My Journey with the ABNWT District

I can summarize my experience with our ABNWT District under the following themes:

Leadership Development
Family
Pastoral Care
Corporate Vision

Moving from the province of British Columbia as an ordained minister of the PAOC to Alberta & Northwest Territories District [ABNWT] is one of the most important decisions I have ever made, whose benefits have been enormous on many levels.

Having immigrated from Zambia, Africa, and after three years of study and ministry in British Columbia, it was time to decide where to go and serve the Lord in this big country called Canada. Nancy, my wife, had come to be with me for my graduation, so it was easy to hear the Lord as to where to go. We chose Claresholm, which is much smaller and different from Vancouver, where I lived. Little did we know that the Lord had much more in mind than we thought. My growth and development as a believer and Christian leader have been accelerated, and my family has found a place we can finally call home after over two decades of serving as temporary resident ministry practitioners in three different African countries.

I have led Claresholm Pentecostal Assembly as lead pastor since January 1, 2018. In May 2021, I was honoured to be invited and appointed as a member of the District Lead Team, an opportunity that has exposed me to leadership on a different level and opened my eyes to see our PAOC Fellowship and the ABNWT District from a much broader perspective. This has been empowering in how to pray for my District and engage my uniqueness to make a difference. I have sat around what I've come to call the wisdom table with some great minds and yet very humble people. As I have listened to their wisdom and insight, I have realized just how much there is to learn and to deal with as a pastor to make ministry happen. It has led me to tap into different gifts, ministry callings, and resources in the form of the great pastoral staff I've been privileged to work with. The Discovery Cohort is another platform for harvesting wisdom, ministry ideas and support in the different challenges of everyday pastoral ministry, weekly coaching calls from my ministry coach, children's ministry consults, including Ministers Gatherings from which both Nancy, my kids, and I have made new friendships that have led to exchanging of pulpits, family visits, and connection outside of "church."

In a small rural community like Claresholm, it's common to feel forgotten or remembered only during denominational conferences or when problems arise where the District officials show up as "spiritual policemen" to deal with church perpetrators or to discipline the pastor. However, our District has shattered all these expectations by consistently providing care and actively participating in our church's concerns. I have been deeply blessed as I have watched the level of participation and involvement in the vision of the local church by our District Discovery team. This process was initiated as a Discovery Weekend launching us into a new vision.

The District Resource Centre has become our remote staff, cheerleaders, and team members, valuing our sacrifice and commitment. This level of partnership and care has been truly encouraging and has strengthened my belief that Jesus loves His local Church regardless of its size or location. I earnestly pray for every church in our District to experience similar collaboration.

The ABNWT District has embraced a shared corporate vision that unifies and empowers all of our local churches, the vision to raise relentlessly outward-bound churches, making it easy for us to embrace and strengthen our working relationships. To that end, I conclude with a quote from one of the greatest political figures to ever arise on African soil where I was raised:

"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments towards organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results." – Nelson Mandela

Rev. Joachim Chisanga became the lead pastor of Claresholm Pentecostal Assembly on January 1, 2018. His wife, Nancy, and four children lean in to support the ministry of the assembly.