Missions News
Our mission... To help the people of El Salvador Continued from page 1 to take on a mission was a slow one to reach flame. It took the efforts of my son and my wife, I’m sure prompted by God, to blow on the faint embers and get the fire really burning. But now I’m really excited about this opportunity to spread the good news in an impoverished nation and I want to share with the congregation some of the work our small team is planning to do with Scott and Melissa Williams in El Salvador. Basically we will be helping their established mission team there, the churches and children they serve through King’s Castle ministries. Learn more about this ministry at reachachild.ca/ We hope to help finish some agricultural projects in their camp, like a chicken coop and maybe a pig pen. And due to my lack of carpentry skills, I feel much better knowing John Van Belle will be in charge of that part of the work! We also hope to take part in a feeding project by supplying days worth of food to families in need. My wife Danielle, an RN, and pharmacy technicians Audrey Van Belle and Jean Lorish will be working at the medical Pray For Our Missionaries = Jonathan & Janice Barnhoorn – Wycliffe Translators based in Nigeria, City of Jos. = Kathy Michel & The Pregnancy Help Centre = Irving Whitt – PAOC (Theological Education)
clinic. Rounding out the trip, my children Isaac and Chloe will help anywhere possible, like myself and Mike Lorish, along with Craig Hutchins, Travis Van Belle and Gord Harper. Our goal is to take supplies and the donations we collect through fundraising to buy anything else we determine based on the needs we see there. If you feel moved to donate to this Emmnuel missions trip, the group would be honoured to accept any donation. Cheques should be made out to Emmanuel Community Church and mark on the enevelope that it is to be earmarked for the El Salvador team. Don’t put any other notes on the cheque and a tax receipt for anything over $20 will be issued. Outside of donations, there will be other opportunities to support our mission. We are looking for donations for our Yard Sale at the church on May 7. Contact myself or Danielle at 905-9858305 to arrange to make donations of any useful household items you would like to donate. = The Guskjolen’s – PAOC (Central America) = Julia Trotter – Africa Inland Mission = The Jesus Network - Toronto = Lkhagvadorj Badarch & Nergui Natsagdorj (Pastors in Mongolia with Asian Outreach) = Emmanuel around the world... Anna Teeninga (Korea).
The Missions Committee of Emmanuel Community Church are: Archie and Reta Barnhoorn, Lisa Guch, Audrey Van Belle, Mike Lorish and Cheryl Cornish Contact 905-985-2837, or e-mail [email protected] Missions newsletter by Dave Stell
Missions News
May 2011, Issue 2
Good
News
“We must never forget that there are people who have never heard a credible presentation of the good news. While many people have heard it many times, there are probably in excess of 1.5 billion people who have not yet had a chance to hear it once. As a matter of justice we must make the least reached people groups a priority when we allocate our resources. Lost people matter to God, so they must matter to us!” The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada website
Inside... ...James Guskjolen sees God’swork being done in Cuba ...The Williams are prepared for teams to come to El Salvador
Emmanuel Community Church is a missions-oriented church
El Salvador, here we come By Dave Stell, Missions Committee volunteer nly a month ago, June 30 and a trip to El Salvador looked like it was a long way away. With Junior Youth events and family activities and work, there was a lot to distract me from the fact that summer is getting closer every day. Even if the weather is doing its best to mask the change of seasons and delay spring. But with April coming to an end, the reality of El Salvador is starting to have its effect, and the calendar suddenly feels like time is picking up speed as the days go faster and faster. To be honest, at one time the idea of going to a foreign country was simply very low on my to-do list of prioriThe Stells ties. Personally, I’ve only left Canada a few times in my life and only ever to the United States until now. I have never felt that tug on my heart to see the wonders of the world and travel. That is, until now. And to remain completely honest, the fire in my heart Continued on back page
O
Here are other important dates to watch on the calendar: May 7- Yard Sale at ECC- bring your gently used items to Emmanuel - all proceeds go to the July El Salvador Missions trip May 21 - 7:30 p.m. - Stell Family fundrasier - at Latcham Centre Tuesday nights starting May 17- Cruising Car Classics BBQ’s in May & June at ECC - the missions team will be running the BBQ again this year to raise funds for the El Salvador trip. June 4- Bike-a-thon in Ajax- Rotary Park in Ajax. Another fundraising event for El Salvador. Everyone is welcome to enjoy a bike ride as well as the BBQ afterwards.
