The Free Methodist Church in Canada | Summer 2012 | Volume 9, Issue 2 Reflecting the diversity of ministry expression within the Free Methodist family

COVER

Take heart, He has given us the Holy Spirit!by Bishop Keith Elford

PAGE 2 Editor’s Desk

MISSIONAL ENGAGEMENT: CURIOSITYby Jared Siebert

PAGE 3It’s about the Missionby Kim Henderson

PAGE 4Ghana ... A Missional Storyby John-Mark and Loreli Cockram

PAGES 5Nathan’s Photo Logby Nathan Colqhoun

PAGE 6

Passages

Can Stewardship be Missional?by Sandy Crozier

Children forming global connectionsby Paula Moriarity

PAGE 7OUR HISTORY: JW Hawley - A Canadian Pioneer Missionary in Africaby Dan Sheffield

PAGE 8The Barrie-Ghana Connectionby Greg Ford

CONTENT

MOSAICis a publication of The Free Methodist Church in Canada4315 Village Centre CourtMississauga, Ontario L4Z 1S2

T. 905.848.2600F. 905.848.2603E. mosaic@fmcic.cawww.fmc-canada.org

For submissions:mosaic@fmcic.ca

Dan Sheffield, Editor-in-ChiefLisa Howden, Managing Editor and Production

When I was younger, I used to think that professional quarterbacks had

exceptional powers. In split seconds they see where to run, how long to hold the pass before they throw it … and when it’s best to sacrifi ce and just throw the pass away rather than lose ground. To this naïve kid, their ability to call plays to outwit the defense was uncanny.

I thought that the credit for all this resided inside a quarterback’s helmeted head. As far as I understood it back then, the coaches on the sideline were just upgraded cheerleaders who patted the players on the back when they did a good job. It wasn’t even on my radar that the plays were called by unseen playmakers watching from a box above the bleachers and that a good quarterback basically executed the plays that were relayed to the fi eld.

In this issue, we are talking about “missional engagement”, that is, committing ourselves to be fully abandoned to the Lordship of Jesus and what he wants to accomplish in the world. Th e church has been given a clear mandate by the Lord Jesus about its role in making disciples, but if we are not careful, we can get very shallow in our thinking (perhaps unconsciously) and suppose that “all that is happening on the fi eld is because of our clever gift edness and/or gutsy perseverance.”

So, what is the Holy Spirit’s role in what we are calling “missional engagement?” What can He be depended upon to do to help us? Actually, that’s the wrong question! What is it that He is doing – even when we are not paying attention? And what is it that we need to keep in mind that He is still doing – when we are being very attentive, but feel like we are losing ground?

I want to do a quick sweep through the Book of Acts to highlight some instances of missional engagement. Clearly, there’s more going on than human ingenuity. But fi rst let’s read the clear promise that the Lord Jesus made to the disciples in John 16 about what would happen with the coming of the Spirit. John writes:

When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

(John 16:8-15 NIV)

Several commentators contend that this is the

most comprehensive statement in scripture on the Spirit’s role in the world. I agree – especially when one understands that Jesus’ words about the Spirit’s “convicting” work refer to more than informing people about their list of sins, about the righteousness of Jesus and about the reality of judgment. An accurate understanding is that the Holy Spirit will convince the world concerning the real nature of sin and the real nature of righteousness and the real nature of judgment. In other words, when the Spirit is active, the message moves from the head (where all kinds of minimizing maneuvers can take place) to confront the heart and will with ultimate realities … and decisions.

Let’s see this in play in a number of diff erent instances in the Book of Acts. In chapter two, the Holy Spirit comes with power at a time when Jewish pilgrims are gathered in Jerusalem from all over the known world to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. A month earlier or later they wouldn’t have been there. Amazing timing! And, the Spirit-enabled testimonies of the apostles allowed every one of them to hear the message of the resurrection of Jesus in their own language! Peter, fi lled with the Spirit, preached and look at what happened: “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?” vs 37. Th ere it is - the unseen work of the Spirit exposing the real nature of sin as Jesus promised that He would!

Th e mission that Jesus sent his followers on was to the whole world – Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. But it soon became clear that this same Spirit-fi lled Peter couldn’t see how God could possibly want to include anyone other than himself (and-people-just-like- him) in His plan of redemption. Th en Acts 10 happened and remember that as he was coming out of the vision, three men (ends-of-the-earth-types who had no Jewish pedigree) arrived

knocking on the door, asking him to do the unthinkable and come into their world!

How did those guys know where to go and when to come? A week earlier or later Peter wouldn’t have been there. Several hours earlier, he would have told them to get lost (and stay lost) because in his faulty understanding of personal holiness, he believed that he would have really let God down if he had had anything to do with their kind. In reality, though they were people who did not know anything about Jesus, Luke describes them as devout, God-fearing, generous and praying as best they could. What follows is wonderful “missional engagement”, but what (or who) changed Peter’s heart and what brought the three men to his door?

Some people are of the view that “the world” referred to in John 16 (that needs to be convicted by the Spirit) is the unbelieving world. Unbelievers need to know that the essence of sin is rejecting God’s off er of a life-long relationship made possible through trusting fully in the Lord Jesus. Th ey also need to know about the righteousness of Christ who was vindicated through his resurrection and ascension. Th e unbelieving world in Jerusalem said that he was a blasphemer who deserved to die. Th rough raising him back to life, God said that Jesus has the righteousness that heaven requires. Finally, the unbelieving world needs to know about Satan, judgment and the condemnation that is coming for Satan and those who give themselves over to his infl uence.

TAKE HEART, HE HAS GIVEN US THE HOLY SPIRIT! | BISHOP KEITH ELFORD

DID YOU KNOW?The MOSAIC is produced using environmentally responsible processes. The paper is acid-free, contains 10% post-consumer wastematerial, and is treated with anon-chlorine whitening process.Vegetable-based inks were usedthroughout the publication and it is100% recyclable.

HISTORY VIDEO - ON THE WEBSITEHave you viewed the video celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Free Methodist ministry? You may find it a useful resource as an intro to our history or to use in membership classes. ::: www.fmcic.ca :::[home page - last menu item on the left]

Mailed under publication agreement #40008369Return postage guaranteed

After Peter’s testimony before the Jerusalem council, they had a hunch that the gospel needed to be taken to those ends-of-the-earth types. But who would be any good at that kind of endeavor and where would they start?

THIS ARTICLE CONTINUES ON PAGE 5 - TAKE HEART

M O S A I C 2

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Venturing out of my backyard sanctuary to the front porch

I grew up in a very small community on the outskirts of Montreal’s downtown core. We lived

in a very modest WWII-built home with a front porch that had room for two folding chairs on it. As children we would congregate on front porches in our neighbourhood and think up crazy games we could play with even crazier rules. It was the kind of place where everyone knew you by name or, at the very least, knew you were the daughter or son of Mr. and Mrs. “So and So.” I have vivid memories of walking home from school and greeting neighbours on their front porches as I passed by.

I have lived in several places since then – all of them in urban areas where big backyard spaces were highly valued. I have enjoyed the company of family and friends with the thick foliage and privacy fences providing a good screen from the outside world. And yet, as lovely as it was to enjoy this space, I never came to know my neighbours the way I did in the house with the small front porch. The only times I would see them in their front yards was as they got into their cars and drove away – presumably going to work. Otherwise, they too were safely tucked away in their homes or enjoying their backyards as well.

Of course I am not about to suggest that we declare a moratorium on “backyard sanctuaries” – that is not the problem. The real issue is how to engage my neighbours in any meaningful conversations that might lead to friendship and possibly to Jesus if I’m not present to them?

I recently moved to a very small community called Waterdown – just north of Burlington and east of Hamilton in Ontario. It is a village by definition and although, like me, most of my neighbours have come from much bigger urban areas, there is an openness and friendliness that seems to be inherent in this small hamlet.

I find myself drifting outside to the front porch to drink my tea after dinner in the evenings ... just to see if anyone is up for a chat. Unfortunately there is no room on my front porch for a chair, so I sit on the steps and smile at kids as they zoom by on their bicycles and chat with my neighbours and dog-walkers.

I have developed more friendships in eight months than I ever did in the ten years I lived in my last community. In my continuing quest to simplify things and not look for ways of “doing” missional work, I am attempting to become missional in the things that I already do.

Pretty straightforward stuff, I know – but perhaps I am not alone in making things more complicated that they need to be. Right now, for me, missional behaviour equals front porch.

MISSIONAL ENGAGEMENT - CURIOSITY

Lisa HowdenManaging Editor

IN MY WORK IN HELPING CHURCHES begin to think like missionaries in their respective contexts (some call this being missional) I have noted an important ingredient. It is a key ingredient in our relationship to our neighbourhoods and contexts. It is a key ingredient to any successful ministry. It is a vital component of creative and meaningful ministry. Without it we are in danger of developing bad habits and bad attitudes toward the people we are called to reach. So what is this all important ingredient? Th e key ingredient is curiosity. Why is curiosity so important and what can we do to develop it at the local level? Glad you asked. Let’s talk.

There are many ways that curiosity can help us become the kind of church that God asks us to be.

Curiosity enables us to treat others the way God wants us to treat them and to see the world the way he wants us to see it.

Any cursory glance at the New Testament will tell you that curiosity was sorely lacking in the hearts of most religious leaders. Religious leaders saw themselves as answer people – aft er all what was there to be curious about? - the truth was simple and clear. Th eir goal in life seems to be to provide clear- cut solutions and answers to all of life’s diffi cult questions. Here is a quick overview of some of their greatest hits: Q) Why do people get sick? A) Because the affl icted person has sinned or their parents have sinned. Q) What is the purpose of the Sabbath? A) To make sure no one works. Q) Who does God call us to love? A) Only the people that we understand and that understand us. Q) Where can God be found? A) Try the temple or on one of the holy mountains... certainly not among the poor, the imprisoned, the sick – those folks are the farthest you can get from God. While their answers were clear and well defi ned their ability to perceive the truth was not. Th ey replaced real relationships and real enquiry with cardboard cutouts of people and assumptions.

Jesus spent a good deal of his time challenging their thinking and actions. But did he simply replace one set of false assumptions for another set of correct ideas? No! Jesus responded to their pronouncements with intriguing questions like “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” or statements like “blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them” or “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” or told parables that people had a hard time understanding.

Following Jesus requires and sustains our curiosity. His way is an invitation into the unknown and the unexpected. Life in him requires walking by faith and not simply by sight. Life with him means that he can and will do more than can we ask or imagine. Life with Jesus also means that some people we fully expect to be on the outside (children, women caught in adultery, tax collectors, drunks

and scoundrels) oft en wind up on the inside track and people we expect to get the preferred seating (the religious, the pious, the experts in God’s law) are oft en on the outside. Curiosity helps hold our assumptions at bay and clears a path for God to do something truly remarkable. Life with Jesus means that we must put an end to our assumptions about how the world works and our judgments about what we “know” about people. By remaining curious, by living with ambiguity, we create space in ourselves for greater and larger truths to emerge.

Curiosity creates new openings and possibilities for church ministry.

As we have seen, God moves in mysterious ways. All too oft en we grow accustomed to a routine, to a predictable pattern. But more than simply enjoying routine or pattern we can oft en be found defending and fi ghting to maintain our way against the world we are called to reach. Curiosity does not allow for us to settle for “what is” or “the way things are.” Instead, it frees us to consider other possibilities and avenues. A church that is curious about the world around it will fi nd opportunities and possibilities in the most unlikely places.

Curiosity enables us to meet God in new ways.

In Matthew 25 we are warned against seeing other people and God himself from a worldly perspective. Th e “goats,” (v. 32ff ) knowing all there was to know about “the way the world works” and “who their neighbours really were,” missed the fact that God was to be found not only in the temple or on the holy mountain but also in the prisons, hospitals, and among the abandoned. It is the missionary-minded church, the perpetually curious church, that will not lose sight of where God can truly be found.

As the Free Methodist Church endeavours to once again look at our nation, our neighbourhoods, and regions like missionaries one of the fi rst things we will need to recover is widespread curiosity about the people and the world around us. Armed with this virtue God is free to lead us into unexpected directions.

Rev. Jared Siebert is the Director of Church Development for The

Free Methodist Church in Canada | jared.siebert@fmcic.ca

Jared SiebertDirector of Growth Ministries

JOIN THE 100 Church Challenge!

As a movement we are

putting out a call to 100 churches to support

church planting across our country by giving

$3700/year – that`s $308/month; or $10.15 a day

to the Church Development Giving Stream.

Church Planting is vital to the ongoing health

and sustainability of our movement.

Can we count you in?

Contact the Growth Ministries department davika.dotson@fmcic.ca or by calling 905.848.2600 ext. 205 to donate.

SEABASS TRAVELCASTFollow Jared as he chats with church planters and leaders about their stories

www.youtube.com/user/SeabassTravelcast

JARED’S TWITTER FEED jaredsiebert

This Church Planter Summit assumes that people interested in planting churches will need to develop cross-cultural

competency and mission adaptability as essential leadership abilities for Canadian contexts. To register: jared@jaredsiebert.com

Winnipeg | September 11-13Montreal | November 6-8

FMCIC is on Twitter to provide you with news and information, as well as upcoming events.

Following twitter.com/fmcic is a great way to stay in the loop!

2012 Ministers Conference The Soul of the Missional Leader

September Wesley Acres,

Bloomfield, ON

25-27October

Entheos Retreat Centre, Calgary, AB

2-4

3 M O S A I C

When Jesus sent the 72 out to neighbouring towns and villages they went with a few instructions, and

one was to declare the mission: that the ‘Kingdom of God is near to you’ (Luke 10). Th e Kingdom of God is God’s reign established in the hearts and lives of believers. It is the hope of the church (that’s you and me) but it’s also our task. Our job. God has a mission and the church (you and me) is the instrument He wants to use to fulfi ll it.

Scripture also instructs us on how we are to interact with each other within the body of Christ. We are to have fellowship with each other (Acts 2:42). Love our neighbour as ourselves (Matthew 22:39) – and that includes our brothers and sisters in Christ. Th e New Testament has over 50 ‘one-another’ commands on how we are to live with and treat each other.

Sending and being – both are true of the church. I’ve spoken with leaders who believe that the church will turn inward and focus on herself unless she is intentionally reminded and led back into partnering with God in His mission. I’ve also listened to leaders who are concerned that a more outward focus will sacrifi ce the fellowship that currently exists. Yet God calls us to both.

What does being faithful to that call look like? I saw an illustration years ago that has stuck with me. Picture a group of people in a circle, all facing inward and holding hands. Th is is a local expression of church. Lots of potential for great fellowship and practicing the one-anothers. Yet how open and welcoming is this? Would it be easy to connect and join? What about the world beyond that needs to know that the Kingdom of God is near? Who is telling them? Who is making more disciples?

Now picture another group of people in a circle, this time all facing outward and holding hands. Th is has more connection with the neighbourhood, more awareness of needs in the community with capacity to be about the mission. Yet the fellowship within the body suff ers - and what or who is at the centre of this circle?

Taking the best of both, picture a group of people forming a pinwheel, each standing with one hand extended into the centre so that all hands are touching, and the other hand is extended outward, beyond the circle. Th e people are close and connected to each other; the one-anothers can easily happen. Th ey are also outward looking, aware of those around them and are poised and ready to go, to be sent, rather than waiting for others to come to them. Many can join so the pinwheel can grow. Th ose who are sent can form a new pinwheel.

Th e centre of the pinwheel doesn’t change yet all of the connecting, being and sending revolves around it. Jesus is the centre and He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He reminds us that we are the church - not simply a social agency. We enter into the needs and hurts of others in real ways with food, clothing and shelter as we practice the means of grace but we know that the best and most important thing we can do is introduce them to Jesus.

Th e God who calls us to both will equip us for both. He does not set us up for failure.

As you refl ect on the ‘shape’ of your local church, which picture is the best fi t? Inward circle? Outward

circle? Pinwheel? Being faithful to both sending and being does require leadership: leaders who possess values and skills that are timeless and who are willing to be further developed in attitudes and practices that are needed now and for the future. Some of those timeless characteristics and qualities are faith, courage, forgiveness, self-awareness, teachable spirit, humility, presence and discernment. If we are to be about God’s mission, we need to discern where He is at work in our communities.

Th e pinwheel represents a both/and balance and to have that balance, some of us will have to face and make some changes. Aft er all, if we desire diff erent results then we have to change what we’re doing. Th is requires leaders who can help navigate through change, who are good listeners, who facilitate conversations, who can manage confl ict (change does result in some confl ict), who persevere in leading in spite of disinterest or opposition. Th ese leaders practice hospitality, study and know their neighbourhoods and the people in them, are rooted in God through spiritual disciplines and the means of grace and disciple their people to be as well.

Neither list of qualities is complete – and I am interested in the skills or characteristics that you would add –

but they are all needed to be about God’s mission. And it’s all about the mission!

Rev. Kim Henderson is the Director of Personnel for The Free Methodist Church in Canada |

kim.henderson@fmcic.ca

IT’S ABOUT THE MISSION

Th is is very true, but I also believe that the believing world needs the Holy Spirit’s convicting work. Believers can become casual about the real nature of sin and its destructive consequences both now and eternally. Believers can become self-righteous (working hard to prove themselves worthy rather than trusting in Christ’s gracious, sanctifying work) and like Peter they can have a faulty view of righteousness that keeps them way back from taking any risk to share the gospel with those ends-of-the-earth types. Believers can become discouraged in the face of overwhelming evil, but it is the Spirit that convinces one to hold steady and not be afraid. God will set things right ultimately.

You see what I mean about the Holy Spirit’s role in “missional engagement”? Th e Spirit is at work in the unbelieving world long before any of us get concerned

about it. And it is the Spirit that not only makes us fi t for heaven, but it is the Spirit that helps us to get over ourselves and makes us somewhat fi t to represent Jesus in what we do and say now in our “missional engagement.”

Start looking and you’ll see the Holy Spirit all over the place as disciples went out and were missionally engaged without knowing that this is what they were doing. (By the way, “missional engagement” has been going on for a long time and where Jesus gets his way, its reality will continue long aft er the term is worn out and forgotten.)

A couple more vignettes. Th ese Christ-followers were repeatedly getting hauled up before authorities, religious and secular, but they always had something to say “in that hour” as Jesus had promised: “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:19-20

Like us, there were times when they really did not know what to do. Aft er Peter’s testimony before the Jerusalem council, they had a hunch that the gospel needed to be taken to those ends-of-the-earth types. But who would be any good at that kind of endeavor and where would they start? And how would they know where to go?

