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Dear Prayer Support Team, Please find, attached, my most recent Prayer Newsletter. Thank you all for your continued prayer and financial support. Blessings, Steven Jones, President The Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada ~ www.fellowship.ca (Use Control + and - to zoom in and out on keyboard)   
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Dear pastors, missionaries, chaplains and friends,
Steve Jones here… In recent years, our Regions have offered a ministry tool to local churches called “Church Consultation.” Many of our churches have benefited by discovering those growth areas in their ministry that need to be addressed. I have had the joy of accompanying consultation teams to help support our churches out West and out East. GLOBAL MISSION COACHING Our Fellowship International department has created a ministry tool for our churches to help revitalize and develop your missions ministry. A Global Missions Coach comes alongside your missions and church leadership to help develop a unique plan for your church to fulfill the Great Commission. I have asked our Fellowship International director, Dave Marttunen, to comment on this coaching ministry: Our world is as complex as our shifting Canadian culture. First, as we intentionally engage in our calling to: “make disciples”, we discover that we do so in a context of spiritual warfare. Our cunning and diabolical enemy does all he can to distract, confuse, frustrate, marginalize and defeat us so that we do not effectively harvest the fields that are ripe. Secondly, we also discover in our intention to do missions a maze of opportunities. Being overwhelmed can lead us away from engagement and result in inertia; doing little to reach the lost in the wide world. One solution used by many churches is to delegate the task to a small group of individuals; a committee is asked to do the work. Too frequently the outcome of a small group with a big task has been poor engagement by the congregation, and an inadequate sense of ownership by the church. Yet most churches don’t want to ‘just write a cheque’, they want to be involved. Enter, the most recent answer — short term teams. Most churches using teams have discovered an improvement in engagement in missions, but they have also learned that short term teams cannot meet the long term need in the fields. Is there a better way forward? I think that there is. Growing the church, doing discipleship, and engaging in missions, are all team activities. And they are inseparably linked. Missions is not a task of the church, it is fundamentally the outwork of worship, discipleship, and being the light of the world. Not only are we better together, but we simply can’t do any of these things individually. We all know that every team sport played to its highest level requires coaching for improvement, development, and encouragement. In fact as Canadians we routinely engage coaches for life, work, and sport. Can it be that we are awakening to the need for coaching in our spiritual development and purposes too? Going at these things alone and/or in isolation is tantamount to failure. The great news is that being part of our Fellowship gives us enormous advantage. We have vast resources among our churches, regions, agencies and fields that we can use to better prepare us to accomplish God’s mission. Fellowship International is equipped to help our Churches find their way in missions and through prayer to raise the workers needed to reap the fields. Coaching helps us to leverage our God given gifts, and resources so that our churches can make God sized impact in our wide world. An email, phone call or text can start our engagement with you. One of our Global Mission Coaches has this to say about what to expect as a church if you choose to have a mission consultation: “Mission coaching assists local congregations to identify and take ownership of their own strategic missions focus in such a way that it engages their people in the deployment of their unique gifts and resources in partnership with others, for the accomplishment of God’s mission beginning in their Jerusalem and extending to the ends of the earth. The mission coaching process provides a church a context for unhurried reflection and the intentional seeking of God’s face in identifying its own particular mission thrust into the world.” — Richard Flemming, Fellowship National Eastern Coordinator I trust many of our churches will take full advantage of this ministry tool to help our churches become all they can be. Have a blessed week, Steve Jones  Dear pastors, missionaries, chaplains and friends, Steve here… Art is powerful. Whether a painting, a sculpture, a dance, a play or a movie; art has the ability to move the soul and stir even the most hardened heart. We often understate its capacity to communicate deeply the truths of the Gospel. Stand in front of one of Caravaggio’s religious-themed masterpieces and be prepared for sensory overload. I had to sit down and wipe my tears when I visited a show displaying his work. Easter is coming. So much art has depicted this critical event in human history. One of my favorites is Holman Hunt’s, “The Shadow of Death.” From 1870-1873, Holman Hunt traveled and lived in the Holy Land. He was a European master painter and story teller who was determined, as he put it, “to do battle with the frivolous art of the day.” On the roof-top of his home in Jerusalem he finished painting, what arguably could be his most loved painting. He entitled this exquisite work which now hangs in the Manchester City Art Gallery, “The Shadow of Death” The painting depicts Jesus standing, stripped to the waist in his carpenter’s shop in Nazareth. He has put down his saw and his eyes are lifted toward heaven with his arms stretching above his head. The evening sunlight streams through the front door and casts a DARK SHADOW in the form of a CROSS on the wall behind Him. His tool rack hangs on that wall and forms the horizontal bar of the symbolic cross. The tools hanging there, the hammer and nails, are fateful harbingers of things to come. Holman Hunt’s “The Shadow of Death” depicts a cross-like shadow on a wall. But Jesus’ shadow of death would become a REALITY. Jesus’ death, in fact, is central to His MISSION. His own testimony was succinct and simple: “I’ve come to seek and save the lost”. The CROSS represents for the believer that finished work so that we might be saved. The Buddhist has his lotus flower. The Muslim has his crescent moon. And the Jew has his Star of David.  Christians have their symbol — the cross. An emblem associated with pain and death. It has allusions to the shameful execution of common criminals. Also to the daily putting to death of our sinful ways.
Several years back a terrorist blew himself up among Jews celebrating the Passover in a large gathering. Twenty were killed and 100 were injured. A tragedy. Two millennia ago, another Passover massacre occurred when a cohort of temple guards illegally seized Jesus. The judge condemned Him to death during a mock trial. Jesus stood in an open gathering accused of blasphemy and was asked: “I demand in the name of the Living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” (Matthew 26:63) Our Emmanuel, God with us, willingly SACRIFICED Himself not to kill, injure or maim anyone, but to give us newness of life, eternal life!! His personal massacre became a message of hope for all of us!! Thank you, Lord Jesus. May we boldly proclaim this Good News this Easter to family, friends and strangers. I’m going to give A.W. Tozer the last word: “The cross is rough, and it is deadly, but it is effective. It does not keep its victim hanging there forever. There comes a moment when its work is finished… After that is resurrection glory and power, and the pain is forgotten for joy that the veil is taken away and we have entered in actual experience the Presence of the living God. A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God Have a blessed week, Steve Jones  Dear pastors, missionaries, chaplains and friends, Steve here… In any town or city of our land you can pass by two or three payday lending businesses. I do. What are we to make of these businesses who typically cater to those struggling financially? In Matthew 26 the disciples argued it a waste of money to buy perfume rather than use the money to care for the poor. Jesus’ response, “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” (Matt. 26:11 NLT). Was Jesus showing indifference to the millions visiting these payday store fronts each and every day? If we’ll always have the poor, why bother combating poverty? Jesus was actually harkening back to the Old Testament. What does the OT have to say about poverty? Plenty. · Deuteronomy 15:11 says, “There will always be some in the land who are poor… share freely with the poor…” · Deuteronomy 15:7-8 says, “But if there are any poor… do not be hard hearted or tightfisted toward them. Instead be generous and lend them whatever they need.”  We are commanded to “give” and to “lend”. The OT goes on to share some bold commands on what should characterize our “lending” habits and behaviour. How is our society doing?
While there is significant regulation of Canadian banks and other financial institutions, predatory lending is a widespread problem in North America. Payday loans, auto title loans, high cost retail installment loans, refund anticipation loans, and cheque cash back are all means to gouge the consumer, especially the poor. I recently heard of one person in Texas who borrowed $700 from a payday loan business which required $200 every two weeks to pay off the loan. With all the fine print they finally paid off their $700 loan in five months costing them $3,300. I’m pretty sure that interest (usury) level violates the spirit of instruction in Exodus 22:25, or Leviticus 25:35-37 and 1 John 3:17-18. A typical payday loan is a small cash advance ranging from $100-$1,000 and typically paid off in two weeksor until your next pay cheque. There is often little to no credit check required. The repayment is most often a lump sum including principle and interest with no ability to pay down principle over time. Often repayment is secured by direct access to a personal bank account or post-dated cheques. The actual payday loan business is a multi-billion dollar industry. The industry-insiders spin a tale of seeking to help people, but the result is often misery. What they say publicly: “Speaking from experience, most customers facing financial emergencies use short-term loans wisely. It’s a viable solution offered by reputable lenders, like Cash America.” —Dennis Wise, President & COO of the retail services division of Cash America International What they say privately: “The theory of the business is you’ve got to get that customer in, work to turn him into a repetitive customer, long-term customer, because that’s where the real profitability is.” —Dan Feehan, CEO Cash America, June 2007 This business model works. Governor Jeb Bush (Florida) signed into law (2000) a restriction of 30% interest on car title loans. But due to loopholes and costly insurance products associated with these loans, the average loan customer paid 419% interest for a 14 day loan in Florida in 2013 and the average borrower made 8.8 loans each year. It’s an unending and vicious cycle of debt. Former Canadian finance minister, Jim Flaherty (deceased) sought to combat this reality a few years back with legislation to only allow a 30% interest rate, rather than the 60% current among these payday loan business. It’s no wonder you will likely find a payday loan business close to a government office that issues secure cheques to citizens. One denominational leader in Toronto told me one of these businesses is three stores down from their Refugee Home with large signs saying $30 can get you $300. The business model works and the poor are exploited. HOW CAN WE HELP · Write your MP and city leaders asking action against predatory or deceptive lending practices. · Speak out in your local media as a person of faith calling for reform. · Talk about it at church and consider visiting a business location. · Research the current law. · Ensure your church is teaching and modeling Biblical principles on godly stewardship. · Churches should consider offering help to their neighbours in times of financial crisis. Possibly considering loans at reasonable interest rates based on their ability to repay the loan in a timely way. This could become a possible new ministry for some of our churches in the future. I’d love to hear your stories if you have already been fighting this fight. Talk to me. Have a blessed week, Steve Jones  from: Denise Wicks
Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ, Thank you to those who have already responded to the crisis situation in Syrian through FAIR’s partnerships by donating to on the ground relief efforts and/or through refugee sponsorship participation. We’re contacting you today to provide an update on the progress of our short- and long-term response to the Syrian refugee crisis. Short Term: As of March 4th, $103,924 has been received. With your donations and through our partnership with Operation Mobilization (OM), programs such as the one featured in this video (clickHERE) continue to provide aid to Syrian refugees. Long Term: FAIR has been in contact with 34 churches regarding refugee sponsorship. This includes 14churches in the initial stages of information gathering, eight churches in the initial steps of sponsorship, and 12 churches in the process of applying for sponsorship through our partnership with Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA). For the newest video about the Syrian refugee crisis produced by our partner organization, C&MA and featuring FAIR Director Dan Shurr, click HERE. To check out our updated Refugee Sponsorship Information page, click HERE. If you or your church would like to be involved with the FAIR sponsorship effort either by making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or connecting with those that are already sponsoring, please do not hesitate to contact Denise (FAIR Administrative Assistant) at 519-821-4830 x 232 or dwicks@fellowship.ca. We look forward to hearing from you.  FAIR Director DAN SHURR Dear pastors, missionaries, chaplains and friends, Steve here… The needs around our world are staggering. Where do we begin? When do we get involved? Who should we support? One year ago, we began a journey together as a movement of churches. After 40 years of humanitarian relief work through FAIR (Fellowship Aid and International Relief) via our Fellowship International ministry, we began the FAIR department in January 2015. This is an intentional attempt to give humanitarian relief, development and justice issues a greater profile in our movement. Our FAIR Director, Dan Shurr and FAIR Associate Director, Norman Nielsen, have been busy shaping the ministry and serving our local churches in humanitarian relief ministry.  FAIR Associate Director NORMAN NIELSEN I asked them to share a brief report on their first year as a new Fellowship National department, and the initiatives in which our local churches have been involved. I encourage you to read on and be encouraged: “The first year of FAIR as a National department has seen God moving graciously through His people. We are pleased to report what has been accomplished through our partnerships. In 2015, FAIR assisted ongoing projects in seven countries, including D.R. Congo, Pakistan, France, Philippines, Poland,Bulgaria and India. Thirty-eight of these projects were linked to Fellowship International personnel and their ministry.  Three special appeals were launched to support our missionaries throughout the year: · Living Water Project (Honduras): a total of $52,957 was raised to drill a well on the Casa Hogar Children’s Home property. · Redeeming a Community Project (D.R. Congo): a total of$54,888 was raised to provide a community centre from which to minister to poor and displaced people. · Hearing is Believing (Colombia): a total of $36,396.46 was raised to assist in establishing a ministry to the 20,000 deaf population in Medellin. A handful of emergency relief projects were launched with participation from Fellowship churches and donors: · Nepal earthquake relief: $167,894 · Myanmar flood relief: $8,088 · Syrian refugee crisis: $100,669 · Honduras flood relief: $3,705  Click on Image for EASTER Appeal We are excited about our new partnership formed late in 2015 with International Justice Mission Canada (https://www.ijm.ca/yourkingdomcome), and look forward to the completion of the “Your Kingdom Come” video teaching series. There is so much to be grateful for in reflection of God’s provision, and much to look forward to as we pray and seek to do our part to alleviate human suffering and social injustice in our world. Thank you for your generous giving!”  Click on Image to Read FAIR Directional Document Thank you Dan, Norman and Denise (Exec. Assistant) for your servant leadership this past year. I’m very grateful to the many Fellowship churches and donors who desire to be a “cup of cold water” to those in desperate need. My prayer is that hundreds of our churches and thousands of our donors will get more involved in humanitarian, development and justice issues in 2016 and beyond.
Have a blessed week, Steve Jones |
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