Hi there to the HMI BC crew!
Let me give you an inside peek into what is happening with Hockey Ministries in BC. Over the last while, I have connected with a number of chaplains, many of them brand new. Let me ‘introduce’ you to a few of them.
One of those is James McFaddin in Castlegar. He is the new chaplain of the Castlegar Rebels Jr B club. Another new chaplain in Tyler Harper in the small town of Chase. Tyler is the chaplain for the Chase Heat Jr B club. Another chaplain that I have connected with is Chris de Monye’. Chris is the chaplain for the Surrey Eagles Jr A club.c
When I was at a church conference in Vancouver recently, I was so pleased to spend a bit of time with Danny Stebeck, who is the chaplain for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League. At that same conference I met up with Lewis Chifan, who is chaplain with the UBC Thunderbirds club. Also, I was recently able to connect with the chaplain of the Powell River Kings, Terry Dyer. All these chaplains are fabulous servants of Jesus, and I’d ask you to keep them on your prayer list.c
As the Hockey season came to a close for the West Kelowna Warriors, I was able to present the Warriors Chaplaincy Award to Lucas Bahn, a wonderful young man from Tennessee. Moments like these are precious, as these awards are presented on the ice after the final home game. I believe that the Lord is pleased as people hear about the team chapels in settings like this. Right after the season was over, I was able to have a good coffee with Chase Dubois, another one of the Warriors players. Of course, coffee is always followed by a prayer. Chase is from Williams Lake, and has been a regular chapel attender.
I also wanted to show you a picture of our chaplain in Revelstoke, Josiah Olson. Josiah has done a fantastic job holding team chapels with the Revelstoke Grizzlies Jr B club. His team won not only their league title, but also the Cyclone Taylor Cup which is the championship for British Columbia. Josiah is in this picture (blond hair holding his boy) with some of the players and coaches along with the championship trophies and banners.
I close my letter with a very sad heart for two reasons. On March 22, when I was in Revelstoke at a Kelowna Chiefs playoff game, (I serve as the chaplain for the Chiefs) Grant Sheridan, the part owner and GM of the Chiefs was there. He wasn’t feeling well, and I assumed he would feel better after a good night’s sleep. Well, i was wrong. He had contracted bacterial meningitis, and was rushed to the hospital. Grant is still in the Kelowna hospital. The doctors still do not know what the level of his recovery will be. I know that you will pray for Grant and his family.
On Tuesday, April 23rd in Saanichton BC, at 92 years of age my Dad passed away into the presence of Jesus. Lorraine and I rushed to the Island on the evening of the 22nd and were able to be with him at his bedside as he crossed into eternity with the Lord. The feelings that I have are such a paradox: sadness at missing my dad, yet triumph at knowing that he is in Glory right now. Thank you for your prayers at this time.
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