As I sit in the chapel of Cowichan River Bible Camp, preparing to lead tonight's worship at Rev Camp, I’m reminded of how environments like these have profoundly shaped my life and ministry. There are moments when the Spirit of God encounters a life, leaving it forever transformed. In His presence, hope is restored, faith is stirred, and healing takes place.
Worship is a formative experience. It realigns our focus, directing our lives towards the authority of Jesus and the truth of God. Through worship, we don’t just sing; we embody and live out our story. The psalmist beautifully captures this transformative power declaring:
Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!
Something happens when we lift the name of Jesus together, above all. Something happens when we, as a gathered church, exalt God. Something happens when we wait on the Spirit of God. At CLA worship is deeply valued—not merely for musical or production excellence, though we strive to honor God with our best efforts in these areas. Rather, we cherish worship because it positions us with the expectation that God is actively transforming lives through His Spirit.
Recognizing the significance of pastoral leadership in worship, our leadership team has sought to fill this crucial role. Every year, for 52 Sundays, a dedicated team of over 30 volunteers arrives at 6 am to rehearse and lead worship at our Sunday gatherings. Their passion for creating spaces where people can encounter God’s presence is evident. Many of these volunteers also serve at Rev on Tuesdays, Young Adults on Thursdays, and Recovery on Sunday nights, freely giving their time and talents.
After months of prayerful consideration, we are thrilled to share the exciting news that Avri Paul will be joining our church family as our new Worship Pastor, beginning September 1st.
We believe Avri is an exceptional fit for our community. Her deep passion for worship, her desire to see lives transformed through encounters with the Spirit, her musical talent, leadership abilities, and her pastoral heart align perfectly with the vision and values we hold at CLA.
Having lived in the Lower Mainland her entire life, Avrigraduated from Summit Pacific College in 2021. Since then, she has faithfully served at Broadway Church in Vancouver in various roles, including youth, young adults, and worship.
We are eager to welcome Avri to our team and are filled with anticipation for what God will do through her ministry.
