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  • May8Wed

    General Assembly 2019: Lingering Effects

    May 8, 2019

    One week out from Assembly I have been pondering the lingering effect. Of course, what lingers may be different for each person. Yet, there will be some commonalities. I celebrate the delegate representation from 80 of our 137 churches (60 from the Kitchener Office Region and 20 from our Calgary Office Region). These delegates and guests had a taste of the following six elements and experiences:

    Anointed Worship
    David Wilkinson of Waterloo, ON and team were catalysts in celebrating the beauty and goodness of our God. Magnifying the Lord God in praise carries us closer to Him where we feel His presence press into our souls. The engagement in worship was clearly heartfelt, lively and visible. What a joy-filled party of praise and adoration!

    Authoritative Prayer
    Dr. Pastor Deborah Olukoju of Immanuel Church in Winnipeg MB facilitated prayer through a variety of invited pray-ers throughout the weekend and through designated prayer times including early morning prayer. 20+ people met each morning in fervent prayer to affirm God’s purposes and to claim God’s provision for the day. The delight of God is toward a praying people!
    Hunger for a New Beginning
    Mr. Ryan Stockert of Thunder and Light Studios was eagerly embraced at the Friday evening Celebration Dinner as he spoke of his journey out of churchianity and into an active engagement with Christ on the streets of Calgary. Three other testimonies were shared at the Dinner illustrating what “Be a Neighbour” could look like for us EMCC-ers. Hunger drives us to satisfy our appetite!

    EMCC as a Turnaround Organization
    An important conversation happened on Saturday with the World Partners Presentation, President Kervin’s Report and an afternoon of discussing the question, “What does it mean to Follow Jesus Together?” The emphasis was on what togetherness looks like. Lively round table conversation brought to light behavioural concerns and ideas about how we might be able to cause an “upturn in our togetherness rating.” The best is yet to come!
    A Spirit Released Shift
    The Sunday morning Sacred Prayer Gathering gave opportunity for us to hear the voice of Jesus speak about: “What He wanted us to turn from; and what He wants us to turn toward.” Dozens of delegates responded by writing what they heard from Jesus on two large billboards.
    Throughout the 3.5 hours, we gave ourselves to worship, prayer, remembering our Lord in communion, scripture reading and hearing prophetic words of blessing.

    The shift happened at the end of the morning as credentialed ministers were anointed and commissioned for service when Regional Minister Claran Martin felt led of the Spirit to anoint ALL in the room. The scene was reminiscent of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out on “ALL PEOPLE.” Anointed people become power-filled people who become “Good neighbours.” Thank you, Jesus… we are anointed unto a new beginning!
    We Like Each Other!
    How hard was it to get people to stop visiting during our "I See You Breaks"? It was difficult. We like being together!

    Thanks to the 200+ people who were present in Toronto and thanks to you who participated in the live streaming of the Saturday sessions. Many are praying the lingering effect of Assembly will inspire all our EMCC-ers and our churches into new expressions of imitating Jesus’ way of “being a good neighbour!”

    Kervin Raugust
    President, EMCC


    "A Family Reunion"

    What I loved most about Assembly was the ‘family reunion’ feel. So good to be together, and catch up with old friends and colleagues! While there were serious challenges to discuss on Saturday, opinions and feedback were given, and received, with respect and grace. The extended worship time on Sunday was powerful, incorporating elements of repentance, Eucharist and heartfelt gratitude and praise. I was privileged to be a part of it!

    Daniel Wiens

    EMCC World Partner Missionary


    If I could sum up General Assembly 2019 with one word it would be the word Family. A family doesn’t pretend that everything is good. A family is open and honest about where each of us are at, and it is in the context of a good family where we feel safe to share our feelings.

    The business meetings were certainly tense at times but to have that space to dialogue and share openly was healthy and needed. The pastors and leaders needed to be open about their struggle and disagreements while the national team needed to be transparent about where they are at. Is there room to grow in this? Of course. But I am encouraged because as a family member, I am committed to pray into our financial situations, do what I can mend broken trust, and to offer myself to help in any way to move us in the direction that Holy Spirit is leading our denomination. That is what family is for. We stick together and move towards solutions, even when things get heated and messy. We forgive and move forward. We mend and become stronger. The EMCC is a family, and I am honoured to be a part of it.

    I love meeting new people. In my 7 years with the EMCC, I've met a lot of awesome people. This year I got to meet Carmen Jones, a First Nations man who works with Stann Bragg. I am looking forward to connecting with him in ministry somehow.

    James Park
    Lead Pastor, Trinity EMC

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