Do you remember the first time you came to Canada? Do you recall the funny, the puzzling, the downright fearful moments when it finally hits you- You are now living in a new country and are beginning to experience a new way of living? Do you have an interest to draw or sketch or paint what that initial feeling was like? We would love to hear from you! If you love to draw and would like to send us at: interculturalnetwork@powertochange.org a 10cm x 10cm black and white illustration electronically as a jpeg, tiff or png file, we would love to hear from you and publish these visual immigrant stories on this site.

Langley, B.C. – (January 14, 2010) – After Haiti was rocked by a 7.0 quake on Tuesday, Power to Change is responding to the devastation with immediate financial aid and emergency response supplies.

Through the humanitarian division, Global Aid Network, Canada (GAiN), relief efforts are beginning. The national director in Haiti, Esperandieu Pierre, is operational on the ground and deeply connected to a distribution network of churches and volunteers in the country.

In a phone interview with staff in Langley, BC on Wednesday Pierre spoke of not knowing where his family was. “I am not alone in this situation,” he said. “I choose to believe God that my wife and children are fine and that I will be able to hug them when I get home.” He also expressed his thanks for those in Canada who are supporting his country at this time. “You let me know that we are not alone in this situation. It is a big spiritual boost and encouragement. Thank you very much.” On Thursday we received word that Pierre’s family had been found and were safe.

Esperandieu’s team and network of churches and volunteers are there on the ground helping now. GAiN is ready to deploy and distribute eight containers, each totaling $100,000 (CAN) worth of emergency relief supplies to Haiti. These containers are packed with food, medical supplies, water purifying tablets and other emergency response provisions. Six additional containers will be packed and shipped as soon as possible.

The Red Cross estimates 3,000,000 people are displaced and up to 50,000 people may have died with thousands more still trapped under rubble. GAiN is coordinating efforts to help immediately and long-term in Haiti. GAiN’s disaster response specialist, and Canadian GAiN representatives will arrive in the country as early as Friday.  A trauma counselor will follow to help with ongoing relief efforts as the needs escalate.

As the team in Haiti begins to mobilize, Power to Change is in need of urgent financial contributions in order to respond to the needs of the Haitians. Without immediate food, water and medical supplies to treat the injured, many more will die.

Donations can be made online at powertochange.org or by phone at 1.800.563.1106.

Diasporas: People on the Move

How can we better reach “people on the move”?

1. Rethink “Diaspora” as part of God’s sovereign design to accomplish His mission ( i.e. Missio Dei). When we think of Diaspora Missions it cannot be categorized as “Local Ministries” or “Foreign Ministries.”  Rather, it is “GLOCAL” – here and there simultaneously; affirmed and supported equally by word and deed.
2. Teach our congregations to be hospitable. Here’s an example from Canada:  The most recent statistics from Canada Citizenship and Immigration indicate that in 2007 alone, Canada:

• welcomed 302,303 foreign workers as temporary migrant workers
• granted initial entry to 233,971 foreign students
• welcomed 27,956 refugees
• granted 236,758 people permission to make Canada their home as permanent immigrants.  Of these, the Top Ten Source Countries for Permanent Immigrants were (in descending order): China, India, Philippines, USA, Pakistan, UK, Iran, South Korea, France, and Columbia.

Canada continues to welcome immigrants in the thousands.  Find out how many immigrants came into your country in recent years, and you will be amazed.  Are these not the very people we are trying to reach “out there”?

1. Build awareness. We need to educate our congregations to be effectively relational in our “global neighborhood.”  We need to try the new Somalian restaurant (for example) and then invite our friends there to expose them to the culture of our new neighbours.  It is important for Christians to build cultural awareness that will result to authentic relationships making them credible witnesses for Jesus Christ.
2. Come up with more “creative ministries.” Pearson International Airport (Toronto), for example, receives three packed Emirates Airbuses A380 (this is the largest passenger aircraft and seats up to 853 people) flights a week.  Simple math:  853x 3 flights/week x 52weeks/year =133,068 passengers/year on Emirates Airlines alone!  Most of the passengers are coming from the Gulf region.  Do we have a strategy to reach these “people on the move” who are tourists, businessmen, international students, and new immigrants?  These are the very people our International Workers are trying to minister to “over there.”  On the subject of creative ministries – in recent years, Filipino International Network (FIN) brokered a partnership between Operation Mobilisation, Campus Crusade for Christ, the Seamen’s Christian Friends Society, the Alliance Graduate School in Manila, and FIN.  This partnership formed Alliance of Churches at Sea (ACAS).  Since Filipinos compose over 25% of the global maritime workers, ACAS has been training Filipino seafarers to plant churches on board cruise ships, super tankers, and container ships among “people on the ocean.”  In such a short period of time, we have now churches on the ocean!  This is a case of a multi-directional and trans-national approach to church planting.
3. Accelerate formal and non-formal trainings for our future pastors, international workers and lay leaders to prepare them for ministry in our “borderless” world.
4. Pray for the “people on the move.”  Also pray for the people ministering to them.
5. Accelerate formal and non-formal trainings for our future pastors, international workers and lay leaders to prepare them for ministry in our “borderless” world.
6. Pray for the “people on the move.”  Also pray for the people ministering to them.

Excerpt taken from an article written by Sadiri Joy Tira (D.Min., D.Miss.) is the LCWE Senior Associate for Diasporas, the Global Ministries Diaspora Specialist for the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, and the International Coordinator for the Filipino International Network.

Read the rest of the article here