Short stories from churches

Big surprise

The women of Discovery Community Church, Campbell River, B.C., enjoyed a “big surprise” last November. “It seemed like any ordinary Sunday,” Esther Clausen writes, “not Mother’s Day, not Valentine’s Day.” The sermon, however, was “interesting;” its title was “Honouring our wives.”

At the end of the service, when the worship team stood to sing the closing song, some men “sort of slid in place in front of them and started singing, ‘Have I told you lately that I love you?’ ” Other men chimed in on the chorus.

Husbands then escorted their wives to the auditorium next door where they were treated to a four-course meal! At the end of the story, Clausen notes it was her husband who planned the event, adding “I would like to say thank you to him.” (Done!)

Exactly seven

Joey and Eden Umali of Potter’s Hand Community Church, a Filipino church plant in North Vancouver, are grateful for seven people who have come to know the Lord since the ministry began last July.

Seven was also the number of couples who showed up at a pre-Valentine’s party held in a restaurant in February. Joey writes that he went to the restaurant early to pray, but as time passed, nobody was coming. “Then I prayed harder,” he says, “mentioning each name of those who would be attending. As I opened my eyes, each couple started coming, exactly the seven couples I prayed for.”

Voyaging in Africa

It was a “voyage of spiritual discovery,” said one of the 10 people from Cornerstone Community Church, Virgil, Ont. who went on a short-term mission and educational trip to Burundi and Rwanda. Others said it opened their eyes to Western abundance. All said it was a life-altering experience. The group spent some time with Cornerstone members Doug and Deanna Hiebert, who are working with Mennonite Central Committee in Burundi for three years.

Participants were: back (l–r), Dori Wiens, Carole Wiens, Dave Froese, Roger Kroeker, Jake Wichert, Sue Muste, Craig Froese; front, Ed Biega, pastor Ed Heinrichs, Nathan Biega.

Prairie Winds charters

The Prairie Winds Church, a church plant in Moose Jaw, Sask., enjoyed a celebrative chartering service Mar. 12. The congregation (below) is led by Joe and Shantelle Almeida. Besides celebrating growth, however, the congregation, as well as the wider Saskatchewan MB community, is praying alongside Shantelle, who was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer last fall. She is sharing this journey on her blog.

Inset: Joe Almeida