Merry Christmas all!
It's a busy season. Many people have been telling me lately how they still need to go out and get those last minute gifts, how many family Christmases they are scheduled to attend and how busy the parking lots have been at the mall. So much for peace on earth. (Good thing Jesus brought a very different kind of peace that undergirds all visible chaos!) My busy season with programs and events has actually come to an end. As the leader for various church events, November was full of planning, prepping, packing, practicing and praying. It's not a complaint, it's a fact: I hardly had an evening to rest at the apartment.
As I finished up what I needed to do at the church one evening in late November, with time ticking down on a trip to Calgary with the youth, the community Christmas banquet looming ahead and the KZAMM Christmas musical needing attention, I drove home down the pin-straight roads to a cozy evening alone. Maybe I'd read a book; maybe I'd watch a movie; maybe I'd get a long night's sleep!
In the dark, my phone buzzed in the cup holder beside me. Very illegally, I picked it up and read the text. It was a young woman (we'll call her Jackie,) from Manitoba who had recently moved out to Alberta and had hit a very rough patch. She had come into the church just a couple weeks before looking for work. We'd helped her out a bit, gave her some janitorial work as our regular janitors were on vacation, and prayed with her. Her text this tired evening was a request to spend the night on my couch.
There are usually two typical responses to a request such as this: 1) No way; who knows what kind of person that is and how long they'll want to stay and what problems they may cause, etc. etc.; 2) Of course; that's what any Christian should do, help out someone in need; it's biblical, etc. etc. Asking Jesus which response I should give, He placed it very strongly upon my heart to take her in for the night. There went the opportunity of curling up in pillows and blankets with my journal, but here came the opportunity to have some meaningful conversations and point her again towards Jesus.
Jackie came, we ate some pizza and she proceeded to tell me her life's story. Let's just say that God is gracious and faithful and she's learning to lean on Him. He's definitely been there the whole time. She talked and talked and I listened and asked questions. I grew tired; still she talked and still I listened. It didn't matter how busy I had been. It didn't matter how busy I would be tomorrow and how much I desperately needed sleep. It didn't matter the programs that I was putting on. This was front line ministry - a time when God was listening to dear Jackie and responding to her through me. He gave me an opportunity to speak truth and hope into her life as we talked about God.
Jackie talked for three hours. I was exhausted by the time I sunk into bed, but my soul was smiling deeply. In all the busyness of the season, I had allowed Jesus to use me for something that was probably much more important and impactful than any of the events that were going on.
Take time, not just this Christmas season, but all year round when life is so busy that all you want to do is lie down and rest. Pay attention to those requests from people who may seem to take away from your planned schedule, but who are really the schedule that God has laid out for you. You'd be surprised at how many people we can impact with God's love when we just take the time to ask Him what His will is for our today.
Thursday, 24 December 2015
Saturday, 21 November 2015
Go After the One
What's our purpose? What has God called each of us to do with the life that He's given to us? It's interesting that this topic has come up in a variety of places of late, including with my youth. We've been talking about identity lately and what our identity in Christ looks like. Purpose has arisen from this series. What does God want us to do?
In first year university, we all thought we'd know the exact direction of our life's goal by the time we graduated, and perhaps, for a moment, we did know, as a job fell into our lap and our horizons broadened from school life to work life - real adult life. It's luster was soon gone as challenges called to question our vocation and the path we'd taken. Was I really meant to do this? Was this my life's career purpose? (Because, let's be real, our purpose is not wrapped up entirely in what brings in a paycheck.)
This was why I wanted the lightning bolt moment from God in making the decision to come out to Chauvin Gospel Centre. I wanted that unmistakable, punch-you-in-the-face-with-the-answer moment to look back on when I began to question why I was out here in this vast prairie. God saw, in His goodness, not to give me that undeniable moment, but saw fit to have me piece it together. Sure enough, those voices of doubt quickly began to rear their false heads.
This past week, I sat in the Black Pearl (my appropriately named car), wiping away tears and stifling the accompanying sounds of crying. God, WHAT ON EARTH is my purpose out here? I know it's only been a couple months, but no one has come to accept Your gift of salvation through my work and no one has started to come to church to even seek You out because of my work. It's all well and fine to receive encouragement from my brothers and sisters in Christ who already know You, but I want to see this region changed because they love You! I want to see people falling in love with You for the first time and to see those who already know You go out and work with You to bring people into Your Kingdom.
