​​Our steeple represents a big picture overview of the life of MBC. While a small but growing church, the Lord has continued to use us in mighty ways. This has also produced growing pains, which we are seeking to constructively surmount with God’s help. In this it is good to know that as part of the quiet revival, many churches are sharing similar experiences.  
Highlights of the year include:

• Our 30th Anniversary, with a formal celebration in May, along with other events and videos
• Our two main weekly Lord’s Day gatherings, a.m. (60–70+) and p.m. (40+).
• A journey about ‘standing firm’ from 1 Peter, Daniel, some summer Psalms, 2 Peter and Malachi.
• In intergenerational worship the children learned from CAT, Christiana (Pilgrim’s Progress part two), and the ABC’s of the Reformation (we’re blessed to have 18+ children worshipping with us).
• 6 new members: 3 by baptism and 3 by joining.
• 41 in membership (+7 formal adherents); as of August, which along with adherents totals 110 worshipping with us altogether (as of Dec the number was around 99).
• The death of three members and one adherent
• Many new visitors, some who stay and some who don’t. We hosted our first newcomers luncheon in September with 31 present. There have been 29 who’ve stopped coming. May we all see to reach out to them.
• A fall Foundations I class with 14 who crammed into pastor’s office.
• Three community outreach flyers to 3700 homes in 20 min radius around Markdale. Themes included hope, stability and light. Together with our other exposure ministries (website, newsletter, Youtube, etc) ensure we have a strong exposure ministry in the community and plant many seeds.
• Supporting those in our midst with dementia + their carers.
• A summer VBS with 65 children and family fun night with 150 people.
• Our pianist stepping down but us gaining a guitarist. We are grateful for Sue’s service.
• The existence of various ministries: prayer central(s) (30), Life Groups (30+), Ladies Coffee Hour (12+), King’s Kids (20+), Fabulous Friday’s (70+), men’s breakfast (15+), Merry and Mature (high 20s), social (e.g. fellowship meals, games, funerals), missions (see report), benevolent and meal ministry (see report) and Grey Gables chapel. Many others help support aspects of worship (i.e. music, A/V, parking service, nursery) and the general life of the church (i.e. property, kitchen coordinator, etc).
• Extra gifts to missions: New Life Camp, Pastor Henry, Christian refugees
• Property upgrades: a pavilion and a cleaned steeple
• A fall survey, which revealed many strengths as well as some areas for improvement.
• Christmas outreach: 1000 candy invites, a walking parade, & carol service.
• Fellowship meals and socials (a.m. and p.m.) and spring and fall games nights
• Welcomed many guest preachers and visiting missionaries

With a growing church it is difficult to capture everything that took place throughout the year.

​From my basecamp I’ve engaged in numerous activities over 2025:
 

• General oversight/vision and leading the Eldership.
• Regularly present with my family at our morning and evening worship gatherings.
• Preaching: I regularly preach twice each Lord’s Day and lead the children’s time. Over 2025 we learned to stand firm in our series through 1 Peter, Daniel, some summer Psalms, 2 Peter and Malachi.  
• Life Groups: Write the weekly questions, which are part of our sermon book studies.
• Blog: publish a weekly blog, Drippings, that covers a variety of subjects. Please check them out.
• Music: I regularly lead music in the evening service and upon occasion in the morning.
• Visitation: I regularly seek to visit at least 2 individuals/families, make phone calls and receive visitors who pop into my study. Much visitation time was taken up connecting and discipling visitors/new believers/those being baptized and joining the church. I also engaged in some hospital visitation and crisis counselling.
• Funerals: 2025 was a big year for funerals, I conducted 5 in the early fall and one community funeral in the winter.
• Fabulous Fridays: I’ve taught one chapel each month to 70+ moms and children
• Hospitality: We host a weekly Life Group in our home. We’ve also had some guests over from church, though not as much as we’d like given Rebekah’s health.
• King’s Kids: Regularly teaching these precious young souls.
• VBS: enjoyed teaching and leading music at our weeklong VBS.
• Discipleship Ministries: I led a fall newcomers’ luncheon and the fall Foundations I class.
• Community: Food Bank board member; bi-monthly chapel services at Grey Gables.
• Church Health: We held a round table in May. With the input and help of the Elders, Deacons and communication’s team, I helped to craft and present our fall Church survey.
• Association/Denomination: Coordinate the Barnabas program. This entails coordinating instructors and doing some teaching. I’m grateful for the administrator, Val, who takes care of the majority of the day to day work.  I’ve also sought to attend our Bluewater Association meeting and attended/led a workshop at the FEBC Stronger conference. With the Elders’ support, over the summer and fall, I was also part of a national grassroots team that has sought to keep our Fellowship complementarian.
• Other related duties (largely administrative and property based)