Acts 13:2-3 – “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So aft er they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off .”

Acts16:6ff , “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of

Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Aft er Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

So, what is the role of the Holy Spirit in “missional engagement”? Th e Articles of Religion sum it up well when they say “Th e Holy Spirit is the administrator of the salvation planned by the Father and provided by the Son’s death, resurrection, and ascension. He is the eff ective agent in our conviction, regeneration, sanctifi cation, and glorifi cation. He is our Lord’s ever-present self, indwelling, assuring, and enabling the believer. Th e Holy Spirit is poured out upon the church by the Father and the Son. He is the church’s life and witnessing power. He bestows the love of God and makes real the lordship of Jesus Christ in the believer so that both His gift s of words and service may achieve the common good, and build and increase the church. In relation to the world He is the Spirit of truth, and His instrument is the Word of God.” (Articles 106, 107) Wow!

A bunch of guys amusing themselves with pick-up football on a vacant lot on Saturday aft ernoon don’t need an unseen playmaker. Th ey are just playing around. Th ere’s nothing really at stake. We, however, are on a mission commissioned by the Lord Jesus. Th ere’s a lot at stake, but take heart, He has given us the Holy Spirit.

Rev. Keith Elford is the Bishop of The Free Methodist Church in Canada | keith.elford@fmcic.ca

TAKE HEARTcontinued from cover

Kim HendersonDirector of Personnel

ATTENTION! Leadership Scholarship PlanDeadline to submit your application for LSP is October 15th, 2012 - visit the website for more information www.fmcic.ca

The centre of the pinwheel doesn’t change yet all of the connecting, being and sending revolves around it.

M O S A I C 4

Mission without MeaningA few months aft er the Cockrams moved home, aft er living in Ghana for two years, a close Ghanaian friend and newly-appointed FM pastor sent them an e-mail, “We thank God for your partnership. It is as if the epistles of Paul to the New Testament churches have come to life for me.” Th at simple message was wonderful confi rmation that our Ghana-Canada mission partnership was mutual, meaningful and glorifying to God. It has taken some time and eff ort to get there.

Previously, Barrie Free Methodist Church had a long history of sponsoring mission work. For many years, BFMC supported missionaries through Giving Streams (funds directed through the Ministry Centre, which distributes a percentage of overall givings to Free Methodist missionaries or initiatives). While this might have been eff ective in providing for our missionaries, there was very little personal connection to the work that was happening around the world. Missionaries were names on a board in the foyer, and little more.

In the early 2000s, several BFMC members participated in short-term missions trips to Haiti and to the U.S.A. to help in the clean-up aft er Hurricane Katrina. Th ere was evidence that our desire as a congregation was to be participants in God’s mission, not just passive givers. While these trips were successful in building awareness and engagement, it became clear that we would benefi t from a focus on one particular area where we could build upon each other’s eff orts over time. Th e tough part was fi guring out where to start.

In 2004, a missions committee was formed of people with a heart to serve God globally and to seek His will for direction. Th rough prayer and study, the committee asked how our church could respond to Jesus’ command to “go” (Mark 16:15). It was time to move out of our comfort zone and engage more deeply in global mission work. We arrived at an understanding that this would be done best through global partnership with other believers, demonstrating unity based on Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane ( John 17:23), that we would be brought to complete unity so that the world would know the love of God. Th is was our objective which would lead us to the church in Ghana and challenge us in the practicalities of living it out in our ministry.

Why Ghana?Our fi rst step was to have Global Ministries Director, Dan Sheffi eld, lead us through a comprehensive process to educate and inform our church about the benefi ts and challenges of long-term partnership with

another FM mission district.

It was important to poll the congregation to hear where they were at. What was their understanding of God’s mission in the world and our role in it? A congregational survey was distributed and the results revealed that the people of BFMC were aware of the call of missions on their lives and, as a whole, were interested in reaching out to an area in Africa, specifi cally working with women and children. We had a direction toward which we would move.

When this information was presented to Dan Sheffi eld, we realized God had already been preparing a church plant in Ghana for an overseas partner. Pastor Charles Tetteh and his congregation had a vision for the education of women as well as for growing the FM church in Ghana. Th is meshed with what BFMC felt called to do. Rev. Henry Church, former Africa Area Director for Free Methodist World Missions, put us in touch with Pastor Charles, and through a series of e-mails and letters, we began to get to know one another.

Building a PartnershipIn 2005, we sent four individuals on a fact-fi nding team for two weeks to hear directly from the Ghana Mission. Pastor Charles conveyed his passion for education and church-planting to the team. When the fact-fi nding team returned, the missions committee recommended that BFMC pursue a partnership with our sister church in Ghana.

At the centre of any healthy partnership is good communication. Th e Missions Committee at BFMC learned, through trial and error, that the best way to communicate would be to recruit liaisons to move to Ghana for a short-term mission, establish relationships, and bring cultural understanding to both sides. Th is was something that Dan Sheffi eld had recommended as a necessary part of the development of a true partnership.

God was stirring in the lives of Loreli and John-Mark Cockram, members of BFMC. J-M had led the 2005 team, and Lori had been instrumental in initiating the search for a global partner for Barrie.

J-M and Lori would tell you that to be called to do missions in Africa could only be the result of God working in their lives. Once, when they were dating, Lori asked J-M if he would ever consider being a missionary and received an emphatic “no.” Friends and family didn’t quite understand this new direction, since it didn’t fi t into the lifestyle the Cockrams were pursuing. Both worked as professionals and were on the trajectory towards a more comfortable standard of living and better vacations. Th e process of looking into God’s word to see what He said about missions and service revealed the emptiness of the life they were living. Little by little, they let go of the things that were previously important to them to pursue what was important to God. Th rough this, they discovered that they could use their abilities to serve the partnership. It would mean quitting their jobs and selling their home to do it. It would mean taking their two small children to live in an unfamiliar country. It would mean trusting in where God was leading them.

In 2006, the Cockrams were commissioned as missionaries to spend two years living in Accra, learning to live like urban Africans. Th ey spent their time encouraging the leadership, identifying needs, serving in local ministry alongside the Ghanaian church, initiating steps for a building project, working with Dan Sheffi eld in leadership development.

