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2020 Vision Update
We are near one third of the way there!
So far, $320,000 has been given or pledged to the Daniel Breen Memorial Church Planting Endowment Fund. We are trusting that we will reach the $500,000 mark by December 31, 2007 – and our ultimate goal of $1 million dollars by June of 2008.
A commemorative plaque, with the names of all the individuals and churches who contributed to the Daniel Breen Memorial Church Planting Fund, will be unveiled at the ACOP Biennial Conference in Eston, Saskatchewan.
Please continue to pray for the release of $1 million from across our Fellowship and that the Lord of the harvest would send forth church planters into the Canadian harvest field.
Orphan Care Update
Young orphans from Lumbadzi, Malawi.
Due to the HIV/AIDS crisis, there are literally millions of orphaned children living in Africa.
In response to this crisis, the ACOP of Canada launched the Orphan Care Ministry at our June 2006 Conference in Kelowna, BC. We were excited by the initial response and pledges received to help us ‘get started’.
We recognize that we are a smaller fellowship of churches, but felt God’s leading to try and help 10,000 orphans in Africa by the year 2010. Our ideal plan has been to equip local churches to care for orphans in their own communities by working in partnership with them.
We are well on our way to
reaching our goal.
We have excellent momentum …
let’s continue on!
The Orphan Care Ministry is presently working with communities in Malawi and Zimbabwe, and expansion of the program into Zambia has recently been approved.
Several individuals and churches have caught the vision for orphan care, and have contributed their time, funds and labour towards this cause:
A typical feeding centre is constructed like the one shown here in Lumbadzi, Malawi.
BC Coast & Island District
On May 29, 2007 an eight member team from this district traveled to Lumbazi Malawi to work on a joint construction project with the ACOP of Malawi and ACOP missionaries Wes & Lorrie Jonat. On Friday, June 22nd, the Lumbazi Feeding Station was officially dedicated. There are plans for 2 additional feeding stations to be built May – June of 2008 in more remote areas of Malawi.
MacKenzie, BC
In August 2007 Rev. Brian Cooper accompanied a team of Canadian volunteers led by Angela Yablonski (owner & manager of CURVES) as they traveled to Musana Zimbabwe to help with a building project which will eventually house 2 orphan feeding stations & education centers. This ambitious team of 12 ladies and 2 men helped construct the first building in the Oasis of Hope Orphan Center.
Sonrise Full Gospel Church,
Surrey, BC
In August 2007 another team of eleven from Sonrise Church also worked on the feeding station at the Oasis of Hope in Musana. This church has pledged ongoing support for the care centres in Zimbabwe, by partnering with 200 donors through their local fellowship.
To date, there are 4 feeding station projects in Africa:
• Rugare, Zimbabwe where up to 150 impoverished children are cared for
• Kadoma, Zimbabwe, currently caring for 197 orphans
• Oasis of Hope Orphan Centre in Musana, Zimbabwe, which is still under construction, is currently taking care of 50 orphans
• Tidalilane Orphan Care and Feeding Centres in Lumbadzi, Malawi as well as the centres in Namitete and Mponel, Malawi are caring for approximately 100 orphans.
It costs approximately $10,000 to establish one of these feeding centres. We have plans for 2 more centers in Malawi (Namitete and Mponela areas); construction on a centre in Bulawayo Zimbabwe will begin in 2008.
Another thrust of the Orphan Care program is the support and care of orphans through home care givers. Church families receive financial help to take orphan children into their homes and raise them in a family environment. For approximately $30.00 per month per child, an African family can feed, clothe and educate an orphan child. We are currently assisting 45 orphan care giver homes.
This report is not about buildings, projects or money…it is ultimately about people - the people of God helping orphans. God is calling, in a loud voice, to His people to bring our local churches fully into this important work.
Caring for orphans is a particular responsibility of Christians. Throughout scripture, God makes clear His heart for orphans. It is a point of difference between biblical Christianity and the rest of the world’s philosophies and religions, that we value those who can give nothing back to us. In the end that is a picture of the gospel.
“You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and your listen to their cry, defending the fatherless.” Psalm 10:17-18
Every pastor and church leader should:
Pray - and ask God to show you His heart for the people caught in the plight - the sick and the dying, the orphans, and the widows.
Read - the book “When God Stood Up” by Jim Cantelon. (Purchase 2 copies and give one away to someone God has placed on your heart.)
Read - the 35 page report on the ACOP website called ‘Faith Untapped – Why Churches can play a crucial role in tackling HIV and AIDS in Africa’.
Promote - the need for your church to continue or begin to support the efforts of the ACOP Orphan Care Ministry.
Research - ways you and your congregation can play an active role supporting the WAR against HIV and AIDS.
We are looking for your help!
We need to increase the number of monthly supporters ($30/month). We need local Canadian churches willing to partner with local churches in Africa. We need funding to cover the costs of building and maintaining Orphan Care Centres ($10,000 + each). And we need Canadian churches to consider monthly budget allocations to fund these efforts.
Orphaned boys helping with the construction of the feeding centre in Lumbadzi, Malawi.
Conclusion
The best time for the Church to have started dealing with the HIV/AIDS crisis was twenty years ago but the next best time is now.
Those who have been orphaned because of their parents dying of AIDS are true victims. Let us, the ACOP of Canada, be the Good Samaritan that these suffering children need. This crisis affords the church a great opportunity to demonstrate Christ’s concern for the suffering. Let’s build a glorious reputation for God, making the world really glad that we have the Father God we do – the God who really cares, the One who sends us out as rescuers in the name of the supreme Anointed Rescuer, Jesus the Messiah.
Orphan Care
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Africa?
Because sub-Saharan Africa is the hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Why Malawi and Zimbabwe?
Because ACOP has sister organizations in these nations that have land available, have leaders to manage the projects, and have local church families to expand the ministry. Over 50 years of ministry through ACOP missionaries and other projects in there areas have established strong relationships with these countries.
What are the Local Churches in Africa Doing?
• Local churches continue to teach and disciple their orphans.
• Church families that are able take in orphans to become part of their family.
• Advocate for the orphans to see they get proper education.
• Visit the sick and comfort those who have lost their parents.
• Act in the role of an “older brother” to protect orphan girls, and helping with marriage arrangements when they grow to age for love and marriage
• Protect the orphan’s rights and future, protect them from becoming victims.
Is the ACOP Orphan Care Project going to expand to other countries?
Yes! Pilot projects in Zambia have been approved, and we are in discussion with other countries as well. The goal of this project is to work directly with the church leaders in each country to meet the needs of their people in the way that best works with their culture and infrastructure. ACOP of Canada will not dictate what and how the projects are done; instead we want to help facilitate solutions unique to each country’s situation.
Are you planning anything different?
Yes, we are actively researching ideas to start self-funding projects. These would initially cost more ($25,000 - $30,000) but would eventually be 100% locally funded.
How can I help?
You can give your finances to help pay for food, school fees, clothing, and medical care for orphaned children by monthly support towards the care-giving families and donations towards the larger projects.
Everyone Can Help!
Every local church small or large…every person in the local church, rich or poor…every Sunday School class, every small group, every business, big or small.
Let’s show, by our actions, that the Canadian ACOP churches cares for children affected by AIDS.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…..” James 1:27
Leadership Retreat 2007
LAKE LOUISE - Since the year 2000, leaders from across Canada has been gathering in Lake Louise, Alberta every November for the annual ACOP Leadership Retreat.
This year, approximately 30 key ACOP leaders including members of the Board of Trustees, Department Heads, Divisional Directors, Missions Committee, and District Directors spent three wonderful days in the Rocky Mountains, enjoying times of great fellowship, teaching and discussion together.
Mr. Jim Brown* from STRIVE! - a leadership development firm specializing in governance - was the guest presenter. He led a workshop entitled "Joy to the Board", focusing on a greater understanding of effective governance in a Christian context. His very practical presentation dealt with subjects such as Biblical Principles for Boards, Organizational Effectiveness, and Understanding the Roles & Types of Committees in a surprisingly fresh and enjoyable way. He offered many insights and strategic planning tools that were extremely helpful to our group.
Other sessions were given to DVD lecture presentations by Reggie McNeal (director of leadership development for the South Carolina Baptist Convention), whose topics included "From Church Growth to Kingdom Growth" and "A New Reformation Releasing God’s People". These sessions provoked some very interesting discussions about the changing face of the church in North America.
Always a highlight of the retreat, President Wes Mills shared his annual "State of the Fellowship" address, this year focusing on the emerging phenomena of "digital" versus "hardcopy" churches and emphasizing the need for understanding, acceptance and cooperation among all church groups to effectively reach our world.
To wrap up the retreat, we spent a precious morning of ministry time and prayer together over the Lord’s Table. Special thanks to Rev. Tim Osiowy for his sensitive leading and oversight of this very meaningful session.
Throw in many great buffet meals, a few business & committee meetings, several pounds of hot wings, a movie night, fresh mountain air, a hot tub or two, lots of laughs, and wonderful times of fellowship together, and that sums up the rest of the retreat. (The only thing missing this year was the snow!)
Again, we wish to thank each one who serves as part of the ACOP leadership team with very little or no compensation. This retreat is just a small way in which ACOP recognizes their sacrifice, dedication and important contribution to this Fellowship.
______
*Jim Brown is author of the book, "The Imperfect Board Member - Discovering the Seven Disciplines of Governance Excellence." For more information, please visit the STRIVE! website at www.strive.com
Prayer Matters in France
With the vision of "Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom to Every Nation," ACOP actively supports 25 missionaries around the globe. We invite you to join with us in prayer for their ministries.
This month's prayer focus:
Bruce and Lauren Lungren, Missionaries to France
Bruce, Alex, Lauren and Natassia Lungren, France
Bruce & Lauren Lungren first responded to the Lord’s call to full-time mission work in 1987. They studied French for several months in Quebec with Gary and Shelly Langerud, after which, they left for Burkina Faso (Africa) where Bruce’s parents had served as missionaries since the early 1950’s. They ministered in Burkina from 1989 - 2004 in several areas, evangelism, church-planting and directing/teaching in the Leo Bible school.
They felt the Lord leading them in new directions and after much prayer and consideration of several options, the Lungren family – Bruce, Lauren, Alex and Natassia – moved to Thuméries, France in August 2005.
Their ministry in France includes discipling several French believers, preaching regularly in various local churches, and building relationships in the community by English tutoring, visiting, community service and evangelistic events. They also play a crucial role in working with the Chateau Blanc – a historic mansion and grounds – used as training centre for both short-term and vocational missionaries to francophone nations. They also lead a local youth group and are helping plant a church in Thuméries.
The Lungrens ask you to partner with them in prayer for the many needs of the French people they work and live with. Pray their youth group will persist and grow in the Lord and for increased spiritual breakthroughs in many lives. They also ask you to keep their family in your prayers, for continued financial support for themselves, increased financial blessing for the Chateau Blanc ministries, a new and permanent home for their family (they are currently house-sitting for someone else), and for God’s hand to rest on Alex and Natassia as they adapt to the highly secular French school system and shine as a light to their teachers and friends.
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