Earlier this year, we sent out a request for our churches to consider joining us in supporting families who were displaced by the tragic fire in Lytton, BC and within two weeks we had raised over $25,000!

But you all didn't stop there and we are now thrilled to report that we have been able to contribute over $55,000 towards the work being done in Lytton!

Take a moment to read this update on how these funds have been able to love and support families in a very difficult time.

2021 REGIONAL DIRECTOR REPORT

As I write this report in late March 2021, we are a mere two weeks from Easter Sunday, at which time we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Like every one of you, I am hoping and praying that there will be permission granted by our Public Health Officer allowing our churches to lawfully open their doors to in-person gatherings. It is unclear whether that will or will not happen, given the increased Covid case-count through spring break. Either way, it seems likely that most of you share feelings of frustration as you look around at what is considered essential to our culture, and what is not.

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: NEW HOPE COMMUNITY SERVICES

“I would never wish the Mexican border crossing to anyone, but we had no choice. We crossed a river with my baby on my husband’s shoulders – the current was so strong that I thought we would be swept away. One week later, six people died in that same river crossing.”

Can you imagine living years of your life in hiding, afraid to go outside for fear of being hurt or threatened by soldiers? For Gabriela, one of our recent New Hope graduates, this was a daily reality. Gabriela and her family were hunted, threatened, and persecuted for years. With no options left, they were forced to leave the country. After a long journey, they finally arrived safely at New Hope, where they were welcomed to a home with clean beds and cabinets full of food. They were surrounded by a brand new community of people ready to support and encourage them as they began the next step of their journey in Canada. “I cried tears of joy for the blessing I found here.” 

SAYING THANK YOU TO KENT ANDERSON

The interesting thing about human behaviour in an organization is that we all just move along in one direction without really taking a look from the Google Earth perspective UNTIL somebody decides to move into another lane. Then collectively we all say, “wait a minute, what’s happening, where are you going? We thought we would just keep moving together forever!”

But here we are, saying goodbye to Kent Anderson after 26 years of “fellowshipping” in the same lane, and this journey deserves to be noted and celebrated.

HOWARD JOHNSON: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES

“Making a difference in people’s lives!”

This is the answer that Howard Johnson gave when asked about what has given him great joy for the past 32 years he has been a part of Baptist Housing.

Howard’s love for people and his desire to make a difference led him in 1988 to move from Ontario with his wife, Margaret and children, Jeremy and Sarah to join Baptist Housing in the capacity of COO and then for the past 14.5 years as CEO.

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: W.I.NG.S (WOMEN IN NEED GAINING STRENGTH)

“To provide women and children in need the opportunity to gain strength and to live according to their true worth.”

This is the mission of W.I.N.G.S. (Women in Need Gaining Strength), and for 22 years they have been serving the community and caring for the vulnerable women and children who so desperately need the love, hope, and safety that they provide.

UNEXPECTED LEGACY: WHEN THE END IS JUST THE BEGINNING

From death… new life. Sometimes, for various reasons churches come to the end of their lifespan. When that happens, those decades of hard work, faithful service, and sacrificial giving that have sustained it for decades do not have to go for naught. In fact, through the proviso that most of our Fellowship Pacific churches have written into their constitutions and by-laws, if and when a church comes to an end, its assets can be remobilized in various ways to ensure its legacy continues.

MINISTRY HIGHLIGHT: MIGRANT WORKERS MINISTRY

Every year, there are about 6,000 temporary farm workers living in BC during the height of the agricultural season. These workers have left behind the people they love in order to provide for their families, and it’s not easy. There are always challenges—leaving their families behind, those families having to face not having their dad/husband there, language and cultural differences, housing issues, discrimination—and of course, just as with all things right now, COVID-19 has only made it harder.

2020 IMMERSE GRADUATION

Graduation from the waist up!

Yup, that’s how we did it this year. Over 300 people gathered through Zoom to celebrate with our Fellowship Pacific graduates.

SOUTHRIDGE SPEEDWAY: LOVING A COMMUNITY IN NEED

On July 17, 2020, a fire tore through the Madison Place Apartment building, instantly changing the lives of 49 families. They lost their homes, their belongings, and their sense of security. The Langley community immediately rallied to offer donations of clothing and furniture in an effort to help the families rebuild. While this was very appreciated, they really needed so much more. That’s when Paul, the Executive Pastor at SouthRidge Fellowship Church stepped in. He arranged a sizeable donation of gift cards from the church’s Benevolence Fund for the families to help purchase food, clothing, household items, medications, etc. He also reached out to the church, asking them to pray about how they could help. Immediately more donations of gift cards and money came in as people felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to help those in need.

SURVIVING THE COVID ICE AGE

You have probably all heard the frigid metaphor being used to define our experiences with Covid 19, whereby “we thought we were in a blizzard, then we thought we were in winter, but it turned out that we had entered a new ice age.” Not really encouraging. Unlike most of you, I was happily ignorant of that depressingly accurate description until one of our Fellowship staff brought it to my attention. If you are interested, we can probably work out a trade of staff member for staff member that will be to the benefit of your church.

KEEPING OUR FOCUS

A couple of weeks ago, I was blissfully standing in an off-leash dog park, totally focused on the raw joy of my Wheaton Terrier puppy as he zoomed wildly around the park. It seems highly probable that Winston Furchill is the Greatest of All Time. While there are plenty of dog owners who might think their canine is cuter, smarter, friendlier, or more athletic than Winston, they are quite simply—wrong.