A New Thing

Horizon | 5 November 2021

By Bob Shelton
Send City Missionary - Calgary

This is what the Lord says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:16-19
 
These are certainly exciting and challenging days to be alive! We are living at a hinge point in history. What do I mean? A turning point or point at which a significant change takes place. You can feel it can’t you? We are right now living in one of those hinge points. 

Pandemic, Me Too movement, Truth and Reconciliation, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ, Cultural Chaos: One writer called it a Moral Convulsion.

The question we should be asking ourselves is "Where is the church at this critical juncture?" 

Will the church stay entrenched, clustered and cloistered, safe and complacent or will we look and listen for what the Father is doing and then adjust and join Him in His mission? Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!

What is the new thing God is doing?

Last week I attended a Church Planting Congress led by Jeff Christopherson. Jeff began with three thoughts that really challenged my thinking. 

  • A different kind of church
  • A different kind of church planter
  • A different kind of kingdom collaboration

I also met with Pastor Francisco Aular this last week. Pastor Francisco is 76 years old. His passion for Christ still burns bright. He dreams to plant four Hispanic churches in Calgary. His son and daughter and her family including grandchildren are all involved in planting. These are two important principles I observed with Pastor Francisco: We need to live the reality we want in our homes and you can’t reproduce what you’re not living.

Prayer requests:

  • Please pray that our leaders would be courageous and bold as we seek to embrace the new thing God is doing in our city. 
  • Please pray for our city team as they are working together to make the Send Network Values of Family, Multiplication and Restoration a reality in our city.
  • Pray that God would raise up laborers for His Harvest.
  • Pray for pastors who are fatigued and emotionally drained. Pray that God would revive their spirits and that we would do a good job supporting them in their journey. 

Please join us in prayer for the new National Ministry Leader. 

Save this link ( https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83618645868 ) in your calendar to meet with us on November 8, 2021, 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM CST (1:00 pm MST) for our next prayer time for our next National Ministry Leader. Folusho Hezekiah leads this important prayer time and it is a half-hour well worth your time.

 

 

 


 

The Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary & College is looking for a full-time, residential professor of theology who is a convictional Baptist. The primary area of teaching would be theology, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, in person as well as online. However, the ability to teach in other academic areas would be of great benefit.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL JOB POSTING

 

 


Do you have a story you would like to share? Please contact Lynda Blazina and let her know. We would love to share your stories with our CNBC family of churches.


CNBC Horizon
National Ministry Leader: Gerry Taillon 
Editor: Lynda Blazina
French Translation: Baker Hill    

  
                

CNBC Mission: We are churches in covenant giving ourselves away to advance the Kingdom.

CNBC Vision: We see a day when every man, woman, boy and girl has multiple opportunities to see, hear and respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ.