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who we areThe Village Community Church is a groundbreaking new church in Milton, Ontario. Every Sunday morning we combine music, multimedia elements and down-to-earth teaching from the Bible to present the ancient message of Jesus in a relevant modern way. Belief-wise, we are a non-denominational church which is a partner together with the Grace Brethren Fellowship of churches. our dreamOur dream is to be a groundbreaking church – one that impacts hundreds of lives by personally connecting people with the message of Jesus in a relevant, down-to-earth way. our designWe’ve taken our design from the early church structure we see in the Book of Acts. It’s simple, to the point, and we think it reflects the elements which God intended the church to have. Friends (Acts 4:32-35; 6:1-7) -having a consistent presence in our community through regular events and activities while also being the best friends & neighbours we can Foundations (Acts 17; Acts 2:46) -providing a Sunday morning environment where people can worship together, be a part of an embracing Christian community, and explore the teachings of the Bible at their own pace - regardless of their background Faith (Acts 11:25-26) -providing a small-group venue where people can explore the specific teachings of Jesus at their own pace - be it for the first time, or as part of a lifelong learning process Family (Acts 2:42) -creating embracing communities of 6-16 people called ‘house churches’ which provide community, teaching, prayer and support Fullness (Barnabas to Paul/Paul to Timothy/Timothy to…) -offering people the opportunity to grow through leadership opportunities within the church structures our DNAThe six elements that make us who we are, and drive everything that we do at the church… Jesus – the true substance of our message Contact Usinfo@villagechurch.ca what to expect on a SundayAs you come through the front door of the theatre on your first visit you’ll be greeted by a couple of things: first will be someone to say ‘Hi’ and hand you a program to look through - and second will be the thought that this is not like any church you’ve ever been to before. From there, if you’d like to swing by the welcome table to grab a welcome packet full of reading material, a DVD and some other goodies, then please feel free to do so. Or, if you’re the more visual type, then take a few minutes and watch more about who we are from one of the dozen or so TV screens in the lobby. If you’ve got kids, then please grab a coffee and snack on your way through the lobby and stop by one of our kids’ registration tables to learn all you’d care to know about our children’s program. While you’re there you can read all about our childcare policies, meet your children’s teachers, and get all of your questions answered. After dropping off your kids in their very own theatre and watching them connect with their new friends, head back up the hall and come on in to the main theatre. There, you’ll see our stage set-up, as well as get a breather and your first chance to read through some of the material you picked up earlier. There’s always some interesting items up on the screen for you to read to pass the time and friendly people to speak with if you’re in the mood. After a bit, you’ll see a countdown on the screen and the service will begin. You’ll hear some great music from our house band…some of which you’ll recognize from the radio, while other tunes will be worship songs which might be newer to you. Either way, you’ll get a chance to sing along as you feel comfortable, or just sit back and get a sense of the depth of the lyrics as you read them off of the screen. When the music fades, someone from up front will introduce the theme for the morning and then the service will move into some different elements. Don’t be surprised if you see a clip from a movie you love, hear some more awesome songs from the band, or see a multimedia presentation which will really touch your heart. Depending on the Sunday, you might even see all of them. From there, we typically move into the speaking portion of the service, which is where you’ll get a chance to officially meet our Lead Pastor, Rob. Whether you’re used to a church environment or not, we think you’ll find the tone of the speaking to be quite refreshing. Rob typically weave stories, multimedia clips, and his own heart as he teaches ancient truths from the Bible in a relaxed, entirely practical manner. The theme of the speaking is always the same – how we can better connect with the message of Jesus in today’s day and age – but the variety and freshness of the approach will hopefully keep you engaged and on your toes. As you head out to pick up the kids, you might want to grab another quick snack, or, after hanging around chatting with some new friends, you might even want to grab a ticket and check out a matinee before heading home. Either way, we hope Sunday mornings will become a high point of your week, and an experience which will help you build some spiritual foundations which will anchor you for years to come. Children’s Ministries-Birth-3 yrs We use the birthday party room at the theatre to create a fun and safe environment for the birth to 3 year-old age group. Toys, games, and videos on the built-in TV help keep the children stimulated and happy while parents enjoy the service in the main theatre. The glass wall of the room allows for parents to check on how their little ones are doing, and the private bathroom with change table located just outside the door serves to add to the comfort and safety level as well. -3 yrs-SK Our pre-school group features a DVD-based learning program called Lil K. This group uses their own smaller theatre and employs interactive games, crafts and songs to help teach basic Biblical principles in a very engaging setting. -Gr. 1-5 This age group is our main age division, and they use the awesome Kidmo program to really connect with the kids. It is an interactive DVD-based program featuring the hilarious Johnny Rogers character – a guy who doesn’t take himself too seriously, but who takes the message of the Bible very seriously. School-age kids love the games, songs, contests and break-out groups, and the experience of being in their very own theatre and interacting with the big screen is a real draw. -Gr. 6-9 Every Sunday we feature a Jr. High discussion and learning group called Walk. This is a laid-back time of Bible-based conversations and Q&A which is geared toward the mindset of young people. Teens will flourish in this low-pressure, highly relational approach to learning truth. -Young Adults Those in their high school and college years and invited to join the service in our main theatre, and to enjoy the periodic young adult events and social gatherings which happen at the church. For more info on these gatherings, please contact our Young Adults Pastor, Mike Swisher Read a copy of our Children’s Ministry Safety Policies… Children’s Ministry Safety Policies Here at The Village Community Church it is our desire to make every effort to provide an effective and safe learning environment for your children. Below are the policies we strive to adhere to. 1. A screening process is in place for all regular volunteers, complete with mandatory police checks. 2. A person must be a member of The Village Community Church in order to serve in our children’s ministry. The only exceptions may be for helpers, but not for teachers or leaders. 3. Our staff must sign the Declaration of Ethics and Morality each year. 4. Children are to be supervised at all times. Younger children will not be released from their class until their parent or guardian arrives to pick them up. 5. We work by a 2-adult rule to avoid questionable situations. There are to be two adults present any time during the Child Care program where children are involved. 6. When it is not possible to have 2 adults the teacher must be in full view of an open door or window while in any room with the children. 7. We strive to follow the Ontario Daycare Guidelines for teacher to child ratios: 1:5 for infants and toddlers (under 2.5 years old), 1:8 for older preschool children (2.5 to 6 years old), and 1:10 for school age children (over 6 years old). 8. Our staff will be educated to understand the nature of child abuse. 9. Our staff will be educated to follow our policies to prevent sexual abuse or even the false accusation of sexual abuse. 10. Age appropriate physical contact rules will be adhered to. Examples of Appropriate Contact: • bending down to the child’s eye level, speaking kindly, and listening attentively Examples of Inappropriate Contact: • kissing, or coaxing a child to kiss you 11. We discourage staff from assisting children in the bathroom. If we must assist a preschool child we will ensure that another staff member is present. 12. When sending children outside the classroom during class time, the buddy system will be used (i.e. another child waits outside the bathroom door). 13. A child must never be taken out of sight of the other staff even for purposes of correction or comfort. 14. Staff are to be cautious when children or youth are asking questions or seeking advice around topics of a sexual nature. 15. There may be times when a member of the Child Care staff suspects that a child has been a victim of parental abuse or neglect, or is at risk of being subject to abuse or neglect, or where a child or youth discloses such abuse to the leader. In these situations, the leader is required by law to report the case to the Children’s Aid Society (CAS). This requirement cannot be delegated to anyone else. The person who becomes aware of abuse or neglect, or who suspects that the risk for abuse or neglect is present must call the CAS or the police. They will consequently report their action to the pastoral staff. 16. Corporal punishment will not be used on any children. 17. In general, the following rules will be promoted in every class: a) I will raise my hand when I want to speak. 18. The following procedures will be followed for classroom discipline: a) Strike 1: (At teacher’s discretion.) Our Leaders-Rob Stanley, Lead Pastor Rob’s spiritual journey has been a diverse one – taking him all the way from rural New Brunswick to his current role as the Lead Pastor here at The Village. After spending much of his younger years greatly unaware of the existence of God, Rob’s world was rocked in 1988 when his older brother Bill, was killed in a car accident. That event led Rob to ask a lot of the deeper questions about life at a relatively young age - a quest which eventually led him to faith in Jesus. Through his high school years and into university Rob struggled with making Christianity real, and he spent five years wandering through life searching for purpose and meaning. That search eventually led him to the University of New Brunswick where studies in English Literature and Philosophy challenged his thinking and prompted some of the deepest struggles of his life. It was there that Jesus became real to Rob for the first time, and it was during a philosophy exam during his third year of university that Rob recognized that the answer to all of his spiritual questions could be found in Jesus Christ. That night, Rob’s life began anew as he turned his life over to God. Years of baggage had accumulated in his life, but over the next two years Rob shed many of the habits and addictions which he had fallen into and he began attending a Bible school in northern New Brunswick. It was there that Rob was confronted with the words of God for the first time in his life, and the change in his life was incredible. After spending several years leading jail ministries, speaking in dozens of churches, and even meeting the woman who would become his wife – Angie, Rob graduated from Bible school in 1999 and moved to southern Ontario soon after. Here, Rob and Angie served with Grace Community Church alongside Mathieu Fugere and the rest of the team, and the dream which is The Village Community Church was born. After several years together, Rob, Mat and their families were sent off with GCC’s blessing to start another local church in the GTA. During this time, Rob and Angie’s first two children (Kieran – 4; Rory – 2) were born, and as The Village is launching in the Fall of 2006 they’re expecting baby number three. In between having babies and starting churches, Rob enjoys playing basketball, running and watching just about any documentary he can get his hands on. All