Mission Canada

PART 1 - Short-Term Mission Experiences in Quebec (Chrissy Krahn)

Quebec is considered one of the least-reached places in North America, with evangelical Christians representing less than one per cent of French-speaking Canadians.[1] As secularism (“la laïcité”) shapes everyday life, many Quebecers aren’t just drifting from faith; they’ve intentionally walked away from it. But that’s not the end of the story. There is real hope.

In Montreal, Mission Canada workers are inviting short-term mission teams to come and be part of what God is doing. Teams serve alongside local ministries, grow in their faith, share the hope of Christ in practical ways, and learn to live missionally every day. In 2025, 10 teams arrived in Montreal for a life-changing experience. Here is one team’s story:

On every mission trip, we have a “GO” time. For one hour, teams go out two-by-two into the city to simply be among the people. The goal is to listen to the Holy Spirit and be aware of who’s around us: on the metro, in shops, or on the street. As He leads, we share the love of Jesus in simple, practical ways: starting a conversation, helping carry groceries, buying someone a coffee, or offering a genuine smile.

Nothing quite prepares you for stepping onto the streets of Montreal and striking up a conversation about Jesus with a complete stranger. At first, it felt awkward and a little scary. Faith isn’t a common topic of conversation here, and no one wanted to come across as pushy or overly religious. So, the first few interactions were tentative. A simple “Bonjour” or a question about someone’s story. In conversation after conversation, the team encountered a deep longing for something bigger than success, politics or personal freedom; something longer lasting.

The team began to see that the goal here wasn’t to win debates; it was to build bridges. Listening became just as important as speaking; listening turned into learning. Every person carried a story. And as they listened, the team realized they weren’t just bringing something to the city; they were receiving something, too.

Serving those experiencing homelessness, isolation and addiction revealed another truth: while church attendance may be declining, human need is not. Authentic relationships spoke louder than polished presentations. Presence mattered.

By the end of the week, any fears the team previously had were replaced with a new boldness. One team member put it best: “Living missionally is often simpler than we imagine.” It isn’t complicated. It’s choosing to show up, listen, serve and speak when the moment comes. The changes weren’t dramatic or headline-making. But seeds were planted, not only in those they came to serve, but in themselves, as well.

And in God’s hands, even the smallest seeds can grow.

PART 2 – Red Frogs (by Laura Laaneorg and David Ritz)

Red Frogs is an international support network that exists to safeguard a generation. We do this by being a positive peer presence, to empower young people (ages 18-30) to make positive life choices and be a voice of change within their culture. Red Frogs has been active in Montreal for over 10 years now. The primary campus we serve is McGill University, but we are also building relationships with both anglophone and francophone campuses and CEGEPs (colleges of general and vocational education) in Montreal, that offer post-secondary programs required before university.

We get invited to events with a high alcohol presence. At a typical event, we have a station in the bar or club where people can get water or a snack or take a break in a “chill-zone.” We also help refer them to various practical or other services they may need, like first aid, Walksafe and Drivesafe programs to help them get home. We also proactively monitor the venue, watching out for students who need help but don’t make it to our table. To put it simply, we are sober best friends in alcohol-fuelled environments.

Not only are we serving the physical needs of students while they party by handing out water and food, but we also care for their emotional needs. This past August, we served at McGill’s Frosh event, which welcomes incoming first-year students to the campus and the city. A young woman came up to our table at the end of Frosh one night and shared that she was a student from the U.S. She said that when she was preparing to come to Montreal and participate in Frosh, she was anxious about being in club/bar environments because she felt inexperienced. The drinking age in the U.S. is 21, versus 18 in Quebec. She acknowledged that seeing us at the event made her feel more at peace in a new environment, knowing that there were people there to watch out for students’ safety and wellbeing.

In the last three to four years, our volunteers have had hundreds of conversations with students about their faith and the person of Jesus. We often see the same students at many events, giving us the opportunity to build relationships and walk alongside them. And not only are we engaging them, but they are engaging with us, curious about why and how we follow Jesus.

We have also had the amazing opportunity to host mission teams. In our yearly schedule, there are times when we are asked to be at more than 15 events over four to six days, and we are thankful for churches that send teams to help us fulfil those needs. While those mission teams undoubtedly help us, we have also heard that their time serving in Red Frogs has richly blessed them as well. One of our recent teams shared how their experience helped teach them that we often overcomplicate what outreach and mission look like; that something as simple as serving a glass of water can have an incredible impact when done with God.

Chrissy Krahn, Laura Laaneorg and David Ritz are Mission Canada workers in downtown Montreal. For more information on Red Frogs, visit https://ca.redfrogs.com. For more information on sending a mission team to Quebec, visit https://youtu.be/yFkljp8o7Ck, or visit YouTube.com and search “Short Term Missions Quebec - One week. Real mission. Lasting impact.” This article appeared in the April/May/June 2026 issue oftestimony/Enrich, a quarterly publication of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. © 2026 The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Photo above: A team from PORTICO Community Church enjoying a St. Jean Baptiste parade in 2023. Second photo: Stone Church team. Photos courtesy Chrissy Krahn.