More Alberta Travels
The Pastors’ Appreciation Lunch at Bonnyville CommunityChurch included Pastors and church leaders from Cold Lake, Bonnyville, Lac LaBiche, Smoky Lake and points in between. This is an annual event put on by Pastor Ken Jagessar and is a wonderful opportunity for networking. I was able to give a brief presentation on Alpha, but already the Alpha activity in that area is extremely encouraging to me.
Pastor Ken allows everyone in attendance to introduce themselves, and a few (like me) are given additional opportunity to expand on their ministries. I came away with the sense that there is much expectation of revival in that area and churches are of one accord in praying fervently for it.
Pastor Ken allows everyone in attendance to introduce themselves, and a few (like me) are given additional opportunity to expand on their ministries. I came away with the sense that there is much expectation of revival in that area and churches are of one accord in praying fervently for it.
But no sooner did I return home than I read in the news of the Government’s shutdown of the Trinity Christian School Board in Cold Lake, in part because of apparent financial irregularities. Is this an attack of the enemy? One way or another I must believe it is. Either the accusations are unfounded, in which case we might guess that the government has an agenda to close down Christian school boards and homeschooling, or there is truth to them, in which case certain Christians may have allowed this to be brought upon themselves by yielding to temptation and entitlement and not being completely above board, open and blameless. We may be entering a time when the world will seize upon the slightest opening to come against the Christian Church. We must not only be blameless and above reproach; we must be seen to be so.
My next trip was to Lloydminster, to address a meeting of their ministerial at Living Faith Pentecostal Tabernacle. It was a small crowd, but my presentation on Alpha was well received, and people came from as far away as Paradise Valley to hear it.
Part of the reason for this trip was to introduce Alpha’s new Regional Director for Saskatchewan, Austin Gagne, to churches there, including to the ‘major’ Alpha Church, Lloydminster Gospel Fellowship (LGF), on the Saskatchewan side of Highway 17. We met for coffee with Kevin, my Alpha coach in Lloyd and the Alpha coordinator at LGF. Kevin lives on the Alberta side. Lloydminster could become a battleground for territory if Austin and I were not so generous to one another and such good friends ;>)
Following the ministerial, and after a cold call to New Life Community Church, I met with Tom, Alpha Coordinator at St Anthony’s Catholic Church, and what an encouraging meeting it was. This is their second Alpha and attendance has been about 40 to 60 guests each time. Plus, they seem to be doing things right, with prayer time both on the day and on healing night. I also discovered they are running a second alpha for their youth, even though they haven’t registered that – another, ‘underground Alpha.’
Then back home to St Albert. In addition to everything else, this trip gave me an opportunity to drive the new leg of the Anthony Henday ring road (picture above), even though my Tomtom GPS thought I was in the middle of a field for several kilometres.
Blessings,
John
Then back home to St Albert. In addition to everything else, this trip gave me an opportunity to drive the new leg of the Anthony Henday ring road (picture above), even though my Tomtom GPS thought I was in the middle of a field for several kilometres.
Blessings,
John
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