 The Joshua Project continues to do essential research on the unreached people groups of the world. Started in 1995, the project continues to discover the number of evangelicals among the 16,508 identified people groups of the world. Among the 236 countries of the world, 6,686 of the people groups are classified as “unreached”. How does the Joshua Project define whether a people group (16,508) or ethnic group (9,803) is reached or unreached? There are five classifications:    Table reproduced from https://joshuaproject.net/global/progress, current as of June 12, 2018. Let’s briefly look at one of these classifications more closely. Classification #2: Formerly or Falsely Reached Peoples “Formerly or Falsely reached peoples” who identify as Christian but there are few evangelicals.
 THIS IS QUEBEC The classification defined above describes Francophone Canadians (7.8 million), with only 0.8% self-identifying themselves as evangelicals. Their low evangelical percentage and high professing Christian percentage has actually inoculated many against the Gospel; often even becoming hostile to the Gospel. Many think they know Christianity, but they only know a distorted caricature of the real thing. French Canadians need to be re-introduced to Biblical Christianity. They must meet and witness devoted followers of Christ in their communities. It is for this reason the Fellowship’s AÉBÉQ (French) Region asked our Fellowship International ministry to send workers to Quebec. Two couples have heard the call and need you and our churches’ partnership and support. Introducing the Nielsens and Middletons  Eric and Valerie Nielsen will be moving to Quebec to make disciples and help plant Gospel-proclaiming churches in Montreal with impact on the world. They will serve alongside other leaders, providing supportive leadership within a core team of new French-speaking church plants in Montreal, disciple believers, and build up future leaders for Gospel impact.  Chris and Sara are moving to Quebec this summer as Fellowship International missionaries to catalyze disciple-making movements among Francophones. As they serve they will also be filling the role of field leaders for this new mission field for Fellowship International (recruiting, mentoring, and leading Fellowship International personnel in Quebec). Please prayerfully consider support of the Nielsens and/or Middletons who will be missionaries among a “formerly reached people group” – Canadians who happen to speak French.
To find out more about the Nielsens and/or Middletons click HERE. QUEBEC VISION TOUR (October 15-17, 2018) Twice annually I take pastors, leaders and donors to tour Quebec church plants for two days. It’s an opportunity to see the huge spiritual need and consider partnering with a French church plant for several years. If interested, check out this VIDEO and contact me HERE. Have a blessed week, Steve Jones
0 Comments
Over the past couple months I have crossed our country, participating in the Fellowship’s five Regional conferences. I am always encouraged by the stories I hear about God’s goodness in our local churches. Our Pacific Region shared their vision to start 30 church plants by 2022. The Prairies Region reported an 18-month old Calgary church plant whose attendance already exceeds 200. FEB Central reported dozens of church plants with a vision to plant 300 by 2030. Our Quebec (AÉBÉQ) Region envisions 30 new plants. Fellowship Atlantic reported one of its three church plants has baptized over 30 new believers since beginning two and a half years ago. God is so good! How many churches in the Fellowship? Each July I share the current number of local churches that make up our Fellowship of churches. This year’s numbers are: Region Number of Local Churches Atlantic 20 AÉBÉQ 80 FEB Central 276 Prairies 28 Pacific 98 Total 502 Regional Conference Reports  Fellowship Atlantic Regional Conference May 11-12, 2018 Lunenburg, NS Interim Regional Director: Frank Kohler The Atlantic Regional conference was held at Faith Baptist in Lunenburg, with 70 in attendance, representing 16 of our 20 churches; a record high percentage. Our theme was Church Health, encapsulated in the word ‘Revitalization’. Three main speakers from the Region approached this title from (1) the role of history, (2) the role of prayer and the Word and (3) the impact of revitalization in the world around us. Workshops were offered in other time-slots. The business session, national and international presentations, and church planters rounded out the 24 hours of content. The times of fellowship around meals and snacks were treasured by all the attendees.  AÉBÉQ Regional Conference June 7-8 2018 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC Regional Director: Louis Bourque The grace of God for our beautiful province was once again demonstrated at our convention which took place on June 7th and 8th. More than 160 people were present, including 92 delegates from 44 churches. Our communications team produced several inspirational videos and our reports broke new ground this year. We presented “Mission Québec”, a collective based on shared values and contributing to the movement of the Gospel in Quebec and the French-speaking world. By the same token, we launched the first magazine under the name “Mission Québec”. To God be the glory!
