A Night to Remember!

Last night was the JIL British Columbia (BC) Night of Praise, Prayer and Thanksgiving for our 18th Anniversary celebration on November 16, 2008. From 7:30-11pm, we spent our time focused on God's promise, power and presence. JIL churches from Vancouver 1&2, North Vancouver, Surrey Newton and Fleetwood, Richmond, Multi-Cultural and Burnaby were there to complete the event.

But before we started the program last night, we have received the news of the passing away of one of our brethren and co-worker in the Lord from JIL Burnaby Church, Jasmine Javier. Jasmine was involved in a vehicular accident in Delta last night and succumbed to serious injuries that caused her death. In spite of this news, we have persevered to continue the program last night.

Jasmine is our VIA Head in JIL Burnaby Music Ministry and one of our best Worship Leaders. She will be sorely missed by all of us especially her radiant smile and countenance exuding a deep love for God and worship. Yet we will hold her dear in our heart even as she passed from this life to the next....with God in heaven. May she fills the heaven and drowns the choir of angels with her worship before God's throne.

The JIL Church family extends its deepest sympathies to the Javier family. We need to extend a special prayer for the Javier family especially Bro. Bobby and Sis. Bernadette being Jasmine's parents as they go through this difficult time.

I believe that this is where we come as their spiritual family to just be there for them... just allow our prayers to permeate their situation with God's peace and comfort, to cry with them and to mourn their loss. As Ecclesiastes aptly put it, "there is a time for everything."

Though we may have this situation hanging with us as we celebrate our anniversary, I believe that this will be a grand opportunity as well to declare God's faithfulness that no matter what we go through whether for us or against us, we will be determined to remain in His care and to let our faith resound even greater in times like these.

Lastly, let the whole world know that we have a strong anchor in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour for "He will never leave us nor forsake us."

God bless us all!