Board of Elders Update
October 2009
Summer’s over and fall appears to be done, with a vengeance! And, our renovation project is complete, with the exception of some sound system upgrades. We are extremely happy with the final effect; it is going to accomplish very well the changes that we desired, namely to make the sanctuary also function as an auditorium (through the lighting improvements and additions, flooring replacement, stage redesign, and replacement of pews with chairs. This renovation will allow us to host a multitude of more community/neighbor friendly events such as movie nights, meals or luncheons, and other events that can be dreamed up. In addition, the reno project included replacing the carpets downstairs in the children’s room and hallway (one was unsafe, the other an embarrassment), and replace the carpet and trim plus repaint in the “Promiseland Room” far side. If you haven’t had an opportunity to see these changes, please feel free to check them out; they are a great improvement!
Thanks to your great volunteer efforts, the project came in well under budget, and the project fundraising is now complete. There is enough money still in the fund to pay for the remaining sound system upgrades. (You may have already noticed some of the improvements to the sound system and Tom has some more improvements coming to enhance the quality and function of our sound.) During the last quarter, we had our first “Elder-in-training” participant, Jordan Stennett. He has left us to go back to school at Briercrest Bible Institute (near Moose Jaw) to further his education to become a youth pastor. It was a pleasure to have Jordan join us as an elder-in-training and we believe it was very beneficial to Jordan to be a part of the program. We are looking ahead to others that we want to participate in this program in the very near future, and anxious to give them an opportunity to join us. If you have any questions about what this program is, and how it works, feel free to ask any of the pastors or elders.
Over the last quarter, we have been very excited to celebrate the passion of our homegrown missionaries, Kieran Wheeler (heading for South America), Dave Schienbein (returned from, and heading back to Africa with the organization “Helping Hands), Denae Savoie and Heather Nippard (both flying to Australia for training, then assignment, with “Youth With A Mission”), and Marion Dyck returning to Africa to join Anne Stevens as they continue to be a part of our Global Advance Team.
Looking forward to the winter season, we are excited to be continuing the series on Revelations, and seeing what God has to teach us individually, and as a church, through this series. Coming in late November (Saturday, November 28), we have booked a well known family-friendly comedian, Jeff Allen (who has a burden for those who don’t yet know Jesus as Christ, and who has a passion for hurting marriages), for an “evening with the community” performance at the new Cold Lake High School gymnasium. This will be an excellent, non-intrusive, complete family or couples only, event that you will want to, and not be embarrassed to, invite your neighbors and friends to. It is designed to be a community outreach event, with an ultimate goal of focusing on marital situations within our community, so PLEASE … PLEASE … PLEASE invite your neighbors. We will be using this event as a prelude to our marriage series coming in early January to small groups.