The Sydney Story

by Michael Hutton – (2Timothy1:7)

“I really appreciated the heart of this church.” I thought to myself. “They passionately worship the Lord and they are all the way out here in Margaree Valley!” “Nothing fancy,” I thought. “An old church building with a family of faith who are alive in Christ worshiping in Spirit and in Truth.” Where is this place? It's in the middle of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. This is the home of Margaree Valley Baptist Church, a small independent congregation led by Pastor Hugh Morris. I think the exciting heart of this church on the move is in the leadership. When the leadership has contagious enthusiasm it is hard to keep the people of God from being of like mind and spirit. Later after the church service Tammy, my wife, and I introduced ourselves to Pastor Hugh. Home grown Cape Bretoner and Margaree Valley Baptist Church parishoner, Hugh, shared his passion for ministry and for his Island. As this young pastor shared his heart and desire to see lost souls find Jesus in Cape Breton county I was inspired. He quoted a figure, 1% of Cape Breton people are born-again believers. My heart shattered for the spiritual condition of this land. It was like a small spark ignited in my soul as Rev. Morris shared his vision and dreams with me that Sunday morning in October 2004. This Jesus-spark would begin a spiritual revolution in my life that would continue to hone my vision personally as well as my future aspirations for ministry.

Now, skipping forward to June 2005 at the Prevailing Church Conference in Moncton, NB... “Dean, check out this new book I picked up, Planting Churches In a Postmodern Era by Ed Stetzer!” I said. “Hey, looks good, I'll have to have a look at that one.” Dean replied. “I am really interested in church planting, Dean, I have been thinking about Sydney, Nova Scotia.” I mentioned. “We will have to talk sometime.” Dean replied with interest. It was that little conversation that began to solidfy my heart's desire and direction to go. This coupled with some other encouragement from fellow believers with whom I had complete confidence. I remember a comment from my friend and colleague, Lisa Fowler, when she said to me, “You will not be at Sussex Wesleyan for more than another year.” I had no idea where she was coming from and she had no idea of the dream that God was developing in my heart towards Sydney. I was afraid she was prophesying that I would be fired (tongue in cheek). However, when she said this a sense of peace overwhelmed me, not fear. Things like this began to happen over and over. Little confirmations and moments of guidance began to “pop up” time and time again. After the conversation with Dean I began reading the book on church planting and it began to overwhelm me with a sense of affirmation and calling. I began to realize that this church planting thing was a part of my purpose. Even as I look back over my life I can say that my youth pastor, Kevin Evans, was a great model for me. He led 200 plus students weekly in a 3000 plus regular attender church, but left his position to move from Lubbock, Texas to go to Arlington, Texas to plant a new church. He was the first person I ever knew to go and do something “out of the ordinary.” As I read the book I had shown Dean, I developed a nagging sense that I must do the same and nothing else.

Therefore, with a growing sense of God's direction and the urgency to move forward in this way, Tammy and I focused our prayers and our attention on this heavenly idea of Nova Scotia. That was mid-Summer 2005. In August while on our youth group mission trip to Halifax Tammy and I met with Dean and Rosalie Brown to discuss the dream that God was developing in our hearts for church-planting. This was an informal time of chatting about what was on our minds and to ask them questions about their journey, starting Metro Wesleyan. We have learned so much from this ministry couple! They have been excellent mentors through this process and in life. From this conversation until November we did not really do anything to advance the Sydney thing, but lived out our lives as focused and purposed for Jesus' Kingdom here in Sussex as we possibly could (while still corresponding with the Browns). The whole thing is...we just want to be God's people wherever we are. Sussex is such a wonderful community and we have loved the ministry here. It has been a place where I have learned so much and have grown so close to our church family here. I feel more dedicated to this place than ever, even as we look toward the future in Sydney. Sussex is our home! The community, our Christian brothers and sisters outside of Sussex Wesleyan, the Refuge youth group and its leadership, the church staff, etc... all are our people. Nevertheless, sentiment and relationships, though important, are not reasons to stay in a situation. Financial security, a nice home, and all the friends in the world will not fulfill one's soul nor will they please God, so, with all that in mind...well, we have prayed and lived and sought direction.

That brings us to November. Tammy and I found ourselves at Beulah camp for an interview of sorts. Perhaps it was more like a gut-spilling, gut-wrenching, yet, cordial getting-to-know you session. We met with both Dean Brown and our denominational church-planting assessor, Genetta Herrera. Genetta has a way of getting to the bottom line. She is very friendly and all, but she did not waste any time getting to the business of finding out what makes Tammy and me tick. She asked me questions that got to some very serious heart issues. We talked about my painful experiences in ministry while in Portland Maine. In Portland I had been hurt by my ministry director and ultimately been forced to resign under a very painful set of circumstances. I remember dealing with feelings during our church planting assessment that I had not fully acknowledged. I was set free from some major bondage through our time in that meeting. I don't know if that time was meant more for my healing or for Genetta and Dean. We also talked about some of the pain Tammy has experienced as an ordained woman in a “man's” world. Though brief, our assessment was of major value. We felt cared for, understood, and qualified through the process and were so thankful for a denomination that goes the extra mile for its people. We were filled with confidence in the Wesleyan church at an entirely new level and thankful for its proactive stance in supporting us in this way. There have been no rubber stamps in this process! From November to February was another period of discernment. Tammy and I were growing more and more confident that this was the direction we should take. This whole planting thing became more and more solid. Things like dreaming about how our styles of leadership would play out in roles in the new church were stronger than every before. We were gaining a vision for team planting. We knew that we did not want to do this thing on our own, so, we began praying and praying for a 'core team' to join us. The content of who we are began unleashing itself and we started putting things down on paper and discussing those elements and how they would become the backbone of a church leadership.

It was not until Februay that anything Earth-shattering happened. One morning the first week of the month I woke up with the intense feeling that I needed to make this dream a reality. I needed to do this by letting go of my security here in Sussex, my staff position at Sussex Wesleyan. Tammy was very supportive. She has been with this vision from the beginning. She is vital as we develop this new church together. So, I sat down and drafted a letter for Dr. Neville Gosman, my senior pastor. It didn't take too long to write, but the hard part was delivering the letter to him. When he read he was not shocked nor surprised. The Spirit had prepared him for this. Since that time Pastor Neville has been 100% behind us and an encouragement like I could have never expected. God has used him in powerful ways to confirm and build up this call in my life. About two weeks later I shared this same letter with the entire church who were saddened, yet, full of love and support for our new direction and decision to move onto Cape Breton. Since the point of letting go at Sussex Wesleyan power has come and the Spirit of God has filled us with greater confidence and manifestations of his Spirit like never before...preparing us for a very bright future. “For I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, plans for good and not destruction, plans for a hope and a future...in those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. “I will be found by you,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 29: 11-14)

More to come...the further thoughts and adventures of Team Sydney...