October Update

The Monday before, I still wasn't confident anyone was going to show up. The plan had shifted from a living room to a 130-year-old church building—but would it just be four of us huddled in the centre of the room?

But when the night of our first official New West prayer meeting came, twelve people filled the circle at the front of the sanctuary. For the next hour and a half, we prayed and worshiped—laying the foundation for an altar to God.

We shared communion, learned to pray the character and promises of God back to Him, listened for and shared words from the Holy Spirit, and interceded for each other and the city around us. That Thursday night, a group of people from all over collectively stepped into the 150-year history of Christians praying in New Westminster. And it’s just the beginning.

👉🏻 The next prayer night is on Thursday, October 16th. Email or DM me on Instagram for all the details!

"Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God." 1 Kings 18:24

What's Been Happening

Besides already hosting our very first prayer night in New Westminster this month, we're also working on other local missions opportunities with New Hope—a refugee housing organization in the city. And then planning the other prayer nights that we're hosting this month and into the fall.

On top of that, we're fundraising for next year and already making plans to move from Langley to New West (hopefully early 2026).

On the home front, Sharnele is a month into homeschooling Loxley for grade one and we just celebrated Nora's fourth birthday (hard to believe). And Myles is now one and a half years old and bringing all kinds of craziness into our lives.

How You Can Pray 🙏🏻

Three things we're praying for right now that we'd love to have you join us in:

1️⃣ Protection for our family
Continued protection and health over Sharnele and I and our kiddos. Always a need.

2️⃣ For a worship leader
We'd love to partner with someone who loves Jesus and wants to commit to leading His people in worship, in New West with us. If that's you or someone you know, feel free to reach out.

3️⃣ For a home for us in New West
We're currently living in Langley, but looking to move to New West in early 2026.

4️⃣ That Jesus would build His church in New Westminster
We can't make anything happen. Join us in praying for God to bring the people, to move in hearts, and give us favour with the city.

Thanks again for following along and praying. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have a question or just want to learn more (nathan@portkellschurch.com).

Talk soon,
Nathan + Sharnele

❤️ PARTNERING FINANCIALLY
God has been unbelievably generous to us in this season and we're trusting in Him to keep providing through people like you. If you’d like to partner with us in planting a church in New West, you can help us raise $150,000 for 2026 through a monthly or one-time gift here.