Question 1

History of Bethel EMC

Accepted Answer

Founded in 1973 by Dennis and Lois Anderson, Bethel Evangelical Missionary Church has grown into a church of leaders and lay people who have come together with like values in hopes of fulfilling a vision to see individual lives experience transformation through a revelation of God's love.
Situated in the heart of the City of Kawartha Lakes - Lindsay, Ontario, Bethel reaches people from all walks of life and many who travel from various points across the beautiful cottage country landscape of the Kawarthas to worship with us each week. Known for its vibrant worship, relevant messages of hope and compassionate commitment to missions, Bethel has had an impact in this community for quite some time.
Bethel is part of a growing missional movement called the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada (EMCC).

Question 2

Who is the EMCC?

Accepted Answer

The Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada (EMCC) is a family of 130+ churches across Canada organized to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. The EMCC maintains offices in Kitchener, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta.
 
When the Evangelical Church in Canada and the Missionary Church of Canada merged in 1993 each brought to the union its special emphases and strengths.
 
The ECC contributed their evangelistic fervour and emphasis on the Spirit's sanctifying power that characterized John Wesley's Methodist teaching. The Missionary Church, which originated in the revival movements that swept North America in the latter half for the 19th century, brought to the union its missionary zeal as well as the Anabaptist concepts of community, brotherhood and believer's baptism which were distinguishing marks of the M.C.'s Mennonite background. The merged denomination remains committed to the Scriptures as the source of Christian doctrine and standards of holy living.
 
The EMCC administers two Bible colleges--Rocky Mountain College in Calgary, Alberta, and Emmanuel Bible College in Kitchener, Ontario. These institutions have trained hundreds of students to become pastors, church leaders and missionaries as well as witnessing Christians in the marketplace and community. Fourteen years after merger, this new denomination helps support 153 missionaries in 27 countries (including First Nations people in Canada) under both its own program (World Partners of Canada) and other mission agencies of similar evangelical persuasion.
 
It is the passion of EMCC leaders to develop disciples of Christ who in turn will produce other disciples who will continue the process until revival comes to Canada and together they may form churches all across our dominion and even throughout the world.
 
For more information visit www.emcc.ca

Question 3

Who is the Lead Pastor?

Accepted Answer

Rev. Ralph Van Oostveen. B.Th. M.Min.

Born in Stratford and raised in Listowel, I have been a southern Ontario resident most of my life. I grew up on a dairy farm and learned the value of hard work. Following high school I auditioned for and accepted to join a traveling Gospel singing group based out of Colorado Springs Colorado. During that year of ministry in many types of settings, I sensed a clear call from God to prepare for and enter full time ministry in a pastoral role.
 
I attended Bible college and in 1989 upon graduating, I entered the full- time ministry. I am an ordained minister with the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada.

During my bible school years, I met and fell in love with my soon to be wife Kim. In August of 1990 we married. We have three Children. Michael (1992), Alyssa (1997), Ava (2006). My first church was at the Palmerston Missionary Church. (1989-1993). Following Palmerston, I accepted a call from Elgin Missionary Church in Stratford. (1993-2002). In each of those previous churches I had a ministry position of Associate Pastor. However, in 2002 with the blessing of the Mother congregation in Stratford, I answered the call of God to lead a group of dynamic believers into a church plant in Mitchell. Upper Thames Missionary Church was birthed on September 1, 2002.
 
During the years I continued to pursue higher education and in July of 2017, I graduated from Covington Theological Seminary with a Masters degree in Ministry. (A degree completed entirely remotely while still leading a church).

In January 2020, God the Holy Spirit began to stir within my heart preparing me to move on. The doors began to open for ministry here in Lindsay. I am so thrilled that God has led me to this church and to this region. I look forward to many years of fruitful ministry among you. I pray that God will continue to “act strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9a)

Glad that I’m HIS
Ralph

Question 4

What does Bethel believe?

Accepted Answer

We believe that the Bible is God's Word. It is accurate, authoritative and applicable to our every day lives.
We believe in one eternal God who is the Creator of all things. He exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He is totally loving and completely holy.
We believe that sin has separated each of us from God and His purpose for our lives.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ as both God and man is the only One who can reconcile us to God. He lived a sinless and exemplary life, died on the cross in our place, and rose again to prove His victory and empower us for life.
We believe that in order to receive forgiveness and the 'new birth' we must repent of our sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and submit to His will for our lives.
We believe that in order to live the holy and fruitful lives that God intends for us, we need to be baptised in water and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to use spiritual gifts.
We believe that God has individually equipped us so that we can successfully achieve His purpose for our lives which is to worship God, fulfil our role in the Church and serve the community in which we live.
We believe that God wants to heal and transform us so that we can live healthy and blessed lives in order to help others more effectively.
We believe that our eternal destination of either Heaven or hell is determined by our response to the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again as He promised.

Question 5

What is Bethel's purpose?

Accepted Answer

Bethel Church is located in the Kawartha Lakes town of Lindsay, Ontario. Our mission is 'To lead people into a genuine and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.' Our desire is that you would connect and grow with our multi-generational church family. A place to belong, believe and become all that God intended.

Question 6

What are Bethel's Core Values?

Accepted Answer

Foundation of Scripture:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 ESV
Scripture is foundational because of its unique divine origin, God Himself. Through the authority of Scripture, Christ is revealed, and God’s people are equipped for every good work.
>>> We will align our lives with God’s truth found in scripture and with the revelation of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

Abiding in Christ: 
“ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 RSV

“Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Matthew 22:37 NIV
“Whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked. 1 John 2:5,6 ESV
Everything we do comes out of the overflow of an intimate and personal relationship with God.
>>> As Born-Again believers, we will daily seek to cultivate an abiding, intimate relationship with Jesus by spending time with Him and living out His will in our lives.

Community: 
“You are fellow citizens with God’s people, and you belong to God’s household.” Ephesians 2:19 CEB
“ Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works. And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope. Let us do this even more as you see Christ’s return approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 NIRV
We are called to BELONG, not just believe. As believers, we belong in God’s household with members of God’s family. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of God’s body of believers, His church.
>>> As God’s ‘called out ones,’ we will be intentional about being part of God’s Community of Believers, His Church – ‘the assembly of the called.’  We will share in and with other believers, God’s gifts, encouragement, and life.

Discipleship: 
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19,20a NIV

“We proclaim Him (Jesus), warning and instructing everyone in all wisdom [that is, with comprehensive insight into the word and purposes of God], so that we may present every person complete in Christ [mature, fully trained, and perfect in Him—the Anointed].” Colossians 1:28 Amplified Bible

Discipleship is ‘making other disciples’ and involves proclaiming Jesus, teaching, mentoring, and equipping others to grow to maturity in Christ in order that they can then disciple others. 
>>> As a Disciple of Christ, I will not only obey His teachings but I will also be intentional about my commitment  to a lifelong journey of Discipleship.

Missional:
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV

“But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” Act 1:8 AMP

God of the universe created us uniquely to contribute to this world. We were made for mission and to fulfil God’s purposes.
>>> We will be missionally minded knowing that we are on mission to do God’s work in any way He asks and to tell others about Him.

Prayer:
“ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV

“The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.” James 5:16b RSV

Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s will and through the operation of the Holy Spirit is powerful and effective in bringing about God’s will and purposes.
>>> We will live a life of prayerfulness, where prayer is a natural part of our daily living.