Superintendent’s Report to the
75th Conference of the
Eastern Ontario District
You are the light of the world … let your light shine before men, that they
may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
(Matthew 5: 14-16)
Innovation is hard work, but it’s worth it! There is a definite tension for leaders between what is and what should be. Pastors understand that tension and can spend a lot of time and energy implementing change. Our commitment to remaining effective means we occasionally must challenge current expectations, and this requires skill and wisdom. Sweeping changes with little regard for the church’s heritage may feel like a threat to a congregation, however maintaining the status quo with little or no meaningful community engagement, leads to irrelevancy. Jesus said that we are the light of the world! Let’s continue to trust Him for fresh, creative ideas and the wisdom to implement effective change.
Innovation implies implementing new ideas, but some old-fashioned, time-tested things also have the potential to yield amazing results. What if every Spirit-filled believer led just one friend to Jesus next week? Could you and your church disciple and care for 100% growth? And what then if every church began just one new missional initiative to reach a different group of people in the community? Where and when might those people gather to worship? And then what if the collaborative efforts of churches in each of our eight sections across EOD resulted in just one new ministry expression each? Would we then be willing to use our existing facilities in new and different ways? The impacts from these simple initiatives would be staggering and we would virtually double our Kingdom effectiveness.
Wendy and I are so thankful for the privilege of serving you. Eastern Ontario is a relationally-based missional family. We represent great diversity and yet stand together with mutual respect and unity of purpose. Our mandate in the District ministry is to serve, support and care for you as leaders, so that you in turn can better focus on the ministry to which God has called you. In simple terms, in this season of our lives, we make our ministry your ministry.
Pastors are my Heroes
Serving as Superintendent includes various responsibilities, but there is no higher priority for me than serving pastors. I share this responsibility with the other members of the District Ministry Team and just as you remain available to the precious people you serve, we are here for you.
Pastoring today is very challenging. We are called to declare the mysteries of God and the unchanging message of Jesus’ love, however the culture shifts and changes constantly. Training and equipping the saints to do the work of the ministry is not always well received as people today are so busy and often distracted. The “work of the ministry” can then fall back to pastors resulting in even more responsibility and at times, loneliness and discouragement. Financial pressures also weigh heavily on leaders as resources seem inadequate to fund what the Lord has placed in our hearts to do. In reality He always meets the need and delights in reminding us of His capacity to do so.
Our churches are benefiting from an informal regional support strategy as David, Cal and I actually reside in the three corners of the District. Serving the churches in times of crisis and transition allows us to come alongside and remind congregations of the values of belonging to the EOD family. While each one of us remains available to any church, we tend to work primarily within our “regions” in order to be available and accessible as well as manage costs associated with travelling.
In January 2010, it was our privilege to lead a group of twenty-one pastors and leaders on a Clergy Study Tour to Israel. There were many great moments as we walked together in Jesus’ footsteps. We are planning to do this again early 2012.
Church Health and Multiplication
PAOC Mission Canada has identified five major missional themes to help us reach our nation. These initiatives are Francophones and French Canada, First Nation Peoples, Ethnic Canadians, an Emerging Generation (Children, Youth and College & University Campuses) and Urban Centres. Our Missional Ministry Directors continue to represent these missional opportunities to our churches in partnership with Mission Canada.
Our commitment to reach cities has led to a meaningful cooperative partnership with our friends in both Western Ontario (Greater Toronto Area) and Quebec (Gatineau and Capital Region). Our churches are finding ways of working together to create new expressions of ministry that sometimes do not resemble anything we have ever seen before. Cal Anthony – Assistant Superintendent Ministries and Jeff Hillier – Mission and Ministries Specialist, continue to serve Church Health and Multiplication with great effectiveness. I appreciate their care for pastors and churches and their passion for the Mission.
Healthy churches grow and multiply. The Executive however has identified some troubling trends across our District. These are very general but in certain cases these trends have become significant impediments to growth:
1. Budget constraints and high debt levels are severely limiting innovation and creativity. Some smaller churches are also receiving a special financial subsidy in order to provide the pastor and their family with basic Group Health Insurance.
2. Some communities are experiencing an exodus of youth and young families as they move away to cities for education and employment. This is increasing the need for more bi-vocational pastors and in some cases, multiple point charges.
3. Some congregations are finding it a challenge to make missional changes that would help them stay effectively engaged with their communities.
4. A lack of personal soul winning in the power and boldness of the Spirit is preventing churches from growing and experiencing revitalization.
5. And as difficult as this may be for us to admit, an increasing “consumer mentality” in churches virtually guarantees the end of community effectiveness.
Effective churches in EOD are highly relational. They are intentionally empowering their congregations and engaging their communities. They are preaching and teaching sound doctrine and Biblical truth. They are leading their people through to the creative boldness for witness available through Baptism in the Holy Spirit. They are deliberately making disciples to make disciples. They are reaching out to the poor and marginalized. They are aware of and meeting community needs. They are also using technology in creative ways to stay connected with their culture and the members of the church family.
