Bennett's Ministry News

Waiting for Jesus

It's good to write to you as we head towards Christmas. I'm enjoying celebrating Advent with my family and with International students at UBC. I find that reading the reflections and lighting the candles really helps convey the story to students and to our kids. The idea of "waiting for Jesus" is really catching my attention. I'm trying to learn what it was like long ago to wait for Jesus. What kind of faithfulness did this require and how did they have to adjust their vision to see him when he appeared among them? Today, in my ISM ministry, I'm waiting for signs that Jesus is working among students. In my family I'm looking for signs that he's shaping us as parents and our kids as people who will be faithful followers for a life time.

Miriah lives in our basement suite. She was an IVCF student at GPRC, now studying at Regent College

Signs of Jesus at Work

I'm encouraged by how I see Jesus at work in one of our weekly student Bible studies. Hannie is a new student leader who has come to us from Korea. Hannie has met two new friends from Korea that want to study scripture with her, neither were Christians. They have begun a regular bible study together which they named "The Circus". This is what Hannie wrote about The Circus:

"The bible study opened up my eyes to experience God’s sovereign work that draws people to him. The passion in my friends to know more about God, the seriousness of the big desire to grow in faith is nothing I had experienced myself or even expected when I started this bible study. Having grown up in a Christian family, I had taken many things for granted, but seeing my friends seeking the directions to live in the Gospel, not only each day but the many tomorrows that lie in front of them, has challenged me a lot in my journey of faith. Through the bible study I have found friendship in faith and also opportunity to think about how to ‘live out’ the gospel every day as young adults in university."

There is a lot of growth going on in Hannie as she learns to lead and in the students as they have increasing curiosity about who God is. They quickly went through some introductory study materials I had provided and decided they needed to meet daily with Hannie. Reading through one gospel per week became their plan! One of Hannie's friends has accepted Jesus and the other reports that she is on the way. Pray with me that their desire to meet together and absorb large amounts of scripture results in their hearts being drawn to Jesus and that this would spread to other friends.

I recognized the gift it was to discover motivated student leaders and eager friends seeking God at UBC. I've done my best to adapt my leadership to our group's unique needs. My prayer going into this year was to see what God was doing and to join Him; I'm seeing that coming true in these situations and I'm praying for more of this.

IVCF Staff Training

I have been invited by IVCF to become involved training new staff. In November we held another Western Canadian New Staff training event in Vancouver, at which I helped to teach. Seven staff came from Manitoba, Alberta and BC. I joined Susie Colby, our regional director, to teach this course called "Invite Widely". My role was to lead the Bible study portion using the parable of The Great Banquet, in Luke 14. We looked at how the servants actively compelled and convinced people to join the master's banquet as a picture of what God calls us to. The truth is we are hesitant to call people, let alone "compel" people, towards God's kingdom. On the second day we taught them how to run a campus evangelism station, called a PROXE. The PROXE uses art and is designed to attract people into a deeper discussion, and ultimately to a gospel presentation. We did role plays for 2 hours that afternoon, learning to share the gospel with each other. This was hard work, and we learned how much practice we actually need putting words to all the gospel ideas in our head in ways that are genuine and compelling. IVCF has been granted seminary credit at Regent College for this course which is very motivating. Please pray for these 7 staff, and myself, that we can run effective PROXE stations on campus in January and see students respond to the gospel.

(l-r) Kim, Matt, Susan, Brian, Christa, Barron, Jacqueline, Justin, Me, Leslie

Other training I am embarking on is Masters level study at Regent College on UBC campus. I will begin taking one course per semester to enrich my pastoral skills, Bible knowledge and leadership ability. IVCF encourages their staff to train further for excellence in Christian mission. IVCF also allows me to use fundraised money to pay for courses as part of my staff development. We receive these courses at a 50% discount - or about $700 per course. I have some funds in place to begin these studies but will need additional support over time. Would you consider making a special gift to help fund a course for my training?

I have a wonderful IVCF staff team in Vancouver made up of 9 members. Each Monday morning we meet to read scripture, pray and sharpen each other's skills. This kind of support is very encouraging and has added a lot to my ministry.

Ministry Finances

I have good news from my ministry finances. Since moving to Vancouver the short fall I needed to raise has shrunk from $20,000 to $10,000, due to generous contributions from several people. Thank you to those of you who support us regularly and who are new to our team. I'd like to invite any of you others who read our news to prayerfully consider joining us in this mission with a financial gift. What you'll be investing in is direct ministry to the future leaders, lawyers, doctors, teachers of multiple countries. We feel honored to do this work and are excited for you to join with us as partners.

Here's How:

Donation by Mail:

Designate Cheques to “IVCF”

memo line: “Mike Bennett”

Mail to: IVCF

1 International Blvd

Toronto, ON M9W 6H3

Donate On Line:

www.ivcf.ca

Click : Donors: Make a Gift: Support a Staff:

"Mike Bennett" is listed alphabetically under M.

Christmas Plans

We are staying in Vancouver this Christmas. Its such a great season to share with International students who've never heard the news of God's coming to earth. We had a great Christmas banquet with about 40 international students in attendance. Five volunteers cooked an amazing Turkey dinner for us. We've hosted two advent celebration dinners in December during the student's finals. On December 24th and 25th, we are inviting 25 students to share a family Christmas with us. We'll make cookies, cook and eat together, attend a Christmas eve service, have a gift exchange and try in every way to help them feel loved. Tonight Jalena said "I'm really looking forward to all the Christmas activities with students". That really warmed my heart as I know we ask a lot of our kids in sharing this work we do. Please pray that these would be strategic days for sharing the gospel.

IVCF Christmas banquet

Family

As this first semester ends, I look back on a successful family transition to Vancouver with a lot of thankfulness. There certainly have been some hard moments. We've missed many of you and still feel the void of close friends and family nearby. Our home still isn't unpacked as we'd like it.

Each of the kids has met a few friends that they enjoy. One family nearby has a son and daughter in Callen and Jalena's classes and we've enjoyed spending time with them. Kiara and Treah both completed dance lessons, Jalena swimming, and Callen is on a soccer team. As a family we've joined a home group through our church that has been very welcoming. Just recently our kids were all in the church Christmas production.