Hot Summer in the City

This summer has been a little deflating for the M4M but it has also offered some exciting beginnings for the Church. The Church has found itself losing a couple of families and it has greatly affected the personality and tone of the ministries. Jake and Andrea Bergen left for Rocky Mountain House in Alberta about a month ago. Andrea had been with the Church since it was planted nearly five years ago. In fact, if you were to record the number of people who have aligned themselves with HomeChurch you would see how instrumental she has been. [Consider that Ashlee and I started attending HomeChurch because she is an old friend of mine from College]. There move has been very difficult on us as they grew to be excellent friends and an amazing support, especially through the recent miscarriage. So personally we grieve their move, but HomeChurch as well will suffer as Jake and Andrea have been mainstays in nearly every area of the Churches ministry. Thori (a young man who was part of the Under Construction ministry) had been living with them for many months and his attendance at the Church and floor hockey added a lively dimension. Since Jake and Andrea's move he has gone to live with his dad in Edmonton and will be greatly missed.

Another family, the Gytenbeeks, have just recently moved to Comox on Vancouver Island. Chris and Judy moved out to Langley four years ago from Vancouver and had attended Home Church since that time. They, and their four children, were a major presence in the Church. Chris and Judy had been involved in the Home Group ministry and for many months were the major driving force behind our children's ministry Kidzone. Their maturity, strength of character, and serving hearts will be greatly missed. Ashlee had been part of Judy's Women Encouraging Women group this last year and Chris participating in the Under Construction boys ministry whenever possible. HomeChurch will greatly miss them.

Adding to these recent moves the lull of summer life and some recent struggles among individuals HomeChurch has taken a few gutshots and it has seemed as though a vacuum has deflated our spirit. The Lord however will not let His people perish and praise and honour are to be given to Jesus Christ for His faithfulness.

Judy Wu, a Chinese woman who had been in Canada with her daughter Ede, has recently celebrated her husbands move from Beijing to join the family in the country. Add to this that he has faithfully attended church with her since then. HomeChurch has also welcomed Dawson and Pat Tennant, missionaries on furlough for some training, and their boys to the congregation. Ralph, Anna, and John, some old friends of Pastor Jim, have also been making the trek to join us in our morning fellowship, learning and worship. Each of these additions just proves God's faithfulness and love.

Two other major developments are also underway. In recent months Dan Fairholm has undertaken the task of raising support for a part-time (10hr/wk) position with the Church as the Minister of Families. He wants to divide his time between shoring up Kidzone and development a new child-centred outreach ministry geared towards the families in our immediate neighbourhood. He is slated to begin work August 15th. The second development is the recent formation of HomeChurch's newest leadership team. The previous leadership team concluded its term earlier in the summer. The new team innaugurates a different phase at HomeChurch. Part of the initial steps of this team will be to attend the WillowCreek Leadership Summit in Langley. Future business will include the development of our first Elder and Deacon's board.

Please pray for these two recent developments as they have the potential to either energize the people and purpose of HomeChurch or to deflate or damage the Churches ministry.

Thank-you for your love and support.