Are you still encouraged that we’ll all make it? Or… at least hanging in there? These crazy days are lasting a lot longer than any of us first thought, aren’t they? But, we will continue to trust the Lord to lead us in His way. Let’s put our trust in the Lord during these difficulties. I encourage us all to keep our focus on Jesus, and to know who our enemy is. Our enemy is not people who disagree with us, nor the government. Nope, our enemy is Satan himself. When we realize that, I believe that we will engage in the right battles, the bigger battles, not the smaller ones. Okay, okay, my sermon is over…. 🙂

Here are some of the things that have been happening at HMI Pacific since my last newsletter. I was invited by the President of the West Kelowna Warriors hockey club to attend a couple Warriors games during their pod season in Vernon. Attendance at these games is very restricted, with Covid protocols taken very seriously, so it was quite an honour to be invited.. (The Warriors are playing in a ‘pod’, with Salmon Arm and Vernon. It’s a way to give the players a chance to play games and be seen by scouts and colleges/universities, not just practise all season long.) Even though the rink was empty, (and felt quite strange) I was glad to sing the National Anthem and also just be there. Sitting alone during the game, I wondered why I was there, but then it became clear. There were only 5 or 6 people in the entire arena that seats 3,000, and at the intermission I began to have a conversation with a fellow standing a ways away. (Masked and distanced….)  It turned out that he was the Executive Director of the BCHL, and when I introduced myself, he knew who I was. I immediately knew that this was the real reason why I was at the game. Because of that conversation, I now have an opportunity to be a part of the league coaches meeting, giving a report on chapel programs.

I’m pleased to report that we have new chaplains in Langley and Surrey, and I am very thankful for Jason and Brent who are taking up the chaplaincy with these two clubs. I pray that in September that they (and all of us chaplains) will experience a more ‘normal’ start to a hockey ministry season. Also, I was honoured to sing to an empty arena this year at the Warriors Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night. This is an important annual event for most hockey clubs, and of course, we were asked to wear something pink if we could. (I kind of liked wearing my pink tie….!)

I’m quite pleased that team chapels are still happening with a number of clubs around the province, and of course they are online… mainly on Zoom. I have had a regular Zoom chapel with the Warriors, as recently as April 28th.

Finally, I ask you to pray….. please pray for Gavin and Brayden, two young players that are battling with cancer. Also, please remember the two HMI summer hockey camps that we will run in BC; one in Williams Lake and the other in Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island. These will be day camps, as we cannot hold overnight camps due to Covid protocols. I would also ask for prayer as I plan to meet the president of Kelowna Minor Hockey in the next short while, talking about what minor hockey chapels could look like. And last but not least, I ask for prayer concerning financial donations to the ministry. Thank you for your faithfulness in this area as I am acutely aware that these are not easy days for so many.

May God richly bless you,

Don Richmond

Hockey Ministries International

Pacific Region