The Free Methodist Church in CanadaDecember 2003 - Volume 1 Issue 1

Donna and I have found great spiritualnourishment from the daily devotional bookwritten by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman entitled

“Streams in the Desert.” Recently, the daily devotionalasked this question, “What shall the believer do in timesof darkness—the darkness of perplexity and confusion,not of heart, but of mind? Times of darkness come to thefaithful and believing disciple who is walking obedientlyin the will of God; seasons when he does not know whatto do …… The sky is overcast with clouds. The clearlight of heaven does not shine upon his pathway.”

I like the answer that the devotional passage gives.“The first thing to do is nothing…. When you run intoa spiritual fog bank, don’t tear ahead; slow down themachinery of your life. If necessary, anchor your barqueor let it swing at its moorings. We are to simply trustGod. While we trust, God can work. Worry preventshim from doing anything for us.… The peace of Godmust quiet our minds and rest our hearts. We must putour hand in the hand of God like a little child, and lethim lead us out into the bright sunshine of his love.”

At the best of times, I do not like change, especiallywhen it is unexpected and it brings turmoil into myworld. Yet, I am learning that the most challenging timesin leadership are God’s opportunities to reveal somethingmore of what he has in mind for The Free MethodistChurch in Canada and for me personally. In one of theoriental languages, the word for crisis can also betranslated as opportunity. I like that kind of doublemeaning in this case, because it provides one with theoption of reframing what can be perceived as a crisis, asan opportunity…God’s opportunity.

As I have been praying my way through this season ofrather dramatic change in our national leadership team(NLT), I have been encouraged by a number of prayingpeople. They tell me that they sense that this transitionin our NLT is not a crisis, but an opportunity……“aGod thing”; and my spirit is increasingly seeing that thisis so.

Most people are now aware that Dr. Ron Bonar hasbeen elected as a District Superintendent in the Christian& Missionary Alliance denomination and that Rev.Mary-Elsie Wolfe is also leaving the national leadershipteam to move to St. Catharines, Ontario, where she willbe ministering alongside her husband, Grant, who has

been appointed as the pastor ofthe Grapeview Free MethodistChurch. We have surelyappreciated the contributionsthat Ron and Mary-Elsie havemade on the NLT over the lasteight or nine years. Now, God hasa new chapter for each ofthem…and for The FMCiC. So, what are we going to do inthis time of transition? As NormBull, Alan Retzman, DanSheffield and myself recentlyspent a couple days prayerfully

considering this question, it became increasingly clear tous that this is an opportunity to see how deeply the visionof “healthy churches within the reach of all people inCanada and beyond” is embedded within ourdenomination. Was the “in Canada” part only Ron’sdream and the “and beyond” part only Mary-Elsie’sdream? Does only the National Leadership Team hold itwith conviction? Do our pastors and congregations inthe networks led by Assistant Superintendents embracethis vision as well? This is a good question and anopportune time to find out. As we seek to live in thisnew moment in our development, three areas have beenidentified which need specific attention from theNational Leadership Team.

LLeeaaddeerrsshhiipp ddeevveellooppmmeenntt:: We want to maintain our presentchurch development momentum, both in Canada andbeyond, while at the same time watching the horizoncarefully for new opportunities that the Lord has inmind. To do this, Leadership Development must becomea priority. I will be taking primary responsibility for this;and among other leadership tools, we will be looking forways to develop the Assistant Superintendents’ expertisefor coaching the planting of new congregations andrevitalizing existing churches.

SSttuuddeenntt MMiinniissttrriieess:: It seems that it is now time for givingserious focus to ministry with the emerging generation. Iam consulting widely with leaders of student ministries(young teens through college & career age young people)to talk about two important questions: “What are we

Changing Times: Crisis or Opportunity?

Bishop Keith Elford

Reflecting the diversity of ministry expression withinthe Free Methodist family

“The first thing todo is nothing . . .When you runinto a spiritualfog bank, don’ttear ahead; slowdown themachinery ofyour life.

see page 2 <<Changing Times>>

Leaders challenged duringMinisters Retreats

Dr. Kevin Mannoia, Academic Dean atHaggard School of Theology, Azuza PacificUniversity in California was the featuredspeaker at two retreats for Free Methodistpastors in Canada during the month ofOctober. <<full story on page 7>>

COVER

Changing Times:Crisis or Opportunity?Bishop Keith Elford

Leaders Challenged duringMinisters Retreat

PAGE 2

Editor’s Desk

Inaugural Free Methodist WorldConference meets

PAGE 3

Making sense ofpredestination: A Grandfatherexplains

PAGE 4

Passages

Luther: A Reformer’s Agony

PAGE 5

The Story of the FreeWay

PAGE 6

Regional News

PAGE 7

National News

Ministers Retreat

PAGE 8

Global Ministries

MOSAIC4315 Village Centre CourtMississauga, Ont. L4Z 1S2Tel: 905-848-2600Fax: 905-848-2603

For submissions:howdenl@fmc-canada.org

Dan Sheffield, Editor-in-ChiefLisa Howden, Managing Editor andProduction

Welcome to Mosaic!As many of you are aware, we havebeen struggling over the past couple ofyears with the costs of producing twopieces of literature, the Free MethodistHerald and the EKG. Also the decliningreadership for the Herald, meant that itwas losing relevance for the majority of

people attending Free Methodist churches (700subscribers, compared to 13,000 worshipping in ourchurches).

Thus, a new communications tool, Mosaic. Thisnewsletter will come out 6 times a year and bedelivered free to your church. Each church will receive abulk shipment that is intended to be distributed or madeavailable at your church entrance. Our desire is to shareinformation about exciting things that God is doingthrough Canadian Free Methodists here in Canada andbeyond. If there are good things going on in yourchurch, send us a short story with a picture. The contentof this newsletter will be what you help us make it!

