聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Support for the leadership of Mayor Gina Rakochy and the members of town council was emphasized by the Canora Ministerial Association on Saturday during the Mayor鈥檚 Prayer Breakfast held at the Activity Centre.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Pastor Brett Watson, emcee for the program, explained that the event was a formal means of showing support for the mayor and council, explaining that the association does pray that the town鈥檚 leaders receive direction from God and support from association as well as the residents of the community.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The event is also a fundraiser for two local charities, the Canora Benevolent Fund and the Filling the Gap Food Bank that receive strong support from the association and the community. This is the fourth time in recent years that the association organized a Mayor鈥檚 Prayer Breakfast, he said. Previously, prayer breakfasts were held in 2007, 2008 and 2009 when the guest speakers were: Ritchie Hall, defensive co-ordinator for the Saskatchewan Roughriders; Ken Krawetz, former Canora-Pelly MLA; and Ken Rolheiser, a lay minister and author from Canora.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This year, the guest speaker was Rod Donison, who works for Athletes in Action, an organization that appointed him chaplain for the Roughriders and for the Regina Police Service.
Rod Donison
Guest speaker
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In his address as a motivational speaker, Donison shared some highlights from his history that now has him working as chaplain for two organizations for which he holds a lot of respect.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 He particularly enjoys working with the Riders because of the amazing support the team commands and their ability to use that platform to reach out across the province and motivate people. He described his relationship with the Riders as a very rewarding two-way street.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 He has been associated with the chaplain鈥檚 office of the Rider football club since 2013, but he was not officially the chaplain until more than a year later.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Using humour to explain his job, Donison said when people now find out that he is the Riders鈥� chaplain, a common remark is: 鈥淵ou didn鈥檛 pray very much for the Riders last year.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Donison said the Riders鈥� went through a major shake-up in its administration and he has a very positive feeling about the new leadership. Rather than concentrate only on developing the skills of the players, there is an emphasis on developing each one鈥檚 character.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Recalling his first chapel held with the team, Donison said it was a little intimidating as he contemplated what he could say to encourage the players. 鈥淪hould I say: Go Riders! God loves you!鈥� The coach at the time, Corey Chamblin didn鈥檛 help the situation when concern was expressed that the goal should not be to encourage 鈥渢he meakness of Christ.鈥� Afterwards, players were not to be question themselves about matters such as 鈥淢aybe I shouldn鈥檛 hit that hard.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Donison said he reassured the coach that the Bible explains that 鈥渋n whatever you do 鈥� do it with all your might. In other words 鈥楬it Hard!鈥欌��
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 When he did meet with the players, he asked each of them to describe the toughest person each ever met. What made these idols so tough?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Donison said the best answer would be 鈥淛esus.鈥� Consider the blood, sweat and tears that were expended during the crucifixion.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 He asked the players if each ever saw someone hit so hard that their faces were no longer recognizable. Jesus was beaten so badly on the way to the crucifixion but he displayed the strength and character to continue because what he was doing was for 鈥測ou and me.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Donison said he got the message across that 鈥淛esus is the toughest guy鈥� any player would ever meet. 鈥淗e wants his strength to go out on the field with you.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 From there, Donison spoke about what he identifies as the best form of leadership. It鈥檚 something he calls 鈥淗eart Core Leadership.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Speaking to the mayor, he said that form of leadership is expected from community leaders. The mayor and council must have the confidence in the choices they make because those choices not only shape the council and the administration, but it shapes the community and each and every resident.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Heart Core Leadership is experienced by a leader who has faith that guidance is being received when making decisions that affect a whole community. That kind of leadership encourages the use and development of the best attributes already possessed by each person affected. Good leadership requires delegating responsibilities and for the best results 鈥淗elp others recognize their gifts.鈥� It works for the benefit of the individual and for the community. 鈥淗elp people see what you see in them.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Heart Core Leadership means that 鈥測ou lead with your heart.鈥� God uses a similar approach. 鈥淗e knows your strengths and he believes in the best in you.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A good leader delegates responsibility, giving the employees ownership and a new level of dedication to the task at hand, Donison said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 From his own examples, Donison explained that developing the sort of confidence that 鈥淕od supports your actions鈥� is a means of conquering fear in routine administrative duties.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淒on鈥檛 let fear hold you back. Trust that God is making that decision with you.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In conclusion, Donison related a story about how Heart Core Leadership made a very big difference in his interaction with a dying man, giving this individual a newfound peace and joy as he prepared for his final days.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The man was an atheist whose son was a corporal with the Regina Police Service. The corporal encouraged Donision to meet him just to discuss his beloved Roughriders. He warned that the dying man objected to any discussion about God.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Donison said he went into the meeting unsure of what he could do but he had to trust in his own support system. One thing led to another, and Donison brought Rider John Chick with him for a follow-up meeting. As much as he wanted to, Donison never brought up spiritual concerns, but he continued to visit the dying man, knowing that the visits were giving him a certain level of support through a difficult time.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As the man鈥檚 health continued to deteriorate, Donison continued the visits, until, one day, the old man asked how a person would go about accepting God. It wasn鈥檛 long before Donison was leading him in prayer and the old man accepted Jesus as his saviour.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There was a noticeable improvement in the man鈥檚 demeanor in the following days, in spite of the fact that he was still on his death bed. His acceptance of God brought about a kind of peace to the family, even at the funeral.
Emcee
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In response to Donison鈥檚 presentation, Watson said he has seen Mayor Rakochy work in this community and she does use Heart Core Leadership. There are a number of people in this community who does lead through the support of others.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In addition to introducing the mayor, Watson also introduced the members of council who were present. He also introduced Lorne Kopelchuk, a former long-time member of council. Gifts of flowers were presented to each of those introduced, including Kopelchuk, Tammy O鈥橠ell who represented the Canora Benevolent Fund and Candace Doogan, who catered the breakfast.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Responding to the public declaration of support for the mayor and council, Rakochy said each member of council very much appreciates that show of support. Each member must take to heart and be mindful of the impact of their decisions. In addition to the elected officials, she said council also encourages the town鈥檚 staff to be community leaders.
Closing remarks
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In what Pastor Greg Bright described as a conversation with God, he was the final main speaker of the program. He drew attention to a printed document on each of the breakfast tables on which were the names of members of council, town administration staff and the town workers.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 All these people provide leadership for the community and it is only right that the residents give them support and pray for strength for the continued good of the community.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Serving a community of this size, it is always encouraging to hear words of support and appreciation, Bright said.
