I Thought I Would Freeze to Death
Following God’s call to lead a church in Canada
I just about made it to our church building in Red Deer, Alberta on a frigid Canadian winter morning when our transport was really struggling to cope, its engine sputtering and juddering unhappily the entire way. At -40°c cars and people don’t function well, and I was learning the hard way. Worse still - I’d forgotten my gloves, which was a rookie error and a frightening prospect in these temperatures.
I rushed to the building’s front door but panic quickly set in - I’d brought the wrong set of keys and found myself completely locked out. A mildly irritating situation soon turned disastrous when the minivan now refused to start, succumbing to the cold. Suddenly, I was in a genuinely life-threatening situation.
No gloves. No shelter. 6:30 am; everywhere shut. Stuck in a temperature where Celsius and Fahrenheit meet, breath freezes midair, and frostbite is only ever minutes away from taking hold. For a few minutes it was legitimately a life-and-death situation. I distinctly remember praying, “What on earth are we doing here?! God, perhaps you could call us to Hawaii instead!”
Don’t worry. In case you’re wondering, I survived. Our battery-powered booster pack (a necessity here) eventually brought our vehicle to life, and it lasted just about long enough to make it home before the battery died for good.
We cancelled church that day.
Dave Betts
Why did we come to Red Deer?
Months later as I think about that terrifying moment (from the warmth of my house), I’m pondering that question again: “Why are we here?” Fundamentally, the answer is simple: we believe God has called us to be.
But it’s even more than that. We’re here because we’ve seen God work powerfully over nearly five years in Red Deer, and we love that we get to be a small part of it:
We’re here because of the two men who chose to follow Jesus for the first time.
We’re here because of the five people who stepped out in faithful obedience to Jesus and were baptised.
We’re here because of a hurting friend who occasionally comes by to ask for prayer. He’s a drug addict who relapsed after his dad (who was part of our church) committed suicide.
We’re here for the two young people in our church preparing to go to Bible college next year to deepen their faith.
We’re here to watch and celebrate as God supernaturally heals people; we even saw God heal a man’s broken leg before our eyes last year.
New Leaders, Growing Families
We’re also here because we love watching God raise new leaders; just a few weeks ago, we saw the first of two wonderful, godly men prayed into eldership. We’re here because God has taken our church family and shaped it into one represented by many nationalities and ages; what was a gathering of believers devoid of children not long ago is now punctuated by kids (who make up roughly 20% of our church attendance) zooming around the building, giggling, shouting, and singing as they learn more about Jesus.
Faith Over Comfort
We’re not here because it’s easy. The weather is brutal in the winter (you’ve probably deduced for yourselves). I never thought I’d be so experienced at spotting addiction. It’s gut-wrenching to see people you love move to another church, or if I’m candid with you, to see slower growth than you’d prayed for. There are many reasons not to be here, but none matter when compared with the joy of having front-row seats to see the Lord of All Creation at work among the people of Red Deer. At Trinity (which, from April, will be relaunched as Centre Church), I see a beautiful tapestry of God’s grace. Each small story, each person, and each victory—however big or minuscule—is a testament to His faithfulness. And we’re here for it.
In Galatians, Paul encourages us not to become weary in doing good because, at the proper time, we’ll reap a harvest if we do not give up (Gal. 6:9). God’s calling is rarely easy. It stretches and shapes us. It often leads us to places we wouldn’t have chosen for ourselves (although, for the record, my wife and I are huge fans of Red Deer!). God doesn’t promise us comfort, ease, or perfect conditions. However, he does promise that he’ll walk this road with us. Whether stepping into something new, persevering in a long season of waiting, or simply holding on for dear life in your situation, remember that you are not alone. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promises, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The Betts Family
Is God calling you to take a great step of faith today?
That dark, frigid morning in January helps me to remember that this life—our calling as believers to follow him—isn’t about being comfortable. It’s about faithful obedience to the One who has called us, strengthens us, and is at work even in the most challenging circumstances.
So if you’re faced with a path of faith steps in front of you, remember the LORD’s encouragement to Joshua: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
