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Vancouver is recognized internationally as one of the most
desirable places to live. With itslarge immigrant population (over
50%) Vancouver has become a gateway city to the PacificRim. The
world-wide influence will continue as the city is projected to grow
by 1.2 millionpeople over the next thirty years with much of the
growth coming from South Asian countries.Planting churches,
reaching people for Christ and developing leaders in Vancouver will
affectmany nations for Christ.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Mc
Kenz
ies
on
mission
From Taipei, Taiwan to Langley, BC...A New Adventure
BeginsGrowing up in a dynamic church I
was blessed to experience the beauty
of being a part of a Christiancommunity. I was able to learn
aboutthe life changing love of Jesus Christand I had a great
opportunity toexperience worship, discipleship &meaningful
relationships. It was also lifechanging to know that as I served
in
church I was playing a part in Godsmission here on earth. It was
in highschool that God gripped my heart witha passion for the
church and a callingto ministry.
Since then Ive been on missionwith God in various ways:
volunteerleadership in youth ministry, communityyouth work in
Northern Ireland withYouth For Christ and most recently as
the pastor of the Pearl Church in Taipei,Taiwan. These
experiences havemolded me over time. Theyve provided
me with an opportunity to discover mystrengths and weaknesses.
Ive also
been able to learn more about what ittakes to lead people and
lead inchurch. With that said, there is still somuch I need to
learn. Thats why itstime for the McKenzies to make achange. Our
time in Taiwan has beenabsolutely amazing. Its been a time of
growth, a time of great milestones anda time of challenges. The
Pearl willalways hold a special place in myheart.
In early 2012, I began looking into
study related opportunities in Canada.The goal was to find
something thatwould give me a chance to do someseminary study as
well as keep meengaged in church ministry. Through
some divine connections made throughthe recommendation of some
friends Ifound an amazing program with an
organization called Fellowship Pacific.They invited me to join
their church-
based training program as a churchplanter. This program will
allow me tohelp with a brand new church plant inLangley, BC (a
suburb of Vancouver)while working my way through theirspecial
seminary program.
I believe this opportunity has been
arranged by God and our family isexcited to embark on a new
adventure.We hope that you will join with us.
Timeline:Leaving Taiwan June 29Vacation in SaskatoonJuly/AugMove
to Langley Late AugBegin the program Sept
Taiwan has been an awesome experiencefor the McKenzie family. We
are nowembarking on a new adventure back inCanada.
Chris, Nevada, Gemma (5yrs) & Guinness (3yrs)
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We are a growing group of over 100 churches who have partnered
together to
achieve an unforgettable God-honouring impact within our
communities andbeyond. We are sold out to three main strategic
areas: church planting, churchhealth and leadership
development.
Our movement has a track record of innovation and kingdom impact
whichincludes: Northwest Baptist Seminary and community impact
ministries whichprovide housing for seniors, housing for abused
women, summer camps, andhousing for refugees.
Church Based Training ProgramIn our commitment to plant
churches, Fellowship Pacific is launching a brand
new educational initiative that is a pathway for producing
church planters andstarting a church planting movement in
Vancouver. The uniqueness of this programincludes:
- only people with the calling and gif ts to be a planter are
invited to participate- each student learns in a multi-disciplinary
environment to develop ministry skills, theological understanding
and proven character- learning is tested through a mastery model,
where knowledge is applied in church planting teams and hands-on
ministry- each student joins a church planting team and joins a
cohort of planters- each student is coached through the process of
building his own team,
developing church planting strategy and successfully launching a
church plant and a successful church plant is a requirement for
graduation
Colin van der KurrDirector of Church Reproduction
Fellowship Pacific
Prayer Points:
Join us in theexperience by lifting usup in prayer!
1. Adjustment period for ourfamilyWe are leaving behind
friends,jobs and a country we have fallenin love with. It will be a
toughtime of cultural transition for ourfamily, especially our kids
whohave never lived in Canada. Praythat we will be able to
embrace
our new lives and that our newhome will embrace us.
2. New RelationshipsWe are entering a newcommunity where we know
noone. So pray that we will connectwith some people in
ourneighborhood and find a faithcommunity to do life with.
Also,pray for the connection with my
new ministry partners, Colin &Lindsay. Weve only met
onlinethrough Skype & email so praythat we will hit it off in
person.
3. Ministry OpportunitiesThe church plant we will beinvolved
with is starting at squareone. Much of the initial plantstage will
be about creatingrelationships with our neighbors
and instilling a love for the gospel& a desire to do life
incommunity within the context ofthe church. Join us in praying
thatJesus would take hold of the cityof Langley and use us to do
his
great work.
4. Financial challengesCanada, and the Vancouver
areaspecifically, is an expensive place
to live. Pray that Gods provisionwill sustain us as the program
weare entering does not come witha salary like that of a job. We
areplacing our finances in the handsof God and his church. We
wantto be able to focus on ministry &learning and not on the
pressuresof financial burden. We also hopeto provide our children
with a
decent life that will not reflect thefinancial challenge facing
parentsin ministry.
Lindsay AndersonChurch Plant Pastor
My partner, advisor & mentor
Who Ill Be Working With & What Ill Be Doing
http://www.nbseminary.ca/http://www.nbseminary.ca/http://www.nbseminary.ca/
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When Jesus proclaimed, "As the father has sent me, sosend I you"
(John 20:21), he declared that we areparticipants in his mission.
Our call is not to go do whatJesus did -- died on the cross, for
our sins, and in ourplace. But, our call is to do what Jesus said
-- he told us tolive out the Great Commission and the
GreatCommandment -- to share and show the love of Jesus. So,the
church joins Jesus in his mission.
--Ed Stetzer
How can you be involved?This program represents an amazing
opportunity
for the McKenzie family but more importantly it
represents a movement of gospel impact in BC that willresonate
around the world, especially with its Asian
connections. We are jumping in as a giant step offaith. One of
the greatest challenges we will face is
the financial reality of living in Canada. The programtakes care
of the academic costs and provides somebasic financial assistance
but in order to make itthrough the process it will take some
outside support.Im reaching out to you my friends, family and
members of my spiritual family. Do you have a desireto see the
name of Jesus made famous in this world?Do you desire to see new
communities of faith planted
that will foster relationships and provide a place forworship,
discipleship and service to the broken world
around us? Do you believe in me and want to see melearn &
grow in my leadership? If so then I ask you tothink about joining
the McKenzies in this exciting
opportunity through your prayer and financialsupport. The goal
is to have a committed group of
people come around us for 2-3 years.
Wed like to secure commitments for $2000-2500
CAD/month. This is a big ask but for big things tohappen big
risks must be taken. We believe God willprovide for our needs.
The following is a word from FEB Pacific regardingthe
opportunity to join in financial partnership duringthis
program:
Fellowship Pacific has a proven track record to
respond to a culture in need of the gospel.Vancouver is a
strategic city and church basedtraining is a highly ambitious
process to equip
successful leaders to plant churches, reach people for
Christ and disciple nations. We believe that investingin this
process is an investment in the start of a church
planting movement that will have global influence.
To support the training of Chris McKenzie go to
bcfellowship.ca and click on the link donate now. Youwill be
directed to a page where you can sign up to
directly partner with Chris through his training and
ministry through monthly support. Options includedirect debit,
credit card payment and paypal
donations. For further information you can contactthe director
of church reproduction for the Fellowship
Pacific, Dr. Colin van der Kuur.
[email protected]
Keep in touch by email:
Chris: [email protected]
Nevada: [email protected]
A mountain view from Langley, BC
on mission... contact us
http://bcfellowship.ca/http://bcfellowship.ca/
