The Banner
Seeking to minister in new ways in challenging days!
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:14
One hour of prayer for Canada
On this 154th birthday of our nation I commend to you this powerful resource from our brothers and sisters at the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. The best gift we can give our nation it and ourselves to God’s purposes and ways.
Thank you for praying,
Pastor Greg
Reflect on God’s goodness (10 minutes):
Reflect on God’s goodness. Spend ten minutes thanking God for the wonderful country of Canada. Thank Him for: Freedom, Provision, Prosperity, Safety, Beauty of the landscape
1 Chronicles 16:34 says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
Pray for our government (10 minutes):
Pray for our government: Federal, Provincial, Municipal, Judges.
Gather names of your municipal leaders and call out to God for them. Pray for wisdom, understanding. Ask God to help our Canadian leaders lead with integrity, caring for the needs and people in our nation.
1 Timothy 2:1-3 says, "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour."
Pray for the people of Canada (20 minutes):
Pray for the unreached for the gospel parts of our nation.
Pray for the children and youth growing up in Canada.
Pray for post-secondary students and those leading our colleges and universities.
Pray for our urban centres across our nation.
Pray for Indigenous Peoples of Canada in our cities, rural areas and on reserves.
Pray for those who are newcomers to Canada, and for the various cultural groups across our nation.
Pray for Quebec and Francophone Canada – the largest mission field in our nation.
Pray for mission workers placed in the unreached parts of our nation. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into the gaps in our nation where we must be salt and light.
Matthew 28:16-20 reminds us, "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"
Pray for the Holy Spirit to ignite our churches (10 minutes):
Pray for the fire of the Holy Spirit to ignite our churches and every believer across Canada.
Romans 15:13 is our prayer for you… "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Pray for the community you live in (10 minutes):
Pray for the community you live in. Ask the Father to burden your heart for its neighbourhoods, the businesses, schools, community events and all that goes on in your immediate mission field … your Jerusalem. Call out in prayer the names of your neighbours, asking God to help you be a godly influence and to give you divine appointments to share life and faith with those around you.
Full-time pastor for the Chinese congregation
July 1 is not simply a momentous day because we celebrated Canada’s 157th birthday, but it marked the first day of ministry for our Chinese congregation’s new FULL TIME PASTOR, called by the Chinese congregation with the support of the BSBC Board of Deacons! After years of praying and waiting on God’s timing, Pastor Changbin Tian has assumed this important role, a huge step forward for ministry to the Chinese in the greater Fredericton area. Let me introduce you to this dear brother in Christ who has just finished Master’s level study at Tyndall Seminary in Toronto.
Pastor Changbin Tian is 43 years of age, is married to Jian Zhang and they have three wonderful children: Elaine, age 16; Leon, age 12 and Ryan, age 9. Ryan was born in Fredericton when the Tian family were living here.
Pastor Changbin was born in a small village in northern China and when he was 16 years old he went to college in Qingdao City. His primary training was in international trade accounting and he began his first job as an accountant when he was 19. After 3 years, he left that company and embarked on a successful independent career in international trade. He tells us, it was at this time that a friend asked him to go to church. He remembers being interested in the sermon on that first visit, thinking the pastor‘s passage spoke directly to him. He writes: I continued to go to church, yet, this was not my first time hearing of God because when I was a child in my hometown I helped my grandmother to write bible verses and hymns in her notebook. She became a Christian when a missionary preached the gospel in our village.
His friend gave him a Bible which he read and the brothers and sisters at his church, sensing faith in him, invited him to be baptized but he refused, thinking he was not good enough to be a Christian. That was, until the spring of 2006, when he knew it was the invitation to accept God’s grace that made him worthy and, on the invitation of his pastor, he felt it was God’s will for him. He was baptized on July 8, 2006 and his new wife, a Buddhist, began attending church with him following their marriage and was baptized in Christ on July 7, 2007.
His success in business led him to devote most of his time to his work, taking time away from his family, that is, until the financial crisis of 2008 when his business went down and led him to consider immigrating somewhere. He found out that New Brunswick welcomed immigrants and God blessed the process with everything being complete in a year and half! They were not excited about living in Canada but with a third child on the way God revealed his will. After 3 days of fasting and prayer, Chanbin requested a rush on the Visa so their third child could be born here. Miraculously, the Embassy released the Visa in 3 days!
