I used to say, "A suitcase is the greatest equalizer of immigrants."
We all arrived in Canada with only two suitcases. Regardless of our social, political, military, or even financial and educational status in our homeland, we arrived to start a new life.
In September 1981, my wife, our 3-year-old girl, and I arrived at Vancouver International Airport en route to Regina, Saskatchewan. We traveled thousands of miles from Manila, Philippines ...
Every year, an estimated 2 billion people around the world celebrate Lunar New Year, which marks the beginning of the new year according to the lunar calendar. This year Lunar New Year falls on February 10, 2024. Here are 5 prayer points for the Lunar New Year Celebration ...
How should faith impact our celebrations of Lunar New Year as followers of Jesus? Alfred Chui expands on the meaning & traditions of Lunar New Year and offers perspective on how followers of Jesus should respond…
Diaspora are those people who have dispersed or spread from their original homeland. By that definition, most of us living in Canada are diaspora, but the term is generally used to describe recent migrants, their children, and grandchildren.
People migrate to Canada willingly (for a better future) or unwillingly (to escape calamity). They may have come from a country where there are more churches and Christians than we have in Canada, or they may come from a place where they would never have met a Christian or heard about Jesus Christ.
The diaspora story in Canada is complex and full of opportunity; so let’s pray!
Loving Muslims Together Network - Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting
I don’t like to run. My experience of running is that I’m short of breath, sweaty & hot, and there’s a voice in my head telling me to STOP!!!!
This past year, while praying for Muslims in Canada during Ramadan, an image popped into my mind, (a not-infrequent experience when I’m praying).
The image was of a person running along a road that stretched into the distance. They were running in a long-distance race that was called ‘Journey of Discovery’. Actually, there were quite a few runners, but they each were running alone.
I noticed that at some points in the race there were people cheering the runners on, encouraging them and spurring them to keep going. At other points in the race there were refreshment stations where the runners could receive nourishment for the next leg of the race. Sometimes people would run alongside the racers, keeping pace with them, encouraging them to keep running.
Some runners kept running strong. Some runners who were faltering were encouraged by the cheering, and the nourishment, and the companionship they received. Some runners slowed to a walk. Some stopped altogether and left the race...
Sharing from the life story of David Claydon, Sadiri Joy Tira calls the global church to care for the scattered, dislocated and suffering children around the world. "There is hope for the orphans if the Global Church can act with compassion and action."
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. -Psalm 34:18 (NLT)
Mental Health. Trauma-Informed. PTSD. Healing.
We’ve heard these words a lot lately – from diverse sectors of society across our country, and in relation to both Canadians and newcomers. As we think about what is going on around the world, here in this country, in our countries of origin, and the experiences we, and family members, bring with us when we settle here in Canada: How then, should we respond? As the church. As fellow neighbours. As friends reaching out. In our diaspora churches and ministries.
This article expands on the topics of heart wounds, trauma, and our response as Christians. It also offers next steps --- pointing to opportunities to experience healing groups and/or to be trained as a Trauma Healing facilitator...
Last month 24 Canadians got on airplanes and travelled to Chiang Mai, Thailand to attend the Simply Mobilizing Global Conference.
What was the result of their investment of time, money, and effort? While it’s impossible to encapsulate all that happened, here are some snapshots of what God did as we worshipped and learned in community with over 300 delegates from almost 70 different countries ...
I remember sitting in a seminar once hearing the presenter ask, "If your local church disappeared, would anybody in the neighbourhood notice?"
Stinging words. Sobering. Sit with that question and chew on it. Let it disturb you the way it disturbed me.
Christian community is intended to be noticeable, and it’s intended to be transformative to the surrounding community—light in a dark place. And what makes us noticeable and transformative, according to Jesus, is our good works.
So what good works is your church offering your community that are being seen and noticed by your neighbours, bringing light to the surroundings, and causing them to give glory to our Father? What are you offering that would be missed if you stopped?
One of the challenges of interacting cross-culturally with our neighbours is that we understand our own worldview very clearly, but people coming from other cultures come with a different perspective. Each of us is convinced we understand how the world ‘really works’ and may struggle to understand why people have different thoughts.
This difference carries into spiritual realities. Imagine the challenges that might be faced in understanding someone’s journey to faith. They may not need to fully understand that their sins are forgiven as much as they need to realize that their shame has been lifted; or that the God of the Bible is the truly powerful one with authority over all of heaven and earth.
As we have opportunity, we want to share stories from people who have found Jesus who come from different worldview. What follows is one of those stories. Maybe you won’t fully understand it; maybe it will make you a bit uncomfortable. I encourage you to listen with your heart to this journey to Jesus that might be quite different than your experience.
I had a dream recently. I could be wrong, but I think it was a dream from God with a message for me. And maybe it’s a message for you too.
Someone was promoting the idea of a coffee shop space. It was a small room—almost set up and ready to go, but not quite—there was some more work yet to be done to make it a welcoming and inviting space. Though it did already have some bookshelves, some decor, and a few comfy sofas chairs. For the colors, you need to imagine a typical Latin American street scene, where even humble spaces can be lit up by eclectic assortments of paint colors.
A story from a Muslim Background Believer and a church who prayed for the mosque in their community.
Imagine getting this email:
“My name is Rachael*. I am a born-again Christian of 2 years. I actually used to be a Shia Muslim. I attended the mosque on your street for many years of my life. The Lord pulled me out of the darkness of my former life as a Muslim and brought me into His loving light ...
I recently heard that your church prays specifically for salvation over people at the mosque. Is this true? If so, I’m not sure how long your church has been doing this, but I wanted to email you as an encouragement to you and your congregation to let you know that the Lord has heard your prayers and is AT work in this Muslim community...
We have a couple of empty bedrooms in our house. At one time they were occupied by our kids, but for the last few years they’ve sat empty except when they’ve been temporarily occupied by visiting family or friends. A quick change of sheets, dust and vacuum, lay out fresh towels and the rooms are ready for the next occupants.
Recently we’ve been preparing these rooms again—but we’re not exactly sure when their new occupants are coming, nor when they’re leaving. They are coming to Canada for an indefinite period—homeless because of violent conflict in their home country that has driven them, along with many others, to search for a place of greater stability and safety. They are staying with us until they can find more permanent housing—but in a tight, expensive housing market that could mean days, weeks, or months.
As carefully as we are making preparations for these ones to join us, it pales in comparison to the careful preparations that Jesus assures us he is making for us.
Night of Powerful Prayer, by CCCOWE Canada & Loving Muslims Together, is a CALL TO PRAYER for Muslims during Ramadan. Join us online Monday April 17th, 2023.
A few years ago, I spent several months reading and re-reading the book of Acts. I was trying to understand how the Church had gone from a handful of people hiding out for fear of the authorities, to a bold and fearless community growing at an exponential rate.
As I read, a pattern began to emerge:
Prayer preceded Holy Spirit empowerment, which led to bold, public witness about Jesus Christ, accompanied by affirming signs and wonders,
resulting in many coming to faith AND active opposition from others,
which then caused Jesus’ followers to go back to prayer … starting the cycle all over again.
Here are 8 disciple-making principles that have become crystal clear to me from the Acts accounts ...