Connection does not always come easily or even naturally. It is clear from Scripture that God created us to be connected, and yet we push connection away regularly. Connection takes time, it takes effort, but perhaps the biggest reason we avoid it is that it takes vulnerability. The closer I get to someone, the more likely it is for them to see my faults and failures. It is easier to stay at arm’s length. 

Society hasn’t helped us at all. We are taught from a young age that independence is a great strength, that our success should be “self-made,” and that self-care is of the utmost importance. These statements all obscure the fact that God designed us for connection. 

I believe lack of connectedness is among the biggest challenges of the Church today – at least in North America where all of society pushes individualism. Here are just some of the areas where I feel we are struggling: 

• Inadequate discipleship: The Biblical model of discipleship is to walk alongside someone through life. Jesus’ disciples didn’t just sit through the occasional class with him – they lived and traveled in his company. While that level of connection is usually not plausible, we cannot boil discipleship down into a one-hour Sunday School class each week. True discipleship involves a deeper connection and an understanding of what is going on Monday through Saturday. 

• Inadequate soul care: Everyone faces difficulty. Folks in our churches are facing anger about work situations, struggles with substance abuse, marriage issues, grief, persistent sin, and so many other things. When a person is unable to honestly share these issues, their chance of dealing with them in a healthy way decreases. 

• Inadequate physical care: We are trained not to ask for help. So, when there is a problem with our house or car or the medical bills are piling up, we don’t share that with our church family. We are trained not to stick our nose into the business of others. So, when someone else in our church family is struggling, we are likely not to notice. God calls us to care for one another, but we cannot provide for things we don’t even know about. We cannot even pray specifically when we are unaware of the needs. 

• Inadequate outreach: Many of us know little or nothing about our neighbors. We keep to ourselves, and we miss opportunities. Our churches focus on internal events and neglect connecting with their communities. We find it far easier to write a check than to see a need face to face. 

• Inadequate volunteerism: The key to finding volunteers to help at church is not making another announcement, it is realizing that someone is gifted and inviting them to help. When we are not connected, we have no idea who might be able to fill a need. At the same time, a person who does not feel personally connected to what is going on is unlikely to volunteer. The best volunteers are those who feel a sense of ownership in the ministry, which only happens through connection. 

There are undoubtedly more issues that could be mentioned, but you get the idea. Lack of connection is damaging to the local church. And as the local church goes, so goes our Fellowship. Our member churches need to stay connected to one another, but it is a challenge. 

As a friend pointed out to me years ago, this Fellowship used to be connected because everyone had family at the other churches. He asked how we can maintain our connection when this is no longer the case. As I have said before, it is our shared values and doctrinal positions that bind us. We are like-minded, and like-minded believers are family. More importantly, the Bible tells us that it is important to stay connected. 

Paul dedicates 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 to this idea of local churches being connected to one another. He starts out by telling the Corinthians about the sacrificial giving of the churches in Macedonia to support the church at Jerusalem, who was enduring poverty and persecution. He encourages the Corinthians to follow the example of these other churches. He tells them that their abundance should bless churches in need. He commends Titus and another brother who will be sent to visit them personally and then goes on to encourage generous giving to support what is happening among the churches. 

I do not think these two chapters were accidentally included in the Bible. I think they illustrate to us that it is important for churches to stay connected with others, to be aware of their needs, and to respond. It is interesting to me that Paul didn’t just share about needs, he also used the faithfulness of churches to motivate other churches to act similarly. The text describes mutual accountability, encouragement, and support. Those are the goals of our Fellowship, but connection does not happen without intentional effort. 

Connect26 is coming up very soon. Newcomers to Connect consistently say that it was such a blessing, and that they were pleasantly surprised at the quality and impact of the event. With that reputation, I often wonder why the attendance isn’t growing each year. I suspect life is just a bit too busy, time is a bit too precious, and connection with the Fellowship doesn’t seem that important. 

Please consider whether God would have you register for Connect – not because your church needs another delegate, but because connection with like-minded believers is good for your soul. Please subscribe to the Fellowship Focus and continue to learn about how God is moving among our churches. Please pray about how you and your local church can be used to connect meaningfully with the other churches of our Fellowship. Please let us know if your church has a need that could be met by our Fellowship. 

​Let’s stay connected. ​

If you’ve ever felt disconnected at church, you may relate to the way Bev Dyck felt in the years following COVID. 

"It was just a dry and weary land," she says. "There was really nothing — no groups, nothing. I felt very disconnected from everybody." 

She had just become her church's Christian Education Director. The congregation, Christian Fellowship Chapel in Winnipeg, Manitoba, had fewer than fifty regular attenders. Bev was looking for signs of life. She found one. 

"The women wanted to get together." 

Bev Dyck and Linda Edwards had been meeting together for years — every week, just the two of them, to pray for their church. Linda has attended since she was twelve years old. Bev had come to Winnipeg in 1979 and never left. They had prayed through seasons of growth and seasons of loss, and now they were praying through a season of quiet. 

Out of that quiet, something began to stir. 

They decided to start a women's Bible study, small, low-pressure, structured in four-week sessions so women could commit without feeling overwhelmed. They would offer it four times a year, one session per season. They would see if anyone came. 

