 Dear Pastors, Missionaries, Chaplains and friends, Steve here…Every decade seems to introduce us to a word—a word for the decade. When I was born in the 1960s, the word was “groovy”. During the 70s it was “cool”. In the 80s it was “awesome” and in the 90s it was “sweet”. I think the 2000s was “epic”. I’m not sure what the next decade’s word will be, although I hear a lot of “have a good one”. I’ve used all these words in my common vocabulary, except for the last one. Don’t get me started on how I feel about the phrase, “have a good one”. My point is that words are powerful. They have meaning; they elicit emotions. They communicate life-giving truth as well as propagate error.  James makes reference to the power of words often in his epistle (James 1:19, 2:12, 3:2-8, 4:11, 5:12). The Apostle John spoke of Christ as the Word (John 1:1). Words, whether spoken or written, are mentioned often in the scriptures. Words are powerful. Words are also precious. Is the Bible inerrant? It seems God’s Word, our Bible, is constantly being attacked. Our own evangelical heritage is a story of conflict over the church’s view regarding God’s Word. Evangelism was birthed largely, but not exclusively, over a ‘battle for the Bible’, as Christian scholar Harold Lindsell’s book of the same name explains. The Reformation’s main tenant regarding inerrancy surrounded the Bible’s authority. Reformers asked, preached and wrote about whether the Bible would be the sole, ultimate authority over the life, beliefs and practices of disciples of Christ over and against the Pope and his bishops. Within our generation, the ‘International Council on Biblical Inerrancy’ formed in order to “validate, vindicate and apply the doctrine of biblical inerrancy as an essential element for the authority of Scripture and a necessity for the health of the church of God.” This council helped to define what we mean by inerrancy and to determine its priority in the life of evangelism. What do we mean by “inerrancy” as evangelicals? The Bible consistently claims for itself a position of supreme authority. It appeals to its own authority for proof because the Bible assumes there is no greater authority to which it can appeal. If the Bible were to appeal to human reason to substantiate its own authority, one could infer that this implicitly indicates that human reason is a greater authority. This is, in fact, untrue. However, in recent days much “reasoning” among evangelicals in articles, books, and the blogosphere has once again been questioning inerrancy, or at least our definition of what we mean by ‘inerrancy’ as evangelicals. Let’s start talking about inerrancy It is for this ‘reason’ (no pun intended!) that I’ve included a Theology Workshop on “Inerrancy” in our 2013 Fellowship National Conference in Richmond, BC (November 11-13), hosted by Dr. Kent Anderson, along with presenters from Heritage College and Seminary and Northwest Baptist Seminary. A second theological workshop on “Baptism” will also be offered. I hope you plan to attend our annual conference in the beautiful Vancouver area. You may want to take this workshop and begin the conversation about inerrancy together, as Fellowship Baptists. Have a blessed week, Steven Jones  P.S. Click on the images below for more information on our Fellowship Day of Prayer and Fellowship National Conference!  Hey Friends, Family and Prayer Partners:
I received an email from a new prayer partner and friend in the U.K. this week. He asked if I would send him regular updates for prayer and resource needs. In the middle of writing those I was convicted that we have so many people, churches and family who support us in prayer and resources that really might like a more frequent and succinct updates on what is happening with our family, the church and our other church plant efforts; I know many of you pick up what is needed via our facebook pages, private emails, or other means. But I am hoping a quick once a month email will help to keep the most important items in your prayers. THANKS! BTW- if you don't wish to receive a quick monthly prayer and praise I won't be offended just reply with a please take me off your contact list- I realize you probably get plenty of emails in the run of a month. A few quick PAXnorth and Family prayer requests/praises: - We continue to see growth in numbers each week. Praying that people will be challenged in the context of connecting in on Sunday and that our people will make active effort in relationships so that people will move into various places of discipleship quickly and not be able to sit on the peripherals for long. - Prayer needed for wisdom of what to do next in relation to capacity for our worship space. We looked into renting a space directly across the street from our current space but it would mean $4000 a month more in rental (we already pay $2000monthly) which is way out of our league right now. Also for our leadership development capacities to continue to grow. - This year it's our goal to have in place our first official elder; Our first official membership role and to plant our first official church out of PAXnorth. Need prayer to see these goals through and see them be a continued indication of growing as a healthy church. - We had a great COMMUNITY DAY last Sunday! Over 350 people came out to enjoy good food, music, arts, kids events, and just connect. SO important in high risk communities to get people groups together so that there can be a greater sense of knowing each other and beginning to bridge the gaps of trust. Pray for many of those who attended who indicated they would like to check the church out.- PRAY FOR PEACE in our neighbourhoods. - Prayer for a couple of very sinfully messy situations that we are journeying through with a few people in our church. - Pray for our family and the church right now who is feeling the crunch of a very tight cash flow. As we continue to expand and need more practical resources it makes it hard to run sufficient programs and difficult on family resources as we learn to trust God in the sacrifices. BIG PRAISE FOR GOD's FAITHFULNESS in multiplying our simple and often stumbling efforts! Brad Somers lead PAXnorth Church www.paxnorth.ca Dear Pastors, Missionaries, Chaplains and Friends,