The family flew to Fredericton on September 24, 2010. He writes: God changed our life through our third child. We know God existed in our lives as He helped us through this situation. In Fredericton we joined the Chinese Fellowship at Brunswick Street Baptist Church. We started to study the Bible and to attend worship every Sunday. Our faith grew stronger through the Chinese Fellowship. The brothers and sisters helped me a lot when Ryan was born, they cooked meals for us, and we felt God’s love through them.
Meanwhile, my lifestyle changed in Canada. I was so busy in China that I didn’t have much time to care for my family. But in Fredericton, I spent lots of time playing with my children. It made me feel happier than working in business. It made me realize that I missed so many happy times. This made me realize my family is more important than my job. Money can make me happy, but it can’t give me joy. I know it is God’s will to move to Canada and live here.
In 2012, the family returned to China for a month to see their parents. During that time, they went to a family church where they studied the Bible and prayed each day. Through this family church, Changbin attended a weeklong retreat hosted in Korea. His testimony is that his heart was touched again in that retreat, that God spoke to him and told him they should return to Canada and so, in the summer of 2013 they came back to Fredericton. They enjoyed spending summer in Fredericton and he remembers that one evening, when he watched one Chinese Pastor’s Sermon on his computer, God spoke to him again, this time telling him to go to Seminary. I was very excited when I heard this, I shared this with my wife and we prayed together that the Lord’s will would be fulfilled.
In exploring seminary entrance he was told he would need to improve his English language skills and he was sure this was impossible. Yet, he studied hard when they, once again, returned to China. He engaged in English lessons but it was hard to achieve the level needed. Then my faith was shaken and at the same time I was still doing my business. In my mind, I thought I could worship God through my business to offer more money to God. I was trying to find a good opportunity to expand my business but everything failed. My wife and I also struggled to decide to live in China or Canada. We prayed, but there were no responses from God. Being a Seminary student was like a dream moving further away from me.
In the summer of 2015, they came back to Fredericton. The Chinese Fellowship had grown to become the Chinese Congregation. Pastor Kim, a visiting pastor leading the congregation, invited him to stay and not to return to China. But they were conflicted. Yet, attending the Friday evening fellowship study group, God spoke again, affirming for both Changbin and Jian that it was His will for them to stay. Even though their flight couldn’t be refunded they were filled with joy to continue their life in Fredericton. Subsequently they became members of BSBC and Changbin’s leadership gifts were affirmed as he was appointed to the Chinese Ministry Committee, the leadership team for the Chinese congregation.
Soon, he understood that God had spoken to him again, to let him know what and earlier message, “you should come back,” meant. It had nothing to do with China or Canada, it meant we should come back to full time service for Him but it was still a struggle to give up my business. So I prayed to God to help me want this change in heart. If I couldn’t make up my mind, it would be difficult for me to study in Seminary. God listened to my prayer and when I preached my first Sermon to the Chinese Congregation, I knew it was not my ability but that every word came from the Holy Spirit. I also realized going to Seminary would be the most worthy thing I could do with the rest of my life, to serve God.
English still being a challenge, he was not able to study at Acadia Divinity College, but, the Bible says: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”. (Isaiah 55:9). In the summer of 2016, Pastor Jimmy from the Alliance Church came to minister to the Chinese Congregation. He shared his story of preparation for ministry, at first thinking he needed to study in English but coming to understand that as his work would be focused on the Chinese, he should study in Chinese. It was then that Changbin knew for certain he had his answer. Pastor Jimmy had studied at Tyndall Seminary in the Chinese program. I was very happy to know where I should study and that the study of theology would be in Chinese. I thank God that He helped me once again. I contacted the Chinese Canadian School of Theology in Tyndale through Pastor Jimmy.
In the spring of 2017, the Tian’s sold their house and moved to Toronto in the summer. The Tian’s testify that they now knew that their future was secure by holding on to God’s hand. All we need to do is to follow his will and it was then that I fully I surrendered my life to Him. I know his way is perfect for me and my family. My prayer, then, was, “God, you tell me where I can serve you. Then I will go”.
