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This last month and a half, summer has finally come to Nukko Lake BC. You might be wondering where Nukko Lake is because after all don't Brad and Cristyn live in Prince George? Nukko Lake is where the little church in the woods that I pastor is, just 20 minutes out of the big city. Right across the road from me as I write this the fish are rising in Nukko Lake, and the sky is blue and the birds are singing and it is the picture of a perfect day out here at Lakes Community Church. This summer, I have borrowed a canoe so that I can go fishing and spend time out on the lake across from me, and though I haven't had a chance to really get out on Nukko, I am advancing my goal to fish in most of the lakes around me, including Ness Lake, Chief Lake, Vivian Lake and Eena Lake. These trips are more than mere fishing trips however.
So far each lake that I have been on, has been with someone in or out of my church and out on the lake surrounded by God's good creation I have been blessed and challenged in the conversations that we have been able to have. From sharing the good news of the love of God with a young man who rejected God and felt rejected by God, to discussing the difficult details of painful relationships with an older friend from my church.
From the quiet joy of being out on the lake on a sunny (or rainy day considering the kind of weather we've been getting) to the opportunities to love and share good news with the hurting on a quiet afternoon out on the lake, both were gifts from God, opportunities that are not easy to come by in our busy world. In a similar way, it was a gift from God that Cristyn and I had the opportunity to go out to the local bible camp and share with the staff training week about the need for the body of Christ to work together, showing honour to those parts of the body that are less worthy of honour.
Sharing about how the church is the body of Christ and how the weaker parts are indispensable was encouraging to me, and even more encouraging was the fact that several new staff members came up to us after our talks and told us that they had been very encouraged by the message, which included a call to love one another because we need each other to follow Jesus Christ.
Both of these opportunities, both of these gifts of being put in the right place at the right time, can only help me to remember that God put Cristyn and I where we are. For things have been hard too, and we as a church are still dealing with the after affects of Covid, with hurting people and infighting and the fear of the future of financial hardship that may come because of war and recession, and yet knowing that God is still using us to share his love for the church and his love for the lost even in an uncertain age will continue. 1 Corinthians 3:7-9 says “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” Please pray for us that we would be faithful servants to go where God is growing people, raising them up out of darkness to know the love of God, and encouraging them to follow Him forever. This is our hope, that we who are planting and watering in God's kingdom, truly are nothing, but that God is the one who will accomplish the work in these gifts of opportunities.
We have two Bergens writing in this Support Letter!
Currently, I (Cristyn) am sitting in our parsonage with young Olive. It has been a quiet week at the Bergen home as Brad has been speaking at WilderNess this past week.
WilderNess is a part of NessLake Bible Camp and provides kids and teens with the opportunity to go on a real backpacking tenting adventure! Brad has been in the woods, sharing the Gospel, building relationships and I am sure laughing hardily, brewing cowboy coffee over a crisp campfire while watching the sunrise.
Pray for Brad this week as he finishes preaching the Gospel.
I also get the opportunity to head out to Teen Camp this week and share my testimony with the teen campers! We love these partnerships at camp as camp has held an important role in both of our faith journeys.
BUT! in the following week Brad and I get to head down to Nanaimo for our vacation! And then, in the next week head up to Grand Prairie to celebrate a wedding.
I have been doing a lot of reflection this past week on the work God has done at our little church and our big University on the hill.
The Holy Spirit has done so many things in our lives and the lives of those we minister to. It's hard not to burst with the stories of God's healing in my life, the movement of the Spirit and the love I see Christ pour out to others.
That being said, the last months have been difficult and this verse has come often to my mind:
Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delievers him out of all of them. Psalm 34:19
I feel this verse deeply. There have been a lot of trails in our little parsonage but the Lord has delivered us from all of them. From death to sickness to heartache. Each is a sting from the reality of living in a falling world. But how great the relief and mercy of the Lord who shows us his work of bringing the kingdom here on earth!
Pray for us as we leave to visit family. Pray that God would fill us with his love and help us process the last couple of months.
Pray for safe travels.
Pray for Brad and I as we speak at camp. Pray that the Gospel would be preached and kids would come to know Christ!
Pray for our church as many praying for good weather for their farms!
Thank you for reading and for your support,
God be with you!
Love Brad and Cristyn
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