Canadian FCA Convention Recap
by Marianne Ennis
The drive from Red Deer, Alberta to Nelson, BC was stunning, as always. They say BC is “God’s Country,” and I believe it! I have made the drive to the Okanagan and the Shuswap Lakes many times over the years, but this was my first visit to the Nelson and Kootenay Lake. It was a beautiful, sunny day and need I say… this time of year, the fall colors through the mountains were breathtaking! Nelson is nestled on the side of a mountain, overlooking Kootenay Lake. It is full of history, it is vibrant, it is full of character, and it is beautiful. After my husband Brian and I settled into our hotel room, we ventured out for a walk and wandered into a local restaurant (in an old warehouse building downtown), where we ran into Pastor Sam Snyder and his wife Sarah. Sam fit right in, with his toque and beard he could easily pass as one of the locals! At the Envisioning Meeting Pastor Jim Reimer gave us a warm welcome and a presentation on Church Planting. Dr. Paul Vallee led discussions on a few business items, and shared his Vision for FCA Canada. He emphasized discipleship and leadership. He encouraged everyone to spend time developing leaders so that our fellowship and churches can move forward. Mentoring young leaders will have the greatest impact over the long haul: Empower the generations! Over the next few days we attended the AGM, various meetings and workshops as well as evening sessions led by keynote speakers Pastor Anthony Greco and Pastor Greg Fraser. The theme of the conference was “Rural Communities to Urban Centers – Thy Kingdom Come”. All the speakers inspired us with testimonies of the unique ways that God has been working in their local churches, communities, towns and cities. I was moved by the transparency and humility of these amazing servants of our Lord Jesus Christ as they shared their journeys with us. Thank you to Pastor Jim Reimer and all those who worked so hard to make us feel welcome. You have blessed us with a well-organized and inspirational time of fellowship!
Marianne Ennis serves on the Fellowship Press and as the Facility Coordinator at Living Stones Church.