The name, Mosaic, was chosen to reflect the diversity ofministries found in the Free Methodist Church acrossCanada. Our methods are no longer uniform, but thesum total of the work that God is doing in our churchesportrays an image of God. The body of Christ -- thechurch -- is taking residence amongst the diversepeoples who make up our country, as well as beyond.

Dan SheffieldEditor-in-Chief

INAUGURAL FREE METHODIST WORLD CONFERENCE MEETS

By Bishop Keith Elford

As this first issue of the Mosaic was going to press, the first meeting of theFree Methodist World Conference was held November 6-9, 2003 in Harare,Zimbabwe. Delegations from eleven General Conferences (Burundi,Canada, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Egypt,Japan, Mozambique, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa and the UnitedStates), two Provisional General Conferences (Brazil and Zimbabwe) andeight Area Fellowships were invited to attend. These delegations includedcurrent bishops as well as ministerial and lay representatives elected by theirGeneral Conferences or Area Fellowships. Those attending from Canadawere Bishop Keith and Donna Elford, Rev. Dan Sheffield, Rev. Greg Pulham(delegate), Mrs. Betty (delegate) and Dale Humphrey.

The concept of a World Conference originated in the Free MethodistChurch of North America and was subsequently approved by all the otherGeneral Conferences of World Free Methodism. It officially came intoexistence in 1999 in Anderson, Indiana when the Constitutional Counciland the World Fellowship merged into one entity.

At that time an Executive was elected that reflected the internationalchurch with representation from Burundi, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines,and the United States. This Executive has been actively working in theintervening years on matters that have been referred to them by the GeneralConferences and on issues that will be brought before the World Conferencewhen it meets. Agenda items that came before this group were an extensivereworking of the Constitution of the Free Methodist Church (Chapter Twoof The Book of Discipline/Manual), a new statement on the doctrine ofSanctification, and various other resolutions submitted by GeneralConferences and Area Fellowships.

Bishop Keith Elford (from Canada and president of the WorldConference) is enthused about the possibilities of what could happeninternationally to intensify efforts to spread the gospel and establish healthychurches. "Our theme for the World Conference gathering was ‘Obedient tothe Heavenly Vision’. We asked God for a special visitation of His Spirit asFree Methodist leaders gathered from various points of the world. TheExecutive was very intentional with its venue selection. We wanted this tobe a truly international event that would signal a new day to thedenomination. We also wanted to visit and be an encouragement to one ofthe provisional general conferences."

UPDATEThe word we received from the World Conference, “We have had awonderful World Conference - marvelous things have happened. The wholeevent exceeded expectations in every way. The LORD was very present.”

EDITOR’SDESK

doing to identify the next generation of leaders in our movement?” and“How can we link the energy and resources of our existing studentministries to help reach this emerging generation for Jesus?” Thestudent ministry leaders with whom I have been talking are veryenergized by these questions and I am praying that as we continuethe dialogue, we will find the Lord’s clear direction in this vitalarea.

CCoommmmuunniiccaattiioonnss:: We know that if the present momentum of ourmovement is to be increased, we must find more and better waysto communicate what the Lord is doing among us. Dan Sheffieldis bringing together a “think tank” of selected individuals who aregifted in understanding the value of various forms ofcommunications media. I expect that we will see some newdevelopments emerge from their work together.

Already subscribers are helping us recognize that the FreeMethodist Herald needs to be replaced by a new format of writtencommunication. Meet “Mosaic.” I hope that this new publicationwill catch your attention issue by issue as it appears on the table inyour local church.

Have a look at the denominational website as well (www.fmc-canada.org). New features are appearing there as well and as timepasses, there will be more interactive possibilities.

Needless to say, these are both exciting and anxious times.Therefore, it is important that we continue to seek the face of ourheavenly Father and trust Jesus, who is Lord of the Church, toguide us into the opportunities that are opening up. It is a greatencouragement to me to know that many intercessors across thisgreat country are praying. It will be interesting to see answers toprayer emerging as we intentionally continue to trust God to takeus forward into this season of opportunity.

Changing Times: Crisis or Opportunity?<<continued from cover>>

YOU CAN CHANGE . . .

M O S A I C 2

Bishops attending World Conference in Harare, Zimbabwe

Dear Granddaughter,

Last Sunday you asked me about that mysterious word, predestination. Youhad bumped into it while reading Romans 8:28-30. I'll try to explain theword as I understand it and as it fits into the passage.

You should note that the word occurs only six times in the NewTestament and not at all in the Old Testament. (Compare that to thehundreds of times the word faith occurs.) Predestination is used twice inEphesians 1 and twice in Romans 8. You'll also find it in two other places,but the two I cite are the important references. Consider how it is used inRomans 8:28-30.

Note that verse 28 says four things. First, it says, "We know." This mustmean that, with regard to our salvation, there are some things we can be sureof. Call this the knowledge of experience, as compared to scientificknowledge. (The Scriptures say, "We know that we have passed from deathunto life..." and, "We know that when he shall appear we shall be likehim..."). When we are born again by the Spirit of God, he gives us this “weknow” sort of assurance (Rom.8:16).

Second, verse 28 says that God is at work for the good of his children ineverything that happens. That doesn't mean that everything that happens tous is good. As we both know, since the fall of Adam ours has been a sin-blighted world and, in this kind of world, sometimes very bad things happento God's people. Think of the present persecution of Christians in morethan fifty countries, some tortured to the point ofdeath.

And, it doesn't mean that God "causes"everything to happen, though he is sovereignlyinvolved. Sometimes bad things happen because ofthe evil use of the measure of free will humans aregiven. Think of what Hitler did to millions ofpeople. Verse 28 does mean, however, that nothingcan happen without God's permission, and ineverything that happens, God is at work to bringultimate good to his own people. Though we can’talways see this in the moment, it’s a great convictionon which to peg our faith.

Third, verse 28 says that this divine covering canonly be claimed by those who love God. Being aChristian is more than merely saying "I believe." Itis saying "I believe" and then showing the genuineness of that faith by lovingGod with our whole hearts.