Steve here… Vision is critical to our future. Without it, the Scriptures tell us “people perish”. Many of our local churches have established vision statements that speak of their preferred future. Our five Fellowship Regions have Vision Statements seeking to galvanize their local churches toward a common preferred future. Our Regions’ Statements are as follows: Fellowship Pacific “By 2014 Fellowship Pacific will be a growing and united fellowship exceeding 120 congregations that are growing at a minimum rate of 5% per year (on average), and reproducing new congregations at a minimal rate of 5% per year. Our collective priorities in pursuit of this vision will be church health, church reproduction, and the leadership development necessary to accomplish them.” Fellowship Prairies “Healthy leaders, leading healthy churches into the harvest.” FEB Central “We believe God wants us to be a region of Spirit-led, thriving and reproducing churches.” AEBEQ “Evangelism and Churches planting: · 100 churches by 2013 Church Health: · 100% of our churches have a plan to manage crisis Leadership: · 100 new workers for 2013 Good management and financial health of the Region: · Establishment of a Foundation for the Region Participation with the Region: · 100% of our churches have an official Board of the Region (Association) in their building. · All our churches contribute financially to the Region – 5% of their income.” Fellowship Atlantic “The Fellowship Atlantic region is to develop and implement a regional, national and global strategy that results in new and growing churches made up of regenerate persons who have been baptized by immersion upon credible profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; who are obedient to His commandments (Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission.” Our National Fellowship, on behalf of our churches and Regions, seeks to steward several areas; namely our International, Francophone, Chaplaincy Ministries along with some support services such as health care, pension plans for pastors and missionaries, church loans and other services for churches. As an organization we, too, follow a clearly defined vision and mission as follows: National Fellowship Vision “The Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada will be a thriving Canadian mission organization with each of its churches growing and making new disciples of Jesus Christ both locally and globally.” Mission “The Fellowship is to stimulate member churches to be Biblically authentic, effective, innovative churches by: · Developing and facilitating the relentless fulfillment of a shared vision through collaboration among the Regions, · Developing and operating strategic, specialized ministries and, · Providing ministry support services not available in a Region, or that benefit from economics of scale”. Putting the Fellowship’s Vision all together So… the vision of many of our local churches has been clearly defined. Our Regions have stated their preferred futures and the National Fellowship has stated its vision and mission as an organization. However, is it possible to capture, in a single, powerful statement, the compelling vision, mission and values of who we are as a Fellowship so that anyone, anywhere — a missionary in Poland or Indonesia, a Fellowship Chaplain in Vancouver or Montreal, or a Fellowship local church elder in Sarnia or Winnipeg — could read our vision or mission statement and sense that it has nailed who we are and what we’re all about? I believe it’s possible. I’m convinced, it’s essential. We have a “Statement of Faith” that binds us together. Fellowship leaders from across the country gathered together (May 31, 2013) in Congress to discuss the formation of a “Statement of Mission” that states the mission, vision and values of our entire movement. A single page document that each of us, that care about our Fellowship, can point at and say this is who we are as Fellowship Baptists. This is a tall order to achieve. The process started soon after my arrival. The first part of the process was retrieving our constituent’s missional dreams and aspirations. Hundreds participated in four surveys conducted between January and March 2012. Focus groups were hosted across the country (March to June 2012). Two emails solicited your mission dreams and over 100 of you responded (May to June 2012) and a group exercise occurred at our 2012 Fellowship National Conference in Niagara Falls, ON seeking to solicit the “values” of our Fellowship. I estimate 500-600 within our Fellowship family have participated at some point. The next phase was the collating and synthesizing of all this information and then, the creation of a draft document by some national and regional leaders (April 2012-April 2013). The document is called the “Fellowship Strategic Directional Document” and will eventually act as our statement of mission identifying our mission, vision, values of our entire movement. Congress: May 31, 2013 On May 31, 2013, in Toronto, leaders from across our Fellowship (local, regional and national leaders) gathered to discuss this draft and seek the “mind of Christ”. Suggestions were made. Good suggestions that will modify the draft. I was wonderfully encouraged by the Spirit and attitude I experienced at our recent Fellowship Congress. It was hopeful and inspiring. The process continues over the next year with greater regional input. Please pray that the Lord will continue to guide us in creating a directional document that honours Him and greatly benefits us — a few simple statements that we can all rally behind and move forward with together. Thanks for taking the time to read this, “A Word from Steve” email. It’s longer than normal, however, the topic merited a little more information. Have a blessed week, Steven Jones Click HERE to find out more about our upcoming Fellowship National Conference in Richmond BC. Our 2013 Fellowship theme verse is: “We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7  Dear Pastors, Missionaries, Chaplains and friends, Steve here... I once heard that vision constantly “leaks” out of churches. Our churches are full of people with real lives and they quickly forget why the church exists. We keep thinking it’s all for “me”. Any vision that comes quickly or unanimously through committee consensus will be a vision that may be approved, but not necessarily owned. And if it ain’t owned, brother, it ain’t gonna happen.  The Apostle John on Ownership In John 10, we listen to Jesus tell the story of the hired-hands who cared for the sheep. When a pack of wolves came looking for a rack of lamb, guess who went running for the hills — the hired-hands. The owner knew the sheep by name and would risk his life for his lambs. Owners do whatever it takes to propel the mission and vision forward. Owners are willing to die for the mission they own. Which begs the question – do I give assent to Jesus’ mission, applaud it, or do I own His mission? One Day on “Bloody Sunday” Six hundred people crossed a bridge in Louisiana marching to Montgomery, Alabama in March 1965 to tell the Governor that blacks should be able to vote. On the other side of the bridge stood hundreds of hateful, racist police officers with attack dogs, clubs and tear gas. These people stopped, looked at the police, the teeth, the clubs and they all did a “gut check”. Do I really own this vision, because it’s likely going to mean getting in harm’s way. Today we know this event as “Bloody Sunday”. A nation realized change was coming because some people were willing to die for a vision of a preferred future. The Civil Rights movement followed this blood bath.  -Vision leaks amid weak leadership
Vision leaks. This is a fact. It’s in-evitable in church and any organization. Most people get their ownership cue from their leader. They are willing to take a bullet as long as the leader is willing to take the first bullet. Most won’t settle for the “hired-hand” lowball vision that costs little. This vision is birthed by leaders asking people to own what they themselves are not willing to pay for. Most want to own something that costs dearly. Jesus is one example. Salvation cost Him glory. Imagine a divine being becoming a baby unable to neither feed Himself nor hold His own bladder. It cost Him His blood at Calvary. Our people wait for a leader with a vision that is costly. Are you a hired-hand or an owner? Have a blessed week, Steven Jones P.S. Why not register for our upcoming Fellowship National Conference on November 11-13, 2013. Our 2013 Fellowship theme verse is: “We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7  Dear Pastor, Missionaries, Chaplains and friends
Steve here… Yesterday was Labour Day Monday. A day we commemorate “work” in Canada. I know most of our 512 churches are gearing up for a busy season of ministry. This is that time of year when leaders, directors and coordinators go looking for willing workers to serve in our local churches. Together we go further, sustain longer and accomplish more. In the next few weeks we’re going to be looking above as we see Canadian geese going south for the winter. They will be flying in the familiar V formation. There is a reason for their formation flying. It enables them to go farther, sustain longer and accomplish more. Scientists have discovered that as each goose flaps its wings, it creates an up-lift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. People who share the work load can get where they’re going more quickly and easily. They travel on the thrust of one another. When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of having to go it alone. The smart goose gets back into formation to benefit from the lifting power of the bird in front. The moral of the story? If we all had the sense of a goose, we would stand together. I trust the ministry recruitment drive in your church over the next few weeks will encourage your heart. May you experience a lift within your church family. Have a blessed week, Steven P.S. I hope you will register for our upcoming Fellowship National Conference this November 11-13, 2013 in Richmond, BC. Click HERE to register. Our 2013 Fellowship theme verse is: “We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 |