Dave - up close & personal

This was a significant service for a number of reasons.

The previous Sunday, Dave Slater, the founding pastor of Lift spoke to the gathering. A few months ago, Dave had taken a call to Parkview Church in Guelph, about 45 minutes away. That means he moved away....  But he was back and brought  a worship team with him. It was a good night.


Dave had unique gifting as a networker , people person and visionary. With his gifting and experience, he proved to be a hard person to replace.

But, before I continue that narrative, let me give you a quick overview of this gathering.  Sunday nights at Lift church involve a number of elements, all of which are good...

They begin with good worship. They give it the time and focus it deserves.  They often rotate worship leaders, ( some of whom visit from other churches, with the core of the band consisting of Lift students).

There is a time of refreshment between the worship and the message. Allows a time to connect and stretch legs/


Announcments esp Simple Church which are small groups meeting around a main point. It could be guys issues, girl issues, a NT study, service or whatever.

Then the new lead pastor, Andrew Masters, got up to speak. I asked him if was nervous. He answered something to the effect that he had just moved across the country and was expecting a baby any moment. He had other things to be nervous about.

Andrew & Michelle Masters

Enter Andrew Masters.



After a summer long search process , which I was a part of, Andrew floated to the top of the pile. Originally from nearby Brantford, he had gone to school in Eston, SK and started his ministry in Manning, AB a few hours north of Grande Prairie. He spent the last 7 years at a church in Surrey, BC where he was far and away the youngest on staff. Now, at Lift,  he is one of the old guys on the block.


During the interviewing process, what captured us about Andrew was his strong emphasis on community and the track record he had on reaching out to the surrounding community. We found him eager to learn and fired up about finding fresh, creative ways to reach out to the surrounding community, whether on or off of the campus.


He and Michelle are expecting any moment. I am sure that by the time we go to press, the baby girl will have been born and they will be back home.

Andrew with baby Calli born Nov 15.

Anyway, Andrew started by offering a smattering of facts about himself, including his likes and dislikes and areas of expertise and incompetence. It made for good listening.

Things became focused when he underlined the difference that Jesus made in his life and his desire for people to know and experience Him. He presented an encounter with Jesus in a way that was disarming and compelling. It was real without cliché. I have every confidence that people will be able to come to Lift, or bring their friends, and they will be offered a clear contact point with the One who makes all of this possible and worthwhile.


On the back tables, there is something for the body and the soul. There is a book table with titles ranging from Bondage Breaker by Neil Anderson, Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller to Simply Christian by N.T. Wright. For the body there was simple fare. Hot water for Hot Chocolate or Tea, Pop and coffee along with chips and hotdogs. There are periodic veggies to boot.

At the end of the month, Community Church ( the mother church of Lift, in nearby Waterdown )is providing a Chili feast, with all of the trimmings for the hungry student population.


There is an outreach to the mean streets of Hamilton. They do student tutoring where upper classmen help those behind them.

There is a lot going on at Lift. There are some really sharp young adults that have made it their home. It is going to be exciting over the following months to see just what God is going to do in and through them.