Dear CBOQ Family,

What a wonderful few days this has been. Thank you for the friendship, the partnership and the encourage-ment you’ve offered to your fel-low Canadian Baptists this week at CBOQ Assembly. It has been good to be together. I noticed during wor-ship and especially in hallway conver-sations a true sense of God’s Spirit fl owing through. As conduits of that Spirit, you have been used by God this week to fan the fl ame of Oppor-tunity. Praise God for the doors that have been opened to us this week. I trust that God has laid on your heart specifi c doors you must walk through as the body of Christ in your com-munity this coming year. We can’t wait to hear how God blesses your ministry efforts to reveal God’s king-dom where you live.

For those of you who serve as dele-gates, thank you for playing your part in carrying out the business of the

CBOQ. Though not always the most inspiring time we spend together, it certainly is necessary and required of us as we continue to gather under the banner of CBOQ. Your faithfulness to the business decisions allow us to continue in our mission to empow-er and equip churches and leaders. Keep us posted on how we can walk with your church, your association or with a group of ministry specifi c leaders to provide support and re-sources.

Your presence here signals to us that you are committed to this relation-ship with CBOQ. We are so thankful for the opportunity to partner with your church in the work we accom-plish together. Most importantly, we are so grateful for those of your churches who have committed to pray for CBOQ over the course of the year. Your prayers are welcomed and needed. Thank you. We look

forward to your church’s decision on a deeper partnership with CBOQ.

I look forward to seeing you along the way. Finding you doing ministry and mission in your community as I pass through has been a true high-light of my life and ministry. Keep up the great Gospel work!

Whether you were at Assembly this year, or whether you weren’t able to attend, we sure hope to see you next year at Assembly, June 8-10, 2017.

Many blessings,

Tim McCoy Executive Minister, CBOQ

SUMMARY

CBOQ ASSEMBLY 2016

THURSDAYAssembly began on Thursday

with worship led by Glen Soder-holm. We raised our voices together, preparing our minds and hearts for the day ahead.

We listened to Donna Chapman, outgoing board president, share her opening thoughts about her experi-ence as board president.

We welcomed four new churches: Wismer Baptist Church, Cornerstone Asian Church, Joshua Ministries and We Share Vision Community Church into our family and 23 new and newly transferred ordinands into our midst. We are excited to see what God does through these faith families and lead-ers.

During the board report, Donna Chapman, and Tim McCoy, CBOQ’s Executive Minister, took turns taking questions from the floor, showing evidence both of our engaged and active delegates and our commitment to working together.

Our Director of Finance and Ad-ministration, Peris Kamotho, shared with us some of the challenges and opportunities that CBOQ is facing fi-nancially in the days ahead, as well as our successful audit results. We con-tinue to work to be good stewards of our covenant givings.

In the Thursday evening session, Tim interviewed Jim Sanderson of Mimico Baptist Church and Leanne Friesen of Mount Hamilton Baptist Church about what open doors they are walking through. He then shared about the resurrection of Christ from John 20:1-8 and the race to the tomb. He challenged us to imagine a ourselves running to support our churches, or sprinting to share the Gospel with their neighbours.

Tim finished with this: “The open door of the empty tomb is all the motivation required to share the good news of the Gospel through word and deed where you are.”

After Tim’s talk, we shared together in the Lord’s Supper led by Brian Craig, CBOQ’s Director of Leadership Development.

FRIDAYThe morning commenced with presentations from our CBOQ directors. Melody Currier, Director of Operations and Membership talked about our covenant relationship with our churches and our commitments with our time, talent and treasure. She encouraged our family of churches to continue in their commitment to give to CBOQ and to let us know what challenges they may face. She encouraged our church families to share their volunteer time and abilities to help make us better so that we can serve our family of churches better.

Dallas Friesen, Director of Congregational Development, shared his love for the church: “There has never been a better time to be a part of this family of churches.” He let us know about the different types of churches - flourishing, faithful and adrift. He challenged us to think about what a church’s (audacious) next step needs to be. He encouraged us to seek transformation and

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reminded our churches that they are the unique resources for their communities. Dallas also reminded us about the opportunity to receive grant funding for mission. He believes we are uniquely positioned in our governance structure to network well and recognize our opportunities to serve those who are in our “giant sandbox” of Ontario and Quebec. He also shared with us about opportunities to church plant and let us know about some of the people who are working in that area.

Peris Kamotho, Director of Finance and Administration, shared valuable and important information about the support CBOQ offers to its churches to ensure that they meet their obligations with the CRA. She reminded us that financial stewardship is an important part of mission, and that it is only through our ability to meet those obligations that we can continue to operate as charitable organizations. She reminded our gathered community about resources like the upcoming treasurer’s workshop, the pre-retirement workshop (March 2017), and the certificate loan program.

Matt Wilkinson, Director of Next Generation Ministries, began his talk with a fist bump—totally unrelated to his talk. He asked us when we look around our churches, what is missing? Young people. Yet there’s no shortage of youth in the community. He reminded us that youth are looking for a place to belong. He encouraged us to act now to reach out to young people. The Canadian Baptist Youth and Family Forum is youth and family leaders from across Canada that work

together to find ways to reach and disciple the next generation. They have generated the “Imaginative Hope Report,” which will be mailed out to churches in the fall. The report focuses on what needs to be done for Generation Z, the youth of today. He also encouraged intergenerational ministry—the opportunity to connect the generations.

Brian Craig, Director of Leadership Development, talked about his experience of going through many years of pastoral files—some of the challenges that he faced, but also finding our greatest opportunity is in the profoundly human leaders we have woven together in this profoundly human family of churches. It’s also our greatest obstacle. But we are responding to some of these challenges by focusing on clergy care, specifically as we seek to replace Bill Norman, who is going into interim ministry. CBOQ is also offering a pastor and leader retreat opportunity through Reignite, which this year will feature Peter Scazzero, author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. It’s an opportunity to deal with some of the huge challenges that face leaders—developing emotionally healthy leaders who can serve well in their churches.

Our partner organization, CBM, interviewed Rupen Das who has served extensively overseas. He let us know about some of the incredible ways that God is using churches to show compassion and share the Gospel with refugees. We also heard about the incredible explosion of the church in China

During the learning sessions, our leaders walked us through ideas on evangelism, culture and the changes that are happening in our churches. They shared ideas on how to respond to these changes and turn them into opportunities to serve God and his people in new ways.

Our evening plenary began with worship with Glen Soderholm, bringing us new and familiar songs, including one co-written with Steve Bell—last Assembly’s worship leader.

Anna Robbins of Acadia University talked to us about what is happening in the church today. She suggested that we need not to live in fear, but rather we need to live like we actually believe what we say we believe. She encouraged us that if we do, we need to share it—that perfect love will drive out fear.

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SATURDAYSaturday commenced with our small group learning sessions focusing on a broad spectrum of topics from mental illness in the church to refu-gee sponsorship. Our session leaders received an enthusiastic response, demonstrating our Baptist commit-ment to growing, learning and adapt-ing to our changing culture.

After the learning sessions, we re-grouped for the last time as our one big family to worship together. The sound of so many voices together, praising the same God is always up-lifting and inspiring.

Anna Robbins joined us again for a session on anger management. She suggested that there may be things

that make us feel angry—change can do that. But she encouraged us to let go of that anger and walk through the doors that are open around us - in our communities, in our workplaces and in our world.

Anna’s closing thought is this: “God has opened doors in front of us, and he gives us all the resources we need to minister on the other side – we just need to walk through.”

And with that, Murray Kohler, our new board president gave the bene-diction.

We hope that you had a wonderful and enriching time and Assembly 2016. Next year’s Assembly will be on June 8-10, 2017. We want to see you all there!

5 International BlvdEtobicoke, ON M9W 6H3

5 International BlvdEtobicoke, ON M9W 6H3

5 International BlvdEtobicoke, ON M9W 6H3

5 International BlvdEtobicoke, ON M9W 6H3

5 International BlvdEtobicoke, ON M9W 6H3

5 International BlvdEtobicoke, ON M9W 6H3

THE DOORWAY

This year at Assembly we did some-thing a little different—we made art to-gether. Working with Sharon Tiessen, a local artist and Canadian Baptist, we created an interactive art piece that we called “The Doorway.”

Our Assembly guests were asked a series of three questions:• How is God already working in

your church? In your communi-ty?

• What is the biggest challenge you face in your church as you look for ways to partner in his work?

• What is one thing you’re going to do when you get back to your church to encourage them to par-ticipate in what God is doing?

Participants were asked to write their responses on cards and hang them on the doorway. Together we created the final piece, covered in our stories of our churches, our hopes for their futures and our com-mitment to make them stronger.

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