On Sunday, April 30, Pastor Dale and Gloria had their last service as pastor at Maranatha Church in Calgary. Saying good bye is hard and emotionally draining. Especially when you are leaving your beloved wife behind as well as a beloved congregation.
According to Google Maps, the trip from Maranatha Church in Calgary, Alberta to Hope Fellowship Church in Courtice is 3,509 km and takes 36 hours. Pastor Dale left his home at 5:30 on Monday morning, with the promise to be in Courtice somewhere around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. At 3:02 on Wed. afternoon the call went up “He’s here!” and Pastor Dale walked into the office with a big smile on his face.
By 7:00 on Wednesday he was at his first meeting—The Membership and Ministry Class. Thursday afternoon he was in his office, working on getting things set up. Thursday evening was the first staff meeting. Friday morning our two newest staff members—Pastor Dale and Dylan Harper—headed off to a one-day conference together. What a way to start a new position!
So what’s ahead? Pastor Dale will have a couple of weeks to get used to this unfamiliar place called Hope Fellowship before he preaches for us. He will lead our Membership and Ministry Class, meet people, and find his rhythm as he figures out how Hope Fellowship works. He is looking forward to meeting (and meeting again) with the people of Hope Fellowship. If you missed out on signing up for the Meal Train, don’t despair. Once Gloria gets here (at the end of July) they will be open to more invitations together.
Pastor Dale and Gloria take possession of their house on June 1, and Gloria will be here to see the house, and spend the weekend with her husband and new church family.
In the meantime, we are so thrilled that Pastor Dale made it to Courtice safely. We are looking forward to getting to know him better, and Gloria too, when she comes. Please pray for them as they spend two months apart. In July Pastor Dale and Gloria will pack up their house in Calgary and move their belongings here.
We are thanking God for our new pastor!!!
- Evelyn
According to Google Maps, the trip from Maranatha Church in Calgary, Alberta to Hope Fellowship Church in Courtice is 3,509 km and takes 36 hours. Pastor Dale left his home at 5:30 on Monday morning, with the promise to be in Courtice somewhere around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday. At 3:02 on Wed. afternoon the call went up “He’s here!” and Pastor Dale walked into the office with a big smile on his face.
By 7:00 on Wednesday he was at his first meeting—The Membership and Ministry Class. Thursday afternoon he was in his office, working on getting things set up. Thursday evening was the first staff meeting. Friday morning our two newest staff members—Pastor Dale and Dylan Harper—headed off to a one-day conference together. What a way to start a new position!
So what’s ahead? Pastor Dale will have a couple of weeks to get used to this unfamiliar place called Hope Fellowship before he preaches for us. He will lead our Membership and Ministry Class, meet people, and find his rhythm as he figures out how Hope Fellowship works. He is looking forward to meeting (and meeting again) with the people of Hope Fellowship. If you missed out on signing up for the Meal Train, don’t despair. Once Gloria gets here (at the end of July) they will be open to more invitations together.
Pastor Dale and Gloria take possession of their house on June 1, and Gloria will be here to see the house, and spend the weekend with her husband and new church family.
In the meantime, we are so thrilled that Pastor Dale made it to Courtice safely. We are looking forward to getting to know him better, and Gloria too, when she comes. Please pray for them as they spend two months apart. In July Pastor Dale and Gloria will pack up their house in Calgary and move their belongings here.
We are thanking God for our new pastor!!!
- Evelyn
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