Fourth, the verse says that the true believer is marked by a sense of beingcaught up in "God's purposes." Christians believe that God has a purposefor the whole of creation which he is resolutely carrying out. That purposecan never be thwarted. And within that overall scheme, he has a purpose foreach individual Christian. That purpose, this passage says, is to make us likeChrist in our character. We can call this his sanctifying purpose.

Read the verse over a few times and see if what I point out is not all there.We can go a step further by moving on to verse 29. Notice the clarity

and depth this adds to verse 28. It does so by giving us a panoramic view ofour salvation from God's perspective -- that is, helping us to see it frombeginning to end. That's what the big words in this verse mean. Oursalvation begins in the “foreknowledge” of God. In fact, all is rooted inGod's foreknowledge. (More on that later.) It goes on to God's“predestining” purpose.

Notice, however, that the word as used here does not even hint that Godchooses some for salvation and rejects others. That’s a false notion deeplylodged in many people’s minds. Predestination is not so much concernedwith answering the question, "who" as it is with answering the question, "towhat." We are predestined "to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, sothat he (the Son) might be the firstborn among many brethren." - thefirstborn -- that is, the oldest brother in a whole new family. God is reallycreating a renewed humanity and Christ is the firstborn, so the whole of thisnew humanity is to bear the family likeness. That fact links up with theprevious word, "purpose."

Now, as I see it, these two big words, foreknowledge and predestination, stretch the whole distance from eternity past -- foreknowledge -- to eternity future -- predestination -- that is, God's ultimate purpose. But afterhe has laid these words down, Paul talks about how they affect the believer'slife here and now. We are "called." That is, we are Christians not first of allbecause we have believed or "found God" but because we were called by himand we answered the call. If God had not called us, we could not have

believed. This means all credit for oursalvation belongs to him. That's what wemean when we say we are saved by grace.

Furthermore, we are "justified." Thisis a big word to describe one aspect of oursalvation. Here’s what it means: we haverepented of our sins (that is, we have toldGod we are sorry and will turn away fromthem; we have actually had a radicalchange of mind concerning them); we haveput our faith in Christ (that is, we havemade him the center of our lives and

promised to live in obedience to him); and we have received assurance thatour sins no longer stand against us (the Holy Spirit gives us this assurance inour hearts).

In other words, we are acquitted, as though we have gone before a judgeand been declared forgiven because someone else is there (Jesus Christ) topay the penalty for all our sins. To be justified means to stand before God asthough we had never sinned.

On top of all this, verse 30 says, we are "glorified." But you may ask,doesn't “glorification” stand for the believer’s state after death? Yes, it does.But Paul is looking at our salvation here as though it is completed in everyrespect. Therefore he sees the end results as though they are already realized.All of this is the basis for our security in Christ.

Now we must look again at that mysterious word, "predestination."Since its meaning has been filtered to us through some important figures inchurch history, I must mention two -- John Calvin and Jacobus Arminius.Calvin’s teaching was in the first half of the 16th century, Arminius’s in thelast half of the sixteenth and early years of the 17th century. We don't saythat Calvin believed in predestination and Arminius did not. We say ratherthat both believed in predestination but in different ways.

Calvin taught that predestination was God's way of deciding in advancewho would be saved and who would not. He clearly taught that before theuniverse was created and before anyone had existed, and therefore couldchoose to sin, he -- God -- determined in advance whom he would save andwhom he would not. The latter class he calls reprobates. I'm saying thissimply and chillingly but it can be shown from his writings that this is whathe taught. It's called double predestination, or absolute predestination.

Arminius, a Dutchman, also taught a doctrine of predestination.Therefore we can’t say he didn't believe in predestination. All we can say isthat when he was assigned the task of defending Calvin's teaching inHolland, he took exception to the doctrine as Calvin had taught it. Andwith adequate reason. Note what Paul says, "whom (God) foreknew, them healso predestinated." Arminius taught that God's predestining purpose forevery one was based on God's foreknowledge. Isn't that evident from theabove verse? We can call this conditional predestination.

For some people this idea of foreknowledge raises a big problem: If Godknows in advance what we are going to do, then don’t we have to say that hedecides for us? Here’s how I have thought about it. As a father, I came toknow my children's temperaments so well that I could usually guess inadvance how they would respond in a particular situation. But my knowingin no sense determined their choice. They were still free to choose. Andsometimes I was wrong because I was finite in my knowledge. If a finite andimperfect father can have that much sense of how his children are going toact or react, should it be a problem for us to believe that an infinite andomniscient (all knowing) God above has a foreknowledge that is perfect butin no sense compels our actions?

All I am sure of is that when we take these truths seriously and act onthem in faith -- however imperfectly we may understand them -- they helpus to be robust in our faith and effective in our witness. We rest in God andwe live in obedience to him, knowing he reigns in all circumstances.

Well, I've put my thoughts on paper for you to ponder. I hope theplowing is not too heavy. Please tell me if this makes sense to you, and if itinspires your faith

Love, as always,Gramps

Rev. Donald Bastian is Bishop Emeritus of The Free Methodist Church inCanada

MAKING SENSE OF PREDESTINATION: A GRANDFATHER EXPLAINS

By Donald N. Bastian

“Being a Christian ismore than merelysaying "I believe."It is saying "Ibelieve" and thenshowing thegenuineness ofthat faith by lovingGod with ourwhole hearts

3 M O S A I C

M O V I E R E V I E W

LUTHER: A REFORMER’S AGONY

Before the Reformation, the meaning of lifecame highly structured from the hierarchyof the Church. One didn't ask questions.

One didn't need to.Many believers, perhaps most, experienced

Truth through relics, images, and rituals-not asoppression but as comfort. To be sure, one didnot meet God face to face. But one did not wantto! For the late-medieval rank and file, assuranceof salvation came not from bold access to thethrone of God, but from the myriad mediatingpractices of penance and devotion.

