What are you reading right now?Under the Predictable Plant – Eugene Peterson & Beyond Incarceration: Safety and True Criminal Justice – Paul Mallea If you could pick up a new skill in an instant what would it be?Juggling Anything. Public Speaking. Song Writing Who’s someone…
What are you reading right now?The way of the warrior – Erwin McmanusLetters to the church – Francis ChanKing Raven Trilogy – Stephen R. Lawhead If you could pick up a new skill in an instant what would it be?Singing, playing drums and drawing. Who’s…
Before there were marketing agencies and ad campaigns, and long before social media, there was the story. Big ideas, shared experiences and deep convictions are best expressed in story-form. Storytelling is also an effective way to encourage others and celebrate people and accomplishments. Everybody has a story…
“Why are you going to seminary to study worship? All a song leader needs to do is open the hymnal and choose 3 songs.” My aunt said this to me just before my family and I moved to Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 1994. I was…
“There is one fault I must find with the twentieth century, And I’ll put it in a couple of words: Too adventury. What I’d like would be some nice dull monotony If anyone’s gotony.” I recently stumbled upon these words by Ogden Nash. (My high…
Have you ever wondered what MBCM pastors retreat is like? Perhaps you’re on the fence about whether or not you’d like to try it out. Well look no further than the BockFive vlog (that’s short for video blog) for a behind the scenes look. This is how Steve and Karen…
Photographer Tony Schellenberg and I visited Walls of Freedom Outreach Centre on March 24, 2017 to meet with pastor Jim Wiseman. The community service plaque signed by Queen Elizabeth that hung behind his desk was the first thing we noticed. It was awarded to Wiseman during his days as a military recreation…
A gospel for the world Photography by Anthony Mark Photography Drummer Todd DeChateauvert Elenore Doerksen assists at the registration desk. Loralee wears a beautiful and musical jingle dress. La Salle Community Fellowship worship minister Darren Willems makes a new friend. MBCM executive director Elton DaSilva, C2C regional director Ewald…
A family snapshot of the MB church in Manitoba.
“La Salle Community Fellowship participates in just about everything else the town has to offer,” says pastor Kelly Cochrane, who began leading the 20-year-old congregation in 2015, after founding pastor Ray Klassen retired. Located 10 minutes south of Winnipeg, La Salle is a growing town…
“La Salle Community Fellowship participates in just about everything else the town has to offer,” says pastor Kelly Cochrane, who began leading the 20-year-old congregation in 2015, after founding pastor Ray Klassen retired.
Located 10 minutes south of Winnipeg, La Salle is a growing town of 3,000. LSCF volunteers are a familiar sight at home shows, parades, pancake breakfasts and golf tournaments. Each spring, church members clean up the ditches along Highway 330.
In partnership with Glenlea Mennonite, LSCF leads an annual vacation Bible school for some 140 children. Once they age out, students in Grade 6 and up return year after year as volunteer guides. Since 1999, the program has grown from 84 to 140 children. The theme of this year’s VBS, Aug. 8–12, is a “prayer safari.”
LSCF’s 150 attenders have backgrounds in almost every denomination. Sunday services are informal affairs featuring boisterous children, a full band and the freedom to wander to the back for a cup of coffee. Since 1998, Darren Willems, La Salle’s first full-time pastor and current worship pastor, often provides the music together with his wife Val.
LSCF just completed a sermon series on Ephesians: “digging into what it means to live out our faith through fresh new experiences and adventures in Christ,” says Kelly. This led to the discovery that many in the congregation had never been personally discipled. Using Greg Ogden’s Discipleship Essentials, groups of two or three are “helping each other follow Christ through everyday life.”
Led by Steve Bock, the youth group is growing and active in mission. This July 8–18, some 18 youth (nearly half from non-church-attending families) will join MB Mission’s Soar Montreal team, where they will receive leadership and evangelism training in one of North America’s least-reached areas.
After 14 years of meeting in the local school, LSCF moved a 200-seat building from Winkler, Man., to La Salle in 2009, but they are quickly running out of room. Pray that God will provide them with the space and resources to do his work well.
Remember LSCF’s VBS outreach and Soar Montreal trip in prayer. Pray that the Holy Spirit will open the hearts of their community to the good news of Jesus. Ask Jesus to bless Kelly, Steve, Darren and LSCF’s other leaders with Christ-like wisdom as they disciple others.
Website: www.lscf.ca
Address: Box 750, La Salle MB, R0G 1B0
Phone: 204.736.3200
