Starting Out on the Faith Journey

Today one journey of faith ends and another begins. I have been called to be a Church Planting Coach by the Pacific Northwest District of the Evangelical Free Church of America. This is an answer to prayer. Here's a bit of our story.

In December I concluded a two-year contract ministry as an intentional interim senior pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Vancouver, BC, Canada. We are thankful to have had that opportunity to serve the Lord and to experience a very multi-cultural local church with many challenges ahead. We shared the Word of God and worked to restore the health of the church, preparing them for their next senior pastor. God was good and we left with many firends with such last names as Braun, Brendle, Cardenas, Chan, Demczuk, Li, Meier, Reich, Wong, Young, Cho, Collins, Gartner, Hugelshofer, Kabyemera, Nee, Ouellette, Sun, Yeung, to name a few. We saw a little glimpse of glory.

January came and went, but no job or ministry for either Marty or me. We prayed hard, submitted applications, made phone calls, checked church job and business web sites, filed out forms and applications, activated the Evangelical Free Church Placement service, and contacted district and regional leaders, but still nothing. We even applied to serve with Power to Change (Campus Crusade for Christ in Canada) and aaccepted the fact that we would need to raise our own support. Everything looked good until God used Canadian immigration to close the door on our living in Lynden, Washington where we are and work in Canada. February also came and went with nothing to show for all our efforts.

Some days we grew discouraged and wondered if God was listening to our prayers. (He was!)Some days our relationship with one another was stretched. We were going through what James 1:2-3 calls the "testing of our faith." But there were also those days and moments of encouragement as we saw God use three of our friends to give large money gifts "out of the blue" but from the heart of our loving God. One friend I didn't know very well encouraged us with a few timely words, also from the heart of God. Faith journeys are often emotional rollercoasters, and ours has been. But God has been there with us all along just as he promised.

Then came today. A phone call gave us the news that I am being called to serve as Church Planting Coach in the Pacific Northwest District of the Evangelical Free Church of America. That district covers churches in the states of Washington, Oregon and Alaska. This ministry will allow me to share my God-given wisdom, knowledge and skills that I have gained over 33 years of ministry as I mentor, coach, train, equip and encourage new church planters, churches that want to plant new churches and even work with other denominations and organizations in the Pacific Northwest including possibilities in Canada. I will be able to finish out my public ministry years in my ministry "sweet spot." Plus, we will not need to move, a fact that makes Grammy Marty and Boppy Charlie very happy, just ask out three little blond granddaughters who live 10 minutes away.

Now in the new journey, God is calling us to ask our friends to share in what we will be doing. We need to raise an army of people who will support us through their regular prayers and financial giving. We are building a Team to help reach an area known for the fact that it is the most unchurched area in North America. We are missionaries in a great harvest field the Lord is preparing.

Deciding what to name this blog came easy for a coach. It takes me back to my Junior High and High School days when our football coach had a chalk talk at each practice to try to communicate what it takes to be victorious in the game. I want my team to be victorious in winning many men, women, boys and girls to faith in Christ, in disciple-making and in multiplying churches throughout the Pacific Northwest.

You are invited to join our Ministry Support Team by praying, and if possible by your faithful giving to our needs. All gifts from the USA are tax deductable. I will soon be sending out letters, e-mails and making phone calls, but will be glad to answer your questions sent to charlieworley@gmail.com.