Our Humble Beginnings...

"But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" Amos 5:24

The vision for the River Church ultimately began or originated in the heart of God. But knowing the heart of the Father, He began to share that vision with a small band of men and women living in the community of Brackendale. They simply began to pray back to God this vision of planting a church in Squamish. I believe that God used these wonderful people to ignite a growing passion in my wife and I to eventually join them in this growing vision.

Through this praying, we began to grow restless. God was clearly birthing something new in us. The summer of 2004, Kenda and I agreed that as much as we tried over the years to let go of planting a church in Squamish B.C. We decided to take steps that fall to press into all that God was trying to say to us.

Before I discovered that anyone was praying, I decided take my study days in Squamish, where I would pray...nothing more...nothing less. September 21st I drove to Squamish, grabbed a coffee and walked the river's edge in Brackendale, along the bank of the Squamish River. This was where I would spend my morning in prayer.

As I sat along the Squamish river as it opened up into the Howe Sound, in the shadow of the Squamish Chief, I opened up my bible to Matthew 4:15-16 which read. "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles - the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Immediately my heart was stirred to pray - and something began to happen in my heart. My heart began to break for the people of Squamish. Here I was weeping for a people I had never met, for churches I had no clue about, and for pastors I did not know! Something was indeed happening to me.

As the morning progressed, there were three things that began to emerge out of my heart. First, that God would unite the churches in Squamish that they would be as One as Jesus intended. Second, that together the Church in Squamish would work together to touch the youth of Squamish with the radical transforming love of Christ. Third, I believed that God was calling us to reach into and provide care for the Single Mothers (and children) within Squamish.

A few days later, September 30th to be exact, I found myself at the annual North Shore Alliance staff retreat at the Linwood House. That year we had invited a few gifted intercessors to accompany us, giving the staff the opportunity to receive prayer. As I made myself available to God that morning, my prayer intercessor spoke these words into me. He sensed that I was restless and stifled, almost like a plant that had outgrown it's pot - over time the roots had become root bound and ingrown. What he believed God was going to do was uproot the plant and transplant it along a river-bank where its roots could go deep and the plant become all it was created to be. This passage of scripture was then spoken into me. "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities" (Isa. 54:2-3). What was God doing?

The next week, my senior pastor, along with one other staff person, invited me to join them for coffee at a local coffee shop in North Vancouver. With courage and insight they took the time to affirm me as a growing leader and gifted pastor. They also told me that they perceived me to be very restless in my current role, and believed that it was perhaps time for me to press into what God might have for me as a lead pastor role somewhere in Canada. They made it clear that all they wanted to do that year was encourage Kenda and I to move into a discovery mode as it concerned becoming a lead pastor. They wanted to provide a safe environment for Kenda and I to pray and discern what God's direction was for us. In other words, they believed that it was time for the fledgling adolescent eagle to get kicked out of the nest. I knew that the nest was growing pricklier for a reason - I knew it was time to spread my wings and fly.

This was where a crisis of faith began to take place in my heart! God knew I had been avoiding this step for years - my biggest obstacle was myself. I didn't believe I had what it took to be a Lead Pastor, let alone church plant in a hard soil like Squamish. In other words, in the face of a God sized invitation, the small Darcy showed up! This is where God clearly spoke into my fear. He gave me this strong word, "This is what the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord" (Jer. 17:5). I knew that in fearing failure and merely looking at myself I had subtly turned my heart away from God. In light of my repentance God gave me the following verses. "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (Jer. 17:7-8).

The next 4 weeks God gave us confirmation after confirmation - through Graham Cooke, friends and colleagues God affirmed to us again and again that we were in fact hearing Him correctly.

Finally, December 15th I took the morning to be in Squamish, specifically to pray and seek God's face. Immediately as I arrived at the river's edge I sensed the manifested presence of Christ, as if He was there waiting for me! God immediately began to affirm me as a man. He reminded me of where I had come from, and that out of my broken childhood, God had shaped and formed me into the person I had become. God had indeed redeemed my suffering so that as a follower of Jesus I could now identify with and love others living in the midst of similar brokenness and addiction. My heart felt so affirmed as I sat by the river, praising God for all He had done for me and in my life. Freely I had received; all I wanted to do was freely give it away!

After some time by the river, I turned to walk away. Immediately I sensed God say to me, "Where are you going? I am not finished with you yet." I turned around and instantly Exodus 3:5ff came to mind, which says "take off your shoes for this is holy ground." I knew I was in God's presence and that God was calling me. It seemed so clear. God had seen the misery and heard the people crying out because of their slave drivers - God had seen the suffering in Squamish. God was aware of the oppression and was making it clear to me as well. Finally God asked me this question. "I am sending you - I am inviting you. Will you come?" I stood on the bank of the Squamish that morning, tears streaming down my face, arms lifted up in praise to God my Father, with a resounding yes flowing from my lips. I was willing to take the leap of faith and dive into ...the river.

"With this in mind we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every purpose of yours and every act prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess. 1:11-12

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