I asked God for one thing: That at least one person would come to know and love and follow Jesus because of God working through me here.
It's not any talent or "specialness" of mine that causes that, but following God in my ministry. It's not about what you can do, but about listening to and obeying what God wants you to do. God, may we seek out the one; the one person whose name You have called and who is on their way to You; the one who You love and for whom all of our work of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ is worth it.
Luke 15:1-7
Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So He told them this parable, saying, 4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
In first year university, we all thought we'd know the exact direction of our life's goal by the time we graduated, and perhaps, for a moment, we did know, as a job fell into our lap and our horizons broadened from school life to work life - real adult life. It's luster was soon gone as challenges called to question our vocation and the path we'd taken. Was I really meant to do this? Was this my life's career purpose? (Because, let's be real, our purpose is not wrapped up entirely in what brings in a paycheck.)
This was why I wanted the lightning bolt moment from God in making the decision to come out to Chauvin Gospel Centre. I wanted that unmistakable, punch-you-in-the-face-with-the-answer moment to look back on when I began to question why I was out here in this vast prairie. God saw, in His goodness, not to give me that undeniable moment, but saw fit to have me piece it together. Sure enough, those voices of doubt quickly began to rear their false heads.
This past week, I sat in the Black Pearl (my appropriately named car), wiping away tears and stifling the accompanying sounds of crying. God, WHAT ON EARTH is my purpose out here? I know it's only been a couple months, but no one has come to accept Your gift of salvation through my work and no one has started to come to church to even seek You out because of my work. It's all well and fine to receive encouragement from my brothers and sisters in Christ who already know You, but I want to see this region changed because they love You! I want to see people falling in love with You for the first time and to see those who already know You go out and work with You to bring people into Your Kingdom.
I asked God for one thing: That at least one person would come to know and love and follow Jesus because of God working through me here.
It's not any talent or "specialness" of mine that causes that, but following God in my ministry. It's not about what you can do, but about listening to and obeying what God wants you to do. God, may we seek out the one; the one person whose name You have called and who is on their way to You; the one who You love and for whom all of our work of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ is worth it.
Luke 15:1-7
Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So He told them this parable, saying, 4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Monday, 26 October 2015
God at Work
A few dear friends came to see me in my moving-box-filled apartment before I left Hamilton to move to Alberta. One of them brought me a little notebook, for it's a well known fact that I enjoy writing. If you were to open this little notebook, you would see the words, "God at Work" at the top of the first page, followed by a handful of pages full of words.
These pages and this book is dedicated to recording the works of God - how I see Him move and speak and breathe through me to bless others and how He uses others to bless me. After I began to do this, Pastor Fred mentioned in a staff meeting the importance of writing down the things that God does. It's telling the story of God's power and presence to remind us in those dry, desert places that God is still alive and active and working powerfully across this world.
A couple weeks ago, I went up to Edmonton with one of my KZAMM leaders for Upswing - a conference dedicated to children's workers in ministry. We were encouraged and poured into by the speakers, being reminded of the vitality of rest. "Be bold and stand up if you need some extra encouragement and strength from God," we were told in the Saturday morning keynote session, "And those around you will lay hands on you and pray." I sat and prayed, as did my lovely companion.
I've heard from God often enough to recognize the quick, sure way that He speaks to my spirit and He told me to lay my hand on my companion's shoulder to pray for her. Sounds simple enough. Sounds riskless enough. And yet I tarried. Why? Who knows. God reminded me a few times before I finally turned and laid my hand on her shoulder.
As the session wrapped up and we moved off to the morning's workshops, my leader wiped away a few tears and told me that she'd prayed that, even though she wasn't standing, God would send someone to lay a hand on her and pray for her. I just smiled. God knows.
Do you deny the power of God? Keep a notebook about even the little ways of how God is at work and you won't be able to debate with the experiences of seeing Him ebb, flow and flood through your life.
These pages and this book is dedicated to recording the works of God - how I see Him move and speak and breathe through me to bless others and how He uses others to bless me. After I began to do this, Pastor Fred mentioned in a staff meeting the importance of writing down the things that God does. It's telling the story of God's power and presence to remind us in those dry, desert places that God is still alive and active and working powerfully across this world.
