I want to share these few verses from Jeremiah 1:4-8. These verses are close to my heart, when I first stumbled across them three or four years ago, they really grabbed me. I’m sure you are all familiar with them: “The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Ah, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.” This about sums it up my message of encouragement to you as church leaders.
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Tags: leadership, youth

Lone Prairie Camp announces Winter Camps in January and February 2010 (Jr High January 29-31, Sr High Feb 12-14), so spread the news. Here are the details from Jeff Buck:

“It may be cold…but hearts can still be warm to the things of God! Our young people are incredibly vital to the future of all of our churches.  LPC is committed to seeing all young people deepen their love for God and to extend the love of God to those who have yet to become disciples.
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Tags: camp, youth

On November 25, a special gathering of key BGCA leaders took place in Red Deer. Twenty- eight BGCA leaders representing eighteen of our twenty-seven churches, along with BGC Canada, Canadian Baptist Seminary, and Lone Prairie Camp, attended the summit. Several more wanted to come but could not make it. The goal was not to impose pre-conceived plans top-down and ask churches to change what they’re doing. Rather, the goal was to provide a forum for us as leaders to express the challenges we face and how we can collaborate to move ahead together. We collectively comprise the BGCA. Our main question was “Where to next?”.

To start, we noted the lack of any substantial net growth in baptisms, attendance, and church planting since 2002 in both the BGCA and BGCC. We face a widespread lack of passionate spirituality, mission, and disciple-making with a corresponding widespread resistance to change, which are both challenges and opportunities as a district. From one perspective the need for “repentance” was suggested. We spent time in prayer and discussion. We noted that each church faces unique contexts and challenges, that God is at work, that the pastor is the leader of the local church, and that overall we share some common challenges.
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Tags: disciplemaking, leadership, missional, youth

January 21-24, 2010 in Canmore
A gathering event to invite and challenge young adult leaders to deeper engagement with Christ, His Church, and His mission! A ministry of the Baptist General Conference of Canada, the 2020 Summit is an invitation to the next generation of leaders to go deeper in their walk with Christ, His church and His mission. On January 21-24, 2010 young adult leaders from across our denomination will gather in Canmore, Alberta for four days of connecting with God and His people as we dream about what He might do among us in the coming years.

See www.bgc.ca for more details

Tags: leadership, youth