President Herbold Update | August 2023

Download the whole update or just the story

Read the transcript:

00:00:00:22 – 00:00:02:04
Hi Alliance Canada,

00:00:02:04 – 00:00:04:20
August is one of my favourite months of the year.

00:00:04:20 – 00:00:07:20
It feels like one long Sunday afternoon.

00:00:07:20 – 00:00:10:20
Still a break, but not quite as busy as before.

00:00:11:09 – 00:00:14:00
You know that a bunch of stuff is coming right around the corner,

00:00:14:00 – 00:00:17:04
but you get to enjoy the summer as it slowly becomes September.

00:00:18:03 – 00:00:20:16
I enjoy those cooler August evenings

00:00:20:16 – 00:00:23:22
where you can open the windows and let that fresh air come on in.

00:00:25:00 – 00:00:27:09
I’ve been having such a great time with my family.

00:00:27:09 – 00:00:30:07
We’re soaking in these summer days, spending time with one another.

00:00:30:07 – 00:00:33:02
The long days of summer are providing an amazing opportunity

00:00:33:02 – 00:00:36:07
to spend time with my neighbours and to get to know them better.

00:00:36:12 – 00:00:39:16
We’ve been engaging with them, having barbecues and slowly

00:00:39:16 – 00:00:42:00
but surely showing them the love of Christ.

00:00:42:19 – 00:00:45:19
I recently came back from Southeast Asia with some pastors,

00:00:46:05 – 00:00:49:05
and you’ll see some of those videos later on.

00:00:49:08 – 00:00:54:13
But friends, it was this incredible time to be with some of our workers

00:00:54:20 – 00:00:58:16
and see how they are partnering with God, where he is already at work,

00:00:59:03 – 00:01:02:02
how they are part of a legacy of the workers and the nationals

00:01:02:02 – 00:01:05:02
who have planted seeds, generations before them,

00:01:05:17 – 00:01:09:02
and how people are seeing the love of God and coming to know

00:01:09:02 – 00:01:13:01
Jesus through the spiritual foundations that were laid so long ago.

00:01:14:18 – 00:01:18:01
Now, developing leaders is a value throughout The Alliance.

00:01:18:09 – 00:01:21:12
We are so excited to come alongside leaders across the country

00:01:21:12 – 00:01:25:05
in our churches, New Ventures and programs like Envision.

00:01:25:17 – 00:01:28:17
This story highlights young leaders in Quebec

00:01:29:00 – 00:01:32:03
stepping into New Ventures and new opportunities.

00:08:48:15 – 00:08:51:06
There were some specific phrases that stood out to me.

00:08:51:06 – 00:08:53:09
I don’t know if they did to you as well.

00:08:53:09 – 00:08:54:06
A couple of them were

00:08:54:06 – 00:08:57:12
firstly, when they said that, I think one of the characteristics

00:08:57:12 – 00:09:00:18
of leadership that’s surfaced is the capacity not just to listen,

00:09:01:18 – 00:09:05:00
but to create a space that’s conducive to the conversation.

00:09:05:03 – 00:09:08:06
Another one for me, leadership is really

00:09:08:06 – 00:09:11:13
related to the process of forming disciples.

00:09:12:05 – 00:09:16:01
And Pastor Jacob, when he says, and this is true for all of us,

00:09:16:01 – 00:09:20:00
that it’s not in our own strength and we must rely on God.

00:09:21:06 – 00:09:23:02
New Ventures is about bravery,

00:09:23:02 – 00:09:25:18
stepping out and trying something new.

00:09:25:18 – 00:09:27:16
Those are great lines.

00:09:27:16 – 00:09:31:05
Are we creating spaces that are conducive to conversations about God,

00:09:31:05 – 00:09:34:03
about life, about the love of Jesus?

00:09:34:03 – 00:09:37:03
We’re a movement that desires to multiply disciples everywhere,

00:09:37:12 – 00:09:40:07
and I’m so encouraged by stories like this, so encouraged

00:09:40:07 – 00:09:44:10
about what God is doing in Quebec and where our people are joining him.

00:09:45:10 – 00:09:47:15
You know, this wasn’t planned, but I feel like the Lord has something

00:09:47:15 – 00:09:49:17
special for the church in Quebec.

00:09:49:17 – 00:09:52:19
And I just wonder, as you’re watching this, would you pray

00:09:52:19 – 00:09:56:16
even right now, with me for Quebec, something is happening.

00:09:57:07 – 00:10:00:14
I’m not sure what it is, but I’m watching with anticipation

00:10:00:14 – 00:10:02:03
to see what the Lord will do.

00:10:02:03 – 00:10:05:03
Another way that we are developing young leaders is this fall

00:10:05:03 – 00:10:08:03
Envision is running Greenhouse, a mentorship program.

00:10:08:16 – 00:10:11:01
Envision Greenhouse provides young leaders in The Alliance

00:10:11:01 – 00:10:15:14
with meaningful mentoring relationships, creative environments to foster growth,

00:10:15:14 – 00:10:18:14
and collaboration that goes beyond their local context.

00:10:18:18 – 00:10:22:04
For ages 18 to 25 ish, the theme for this cohort

00:10:22:04 – 00:10:26:12
for this year is spiritual awakening, and I’m really excited for Alliance

00:10:26:12 – 00:10:31:08
young leaders to go through this, and they can sign up at envisioncanada.org

00:10:31:08 – 00:10:34:08
Please keep Greenhouse in mind during your prayers

00:10:34:09 – 00:10:36:08
and pray for the next generation of leaders

00:10:37:10 – 00:10:38:23
and listen to his voice.

00:10:38:23 – 00:10:41:23
maybe the Spirit will stir your heart to join,

00:10:42:12 – 00:10:45:12
or perhaps bring someone to mind that you should encourage to sign up.

00:10:45:18 – 00:10:49:18
Or maybe you’re an established leader, and you’re excited about mentoring up

00:10:49:18 – 00:10:52:18
and coming leaders. Please reach out.

00:10:52:18 – 00:10:56:02
Everyone can sign up and learn more

00:10:56:16 – 00:10:58:21
I really hope you’re enjoying your summer.

00:10:58:21 – 00:11:02:18
I’ll leave you with some lines from one of my favourite Psalms, Psalm 104.

00:11:03:09 – 00:11:06:12
Let me just paraphrase a few lines specifically.

00:11:07:01 – 00:11:10:01
It says that he makes springs pour water into ravines.

00:11:10:20 – 00:11:13:18
He quenches thirst, and life flourishes.

00:11:13:18 – 00:11:19:18
He waters the mountains, and we in the land are satisfied by the fruit of his work.

00:11:19:18 – 00:11:22:10
He makes plants for people to cultivate.

00:11:22:10 – 00:11:24:04
Our hearts are gladdened.

00:11:24:04 – 00:11:28:00
He makes our faces shine, and he gives us bread to sustain our hearts.

00:11:29:11 – 00:11:31:09
These are powerful truths, aren’t they?

00:11:31:09 – 00:11:34:01
And good things to meditate on.

00:11:34:01 – 00:11:35:12
So Alliance Canada.

00:11:35:12 – 00:11:37:12
May your hearts be gladdened.

00:11:37:12 – 00:11:39:05
May your faces shine.

00:11:39:05 – 00:11:40:17
And may God sustain us

00:11:40:17 – 00:11:43:17
as we finish out August and move into the fall.

00:11:43:22 – 00:11:44:12
God bless you.