A couple weeks ago, I went up to Edmonton with one of my KZAMM leaders for Upswing - a conference dedicated to children's workers in ministry. We were encouraged and poured into by the speakers, being reminded of the vitality of rest. "Be bold and stand up if you need some extra encouragement and strength from God," we were told in the Saturday morning keynote session, "And those around you will lay hands on you and pray." I sat and prayed, as did my lovely companion.
I've heard from God often enough to recognize the quick, sure way that He speaks to my spirit and He told me to lay my hand on my companion's shoulder to pray for her. Sounds simple enough. Sounds riskless enough. And yet I tarried. Why? Who knows. God reminded me a few times before I finally turned and laid my hand on her shoulder.
As the session wrapped up and we moved off to the morning's workshops, my leader wiped away a few tears and told me that she'd prayed that, even though she wasn't standing, God would send someone to lay a hand on her and pray for her. I just smiled. God knows.
Do you deny the power of God? Keep a notebook about even the little ways of how God is at work and you won't be able to debate with the experiences of seeing Him ebb, flow and flood through your life.
Saturday, 26 September 2015
Practice What You Preach
There's a story called "Along the Path" by an unknown author that describes two pots designed to carry water. One pot is perfect and holds all the water that it's supposed to carry. The other pot is cracked and leaks out half of its water on the way back from the stream. The water bearer realizes this failure and plants flower seeds along the cracked pot's side of the path. Each day, the cracked pot waters the seeds until beautiful flowers grow.
I shared this story with the youth this week and told them about my own failures - specifically related to being social and the small talk of getting to know people. Blame my introversion, or lack of social graces, or whatever, but I find it most challenging when I'm supposed to be in random conversation...especially with 12-17 year olds...especially since I'm an alien from another planet being from urban Ontario. Youth is not my area of expertise. Why I have been placed in the position of leader for CGC's youth is something only God understands. Sure, I have a heart for them to love Jesus and have a dedicated, life-transformative relationship with Him and sure, I can teach and I love leading devotions and such, but I'm not a social person.
I shared with the youth my life verse, 2 Corinthians 9:12, where God says to a struggling Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you; my power is made perfect in weakness." I told the youth straight up about my failure, where I feel I don't measure up to what is expected of me, where I don't carry the amount of water that I'm designed to carry. They then broke into partners to talk about their own perceived failures and what they thought about the story and the verse - even if they didn't really believe it.
It's funny - God gave me some good conversations with a few of the youth through this, which made my day. It's funny - God sometimes touches us and reminds us of exactly what we need to remember as we teach others a lesson. It's funny - God always works through our weaknesses and who knows the flowers that are able to grow because of it.
I shared this story with the youth this week and told them about my own failures - specifically related to being social and the small talk of getting to know people. Blame my introversion, or lack of social graces, or whatever, but I find it most challenging when I'm supposed to be in random conversation...especially with 12-17 year olds...especially since I'm an alien from another planet being from urban Ontario. Youth is not my area of expertise. Why I have been placed in the position of leader for CGC's youth is something only God understands. Sure, I have a heart for them to love Jesus and have a dedicated, life-transformative relationship with Him and sure, I can teach and I love leading devotions and such, but I'm not a social person.
I shared with the youth my life verse, 2 Corinthians 9:12, where God says to a struggling Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you; my power is made perfect in weakness." I told the youth straight up about my failure, where I feel I don't measure up to what is expected of me, where I don't carry the amount of water that I'm designed to carry. They then broke into partners to talk about their own perceived failures and what they thought about the story and the verse - even if they didn't really believe it.
It's funny - God gave me some good conversations with a few of the youth through this, which made my day. It's funny - God sometimes touches us and reminds us of exactly what we need to remember as we teach others a lesson. It's funny - God always works through our weaknesses and who knows the flowers that are able to grow because of it.
Saturday, 19 September 2015
No Less a Part of the Kingdom
My education says that I'm a teacher. That $100 000, 5-years-in-the-making piece of paper that says my name under "Bachelor of Education" declares that I have spent quality hours around children - teaching them, being relational with them and guiding their curiosity and energy. We have arrived upon the completion of one full week of work as Associate here at CGC and most of what I've been thinking about, planning for and working with are kids.
