New Canadian Church Planters
Marc Nzikobari is an African pastor who came to Canada 5 years ago. He is from Burundi, a relatively small country with a population of less than 10 million people, Burundi is found between Congo, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Having had theological education in Africa and been in church ministry for more than 15 years, Marc sensed God’s calling to Canada.
Now in Toronto, as a bi-vocational pastor, which means to have a day job in addition to ministry, Marc is pastoring a house church he planted among Burundian community. The Burundian community in Toronto is quite small in number, and many Torontonians would not even know that it exists in Toronto. Marc, however, within only 2 years of his ministry in Toronto, was able to plant the house church and start his vibrant outreach ministry among Burundian families.
Pastor Marc represents the reality that church growth in Toronto and Canada is growing fastest among the immigrant population. Recognizing this reality TIM Centre is working with NCCP’s to resource and equip them for effective ministry in their newly adopted country of Canada.
As newcomers to Canada, often times, New Canadian Church Planters lack resources for life and ministry. However, the experience and passion in church planting, in addition to the knowledge of specific culture and language, give NCCPs potential for their ministry in Canada.
The Ministry Vision Of New Canadian Church Planters
NCCPs are doing ‘missions to the diasporas’ by reaching out to members of their linguistic and ethnic groups and planting churches among them. As Marc’s example in the introduction of this paper shows, the immigrant church planters are effective in finding a network of ethnic groups and reaching out to people of their own ethnic origin.
NCCPs are engaged in ‘missions through the diasporas.’ NCCP’s evangelize their kinsmen in their home country or diaspora in other countries. For example, one Punjabi church in Calgary, which was planted many years ago by a Punjabi NCCP, is involved in recording the Punjabi audio Bible and updating the translation of the Punjabi language Bible. Partnering with the Bible Society, these translation projects will be shared with Punjabi speakers worldwide.
NCCP’s are practicing ‘missions beyond the diasporas.’ They have vision for not only reaching out to their own ethnic groups but also to broader Canadian community. These NCCPs and their churches choose to become intercultural in ministry. Green Hills Christian Fellowship Toronto Church, which was planted by a Filipino pastor in 2007 and planted 5 other churches in its first four year, shares a vision with its planted churches to be missional and multicultural. These churches are intentionally crossing the ethnic boundary in ministry.
How is UReach Calgary Helping New Canadian Church Planters?
- UReach Calgary is partnering with the Canadian Bible Society in conducting a research project to connect with the many NCCP in Calgary. We are working to bring leaders together for fellowship, encouragement and training.
- UReach Calgary partners with DAI Canada to provide Biblically based leadership training for NCCPs.
- UReach Calgary partners with the TIM Centre in Toronto which has developed a Leadership Development Diploma program to equip NCCPs for effective ministry in the Canadian context. Learn more!
- UReach Calgary seeks to provide practical resources to assist NCCP and their churches engage more effectively with new immigrants (Finding Our Way) and with the broader Canadian culture through intercultural training in partnership with the Jaffray Centre. Learn more about our Intercultural Training resources.
How you Help New Canadian Church Planters?
- Adopt a NCCP leader. Pray for him/her, their family and ministry.
- Get to know an NCCP leader personally. Have them for a meal.
- Visit their church and encourage them in their ministry.
- Provide a small scholarship enabling them to take further theological training.
- Give a donation to UReach Calgary so that we can expand our ministry to NCCP’s.
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