When we are attacked by the enemy

Our 21 days of Fasting and Prayer will conclude this Sunday with Pastor Charles sharing a message about praising God even when we are attacked by the enemy!

Also, don't miss Pastor's Chat this Sunday evening, as Pastor Barry will be sharing an update on his condition along with some spiritual insights he has gleaned during these 21 days of fasting & prayer.

Whether you join us online or in person, we look forward to your presence with us this Sunday!

When You Are Troubled

This week as we launched our 21 days of Fasting and Prayer, we laid a foundation of why we are called to praise God by looking at the character of God.

He is our Creator and heavenly Father who loves us deeply and has a plan for our lives. That plan all starts with Jesus who sacrificed His life so we could be forgiven and restored in our relationship with God. But it didn’t stop there. He sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper and guide, along with the Word of God. Our relationship with the Father is based on the truth that he is good God, who is holy, all-powerful, and will be with us forever.

As we enter the second week of our 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer, we are going to build on that foundation by addressing some of the practical struggles of life. In this Sunday’s message, we will learn the secret art of praising God, no matter what trouble you are going through, and how to claim the truth and promises of God in your life. We will discover the hidden power of praise!

Whether you join us online or in person, we look forward to your presence with us this Sunday!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

🔑 Praise That Unlocks Real Hope

As we launch into this new year, there is a great need for people to experience real hope in this troubled world. God offers us the only true hope through a relationship with Him. Prayer is the vehicle God gave us to communicate with Him in this relationship. The purest form of prayer is praise and worship because it focuses our minds and hearts entirely away from ourselves and onto Him. Our praise and worship communicates pure love, devotion, reverence, and thankfulness to God. It exalts Him for who He is. It communicates our longing for the Lord. It draws us to close to Him.

Praise welcomes God’s presence into our midst. It’s in His presence that we find our greatest blessing. As you welcome the Lord’s presence in your life with praise for all that He is and everything He has done, you will see changes happen in and around you like you have never seen before! Together let’s discover, the hidden power of praising and worshipping God!

Be sure to register for this Sunday’s service. We look forward to your presence with us in person or online for our Communion Service this Sunday as we worship God Because Of His Sacrifice.

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

It's New Year's Eve!

We welcome you to bid farewell to this past year and ring in the new year with us! A special New Year’s Eve Prayer Meeting will be held at 8 pm on our Prayer Conference Call. Then we will be hosting a New Year’s Eve Pastor’s Chat at 11 pm where we will share testimonies of what we are grateful for this past year and what we are believing God for in 2022. There is still time to email us your responses to what you are grateful to God for over this past year and what you are believing God for in the new year. So join Pastors Barry & Debbie and Pastors Wayne and Patricia for a lively conversation as we reflect on the past year and pray in the new year with you!

Just a reminder that if you wish to do any year-end giving, please do so online today. Thank you for your wonderful faithfulness in giving to God over this past year!

It’s that time of year when many people think about making resolutions for the new year. We think of eating better, exercising, and spending less. But there is one resolution you should absolutely make this year. It’s a key resolution that will affect everything else in your life. Discover what it is this Sunday, in my message, The One Resolution.

We look forward to your presence with us in person or online for this first Sunday of January and the new year!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Returning to In-Person Services

Greetings PPT Family,

We're happy to inform you that this Sunday we will be returning to in-person services!

Registration is now open for Sunday, January 2, 2022. We look forward to seeing many of you again for this first Sunday of 2022.

Have a happy new year!

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

It's Christmas Eve — Are you ready?

So here we are. It’s Christmas Eve… are you ready? Most of us have spent the last several weeks getting ready. Trees decorated. Gifts bought and wrapped. Holiday parties, family gatherings, and cards and letters sent far and wide. It’s all wonderful. There is a lot of pageantry to Christmas celebrations. But it all really comes down to the age old Christmas story we read together each year. What is this story really trying to say? The Bible is never just about then, but it’s also about now. It’s not just about the first Christmas characters, but it is also about you and me. Emmanuel came. God was there with Mary and Joseph, and God is with us, here and now.

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” (Matthew 1:22-23)

May you never doubt that on this Christmas Eve. God is with you. God is with us in this moment. With the promise to never leave us or forsake us.

We hope you will join us tonight for our Christmas Eve Pastor’s Chat as we celebrate the Christmas story from our home to yours. Then may you awaken to a blessed Christmas Day celebrating the birth of Christ in your hearts and homes!

