Darwin Dewar - seen here with his wife Lisa - passed away peacefully at the University of Alberta hospital November 21, at age 43. The Dewars lived in the Vancouver area for many years; Darwin served as the UBCcampus director of Ambassadors for Jesus. At the time of death, he was a pastor at Church on 99 in Edmonton - where his funeral was held November 28. Darwindewar.com.

The Christian Heritage Party (CHP) marked its 20th anniversary November 15, with a celebration at Garden Park Tower in Abbotsford. Trinity Western University professor Michael Goheen was keynote speaker. The evening also included a presentation outlining the history of the CHP. Some 200 people attended.

Moving memorial

The memorial to 17 year old Sean Phillips gathered hundreds, filling the main floor of Sevenoaks Alliance Church in Abbotsford November 23. He died in a car accident, when an oncoming vehicle lost control after hitting black ice. He was the son of Dave and Adele Phillips, who are well known as leaders of CARES, a Christian counselling centre. The moving service remembered a young man with a passion for sports and faith, who was planning to go to Bible college.

Pastor Bob update

Bob Birch, an inspirational figure to many in the Christian community, has been hospitalized. Accordingly, his wife Margaret, with the support of family members, decided to cancel a 100th birthday tribute to ‘Pastor Bob,’ which was scheduled for December 1 at Harvest City Church. At press time, Bob was in Burnaby General Hospital. David Carson said his much-loved friend and colleague “is being well cared for . . . Pastor Bob is not in any pain.”

Homeless battleground

Coquitlam city hall was the site of a clash over how to deal with homelessness last month. The acrimonious November 21 meeting drew some 300 people , and lasted until 3 am. The centre of attention was a plan to enable five area churches to supply 30 beds for homeless people, on a rotating basis, during the winter. At issue are proposed zoning amendments which would be needed to allow three of them – Coquitlam Alliance, Eagle Ridge Bible Fellowship and Calvary Baptist – to participate in the program.

Haven still around

Haven Today, the Sunday radio broadcast of Haven Ministries, will no longer be heard on CKNW AM 980 in the Vancouver area. New management at the station terminated the program, despite the fact that the program had a listening audience of nearly 25,000 people every Sunday.  However,  the program continues to air on KARI radio.

Red Sea change

Red Sea Team International has appointed Perry Zelman as their new Canadian director.  In his first statement to the media, Zelman said: “Our position statement is simply ‘Helping Muslims Follow Jesus.’ We do this through our medical programs, ESL schools and other ‘tent-making’ initiatives. I would be interested in talking with anyone who has an interest in seeing Muslims come to Jesus.” Contact: rsti.org.

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All Saints joins Rwanda

All Saints Community Church celebrated its official launching on November 18.  Barclay Mayo, rector of Christ the Redeemer Pender Harbour, preached at the induction.The All Saints team, led by Rev. Peter Klenner, extolled the oversight they are receiving from the Anglican Province of Rwanda’s Archbishop Kolini. All Saints is the newest member of the Anglican Coalition in Canada (ACiC). As an expression of their African oversight, All Saints currently use a Kenyan liturgy and Rwandan offertory baskets. Call: 604-209-5570.

Blue Lens

Tears For April: Beyond the Blue Lens, is getting its first theatrical release – running until December 6 at Cinemark Tinseltown in Vancouver. The documentary explores the lives of Vancouver drug addicts who hope their stories will keep young people from drugs. A presentation of the Odd Squad Productions Society, the independently financed film was co-directed by retired Vancouver constable Al Arsenault and film maker Ken Jubenvill, scripted by Province writer Steve Berry, and edited by Christian filmmaker Steve Plitt.

Bibles for Vanuatu

Bibles for the Poor Society has purchased 1,000 Bislama-language Bibles for the South Pacific island of Vanuatu.  The Aldergrove-based ministry team will be delivering the books to islanders in early January. Ministry founders Dave and Abby Dever have made several visits to Vanuatu over the past several years. For the first time, they will also be visiting the poverty stricken Solomon Islands, where local Christians are completing a Pidgin English Bible for that country. For more information, or to donate, contact: biblesforthepoor.org. 

Lighthouse shines on

The widow of a much-loved Langley pastor is carrying on his work. Lighthouse of Faith pastor Erwin L. Dyck passed away in September, at  age 73. Dorothy Dyck is now the church’s senior pastor. She was ordained in 2004, after many years of actively served with her husband. A church statement said of Erwin that he “was a man of integrity, he never carried a grudge and he believed in doing everything with excellence. Erwin will be missed greatly by his family, the church family and all those who knew him.”

Dual role

Ronald W. Toews has been appointed to the combined position of principal for ACTS Seminaries and associate vice president of Trinity Western University’s Graduate Theological Studies. Toews has a rich background in leadership, academia and public speaking.

           – David F. Dawes

December 2007