We are grateful to God for His faithful loving kindness upon Elim Church over years. A new season is about to begin, and we as a Board of Deacons sense God is calling us to continued fervent prayer and reliance on Him.

The focal point of this new season is the arrival of Pastor Lukas, Trina and family to Saskatoon in January. We are thrilled to announce his start date will be January 9th with his first Sunday being January 14/2024

We ask you to join us in prayer for Pastor Lukas, Trina and family as they travel to Saskatchewan. Let us pray for safety as they travel, for contentment as they settle into their home and for God’s anointing, favour and wisdom to be upon Pastor Lukas as he begins ministry at Elim Church.

May we boldly declare these verses of Psalms 90:16-17

May your deeds be shown to your servants,

your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;

establish the work of our hands for us—

yes, establish the work of our hands.

With gratitude,

Board of Deacons Elim Church

We had a very exciting weekend (Oct 14+15, 2023) and a wonderful result, with Lukas Bonnett (Trina) being voted in as our new lead pastor with 99% voting in favor. He will be starting with us sometime in January 2024.

n providing an update on the Pastoral Search for our new Lead Pastor, we want to begin by thanking the Search Team, led by Graeme Swinnerton, for all their hard work throughout this process.

The Board of Deacons has received a Lead Pastor candidate short list from the Search Team. The Board will now conduct a thorough vetting process including further in-depth interviews and reference checks, some in-person and some online.

As we do our due diligence with much prayer and discernment, we ask for your ongoing prayer support. Prayer is the most vital aspect of the entire search and it is deeply appreciated.

-With gratitude, the Board of Deacons.

The Search Team continues to pursue several candidates who have been found through the Team’s searches, recommendations from the PAOC and our own congregation.

Over 50 candidates are now in our database;

17 applied through Elim job posting;

33 referred to Search Team;

2 candidates have had introductory discussions, via Zoom, with Team members.

We continue to reach out to other candidates as they are vetted by the Search Team. As we find individuals that are interested in letting their name stand, the Search Team will arrange Zoom meetings to get to know them better and collect more information about them.

Please continue to pray for the Search Team as they continue in this process. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the Search Team as well as a leading of the Holy Spirit in stirring the heart of the next Lead Pastor of Elim Church.

It is the Team’s desire to have a short list of candidates selected for Board consideration and interviews by the end of July 2023

The Search Team has been reviewing resumes as they have been received through the job posting as well as doing our own searches based on recommendations from the PAOC (District and National) and our own congregation. Each team member has also brought names forward.

We are screening more than 25 names at this time. The screening consists of researching them online and listening to sermons to get a first impression of their skill set, size of current church as well as education and background information.

The next step will be to contact some candidates to find out if they are interested in letting their name stand. Through this process the Search Committee will have initial conversations in order to discern who they will bring to the next level of consideration.

It is the Team’s desire to have a short list of candidates selected for Board consideration and interviews by the end of July 2023.

Lots of work to be done yet, but the Holy Spirit is already stirring the heart of the next Lead Pastor of Elim Church!

The Elim Church Board appointed a Pastoral Search team consisting of; Ronke Ayanu (Recording Secretary), Andrew Bryant, Jonathan Dyck, Blaine Eagle, Jordan Hume, Emmanuel Oduntan, Esther Park, Reg Quiring, Terry Schultz, Graeme Swinnerton (Chairperson), Megan Tuomi, Bruce Wendell and Jenna Zhao. The team had their first meeting in January and will meet regularly to work towards finding and vetting suitable candidates for the Lead Pastor role at Elim. Join them in praying for wisdom, discernment, unity and joy as we seek God’s will in this matter.

Update to the Elim Family

This past weekend (Dec 2,3) our Board met to consider all we have learned from our church family regarding Elim’s next Lead Pastor. A candidate profile and a job description were process and are being finalized. As well, the Board appointed a team that will commence the search process. Over the next weeks the appointees will be contacted to ascertain if they are prepared to serve. In January the Pastoral Search Team will begin their work. It involves getting word out that the search is on and then engaging with applicants. Qualified applicants will be interviewed with a view to creating a short list of candidates whose names will be considered by the Board. After interviewing the recommended candidates, the Board will present one candidate to be voted on by members of Elim. The hope is that the next Lead Pastor of Elim could be installed in 12-18 months. Pray for our Board as they continue to lead this process. Pray as well for Pastor Marvin and the staff team as they continue to serve.

Hello Prayer Team

Thank you for your continued prayer support as the Future’s Team moves to the final stages of its work. On Friday, October 7th our Future’s Team meets to look at what we gleaned from the survey and the two roundtable events. This will be summarized in a report that will be discussed with our Board of Deacons and our staff later this month. This is in preparation for the Board Retreat planned for the first weekend of December where a pastoral search team will be appointed along with a team that will work alongside me (Marvin) to prepare for the leadership transition. The normal time period for a pastoral search is 12-18 months so there’s still much ahead of us. Please continue to pray for those who are involved in this process. Pray as well for our church family in this time of change and pray for the person that God is preparing to lead our church family.

Blessings

Pastor Marvin

The Future’s Team met on Wednesday. There was some discussion about how to move forward given our current situation ( flooding of the Elim Facility ) and it was decided that we should continue on with plans for a leadership transition.

Please pray for:

• Our Future’s Team and Board as plans continue.

• Our church family in this difficult season. It may be challenging for people to engage in discussions about the future when the present has some uncertainty.

• An all church survey will be conducted. It will launch on August 8 and run for 3 weeks. Pray for good engagement by our church family.

• Two round table discussion events are being planned:

  • Core Leaders Roundtable: Elim Future’s Conversation on September 14.

  • Church-Wide Roundtable: Elim Future’s Conversation on October 15. Anyone who is part of Elim is welcome to attend. We are planning for wide representation of our church family.

Thanks for continuing to pray.

Blessings,

Pastor Marvin

Over this past month I passed a couple of milestones; January was the beginning of my 33rd year at Elim and then this past Friday I marked 30 years in this role at Elim. Our church has and continues to be such a big part of our lives. I love Elim Church.

Over the years I’ve sought to be transparent and open and so it’s important to share with our church family what is on the horizon. We want to continuously be forward focused - so over the past few years I’ve been talking to our board about what’s ahead for Elim. This year we’re 105 years old as a church and we’re convinced that God has much in store for many years to come.

Four or five years ago I spoke with our Board about the reality that my time of leadership at Elim will at some point come to a close and the baton will be passed to another leader. We had no firm dates but we’re aware that too many churches don’t seriously plan for the future and particularly for passing the leadership baton. That’s rarely in the best interests of the church.

Back in 2018 our board agreed that in 2022 we would have a conversation about the transition to a new leader. I’ve always known that I’m an interim pastor. Even now into my 33rd year at Elim I’m aware that I have a series of predecessors dating all the way back to 1917. And there is a successor coming.

In our most recent board meeting we had our first conversation to set in motion the firming up of a plan about Elim’s future. We are in the beginning stages and the first step is to appoint a team that will plan and pray and gather information from our church family. This team will work through 2022 with a view to setting the stage to then appoint a team that will begin the search for a new leader. We think this pastoral search team will begin its work in 2023 in the hopes that I can pass the baton to a new leader after their work is done.

Elim is a larger church that is multi generational and multi ethnic and multi cultural and multi staff and a few other multi-s that I can’t think of.

It means that there are complexities that will require a skilled, passionate, visionary leader - a man or woman of God whose gifts and calling and vision align with our church. It’s not unreasonable to expect the search to take all of 2023 and perhaps even into 2024.

“Marvin, that’s 2 or more years away. Why announce this now?” Because we want to let our church family hear it from me. Word will leak out that our Board has begun discussions and we think it’s best that you are aware. I have no plans to go anywhere in the next two years. With God’s help I want to continue to give this role my all.

I want you to pray. Later this year when we call our church family to engage in conversations about Elim’s future and what is desired in a new leader, we want the whole church – all generations to be prepared to engage with joy and passion to provide input for the next chapter of our church.

Hear me. Over the next two years, I have no plans to drop the baton. With God’s help I look forward to passing it off to the next person that God chooses to lead this great church. In a relay race the runner holding the baton runs flat out until the baton is firmly in the hands of the next runner. That’s my plan.

“Are you retiring?” I don’t plan to. Pastoring is a lifetime call and we’re trusting God for a new role in ministry somewhere – perhaps serving alongside a younger leader somewhere to strengthen his/her hands. But that’s a way off. So, save your goodbyes.

Did I mention that we’re not leaving? At least for a couple of years?

Even though we all know that a leader’s season comes and then goes, transitions are unsettling. They can feel like loss. There can be grief. Or excitement. Or both. Things will change.

But what won’t change is what’s kept us going for 105 years; We continue to proclaim Jesus. We continue to be light and salt in a dark and decaying world. We continue to reach, win and disciple people until Jesus comes.

February 6, 2022

What is the timing of the leadership transition at Elim?

The Elim Future’s Team began its work in early 2022. In late 2022 the Board of Deacons will appoint a Pastoral Search Team that will begin its work. The search for a Lead Pastor for our context typically takes 12-18 months. Ideally, a new Lead Pastor could be selected for early 2024. See our website for the anticipated timeline.

How is the Lead Pastor of Elim Church selected?

The Board appointed search team accepts applications. Applications are prayerfully processed. The search team is looking for a short list of candidates whose character, calling and credentials match what Elim needs. These names are brought to the Board. The Board will interview potential candidates and present one name to the membership. That person will be presented in our weekend services with opportunity to interact and get to know them prior to the vote. With a vote resulting in a two thirds majority, the successful candidate will be called to be the Lead Pastor.

How can I be involved in this process?

We are asking our church to pray. This is a spiritual process that will be bathed in prayer. Pray privately and join us as we call our church to times of prayer. Our Future’s Team sends out prayer bulletins from time to time. To be added to the email list please let us know at info@elimchurch.ca

There are teams of people who will be involved in various aspects of this process. If you would like to speak with someone from our Future’s Team about possible involvement, email info@elimchurch.ca Ultimately, our membership will vote on the Lead Pastor. If you are a part of Elim but not a member, take a membership class (online or in person) and apply for membership.

What are Pastor Marvin’s plans after a new Lead Pastor has been installed?

When Pastor Marvin shared with our church family in February 2022 he addressed this. ““Are you retiring?” I don’t plan to. Pastoring is a lifetime call and we’re trusting God for a new role in ministry somewhere – perhaps serving alongside a younger leader somewhere to strengthen his/her hands.”

Will there be an opportunity to celebrate Pastor Marvin’s ministry?

As we move closer to the time when a new Lead Pastor is selected, plans will be made to honour our outgoing Lead Pastor.

I have questions that have not been answered by this FAQ. Where do I go to receive answers?

Please direct inquiries to info@elimchurch.ca One of our team members will respond.