FENTON, MI – December is here so there’s no better time to plan a trip for next year. Let me recommend two destinations that will enlarge your faith: Detroit and Montreal.
You know we are focused on starting churches in the rural areas, the small towns, suburbs, and urban centers of our world. Yet, 83% of the population lives within the metropolitan areas. We have identified 32 cities throughout North America that if reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ are poised to affect a radical change throughout the world. Detroit and Montreal are two of those 32 cities that can influence populations and people groups throughout the world.
With Detroit and Montreal easily accessible to those of us who live in Michigan we are without excuse. Apply for your passport. Save some money. Arrange the dates. Raise the funds and prepare your group for your excursion to Detroit and Montreal.
In Detroit or Montreal, you could serve in the suburbs, in the inner city, near a university campus. You could speak with people whose first language is Spanish, French, or Arabic, and yet they speak English as their second language. You could create and lead a women’s conference, a men’s conference, a remodeling project, a neighborhood party/cookout, a Bible club for children, or a painting project for a local school or church. The possibilities are endless.
DETROIT
Our Detroit coordinator is Pastor Wayne Parker. He is the full-time senior pastor at Merriman Road Baptist Church in Garden City, Michigan. Yet, he makes the time and his congregation shares him with us as he matches the needs of Greater Detroit with the talents and resources of volunteers like you. Wayne (wparker@namb.net) would welcome your questions about short-term mission trips in the Greater Detroit area, or better yet you might want to direct your questions directly to one of the area’s church planters by clicking here:
MONTREAL
Chad Vandiver is the city coordinator for Montreal. He is involved ministry all over North America and yet he carves out time to tell stories of God’s miraculous activities in Montreal. Jamie and I lived in Montreal 8 years ago, when it appeared that few were interested in the Gospel. Now, with our own eyes, we visited Montreal and saw that the people are responding to the Gospel of Jesus Christ like never before. The churches need volunteers like you to come engage people in conversation. Less than 1% of the population is evangelical Christian. Chad (cvandiver@namb.net) would welcome your questions about short-term mission trips to the Greater Montreal area, or better yet you might want to direct your questions directly to one of the area’s church planters by clicking here:
Chad Vandiver has a Catch the Vision Tour schedule for April 24-26, 2017 where if you will get there at your expense, he will cover your expenses once you arrive in the area. What better way to see first hand what the needs are and where God may be calling you and your church to serve. So, what’s keeping you? Go or send a champion from your congregation.
Please, do me a favor and let me know when you’re going to Detroit or Montreal in 2017 so I can pray for you. It would be a privilege sharing in your ministry through prayer.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tony Lynn is the State Director of Missions for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before coming on staff at the BSCM, Tony served as lead pastor for more than six years at Crosspoint Church in Monroe, Michigan. He and his wife, Jamie, also served with the International Mission Board in Africa and in Europe.