Dear Pastors, Missionaries, Chaplains and friends:

Steve Jones here… I recently listened to our Fellowship Pacific Regional Director, David Horita, preach from John 5:1-15.  He hit a home-run.  One point he made stuck. Jesus heals a lame man and tells him to pick up his mat and go. The religious leaders told him, carrying his mat constituted work and it was the Sabbath.   He explains the man who healed him told him to pick up his mat. The religious leaders demanded: “Who said such a thing as that?” (John 5:12).  And the lame man didn’t know because he didn’t even know who Jesus was. Had he really exercised any faith in Christ in his healing?
While the exercising of our faith is so important when it comes to experiencing God’s blessing, this little story indicates that the Lord often chooses to extend this grace and blessing even when we have little or no faith. God is so good!
During my recent western trips for Regional Conventions, I heard stories of God’s goodness.  I visited a new church plant in the BC lower mainland where Pastor Mark Clarke is ministering to 1100 people after two years in existence. Mark’s church was a plant out of South Delta with Pastor Paul Johnson.
A church in Vancouver, where the percentage of believers is only 0.4% (less than Quebec), Pastor Barton Priebe has a vision for church planting in this ethnically, economically, and educationally diverse area.  Mark and Barton represent a growing number of young pastors across our country who have a vision of God’s blessing to descend upon people who don’t even know the name of Jesus.  I applaud you and our Regions and churches who are pursuing Jesus’ calling to “make disciples” through healthy churches planting new churches.

A Story from Edmonton               

This work of extending God’s grace to spiritual orphans is all of our work.   Let me leave you with a recent story from Art Peterson, member at West Edmonton Baptist Church, and chaplain at a men’s shelter in Edmonton, AB.  Art writes:
“I just had one of our student nurses in my office.  We get a couple of nurses every six weeks doing their ‘mental health’ unit.  We have had two male nurses in the last little while and both have been impacted by their experiences here.  I teach a class on Spiritual Growth and I invited the male nurse to the class, explaining that we were talking about guy stuff (I am taking the men through the bookEvery Man’s Battle, which deals with sexuality, sexual sin and sexual addiction).  It really hit this male nurse and we have had some great conversations.  He stated that he turned away from God a long time ago.  Yesterday he came to me in tears about something that had gone on in his life - he did not share a lot but I said lets go out and talk.  We spent about two hours in the sun (yes I got my head sunburned).  Lots of things going on in his life and he said, ‘I am so broken up inside, and I have messed up so badly that I do not even think I can be forgiven’.  We talked further, he opened up more and more about the things that had gone on.  We kind of ended on, ‘there is nothing that God cannot forgive’.  “He came in this morning. Said he has such peace - he even looked different. He asked if I would pray for him which of course I did.  I finished and he waited for a minute or so and said, ‘Can I pray with you, I mean can I take the lead on this’.   ‘Of course’, I said.  He started, then said, ‘No this is not right.’ He got off his chair, knelt down and turned his life back over to God. What a gift. I just had to share it with you.”
Jesus still heals people. What a joy to be on the front lines watching God’s mercy touch people’s lives.  Thank you for being key to seeing God’s grace penetrate our land and around the world through our missionaries.  May God richly bless you for your labour in His Kingdom.

Have a blessed week,
Steven

P.S.  I hope your church is planning to have a special offering for our annual project, “Kick Start 2: On the Road”.  We are committed with our Regions to start eight new churches in Canada and one in Colombia.  Our project is $250-300,000 and we are presently at $82,188.  Please see the attachment for more details.

May 29 - Latest News
Prayer: Over the last month we have had four shootings and one severe beating (two fatal) right in the middle of the community where our church is- prayer for God's hand of redemption, exposing evil, and transforming our community is top on our list these days. Prayer for our summer plans as we have a summer of several fund raising trips planned (some with the family, some just Brad). Pray for continued growth and maturing as our church grows to 90 people consistently.

