Dearest HMI Pacific team,
It was an honour to be able to go on 2 road trips with the Warriors this year, taking in Victoria, Cowichan Valley (Duncan), Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Powell River and Chilliwack. On the trip I snapped a picture of the Warriors bus just in front of the Island Savings Centre in Duncan, about an hour before we played the Cowichan Valley Capitals. I was pleased to be able to hold 3 chapels in our hotels on road trips this year, which is more than I’ve done in any other year. One of my chapels I have named ‘the toothpaste chapel’ where I talk from the book of James about the power of the tongue and encouraging speech. Like toothpaste coming out of the tube, what is said cannot be put back in our mouths… The guys really understand that concept, and of course there is a wonderful biblical lesson to be learned there.
A standard practice that I have is to regularly take players, coaches and fans out for coffee, sharing in their lives and ending with a prayer. I call it J&J, which stands for Java and Jesus. I have had hundreds of ‘J&J’s’ over the years, and we always end with prayer, which is the second ‘J’. My common saying is that you never get away without the second ‘J’… I usually walk out to the parking lot beside on of our vehicles and we stop and pray. You can see in the picture that I am ready for the second ‘j”, standing beside the Warriors truck. I took a picture of our Warriors team Captain and I as we visited during one of the road trips. These chats are perfect opportunities to end a chat with the second ‘J’….
In late January we had our first ever Kelowna Chiefs Faith Night and in mid February was our 10th Annual West Kelowna Warriors Faith Night. These nights are a celebration of the chapel program as well as the Christian faith community. The Chiefs event was much smaller because it was the first year, while the Warriors is well established now and was a one of the largest home crowds of the year. I like to call it a ‘faith party’, which is feel is wonderful in that it happens at a secular event such as a Junior hockey game. I would ask you to please pray that I would be able to have good conversations and beneficial results from these Faith Nights.
I thought that you might be encouraged to know that there have been a few good additions to the Hockey Ministries team here in BC in the last short while. At UBC in Vancouver, Lewis Chifan has taken over as the Thunderbirds chaplain. As well, there are now new chapel programs in Chase, Castlegar and in Fernie and Dave Knudsen is the new chaplain in Port Alberni. Your prayers are so very much appreciated!
Finally, thank you for your support of Hockey Ministries in BC, both in your prayer and your finances. I am deeply grateful to serve the Lord in this area, and I will remind you again, that you are all huge part of this ministry.
Prayer Points: