Join Us in Spreading Hope to St. Vincent Families

Below is the content of a letter my family has sent out about our planned trip to teach my Family Rhythm conference.

Dear friends and family! 

For the last 20+ years, I have devoted my life to serving children and families. In that time, I have had the privilege of developing a ministry called Family Rhythm. This Christ-centred ministry includes a full conference curriculum, workshop options and powerful tools to build habits that build kids. 

The Good News is meant to spread!

What About a Mission Trip?

For years, my wife and I have dreamt of taking our whole family on a mission trip to experience and serve in another culture and share from the blessings we’ve received. On OCTOBER 20, 2024 our family will be travelling to St. Vincent. 

Our longtime friends Al and Debbie Blake, who Daphne and I met at Moody Bible Institute, have invited us to come and deliver this content to their people and serve in their community. Al has planted a church and developed a network on the islands and they’re looking for fresh CONTENT FOR PARENTS AND LEADERS that point future generations toward a deep and abiding personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

In addition, while it may seem like St. Vincent is a paradise island, their people have suffered from the volcanic eruption of 2021 as well as the recent hurricane Beryl. We can assist!

What We’ll Be Building

Since September, 2023, I have been working to launch ministry with FamilyLife Canada as a representative and family coach. This trip will aid in developing international relations and partnership. With your support, we get to regularly serve marriages and families in Sarnia-Lambton, Southwestern Ontario and across the country of Canada. We’re also keeping the global church in mind to raise up discipleship efforts through the context of families. Your highly valued partnership is offering help and hope to families locally and globally!

Daphne and I will not only deliver content to 100 parents in the region, but we’ll also work with local ministry leaders to equip them in parent and children’s ministry skills. 

Here is some of what we’ll be building:

DEVELOPMENT. Al Blake is a church planter and senior pastor of HighPoint Church. He is also president of the Association of Evangelical Churches in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Goals of the trip:

• Invest in leaders so that ministry can multiply
• Invest in parents
• Invest in children’s ministry

Al notes the high levels of absentee dads and seeks “…to encourage the single moms in their roles, but also showing [parents] the biblical role of having a strong family structure with a dad who is in the home as a leader working with a mom and building their family.” For equipping children’s ministry workers he says, “We have often seen that the children who come and are fired up about the things of the LORD, even when their parents are not believers, these children become great evangelists because they wake up excited to get to church and they are encouraging their parents to come with them.”

OUR CHILDREN. Sonora, Josiah and Selah will help upfront and behind-the-scenes with the conference needs as well as connect with local school ministry. Our kids have already begun preparing for this trip by collecting kids clothes and shoes.

TRAINING. We’ll be teaching on topics like these: 

• What is Family Rhythm? (overview)
• God’s Plan for Families (core values)
• Pattern for Discipline (conflict management plan)
• Peace-Making Rhythms (renewing family joy with planned connectivity)
• Heart for Children’s Ministry (not babysitting!)

PARTNERSHIP. Beyond a one-week experience, we’re seeking to build a long-term partnership where marriages and parents are supported and leaders are equipped to build strong family structures in the nation. FamilyLife Canada specializes in coaching and building ministry networks. 

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock” ~Matthew 7:24

Would You Consider Supporting?

Would you consider praying for us that this ministry would be fruitful and quickly expand? Would you consider contributing to the cost of our travel, ministry budget and lodging expenses? Al’s team has graciously offered to cover our food and transportation while on location. Our goal is to cover $7500 for our flights, accommodations and other donations (details below)!

Financial Breakdown:

• [$5000] Flight costs
• [$1500] Accommodations 
• [$400] Gas, parking and/or rental car to and from the airport (You could drive us to or from the Toronto airport!)
• [$350] Conference expenses
• [$50 x 5] Sponsor a suitcase (children’s clothing distribution)
• [Special request] New children’s underwear

Hurricane Beryl 

Help St. Vincent and the Grenadines rebuild from Hurricane Beryl that swept through this Spring. We’re standing with those affected by the storm. Check out the graphic or this link to see how you can donate to relief efforts through the AEC SVG. Every bit counts! 

In Closing…

With your support, we’re looking forward to spreading the Gospel and multiplying influence through families on the island of St. Vincent! 

You can go to the link, p2c.sh/bourque, to add your investment. Please use the comment box to designate your gift. 

“You guys coming…a husband and a wife with their children, seeing a family come to serve I think is going to be an excellent visual to all people.” ~Pastor Al Blake

Blessings,

Steve Bourque (and family)

Regional Representative, FamilyLife Canada