Despite the almost freezing temperatures outside, three people were baptized after the morning worship service at Trinity Church on December 11, 2011. Trinity Church meets at 10:30am on Sundays at Verne Duncan Elementary School. 104 people were in attendance to witness these professions of faith in Jesus Christ.
Portland and Old Town Sign
We arrived safely in Portland on October 22, 2011. Thank you to everyone who prayed for our safety during our 14 hour drive from Calgary. We also want to thank everyone who helped us load the U-Haul in Calgary and everyone who helped us unload the U-Haul in Calgary. We had a smooth transition at the USA border.
We are excited to be serving with Trinity Church, a new church plant that meets in Verne Duncan Elementary School in Damascus, a suburb of Portland, Oregon. We welcome the opportunity to help this church grow and share Jesus’ love with the people of this region.
… to Portland, Oregon
On September 25, 2007, Andrea & myself along with our dogs Harry & Sally drove across the USA/Canada border at Montana heading to Calgary, Alberta. We had left our son Jeremy back in North Carolina to complete his senior year of high school. We left our Moms, Dads, sisters, a brother, our friends and our home church family, First Baptist Church Kings Mountain. We arrived to a new home in Calgary with no friends and knowing only a few people.
Today, we announce that God has called us to a new ministry in a new place – Portland, Oregon. When we leave, we will leave behind our Southwinds Church family, many new friends from within our community and memories that will last a lifetime. It will be a day of excitement and sadness.
Our mission in coming to Calgary was to help Southwinds Church reach the thousands of people living in the Auburn Bay, Cranston & Lake Chaparral communities and see them come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We did this through community events, children sports camps and development of personal relationships. Over the past four years, Southwinds saw nine be baptized and through the gifts of many people gave away over 400 copies of the Children’s Bible along with many copies of adult Bibles. Because of you, many now own their first Bible and have heard the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Our new mission will be a daunting task as 69% of the Portland and suburban areas claim no religious affiliation. Some statistics indicate that 91% of the population does not have a personal relationship with Jesus. Trinity Church is a new church plant that meets in an elementary school. We will work with them along with their founding church Greater Gresham Church. Our journey will begin once our home here in Calgary is sold.
Our love and passion for building God’s Kingdom in Canada has not diminished. We simply are being obedient to what God has placed on our hearts to do at this time in our ministry. We thank you for your continued prayer and financial support as our ministry continues.
“During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Acts 16: 9-10 NIV
God’s Servants to Canada or Wherever He calls,
Tim will be leading a team of four to Casper, Wyoming in June 2011. The team will be working alongside Boyd Avenue Baptist Church of Casper, Wyoming and will be assisting with Vacation Bible School at a church plant. Their theme is “Big Apple Adventure.”
This will be the first mission trip for three of the four team members. Please pray for safe travels, good health, their families back in Calgary that are apart from them, and for the families and children that they will minister to while they are in Wyoming.
Boyd Avenue Baptist Church will be sending a mission team to work with us at Southwinds again this summer. This will be their third year with us. Ed Tharp and his team do an outstanding job every year. Thank you, Ed, for allowing us to reciprocate by allowing us to serve with you.
Listen to Tim’s Sermon from May 1, 2011 at First Baptist Church, Kings Mountain, NC.
First Baptist Church is our home church where we have served in many areas for numerous years. We love our First Baptist Church family and are so thankful for their prayers and support.
Christmas Cookie Decorating Party at Tim & Andrea’s House
On Saturday, December 18th, we hosted a children’s Christmas cookie decorating party. With over 200 sugar cookies baked and ready to go, along with sprinkles, icing and toppings, the kids and parents began to arrive. While parents gathered in the kitchen for some coffee and tasty treats, the children’s imaginations ran wild as they sprinkled and decorated their cookies. A total of 50 attended. Most exciting was that half of those were not from Southwinds Church, but from the neighbourhood.
A visitor in a bright red suit came knocking on the door. We were all excited to see Santa Clause. Santa came in and greeted the children. He then sat down and told the Christmas story of the candy cane and the true meaning of Christmas, giving each child a candy cane. Afterwards, some of the children sat on Santa’s lap and shared what they wanted for Christmas.
This was a great way to bring the Southwinds’ Church family together with some of our unchurched Chaparral neighbours in a non threatening event.
