Feb 1-4 was the Mission Canada Campus Ministry Summit in Montreal. Along with the guiding group for campus ministry, we converged with the Mission Canada guiding group for French Canada, led by Gary Connors at Evangel Church Evangel in downtown Montreal. While each group had its own agenda, there was a lot of overlap as we considered the challenge and opportunity of reaching the student population of Montreal for Christ. Missiologists have confirmed not only its secularity but that Montreal has the highest per capita post secondary student population in North America. A walk down the streets would confirm this.
Montreal is unique. The downtown section where we met, near Evangel Church, is integrated with universities like Concordia and colleges like Dawson and LaSalle. It was a short walk to McGill University. It seemed that every fourth building was an academic building. Visually, the student- aged population dominated the sidewalks and the cafes. It creates an exciting and challenging dynamic which demands creative and visionary approaches to missional ministry.
Our CampusTeam included people who are no stranger to this blogsite. John Engels, the director of BC Campus Ministries, Seth Greenham, Chaplain to S.F.U. and the director of University Christian Ministries at S.F.U. Chris-Ann Lake, is his counterpart at Vancouver Island University. Kelly Johnson joined us from the University of Calgary, while his Edmonton counterpart, Matt Glombick, had to send his regrets. From Ontario, we were joined by Paul Quesnele of Algoma University and Sault College, Trevor Gingerich of Humber College and Dave Slater from Lift Church at McMaster University. Brandon Malo from The Embassy at the University of Waterloo had to send his regretsland. David Newman, campus chaplain and pastor at Memorial University joined us from St. John's Newfoundland. Adding to our ranks was George Werner, the director of Mission Canada, and myself.
I have to tell you that there is nothing quite like meeting with a high octane, visionary group of individuals who are actually doing the stuff on the ground. They were able to share their successes and concerns , along with their vast expertise built up from both academic and real life education. It was enhanced by converging with the French Canadian guiding group which helped immensely to understand the context of where we found ourselves in Quebec.
Not only did we have times of prayer and planning, but we went for a prayer walk which ended at McGill University, which is right in the area. One of Canada’s premier universities, it is woefully underserviced for vital Christian witness. There is so much more that can and should be done. We also met with missiologist and academic Glen Smith, who was extremely helpful in enabling us to better understand the spiritual condition of Quebec in general, and Montreal in particular. This brilliant humble servant (at the end of the table in the picture below )has a solid reputation throughout Quebec.
Evangel Church is well situated to reach out to the downtown student population. They have street front property ( a former restaurant) along St. Catherines St.,. which is strategically situated. They would be able to do a great deal of innovative ministry from that facility. We are looking forward to working with their visionary young pastor, Jonathon Smith, who very much recognizes the role his church can play in reaching Quebec.
The Summit was a win on a number of levels. There was genuine synergy when it came to sharing experience and expertise. There was an increased sense of commitment to each other and to the mission of reaching the students of our nation. There was also an awakening to the challenge and opportunity of reaching Quebec. It is out of our times together that we emerge renewed and refocused to meet the challenge head on.