KZAMM, our children's ministry, stands for "Krazy About Meeting the Master"...I didn't make it up... That's exactly what I want the kids and the youth here to be - committed to a relationship with Christ, meeting Him and seeking after Him and listening to Him. I'm trying not to reinvent the wheel here in KZAMM, since some really good things have been set down already, but we finished our Super Church Sunday School this past Sunday splitting into three groups to pray. Each child was given a turn to share requests/praise and then given the opportunity to pray out loud. Children's prayers, as innocent and simple as they can be, are incredibly powerful!
CHILDREN ARE NO LESS A PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD BECAUSE THEY ARE CHILDREN. They are no less equipped for spiritual battle, no less able to hear God's voice, no less in tune with the Holy Spirit as adults. This is the vision that I have for both children's and youth ministry.
Which is exactly what I said to the youth on Friday night. We'd all gathered to have a bonfire, eat some homemade goodies, play some games and have some lighthearted conversation to kick start the year of youth. For me, this was the first time meeting most of the jr. highs/teens. (It's combined at CGC.) If you know me and know much about my previous ministry, I may be a teacher, but my education and comfort level only goes up to grade 6. These lovely people are older than grade 6. I thought I wouldn't have much to offer to these teens, simply because I know myself and my lack of expertise in this area. However, I do know one thing: TEENS ARE NO LESS A PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD BECAUSE THEY ARE TEENS. As part of my little introductory "Hey! This is me; I'm your new leader. I'm messed up, so don't expect perfection," shpeal, I told them that their relationship with God - a two-way communicative relationship - is most important. You can't just talk to God and not listen to Him as He listens to you. That's a dysfunctional relationship.
We left time at the end for questions. A young girl, no older than grade 8, asks, "How do you know that it's God when you listen?" I just smiled as I gazed into the dwindling embers. I got to talk about how the sheep know the voice of the shepherd, how God speaks to each of us differently, just as we'd speak differently to our parents vs. our friends, how God speaks through the Bible, through thoughts and visions and other people and prayer. Teens can hear from God just as well as any adult can. Some of the time I've heard from God the clearest was when I was a teenager. These youth need to know that and walk in that.
They are no less a part of the Kingdom.
KZAMM, our children's ministry, stands for "Krazy About Meeting the Master"...I didn't make it up... That's exactly what I want the kids and the youth here to be - committed to a relationship with Christ, meeting Him and seeking after Him and listening to Him. I'm trying not to reinvent the wheel here in KZAMM, since some really good things have been set down already, but we finished our Super Church Sunday School this past Sunday splitting into three groups to pray. Each child was given a turn to share requests/praise and then given the opportunity to pray out loud. Children's prayers, as innocent and simple as they can be, are incredibly powerful!
CHILDREN ARE NO LESS A PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD BECAUSE THEY ARE CHILDREN. They are no less equipped for spiritual battle, no less able to hear God's voice, no less in tune with the Holy Spirit as adults. This is the vision that I have for both children's and youth ministry.
Which is exactly what I said to the youth on Friday night. We'd all gathered to have a bonfire, eat some homemade goodies, play some games and have some lighthearted conversation to kick start the year of youth. For me, this was the first time meeting most of the jr. highs/teens. (It's combined at CGC.) If you know me and know much about my previous ministry, I may be a teacher, but my education and comfort level only goes up to grade 6. These lovely people are older than grade 6. I thought I wouldn't have much to offer to these teens, simply because I know myself and my lack of expertise in this area. However, I do know one thing: TEENS ARE NO LESS A PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD BECAUSE THEY ARE TEENS. As part of my little introductory "Hey! This is me; I'm your new leader. I'm messed up, so don't expect perfection," shpeal, I told them that their relationship with God - a two-way communicative relationship - is most important. You can't just talk to God and not listen to Him as He listens to you. That's a dysfunctional relationship.
We left time at the end for questions. A young girl, no older than grade 8, asks, "How do you know that it's God when you listen?" I just smiled as I gazed into the dwindling embers. I got to talk about how the sheep know the voice of the shepherd, how God speaks to each of us differently, just as we'd speak differently to our parents vs. our friends, how God speaks through the Bible, through thoughts and visions and other people and prayer. Teens can hear from God just as well as any adult can. Some of the time I've heard from God the clearest was when I was a teenager. These youth need to know that and walk in that.
They are no less a part of the Kingdom.
