2010 Pastor’s Report

All of God, All of us, All of life

¹ Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. ² Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits… ⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 103

Our drive to serve the Lord and His kingdom here in Espanola comes from the deep conviction that it is truly a privilege to participate in the ministry of the church as your pastoral team. We consider the responsibility of leading this church, with all its challenges and complexities, a God benefit, one of those good things the Psalmist satisfying and invigorating.

First we thank God for this privilege of ministry. That He would consider us worthy of such a high call is truly humbling.[1] And we also thank you, our congregation, for obviously striving to fulfill your biblical mandate to honor this office and our ministry.[2]

We feel compelled to do all that we can do to bring to bear the kingdom of God[3] in our community. To be frank, it often keeps us up at night, always nuances our prayers for the church and our decisions and strategies for ministry. You know I would rather err on the side of moving too quickly than stalling. I’m absolutely convinced that we don’t have an eternity to “shed abroad the love of Christ.”

So it’s always good for me review what we’ve accomplished as a means of tempering the driving conviction, “we need to do more.”

2009 was a great year for Queensway Pentecostal Church.

The Year in Review:

A delegation of 5 women attended the Biannual National PAOC Women’s Conference January 22-25
Our fourth annual Winter Tea on Tuesday January 27
- no snow storm this year with 95 in attendance
A winter and fall session with Beth Moore
For Days of Love Campaign from February 8 – March 22
- Sunday School and continental breakfast with an average attendance of 40 adults
Winter Carnival mini putt on February 7
- Rainy event with numbers at an all time low of approximately 150
Valentines Banquet for Couples on February 14
- Fire Proof Movie presentation
2^nd Annual Family Day Event in cooperation with the Town of Espanola
- Numbers estimated at 450.
  - Smashing Success with more people than could be accommodated by the pool!
Stomp Tween Night Begins with a girls only event February 20
- 26 in attendance
We installed a new security and card pass system
Our first Women’s Pajama Party/Retreat March 6-7
- Anishenabe Spiritual Centre
- 26 in attendance representing women from their 20s into their 70s
  - Powerful time of ministry, communion and fellowship
Watoto Children’s Choir March 8^th
3^rd Annual March Break Day Camp
- Crocodile Dock Theme
The Offices were moved to the manse during the week of March 16-20
Wild at Heart Men’s Study March 23-May 23^rd
- Fish fry to wrap it up
- 15 in attendance
Women’s Music & Movement Class March 26-April 16
Record Breaking Good Friday and Easter Sunday attendance
- 129 on Easter Sunday
BU Girl Beach Party & Gym Night April 17
- 55 Girls & 24 Boys
  - The BU Girl ministry team remarked that distributed an unprecedented number of Bibles.
We are Christ Day (WAC) planning begins April 18
- Lisa Long was appointed the Western Ontario District Laurentian Section Women’s Connection Leader in February
Sunday School Transformation Begins May 2^nd
Scott Wood’s Concert Missions Fundraise May 4^th
Ladies Dinner Out at Cutler Lake Lodge May 7^th
3^rd Annual Mom to Mom Sale May 9^th
Fear Factor Tween Night May 22^nd
- 90+ in attendance
Mike & Cathy Martin ministered & visited in Espanola May 29-June 1
- Hosted a Turkish dinner for the missions committee
Requested that the triangular parcel adjacent to our church property be donated by the town to QPC June 4^th
Tween Night Water Theme with Giant Slip and Slide June 26^th
Spring Bay Family Camp & Penny Day July 20-August 2
Trisha Cory was employed June 23-August 18 through the Federal Summer Student Program
Men’s Golf Tournament August 22^nd
Visiting Missionary Aaron Pilon ministered August 23^rd
Tween Night “Back To School Blast” September 11^th
A Fall Small Group Emphasis September 8–October 13
- We had 9 electives which include studies on The life of Jesus, 1 Corinthians, Grace, Love and Respect, Beth Moore, The Churches of Revelation, Fellowship, Growth: Training vs. Trying and Ruth
Inaugural Jr. High Night September 25^th
The WAC Sunday Night Prayer Emphasis September 27-October 25
- We join forces with area churches
The WAC Rig Arrives September 28^th
- 40 volunteers help unload
Stomp Tween / Jr. High “Freak Show Theme” October 16^th
Pastor Dave is appointed Laurentian Section Presbyter at District Conference October 19^th
The WAC Food Hampers are prepared and distributed October 24^th
- 40+ volunteers from Laurentian Section/Espanola Churches
- 150 baskets distributed
25 WAC Playgroup Hampers Distributed October 28^th
Science Kits distributed to all grade 5 & 6 students in Espanola, Webbwood and Massey October 29^th
The WAC Day Outreach on October 31^st
- A culmination of 12+ planning meetings, 2 CJTK radio interviews, 100+ hours of prayer, untold number of volunteer hours & 1000s of dollars of resources to His Glory!
- 80 volunteers from Laurentian Section / Espanola Churches
- Fun, wet & wild Saturday for all in attendance
  - 1 skid of yellow chemical suits ordered by no one supplied by God!
- Record attendance despite the weather
- Over 250 bowls of chili served
- 90+ in attendance for evening concerts (HWY 17 & 401 Band)
Santa’s Workshop Sale sponsored by Playgroup November 7^th
QPC’s first Lunch Program serving A. B. Ellis & St. Joseph November 10^th
Tween Night “Survivor Night” November 13^th
Mitten Tree Project kicks off November 15^th
Jr. High Night “Survivor Night” November 27^th
Laurentian Section Pastor’s Christmas Banquet December 10^th
Stomp Christmas Banquet December 11^th
Family Christmas banquet and Sunday school play December 12^th
- 100+ in attendance
Sponsored Espanola Festival Choir Cantata December 16^th
A beautiful Christmas Eve Service

Third Party Groups Sponsored by QPC in 2009

The following groups used our building: Espanola Horticultural Society (Betty Bowerman & Cheryl Kay), Northshore Pins and Needles Quilting Guild (Sheila Champagne), First Espanola Girl Guides and Brownies (Isobel Long)

Other Regular QPC Activities in 2009

Weekly playgroup, twice weekly prayer meetings, weekly music practice, monthly Laurentian section pastoral meetings, monthly craft nights, monthly senior outreach, Rainbow Food Bank Partnership, High school Life Mentoring

Final Remarks

When we consider what we accomplished in 2009, throw in the regular activity of church life like maintenance, weddings, funerals, Sunday Worship, counseling, conferences, fellowship and administration…you realize that we’ve worked hard and accomplished much.

If you remember our set goals as outlined in my Pastor’s report last year you’ll notice that we addressed each of the items. Bringing us full circle, I must confess there is still much work to be done.

In that context may I address the issue of giving? Many of you were faithful in service and sacrificed much. Financially we saw some growth. Please note the following:

A total Income increase of $27,087.78
- With no rental income for parsonage
General Giving up $12,695.33 over last year
General Revenue up $23,752.76 over last year
Missions Giving totaling $22,208.82
- Down $715.02 from 2008
With a total net income of $20,777.56
- Down $4,423.61 from last year
  - But having paved our parking lot this year and paying cash for 50+%

We know that not everyone is tithing, or serving in a ministry as they could. Consider with me the possibilities if we all did our part. The saying is true “it is not equal giving that matters so much, it is equal sacrifice.” For those of us that gave & worked sacrificially, thank you. For those that didn’t, I invite you to join us in an unequalled opportunity given by God himself, to invest in His kingdom. There is no better cause, greater privilege, or higher calling than to lay down our agendas (lives) for His.

Special Thanks

Lisa, Isobel and Søren for being so understanding generous and loving. Lisa thanks for being my ministry partner in this our life calling. You served the church, the Western Ontario District and Christ’s Kingdom well!

I want to take this opportunity to personally thank Warren Hyland for his support, encouragement, wisdom and service to the fellowship as a deacon, elder and friend. May the LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

I want to thank Claire Cormier for the years of service she gave as our Sunday school / Day Camp director. You served the church, your volunteers, our children and families well. God will certainly bless you for your sacrificial and tireless ministry. I’ve also appreciated your servant’s heart as you’ve come along side me as a faithful deacon of the church.

I want to thank Roger Pilon for serving a 1 year term, filling the void left by Mark Doucette. I appreciate the professionalism you brought to the board as our secretary.

I want to thank Colin Kirkpatrick & Denise Long for helping in the processing and compiling the financial documents and reports for this business meeting.

And others…

Goodbyes

I thought I would take the time to record the home goings of members of our congregation. They will include everyone that passed away since our ministry began at QPC and considered Queensway Pentecostal Church their home church:

Mrs. Spry

Carter Donnelly

Mr. Gibson

Mrs. Morley

Mrs. MacDonald

Yours for growth,

Rev. David Long

[1] 2 Timothy 4:1-5

[2] 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

[3] Romans 14 “¹⁶Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. ¹⁷For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, ¹⁸because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.”