Winter 2024

Winter 2024
CATCH THE VISION OF FAIR
A WORD FROM THE LOCAL CHURCH: FELLOWSHIP
PASTORS REFLECT ON LESSONS LEARNED
IS IT TIME TO SHUT DOWN THE LIVESTREAM?
THE NEW
NORM:
A COVID-19 POSTMORTEM

Winter 2024
THE
NEW
NORMAL?
by Steve Jones
THE FIRST WORD
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us were asking ourselves how the Church should behave while experiencing
a world-wide crisis. In one article, I asked: what would Jesus do? Or Luther or Paul? Pandemics are not new to humanity,
nor to the Church. Historian Vivian Nutton wrote that between the 14th and 18th centuries “a town would experience
an epidemic or plague approximately every decade and a serious devastation once in a generation.” We experienced a
generational event. Has it also caused a societal shift? Or, even closer to home, has it caused a cultural shift in how we do
Church?
WE ARE NOW TWO YEARS PAST LOCKDOWNS, RESTRICTIONS, AND FEAR OF AN
UNKNOWN VIRUS. ARE LOCAL CHURCHES BACK TO NORMAL, OR IS THERE A NEW
NORMAL?

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thrive / 3
A few years ago, we discussed how we should behave during COVID-19. In this
edition of Thrive, we investigate how the local church has settled post-pandemic.
Are there any changes? If so, are they temporary or permanent? How are
worship service attendance, offerings, volunteer numbers? Has the intensity
of internal conflict within our churches decreased or disappeared? What sorts
of hybrid worship forms and expressions are here to stay? A recent Hartford
Institute Religion Research Study funded by the Lilly Endowment discovered
75% of churches in the USA offered both in-person and virtual worship services
in these post-pandemic days. The same study reported that churches who had
a greater virtual presence saw their offerings increase dramatically by 150%. Is
that happening in our Fellowship churches?
HOW ARE WE ENCOURAGING ENGAGEMENT
BETWEEN CHURCH MEMBERS? HOW DO
WE ENGAGE VIRTUAL ATTENDERS BEFORE,
DURING, AND AFTER WORSHIP GATHERINGS?
IS COMMUNITY GOING TO SUFFER OVER TIME?
WILL VIRTUAL WORSHIP SERVICES BECOME
AN INCREMENTAL STEP FOR CHURCHES TO
BECOME PASSIVELY DE-CHURCHED AND
ULTIMATELY UN-CHURCHED?
These are but a few of many questions we should be asking. We’ll seek to identify
answers and possibly discover some of the trends in this edition of Thrive,
“The New Norm: A COVID-19 Postmortem”.
Steven Jones
is President of
The Fellowship
of Evangelical
Baptist Churches
in Canada. Follow
Steve on Twitter @
FellowshipSteve.

4 / thrive Winter 2024
THE FELLOWSHIP’S THEME VERSE FOR 2024 IS:
“LET US SHOW THE TRUTH BY OUR ACTIONS.”
1 JOHN 3:18B (NLT)
11 JOURNEY WITH A CHILD
You can connect with us on FACEBOOK:
www.facebook.com/thefellowshipca,
on INSTAGRAM: @thefellowshipca,
and on TWITTER: @thefellowshipca.
Come and join the conversation.
2 THE FIRST WORD
THE NEW NORMAL / Steve Jones
5 FOUNDATION
POST-COVID-19: ARE YOUR AFFAIRS IN
ORDER? / Gord Baptist
6 OUT THERE
COVID-19 AND THE MISSION FIELD: WHAT
CHANGED? / Ben Porter
10 LOVE EXTENDED
FAREWELL FROM DAN SHURR
WEATHERING THE STORM APPEAL: UPDATE / Sunny Lee
INTRODUCING NORTON LAGES: THE
FELLOWSHIP’S NEXT FAIR DIRECTOR!
CATCH THE VISION OF FAIR / Denise Wicks
12 GROUND WORK
HOW THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED EVANGELISM AND CHURCH
PLANTING PROJECTS IN QUÉBEC / Hugo Éthier
DID COVID-19 CHANGE CHAPLAINCY? / Larry Freeman
14 UP TO SPEED
PANDEMIC LESSONS FROM COAST TO COAST: REGIONAL
UPDATES
A WORD FROM THE LOCAL CHURCH: FELLOWSHIP PASTORS
REFLECT ON LESSONS LEARNED
20 TRUTH TALK
SEMINARIES POST-PANDEMIC: WHAT HAS CHANGED?
22 THE LAST WORD
IS IT TIME TO SHUT DOWN THE LIVESTREAM? / Paul Carter
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, and a shared sense of identity and vision. Thrive is published
three times per 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
THE FELLOWSHIP CHILD
SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
Have you heard about the Fellowship Child Sponsorship
Program? Overseen by Fellowship International missionaries,
children are provided with holistic care in residential and
non-residential settings. Sponsorship provides love for today
and hope for tomorrow within five locations across four
countries: Casa Hogar (Honduras), Cedar Home (Lebanon),
Clementia Life Centre (Lebanon), Joy Foundation (Dominican
Republic), and Love Trust (Sri Lanka). Visit fellowship.ca/
ChildSponsorship to learn more.
EPIC and Onside is a Gospel-centred, Kingdom-centric organization
that partners with local churches to help families
thrive by fostering growth — emotionally, spiritually, physically,
and relationally — while connecting churches to their
communities through faith, sport, and creativity.
EPIC and Onside have partnered with churches to run
camps, sports leagues, PA Day camps, STEM programs, and
other outreach programs for the community for the past 10
years. How can EPIC and Onside support your community
initiatives? Visit epicandonside.ca for more information.

foundation
POST-COVID-19:
ARE YOUR
AFFAIRS
IN ORDER?
by Gord Baptist
According to Stats Canada, 54,276
deaths have occurred related to
COVID-19. 1 According to the Angus
Reid Institute, more than half of
Canadians (51%) do not have a Last
Will and Testament in place. 2 These
numbers underscore how necessary
it is to ensure that your estate
planning is up-to-date. For those that
don’t have a Will, consider having one drafted to avoid estate
distribution conflicts such as family litigations, potential
probate fees, and, of course, paying unnecessary estate taxes.
For those who already have a Will, check to make sure this
document is up-to-date. Do you have a valid executor and
alternate executor? Have beneficiaries or your spouse passed
on? Is your lawyer still in practice?
If you need help drafting or updating your Will, please contact
me using the information below and I’ll be glad to work with
you to ensure that your Will is kept up-to-date and viable.
— Gord Baptist is Fellowship Advancement Director
and can be reached at 519.821.4830, ext. 244,
fax: 519.821.9829, gbaptist@fellowship.ca.
1
Government of Canada Website, accessed on October 23, 2023: health-infobase.canada.ca/covid-19/current-situation.
html?stat=num&measure=deaths_total&map=pt#a2.
2
Angus Reid Institute Website, accessed October 23, 2023: angusreid.org/canada-will-testament-intestate-dying-without-will/#:~:text=New%20data%20
from%20the%20non,this%20subject%20five%20years%20ago.
MAY IS “LEGACY-GIVING MONTH”
Doing God’s will through your Will.
As believers, we are called to recognize that everything we have belongs to God. Actually,
EVERYTHING belongs to God. Deuteronomy 10:14 (NIV): “To the LORD your God belong the
heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.”
As good stewards, we are called to distribute this blessing in accordance with His will. We
are to honour Him in our tithes and offerings, in being generous to the poor, and by taking
care of our family — not only while we are alive, but also when we pass on, which can be
done through Legacy Giving.
Legacy Giving shows your devotion to God’s stewardship principles and blesses Kingdom
ministries for years to come, teaching your children and family members about the importance
of giving generously as the Lord commands. To raise awareness of the importance
of Legacy Giving, we have dedicated the month of May as “Legacy Giving Month”.
A 2022 Angus Reid poll discovered that only 12% of Canadians planned to
leave a legacy gift to charity in their Estate. This May, you can decide to
leave a legacy gift to the Fellowship Foundation, blessing the ministries
you are committed to in life and death. For help with legacy giving
or other Estate matters, please contact Gord Baptist, Fellowship
Advancement Director at 519.821.4830, ext. 244;
fax: 519.821.9829; gbaptist@fellowship.ca.
FOUNDATION

Winter 2024
COVID-19 AND
THE MISSION FIELD:
WHAT CHANGED?
by Ben Porter
OUT THERE: FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL
BEN PORTER,
FELLOWSHIP
INTERNATIONAL
DIRECTOR
>
For our missionaries who are usually
running at 100 km/hour, the
pandemic was probably the only thing
that could bring everyone to a halt.
When governments started mandating
lockdowns, we encouraged our
Fellowship International missionaries
to take this rare chance to reset, revise,
and refocus.
With fields across the globe, the pandemic
looked different for each of our
missionaries. There was, however, one thing that was the
same: our missionary family came out of the gate running
once restrictions were lifted. Like a race horse bursting out
onto the track, our missionaries hit the ground running,
propelled by renewed strength and vision.
Since the pandemic, I’m thrilled to share that our God-sized
vision of multiplication through movements is no longer
just a theory, but a reality. We are seeing the beginning
sparks of movements as our missionaries are making disciples
who make more disciples in Jesus’ name.
From September 2022 to August 2023, our missionaries
reported 547 Discovery Bible Studies, 399 baptisms, 429 national
leaders trained, and more. And this fiscal year, we’re
already on track to double some of these numbers!
God is moving in extraordinary ways, and we can’t do our
work without YOUR extraordinary prayer. Please join us
in our newly launched Prayer Room to pray alongside our
missionaries!
Join the online Prayer Room
to connect with Fellowship
International missionaries
to hear prayer and ministry
updates!
fellowshipinternational.engagespaces.com
ROB AND KATHRYN
FLEMING, FELLOWSHIP
MISSIONARIES IN JAPAN
The pandemic was a bit of
a bore for Japanese people.
Wear masks and stay two
meters apart? Been there,
done that. Masks have
been a hay fever remedy
for many years. Also, the
Japanese bow from a distance, they don’t hug! Kathryn and
I thought we were heading to a new city near Tokyo when
we returned to Japan in September 2020, but God used the
pandemic to nudge us further north to the same city where
we had spent most of our 30 years in Japan.
Since our return, God has given Kathryn the opportunity
to begin regular Discovery Bible Studies with many non-
Christian Japanese ladies in our community. Rob has established
a good connection with five small Japanese churches
where he preaches/teaches weekly. One highlight from
Rob’s itinerant ministry post-pandemic is the husband
of a Christian wife in Sakura. He came to hear a “funny”
Canadian preacher talk about important things and went
home with Jesus as his Saviour!
DIEGO AND CLAUDIA
CARDONA, FELLOWSHIP
MISSIONARIES IN
COLOMBIA
Claudia talks by phone to
María, while on her computer
she reviews the list
of families without food,
medicine, or money to pay
for their home utilities.
She then talks with an elderly woman about what to do to
preserve the body of her brother who has just died from
COVID-19; there is no other person who can help, and no
one will approach her house. Claudia is inquiring about
the cleaning chemicals that this woman has in her home,
to help minimize the threat to public health. This is one of

