Powell River is about four hours drive (and two ferry rides) north of Vancouver, BC. It was in this tiny community of 18,000 or so people on the rugged and remote western coastline of Canada, in the midst of presenting a Doable Evangelism Seminar to about 70 people from six or seven local churches this weekend, that I found Jesus.

Jim Henderson and I were there at the request of pastor Jen Wright, a 28 year-old phenom who works part-time at Starbucks and leads the Powell River Foursquare Church. The seminar went very well thanks to her leadership and her team, which included co-pastor Sam (who works at the local bank) and most of her family. Jim and I were invited to come to the Sunday morning service to just chat with the Foursquare folks (most of the church came on Saturday) about what they learned and their questions and concerns (another really brave leadership decision on Jen’s part).

Jim and I spent a lot of time on Friday, and Saturday after the seminar, meeting and eating with a variety of young leaders from a few very different flavors of church traditions in town. There is a wonderfully diverse and young group of leaders who had joined together to serve their community a few years ago, and it seems that experience sort of cemented them together ever since. They are passionate about Jesus. They are passionate about each other. And they are passionate about a fresh vision that seems to transcend the walls of their individual churches to see the Kingdom of God impact their community.

They are also tired, confused, frustrated and seemingly unaware of this thing I sensed was being born from within their community. Call it a missional movement or an emerging church or whatever you like, but I found Jesus in it, and was once again given the gift of hope. It is hard to describe, but it felt like this band of Jesus followers was in labor. It seemed to me that something really beautiful and wonderful is about to be born.

I have seen this before, from a distance, in other places around the world. I have read about it on a wide variety of blogs. But I FELT it here in Powell River. Jesus is breaking through. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. It made me cry and it made me want to move up there just to be near them. It was actually a little hard to leave today.

God will have his way.

“Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10

Thank you, Powell River. I was so honored to be with you for a few days. I can’t wait to hear what happens with you all, and I look forward to being with you again one day.