Brandon Martel

Sometimes praying is easier than other times. Sometimes the words come easily, and other times it feels like we have writer’s block during our prayer time. Below you will find a number of prayers you can use for the different situations of life. They have been taken from a variety of sources.

A Prayer of Hope
Father, thank You for hope. Thank You for its light in the darkness. Thank You that no matter how dark the night, You are with me. My situation and circumstances may look dark, but I know You not only go before me, but You also walk with me. As I pray, please fill me with even more hope. I trust You, God, even in the midst of this seemingly hopeless season. I know my hope is in You and that the victory is already Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.
A Prayer for Strength
Lord, I come to you in the midst of my struggles and trials. I feel weak and weary, but I know that you are my source of strength. Fill me with your power and courage to face each challenge. Help me to persevere, knowing that you are with me every step of the way. Grant me peace and comfort in the midst of the storm, and may your presence be my refuge. Amen.

A Prayer for Healing
Dear Lord, I humbly come before you to ask for your healing touch upon [name]. Grant them strength, comfort, and restoration in body, mind, and spirit. Surround them with your love and grace, and bring healing to every part of their being. In your merciful hands, I place their health and well-being. Amen.

A Prayer for peace
Jesus, I come to You today to ask for help. Thank You for your love, grace, and peace. I give You my anxious thoughts. Take them, Lord. I accept Your peace, love, and understanding. Help me to turn to You and be still. Help me to stop doing and start trusting. Help me to wait on You. I love You, and I know You love me so much more than I could ever imagine. Amen.
A Prayer for the Morning
Dear God, thank you for this new day. Fill me with your peace, wisdom, and strength. Guide my steps and help me to shine your light in the world. Bless me and my loved ones with your presence and protection throughout the day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A Prayer for Surrender
My God, here I am. I place myself completely and totally in your hands to do with as you wish, no terms, no conditions, nothing held back. If there is an area in my life that I may be withholding from you, even without realizing it, I want you to invade it right now and fill it with your light. I ask that you would give me a beautiful mind and bring me to that place where I truly do love you in the way you actually meant, when you said to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I ask this in the name of my Lord, my King, my Redeemer and Saviour, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel. Amen.

A Prayer Before Bed
Dear Lord, as I prepare to rest, I thank you for this day. Thank you for your love, guidance, and provision. Forgive me for any shortcomings and help me to grow in your grace. I surrender my worries and burdens to you, trusting that you will carry them for me. Grant me peaceful sleep and renew my strength for tomorrow. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A Prayer for guidance
Heavenly Father, I seek your guidance and wisdom in this time of decision-making. Open my heart and mind to your leading, and grant me clarity and discernment. Help me to align my choices with your perfect will. May your light shine upon my path, and may I walk in the direction you have planned for me. Amen.

A Prayer for Financial Concerns
Dear God, I bring my financial concerns before you. Please provide for my needs and grant me wisdom in managing my resources. Help me to be a good steward of what you have entrusted to me. Give me strength and perseverance during times of financial difficulty. I trust in your abundant provision and believe that you will meet all my needs according to your glorious riches. Amen.

Crazy. Insane. Ignorant. These are all things that I have been called by people when they find out that I believe in God. I ignored those concerns for a long time, just told myself that I had to rely on faith and the hope that maybe I was believing in the right thing. But I got to a point where that just wasn’t good enough, I needed more if I was ever going to hope to grow in my faith. In this series of blog posts, we will investigate the claims made by christianity, and by non-believers to give us all some logical foundations we can base our faith on. In this first post, we will look at the arguments for and against God as creator of the universe.

According to many skeptics, science has undermined the need for God. But this could not be further from the truth! To the contrary, science gives us great reasons to believe that there is a God who created the entire universe, including each one of us. In fact, the more we discover about the natural world, the more we realize that Psalm 19:1-2 is true. “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. (NLT).” As Christians, we believe that God created everything in the world. On the other hand, the majority of atheists believe 2 main things – the first is that the universe was just an area of a bunch of elements and one day just became our world that we know. The second is that life started off as very small life forms and slowly added different features until we became what we are today.

How did the world come into existence?
As most people know, the scientific community has coalesced around the big bang theory as how the universe was created. Unfortunately, if you were to explore their supporting evidence, there is only guesses about what actually ahppened. One of their most important pieces of evidence came from an experiment conducted in 1953 by a man by the name of Stanley Miller. In this experiment, Miller took what scientists believed to be the elements/gases present on the earth before life and put them into flasks. He then pushed electricity through it to see if the building blocks of life would be created. These building blocks are called amino acids. He got anywhere from 5 to 23 amino acids. However, there were many issues with this experiment. The biggest was the supposed environment he created was nowhere close to how scientists now believe the earth was. They now believe that back then, the chemicals were much less friendly to life, so when the electricity was shot through, you know what they got? Cyanide! Not exactly friendly to life anymore… Plus, just because you get the building blocks to something, doesn’t mean it’s gonna build anything. I could throw some metal, tires, and an engine into a swimming pool, but it doesn’t mean a car is going to appear! Another big issue with this theory is as most scientists will admit it doesn’t actually show how the universe came into existence, just how our current universe looks the way it does.

What about our evolution?
So we’ve shown that maybe the idea that life just didn’t magically appear, but what about the other big belief of atheists? That we started as small life forms. And so there was this view that there would be middle points of humans when we evolved from monkeys to the humans we see today. And in 1891, they found something. They found the skullcap, femur and tooth of what they said was the middle ground. This was called the Java Man. Years later, the problems began to arise. The femur didn’t actually belong to the skull, it was from a different animal and upon testing the skull, it was reasoned to be just a regular human, with the size well within our standards today. Scientists have struggled to find the heaping mounds of evidence that we have some cave man grandfather with an ape-like head.

So what about supporting evidence for God?
There are also many arguments to actually support a creator. The first argument is the fine-tuning argument. Imagine you are hiking through the mountains and discover an abandoned cabin. As you enter it, you notice something unusual. The refrigerator is filled with your favourite foods, the cabin’s temperature is set to your liking, your favourite song is playing, and all your favourite books are sitting on the table. What conclusions would you draw? Since random chance could never bring so many factors together, you would rightly conclude that the cabin was prepared in advance with you in mind. Similarly, the laws of nature appear to be “prepared” with humans in mind.

In the 20th century, scientists discovered the existence of multiple physical laws that must each be just right for life to exist in the universe. These laws can be written as mathematical equations, and there are certain values in these equations that are fixed, which are known as constants. The values of these constants are so delicate that if they were off by the tiniest amount, life would not be possible in the universe. This is what is meant by the fine-tuning of the universe.

Let’s look at one example. We are all familiar with gravity: what goes up must come down. If the gravitational constant had been a little weaker, stars and planets never would have formed, and so life would be impossible. If it were slightly stronger, the entire universe would have collapsed into itself after the Big Bang. And the gravitational constant is just one of many constants that must be perfectly aligned to allow life in the universe.There are over 30 parameters that would need to be just right in order for us to be able to survive on earth. The universe is fine-tuned for life because a Divine Intellect designed it that way. God set the natural constants to permit life in his universe. In other words, the fine-tuning of the universe best points to the existence of a Fine-Tuner.

Now, let’s move from considering the universe as a whole to the microscopic level of DNA. We find design in this small realm, just as we did in the larger structures of the universe. When Darwin first proposed his theory of evolution, scientists completely underestimated the complexity of life. Every cell of our bodies is like a tiny factory with biological machinery following routines and commands to keep us functioning. Much of the information for programming this biological machinery comes from our DNA. Simply put, DNA is our genetic code, our biological operating system. And the DNA in a single cell contains enough information to fill eight thousand books. That’s a lot of information!

Here is the bottom line: whenever we see information, and we know how that information arose, we always trace it back to a mind. For example, if you saw, “John loves Mary” written in the sand, you wouldn’t think it came from the tides. You would know that it was written by a person. Social media posts come from social media users. Books come from authors. Texts come from texters.

