MISSION STATEMENT MISSIONS...Here and to the Ends of the Earth! VISION STATEMENT 1. Celebrating the world-wide impact of Christian mission and God's love for all nations and all people. 2. Challenging all Christians to learn about and pray for global, national and local mission concerns; to integrate into their everyday life an awareness and passion for missions, to commit themselves to participate in the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. 3. Being a catalyst for the mobilization of human and financial resources for mission. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE Serving churches, educators, mission organizations, ministries, people of all ages from all denominations and non denominations in the Body of Christ as they pursue missions by: 1. Complementing existing mission efforts. 2. Delivering a large annual missions conference as a vehicle to share experiences and learn about global, national and local missions. 3. Providing a forum for ongoing dialogue and initiatives.

WHY MISSIONFEST TORONTO?

 

  

To our Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

We would like to share with you how MissionFest Toronto can be a blessing to churches, Christian organizations and individuals in Toronto and Southern Ontario. As you probably know, MissionFest Toronto has been operating for 14 years, providing a three-day event each spring, challenging churches, organizations and individual Christians to fulfill the Great Commission.

 

MissionFest does not intend to replace the work of churches and denominations in the area of mission.  Each church and each denomination has a vital role to play in developing their own mission programs, education, recruitment and support.  We heartily encourage each church and each denomination to continue with this important task.

 

MissionFest seeks to complement these efforts in a number of ways.  Local churches and individual denominations primarily offer mission opportunities to those with pastoral, church-planting or evangelism skills who seek full-time and longer term commitment to mission.   MissionFest is a place where those opportunities can be publicized and people can be equipped. MissionFest provides this same large venue for Christian organizations to become better known and better served by Toronto’s large Christian community.

 

There are many Christians who belong to churches and denominations that do not provide mission opportunities suited to their particular vocation, skills, interests, cultural background and level of time commitment. Because MissionFest has over 200 Christian organizations participating in its three-day event, those who are seeking/considering an opportunity to get involved in mission can likely find their personal niche.  These organizations provide mission and ministry opportunities for people of all ages, for those looking for both short-term and long-term engagements, and for people from many professional and vocational backgrounds.   Not every church or denomination is able to provide mission opportunities for doctors, lawyers, teachers, business executives, film producers, homemakers, students or people from numerous other walks of life, but there are organizations at MissionFest that would love to provide mission opportunities for these individuals, at home and abroad.  Individuals who participate in a mission project, however short, usually bring back fresh enthusiasm for mission to their local church and community. 

 

MissionFest is a place where Christians can become excited about mission…enthused, enlightened, educated and encouraged!  Every Christian has a vital role to play in the Great Commission.  Many should go, near or far!   If they cannot go, they should send!  If they cannot go or send then they should pray!  Perhaps they can be motivated to do all three during their lifetime. Everyone should be motivated and inspired to do something!   If they are already doing something, perhaps they can be encouraged to do even more.

 

Because of its size, MissionFest is able to attract well-known international speakers who are on the cutting edge of mission, the “movers and shakers” of the Christian world.  These speakers can impart their boldness, their vision, their courage, their faith, their commitment and their sense of adventure. Proverbs 27 tells us that “iron sharpens iron”.  MissionFest is a place for all of us to be recharged and rekindled. There is a high value in networking…in the exchange of information and ideas.  MissionFest, through its speakers and seminars, its booths and its book stalls, can stir into flame the passion of each Christian to play some part (or yet a greater part) in the worldwide effort to reach and change our world.

 

Many already want to give more of their time or talent or treasure in a personally meaningful way but are not sure what they can best contribute to (beyond what they are already able to contribute to their own local church).  MissionFest can help them find clearer direction. At a minimum, everyone can pray!   While of course they should pray for those who serve under the umbrella of their own church and denomination, they can expand their prayer life.  As each person participates in MissionFest, God will stir their unique personality and interests to care about and to pray more knowledgeably for particular areas of the world and areas of focus. Through prayer, every one of us can impact the farthest corners of the globe. Some will feel called to pray for the persecuted church.  Some will feel called to focus on the 10/40 window.  Some will feel called to pray for the sending of more Bibles or more practical aid to impoverished countries.    MissionFest challenges each Christian to broaden their prayer horizons.

 

MissionFest is one place where churches, denominations and individuals can find unity.  Churches and denominations do not all agree on all things, but all Christian denominations support the Great Commission.  Pastors, missionaries, children, youth, homemakers and career persons can all come together to be challenged, educated, motivated and encouraged in their personal contribution to mission.  MissionFest is a place where Christians from all churches, all denominations and all ethnic backgrounds can gather as “one body and one Spirit” (Ephesians 4:6) to worship and celebrate together.  There is great synergy and fresh energy for everyone in this process.  How wonderful to think of people from all nations gathering to reach all nations, including our own!

 

Leading businessmen understand the power in consolidation.  Politicians understand the power of coalition.  The Internet taps the power of connection. We encourage church leaders to understand the power of unity in the body of Christ!  Mission endeavours should not compete.  They should complement one another and cooperate together with one common goal…to fulfill the Great Commission in our age.  There is weakness, vulnerability and stagnation in isolation, but great strength and power in unity.  In our world, we all know that great forces are joining together that oppose the cause of Christ with ever increasing zeal.   We need to find greater power and strength in uniting together.  MissionFest is a catalyst for connection. One week-end can recharge the burned-out and bored!

 

In Acts 1 the 120 believers were told to wait together to receive power so that they could become witnesses not just in Jerusalem but “to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 2 tells us that power was indeed poured out upon them as they “joined together” and it is no surprise that so soon after 3000 were added to their number.  

 

MissionFest cannot reach its potential without your support.  We need support in the form of participation. We need support in the form of prayer. We need volunteers. We need financial support. We need support from the pulpit of every church in southern Ontario.  We seek to have mutually beneficial affiliations with other Christian organizations. Please help MissionFest reach its highest potential so that can we can help every Christian, every church, every denomination and every Christian organization to reach their highest potential in the area of mission outreach to our world.  The task is huge, too big for one individual, one church or one organization.  Let us come together!   We want to bless you and earnestly seek your blessing on our ministry.

 

MissionFest Toronto