Happy New Year to the HMI BC team!

I want to extend to you and your families the very best as we look to 2016.  I am so glad that this coming year is in His hands.  There are many uncertainties and variables in our world that we perhaps haven’t seen before, so we simply look up in faith to the Lord, who is the Lord of All.

Let me give you a quick summary of what I’ve been up to these last few months….

Early in November, I toured the north part of Vancouver Island, where I was able to visit with Bobby Rau, the chaplain of the Campbell River Storm hockey club.  Bobby is a wonderful guy, who loves the Lord and is willing to share his faith with the Storm players.  He is a busy guy – he’s also the coach of the local high school football team!  On that same trip I met up Chris Clarke, who is just starting as the new chaplain in Duncan with the Cowichan Valley Capitals club.  Chris has taken over from my good friend and long time Capitals chaplain Norm Sowden, who is praying about a new chaplaincy opportunity.

  …

Mid November was a busy time, as I was honoured as team chaplain to lay a wreath for the West Kelowna Warriors hockey club at our local Remembrance Day ceremony.  This was the first time that I was asked to do such a thing. What a moving experience that was!  A few days later I took a trip to the Kootenays to visit some of our HMI chaplains there.
I met with Matt Moore in Invermere, who is taking over from previous chaplain Trevor Hagan.  Matt is starting to build relationships with the Columbia Valley Rockies hockey club.

On that same trip I had a chance to visit with Trail Coach Nick Deschesne and their chaplain Bruce Taylor, as well as Creston Coach Jeff Dubois and their chaplain Harry Haberstock. Along the trail I was able to spend a few minutes with Paul Reimer, the chaplain in Cranbrook with the Kootenay Ice.  A few days later I was able to meet up with Dave Funk, our new Penticton Vees hockey club chaplain.

  …

Early December was the time for our ‘Pastor Don’s 5th Annual West Kelowna Warriors Christmas Hamper Drive.’  This event is spearheaded by the Warriors chaplaincy program.  We had a fabulous Drive this year, delivering 50 Christmas hampers to needy families in West Kelowna.  These hampers were paid for through the kindness of fans and staff of the hockey club.  In mid December, I was able to hit the road for 4 days with the Warriors hockey club.  It was a wonderful road trip, including a Saturday morning chapel, plus some personal chats with  players.  Times like this are so very special; it’s almost surreal when I am on trips like this.  While all these trips are going on, I am still holding chapels every two weeks for the Kelowna Chiefs club in Rutland and of course the Warriors in West Kelowna.  It is always a busy time in this  ministry, but it’s a wonderful kind of busy.  With the Lord’s sustaining help, I am feeling strong and healthy as I look toward the new year.

  …

Thank you for your support, in prayer and finance.  It is such a blessing to serve the Lord in hockey arenas throughout the province.  You truly make it possible to do what the Lord has called me to do.

• -for 40 chapel programs operating in BC
• -for young lives that are being exposed to the love of Jesus
• -for new potential chapel programs to begin
• -for a possible new summer HMI camp in Chilliwack
• -for the faithful support of HMI BC
• -for new chaplain Chris Clarke in Duncan
• -for new chaplain Matt Moore in Invermere
• -for new chaplain Dave Funk in Penticton

  …

God’s richest blessings to you all for 2016!

Don Richmond

Hockey Ministries International

Pacific Region