Missions
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For more info: Missions@heritagealliance.ca or contact the church office
Focused on Jesus
...Building Community
...Impacting the Word
Missions at Heritage
Missions at Heritage
Part of our core identity at Heritage is
Impacting the World. We do this from our own doorstep outward – from our own locality to the very ends of the earth. It is our purpose to share the Good News of Jesus both in word and deed, seeking for his Kingdom to come, here and now as in heaven.
Heritage is part of the Christian & Missionary Alliance, the very name of our denomination witnessing to our DNA – namely, that we see ourselves as a community of people on mission.
The C&MA was built on the foundational command of Jesus to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus himself motivates us. The C&MA aims to be a Christ-centred, Spirit-empowered, Mission-focused movement.
At Heritage, we are part of this mission, helping to send people to live on mission as International Workers (IWs) among least-reached people groups all around the world. Many of these are in countries that closed their doors to traditional “missionaries” long ago – countries which are now referred to as Creative Access Countries (CAC). IWs are respectfully immersed in these other cultures living, loving and doing life together with them. (Further info on the mission initiatives of the C&MA in Canada can be found HERE
Heritage participates in the funding of all IWs sent out from Canada through the Global Advance Fund. The majority of our missions giving is channelled in that direction. We have established special ongoing connections with several of these IWs, committing ourselves in what is termed a Seamless Link partnership.
But Heritage also has developed other commitments of our own which are part of our total missions’ focus. We term these “Home Missions” since they were established from our own home-base, right here. Some are ministries close at hand and others extend to locations far afield (further info on these “Home Missions” can be found below).
Missions
Heritage Home Missions
Paul and Esther Paterson
Paul has worked with Power to Change Ministries (formerly Campus Crusade) for over 44 years. He spent the first 10 years working in Finance and IT, but has spent the succeeding years working as Director of the P2C Store. His work includes selecting products for the store, purchasing, importing, exporting, managing, staffing, publishing and marketing materials. The store serves the Power to Change staff with their various ministry needs, plus also churches, bookstores, and individuals across Canada and indeed around the world.
Paul’s passion is to be a link in the chain for multitudes of people to hear about Jesus, his gift of salvation and the Spirit-filled life. He sees this being accomplished largely through the distribution of the Jesus film, tracts, etc in hundreds of different languages.
Meanwhile Esther in involved in volunteer-work, visiting and encouraging residents and family members of a long-term care facility in Abbotsford.
Roy and Miriam Taylor
At the beginning of 2020 the Taylors shuttered their Abbotsford home, packed their bags and moved to Milan, Italy. They were excited at the opportunity the Lord had provided to pastor Milan Bible Church, an International, English speaking church in Milan, Italy.
However, after only two months, COVID-19 hit Italy and the Taylors returned to Canada, hoping to go back to Milan as soon as possible. What happened was “far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isaiah 55:8). As strange as it may seem, for most of 2020 and now into 2021, they are pastoring a church in Milan from their home right here in Abbotsford!
At the urgent request of the Elders in the Milan church, Roy continues to preach the word and provide all the other resources for a weekly online worship service, giving oversight to a weekly online International Bible Study, and meeting with the church’s Elders every two weeks, encouraging them in their own work of Bible teaching and pastoral care.
And so the work continues. Roy and Miriam’s desire is to keep serving the Lord as long as He gives them opportunity.
Isaiah and Tianna Wiebe
Isaiah and Tianna are both serving with Athletes in Action (AIA), using sport to help people know Jesus and experience his power to change the world. They are serving here in Abbotsford and at multiple university campuses in the surrounding area.
