Merry Christmas!

I know of a few who follow my blog and I appreciate your support. I just wanted to say thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family! I hope you are a great Christmas and a better New Year.

We are traveling to visit family. My parents live in Windsor, ON then we are going to see Tracey's side of the family in Cleavland, OH. Part of the reason we are traveling is because my brother is moving to FL and we wanted to see him and his family before they move. We will have a busy summer and will be unable to visit this year after they are settled.

See you all in the New Year and keep us in your prayers. We are only 6 months away from the big move to The Big TO!

A Christmas Thought...

I wish I could pride myself as a deep thinker but most people who know me, know that I am not consistent. I will have deep thoughts from time to time then move along to the task at hand and the many opportunities I take in being a wise guy.

This weekend I had a deep thought! (Audience breaks into applause) Our pastor, David R. Stokes, www.davidrstokes.com, is speaking through a series entitled "Joe to the World." It is a 3 part series on the life of Joseph. This past Sunday was a great message and he pointed out the fact that Joesph did what God had asked him to do regardless of human reason and emotion. My deep thought was that he could have missed being a part of the entire plan. As pointed out in the message, he had to work through his human experience and emotions that could have crippled him. However, he followed through and was a part of the plan. The interesting thing is that God's plan would have continued regardless of Joseph's actions. Joseph could have missed it if he did the "human thing." It reminded me that God has plans and I need to jump on board.

It is interesting to think that Joseph followed God's plan in all of this but was not a witness of Jesus' earthly ministry. He did not have the satisfaction of seeing Jesus perform miracles or preach to thousands. It is believed that Joseph died sometime between Jesus' visit to the Temple at the age of 12 and the beginning of His earthly ministry around the age of 30. He continued to follow the Lord in commitment and obedience probably hoping, like many of his time, that the Messiah would be revealed...and it was his SON! He probably spent a lot of time thinking about when this would happen and how happy he would be to have his obedience satisfied in a great triumphant moment that he never would experience. (He would not experience it in his lifetime I should say because Joseph has been in heaven for years now...) It made me ask myself if I have that kind commitment in obedience? Will I be obedient even if I do not see "satisfaction" for in it? I hope I can be that guy.

Let me tie my thoughts about obedience to our plans in Toronto. I would love nothing more than to see a great church built in Toronto with many coming to Christ. My hope rests in that and I am following by faith. As a matter of fact, I heard another interesting statistic about Canadian churches. There are only 20 churches in all of Canada that have 2,500 members or more. Why? They are "the neighbor to the north" of the USA that have many churches 4 to 10 times more in membership and attendance. I shared this with a couple who is coming to help us get started. I said there is no mega church in Canada. Their reply was, "There is no mega church yet!" Man that made me laugh and made me think, "I am bringing a load of crazies with me to Canada if they think I am a mega church pastor!" BUT, maybe we are the catapult of that mega church. What if obedience is "satisfied" one day after I am off the scene and God takes Burlington Community Church to heights Canada has not yet experienced. All I can say is, cool! Use me Lord.

Catching A Break

My wife and I were on our way into the office today and discussing our plans for the future in Toronto and what we needed to do this week at Fair Oaks Church. We have gone through a very busy fall and began talking about a break this Christmas. Since the end of August, I have pushed our family into a busy season. Much of it was my own design of what I felt was necessary. Because of that, I have not been myself in many ways. I am a very happy content person but I have been very busy, very tense and very frustrated at times this fall. It was getting to the point that my wife and daughters were concerned about what mood I was in or what small thing could throw me into a fit. This is not like me at all. I stretched myself to the limits and can confidently say I know I will not frustrate my family this way again.

Tracey and I got a little break this weekend. During the snow storm on Saturday, we spent most of the day in the house with no kids! We watched the snow fall, enjoyed the fireplace and even watched the movie It's A Wonderful Life together. I decided to make time for my wife and I am very glad I did. It gave us an opportunity to talk and for me to get the wake up call about the type of person I had been lately. Tracey told me that it was great to have me back. This was rough to hear but I completely understood. I kept telling myself that it was just a busy time and it will all change. Do you know what I needed to ask myself? What if it doesn't change? I am going to Toronto to start a church and that is a lot of work! I will be as busy as I am now so I need to learn to deal with it.

