Thrive_Winter 2020 Digital Edition

Winter 2020
PASSING THE TORCH TO THE NEXT DEBORAHS AND DAVIDS
LAUNCH: NEXT-GEN GLOBAL WARRIORS
PLANTING SEEDS AND REPRODUCING
LEADERS
OUR FUTURE

Winter 2020
PASSING
THE TORCH
TO THE NEXT DEBORAHS
AND DAVIDS
by Steve Jones
Almost twenty years ago I wrote an article for this magazine
(formerly called The Evangelical Baptist) entitled,
“Where have our young Davids and Deborahs gone?”. I
was the chair of the Fellowship’s National Council and
was concerned with the many 20- and 30-year-olds who
were leaving the Fellowship. I was young and discouraged
by the number of godly friends feeling they must leave the
Fellowship in order to thrive.
THE FIRST WORD
It caused quite a stir. Ginette Cotnoir was editor of the
magazine at the time and told me she received more
emails and letters about my article than any other. Some
shared my concern while some were angry and scolded
me. Others mentioned how they were reaching out to
younger leaders. I kept some of the responses and recently
re-read them.

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thrive / 3
I recently received an email from a pastor — a good, godly young leader. He shared
his concern that he recently left the Fellowship to be a church planter with another
denomination. He didn’t want to leave the Fellowship. As an Associate Pastor,
he was sensing it was time to move into a Lead Pastor position, but no one would
give him an opportunity. He shared some of the reasons why he believed he was
unsuccessful, including a concern that older leaders were unwilling to develop
succession plans or give younger men a chance. He mentioned he was also tired of
seeing other friends, who attended the same Fellowship seminary as he did, leave
the Fellowship in recent years due to little or no opportunity.
Maybe this is just the natural ebb and flow of pastoral life and the typical crosspollination
of pastors moving from one faith family to another, but maybe it’s not
that. Maybe it’s a continuation of the concerns I sought to bring to light in that
controversial article 20 years ago. I’ll let you be the judge of that, and ask you to
consider being part of the solution.
I will tell you one thing: I’m twenty years older now, and when I attend our
National and Regional Conferences, I’m one of the old guys — and I’m in my late
50s. I do see a sea of younger leaders in most (but not all) of our Regional meetings,
and it is encouraging.
I will end with the last paragraph of my article from March 2001:
“My call is for mature Fellowship leadership to embrace, rather than resist; to release,
rather than impede. Let’s not lose our young visionaries. Let’s build relationships with them
and encourage them to think and build big dreams. A mentorship movement is desperately
needed in our Fellowship. I would love for older men to meet with younger men in authentic
relationships, and older women to mentor younger women in nurturing friendships.
This would be a movement of healthy initiators. Sounds like something the Bible might tell
us to do? What do you think?”
In this edition of Thrive, we’re looking at leadership in general and passing the
baton in particular. I trust it will inspire our current leaders to discover ways to
leverage and cheerlead the next generation of Fellowship leaders.
I THOUGHT IT TIME
TO ONCE AGAIN
ADDRESS THE
SUBJECT: ARE WE
PASSING THE TORCH
TO THE NEXT YOUNG
DEBORAHS AND
DAVIDS IN 2020?
Steven Jones is President of The
Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist
Churches in Canada. Follow Steve on
Twitter @FellowshipSteve.

4 / thrive Winter 2020
THE FELLOWSHIP’S
THEME VERSE FOR
2020 IS: “BUT YOU
MUST RETURN TO
YOUR GOD; MAINTAIN
LOVE AND JUSTICE,
AND WAIT FOR
YOUR GOD ALWAYS.”
HOSEA 12:16 (NIV)
8 OUR EMERGING LEADERS
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
PASSING THE TORCH TO THE NEXT
DEBORAHS AND DAVIDS / Steve Jones
15 FOUNDATION
DEALING WITH DEBT
AND DEATH / Gord Baptist
ground work
5 BUILDING THE KINGDOM, ONE CHURCH
AT A TIME
ONSIDE ATHLETICS: MINISTERING TO
FAMILIES THROUGH SPORT
6 OUT THERE
LAUNCH: NEXT-GEN GLOBAL WARRIORS
MAKING A SMOOTH TRANSITION
PLANTING SEEDS AND
REPRODUCING / Lynda Schultz
NEW LEADERSFORMATION
COORDINATOR
10 LOVE EXTENDED
CHOOSE HOPE / Denise Wicks
RESCUE ME! / Norman Nielsen
14 GROUND WORK
SERVANTS IN TRAINING
16 GROUND WORK
CATCHING LIKE WILDFIRE /
Richard Flemming
THE BEAUTIFUL STROKES OF
LIFE / Allan Gallant
WORDS MATTER: CHAPLAINCY
ENRICHMENT 2019 / Thomas Hopkins
18 UP TO SPEED
OUR EMERGING LEADERS
EQUIPPING BIBLICAL COUNSELLORS
LOCAL CHURCH LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT
INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH
22 THE LAST WORD
LEADERSFORMATION: WHY YOU
SHOULD GET INVOLVED /
Hannibal Muhtar
love extended
up to speed
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
SENIOR EDITOR: Steven Jones MANAGING EDITOR: Valerie Heaton COPY EDITOR: Jesskah McCartney LAYOUT & DESIGN: Ampersand
EMAIL: thrive@fellowship.ca POSTAGE: Return undeliverable Canadian address to Circulation Department, P.O. Box 457, Guelph ON N1H 6K9

