Thrive_SpringSummer2015

Spring/Summer 2015
THE NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP MAGAZINE
Sowing, Watering and Reaping in Bulgaria
Adopted Twice
Redeeming a Community
REDEEMED
THE YEAR OF SALVATION

spring/summer 2015
“MY STORY...
OUR STORIES”
by Steve Jones
Over the past few years our Fellowship has focused on an annual theme verse. For 2015 that verse is
from Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
Salvation is the glorious work of God. Jesus is relentlessly seeking and saving people worldwide. We are
His assistants, involved in His co-mission. His mission is our mission. It has been said that the church
doesn’t have a mission as much as the mission has a church.
Luke 19:10 is the final verse of a passage detailing Jesus’ ministry on the road to Jerusalem. This section
of Luke’s Gospel ends with the story of Zacchaeus. It sums up several of the themes that Luke has developed,
including the theme of who may become Jesus’ disciples, and how discipleship should affect the
believer’s life. It’s one thing to believe, but shouldn’t a disciple also belong? The passage concludes with
Jesus, the Great Shepherd, seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10).
My story echoes the story of Zacchaeus in some ways. He climbed a huge sycamore fig tree to catch a
glimpse of Jesus—a reconnaissance outpost — so that he could study the reported Messiah without attracting
unwanted attention to himself.
THE FIRST WORD
That was me in my childhood. I was raised in a loving home where I received some religious teaching.
I was confirmed in my local Anglican church, which helped to foster my childhood interest in spiritual
things. I believed that Jesus was our Saviour, but was not sure that He was my Saviour. I had no interest
in His church, nor did I want to attract any attention by my interest in spiritual things.

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thrive / 3
Jesus walked through Jericho and was mobbed by streams of townspeople. He looked
up and saw Zacchaeus, and even called him by name. Jesus tells Zacchaeus to come
down from the tree “immediately” (Luke 19:5). Now was the time. An appointment was
made at Zacchaeus’ home for a meal. He was overjoyed to invite Jesus into his home.
Jesus wasn’t going to Zacchaeus’ place for a meal as much as he was to feed the hungry
soul of this spiritual seeker.
My family moved from Montréal, QC, to Brampton, ON, where two teenage friends
— Bill and Ian — had a significant impact on my spiritual trajectory. Today, Bill is a
Fellowship pastor and Ian pastors in South Carolina. Jesus used these friends to subtly
point me to the Saviour.
My appointment with Christ took place on December 24, 1978, during a Christmas Eve
service.
In Luke 19:8 we read that Zacchaeus “stood up”. He stood up because he had likely
fallen to his knees upon Jesus’ entrance into his home. Zacchaeus repents and seeks
restitution. We learn in verse 9 that Jesus reconciles.
At a Presbyterian Church on Christmas Eve in 1978, I surrendered, gave up, fell to my
knees, and changed citizenship. Three weeks later I began attending a Fellowship
Church — Bramalea Baptist Church — and participated in their active college and careers
ministry. The transformation felt dramatic but it did take time, as caring church
staff and new friends patiently walked alongside me through my journey.
I had attended Ontario College of Art and Sheridan College’s Animation School with
aspirations of becoming a filmmaker, however, the Lord called me into the ministry
within a couple of years of my conversion to Christ. Providentially, the Lord wanted
me to get “on mission” and to seek to influence others to do the same.
Luke 19:10 is a key statement of Jesus’ mission: that of a Shepherd seeking and rescuing
the spiritually lost and straying souls of our families, neighbourhoods, schools, workplaces,
churches, cities and nations.
People living messed-up lives need the mercy and grace of Jesus. They need our love
rather than our judgment. They need us, Jesus’ followers, to be willing to get on
mission.
This edition of Thrive is an opportunity to share testimonies of Jesus’ redeeming grace
and stories of salvation at home and beyond. I trust these stories will encourage you
and inspire us to get on mission. Glory to God.
Stephen Jones is President of The
Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist
Churches in Canada. Follow Steve on
Twitter @FellowshipSteve
Steve Jones is President of The Fellowship

4 / thrive spring/summer 2015
16 ADOPTED TWICE
THE FELLOWSHIP’S THEME VERSE FOR
2015 IS: “FOR THE SON OF MAN CAME TO
SEEK AND TO SAVE THE LOST.” LUKE 19:10 NLT
You can connect with us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/FellowshipNatl
and on TWITTER at: FellowshipNatl. Come and join the conversation.
2 THE FIRST WORD
“MY STORY... OUR STORIES” /
Steve Jones
6 OUT THERE
SOWING, WATERING AND REAPING
IN BULGARIA / Susie Frey and Gisèle
Laplante
ONLY ONE NAME / Mark Buhler
LEADERSFOR..WARD FOR THE
KINGDOM
10 LOVE EXTENDED
ABOUT THAT CUP OF COLD WATER /
Lynda Schultz
REDEEMING A COMMUNITY /
Brenda Flemming
14 GROUND WORK
HOW CAN I, AT MY AGE, BE BORN
AGAIN? / Brad Morrice
GOD AT WORK / Karl Fortin
16 GROUND WORK
ADOPTED TWICE / Dave Peppiatt
18 UP TO SPEED
SALVATION STORIES
FELLOWSHIP NATIONAL CONFERENCE
THE FELLOWSHIP FOUNDATION
22 THE LAST WORD
BRING ON THE KIDS / Lynda Schultz
love extended
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.
© 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
MANAGING EDITOR: Lynda Schultz COPY EDITOR: Louise Buchner LAYOUT & DESIGN: Big Footprints Inc.
MANUSCRIPTS: Send articles and photos to: Lynda Schultz, Managing Editor, 405-19 Preston St. Timmins, ON P4N 7Z2; Tel: 705-264-2090,
Email: lschultz@fellowship.ca POSTAGE: Return undeliverable Canadian address to Circulation Department, P.O. Box 457, Guelph ON N1H 6K9

ALL THINGS
TO WIN SOME
Mark Breitkreuz served as Team Chaplain with
the Bobcats hockey team from the 2007-2008
season until 2015 when he took on the role of
Regional Director for Fellowship Prairies. He devoted
many volunteer hours to the team’s young
hockey players and hosted monthly hangouts for
the team. Mark also brought his congregation out
to one Bobcats game a year. Mark is pictured here
receiving a team jersey from Business Manager
Malcolm Radke. Mark was a valuable member
of the Bobcats team, and is one of the team’s
#1 fans. Read more about the new Director for
Fellowship Prairies in this edition of THRIVE.

spring/summer 2015
SOWING, WATERING AND
REAPING IN BULGARIA
by Susie Frey and Gisèle Laplante
About two and a half years ago, Maria started attending the meetings in Pazardjik,
Bulgaria, where we work. She attended church services faithfully. When we asked
her if she would like to do the Bible course, The Master and His Disciple, every week we
were thrilled when she accepted!
We began at the beginning of January
2013. On January 21st Maria asked
Jesus into her heart as her personal
Saviour during one of the studies.
How we praised the Lord!
After that, we taught Maria about
baptism as well as helping her in her
spiritual battles and integration into
the Pazardjik Church. We were so excited
when she told us that she wanted to
be baptized. Maria got baptized at Sofia
Baptist Church on June 8, 2014.
Maria was confronted by her friends and acquaintances about her faith, but didn’t
allow herself to be intimidated. Rather, she defended her faith in a very loving but
firm way. Her prayer life deepened. It was wonderful to see Maria spontaneously praying,
especially for those who attended services.
We’ve been discipling Maria and equipping her so that she would be able to teach
Bible courses to others, and blessed God when she enthusiastically offered to open her
apartment for Bible Study. She now freely gives of her time to Nonka, a lady who has
been attending the meetings faithfully in Pazardjik, and has made herself available to
teach Nonka the same Bible course that she took with us!
Since November 2014, we’ve been teaching the primary lessons of The Master and
His Disciple to Siika, Lilly, Vaska and Slavka, four ladies who also attend services in
Pazardjik. How thrilled we were when Slavka accepted the Lord on January 28, 2015
while we were doing one of the Bible lessons with her—nearly two years after Maria
made her profession of faith!
We praise the Lord for all the joy there is in heaven in the presence of the angels of God
over Maria and Slavka.
OUT THERE: FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL
Susie, Maria, Gisèle
Susie Frey and Gisèle
Laplante have served in
Bulgaria with Fellowship
International in church planting
ministry since 2008. They
have also been instrumental
in meeting many humanitarian
needs through FAIR in this
poverty-stricken country.
“Gateway to the Nations”

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ONLY ONE NAME
by Mark Buhler
“SALVATION
IS FOUND IN
NO ONE ELSE,
FOR THERE
IS NO OTHER
NAME UNDER
HEAVEN GIVEN
TO MANKIND
BY WHICH
WE MUST BE
SAVED.” ACTS 4:12
Weekly volunteers from El Redentor and Faith Baptist Church distribute food to nearly two
hundred families on behalf of Vancouver Food Bank. While most volunteers focus on
handing out food items, a team from Faith Baptist concentrates on building community. We
greet clients and get to know their names. We pray with them if requested, help them carry
their groceries, and invite them to become part of the Faith community. That is how we met
Editha from the Philippines. She became a regular at our Friday morning Leadership Training,
which happens after the Food Bank. Soon she began attending services, meals, and Saturday
Bible studies. She has a servant’s heart so willingly helped with food preparation and cleanup.
We helped her apply for employment insurance benefits and assisted with online applications
and resume preparation.
The Filipino church members befriended her and slowly
began to draw her into their sub-community. We discovered
that Editha had a mixed Catholic / Protestant background and
had been very involved in a movement called Iglesia ni Cristo
which denies the deity of Jesus Christ. After a period of teaching
and fellowship Editha was presented with the Gospel.
She acknowledged that there is no other name under heaven
except Jesus for her salvation and began to grow in her faith.
Then followed the challenging step of baptism. She is now a
candidate for membership. We praise God for Editha, who
enriches our community with her sense of humour, servant’s
heart and genuine faith.
Recently, a friend and I spent a morning together. We went to a grocery store and greeted M,
the owner, then spoke to one of his employees, J, who has a Catholic background though he
comes from a predominantly Muslim country. We invited him to an upcoming meal. Then
we met with three recently arrived Iraqis whom I recognized from Food Bank, and helped
them practice English conversation. After greeting a Muslim man in a long robe and beginning
a stimulating discussion, we listened to his objections about the deity of Christ and the
veracity of the Bible. The visit ended with an agreement to pray for a month asking God to
reveal Himself. After lunch and more discussions we concluded our day with prayer. We were
burdened for our friends and realized again that everything we do, say, and hope for is all about
Jesus. Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation
for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
Editha
Mark Buhler works with the Pacific Region of The Fellowship and Faith
Baptist Church in outreach to the multi-cultural community in the Greater
Vancouver area. Mark also trains churches in how to more effectively
reach out cross-culturally to their own communities. Mark and his wife,
Catherine, formerly served with Fellowship International at Rift Valley
Academy in Kenya, Africa.
Fellowship International is the cross-cultural arm for Fellowship Churches in Global missions.
Fellowship International offers expertise, mission coaching and support/care of our churches’
missionaries. Go online to http://www.fellowship.ca/AvailableforDownload to find Fellowship
International’s Directional Document.

spring/summer 2015
LEADERSFOR…WARD
FOR THE KINGDOM
OUT THERE: FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL
busy pastor’s life doesn’t allow much time, if any,
A to improve his pastoral skills, increase his knowledge,
or sharpen his “iron” against the “iron” of other
spiritual leaders. While a pastor should never become
indispensable, his prolonged absence from his church
for training can result in hardship for the congregation.
Few pastors in developing countries can afford
to pay for theological training even if the opportunity
presents itself.
Such was the case in Honduras. Through an incredible
series of providential circumstances, the congregation
of Huron Park Baptist Church in Woodstock, ON was
asked to oversee the pastoral training of the Honduran
Baptist Convention, an association of 350 member
churches. After a year of meetings, a strategy was developed
to reinvent the way the Honduran convention
trained its pastors. The “new” church-based model to
learn and do ministry was actually the old one used by
Christ and the Apostles—training pastors and leaders
in the church to learn to think biblically, and to train
them to do ministry hands-on also in the church, and
to “commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach
others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).
Huron Park committed itself to assist the Hondurans
over a period of five years. As the team grasped the
magnitude of such a ministry, they realized the wisdom
of looking for other resources to help them with
their mission. That brought them to a partnership with
Fellowship International, combining the passion and
vision of the team with the expertise and networking
of the mission.
By June 2012, the first generation of pastors had trained
125 full-time serving pastors and 525 “Timothys” who
are already leading church plants or assisting pastors
and serving in teaching in their own locations.
In 2011 a new cohort in Honduras was started among
the Garifuna people in the northern city of La Ceiba.
In 2013, two more cohorts sprang up, one in the Garifuna language,
and another in the Miskito language. The same remarkable
results are now being seen on three continents.
Fellowship International’s LeadersFor ministry partners with
Canadian churches whose “missions” vision includes leadership development.
It also connects Canadian pastors with their international
counterparts for the purposes of leadership development
and also mentorship and coaching in developing local pastors.
It uses the international church-based curriculum produced
by BILD, The Biblical Institute of Leadership Development in
Ames, Iowa. Currently, there are two certificate levels being offered,
consisting of five courses in each level. Ministry, personal
enrichment, character, academic competence and first principles
are themes throughout the program.
Fellowship International’s LeadersFor Projects have been completed
in Guatemala and Uganda. They are are being carried out
in El Salvador, Honduras, India, Kenya and the Philippines.
One of the exciting developments as LeadersFor has grown is
seeing participating pastors become teachers, and national leaders
taking the reins of the training movement and developing
other leaders.
>
How do the pastors feel about their participation in the
LeadersFor program?
>
Pastor Zosimo Casiano, Philippines:
“When I first saw the material you
were teaching, I thought I had wasted my
time because it appeared so elementary.
After the training, I express my appreciation
as I now understood the new tools you
had given me to go deeper in the Word
of God and to do the same with other
‘Timothys,’ faithful men who will be able to
teach others.”
Fellowship International’s VISION is to partner with our sending churches – to catalyze healthy cross-cultural church
multiplication – through disciple-making, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT and holistic ministry

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thrive / 9
FELLOWSHIP
LEADERSFOR…
COORDINATOR
Pastor Virgilio Olger, Philippines: “We don’t
need to go to seminary because you have brought
the seminary to us.”
Isaías Ortiz, Honduras: “I thank God for giving
me the privilege of participating in this ministry
ETBILD. What I like best is that this method helps
us think biblically as we teach different congregations
to be doers of the Word, using the first principles
of the Church.”
Miguel Valladores, Honduras: “I thank God for the studies with ETBILD
because this has helped me a great deal as far as knowledge and spiritual
edification is concerned, and being able to help others with the Word of God
for the growth of the local church.”
Moses, Uganda, led a group study using
the First Principles booklet, Participating
in the Mission of the Church. As they concluded
their last meeting the students said,
“We can’t just walk away from this study. We
need to plant a church.” With Moses’ help they
chose a location and planted a church!
Fellowship International’s LeadersFor ministry
welcomes partnering churches who see
the need and heed the call to join other churches in this new paradigm
of missionary work and leadership development. Churches
can either join a team to assist in existing projects, or take responsibility
for new ones.
>
>
For more information on LeadersFor, visit fellowship.ca
and follow the links.
>
HANNIBAL MUHTAR
I became a follower of the Lord Jesus
Christ at the age of 17 in Beirut,
Lebanon, where I was born. My pastor
used the church-based approach to train
and equip me to serve in the church and
to do ministry. During this process he
stressed the price God paid for our salvation
and urged me to always live the
Gospel message and share it wherever I
worked or lived. I also studied agriculture
and earned a doctorate in agricultural
engineering.
We worked long-term in seven countries
and did short-term assignments in 45
others, focusing in agricultural development
and relief. My international work
in development has opened doors for me
in understanding the challenges local
churches, and their pastors, face—the
lack of equipped leaders. In my role with
The Fellowship I coordinate the ministry
of LeadersFor, equipping local pastors to
develop their church leaders and establish
their churches.
Hanni and his wife, Mary, live in
Woodstock ON and are members of
Huron Park Baptist Church. They have
four children.
Fellowship LeadersFor is a leadership development ministry of Fellowship
International using a church-based theological training model.

love extended
spring/summer 2015
ABOUT THAT CUP OF
COLD WATER… by Lynda Schultz
We’ve heard the verse before. Most of us have it memorized. We often
misapply it, but we don’t always take it literally.
“And if anyone gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because
he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”
(Matthew 10:42)
The context tells us that the verse refers to those who treat well the
one who comes to them with the Good News. If I come to you with
a message from the Lord and you receive me well, even to give me
a cup of cold water, then you will be blessed. I look back on all
the visits that I made, both overseas and among our churches
here in Canada, and am amazed to think about how many
people God must have blessed because they received me well—
and their hospitality went well beyond cold water!
But the principle of the verse can be (and often is) reversed.
God blesses those who minister the Gospel through meeting
the physical needs of those who are not yet disciples. It goes
almost without saying that, to a missionary, the greatest
LOVE EXTENDED: FAIR
“Alleviating
Human Suffering”

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thrive / 11
blessing of all is to see a spiritual thirst quenched in the same
way as a physical one.
Providing safe drinking water is a concern for the Pakistani government,
and for international agencies like the World Health
Organization. According to a government report issued in 2007,
“Bacteriological contamination of drinking water has been reported
to be one of the most serious problems throughout the country in rural
as well as urban areas.” 1 Chemical pollutants from industrialization
also contribute to the contamination of ground water.
Flooding from monsoons, an inadequate sewage system, the
mismanaged use of herbicides and fungicides, and oil spills carried
in from coastal waters all contribute to a desperate human
need. Knowing the need, and the reasons for it, does not always
result in an adequate solution for some of the poorest of the
population. Water-borne illnesses affect lives and livelihoods.
But a cup — perhaps not of cold water, but of clean water —
can make a difference, even an eternal one.
Consider this example* of how a hand pump financed through
FAIR (Fellowship Aid and International Relief) blessed the receivers
as well as the givers.
They are poor villagers who work the fields of local landowners
in Pakistan. Unhappily, the ancient feudal system of vassal
and lord still exists. Less than a year ago a hand water pump,
provided by FAIR, was installed in one such village. Along with
the pump, the villagers were given an SD memory card, which
contained the Jesus film, the New Testament in audio drama
form, and other songs and movies.
The villagers are illiterate. To be able to watch and listen to
the story of Jesus on a mobile phone was fascinating to them.
But for one family, the experience went beyond simple enjoyment.
They believed what they heard and saw! As a family they
decided to leave their old way and to follow Jesus. The head of
the family, his wife, son and daughter-in-law were baptized last
June.
Now the family members are being trained so that they are able
to share their testimonies and tell several Bible stories, including
the Gospel story. They are also able to have family worship
service using a solar MP3 player that plays the New Testament
drama. Two sons are now involved in the hand pump project.
They are also sharing Bible stories and preventive health lessons
with their neighbours and other villages.
One hand pump paid for by people thousands of miles from the
need, an installation crew of concerned believers at the scene,
some clean water enjoyed by a poor village, and the Spirit of
God working through modern technology to apply God’s Word.
You just never know how much blessing can result from such
simple things.
*For security reasons, please do not
reprint this article for electronic
distribution. Names
have been withheld,
and photos altered to
protect the individuals
described.
1
http://environment.gov.pk/act-rules/DWQStd-MAY2007.pdf
Extending Christ’s love through relief, rehabilitation and
development. Fellowship Aid and International Relief (FAIR)
partners with our churches to alleviate human suffering and
facilitate development.
Go online to http://www.fellowship.ca/AvailableforDownload to
find FAIR’s directional document