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...OUR
MISSIONARIES
HIT THE GROUND
RUNNING,
PROPELLED
BY RENEWED
STRENGTH
AND VISION.
the most dramatic stories we experienced during the
pandemic, but there were also stories of love and solidarity
that made us cry joyful tears.
Our ministry in Colombia grew during the pandemic. New
believers, a revolutionary growth of small home groups, numerous
resources put online, and new workers. All this taught
us some lessons. First, God is faithful in caring for His people,
providing, and using us to bring the Gospel to others. Second,
we are much more vulnerable than we are willing to admit.
Third, this can happen again, and we are better prepared now
than before.
INGRID AND RICARDO
CASTRO, FELLOWSHIP MIS-
SIONARIES IN SPAIN
Before the pandemic, we were
helping a group of Christians
in Llerena with no access to
computers and limited digital
knowledge. We were able to
train them in the Discovery
Bible Study (DBS) format successfully.
When the pandemic hit, we continued to follow the
group through WhatsApp, the only application they managed
quite well with their phones. When we tried to restart in-person
meetings, the group seemed to have vanished, with many
having moved away. As we were moving from Extremadura to
Sevilla, we thought this group had died. Imagine our surprise
when they restarted meeting online! The same core couple
initiated the meetings from their new location, and they do so
consistently every Friday. Not only has the DBS format empowered
them, but the pandemic gave them the confidence to use
a digital tool to follow the group and help it grow in spite of
geographical barriers.
KARIM AND RITA ANAYSSI, FELLOWSHIP MISSIONARIES
AT CEDAR HOME IN LEBANON
Since its inception in 1950, Cedar
Home NEVER shut its doors until
Lebanon was hit with COVID-19
and the Ministry of Social Affairs
required that we shut down our
residential operations. Half of our
girls had no family to go back to.
We had to make the best decisions
in a short amount of time
in order to secure a safe place for
each girl.
There were three factors for success: the first was the amazing
relationship with the families of the girls who had them. After
years of consistent love, trust, and coaching, the girls who had
a parent or extended family were able to go back and live with
them, with all the relief needs of the household provided for
by Cedar Home, along with weekly visits. The second factor
for success was the church: the few girls who had no family or
who, for safety reasons, couldn’t be with their families were
so lovingly taken care of by families from church. The third
factor was our team who maintained the same quality of work
and dedication to make sure our girls continued to receive
love and care.
In 2020, we were allowed to re-open. The girls and team were
so happy to be back, and the pandemic left us with a gift: the
opportunity to start and continue the relief program for needy
families.
...THE PANDEMIC LEFT US WITH A GIFT: THE OPPORTUNITY
TO START AND CONTINUE THE RELIEF PROGRAM FOR NEEDY FAMILIES.

love extended
Winter 2024
FAREWELL FROM DAN SHURR
It has truly been a pleasure for me to serve the last 15 years in the Fellowship National Ministry
Centre, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as FAIR Director since 2015. This has
been a passion for me, not just a job. I sensed deeply God’s calling and gifting for this role.
Seeing God at work in our world has been a special opportunity, and sharing these experiences
with Fellowship churches and donors has been a highlight. I want to thank each
person I have served with in the FAIR department over the years; more recently, Norman
Nielsen, Denise Wicks, and Paul Hildebrand — you have enriched my life.
With much gratitude,
Dan Shurr, FAIR Director 2015-2023
WEATHERING THE STORM
APPEAL: UPDATE by Sunny Lee
LOVE EXTENDED: FAIR
The pandemic may feel like a distant memory, but it
wasn’t too long ago that our Fellowship International
missionaries had to pivot their entire ministries. It affected
every part of our lives, including how we got our groceries,
how we attended church, how we interacted with our family
and friends, and beyond.
In the Fall of 2020, FAIR responded to the pandemic with
the Weathering the Storm appeal. Thanks to your generosity,
we raised $160,000, doubling our initial fundraising goal!
Funds were used to purchase food and household essentials
and, in some cases, provide rent support for families.
Your giving impacted thousands of lives through our
Fellowship missionaries and their ministries: Diego and
Claudia Cardona (Colombia), Karim and Rita Anayssi and
Bechara and Roula Karkafi (Lebanon), Edwin and Helmi
Karwur (Indonesia), Ronald Jeyaseelan (Sri Lanka), the
Walls (France), stranded international students in Canada,
and in the area surrounding Shikarpur Christian Hospital
(Pakistan).
One country that was notably impacted by the pandemic
was Lebanon, where Karim and Rita Anayssi run Cedar
Home, and Bechara and Roula Karkafi oversee Clementia