In Luther, one scene in particular bringshome this historical reality. Glowing with joy, ayoung mother who has purchased an indulgence(a remission of temporal punishment) for hercrippled daughter holds it out to a gaunt MartinLuther: "Look what I bought for Greta!" She hasbeen gulled by the rhetoric of the charlatanindulgence-seller, Johann Tetzel (Alfred Molina).Luther (Joseph Fiennes) takes the paper andreads it. His anger at the corrupt establishmentrises and boils over. He forgets the gentleness hehas displayed toward her. "This is worthless," hesays, crumpling it in his fist. "You must rely onGod's love." Crestfallen, she turns and walksdisconsolately away.

At several key moments in the movie, Lutherfaces the charge that he is tearing apart thechurch. He grapples repeatedly with thepossibility that he is destroying, rather thanbuilding, God's kingdom. To their credit,though, the filmmakers resist the temptation ofportraying a Lone Ranger Reformer against athoroughly evil Church. There are enoughsympathetic figures in the Catholicestablishment (Matthieu Carriere's CardinalCajetan chief among them) to create some senseof historical nuance.

Moreover, we get to see some warts of theReformation. Andreas Karlstadt (Jochen Horst)takes Luther's teachings to their extreme,announcing that the day of the great leveling hasarrived. Soon we see townspeople dragging themonks who have cared for them out of theirchurch and pummeling them. Rocks crashthrough stained-glass windows. A crucifix isknocked to the floor. (The scene involves a bit ofhistorical sleight-of-hand: the real Karlstadt,advocating nonviolence, had refused to join themilitant radical reformer Thomas Müntzer.)

Luther is still a medieval man; this anarchicattack on authority is too much for him. Heappeals to the princes, demanding the peasantrevolt be put down. Soon the blood of thepeasants runs on the floor of the ruined church.

Surveying the carnage, Luther agonizes: "Ihave torn the world apart." He begins to slideinto depression. He must force himself out ofbed each morning. Until, that is-in a momentbefitting Hollywood-he meets the escaped nunKaterina (Claire Cox). Sunny but steel-willed,Katerina leads Luther from the dark tunnel andinto the summer of the loving marriage he haslong denied himself.

Of course, this is a Lutheran movie, not aCatholic one-it is backed by Thrivent, the major

Lutheran financial services organization. Theanswer to the question of whether Luther isdestroying the church he loves or bringing itback to its most basic sources of authority isclear. The abuses flowing from the "sewer" ofRome are portrayed starkly enough.

But writer Camille Thomasson and directorEric Till have done well to show something ofthe anguish and desolation that comes with theuprooting of old meanings and the conflicted(and always incomplete) process toward the new.Even if we are convinced, with Luther, that thenew meanings are really the oldest ones of all-fidelity to Scripture, salvation by grace alone, thesurpassing love of the Father-we can sympathizewith the human toll of what our age hasfashionably called a "paradigm shift."

If there is any misstep in the film, it is therelentless niceness of its Reformer. Throughoutwe see Luther filling the void left by the old,corrupted symbols of late medieval Catholicismwith the simple "Jesus loves me" theology of amainstream Sunday school class.

The filmmakers have hardly gotten youngMartin out of his early years as a psychologicallytortured monk, convinced God is out to gethim, when they remake him as a mild '90sLuther. His confessor Staupitz (Bruno Ganz) isreduced to blustering: "In all the time I'veknown you, you've never once confessedanything even remotely interesting!"

As a student at Wittenberg, Luther insists ongiving a teen suicide a Christian burial-theological niceties be damned. Interpreting thestory of the Prodigal Son to children in thewoods, he stresses the father's surpassing love. Inthe tower at Wartburg, he interprets a Greekterm as expressing that same love.

All of this is fair enough, though the themedoes become wearing. In one impassionedsermon, Luther takes aim at the villain Tetzel,who emotionally blackmails his audiences byunfurling crude paintings of hell and thenoffering to help them buy their relatives' way outof eternal agony. Tetzel's problem, Luther insists,is that his God is too mean.

"I, too, saw God as sentencing sinners todeath in hell," Luther preaches. "But I waswrong."

Oops. In a major film for a diverse viewingpublic that sees nothing but an oppressive,hypocritical church, this '90s approach mayindeed serve the producers' religious motives.But God's sovereignty seems to have receded alittle too much here. And one wonders, if thiswas really all the Reformation was about, whywould anyone have objected? Why didn't all theCatholics just get on board, singing Kumbaya?

Finally, though, the film does tell us as muchas it probably can: the Church had beencorrupted in many ways. It had strayed from theBible-its best and truest authority. And the roadback was a rough one.

What it loses in theological subtlety it gainsback in artistry. This is a dramatically grippingand visually stunning movie. More, it is warmlypersonal: Sir Peter Ustinov comes near tostealing the show as Luther's wise, wry prince-protector, Frederick; Staupitz is another Catholic"good guy" whose concern for his spiritual sonlights up the screen. The film is-as much as canbe expected-historically even-handed.

Luther matches grandeur of vision toexcellence of execution. The resulting dramapacks spiritual as well as entertainment power: itcharged the atmosphere even of the smallscreening room where I first saw the film. I willbe seeing it again.

This article is copyright 2003 by Chris R.Armstrong, managing editor of Christian Historymagazine; it first appeared on the website ofChristianity Today International, athttp://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/138/51.0.html.

