a whole lot of excitement going on!

We have been on a wild ride over this past weekend.  As we celebrated the Superbowl of Christianity, plus a church wedding in the middle of it all, we also put an offer on a school that is closing down in a couple of month. There wasn't much sleep to be had as excitement and anticipation filled the air. I, along with everyone in the church, have no doubt that God wants to take us to the next level and it is evident that we are all willing to do whatever it takes to get there.   

Even though I received a phone call late Tuesday night from our agent telling us that the School Board of Trustees had chosen to go with the other offer from the property developer, I am confident that this is just the beginning for us.  Even if they had given us an opportunity to make a higher offer, I would not have as I believe that we put the offer forward we were supposed to.

The most amazing part of this entire 4 day process was the unity that was evidenced by our body, both on Sunday morning and on Monday night.  I saw everybody and I mean everybody come together in agreement and it was awesome.  We will not hang our heads in dismay and give up on this part of our dream, this is not a moment of defeat! In fact, I think our dream/vision just got bigger!! God is still saying, "Where are you going to put them and how are you going to disciple them?".  While I am disappointed with their decision, I know that God has even greater things in store for us and now we take this opportunity to get even more prepared.  

There are many lessons to be learned here that only make us stronger.  The main one being that God IS going to continue to open doors for us.  Also, we need to, with similar energy and desire better prepare ourselves ahead of time by getting our own personal financial houses in order.  Let me teach/preach here for a moment.  We were all prepared to make sacrifices in a moments notice, but what God wants is not just sacrifice in a moment but obedience day in and day out.  

I liken this situation to the story of the Good Samaritan in some ways.  He had the desire to help and the time to help.  Something that the others walking by had neither of.  I see us as a Church body that has maturity in the desire and the time to help.  But there was one distinguishing factor in the life of the Good Samaritan that people rarely recognize.  He also had the money to help.  And spend it he did, on someone he did not even know.  I believe God wants to get us to that final place where we also have not just the desire and the time, (which we have in plenty of) but also enough financial stability as families that we come to the end of our month and are wondering what to do with our excess.  Having the heart, the time and the finances to reach out to this world God has called us to touch.

As we were talking about the purchase I could see some of your "gears grinding away" as they say and I knew that while some of us were in a position to give greatly toward this purchase there where also some in a pretty tight spot. I could see you wondering where you were going to get something to give since you are currently under financial stress from years of living beyond your means.  I was about to caution everyone that was planning on giving to this project not to do so if it put your family in financial strain.  There is a difference between hearing from God and giving sacrificially in times of need in our lives and seeing God miraculously provide and getting to the place where we are living off the 10% and sowing the 90%.  God does not want us to live in that place called "crisis to crisis".  We have to learn that these types of things need to be funded out of the overflow in our lives and not by another 18% credit card.  

I love you guys and I am so proud of each and every one of you. You are the best!  I am humbled by your words of encouragement, responses, and the expressions of love and faith I have seen.  Keep your chin up because we are almost ready for our promotion.  We will be faithful with the talent we have in our hands. 

Continue to stand on the Scriptures that God has highlighted over our Church during this process (like Isa. 54:2-3, Isa. 58:9-12 & Prov. 24:3-4, & Rom. 8:25) and know that we will not, fling away our fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. (Heb. 10:35)

In everything give thanks!

Dave Mischuk

Pastor 

New Song Church and World Outreach

www.newsong.ca

p.s. There's no reason why we can't pray for the spoils from this transaction - I can think of a few things we could use that they don't need anymore... 

Prayer Request

I have a prayer request to share with you.

Christopher Kennedy is my older sister Kim's nephew (her husband, Paul Rathjen, is Chris' Uncle - his Mom's brother). My cousin is also related to the family; Lori's husband is Wayne Kennedy, Chris' Uncle - his Dad's brother. Chris was in a very serious car accident early in the morning on Friday, April 12th. I've known Chris since he was born, I even baby-sat him on occasion... 25 years ago! His grandfather was our Pastor (David Rathjen) when I was a child in North Vancouver. My family goes deep with Chris' family!

Chris was driving back to the oil fields in Alberta where he works when he was hit head on by a semi-tractor trailer. It took a few hours to extricate him from his SUV, the police thought they'd be pulling out a body who had been driving a sports car. He almost bled out on the scene, when they finally were able to get him to the hospital he received 10 units of plasma and 6 units of blood. He's currently in the ICU at the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, BC.

He has made miraculous advancements in his recovery already, it's only God - we know that - but he has a ways to go until he fully recovers.

He is off the critical list which is a miracle in itself but he's not out of the woods. Here are some more specific things to pray for:
* His left foot is pretty crushed, the doctor's said the bones were like powder - his entire left side was crushed in the accident.
* He has an infection in his arm and leg, the doctor's are trying to prepare the family for Chris being an amputee.
* Prayer for his jaw surgery.
* He's had a fever because his body is fighting infection.
* That he'd be able to be moved to a hospital closer to his family, the accident happened around 4 hours from where his wife and family lives (in Langley, BC).
* The day of the accident, Chris' wife was diagnosed with Grave's Disease.
Chris' oldest sister (Patti is my sister Lise's best friend) has a personal blog that she has been updating with information about the accident and his praise reports. If you wish to get more details or to see how he is doing go to www.xangelle.com/blog

Thank you for praying! If you leave a comment on her blog for encouragement, prayers, scriptures, or words of prophecy - let them know you came via Shannon (nee Jacobson). They are compiling a list of where the prayers are coming in from for Chris when he's fully conscious.

Patti is also receiving emails and donations at patti@xangelle.com