Overview of Holy Work in Canada

Canada is a country of immigrants. Cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are multicultural, with residents of different ethnic backgrounds. These ethnic communities maintain their own culture, language, and traditional customs while showing respect for each other and living in peace together. The diversity of people living in Canada, who share the bountiful resources of this vast northern country, makes the country a perfect ground for spreading the gospel to all nations.

Currently, the churches in Canada are in a transitional period as young workers are maturing and gradually taking over the responsibilities of pastoral and evangelical work. The Canadian Coordination Centre is actively training these young holy workers and placing emphasis on passing on the truth and faith in various areas of church ministry. At present, there are four churches, two prayer houses, and two other locations of worship in Canada. In total, the membership is around 930.

The comfortable living environment of Canada and its diversity in employment opportunities have attracted many church members from various countries to move there. In the past, most of them came from Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In recent years, many members from mainland China immigrated to Canada. Many of the newly immigrated members are young families. Thank God, they have been able to take care of each other in terms of livelihood and work together to further the gospel for church.

The Toronto church has many young families. There are around one hundred members in number, inclusive of students and teachers, within the Religious Education system. It has become evident that religious education in church has to be tightly connected with that in each family. This is a goal that the Toronto church is working on. 

A few church members live more than a three hours’ drive from a local church, for example, in Lethbridge, which is about three hours away from Calgary, and Ottawa, which is five hours from Toronto. It is very inconvenient for these members to attend church services. However, these distant locations present themselves as potential places to hold services if the faith of these members could be well-cultivated. The Canadian Coordination Centre has encouraged local churches to look after the ministry in small regional areas. They are advised to actively schedule family services and dialogs on the basic doctrines. May the Lord Jesus guide and bless this ministry.

In terms of training, annual events include the National Adult Theological Seminar, Bible seminars on specific scriptural books which are held in all local churches consecutively, and National Youth Ministry Training. Besides these national training events, Sermon Speakers and Interpreters Workshops and Evangelism Strategy Workshops are held regularly by local churches. 

Currently, many English-speaking members listen to sermons through translation. This situation likely reduced their understanding of the sermon messages and their conversancy of biblical insights. Therefore, the priority now is to intensively cultivate the youths to have a deeper understanding of the doctrines and to help them to develop a rooted faith. It is equally important to train them up to deliver sermons in English. 

The churches in Vancouver and Toronto are planning to branch out. We pray that the Lord Jesus watch over and guide their plans. We also plead for all members’ intercession for the Canadian ministry. May everything we do glorify the holy name of the Lord Jesus.

2019 Chinese Bible Studies Fellowship at Vancouver Church
2019 Chinese Bible Studies Fellowship at Vancouver Church

 

2019 Kitchener Waterloo House of Prayer
2019 Kitchener Waterloo House of Prayer

 

2019 National Church Conference at Vancouver Church
2019 National Church Conference at Vancouver Church

 

2019 National Counselor Training Seminar at Edmonton Church
2019 National Counselor Training Seminar at Edmonton Church