Our missionaries... Scott and Melissa Williams in El Salvador
Teams make an impact for Jesus By Scott Williams, King’s Castle Ministries With March comes the beginning of team season... and with teams come a massive impact on El Salvador for Jesus. We were blessed enough to have 3 teams come and work with us. Actually it was really 4 teams since one was divided into 2. They came, they saw and they conquered. It was amazing to see our living God work so dramatically through each and every member. In total there were 51 people. We built a classroom at a local church, gave away 250 food bags to those in desperate need...gave who knows how many toys to children, closed in our new agricultural chicken barn and supplied 100 baby chicks. They are so cute...but we can’t wait to send them to our children’s feeding programs in 6 weeks. Now we are already up to 400 chickens. As amazing as this is, the teams had an even greater and deeper impact on our country. With 3 simple teams, focused and empowered by Jesus Christ we saw physical healings, did 31 street ministry programs, shared the gospel with 2,310 people, prayed
for problems and/or healings with 634 people and had 906 people decide to give their lives to Jesus Christ! Now most of those people have been followed up on and are now in our discipleship programs.
The Williams family March was amazing and we thank God for every moment of it. After all that hard work, we get to enjoy the testimonies from the members who came and gave of their lives in March. God spoke to many of them, and who now are pursuing God in a new and fresh way. God has been doing so much here in El Salvador and we know that rest of 2011 is going to be an amazing testimony to the power and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We want to thank all of you for your prayers and financial support. Without you we could not do what God has called us to.
Our missionaries... James Guskjolen
Indellible impressions for in Cuba By James Guskjolen, In Central America
W
e all have extraordinary moments that leave indelible impressions. One such event occurred in late January. I had been invited to attend the General Conference of the Assemblies of God in Cuba. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I suspect it was less than what I encountered. I think you’d like to hear about it. In the South West of Cuba, not far from Guatanamo Bay I saw again the evidence of God’s power and favour. For over 50 years these people have experienced persecution and religious oppression. Most live in poverty, and their faith makes them ineligible to receive many benefits. This has not, however, weakened their faith, robbed their enthusiasm, or curtailed their activities. The Church in Cuba has never been stronger and continues to grow at what the devil might declare an alarming rate! In 1999, there were about 300 churches and meeting places. In 2006, approximately 3,000. At the end of 2010, the number stands at 8,886! Could it be that
God is up to something? I was witness to 100+ people being ordained into full-time ministry. Recently a government official suggested that the General Superintendent “stop making pastors.” His response was, “I don’t make pastors. God makes pastors. So I can’t stop it.”
James Guskjolen, left, with Joel, a former doctor now ordained. In partnership with Global University we, through PAOC Global Worker Gary Empey, have been able to distribute Kindles to every pastor in training. Theological books are difficult to get. They now carry an entire library in the palm of their hand, when in the past they did not even have a library. Most did not even have a book. I think this is cool!
Come out for fun on the bike trail
W
e are gearing up for the fourth Annual Bike-a-thon at Rotary Park in Ajax on June 4. We have once again booked the beautiful lakeside trail and the pavilion. The bike-a-thon is a fundraising event for the El Salvador missions trip. Everyone is welcome to join us for the Bike-a-thon as well as the BBQ afterwards. See you there.
clinic. Rounding out the trip, my children Isaac and Chloe will help anywhere possible, like myself and Mike Lorish, along with Craig Hutchins, Travis Van Belle and Gord Harper. Our goal is to take supplies and the donations we collect through fundraising to buy anything else we determine based on the needs we see there. If you feel moved to donate to this Emmnuel missions trip, the group would be honoured to accept any donation. Cheques should be made out to Emmanuel Community Church and mark on the enevelope that it is to be earmarked for the El Salvador team. Don’t put any other notes on the cheque and a tax receipt for anything over $20 will be issued. Outside of donations, there will be other opportunities to support our mission. We are looking for donations for our Yard Sale at the church on May 7. Contact myself or Danielle at 905-9858305 to arrange to make donations of any useful household items you would like to donate. = The Guskjolen’s – PAOC (Central America) = Julia Trotter – Africa Inland Mission = The Jesus Network - Toronto = Lkhagvadorj Badarch & Nergui Natsagdorj (Pastors in Mongolia with Asian Outreach) = Emmanuel around the world... Anna Teeninga (Korea).
The Missions Committee of Emmanuel Community Church are: Archie and Reta Barnhoorn, Lisa Guch, Audrey Van Belle, Mike Lorish and Cheryl Cornish Contact 905-985-2837, or e-mail [email protected] Missions newsletter by Dave Stell
Missions News
May 2011, Issue 2
Good
News
“We must never forget that there are people who have never heard a credible presentation of the good news. While many people have heard it many times, there are probably in excess of 1.5 billion people who have not yet had a chance to hear it once. As a matter of justice we must make the least reached people groups a priority when we allocate our resources. Lost people matter to God, so they must matter to us!” The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada website
Inside... ...James Guskjolen sees God’swork being done in Cuba ...The Williams are prepared for teams to come to El Salvador
Emmanuel Community Church is a missions-oriented church
El Salvador, here we come By Dave Stell, Missions Committee volunteer nly a month ago, June 30 and a trip to El Salvador looked like it was a long way away. With Junior Youth events and family activities and work, there was a lot to distract me from the fact that summer is getting closer every day. Even if the weather is doing its best to mask the change of seasons and delay spring. But with April coming to an end, the reality of El Salvador is starting to have its effect, and the calendar suddenly feels like time is picking up speed as the days go faster and faster. To be honest, at one time the idea of going to a foreign country was simply very low on my to-do list of prioriThe Stells ties. Personally, I’ve only left Canada a few times in my life and only ever to the United States until now. I have never felt that tug on my heart to see the wonders of the world and travel. That is, until now. And to remain completely honest, the fire in my heart Continued on back page
O
Here are other important dates to watch on the calendar: May 7- Yard Sale at ECC- bring your gently used items to Emmanuel - all proceeds go to the July El Salvador Missions trip May 21 - 7:30 p.m. - Stell Family fundrasier - at Latcham Centre Tuesday nights starting May 17- Cruising Car Classics BBQ’s in May & June at ECC - the missions team will be running the BBQ again this year to raise funds for the El Salvador trip. June 4- Bike-a-thon in Ajax- Rotary Park in Ajax. Another fundraising event for El Salvador. Everyone is welcome to enjoy a bike ride as well as the BBQ afterwards.
Our missionaries... Scott and Melissa Williams in El Salvador
Teams make an impact for Jesus By Scott Williams, King’s Castle Ministries With March comes the beginning of team season... and with teams come a massive impact on El Salvador for Jesus. We were blessed enough to have 3 teams come and work with us. Actually it was really 4 teams since one was divided into 2. They came, they saw and they conquered. It was amazing to see our living God work so dramatically through each and every member. In total there were 51 people. We built a classroom at a local church, gave away 250 food bags to those in desperate need...gave who knows how many toys to children, closed in our new agricultural chicken barn and supplied 100 baby chicks. They are so cute...but we can’t wait to send them to our children’s feeding programs in 6 weeks. Now we are already up to 400 chickens. As amazing as this is, the teams had an even greater and deeper impact on our country. With 3 simple teams, focused and empowered by Jesus Christ we saw physical healings, did 31 street ministry programs, shared the gospel with 2,310 people, prayed
for problems and/or healings with 634 people and had 906 people decide to give their lives to Jesus Christ! Now most of those people have been followed up on and are now in our discipleship programs.
The Williams family March was amazing and we thank God for every moment of it. After all that hard work, we get to enjoy the testimonies from the members who came and gave of their lives in March. God spoke to many of them, and who now are pursuing God in a new and fresh way. God has been doing so much here in El Salvador and we know that rest of 2011 is going to be an amazing testimony to the power and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We want to thank all of you for your prayers and financial support. Without you we could not do what God has called us to.
Our missionaries... James Guskjolen
Indellible impressions for in Cuba By James Guskjolen, In Central America
W
e all have extraordinary moments that leave indelible impressions. One such event occurred in late January. I had been invited to attend the General Conference of the Assemblies of God in Cuba. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I suspect it was less than what I encountered. I think you’d like to hear about it. In the South West of Cuba, not far from Guatanamo Bay I saw again the evidence of God’s power and favour. For over 50 years these people have experienced persecution and religious oppression. Most live in poverty, and their faith makes them ineligible to receive many benefits. This has not, however, weakened their faith, robbed their enthusiasm, or curtailed their activities. The Church in Cuba has never been stronger and continues to grow at what the devil might declare an alarming rate! In 1999, there were about 300 churches and meeting places. In 2006, approximately 3,000. At the end of 2010, the number stands at 8,886! Could it be that
God is up to something? I was witness to 100+ people being ordained into full-time ministry. Recently a government official suggested that the General Superintendent “stop making pastors.” His response was, “I don’t make pastors. God makes pastors. So I can’t stop it.”
James Guskjolen, left, with Joel, a former doctor now ordained. In partnership with Global University we, through PAOC Global Worker Gary Empey, have been able to distribute Kindles to every pastor in training. Theological books are difficult to get. They now carry an entire library in the palm of their hand, when in the past they did not even have a library. Most did not even have a book. I think this is cool!
Come out for fun on the bike trail
W
e are gearing up for the fourth Annual Bike-a-thon at Rotary Park in Ajax on June 4. We have once again booked the beautiful lakeside trail and the pavilion. The bike-a-thon is a fundraising event for the El Salvador missions trip. Everyone is welcome to join us for the Bike-a-thon as well as the BBQ afterwards. See you there.
