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Église Alliance Noyan
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With the redeployment of Global Ministries workers from Quebec, missions is changing and adapting to the new paradigm of the 5th S (Sea to Sea). Global Ministries will no longer send workers to this province, but rather the family of churches across Canada will encourage and assist the growth of Quebec churches. This is a radical and significant shift but an opportunity to rise to the occasion and partner with others to see the people of Quebec reached with the gospel.
Our Global Ministries department officially began sending workers to Quebec in 1993. Through the mid- 2000’s, a team consisting of 15 people was sent to help with this endeavour. Many Quebecois have been impacted by the ministry of our workers. As one recently reminisced, "Their absence certainly leaves an empty space in our hearts. During these last years, many financial and human resources were invested by Global Ministries in order to send workers to help the growth of the Church. Like the scaffolding around a building under construction, these men and women, Anglophones for the most part, took up the challenge to come to work in a strange land opposed to the gospel. Their unconditional love for Quebecers and their sacrifice profoundly touched many hearts and built bridges to those of a different culture.”
| Their unconditional love for Quebecers and their sacrifice profoundly touched many hearts and built bridges to those of a different culture |
One church, isolated in many ways, felt the love of brothers and sisters who came to concretely share their struggles and their mission. They brought a solid maturity of believers to the church. Even if the numbers did not reveal all the impact they had on the Body of Christ in Quebec, their presence allowed the solidification of the building and they were a great blessing to all those whom they walked alongside and served.
Another example comes from the church in Noyan, as they express the impact that mission workers had upon their maturation. "Workers were sent to our church at a time when we were in need of some important leadership training. We were in transition and needed some biblical teaching and mentoring to know how to live for God.” People from the church began to take courses through Institut Biblique VIE and the mission workers supervised their growth and modeled Jesus Christ.
Local churches have found a new passion for missions and global events. Members have captured a new awareness about the importance of supporting, encouraging and praying for our International Workers. As a result of this, young people are actively considering mission work and one church, in particular, made a Seamless Link commitment which includes sending members on short-term missions to Africa.
Congregations were given the opportunity to connect with other Alliance churches throughout Canada through youth groups which came to minister. Relationships with these churches are ongoing. The dedication of mission workers and their desire to serve God in ‘whatever situations’ has taught Alliance congregations in Quebec that they can reach their neighbourhoods and community for Christ.
As we no longer have mission workers living in the province, the torch has been passed to the District’s 5th S Venture. We eagerly look forward to creative endeavours which will further the growth and advancement of our brothers and sisters in Quebec.
Rev. Doug Cameron was formerly a Global Ministries worker in Quebec.
He is now Director of International Finance at the
National Ministry Centre in Toronto