In his second year, Changbin prayed with confidence that God would show him where to serve. He shares that God put New Brunswick on his heart because there wasn’t a full time pastor in any of the three Chinese congregations in the province. In the summer of 2019, Changbin was invited to speak at a Chinese Ministry Revival Conference at Mount Allison University. It was here that Dahu Chen, Chairman of the BSBC Chinese Ministry Committee approached Changbin about the possibility of serving here. Again, prayerfully seeking God’s leading, both Changbin and Jian received a beautiful internal affirmation that this was the place God had prepared for them and now, since July 1, 2020, Pastor Changbin is the first fulltime pastor of our Chinese Congregation.
Prior to Seminary, I had the privilege of connecting with Changbin through his leadership on the Chinese Ministry Committee. I was deeply touched by his pastor’s heart and desire for the Kingdom to grow through the witness and sharing of the brothers and sisters in the Chinese ministry and in our city. I so look forward to sharing in ministry with Pastor Changbin and I invite the English congregation to join our Chinese brothers and sisters in praying for Changbin and his family as they root themselves here and settle in to our corporate witness of Christ.
WELCOME, Pastor Changbin, Jian, Elaine, Leon and Ryan, we thank God for you!
Pastor Greg
Vacation Bible School: Register Here
Under the unique circumstances of summer, 2020, children K-Grade 5 can have a “unique” VBS experience ONLINE starting Wednesday, July 8! Each week of July and August, our children can tune in on Wednesdays for a new edition of the ROCKY RAILWAY: Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through, VBS. Children and parents can engage with our VBS at their convenience and enjoy singing, Bible lessons, great skits, crafts and more! Each session will be about 30 minutes in length.
Unique to this year’s VBS…children who register will receive home deliveries of craft supplies and support materials. Yes, delivered right to your door…a wonderful way to build excitement as your children await the two deliveries – one each month. Deliveries will be limited to the Greater Fredericton area but if you live outside the city, you can pick up your child’s materials at the church office.
To help us prepare and so we can be sure to include your child in our delivery schedule, please fill out the registration form below. We’ll keep in touch with you as we prepare for the roll out of ROCKY RAILWAY so you and your family can get the most out of this opportunity to learn how Jesus’ power pulls us through!
Register for VBS 2020
Worship This Week: Sunday, July 5
This coming Sunday, Pastor Steve will be in the pulpit leading us in a sermon entitled O, the Connections: Jesus in the Old Testament with a focus on Colossians 1: 15-20.
We’re grateful to Greg and Rebecca Keezer for leading our contemporary worship which will also feature a solo offering from Sarah Hoyt. Traditional worship will be led by Laura McGuire and Gloria Tranquilla with a duet offering from Peter and Maureen Steeves. Leading us in prayer this week will be Ken and Carol Reimer. The Children’s Time, for the month of July, will feature our Partners in Mission, the Millette family.
Thank you for praying for those who are preparing to lead us and for Pastor Steve as he prepares the morning message.
Wedding Bells
This week we celebrate with Reuben Myles and Leah Morrison as they are married on Friday, July 3. Please pray for this missionary couple as they join their lives in love and service which may formally begin in the fall of 2020 in the Philippines. We rejoice that the rules for entrance into NB changed just in time for Leah’s parents to be able to travel from Ontario and self-isolate for 14 days so that they can attend the wedding.
Sympathy
We extend our loving sympathy to Carolyn Gillis and family who, last week on June 22, suffered the tragic loss of her 44 year old nephew, Darcy Gillis Matchett, to drowning. Not a strong swimmer, he was swimming out in the Miramichi River after his boat which had become untied from the dock. The funeral was held on Friday, June 26. Besides his parents: Gary and Barb, he is survived by one brother: Ryan Matchett of Red Bank; one sister: Gillian Row (Darren) of Miramichi, NB; and one nephew: Hunter Row as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.
