Staff Testimonials | Group Rentals ‘Working in Ministry’

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Home 5 MBC Blog 5 Staff Testimonials | Group Rentals ‘Working in Ministry’

Group Rentals “Working in Ministry”

April 10, 2024

by Laura St Jean

The Oxford Dictionary defines servant as “a devoted and helpful follower or supporter.”

As a Group Rentals Coordinator here at Muskoka Bible Centre, I am working hard behind the scenes to follow Christ and support His mission through my work. You have probably heard many times that MBC’s vision is to be a vibrant partner with the Church in growing resilient, biblically rooted families to the glory of God. MBC has so many avenues to help the local church; Group Rentals is one of them. Booking a group rental is an opportunity for a church or organization to get away and pour into their members in God’s creation. My job is to help group leaders get organized with the tools we pass along, provide tips to keep them on track and give them the support they need to have the best retreat experience.

There is just something heavenly about sitting by a campfire and praising God under a canopy of bright stars. I heard a pastor once say that they wanted their church to be a ‘thin place’ where heaven feels a little closer. I believe MBC to be a ‘thin place’ to feel closer to God, surrounded by his people.

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ – Matthew 25:23 (NIV)

My career started out in the Litigation Legal world as an Assistant. I am grateful for that time, as God used the knowledge and wisdom to grow my talents administratively. I also grew in building connections with people; to have sympathy for their situations, as well as help explain the processes and support them in a challenging time. This went into my volunteer help as a Sunday School Teacher and Young Adults Leader at Church on the Rock in Hamilton, Ontario, and other places. With these ‘few things’ God has charged me with ‘many things’, including helping to connect information from group leaders to all the MBC Team Managers while we meet prepare for group arrivals and pray for our upcoming groups every Wednesday morning.

I started working at Muskoka Bible Centre in January, 2020. It was truly an honour to work at Muskoka Bible Centre during the pandemic. At one point, we were told to call all of our customers from the past two year with strict instructions not to sell anything, but to asked people how they were and how we might pray for them. I was overwhelmed by this act of love and kindness for God’s people.

This position at MBC has placed me to hear the heartbeat of the Ontario Church. Church leaders share their struggles and joys with us as we connect throughout the year prior to their retreat arrival. Building these beautiful friendships opens opportunities to pray for and with the group leaders, their guest speakers and worship leaders on the phone and face to face during their retreat. I am truly blessed to celebrate with them when their retreat attendees accept Christ into their hearts while at MBC, and moving to share it with the world through baptism. We praise God together in all things.

Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” – Hosea 6:3

Communication with God is incredibly powerful. I often commune with God about Muskoka Bible Centre; it belongs to God; His holy ground. We had one group of church members come to MBC a few weekends before their retreat just to pray over the land that God would have fertile soil for the seeds to come (Matthew 13:1-23). At their youth retreat with us, several teens gave their lives to Christ and chose to be baptized in Mary Lake.

Oh the stories believers could continue to share of God’s goodness that takes place on the Muskoka Bible Centre grounds. We would love others to share these stories with us to bare witness that our God is alive and as active today as He has ever been.

With love from your sister in Christ,

Laura St Jean