“How can you tell it’s spring time? Because we are in the middle of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, that how!” I trust that you are doing well these days, and perhaps even enjoying the playoff games…. Ministry has been a good stretch (as usual) during the last few months, so let me tell you what has been going on.
The first part of March was incredibly emotional for all of the West Kelowna Warriors players, fans and staff as everyone waited to see if an investor would come forward with fairly ‘deep pockets’ to keep the team from leaving. In the last 24 hours, that is exactly what happened, and when the ‘we are staying’ announcement was made, the celebration was unbelievable. Lorraine and I didn’t know whether to dance, laugh or cry. It was joy mixed with relief! The first thing that I thought of was to be grateful. The joy for me of course is that I will still be able to conduct chapels, and for that I am so very thankful to the Lord. I believe that your prayers are working!
During March, I was able hold a number of chapels for both the West Kelowna Warriors and the Kelowna Chiefs. (where I was honoured to present the guys a personalized New Testament) As well, I was pleased to be a part of the Warriors game broadcast on quite a few occasions during the last part of the season, working with our play by play announcer Trevor Miller. I also did some travelling around parts of the province in the last months and I was able to meet a few of the chaplains in the Kootenay region of the province. Derek Smith is one of the chaplains that I spent some time with, and he serves the Kimberley Dynamiters Junior B club. Derek is a great guy with a wonderful heart for the Lord. My journey also enabled me to swing through Revelstoke, Invermere, Cranbrook, Kimberley, Creston, Nelson and Trail. In Revelstoke, I had a great visit with the Grizzlies chaplain Josiah Olson and the Coach Ryan Parent. I have also added a few pictures of some of the other chaplains I’ve met on a few other trips. These include Michael Kleyn of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Dave McCauley of the Merritt Centennials. All of our chaplains are tremendous Christian men of faith; I love these guys!
I really do appreciate your prayers as I travel. I have included a mountain pass picture from early April; the roads and the weather can be quite challenging and draining! Thank you for praying. When I was in Creston, I had the privilege of addressing the local junior hockey club, the Creston Valley ThunderCats. I was invited into the dressing room before one of their games, and after saying a few encouraging words I was honoured to lead them all in prayer. How awesome is that, to have prayer in the dressing room?
In early-April, a big truck pulled by my house full of veteran Warriors players… what a joy that was! I told them that we had to go for one last ‘J&J’, (Java and Jesus) so we all met at a coffee shop and had a great time chatting over coffee and finishing with a good prayer. There is a good chance that our paths may not cross for a long time if ever, which leaves a hole in my heart…. but man, that was a special time!
Let me also tell you about Sami Jordt. Sami is one of the girls who has attended our HMI summer camp in Williams Lake for many years and who now plays Midget hockey on a boys team in Trail BC. She was with her family in the Okanagan for a tournament and I thought I would watch one of her games. I’m pretty proud of her, as she is one of very few females playing boys midget hockey. Sami and her family have always been very encouraging to HMI ministry.
In late April, I was asked to be a part of two weekend spring hockey camps, with the Kelowna Chiefs and West Kelowna Warriors. This is a weekend where they begin selecting Midget age (15-16 yrs.) to attend their main training camp in August. It was an honour to be introduced to the players and their parents by the GM and also by the Coach. I had some parents approach me and have a chat about the chapel program, which I felt was very positive.
Please keep praying as this ministry continues… it looks like I will be addressing the KIJHL and the BCHL Boards of Governors in the next month, so please be praying about that. Also, I will attend the Western Canada Cup in Penticton in the first part of May, representing Hockey Ministries and being involved where possible.
- BCHL Board of Governors meetings
- KIJHL Board of Governors meetings
- Western Canada Cup in Penticton
- upcoming summer hockey camps
- for new chapel programs to develop
- safe travels this summer
- thankfulness that the Warriors are staying in WK