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thrive / 9
Life Centre. In 2020, not only was Lebanon affected by
COVID-19 like the rest of the world, but they were also facing
the aftermath of the Beirut explosion and a staggering influx
of Syrian refugees. During this crippling darkness, your donations
through FAIR’s Weathering the Storm appeal allowed
our missionaries to shine Christ’s light.
Roula shares, “Thanks to your support, we were able to
launch the vocational training program for Syrian refugee
teenagers who had to join the workforce to assist their
families, preventing them from continuing their education
with us!”
Today, our missionaries and their ministries are thriving,
having overcome the difficulties of the pandemic.
Thank you for your ongoing prayer and financial
support that propels us in our mission to alleviate
suffering and injustice in Christ’s name.
— Sunny Lee is an Administrative Assistant for
Fellowship International.
INTRODUCING
NORTON LAGES:
THE FELLOWSHIP’S
NEXT FAIR DIRECTOR!
We are pleased to announce
that Norton Lages of Montréal,
QC has accepted the call to
become our next FAIR Director,
commencing March 1, 2024.
Norton is married to Tatiana (Tati)
and together they followed God’s
clear call nine years ago to leave
Brazil to serve God in Québec. They
have been church planters (with Église 21), and Norton
is cofounder of Mission Québec and is current Director of
Development for AEBEQ. Norton and Tati served with World
Changers International and Metamorfose, two relief ministries
working in impoverished neighbourhoods in Salvador,
Brazil, along with serving on the Baptist World Alliance Human
Rights Advocacy Committee working in areas of freedom and
justice.
Norton is Brazilian by birth and a Canadian citizen. He is fluent
in four languages: Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish–a
tremendous asset as many FAIR projects are located in countries
where these languages are predominant. He has a Master
of Missiology (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, North
Carolina), a Master of Business Administration (Salvador University,
Salvador, Brazil), and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Communications in
Marketing (Polifucs College, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil).
Join us as we welcome Norton to the Fellowship National staff this
March!

10 / thrive Winter 2024
CATCH
THE VISION
OF FAIR by
Denise Wicks

thrive-magazine.ca
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON THE
RECEIVING END OF THE GIFT OF
MERCY AND COMPASSION? I HAVE.
My son was born with a lung defect in March 2021. We spent the
first week of his life in the NICU in a hospital that was a 45-minute
drive from our home. During that time, we were blessed by a
well-known secular charity which fed and housed us only one short
block away from the hospital. The first day we arrived there, I wept and praised God for His
provision in a time of great need. The organization may not have done their work in the
name of Christ, but God surely used them to minister to us in those days.
I often think of the care we received. It met our physical needs more completely than we
could have imagined. The only thing it lacked was spiritual care. In our case, my husband
and I had hope and faith in Christ, and we had our church family, who prayed with us and
encouraged us every step of the way. But what about the other families? Was there anyone
praying for them through the isolation of hospital visits in the midst of pandemic restrictions?
Where were they placing their hope? I also think about families in countries where
healthcare is difficult to access. How devastating to know that your child is fighting for
their life and you can’t help them. What hope do they cling to in times of need?
Life has taught me the importance of serving with both word and deed. You can’t truly meet
a person’s needs without the truth and hope of the Gospel.
FAIR’s mission is to alleviate human suffering and social injustice. How this plays out is
different in each situation, but the core principle remains – providing holistic care through
local believers. There’s no perfect formula, but when the global Church gives so that the local
Church can minister in the name of Christ to the whole person, hearts become open to
hearing the Gospel, and God’s Kingdom is built.
This winter, FAIR’s Catch the Vision special appeal seeks to highlight four FAIR projects and
raise $160,000 to help provide holistic care through Fellowship International missionaries
and the local Church. Whether it’s surgical training in Madagascar, helping marginalized
communities in Sri Lanka, vocational training in Pakistan, or supports for inmates in the
MENA and Stan regions, each project offers both the truth of the Gospel and tangible love
in action.
I hope and pray you will “catch the vision” of FAIR and choose to help bring mercy and
compassion to those who need it through this special appeal.
— Denise Wicks is a FAIR Projects and Promotion Coordinator.
PARTNERING TO END ONLINE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
OF CHILDREN IN THE PHILIPPINES
International Justice Mission (IJM) has been one of FAIR’s partner organizations since 2015. Since the beginning,
the partnership has been focused on supporting their work to end online sexual exploitation of
children in the Philippines. Over the years, FAIR has promoted three special appeals which have raised
$426,000 to help fund rescue operations and establish an aftercare and specialized foster program for survivors.
There is still much work to be done, but we celebrate every young life rescued and pray for justice for
perpetrators and survivors alike.

ground work
Winter 2024
HOW THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED
EVANGELISM AND CHURCH PLANTING
PROJECTS IN QUÉBEC
by Hugo Éthier
GROUND WORK: FRANCOPHONE MINISTRY
Like the majority of people on our
planet, evangelism and church
planting projects in Québec have
been affected by the recent pandemic.
Looking at the various effects, we can
see both rejoicing and heart-breaking
examples. Among the encouraging
effects, we can mention the switch to
online broadcasting of worship services
and preaching. During the pandemic, we heard several
stories of people coming closer to the Gospel, and even
being converted, thanks to going online. Churches have
also had to learn to meet virtually, and what was at first
bizarre became advantageous for many. Of course, we miss
some of the important elements of face-to-face meetings,
but we can come together more often, in greater numbers,
to share and pray. The pandemic also increased worry and
anxiety levels, which prompted many people to seek answers
and security in the area of faith. Several testimonies
were given of contacts and even conversions to Christ due
to the anxiety created by the pandemic.
What was less encouraging was the fact that many people,
who had previously been weak in their faith, dropped out
of various groups’ meetings. Considering that evangelism
and church planting projects often include seekers and/
or new Christians, some of them were drawn away from
the faith. Many young church plants experienced financial
pressure as well.
What we can conclude is that the Lord Jesus is sovereign,
that we have seen His good hand throughout this surprising
period, and that the “final balance sheet” is generally
encouraging.
— Hugo Éthier is lead pastor at Renaissance Evangelical
Baptist Church in Rivière-des-Prairies, Montréal, a
former church planter in Riviere-du-Loup, and a former
mathematics teacher. He serves as Fellowship National's
Francophone Coordinator.
If you’d like to learn more about evangelistic and church planting projects
in Québec or to see how you can partner with us, join us for our next virtual
Québec Vision Tour on March 7, 2024. Contact Hugo Éthier by email at
hethier@fellowship.ca or by phone at 514.799.7704.

thrive-magazine.ca thrive / 13
DID COVID-19 CHANGE
CHAPLAINCY? by Larry Freeman
When one thinks of chaplaincy
ministry, the phrase “ministry of
presence” often comes to mind — being
physically present in the life and lifesituations
of others. The pandemic was
both a challenge and a blessing to our
Fellowship chaplains. Some could no longer
be present physically and had to pivot
to the use of technology, while others
had doors of opportunity open up. Where are we now? Here are
comments from three Fellowship chaplains:
Mike Garabedian, lead chaplain at Toronto Pearson
International Airport writes: “Our opportunities have shifted
since the pandemic. We used to experience steady numbers
at our ‘services’, but we have never recovered those numbers.
We’re coming across many who have disconnected from their
local churches. This has caused us to rethink some of our approaches.
First, we’re mentoring and equipping our chaplains
to minister in this context, and second, we’re offering them
resources that can be applied in short timeframes. Since most
of our ministry revolves around airport employees, we can be
intentional in our subsequent interactions as we follow up with
their progress.”
Alex Krause is a military chaplain in Cold Lake, AB and he
writes: “The military chaplain context changed during the
pandemic because many of us were unable to do ministry of
presence in a regular way. So, as with everyone else, we had to
get creative and put things online. We also started doing online
Sunday services. Many chaplains were busy helping military
members with obtaining religious exemption from getting the
COVID-19 vaccine. This was a hard time for many chaplains
weighing religious belief against government mandate. For the
most part, however, things have gotten back to normal for military
chaplains.”
The last word will go to Charlie Lyons, Legislative chaplain at
Queens Park in Ontario. He writes: “Pandemic-era chaplaincy
revealed a palpable two-edged sword of presence. Early on, we
learned the tough lesson that more could be accomplished by
meeting virtually than many of us initially thought; virtual
connections played a critical role when in-person appointments
were impossible. Then, as restrictions loosened and in-person
engagement returned, the growing realization was that our
temporary pandemic screen time was the digital understudy to
the leading star role of physical proximity — a less-than-ideal yet
necessary component of the holistic performance of presence.”
— Larry Freeman is Fellowship Chaplaincy Coordinator.

Winter 2024
PANDEMIC LESSONS FROM COAST
TO COAST: REGIONAL UPDATES
by Valerie Heaton
Each of our five Fellowship Regions faced different circumstances and challenges during the
COVID-19 pandemic. Below we hear from our Regional Directors about the changes their Regions
underwent and the lessons learned throughout the last four years.
UP TO SPEED: REGIONAL UPDATES
Q: What lessons have our church leaders learned since the pandemic
ended?
Andrew Swanson, Acting Regional
Director, Fellowship Atlantic:
“Church leaders have had to learn to be
flexible, and that most of our normal
statistics could not help us define what
success looked like during the pandemic.
Mostly, they have had to learn
to hope in God. They have also had to
discern where to adapt ministry to our changing world and
where to stand firm.”
Louis Bourque, Regional Director,
AEBEQ:
“We saw opened doors for government
and society to dialogue about why
churches are important, useful, and an
essential community service. The strain
highlighted which church members
were engaged and which were consumers.
COVID-19 exhausted our leaders because none of us
knew how to react, and those who were the most exhausted
tended to be rigid or limited with technology.”
Tom Haines, Regional Director,
FEB Central:
“Leaders have learned that the
Church has been in greater need
of renewal than we previously
thought. Many realized events
and strategies can’t replace zeal for
the Gospel. Leaders were forced
to answer the question: ‘what are the right hills to die
on?’ They learned how easy it is for third-level truths
to become first-level when the Church is not deeply
grounded in the Great Commandment and the Great
Commission.”
Mark Breitkreuz, Regional
Director, Fellowship Prairies
“Our leaders learned that it’s possible
to have different ‘sides’ of an
issue and not have to see the other
side as sinful or ungodly. It can
simply be a different perspective,
or a different scenario that shapes the best response in a
particular church’s context.”

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 15
David Horita, Regional Director,
Fellowship Pacific
“There are very differing opinions
amongst church adherents about many
important matters. We don’t all just ‘get
along’. Many seem to equate their faith
with freedom and rights, seeing any infringement
on the part of governments as
an affront to their faith.”
Q: Have our priorities, ministries, or gathering spaces changed
post-pandemic?
Andrew: “Many of our churches have done a good job of
thinking through how to better minister to our communities.
We have also leaned into shared ministry between churches.
Fellowship Atlantic has increasingly found that we are stronger
together than we are apart.”
Louis: “They developed greater intentionality and creativity
in taking care of those who are isolated, sick, lonely, elderly, or
unfamiliar with technology and unable to attend in person. The
polarization that arose challenged our churches to remain loving
and united.”
“THE POLARIZATION THAT AROSE
CHALLENGED OUR CHURCHES TO
REMAIN LOVING AND UNITED.”
Tom: “It forced them to evaluate outreach, discipleship, and
worship — are we doing these effectively?”
Mark: “Some have prioritized small groups more than before.
Online ministry has developed and has been maintained.
Gathering spaces have stayed for the most part, but leaders are
more open to looking to options in the future.”
David: “Ministries gradually changed back to ‘normal’ postpandemic,
but we are seeing more and more interest in online
church in larger churches as well as satellite churches/
campuses.”
Q: What have we learned about remote ministry and live streaming
over the past two years, since the lockdown and restrictions were
lifted? Is remote ministry here to stay? Why or why not?
Andrew: “Many pastors and church leaders have expressed that
they are encouraged by the ministry streaming allows them to
have in their communities, but are also concerned about the
number of people who think that remote ministry is of equal
value as gathering in person with other believers.”
Louis: “It helped us understand the importance of having online
resources for the younger generation, since many will visit
a church online before visiting it in person. The experience led
many churches to keep an online presence in order to remain
connected with our culture.”
Tom: “The pandemic helped clarify the use of technology.
Leaders learned not to give everything away remotely. Offer
something, but also recognize that there should be more in person.
Tech should be a connection point to be built on. Online
services were a good touchpoint, but in-person gatherings are
necessary for the ongoing health of the local church.”
Mark: “I believe it is here to stay. Churches have seen it as a
great outreach for non-Christians. Being able to access services
online also made it easier to send to someone you feel would
connect with it, or for those who can’t attend a particular
Sunday to enjoy the service later.”
David: “A certain (small) percentage of people/families prefer
online ongoing — enough to keep it going, but not enough to
see it ever rival live services.”
Q: What did we learn about the Church’s relationship with government
throughout and after lockdowns?
Andrew: “We learned that it is always time to pray for those in
authority and that we should have a heart of submission to God
and those He has placed in leadership over us. We also acknowledge
that we are sometimes confused about how to best live as
neighbours in communities and as servants of Jesus Christ.”
Louis: “COVID-19 forced a positive dialog between churches
and government, either through MPs or through organizations
that represent churches before the government, which has
lasted — that’s a first for Québec!”
Tom: “The post-Christian culture came clearly into view. We
do not live in a Christian nation any longer, if we ever did. The
Church is not a political entity.
Leaders learned that they may
have been putting too much confidence
in government.”
Mark: “Some relationships between
church and government
are good, and some are not. Some
people within both groups are
easier/harder to love. The simplicity
of ‘love God, love others’ was
helpful during times that we just
lived through; that had incredible
complexity built into it.”
David: “Government doesn’t have
to be seen as an enemy. They take
the ministry community seriously
and are interested in our
feedback, but they cannot/do not
THE SIMPLICITY
OF ‘LOVE GOD,
LOVE OTHERS’
WAS HELPFUL
DURING TIMES
THAT WE JUST
LIVED THROUGH;
THAT HAD
INCREDIBLE
COMPLEXITY
BUILT INTO IT.
differentiate between faith groups. They see denominational offices
as ‘representative’ voices of their congregations and expect
them to provide feedback on behalf of their churches, which
some churches do not appreciate. Pastors value being brought
together, even if online, to share what’s going on in their local
contexts and to see/hear how others are facing similar issues.”

16 / thrive Winter 2024
A WORD FROM
THE LOCAL CHURCH:
FELLOWSHIP PASTORS REFLEC

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 17
T ON LESSONS LEARNED
The Fellowship is a collection of over 500 local churches, each with unique cultures
and community. The challenges faced by churches in Nova Scotia were different
from those experienced by churches in British Columbia, and the lessons each congregation
learned reflect this. Below we’ve gathered testimonials from Fellowship
pastors and church staff across Canada sharing what their churches encountered
throughout COVID-19 and beyond.
Colin McMahon, Associate Pastor, Parker’s Cove Baptist Church, Granville
Ferry, NS:
“Due to the lack of decent internet access here, we never had the opportunity
to engage in livestreaming. We would pre-record services and post
them (oftentimes an upload would take 12-14 hours for a single service).
We quickly realized that the effort that went into this was well worth it as
those who were unable to attend church for various reasons, even postpandemic,
were still able to be ministered to.”
Derik Fuller, Co-Lead Pastor, Forward Church, Cambridge, ON:
“We learned that the tools that allow us to do ministry online are incredible
blessings that we shouldn’t throw away but instead should figure out
how to best leverage for the sake of making disciples. Our online presence
is the front door for people who are looking to engage with us in person.
Our online services allow people to invite someone to check out a service
without them having to worry that they are going to be trapped for 60 – 90
minutes.
“Online ministry also lets us better minister to people we have neglected in the past like shutins,
parents who are stuck at home with sick kids, people who have to work on Sunday, or
missionaries in the field. Whether we like it or not, our people, especially those under 40, live
their lives online and in-person. To vacate the digital world is to leave where the next generation
is living. If we’re serious about reaching and discipling people, we should be figuring out
how to better engage them in the spaces they live — not just on Sunday, but Monday through
Saturday.”
Jennifer Alder, Music Director, Main Street Baptist Church, Sackville, NB:
“We had to evaluate how government commands lined up with God’s
commands — for the first time. Most churches were able to successfully
navigate continuing with ministry while honouring the government.
There were times when we felt our government was not recognizing the
importance of the church’s role in the spiritual health of our communities,
and were able to push back by writing to our government representatives
as opposed to just breaking laws. Just how much control the government
had of our gathering and movement is disconcerting; I’m thankful that we don’t live in a country
where that kind of oversight is a normal part of life. I pray we don’t end up back in that type
of situation again.”

18 / thrive Winter 2024
Hugo Éthier, Pastor, Église Baptiste
Évangélique de Rivière-des-Prairies,
Montréal, QC:
“In talking with several church leaders in
Québec, I’ve found that we live in a country
with a lot of individual freedoms, and if
government wants to restrict our individual
rights and freedoms we are reactive. Many
of our churches experienced internal tensions, either at the leadership
level or with members in general. Most churches found
themselves somewhere between compliance and rebellion. At
the theological level, we have been pushed to reflect on the Holy
Scriptures and past experiences in the history of the Church to
try to find the best response in the face of extraordinary governmental
demands.”
Pierre Tang, Senior Pastor, North York
Chinese Baptist Church, Toronto, ON
“Our church has three language congregations:
Cantonese (Hong Kong), Mandarin
(Mainland and Taiwan), and English (second
and third generation). It was challenging
for our leadership to maintain unity
throughout the pandemic. Both Cantonese
and Mandarin church members were hesitant to resume
in-person meetings. As of today, we still have about 40% of
Cantonese and Mandarin congregants joining the online
Sunday services. Our pastoral theology is to observe communion
in person, not online, which upset some. We also decided
not to post worship/sermon recordings after the services.
In the end, we chose to uphold the value of church life!”
prolonged isolation coupled with immersion in digital media
have significantly affected children and adults. So, apart from
being ready to counsel, we’ve oriented our ministries around
rebuilding community and strengthening relationships that
have frayed over the last two years. As we’ve been intentional
about deepening our love for one another, the Lord has been
opening opportunities to give the Gospel to people around us.”
Matt Rudd, Lead Pastor, Calvary Baptist
Church, Ottawa, ON:
“For our church, they’re here to stay,
though perhaps in a more marginal manner
than some might have imagined.
We have used livestreams for outreach,
blasting out videos into our community.
Our small groups and board meetings are
often now using hybrid formats to include people who would
have been absent otherwise.
“We’re both grateful for the blessings of virtual ministry and
aware of its limitations. A ‘like’ or an emoji or even a ‘Good
Steve Hiltz, Senior Pastor, Faith
Baptist Church, NS:
“We have realized afresh the
value of fellowship and the great
importance of building and
maintaining relationships over
being programmed to death, or
for the sake of simply ‘running
the machine’ of programs and busyness. It has
made us reevaluate the root purpose of everything
we do and do not do as a local church.”
RJ Umandap, Lead Pastor,
Crestwicke Baptist
Church, Guelph, ON:
“At Crestwicke, we’ve
deliberately slowed
down our postpandemic
ministry
efforts. Our leadership
has been careful to allow our key
ministry leaders and members ample
time for rest. We also recognize that

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 19
morning!’ online is no substitute for a real smile, hug, greeting,
or welcome. Singing with many voices is much more edifying
to the soul than singing along with a video. Hearing the
Word of God face-to-face is far superior to having the message
mediated through a screen. Partaking of the physical elements
of the Lord’s Supper when we come together seems to be how
God intended it to happen. And the ability to pull someone
aside for a conversation or to pray with them just isn't the
same online.”
Paul Park, Lead Pastor, South Delta Baptist
Church, Delta, BC
“The pandemic revealed the lack of
meaningful community in our society.
Despite having thousands of followers
on Instagram, many people lack genuine
community to which they belong. People
in Vancouver frequently express that our
city is a lonely city. Coming out of the pandemic, we learned
that we, as a church, could offer the world a radically hospitable
and meaningfully connected community that is centred
around Jesus Christ—the most hospitable host that invites us
to dine with Him at His royal table. Please go and read 2 Samuel
9:11 and you’ll find a beautiful picture of God’s hospitality: ‘So
Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons.’
How can we invite our community to dine at God’s table as His
children?”
Nathan Klahsen, Lead Pastor, Knollwood
Baptist Church, London, ON
“Our priorities shifted to starting small
groups in order to help our members care
for one another. Much of our church
shifted to online tools, such as financial
giving and a church app to help keep our
people connected and in the loop. Our gathering space changed
as we renovated during the pandemic, allowing us to update
our technology to allow for online streaming and needed cosmetic
changes. We’ve also shifted to a plurality of elders model
to help care for our congregation.”
WE ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT
PROLONGED
ISOLATION
COUPLED WITH
IMMERSION
IN DIGITAL
MEDIA HAVE
SIGNIFICANTLY
AFFECTED
CHILDREN AND
ADULTS.

