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North Pointe has 13 people from our church family deployed to Afghanistan. One of them is Bryan McCulloch. I asked him if he would give us some insight into what its like to serve in Afghanistan. 4 July 2011 Life in Afghanistan is all you could hope for. I have my own 2m by 2m bed space, equipped with a bed, dresser and an even layer of dust on everything in the morning when I wake up. When I have a vehicle, I drive in the right hand side of the car. If it’s a standard vehicle, I drive badly in the right hand side of the car. This is unfortunate when I have to share the road with vehicles…

A GREAT commitment to the GREAT commandment and the GREAT commission makes a GREAT Christian. The GREAT Commandment Mark 12:28-31 - “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The GREAT Commission Matthew 28:18-20 – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to…

Guarantees in life - death and taxes - are two, as the old saying goes.  When it comes to the future, our best action is to make things "more likely."  Will it be more likely that your life will be better because of certain choices?  If something good was more likely to happen because you made a choice, wouldn't you make that choice? "Home Pointe" is our initiative to make it more likely through North Pointe that: couples will create a thriving marriage. parents will introduce their young children to Christ in the context of their home. parents will launch their teens as devoted followers of Christ. In the weeks to come we'll be rolling out new online resources to…

When you support North Pointe you have a hand in changing the world.  You help keep boys and girls from being homeless, you educate and give opportunity where none would exist, you train indigenous pastors to minister in areas where only they can go, you help heal a generation torn apart by genocide, and you inspire believers with your faith and generosity.  Thank you!  To learn more about one of the following missionary families, visit our "Missions" page. http://www.northpointechurch.ca/index.shtml Elmer and Sherry Komant - Kigali, Rwanda - pastors, church planting, sports academy, training centre Brian and Val Rutten - Addis Abba, Ethiopia - church planting, training pastor The Village of Hope - Harare, Zimbabwe - caring for orphans of AIDS/HIV,…

Many books are written; many books are read. It is much rarer that a book is written that profoundly impacts its readers. “Jesus, My Father, the CIA, And Me” by Ian Morgan Cron is one such book. I finished reading it a week ago, have been telling people about it ever since, and plan on recommending it widely to friends and family in the weeks and months to come. A biography and testimony of man who desperately sought the love of his narcissistic, alcoholic father throughout his childhood, Ian’s story offers broad appeal to those who were raised through the 1960s and 1970s. It is really the story of two men: Ian’s father, a larger than life man who gained…

There is a profound moment in Jesus’ life. He exudes a crystal, clear understanding of his life priority. And he was only 12 years old. He had gone missing from his family after an annual Passover trip to Jerusalem. His parents initially didn’t think anything of it, believing he was with other family members in their caravan returning home. However when they didn’t find him with extended family they started to worry. Ever thought you’d lost your child? Anxiety. Panic. That's exactly what happens with Jesus’ family. They searched for five days before they found him. When they do his mother says to him, “Why did you treat us like this? We have been so worried!” He responds by matter-of-factly…

First, a little background… Chris and I were supposed to go to the U2 concert last year when it was scheduled to grace Edmonton with its presence on their worldwide 3-year tour. Sadly for Bono (and ticket buyers), Bono had to suddenly undergo back surgery resulting in the cancellation of the last few remaining stops on their tour - Edmonton being one of them. And while they did follow through on their promise to resume the tour once Bono was ‘back’ in the game, the timing failed to align with my now protruding and rather largely uncomfortable pregnant state – resulting in a very saddened disapproval of our floor tickets. Translation: I was unable to attend (cue the sad music).…

Being a part of Total Praise has allowed me the opportunity to experience something that I thought I might not get to again in my life.  I was in choir in high school, and was part of a small group of girls that went to elementary schools and sang.  For 35 years I’ve remembered the joy that the bond and relationships with the other singers brought to my life.  For the past few months, I have re-experienced that joy.  With Total Praise, the joy is much greater because our purpose each week as we practice and every time we perform is to offer our total praise, through our combined voices, to honor Jesus Christ. At first I felt very uncomfortable…

Boarding a plane to Zimbabwe for my first missions trip, I was headed to the Village of Hope in Harare and completely unaware of the lasting impact the trip would have on me. I always said I wasn’t the “missionary” type nor would I ever go to Africa – I imagine God laughed at me for years every time I said this, and he continues to laugh as Africa is now a priority in my life. While at the Village, I met two incredible kids: Gabriel and Pam. I was drawn instantly to Gabriel when I arrived as his joy, laugh, and infectious smile were irresistible. One afternoon, I peeked into Gabriel’s classroom where he whispered to me that he…