Has much changed? No, I am still pretty busy but I am giving my family a break so we can "serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with singing." This happens when I change who I am because I can only change me. You know what I am saying?

If you have found yourself busy and frustrated like I have been, catch a break. Decide to change the person only you can change and watch the difference it makes in your life and those around you.

We're Back in VA

Yes, the Dowdy's have returned from their trip to Burlington, Ontario last week and have a few answers. The interesting thing is that we have a few more questions too...funny how that works.

We did find the right neighborhood for the Dowdy family and accompanying schools. We are going to a newer community of young families and professionals in the northern area of Burlington. Many in this area travel daily into the city for work. (Sound familiar Fair Oaks Church?) This is exactly what we were looking for and there are great possibilities all around the area for a church plant.

We were hoping to get some information and paper work to file for our church name but the church planting group we are working with did not offer these items on this visit. I am not the "Maverick Type" but I am sure now that I just need to make it happen. It would be nice to have some assistance in this area and it may still come but I am not holding my breath on that. The conflict of interest is that I am all about what I can get out of them, period. So... :-)

One great discovery for our missions endeavor in August is that we found a great location for the short term missions group coming to help us get started. A sales manager from the Hilton Garden Inn in Burlington is putting together some prices and packages. The hotel is right across the street from a movie theater, restaurants and outlet shopping. It will be a great place to stay and plenty of leisure activity during the down times of the missions week, not to mention the downtown Toronto sites only 30 min. away.

Another positive adventure in Burlington was our visit to the radio station JOY in Oakville. The sales manager there is putting together a package for radio opportunities. This may be a great way to promote the Burlington Community Chruch through a program from Pastor Stokes and a connection for the future. Keep this matter in prayer. We know a church that started in Oakville with a radio support of an American pastor and the church is growing strong. It would also be great to have a on-site visit from this station on Sunday, August 22nd when we are all up there.

We also visited the Crossroads Christian Broadcasting Ministry while we were there. This is a big step for Canada because for the longest time, Christian media was not allowed. Now they have radio and television. It was neat to see how God is working in broader areas of Christianity up there.

More details of the church will unfold by January and we are happy with the progress. We look forward to training and working with anyone coming to help us plant the church. As you know, Fair Oaks Church is our home church and supporting pastor David R. Stokes. We cannot thank the Lord enough for our pastor, church and this opportunity to plant a church in the GTA.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Getting clear, solid details for my wife and kids

Do you know what it's like to lead something that you are not an expert in, trying to learn and lead your family as you "explore together?" It is a challenge I will tell you that. As we press forward in establishing a life in Burlington, Ontario just outside Toronto, we have had a few moments along the way. If you know my wife, she is a delightful, energetic person who holds back no punches. What she always says is that she doesn't have to be in charge but she needs to know someone is in charge and that there is a plan. For the last year, I could give her nothing but "living by faith." :-) I would tell her my thoughts, what to expect and some of the plans for the church and its government structure...very comforting, right! :-) Though these were good conversations, I know her frustration is in wanting to know all the where, when and how answers. God has been giving us that as we go. It is one of those things you would love for God to just snap His fingers and everything is in place.

Next week, we are going to get some clear solid plans in order. We are going with a realtor to find the right neighborhood to live in, visit the high school my daughters will attend, meet with a school administrator about a rental possibility for the church, line up some great rates for hotel and sightseeing, and get the paper work and details for securing the name Burlington Community Church. We are also going to be asked to be pulled over at the Canadian border. Yes, you heard that right. We want to talk face to face with an immigration officer to find out exactly what we need to to to bring me over the border. Tracey is Canadian and the paper work is in for my daughters to be Canadian as well. This will give them dual citizenship. We just need to find out what to do with me. This is a question my wife and daughters have been asking for years! :-)

We have also been learning from a couple different church planting sources. One has great resources and the other has a network of Canadians. We are learning a lot and gathering materials for the our home church, Fair Oaks Church, and putting together some cultural, missions and evangelism tools for training this spring. I am using these ministries for training, network and development because my biggest fear, yes (vivid, heart pounding, loss of sleep, high blood pressure) FEAR, is that I get up there and suck! I know I can get all the materials and planning together and still fail but at least I'll know why! :-) You know what I mean... And here it is for my family, I am just as anxious about not knowing fully what to do but lets DO IT! With all our heart, soul and mind.

As always, we are very humbled and comforted by all the encouragement and support of our church. Your continued trust in what we are getting ready to do is like saying "go get em!" And how could we not feel that charge ahead spirit when our church will be completely supporting us financially and through prayer, many workers, details, and short term missions trips along the way. This will be an incredible journey together!

So what is my purpose in this blog? Please pray for us as we travel next week to get all the solid, clear details we need so the rest of our work this year has a good target to hit. We want to start seeing all the details so we have a plan, a list we can start checking off as God provides.

We're not dead yet!

I just looked at the last time I blogged and noticed that I haven't done a thing since October 5th! People must be thinking we died but "we're not dead yet." :-) There has been a lot of ground covered since then and we are pressing forward with plans for Toronto.

Since my blog on the 5th, we had Thanksgiving. Canadian Thanksgiving was the second Monday in October and we had a crew over to celebrate. There are 3 couples who joined us for dinner who are interested in helping us in Toronto. They are all on different levels of commitment. One couple is coming for as long as they are able, another is coming for the summer and the last couple is coming for the missions trip and short term trips beyond that. This is very exciting for us because we are planning a full week of ministry for the 100 or more coming from Fairfax, VA. This is all happening August 16 - 22, 2010.

Pray for us and our next visit to TO this November. We are lining up a few details for our move and I am praying God will give us a free place for one of these couples to stay for the summer. I am also praying that God will give us some free or relatively cheap office space and use of equipment. A few things are lining up and we just need to see what God has in store for us.

Also, pray that we are able to secure the name of our church, Burlington Community Church. We have already bought the websites and Phil Bassham (Media Pastor at Fair Oaks Church) should have something for us soon.

Pastor Stokes also has an opportunity to develop a live radio show in Oakville, Ontario. Oakville is the next town over from Burlington. If God is in that, there will be a good opportunity to promote the ministry and give a daily voice to the ministry there as we take Loud On Purpose to Toronto.

Stephen Harper gets a little help from YoYo Ma

We have a date!

I hope you get excited reading this because I am am excited writing it! We still have a lot more to learn and a lot of strategy and planning but we are definitely excited about this church in Toronto.

Why am I writing about this today? Because I needed the encouragement and this has been therapeutic for me. I walked into my daughters' room last night to kiss them and say good night and we began a conversation about Toronto. They told me they wanted to know a little bit more about our plans and to start talking about the plans more consistently as a family. I must admit that I have been busy and have not taken the time to talk with my family much. So, I sat on the bed with them and opened up our conversation. Just for fun, I asked them what they thought the church would be like. I don't know if I'll ask that question again! :-) They began to describe a church of about 20 people with me on the keyboard, the girls singing with me, and Tracey on the tambourine! Is this funny or what!

As the conversation went on and I explained to them what we intended to do, they became excited. I must admit, I worry sometimes that their concept would not be far from the truth except that THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! We have a much bigger God than that and my ambition and prayers are aggressive and pointed with God. So much so that those who interact with me daily on the church staff and notice, know my fasting habits. I am serious about what we are getting ready to do and I am bathing it in prayers daily! Though my daughters had a funny concept of our beginning, I do kinda want to see what Tracey could do with a tambourine! That would be fun, right?

So...what were some of the details I shared you may be asking? I told them that our very first community service would take place on August 22, 2010! Plan on joining us the week during August 16 - 22nd as we canvas the communities of Burlington, Oakville and Halton to invite many to the service on the 22nd of August. This is perfect timing for Virgina and Ontario. In Virginia, we will still be out of school and in the thick of vacation travel. In Ontario, students will be returning to school that Monday the 23rd of August so vacations will have ended and the weekend used in getting things in order for the new school year.

