Updates

• We ended 2024 with an operating surplus of $50,000 and paid off $94,000 on our mortgage. That left us with a cash flow deficit of $44,000.
• We saw 63 new donors in 2024 and 35 of these have set up a recurring donation.
• Rentals saw a $26,000 increase over the previous year and ended up being just over 8% of our income.

Introduction of a Leadership Team:

As our congregation continues to grow and our ministries expand, we recognize the need for a more robust leadership structure to better serve our community. To this end, we are introducing a Leadership Team model. This team will consist of Kevin Lloyd (Operations Director), Robyn Elliott (Pastor), and a new co-pastor to fulfill the church’s needs.

Role of the Leadership Team:

The Leadership Team will work collaboratively to provide spiritual guidance, pastoral care, and strategic direction for our church. Kevin and Robyn will continue their dedicated service and will now report to the Board of Directors, along with the new co-pastor. This team approach will ensure that we are well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of our congregation and our community.

Search for the New Pastor:

• We are looking for someone who will work with the preaching pastor(s) and worship teams to create a holistic worship experience and create worship experiences beyond Sunday mornings (concerts, youth bands, creative arts, etc.)
• Worship will be the main focus of this role, beyond the music segment of Sunday mornings. 
• This will be a co-lead pastor (in lieu of lead pastor); a key person on the 3-person leadership team.
• This is what we are looking for now, but it may change as the Spirit leads.
• It will take some time to find the right candidate and we trust that we will have the finances to hire the person.

Q&A (paraphrased)

If you would like clarification on any of these answers, please email elders@lakesidechurch.ca. 

1. If a new pastor is appointed, is there a chance that the church may change direction? A new pastor will work with the leadership team and elders to shape the future direction of the church, but they will be aligned with our statement of belief and practice.
2. What are the core steps and beliefs that Lakeside’s leaders think will most effectively increase the organization’s influence and financial success?

• Enhance the congregation’s experience (in person, online, keeping people connected and informed)
• Alignment with mission and vision (a unified direction)
• Continuous spiritual and community growth
• Continue to do what we are doing

3. Have we thought about selling the building and buying something smaller closer to the community? We have discussed this, and given the economic realities of selling the property, the distraction it would create in our mission and direction, and all that is happening with how the building is being used, we do not feel this is the right direction at this time.
4. Are we required to have meetings? We have a yearly AGM as required (June 6 last year) and another coming up this June. This meeting (Brunch & Briefing) is not an AGM but more of a “family information meeting.”
5. What can we do to fight for unity with other churches, so that our focus is not just our affirming beliefs on sexuality, but on being inclusive of those who are different from ourselves? We’re trying. There have been some challenges because of our inclusive position, but we are starting to build new bonds with other churches who are facing similar challenges to see how collectively, we can bless the city and better leverage our resources.
6. Will this new co-lead pastor need to be formally trained? Yes. We are looking for someone who is ordained or has formal theological training.
7. Will this new co-lead pastor preach? This is currently not a core requirement of the job as we see it, but would be an asset.
8. Will Marc come back in some capacity in the future? We don’t see Marc coming back as part of the staff team at this time, and it’s not in our current plans or on our radar.
9. Will we have prayer nights again? Yes, we would love to, as Robyn has capacity.

We are settling into a great routine with youth. Coming into this role it was so incredibly important to me to create an authentic, and safe space for our youth. It has been a slow burn, but in the past few weeks I have noticed some big strides in developing a stronger sense of community among one another.

Week to week we have a group of about 20 youth and 5 volunteers who are dedicated to consistently showing up and spending time with one another. Some weeks (youth social nights specifically), we can see upwards of 25-30 kids.

The first half of our school year, our focus was creating opportunities for youth to develop closer community – think over the top fun games, intentional “get to know you” small group questions, and getting a better understanding of what it is that our kids are hoping to get out of youth. Why do they show up – snacks, fun games, time with friends, parents made them (let’s be honest here!).

Now that we are about to enter into our second half of the year together, we’re switching gears and introducing some more tangible ways to deepen our relationship with God. We have established that this is a safe place.

We have established an environment of vulnerability and authenticity, we have established new friendships and connections.

In February, we are introducing our prayer journals/reflection journals – which will allow for us to track our feelings, questions, prayer requests, thoughts, etc. These will be confidential, and only used personally but will allow for our students to experience a new way to speak to God (or question God, or simply write down how they are feeling at youth). Please pray that this is an awesome opportunity for our students to encounter God, and see him working in their lives.  Additionally, you can continue to pray for our relationships with one another and that sense of community – that students would connect with our leaders, and one another, and have that safe space we so desperately crave.

Here is a quote from one of our students on why they love youth: “I don’t like sports, so I was nervous to come and have to play the games. I like that at this youth group they have stations set up so I can draw with a small group leader or friend.” 

And a volunteer quote: “I come because safe spaces are hard to find in this world, and it’s important for me to be a part of one for young people.” 

Thank you for your prayers, thank you for encouraging your students to come out and try youth, and thank you for trusting me in this role. I am so excited to see the amazing ways God has worked and continues to work through the ministry.