 
Beyond MBC I’ve taught 2 courses at Toronto Baptist Seminary: Church History B and Baptist History and Thought. I also continue to edit the seminary’s Gospel Witness journal that produces scholarship for the church. You may find copies in our library.
 
I have many research and writing interests that time doesn’t wholly allow me to pursue. However, I did present a paper at the Canadian Baptist Historical Symposium in April. Also, my book Drippings from the Honeycomb is finally in the final stages with the publisher and should be out in late 2026. I also spoke at a pastor’s retreat and co-taught at a summer Chinese Baptist church retreat. I’m also preparing a book chapter titled, “Ontario Baptist Confessionalism” (2026) for a Canadian Baptist Historical Society volume. Into 2027 I will also be the coordinating editor of various Ontario scholars to produce the 100th history of Toronto Baptist Seminary.
 
As a family we took a summer trip around the world’s largest lake—Superior. Despite having caught the plague at VBS it was a beautiful journey. We were grateful to finish our major renovations at Orange Valley Acre too. Please continue to pray for various health concerns and Digory’s spiritual well-being. 

We are certainly transitioning from a smaller to a more medium church. This brings with it growing pains. As we grow the truth remains that the “harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” (Mt 9:37). I want to thank our core members who serve sacrificially and encourage others to join the church and experience Acts 20:35, which says, “it is more blessed to give than receive.” As we rally around God’s word, we’re also seeking to turn harmony into unity as we all mature in the faith together. 

I’ve visited some wonderful libraries in my day. The library in my home town was the old Victorian town hall; a majestic building that inspired the love of reading. I’ve also been able to visit the world-famous Bodleian Library at Oxford. Perhaps my favourite library, built in the 1920s, but designed to look much older, is the Bristol City Centre library. Quite romantically it has three side levels that you access by iron spiral staircases!
​
Sadly today, though, because of funding cutbacks, woke ideology, shallow books, etc, many libraries are not what they once were.

However, there is one library, which while not large, is impressive. God’s library! Throughout the Bible several precious books of God’s are mentioned Here is a library catalogue of God’s library:

1. God’s book of general revelation—Creation (Ps 19:1)
   1. Creation is one big book in which we can learn about God. While limited (Ro 1), it nevertheless impressively points us to God.
2. God’s book of special revelation—the Bible (2 Ti 3:16)
   1. If we want to know God, self and salvation, we can’t remain content with God’s book of creation, as wonderful as it is. We need the Bible.
3. The Book of the Law
   1. The Law of Moses was a good gift (Dt 6). It set Israel apart as God’s people and revealed Himself to them. However, it was never meant to save but rather drive to the promise (Galatians).
4. The Book of Sorrows, Ps 56:8
   1. Beautifully, in His compassion, God stores up the tears of His people in a bottle and writes them in a book. They are not forgotten and one day we will be vindicated.  
5. The Book of Remembrance, Mal 3:16
   1. Like how King Xerxes wrote down the good deeds of Mordecai, only to remember them later (Esther 2:23, 6:1–3). God remembers the faithful words and deeds of His people. While it may appear like the wicked prosper today (c.f. Haman), one day a distinction will be made and we will be rewarded for our faithfulness.
6. The Book of the Lamb, Rev 13:8, 17:8, 21:27
   1. This is the book, written before the foundation of the world, in which all of the elect’s names are written, who God will save through faith in Jesus Christ.
7. Books of Judgement, Rev 20:12a
   1. While it is true we will be judged because of faith in Christ (Jn 3:18), our works do follow us. On Judgement Day we will also be judged based upon what we have done, good or bad, faithful or faithless.

Seven amazing books, each unique, each with its time and place. Whether we visit libraries or not, let us take note of the books in God’s library. 

Ref: Proposed Affirmation of Faith; March 12, 2025 e-update from Steve Jones
*I’ve bolded the points I feel are more major. I’ve underlined personal implications.
*If you are a church member, don’t read this until you’ve first read the proposed AoF for yourself. 

I was born into a Fellowship Baptist church in Springfield, ON. It was my grandmother’s church near the family farm. Thankfully it continues to be a faithful and robust Christian witness. 

“His body, that is the Church” (Col 1:24)
​
The Church is the body of Christ, universally made up of all true believers and made visible locally by members of local churches. The Church ministers to its own and represents Christ to the world, both in Christ’s humility and authority.

As such, there are those who take advantage of the Church.

There are two ways that phrase could be used. The first is positive, seizing hold of the blessing which is the Church of Jesus Christ. The second is negative, abusing or one-way benefits from the Church. In the examples and questions below, which best characterizes you? Are you taking advantage of the Church?

Questions to Ask
-Do you take advantage of evangelistic opportunities and resources made available by the Church; including speaking with Christians, participating in courses on the Christian basics, sitting under sound preaching?
-Do you take advantage of the flagship Christian gatherings on the Lord’s Day, morning and evening worship, sitting under the sound of God’s Word?
-Do you take advantage of discipleship opportunities to grow and be equipped in the Faith: Bible studies; special events; men’s, women’s and children’s ministries, relationships?
-Do you take advantage of your Elders, including your Pastor, their spiritual wisdom, counsel and oversight, including taking their biblical teaching and advice seriously, reading their blog, publications, or asking their advice?
-Do you take advantage of the ordinances of Baptism and Lord’s Supper, God’s means of grace?
-Do you take advantage of corporate prayer meetings, to experience the power of prayer together and learn how to pray?
-Do you take advantage of the opportunities for Christian fellowship, to be ministered to and to receive ministry and care?
-Do you take advantage of membership, actually joining and being a committed part of the local body of Christ, expressing and having affirmed your faith in Christ?
-Do you faithfully attend the life of the Church or might you miss what God is doing?
-Do you—through membership—take advantage of Christ’ call to serve Him by serving His Church as you are physically able (“Ask not what the Church can do for you, but what you can do for the Church”).
 
The Church is a blessed tool in the hand’s of her Lord. Take advantage of her!
​

* I am indebted to the late John MacArthur who used this analogy when preaching on 1 Cor 12. Though a seemingly harsh illustration, a benign tumour fits the body analogy of those who derive life from the organism of the church but never give to it through commitment and service. 

A recent study in the UK has coined the phrase ‘quiet revival.’ Historically revivals—periods where the Holy Spirit has wrought great repentance and faith in Jesus— have seen 100s, 1000s, indeed whole communities and nations transformed for Christ. What the study observed in the UK was not such a revival, more quiet, yet a revival nevertheless. It observed that since 2018 church attendance has doubled, especially amongst youth. This is quite something in a country so impacted by secularism that, despite being twice the population of Canada, has had half the church attendance.
Yet this ‘quiet revival’ applies not only to the UK. Arguably it describes a phenomenon across the West, including right here in Canada. Culturally it may be linked to Covid or the wackiness of wokeness. Religiously it is a quiet movement of the Spirit of God. It does appear that the Lord is watering the root of His faithful remnant (Job 14:7–9).

This study helped give words to something we have been witnessing across Ontario amongst faithful churches. A church in Windsor that was 150 is now 300+. A church in Timmins was 75 and is now 150+. This past Passover (Easter) many churches experienced countless baptism, not 100s but in the 2s and 12s. Some of this growth represents seekers, brand new believers, sometimes migrating Christians from mainline churches or lapsed Christians. Closer to home in our own Association, the past few years have proven a similar trend. The church of 15/50/75/100/150/200 is now 30/100/150/300/400, etc. None of these churches have done anything ‘special’ apart from faithfully existing but the Lord has quietly been sending people to them.

We have experienced this here at MBC. Just prior to Covid we hadn’t had a recent baptism, had 26 members and about 40-50 people who regularly connected with us. Since then we’ve had 9 baptisms, 38 members (in spite of natural losses) and have well over 100+ people regularly worshipping and connecting with us. Measured financially, our budget has nearly doubled and we've invested surpluses in local and foreign missions. (Yet, there is still more to do. Higher numbers require more work. We long to see the sinners amongst us saved and baptized, saints join in membership and together to worship and serve the Lord. Then there is still the vastly unreached population in our community).

Yet, we would not boast in ourselves or our techniques. We haven’t done anything extraordinary, and most people have simply found us. One young man is an example. He attended our church out of the blue and simply felt prompted to Google ‘church near me.’ Our website came up since it is very active. All we have done is seek to be faithful to God’s commands for a church: gather regularly on the Lord’s Day (a.m./p.m.) in worship; preach the Word; pray; provide opportunities for discipleship; seek to make Christ known in our community; visit and care for each other; invest in our facilities, etc. (1 Cor 3:6).

We rejoice at what the Lord is doing—however quietly!

Would you join us in what He is doing?

 
QUESTION- Who here likes doughnuts? Who has a favourite doughnut?
(My favourite are chocolate knots with sprinkles-yum). 

​Did you know they have found doughnut-like foods in archaeological digs from Bible times? The modern doughnut, however, came from the Dutch in the 1700s- oly koeks- oily cakes. However, it wasn't until the 1850s and a Capt. Gregory from the USA that doughnuts lost their middle. Originally, they were dough knots, a knotted dough ring. Perhaps Gregory took them out to fit on his ships wheel, or to allow the centres to cook more easily, or maybe to save money! At any rate, by the 1920s there was a doughnut machine and their popularity in WWI and WWII with soldiers helped to bring them into American culture: Krispy Cream, Dunkin Donuts (and Tim Hortons in Canada). 

Let's learn a funny song about doughnuts and Jesus.

 Let me explain that song.

God created us to know Him. Just like Lego, a puzzle or a craft has the grand design that we build, we were created to know God. Mt 4:10 says we were created, to worship (love) and serve Him. When God first created us, our ancestors (Adam and Eve) were in a perfect garden. There was only one negative command, not to eat of a certain tree lest they died (Gen 2:17). The moment they ate of it, the greatest tragedy happened: they spiritually died and began to physically die. In their rebellion they were cut off from God.

QUESTION- Who knows the central letter in the following words: sIn and prIde?

"I"- destroyed the peace and purpose and friendship and fullness we were created for. Like a doughnut, we were no longer whole, we had a hole in our heart. 1600 years ago Augustine said, "Our hearts will go on being restless until they fine their rest in You." Similarly, 400 years ago Pascal said, "Our hearts are a bottomless cavern."

QUESTION- Without God, what sorts of substitutes do people try to fill their lives with?

Pascal also said, "We have a Christ shaped hole in our hearts." Because we were made for God, only a restored relationship with Him through faith in His Son, Jesus, will make us whole again.

