Lower Mainland Ethnic Ministries Network

Over and over we hear that God's destiny for the nation of Canada is to bring healing to the nations!
Therefore, we desire to serve and bless those that God is bringing to our shores, whether the ethnic evangelists, church planters and disciplers that God is sending to see the Canadian Church revived and the lost reached, or the ethnic peoples He is bringing whom He is wooing to Himself. We have much to learn from each other as we gratefully and humbly serve Him and each other in the unity of His Spirit and in Truth. May God indeed be glorified and see His purposes accomplished in the Lower Mainland and beyond as we follow Him step by step!

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REQUESTING YOUR INPUT
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UPCOMING PROPOSED GATHERING OF LOCAL FOLKS INTERESTED / INVOLVED IN ETHNIC MINISTRIES
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· Do you know of a large enough venue (in the Surrey region) for about 50-100+ interested parties (those which have received this newsletter) to meet perhaps during the 3rd or 4th week of March in order for us to:
+ meet each other,
+ seek the Lord together about what He is wanting to do in this region (and beyond) among local ethnic peoples - potentially through a network of connected ethnic ministries;
+ network;
+ hear what's on each other's hearts;
+ share resources;
+ prayer;
+ consider, together, some specific next steps forward

If so, and if you are willing to help coordinate such a venue for such a gathering, please let me know as soon as possible, along with some potential dates/times, potential costs, etc. - perhaps a Fri. or Sat. might be good? (maybe to save time everyone could bring a bag lunch?) Thank you so much! -

info@DiscipleTheNations.org

If you are interested or involved in working among local ethnic peoples and share similar vision to the vision statement noted here, we invite you to join us at this gathering. We will be sending out more specifics on that once we have that information.
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* What are some relevant issues, etc. you would like to see discussed in upcoming editions of the newsletter?

* Have you written some related articles which you think others may find helpful in coming editions of the newsletter? - ie. re reaching out to local refugees, international students, crossing cultural barriers, financial and time stresses of immigrants, helping to get new immigrants settled in, etc.?

* If you have some announcements of events, resources, your ministry to ethnic peoples in the Lower Mainland, specific needs such as food, clothing, etc., which you would like to have included in the next or future edition of the network newsletter, please send us that information as soon as possible.

* If you're interested in potentially becoming part of the network facilitation team, please let us know.

* Are you potentially interested in working together with local ethnic ministries to put together an intro video on various local ethnic ministries which could then be used to help encourage local churches, believers/businesses, educators, etc. to partner together? If so…

We would like to hear from you! info@DiscipleTheNations.org

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ASSISTING CHURCH PLANTING AMONG MULTI-ETHNIC COMMUNITIES
THROUGH THE STRENGTHENING OF MARRIAGES & FAMILIES

Are you interested in working together with local ethnic ministries to see the marriages and families of local ethnic peoples - believing and non-believing, strengthened? Would you like to see the homes of local ethnic believers becoming lighthouses of the Light of Jesus in their neighbourhoods? If so, find out more at the web site above.

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The Process of Seeing Visions Becoming Reality

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(Editor's Note) - Many or all of you have visions in your heart about the kinds of things you are longing to see God doing among the ethnic communities locally or overseas. In the process of waiting for God's timing to bring the visions/dreams He's put on our hearts into reality, we often experience the very strange and disappointing way God seems to lead us in putting a vision on our hearts and then seemingly leading us in ways which are not at all what we had expected - or in the timing we had envisioned! However, God is very concerned about building godly character into us and bringing us into increasing intimacy with Himself, and it is often in His processes of preparing us for the vision that He has given us, and as we move along towards it one step at a time, that He is setting about greatly developing our character if we will submit to His processes. As we continue to trust Him, we will see Him doing FAR MORE than we have asked or imagined as we increasingly recognize that it is not by our might or power, but by His Spirit, that He has accomplished His purposes in and through us for His glory.

