Northwest News

Faith Building Sunday in Vancouver

2010-07-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (July 25), at our worship service, there was so much good news shared that it would have been impossible to leave discouraged. Rob Baldwin was baptized into Christ on Saturday night. His wife, Nimfa, read her "restoration letter" to the church on Sunday. What an amazing story of how an old friendship and one invitation to church changed one couple's life for eternity! God definitely orchestrated that meeting!

It was awesome to hear from Barish and Ana Golland and how they've already met and reached out to a couple who are students at UBC. Yet they didn't meet them on campus but at the IKEA in Richmond because they overheard a couple speaking Turkish! If that isn't God showing us that he has heard and answered our prayers, I don't know what is.

Then there was the video of the VCOC youth who attended the NW Camp. The quality and the content of the video was nothing short of inspiring - to hear how that week has impacted our sons and daughters and led each of them to make some deeply spiritual decisions was both convicting and encouraging.

And finally we saw so many friends and family visiting with us, even some whom none of us invited but who came just because they heard about the church indirectly. God is working in us, through us and for us! I am incredibly encouraged and believe that God is putting his stamp of approval and support on the direction we're headed and the plans that we've made. I know that the rest of 2010 is going to be amazing. The train is pulling out of the station - all aboard!

A "Hardcore" Summer!

2010-07-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

We just got back an absolutely amazing and inspiring North West Youth Camp (July 5-10), entitled "Hardcore". It was lead so professionally and compassionately by Jermaine and Stefanie Peacock (leaders of the Spokane Church). I was so inspired by our week there that I decided to dedicate all the Vancouver Church of Christ worship services for the rest of the summer to our Youth Ministries (High School and Middle School) and to our Campus Ministry (to be restarted this fall). What does that mean?

+ All worship services for the rest of the summer will be officially casual dress, even for those who are leading songs, praying or preaching up front.
+ All worship services will be high energy in terms of the content, delivery and spirit of all songs, prayers and preaching.
+ The young men and women of the high school and middle school ministries will be given opportunities, in various ways, to participate in leading and/or sharing in the worship services.
+ We are asking that all VCOC members dedicate themselves to praying for these ministries and to personally encouraging all these young people and their parents as they strive to seek God, know God and do his will.

Our goal in all of this is to keep the momentum going and to emphasize how vital these ministries are to these young men and women, their parents, the congregation and our fellowship of churches. Giving each and every one of them the best opportunity and the most encouragement possible to seek God, know God and to do his will is our plan and our purpose.

"This is hardcore, with my double edged sword; I'mma live my life, fi-fi-fightin' for the Lord"

Fired Up for God!

2010-06-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

In Vancouver, the month of June, weather-wise, has been cooler than normal, cloudier than normal and rainier than normal, but the disciples have been striving to shine and be hot for God!

+Our Special Ministry Contribution has now reached almost $30,000!
+We are preparing for the arrival of the Gollands from Istanbul.
+We are reorganizing our Midweek Discussion Groups to become Life Groups.
+We are planning for a Fall 2010 evangelistic campaign entitled, "Come and See" that will involve the restarting of our campus ministry and will lead up to our big 20th anniversary weekend (October 23 & 24) ending with a worship service at Michael J. Fox Theatre.

Pray for us. We're asking God to do great things in us, with us and through us to his glory and the salvation of as many as possible.

Thank You Koko!

2010-05-26T13:17:00.001-07:00

On Sunday May 23, the Vancouver church enjoyed hosting a guest speaker, the evangelist for the Central Manila Christian church, Koko Enrile. On his way home from Hope Worldwide's Global Summit, he decided to drop in on the church and we joyfully welcomed the opportunity to hear him share and preach. He shared about the flood last fall that claimed 300 lives and impacted the living circumstances of millions. It was heartbreaking and yet at the same time inspiring as the Christians rose to the challenge and became for many the source of life sustaining shelter, food and clothing. Koko graciously thanked the VCOC members for their generosity in giving to the relief fund, but as we know, it is impossible to out-give God. Thus we received back more last Sunday than we gave last fall as Koko called us to continue to put our faith into action and have an impact on our world for Christ.