Before they promoted anything, they asked Carla, an artist in their congregation, to paint something that captured what they were sensing. They knew the theme they wanted to teach: abiding in Jesus, drawn from John 15. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. 

What Carla produced was a painting of a vine — grapes and leaves, organic and flowing — that resonated immediately with both women. It became the image on their invitations, the opening slide at each gathering, and on small prayer cards they gave to every woman who came. If she had a prayer request, she wrote it on the card and shared it with the group. If she didn't, she could use it to write an encouragement to someone else. ​

The name followed naturally. Ladies Fall Abiding. Ladies Winter Abiding. Ladies Spring Abiding. Ladies Summer Abiding. Each season its own study. Each gathering a continuation of the same root. 

Around nine or ten women showed up that first Wednesday evening, a significant number for a congregation their size. 

"It felt like a little flame we were fanning," Bev says. 
  
To understand what Ladies Abiding is, it helps to understand what it is not. Linda and Bev were the last two leaders of their church's previous women's ministry before it folded.  

"It was becoming burdensome," Bev says. "Young moms were supposed to run this group and we had to do this, this and that. It just became burdensome." 
​
This time, it's intentionally different. When they get together, their agenda is to form a supportive group for each other, where you know you can come and you're safe and you're loved.  

“We focus on building each other up,” Linda says. “So often in our churches it's performance based or evangelism based. You need the love of each other and experiencing the love of Jesus before those things happen. But often those things are put first and then people are just worn out because there's no inside energy coming for the things that we're supposed to do.” 

The group holds what they call "group identity statements": a few simple commitments that set the culture from the start. One is that they are under the authority of God's Word. Another is that they are safe. What is shared around the table stays there. 

"We had a very strong, giving group," Bev says of the women in their church. "We could all give, give, give. But we needed to learn how to receive love freely, just like a baby would. It's something we have to learn. We shouldn't feel anxious about it or feel we don't deserve it. That's not how God wants us to function. We need to just be able to relax and receive love." 

Linda frames it in terms of what Christian maturity actually looks like, and what it doesn't. "Maturity is being able to receive the love of Christ and pass it on and have that love shape your character. It's not knowing a lot about the Bible. It's not how many times you go to church or how you perform." 

More than two years in, the group has grown. The tables in the back of the sanctuary have multiplied. The women span every generation: new mothers, unmarried women, grandmothers, great-grandmothers. 

"The best group for growing is a group that has all ages," Linda says. "Everybody learns from each other." 

Each gathering begins the same way. Linda plays the group's theme song on a Bluetooth speaker and the women sing together. 

"Our Salvation is Bound Up Together” by Paul Zach 

"It sets our hearts to worship," Linda says. "We sense the Holy Spirit. It's very, very powerful." 

Between sessions, a WhatsApp group keeps the community alive. Prayer requests come in. Good news comes in. When someone has a need, someone with the capacity to meet it simply does, without a committee, without coordination.  

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2) 

"When the Holy Spirit prompts us to love one another and tells us what to do, we can do it," Linda says. "When it's His love in the group, things aren't hard. They're easy." 

Ladies Abiding has not been sheltered from grief. 

Linda's mother, Irene, was part of the group. They even held several sessions in the meeting room of Irene's assisted living home. When she passed away, Bev organized a tribute for her. 

"The ladies were very, very supportive to me," Linda says. "I felt very supported." 

Other women in the group have walked through the sudden loss of a husband, the slow accumulation of sorrow, the hard seasons that arrive without warning. "We've walked hard journeys of grief together," Bev says. "Jesus promises comfort, and it's good comfort. He does bring good comfort to the group."  

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3–4) 

These women are walking through every season together.  Linda shares, “We've had deaths, we've had a wedding, we have showers, we've had baby showers. There are so many things to celebrate.”
 
For women in other FEBC churches who wonder if something like this is possible in their congregation, Linda and Bev offer counsel that is characteristically uncluttered. 

Start with prayer, Bev says. "God gives a little seed. And that seed — it just looks like an idea, like this is where it seems to be going. But the seed holds the blueprint of the plant. You just can't see it yet. And then it just slowly starts to grow." Stay in a posture of listening: "You have to be expecting that God is going to tell you something." 

Linda adds desire. "You have to want it. Pray about it, talk about it. If the idea resonates with both of you or the three of you, you kind of just go with it and see what happens." 

And love, they both insist, cannot be manufactured. "We lead by example," Bev says. "If we're not loving, we're sabotaging the group. It really has to burst out of love." That love, she is quick to add, is not theirs to produce. "Love is something that is from the Lord. We can't drum it up on our own. It has to come from God." 

It is not complicated, Linda says. It just takes someone willing to do it. 

Two women in Winnipeg decided to be those people. They started with prayer, nine or ten women around a table, and a painting of a vine. 

