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April 16, 2026 • 10 Minute Read
Blog Post
Nobody has a perfect family. We know that. But there's a difference between knowing it and feeling it, especially on holidays designed to celebrate what yours was supposed to look like. You scroll through social media and see curated perfection. You sit at the dinner table and feel the weight of everything that was never said. And somewhere in the back of your mind, a question lingers: What do you do when your family is broken and the culture keeps pretending perfection is the goal? Here's the truth that changes everything: God is not looking for perfect families. He's looking for purpose-filled families. And the distance between those two realities is where healing begins. The Family Was Always the Plan From the very beginning, God designed the family as the primary environment for growth, identity, and belonging. Genesis 1:28 records that after creating humanity, God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth." Family was not an afterthought. It was the mechanism. And this isn't just a theological claim. Neuroscience and psychology continue to confirm what Scripture has always taught. People who grow up in healthy family environments are less likely to struggle with substance abuse, have lower incarceration rates, experience greater relational satisfaction, and demonstrate stronger emotional resilience. If that feels discouraging because your family wasn't healthy, stay with this. The same Bible that affirms the power of family also tells the unfiltered truth about how messy families really are. Four Generations of Dysfunction Genesis chapters 30 through 40 trace four generations of one family: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. And if you read their stories, you'll find yourself thinking, "This is really messed up." It is. The Bible doesn't sugarcoat it. It doesn't put its heroes in stained glass. It exposes the brokenness we all recognize. Adam blames Eve. Cain kills Abel. Abraham sleeps with his wife's servant. Isaac favors one son over the other, breeding rivalry and competition. Jacob, whose very name means "deceiver," lives up to it. And Joseph, at the end of the family line, is sold into slavery by his own brothers. Through these four generations, the patterns repeat: favoritism, deception, rivalry, manipulation, passive-aggressive behavior, distorted intimacy. Sin doesn't just separate humanity from God; it fractures families, turning intimacy into blame, siblings into rivals, and homes into battlegrounds. The cycle doesn't break until Joseph. And what Joseph did to reverse the curse his family passed down is the blueprint for every one of us still carrying the weight of what was handed to us.Subscribe To These Posts When Your Family Has Failed You, God Has Not Abandoned You The most remarkable thread running through Genesis is this: God's love is not dependent on your family's dysfunction. God made a promise, and no amount of generational brokenness could nullify it. Abraham failed. God was still with him. Jacob was a deceiver. God was still with him. Hagar was cast into the desert by the very people who used her. God showed up and said, "I am with you." Joseph was betrayed, enslaved, falsely accused, and thrown into prison. God showed up and said, "I'm still with you." Your family background may explain who you are, but it does not have to define who you become. When you read the genealogies in Genesis, name upon name, generation upon generation, God's faithful, loving covenant remains. When God makes a promise, not even your family's dysfunction can rob you of it if you lean into it. God even changed the names of these patriarchs to reflect His transforming work. Abram, meaning "father," became Abraham, "the father of many nations." Jacob, "the deceiver," became Israel, "one who wrestles with God." When you let God do His work, He transforms what looks broken into something beautiful. The Soil of Your Heart Think of it like gardening. If the soil of your life has been deeply compacted by the weight of what happened to you, if it's been stripped of nutrients because no one ever told you "I love you" or "you matter," if toxins have been poured in through words that poisoned your heart, then no wonder nothing grows. Maybe you've been trying to grow really good things. You want to be a good parent, a good provider. You want to show up when it matters. But the soil has been hardened by circumstances you didn't choose. The good news is that God is the great Gardener. If you let Him, He'll begin to till the soil again, softening it so that air and nutrients can be poured in, so that light can penetrate the dark places, and good fruit can grow. The Crucible That Refines You Joseph's story reads like a crucible. A crucible is a container that withstands intense heat. You place raw ore inside it, ore covered in debris, dirt, and impurities. As the heat rises, everything melts. The pure metal sinks to the bottom while the impurities rise to the surface. A skilled refiner scrapes away everything that doesn't belong until only the pure design remains. You and I were created in the image of God. The circumstances of life may feel like they've buried that image. But God uses the crucible of experience not to destroy you, but to refine you. The heat turns up not to break you, but to reveal who you were always created to be. If you skip the process, you get a weakened version. It might look like gold on the surface, but under pressure, it crumbles. Joseph grew up in an environment of survival of the fittest. But he chose generosity. He grew up surrounded by rivalry and pain. But he chose forgiveness. When he stood before the brothers who had sold him into slavery, now the second most powerful man in Egypt, he had the opportunity to continue the family curse or break it. And he looked at them and said, "What you intended for harm, God intended for good." Healing Must Interrupt What Dysfunction Repeats The patterns in Genesis are unmistakable. A father favors one son. Rivalry erupts. Deception follows. Manipulation takes root. And then the next generation inherits it all. The question