Canadian Evangelism

Here we are at McKernan Baptist in Edmonton. McKernan is a longtime Alpha church and once a year I am their missionary of the week. Even though my mission field is only the Province of Alberta, it is a mission field, nonetheless. I love how many people came up to us at this event and told us what a wonderful part Alpha has played in their lives and/or their spiritual journey. McKernan is very near the University of Alberta, so attracts a good number of students. I'm not sure where they'll put them. They have two services every Sunday morning. Their sanctuary holds over 300 people and was fairly full both times, with even an overflow area well populated, and university students, for the most part, haven't even started arriving yet. Having experienced McKernan's hospitality, biblical teaching and worship music ministry, I can't think of  any place I would want more as a, "home away from home" for an out-of-town student, were I a parent worried about sendin...

The list of Alphas registered in Alberta so far this year hit 400 yesterday I'm a day late in posting it. This morning it's 401. Just sayin'. Thanks be to God. John

This a picture I took where Highway 49 comes down to cross the Smoky River at Watino Alberta . I hope the picture shows the fascinating low cloud that caused me to stop and take the picture. I was on my way from Grande Prairie to Peace River to meet with Bishop Fraser Lawton about arrangements for my presence at their Diocesan Synod in October (a meeting that went very well, by the way.) I also squeezed in a meeting with the Director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Catholic Archdiocese of Grouard McLennan while I was in Peace River, but I wanted, in this post, to comment on some of the highlights of my drive itself. Other than scenery such as pictured above, a highlight for me in driving the Peace Country are the farms along the highways . They seem to be endless; yellow fields of canola or green fields of hay, and, in the fall, golden fields of wheat, stretching as far as the eye can see away from the highway. I remember my Dad, whenever we used to go for a drive, commenting...

I had lunch with Pastor Wes Dong of Grande Prairie Alliance Church (GPA) today. Wes was the driving force behind the Global Alpha Campaign earlier this year in this city. In all there were close to 20 Alphas registered in the GP area. We ate at the Jackpot Grill, a former Bingo hall. Bingo halls in Grande Prairie seem to have fallen on hard times. In addition to this one converted to a restaurant, another one has been purchased and beautifully renovated by McLaurin Baptist church. I was there too, today.The person I spoke with at McLaurin said they were happy with their Alpha, and had some good results, but most guests were from their own church and they thought that many guests from outside church might have been more comfortable going to one of two others close by - one at GPRC (Grande Prairie Regional College) and one at a local cafe. Both of the latter were run by people from GPA, so it was wonderful to see the spirit of cooperation among the churches in the city. Wes told me tha...

I met the Rev Matthew Hysell for coffee the other day. Fr Hysell is a priest at Corpus Christi Catholic parish in Edmonton. We had not previously met except by email - first when he ran an Alpha in his parish last year and again as he was planning another one this coming fall. We arranged to meet at a Tim Hortons in South Edmonton. Having never met him personally, I jokingly asked him how I would recognize him. "Try to look like a priest," I wrote. "Don't worry," he replied, "I look like I'm right out of the 15th century." Little did I know he was exactly right. I tried to find a picture of 15th century priests' vestments on line but nothing looked exactly right, and I didn't think to take one when we met, but there he was when I got there and indeed there was no trouble recognizing the one in the black flowing cassock and hat. All, of  which has nothing really to do with the story. We had a great conversation and Matthew was a real, pleasu...