Small Business Week in the Boundary

What do people who are committed to Jesus as Lord of their life do Monday to Saturday, outside of church? They serve their communities through volunteer work and through their businesses. Through business, Christians can impact the community by providing services and goods that are needed in a community. By operating their business with entrepeneurial spirit and integrity, and by being wise stewards of the Earth's provision, their calling is publically lived out, bringing glory to God.

Last night I attended an awards ceremony at the Community Futures Boundary Offices in Grand Forks to acknowledge the contribution of small and medium size businesses to the well being of the community. I was surprised to find many Gospel Chapel members in attendance and even more surprised to see the number of Gospel Chapel members that had been nominated to receive awards.

The first three awards stood out in the event because they were awards that relied on community nominations rather than internal criteria from Community Futures Boundary. There were many nominations for each award, as you can imagine, in a community as diverse as the Boundary. Nominations were made for businesses and community groups from Christina Lake to Beaverdell.

Gospel Chapel members received 2 out of 3 community business awards last night at the Community Futures Small Business Week Awards -- Congratulations to Bill and Cheryl Williams of Mobetta Farms and to Jackie Wolff of Yakie Jackie's Cafe for your successful contributions to the community through your businesses.

Bill and Cheryl run a certified organic vegetable farm in Grand Forks. Mobetta Farm employs not just the family but also area youth. They are committed to taking care of the soil and stewarding the land in an ethical way and their green contribution to the community was acknowledged in a special Green Entrepeneur award, sponsored by The Boundary Sentinel.

Yakie Jackie's Cafe was awarded the Community Entrepeneur of the Year award. Yakie Jackie's Cafe was started in 2009 and has become a community meeting place with great food, really good coffee, and a peaceful atmosphere -- a gathering place. Open for breakfast and lunch only, it is the place to meet a friend for coffee and a snack. These awards were nominated by the community at large and presented by Community Futures Boundary.

Thanks for being salt and light in our community, Jackie, Cheryl and Bill.

Creation Calls are you listening

Using footage from the BBC Plantet Earth Series this was put together by The Branch Church. See the original.

Turn on your speakers to enjoy the sound track.

Refresh with Canada's Double Portion

The plans for Refresh are in the works. Canada's Double Portion from North Battleford, Sask. have been booked for the weekend.

On the Friday evening Youth Emphasis night, February 4th at 7pm, the band "Cities Under Fire" will be igniting our worship. Then on Saturday and Sunday morning the Gospel Music band "Double Portion" will be with us.

Here's what their website says about "Double Portion":

CANADAS DOUBLE PORTION from North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, has become one of the busiest Canadian Gospel groups since its formation in 1982. They've crisscrossed the country from Newfoundland to British Columbia, Nashville to Alaska, performing to thousands of people and travelling tens of thousands of miles.

The group originated when the Hemmerling family, three sisters and their brother began singing while their father ministered. Duncan Hemmerling, now an ordained reverend, continues on the calling with his wife Debbie and their nine children. Their oldest son Andrew is the group's drummer and joining him on stage are his brother Jardeth, the groups guitarist, who also adds his smooth vocals and his sister Christina who plays fiddle and provides strong vocals.

Multitalented Amy Olson joins the Hemmerling family on fiddle, piano and vocals. Since beginning full-time ministry in August 1990, there have been many opportunities to share the gospel message. They have appeared on the Grand OlOpry stage, were guest artists of the legendary Cash family and the largest county fair in the U.S.A. They have performed numerous times at both the Artist Spotlight Showcase during the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, Kentucky and the Canadian Gospel Music Celebration in Red Deer, Alberta. Tours have taken them to all of Canada as well as thirty-four States including T.V. appearances on local, national and international shows.

Abundant songwriting talent has resulted in fourteen albums, three recorded in Nashville, Tennessee produced by Dove award nominees Vic and Toni Clay. They have received numerous award nominations in both the Saskatchewan Country Music Association and the Gospel Music Association Canada (GMA Canada). They have been honored with the Country Gospel Song of the Year, Album of theYear, Live Band of the Year and Southern Gospel Song of the Year Awards.

CANADAS DOUBLE PORTION'S strong family ties and deep faith in the Lord has sustained and motivated them to bring their music to people everywhere. They count it a privilege to minister in any setting.

So mark February 4 to 6, 2011 on your calendar and join us at Gospel Chapel. Be refreshed.