Tianna is specifically involved in:
• Coaching and directing in the context of AIA’s “Friday Nite Basketball” (FNB) clubs, a ministry that teaches kids (Kindergarten – Grade 10) how to play basketball, while intentionally sharing Christian values, stories and the Gospel
• Directing summer sports camps in Abbotsford and around BC
• Starting up social media and online marketing of FNB clubs and summer camps
• Coaching and mentoring the Women’s Basketball players at Columbia Bible College
Isaiah is specifically involved in:
• Campus ministry, shifting from in-person to online in the COVID season
• Mentoring student athletes from Simon Fraser University and University of the Fraser Valley
• Facilitating online workshops for varsity athletes across Canada
• Initiating and leading multi-campus prayer and worship events for students athletes in the area
• Furthering his studies, online, through Baylor University in Sports and Theology
David and Matildes van Rietschoten
David and Matildes (and their two children, Lucas and Lydia) are serving with the ship Logos Hope (under the auspices of Operation Mobilization), currently in the Caribbean. In the pre-COVID era they experienced huge numbers of people visiting the ship while in harbour (for instance, early 2020 saw them in Port of Spain, Trinidad, with nearly 80,000 visitors). The ministry of the Logos Hope is to share knowledge, help and hope by providing literature resources, encouraging cross-cultural understanding, providing needed relief, and sharing the message of hope through Jesus Christ. They are also actively involved in training young people from around the world for more effective life and service.
David has been serving as the onboard Catering Manager and baker. He helps the catering team navigate the challenges and changes of this COVID season.
Matildes has been involved in active ministry with those visiting the ship, delighting in interacting with locals and sharing the Lord with them. Since the ship has been in COVID lock-down she has focused on being a mentor for crew members, facilitator of weekly Bible studies and team devotions, and member of the prayer and intercession teams. She has also served by supporting and helping others in their roles and, overall, functioning as Ship’s Mom!
One of the biggest joy and highlight for David and Matildes has been the opportunity to serve in their gifts, talents and skills together with their children.
van Rietschoten Fundraiser
FUN NIGHT SNACK PACKs are by donation to help David & Matildes van Rietschoten and family return to the Logos Hope ship. (Min. donation $20.) Includes: One 2L bottle of Pop/Nestea, 2 bags of popcorn, cookies, 4 full-size candy bars and 4 Fruit by the Foot.
Please make a note that it is for “the support of David and Matildes van Rietschoten.”
Kawkawa Camp & Retreat
Kawkawa Camp is located in Hope, BC on the shores of Kawkawa Lake, just an hour from Abbotsford. Kawkawa runs summer camps for kids and families, plus retreats and outdoor education programs for churches and rental groups, year round.
The facility includes a large dining room, served by a commercial kitchen, that seats 150 and gives unobstructed views of the lake. There are several meeting rooms, together with accommodations in the lodge, cottages and chalets.
Kawkawa’s mission is to transform, build, and impact lives in God’s creation by living in community, offering programs and services and teaching and modeling Christ through our camp staff and facilities.
Heritage has a long-time connection with Kawkawa, with congregation members involved as campers, summer staff, Board members, and ongoing maintenance support. Plus, in recent years, Heritage has enjoyed several pre-summer “Day Away” congregational events for community building, fun and fellowship. We have been blessed by the beauty and hospitality of Kawkawa.
Alpha Canada
The mission of Alpha Canada is to inspire and serve the Canadian church in its mission to help people discover a relationship with Jesus Christ, using Alpha.
Alpha is an 8-11 week course for anyone interested in investigating the basics of the Christian faith. In a relaxed, informal environment, either in-person or online, people gather for an informative talk on some aspect of Christian faith, followed by the opportunity for discussion in small groups where the rule is “anything goes.”
Here’s a snapshot of the ministry of Alpha Canada by the statistics (2019 statistics being the most recent):
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85,516 Canadians heard the good news of Jesus on Alpha
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35,271 Canadians began or restored a relationship with Jesus
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4,123 Alphas were run in churches across the nation
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2,250 churches and organizations ran Alpha
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35,414 volunteers participated in running Alpha
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532 churches/organizations ran Alpha for the first time
As a congregation, Heritage has benefitted from the ministry of Alpha within our own context over a number of years, helping us to reach others with the Good News of Jesus. For this we are very thankful. We also see the incredible strategic possibilities for Alpha in our nation, opportunities which tie in exactly with our own identity of Impacting the Word. We continue to support Alpha Canada with the hope of seeing more of our nation touched by the Gospel.
