A MIRACLE IN
VANCOUVER
In June Dr. Paul Borden led a consultation with the
Vancouver Wesleyan Church (WA). This was the
first consultation on our District (Northwest).
As a result of two previous immoral incidents that were
broadcast by the media from the church property, the reputation of the church
was damaged in the community. The church
had also been plateaued for nearly a decade.
Dr. Borden's prescription was to close the church and begin
something new. The new would have to
meet downstairs in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday night so there would be no
activities on the property on Sundays.
The name of the church was taken off the front wall. The street sign was shut down and neutralized. The appearance to the community was the
church had closed.
Another part of the prescription was to identify a Church
Planter who would come to Vancouver area and start a new church. Once the new work had grown to a larger size
than the Saturday crowd we could work towards combining our existing
congregation into the newer church. It
would give us a new name and new reputation in the community.
This was a difficult prescription for some and set the
district churches on notice that this could happen to them too. It was a risky step of faith but the
Vancouver congregation voted to accept the prescription.
Our new Saturday service started on August 11. The people were not enthused but compliant to
the prescription. We lost around 30
people who could not attend a church meeting on Saturday. We went from a church of 70 to 40 overnight.
September 6 I received a phone call that led to a
significant decision. Pastor David
Robinson, at the request of some people in his congregation, called to discuss
the situation in the church. I shared
the story and the prescription. He said,
“We want to be the next Wesleyan Church in Vancouver.”
We talked and set up another time to meet and walk through
the property. He had started his church
3 years previously and was running 100+ in attendance. He had been raised in the Friends Church and
was trained at George Fox College and Seminary, an approved seminary in our
theology. His independent church was
willing to give up their independence to become a Wesleyan Church and include
our people into their ministry. This fit
the prescription perfectly.
Dr. Borden met David and gave a “thumbs up” to the idea and
included him in our cluster meetings.
The DBA gave its consent. I led a
membership class for 65 people in attendance.
This was my largest class to date.
We dated for two months with a service in October and a Thanksgiving
service with dinner in November.
Sunday, December 2, Dr. Jim Dunn, Director for Church
Multiplication and Discipleshi,p flew out to join the celebration of bringing
Living Word Fellowship into the Wesleyan Church and to lead the reception of
new members in their Covenant Membership Commitments. 170 people attended the first official
service of the combined congregations.
Our new church, Living Word Fellowship, has brought hope to
our people and the District. We now have
a vibrant, flourishing congregation in the Vancouver community.
Dr. Borden’s prescription to close, as tough as it was,
allowed us to become what we are today because of the miracle we experienced.
Dr. Karl Westfall
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