told, it certainly has been quite a journey from rural NB to Milton, and with this new chapter being written with The Village Community Church, the future looks very exciting. -Mathieu Fugere, Worship & Community Pastor Mat and his wife Myriam both hail from “La Belle Province” and have called Ontario home for the past seven years now. After living in Mississauga for five years, and spending a one year exile in the States while Mat completed his degree, they moved to Milton in the fall of 2005. Spiritually speaking, Mat came from a background where God and church were at the center of his family, and his parents’ personal example of faith in God played a huge part in his decision to devote his life to serving Him. Though the idea of pursuing accounting was of great interest to him, in his late teens Mat decided to re-orient his career path towards ‘full-time’ ministry. After four years of theological training he worked for four years as a high school chaplain and youth pastor, speaking throughout Quebec at different youth conferences and retreats. Though Mat loved to work with teens, he eventually felt that the time was right for a move and he accepted an invitation to join the team at Grace Community Church in Mississauga. In the summer of 1999, Mat, Myriam and their first son Chad, moved to Ontario to assist GCC in its start-up phase as well as learn the how-to’s of eventually starting a church themselves. In their first year in Mississauga they added their second son Zack, and while spending one year in the States they welcomed the last member of their family, Rosalie (they got their girl!). After a few years of serving at GCC they were teamed with Rob and Angie to start a new church in the GTA, and that is where the dream of The Village was born. Mat and Myriam had always seen themselves working for a church as a full-time occupation, but about 3 ½ years ago God steered them in another direction. After some schooling and training Mat started to work in the mortgage brokering business, and he has really enjoyed this new venture and is excited to see where it will take him. In his free time, Mat enjoys both watching and participating in sports of all kinds; and, being the Worship Pastor, he is obviously a big music lover as well. At The Village, Mat’s role centres on the music & worship aspect of our church life, as well as the development of our house church structure. It is in these venues that true spiritual community is formed at the church, and Mat provides oversight to this growing area. -Michael Nahulak, Ministry & Media Pastor Mike (last name pronounced ‘na-hoo-lik’) hails from Edmonton, Alberta, and his journey from Western Canada to The Village has been a whirlwind. Growing up, Mike was raised in the church, but it was a church that put more focus on traditions and rules than on interaction with God. Over time, his religion turned into a spiritual to-do list, focused on getting himself into heaven, rather than getting close to God in his everyday life. After awhile Mike realized this was a meaningless exercise, and he essentially forgot about God for ten years. After moving East in his mid-20’s to find work as an air traffic controller, Mike also found two other things he wasn’t looking for…two things that would change his life forever: one, was a real God - a God that he could talk to and be close to; a God that would be near at all times, not just on Sundays; and the other was the woman who would eventually become his wife, Grace. After getting married, Grace and Mike eventually hooked up with The Village team, and after serving in the church for several years and spending some time spent in theological training, Mike moved into the role of Media and Ministry Pastor. In this role Mike provides directional leadership for most of the ministries at the church, and he also uses his keen eye for advertising and visuals to portray the ancient message of Jesus to modern eyes and ears in a relevant way. Mike and Grace recently celebrated the birth of the first of hopefully many children. When he isn’t changing diapers, Mike likes to spend his time fishing or hiking, and he has a special place in his heart for cheesy horror and sci-fi movies from the 1950’s (preferably with zombies). -Mike Swisher, Young Adults Pastor Mike was born in Arizona and was raised in Maryland as the eldest of three siblings. With a craving for adventure and a close-knit of friends, he grew up with a rather carefree outlook on life, spending most of his free time participating in extreme sports with his buddies. Although he was very close to his family, home life could get pretty rough at times and this often made it hard to come home since he wasn’t always sure what to expect. As time moved on, extreme sports and a close circle of friends gradually moved from being mere forms of enjoyment to subtle forms of escape for Mike. In high school, they began to lose their buzz and Mike found himself moving on to more advanced methods of “having fun” in order to keep that buzz going. Although he had grown up going to church as a kid, Mike never really grasped what it meant to live in relationship with God. That idea had always seemed somewhat vague and beyond his reach. It wasn’t until his adolescent years, when family struggles began to worsen, that he began to consider what it really means to allow Jesus to be the leader of his life. It was in this relationship that Mike finally discovered a fulfillment and purpose far greater than anything he had pursued before. In the time following this realization, Mike began to change dramatically, and eventually he attended a Bible college in his hometown, not really knowing what would come next. During his last semester there, he went on a short-term trip with a team of students to help out The Village in whatever way they could. It wasn’t long before he began to feel a strong connection with the church, which led both Mike and the leaders to consider the possibility of working together in team. Long story short, Mike finished school and moved to Canada last summer to help launch and lead The Village Community Church. He is very grateful to be a part of this journey and is excited about helping young adults connect with God and become all that He created them to be. |