Please note that our in-person Sunday Service has been cancelled due to at least one known COVID case. We hope you will join us online instead for my message. The reality is that we all will face some dark days in our lives. What darkness are you facing currently in your life? What circumstances overshadow your days. Discover how Jesus has come to light your night in this message!

We look forward to your presence with us online this Sunday!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

IMPORTANT NOTICE

It's Christmas Eve and we want to wish you and your family a very merry Christmas!

We have been informed that a member of our congregation tested positive for COVID yesterday. If you have attended any of the following in-person events held over the past week at PPT, we encourage you to monitor for symptoms and self-isolate for 10 days should any symptoms occur.

• December 15 – Seniors Ministry: Christmas Around The Piano

• December 15 – School of the Arts: Christmas Showcase

• December 16 – Youth Christmas Party: Dollarama-O-Rama

• December 17 – PPT Kids + Family: Nativity Night

• December 19 – Christmas Sunday Service

Out of an abundance of caution, and according to COVID guidelines, the PPT church leadership team have decided to cancel this Sunday's in-person service. Instead, I will be sharing my message online this Sunday directly from my home.

Look for our next update on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 with further information regarding our January 2, 2022 service.

We hope you will join us online this Sunday at 10:30 am. Please pray for healing and a hedge of protection around our congregation.

Have a blessed Christmas!

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

The Birth of the Light

It’s Christmas Sunday this weekend! We have planned a wonderful array of Christmas music, specials, and a message about the birth of Jesus. Following the service, you can take advantage of our beautiful platform Christmas scenery and capture a family photo. We also have a special treat to handout to everyone following the service! It’s going to be an exciting morning as we gather to celebrate the birth of the light—Jesus Christ!

Registration is now full and there is a waiting list. If you are on the waiting list, we will contact you if there are any cancellations. Plan to arrive between 10:00 am and 10:30 am so we can properly seat you and your family before the service begins. We look forward to your presence with us in person or online this weekend as we celebrate the birth of the light of the world!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

The Glorious Light

We continue in our Christmas message series on ‘The Journey to Light the Night’ this weekend with a message about how Jesus is the glory of God and how He manifested that glory to the world.

The glory of God is seen in the life of Jesus because all the fullness of God lived in Christ. Jesus took on a human body, made His home among us, allowing us to experience God’s unfailing love and faithfulness. God wants us to know and experience that glory in our lives. So come and join us this weekend and experience that glory in your own heart and life as we worship Jesus and celebrate communion together!

We look forward to your presence with us whether in person or online this weekend as we celebrate Jesus, the glorious Light of the World!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

The Coming of the Light of the World

It’s Christmas and we are reliving the anticipation of the first coming of Jesus Christ in our new series of messages called, ‘The Journey to Light the Night.’ God used the analogy of light to describe the coming of His Son. Jesus, was also given the description, The Light of the World. The light that Christ brings is both inclusive and exclusive and has a very definitive purpose of creating something in us. Discover the answer in us this Sunday service.

We look forward to your presence with us in person or online this weekend as we celebrate Jesus, the Light of the World!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

The Journey To Light The Night

The Christmas season is here and it’s all about light. As the days get shorter, the nights grow longer, people love to decorate by hanging lights everywhere and on everything. It’s most appropriate, as it symbolizes the meaning for the celebration of the season—the birth of Jesus Christ, who declared Himself to be the light of the world.

This Sunday we will launch into a Christmas series of messages entitled The Journey to Light the Night. Join us as we tour through the Bible to discover the lengths to which God used the analogy of light to describe the coming of His Son. Learn how Jesus, the light of the world, dispels the darkness to lead and guide us. Together we will celebrate God’s promise to light the night not only now but for eternity!

We look forward to your presence with us in person or online this weekend as we launch into this Christmas season of celebration!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Greetings, Church!

Let me take this opportunity to quote from the Apostle Paul. "Every time I think of you, I give thanks to God." (Philippians 1:3, NLT)

I truly thank God for PPT and all that God is doing in our midst. I am thankful for our staff, leaders, volunteers and everyone who calls PPT home. We pray the blessing of the Lord on each person connected with our church. We pray that the peace of the Lord that goes beyond our understanding, will flood our lives as we endeavour to live for Him.

Our lead Pastor and his wife are away for some much needed holidays. Therefore, let us keep them in prayer as they disconnect, rest, and come back refreshed.

I will be preaching a message this Sunday titled, Strength For the Journey, where we will examine the life of Elijah. I know this message will be an encouragement to you.

Just a friendly reminder, that you must register to attend our Sunday services and please arrive before 10:30 am so we can properly seat you and your family. 

We look forward to connecting with you in person and online this Sunday as we experience His presence in a mighty way.

Many Blessings,

Pastor Wayne Russell
Associate Pastor

Remembering a sufficient sacrifice

This past week, we paused to honour and pay tribute to those who died in the line of duty serving in our armed forces. The purpose is that we would understand the price of freedom. That the memory of those sacrifices that were made would continue. That the values they fought for would live on in all of us. The wearing of a poppy on Remembrance Day is a simple yet powerful symbol of these truths.

This Sunday, we will gather together to remember the greatest truth and sacrifice made on our behalf. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross purchased a monumental gift for us—the salvation of our souls. He suffered incredible physical, emotional, and spiritual agony as He became our sacrifice for sin. The Apostle Paul states:

“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, …”
Colossians 1:24 (NKJV)

In this Sunday’s message, A Fulfilling Service, we will explain this scripture and gain a greater understanding of the sufficiency of Christ’s sufferings and sacrifice for us and what role our sufferings play in building of His church.

Just a friendly reminder, that you must register to attend our Sunday services and please arrive before 10:30 am so we can properly seat you and your family. Please note this Sunday is the final deadline to bring your Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. Just deposit them at the table in the lobby when you come to service.

We look forward to your presence with us in person or online this weekend for this service of remembrance.

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Good News and Great Joy!

You will have the exciting opportunity to personally bring the good news of the gospel and great joy to a child this Christmas as we dedicate Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes this weekend.

What an incredible tangible way for us to all help fulfill the Great Commission right from our own homes. Local churches in more than 100 nations will deliver our prayerfully packed boxes—with the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ—to boys and girls in some of the most difficult and remote places of the world. Children and families will gather to receive these boxes and hear the message of salvation through Jesus Christ and will be given the opportunity to pray and receive Christ as their Saviour.

Darren McCrea, our missionary from Colombia will be with us to share his experience of watching children receive these boxes in his country. He will also join us in praying over these shoeboxes and sharing an amazing update on the work of God in that nation.

Just a friendly reminder, that you must register to attend our Sunday services and please arrive before 10:30 am so we can properly seat you and your family. Remember to bring your OCC shoebox with you into the service. We will be praying over the boxes during service. Then on your way out of service, you can deposit your shoebox at the designated table in the lobby.

We look forward to your presence with us in person or online this weekend for this exciting Missions Sunday service!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

The Wonder of Water Baptism

We are anticipating a wonderful water baptism celebration service this Sunday! Even in the midst of this long and arduous pandemic, God has been building His church by drawing people to Jesus Christ and into a confession of faith in Him. These services are some of the most exciting times in the life of the church as we celebrate with people their decision to receive Christ as their Saviour and they desire to follow Him.

Just a friendly reminder that if you are registered for Sunday’s service, please arrive by 10:30 am so we can properly seat you and your family.

We look forward to your presence with us in person or online this weekend for our Water Baptism Celebration Service!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

The Great Invitation

Have you ever received a unexpected invitation from someone? And they were inviting you to an exhilarating experience with them like taking a trip, skydiving, or white water rafting? What made it so great was who invited you as well as what you experienced together.

We have been in a series of messages about the wilderness of our current times. In this Sunday’s message, Come To Me, you will hear the greatest invitation you will ever receive, who it’s from, and what kind of satisfaction it will provide in your life. May we accept the invitation to come eat, drink, and live, in the wilderness!

We are anticipating a wonderful water baptism celebration service Sunday next week! We have a make-up baptism class this Sunday during our service for anyone who would like to get baptized in obedience to the Lord’s command. Even if you just want to explore the meaning and purpose of water baptism you are welcome to attend too.

Just a friendly reminder that you must register to attend our Sunday services and please arrive by 10:30 am so we can properly seat you and your family.

We look forward to your presence with us whether in person or online this weekend!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Got more than you can handle?

