What is Your Spiritual Legacy?

Most of us are familiar with websites like Ancestry.ca, or 23andMe DNA tests that trace your family tree. We have a fascination with knowing and understanding where we come from and seeing the list of people we have a connection to because of our shared biology and genealogy. Our family history is ours and ours uniquely. Even though many of those family members may no longer be living, I am part of their living legacy.

I have another family tree; my spiritual family tree. This is one that I often don't give much thought to, nor have I taken the time to plot out on paper the names of those who are a part of my coming to know Christ. I am biologically the by-product of my parents, but I am also the spiritual by-product of a family of believers who came before me, who nurtured me and who shared Christ with me. This is a family tree that I chose to be a part of and would not have joined had it not been for the people whose lives, voices, and love for Jesus crossed paths with me. Because they leaned in, I was given an opportunity to respond and become a part of a new family tree. I wouldn't have know Christ without them!

We don't know the marks we leave on the lives of those we intersect with everyday, but if we don't choose each and every day to lean-in, to respond to what we have received in Christ, then we are missing out on fully engaging with what it means to be a follower of Christ. We are His Ambassadors here on earth and have been given a clear mandate, "to love God, to love others", (Matthew 22:37-39) and "to share the love of Christ" (Matthew 28:18-20). When we lean-in in, we create spaces and invite people who do not yet know Jesus to become a part of His family tree. To live a missional life is to live with intentionality in how we approach and respond to each interaction that comes into view.

Many of those who are a part of my spiritual family tree don't know the depth of which their interactions and faith had on my life. Now, I must ask myself, and I encourage you to do the same, "how am I now carrying my spiritual legacy forward? How am I leaning in?" Am I living and breathing Christ into the world?" Living a life on-mission is a joy we get to not only participate in, but also share-in by "Leaning-in" and extending Christs love and grace to others.

Rebecca Trask,
Director, Justice and Compassion

God called Colette Baudais into Holistic ministry by beginning a community radio station, an infant rescue center, and opening up opportunities for her to work in the local prison system. All of these focus on proclamation of the Gospel and the practical manifestation of Jesus through these projects. Learn more about Colette and check out her latest video update from Conakry, Guinea...

Confession is an age old spiritual discipline, but it is one that can easily and often be neglected. It can feel easier to create excuses than to confess to others or God, and to ask to be forgiven. The fact is however, that we are all sinful. It seems to be a habit we cannot break. So what do we do? Last weekend, Pastor Greg taught about what confession is - a declaration of responsibility. If you missed last weekend's message, it is available on-demand.

This weekend, Pastor Greg will wrap-up The Teach Us To Pray series as he teaches about leading a consistent, rather constant, prayerful life, and praying without ceasing. Prayer is a way to access God's power - He's on the throne. God is able. This message sums up the whole series and takes us into the next series, The Cross of Christ that will lead us into Holy Week.

The next series, The Cross of Christ, begins the March 6 and 7 weekend and will lead us into Holy Week. Jesus Christ was executed on a cross by the Romans, and that was the end of his story until three days later when it was not. What looked like disaster, failure, humiliation, and the end, was instead, that which pulled everything together and launched a revolution. It all goes back to The Cross of Christ...

Over the next 90 days, unite in prayer for the church and its leaders as plans for the next ministry year get underway.

During March, April and May ministry leaders across all areas of the church will spend time discerning God's plan for Sherwood Park Alliance Church. More than ever we need to engage corporately in a prayer that sounds a bit like this "God, help us to know what You want us to do right now, and give US the power to do it! God we need your wisdom, and we're looking up to You".

When you register for the 90 Day Corporate Prayer, you will receive an email ever couple weeks to help guide and direct you, as you pray for your church to navigate this unique ministry planning season. Register to participate...

Last night we wrapped up our fourth and final Thursday Night Live. Our special guest was Pastor Wayne, interviewed by Pastor Brody who brought us on a journey through Wayne's story and some of his 'Wayne-isms'. Be sure to catch the interview on our Facebook page for some sure fire laughs and captivating stories. Our trivia game for the night was 'Pastors Say Whaa??', where we played to see who knows our pastors best by pairing the correct phrases to the proper pastor. Thanks to everyone who tuned in to make these nights fun and memorable!