Communications & Urban Mission training, COVID church survey & more
Preparing for the Future of Church Communications Virtual Communications Summit to be held August 20, 22, 23
Recently, we conducted a survey on our members’ online church experience during the pandemic.[i] When asked if they would continue to watch online services after churches reopened, most (84.28%) said sometimes or absolutely. While several respondents (64%) expressed missing the fellowship and interaction of in-person church, many predicted that online church will continue to have its place in ministry, even after things get “back to normal.”
Our upcoming virtual communications summit, themed “Preparing for the Future of Church Communications” considers the realities of the post-pandemic church. That is, even as our churches are reopening, it will be some time before large gatherings are permissible or even advisable. Since March, we’ve discovered that church is not dependent on a building and creatively adapted our operations. Now let’s consider how we can continue to extend the love of Christ beyond four walls, including online.
Join us for the following practical sessions tackling this topic from different angles:
Thursday, August 20, 6-8 pm, Live Streaming Kirk Nugent, Sr. Project Manager, Komposition LLC; Host, How it All Werks Live streaming best practices—lighting, audio, video, strategy and more Saturday, August 22, 3-5 pm, Digital Evangelism Felecia Datus, Special Projects Manager, Centre for Online Evangelism Making disciples online—online content development, analytics and engagement Sunday, August 23, 10am-12pm, Design for Print & Web Abbigale Comfort, Creative Director/Founder, Be of Good Comfort Designs Design essentials—creating more impactful designs as a tool for ministry Sunday, August 23, 3-5 pm, Speaker panel Kirk Nugent, Felecia Datus, Abbigale Comfort and a few special guests Preparing for the post-pandemic church from a communications standpoint
This training will equip church communicators, media teams, pastors, other leaders and interested parties to future-proof their ministry and allow them to network with like-minded individuals. Each session will also allow ample time for attendees to get answers to their specific communications/media challenges from our presenters. The grand finale will be a panel discussion with all three panellists and special guests.
Click here to register for free for our first-ever virtual communications summit! Visit adventistontario.org for more info on speakers and sessions.
The death of George Floyd has moved a growing number of Adventists to question the role of their church in the community. They see a gulf between what is happening outside the walls of their churches and what takes place inside, and they want to be part of meaningful change. Urban Mission Convention (UMC) 2020 promises to help kick-start a change that can transform the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ontario.
UMC 2020, a virtual gathering, may be one of the most exciting and life-changing events to occur in Ontario and Canada.
Ontario Conference is partnering with the North American Division Evangelism Institute (NADEI) to help churches that want to be transformed into contextually relevant congregations, churches consistently engaging their communities in practical ways that lead to disciple-making in an urban setting.
The partnership will also train and equip interested individuals to create new congregations purposefully designed to reflect their communities and to be relevant to them. Some of these may look very different from traditional Adventist churches.
Register for UMC 2020 and you will have the opportunity to engage in on-going training, support and coaching to transform your church or become part of forming a new, community-focused church plant.
UMC 2020 will be virtual and cost-free!
The September 11-13 convention will be preceded by two preparatory Zoom meetings on Tuesday evening, July 28 and August 4, 2020.
Click here for event details and registration info.
FINAL CALL: ONLINE CHURCH EXPERIENCE SURVEY
For the past few weeks, we have been conducting a survey on Ontario Conference Church members’ online church experience during the pandemic. The results will be shared in upcoming publications.
So far, we’ve received over 715 responses to the English survey and 38 responses to the French. We’ve extended the deadline to the end of day Monday, August 17, 2020. Please complete if you haven’t yet and share the links with your networks within Ontario Conference. English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZTP2PJG French: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CZ5MBW7
Edwards Keynote for Jamaican 58th Independence Anniversary Service
On behalf of the Charge D’Affaires (Acting High Commissioner) Ms. Dana Leigh Anderson of the Jamaica High Commission Ottawa, please enjoy, at their request, a link to their 58th Independence Anniversary Service. The Jamaica High Commission and the Jamaica Canada Association of Ottawa invited Ontario Conference president, Pr. Mansfield Edwards, to deliver the keynote address for the occasion. They have extended the link to our diverse Ontario Conference church family as an expression of their thanks to the Ontario Conference for “lending” Pr. Edwards for this occasion. Please click on the image below to view the celebration, including a speech by Edwards (beginning at 42-minute mark, ending at 69).