While living in Ghana, their most joyful times were the weekly meetings with the young adults from the congregation. Th e Cockrams hosted this small group in their home. In these weekly meetings, the group would search the scripture and challenge each other to apply its truths to their lives. Th e cultural diff erences served to break down the preconceptions each had about the gospel – and get to the core of the matter. As the group discussions deepened, so did the

IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO GHANA WITH A MULTI-CHURCH TEAM AS THEY CONTINUED TO WORK ON THEIR

ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH FREE METHODIST CHURCHES IN THAT COUNTRY. THE BARRIE FMC IS THE LEAD CHURCH IN THIS PARTNERSHIP AND

HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN MINISTRY IN GHANA SINCE 2005. THEIR STORY IS HIGHLIGHTED IN OUR FEATURE ARTICLE WRITTEN BY LORELI COCKRAM.

LORELI AND HER HUSBAND JOHN-MARK AND THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS LIVED IN ACCRA 2006-2008, AS PART OF THE GHANA PARTNERSHIP. GREG

FORD IS CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION OF THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH IN CANADA; HE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF BARRIE

FREE METHODIST CHURCH. IN FEBRUARY HE TRAVELLED AS PART OF THE TEAM ON HIS FIRST TRIP TO GHANA. YOU WILL FIND GREG’S STORY HERE

AS WELL. OTHER TEAM MEMBERS INCLUDED ROB COREY, THE BOARD CHAIR AT BARRIE FMC; PASTOR HOWARD OLVER AND CONNIE ASIEDU

FROM KINGSVIEW FMC IN TORONTO; AS WELL AS NATHAN COLQUHOUN AND TROY SHANTZ, FROM THE STORY (FMC), SARNIA; DAN SHEFFIELD

Ghana . . . a missional story

2005 2013

Living in Ghana: John-Mark and Loreli Cockram with their daughters

Barrie FMC members participatein short-term missions trips to Haiti and the U.S.Ea

rly 20

00’s Barrie FMC

forms a Missions Committee20

04

A team led my John-Mark Cockram is sent on a fact-finding mission for two weeks to hear directly from the Ghana Mission.20

05

The Cockram Family - John-Mark, Loreli and their two children are commissioned as missionaries to spend two years living in Accra. Au

gust

2006 As many as

50 Barrie FMC members participate in trips to Ghana20

06 to

pres

ent

Seven Ministerial Candidates were approved at the Ghana Mission District ConferenceFe

brua

ry 20

12 Four current pastors will be ordained during our next visit.Fe

brua

ry 20

13

THIS ARTICLE CONTINUES ON PAGE 7 - THE GHANA STORY

FMCiC assumes ecclesiastical oversight for Ghana Mission DistrictAp

ril 20

09

by John-Mark and Loreli Cockram

5 M O S A I C

The markets were crazy. Thousands of people everywhere. Animals being butchered in the open. Bowls on heads. Peanut Butter in piles. It was a sight to behold. Just a few minutes of time there was enough, but there was something about it that you didn’t want to leave.

Travelling with John-Mark was an educational experience and we were able to meet and buy from local folks all over Ghana. From our t-shirts, to necklaces to homemade juice, the trip was full of local relationships. There is something beautiful about seeing healthy business practices in developing countries especially when the church values these practices and encourages them.

Nathan’s Photo Log

One of the things I learned a lot about while in Ghana was the emphasis on respect to elders and leaders. We were invited to meet a chief who had given one of our FM churches land to build on. So we sat with him and his family and thanked him.

These are the new FM ministerial candidates. I got to meet them all and it was great to see that as they organize that the newly forming denomination is going to be in good, God-fearing hands.

This is my favourite picture. If you look closely, there is a man sitting on his spilled load, smoking a cigarette. Everyone in this scene is treating it like its an every day occurrence. The calmness rattled me.

The most important moments for me when being in other countries is observing children and how they act, how they are treated and what they care about. The children in Ghana are beautiful. They are happy, responsible and make us adults look like spoiled brats. They love being in school and see it as a blessing that they can be educated. They want to help wherever they can and they always have big gorgeous smiles on their faces.

Nathan Colqhoun was part of the latest team that visited Ghana in February 2012. He is on staff at theStory in Sarnia, Ontario

M O S A I C 6

PASSAGES

OK, I confess that when I started this article I had to Google ‘missional’. Th e term has been used so oft en in so many diff erent ways that I needed to confi rm what we were talking about. Th e fact that my Google search was fi lled with the question “What does it mean to be missional?” reveals that there is a lot of both confusion and reaction over the term. I even found an article on how ‘not’ to be missional!

From listening to Dan and Jared on the topic, my understanding of ‘missional’ has grown to our calling to both “be” and “do” as we live out the mission of God in every area of our lives (kind of like stewardship!). It is about asking the questions: Where has God placed me? What has God given me? What is God telling me to do with what He has given me? And what am I going to do about it? I believe that stewardship is missional. And being missional is stewardship. We fi rst recognize we are stewards because this is who we are. Th en we steward resources (everything from time, money, abilities, opportunities, relationships and all our stuff ) because they do not belong to us. All we have is entrusted to us – for a purpose – to help others - a “mission”. You become part of a missional movement when you start ‘doing’ what you are ‘being’.

As we look at the world both in and outside the church, we can see that God has placed us in a culture needing help, hope and truth – especially in the area of stewarding their fi nances. People around us are drowning in a sea of debt and materialism. But simply telling people that they should spend less, save more and be generous is not going to help them. Th ey can Google a million-and-one ways on

how to get out of debt, create a budget, live responsibly and become fi nancially secure, but information alone doesn’t seem to be helping.

So what are we doing about it? Th e new Debt Advice Coaching Ministry aims at helping train people to reach out to those in debt in a confi dential, non-judgmental way. It is not about accounting or fi nancial planning. Rather it is about relationship. It is about off ering real practical help. It is about off ering hope where there seems to be none. It is about walking through the journey together decision by decision. It is about sharing life while teaching biblical principles. It is about off ering Truth, Help and Hope in how to live as stewards of all that God has given us.

If you have any questions about the Coaching Ministry or are interested in starting a Money/Debt Advice Coaching Ministry in your church/community, you can check out the Coaching Ministry section under Stewardship Ministries on our website ::fmcic.ca:: or contact me at sandy.crozier@fmcic.ca.

Sandy Crozier is the Stewardship Ministries Director for The Free

Methodist Church in Canada | sandy.crozier@fmcic.ca

Appointments

Rony Brumaire – Pastor, Église Tabernacle de la Grâce, Montreal, Quebec, effective February 24, 2012

Sabrina D’Rozario – Interim Transitions Pastor, Wesley Chapel, Toronto, ON, effective March 2, 2012

Kathy Doornekamp – Associate Pastor (Counselling) Westport FMC, Westport, ON, effective May 10, 2012

Roxanne Goodyear – Associate Pastor (Worship & Family Ministries), Asbury FMC, Perth, ON, effective May 8, 2012

David Moran – Lead Pastor, Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, Ontario, effective May 1, 2012

Edwin Niyonzima – Assistant Pastor, Église Méthodiste Libre l’Esperance, Quebec City, effective April 1, 2012.

Kevin Stenhouse – Lead Pastor, Prince Edward County FMC, Picton, ON, effective July 3, 2012

David Stephenson – Pastor, Campbellford FMC, Campbellford, ON, effective August 1, 2012

Pierre Zidor – Pastor, EML Rosemont, Montréal, effective June 20, 2012

Network Leader ChangesEvan Garst Church plant network – SW Ontario (replacing Joe Manafo), effective June 26, 2012

Marc McAlister North Shore Network (replacing Keith Elford), effective May 12, 2012.

Cameron Montgomery Eastern Ontario Maturing Church Network (MCN) (replacing Garry Castle), effective May 1, 2012

New MEGaP Committee MemberBarry Taylor (Pastor, First FMC, Moose Jaw, replacing Wade Fitzpatrick, effective March 7, 2012)

Ordination ApprovedRob Clements (Assistant Pastor, The FreeWay, Oshawa, ON), date tbc

Dale Harris (Pastor, The FreeWay, Oshawa, ON) – March 25, 2012

Thomas Eng (Pastor, Pineview, Cloyne, ON) – June 17, 2012

Wesley Wood (Pastoral Student Intern, Whitby FMC, Whitby, ON) – June 10, 2012

Commissioned Minister ApprovedAlain Doseger (Pastor, Rustle, Kingston, ON) – June 24, 2012

Jennifer Wright (Missionary Service, Niger) – service on July 22, 2012

Change of statusPaul Griffin Leave of absence – Personal Reasons, effective June 26, 2012

Brenda Haggett Chaplain, Brockville General Hospital, Brockville, ON, effective April 27, 2012

Gary Landers retirement, effective April 3, 2012

Joe Manafo Leave of absence – Personal Reasons, effective June 28, 2012

Jean-Robert Noel retirement from EML Rosemont, Montréal, effective May 12, 2012

Barry Smith Vice President-Student Services & Registrar at Tyndale University College and Seminary, Toronto, ON, effective April 27, 2012

Nathan Umazekabiri retirement, effective June 30, 2012

CHURCHES IN TRANSITION

Avonlea FMC, Avonlea, SK

Barrie FMC, Barrie, ON

Butternut Creek FMC, Kingston, ON

Cornerstone Community Church, Almonte, ON

Lakeview FMC, Saskatoon, SK

Malvern Methodist Church, Toronto, ON

Marmora FMC, Marmora, ON

New Hope FMC, Bracebridge, ON

New Horizons FMC, Sarnia, ON

Pine Grove Community Church, Seeley’s Bay, ON

Wesley Chapel, Toronto, ON

CAN STEWARDSHIP BE MISSIONAL?

So what do Canadian nine-year-old children do on a Wednesday morning at 8:30 am during their Spring Break? Well, let me tell you ... they come to my house with their parents to video-skype with ICCM kids in Kenya! As the kids from the Freeway FMC children’s church fi led in through the front door, they found a seat on the couch and saw a dozen Kenyan kids along with Rev. Daniel Shanzuh (ICCM National Coordinator in Kenya) and two other staff members.

But before I get too far into the story, let me start from the beginning… approximately four years ago, a new global project was presented to the Freeway board. Th e project was to sponsor two young men from Kenya – refugees originally from the Congo. Well, this was a huge undertaking for a small church plant in Oshawa but through fervent prayer, creative fund raising and a united and focused congregation, late last fall John and Oliver both arrived in Oshawa, Ontario!! If you talk to anyone at the Freeway, they will tell you that Oliver and John have been a blessing to the congregation. Th eir life stories have enriched our journeys as believers.

We didn’t realize it at the time but this concentrated prayer and focus on Kenya helped join all the Freeway family from young to old. Adults connected through garage sales, kids sold baked goods and also made beaded bracelets and necklaces for donations; a benefi t concert was held and the worship team played music written by Rev. Dale Harris, the ladies put aside a day to create “cookies in a jar.” Th ese fundraising events united us as a congregation and helped us focus our combined eff orts on Kenya.

Last fall the Freeway kids decided that their “pennies for peace” would help to fund textbooks in the Mathare school in Kenya. One young boy said that buying textbooks would help kids get a better education and then jobs for the future.

In January this year, the church leadership agreed to partner with two ICCM kids in the Mathare school – Patience & Runey. Th e Freeway family prays for them and supports them.

And now back to our video skype… the kids asked and responded to questions and learned about their global contexts, the Kenyan kids sang English worship songs and the Freeway kids sang in Swahili, and as we closed our time together the kids prayed for each other.

So this has become part of the local/global story at the Freeway – praying for direction and guidance, living actively, giving generously of our resources, and celebrating His goodness.

So what next?? As one parent said “Th is has enhanced our global experience. It makes the world a much smaller place and makes us more accountable for our global participation.” Th is is activating change in our local church to impact children, families and communities globally! What about your church? Are you interested or maybe even inspired and motivated to create a community like this? Contact me and we can discuss a local/global connection.

For further information about how you or your church can partner with a child, please contact ICCM | iccm@fmcic.ca or www.childcareministries.net

What’s Paula reading?

Paula MoriarityInternational Child

Care Ministries Director

Sandy Crozier Stewardship Development Director

Strategically small church by Brandon O’Brien

Deep preaching by Kent Edwards

CHILDREN FORMING GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

You become part of a missional movement when you start ‘doing’ what you are ‘being’.