Passages

directed by Eric Till

M O S A I C 4

AppointmentsKent Bandy, Senior PastorVerona, ON - October 1, 2003

Brenda Haggett, Associate Pastor (Supply)October 1, 2003 - Smiths Falls, ON

Walter McIntyre, Associate Pastor (Supply)October 3, 2003Kingsview, Toronto, ON

Phyllis Slessor, Pastor to Keenagers/Seniors (Supply)Barrie, ON - October 27, 2003

Carl Edmondson, Assistant to the Pastor (Supply)O'Connor, Kakabeka Falls, ONOctober 28, 2003

Mark Earle, Pastor (Supply)Burlington, ON - November 1, 2003

Ministerial Candidates approved Sept 25, 2003Ken ByarsCarl EdmondsonBrenda HaggettWalter McIntyre

Change of statusMary-Elsie WolfeLeave of absenceNovember 1, 2003

Approved for OrdinationJoan Stonehouse - approved September 25,2003

New Assistant SuperintendentDan Sheffield - Quebec (replaces Mary-ElsieWolfe) - November 1, 2003

Society Status Church of the Holy SpiritSeptember 29, 2003

Churches In TransitionCentennial FMC, Belleville, ON Crestview Park FMC, Winnipeg, MB Eastern Koinonia FMC, Toronto, ON First FMC/House of ROC, Moose Jaw, SK Killarney FMC, Killarney, MB O'Connor FMC, Kakabeka Falls, ON

as of Dec. 31, 2004 Polson Park FMC, Kingston, ON Prince Edward County FMC, Picton, ON

as of June 30, 2004 Richmond Hill Chinese FMC,

Richmond Hill, ON St. Henri FMC, Montreal, PQ St. John's FMC, Enterprise, ON Souris Valley Community Church,

Estevan, SK The Edge, Maple Ridge, BC Timmins FMC, Timmins, ON Weyburn FMC, Weyburn, SK

Pastors in TransitionHuckle Choi , Wade Fitzpatrick, Germain Fortin,Larry Larson, William Lippman, Mike Smeltzer,Dale Vinkle

R E S O U R C E SEVANGELICAL INTER-CHURCHFELLOWSHIP RETREATJanuary 20-22, 2004Radisson Hotel, Canmore, ABwith Dr. Richard Blackaby & Rev. Len FrankFor more information call 780.372.2402

REVITALIZING MINISTRY IN SMALL PLACESFebruary 18-20, 2004Regina TravelodgeSpeaker: REv. Donald BubnaFor more information call 306.862.5095 or email at info@nipawin.org

The story of the FreeWay"To be a healthy, growing family that experiences and shares God's freedom to live."

Irecently began a new small group, with several new parents in it. Wewere bonding almost instantly over our "birthing stories". You know,how long the labour was, where we were when the water broke, how

we felt, what the first few sleepless weeks were like - you may have beenin conversations like that.

Church Planters do the same thing. They love to rehash "the goodold days" when their church was first being born. I've been asked to dothat for this newsletter. I hope you enjoy it.

The FreeWay began when several leaders at Trulls Road FreeMethodist Church caught a vision for church planting in their area. Iwas available, more than willing, and had been through the PAS(Performance Appraisal System) to be approved as a church planter. I gotthe call to come and plant what at that time was termed a "churchwithin a church".

I packed up my family and on the eve of the millennium, we movedto Courtice, Ontario to begin a new congregation. I spent four monthsdoing various projects for Trulls Road Free Methodist Church whileGod hammered out in me the vision for what shape this newcongregation would take. As I encountered various people who werefeeling called to this new work, God was speaking to me about freedom- He wanted all people to be free.

We began meeting Sunday evenings - first once a month, and thenevery other week. We went into "launch mode" in the Fall of 2001.Despite the trauma of September 11, we went ahead with our launchand God was gracious. We had175 people come to see us begin. Thehoneymoon ended rather quickly though, as the next week we wentright back to averaging 60 people in attendance.

A couple weeks after our launch, we knew things weren't right. Aftersome soul-searching and evaluation, the best minds the FreeWay and thedenomination could offer concluded that our service time was a majorobstacle to our growth. We went to the Trulls Board and asked for theirblessing to move off site so we could begin having services on Sundaymorning.

This is when major "birth pangs" really hit! Don't ever let anyonetell you that giving birth to a church plant is nice, neat and painless! We(the FreeWay and Trulls Road) are a godly group of people, with acommon vision and heart for the lost. We all believe in church planting.And it STILL took over a year of meetings, prayer, proposals,investigation and more prayer for Trulls to bless the FreeWay and givebirth. All of us in leadership THOUGHT we were casting a vision thatthe people could own, but it took much more work and time than wehad ever dreamt.

There were many times when it almost didn't happen. Inexperience,impatience, fear, miscommunication all threatened to undermine theprocess. But God, the Creator and Master Builder, was overseeing it allin His time.

God used this extended incubation time according to His purpose:our vision was refined and brought into clearer focus. We got in touchwith our Free Methodist and Wesleyan heritage and mined it for adeeper, fuller picture of freedom. This freedom we were seeking to

experience and share expanded into a much more holistic concept whichembraced all of life, and all people. We realized that the only way thisfreedom could occur was in the context of a healthy growing family.This phrase, which had only been of peripheral significance, is now theguiding principle for who our church family is to be! Our birthhappened in God's time, and God's time is always the best!

In March of 2003, we had a commissioning and blessing service at

Trulls Road. As Pastor Barry Taylor was praying his blessing over theFreeWay core group, we all felt God's "well done!"

On March 23, 2003, the FreeWay officially moved into Pierre ElliotTrudeau Public School in Oshawa for its first Sunday morning service.We haven't exploded, but we have been growing steadily andconsistently.

The FreeWay matured in an important way in May of 2003. Wewent through the JDPAS process and are better equipped to work outvision step by step.

We "came of age" this fall when Bishop Keith Elford conveyed TheFree Methodist Church in Canada's blessing by declaring us a FreeMethodist Fellowship. We laughed, prayed, took in members, and hada party!

None of us have ever done anything like this before. We can't seevery far down the road, but God has given us a vision to become godlyparents ourselves! With your prayers and support, we trust that God willreceive MUCH glory for MANY years to come from the fruits of this,one of the children of The Free Methodist Church in Canada.

May you feel God's "well done" as you serve Him today.

Pastor Jay Mowchenko, Senior Pastor of the FreeWay in Oshawa, ON

This photograph was taken as the FreeWay moved from being a church plant to a fellowship in September 2003.

