I have a dream...

I have a dream of a church in which the presence, power and work of the Holy Spirit abounds

I carry within myself a vision of a congregation that strips itself of anything that detracts from a full and meaningful encounter with the transcendent and all-powerful God that we serve

I dream of a people that make the most of every corporate worship encounter – running to God as a response to the hunger for him that he has placed inside each one of us.

The time has come, and is upon us even at this moment, where personal preference is stripped away in the face of a desire to reach an emerging and increasingly skeptical post-modern generation, hungry for spirituality, but put off by the disunity and subsequent hypocrisy of a church divided over triviality.

I have a dream of a church that recognizes the difference between being Canadian and being Christian; a church that recognizes that although we are IN the world, we ARE NOT of the world; a people that are determined to make our corporate worship experience more than a gathering of apathetic Canadians, but rather an explosive encounter with radical Christ followers

I carry within my heart a vision of a congregation that distinguishes itself in its desire for the work and power of Jesus, so much that the churches of this city, region, nation and even of the world come to us to be inspired by what we do

I dream of a time when the most important concern of the church is whether people have met with God and not anything else of lesser importance; a time when we can truly say that we are comfortable with the implications of existing in a multigenerational, multiethnic congregation and the inevitable varying expressions of worship and corporate gathering.

I have a dream… a dream… of Woodvale pervaded by the presence of Almighty God.

Therefore…

We must always strive to have a worship encounter that pays tribute to our heritage while at the same time refusing to create sacred cows out of expressions of worship that have run their course and are no longer useful or meaningful in worship except for nostalgic reasons

We can never settle for the lack of excellence and preparation that leads to a sacrifice of worship that does anything but honor God

We must never be satisfied to attend weekly services and ministry meetings that are devoid of the work, power and pervading presence of the Holy Spirit

We can never be satisfied with an apathetic approach to experiencing God and his power

We have to continue the relentless pursuit of God’s picture for our preferred future and always remember that each one of us holds within us a piece of what it looks like and is vital to the completion of his vision for Woodvale.

Revelation 5: 11 - 13

11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!"

13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!"