Serving With Canvas Church

by Katie Greenwell

Planes, trains, and automobiles. And ferries, and scooters (Ask Ashley Taylor about the scooter). I don’t think there was a mode of transportation we didn’t take on our excursion to Canada and back. I lost count of the hours and the time changes on the way there but it took a hot minute, and I’m pretty sure it was the next day before we arrived. It may have been a hot minute, but that hot minute was full of getting to know my trip mates, and taking in the airborne views of the North American plains from the jet, the distant glimpses of Mt. Rainier, nearby blueberry orchards, and farmland for miles on the rural stretch through Washington into Canada, and the breathtaking panorama of the Olympic Mountains meeting the waters of the Sound as we ferried into Victoria.

Our first day in Victoria was spent visiting the church we would be serving with for the week, Canvas Church. I could not tell you how many nations were represented by their congregation. We were welcomed and prayed over by them and worshiped alongside them through song, the preaching of the word, and watching one of the members depict the truths of the Armor of God through paint on a canvas (a custom they do weekly, hence the name Canvas). Their hearts to “Live Sent” in their community were evident, and I grew more and more eager to join them in their ministry to local families through the basketball camp we were about to venture into. We spent the next week visiting with the church leadership, adventuring the area, and putting on a basketball camp so that the Canvas members could develop relationships and minister to local families.

Going into the trip, I did not realize how much time we would get to spend with the church planters and leaders. Ashley Austin (the planting pastor), his wife April, their two sons Max and Andrew, and Scott and Stephanie Dunaway (some of you may know Scott’s sister Ashley) spent as much time with us as they could. We explored beautiful Victoria with them, getting to hear stories of church planting, the local Victoria culture, and the difficulties and victories they have seen over the past 10 years. You could sense the blessing it was to them to have family and friends from “home” to share their new home and ministry with. I was equally encouraged by them.

They shared some of the “costs” to ministry there, but at the end of every cost was a resounding, “It was and continues to be worth it!” They shared differences of living in Victoria versus “back in the States.” Some of the differences were as you’d expect, such as food, daily activities, and accents. They also shared differences in mindsets, priorities, government operations, and the spiritual temperature of life in Victoria. I respected the way they shared those differences with appreciation, perspective, and respect. They shared the difficulties of some of the differences, but they also shared the wisdom the Lord has provided in appreciating some of those differences and discerning how to adjust ministry to their local context instead of operating out of the comfortable mode of operation that they grew up in. It was evident that although there are differences, the same Spirit is leading, guiding, and moving in clear ways in different places.

We also got to experience the sights, sounds, and cuisine of Victoria. We ate fish and chips at a local food hut called Red Fish, Blue Fish, and poutine (fries smothered in gravy and cheese) at a favorite local restaurant. We saw sea lions bobbing up and down at the wharf and walked by Queen Elizabeth’s Hotel where we saw the window of her personal suite. We strolled along the beaches, trekked through towering Northwestern Pines, followed precarious paths to majestic waterfalls, and skipped rocks every chance we had. At every vista one of our trip mates would call for a “.5!” and we’d all gather around for the photo op. If you know you know, and if you don’t know, ask one of the kids around, they’ll explain. The personal experience of the sights and sounds brought renewed appreciation to the hymn, “How Great Thou Art.”

When through the woods and forest glades I wander,
and hear the birds, sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur,
and see the brook and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
how great Thou art, how great Thou art.

The highlight of the trip for me was the excitement of the eternal impact the basketball camps had on the kids who participated and their families. On the one hand, we were “just” playing basketball with kids. On the other hand, we, by God’s grace, got to put on a camp with excellence, showing the community the excellence of God. We opened doors for the Canvas Church members to simply be present with the kids and parents who stuck around. This gospel was shared openly with families during half-time. As we were playing basketball and teaching skills, the Austins and other Canvas members were reconnecting with members they hadn’t seen since COVID restrictions were lifted, meeting new families with the hope of following up with ministry and praying with a mom who had recently lost quite a bit in life.

In a conversation with the Austins, Ashley shared with us that the lack of observed religion in Victoria calls for an approach that is different from what we are accustomed to in the South. It is not uncommon for us to reach out to non-believing friends and ask them to church. In Victoria, this is very uncommon and ineffective. The door to gospel conversation is through developing relationships and sharing life with neighbors and acquaintances. Ashley hasn’t had many come to church on a cold invite but in the 10+ years he has been there, they’ve had close to 1,000 people over for dinner and many of these meals have led to planting and watering and harvesting seeds of the gospel. It was evident that they share Paul’s heart in ministry as stated in First Thessalonians 2:8 “Being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” So while we “just” put on a basketball camp, it was such a joy to be an auxiliary player to the work that is going on there.

It took six years to say yes to this trip, but I am very grateful I was able to be a part of the Victoria Trip. There is something about an extended trip involving service with church members that creates a quick and deeper bond and appreciation. The chance to get away and see parts of creation that show God’s beauty, wisdom, and creativity is always rejuvenating. And the fellowship and collaboration with brothers and sisters in this part of the world are ALWAYS strengthening.

Thank y’all for praying and giving and encouraging us in our time there!