Relate Blog

PJ's 100 Hole Golf-A-Thon

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:48:00 GMT

As he enters his 60th year, Pastor John Burns is once again taking on the huge challenge of golfing 100 holes in one day at Peace Portal Golf Course. With no cart, carrying his clubs, he will run the hilly course over 5 times. That's literally a marathon distance and he'll stop to swing over 500 times! It's a ridiculous challenge that he is taking on to raise financial support and awareness a cause that's incredibly important. Mercy Ministries Canada will receive all pledges and donations given. Mercy Ministries is a short term residential care home in South Surrey, BC that exists to help young women who are seeking freedom from life-controlling issues such as drug and alcohol addiction, depression, eating disorders, unplanned pregnancy, physical and sexual abuse and self-harm.

For more info visit mercyministries.ca

To give towards the 100 Hole Golf-A-Thon, you can click HERE

Watch this short video about the Golf-a-thon and the difference it makes:

Guest Speaker Dr Robi Sonderegger

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:43:00 GMT

We are looking forward to an incredible weekend as Dr. Robi Sonderegger joins us at Relate Church for weekend services.

Dr Robi Sonderegger is a Clinical Psychologist renowned for taking psychology from the frontline to the home front. He is a compelling, passionate and highly entertaining communicator who travels internationally speaking to crowds of thousands.

He is an expert consultant in trauma associated with war, exploitation and natural disaster. He is also involved in providing specialist psychology services throughout the world, tackling the hard-core issues faced by families. His insight is so valuable and we are thrilled to have him share his wisdom with us.

SURREY CAMPUS

Saturday, May 5 6:30 pm

Sunday, May 6 9:30 am

11:30 am

EAST CAMPUS

Sunday, May 6 10:30 am

New: Heaven and Hell Series

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:14:00 GMT

Death is a guarantee – we’re all heading there. But what about afterward - Could a loving God really send someone to Hell? And what will Heaven be like?

This series looks at the reality of life after death and how it affects the way we live today. Series begins March 24/25 @ Relate Church.

Click here for archived messages from this series.

EASTER SERVICES

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:38:00 GMT

EASTER SERVICES:

Easter is a celebration of Jesus. Join us at Relate as we experience the Easter Story in a unique music and media presentation. Experience a creative service unlike anything we've ever done before... all focused on the incredible grace of God. This is an awesome opportunity to invite friends and family to church with you. Our LifeKids team has packed all kinds of goodness into the plan for each child, including a huge Easter candy hunt... It will be an incredible weekend.

Join us:

Surrey Campus:

Saturday, April 7 at 6:30 pm

Sunday, April 8 at 9:30 am or 1130 am

East Campus:

Sunday, April 8 at 10:30 am

GOOD FRIDAY COMMUNITY SERVICE:

Join us on Good Friday for a very special service held at Kwantlen Park Secondary School. Bring the family and celebrate the sacrifice and triumph of the Easter story with us. This is a unique opportunity to bring church to our community. We'll start with a service at 11:00 am, followed by a BBQ. DJ Ali Baba will help set a fun atmosphere, there will be candy bags and entertainment for the children, and BC Lions around to meet!

If you would like to help with this Community Care event, we'd welcome it. We'll start set up at 9:00 am. Please contact relate@relatechurch.ca or call 604.599.8989 to let us know if you are available.

Huge thanks to Par-T-Perfect for helping to make this an incredible event for the kids!

Relationship Forum this Friday

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:59:00 GMT

We're addressing big stuff in current TOUGH QUESTIONS series - sexuality, divorce, remarriage, cohabitation. We believe that talking about it is important, and we recognize that the weekend messages may stir up more questions in your mind, relating to your personal situation. We want to help! We've planned a Relationship Forum for this Friday night in order to address the specific questions that have been submitted. Please plan to join us at the Surrey Campus, or watch online here if you cannot come in person.

If you would like to submit a question, you can do so anonymously here.

Forum Details:

Friday, March 16

7:00 pm

Surrey Campus: 6788 152 Street, Surrey

Please note that there is no children's ministry on Friday night, and the subject material covered will not be appropriate for children.

We also have a big weekend coming up as Pastor John addresses the question of women in ministry and church leadership in our services. We're looking forward to bringing freedom and unity in this area!

www.relatechurch.ca

Kingdom Builders Evening

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:45:00 GMT

God's will is that we be blessed to be a blessing. In a world driven by money, how does that happen?

If you are a businessperson working in the marketplace, please join us for an informational evening on Friday, March 2nd starting at 7:30 pm, at Relate Surrey campus.

