*Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Metro Vancouver we have decided to postpone this event until such time as public health officials indicate it is appropriate to resume more normal activities. We will update this page with a new date and information as it becomes available.

From the Margins, The Diaspora Effect; Shaping the Church of the Future

Topic: Diaspora Next Generation Opportunities and Challenges

The Canadian church context has undergone radical change in the last several decades. The growth and health of diaspora churches is to be celebrated, even in the midst of the differing challenges of first and second generation congregants as they find their way in the Canadian context. 

From the Margins, The Diaspora Effect; Shaping the Church of the Future is offered as a conversation space where diaspora church leaders can gather together across cultures, developing the potential for true relationship, unity and mutual learning, considering the common challenges and shared opportunities of ministering in a multi-cultural Canada.

Hosted by Outreach Canada and the TIM Centre (Tyndale Intercultural Ministries), this forum is intended to be a peer-learning environment. If you are navigating the dynamics of leading a diaspora church, a multicultural church, or are working collaboratively with diaspora church leaders, then this space is for you.

Schedule:

8:30 – Coffee

9:00 – Welcome and Introductions

9:30 – Speakers: Timothy Tang, Justin Jung, Sandeep Jadhav, Sherman Lau

10:30 – Coffee & Table talk, “What are the opportunities and challenges you’re experiences around 1.5/2.0 generation in your church community?” Facilitated interaction with the panel

11:45 – Prayer in table groups

12:00 – Lunch

1:00 – Welcome and recap

1:30 – Research presentation – Lorne Hunter

1:45 – Hospitality presentation – Craig Kraft

2:00 – Table talk, “How does the changing context and the specific challenges of diaspora churches impact the way that you serve as a pastor/church leader?” Facilitated with presenters

2:45 – Prayer

3:00 – Closing

Registration:

RSVP by March 21, 2020. Please register to help with planning for the event. 

Lunch is provided. There is no cost* to this event. 

*Event is hosted/provided by Outreach Canada and the TIM Centre (Tyndale Intercultural Ministries).

Please Register Here: REGISTRATION FORM

Speakers:

Rev. Dr. Timothy Tang 

Rev. Dr. Timothy Tang was born in Markham where he now lives with his wife and three children. Pastor Tim has been a pastor at the East Toronto Chinese Baptist Church where he has been ministering for 18 years. After studying at Upper Canada College, he went on to the University of Waterloo where he completed his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology. Though Tim planned a career in health care, God called him to full time ministry during a short-term missions trip to Asia in 1996, after which he finished his M.Div. in Youth and Family Ministry at Tyndale Seminary.

With almost 30 years of experience working with Asian youth in Toronto, Timothy continues to seek avenues to redeem the relationships within our multi-cultural Asian communities. Tim has also recently completed a Doctor of Ministry at Gordon-Conwell Seminary with a focus on intercultural leadership development. He has recently assumed the role of Director of the Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre under the Open Learning Centre at Tyndale University, College & Seminary. It’s mission, to act as a catalyst to mobilize the entire body of Christ for local and global mission, has enabled Tim to continue to shape his call. Read his work in the recently published From the Margins to the Centre and hear him featured on Faith Today’s podcast on “How to be an Intercultural Church”.

Sandeep Jadhav

Sandeep Jadhav serves as the Senior Pastor of New Life Community Church, Burnaby, BC. Before coming to Canada, Sandeep and his wife Sunnyu Kim worked as missionaries with YWAM, mostly in India. Sandeep has an M.Div and a ThM (Church History) from Regent College, Vancouver. As a pastor and teacher, Sandeep is called to disciple and equip believers to participate in God’s mission in this world. He desires to help people navigate their sense of identity in Christ, their place in His church, and their desire to follow Him within a multicultural context. Sandeep and Sunnyu have two teenage sons, Serome and Nathan. 

Craig Kraft 

Craig Kraft is the Executive Director of Outreach Canada.  Craig and his wife Heather have four adult sons.  They have been involved in pastoral ministry in western Canada for fifteen years before becoming a missionary with OC.  Craig served with OC in southern Africa and now leads the ministry in Canada. 

After returning from Africa, Craig assisted with the formation of the OC Global Alliance, a partnership of over one thousand missionaries working around the world.  Craig is a graduate of Northwest Baptist Seminary at ACTS and he is completing his Doctor of Intercultural Studies degree at the Asia Graduate School of Theology.  His study has focused on diaspora missiology in Canada.  His dissertation explores the potential for revitalizing Canadian churches through the practice of biblical hospitality with refugees and immigrants.

Lorne Hunter

Lorne Hunter was born in Vancouver and has lived in Surrey for 27 years with his wife. Together they have two adult children. Lorne graduated from Canadian Bible College (Ambrose University) in 1989 with a BTh. He currently serves as the Associate Director and Director of Research at Outreach Canada Ministries. Lorne is also actively involved in his local church in a variety of ministries.

Since joining Outreach Canada in January 1990 Lorne’s primary responsibility has been to gather and disseminate information that casts clear, accurate light on both Canada's Harvest Force (the churched) and Harvest Field (the unchurched). Lorne has been instrumental in taking existing information, such as Canadian census data, and creating resources to help church leaders understand the unique composition of their local neighbourhood.

Sherman Lau

Sherman Lau serves as the Manager of Agency Collaboration at Mission Central (formerly Missions Fest Vancouver). He has practiced, spoken and taught on intercultural ministry for 10 years as a pastor, seminary instructor and missions mobilizer. He is passionate about equipping the church to be intercultural people of God and currently enrolled at Western Seminary, Oregon in the Doctor of Intercultural Studies program.

Justin Jung