Windsor Essex Association of FEB Churches

Due to the impact of COVID and the rising cost of food and other necessities around the world, the four Fellowship Child Sponsorship locations need sponsors mor...e than ever! Would you consider becoming a child sponsor? Learn more here: https://www.fellowship.ca/ChildSponsorship #thefellowship #FAIR #mission #missionary #serve #childsponsor #sponsor

Some personal thoughts this morning...Not all risks are of the same kind. Like many others I am discouraged by the latest re-entry into COVID lockdown in the Si...mcoe Muskoka Health district. I don’t pretend to understand all the reasoning or rationale for this, although I know it is related to the significant presence of variants in our region. From the very beginning of COVID-19 as a minister, I have encouraged others, as part of love for God and neighbour, to do everything they can to respect and follow the guidelines of our government (even if you disagree with the effectiveness of their policies), and to protect your neighbour as much as possible from the spread of this potentially deadly virus. I am not a COVID denier and I believe as a Christian that obeying our government is part of the expression of our faith and allegiance to God. At the same time, from the beginning of COVID I have been concerned by the fact that we lump all risk into the same life bucket. Some risks are necessary and right as part of loving God and our neighbour, and other risks are reckless and selfish. Intuitively, we all know this. When a firefighter goes into a burning building to protect property and life, we understand this as a good and wise risk (and potential sacrifice). Yes, they do it as safely as possible, but it is a risk none the less that should be taken. It is certainly not considered selfish or reckless (in fact, it is seen as the opposite). On the other hand, driving at 160 km down the 400-highway, weaving in and out of traffic, is a foolish and reckless risk that could result in unnecessary loss or suffering of life. We all understand that all risk is not of the same kind, but under COVID-19 we have seemed to lump all risks together. What does this distinction in risks mean for living under COVID-19? If you are a Christian, you should be asking ‘what are the good and godly risks God wants me to take?’ While no one can determine what those risks are for another person, we should each be discerning and seeking to follow God’s leading in this regard. We risk losing something when we seek to follow the governments guidelines: wearing masks, social distancing, giving up social gatherings, etc. We lose our personal freedom, comfort, security. But I would argue that for most of us, these are relatively small risks/sacrifices to make. Our front line healthcare workers are taking good and wise risks to serve and support our communities during this medical crisis. But there are other significant risks as well. Choosing to be with and caring for family members is a risk. Is there a chance we will pass on a virus we don’t know we have? Possibly. But this is also no time for a family member to be alone or isolated. Being with those who are hurting or grieving are necessary risks - that is what it means to love your neighbour. Going to a big party would be a foolish risk, but meeting with and worshiping together with God’s people with the proper safety protocol may be a wise risk. Loving God and loving our neighbour entails more than keeping them alive and breathing. It means doing good toward them and this involves elements of risk. All true love requires sacrifice and risk and that’s why doing life well under COVID-19 can never be completely free of risk. We can and should manage the risk, but we can’t eradicate it and still love one another as God has called us to. So, my encouragement to us all is to be discerning and choose wise risks. But what I might choose might not be what you choose - we may not all agree on what those good risks look like for us. It is easy to judge others during this time by the risks they are willing to take. We shouldn’t make decisions based on fear, but neither should we be condemning each other for our conscience decisions. May God guide us in what this looks like for our lives and may we reject selfish, reckless risks and embrace good and godly risks for His glory and the good of others. My prayers remain with you all.

Marc-Olivier Frerot has been a volunteer chaplain since 2018 and serves in a number of roles. He assists with the food bank ministry, conducts funerals for thos...e who have no church connection, and he also works with those who are dealing with addictions. He does all this while also being on staff at his church. Pray for Marc-Olivier as he seeks to reach people outside the walls of the church bringing the ‘presence of God’ into their life situations. https://www.fellowship.ca/FellowshipChaplaincy #thefellowship #chaplaincy #chaplain #serve See more

The face behind The Fellowship Foundation is one we have met before in our Family Friday’s, Gord Baptist. Here is what Gord had to share about how working in th...is area has impacted him, This has matured me in so many ways. I have never prayed so much as I have in these years since we started. I have seen God personally answer prayer. I witnessed the generosity and out pouring of grace from those that love to give. I have thanked God for the ability to serve. It is a truly fulfilling journey, and I’m nowhere finished yet. To get involved or learn more about The Fellowship Foundation head to our website: www.fellowship.ca/FellowshipFoundation #thefellowship #FellowshipFoundation See more

Mark your calendars! Our first ever virtual National "conference" is coming up quickly, on November 4, 2020 @ 2pm! For more information and to register for the event check our website: https://www.fellowship.ca/FNC2020 . #thefellowship #conference #pandemic

Charlie Lyons is one of our partner chaplains working with Leading Influence at Queen’s Park, the Ontario Legislature. Because of the pandemic, he was not allo...wed into the building, but just recently he made a visit to see if he could connect with people outside of the building. This is what he reports: After getting situated in an outdoor spot not far from the legislative building, time began with a very good conversation with an executive assistant whom I've gotten to know well over the last several months. He replied to my invitation text with enthusiasm and said he was very glad to see me. As we sat chatting, an MPP joined us with her lunch (and even shared half of it with us!). The executive assistant had a meeting to attend, so I was able to then converse freely with the MPP. Following an insightful conversation about some struggles in recent months, we prayed together for several minutes before she too left for a meeting. . #thefellowship #chaplaincy #wethefellowship #serve #ministry #faith #christianity

As a part of a new series of videos, Benjamin Porter interviewed Fellowship pastor Byron Chae (Willowdale Baptist, Toronto, ON) to discuss ministry in Toronto u...sing the Discovery Bible Study method. Check this interview out here: http://ow.ly/QBTQ50AlGNk . #thefellowship #fellowshipchurches #ministry #DiscoveryBibleStudy Willowdale Baptist Church See more

The global ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will be felt for a long time after a cure or vaccine has been found. FAIR is partnering with Fellowship Inter...national missionaries and partners to share the love of Christ with the most vulnerable in their communities.Learn more about FAIR's response here: www.fellowship.ca/COVID19PandemicResponse See more

"This pandemic has locked down the whole world, but the Spirit of God is still actively drawing men and women to Himself. As I have applied the disciple-making ...principles in my own life, God has opened new doors for connecting with people. I recently called a number of my neighbours to see how they were doing. I normally don’t have extensive conversations with them but some of these calls provided wonderful opportunities to share what I had been learning myself from God’s Word. "A few days later I saw one of these neighbours and we struck up a conversation. After a bit he asked me what I thought happens after death. I shared about Jesus, who He is and what He has done for all mankind if we choose to believe Him. This gentleman is of Jewish heritage so knew some of what I was referring to. I said that because of what Jesus had done for me, I knew that in death, I would be united with Him forevermore. It was a lengthy conversation that was eventually cut short when he realised how long we had been talking and that his wife might be wondering where he was as he had only gone for a short walk. Pray with me that this conversation would continue." Ron Fairbanks Fellowship International missionary to the Greater Toronto Area http://ow.ly/ZlKv50zuBM4

Update from Fellowship...