Christmas Traditions

~by Stacy Mattheis~

I love traditions. Maybe it’s my quirky white board loving way but I love knowing that I can count on the same thing happening every Christmas season. We have been refining our family traditions since we got married fourteen years ago, and as we have added children to our family I have sensed even more importance around our traditions. I will admit that fourteen years ago, my traditions had a different "world view" than they do today, but as I have grown closer to the Lord and have experienced His love, grace and mercy, my desire to have our traditions focused on the birth of Jesus has grown. I am often asked what my family and I do as traditions for Christmas, so here is a window into what the Mattheis’ Christmas looks like....

A few years ago we made participating in Advent a priority. A dear friend recommended an Advent series to us called Jotham’s Journey by Arnold Ytreeide. It was an awesome read for our whole family and we are excited that there are two more books in the series. This year we will read about a boy named Bartholomew in a book called Bartholomew’s Passage. This series was a great tool for understanding Advent as well. Another book we have read is Family Advent by Thomas Nelson Publishers. We would read most days in the evening but Sunday afternoons are a great time to read for us too. There are times we are not able to read every night so we catch up when we can, but we light a candle every Sunday. Remember, I am the wife of a shift worker so our schedules ebb and flow. I have learned to get over that we can’t do everything the way it appears it should be done but I have learned to embrace the schedule we have with its pros and cons.

We make Christmas goodies and gifts for our friends and family. I love finding ways to simplify the holidays and keep my budget intact. Handmade gifts are awesome and usually don’t add to the overabundance we already have. We are challenged to think about who we are giving a gift to and what they would really enjoy. My girls have looked forward to this tradition for the past few years. They love making cookies in a jar, scrapbook covering journals, and making cards. This year we will try our hand at making some cool pieces of jewelry. We also make fudge and other candy goodies as well.

Volunteering is another tradition we are sure to invest some time in every Christmas. In the past, we have sponsored a family through CAWES (Women’s Shelter) or through the church with the Hope Ministry. Sacrificing for others is something we value in our home so we focus on teaching our kids that. Shopping for a family and blessing them anonymously is a great tradition to teach this value. Last year I volunteered with some friends for the Women’s Shelter in the gift wrapping booth at the mall. It was a great time for me to connect with those friends and support a local mission. It was the gift of my time.

I usually read a fiction series over the Christmas season. It’s a time when I am more busy than usual so to give my brain a rest I dig into a good and easy read. Last year I read a Francine Rivers series called Mark of The Lion. Another great series I recently finished is called the Genesis Trilogy by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow.

This year we are starting a new tradition...participating in the Christmas Choir. Even though this is a family event, I am so blessed individually by actively participating in the worship of our King. I know that not every one can join the choir, but I challenge you to discover what it is that you can do together as a family that worships our King.

Finally, on Christmas Eve we celebrate the birth of Christ with a birthday cake. The kids pick out what type of cake we have; two years ago they wanted an ice cream cake. It was pretty cool to head to DQ and order a birthday cake that said....HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS. The employee was ready to write but hesitated then looked up, asking herself if she heard correctly. Tyler smiled and said," Yes that’s right." We gather with family, sing, "Happy Birthday, Jesus" and give our thanks for Him. This small practice that we inherited from an Aunt and Uncle has been very powerful for our family, both immediate and extended.

I shared all of this with you on the understanding that you won’t condemn yourself if you aren’t able to do the traditions my family and I do. I encourage you to pray about what the Lord wants you to focus on during the Christmas season. Spend time with family and friends and if your family isn’t with you anymore, I pray that God will send you special people to fill your days in December so that loneliness isn’t what you experience. May your December days be filled with the Holy Spirit and the anticipation and excitement of the birth of our Saviour.

Feeling Forgiven

~by Roy Mitton~

Tiffany and I have shared our testimony of our life of domestic violence and the great obstacle of forgiving ourselves and Tiffany forgiving me. I saw my sins as too great to be forgiven and the world is unkind to wives who choose to stay.

It was in the basement of the Calgary Women’s shelter where I came out of denial and faced the abuser I was, and the abuse I committed. No good I ever did in the future could make right for the abuse I committed in my past. I carried my guilt from that basement like a heavy yolk on my shoulders into an unforgiving world.

I had always been taught that forgiveness was a feeling. Webster’s dictionary says it’s to "stop feeling angry or resentful towards a person who has done something hurtful or wrong".

It was after we moved to Red Deer, at CrossRoads Church, that I learned of Jesus Christ. I learned that He could forgive me for my sins. The thought of this seemed alien to me. I certainly did not feel forgiven. I felt anger and hate towards myself for what I had done. I believed that forgiving myself was not humanly possible.

Though unwilling for fear of rejection to share the gory details with anyone, alone I became resolved in prayer, and fumbled through the pages of my new Bible to know how it feels to be forgiven by God for my sin. What I learned was that I was looking for the wrong thing all along.

The New Testament was originally written in Koine Greek. The Koine Greek word used in the passages our English New Testament translates as "forgive" is aphiēmi (ä-fē’-ā-mē). Aphiēmi is never used for feeling, rather an action, something you do. It means to leave, abandon, or dismiss.

Paul writes in Colossians 2:14 when referring to forgiveness of sins: "having cancelled the written code, with its regulations that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the crucifix." No hint of feeling is mentioned.

I did not need to feel forgiven, I was forgiven. I just needed to accept that my sin had been pardoned. If I was to be a follower of Christ, I needed to dismiss myself and others from transgressions. Otherwise, I was claiming that our sins were too great to have been cancelled by Christ’s work on the crucifix.

If this world waits for the day that those who need forgiving earn or deserve it, the world waits for a day that will never come. And the consequences for a world blackened by unforgiveness are evident all around us. The cycle of pain and destruction brought forth from an unforgiving heart is all too common. As men, we are called by God to be the earthly representation of Christ in our marriages, in our families, and in our communities. How do we do at modeling this biblical sense of forgiveness? How about you? Are you holding back on truly abandoning a hurt that was done to you or someone you love? Or perhaps like me, is there something you are refusing to forgive yourself for because you know you don’t deserve it? Are you waiting for a feeling that hasn’t come?

I want to encourage you, as Christian men, to be willing to get real with yourself and others, to show that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and you’re no exception. Do all in your power to show believers and non-believers alike your vulnerability and that they can be vulnerable too without any judgement on your part.

I have always found it fruitless to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others if I am unwilling to show where I been forgiven. That is the real power of the Gospel in my life! For me, nothing stands as a testament to a living Saviour, Lord and God than to see another humbly forgive others without ever taking into account whether they deserve it or not.

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins. (Mark 11:25)

I Can’t Believe What I’m Seeing! ~ A Lesson From Habakkuk

~by Pastor Rob Tannahill~

Perspective. It was a perspective change that allowed Satan to deceive Adam and Eve. It was a perspective issue that allowed Noah to build an ark. Perspective led Abraham to a new life and perspective allowed him to lay his son on an altar. It was a perspective issue that caused the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt and it was a perspective change that brought them out again. Perspective changes initiated the ebb and flow of the Israelite sin and redemption cycles. The teachings of Christ were about perspective: think of the Kingdom of God like it’s a mustard seed.

There’s a prophet in the Old Testament with an unfortunate name. It’s like the doctor asked his dad what he should be named and his dad sneezed: HABAKKUK! Habakkuk wrote a book in the bible that is a source of comfort for me. It is a perspective-fixing book that I often go to for hope. Habakkuk is the only prophet who doesn’t speak for God to the people but instead he speaks for the people to God and the questions he asks are the same questions that burden my heart.

