At Work in the World

Read More A MOST PROMISING OPPORTUNITY International Missions A MOST PROMISING OPPORTUNITY
There was a popular song in the 80s, The Greatest Love of All, which contained undeniable truths: “I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.” These sentiments are fully aligned with the teachings of Jesus about children, and few would dare to argue otherwise. Here is the challenge: how do we as leaders build a church our children w...
Read More A POWERFUL INFLUENCE ERDO A POWERFUL INFLUENCE
It begins with a child. A child like Jeison, who lives in Honduras. Two years ago he was a lethargic shadow, sitting on the sidelines while the other children played. He was listless and thin, attending school but not able to fully participate because he was malnourished, which affected his ability to concentrate. Recently, Schools of Hope through ChildCARE Plus began sponsoring children at his school, and Jeison was put at the top of the list. When a team from Bethel Pentecostal Church in Stra...
Read More HANGRY, ANYONE? Mission Canada HANGRY, ANYONE?
If you have spent any time with me at all, you will know why my family affectionately calls me “the daughter who loves to eat.” The truth is, I love food. My love of food is so strong that if I unintentionally miss any kind of meal, I will be feeling it—my glucose levels drop quickly, and instantly it feels like I am no longer seeing the world through rose-coloured lenses. My husband noticed this terrible trend quickly—in fact, one day into our marriage. He immediately le...
Read More ZOE PROJECTS International Missions ZOE PROJECTS
ZOE Projects is an initiative launched by the International Missions department of the PAOC. It consists of a network of Canadian churches that cares deeply about reaching, equipping and caring for women around the world. Keith Waara, the director of development and strategic initiatives for International Missions, interviewed Leanne McAlister, the Canadian liaison for ZOE Projects. Keith Waara (KW): Tell us about how ZOE Projects got started. Leanne McAlister (LM): Things began to stir in my ...
Read More KISS THE CAMEL GOOD NIGHT ERDO KISS THE CAMEL GOOD NIGHT
In an area of northern Kenya, a lone woman looks up from the dry earth to the evening sky, gives thanks, and kisses her camel good night. The woman, Waru, experienced the pain and loss of widowhood three years ago when men burst into her house and killed her husband while the family was eating a meal. Within moments, Waru and her four children became impoverished, grief-stricken outcasts. As tradition dictates, all of the family assets went to her husband’s family, and Waru was left to ...
Read More A DIFFERENT HARVEST ERDO A DIFFERENT HARVEST
Hunger is a formidable enemy. It robs people of their energy, and ultimately their health. Each day at least 842 million people worldwide struggle with this adversary because they don’t have access to adequate food to live healthy lives. This leads to undernutrition, and ultimately malnutrition, and sufferers have no resources to fight disease. Children who are poorly nourished suffer up to 160 days of illness each year. They are more susceptible to diseases like measles and malaria. Poo...
Read More TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT International Missions TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
After 25 years of serving on the board of Voice of the Martyrs Canada, I was accustomed to hearing stories about the persecuted church. I have spent time with Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned for his faith and tortured many times. But, frankly, I had zero personal experience.  Even as a part-time PAOC global worker focusing on a Muslim-dominated nation, I had always been protected and generally welcomed, especially since I had helped with water wells and other humanitarian work. Recent...
Read More FOR THE LOVE OF MISSIONS Mission Canada FOR THE LOVE OF MISSIONS
Sara Curdie serves as the missions pastor at First Assembly Church in Calgary, Alberta. She encourages us to consider how we can be a part of God’s quest to reach souls for Christ in our communities, our nation, and the rest of the world—not as a one-time event, but as a lifestyle.  t: How was your passion for missions ignited? SC: Youth group mission trips were the launching pad. Once I started, I couldn’t get enough. After doing various short-term trips, I served with ...
Read More STAYING THE COURSE International Missions STAYING THE COURSE
We no longer live in the age when missionaries would purchase one-way boat tickets and pack their belongings in their own casket. Nowadays, travelling back from the field for a short trip is easier than ever, so the traditional one-year furlough after four years on the field is giving way to shorter but more frequent trips, now more aptly named “Home Missions Assignments” (HMAs). In addition to the increased frequency of routine HMAs, there are many other valid reasons why globa...
Read More MILITARY CHAPLAINCY Mission Canada MILITARY CHAPLAINCY
Kevin Olive, an officer in the Canadian military, has served as a chaplain since 2008. He returned last March from Operation ATTENTION, serving as the last Canadian chaplain in Afghanistan. Here’s a look at how God uses him to minister to the needs of soldiers in a multi-faith environment. t: What led to your passion for military chaplaincy? KO: My father was in the military for 30 years. While living in Base Borden, I was invited to a youth meeting at Hi-Way Pentecostal Church in Barrie,...