Open the links below or scroll on this page to see encouraging stories of the many ways God has been at work in and through NLCC over the past year. As we seek to walk as apprentices to Jesus these are just a few of the stories of people being connected to the life-changing power of Jesus.

Church Leadership Report

This has been a year of many blessings from God and much faithful service from our congregation and staff. I am so encouraged to be a part of the work of God in Langley and beyond. There are few elder meetings where we are not grateful for all the gifts with which we have been entrusted. Our desire is to be the best stewards we can be with both people and physical and financial resources.

As we begin the new budget year, we are giving focus to

a couple of important aspects of church leadership. First,

as you can imagine, we are looking at ways to support our

staff team, and the lead team of Matthew, Janet, and Tim in particular. With Matthew's time away, we have been diligent

in thinking through ways we can adjust structures and

encourage Matthew to make decisions allowing for long-term sustainability. Ministry is often challenging, and we know our

pastors and staff are pulled in many directions. In light of this,

we want to do our best to support them and provide whatever leadership we can to ensure the long-term sustainability and productivity of our staff team. Second, we also want to work

with the church staff to chart out the strategic direction of the church for the next few years.

With three campuses and a wide array of ministry groups, we want to ensure we do our part to support the strategic thinking and direction of our church and staff team. Without a doubt, this is a collaborative effort, and in the year ahead, we want to do our part to lead in this process.

We are blessed to work with all the volunteers at NLCC to carry out God’s work in the communities of Walnut Grove, Yorkson, Aldergrove, and beyond!

Rob Rhea

Elder Moderator

Executive Pastor

Kevin, Jeff and I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Alpha Conference in London in May. We are so grateful to the church for making that possible! It was an inspiration to see the influence that the work and vision of Alpha and Holy Trinity Brompton church in London has had on Matthew and Tanya Price—and how NLCC has benefitted greatly from their emphasis on Holy Spirit-filled worship & prayer, evangelism, church planting and raising up young leaders.

As NLCC looks to the next 3+ years, we will focus on the following VISION PRIORITIES:

Evangelism

Tanya Price has moved to a permanent part time staffing position as Alpha Director. Under her leadership, NLCC will offer 6 Alpha courses next year, as well as support new Alpha courses in other church/community settings as the Alpha Hub Church for the Fraser Valley. Our new budget reflects the priority to utilize Alpha as our primary evangelism strategy for all our campuses, along with outreach initiatives to our city, to reach more people for Jesus.

Intercultural

Our desire is to reflect our multicultural neighbourhoods in our worship, leadership and evangelism. We want to grow in this area! Last year, Yorkson campus offered Alpha in Spanish and launched a Spanish-speaking Life Group. The Walnut Grove campus plans to offer Mandarin Alpha 2 times next year after a successful launch last winter. We are currently putting in place the capability to translate services into 2 languages at the Walnut Grove campus. On Saturday evenings, an evangelical Ukrainian church meets in our chapel space.

Young Leaders

The intern program is doubling this year with 6 interns in our grad/biblical studies program in the fall! Matthew Warnock has finished a 3-year intern track and is moving to a permanent staff position as the Aldergrove Campus Youth Director in July. 4 summer students have joined our team in kids, tech, and youth ministry.

We remain committed to raising up pastors and leaders for NLCC and the wider church.

Multiplication

We want to be a multiplying church! We believe that gospel-centered churches planted in new communities are one of the best ways to reach people for Jesus. This fall, our Aldergrove campus will move to 2 Sunday services. While we have “pressed pause” on our 5pm Sunday service for the summer months, we will be evaluating that venue again for the fall. We will continue to invest in leaders to lead new campuses.

Finally, without the faithful, generous giving of our church family, this vision would not be possible! Thank you for supporting the work of NLCC locally and globally again this year.

Aldergrove Campus

I regularly remind myself that our Aldergrove community is less than two years old. Too much has happened and is still happening to fit into a one-page report, but let me give you a point-form summary using our planting vision statements as headings.

Growing in Gifts

• I’m so thankful for the fantastic volunteer engagement at Aldergrove. Our volunteers are a massive reason for the health and success of Aldergrove.
  
