A little over sixteen months ago, I began the journey of motherhood, a journey which, to date, has been one of the most beautiful and yet one of the most challenging things I have encountered. Unlike anything I have experienced, the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual converged in such a way that the sacred and the struggle have been sustained in all their fullness. As I reflect on my experience as a mom thus far, the image which comes to mind is that of a tapestry. I say this because much of my journey as a first-time mom has involved traversing unfamiliar terrain where there has been more confusion than clarity, more doubt than certainty, and more questions than answers. Like an unfinished tapestry whose strands look like a colourful mess rather than a beautiful, recognizable image, my life has felt overwhelming and muddled, something which has produced a very real sense of anxiety and loneliness. Feeling out of control and unseen, I find myself asking, “Who else understands how I feel? Other moms seem to have things together in a way I never have. What am I doing wrong that they seem to be doing right?”

These doubts and questions have often thrust me into an anxious spiral, one which has blinded me to the beauty of my becoming as a mom; that is, the beauty of the ongoing transformation in myself and in my relationships. The tapestry has felt threatening instead of delightful because its incompleteness demands that I accept an uncomfortable tension; namely that motherhood is an invitation to bathe in an ocean of disparate emotions. Anxiety and joy, exhaustion and aliveness, lostness and calling. These things all coexist and are woven together like different coloured and textured strands of a tapestry. Each one belongs. Each one has a place. Each one serves a purpose.

The unknown looms large, and motherhood demands much from me; yet I am slowly learning that I need not allow these things to blind me to its beauty. For, motherhood is a gracious gift from God whereby I am invited daily to taste the goodness of the Father, to participate in the self-sacrificial love of Jesus, and to know more deeply the gentle companionship of the Holy Spirit.

And so, I ask it of you: Where is the unfinished tapestry in your life, the liminal spaces where you feel the weight of lack? Whatever it is, I urge you not to shy away from the anxiety of incompleteness but to notice how there, in the midst of the messiness, God is ever-present and wholly good.

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“Grandma, do you still use that jacket?”  My seventeen-year-old grand-daughter was checking out the 35-year-old plaid jacket with a gleam in her eye.  Who knew that it was now all the rage?  “Vintage” was the word she used – and she was sure it would fit her.  My mind travelled back to when she was barely past my knee, dressed in a very pretty pink skirt, and I wondered where the years had gone!

I am blessed with six grandchildren, three of them live here in Toronto.  When the children were small John and I did a lot of child-care (don’t ever dare to call it baby-sitting!)  We rejoice that we are still strongly connected, still welcome to share in their lives, the children still ask for sleepovers at grandma’s place.  [The sleepover requests probably have much to do with the exotic contents of my ‘fridge…]

Today, while their sister raids my wardrobe (I breathed a sigh of relief when she grew past my shoe size), one grandson consistently beats everyone at any table game and can make a Lego kit in record time; the other keeps us up-to-date on everything to do with soccer in the U.K.  Apparently, Bournemouth, the city of my birth is now in the premier league.  The things you learn from grandchildren.

We are blessed to be close to the family here in Toronto – our other three grand-children live overseas and we did not have the joy of seeing them grow day-by-day.  First the COVID pandemic, and now new passport requirements have made it more difficult for us to visit.  I am thankful for technologies like ZOOM! and the telephone to keep in touch, but nothing can replace intimate family contact.

In my role as a pastor, I encountered a number of grandmothers who have not had the privilege and joy of participating in the lives of their grandchildren.  It is a grief for many women whose families have fractured for one reason or another. 

As I pray, daily, for the six grandchildren in my life, I also bring to the Lord those women, and their grandchildren, who are not able to build the types of bond described above. 

Thank-you, Lord, for all the grandchildren of this next generation – bless them, protect them from the harms that surround them, and, thank you for the women who care for them…sometimes from afar.  Amen

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There are moments in pastoral ministry where you realise that renewal rarely arrives in the ways you expect. We often look for dramatic change, clear breakthroughs, or visible success, yet much of what I have come to recognise as “new life” is quieter than that.