This book was written during a period when Judah enjoyed its last bit of prosperity under King Josiah. The economic conditions during Habakkuk’s life would have been excellent and King Josiah was a good guy who was trying to lead his people into spiritual revival. But history has taught us spiritual revival is hard to cultivate in the soil of wealth and prosperity.

The book begins with Habakkuk yelling at God.

Chapter 1

v2 "How long, O LORD must I call for help? But you do not listen!"

v3 "I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight."

v4 "The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted."

Habakkuk’s perspective is a righteous one, however, his heart is in the wrong place. He knows God doesn’t like sin and he knows God has the power to do anything He wants. So when he sees sin and evil at work all around him without God intervening, Habakkuk has to ask God, "Why aren’t you doing something about this?" The underlying thought is that God doesn’t care and that He can’t be bothered to get involved.

I know I’m not supposed to say this; I know I’m not even supposed to think this, but sometimes in my life I’ve been right where Habakkuk is in chapter 1. Stuff has hit the fan and everything stinks. Of course, if God is who He says He is then He totally could have stopped the stuff from hitting the fan ... but He didn’t. Now we’re left to ask the question, "Why?" But here’s the thing about God. God doesn’t like the question, "Why?" In fact, God has never answered any question of mine that began with the word "Why". Any time I’ve asked God, "Why?" He has always responded with another question which is a very difficult discussion to be in when all you want is answers.

When Job asked God, "Why?" God responded "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them." (Job 38:2,3) Scary stuff, eh?

When Habakkuk asks God, "Why?" God responds:

Chapter 1

v5 "Look around and be amazed! I am doing something you wouldn’t believe."

v6 "I am raising up the Babylonians, a cruel and violent people."

v7 "They are notorious for their cruelty and do whatever they like."

Basically Habakkuk has complained to God about the lack of righteousness in God’s people. And God’s response is, "If you think I’ve been letting bad stuff happen before, just wait ‘til you see what I’m about to allow next!"

Habakkuk’s mind is messed up. His world is not right. This doesn’t make any sense. God doesn’t make sense. God isn’t who Habakkuk thought he was. His response to God is summed up:

Chapter 1

v12 "Surely you don’t plan to wipe us out?"

v13 "But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery?"

v17 "Will you let them get away with this forever? Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?"

Then comes the verse for which Habakkuk is most famous: 2:1. "I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guardpost. There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how he will answer my complaint."

With this one statement, Habakkuk reveals the pride in his own heart. The motive and attitude revealed in this statement are that Habakkuk thinks God isn’t doing his job and that God needs to be held accountable. Which in essence is the same motive in my heart every time I ask God, "Why?"

Habakkuk has complained about the arrogance of his countrymen and the arrogance of the Babylonians but he has neglected the arrogance in himself until God’s response cuts Habakkuk to the core of his issue.

God compares the proud to the righteous,

Chapter 2

v4 "Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God."

v5 "Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death they are never satisfied."

v16 "Drink from the cup of the LORD’s judgment, and all your glory will be turned to shame."

It was a personal issue for Habakkuk that unrighteous people were winning and that just wasn’t fair. God could prove himself and smite someone. That would get people’s attention and then they would start listening to me ... I mean then they would listen to what God has to say ... through me.

C.J. Mahaney explains that God’s response is an even greater expression of mercy toward Habakkuk and toward each of us. It’s an answer that will transform Habakkuk and one that ought to transform all of us who have turned from our sin and trust in Jesus. Faith is the key to gaining a divine perspective of perplexing and troubling circumstances. The bottom line as Habakkuk learns is that the proud ultimately will not prosper and that God’s purposes will prevail.

Chapter 2

v14 "For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the LORD."

V20 "But the LORD is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him."

This encounter transforms Habakkuk’s heart. The prophet we now see bears no resemblance to the man we saw in chapters 1 and 2. He has been transformed from questioning to praying, from confusion to certainty, from being perplexed to fully trusting God. A cataclysmic change has occurred in the disposition of Habakkuk’s heart, and yet there has been absolutely no improvement in his circumstances. Nothing has changed and yet for Habakkuk’s heart, everything has changed. He’s no longer proud; his soul is no longer puffed up. Instead he’s humbly trusting God.

Chapter 3

v2 "I have heard all about you, LORD. I am filled with awe by your amazing works."

v8 "Was it in anger, LORD, that you struck the rivers and parted the sea? Were you displeased with them? No, you were sending your chariots of salvation!"

Perspective changes are never easy to come by. When things aren’t happening the way they’re supposed to - the way we think they should - it is easy to become alarmed and defensive. "I don’t deserve this! What did I do? Why is this happening to me? God, don’t you care about this?"

Instead we should be asking questions like, "God, what is your will in this situation? How can I participate with you in this? How can I use this circumstance to become more Godly?" The reality, despite our perspective, is that God’s judgement often comes for the sake of not only our salvation but also for the people around us and in our lives. It is when things are most dangerous that we most need to be rescued. It is when circumstances are most difficult that our faith becomes most necessary and most alive.

Habakkuk was looking at the most bleak circumstances of his life. Loss of security, economy, food and shelter. But at the end of it all, his perspective and his faith grew into something profound and he was able to say...

"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!"

(Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Thanks! From Pastor Mike

Thank you, CrossRoads, for allowing me to serve as your Children’s Pastor for the past 5 years. It has truly been good and a blessing in my life. The last five years have included many memories and highlights. When I first joined the CrossRoads team, children’s ministry was only happening at the 9:00 service but soon, with great volunteer support, we were able to begin an 11:00 service for children (and now at 6:30 too!). I think my first big event was an Elementary Kids sleepover and lock-in. I don’t think Jerry Dickman and I slept at all that night as the weather suddenly dropped below freezing and we feared kids sleep-walking out the doors, only to be locked out for the night. I do know that was the last time we did an event where we didn’t include parents!

The annual pancake breakfasts grew from a Children’s Ministry Only event that kicked-off our year in September to include all aspects of Family Ministry and then eventually providing pancakes for the entire church. Gummy bears on top of pancakes can’t be beat! A definite highlight was the year we did the breakfast out on the grass; the Family Ministry team choreographed a dance routine for our families to enjoy (at least I think they enjoyed it).

Throughout my five years at CrossRoads I have been blessed to work with many, many volunteers that have given their time to invest into kids’ and families’ lives, showing a weekly example of what it means to live with Jesus. Thank you to each of you. Huge thanks to the Woyke family, the Flewell family, Patrice, Cassie, Jan and Lori, and big Tim for being a constant presence in Children’s ministry for all five years. To each volunteer, God has gifted you – continue to use that gift. The reward of these volunteers serving in Children’s ministry is when a child asks you to baptize them so they can tell the world, "I love Jesus". Thank you to each child that gave me this amazing privilege.

Three years ago I was lamenting with our Jr. High pastor that I just didn’t think our elementary curriculum was connecting with our grade 5 students. He mentioned that he was struggling with what to do with his grade 6 students too. Through more meetings and talking with parents we launched a new program in children’s ministry called 56ers. The kids in this group of students changed annually and I loved every minute of hanging out with them. We invited parents to join us for events, giving us as leaders an opportunity to build friendships with the parents too. I need to thank all those who have served in this new ministry helping to create a dynamic experience for these kids where the curriculums no longer miss them but instead challenge and push them to a greater understanding of their faith. Special thanks to James, Mike and Carolyn who kicked off 56ers in 2008 and are still serving there today. 56ers have been given the opportunity to serve throughout the church on the 5th Sunday of a month (something they absolutely love). In the summer of 2010 I got to take ten 56ers and their parents on a mission trip to Minnesota. It is without a doubt my bestest** highlight in my time at CrossRoads. Seeing parents and their kids connecting in a new way, seeing solid friendships formed between the parents, seeing our kids as leaders, seeing Mackenzie sacrificing her shoelace to repair a roll of TP so a game of bucket ball could continue, celebrating Suzie’s birthday, seeing families renewing commitments to God and each other , seeing our kids outworking us adults daily - it was truly amazing. The trip is scheduled to go again in 2012 – if you have a 56er make sure you are on that bus!

**bestest: a word I use occasionally in 56ers, which I am continually told isn’t a word!

A dynamic change in Elementary Ministry was our curriculum change to Re-Think In 2010. This really defined what we are all about and gave specific purpose to each role on a Sunday. Re-Think challenges all of us (staff, volunteers and parents) to Think Orange. Thinking Orange means, "We want to combine the LOVE of the family (red) with the LIGHT of the church (yellow) to create a stronger impact...ORANGE. I really like that.

The biggest change was a year spent in an office that shook at times, power was cut off, many accidental fire drills and much time spent in planning and design meetings all culminating in the Grand Opening this year of the new Children’s Ministry expansion. I am still amazed as I walk the halls on a Sunday morning, looking into the classrooms and seeing volunteers making connections with their kids right at the start of the service. The new space has really made us more effective in teaching kids to live like Jesus.

The one question I have been asked over and over again since my decision to resign as the Elementary pastor has been, "Is it because we didn’t tell you enough that you were doing a good job?" I need to answer that with an emphatic, "NO – that isn’t the reason at all". I have felt huge blessing and support throughout my time at CrossRoads from kids, parents, volunteers, elders and the lead team. But I have also seen those who don’t have the title of "pastor" not get as appreciated and thanked often enough. My last challenge to you is to please, please appreciate those who volunteer with your kids every week. They give their time, use their God-given gifts and are partnering with you to raise your kids to love Jesus. So, especially as the Christmas season approaches please take the time to say thank-you.

Again, CrossRoads, I say thank you for 5+ great years, not good-bye.

~ Pastor Mike, Krystal, D-Man & Daisy Hansen

My Christmas Memories

By Ami Martens~

The Tree

In my eyes, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a hideous tree somewhere in the house. Although decorating the tree wasn’t my favourite pasttime, it was always hilarious remembering the hodgepodge of so called "decorations" we created through the years. We would laugh over each item, how ugly it was, what prompted us to create such a thing, how mom could have let us make something so horrific, etc. By the end, the tree was glittering with the painted wooden stockings, doilies on hooks, crocheted figures, baked clay ornaments, painted ceramics, paper cut-outs with the worst school photo possible, and Faye’s infamous two headed snowman. And if that wasn’t bad enough, we would plaster it from top to bottom with silvery strings of tinsel (which by the way, cats cannot digest; they come out looking exactly as they did when they went in). Dad’s job was stringing the colourful lights on the tree, organized in no particular fashion except to ensure no two adjacent colours were identical. He thought it would be cool to put ancient reflectors behind the bulbs (fortunately mom accidentally "lost" them). As uncool as the reflector idea was, we always defended his love of the star on top, while mom fought for her angel. We let her have an angel every other year. That was the place we gathered each year, around our memories, tainted and marred, where we remembered the perfect love of the Father manifested in our love of each other. Everything we bring to God is an ugly handmade Christmas ornament, but He cherishes all that we are and lovingly displays our artwork, just like that mismatched tree we grew up with.

The Treats

Each year at Christmas, only once a year, Dad made his famous poppycock. Every year he would hum and haw with, "Should I make it this year? Maybe not..." And so the protesting would start against the thought of a poppycock-less Christmas. It was and still is my absolute favourite Christmas treat. Not only was the poppycock itself absolutely fabulous, but the time I spent with my Dad as he created this work of art was incredibly precious to me. Peering up on my tippy toes, I would watch him mix the caramel over the stove, as he closely watched the thermometer. His meticulous way of stirring the pot was consistently perfect - exactly like Grandma (he’s cringing right now at the unmanly compliment). Even still I try to imitate the gentle, careful stirring motions in exactly the same way to create the perfect texture and consistency in hopes I can carry on the tradition (I’ve got good odds; I’ve got the girly version of Dad’s hands). Dad and I together would finish the process by mixing the peanuts, popcorn and caramel; he poured while I mixed. Then onto the cookie sheets the poppycock would go, and out the back door to chill in the winter air. Looking back on these times, these were some of the moments I felt like I was the most important person in the world to my Dad. I felt so proud to be his daughter, so cherished, so purposeful, and so loved. I think God is the same way; He invites us to be a part of His ministry on this earth. It’s not some task we’ve been assigned, it’s a wonderful event filled with tender love.

The Stockings

My mom has blessed us year after year with the tradition of Christmas stockings. She often mentions that when she was growing up all she got in her stocking was one comb and one "feeling" present (an oddly shaped present that she was allowed to touch and feel before Christmas Day). This fuelled her desire to always cram our stockings FULL—and I mean FULL—to the brim each year. Dad’s stocking was so long it hung from the mantle to the floor and she always managed to stuff it full, stretching it even further for the next year. She continued Gran’s tradition of a ‘feeling’ present which we always look forward to. But to complicate things, mom is determined to ensure total fairness: she implemented "pile measurement" to ensure the size and cost of each pile was even. Sometimes our stocking stashes spilled out onto the mantle above as a result. The creative and thoughtful things she finds to put in the stockings never cease to amaze me; much less that she does everything completely new and different each year. My mom has passed on to me a desire to also find those tiny, perfect gifts that suit each person flawlessly. Even at age 6 I wanted to give my family the perfect gift: I carefully wrapped a small, completely empty tea box and wrote on it "To Mom, Dad, and Faye, From Ami." In my little mind and heart, this was the BEST gift I could have ever given; a box of love. Sure they laughed and teased, but seeing as they still have the ‘Box of Love’ I now know they understood the heart of that little girl. It was the heart of the Father, the purpose of Christmas; it was a reflection of the great and unconditional love from my heavenly Father, and the deep love for my family. I will always love finding the perfect gift and stuffing stockings to the brim and most of all I will never be ashamed to give someone the greatest gift of all, a box of love.

Ready or Not?

By Pam Halvorson~

What does it take to acquire new thoughts, or behaviours? To really know something other than what one already knows? To learn, must one be ready to learn? What does ‘ready’ look like?

Recently, I had opportunity to ask some attenders of Celebrate Recovery, to finish a few sentences, in which they describe their experiences around attending the Ministry.

When I first thought about attending CR, I wondered - will this actually help me with my anger?

My first night at CR, I realized - WOW - I am not alone!

Since I have become involved in CR, my life is manageable. I’m now happily married to a wonderful lady. Living through Jesus I have never felt so complete in my entire life! Thanks to CR!

When I first thought about coming to CR, I was in need of healing from a broken marriage.

My first night at CR was an experience where I felt welcomed and not judged.

Since I became involved in CR, my life has experienced healing. I’ve received friendship. I have been
challenged to lead and I feel accepted.

When I first thought about coming to CR, I wasn’t sure that I needed a ‘recovery’ program. I was afraid that I’d need to talk about things that I didn’t want to talk about, that it would be uncomfortable, and that I’d cry more than I wanted to, in front of people I didn’t know.

My first night at CR was encouraging - but that night I was there for someone else’s recovery. The first night I was at CR for my own recovery was more difficult. I still wasn’t sure that CR was going to be what I needed, and I was nervous about committing to work through the 12 steps.