• Aldergrove has a stellar staff team. Staff with responsibilities dedicated to Aldergrove include myself, Jon Reesor, Matthew Warnock, Marie Wolgram, Emilia Lyttle, and Caleb Schultz.
  

Impact Aldergrove

• We hosted a Community Halloween event that saw approximately 1,000 people attend.
  
• We are supporting the Aldergrove Foodbank.
  
• Aldergrove hosted CSM for the second year in a row.
  
• In addition to the Advent Blessing program, we partnered with Shortreed Elementary School and supported ten local families at Christmas.
  

New People Meeting Jesus

• A familiar story at Aldergrove is people returning to a faith community after a long absence. God is calling many people back to himself through Aldergrove.
  
• Aldergrove hosted our second Alpha.
  
• Our kids and youth ministries have grown significantly this past year, so even more young people are hearing about Jesus's love.
  
• In our second year, Sunday attendance has increased by over 25%.
  

Known in Community

• Monthly women’s coffee connection times and quarterly men’s breakfasts.
  
• Aldergrove has a dozen life groups meeting regularly.
  

Other Fun Facts

• We now have an Aldergrove Leadership Team (ALT) of staff and volunteers who make key decisions and provide leadership to the campus.
  
• Our building renovations are mostly done with only a facelift remaining for our downstairs bathrooms.
  
• We’ve entered into an agreement with Sonshine Street Child Care Centre to launch a before - and after-school program beginning in September 2024.
  

With great thanks,

Kevin Schultz

campus pastor

Yorkson Campus

“

Our Yorkson community is amazing. We have such a wide range of people spanning faith journeys, culture, demographics, and life circumstances, and yet there is a unified desire to know, to be known, and to serve. It's incredible to see our mission of apprenticing our lives to Jesus lived out in so many practical ways:

COMMUNITY

Since January, we have seen more people get involved in Life Groups than pre-pandemic. People are hungering for community and are finding it, and we have three different language groups meeting.

SERVING

So many Yorksonites serve in so many different ways! From setting up a gym from scratch each week to serving in tech, hospitality, worship, children's and youth ministries, there is a culture of involvement that is essential to our existence. The best part is seeing the connection between serving and community - as people get involved, they feel more connected.

ALPHA

We ran our first Alpha session this past year in both English and Spanish, and we saw 63 people attend. It was an amazing 8-week journey where people felt welcomed, had honest dialogue, and some came to faith. It was incredible to see the Holy Spirit at work.

BAPTISMS

We have seen seven people declare their faith in baptism this past year, including a number of young people. The stories of life-change have been really inspiring.

This past year was one of tragedy for a particular person whom I met through leading a funeral for someone in his family. A few days after the service, he showed up at Yorkson, deciding to check out church after staying away for pretty much his entire life. He started to meet people, sit in the service, and then even started helping with tear-down. When Alpha began, he went through the course and found a table of people he connected with and who supported him. Now, six months later, he continues to attend. While still on a faith journey with questions, he loves being a part of the community and knows that he feels closer to God when he comes.

Please continue to pray for Yorkson as we pursue our mission of seeing more people apprentice their lives to Jesus. Perhaps God is calling you to be a part of that mission, especially if you live in the Willoughby area!

Jeff Renaud

campus pastor

Walnut Grove Campus

Guest Services

Have you ever considered joining our Guest Services Team as a volunteer? We are a team committed to our mission to connect with our guests and to serve NLCC on Sunday mornings out of our calling to love God and to love others. It is our vision to create a welcoming and loving environment by joyfully serving with excellence to ensure all who enter feel seen, accepted, known, and loved by God.

But what does this really mean? And who are our team of volunteers?

We are the warm welcome that says,

“you belong here” or “you are home.”

We are the people that make these walls into a gathering of people.

We are the people appointed to prepare a place to make our guests feel seen, accepted, known, and loved by God and our teams.

Together, by creating a welcoming atmosphere, we hope that people will connect with the life-changing power of Jesus Christ to love God and love others.

In other words, we are a team who is all in when it comes to having a heart to serve! This year, we have been so encouraged to see our team grow to over 150 people faithfully serving on our teams.

