It was a gathering unlike any I had ever experienced. One small person caught up in a sea of multi-coloured faces, I was awed by the experience of having our shared faith transcend our differences.
Within a few days, I worshipped with Christian believers from every continent. I shared tearful prayers with a Solomon Islander in response to a profound devotional by a Brazilian leader. I participated in the laying on of hands and prayer over African brothers and sisters, while they listened to French translations. I sat until the early morning hours discussing what “community” really means, and finding it, with dear brothers and sisters from four different countries. I was convicted by the teaching of a Ghanaian leader, and I was moved by the testimony of a Chinese brother, and the prayers of an Arab fellow believer.
What profound power the gospel has to cross boundaries. We were all moved by the slice of heaven we experienced in the joyful fellowship of a multi-coloured and diverse gathering of children of God.
This earthly picture reminded me to look forward to the day when people from every possible ethnic background will cross natural boundaries to join together in worship of the One who did everything to bring them to Himself: Jesus Christ. (Rev 5:9, 7:9)
Canadians are taught tolerance as one of the highest of values, and what richness of diversity our country experiences because of it. Instead of fearing or rejecting the unknown in other cultures, we allow room to breathe, and therefore foster communities where the colourful mosaic of multiculturalism can be displayed. But tolerance is limited by its very nature. Tolerance gives permission to people to be, but does not encourage us to embrace the opportunity to be changed by the process of relationship with those unlike us.
What we have in Christ is far different. The value that binds together believers of Jesus Christ is far higher than tolerance: it is love. Love sacrifices on another’s behalf; love teaches and also learns. There are strengths and weaknesses in each culture, and only by humbly submitting to each other in love and learning from each other can our respective blind-spots be confronted and removed.
If we are beginning to see glimpses of this culmination of God’s love for all nations, it’s because He Himself is at work in every corner of the world. The face of Christianity has changed dramatically over the past 100 years. Nations that once received missionaries are now forces to be reckoned with, as believers are sent from Ghana, Brazil and Singapore (to name a few) to represent Christ to those who have not yet heard His name. Missionary teams are not just westerners, or Africans, or Asians, rather it is a case of the “whole church to the whole world”.
Growing immigration means that there are tens of thousands of people on the move every day, crossing national borders. Increasing globalization means that the face of Christianity, and the world itself is changing in ways that none of us can quite predict.
In the midst of this change and seeming chaos, lives are being transformed one by one. In remote China a girl experiences the love of Christ through the selfless actions of a foreigner who lives among her people. An African couple serves the physical needs of Muslims in North Africa, while also sharing the hope and love of God as demonstrated through His Son Jesus Christ. Missionary teams situated in places rife with ethnic tension and escalations of violence stand out because of the love they have for each other, despite the differences between them. And in London, Ontario, a Chinese new believer reaches out in friendship and love to an Iranian friend and shares the good news of Jesus Christ.
It’s not easy. There are tears shed, mistakes made, and arguments fought. The bearers of this great message of peace, love, and life and community transformation, are, after all human. But God is at the centre of all redemptive work, and He uses broken and weak people to accomplish His purpose. By so doing, He demonstrates that this gospel is available to all people, freely, regardless of merit.
God is at work! And He will not rest until He has gathered to Himself people from every nation.
To join God in this task is the passion of the people of Pioneers. It is God-initiated, and accomplished by God alone, but He gives us the privilege of participation, and it is with joy that we do so. There are yet people in the world who have never heard the name of Jesus, and among whom the gospel is not available. It is the church’s calling to bring to these people the news of Christ, and the demonstration of His love. PIONEERS exists to facilitate that calling.
Pioneers is simply a small part of the worldwide work of God, but we are committed to the calling He has given us. Our mission is to “mobilize teams to glorify God among unreached peoples by initiating church-planting movements in partnership with local churches.”
Pioneers has1532 people serving on 176 teams, in 72 countries, working among 98 unreached people groups, in 65 languages. Each team is unique and adapts to the situation of the culture and people among whom they live. The love of Christ is demonstrated, the Truth shared, and physical and practical needs approached sensitively and appropriately. New teams are continually being formed, as needs are presented, and calling revealed.
Pioneers Canada is the sending and support base for all members sent from Canada. This blog is intended to help us share a bit about the Canadian body of PIONEERS. We offer this in the hope that it will inform you, challenge you, and help you, as you find your place in God’s redemptive plan. Please contact us if there is a place for us to walk alongside you as you explore and live out your calling.
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