New Life News
FUTURE MINISTRY PLAN UPDATE
New Life Ministry Plan Update
The Board of Elders has been meeting over the past few months to develop a future ministry plan for New Life. It has been a busy time for the Board, but we would also testify to the blessing of coming together to pray, discern, discuss, plan and become excited about where God will lead New Life through this process.
TIMELINE
June 2017
- The Board hired Dave Blundell, ED of Hungry for Life to facilitate the Ministry Planning process
- Board Retreat – Dave Blundell led the board through a process of reviewing our mission/vision statement, our core values and our strengths/weaknesses as a church. We also made plans for the congregation to participate through focus groups
September – October 2017
- The congregation was invited to participate in focus groups that were held over three evenings in order to gather input around our three vision statements: A Changed Life, A Diverse Community, A Radical Impact.
December 2017
- Dave presented the summary of the feedback from the focus groups to the Board of Elders
December 2017
- The focus group summary and next steps were presented to the congregation at New Life Live
January – March 2018
- The board and staff have met numerous times to develop a draft plan. There is a sense that the board and staff want to continue forward movement but not to fast and compromise prayer, discernment and wisdom.
- Nathan O’Hare, one of the facilitators of the focus groups who works with Dave Blundell has helped to facilitate our planning meetings and guide our process.
WHERE ARE WE TODAY?
We aren’t finished yet. We’ve made great progress, but also have come to realize this is a big undertaking and want to do it well.
WHAT’S AHEAD
We will have something to present at our June meeting. Our hope is that a draft of the plan will be complete, however if we find that our timeline is a challenge, we will continue to complete the finer details of the plan into the fall of 2018.
PLEASE PRAY
Together as a congregation, board and staff we have invested in this planning process and we ask that you continue to pray for the board and staff as we formalize the plan.
QUESTIONS?
We would be happy to hear from you. If you have further questions about the plan feel free to ask a Board member, or contact Pastor Mike (mvanderkwaak@newlifecrc.ca) or Pastor Nathan (nelgersma@newlifecrc.ca)
EASTER SEASON – PART 2
The Easter season is fast approaching. We are anticipating an awesome time as we prepare to celebrate our risen Saviour. There will be two services. The first one will be on March 30th, Good Friday, at 10:00 AM. This will be a shared, multicultural service with New Life, New Life Korean, and Zion Chinese CRC. Then, the second service will be on Easter Sunday which is on April 1st this year (no, that is not a joke)! However, here at New Life, Easter Sunday is also “Invite Sunday.”
During the weeks leading up to Easter, we are taking about the value that we as a community share for “nurturing relationships for gospel encounters.” God has put relationships in each of our lives with people who desperately need to hear the good news that this season brings. This week, we would like to take the opportunity to share a few practical tips for connecting with those unchurched people that God has put in our lives:
- Use the giftings that God has given you. If you have the gift of hospitality, take a plate of cookies over to a neighbor or invite someone over for coffee.
- Take the opportunity to do random acts of kindness for people and then let the Holy Spirit lead in the conversations that follow.
- Pray that God will give you opportunities to have conversations with people at work or in other places of connection. The Holy Spirit is very faithful to lead in these situations. Often times a unique question will be asked or a comment will be made that can lead conversations in spiritual directions.
- Look for Holy Spirit led moments wherever you go. Let the compassion you have for others spill out into your world. Look for people who need a touch of healing or who are in distress. Then offer to pray for them. Jesus is at His best when you are reaching out to those that He loves.
In all of these situations, there is one thing to keep in mind: be yourself. Don’t try to conjure up things, led Jesus lead you. You are the only person who can carry His heart for your world. Let His heart lead you as you release His love into the world in which you have influence.
EASTER SEASON
The Easter season is fast approaching. We are anticipating an awesome time as we prepare to celebrate our risen Saviour. There will be two services. The first one will be on March 30th, Good Friday, at 10:00 AM. This will be a shared, multicultural service with New Life, New Life Korean, and Zion Chinese CRC. Then, the second service will be on Easter Sunday which is on April 1st this year (no, that is not a joke)! However, here at New Life, Easter Sunday is also “Invite Sunday.” Over the next few weeks we will be taking about the value that we as a community share for “nurturing relationships for gospel encounters.” God has put relationships in each of our lives with people who desperately need to hear the good news that this season brings. This week, be in prayer over who the Holy Spirit might be prompting you to invite to church on Easter Sunday!
NEW LIFE PROFILE – STU AND ELSIE BAKKER
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Stu and Elsie Bakker. I was excited to find out more about these two, they have been a part of New Life from almost the beginning. Stu is also on the current Board of Elders. Since we have been in a series on stewardship, I had some questions to ask him about how our finances are handled here at the church. In the end, I came away with a huge appreciation for Stu and Elsie. They carry such a spirit of integrity and honesty. I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as I did interviewing them.
So give us a brief overview of your life. Where did you grow up? How did you meet?
Stu – Well, I was born in Holland, but we immigrated to Canada when I was only two years old. After that, our family settled in Rolleyview, Alberta until I was in grade eight. Then we moved to Edmonton. I graduated in 1967, Canada’s centennial year. After graduation, I worked a year for the provincial government in Edmonton then attended Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa where I met Elsie.
Elsie – I was born and raised in Lynden, WA. After I graduated from high school, I also went to Dordt. In fact, all four of our children attended Dordt College. I crammed a year of technical school office training into less than 3 months so I could emigrate to Canada, get engaged and then married to Stu.
Where has your path taken you since you have been married, what towns have you lived in, how many children do you have, where do they live.
Stu – We were married in 1971, and I was employed by CIBC. I worked in various branches in Edmonton, Mission, then up to Dawson Creek, Nelson, Salmo, downtown Vancouver, New Westminster, and Chilliwack. In 1986 we came to New Life Church. I was on the first council.
Elsie – We have four children. Shawn lives in Edmonton and they have 4 children. Seth is in Aldergrove and they have 5. Krisha lives in Nampa, Idaho and they have 4 children. Erin is in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and they have 2 children. That is 15 grandchildren in total!
What career paths have you both followed over the years?
Stu – Like I mentioned, I worked for CIBC and retired from them at age 53. Then, a couple of years later I took a job with Farm Credit Canada and until I retired again at age 60.
Elsie – I was mostly a stay-at-home mom. However, I worked several years as administrative assistant for the office manager at McCoy Brothers in Edmonton and also at a bank in Dawson Creek for one year. In 1990, I started working casual at New Life Church. I have been here on and off with New Life ever since.
What is the greatest joy in your personal lives?
Stu – That Jesus died for me, His gift of life, and the fact that He loves me.
Elsie –The fact that the Lord is my Savior. And without doubt our family: that our kids all profess to love Jesus, and are teaching the love of God to our grandkids.
What are your greatest struggles, things that make you sad when you see them?
Stu – I am sad when I see people who have no hope and don’t know the Lord.
Elsie – It makes me sad to see people who haven’t known the love of a family or the Lord.
Stu, you have had some health struggles in the past couple of years, tell us how you are coping and how you are currently feeling?
Stu – I am thankful every day. I have no anxiety. God has filled me with peace from day 1, even when I couldn’t move. I am not as mobile as I used to be, but I still am able to enjoy His grace every day.
You are on the New Life Board of Elders, tell us a few things that our BOE does to make sure New Life’s finances are stewarded well.
Stu – We have a lot of safeguards in place to maintain our financial integrity. First, not one person can make a financial decision. We have a finance committee, administered by our executive pastor and Noeline. Our finance committee meets regularly to review and maintain our budget. We then empower other committees such as our deacons to disburse funds raised benevolently, and our missions team to distribute our mission’s funds.
Tell us some of your personal Stu and Elsie rules when it comes to stewardship. How do you prioritize what you have been given? Are there things that are non-negotiable as far as finances?
Stu – All our married lives, we have always had joint accounts. Any big purchases are always discussed and always done in agreement. However, from the beginning, the non-negotiable really has been the tithe.
Elsie – There was one point in time when money was really tight. I suggested that we give only 5% rather than 10% but Stu insisted we keep tithing. He would take his pay stub, turn it over, and on the back, start deducting our expenses. The first deduction was ALWAYS the tithe. But, you know, God took care of us. He would give us amazing deals on things, like a wringer washer from an auction that lasted for years. One time, extra work came in for an extra $8.00 a month. In all the moving around we have done, God has always been faithful.
What are your hobbies?
Stu – Well, golfing was my main hobby, but I am not mobile enough to play right now. In a strange way, I don’t miss the sport but I do miss the camaraderie. Now, I do more reading, and I love to watch sports on TV.
Elsie – I love cross-stitching and gardening as well as reading.
Tell us about your relationship with God, what is it like? From your personal experience, if you could suggest one thing to another person when it comes to the pursuit of God, what would it be?
Stu – Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus. Today, we try to place our trust in so many other things, but Elsie and I have trusted God every day with our lives. There is a prayer that we prayed every day when we lived in Nelson:
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant us to live in such harmony with one another that together we may with one voce glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are no longer our own, but Yours. Put us to what you will. Rank us with who You will. Put us to doing, put us to suffering. Let us be employed for You or laid aside for You; exalted for You or brought low for You. Let us be full, let us be empty. Let us have all things, let us have nothing. We freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. Fill us with Your Spirit, Amen.
Elsie – I actually think that God has been pursuing us. He jumps in front of us and surprises us. I also suggest bringing God into our lives by giving constant thanks to Him throughout the day, for anything and everything, little and big.
ADVENT SERVICE TIMES
Hello everyone. Listed above are all of our New Life advent services and times. Please note that December 24th (Christmas Eve day) and December 31st (New Years Eve day) are both Sundays this year. For this reason, the services on these days are at 10:00 AM. December 24th will feature a presentation called “What Child is This?” along with our regular candle light tradition. It is also “Invite Sunday” so please consider bringing someone to church on that day. Have a wonder and joy-filled season!!
MISSIONS CHRISTMAS GIFT CATALOGUE
Hello everyone. Some of you have been asking for an on-line version of our Christmas Gift Catalogue. Here it is in two separate files. The first file is the catalogue. The second file is the order form which you will have to print out, fill out, and then bring to the church. During office hours you can bring it in to our front office. On Sunday, bring the filled in form to the information booth in the lobby. Thank you for supporting New Life Missions.
Christmas Gift Catalogue Order formMISSION’S UPDATE VIDEOS
Hello everyone. In this week’s blog we have a series of current videos from two of our New Life missionaries.
The first one is from Michelle and Eric Van Egmond. They are currently serving with YWAM in Thailand working with a ministry called Freedom 418. They work with young girls rescued from the sex trade, helping them learn to be children again.
The second video is from Fernando Trivino, director of Youth for Christ Columbia. Fernando considers New Life his home church. He and his family open their home and hearts to thousands of youth in Bogota each year.
Please be in prayer for our missionaries and our missions partners this week. Also, remember that our offering this coming Sunday is for our New Life missionaries. As well, we have a special guest from our missions team hosting this week’s service and a special live guest appearance by one of our New Life missionaries. You don’t want to miss this one!
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NEW LIFE PROFILES – JANET HITCHCOCK
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Janet Hitchcock, one of our New Life Missions team members. Since November is “Missions Month” here, I was interested to meet someone from the team that guides our missions process. I found Janet to be an extremely interesting person. What you will read in this blog is only part of our conversation – this lady carries so many amazing stories that it would take pages to write everything we discussed. She is also full of much wisdom and insight. In the end, I came away with a new appreciation for the diversity that God has brought to our community.
So give us a brief overview of your life.
I grew up in North London, England in a Christian home. When I was a young girl, we went to church a lot, sometimes three or four times on a Sunday. We attended a very missions minded Baptist church and so at an early age, I gained a perspective of missions and the world. My high school was located right in the middle of London, close to Westminster Abby. During my teen years, I developed a love for the outdoors and did a lot of hiking and backpacking with my family and friends. When I got a little older, my friends and I would do “hosteling” – hiking and travelling from one youth hostel to the other. Once I finished high school, I attended Royal Holloway College at Windsor which was part of London University. There I studied math and eventually became a teacher. I then taught math in London for a period of time.
How did you happen to come to Canada from England?
I recall studying “Canada” in high school and from that time on, the idea of Canada always held kind of a romantic notion for me. Years later, when a couple that I was friends with came to Canada, I decided to come and visit them. That was in 1975. They moved here to pastor a church on the Sumas Prairie. At it turned out, at the same time Abbotsford Christian School happened to be looking for a math teacher. They had been posting the job for quite a while with no applications so I applied, got the job, miraculously met all the immigration requirements, and stayed in Canada. I was the only non Dutch person working at the school back then.
How did you come to New Life – was it right after you moved?
When I first came to Canada, I attended Prairie Chapel where my friends were pastoring. Then, in 2006 I changed churches and found a church home at New Life.
Help us understand the heart behind what motivates you?
I am motivated by Jesus’ love as shown for me on the cross. Knowing that Christ has died for me makes me want to serve Him in whatever way I can.
What is the greatest joy in your personal life?
My relationship with Jesus is my greatest joy in life. It kind of overshadows every other part of life. Apart from that, joy is found is in other people, my friends, and my family.
What are your greatest struggles, the things that make you sad when you see them?
I am saddened when I see people who are isolated, lonely, and struggling with things such as mental health issues. As you might know, one of my passions is volunteering for Telecare. I do their books and some random office work, but the thing I love most is to be on their lines, listening and letting callers know that they are not alone.
Tell us about your relationship with God. What is it like?
I come to Him daily, every morning, and ask Him for help and strength. I also pray consistently for the needs of others.
From your personal experience, if you could suggest one thing to another person when it comes to the pursuit of God, what would it be?
Realize that at any time you can bring anything and everything to God. He will never reject you, only accept you.
Tell us about your connection to Esperanza.
I started going to Esperanza 8 or 9 years ago with New Life. Since that time, I don’t think I have missed a year. Most of the time, I take care of the cooking for the group but I have also spent more extended periods of time there. One time, I was there for 6 weeks working and teaching the First Nations children. I have also been there to cook for 2 family camps and have gotten to know certain members of the staff quite well. I am good friends with Tim and Cindy and their children – they run the programs there. I also have special connections with some of the First Nations people there like, for instance, the lady who runs the fuel docks. Once the First nations people accept you, they really take you into their hearts and you become a part of their family.
You are on our New Life Missions committee. Tell us about your heart for missions.
I have been part of the Missions committee for 4 years now. Because I grew up in a missions minded church, I have always had an awareness of missions. I love the triple pronged vision of New Life Missions – local, regional, and global. All three of these areas are important in order for a church to be well balanced. I also love the idea that our New Life missionaries are home grown. At one point in time, they all came from our own congregation.
How many missions trips have you taken?
I have been on many missions trips including trips to Mexico, Hungary, and Esperanza.
What is one stand-out memory from your time spent in missions work?
One time when I was in Mexicali we had a terrible wind storm that blew down part of our camp. The following day we had a worship service that included us taking communion with our church group teens. We were standing in the middle of a dirt field. The communion juice was in a styrofoam cup and someone set it on the end of a broken 2×4 board. Then, someone mistakenly kicked the board and the juice spilled, running all the way down that old board and dripping onto the black dirt. I had been part of communion services all my life but this time it wasn’t clinical. The death of Christ was somehow so much more real. There we were face to face with the crimson stained wood, the dirt, the heat, and the dark drops of what looked like blood on the ground. It was a profound moment of realization and thankfulness for the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
If there were one thing you could say to New Life church if regards to missions – what would it be?
Being a part of what God is doing in our community, country, and world is very exciting. Although individually we are only a very small part, never underestimate the rewards of being obedient to what God might be asking you to do. I, personally, never want to miss out on the opportunity to be involved and the blessing that it brings!
MISSIONS MINISTRY
Hello everyone, since November is “Missions Month” here at New Life, I thought we would start things off with an overview of our missions history. The subject of missions is important to our church and right from the beginning, New Life has had the goal of being a gathering church locally, and a sending church globally.
For the first years of New Life, there was no official missions committee, only passionate people from our congregation who loved to reach out to their community and the world. When individuals or couples from the church would launch out into ministry, our church would support them. One such family was the Barnhoorns. They became our first missionaries when they joined up with Wycliffe. There were special offerings given for many causes during those early years and relationships were developed with two key ministries – Joshua House and Esperanza. Even today, these ministries continue to rely on New Life for leadership and support.
By 2005, New Life was a well-established church in the community and a formal missions committee became necessary to manage the ever-growing list of missional relationships. Along with the formation of this team came the need for more organization and so a list of objectives (detailed at the end of this blog), and a comprehensive missions policy was written. A second need was for funding – a challenge that was addressed in a unique way.
Around the same time, New Life had launched a capital building fund campaign. The church was busting at the seams and meetings were being held in portables, so expansion was a necessity. However, the leadership of that era felt that it was somewhat selfish to raise money for our own “house” but leave those in need without anything. For this reason, it was decided that 10% of all funding brought in by the capital campaign would go to missions support. Over the next few years of fundraising, this total came to $320,000 and so for a period of several years, New Life missions was supported by our capital fund.
In 2007, the committee decided that they would support three missions partnerships – one local, one regional, and one global. We already had a local partner in Joshua House and our regional partner became formalized as Esperanza, but there was no global partner. In order to solve this dilemma, New Life consulted with CRC world missions, who directed us to World Renew. World Renew then suggested that we partner with Laure Honduras and so a new global partnership was established.
With three mission’s partners in place, New Life began sending out teams of people each year to work alongside their partners – supporting, learning, building, and discipling. In return, those who participated in the teams would be changed, discipled, and touched by the needs of our world.
One thing I would like to briefly clarify is the difference between a “missions partner” and a “missionary.” In simple terms, a partner is an organization, where as a missionary is an individual or a couple.
As the capital campaign began to wind down, a new funding model was needed to keep our missions department in a positive balance. It was decided that a dedicated missions fund would be established and maintained by regular giving. For this reason, offerings given on the last Sunday of each month now go to our New Life missionaries. There are also special offerings given during the year for our missions partners. As well, campaigns like the Honduras coffee sales and the Christmas gift catalogue help supplement and maintain a positive balance.
Over the years, missions at New Life has become a highly valued and well-loved part of our church community. Our partnerships have expanded to include the following ministries:
- Joshua House (Mens Recovery Homes)
- Esperanza (First Nations Ministry)
- Youth For Christ Colombia (at risk children and youth)
- Vida Nueva Laure, Honduras (CRC church plant)
- Hope for Korah Ethiopia (social justice for the impoverished)
Our New Life Missionaries have also expanded and currently, we support the following missionaries:
- The Barnhoorn Family in Jos, Nigeria (Wycliffe Bible Translation)
- Eve Pohl in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Hope for Korah)
- The Trivino family in Bogota, Colombia (Youth For Christ)
- Fred F (Currently serving in the Middle East)
- Tyler Strating in Lynden, Washington (YWAM)
- Adam and Michelle VanEgmond in Chiang Mai (Freedom 418- sex trade ministry)
- Fred Sutherland and family in Abbotsford ( MB Mission- discipleship and reaching the unreached people of the world).
We also send teams out each year, and support individuals from our church going on short-term missions such as YWAM. Two years ago, we were involved in an effort to bring a refugee family to Canada, an endeavour that resulted in a special God-relationship that has without doubt, touched the heart of every person at New Life.
Our yearly missions budget has grown to more than $36,000 per annum and each month we endeavour to raise $2900 to support our missionaries.
Our missions team is engaged in the process of reaching out beyond the walls of our church and at this point in time is made up of the following individuals: Yvonne Onderwater, Janet Hitchcok, John Fictorie, Eric Hoogenraad, Kevin DeWolde, and Justin Dudney.
Their objectives are to:
- Celebrate the Goodness of God – Through God‘s great Providence that members commissioned for mission work are given financial support that match up with their desire to touch lives with the transforming love of Jesus Christ.
- Connect with the Family of God – Be in partnership with other agencies in the development of local, regional and global Mission Program with God’s given resources for the development of His Kingdom.
- Grow in the Likeness of God – Pray for God‘s guiding Hand in sending long-term and short-term missionaries to the Harvest field.
- Serve with the Kindness of God – Create opportunities for all church members to participate in missions according to the Gifts that God has given them, particularly to those in need.
- Share the Story of God – That the Love and Grace of our Father may be evident to all we contact through missions, whether by word or by deed.
We are blessed to be part of an amazing missions minded church. Together, our vision is to be a catalyst for a “radical impact” in our community, and in our world.
WOMEN’S RETREAT NEWS
This past weekend, a group of women from our church headed out of town for a few days to our New Life women’s retreat. The retreat was a combination of two events – an overnight stay at Camp Alexander and also a Canada wide day conference called “Gather Rise” which was held in Surrey. Many amazing things happened. There were breakthroughs and healings (both emotional and physical). There were also words of destiny given and life long connections forged. Here are two brief testimonies from the time spent together:
– The women’s retreat and conference was beyond my expectations. The speakers were incredible but it was almost too much to take in. I think I was most blessed by living in community with 10 other ladies for two days, worshipping together, laughing, playing games, sharing, encouraging, crying, growing, learning, and seeking more of God together. Many of the ladies I only knew by name and brief encounters prior to the weekend. Others were close friends, but it didn’t matter. We were a community of women drawing closer to God and each other. Thank you God for women to do life with!
– What an overwhelmingly incredible day! This conference went way above and beyond what I was expecting. The speakers spoke straight to my heart, and there were so many major takeaways. All I have to say is WOW! God really showed up in major ways. When over 700 world changer women are gathered all in one room – it’s hard to even find words. My heart is so full and my soul is on fire. Back at the retreat center we spent time as a small group and the Lord did amazing things in our hearts. Love, grace and healing was found.
We are grateful for the work God did in the hearts of the ladies who attended the retreat. We pray that the seeds of faith that were planted will grow, and that the friendships that were made will strengthen and flourish.
Thank you Jesus. You are always faithful!