Time Flies, and God Moves

I just realized that it's been over a year since I've posted on here and since I've been to the Maritimes. A lot has happened in the world, in my life, and in the Maritimes.

Personally, it's been a difficult year. But God often works it so that intense difficulty is accompanied by intense blessing. A little over a year ago my father-in-law went home to be with his Lord. A little while later our house was burglarized. And then my oldest daughter noticed a lump that eventually led to diagnosis of a rare aggressive cancer (Stage IV epithelioid sarcoma). And those are just a few of the trials! Besides the incredible support of church and friends in our troubles, God also blessed me with the opportunity to participate in an amazing cross-cultural ministry training opportunity during the summer.

In so many ways it feels like our life lately has been completely redefined by cancer, yet God periodically sends me a little reminder that He's still working beyond this little bubble that I sometimes feel like we're in. For example, there was the audio clip posted on the NBBI blog of Jacob Mathieu's challenge to plant churches in Francophone communities. In Bathurst, an interchurch bilingual ministry started up last summer called Chaleur Generation, that culminated in a community-wide Concert of Prayer a couple of weeks ago. The summer outreach partnership of Louisiana Baptists in Memramcook and Cape Breton also continued. Most recently, I was informed through Facebook of a new effort to develop a prayer movement (Oeil sur Dieppe/Eye on Dieppe) for the city of Dieppe.

Back to the Beach

Contrary to what we had planned, we ended up spending Christmas in Canada with my wife's family. We needed to be with my father-in-law. I believe God had some other purposes for our visit though. For various reasons, I didn't really follow up on PrayerPaddle matters while in Bathurst this time. But the Lord did engineer it so that I could be there to hear of the deathbed conversion of a dearly loved family friend. And to make a connection with his son, who I didn't realize is very involved in an international ministry. It was also a privilege to be there for my brother-in-law's first sermon in many years, on New Years Eve. None of these blessings could have been anticipated.

On the other hand, I should have realized beforehand the circumstances of my walk on the Youghall Beach. It's hard to believe it was almost exactly three years before (I can't remember the exact date) that God put the vision for the Acadian Coast PrayerPaddle on my heart. So what did I hear this time? For one thing, I had a sense of peace. And that I need to take some new steps of serving the Lord in 2011. How and where that will be though is not yet clear. Possibly in Canada, possibly overseas, possibly with a kayak, etc. I wish I knew.

We just got done watching the movie "Faith Like Potatoes" tonight. I could relate on a lot of levels. And I pray that I will be ready to "plant" within God's will.

Old News from the Summer

This post got 'lost' in draft for the last several months:

Aside from traveling around and making phone calls, there are a few other items of interest to mention. From July 19-23, Freedom Bible Church in Sutherland River, NS held their Vacation Bible School. About a dozen kids participated, and one profession of faith was reported. This last week my older two children (and nieces/nephews) took part in the VBS of St. Lukes Presbyterian Church here in Bathurst. It also was a nautical adventure theme. The twenty or so children especially enjoyed the music. It was quite a sight to see the sanctuary of the church I was married in transformed into a sailing ship!

Although I have not managed to touch base with everyone that I would have liked to this summer, I have at least made a few interesting ministry discoveries. Following up from my visit to Antigonish, NS, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there is an evangelical campus ministry at St. Francis Xavier University, a leading Roman Catholic institution in Antigonish. I also discovered a ministry from PEI that is using traditional Celtic music to proclaim the Gospel, the "Fiery Faith and Fiddles" of the Sky Family. And finally, I was alerted through Facebook to the First Nations ministries of On Eagles Wings (associated with Ron Hutchcraft Ministries).

Three Long Days

Last Monday through Wednesday, I did some traveling farther afield. Providence Christian Church in Riverview was doing a weeklong evangelistic sports camp (Skills 4 Life) for French Acadian kids in Memramcook. I wanted to get a better feel for what they were doing, as well as meet up with the seven Louisiana Baptists who came up to help. I then went across the provincial line to visit the new Atlantic Wycliffe Centre in Nova Scotia. Surprisingly only a few kilometers from where I had passed through last summer, this wonderful facility that is just now fully functional offers a strategic opportunity not only to boost awareness in local churches of the worldwide needs for Bible translation, but promises to be a resource for local believers to be encouraged through retreats and other special events. While visiting with Shane and Shelly Lyons, they shared about a movement of people in the area who have felt burdened to pray for revival on the north shore of Nova Scotia. They also helped put me in touch with translators working on the Eskasoni reserve on translating the Old Testament into Micmac.

After a showery day it was a relief to settle into the tent for a dry night at Amherst Shore Provincial Park. Just like last year, I found a very friendly staff and no cell phone coverage, but took advantage of the new WiFi service to make a Skype video call to my wife in the morning. Unfortunately, the cough and sinus trouble that had been bothering me for weeks combined into feeling really weak and lousy after a short hike that I'd hoped would get me feeling better. Once I finally got on the road, I dropped by Memramcook again before heading north a bit to find some churches that I hadn't been able to connect with last summer. In Shediac, I stopped by the new construction site of Shediac Bay Community Church. And I just missed catching the pastor at Eglise du Plein Evangile in Bouctouche. More importantly, I was able to catch up with Raymond Vautour (Victory Baptist Church) at his business in Rexton, where we talked about his enrollment over the last year in a lay pastor training program.

