STAFF CHANGES — THANK YOU LARA!

The Ministry Centre staff are joyfully sad to say goodbye to our co-worker and friend, Lara McAllister. Lara has decided it is time to move on to the next chapter in her life, effective the beginning of October. While not entirely certain of where this journey will end, Lara is looking forward to more time at home with the family, gardening, writing, and hopefully some new adventures.

2019 IMMERSE GRADUATION

September is a busy month in the Immerse program as we welcome new students and celebrate the completion of the program for others.

On a beautiful Friday evening, we gathered to watch as five students walked across the platform at Southridge Fellowship and received their Master of Divinity degrees from Northwest Baptist Seminary.

SUPPORTING FELLOWSHIP PACIFIC

The Ministry Centre is excited to report that the church support level outlined in the annual budget for 2018 was exceeded for the first time in many years. The budget for church support was $575,000. In 2018 our churches provided funding of over $580,000. The Ministry Centre kept expenses below budget again in 2018 and we are happy to report that we finished 2018 in the black.

SPIRITUAL CARE SERIES

Have you ever thought about how to provide spiritual care for the seniors in your family, your church or community? Are you looking for a way to provide purposeful ministry and leadership training for older adults in your church?

MOVING AROUND ON THE MID-ISLAND

When you look at the list of churches on our website, you’ll see that our list of churches on Vancouver Island is divided between ‘North Island’ and ‘South Island’. Paying no attention to those distinctions, a group of Fellowship Pacific churches from the ‘mid-Island’ decided to break some new ground and bring their staff teams together for a day of prayer, encouragement, instruction and communion. Parksville Fellowship played the kind hosts and early arrivers were greeted by Pastor Paul Hawkes with his sleeves rolled up, wearing a (manly) apron and getting the mid-morning snack and much needed coffee in order. 

NEW HOPE COMMUNITY SERVICES

Some prayer updates from New Hope.

BRUCE & APRIL CHRISTENSEN: ON TO THE NEXT CHAPTER

If you haven’t heard, Bruce Christensen is stepping down from his position here at the Fellowship Pacific Ministry Centre and for all of us who have had the great pleasure of working and serving alongside him, we’re going to miss him immensely. But we’re also celebrating with him and April as they move into their new ministry roles at Sunnybrae Bible Camp. To the staff at Sunnybrae, you’re in for a real treat!

WHAT IS PASTORAL CARE?

One of our five values at Fellowship Pacific states that we believe in the local church. We believe that healthy churches are led by healthy pastors. The two belong together. Each contributes to the well being of the other. Healthy pastoral families develop healthy churches that transform their communities for Christ.

INTRODUCING DAN CODY — CHURCH MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS TEAM LEAD

This week we welcome Dan Cody to our staff here at the Ministry Centre. Dan brings the right combination of skills and expertise needed to lead our Church Management Solutions team and we couldn’t be happier to have him join us.

DEVELOPING PASTORS — DAVID HORITA

In the majority of Fellowship Pacific churches, the single largest budget allocation goes towards Staff salaries. This is as it should be since the pastors in your church are critical to achieving the mission that God has given. Obviously, there are a lot of other components involved in your missional success – not least of which is every other gifted person in the church. Yet the fact remains that pastors play an inordinately significant role.

A JESUS MOVEMENT — TODD CHAPMAN

Church Multiplication - engaging society with hope that transforms community through a healthy church, that starts a healthy church, that starts another healthy church, that starts yet another healthy church...and so on and so on.

CALLED TO INFLUENCE — KRISTA PENNER

When I visit churches and talk with leaders I consistently hear the same message.

“How can we establish a mentoring initiative that will actually work?”

There have been many attempts made to implement mentorship programs in the past few decades of church ministry. Many have failed and those who have experienced success have written books trying to help the rest of us figure this thing out! Maybe you have read some of those books and you are still trying to figure out how to transform theory into practice.