This will be a short, informal time with coffee and refreshments. Our goal is to develop a working network of business people with the common goal of prosperity for Kingdom purposes. We are committed to serving our business people with the pertinent education and motivation you need for success. There are many ministries globally that have enjoyed phenomenal success equipping and inspiring those whose ministry is in business. As we network and learn from them, we will enjoy the same success!

Please RSVP and let us know that you will join us so that we can be completely prepared for a great night.

February Series: WE CAN WORK IT OUT

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:40:00 GMT

Throught the month of February our focus is relationships. This unique seminar-style series will present a new message each service, with topics covering marriage, sex, dating, communication, friendship, boundaries, parenting, and purity. It's an excellent opportunity to invite friends and family along to church as great wisdom and insight will be shared in a relaxed environment. Everyone can grow in this area! Please check out the schedule below and share it.

SCHEDULE:

Saturday, February 4

6:30 Understanding the Heart of a Woman

Sunday, February 5

East Understanding the Heart of a Woman

9:30 Understanding the Heart of a Man

11:30 Healthy Sexuality

Saturday, February 11

6:30 The Privilege of Parenting

Sunday, February 12

East The Privilege of Parenting

9:30 The Language Gap

11:30 Borders of Strength

Saturday, February 18

ENCOUNTER CONFERENCE

Sunday, February 19

East Irreconcilable Differences

9:30 Sexuality and the Male Mind

11:30 4 Keys to Strong Relationships

Saturday, February 25

6:30 What’s the Point?

Sunday, February 26

East What’s the Point?

9:30 Two-Gether

11:30 Marriage: Covenant or Contract

MESSAGE DETAILS:

Understanding the Heart of a Woman –John Burns

This is a lifelong goal – one that’s both incredibly challenging and very fulfilling.

Sexuality and the Male Mind – John Burns

God created males different than females and purposefully sexual. Understanding these differences is vital to achieving His purpose.

4 Keys to Strong Relationships – John Burns

Learn the four keys fundamental to every relationship, and how to develop them in a balanced way.

Understanding the Heart of a Man – Helen Burns

Though we are all created equal, we are all very different. Sometimes those differences create huge challenges in relationships. Let’s uncover some of the not-so-apparent ways of a man’s heart.

Healthy Sexuality -Helen Burns

Sex is God’s brilliant idea but has been abused, maligned, misunderstood and perverted. We are going to talk about what God’s plan for our sexuality has always been.

Irreconcilable Differences –Helen Burns

It can be hard work to get along. Learn how to have a good fight, move past roadblocks and resolve conflict.

The Privilege of Parenting –Helen Balzer

Raising kids is a adventure! Find how to keep a healthy perspective in the midst of the challenges of parenting.

The Language Gap –Angela Doell

It doesn’t matter how great your thoughts are if you can’t effectively communicate them. Communication causes relationships to thrive or fail - Let’s get good at it!

Borders of Strength -Loretta Hibbs

Discover the benefits of healthy boundaries and personal values to identify what you will and won’t allow in your life.

What’s the Point? -Koby Liesch

What’s the point of keeping pure? Let’s find out for ourselves, and teach our kids and families to respect, value and honour sexuality as God intended.

Two-Gether -Josh Loeve

We all have friends. Some good. Some not so good. Which are you? Discover how to be a good friend and surround yourself with those that will get you where you want to go.

Marriage: Covenant vs Contract -Marvin McGee

Covenant is about what you give to a relationship. Contract is often what you get out of a relationship. What would you rather have?

Daddy Daughter Dance

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:14:00 GMT

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Relate Church Surrey

Tickets: $5 at Info Centre

This very special evening is an opportunity for dads (or grandpas!) to take their princesses out on a memorable date. Come for lots of fun, treats, some dancing and an evening your daughter won't forget. The evening is open to everyone - all ages - from toddlers to teens and beyond. Tickets are available at the church office, at the Info Centre on the weekends, or at the door.

Vision Weekend

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:02:00 GMT

We have a massively exciting weekend ahead as Pastor John shares his vision for 2012 for Relate Church. We've been praying, seeking God, and asking for His divine direction - and this weekend launches us into the New Year! Come expectant and ready to hear our Pastor's heart for the church, and have your faith stirred.

We're changing things up for this one weekend - Take note!

On January 28, our Saturday Night Service moves to EAST CAMPUS. There will be no service at the Surrey Campus, as we gather with our church family at East Campus to kick off the Vision Weekend. We encourage you to make the trek (it really doesn't take long at all from Surrey) and join us. Bring your kids - there will be full Children's Ministry - and see what's happening at the extension service.

Saturday, January 28 at 6:30 pm

Abbotsford Christian School (Secondary Gym)

35011 Old Clayburn Road, Abbotsford (click for map)

*There will also be a Sunday morning service on January 29 at the East Campus, as usual. If this is your home base, join us for an awesome morning.

On January 29, Pastor John will share the Vision Message at our Surrey Campus, at 9:30 am and 11:30 am. This is an unmissable service, so do whatever it takes to be there - we know you will be glad you did.

January 21 | End of 21 Day Fast

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:08:00 GMT

Click here for link to scripture

And here we are - Day 21, the last day of our collective Power Launch Fast. Our reading today is from Ezekiel 47, encouraging us to 'get in the river' - swept away in a Spirit-led life of faith. Whatever you may still be holding on to at this point that's holding you back from getting all in - let it go. Our prayer is that, as a church, we'd be 'all in.'

We pray that, as we end this fast, it will just be the beginning of a new, fresh season of the Holy Spirit's anointing. We want to give Him full control of where we're going and the plans we make. We believe 2012 is going to be a year of miracles!

We encourage you to join us for 24 Hour Prayer at the Surrey Campus today as we wrap up the fast, until 4:00 pm. Come for an hour or as long as you wish. We'd also love to see you at church tonight for Mega Prayer - a night of worship, prayer and ministry.

January 20

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:25:00 GMT

Click here for a link to scripture

Zechariah 7

Zechariah 7 tells us very plainly what the heart of God is and the serious consequences of disobedience.

The Message translation says in Vs. 6: "You’re interested in religion, I’m interested in people."

Then in Vs. 8 (NKJ) God tells Zechariah exactly what He wants:

"The word of the Lord came to Zechariah saying “Thus says the Lord of Hosts…
Execute true justice
Show mercy & compassion
Everyone to his brother
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless
The alien or the poor
Let none of you plan evil in his heart
Against his brother"

If we are not fasting with the right heart we accomplish nothing. We will never be able to execute justice, show mercy, help widows and the poor without being led by the Holy Spirit and taking time to listen to what God is saying to us.

I believe we are living in a time when we have to make drawing closer to God our priority.

Obedience is not an occasional event; it is to be a way of life.

As this fast is drawing to an end I pray we will continue to be more aware of the distractions in our busy lives that have kept us from hearing God’s voice and spending time in His Word. Let’s be obedient to all He is calling us to do and remember we get the heart of God – one way – through prayer.

January 19

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:16:00 GMT

Click here for a link to scripture

Psalm 84

I am, admittedly, a homebody. My family says my happy place is curled up on a certain couch in the living room, coffee beside me. That's where I read my devotions, study, pray, stare out the window and ponder. While I love traveling and adventure, home is always the prize. Our home is very humble - there's nothing fancy about it. But it's home.

There's a small tattoo of a swallow on my wrist. Back in the day sailors would get swallow or sparrow tattoos to symbolize home, love and loyalty... After a long journey at sea, swallows on the horizon were their GPS, guiding them home.

Birds find nooks and crannies in your house, sparrows and swallows make nests there. They lay their eggs and raise their young, singing their songs in the place where we worship. God of the Angel Armies! King! God! How blessed they are to live and sing there! Psalm 84:3-4

I believe our hearts are all pre-wired for HOME... Longing for God''s presence, for Heaven. And Psalm 84 may be my favorite Psalm, a prayer to remind ourselves of our destination, of our heart's longing for God's nearness.

Vs 5 says "And how blessed all those in whom you live, whose lives become roads you travel"... Whats amazing is that God actually makes His home in us. Such a beautiful promise.

As our fast draws to a close, this passage is both a comfort and a promise to us. If you feel weak, God is near. His presence is the prize. The Message says that one day in His House is better than thousands on Greek island beaches! Recognize and enjoy God's company today.

January 18

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:15:00 GMT

Click here for link to scripture

Joel 2:12-32

Yup…our passage for today is brilliant! So full of encouraging promises that never end. If you have a chance, read through the entire chapter, finish the rest of the book, and read entire Bible! It’s definitely worth the time J. How amazing is our God? I feel so overwhelmed by His great love and His faithfulness. Francis Chan said it beautifully, “you couldn’t exaggerate God if you tried” He is just.. amazing.

I feel like the Holy Spirit has been speaking a clear message throughout this fast: “Do whatever it is you need to do to come back to me. We’ve got a lot of work to do.” As Destiny already mentioned in her blog, there’s an invitation, a call that’s going out and it’s not just coming from Heaven; there’s a cry coming from our world for hope and answers and every moment it increases. Joel had a passionate love for God and people. He had the answer and did all that he could to give it to those who needed it. We have the answer, too.

I’ll never forget the message Christine Caine spoke awhile back. Her A21 team was able to rescue a girl from human trafficking and though they had come for her, she was hurting and angry. Through all the emotion, Christine heard her say the most impacting words: “Why didn’t you come sooner?”

This fast is so much bigger than any of us alone. It’s about strengthening us as individuals for the purposes of unifying our church body as a whole so that we can be whatever it is we need to be to this hurting world. Let our desperate prayers continue to shake and move Heaven. And let us who are from this “microwave generation” keep in mind that just because it’s called a “fast” doesn’t necessarily mean quick results or that 21 days will come sooner! These 21 days are nothing like a drive through window... We all know how frustrating it is when food takes longer than 10 minutes to make! Sometimes it’s hard to see above the hedge and it can cause us to forget why we’re doing what we’re doing, but let’s come to God in praise and thanksgiving, celebrating all that He’s already done and our victory in Him. He’ll help us remember why. We are making a difference and changing the world right where we are, and as we near the end of this fast, let’s keep on keeping on; not just for us, but for those who need us.

January 17

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:49:00 GMT

Click here for link to scripture

Daniel 3

I seriously think I have one of the most incredible passages to blog about. I’m soooo challenged by the boldness of the three men of faith we find in Daniel 3. Talk about audacious faith, Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego chose to be sentenced to death by means of a fiery furnace, instead of worshiping King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue. These boys knew what they believed, knew who their God was, and weren’t afraid to make a stand, no matter what the cost.

Angela talked two Sundays ago on not an option. She explained that we need to decide what’s not an option in our lives, and then make a stand! Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego decided that worshiping any god other than the one true God was not an option. If that meant they lived, they would live for Him. If that meant death, they would die for Him. WOW.

It would have been easier for the three men to do what everyone else was doing. It would have been easier for them to say, “God understands that we don’t have any choice in this matter!” It would have been comfortable for them to make some adjustments to what they believed, in order to maintain the lifestyle they were in.

What would have happened if these three guys didn’t make a stand? What would be the result if they had decided that it would be easier to blend in with the crowd, mindlessly bow down to this golden image and avoid being burned to crisps? Well, maybe God would have used someone else to show his greatness, but they would have missed the miracle that He was about to do through their lives.

God awakened the heart of the King, impacting the whole nation, because three men decided to make the unpopular decision, and make a stand for Him.

After Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego had left the flames, King Nebuchadnezzar said in verse 29, “Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.”

I want to challenge you. Where in your life do you need to make a stand so that God can do a miracle in and through your life? Where can you avoid the status quo and stand for what God has called you to do, and see him do more than you could ever dream or imagine? Don’t settle for what’s comfortable or easy, follow Jesus, build the kingdom of God, and watch Him revolutionize our city, nation and world.

January 16

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:06:00 GMT

Click here for link to scripture

Psalm 27

I got my invitation today. Did you? I didn't pick mine up in the mail, and it wasn't found in my email or facebook. It was a heart invitation. This little gem of a verse from Psalm 27 quietly whispered God's invitation to me today: "Come and talk with me" or interpreted a little differently "Seek My face" (vs 8). King David's (the poet here) RSVP is immediate. He writes, "My heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

I get the sense as I read through Psalm 27 that this isn't a casual meet-up for King David. There is desperation in his voice. We read in these verses that there are some serious storms happening in his life. He is being threatened, wrongly accused, and surrounded by evil people with evil intent. His life is in danger. So, he is in full pursuit of the presence of God. In fact, it's the one thing he desires most from God. Remember verse 4? "The one thing I ask of the LORD-the thing I seek most- is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life."

I am reminded about Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7, about the wise person who both Hears the Word and Does the Word. There is no question in Jesus' mind that this person would experience some kind of personal storm, something powerful enough to take them (and their house) out. Yet, there is this assurance that their house would be left standing if built on the rock-bed foundation of the Word of God.

This chapter, Psalm 27, with its ups and downs, it overflows with a good theme. Are hard times coming? Most assuredly, Yes. Can we take hope in our God who promises to be the refuge, strength, light and salvation that our very souls are desperate for? Yes, most assuredly, Yes. I have long had Psalm 27:13 highlighted and circled in my Bible. It reads "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living".

King David urgently required God to be his strong place.

So today, let your response to God be "Lord, I am coming". As you fast, seeking Him, hold on to the strength and salvation he offers. Let his presence be your source. Do not lose heart. Bless you.