“Do What Jesus Did” with Robby Dawkins

Posted on January 8, 2016January 28, 2016 by Andy Wood

Don’t get stuck asking “What would Jesus Do?” Be equipped to do it!

What is the “Do What Jesus Did” event?

John Wimber famously asked the question, “When do we get to do the stuff?” We are not only meant to believe in Jesus and what he did – we are meant to be transformed by his love and do what he did in our everyday lives today. Jesus himself said, we would do greater things than he did (John 14:12). Many of us would be content to see only a little of what he did in our lives. We want to see the things he did expressed in our own lives and in our life together. Jesus has invited us to participate in his mission – to change the world around us – to see God’s Kingdom here on earth!

At this event you will get practical and inspirational teaching, you will get to pray for others and be prayed for, and you will be equipped to go out and do what Jesus did. God may well transform your life and use you to transform someone else’s life too!

Who is Robby Dawkins?

In 1996 Robby and his wife, Angie, planted a church among the urban poor of Aurora, Illinois (Chicago). More than half his congregation were drawn into God’s story through power encounters and miracles. God called Robby for the purpose of building up and equipping the local church with “power tools” to do what Jesus did. These “power tools” are prophetic ministry, healing, ministry of the presence of God, and deliverance from demonic power. Robby tells hundreds of personal stories of God’s Kingdom breaking in anchored in practical biblical insights.

Robby and Angie have 6 sons and pastor Vineyard Aurora. Robby is one of the most sought after Vineyard speakers in our movement. He is known for films he has been featured in like “Father of Lights” and “Furious Love” as well as his books “Do What Jesus Did” and “Identity Thief“.

When is it?

Saturday, January 23, 2015.

Session 1: 10am
Session 2: 2pm
Session 3: 6pm

Also, Robby’s friend, Gordon, will be speaking on Sunday at our Downstairs Gathering at 10am.

Where is it?

782 Main St, Winnipeg, MB.

The Do What Jesus Did event is hosted by Winnipeg Centre Vineyard and jointly endorsed by our friends at:

Brandon Vineyard,
Cornerstone Vineyard (Winkler) and
Prairie Vineyard (Portage la Prairie).

What does it Cost?

There will be love offerings taken at the sessions. Please be prepared to give. If you can’t afford anything please don’t let that keep you from coming!

Join us, and spread the word!

Gearing Up for Outer Circle 2016

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Andy Wood

We are coming up to our first Outer Circle gathering of the 2016 cycle (Jan 16, 5:30 – 8pm). If you were part of the Outer Circle process in 2015, now is the time to decide if you are going to be in for another year or not. If you are in again, please make sure you confirm with your Triad and contact the office to let us know. If you weren’t part of it in 2015, perhaps this is the year for you! Anyone can join, you just have to commit to the process. You can read more about it here, or pick up an Outer Circle booklet at the Info Table.

We’ve collected some stories of the significance of the Outer Circle in a few people’s lives this past year. You can watch them here… they’re inspiring!

To be part of the Outer Circle Process for 2016 you need to:

Go though the 3-P steps.
Attempt to find a Triad.
Sign up with the office.

You can find out more about each of these steps here.

Changes for 2016:

As we’ve evaluated and received feedback, we’ve made a few changes to the process for 2016. In short, they are:

Joining: You can join any time throughout the year (if this is your case, you still need to do the process and you still need to sign up through the office).
Open Table: At the first gathering of the year, we’ll have an open table at which anyone who does not yet have a Triad can meet together. You can still share the results of your “3-P steps”, but perhaps you’ll meet someone there who you can form a Triad with. We will keep the Open Table available for as many OC Gatherings as necessary.
WCV Membership: Our formal membership at WCV is “everyone who is part of the Outer Circle or an equivalent”. This list is updated annually. This is not new, but we’ve more clearly defined what “an equivalent” of the Outer Circle process is. You can read more about this here.

Stick to it: The more intentional you are about going through the process, and the more you get together with your Triad, the more you will get out of the year.