thrive-magazine.ca thrive / 5
BUILDING THE KINGDOM,
ONE CHURCH AT A TIME
Baptist Builders, originally known as “Minute Men,” was
established over 40 years ago to assist Fellowship churches
with building construction and renovations. Since then, over
150 churches have received financial help.
Men and women from our Fellowship community across
Canada have pledged to help these churches through regular
contributions. Four times a year, an appeal for a specific church
is mailed to supporters. We encourage an average contribution
of between $35 and $50 for each appeal, but any amount is
gratefully accepted.
Here’s how we divide contributions. One half of your contribution
is used over and over again to help new churches.
Half goes as a gift to the appeal church, while the other half
is loaned to the church interest free for two years (at a 2.5%
interest rate thereafter). All repaid money goes to the Property
Acquisition Fund (and is in turn loaned out to other churches
and paid back in the same way).
Will you consider becoming a Baptist Builder by contributing to
this important ministry? For more information on our current
appeal or to become a supporter, please visit our website at fellowship.ca/BaptistBuilders.
ONSIDE
ATHLETICS:
MINISTERING
TO FAMILIES
THROUGH SPORT
Onside Athletics is a ministry born out of Crestwicke Baptist
Church in Guelph, ON, that aims to provide affordable
recreational sporting for families and children. Onside Athletics
recently entered into a formal partnership with Fellowship
International and is available to support our churches and missionaries.
Programs are run through local Fellowship churches
that offer their facilities to this valuable ministry. While fun is
a big part of what Onside provides, the whole operation centres
on Christ. Their desire is to use sport as a platform to engage
families with the Gospel and to introduce them to the community
of Christ, while simultaneously serving and strengthening
families. Kids who participate in Onside sports benefit from
both the excellent programs and opportunities to be mentored
in character and leadership development. Summer is one of
the busiest times of the year at Onside, as their summer camps
draw many kids from the community. This is a ripe opportunity
to plant the seeds of the Gospel! Will your church consider partnering
with this growing ministry over this coming summer
season?
For more information about Onside Athletics
and how to partner with them, please visit their website at
onsideathletics.ca.

Winter 2020
LAUNCH:
NEXT-GEN
GLOBAL
WARRIORS
INTERVIEW WITH BEN PORTER, FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL
CANDIDATE COORDINATOR
What is the LAUNCH Program?
The LAUNCH program is a mid-term
missions opportunity that partners a
candidate with one of our Fellowship
International missionaries who is
already deployed and has an active
ministry. The candidate spends anywhere
from six months to two years
working with this missionary, learning the ins and outs of
missionary life and service. The program seeks to provide
an opportunity for people who are praying about becoming
a missionary to be on the field and experience longterm
missions first hand under the discipleship of a veteran
missionary.
What sets LAUNCH apart from other missions programs?
What sets LAUNCH apart the most is the opportunities our
LAUNCH candidates have through our program. They are
discipled by our staff before they leave for the field, as well
as by our missionaries while they are in the field. These
are incredibly valuable experiences for anyone looking to
become a missionary! Discipleship is key in preparing for
a mid- or long-term missions experience. The structure of
the program enables candidates to seek God’s guidance on
what is next for them in their lives, whether that is missions
or something else God has in store for them — all
with the support of our staff and missionary partners.
Who is LAUNCH for? Why is it so effective?
LAUNCH is for anyone 18 years of age or older who is interested
in global missions. Most participants are young adults
who are wondering whether or not God is leading them to
become a long-term missionary. It’s effective because of the
training and support our Fellowship International team
provides the candidates in order to enable them to succeed.
With the focus resting on Jesus and sharing Him with those
who do not know Him, our candidates experience immense
spiritual development. In addition, discipleship and administrative
training helps to strengthen each candidate, allowing
them to confidently follow God wherever
He may be leading them.
OUT THERE: FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL
MOST PARTICIPANTS ARE YOUNG ADULTS
WHO ARE WONDERING WHETHER
OR NOT GOD IS LEADING THEM TO
BECOME A LONG-TERM MISSIONARY

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How can someone get involved with LAUNCH?
It’s incredibly easy to get involved with LAUNCH! Those who
are interested can head to our website, fellowship.ca/Launch,
where they’ll find a video with more information on our LAUNCH
program, or they can email me directly at bporter@fellowship.ca.
If you sense God is calling you to service in global missions, please
contact us — we want to help you walk in obedience as you discover
where God is leading you!
Anne-Sophie Bolduc was born and raised
in France, and is the youngest child of
Fellowship International missionaries
Pierre and Jeanine Bolduc. Having completed
high school in 2019, Anne-Sophie
began praying to discern what the Lord had in store for her
future. Growing up in the mission field and seeing her family
serve inspired her to explore the opportunity of taking a
“gap year” and participating in Fellowship International’s
LAUNCH program. Anne-Sophie has been sent from
Bailly-Romainvilliers, France to spend this year engaging
in children’s ministry. She is also being trained
by Fellowship International missionaries Karim
and Rita Anayssi at Cedar Home, a girls’ home
in Lebanon, for three months. Her final
three months will be spent at Ecclesia
church in Saint-Jérôme, QC where she
will be ministering under the supervision
and direction of Chris
and Sara Middleton.
After going on three short-term
mission trips to Colombia,
Jerusha Rickett’s heart had
grown for the people and ministry
there. While back in Canada,
Jerusha often found herself
praying for the people in Colombia, longing to
reconnect with them. She asked the Lord to open a
door for her to return. Now her prayer has been answered
with an opportunity to return to Colombia
for one year through Fellowship International’s
LAUNCH program, under the supervision of our
local missionaries, Diego and Claudia Cardona. Her
sending church, City Centre, Mississauga, ON nurtured
a natural excitement in her for youth ministry.
She continues to serve youth and young adults
in Medellin by discipling and building relationships
with people in her community.
MAKING A SMOOTH
TRANSITION
Ben Porter, Fellowship International
Candidate Coordinator, is currently
working with various ministry leaders
to develop a comprehensive media
resource for Fellowship youth pastors.
Available online, this resource will aim
to help high school students transition
to university well, making them aware of
how they can live a life on mission with
God. This transitional phase in a young
adult’s life is an extremely vulnerable
time for their faith: they can choose to
either embrace their walk with Christ
and grow deeper in Him, or to drift away.
Please keep this program and its development
in your prayers as we move
forward.