Even the staunchest atheist has to admit that there is no natural explanation for the origin of information in DNA. And yet we know that information comes from a mind. Isn’t the existence of a designer the most reasonable explanation for the exquisite design we see in DNA? Simply put, the information in DNA points to the existence of an Author of life.

Now, these are just a few examples of how science actually points to a creator and not away from it. And this matters for how we view ourselves as part of God’s creation. In Psalm 8:3-4, King David reflects on the wonder of God’s concern for mankind in light of creation: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (ESV) Given the vastness and complexity of the universe, David is in awe that God even cares about mankind. And yet He does! David continues: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14 NIV). What does this all mean, then? You are not a grand cosmic accident, the result of blind evolutionary processes. God designed the universe with us in mind and created you with great care. Your life has value and purpose. The world we inhabit claims that our value comes from money, fame, influence, and appearance. But God has a different standard. Human value comes from the fact that we are made in the image of a perfectly good and all-knowing Creator. If you ever feel worthless, just look around you, at the mountains and trees, the stars in the sky. And remember what King David said: The God who created all this deeply cares about you. Now, I leave you with this question, what do you choose to believe? What seems more likely? That there is a God who loves you, and fine-tuned this universe for us? Or that everything is just random and we emerged from nothing?

If you are interested in learning more about this, you can find more information here:
-The Case For A Creator by Lee Strobel
-https://apologeticspress.org/category/creation-vs-evolution/
-https://apologeticscanada.com/
-The Battle for the Beginning by John MacArthur

As parents, you desire to provide the best possible support for your children in every aspect of their lives, including their education. Homework can often be a challenging and stressful experience for both children and parents alike. However, as Christians, we have the privilege of turning to the Word of God for guidance and wisdom in all areas of life, including our approach to helping our children with homework. In this blog post, we will explore practical tips from a Christian perspective, supported by biblical principles, to assist parents in nurturing their children’s academic growth while reinforcing spiritual values.
Cultivate a Spirit of Diligence: Encourage your children to develop a diligent work ethic in their studies, reflecting the biblical principle of excellence in all we do. Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings.” Teach them the importance of dedicating time and effort to their homework, showing them that their work is ultimately for the glory of God.
Foster a Heart of Humility: Homework assignments can sometimes be challenging, leading to frustration and feelings of inadequacy. Help your children understand that it is okay to seek assistance and guidance. James 4:6 reminds us that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” By modelling humility and creating an environment where questions are welcomed, you can reinforce the importance of seeking wisdom and understanding.
Prioritize Time with God: While academic success is valuable, it should never overshadow spiritual growth. Encourage your children to prioritize time with God, including prayer and Bible reading, before diving into their homework. Matthew 6:33 reminds us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” Instilling this principle in their lives will help them maintain a balanced perspective, recognizing that their identity and worth are rooted in their relationship with Christ.
Teach the Value of Perseverance: Homework assignments may sometimes seem overwhelming or insurmountable. Teach your children the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges, drawing inspiration from the biblical accounts of individuals like Joseph and Daniel, who demonstrated unwavering faith and perseverance in difficult circumstances. Remind them of Galatians 6:9, which encourages us not to give up, for “in due season we will reap if we do not give up.”
Create a Distraction-Free Environment: In today’s technology-driven world, it is essential to create a conducive environment for focused studying. Help your children eliminate distractions, such as smartphones or television, during homework time. Encourage them to meditate on Philippians 4:8, which instructs us to fix our minds on things that are true, honourable, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy.
Be a Supportive Encourager: Children thrive when they receive love, encouragement, and support from their parents. Show interest in their schoolwork, ask about their assignments, and celebrate their accomplishments, no matter how small. Colossians 3:21 advises parents not to provoke their children but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. By fostering a supportive atmosphere, you can strengthen your child’s self-esteem and motivate them to excel.
Helping our children with homework from a Christian perspective goes beyond academic assistance. It involves instilling biblical values, nurturing their character, and reinforcing their spiritual foundation. By cultivating diligence, humility, perseverance, and a focus on God, we can guide our children toward academic success while also equipping them to navigate the challenges of life with a faith-filled mindset. May God grant you the wisdom and patience to guide your children in their educational journeys, remembering that you are partners with Him in shaping their futures.