Leadership Development
Last September the College opened its doors for the fall semester at 780 Argyle Street in Peterborough. Our first year back in this historic building is now behind us, and what an incredible year it has been! There were 112 students on campus with 67 living in residence. During March Break, 83 students attended College Days. Approximately 60 of these were Grade 12 students, of whom 30 completed forms expressing their interest in becoming a student at Master’s next September. The College needs strong first year classes every September in order to ensure stability as well as to produce the necessary graduates to serve Eastern Canada. Even if students are unsure about full time vocational ministry, every Pentecostal young adult in Eastern Canada will benefit from at least a year of theological education and spiritual formation at Master’s. The First Year program is designed to provide a quality, life-changing experience that will prepare students for serving God the rest of their lives.
The sale and leaseback of 780 Argyle Street has been a life-giving provision for the College. The consortium of PAOC investors who stepped forward one year ago provided us with an innovative solution to a complicated financial problem. The central condition of the deal required the College to relocate and become the anchor tenant. With the Lord’s help, President Morrow and the College team orchestrated this complicated move while keeping the well being of our students first and foremost and needs of faculty and staff a close second.
When elected by the Board of Governors to serve as Chair in April 2008, I did not fully understand the extent of the challenges that would be facing the School or the tremendous amount of time and energy that would be required. At times and out of necessity, I have felt that serving Master’s has become one of my primary responsibilities. For example, last July I facilitated 45 conference calls in 31 days representing over 2500 minutes of talk time. (Thankfully we have a very cost effective conference call service). Throughout this experience I have learned much, been mentored by some great people and witnessed the Lord perform a miracle.
It is time for our Conference to stand solidly behind our College and believe together for great days ahead. Leadership development is critical to our future and Master’ is doing a fantastic job of effectively training the next generation of Pentecostal leaders.
To God be the glory!
Stewardship of Resources
David Blakely will bring a full report on the current state of affairs regarding District finances at this conference. He, along with our District Accountant Edwin Mendoza and now Accounting Manager Dan Smith, have nurtured revenue streams and managed expenditures.
Five years ago we began the long road back to financial stability through effective cash management and debt reduction. Generating operational surpluses and strategically selling off agricultural land in Cobourg have helped us.
In addition to the District-generating operational surpluses, both Ottawa Valley Pentecostal Camp and Lakeshore Pentecostal Camp are not only carrying their own financial responsibilities, they are repaying both long term debt and their loans to the District. Both camps are also contributing to the strong consolidated surplus in 2010. Lyndon Stratton serves as Administrative Director for Lakeshore which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this summer. He is assisted by Dominic Amyotte who serves as Grounds Supervisor. Ken McLaren has served as the Administrative Director (part-time) for Ottawa Valley Pentecostal Camp but has recently stepped aside to be replaced by Dean Faught. He is assisted by Tim Hildebrand as Grounds Supervisor.
The Journey…
It is an honour to serve with Cal Anthony (Ministries) and David Blakely (Resources). Jeff Hillier and Dan Smith complete our Lead Team as specialists overseeing Mission/Ministries and Accounting respectively. We are ministry associates, but more than that we are friends. Jeff also serves as Conference Director and is responsible for all the creative elements during these days together.
I greatly appreciated Cheryl Rogers as my Executive Assistant and our Office Manager in Cobourg. She is committed to serving pastors and churches and does everything with great care and excellence. She is also our Conference Coordinator, having kept everything and everyone on track over the past year. Julia Benson is our Accounting Assistant and Lori Stratton serves as Administrative Assistant in the Resources stream. Stacey Fletcher returns from parental leave in September and in her absence Kim Moran has served as Administrative Assistant to the Ministries Division. Ferne Wood, Vanessa Williams and Donna Butler have also served us contractually as receptionists.
I am also grateful for the members of the District Executive who have served over the past two years. Each of these busy pastors has been a true ministry partner.
Josephine Kok Toronto South
Roger Malcom York-Toronto North
Rick Bombay/
Dave Larmour Lakeshore
Ron Hughes Kawartha
Terry Pitt Quinte-Rideau
Colin Cleugh Lanark-Seaway
Brian Egert Capital Region
Dave Tubby Upper Ottawa Valley
Presbyters at Large:
Frank Patrick, Mark MacKnight/
Roger White
Last But Certainly Not Least
Serving as your District Pastor is a tremendous privilege. I am grateful to Wendy for her consistent love, support and encouragement in so many ways. My responsibilities take me away from home many evenings and weekends and I could not serve you effectively without her support. She shares my passion to serve pastors and I appreciate her leadership of Ministry Wives. We are very proud of our three children Laura, Scott and Emily. Laura is a first year student at Master’s Pentecostal Seminary in Toronto, Scott is a first year student at Master’s College in Peterborough and Emily is a Grade 9 student at Sinclair Secondary School in Whitby. Each one loves and serves Jesus and we are so grateful for their personal commitments of faith and individual ministry gifts. They are also contributors to the District Ministry through their patience and understanding. More than once over the past two years they’ve accepted changes to family plans because of my schedule.
Wendy joins me in expressing appreciation for your examples of commitment and sacrificial service. It is an absolute honour to serve you!
Respectfully submitted,
Craig Burton