Dear Central,
As the sun finally begins to shine, many of us look forward to pausing from our regular schedules and commitments for summer plans and activities. The Elders also want to pause and reflect on where we’ve come this year and what lies ahead at Central. Presently, Pastors Matt and Eldon are taking their 7-year sabbaticals. Would you join us in praying for much needed rest and rejuvenation for these men and their families? We continue to also lift our other pastors, staff, and their families in prayer after a taxing couple of years in ministry.
Our campuses continue navigating various challenges shared with the joys of seeing God’s provisions in myriad ways. Pastor Jeremy and the Harrison Campus core team are meeting regularly and connecting with the Harrison community, anticipating the soon approaching September launch! God is working here, and it is exciting to be a part of this new chapter in Harrison. Lake Errock congregants also meet weekly as we continue to pray for God’s leading and celebrate new Ministry Partners step up in leadership roles here. There is significant remediation work underway to improve the building and perimeter drainage in Lake Errock. Promontory is gearing up for summer camp ministry and continues to have faithful regular attendance and support. Thanks, Pastor Jonathan, for leading in this place. Agassiz continues to have strong attendance and will be led primarily by Pastor Jeremy this summer with Pastor Eldon on his sabbatical. We pray for ongoing joy and growth in the lives of those in all our various campuses.
The Elders celebrate an impactful season of Women’s Ministry where Aimee Salazar and her team had many meaningful discussions around the topic of “Fear and Anxiety” in the lives of Central women. Men’s ministry has just wrapped up and was another successful time as Pastor Chris led these men to delve into God’s word in James and foster new friendships. Stay tuned for Women’s and Men’s Ministry announcements for restarting in September. Pastor Jayeson recently led ten couples through a premarital counselling class – many were encouraged as God filled a clear need here. Our youth led our services a few weeks back and we were blessed with awesome worship, services, and by Pastor Jon Kornelson sharing the importance of passing our faith on to our youth; with a challenge to continually address our own faith and lead by example.
This summer brings outreach opportunities for children and families with summer camps starting both north and south of the Fraser. We are thankful for the volunteers dedicated to having these camps run well and pray for gospel opportunities. Central Youth will be serving at Camp Bob, our affiliated church camp this summer and we pray for spiritual leadership and growth along with God’s protection for our youth as they travel. We had a recent volunteer appreciation night and want to reiterate a big thanks to the many volunteers that have served at Central this year as we pray for a time of rest over the summer! Please continue to pray for new volunteers to help step in for some of the gaps over summer with our Kids Ministry and worship. Thank you to Pastor Crystal for all your enthusiasm in equipping our kids and growing families.
We thank those who lead us in such meaningful worship each week and for Pastor Tyson and his ongoing dedication to faithfully guide these teams well. Please continue to pray that God would raise up new worship leaders and musicians across our campuses. We look forward to celebrating new Ministry Partners and baptisms in the coming months as well.
Central, we have much to be thankful for and continue to see God working amongst his people. I want to leave you with the start of Psalm 96 to hopefully inform your “song” through the summer whatever you are doing and wherever you are:
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised…”Ps 96:1-4a ESV.
As we break for summer, let us not let up in our praise and adoration of our Lord wherever we are at. May we encourage one another and share of Christ’s good news while submitting ourselves to his leading expecting our hearts and lives to be transformed!
Paul Graham
- On behalf of the Elders at Central Community
FINANCE UPDATE
Year to date finances - The Elders are encouraged by the ongoing ministry at Central. This year a concerted effort has been made to ensure that all of Central’s ministries are supported well and that our new campus is ready to launch in September. Repairs to the Lake Errock Campus as slow and costly with the need for remedial work to ensure it does not flood again. Repair costs for Lake Errock currently surpass $45,000 with an additional $45,000 required to complete repairs and mitigation efforts.
Plans for renovating the Harrison Campus are well under way and funding from Northview will cover a large portion of the costs. Year to date giving is 20% ahead of the same time last year. Even so, expenses are exceeding our year to date income. The Elders encourage the congregation to continue faithfully supporting the ministries of the church throughout the summer months as we strive to proclaim the Gospel across the Eastern Fraser Valley.