Overseer Candidate Meet & Greet

Covenant members will be given the opportunity to meet our 2023 Overseer Candidates on November 19 after service.  Please take some time to greet them and ask any questions that you may have concerning their candidacy.  

It has been a little over two decades since my family and I started attending Cedar Grove. During the last few years, I have helped with Monday Morning Ministries, and have also worked with GriefShare, the Men's Thursday night bible study and greeting in the parking lot on Sunday mornings. My family has grown over the last decade and a half, with the addition of two in-law kids, giving me total of five grown kids, as well as two adorable grandkids. Sadly, my dear wife passed away ten years ago.

Being outdoors is where I prefer to be when I want to unwind, as I enjoy hiking, biking, skiing and my stand-up paddleboard. Though my old knees are starting to limit many of these activities in recent years...

My name is Julio Mejia and I’ve been married for almost 40 years to my wife Ana (Vicky), who gave me 3 beautiful children ( now all adults) whom have gave me 4 precious Grandchildren.

I’ve been a member of Cedar Grove church for almost 16 years and together with my wife we enjoy every moment being in the church. We have participated in many ministries such as greeters, ushers, Monday mornings, food bank, kitchen, Alpha, and we took Freedom Sessions with Pastor Ken.

I had a passion for Basketball and Volleyball since early age; I love the outdoors activities and wherever there is water I go (rivers, lakes, beaches). But now my real passion is to serve Jesús in anyway He ask me to serve, knowing that it will be according to His will and not mine in whatever service He is calling me.

God, history and leadership dominate my thought life.  

Firstly, God.  The Bible states, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13).  As an individual, I am submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  As a lawyer, I believe and abide with God’s Word, and I submit that other laws, written and unwritten are subject to God’s laws.    

Secondly, history.  I have always been interested to understand the past, which in turn allows me to understand the present.  I believe that those who forget the mistakes of Ismael Riggi J. Solinap   the past are doomed to repeat it.

From the Book of Romans 15:4 (ESV), it has been made clear that whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  As a follower of Christ, I believe that the church is the body of Christ, and He has commissioned His church to bring the good news to the ends of the world.  The reason why the church is losing its influence in the world is because the world has too much influence in the church.  It is the mission of every real Christian to correct this imbalance.  

Thirdly, leadership.  My passion for leadership came naturally as a cub scout camping in the jungle and a cowboy imagining fighting the bandits in my childhood just as I have seen in the movies.  I grew up being a big fan of war heroes and military generals who get things done.  I was the commander in my high school corps of cadets and university’s military organization such as the R.O.T.C. (Reserve Officers Training Corps).  I majored in Political Science for my Bachelor’s degree and finished my Law degree.  I was commissioned as an officer with the Philippine Military Judge Advocate General Services (JAGS) and served in uniform for several years.  Presently I am finishing my Masters degree in Leadership from Trinity Western University and diligently watching world current events in the light of God’s Word to ensure that I, my family and community will not be carried away by the proliferation of fake news and wrong teachings.   As I serve my family and my church, I subscribe to the best leadership principle exemplified by Jesus Christ – the servant leadership principle.    

I have been a deacon in my church in the Philippines involved in the teaching and discipleship ministries.  I went on training for Christian leadership and evangelism at Haggai Institute in Maui, Hawaii; I have been to Hillsong leadership conference in Sydney, Australia.  With my wife Judy, we were installed as elders in our Filipino outreach church in the US.  When our family came to Cedar Grove in 2013, we were involved with the Filipino ministry.  I consider it a privilege to serve God thru the Church in whatever capacity I may be called to do so.  In peace and in turbulence, the best test of leadership as some calls it is, “when the rubber hits the road.”  To this end, I adhere to my favorite verse, as follows, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Little did I know when making that my life verse after coming to know Christ as my personal Saviour when I was in middle school, how God would continue to write my life story around His truth.

My name is Sam, husband to Margarita and father to Mateo(20), Victoria(6), & Elena(1). We became members of Cedar Grove in 2015, but left shortly thereafter for a 4-year term on the mission field as a family in Bolivia, South America prior to returning to Canada in the summer of 2019.

The adventure God has placed me and my family in continues to embody the truths of Proverbs 3:5-6 as we struggle and grow in learning to trust the Lord with all our hearts and not on our own understanding. Everytime we do let go of control, we've seen the good good Father do just what He promises and makes our paths straight...even when we can't see it in the moment!

We continue to try our best by His grace to live with our lives open handed before the Lord, know His will is the best place for our lives to be. After growing up in Surrey and then departing for a decade to South America as a missionary, the Lord has returned us back to the lower mainland at this time.

In that heart, I believe as a step of obedience in this season is to stand for nomination as an overseer here at Cedar Grove, that I may continue to grow in Christ and be used by Him for His glory and kingdom here on earth. The Lord has blessed me in so many ways and I believe scripture urges us that the purpose of that is so that others may be blessed by His love.

I'm humbled at the opportunity to be considered and pray that I can exemplify Christlike servant leadership for the body of Cedar Grove as we point to the head this is Jesus!

I love soccer, my family and God. My story is marked with loss, trauma, but also the overwhelming grace of our Saviour. In all of this I'm reminded of Psalms 46:10 "Be Still & know that I am God."

Proud grandfather, father and husband to my beautiful wife Marcia. I first began attending Cedar Grove in the early 2000s and to be honest my journey began as one of those back row pew type of attenders, so it is by God's grace that I'm even at this point at looking at the role of Overseer here at Cedar Grove.

I do consider Cedar Grove my home and family in a deep sense, why? Because family is the reason I even find myself at juncture. Even my marriage to Marcia was out of obedience to the grace of God in my life, and then coming to Cedar Grove was another example of God's grace in my life. As a young married couple with two kids and a childhood of familial brokenness, I recognized that I alone wasn't enough to give my family a better future and that there would be answers with God.

My faith journey grew and God kept and continues chipping away at me as He refines and loves me. Freedom session was a huge piece in my history and growth both as a participant as well as a leader.

The Lord has my wife and I here in this season and I am going up for nomination as an Overseer, as a step of obedience to our King. I have lots to learn and look forward to continuing to grow in my understanding of who God is and who I am in Him, as I seek to be used for His glory as part of the leadership of this church. Thank you for your consideration, to God be the glory!

Covenant members will be sent a link to vote for the proposed overseer candidates.  Each overseer will serve for a period of three (3) years.  Opportunity to meet each candidate will be given on Sunday, ---------------- AND Sunday, .  When considering the candidates suitability for the role of overseer at Cedar Grove Church please keep our bylaws in mind:  

1. Qualifications
An Overseer shall be a man called of God for the ministry of the Gospel in agreement with the Statement of Faith and Covenant of the Church, as well as sympathetic and cooperative with the British Columbia Baptist Conference and his life must demonstrate qualities expressed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Titus 1:5-9, and financial stewardship, and he must be able and desire to serve God by leading His people.

2. Duties
a) Work with Lead Pastor in staff hiring and dismissal.
b) Deal with specific problems of discipline according to Biblical principles.
c) Develop & foster a personal & corporate prayer ministry.
d) Assist in interviewing and affirming of new members, and baptismal candidates.
e) Annual review of the resident, non-resident and inactive membership lists.
f) Liaise with their assigned deacon area.
g) Establish and maintain all church doctrinal distinctives and position.
h) Establish and maintain all church policies.
i) Provide church with annual vision, goals and direction.
j) Create annual budget and oversee budget allocations and spending.
k) Plan, organize and lead all church business meetings.
l) Attend bi-weekly meetings and annual leadership retreat.
m) Support and attend as many “all church” type events as possible. the Baptist General Conference of Canada.

Extension of Call
1. Overseers will be chosen from resident members in good standing who have exhibited the biblical qualifications of an Overseer. Potential candidates maybe identified and recommended to the Overseers by any Covenant member. Subsequent interviews will take place with the Overseers Board to determine their suitability and availability to the role, which may take up to six months. The Covenant Members will then have the opportunity to question the candidate. At the conclusion of this process the candidate(s) are recommended by the Overseers’ Board and voted on by the Church. Information regarding prospective Overseers will be available at least two (2) Sundays prior to the meeting.

2. Upon the approval of the Overseer’s Board, at an annual or special business meeting a secret ballot vote will be held, 35% of the resident members in good standing must cast ballots, with a 75% affirmative vote required to extend a call. When the call has been ratified the Chairman of the Overseers’ Board will communicate it to the candidate.