Letter to British Columbians

April 8, 2020

Dear Fellow British Columbians,

As a group of Christian leaders we seek to join our voice in praise and thanksgiving for the care, kindness, and sacrifice of courageous front-line health care workers, social and food services staff, and civil servants. We are praying for everyone involved in protecting the health and safety of all in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. May God strengthen, protect, and guide all who seek to provide healing and may their work be a moving expression of the mercy and love of God.

We recognize how worrying the global pandemic is. It is a crisis which provokes uncertainty, panic, loss, discouragement, and loneliness. As followers of Jesus, we know that God is with us in the midst of worry and loss. We pray that the Spirit of Christ will bring you peace and an abiding sense of calm. The promise of scripture offers us hope: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. You are in the palm of my hand” (Isaiah 41:10). We have hope that God will see us through this crisis.

Signs of hope and solidarity are evident throughout our province. Despite the restrictions imposed by social distancing and necessary isolation, people everywhere are discovering new and creative ways of reaching out and helping their neighbour. Knowing the value of community, they are heralds of hope to the lonely and consolers to those in distress. It is inspiring to witness the bonds of affection that sustain our communities and society.

Nearly 2 million people in BC identify as Christian, and the vast majority of them are engaged in their Christian faith and church communities. We are called to love and support our society, not only with our prayers, but also in our actions. Indeed, we are called to “seek the peace of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7).

In this very difficult time in our world we encourage everyone to:

  1. Obey guidelines set by the government, including self-quarantining, social distancing, sanitizing, and hygiene.

  2. Find neighbours who are alone or self-quarantining, and offer to help them.

  3. Assist the elderly, even if only to talk with them from their porch, through a window, or on the phone.

  4. Assist others in need of extra encouragement, companionship, and help, for example: single parents, those with limited mobility or chronic illness, or those struggling with mental illness.

  5. Do more of what brings you deep joy, then share with family, friends, and the world.

  6. Be in touch with your nearest church or community organization and, if it is safe for you, offer to volunteer. For instance, there will be very high need for grocery and meal delivery in the coming weeks.

  7. Donate to charities working on the frontlines. Money is best, but you can call to see what items are most useful in these circumstances.

God is with us and wants to shoulder our burdens and offer us comfort and protection. As we pray for the virus to end, let us also together pray:

  • For everyone affected by COVID-19 or the closure of social services, particularly the elderly, marginalized, homeless, and hungry.

  • For the mental and physical health of all.

  • For our political and civic leaders to have wisdom, courage, and humility as they make extraordinarily difficult decisions.

  • For all those who work on the frontlines and behind the scenes.

  • That all secular and religious communities would work together for the common good.

Let all followers of Jesus Christ join together asking for the grace and peace of our almighty and merciful God, especially for all the sick and their families, health care and social workers, authorities, and volunteers who are sorely tried by the COVID-19 pandemic.

By and for God’s grace:

Denominational Leaders

  • Archdiocese of Vancouver, Roman Catholic Church, Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB

  • British Columbia Baptist Conference, Rev. Dr. Bernard Mukwavi, District Minister

  • British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, Rob Thiessen, Conference Minister

  • Canadian Baptists of Western Canada, Rev. Rob Ogilvie, Executive Minister

  • Christian & Missionary Alliance, Canadian Pacific District, Rev. Errol Rempel, District Superintendent

  • Christian Reformed Church, Classis BC North-West, Kathy Smith

  • Diocese of Kamloops, Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Joseph Phuong Nguyen

  • Diocese of Nelson, Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Gregory Bittman

  • Diocese of Prince George, Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Stephen Jensen

  • Diocese of Victoria, Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Gary Gordon

  • Ecclesiastical Province of British Columbia & Yukon, Anglican Church of Canada, Archbishop Melissa Skelton

  • Evangelical Free Church of Canada, Lower Pacific District, Rev. Rob Stewart, District Superintendent

  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, British Columbia Synod, Bishop Gregory Mohr

  • Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in British Columbia & Yukon, Rev. David Horita, Regional Director

  • Foursquare Gospel Church of Canada, Rev. Barry Buzza, President

  • Mennonite Church British Columbia, Rev. Garry Janzen, Executive Minister

  • North American Baptist Fellowship, Jeremy Bell, General Secretary

  • Pacific Mountain Region of the United Church of Canada, Treena Duncan, Executive Minister

  • Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, British Columbia & Yukon District, Rev. Ken Russell, District Superintendent

  • Presbyterian Church in Canada, Westminster Presbytery, Rev. Victor S.J. Kim

  • Salvation Army, Divisional Headquarters, British Columbia Division, Lt. Colonel Jamie Braun

Non-Profit Executives

  • Alpha Canada, Shaila Visser, National Director

  • A Rocha Canada, Luke Wilson, CEO

  • Baptist Housing, Howard Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer

  • ChurchForVancouver.ca, Flyn Ritchie

  • City in Focus, Tom Cooper, President

  • CityReach Care Society, Simon Gau, Executive Director

  • Coram Deo Foundation, Bill Blaney, Chief Operating Officer

  • Corpus Christi/St. Mark’s College, Dr. Peter Meehan, President and Vice-Chancellor

  • Focus on the Family Canada, Terence Rolston, President

  • Hope For Freedom Society, Dennis Fagan, Executive Director

  • Joy TV and Vision TV, Tore Stautland, General Manager

  • Inner Hope Youth Ministries, Jenny Shantz, Executive Director

  • L’Arche Greater Vancouver, Denise Haskett, Executive Director

  • Leading Influence, Tim Schindel, National Director

  • Mission Central, John Hall, Executive Director

  • Mission Possible, Matt Smedley, Chief Empowerment Officer

  • More Than A Roof Housing Society, Lee Anne Michayluk, CEO

  • Nightshift Ministries, MaryAnn Connor, Executive Director

  • Power to Change Ministries, Rod Bergan, President

  • Regent College, Jeff Greenman, President

  • Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, Daniel Whitehead, Executive Director

  • Signal Hill, Derek Scott, Executive Director

  • St. Andrew’s Hall, Tim Dickau

  • Trinity Western University, Mark Husbands, President

  • Union Gospel Mission, Bill Mollard, President

  • Vancouver School of Theology, Indigenous Studies Program, Rev. Dr. Ray Aldred, Director

  • World Vision Canada (BC), Lisa Hamilton, Philanthropy Advisor

  • Young Life, Mike O’Leary, President

  • YWAM Vancouver, Mike Davies, Executive Director

  • 24-7 Prayer Canada, Aaron White, National Director

Marketplace Leaders

  • A. Allan Skidmore, Chairman & CEO, Skidmore Group

  • Andy Szocs, Chair, The Szocs Family Foundation

  • Angus Reid, Chairman, Angus Reid Institute

  • Bob Gaglardi, Owner & CEO, Northland Properties

  • Brian McConaghy, Founding Director, Ratanak International

  • Bruce & Diane Ledingham

  • Bruno De Vita, QC, Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP

  • David & Lise Ash, Business & Philanthropy

  • David Bentall, President, Next Step Advisors

  • David McLean, Chairman, McLean Group

  • David Sidoo, Founder, Sidoo Family Giving

  • Dick Vollet, President & CEO, St. Paul’s Foundation

  • Fiona Dalton, President & CEO, Providence Health Care

  • Geoff Tunnicliffe, Former Head, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada

  • Grant Damery

  • Grayson Bain, Reimagining Work

  • Jae Kim, Principal, JK Philanthropy Advisors

  • Jim Crescenzo, Founder, East End Boys Club

  • Jim Pattison, Chairman & CEO, Jim Pattison Group

  • John Montalbano, Chair, St. Paul’s Foundation

  • John Neate, CEO, JJ Bean Coffee Roaster

  • Joo Kim Tiah, CEO & President of the Holborn Group

  • Michael Audain, Chairman, Polygon Homes Ltd.