The purpose of the community service is to show the community what we intend to establish in that area. Mass publicity will be key but nothing as effective and our efforts in finding one of two families we can bring to that service with us. Fair Oaks Church and Pastor Stokes will be there in full support and work force. It is our intention to reproduce Fair Oaks Church for a day. This means we will have a full band, children ministry, greeters and cafe, youth emphasis and all the other wonderful full ministry options our home church offers. What does that mean for you? If you are a part of any of these ministries, you will translate that for that service in Toronto. Regardless of your niche in ministry, you will be used in this service in Toronto.

What is the theme for that week? I am using a concept and message series Pastor Stokes preached back in 2006 called Church, Why Bother? This series has been on my heart before the PIVOT Meeting (vision casting meeting) we had at Fair Oaks Church in January this year. We are all about reaching the unchurched/unsaved community and this is the question they are asking. Where America has a rich protestant heritage, Canada has an established church background which means they are stooped in ritual, formal church history that has left them empty and asking the question, "Church,Why Bother?" Makes sense, right?

After the week is complete, we will have even more to do! What I am talking about is the follow up. If you are unable to come during the week of the 16th - 21st, why not come for the Sunday service on the 22nd to attend and help, then stay for the week following August 23 - 28th to reach out to the people who attended that service and help us get them plugged into growth groups and meetings that will follow the campaign as we organize the church and set our Launch Day for later in November or December. On this Launch Day, we will communicate effectively with Fair Oaks Church and figure out who would like to take a shorter weekend trip to work with us that weekend and complete the history of a church plant in Toronto.

Here is what I need everyone to join with me in prayer about:

• That our publicity and canvasing will yield huge results
• That 100 or more people from Fair Oaks Church will set aside time to take this trip
  
• That we find unique and creative ways to share the gospel to the Toronto culture
  
• That we find the right spot to hold our community service
• That we have a spirit-filled service free of complications or demonic attack
• That we are left with a core group of 100 people ready to begin the church

Speaking of this church, what will it be called? We have been exploring different things but like Fair Oaks Church, we want to mirror the community in our name and appearance. For fun, I tossed our the name Burlington Family Fellowship, where we are your BFF. This did not pass my families approval of course, but it is funny and I always like funny. What we are seriously thinking about is Burlington Community Church. We are exploring that name to make sure it is not used or claimed organizationally by any other church. Until we have this entirely figured out, we are simply, Vision Toronto.

The Dowdy family is getting ready to go and I encourage them, sweet daughters and wife, as I encourage you to surrender to the call. Jesus addressed this issue when he said, "whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it." I know the context applies to salvation but I absolutely believe it can apply to our commitment to Christ. I am tired of being a saver; I want to be a loser. Maybe that doesn't sound just right but be a loser with me, won't ya?!! Come on this adventure to Toronto, Vision Toronto!

Practice This Past Week!

As we continue to come closer to the date we move to Toronto, God gives us unique experiences that become a training ground. When we arrive in Toronto, we will be renting a facility that will need to be set up and taken down each week. To add to that, we will have to find a place for our baptism services. It is incredible to think through all the things we will need to do.

We had an opportunity to see this first hand this past weekend . Our home church, Fair Oaks, had a small contained fire in the baptismal pool that forced us to set up services in another facility. Fortunately, our campus includes a Rec Center we were able to move into, but since it's primary use is as a gym, there was a lot to do. We had to think through seating, media, children ministry and a baptism. We kicked into high gear and got it all accomplished so we could conduct a full weekend of ministry in limited space and set up. Plus, we had a baptism in my pool. What a great opportunity to see a "mobile church set up" the way we would want to do that in Toronto.

Thank God for this challenge and training we received this past weekend!

Young Toronto Recurits

As we get ready for our move to Toronto, we have been blessed by various ones interested in coming with us. There is one couple who is submitting paper work to continue their education in Toronto as they consider helping us start the church. This is a very interesting development and one I hope others will consider. You can advance your degree in a prestigious university in the Toronto area. There are many to choose from including the University of Toronto itself located in the heart of Toronto proper. You can locate it on a map of Toronto by simply following University Street. Simple, eh?

