MECO Canada News

Dear Friends

So much has happened since I last wrote to you in September.

The MECO Board held a retreat in late October. It is so easy to assume ministry should continue but quite another thing to ask if the Lord wants it to continue. Everyone walked away from the retreat “knowing” we were to keep going.

In November, the Board met again to assess what steps needed to be taken to advance MECO’s ministry. During that meeting an idea was put forward by the Vice-Chair of the Board. He suggested we organize a small Summit that would bring together our missionaries with missionaries from other organizations for the purpose of exploring outreach to Middle Eastern people living in Canada. The objective was to share what we knew, what we are doing, what resources we have, and to pray and think through what we could be doing together. He also suggested setting time aside during the Summit to meet with pastors involved in reaching out to Middle Eastern people living in Canada, to hear about the obstacles they face in their ministries and to find out what resources and assistance they need.

The idea was accepted, and the Board met throughout the winter and early spring putting plans in place for the Summit, which was held April 16- 19. Ten missionaries joined us for the three days of meetings and four Middle Eastern pastors, and two young assistants, joined us for one of the morning sessions. Praise, prayer and Bible reading were as important to the meetings as the discussions that took place. God’s guidance was very evident.

So often meetings like this can be all talk and no action. However, I can tell you that was not the case during the Summit.

One of the needs recognized by both pastors and missionaries was for a basic course for churches and individuals about Middle Eastern people and their culture. It was agreed that the course be no more than three hours in length. A working committee to create the course was struck at the Summit.

In addition, it was recognized that Middle Eastern pastors in Canada need to be encouraged in their work and that MECO Canada can be a catalyst for that to happen. There is an opportunity for us to play a role in facilitating communication between churches – helping them to share resources and information, and stories about what is happening in Canada’s Middle Eastern churches.

There is also a need for missionaries to work alongside Canadian churches, to help educate them about their Middle Eastern neighbours; the struggles they have and their need for community – especially if they have recently committed their lives to Christ. And we identified the need for a prayer initiative to encourage prayer for Middle Eastern pastors in Canada, their congregations, and their ministries.

We are excited by all the ministry opportunities the Lord has revealed and we look to Him for guidance as we move forward!