Almost three years later, the tables have multiplied. The women keep coming back. 
​
Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. (John 15:4) ​

Unity: God’s Order in the Midst of Conflict  

It’s hard to know whether we live in the most divisive time in history or whether that feeling comes from pervasive hyperbole. What is clear is that the information age makes us acutely aware of nearly every struggle people face today, and conflict is everywhere. Chaos, confusion, and disarray are signs of Satan’s activity, not God’s work. The church and believers should be set apart from the animosity that drives content and division. 

From the start, God’s work was to bring order out of chaos. 1 Corinthians 14:33 says, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” At creation, when the earth was formless and void, God established structure and harmony that govern both the physical world and the lives of believers. 

That ordering carries into the life of the church through the Holy Spirit. As followers of Jesus, we are indwelt by God’s Spirit, which transforms us into the image of Christ. Paul describes this relationally: we have been crucified with Christ so that it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us (Galatians 2:20); we are also new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Because believers bear Christ’s mark, the church should reflect the unity and harmony God has already brought to creation and to individual lives. This is how believers can be salt in the world. 

​Unity is therefore a central concern for God’s people. Psalm 133:1 declares, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Unity is not merely an aspirational goal for the church. Unity is one of the ways we identify with Christ and demonstrate His presence among us. In other words, unity is the church’s reality as well as its calling.

Biblical foundations for unity 

1. God’s nature is unified—even in three persons, God is one (the Shema: Deuteronomy 6:4). 
2. God created in unity: “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26) 
3. God’s original creation reflected unity—before sin, every living thing fulfilled its God‑given purpose. 
4. God’s ordinance of marriage models unity: the two shall become one flesh. 
5. The Church itself is a unified body. 

Paul develops this theme explicitly in Ephesians. After explaining the mystery of the church, he turns (beginning in chapter 4) to practical instructions for how believers should live together. He does not start with church structures or theological distinctives; instead, he insists that unity is the church’s present reality because Christ removed the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile. Galatians 3:28 emphasizes this inclusion: “There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Because Christ’s work and the Spirit’s sealing have restored oneness, Paul exhorts believers to preserve what God has already accomplished.
​
Ephesians 4:1–3 lists the personal qualities necessary to sustain that unity. These qualities shape relationships and guide behavior within the body of Christ: ​​

• Humility — not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. 
• Meekness / Gentleness — power under control. 
• Patience / Long‑suffering — endurance that does not surrender to circumstances. 
• Tolerance / Forbearance — continually offering grace to allow God to work in another’s life. 
• Diligence — actively preserving the unity God has given; making it a priority.

Consider how each of these would contribute to unity within our churches. Then ask yourself if you are acting with these qualities in your relationships with other believers. ​

​Humility — "not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less." ​​

• When did I recently choose my comfort, reputation, or agenda over serving someone else in the congregation? 
• What ministry or task do I avoid because it might make me look vulnerable or imperfect? 
• Do I trust God enough to let someone else be right in an area of preference? 
• How do I respond internally when others receive praise I wanted—do I celebrate, resent, or stay silent? 

Registration is open for Connect26! Our annual gathering of churches will happen July 9-11, 2026, at Salem Church in Waldheim, SK, and we want to connect you with people, resources, and information that will help you do ministry better. 

This event is not just for pastors and leaders, but for anyone who is interested in learning more about God’s Word, about our Fellowship, or about healthy church ministry. 

This year, we are excited to introduce “Table Talks.” 

In years past, we had “Directed Ministry Conversations,” which consisted of a two-hour period where folks could connect with others in their own area of ministry to discuss challenges, share advice, and grow together. 

This year, we’re going to try Table Talks. At 1pm on Saturday, we will have ten tables, each with its own area of discussion. You can sit at any table to discuss that area of ministry. Every 15 minutes or so, we will signal that it is time to move. You can go to another table, or if you prefer, you can continue at your current table. This format will give you the opportunity to connect over the various issues your church may be facing. 

Here is a tableau of Table Talk topics (okay, it’s just a list, but “tableau” sounded fancy): 

1. Worship & Music Ministry 
2. Children’s & Youth Ministry 
3. Preaching & Teaching 
4. Adult Discipleship & Small Groups 
5. Outreach, Evangelism, & Missions 
6. Recruiting & Supporting Volunteers 
7. Safety, Security, & Crisis Response 
8. Addressing Social Issues Biblically 
9. Developing Leaders & Preventing Burnout 
10. What challenge are you (or your church) facing in ministry right now? 

This should be a great time to grow together! If you plan to be at Connect, ask your church leaders if they have specific questions in any of these areas. When we connect, God can use us to sharpen one another. We are joining our hands to strengthen His church. 

See you at Connect.

In what season of life are you in active pursuit? 

I once heard a doctor from India share some observations about typical missionary careers. In the first phase, missionaries exercise their professional training as doctors, engineers, teachers, or pastors. In the second phase, they move from doing the work themselves into a leadership or management role over others doing that work. And finally, in their third phase of a career, they no longer had to be exercising their profession, nor did they need to be in a leadership position, but instead, they step back from both direct practice and leadership, entering a deeply meaningful season as encouragers — investing in the lives of those they walked alongside as a doer or a leader. As I reflected over my career, this resonated with me and I purposed to be an agent of encouragement in this season of my life. 

A while ago, I heard someone say that you should look at your life like a football game with four 15-minute quarters. Assuming that around your 20th birthday, you might be ready to start your working career, the first quarter would go from age 20 to 35. The second quarter would be from 35 to 50, the third quarter would be from 50 to 65, and the fourth quarter would be from 65 to 80, and after that, it's sudden-death overtime! 

Now think about it . . . the fourth quarter is usually the most exciting part of the game. Every effort is put into action in order to win the game. And so often, the final quarter is what determines the outcome. 

I’ve always been interested in reading about people throughout history and how they finished their lives. What kinds of attitudes did they have at the close of their earthly years? Over the years, we have had opportunities to visit friends living in retirement communities. There were usually some grumpy old men, but thankfully, there were positive, encouraging, joyful people, too. What I came to realize is that all of these people were living their lives as a result of their whole lives, not just those last few years. 

Hmmm . . . now think about that. What kind of life are you reflecting now, and do you want to be a good example of a Christ follower? Start today by cultivating the character qualities that bring glory to Jesus. ​

Bible for Children has free illustrated Bible stories in over 1,300 languages on our website. Over 75 million Bible stories have been downloaded around the world.  

These exciting and accurate Bible stories at bibleforchildren.org will help your Missionaries minister to their people groups by teaching the Bible and literacy to the children (as well as adults).  

Of course, your church can also freely use all of our Bible stories, including audio and video Bible stories, and coloring books.  

​God birthed Bible for Children in Manitoba many years ago. As coworkers together, we appreciate your work for God. We are happy to provide any BFC materials that will facilitate your ministry.  

If you have any questions, we will be happy to hear from you. God bless you! 

Gregory Stetski 
Executive Director 
[email protected] ​

Below are the deaths, births, and weddings across our congregations that have occurred since our last issue or had not previously been reported. During these major events, and always, we will proclaim His praise.    ​

Compass Immanuel Church (Rapid View, SK) 

• Logan Joshua, born to Clint and Hannah Cummins, April 21, 2026. Grandparents are Ron and Teresa Cummins 

Cornerstone Bible Church (Mountain Lake, MN) 

• Marvin L. Regehr, 80, died February 4, 2026. 

Countryside Bible Church (Meade, KS) 

• Trace Andrew Klahr, born to Dean and Jacqueline Klahr, April 20, 2026. Grandparents are Dan and Tamra Clawson.  ​

Hodgson Bible Church (Hodgson, MB) 

• Rilla Mae, born to Kyler and Annaliese Nottveit, May 1, 2026. 

 
Saron Mennonite Church (Fairview, OK) 

• Wade Nolan Anderson, grandson to Adam and Denise Nunn, born March 15, 2026.  
• Levi Clevenger, grandson to Les and Margaret Clevenger, born December 27, 2025. 
• Melba Nickel, 96, died January 13, 2026. ​

Vita Bible Church (Vita, MB) 

• Emily Marie Unger, born to Tony and Annabel Unger, May 22nd, 2026. Grandparents are Hans and Adina Unger and Jason and Naomi Dueck. 

Christian Fellowship Chapel 
Winnipeg, MB 
Timothy Harris, Pastor 
cfc-wpg.org 

​We are thankful for the events of the past months. Kevin Stone, our FEBC president, came and taught a worship seminar for us and then participated as the drummer with the worship team the next day. The seminar was well-received and is referred to often. Prayer with the tech team now happens prior to the worship service. We are sensing the presence of the Holy Spirit in increasing measure through our praise and worship.

It bears noting that the Lord continues to bring people from different backgrounds to us. We already have a Sunday School class of Spanish speakers, and now, adding to the diversity, we have several ballet students from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company, and a couple new to Canada from Madagascar attending our services and participating in our church community. These individuals all have something to contribute, and teach us, and we appreciate them!

​The AWANA Grand Prix was well-received. Many from our congregation attended, as it marked the retirements of our commander, Rick Small, faithfully at his post for 30 years, and of Mike Dyck, serving in the AWANA program since its inception at CFC in 1981.

​We had two very special services in May. On Pentecost Sunday, 3 people were baptized. On the last Sunday in May, we had a testimony service, where many shared from the heart and filled up the service. The Lord is drawing us closer together as a congregation, which provides the safety for this kind of sharing.

Our Women’s Ministry will provide informal opportunities for the ladies to meet over the summer for singing and sharing.
 
We have a men’s ministry starting, “Friendly Fire”, with a day at the lake together as a kick-off.

Linda Edwards, Correspondent ​

Compass Immanuel Church 
Rapid View, SK
Trevor Kirsch, Pastor

Sunday mornings at Compass start at 9:20 with a time of prayer; this is followed by Sunday School at 10:00 am and the Worship Service at 11:00 am. Compass church is blessed with many young families, and thus we have a full Sunday School Program with 9 classes from Mom’s and Tots to Adults. The Youth meet each Wednesday evening for Bible Study and every other Friday for a fun activity evening. In the absence of a Youth Pastor, Compass has been blessed with some members of the congregation willingly taking on the roles of leading the Youth programs. About 12 to 15 youth regularly attend Bible Study, which is led by Ryley Demmans. They are currently studying the book of Romans. Craig and Michelle Wall are looking after Youth Activities along with assistance from some other congregation members as required. We continue to pray that God will send the right man to Compass as an Assistant/Youth Pastor. 

The month of April opened with a Good Friday service with members of the congregation participating in reading several Bible passages. Pastor Trevor presented a message from John 18 challenging us to reflect on who God is, on who the full Trinity is, and on all that Jesus did for us. The service ended with communion being held. On Easter Sunday, Pastor Trevor took a break from preaching through the book of Ezekiel to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord with a service entitled, “He Is Risen.” On May 24th, Pastor Trevor presented a special service on “Pentecost,” leaving us with thoughts that God gave us the Holy Spirit and He expects us to live a holy life. Praise God for the day of Pentecost! Our journey through the book of Ezekiel has been providing the congregation with a better understanding of this complex book and challenging us in areas of obedience, judgment, and keeping true to the Word of God. 

Compass Kids Choir, led by Lauryn Olson, participated in the Meadow Lake Music Festival and were asked to sing again in the closing program on April 26th. Compass Ladies Care and Share met for a fun Ladies Night on April 30, 2026. The theme of the evening was “Time to Plant.” A craft of creating an art picture with the use of glue and several different kinds of beans was enjoyed by the group. Ethel Cockrum brought a “Time to Plant” devotional, challenging us to serve the Lord. A potted plant exchange was held and, of course, lots of visiting, along with an array of snacks, was shared. The group of “Crafters” that meet weekly throughout the winter months are taking a break now until fall. 

Pastor Trevor and Twyilla were away on Sunday, May 3. One of the young men of our church, Scott Adamson, brought a message from 2 Timothy 1:1-18. On Saturday morning, May 9, men and boys came together at the church for a Men’s Breakfast fellowship where good food and a devotion were shared. On the evening of May 12th, the Sunday School Teachers gathered at the church to discuss Sunday School curriculum among other things. Compass Sunday School has been using the Generations of Grace material this past year and has decided to continue with this curriculum. On the Sunday afternoon of May 17th, Compass Church brought the service to the Northland Pioneer Lodge in Meadow Lake. On May 22-23, the Youth met with the Compass Board members for an overnight retreat at the church. An evening service was held on Sunday, May 24th. We enjoyed singing together, and Pastor Trevor led us in a Bible Quiz. We were encouraged to hear how God has been working in the life of one of the young men from our church as Kyle Drumheller shared his testimony. Praise God as He continues to work in our midst. 

The congregation at Compass Church is looking forward to hearing from Carl Tiechrib at our Family Camp weekend at Bethel Gospel Camp, coming up June 19-21, 2026. ​

From Manila, Herms traveled to the Bicol region to spend time with family before continuing on a four-hour boat ride to the island province of Masbate, where he grew up. There, he served as one of the speakers at a five-day Youth Bible Camp attended by more than 400 young people. Through preaching sessions, teaching lectures, and fellowship opportunities, many youth were challenged to follow Christ faithfully and live boldly for Him. ​

After the youth camp, Herms traveled to his home church, where he was invited to preach during their Thanksgiving Celebration service. It was a special opportunity to reconnect with pastors and ministry leaders from the area. During this time, several pastors expressed interest in receiving training in expository preaching and asked Herms if he would consider returning next year to teach and equip local pastors. Herms is prayerfully considering this opportunity as a way to strengthen biblical preaching and encourage pastors in the Philippines. ​

Bible Adventure Outreach
Cornerstone Bible Church was “on the go” during our Bike Adventure Outreach held on May 25, 2026! Led by our church staff- Luke, our Youth Director; Cindy, our church secretary; and Rick, our church chairman- this exciting community event brought together children, families, volunteers, and church members for a day filled with fun, fellowship, and outreach. 

For the first time in several years, Cornerstone hosted this special biking event designed to connect with families in the Mountain Lake community. Participants enjoyed obstacle courses, biking activities, games, refreshments, and fellowship throughout the day. A total of 53 bikers registered, along with many additional family members and friends who attended. 

Children and participants received ribbons, gift bags, free water, and Gatorade, while families enjoyed food from a local food truck and fellowship with one another. Our Youth Ministry also hosted a fundraising booth offering water, cookies, cupcakes, and fruit. 
Most importantly, the event gave our church another opportunity to connect with our community, build relationships, and show the love of Christ in a practical way. 
​
Was it tiring? Absolutely. But it was also incredibly rewarding. 
We thank the Lord for every volunteer who served, every family who attended, and every opportunity to be a blessing to our community. It was a joyful reminder that ministry often happens not only inside the church building, but also through simple acts of fellowship, service, and outreach. 

Marjorie Friesen, Correspondent ​

I think for a lot of us, a theme over this past year and something the Lord is teaching many of us is to "count it all joy" when we encounter various trials.   There have been many different trials within our church family, especially physical ones, but it has been so encouraging to watch fellow brothers and sisters in Christ respond in faith and in trusting the Lord with humbled obedience and submissiveness to His will and plan, even if it is different than what we might have expected.    

Pastor Jonathan recently started going through the book of Romans on Sunday mornings, and is taking time to do a very in-depth verse-by-verse study.  We will likely be in Romans for several years!  But it has been so rich and meaningful and convicting so far.  The seriousness of our sin is made very plain.  

We are also excited and gearing up for Vacation Bible School, which will be held from June 2nd-4th.  It will be a Family VBS where the entire family is welcome and encouraged to come for supper, a Bible lesson, games, music, and crafts.  We will be studying Psalm 139, with a theme of "God is Super!"    

Summer is also the time for many different camps and activities, and many of the young people in our church are looking forward to Faith Bible Camp, which will be July 6th– 9th.  Pastor David Cummings will be sharing on "Knowing the Only True God" based on John 17:3.  

And then not too long after that (July 19th- 23rd), several of the high schoolers will have the opportunity to attend Camp Regen in Glorieta, New Mexico. ​

Abigail Bartel, Correspondent ​

Missions
HBC held its second annual Missions Banquet on Friday evening, May 1st. The banquet included a catered dinner, a comprehensive mission update including presentations from four current HBC missionaries, and great fellowship. The Missions chair, Robin Meter, led the banquet as the emcee. The banquet was well attended with an attendance of about 60-65 people. Steve Hughes gave an update about his local evangelism efforts. Special guests who gave presentations were Ron Kooyman with Biblical Ministries, Darwin Stoesz with SEND International, and Kris Cheek with Middle East Ministries. The banquet also was a chance to raise funds to bolster the HBC missions fund and provide for future short-term mission trips and for other potential missions work opportunities. ​

Outreach
Steve Hughes, HBC’s full-time evangelist, continues to find new “fishing ponds” for telling the gospel. He has found the local University of Nebraska campus student union to be a great place to pray for students and ask them significant gospel questions. He also leads the Neighborhood Outreach, where he begins with simply asking the question, “Can we pray for you?” Then he invites them to HBC gatherings, and through many questions finds out where they are with Christ and, if possible, shares the gospel with them. He also helps lead the Holmes Lake Park Prayer Station in a similar approach to the Neighborhood Outreach. Over the course of several years of Steve’s leadership with the HBC outreach ministry, there are 15 people active at HBC, 23 people have finished a Basics of Christianity Discipleship study, and 60+ people have visited HBC. Steve also has a daily reminder text that goes out to over 100 people that reminds them to pray for the outreach endeavors. Never underestimate the power of God through prayer, especially when it relates to outreach. Steve makes sure the HBC body has plenty of HBC Gospel tracts and invites. He is very appreciative of the HBC body for their prayers and support. Steve says, “The most fruitful churches are where the whole body of Christ is actively witnessing with gospel literature everywhere they go.” ​

Martensville Mission Church
Martensville, Saskatchewan
Justin Klassen, Pastor

After Easter, Pastor Justin started his series, taking us through 1 Samuel, where he has discussed the consequences of sin and the calling of Samuel.

May was filled with opportunities to reach out into the community. There was a nice crowd of women, many of whom did not attend our church, who came out to the Salad Fiesta on May 6th. The theme for the evening was “Choosing Joy,” and an excerpt from the book “Laugh Again Experience Outrageous Joy,” by Charles R. Swindoll, was read by Joanne Born from MMC.

Mother’s Day was May 10th, and what better day to hold a child dedication service! Four families presented their children to God and affirmed their pledge to raise them in a way that honours the Lord.

May is garage sale month in Martensville. Taking part in the community garage sale on May 23rd was a great way to further the MMC fundraising goal for the building/renovation project and to be out interacting with the community. Goods for the tables were donated by the congregation, and the price for the majority of the items was “by donation”. Many volunteers participated by baking for the baking table, cooking for and serving at the lunch table, managing the many tables loaded with goods and cleaning up. It was a great day!

Looking ahead, our Sunday School will be winding up on June 14th when we plan to take a church-wide photo of the congregation.

Our monthly Community Outreach Suppers continue to be well attended, and several people were interested in them when presented with information at the garage sale. In addition to the June Community Supper, MMC will be hosting a Community Outreach Lunch after the parade on June 6th during the Martensville Buster Days.

Coming up in August, people are planning and preparing for the Family Camping Trip from August 28-30 at Pike Lake.

Brenda Quirt, Correspondent

Randville Bible Church 
Iron Mountain, MI
Jim Janofski, Pastor
 
April and May are long-awaited months in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. After a long and brutal snowy winter, we rejoice to see the hand of our Creator as His creation comes to life, the sun is shining, trees are budding, flowers growing, birds singing, bees buzzing... 

And His joys of new life are in our church life at Randville as well: 

• The timeless thrill of singing and playing the great hymns of Resurrection Sunday: Christ Arose, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, He Lives, Because He Lives... and the wonderful angelic message to those early visitors to Jesus' tomb: “He is not here; He is risen!” 

