My oldest daughter posted a picture on Facebook the other day celebrating the fact that she and her husband started dating 20 years ago. They were poor university students who managed to scrape together a little money to have their picture taken at Walmart. Their fresh young faces brought back my own memories of them. I hadn’t yet met the young man who had captured her heart then to become our son-in-law two years later. Six foot seven, with a heart to serve others just as big, he started his spiritual journey by attending Alpha meetings at a church near the Lethbridge campus my daughter attended. It was there he was saved, and today he is a wonderful husband, father, an Elder in his church, and a certified Biblical Counsellor. A God-sized love story to be sure!
On Friday my husband and I will celebrate our 45th engagement anniversary. We met in the Canadian Military Reserves in the summer of 1977. He was actually my commanding officer that summer, but that’s another story left for telling another time. We met again in the fall at the University of Victoria where I was in my second year of study in Education and he was on his way to getting a science degree. A chance encounter walking across campus, almost bumping in to each other, led to a coffee date and the rest, so they say, is history. We were engaged on January 20th, 1978 and married a year later on June 2nd, 1979. We usually celebrate those anniversaries with a sentimental card and a dinner date.
This year marks our church’s 35th anniversary. Just like other anniversaries we mark as special remembrances for our family, Bow Valley Baptist Church has a rich history with numerous God stories of His faithfulness throughout its thirty-five years. For my husband and I, we have called BVBC our church home for nearly thirty-three years. We’ve served in various volunteer and staff capacities there, been involved in two building projects, seen staff and dear families come and go as God led them, and developed life-long friendships. Our children were rocked in the nursery, taught Bible Stories in Kid’s Church, and discipled as youth within the walls of that church building. My church family has prayed for me and ministered to me through two cancer battles. As a church family we have celebrated God’s Goodness through challenging times as well as those seasons of great blessings. I’ve attended countless potlucks (it’s a Baptist thing 😄), and Bible studies, special events, choir presentations and more. I love being part of the family there.
That’s what we are.
A family.
Some people don’t get it. They don’t understand the importance of attending a church, going regularly to Worship services, being involved in Bible Studies, and actively serving in the ministry of a local church. During the Covid pandemic, the hardest thing for me was not being able to attend Worship services in person. Watching online services is not the same as being surrounded by a Body of believers actively worshiping the Lord. I missed the interaction, the fellowship, and yes…even the potlucks 😁
We are a family at Bow Valley. We are not a perfect church, filled with perfect people, but we are a church that strives to Love Like Jesus, Live Like Jesus, to change our world. We haven’t arrived yet, but the joy is in the journey.
We will be celebrating our church’s 35th Anniversary the weekend of June 9th to 11th. We will remember the years past as we look to the future. That weekend we will gather together as a church family to celebrate with great Worship and Praise. We will invite the community to celebrate with us and yes…there will be a potluck! 😆
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

Connie and I love Bow Valley Baptist Church. We were so quickly accepted there and made so many friends with great people. We still miss living in the town and attending church there. We definitely were not ready to leave when circumstances caused us to have to move away. We have such fond memories of our friends and life there for 3 1/2 years.
You and Connie are missed, David!
I enjoy your writing so much! What a joy to give God his due glory and to read about the appreciation you and your husband share toward the Lord, how he’s blessed your family and church family.
Thank-you, Jane for your kind words! To God be the Glory!