEED
SOUL-CARE BEST PRACTICES /
Betty-Anne Van Rees
PASTORAL MEMBER CARE
FELLOWSHIP HEALTH AND PENSION
PLANS / Rob Cole
20 TRUTH TALK
TRANSITIONS / Glenn Taylor
SPIRITUAL-EMOTIONAL SPIRITUALITY:
FROM THE PRAIRIES TO
COLOMBIA / Phil Webb
CLERGY CARE
22 THE LAST WORD
CLASSIC SOUL-CARE: AN EVANGELICAL
PERSPECTIVE / Michael Haykin
FOR MORE GREAT STORIES, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE: thrive-magazine.ca
MISSION STATEMENT: Thrive is the official magazine of
The Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada. It
is published to enhance the life and ministry of church leaders
and members in Fellowship congregations by providing articles,
resources and news that reflect evangelical values, a common
mission as well as a shared sense of identity and vision. Thrive is
published three times a year and is available in English and French.
out there
love extended
ground work
© The Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada
MINISTRY CENTRE: P.O. Box 457, Guelph ON N1H 6K9
T: 519-821-4830 F: 519-821-9829 EMAIL: president@fellowship.ca
thrive-magazine.ca
SENIOR EDITOR: Steven Jones MANAGING EDITOR: Valerie Heaton COPY EDITOR: Louise Buchner LAYOUT & DESIGN: Big Footprints Inc.
Email: thrive@fellowship.ca POSTAGE: Return undeliverable Canadian address to Circulation Department, P.O. Box 457, Guelph ON N1H 6K9

fellowship foundation news thrive / 5
SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL CHURCH…
IN PERPETUITY by Gord Baptist
It’s no secret that God’s people support
their local church through regular attendance,
offering their spiritual gifts,
praying for the church and staff regularly,
and through the faithful contribution
of their tithes and offerings. Though
regular giving is a normal part of our
worship as Christians, many do not realize
that you can continue to give to your
church long into the future through a
legacy gift.
God spoke of his perpetual bond with His
house in 2 Chronicles 7:16:
“For now have I chosen and sanctified this
house that my name may be there forever:
and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there
perpetually.”
The word “perpetuity”, meaning “a
contractual provision”, usually refers to
a financial product that has no end, like
cash payments that continue forever.
One example is an ordinary annuity or
endowment.
Supporting the church perpetually is
done through tithing a portion of your
Estate. Sadly, many who do allocate a
portion of their Estate to God’s kingdom
fail to honour their local church.
Statistics show that 20% of people who
give in their Will to a charity neglect to
allocate a portion to their own church. It
is also estimated that 70% of Canadians
have no Will at all.
The Fellowship Foundation supports the
local church in this way. Through the
Fellowship Foundation you can allocate
a portion of your Estate to go directly to
your local church, continuing your support
for many years. If you do not have
a Will, we can provide the legal support
to have one drawn up for you, all done
quickly and easily at an extremely affordable
cost.
To leave a legacy gift, simply follow
these three steps:
1. Confirm – Ask God what He would
have you do with your Estate. Is
He directing you towards leaving a
legacy gift?
2. Call – Contact Gord Baptist using the
contact information provided below.
3. Continue – Continue to give sacrificially
to your church now, and enjoy
peace of mind knowing that your
Estate will provide support to your
chosen ministries for many years to
come.
— Gord Baptist is
Fellowship Advancement
Director and can be
reached at:
519-821-4830, Ext. 244,
fax: 519-821-9829, or
gbaptist@fellowship.ca.

EMPT
RUNNING ON
by Peter Hambrey
Spring/Summer 2017
OUT THERE: FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL
It was, I think, the greatest shock of
my life: I found myself believing
that God probably did not exist.
It was 1998. I was on home assignment
from ministry in Pakistan after
one of my most grueling terms on the
field, and one day it suddenly hit me:
nothing in my life shows the work of
God. As I looked back at the previous
month, I saw nothing. The previous
year, still nothing. My belief in a
living, active, involved God seemed
contrary to the facts.
After the initial shock came the realisation
that I could not continue what
I was doing — missionary work — in
this state, so I made some adjustments
while I sought to clarify my state of
mind and do some hard thinking.
I never turned away from God conclusively;
I continued to pursue him in a
tentative way, praying “God, if you are
there…” and even reading the Bible. One
thing moving me back to belief was a
review of my spiritual history and the
events I had considered miracles and
answers to prayer, some of which I had
thankfully written down. I spent much
time reviewing the thinking that led
to my first adoption of the faith and
re-reading several introductions to the
Christian faith, such as Know Why You
Believe by Paul Little and Surprised by
Joy by C.S. Lewis.
Another important factor in my recovery
— perhaps the most important,
from observations of both my
own and similar situations — was the
engaged prayer of the few who knew
my situation. The understanding support
of the Fellowship International
staff was also crucial, giving me time
to process and recover.
In retrospect, several circumstances
led to this period of doubt: stress and
disappointment with God resulted
in depression. I was struggling to
adapt my understanding of creation
in light of the fascinating new science
of genomics. And somewhere along
the way, I stopped taking steps of

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NEARLY BURNED-OUT
IN PAKISTAN by Terry Wiley
It was a typical case of frog-in-the-pot syndrome: I could see the steam, but
couldn’t feel the heat. The tell-tale signs of poor memory, impatience, and
struggles engaging deeply in conversation were only a few of the indicators
that I was in trouble. Not wanting to mess up our kids’ high school studies
in Pakistan, we had decided to put off a lengthy home assignment until our
youngest graduated from grade 12. Instead, we opted for two- to three-month
whirlwind trips to Canada every two years, during which we attempted to
catch up with supporters and family in two provinces 3,500 kilometers apart.
We knew that there would be a physical and emotional cost to such a decision.
Our problem stemmed from neglecting to provide adequate soul-care to
compensate for the largely break-less long haul we’d set out for ourselves.
When we arrived in Canada, close friends quickly recognized that all was not
well. Forty-five minutes into any conversation, I had nearly exhausted my
ability to remain engaged — even with family members.
Y
faith. Thankfully, our God is a God
that pursues and rescues us, planting
our feet firmly on solid ground and
renewing our strength.
— Peter Hambrey serves as
the Canadian Coordinator for
LeadersFor, which provides leadership
training to indigenous pastors.
After serving
overseas for
many years, he
and his wife,
Cheryl, are
now based in
Fort McMurray,
AB.
Both our leadership and my mentor had encouraged me to make rest and
renewal a top priority during our time home, which I did. Focused reading
and working with my hands were only a couple of the things that helped to
heal and restore my body and mind. However, as the smoke started to clear, a
soul-restlessness remained that hadn’t been dealt with, even after the deliberate
rest. A nagging emptiness and lack of purpose combined with a desire for a
deeper relationship with God continued to gnaw at me. Through the prompting
of my pastor, I set up a two-day retreat to seek God in a new way. He used
this time to give me a renewed vision — not of what I should do, but of what
my life should be. My spirit instantly received a whole new level of rest and
purpose.
One thing remained, however: occasional bouts of depression and extreme
weariness continued to surface occasionally, even late into our home assignment.
This left me worried about the prospects for our return to Pakistan, a
place known for chewing people up and spitting them out. On day two of my
retreat, while searching for a book to read, I “happened” on John Ortberg’s
book, Soul Keeper. Through it, I came to understand the cause of the state
in which I’d placed myself — a prolonged neglect of soul-care. “I and no one
else am responsible for the condition of my soul,” points out Ortberg. On this
point, I had much work to do.
While I had maintained a meaningful daily quiet time and fed my mind with
good ministry and leadership resources, I had not done well in the area of nurturing
my soul: listening to messages and music, using healthy self-talk, and
spending time with friends just for friendship’s sake, to name a few examples.
God not only showed me the specific things I needed to change in order to
keep from getting back into the same state, but He also did one other amazing
thing for me. He reached down and healed me — a
direct soul-healing that I knew had come from God.
The bouts of depression and weariness were gone, by
the grace of God.
— Terry Wiley has worked as a Fellowship
International missionary in Sindh, Pakistan, ministering
to Muslims for over 25 years. He serves as the
Pakistan Field Chairman.

8 / thrive Spring/Summer 2017
THIRD-CULTURE
KIDS
by Dave Marttunen
The term “third-culture” represents a new culture that is made by combining
two existing cultures; it’s often used to describe the culture of
missionary kids. In these third-cultures, there are elements of both the
parents’ culture and the host culture that combine to form a new thirdculture.
The important thing to remember is that a third-culture is unique:
it’s neither one nor the other of the contributing cultures. This can have
huge advantages, but can also present some distinctive challenges.
OUT THERE:
FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL

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Often, children raised in third-cultures
go through phases in which
they feel that they just don’t fit anywhere.
In their hearts, they may identify more
with their host culture, but their appearance
and first language don’t fit into that
culture. For many, the questions “who
am I?” and “where do I belong?” create
an ache long before they provide roots or
wings. Most adolescents transition from
finding their identity within their home
to trying to find it with their friends or
peers. Third-culture kids face more challenge
in this area because they “don’t
quite fit anywhere” — or at least that’s
how they feel. The result can be a marked
increase in social anxiety, which can lead
to malaise or depression. In spite of this,
many third-culture kids eventually discover
enormous social advantages due to
their unique cross-cultural experiences.
There are some behaviours that mark
third-culture kids in social settings, the
first of which being that they go deep
— really deep, really fast. Most monoculture
youth find this overwhelming
and, predictably, withdraw, leaving some
third-culture kids feeling rejected. In addition,
third-culture kids can sometimes
view monoculture kids as shallow and
immature by comparison. Most missionary
kids have had to navigate complex
social structures and circumstances
compared to monoculture
kids — things like city/national
transportation, social
injustice, abject poverty, flying
around the world, complex
governments, language, culture
and various armed personnel.
One outcome
growing from their
life experience is that
third-culture kids
just can’t be like
monoculture kids
and being different
often translates to
a feeling of not
fitting in anywhere…
except
with other
third-culture
kids.
Many kids
that grow up in
third-cultures possess two advantages,
the first of which being they are often
educated with other third-culture kids,
with whom they find understanding
and acceptance. Unfortunately one of
the costs is separation from their families,
as these schools frequently require
boarding. While not for every child, it
can be an enormous benefit for some,
giving them room for growing independence.
The second advantage is their
participation in various re-entry programs
upon their return to their parents’
home country. We have recently banded
together with other agencies to offer
an excellent re-entry program called
“ReBoot”. Volunteers and professionals
work together to help third-culture kids
understand both themselves and others
in a context of spiritual support and
discipleship.
“Ciao! In Italian this means both hello and
goodbye. It also encapsulates the easiest
and hardest thing I have learned to say. As a
third-culture kid, I learned to expect change.
I changed countries, languages, houses,
schools, churches, and every time I got to meet
new people. It became easy for me to say ciao
(hello) to many new wonderful people. However,
it was so difficult to also have to say ciao (goodbye)
to many, many good friends. I have learned
to value friendship and family above anything else.
Ciao!” — Gioia Stover (nee Bruno)
In order to help their third-culture kids
thrive, missionary parents need to band
together with other missionaries and
support people to provide what they
can’t and shouldn’t provide all by themselves
— a meaningful support community,
similar to a miniature church.
They need a team of people, supporting
each other in community so that each
member of the family thrives. We love
our missionary families, and do all that
we can to provide the support that they
need through our staff, missionaries, and
other support programs. We want them
to not just survive,
but to thrive!
— Dave
Marttunen is
the Fellowship
International
Director.
“Although my parents were the ones who were called to serve in Pakistan, being an MK meant that the call extended
to me as well. Being an MK was never a choice I made, but it has shaped every aspect of who I am. From
growing up in simplicity to learning the independence of boarding school life, growing up as an MK in Pakistan
has prepared me for many of the challenges I face in life today.” — Stephen Wiley
“My greatest struggle was learning to speak a second language and integrate into a new culture,
through which I developed a sensitivity for people of other nationalities and cultures. Being back in
Canada, I find myself sympathetic towards the foreigner; it is easy to connect and communicate with
them. The greatest reward I experienced was witnessing faith in action, answered prayers, and God’s
protective hand and caring interactions with His people. It was the beginning of a deep faith and
trust in God which has helped me navigate through life.” — Holly Robinson (nee Brubacher)

CARING FOR BODY AN
love extended
Spring/Summer 2017
At face-value, the ministry of FAIR could be said to be focused
on physical needs more so than spiritual needs.
Our FAIR projects range from emergency relief in the form
of food and hygiene packs to support for refugees, dental
services in Cambodia, and construction and renovation
projects at many mission locations across the globe. It can
be easy to overlook the biblical and spiritual importance of
seeing to these very practical needs, as well as the spiritual
impact these actions can have.
Jesus speaks of fulfilling practical needs at many different
points in the New Testament. He speaks of the importance
of loving our neighbour as we would ourselves (Mark 12:31)
and caring for the hungry, thirsty, unclothed and sick
(Matthew 25:31-46). Jesus also fulfils the prophecy of
Isaiah, speaking of how He was sent “to proclaim good
news to the poor… liberty to the captives and recovering
of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…”
(Luke 4:18). As followers of Jesus, it is our joy to
follow His direction and to emulate His example.
Despite these clear instructions found in God’s Word, we
tend to overcomplicate things, asking questions such as,
ROJECT UPDATE:
BRINGING KIDS TO CHRIST (POLAND) by Dan Shurr
LOVE EXTENDED; FAIR
In the spring
of 2016, FAIR
released the first
of two mini appeals
for the year.
This focused
project, called
Bringing Kids to
Christ (Poland) sought to support the
kid’s club and soccer camps run by
Fellowship International missionaries
Pierre and Hanna Jutras in various locations
throughout Poland. Through the
generosity of churches and individuals
who had previously supported projects
in this country, we received $11,200
towards facilitating the provision of
quality kids’ programming, as well
as follow-up with the kids and their
families.
These funds helped establish a new
soccer camp in Lódz (the third largest
city in Poland, with only 0.08 %
Evangelical believers), providing food
and soccer equipment as well as three
interns. Over 30 kids attended, many
hearing the Gospel with their parents
for the first time. Plans are in progress
for follow-up work with the families
who participated. The kids’ clubs in
Biała Podlaska and Płock were also
enhanced by the Bringing Kids to Christ
project, through the purchase of a
small electrical oven for warm lunch
prep, a ping pong table and other
games and materials, and equipment
for after-school activities. During the
winter months, the kids’ club continues
inside, thanks to the ability to rent
indoor space. This is such a blessing to
the children who attend, since many
would otherwise have nothing to do
after school. It seems that the love of
Christ needs to shine strong and long
among these poor people for them to
be willing to hear about Christ — we
pray for abundant and lasting fruit!
Pierre and Hanna have this to say about
the project:
“We are very grateful for all those who
support our FAIR programs. Through the
partnership of individuals, churches, and
pastors in Canada and Poland, the lives of
many Poles who need to hear and receive
the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ can be
touched and changed. Thank you!”
— Dan Shurr is our FAIR Director.

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D SOUL
by Denise Wicks
“why is it important?”, “will this really help?”, and “why
should I participate?”
Some of the answers to these questions can be answered
through basic human psychology, where the different needs
we each encounter on a daily basis are arranged in a theory
called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. This model places needs
in different levels, forming a pyramid with five layers. The
theory proposes that to reach the top (self-actualization), one
must have met needs listed in the first four levels (physiological,
safety, belongingness/love, and esteem needs). To see how
body-care can equal soul-care, I like to look at it from a FAIR
standpoint, using refugee sponsorship as an example.
The first two levels of needs are considered the basic needs.
These physiological and safety needs would include items
like food, water, warmth, and rest as well as a safe place to
live. When churches commit to sponsor a refugee/family,
they are committing to provide these basic needs. They offer
refugees safety and stability by bringing them to Canada, far
away from the chaos of refugee camps. By fulfilling those
needs, it’s then possible for sponsorship teams to create
intimate relationships, connecting refugees with their new
community, building their skills and confidence, and helping
them find a sense of accomplishment and belonging. These
desires to belong and feel loved/esteemed are called psychological
needs.
The final level of need is self-fulfillment, or self-actualization.
It typically relates to achieving one’s potential but can also
lead to finding one’s identity. As sponsorship groups walk
with their refugee(s), relationships are built and opportunities
to help them discover and strengthen their identity in
Christ increase. However, without meeting the most basic
needs first, it’s unlikely these opportunities would arise.
With this in mind, it’s easy to see that God wants us to help
others in such basic ways — body-care translates into soulcare.
By meeting physical needs, hearts are prepared and relationships
are built, opening doors for the Gospel to be shared.
By supporting FAIR in providing for these physical needs, we
participate in Kingdom-building as surely as if we were sharing
the Gospel in person.
— Denise Wicks is Administrative Assistant for FAIR and our
Communications department.
ALBERTA WILDFIRE
ONE YEAR LATER by Denise Wicks
The year 2016 brought a seemingly unending list of devastating natural and man-made events around the world. In
spite of this, it’s hard to argue that the Alberta wildfires, which caused the hurried evacuation of the entire city of
Fort McMurray, doesn’t loom largest of these events in the minds of many Canadians. However, from the ashes of this
fire came stories of the compassion and love of Christ, flowing out from Fellowship churches and individuals. To date
we’ve received over $255,000 towards relief efforts that are ongoing in Fort McMurray. With this financial support,
NorthLife Fellowship Baptist Church (Fort McMurray, AB) staff were quickly able to start providing relief through
their pre-existing food bank immediately upon their return to the city. To date, approximately 4,500 families have
come through their doors seeking help. Since November 2016, NorthLife has handed out 2,300 quilts; 1,200 duvets;
1,050 pallets of food, clothing, and toiletries; 29 oversized boxes of clothing, socks, and towels; 30,000 pairs of shoes;
and 2,500 flats of water — all supplied from various sources across Canada. With the ability to provide food, water,
clothes, shoes, kids’ summer camps, and other events to keep spirits high, NorthLife continues to spread hope and
light to the city in the name of Christ.
— Denise Wicks is Administrative Assistant for FAIR and our Communications department.

y Steve Jones #
12 / thrive Spring/Summer 2017
SOWING
THE SEED:
A FELLOWSHIP PROJECT
It seems that the Bible is more accessible
today than it ever has been in
history. People can access it through
the internet, mobile apps, e-readers,
and in paperback or hard copy. It’s
difficult to comprehend that while we
enjoy this incredible ease of access,
some people still have no way to read
God’s Word, making spiritual growth
a difficult task.
Two main people groups that are in
great need of Bibles are Muslim and
Francophone peoples. The Sowing
the Seed project aims to provide
Bibles for these two people groups
in their native tongue, giving them
personal access to the living Word of
God.
The Goal: $60,000
Sowing among Muslims
Sindh, Pakistan
The Sindhi people of Pakistan are in desperate need of the Gospel. With
80% of the population of the Sindh province currently practicing Islam,
persecution of Christians is not just a threat — it’s a reality for many.
Fellowship International missionary Mark Naylor has been diligently
working on a Sindhi translation of the Bible for many years now, publishing
the Old Testament in 2007. This is the first time that any part of the
Bible has been available in the Sindhi language. He’s currently working on
translating the New Testament, but it takes time and funding to do so.
Through the Sowing the Seed project, we are seeking to raise $25,000 to
go towards the ongoing translation, printing, and distribution of the
New Testament in Sindhi.
Ottawa/Gatineau area, Ontario
FEB Central church planter Richard Raya has followed the call to share
the Gospel with Muslim peoples in the greater Ottawa/Gatineau region,
through his role as pastor of Jesus Light of the World Arabic Evangelical
Church in Ottawa. The church’s outreach programs reach countless
people, including many Syrian refugee families, with the Gospel. We
aim to raise $15,000 to help provide Bibles for Richard’s ministry to the
over 38,000 Arabic-speaking peoples of the Ottawa/Gatineau area.

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 13
Sowing among Francophones
Dondon, Haiti
The people of Dondon, Haiti are starved for even basic necessities.
Many go without food, water, shelter, and education
— some will never be able to touch a Bible, let alone read one.
Through the Sowing the Seed project, we are seeking to raise
$10,000 towards placing French Bibles in the hands of Haitians
so that they can learn about the love and salvation offered
through Christ. Through one of our partners, Salem Christian
Church, Bibles will be distributed to those in need who would
otherwise never experience the transforming power of God’s
Word.
D. R. Congo
The church in the D. R. Congo continues to grow and flourish,
but the need for Bibles is great. Fellowship International missionaries
Richard and Brenda Flemming have met with many
pastors who don’t have one single Bible in their entire church.
Similarly, Fellowship International missionaries Apollo and
Lois Midigo see a great need for Bibles as they minister to the
people in the war-torn city of Goma , D. R. Congo. Through the
Sowing the Seed project, we aim to raise $10,000 to go towards
the purchasing of French Bibles for those in the D. R. Congo.
“YOUR WORD IS
A LAMP FOR MY
FEET,
A LIGHT
ON MY PATH.”
PSALM 119:105 (NIV)
In Psalm 119:105, we’re reminded that God’s Word brings light
to those who read it. It spreads and touches every area of darkness,
changing the way things are seen and experienced. With
your help, we can bring the light of Scripture to Francophones
and Muslims who are in desperate need of God’s Word.
THEGREATESTBOOK
#TheGreatestBook is a call to all Fellowship churches to spend 14 days (November 5-19, 2017)
together studying the Bible, celebrating the gift of God’s Word, and enjoying the joy of community.
Participating churches can download the digital toolkit from our website, which contains
suggested sermons, studies for every age group, and a reproducible devotional booklet.
Here’s a list of potential next steps to implement the Bible Engagement project in your church:
1. Take a look now at your planning calendar and schedule
November 5-19 (or an alternate two weeks) so that you
and your church can participate in this life-impacting
project.
2. Download and use the reproducible promotional materials
(brochure, poster) to promote the project among your
congregation.
3. Download the Bible Engagement video and highlight the
project in your Sunday morning worship service.
4. Encourage your church family to be praying for and during
the #TheGreatestBook Bible Engagement event.
5. Download the ministry toolkit from our website.
6. Provide the study materials to small group leaders,
Sunday School teachers, youth leaders and provide copies
(digitally or printed) of the devotional for individuals
in your congregation to use.
7. Review the suggested sermons to consider which you
might use for the three Sundays; or use the outline to
prepare a sermon that highlights the importance and
value of the Scriptures.
8. Beginning Sunday, November 5th, join other Fellowship
churches from across Canada as together we engage in
the Word of God.
9. Encourage your congregation to engage throughout
the study on social media using #TheGreatestBook
and @FellowshipNatl .
10. Send a testimony to the Fellowship National office after
your Bible Engagement project and we’ll share the
blessing with others.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
#THEGREATESTBOOK SERIES, VISIT OUR WEBSITE
AT WWW.THEGREATESTBOOK.CA.

ground work
Spring/Summer 2017
GROUND WORK: FRANCOPHONE MINISTRY
SPIRITUAL CARE AMIDST
SPIRITUAL D
by Monique Saulnier
Spiritual burn-out affects many in ministry positions.
With the heavy demands placed on pastors in this day
and age, stress can lead to over-commitment and, eventually,
spiritual exhaustion and burn-out. We recently
surveyed a number of our ministry workers in Quebec, a
region that is one of the most spiritually resistant and discouraging
in all of Canada; more than 26 people responded.
The answers they provided help to shed light on the issue
of spiritual burn-out and how we can better serve our ministry
personnel.
Those who responded had an average of 16 years serving
in ministry — none were engaged in the ministry prior
to 1980. Of these, more than 47.4% of respondents experienced
burn-out at one time, while the remaining 52.6%
reported never experiencing exhaustion in their ministry.
CAUSES
The top causes of burn-out provided by respondents were
unrealistic expectations placed on them by the congregation,
problems within the church, and problems within
the Church Council. It was surprising to find that family
life was not a primary cause of exhaustion — only three
pastors reported experiencing issues with their wives (one
over struggles with children and two over financial difficulty)
that contributed to their burn-out.
SOLUTIONS
We asked our pastors what helped them to overcome their
burn-out. Of those who responded, 42% reported taking a
sabbatical from their work, 26% turned to psychological
counseling, 19% received encouragement from a friend,
and 15% were encouraged by their Church Council. Only
8% used medication to help treat the issue, and 7% sought
help from a doctor.
LESSONS LEARNED
It was encouraging to see that each of the pastors who
responded was eager to help others prevent spiritual burnout
before it happens to them. The most reiterated recommendation
was to ask the elders or Church Council for
help before burn-out occurs. One comment emphasized
that we as Christians should not be proud of the unrealistic
pressures applied to those in ministry. Accountability and
humility are necessities when working among the people
of God, and go a long way in preventing the over-commitment
that leads to burn-out.
Some who responded also encouraged pastors to acknowledge
their limitations. We are all limited, and it is not a
weakness to be upfront about our capacity. That’s why it is
important not to do everything on your own, but to learn
to delegate responsibilities.

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 15
ARKNESS
Mention was made of the importance of consistently
seeking God during trials. Suffering can turn us away
from hope and faith; we must fix our eyes on God and
spend time with Him through prayer in order to weather
the storms of life. It should be mentioned that many saw
themselves as their worst enemy — they put added pressure
on themselves in response to the high expectations
of others.
In many cases, isolation can contribute or worsen spiritual
burn-out experienced by pastors. We need to have friends,
coaches who will help us break down misconceptions and
help bring clarity. We need others to pour into us — their
encouragement, their listening, and their advice.
Over all, it was strongly recommended that pastors ask
for support when returning to work after a period of
spiritual burn-out. Ideally, this should be done gradually
instead of abruptly. Burn-out takes time to heal, and
jumping back into ministry with both feet can be an
overwhelming experience, which may lead straight back
to more burn-out.
— Monique is the Administrative Assistant for the AÉBÉQ
Region.
SUFFERING CAN
TURN US AWAY
FROM HOPE AND
FAITH; WE MUST FIX
OUR EYES ON GOD
AND SPEND TIME WITH
HIM THROUGH PRAYER IN
ORDER TO WEATHER THE
STORMS OF LIFE.

16 / thrive Spring/Summer 2017
CHAPLAINCY
SOUL-CARE
by Richard Flemming
Our chaplains are spiritual caregivers who serve in a variety of secular settings. They invest
time in building relationships of trust with people who might never think of passing
through the doors of our churches. As spiritual caregivers, they spend a great deal of time
listening to those willing to seek counsel for a variety of issues. We know that caregivers of all kinds can experience
burn-out from this type of work, and it’s no different for our own chaplains. Not only do they deal with
the problems of others, but they must also deal with their own individual concerns as well. There are times
when even chaplains require soul-care. Read what three of our chaplains have to say about their personal
journeys in this matter.
— Richard serves as Fellowship National Coordinator.
DEPRESSION by David Brown
One of the most important things I’ve come to understand is that God will sometimes allow me
to experience challenges and difficulties in order to mold me and shape me, even times of great
sorrow and suffering.
GROUND WORK: CHAPLAINCY MINISTRY
For the past year and a half I’ve battled with anxiety and depression — the most difficult time
in my life. I was unable to perform my duties as a Fellowship chaplain and experienced disruption
in every area of my life. I am happy to report the Lord did not leave me nor forsake
me for a moment during this time. The Lord eventually lifted me in a miraculous way and
restored me, giving me back my enjoyment of life as a Christian husband and father.
Psalm 119:71 says: “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.”
Through my struggles I have learned to trust the Lord deeply, even
when experiencing extreme sorrow and suffering.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called according to his purpose,” Romans
8:28.
— David is a Fellowship Community Chaplain working in
Cambridge, ON.

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thrive / 17
GRIEF by Eric Lanthier
The presence of a chaplain proves to be
vital for someone who is in distress. But
when a chaplain lives through a crisis,
life takes a whole different turn. On
April 6, 2013, I learned that a former coworker
had died. I was overwhelmed to
learn that after such a short time, the disease
had prevailed. I did not know that
only 90 minutes later I was going to live
a greater trial by finding my lifeless wife.
Imagine, someone who comforts and
generates hope daily discovers that his
wife has taken her life in their own
home. But I give glory to God, who
sustained me through this terrible
ordeal. The prayers of my brothers and
sisters in Christ, the involvement of
churches, the support of my family, my
pastor, and a Christian therapist helped
me to find my way back to life. Today,
I understand much more deeply what
mourning, solitude, celibacy, inner pain,
and human suffering mean. Moreover,
the Lord, in His goodness, knew not only
how to lift me from this ordeal, but also
to fill me as I had never imagined. He
gave me back a wife, a woman of quality.
What grace, for I never imagined that I
could have loved again. I began to preach
again and, in addition, the Lord is using
me to minister to non-Christians by providing
them with pastoral services as a
chaplain. All I can say is, “Glory to God!”
In view of the greatness of His goodness,
I can only celebrate the grace bestowed
upon me by my
Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ.
— Eric is a
Fellowship
Chaplain working
in the area
of media.
HOPE by Serge Caron
L’Ancre was founded in 2007 in response to the pressing needs of men fresh from
prison. For isolated men who have spent years in prison, L’Ancre volunteers are often
the only unpaid people that take an interest in them.
The mandate of the thirty volunteers working at L’Ancre is to encourage, support, and
facilitate the integration of detainees and former prisoners into a community of faith.
Volunteers work periodically at the penitentiary chapel, sharing the Word of God with
detainees. They also offer a weekly presence in transition houses, where their role is
to instigate reflection and the evaluation of past choices in the lives of those who have
been recently released. Perhaps it is time for them to consider the spiritual path, to seek
in God a path that will succeed.
For L’Ancre volunteers, the detainee and the ex-prisoner remain
“our neighbors”, regardless of their choice to follow Christ or not.
Our services are not conditional on a commitment of faith, but
they do often associate chaplaincy with the unconditional love of
God.
— Serge is a Fellowship Chaplain serving in the area of
Corrections.

