Jim's Blog­

Pastor's Conference Update - Aug 24, 2010

Just a few months ago, hundreds of pastors assembled in two Zambian cities, Kabwe and Kitwe, for a time of refreshing, teaching and encouragement. These pastor’s conferences are an essential step in mobilizing churches in sub-Saharan Africa to go out and transform their communities.

I was inspired and encouraged as I sat with pastors and leaders and felt their passion for reaching their communities for Christ. We were all challenged to go out into the world embodying the justice and righteousness of God and bringing it into the dark places of the world.
We are already receiving reports of the transformation taking place as these pastors return to their communities renewed and empowered. Follow-up seminars were held in both cities this month for those pastors and leaders committed to promoting change in their communities. We will continue to offer training and support in the coming months.

I am looking forward to returning to Africa in just a few weeks to encourage and challenge these pastors to continue ministering the justice and righteousness of God to their communities. Please continue to pray for Visionledd and the communities where we serve.
God is moving among the churches of Africa!  

Blog Entry - May 10, 2010

My friend and colleague Richard Brown has written down some reflections on our first few days visiting Africa. I'd like to share them with you and ask that you continue to pray for Visionledd and the people of sub-Saharan Africa.

"On Thursday, I went to see Kennedy with Pastors Lawrence & Willie. I asked Kennedy what God had been saying to him. He said that God was saying He was going to be healed. I prayed with him for that healing. I told the Cantelons, the McPhails & John Kerr at dinner that night.

On Saturday afternoon, Jim asked the women in the conference audience how many of them believed in healing prayer. He went and picked up Kennedy & asked the women to come down to the front to pray for Kennedy. Hundreds streamed down. Jim said he felt prompted by the Spirit to do this. He was disappointed that Kennedy didn't run back & forth at the front of the church. He instructed the crowd that God doesn't always heal instantly & sometimes not at all, but what was important is the obedience to the Spirit.

After the service I went back to Pastor Willie & asked if I recalled correctly Kennedy's sense of what God was saying to him. Willie affirmed this. I asked Willie to go back to Kennedy & tell him to stretch his legs as much as he could everyday and say, "Jesus, I want to walk!"

We need to continue to pray for his healing.

On a more sobering note, Eric said from the podium that there is an expression in Bemba that translates, "Women are like goat feces!" It certainly helps to explain the low view there is of women & particularly widows & young girls. It helps you understand the shame of the widows & the abuse of young girls and any woman for that matter. There is rejoicing at the birth of a son, but disappointment at the birth of a daughter. I wept inside. This demands that we continue to do what we are doing: to reverse the tide of this injustice.

It certainly supports the need for teaching on the biblical view of women, marriage & the vulnerable. It makes the ministry of WOW absolutely essential!

I have Zambian TV on in the background at Chreso. They just had a cholera alert. Nasty thing."

Blog Entry - Feb 23, 2010

The two tragic deaths marking the Olympics this year, in the context of the ongoing challenges facing Haiti put a lot of things in perspective. The death of the Georgian luger, hours before the games begun, left a blanket of fear, despair and loss for many athletes. While watching the Georgian ice-dance team compete, I found myself thinking, "I wonder if the young luger who died was a close friend? Are they in mourning? Do they feel their hard-earned moment in the Olympic spotlight is empty?"

As I write, we have yet to watch figure skater, Joannie Rochette compete. But what rollercoaster will she be on? Her Mom, who died of a massive heart attack just a few days ago, was her greatest inspiration and dearest friend. How will she be able to perform? And if she should win, how will she cope with the compound emotion of hearing the anthem, the roar of the crowd and the brokenness of her heart? Surely the glory is overwhelming, for a moment. But the relationships lost forever, the love gone, trump the short-term magnificence of victory.

Blog Entry - Jan 26, 2010

The recent earthquake in Haiti is a profound reminder to us all of our vulnerability, humanity and interdependence. The fact is we NEED each other. Any and every "life-accident" can literally "turn our world upside-down". We have no guarantee of tomorrow. Jesus put it well when he said,"…do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34).

In other words seize the day.

So - today is the time to be thankful, engaged, proactive and gracious. Now is the time to "redeem" our world's brokenness - and do it with a smile. Remember, the day may come when we'll need help from Haiti!

Blog Entry - Dec 21, 2009

As our families gather to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour, I cannot help but be humbled by the spirit of Jesus. As Visionledd moves into a new year of ministry and partnerships, I am so grateful for everything the Lord has done for us. He has walked with us every step of the way. He is there when we bring food relief to orphans or build a Life Centre in a community devastated by poverty and disease. He leads us as we provide vocational training to widows and discipleship training to young leaders. But above all, He is with us when we share the news of what His birth over two thousand years ago did for our world.

This Christmas I want to challenge you to give a gift of meaning. Our heavenly father has given us the ultimate gift - the gift of eternal life. He has blessed us with so much. I pray that you will turn to Him this Christmas with an open heart.Whether you serve at a local soup kitchen, sing carols at a nursing home or give a gift in support of Visionledd's ministry, each of these will provide just a little hope to someone in need this Christmas.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and much joy in the New Year.

Jim

Blog Entry - Dec 04, 2009

As I was searching for direction for the New Year, I was encouraged by the passage found in Ephesians 1: 11-14 which says:

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-to the praise of his glory."

Through the ministry of Visionledd, God has given us the incredible opportunity to offer an Inheritance of hope and peace to orphans and widows devastated by HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. God has entrusted us with His children. We have been called to be a father to the fatherless and a defender of the weak. We have also been marked by His life - His spirit is forever guiding our plans.

Give a legacy of hope to a child, mother or widow in need. As we follow in the footsteps of Christ we know that "in Him all things work out for the good, for those who love him and have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Blog Entry - Nov 17, 2009

I recently received an email from my friend and colleague, Richard Brown. I pray that his words will inspire you the way they have inspired me.

In Bemba, umwanyantaJesu means, "where Jesus went through." If God truly lives with the broken-hearted and if the angels of the little ones are ever before Him, then Jesus was in Naikoli today.

I wept inside, while a little tear rolled down my cheek as I held three-year-old Grace Mulenga. Mulenga in Bemba means God or Creator. Maybe you could say I was holding the Grace of God? Grace is a pretty, huggable little girl you just want to love. Grace is also HIV positive. Her mother and father are both dead. She's sick and living with her five-year-old sister and 50-year-old epileptic and deaf grandmother. Her grandmother sells charcoal, making barely enough to feed her family. Because of her illness she sometimes falls asleep and wakes up to find someone has stolen her charcoal.

Today we took this broken family a 50 kg bag of maize and a 2 kg bag of sugar.

It will last one month - then what?

Jesus wants us to be His hands and feet to seek out and help the vulnerable in His name!

There were several other real life opportunities that we had to bring hope to the desperate. People with names and a story: Peter Mupeta - 56-year-old widower, suffering from the after effects of a stroke, 30-year- old Bernadette Mwandu dying from AIDS, Faless Banda - HIV positive with Tuberculosis, Jonathan Soko, just skin and bones from AIDS.

The good news is that all each of these men, women and children were prayed with today and all were left with some food and hope in Jesus name.

Blog Entry - Oct 21, 2009

I recently received an email from Rita Prins, the Executive Director of Visionledd’s ministry, WOW that reminded me of the warmth and closeness I feel to God when I am caring for and ministering to communities across sub-Saharan Africa.

Rita’s report brings both stories of celebration and great need. Her team of dedicated men and women from The People’s Church in Toronto, Ontario are experiencing African culture for the first time.

Since their departure, the reports from the field have been refreshing. So many lives have been transformed since our last visit to these communities. The orphans and widows they are caring for have introduced them to a new kind of faith – one outside the comfort we know in Canada.  One of complete dependence on God – without government support and without the comfort of a job, home or family.

Yet even though they have nothing, these widows are hopeful for the future. Their faith in God – their trust in Him in all l things, is a testimony to the work Visionledd is carrying out in these communities of need.

Blog Entry - Sep 14, 2009

Over the Labour Day weekend, I was in southern Manitoba on a family weekend retreat on Pelican Lake. The fascinating aspect of this beautiful location is that the old Cantelon family farm is just a short drive away. My Irish forbearers immigrated to southern Ontario during the Irish potato famine, and after several tough but successful years of farming near Lake Huron, a couple of the Cantelon boys moved to southwestern Manitoba to set up their own operations. They began a "steam threshing" business and did contract harvesting for wheat farms across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. They soon became very successful.

One day Elmer, the oldest of the four sons who operated the threshing business, was in Winnipeg arranging a major contract. That evening he returned to his hotel, fell into bed, and opened up the "Gideon Bible" that the local Gideon chapter had placed there. I don't know what passage he read but it struck him forcefully with his need of God. He got out of bed, knelt down, and tearfully committed his life to the Lord. Next day he returned to the farm and led his brothers to Christ. They all became preachers, their sons became preachers, and their sons' sons (of which I am one) became preachers. My own sons and my daughter are also in the ministry. The beat goes on . . .

So I sit here and reflect on the impact of the Bible. I remember how the Lord spoke vision into my life ten years ago through the words of the prophet Isaiah:

"learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow" (Isaiah 1:17).

Out of these words, came a burning in my heart to do just as God had commanded. My years of ministry have taught me that God's word has the power to change lives, helping to build both families and nations. His word is key to Visionledd's work with orphans and widows, central to our mission's DNA. I have a high view of scripture. It's the powerful nourishment my soul and my ministry requires for sustainability. It breathes and gives life. I drink it in every day.

Blog Entry - Aug 17, 2009

In recent weeks, I have had the opportunity to be a guest host on 100 Huntley Street. I am incredibly honored to be able to communicate the great news of our lord and savior across Canada and beyond our national borders. Throughout these segments, my faith has been both nurtured and challenged. Our family at Crossroads is going through a period of change and new beginnings. As I interact with fellow believers on the show, I cannot help but be reminded of the importance of the family of Christ.

Wherever we live, a suburb in Canada or a slum in Africa, we are connected in His love, compassion and grace. We are to reach out to those who are in need of prayer, support, comfort and care. Paul reminds us of this in his passage in 1 Corinthians 12:27,

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

As we take up our roles as a unique member in the body of Christ, we are both challenged and encouraged to explore new terrain in our faith walk. Through my ministry and the work of Visionledd we are able to join with our brothers and sisters in Africa and establish real change in communities of need.

Together we are able to accomplish great things and through these great things we are transforming our world.