Over the past season, I have seen renewal take shape in conversations rather than crowds. I have watched people begin to speak honestly about their struggles, sometimes for the first time, and in doing so, discover that they are not alone. I have seen small acts of faithfulness—people choosing to remain, to forgive, to serve, to pray—begin to reshape the life of a community in ways that are not immediately visible, but deeply real.

At the same time, there have also been moments where that same life has become more visible. We have hosted a women’s conference, reimagined our summer programmes, welcomed new leadership through the hiring of a CMC, and seen opportunities open up through support such as a CBOQ grant that helped us serve our wider community through a summer carnival. These moments matter, not as measures of success, but as signs that something is growing—expressions of a life that is taking shape both within the church and beyond it.

The hope of the resurrection has, for me, become less about a single moment of victory and more about an ongoing pattern of life. Paul writes that “the same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work in us” (Ephesians 1:19–20). That is not simply a statement to be believed, but a reality to be lived within. It invites us to ask whether we are looking for God only in what feels significant, or whether we are willing to recognise His work in both the quiet and the visible.

Perhaps the challenge of Easter is not simply to celebrate that Christ is risen, but to consider where that resurrection life is already present among us—in the small acts we might overlook and in the larger moments we are tempted to claim as our own—and whether we have the eyes to see it, and the faith to step into it.

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As a pastor people come to me and say things like, “I have an idea”,  anything from: new activity at church, in their work or personal life. I respond with, “great, try it, just go for it”. Sadly, some people have all kinds of reasons why they can’t try something new, often because of fear. I remind them Holy Scripture tells us, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). Here, we have the promise that God hears us, knows our desires and is willing to support us, we just have to try.

We also have to connect with God in prayer and tell him, I am interested in this or that, and ask him to reveal his will about those things. One way of discovering God’s will is to indeed take a step of faith and simply try. If we don’t ask, or endeavour, nothing will ever happen. At First Baptist Church Simcoe, where I am serving, the dear folks there are so excited to serve one another and the community that the church is bursting with activities. They are answering God’s call of participating in renewal, everyday. Recently, some people have approached me with new ideas and we have begun to discern what fresh movement of the Spirit is happening including, kicking off a new Young Adult Fellowship Group and our first ever Hobby Show, showcasing the hobbies and gifts of members. My encouragement then is, if you have an idea, share it, do not be afraid and trust God for support. God is still in the business of renewal and the Spirit may just be waiting for us to say, I am going to ask, seek and knock.

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And Then They Prayed.

What do we mean by that?

How did we move from pencils to prayer?

This year, the theme of Assembly invites us into something deeper, not just planning, not just visioning, but seeking. Because before anything else comes next… we need to ask:

Where are we now?
What is God doing among us?
And what is He calling us into?

Instead of rushing to answers, we are choosing to begin somewhere else. We are choosing to begin with prayer.

What would it look like if hundreds of us came together, not just to listen, not just to decide, but to truly seek God? That question is shaping this year’s Assembly.

Together, we will create space listen to scripture, reflect on prayer, sit in silence, worship and respond, and pray both individually and corporately. Not as a formality, not as a transition, but as the foundation.

This theme is grounded in the story of the early church. At every critical moment of uncertainty, decision, mission, they did something simple and profound: they gathered. And they prayed. Prayer wasn’t an afterthought.
It was their starting place.

Scripture reminds us that where two or three gather, God is present. So what happens when hundreds gather with one purpose and that is to seek Him together? We believe something powerful can happen. Not because of a program. Not because of a plan. But because God meets His people when they seek Him.

This Assembly is not just something to attend. It is something to enter into. A space to listen. A time to seek. A moment to be formed together.

So come and pray with us. And let’s discover what God has for CBOQ next.

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From there, Pastor Bob would meet with Jordan at the local Jack Astor’s—which they refer to as “Jack Pastors”—and within a week Kanata Baptist Church was prepared for Jordan to begin his ministry journey with them. Being local to the area, Jordan was already familiar with the community, which proved to be greatly beneficial. Pastor Davies would begin to meet with the intern regularly, working together to plan and debrief on Jordan’s Ministry experiences—which he started soon after their initial meeting. Jordan showed his eagerness to engage in Ministry, collaborating with Pastor Bob to brainstorm opportunities to explore.

It would soon be apparent that Jordan was a strong addition to the church, bringing his “effusive and sincere personality allowed him to draw together a bit of a parish.” The first few months of the internship were going so well that it seemed to be the obvious choice to take Jordan on for the remainder of the year. This was made possible with funding from CBOQ’s internship grant, which allowed them to increase the intern’s compensation and freed him to explore matters his heart was drawn to, all while gaining invaluable exposure for his M.Div. Ministry Placement.

During Jordan’s Ministry Placement, Kanata Baptist Church saw the start of a Young Adult ministry because of Jordan and other staff who collaborated on the endeavour. This newly formed ministry allowed young adults to bond over worship and Bible Studies, as well as with young men throwing footballs around in the parking lot and playing ball hockey. While the internship saw many successes, the Intern Oversight Committee was also able to walk with Jordan through experiences that were less successful, such as an Alpha Course which had too few registrations.

Overall, Kanata Baptist Church are happy to have seen Jordan’s journey, as he grew more mature in his preaching and continued to evolve his pastoral theology. They are thankful to have been able to be a part of his spiritual formation, allowing him to follow God’s call and seek the things of His Spirit. Pastor Bob Davies remarked that: “It’s a great honour to walk with young leaders in their formation and growth. Jordan came to us with enthusiasm and an open heart, and I am thankful to CBOQ for enabling this opportunity for him, and for us.”

LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR A CBOQ GRANT HERE: baptist.ca/grants

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As we move through the season of Lent, churches across our Canadian Baptist family are walking a familiar yet profound journey. Lent invites us to slow down and reflect as we prepare our hearts for the central story of our faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In many of our congregations, Lent becomes a time of renewed prayer, repentance, and attentiveness to God’s work in our lives. It is a season that gently calls us to examine our hearts, lay down distractions, and reorient ourselves toward Christ. While our Baptist tradition has not always emphasized the liturgical calendar in the same way as some other Christian traditions, many of our churches have rediscovered the pastoral value of intentionally walking toward Easter.

Lent reminds us that Easter is not simply a celebration that appears suddenly on the calendar. It is the culmination of a journey. It is a journey that takes us through the cross.

As we approach Easter weekend, the story unfolds across three days that continue to shape the life of the church.

On Good Friday, we gather to remember the crucifixion of Jesus. The Gospels tell us that above the cross was a sign that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” What was meant as mockery becomes the central truth of the gospel story. The one hanging on the cross is not merely a teacher or prophet. He is the King. Yet this King does not conquer through force or domination. He reigns through sacrifice. The crown he wears is made of thorns.

Then comes the quiet of Saturday. The disciples did not yet see the victory that was coming. The tomb was sealed. Hope seemed buried. Silent Saturday reminds us that many moments of faith feel like this in between space, when God’s promises are true but we cannot yet see how they will unfold.

And then Easter morning arrives.

The stone is rolled away. The tomb is empty. The angel announces the words that have echoed through the centuries. “He is not here. He has risen.”

The resurrection is God’s declaration that the crucified King lives and that his kingdom cannot be stopped. Death itself could not hold him.

As pastors and church leaders across our denomination prepare to proclaim this good news again, our prayer is that our congregations would not simply hear the Easter story but encounter the risen Christ anew.

The King who died is the King who reigns. And because he lives, the church continues to live in hope, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to our communities and our world.

The post Because He Lives appeared first on CBOQ.

Punch was rejected by his mother shortly after he was born. He was alone and was needing comfort, so zookeepers gave him a large orange orangutan plush toy from IKEA. And suddenly the internet fell in love. Millions of people watched this little monkey cling to his stuffed friend, sleep with it, and carry it everywhere.