All Ontario Conference pastors have received guidelines for reopening churches, prepared by our Risk Management department. Ontario Conference administration requests that church boards process this document with their pastors and do their due diligence to follow all precautions before reopening.
If you didn’t catch the Virtual Day of Worship and would like to tune in, you can watch the morning program here and the evening program here. You may also watch it on our website.
Perhaps there are clouds in your life today. It is often helpful to see that clouds also carry rain, which can be refreshing and revitalizing. Job 37: 21 further tells us how “Men see not the bright light which is in the clouds.” Remember this: there is never a cloud without a bright light. Click the video above to see what we mean.
COVID-19 Resources
Family Life directors, Elizabeth and Orlando Pule, have initiated two video devotionals to help church members and their children: Courage 4 the day: MONDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY @ 1:30 PM Courage 4 the day: Student Edition: WEDNESDAY @ 9 AM Click on the images below to check them out!
Our Field House is available for groups of up to 10 for a Muskoka getaway, beginning July 3. Check out the details at www.campfrenda.com, or call us at 905-571-4211. Book your vacation now; spots are filling up fast!
Click the image above for a short video promoting this event.
In conjunction with the World Pathfinder Day on September 19, 2020, the Ontario Pathfinder Camp Meeting will be held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Pathfinder Ministry. Venue and details will be announced soon. Please save the date and plan for your whole club to join this big celebration.
Between now and July of 2020, we need the following items to be featured at the Pathfinder Camp Meeting: 1. Photos or video clips of Pathfinders serving in the community 2. Testimonies of individuals whose lives were changed by God through Pathfinder ministry 3. Stories of Adventist leaders or professionals whose successes could be attributed to their Pathfinder or Master Guide training and experience. 4. Names of individuals who dedicated long years of service in Pathfinder ministry (so we may recognize them).
Click the image below to watch a promotional video for this event.
Store in Charge SDA Academy Store Inc. 531 Finch Ave. W, Toronto, ON M2R 3X2
We are best known for our vegetarian food items operated by the Crawford Adventist Academy for over 30 years.
As a Store In Charge you will be responsible for the smooth running of your store, the development and ensuring that every customer leaves with a smile.
Your responsibilities will include but not be limited to: Meet sales targets and achieve profitability by controlling costs (labour, supplies, inventory etc.). Oversee day to day operation, maintain stock, comply with inventory control procedures, order and receive products, manage sales, handle cashier duty, close sales, prepare summary and deposit into the bank, keep the store neat and tidy at all times, formulate pricing policies and promote sales. Maintain the stability and reputation of the store by complying with legal requirements, contribute to the team effort and plan and organize the store in all manner.
Some ideal qualifications you possess: · 2 to 3 years of experience in retail sales desired. · Retail management experience is an added advantage. · An energetic person capable of exuding positivity and consistently delivering an outstanding, personalized retail service. · Proficiency with computers and Microsoft Office. · A self-starter with excellent communication skills. · Able to commute to bank and shopping for the store. · Able to lift and move delivered items inside the store.
Job Type: Full time from September 1, 2020 (15 hours Part-time till August 31st)
Last date: Until filled
Here's an amazing opportunity to learn, network and connect with some of the best musicians across the world. This master class is going to be both spirit-filled and educational. All the presenters are excited about what's to come and are experts at their craft. This effort is sponsored by Muzikizlife, an organization that heavily supports the Adventist community in Toronto and across the globe. Classes will be twice a week, Sundays and Thursdays from 7:15pm (EST) to 9pm (EST). All classes will be recorded so all registered attendees can go back and watch anything they missed.
Dear leaders, please note that this is a recurring meeting. Please use the information below to join every Sabbath morning at 8:00 a.m. until further notice. Kindly share with your team members.
Presentation: "To Mask or Not to Mask" Karen Kennedy, Public Health Inspector and Maria McClean
Date and time: August 15, 2020, at 08:00 a.m. Eastern Time (in the US and Canada)