Despite the snow, ice storms, and freezing rain that showered our area, our FEB Central Regional Conference had near record attendance this year. Sam Allberry's topic of Jesus, Sexuality and the Good News of the Gospel was relevant and timely as increasing numbers of churches navigate the waters of gender identity and same-sex attraction. For those interested in his sessions you can click here to access them. We also featured a panel discussion to address some common questions in the area of LGBTQ, and hosted four unique workshops designed to equip you as you serve in your church. God is on the move in our Region. We were encouraged by church planting updates from Tom Haines, Darryl Dash, Bechara Karkafi, and Mike Thiessen, and had the opportunity to pray for the church planters. Our conference was also a time of celebration. I had the opportunity to express our appreciation to Godfrey Thorogood, Bob Parks, and Heather McKenzie for their service with our Region, and we warmly welcomed Tim Strickland as Leadership Development Director. We are stronger together, and I'm so thankful that we had the opportunity to gather in Toronto this year to worship and pray together, and to build one another up. A special thank you to Morningstar Christian Fellowship for being such generous and gracious hosts.  Fellowship Prairies Regional Conference May 4-5, 2018 Edmonton, AB Regional Director: Mark Breitkreuz At this year’s Equip, the theme involved looking beyond our walls as it pertains to ministry. We narrowed our focus on this by addressing the subject of sexual exploitation, and the effects of pornography on society. This also affects those within our walls, so it had the double blessing of helping give us some tools to minister to "our own". This year was one with continued optimism, as we had staff from a recent church plant in Saskatoon with us for their first Equip. To hear and tangibly see God at work is an encouragement to all, and we celebrate the addition of them to the Fellowship family.
Fellowship Pacific Regional Conference April 26-27, 2018 Chilliwack, BC Regional Director: David Horita The Pacific IMPACT Regional Conference was well attended. A new Vision Statement was presented along with reports on their vision goals for 2022. The new Vision Statement: “To innovatively develop relationships and resources that propel every Fellowship Pacific church to be accountable to their gospel mandate.” By 2022, the Fellowship Pacific Region seeks to train 2,500 new leaders, have $1.1 million in capital funds available to help plant 30 new churches with more funds pending for this faith goal, and to see all Fellowship Pacific churches have a discipleship plan in place. The delegates also voted on several Constitutional and Bylaw revisions and announced the Region was giving gifts totalling $1 million to several of their camps and other ministries. The conference ended with an outdoor BBQ, western style. Have a blessed week, Steve Jones  Click We just celebrated Canada Day. We remain the envy of the world. Since the 1990s the United Nations has ranked Canada one of the best countries in the world in which to live. to edit.  But times are changing! As our nation moves from predominantly “Christian values” to “Charter values”, the results are in the daily headlines along with new government bills and policies. Here are several from the past few decades:
 These represent just some of the intentional ideological shift that is occurring in these perilous times. What is our response to all this?
In recent months the EFC (Evangelical Fellowship of Canada), CCCC (Canadian Council of Christian Charities), and CLF (Christian Life Fellowship) have partnered together to address the Federal Government’s “Summer Jobs Attestation” (SJA) issue. I helped host a retreat (April 2018) of 25+ evangelical Christian Executive Directors to meet with the Presidents of the EFC, CCCC, and CLF. Presentations and discussion occurred on the Summer Job Attestation issue as part of a larger ideological shift in our Nation. What is our response? The Fellowship’s National Council, in their meeting May 14-15, 2018 agreed to formally join the EFC, CCCC, and CLF’s efforts in lobbying our Federal government on rescinding the “attestation” statement next year.  The CCCC recently asked Christians across the nation to donate to their Legal Defence Fund in light of an impending legal battle. Our Fellowship sent $10,000 in early June with assurances of potential further funding to come. We are watching this issue carefully, and if necessary, will be appealing to our local churches and donors in 2019 for further funding toward this legal challenge. Stay tuned for more details starting in Fall 2018. Let us be praying for our Nation. We certainly do not want to be distracted from our primary mission (“making disciples”/Matt. 28:18-20). However, these days do seem to be watershed moments for the protection of religious and conscience rights of all Canadians, particularly people of faith. I’ll keep you posted in the months to come. Have a blessed week, Steve Jones |