Friday, 4 September 2015
Temporary
Two years ago, I sat in this very chair outside in my parents' backyard and wrote a blog post about leaving for my semester-long internship in Ghana. It is now the eve of my departure for Alberta and a new chapter in life and I can't help but think that this is only temporary. Every other time that I've left on a plane, I knew when I was coming back. I knew how many months I'd be gone for and I had an idea of what to look forward to both on my adventure away and when I came back.
This time, it's not temporary.
This time, I'll be staying away from my beloved home in Hamilton for who knows how long, how many years. I leave for Alberta tomorrow. It's a scary thing to think about, when your whole life and most of the people that you love are all in one province and you are leaving it for a permanent job. Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly excited about it and I've had some conversations about Children's Ministry and I've brainstormed ideas for the youth and church life in general, but the psychological and emotional toll that moving far away takes on your mind is exhausting. Throw in there an unexpected, late night trip to the emergency vet and you have one mentally drained Cheryl who desperately needs some alone time away with God.
And He gives just what we need. After a busy night of packing last night, the wind started to pick up and slight raindrops fell as a thunderstorm rolled in. Perfect. I call them my date with God, for I stop everything to watch and listen to the loud, deep rumble of His voice in the thunder, the grand strength of the wind and falling water and the beauty of the splendid lightning that tears across the sky so powerfully, so quickly. I sat on the front porch last night in the lovely heat of a summer's eve and listened. And sang. And listened some more as God played a mighty tune in the air and spoke in a loving voice in my heart. I sat on that porch where I grew up and revelled in the memories, in the people, in the peace and in the power of an Almighty God who has never once failed me.
That storm was temporary. God's love and power and beauty is here to stay.
This time, it's not temporary.
This time, I'll be staying away from my beloved home in Hamilton for who knows how long, how many years. I leave for Alberta tomorrow. It's a scary thing to think about, when your whole life and most of the people that you love are all in one province and you are leaving it for a permanent job. Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly excited about it and I've had some conversations about Children's Ministry and I've brainstormed ideas for the youth and church life in general, but the psychological and emotional toll that moving far away takes on your mind is exhausting. Throw in there an unexpected, late night trip to the emergency vet and you have one mentally drained Cheryl who desperately needs some alone time away with God.
And He gives just what we need. After a busy night of packing last night, the wind started to pick up and slight raindrops fell as a thunderstorm rolled in. Perfect. I call them my date with God, for I stop everything to watch and listen to the loud, deep rumble of His voice in the thunder, the grand strength of the wind and falling water and the beauty of the splendid lightning that tears across the sky so powerfully, so quickly. I sat on the front porch last night in the lovely heat of a summer's eve and listened. And sang. And listened some more as God played a mighty tune in the air and spoke in a loving voice in my heart. I sat on that porch where I grew up and revelled in the memories, in the people, in the peace and in the power of an Almighty God who has never once failed me.
That storm was temporary. God's love and power and beauty is here to stay.
Thursday, 27 August 2015
Jump off the Edge
The floor of my apartment here in downtown Hamilton, ON is currently littered with apple boxes. Some of the furniture is out of place and a big roll of bubble wrap is sitting tantalizingly on the other couch. Such is the typical ambiance of the first stages of moving. When I carted my belongings up the stairs of this dilapidated building a year ago, I expected to stay here much longer than twelve months, but life and graduating university have a way of messing up your best laid plans and next week, I am off to small town, prairie Alberta to begin my new job as the Associate Pastor of Chauvin Gospel Centre (CGC) in Chauvin, AB.
I was asked by some of the lovely people I met at St. John's Presbyterian Church (where I've been preaching this past summer,) if I would be keeping a blog of this latest adventure and I figured it's a good idea, since blogging is awesome to begin with and writing is therapeutic.
The two-month long process of securing this position in AB began at the end of June. I'd been out of school for a couple months, gone on a few adventures and was becoming disheartened at the prospect of finding a job in ministry, as job posting after job posting on the PAOC (Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada) website showed me that I did not have the qualifications necessary for what I was hoping for. I closed my laptop in a moment of frustration and mindlessly walked down bustling Main St. to the No Frills for some groceries. They had most of what was on my list, except for milk. What grocery store runs out of 1%? Not a pressing matter, I waited until the next day to take the bus up the mountain to the Walmart. If they didn't have my milk, something would be seriously wrong.