Parenting Workshop in Seattle

2010-05-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

What an amazing time we had in Seattle last Saturday (May 15) as a few hundred parents gathered together to learn and to grow in the most amazing trust that God has given us - raising our children! As parents we never feel adequate or complete. It seems the moment we celebrate one victory a new challenge comes along that calls on us to adapt. Each child is so different, even within the same family. What works for one does not work for all. It is up to us, as parent, to understand certain principles and apply those principles with wisdom, grace and truth to our relationships with our children.

Stephany and Jermaine Peacock taught us that we need to understand our own upbringing and how that influences our approach to parenting - whether for good or bad. We need to decide what our values and goals are and we need to make sure we that our parenting is truly God-centred. He is our best example of what it means and takes to love and raise our kids.

Sara and Brian Felushko taught the need for compassionate communication with our children and their need to be respected and heard, so that we can make wise decisions about meeting their most crucial needs. Connection and cooperation can be achieved through compassionate communication regardless of the age of the child or the present state of the relationship. As Paul wrote, "Love never fails".

Many great discussions followed both workshops and many parents left with directed, encouraged and with hope for even the most difficult situations. Thanks to the leadership of the Seattle church for hosting this event!

Daily Bible Study has a New Format

2010-05-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

Brian Felushko (evangelist/elder of the Vancouver Church of Christ) has slightly, but significantly, changed the format of his daily bible study blog. Now each day follows a specific plan as revealed by the subtitles: READ, REFLECT, PRAY & OBEY. While none of us want our time with God to be overly structured, ritualistic and lifeless, most would agree that without some structure, but relying totally on the feelings of the moment, either our quiet times don't happen or they are often shallow and lack impact.

READ, REFLECT, PRAY & OBEY is a structured plan for communing with God, where we first listen to God through the reading of his word and then we reflect on what we have read. In relationship terms, this is called "active listening". Then we talk to him in prayer, specifically responding to what we heard God say to us in the scripture, expressing our gratitude, our humility, our hope and asking for his help. Finally, by answering some practical questions, we set our hearts on obeying God's will as revealed by the Holy Spirit.

Following such a structure, day by day, from the heart, will result in an ongoing transformational experience, as we draw closer to God and are empowered to walk as Jesus walked. Click on the link "Daily Bible Study" on the Vancouver Church of Christ website (www.vancouverchurchofchrist.org), under "Blogroll" or go to http://briansdailybiblestudy.blogspot.com/. May God refresh and inspire you as you make your time with him a priority in your daily life!

Vancouver Church of Christ to Receive Award

2010-04-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

"We are very excited to announce that your group, the Vancouver Church of Christ, will receive the "Partners in Humanity Award" from the Red Cross at the 2010 Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Red Cross (Lower Mainland) on April 27, 2010. This award recognizes your partnership with the Canadian Red Cross Family Support Program through the donation of funds, time and skills to improve the lives of vulnerable families at British Columbia Children's Hospital."

-Ginny Wong, Director of the Family Support Program at BCCH

"Pure Romance" Marriage Retreat

2010-04-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver church invites you to join us on May 28-30 in beautiful Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia for a weekend marriage-building seminar facilitated by David and Robin Weidner!

David and Robin Weidner draw on 30 years of marriage to help couples build a Godly intimacy based on true oneness. They recently established a new ministry called Purity Restored (www.purityrestored.com) that helps couples and individuals find healing and hope after purity struggles. They have authored a CD set together, “Building a Pure Marriage in an Impure World,” and travel extensively leading marriage retreats and purity seminars. Robin and Dave live near Chicago, Illinois and have 3 adult children.

David Weidner is the author of a CD series, “Pure in Heart—Biblical Principles for Restoring Purity” (www.purityrestored.com. Through leading recovery groups and conducting “Pure in Heart” seminars, David has helped bring fresh hope to men who long to restore their personal purity.

Robin Weidner is the author of Secure in Heart—Overcoming Insecurity in a Woman’s Life (www.secureinheart.com). This popular book has launched Robin into a new world of outreach to women, including speaking at Secure in Heart women’s events across the country and appearing on local and national Christian radio and television shows. Robin also owns a thriving copywriting business, writing marketing materials and other communications for national and international clients. She is currently finishing a second book based on the life of Eve.

“Picturing the purely transparent relationship of Adam and Eve has given my wife and a vision for our future together. As we listened to Dave and Robin share the complete security that the first husband and wife had with each other and our Father in heaven, we realized that God was not going to restore our relationship to a time when it was better; rather, we believe he is going to take us to a place we have never been. And that is truly exciting. Dave and Robin, you’re truly a blessing to the Kingdom of God.” Matt and Mona, Minneapolis

Location: Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa, Harrison Hot Springs, B.C. (3 hours from Seattle; 2 hours from Vancouver; 45 minutes from Abbotsford airport): www.harrisonresort.com

Hotel Rooms: Every couple must make their own arrangements with the hotel. The prices range from $125-150 per night. Book your rooms by calling 1-866-638-5075

Registration: There is no registration fee, but you must register in order to attend. Contact Sara Felushko (sara.felushko@gmail.com) with your full name, phone number and email address if you plan to be at any portion of the retreat.

The Stones Speak Through Dr. Jacoby

2010-03-09T07:20:00.001-08:00

What an amazing morning it was, last Sunday (March 7) in Vancouver! Dr. Douglas Jacoby spoke to us on the subject of "Archaeology and the Bible: The Stones Tell the Story". And what a story it was. The disciples were encouraged as were many of our friends and family. We had our largest crowd of the year who came for an early start (9:30 a.m.) and didn't leave until nearly 1 p.m. But people left encouraged, strengthened in their faith and excited about the "evidence" that illustrates and confirms the reality of the scriptures. Some who thought that a service devoted to archaeology would be boring, left saying things like, "I could have stayed and listened for much longer. That was awesome." Thank you Douglas for the teaching. Thank you, Father, for leaving us "evidence" that confirms our faith

Dr. Douglas Jacoby in Vancouver

2010-02-24T09:57:00.000-08:00

We're very excited to announce that Dr. Douglas Jacoby will be speaking at the worship service of the Vancouver Church of Christ on Sunday March 7. Our service that day will begin at 9:30 a.m. complete with a full Kingdom Kids program. Douglas will speak during the service on "Archaeology and the New Testament". After a brief break, we will resume our time together at 11:30 and hear Douglas speak on "Archaeology and the Old Testament". During that session we will be providing supervised childcare. We meet at the Justice Institute of British Columbia in the main auditorium (715 McBride Boulevard, New Westminster, B.C.).

Dr. Jacoby is a well known teacher among the International Churches of Christ with well over 20 years experience. Via his numerous books and debates with Muslim, Jewish and atheistic scholars he is becoming increasingly better known outside our fellowship of churches. If you are unfamiliar with his work, check out his website (www.douglasjacoby.com).

If you are in the Vancouver area, or can be, on that weekend, please feel free to join us and find out how recent archaeological discoveries have impacted our understanding of Bible. I guarantee that you will be strengthened in your faith.

Vancouver Update

2010-02-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

It certainly is exciting right now in our city (and a little crazy, too) as hundreds of thousands from all around the world have come to celebrate the Olympic spirit. The opening ceremonies last night were incredibly inspiring for all Canadians, but it was particularly a night to be proud of being a Vancouverite.

At the same time, God is doing exciting things in our church. We are pleased to announce that Dr. Douglas Jacoby will be speaking at a very special service of the Vancouver church on March 7. His topic is "Archaeology and the Bible: The Stones Tell the Story." In two sessions, Dr. Jacoby will share about some of the most recent archaeological discoveries and how they impact our understanding of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. Please see our website (www.vancouverchurchofchrist.org) for the details and current updates.

Also, on May 28-30, David and Robin Weidner will be teaching at a Vancouver church Marriage Retreat. David is the founder of "Pure in Heart" ministry and Robin is the author of "Secure in Heart." Both are gaining an international reputation as they share vulnerably from their own lives and teach passionately from God's word. Again, for more information, please check out our website for current updates.

One of our main goals in 2010 is to "re-plant" the campus ministry. The target date is September 12, 2010, which is also the date of our 20th Anniversary service. We have the couple already who are committed and actively working towards moving to Vancouver this summer. We are in the midst of giving to a Special Ministry Contribution (SMC), much of which will go towards putting our newly appointed campus ministry on as full time staff. In addition, we are praying for Christians to step up and be part of this mission team that will be reaching out to more than 250,000 college and university students in our city!

