My son reported a nail and resulting flat tire this week. As I grabbed the tire plug kit and prepared to head out to help him, I remembered this was yet one more thing my mentor, Walter taught me. There were so many things Walter shared with me all the while helping me in a multitude of life’s challenges, physical and spiritual. Despite how unhealthy we were, I am so grateful to Walter and his wife Cindy who discipled us for many years from the time we first accepted Jesus.
It takes courageous love and obedience of Jesus Christ to do that.

I am encouraged by testimonies of people who have so selflessly given of their time, talent and gifts to disciple young Christians.  I pray that that type of discipleship would become the hallmark of the church in Regina.  Evangelistic outreach is necessary and good, but I believe that where the church really makes impact in communities like North Central, is when people are willing to walk alongside the sinful, broken, and lost as Jesus did.

Vivian and I are so blessed to be called into this ministry, but anyone can disciple someone with sincerity and love. Through our experience and journey, we have developed the Discipleship Path which identifies distinct stages on the discipleship journey:

Discipleship is so much more than just a friendship!
There is a goal to discipling. That is to create disciples that make disciples.
In order to keep growing and expanding as a discipling relationship, a roadmap is needed to guide the relationship to greater heights so that it bears fruit in keeping with the kingdom growth. The discipleship path was created to provide that roadmap.

The Discipleship Path is not a formula! The steps are not numbered. Rather, the Discipleship path is meant to help people engaged in discipleship to gauge what stage the relationship (or a certain aspect of the relationship) is at and where it needs to develop and progress in order to remain an effective discipleship relationship.
To learn more about The Discipleship Path, email me and I would be happy to engage with you at a deeper level.

I hope that you enjoy reading our ministry updates and newsletters as much as we enjoy sharing with you how much God is doing.
To him belongs the Praise and Glory!

A Busy Season Behind and Ahead

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ~1 John 3:1

It has been a while since I sent out a ministry update. In an earlier update, I wrote about E.S. an indigenous woman who is working toward getting her nephew out of foster care. I would ask for prayer on her behalf as this is a difficult road for her and she is often discouraged by the process which is taking so long. I and another Christian woman are accompanying her to meeting and progress is being made. I am believing that she will eventually be awarded custody of the 2 boys, but as I said, it is a long trying process.

Regina Discipleship Project

Regina Discipleship Project has a busy season ahead! Our Indigenous Christian Discussions are winding up this Saturday with a BBQ in Wascana park. As usual, we start with a meal together, and out discussion will be centred around looking ahead to the fall. Without any agenda, form or time limit, participants are invited to share experiences of their Christian walk and these discussions have brought healing and validation to many participants.

Only 2 weeks to go in our Journey Through the Bible Discipleship Course, we will host a windup celebration on June 19th. It has been an amazing year once again for this course and once again we will be blessing the participants who have successfully finished the course. Included in the blessings, will be a commissioning of those who receive their certificates.

I am often saying that Vivian and I were really well discipled. Walter and his wife Cindy fearlessly walked with us through many adversities consistently praying for us, with us and always bringing us to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through their attitudes and actions.

Recent and Upcoming Events

Mosaic 2024 – Pictured above (in the PDF) at the Indigenous People’s Pavilion here in Regina. This was a three-day event that celebrates cultural diversity in the Queen City. According to one participant who managed to visit all 18 cultural pavilions, we were the ONLY Christian ministry with a booth! It was an amazing time. We got to meet people who do not normally get to see what we do as a ministry integrated into the Indigenous community. We got to visit, talk and even pray with some who visited our booth. RDP acknowledges tot he Rising Sun Cree Design for sponsoring the booth.

Come Together – June 7th & 8th; table with Gentle Road, we gave away about 200 lanyards and wristbands. These events increase our profile both within the Indigenous community as well as the church and we are grateful for every opportunity to share our ministry.

National Indigenous History Month – Regina Discipleship Project is expanding our relationships with Eston College, Regina Christian School as well as being called upon to speak abut Truth and Reconciliation in various contexts with other groups.

Upcoming ministry opportunities:

• June 15 – Journey Through the Bible Discipleship windup – BBQ
• June 19 – Indigenous Christian Discussion Gathering – BBQ
• June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day – RDP is honoured to be officially invited by the White Bear First Nations Band Chief and Council!
• July 1 – Tent at Canada Day celebrations
• July 12-14 – Whitebear, SK
• July 22-26 – Junior Teen Camp at Trossachs Gospel Camp.
• August 1-16 – Vacation
• August 18-24 – Rising Above Staff & Board retreat

Prayer and Praise

• Praise the Lord for ES who has recently started attending Gentle Road Church. Pray for ES, that she would stay strong and fight the good fight of faith for the custody of her two nephews.
• Praise the Lord for DP who has been growing in his spiritual disciplines of affirmation and reading the Word of God.
• Please pray for DP, MP and others in our fellowship who have been battling mental health problems of an undiagnosed nature.
• Praise the Lord for KS who recently experienced a spiritual breakthrough.
• Please pray for us as we continue to disciple these people.

Ministry Highlights

• Numerous people visited our booths at the Spring Celebration Powwow, the Mosaic Indigenous Pavilion and Come Together event.
• Indigenous Discussion Groups showed a need for people to talk about their Christian experience.
• This year we have 4 people who have completed the Journey Through the Bible Discipleship Course.

Blessings,

Nick and Vivian Helliwell