by Zach Lewis

The vibrancy of a parish is a driving factor behind church revitalization, and Saint Benedict Parish has proven to be a leading force. Look no further than the recent Parish Mission with Max Ford that took place last month. What an incredibly special time for all who were involved! People from all walks of life came together to be inspired and transformed, among them some people who may have even turned to Jesus for the first time in their lives. As great as Max and Gavin were, the fact of the matter is that it was all done through the work of the Holy Spirit. In case you missed it, you can always go back and watch the Parish Mission on our YouTube channel (YouTube.com/SaintBP), but here is a rundown of what took place, which may pique your interest in checking out the mission next year.

For three straight nights, we had outstanding music from our Praise & Worship band, three wonderful talks from Max Ford, a testimony by Gavin, and amazing fellowship. Each night was centred around knowing the Lord more deeply than ever before, which we learned is what the Lord ultimately delights in. The nights began with the band pumping out a few Praise & Worship songs, to allowing attendees to enter deeper into the prayer, which then transitioned to Max Ford’s talk. Max delivered a highly meaningful talk, telling us that if we want the King, we get the Kingdom, and to come to Jesus with our own alabaster jars, like Mary did, unafraid of what people would think.

The back half of each night began with Max leading us in powerful prayer, together as a community. We were invited to leave any and all intentions or burdens at the foot of the cross, which may have been the most moving moment in all of the nights. To finish off each night, the band was brought back into action to play a few closing songs. These evenings were livestreamed, meaning that it is still possible to fully experience this event even if you weren’t joining in- person. After all, our intention is to be
a far-reaching, explosively-alive faith community, and that often begins in our church and radiates out to the world outside!