Since I have become involved in CR, my life has changed. I have learned about what I have control over, and what I do not have control over, and I’m thankful for that. I have more peace and contentment, and I have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ than I ever imagined. I have a whole new understanding of God’s grace, and have experienced His forgiveness in a new way. I’ve also learned to forgive myself and others. I am blessed to be able to give back, and to serve in this ministry.

When I first thought about coming to CR, I was part of the leadership team and I was focused mainly on helping out in the ministry. I did not know how much it was going to change my life. The leadership training and taking part in a Step Study was amazingly impacting.

The first night of CR, we had no idea how many people were going to come out.
Since I’ve been involved in CR, it has become one of the most growing experiences of my life. I have gained so much from this ministry. Seeing things put in the context of hurts, habits and hang-ups has been very revealing. I had no idea how much I had needed to look at my habits especially areas in terms of addiction. Coming out of denial about the impact of some of the hurts I have suffered from all my life was especially healing. I am so grateful to God for all He has done for me in this ministry.

When I first thought about coming to CR, I thought I would go to serve, so THOSE people could get the
recovery they were seeking. Initially I didn’t think I needed recovery; I thought I was recovered.

My first night at CR was … well, interesting!

Since I have become involved in CR, my life is totally changing! I found where my thinking was completely ‘messed’ and how it had contributed to who I was and why I did what I did. I thought I was normal until I started CR.

When I first thought about coming to CR I was hopeful because I know that 12 step programs have a good success rate.

My first night at CR was interesting. It was just in the formation stage and there were several people I did not know. The enthusiasm was high and I was encouraged by the commitment of those wanting to serve and lead.

Since I have become involved in CR my life has a new understanding and insight plus I have been given the privilege of co-leading in three group step studies. To see the changes in myself and others is rewarding and exciting. Trust grows in the Lord and in our relationships with each other. This is GOOD. It’s a big commitment and worth every investment of our time, talent and treasure. Praise the Lord!

The sentences above form a platform upon which becoming ready can happen. Our Father is in this mix; He remains fundamentally present, and He offers His foundational promises:

If you are hurt, ‘I will heal you.’

If you are confused, ‘I will lead you.’

If you feel helpless, ‘I will help you.’

If you feel alone, ‘I will comfort you.’

If you feel anxious and afraid, ‘I will offer peace to you.’

"I have seen how they acted, but I will heal them. I will lead them and help them, and I will comfort those who mourn. I offer peace to all, both near and far! I will heal my people."

(Isaiah 57:18-19)
Trusting in His promises, one has the hope of a new, within reach, future. Learning or acquiring new thoughts and behaviours starts with a choice, and moving to readiness.

We can choose to jump passionately toward something dynamic and manageable in Jesus Christ. Are you ready?

Crossing the Street in Central Alberta

~ By Ruthanne Slofstra~

Almost two years ago Karen Rinker was at CrossRoads Church sharing about her ongoing ministry at the Sunchild Reserve near Rocky Mountain House. It was the same day I was being commissioned to go to South Korea to staff an International Discipleship Training School (DTS) with YWAM. Karen shared the story of the Good Samaritan and compared this story to the way many Native people are being treated today. They are lying in ditches, hurt and wounded, and we simply cross over to the other side of the street when we see them. This story impacted me and I felt called to see how I could get involved with this ministry. After the service, I met with Karen and discussed ways that YWAM Blackfalds could get involved with the Sunchild and O’Chiese Reserve ministry.

For the outreach portion of the Discipleship Training Program in Korea, we decided to bring our team of students to Canada. We spent two weeks staying at the Sunchild Reserve with Karen and Roger Rinker with a team consisting of people from Korea, Canada and the United States. Our first outreach was helping with Vacation Bible School at the Big Horn Reserve near Nordegg. Karen shared that many years ago the majority of the people of this First Nations group had been Christians. However, they had turned away from God and there was now only one Christian left on the reserve. She had been asking for a team to come and help her reach these people. It was a great week of teaching the children and praying for the hearts of the people to once again turn to God.

One of the days while we were on the O’Chiese reserve, Karen had arranged for us to go to the home of an Elder to teach VBS to his grandchildren. When we arrived he showed us his sweat lodge and shared some of the Native traditions and his cultural beliefs. Then we were able to show him and his family a drama we had created telling the gospel story. We spent a few more hours in his home teaching his grandchildren about Jesus and praying with them. We are trusting that seeds were planted in their hearts that day.

Since that time, we have also brought YWAM teams from the Islands of Fiji and Samoa to evangelize and make cultural presentations in the schools on the reserves. We have helped with their Sunday school and evening Bible studies. Every time I work with this ministry, I am reminded of God’s heart for these people and the incredible opportunities to bring hope and life.

This past October, Karen Rinker asked if we would host a Women’s Retreat for the ladies that had been faithfully coming to her Tuesday night Women’s Bible Study. We decided it would be best to take them away to a camp for a few days, to give them a break from their daily lives and to be refreshed. Our current DTS students and staff were excited for this opportunity and as we were praying about the weekend, we really felt it was important we communicate to them their value and worth. So we began planning and getting local businesses to donate items that we could use to bless the ladies. With these items we were able to have door prizes for each of the women. As their names were called, the ladies came and picked out a "prize." We had packages with jewelry, hair products, candles, purses, etc. but what the ladies wanted most were the packages with books. The books were devotionals about how to be Godly parents and couples. Throughout the weekend, in their free time, the ladies were reading their books. This was so encouraging to me and showed me how much they wanted to learn and how hungry they were for more of God.

During our first evening together, we had a time of worship. We sang the song "He Knows my Name" by Tommy Walker with the words:

I have a Maker

He formed my heart

Before even time began

My life was in His hands

I have a Father

He calls me His own

He’ll never leave me

No matter where I go

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And He hears me when I call

This song really ministered to the ladies. After we read Psalm 139 together we spoke to them of their Creator God.

The camp was in a beautiful location so we also enjoyed our surroundings and walked along the many trails and sat by the campfire. We had meals together and learned how to cook fresh fish and bannock.

We also had a time of praying for each of the ladies and some of them shared their stories and struggles. They told stories of losing children (physically and emotionally), and issues of suicide and alcoholism. It was heartbreaking to hear them speak but wonderful to hear that they believed that God could take care of their families and could change their situations.

Please join us in continuing to pray for these ladies and their situations. Pray God would continue to draw them closer to Himself and that they would wholeheartedly give their lives to Him. Some of these ladies are not yet believers but we know they sensed God’s presence on that weekend. They had a taste of Him.

Ruthanne Slofstra has been on staff with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) for eleven years. She currently lives in Blackfalds and works in the area of administration for the YWAM training schools and the Coffee House ministry.

Being Missional is All About Compassion

~by Pastor Anton Beukes~

"He (Jesus) went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written:

‘The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. 
He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him. He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’.

Luke 4:16-21 [NIV]

In our series on Being Missional thus far, we have seen that we are missional because we serve a missional God. He is the One that started to reconcile man to Himself after the Fall, and He continues to do so today, using His church as an instrument of reconciliation in this world. But the Church is not just an organism, a structure or a group of clergy making decisions – the Church is the Bride of Christ, and consists of every believer that has put his or her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore, just as the Church (and every congregation that has Jesus as its Lord) is called to be missional, so is every believer.

The moment you put your faith in Christ, you become a Christian, a believer, a disciple, one that is missional. It is not something that we can choose to be or not. It is not something that we become after years of attending church, leading Bible studies or going to Bible college. It is something that we are. We need to recognize it, and learn what it means to be missional. For the next few months we will be looking at what it means to be missional as a believer in Jesus our Lord.

The idea of ‘being missional’ might be a new idea for many of us, but the understanding of what it means to be missional is as old as God’s relationship with His people. The characteristics of being missional can be found in some of the characteristics of God’s person and identity, and how we as His children reflect them in our lives, as well as those things that God has called us to be, ways of life he has called us to live and words, deeds, actions, attitudes and behaviours we are called to display. To address all these characteristics will not take a few months, but years, and therefore I will address some of the most obvious and important ones. To have a complete understanding of what it means to be missional, you can do a study on your own – working through the whole Bible, listing the characteristics of God and those which we are called to reflect in our lives, as well as those commands God has given us to obey concerning our lives: what to say, what to do, how to behave and what our attitudes should be.

(see note at end of article.)

"The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children and their children for the sin of their fathers to the third and fourth generation".

Exodus 34:6b-7: [NIV]

God is a compassionate God, and He calls each one of us to be compassionate. In his book, The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns says, "The gospel – the whole gospel – means much more than personal salvation of individuals. It means a social revolution". He refers to the social revolution as themes of reconciliation, compassion and justice. To be missional means to understand that God has given us the means to be reconciled with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, but that we should also share that message of reconciliation with others. But to be reconciled with God also gives us the strength, wisdom and courage to be reconciled with others, ourselves and this broken world. The message of reconciliation is not driven by duty, but by compassion and love, as we see clearly in the example of Jesus in Matthew 9:35-36:

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd". [NIV]

We are also called to show justice. When we read the Old Testament, and especially the prophets, we see that God’s judgment was on His people, not because they were not religious enough, but because they did not show justice and mercy (For example in the Book of Amos, the prophet highlights the oppression of the poor (2:6-7a, 8:4), injustice in the courts (2:7a, 5:12), religious abuses (2:8), violence (3:10) and corrupt business practices (8:5)). We see the heart of God in Micah 6:7-8:

"Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God". [NIV]

To be missional means to turn the focus from ourselves to others. And how can we focus on others without realizing the pain, the need and the suffering that we are all facing? When we think of those in need, most of the time we think of the images of starving children in Africa, earthquake victims in Haiti or millions suffering from HIV/AIDS. But the reality is that suffering and poverty are not only restricted to physical suffering or material needs. There are millions of people (also around us) suffering from emotional, social and spiritual needs. Think of Jesus’ reaction of compassion to the people in Matthew 9; He did not have compassion on the people because they were poor, hungry or suffering from illnesses and diseases; He had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Their needs were not as much physical and material as they were social, emotional and spiritual. They did not have leaders who led them in truth and some of the leaders that they did have, exploited and harassed them (together with the political and military harassment from the Romans). Jesus showed compassion for their greatest needs.

But what does compassion mean? The Greek word that Matthew uses in this text is ‘splangizomai’, literally meaning, "to feel from your gut". It is not empathy or sympathy; it is to actually feel what the one who is suffering feels. It is to experience their pain, hurt, suffering, and helplessness. Personally, I think it is very hard to be compassionate just by hearing stories or looking at pictures. Jesus had compassion on the people because He was among them, saw them, heard them, smelled them, touched them. He knew, understood and felt their pain.

During the month of December we will focus on our Global Compassion Campaign. God has put His desire on the hearts of our leaders for CrossRoads Church to show compassion to three communities (one each in Uganda, Sudan and Haiti). We are building relationships with them, supporting them in their most immediate needs and searching with them for answers on how to become more sustainable. Through the GCC, we are being missional and compassionate. But each one of us is also being called to be missional and compassionate.

We have the opportunity this Christmas Eve to show our compassion through giving, but showing compassion is more than just giving money. Not all of us have had the opportunity to go to Uganda, Sudan, Haiti or other countries to experience the needs to show compassion. And we do not have to. We live in a society with more than enough needs – yes, some physical and material, but many more which are social, emotional and spiritual. All it takes from us is to ask the Lord to open our eyes to see the needs around us, and to ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with compassion and love. Maybe it is your neighbour, colleague, someone downtown or in a shelter, or maybe it is the person sitting next to you, your spouse, sibling or child, who needs compassion. Maybe it is you that needs compassion, and someone else reading this article will be prompted to show you compassion.

In closing, I am reminded of some of Jesus’ last words in Matthew 25:31-46.

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘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.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me’.

Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.’

They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You?’

He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.

[NIV]

Questions to consider:

What are the greatest needs, injustices and sufferings in our own community, and how is God calling us to show compassion to suffering people?

What are my gifts, experience and resources that God can use to show compassion, mercy and justice, here in Central Alberta and around the world?

Have you ever felt real compassion from your gut? If so, think about what you experienced and learned from that. If not, maybe ask God to give you such an experience.

Books for further reading:

The Hole in Our Gospel

by Richard Stearns (Thomas Nelson)

When Helping Hurts

by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett (Moody Publishers)

Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility

by Duane Elmer (IVP Books)

I need to make a few notes here to clarify some important principles of interpretation when doing a study like this:

1) When making a list of God’s characteristics, it is good not to start off by listing those characteristics that we have learned through the years (like ‘God is almighty’, ‘God is omnipresent’, ‘God is good’ etc.), but rather read through the Bible systematically, from the beginning to the end, and when you find something that God reveals about Himself, write that down, as well as the text in which you found the reference.

2) The first and most important principle of Bible interpretation is to understand the text within the context. For example, Deuteronomy 6:15 says, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.[NIV] In reading this verse only, you may conclude that God is both a jealous and angry God (both negative characteristics on their own), and that we should be scared of Him. But this is not the meaning of the text. Within the context it is clear that God has chosen Israel as His people, brought them out of slavery and taking them to the promised land (Deut. 6:10-12). He has done everything for them, and what He asks in return is that the people fear Him (not fear as being scared, but fear as reverence) and serve Him only (Deut. 6:13). And the warning: they are not to follow other gods (Deut. 6:14), for God is jealous about his people (jealousy here is to be understood as a desire not to share what is your own with others, like sharing your spouse with another) and His anger will come down on the people if they do not follow His commands (Deut. 6:15). Therefore, the right understanding of this text is not that God is jealous and angry in a negative sense, but that He treasures those that He has saved and cares for, but that He is also righteous to punish those who do not keep His commands.

3) When listing the characteristics of God, we will find that we cannot display or reflect all the characteristics of God. We are not the same as He is. There are some characteristics that are only true to God and there are some of God’s characteristics that we as believers can reflect and display. For example, in Genesis 1 we read that God is the creator of everything, and although we can create art, music, architecture and technology, it is only God that can create matter from nothing. We read in Exodus 34:6-7 that God is compassionate and gracious; and we also read that He gives us the same ability to be compassionate (e.g. Psalm 103:4 and Jeremiah 42:12) and to show grace (Psalm 45:2, 2 Corinthians 8:7 and 2 Peter 3:18).

4) In making a list of the commands God has given us to obey concerning our lives; what to say, what to do, how to behave and what our attitudes should be, the danger is that we can become legalistic in applying New Testament commands and in applying Old Testament laws that are redundant to our lives. Let us look at both of these.

a) We live in a constant tension between legally following everything the Law and God told us to do (we focus on our right deed rather than our right relationship with God), and the freedom that we have in Christ (we are not under the Law anymore, but live under grace). The right understanding of following the laws and the commands God has given us is not to do them to gain salvation, God’s favour or blessing. Because we have been loved, saved and made God’s children, we do the things He has commanded us out of thankfulness and love. Therefore, in making a list of these commands, it should not be a list of things that we should do or expect others to do because it is the right thing to do, but it should be a list of the things we do out of gratefulness and a desire to reflect God’s grace.

b) In the Old Testament, we find four kinds of laws: moral laws (like the Ten Commandments), civil laws (how the nation should live as a testimony to others), dietary laws (what were clean and unclean food to be eaten) and ritualistic laws (like sacrifices that show the need for atonement). Looking from a New Testament perspective, we see that the first two kinds of laws, moral and civil laws, are still applicable to us today, but the last two, the dietary and ritualistic laws, are either fulfilled in Christ and His sacrifice, or are redundant because of the new covenant in Christ. Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection fulfilled all Old Testament sacrifices and offerings (the five categories of sacrifices and offerings in the Law of Moses were: burnt offerings, grain offerings, fellowship offerings, sin/purification offerings and guilt/reparation offerings). According to Acts 10, God made those unclean and impure things of the Old Testament clean and pure, therefore making the dietary laws redundant.

Meet Teodoro Bernaldo Medranda Garía from Ecuador: A Man With An Amazing Story

…like a root out of dry ground (Isaiah 53:2)

by Keith Elliot~

I want to introduce you to a man with a remarkable story, a man who has served as President of the Evangelical Missionary Church in Ecuador for the last fifteen years. Most people call him Teo, but his full name is Teodoro Bernaldo Medranda Garía. I will stick to Teo. He is our supervisor while we work on the Pastoral Care Project here in Ecuador.

Teo was the seventh of thirteen children, born in 1961 to his parents, Teodoro Medranda and Lucinda Garía. They lived on a small farm just outside the town of Calceta, in the province of Manabí in coastal Ecuador. A missionary couple, Charles and Laverne Glenn, began holding services in their large country house in 1972. His mother received the Lord first and later his father. Eventually all of the family members accepted the Lord as their Saviour. According to Teo, the Glenns were effective disciple-makers and taught them the truth of the Bible. Teo made his personal profession of faith in the Lord at age fourteen during a Vacation Bible School with Laverne Glenn.

Teo left home at age eighteen to study mechanics and lived with his mother´s family. God protected him from the rampant drug use in his extended family. During this time he stopped following the Lord for about ten years. He eventually moved to the capital city of Quito and landed a good job working in archival systems with a bank and university. He was earning a very good wage. Although he attended the Iñaquito church with some of his sisters who were living in Quito, he was not active in his Christian life.

His family sold the farm and bought another farm near the town of Quinindé, where they attended church. On a visit home in 1987 Teo saw a very attractive young lady and eventually met her. Raquel Rodriguez was active in the church at La Concordia, studying TEE (Theological Education by Extension) and planning to go to the Alliance Bible Seminary (Bible College) in the city of Guayaquil. Teo´s older brother, Bernardo, came to know the Lord and there was a dramatic change in his life. He became an elder in his local church in Quinindé, studied TEE, went to study at seminary in Guayaquil and became a pastor. The transformation that Teo saw in his father and brother made a lasting impact on him. He also saw the power of God to heal when a visiting pastor prayed for his father who was instantly healed of a serious skin disease. There was a growing love in his heart for Raquel. God used these influences to bring Teo back to Himself.

Nat Brown, missionary and pastor in La Concordia church, began to dialogue with Teo about his future. He asked what his plans were and Teo said that he wanted three things in life: to study to become a professional; to work hard and make lots of money; and to get married. Nat challenged him to give his life fully to the Lord and serve Him. Knowing that Raquel was serving the Lord, he told Teo that it would be a frustration in their marriage if he did not also serve the Lord fully. At 27 years old Teo returned to the faith of his adolescence and was baptised in the Iñaquito church.

Teo and Raquel were married in December 1988. They lived in Quito where he was working. She had finished one year of seminary. Nat challenged him to give the Lord one year of seminary. He was making good money at his job and the financial help that the church was offering them while they studied at seminary was only about one tenth of what he was earning. His family was not very supportive because they were concerned that he was not taking the things of the Lord seriously. His mother and older brother warned him about the seriousness of studying at seminary. He decided to put out a fleece and resign from his work just to see if they would accept it, because the project he was working on was only partially done. To his surprise, they accepted his resignation. Together they went to seminary in March 1988.

Life at seminary was not easy for Teo. He was not used to spiritual disciplines and he had not been active in a local church so he did not have any experience preparing lessons, teaching or preaching. His first experiences of preaching at his Christian service assignment were disastrous and discouraging. Three times during the first year he packed his suitcases to leave seminary and return to work in Quito, but he didn´t follow through. At the end of his first year he failed to complete two assignments, and he thought that this would mean that he could not continue studying. It was his way out. The Academic Dean called him into his office just before the start of the new school year. Teo was sure that he was going to be expelled from seminary, but instead the Academic Dean encouraged him not to drop out and to finish the assignments and turn them in, even though they were late. Teo took that as God´s direction, and he went back for a second year. Eventually he finished five years of studies and graduated in 1993. Two girls were born to them during the years they were studying in Guayaquil.

Their first pastorate was in the town of Villegas, close to Raquel´s home town of La Concordia. The congregation had about thirty or forty people. The pay was very little and the house they lived in was not in good shape. Raquel had a difficult pregnancy with their third child and she almost died of a heart attack during the delivery of their son. After a year he had had enough of toughing it out and he resigned from the church.

Another church in the city of Esmeraldas called him to be their pastor. At the Light and Liberty Church the pay was better and the living conditions were much better than before. He had a good group of leaders to work with, especially the women in leadership.

Raquel´s health continued to deteriorate and she dropped to a weight of 95 pounds. The cost of mediations and visits to the cardiologist in Quito were draining their finances and strength. One evening Raquel fainted and fell off the couch. Teo managed to catch her just before her face hit the floor. Raquel decided that she could not continue to stay in the ministry in her condition, but rather than quit she decided to stop taking her medications and depend on the Lord to heal her. That evening they prayed together for about two hours and God healed her. Since then she has not had any serious health problems and she successfully gave birth to their fourth child, a girl.

Teo was elected to serve on the National Church Board just after moving to Light and Liberty Church. However, it was a surprise when the leadership asked him to let his name stand in the election for President of the denomination. They prayed about it and then asked the local church leaders. Again, he was surprised when they gave him permission to do so. There were other candidates with more pastoral experience, so he was quite sure that he would not be elected. The Lord had other plans, and he was elected President of the Evangelical Missionary Church of Ecuador in August of 1996 at age 35.

He could have stayed on in the city of Esmeraldas and tat was an attractive option. He was expected to serve as Administrator of the Light and Liberty Educational Centre as well as serve as National Church President. The centre had about one thousand students in kindergarten, primary school and high school. He could have collected two salaries. However, he had seen how the center absorbed the time and attention of some of the previous presidents and he wanted to focus on leading the church. He asked the leadership to select an administrator for the educational centre so that he could focus his efforts on the growth and development of churches and the denomination.

There were serious challenges.

• An influential leader in the denomination was disciplined for mismanagement of funds and he vented his anger on Teo.

• Legally the denomination had disappeared from the radar and was no longer recognized by the government, so he had to work to correct this situation.

• Also, there had been a change in the name of the denomination and many church properties had to have their land titles corrected.

It was a very tense year and at the end of his first year as president he wrote out his letter of resignation, but he decided that it was best to wait and hear God´s voice first. As he prayed the only things that came to mind were the names of two of his teachers at seminary. He called them and asked them for help. They counselled him and encouraged him to continue.