Praise: As we tie up year end financial items we have been extremely blessed to see that our internal giving has rose by 20%- meaning that internally we are now at a point where the church is giving almost 40% of our total income needed- it's a sign of spiritual maturity and ownership! PRAISE that of the 80  or so core people attending 21 of them are people who have come to faith in Christ over the last three years! Praise for a young Buddhist man who has been a part of PAXnorth for a year, last week- in front of his wife and baby daughter, in the middle of marriage counseling- bowed on his living room floor to ask Christ to come into his life!
   Thanks for your care, support and encouragement! Brad, Shelby and the Stupendous Seven (Solomon, Delaney, Seth, Addison, Carmen, Elijah and Calum)


May 1 - Latest News
SO here is a quick snap shot of: Immediate family prayers; a couple of links for prayers and info; and a quick project follow up.
IMMEDIATE FAMILY PRAYERS: We have been hit with nasty flu and cold bugs in the family this last couple of weeks. Elijah (3yrs old) has been hit the hardest with the rotovirus. A nasty flu like virus that causes some violent vomitting and diaherea for about a week. Shelby had him at the IWK yesterday just to check and see if his hydration levels were o.k. and to get some general care advice. They figure it'll be several more days until the virus flushes itself out of his system but that he is not in danger just very miserably uncomfortable. Delaney (13yr old) had an x ray as well on her lungs to see if her nasty infuenza has moved into a potential pnemonia but the answer was no but keep a close eye over the next couple of weeks. The rest of the kids have all been fighting cold and flu symptoms to various degrees over the last week. Shelby and I have been healthy but feeling the strain of being worn out and ready for house no longer to be a hospital ward. - thanks for prayers on this.
A couple of links: The first one I am sure your church has probably seen on t.v. happened right around the corner. PAX has been at the vigils and I have had several conversations with business owners and people on the streets- keep praying that we as the Church can learn to journey with the community so we can have credibility when we need to walk with our neighbour when brokenness and sin wrecks us.     

The second link below is a blog interview that gives basic info of past and present church and personal growth. You might want to pray for these needs.

Dear Pastors, Missionaries, Chaplains and friends, 

Steve Jones here… a verse to encourage you from Isaiah 58:11 (NLT):
"The Lord will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy too.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.”

The last few weeks have been the start of spring and it’s a furious time of change, growth and transformation.  However, if we don’t stop for a moment we will likely never notice any of it.  Transformation and renewal can only start in our own lives when we stop, take note and get intentional.
The Prophet promises the Lord’s “guidance” (vs 11), making your life an oasis amid the dryness of daily living.  Our lives can be a beautiful, colourful, tranquil and peaceful “well-watered garden” (vs 11).  I hope that is what you are experiencing these days.

I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE
I need to hear from you.  A single sentence is all I need from you.  We are believing God for vision renewal as a movement of churches.  We are in the inspection phase of the task to revise our vision as a Fellowship.
Several weeks ago I asked you to write, in a sentence, a statement that encapsulated the mission of our Fellowship.  Scientists are searching for the singular universal theory of everything.  Commonly called the “Unified Theory”.  What is the “Unified Mission” of the Fellowship?  When you think of our national and international movement; what comes to mind?  What inspires us to move forward?

Some of you responded to my last email asking this same question.  Here are several statements I received from you:

“To make disciples who are passionate to make more disciples who make more disciples”
“We exist to reflect God’s glory in our hearts, homes, church and world”
“Developing Reproducing Churches”
“Plant and strengthen Baptist churches worldwide”
“National helping Regions, help Associations, help Churches to win, teach and equip others to passionately follow Jesus Christ”
“To make disciples of Christ from all nations”
“Great Commission Growth”
“Equipping the Church, Exalting the Saviour, Extending the Gospel”
“Free to love, serve and make known Jesus our Lord and Saviour to the world”

I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU
I only heard from a few dozen of you last time.  I would love to hear from hundreds of you.  Think about our Movement as a whole.  Then write a statement that captures our mission as a Movement.  Pray about it, use your sanctified imagination and put your fingers to the keys of your computer and punch out 7 – 15 worlds to me today.  Thanks so much!

I await to hear what the Spirit of God is leading us to collectively capture.  May our Movement of churches be that “well-watered garden” (Isa 58:11) the Lord promises.

Have a blessed week,
Steve

Our Fellowship Theme Verse for 2012:
“So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. 
May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13 (NLT)

« Que le Dieu de l’espérance vous remplisse de toute joie et de toute paix dans la foi, pour que vous abondiez en espérance, par la puissance du Saint-Esprit! » Romains 15.13

At The Debert Hospitality Centre, Debert NS

Agenda:
Friday Evening
6:00-7:00 Supper
7:00-7:10 Welcome and approval of the agenda
7:10-7:25 Welcome to and comments by Steve Jones
7:25 -8:00 Music / Prayer & Testimonies
8:00-9:00 Special Session with Terry Cuthbert
9:00-10:00 Fellowship Time

Saturday Morning
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-9:45 Breakout Session 1
9:45-10:30 Breakout Session 2
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-11:45 Business Session

Nominating Report
Financial Report and Budget
Bylaw Review
Q&A

Regional Snapshot – by Regional Director
11:45-12:15 National Snapshot – by National Staff
12:30- 1:30 Lunch

Breakout Session Options:
1.  What about church planting? Who? When? Where? Why?
2.  Leadership Development: What’s working in Atlantic Canada?
3.  Indicators of Health in a Congregation

Special Guest Speaker: Terry Cuthbert
Terry is a former President (for 12 years) of FEBCC and presently serves as Urban Church Planting Catalyzer, in Montreal for FEBCC.  According to the FEBCC website (www.fellowship.ca), “In the role of Catalyzer, Terry has a burden to creatively engage the urban mission fields of the 21st century through enabling evangelism and church planting, primarily in greater Montreal, and coaching Fellowship International church planters around the world. He serves as Director of the Fellowship French Region’s church planting task force. He also serves as a coach for some members of SEMBEQ’s cohort (leaders-in-training).”

New National President: Steve Jones
This will be Steve’s first visit to the region since accepting the position of President of FEBCC this past year and we look forward to hearing from Steve.

Cost:
We are making this convention free for people to attend if you do not require accommodations. Here is the cost of the meals payable on site to Fellowship Atlantic should you wish to join us for any of the meal times:

Breakfast 10.00
Coffee Services 4.00
Lunch 11.00
Supper 15.00

For more info you can go to www.fellowshipatlantic.com

 

Dear Pastors, Missionaries, Chaplains and friends,
Steve Jones here…we will be honouring our mothers this Sunday.  I heard the story of a pastor who heard a speaker start his sermon saying, “You know the happiest days of my life were spent in the arms of another man’s wife”.  A concerned ripple went  through the congregation until he says, “That woman was my Mother!” Everyone sighed and laughed.  The pastor thought of starting his Mother’s Day sermon with this joke.  He said, “You know the happiest days of my life were spent in the arms of another man’s wife”.  The congregation recoiled.  The pastor experienced a mental block, forgetting the punch line, he blurted out; “And I cannot remember who she was!”  Hopefully, none of us would ever forget our mother.  The very woman who gave BIRTH to you.  They make an indelible imprint on our lives.  Hopefully a positive one.
 
Our Annual “Birthing” Project
Over the past few months our National Fellowship has been speaking about another type of BIRTHING. This year our project is focused on church planting through Project 2012—“Kick Start 2: On the Road”.  By God’s grace and the involvement of Fellowship churches and people, we hope to raise funds to support eight church plants in Canada and one in Colombia.  Churches will/have been planted in BC (Surrey and south Vancouver), Quebec (Bécancour, Montmagny, Montreal), Ontario (Guelph, Kitchener, Paris) and Colombia (La Ceja).  Church planters are counting on us to come alongside of them with prayer and financial support. 