When Punch was later introduced to the other monkeys, the videos were hard to watch. My heart ached. He was pushed away, dragged off, and seemed like the outsider no one wanted.

The internet rallied behind him.
#HangInTherePunch began appearing everywhere.

The zoo explained that what looked like bullying was a normal part of monkeys learning social structure. 

Right now, the world and social media can be noisy and overwhelming. But a trending social story like this reminds us of something deeply human:
We all want to belong.
We all want to be loved.
We all want someone to hold on to when life feels overwhelming.

Maybe that’s why this little monkey struck such a chord with so many people  

Because at the heart of it all, isn’t that exactly what Jesus calls us to do?
To create spaces where people feel accepted.
To lift the outsider.
To show love to those who feel alone.

So yes… I may quietly be rooting for Punch. And I might even want an orange IKEA orangutan in solidarity.

Because the world could always use a little more kindness, a little more belonging, and a little more love.

#HangInThere

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Omemee Baptist Church’s story begins on Canada Day, where they reached out to the Town of Omemee to operate a booth at the Town’s annual celebrations. At their booth—which had tattoos and lawn games for the children—the church had an opportunity to advertise their upcoming Vacation Bible School (VBS) and Surge Youth group, handing out information pamphlets and registration forms to local parents––some signing their children up on the spot. VBS ran in August and attracted 24 children for a four-day Vacation Bible School, which was run by Justin—a Youth Unlimited worker hired through the grant money. Of the 24 children, 18 did not attend any church prior to VBS. Justin provided the children with daily bible lessons at VBS and organized the camp’s games. The church’s youth program––Surge––began in September and is now proud to announce that 11 people are attending, 9 having previously attended VBS and 2 new youth who learnt of the group through their friends.

Omemee Baptist feels blessed to have had their prayers answered in such a wonderful way, with the children enjoying their time at Surge and VBS, and parents having expressed their gratuity for the program. Because Surge is a free program, it is widely accessible to those from all financial backgrounds, with many of the children coming from lower income homes. Another one of the parents is particularly grateful to the program for accepting her two children with autism. Omemee Baptist takes pride in being an accepting space for those with special needs and feels blessed for the resources they have been provided with and able to utilize. They are thankful for CBOQ’s grant that has allowed the town of Omemee to provide a safe and accessible place for children to learn about Jesus and play!

Omemee is a small town with few resources, and it is the church’s desire to use what they have to serve their community. Omemee Baptist Church asks for prayer that they may be a light house in their local community. Pray with them so that they might have vision and hope for all that God has in store.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR A CBOQ GRANT HERE: baptist.ca/grants

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Organizing Blossom Youth Worship Night was both a challenge and a blessing. Preparation began later than anticipated due to funding delays, meaning that they were working under a tight deadline. Merchandise also arrived late, which caused the team to realize the need for a switch from an analogue paper system to a more efficient digital system. Despite the obstacles faced, the event was a huge success. The most valuable lessons learned from this is with the next generation, who helped lead this event. The youth learned valuable skills such as teamwork, adaptability, and what it means to serve God under pressure. Watching them take ownership and grow in their confidence showed that God is raising capable and passionate leaders for the future. Blossom has shown that despite having limited time and resources, young people who are empowered with God at the centre can bloom into something beautiful.

The support of the CBOQ grant has allowed Mississauga City BC to successfully host the Blossom Youth Worship Night, a vibrant evening event that brought over 100 young individuals together for worship, connection, and inspiration. Aside from the event itself, the greatest accomplishments achieved through the grant can be seen in the empowerment of the church’s youth, who played a key role in organizing the event in all its stages, from planning and promotion to stage management and worship leading. Not only did this provide them with real life experience in leadership, teamwork, and ministry, but it also provided an opportunity for the youth to show their spiritual growth in a youth-led movement. MCBC looks to the youth for the future of the church, with future Blossom Youth Worship Nights to be organized by one of the Young Adults who was a core part of the first team.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR A CBOQ GRANT HERE: baptist.ca/grants

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