In April we also began a new musical series focusing on four of the great hymnwriters: Isaac Watts, Fanny Crosby, Johnson Oatman, and Elisha Hoffman. We are so blessed by the musical heritage of these and other hymnwriters. These four alone account for over 15,000 hymn texts-- timeless music that tells of the majesty and power of our God as we sing His praises and seek to reinforce the Scriptural truths of our faith with these hymns. 
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May has its own charm as well: 

• The National Day of Prayer on the first Thursday in May, as we join with others across this nation asking for God's forgiveness, guidance, and blessing upon our country, 
• A Mother's Day emphasis on the second Sunday in May, featuring favorite hymns of the women in our church family, 
• Pentecost Sunday and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, an emphasis on the third Sunday of May, 
• Memorial Day Sunday on the fourth Sunday, as we recognize the sacrifices for our American freedoms, and above all, the sacrifice of our Savior. 

As June approaches, we look forward to honoring our men on Fathers' Day Sunday. 

Our annual outreach picnic is the last Sunday in June. We look forward to a great time of food, fellowship, games, and music as we gather with family, friends, and neighbors in this joyful gathering. 
And our Randville Chapter Challenge continues to be an encouragement to spend time in God's Word, with thousands of chapters being read by our church family over a several-week timespan. 

We are thankful for the faithfulness of our small church family and for the blessings and joy that the Lord supplies. 

In the words of the classic Fanny Crosby hymn: To God be the glory, great things He has done! 

Jim Janofski, Pastor ​

We talk about Easter every year, and I think it is tempting for pastors to feel that there is nothing new to say. But even if there isn’t, repetition can be extremely valuable. When we hear the same stories over and over, they become part of the fabric of our being – a collection of shared truths that shape our understanding of ourselves, our world, and our Creator. 

The account of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior is a story we should never stop considering. It is the pivotal moment in history, and the key to our freedom from sin and death. We should never tire of considering the weight of this moment in history. And since it is such a familiar story, we must determine not to lose our wonder at its magnificence.  

As I sat pondering the Easter story and how I might encourage you this year, I was drawn to the fact that the story of Easter is kind of in our name. We are the Fellowship of Evangelical Bible Churches. “Evangelical” can mean a few things, but at its core, we believe the Bible is our authority, and that the Gospel story is paramount to our convictions and to our actions. 

The Gospel is the good news that while we were dead in our sins, Jesus was sacrificed on a cross to atone for all our sins (past, present, and future) and that he was raised to new life defeating death for all who believe. You deserve death, but through Christ, you may have abundant, eternal life! Praise God! 

The name of our Fellowship has changed a few times, and “Evangelical” wasn’t always our middle name, but our emphasis on sharing the Gospel has never wavered. The official formation of our denomination happened with the first conference of our churches (what we would now call “Connect”) on October 14, 1889. Three churches were represented at that meeting: The Ebenezer Church of Jansen, NE, the Ebenezer Church of Henderson, NE, and the Bruderthaler Church of Mountain Lake, MN. 

This conference established eighteen articles of incorporation which would set the foundation for the Fellowship that has existed for over 136 years. 

Here is Article 3 from that meeting: 
“Purpose: Not only to encourage each other in the most Holy Faith, but to unitedly help to spread the Gospel in the world of sin, bringing them to Jesus.” 

​That purpose statement is our DNA, infused at our very first official meeting. We exist to encourage one another and to spread the Gospel message to the world. I fear we are way better at encouraging one another than we are at spreading the Gospel. It is safe, comfortable, and natural to encourage our friends at church. It can feel dangerous, uncomfortable, and unnatural to talk to strangers about what Jesus has done for us.  

The current Vision Statement of our Fellowship is “Strengthening our churches with timely resources that strengthen their leaders.” One might say that if this is our vision, we are not focused on the importance of spreading the Gospel that was so emphasized by our forefathers. But I believe our efforts to strengthen churches are intrinsically tied to evangelism. As we strengthen church leaders, and they in turn shepherd their congregations well, individuals will be called to evangelize! 

The Gospel message will always be woven into our DNA. It will always be paramount to our ministry as a Fellowship and to the ministries of our local churches. And so, this season of remembering the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior will always be a highlight of our local church ministries. 

Do not let this season go by without truly reflecting on the amazing gift of salvation. Do not let this season go by without allowing yourself to be moved once more by the story. And do not let this season go by without allowing yourself to be used by God to share the Gospel with those who need to hear it. 

​“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'” (Romans 10:14-15 – ESV) ​

In the 1950s, Francis and Edith Schaeffer moved to the small Swiss village of Huémoz and opened their home to anyone seeking honest conversation about life, faith, and culture. They called it L’Abri, meaning “the shelter.” Their ministry emerged during the turbulent 1960s and 70s, when Western culture was being reshaped by new ideas, political movements, and spiritual uncertainty.  ​

One of the major offshoots of L’Abri was Regent College in Vancouver, founded in 1968, not to train pastors, but to shape everyday Christians to think deeply and biblically.  
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From Regent came the next development: the Christian Study Center movement. There are now nearly forty centers across the United States, grounded in hospitality, conversation, intellectual seriousness, and the integration of faith and learning.  

​The Bradley Study Center is part of that lineage.  ​

It's a snowy day, but the church is open, and the church family is gathering in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. One by one, the people turn to Pastor Jim and give their total chapters read for the week: “This week 21,” “57,” “about 10 or so,” “84 again," "not many this week, maybe, uh, 5?...” The number of chapters read ranges from a quick head shake of 0 for some to over 80 for others.  