Alex and Anne Warneke are two of our Guest Services volunteers who serve regularly as greeters at the office doors on a Sunday morning. Despite having limited speech due to a stroke, Anne continues to faithfully and joyfully serve as a greeter. With a beautiful smile and raised hand, she welcomes our guests into worship. They look forward to their scheduled monthly commitment to serve because they love to be a blessing to our church and, in return, they feel blessed! Seeing these two serving has been one of my favorite parts of mobilizing and equipping our Guest Services Team this year, as it is a wonderful reminder that there really is a place for everyone to use their unique gifts here! No matter what your abilities are, we’d be so happy to find a way for you to use your gifts at NLCC!

Sara Wood

Outreach & Connections Coordinator

Interns

NLCC is deeply committed to investing in the next generation of ministry leaders. Our Ministry Associate and Ministry Intern program is designed to come alongside men and women who are exploring a potential call to vocational ministry, giving them opportunities to serve on staff while pursuing graduate or undergraduate studies toward that end. This year, Matthew Warnock returned as a Graduate Ministry Associate for a third year, while Caleb Schultz (Aldergrove Worship) and Colby Southam (Youth) joined us as Ministry Interns. We're very thankful for their enthusiastic contribution to our team and our mission, and rejoice in the ways their calling and gifts for ministry have been emerging as they serve.

Tim McCarthy

DISCIPLESHIP PASTOR

“

This year has been a remarkable third year of the internship program. Not only have I been able to continue witnessing God's hand at work in the ministries in which I

have been a part, but I have also seen God's hand at work in me, preparing and equipping me for the calling He has placed on my life. I have had an absolute blast helping lead the Aldergrove campus youth and family ministries this past year. It has been extremely gratifying to see so many children and youth students coming to church for the first time or returning after some time away. A highlight for me this year was helping to run a book study with a theme of calling for my fellow interns and ministry associates. I am very excited for what God may have in store for me next!"

Matthew Warnock

ALDERGROVE YOUTH MINISTRY ASSOCIATE

“

My time with NLCC has been incredibly life-giving and affirming in my calling to ministry. I feel incredibly blessed to work in an environment that

reinforces my relationship with Jesus and allows me to grow in my passion for music."

Caleb Schultz

ALDERGROVE WORSHIP MINISTRY INTERN

Life Groups

I’m coming to the end of my first year working with life groups at NLCC, and it’s been a joy to serve with the incredible leaders who are our ‘frontline shepherds.’ In Philemon, Paul writes a letter “to Philemon…and to the church that meets in your home,” saying “I hear about your love for all [God’s] holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus, [and that] you have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.” This, to me, defines the work that our life group leaders do.

We have over 125 leaders leading nearly 60 groups across three campuses, with 6-8 of those groups just launched this year. I am particularly excited to see life groups being formed out of Alpha, and especially two Mandarin groups coming from our first-ever Mandarin Alpha! I am excited for what God has done, is doing, and will continue to do through our life groups at NLCC.

Jon Reesor

Community Life Pastor

“

We are still in the early stages of group formation. As you know, it takes quite a bit of time for group members to develop trust, feel safe, and let down their

mask. We've had lively discussions and are beginning to consider and review the meaning and implications of discipleship. All in all, it's an awesome challenge to be part of a group of believers who are wrestling with, praying through, and sorting out these issues together.”

–Peter Goudreau

“

“On the seventh day, God rests from His great work of creation, but He never stops working in our lives: He knows our needs, hears our prayers, and provides us

with timely help.

The Alpha Mandarin course was God's work from beginning to end. We didn't know how many people would attend, how many would stick with the course from start to finish, and how many would want to join a life group and continue to know God after the course. But God didn't allow us to focus on these questions; He poured out the Holy Spirit and let it fill the entirety of Alpha! Two Life Groups are now being formed out of the Alpha program. Each week, our Life Group members come together to explore the true meaning of God's creation of marriage, the secrets of husband and wife's love for each other, and to remind and support each other. Our own lives are transformed by Christ; our lives impact the lives of others in the Alpha program and fellowship groups, and ultimately, we are transformed, consolidated, and built up together in Christ Jesus. This is God's most amazing work!”

–Eva Yu

KIDS, YOUTH + ADULTS

Kids

As the saying goes, time flies when you're having fun! It's hard to believe we've enjoyed another year of Sunday gatherings, midweek connections, and family events together!

