Pastor Kurt Thomas, Senior Pastor
Back-to-School Community Event — August 23, 2026
There are moments when the church does more than talk about community—it becomes community. Our Back-to-School Community Event at APPLE CREEK SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, held on Sunday, August 23, 2026, was one of those moments.
What an encouraging sight it was to welcome over 60 participants from our community, representing different ethnicities, cultures, ages, and backgrounds, alongside more than 40 volunteers from various departments and ministries of our church. Children laughed, families connected, volunteers served, and new relationships were formed. It was a beautiful picture of what can happen when church and community come together with one purpose.
For those few hours, we were reminded that although our cultures, backgrounds, and experiences may be different, community gives us a place to meet, and Christ gives us a reason to serve one another.
This is the kind of church I believe God is calling us to be—a church whose ministry reaches beyond the walls of the sanctuary and into the lives of people.
I extend heartfelt pastoral commendation to our Education Ministry, Children’s Ministries, and Community Services, under the leadership of Sister Opel Gilbert, Sister Joan Williams, and Brother Earl Monroe, respectively. Together with their teams and the tremendous support of over 40 church volunteers representing different departments, they demonstrated the strength of collaboration and what can happen when the entire church embraces mission.
The event offered much more than Back-to-School preparation. Through a variety of interactive and informative stations, families were able to connect with resources addressing different areas of everyday life. These included Carobium, the Women’s Support Network of York Region, Prayer Ministries, Personal Ministries, the Financial Station, Health Station, Humanitarian Station, Cybersecurity Station, Real Estate Station, Painting Booth, and Education Station.
The addition of the Cybersecurity Station was especially relevant in today’s increasingly digital world, providing an opportunity to promote greater awareness around online safety and responsible use of technology for individuals and families.
Each station had its own purpose, but together they communicated one powerful message: we care about the whole person.
We care about the child preparing to enter a new classroom. We care about the parent working to provide for a family. We care about physical health, financial well-being, education, spiritual growth, digital safety, creativity, practical needs, and the challenges families encounter every day.
That is holistic ministry.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful features of the afternoon was the diversity represented. Different ethnicities and cultures came together in one space—not as strangers separated by our differences, but as neighbours sharing, learning, laughing, serving, and building community together.
In a world where differences can so easily become barriers, the church has an extraordinary opportunity to demonstrate something better. The Gospel invites us to see beyond nationality, ethnicity, language, age, and social background and recognize the value God has placed in every human life.
At APPLE CREEK SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, we must continue to intentionally create spaces where our community knows: You are welcome here. You are valued here. There is room for you here.
I therefore want to say a tremendous thank you to Sister Opel Gilbert, Sister Joan Williams, Brother Earl Monroe, our participating ministries, community partners, station leaders, and especially the more than 40 church volunteers who gave their time, talents, and gifts to serve. Some served publicly, while others worked quietly behind the scenes, but every contribution helped make the day possible.
This event also challenges us to think even bigger about our mission. Community engagement cannot simply be an event on our calendar; it must increasingly become part of the culture of our church. We must listen to our community, understand its needs, build meaningful partnerships, develop relationships, and continually look for opportunities to demonstrate the love of Jesus in practical ways.
Our doors must be open—but our hearts must be open even wider.
The Back-to-School Community Event may have lasted only a few hours, but I pray that the relationships established, the encouragement given, the prayers offered, the information shared, and the seeds planted will continue long after the stations have been packed away.
Apple Creek, this is mission!
Let us continue becoming a church where faith meets service, cultures connect, generations come together, and community becomes family.
May God continue to use APPLE CREEK SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH to build bridges, touch lives, strengthen families, and make Christ visible throughout the community we have been called to serve.
The community is not simply around our church—the community is part of our mission.
Let us keep serving.
Let us keep connecting.
Let us keep building bridges.
And together, let us continue to thrive in Christ: Building Faith, Unity, and Impact.