Devotional

Good. God. Gospel. (the hardest part)

Everyone’s faith journey looks different. We all have unique struggles as we learn to think and act more like Jesus. When we think about the hardest parts of our walk, we often think of battling sin, watching our words, or learning patience and kindness.

But maybe one of the hardest things for many of us — and one we don’t talk about enough — is sharing our faith.

We know we’re called to tell others the good news of Jesus. Scripture is clear. The challenge isn’t understanding that we should — it’s finding the confidence to actually do it.

I get it. I’m not a theologian or an apologist. I don’t always have the right words. And sometimes, even when God gives me an opportunity, I miss it.

Just last week at the pharmacy, the assistant helping me went out of her way to sort out an insurance issue. We had a lovely chat, and as I was leaving, she thanked me for being kind — saying she often deals with “creeps” who blame her for things beyond her control.

I encouraged her and told her we all need more compassion. But as I got into my car, it hit me — that could have been a moment to share why I try to be kind, to connect my faith to my words. The Lord handed me an opportunity, and I missed it.

But instead of guilt, I felt gratitude — because I recognized it. That’s growth. Next time, I’ll be more ready.

And that’s what this is all about. On Sunday, October 26th @ 6PM we’re setting aside a few hours to talk together about how to share our faith — how to recognize opportunities, how to have good, God, gospel conversations, and build relationships that point others to Jesus.

There isn’t one perfect way to share your faith, but there is one perfect call — and the empowering of the Holy Spirit that equips us to walk in obedience.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
— Ephesians 2:10

God already has the opportunities prepared. We just need to be ready and willing to walk into them — imperfectly, but faithfully.

So don’t worry about having all the answers. Come and explore with us how we can grow in confidence and courage together as we learn to share Christ.

Pastor Erin

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, October 19 @ 10am

A MESSAGE FROM THE KING
Love & Hate
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

I Know God Loves Me But... (maybe this is you?)

On Sunday, I talked about God’s love for His chosen children (including us!) and how easy it is to doubt that love. This is certainly the context of the opening of the book of Malachi: “I have loved you,” says the Lord.

“But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ (Malachi 1:2) I believe that many people feel that same distance from the love of God, whether they say it out loud or it’s hidden somewhere in their heart. The Lord brings it out in the open through the prophet’s message and this antipatory question.

After the service, Walt Kippenhuck brought up another way to consider the question of God’s love. He said that for him (and others he’s talked to), the question isn’t knowing if God loves us. He’s always known and believed that. The problem comes when you compare it to how consistently we mess up, even though we are loved so extravagantly. You might ask it this way: “If God is good and he loves me, why do I keep messing up?”

I thought about it a lot this week and asked Walt how he has wrestled through this in his own life. Here are some of his thoughts…

In some ways, the answer is as simple as the fact that we're broken by nature. When we live our own way, we can reliably expect to encounter this, and it will be the story of our lives. But God has given us a better way - clear, detailed instructions, in fact. Unfortunately, we: don’t read them, think we know a better way, think we know an easier way, read them years ago and are pretty sure we remember how it’s supposed to be done, or learned them from someone else who read them but didn’t look for ourselves because we are busy and haven’t made the time.

God is telling us all through scripture to ask when we don’t understand something. But we stay in our confusion because: we don’t know what to ask because we didn’t read the instructions, we feel like the question is dumb (“I should know this by now!”), we’re ashamed because we ignored the instructions and failed, or our relationship with Him has become distant and we don’t feel connected enough to ask for anything.

All of this is exacerbated by the fact that we have an enemy who is focused on throwing all of this in our faces 24-7.

My conclusion has been this:

  • DO read the instructions.

  • DO ask the questions… all of them… all the time.

  • DO read the instructions again and note how holes are being filled in as a result of the questions you asked.

  • THANK Him. Don’t just move on to the next step. Stop and recognize the difference it made just talking to Him.

Walt

————

Maybe you’re not doubting God’s love, but you can’t see yourself as anything but a total mess who can’t be in a life-transforming relationship with Jesus. I trust that Walt’s experience will encourage you to be in the Word, ask for help, ask questions, and observe how you are being changed day by day.

And, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:18-23)

Blessings,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, October 26 @ 10am

A MESSAGE FROM THE KING
Blind & Broken
Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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I (Maybe) Can But I Won't

I have been humbled in the past few weeks. I signed up to take a course in biblical Greek as part of my master’s program. I didn’t take any biblical languages in my undergrad, so I was excited about the opportunity. The problem is, it’s kicking my butt. It’s difficult to understand the grammar of another language when you barely remember the grammar of the language you speak and write every day. (When was the last time I had to find the indirect object of a sentence!?) Plus, the memory work. Oh, the memory work. By the time this email gets to you, I’ll be in my fourth week of the course and have already (hopefully) memorized 160 Greek words, in addition to all the other paradigms and conjugations thus far… and I still have nine weeks to go. Yes, I chose and paid for this torture.

I was telling my son how overwhelming it is to fit all of this work into my brain and schedule, and there was something about the way he was looking at me… I froze and realized what I would tell him if the roles were reversed. “Have you asked Jesus to help you?” And, nope, I hadn’t. I’d been powering through and hoping I wouldn’t drown. Why hadn’t it occurred to me until that moment that the Lord would help me as I apply myself to this learning? That would have been my advice to someone else. How quickly I can forget that my faith is integrated into every part of my life.

Sometimes it’s easier to trust Jesus when you’re desperate, when you are facing something way beyond your ability. When you’re scared, anxious or overwhelmed, the prayer, “Jesus, please help me,” comes more quickly. But the truth is, I do have the ability to do this hard work. I can grit my teeth, stress myself out, lose a bunch of sleep and white-knuckle my way to the final exam. But that doesn’t sound much like the life and peace of a believer whose mind is governed by the Spirit. (Romans 8:6) The call on my life isn’t to survive this semester, it’s to walk quietly and confidently in Him.

Even as the coursework has been humbling me, the moment with my son humbled me in an even better way because it pointed me back to the source of my strength, joy, and hope.

So, as you face challenges this week (month, year, or season), be encouraged that even if there are things you can do on your own, choose to say that you won’t live apart from Christ. I am convinced that there are more blessings in this choice than we can even imagine.

See you on Sunday,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, October 12 @ 10am

THE GIFT OF JESUS
The Gifted Church
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Welcome, Pastor Isaac! (exciting days for our next gen ministries)

We’re excited to introduce Isaac Quinn, our new Youth & Young Adults Pastor. Pastor Isaac officially started at Freedom on Sunday and is ready to get right into things at his first youth night on Tuesday.

Join me in praying for him as he gets settled in Kitchener and gets oriented to life and ministry here. And pray for our youth and young adults, that we’d see incredible growth in their lives as God does great things in them.

Looking forward to a wonderful new season,

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, October 5 @ 10am

THE GIFT OF JESUS
The Gifted Church
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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My Soul Faints (spending time in God's presence)

A few weeks ago, during pre-service prayer (you can join us!), I was moved by someone praying that our church would long for the presence of God. Even while I was agreeing with this, I was thinking about how easily we forget about or rush past the vital experience of waiting in God’s presence. But, it’s been true in my life that the most impactful times in my spiritual life have been when I was experiencing the presence of the Lord, inevitably when I was intentionally spending time seeking Him.

Scripture calls us to this again and again…

Psalm 84:1-2
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry outfor the living God.

Psalm 63:1
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

Psalm 42:1-2
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

It’s my goal to continually increase the time I spend in God’s presence, knowing that it’s the source of joy, freedom, life, conviction, and transformation. At Freedom, we are looking for ways to do this as a body, to add to your personal experience. On Sunday evening, we have a beautiful opportunity to join with a sister church (Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly) and attend their Holy Spirit Night. It’s similar to our Sunday Night Service, a time for worship, the Word, and prayer. It’s a few extra moments in your week to seek God with all of your heart. Please join us, even as you prayerfully consider your weekly schedule, finding time to be with the Lord and wait in His presence.

In Christ,
Pastor Tracy

PS - I was singing this the whole time I was writing this devo!

Speaker: Pastor Jeff Johnston from Calvary Cambridge
Topic: The Symbol of Fire
Time: Sunday, Sept 28, 6:45 pm
Address: 395 King St. N. Waterloo

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, September 28 @ 10am

THE GIFT OF JESUS
The Gift of Evangelizing & Growing
Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Connect. Learn. ENGAGE. (A call as unique as you are.)

