Cultivating Faith

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Cultivating Faith

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Cultivating faith is a continuous process, fueled by our dependence on God and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Faith is the substance that securely binds us, as believers, to the reality of what we don't yet see but confidently await. This devotional is filled with both biblical accounts and personal testimonies saturated in the unwavering belief in the love and goodness of God. Their truths will propel you toward a "faith that prevails." Vulnerable, relevant, and authentic! Ideal for both personal and group study. Over thirty suggested group discussion questions included.

Contributors

Dr Dayo Adeyemo

Dr. Dayo Adeyemo

Dr. Dayo Adeyemo, PhD., P.Eng., FNICE., MNSE., MBA is a civil engineer by training and a pastor by calling. Presently, he is the pastor of RCCG Royal House St. Catharines, where he serves with his wife, Pastor Ola. They are blessed with two children, Daniel and Esther. Prior to moving to Canada in 2001, he pastored in Nigeria.

Pastor Dayo is a licensed professional engineer in Ontario, where he currently practises as a civil/geotechnical engineering consultant in a leading Canadian consulting firm. He has practised professional engineering in Africa, Europe, and North America. He’s also a licensed General Practice Psychotherapist (G.P.P) and has received two honorary doctorate degrees from Canadian seminaries.

The prophetic mandate on his life is to raise up a people of power and purpose with passion for Jesus. Pastor Dayo has a strong healing anointing on his life and hosts an annual revival meeting, “God of Wonders.” He has authored several books, including Walking in Your Prophetic Destiny, I will Reach my Goal, Discerning the Will of God, and The God that Speaks.
RCCG Royal House

Shirley Brown

Shirley Brown

Shirley Brown and her (late) husband, Ross, were married in 1955 and raised their four children in the Toronto/Newmarket area of Ontario. Shirley is an author and inspirational speaker who has shared her journey on both radio and television across Canada as well as in the Canadian Reader’s Digest and numerous Christian magazines. Her writings include A Walk through God’s Word ladies’ Bible study and her book, Vanished: What Happened to My Son? (available on Amazon.ca). For twelve years Shirley gave oversight to the organization “Courage to Cope,” which she founded to assist families with missing children. Shirley speaks and writes with authenticity, vulnerability, and grace. At eighty-five, she continues to serve the body of Christ through prayer ministry at her home church, The River International, in Ancaster, Ontario.
Berry Chisholm

Betty Chisholm

Born as number five in a family of seven children, Betty Chisholm has always been curious and adventurous. As a pre-schooler, an early fascination with fire left her tottering between life and death. Having journeyed through a lifetime of medical interventions, shame, abortion, and a broken marriage, Betty stands as a trophy of God’s grace, healing, and redemptive plan. She’s an ordained minister with Open Bible Faith Fellowship (OBFF) and has served as founder and director of Prison Revival Ministries for thirty-five years. Her ministry has included Music with a Mission, a local Aglow presidency, international missions, speaking and teaching engagements, and media interviews. She has written her story in book form, titled Out of the Flame. As wife to John, mother, grandmother, and retired career hairdresser, Betty’s prayer is that her transparency in relating her journey to victory will bring hope and freedom to others. Betty and John reside in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Beulah and Howard Courtney

Beulah & Howard Courtney

Beulah (Collins) Courtney was born in Hare Bay, Newfoundland, and Howard Courtney was born in Orangeville, Ontario. Following graduation, Beulah moved to Ontario to work and spent most of her very successful career as an executive administrator with Nortel. During that time, her husband, Bruce Luscombe, lost his courageous battle with leukemia. Howard Courtney, following graduation, attended Bible college and entered the ministry with the PAOC. While he was serving as lead pastor in Innisfil Community Church, his wife, Carol Hogeboom, succumbed to her battle with cancer following a tenacious and heroic fight. God had a plan. He brought Beulah and Howard together, and they serve the congregation in Innisfil and lead the church in the operation of the Innisfil Food Bank. Howard has been a volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross for over fifty years, most recently in Disaster Services. Beulah’s joy involves giving

oversight to the development and growth of The Clothing Depot, located at the church, which recycles good used clothing free to local residents. Both Beulah and Howard are recipients of Canadian medals for volunteer service in the community. In their seldom found spare time, they like to travel, take long walks, spend time with family, and shop.
Innisfil Church

