April 2nd
MCBC Pastoral Highlight ~ Ed Willms ~ Emmanuel Church


MCBC Pastoral Highlight ~ Ed Willms ~ Emmanuel Church.

Karin (my wife) and I have been welcomed with open arms into Emmanuel church. Although we only knew a few people prior to saying 'yes' to this call, we have discovered an amazing group of individuals who are seeking after Jesus.

There have been numerous highlights in our first five months. Starting just before Christmas gave us a chance to visit most of the small groups and thereby enjoy their great hospitality. It was a wonderful way to connect with this community.

As we launched into the new year we focused on the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism and have been blessed with insightful lectures by Gareth Brandt. On January 21st, we had many guests join us desiring to know more about this significant birthdate.

Following that, we began a series entitled "The Making of a Movement", an exploration of the book of Acts. Over the course of 2025 we hope to explore and reflect on the many stories contained in this book. 

On March 16th we hosted the African Children's Choir and were blessed with their passion and joy. March 29th, our leadership teams met together for a half day retreat to rethink our church vision and to plan some strategic steps forward.

At the same time, while all of these engaging activities have been transpiring, we have had 5 funerals. Mostly they were long standing members of our church, but in one case it was a young mom. Life is filled with both joy and sorrow. So we are grateful for each day and this opportunity to journey with this great group of people.

As we move towards summer we look forward to getting to know the MC world a bit more through the lense of Gathering 2025 in Kitchener. Buen Camino (wishing you all a good journey).

Five Fun Facts about Ed:
 
- I'm a very big Blue Jays Fan. Would love to see them go far this year.
- Karin and I walked the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage in France & Spain (750kms) in July 2019
- We have two amazing grandsons - Eli & Toby - who are 6 & 8 and love sports
- A year ago I acquired my class 3 license and drove truck for 9 months with Valley Carriers 
- I've just completed a feature wall in my basement with an inset for an electric fireplace and a TV
 
- Ed Willms ~ Emmanuel Church
 

March 19th
MCBC Pastoral Highlight ~ Martin So


MCBC Pastoral Highlight ~ Martin So

Updates from Chinatown Peace Church Chinese Congregation

Five New members transferred to our church in the last year. Four are quite active and the fifth is a senior. Her daughter, who lives in Abbotsford, drives into Vancouver every Sunday to drive her mom to church, and the daughter is quite active too.

Fun facts about Pastor Martin So

Pastor Martin speaks Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese and English, and was baptized in the Chinese Church in 1977 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and that is where he met his wife, Katherine.

Katherine and Pastor Martin live in Surrey but their church is located in Chinatown.

Hobbies: Swimming and reading history/biographies of people serving God.

- Martin So

 

March 5th
Frank Berto - MCBC Pastoral Highlight


Frank Berto ~ Living Hope Christian Fellowship ~ MCBC Pastoral Highlight

Living Hope continues to try and reach our community with the Good News of Jesus. Some of the ways we are working:

· Spring Day Camp for the neighborhood

· Alpha Course ongoing

· Distributing the Gospel of John (Punjabi Translation)

· Prepping for our Week-long Vacation Bible School in the summer

Like most churches in the Lower Mainland we are challenged by the cost of living and the housing realities young families confront, that force many of them to move either up the valley or to other provinces.

We remain convinced that God has called Living Hope to minister to this community at this time – but it is easy to get distracted by circumstances and news.

As I was worrying about this recently, God spoke to me through his words to a ‘timid and inadequate’ Moses as he was called to lead his people to freedom. Moses was telling God how he was not up to the task and this is how the conversation went:

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you.” Genesis 3:10-12 NIV

I take great comfort in that truth – ‘God is with me’ in all He has called me (and us) to do in building His Kingdom.

Living Hope has also begun a Senior Pastor Search as I will be retiring at the end of May... what’s next I am not sure – I am in ‘discernment’ mode.

For all of us who have served Jesus for a long time, I don’t believe we ever ‘retire’ from serving in his kingdom. God has graciously called and gifted me as a pastor and afforded me the opportunity of years of formal ministry education and experience.

I am sure there are others in a similar situation. As we age our energy levels diminish, but our experience and wisdom and knowledge of Him grows deeper. And the church of Jesus Christ needs the wisdom and service of Seniors – so – no retiring only a different form of service for all us old folks! J Retirement is not play-time, but new service time.

4 Fun Facts about Frank Berto

1. Retiring date - May 31-2025

2. Favourite quote Retirement is not play-time, but new service time.

3. For fun - play guitar & garden

4. True fact - I came to faith on my first day working on Whistler Mtn, Jan 1982

In all these changes, I take great comfort in that truth – “God is with me” (Gen. 3:10-12) in all He has called me (and us) to do in building His Kingdom. 

- Frank Berto ~ Living Hope Christian Fellowship