Back Row: Arnold VanAnkum (GSC), Rev. Marc Konnynberg, Henry Bruines, Rev. Randy Opmeer, Rev. Carson Culp, Pastor Emile Schmid.  Front Row: Klaas Slagter, Bill Zwiep, Rev. John Kapteyn, Rev. Case Koolhaas, Mrs. Laurie Heron, Doug Waymark, Rev. Doug Nieuwstraten, Randy Bohl (Words of Hope).

The annual general meeting was held from April 15-17 in Wainfleet, Ontario and was led by our now past President Bill Zwiep. We began our meeting with devotions focused on what it means to love God and others from Matthew 22. Then we were challenged to look at what that means for the RCA in Canada as we stop looking in the past and look to where God is leading now.  The RSC truly wants to be a resource that can be used to walk alongside the Classes as together we work to fulfill the calling of God for His church.  To that end we want to help and encourage by:  Being a resource in the planning of Classis retreats, by improving training resources, tools and links to web-based seminars as together we mobilizing the local church for mission. We want to partner with the Classes and local churches in providing opportunities for mission trips.

The RSC heard from various ministries such as World Relief, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, and Women’s ministries, Christian Education, Church Herald, General Synod Council and Word's of Hope. We agreed as the RSC to continue our sponsorship to the work in Niger for another term so, that the work can continue and the message of hope can go forth. We supported and approved a guideline and procedure guideline for commissioned pastors. This will be sent out to the Classis as a tool for them to use.  In relation to the Foundation we will change the way this is now led. The board of directors will be made up of 2-3 directors from the RSC and 2 people with a financial background.

The finance committee approved the minister’s salary guidelines. They also decided to leave the assessment at $40 per member and recommended we approve the 2010 budget.  We stopped for a time of worship on Thursday evening and heard Case Koolhaas share some reflections as he prepares to retire as well as a message from Matthew 25 house - a ministry supported by the RCA - as they minister in the community in which Matthew 25 house is situated.

As with the leadership we wish to thank John and Barb for all of their hard work that takes place throughout the year.  We welcome Henry Bruines who takes over as our new clerk as Rev. Siebrand Wilts now enjoys retirement.  A special moment of the event was shared as Siebrand and his wife joined us for dinner and we were able to present them with a special thank-you present.  We also welcome Rev. Doug Nieuwstraten as our new President and Rev. Mark Konynenberg as our new vice-president.

Rev. Siebrand and Maria Wilts 

Thanks Be To God,
Rev. Doug Nieuwstraten
President

JOB OPPORTUNITY

SENIOR PASTOR 

The congregation of Woodgrove Christian Community Church is seeking a Senior Full-time Pastor who identifies with our potential, and will grow with our needs.

We are located in the picturesque community of Lantzville (5 minutes from Nanaimo) on beautiful Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

Our hope is to inspire a committed individual to lead and develop our small but devoted congregation into fulfillment of our long-term vision which is to become an intergenerational congregation meeting the needs of the community in which we serve.

We invite a qualified applicant with a B.A., MDiv to apply.  We are looking for someone who is Biblical—a servant who teaches scripturally based sermons, who is Spiritual with meaningful applications, embraces worship together with music and song, who is Compassionate about pastoral care and who is Personable—self-assured yet always learning, emotionally and psychologically mature yet always growing. 

Please send your applications to Helen Konetzka at: helen.k@shaw.ca or mail to Woodgrove Christian Community Church 7244 Lantzville Road, Lantzville, B.C. VOR 2HO. 

Our church website is http://www.our.homewithgod.com/heritagechurch/