Happy New Year to the Hockey Ministries Pacific team!

I begin with thankfulness to the Lord for continuing to open doors in the hockey world! I am overwhelmed at the opportunities that have come along, mostly by just showing up at the arena day after day, week after week, for 23 years. It leads me to believe that in almost every case, relationship is the foundation in being an effective light for Christ.

Here are a few highlights that made me smile in the last few months.

On October 31, Lorraine and I had a knock on our door and 3/4 of the West Kelowna Warriors team were standing outside waiting to come in! Of course, I had some treats (of course!) since it was Halloween. The guys stayed for a bit before moving on to another house. Lorraine and I smiled because it made us feel like we were a part of the team schedule for that night. Perfect!

Just a week later, it was road trip time with the Kelowna Chiefs Junior club, where we headed to Kimberley, Fernie and Creston. We stayed at a hotel in Cranbrook and on Saturday morning I had a ‘chapel on the road’. Since I couldn’t secure a room to hold a chapel, I told the players to meet in my room. {which was not large!) By the time the guys came in, it felt like ‘chapel in a phone booth!!’ We had one of our best chapels, where everyone was engaged and chatting. It is during road trips like this where opportunities come to have personal talks with players, either at a coffee shop, on a walk or even in the hotel lobby. It was great to have a good chat with Chiefs defenceman Zach Pietsch on the trip. Zach overcame a serious throat injury last season and is still playing. I’m thankful to the Lord for His hand upon Zach.

In early December, I hosted the 13th annual Warriors Christmas Hamper Night. This event happens at a Warriors home game, and is very well supported. I’m grateful to the hockey club and the fans for being a great help in this outreach into our community, and also to our local Tim Horton’s ownership who helps every step of the way. Part of the process is that Warriors players and staff gather at a local church to pack grocery hampers for people in West Kelowna who could use a good boost at Christmas time. This annual event is one of my favourite things all year long!

I had a little mishap in early December, in the middle of the rush of the season…. I slipped at the arena and landed on my right side, right on my ribs. I am very sure that I cracked a number of them, as sleeping has been painful for over 3 weeks now. Even though I realize that cracked ribs simply take time to heal, the process has and still is pretty tough. I’d appreciate your prayers as I recover. (Hauling all those Christmas groceries and frozen turkeys with cracked ribs was quite painful…!)

Would you also remember to pray for our 14th Faith Night coming up in West Kelowna on March 1st? Faith Night is another annual event, one that highlights the chapel program and also the Christian community. The arena is packed every Faith Night and I am trusting God for a great witness to His wonderful love and mercy for all people.

I close with this bit of a boost – I had a good friend send me a picture of a few players on a BCHL junior team who gathered immediately after the final horn sounded and briefly gave thanks in prayer. I am encouraged to see that God is doing something in hearts in the world of hockey!

May God bless as we head into the New Year; may we all look forward in faith, faith in the good times and yes, faith in the rough times as well.

Don Richmond
Hockey Ministries International
Pacific Region

Prayer Points

• Thankful for new chaplain in Trail
• Thankful for new chaplain in Sicamous
• The need for more new chaplains
• Healing for cracked ribs
• Effective J&J chats
• Upcoming hockey road trips
• For Warriors upcoming Faith Night
• Continued financial support

Spending of funds is confined to board approved programs and projects. Each restricted contribution designated towards a board approved program or project will be used as designated, with the understanding that when the need for such a program or project has been met, or cannot be completed for an reason determined by the board, the remaining restricted contributions designated for such program or project will be used where needed most.