The Effects of Giants in Our Lives
Over the first three days of this week my wife and I met with some Giants. I hope that statement will take you deeper into what is written below.
The Giants we met were not the kind that stands very tall in a physical way – but rather giants that stand tall emotionally and spiritually. We met these Giants on Tuesday and Wednesday.
We attended a joint conference our ministers and their wives held in Brampton, Ontario. The “joint conference” as it was called brought together the ministers of the Eastern Ontario and Western Ontario Districts of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) – for which we are a part.
I would like to describe the Wednesday Giants first.
Wednesday was planned as a special day to discuss the future for the Masters College and Seminary (MCS). MCS is our Eastern Canadian Bible College that trains men and women for the ministry in PAOC churches and students for future service in the community.
Background…
For many years MCS, once known as Eastern Pentecostal Bible College, was situated in Peterborough, Ontario. In fact our church, Northview Pentecostal Church was a supporting church and had many of the students attend our worship services. This had continued for over 60 years with students being a part of our church since its early days on Water Street, then to Dublin Street Pentecostal Church and finally to our present location at Northview Pentecostal Church.
A few years ago this college was moved from Peterborough to the Toronto area. It was a difficult move for our church as a number of the lay people in our church worked in the college – moving meant losing their jobs. Also the professors that worked in the college as teachers would eventually leave as well. The drop locally was a tragic one for our assembly as we felt the losses numerically as well as spiritually as families were deeply affected with the loss of jobs etc.
Our congregants were very close friends with all of the folks that were “moved” from positions they served in over these years. The minister/professors would eventually get new positions and/or move to new areas. The lay people however were not so fortunate. Many still do not have jobs to this day. The affect was great.
The attendance of the college has dropped. This may have happened for a number of reasons. Some have felt that it is a trend that is happening with the higher education in all things Biblical. Others were convinced that the move to Toronto was just too expensive for most students and their families that support them. Still others felt that it was just plain wrong and not in God’s plan. There were many reasons.
On Wednesday in Brampton a very large group of men and women listened to the reports that updated us on the present state of MCS in many areas.
With Dr. Evon Horton having been called to a new responsibility in Florida, MCS was in need of a new President. On Wednesday it was announced that Rev. David Hazzard was to begin his duties as Acting President at MCS. David has been serving in the National Headquarters of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada in Mississauga, Ontario. For 18 months he will be in the college for 1/3 rd of his time and the other 2/3 rd of his time at the NHQ.
This announcement of David Hazzard becoming Acting President, was warmly received by all in attendance.
Much discussion followed with all the participants responding to a series of questions that helped give feed back to the MCS Board of Governors.
It was at this point one of the leaders demonstrated his attitudes and qualities to our ministers. Rev. David Shepherd came to the microphone and apologized for the harm that had been done to anyone in the process of the move of the college over these past years. The expression from him was one that was deep and sincere, genuinely from his heart. It was at this point we all witnessed a "Giant" of a leader that is with us.
My personal feeling is… perhaps we will begin to witness the new beginnings of MCS. What the final answers are and the future plans are we do not yet know. But we have all taken a great first step as forgiveness is being sought by all.
Tuesday Giants…
Tuesday was a powerful days as both Alida and myself met with old Giants. These are Giants that we were not really aware of but powerful and relevant in so many ways. Some were good Giants and others were not so good. Let me explain…
Pastor Pete and Geri Scazzero ministered to our conference in amazing ways. Pete is the author of two powerful books entitled “The Emotionally Healthy Church” and the “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality”. They are the pastors of a church in New York City. Through personal challenges the two books have been written. They have also formed The Center for Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.
There is no way that I can sum up their total ministry to all of us in a short few paragraphs of this Blog. It would take me a long time to describe what happened in the full day from 9:00 AM through to 5:00 PM. I can say it was AMAZING! The journey we walked through together was another turning point for the two of us.
Pete and Geri lead us to look at our own families and the powerful affect that they had on the way that we became what we are today. And most importantly how these family influences strengthen and possibly weaken what we are today.
That is where the second set of Giants appeared for me. The power of what we are (or the lack of power) is so strongly linked with these Giants of the past.
I will not share my personal journey at this point. I need more time to assimilate all that I experienced. I will share more in time as God leads me – but perhaps that will be on more of a personal basis.
Pete Scazzero shared numerous stories of how God has led them to their discoveries. One example, Pete’s family has strong ties with anger and hatred. His description of the dysfunctional family included the fact that a grandfather on his mother’s side… was from the Mafioso… the strong criminal element in the Italian culture.
Geri and Pete led us through the use of one tool that was an eye opener to say the least. It is a tool that helps you to take a look at the family you came from and its powerful affect on your life (good and not so good at times). It was the first time I had heard of a “Genogram”. The best way to describe this is that it is communication tool. One Web Site describes it this way… “Welcome to the world of genograms! We’re glad you’re here to learn more about family patterns of communication and how those patterns are manifest from generation to generation.”
Some of the Giants that showed up during this very full day included; Grief, Anger, Forgiveness and Freedom – to name just a few.
Again there is too much to share on this page.
The one Giant that joined my gait on the way out of that meeting of Tuesday was Freedom. He promised that he will walk closer and remind me more of his presence when I most need him. He has brought a new realization what God has done for me.
I know I AM FREE! And I am realizing more each day that this FREEDOM is not earned by me – but rather by my God who gave and showed me his Amazing Grace.
It was a very, very full week!
Oh… by the way… you may have already guessed… it was so important to have met the Tuesday Giants before I met with the many Giants of Wednesday…
~ Pastor Murray ~
Pete Scazzero's Two Books
The Giants we met were not the kind that stands very tall in a physical way – but rather giants that stand tall emotionally and spiritually. We met these Giants on Tuesday and Wednesday.
We attended a joint conference our ministers and their wives held in Brampton, Ontario. The “joint conference” as it was called brought together the ministers of the Eastern Ontario and Western Ontario Districts of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) – for which we are a part.
I would like to describe the Wednesday Giants first.
Wednesday was planned as a special day to discuss the future for the Masters College and Seminary (MCS). MCS is our Eastern Canadian Bible College that trains men and women for the ministry in PAOC churches and students for future service in the community.
Background…
For many years MCS, once known as Eastern Pentecostal Bible College, was situated in Peterborough, Ontario. In fact our church, Northview Pentecostal Church was a supporting church and had many of the students attend our worship services. This had continued for over 60 years with students being a part of our church since its early days on Water Street, then to Dublin Street Pentecostal Church and finally to our present location at Northview Pentecostal Church.
A few years ago this college was moved from Peterborough to the Toronto area. It was a difficult move for our church as a number of the lay people in our church worked in the college – moving meant losing their jobs. Also the professors that worked in the college as teachers would eventually leave as well. The drop locally was a tragic one for our assembly as we felt the losses numerically as well as spiritually as families were deeply affected with the loss of jobs etc.Our congregants were very close friends with all of the folks that were “moved” from positions they served in over these years. The minister/professors would eventually get new positions and/or move to new areas. The lay people however were not so fortunate. Many still do not have jobs to this day. The affect was great.
The attendance of the college has dropped. This may have happened for a number of reasons. Some have felt that it is a trend that is happening with the higher education in all things Biblical. Others were convinced that the move to Toronto was just too expensive for most students and their families that support them. Still others felt that it was just plain wrong and not in God’s plan. There were many reasons.
On Wednesday in Brampton a very large group of men and women listened to the reports that updated us on the present state of MCS in many areas.
With Dr. Evon Horton having been called to a new responsibility in Florida, MCS was in need of a new President. On Wednesday it was announced that Rev. David Hazzard was to begin his duties as Acting President at MCS. David has been serving in the National Headquarters of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada in Mississauga, Ontario. For 18 months he will be in the college for 1/3 rd of his time and the other 2/3 rd of his time at the NHQ.This announcement of David Hazzard becoming Acting President, was warmly received by all in attendance.
Much discussion followed with all the participants responding to a series of questions that helped give feed back to the MCS Board of Governors.
It was at this point one of the leaders demonstrated his attitudes and qualities to our ministers. Rev. David Shepherd came to the microphone and apologized for the harm that had been done to anyone in the process of the move of the college over these past years. The expression from him was one that was deep and sincere, genuinely from his heart. It was at this point we all witnessed a "Giant" of a leader that is with us.
My personal feeling is… perhaps we will begin to witness the new beginnings of MCS. What the final answers are and the future plans are we do not yet know. But we have all taken a great first step as forgiveness is being sought by all.
Tuesday Giants…Tuesday was a powerful days as both Alida and myself met with old Giants. These are Giants that we were not really aware of but powerful and relevant in so many ways. Some were good Giants and others were not so good. Let me explain…
Pastor Pete and Geri Scazzero ministered to our conference in amazing ways. Pete is the author of two powerful books entitled “The Emotionally Healthy Church” and the “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality”. They are the pastors of a church in New York City. Through personal challenges the two books have been written. They have also formed The Center for Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.
There is no way that I can sum up their total ministry to all of us in a short few paragraphs of this Blog. It would take me a long time to describe what happened in the full day from 9:00 AM through to 5:00 PM. I can say it was AMAZING! The journey we walked through together was another turning point for the two of us.
Pete and Geri lead us to look at our own families and the powerful affect that they had on the way that we became what we are today. And most importantly how these family influences strengthen and possibly weaken what we are today.
That is where the second set of Giants appeared for me. The power of what we are (or the lack of power) is so strongly linked with these Giants of the past.
I will not share my personal journey at this point. I need more time to assimilate all that I experienced. I will share more in time as God leads me – but perhaps that will be on more of a personal basis.
Pete Scazzero shared numerous stories of how God has led them to their discoveries. One example, Pete’s family has strong ties with anger and hatred. His description of the dysfunctional family included the fact that a grandfather on his mother’s side… was from the Mafioso… the strong criminal element in the Italian culture.
Geri and Pete led us through the use of one tool that was an eye opener to say the least. It is a tool that helps you to take a look at the family you came from and its powerful affect on your life (good and not so good at times). It was the first time I had heard of a “Genogram”. The best way to describe this is that it is communication tool. One Web Site describes it this way… “Welcome to the world of genograms! We’re glad you’re here to learn more about family patterns of communication and how those patterns are manifest from generation to generation.”
Some of the Giants that showed up during this very full day included; Grief, Anger, Forgiveness and Freedom – to name just a few.
Again there is too much to share on this page.
The one Giant that joined my gait on the way out of that meeting of Tuesday was Freedom. He promised that he will walk closer and remind me more of his presence when I most need him. He has brought a new realization what God has done for me.
I know I AM FREE! And I am realizing more each day that this FREEDOM is not earned by me – but rather by my God who gave and showed me his Amazing Grace.
It was a very, very full week!
Oh… by the way… you may have already guessed… it was so important to have met the Tuesday Giants before I met with the many Giants of Wednesday…
~ Pastor Murray ~
Pete Scazzero's Two Books
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Thursday, October 19, 2006
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