“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

One of the things that reassures us in our relationship with God is that He never changes. As the writer of Hebrews states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) God was the same in the Old Testament as He is today, and God will not change later on. He will always be who He has always been! This is exciting since it means that all of His promises are true for us today and will be true for us in the future. God will not change His mind or suddenly decide to renege on His promise of our salvation! “[God does] not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” (Malachi 3:6)

But just because God doesn’t change doesn’t mean that other things won’t. Solomon wrote, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) The scriptures teach that though God doesn’t change, the times do, and that there is a season for everything under the sun. For example, some of us have had a season of learning in college or university and are now working professionals; some of us have had a season of being single and are now in a season of marriage; and some of us were in a season of having no kids, and now we are in a season of total chaos and pandemonium! Once again, God doesn’t change, but the times do.

This has been a time of great change in our worldwide movement of churches. On April 29th of this year, our movement leaders, Drs. Kip and Elena McKean, stepped down from their position, and Drs. Raul and Lynda Moreno became the new World Missions Evangelist and Women’s Ministry Leader for the movement. Although this significant change was sad to a degree, as Kip and Elena are very dear to Kelly and me and have been serving in their role as movement leaders for our entire discipleship, it is exciting to consider what God will now do through Raul and Lynda! (Psalm 77:20)

As far as the Toronto Church is concerned, up until this point we have been a part of two different World Sectors. First, when Toronto was planted by Tim and Lianne Kernan in 2014, and then a year later, they left to lead the City of Angels Church in Los Angeles, the Toronto Church was a part of the Tribe World Sector, led by the Kernans. Later on, however, in 2018, shortly after Kelly and I arrived in Toronto, the Toronto Church transitioned to a newly formed World Sector—the PACK World Sector, now called the Northern Federation World Sector, led by John and Emma Causey. We have been privileged to learn many valuable lessons and work with other awesome leaders in both of these World Sectors. Yet, once again, the winds of change have blown.

Excitingly, as of today, the Toronto Church, along with all of Canada, will now be a part of the Latin America World Sector, led by Drs. Raul and Lynda Moreno. Specifically, we will be under the LA family of churches, led by Drs. Jason and Sarah Dimitry! This change is not inconsequential for the Church, as it affects our discipling relationships, the geographic Missions Conference we will all be asked to attend, and working within our new World Sector to plant the remaining cities throughout Canada! Kelly and I are humbled and honoured to be a part of this exciting group!

In Paul’s second letter to the Church in Corinth, he says, “We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God Himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you.” (II Corinthians 10:13) Paul understood that his “sphere of service,” or as he says several verses later, “territory,” was assigned to him by God. We know that Paul was constantly moving around throughout his four incredible missionary journeys. He was seemingly always on the go, and I think it is safe to conclude things were always changing for Paul. However, he understood that wherever God put him—whatever group, geographic location, or role—it was of God! Times change, locations change, groups change, etc., but God never does, and God always has a purpose for what He is doing!

Paul then goes on to say, “Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you.” (II Corinthians 10:15-16) Tucked into Paul’s conviction that God gave him the “sphere” that he was assigned to was a sense that as his faith grew, and the faith of the people he led grew, his “sphere of activity” would “greatly expand.”

I believe that God is moving, and that He is absolutely orchestrating this gigantic change for the Toronto Church, for the purpose of our faith expanding, and for the great expansion of our Church! Under the Dimitrys’ leadership over the last year and a half, the City of Angels Church in Los Angeles has grown from 793 disciples to now close to 1,200 disciples! (Of note, the City of Angels Church had plateaued at around 950 and stayed there for the seven years previous to the Dimitry’s leadership.) We are very grateful for the opportunity to sit at the feet of the Morenos, the Dimitrys, and whomever may disciple us in our new World Sector to forcefully advance the Toronto Church!

In closing, many of us can struggle with change. Change is often scary as it is accompanied by its mysterious friend—the unknown. And I think that is why God reminds us over and over throughout the scriptures that “[He] does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) It is often in change, when things are shifting and we are uncertain of things to come, that we are forced to look back to God and find comfort and encouragement that He is the same “yesterday and today and forever.” This allows us to embrace change wholeheartedly, and to allow God’s Spirit to blow us anywhere, at any time, and in any way, because “The wind blows wherever it pleases… So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” To God be the glory!

Evan Bartholomew