Looking for a new church, and how I found one

After 25 years of congregational ministry, I felt a new wind of the Spirit blowing in my life, to complete my role as a pastor and focus instead on the writing side of my ministry. It felt like a huge step for my husband and me to leave the congregation that had first called and nurtured me in ministry, that had been home to both of us for so many years. Yet we sensed a new direction for us and for the congregation.

But how would Gary and I find a new church? With all the churches in Abbotsford, we could have visited a different congregation every Sunday for a whole year and more. But we wanted a church home – needed a church home – and I wanted and needed my writing to remain grounded in Christian community.

So, we prayed and looked for a church that would be theologically compatible with our understanding of Christian faith and life, that would be supportive of men and women in ministry, that would be open enough and creative enough to try something new. For in my heart, God was growing a new dream for a resident author partnership, a collaboration with a local congregation where I could do some preaching, contribute to building community, and still have plenty of time for writing.

On our first Sunday at Valley CrossWay Church, we were surprised that instead of a short bulletin of printed announcements, we were given a small booklet with the worship liturgy – 27 pages long and newly created by the church each Sunday! The writer in me immediately thought, this is a promising sign: a congregation that loves the written word. There were women and men reading Scripture, leading prayer, speaking, and serving in other visible ways, and after worship, a warm welcome over coffee.

When I approached the leadership about a possible resident author partnership, I was met with great interest and enthusiasm. What an answer to our prayers, as if God had already been preparing the church and preparing us. I submitted a formal proposal. The leadership and church voted. Before any of us really knew what a resident author partnership might mean, my dream had started to come true.

Over time, Valley CrossWay became home to us. We were welcomed in. We made friends. As resident author, I preach once a month, manage the church’s website and Facebook page, organize and host a team to support Inner Hope Youth Ministries, and engage in other community building. Gary, who taught graduate students in leadership at Trinity Western University, was happy to do some Tuesday evening teaching for the church – until the pandemic shut that down. When he got sick, and during his chemo treatments, we both appreciated the steady stream of prayers. When he unexpectedly passed away, I appreciated the many expressions of caring.

Today, I’m grateful for the church’s ongoing support, especially with my new book, Hope Beyond Our Sorrows: Learning to Live with Life-Changing Loss, published by Herald Press. Valley CrossWay Church has graciously agreed to host my book launch on Tuesday, June 24, 7 p.m. at Calvin Presbyterian Church/Valley CrossWay Church, 33911 Hazelwood Avenue in Abbotsford (north entrance of the building). You are warmly invited to join us that evening –  I’ll read some excerpts from my book, with special music by Mel Bowker (piano) and Lorin Friesen (violin), light refreshments, and draw prizes. No purchase necessary, although I do pray that copies of Hope Beyond Our Sorrows will arrive in time for that evening.

When I shared my launch plans with one of the women in the church, she immediately offered to help with the food. She said, “I don’t see how you could do all of that on your own. I couldn’t do it all myself. No one could.”

The practical theologian in me immediately thought, what a beautiful expression of what it means to be the church and of what Valley CrossWay has come to mean in my life. We can’t do everything on our own – and we don’t have to. Not a book launch. Not our Sunday worship. Not everyday life with all its challenges and joys. We can’t do everything on our own, and we don’t have to.

I give thanks to God for my church as a small liturgical worship community, a people and place of Christian worship and welcome, prayer, community, and service. I give thanks for your church too, for all of the churches in our communities and around the world. We are not alone. Together, we are the body of Christ.

“May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant [us] to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together [we] may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5–6).