At this time we are also remembering Barb and Cliff Marks on the passing of their son, Bill, on Saturday, June 27 in Toronto. That morning, Barb and Cliff and Bill’s brother, Bryan and his wife, Moira were able to take a morning flight from Fredericton to Toronto to have visits with Bill, his wife, Sandy and their children, Matthew and Julia. Bill turned 54 this past Father’s Day.
We pray that both families will find comfort in knowing that we are holding them in our hearts and remembering them in our prayers in their grief.
Love Offering
As is our tradition, we are accepting a LOVE OFFERING for Jon Wilton who completed his ministry with us on Tuesday, June 30. Members of the church family who wish to give Jon a tangible thanks are invited to mark their gift “LOVE OFFERING” when sending in your offering. We’ll collect this offering until Sunday, July 19 to make sure everyone has an opportunity to contribute. The gift will be presented to him at the end of July.
Due to Canada Revenue Rules we are not able to provide a receipt for love offering gifts.
UPDATE ON THE RITCHIES
Our dear sister and brother, Betty and Charlie Ritchie have emerged from isolation and are now being hosted by Ken and Carol Reimer. We were excited to hear that Betty had a confirmed appointment with the Neurologist on the day they were released but this appointment ended up being cancelled. I asked Betty to help us understand how we can stand with them in prayer during these days. Here are her requests:
1. Please ask them to pray that we get an appointment THIS week with a neurologist that can get tests and help started, and can continue with us. The one we were booked with before is going on holidays after July 8. She is new and has been out on a family emergency.
2. Our family Dr. could also arrange Stan Cassidy & Extramural help. Pray we could get a hold of her to do that. She's been swamped and also cancelled on us last week too. She's up at the hospital all the time. We will call both again on Monday (June 29) am.
3. Carol Reimer called Extramural for us last week. They can arrange a physiotherapist to come do an assessment. Pray they would send someone this coming week.
4. Carol and I spoke on Zoom with 5 couples in Vietnam this am (June 28) about "The wife's Submission". Charlie translated. Pray that the wives would learn to submit to God by submitting to their husbands in everything.
5. Charlie & I will meet with each couple individually this coming week on Zoom. Pray for open and teachable hearts and changed lives.
6. Pray that everyone in our Zoom Wednesday group would come to our meeting this week.
7. Pray for Charlie to have wisdom about getting us an apartment as our house here has so many steps and steps are really difficult for me.
Thanks you so much for praying for us!
My latest prayer & promise:
For the glory of your name, O Lord preserve my life.
Because of your faithfulness bring me out of this distress.
Psalm 143:11
Millette Update
This week, Chuck, Sarah, Victoria, Lucie and Joseph will complete their isolation following their return to Fredericton from Quebec. You’ll be able to see them each Sunday in July as they will be providing the Children’s Time for each service. Chuck writes:
Yes we are isolating well, enjoying family time and a simple life. We are really looking forward to leaving the premises though, go berry picking and all. Thanks for reaching out to us and suggesting we share a brief news update!
Here it is: We are thankful to have arrived well and to be so well taken care of! Pray that we would be faithfully doing what God calls us to day by day and trust Him as we wait and see what doors will open and close. See you soon.
Have you heard the buzz about our BODcast?!
Dr. Keith’s “Bodcast” went live on Tuesday, June 16! We hope you enjoyed listening to his reflections on your questions about the Sunday sermon. These will be a weekly feature being posted on Tuesday afternoons. So, be sure to tune in and enrich Sunday’s sermons with these post-sermon reflections.
We need your questions
Email receptionist@bsbc.nb.ca by 4:30 p.m. on Monday to submit a question for next week’s Bodcast. These will be sent to Dr. Bodner and he’ll respond to them the next day. Thank you for engaging in this new online ministry — feel free to share it with your family and friends!
Reaching out to our African partners
As we've been following the lives of our Partners in Mission we recognize that the Millettes are in Rumoskie, Québec and we look forward to fellowship with them, here in Fredericton, in the days ahead. In addition, Charlie and Betty Ritchie have returned to Fredericton (June 8) for investigative medical testing for Betty for which we seek your daily prayer. And, Rebekah Sears is currently self-isolating, here in Fredericton for a bit of an extended stay on break from her work with the Mennonite Central Committee in Ottawa. We covet your prayers for these members of God's team of ambassadors in these days.
On the African front we have Tim and Diane Bannister serving in Tanzania and André Sibomana serving in Rwanda with responsibility for Canadian connections with our African partner churches. As we have been in correspondence with these partners God has put two things on our hearts. The first is to seek aid for Tim and Diane who are providing financial support for another local family ($250 US/month) to keep them from starvation. This is not sustainable for the Bannisters and we would like to mobilize the BSBC family to help. In the case of André, he is connected to 290 families in Rwanda and South Sudan who are on the brink of disaster due to the lack of funds currently flowing into church coffers at this time. Since congregations are not gathering, these church leaders are without regular support. André estimates it would take $50 Canadian dollars to support one family for a month. Can we be part of God's provision for these brothers and sisters?
The African Action Campaign
Through the months of June and July we are inviting our church family to make a special financial gift to the "African Action Campaign" in support of our African partners. We may not be able to meet all the ongoing needs but surely we can help in some way. Every "widow's mite" will help alleviate some aspect of their challenge. Every three weeks we will divide what has been given between the Bannisters and André and have it deposited in their ministry accounts. Remember, $250 US can support the Bannister's adopted family for a month. Every $50 given to André will support a ministry family for a month. Can we count on you to partner with us? Simply mark your special gift African Action Campaign and we'll keep you posted on the response. Surely this is a time when our partners can use practical assistance in addition to powerful prayers on their behalf.
Green Hill Lake Camp
Great news from our camp – they are gearing up for an unusual summer of ministry but remaining faithful to their call to make Jesus known to the children and youth who will come. AND, we have the blessing of five of our youth serving on this year’s summer staff.
So that you can pray for them and possibility support them let us introduce you to these four stellar young people and provide you with the information you need to support them in their ministry.
New Missionary Couple: Reuben Myles and Leah Morrison - Soon to be Mr. & Mrs. Myles
Hey there, Brunswick St. Baptist family,
As you may already know, my fiancé Leah and I will be heading to the Philippines this summer (after our wedding) to serve as High School and Middle School Chaplain (Reuben) and Ministry Coordinator (Leah).
Our goal/vision is to equip and empower the next generation of Christ-followers in God’s commandment of the great commission over all our lives. Regardless of what their calling is, we want to be a liaison that helps them discern their future and hear the voice of God clearly. We intend on doing so through intentional spiritual formation of middle school and high school students in direct connection with our unique cultural spread.
By providing opportunities for spiritual gifts and passions to arise through mentorship, preaching, hands on ministry, and forming deep community relationships.
We’re inviting you to give your time toward expanding the kingdom of God in South-East Asia: you don’t even have to get off the couch! Prayer is at the core of our ministry and our faith. We strongly believe God will provide everything we need through faithfulness in prayer. We also believe that partnership is an opportunity to enable individual gifts God has given people, and that it is an active part of ministry. We want to see you grow alongside us!
For us to abide in God’s calling on our lives and His vision for the next generation at Faith Academy, we need to know we are strongly supported. Would you commit to praying for us either once a week or once a month? If not, would you be willing to connect us with someone who has a similar vision for the nations as we do? Please prayerfully consider partnering with us before committing to do so. If God has laid a donation or a pledge on your heart, the decision to pray for us, or someone else who can help us in this journey, please reply to this message!
HOW TO GIVE FINANCIALLY TO SUPPORT THE MYLES
You can give to ‘Myles on a Mission’ through Brunswick Street Baptist Church. Simply mark your donation “Myles on a Mission” and indicate if this is a “one time gift” or if your intention is to give this amount each month as “monthly support.” You can indicate this on your “old school” offering envelope OR through e-giving. Check out our Giving page for details.
Many thanks and blessings,
Reuben and Leah (almost) Myles
Meet Leah and Reuben and hear about their exciting calling:
YOUR INTERIM LEADERSHIP TEAM
Dr. Keith Bodner, Preaching Pastor
Pastor Greg Geldart, Lead Pastor
Pastor Jim McLellan, Pastor of Senior’s Visitation
Pastor Steve Patterson, Outreach Pastor