Bishop Keith Elford present Fellowship certificate to PastorJay Mowchenko and Tim Crookall, Chairman of the Boardat FreeWay.

5 M O S A I C

ALPHA NOTESIn Orillia (Ontario), theAlpha celebration suppertook place on Monday,September 15 with 6churches joiningtogether. We had a totalattendance of about 120for the meal and out ofthat at least 26 havesigned up to take thecourses we areoffering.There are fiveother courses being offered as well, one each dayof the week. The first is an evening supperprogram shared jointly with an evangelical UnitedChurch here in town; the second is a breakfastmeeting in our church.

Just as exciting, however, was the comingtogether of city and area churches. My wife, Carolhas run Alpha course here for four years andchaired the city Alpha committee.We have beenconcerned that churches and pastors have tendednot to work together previously. This was the firsttime in the four years that we have seen aconcerted effort. The dinner was great, but priorto that, on Sept. 9, our church sponsored a jointprayer time as well with about 30-40 inattendance. We all felt a definite presence of theHoly Spirit and upon closing agreed to schedulemore of these times of coming together in prayerwith city congregations. Since I have been inOrillia, there was no time when pastors mettogether for prayer or fellowship and finally afterfour years I began meeting with two other clergyfor prayer breakfast. That has now expanded toabout ten clergy and their wives meeting monthlyfor prayer and fellowship. We are all convincedthat God is beginning a new work throughout thecity of Orillia. Pastor Norm Shepstone

HOLT FMC JOINS WITH 2 OTHERMOUNT ALBERT CHURCHES TOPRESENT A “FUN FAIR” FOR THECOMMUNITYHolt FMC and 2 other Mount Albert, ON, areachurches, Mount Albert United Church andHillside Evangelical Missionary Church, joinedtogether to present a Fun Fair for the communityon Saturday, September 13. These 3 churchescombined their energy and resources to ministerto area residents.

Games and activities for the children were a

highlight of the afternoon. “Bubbles”, a Christianclown was a centre piece. Face painting wasprovided by Child Evangelism Fellowship.Children’s games were led by church youth.Balloon sculptures were given to the children.Muppets danced and sang.

Food is important in such a gathering. So1,000 cobs of corn, 10 tubs of ice cream, hot dogs,and salads were given to the community free ofcharge.

A celebrity baseball game was organizedbetween members of the York Regional Police andMount Albert Fire Fighters. The Canadian GrainsFood Bank, an ecumenical response to hunger,was designated as the beneficiary of the baseballgame. Dave Mayberry represented CGFB to theassembled crowd.

The event was held at the Mount AlbertCommunity Centre, neutral ground. The chargefor the use of the municipal facility was waived bytown council. The mayor and all the members ofcouncil came by to mingle with the crowd as dida candidate for Provincial Parliament.

The goal of the Fun Fair was to help build agreater sense of community to the area. MountAlbert, located in the town of East Gwillimbury, islocated in fast growing York Region just north ofToronto. Residents indicated in a recent (JDPAS)survey that one of the greatest felt needs was to getto know other people from the community better.

It is important in a small community to havethe churches working together as much aspossible.

This was not overtly a religious event withpreaching and singing, etc. Each church did havean information table to present their own ministryand programs. This allowed for future ministry.

Pastor Greg Langille of Holt FMC reports thatthe next day one lady did come to visit the churchand at least 2 other families are promising to visitin the future. Other bridges to individuals andthe community were built as well. He says that fora cost of about $200 per church the event isdefinitely worth it. A similar event is anticipatedfor next year. Approximately 300 people enjoyedthe afternoon. Pastor Greg Langille

TESTIMONY BY BAPTISM(Picton, Ontario) Prince Edward County FreeMethodist Church has been truly blessed in theyear 2003 with the acclamation of faith throughbaptism. In less than a months’ time, there wereeleven representatives who publicly pronouncedtheir faith in Jesus Christ through sprinkling orimmersion.

With an evening setting on the west beach ofWesley Acres, amongst the birch and poplar trees,with the moist air rolling up the shoreline fromthe lake, we witnessed the beauty of testimony asthe following members of this congregationexpressed their faith: Carol Bigg, Doug Bigg,Donna Cooper, Harvey Cooper, AngelaCourneyea, Sarah Gadd, Ann-Marie MacKay,Kevin Parlane, Gordon Scott and DanielleWatkins.

As a result of physical complications, LauraLee Cowan was unable to join the others at WesleyAcres. However, Laura Lee did express her faiththrough baptism by pouring at the altar of thechurch in early October.

It is hard to contain oneself when witnessingthe baptism of another brother or sister in Christ.We can only imaging what it must have been liketo stand on the banks of the Jordan River towitness the baptism of Jesus Christ, the Son ofGod (who was sinless) being covered by water,expressing the washing of our sins, to emerge intriumph; for God himself to come down fromheaven in the form of a dove to confirm His loveand satisfaction.

What joy we must provide to our Lord whenwe testify, through baptism, our faith and trust inJesus Christ.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INQUEBECOctober 17 and 18 was a weekend of leadershipdevelopment for our churches in Quebec. Fourchurches (St. Henri, Rosemont, Sherbrooke and Clarenceville) were hosted by the Clarencevillechurch, south of Montreal. AssistantSuperintendent for Quebec, Rev. Mary-ElsieWolfe, along with MEGaP committee members,Mrs. Evelyn Lawrence and Mrs. ChantalDoucette, conducted interviews with a number ofindividuals desiring to enter the ministerialdevelopment process. Workshops, introducing the"Bases" materials were conducted in both Frenchand English.

Rev. Dan Sheffield, Director of InterculturalMinistries, and Rev. Nathan Umazekabiri, a FreeMethodist leader from Central Africa, led adiscovery and dialogue process with theSherbrooke church plant concerning the ethos ofthe FM Church in Canada. The Sherbrookchurch plant is made up, largely, of FreeMethodists from Congo, in Central Africa.

An annual meeting of the Quebec Board ofAdministration was held, where Rev. Wolfeintroduced Rev. Sheffield as the new AssistantSuperintendent for Quebec. Great appreciationwas shared with Rev. Wolfe by the Quebec leaders,expressing gratitude for her encouragement ofthem and their congregations over a number ofyears.

WHAT AN AWESOME GODAs we entered the nursing home door, Jane met ussaying. "I'm so glad you're here; I was feeling sodepressed." Jane and 3 others helped us pulltogether two tables and arrange chairs. Then weprayed, sang and watched as Lloyd told stories ofJesus healing using his balloons to bring the storiesalive. We talked about the importance of faith inhealing and then moved to a time of prayer forindividual needs. Jane asked for prayer for herchildren and then, Tessa for her lung disease. Aswe lifted our heads after praying for Tessa, Janeexclaimed, "I can move my arms! I don't have aheadache! " For more than a year since Jane hadfallen, she had experienced pain and moves veryslowly. Now she was almost dancing as shestretched back and flexed her legs. What anawesome God we have! Jane had not asked forprayer for healing. In fact, we were praying forTessa. But God touched Jane. Nursing home staffwatched in amazement as we all rejoiced withJane.

Lloyd and Barbara Peterson are VISAmissionaries returned to Canada after serving inthe Dominican Republic. Their ministry, both inCanada and overseas, focuses on encouraging,training and building up pastors and churchleaders. Currently they are with working with aSpanish speaking congregation in Sarnia(Ontario) and with a project for Spanish speakingmigrant workers in Leamington (Ontario). If youwish to respond to or contact them, please send tolpeterso@ebtech.net For more information, visittheir website at www.gonemission.com

Lloyd Peterson

Blossom the clown and 2 participantsenjoy a moment together.

Lining up for food!

At the table - leadership from 4 FMchurches in Quebec have open discussion

M O S A I C 6

Leaders

Dr. Kevin Mannoia, Academic Dean at Haggard School of Theology,Azuza Pacific University in California, was the featured speaker at two

retreats for Free Methodist pastors in Canada during the month of October.Mannoia has also served as superintendent and bishop in the Free MethodistChurch in the United States and as Executive Director of the NationalAssociation of Evangelicals (similar to our EFC). His talks focused on thedevelopment of godly competence in Christian leaders. Using the illustrationof an iceberg, he assured the pastors that 9/10 of the pastoral task is in theirpersonal spiritual development -- which no one ever sees. Only 1/10 of theirministry is demonstrated in their professional activities, which are seen by all.That 1/10, however, is where both praise and criticisms are directed - lessdepth below the surface, less significance above, and vice versa. Pastors wereable to interact with Mannoia in both the plenary sessions as well as inpersonal conversations.

Bishop Keith Elford presented an updated, and very encouraging,"state of the work" report to the pastors. Superintendent of Personnel, AlanRetzman, discussed the implications of the new Performance Appraisal processfor pastors. Dan Sheffield, Director of Global and Inter-Cultural Ministries,outlined some of the changes in Free Methodist missions around the world andshared ways that local churches across Canada are getting directly involved inglobal ministries.

Several pastors shared devotional thoughts around the text ofColossians 3. At the eastern retreat at Wesley Acres, pastors Cliff Fletcher,Barry Taylor, Elisabeth Natividad, and Vic Stonehouse led. At the westernretreat in Canmore, Alberta, pastors Dean Angell, Scott Williams, SteveLougheed and Mrs. Donna Elford led.

challenged during

Ministers Retreats

NATIONALNEWSEFC troubled that bill C-250 passedThe Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) isdisturbed that Bill C-250 has passed. Thislegislation adds "sexual orientation" to theprohibited groups in the hate propaganda sectionof the Criminal Code.

“We do not condone, in any way, thepromotion of hatred against anyone or any group,says Bruce Clemenger, president of the EFC.“However, the ambiguity of what this bill willcapture may well silence what otherwise would belegitimate public comment on issues of sexualmorality.”

Thousands of Canadians wrote to theirMembers of Parliament expressing concerns thatreligious freedom was not adequately protected inthe legislation. Many politicians pacified theirconstituents by indicating that there is a defenceallowing people to make "good faith statementson a religious subject."

However, in the two legal cases where anaccused person tried to use the defence, the courtsruled that if a statement incites hatred, it cannotbe considered a good faith statement on a religioussubject. This makes the defences totallyinadequate to protect religious freedom.

"It is a very serious matter to criminalizeexpression on a particular subject," says Janet EppBuckingham, director of Law and Public Policy

for the EFC. "We are concerned that the defencesregarding religious freedom are not adequateprotection. The timing of this legislation certainlymakes it look as though it is intended to muzzleopposition to same-sex marriage."

The bill will now move to the Senate.

The EFC is a national association of ProtestantChristian denominations, organizations andchurches. It exists to bring Christians together forgreater impact in ministry, mission and witness. Formore information or an interview please contact:Gail Reid, reidg@efc-canada.com

Resource for justicediscussionThe Church Council on Justice and Correctionsannounces today the release of a Video andDiscussion & Study Guide resource intended toget Christians talking about God's perspective oncrime and justice.

Called Conversations at the Well, the resourcefeatures a 25-minute video highlighting Rick andSteph, two very ordinary young people whose livesand family experiences have them asking hardquestions about what they believe. A youth hasburnt down a church and a niece is a victim ofsexual assault.

Their conversation is our conversation - whatdo we believe about God's justice and its lessonsfor human justice?

For people of faith, the subject of crime andjustice can bring up other quite profound matters- on the one hand, suffering; evil and punishment;on the other hand, healing, forgiveness - evenreconciliation.

Making things right - transformingcommunities and relationships – should meansomething to people of faith. Retribution andhealing theologies clash. Faith communities andtheir members find both sides of the crimeequation, victim and offender, within themselvesindividually and collectively.

