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MISSIONS
FEST 2006
Vancouver,
BC, Canada
"For
the healing of nations." This remarkable
event was a huge success for the Africa
Travel Association's Canada Chapter, where
our members had an opportunity to meet
many people and groups who are doing great
work inside Africa and in support of
Africans here in Canada and the USA. We
will be proud to introduce some of these
dynamic individuals to our readers in the
coming weeks and months.
Editor
1.
How did Missions Fest
begin?
In
1984, six local churches from different
backgrounds, in the Greater Vancouver
area, felt that global missions were
ending up on the bottom of many local
agendas. They decided that if they worked
together, they could do much more in
raising awareness, than if they continued
alone. A conference was planned and the
whole Christian community was invited to
come. An aggregate of 3,500 people
attended that first year. Because of the
overwhelming interest, Missions Fest has
been held annually since then.
2.
What happens at Missions
Fest?
It
is a weekend when people of all ages come
together to participate in a variety of
missions related experiences. Colourful
exhibits, which represent organizations
that work in most countries around the
world, provide current information.
Keynote addresses are given by world class
speakers who have international acclaim.
Children participate in workshops and
programs that raise in them the awareness
of the existence of many people groups.
The youth are challenged to reach out to
others during their rallies and seminars.
Music is important in these gatherings;
international flags and costumes are part
of the decor. Along with these activities,
over a hundred seminars are integrated
throughout the three days.
http://www.missionsfestvancouver.ca/faq1.cfm#1
Featured
Speakers
Vishal
Mangalwadi • After living among
the poor in central India, Vishal founded
the Association for Comprehensive Rural
Assistance. This began Vishal's direct
involvement with evangelism in the context
of abject poverty and deeply entrenched
socio-political oppression which has given
unique insights and realism to his
teaching. Vishal is one of the world's
foremost Christian apologists to Hindus
and New Agers. An author and co-author of
a dozen books, Vishal studied in secular
universities, Hindu ashrams, and in L'Abri
Fellowship in Switzerland. He is an
international lecturer, social reformer,
and political columnist for The
International Indian. His current project
is The Book of the Millennium, which
includes a multi-hour television series
exploring how the Bible influenced the
creation of the best features of our
modern world.
Majed
El Shafie • Born in Cairo, Egypt,
into a prominent Moslem family, Majed
followed his father's footsteps and became
a lawyer. Through the witness of his
friend, he made the decision to give his
life and service to God. He began a
mission to bring the Christian community
the same legal rights as the Moslem
community. In just 2 years this mission
grew to 24,000 Christians. The Egyptian
government would not tolerate this and
Majed ended up in the torture section of
the Abu Zaabel prison in Cairo . He
eventually escaped, fleeing to Israel
where he was jailed for over a year.
Through Amnesty International & the
United Nations, Majed was released from
prison. He relocated to Toronto, starting
his own ministry, "One Free World
International". This is a human rights
organization designed to bring glory and
honor to God by defending persecuted
Christians world wide.
Ian
Green • Ian has been involved in
Christian Leadership for over 30 years. He
launched Next Level International, which
has progressive global influence, with
established offices in the U.K., New
Zealand, United States and Canada. He
currently oversees an international staff
of 30 people, with over 50 part time
trainers and church leaders who work with
the organization on an annual basis to
train a radical new generation of leaders.
Through NLI, over 80 churches have been
planted, 6000 leaders have graduated from
the leadership training and development
programs and 3000 people have been exposed
to cross cultural missions. Ian has a
passionate heart, creative mind and
commitment to see the cause of the Kingdom
of Jesus rapidly advance in Europe and
beyond. Ian and his family are based in
Bedworth, England and are actively
involved in the local church.
Jim
Cantelon • Jim is a pastor,
author and television broadcaster. After
founding a church in Jerusalem in 1981, he
wrote several books including Theology for
Non-Theologians (Macmillan NY, publisher)
and hosted an award-winning TV show "Talk
to Me" for several years. Jim and his wife
Kathy are Canadians who founded Visionledd
in December, 1999 while they were
pastoring at Broadway Church in Vancouver.
Visionledd, offers encouragement and
resources to churches and Christian
disciples in sub-Saharan Africa in order
to care for those suffering from HIV/AIDS
and those affected by the disease. It has
developed a holistic approach to caring
for the afflicted, focusing on four key
priorities: awareness, education, care and
housing. Jim and Kathy are based in
Toronto and have three adult children and
several grandchildren.
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