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May 1, 2013 Spring Issue
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Another winter season has come and gone. Hockey is considered a winter sport but these days it feels like a 365 day activity. Certainly the work of Hockey Ministries International is year round. From team chapels to hockey camps, Bible distribution to hockey clinics, t he ministry of HMI continues. We are so grateful for all of you who so generously and faithfully have supported us through your finances and your prayers. We don't get to serve in this ministry without you. Please take a few minutes to read the latest from HMI Atlantic.
We are greatly encouraged to see the doors that have opened and for the opportunities that continue to come our way for ministering to hockey players and their families. Sincerely, Your Teammates for Christ and the Gospel,
Bruce & Vicki Smith
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QMJHL Draft Day
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 | QMJHL Draft
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The development of ministry in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has been quite a story. We have witnessed the rise of chapel programs from zero to eleven of the eighteen teams. Our annual Christmas card mailing to every player, coach and trainer in the league wishing a Merry Christmas / Joyeux Noel and offering a Bible in French or English continues to generate responses. Another event that we have been a part of has been the annual league draft. On the second weekend in June teams gather to select young, future talent from across Quebec and Atlantic Canada. It is there that HMI Atlantic has set up a booth along side the various teams and equipment companies. At the HMI display copies of the Hockey Player's New Testament in English or French are given out to all who come by. The weekend also provides the opportunity to connect with coaches, general managers, trainers, owners, league officials and governors. Simply having a presence at the league draft is recognition that HMI is viewed by the league as an organization that serves the QMJHL. This year's draft is in Chicoutimi, Quebec, on June 8th. I would appreciate your prayers for safe travels, opportunities to connect with people and for the distribution of God's Word.
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Christian Hockey Camps International - Another Summer of Ministry
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The camps were my introduction to Hockey Ministries International. In the summer of 1986 I attended my first Christian Hockey Camp in Moncton, NB and caught the vision of HMI. I still love the camps as I have seen how God has used a hockey camp to touch hearts and change lives for His glory. As an old hymn goes, "I love to tell the story....to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love". And that is what we do at the hockey camps in six countries. Thousands of boys and girls have heard the transforming message of the cross.
My summer plans for the camps appear to be set. It looks like I will be returning to Fargo, North Dakota, June 23-28. I was there for the first time last summer and enjoyed a great week of ministry. I will once again make the familiar drive to Boston for the camp there July 14-19. Joining me on the drive and the camp will be veteran Gary Stevens, returning summer intern, Ryan Francis, and our son, Joe. There are so many good friends who staff the camp and Paul Hendrickson does an amazing job organizing and leading
 | HMI Atlantic veteran, Gary Stevens, displaying camp brochures at an arena
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the camp as Director. It will be back to New Brunswick and on to the Moncton camp, July 28 - August 3. Moncton will always be a special camp for me. From Moncton it will be on to Sweden where I will finish off my hockey camp summer in the familiar town of Skillingaryd. A place that feels like I am coming home, with so many dear brothers and sisters who have served together seeking to communicate the Good News with Swedish youth.
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I would appreciate your prayers for the camps this summer. Please pray for the safety of campers and staff. In a high speed sport there is always the risk of injury. Pray that the Lord would keep kids and staff safe on on and off the ice. Please remember to pray for travel in general but also for me as I drive and fly. Pray for good weather, on-time connections and safe travels. And finally please pray for a great response to the Gospel, that many would come to faith in Jesus Christ.
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Penalty Killing Unit - Funding the Ministry
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 | HMI Atlantic Annual Dinner & Auction 2013
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The success of a hockey team often comes down to their specialty teams, units responsible to kill off their own penalties and take advantage of penalties against an opponent. Two major ways people support and serve HMI is through prayer and financial support. The annual HMI Atlantic Dinner & Auction is a major activity in funding the work. This year's event was once again held at Kings Valley Church in Quispamsis. On Saturday, February 2, 2013 over 200 people gathered for another hugely successful evening. The weather was great meaning no travel issues for those attending from Saint John, Moncton, Sussex and even PEI!
The dinner was excellent, lots of items to bid on and an atmosphere of fun and enjoyment. There were the many dear friends and supporters in attendance. Special guests at the evening included from the Saint John Sea Dogs President, Wayne Long, Assistant Equipment Trainer, George Ferguson and Goaltending Coach, Jim Fleming. The New Brunswick Provincial Government Cabinet was well represented with the Minister of Finance, Health, Natural Resources and Tourism, Heritage and Culture. The night raised $21,000
 | | Some Special Guests at the Dinner & Auction, L-R, Hon. Ted Flemming, Hon. Trevor Holder, Bruce Smith, Hon. Bruce Northrup, Hon. Blaine Higgs |
for the ministry! It was an amazing result!
Our Penalty Killing Unit continues its work with the annual HMI Atlantic Golf Classic, Saturday, July 6, 2013 at the Sussex Golf and Curling Club. For information about registration and tournament sponsors please contact us at HMI Atlantic, 506-849-4488, or by email bruce.smith@rogers.com.
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Bibles for Hockey Players
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I love the opportunity to present Bibles to hockey players. Our Christmas mailing to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League continues to generate requests for a copy of God's Word. Locally I presented team Bibles to the Saint John Sea Dogs and Kennebecasis Valley High School Crusaders Boys Hockey Team.
Again this summer we plan to present each new camper at the Moncton Christian Hockey Camp with a camp Bible. It's great for the counselors leading their team meetings to have all the campers using the same translation and page numbers. It is also very special to see in the evening chapel the boys and girls coming to the meeting with their camp Bibles to use during the "Sword Drill" and also to look up passages during the evening message.
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HMI Atlantic Awareness
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My opportunities to share about HMI are wide and varied. I was invited to speak at the Kingswood University student chapel on February, 22nd. It is always a privilege to be asked to speak. It was a time to encourage young people to "Dare to be a Daniel". It was such a blessing to have lunch afterwards with many of the students, to hear their stories and see their heart for sharing Christ with others. Two students came to me and introduced themselves as former participants in the Hockey for Everyone program which we launched back in 2000 for less fortunate kids in the north-end of the city of Saint John. Both spoke about the impact the program had had on their lives. It was such a blessing to see these two young men pursuing theological training to be better equipped for ministry.
I returned to
 | Kingswood University, Sussex, NB
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Smithtown for my annual visit at Hammond Valley Community Church (formerly Smithtown Baptist). It was such a wonderful morning for me to gather with God's people there in that little rural church and have opportunity to share what is happening in HMI Atlantic. The people there have such a passion for HMI and share the same vision with so much enthusiasm. The folk there give so generously in support of the ministry and encourage my heart every time I am there.
This week I have been given the opportunity to participate in the Dept of Education workshop in Moncton, NB. Our son, Joe, and I will travel there to join Scott Robertson, our Director for the Moncton Christian Hockey Camp, in doing a presentation on the sport of Innebandy. One never knows how such an outing will spin off for future ministry.
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| On a Personal Note |
Dear Friends,
It certainly has been and continues to be an exciting time for the Smith family. It started with the arrival of our first grandchild back in November. Miles Joseph Brown was born to our Rebecca and her husband, Mark, on November 10, 2012. It has been so much fun watching Miles grow. This grand parenting is all it was promised! 
Joe returned from serving with H MI in Sweden on April 15th. He has been here in the office helping at HMI Atlantic, preparing for summer camps and making plans to return to Sweden in July to continue to serve with HMI there. But the big event of the summer will be his marriage to Amber Heydeman here on June 22nd. We are so excited for them and look forward to a great day of celebration.
Vicki continues to teach part time at Valley Christian Academy and now juggles visits with her grandson. We are off to Quebec City and Montreal later this month with a group of Vicki's French students for our annual Quebec trip. Our summer ahead looks like the last 23 with me heading off to hockey camps and Vicki holding the fort here.So this is the latest from the Smith residence. Vicki and I once again want to thank all of you who have so kindly supported us over the years, through your prayers, finances, friendship and encouragement. You have been a blessing in our lives and we are grateful. Sincerely, Bruce & Vicki Smith
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