every generation faces is the same: Will I repeat the pattern that was passed on to me, or will I, with God's help, break it? No matter your family background, there are things that happened to you that should have never happened. But if you let God heal you, He can transform it. That's the story of Joseph, and it can be yours, too. As you look at your own family experience, consider: What did your family teach you about conflict? About love? About generosity? These things may explain who you are, but they don't have to define you. And the harder question, especially for parents and grandparents: What patterns am I carrying forward, and where might God be inviting healing? When my wife and I were first married, we had to work through a lot of crucible experiences. We dealt with conflict in completely different ways. My way of dealing with conflict is to say it straight up. You're not going to have to guess what I'm feeling or thinking. Hers was the opposite. She saw conflict as something negative to be avoided. You can imagine how well that went until we made a decision: How are we going to define, as a family, how we deal with confrontation? How are we going to handle generosity and parenting? We had very different ideas, and we had to work through them with God's help to create a new way forward. How to Build a Healthy Family Today If you recognize these patterns and you want something different, here's what I've learned practically in my own life about becoming the parent and family member God has called me to be. Choose Presence Over Perfection Your kids don't need you to be perfect. They need you to be present. It's in being present that the beautiful transformation takes place. You can't script it or plan it. You're just there. When my kids started playing sports, I made a commitment to coach them. Not to be overbearing, but so we could experience everything together. Dance recitals, awards, birthdays. Sometimes it was around a dinner table where we chose to be present, no phones, looking at each other, talking about things we maybe didn't want to talk about. Sometimes it was at bedtime when we would just pray, not out of religious obligation, but out of inviting the presence of God into that moment. "Train up a child in the way that they should go" (Proverbs 22:6). It's embedded into what family is. You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be there. Speak Blessing Instead of Cursing Many of you know the pain of words that were spoken over you. You're dumb. You're ugly. You'll never amount to anything. You're worthless. When those words are spoken into a child's life, they plant seeds that harden the soil. It is never justified to curse your children. Never. Instead, learn to speak blessing. Maybe you'll be the first one in your family line who actually expresses "I love you" on a regular basis, not because someone earned it, but just because. Maybe you'll be the first to speak truth that isn't visible yet: "I see something in you that you don't see in yourself. You are worthy. You are loved. You matter." If you don't know what to say, read the promises of God over them. You are a child of the living God. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. God has a plan and a purpose for your life. When you begin to speak life instead of death, it will break a curse. Practice Repentance and Forgiveness Some of you might need to stand in front of a mirror and say the words: "I was wrong." That is not weakness. That is breaking a curse. I do this now as a grandfather. My grandkids call me Papa. And sometimes I'll say, "Papa shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry." You're modeling something. You're breaking something. You're building something. Invite God Into Everyday Life It doesn't have to be weird. Just begin to talk about what God is doing in you and how you're trying. That was maybe the greatest gift my family gave me growing up. They invited God into most everything we did. And inviting God into everyday life begins to shape and form the people around you. You Don't Have to Come From a Healthy Family to Create One You don't control what happened to you, but you do choose how you see it. And that choice shapes everything that follows. In a world that's increasingly lonely, where abandonment and rejection are common experiences, we need to fight for each other. We need to create spaces of belonging, not spaces where you have to think a certain way or behave a certain way before you're welcomed in. You belong because you were created in the image of God. Jesus said, "They will know you are my disciples by how you love one another" (John 13:35). No one has ever been won over by a slick argument. But people have been transformed because someone chose to love them. Today could be the day of transformation. The day you decide, with God's help, to believe that He is present with you and that you will be present with your family. You can't fix what's broken on your own. Only God can do that. But you can keep showing up, keep loving, keep speaking blessing, and keep inviting God into that space. You are loved. You belong. Your family story, however broken or beautiful, is not beyond God's redemptive grace. And with His help, you can create a different kind of family, one marked by presence and blessing, repentance and forgiveness, belonging and hope.
April 16, 2026 • 7 Minute Read
Devotional
Weekly Devotional – March 19, 2026 "Words For The Valley: A Journey Through Psalm 23" Before You Begin Find a quiet place if you can. Put your phone face down. Take three slow breaths. This devotional is not meant to be rushed – it's meant to be inhabited. Read it the way you'd walk a familiar path you haven't taken in a while: slowly, noticing what's changed in you since the last time you were here. Psalm 23 is probably the most recognized passage in all of Scripture. Most of us have heard it at funerals. Many of us learned it as children. And precisely because it is so familiar, it can slide past us without landing. Our goal this week is to read it slowly enough that it surprises us again. Read the Psalm Aloud The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil.