Spring/Summer 2017
SOUL-CARE BEST PRACTICES
by Betty-Anne Van Rees
UP TO SPEED: REGIONAL UPDATES
“As
for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good”
(2 Thessalonians 3:13). The only problem is… sometimes
we do. We know we’re to make the best use of the time
because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16) and lay down
our lives (John 15:13) and discipline ourselves for godliness
(1 Timothy 4:7), but what do we do when we feel
like we’re running dry? How do we offer ourselves as living
sacrifices without it killing us?
Wait for God
Job had an ash heap (Job 2:8), Elijah had a broom tree (1
Kings 19:5), David had a cave (Psalm 57, 142), and Jesus had
a garden (Matthew 26 and Hebrews 5:7-8). When life was
overwhelming, they sought solitude. They stopped and
waited for God, and God met them, cared for them, and
answered the cry of their hearts. These, and many other
stories like them, tell us about the kind of God we serve:
He meets people where they are; He doesn’t condemn them
for being there but He doesn’t leave them there either; He
speaks truth to replace the lies — and the whole process is
powerfully infused with love that then grows in the hearts
of those with whom He meets. Not only is the relationship
comforting, it’s transformative.
Know Yourself
When we take time to know God in this way, He tells us
important things about ourselves. If we’re to thrive in the
places God calls us to serve, we must allow Him to x-ray our
hearts to find our root issues and then listen to His diagnosis.
Am I burning out because I’m trying to do what only He
can do? Whose glory fuels my service — His or mine? Am
I trying to overflow what I’m not taking in? Is my vessel
clean enough for His glory to flow through? Am I remembering
that all of life is ministry, or is one area hijacking my
whole life? Am I allowing Him to minister grace and truth
to my life through His body?
It is essential that we know His answers to these questions
— this is the diagnosis. Once we do, He calls us to drink
long of the medicine that will heal our souls: grace upon
grace. And like any good disease-killing medication, we
mustn’t stop until we’ve consumed it all.
But Why?
We cannot give what we have not received. Those we serve
find themselves in the very same struggles we have come
to. When we struggle and God meets us, planting our feet
on solid ground, we will be ready, with gentle respect, to
give an answer for the hope that is in us.
— Betty-Anne, a member of Hespeler Baptist Church in
Cambridge, ON, helps to facilitate the Canadian network
of the Biblical Counselling Coalition, in addition to helping
in its initial Canadian launch.
PASTORAL
MEMBER CARE
Each of our Fellowship Regions offers their
own resources to aid pastors and their families
in their soul-care:
Fellowship Pacific offers a database of equipping
tools, as well as their OASIS workshops
and seminars. They also offer leadership
training tools such as Called to Influence,
Called to Dialogue: Tools for handling Crucial
Conversations, and Called to Lead. Experienced
pastor Bruce Christensen is available to counsel
pastors during times of stress, and church consultation
resources are available on their website,
as well as appointments upon request.
Fellowship Prairies offers the help of Regional
coaches Phil Webb, Leadership Health and
Development, and Rod Black, Multi-Cultural
Ministry. They assist pastors in strategizing for
missions outreach, provide outings for pastors
apart from ministry, lead workshops on
Significant Conversations, and train small group
leaders.

