MARTENS MISSIONARY REPORT FEBRUARY 26, 2013

I just returned home from Greenland last night after 3 amazing ministry weeks in Greenland, plus a total of 6 long, but interesting, days of travel.  These last 3 weeks was the last 3 week phase of the 9 week Biblical Counselor Training Course; 26 graduated with their diploma formally given by Dr. August Konkel of Providence Theological Seminary.

This marks the end of a chapter, the end of an era, the end of 11 incredible years of constant ministry in Greenland by Dr. Clair and Clara Schnupp whom I had the gift of working alongside.

Friday evening, February 22nd, during the graduation ceremony in Nuuk, Dr. Clair formally turned the “Greenland Pain of the Heart” ministry over to Greenlander Brain Wind.

All the training material, plus the teaching, has been translated into Greenlandic, and is now in the hands of the Greenlanders.

Brain said to Clair, “I don’t have a gift for you, but my gift is my commitment to continue this ministry to my generation.”

Several of our KGF Senior High Youth were able to attend the RUSH Youth Conference at KSS February 15-17.  It was powerful, and we've asked Cassidy Acheson to write some reflections here: 

I am so excited to see what God is doing in KGF youth.  As part of the new Trek Sr. group, we had the opportunity to go to the Rush youth conference last weekend. I can honestly say it was the best weekend of my life! It was so fun hanging out with the other members of our group and getting to know each other more. Through tubing at Big White, long bus rides and late night chats with the girls, I was blessed to spend time with these people.

At the conference it was so awesome to be with other teens who are passionate about Jesus. I loved the times of fellowship, worship and learning. Simply being in a room full of young people raising their hands in worship was amazing. One of Starfield’s songs, Hosanna, inspired me with the line “Everything I am for Your Kingdom’s cause”. I can’t describe the feeling I had as we all sang as one in adoration of our Creator.

As we launched our new series, "Who Is This Man?", I asked you to take some time to put on paper who Jesus is to you.  Already, this is beautiful to see grow!  Here are some responses through YouVersion.  Please bring back your responses next week so we can add them to the cross during our communion celebration!

Pastor Mike

"Jesus is the one I can totally depend and rely on. He cares about every part of me. He makes me feel loved."

"Jesus is the only one who saved me from myself and infused his love into my harden heart and restarted my life"

"He is the perfect example of how we should live, love and forgive. He is my hope for a better future and everlasting life."

"Jesus is my constant. In a life of rapid changing, there is always him to plant my feet on."

"Jesus is the one who found me in my darkest place and showed me that I was worthy to walk in the light. To me, Jesus is saving grace."

"One who loves me more than I love myself. Who knows what I need. Who has given me everything. Jesus is God."

"Jesus is my purpose. He is the only way I can love everyone."

Calling all artists! We are looking for artists of all skill levels interested in discovering their "Creative Call".  A place to awaken our creativity with others through learning to call on the Holy Spirit as our source of inspiration.

If you are interested in being involved in a group like this please contact Shari at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .  

“...truly I tell you, one of you will betray me....”  - Jesus

Betrayal hurts. The closer your relationship with the one who has betrayed you, the deeper the wound. Lovers, friends, family, work associates or acquaintances can say or do things that cut us to the core, and make us wonder how we ever trusted them in the first place. This is part of our fallen, sinful condition, and if we are honest, we have probably all been guilty at some level of betraying the trust of others throughout our life journey.

Part of God’s way to identify and show his great love for us, was by becoming human and facing all of the temptations and trials that we experience; including betrayal. Jesus endured it all; false accusation, abandonment, poverty and deep betrayal that led to his murder.  Because of this, we can and must forgive and release our betrayers through prayer and faith.

We can love because he first loved us, and we can forgive because he has forgiven us. This is the only path to freedom.

by Monty M. Scott  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you are looking for a way to move deeper in your walk with Jesus and your understanding of his Word, then why not join us this Monday February 25th as we explore the short, but powerful, Gospel of Mark. 

These five sessions will give you a good grasp of the overall picture of Mark, open your eyes to why he writes his Gospel the way he does, and hopefully help you bridge the gap between what the Bible says, and how we can apply it to our daily walks.

We’re looking forward to an exciting and eye opening time of study and Christian conversation, and we would love it if you’d come and join us!

To sign up, please see Levi Simpson in the Foyer after church Sunday, send him an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or simply show up on Monday night!

Five minute video interview with Levi & Pastor Mike here: 

The first annual Levite Summit designed to raise and encourage worshippers and leaders in our local churches was a huge success this past weekend.  KGF had 15 individuals take part.  Here are the reflections of Lindsay Durant.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend the Levite Summit worship conference. There were so many inspiring speakers, used by God to make His words real to my heart. Although I could share many insights from each session, I will just share a few thoughts that have stuck with me in fresh, new and inspiring ways.

~A heart that worships is about extending ourselves to others and living out the heart of God.  Worship isn't just music, it isn't an escape. It isn't about filling up, it's about emptying. It is an incarnation... the Holy Spirit taking on flesh, living and pouring out of us. "Away with your noisy hymns of praise, I will not listen....Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living."  (Amos 5:23-24)

~The Creator has created us in His image, we create because He created. God has made His invisible qualities visible through everything (everyone) He has made, so that the world will plainly know there is a God and that they are without excuse. (Rom1:18-20)

We are launching a new five week series starting Sunday February 24th, entitled "Who Is This Man? Discoveries of the Divine from the Gospel of Mark".  What makes Jesus more than just a good teacher or an enlightened human?  Why does he stand out as the center piece of history? Why am I supposed to give my life to following Him?

These truly are among the most important questions you will ever answer, and we invite you to journey together as we walk towards Easter and the defining moment of Jesus' life & ministry.   

Join us Sundays at 9am and 11am, www.kgfchurch.com.  All messages will also be posted in audio / video / and print form here: 

Had to share some of the many amazing ways Love is Winning in our midst in the KGF Church Family.

We had 12 more kids who needed sponsorship through Compassion, and by the end of the second service Sunday February 17^th, all 12 of them had found sponsors!  That is Love in Action!  That brings to a total of 70 kids in two Sundays who were sponsored and will have a brand new shot at life because of your generosity.  Way to go!

Here’s another one I received via YouVersion. 

We are planning a water walk to raise funds to drill a well in the developing world. Everyday women and young girls have to walk miles and miles to collect water for their families. The water is often dirty and the time wasted is enormous. We are partnering with Charity: water, they drill wells. We want to find at least 100 people who will raise $50 and join us on a 5km water walk. That will drill one well. We are going to carry water to raise awareness of what these women have to do everyday. We would love any KGF church attendees to join us in this. We will keep you posted on this.

Here’s another from a Grade 6 Teacher in our midst.

Throughout the month, I have continually been going over my sermon notes on my phone, reminding myself to walk in love.  You are so right when you say that the more you pay attention to something (like "Love in Action") the more you notice the opportunities that you would've normally passed by.  As a Grade 6 teacher, I have taken every opportunity to share love with my students who are at a tricky stage in life (entering the "tweens"!!!).  So, I decided to steal KGF's phrase, "You are Loved"... Every morning, as the students sit at their desks, I have "You are Loved" or a message of a similar theme on the board.  At the beginning of the month, I shared the starfish story with my 30 kids and it's really neat to see them partner with me in sharing love... Although I can't "preach" Jesus at work, I can live out His love and I have noticed some encouraging changes in some of my most challenging students!  It's pretty cool.

How about another?

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth”, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Rev. 21:1 NIV

One of the unspoken thoughts that most Christians resonate with, is this guilty feeling that we aren’t even sure that we want to go to heaven, and lose many of the good things that we have here on earth. This is due in part to the fact that we have a partial and somewhat distorted view of heaven.

According to the Scriptures and historical orthodox Christian doctrine, there is temporal heaven or paradise with Christ that our spirits go to when we die, just as the souls of unbelievers go to Hades, the temporal realm of the dead, when they die.

Both groups will be resurrected at the final judgement; one will go into eternal hell, and the other will enjoy a completely renovated and restored Earth with God forever. Every good thing that we now enjoy will be magnified and purified for our pleasure. Eden will be restored, sin will be no more and we will work, live, love and laugh; enjoying this new Earth and Jesus forever!

by Monty M. Scott   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As we walk through our February series "Love In Action", we wanted to share the story of Jaynee Way, and the important work of Foster Parenting / Adoption.  We filmed a video interview with Jaynee, and you can watch it here as well: 

Foster care, Adoption and the Church

I will not leave you as orphans,  I will come to you.

Is 1:17

Imagine you are a young child again. You have just been taken from your family. You do not know why or for how long. All you know is that the people taking you away from your family are not other relatives, but strangers. They claim that taking you away from your parents is in your best interests and for your safety. You are confused and scared. The things that went on at home were thought to be part of a normal lifestyle. However, the reality is that you were the victim of abuse and neglect. These strangers who removed you from your home are employed by the Ministry of Children and Family, and they are concerned only with placing you in a new and safer home.

Even though this is just a hypothetical scenario, events like this one happen every day, all over the country, all over the province, and folks,  all over Kelowna. 

Each one of us has a story of God’s work in our lives. We may not be able to articulate it very well, but it is there! And it is powerful. That’s why I love this booklet, because it is a compilation of God’s work in men and women like you and me.

So as you read these testimonies of those coming into membership, you are hearing their witness of Jesus Christ. May each story remind you that God is working in power in His people and His church.

Download PDF of these 15 individuals coming into membership @ KGF Sunday February 17th.  

Watch for our next baptism and membership class in May 2013!

You are loved!

Pastor Mike Penninga

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