At the heart of our prayers is this request: May God, by his power, fulfill every good purpose of ours and every act prompted by our faith (See 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

Wow! What a December!

2010-01-01T14:40:00.001-08:00

The disciples in Vancouver are rejoicing in the great victories God has blessed us with as we ended 2009. On November 22, we initiated 40 Days of Prayer, which involved at least 3 disciples praying every day for an hour each in regard to specific goals we have set for 2010. We already are seeing God's hand at work in our lives and our ministries!

On December 4, Jason Ross, the teen son of Fenton and Jenny Ross was baptized into Christ. We are confident he is the first of many teens to become Christians over this next year, as this has been one of the focuses of our 40 days of prayer. Many disciples participated in various ways in three major community outreach events this month: The Homeless Christmas Wish List, the MacDonald School Holiday Dinner and the B.C. Children's Hospital Christmas Eve Dinner. In each effort, we've received generous feedback from both the organizers and those served of how important these programs are and how appreciative all are for the efforts of the VCOC members and the generosity of their financial giving.

Being convicted, once again, of the power of God as he responds to our faithful prayers, I've decided to designate 2010 the year of Faithful Praying. I've asked all VCOC members to join me in 365 Days of Faithful Prayer, where at least one disciple will pray every day for at least one hour for the specific goals, initiatives and efforts we will be making throughout the year. Not only do we have the goal of raising $165,000 in order to put a campus minister on staff and restart our campus ministry in September 2010, but we are starting new initiatives to help strengthen the disciples and meet more needs both within the church and in the community.

In January of 2010 we are officially beginning (1) HOPEworldwide British Columbia, (2) the Freedom Ministry (a ministry focused on recovering and maintaining purity in our lives), (3) the Spiritual Care Team (to assist the elders and their wives in shepherding the church), and (4) a Spiritual Mentoring Program.

In September 2010, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Vancouver church of Christ and we pray that we will do so, in part, by helping more people become disciples in 2010 than in any year in recent memory. Please pray for us!

Amazing Weekend in Vancouver

2009-12-01T09:44:00.000-08:00

What an incredible time the VCOC family had this past weekend. David and Robin Weidner (from Chicago) led us in a Purity Workshop. On Friday night the marrieds gathered together to hear how we can have true intimacy with our spouses and thus have pure marriages completely free from the invasion of sexual sin. On Saturday morning the men (married, single and teen), and on Saturday afternoon the women (married, single and teen), met together to learn about how to break (or prevent) the cycle of sexual addiction in our lives and how to help each other live pure lives in an impure world through Daily Renewal Partners. On Sunday, David preached about the reason behind sexual sin - lack of true intimacy. He then taught us what it takes to experience true intimacy in all our relationships.

Well over 90% of the disciples were able to make it to the workshop and the response has been overwhelming. Many individuals are planning to set up Daily Renewal Partners and congregationally we are planning to start at least one (and perhaps more) Purity Renewal Groups. Our goal is to eradicate sexual sin from our midst so that we can live holy lives before our God and be a shining light in an impure world.

As an elder and evangelist, I would absolutely commend David and Robin Weidner to your congregation. You will not regret spending a weekend in an effort to restore purity in your church.

Purity Workshop in Vancouver

2009-11-13T08:29:00.001-08:00

On November 27, 28 & 29, the Vancouver church of Christ will be hosting a Purity Workshop, "Living Pure Lives in an Impure World". David and Robin Weidner from Chicago will be leading all sessions of the workshop.

Friday night (7:30-9:30 p.m.) is a session for married couples. Saturday morning (8-10:45 a.m.) David will lead a class appropriate for married, single and teen men. Saturday afternoon (12:15-3:00 p.m.) Robin with lead a class for married, single and teen women. Friday night and Saturday, the workshop will be held at the Shadbolt Centre in Burnaby. On Sunday morning during our worship service at the Justice Institute of B.C., David will be preaching a lesson entitled, "The Intimacy We All Want". That service will start at 9:30 a.m. (not our usual 10:30 a.m. start).

Please see our website (www.vancouverchurchofchrist.org) for all the details. There is no cost to attend, however, we do need to know if you plan on coming. Please email Brian Felushko (brian.felushko@gmail.com) with your name and the sessions you plan to attend.