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MISSIONARIES TO CANADA'S ETHNIC PEOPLES

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REAL MISSIONARIES TO CANADA - helpful book by Bligh Stockwell (from Coquitlam)
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(Editor's Note) - Although Canada is no longer seen, by many, as a 'Christian' nation, we as believers have generally not understood how crucial our role is in reaching our post-modern and very international nation. Therefore we have not taken the kinds of steps to adequately prepare ourselves or those in our midst that God wants to 'send out' as trained cross-cultural missionaries into the many varied peoples filling our cities and nation.
Bligh's helpful book encourages us to think through relevant ways to reach our international and post-modern society - including the utilization of house churches - and training those within our midst to become missionaries that cross cultural barriers within our own society.
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Book are available through Canadian Bible Society: wabsolom@canbible.ca
Or from Bligh at: AorBStokwl@aol.com
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EQUIPPING THE WHOLE PERSON: A Plea for Cooperation - by Jonathan Lewis, Langley, BC

Excellent article about holistic training of missionaries! Very helpful in a multicultural city which is wanting to reach out cross culturally.
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GATEWAY MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTER - Langley

GATEWAY MTC is a local Missionary Training Centre which puts into practice the type of training laid out in the article and book above. You may wish to partner together with Gateway to train your missionaries or those in your congregations to reach out to local or overseas ethnic groups.

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RECENT MEETING FOLLOWING UP ON the
INTENTIONAL INTERCULTURAL CHURCH PLANTING
CONFERENCE which took place Oct 2002.
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"There is a group of us that has formed around the Intentionally Intercultural Churches conference that has been held here in the Lower Mainland a couple of times. The last one was at PLBC last October. This group is developing a seminar for churches that want to become more intentionally intercultural. That includes ethnic churches that want to reach Anglo-Canadians or their own second and third generations. The seminar is six hours long and we will be conducting 3 of them on selected Saturdays during the next few months. One of these was held on Feb.8th. The main concept was to have whole church leadership teams attend and work through this process-focused seminar together. We had very good reviews from our first "beta-test" of the seminar in October and are preparing an improved version. For further info about the upcoming meetings, contact: Dr. Jonathan P. Lewis, Associate Director WEA Missions Commission, International Missionary Training Fellowship, 21233 32nd. Ave., Langley B.C., V2Z 2E7, Canada, (604) 530-4283 www.missionarytraining.com JonPLewis@compuserve.com

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MULTICULTURAL WORSHIP & ARTS FESTIVAL
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A local multi-cultural team of Christian leaders is currently in the process of coordinating a Multicultural Worship & Arts Festival for Oct., 2003 (Lord willing) in Surrey, BC. Another possibility is to coordinate an E. Indian Christian Music Concert (hopefully to be video-taped for the MIRACLE CHANNEL) - not sure when yet…perhaps in fall instead of the Multicultural Worship & Arts Festival. If you or your church/ministry, etc. is interested in working together with the facilitation team and partnering ministries/churches in some way - through prayer, loaning of resources/materials, providing a venue, helping with decorating, assisting with logistics or administration, helping with partnership development or promo, etc., we would love to hear from you as soon as possible! Great Commission Worship & Arts Center - GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org
Great Commission Worship & Arts Center Vision:
"...By the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, the Great Commission Worship & Arts Center seeks to effectively partner with Christ-centered churches, schools, missions and ministries in order to train, equip and release biblically-established artists and musicians into their roles in seeing cities, nations and ethnic groups discipled into becoming whole-hearted, total-life worshippers of God..."
+ + +
As of Sept. 23, 2002, here is a bit about where we're currently at as we envision the Multicultural Worship & Arts Festival so far.

WHO ARE WE FOCUSING ON? WHO IS THE FESTIVAL FOR?

* local ethnic believers/fellowships

* local ethnic Christian musicians and artists

* local Caucasian believers who are interested in experiencing some of the multi-faceted character of God through artistic expressions of God-honoring worship through some of the diversity of the various local ethnic groups God has in our region

* local believers of ethnic or Caucasian background who are interested in seeing the Body of Christ coming together and hopefully working towards seeing reconciliation between the races as we move towards the goal of wholeheartedly worshipping TOGETHER before the throne of God as described in Revelations.

