Canada: To the ends of the earth, including Winnipeg?

CANADA

The North-South Divide (or RichPoor Divide) is a socio-economic and political division that exists between wealthy developed countries, known collectively as the North, and poorer least-developed countries, or the South.

The divide is not wholly defined by geography. The North is home to four out of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and all members of the G8.

As nations become economically developed, they may become part of the North, regardless of location; while other nations that do not qualify for developed status are, in effect, deemed to be part of the South.

The world of mission is an increasingly complex mosaic of strategy, people, agencies, denominations, opportunities, and challenges—even within OM.

How does one meld together more than 6,000 people from all walks of life (rich, middle class and poor) and nationalities (112)—never mind different ethnicities within nations and denominational heritages?

It’s not just who but also how: integrating strategies such as Business as Mission, relief and development, proclamation evangelism, justice advocacy, education, literature, media, and even ships adds more colour (and complexity by a magnitude).

A large proportion of OMers originate in the Global South. Even in Canada, 40 per cent of our OMers were born in traditionally “receiving nations.” A new picture of “who’s

PHOTO: HARVEY THIESSSEN

who” in missions is rapidly evolving as clear, geographical distinctions of the past fade into a blurred Rorschach inkblot.

While geography still describes mission objectives (here and there), it is becoming less distinct. Massive people migration, the rapid advance of new ways of message delivery (downloading entire Arabic Bibles onto cell phones), and the explosive growth of the Church in new places means that, like it or not, missions is changing. But we like it!

Adding to the complexity, why are we, as an overseas mission, involved in Toronto and Winnipeg this year? It’s not complicated: all of the above means that networks in Canada directly affect Pakistan, Yemen, India, and the world.

When we share the Good News with a South Asian in any large Canadian city, it translates directly into the gospel affecting villages in Pakistan.

Many Canadian Christians I meet are afraid of Muslim migration to Canada; I see it as an opportunity to spread the Good News to countries where it is still difficult to preach openly.

To stir the pot, this past year OM merged with an indigenous African mission, Pro Christo. While OM has long promoted the emergence of new sending nations and indigenous workers, we need to go further in a new era of collaboration that recognizes the strength and gifts of every participant in the Kingdom of God.

Working together doesn’t merely mean that one sends the money while the other preaches. True collaboration is much more rich and wonderful, a symbiotic relationship that celebrates one another’s abilities and insight.

Who knows what the Lord wants to do through us—all of us—in 2010? Our goal is that the Lord Jesus would rule in our lives. The mosaic of how this is fleshed out will be even more colourful and interesting a year from now.

In the first months, we have already celebrated of a full year of ministry with the Logos Hope, where more than 500,000 visitors came aboard. Many others were ministered to in the context of street meetings and church, hospital, and school visits.

I hope that you can anticipate with me that God will surprise us this year—and that you will be a part of it! Harvey Thiessen

Harvey Thiessen (Wymark) is Executive Director, OM Canada.