I love my job. I really do. I don’t say that lightly; I know a lot of you don’t have that experience day to day. But one of the downsides of working at the church is that your world can get very small, very quickly. Especially now that my kids are older and I don’t have sports or school drop-offs in my weekly schedule, there aren’t many natural places to stay connected with the realities of the world outside the church. When you’re in vocational ministry, you have to always be on the hunt for these opportunities.

One way I do this is to volunteer for a charity that does great work in Ethiopia. I have met some amazing people and built great friendships with other volunteers doing this work. But I recognize that this is an area that always needs my attention. Engaging with the world around me requires intention. I could easily fill up each day taking care of stuff for me and my family. I know that this is the case for most people, not just those who work at a church! The trouble is, I want my life to engage the world for Christ. Yes, I want that to start with my family, but I know the Great Commission is calling me to go beyond my four walls. How do I keep moving in that direction?

As we’ve been working through our series on the church, I’m reminded that the practical application of “engaging the world for Christ” (our third core value at Freedom) will be as unique as you are. We’ve been created for good works and gifted differently in order to be able to fulfill the call on our lives.

I am grateful for my friend and colleague, Pastor Chris Padiath, from Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly, who has offered to come and teach us more about how Christ Himself has gifted the church and how we can use these gifts in every place we find ourselves - work, home, community, or church. It’s not too late to join us for this special session of Next Leadership tomorrow night and Saturday morning. Just let us know by the end of the day if you’re coming!

Let’s learn to engage even more this year!
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, September 21 @ 10am

THE GIFT OF JESUS
The Gift of Equipping, Modelllng & Maturing
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

CONNECT. Learn. Engage. (What does it mean to connect?

Our first core value at Freedom in Christ is CONNECT. What does that mean? It means that we put a high priority on finding ways to connect with God and connect with others in authentic relationship. Sounds great, right? But how do we do that?

There are lots of ways to take steps to connect more authentically with God and others. I use the word “steps” intentionally. It’s one day at a time, one interaction at a time. Here are three key ways that you can take steps in connecting this fall.

  1. Fun. Join us on Sunday for the Corn Boil and chat with some folks. Easy!

  2. Fast & Pray. Commit to fasting and praying for some part of next week. You will connect with God and, as you pray for others, your love for them with grow.

  3. Fellowship. I mean like the kind where the Word is shared and relationships are built. I’m talking about Groups (Life, Connect & Women’s), Men of Freedom, KidzConnect, and Freedom Youth… or, inviting someone over for coffee and encouraging them. Connection is for every age and stage in the church! When you set aside this time, you will deepen your relationship with God and others.

Let’s continue to build good habits of connection into our lives, thanking Jesus for the gift He has given us in one another!

See you on Sunday,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, September 14 @ 10am

THE GIFT OF JESUS
The Gift of Loving, Supporting & Relating
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Connect. LEARN. Engage. (fresh learning for every age!)

What an incredible time of the year. We’ve had some vacation, the weather is near perfect, the pencils are sharpened, and the pumpkin spice is reappearing. I’ll admit to being a bit jealous of all the school supplies that I see in the stores. I don’t need a fresh pack of crayons for any reason, but I have to keep reminding myself of this fact. I am taking a course on biblical Greek this semester, so I had to get some shiny new flashcards and that helped!

The truth is, whether we mean to or not, we keep learning all through life. The question is, are you intentional about what you are feeding your mind? God gave us His Word to study so that as we grow and learn in life, we grow and learn toward spiritual maturity and an increased knowledge of Christ, not the latest celebrity gossip or TikTok trend.

We believe in this so much that we have made it one of our core values: Learn. There are lots of ways to learn as a follower of Christ, but let me point you toward an incredible resource that we have at Freedom… courses!

Yep! We have our very own discipleship courses written by Pastor Del that cover first steps, topics, and books of the Bible. And, we’re adding to the library all the time. Check out learn.freedomchurchkw.com to see what I mean…

You’ll find:

  • 10 courses on topics like the fruit of the Spirit, the Trinity, Pentecostalism, and the Ten Commandments

  • 6 courses based on books of the Bible (Ephesians, Philippians, Joshua, Nehemiah, 1 Thessalonians, Revelation)

  • And a few other courses that are for ministry training (Abuse Prevention and Prayer Ministry)

We’re working on adding the four core courses to this platform, and they should be live soon. For now, if you’re looking for First Steps, Life in the Spirit, Learning to Serve, or Learning to Lead, head to this page.

It’s back to school for everyone! Grab a resource from our LEARN page and add it to your growth plan this fall. If you have questions or need a hard copy, we have some in the Welcome Centre in the Lobby and our Host Team would be happy to help you.

Let me know what course you’re working on and what you’re learning through it. I’d love to hear your story!

Happy learning,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, September 7 @ 10am

THE GIFT OF JESUS
The Gift of Belonging & Connecting
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Encouraging the Sower & the Reaper (guest writer: Dave Hancock)

Guest Writer: Dave Hancock

As we have been working through this “Farm to Table” series, I have to admit that I have been really cultivating some hard personal thoughts about farming. Oh, I am not really talking about getting dirt under my nails, but more concentrated on the bushels of harvest at the end. One does not plant if they don’t expect to then reap a crop, right?

Let me share a story with you...

“You see, it was about 20 years ago, and my older brother really started to lay into me about his newfound faith and love for Jesus. As a South African black man, I didn’t see how this Jesus guy was going to help me out of my ‘situation,' and I sure didn’t need someone else to tell me how I had to live. I had dreams that didn’t involve this Jesus.

"I met a beautiful woman and we got married. We started a family and I began to build the future I wanted. My brother had now become the pastor over an intercity church in Johannesburg. I did everything I could to not give him the pleasure of “changing my life." He would always talk about praying for me, and he would not stop talking about this Jesus and what I needed to do to get my life right. 

"I thought if I went to a church my brother would leave me alone. What I didn’t see coming was that my wife and children would get “saved” and want to attend my brother's church. I had to resist. Years went on and I reluctantly started to attend with them in hopes that maybe my brother would back off. However, he just kept on and on about his praying for me and my need for Jesus.  

"Jump forward to “that” Sunday. I hadn’t paid any attention to what was happening this day, but apparently, we had a visiting pastor from Canada. I am not sure what the big deal was, but there he was. We don’t often get white pastors preaching in our church, so I figured I would give him a chance. I can’t really tell you what or why or how, but for the first time I was challenged to understand the value of who I am in God, and that struck home. I was encouraged to laugh at the devil when he tried to de-value me and remind me of my sins, and told that God loved me no matter how un-crisp I might look. Needless to say, I met Jesus for the first time that day. 

"You should have seen my brother’s face when we got to tell our story of 20 years of praying for me and how today – of all days – I came home to Jesus. I think he was even more excited than I was.”

John 4:36-38 says:

36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

If you know my and Monica’s story then you can speculate that I was that Canadian pastor. I still don’t know who was more excited about the brother finding a new life in Jesus, the sower or the reaper. It is safe to say that the harvest took more than just one worker to complete. And for that, we can all be encouraged.

Last Sunday, we explored the call to be the harvester. Take a look around your life this week and see where you are called to sow or reap for the Kingdom!

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, August 31 @ 10am

FARM TO TABLE
The Focused Farmer
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Lyric Breakdown: Trust in God (from Psalm 34)

This week's "Lyrics Breakdown" is one of my favourite songs to sing right now - "Trust in God." I love singing things like, "He's been my fourth man in the fire time after time," thinking about the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3, and I love the nods to the hymn "Blessed Assurance" in the verses: "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine... Perfect submission, all is at rest.”

This one, however, sparked a lively conversation at dinner with a friend several weeks ago because of the lyrics in the bridge.

“I sought the Lord
And He heard, and He answered
That’s why I trust Him”
— Trust in God

My friend's issue was saying we only trust God because He answers our prayers. The implication being that if He doesn't, we won't trust Him. Fair point. But that's not how I think of these lyrics when I sing them. They point me to Psam 34:

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, 
and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. ”
— Psalm 34:4-8

This is not a matter of asking for things from God and then deciding if I trust Him based on His response. It has been my experience over decades of knowing Christ that He is perfect in His faithfulness. I trust Him because I know this. Even when my prayers seem to go unanswered, I am confident in singing this song because He has never failed me. Lots of times, I don't understand how, or why, or when, but I'm always safe, even blessed, when I take refuge in Him. (There's a note in the margins of my bible reminding me that only people who are in trouble need to find refuge... but somehow, they are blessed. Amazing.)

From the earliest memories of my faith, I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered. He showed me from day one that He is trustworthy. So, I'll be singing this on Sunday with trust in Him even though I have a long list of prayer requests that, as far as I can see, haven't been answered yet. Join me!

See you then,
Pastor Tracy

Song Credit: Trust in God by Elevation Worship

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, August 24 @ 10am

FARM TO TABLE
Rotting on the Vine
Dave Hancock

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Lyric Breakdown: Cornerstone (from Ephesians 2:19-22)

This week's "Lyrics Breakdown" is a new(er) song (2011) that borrows from a well-known hymn written in 1834. The verses of the song "Cornerstone" are word-for-word from the old hymn "The Solid Rock." The difference is the chorus.

“On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand”
— The Solid Rock (1834)

These lyrics point to Jesus' teaching about the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24-29. But the new version changes things up for a slightly different focus.

“Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour’s love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all”
— Cornerstone (2011)

We still get the idea of Jesus being our anchor in the storms of life, but calling Him "Cornerstone" shifts our attention to Ephesians 2.

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
— Ephesians 2:19-22

(also see 1 Peter 2:4-10)

The cornerstone is the first stone laid in a building, the true level by which the rest of the building is set in place. The picture is not just of us holding onto Jesus as our anchor, the rock in the storm, it's of all of us together being built into His temple. Certainly, the Spirit lives in us each as individual believers, but the promise here is for us as members of God's household to become a place where God's Spirit dwells. He is our cornerstone.

When we sing this together on Sunday, consider the fact that you're not singing it alone. He's building us together on the foundation that was laid perfectly because Jesus is the chief cornerstone.

See you then,
Pastor Tracy

Song Credit: Cornerstone by Hillsong Worship

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, August 17 @ 10am

FARM TO TABLE
The Discerning Farmer
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Lyric Breakdown: Battle Belongs (from 2 Chronicles 20)

Do you ever wonder about the lyrics of the songs we're singing at church? For the next couple of weeks, I'll be doing a "Lyrics Breakdown" for a song that we'll be singing the following Sunday. I hope these scriptures and the songs that point us to them will encourage you!

“So when I fight, I fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I’ll sing through the night
Oh God, the battle belongs to You”
— "Battle Belongs" by Phil Wickham & Brian Johnson

This song points us to 2 Chronicles 20, one of my favourite stories in the Old Testament. King Jehoshapat and the people of Judah were up against impossible odds. Moab and Ammon had combined to form a vast army that they didn't stand a chance against. So, Jehosphapat prayed a simple, humble, honest prayer:

"We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." (2 Chronicles 20:12b)

“We don’t know what to do, but our eyes ar on you.”
— 2 Chronicles 20:12b

God answered them through the prophet Jahaziel:

“Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17)

The song reminds us that our responsibility is to trust God and step out in obedience, to pray, "I don't know what to do, but my eyes are on you." Take a moment to read 2 Chronicles 20 before Sunday and think about the awesome power of our God with fresh faith when we worship together with this song!

See you then, Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, August 10 @ 10am

FARM TO TABLE
Vine & Branches
Scott Corkill

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Gardening & Life (a way to live out James 1:27)

One of my favourite books of the Bible has always been James, and for many years, James 1:27 has been my life verse. As I’ve ahem matured, its meaning has only grown richer:

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
— James 1:27

When I was younger, what stirred my heart most in James 1:27 was the call to care for widows and orphans. That call still moves me—but over the years, I’ve found the second part of the verse speaking more deeply to me: “To keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” To care for others and to keep myself wholly surrendered to Christ—that’s still the goal. The book of James is full of down-to-earth, practical wisdom for how to actually live that out in our everyday lives.

This Sunday, I’m excited to explore more from James on how we live out our faith—specifically, James’ call to patience. 

To me, few things embody patience better than gardening. It’s a one-shot deal each year: you prepare the soil, plant faithfully, and wait—hoping that what you’ve done will be enough. Weeks later, you might see growth. A month later, you may harvest. And sometimes? Nothing grows, and you realize you’ll have to wait an entire year to try again. I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit.

Gardening—and life—requires patience.

James reminds us to be patient with people, with trials, with ourselves, and even with God. One way I practice patience and guard my heart from the distractions of this world is by looking outward—focusing on the needs of others. It’s a beautiful (and often challenging!) way to live. I don’t always get it right, but I regularly ask the Lord for help.

As we approach Back-to-School season, there’s a beautiful opportunity to put James 1:27 into action and to show the kind of patience and compassion James encourages in chapter 5.

This Back-to-School season, you have a chance to care for others in a tangible way. Our Care Closet is hoping to collect 50 backpacks and a variety of school supplies to bless families in need in our community. Would you consider helping us meet that goal? We’re looking for child and youth-sized backpacks for all genders. Amazon already has some great deals if you’re looking for an easy place to shop.

For many of us, buying school supplies is routine. But for some families, it’s a heavy burden on an already tight budget. Your donation can make a real difference.

Our Back-to-School Care Closet is happening on August 23rd.

Backpacks and school supply donations can be dropped off anytime before then.

Thank you for living out James 1:27 in such practical, prayerful, and generous ways. I’m looking forward to digging into the Word with you this Sunday!

With gratitude,
Erin

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, August 3 @ 10am

FARM TO TABLE
The Patient Farmer
Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Thessalonians: A Review (and where we're going next)

I trust you've been encouraged and challenged in the book of Thessalonians over the past couple of months. Let's review, shall we?

1 & 2 Thessalonians give us some beautiful models for how to be ready and stay ready for Jesus' return. We are shown:

A Model for Waiting. As we are introduced to this church (see Acts 17:1-9), we see that they are living with full expectation that Jesus is returning, but they are doing it in motion. Their lives are marked by obedience to Christ's commands.

A Model for Authenticity. Paul, Silas, and Timothy show the church what it means to be real, to live without a mask. It's anchored in the fact that your true self is who you are in Christ.

A Model for Joy. Perhaps it's too often forgotten or overlooked, but joy is found in the family God.

A Model for Holiness. In all things, especially when it comes to sexual ethics and morality, the call is to live in order to please the Lord.

A Model for Readiness. Since we are children of the day and of the light, we are not to be surprised by (asleep to) the coming of Christ. In fact, we're meant to encourage one another with this incredible, inevitable truth.

A Model for Church Life. How we care for one another in the body of Christ matters immensely. We must watch these interactions and the attitudes of our hearts closely.

A Model for Justice. God is perfectly just and righteous and is asking His people to live rightly and act justly to reflect His heart and character.

A Model for Steadiness. With all of the voices vying for our attention, followers of Christ must hold onto the truth that lines up with the Word of God and not be moved from it, testing everything against it.

A Model for Work. Working and being productive in the world matters to God and displays His glory.

What a journey! Just eight short chapters with so much for us to learn and apply with the help of the Spirit.

For the next six weeks we're going to have some fun with a handful of the farming and agricultural metaphors that Jesus used in His teaching. It seemed appropriate during the growing season! The speaking team is looking forward to diving into that with you... I'll be starting in Mark 4:26-29 this Sunday.

It's great to be on this journey of growth in Christ with you all.

See you on Sunday,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, July 27@ 10am

FARM TO TABLE
The Mystery of the Farm
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

The Next Decision (after the best decision)

Following Jesus is the best decision you could ever make! Your next step is water baptism.

If you have a relationship with Christ but have never been baptized, today's email is for you. Water Baptism is a beautiful, physical expression of what has happened in your life as a new Christian. Going down under the water symbolizes the fact that you have identified with Christ in His death and have yourself died to sin. Coming up out of the water symbolizes that you have participated with Christ in His own resurrection from the dead and that you have been raised to a new way of living.

Water baptism cannot save you. You must place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour before being baptized in water. Water baptism requires repentance, faith and obedience. Water baptism is a reference point for the rest of your life.

Water baptism is an important part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ because:

  • It is obedience to Christ’s Great Commission: Matthew 28:19-20

  • It follows the example of Jesus. Matthew 3:13-17

  • It follows the example of the Early Church: Acts 2:38, Acts 8:46, Acts 9:18, Acts 10:46-48, Acts 16:32-33, Acts 19:4-5

  • It confirms identification with Christ: Galatians 2:20

  • It is a testimony of the change in your life: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Being baptized in water will strengthen your faith as you take this step of obedience to Christ. Your baptism provides a wonderful opportunity to give witness to what has taken place in your life to everyone present. Also, your obedience to Christ moves you along the pathway of God’s blessing.

You can learn more about baptism in this sermon from last fall.

And, if you're ready to be baptized, we're having a baptism service on Sunday, August 31st. Just follow this link and fill out the form to let me know. I would love to help facilitate this step for you!

In Christ,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, July 120@ 10am

PEOPLE GET READY
A Model for Work
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

A Musical Education (discovering and rediscovering music)

On Sunday, I made a joke about how seriously I take my role of teaching the next generation about church music from the 80s and 90s. My daughter, Shay, was my latest victim, being forced to listen to "Thank You" by Ray Boltz while she ate her dinner. And, while I do love to share my love for decades-old Christian music, the theme of music came up a lot while I was on vacation in June.

I realized that I had gotten into the habit of only listening to talking: podcasts, audiobooks, and tv shows. In the car, going for walks, or making dinner, it was either silence or talking. I don't know when this started happening, but I decided to be intentional about discovering and rediscovering great music. It was like reconnecting with an old friend.

There is something so special about music. It's both universal and unique to each person. It has the ability to articulate (with or without words) what the heart needs to communicate. Great songs give voice to things that are buried deep inside of us. Sometimes that's pain, but often that's joy. I kept finding little pockets of joy bubbling up in me when I filled my kitchen, car, or headphones with music.

It's no coincidence that the Bible tells us to sing and make music. (See Ephesians 5:19, Psalm 95:12, Colossians 3:16, Psalm 68:4, Acts 16:25) Praise and worship are the ultimate expression of the power of songs in our lives. They can change the atmosphere in the room, and they can (will!) change the posture of our hearts towards God.

So, what are you listening to? I encourage you not to neglect the incredible gift of worship in song. Fill your life with music that points your heart toward God whenever you can.

I'd love to hear what you're listening to that is meaningful to you right now. Let me know! And I will share with you the nostalgic, potentially cheesy, lists from the 80s and 90s that I've been loving lately:

(Spotify has similar playlists if you search for them!)

See you on Sunday, Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, July 13 @ 10am

PEOPLE GET READY
A Model for Steadiness
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Praying for Canada (God keep our land)

As we start each summer, we have a built-in reminder of the gift we've been given to live in Canada. No matter how you celebrated on Tuesday, Canada Day gives us an opportunity to pray for our country and to be grateful for all that we have. Perhaps, like me, you take this for granted far too often.

The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada has put together an initiative called Transforming Canada Together which includes a helpful guide called "One Hour of Prayer for Canada." Join me this week in praying for God to move in our nation, for our leaders, and for our fellow Canadians.

See you on Sunday as we take our first steps into 2 Thessalonians!
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, July 6 @ 10am

PEOPLE GET READY
A Model for Justice
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Join Us for Braeside Family Camp: Worship, Community, and Rest Await! (Guest Writer: Pastor Erin, again!)

This Sunday marks the beginning of Braeside Family Camp — a 3-week stretch of services, worship, community, and rest in the presence of God. Camp runs June 29–July 20. I’ll be attending Sunday evening service this week and likely a few other services over the 3 weeks, I would love for you to join me or pop in on your own during the 3 weeks.

Whether you’re coming solo, bringing the whole family, or tagging along with a friend, there’s something for everyone:

🟢 Evening services (with childcare provided Thursday–Sunday)

🟢 Youth Takeovers on Wednesdays

🟢 A beautiful space to walk, pray, linger, and connect

🟢 The Tuck Shop (yes, snacks after service!)

It’s only about 30 minutes from the church, and the best part is — you get all the benefits of camp life, but you still get to sleep in your own bed!

Some of the most formational moments in my Christian journey happened at places like Braeside. There’s just something powerful about stepping out of your normal rhythm, making space to hear from God, and showing up with expectation. Camp creates that kind of space — and God often meets us there in quiet, life-giving ways.

