Continue to be Obedient
The mission of God is to deliver people from sin and bring them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. As a missions organization, CIM Canada is called to do missions which are the plans of committed believers to accomplish the mission of God. Everything that we do as a missions organization is to fulfil this task. The mission of God is the theological anchor of missions. Missions are proclaiming and bearing witness to the love and reign of God through the lives of His children.
The year 2020 has been a tough one on most missions organizations including CIM Canada. What I mean is that we have had to cancel all of our STM trips; our “usual” ministry on the field has been grounded to a halt because of pandemic restrictions and donations to the ministry have declined. It could even be somewhat depressing as it seems like we are in a “holding” pattern until an effective vaccine for COVID-19 is produced, distributed efficiently worldwide, and people feel safe to meet in larger groups and travel internationally again.
Memories from our many short-term missions trips throughout the years.
Despite everything, the mission of God still needs to be carried out. The missions component or the plans to accomplish the mission however can be constantly changing. With “normal” missions activities not feasible at the moment, we need to be flexible and adaptable with whatever situation we are in. Because there are many uncertainties with the ongoing pandemic, we have had to adjust accordingly. For now, we have had to adapt to a more digital platform. Almost all our meetings are being held online instead of in person. We have revamped our webpage to make it more user friendly (read last month’s news update for more information) and we continue to seek God’s guidance as to how to do missions in a COVID-19 and post COVID-19 world.
In Kairos: God, the Church and the World, Max W. Chismon (International Director of Living Springs International and International Coordinator for the Kairos missions course) writes, “A threefold strategy has emerged in regards to God’s redemptive purpose… Firstly, we are to reach humankind, not as one vast mass, but as multitudes of separate cultural groups… Secondly, God would work through chosen human agents. Thirdly, God is choosing to reach mankind, not just in one location, but in scattered geographical regions.”
This threefold strategy for world evangelization which is consistent throughout both the Old and New Testament will remain until the second Coming of our Lord. Practically speaking, based on the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus told His followers to make disciples of all nations. Secondly, Jesus told His disciples to “Go”, which is an action step based on faith and thirdly, Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world. (Mk. 16:15)
In our CIM family which includes CIM USA, CIM Australia, and CIM Hong Kong, not only are we sharing the gospel in Ghana, Togo, and to the Roma people group, but also in Brazil, South Africa, and Cambodia. We are part of a global effort, as disciples of Jesus Christ, to go into the world to make disciples of all nations.
Although, physically speaking, we can not “go” right now, we were blessed to have our international worker, Janice Wong, move to Ghana in January before the lockdowns were enforced. She has completed her 6 months of Twi study and is staying at the Evangelical Church of Ghana Conference Training Centre in Nyankpala, Ghana. Due to the pandemic, primary students will not return to classes until January 2021 at the earliest, so Janice has been working with students teaching math and literacy using “The Greatest Story Ever Told” (a journey through the Bible). Disciples are being trained for the Lord even at a very young age. In time we will be able to send teams again, but for now we continue to trust in the Lord, to do His work, and to use us as human agents.
As Christians, we already know the final outcome. In Revelation 5 and 7, we see all nations represented in God’s Kingdom at the end of this age. In Revelation 21 and 22, with the new heaven and earth in existence, we see the complete healing and restoration of all nations. What a glorious sight and how great a feeling, to be part of the victory. For now, we continue to be obedient, doing the work of the Lord.
If you would like more information about our organization, please do not hesitate to email us at contact@cimcanada.org
God bless and stay safe.
Rev. Isaac Quan
Executive Director for CIM Canada
August Financials
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:
Pray for the ministries of CIM, not only in Ghana, Togo, and to the Roma people group, but also for the ministries in South Africa, Brazil, and Cambodia through our CIM family in the USA, Australia, and Hong Kong.
Pray that there will be more prayer warriors and financial donors so that we can effectively do the ministries that God has called us to do.
Pray for our upcoming CIM Canada’s Board of Director meetings in November. Pray for God’s guidance as we seek His direction in 2021.
The New Life School and ECG school complex in Tamale, Ghana is now officially under the jurisdiction of Evangelical Church of Ghana. The handover ceremony (from the Siu’s (WEC) to ECG) took place on September 5. Pray for a smooth transition.
Praise God that the borehole project in Bimbilla, Ghana is nearing completion. Pray that the rest of the project will go smoothly.
Pray for Pastor Vlad as he leads the Roma ministry in Ukraine. He has been training Roma pastors in various settlements but because of the pandemic and the different restrictions it has been difficult to meet on a regular basis.