Your City Centre Team
I serve the Lord and the people of City Centre Church with a great team.
They are serious about fulfilling the mandate of Jesus; i.e. to make disciples of all nations.
Perhaps the greatest compliment that I could make of the team is that they share the same burden. And that burden is YOU. The people of our church family. COVID-19 has done a number on the ways that we can connect for now, but it has only strengthened our resolve to be your servant for Jesus’ sake.
City Centre! Your staff team are committed to both ministry and operational excellence. We are renewed in our passion to serve you well and serve you better. We are not claiming to be the best, but we are promising to do our best, for your good and for the glory of God. That is a great definition of excellence BTW. Simply doing our best to do what we love the most. We love serving the people entrusted to us to nurture and equip you to serve in the kingdom of God.
Now a disclaimer. The team knows full well that these are trying times for everyone. As much as we don’t want to miss anyone. But I’m sure we have in some way. I can only assure the church family that the team is doing its best to find and fulfill ways to be in touch to make sure that you are well, or not.
So be in touch. Send us an update on you and your family. Let us know how we can build you up in faith.
Pray for them as they are praying for you!
They are (from left to right): Paul Alli (Technical Director), Rev. Armen Hakopian (Arabic Ministry Pastor), Sophia Belnavis (Office Administrator), Carol Roycroft (Communications Director), Heidi Hlohinec (Children’s Ministry Director), Greg Armstrong (Youth and Young Adults Pastor), Drew Armstrong (Community Life Pastor), Rev. Brad Lehman (Adult Ministry Pastor), Deva Ratnam (Director of Operations), and Max Oates (Associate Pastor).
For the Team!
Pastor Deric
What Do You See?
The answer to that question is the key to your well-being. The quality of the life you live will be in direct proportion to what you are able to see, to envision. Here’s what I mean.
Mark’s Gospel records a unique miracle in which Jesus healed a blind man. Read it for yourself.
Mark 8:22-25: “They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him,
Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.”
Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.”At first pass, this story seems to record a “failed” attempt at a miracle. Unless, of course, you make the connection that Nicodemus did on the night he met with Jesus to question Him. Nicodemus made a vital link between Jesus as a teacher and Jesus as a miracle worker. Do you remember how Nicodemus addressed Jesus in John chapter 3? He called Him “a teacher who came from God” because no man could work the miracles Jesus did, unless God was with Him. He seemed to understand something that most people miss. Jesus’ presence in your life is more than simply forgiving your sin (and that’s quite wonderful all by itself). Jesus is passionate about teaching us “to see everything clearly”. His miracles are His lesson plan for His children.
Miracles are God’s way of teaching us. Miracles are God’s way of opening “the eyes of our heart”. So back to the healing of the blind man. Jesus didn’t fail in his first attempt to heal the blind man. He performed this miracle just as he did, to open the eyes of all mankind. He wants us all to “see everything clearly.”
Speaking of seeing everything clearly. Revelation chapter one contains the greatest“ vision” ever recorded in salvation history (no disrespect to Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel or Zechariah). John describes himself as being “in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day”. On a Sunday, by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, John heard a “loud voice like a trumpet” speaking to Him. So John turned to “see” the one who spoke to him. Turning, he saw Jesus. He saw Jesus standing among the seven churches in particular.
My point is that unless you are filled with the Spirit and listening to His Word, you will be limited in what you see. Your vision of life will be blurred. As hard as you try, all you will see is “people walking around looking like trees”. Your perception is incomplete.
Now is an exciting time in the history of the world to re-focus on Jesus as the miracle working, Gospel preaching, life-giving Lord of all. It’s time to allow Him to touch our eyes once again so that we can see everything clearly.
Do you want to see Him? Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you. Listen humbly to His Word. Get ready. He’s about to open your eyes. But I warn you. When the vision of Him does comes, it won’t have you standing on your feet applauding like He just won ‘America’s Got Talent’. John, and all like him, who saw the Lord, “feel on their faces before Him” confessing Him as Lord of All. When you finally see Jesus for who He is, you will begin to see everything clearly.
Stay focused church family.
Pastor Deric
