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All Over the World Dr. Michael Wilkinson, PhD
I S S U E
A P R I L
2 0 1 2
09 CPS CONNECTOR Quarterly
Newsletter of
Canadian
Pentecostal
Seminary
this issue
all over the world P.1
what am i doing now? P.2
graduation 2012 P.3
summer seminar P.4
Canad ian
Pentecostal
Seminary
who we are
CPS is the graduate school of the
Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada,
equipping future leaders above and
beyond bible school or undergrad
training. Our graduates excel as
ministry professionals or as leaders in
the ‘marketplace’. As a member of the
ACTS Seminaries consortium, and a
partner with Trinity Western University,
our seminary works co-operatively with
five other seminaries to offer our
students excellent, graduate-level
theological education that will serve the
PAOC well, world-wide. Indeed, many
of our graduates pastor PAOC
churches; others are on the mission
field; and many are involved in
extensive bible translation work. Still
more graduates of CPS are respected
leaders in the business world; or family
counselors or chaplains in the prison
system.
CPS upholds and develops the
Pentecostal message and vision both
in the multi-denominational setting of
ACTS—and in the world, post-grad.
Last fall I attended the Global Summit
sponsored by the PAOC in Langley, BC. The
event brought together over 25 international
guests for a conversation about social,
economic, and spiritual transformation. I was
deeply impressed.
Pentecostal leaders from all over the world
spoke about the particular challenges they
were facing like AIDS, poverty, human
trafficking, genocide, safe drinking water,
sustainable agriculture, and employment
skills development. These leaders, however,
were not lamenting the problems. They all
had a clear understanding of the issues. They
were highly hopeful that they could make a
difference. And from the many stories I
heard about programs and ministries
designed to address the concerns of local
people, these Pentecostals in Africa, Asia,
and Latin America were making a difference.
Ivan Satyavrata asked, “Why does the
church exist”? He said the church is an
agent of transformation and then shared
how his church was bringing the gospel to
those ravished by AIDS. God selects the
church to be a blessing to the people, he said.
God institutes a transforming covenant with
the church. “It’s not just about philanthropy,
but about spiritual transformation.” God then
models this covenant. “I am coming with the
Good News. Are you coming with me?”
I listened to leaders from Africa talk about
the growth of the church. Pentecostals,
Catholics, and Protestants are cooperating in
a spirit filled movement. These leaders were
meeting regularly for prayer and dialoguing
about the theological challenges they faced
with new religious movements and
unorthodox teachings. Leaders were praying
for forgiveness and reconciliation as the Spirit
brought them together. I heard leaders from
Africa talk about a holistic message that
brings the gospel into some very difficult
situations. One leader from Uganda said,
“We used to mock the social gospel but in
the Bible there is no dichotomy. In Jesus,
evangelism and social action come together.”
Pentecostal churches in Rwanda, for example,
are now places of healing for those who
suffered the terrible atrocities of genocide
and war.
Continued, p.4
I S S U E
pastors missionaries
counsellors chaplains
professors
bible translators
church planters
ministry leaders
What am I doing now?
I have never been one to pursue a formal ministry position. I had no real desire to
work in a local church nor did I feel directly called to full-time ministry. My experience has been to walk in obedience to God’s
leading one step at a time. That direction has taken me on the journey of a ministry
internship in an urban center, planting two urban churches in Alberta and senior
leadership in a mega church in the lower mainland. There is an irony to the fact that I
have spent thirty years in formal church positions although God’s leading in my life
has been incremental and I have never felt the “CALLING” into formal ministry. I have
sought to be faithful to God’s calling for all our lives and commitment to his purposes in
ministry and life.
During the past ten years of local ministry, I was afforded the opportunity to attend
ACTS and complete a graduate degree. The experience has been rich, diverse and has expanded my ministry with and through
others. Now after the convergence of education, ministry in the local church and
working alongside church attendees, God has led me outside the walls of the local
church and into the marketplace.
I lead a ministry that is targeted to leaders in the marketplace. My focus is towards the
Christian leader who is either leading or a leader in their business/enterprise as well as
leaders who are entrepreneurs in church startups/plants. Although these leaders
seem diverse in their role and contribution to their respective organizations they hold
common calling and opportunity. They do life in the marketplace and spend great amounts of time there. God has called them
to the marketplace where they are initiating, creating, being a presence and developing a
platform of influence.
They are entrepreneurs.
My experience has been that we have not
always championed or supported these leaders. We haven’t recognized their calling
or position and that they often live isolated and minimized by the church. God has
called me to spend the next decade to coming alongside these leaders. I walk with
the business leader and am an encouragement and support in the calling
that God has given them. Rather than diminish their contribution, which may lie
outside the church walls I seek to validate and champion their platform and influence.
The church planter faces similar challenges and yet seeks to advance the Kingdom of God in urban settings that can be difficult,
sometimes adversarial and quickly overwhelming. Having walked through the
experience of church planting on two occasions, I draw from that experience and
mentor and coach the church planter and their families.