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. A Word to Open David wrote this psalm. The same David who killed a giant, committed adultery, ordered a man's death, and wept so hard over his son that the Bible says the ground was wet. David was not a man who wrote about God from a comfortable distance. He wrote from inside the mess of a full human life. That matters for how we read this. Psalm 23 is not a greeting card. It is a battle-tested testimony from a man who had learned - slowly, painfully, joyfully - that God could be trusted. Every line is earned. Moving Through the Psalm "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Notice that David doesn’t say "The Lord is a shepherd" or "The Lord is the shepherd." He says my shepherd. This is personal. This is a claim. Sheep don't belong to shepherds in the abstract, they belong to a specific one who knows their name, knows their tendencies, knows which ones wander. Pause and ask yourself: Do I relate to God as my shepherd, or as a shepherd in general – present for everyone but perhaps not particularly attentive to me? The promise that follows - I shall not want - is not a promise of abundance in the way we sometimes read it. It is a promise of sufficiency. The sheep under a good shepherd's care lack nothing they truly need. Not nothing they want. Nothing they need. That is a different and deeper promise. "He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters." A shepherd has to make sheep lie down. Sheep are anxious animals. They will graze past the point of exhaustion if not guided to rest. The green pastures and still waters are not accidental. They are chosen by someone who knows that rest is not weakness. Rest is part of the plan. How often do we resist the places God leads us to rest? How often do we mistake stillness for inactivity, or quietness for being left behind? Spend a moment in this image. Where are your green pastures right now? Where is God trying to lead you to still water, and are you following, or are you still grazing? "He restores my soul." The Hebrew word here - nephesh - is sometimes translated as soul, but it means something closer to the whole self. Your inner life. Your sense of self. Your aliveness. He restores my aliveness. This is a pastoral word for exhausted people. And if you are here in this prayer group on a Thursday morning, there is a reasonable chance that life has taken something from you recently. Grief, disappointment, overwork, worry, loss. The promise of this line is not that God will prevent the depletion. It is that he is in the business of restoration. He gives back what life takes. Pray this line over yourself today: Lord, restore my soul. Say it slowly. Say it more than once. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." This is the hinge of the psalm. Everything before it is pastoral and gentle. Here, the landscape changes. The valley is real. The shadow is real. David does not pretend it isn't. But notice the grammar: I will fear no evil. Not I do not feel afraid. Not the valley isn't dark. The commitment to not fear is an act of the will, grounded not in circumstances but in presence. For you are with me. That's the whole reason. Not because the valley is safe. Because he is there. This is the verse for whoever in our prayer group is in a hard place right now. You don't have to pretend the valley isn't dark. You only have to remember you are not walking through it alone. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." This image has always struck me as almost defiant. God does not remove the enemies before sitting David down to eat. He sets the table anyway. In the middle of opposition, in the middle of threat, there is a feast. There is provision and dignity that the enemies cannot touch. Whatever is pressing in on you right now - fear, opposition, uncertainty, a relationship that's causing pain - God is not waiting for it to resolve before he feeds you. The table is already set. What would it look like to receive God's provision today, even in the middle of what's hard? "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." The word translated follow here is closer in the Hebrew to pursue – even chase. Goodness and mercy are not timidly trailing behind us. They are in pursuit. All the days of my life. Not just the good ones. Not just the ones where I feel worthy of being followed. This is grace at its most relentless. We do not have to earn God's goodness chasing us down. We only have to stop running from it. Closing Prayer Father, you are our shepherd. We confess that we often act like sheep who think they know better – wandering past the green pastures, resisting the still water, grazing until we are empty. Restore our souls today. Lead us through whatever valley we are walking through and remind us that your presence is the point, not the absence of the valley itself. Set a table for us in the middle of our hard places. And let us feel, even today, the goodness and mercy that is chasing us down. We are yours. Amen. For Further Reflection This Week Read Psalm 23 once each morning this week – slowly, one verse at a time. Journal on this question: Which line of this psalm do I need most right now, and why? Pray the psalm over someone in your life who is in a dark valley, and speak their name into each verse. Our Thursday Morning Prayer Group meets weekly at 7:00 AM in The Prayer Room, Building B. All are welcome.Share Your Prayer Request
April 16, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Pastoral Letter