8 / thrive Winter 2020
PLANTING SEEDS AND
REPRODUCING by Lynda Schultz
OUT THERE: FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL
Fruits and vegetables have often been bred to be unable
to do what they were divinely designed to do — reproduce.
We enjoy the convenience of seedlessness, but have
you noticed how many times God emphasized seed-bearing
in Genesis 1? His creation was meant to reinvest itself.
That is exactly what Fellowship International’s mission mobilizers
do as they equip and coach both this and the next
generation of church leaders. From their wealth of experience
and knowledge, they plant seeds that will blossom to
be expressed by others in contextually relevant ways.
In 2018, Terry Wiley began serving
the Ethiopian Kale Heywet
Church (EKHC) as a global missions
coach. The EKHC — with 10 million
members, 9,500 churches, and 1,300
missionaries — has demonstrated
a strong commitment to missions
but has struggled with sending missionaries
globally. Raising adequate
support, facilitating good communication, arranging solid
pre-field orientation, and providing member care in the
field are challenges. Terry helps them recognize their needs
and walks them through the changes necessary to develop a
strong missionary-sending environment. It’s been a “masterclass
in patience” according to Terry, but the results have
been worthwhile.
Since coming home from Africa in
2018, Andy Wildsmith, as Curriculum
Development and Training Consultant
for Fellowship International, has been
working with AIM Canada’s Ministry
to Africans in Canada program to train
African Canadian bi-vocational pastors
who have no theological training.
Though still in the research and development
stages, Andy is anticipating the beginning of training
“at any time”. He is developing a flexible and practical
curriculum for pastors who have neither the time nor the
money for formal pastoral training.
Ken Jolley serves as an academic mentor
for Immerse students in Colombia,
where the focus is on the development
of healthy servants in all areas of their
character, knowledge, life, and ministry.
His work among former students at
the Caracas Evangelical Seminary has
opened up opportunities to mentor others
around the world via the internet.
Ken writes: “It is an honour for me to be a ‘Barnabas’…to affirm
them in what God is saying and doing…helping them
see God in all things, so that they might involve God in all
things as they walk with Him in their Kingdom service”.
RAISING ADEQUATE SUPPORT, FACILITATING GOOD COMMUNICATION,
ARRANGING SOLID PRE-FIELD ORIENTATION, AND PROVIDING MEMBER CARE
IN THE FIELD ARE CHALLENGES.

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Phil Webb returns twice yearly to
Colombia, where he invested more than
30 years in ministry, to help facilitate
the multiplication of disciples and the
development and training of future
church planters and leaders among
the El Redil churches. This ministry
has since expanded to Spain. Phil also
coaches churches in the Fellowship
Prairies Region in leadership development, and mentors associate
pastors and Immerse students.
In October 2016, Edwin Karwur was
appointed President of the Indonesian
Theological Seminary in Manado. In
this more formal setting, the lives of
students have been changed, enabling
them to extend God’s Kingdom. The
Seminary is part of the Convention of
Indonesian Baptist Churches, which
includes more than 400 churches in 20
provinces of Indonesia. Former students have planted and
led the great majority of those churches. In Java and other
countries in South East Asia, graduates have seen the conversion
and baptism of thousands of people. They help, educate,
and disciple hundreds of children and young people. They
serve the Lord in orphanages and schools, work with children
with special needs, and address human trafficking problems.
In 2010, Richard and Brenda
Flemming arrived in the Democratic
Republic of Congo. The Congolese
Baptist Church Association that had
invited them was itself the fruit of 124
years of American missionary service.
God’s work was well established; now
it was their time to send out their
missionaries in response to God’s call
to make disciples of all nations. As mission coaches, the
Flemmings help the Congolese determine how to do missions
the Congolese way, with Congolese means. They raise
the important issues, but leave the Congolese the challenge
of finding culturally appropriate solutions and creative ways
to finance those efforts within their own resources.
SEED-BEARING WORKS!
NEW LEADERSFORMATION
COORDINATOR
As a pastor, and one who is passionate about developing leaders in my own church
family, I have appreciated the ministry of LeadersFormation for almost a decade. To see
God use it to build strong leaders in cross-cultural contexts has been a passion and a
pleasure.
I am excited to see how God will continue to grow LeadersFormation in both scope and
influence in the future. As the newly appointed LeadersFormation Coordinator, my
hope is that every Fellowship church will consider partnering with one of our projects,
developing leaders and mature followers of Christ.
We have a great team of people involved in guiding this ministry, and I believe we have seen only a glimpse
of what God wants to accomplish through it.
— Paul Harbourne is the lead pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church, Collingwood, ON, and will continue
in this role as he serves as LeadersFormation coordinator on a part-time basis. Paul replaces Hannibal
Muhtar, who served as coordinator since LeadersFormation formally became a Fellowship International
ministry in 2015.

