What does ordinary look like right now?

Maybe your home is full of noise and warmth. Maybe it’s quiet, tender, or uncertain. Wherever you find yourself, this reflective experience is an invitation to slow down and remember a profound truth: God draws near right where you are.

In this guided devotional, we reflect on John 1 and the mystery of the Incarnation, Jesus as the Light who enters darkness, weakness, grief, and weariness. Through simple, embodied practices using a candle, water, a blanket, and a mirror, we make space for God to meet us in three deeply human places:
• Hurting places that need comfort
• Dry places that need renewal
• Questions of identity that need truth

This is not a message about fixing yourself or striving harder. It is a reminder that Immanuel, God with us, still comes close today.

Whether you are carrying grief after the holidays, entering a new year with uncertainty, or simply longing to feel God’s presence again, this time of prayer and reflection is for you.

Discover how God transforms everyday moments into holy encounters in this powerful Advent sermon from our series, "The God Who Comes Close: In Our Ordinary."

Week 2 explores the difference between the ordinary and the sacred through biblical stories like Moses' burning bush, Mary's angelic visitation, Joseph's divine dream, and the shepherds' heavenly announcement.

Drawing from personal testimony and Scripture (Exodus 3:5, Luke 2:9, Matthew 1:19-21, Micah 5:2), Pastor Lucas shares three ways the sacred impacts us: Sacred Interruptions (when God suddenly appears), Sacred Adjacent (experiencing God's work through others), and the Journey to the Sacred (enduring discomfort for divine purpose).

Centuries before Jesus was born, Scripture spoke with stunning clarity about His coming, His suffering, and His saving work. From Psalm 22 to Isaiah 53 and Isaiah 9, the Bible reveals a deep human longing for justice, wholeness, and restoration, and God’s promise to meet us there.

In this opening message of our Christmas series, The God Who Comes Close, we explore how Advent is not just about anticipation, but about God stepping directly into the space between what is and what should be. Longing is not weakness; it is the place where God draws near.

This sermon traces the prophetic hope of Israel, the fulfillment in Christ, and what it means for us today as we wait, trust, and hope in Immanuel, God with us.

At Evangel Church, we believe every single person matters to God, just as they matter to us. “For God so loved the world…” but He loves them one by one, and so do we.

In this message, discover how Jesus saw and loved “the one” in front of Him, and how we’re called to do the same right here in Powell River. Whether it’s your neighbour, coworker, classmate, or the person you pass on the street, everyone has a name, a story, and infinite value to God.

“For the One” isn’t just a slogan; it’s our heartbeat.
For God so loved Powell River… and so do we. ❤️

Have you ever tried to explain a powerful moment and ended up saying… “You just had to be there.”?

Some realities of walking with Jesus simply cannot be reduced to information—they have to be encountered.

In this message, we unpack our church’s core value we literally call “The Unnamed Value”: “We accept the invitation, God’s gracious call to come close… saying yes to His presence, yes to His voice, yes to the Spirit moving among us.”

You’ll discover why:

“Deep calls to deep” (Psalm 42:7) is more than poetry - it’s an invitation into a desperate, life-changing encounter

God stands at the door and knocks even when we feel self-sufficient (Rev 3:20)
Jesus promises rest for your soul when you come weary (Matt 11:28-30)
Hiding is our first instinct after failure… but drawing near is God’s answer

If you’re tired of just knowing ABOUT God and long to actually EXPERIENCE His presence, love, and power—this message is for you.

What does “family” really mean in the Church—especially when our experiences with family are complicated?

In this message, Pastor Lucas unpacks our Evangel value of Family: that every person has intrinsic value, purpose, and a vital role in God’s design.

We explore four key truths:
1️⃣ Everyone in God’s family has value
2️⃣ Growth requires community
3️⃣ Family means giving and receiving
4️⃣ The Church is meant to be intergenerational, not just multigenerational

Rooted in passages like Colossians 3, Ephesians 2, 1 Corinthians 12, Hebrews 10, and Titus 2, this message calls us into a deeper understanding of belonging, discipleship, and spiritual formation in the family of God.

Are you living at the wrong pace? In this message, Pastor Lucas explores how the human heart’s tempo and sinus rhythm reveal powerful spiritual truths. We rebel against a culture of anxiety and exhaustion by choosing to rest deeply in God’s love and walk in step with the Spirit. Learn how to trust God’s pace, release pressure, and find the unhurried rhythms of His Kingdom.

In this message, Pastor Lucas Mitchell shares honestly about what it means to rediscover delight in God when cynicism and “realism” take over.

Through Zephaniah 3:17 and Psalm 37:4–6, we learn that before we can delight in God, we must realize He first delights in us.

Discover how seeing God’s goodness in creation, people, and everyday life can transform you from a complainer to a worshipper — from a realist to a person of faith.

🔥 It’s not transactional - it’s transformational.

💡 Key Themes:
God delights in you (Zephaniah 3:17)
What it means to “delight in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4–6)
Overcoming cynicism through gratitude and awareness
Seeing God’s image in others (Genesis 1:27)

Loneliness. We’ve all felt it — that deep ache to belong. In this powerful message from Evangel Church, Pastor Lucas unpacks our first core value: HOME — where uncommon hospitality meets unwavering love.

Through the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, we discover that home isn’t a building — it’s the presence of the Father. God designed us for connection, belonging, and relationship.

Studies show loneliness impacts us physically and emotionally, but Scripture shows us the way home — to a place where we are seen, known, and loved.

At Evangel Church, we believe that every heart longs to belong. This message invites you to experience the kind of uncommon hospitality Jesus modeled — not waiting for others to come to us, but moving toward them with radical love and genuine invitation.

💬 Topics in this message:
The ache of loneliness and our need for connection
The Prodigal Son and the Father’s heart
Uncommon hospitality and Jesus’ example
Finding home in the presence of God
Building community where all are seen, known, and loved

Join us as we welcome our global workers, Rod and Elna McDonald, from Iloilo City, Philippines!

In this powerful message, Rod McDonald shares “Windows of God,” breaking down four panes that reveal God’s heart for the world:

1️⃣ What – The Cross and the Gospel
2️⃣ Where – Go into all the world
3️⃣ Why – Jesus has commissioned us
4️⃣ Who – We are the ones called to go

What if your life isn’t meant to look like a show home — perfectly staged, spotless, and untouchable — but instead, a surrendered space where Jesus truly lives?

In this message, Pastor Lucas unpacks Evangel Church’s mission:
"Creating safe places for everyone to explore faith in Jesus, receive His love, and look more and more like Him each day."

Discover what it means to create safe places for others to explore faith, receive His love, and be transformed by His presence — one open door at a time.

Maybe there’s a door in your heart that’s still closed. Jesus isn’t knocking to condemn you; He’s knocking to bring freedom.

What does it really mean to live “For the One”?

In this message, Pastor Lucas unpacks Evangel Church’s fresh vision for the future. A call to live for Jesus, love deeply, and join Him in His relentless pursuit of the one.

From the gym to the Great Commission, this sermon explores how perfectionism and fear can paralyze us and how Jesus invites us instead into a life of purpose, freedom, and hope.

In this sermon, Pastor Lisa Mitchell walks through Romans 14:1–15:13, showing how Paul calls the church to live in harmony even when opinions and practices differ. Learn how to embrace grace, pursue peace, and build one another up so that together we may glorify God with one voice.

What if I told you there’s a debt you carry every single day—and you’ll never finish paying it off? In Romans 13:8-14, the Apostle Paul reminds us that beyond taxes, mortgages, and credit cards, there’s a deeper obligation: the ongoing debt to love one another.

In this sermon, we’ll unpack:
Why love is the only debt that never ends
How loving others fulfills the law of God
Why Paul urges us to “wake up” and live in light of Christ’s return
What it really means to put on the armor of light and clothe yourself with Christ

What does it really mean to “be subject to governing authorities” as Paul writes in Romans 13:1–7? 🤔

In this message, Pastor Lisa Mitchell unpacks the tension between obeying leaders and staying true to God’s higher calling. How do we live with integrity, humility, and courage under authority—especially in today’s world?

What does it really mean to love sincerely? In Romans 12:9–21, the Apostle Paul lays out a radical vision for authentic Christian love—love that hates evil, clings to good, blesses enemies, and overcomes evil with good.

In this message, we explore 11 practical ways to live out sincere love, from loving like family to showing radical kindness. This isn’t just a checklist—it’s a portrait of Jesus Himself.

*Warning: This video contains subject matter dealing with fatal self-harm

In a world of decay, we can find moments of hopelessness. This is not the way it should be. Andy, in sharing his story, leads us to a place of finding hope. A place where we can exchange the ashes we collect along the way for the hope and grace of our Creator.

Thank you, Andy, for sharing with us your continued story of hope restored.

Love isn’t just a concept to be studied; it’s a reality to be experienced. In this message, we explore the truth that God is love and that real love is found in a personal relationship with Him. We discover that love is not an abstract idea, but the living presence of God reaching into our lives.

Whether you’re searching for meaning, wrestling with questions, or longing for connection, this video invites you to move beyond analysis and step into the experience of God’s love for you.

"Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen."

To know is to grow. The more you get to know God, the deeper your trust and faith will go! Why? Because He is faithful! Join us as Russ teaches these truths from the scriptures, but also invites us into his lived experience (testimony) of God's faithfulness.

Romans 12 marks a turning point in Paul’s letter—shifting from the theology of salvation to the practical response of a believer’s life. In this message, we explore what it means to live as a “living sacrifice,” how transformation happens from the inside out, and how our unique gifts fit into the body of Christ. Discover the beauty of humility, unity, and serving with the measure of faith God has given you.

📖 Scripture: Romans 12:1–8
🖥 Take the Spiritual Gifts Inventory: https://giftstest.com/test