Canadian Evangelism

  The top picture I took a year ago on my way back from Bonnyville and Cold Lake, Alberta. It spoke to me of someone's shattered dream. The bottom I took the other day, of the same site. Now nothing is left. The destruction is complete. Any remnant of the plans and dreams of whoever L'il Dave is or was have been eradicated, at least as far as the physical premises of his business at this site are concerned. I don't know why, but this touches my heart. I have always had a mentor's heart. Whether it has been in my own business or in a business in which I have served in management, I have always felt a fatherly concern for younger people just starting out in the working world. Even in my most recent, "retirement career" with Alpha I constantly keep my eyes open for people with potential to rise up through ranks, so to speak. One thing I have always tried to do is to find and train up my own replacement. As someone has said, "If you can't be replaced, you...

Or so some might say. I had an 11:00 appointment the other day. I was to meet a pastor (Greg) at a Second Cup in Edmonton. This appointment was not an easy one to make. We had been trying for the better part of a month to find a suitable time and place to meet. I thought I would make the best use of my time, so I stopped first at another church on the south side and met the pastor. He gave me a tour of his new facility, explained enthusiastically how his church is growing and told me how they have a new Alpha coordinator ready to run Alpha in the new year. At 10:40 I looked at my watch and apologized for having to cut our visit short. I walked out to my car searching my pockets for my keys. Not there. My heart sunk as, looking through the window, I saw them in the ignition. The doors were locked! I called AMA for roadside assistance. By the time I had waited for 'the next available operator' and we had gone through all the details of my problem and location, it was ...

I've been thinking about a couple of verses that, at first glance, may see, to present a bit of a paradox: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.(Luke 11:23)  “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:50) Both these verses were given in passages connected with the driving out of demons. In the first, by Jesus, in the second one, by another man, an outsider.   As I started putting things down on paper I realized they touch on the same subjects as Pastor Brent Cantelon’s talk at our recent Alpha staff retreat – that the Gospel is , at once, exclusive, inclusive and urgent.   Jesus said that whoever is not   with him is against him . In this sense the Gospel is exclusive. He said that he is the only way to the Father; that no one comes to the Father except through him ( John 14:6 ). Exactly what that means is a way bigger discussion. Just how much does ...

CF-18's take off yesterday from CFB Cold Lake, Alberta I was invited to attend and briefly address a Pastors' appreciation lunch in Bonnyville Community Church yesterday. I actually went last year as well, and in spite of that Pastor Ken invited me back. It was attended by 26 guests representing 14 churches or ministries (15 including mine - Alpha). One of the guests was a Padre at CFB Cold Lake (which is about 1/2 hour from Bonnyville), and he had just participated in the sending off of 6 CF-18's to Kuwait to help in the fight against ISIS. I was going to post a picture of him speaking, but in light of today's developments in Ottawa, and having been cautioned by news reports to use caution in posting public photos of members of the military, I chose not to. Having said all that, it was a very encouraging meeting. The Padre himself expressed quite an interest in our 7-week (Campus) Alpha. The new Pentecostal pastor in Bonnyville, new after a two year search, and whose c...

I live in Leduc, Alberta, in a neighbourhood just off the old Highway 2A south. To get to Edmonton, I must merge from the old highway on to Highway 2 northbound. It is an awkward entrance; sharp and short, so one doesn't necessarily have a lot of time or distance to accelerate to highway speed. This morning, as I drove this route, an SUV was right on my rear bumper as I accelerated on to the highway. I could almost see the colour of the driver's eyes. When we both entered the highway, it pulled out and passed me. A decal on the back window advertised Lia Sophia Jewellery. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to be critical of lia Sophia. But it sparked an idea in my mind. This organization sells jewellery at home parties, like Tupperware years ago (and maybe still, for all I know). I think my wife has bought some. So for some reason I thought, "I could do that to raise funds for my ministry with Alpha." I wonder if it would work. Maybe I'll even put a decal in ...

 Ben Woodman Speaking on his recent cross-province tour, Alpha for Youth Director Ben Woodman mentioned Jeremiah 29:11 as the verse he always puts in yearbooks or graduation cards for young people who have been his, "Spiritual children." For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." It brought to mind the verse I wrote in my own daughters' graduating cards, and I suppose it reflects the difference between a father and a youth pastor. The verse the Lord brought to my mind at the time was Philippians 4: 8-9.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. This passage reflected, a...

The last couple of days I have spent observing Ben Woodman of our Alpha Youth Film Series  as he has held meetings around Alberta. Tuesday he was in Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. I joined him, along with our Youth Coach Amy in Calgary on Wednesday and then for a stop in Red Deer.   You may recognize the trusty sidekicks; Ben, on the left, and Jason Ballard on the right, in this scene from the Film Series.     However, you may not recognize the Jason of Grade 10 at Terry Fox Secondary School in years gone by. This was one of the video's Ben showed at these meetings. As you will see, Jason comes by his passion for youth honestly Check this out.                      Today's meeting was at Beulah Alliance in Edmonton. Both Jason and Ben were there, and the same kind of passion is apparent among students in this city. The young team at E...

This is a picture of the lodge at Loon Lake, BC, where we recently held our annual Alpha staff retreat. The setting is absolutely beautiful, although the cell phone coverage is non-existent and wifi is sporadic at best, but perhaps that is a good thing. It is wonderful to gather with the entire Alpha Canada team in such a such peaceful place, marvelling at God's creation, and basking in the presence of the Holy Spirit. I have had a long career in business, both as an employee, senior manager and business owner, and I must say that this team , under the leadership of our National Director Shaila Visser, is the best of which I have had the privilege of being a part. Shail welcomed us with a message on the State of the Union in Alpha Canada. The highlight of her message, to me, focused on the difference between being successful and being faithful. Is success, in other words, always increasing in numbers, so that every year reflects greater numbers than the last?...

  In  How to Run the Alpha Course , Nicky Gumbel instructs “It is of utmost importance, in order to maintain the momentum , to run at least three courses a year. When people complete Alpha, they very often want to invite their families and friends to the next course, and it is important that one is available.” Here are a few more reasons why running Alpha more than once a year is beneficial: 1. It gets people talking about spirituality!   This includes ALL sorts of people – those with no religion, other religions, new believers, etc. - who can explore and experience solid Biblical teaching and authentic community in a safe, inviting environment. 2. It tells the community that the church has an open door.   Even if people don’t attend Alpha, they know there’s another course starting soon. When they’re ready to attend, they know Alpha will welcome them (at the church, or the pub, or on campus, or the boardroom, etc). 3. It keeps the church fo...

I just watched an interesting program on PBS about MI6, the British Secret Service. In the program, I learned that a statue of St. Francis of Assisi on the grounds of Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) was a favourite place for Soviet spies to use as a, "dead letter drop" during the cold war. A Soviet double agent would leave a microfilm, a cassette or message behind it to be picked up later by a 'handler' from the Soviet Embassy. From here... A little further away, literally just behind the oratory, the Holy Trinity Church is the site for another dead letter drop. As you approach the church from the Brompton Road, bear to your left and in the corner there is a small statue of St Francis of Assisi. Soviet agents reputedly left their files and microfilms on the ground at the base of the tree next to the wall. Mind you, this was way before Alpha, and HTB was not implicated. It's just that its grounds were a secluded spot to leave clandestine messages. I just found it inte...

There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, "Son, go and work today in the vineyard."   " I will not," he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.  Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, "I will, sir," but he did not go.  “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.   For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Matthew 21: 28b-32) Sometimes I will visit a church where I'm told, "We don't want Alpha." "We're happy the way we are." Such a church may often be comprised of people 50 plus. They are happy coming together every Sunday, worshipping just t...