Every Sunday, we have the privilege of caring for close to 300 children across our 3 campuses. What a blessing and what a responsibility. It would not be possible if not for the army of volunteers who show up each week to help us create safe, inviting spaces for children to explore the Bible and get curious about God. Each year, we journey with children, from age 2 to grade 5, through the entire biblical story, helping them see Jesus in it all! It's so awesome to watch their understanding deepen as they revisit stories year after year—becoming convinced of the character of God and His good plan for His creation.

While I love the lively worship, the cute crafts, and the fun, creative stories we do together, it's the one-on-one conversations where kids reveal what they are thinking about God and how they are starting to hear His voice that keep me coming back week after week. It's so life-giving to see children's hearts awakened to the truth of the Gospel!

On behalf of the Family Ministries department, I'd like to say a huge thank you for partnering with us this past year!"

Kerri Smith

Family ministries Director

Middle School Youth

Our middle schoolers saw tremendous spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of the gospel. Through weekly teachings and engaging discussions, students have increased their biblical knowledge and shown a more profound commitment to Jesus. Some students and parents have shared how their understanding of the gospel has significantly increased, and how their lives are being transformed by the power of the good news.

A powerful example from last year’s summer retreat: Some students had a personal encounter with God during worship, which inspired them to commit their lives to Christ on a deeper level and ultimately, get baptized.

Eric Shin

Middle School director

High School Youth

We have seen students getting involved in leading their peers as well as serving alongside adults to see the love of Jesus go out to their peers and to the greater community.

We saw 50 students attend our last two Alpha sessions. What was so encouraging about this is that these students were led mostly by their high school peers. We saw incredible Holy Spirit work in the lives of those who led and attended. Coming out of one of those sessions, one of our Alpha tables continued to meet together to talk about life and Jesus.

We also saw a couple of students serving alongside Ainsley on Tuesday evenings, cooking food for The Marriage Course.

More and more students are serving at our various events. Through Move Camp, Middle School Carnival, Celebrate Single Moms, and the aforementioned Alpha and cooking...

Finally, we have our High School Summer Mission Trip coming up and we have 11 enthusiastic teenagers eager to go. They, too, have served hard over the past couple of weeks and are looking forward to what God is going to do in Campbell River at Discovery Community Church.

I am seeing students come alive in who Jesus is. They are more and more willing to stand strong for Jesus, no matter what that means in their everyday life. I am loving the deep conversations I am having with them and I look forward to how God is going to continue to shape them into the people He wants them to be.

Dane Smith

Youth Pastor

please be in prayer for:

Leaders - We need many more leaders for the coming ministry year.

Mission Trip - Pray for all our students and adults who will be attending/leading.

Youth Staff - Youth ministry is challenging and we can’t do an effective job without the Holy Spirit’s guidance and strengthening

Young Adults

Our Young Adults community had a fantastic year as we gathered for food, worship, connection, and teaching around the theme of Knowing and Being Known. We explored topics like being known in relationships, knowing creation, and understanding our culture. Gathering for food and conversation is a big draw for young adults seeking to build meaningful relationships with their peers.

One participant, Toni, had this to share about her experience in young adult ministry after several years of investing in relationships:

At a friend's wedding recently, I was overwhelmed by the

feeling of how blessed I am to have such a great

community of young adults to be a part of. All the NLCC young adults sat together at a table at the wedding; we shared deep, genuine conversation around the table, which would never have happened with a group of acquaintances. All the times bonding together through our young adult gatherings have really paid off, and I know I'm not the only one who has been blessed by this community at NLCC."

Another highlight this year was our first-ever young adults mission trip, to Berlin, Germany! Seventeen young adults were part of a team serving with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) Berlin in outreach and evangelism. It was an eye-opening experience for everyone as we got to participate in God's mission of redeeming the world in tangible ways that stretched our comfort zones."

“

Ben Frederiksen

Young adults Pastor

Seniors

"God has been good to NLCC Seniors, giving us joy, health, and community! We have moved from the Chapel to the Worship Centre to better accommodate our numbers. We have a committed volunteer group providing leadership, service, and delicious homemade snacks for our bi-weekly gatherings. We appreciate all the leadership of Ben Frederiksen, Stuart Hodgson, Joy Sarju, and the gifted musicians who have shared their talents. We are truly blessed by the fellowship, encouragement, and support that we share as we participate with the NLCC seniors.