  • Lawrence J. Ho, Senior Fellow Murdock Charitable Trust

  • Paolo Aquilini, Aquilini Investment Group (AIG)

  • Peter & Debbie Ash, Business & Philanthropy

  • Peter Bull, President, P.M. Bull & Company LTD and Blenheim Realty LTD

  • Peter Chung, Chairman & CEO, Primacorp Ventures INC

  • Peter Lee, Caffé Umbria

  • Peter Mogan, Mogan Daniels Slager LLP

  • Reuben Zuidhof, Partner, Digital Hot Sauce

  • Santa Ono & Wendy Yip

  • Scot Sustad, Partner, Adventure Teaching

  • Dr. Stephen Chung & Gail Chung, Head of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, Vancouver General Hospital

  • Tom Skidmore, CEO, Skidmore Development Group LTD

  • William Lee, Navigators of Canada

  • Dr. Will Johnson, Family Physician

  • The Hon. Yonah Martin, Canadian Senator

Local Pastors

  • Broadway Church, Vancouver, Rev. Darin Latham, Lead Pastor

  • Calvary Worship Centre, Surrey, Rev. Sam Owusu, Pastor

  • Chapel Vancouver, Jonathan Mitchell

  • Christ Community Church, Victoria, Rev. William Delleman, Pastor

  • Christian Reformed Church, Rev. Henry Numan, Retired

  • Christian Reformed Church, Prince George, Rev. Andrew Aukema

  • Christian Reformed Church, Vancouver, Rev. Mary-Lee Bouma

  • Christian Reformed Churches of British Columbia, Dena Nicolai, Chaplain and Refugee Support Mobilizer

  • City Life Church, Vancouver, Tood Lueck, Led Pastor

  • Coastal Church, Vancouver, Pastor David Koop

  • First Christian Reformed Church of Vancouver, Rev. Tom Trevor Vanderveen, Lead Pastor

  • Fleetwood Christian Reformed Church, Surrey, Rev. Tom Bomhof, Pastor

  • Fraser Lands Alliance Church, Vancouver, Pastor Abe Chan

  • Grace Lutheran (ELCIC) Church, Burnaby, Rev. Nathan Fong

  • Grace Vancouver Church, Pastor Mike Hsu

  • Gracepoint Church, Surrey, Rev. Steve Bains, Pastor of Community Development

  • Granville Chapel, Vancouver, Andy Perrett, Lead Pastor

  • Hope Vancouver Network, Rev. Dave Carson

  • Jericho Ridge Community Church, Surrey, Brad Sumner, Lead Pastor

  • Journey Home Community, James Grunau, Executive Director

  • Jubilee United Church, Burnaby, Rev. Graham Brownmiller

  • Maple Ridge Christian Reformed Church, Rev. Dr. Tim Sheridan

  • Nelson Avenue Community Church, Burnaby, Rev. Johannes Schouten

  • New Westminster Christian Reformed Church, Rev. Andrew Beunk, Lead Pastor

  • Pacific Grace MB Church, Vancouver, Rev. Xavier Law, Senior Pastor

  • Pastor and Professor, Rev. Dr. Darrell W. Johnson

  • Peace Mennonite Richmond, Rev. Winston Pratt, Lead Pastor

  • Peninsula United Church, Surrey, Rev. Bruce McAndless-Davis, Pastor

  • People’s Church Surrey, Rev. Ryan Delblanc Lead Pastor

  • Southside Community Church, Surrey, Rev. Cam Roxburgh, Senior Pastor & National Director Forge

  • St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church, Vancouver, Rev. Dan Chambers

  • St. John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church, Vancouver, Rev. John Stephens

  • St. Peter’s Fireside, Vancouver, Rev. Alastair Sterne, Lead Pastor

  • Strathcona Vineyard Church, Vancouver, Rev. Dawn Humphries

  • Telkwa Community Church, Telkwa, Rev. Joe Ellis

  • Tenth Avenue Alliance Church, Vancouver, Rev. Dr. Ken Shigematsu, Lead Pastor

  • Terrace Christian Reformed Church, Terrace, Rev. Joel Ringma

  • The Tapestry Church, Richmond, Rev. Albert Chu, Lead Pastor

  • The Tapestry Church, Richmond, Rev. Michael Yang

  • The Way Church, Vancouver, Rev. Jason Ballard & Chris Price

  • United Church of Canada, Vancouver, Very Rev. Dr. Gary Paterson, Former Moderator

  • Westside Church, Vancouver, Rev. Matthew Menzel, Lead Pastor

  • Westwood Community Church, Coquitlam and President of the Association of Christian Ministries Vancouver, Rev. Giulio Gabeli