I met God the other night while I was washing my car. I made the mistake of buying a black car. In fact, we have two black cars. It’s not an objective mistake in the sense that black cars are worse than any other colour car by any meaningful metric. The nature of black paint, however, is that it almost never looks clean. Any spot of water, dirt, or pollen (of which there has been plenty lately) seems to be accentuated on a black canvas, and frankly, is a glaring sore to my eye. That’s just me, that’s how I’m wired. You likely don’t care too much if your car is spotless or not and that’s good for you - sincerely, it’s good for you. I’m wired differently though, but thankfully I’m also inclined to enjoy washing my car by hand. So I took a look at the forecast to see how long my labour would be worth, and with nothing but clear skies in sight I set out to wash the car. Our kids were asleep, the evening was clear and cool, it was serene. With supplies in hand I made my move towards the driveway and there was God, waiting to met me. There’s a monkish way of moving through the world called liber mundi - “the world as a book”. It’s a way of living that moves slowly through the created cosmos, with eyes and ears open and attentive to see a story revealed through creation, as if it were a book to read. For us Christians, we believe that the world is the Lord’s, and it is a very reflection of his image. A revelation of sorts. God met me in the driveway in the stillness of being dedicated to one singular task, outside of the office and the home, and in the quiet of the evening. Without any external output or stimulus (and even without my AirPods in my ears plugging up my senses from the world around me), I was able to perceive and receive the peace of God while kneeling in soapy water on the tarmac. I’m not great at this way of living, and I wouldn’t even go as far as suggest that I’m good at it - but I’m trying. I’m trying to see glory in potato flowers and dandelions. I’m hoping to move on my feet and my pedals more often than I do on rubber powered by cylinders. I’m attempting to listen to less information (podcasts, sermons, etc.) and listen more to friends, family, and foes. I’m learning that the world is a book. I want to read it. Grace and peace,
Pastor Johnny
April 16, 2026 • 5 Minute Read
Weekly Prayer Update
A Word Before We Pray Prayer is not a last resort at Life Abundant – it's a first response. Every week this update goes out as an invitation: to slow down, to intercede, and to remember that we are not a collection of individuals navigating life separately. We are a body. What affects one of us affects all of us. Thank you for praying with us. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." – Philippians 4:6 🙌 Follow-Up From Last Week – Giving Thanks Before we bring new requests, we stop to celebrate what God has done. These are updates from prayer requests our community lifted up last week: David & Lena Reyes – David completed his first round of chemotherapy on Friday. The medical team reported that he tolerated the treatment better than expected. David's own words: "I felt carried. I don't know how else to describe it." We keep praying for full healing, and we give thanks for every person who interceded this week. The Nguyen Family – The family wanted us to share their gratitude for the outpouring of love following Grandma Rose's passing. Meals, cards, and phone calls came from all over the congregation. Son-in-law Thomas wrote to us: "We didn't feel alone for a single moment. That's because of this church." Please continue to hold them as they move through the weeks ahead, when the initial wave of support often fades. College Students / Spring Finals – Several of our college students checked in this week. The prayers were felt. A few specific notes: Jaylen Morris aced his midterm. Sophia Tran submitted her senior thesis. Marcus Webb - who had been considering dropping a class due to anxiety - decided to stay enrolled and finish strong. Keep lifting our students up through finals season. Pico-Union Neighborhood Drive – Last week we prayed over the logistics and the volunteers. God showed up. Over 400 lbs of food collected, 180 hygiene kits assembled, and as many of you have now heard, a man named George is visiting church this Sunday for the first time in 30 years. Pray he feels at home the moment he walks through the door. 🙏 This Week's Prayer Requests For Our Congregation: 🙏 Elena Sousa – Elena was admitted to Cedars-Sinai on Tuesday following a cardiac event. She is stable and in good spirits, but facing a procedure later this week. Pray for a successful outcome, for peace that surpasses understanding, and for her husband Roberto who is by her side. 🙏 The Patterson Family – James and Nicole Patterson are walking through a painful season of marital difficulty. They have courageously asked for prayer and are committed to working through this together. Please hold them with gentleness and without judgment. Pray for healing, honesty, and hope. 🙏 Pastor Andre Williams – Andre lost his father unexpectedly on Monday morning. He is taking bereavement leave through next week. Please pray for his family as they grieve and make arrangements. Cards can be dropped at the Welcome Table and will be passed along. 🙏 Sofia Castillo – Our Women's Ministry Director is navigating an immigration matter affecting a close family member. Pray for a just resolution, for Sofia's peace of mind, and for the countless families in our congregation and city facing similar uncertainties. For Our City: 🙏 Fire Recovery – Families in Altadena and Pacific Palisades are now eight weeks out from the January fires. The news cycle has moved on, but their need has not. Pray for sustained support, for housing solutions, and for the mental health of children who are still displaced and processing trauma. 🙏 Our Unhoused Neighbors – As temperatures drop this week, pray specifically for the safety and dignity of those living on the streets of Skid Row, Pico-Union, and across our city. Pray for our outreach team as they serve on Saturday. 🙏 Local Schools – Several LA Unified schools in our neighborhood are navigating staff shortages and increased student anxiety. Pray for teachers, counselors, and administrators who are stretched thin and showing up anyway. For Our Global Partners: 🙏 Pastor Hernán & Iglesia Viva, Medellín – Rapid church growth is a blessing and a strain. Pray for wise leadership, Spirit-led delegation, and genuine rest for a team that is pouring themselves out. 🙏 Hope Community Kenya – As the new classroom block opens, pray for the 140 children who will walk through those doors. Pray for the teachers, for the families, and for the seeds of faith being planted in Mathare Valley. How to Receive Prayer Every request we receive is treated with care and confidentiality. You can receive prayer in our community both in-person and online. In-Person – after each service, there’s an open invititaion to receive prayer from a prayer leader near the front of the church. The folks that you rub shoulders with in your seats are also more than willing to pray with you right where you are. Online – we can still stay connected when we’re apart. Submit a prayer request here online at anytime. A real pastor is on the other end of the line.Share Your Prayer Request
August 12, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Youth Summer Devotional 5
Have you ever felt happy when someone didn't have a good opinion of you? It's in our nature to want others to think well of us, and we feel pleasure when people are impressed with us. Because of this, a temptation that many people face is to lie, exaggerate, or hide the truth in order to make ourselves look better than we actually are. That's exactly what two people, Ananias and Sapphira, did in the Early Church. In Acts 5:1-11, the husband and wife decide to sell a field, and give the proceeds of it towards helping the poor. Great! But, they wanted to keep some of the money for themselves, which of course they had every right to do. But because they wanted others to be impressed with them, or to see what sacrifice they made or how much they loved the poor, they told the church leaders the amount they gave was the full amount they sold the field for. In other words, they lied to try making themselves look better than they were. And what was the result? The Holy Spirit killed both of them. That might seem extreme, but think about what that says to how extremely seriously God takes lying and truth-telling. God makes an example of Ananias and Sapphira for the early Christians, and I bet none of them did something like that afterwards! Thankfully He doesn't often punish us with death when we sin! God hates lying so much that He included it in the 10 Commandments and in verses like Proverbs 12:22: "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy." The root of wanting kudos from others, or to be impressive, or to be thought of better than we are, is pride. The main weapon we have against pride is humility. Humility means not thinking of ourselves as better than we actually are, but also not thinking of ourselves as lesser than we actually are. Humility means we don't always have to talk about ourselves, or share our accomplishments, and definitely not exaggerating them, or lying about our sins or deficiencies. Humility also means celebrating who others are and their accomplishments. Think of Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." The rest of the passage talks about how Jesus modelled humility in his life. In what ways do you try to make yourself look better than you are? This week, who can you show interest in and celebrate, while fighting the desire to put the spotlight on yourself? ------------ This week until next Thursday, please pray with your youth that they would take God and His commands more seriously in their day to day lives, and grow in their love of Him and love of others above all other things.
August 7, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Youth Summer Devotional 4
In John chapter 21, some of the disciples are fishing yet have caught nothing. A stranger on the beach nearby tells them to cast their nets on the side of the boat, and they haul in a massive amount of fish. One of the disciples realizes the stranger is Jesus, and they begin bringing in the boat and fish. This is the part I love: "When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”” (vv. 9-10). Jesus knows they have been working all night and that they'd be hungry, and has breakfast ready for them. But he also invites them to participate in the breakfast by bringing what they have too. There's a lot of different applications we could get out of these verses, but here's what I was thinking about. Jesus doesn't need their fish, of course, and He doesn't need anything from us - but He wants us to bring what makes us happy to Him to enjoy together. Have you ever thought about that? While God is the giver of all good gifts, He enjoys us enjoying those gifts, and enjoys us sharing those gifts with Him. There's a lot of gifts amongst our youth. Based on our 'show and tell' I could point to Jonathan's Rubik's Cube-solving speed, Zoha's crocheting and art, Sarah's baking, Sawyer's game and music creating, Jon's deep thinking (and woodcraft skills), Joel's joy of sharing his slurpee machine, Nathan's athleticism, and Amaya's love of reading. (Of course, you parents can think of many gifts their youth have.) But I wonder what it would be like for you to invite Jesus to enjoy your gifts, skills, and interests with Him? Can you imagine Jesus inviting you to talk about Pokemon with Him? Or enjoy a piece of music or video game with Him? The smell of a freshly-baked bread, or a fantastic play by your favourite team? It might sound weird, but based on John 21:9-10 I don't think it's that far-fetched. Jesus enjoys you, and enjoys you enjoying His gifts. Why not try enjoying them together sometime? -------------------- This week until next Thursday, please pray for Zoha's new baby brother Ilya (Elijah). He is healthy and crying a lot! Pray for the family to continue adapting to a new baby, and that Ilya will be a great blessing to them (this was requested by one of the youth).
August 5, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Youth Summer Devotional 3
In John 15 Jesus tells His disciples that the world will hate them because it hates Jesus. Even more, the world would persecute and even execute Christians simply because they were Christians (which we read happening in Acts and throughout history). In Canada, and especially in Manitoba, the likelihood of us being persecuted for being Jesus-followers is fairly slim, although we may meet people who dislike us just because of our faith. Generally, we're more likely to face bullying or mocking for reasons other than our faith (and hopefully not reasons we warrant), and that can be hard to go through. Most of us care about being accepted by others, accepted by our classmates and co-workers, and it can hurt when we're not. We shouldn't tolerate bullying happening to anyone, and maybe you have some ideas of what to do in a situation like that. But even getting the situation changed doesn't change the hurt we feel when it happens. So what do we do then? One of the things that helps to lessen the impact of rejection by others is to know our worth and acceptance in Christ. In John 14:23 Jesus gave His disciples the promise that He would be with them. He says, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." A home with the Creator of the universe and the Lord of lords! That's more than just being accepted by God, it's being welcomed by Him, and wanted by Him. If you are a follower of Jesus who loves and obeys Him, this promise is currently true for you! God has and is making His home with you. And, as our relationship with Jesus grows, we come to value His opinion over that of others, especially those who are against us. Like the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 56:4, "In God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" ---------------------- This week until next Thursday, please pray that the youth would grow in their social skills and connecting with others - peers and adults - in person. This is a prayer request from one of our youth.
July 16, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Youth Summer Devotional 2
Today’s Youth Summer Reading plan reading is John 10, but for the devotional I want to talk about John 11 and the death of Lazarus. From Martha and Mary’s perspectives, that is exactly what happened – God was silent. They had sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick, yet Jesus did not go to them immediately but waited two days. Jesus knew what would happen and why He was waiting, but for Mary and Martha it must have seemed like Jesus didn’t care. And then, when Jesus did arrive, Lazarus was already dead. When we pray, especially if they’re urgent prayers, and we don’t see God answering, it can feel like God doesn’t care sometimes. Why is He silent? Why isn’t He doing anything? When Martha meets Jesus, she frankly complains to Him – “If you had been here, my brother would not have died” (v. 21). Throughout the Psalms we read complaints to God quite often: “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Ps. 10:1), and Psalm 22 is probably the most famous one. Do you ever complain to God in prayer? It might feel blasphemous or wrong to do so, but God is big enough to handle it. Jesus doesn’t rebuke Martha for complaining, and when she misunderstands Him He is patient with her. And that’s how God is with us too. Patient and understanding. He knows our weaknesses. How do you think complaining to God would change the way you pray? Of course, when you read the chapter, you see that Martha doesn’t just complain. She also has trust in Jesus’ power: “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (v. 22). Most of the Psalms end this way too, in a declaration of trust in God’s sovereignty. So, don’t hesitate to complain in your prayers – God knows what you’re unhappy about already, we don't have to hide from Him! But trust that He knows what He’s doing, and if He waits to answer us, or answers in a way we didn’t ask for, that it’s for our best. May He continue to be with us all, Josh
July 16, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Youth Summer Devotional 1
Lots has happened in John's Gospel even in these first few chapters. But for this week's devotional I want to go back to chapter 1, verse 5. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." What a beautiful message of hope, right at the beginning of John's Gospel. I feel like John is spoiling Jesus' story a bit - Jesus is crucified in chapter 19, and while the disciples are (understandably) devastated, we know that the darkness cannot overcome Jesus. And of course, this is proven true three days later. Sometimes it can feel like the world has been overcome with darkness, when we see what's happening around us. Wars, hatred,violence, and addictions ever fill up our news feeds and, sometimes, our personal lives too. For teenagers, and many adults, there can be darkness inside too. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders/body image, and other mental health issues can sometimes make even the smallest things seem overwhelming. And while ultimately these darknesses will not overcome them as they remain in Jesus, which can give them hope, there are of course helps for them in the here and now too; prayer & Scripture, counsellors and psychiatrists, and medications are all valuable tools for those suffering. If you suspect your teen (or you yourself) are struggling with mental health issues, please do not just hope it will go away on its own. Pastor Joel and I are available to meet, and if it's more serious, your family doctor or a counsellor are great options too. While our hope isn't in medications or human help, valuable as they are, Jesus will say later in John's Gospel, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b). And that is a hope that will not be disappointed! The Lord be with us all, Josh
June 23, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Congrats to our Grads!
A season completed. A new journey begins. With grateful hearts and great joy, we celebrate the graduation of Kisae Hildebrand and
Levi Black Class of 2026 We thank God for the ways He has grown, guided, and blessed these two young people throughout their journey. As they step into this next chapter, we pray they continue to walk in faith, pursue His purpose, and trust His plans for their lives. "For we live by faith, not by sight."
— 2 Corinthians 5:7 May God direct their paths, strengthen their hearts, and use their gifts for His glory. We invite you to celebrate and pray for Kisae and Levi as they begin the adventure God has prepared for them.
June 23, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Youth 2026 Summer Plans
Hi Parent and Guardian Friends, Just because Youth is finished meeting doesn’t mean we’re done! Here are a few things we’d like you to know about for this summer and beyond. 1. Starting on June 28th, we’re inviting the youth to read the books of John and Acts over the summer, one chapter a day with Sundays off. We’ll be the youth Bible reading outline cards before then. Also, once a week I’ll be sending out a devotional and prayer that you can share and pray together with your youth. 2. We’re planning two special events during the summer - a youth family potluck on Friday July 24th, and a fun outing on Saturday August 22nd. Both are TBA, but save the dates for now! 3. Next year we are separating Youth and Quizzing into their own ministries, but in order for Youth to happen we need two more leaders to join me. Please pray that God would put it on the hearts of those He is tapping to to do so. May the Lord be with you in wisdom and energy as you raise your youth (and other children), and if you’d like prayer for something in specific for you and your family please don’t hesitate to ask.
April 16, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Student Ministry Update
A Look Back. This past Friday we celebrated the end of year for our youth ministry with a fairly regular youth night, but with better snacks - ice cream & Slushies! Joel H. was super pumped to bring his slushie machine, and his Coke slushies were great! We also talked about what the youth’s summer plans were, and following Jesus over summer. For the month of May we followed a video devotional series that encouraged us to shatter the lies and illusions that we can sometimes believe about ourselves, and to fix our eyes on Jesus and live in His love for us. The rest of the past year we participated in Bible Quizzing, memorizing parts of 1 & 2 Corinthians, and competing in Quiz Meets. Jonathan C. and Sawyer were our standout memorizers and competitors!
June 10, 2026 • 1 Minute Read
Women's Ministry Update
Getting Connected Are you looking for a space to connect, be encouraged, and grow in your walk with the Lord? We invite you to join our Getting Connected women’s events held several times a year. Cornerstone is full of amazing ladies, both young and less-young, and all with different backgrounds, faith journeys and stories! Come and enjoy a time of fellowship with friends and be inspired, often by a lady from within our church sharing about how God is working in their life and using them. It might be just what you need to help refresh you in your current season of life. Whether or not you are a mom, a wife or single lady, a college student or an empty nester, there is a place for you here. New faces are always welcome. Bring your friend or family member. Stay posted for our next event which will likely be held in October.
June 10, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Family & Kids Ministry Update
Summer Is Here!! 😎 With June well underway, it feels like summer is finally here which means our children’s and youth ministries are winding down and will be on hold for July and August. However, we know that teaching our children about Jesus and His love for us, starting at a young age, is very important and helps to shape their faith so plans are already underway for September and the new programs that will start this fall. Sunday School - for children ages 3 years to grade 5, which runs from roughly 10:30 to 11:20am each Sunday. Children will hear Bible stories and learn about Jesus, with life-applications at their age and stage of life, from enthusiastic adult volunteers. Youth - for young people grades 7 to 12 every Friday evening. A place to hang out with friends, have a lot of fun, hear about God in an age-appropriate way and, of course, eat some snacks! Bible Quizzing - for youth grades 7 to 12 on one evening a week (the day is yet to be determined). We will be memorizing the gospel of John over the season and attending competitions, called quiz meets, several times a year. It is a great place to learn about God while meeting and making new friends at the same time as participating in healthy competition. For more information on the Bible quizzing program within our district, check out the website. Keep posted for all the up-to-date details on each of these ministries as new information will be added once it becomes available.
August 24, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Children's Ministry Update (Aug 2026)
Hello, September! 🍎 Our Sunday School Program will be starting on September 20th with new curriculum and new classes. Grades K-4 will be using a new curriculum called Two or More from Group Publishing. It’s designed around Bible-rich, hands-on learning that helps kids not only know the Bible, but grow in faith together and build meaningful relationships. Over the course of each year, kids will journey through the Bible, encountering both the Old and New Testaments and discovering how the whole story points to God’s love. We’re excited for a new year of helping our kids know Jesus, grow in their faith, and know that they are seen, known, and loved. A new Grades 5–7 class will be working through the New City Catechism for Kids. Using 52 simple questions and answers, it helps young people explore some of the big truths of the Christian faith—Who is God? What is sin? What has Jesus done for us? How should we live?—and grounds those answers in Scripture. Our hope is not simply that our kids will memorize the right answers, but that they will understand what they believe, know why they believe it, and see how the truth of the gospel shapes everyday life. As always, the nursery room is open for parents with infants and the TV will be broadcasting the worship service. Is God calling you to take your next step? Join our team and start volunteering today. Any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask Pastor Joel.
August 24, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Weekly Update - August 23
Welcome to the weekly roundup 👋 This is your one-stop spot for everything happening in our church family. From children to adults, small groups to special events, here's how you can get connected over the next seven days. Sunday, August 24th 10:00am Worship Gathering - Join us for Sunday
service in person. 11:45am English Conversation Class - all levels welcome downstairs in the Multi-Purpose Room Wednesday, August 26th The Bible Course - 7:00pm in the Multi-Purpose Room, BBQ at 6:00pm Saturday, August 29th Back to School Prayer Walk - Join us from 10am - 11am. We’ll walk around the community and pray for: Windsor Park Collegiate, College Beliveau, Ecole Howden, Frontenac School, Ecole Lacerte, and General Vanier School. RSVP here. Upcoming Events Outdoor Worship Service & BBQ - Sunday, September 13th at 10:00am Sunday School for Children and Adults launches on September 20thNew here? We'd love to connect. The Message from Sunday "A Liturgy of Life"
| Pastor Joel Black Romans 12:1-8 In view of God’s mercy, worship becomes a whole life offered to God and transformed by him. Listen to last week’s sermon 👇Listen HereSubscribe To Our Podcast Community Prayer We carry each other through the spiritual practice of prayer. Visit our Prayer Wall to see what our community is lifting up this week. Also prayer for our International Workers: 🙏 Senegal | Pray with Mike Howell as he meets weekly with a group of young men to study the Bible in Wolof. Some in the group are earnestly seeking, others are curious, and a few are even antagonistic, yet they keep coming! Pray for wisdom and clarity for Mike as he facilitates Bible study, discussion, and application of Scripture. . 🙏 Japan | Pray with Kat for her ongoing Bible studies and discipleship relationships with Ay*, Mai*, and Kino*. Pray for wisdom and discernment as she walks alongside these women. Pray that they would be challenged to hear God’s voice in their own lives and follow His leading with obedience and joy. 🙏 Asia | Pray for our Thailand anti-human trafficking team as they deal with a very difficult case involving a pastor and several young boys. Pray that the team would have wisdom, discernment, and protection as they navigate this very delicate situation. Submit your own prayer request here. Giving Your generosity makes our work in this city possible. We’re so grateful for you. New to our community? No pressure. Today, just be our guest. Give Now Here Stay Connected 📩 Subscribe to this Collection to get these updates delivered directly to your inbox. 📸 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify. 💬 Pastoral care or questions? Connect with ushere. Services: Sundays at 10:00 AM
1100 Autumnwood Drive, Winnipeg MB R2J 4L5 Next Week: "When in Romans" – Romans 12:9-21
See you soon ☀️
April 16, 2026 • 2 Minute Read
Men's Ministry
Exploring Men’s Group at Cornerstone Is There Interest in a Men’s Group at Cornerstone? We are exploring the possibility of starting a men’s group at Cornerstone, and before we make any firm plans, we’d love to hear from the men in our church. The heart behind this is simple: we want to create a space where men can grow in faith, build real friendships, encourage one another, and learn together what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life. This would not need to be complicated. It could look like a monthly breakfast, an evening Bible study, a prayer group, a book discussion, a service project, or something else entirely. At this stage, we are simply trying to find out two things: First, is there interest? Would you be interested in being part of a men’s group at Cornerstone? What kind of gathering would be most helpful to you? What day or time might work best? Second, are there men willing to help lead? For a group like this to be healthy and sustainable, it cannot depend on one person. We would need a few men who are willing to help shape it, organize gatherings, welcome people, lead discussion, pray, and serve together. You do not need to be a Bible expert. You do not need to have everything figured out. We are simply looking for men who love Jesus, care about others, and are willing to help create a meaningful space for men at Cornerstone. If you are interested in participating, or if you would be willing to help with leadership, please let us know by filling out this form. At this point, we are listening and discerning. If there is enough interest and a few men willing to help lead, we will take the next step together. Let’s see what God might want to grow among the men of Cornerstone. Fill out this form and let us know your thoughts!Men's Group Interest Form