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Sarnia is no different than most Canadian cities in this respect: for decades now, churches in the downtown core have been struggling for survival and are finally closing their doors. Permanently. New church communities are forming in Sarnia as they chase development in the south and east ends of the city. In recent years the downtown is beginning to seem forgotten. Well if Joe Manafo (full time pastor in Calgary), Nathan Colquhoun (Tyndale Student) and Darryl Silvestri (university student) have their way that is about to change.
In February 2004, these three young men began meeting in a private online discussion about the spiritual condition of the downtown in Sarnia. These discussions formed the starting point for their new community of faith. Though physically separated by over 3000 kilometers, the three friends created a private online forum to discuss, share their thoughts and compile resources. With nearly 700 online entries detailing everything from theology to leadership structure to potential locations, the point in time came to test the waters and share the idea of this new endeavour publicly. Email invitations were sent out to family, friends, and local pastors for the initial information meeting that was held on January 21, 2006. With 60 adults in attendance that evening, the vision for this new church plant was shared followed by a time of Q&A where individuals had the opportunity to voice their thoughts and impressions. Soon after, a second meeting was held on April 19, 2006 for those who wanted to explore the possibility of what could be a little further. Over the summer they dealt with the fundamentals of calling, values and mission. Thirty-five adults participated in a dialogue that revealed much about their spiritual journeys and what God was presently speaking to them about.
The group has also taken time to formalize its relationship with the Free Methodist Church through New Horizons Free Methodist Church. The discoveries of the summer are now on record and will serve as fodder for the core group meetings that will span from September-December 2006. This four month interval will serve in getting the core team ‘on the same page’ in preparation for the public launch in January of 2007.
theStory plans to reintroduce a Christian presence to the downtown area of Sarnia, in its schools, shops and homes. With hopes of housing itself in a store front location, part of the vision of this new plant is to become integrated as part of the community by creating a common space, a high traffic area for those both inside and outside of the church community.
If you would like to learn more about theStory you can visit their website at: http://www.thestory.ca. For more information on all of our church planting projects visit the Lifecycle Project at: http://www.lifecycleproject.org/churchplanting
Jared Siebert is the Director of Growth Ministries for The Free Methodist Church in Canada
This fall issue of the MOSAIC focuses primarily on mentoring. It is a topic that is very close to my heart as I have tried to be an advocate for the great benefits that it can bring to those who choose to participate.
I was eighteen years old when I made a conscious decision to follow Christ. I was very eager to learn as much as I could about my faith – I read the Bible as well as other books, attended classes for new believers, and asked many questions.
I can think of several people who allowed me to meet with them after school, before Sunday services, and on weekends. They took me with them as they visited the elderly and when they handed out soup and sandwiches to the homeless. They called me, prayed with me and helped me walk through some very difficult situations in those early years. I really appreciated spending time with them and sharing their experiences because they spoke with so much more wisdom than I had. Although we never labeled this friendship at the time – looking back now, I realize that they were my mentors.
I often wonder what my life would be like had they not chosen to invest their time (a real commodity) in discipling me. I think of the lives that I have been able to touch because my mentors invested in me – and committed themselves to “being there.”
Can I make a blanket statement? We should all be looking for opportunities to be mentored and to mentor no matter what stage of our Christian lives we find ourselves. Mentoring should be a natural part of our development and does not necessarily have to be a formal or scheduled event. We all have areas in our lives where we could learn from others; and similarly, there are many parts of our lives that others can learn from. I think the real test is seizing those opportunities when they present themselves.
There is an enormous ripple effect that takes place in mentoring. I am able to affect the lives of others positively because my life has been affected. The lives that I have touched will touch others, and so on, and so on, and so on . . . {some of you may remember the 1970's Faberge Organics Shampoo commercial?}
The classic definition of a mentor is “an experienced and trusted advisor or guide.” I still have mentors; individuals whom I believe in and who have walked through situations in their lives that I can now learn from. Recently, I asked one of my friends for advice – “Lisa, this is the way I did it . . but if I had to do it all over again, I would do it differently . . .” Being a mentor does not always mean doing everything right – it does involve pulling back the cover of your life and allowing others to look inside.
Lisa Howden
Managing Editor for the MOSAIC a publication of The Free Methodist Church in Canada
The apostle Paul sat in a dimly lit prison cell, knowing that sooner rather than later, the executioner’s sword would swing and he would be cut loose to soar into eternity. No longer seeing through a glass darkly, he would see Jesus face to face…. He would be home!