"Each of our churches has both offenders andvictims in its midst, along with members whowork professionally in the justice system as judges,police, lawyers and corrections or parole officers,"said CCJC executive director Rick Prashaw inexplaining the significance of the video's subject.

"When crime happens right in our midst,people of faith can have diametrically opposedviews on what justice should mean, and both sidescan cite their faith teaching. This resource framesa conversation for people."

For further information contact: Rick Prashaw,Executive Director of The Church Council on Justiceand Corrections <<rprashaw@ccjc.ca>> www.ccjc.ca

7 M O S A I C

Debbie Hogeboom [Kenya] asks, “Please pray for a student whowill be here in November, coming from a creative access countryon the other side of the continent. Initially he will study English(I will be tutoring him) and then he will join regular classes.

Pray for his adjustment to a new climate, a new culture,new food and new languages (English and Swahili). Pray that hewill be able to make Christian friends who can encourage him.Pray for me as I work with him to learn English so that he will beable to be a regular student in the May term. Pray for the localFM church to be able to accept him into the "family.”

Lois Meredith spent the last 4 days in Eldoret (Kenya), meetingwith two of our FMC Kenya church planting fellowships therefor training for treasurers, Sunday School teachers, and keepers ofmembership records.

The FMC Kenya will hold its Annual Conference in Nairobi,beginning evening of 3rd December and concluding on Sunday,the 7th. The 8 District Superintendents have concluded their 3-year mandates, so elections will be held.

GATEWAY CITY INITIATIVE LAUNCHEDThe 2002 General Conference set a goal of five Gateway City Initiativesover the next decade. One of those initiatives has now come into fullbloom. Fifteen months of planning and praying finally paid off as apartnership was formed in September between two Canadian FreeMethodist churches and the Hyderabad (India) Mission District of theFree Methodist Church in India.

In January of this year, an exploratory team of two persons fromthe Sarnia Free MethodistChurch set the stage for aleadership team to make thejourney in September.Senior Pastor SheldonCarlson from CrossroadsFMC in Salmon Arm BCand Lead Pastor DougGriffin from Sarnia joinedtwo others in meeting withDr. Narendra and JayaJohn, superintendents ofthe Hyderabad MissionDistrict. A two-yearrenewable agreement wassigned agreeing to mutualsharing of prayer, personnel,

and financial resources. Joining in the signing was Dr. David Yardy,Asian area director of Free Methodist missions.

Because construction of a ministry center for the Hyderabadministry has been deemed a first priority, missionary Rob Duncan,recently a staff member of the Newmarket (Ontario) FMC, was a partof the team. Rob is a civil construction engineer who gave valuableassistance in facilities planning.

The opportunity was presented to provide ministry, and thisteam did so by preaching in the churches, conducting children'sministry through the use of balloons and story-telling, and three days ofleadership coaching for 140 pastors and pastoral students. Licensed LayMinister Rick Venne of the Sarnia church experienced the challenge ofpreaching through an interpreter while using his newfound skills ofballoon-tying to present stories of the Bible.

It is hoped that up to three other Canadian churches will jointhis initiative. If you have questions about this ministry opportunity,contact Pastor Doug Griffin at dougg@ebtech.net.

Hyderabad and Sarnia sign ministry agreement.

India team tells Bible stories with balloons.

[Left] - Pastor Rob Duncan with Indian friends. [Right] - DanSheffield leading urban ministry consultation in Manila.

Rev. JohnVlainic presentsPastor BenedictGomez with acheque from theBishop’sFoundation fortheologicalstudies.

WORK IN ASIADan Sheffield, Director of Global and Inter-cultural Ministries and RobDuncan, Associate Pastor at New Hope Methodist Church in Newmarket,recently met in Manila, the Philippines. Rob is considering extendedmission service with the FMC in Asia and had just recently been in Indiawith Doug Griffin (Sarnia) and Sheldon Carlson (Salmon Arm). Trainingand discussions of strategic planning issues were held with Manila pastorsand church-planters. Bishop Jim Tuan participated in these meetings aswell.

Dan carried on to Taipei, Taiwan while Rob Duncan travelled to Cebu,the Philippines, where he will be considering a ministry assignment in thatcity alongside a Philippino church-planter.

In Taipei, Dr. K.K. Leung,who has planted two Chinese FreeMethodist churches in Toronto,and Dan presented a report at theFree Methodist Global ChineseConsultation. This report focussedon the significant growth of aChinese presence in Canada andvarious outreach ministries of ourown and other denominationstoward them. This consultation isa first step in connecting FreeMethodists around the world tospecifically address Chineseoutreach. Peoples originating fromChina represent 1 in 6 of theworld's population.

GLOBAL MINISTRIES

GATEWAY CITY AWARENESSColombo, Sri Lanka Population 2.5 millionBuddhist 71.9%; Hindu 12%; Muslim 8%; Christian 7.6%(Evangelicals 1.3%)Colombo, a major port city is the commercial capital of Sri Lanka(19million). Colombo, at 2.5 million, is the largest city in the countryand owes its importance largely to its large, artificially createdharbor. Colombo handles most of the foreign trade of Sri Lanka andis an important fueling station. Buddhism is the state religion andalthough freedom of religion is allowed for other groups, there issignificant discrimination even through government structures.

Since 1980 there has been revival and strong evangelical growth from 50,000 to nearly240,000 in this country of 19 million.

Unreached peoples: Sinhalese (75%), Moors (7.6%), and other smaller groupings.

Two Canadian Free Methodist ministry teams have visited Sri Lanka in 2003.In August Pastors Vic and Joan Stonehouse with Pastors Jeyerajah and Gomezand Mrs. Phyllis Lysander conducted a retreat with Sri Lankan pastors’families. A Canadian team will travel to Sri Lanka in March 2004 to conductanother training program with this group of pastors.

Pray for Canadian church leaders who are taking responsibility fordrawing this group of Sri Lankan churches into the Free Methodist family.

SRI LANKA

Colombo

MOSAIC 8