spring/summer 2015
REDEEMING
A COMMUNITY
by Brenda Flemming
Camp Luka is perhaps one of the poorest and least serviced areas of the city of
Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Shortly after independence
in 1960, the Yaka tribe was relocated to this sector in Kinshasa and from there
Camp Luka was born. This tribe was known for its fierceness and was very protective
of its community, not allowing outsiders in. Since that time, little has been done to
develop this area. Over time it has become increasingly insular and vulnerable to the
cycle of poverty. Many in the population, which some estimate between 60,000 and
80,000 people, never leave its parameters, never knowing that any other kind of life
exists.
LOVE EXTENDED: FAIR
One person who was born, grew up, and knows intimately the challenges of living in
such a place is our Congolese partner Pastor Ana Kudivila. But even as a youngster, he
knew that his present reality could not be the ultimate reality. In this environment
education was not often considered a priority or even a possibility for most of his
contemporaries, but he pursued it energetically. Eventually he came to personal faith
in Jesus Christ. This only strengthened his belief that God was able and desirous to
bring healing into this broken place and into these broken lives. By the time he married
and started a family, they were able to move out of Camp Luka and break their
own cycle of poverty.
But Camp Luka always remained in his heart. Just as God had transformed his life,
Pastor Ana believed that God could transform, from the inside out, the lives of
many in Camp Luka. In order to facilitate this work, he set up a charitable Christian
foundation, FONDAK, which allowed him to work among specific groups in Camp

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 13
Luka. Education had helped to contribute to change in his own life, so he began to
work with a group of orphan children providing them with love, training in life
skills, Bible, French, and the possibility of going to school. This effort was supported
through a FAIR project. Aside from the orphans, often considered “children of no
one,” FONDAK works with destitute young men as well as adolescent mothers, many
of whom had turned to prostitution as the only means of survival. These “children
having children” are now being trained in the profession of dressmaking and sewing
so they will have a better means to care for themselves and their children. They
have planted a church in the midst of this needy population. Pastor Ana continues to
have a big picture outlook. There are 400 pastors in Camp Luka, the vast majority of
whom have never had any theological training. FONDAK is also seeking ways to give
them practical training to better enable them to do ministry. Collectively they are
seeking to see God transform Camp Luka.
Special project – FONDAK Ministry Centre for Transformation in
Camp Luka Congo
Goal : $40,000
Pastor Ana’s dream is to have a Centre for Transformation in the heart of Camp Luka
that would bring together the many activities and ministries that they are already engaged
in. This would provide a viable and visible presence in this needy community
and promote change from the inside. Reaching the goal for this project would allow
them to purchase a plot of land and construct a centre from which they could minister
to each of these groups of vulnerable people, as well as train pastors and church
leaders to be involved in God’s kingdom work.
Pastor Ana and his team at FONDAK have already proved their faithfulness and vision
for ministry in this desperately poor population in the heart of Kinshasa. By
being able to take it to the next level through this project who knows what more God
could accomplish in His transformative work in Camp Luka.
Brenda Flemming and her husband, Richard, serve with Fellowship International in
training Congolese to reach out as missionaries to their own people, as well as to
the other francophone nations on the African sub-continent.
Camp Luka
GOD WAS
ABLE AND
DESIROUS TO
BRING HEALING
INTO THIS
BROKEN PLACE
AND INTO THESE
BROKEN LIVES.

ground work
HOW CAN I, AT MY AGE,
BE BORN AGAIN?
“I GET IT. I FINALLY UNDERSTAND
ALL THE RADICAL CHANGES I’VE
SEEN IN MY MOTHER THESE LAST
FEW MONTHS.”
by Brad Morrice
GROUND LEVEL: FRANCOPHONE MINISTRY
Around April 2014, one of our young leaders took the step
of faith of inviting his university professor to one of our
church plant’s informal gatherings. Nicole was struck by
what she experienced: The vibrant and authentic faith of
the younger people in our church was something that she
had never encountered before. Being a professor, she interacted
constantly with university students, but she sensed
something different with our community and found herself
drawn to it.
She had many questions, and even more objections, so she
joined a Neighbourhood Group (what we call our small
groups) where she could explore these things in more
depth and with others.
For about a year, Nicole was slowly “incubating” in our
church community, exploring the Gospel, discovering who
Jesus is, and forming close friendships despite a sizeable
age difference (she is 70 and the average age in our church
plant is about 25!).
She eventually expressed an interest in being baptized, and
while I was excited at first, after several long discussions
with her I encouraged her to wait. It was clear to me that,
at that point, she had fallen in love with our community,
but not yet with Jesus. There was no understanding of Jesus
bearing her sins on the cross – he was merely a wise man
whose teachings were immensely attractive to her.
Nicole’s
baptism
Instead, I encouraged Nicole to begin an in-depth study of
the Gospel with a young couple in our church. The goal
of the study was to challenge her very specifically on the
ideas of sin and God’s justice and to bring her to a point of
decision.
After much prayer, the penny finally dropped. Like Lydia
in Acts 16, the Lord opened Nicole’s heart to respond to the
Gospel, and everything finally clicked. She was baptized in
May 2014, and it was incredible to witness! Her testimony
made us weep. It was so beautiful, and her understanding
of the Gospel was so clear and vivid. She talked about how
the guilt that had always haunted her had been washed
away, and that she was finally free because Christ bore her
guilt and shame.
Nicole’s daughter attended, and I will never forget what she
told me afterwards. She leaned in close and whispered to
me, “I get it. I finally understand all the radical changes I’ve
seen in my mother these last few months.”
Here’s how Nicole ended her testimony: “I feel like
Nicodemus and I would have been good friends. After all, we
have so much in common! The same first few letters of our
names, the same profession, but especially, the same question:
How can I, at my age, be born again? Jesus gives us the
answer: unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot
enter the kingdom of God. And it is this re-birth that I have
experienced that I am celebrating with you today.”
From the bottom of our hearts – thank you so very, very
much for praying for us, for this church plant, and especially
for people like Nicole. God has answered. To God alone
be the glory!
Brad Morrice is a church planter in Montréal, Québec. Their church,
l’Église du Plateau, launched in March of 2014 in a densely populated,
urban francophone neighbourhood where it is the only French
evangelical church.