He had had a life full of adventure and intensity. After a brilliant academic career as a Jewish intellectual, he was arrested by the Lord Jesus himself in a dramatic encounter on the Damascus Road. This jettisoned him into a life of complicated cross-cultural ministry, mystical experiences with the Lord and gritty battles of words with the Pharisees and even, at times with ministry colleagues in the Church. It had been quite a life but the end was drawing near. However, there was one more letter he needed to write. So putting pen to parchment, Paul, the mentor, poured out his heart to Timothy, his understudy.
Whenever Paul prayed, Timothy’s face would be there. They had traveled hundreds of geographical and conversational miles together and just thinking about him brought a lump to Paul’s throat. When they had said farewell the last time, Timothy, now a grown and proven missionary associate, had sobbed. How he missed him and how he ached for him.
Paul’s heart was heavy because it seemed that Timothy’s enthusiasm for his role in what God was doing had been draining away. His drive for reaching seeking people was flagging. He wasn’t his old self; his passion which had once burned so brightly was now only embers, glowing coals on their way to becoming cold ashes. (Glowing coals are great for “Kum-Ba-Ya” moments and toasting marshmallows, but they don’t cast much light on dark shadows!)
Paul’s second letter to Timothy is a mentor’s heart-to-heart letter about rekindling passion. There’s a lot at stake, because Timothy is one person Paul is counting on to take the ministry in Asia to its next level. He opens up his heart by giving Timothy a picture: “Fan into flame the gift of God which is in you!” (2 Timothy 1:6). The old warrior himself surely had known seasons of discouragement and distraction that are the right conditions for the mold of apathy to grow and spread over one’s heart. This letter of deep concern for one of his dearest colleagues and closest younger friends gives us a classic example of the multidimensional approach of an effective mentor challenging apathy and fanning the flames of the heart – especially a heart that is being tempted to snuggle down into a comfortable community of coals and just “glow for Jesus.”
Perhaps you’ll find Paul’s letter helpful too for fanning your own heart into flame. (I find reading Paul’s two letters to Timothy at one sitting helpful when life is getting out of focus.) But it’s important to remember – he’s not yelling at Timothy with capital letters, underlined words and bold exclamation marks. He’s got a lump in his throat and, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, he is calling out the best in this younger friend whom he loves. Here is what Paul places before Timothy:
1. Remember that there are people who love you, believe in you, and have been praying for you for years – Like who? ... like me, all the time, and like members of your family. [2 Timothy 1:3-5]
2. Remember that God has gifted you uniquely. Never mind about others and their giftings. You know your own areas of giftedness. Focus on them and let them fire up! [verse 6]
3. Fear in any of its forms, except for holy reverence for God, is not from God. His Spirit has filled your spirit with power, love, and self-discipline. It’s there. I’ve seen it. Let it loose again, because when it flows, Jesus shines through in who you are. [verse 7]
4. Forget about carrying the burden of ministry by yourself. You can’t do it. Buy into grace deeply, then you won’t be worrying about what others think and you’ll have God’s perspective on suffering. Suffering is not the worst thing that can happen to you, nor is death. In fact, both are part of the Christian experience. Losing your passion is far worse. [verses 8-12]
5. Don’t forget the central truths of the gospel that I have explained to you and you have seen me live and heard me teach. Don’t just roll ideas around in your head. Keep this stuff in your heart where the Holy Spirit can keep breathing life into it and into you. [verses 13-14]
6. Don’t be distracted by the wrong choices that others make. Stay focused. Recognize the surprising people God sends as encouragers and receive from them as they walk with you.
End of chapter 1. Good stuff, don’t you agree! Read on into chapters 2 to 4. The intensity picks up.
Anybody out there with giftedness that needs to be fanned into flame? I hope you are reading this and receiving it.
Anyone out there in your sphere of influence (perhaps who is even older than you) who is losing their “fire”? God may want to use you as a mentor to walk with them and to speak into their lives. Take them to Him in prayer and listen to what the Spirit quickens in your heart. When you have it clear, and the time is right, let your love pour out, and in humility start walking and listening and eventually in talking with them.
Rev. Keith Elford is Bishop of The Free Methodist Church in Canada