* local believers of ethnic or Caucasian background who share similar vision and who are interested in prayerfully considering ways to potentially work with us on some specific proposals in order to help move toward the vision

PURPOSES OF THE FESTIVAL

1) to encourage the local ethnic believing communities by providing opportunities for them to worship God through their ethnic musical & artistic expressions which are familiar to them;

2) to encourage local ethnic Christian musicians/artists re the utilization of their gifts and traditional musical/artistic gifts;

3) to provide an opportunity for local believers of Caucasian background, etc. to gain an appreciation for the wonderful diversity God has created in His Body and His wonderful multifaceted character which is expressed through diverse cultures, etc.

4) to provide one opportunity for believers of ethnic and Caucasian background (who are interested in seeing the Body of Christ coming together and hopefully working to see reconciliation between the races) to meet together in a time of worship and appreciation of each other as we move towards the goal of wholeheartedly worshipping TOGETHER before the throne of God as described in Revelations.

5) to provide local believers of ethnic or Caucasian background who share similar vision with some SPECIFIC WAYS in which we can all work together in order to move toward the vision of seeing whole-hearted, total-life worshippers of Jesus from every language, race, nation and people - see PROPOSALS

6) to see the Multicultural Worship & Arts Festival be one of the catalysts to help raise up greater awareness of opportunities for musicians & artists in this region and beyond, and to be just one aspect of moving towards the much larger vision which we feel that God is putting on our hearts in seeing music and the arts as a vital part of discipling the nations.

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WEA Missions Commission Global Leadership Consultation
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May 31 - June 6, 2003 TWU, Langley, BC

+ Canada 2003 will consider two main themes: Christian encounter with other religions, and the implications of globalization for world mission

+ The networks and taskforces that could be meeting during the afternoon sessions of this consultation are:

1. Member services to National Missionary Movements
2. International Missionary Training Fellowship
3. Member Care Resources
4. Global Missiological Issues
5. Missions Information Sharing
6. Missionary Mobilisation Network
7. ReMAP 2 (attrition/retention) team
8. Refugee Highway Network
9. Tentmaker International Exchange
For further info, check out their web site

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NATIONAL CHURCH PLANTING CONGRESS & Upcoming Nov. House Church Conf. with WOLFGANG SIMSON

European Wolfgang Simson, author of the very helpful book HOUSES THAT CHANGE THE WORLD, has been invited to speak at a local Surrey-based House Church Conf. in November, 2003. See further info at the web site noted above. He will be here in conjunction with the National Church Planting Congress being held the same weekend.

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THE BIBLE & THE NATIONS CONFERENCE - Translating, Reading, Interpreting & Living the Scriptures in the Multi-cultural Context of the Contemporary Church - June 6 - 13, 2003 - Regent College, Vancouver, BC

This conference will examine the interplay between the authority, translation, reading and interpretation of the Scriptures, with particular reference to language and culture. By drawing together both Western and non-Western theologians, conference participants will be encouraged to think constructively about how the bible is translated, read, engaged, interpreted and lived in distinctive social, religious and cultural contexts. Bible translators, Old & New Testament scholars and missiologists will address questions of both translation and hermeneutics as well as the role of the Scriptures in conversion and spiritual formation.

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NETWORKING LOCAL CHRISTIAN INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN/WORKING WITH LOCAL ETHNIC PEOPLES

If you/the related ministry you're involved with would like to be included in a future edition of the newsletter and/or posted on the web site, please do let us know and send us the following information (see appropriate form to fill out) - http://disciplethenations.org/LMEMNNetworkingForms.html
Cut and paste the form into your email and send in the filled-in form to: info@DiscipleTheNations.org
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Options:
+ Networking Form for Lower Mainland ETHNIC MINISTRIES / CHURCHES / EDUCATORS / MISSIONS, etc.
+ Networking Form for Lower Mainland INDIVIDUALS (Christian) interested or involved in this network
+ Networking form for Lower Mainland Christian ETHNIC MUSICIANS / ARTISTS / MEDIA Personnel / RECORDING Personnel, etc.

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Resource Networking Fellowships for Local Multi-Ethnic
Christian Musicians & Artists - Surrey

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If you know of multi-ethnic Christian musicians and/or artists who are looking for some encouragement and who are interested in being all that God wants them to be as His musicians and artists in these days, please let them know about this resource networking fellowship where we are desiring to grow together in these directions.

Perhaps you know of others in your region who might want to begin to meet together in similar ways (see below)? If so, please do let us know so we can encourage each other and network together as the Holy Spirit leads. GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org

We are very grateful to the Lord that in Feb. 2002 we were able to hold our first Scripture Songwriting Workshop for local ethnic Christian musicians and poets here in Surrey. The Scripture Songwriting Workshop was led by missionary ethnomusicologist Paul Neeley and similar to the ones you can read about at: http://disciplethenations.org/rield/index93.html

We were all very encouraged by our time together and at the conclusion of the 5-day workshop, the group decided to continue to meet together. We have tried to meet monthly since then, though it hasn't always worked out. Each time has been different from the time before and each time it has been an incredible time of blessing and encouragement for us to be together as we have sought to have the Holy Spirit lead us in His directions.

In the last few of our times together, one of the things we have done is to pray about and discuss the vision that God seems to have for us as a group, and we are in the process of beginning to move in the directions that we see this emerging as we also begin to invite more of our local ethnic Christian musician and artist friends. We would appreciate your prayers about this as well.

Perhaps this is an idea which some of you may wish to consider in your regions as well? Or if you know of ethnic Christian musicians/artists that share similar vision and would like to join us here until we need to multiply as we outgrow our place of meeting, please let us know. We can also let you know of other ethnomusicologists that could potentially assist you in laying the groundwork for something like this in your region in the future by doing a Scripture Songwriting Workshop, for instance. But even without that good foundation, these types of local fellowships to support ethnic Christian musicians and artists have great potential, we believe, to meet some major felt needs.
I'm including, below, a rough vision statement about where we're at with this at this point in time.

VISION STATEMENT to date:
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"By the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, we seek to provide a resource networking support fellowship for local multicultural Christian musicians and artists IN ORDER TO encourage, resource, build up, disciple and release godly musicians/artists into the roles He has for them/us in the Great Commission locally and overseas. We ALSO seek to partner together with others in the group and with local (or other) ministries, as the Holy Spirit leads, to reach out to the lost locally or overseas through the arts.

We seek to do this by meeting together to:
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- build God-honoring relationships;
- share vision with each other and encourage potential next steps as the Lord leads;
- encourage, minister to and pray for each other and related issues;
- build each other up by the power of the Spirit through His love, power, prayer, His Word, His gifts, etc.
- provide the necessary help and resources to meet felt needs, as able;
- grow together in our understanding/living out of our biblical roles as godly musicians and artists and our roles in the Great Commission
- work together on various ministry projects, songs, events, etc. as the Lord leads;
- use our songs/arts/poems, etc. to reach out to the lost through direct or indirect evangelism;
- provide opportunities to do the above;
- discuss and struggle with/pray about relevant issues to Christians in the arts in this day and age;
- seek the Lord's heart about what He wants to do in our city/nation and beyond through the arts and seek to take our place in His plans as He leads us;
- get helpful input as needed;
- write songs or create other art together;
- potentially partner together with local or overseas ministries as the Holy Spirit leads; etc.
- encourage the development of godly character and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ
- mutual mentoring
- Other
To find out when the next gathering will be, contact: GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org

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NETWORKING & PARTNERSHIP PROPOSALS

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Following are some potential networking/partnership proposals you may wish to prayerfully consider. For more info, please check the web site address above. Please contact us if you are interested in discussing these further with others that share similar vision: gracew@idmail.com

+ Lower Mainland ETHNIC MINISTRIES CENTER
+ Cross Cultural Ministry Training RESOURCE CENTER
+ Developing an Intro/Promotional Video on the Lower Mainland Ethnic Ministries Network
+ Lower Mainland Ethnic Ministries Prayer Network

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EDGAR LAPECIROS - a Local Ethnic Ministry Leader to Network With
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Do you need some help in understanding some of the issues involved in church planting among ethnic peoples? or would you like to hear from someone who has planted several churches among ethnic peoples? If so, you may wish to contact Pastor Edgar Lapeciros and invite him to speak or email him about this. More from him below...

"…I have usually been asked to share my story as a new immigrant/church planter. (By God's grace had planted 3 churches in Van. Abbots. and Surrey). Also, being called to minister about my work with Native and Ethnic Ministries in our District Office (BC and Yukon) for the PAOC comprising 42 Ethnics and 20 Native Churches).I've been asked to speak about the many intricacies of the ministry regarding cross cultural communications and how we can effectively convey the gospel message without hurting the culture. I would be more than willing to share my time to educate people in cross cultural communications and our own "home missions" in Canada- reaching out to Ethnics and the First Nations. We could learn from each other."

Blessings, Pastor Edgar Lapeciros - pastor_edgar@aebc.com

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Ethnic WORSHIP (Music) OF CHRIST IN A HINDU CONTEXT video or audio cassette by David Manuel AND The Hindu Poet Narayan Vaman Tilak also on the same video/audio cassette two seminars of Hindu Awareness for those reaching out to Hindus with the Gospel.

Videos: $20 Canadian Cassettes: $6.00 Canadian
To order contact: Stuart at: stuart@lightspeed.ca www.reason-for-hope.com Norlynn Audio Visual Services, 1858 Beaulynn Pl, North Vancouver, BC V7J 2T1 tel/fax: 604-988-3441

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Ethnic Worship CDs/Cassettes Available
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Please let us know if there are others we should include. Thank you! - GCWAC@DiscipleTheNations.org

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ETHNIC WORSHIP & ARTS FOCUS NEWSLETTER
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Although this newsletter has a focus on reaching out to ethnic peoples and encouraging ethnic Christian musicians & artists, it can be helpful for any Christian musician or artist (includes a section on Christianity & the Arts in every edition), anyone interested in seeing music and the arts/media utilized in the Great Commission.

ETHNIC WORSHIP & ARTS FOCUS -

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Local Media Ministries Which Can Help to Promote Your Ministry:
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+ Norlynn Audio Visual Services -
1858 Beaulynn Pl. North Vancouver, BC V7J 2T1, tel./fax 604 988 3441 e-mail stuart@lightspeed.ca
604 988 3441 http://www.reason-for-hope.com/reviews.html
+ RJC Video - info@rjcvideo.com -- Helping to Expand your Ministry

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PROPHECIES ABOUT CANADA's ROLE IN BRINGING HEALING TO THE NATIONS

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WEB SITES WEB SITES WEB SITES WEB SITES
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Assisting Multicultural Churches With Their Various Expressions of Worship

Canada Page - lots of resources for immigrants (etc) to Canada -

International Recipes

LINKS About ISLAM/MUSLIMS

LINKS About WOMEN IN ISLAM

Refugee Links -

The Hunger Site -

Vancouver Page - lots of resources for immigrants, (etc.) to Vancouver -

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If you would like to receive future free e-mail copies directly, please contact <info@DiscipleTheNations.org>
Your input and submissions in all areas related to the theme of this newsletter will be gratefully received! If you have stories of how God is working in various aspects of ethnic ministry locally or overseas that you are willing to share, we would deeply appreciate that and may include them in future editions! Also, please let us know of any related resources, etc. Thank you! <info@DiscipleTheNations.org> Surrey, BC, Canada. DiscipleTheNations.org

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About Us	Contact Us	Vision
Statement of Faith	Events	Networking + Ministries + Individuals
Resources	Articles	Prayer Network
Internships	Needs & Opportunities	Links

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