HOWARD JOHNSON: MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES

“Making a difference in people’s lives!”

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

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

2020 IMMERSE GRADUATION

Graduation from the waist up!

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

SURVIVING THE COVID ICE AGE

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

KEEPING OUR FOCUS

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

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.