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thrive / 19
Other resources and retreats offered
include: Engage, which is annual and
varies in format each year between
a personal retreat, conference, etc.;
Encounter, an annual retreat that is for
pastors and their wives; and Equip which
is an annual convention/business meeting
followed by speakers and electives.
The Regional Director and Regional
Leadership Coach meet with pastors
once a month in northern and southern
Alberta, and also meet with pastors in
Saskatchewan and Manitoba throughout
the year. There is also a team available
for church consultations that meets with
the church leadership for the purpose
of helping them determine how to encourage
and strengthen their team and
congregation.
FEB Central offers the help of Area
Shepherds, who help to encourage,
support, and pray for pastors. They also
connect with pastors, staff, and families,
attend Association meetings, build relationships,
encourage the development
and healthy functioning of Associations,
broker resources, and assist in reconciliation
when invited. In addition to
our Area Shepherds, we offer retreat
centers such as Enrich Canada, OASIS
Retreats, and Kerith Retreats (Focus
on the Family Canada), as well as the
Pastors’ Conference and Pastors’ Wives
and Women in Ministry Retreat. We also
host workshops for the health of pastors
(Do MORE BETTER, Critical Care, and
Gospel Coaching).
AÉBÉQ offers ministry workers the help
of regional pastoral activities, for the
purpose of collaboration and mutual edification;
provincial pastoral care for rest,
exhortation, and instruction; follow-up
care through Regional Coordinators (a
resource person who provides leadership
in the Region), the Director of Church
Vitality, and the Director General, who
offer financial resources and tools to
help churches regain and maintain their
vitality. The Region also offers coaching
to younger ministry workers, carried
out by an experienced pastor, as well
as external counseling resources for
married couples (financial and human
resources). A portion of their regional
funding is set aside for the purpose of
helping couples who go through difficult
times to seek support from qualified
advisors. Finally there is the support of
The Barnabas Foundation, which was
founded to provide pastors with supports
to prevent burn-out or help deal
with other needs.
Fellowship Atlantic offers pastors care
through their Regional Director, including
monthly cluster gatherings for all
of our pastors which include significant
peer encouragement and counsel.
Retired pastors are available to counsel
and encourage younger men, and the region
provides an annual two-day retreat
for pastoral staff that includes quality
prayer and share times as groups and
one on one. There are also people within
the region who offer the use of property/
homes for pastoral couples to get away
for a week at no cost to them.
FELLOWSHIP HEALTH AND PENSION PLANS
by Rob Cole, Fellowship Services Director
Health Plan
The Fellowship Group Insurance Plan
was designed to provide a single package
that would include Extended
Health Care, Dental Coverage, Life
Insurance, Accident Insurance, Longterm
Disability and a provision for
local churches to assist in providing for
Short-term Sick Leave. In addition, optional
life and accident insurance for the
insured and their spouse/children is also
available.
Fellowship Group Benefits are administered
by Gwen Pifer. She can be reached at
the Fellowship National Ministry Centre
by phone at 519-821-4830 ext. 229, or by
email at healthcare@fellowship.ca.
For questions about Health and Dental
coverage or claims, contact GreatWest
Life at: 1-800-957-9777.
Pension Plan
The Fellowship Pension Plan is registered
with Canada Revenue Agency,
which allows tax deductibility of contributions.
The Plan is also registered
with the Financial Services Commission
of Ontario, the administrative body
charged with oversight of pension plans
operating within the province.
Participation in the plan is open to employees
of Fellowship Baptist Churches.
In situations where provincial pension
legislation in the province of residence
differs from that of Ontario, those plan
members will be extended the local provincial
entitlements.
Sun Life Financial provides investment
management and record-keeping
services for the plan and plan members.
The Fellowship provides service to the
plan members for enrollment, retirement,
termination, death, government
reporting, general inquiries, collection
and forwarding of contributions, as well
as the distribution of annual statements.
Members are charged a small yearly fee
for these services.
The Fellowship Pension Plan is administered
by Mr. Rob Cole, our Director
of Ministry Support Services. He can
be reached at the Fellowship National
Ministry Centre by phone at
519-821-4830 ext. 226, or by email at
rcole@fellowship.ca. For more information
about our Pension Plan, visit our
website at www.fellowship.ca/Pension.
Affinity Program
At the National Ministry Centre we
continue to look for opportunities to
provide benefits and advantages to our
churches, our pastors and the members
of our churches. We currently have three
program partners: Brokerforce Insurance
Inc., D.L. Deeks Insurance Services Inc.,
and National Car Rental and Enterprise
Rent-A-Car.
For more information about our
program partners, please visit our website
at www.fellowship.ca/AffinityProgram.

truth talk
Spring/Summer 2017
TRANSITIONS by Glenn Taylor
Transitions in ministry are traumatic —
thus the need for soul-care. The trauma
of transitions in ministry rock the ship, and
everyone onboard is affected. Pastors, spouses,
children, church members, church leaders,
and communities are all impacted in greater or
lesser ways. In such a brief article each of these
cannot be dealt with adequately but must be
acknowledged.
Each will deal differently with grief, anger, disappointment,
and change; these emotions are experienced in different
ways. The ingredients of transition will not be personalized.
Feelings are personal and expressed differently,
therefore processing experiences are very individualistic.
These variables make the experience unique for everyone.
Soul-care must seek to understand the experience of each
participant and provide care accordingly.
Our space limitations necessitate focusing only on the
pastor and his family. However, churches, church leaders,
members, and the community should not be overlooked.
The ripples of trauma caused by transition spread throughout
the congregation.
Tremors in Transition
Many things contribute to the trauma. Who has initiated
the transition? It may be initiated by the pastor, the church
leadership, the church community, the denomination,
financial pressures, stage of life issues, family contributors,
illness, etc. There are a dozen motivators for transition.
Some come from within, some from others.
Different Types of Transition
Type 1
Predictable
and Voluntary
Type 3
Unpredictable
and Voluntary
Type 2
Predictable
and Involuntary
Type 4
Unpredictable
and Involuntary
One can readily see that the trauma is greater as you move
from type one to type four. The reasons determine the type
of transition; to provide effective soul-care, one must assess
the reasons for the transition and the impact on all of the
persons involved while understanding that each individual
or group impacted will respond differently.
Who Cares?
For soul-care to be effective it must come from many sources
and as an expression of love growing out to forgiveness
and grace.
Care of Pastors and Families in Transition:
• Divine-care
• Self-care
• Family-care
• Peer-care
• Spiritual-care Group
• Denomination-care
• Church-care
• Professional-care
Each dimension of soul-care could be expanded and illustrated.
Transitions are most effectively cared for within
the context of a reflective pause — an intentionally designed
opportunity that enables reflection on the experience. First,
the person must find God in the process and deal with their
response. Secondly, they must refocus, rearrange priorities,
and envision God’s will for the future. Pain and hurt heal
slowly and often require rest and recuperation.
Biblical Models of Transitions in Ministry
There are many Biblical models of both transition within
ministry and transition of ministries from one individual
to another. For instance, we see itinerant teaching pastors
in the New Testament. There are also many examples of
calls to ministry (e.g. Moses, Jeremiah, Samuel, etc.). A helpful
study concerning transition of ministry is the transference
of ministry from Moses to Joshua, Samuel to his
sons, David to Solomon, Elijah to Elisha, John the Baptist
to Jesus, Barnabas to Paul, and others. Soul-care is a function
of all community members and Paul is explicit about
the care of pastors. Every day three
pastors in North America leave the
ministry to seek other career paths;
often this happens as a result of
tremors felt in transition. Care is an
expression of God’s love and we are
His instruments of care.
— Glenn is an accomplished writer
and a Fellowship Author.
TURTH TALK
For more information on this topic, read Glenn’s books, Pastors in Transition: Navigating
the Turbulence of Change (available in English or French) and The Web of Life: An Invitation to Live or Die in the
Fabric of Community. Both are available for purchase on Amazon or directly from the author at glennctaylor35@gmail.com.