My goal for the day though was to get over to Arrowhead Native Bible Center on Grand Lake. Grant Fawcett and Kevin Strout help manage a Christian summer camping program for First Nations children and youth from around the Maritime Provinces. This was my first chance to meet Grant, who was in youth group with my wife and just went on staff with the camp last year. It was great to see the coordination of several camp staff and counselors as they ministered to children from one of the Micmac reserves in Nova Scotia. I was also thankful for a bed for the night in an unused cabin. Grant and Kevin are looking for ways to expand the impact of their ministry to the sixty-something reserves in the Maritimes with limited resources and to make more churches aware of what they're doing.

On Wednesday I had an appointment to visit with Barry Beebe, the president of New Brunswick Bible Institute. I've been hearing good things about NBBI for a long time now, and really appreciated the chance to come see it and discuss visions for ministry in the region. On my way back up to Bathurst, I took the back road down the Little Southwest Branch of the Miramichi River. One of my hopes was to be able to see the new heritage park that the Metepenagiag First Nation of Micmacs has opened. The site is considered the oldest known place of inhabitation in New Brunswick, dating back about 3000 years. I did find it, but unfortunately it was late in the day and the gate was closed. On the other hand, I managed to providentially stumble upon Calvary Baptist Church in Miramichi shortly before their prayer meeting. Although along last year's PrayerPaddle route, I had somehow been unaware of the church before Dr. Beebe mentioned it a few hours earlier. I had a nice visit with Pastor Countway and one of the deacons before I felt like I needed to get on my way back up to Bathurst.

In and Around Bathurst

Well, I've been meaning to post for over a week now. A lot of time has been spent around the house, helping with family stuff and finishing things up for work. We did manage to get out for a couple of family excursions to Miscou Island (chilly) and Daly Point (buggy), as well as some swimming.

Although I was kind of laying low for a couple weeks, there's still an awful lot to catch up on. Besides a great baptism service that the French Baptist church from Tracadie had here in Bathurst for a dear elderly lady, the fellowship time afterwards was a nice time to catch up with some people from last summer. The following week, I took a drive up to see the Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Park just across the Restigouche River in Quebec. This was the historic naval battle that finally ended French rule in Canada in 1760. It was surprising to see some of the artifacts and ship parts that were recovered from where the Machault sank. While going through Campbellton, I came across the outgoing interim pastor of Gateway Pentecostal Assembly. The next week he was getting married and then leaving for a position with a Bible college in Malawi. I also discovered that Mark Foresight had just been approved as the new pastor at Full Gospel Country Church in Nash Creek. He was one of the people who prayed with us last year at Burnt Church and has a passion for outreach to the Micmac. On Saturday evening, I was invited up to share at the church's prayer meeting about the PrayerPaddle and needs of other churches in the region.

Visiting and Rejoicing

After worshipping Sunday morning in Antigonish with Grace Community Church (at the Claymore Conference Centre), I went about 45 minutes west to visit at Sutherlands River. Alan Klein pastors Freedom Bible Church, under the sponsorship of Village Missions. They just recently entered a new stage when they finished remodeling the church building, which was converted from a barn 20 years ago. It's also encouraging to hear that this rural church near New Glasgow is now self-supporting and that there is a network of five evangelical pastors from the region who meet regularly for prayer and encouragement. Please pray for their Vacation Bible School ministry next week.

As I headed west to New Brunswick, the light rain intensified, not letting up until I got to outskirts of Bathurst several hours later. So much for the forecast of no rain at all in northern New Brunwick! I later found out that some of the areas I drove through got about 45 mm of rain (nearly 2 inches). At least I was dry inside the van.

Instead of heading directly back on the highway, I decided to check out a lead from someone in Antigonish about a Mennonite church at Loch Broom that I was unaware of. Sure enough I found it, and also came across a nice historical re-creation of one of the original log Presbyterian churches founded in 1787 by the Scottish settlers of Pictou County. I left a Gospel of John with the somewhat bored young lady who was being paid to welcome visitors to the site.

When I got up to the main road along the north coast, I immediately happened upon the remains of (apparently) a recently burned out church building near Caribou River. In the Tatamagouche area I was surprised to come across the sign of the Northumberland Church of God in Christ Mennonite. I had talked with pastor Bruce Isaac by phone last summer, but not actually met him. Since there were several cars at the church, I decided to drop in for a visit. It turned out that they were celebrating the 25th anniversary of the congregation. I had a great visit with brother Bruce before I reluctantly had to move on. Of course they insisted on me taking some food and drink with me (yummy sweet tea!).

And today I got the wonderful news of someone being led to trust in Christ in the Acadian village of Grande-Anse, New Brunswick. Pray for this man. On Wednesday I'm planning to go to a baptismal service by the French Baptist church from Tracadie, NB. On a more worldly note, you can also pray as I take the van in tomorrow (Tuesday) to find out why the Check Engine light is on.

Summer Heat

Well, it warmed up quite a bit the last couple days. Though the wind was blowing hard as I drove through eastern New Brunswick, yesterday was sunny and in the low 30s Celsius (90 Fahrenheit) here in Antigonish. I sweated my way through lots of water during a short hike yesterday at Cape George. But at least I was able to hand tracts to some people and get some nice photos.

The team from South Carolina pulled out early this morning to head home. Due to a misunderstanding about the date of the big parade, that left me and Pastor Martell to pass out as many tracts as we could this morning. It was a fairly impressive parade, and we were able to share around 500 tracts with people. Some good bagpipe music around, but sure not much Christian witness. During the week, Gospel packets were taken to about 3/4 of the homes in town. Pray for fruit!

I'll probably stay around to sing in the morning worship service here tomorrow before working my way back west.