Our vision is to be a national ministry that provides pastoral care to elected officials at the Provincial and Federal level. For the past 5 years we have spent our time building, learning, networking and growing LIM here in BC. I don't know that we have it all 'figured out', but we know more than we did when we started about what works, why it works and how it works. Late last year, I began to feel like it was 'time' to start the process of building the ministry in Alberta and so I began the process of praying, planning and thinking through the challenges of doing that. During that time, I discovered that the Alberta District of the PAOC was holding their annual conference in Banff in early February.
(I know what you're thinking... Banff... in February.... that must be a real sacrifice.... All I can say is that missions work sometimes requires us to make sacrifice....)
I returned home last night after 3 days of networking, connecting, relationship building and sharing the vision of Leading Influence Ministries with pastors and leaders in Alberta. We met some great people who were very friendly and caught the attention of some influencers who are willing to help us learn what we need to know in Alberta to be effective in ministry there.
As I flew home last night, I began to make a list of all of the things that need to happen so that LIM Alberta can become a reality in 2012. It's an enormous list that reminds me of the mountains that surround Banff. They are tall... big and in the natural, very 'unmovable'.The main conference speaker was Denny Duron from Shreveport, LA. I last heard Denny preach at a youth conference in Thunder Bay, Ontario about 32 years ago. It was at that Conference where I decided that regardless of what it might cost me, I was going to give the rest of my life to living for Jesus. I was able to have a coffee with him during the conference and share that moment with him.
One of the 'take-away' statements from the week that Denny shared with us gives me great hope for the future. 'GOD is ALWAYS doing MORE than YOU think He is.' If you say it slowly and ponder the emphasized words, it will encourage you too.
When we began LIM in BC, we had no network, no experience, no history, because no one had done anything like this before... and no successes. We were launching on the simple faith that God had called us and that HE was going to do something with us. Upon arrival, we discovered that God had been doing MUCH MORE than what we thought He was doing and the ground and hearts of people had already been prepared to receive what LIM was offering. We believe the same is true in Alberta. We believe that EVERYTHING we need to be effective in Alberta is already provided for us. The people, resources, networks and opportunities to see this transition from a dream into substance are already in place. We just have to take the steps to see it happen.
I have 3 things I'd like to ask of you. The first is that you would pray for us. We need significant prayer support to make this a reality. Secondly, tell your Alberta friends about what we are doing. We need to develop a network of people who will help us get LIM off the ground in AB. Finally, some of you may be stirred to help us financially. In the early stages, I will be the primary contact and 'face' of LIM AB. That will help us get started. It will also be very costly in terms of travel expenses because neither WestJet nor AirCanada has begun a free ticket initiative, but we keep hoping.... In the meantime, if you'd like to help us, click here. You'll be taken to our CanadaHelps page where you can give by credit card. If you'd like to give by cheque, you can mail to:
Leading Influence Ministries
626 Blanshard St
Victoria, BC V8W 3G6
