^{“Why the photo?” It’s about how heaven is reflected here, as Jesus taught us to pray: “as in heaven, so on earth.” To be God’s reflection, an inflow of God’s love into our lives and our communities – what a beautiful metaphor for the Kingdom of God. I want that!}

Many of us who still attend churches are seeing big challenges that few people anticipated even 10 yeas ago:

• turn-of-the-tide changes in our social culture, and polarizing
• big attendance drops, across the demographic board
• upheavals in our local church leadership as pastoral staff move on

We remember how church used to be – but what it’s going to look like for our children and grandchildren? We’re wondering where the next generation of members will come from – never mind the next-gen leaders! I believe that God loves us, and that He will help us find our way.

On a personal level, many devoted Christian people I know are puzzled, frustrated, worried. They feel inadequate for what they think God requires – even if they believe in salvation by grace. “It’s not supposed to be so hard!” The dissonance between how we believe and how we feel can breed discouragement. Have you felt this way? I believe that God cares – and that He is eager to help us.

Non-Christian people no longer seem to get our typical presentation-of-faith. Truth to tell, our incoming generations can’t quite make sense of it anymore, either. As our surrounding culture changes, we’re left with old answers to old questions that fewer people are asking. And we’re facing new questions we’ve never heard before, that need better answers! Have you encountered this? I believe that God can teach us, and we can learn – for us, and for them!

How can we meet the future faithfully? Some churches are considering re-planting. They’re exploring how to use fresh language for our faith, better listening, to develop a new sense of focused community and mission. But how do we do all that and also honour the faith of people who’ve always supported us? Similarly, my friends in ethnic churches want to nurture a new generation in the new land. But they feel caught between the old world and the new. What’s it like for you? I believe that God wants to help us grow into a worthwhile future.

Can we believe in God’s gracious help with all these issues … together?

I provide supportive ministry and teaching for churches that are looking for a new sense of God’s future – in whatever condition they’re in right now.

I’ve served thriving churches and dying ones. I understand that many of us are just trying to figure this thing out.  I seek to encourage – not to criticize.

I’ve preached and taught in Canadian churches as a full-time minister for most of 45 years. I’ve met a wide variety of audiences and constituencies – including new Canadians, newer Christians, and people with no religious background. I’ve specialized in working with churches under 200 in attendance.  Click here for a reference letter from the South Burnaby Church of Christ in Burnaby, BC (Metro Vancouver), where I served full-time for 32 years.

I recently served as a temporary part-time Associate Teacher in Ministry for the Shelbourne Street Church of Christ in Victoria, BC. Contact me for a reference from them.

Find more details of my work in ministry generally on my LinkedIn profile here.

God is coming
to redeem the whole creation
– especially humans –
through the reign
of the crucified and risen Jesus Christ.

In our times, that’s really good news!

Seeing and joining
God’s good heart and hand at work
brings joy and hope for the future –
and energy and creativity
for living now!

I seek to hear God’s Spirit and speak God’s Word for those I serve, to build up and encourage. I seek to share Good News for pre-/non-Christian people, in fresh terms that they haven’t heard before. You and I can walk with God, and by God’s own hand, we can connect with people!

Click here for more about my academic credentials and interests. I’ve learned a high respect for responsible Biblical scholarship. I’m excited about the possibilities for us and our churches as we work with Scripture in depth.

None of all this makes me an expert to tell you how to change. But it does give me a spacious listening heart as your companion, as we seek the help that God wants to give us, together.

I offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation meeting. Let’s get acquainted.

But enough about me. You want to be a church that’s faithful to God’s faithfulness in our brave, strange new world. Tell me about you and your church. How can I serve you?