I have been having the same conversation for months. Someone will come up to me and say, “Congratulations on your new ministry. Isn’t it wonderful out there?” My only response has been, “I’ve never been further east than Montreal, but YouTube says it’s beautiful.” 

Well, I’ve finally made it.

I’m not quite here for good just yet, but I was able to make a quick trip to meet with other regional ministers at Kingswood. I am happy to say that all of the rumours are true. The people and the landscape are all that I was told they would be.  

More than getting introduced to the region, I was blessed to see how other denominations are ministering across Atlantic Canada. These meetings helped me to see the unique role that Fellowship Atlantic plays here. I was reminded that we, the church, have been given the keys of the kingdom, and that to whom much is given, much is expected. We have and will continue to face a lot of obstacles along the way. Our culture ebbs and flows with the tide, and there are good reasons to be discouraged when we hear talk about the responsibility of ministry in light of the challenges of our time and place. However, we are not without hope. For every struggle we face, there is a solution. Christ is that solution. He is building his kingdom, and the gates of hell will not prevail. The war has been decided, so the outcome is not our responsibility. Our responsibility is to be faithful where we are and with what we have been given. The rest is up to our Lord. 

May the Lord bless you and keep you,

Tim Elmore