It’s been often said, "God won't give you more than you can handle." I am guessing that some of you are grappling with whether you think that statement is true or not, particularly in current circumstances of life. One really interesting thing to note is you can’t find that exact statement in the Bible either. So discover the truth of what to do when you feel like you’ve got more than you can handle happening in your life in this Sunday’s message, Hand It Over.

We are anticipating a wonderful water baptism celebration service in just a couple of weeks! Water baptism is a beautiful picture of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us through His death, burial and resurrection. If you would like to be water baptized you must register and attend the instructional class that will be held this Sunday during our worship service. Even if you just want to learn more about water baptism and what it means you are welcome to join this class as well.

We all know that prayer prepares our hearts to worship God and receive the truth of His Word. So we encourage you to join us for Pre-Service Prayer on Sunday at 9:30 am in the Prayer Room, or on the conference call.

Just a friendly reminder, if you have registered to attend service and your plans change, please be sure to cancel your registration. We also request that you don’t register to hold seats you will not be using. We do have a waiting list and others are eager to attend if you cannot. Also note the church doors open at 10:00 am and close at 10:45 am for security purposes, so please arrive in that time frame to ensure your entrance into the building. Thank you for your cooperation in these matters as we seek to serve as many as possible.

We look forward to your presence with us whether in person or online this weekend!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

The Importance of Thanksgiving

We wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving as you celebrate God’s goodness! As we come to this holiday weekend, we have so much to be thankful for this year, even in the midst of all the challenges we have faced. In fact, an attitude of gratitude is essential for our current well-being. It is also the key to overcoming all the challenges we are still facing and will face in the future.

This Sunday in my message, A Thanksgiving Life, we will share three key truths that demonstrate the value and power of being thankful. The application of these truths to our lives will release the blessing of God! You will also learn why this is so crucial for us as we live in these last days.

Please note another exciting development. Our Toddler and PPT Kids: Roots classes have resumed and we are now expanding to include children aged 3 through to 10, starting this weekend! What an exciting development for our children!

We all know that prayer prepares our hearts to worship God and receive the truth of His Word. So we encourage you to join us for Pre-Service Prayer on Sunday at 9:30 am in the Prayer Room, or on the conference call.

Just a friendly reminder, that if you have registered to attend service and your plans change or not everyone in your family is able to come, please be sure to cancel their registration. Please do not register to hold seats you will not be using. We do have a waiting list and others are eager to attend if you cannot. Also note the church doors close at 10:45 am for security purposes, so be sure you arrive on time for service. Thank you for your cooperation in these matters as we seek to serve as many as possible.

We look forward to your presence with us whether in person or online this Thanksgiving weekend!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Preparing the way for what is next

In last week’s message Where Are We Now? we determined that, like the Jewish nation’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, we are currently in the wilderness. Meaning we are in unchartered territory and not too sure what is just around the corner. But like the Israelites camping journey, we can have full assurance that God is the midst of his people and from that position, He is leading, guiding, providing and protecting His people.

But the wilderness season is also about preparation. It’s a place where we face trials and struggles and through them we learn to trust and obey God. In this Sunday’s message, Preparing The Way, we will learn how God uses the wilderness season to also prepare us for what is coming and the way forward!

We hope you will join us today in fasting and prayer, which we do the first Friday of every month. Also plan to join us for our Upper Room Prayer Meeting tonight where we will be praying about this month’s theme: Preparing For What Is Next.

We have great news from the Kids Ministry area. Pastor Kim is back and feeling much better since the brain tumor surgery in May. With that we want to announce that the Toddler ministry (those walking and up to age 3) and the PPT Kids: Roots ministry (ages 3-8) will resume this Sunday. We also welcome you to join us for Pre-Service Prayer at 9:30am in the Prayer Room/Chapel.

We look forward to your presence with us in person or online!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Where are we now?

It’s a question that is often asked these days. If you Google it, you will see maps and tools to help you to find your location and determine your potential direction, with the goal of helping you reach your desired destination. So where are we right now in God’s plan and purposes?

There is a greater sense of uncertainty as we grapple with new and constant challenges in this ever-changing world. With all that is unfolding, where are we headed? What’s coming next? In this Sunday’s message, Where are we now? we are going to bring some clarity and understanding to that question. We will learn what we can expect to experience in the coming days as we journey towards our ultimate destination. It’s a message that will challenge and encourage your heart!

We also welcome you to join us for Pre-Service Prayer at 9:30 am in the Prayer Room. We look forward to your presence with us in person or online!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor