The Blog of Gordon Pifher

The theme for Camp Meeting 2008 is Sanctuary.

One of the most important understandings of God, as revealed in the Christian faith, is His desire to have a relationship with His creation - you and me. God created us with a plan for Him to live “among us, with us and in us.” Camp Meeting 2008 explores God’s plan in this three-fold Sanctuary emphasis. Friday - Sunday (July 25 - 27)

“God Among Us” (Exodus 25:8) Since Adam and Eve decided to separate from God, He has done all He can to be with us. His first attempt with Israel was through the Old Testament Sanctuary. There will be numerous presentations extending throughout the week on this important Adventist topic.

Monday - Thursday (July 28 - 31) “God With Us” (Matthew 1:23)
The amazing picture of Jesus was the revelation that God was willing to live with us. Camp Meeting 2008 will reveal the importance of the miraculous incarnation of God.

Friday - Sabbath (Aug 1 - 2) “God In Us” (2 Corinthians 6:16) Jesus revealed it was important that He leave earth so a more intimate presence could be claimed by His children. The disciples experienced the amazing promise that our bodies are the “a sanctuary” or temple of God.

Experience A
sanc·tu·ar·y - A place where holiness lives Sample Guest Speaker List Auditorium • Dan Jackson - President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada • Miroslov Pujic - General Conference Director for Post-Modern Studies • Charles Drake - Vice-President for Administration for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mid-America • Kay Kuzma - Founder and President of Family Matters and Adjunct Associate Professor of Health Promotion and Education, Loma Linda University
• Lonnie Melashenko - Director-Speaker for the Voice of Prophecy (world’s second oldest religious broadcast)
• Hans Diehl - Founder Director of Lifestyle Medicine Institute, Loma Linda, California


The Wave (formerly Youth Adult Tent) • Matthew Gamble – Teaching Pastor and Spiritual Life Coach at the 24-Seven Ministry Center in Seattle, WA
Youth • Marco Belmonte Unique Opportunity
• Tour a full-sized model of the Old Testament Sanctuary
• An amazing one hour guided tour through “Messiah’s Mansion”. This will be an inspiring attraction that will also be advertised to the community. Experience Sanctuary Camp Meeting • Sanctuary Camp Meeting will be an unforgettable experience, reminding us in numerous ways, of how much God wants to live with His children.
• Watch for more details in future posters and bulletin materials Plan Now To Attend Sanctuary
• If you haven’t made arrangements to attend, now is the time. Don’t miss Sanctuary Camp Meeting 2008. This will be a life-changing event.
• We will blend different daily guest speakers, with some presenters, to provide thematic presentations for the entire week.

Streams of Hope The BC Conference New Capital Campaign Growing Conferences will find ways to expand and grow God’s kingdom. Many of our members are praying for meaningful projects to assure our expanding BC Mission Field is being reaching with the Good News. At the August Constituency meeting it was voted to proceed with a capital campaign for the British Columbia Conference.

New Development Director Selected We have been advertising for a part-time position, since the fundraising expenses will be taken from the dollars raised. We want to be excellent stewards of God’s gifts.  We will be following General Conference policy guidelines to assure accountability. I am delighted that your Board of Directors has voted to hire Dr. Reo Ganson for this position.  Reo Ganson will still continue his ½ time position as director of Camp Hope.  There are some excellent overlaps between the two positions.

Dr Ganson will bring to this role an excellent knowledge of the BC Conference Experience in fund Raising for Conference and University, excellent people and organizational skills, a love for God, and a passion for the growth of the Church

Successful Capital Campaigns Have Clearly Defined Steps In January the Board of Directors will provide a list of possible projects. It could include Camp Hope, church planting, new church buildings, education, church member training, etc. Eventually this list will be narrowed to 3 or 4.  General donations will be divided by percentage.  Donors can also specific a specific project from the list.

Feasibility Study A neutral expert will be asked to meet with church leaders from around the Conference to determine the three or four projects that members perceive are the most important. March - Your Board of Directors will approve: * The official name * The capital campaign projects * The “number of millions” dollar figure and the time frame of the capital campaign selection    of the Campaign Lay Leadership Committee of 12 that will facilitate the program.

Communication Package Development of a communication package to keep every member in BC informed (posters, emails, letters, and bulletin information).  If the Lord provides some donors to provide incentive gifts we could launch this program at the 2008 Camp Meeting. It is felt that a few larger gifts will help set the tone for the success of this approach.

We Already Have Our First Donation A few weeks ago we received our first donation to the capital campaign. I am amazed and inspired by the faithful members in this Conference…. Thank-you!

What Can You Do Next? The Lord might impress some of you to provide the initial gifts to prime the donation pump.  Contact Reo Ganson, Gordon Pifher, Michael Wixwat or Mark Johnson. Pray that God will direct every step of this church growth adventure.  With God leading, we will see miracles!

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” Psalms 23:4

I held his hand as we sang together “Soon and very soon we are going to see the King.” Together we read and quoted uplifting Bible verses, and together we shared stories of hope and promise. I made the visit to encourage a spiritual giant within a frail body. Pastor Fitzroy Edwards is dying. He is losing the battle with cancer, but winning the battle of life. He is traveling through a deep valley - but he certainly isn’t alone.

One of the most amazing testimonies to the power of God and the influence of the church is to witness the journey of God’s children as they “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”.

A few years ago, I volunteered to help a fellow clergyman cover his chaplaincy duties at a local funeral home. I would be contacted if they needed the services of a pastor for a family that had no “religious connection”. My first call was to have the funeral service for a women in her eighties.

The funeral home had done a wonderful job preparing her body. The funeral chapel was attractive; appropriate music was playing for the service; an informative eulogy card was ready to distribute and the chairs were lined up neatly. But the funeral director and I were the only ones in attendance.

The director was surprised that I would continue with Biblical readings and prayer . . . and I was surprised and saddened that, apparently, this women had walked through the valley . . . alone.

In the last few weeks, I have sung and had conversations with two pastors that are walking through this very same valley. . . but not alone! They claim the promises that their Friend is by their side. Along with their loved ones and church family, they sing with assurance, “This world is not my home” and “Soon and very soon we are going to see the King”. I praise God for those who can “Walk through the valley in peace”!

Thank you Pastor Fitzroy and family for being a wonderful witness for the power of God’s promises.