I will allure her. I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Trouble a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth. Hosea 2:14 When I first read this passage, I […]
Finding creative freedom through a long obedience
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 I’ve played the flute for over 30 years. When I reflect on what has essentially made me a musician today, I would attribute it to something that applies to all progress in life, […]
Bergens vow to continue work
Would they stay in Kenya, or would they come home to the Okanagan? That was a burning question for John and Eloise Bergen, after they were attacked by machete-wielding men apparently recruited by one of their former security guards. The short answer is that they planned to come home for healing, and then return to […]
Bentall remembered as ‘a righteous man’
Described as a gifted leader who had a great love for people, C. Howard Bentall, passed away July 13, 2008, at age 94. He was one of three sons of Charles Bentall, a construction mogul and Baptist lay leader. While his Robert and Clark carried on their father’s Vancouver-based business, Howard sensed a call into […]
Victoria youth with a Mexican mission
Members of the youth group at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Victoria left in late July for a long-anticipated short term mission. Youth leader Suzy Cleaver wrote the following a few days before she and the others left. Last year, while attending Creation Fest in Washington State, we were so excited and full of energy on […]
Ex-junkie helps the addicted find Connection to Freedom
Addicts can turn in their used needles for new ones at the Needle Exchange, a government-run program. The idea is to protect them from catching hepatitis and AIDS from each other when they share the same needle – a policy known as ‘harm reduction.’ The Needle Exchange used to be located at a fixed place, […]
Another dream comes true for Ken Smith
A dream took flight with a snip of the scissors when Ken and Ruth Smith, known for their many creative projects, cut the ribbon (see front cover) to formally open Honeymoon Bay Lodge and Retreat June 21. “Our idea of a retreat centre goes back years,” says Ken. “It’s a place where people can get […]
Macrailds head into busy retirement
Peter and Isabel Macraild will be living in Quezon City, a suburb of Manila, in the Philippines, for the next five months. Their assignment: taking care of the SEND International guest house for mission workers. Peter is retiring from the pastoral staff of Gateway Baptist Church, a handsome cedar-clad edifice that climbs the hillside just […]
Hope Farm offers ‘spiritual healing’
A former Cowichan Valley dairy farm has become a place of healing over the past 18 months, as a result of a ministry initiative of Mustard Seed Church in Victoria. Chris Riddell, the pastor (and executive director) of Hope Farm Healing Centre, told BC Christian News recently that “four streams of healing, intellectual, emotional, spiritual […]