A Priority One Update

Jeff Bjorgan

Spiritual Formation Pastor

It's Priority One Sunday, where we focus again on our number one priority: the call to go. We are a sending congregation, meaning that we encourage individuals from Emmanuel to be a part of God's Kingdom outside of the walls of the church. That may mean reaching out to your neighbours here in the Okanagan, or it may mean reaching out to your neighbours in Romania, or India, Thailand, or Africa. Matt Duffy is here as a representative of our local missions strategy. He is the church's arm extended on the campus of the University of British Columbia. Working with UCM (University Chaplaincy Ministries), Matt hangs his hat on walking alongside students, enabling them, encouraging them, appealing to them, to walk the kingdom walk in their schools and beyond. We welcome him here this morning.

We also want to highlight Gerald and Ruth Morrison. Gerald and Ruth are representative of our global missions strategy. They have been in Africa for the past four months. Although they live in West Kelowna, they have such a strong tie to Africa, having pioneered ministry there for decades. In their words, they have thoroughly enjoyed ministering "back home" again. Gerald writes,

After lecturing at MissionFest 2010 here in Pretoria and teaching at a French MET and a group of leaders from Nigeria, we were asked to help ordinate a new PAOC couple appointed to Namibia. The family flew in but Ruth and I drove in (3,856 km). I had taken the first couple in to open the work in 1982, so it was great to be back and see the work with thirty pastors and as many churches. Tomorrow Ruth and I go to Durban for about 10 days ministering in a number of churches. Then the beginning of July we go by road to Harare for a couple weeks teaching in the college and speaking in some churches. We may go on to Malawi for a number of days. I remember saying to the saints at Emmanuel this will likely be our last trip to Africa, but I think I may have to eat those words, as there are a number of invitations to return.

Gerald and Ruth are prime examples of the fact that we just can't stop the call to go. At the end of our service we'll be taking a second offering to go towards our missions partners. Please be in prayer for UCM ministries as well as the Morrisons.