love extended
Winter 2020
LOVE EXTENDED: FAIR

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thrive / 11
by Denise Wicks
As a child of God, I understand the importance of having
people in my life who are discipling me and training me
for the work God has uniquely created me for. As a small group
leader and active member in my church, I appreciate the value
of investing and taking part in others’ walks with Christ. As
a young parent, my heart aches for the children of the world
whose circumstances deprive them of the influence of Godcentred
and grounded people who can help to train and coach
them as they grow and learn about the world around them.
The statistics around the number of orphaned children across
the world are staggering: 140 million orphaned children
worldwide, 100 million live on the streets, 12 million of the
world’s refugees are children, and 385 million children around
the world live in extreme poverty. I can’t help but think: What
are they learning in these early days of life? Who is teaching
them to navigate the world? How is their world-view going to
be impacted? How much potential is being lost because there’s
no one who can care for them, teach them, or show them they
are loved? I see the need, but how can I help when I’m just one
person?
THEY ARE LIFTING
UP THESE YOUNG
LIVES AND GIVING
THEM HOPE;
THEY’RE PROVIDING
FOR THEIR
EDUCATIONAL,
PHYSICAL,
EMOTIONAL, AND
SPIRITUAL NEEDS.
That’s why I’m so excited to
be part of the Fellowship’s
Child Sponsorship program.
Through this program, four
ministries — Casa Hogar
(Honduras), Cedar Home
(Lebanon), Clementia Life
Centre (Lebanon) and Love
Trust (Sri Lanka) — are being
supported financially
as they do the hard work of
ministering to the children
who have been left behind,
displaced, unappreciated, and under-resourced. They are lifting
up these young lives and giving them hope; they’re providing
for their educational, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
They are being given access to so much more than they would
have otherwise, and it gives us the opportunity to be generous
in a way that has huge potential impact.
As followers of Christ, we have a compelling reason to be
instruments of change. We seek to follow, obey, and love the
Lord and to play our part in the growth of His Kingdom here on
earth. It’s hard for me to imagine a better way to do this than to
support a child in this way, investing in their future and ensuring
these members of the next generation are being well cared
for and instructed.
We here in Canada have been blessed by God abundantly with
resources. The words of Jesus in Matthew 25:34-36 (NIV) apply
so well: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance,
the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty
and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited
me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked
after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
With that in mind, my encouragement to you is to BE a blessing.
Consider sponsoring a child in Honduras, Lebanon, or Sri
Lanka. Pray for them. Be the silent coach in the background
cheering them on. Trust the Lord to use your monthly gifts to
give a child love for today and hope for tomorrow.
—Denise serves as FAIR Administrative Assistant and
Communications Administrative Assistant.

12 / thrive Winter 2020
RESCUE ME!
by Norman Nielsen
LOVE EXTENDED: FAIR

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thrive / 13
Day in and day out, humans across the globe use the internet. Smartphones, tablets,
laptops, smart TVs, and other connected devices are so integrated into our lives
that we hardly think about them. We don’t like to think about their negative potential,
or how the internet can be a window into the darkest places of the human soul.
Cybersex trafficking is a modern day form of slavery. Through the same kind of devices we
use every day to communicate with loved ones and far away friends, adults inflict sexual
abuse on boys and girls. They record these abuses and forced sex acts, then sell the show to
the pedophiles and predators willing to pay.
In January 2017, FAIR in partnership with International Justice Mission (IJM), launched the
Rebuilding Innocence appeal (Philippines). Many churches and individuals gave generously to
this project, for which we are so thankful. The funds raised were used to improve the aftercare
available to children in the Philippines being rescued from online sexual exploitation.
Once again, we come to you seeing the need of these children in the Philippines. They need hope.
They need justice. But their most immediate need is rescue from their abusers. IJM is working
with and through the justice system in the Philippines to find, rescue, and protect these young victims
but there are thousands of leads, and it takes skilled people and resources to accomplish even
one rescue.
Through the Rescue Me! appeal, FAIR is seeking to raise $135,000 to partner with IJM and provide for
the costs related to 14 rescues. Each rescue requires funds for elements such as investigation of tips,
staff time, transportation, immediate care, and assessment of rescued children.
“May He defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to
the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!” Psalm 72:4 (ESV)
The picture is bleak and the outlook is heavy — but there is hope. God promises rescue and justice for the
oppressed. He works to make these a reality through ordinary people, doing seemingly small things that
are magnified for huge Kingdom impact. With your help, and IJM’s expertise, we can bring light to these
dark places.
Will you prayerfully consider how you can partner with FAIR through this appeal?
Consider making Rescue Me! the focus of your Easter or Tax Return giving this year. Together
we can change the lives of children in desperate need of rescue.
— Norman Nielsen is FAIR Associate Director.
GOD PROMISES RESCUE AND JUSTICE FOR THE
OPPRESSED. HE WORKS TO MAKE THESE A REALITY
THROUGH ORDINARY PEOPLE, DOING SEEMINGLY SMALL
THINGS THAT ARE MAGNIFIED FOR HUGE KINGDOM IMPACT.

ground work
Winter 2020
SERVANTS IN TRAINING
SEMBEQ, our partner school in Quebec, offers its students the opportunity to participate in pastoral ministry
>
while engaging in theological training through the Immerse program. Richard and Eric, two SEMBEQ students,
describe their experiences with this unique program in the stories below.
GROUND WORK: FRANCOPHONE MINISTRY
Quebec — what an amazing mission field in desperate
need of the Gospel! Having grown up not knowing
Jesus, it’s an understatement to say that learning about
Him is a miracle to me. I’ve been in full-time ministry
for the last four years and can say that I am grateful to
God for SEMBEQ. Studying there allows me to learn
both practically, spiritually, and theologically as I serve
in the church. This hands-on approach is the best way
for us Quebecers to learn and serve at the same time. The
coaching provided makes a real difference in the lives of students like myself.
I strongly believe that character is best developed when a coach is present
and a local church context is experienced — SEMBEQ provides both! Pray for
Quebec and for the impact that SEMBEQ has on the next generation of pastors
and leaders that will be brought up by our great God. To Him be all the glory
for what He does in this great country.
— Richard St-Pierre is currently studying at SEMBEQ and pastoring at Oasis
Church in Deux-Montagne, QC.
Harbour Fellowship has walked the journey with Richard
for the last six years. We have been humbled and amazed
as we have seen the dedication of our French brothers to
the cause of Christ. We are also thankful that this commitment
is matched with strong equipping and training
from SEMBEQ that allows many to serve in ministry, and
at the same time receive solid theological training.
—Pastor Jeff Bennett, Harbour Fellowship, mentor to
Richard St-Pierre.
As a “servant in formation” at Église
Baptiste Évangélique de Victoriaville
and a student at SEMBEQ, my training
is made up of practicing ministry tasks
through my local church and studying
at SEMBEQ. I am happy to be able
to receive my education this way since
it allows me to stay with my family
and participate in the life of the local
church, all while being trained in the
specific context of my community. It is,
in a way, training adapted appropriately
for each student. With the help of my
coach I’m able to better apply concepts
gained through my training into my
current ministry. This practical way of
theological training is truly a joint effort
between the student, the church, and the
seminary.
— Eric Provencher
is a servant in
formation at
Église Baptiste
Évangélique de
Victoriaville, QC
working towards
pastoral ministry.
At 38, Eric and his
wife Barbara have four children: Julien,
Alice, Samuel, and Marrion.

thrive-magazine.ca
foundation
DEALING
WITH DEBT
AND DEATH
by Gord Baptist
Because we have the privilege of access to God’s
Kingdom, Word, and Holy Spirit, we should filter our
lives to avoid the pitfalls of this world — including our finances.
There are over 2,000 Bible verses dealing with money,
which shows that God has a lot to say on the subject.
In spite of this, we seem to struggle most with two things:
being unprepared in the event of death, and the ravages
of debt. Today over half of Canadians do not have a Will.
Many people die intestate without securing the transfer of
their Estates to their loved ones. Canadians, including believers,
are continuously shackled with the financial bondage
of increasing debt with no plan to reduce it or change
their damaging financial habits.
Education is a big contributor to these issues. In response,
I am conducting workshops addressing these two areas. In
the area of debt reduction, I share ideas on how to get rid of
debt and we discuss the root causes of debt overload, going
into detail on how to:
>
>
>
PROVIDE A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH
TO REDUCE AND EVENTUALLY
ELIMINATE DEBT.
SET UP A SYSTEM TO CONTROL
MONTHLY EXPENSES.
CREATE A HOME FINANCIAL
LIFESTYLE OF CASH ONLY.
In the area of Estate planning, I conduct workshops on the
details of a Will. Attendees are guided through the components
of a Will and go through the steps necessary to set
one up, covering:
THE IMPORTANCE OF AND THE MEANS
TO SET UP POWER OF ATTORNEY.
THE STEPS TO PREPARE WHEN
MAKING A WILL.
THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGACY
BEQUESTS, RECOGNIZING THE
ORDINANCE OF GIVING AND THE
WAYS TO APPLY SUCH (NOTING
GIVING TO THE LOCAL CHURCH).
If you are a church or ministry leader and would like me to
share my expertise on this subject, please contact me. I’m
happy to fulfill God’s direction in my
life by helping others move toward
financial stewardship.
— Gord Baptist is Fellowship
Advancement Director and can be
reached at 519.821.4830, extension 244,
fax: 519.821.9829,
gbaptist@fellowship.ca.
A TESTIMONIAL FROM A CHURCH LEADER:
“… We were blessed and challenged in so many ways. Gord did a masterful job of presenting financial management
principles relative to wealth, financial bondage, managing our everyday finances, and our cost of living. He also skillfully
taught principles relative to Legacy and Estate Planning which are of vital importance in this day and age… all
presented in a very intentional but easy-to-understand format… It was an enjoyable teaching and learning experience I
would recommend to every church! You will not be disappointed!”
>
>
>
FELLOWSHIP ADVANCEMENT: FOUNDATION

ground work
Winter 2020
CATCHING
LIKE WILDFIRE
by Richard Flemming
GROUND WORK: CHAPLAINCY MINISTRY
Though the Apostle Paul was himself in a Roman prison,
he asked that prayers be made so that God would
open doors for the proclamation of the Gospel (Colossians
4:3-6). When it comes to spiritual matters, circumstances
that facilitate the sharing of God’s redemptive work (or
“open doors”) are always required if the seed is to take
root in good soil. In today’s somewhat hostile environment,
Fellowship Chaplaincy is one of God’s open doors,
and many are taking advantage of the opportunities it
represents.
Over the last few years, the number of Fellowship chaplains
has grown dramatically! In 2013, after a status review,
27 chaplains made up the list. Six years later, we have
exceeded the 100 mark, with every indication that this
trend will continue. Quebec has seen the greatest jump,
increasing from 11 chaplains in 2015 to 41 by September
2019. In recognition of the strategic nature of the role of the
chaplain in that Region, SEMBEQ, our partner seminary in
Quebec, has added chaplaincy to its list of study programs
offered at the school.
The fact that chaplaincy is growing should not surprise us.
Whereas churches seek ways to penetrate communities
outside their walls, these same communities are inviting
chaplains inside theirs. Our chaplains — many of whom
are volunteers — are finding open doors in a variety of settings
including: local hospitals, senior residences, sports,
business, community, campuses, prisons, military, police,
fire, airports, and others. It is in these places where people
work, play, live, and die that our chaplains, by carrying the
presence of Christ, provide a credible spiritual service and
pastoral support to those they lovingly serve.
Fellowship Chaplaincy is working hard to equip its chaplains
to give a response to those who are seeking, because
God is in the business of opening doors: doors into communities
and into hearts.
— When not in the D.R. Congo as a Fellowship
International missionary, Richard Flemming serves under
Steve Jones as Fellowship Eastern Coordinator.
FELLOWSHIP
CHAPLAINCY
COORDINATOR
Fellowship Chaplaincy is happy
to introduce Larry Freeman who,
on September 1st 2019, began
his part-time role as Fellowship
Chaplaincy Coordinator. Larry is no stranger to our
Fellowship, having served as a pastor and chaplain for
many years. He recently retired after 14 years of service as
the chaplain at West Parry Sound Health Centre/Lakeland
Long-Term Care in Parry Sound, ON. Larry will minister
alongside Steve Jones (Director) and Richard Flemming
(member-care) in serving the more than 100 Fellowship
chaplains across the country.

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 17
THE BEAUTIFUL
STROKES OF
LIFE by Allan Gallant
On July 7th, 2017 my life changed: at the age of 53, I suffered a severe
stroke. The medical professionals involved in my treatment were
amazed that I survived. I was considered one of the “lucky ones”, but luck
had nothing to do with it. Even at the time my wife, Bonnie, and I understood
that God protected me and saved my body from permanent damage. My only
paralysis was loss of my ability to speak: I could not speak one word. For a
preacher and teacher of God’s Word, this was the scariest thing that could
have happened to me — but it did. Praise God, He restored me after a long
battle through speech therapy, but even now I sound like I have an accent.
The stroke was the easy part of my crisis. Shortly after I began to recover, I fell
victim to the “beast” (that’s what my wife called it) of a debilitating mental
health breakdown. My mind was in turmoil, and I found myself in one the
darkest places in my life. I was scared, confused, and was in deep despair. I
wanted to end my life if this was my to be my new normal, but through a
combination of God’s intervention, the support of family and friends, and the
right mental health professional, I found hope and healing.
It was this crisis that birthed AGORA Network Ministries, a ministry that
seeks to bring hope and healing to the church in the area of mental health
stigma. Many churches fall short in knowing how to help those who suffer
with mental health disorders. Through AGORA, we strive to give quality,
practical, and sustainable resources to church leaders
and communities that want to develop a better mental
health support strategy for their ministry.
— Allan Gallant is a Fellowship community chaplain
in St. Catharines, ON. Allan seeks to come alongside
those that are dealing with homelessness and mental
health issues, particularly in the city’s downtown
core.
WORDS
MATTER:
CHAPLAINCY
ENRICHMENT
2019
by Thomas Hopkins
“Words Matter – Speaking with a
Renewed Heart” was the topic that Eric
Lanthier addressed in our recent enrichment
gathering held for Fellowship
chaplains in Ontario. Eric serves as
a Fellowship chaplain in the media
sector, and is a regular guest on five
Quebec radio stations. He challenged
our chaplains to speak the truth in love
in a post-Christian culture, while first
seeking to understand the story of the
individual being spoken to using the
“Creation-Fall-Redemption-Restoration”
framework. Eric also led a series of creative
group discussions on current issues
such as homosexuality, trans-identity,
and marijuana use. Following Eric,
Allan and Bonnie Gallant shared about
their journey which began with Allan’s
major stroke in July 2017, leading to the
creation of AGORA Network Ministries.
It was a day of fellowship and growth
for our chaplaincy team!
For more information, please contact us via email at
info@agoranetworkministries.com, by phone at 289 668-0968,
or visit our website, agoranetworkministries.com.

Winter 2020
OUR EMERGING
LEADERS
UP TO SPEED: REGIONAL UPDATES
NORTHWEST BAPTIST SEMINARY, LANGLEY, BC
This fall, in preparation for an award ceremony and the announcement of a capital campaign to extend our building’s walls,
we opened Northwest’s archives and sifted through numerous papers and photographs representing our school’s past. It
was a reminder that equipping leaders for service in the Fellowship and beyond has always been an essential mission for our
school.
What we now call Northwest Seminary and College was founded in 1934 as Western Baptist Bible College, and while our
school’s name and location has changed, our values haven’t. They are the same three values established by our founder and
first president Reverend Morely Hall: the centrality of the Christian Gospel, the church as foundational to God’s Kingdom,
and the Word of God as the bedrock upon which we build our convictions and practices.
As an outworking of these values, our mission is to prepare effective ministry leaders in context for service to churches and
agencies in the Fellowship and beyond. Regardless of the time, place, opportunities, and challenges, preparing leaders for
service in and outside of the church has consistently shaped our passion, focus, and work.
Opportunities and challenges come in pairs when you work in theological education, and ten years ago we were faced
with a particularly powerful pair. We felt pressed to thoughtfully assess and meaningfully rethink how we are training
people for ministry work. Rather than choosing to dismiss the challenge and miss the opportunity, we partnered with our
Fellowship and its churches. The result of this joint effort was a competency-based theological education program called
Immerse, and we are seeing outstanding results ten years after its inception. In fact, we recently celebrated
the graduation of eight Immerse students, all of whom are excellently equipped and enthusiastically
ready for ministry.
As we collectively face an uncertain future that certainly will be filled with challenges and opportunities,
we are leaning back, and pressing forward. As we do so, we will continue preparing effective ministry
leaders in context for service to churches and agencies in the Fellowship and beyond.
— Dr. Kent Anderson is president of Northwest Baptist Seminary in Langley, BC.

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 19
HERITAGE COLLEGE AND
SEMINARY, CAMBRIDGE, ON
Heritage College and Seminary intentionally develops strong,
Godly leaders through a combination of biblically-rich classroom
instruction, guided local-church ministry experience,
and Gospel-focused outreach opportunities.
Classroom Instruction: We provide a solid biblical education
for our students, basing all of our instruction on God’s
inspired, inerrant Word. Our training is theological but not
simply theoretical; our faculty see themselves as “scholars in
service of the Church.” Heritage students learn to think theologically
so they can lead in biblically-informed ways.
Church Experience: In addition to rigorous classroom
studies, Heritage has students actively involved in local
church ministry. We partner with FEB Central churches so
that students can receive guided experience and mentoring
in ministry. We’ve been encouraged to hear many reports of
how Heritage students are proving to be a great benefit to the
churches they serve.
Community Engagement: As we are committed to developing
leaders with a heart for the Gospel, we engage students in
personal Gospel outreach. Through our Love Hespeler initiative,
Heritage college students learn to connect with the people
living near the school through deeds of service (raking leaves,
collecting for the food bank) and words of life (giving Bibles,
personal conversations). Seminary students are challenged to
personally communicate the Gospel message as part of their
ministry formation courses. We desire to see every Heritage
student gain a greater heart for bringing the Gospel of Christ to
our needy world.
Through these three approaches we aim
to raise up Godly leaders for ministry service
within the Fellowship.
— Dr. Rick Reed is President of Heritage
College and Seminary in Cambridge, ON.
SÉMINAIRE BAPTISTE
ÉVANGÉLIQUE DU QUÉBEC
(SEMBEQ), MONTREAL, QC
At SEMBEQ we are looking to the future with great expectation
to see what God will do in and through our seminary and
students.
We’re excited to be partnering with Northwest Baptist Seminary
in developing a competency-based program where students can
earn a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership. While most of our
students work and study part-time, this new partnership provides
students with a full-time option that allows them to complete the
program at an accelerated pace. The potential that this program
has to increase the quantity of leaders in Quebec is huge.
We have also launched a new campaign that will enable us
to help churches send more of their leaders for training at
SEMBEQ. Part of this will involve our already instated bursary
system. Along with our bursaries, we are adding a two-fold
campaign: the first part of the campaign involves me visiting
churches outside of Quebec and expressing the need for welltrained
leaders within the province. They will have an opportunity
to partner with us financially, reducing tuition costs for
students.
I will also be visiting churches within the province to share
SEMBEQ’s vision and goals in the hopes of recruiting new students.
During these visits, I will also be challenging our current
pastors to increase the number of candidates they are mentoring.
Working alongside SEMBEQ in our goal of producing
strong leaders is Mission Quebec, whose team will be working to
recruit leaders from outside the province.
At SEMBEQ we have seen the great need for
raising up strong leaders who will be able
to lead within our churches, communities,
and province. We are witnesses to the way
God is moving in and through us by providing
us with practical, affordable ways to
offer this training.
— François Turcotte is general director
and dean of SEMBEQ in Montreal, QC.
EQUIPPING BIBLICAL COUNSELLORS
by Bob MacGregor, Lead Pastor, and Carol Bell, Pastoral Care Coordinator at Grandview Baptist Church, Kitchener, ON
Canadians are experiencing the psychological aftershocks of a culture that is either running from God or openly hostile
to Him. As the Gospel is proclaimed and they come into the healing community of Christ, they bring with them
the self-destructive habits of their sin. At Grandview, with the help of the Association of Certified Biblical Counsellors
(ACBC), we are equipping nine specially approved people to provide solid biblical counselling. A comprehensive
recruiting, screening, and interview process was developed to find the right candidates. Led by Grandview’s Pastoral
Care Coordinator, Carol Bell, and a team of professionals from Grandview, the initiative is comprised of three
phases of training, and takes two years to complete (training includes direct instruction, counselling observation,
reading, theological and counselling exams, and counselling sessions supervised by an ACBC fellow).
The long-term vision is for these counselling services to be available to the community at no charge.

20 / thrive Winter 2020
LOCAL CHURCH
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
>
INTERVIEW
WITH KIRK GILES, PRESIDENT OF PROMISE KEEPERS
CANADA, AND MARVIN BRUBACHER, DIRECTOR OF MENTORLINK CANADA
UP TO SPEED: REGIONAL UPDATES
What is the mission of your organization?
Kirk: Promise Keepers’ mission is to
ignite and equip men to have a godly
impact. In short, we believe there is
a need to build up men as followers
of Jesus so they are bringing life to
their family, workplace, church, and
community.
Marvin: The mission of MentorLink is
to develop leaders who lead like Jesus,
with an emphasis on the heart. We believe
that every believing community
needs godly leaders and every leader
needs a godly mentor. Our desire is to
develop mentors to meet that need.
In what ways can we see a societal need for an organization
like yours?
Kirk: There have been so many conversations about toxic
masculinity in society today, but there are very few giving
a positive and God-honouring vision of masculinity.
Many of the most significant challenges in society and
the church have a root cause in the action (or inaction) of
men. Promise Keepers helps equip men to break free from
this pattern and engage in a cycle of God-focused discipleship
instead.
Marvin: The desire for mentoring is expressed in many
situations in our society. People feel the need for authentic
human relationships despite their social media connections.
Younger people often express their desire for an older,
mature adult to come alongside and provide guidance
and encouragement as they face challenges in life. This is
especially true in the millennial and younger generations.
MentorLink provides training to equip people to become
mentors of others within their relational circles. The concepts
are Biblically-based and simple enough to be applied
in many situations.
What are some ways your programs help to develop future
leaders?
Kirk: We are committed to developing more leaders to
advance the mission of the discipleship of men. Men’s ministry
is primarily led by lay leaders in the church. We have a
series of opportunities to help strengthen the skills of these
leaders.
In over 30 communities across Canada, we have launched
regional networks. These networks are gathering leaders
from a variety of churches to pray for the men in their

