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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
HONK, if you love Jon Wilton!
Well, there was a lot of honking for Jon Wilton and the youth who gathered to honour Jon and Alyse at our Appreciation Event held on Saturday, June 20 in the parking lot of Journey Wesleyan Church. We’re so grateful to the folks at Journey for allowing us to hold this, our first gathering of the age of Covid, as an ‘in car’ event in lot big enough to welcome all who came.
“Why, honking,” you ask? Because if you are sitting in your car no one can hear you clap. But, if you honk, everyone will hear you and this was the case at such a joyous time. We’re grateful to the “Christ Callers” youth worship team (Chloé Robert, Annaclare Culberson, Jana McAllister, Allie and Erik Dunfield assisted by Pastor Steve and Pascale Beaulieu) and Rebekah and Abby Kierstead for providing musical offerings of worship and praise. Allie Dunfied rallied a great group of youth who came to the microphones to say how they wanted to be like Jon…starting out poking a bit of fun at him and ending highlighting his spiritual gifts and faithful example.
Words of testimony were provided by Shawn Anderson, a junior youth leader; Faith Louis, a senior youth leader with Debbie Kierstead reading words of tribute from former youth leader, Victor Brayley and College and Career hosts, Mike and Mary Jane Phillips. A touching and entertaining letter was sent by Dr. Keith and Pastors Steve and Greg shared their thankfulness for shared ministry with Jon. They also shared in a song, words by Pastor Greg and sung to the tune, “O Danny Boy” (one day Pastor Greg will learn that tune!): O Johnny boy, the barber shop is calling, it’s calling now for you to come and clip…celebrating Jon’s next chapter, as he apprentices to become a full-fledged barber.
Presentations ended the event. The first was a presentation of a miniature trophy with words of tribute (and ribbing) from youth Hannah Hatchard and Dylan Wightman. Rukeme and Ufuoma Akalusi shared Scripture and presented flowers to Alyse. Scott Myles made a presentation of an Issac’s Way gift card to Jon and Alyse from the Education Committee and Paul Milburn a cash card from the Board of Deacons. Both Scott and Paul prayed blessing over this wonderful couple. After Jon’s touching words of thanks, encouragement to care for our youth and invitation to “honk for Jesus” as an act of praise, Pastor Steve closed in prayer.
We’re grateful to Julie McAllister, Debbie Kierstead and Neil Livingstone, the Youth Team of the Education Committee, for putting the program together and to Paul Dixon, Eric Robert and Pastor Steve for technical support!
Jon continues his ministry with us until the end of June. I’m so happy to let you know that in the fall, Jon and Alyse will be back to share in youth ministry at BSBC.
Love offering
As is our tradition, we are accepting a LOVE OFFERING for Jon. 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.
Pastor Greg
GET ON BOARD for VBS Summer 2020
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 click on the link and fill out the registration form. 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!
Sign up for VBS today
Worship this Sunday
Missed a service? Don’t worry! You can catch up on Youtube.
Sermon
This Sunday, June 28, Dr. Bodner will conclude his mini-series on the life of Old Testament Joseph. You can prep for the sermon by reading through Genesis 45-51 to be ready for a sermon titled “God Works for Good.” Of this sermon he writes: after their father’s death, the brothers are scared the Joseph will seek revenge, but he reassures them with a powerful truth that speaks to the character of God.
Worship leaders
Contemporary song will be led by Jon and Alyse Wilton and Rebekah Kierstead with Chris Graves and David Steeves leading the traditional service. Both services will feature leadership from our youth who will be working this summer at Green Hill Lake Camp: Olivia Dunn, Hannah Hatchard, Dylan Wightman, Derek Clement and Nathan Holmes. Deborah VanSlyke will be sharing with the children. Be ready to engage in a rousing O CANADA on this Sunday before Canada Day.
Wedding Bells
Even in the midst of a pandemic, love cannot be stopped!
This Friday, June 26, we celebrate with Emily Perrin and Isaac Colpitts who will pledge their love before God at Devon Park Baptist Church.
Emily and Isaac serve in our youth ministry and Emily is the daughter of Rhonda Perrin and granddaughter of Shirley MacLure.
Let’s pray for this to be a day they will remember for a lifetime!
Celebrating great news! 🎉
As a BSBC family we celebrate with Matthew, Yewande, Tega, Ufuoma, Rukeme and Rotimi Akalusi who now have permanent resident status in Canada!
It has been a challenging journey to reach this place but they will tell you that God has been faithful all the way!
Akalusis, we love you and are so glad that you are here with us on a PERMANENT basis! Praise the Lord!
BSBC Library
Your library will be opened Wednesday, June 24 from 10 a.m. to noon. Please note that the next week, July 1, Canada Day, the library will be closed.
No matter how long you've had a book we'd appreciate you returning it! You can return library items any day during office hours, Monday to Friday. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
lf you can't get to the church to borrow or return please call Sharon at 450-7878.
Financial Stewardship Update
We remain grateful for the faithful giving our BSBC family. You will note, however, that our last financial report indicated that giving to the end of May was $14,000 behind this same time last year.
As we head into the summer months we encourage you to consider sustaining your regular giving through the three means available to you:
Dropping your offering envelopes off at the church office,
Using the e-transfer method, or
Signing up for direct deposit.
While our expenses at this time are down over previous years, I bring this matter before you as we desire to enter the fall in a strong position financially. Regardless of what fall opportunities present themselves, your faithful giving enables BSBC to support important gospel work around the world such as Green Hill Lake Camp, monthly support of our church missionaries, Crandall University, Acadia Divinity College and our denomination – Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada, to name a few. Thank you for the impact your giving is making around the globe.
Finally, I offer a gentle reminder about designated giving to service our indebtedness. Thank you for considering a gift to help us get caught up in this important area of responsibility.
A former pastor was wise to remind us that we should think of financial stewardship NOT in terms of equal giving…but in terms of equal sacrifice. Thank you for prayerfully considering what you can do in these days. Please remember that every gift counts.
Pastor Greg
BSBC 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.
Learn more about our staff and how you can support them on our GHLC page.
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!
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
Jon Wilton, Youth & Young Adult Ministries