GOD AT WORK
by Karl Fortin
Understanding
Last autumn, the Lord led us to invite the church to participate in a nine-week
campaign called “The Gospel Centered Life.” We invited everyone to sign up in
small groups. Each Sunday we would preach on the subject the participants
would study during the week. To our amazement, 110% of the church signed up
(that is, non-Christian visitors signed up as well)! I found that my faith was too
small—I had not prepared enough booklets.
During this nine-week period, the church really grew in their understanding
of the Gospel. Many groups loved the experience so much they decided to keep
meeting. But the best in all of this was the conversion of a woman named Lise
who came to Christ during the campaign! She said, “For the first time, I understand
Jesus’ forgiveness!”
We concluded the campaign by offering J.D. Greear’s book, Gospel, for $5, which
had just been released in French. We sold 40 books.
Beginning to Understand
Catherine is a mother of three young children who started visiting us to give her
kids a religious education, although she claimed to be an atheist (We Quebecers
are just full of paradoxes). She has been attending for over a year and is even
serving in the church. We appreciate her greatly.
Recently, while talking with her over lunch, I learned, to my great amazement,
that she no longer saw herself as an atheist. Her journey has brought her to believe
in the God of the Bible or “the God of the discourses” as she said. She told
me she did believe in God’s love but found it hard to believe that God loved her!
“Last year this was my thinking: ‘I do not want to delude myself. I am a big girl now; I do
not need to believe in God to reassure myself.’ But now, I am able to say to myself … even
if the universe is controlled by measurable and explainable physical laws, that in no way
lessens the possibility that God exists—that God could have created all of this … if he has
created everything, then that would mean that he loves us, wouldn’t it? He loves us … But
it is still a bit too much for me to think that he might actually love me personally … But
maybe, if I was to write again about this next year, I may see things differently …”
“He understands that, but your journey is surely not over,” said I. She nodded.
Reaching Francophone Canada
The unfinished task in church planting in French Canada.
The Rationale—“A mature region in a least-reached field”
The truth is Quebec is still very much a mission field and thus should remain a vital ministry for
our National Fellowship of churches. By their very proximity, our Fellowship of churches has a
unique responsibility to continue to support church planting among francophones (Frenchspeaking
Canadians). There continues to be a clear need for English-speaking churches and
donors to remain engaged in funding francophone church plants.
1. Recognizing that our AÉBÉQ Region has matured, the National Fellowship will bring closure
to the French Mission as of December 31, 2014. Adequate francophone leadership, structures
and training exis to continue the mission to the francophone people in Quebec.
2. However, it is also recognized tha the Quebec region is not mature as a mission field. The
spiritual needs are still staggering with less than 1% o francophones in Quebec having come to
Christ.
3. Contrasting the need in Quebec with other countries in which the Fellowship is or has been
involved, it becomes eviden this is still one of the neediest, least-reached people groups in the
world and they are just next door.
i.e. Fellowship International missionaries are serving in: Kenya (48.9%), Honduras (23.0%), Congo (18.7%),
Chile (18.4%), Canada (7.7%), Indonesia (5.6%), Colombia (7.5%), Mexico (8.3%), India (2.2%), Belgium (1.2%),
Bulgaria (1.9%), Italy (1.1%), France (1.0%), Quebec (0.8%), Kazakhstan (0.7%), Cambodia (1.6%), Japan (0.5%),
Pakistan (0.6%), Poland (0.3%). Stats from Operation World (See Appendix A)
The Scope—“Francophone Canada, not just French Quebec”
Fellowship francophone funding exists to provide FEBC churches and donors an opportunity to
fund francophone church plants across Canada such as
Cochrane, ON, St. Boniface, MB, Moncton, NB as well as
the needy mission field of Quebec.
1. It is recognized tha the francophone population in Canada
is just under 22%; 15% of which are living outside Quebec
(6 million in Quebec; 488,000 in Ontario; 233,000 in New
Brunswick and 100,000 in Manitoba).
2. It is also recognized that our francophone churches are now
ready, willing and able to carry a significant and growing
portion of the funding responsibility for church planting in
Quebec.
francophones as evangelical
thrive-magazine.ca
Please join me in prayer to plead with God that He may
accompany her and many others to discover His great
personal love.
Karl Fortin is the Church planting pastor at Connexion
Church in Plessisville, QC
The Fellowship Francophone Ministry is moving
forward to impact the Francophone peoples of
Canada with the Gospel of Christ. To view the
Francophone Directional Document, go online to:
fellowship.ca/StrategicDirectionalDocuments
7x7=1
Because of proximity and history,
our Fellowship of churches and our
faithful donors from across our nation
have a unique responsibility and opportunity
to support church planting
among francophones. It’s crystal clear
that church planting in Quebec has
been, and will continue to be, the most
effective way to reach new people and
new communities with the Gospel.
Our new partnership strategy will
continue to focus primarily on Quebec,
where 85% of Canada’s francophones
live. However, we will also focus on
the other French-speaking regions
of our country. It is our sincere hope
and expectation that dynamic church
planting partnerships will be developed
between English-speaking congregations
and/or individual donors
and francophone church plants across
our nation.
1. THE PLAN
7x7=1. Yes, we know—the math
doesn’t work, but the plan will!
It involves: 7 churches and/or
donors
Fellowship National has the responsibility
to prayerfully seek
out and find churches or individual
donors to partner with regionally
approved francophone church
plants.
7 years: Fellowship regions have
the responsibility to manage and
encourage these partnerships
between churches or individual
donors and francophone churches
within their region. These partnerships
will be in place for seven
(7) years with the possibility of a
three (3) year extension.
1 francophone church plant: our
partnership objective will be to
see each francophone church
plant develop and mature into an
autonomous self-governing, selfsupporting
and self-propagating
local church, to the glory of God!

spring/summer 2015
ADOPTED TWICE by Dave Peppiatt
GROUND WORK: FELLOWSHIP CHAPLAINCY MINISTRY
believe that God called me to work at The Refuge Youth
I Outreach Centre in Oshawa, Ontario, through circumstances
that could only be orchestrated by God, circumstances
that surpass chance or even mathematical possibilities.
I was adopted when I was just over a month old. Though I
shared a great childhood with an older sister and younger
brother, I never really felt like I fit. Our genetic makeup and
personality differences led me to feel detached.
I really struggled with finding my own identity as I grew.
My home church, Calvary Baptist Church in Oshawa, was
the most awesome place for a child to grow up. I remember
praying with my mom in my room one Sunday afternoon
when I was about eight years old. But at the time, I didn’t
understand much about God or His love for me. I knew all
the stories, but they didn’t connect to me personally.
A defining moment in my life came when I was nine. I was
sexually abused. This left me a now sexualized young person
who was already struggling with finding his identity. That
experience convinced me that I would never know or feel
God’s love. As I grew into a teen the situation worsened.
I was introduced to pornography, which became a sort of
drug for me. My parents tried hard to make all the right
connections in my life. They were aware of some of my
struggles, but back then there wasn’t the information or
counseling available that there is today.
As I struggled through my teen years I became angry. I was
angry that I had been abandoned by my biological mother,
angry that I didn’t seem to fit in at home, angry that I had
been sexually interfered with, and just plain angry about
everything. There were times I just enjoyed being mean to
people, from the kids at school, to being the bully on the
hockey team, to even humiliating homeless people. During
this time of confusion and rebellion I maintained my cover
at church. I was involved with Christian Service Brigade,
taught Sunday School, was active in our choir and regularly
attended youth group. It was all a facade. I struggled with
not knowing God because I believed I would never be good
enough, especially since I was shamefully living with this
secret sin that was eating me alive.
In February 1983, I found myself on a Snow Camp retreat
at Muskoka Bible Conference. Roy Lawson was the
speaker that weekend. On Saturday night, Roy was on
the platform speaking and I, the rebellious one, was in
the last row of the building—any further out and I would
have been sitting in the snow. As Roy started to speak I
had every intention of tuning him out. Then it happened.
Roy got up, looked out at us, and said, “I know that you
came here tonight and you’re wondering about God and
His love for you. I know you’ve been doing drugs. I know
about your smoking and drinking. I know you’re sleeping
with your girlfriend and you’re sleeping around with her
friends.” Roy didn’t actually leave the stage, but it felt as
though he were only three feet away from me. What he
said next was the heart-stopper. He said that God loved me
just the way I was. That was the first time in my life that I
knew, and felt, that God did love me.
It would be great if I could say that from there on in it was
smooth sailing, but it wasn’t. Though I still struggled with
pornography, I worked hard to give up the drugs and drinking,
and I didn’t feel as angry as I had been before. I felt
more connection to my family, and I began to realize that
my parents hadn’t treated me differently from my brother
and sister. They were dealing with me as an individual with
a different personality and different emotions.
During these struggles I met an amazing young woman. On
August 17, 1991 I married my amazing wife, Ellie.
The greatest thing about my wife, aside from her beauty,
her intelligence, and her laughter, is her ability as an encourager.
She believes in me and has encouraged me to
reach heights I never would have thought obtainable. She
encouraged and supported me to go to Bible school, to get
involved in urban missions, and to start an urban mission
even when no one would back us. She also encouraged me
to get counseling for my anger and stood with me when I
finally dealt with my pornography issues.
In the spring of 1992, my wife and I very unexpectedly
felt God’s calling on our lives to work with street kids in
Oshawa. We began working with young people. It quickly
“Demonstrating Christ’s Love”

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 17
became very apparent that they had a lot of questions to which I had no answers. I took
the opportunity then to go to Ontario Bible College.
At OBC, I met a fellow by the name of Dion Oxford. Right after our Christmas chapel,
Dion invited me to a time of prayer. The prayer meeting consisted of a bunch of 18 and
19-year-olds, all ten years my junior. While in prayer, they wept for the homeless people
in Toronto. I’d seen older people weep before, but not young people. As I watched
the Urban Missions Team from OBC pray, I knew that I was missing something in
my own life. I had never wept for anyone before. In February of 1993, I joined the
Urban Missions Team taking lunches to homeless people on the street and working
with male prostitutes, transvestite and transgender prostitutes.
Dion had become the director of the Salvation Army Friendship Room and
wondered if Ellie and I would open a foot clinic where we would, among other
things, wash the feet of the homeless. It was the most humbling thing to ever
happen to me. It was also life-changing and there are still days when I miss it.
We washed about 2000 feet over the two years we ran our little clinic.
But we had gotten the point of understanding God’s calling to work with
the poor and the homeless. My health failed, and in April 1999, my career
at General Motors came to an end. However, I was presented with the opportunity
to work part-time for an agency that worked with the homeless
people in Oshawa. I was hired as their youth guy and we named the program
The Refuge. Eventually, our work with The Refuge headed indoors.
In April of 2002 we opened our first youth center—ten years from “the
call” to fruition.
The greatest blessing at The Refuge is the staff. God has brought
together a dynamic group that far surpasses anything I have ever
experienced. It’s the most dynamic creative circle of friends ever
imagined. Getting to see God’s handiwork everyday is beyond
description. Imagine getting to talk to 500+ young people every
year about God’s love for them. Imagine getting to reach out to
over 500 youth a year and letting them know that someone cares
and loves them. How much more exciting can a workplace be?
Imagine a place where you get to see young people experience
healing in their lives and change that will be passed through
generations to come. Seeing young people coming to Christ
and being transformed by Jesus is exciting!
My hope is that The Refuge would continue to deepen our
following of God, under His lead, to bring healing and community
to every young person who comes to The Refuge.
Through this healing community generations will be
blessed, reaching far beyond the borders and constraints of
the present day.
Dave Peppiatt is a Fellowship Chaplain, member of
Calvary Baptist Church, Oshawa, Ontario, staff member
of The Refuge, which works with street youth,
and Executive Chef of Papa Bear’s
Real Canadian BBQrew, a ministry
of The Refuge. For his complete
story, go to thrive-magazine.ca
and follow the link to the current
issue of THRIVE.
PAPA BEAR’S
Real Canadian
BBQrew
THE REFUGE
The Refuge Youth Outreach Centre is a drop-in
centre in Oshawa, Ontario, for homeless and
street-involved youth aged 24 years and under.
Its mission is to demonstrate Jesus Christ’s
unconditional love and kindness to the hurting,
lost and neglected through practical and compassionate
intervention and prevention.
Tragically 92% of Refuge youth have been emotionally,
physically and sexually abused, many at the
hands of family, the people they should be able to
trust and who should love them unconditionally. The
caring community at The Refuge builds relationships
and empowers youth to make better choices so they can
heal.
The Refuge has helped 3,573 youth since 1999. Last year
11,736 meals were served, 573 youth were ministered to
9,887 times, and 275 new youth engaged. We see about 20
to 30 individuals each day and offer 15 weekly programs
designed to transform young lives.
The Refuge is a family where youth heal and learn to hope
again. It is a fortress and safe harbour in times of trouble. We
value, and unconditionally love, every young person who
walks through our doors. When someone really cares, and is
ready to help in any way possible, youth begin to take charge of
their own lives.
In light of the high levels of youth unemployment and their daily
struggles to fit in, we started a BBQ catering business. The mission
of Papa Bear is to further the skills and development of young people
who are members of The Refuge community and who have shown
potential and the desire to better their lives, but lack the direction and
ability to do it on their own.
Each participant is part of a cook team whose goal is to give
patrons a uniquely personal BBQ culinary experience. Papa
Bear’s goal is to create a learning and work environment where
youth feel challenged, respected, and accountable as they strive
to meet the demands of adulthood. Each individual develops
skills that will help to clear the path for better life choices.
These include life skills, employment skills, group dynamics,
and conflict management. Our goal is to help them learn to
interact with society.
Fellowship Chaplains are an extension of our local churches’ ministry, practicing the presence of
Christ where people live and work. To view the Chaplaincy Directional Document, go online to:
fellowship.ca/StrategicDirectionalDocuments

spring/summer 2015
SALVATION STORIES
UP TO SPPED: REGIONAL UPDATES
LIFE-CHANGES IN FEB
CENTRAL
Church of the Ward, Guelph, ON
Emily, a mother of three and on maternity leave, never
imagined she would join a church family — even when
some neighbours invited her to a street Potluck & Prayer.
The invitation was casual and the people seemed friendly
enough. The dinner reminded Emily of her time with a
L’Arche community, but that was some time ago and she
was longing to be part of a community again. The people
spoke a lot about Jesus and his power to change and restore
their lives. Emily had heard a little about this message before,
but never so clearly. Emily believed the Gospel, gave
her life to Jesus and was baptized in Church of the Ward
on Sunday, February 8th. She is praying for her husband to
believe and do the same.
Pastor Matt Naismith
Forward City Church, Chatham, ON
There is a young, yet-to-be-saved couple at Forward City
Church whose lives are being transformed by the irresistible
Gospel and love of Christ. Both grew up in families
broken by substance abuse and tragic deaths. Not knowing
Christ they learned only to cope. However, Jesus has
entered their stories and is proving the difference Christ
makes.
Today, both consider their friends at Forward City as their
family. They believe that Jesus is the One everyone needs.
They are reading their Bibles and attending a small group,
curious about God’s forgiveness and the love He has extended.
They have not yet given their hearts to Christ, but
they cannot deny Him. Their story is evidence that God
pursues those far from Him, and is wonderfully compassionate.
We eagerly await celebrating their salvation.
Pastor Marc Soto
FROM THE
FELLOWSHIP
PRAIRIES
GOD IN US AND THROUGH US
Since I am just beginning my new role as Regional
Director, I will share experiences that came within
the context of the church I was recently serving. I
was humbled to see four friends come to the Lord.
Three out of the four were friendships that developed
because I was intentional about my involvement
outside of the church, and in my community.
It was my goal to be Christ-like, not just during our
weekend services, but during the week as well.
I mentioned the word, “friends.” They are. It’s been
my experience that one of the greatest strategies
for evangelism is to love God. We know that when
we love someone, we want to be like that person
and to please him. Our love for God leads others
to see Christ through us. This is infinitely more
attractive than them seeing us in us! The other
strategy for evangelism is to love people. It goes
without saying that people happen to love being
loved.
Three out of the four were literally years in the
making. It’s why I can’t detail the specifics of the
individuals, but their stories are good.
It’s God through us. On our end, we need to love
God and others. We pray to God to do the work of
bringing people to us, so He can use us to bring
them to Himself. I’ve found it’s a prayer He loves to
answer.
Mark Breitkreuz
Regional Director, Fellowship Prairies

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 19
FROM THE
REGIONAL
DIRECTORS
REGIONS
LIGHT IN THE
HEART IN
QUEBEC
Montreal-North, QC
We praise the Lord for Paulette who
made a profession of faith earlier this
year. Paulette is a direct fruit of our doorto-door
ministry. We had knocked at
her door in September when we were
inviting our neighbours to visit “the
new church” in their district. She started
to attend on Wednesday evenings. She
was a lovely, religious lady who wasn’t
sure if she had a place in heaven because
she didn’t know if she had been faithful
enough. She had been praying that God
would show her the right road to take. In
presenting the Gospel, we could see the
light going on in her heart and on her face
as she placed her trust in Christ alone for
eternal salvation. Rejoice with us.
Robert and Jackie Charpentier
THE PRIVILEGE OF A SPIRITUAL
HERITAGE
For the first decade of my life, I was in a single parent home in Montreal,
Quebec. My mother had been widowed at a young age, and was left with four
children under the age of three. However, she did a wonderful job of maintaining
a family focus on Christ, with daily family devotions and prayer. It
was during one of those family devotion times that I became clear on the
reality of Christ’s sacrifice on my behalf, such that I accepted Christ as my
personal Saviour right then, with my family around me.
Not long after, my mother remarried to a wonderful Christian man who
quickly became, in all aspects, my father. The family moved to Victoria, B.C.,
and most of my teenage years were spent at Central Baptist Church. Between
my mother and father, and the excellent youth programs
of Central, I was privileged to have supportive, energetic,
and intentional disciplers concerned about my growth in
Christ. Most schooling and other experiences are merely
a carry-forward of the good work done by others in the
early years of my life.
David Horita
Regional Director, Fellowship Pacific
CONNECTING THE DOTS
Born into a Christian home, I became a Christian at the age
of five. The passing of my great-grandmother “made the dots
connect” for me. That circumstance caused me to process all
I’d been taught, and personalize a decision to follow Christ.
I was baptized at the age of twelve, and knew of the Lord’s
leading in my life to pursue full-time ministry.
And while my journey has not been perfect
(After all, I’m a part of the journey),
it has come with no regrets, or major
setbacks. By His grace, I’m His and He
is mine.
Mark Breitkreuz
Regional Director
Fellowship Prairies

spring/summer 2015
SEARCH FOR ERROR; FIND TRUTH
In 1972, at age 19, during my second year of college, I heard of the Gospel through a classmate who had been invited to
a Bible study. She was enthusiastic and wanted to return but when the time came, she decided not to go. Despite feeling
uncomfortable, I decided to go alone.
I was a sceptic and distrustful of religious sects. I listened carefully to the preaching and songs in order to find potential
doctrinal errors. But because people were engaging and nice to me, I went back. I asked many questions (not
always with good motives), read the New Testament and attended two Evangelical churches (a Brethren church and a
Baptist church). During this period of listening and researching potential false doctrines, I finally understood that my
sins were leading me to eternal perdition. I was looking for the error that was indoctrinating these people, but God
made me understand that I was proud, blind and lost. The search for error led me to understand the truth.
After three months of research reading the Gospel of Luke, I finally understood that faith did not need to be discussed,
but simply exercised, as a small child would exercise it (Luke 18:17). I realized that salvation is obtained by simple
faith without works. I just had to believe in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, as would a small child, without doubting
or questioning it.
Then, alone in my room, I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour and Lord of my life and repented of my sins. I then attended
the Roberval, Lac St-Jean Evangelical Baptist Church, which had been newly started by Pastor Gabriel Cotnoir.
Three months later, I confessed Jesus through baptism by immersion.
This girl who had been invited to a Bible study and who had awakened my curiosity, never became
a believer despite my efforts in testifying to her. In His grace, even with no believers around
me, God used her to stimulate my curiosity, direct me towards Christians who loved me and presented
me with Jesus. God is great and powerful when he wants to go find a lost sheep.
Gilles Lapierre
Regional Director,
AÉBÉQ

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 21
THE FELLOWSHIP
FOUNDATION
Why does it exist?
The Fellowship Foundation exists to:
• Invest in the future of the Fellowship.
• Provide an opportunity for churches and donors
to participate financially in Fellowship ministries
into the future.
How will Foundation funds
benefit the Fellowship?
• A portion of Foundation funds will be invested in
church building projects and Fellowship ministries
that require significant capital funds.
• Investment income will create cash flow to meet
the needs of international, national, and regional
ministries across Canada
How can you be involved?
GIFTS:
Donations
• Your donations and gifts will help fund the
Fellowship and its causes for decades to come.
Legacy/Estate Gifts
• To give the Fellowship community a vehicle for
legacy planning and gifts that will benefit the
Fellowship both now and for years to come.
INVESTMENTS
• The Foundation can receive investment funds
from individuals, churches or related ministry
organizations and will offer a competitive rate of
return.
*Donations and Legacy/Estate gifts are eligible for
charitable tax receipts
To Invest or make a gift to the Fellowship Foundation:
Contact Rob Cole: rcole@fellowship.ca

spring/summer 2015
by Lynda Schultz
BRING ON THE KIDS!
by Lynda Schultz
THE LAST WORD
I came to faith through a children’s program. A significant
number of my years in ministry have been spent working
with children and training others to work with them. So
to say that I believe that children’s ministry is important is
“gospel” truth—one confirmed by the numbers. The Barna
Group, which gathers statistics on many aspects of religion
in North America, noted in 2004 that, “…nearly half of all
Americans who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior do so
before reaching the age of 13 (43%), and that two out of
three born again Christians (64%) made that commitment
to Christ before their 18th birthday…Barna noted that these
figures are consistent with similar studies it has conducted
during the past twenty years.” The Canadian numbers are
likely similar so it goes without saying that children’s ministry
is vital.
In his weekly email on September 8, 2014, Fellowship
President Steve Jones shared some stories that came from
our Fellowship churches that highlight the need to “bring
on the kids.” Here are two excerpts from that email.
“We ran two weeks of full-day day camp for children from JK-
Grade 5 and had 42 children say “yes” to Jesus! We ran only one
week of full-day Youth Camp for Grades 6-8, and had five girls
say “yes” to Jesus! I spoke at Pleasant Bay Camp and had 24 children
say “yes” to Jesus! A total of 71 children in the month of July
said “yes” to Jesus! I thank God that I could play a part in it.”
—Pastor Eric Veen, Bethel Baptist, Strathroy, ON
“About four years ago, we had a look at ways to reach our
community. We decided to focus our efforts on the elementary
school about two blocks down the road. Some of the ways we
have sought to build a bridge with them have been to put on a
Christmas dinner for the school, with turkey and all the trimmings!
We volunteered in their Breakfast Club and offered to
provide a BBQ for their school carnival. Because we have built a
trusting relationship, they allow us to pass out advertisements
for our summer programs such as Soccer Camp, Summer Day
Camp (VBS), and Sunnybrae Bible Camp. They also allow us
to invite kids to our Junior Youth and after school Kids Clubs.
The children are starting to talk about and recognize us as a safe
place, and a place that cares about them. Many of the kids are
coming to different activities and we have a chance to share the
Gospel. I believe these efforts can really make a difference in kids’
lives.”
—Aaron Wilson, Emmanuel Baptist, Vernon, BC
Pray for our congregations as they reach out this summer
in ministry to children. Pray too for God’s wisdom in
designing creative ways by which your congregation can
minister to your community through its outreach to children.
It’s worth it!

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 23

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