All of these activities function under the
spiritual and organizational covering called City Axis Leadership. Since we began, we
have expanded to several marketplace leaders and have directly planted two
churches while coaching and mentoring numerous church planters all across Canada.
We are creating and developing two e-zines, which tell the stories of these marketplace leaders. One is targeted to the business
leaders who are using their platform, their profile and influence to bring glory God in
all they do. The second e-zine is focused on the marketplace spiritual leader who is
planting a church in the city.
So what do I do? I spend my time with some of the greatest
and most inspiring leaders in the nation and “empowering marketplace leaders.”
t
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Harvey Trauter ACTS Grad 2011,
MA in Christian Studies
CPS Graduates:
Ryan Buttacavoli Christina Furrow Robert Halishoff
Master of Applied Master of Applied Diploma in Christian Studies
Linguistics and Exegesis Linguistics and Exegesis
Wen Chi Hsieh Tyson Howells
MA in Christian Studies MA in Christian Studies
How beautiful...are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion, ”Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7
ACTS Graduation: Saturday, April 21
1:30 pm at Central Heights Church, Abbotsford
Praise the Lord!!! I finally graduated from ACTS Master of Arts in Christian Studies Chaplaincy program!!!
I began my studies in 2009 and they will end in 2012. I have come to understand the vision God has put
into my life clearly and my passion to work in the Chaplaincy area is strong and deep. I am really thank-
ful to God for bringing me to study in the Master of Arts in Christian Studies because all of my studies
have become the foundation for my future ministry and make my faith firm. God is awesome! In Psalms
113: 1-3, it says "Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord
be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of
the Lord is to be praised."
Annie(WenChi) Hsieh
I believe God is calling me to serve in an aspect of Bible Translation, but I don’t know the details yet. I
do know that the Lord is faithful and that He will provide guidance, not a moment too soon or too late.
As I finish this part of the journey and seek direction for the next step I am reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Christina Furrow
Check out our
website:
canadianpentecostalseminary.ca
And the ACTS site:
acts.twu.ca
Questions regarding which ACTS
courses
would benefit YOU ?
Contact Liisa Polkki:
All Over the World ...continued from p. 1
The Global Summit reminded me of several
things about the Pentecostal movement.
First, there is something that Pentecostals
all over the world share in common and it
is an experience of the Spirit that is
transforming. God gifts the Church with
the Spirit. Second, Pentecostals are
empowered by the Spirit to advance the
Kingdom of God. The good news of the
Kingdom of God is their focus. Luke 4:18-
19 says, “The Spirit of the Lord is on
me, because he has anointed me to
proclaim good news to the poor. He has
sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners and recovery of sight for the
blind, to set the oppressed free, to
proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Third, while Pentecostals share a common
faith, if not culture, they are also vastly
different. Pentecostals in Africa wrestle
with a very different context than those in
Asia, Latin America, Europe, or North
America. Simply transporting one program
from one region to another is not the kind
of approach leaders can take. Rather,
leaders in all of these regions must hear
what the Spirit is saying as they bring the
gospel to the communities God has placed
them in.
This summer, Canadian Pentecostal
Seminary is hosting the “Summer Seminar
in Pentecostal Studies” from August 13-17.
The focus of this one-week seminar is
“Global Pentecostalism.” This seminar will
provide leaders and students the
opportunity to engage further the
challenges facing the Pentecostal movement
all over the world.
Our guest for the week is Dr. Allan
Anderson, Professor of Global Pentecostal
Studies from the University of Birmingham.
CPS CONNECTOR Issue 09 April 2012
Professor Anderson has written
extensively including the books An
Introduction to Pentecostalism: Global
Charismatic Christianity and Spreading
Fires: The Missionary Nature of early
Pentecostalism.
Each day will begin with a presentation
by Dr. Anderson. He will address a
range of topics including the historical
nature of revival and renewal, the role
of missionaries, women in Pentecostal
ministry, the Bible and community,
transformation, and how Pentecostals
understand the “full gospel.” Following
lunch there will be discussion groups
for leaders and students to reflect on
the implications of the presentation.
Coffee breaks and lunch are included
with your registration.
This seminar can be taken for credit
towards your degree or for personal
enrichment.
For details please see this link
(http://www.twu.ca/extension/
program/summer/
pentecostal.html).
If you have any questions, do not
hesitate to contact me.
Michael Wilkinson
Michael Wilkinson, PhD
Professor of
Sociology
Michael Wilkinson
completed his PhD at
the University of Ottawa
where he studied how
new immigrants from
Africa, Asia, and Latin
America were impacting
Pentecostal churches in
Canada. He has taught at
Trinity Western University
since 2005 and attends
Living Waters Church in
Fort Langley. In 1989 he
was ordained by the PAOC.
We’re pleased to welcome
him as he joins CPS this
summer as our Dean.
Joanne Pepper steps
down from this position,
but continues as CPS
faculty, as well as chair of
the Master of Arts in
Cross-Cultural Ministries
Program.
Summer Seminar in
Pentecostal Studies
Dr. Allan Anderson
August 13-17, 2012
TWU Campus
