Canadian Mennonite August 23, 2010 23
B.C. churches to host l Briefly noted
Emerging churches
IMPaCT visitors receive grant funds
An intercultural urban church in
Ottawa, Ont., and a Sherbrooke, Que.,
Five pastors from Asia on church started by a Colombian refu-
learning tour to province gee are the 2010 recipients of “ven-
ture capital” grants from the Wilfred
By Amy D ueckm an Schlegel Memorial Fund. The Village
B.C. Correspondent recent history of Mennonites in B.C. and International Mennonite Church is an
aBBotSFoRD, B.C. compare it to their own country’s church emerging community in the Vanier area
experience. “What MC B.C. churches have of Ottawa. Pastor Stefan Cherry says
F ive Mennonite pastors from four Asian
countries will visit British Columbia
Sept. 23 to Oct. 7, part of the IMPaCT
always been about is seeing a need in the
community and finding a way to meet the
need,” says Linda Matties of the MC B.C.
the church will use the $3,400 grant to
purchase audiovisual equipment for
use in Sunday services, neighbourhood
(International Mennonite Pastors Coming church health committee planning the parties and outreach activities. Refugio
Together) program of Mennonite Church learning time. The group will visit institu- de Paz (“Refuge of Peace”) Sherbrooke
Canada. tions of education, mental health and ad- began three years ago as a house church.
Coming from China (2), Philippines, diction treatment that MC B.C. churches Its leader, Lucy Roca, came to Canada
Macau and Vietnam, the pastors will spend have supported. “We also want to take [the as a Colombian refugee and has been
two weeks in B.C., hosted by Cedar Valley, pastors] to the Vancouver area as we note reaching the Colombian community in
Eben-Ezer, Emmanuel, Langley Mennonite the density of the Asian population there,” Sherbrooke since she arrived. Refugio de
Fellowship and Yarrow United Mennonite says Matties. Paz now has additional house churches
churches. They will spend time individual- The guests will conclude their two weeks in Ville Quebec an