7 M O S A I C

OUR HISTORY: JW HALEY – A CANADIAN PIONEER MISSIONARY IN AFRICA

Th e Early Years

John Wesley Haley was born near Bracebridge, Ontario, August 25, 1878. Some time aft er this his family moved to a

farm location near Sombra, about 40km from Sarnia, Ontario. In 1898, he was converted at a Free Methodist camp meeting being held on his parent’s farm. In 1900 Haley volunteered for service working with a pioneering church planter (W H Wilson) in Saskatchewan. In his work he was responsible for the early development of the Westview congregation, near Weyburn. In 1901 the Free Methodist Church granted him a local preacher’s license, the fi rst step in a process toward ministerial ordination. A year later he was on his way to Africa to serve as a missionary.

Haley’s fi rst service location was in the Inhambane district, Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique), about 450kms northeast of present-day Maputo. He joined the already existing work of American Free Methodist missionaries and served there 1902-1905 doing pioneer church planting. In early 1905, Haley went to the Free Methodist mission station near Umzumbe, South Africa, (100kms south of Durban) where he was married to Esther Jane ( Jennie) Hamilton, a new Canadian missionary who came from the Sarnia area as well. A year later their fi rst child was born in Durban, South Africa. Haley and his new family returned to Mozambique 1907-09.

In an unfi nished manuscript written just before his death in 1951, Haley states, unequivocally, that, in 1902, as a young

23-year-old missionary he had almost no clue what he was doing when he was sent out as a missionary, other than to “preach the Gospel to the heathen.” And likewise the mission structure of the Free Methodist Church did not have “any clearer conception of the purpose of my going.”

In refl ecting on his fi rst fi ve years in Mozambique, Haley stated that “the work is done by the natives themselves, the missionaries simply superintending them…” In fact, “in many ways an evangelist [national] is better qualifi ed to open up new work than a missionary. If we go to a community where the Gospel has never been preached, the people fl ock to look at the white man. Our hearts may be breaking as we tell them the story of Jesus and his love, but notwithstanding our best eff orts to lift up Christ, they see us and nothing else.”

Th e challenge of this encounter between the Western missionary and African was to be a concern of Haley’s throughout his missionary career.

[Installment 1]

Our History; Learning from the past is a regular column that will highlight stories about key figures who have played a role in the formation and growth of the Free Methodist Church.

Dan Sheffield is the Director of Global and Intercultural Ministries for The Free Methodist Church in Canada | dan.sheffield@fmcic.ca

1906: JW and Jennie Haley settle in Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) with a young family.

friendships. J-M and Lori saw their friends enter into lay ministry, become involved in evangelism in their communities, and also experienced the joys and celebrations of life. Two close friends in the group, Kassim and Bella, got married while J-M and Lori were in Ghana and their daughters were their fl ower girls. Following their wedding, Kassim entered into ministry and eventually took on the role of pastor in a church plant.

In building relationships with the Ghanaian church the Cockrams formed the foundation of trust for future ministry between the Ghana Mission and congregations of the FMCiC.

What kind of work was seen as important?Out of the Cockrams’ time in Ghana, as far as the Ghana-Canada partnership was concerned, two key goals emerged: leadership development and the construction of a multi-purpose building. Th is came out of the Ghana-led vision for the growth of their church and how they envisioned it would happen.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. Th e key indicator for this goal is to see 25 Free Methodist churches in a national network in Ghana. Th is will give the Ghana Mission a base from which to grow into a full self-governing annual conference of the FM World Conference. A yearly leadership gathering is held in Ghana. Pastors and lay leaders are invited to attend to be trained and encouraged and to make connections to one another. Ghana leadership works with Dan to develop the courses taken at these annual leadership gatherings. Th ey are part of the ordination structure. New Ministerial Candidates and Ordained Ministers are commissioned each year at the conference. Th ese committed men and women will form the leadership of the Ghana mission as it grows and develops.

BUILDING PROJECT. Th e key outcome for this goal is for the FMC Ghana Mission to own a multi-purpose facility housing a women’s college. Th e facility that we’re building will be the home for post-secondary education specifi cally for women. It will also serve as a landmark for the FMC within the broader Ghana culture. Th e validity of churches within the West African context is oft en tied to their tangible community development. Too oft en “fl y by night” churches arise and take from communities, never contributing to their well-being. An educational facility dedicated to tertiary education for women is a very real contribution to the development of Ghana’s workforce and reinforces the Ghana Mission’s commitment to their community and their nation.

Aft er two years, J-M and Lori left their post in Ghana with sadness, knowing the memories and friendships they made were precious. However, they knew there were good beginnings established and they would go on to advocate for the partnership to their church back home.

What does Barrie’s connection to Ghana look like?One of the key ways the connection between Canadian FMC churches and Ghana has been maintained is through short-term mission teams. Currently, we’ve had 50 Barrie FMC members participate in trips to Ghana, along with fi ve key leaders from other FMCiC churches. Our hope and plan is that as other FMCiC churches join the Ghana-Canada Partnership, we will see teams composed of members from the various partner churches.

Many of those who have been part of a short-term team have kept up their friendships with Ghanaian brothers and sisters through correspondence - some are even Facebook friends! We have also started a Prayer Partnership program where individuals can pray for and encourage one another in their faith by writing letters and e-mails.

Where we are nowAs time has moved on, our roles and boundaries have become more clear and developed. We have an accountability to each other, based on the trust that has been built up over the years. We`re continuing to learn why unity through Christ is the essence of our partnership. We might avoid what is strange and diffi cult if it were up to us, but our partnership is centred in our common belief in Jesus and his grace to us. We feel deeply the bond of our long distance relationship, even if we communicate by Facebook instead of letter.

We are excited about the forward momentum of the partnership and are eager to share where we are at.

STATUS OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. Th ere are four solid congregations in the Accra region and fi ve church plants in the Techiman area that are awaiting offi cial affi liation as FM congregations. Currently, there are two ordained ministers, and seven ministerial candidates were approved at the 2012 Conference. Four current pastors will be ordained during our next visit (Feb 2013) by Dan Sheffi eld, acting as the Bishop’s representative. Each year we look for speakers and teachers from FMCiC congregations and include others who would want to teach or encourage the Ghana FM leaders at the leadership gathering.