So here’s your invitation: Come as you are. Come when you can. And come ready to be refreshed.

Find full details at www.braesidecamp.ca/family-camp.

Coming up this Sunday:

We wrap up our journey through 1 Thessalonians and it’s also Name Tag Sunday! Kids will be in the service with us, and right after, we’ll head outside for our Potluck BBQ. We’ll provide the hot dogs — you bring a side to share — and we’ll also have frozen treats for sale to support our Mission Goal.

Come expecting to hear from God, come expecting an excellent time with your church family, and if you can plan to join us at Braeside’s 6:00 PM evening service too!

Pastor Erin

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, June 29 @ 10am

PEOPLE GET READY
A Model for Church Life (Part 2)
Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Summer at Freedom: What’s Ahead (Guest Writer: Pastor Erin)

Hey Freedom Family,

Summer is here — and there are some great ways to stay connected, serve together, and grow this summer!

Here’s what’s coming up and how you can be part of it:

👋 Name Tag Sunday – Next Sunday!

We’re kicking off summer with Name Tag Sunday and a Potluck BBQ after the service!

We’ll be grilling hot dogs — just bring a side to share, and we’ll have frozen treats for sale to support our mission giving.

It’s a great Sunday to bring a friend and take a moment to meet someone new.

🍭 Tuck Shop Evenings

The Tuck Shop is back for a few evenings this summer — a fun way to serve the neighborhood and enjoy time together. Don’t worry, it’s not every week!

If you’re interested in helping out (or just want more info), email Erin and we’ll get you on the list.

🌿 Garden Team

If you love being outside, consider joining the Garden Team this summer to help keep our grounds looking great. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just want to lend a hand, there’s room for you. Click here to sign up!

We’re almost at the finish line in our series on 1 Thessalonians — this week is the second-last message (I get to use the word penultimate!).

We’ll be in 1 Thessalonians 5:12–15, where Paul gives the church some final encouragement — and it’s super practical.

“Acknowledge those who work hard among you… hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.”

Paul reminds us that the church isn’t meant to copy the status and hierarchy of the culture around us. In the early church, leaders were recognized not for power or position, but for their faithful service.

This Sunday, we’ll talk about what godly leadership really looks like — and how we all play a part in creating a church community that values respect, peace, and mutual care.

Can’t wait to worship with you,

Erin

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, June 22 @ 10am

PEOPLE GET READY
A Model for Church Life (Part 1)
Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

A Fresh Look at God as Father (Guest Writer: Scott Corkill)

The woman simply shouted "I will never address God as my Father!".. and walked out of our mid-week Bible Study (a mic drop moment). There was an awkward silence in the room for what seemed like forever. Strangely enough, I remember the experience quite clearly (since it happened over 25 years ago).

One of the leaders at my church had been leading an interactive study about who God is, and when the title of "Heavenly Father" came up, the tone of the conversation shifted, and with the sharing of some strong feelings, there were some differences of opinion, things got excited, and this led to the woman's abrupt self-departure from our gathering.

Through the years, I've personally spoken with a handful of people who shared the difficulty and frustration of this woman - how can we call God "Heavenly Father", when that title is sometimes burdened and steeped with very heavy baggage from a possible strained relationship with our earthly father? And on a deeper level... what is our picture of God like? What comes into our mind when we think about God? Does it really matter?

On Sunday, I'll be sharing a bit about this tension, and talking a bit more about God as Father in a message entitled "Our Father Is A Good, Good Father". We often think that Jesus was teaching his disciples to pray when he taught them what we refer to as "The Lord's Prayer"... and yes, I know he was teaching them to pray. But I think Jesus was teaching them something in addition to how to pray.…. I think he was also teaching them about the One to Whom we pray.

How you picture God matters.

What comes into your mind when you think about God matters.

Not just at church, but in your whole life.

It just might influence your life far more than you think!

Come and join us on Sunday morning as we spend time discovering how to recover a proper picture of God, and how to restore (and sustain) life-giving relationship with Him.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Scott Corkill

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, June 15 @ 10am

FATHER’S DAY
Our Father is a Good, Good Father
Scott Corkill

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.