Those who enter with the education route will be able to get a visa relatively effortlessly, secure a working visa and become a resident. During the education visa term, there are possibilities for other forms or residency and occupation. If you read this blog and pray about your part in this church plant, consider this possibility.

Now consider this...evangelism! What better way to connect with the community and have an opportunity to witness than in a university environment. This entrance into Canada should prove to be a brilliant form evangelism. Tracey and I will likely be the only ones who can systematically reach out to people during the day and discover places to be a witness but those in university have a ready audience.

All along we have been talking about families securing a job and paper work to come and work with us in Toronto, but that has not produced much interest or effort on those even slightly interested. It is not that there are not jobs up there but that the process can be tedious and end with a denial of status or entry. Education is consistently approved and, don't forget, the possibilities of grants for education abroad exist. So, before you dismiss thoughts of joining the Dowdy's in Toronto, consider education.

Let's finish and start at the same time!

As Tracey and I are contemplating the last 10 months at Fair Oaks Church, we are finding a lot of stuff we need to finish. We think of selling the house, finishing my counseling degree, and passing on all the information I can for the next person taking over. To top that off, there are still all the sad goodbyes we will need to go through. There seems to be enough to finish that a getting started seems a long way off.

So when do we start? Now! We have paper work in for our move, investigating what it take to start a church in Canada, legal documents to accompany this start, and all the doctrinal and policy work on how this church will be formed. Plus, we are still looking for families to join us and get them started on this journey.

Keep us in the prayers...we need them as we finish and start...at the same time.

We are on our way!

We are only 11 months away from moving to Toronto. We have a lot of work to accomplish and will be praying for guidance from the Lord each step of the way. There is no way we can do this without Him or His call.

Pastor Stokes and Fair Oaks Church are the inspiration and full support of this endeavor, spiritually, emotionally and financially. Fair Oaks Church will have a "mini-me" in Toronto very soon! We love and appreciate the full support of my home church. God has richly blessed us with such great support and courage from our senior pastor to move forward in missions as we are today. Pastor laid out a vision for what we are doing a couple years ago and we are a part of God fulfilling it. To get a glimpse of the great ministry of Fair Oaks Church, visit www.loundonpurpose.com and see what I am talking about. I have been privileged to be an assistant pastor there for 8 years.

Tracey and I took a trip to Toronto in June and discovered that the Burlington/Oakville area is right for our family. In an interview with a local pastor in Oakville, we discovered that the area we have selected is the 2nd fasted growing region in North America. It is topped only by Las Vegas believe it or not. We were also introduced to an Ontario church planter leader who is giving us information about legally starting a church in Ontario and moving to Canada. This was a very fruitful trip and further evidence of God's guidance in this process.

Later this week, I will add a video we took of Toronto and used in our church to encourage others to consider the call to work up there with us and to enlist those who will join us for a week in August next summer to begin this ministry. Keep us in your prayers and ask God what your part will be in this work for Him.

Roy & Tracey Dowdy

Toronto Trip

Tracey and I are excited about our up coming trip to Toronto! We are coming up there in June to "pee around the tree" sort of speak. We will be marking our territory for a church to launch. This trip is necessary for those who may join us in this mission. We all need to find places to live, near jobs, etc... Keep us in your prayers. We want to be in the town God would have us build a church and start talking to families in Toronto about this exciting adventure.

So...what can you pray for? When I pray about Toronto, I think of what Paul instructed the Thessalonians to pray when they were going to a new place.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

1. Pray that the Word of God would spread rapidly and be honored. I cannot stress enough the importance of getting the Word our quickly so we can gather many families in establishing a strong church. It takes resources and rapid, honored responses
2. Pray that we are delivered from wicked and evil men. It is no secret that there will be resistance. We expect it. But...we need to pray away those who would make it their mission to sink a church and discourage those who want to build a church for His glory.
3. Pray for strength and protection from the evil one (Satan). Satan is the enemy of Christ and His church. We know this and feel his attacks even as we are still living in Fairfax, VA.
4. Pray that we will continue to do His commands. It is easy to get side tracked when things get hard in ministry. We know there will be hardship and we know there will be many distractions. Even good ministry ideas could distract us from the mission of the church. Lord help us to keep focused on You and the calling!
5. Pray that God will direct our hearts in His love and persevere. I probably don't need to make comments about this one. It is "where we live" and need to remain throughout our entire ministry.
   

Thank you for praying specifically for the Dowdys!

Hello Toronto!

I just placed myself on a list of blogs for Toronto and Ontario residents.  Thanks for taking the time to read this blog. I hope you will sign up and get to know me.  I'm coming to Toronto to start a church next summer, 2010. This is an important step for our family.  

I grew up in Windsor and have a lot of fond memories. My father pastors a church there - I loved growing up in Canada and in church. I look forward to coming to Toronto and being re-introduced to Canadian culture - especially looking forward to being near restaurants that serve good poutine, Tim Horton's and other distinctly Canadian foods. I love hockey and catch the games when I can. By the way, the Red Wings and Ducks game was great yesterday! Wish Detroit had won but enjoyed 4 1/2 hours of hockey! It was a good day, eh?

Tracey, my wife, grew up on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. Her maiden name is Mac Lean and I am convinced that she is related to most of Cape Breton Island. She is a awesome cook. She grew up learning highland dances and and admitted to eating a few dinners that included haggis.  Scary, right? Better yet, several of her family and friends are crab & lobster are commercial fisherman and I get to go on the boats with them when we vacation. If you've never visited the east coast of Canada, you have to do it. Very beautiful and perfect seafood.

Above all, we look forward to reaching a community with the Gospel. We hope to confirm our location this summer so keep up in your prayers. We want to be where God would place us and establish a grewing church for His glory! We will need a lot of support and help once we get there. If we end up in your community, please let us know!

I will continue to write, hope you will continue to stay interested.

Roy & Tracey Dowdy

Looking for good neighbors

The Dowdys are getting ready for ministry in Toronto. It can be a slow process sometimes. You can take a step or two forward and not get as far as we'd hoped. For instance, I thought I'd breeze through a few Christian Colleges and Seminaries online to see what is happening up there. My plan with this is to connect with a few ministries of like faith, set up a few chapel speaking engagements for sometime next year and get an idea of the spiritual temperature. I am waiting to here back from a few places including Liberty University to see if they have a few graduate pastors up there or former students who would be interested in a new church in Toronto next summer.

Our hope is to find "good neighbors" who are currently reaching families in Toronto so we can learn from them. There is so much we can learn from a few good neighbors. They can teach us what is working in ministry and whats not. Either by their words or example, if you know what I mean! ;-) If I can start talking with a few Canadian potential helpers for a church plant, I would feel pretty good about our future. My goal is to have 100 in our church "when the dust clears."

Keep us in your prayers as always. Tracey and I are setting the foundation and philosophies of ministry on our home church, Fair Oaks Church. Check us out at www.LoudOnPurpose.com, then, pray about joining us! You only have to go across an international boarder, find a job, a house and all that "life stuff." Easy,eh?!!

Encouraged by the Lord

As Tracey and I are preparing for our work in Toronto, we are humbled by the call to such a huge task. We, as you, always need to encourage ourselves in the Lord. As I was doing my daily Bible reading, God gave me this verse. "I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and in the age to come, eternal life." Luke 18:29 & 30

I needed to hear that this week because we are still in the "concept and theory" stages of this move. We will be in Toronto in the summer of 2010 but there are a lot of details to work out. Tracey and I recently had a week together to pray and think through some things but found it difficult because we know we need to get some concrete plans in action. With God's help, we will have some of those things worked out in June. It is being patient that overtakes our thoughts sometimes.

We were also overwhelmed by the thought of being in our early forties and taking a "leap of faith" when most people our age are doing what they can to make sure their jobs are secure and they are putting back for retirement. The verses above remind us that if we abandon it all for the kingdom of God, HE will take care of us in this age (our lifetime) and the age to come (eternity). By the way, Tracey and I hope to bring a whole lot of Canadians into eternity with us!

Keep us in your prayers and be encouraged by our struggles and resolution in Christ.

Coming to Toronto

The Dowdy Family is coming to Toronto! In the summer of 2010, a church will be planted in the Toronto area that will be an answer to years of praying and preparation. Follow this blog for details!