Grace Lutheran Church

BC Boat Mission

Provisions

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38

Provisions come in many forms, provisions of material supplies, provision of gifts and abilities, provision of creativity, provision of time, provision of a unified vision of what He wants to do in various seasons of our lives. 

Last month we asked if you would join us in praying for God to bring forth creativity as we seek to minister to communities at a time that we can't go in. We were so blessed that He did revive creativity, we were able to assemble 150 Kid's Club kits to go to Klemtu, Kingcome, Ehattesaht and Kyuquot. We also sent packages for adults and elders as well. Some surprises that popped up along the way were the supplies were sent on BC Ferries free of charge! We also were blessed by a pastor in Port McNeill who offered to take the boxes to the water ferry as it left earlier than expected. Without this gift of time we would have had to make an extra trip up island.

We are blessed that not only did the Lord provide the supplies and surprises but also the manpower to make this happen as Michelle Penner joined the team full time at the beginning of July as a volunteer.  Rhonda and Michelle worked diligently to get this first wave of kits out to the communities. We are also thankful for Pastor Tom in Campbell River who has prepared some online videos to accompany the Kid's Club kit's that went out.  We are also thankful for the wonderful volunteers in each community that are receiving the kits and handing them out to families! We had no idea how this would unfold, but we are blessed beyond belief at the Lord's wonderful provisions of all things!

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 
2 Corinthians 9:8
Praise God for His surprises, we are delighted that even after receiving notice that we didn't get the Canada Summer Job Grant, we got correspondence afterwards saying that we did receive one position!

Praise God that He has continued to keep the remote communities along the BC Coast free from Covid.  We praise God for the leaders in the communities that have helped coordinate supplies and food for the communities to help keep the communities safe and healthy.

Thank you for praying for C's migraines and last we heard, they were decreasing. Thank you Jesus!

Praise God, thank you for praying for J who is living on the streets in Vancouver, a couple of days after the prayer email was sent out he did make a connection with his sister which was very positive, please continue to pray for him.

Praise God, K (who had a c-section) is at home and continuing to recover and is enjoying baby.

Praise God for the connections that we've had with families in Campbell River and Port Hardy through our Kid's Club in a bag ministry.
Pray for the families that received the kits that we recently sent out the the communities, pray that they would help them grow in their faith.

Continue to pray for J as he is currently living on the streets in Vancouver. Pray that he would turn away from drug addiction and turn back to his family.

Pray for C as she just had a baby bay, she felt that she was treated differently at the hospital because of her race, pray for her healing and restoration. 

Pray for kindness and fairness to all people in our hospitals, medical clinics, with first responders and other businesses.

Pray for T who is now at home recovering from a stroke.

Pray for E as she is going for minor surgery on July 16th. 

Pray for A's daughter who is struggling with addiction.

Pray for D who is recovering from heart surgery.

Pray for W who is suffering from the effects of stroke.

Pray for sisters S and S that they can reconcile their difficulties and restore their relationship.

Pray for ideas about how to connect with families in the Port Hardy area in August when we deliver our next round of bags to communities. 

Pray for ways we can begin to connect with new communities at this time. 

Pray for positive connections with churches in the Comox Valley.

Pray for believers in the communities that they would be able to share God's love and encourage people who are experiencing a lot of anxiety during this pandemic. May they be filled with Jesus's love and be overflowing and creative in how they share His love with others. 

Pray that God would establish His chosen person to fill the position of Ministry Director. Pray for Rhonda and the Board for wisdom and guidance as they choose the right candidate.

Continue to pray for people who are bound in addictions that they would be set free.

Pray for the mental health of people during this pandemic, that those who are feeling isolated and alone would be able to reach out and get support as they need

Directions

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.   Psalm 37:23

Isn't it the way? We make our plans and are convinced we know the way we should go and then things happen that affect a 180 degree turn around. I'm sure we can all agree that the last few months have left some of us venturing in directions we never thought we would step foot into. 

So it is with BC Mission Boat Society.  At the beginning of March we were readying for our first team of 2020. We had the curriculum ready, the supplies packed, the craft kits prepared.  We were readying our team and our hearts and then everything came screeching to a halt. 

Last month we asked if you would pray that creativity would flow as we and the teams explore new ways to minister this summer. We are currently exploring Kid's Club kits, which will be sent to families. This is just one of the exciting ways to put tools in the hands of families that will share God's love and provision with them. 

We are also excited about who will put into the position of Ministry Director as we are shifting in new directions. The interviews will take place and we will hopefully have a new person in the beginning of July.

Directions change, but God is always faithful.  There is no changing in Him, He is steady and faithful and we are always praising Him and giving thanks!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17
Praise God for His Spirit moving one of the applicants for the summer student position who has offered to volunteer with us this summer as the Government of Canada funding didn't go through. 

Thank you for praying for E. He is feeling better now and is at home and healthier.

Praise God that C.'s migraines have lessened! Your prayers make a difference.

Praise God that M. is recovering from surgery and is now at home and feeling better.

We thank God for the time that Delia has had with our ministry and for the gifts and skills she has brought. They have been a blessing to many areas of our ministry. Please pray for God's guidance in her new endeavors.

Praise God for a full Board of Directors. We now have 10 committed Board Members and are excited about what God is doing in the future of the BC Mission Boat Society.

Praise God that He has continued to keep the remote communities along the BC Coast free from Covid.  We praise God for the leaders in the communities that have helped coordinate supplies and food for the communities to help keep the communities safe and healthy.
Pray that creativity would flow as we explore ways to bless the communities this summer without traveling. Lots of ideas have already begun to flow, pray for an outpouring of ideas from the Lord.

Continue to pray for C as her migraines haven't completely subsided. 

Pray for all the graduates who are graduating grade 12, pray for blessings on the next steps of their lives and that they would have a strong faith to seek God's will for their lives. 

Continue to pray for communities who are grieving the loss of loved ones at this time. 

Pray for J as he is currently living on the streets in Vancouver. Pray that he would turn away from drug addiction and turn back to his family.

Pray for K who had to have an emergency c-section, for a speedy recovery for her and thank God for the safe arrival of her baby.

Pray for all of the new moms during this time of pandemic, who aren't able to gather with family, that the Lord would continue to encourage and uplift them. 

Pray for believers in the communities that they would be able to share God's love and encourage people who are experiencing a lot of anxiety during this pandemic. May they be filled with Jesus's love and be overflowing and creative in how they share His love with others. 

Pray that God would establish His chosen person to fill the position of Ministry Director. Pray for Rhonda and the Board for wisdom and guidance as they choose the right candidate.

Continue to pray for people who are bound in addictions that they would be set free as we reflect on the 170 deaths to overdose in BC during the month of May.

Pray for the mental health of people during this pandemic, that those who are feeling isolated and alone would be able to reach out and get support as they need.

 


Ministry Highlights (May 2020)

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”  Luke 12:22-26
So many changes have happened since the second week of March, but I've been encouraged by the fact that Jesus never changes, no matter what, He doesn't change. “Then He placed His right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.” Revelation 1:17 He is the same today as He was yesterday and He will be tomorrow. 

No doubt, since our last Monthly Ministry Highlight email, when we reported that the team from Hillside was gearing up to go to Kyuquot and we had a lot of teams preparing for summer. We had also put a call out to you for further teams for the summer. A lot has changed.  We had to cancel the spring trips and things have changed for the summer as well for many teams. 

So now what? I love the words of Maria Von Trapp in the Sound of Music, "Where the Lord closes the door, somewhere He opens a window." So now we shift our focus, from the door we thought we were walking into to the window of opportunity He is opening. We are connecting with communities to see what their needs are and how we can minister from a distance. Please let us know whether you have any ideas of how long distance ministry can happen!

God bless each of you as you support us in so many creative and unique ways!
Delia

Hope is rising!

After what seems like a long couple of months of isolation and strangeness there seems to be a hint of expectancy in the air today.  A lot more people were out on the trail as we walked our new puppy, and it seems like there were many more people smiling today.

Maybe they were smiling because our playful puppy made them feel special with his wiggly waggle tail and high pitched squeal of excitement in meeting new people and their dogs, or perhaps it was the announcement that we received yesterday that we could actually begin to see some relaxation of the CoVid-19 restrictions. Or perhaps it was the sweet smell of sticky sap being released by new buds, or the sound of the excited birds building their nests. Maybe it was a bit of this and a dash of that, none-the-less it felt amazing, it felt like the "Joie de Vivre" was returning.

Then, as I reflect, I know that joy hasn't left me.  Jesus is the source of my joy! It doesn't mean that I didn't experience times of grief and sadness over the past couple of months, it just means that the mainstay mind frame for us who follow Jesus is this: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 Praise the Lord for the provisions we have had in the face of this world crisis. 

Praise Him for this weekend when many of us will see some of our extended families as the restrictions have been somewhat relaxed. 

Praise Him for keeping so many of the remote communities safe from CoVid-19. We are grateful for their protection!

Praise God for the wonderful progress that our Executive Director and the Board have made with strategic planning. More to come!

Praise God for the collaborations and mutual encouragement that BC Mission Boat Society has had over the last couple of months with other First Nations ministries such as NAIM, On Eagle's Wings, LAMP and Alaska Mission for Christ.

Praise Him for the wonderful strengthening of believers in the communities in which we serve, we have witnessed many people ministering to others in the name of Jesus! Hallelujah!

Please pray for the community of Alert Bay, who lost an elder to CoVid-19 in April.  Pray that Jesus would comfort them and that the family and community would sense His peace. The community of Kingcome is connected in many ways to Alert Bay, pray also that they would have peace.

During the last month we have been reaching out to many of you and asking how we can pray. We are sensing that there is much anxiety in families, especially those who have family working in healthcare and on the front line.  We pray for their protection and strengthening.

Join us in praying for those who are recovering from surgery, that healing would come swiftly.

Pray for E as he continues to recover from non Co-Vid19 related health issues at home. Thankful that his hospital stay was safe.

Pray for C as she continues to fight migraines, and hope that she can have some relief from them.

Pray for M as she continues to recover from surgery. 

Many people have experienced loss, and in this time of social distancing and isolation it is hard to come together to express grief and be comforted together. Pray that the Lord ministers to the brokenhearted.

We continue to wait patiently for an answer to the Canada Summer Job grant.Pray for the three candidates that we have selected that they would have peace as they wait patiently.

Pray that creativity would flow as we and teams explore ways to bless the communities this summer without travelling. Lots of ideas have already begun to flow, pray for an outpouring of ideas from the Lord

 

HOPEFUL EXPECTATION (APRIL 2020)

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.       Hebrews 10:23

We continue to remember the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ and His promises. We continue to trust through this seemingly long season of social isolation, that it is because of Him that have hope. "and hope does not make ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us:" Romans 5:5

Friends, we want to encourage you that His Holy Spirit is indeed shedding the love of God in our hearts this season.  I (Delia) was particularly impacted this Easter Season by the continued love that has been shed through the Calgary team, who had their first mission this past summer in Klemtu. They are continuously in contact with people in the community by phone and social media, continuing to encourage, pray for and recently by sending an Easter care package to the community.  I'm ever grateful for various team members, that don't let social isolation stop them from sharing God's love in special ways. I'm thankful for members of the Port Coquitlam team visiting people in Vancouver hospitals. Christ's love lives in us, because we have hope in Him. Thank you to all of you who are impacting this ministry through prayer, through giving of time and through giving financially.

We are looking ways that we can encourage and support the communities during this time, if you have any ideas or if you would like to help in this way, please contact our office.

 And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Ephesians 3:16-19

Join us in praising the Lord for answered prayer!

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.  Psalm 28:7

  • Praise God, as we have gone through this journey of Covid-19 we are healthy and unaware of anyone within our families and within the communities having contracted the virus.
  • Praise God for good leadership in Canada with respect to the strategy in addressing the pandemic, we are thankful for everyone who are respecting their leadership and listening to the advice that is given with regards to flattening the curve.
  • Praise God for four great interviews with potential summer students, should the federal funding come through we will need God's wisdom to make the decisions as they all were wonderful!
  • Praise God that J has started to eat while she is still in the hospital.

 

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” 
Hebrews 12:28-29

Please Pray!

  • Please pray for protection over all of our families and communities and the families and communities where we minister, that the Lord would keep up safe and protected in light of COVID-19.
  • Please pray for wisdom for the leaders of the nation, the communities and the health authorities.
  • Please continue to pray for the training and equipping of our 2020 teams and also for the Lord's favour as they raise funds in the next few months.
  • Pray for J who has been medi-vacced out of Klemtu to St. Paul's hospital in Vancouver.  She is starting to eat, but had a fall. Also, pray for her husband A that he will have the peace of God resting on him and that his faith would be strengthened. 
  • Please continue pray that we will have a successful application for three summer students from the Federal Government.
  • Please pray for high school students who are soon to graduate in the communities, that they will find the path that the Lord is leading them on. Specifically for C from Klemtu.
  • Please pray for the believers in Klemtu, Kyuquot, Ehattesaht and Kingcome, that their faith would be strengthened and that their feet would be guided by the Holy Spirit.
  • Please continue to pray for A. who is in long term care in Vancouver, pray that a spot would be opened up for her in a more comfortable environment so she doesn't have to stay long term in a hospital.
  • Please pray for all those who are in long term care homes and in the hospitals who have not been able to have any visitors for a while. 

 

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.  Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.  Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. Psalm 96:1-3

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”  Luke 12:22-26

Things Change!


So many changes have happened since the second week of March, but I've been encouraged by the fact that Jesus never changes, no matter what, He doesn't change. “Then He placed His right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.” Revelation 1:17 He is the same today as He was yesterday and He will be tomorrow. 

No doubt, since our last Monthly Ministry Highlight email, when we reported that the team from Hillside was gearing up to go to Kyuquot and we had a lot of teams preparing for summer. We had also put a call out to you for further teams for the summer. A lot has changed.  We had to cancel the spring trips and things have changed for the summer as well for many teams. 

So now what? I love the words of Maria Von Trapp in the Sound of Music, "Where the Lord closes the door, somewhere He opens a window." So now we shift our focus, from the door we thought we were walking into to the window of opportunity He is opening. We are connecting with communities to see what their needs are and how we can minister from a distance. Please let us know whether you have any ideas of how long distance ministry can happen!

God bless each of you as you support us in so many creative and unique ways!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10

 




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