Blessings as you grow to become more like Jesus, are filled with the Spirit and rest in the Father’s love for you.

More Info & Stories here.

Vineyard Prayer & Worship Summit 2016

Posted on December 16, 2015December 17, 2015 by WCV Administrator

The Prayer & Worship Summit is a four-day event IN EDMONTON, that provides an opportunity for you to experience the presence of God in a way that will change your life! It’s a time of abandonment, devotion and consecration as we come together in His presence.

This event is open to everyone, including families with children of all ages. The Edmonton Vineyard churches are also welcoming the country-wide church body, as they see the church as an inter-denominational creative expression of God’s love.

It is on Feb 26th – 27th.

Pre-summit symposiums are February 24th – 25th.

There are three options for symposiums:

Prophetic Symposium ~ Gary Best, former National Director of Vineyard Canada, will share his insight and wisdom for practical training for every believer to operate in the prophetic.
Confluence of the Arts Symposium ~ Dr. Rik Berry, professional artist and lead pastor of Valley Gate Vineyard, will share his excitement and creativity in a worship experience of Confluence of the Arts.
Worship Symposium ~ Vineyard Worship Canada (VWC) and Marc Pusch, managing director for VWC seek to encourage, envision, and equip the worship communities.

For more details and updates, visit the Vineyard Summit website. Registration details can also be found with the link provided.

Location: Harvest Vineyard, Lawton Junior High School, 11602-40 Street, Edmonton AB.

The Outer Circle – an invitation

Posted on December 10, 2015December 26, 2015 by Andy Wood

Our world is pretty messed up. There’s a lot to like about our world, but there’s also much that’s just plain wrong – sickness, death, terror, fear, destruction. A quick scan of the headlines confirms that evil is present – it hasn’t always been so, and won’t always be the case.

Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned, God had a plan of for redemption and restoration of what was lost through sin (you can read Gen 3:15 for the first glimpse of a plan). He wouldn’t allow sin to have the final say in his creation. Jesus, is God’s response to sin. Our journey as followers and imitators of Jesus, is towards Christ-likeness. It’s really a journey back to the beginning. We were created in God’s very image, sin distorted that image, and Christ came to make a way for us to live into that again. To walk and talk once again with God our loving creator.

In a big sense, this is what the Outer Circle is all about. It is about th
e gift of salvation and how we participate in “working it out”. It’s our attempt to create just enough structure to help us on our journey towards being like Jesus. It’s the work of discipleship. It’s the joy and the task of submitting our wills, habits, desires, our very lives to God, who takes them and forms us into the likeness of his son.

If you are interested in joining the Outer Circle process, you are welcome to! Now is the time. The only requirement is that you have to commit to the process. Read more about it here or pick up a copy of the Outer Circle manual at the info table.

If you are currently in a Triad, now is the time to make your plan for the coming year.

The first Outer Circle gathering of the new year is Saturday, January 16 at 5:30pm.

If you need help finding a Triad, we can help. Please submit your name to the office. Also, at the first Outer Circle Gathering this year, we will have a table for newcomers who do not yet have a Triad. Our hope is that we can share together and perhaps some Triads will form naturally there.

Here are a few stories of people talking about the significance of the Outer Circle in their lives.

On the Mountain of the LORD – a call to Pray

Posted on December 10, 2015December 10, 2015 by Andy Wood

There’s something powerful and unsettling about recognizing our own inadequacy. Abraham must have felt something of his own inability to provide, as he was witness to the miraculous conception and birth of his son Isaac. Abraham’s firstborn was God’s living, breathing promise – a skin and bone sign that God would honour his vow to make Abraham a father of many descendants. Imagine, then, what must have been going through Abraham’s head as he trudged obediently and perhaps reluctantly, up the mountain for three days to sacrifice Isaac. Was God going to turn back from his promise? Did God really ask this of him? Did he hear God correctly? What was going to happen when they got the top?

In the end, God walks with Abraham into his greatest fear and delivers him from it. Instead of sacrificing his son, like other nations around him, God provides. Jehovah Jireh is the name Abraham uses for the LORD when he sees God’s provision in the form of a Ram for the sacrifice.

“On the mountain of the Lord, it was provided for” is what they still say of that event. “On the mountain of the Lord it was seen.” The connection between God providing and God seeing a need is deep. Jehovah Jireh can be translated equally, “God who provides” and “God who sees”. Abraham knew when God sees, he also provides. Whatever was going on in his heart that day, his actions declared, “the Lord will see to it”. This same idea caused the Hebrew people to cry out, “Remember us, O LORD” (Jer. 14:21) and “Hear us, O, LORD!” (1 Kings 8:30). As soon as God remembers, it is provided. As soon as he hears, it is provided. As soon as he sees, it is provided.

In this season, we are joining with Abraham and the ancient Hebrew nation in calling out for our financial provision. We are joining together to ask God to remember us, to hear us, to see us and, ultimately, to provide. We may not feel the same kind of desperation Abraham might have felt as he ascended the mountain, but we are confident we will see provision – that God knows our situation and will hear our prayers. He walks with us into our own inadequacy and meets us there. On the mountain of the Lord it was provided for – it was seen (Gen 22:14). Let it be so in our situation as well!

Please consider joining the Pastoral and Lay Elders as we fast and pray every Tuesday in December.

Flatlanders Inn Update

Posted on November 19, 2015November 19, 2015 by WCV Administrator

For those of you who were not in the Downstairs Gathering last Sunday, this little update is for you. There have been changes in Flatlanders Inn.

Tara

We want to welcome Tara Glowacki as our new Flatlanders Inn Administrator! Tara began working on a part-time basis last week. We’re excited for the passion, connection and expertise she brings to the position. Welcome, Tara!

We have also had some changes to the Leadership Team. Jeff & Amanda Leighton have been around a long time and are founding members. Laura Dahl has recently finished a prospective Leader phase and we’re excited to have her as a full-on Leadership Team member! Ian & Jessica Williams moved in a year ago to explore what living at Flatlanders was like. Together, we’ve been feeling like they should be exploring what being leaders in Flatlanders looks like. So we’ve invited them to be prospective Leadership team members. This is a 6 month process which is meant to see if it’s a good fit for them. Andy Wood is also on the Leadership team and provides pastoral oversight.

: Amanda & Jeff Leighton

: Laura Dahl (pictured with Raymond Funk)

: Jess & Ian with Kai, Jayden & Davin

: Andy Wood

Kelly & Brendan Dvorak have recently moved out after having lived and led in the community for the last 5 years. They’ve been a tremendous blessing in so many ways. We sincerely thank them for all they’ve done and the ways they’ve opened their lives up to those who have called Flatlanders Inn home these past years. While community living with people who are at risk of homelessness always has challenges, the past season has been more difficult than normal. It’s a sad and hard departure.

On Sunday, we prayed for the current team. They appreciated it and felt the love and support of the church family. Thanks for that!

More info on Flatlanders Inn.

New Elder Invitation

Posted on October 8, 2015October 8, 2015 by Andy Wood

We are in the process of prayerfully discerning the expansion of our Elder team and we’d like to invite your input.

In the Vineyard, Elders function as overseers who tend to the spiritual health and vision of the community. The Elder team, while not always elders in age, are seasoned leaders and followers of Jesus. There are two kinds of elders in Winnipeg Centre Vineyard – Pastoral Elders and Lay Elders. The Lay Elders (Ben & Debra Kelly, Paul & Sherry Ansloos and Krista & Cliff Heide) keep the big picture in mind and prayerfully seek God for direction and counsel regarding all macro matters relating to church-life. The Pastoral Elders (Riegers, Woods, Rademakers & Labuns) also embrace this role with the added responsibility of implementing the daily tasks associated with the macro. While all the current elders are married couples, this is not a requirement for prospective elders, nor is it even preferable.

Lay Elders meet monthly and commit to a 3-year term.

There are four steps in the process of adding new elders to our current team. There are also a number of considerations and requirements for elders.

The New Elder Process is:

Nomination and Discernment (October). During this time the community and the elder team nominate those they think are currently functioning as elders (even if they don’t have the position). Prayerfully ask, “who do I naturally look to for counsel, support, care, etc?” Chances are, those are the people who are already functioning as elders. At the same time, the pastors and elders are prayerfully discerning if people qualify and are a good fit for the current team and season of life the church is in (see below for requirements and considerations).
Proposal & Mutual Consideration (November). The staff will contact potential new elders and invite them to prayerfully consider. This is a period in which we see if this “seems good to us and the Holy Spirit”.
Prospective Elder Period (December – March). This is a three-month period during which prospective elders come to monthly elder meetings and are in communication with staff. At the end of this period it’s determined if it’s a fit. If it is:
Membership Vote (in March). Those who are formal members of WCV (in the Outer Circle or an equivalent) are able to vote on the prospective new elders. If the new elder is ratified, this begins their 3-year term. Bear in mind that this is a vote, not on who should become elders, but on whether those who’ve been identified via the above process are the right decision for the Vineyard at this time.

Requirements for Elders are:

Biblical requirements for Eldership (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1)
Be a member of WCV (Part of the Outer Circle or an equivalent). Walking out and dialoguing with our 15 Core Practices. Of particular note are: Devotion to Jesus (elders should be devoted to their walk with God), Circles of Sharing (a hallmark of eldership is hospitality) and Generosity (elders should be tithing to the local church).
A good fit with the current team and the season the Vineyard is in. While there are many people who generally qualify as elders, the staff and current elders must prayerfully discern who is the best fit for right now. What skills and gift mix will best suit the team already? This is not a popularity contest – it is a serious process to discern who God has prepared and gifted to serve the whole community at this time.

Will you join us in this process? We value both your prayer and input. If you’d like to nominate someone please contact one of the pastors or email or call the office. Thanks!

Here is our current Elder team (both lay and pastoral elders):

: Krista & Cliff Heide

: Paul & Sherry Ansloos

: Debra Kelly

: Jodi & Mike Labun

: Violet (& John) Rademaker

: Andy & Beckie Wood

We Support Freedom Road

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Andy Wood

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.” ~ Isaiah 41.17

A group standing on the temporary bridge which connects the mainland to the cut-off peninsula. This is a winter road, which needs to become an all weather “Freedom Road”.

Ever wondered where our water comes from when you turn on the tap? It turns out, that all our water in Winnipeg comes from Shoal lake – about 80 km to the east on the Manitoba – Ontario border. This lake is on Shoal Lake 40 First Nation territory. When the aqueduct connecting this lake to Winnipeg was built about 100 years ago (the same aqueduct which runs right next to our farm in Haddashville), some of their territory was expropriated and they were moved onto a peninsula on the lake. There was no consultation – the bulldozers just showed up. Shortly afterwards, a channel was cut through that peninsula to divert dirty water from Falcon lake away from the intake. This effectively cut off all access to the Shoal Lake 40 community. They have no all-weather road to access their community even though they are fairly close to the Trans-Canada highway. The ferry is unreliable and crossing the lake at freeze-up or break-up is dangerous and has resulted in fatalities. To top it off, they have been under a boil water advisory for over 15 years. Many things are wrong with this picture – and we want to stand with our neighbours to promote justice in this area. We are connected to them – they are our neighbours – we have a voice we can use. That’s why we are part of a network of churches who are responding to a direct request from the Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, to stand with them. That’s also why we put the sign up in our window on Main St.

Shoal Lake seen from the ferry.

For more info on the “Churches for Freedom Road” campaign, as well as to find out what you can do, go here.

Here is a short video showing and describing our sign.

Andy visited last Fall and the School of Justice is planning on going this winter. If you’re interested in joining them on this trip, please contact Suhail.