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 21
SPIRITUAL-EMOTIONAL
SPIRITUALITY: FROM THE
PRAIRIES TO COLOMBIA
by Phil Webb
Today, the phrase “I’ve been busy” has become a respectable response
when someone is asked how they are doing. At New Life Fellowship
Church in New York this answer is met with skepticism. The book
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, by Pete Scazerro, describes a rule of life
that keeps work, rest, relationships, and communion with God in balance.
New Life staff evaluations are based on keeping the balance between giving
and receiving — it not only benefits the staff, their spouses, and families,
but the rest of the church as well.
Unfortunately, it seems we have been taught to pour out but not to drink
in. Scazerro writes in his book The Emotionally Healthy Leader, “the emotionally
unhealthy leader is someone who operates in a continuous state
of emotional and spiritual deficit, lacking emotional maturity and a ‘being
with God’ sufficient to sustain their ‘doing for God.’” We must allow
God to love us not only through work, but through rest, significant relationships,
and deep communion with Him. Although maintaining this
balance may seem simple, it is often difficult to recognize what is driving
us toward imbalance and fatigue.
Thus, we must remember that it is our ability to abide in The Vine that
dictates what type of fruit we bear. Waiting on the Lord to meet our physical,
emotional, and mental needs demands us to slow down. When this
waiting takes time, it is tempting to go forward without Him and risk fatigue
— but we must remember from whom we draw our strength. Then,
when asked how we are doing, we may respond more appropriately with,
“I’ve been abiding”.
“BUT THOSE WHO WAIT ON THE LORD
SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.”
ISAIAH 40:31
— Phil is a Fellowship International missionary working in
the area of Leadership Development in both Canada and Colombia.
CLERGY
CARE
1∙888∙5∙CLERGY
The life of a pastor can be wrought with
both rewards and challenges: seeing lives
transformed by the power of the Gospel,
congregations coming together to glorify
God, compassion ministries reaching out
into hurting communities, but also experiencing
family struggles, addiction, anxiety,
depression, and many other unseen issues.
Many pastors struggle to find a place to
seek help for their own needs when they’re
so accustomed to meeting the needs of others.
Fellowship National, though a partnership
with Focus on the Family, provides an
important and meaningful service to those
in pastoral ministry — the Clergy Care
hotline. Pastors and their families can call
toll-free and speak with professionallytrained
counsellors who help them deal
with their struggles, all with the reassurance
that Clergy Care ensures strict confidentiality.
If you or someone you know in
pastoral ministry is in need of help (or even
just a listening ear), don’t hesitate to use
this wonderful ministry! Call their toll-free
number today: 1-888-5-CLERGY.

Spring/Summer 2017
CLASSIC
SOUL-CARE:
AN EVANGELICAL
PERSPECTIVE
by Michael Haykin
THE LAST WORD
Evangelicals have been criticized
more than once for being thin on
the dynamics of sanctification. As this
criticism runs, if you want to know
how to be saved, Evangelicals abound
with wise advice, but once you are in
the kingdom other sources are needed
to carry you safely through the ups and downs of this world,
which is no friend to grace.
This critique is both true and false: if we consider much of
our heritage from the previous century, the criticism is on
target, but once we go back to retrieve Evangelical riches
from the 16th through to the 19th centuries, there is an
enormous cache of spiritual wealth.
Reformers of the 16th-century such as John Calvin remind
us first and foremost that the goal of our lives and true
fulfillment is found in knowing God. As he wrote in 1559:
“It is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of
himself unless he has first looked upon God’s face” and seen
the depths of his need and sin. To grow in grace, we need
above all things humility, and this virtue is found by steady
meditation on our great God and all of His attributes as
laid out in the Scriptures. In this way meditation is critical
to Christian maturity. As the 17th-century Puritans put it,
meditation is a great heart-warmer.
The Puritans and their heirs in the 18th and 19th centuries,
Evangelical leaders like the Wesley brothers — John
and Charles — and Jonathan Edwards, Andrew Fuller, and
Charles Haddon Spurgeon were also deeply aware that the
Holy Spirit is vital to our spiritual growth. Unlike far too
many Evangelicals in the past century, these men were not
afraid to call on the Spirit for empowerment and growth in
grace. They thus studied what the Scriptures said about the
Spirit and sought to live in dependence on His grace and
power.
Our Evangelical forebears from Calvin to Spurgeon
were also very aware that critical nourishment in the
Christian life is not only found in such places as prayer and
meditation on the Scriptures, but also in the Lord’s Supper.
Charles Wesley, for example, wrote hymns to be especially
sung at the celebration of the Table, for he rightly knew that
such occasions could initiate personal and corporate revival.
In a world arrogantly passionate about the present and the
future, God’s people need to learn afresh the meaning of
that word that occurs again and again in the Scriptures: “remember.”
And in our remembering, let us re-read the great
spiritual classics of the past and find springs of refreshment
in this time of desiccation.
>
WHAT THEN TO READ? WELL, HERE
ARE FIVE TIMELESS CLASSICS TO
BEGIN WITH:
1. JOHN CALVIN, THE GOLDEN BOOKLET
OF THE TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE
2. JOHN OWEN, COMMUNION WITH GOD
3. JONATHAN EDWARDS, THE
RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS
4. ANDREW FULLER, MEMOIRS OF
SAMUEL PEARCE
5. CHARLES H. SPURGEON, THE SAINT
AND HIS SAVIOUR
— Dr. Michael Haykin is Professor of Church History &
Biblical Spirituality, and Director of The Andrew Fuller
Center for Baptist Studies at The Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky.

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