Thanks to Anna (Ben) Crumback at Sointula Community Church for producing the Church of the Week!
Act your size! We may have been told this while growing up – usually a challenge to live up to the expectations for a person of our age. Be mature! Be disciplined! Be independent!
With churches, this challenge can work two ways. A smaller church grows, and needs to learn to “behave” like a larger church. It needs more structures. Perhaps more staff. The pastor(s) need to be given permission to lead at a different level.
On the other hand, a small church can seek to emulate the program and “style” of a large church, and in so doing may well fail to capitalize on the strengths of being a smaller and more intimate church. We need to act our size!
In my ministry as district superintendent, I am privileged to worship and participate in large churches and small churches; urban churches and rural churches; “ethnic” churches and established “Canadian” churches. Each is unique in its own way.
Last weekend, Karen and I had the opportunity to minister at Sointula Community Church, with Ben and Anna Crumback on Malcolm Island (population 684 in the 2016 census). With 40 – 44 people in attendance, this church gathers more than 6% of the island population, far more than any other church in our district. What an opportunity to impact the island for Christ!
Recently, we welcomed Grace Hanin Community Church into the LPD/EFCC Family. Located in Surrey, this largely Korean-Canadian church has a pastoral ministry team of more than 30 people. These dedicated people serve a congregation of more than 2500 members and have planted seven churches. Obviously, the structure, culture and style of this church is far different that Sointula. I celebrate this!
This Sunday, I anticipate and look forward to joining Central EFC in Courtenay, where they will be dedicating their new building, the former Comox Valley Record newspaper office. This church of more than 100 people looks forward to new ministry opportunities through this facility. Again – another church, of another size and in another community.
Stewart, Ernie and Pastor Dave –
We celebrate this step of faith for Central Church, and to the new season of ministry that this building will enable.
Churches and church plants. No two are the same – different churches, different pastors and different church planters to reach different people. I celebrate this!
As a local church, while we can and should learn from the experience of other churches, we should not copy others or try to be like them. Act your size, and be yourself!
Here are a couple of resources for your reading and reflection. Is your church acting its size?
Church_Size_Dynamics_Chart.pdf
When_Formulas_don_t_Work_Ed_Stetzer.pdf
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“Pastoral Approaches: The Church & Same-Sex Attraction.” Saturday, October 20 at Richmond Chinese EFC, 8040 No. 5 Road, Richmond, 9AM – 4PM. This is a follow up and further resourcing of our LPD Conference presentation. All pastors and lay-leaders are welcome! Cost: $10.00 per registrant. Here is some info: Pastoral_Approaches_to_Same_Sex_Attraction_Oct._20_RCEFC.pdf
Please register online.
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Pastor and Staff Cruise
Please mark Wednesday, October 31 on your calendar for the Fall “Pastors and Staff Cruise,” and watch for details in the weeks ahead!
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Seniors Ministry
Johanna Campbell, of Abbotsford EFC is available to speak to seniors’ groups in our churches on the the topics of aging, care giving and preparing for our heavenly home, based on her experience with caring for her husband for eight years before he passed into glory. She has written a meditation/devotional on Psalm 71, a psalm of David during his last years and will be integrating this psalm into her presentations. Please contact the LPD Office if you wish to arrange for a presentation.
Johanna has been a professor at Trinity Western University, and is a regular speaker to seniors and on the subject of Christian Marriage.
Please pray for:
