Flourishing In This Season
Natural life is made up of the four seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter.
Spring arrives as a season of new life and a zest for living. We are busy planting, watching new life emerge, and seeing things grow.
Then everyone’s favourite season arrives—summer. It’s a time of watching things grow to fruition, and also a time of refreshment and relaxation.
Before we know it, the fall season arrives, the temperature drops, leaves change colours, and things start dying and falling away. Fall denotes a season of change.
Then winter descends upon us. Typically, a time when things are quiet in nature. Animals are hibernating in this season of stillness, rest, and reflection.
There is beauty to be found in every season and something to be learned in every season, though we might prefer some seasons over others.
Just like the natural seasons, there are spiritual seasons in our lives. Ecclesiastes 3:1,11 says “For everything there is a season.” “[God] has made everything beautiful in its time.”
If you examined your life right now, what season would you say you are currently experiencing? Sometimes it’s difficult to recognize the season of life we’re in, and it can be even more difficult to know how to live fully in Christ during any particular season. Are you flourishing or floundering in this current season of your life?
The first step to flourishing in any given spiritual season is to recognize which one you are in. Join us this Sunday, whether in person or online, as we examine these various seasons and discover how to live fully in Christ during them. We can learn the lessons each season brings and how to bear fruit in our lives, no matter what season you find yourself in.
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Natural life is made up of the four seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter.
Spring arrives as a season of new life and a zest for living. We are busy planting, watching new life emerge, and seeing things grow.
Then everyone’s favourite season arrives—summer. It’s a time of watching things grow to fruition, and also a time of refreshment and relaxation.
Before we know it, the fall season arrives, the temperature drops, leaves change colours, and things start dying and falling away. Fall denotes a season of change.
Then winter descends upon us. Typically, a time when things are quiet in nature. Animals are hibernating in this season of stillness, rest, and reflection.
There is beauty to be found in every season and something to be learned in every season, though we might prefer some seasons over others.
Just like the natural seasons, there are spiritual seasons in our lives. Ecclesiastes 3:1,11 says “For everything there is a season.” “[God] has made everything beautiful in its time.”
If you examined your life right now, what season would you say you are currently experiencing? Sometimes it’s difficult to recognize the season of life we’re in, and it can be even more difficult to know how to live fully in Christ during any particular season. Are you flourishing or floundering in this current season of your life?
The first step to flourishing in any given spiritual season is to recognize which one you are in. Join us this Sunday, whether in person or online, as we examine these various seasons and discover how to live fully in Christ during them. We can learn the lessons each season brings and how to bear fruit in our lives, no matter what season you find yourself in.
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Going to The Next Level in your spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth is the process of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. When we place our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins the process of making us more like Him, conforming us to His image. Spiritual growth is perhaps best described in 2 Peter 1:3-8.
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These verses tell us that by God's power we have "everything we need" to live lives of godliness, which is the goal of spiritual growth. Notice that what we need comes "through our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ," which is the key to obtaining everything we need. Our knowledge of Him comes from the Word, given to us for our edification and growth.
There are two lists in Galatians 5:19-23.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
The first list is the "acts of the flesh" listed in verses 19-21. These are the things that identified our lives before we came to Christ for salvation. The acts of the flesh are the activities we are to confess, repent of, and, with God's help, overcome. As we experience spiritual growth, fewer and fewer of the "acts of the flesh" will be evident in our lives.
The second list is the "fruit of the Spirit" (verses 22-23). These are what should characterize our lives now that we have experienced salvation in Jesus Christ. Spiritual growth is identified by the fruit of the Spirit becoming increasingly evident in a believer's life.
When the transformation of salvation takes place, spiritual growth begins. The Holy Spirit indwells us (John 14:16-17). We are new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old, sinful nature begins to give way to the new, Christ-like nature (Romans 6-7). Spiritual growth is a lifelong process that depends on our study and application of God's Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and our walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26).
As we seek spiritual growth, we should pray to God and ask for wisdom concerning the areas He desires us to grow in. We can ask God to increase our faith and knowledge of Him. God desires for us to grow spiritually, and He has given us all we need to experience spiritual growth. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can overcome sin and steadily become more like our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Wayne will be speaking this weekend and He shares the following regarding his message The Next Level:
God is calling us to grow up in our faith. The time for being perpetual spiritual babes is coming to a close, especially for those who have been in the faith for a long time. It will take a strong relationship with God for us to stand in the trying days ahead. Those who are young in the faith will need those who are strong to help guide them as values and society continue on the decline. This Sunday join us for an encouraging word that will challenge us to go higher in God so that we will be able to stand in these last days and encourage others to do so.
God bless you as we meet at the church or as you watch online!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Spiritual growth is the process of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. When we place our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins the process of making us more like Him, conforming us to His image. Spiritual growth is perhaps best described in 2 Peter 1:3-8.
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These verses tell us that by God's power we have "everything we need" to live lives of godliness, which is the goal of spiritual growth. Notice that what we need comes "through our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ," which is the key to obtaining everything we need. Our knowledge of Him comes from the Word, given to us for our edification and growth.
There are two lists in Galatians 5:19-23.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
The first list is the "acts of the flesh" listed in verses 19-21. These are the things that identified our lives before we came to Christ for salvation. The acts of the flesh are the activities we are to confess, repent of, and, with God's help, overcome. As we experience spiritual growth, fewer and fewer of the "acts of the flesh" will be evident in our lives.
The second list is the "fruit of the Spirit" (verses 22-23). These are what should characterize our lives now that we have experienced salvation in Jesus Christ. Spiritual growth is identified by the fruit of the Spirit becoming increasingly evident in a believer's life.
When the transformation of salvation takes place, spiritual growth begins. The Holy Spirit indwells us (John 14:16-17). We are new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old, sinful nature begins to give way to the new, Christ-like nature (Romans 6-7). Spiritual growth is a lifelong process that depends on our study and application of God's Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and our walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26).
As we seek spiritual growth, we should pray to God and ask for wisdom concerning the areas He desires us to grow in. We can ask God to increase our faith and knowledge of Him. God desires for us to grow spiritually, and He has given us all we need to experience spiritual growth. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can overcome sin and steadily become more like our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Wayne will be speaking this weekend and He shares the following regarding his message The Next Level:
God is calling us to grow up in our faith. The time for being perpetual spiritual babes is coming to a close, especially for those who have been in the faith for a long time. It will take a strong relationship with God for us to stand in the trying days ahead. Those who are young in the faith will need those who are strong to help guide them as values and society continue on the decline. This Sunday join us for an encouraging word that will challenge us to go higher in God so that we will be able to stand in these last days and encourage others to do so.
God bless you as we meet at the church or as you watch online!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Keeping your faith in God.
Many of us are experiencing various challenges in life right now from the COVID-19 crisis, resulting financial implications because of a lost job, business shutdowns, or other health issues. We are living in a world of increased social unrest and cultural upheavals. We are concerned about the future, what it holds and what life is going to look like moving forward.
All of these current trials are at work to produce something in us regarding our faith. Join us this Sunday, for the message Keeping Your Faith. The Bible says our faith is priceless, that it will be tested to be proven genuine, but it will also be tested to develop perseverance, so that in the end, we will achieve the goal of our faith—the salvation of our soul. Learn how to not only keep your faith but how to cultivate it and keep it growing in the midst of these great trials in uncertain days.
This will be our second Sunday to regather in-person and worship together. You must register in advance if you would like to attend a Sunday service. The deadline to register each week is Friday at midnight. It is also imperative that you read, understand, and agree to the conditions for attending in-person services. This will help us to comply with all the necessary provincial guidelines, allow for contact tracing if necessary, and help us plan accordingly for the size of crowd that will be coming. If you are a vulnerable person due to pre-existing health conditions, we ask that you stay home and enjoy the service online.
Know that we are constantly praying for you. If you require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please also help care for one another. Let’s all reach out to others in our circle of influence (family, friends, and neighbours) and check-in on them. Ask them how they are doing, offer your assistance where you can and pray with them. Together, as the Body of Christ, let's do the ‘work of the ministry and edify the body of Christ’ (Ephesians 4:12).
We look forward to your presence with us in-person or online this Sunday!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Many of us are experiencing various challenges in life right now from the COVID-19 crisis, resulting financial implications because of a lost job, business shutdowns, or other health issues. We are living in a world of increased social unrest and cultural upheavals. We are concerned about the future, what it holds and what life is going to look like moving forward.
All of these current trials are at work to produce something in us regarding our faith. Join us this Sunday, for the message Keeping Your Faith. The Bible says our faith is priceless, that it will be tested to be proven genuine, but it will also be tested to develop perseverance, so that in the end, we will achieve the goal of our faith—the salvation of our soul. Learn how to not only keep your faith but how to cultivate it and keep it growing in the midst of these great trials in uncertain days.
This will be our second Sunday to regather in-person and worship together. You must register in advance if you would like to attend a Sunday service. The deadline to register each week is Friday at midnight. It is also imperative that you read, understand, and agree to the conditions for attending in-person services. This will help us to comply with all the necessary provincial guidelines, allow for contact tracing if necessary, and help us plan accordingly for the size of crowd that will be coming. If you are a vulnerable person due to pre-existing health conditions, we ask that you stay home and enjoy the service online.
Know that we are constantly praying for you. If you require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please also help care for one another. Let’s all reach out to others in our circle of influence (family, friends, and neighbours) and check-in on them. Ask them how they are doing, offer your assistance where you can and pray with them. Together, as the Body of Christ, let's do the ‘work of the ministry and edify the body of Christ’ (Ephesians 4:12).
We look forward to your presence with us in-person or online this Sunday!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
We are living in extraordinary days.
This will be our first Sunday in four months to open our building to regather in-person and worship together! It’s an exciting moment for some, and a scary one for others. You are free to determine to your level of comfort with this and can either join us in-person, or stay online for our worship services. We ask that you respect other people’s convictions about this matter. Above all, may we all operate in love and respect, and honour one another.
It is going to look and feel different as we take this first step, so our goal is to help manage your expectations. We are taking a slow and careful approach to reopening the building for people to attend these in-person services. It will happen in stages, much like how the province is slowly reopening. May we all be patient with one another and our leadership team as we forge ahead in this process.
In this first stage, we will reopen the building only on Sundays for service and you must register in advance through our website. The deadline to register for this first week is Friday, July 3 at midnight. This will help us abide by the provincial guidelines, allow for contact tracing if necessary, and help us plan accordingly for the size of crowd that will come.
Please understand, in this first stage, you cannot just show up and register at the door. If you did not register in advance, please enjoy the service online. It is also imperative, that you read, understand and agree to the conditions for attending any in-person services. If you are sick, are close to someone who is sick, have travelled out of the region recently, or your health is vulnerable we ask that you stay home and enjoy the service online.
We are living in extraordinary days. Days unlike any of us have ever seen. What does the future hold? How should we pray? The early church faced a similar situation and in my message this weekend, we will explore the wisdom they used in their challenging days. So join us for worship and the Word—An Extraordinary Prayer for Extraordinary Days.
We look forward to your presence with us in-person or online this Sunday!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
This will be our first Sunday in four months to open our building to regather in-person and worship together! It’s an exciting moment for some, and a scary one for others. You are free to determine to your level of comfort with this and can either join us in-person, or stay online for our worship services. We ask that you respect other people’s convictions about this matter. Above all, may we all operate in love and respect, and honour one another.
It is going to look and feel different as we take this first step, so our goal is to help manage your expectations. We are taking a slow and careful approach to reopening the building for people to attend these in-person services. It will happen in stages, much like how the province is slowly reopening. May we all be patient with one another and our leadership team as we forge ahead in this process.
In this first stage, we will reopen the building only on Sundays for service and you must register in advance through our website. The deadline to register for this first week is Friday, July 3 at midnight. This will help us abide by the provincial guidelines, allow for contact tracing if necessary, and help us plan accordingly for the size of crowd that will come.
Please understand, in this first stage, you cannot just show up and register at the door. If you did not register in advance, please enjoy the service online. It is also imperative, that you read, understand and agree to the conditions for attending any in-person services. If you are sick, are close to someone who is sick, have travelled out of the region recently, or your health is vulnerable we ask that you stay home and enjoy the service online.
We are living in extraordinary days. Days unlike any of us have ever seen. What does the future hold? How should we pray? The early church faced a similar situation and in my message this weekend, we will explore the wisdom they used in their challenging days. So join us for worship and the Word—An Extraordinary Prayer for Extraordinary Days.
We look forward to your presence with us in-person or online this Sunday!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Regathering Update
Starting Sunday, July 5, we will slowly and carefully re-open the building for people to attend in-person services. We require that you be willing to abide by the following measures for everyone’s safety and welfare.
If you are sick, are close to someone who is sick, have travelled out of the region recently, or your health is vulnerable we ask that you stay home and watch the service online.
Watch our Regathering Update video.
REGISTRATION
Advance registration online is required to attend service. This is to abide by the capacity regulations stated by the province and for contact tracing purposes.
Do not show up at the door on Sunday morning without having registered.
Registration will close at midnight on the Friday prior to the service.
ARRIVAL/PARKING
We request you arrive 30 minutes early to park. Please park in every other parking space, as guided by our attendants.
Doors will open at 10:00 am.
SCREENING
You must line up to enter the building at the East Entrance only. Outside these doors you will have your temperature checked and answer these COVID-19 screening questions:
Do you have any of the following: Fever, Cough, Difficulty Breathing, Sore throat, Trouble Swallowing, Runny Nose, Loss of taste or smell, Not feeling well, or Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea?
Have you been in close contact with someone who is sick or has confirmed COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
Have you returned from travel outside Canada in the past 14 days?
CHECK-IN
Proceed to the check-in table to confirm your registration and ensure you are wearing a mask (please bring one with you.)
Please follow all markings and signage in the building to help with the flow of traffic and to maintain social distancing.
Masks must be worn at ALL TIMES inside the building.
SEATING
A lobby greeter will direct you to one of the five doors to the sanctuary, where an usher will escort you down an aisle to seat you. Available sanctuary seating will be clearly marked to maintain social distancing. Upon conclusion of service, please wait for an usher to escort you out of the sanctuary and building.
CHILDREN
Children must remain and be seated with parents at all times. A packet of crafts/activities will be available at each sanctuary door for pick-up should you wish to use them.
TITHES & OFFERING
Offering boxes will be available at every door for you to deposit your giving either before or after service. The debit machine at the Welcome Centre will also be available for use. Please line-up according to the stanchions and floor markings.
WASHROOMS
Washroom entrances will be monitored by volunteers to limit the number of people using the facilities at any one time. Change tables are available in both washrooms with sanitizing wipes. Please be sure to wash your hands after using the facilities.
Our building will be properly cleaned and sanitized after every public service.
Starting Sunday, July 5, we will slowly and carefully re-open the building for people to attend in-person services. We require that you be willing to abide by the following measures for everyone’s safety and welfare.
If you are sick, are close to someone who is sick, have travelled out of the region recently, or your health is vulnerable we ask that you stay home and enjoy the service online.
Watch our Regathering Update video.
REGISTRATION
Advance registration online is required to attend service. This is to abide by the capacity regulations stated by the province and for contact tracing purposes.
Do not show up at the door on Sunday morning without having registered.
Registration will close at midnight on the Friday prior to the service.
ARRIVAL/PARKING
We request you arrive 30 minutes early to park. Please park in every other parking space, as guided by our attendants.
Doors will open at 10:00 am.
SCREENING
You must line up to enter the building at the East Entrance only. Outside these doors you will have your temperature checked and answer these COVID-19 screening questions:
Do you have any of the following: Fever, Cough, Difficulty Breathing, Sore throat, Trouble Swallowing, Runny Nose, Loss of taste or smell, Not feeling well, or Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea?
Have you been in close contact with someone who is sick or has confirmed COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
Have you returned from travel outside Canada in the past 14 days?
CHECK-IN
Proceed to the check-in table to confirm your registration and ensure you are wearing a mask (please bring one with you.)
Please follow all markings and signage in the building to help with the flow of traffic and to maintain social distancing.
Masks must be worn at ALL TIMES inside the building.
SEATING
A lobby greeter will direct you to one of the five doors to the sanctuary, where an usher will escort you down an aisle to seat you. Available sanctuary seating will be clearly marked to maintain social distancing. Upon conclusion of service, please wait for an usher to escort you out of the sanctuary and building.
CHILDREN
Children must remain and be seated with parents at all times. A packet of crafts/activities will be available at each sanctuary door for pick-up should you wish to use them.
TITHES & OFFERING
Offering boxes will be available at every door for you to deposit your giving either before or after service. The debit machine at the Welcome Centre will also be available for use. Please line-up according to the stanchions and floor markings.
WASHROOMS
Washroom entrances will be monitored by volunteers to limit the number of people using the facilities at any one time. Change tables are available in both washrooms with sanitizing wipes. Please be sure to wash your hands after using the facilities.
Our building will be properly cleaned and sanitized after every public service.
The Need For Power
Everyone needs power. There many different kinds of powers and forces at work in our world today. We can see the effects of those powers by what fruit they produce. Some are evil and some are good.
Jesus spoke of kind of power that was of another dimension. Spiritual power. A power that can only come from heaven.
It’s a supernatural power that will overcome the spirit of fear in our world and our lives today.
It’s an immediate power that will produce a confidence to step forward and speak with clarity and boldness.
It’s a dynamic power that flows through nine unique spiritual gifts.
A power that would lead us to experience infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Join our online service this Sunday, as we explore the truth and dynamics of this power in the final message in our Infinitely More series.
Prepare you heart and will to be open to hear and receive God’s Word.
Be willing and ready to receive and tap into this glorious, supernatural power!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Everyone needs power. There many different kinds of powers and forces at work in our world today. We can see the effects of those powers by what fruit they produce. Some are evil and some are good.
Jesus spoke of kind of power that was of another dimension. Spiritual power. A power that can only come from heaven.
It’s a supernatural power that will overcome the spirit of fear in our world and our lives today.
It’s an immediate power that will produce a confidence to step forward and speak with clarity and boldness.
It’s a dynamic power that flows through nine unique spiritual gifts.
A power that would lead us to experience infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Join our online service this Sunday, as we explore the truth and dynamics of this power in the final message in our Infinitely More series.
Prepare you heart and will to be open to hear and receive God’s Word.
Be willing and ready to receive and tap into this glorious, supernatural power!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Everyone needs an advocate
Don’t you wish there was someone advocating for you in this journey of life?
What’s an advocate? They are “a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.”
The bible says, we have an advocate in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ took our place on the cross, bearing our sin, shame and punishment. Now He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven, where He pleads on our behalf before the Father. And our Father chooses to forgive us based upon the work of His completely righteous Son—Jesus Christ upon the cross.
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. (1 John 2:1, NLT)
God the Father has promised someone else to us to be our Helper as well. Upon Christ’s return to heaven, He sent us another Advocate. A helper in every sense of the word. Someone who advocates on God’s behalf in our lives.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. (John 14:16-17, NLT)
You can meet this Advocate and learn more about His role in your life, in my message this Sunday entitled, The Father’s Advocate. May you not only honour your earthly father this weekend, but may you make your heavenly Father truly happy by opening your heart to the ministry of His Spirit in your life! Because this Advocate has come to truly help you live the most fulfilling abundant life possible!
Be sure to join us after our online service for our Father’s Day Drive-Thru. Pastor Debbie and I look forward to greeting you under the church’s canopy to pray blessings upon our dads and hand out a special gift for every dad.
Hope you will drop by for a brief visit and say hello!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Don’t you wish there was someone advocating for you in this journey of life?
What’s an advocate? They are “a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy.”
The bible says, we have an advocate in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ took our place on the cross, bearing our sin, shame and punishment. Now He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven, where He pleads on our behalf before the Father. And our Father chooses to forgive us based upon the work of His completely righteous Son—Jesus Christ upon the cross.
My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. (1 John 2:1, NLT)
God the Father has promised someone else to us to be our Helper as well. Upon Christ’s return to heaven, He sent us another Advocate. A helper in every sense of the word. Someone who advocates on God’s behalf in our lives.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. (John 14:16-17, NLT)
You can meet this Advocate and learn more about His role in your life, in my message this Sunday entitled, The Father’s Advocate. May you not only honour your earthly father this weekend, but may you make your heavenly Father truly happy by opening your heart to the ministry of His Spirit in your life! Because this Advocate has come to truly help you live the most fulfilling abundant life possible!
Be sure to join us after our online service for our Father’s Day Drive-Thru. Pastor Debbie and I look forward to greeting you under the church’s canopy to pray blessings upon our dads and hand out a special gift for every dad.
Hope you will drop by for a brief visit and say hello!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Our Reopening Plans
We are so thankful for the following announcement released from the Ontario Government this past Monday, June 8: all places of worship will be permitted to open with physical distancing in place and attendance limited to no more than 30% capacity as of Friday, June 12. We are also awaiting the Official Order to be posted publicly shortly which will include the guidelines necessary for that re-opening.
While this broad permission to open across the province is helpful, we understand that each congregation and facility is different, and there are many issues surrounding a safe and compliant reopening in our facility specifically. Some churches are opening this weekend, while others are waiting for a week or two. Our staff have been discussing potential plans for opening up our facility. The church board will also be meeting to review, edit and approve any plans moving forward. We also have a unique experience at Peel since we have been dealing this past month with my coronary crisis. I am just back giving full leadership to the ministry team at PPT, so I would ask for your patience and understanding as we work diligently towards a safe and healthy reopening of our church.
So, this Sunday, June 14, we are planning to continue our live online services, streamed from the church building but with a few enhancements. We plan to safely add praise team members and media staff to help us conduct a service that will look and feel more like our services held prior to the COVID-19 crisis.
Let’s celebrate together this wonderful development! You may also wish to gather with others in your home this weekend to watch our online service together, but please limit that to no more than ten people. It’s wonderful to know we are moving forward towards gathering together once again! Please continue to pray for us as a staff and board that God will grant us great wisdom as we work towards the reopening of PPT!
In my message this weekend, we will explore The ‘I Will’ Declarations. Jesus made some powerful statements about His plan to build His church and return to establish His kingdom. Christ made some trustworthy promises that were intended to lead us to experience infinitely more until His return. Join us online, ready to worship and receive in Jesus Name!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
We are so thankful for the following announcement released from the Ontario Government this past Monday, June 8: all places of worship will be permitted to open with physical distancing in place and attendance limited to no more than 30% capacity as of Friday, June 12. We are also awaiting the Official Order to be posted publicly shortly which will include the guidelines necessary for that re-opening.
While this broad permission to open across the province is helpful, we understand that each congregation and facility is different, and there are many issues surrounding a safe and compliant reopening in our facility specifically. Some churches are opening this weekend, while others are waiting for a week or two. Our staff have been discussing potential plans for opening up our facility. The church board will also be meeting to review, edit and approve any plans moving forward. We also have a unique experience at Peel since we have been dealing this past month with my coronary crisis. I am just back giving full leadership to the ministry team at PPT, so I would ask for your patience and understanding as we work diligently towards a safe and healthy reopening of our church.
So, this Sunday, June 14, we are planning to continue our live online services, streamed from the church building but with a few enhancements. We plan to safely add praise team members and media staff to help us conduct a service that will look and feel more like our services held prior to the COVID-19 crisis.
Let’s celebrate together this wonderful development! You may also wish to gather with others in your home this weekend to watch our online service together, but please limit that to no more than ten people. It’s wonderful to know we are moving forward towards gathering together once again! Please continue to pray for us as a staff and board that God will grant us great wisdom as we work towards the reopening of PPT!
In my message this weekend, we will explore The ‘I Will’ Declarations. Jesus made some powerful statements about His plan to build His church and return to establish His kingdom. Christ made some trustworthy promises that were intended to lead us to experience infinitely more until His return. Join us online, ready to worship and receive in Jesus Name!
Every Blessing,
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
A Walking Miracle
Do you believe in miracles? The Bible records some thirty-four miracles, signs and wonders that Jesus performed during his ministry on earth. Peter on the day of Pentecost, while preaching his first sermon stated, Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know – Acts 2:22 (NKJV). Jesus proved He was the Son of God, by the miracles, wonders and signs he performed while living on the earth and there were many people who were witnesses to that fact.
Though the miracles recorded in the Bible are an incredible list, it is also an incomplete list. For John wrote, Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written. John 21:25 (NLT).
The Bible further states, The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. John 20:30-31 (NLT)
The miracles recorded in the Bible, were written so that we would continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. This ministry of miracles continued through the power of the Holy Spirit after the church was born on the day of Pentecost, as the book of Acts records for us.
Jesus is still performing miracles today and in our midst. A month ago this weekend, you heard a message entitled Infinitely More Miracles. That weekend, I experienced my own miracle and I want to share my own testimony this Sunday in my message, A Walking Miracle. I hope you will watch and listen and invite others to as well. Pray this weekend, that others we will come to believe in Jesus and receive Him as their Saviour as we give the glory to God for another present day miracle! Be sure to have your communion elements prepared and also some anointing oil (olive oil) as we will be praying for those who need healing and miracles too!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Do you believe in miracles? The Bible records some thirty-four miracles, signs and wonders that Jesus performed during his ministry on earth. Peter on the day of Pentecost, while preaching his first sermon stated, Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know – Acts 2:22 (NKJV). Jesus proved He was the Son of God, by the miracles, wonders and signs he performed while living on the earth and there were many people who were witnesses to that fact.
Though the miracles recorded in the Bible are an incredible list, it is also an incomplete list. For John wrote, Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written. John 21:25 (NLT).
The Bible further states, The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. John 20:30-31 (NLT)
The miracles recorded in the Bible, were written so that we would continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. This ministry of miracles continued through the power of the Holy Spirit after the church was born on the day of Pentecost, as the book of Acts records for us.
Jesus is still performing miracles today and in our midst. A month ago this weekend, you heard a message entitled Infinitely More Miracles. That weekend, I experienced my own miracle and I want to share my own testimony this Sunday in my message, A Walking Miracle. I hope you will watch and listen and invite others to as well. Pray this weekend, that others we will come to believe in Jesus and receive Him as their Saviour as we give the glory to God for another present day miracle! Be sure to have your communion elements prepared and also some anointing oil (olive oil) as we will be praying for those who need healing and miracles too!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Making All Things New
Don’t you just love new things? Everyone enjoys buying new stuff. Whether it be clothing, jewelry, home furnishings, vehicles or traveling on vacation to new locations.
How about new inventions? Things that have never existed before, but have been made and introduced to society, like smartphones.
How about things that have been recently discovered for the first time? Recently, scientists have discovered an antibody that inhibits the new Coronavirus in a patient who had SARS 17 years ago.
We love these ideas of new. But there is another dimension to new that we might not be so fond of. Like new experiences that can prove to be challenging and even traumatic. Three weeks ago today, I had a new experience and not one I was looking for or anticipating in any way. Hospitalized for days, experiencing two surgeries and multiple procedures all for the first time in my life, in the midst of this COVID environment. Not so pleasant experiences, but nonetheless, new.
We never know what a given day, week or even a year holds. No one could have imagined that we would be facing this new COVID crisis as we launched into this new year. We are experiencing many new changes in our lives right now. No one knows how long this crisis will last. Most people feel that our lifestyles will look somewhat different moving forward. Truly no one knows what our future will be like but we know who holds tomorrow.
As we observe the devastating impact of the Coronavirus around the world, we see the daily effect it has on our personal lives. The question may be asked, What will things be like in the future and will there be better days?
Tune in this Sunday, as Pastor Charles shares the encouragement of God’s Word in his message, Making All Things New. We have an incredible future!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Don’t you just love new things? Everyone enjoys buying new stuff. Whether it be clothing, jewelry, home furnishings, vehicles or traveling on vacation to new locations.
How about new inventions? Things that have never existed before, but have been made and introduced to society, like smartphones.
How about things that have been recently discovered for the first time? Recently, scientists have discovered an antibody that inhibits the new Coronavirus in a patient who had SARS 17 years ago.
We love these ideas of new. But there is another dimension to new that we might not be so fond of. Like new experiences that can prove to be challenging and even traumatic. Three weeks ago today, I had a new experience and not one I was looking for or anticipating in any way. Hospitalized for days, experiencing two surgeries and multiple procedures all for the first time in my life, in the midst of this COVID environment. Not so pleasant experiences, but nonetheless, new.
We never know what a given day, week or even a year holds. No one could have imagined that we would be facing this new COVID crisis as we launched into this new year. We are experiencing many new changes in our lives right now. No one knows how long this crisis will last. Most people feel that our lifestyles will look somewhat different moving forward. Truly no one knows what our future will be like but we know who holds tomorrow.
As we observe the devastating impact of the Coronavirus around the world, we see the daily effect it has on our personal lives. The question may be asked, What will things be like in the future and will there be better days?
Tune in this Sunday, as Pastor Charles shares the encouragement of God’s Word in his message, Making All Things New. We have an incredible future!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Infinitely more miracles are in the making
Good morning PPT Church Family,
The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “You are a walking miracle.”
Two weeks ago today, I awoke not feeling right. Within a few moments, my heart went into third degree AV (atrium ventricular) block. In layman’s terms, the electrical pulses into my heart muscles were blocked. I was taken by ambulance to Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston, stabilized, and then transferred to Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket to have a pacemaker installed that afternoon. Further tests revealed that I had no blockages in the blood vessels in my heart. I did not have a heart attack, nor do I have any heart damage! Praise the Lord!
I laid in the hospital bed on Mother’s Day morning listening to myself preach the message about Infinitely More Miracles. I recorded that message the day before this incident, not knowing I would need and experience a miracle myself. As this incident has unfolded, I have met with paramedics, nurses, and doctors, and received a written report that shares the details of this story that truly indicate nothing short of a miracle of God. I want to encourage you to invite family and friends to tune in to hear the details of this testimony on our online service on Sunday, June 7 at 10:30 am. The Lord further bore witness in my spirit that there are more miracles in the making in the days ahead!
I will be returning to work next week on a limited schedule for just a couple of weeks and then back full-time the second week of June.
I want to thank everyone for your love, concern, and expressions of concern. What a blessing to be part of such a wonderful church family!
May I encourage you to keep praying for our staff and leadership team as we continue to pray for you. Truly we are in this moment and battle together! We are aware and continue to pray for you as families, as you try to deal with all the stresses that this COVID-19 situation brings. Mental health issues are on the rise for various families. However, there are resources available. So please let us know if you or anyone in our church needs help. Let’s keep praying for each other, connecting with each other, and finding creative ways to help one another.
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Good morning PPT Church Family,
The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “You are a walking miracle.”
Two weeks ago today, I awoke not feeling right. Within a few moments, my heart went into third degree AV (atrium ventricular) block. In layman’s terms, the electrical pulses into my heart muscles were blocked. I was taken by ambulance to Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston, stabilized, and then transferred to Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket to have a pacemaker installed that afternoon. Further tests revealed that I had no blockages in the blood vessels in my heart. I did not have a heart attack, nor do I have any heart damage! Praise the Lord!
I laid in the hospital bed on Mother’s Day morning listening to myself preach the message about Infinitely More Miracles. I recorded that message the day before this incident, not knowing I would need and experience a miracle myself. As this incident has unfolded, I have met with paramedics, nurses, and doctors, and received a written report that shares the details of this story that truly indicate nothing short of a miracle of God. I want to encourage you to invite family and friends to tune in to hear the details of this testimony on our online service on Sunday, June 7 at 10:30 am. The Lord further bore witness in my spirit that there are more miracles in the making in the days ahead!
I will be returning to work next week on a limited schedule for just a couple of weeks and then back full-time the second week of June.
I want to thank everyone for your love, concern, and expressions of concern. What a blessing to be part of such a wonderful church family!
May I encourage you to keep praying for our staff and leadership team as we continue to pray for you. Truly we are in this moment and battle together! We are aware and continue to pray for you as families, as you try to deal with all the stresses that this COVID-19 situation brings. Mental health issues are on the rise for various families. However, there are resources available. So please let us know if you or anyone in our church needs help. Let’s keep praying for each other, connecting with each other, and finding creative ways to help one another.
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
A Message From Pastor Wayne
Good morning PPT Church Family,
We trust that you are having a good week so for. We are certainly living in times with circumstances and situations we have never witnessed before. But we want to remind you that we serve a powerful, majestic God. He is in total control. Therefore, let us continue to cry out to Him and trust Him to take care of us in every area of our lives.
Let us take a moment to thank the Lord for the miracle that He performed this week for our lead pastor. Pastor Barry preached a message to himself and the rest of us last Sunday that ministered in such a dynamic way. Only God knew that our pastor would need the very message he was preaching over the weekend! For those of you who don’t know, Pastor Barry recorded a message last Thursday talking about Infinitely More Miracles. Friday, he was rushed to the hospital with some heart issues. On Sunday from the hospital he was able to watch himself preach a healing message. What a mighty God we serve!
This past Tuesday night, Pastor Barry was discharged from the hospital and he is now home resting and recovering. Praise the Lord! Only God could have planned this!
So today, we are filled with thanksgiving for the miracle that God has performed for our pastor. Pastor Barry said himself, “I am a walking miracle.” Let us continue to pray for his speedy healing and recovery.
Church, we have been praying each night over the last several months and we are going to continue to do so. We don’t know how much longer this COVID-19 situation (and all that pertains to it) is going to last. There are certain businesses and parks that are being allowed to re-open. It seems like our government is trying to balance safety and getting people back to work. Therefore, let us continue to pray for our leaders in government and our pastoral leadership that God would give wisdom as they try to navigate our safe return back to some sort of “normalcy” over the next few weeks and months.
Please be in prayer for our services and prayer times that as we meet together online that God would continue to encourage and strengthen His people.
Remember, Philippians 2:13: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
God bless you,
Pastor Wayne Russell
Associate Pastor
Good morning PPT Church Family,
We trust that you are having a good week so for. We are certainly living in times with circumstances and situations we have never witnessed before. But we want to remind you that we serve a powerful, majestic God. He is in total control. Therefore, let us continue to cry out to Him and trust Him to take care of us in every area of our lives.
Let us take a moment to thank the Lord for the miracle that He performed this week for our lead pastor. Pastor Barry preached a message to himself and the rest of us last Sunday that ministered in such a dynamic way. Only God knew that our pastor would need the very message he was preaching over the weekend! For those of you who don’t know, Pastor Barry recorded a message last Thursday talking about Infinitely More Miracles. Friday, he was rushed to the hospital with some heart issues. On Sunday from the hospital he was able to watch himself preach a healing message. What a mighty God we serve!
This past Tuesday night, Pastor Barry was discharged from the hospital and he is now home resting and recovering. Praise the Lord! Only God could have planned this!
So today, we are filled with thanksgiving for the miracle that God has performed for our pastor. Pastor Barry said himself, “I am a walking miracle.” Let us continue to pray for his speedy healing and recovery.
Church, we have been praying each night over the last several months and we are going to continue to do so. We don’t know how much longer this COVID-19 situation (and all that pertains to it) is going to last. There are certain businesses and parks that are being allowed to re-open. It seems like our government is trying to balance safety and getting people back to work. Therefore, let us continue to pray for our leaders in government and our pastoral leadership that God would give wisdom as they try to navigate our safe return back to some sort of “normalcy” over the next few weeks and months.
Please be in prayer for our services and prayer times that as we meet together online that God would continue to encourage and strengthen His people.
Remember, Philippians 2:13: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
God bless you,
Pastor Wayne Russell
Associate Pastor
Infinitely More Miracles
As we are in the ninth week of this current crisis, we are praying and trust you are keeping well. Some folks are really struggling and understandably so. The coronavirus emergency order has been extended another two weeks (until May 19) and this journey is starting to weigh on us all. Though we must continue to abide by the order and maintain physical distancing, we want to strongly encourage you not to socially distance from one another. One of the enemy’s chief weapons is to try and get us to isolate socially from one another, which is very unhealthy. If you were unable to join us last night for our Pastor Chat on our PPT YouTube Channel, check out the recording entitled Winning The Battle In Times Of Isolation. There is great truth there that we need to get a hold of and practice in our lives to win the victory in this challenging season of life.
We as a staff are praying much for you and endeavouring to keep connected with you as best we can. However, with a large congregation, we want to encourage you to care for one another by calling people within your circle of influence, check in with how they are doing and pray with them. These are definitely challenging times and they’re bringing changes to the way we experience and do ministry together. But the Lord is with us in this moment and we need to seize this moment for the glory of God.
In the midst of this pandemic crisis, we are hearing incredible stories of miracles of God’s provision. We serve a God of miracles. Jesus performed some thirty-seven recorded miracles in the Bible and one of most familiar was the Feeding of the Five Thousand. In this weekend’s message, we will expound on this story that reveals the power, authority and heart of Jesus for these folks to experience infinitely more in their lives. Be sure to tune into our online service and invite others to join you.
This miracle reveals the truth that Jesus already knows how great the needs are in our lives. He holds the answer to every impossible situation that we so often are scrambling around to figure out what we can do to make it happen. We get so focused on the magnitude of the need that we often lose sight of the ‘Great I am’ who can meet the need. In meeting needs, Jesus often starts with what we already have. And if we will give what we have, Jesus has the capacity to supernaturally multiply and not only supply our need but the needs of others. Jesus shows us that when we give all that we have to Him, we will always walk away with infinitely more. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NLT). Let’s continue to stand strong in the Lord and in our faith and confidence in Him and His Word!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
As we are in the ninth week of this current crisis, we are praying and trust you are keeping well. Some folks are really struggling and understandably so. The coronavirus emergency order has been extended another two weeks (until May 19) and this journey is starting to weigh on us all. Though we must continue to abide by the order and maintain physical distancing, we want to strongly encourage you not to socially distance from one another. One of the enemy’s chief weapons is to try and get us to isolate socially from one another, which is very unhealthy. If you were unable to join us last night for our Pastor Chat on our PPT YouTube Channel, check out the recording entitled Winning The Battle In Times Of Isolation. There is great truth there that we need to get a hold of and practice in our lives to win the victory in this challenging season of life.
We as a staff are praying much for you and endeavouring to keep connected with you as best we can. However, with a large congregation, we want to encourage you to care for one another by calling people within your circle of influence, check in with how they are doing and pray with them. These are definitely challenging times and they’re bringing changes to the way we experience and do ministry together. But the Lord is with us in this moment and we need to seize this moment for the glory of God.
In the midst of this pandemic crisis, we are hearing incredible stories of miracles of God’s provision. We serve a God of miracles. Jesus performed some thirty-seven recorded miracles in the Bible and one of most familiar was the Feeding of the Five Thousand. In this weekend’s message, we will expound on this story that reveals the power, authority and heart of Jesus for these folks to experience infinitely more in their lives. Be sure to tune into our online service and invite others to join you.
This miracle reveals the truth that Jesus already knows how great the needs are in our lives. He holds the answer to every impossible situation that we so often are scrambling around to figure out what we can do to make it happen. We get so focused on the magnitude of the need that we often lose sight of the ‘Great I am’ who can meet the need. In meeting needs, Jesus often starts with what we already have. And if we will give what we have, Jesus has the capacity to supernaturally multiply and not only supply our need but the needs of others. Jesus shows us that when we give all that we have to Him, we will always walk away with infinitely more. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NLT). Let’s continue to stand strong in the Lord and in our faith and confidence in Him and His Word!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Foundations For Living
We are learning much about the importance of foundations in our lives during this pandemic. As we enter the eighth week of this crisis, the foundation of our lives is being revealed and tested.
Foundations for a building are essential to the overall integrity of a structure. With a literal house, it is unwise to build on sand, because the foundation will be unsteady and the house will eventually suffer some kind of damage. This will waste resources, and all the time and work put into building the house in the first place will have been for nothing. In contrast, it is wise to build one’s house on a sure foundation; anchoring to bedrock makes a building withstand the test.
Similarly, the foundation for our lives is key to withstanding how to weather the storms that will come in life. Jesus told a story about two men: one who built his house upon a rock and another who built his house upon sand. The house built upon a rock weathered the storm, and the builder is called wise; but the house built on the sand collapsed during the storm, and the builder is called foolish. (Matthew 7:24–27)
The meaning of this parable is quite obvious: proper foundations are necessary. But Jesus’ sermon was not concerned with house construction or building code violations. The spiritual meaning of the parable is found in verse 24: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” We are each building a life. The proper foundation for a life is Jesus’ words—not just the hearing of them, but the doing of them, too (see James 1:22).
It seems at times that everything in the world is set up to make us turn away from God’s words. And often, our own feelings pull us toward doing the exact opposite of what the Bible says. But a wise man will follow the words of God despite these pressures because he trusts God
As we follow the Lord, learning to trust and obey Him, we receive a reward: our “house” is solid and unshaken by circumstances. The wise man is the believer whose life is built upon the Rock of Christ; in this world he has faith and hope, and in the next, everlasting life and love (see 1 Corinthians 13:13).
Join us this Sunday as we more fully develop this thought in the message, Foundations For Living.
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
We are learning much about the importance of foundations in our lives during this pandemic. As we enter the eighth week of this crisis, the foundation of our lives is being revealed and tested.
Foundations for a building are essential to the overall integrity of a structure. With a literal house, it is unwise to build on sand, because the foundation will be unsteady and the house will eventually suffer some kind of damage. This will waste resources, and all the time and work put into building the house in the first place will have been for nothing. In contrast, it is wise to build one’s house on a sure foundation; anchoring to bedrock makes a building withstand the test.
Similarly, the foundation for our lives is key to withstanding how to weather the storms that will come in life. Jesus told a story about two men: one who built his house upon a rock and another who built his house upon sand. The house built upon a rock weathered the storm, and the builder is called wise; but the house built on the sand collapsed during the storm, and the builder is called foolish. (Matthew 7:24–27)
The meaning of this parable is quite obvious: proper foundations are necessary. But Jesus’ sermon was not concerned with house construction or building code violations. The spiritual meaning of the parable is found in verse 24: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” We are each building a life. The proper foundation for a life is Jesus’ words—not just the hearing of them, but the doing of them, too (see James 1:22).
It seems at times that everything in the world is set up to make us turn away from God’s words. And often, our own feelings pull us toward doing the exact opposite of what the Bible says. But a wise man will follow the words of God despite these pressures because he trusts God
As we follow the Lord, learning to trust and obey Him, we receive a reward: our “house” is solid and unshaken by circumstances. The wise man is the believer whose life is built upon the Rock of Christ; in this world he has faith and hope, and in the next, everlasting life and love (see 1 Corinthians 13:13).
Join us this Sunday as we more fully develop this thought in the message, Foundations For Living.
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Answering the Call to Infinitely More
It has been six weeks since we moved to doing Sundays exclusively through our online platform. Though this has been challenging for us all, we are still excited to share God’s Word with you this weekend.
We hope you are looking forward to joining your PPT family again this Sunday at 10:30 am. In preparation for the message, we encourage you to read the following Scriptures that deal with Peter, a disciple of Jesus: Luke 5:10-11; Matthew 14:25-29; Luke 22:54-62; John 21:3-7. See if you can identify the three callings he had in life and how answering those calls led him to experience infinitely more than he could have ever dreamed.
You know it’s been incredible to watch what people have done in the midst of this coronavirus crisis. We are seeing amazing examples of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship as we seek solutions to help people in the various dimensions of this pandemic. Whether healthcare, homecare or manufacturing industries, it’s remarkable what people can do when they team up together to address a common cause.
With the creation of the world and the subsequent fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, God’s incredibly, innovative plan of salvation began to unfold. Preparations were made for the arrival of God’s Son to come into our world to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross. The resurrection of Jesus Christ and His ascension to heaven, paved the way for sending the Holy Spirit and birth of the church on the day of Pentecost. Now the Lord extends an invitation to all to come and join His team, that is His church. Through His people, the Lord is able to accomplish infinitely more in these days than we might possibly ask of think.
We are living in days when God desires to make His name known like never before. The Lord is looking for people who are willing and available to be part of His plan.
His plan will call you out of our comfort zone. It will call you to join him in walking through the storms of life. Through those storms will come the manifestation of His presence and power that will lead to a revelation of who He truly is, to the world.
There will be moments, when we might stumble and fall in that journey but God stands ready to restore us and get us back on track. Because the reality is, the Lord’s plans and purposes will proceed and prevail either way.
In the midst of this virus crisis, let’s say yes to the call of God to a life beyond our comfort zone to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think through the Lord’s mighty power that is at work within us. All glory be to God! See you Sunday!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
It has been six weeks since we moved to doing Sundays exclusively through our online platform. Though this has been challenging for us all, we are still excited to share God’s Word with you this weekend.
We hope you are looking forward to joining your PPT family again this Sunday at 10:30 am. In preparation for the message, we encourage you to read the following Scriptures that deal with Peter, a disciple of Jesus: Luke 5:10-11; Matthew 14:25-29; Luke 22:54-62; John 21:3-7. See if you can identify the three callings he had in life and how answering those calls led him to experience infinitely more than he could have ever dreamed.
You know it’s been incredible to watch what people have done in the midst of this coronavirus crisis. We are seeing amazing examples of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship as we seek solutions to help people in the various dimensions of this pandemic. Whether healthcare, homecare or manufacturing industries, it’s remarkable what people can do when they team up together to address a common cause.
With the creation of the world and the subsequent fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, God’s incredibly, innovative plan of salvation began to unfold. Preparations were made for the arrival of God’s Son to come into our world to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross. The resurrection of Jesus Christ and His ascension to heaven, paved the way for sending the Holy Spirit and birth of the church on the day of Pentecost. Now the Lord extends an invitation to all to come and join His team, that is His church. Through His people, the Lord is able to accomplish infinitely more in these days than we might possibly ask of think.
We are living in days when God desires to make His name known like never before. The Lord is looking for people who are willing and available to be part of His plan.
His plan will call you out of our comfort zone. It will call you to join him in walking through the storms of life. Through those storms will come the manifestation of His presence and power that will lead to a revelation of who He truly is, to the world.
There will be moments, when we might stumble and fall in that journey but God stands ready to restore us and get us back on track. Because the reality is, the Lord’s plans and purposes will proceed and prevail either way.
In the midst of this virus crisis, let’s say yes to the call of God to a life beyond our comfort zone to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think through the Lord’s mighty power that is at work within us. All glory be to God! See you Sunday!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Infinitely More
The challenges we’re facing as a culture and church can easily cause anxiety, both about the present and the future. However, disruptions almost always create new opportunities.
God said to Joshua as he led the children of Israel toward the flooded Jordan river, “Stay close to the Ark of the covenant because you have never been this way before.” (Joshua 3:4) and last year we prayed into that theme all year long.
We can say the same thing about the moment we are living through right now. We too have never been this way before. Just as they had never walked through a flooded river while God held back the waters, we have never experienced mass isolations and self-quarantine. But we can be sure that the same God who held back the waters for His people then is still the protector and provider of His people today. Once they passed through to the other side, they were never the same. They went from “wilderness wanderers” to landowners. They ceased to be “manna gathers” to become “fruit harvesters.” Who knows, we could be in the middle of the same kind of transformation.
This I do know, the same admonishment God gave to Joshua is still good for us; “Stay close to God and His word, go where you see Him go and do what His word says and you will come out the other side of this better off than when you started the journey.”
We began this year praying, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:6 - NKJV). I believe there is a connection between these two themes. I believe God is taking us where we have never been before. I believe God is hearing our prayer to revive His church in this hour. I believe God is doing and is about to do infinitely more than we could ask or imagine!
Together, let’s believe God to do infinitely more in this moment! And let us be ready for whatever comes next!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
The challenges we’re facing as a culture and church can easily cause anxiety, both about the present and the future. However, disruptions almost always create new opportunities.
God said to Joshua as he led the children of Israel toward the flooded Jordan river, “Stay close to the Ark of the covenant because you have never been this way before.” (Joshua 3:4) and last year we prayed into that theme all year long.
We can say the same thing about the moment we are living through right now. We too have never been this way before. Just as they had never walked through a flooded river while God held back the waters, we have never experienced mass isolations and self-quarantine. But we can be sure that the same God who held back the waters for His people then is still the protector and provider of His people today. Once they passed through to the other side, they were never the same. They went from “wilderness wanderers” to landowners. They ceased to be “manna gathers” to become “fruit harvesters.” Who knows, we could be in the middle of the same kind of transformation.
This I do know, the same admonishment God gave to Joshua is still good for us; “Stay close to God and His word, go where you see Him go and do what His word says and you will come out the other side of this better off than when you started the journey.”
We began this year praying, “Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:6 - NKJV). I believe there is a connection between these two themes. I believe God is taking us where we have never been before. I believe God is hearing our prayer to revive His church in this hour. I believe God is doing and is about to do infinitely more than we could ask or imagine!
Together, let’s believe God to do infinitely more in this moment! And let us be ready for whatever comes next!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
What are your expectations this weekend?
We are about to enter the final and greatest days of the Passion Week of Jesus Christ.
If we go back to the very first Holy Week experience, the crowds that cheered and worshiped Jesus on Palm Sunday had the expectation that He would overthrow the oppressive Roman government. The religious leaders of the day who were plotting Christ's downfall, were hoping and expecting Jesus to disappear and His influence to wane. The Romans were present in it all, expecting potential uprisings and were ready to use any force necessary to quell any disorder.
This weekend may not meet all of your hopes and expectations either. No one could have foreseen that we would be celebrating Easter 2020 sequestered in our homes, unable to gather to worship and celebrate together all that Christ accomplished for us through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the tomb. The traditions of this weekend will look very different for all of us. But can I encourage you to shift your thoughts from feeling a sense of loss and ask God what His plans are for this weekend. God in His sovereignty has permitted this moment and wants to redeem it for His eternal purposes.
We continue to pray for you for God's protection, provision and purposes to be realized in your life. Be encouraged that the one who said to his disciples—just before He gave His life on the cross—would say this to you, "don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me." (John 14:1) Let His words and His Spirit calm your soul and ground your spirit in this moment. Let's seize this weekend to glorify Him and join Him in His plan for these next few days and all the days ahead. Since this crisis involves the whole world, we can be sure God desires to do something massive this weekend for the kingdom and glory of God! We love you, appreciate each one of you, and are praying for you all!
Pre-Service Prayer Conference Call
Prior to the online services on Friday & Sunday at 9:30 am.
Good Friday Communion Service - 10:30 am
We invite you to join us and ask that you share this invitation with others. Our guest speaker, Rev. Chuck Price, will be sharing a powerful word! Please have your communion elements of grape juice and bread ready before the broadcast so you can participate with your family.
Jesus - A Special Easter Broadcast
Be sure to visit jesusevent.com to watch this special performance of the life of Jesus Christ by Sight & Sound Theatres, available for FREE this weekend only!
Easter Sunday Resurrection Service - 10:30 am
It's going to be a great celebration of worship, with a very special feature and a message of hope as found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Again encourage others to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
We want to encourage you to remain faithful to the Lord in your giving of tithes and offerings. There are so many ways to give and if you require any assistance, please let us know.
We will continue to connect with you daily through the following digital platforms:
Pastor’s Chat on Livestream & Conference Call on Wed & Sun at 8:00 pm
Prayer Conference Call at 8:00 pm on Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat
Prayer Conference Call at 5:30 am on Wed
On behalf of our entire team, we wish you a very blessed Easter weekend!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
We are about to enter the final and greatest days of the Passion Week of Jesus Christ.
If we go back to the very first Holy Week experience, the crowds that cheered and worshiped Jesus on Palm Sunday had the expectation that He would overthrow the oppressive Roman government. The religious leaders of the day who were plotting Christ's downfall, were hoping and expecting Jesus to disappear and His influence to wane. The Romans were present in it all, expecting potential uprisings and were ready to use any force necessary to quell any disorder.
This weekend may not meet all of your hopes and expectations either. No one could have foreseen that we would be celebrating Easter 2020 sequestered in our homes, unable to gather to worship and celebrate together all that Christ accomplished for us through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the tomb. The traditions of this weekend will look very different for all of us. But can I encourage you to shift your thoughts from feeling a sense of loss and ask God what His plans are for this weekend. God in His sovereignty has permitted this moment and wants to redeem it for His eternal purposes.
We continue to pray for you for God's protection, provision and purposes to be realized in your life. Be encouraged that the one who said to his disciples—just before He gave His life on the cross—would say this to you, "don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me." (John 14:1) Let His words and His Spirit calm your soul and ground your spirit in this moment. Let's seize this weekend to glorify Him and join Him in His plan for these next few days and all the days ahead. Since this crisis involves the whole world, we can be sure God desires to do something massive this weekend for the kingdom and glory of God! We love you, appreciate each one of you, and are praying for you all!
Pre-Service Prayer Conference Call
Prior to the online services on Friday & Sunday at 9:30 am.
Good Friday Communion Service - 10:30 am
We invite you to join us and ask that you share this invitation with others. Our guest speaker, Rev. Chuck Price, will be sharing a powerful word! Please have your communion elements of grape juice and bread ready before the broadcast so you can participate with your family.
Jesus - A Special Easter Broadcast
Be sure to visit jesusevent.com to watch this special performance of the life of Jesus Christ by Sight & Sound Theatres, available for FREE this weekend only!
Easter Sunday Resurrection Service - 10:30 am
It's going to be a great celebration of worship, with a very special feature and a message of hope as found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Again encourage others to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
We want to encourage you to remain faithful to the Lord in your giving of tithes and offerings. There are so many ways to give and if you require any assistance, please let us know.
We will continue to connect with you daily through the following digital platforms:
Pastor’s Chat on Livestream & Conference Call on Wed & Sun at 8:00 pm
Prayer Conference Call at 8:00 pm on Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat
Prayer Conference Call at 5:30 am on Wed
On behalf of our entire team, we wish you a very blessed Easter weekend!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
A note from Pastor Barry
Greetings Church Family & Friends,
We trust you are keeping well as we enter the third week of this current coronavirus crisis. At this point in time, we believe that no one from our church family has contracted this illness for which we are grateful to God! We continue to pray for protection and provision for you and your family. We are especially praying for all those of you who are on the front lines of the health-care system. They have to work while knowing the threat of getting this virus. We honour you, love you and appreciate all you are doing during this outbreak to help the sick and hurting. I would like to encourage everyone to make it their ministry to call five people you know from the church and just check-in on them, offering your love and support! The Lord is with us but we also need to be reminded that we are not alone in this moment.
Our pastoral and administrative staff are all working hard from home to continue to do ministry in this new context. We are endeavoring to connect with you in a personal way through emails, texts, and phone calls. Our children, youth, young adults and Life Groups are beginning to meet online to connect, encourage, support and pray for one another. Please keep connected with us through these means and our other social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
We are seeing a very strong online presence from you and many other people joining us as guests on our digital platforms. The stats indicate we are ministering to over 1,000 people every Sunday through our livestream services! We had 128 new subscribers to our YouTube channel since this crisis started. The number of people calling in to our Prayer Conference Calls has doubled and at times tripled. So, we are continuing to go forth in the mission of God to share the love, hope and faith of God in these uncertain times and the days that lie ahead.
We want to encourage you to remain faithful to the Lord in your giving of tithes and offerings. There are so many ways to give and if you require any assistance, please let us know.
We will continue to connect with you daily through the following digital platforms:
Livestream Service on Sundays, 10:30 am
Prayer Conference Call at 8:00 pm on Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat
Prayer Conference Call at 5:30 am on Wed
Pre-Service Prayer Conference Call on Sundays at 9:30 am
Pastor’s Chat on Livestream & Conference Call on Wed & Sun at 8:00 pm
So many of you have called, texted, and emailed to connect with us and express your love and appreciation for what we are doing. I want to personally say, how encouraging it is to our hearts, as we all adjust to this new reality. We look forward with anticipation to the day we can gather together again to worship, pray and be instructed in the Word of God!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Greetings Church Family & Friends,
We trust you are keeping well as we enter the third week of this current coronavirus crisis. At this point in time, we believe that no one from our church family has contracted this illness for which we are grateful to God! We continue to pray for protection and provision for you and your family. We are especially praying for all those of you who are on the front lines of the health-care system. They have to work while knowing the threat of getting this virus. We honour you, love you and appreciate all you are doing during this outbreak to help the sick and hurting. I would like to encourage everyone to make it their ministry to call five people you know from the church and just check-in on them, offering your love and support! The Lord is with us but we also need to be reminded that we are not alone in this moment.
Our pastoral and administrative staff are all working hard from home to continue to do ministry in this new context. We are endeavoring to connect with you in a personal way through emails, texts, and phone calls. Our children, youth, young adults and Life Groups are beginning to meet online to connect, encourage, support and pray for one another. Please keep connected with us through these means and our other social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
We are seeing a very strong online presence from you and many other people joining us as guests on our digital platforms. The stats indicate we are ministering to over 1,000 people every Sunday through our livestream services! We had 128 new subscribers to our YouTube channel since this crisis started. The number of people calling in to our Prayer Conference Calls has doubled and at times tripled. So, we are continuing to go forth in the mission of God to share the love, hope and faith of God in these uncertain times and the days that lie ahead.
We want to encourage you to remain faithful to the Lord in your giving of tithes and offerings. There are so many ways to give and if you require any assistance, please let us know.
We will continue to connect with you daily through the following digital platforms:
Livestream Service on Sundays, 10:30 am
Prayer Conference Call at 8:00 pm on Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat
Prayer Conference Call at 5:30 am on Wed
Pre-Service Prayer Conference Call on Sundays at 9:30 am
Pastor’s Chat on Livestream & Conference Call on Wed & Sun at 8:00 pm
So many of you have called, texted, and emailed to connect with us and express your love and appreciation for what we are doing. I want to personally say, how encouraging it is to our hearts, as we all adjust to this new reality. We look forward with anticipation to the day we can gather together again to worship, pray and be instructed in the Word of God!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
An update from Pastor Barry
How our world has changed in such a short time. I’m sure everyone is concerned about the Coronavirus and its effects on our lives, families, friends, and church. So we wanted to write you and explain what we are doing over these next few weeks.
First, we are adapting with the news. Things have changed drastically over the last couple of weeks. We’ll continue to pay attention to new developments and directives from the government, health officials and district officials and respond accordingly. So, currently the church office is closed and all of our staff are working from home.
Throughout history, Christianity has grown the most when the times were darkest. Our opportunity is this: people are social beings. We like getting together. For the next few weeks, no one will have major events to attend. As long as we are safe and healthy, these next few weeks might be a good time to pray, dig deeper into the Word of God, and deepen friendships with others through phone calls and various digital platforms.
Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us. Some of us may suffer a bit during these next few weeks, but we’ll never be without the awareness, love, and care of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Have faith and choose hope. The Lord wants to redeem this crisis and use it for good!
OUR PLANS, FOR NOW
We hope the Sunday livestream services the past two weeks and Pastor’s Chats have been helpful and a blessing to you.
This weekend, because the government has mandated a stay at home directive, we will be livestreaming our service, but I will be preaching from home! You don’t want to miss it!
Join the service on Sunday at ppt.church/live. You can also listen to the broadcast on our Conference Line. Just dial 647-977-2648 and enter code: 827-220-552#
We will continue to have our Prayer Conference Call every day at 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm, so we can pray and support one another.
We invite you to our Pastor’s Chat livestream on Sundays & Wednesdays at 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm, so we can communicate and encourage you in this journey.
We will be using Zoom (video conferencing) for our small groups, children, youth and young adult ministries.
Let’s continue to support the work of the kingdom of God through our giving.
Please note the various ways you can give.Give online at ppt.church/give
Text any dollar amount to 84321
Mail any cheques to:
Peel Pentecostal Tabernacle
Attn: Accounting
2005 Countryside Drive
Brampton, ON L6R 0N6For assistance with giving, call 905-792-9193 and press 0 to leave a voicemail in the general mailbox.
Visit our website for the latest news and updates from PPT.
We will continue to stay flexible. We will pray. We will continue to trust God in this moment. Let’s help each other, and care for our family and neighbors and those more isolated than others.
Some trust in chariots, others in horses, but we want to continue to trust in the name of the Lord our God. Let’s rise above this situation, in faith!
We love you and are praying for you!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Dear PPT Church Family,
How our world has changed in such a short time. I’m sure everyone is concerned about the Coronavirus and its effects on our lives, families, friends, and church. So we wanted to write you and explain what we are doing over these next few weeks.
First, we are adapting with the news. Things have changed drastically over the last couple of weeks. We’ll continue to pay attention to new developments and directives from the government, health officials and district officials and respond accordingly. So, currently the church office is closed and all of our staff are working from home.
Throughout history, Christianity has grown the most when the times were darkest. Our opportunity is this: people are social beings. We like getting together. For the next few weeks, no one will have major events to attend. As long as we are safe and healthy, these next few weeks might be a good time to pray, dig deeper into the Word of God, and deepen friendships with others through phone calls and various digital platforms.
Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us. Some of us may suffer a bit during these next few weeks, but we’ll never be without the awareness, love, and care of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Have faith and choose hope. The Lord wants to redeem this crisis and use it for good!
OUR PLANS, FOR NOW
We hope the Sunday livestream services the past two weeks and Pastor’s Chats have been helpful and a blessing to you.
This weekend, because the government has mandated a stay at home directive, we will be livestreaming our service, but I will be preaching from home! You don’t want to miss it!
Join the service on Sunday at ppt.church/live. You can also listen to the broadcast on our Conference Line. Just dial 647-977-2648 and enter code: 827-220-552#
We will continue to have our Prayer Conference Call every day at 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm, so we can pray and support one another.
We invite you to our Pastor’s Chat livestream on Sundays & Wednesdays at 8:00 pm – 8:30 pm, so we can communicate and encourage you in this journey.
We will be using Zoom (video conferencing) for our small groups, children, youth and young adult ministries.
Let’s continue to support the work of the kingdom of God through our giving.
Please note the various ways you can give.Give online at ppt.church/give
Text any dollar amount to 84321
Mail any cheques to:
Peel Pentecostal Tabernacle
Attn: Accounting
2005 Countryside Drive
Brampton, ON L6R 0N6For assistance with giving, call 905-792-9193 and press 0 to leave a voicemail in the general mailbox.
Visit our website for the latest news and updates from PPT.
We will continue to stay flexible. We will pray. We will continue to trust God in this moment. Let’s help each other, and care for our family and neighbors and those more isolated than others.
Some trust in chariots, others in horses, but we want to continue to trust in the name of the Lord our God. Let’s rise above this situation, in faith!
We love you and are praying for you!
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor
Changes at PPT
As part of our continual effort to remain safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, please note the following changes effective immediately through to March 31.
• We will be holding all Sunday Services online and over the Conference Call..
• All midweek ministries, including Life Groups, Youth, Young Adults and School of the Arts will be on hold.
• Wednesday Bible Study will be held over the Conference Call number at 8:00 pm.
• There will be prayer every evening at 8:00 pm over the Conference Call line.
• Pre-Service Prayer on Sunday will be held over the Conference Call number from 9:30 am to 10:00 am.
• Our Annual Business Meeting originally scheduled for Sunday, March 22 will be postponed until further notice.
• The number of office staff present throughout the week will be reduced each weekday.
To access the Live Stream online, visit: ppt.church/live
To access the audio only Conference Call dial 647-977-2648 (Canada) or 202-602-1295 (USA) and enter code: 827-220-552#
To continue to support PPT financially, you can give online or text any dollar amount to 84321. You can also drop your offering in person during office hours—one of our staff will be able to assist you.
Dear PPT Church Family,
As part of our continual effort to remain safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, please note the following changes effective immediately through to March 31.
We will be holding all Sunday Services online and over the Conference Call.
All midweek ministries, including Life Groups, Youth, Young Adults and School of the Arts will be on hold.
Wednesday Bible Study will be held over the Conference Call number at 8:00 pm.
There will be prayer every evening at 8:00 pm over the Conference Call line.
Pre-Service Prayer on Sunday will be held over the Conference Call number from 9:30 am to 10:00 am.
Our Annual Business Meeting originally scheduled for Sunday, March 22 will be postponed until further notice.
The number of office staff present throughout the week will be reduced each weekday.
To access the Live Stream online, visit: ppt.church/live
To access the audio only Conference Call dial 647-977-2648 (Canada) or 202-602-1295 (USA) and enter code: 827-220-552#
To continue to support PPT financially, you can give online or text any dollar amount to 84321. You can also drop your offering in person during office hours—one of our staff will be able to assist you.
Stay tuned to our website for further updates as the situation develops.
Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor