Hey TC family,

I missed gathering with you last week due to being home, sick, but I am looking forward to worshipping together this Sunday. 

As you may be aware, our weekend attendance is growing, some Sundays are quite full making it hard for newcomers to find comfortable seating. We have done some reworking to our stage so that whoever is preaching will be standing further back. This will help with visibility for those sitting at the back of the balcony, and it will make sitting closer to the front less intimidating. If you are a regular would you consider sitting closer to the front of the room leaving the more desirable seats for newcomers? 

These are exciting days! We are experiencing growth as a church. Would you join me in praying that the Lord will help us to carry out our vision of making passionate disciples of Jesus who will have a significant and lasting impact on the city of Thunder Bay and beyond? Numerical growth is meaningless unless we are seeing people encounter and surrender to Jesus. Let's pray together as a church that Jesus will lead, guide, and direct us so that we become a community of people who shine His light in this city. 

Jesus doesn't pull any punches in John 15:18-16:4. 

Jesus tells His followers in this deep talk that they should expect to be hated by the world. Dig deep into this passage of Scripture this weekend and wrestle with these questions as you do:

- Why will Jesus' followers be hated by the world? 

- What do you think Jesus meant when he referred to the world? 

- Are you willing to be hated because of your association with Jesus? 

Bonus points: Matthew 10, Mark 3, and Luke 6 give us the list of names of Jesus' 12 apostles. Do you know how any of them died? Spend some time doing a bit of research into their lives after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Did they experience the hatred Jesus told them they would? 

The Coldest Night of the Year walk is coming up. On Saturday, February 25, a team from Transformation Church will be walking with the community in support of the ministry of Grace Place. 

Grace Place takes the words of Jesus seriously. They provide a warm place for people to sleep during the cold winter months of northern Ontario. Let's support his awesome ministry. 

If you have not already given and would like to, click the link below, choose a walker from TC and you can give online. 

In this deep talk, Jesus sheds light on what God expects and desires of his disciples. He
also re-emphasizes what is most important.