Summer-Fall 2010
A number of exciting things have happened with the Finding the Hope campaign since the summer.
In June, two strategic “Come and Hear” events were held in Saint John and Moncton, New Brunswick. Several church leaders who had originally expressed interest, received an overview of the campaign along with answers to important questions. The potential of the campaign was discussed and ongoing communication is taking place, which will lead to the launch of campaigns in both cities and their surrounding areas next year.
Since July 2010, we have done campaigns in the following communities:
* Ontario, Wahnapitae, Neustadt, Walkerton, Mildmay, Teeswater, Elliot Lake, King City.
* New Brunswick, Blackville, Renous, Upper Blackville, Lake George, Woodstock.
* Alberta, Berwyn.
* Saskatchewan, Northern Saskatchewan’s eight communities.
Several “Come and Hear” events have taken place or are about to take place in Mississauga, Belleville, Fredericton, and Scarborough. The excitement continues this fall, as several church leaders, churches and communities are deciding to sow the precious seed of the Gospel into their communities, making it possible for people in the homes of Canada to know who Jesus is and how to experience His transforming life! The potential of these campaigns is significantly increased when church leaders join together in such collaborative initiatives.
Major campaigns involving multiple churches working together, in most cases, are about to launch in the following communities:
* Portions of Mississauga, ON – October
* Simcoe, ON -October
* Moose Jaw, SK -November
* Portions of Ottawa, ON – November
* Quispamsis, NB – (bilingual) November
* Cornwall, ON – (bilingual) December
Long after campaigns have been completed, relationships that have been formed between churches can continue and serve as springboards to further outreach opportunities together.
One pastor in Newfoundland, who had worked with seven other churches in a Finding the Hope campaign last spring, recently wrote the following:
“It has been exciting here this past summer as a direct result of the Finding the Hope campaign…seven of the eight churches have joined together for an outdoor Gospel service every Sunday evening. This has gone extremely well…I’ve had the opportunity to talk to a number of people about their relationship with Jesus. I’ve used the Finding the Hope booklet as a conversation piece. Three other great things that have come from this: the community is seeing churches work together and the Christians are encouraged by each other. Also we decided to take an offering every night and give it to the Food Bank. We set a goal of $3000.00. After the eighth service, we had received over $5,600.00…I’m really excited about this.”
What a blessing to hear about churches working together to give people in their communities an opportunity to know who Jesus is, while at the same time, experiencing the power of unity!