We're less than 60 days from Christmas. Let that one sink in. As we're heading into the holidays, here are three stories and seven ideas to inspire and help you as you're planning and preparing your Christmas outreach.

This years’ Ministers Gathering is designed to be a refreshing and refuelling retreat for pastors and ministry leaders who are in need of a fresh word of encouragement. From the speakers to the themes to the schedules, this year will be focused on pouring into you and your family and caring for our souls. Our goal is for our pastors and ministry leaders to feel like they’ve had a 1-week vacation after they’ve been to Ministers Gathering.

How do I handle the intensity of my grief? Al Downey, our Pastoral Care Coordinator, shares 10 points to healthy processing of grief.

No matter where you’re reading this from, this past year has been unlike any other. The world has changed and perspectives have shifted. Norms, standards, and daily rituals, like getting up and driving to work, are no longer common practices. The upcoming generation is facing new challenges and circumstances that even 10 years ago we wouldn’t have given a second thought.

Priority needs to be given to developing young leaders and placing them in roles and positions where they are point leaders and time given to debrief and provide guidance and support. If a leader doesn’t get experience in leading, they will not fully develop their confidence as leaders. The only way to develop confidence is to do it. This is why senior leaders must place leadership development as a priority.

“You’re the boss now!” These were some of the most exciting yet terrifying words I had ever heard. Quite honestly, I never imagined myself as a lead pastor. I spent six and a half years serving as a youth and associate pastor in two different churches, and while I felt that God was going to refocus my ministry, I never imagined that He would point me towards a lead pastor role.

Burning the ships is not the only path to a relentless mission. Clarity, focus, and adaptation help navigate the unchartered.

Anger-fueled opinions within the rank and file of church attendees are demanding that leaders unequivocally declare a position on the COVID protocol issue, the vaccination war, and most recently the obligation to carry vaccination passports. The intensity of the rhetoric on both sides of the issue borders on hostility, and leaders feel trapped on the plank.

The month of October in North America is set aside as Pastor Appreciation Month. While most people appreciate their pastor(s) throughout the year, October, the month of thanks, is a designated time that you can be intentional in how you appreciate and honour your pastor, pastoral team, and their families.

Momentum is hard to generate without a pandemic, let alone with all of this chaos and craziness going on. But this isn’t time to stay down. We need to get back up and keep moving. There may be some mechanisms that we’ll need to cope with in Covid during this fourth wave.

While you may once again be bemoaning the interruption of your church planning calendar, this is the season for forging great church partnerships to reach lost people and serve your community. Here are some ideas to inspire you for the season ahead.

This Halloween enjoy giving and receiving, watch kids have fun dressing up in cute costumes, and use it as a time to reach out to your neighbours and show the love of Jesus. There are a variety of ways your church can host events for your community.

“We discovered in the past 90 days that it requires a lot of administration to settle in a new country and new community. Getting a SIN number, getting a driver’s licence, our children into the new school to mention just a few. We went out fishing, planned a hunt, and moved into our first rental house, all in 90 days.”
Jacques Lombard and his family's account of coming from South Africa to Peace River, Alberta.

These are simple ways to get out and be in your community 5 hours per week. Remember, you’re building connections and making yourself accessible to those who live, work and play there. Don’t stay in your building. Get out and get in your community.

Now that we are gathering physically it doesn’t mean we’re off the hook digitally. There are still large segments of our congregation and community who can’t or won’t venture out into public gatherings. We can’t leave those people behind in our desire to get back to whatever we define as normal. Stories from churches about outbound online.

We are inspired by our everyday Children’s Ministry heroes in the ABNWT District! What they did this past number of months is truly amazing. Kathy Zelman asked some of our CM people to send in highlights and it is so great to see what God is doing in our District. May this encourage you and spur on with some great ideas in your context this upcoming year.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “There’s power in prayer.” I’m not sure if, as a leader, I should make this statement, but here goes. If I was to be completely honest, I have had my doubts if prayer really does work. Let’s be honest. We have all heard the stories of what God has done in some far-removed place on the mission field, but like you, perhaps, I wanted my own stories.

We know how difficult it can be to stay encouraged and find affordable resources when you are a small church. At the same time, we believe that small churches are essential to the mission God has for his Church in our local communities and around the world! We have listed and linked some resources that we have found useful, and we hope you will benefit from them too!