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!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
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:
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!
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
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!
Monday, September 14, 2009
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!
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!
Monday, August 31, 2009
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.
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.
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