Saturday, December 18th, 2010
50 attendees
Listen to Santa speak to the children as he tells them the story of the Candy Cane & the true meaning of Christmas!
On Sunday November 7th, Tim was asked to preach to the Southwinds’ congregation since Pastor Bo was away. Tim’s message of “Do You Believe?” focused on the word believe. Tim referenced John 3:16-18, God’s gift and promise to all the world; John 20:24-31 & 1 Peter 1:8-9, blessed are those who believe in the unseen; Jude 1:5-7, examples of what happens to those who do not believe or rebel against God; Romans 10:8-13, the GOOD NEWS is here to save you. Tim was thrilled to be able to share the good news with Southwinds members and a few visitors.
Later that same evening, Tim & Andrea traveled to northeast Calgary where Tim preached to the Filipino congregation of Bridge International Church. This Southern Baptist church is currently searching for a new pastor and has been using seminary students and others in the interim. This congregation uses the building facilities of another Canadian Baptist Church. Of the 25 Canadian National Baptist Convention (Southern Baptist) churches in Calgary, only 5 own their own building. All other churches rent their space, just like Southwinds Church.
Tim and Andrea were greeted by many smiling faces. Tim took this opportunity to share God’s word using the message presented to Southwinds earlier that day. Although Tim had this message placed on him back in late July, he had no idea he would get to share it twice the same day, especially to a Filipino congregation.
Also, during this service, Tim was asked to lead the church family in the Lord’s Supper. Although Tim had participated many times, he had never facilitated this special event. But God was present and the remembrance of the Last Supper proceeded without a hitch. Tim was also able to pray for a woman who was flying to the Philippines due to the death of her sister.
This was a special night for them both. New relationships were made as some members of Bridge International Church knew of Southwinds Church because they had even attended Southwinds’ community block parties held in Cranston. God is awesome!
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus in Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him form the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 NIV
To hear the audio sermon, click on the link above which will take you to the iTunes page for Southwinds Church, and then select “Do You Believe?” from November 7, 2010.
Tim is leading two Life Groups this fall. What is a Life Group? A Life Group is a small group Bible study that meets in someone’s home, much like a traditional Sunday School class, just without a church building.
Life Groups are for anyone. You do not have to be a member or attendee of Southwinds Church or any church to get involved in a Life Group. The purpose of a Life Group is to create fellowship and encourage dialogue for spiritual growth.
Tuesday nights, Tim leads a life group in the Whitesides’ home. The present study is “Purpose Driven Life DVD Series.” Participants are asked to read the book, one chapter per day, and attend the weekly session for the video and discussion.
Wednesday nights, Tim leads a life group at the home of another family, where the discussion is on “How We Got the Bible.” It is similar to a Bible 101 type class, with historical and factual information about where the Bible came from, who wrote it, why was it written, and how can I apply the Bible to my everyday life.
Anyone can join and participate. Contact Tim for more details.
Southwinds Church Kids Sing “Tumbleweed”. Check out that awesome dancing and singing! I think we have some future superstars on our hands! ">
We are joined this week with some fabulous kids and teachers from Wyoming and South Carolina who are here to assist us with our Soccer Camps. These kids know that they don’t want to be a tumbleweed, they are going to be planted deep in God’s word.
We are blessed to have three full time summer missionaries to serve with us this summer!
Kinsey Galyon is a Senior at Reinhardt University in Georgia and a member of the Women’s Basketball Team. She is a member of Sevier Heights Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. This is Kinsey’s third year in Calgary with Southwinds Church. Kinsey is majoring in Sports Medicine.
Adam Velez is a Senior at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs where he is Men’s Discipleship Coordinator. He is also a member of Mountain View Baptist Church of Hickory, NC. This is Adam’s third year serving alongside Southwinds Church. Adam is a gifted musician and soccer player.
Denise Shirley is a Freshman at North Greenville University in South Carolina where she is a member of the Ladies Golf Team. She is a member of Mountain Creek Baptist Church of Greenville, SC. Denise has been a part of the summer team for four years, and this is her first full summer with us.
Please pray for these young adults who are giving up their entire summer to serve Christ. Pray for each of these as they are seeking God’s will for their futures and how they will continue to answer God’s call on their lives.