Encouragement and counsel to spur each other on towards love and good deeds.
One week left – Register and Join us onlineAlpha
24 & 25 May 2023
Stream And Screen Live
Leadership Conference is an opportunity for all of God’s people – across traditions, generations, and cultures – to gather as one, encounter Jesus, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. We believe in the power of the gospel, through the global church, to change lives and transform the world.
To explore more leadership focused content from Alpha, including extended interviews from LC22, head to hope.alpha.org
EXERCISE 1: At the end of each night, ask yourself:
EXERCISE 2: After feeling comfortable with Exercise 1, you may want to ask yourself:
Next, ask yourself:
Be realistic, select, and focus on just one help and one hindrance to avoid frustration.
Military Basic Training was a culture shock. Before, I was a student at university working part-time as a janitor in a seniors’ residence in Wolfville, NS. After two years, I had run out of funds and decided to apply to the military; after all, my dad was a former military pilot, and my brother was a serving aeronautical engineer.
Going on exercise was part of Basic Training, as it is part of the military experience in general. Part of the military exercise was a routine called “Stand-to.” The practice of “Stand-to” was a hold-over from WWI when at just before dawn and shortly after dusk, soldiers would stand by their trench with their weapons loaded and ready to fire in the event of an enemy attack, which routinely came at just before dawn or just after dusk. It was part of being ready.
Several months ago, I was on a course led by Dr. Steve Brown, which was entitled “Jesus Centred.” The course was named after the book that Dr. Brown wrote. To me, the book’s gist was about being ready to share and live the gospel in a non-permissive environment. A vital element of the course was focused on Luke 10:2
Dr. Brown emphasized that the number of “harvesters” was diminishing in Canada. I note that local churches and mission agencies are echoing the same message… Gospel messengers are fewer and fewer, and this is when the spread of secularism is increasing. Generally, the Canadian population, including the military community, has little to no information about who Jesus is or the opportunity for eternal life that is available only through Him.
I shared with Dr. Brown the ministry of the MCF and our mission to bring the gospel to the military community. He was intrigued and asked how it was going. “Not very well,” I responded. Dr. Brown reminded me of Luke 10:2 when Jesus was sending out missionaries and explaining to them the dilemma that many were ready to hear the gospel, but there were too few messengers. Jesus’ solution was to pray for an increase in labourers. Dr. Brown told me he had set the alarm on his phone for 10:02 am every day when he prayed for labourers. This resonated with me, so I set the alarm on my phone for 10:02 am daily. I pray for three things:
This prayer takes me about one minute.
Can you imagine if you were to join me at the same time and pray the same thing every day? Can you imagine if five, or 10 or 50 or 100 of us pray the same thing every day at the same time? I think that God would be moved to answer our requests.
Would you join me at 10:02 am every day to “Stand-to” and pray for these three requests?
Are you with me?
Gerry Potter
Colonel (Ret’d)
President
Saturday, 25 February 2023 the MCF will be hosting the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Time TBD. We will meet using the teleconferencing application called “ZOOM”. All members are invited to join us and if you are not a member yet support the MCF and receive this newsletter, you are most welcomed to join us as well.
It is crucial that members attend the AGM and to help us ensure that the AGM proceeds smoothly, pre-registration for attending is required no later than 24 Feb at 4:00 pm EST. We will send everyone the zoom connection information Friday evening. Please reply to the MCF office. We do need your correct email address to be sure you can log in on Saturday 25 February, 2023.
For the best experience please download the application to whichever device you will use to connect to the AGM. You should likely use a device that will permit you a viewing screen larger than a smart phone. There may be documents and power point viewing necessary during this meeting. You can access the application either through your device’s application functionality or at this web-site – https://zoom.us/signup.
We know that He can do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, so to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus in this generation and all those that are to come. Blessings on you, chat with you soon.
It’s time to consider whom to invite to our next Alpha course. Registration is underway and we would love for you to join us on the online Alpha course the MCF is offering this winter.
The Alpha course is an excellent tool we use in accomplishing the core mission of the MCF, “to bring the gospel to the Military Community”.
If you haven’t been on an Alpha course, please consider joining us this February. If you have been on the course, then talk to your military community friend or family member about joining us, we are using the online platform and there is plenty of room for everyone.
Watch the ‘trailer‘ then get out there and invite (virtually) your colleagues, your friends and your family, and register soon for the MCF Alpha course. The experience will change them and you…forever.
Are you ready to join us, is someone you know ready for an extraordinary life change? Here are the coordinates for the group:
Sunday, 05 February online at 7:00 pm EST
Leading the sessions: Gerry Potter
Alpha Coordinator: Nicole
To register and for more information: Connect with us
In a few days, the last page on my calendar will turn over, indicating the conclusion of 2022. While some of the challenges of the COVID pandemic linger, like my calendar, it feels like we have, as a community of believers, turned a very significant page. The seemingly endless changing mandatory social interaction restrictions have ceased and have become optional. In-person fellowship has resumed, and congregational singing has once again become a component of the church service. Yet, it is not like it was before. Something has changed.
Numerous changes have occurred, mind you. And if we sat together in front of a whiteboard, we could collectively list all kinds of changes that we have experienced. We would list the impact on our children’s social skills, the increased preference for online church, the reduction in charitable giving and volunteerism, the increased number of clients using food banks, the increased number of retirements, the increased number of job vacancies, and the increased level of secularization within Canadian society, and much more. Yet, I submit that there is something more that lies beneath all these changes, something central and like a spider’s web emanating from a central hub.