City of Grand Forks recognizes Gospel Chapel Members for their contribution

Have you noticed lately that the world has become more and more unsavory and dark. Jesus said his followers were salt and light. The world needs more light and more salt.

Last night in Grand Forks, B.C., the city recognized 13 people for their volunteer contribution to the well being of the community. Each of the people recognized gave of their time to many different organizations and helped in several areas in the community. Several of the people recognized for their unselfish volunteerism were not residents of the City of Grand Forks.

There are 4,000 people living in the City of Grand Forks with 12,000 people in the area.

25% of the awards went to members of Gospel Chapel.

Thank you for being Salt and Light in our Community:Thank you Kristine Eyre for your work on establishing the Transition House in the Community, your work with the Christmas Hamper program and your dedication to helping people in the Community. Kristine is on staff at Gospel Chapel as the Advocacy and Community Outreach Worker.


Thank you Rick Friesen for your untiring work in providing affordable housing and comfort to those who are less fortunate and your belief that everyone deserves a decent standard of living. Rick is a dedicated volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.


Thank you Robin and Chris Dalziel for your work with arts and culture in the community, enhancing opportunities for artists and artisans to sell their work, working with the Columbia Basin Trust to have our area recognized in their studio tour and actively promoting the well being of our community through arts and culture tourism, and your work with the Farmer's Market. Robin is on staff at Gospel Chapel as the custodian.

Matthew 5:13-15 (ESV)

¹³"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

¹⁴ "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

Men's Fraternity

I am getting excited about this coming Sunday, September 12, which we are calling Back to Church Sunday.

I ran into a person (well, not literally) in a coffee shop this morning who told me that they had been thinking of coming to church this coming Sunday. They did not know it was Back to Church Sunday

I don’t think they have ever been to Gospel Chapel before, but some difficult circumstances in this person’s life had caused them to reflect on what was happening and they thought of church.

After we finished our conversation they assured me that they would be there this Sunday. How encouraging is that.


Oh, and the other thing I am very excited about is the beginning of a new men’s ministry called Men’s Fraternity.

Men need to be encouraged and challenged to step up to be a man. How would you define a man? Can you rattle off a definition?
If you are a man reading this I want to invite you to come to Men’s Fraternity. It begins on September 22 at 6:00 am. Yup, you heard right – 6 bells.

It goes for 1 ½ hours – from 6:00 am to 7:30 am.

You may have heard this statistic:

When a child comes to Christ a very small percentage of the rest of the family will follow.

When a wife comes to Christ a larger percentage of the rest of the family will follow.
When a man comes to Christ, over 90% of the rest of the family will follow. WOW!

Men come out and step up to the plate as it were. Join us – you will not be disappointed.

Pastor Henry

Back to Church Sunday: This Sunday

I am quite excited about this coming Sunday which we are calling Back to Church Sunday.

I know that there are many people living in our community who have gone to church at one time or other.

You could be that person that God will use to encourage them to make the journey back to God, in many cases, and then back to church where they can find good care and support.

Please pray for this service and that God would soften the hearts of many who are invited. Let us trust God for a positive response from the invitations you and I will extend.

I am told that only 2% of Christians invite people to church and also that many people would return if they were invited.

Let’s be faithful in doing our part to lovingly invite them and believe God for amazing results.

So, go for it, be bold and invite someone that you have already developed a relationship with.

For God’s glory and the building up of His kingdom,



Pastor Henry

Back to Church

Dear Fellow Pilgrim,

I greet you with a description of who we are: But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).



Do you know anyone in this Valley who at one time went to church but no longer does?

Do you think they would return if you asked them?

We are told that many of these people are waiting for a genuine invitation to return.

Their return is just one invitation away – an invitation from you and me.

Do you realize what a difference you can make in someone else’s life by inviting them back to church?

I am so excited and grateful for this opportunity to encourage people to reconnect with the family of God and in some cases with God Himself.

I want to encourage you to prayerfully think of who you would love to invite Back to Church on September 12, 2010.

We still have a few of the little booklets left, entitled: “10 reasons why people are leaving the church and why they are coming back.” They are well done and do not hit people over the head with guilt.



I remind us of the reason we exist as a church: Compelled by Christ’s love, Gospel Chapel exists as a family belonging to God that is united in loving Him, loving others, and helping people follow Jesus.

What an incredible privilege to be on this journey together with the One who is in charge – JESUS!



Looking forward to what God will do as we are faithful in praying and inviting.

God bless you richly today,

Pastor Henry