Category Archives: Passion for God

Not So With You

notsowithyou.PNGWhat does it mean to be a ‘spiritual giant’?  I have been thinking about that term that we often use in regards to those who have tremendous significant input and influence in our lives.  They could have been a close friend, an influential author, a faithful pastor or someone whose life speaks to us today having served faithfully.

I think spiritual giants seldom, if ever, realize the total effect of their lives at the moment.  I don’t think, either, that this is ever the goal a person has. It is the by-product of faithfulness over time that has produced ripples of influence to you and I today.  I believe that there are common characteristics of people who leave positive marks on our lives. Let’s talk about those. Continue reading “Not So With You”

He is Good!

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I have noticed a pattern, and it is not a good one.  This pattern is personal and it may even be “just me.” As I write this blog today, I notice that what I have written for the last few years in my blog is to address problems. I recognize that we all have them in one form or another. It is part of living in a broken world with broken people. We identify quickly when someone expresses their pain because we have all been there.

Continue reading “He is Good!”

Put to the Test

body_testinprogressIt would cause shivers to go through every member of the class.! Yes, it was that day again called “Oral Defense”. That fateful day when the professor would ask you to stand and begin to fire questions at you about the material that had recently been covered in class. No notes were allowed, one just had to count on his/her ability to recall the information in a second! We would not know when that day was going to come, we needed to be ready.

Continue reading “Put to the Test”

Patience: I want it now!

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The old saying goes something like this “I’m willing to learn patience but will it take long?”  Patience is one of the character qualities that is never actually learned by reading about it. Before you write that correction note to me, hang on. I know the Bible teaches about patience. It illustrates it through the lives of many people, like Job for example. It tells us that one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit controlling our lives is patience. But we don’t actually have a handle on it until we are tested.

Continue reading “Patience: I want it now!”

Learning Lessons in the School of Life

math-imageI find myself these days between expectation and contentment.  I am growing in my understanding that God’s plan is perfect and His timing is impeccable.  I expect that who He is and what He will do in my life will always be the right thing.

Continue reading “Learning Lessons in the School of Life”

Looking for Open Doors

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Greetings, My Friend

It is my privilege to connect with you. God has me on a journey to encourage His people to grow, be more like Him and to share His message of love to the world.

I’ve been a Pastor and Missionary all of my adult life. My wife and I have lived, worshipped and led in 3 countries. It has been an awesome career. God has blessed, guided and encouraged every step.

It is a privilege to share my resume with you. I would love to talk with you about your Ministry and see if God is leading us together. Drop me an email and share it with those you know who are looking for a ministry partner.

For His Glory,

Pastor Bill Finch

Resume of Pastor Bill  Finch

 finch1959@gmail.com

739 64th Ave NW

Calgary, AB T2K 0M3

403-612-1960

 

 

My Vision:

People experiencing the full significance of being a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

My Mission:

To serve the Lord and people, with integrity, excellence, and passion in order to live out God’s will every day.

My Values:

 Integrity: I can only be useful to God and for others if I honestly and sincerely live what I teach. I must be ruthlessly honest with myself and allow no hint of hypocrisy to grow in me.

 Sense of Call: I serve in my area of giftedness for the glory of God and the good of the people of God because I believe God called me to serve him in ministry for such a time as this.

 Genuine Care: It is my goal to work as part of a team that with a foundation of camaraderie and friendship that is born out in how I serve my team members.

 Persistence: I bring to the table a willingness to do whatever it takes to get the task accomplished. I will use my God-given gifts and talents in order to accomplish His goals.

 Team: I believe we are on the same team! It is not about who gets the credit, it is about every person pulling in the same direction in order to accomplish God’s goals for our ministry.

 Willingness to Learn: I humbly recognize that there are many ways to do things and I am open and willing to learn what others can teach me.

Additional Skills:

God has used me in the areas of international missions in Church Planting to Spanish-speaking nations as well as through teaching in Argentina and Rio Grande Bible Institute Texas. A natural outflow of both of these areas has been writing a blog on a semi-regular basis (billfinch.org). I am passionate about modelling Christ in my daily life as well as developing godly leadership that cares for others as we follow God’s direction together.

Experience:

Lead Pastor at Westbourne Baptist Church

January 2014 – November 2016

Through amazing prayer support, God encouraged our people to grow in their relationship with their heavenly Father and each other. As a church we learned to share our faith with those in our community who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Our church became known as a place of refuge for all who are seeking a place to call home.

Regional Director Operation Christmas Child at Samaritan’s Purse, Canada

December 2011 – December 2013

We strengthened the hand of national leadership as they served as committed volunteers through prayer, practical training, and providing the tools to accomplish the task of sharing the love of Jesus with the children of Latin America through the shoebox ministry.

Pastor at North Broadway Baptist Church, Tillsonburg, ON

April 2008 – February 2012

Through the ministry of the Word, prayer, leadership development, and outreach, we encouraged the people to resolve past issues to love one another and serve the Lord with excellence and passion.

Pastor at West Island Baptist Church, Dorval, QC

April 2005 – March 2008

Through the ministry of the 40 Days of Purpose, we developed the ministry of small groups that had as its goal mutual encouragement, prayer, and outreach through the ministry of the church.

Missionary – Argentina and Edinburg, TX with ABWE

July 1987 – April 2004

Together with my wife, Deb, we were blessed by God to raise missionary financial and prayer support to serve in Buenos Aires, Argentina and in the state of Texas. Our ministries centered on teaching as well as developing a struggling church to grow from a discouraged group of fifteen to an encouraged and excited group of seventy-five to eighty. I also was elected the chairman of our Field Council of missionaries for one term of service.

Professor at Rio Grande Bible Institute, Edinburg Texas

2000 – 2004

What a joy to teach young people from Latin America, theology, Bible, and practical Christian life issues. We formed great relationships with colleagues and students that last until today. This was a tremendous experience. Today, many of these students are living productive Christian lives serving God.

Pastoral Intern @ School of Church Ministries, Calvary Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1988 – 1989

This was a stretching year of learning the work of a local church. As a church intern I learned many skills that have carried me into the ministry I have today. Everything from teaching children, Evangelism Explosion, and Wilderness Leadership Camp taught me to love God and the ministry with a greater passion.

Languages:

Fluent in English and Spanish

Education:

Heritage College and Seminary

Master of Theological Studies, 1999 – 2000

Rio Grande Bible Institute

Language School Diploma, Spanish Language Acquisition, 1991 – 1992

Heritage College and Seminary

Bachelor’s Degree, Pastoral Ministry Minor, 1978 – 1986

References:

 Dr. David Barker – Professor, Pastor, Mentor

Heritage Seminary

dbarker@heritageseminary.net

519-651-2869

Mr. Dave Ferguson

Director of Westbourne Place, Elder at Westbourne Baptist Church

davidferg@telus.net

403-650-0942

Mr. Laurie Kennedy

(Former Director of Fellowship Prairies)

Leadership Coach at the Jethro Group

lauriedkennedy@gmail.com

780-608-7149

 

 

Our Greatest Need

IMG_0086You and I are attracted to the successful and the flashy, it is part of our human nature, see Genesis 3 to prove that point!  What we are not attracted to is the cost to achieve such status. We prefer the easy route as to the one that is marked with pain and suffering. Often, we ask God for the easy route because, well…it is easy. It is my experience that God seldom operates on my agenda.

King Solomon (1 Kings 3-4), achieved the status of being the wisest and richest famous person in the world. People from all over came to get his opinion. I think we are drawn to this story because of what Solomon received. However, what we tend to forget about Solomon is his prayer asking God for wisdom to conduct his life and kingship.

So, I need to stop and ask myself the question, if God were to give me the same opportunity that He did to Solomon, what would I ask for? Money? Fame?

It is also interesting to note that the blessings that came to Solomon came as a result of what he asked for. He did not ask for riches or fame although, in the plan of God that is what He received. Above all, he knew that in order to conduct the affairs of the nation that he would need the heart and mind of God. And that is what he asked the Lord for.

I don’t know where you are in your journey of faith, but allow me to share that.  I am learning, little by little is that the blessings of God come as a result of being in harmony with the heart of God. Very seldom does He acquiesce to what I think I need in the moment of prayer.  Here is my conclusion after walking with the Lord for more than 30 years; When I have as priority God above everybody and everything else after THEN God will bless me, according to His will and plan, and not according to mine. By the way, in case you are wondering I am not talking about a “health, wealth, prosperity gospel.” I’m talking about a genuine humility that places God first!

So here is the question of the day:

What am you asking God for? What is the greatest need confronting you today? It may not be what comes first to your ming.

The wonderful promise of Scripture is this: “Seek me and you shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened unto you.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

Dedicated Passionately to the Church

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Sports “fans” are half-crazy. There are some who buy “jerseys” and “hats”, there are others that makes no difference whether your team wins or not. They, obviously, really do not have passion. Personally, I’ve been a fan of a team for a long time, since 1967, they have not won anything, but I keep watching their games and buying things that show I’m a fan.  I guess you could say I am passionate about that team!

There is a big difference between the person who only attends the church out of a sense of duty and the person who is really committed to it. The person who attends without getting involved has other reasons to be there, the person committed passionately to the church would really give his life for her. How, then, can we become passionately committed to the body of Christ?
There are 4 commitments that have those who are passionately committed to the Church possess.Continue reading “Dedicated Passionately to the Church”

Passing The Torch

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Raising children is the toughest assignment that God has given to ordinary, common human beings like you and me!   Let me qualify that a little, raising children to honor God in our culture today is the toughest assignment that God has given us.  Yet, this is not something new.Continue reading “Passing The Torch”