Circle Summit 2015

The Circle Summit was held at Arrowhead last week. The purpose of which was to examine together the Great Commission as it relates to the local church and Cross Cultural ministry. We heard from seven speakers and had two excellent discussion panels. It was a fantastic conference and we had a nice turnout. For those who were unable to be with us, the conference has been recorded and DVD's will be available (stay tuned for links to watch the sessions online as well).

At Arrowhead it is our hearts desire to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ clearly and fully proclaimed to the First Nations people of Atlantic Canada. In the book of Matthew the great commission was given to the local church, as Christians we have a burning desire to see the gospel communicated and to see people come to repentance and faith in the God of all creation. There are so many things that can complicate the effective communication of God’s Truth, that it is not only worth our while; but an exercise in obedience to examine just how we can ensure that when we proclaim the gospel, that it is being understood clearly.

I really believe that the Circle Summit achieved our goal and gave us an opportunity to examine just what is involved in obeying the great commission in a cross cultural setting, and doing so in a way that is as glorifying to God as it is effective.

These missionary ladies served everyone in the kitchen for the conference.

Fellowship is always a fantastic part of conferences at ANBC.

Berea came all the way from Nova Scotia to serve in the kitchen.

These First Nations believers took part in a very helpful discussion panel, if you missed it you'll want to be sure to get the video.

Sean Crowe addressed us about the parachurch and how it can be obedient to the local church and the great commission.

NCEM missionary Phil Welch shared with us his passion for the Gospel and the need for it to be effectively communicated in Atlantic Canada.

Most of our speakers took part in a discussion panel on Saturday morning for the conclusion of the conference.

Wood Point Baptist Church

It was a tremendous blessing to be able to be with the congregation at Wood Point, New Brunswick for their morning worship and evening service. I was pleased to be able to share for the morning Sunday School and look a little more closely at just why Cross Cultural communication is so very important. The morning service allowed me the opportunity to open the Word and to introduce the ministries of NCEM at Arrowhead a little more specifically. As Baptists are known for, we enjoyed an impressive spread for a pot luck supper in the evening and I was given the opportunity to share the story of how the Lord brought us to Arrowhead to serve Him.

Pastor Danny Jack and I attended Bible school together, and I am excited for he and his family as they embark on a new chapter of their lives. They plan to leave and engage in itinerant full time evangelistic ministry. You can be in prayer for them as they seek the Lord's leading.

It was a beautiful crisp Fall Sunday at Wood Point.

ANBC Fall Work Week 2015

We are always blessed by the ministry of those who would come to serve the Lord at Arrowhead by using their God given abilities and talents to benefit the Bible Center. This Fall we were blessed, once again, in fellowship and hands on labour by the folks at Lisbon Falls Baptist Church.

It was with fond memories of our dear friend Ken Hodgkins that we worked alongside one another this year, without him. He was missed, and we reminisced about his love for the Lord and serving Him.

The gang was here for a week and we accomplished some much need projects at the mission house.

They built a much needed deck on the back of the new addition, that will now allow us to use the back door. Here we are transporting the framing from the shop to it's location at the mission house.

For a year the front deck on the mission house has sat askew and about six inches too high; unfortunately, due to the challenges we faced with the addition we ran out of time to put it back into place properly. We are now very happy to have it repaired and in place.

Pastor Jones peering into the hole for the dryer vent, it needed replaced, and we clamoured in under the house to replace it.

Mom and Valerie worked on a 22 foot long curtain for the chapel, to serve especially for the upcoming Circle Summit.

Here are the lads working at building the framework for the mission house deck.

Moving that framing into place was it's own challenge!

Fall Corn Boil Fundraiser

On Saturday, we held our second annual Corn Boil and Pie Auction! It was a blast, we had a great turn out and people had a lot of fun bidding (and over bidding) on pies. The purpose of this particular fundraiser was to aid in raising funds for a new playground and water park. It is our hope, Lord willing, to see something installed next year to serve for our summer camp programs!