Teo decided to move to a new city which would become the center of the work and ministry of the Evangelical Missionary Church of Ecuador. At that time the city of Santo Domingo was the fastest growing city in Ecuador and in all of Latin America. It was located centrally in the districts and would facilitate travel to the churches. There was a church planting team who had been working since 1997 to establish La Roca church so they moved to Santo Domingo at the end of 1998.

Teo developed a long-term mentoring relationship with Frank Hankins, a former professor, and one of the men he had called to help him. When Frank left Ecuador he had planted the vision for a network of church leaders across Latin America that would help each other to grow in the ministry, stay faithful in all areas of their lives and finish well in the ministry. The network was known in Spanish as NDLL—Nexo Para el Desarrollo de Líderes Latinos, which in English is Network for the Development of Latin Leaders. Eventually this ministry led to the development of the Pastoral Care Project in the Evangelical Missionary Church of Ecuador.

Teo has been re-elected seven times as President of the Evangelical Missionary Church of Ecuador. He has done many things well:

• advocated for better treatment of pastors—pay, living conditions and affiliation with the Social Security system;
• planned retreats for pastors and their wives that focus on mentoring and resourcing church leadership;
• fostered a church planting movement within the denomination.

One of his greatest challenges has been the loss of pastors. About one pastoral couple a year leaves the ministry due to problems: pressures, conflicts, immorality, burnout, etc. He has often felt powerless to intervene in a positive way to prevent some of these problems. For the last five years he has worked on putting together the Pastoral Care Project. The implementation began last year with retreats in the five zones of the denomination. The plan is that the Pastoral Care Project will provide preventative ministry, positive intervention and restoration for pastors and their families.

Teo is truly a servant leader, one of many who serve the Lord faithfully in Ecuador. It is a privilege to know him and to work with him, his leadership team and the couples in pastoral ministry and church leadership.

Keith and RuthAnn Elliott are currently serving as missionaries in Latin America and are involved in the training and care of Ecuadorian pastors. They have four children and eight grandchildren.

Child Sponsorship

~by Chad Verity~

We’ve all seen the commercials. Little children wearing what would be generously described as rags, flies buzzing around their eyes and mouth with a facial expression noting that life for them hasn’t really begun. They make me uncomfortable. I turn the channel quickly. It’s not that I don’t care. It’s because my heart could never reconcile the images on the screen as reality. Those images were so foreign to my experiences that I met them with indifference.

Not helping my apathy is that the pictures are everywhere. You can’t watch the sports channel without having to sit through a lengthy advertisement. Every Christian conference or event comes complete with some pitch to sponsor a child. Countless organizations toting the photographs of countless children all with a dollar amount attached. All the while I was still trying to figure out whether or not any of it was real. There is no way a child could live that much of her life in such dire poverty. That much lack is simply unbelievable.

All of that changed one day in September on a grassy hillside in Central Uganda. To be clear, going to Uganda had nothing to do with child sponsorship. I was on the plane simply because I wanted to experience CHAP, the Community HIV/AIDS Program. I wanted to see how HIV was affecting multiple generations of people on the other side of the planet.

I honestly had too many doubts about child sponsorship to consider participating in any program. Opportunities to sponsor children are plentiful. The organizations offering similar programs are unlimited. Perhaps I simply grew numb to the idea of sponsorship because of the great noise created by the commercials and the concert plugs and the Sunday morning spotlights and the mall kiosks.

That all ended one day, as I said, in September. While sitting and waiting to meet the sponsored child of a friend, I no longer saw the excuses. I just saw the smiling face of a little boy named Yonah, April Clowes’ sponsored child.

All week I had seen the faces of children living in extreme poverty. I witnessed children living without adequate nutrition. Living in what would be graciously described as huts. These children live without basic sanitation like running water or bathroom facilities. If a child’s family can afford to send them to school, even if for a short time, that child would then have at least one meal a day and have access to some essential health services. However a family that can provide their children with education on a continual and annual basis is rare. Most children that we encountered were on their way home from school because of their lack of funds.

From my experiences the ‘norm’ looks like distended bellies caused by malnutrition or worms. The norm looks like the idle wait for a day that is better than the one they are currently living. It looks like girls without the opportunity to go to school becoming easy targets for men with evil intentions. It looks like early pregnancy and the continuing cycle of poverty. It looks like HIV and a life expectancy under 40.

Sponsored children are the exception. Yonah and the 779 other sponsored boys and girls in his school live the exception. They live with clean water, clean clothes, with food to eat and a safe place to learn and get an education. Their families are supported financially as well. Money that would have gone to their child’s education can now go towards food, personal hygiene or to an unsponsored brother or sister’s education. Most importantly a sponsorship provides hope, to the child but to the community as well. Walking around the school campus, the distended bellies are gone. Positive HIV statuses are significantly lower.

After coming back from the sponsorship school in Kyindi I sat down to write on our blog. This is what I wrote that night:

Blog Entry from September 25th, 2011:

Some of us have had the privilege of meeting sponsored children in both the Buikwe and Kyindi Primary Schools. It truly changes the way I approach child sponsorship programs seeing things from the side of the children. Child sponsorship through the International Needs program can make the difference between life and death. There are two types of schools in Uganda. Much like in Canada there are those public and those private. It is the law of this country that all children must attend primary school, so public schools provide the educational requirements to any child. However most public schools we have come across in our travels still require a term fee for books and a daily meal. As well, a matching uniform is required. When a child’s parents cannot cover their full term fee they are sent home from school until the money can be paid. Though a typical term fee for the most rustic of public schools wouldn’t exceed $10 CAD, many children are denied their education. Especially for young Ugandan girls, education is the road out of a life of early pregnancy and inequality. In Uganda all roads lead to Kampala, to higher education and a future, and most from the Buikwe district will never make it that far."

This December you will each be given an opportunity to enter into a sponsor-relationship with a child living in the same rural villages I visited in Uganda. From what I’ve seen with my own eyes it is the difference between life and death for these children. I know the need is great, but let’s not choose to do nothing simply because we can’t do everything. Child sponsorship does change the world for one child, and through it your world will be changed as well. You’ll have an opportunity to write your sponsored child and they’ll write back. You’ll receive a progress report on your child’s development every year. And of course, visiting them is always an option. I know that it changed the lives of the people on our trip. It will change your life as well.

CHAP – Is That Just Another Nice Guy?

~by Wilma Vander Leek~

NO! CHAP stands for Community HIV/AIDS Program. CHAP began in 2009 as the need was identified for an effective program in reaching the residents of the Buikwe district in Uganda.

CHAP fits under the umbrella of International Needs (IN) Uganda. It is one of many programs that IN implements. Child sponsorship is another program under that same umbrella.

Let me introduce the staff to you. There are two paid full time staff; Kennedy Otundo - Program Manager; and Collins Wandera Wanyama - Field Officer. There are also volunteer staff: Brenda Ayebazibwe - Community Development; Patrick Kakooza - Community Mobilizer; and Jane Rose Omusugu - Orphans and Vulnerable Children. They are a committed staff who have sincere hearts for their community and their country.

Discovering a person’s HIV status, is highly encouraged, but also may be very difficult to deal with as one could be shunned from both family and friends if the tests proved HIV positive. When relationship is everything, being shunned is devastating. CHAP has helped the community to learn that knowing your status is being responsible and that everyone should take it very seriously. Being diagnosed early gives one a better chance of living a generally normal, healthier, safer life.

CHAP informs, encourages and teaches the community about more than just issues regarding HIV/AIDS; they also teach about a healthier holistic lifestyle. Simple, yet highly effective routines are taught such as boiling unsafe water, washing hands, eating as regularly as possible, growing gardens, brushing teeth, delivering babies at a clinic and getting checkups when ill.

CHAP works within the community using the infrastructure already in place. Churches and pastors play major roles. The buildings are often used as places to educate, test for HIV and for drama presentations. Pastors are very instrumental in working hand in hand with the CHAP team to encourage safe sex and one partner relationships and to help with the transfer of information. Word of mouth is the chief means to inform these rural people.

CHAP is not exclusive but rather very inclusive to all who are willing to learn and utilize their services. If anyone, be they Christian, Catholic, Muslim, prostitute, single mother or father or grandparent comes and asks for help, CHAP will not turn them away. As CHAP continues to move within the communities they are readily accepted and are a well respected team. They are a great example of ‘relationships that build community’!

CrossRoads Church has every reason to be very pleased with this young, successful organization. CHAP is funded through the Global Compassion Campaign (GCC) of CrossRoads Church and they are accountable to the GCC with reports. There are success stories showing vast differences between the observations of our team in 2010 and results that we reported from this year’s team. In 2010, we saw a ‘DAYCARE’, a group of people who meet weekly who were HIV positive, people who were trying to encourage each other and continue to move forward. This year, we witnessed that same group of people making a difference in themselves and in the community inspite of their HIV positive diagnosis. They collect and share what little money they can scrape together to lend out to help those in need; they teach their community how to live a successful life even though one is HIV positive as they domonstrate it themselves. I was excited to witness the vast difference in attitude, encouragement and willingness to step out and make a difference in the area. CHAP played a vital role in this change and growth within the people.

CHAP focuses on HIV/AIDS testing, educating the community, identifying desperate family situations, identifying children in distressed situations and working diligently to make things better in these areas. CHAP also realizes that they cannot - nor do they have the resources to - just solve each issue. Rather they look to the bigger picture of teaching others to help themselves and hopefully others. The holistic education is very necessary and will continue to help this community and others like it learn, grow and become healthier.

It has been amazing to watch how God has been using this program to impact people for Him and I feel blessed to be a part of it. Please continue to pray for Buikwe, for IN Uganda and for CHAP and the work that they do. Prayers encourage others and show our support in many ways!

Relationships that Build Community!

www.CHAPuganda.com

From a Selfish Life in a Montreal Bar To a Life of Service and Devotion to God

~ By Nick, as relayed to Donald and Lorraine Gingras (CrossRoads supported missionaries in Quebec) ~

It was another great night in the summer of 2006 at a well known Montreal bar when a businessman called Peter leaned over and asked me, as I was ordering my fourth drink, if I thought I was going to heaven when I died. I thought it was a weird question but I liked this guy and I wanted to do business with him so I answered, "Absolutely!"

Much to my surprise he said, "Really? Why do you think that Nick?" I told him that I am a good guy, I work hard and that I am trying to change the world and make it a better place. He said that was nice but that it wasn’t the way to heaven so I asked him what the secret entry code was. Of course, he said it was Jesus and honestly, I was a little freaked out to say the least. To my surprise, the seed was planted and so over the next few months, something inside me wanted to know more and more and more about this Jesus character.

It is over those few months that Peter became my friend. He introduced me to Donald and Lorraine. Donald took over my discipleship and by this time, I had an insatiable thirst for Jesus to the point when one day after a five hour session with Donald, I asked him how much I owed him for the professional services. Of course he laughed and explained that he worked for God and not for money – I was a little confused but I accepted it all. At this time, I was in a relationship of nine years with a beautiful woman and together we had an amazing eight year-old daughter. As far as marriage was concerned, it wasn’t really important to us or certainly not a priority. My partner Mylène was Catholic like me but we never talked about God. My parents were worried that I was in a sect and that at any time, "they" would take all my money and then some, but of course "they" never did. Donald introduced us to an amazing fellowship called River’s Edge Community Church and I fell in love with this community of faith, the Lead Pastor, the vision, the staff and everything it represented.

It was only after nine months of seeking, weekly meetings with Donald, going to church and praying that I finally gave my life to Jesus on February 13, 2007. What followed was an unbelievable series of blessings that forever changed my life.

While the challenges of my business were very real and extremely difficult, all of a sudden I wasn’t alone to face them. In September, 2007 I arranged to be in Israel and Jordan on business and invited Donald and Lorraine to join me. On September 7th, my birthday, I was baptized in the River Jordan by Donald and our dear friend Brother Andrew from the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf, at the exact place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist!

As my life continued to receive these extraordinary blessings, Mylène started to see big changes in my life; I was becoming a better father, a better friend, a better partner. I was becoming a better man! The kind of man she wanted to marry. That’s when she told me that she was prepared to put her money where her mouth is. You see, she had once told me that she loved me so very much and that she would follow me to the ends of earth. It was therefore only natural that she follow me on my spiritual journey. And follow she did! She started her own journey in becoming a follower of Christ.

In 2008 the world financial markets were falling apart. Our company lost 90% of its value in sixty days. The investors and board got really nervous and brought in professional management and we, the founders, were set aside. If it hadn’t been for my growing faith and the incredible support of my brothers and sisters in Jesus, I would have given up. Now as God would have it, the management gave up and resigned within a year and God gave us back our business. We then went on to invent a miracle product and are now back on track to changing the world.

As my faith grew stronger and stronger I began discussing with Mylène about her baptism. Funny thing is that she agreed right away and a few months later, we chose the date of September 11, at 11:11 at the Lake where we have our country house. The week leading up to September 11 was cold and rainy, about 10 °C outside and we were nervous that we had invited 35 people to come on the lake to the sandbar in boats for her baptism. Well wouldn’t you know it that by 6:00am God gave us a glorious morning where the sun was dancing on the lake and by 10:00am it was 27 °C. When we actually got on the boats at 11:00am and started the ceremony at 11:11, EVERYONE, believers and non believers were in awe; awe that our Heavenly Father had stopped the wind, cleared all the clouds and filled her mouth with the most amazing and inspiring testimony that brought us all to tears, all of us, including her father who until a few moments prior had been wondering why she was getting baptized again, 42 years later. Our cottage is an exact replica of an 1875 Catholic Schoolhouse equipped with a school bell but the cross was missing. On that day, a friend of ours climbed to the top and attached the missing cross to mark the occasion. The next day… it was cold and rainy again!

Despite this unbelievable baptism, there was a thought lingering in both our minds – shouldn’t we get married or are we already married in the eyes of God? After all, we had been together for twelve years and we had a ten year-old daughter. We had been engaged for a long time, and loved each other but were waiting to have enough money to have the dream wedding. The problem was that days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. Mylène’s friend Chantal said something that resonated to our very core. She said that if we were getting married for the right reason, which is to honour and please God, we would not wait to have enough money to have a big party. An overwhelming sense of selfishness filled our hearts. After some discussion with Donald and our Pastor, we decided to finally get married in a very small, very intimate family-only celebration in our city home during Thanksgiving weekend. It was beautiful obedience we wished we had done sooner.

We are forever grateful to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for changing ours lives, for giving us strength, for giving us hope and for giving us love. Today, my prayer is that my almost eleven year-old daughter will give her life to Jesus and experience a peace in her life that took her father and mother thirty-eight years to find. I thank Peter, I thank Donald and Lorraine, I thank my wife but above all, I thank Jesus with all my heart, all my mind and of course, all my soul.

Donald reports that Nick’s story is ongoing. Nick and Mylène are now involved in River’s Edge fellowship and are working to lead their daughter to Christ. As husband and wife they are learning to become Godly spouses. Their journey is constant and edifying.

If you are interested in reading more true life stories like this, visit Donald and Lorraine’s web blog. http://heartcryforquebec.wordpress.com. Donald would love to hear any feedback you may have.