 By Kevin StoneWe 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)
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 For nearly ten years, Carla Dyck has been learning to follow the Lord through painting as much as through prayer. Though trained as a photographer, she discovered painting during a challenging season while caring for her mother. What began as a simple shared activity became a place where God gently restored their relationship and brought unexpected healing to Carla’s own heart. From there, painting became part of her devotional life, sketching what rose to the surface as she read Scripture and finding deeper understanding through the images that formed. In time, this grew into a ministry within her church community. Carla now serves on the Special Services Team at Christian Fellowship Chapel (Winnipeg, MB), working with others to prepare services for Advent, Christmas, Holy Week, Pentecost, and other seasons. During these times, the Lord often gives her a painting, sometimes a single image, sometimes a whole series, to offer to the congregation. She describes the creative process as Holy-Spirit-led, a place of peace even when spiritual resistance surrounds it. Most of her pieces come during the Easter and Christmas seasons, though inspiration sometimes arrives during “ordinary time.” Each painting becomes a testimony of what God has shown her- an invitation for others to see Scripture anew. The piece below continues that pattern: a visual meditation on how God provides the way, weaving together scenes from Scripture that all point toward Christ, the Lamb of God.  The thicket moves upwards and catches the horn of a ram. This ram, seated on the altar, is provided by God as a substitutionary atonement in place of Abraham's son, Isaac. The adult male sheep can serve as a suitable burnt offering. Interestingly, earlier, when Isaac asked Abraham where the lamb was for the burnt offering, Abraham answered, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." This was prophetic and not yet fulfilled or finished with the ram. A lamb would still be required. God provides the way. You'll notice an old door with its frame smeared with blood. It was the blood of a pure, spotless lamb. The Israelites were to remain inside under the covering of the blood of the lamb. This blood would be a sign to God. When He would see it, He would pass over the home, sparing them from the plague of death to the firstborn son. God provides the way. Large, dark waves rise up on the sides. From a bird's eye view, we see two rows of waves moving outwards from the centre, creating a path through the Red Sea. Moses held up his staff for the water to part. Of course, we know it wasn't Moses' own power making it so. It was God's power, using Moses' faith and obedience to provide a way to save His people as they fled from Egypt. In the shape of a Shepherd's staff, this truth echoes throughout the painting. At the centre of it all is a lamb and a cross. The thicket moves over on top of the lamb's head to become a crown of thorns, and is also shown as firewood beneath the lamb on the altar. (As an aside: notice the Red Sea splashing forward to the cross, connecting the Old Testament with the New). Jesus, the spotless, pure Lamb of God, has come as an atonement to take away the sins of the world, our sins. If you look closely, you may notice the empty tomb at the bottom of the painting. Jesus is no longer dead, but risen. God provides The Way. Moving to the lower right side of the painting, we see the why behind it all. The thicket becomes a vine. Jesus is the Vine, and we are the branches. He died for us on the cross, taking our sin upon his sinless self, so we might have life. Because of His great love for us, God found a way for us to be reconciled to Himself forever, in heaven and here on earth. As we choose to abide with Him now, the Holy Spirit works in us to produce fruit. Do you see the branch that looks like a hand, holding onto the vine? Let's abide on purpose, intentionally hold on. It won't happen by accident. ABOUT THE ARTISTCarla Dyck is an artist who attends Christian Fellowship Chapel in Winnipeg, MB. Her painting has become a meaningful way of meeting God through Scripture, offering Spirit-led artwork that helps others see biblical truths with fresh eyes. Tags:
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4/1/2026
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