Under Sail

Pastoral Transitions:

Rev. Rob McDowell, Pastor of Assimilation & Discipleship at Dartmouth – Hillside, candidated in Easton Wesleyan on May 23^rd.  He received a unanimous call to be their senior pastor and he has accepted.

Westchester Wesleyan (WWC) is one of our smaller congregations (lya 19).  WWC has had a supply pastor this past year.  Rev. Waldo Grandy is a retired minister who is part of their congregation and he has graciously assisted them as their pulpit supply.  His last Sunday with this responsibility was May 30^th, and he feels he can no longer continue.  His health has become a factor.  Thank you, Pastor Waldo, for your care and your ministry among these folks.

Rev. Raymond Fancy, Amherst Wesleyan (AWC), after discussions with the DS, met with the lay leadership of the WWC last Tuesday (5-25-10) to dialogue about pastoral care for WWC, and their weekend services going forward.  AWC is 40 minutes away and they are very open to assisting WWC in the up-coming year.  Good news resulted from this meeting.  Amherst Assistant Pastor, Linda Fillmore, will provide Sunday morning leadership and the message on the first and third Sundays of the month.  The Westchester congregation will take responsibility for the second Sunday of the month.  The AWC Praise Team and Senior Pastor, Raymond Fancy, will provide an evening service to be held on the last Sunday of the month.  The Amherst staff will provide pastoral care in times of crisis such as death/ funerals, and also hospital visitation in Amherst.  Pastor Ken Banks, Central Nova Wesleyan in Truro, NS, has agreed to provide pastoral care to the members of WWC in the event of hospitalization in Truro.  The churches involved plan to give this arrangement a six-month trial run, beginning June 6^th, to see if it is workable.  My heart-felt thanks to Pastors Raymond Fancy and Linda Fillmore, and the AWC and WWC congregations for their willingness to try this “experiment.”  It is a different approach which will allow us to keep a ministry presence in this rural community.

Good news!  All of our churches have pastors or a pulpit supply at present, and for this we are grateful.

Beulah Camp 2010: There is an increasing anticipation and excitement as we move toward another Beulah.  It will be a great time as old friendships are renewed and new ones are made.  There is one other important detail, however, that must not be overlooked. It will make the difference between a camp where we say, “Wasn’t that nice,” or, “God showed up!”  We need to “seed” this camp in advance with our prayers. Here’s the challenge over the next 30 days….could you give a minimum of 5 minutes every day for the next 30 days to pray for Beulah Camp 2010? Pray for the speakers, the musicians, those responsible for all the behind-the-scenes details. Pray for the people who will be attending the services. Pray that their hearts would be prepared, and they would be open to what God would say to them (don’t forget to include yourself!).  5 minutes x 30 days = 150 minutes.  150 minutes x 2,000 people = 300,000 minutes.  300,000 minutes is 5,000 hours of prayer!  God is not going to ignore 5,000 hours of prayer!  He is going to release His Holy Spirit to accomplish His Kingdom’s purposes!  Over 9,000 people meet in our churches every week for worship on the Atlantic District.  So, this amount of prayer is a very conservative and realistic goal.  Pastors, I challenge you to lead the way and set the example.

Special thanks to the folks who shared in the Beulah Work Day on May 29^th.  The Camp Caretaker and his wife, Bruce & Roxie Cheney, report that things went very well.  The weather was perfect, and 55 people were on hand to cheerfully do all the jobs the Cheneys had listed.  What a great help this was in getting the campgrounds ready for Camp Meeting, and for the groups who come during the summer season.   We appreciate the willingness of all these folks to show up and put their “shoulders to the wheel.”  This day represents over 400 hours of donated labour.  Thanks for the gift of your time and energy.

May 22^nd, Joanne and I worshipped in the Saturday night service at Presque Isle Wesleyan. There were 350 + people present for this first of two weekend services.  This was the farewell weekend and reception for Pastor Scott & Elizabeth Rhyno as they leave the PIWC staff.  Scott has already assumed his new responsibilities as Director of Admissions at Bethany Bible College.  We enjoyed our contact with the staff and people, and our time with Lead Pastor Bud & Irene Fancy afterwards.

Sunday morning (May 23) we were at Fort Fairfield Wesleyan.  There were 42 people present (lya 41).    Pastor Dee Lower is one of the most enthusiastic people and pastors that we have in the District.  She hugs everybody into church and then hugs them out.  Pastor Ed Lower is the assistant pastor and is a positive compliment in this ministry.  Pastor Dee is on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce in the town.  This involvement, along with other community endeavours, is helping Pastor Dee and the church gain favour in the town.  The Lowers are strongly committed to getting out beyond the walls of their church and reaching their community.

Last Sunday, we were with Pastor Glen & Eleanor McVicar in Lower Brighton.  There were 56 people who gathered to worship (lya 51).  This is a good crowd in their sanctuary.  The worship was spirited, I was privileged to bring the message, and the fellowship over a potluck dinner with the McVicars and the people afterwards was excellent.  The church has a large heart for children’s ministry, and also for global missions.  They take time to pray for those they support overseas, and they stay informed about what is happening in the lives and ministries of their missionaries.

Amazing Ladies Day: The Hartland Wesleyan Ladies Ministry sponsored a very inspirational day, May 15^th, with nearly 200 ladies present.  Stephanie Israelson and Band led the worship.  Missionary, author, and international speaker, Carrie McDonnell, shared her riveting testimony of survival from an insurgent attack in Iraq.  Her message of hope told of God’s miraculous power to deliver, heal, forgive, and extend grace.  People from both the church and the community were present, and it left a powerful impact for Christ on all who attended.  Mel Norton is the Senior Pastor.

Rev. Mark Gorveatte will assume his responsibilities as the eleventh president of Bethany Bible College on June 1^st.  Rev. Gorveatte is an alumnus of BBC.  He has been serving for the last ten years as the District Superintendent of the West Michigan District.  The Presidential Inauguration will take place September 24, 2010, 7:00 PM, at the Saunders Irving Chapel on Bethany’s campus.  General Superintendent, Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, will be delivering the Inaugural Address.  Save the Date for this historic event in the life of BBC.

This Friday, Pastor Rod Guptill (Wood’s Harbour Wesleyan) and I will travel with the General Director of Global Partners, Dr. H.C. Wilson, to Cuba. There is a group with whom The Wesleyan Church (TWC) has had intermittent contact over the last few years through former GP missionary Rod Guptill and Yuri Benitez, a Cuban American Wesleyan church planter from the Iowa/Minnesota District.  The Cuban group is led by Rev. Nehemias Cardenas.  It is made up of 18 churches, 19 preaching points, and 24 missions, with a total membership of 3000, or so.  They are now a part of the global family of The Wesleyan Church.  This weekend I will be privileged to be present, along with Dr. HC and Pastor Rod, when the Cuban Group is officially welcomed into TWC.  We thank the Lord for this new addition to TWC family.   Remember to pray for them in their ministry.  Look for a further up-date in the next Under Sail.  We will be sharing more about it at Beulah.

“God asks for the heart, and we must spell our answer in terms of deeds.”

– Abraham Joshua Heschel, In Search of Man

Pastoral Transitions Update:

Shelburne Wesleyan – Ben Medel candidated in Shelburne May 9^th.  The membership gave Ben an excellent vote and he has accepted.  Ben and his wife, Bayley, both graduated from Bethany Bible College May 1^st of this year.

Havelock, NB – Jacob Ebbett candidated in Havelock, NB May 16^th and the church voted unanimously to extend to him the invitation to be their pastor.  He has accepted and will take up his new responsibilities in mid-July.

Easton, ME – Rob McDowell will be candidating in Easton this Sunday, May 23^rd.

Pastor Dave Mason, Kings Valley Youth Pastor, shares the highlights of “Rally in the Valley” which was held May 7-8.   It was a great event:  They had over 430 students registered, fed 475 for meals and had over 500 in attendance.  Over 100 volunteers from Kings Valley spent an untold amount of hours to pull it off.  There was a 28-hour prayer vigil that encompassed the entire event (4PM Friday-8PM Saturday).  Over 300 were served in KV’s “Kings Square Park Outreach.”  Teens took hot dogs, hamburgers, balloon animals, face paint and live music to the streets of Saint John to show the people of the city the love of Jesus.  Pastor Brent “BD” Ingersoll & the Valley Boys led the worship music, and Andrew Maves brought the Word.  Pastor Dave says, “The floodgates of Heaven opened and grace poured out.”  A number of teens “got honest with God,” and the weekend became a benchmark spiritual experience for many.  Plans are already in the making for Rally in the Valley 2011 which will take place May 6-7, 2011.  You can get the latest info on RitV at the website: rallyinthevalley.ca

Tim Long, Pastor of Youth & Outreach at Dartmouth Hillside, reports on Hillside’s “Turn on the Lights” Youth Event held last weekend, May 14-15.  Joel & Nick Guptill from Hillside, and Josh Churchill & Joey Millington from Hammonds Plains Cornerstone made up the “Echo the Silence” Worship Band.  Matt Fitzgerald, Youth Pastor at the Hartland Wesleyan Church, was the special speaker.  Hillside is his home church.  150 teens were registered and there were 180 in attendance.  Dozens of teens made first-time commitments to Christ, and many re-dedicated their lives.  PTL for the victories, and thanks to all who made this weekend possible!

Beulah Work Day: We are getting ready for another camping season and there is opportunity for you to help.  A Work Day at Beulah will take place on May 29^th.  It will start at 8:00 a.m. (or whenever you can arrive!).  Dinner will be provided at 12 Noon.  Please notify the camp caretaker, Bruce Cheney, if you or a group from your church can participate.  He can be contacted at cheney@beulahcamp.com or (506) 432-2900.

We offer our sympathy and prayers to Margaret and David Jewett and the extended family on the passing of Margaret’s mother, Mrs. Hilda Cochrane.  Mrs. Cochrane was the widow of Rev. B.C. Cochrane.  She passed away May 7^th at the age of 96.  Her funeral service was held May 11^th from First Wesleyan in Fredericton.  Senior Pastor Karl Ingersoll officiated and DS David LeRoy brought the message.  The Committal Service and internment were at the Olivet Wesleyan Cemetery in Marysville, NB conducted by Dr. H.C. Wilson.

Congratulations Twice!  Pastor Jason and Barb Muir are thrilled to announce the birth of their twin baby girls, Madison Ruth & Amelia Estelle. They were born April 26, 2010 at 8:39 & 8:40 am, and were 6 lbs, 12 oz, 51 cm long and 6 lbs, 6 oz, 50 cm long.  Jason is Pastor of Worship & Arts at Moncton Wesleyan.  And…

Pastor Ken & April Banks are celebrating the birth of their third child, Brayden Ray Banks.  Brayden arrived Friday morning, May 14^th, at 9:07 am.  He was 20 inches long and weighed 7 lbs 14.5 oz.  Mother and baby are doing fine.  Ken is Senior Pastor at Central Nova Wesleyan in Truro, NS.

Joanne and I were at Charlottetown – Sunrise Wesleyan for Mother’s Day, May 9^th.  This church meets in the Charlottetown, PEI Mall.  They rent a space which is just inside the doors of one of the main entrances.  They are enjoying not having to set up and tear down chairs and equipment every week!  There were 40 people in attendance and that number pretty much maxes out the space.  Pastor Greg Hanson is already exploring other options as it relates to meeting places.  It was my privilege to dedicate Noah Michael Hanson during the service, the second son of Pastor Greg and Shera Hanson, and younger brother to Nate.  Grandparents are Doug & Lynette Hanson of Fredericton and Mike and Sajonna Kneebone of Hammonds Plains, NS.  We enjoyed a barbeque at the Hansons following the service, along with some of their extended family.

This past weekend Joanne and I were in the “Scallop Capital of the World,” Digby, NS. Pastor Andrew Maves is the Senior Pastor and Jason McCutcheon is the Associate Pastor of Digby Wesleyan.  There are two morning services.  The first service had 40-plus people in attendance and the second service 100-plus.  The atmosphere was warm and inviting, there was good energy in the service, and the people were friendly.  I enjoyed speaking with some folks who are newer to the congregation and catching their excitement about the church, its ministries, and its impact in the community.  Joanne and I had lunch at the Shoreline Restaurant with the Maves and McCutcheon families following the service…and yes, we had seafood!

The Beulah Wastewater Project is 99% completed.  Last Friday (5-14-10), Jochen Schroer and NATECH Environmental Services, Inc. provided an Open House for invited guests at Beulah, particularly for those who have been heavily involved in the construction phase of this project.  The Hon. Jack Keir, Minister of Energy for the PNB attended, and Dr. H.C. Wilson was also present.  Both of these men, along with Dr. Cal Seaman and the Hon. Greg Thompson, MP for NB Southwest, were instrumental in helping us get this project launched.  Jochen has been involved from Day 1 as the environmental engineer.  Construction has been carried out by Ken Prosser and Atlantic Precast Concrete Ltd.  Following the Open House, NATECH also provided a dinner at the Evandale Resort in celebration of the successful completion of the project.  The system will be totally operational very soon.

Beulah Camp is July 2–11, 2010.  Is it on your calendar?  Plan to be part of this great event.  There has been a camp meeting at Beulah Camp in Brown’s Flat, NB every year since 1894!  This year, District Conference will be held July 8^th, and the Ordination Service will be Friday morning, July 9^th.  We will be ordaining six people.                   

The Atlantic Chapter of the Wesleyan Missionary Alumni Fellowship will meet during Beulah Camp.  There will be a luncheon, hosted by River Valley Wesleyan Church in Grand Bay-Westfield, on the second Saturday of Camp, July 10^th, at Noon.  Global Partners and Go-Net alumni are invited to attend.  Please contact Joyce and Bill Moore if you plan to attend.  They can be contacted at 506-474-0362 or at moorewja@nb.sympatico.ca We appreciate River Valley Wesleyan offering this fine ministry to those who have served so faithfully.