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Power to Change expands
Power to Change (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ
Canada) recently extensively enlarged its headquarters in Langley. The
ministry held an open house May 31, to mark the grand opening of the Block
Ministry Centre, with entertainment by Canadian
Idol finalist Greg Neufeld. The organization
encompasses 15 ministries, which promote the gospel through many means,
including: drama, campus evangelism, marriage enrichment and sports.
Contact: www.powertochange.org.
Love Langley
Hundreds of Christians from more than 20 Langley City
and Township churches were involved in ‘Love Langley – showing
God’s love to the Langley people.’ Gathering for a pancake
breakfast at Christian Life Assembly parking lot, they fanned out to offer
free yard work, car washes and manicures, and delivered flowers to hospital
patients. From noon, music, testimonies and a barbeque completed the
day’s outreach. The Langley Advance reported one poignant story of a neighbour expressing
thanks for having his yard work done; he had recently lost his wife,
and had not been able to get out and do the work himself.
Gerry Ayotte retires
Corrections Canada Chaplain Gerry Ayotte has retired
after 10 years. At his retirement celebration in Abbotsford he said he felt
“privileged to watch the hands of God work through prison chaplains
and volunteers, and aid in changing the lives of the people behind
bars.”
Counsellor for Mounties
Bill Ashbee, a minister of Christian Life Assembly,
has been appointed ‘spiritual counsellor’ to the Langley
Mounties. Ashbee’s goal is to spend time with each RCMP member.
“Many police officers encounter some very dramatic scenes and are in
need of a safe place to let it out,” he said. Ashbee will spend
eight hours a month in this role and will relate to members of all faiths.
Lunch Hut 15 years old
White Rock’s St. John’s Presbyterian
Church has hosted ‘Lunch Hut,’ a free lunch program for 15
years. Run by volunteers, the Lunch Hut has provided a welcoming place for
people to come, eat, relax and possibly find some companionship.
– Peace Arch News
Urban Journey
‘Urban Journey’ is a new faith-based
community in the Dunbar area of Vancouver. Rebecca and Andrew Stanley chose
the name to reflect what it means to live as a community in an urban
setting. The couple, who originally began the initiative as a family
endeavour, say they have seen prayer as pivotal in forming bonds with
people in the community.
New Friesen CD
Filled with original material, the Friesen Family
Band’s new CD, We are Seeking, is a mix of music portraying the journey to God’s
grace. Ranging in age from under one year old to 12 years, all the children
and both parents can be heard harmonizing and playing various percussion
instruments. For upcoming B.C. tour dates: www.friesenfamilyband.com.
Youth Custody
Burnaby Youth Custody Centre is seeing an outpouring
of generosity by its residents. “Every Sunday in the chapel service,
each resident is allowed to anonymously donate a maximum of $5 to put
towards handing out food to the homeless. We had to put a cap on it because
some of the residents get really excited and donate all their money –
and are left to go into the community with nothing,” said pastor
Helen Winter, chaplain at the centre. For more information, and possible
volunteering opportunities in the facility’s outreach program, call
pastor Winter at 778-452-2099.
The Urban Hermit
‘Breaking Out of the Shell’ is the theme
for this year’s Chinese Christian Ministry Youth Leadership Camp. The
three-day camp will teach active leadership skills, integrity skills and
something called ‘commotionships’ – a concept combining
communication, emotional identity and relationships training. The
ministry’s hope is to break people away from technology, and have
long-lasting impact without using a computer keyboard. This year will
feature Trinity Western professor Dr. Sean Ho. For more information contact:
www.ccmcanada.org.
Upside down church
After months of controversy, a sculpture depicting an
inverted country church – which has been on display in Coal Harbour
for some time – will be taken down and shipped to Calgary’s
Glenbow Museum. The move is the result of a Vancouver Parks Board vote. The
creator of the work, Dennis Oppenheim, maintains he did not intend the
sculpture – which he titled ‘Device to Root Out Evil’
– to be controversial.
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Refugee resettlement training
Two thousand refugees arrive in Metro Vancouver every
year. Journey Home Community is presenting a ‘Refugee Resettlement
Training Conference fro Volunteers’ July 4
– 6, 12 at Willingdon Church in Burnaby. For more information contact:
www.journeyhomecommunity.ca.
REgeneration
Vancouver’s Coastal Church is hosting
‘REgeneration,’ an event targeted at youth. Starting July 2 and
running every Wednesday evening throughout July and August, the events will
feature dynamic worship; and contrasting biblical perspectives will be
provided, on issues that are relevant to everyday life. For more
information contact: www.coastalregeneration.org.
Legge honored
Award-winning motivational speaker and outspoken
Christian Peter Legge was one of 15 people to receive the Order of B.C.
June 26. His award was given in recognition of his reputation as an
honourable business leader, along with his charitable works. Each recipient
was carefully selected by public nominations. For more information: www.protocol.gov.bc.ca/protocol/prgs/obc/obc.htm
The singing nun
Two local women are competing to be the next Maria Von
Trapp, the unconventional nun from The Sound of
Music. The CBC is hosting a contest called How do you solve a problem like Maria? The top prize is the privilege of bringing the Julie Andrews
character to life in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s theatrical adaptation of
the musical. Jayme Armstrong, from Richmond, and Elicia Mackenzie of
Surrey, are among the top 10 finalists. The CBC program, seen Sunday
evenings, will involve audience voting.
Regent looks at history
Regent College presents ‘Exploring New Frontiers
in Evangelical History,’ a new conference running July 25 – 26.
Speakers include Mark Noll, David Hempton, George Marsden, Don Lewis, Bruce
Hindmarsh and others. For more information: www.regent-college.edu/history.
Capernwray draws men
Picturesque Capernwray Bible School and Conference
Centre, on Thetis Island, is holding a major men’s conference August
22 – 24, featuring speaker Bruce Campbell, director of Assisting
Missions Ministries, based in Eugene, Oregon. For more information: www.capernwray.ca/pdf/mens-conference.pdf
Police Chief Bob Rich of Abbotsford
A popular leader during his 28 years with the Vancouver
Police Department, Bob Rich has been appointed chief of the Abbotsford
Police Department; he will begin the position in mid-July.
Rich, who has a law degree, is a former Vancouver
Police Union president. He brings extensive experience in various
operational areas, and has also been involved with many community boards.
In January, he was named president of the B.C. Association of Municipal
Chiefs. As deputy chief of the Vancouver Police Department, he ran twice
for chief.
Rich, an active Christian, was invested as a member of
the Order of Merit for police forces in Canada by the Governor General, for
his contributions to policing in B.C.
When interviewed on CBC’s Early Edition, he said the high point
of his career was the recent graduation of his son from police academy into
the Vancouver force.
– Peter
Biggs
July 2008
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