Rod Bargen, long-time board member for VTI, reports on Celebration Sunday:
Celebration Sunday... perhaps better described as Celebration Weekend: the River’s Edge board met during the day on Saturday, then in the evening the VTI board met, with a number of new members, who are associated with the River’s Edge Camping Association (see board page). I’ve continued to have a sense of men and women with a heart for God, and unity, as we come together under our head, Christ. It was also a time to see Mike & Michelle Joos pack up and head out from their home at Discovery Lodge to a new ministry in Ontario.
On Sunday morning many of us celebrated “THE LIFE” together in Christ as we met for fellowship, sharing from the Word, and remembering the life and death of Christ through the emblems of the wine and the bread. The afternoon was an open house for those connected with the ministry and was attended primarily by supporters of the River’s Edge ministry. There was a celebration service at 4:00 with praise music, recounting the work of River’s Edge over the year, a brief history and overview of VTI, and a message by Lance Duncalfe, with the theme “Today we celebrate the mystery of what goes on in unseen places, yet miraculously produces limitless, life-impacting potential!” Read the full text here.
We finished with an opportunity for questions and answers, and another meal together. For Ramona and I, it was a particular delight to reconnect with some people from our Sundre/Olds days when our children attended Olds Koinonia Christian School.
So,
where to from here? We can honestly say, “Only God knows.” We have
ideas, thoughts and dreams. We were reminded on the weekend of how “unless
a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a
single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:23 NIV. River’s
Edge went through a “near death” experience in 2004 prior to growing to
what it is today, and dreams for the future. Lance’s message
highlighted this theme as well. As we proceed, we have a firm sense of
the leadership of Christ and the unity the board, which is of greatest
value.
We covet your prayer as Christ leads us on...
Rod Bargen for the VTI board
For further questions, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact any other board member.
You have been a part of amazing moments in the history of VTI. For all of your investments and partnerships throughout the years, we are ever grateful! We want to update you on the plans that are
being made to realign our ministries with River's Edge Camping
Association (
Second, the financial and 
Fourth, River's Edge will become part of us just as we become part of them! As combined ministries, their programs, ministry events, facilities and
missional opportunities will be available to all of us. We are joining
forces to help River's Edge expand its focus and opportunities. We are
confident that as God continues leading us into this new partnership
that it is not about uniting a parcel of land but of expanding our
collective global impact for generations to come.
Michael, VTI team leader, reports on the recent trip to Costa Rica by a team from Westpointe Community Church in Grande Prairie:
