When putting together the most recent issue of Onward, the Heritage Commission had too many stories to tell. Though we ran out of room to share the following article in that publication, we still wanted to share it, as it is a story too good to miss. It is a moving and challenging tribute to Harry Lehotsky, an NAB pastor who impacted his city for the Kingdom in a multitude of ways.
By Randy Tschetter
Director of the NAB Heritage CommissionIt was a cool October morning in 2005 in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. As my wife and I made our way toward the Ellice Avenue Café, we were approached by two homeless people, who apparently saw us as easy marks for something. We were greatly relieved when Harry Lehotsky appeared. He gently spoke to his friends, diverting their attentions away from us and rescuing us from the uncomfortable situation in which we found ourselves.
“Inner-City Angel” is how the Winnipeg Free Press described Harry Lehotsky following his death from pancreatic cancer in 2006. Lehotsky and his wife, Virginia, had moved to Winnipeg in 1983 at the request of several pastors, who encouraged him to start a church in their city’s West End. Bible studies in an office building led to a decision to hold worship services there before New Life Ministries was established as an NAB church in 1986. Under Harry’s leadership, the church established Lazarus Housing, renovating former gang hangouts; Nehemiah Housing, providing affordable housing for the working poor; Connect 2, a voice mailbox service to help residents without phones get jobs; West End CIA, a community effort to shut down drug houses; and Ellice Café and Theater, providing volunteer and employment training. . . .
If you receive Onward in the mail, your copy should be arriving soon, if it hasn’t already. Inside you will find another profile of a member of the NAB family written by Randy Tschetter. You can read it online at the link below, where you can also find past issues, as well as a link to sign up to receive Onward in the mail when it is published twice a year.
When College Heights Baptist Church was planted fifty years ago in Prince George, British Columbia, they started out as a simple Bible study. They soon grew to meeting at a local school and before long were erecting their own building. Once they had their building, the intent was always to plant again once it started to get full.
Over the years, they would bring up the conversation about church planting, praying about it and even seeking out consultation from within the church planting world. But, according to Pastor Curtis Reimer, “It seemed very time we were making progress, a door would close.” Whether it was a change in the pastoral team, a conflict in the church that needed to be resolved, or a struggle to find someone to lead a new church plant, the pieces never seemed to fit into the places they needed to. All this time, the leadership team were, as Pastor Curtis put it, “cultivating the congregation” to think about what kind of impact they could have in their community.
For the 2024 Summer Offering, the NAB is highlighting the story of College Heights Baptist Church and their new church plant, Garden City Church, a culmination of a desire to multiply fifty years in the making. You can read the full story at the link below, where you can also give in support of the Ministry Resource Fund, which, in part, helps to support this kind of multiplication, allowing us to resource new pastors, support sending churches, and train leaders in what it looks like to impact our local communities for the Gospel.
Still haven’t registered for Triennial because you can’t make it to every day of the conference? Then we have good news for you! We have just opened up Day Passes, allowing you to attend for part of the time without needing to pay the full cost. The cost is broken up by the days:
- Thursday/Friday – $119
- Saturday (including banquet) – $119
- Sunday (including brunch) – $59
If you choose to attending via Day Passes, you can choose up to two, mixing and matching to attend whatever days you are able.
(Please note that the Thursday/Friday Day Pass does not allow entry until after 6:00 p.m.; only those attending via the full conference registration will be allowed to attend the Business Meeting.)
Whether you choose to attend all or only some of the time, don’t miss out on your chance to register. There are only three more weeks until Triennial kicks off!