Tag Archives: Photos

Baptism! (Photos from Sunday morning)

Robert David did a phenomenal job last Sunday photographing this momentous event in the life of Gérald as well as the entire church:


Leading a Church Planting Boot Camp

I recently had the privilege of leading part of a French Church-Planting Boot Camp in Montréal.  Here are the sessions I had the privilege of teaching to the dozen or so that attended.:

  • “Preparation for the launch”
  • “Preparing the core group”
  • “Sharing the vision”
  • “Making disciples”
  • “Building small groups”
  • “Encouraging Worship Services”
  • “Community involvement”

In these particular photos, using a toy train as an example, a young believer in our church named Carl walks through his multi-year voyage before becoming a Christian about a year ago. The purpose was to discuss “making disciples”. How do we help and support people wherever they may be on their journey before or after salvation? (Carl did a fantastic job teaching and sharing his story).


Empty Bowls 2012

Every year we hold a fundraiser called “remplir un bowl” (“empty bowls” in English) for a local charity. Yesterday was a great day.

I preached on Luke 10:25-42, a passage where Jesus completely deconstructs religious thinking.

A visiting quebecker christian band (the David Gasse Band) led us in a time of worship (the bassist yesterday morning is a member at our church).

We ate soup, and learned about poverty around the world and in St-Jérôme.

Here are some photos:ImageImageImageImage

Image

For more photos, click here:

http://www.eglise-ecclesia.ca/photo.php?pageID=36


Now, As a Church, We’re Official… and financially Autonomous!

Last Sunday after the morning service, at Ecclésia St-Jérôme (our church plant), we voted in three things:

  1. the Constitution,
  2. Le règlement numéro 1 (a legal document with the province of Québec),
  3. the annual budget.

What does this mean?

  1. We are a legal, functioning church in the eyes of the Province.
  2. We are financially autonomous for the first time! This means that all expenses, including Jacob’s salary are 100% paid for by the church with no outside financial help to do it… (though our salary is not included in this).

Here are some photos of the occasion so you can praise God together with us!


Happy Anniversary Martine!

On this day, 9 years ago (already 9 years!), Martine and I were married on the beach of Cannon Beach, Oregon. I love her more now than I did then…

Our wedding on the beach in Cannon Beach, Oregon

Our wedding on the beach in Cannon Beach, Oregon


Happy New Year from the Karch family!

We took this photo at Mont Tremblant, a famous ski mountain and village about an hour north of Montréal


Happy Birthday Caleb, Katie, and Trevor!

All three were born on December 30th…

Caleb turns 7 today. He loves reading (stops and reads every sign and label he possibly can… I got lost in enchanted village when I was his age because of this),  is learning how to calculate his riches as we play Portland-opoly together (much better than the regular version), loves his Adventures in Odyssey Bible almost as much as his Dangerous Book for Boys, prays for orphans he’s never seen and friends his sees every day, and loves to run and take cover as I pelt him with snowballs (really).

God has blessed us with 7 years of his presence… 7 years already? (I must be getting old).

Katie is my sister and Trevor is my brother-in-law (no, Trevor is married to one of my other sisters). We love you guys! Here’s a birthday greeting from Caleb and Constance on a chairlift… (kind of).

...and they both have their special happy birthday faces on for you both!

 


Even more photos from last Sunday: Children’s Skit Photos

Thank you again for the fantastic photos Robert!


Photos: Last Sunday’s Christmas Celebration: A Walk Through Messianic Prophecy

We split into two services (10am-noon, 1pm-3pm) knowing we would not have enough space. It was a good thing we did. Over 200 people gathered to celebrate the coming of the Savior of the world… the fulfillment of thousands of years of precise prophecy!

  • Children put on two excellent skits: “Blind Bartamaeus” and “The Pine Trees”
  • We enjoyed a phenomenal meal at round tables of 8: planned and organized by Celine.
  • Jacob put together a moving walk through centuries of messianic prophecy: beginning with Genesis 3:15. This included:
    • 4 dramatic readers placed throughout the room, interacting with various messianic texts.
    • Songs were led by an able group of musicians and singers between texts
    • Historical images of Israel were shown throughout the reading.

A few photos:

Food-a-plenty! We are blessed to live with such abundance (leftovers were given away)

I will refrain from making any jokes about "stuffing faces" or anything similar

Caleb is beggar "Nathan" at far left, Constance is in a cream-colored robe in the middle


Happy Thanksgiving! (and Happy 25th Birthday to Martine!)

Charlie Brown Snoopy Thanksgiving

Seriously, is there anyone who doesn't love Charlie Brown and Snoopy (and Woodstock and Linus and Peppermint Paddy and Lucy and Schroeder and Pig Pen, etc.)

Check out who we (Martine, Caleb, Constance and I) get to hang out with this thanksgiving in Saratoga Springs, NY:

  • My brother Paul. He’s going to Afghanistan as a Marine in January.
  • My sister Krista who lives in D.C., the most amazing journalist I’ve heard of (her husband Trevor can’t make it… he has to save lives instead).
  • My cousin Victoria: a poet who exudes talent and passion in everything she does.
  • My cousin Jorge: We are three weeks apart. My best friend growing up. Locker-partner in high school and roommate in college.
  • My cousin (in-law?) Emily (Jorge’s wife): the best biology teacher your kids could dream of.
  • Caden: Jorge & Emily’s son.
  • ???: And one is on the way.
thanksgiving charlie brown snoopy

I even just bought "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in English, as surprise (so sshh, don't tell Martine or Caleb or Constance).

As we bask in Food, Family, and Football, Mike Anderson asks us the question: “Are we going to commit gluttony or enjoy a feast?

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16

Today is Martine’s birthday!

I praise God for the voyage he’s brought us through up to this point. We are reaping the benefits of two people struggling to put Christ first in everything as He continues to reveal Himself to each of us  individually and as a couple.

Martine is a phenomenal mother, wife, friend, and confidant… all things that we are both learning in tandem.

Praise God for crossing our paths 12 years ago in Paris!

Below is a photo from that meeting way back in 1998, in Lognes, France (just outside of Paris):

Paris France 1998 Multinational team

I'm in the back (second from the left), Martine is in the middle (with the red hair and shirt)


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