Let me know if this sounds familiar, you wake up, get yourself (plus the kids) up to head to school/work, head home, make dinner and just try to have some time to yourself. Being the demands of family, friends, hobbies, exercise and church, it feels like there is never an opportunity to slow down. Time is a precious resource, a gift entrusted to us by God. As Christians, it is essential that we honour God with our time by stewarding it wisely. However, in a world filled with competing demands and distractions, balancing our priorities and serving others can be a challenge. In this blog post, we will explore practical ways to align our time with God’s will, prioritize our commitments, and serve others with love and grace.
Time is a unique resource that God has graciously given us. It is a finite gift, meant to be used purposefully and intentionally. Recognizing that every moment is a precious opportunity to glorify God helps us approach time with a sense of gratitude and responsibility. By viewing time as a gift from God, we can cultivate a mindset of stewardship and make intentional choices in how we use it.
To honour God with our time, it is important to identify our priorities. We must prayerfully discern the areas of life that hold the most significance and align them with God’s will. Priorities may include our relationship with God, nurturing our family, fulfilling our work responsibilities, and personal growth. By clearly defining our priorities, we can make informed decisions on how to allocate our time and energy.
In our fast-paced world, time wasters and distractions can easily consume our days. Excessive screen time, procrastination, and busyness can all hinder our ability to prioritize and serve others effectively. To overcome these challenges, we need to create healthy boundaries and establish disciplined habits. Setting specific goals, practicing time-blocking techniques, and limiting unnecessary distractions can help us make the most of our time and focus on what truly matters.
While serving others is a vital aspect of our Christian faith, it is equally important to prioritize self-care and personal well-being. We cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking care of our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs enables us to serve others with love and compassion. By finding a healthy balance between self-care and serving, we can sustainably impact the lives of those around us and honour God in the process.
In our pursuit of honouring God with our time, it is essential to seek His guidance and wisdom. Through prayer, reflection, and seeking counsel from wise mentors, we can gain insight and discernment in managing our time effectively. By inviting God into our decision-making process, we can align our priorities with His purposes and experience His peace and guidance as we navigate the complexities of our schedules.
As followers of Christ, we are called to honour God with every aspect of our lives, including our time. By understanding time as a precious gift from God, identifying our priorities, overcoming distractions, and finding a balance between self-care and serving others, we can steward our time in a way that reflects our love for God and love for others. Let us commit ourselves to honour God with our time, making intentional choices that align with His will and extend His grace to those around us.
Remember to customize the blog post to fit your voice, incorporate personal experiences or anecdotes, and conclude with a call to action or reflection for your readers.

As a church, we hear all sorts of questions from those who are new to our church as well as those who have been at our church for years. That’s why we decided to compile this list of frequently asked questions that you can use to learn more about our church and teach others! Comment below any questions you still have about our church!

What is the denomination of the church?
We are a baptist church affiliated with both the Canadian National Baptist Convention (CNBC) and the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ). However, we are not governed by them and are free to make decisions without their input.

What are the regular service times and days of the church?
We have service every Sunday at 10am! You can attend live, watch online @ allnationschurch.ca or listen on radio at KFM 95.5.

Where are you located?
We are located near the downtown core at 414 St Raphael Street. You can identify us easily by the dome-shaped and pyramid-shaped buildings.

What is your mission and values?
Our mission is to help you come to Know the Lord Jesus Christ, Grow spiritually and Go make a difference in our world. Our values are: Warmth of Our Caring (Fellowship), Word in Our Mind (Discipleship), Work of Our Hands (Service), Worship of Our Heart (Worship) and Witness of Our Lives (Mission).

Is there a dress code for attending services?
Not at all! We welcome people no matter what they’re wearing and you’ll see people in their Sunday best as well as casual clothing. Christ welcomes you regardless and so do we!

What programs and activities does the church offer for children and youth?
We have a variety of programming for every age group. Each Sunday we have a nursery open for those 0-Pre K and kid’s church for those JK-grade 6. For those grade 7-12, we have youth ministry every Friday night from 7-9:30pm!

How can I get involved in volunteering or serving at the church?
We wouldn’t be able to do church without a massive team of volunteers! If you would like to begin serving, you can speak to Lynn by emailing her at lfelsman@allnationschurch.ca and she would be happy to match you with an area where you will fit best.

Is there a statement of beliefs or doctrine that the church follows?
Yes there is, and you can find it here: https://allnationschurch.ca/what-we-believe/. Above all, we believe that the Bible sets the foundation for everything we and believe as a church.

What is the leadership structure of the church?
We are governed by a board of elders, who maintain full financial and human resource control. Much of the day-to-day work is performed by our staff team. You can find out more about our team here: https://allnationschurch.ca/our-team/

What can I expect at your services?
Our services are on Sundays and start at 10am and last about 75 minutes. We sing a good mix of contemporary and traditional music that is led by our worship team. We then have a message delivered by one of our pastors followed by communion, which you are more than welcome to partake in. Be sure to arrive early and stay a little later to enjoy some community and free coffee!

Our world is full of various literature, Christian and not with entire books dedicated to people’s views of the Bible, and how we should apply it to our lives. So why should we bother to read the Bible? After all, the Bible is an ancient book, and there have been so many books that are easier to understand than The Bible. However, understanding what the Bible truly is and how it is composed reveals its profound significance as a guiding light for Christians throughout the ages. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of engaging with the Bible and how it holds the power to transform lives.

The Bible is not a single book but rather a collection of sacred texts, written over centuries by multiple authors under divine inspiration. Divided into two main sections, the Old Testament and the New Testament, it contains a total of 66 books. The Old Testament, recognized by both Judaism and Christianity, traces the history, laws, prophecies, poetry, and wisdom of the Jewish people before the birth of Christ. The New Testament focuses on the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity, and provides guidance for Christian living.

To truly comprehend the message of the Bible, it is crucial to consider the historical, cultural, and literary context in which each book was written. Understanding the social and political landscapes, the customs, and the languages of the ancient world can shed light on the intended meaning of the texts. Contextual analysis helps us bridge the gap between the biblical era and our contemporary world, enabling us to apply the principles and teachings to our lives today.

The Bible serves as a source of spiritual nourishment for Christians. It provides guidance, wisdom, comfort, and encouragement. Through its stories, parables, and teachings, the Bible imparts timeless moral and ethical lessons. It inspires faith, offers hope, and deepens our understanding of God’s character and His plan for humanity. Reading the Bible regularly allows Christians to develop a personal relationship with God and grow in their faith journey.

The Bible is more than just a historical or theological document; it is a guidebook for life. Its pages contain practical advice on how to navigate relationships, make wise decisions, and live with integrity. The teachings of Jesus, found in the Gospels, provide a blueprint for Christian discipleship, emphasizing love, forgiveness, compassion, and service to others. The epistles, written by early Christian leaders, offer practical instructions for living a life rooted in faith.

Engaging with the Bible directly equips Christians to discern truth and guard against misinterpretation. In a world filled with conflicting ideologies and opinions, the Bible serves as an unchanging and reliable foundation. By studying the Scriptures, Christians can develop discernment, distinguishing between sound doctrine and false teachings. This empowers believers to live out their faith authentically and share the message of the Gospel with confidence and clarity.

In a world that often seems chaotic and uncertain, the Bible remains an unwavering source of truth, comfort, and guidance for us. It is a collection of divinely inspired texts, composed over centuries, which holds profound wisdom and practical advice. By engaging with the Bible, we deepen our relationship with God, gain spiritual nourishment, and discover the path to living a purposeful and faithful life. Therefore, let us not overlook the importance of reading the Bible and allowing its transformative power to shape our hearts, minds, and actions.