BFL encourages pastors in meeting

Pastors and their spouses were invited to a pre-convention meeting at Concord College Thursday afternoon. This was a casual time of worship and encouragement, sponsored by the Board of Faith and Life.

Executive minister Reuben Pauls handed out door prizes to: the pastor with the longest current term in one pastorate, (Bob Friesen, 14-and-a-half years at Broadway MB Church, Chilliwack, B.C.); the spouse who has endured the most recent move (Betty Loeppky, to Culloden MB Church, Vancouver, Feb. 1.); most recent graduate of a seminary, (Henry Klassen); and the grandparent with the most recent grandchild (John Balzer).

Worship was led by Gareth Goossen. He led the approximately 200 participants through contemporary worship choruses, the crowd swelling on adapted hymns such as What Can Wash Away My Sin and It is Well With My Soul.

John Neufeld, pastor of Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford, B.C. spoke on how to maintain spiritual fervour using the example of the apostle Paul. Speaking from Romans 1:8-17, Neufeld stressed the importance of Paul's godly character which included thankfulness and fervency in prayer. "Our calling is to a life in prayer. We must be on the front line of spiritual warfare," he told the group.

Neufeld also used the example of Paul's preaching and message, to point out the need for boldness in proclaiming the gospel. He urged the group to "approach ministry with confidence through Jesus Christ".

Henry J. Schmidt, president of Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, provided plenty of laughs in the second half of the afternoon with a series of overhead cartoons depicting the pitfalls of ministry.

Schmidt also presented a message on spiritual vitality, emphasizing the need for personal renewal. Claiming that pastors are "chronically guilty of self-neglect", he urged the group to keep closer tabs on their own spiritual health. This, in turn, would help them to minister more effectively to others.

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