From the Chair...

Have you ever wanted to make an impact for God?  Have you ever wanted to be a part of something important?  Have you ever wanted to be a part of something life-changing?  Well, guess what?  As a part of WMB, YOU ARE!!  WMB is doing what God is blessing in and around our world.  It may be within ‘Our 16K' or it may be in downtown Toronto.  It may be in Mexico or Africa or the Czech Republic or maybe, just maybe, it's across your back fence or at ‘Tim's'.  Regardless of the location, the people of WMB are trying to be there, to take the gospel wherever we are, to whomever will see and will listen. That is called being ‘Missional'.

Did you know that this year we have chosen to focus on discipleship itself as a theme?  This focus is played out in Leadership Board meetings, Pastoral Staff meetings, the Sunday morning message series, small groups and even our Global Outreach. If you are a committed believer of Christ, discipleship is simply knowing what Jesus teaches; doing what Jesus does or would do; and being like Jesus.  No small task, I know, but that is what He calls us to.  Not overnight, mind you.  It's a lifetime journey.

A year ago our theme was about providing clarity.  Knowing our purpose of mission.  Knowing that our foundation was the Word of God and challenging us to go deeper in the understanding of God's message to us.  Neither of these themes stands on its own.  They are each inter-connected and in fact inter-dependent.  Look at our mission statement at WMB - "making more and better disciples".  It's not new.  In fact, it's nearly 2000 years old.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."    (Matthew 28:8-20, NIV)

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  (Acts 1:8, NIV)

I'm excited this year as we continue our journey with Christ and each other.  I'm challenged to become a ‘better disciple' as I seek to be more like Christ.

As we think of discipleship, I'm reminded of this parable by Jesus found in Mark 4:3-9(NIV).

"Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

As your Leadership Board, we ask for your prayers and for your support as we all continue on the path of ‘making more and better disciples'.

On behalf of the Board,
Steve Newman