Brothers and sisters,

Greetings to you all. It was a joy to gather with some pastors in Sackville and to see pictures of the Halifax Cluster this past week. Thank you to all who made the effort to come. It was a precious time of prayer for each other and discussion about what it means for us to be Stronger Together. We have run out of the free-to-you books we are discussing this year, but if you would like to purchase your own copy, you can do it on Amazon here. Our next clusters are scheduled for January 17 and 18, 2024.

If you are in or near Saint John, Moncton, Charlottetown, or Halifax, this is the week to sign up for the micro-conference on Creating a Culture of Evangelism. See below for more details. At National Conference, Fellowship International introduced “10 Essential Elements of Catalyzing Movements.” Our Church Planting Director, Brad Somers, and others were helpful in the drafting of this and I believe it is a very helpful document for all of us.

Doug Campbell sends this open letter to pastors as encouragement from those who are praying for them (and maybe to those who want to know how to pray for their pastor(s).

Hello Pastor!

You may not know who we are, but we are those of The Fellowship called to pray for our pastors and churches. We are members of your church and of Fellowship regional churches, from the east of Canada to the west. We may not know you at all, or we may have met you along the way. We have been called to pray for you, and we take that calling seriously.

We understand as fellow believers that these are difficult times for every church.Every pastor wrestles with how to make disciples in such a fragmented and complicated culture. The world seems to be coming apart, and the strain on your ministry to remain faithful is very real. The challenges to remain hopeful and spread the good news are ever before you.

We also know that each of you has particular personal difficulties that make your life hard. You have things to deal with that no one else really knows about. There are personal burdens and weaknesses that you must bear alone, whether it is your family, your health, or your besetting sin. But the Lord of the Church knows. He supports you in the good work you are doing for Him. He promises to enable you to overcome, for His glory.

We want you to know we are praying for you, your personal life and your ministry. We are praying for your marriage, for you as a dad or grand-dad, for your personal purity, for your first love for Jesus. We pray that the Spirit of God will renew your faith, love and hope. We pray that your efforts to reach and disciple others will bear fruit. We pray God will raise up gifted people to work with you in your church. When we remember your name and your church, we know the Lord is so intimately acquainted with you and all your church people.

Thank you for being faithful to your calling to preach the good news of Jesus Christ. Thank you for staying at the helm with your shoulder to the plow. May God give you much joy as you serve Him and make your ministry effective as you proclaim His Word.

Thank you, Pastor.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.