It’s amazing how quick this summer has gone by! Here we are in the second week of August and we are wondering where the time has gone… maybe that is only happening for us here in Windsor! Cathy and I have been thoroughly enjoying our Coaching Course from Ministry Coaching International. My coach Greg (who is the founder) has been helping me to strategize, eliminate, and organize my life, ministry, church, and time in an incredible way. I am caught up on all my
assignments, am reading a book a week, having more family time with the grandkids and enjoying several nights off each week with Cathy spending some quality together – usually bike riding, which we both thoroughly enjoy.

Windsor Christian Fellowship had its best year ever in 2009 in every way – financially, as well as in terms of Water Baptisms and our Discipleship classes. We are greatly encouraged by the people of Windsor who have rallied to reach their neighbors, families and associates at work. In spite of the most difficult challenges the city of Windsor has ever faced financially, our church finances are up and the building projects keep on progressing as we expand on all fronts.

WCF is in a season of prayer and fasting for the month of August, and we have our faith out for 500 new souls to be added to the Kingdom in the month of September through our outreaches to our community. We have an Eternal Life Rehearsal Breakfast planned for September 12, which will utilize our new banquet facility, as well as our youth center and gym. This outreach will take place on Sunday morning with a team of a hundred volunteers to serve food. We believe that the two best times for churches to grow are in the months of September and January. In September the vacation season is over and people are settling in as their children go back to school, and in January people are making quality decisions to get their life back on track, including returning to church – particularly in the case of those with small children and chaotic lifestyles.

WLO, our benevolence centre, is doing an outreach on the west end (the poor part of our city) to feed and preach to 1,500+ people. We are having a concert, prize giveaways, bags of food, a meal and sharing the love of Jesus.

One of the most successful things we have seen this year is our Christian Soccer League on Tuesday evenings, run on our three new soccer fields at the back of our property. This year over 550 children registered and played weekly. Pastors in the city were encouraged by the fact that families were home and attended church on the weekend, whereas many families who have kids enrolled in travel teams are often away all season and often disconnect.
I have been enjoying the fellowship of four key pastors in Windsor who have a real heart to impact our city: Mark Hazzard from Parkwood Gospel (a Pentecostal Assemblies church), Brad Watson from Lakeshore Saint Andrews (a Presbyterian Church), Garth Leno from Heritage Park Alliance Church and myself from WCF (a Charismatic church). This relationship has been greatly strengthened over the past four years as we have worked together to impact our city and many from
our community have been blessed as they see unity practiced among the churches without competition or comparison.

We just finished a simulcast service at Lakeshore Saint Andrews this week with Bill Hybels and many pastors from Windsor took part in the conference. I really believe this is pleasing to our Father. On October 15-16, 2010 we are hosting Mark Gungor for a marriage seminar at Parkwood Gospel Temple in Windsor with the four churches each taking part. Last year
we brought in the author of the book “Love and Respect” and had over 850 couples attend. If you would like to attend this marriage seminar, register on line at www.laughyourway.com. Please know that Cathy and I appreciate every one of you in OBFF and your prayers, monthly support, and kindness have not gone unnoticed. May this September be the best
ever for your ministry and church, may more souls be impacted and discipled for Christ than ever before, and may your marriage and family be greatly blessed.

Love,
Rick & Cathy