The Gathering Place

Yesterday was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It was to read my transition letter. I will be transitioning to Student Development at Prairie Bible Institute, Three Hills AB in about a month. I thought I would share a few of my thoughts as I transition.

It is amazing to me as I look back and realize that what I now see before me was a dream that took shape in my mind a few years back. Planting a church has been the most difficult thing and the most rewarding thing I have ever put my hands and feet to. I remember looking back across our living room in our rented house and saying to my family, “Wow, this is a small church.” I remember putting on a feast for 50 people that we had invited for supper, and had one person show up. I remember knocking on doors and being turned away, coming home with no contacts. I remember listening to worship DVD’s because we had no worship team. I remember my three kids being the only ones in kids church. I remember people walking away because they didn’t think the church would fly. I remember all the church shoppers looking for the perfect church and finding none. I remember, I remember, I remember. I also think of the scores of people that came to faith and were baptized. I think of watching people who were unsure of themselves take leadership positions. I think of seeing young couples with no kids, experiencing their newborn babies. I think of praying for hope for people, and watching God shed some light on a hopeless situation.

I am focusing this next chapter of my life in ministering to the next generation. I want to educate our young leaders to be pastors and church planters and teachers and educators and business people and trades people and governmental leaders who are passionate about Christ. I want to see alternate communities of Christ spring up across Canada and around the world. I want to spend more time with my family and edify their lives. I want to enrich my marriage and grow closer to my wife. I want to invest in my extended family and spend more time with them.

I will hopefully leave behind these things: a church that is soley passionate about Jesus.

I want our church to always focus on Christ, to spend every ounce of energy on getting to know Jesus better. I want our church to plant and daughter other churches in Airdrie and around the world. I pray they will never, never lose that passion. I want our church to exibit love to everyone they meet. I want our Elders to lead with integrity and skill and heart. I want our small groups to nurture everyone they encounter. I want our worship teams to lead with freedom. I want our Kids Church and Youth Ministry to be inspiring.

This is my prayer for TGP

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6