BUILDING PROJECT. Land has been purchase in Korle Gonno, a district of the capital city of Accra. Zoning has been approved. Construction has been completed on the wall and gate that encloses the property. A small site offi ce is nearly completed. Complete design and engineering drawings have been approved for construction. Th e goal for this year is to begin the foundation and fi rst fl oor of the classroom blocks. We will be employing Ghanaian labourers to build the building, but there will be opportunities for people to be involved in the building process as the phases are completed.

Additionally, we are fi nalizing the project plan for the college building with timelines and construction phases and will begin a fundraising campaign that will reach out to the wider business community in Canada. Additional work will be done to develop the school as an institution alongside qualifi ed Ghanaian educators and benefactors. Th e most recent development in the partnership is the inclusion of individuals from congregations other than BFMC in the leadership structure. We would welcome churches who are looking for a long-term, relationship-based mission experience. Th ere are ways to be involved no matter your church size or budget! We’re always open to share what God is doing and has done through our connection to the Ghana Mission.

Rev. John-Mark Cockram is the Associate Pastor at Barrie FMC in Ontario and Loreli Cockram is the Social Media Journalist for The FMCIC. You can contact her at | loreli@bfmc.org

To discuss your congregation’s current missional involvement or to explore possibilities please contact Dan Sheffield, Director of Global and Intercultural Ministries for The Free Methodist Church in Canada | dan.sheffield@fmcic.ca

THE GHANA STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

M O S A I C 8

THE BARRIE-GHANA CONNECTION | GREG FORD

“WELL, ARE YOU GOING TO SEE IF YOU CAN GO?” my wife Laurie asked as we were leaving Barrie Free Methodist Church in August 2011. Pastor John-Mark Cockram had outlined in the weekly announcements that they were accepting applications to go to Ghana in February 2012 to continue to build on the partnership that existed between Barrie Free Methodist Church and the Free Methodist mission in Ghana. I sure wanted to go! I had just returned from attending the World Conference in Bujumbura Burundi and could not stop talking about what an experience it had been. I was uncertain that I would be considered as we had only recently transferred our membership from Calgary West Springs to Barrie FMC coincident with our retirement and move back to Ontario. Over the next few weeks I included in my nightly prayer time the BFMC and Ghana partnership and asked what would God have me do to support what was happening in Ghana.

I had been at the General Conference in 2002 where the Gateway Cities Initiative had been approved and Barrie was the fi rst church that we attended where concrete actions had been taken which were aligned with the Initiative. It was not too long before I was advised I was going to be one of the team members together with Pastor John-Mark and Rob Corey from BFMC, Nathan Colquhon and Troy Shantz of theStory in Sarnia, Pastor Howard Olver of Kingsview FMC and Rev. Dan Sheffi eld, Director of Global and Intercultural Ministries for the Free Methodist Church in Canada.

We had a few preparatory meetings and developed an outline of the activities to be accomplished during the time between our arrival on February 3 and departure February 15. We were presented with a “Ghana Guide” to culturally sensitize us and I was given a few “offi cial” tasks on behalf of the group; manage the funds (keep track of the money!!) and “audit” the books of the four churches in Accra to ensure funds provided by BFMC were being spent in accordance with the guidelines agreed to by both parties. Our key activities were teach a Wesleyan Th eology course (Pastor Howard Olver), conduct a General Conference (Rev Dan Sheffi eld), have some planning meetings with the building committee regarding the “Women’s College” plan, and visit with churches in Accra and Techiman.

Th e fi rst few days in Accra gave us a chance to acclimatize ourselves and visit the local churches on Sunday February 5. I visited Mercy House church with Pastor John-Mark. Th e people seemed so genuinely happy to see us (especially Pastor John-Mark who had lived in Accra for 2 years with his family) and Pastor Stanley eagerly involved us in the service. I found it diffi cult to leave these wonderful people aft er the service!

On February 7 we then traveled to Kumasi with the pastors and delegates from the four churches in Accra and were met by pastors and members from fi ve churches in Techiman. Th e churches in Techiman are looking at joining with the Free Methodist Church-Ghana Mission. To have the opportunity to experience their excitement at studying the principles of John Wesley over two days and being asked to lead some “break out” group discussions was challenging but very rewarding. Th is was followed by the General Conference with Rev. Dan Sheffi eld leading in place of Bishop Keith Elford as the Ghana mission falls under the oversight of the FMCiCanda. Watching as seven people were approved for Ministerial Candidacy and four candidates were approved for ordination shouted “God is at work here in Ghana!” I then had the honour of attending their Board of Administration meeting together with Pastor John-Mark and Rob Corey and working with them to become an eff ective and effi cient body. Sunday February 12 saw us visit with all fi ve churches in Techiman – the worship as lively and expressive as I remembered in Bujumbura, the people as warm and loving as one would ever hope for! I always have a devotion to the children and these children absolutely sparkled with their smiles and laughing eyes. To close the day we even visited with a local chief to pay our respects and thank him for his “support” and provision for the church to build upon land under his auspices.

In the fi nal two days we had a number of meetings back in Accra with Superintendent Charles Tetteh, Brother George, Brother Albert, Pastor Kassim and Pastor Isaac as the building committee of the “Women’s College” project. We reviewed site plans and blue prints, discussed reporting relationships, and even reviewed draft s of preliminary costs and how the development could be built in phases. I felt very involved in these discussions and at the end felt a deep sense of commitment to this endeavor.

As we rested back at Baptist Mission House over a few “minerals” I could not help but feel these 14 days in Ghana had brought new meaning to my life. I came to feel a fellowship of love and caring for Pastor Charles Tetteh, Pastor Kassim and Pastor Stanley and for people I had really only just met, and a sense I could really become involved and in doing so enrich not only the Ghana partnership but my faith and life.

Mr. Greg FordChair of the Board of Administration and attends Barrie Free Methodist Church in Ontario

Watching as seven people were

approved for Ministerial Candidacy

and four candidates were approved

for ordination shouted “God is at

work here in Ghana!”

GHANA: Greg Ford with Rev. Charles Tetteh, Superintendent of the Ghana Mission District

Dan Sheffi eldDirector of Global and Intercultural Ministries

Global Ministriesthinking globally, working locally

Visit Dan’s blogCulture and the Missionsheffield.typepad.com