The group excursion to the Mennonite Heritage Museum in Abbotsford impacted all of us as we learned the history of the Anabaptist movement and our own denomination. Some in our group identified closely as they recalled their own family’s stories. We ended our year with a Spring Concert featuring the fabulously talented Calvin Dyck, Alison Nystrom, and Carmen Hollett. For the summer, we have a picnic and cornhole game social gathering planned."

Deanna Cazes

courses + groups

Alpha

Nothing quite comes close to the excitement of being in a room full of people who are asking questions about God and faith! This past year, we've had the privilege of running more Alpha programs than ever and seeing so many of them filled to capacity! The Walnut Grove worship center was packed on Wednesday nights with well over 100 people gathering to ask their questions.

In addition to our regular Adult Alpha, we were blessed to offer Alpha programs for Youth, the Aldergrove campus, the Yorkson campus (in both English and Spanish), and our inaugural Chinese Alpha, which had over 50 participants!

I'm so thankful for the guest who said this last Alpha course helped him "cross the border" (referring to being on the journey for a while, but actually now being on the other side and fully wanting to follow Jesus)! I'm grateful for the table of guests, most of whom were brand new to church, but who opened up so authentically week after week. I'm thankful for the Chinese guest who just happened to hear about Mandarin Alpha on a group chat and ended up having his life changed. I'm so grateful for the guest who left week #1 of Alpha and wanted to become a Christian that very night!

Praise the Lord for His work in Alpha this past year

He is doing more than we could ask or imagine!

Our hearts are full!

Tanya Price

Alpha Coordinator

Living Well

Mental health matters! Supporting each other as we navigate the many ups and downs associated with our mental health also matters. Living Well is finishing up its ninth year. This year, we have had many returning speakers and have also welcomed many new speakers. We are so grateful for each one who comes to share and help reduce the stigma associated with mental health challenges. We also hosted our third annual mental health workshop with Nate Searle, who spoke on the topic of anxiety and human suffering. At this event, we also hosted our first mental health resource fair. It was encouraging to see the many resources available in our community.

We continue to be encouraged by the way God reveals Himself to us in the valleys and on the mountaintops. Thank you, Jesus, for being with us right where we are!

Calvin & Suzie Warneke

Care Ministry

The Bereavement Journey is a 6-week video series that provides support for individuals who have recently experienced the loss of a significant person in their life. There were two Bereavement Journey sessions offered this year, each accommodating 10 to 12 participants. The sessions lasted approximately 2 hours and included a video presentation, as well as two discussion sessions where the group was divided into two with a leader. Participant handouts indicated that only 5 of the sessions are covered, as the 6th session is Christian-focused. It was deemed more inclusive for the community if Christians or those interested in the Christian perspective could view this session independently. Interestingly, in the second Bereavement Journey, all participants requested that it be offered to the entire group, including non-Christians. All participants recommended that this session be included in the program.

In each session, participants were highly supportive of one another and engaged in discussions about the topics presented in the videos. There was sharing of stories, laughter, and tears together. One gentleman, who had lost his wife, missed one session to have dinner with his son for his birthday. A week later, this same son died unexpectedly. A group of people from the Bereavement Journey attended his home with cookies and support to be with him in his grief. Another participant is continuing his recovery journey with someone he met at the sessions. There was tremendous evidence of the value of providing a space for understanding the grieving process and the importance of supporting each other during significant loss.

Darlane Pankratz

Freedom Session

This year, as a leadership team, we watched new life unfold where there had only been displacement and shame in participants' lives. Week after week, we watched as the Holy Spirit, through the ministry of Freedom Session, prompted us to partake in the pruning of undesirable behaviors and attitudes that were not of Jesus’ design.

\We witnessed Jesus’ call to forgiveness for others as well as ourselves, challenging us in ways that will forever alter the way we respond to our Lord's call as Kingdom people.

Through Freedom Session, participants found freedom in Christ and established new tools to be stronger apprentices of Jesus.

