Last year I got an email from another pastor in the lower mainland asking seven different CRC pastors if we’d be interested in working together in providing better training for our councils. Seven out of seven responded with an enthusiastic YES and we began our planning. We met together as pastors online or in person a good five or six times over the next few months, ensuring to the best our abilities that the event would be able to achieve its goal in providing good training and introducing councils to good resources for serving in their context.

After the event, we were excited to hear the responses. One repeated comment was that it was “Better than I expected.” I’m not sure how high the bar was in the first place, but it was good to know that people appreciated it and nearly every person connected wanted to be part of it again next year. This is our hope that training is something energizing, not draining; it should open up new possibilities, not stifle creativity. So with this positive feedback, we already have something in the works and are excited to provide this again.

While it has been great to provide the training itself, one of the side effects of all of this planning has been connecting with the local pastors more frequently, sharing in our joys and challenges. While we have already been in the habit of doing this amongst the pastors in Abbotsford, it has been wonderful doing this with pastors reaching out to Langley, Surrey, Chilliwack, and Mission as well. I’m already looking forward to next year and for other ways that we can continue in working together as churches in the CRC.