Joe Courtney

Joe Courtney

Joe Courtney was born and raised in Orangeville, Ontario. He married his wife, Sandra, in 1970. He’s had a career as a paramedic, and over the last number of years as an auctioneer. He can work the bidding at any auction with words that roll off the tongue at record speeds and could give Christie’s or Sotheby’s some good competition. Joe’s retirement hours are spent at his Courtney Auctions warehouse in Listowel, Ontario and serving in his home church, Crossroads Life Church in Harriston. Joe’s heart for evangelism has sought out the broken and lost, and he has led many to freedom in Christ.
Courtneyauctions.ca

Shirley Godfrey

Shirley Godfrey

Shirley Godfrey (BA, BSW, MSW) and her late husband, Ralph, were married in Brantford, Ontario in 1965. Both, at that time, were officers/pastors in the Salvation Army, Ralph having served for ten years and Shirley for two. Throughout their officership, they were blessed with varying appointments in Ontario, Bermuda, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba. They returned to Toronto, where Ralph became Director of Pastoral Care at Toronto Grace Hospital for over sixteen years. During this time, Shirley served as a chaplain at Toronto Grace Hospital and Scarborough Grace Hospital, returning to Toronto Grace as a social worker after completing her social work degrees.

Following retirement, Shirley continued part time at Mount Sinai Hospital. For ten years, she volunteered as a group facilitator at her Corps/church in English conversation classes. These connections have provided rich relationships with many, some who have now resettled across the globe. Shirley loves to make muffins, sip a cup of good coffee with a friend, entertain, read, or spend time with family.

Judy Hampton

Judy Hampton

Judy Hampton lives in Smithville in the heart of the Niagara Region with her husband, Wayne, and Havanese pup, Benita. She attended Niagara College in the 1970s for Dental Assisting and worked in that field for twenty-two years. She then began working with her husband in their business of selling pre-owned vehicles. She obtained a Bachelor of Practical Ministry degree from Wagner Leadership Institute and has attended Eastern Pentecostal Bible College.

Judy has been actively involved in many ministry areas, including work with single parent families, short term missions, Life Groups, and prayer ministry, as well as serving as a ministry elder at her church, Lakemount Worship Centre. Her great joy is to share the life-changing, redeeming love of Jesus with people anywhere God leads. She’s always up for a new travel adventure and enjoys choral music, cooking, gardening, and a dark roast coffee, especially if it involves catching up with a friend. She enjoys spending quality time with extended family and finds cruising in their convertible or classic car with Wayne a great way to de-stress!

Anita Hanna

Anita Hanna

Anita Hanna was born in Baghdad, Iraq and lived in Jordan for three years. She immigrated to Canada with her family in 1998. Since graduation, she has enjoyed a successful career in administration. Her joy in ministry is loving people and seeing people come to know and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. As God has moved so powerfully in transforming her life, she believes that God can do the same for others. She loves to read, go for runs, do the stairs, and spend time with family. Anita is currently employed at Lakemount Worship Centre as the Executive Assistant to the Lead Pastor.
Lakemount Worship Centre

Penny Lane

Penny Lane

Penny Lane was born in Welland, Ontario and was sibling to two older and two younger brothers. She’s been married to her high school sweetheart, Keith, for forty-eight years, and they have two children and seven grandchildren. Penny has enjoyed a full slate of ministry activities, including Northern Canada First Nations, pastor with Catch the Fire, and intercessor on the Canadian Fire Wall. She’s also had a successful real estate career in Niagara for fifteen years. While Penny loves nature walks and hospitality, you’ll find her currently living her life of ease and freedom full time in a fifth wheeler alongside her husband. They are traversing Canada and the US, stopping for welcomed visits with family and friends along the way. She continues to be passionate about God’s presence and ready to help others recognize and walk out their destinies.
Paul Richardson

Paul Richardson

As the President of Bible League Canada (BLC), Paul Richardson leads a team of Canadians that resource and equip Christians in more than forty nations to reach their people with the living Word of God. Through his work with BLC, Paul’s extensive travels give him a front row seat for some of God’s activity around the globe. Prior to leading BLC, Paul spent twenty years pastoring in Ontario churches—from a small, rural church plant to a 3,500-member congregation in a large urban centre, with a multi-staff team. With his enthusiasm for God’s Word, love for people from all nations, and demonstrated willingness to take risks that require faith, Paul is an inspiring speaker. “My prime goal in life is not to be comfortable but to do what it takes to see the Kingdom of God advanced,” says Paul. Paul and his wife, Dale, have four grown sons, one grandchild, and two well-loved Shih Tzu’s.
Bible League Canada