Let me tell you part of my story of becoming whole. When I was young I believed in God. Life was good. I was getting on being a child. Then two things happened that made me realize I wasn't whole. The first was when I was 5 and my parents stopped taking me to church. I knew that wasn't right, so I pestered them until we returned. But still, there was something missing. Then one day about 7 I entered a store with my father and I stole something! (Drum roll) Can you guess what it was? A paperclip. Yes, I stole a paperclip. I felt so guilty that I walked out of the store and through it in the grass beside the sidewalk. However, I still felt guilty. I was aware of a whole in my heart. 

I'll tell the rest of that story at our next campfire together, but let me tell you how we can fill that hole and become whole. When we turn from our sin and trust in Jesus, Eph 4 says, "Christ comes to dwell in our hearts by faith." Forgiven and assured of life eternal, He helps us worship and serve Him forever, just as we were created to. YUM.

[distribute doughnuts and ask children if they think they know what sweet treat I'll bring next time]

…on a Sunday. (I seldom eat out otherwise because food is so expensive!)

I don’t eat out on the Lord’s Day, and haven’t since I came of age in high school, because it is God’s special day of rest built into the fabric of the universe at Creation. This includes not causing others to work. Ex 20:10b tells us, “On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.” This includes restaurants, pizza, Tim Horton’s drive through, [online] grocery shopping, etc.

And even if someone is not a Sabbatarian in a classic Christian sense, even if you only believe the Lord’s Day is a New Covenant ordinance for worship, does not the principle of Ex 20:10b compel you? I mean, isn’t it hypocritical for you to have the day off and to go to church but by purchasing one small thing or eating out, rob the employee of that same blessing? (Here I find it ironic that in England it is the socialist parties that still favour Sunday trading laws because they protects workers!).

Things never used to be open on Sunday and shouldn’t be open today. Alas, we live in a post-Christian world, and like most ethical area’s, we don’t have the godly law of the land to guide us. Everything is a test. Everything is an opportunity to trust the Lord’s ways and be a witness in the darkness, including keeping one day in seven as special.
​
Instead of eating out, plan ahead, make freeing others to worship part of your worship, invite brothers and sisters or an unbeliever or a new couple at church over for a meal—show Christian hospitality. Enjoy the freedom that the gift of rest brings.

Life 100.3 interviewed Pastor Chris, interested in our evening service. It aired several times in late June, 2024.

Every age has a counter message that seeks to shroud, confuse or combat, the true Gospel. Our age is no different.

When in the city recently I came across a large mural on the glass of a leading Canadian bank. It read, “There’s no better feeling than being accepted for who you are.” Such a slogan is riddled with faults.

Firstly, expressive individualism rooted in subjective feelings (and not objective truth) is not a sure guide.

Secondly, total-acceptance (or the intolerance of ‘tolerance’) is as ridiculous. Sure, we respect people as being created in the image of God on the one hand, but we embrace others, not based upon who they put themselves forward as, but whether they, in truth and goodness, are nice and useful people.

Thirdly, the message is clearly ideological (cultural-marxism or woke), where if someone doesn’t agree with you on your terms, then they must be a bad oppressor and must be shamed and re-educated.

Beyond mere virtue signalling, much of our society seems to have bought into the anti-Gospel, lock, stock and barrel. No longer is it about LGBT, it has become the flag, or mantra of our day. It is the anti-Gospel. Embrace your sin, relish in it and demand others do too.

The true Gospel proclaims that we are sinners. That we are accepted by God only when we’ve been accepted by Christ through repentance and faith. That joy only begins when we receive grace and the Holy Spirit works to renew us into the people God wants us to be.
​
I wouldn’t want to be accepted for who I am—what a hideous thought! Rather, my sole hope is being accepted before God by virtue of who Christ is—and has applied to me—through the imputed righteousness and imparted Sanctifier. It is only when I become a new creation and am transformed and await my glorification as a saved sinner that there can ever be a true feeling of joy, even jubilee.

​Christian, even yet-to-be-Christian, do not be fooled by the anti-Gospel of our age. It doesn’t satisfy or save.