Mission Speakers

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Participants for Sabeel International Young Adults Conference

Jerusalem, The West Bank, & Gaza, 2008

Canadian Friends of Sabeel, a partner of KAIROS Canada, invited young adults to join a five week witness visit to Jerusalem, the West Bank and Jordan. The participants attended a one week conference examining justice issues in the Middle East and providing a networking opportunity for Christians from around the world. The following two participants from last summer are available to speak on their experiences:

Laura Ashfield (Waterloo, Ontario)

Laura Ashfield recently completed her BA in Global Studies at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. She has been a member of many on and off campus organizations for social change. Laura is also an avid down-hill skier and snowboarder. She is currently an active member of Knox Presbyterian Church, in Waterloo.   

XVII International AIDS Conference

Mexico City, Mexico (July 31st – August 8th, 2008)

A group of five Canadian Presbyterian youth attended the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. They learned about HIV and AIDS from academics, advocates, health care workers, and policy makers from around the world. An ecumenical pre-conference gave the group the opportunity to learn about these issues from a faith perspective.

• Adam Hall (Calgary, Alberta)
• Michelle Verwey (Victoria, British Columbia)
• Kristen Hazlett (Toronto, Ontario)
• Fiona Mackenzie (Edmonton, Alberta)
• Stephanie Symington (Calgary, Alberta)

AMITY Foundation

Summer English Programme in China

The Amity Summer English Programme (SEP) helps Chinese Middle School teachers from small cities and rural areas improve their English. Canadian volunteers teach a 4-week intensive English course as they experience and learn about life in China. 

• Rev. Victor Kim (Calgary, Alberta)
• David & Anne Phillips (Uxbridge, Ontario)
• Rev. Noel Gordon (Newcastle, Ontario)

Mexico/Arizona

Borderlinks: Migrant Study Tour (October 2007)

The participants on the Migrant Study Tour learned about the struggles faced by migrant workers first hand from migrants on the Mexican/US border. They will share with you these stories in their reflections on the experience and the people they met there.

• Patricia Shaver (London, Ontario)
• Leslie Walker (Calgary, Alberta)
• Randy Purdy (Owen Sound, Ontario)
• Mark Gedcke (Kitchener, Ontario)
• Geoff Olsen (Toronto, Ontario)

Nicaragua

Canadian Food Grains Bank: Food Security Tour (November, 2007)

The participants on the Canadian Food Grains Bank (CFGB) study tour to Nicaragua visited two partner organizations working to prevent hunger in Nicaragua: CEPAD and SOYNICA supported by PWS&D and the CFGB. They learned how the CFGB and PCC are helping address root causes of hunger through their programs in Nicaragua. The trip was facilitated and lead by PCC missionary, Denise Van Wissen.

• Carol Morrison (Truro, Nova Scotia)

PCC International Short-Term Mission Trip Participants

Every year a number of groups visit Presbyterian Church in Canada partners to learn about and support their work. When they are there they discover the important work being accomplished by Presbyterians Sharing and Presbyterian World Service & Development. Many members of these trips are eager to share what they have learned with you.

• Guatemala, May 2008 ~ BC Synod Trip
• Gulf coast, USA, May 2008 ~ Youth in Mission
• India, Summer 2008 ~ Youth in Mission
• Guyana, Summer 2008  ~  St. Andrew’s Streetsville; Ontario
• Ukraine, Summer 2008 ~ Youth in Mission
• Guatemala, Summer 2008 ~ Chedoke, Ancaster, Alberton, Carluke & Binbrook; Ontario
• Mistawassis, Saskatchewan, Summer 2008 ~ Youth in Mission
• Crestin and Vancouver, British Columbia, August 2009 ~ Youth in Mission
• Taiwan, November 2008 ~ Kincardine; Ontario
• Guatemala, April/May 2009 ~ Ancaster, Chedoke; Ontario
• Ukraine & Hungary, April/May 2009 ~ Peterborough area churches, Ontario
• Malawi, May 2009 ~ Collingwood area churches, Ontario
• Ukraine, Hungary & Romania, June 2009 ~ Atlantic Missionary Society
   

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Purpose

• To raise awareness of how our church carries out the work of God’s mission in Canada and around the world.
• To strengthen the bond between Canadian Presbyterians and our church partners.
• To experience the power of Christ’s love as exemplified in the lives of our church partners, and to learn from their stories.
• To deepen the understanding of mission so that people will become engaged in mission — locally, in Canada and internationally.
• To help people understand how their prayers and financial support of Presbyterians Sharing... and PWS&D further the mission work of our church.

Cost

• The costs of travel, food, lodgings and administration for speakers are incurred by the Education for Mission and Stewardship department. As such, any monetary contributions can be directed to “the Presbyterian Church in Canada” and put to the attention of Margaret Zondo.
• The suggested minimum donation for having a speaker visit your congregation is $150.

Steps

• Read up on the speakers list to find out who is currently available.
• Consult with others in the congregation about the projects and partnerships they are interested in hearing more about.
• Consult with session and with the minister about an appropriate date and time of year to have a guest speaker.
• Contact the mission interpretation coordinator 416-441-1111 (ext. 254) or mzondo@presbyterian.ca to request a particular speaker.
• When speaker is confirmed, announce the date and topic in your congregation.
• Begin to advertise; bulletin inserts, announcements to the congregation, postings on common bulletin boards etc.

Some Helpful Definitions

Presbyterians Sharing

Presbyterians Sharing is the name of the fund that supports the mission and ministries of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. This fund supports our ministries internationally and in Canada. It provides funding for our theological colleges, justice and ecumenical work, the meeting of the General Assembly. Through it, local congregations receive assistance in areas of ministry such as Christian education, worship, stewardship, mission education, evangelism and youth ministries. Presbyterians Sharing is supported by financial contributions from congregations (through a system of allocations) and from individuals. Presbyterians Sharing also receives funding from the Women’s Missionary Society (WMS) and the Atlantic Mission Society (AMS).

Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D)

PWS&D is the development agency of our church. It depends on the donations from the Presbyterian church family — individuals and congregations. It receives no money from Presbyterians Sharing. PWS&D receives program funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) which provides matching grants of 3 to 1 for certain community development programming and 4 to 1 for emergency relief.

Canadian Foodgrains Bank

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 13 Canadian churches that is helping break the cycle of recurring hunger. It provides grain and other raw agricultural commodities to those who need them most and works directly with indigenous people to find and implement long-term solutions to hunger.

Gifts of Change

Gifts of Change is a resource that provides information about special projects of our church partners that congregations, church groups, and individuals can fund over and above their regular mission giving to Presbyterians Sharing.