How can you support a Church Planter?
All our churches have received news of this worthy project and over half of our churches/pastors have already received a personal phone call from your National Fellowship team.  Our hope and challenge is that every Fellowship Church will host a “Kick Start” church planting special offering on a Sunday in 2012.
Brochures have been prepared and can be used in your bulletin.  An excellent brief video on the annual project is available for download off of the National Fellowship website.  It explains the project and introduces you to some of the church planters and the location of these new “births”.  A very inspiring video.
Maybe you would prayerfully consider donating a gift yourself!  You can go on-line and do that.  My hope is all of us are convinced this is worthy cause. Church plants are one of the best ways to experience conversion growth in our nation.
Please consider putting a special offering Sunday on your church calendar.  Talk to your board or to your pastor.  Most of our churches have not participated yet. Our Annual Project has raised $81,600 towards the $250,000 goal and we have a considerable way to go to encourage our church planting couples with much needed financial support. If you or your church have already given to our Annual Project, thank you! If you are a pastor or church leader, would you consider encouraging your church family to give an individual donation.  Maybe a line or two in the bulletin, making brochures available at the welcome centre or posting the video on your website is all that is needed. Thank you for prayerfully considering your involvement in “Kick Start 2: On the Road”.  The hundreds who will come to Christ because of these nine new churches will thank you! 

Have a blessed week,
Steven Jones

We are waiting for the cost estimates for roof repairs to the Children's Home. Apparently they have little animals like bats that have made their nests and their droppings are a problem for the children's health. 

We also received word that someone stole Melodie's cellular phone at gun point. We praise God it is only the cellular and that she is still alive. She was with a little girl from the Home and they pointed the gun at the child also. 


Also one Saturday night some thieves got in the chicken coop during a rain storm and they stole 33 hens and a rooster. These chickens were given to the Home so that they would provide eggs and they could sell the extra eggs. As far as they know, they still have 24 chickens left. 


This news makes us realize that we will need to provide lots of prayer support for this Home as we as a church endeavour to meet their needs. 

I visited our Fellowship church in Chatham, ON the Sunday after Easter.  The pastor announced that eight people had made a profession of faith during the Easter weekend.  That was awesome news.  What also encouraged me was the spontaneous eruption of applause and cheering from the Emmanuel church family!  It mirrored the rejoicing that must have been going on in heaven as tens of thousands surrendered their lives to Christ this past Easter weekend worldwide.  God is so good!

I enjoyed our FEB Central Regional Conference (April 10-11) and I’m looking forward to visiting many of you at our other five Regional Conferences over the next eight weeks.  I hope to connect with many of you.

The guest speaker at the FEB Central Conference was Dr. Charles Price, pastor of Peoples Church (3,500 people) in Toronto.  In one message he asked us if we were Saul or David.  The message was a home-run, hitting the heart.  I thought I’d share a thought from the message.

Charles took us through several passages in 1 Samuel relating how much of Saul’s motivation for action or inaction was based on”fear”, rather than faith.  He constantly took short cuts in his private life and it took its toll on his public life.  Upon his death on the battle field, he asks a soldier to finish him off.  Interestingly, Saul asks the soldier who he was.  The soldier tells him he is an Amalekite.  He obeys the King, gives the mortal blow and retells the story to David (II Samuel 1:1-16).

There is an irony in all of this.  God had sanctioned Saul to destroy the Amalekites.  But, Saul’s enlightened sensibilities did not allow him to fully follow through on God’s will.  Eventually the people whom he was to destroy, killed him.

The point: If we don’t take care of our private life, it can destroy us.  Hidden sin has a horrible way of finding us out.

Five centuries later…Haman, the Hitler of the Persian Empire, sought to wipe out the Jewish race.  Haman was a descendant of Agag (Esther 3:1) the king of the Amalekites.  Saul’s forbearance would later come to haunt his people years later.  Five centuries further, we discover King Herod trying to commit genocide among young Jewish boys by ordering the slaughter of boys less than two years old in an attempt to murder God’s anointed.  King Herod was a Edomite and the Edomites were related to the Amalekites.  Amalek was the son of Esau’s (Edomites) first-born son, Eliphaz.

Charles Price pointed out the irony.  King Saul’s “enlightened” approach to following God’s will would not only destroy his own life, it would also bring untold grief to his people for generations to come.

When we choose to “fudge” on doing what we know to be true because of expediency or convenience or enlightened “common sense”, we run the risk of not only harming our own life, but the lives of our family, our church, the Christian community and even our grandchildren’s grandkids.  A sobering thought.

Lets all take care of our inner/private life for the sake of Jesus’ reputation today and for generations to come.

Have a blessed week,

Steve Jones

 
Our Fellowship Theme Verse for 2012:

“So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. 
May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13 (NLT)