Catherine Ritson

Catherine Ritson

While Catherine (Cathy) Ritson’s childhood years were spent in Simcoe, Ontario, her marriage to Ken took her to Niagara Falls, where they resided for fourteen years while raising their three children. Cathy’s career path involved sales, executive secretarial positions, and retail consulting prior to a move to Toronto, where she and Ken entered the Salvation Army Training College to become officers (pastors). For thirty-three years they served across Canada, pastoring churches, overseeing public relations, and directing social services.

Cathy continues to share her faith, teaching others how to live life filled with God’s love, study His Word, and spend time in meaningful prayer. Relaxation and refreshing for Cathy are expressed in journaling, crocheting, reading, playing piano, travelling, and cruising. Since retirement, Cathy has also been enjoying her role as a doTerra Wellness Advocate.

Ken and Cathy reside in Oshawa, Ontario, where family times and five grandchildren bring them great joy.
Facebook Profile

Matt Tapley

Matt Tapley

Matt Tapley has been the Lead Pastor of Lakemount Worship Centre in Grimsby, Ontario since 2008. He is a gifted leader who serves the Church by developing leaders dependent on the Spirit with full devotion to the Word of God. He frequently travels the nation as an insightful preacher, anointed worship leader, and a keen contributor to leadership team environments.

Matt and his wife, Lisa, have been happily married since August 1994. Together they have three amazing kids—Abigail ('98), Joey ('99), and Sarah ('01). In November of 2012, their youngest daughter, Sarah, died after a three-year battle with cancer. Matt’s personal life message demonstrates a confident faith in declaring the relentless goodness of God no matter life’s circumstances. He and Lisa continue to use their testimony to encourage others who are facing challenges of faith. Matt is a delusional Leafs fan and also enjoys riding his Harley whenever and wherever he can.
Lakemount Worship Centre

Ken and Amie Vandevrie

Ken & Amie Vandevrie

Ken Vandevrie grew up in Lynden, Ontario, while Amie’s childhood home was near Simcoe, Ontario. They met in 1989 while Ken was recording Amie’s music in his studio. Music brought them together, and a friendship led to a beautiful love. They married in 1993 and lived in Brantford for the first thirteen years of marriage, running their business, ADS Media, together. Their next move was to Hamilton in 2006, where they have remained—running their studio and enjoying their home all in one location. Their three sons—Kurtis, Quenton, and Russel—are now pursuing their own music careers and are keen participants in assisting clients through the family business. During most weeks you’ll find a Vandevrie family member joyfully serving at their home church in media, worship, or prayer. Their joy is to come alongside, encourage, and raise up other ministries and talent to build the Kingdom of God.
ADS Media

Cale and Heide Villesche

Carl & Heide Villeseche

Carl and Heide Villeseche are a young at heart couple with a real zest for life. They met in Manitoba at a Bible college, got married, and settled in St. Catharines to raise their children. Carl has enjoyed a successful career as an air traffic control supervisor for twenty-five years. While Heide’s main efforts involved raising the children, she would regularly include work with pregnant teens at Hannah House in Niagara and disabled adults in Hamilton. They’ve always had a passion for helping family and friends, seeing people restored and inspired to reach higher, and to that end have always been active in various areas in their local church. While neither will brag about it, both are well-known for their culinary skills. Currently loving long country walks, traveling, or playing with their three grandkids, they look forward to what adventures await them in the future. They presently serve their home church in the areas of life groups and prayer ministry.

Endorsements

" Cultivating Faith is beautifully written, heart-warming, and powerful! Each devotional left me hungry for the next! "
~ Jean Melnick
" Focuses, challenging, and inspirational! These devotions will penetrate your heart and soul and strengthen your personal faith journey. "
~ Allan Gallant
" The power of testimony on full display! A skilled author telling vivid stories. Expect to be awed at the creative, supernatural ways of God! "
~ Rev Peggy I. Kennedy
" If you're looking for something both relevant and practical in dealing with the everyday stuff of life we all face, I highly recommend Cultivating Faith. "
~ Paul Willoughby