Matthew 7:24-27 records Jesus’ conclusion to His sermon on the mount. He presents a comparison between those who hear and act in accordance with His Word and those who do not. Those who do not are like a person who has built their house on the sand. Those who do are like a person who has built their house on The Rock. Jesus’ message is simple – follow Him and be secure, don’t follow Him, and perceived foundations are fragile, susceptible to the storms of life.
What has changed is the sense of security; the pandemic has fractured it. Fear, anger, and uncertainty have become widespread.
The writer of Hebrews recorded the counsel of the Spirit. In verse 13:8, we are told that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” He is unchanging, His offer of salvation and life eternal with Him is unwavering. This is the message of the gospel. Its communication is the mission of the MCF.
As 2022 concludes, I find I am grateful for the resolute dependability of Jesus. He said He will never leave or forsake us and that we confidently state, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” (Hebrew 13:5).
I am also grateful for your support, both in terms of words of encouragement and financial giving. Because of your trust, we can continue into 2023 and bring the gospel to the military community. We can continue to make Christ and His message of hope and salvation known.
Like most, over the past few weeks, I have been reading through the scriptures that present the foretelling and fulfillment of the virgin birth of Jesus. It remains a wonder to me the prominence of the Holy Spirit in Matthew and Luke’s narrative of the events surrounding the miracle of Jesus’ human-divine conception. Even more of a wonder is the immediate acceptance by Mary and Joseph of their assigned roles. Much like a good military person, their response to the Holy Spirit’s direction and the implications of Mary becoming pregnant before the two were wed was not just yes, but a complete surrender to the Lord’s will and faith-filled engagement with their assigned tasks. Mary and Joseph were wonderful examples of obedience. I find myself desiring that depth of faith.
While reading Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts, I was drawn to Psalm 42 and David’s words as he expressed his desire for the Lord. “As a deer pants for the water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for you, God, for the living God….”
As we celebrate Christmas with family and friends, many of us will experience very enjoyable times, friendly times, and caring times and rightly so. Some, though, may find themselves in times of challenge, testing, and needing the living God, the God who interacts with His chosen. Take comfort in the fact that Immanuel is with us (Mat 1:23); He is the same today as He was when He came upon Mary and then spoke to Mary and Joseph and when He inspired David to write of his soul’s need of Him.
Those of us who are engaged in the ministry of the MCF find ourselves experiencing the full spectrum of the human responses represented in these referenced passages. We are in awe at what God has done this year and what He will do. Our souls ache for more of Him in our lives and the lives of those we are called to serve in bringing the gospel to them.
How about you? Are you experiencing wonder over the call the living God has for you? Have you, like Mary and Joseph, surrendered yourself to that call in obedience? Do you, like David, desire the Lord? Then join us, and together we will experience Him in and through us as we respond to the Spirit’s direction to bring the gospel to the military community.
This ministry helps to restore and find healing for any soul and moral injury you may have. The format of the program helps veterans and spouses understand the hidden impact of combat and provides a safe place for their emotional healing. Whether you are suffering of any trauma or know someone who is, prayerfully consider joining others for moral support and care.
You are invited to come to the next Welcome Home Initiative©️ taking place 7-9 November at Christ the King spiritual Life Center, Greenwich, NY 12834. There is NO CHARGE for veterans or their spouses.
To learn more, apply to attend, or to support this initiative: www.ctkcenter.org
Registration for the Retreat: https://christthekingcenter.campbrainregistration.com 
In partnership with:
www.accts.org
Sessions have started and we are excited to explore with friends, family and many the experience of seeing first-hand the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation. This encouragement helps the entire military community recapture the joy of evangelism. The MCF is offering an online Alpha where people bring their friends for a conversation about life, faith and Jesus.
Watch the ‘trailer‘ and pray for us as we connect with a group from across the country this fall.
For more information don’t hesitate to contact at mcfoffice@themcf.ca
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I am looking forward to what the Lord has determined that the MCF will be involved in the New Year.
2022 we will offer our sixth online Alpha Course.
Sunday, 16 January online 7:00 pm EST
I love this course as it presents the fundamentals of the Christian faith in an easy to understand yet sufficiently profound way that participants have all that they need to become followers of Jesus. And for those who already know Him, their faith will be steeled.
The MCF’s core mission, the reason that we exist, is to bring the gospel to the Military community at home and abroad. The Alpha course is an excellent tool to use in accomplishing that mission.
If you haven’t been on an Alpha course, please consider joining us or some other Alpha course in your local setting. If you have been on the course, then talk to your military community friend or family member about joining us on Alpha this fall.
Meet Christina, she accepted a friend’s invitation to our Alpha online course in early 2021. There was plenty of time for great discussions on different topics and questions.
Christina continues to participate because of the wonderful relationships that developed during Alpha and now has joined our team as a volunteer.
Get out there and invite (virtually) your bud, your bro, your sis, your mom, your… and register for the MCF Alpha course. The experience will change them and you…forever.
Are you ready to join us, here are the coordinates for the group:
Sunday, 16 January online at 7:00 pm EST
Leading the sessions: Gerry Potter – mcfoffice@themcf.ca