truth talk
Winter 2024
SEMINARIES
POST-PANDEMIC:
WHAT HAS
CHANGED?
Just as many aspects of our daily lives were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bible Colleges and
Seminaries within our Fellowship had to change and adapt in order for students to continue their studies
both during the time of restrictions and after. Below we read how these necessary changes affected life for
students and staff at Northwest Seminary and College in Langley, BC, and Heritage College & Seminary in
Cambridge, ON.
TRUTH TALK: THEOLOGY AND TRENDS
BARTON PRIEBE, PRESIDENT,
NORTHWEST SEMINARY AND
COLLEGE
Prior to the pandemic, Northwest conducted
research in our constituency
(with students, alumni, ministry leaders,
and mentors) that showed an overwhelming
need for us to offer resources
in and beyond our credentialed programs to help ministry
leaders cultivate mental health in their own lives and the
lives of the people they are caring for, serving, and leading.
The pandemic confirmed this research and motivated us to
shape the way we approach the pastoral care aspects of the
curriculum and life-long learning resources we design to
prepare ministry leaders for their vital work in and beyond
the local church. In response, we also created a new position
for Student Support, and were more proactive in prayer,
reaching out to students, and accommodating student needs.
Finally, we connected with Christian charities that excel in
these areas and are actively seeking ways to partner with
them to meet this significant need in our faith communities.
Our Competency Based Theological Education (CBTE) model
was already fully distance-based prior to the pandemic,
except for instructional seminars, which made it easier
to move to fully online seminars once restrictions hit.
Our recent building expansion included the design of a
classroom outfitted with high-end technology for video,
sound, and lighting. Students reported a much better
online experience than through regular Zoom calls.
Likewise, our research and investment in an innovative
learning management system has really helped us
provide an engaging learning experience for our many
students who complete their coursework while they are
embedded in their ministry contexts.
Since embracing our CBTE model, the school building
is no longer the hub of social or community life because
students are immersed in their local community
contexts. Alongside their ministry relationships, we
provide planned gatherings like fall and spring retreats,
online meetings, short intensive life-long learning opportunities,
and discussion groups. One of the challenges
of the post-pandemic world is that people want
community, but can feel like it is too much given everything
else they carry in their daily lives. We are seeking
to learn what works practically for our students so that
community is a joy and not a burden.

thrive-magazine.ca
thrive / 21
RICK REED, CHANCELLOR, HERITAGE
COLLEGE & SEMINARY
The impact of the pandemic was felt in all sectors
of society—including educational institutions
like Heritage College & Seminary.
From my perspective, the impact was more
pronounced in our college than our seminary.
Campus life for our college students, many of
whom live in residence halls, was disrupted as we followed provincial
health requirements related to social distancing and reduced limits
for gatherings. Our Heritage Student Services Team worked hard to
help those struggling with mental health issues related to pandemic
realities. We were extremely grateful for the resilient response from
college students who adapted to the challenges and made the best of a
difficult situation. God’s grace was evident and ample.
Since all our seminary students live off campus, the impact of
COVID-19 was reduced for seminarians. We were already set up to
livestream classes, which allowed learning to continue
without interruption. I was impressed with the way our
IT team assisted professors in making sure classes went
smoothly. We also continued to upgrade our classroom
technology which has enhanced the quality of the seminary
experience for those who join classes online.
We continue to develop our capacity to deliver excellent
online courses while also emphasizing the value of having
seminary students take courses on campus. Currently, we
are constructing a new home for the seminary that will
allow us to provide top-quality training for both students
who come to campus and those who join online.
Our mission at Heritage is to serve the Church by helping
students major in the Word of God so they can help
churches make a world of difference. We are grateful to be
partners with the Fellowship in the vital work it does in
Canada and around the world.
A GLORIOUS FELLOWSHIP OF CHURCHES
Explore the rich heritage of The Fellowship in the newly revised and updated edition of A Glorious Fellowship
of Churches: The History of the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada, 1953-2023.
To purchase your copy today, call the Fellowship office at 519.821.4830. Cost is $30 + shipping.

Winter 2023
IS IT TIME TO SHUT DOWN
THE LIVESTREAM? by Paul Carter
THE LAST WORD
The loss of large-group worship
gatherings over the course of the
recent pandemic was undoubtedly a
hardship for the Church, but in the
Providence of God, it may have been
the catalyst for the development of
some much-needed tools and resources.
Almost every church in Canada
figured out how to record and broadcast
services, but now that the pandemic is over, the question
remains: what should we do with these new capacities?
Many churches that were having a hard time regathering
their people after the pandemic made the decision to
restrict access to their livestream. If people were sick or
traveling, they could request a password, but otherwise, the
service would remain unavailable to the general public.
I certainly sympathize with those concerns, but I wonder
if a more direct, pastoral approach could solve the problem
without sacrificing the benefit of keeping our services
online. Almost everyone’s first visit to a church now,
post-pandemic, is online. If we aren’t online, we don’t exist
for most people under 30. If we want to reach younger
Canadians with the Gospel, we need to maintain our presence
on the internet — not as a substitute for physical presence,
but as an on-ramp.
Streaming our services can also be a blessing to people living
in remote communities. It can be used as an outreach
tool by our members attempting to evangelize their friends
and neighbours.
Will this technology have to be managed? Absolutely. But
properly used and strategically leveraged, this new capacity
can be a net gain for the Great Commission moving
forward.
O God, help!
— Paul Carter is Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist
Church in Orillia, ON, and the host of the Into the Word
podcast.

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