The Randville Chapter Challenge is in operation and alive and well: God's Word IS being read!  

It's a joyful gathering as the church family walks up the stairs into Randville Bible Church. Glad to see each other, thankful for safety on the slippery roads, and happy to add their individual chapter totals to the “Randville Chapter Challenge.” It's a team effort and a practical encouragement to read God's Word. (And often those absent on a given Sunday will have called in their totals also).   

The concept is basic but has been very effective in our church family: people simply keep track of the total chapters they read each week. These are then added together and totaled for the group.  

The roots for this idea go back to Pastor Jim's 17 years of teaching as a band director. His incentives for his instrumental students to practice on the weekend have been adapted to become practical encouragements for the RBC church family to faithfully read God's Word - the “Randville Chapter Challenge.”  

Let's turn the clock back some 35+ years to a typical Friday afternoon in the band room. Rehearsal was nearly over. “Mr. J,” as usual, asked the band members, “I wonder how many total practice hours we can get this weekend?”  

The musicians raised their hands- each finger represented 15 minutes of planned individual practice time. More hands were raised, and the count of the planned practice hours was added together.  

Mr. J nodded as he mentally added these together: “Okay, we are now at 49 hours; anybody want to add a little more? I'd love to see our total get over 50 for this weekend.”  

Some contemplation and thought, then more hands raised, more fingers added; the students responded, and 49 hours became 50 hours, more hands popped up, and the total became 52, and now edged upwards toward 55. The climb continued, and more practice hours were planned.  

The idea for the Randville Chapter Challenge grew out of this successful group incentive. And it's been a joy and an encouragement to see the increase in the total number of chapters read week by week by our church family as more and more have embraced the vision and joined in the count.  

And a further highlight is a low-key “contest” at various times of the year: each person estimates how many total chapters have been read by the entire group over a certain number of weeks in that period of time. Those who come the closest to guessing the cumulative total are given Culver's Gift Certificates, and “honorable mentions” are awarded certificates for free ice cream. (The combined totals, even with our small congregation, tend to run in the thousands of chapters- people joyfully participate!)  

It's so important to be in the Word of God; however, too often we see a spiritual “chasm” from belief to actual practice in our spiritual lives. We believe strongly that God's people need His Word, yet too often our weekly diet is very meager, even to the point of being nearly non-existent in some cases.  

Our fellowship with our Savior in His Word at times is less than a daily priority. The Randville Chapter Challenge has been an effective, practical, and positive encouragement to spend time with the Savior in the Word.  

​The Chapter Challenge has been a joyful blessing to our church family, and our prayer is that the concept may be a blessing and an encouragement to other congregations in our fellowship as well. ​

I am amazed every day at the grace of God.  That He reached down to save me when I was a rebellious teenager.  I grew up on a farm, the third oldest of ten kids.  God got a hold of me when I was 17 years old through the hellfire and brimstone ministry of Wes Aarum.  We called him Aarum-Scarem in High School.  When God saved me at age 17, I immediately sensed Him calling me into pastoral ministry.  I was amazed again that God would call me into ministry because I struggled with stuttering and had a huge inferiority complex.  But God began His good work in me when I attended Winnipeg Bible College for three years. 

Immediately after Bible College, I volunteered to go on a summer ministry in Germany.  That is where I met my beautiful wife, Eva.  She had grown up in the Children’s Home where I volunteered after my summer ministry, and within a year, we were married.  Eva has been an incredible help in our ministry.  She was always ready and eager to help out in any ministry she could, except playing the piano.  She has a beautiful ministry of encouragement with everyone. 

Shortly after we returned to Canada, I attended Winnipeg Theological Seminary and finished my MA in Christian Ed in 1978. That same summer, we moved to our first place of ministry, the Humboldt Bible Church in Saskatchewan.  We followed Randy Heinrichs to this church.  After leaving Humboldt, we ministered in an Evangelical Free Church in Neilburg, Saskatchewan, and from there went as missionaries to Austria. By this time, we had a son and two daughters, who were immediately immersed in the Austrian culture. For 4 years, Eva and I managed a Retreat Center in western Austria, as well as helped out in the local church.  Then we served in Church Planting in Vienna for two years before coming back home to Canada. 

Since that time, we have served in several FEBC Churches, the Christian Fellowship Chapel in Winnipeg from 1999- 2007, then Kenora Bible Church from 2009-2016, and again from 2020-2022.  While pastoring the church in Winnipeg, I finished my MDiv at Providence Seminary.   

During our time in Kenora, we also got involved in fostering several children with high medical needs. Our first girl passed away at age 8, and our second girl passed away at age 10.  It was an amazing privilege to take care of these girls as well as several other kids. 

Upon retirement, we moved to Steinbach, my home area.  But then the Richer Fellowship Church needed some help, and so we began our ministry there in April of 2025.  We are enjoying the work here. God’s faithfulness reaches to the skies, and we praise Him for the privilege to serve Him. 
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-Allan & Eva Dueck ​