I
am pleased to have you visit the Canaan Baptist Church web site where you can
learn a little about who we are and what we are about. Hopefully, your interest
will be intensified enough to visit us or seek more information Canaan Baptist
Church has been serving the Washington, D.C. religious community since 1947. It
is dedicated to the edification of glorifying our Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ. Canaan has made many contributions in the moral humane, and religious
growth of the community through the struggles of faithful members, both past
and present. Today's Canaan Baptist Church is a vibrant church family that has
gotten its second wind.
We are an inclusive church family, meaning that we
recognize the importance of EVERYONE that is in our employ. We have an active
youth ministry and an energetic senior population. We are a church
striving to be more committed to God by MAKING MOVES IN MINISTRY. We encourage
our members to develop better spiritual growth habits and we provide enabling
infrastructure for that to take place. We are a people that stresses ministry
and not maintenance, so that our members can discover their spiritual gifts and
utilize them in the church and in the community. Our worship style is in the
context of celebration and praise. Canaan is a hopeful, expectant
congregation. We mandate a ministry that is reverent yet relevant. We are
contemporary without compromising our faith or belief. We are called and
committed to meaningful ministry. We invite you to come
worship with because we are reaching for a real relationship. We
realize that in order to receive my favor, I have to do my part.
MESSAGE OF HOPE - February 2015
We often focus on
February as the “month for lovers”, as well as honoring Black History
Month. We thank God for the greatest love of all which can only be
found in Jesus Christ; and, for the heritage of African Americans
everywhere. But let me “switch gears” and share something with you the
Lord gave us to share with the Canaan fellowship…
“God can never use a man greatly, that He has not wounded deeply”. This statement was made by an American Christian pastor, author, and spiritual mentor named Aiden Wilson “A.W.” Tozer (April 21, 1897 – May 12, 1963). This quote brings to mind the Biblical account of two prophets named Elijah and Elisha, at the end of Elijah’s sojourn in this world.
Elijah: remember it was Elijah who heard God speak, not in a whirlwind or an earthquake, but in a “still small voice” (I Kings 19). It was Elijah who called on the True and Living God and summoned fire from heaven and destroyed the false prophets of the idol god, Baal (I Kings 18). Most importantly, it was Elijah who was a mentor to a young prophet named Elisha. Now, here is where the “deep wound” comes in. Elisha loved Elijah and honored him as his father in the ministry. He watched his actions, he learned about his God, and emulated his way of life. But the day came when the Lord was going to remove Elijah and take him away from Elisha, and everyone knew it. Wherever they travelled on Elijah’s last day on Earth, Elisha heard the words, “your master is going to be taken away from you today” (II Kings 2:3 and 5). Elisha grieved, knowing his “father” was going to leave him and told the informers to just “be silent”. He followed Elijah to every city where the Lord sent him, Bethel, Jericho, and Jordan. Finally, Elijah asked, “What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” I’m sure just hearing these words made the wound in Elisha’s spirit even deeper. But he requested of Elijah, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” (v.9 NKJV). Notice, he didn’t ask for a double portion of his possessions, he didn’t want a material inheritance. He wanted a spiritual inheritance in a greater measure – a double portion. You see, it usually happens that after a severe trial, or as Tozer said, “a deep wound”, there comes a great blessing! Elijah was taken up, and Elisha “took up the mantle of Elijah…” (II Kings 2:14) Previously, Elijah had laid his mantle on Elisha symbolizing his prophetic status (I Kings 19:19), but now, Elisha must take it up for himself and go forth in ministry without his father. And, if you study the life of Elijah you will find that he is noted for 7 miracles in his lifetime; but Elisha is noted for 14 miracles. A double portion!
Elisha wanted to be like the man of God who would follow his model. Canaan is a church on the GROW (God Rewards Our Works) and we want to be like our Model, Jesus Christ. We believe that the same Jesus Christ who anointed Elisha with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit wants to pour out a double portion on every believer today! If you are wounded physically, spiritually, or emotionally, believe that God is setting you up to receive a double portion of His Spirit, and to be used, as Tozer said, “greatly” in the Kingdom of God. Believe it and “Come GROW with us” as we…
Seek, Serve and Celebrate the Savior!
Larry Owens, Jr., M.Div.
Senior Pastor
“God can never use a man greatly, that He has not wounded deeply”. This statement was made by an American Christian pastor, author, and spiritual mentor named Aiden Wilson “A.W.” Tozer (April 21, 1897 – May 12, 1963). This quote brings to mind the Biblical account of two prophets named Elijah and Elisha, at the end of Elijah’s sojourn in this world.
Elijah: remember it was Elijah who heard God speak, not in a whirlwind or an earthquake, but in a “still small voice” (I Kings 19). It was Elijah who called on the True and Living God and summoned fire from heaven and destroyed the false prophets of the idol god, Baal (I Kings 18). Most importantly, it was Elijah who was a mentor to a young prophet named Elisha. Now, here is where the “deep wound” comes in. Elisha loved Elijah and honored him as his father in the ministry. He watched his actions, he learned about his God, and emulated his way of life. But the day came when the Lord was going to remove Elijah and take him away from Elisha, and everyone knew it. Wherever they travelled on Elijah’s last day on Earth, Elisha heard the words, “your master is going to be taken away from you today” (II Kings 2:3 and 5). Elisha grieved, knowing his “father” was going to leave him and told the informers to just “be silent”. He followed Elijah to every city where the Lord sent him, Bethel, Jericho, and Jordan. Finally, Elijah asked, “What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” I’m sure just hearing these words made the wound in Elisha’s spirit even deeper. But he requested of Elijah, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” (v.9 NKJV). Notice, he didn’t ask for a double portion of his possessions, he didn’t want a material inheritance. He wanted a spiritual inheritance in a greater measure – a double portion. You see, it usually happens that after a severe trial, or as Tozer said, “a deep wound”, there comes a great blessing! Elijah was taken up, and Elisha “took up the mantle of Elijah…” (II Kings 2:14) Previously, Elijah had laid his mantle on Elisha symbolizing his prophetic status (I Kings 19:19), but now, Elisha must take it up for himself and go forth in ministry without his father. And, if you study the life of Elijah you will find that he is noted for 7 miracles in his lifetime; but Elisha is noted for 14 miracles. A double portion!
Elisha wanted to be like the man of God who would follow his model. Canaan is a church on the GROW (God Rewards Our Works) and we want to be like our Model, Jesus Christ. We believe that the same Jesus Christ who anointed Elisha with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit wants to pour out a double portion on every believer today! If you are wounded physically, spiritually, or emotionally, believe that God is setting you up to receive a double portion of His Spirit, and to be used, as Tozer said, “greatly” in the Kingdom of God. Believe it and “Come GROW with us” as we…
Seek, Serve and Celebrate the Savior!
Larry Owens, Jr., M.Div.
Senior Pastor