After paying for my precious purchase, I waited at the bus stop for the 27 to take me back downtown. The sun was shining on a warm, summer day and I closed my eyes and lifted my face towards the warmth. Although my body was content and my soul fully trusting in the plans of God for my life, my mind caused my heart rate to jog as I thought of how I needed a job. As I opened my eyes to look for the bus, I saw two people walking towards me, a man and a woman. They were typical, grungy Hamiltonians and I avoided eye contact as they walked by. Much to my chagrin, the man stopped in front of me. My first thought was, "He's going to ask for money," but I was surprised when, instead, he said, "I just wanted to tell you that there are good blessings coming your way." And he walked off. I sat stunned for a moment. God, please may this be a sign from You!
The next day, I found the job posting for an Associate Pastor in Chauvin, AB and sent in my resume, praying over the email before I sent it off. Not four hours later, I received a voicemail from the pastor asking for an interview. A few phone conversations later and I was on a plane off to visit the prairies. A few meetings later and I was officially offered the job. A couple weeks and many, many tears and prayers later and I accepted the position. A couple weeks and a congregational vote later and I'm officially headed out to redneck, hick-ville, eastside Alberta in a week's time. I'd been asked what percentage of the vote I'd require in order to commit to going. I asked God, in faith, for a much higher percentage than I thought I'd get. He gave me 5% more than I'd hoped.
CGC caught my attention because of their vision statement. They want to be an all in, do or die, jump off the edge, bash on regardless kind of church. In this post-modern, Westernized world, it is truly something special to see a church chase after God like that. If God's called me to uproot, leave my beloved city and incredibly dear people to live in the absolute last culture I'd ever expect to find myself, then I'm ready to jump off the edge and trust that His wings will be my parachute on the way down.
I was asked by some of the lovely people I met at St. John's Presbyterian Church (where I've been preaching this past summer,) if I would be keeping a blog of this latest adventure and I figured it's a good idea, since blogging is awesome to begin with and writing is therapeutic.
The two-month long process of securing this position in AB began at the end of June. I'd been out of school for a couple months, gone on a few adventures and was becoming disheartened at the prospect of finding a job in ministry, as job posting after job posting on the PAOC (Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada) website showed me that I did not have the qualifications necessary for what I was hoping for. I closed my laptop in a moment of frustration and mindlessly walked down bustling Main St. to the No Frills for some groceries. They had most of what was on my list, except for milk. What grocery store runs out of 1%? Not a pressing matter, I waited until the next day to take the bus up the mountain to the Walmart. If they didn't have my milk, something would be seriously wrong.
After paying for my precious purchase, I waited at the bus stop for the 27 to take me back downtown. The sun was shining on a warm, summer day and I closed my eyes and lifted my face towards the warmth. Although my body was content and my soul fully trusting in the plans of God for my life, my mind caused my heart rate to jog as I thought of how I needed a job. As I opened my eyes to look for the bus, I saw two people walking towards me, a man and a woman. They were typical, grungy Hamiltonians and I avoided eye contact as they walked by. Much to my chagrin, the man stopped in front of me. My first thought was, "He's going to ask for money," but I was surprised when, instead, he said, "I just wanted to tell you that there are good blessings coming your way." And he walked off. I sat stunned for a moment. God, please may this be a sign from You!
The next day, I found the job posting for an Associate Pastor in Chauvin, AB and sent in my resume, praying over the email before I sent it off. Not four hours later, I received a voicemail from the pastor asking for an interview. A few phone conversations later and I was on a plane off to visit the prairies. A few meetings later and I was officially offered the job. A couple weeks and many, many tears and prayers later and I accepted the position. A couple weeks and a congregational vote later and I'm officially headed out to redneck, hick-ville, eastside Alberta in a week's time. I'd been asked what percentage of the vote I'd require in order to commit to going. I asked God, in faith, for a much higher percentage than I thought I'd get. He gave me 5% more than I'd hoped.
CGC caught my attention because of their vision statement. They want to be an all in, do or die, jump off the edge, bash on regardless kind of church. In this post-modern, Westernized world, it is truly something special to see a church chase after God like that. If God's called me to uproot, leave my beloved city and incredibly dear people to live in the absolute last culture I'd ever expect to find myself, then I'm ready to jump off the edge and trust that His wings will be my parachute on the way down.
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