Alpine Newsletter (March 18, 2025)

The Alpine Baptist Association has been encouraged by the events of recent months. We have been hosting monthly online pastoral meetings on the second Tuesday of the month, in which we have had brothers sharing about their ministries so we can be encouraged and pray for them. We had an executive board meeting (online) on February 18, which was well-attended. At that meeting, we welcomed Redeemer Baptist Church (Kelowna, BC) into membership. We look forward to two in-person meetings this year: May 22-23rd in Kelowna and September 18-20 in Grande Prairie. At our September meeting, we plan to have Ben Lane from HeartCry and John Snyder from Media Gratiae teaching.

Below are summaries of the updates from the member churches that were given at the last meeting. Updates were also given by non-member churches: Dawson City Community Chapel in Dawson City Yukon (Pastor Matthew Stobbe), Grace Fellowship Church in Edmonton Alberta (Pastor Shayne Poirier), and Orion Evangelical Free Church in Orion Alberta (Pastor Matthieu Howard).

Coram Deo Baptist Church, Grande Prairie, AB (Update from Pastor Rory St. John)

Since last August, Coram Deo has been doing well. We’ve gained one member, and two more are incoming, with three others likely in the near future. People continue to visit as well. The Word is being preached and it is well-received. We recently launched a book ministry, to freely distribute copies of helpful books to the members and attenders. We trust the Lord is using us and leading us. We have seen a lot of people suffering with seasonal and chronic illnesses and pains, but this has been an opportunity to learn to trust God in trials and show Christian love. We are also thankful that the Lord is providing amply for us in these uncertain days. To God be the glory.

Cornerstone Baptist Church, Kamloops, BC (Update from Pastor Zacharie Jean)

They have had growth after seemingly fifteen years of desert. The people have remained faithful, and now they are seeing new visitors, new baptisms and memberships. Over twenty people showed up at a recent prospective member meeting! The Bible study in Savona is continuing, though it is up and down—one week they had no one, then several people showed up. God is giving favour.

Redeemer Baptist Church, Kelowna, BC (Update from Pastor Ross Odnokon)

Galatians 6:9 says: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Their church has been going for four years now. Last year they had a number of families leave, but this turned out for the better. There have been some really engaged visitors lately. They have about seventy people in attendance. The church is looking forward to getting back to evangelism soon. They recently finished a study on “Habits of Grace” by David Mathis, which was very good. Ross has been reading D.A. Carson’s "Praying with Paul" again, and preaching a series on prayer. He has been meeting with a brother named Lucas who is interested in pastoral ministry and considering going to Seminary. They are praying the Lord continues to give joy, zeal, and faithfulness as they seek to keep doing what the early church did (Acts 2:42).

Uplands Baptist Church, Terrace, BC (Update from Deacon Leyton Freeman)

“God put us where we are for a reason.” They have been learning church polity from the ground up by preaching through Acts. They have seen especially how the church grows through persecution. Polity was a weak point in the past. Leyton was the only deacon, and after Pastor Bruce Freeman passed away, he was left with all the authority on his shoulders. God has poured out grace upon them this last month and caused the people to grow, despite an incident while Leyton was preaching before that.

May the Lord continue to establish the work of our hands for the Kingdom of Christ!