There was a great turn out, estimated between 70 and 80 guests to the Center.

Our friend Rob McCready served as our auctioneer for the evening. Pies were flying out the door, some for as much as $85!

It was a lot of fun to have Liz's brother and his family with us for the weekend, the kids helped a lot with getting ready for the event!

Kejimkujik Camp Out 2015

Due to the success of our Cape Breton camp out in 2014, and the very clear value in the trips, we decided to add a second week to our itinerary. The camp out to Kejimkujik National Park was a huge success. Suzanne Matheson and I took two LIT's (leaders in training) and six teenagers camping in lower Nova Scotia at Kijimkujik Nation Park and Historic Site. It was wonderful to be able to have a private tour of the Mi'kmaq petroglyphs and spend some time paddling on the lake. Of course we took some time at a local theme park for fun too. Relationships were forged, fun was had, Gospel was taught!

We enjoyed a picnic at Fort Anne in Annapolis Royal.

This is the First Nations dedication monument commemorating the petroglyphs.

 Our tour guide showing the kids the petroglyphs in the stone.

Phil & Gracie Welch were so kind to have all of us into their home for a wonderful spaghetti meal before our whale watching excursion.

What can ya say... roller coasters are awesome!

Cape Breton Camp Out 2015

This year Venus Coté and I had the privilege of taking 2 LIT's (leaders in training) and four teenagers on a camp out to Cape Breton. It was a fantastic camp, during which we truly enjoyed getting to know these young people. Our philosophy during these camps is "family camping", so we spent a lot of time together enjoying the camping experience and some wonderful things Cape Breton has to offer.

These camp out programs are such a valuable part of our overall ministry program here at Arrowhead.

A visit to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, we enjoyed a guided tour.

Observing some of our mighty God's creation we spent an afternoon whale watching.

An afternoon at a magnificent salt water beach, we spent some time swimming in the ocean.

Our time around the camp fire was both valuable and an important part of our trip.

Chipman Festival Parade

Arrowhead was invited to put a float in the parade in Chipman, NB this year. The parade was immediately following the last day of on-site camps, and we were in preparation for our camp out programs - so with that in mind we thought the best thing would be to enter the camp truck and camp out trailer.

We took the opportunity to distribute Bibles and Bottled water. Each Bible and each Bottle Water was given a label with a link on it to this excellent Gospel presentation video:



It was a great way for us to have Arrowhead present in our local community, while making clear just what it is that is our priority.

We had a few volunteers stay around and they helped us represent ANBC in the parade.

Ivy waving as we went by.

ANCB On-Site Camps 2015

This year we hosted 3 weeks of camp here on site; a teen camp (ages 13-18) and two junior camps (ages 8-12). I would love for us to have four weeks of on site camp, but there are some challenging circumstances that make it difficult to maintain three weeks of junior camp at this time. Arrowhead operates as a support ministry to Church planting ministry, and the simple fact is that there are just not enough missionaries in the field, here in Atlantic Canada, to support. With that in mind we are hosting a Summit here in October, that I hope will be well attended by local lay people and Church leaders who wish to see the Gospel go out among the First Nations people of Atlantic Canada. We have run into some challenges with respect to band funding as well, some changes in community leadership can make dramatic changes for the ability of young people to get to camp - one huge measure that directly affects getting these kids out to camp to hear the Gospel taught is camper sponsorship. If you would like to know more about that please feel free to be in touch with me.

This year we were so thankful for our three weeks of on site camp. They were a tremendous blessing. As is often the case, they were fraught with those challenges that God saw fit to teach us with. But I am so happy to report that the Gospel was clearly and comprehensively taught, and from our observations, clearly understood but many of our young people. As a measure of success, I can tell you that the Gospel was a central focus to our camps and handled well by both our guest speakers and our cabin leaders and volunteer staff. Plus... it was a blast. Here are a few pictures from our summer.

We enjoy sweet fellowship during our summer camps.

Bruce Steeves and a couple of the lads helping get our Friday "breakfast in bed" ready for the campers.

Relationships forged.

Tuck is a huge part of camp!

We had two challenges with our lake this summer; firstly we didn't have a lifeguard, this alone was unfortunately enough to keep us out of the water. However, our second problem was the closure of Grand Lake due to a "blue green algae bloom". So slip-n-slide was one way we kept wet!

Teen camp challenges are always fun.

Tuck Time!

 

Gathering time is twice a day, and is the center around which the rest of the day rotates. We were blessed to have teachers this summer who, not only loved the Lord, but taught the Gospel so clearly.

Summer Day Camps 2015

The first two weeks of our summer at Arrowhead have been filled with wonderful travel. We've had the opportunity to be welcomed to a number of communities in New Brunswick to offer day camp programs. The first week, our team had the privilege to visit Woodstock First Nation, Saint Mary's First Nation and Eel Ground First Nation; our second week had us traveling to Oromocto First Nation and to the Island of Grand Manan where many of the inhabitants enjoy Pasmaquody heritage.

We had the opportunity to meet some moms and dads and lots of children who came out to take part with us. Todd Nielsen was with us and clearly taught the Gospel at each location; everyone worked hard to make the day camps a great success.

 Puppets and camp music on Grand Manan.

 Our music and puppet team hard at work at Saint Mary's.

Todd sharing some Gospel illusions on a beautiful sunny (& windy) day at Eel Ground.

Todd talking about the "Holy Bible" with some of the kids at Woodstock.

Face painting was always a huge hit.

Becca and John took care of the dog roasting and water for snacks.

Mom was our designated prize lady for the day camps. Everyone loves Edie!

Bouncy house, face painting and the beginnings of a game with the kids at Eel Ground.

God's Grace and a rainbow flag

"I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” Genesis 9:13-17

There was a time, when I first saw the rainbow flag used as a symbol of the solidarity of homosexuality, that I felt indignant. I felt like this was intended to be a symbol from God displaying His grace, this is a symbol to remind Christians of His promise to never again judge the Earth with a deluge.

The thing I forgot was that this was never a symbol that God would cease to have wrath toward sin, He is unchanging (Psalm 102:25-27). The thing that I forgot was that this was a symbol for all living, not just for Christians, the symbol is of God's covenant with His creation.

So when I see all of these rainbow flags being waved and posted and illuminated across North America as a loud and proud symbol of the sin of homosexuality, as a fist shaking rebellion against a good and Holy God; I'm meant to remember that it is reminding God that He once poured His wrath on the Earth in our sin and that He will not do so the same way again. I'm meant to remember that even though God hates sin and those who work in it (Psalm 5:5), that His judgement of that sin is an abandonment to that sin (Romans 1:18-32).

A Christian cannot celebrate that which God condemns. It's not complicated, if you love Jesus, you cannot love sin.

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." Isaiah 5:20

You cannot hold your sin in one hand and Jesus Christ in the other hand (1 John 3:1-10, Luke 9:23-24, Galatians 6:14, Galatians 5:24, Romans 12:1-2).

But Christian, you must not be indignant or self-righteous in the knowledge that the symbol of sin being waved in our culture is actually a symbol of God's judgement on our culture. It is a time for humility and prayer, it is a time for the Gospel. All of this talk about LGBT issues are symptomatic of a Godless culture that, in fact, hates God (Matthew 6:24). If we are going to understand 2 Timothy 3:12 - "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,"; we must know that mockery, slander and hatred must be the farthest things from our lips (Mark 12:28-31), lest we fall into greater judgement (James 3:1, Matthew 7:1). But we have to be so very careful that we do not fall into the same trap as so many moderate Christians and misunderstand and misrepresent that passage in Matthew 7:1. It can be easy to think that any criticism of a lifestyle is inappropriate judgement, but that is simply not the case; read the words of Christ in John 7:24 - "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

We are meant to stand for righteousness, we are meant to stand for Christ and do so in a way that honors Him. We are meant to be different from the world as aliens and strangers (1 Peter 2:11), in the world and not of it (Romans 12:1), hated by the world (John 15:18), Crucified to the World (Galatians 6:14).

"That means the world thinks of you as a fool that has nothing to contribute to society, and that there is nothing the world offers that you could desire - That you now have NOTHING to do with sin and EVERYTHING to do with God." - Nate Pfeil

As you find yourself getting muddy in complex conversations these days, step back out of your passion in the argument and pray that Go would give you wisdom to answer rightly and kindly, with respect but most importantly in Biblical truth.

The lost need the Gospel.

God is Holy, that is the center of this conversation.

So, see the rainbow flags, remember the covenant of God in Grace and the spitting in His Holy perfect face that is happening with the waving of the rainbow flag; remember that what the flag actually symbolizes is God's judgement in grace and a giving over to sinful passions and desires. And weep. Pray and weep and proclaim the Holiness of the Righteous God that is being offended and profaned.

LWCA Graduation

It was our privilege to travel to the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia this past weekend. I had the immense privilege of addressing the 3 graduates for 2015 from Living Waters Christian Academy. The graduation was on Friday night, I took the opportunity to address the young people with Colossians 3:17, challenging them to submit to the Lord in their lives; in obedience, in sacrifice, in worship and in thanksgiving. So many young people leave our churches and go on to fall away from the Faith that they were raised to understand. May the Lord hold and keep His own and give the gift of Faith to those who have yet to have the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit change them and make them Christs'.

On Sunday I was given the opportunity at Habitation Baptist Church to update them about the ministries of NCEM at Arrowhead Native Bible Center. The church folk there had collected tuck shop items for our "Grocery Grabber" program and filled up our van with them as we left! We are so thankful for this practical ministry that people take part in with us at Arrowhead. It is really through these sort of gifts that we are able to offer our summer camp programs.

travels and tales

On Sunday, June 31st it was my pleasure to be able to bring a presentation of the ministry at Arrowhead to the folks at Chipman Fundamental Baptist Church. It was a pleasure to share with them about the ministry of NCEM at Arrowhead for their Sunday School hour and then open the Word together with them for the morning service. It is a blessing for us to be able to be with friends and brothers and sisters and are happy to join with you in your church as well if you would like for us to share about just what it is the Lord is doing among First Nations people in Atlantic Canada.

Last Wednesday, I was blessed to be able to visit the McCain's plant in Florenceville, NB. They very generously donated enough French Fries, Cakes and pies for our entire on site summer camp program! We are so thankful for their kindness in donating these delicious foods to Arrowhead - I can't wait to try one of the Cookies & Cream pies!

My little minivan parked at "door #1" in next to the trucks, the lads had to pass down the boxes to me to hand pack the van. It was a fun adventure.

ANBC lodge roof

I am so pleased to announce that we have had an immense blessing at Arrowhead! Thanks to the kind donors through NCEM's Minute Man program, funds were made available to have a new roof put on the lodge at Arrowhead. But that is only the beginning of the story of how the Lord worked in His ministry here at Arrowhead. The kind folks at Kauffmann Metals in Maine made the materials available to us at their own cost, providing us with access to good steel and all of the fittings for the roof while remaining within our budget. Tom, of Tom's Construction was able to facilitate the transport of the materials to us and refused to charge us a thing. On May 29th he arrived with his skilled team of guys; each had volunteered their time to see the roof installed correctly! It was amazing to see these guys work together, our roof is almost 4200 sq. ft. and they had the entire thing completed by suppertime! What a huge blessing this is to the ministry at Arrowhead. We now have no worries about our roof here at the Center!

Getting the steel ready to haul up to the roof.

It took a lot of strapping.

It's going to make such a huge difference to our building, and keeping it healthy.

This was near the end of the day, just a couple of panels left.

Completing the roof over the dining hall. We installed snow rail on the entire roof to prevent snow slides.

 

The completed building!