2024: A Year in Review
Happy New Year from CIM Canada. We wish you the best for 2025 as we celebrate New Year and also Chinese New Year this month.
It has been a difficult year for CIM Ministries in 2024. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, inflation and drought has wreaked havoc for our ministries in Ghana and Togo, and financially, we have been going through trying times with less donors. It was also the first complete year that we have not had an administrative assistant after Flora Loong resigned in November, 2023 due to health concerns. Also, in March 2024, Pastor Matthieu Ayena stepped down as the Director of Togo Ministries.
From the beginning of 2024, the board of directors at CIM Ministries did a thorough evaluation of our ministry efforts in Togo. Though we remain committed to our partnership with EGCT, unfortunately due to financial constraints, it was with a heavy heart that we had to lay Pastor Matthieu off. Initially, he was planning to retire in 2025 partially due to health concerns but in laying him off, Pastor Matthieu was able to receive certain government benefits for a limited time. Pastor Matthieu served with CIM for 14 years and we express our deepest gratitude to him. In September, I was able to travel to Atakpame, Togo to meet with the leaders of EGCT and explained the situation to them in detail.
With the war continuing in Ukraine, we have not been able to travel there officially. Travel insurance can not be obtained and as soon as you cross the border into Ukraine, life insurance becomes void for one is knowingly and willingly going into a war zone. Though we continue to support the ministries of House of Mercy, we have begun to explore other Roma Ministry opportunities. In April, I attended the 4th Roma Networks International Conference in Albania. After the Conference, I visited Roma settlements in Albania, North Macedonia, and Greece. I also met up with Pastor Miki from Serbia.
The economy and inflation continue to affect our ministries in Ghana. Most of the pastors and teachers that we support there has to rely on farming to feed their families. Unfortunately, a severe drought has hampered the growing of crops. As a result, it has been very difficult for the pastors and teachers to earn a living. During my visit to Ghana in September, I was able to visit with all our supported pastors, school coordinators, and church leaders and saw first-hand the effects of their situation. One pastor did not have electricity for one full year and another can only visit one of his preaching points once a year because of the cost of petrol. CIM continues to uphold our values of supporting new pastors, new church plants, training of new pastors, and encouraging local churches to support their pastors.
Currently we are supporting 9 pastors and 3 mission schools in Ghana and a ministry worker and 5 Roma pastors in Ukraine. We pray for donors to help to adopt more of these ministries.
We will continue our emphasis on cross-cultural missions. We have always placed an importance on the training and support of local pastors by sending pastors to teach in Bible school settings, supporting local pastors through scholarships and helping to finance Bible School training courses. Our emphasis will be in the training of these pastors and teachers through various funds and teaching opportunities online through platforms like Zoom. We are also expanding our Roma Ministries to North Macedonia and Serbia.
We look forward to 2025 to see how God will work through us. There are many uncertainties, but one thing never changes. God is in control and for that, we give praise. Possible trips for myself in 2025 includes an invitation from CIM Australia to speak at churches and camps in April-May, 2025, STM trip to Roma communities in the summer or autumn of 2025 and 2 STM teams to Ghana in the late summer or early autumn of 2025.
(With 2024 board of directors and staff during our AGM in Montreal)
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Rev. Isaac Quan
Executive Director for CIM Ministries
December Financials 2024
1. General Fund - for general and administrative purposes, such as staff salaries
2. Designated Fund - for specific ministries in different field locations as designated (cannot be transferred between funds)
*All financial figures are in Canadian dollars and rounded to the nearest dollar
Pray With Us:
Please continue to pray for peace in Ukraine. The invasion rages on and innocent lives are lost each day. Pray for House of Mercy as they take care of refugees, physically and spiritually. The war has intensified as Ukraine has invaded Russia for several months now. North Korea has also started supporting Russia by sending soldiers to fight against Ukraine.
Pray for guidance and direction for our next steps for our Roma Ministry. Pray for the planning of sending an exploratory STM team to North Macedonia and Serbia.
Pray for the pastors and teachers that we support in Ghana. Pray for fruitful ministry and God’s provision for each pastor’s family needs.
Pray for Janice in Ghana as she continues with her ministry after her maternity leave. Pray that she can find balance between her work with CIM, schooling and caring for Lucy. Pray for her residence permit renewal and indefinite residence application to be approved in a timely manner. Pray for Enoch’s family for the preparations of his Dad’s funeral in February.
Pray for the new board of directors for 2025, Robert Pang, Kim Uong, and Rev./Dr. Douglas Wong. Pray also for Rich Ng and Ann Lee whose terms were up at the end of 2024. Pray for God’s leading as they serve the Lord in other ministries.
Pray for the finances of CIM Ministries. Pray for new donors and a healthy general fund to run our ministries. In order to run our ministries effectively, we are currently seeking monthly donors. We encourage donors to give to our General Fund so we can distribute the funds where the needs are the greatest. Click here to donate.
Pray for CIM USA as they are still looking for an Executive Director and Director of Ministry.