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 21
community, learn from each other, and work together to advance
the mission. In addition, our Blueprint Leadership Training will
help leaders build a strategy for successful discipleship of men in
their church. We also offer ongoing coaching to assist these leaders
in the various stages of development of their ministry efforts.
Heritage College and Seminary has partnered with us to develop
a course on the Discipleship of Men. This training is the
most extensive training we have seen to help current and future
leaders know how to build men.
Marvin: MentorLink has a variety of training tools that help
to develop future leaders. The core training of mentors is called
“Passing It On.” The MentorLink Institute provides training
through a series of seven modules: each module is a six-week
discussion by a group of five to seven people led by an experienced
mentor. Often these groups consist of people from a
variety of countries. The Leader’s Covenant leads a person or a
group of people through a discussion of ten aspirational statements
of what it means to be a Christian leader.
How does your organization partner with and support the local
church?
Kirk: We are best known for large men’s conferences we host
across the country. These events bring men from a large region
together and seek to begin or renew their walk with God.
However, we are committed to the discipleship of men which
means we are more than a weekend experience.
As we train and support leaders in the church, we also provide
a variety of ongoing resources to help develop men within the
church. Local churches can host workshops on various topics,
access small group resources, and provide other tools we have
to strengthen the men in the church. All of our tools can be
found on our website at promisekeepers.ca.
Marvin: MentorLink partners with local churches by providing
mentor training seminars that prepare people to become
mentors who develop leaders. This equips others to become
mentors, thus creating a movement of mentoring within the
congregation. All of our training tools are available on our website
at mentorlink.org.
For more information about the ministries of Promise Keepers Canada
and MentorLink Canada, please contact Kirk at info@promisekeepers.ca or 888-901-9700,
or Marvin at marvin@mentorlink.org or 519-240-5257.
INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH
by Jeremy Best, FEB Central Youth Director
Thriving churches have thriving youth ministries. Every week across Canada, there are thousands of students being ministered to
by the faithful youth pastors and volunteer youth leaders of our churches. They are making disciples and changing their communities
with the work they do. At FEB Youth we aim to bring these heroes the support and resources they need.
In December we hosted our third annual Gathering youth pastor’s retreat. For three days we stepped away from leading ministries
to focus on our own journey with God. The Gathering comes at a critical time of year — at the end of a busy fall season when many
youth pastors have been going hard for months. Taking time out to recalibrate is critical to the ongoing health of our youth pastors
and, by extension, their churches and ministries.
In May we will once again host The
Youth Ministry Summit. This event
is designed for youth pastors
and leaders to be encouraged,
equipped, and celebrated. Youth
leaders are some of the hardest
working and least resourced
servants in our churches. At
the Summit we provide training
and tools to help workers
build their ministries,
and also bring a ton of
encouragement to remind
them how amazing they
are.

Winter 2020
LEADERSFORMATION:
WHY YOU
SHOULD GET
INVOLVED
by Hannibal Muhtar
THE LAST WORD
LeadersFormation is a Fellowship
International ministry that introduces
a church-based solution to
global church leadership. It seeks to
engage Canadian pastors and churches
in the training of international
pastors, with the goal of equipping
leaders who establish their churches
and disciple others who, in turn, disciple
others — resulting in exponential
Kingdom growth.
The goal of LeadersFormation is the
imperative in 2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV): “…
what you have heard from me in the presence
of many witnesses entrust to faithful
men, who will be able to teach others
also.” Pastors train and disciple other
church leaders, empowering them to
do the same.
The effects of our projects are visible
in many areas, including: church
growth, new church plants, lives
changed (through teaching and obedience
to the Word of God), impact on
society (men are saved and are able to
lead their families well), and regional
outreach in which pastors train their
own pastors, as well as others from
various locations.
The door is open for Canadian churches and pastors to join on-going projects in
seven countries, and the many more which are currently being prayed over as
possibilities.
You can partner with LeadersFormation as:
• PROJECT PARTNERS: partner with other churches to fund a cohort
where pastors are trained. Churches partner to resource projects by providing
funds and trainers. This is a multi-year commitment for the same
project.
• PRAYER PARTNERS: praying for safety, funds, trainers, and clarity on
where to start new projects.
• VISION CASTERS: LeadersFormation invites churches to share their
own vision for missions, and create potential synergy as we select new
projects and pool resources.
• ONE-TIME DONORS: send one-time gifts — they are always welcome!
We invite churches to join us in acting as a channel of blessings to many pastors
worldwide. We have seen God at work with little, yet more can be done.
As Stewart Briscoe said, “Human resources, however limited, when willingly
offered and divinely empowered, are more than adequate to achieve divine
ends”.
— Hannibal Muhtar serves as LeadersFormation Assessor/Consultant until
September 2019.
For more information about LeadersFormation
or how you can partner with this impactful ministry, please
visit our website at fellowship.ca/leadersformation.

DON'T IGNORE
THESE WARNINGS
Winter 2020
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