CLA Missions

Today Pastor Avri Paul became Reverend Avri Paul. After years of college, years of apprenticeship and a journey down an ordination track with @bcydpaoc we participated in setting her apart for ministry @clalangley It was a joy to present her with an ordination stole which symbolizes the yoke of Christ, which is light, and the towel of Christ, which is the call to servanthood. An exciting part of today's service in Langley.

Today was an awesome day @clalangley as we introduced Michele Yackel to the Langley Campus, our new Assistant Pastor. She will join Neil Muth, our church manager, Sheldon Armitage, my Executive Pastor and Monica Unger my Executive Assistant on the new Senior Leadership Team (SLT). Michele was a student of mine many years ago. She served a couple years in India. And this is really full circle for her as she was on staff at CLA in 2000. Then her and her husband Anthony planted Urban Road Church in Langley and most recently they served the UBC Campus of Tenth Ave Church in Vancouver. She will oversee Gather, all things Sunday AND Grow, all things adult discipleship. She comes with great church planting and multi site experience. Welcome. And well done today! She started four days ago! "Throw her in the pool and see if she can swim"!

Last week we started a new sermon series on James, the only NT letter specifically sent to Jewish Christians in the Roman Empire. They walked in poverty, injustice & displacement. They needed wisdom & endurance. Many friends of mine also are walking in trials, praying for #perseverance

We have a youth team in Thailand, & we happen to be here on a holiday, so we get to rendezvous with them. "Jesus has issued marching orders, individually & corporately. First & fundamentally, it is the work of worldwide witness, disciple-making & church planting. Second, all Christians, & therefore every congregation of the church on earth, are called to practice deeds of mercy & compassion, a thorough going neighbour love that responds unstintingly to all forms of human need as they present themselves". JI Packer

What a beautiful and beneficial Gala at @clalangley on Saturday night. We have raised $125,000 of our $250,000 missions goal so far in February. In this last week, help us achieve our outcomes. Give at CLA Church .com

Myanmar: May pastors who have been arrested for proclaiming the Gospel receive courage, comfort and justice. #Myanmar #PersecutedChurch #Christian #Pray #VoiceoftheMartyrsCanada

Afghanistan: Pray that members of Islamic terrorist groups like the Taliban will come to know Christ as their Saviour. #Afghanistan #Pray #PersecutedChurch #Christian #VoiceoftheMartyrsCanada

It was fantastic to be with our Abbotsford Campus today, to be part of worship, the final Sunday of missions emphasis & to preach. The work is just over a year old & so much is happening. Lots of life, vision & growth. We're here to stay, to put down roots, to see transformation

Final day for giving financially to @clalangley in 2025. Thank you for your faithfulness and sacrifice. youtu.be/L0x5arqnEu8?si…

Join me today at the Langley City cenotaph downtown as I help guide our community through an important Remembrance Day ceremony. Today we gather to honour, pray and contemplate our freedom. The ceremony begins at 10:50 am, don't be late. It will stir our loyalty, desire for peace and recall our historic Canadian values.

Today at our Maple Ridge Campus I was able to introduce our new Campus Pastor, Tim Young. Tim is a grad of SFU and has a shepherd’s heart. He has been in full-time ministry for over 27 years—and ordained with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada but currently is serving at Village Church. He has a lot of multi site experience and has guided revitalization efforts, pastoring congregations, developing leaders, and nurturing discipleship. Tim envisions a healthy campus where leadership is collaborative, everyone belongs, generations walk closely together, disciples grow as fully devoted followers of Jesus, our neighborhood feels our love in practical ways, every culture finds a home, and the Holy Spirit joyfully leads the way. Tim is happily married to Lara—celebrating 23 years and they are proud parents to Mozes (9) and Kenja (7), welcome to the CLA family!

Our team from Guatemala is heading home tomorrow after an amazing time serving The James Project of Latin America. They worked hard, were sacrificial and loved kids, parents, workers and the neighborhood. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus.

The last word from The Global Leadership event this week. "Procrastination is the storehouse of untapped creativity, energy, and time to be unlocked. We are the most persuasive person we will ever meet. Procrastination is a mindset. We talk ourselves into waiting. Give yourself permission for more. Gandalf gave Frodo permission to do more than stay in the Shire. Don't wait." Jon Acuff

I just bought 280 copies of The Case for Christmas with a goal of giving them away free to people I encounter during the holiday season -- restaurant servers, flight attendants, store cashiers, etc.

James Hewitt brings us this insight to this year's GLS: Rest isn’t a luxury — it’s what makes great work possible. This fall, find renewal and leadership insight at the Global Leadership Summit, happening across Canada. Learn more at GLS2025.ca.

Police in China arrested 30 church leaders in one night. Please share this story to help raise up a movement of prayer for our brothers and sisters in China—asking others to pray for the quick release of the pastors and members of Zion Church who are detained. 🙏

Pray for our CLA team in Guatemala working with the Latin America James Project.

There is a shift in our society towards spiritual curiosity. In Great Britain the Alpha organization has identified it in Gen Z. In Canada, The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada has written about it. The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk in the USA has illustrated many things but it includes a palpable curiosity for truth among university students. This is a fascinating time. Time to explain Christianity. Time to speak. Therefore, this Sunday we begin an 8 week series in all CLA campuses to answer questions. I've been reading these four books. Come join us to learn, discover and be emboldened by truth.

It was an honour to be with the indigenous Quechua Apurimac people for the dedication of the first full Bible in their language. People from 5 villages gathered on a hillside of The Andes to receive the Scriptures. The work in Peru, a decade in the making, proud to be part of it.

Today SL & I were at CLA Maple Ridge Campus to celebrate these two amazing people/ pastors. They've been at my side for 7 years, hard working & creative. Their goals were the same as all our pastors; Gather for an encounter with God, Grow discipleship, Serve each other & Go! Merci