Psalm 40:1-3

Rick Hicks

Apprentice Life

Apprentice Life is a nine-week experiential learning course that explores the teachings and work of Jesus of Nazareth. Its purpose is to help participants understand Jesus’ message and learn what it looks like to trust Him as their Friend and Leader, day to day, and for a lifetime. Through formal teaching, stimulating activities, group and mentor/participant conversations, home activities to extend a learner’s growth, and mutually encouraging friendships, people gain valuable tools to help them take ownership of their own learning and formation.

A crucial aspect of the course is personal one-on-one mentorship, facilitated by members of our church community. It has been an incredible joy to see these relationships develop over nine weeks and to see each mentor demonstrate the love of Christ, a listening ear, and their own life’s wisdom for the participants. Here are a couple of testimonies from the past year:

(apprenticelife.ca)

Tim McCarthy

DISCIPLESHIP PASTOR

Outreach + ministries

Celebrate Single Moms

On Saturday, May 11th, we hosted Celebrate Single Moms at our Aldergrove Campus. After months of planning, lots of prayer, and a week of setup and preparations, we opened our doors with great anticipation of what the Lord was about to do. Saturday morning, we welcomed in our CSM Moms! The morning started with freshly baked scones and hot coffee, warm welcomes, family photos, opportunities for tech support, and care for the kids. Moms enjoyed some special music from our band, an encouraging word from our speaker, making a succulent planter, a workshop on how to eat nutritiously on a budget, a painted coaster craft, and a lovely, delicious high tea lunch. It was breathtaking to see the Aldergrove Campus beautifully decorated, set up for radical hospitality, and the generosity of our NLCC community demonstrated on stage where the door prizes and gift bags were awaiting our guests.

Over 200 volunteers gave of their time, treasure, and talents to generously pour out Jesus’ love on our CSM moms! In the words of one of our moms, “I felt so special on this day. I thought it was incredible to see all of the volunteers who wanted to help out! The fact that there were more volunteers than moms just made it even more amazing!” Another mom shared, “It is always the kindness of the volunteers that means so much to me. It’s nice to feel appreciated and all the volunteers do this event out of the kindness of their heart.” Another mom took her first steps back to church after CSM this past Sunday at the Aldergrove location. Wow! Thank you, Jesus! We give all the glory to God.

Thank you, church family, for all the beautiful ways that you supported this event and to all the volunteers who sought to demonstrate the unconditional love of God and make the Gospel tangible to single moms in Aldergrove!

Sara Wood

Outreach & Connections Coordinator

Langley City Outreach

"Every Sunday evening, members of North Langley Community Church prepare a meal and serve it to many homeless and less fortunate people in the Langley City area. We often sit with them, hoping to develop a relationship with them. Many of our friends whom we serve feel rejected by society, and we try to show them the love we ourselves have received from Jesus.

Over the years, we lose track of some of the people we have served. We hope and pray they are doing well, as many of our friends end up dying due to their addictions. This year has been a difficult one.

However, there are bright moments as well: This February, as we were closing in prayer, a healthy young lady came into the Vineyard church where we serve. We recognized her smile and laughter immediately. It was K, who had once lived on the streets because of her addictions. She came to thank us for helping her during her difficult times and to tell us that she had found a home, a job, and that she no longer used drugs. It was wonderful to see how she had succeeded and how happy she was.

Andy Brintnell

Global Outreach

The Global Outreach (GO) Team has grown to thirteen members, with representation from the Aldergrove, Yorkson, and Walnut Grove campuses.

Financially, the GO Team provided oversight of 19 individual and group missionaries with ongoing support and one-time financial gifts. We also oversaw the funding for partnerships with Wellspring, Wycliffe, Pan de Vida, Kuwasha, and Multiply (MB Missions). Michaila Hedd’s (YWAM) ministry to homeless and at-risk street workers in Amsterdam was added to our list of supported missionaries. Morrison & Marlene Bartsch have transitioned out of their leadership role at YWAM Wiler this Spring.

A travel advisory for the regional area of Colima, Mexico resulted in the postponement of a church-to-church partnership trip; instead, a leadership team from Colima came to Canada, supporting the NLCC MOVE camp in July 2023. Ben Fredrickson organized a young adults missions trip in April to Berlin, Germany, where they coordinated activities with Ben & Melissa Froese. Dane Smith will lead a youth team of NLCC high school youth to Campbell River in July 2024 to run their first MOVE camp.

Many of our NLCC missionaries traveled back to Canada for furlough, to reconnect with our church and individual supporters. Jenn Muth shared how her team works with low-income seniors in Hong Kong collecting cardboard for extra income and how they have been able to provide sanitary care packages, build friendships, and share the Gospel message. During Advent Blessing this year, the GO Team was able to send a gift on behalf of NLCC to each of our overseas missionaries. Additionally, five missionaries were highlighted for additional donations online.

On Missions Sunday (April 21), our missionaries were able to share video clips of their ministry work. Noah Fensome shared many of his personal experiences of missions, focusing on the Great Commission; his fervent heart for missions was evident. Noah spoke at NLCC Walnut Grove & Yorkson and recorded his sermon for the Aldergrove campus.

The GO Team continues to update the current Missions policies, communications, and website links to our missionaries, improving access to missions updates for NLCC members. We continue to work with our church ministries to develop opportunities for our NLCC youth and young adults to serve outside our Church and into the Global community.

Abby Chan

Moms’ Hour

When you walk into the chapel on a Wednesday morning, you’ll find crawling babies and toddlers playing, moms drinking coffee and enjoying baked goods, and a buzz of conversation filling the room. The morning begins with a slow start as moms bring their children down for childcare and then connect about their week as they grab a snack and coffee. Connection and a sense of belonging are the top priorities of Moms Hour, providing a space for moms to build community and journey through motherhood together.

Moms Hour has become a place for moms of all walks of life to feel seen and heard, to build community and connection, and to grow in their faith with Jesus. Over the past 2 years, we have seen many moms and children attend on a Wednesday morning, some every week and some once in a while. We have been able to create a space where anyone can drop in and feel welcomed. The midweek gathering provides moms with an opportunity to talk with other moms and share about their week. It gives moms a chance to ask for advice or to just be heard and have their feelings validated. This year, we invited guest speakers to share their journey in motherhood, and we studied women in the Bible and how to let go of our control and give it to Jesus. Moms gather to listen, laugh, and pray together.

The power of invitation has led to moms attending not only from those who attend NLCC but also from around Langley.

Eren Allen

“

Before you invited me to Moms Hour, I hadn’t been to church in over 8 months. I was mad because my aunt died from breast cancer just

before my daughter was born, and I couldn’t see how God could heal my hurt. I felt betrayed that God would take her away when I knew how much she wanted to meet her. When I started coming to Moms Hour, it felt like Jesus was calling me back. I felt brave enough to go back to church and have Jesus heal my brokenness I was experiencing. From that invitation, I was able to feel connected to the church again and experience the love of God.”

MOVE Camp

Another year of MOVE camp has passed, and we are on the precipice of our 10th year coming in just a few short weeks! As my brain is buzzing, full of to-do lists and volunteer recruitment for this year, we want to pause and look back at all that God did and provided in 2023.

Last year, we once again welcomed 500+ kids into one of our three NLCC spaces. It is a privilege that we don’t take lightly; families entrust their precious children to us—not just for child-care but to make it their very best week of the summer.

For this update, I want to focus not on the program or the many children we get to love but on the many people who step up to make a week like this happen. I can boldly say that those who serve in MOVE camp are some of the best in our entire church. They give of their talents and time—a multi-generational group of people who serve in a variety of areas using a variety of gifts. Some jobs are upfront and visible, but many are behind the scenes and vital to making camp run safely.

Last year, we welcomed 55 grade 6 and 7 kids into our Leader in Training Program. This program is designed to give our youngest volunteers the opportunity to learn and practice leadership skills as well as help in a variety of ways that may be outside their comfort zone. From welcoming kids with a high-five tunnel to washing windows to assisting in a small group—these kids were up for anything, and they served so well! We were also blessed when a group of seniors from our Sojourner group came on board to help shuttle volunteers from one campus to another each day. They gave of their time and their gas to serve those in need. Each volunteer who got the opportunity to ride with these wise and equally fun Grandpas was blessed. They practically filled a need and did it joyfully.

It doesn’t matter which age group you fall into; we have a place for you.

To make a camp of this magnitude happen, we need a small army who serve sacrificially.

Michelle Renaud

camp director