Some of us were born in Canada. Some of us came to Canada with our parents. They chose Canada as the nation in which to raise you, with hopes of opportunity that they did not believe could be realized in the country of your birth. Some of you have come as adult immigrants. Some of you have come as refugees, fleeing violence and threat in your country of origin.
On my father’s side, my grandfather married in northern England in June of 1913. Weeks later, he arrived alone in Canada by ship, and then made his way west on a “colonial train,” basically a glorified boxcar in which those who could not afford coach class could camp their way across the nation.
World War One broke out, and due to fear of U-boats sinking ships, my grandmother remained alone in England until 1916, when she finally “took her chances” to cross the ocean to join my grandfather.
On my mother’s side, my grandparents, came from Peterhead Scotland. My grandfather fished the North Sea, and joined the Royal Navy, serving in World War One. His minesweeper was “blown up,” and he rather miraculously was rescued from the icy sea.
Unemployed and rather destitute after the war, in 1923 my grandparents made their way to Canada, along with my mother, then three years old, and many relatives (all from the Buchan Clan). They quickly found employment fishing in the then abundant salmon fishery in BC.
We all have our own family stories.
Having come from many nations around the globe, we together compose Canada, and also celebrate our rather unique mosaic of cultures. It is okay to be a “hyphenated-Canadian.” Even our First Nations are thought to have migrated from Asia. (Pastor Namgyu Lee, an immigrant from Korea, observes many similarities between traditional Korean customs and those of our First Nations).
In our Lower Pacific District, we, like our nation, represent a diversity of people. We have come from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Ethiopia, Congo, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Korea, Japan, the Philippines and many other nations . We provide worship services in seven different languages.
While we celebrate our diversity of languages and cultures, in our district and the EFCC, we are united in our common faith and ethos.
But, what unites us as Canadians? In this time of Racial Tension in North America, is there something that holds us together beyond an agreed commitment to multiculturalism?
The Canadian Multicultural Act (1988) begins…
WHEREAS the Constitution of Canada provides that every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination and that everyone has the freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief, opinion, expression, peaceful assembly and association and guarantees those rights and freedoms equally to male and female persons…
AND WHEREAS the Canadian Human Rights Act provides that every individual should have an equal opportunity with other individuals to make the life that the individual is able and wishes to have, consistent with the duties and obligations of that individual as a member of society, and, in order to secure that opportunity, establishes the Canadian Human Rights Commission to redress any proscribed discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin or colour;
AND WHEREAS Canada is a party to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which Convention recognizes that all human beings are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of the law against any discrimination and against any incitement to discrimination, and to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Covenant provides that persons belonging to ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities shall not be denied the right to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion or to use their own language;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes the diversity of Canadians as regards race, national or ethnic origin, colour and religion as a fundamental characteristic of Canadian society and is committed to a policy of multiculturalism designed to preserve and enhance the multicultural heritage of Canadians while working to achieve the equality of all Canadians in the economic, social, cultural and political life of Canada…
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-18.7/page-1.html
As one reads this act, and the values it espouses, one asks, (just as we do for core values of churches), are these the values that we are committed to, or are they simply aspirational?
In this day of outrage, dialogue has been largely reduced to slogans and Facebook posts. Issues of racial equality, “white privilege” and “systemic racism” have been become mixed with issues of sexuality, and rage leaves no room for factual evidence, dialogue or listening to the views of others.
I pray for us in the LPD/EFCC, to the end that we might both live and model equality in Christ. As our dear brother, Sammy Kabyemera (a Congolese refugee who is now a fellow-Canadian) said so well two weeks ago, “Racism is real and does exist. But as a follower of Christ Jesus, I believe Galatians 3:28,29, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for we are all one in Christ Jesus.”
While our nation might suffer from something of an identity crisis, that is something that we will never face as believers – we are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ!
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Loneliness – the silent epidemic sweeping through your church
the-silent-epidemic-sweeping-through-your-church
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Please Remember our LPD Missionaries:
Here is the link to their information and how to support them:
Please remember all of our LPD Missionaries (and all missionaries) at this time.
https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/donations/
LPD Missionaries
Dan and Sharon Williams (Osoyoos Project)
Steve and Gillian Sharpe (Missionary of Church Planting Development)
Jonathan and Harmony Ng (Inner City Ministry)
Noel and Lynda Macasaet (New Living Assembly)
Jorge and Emily Lin (Church of All Nations/”new”New West EFC)
Joshua and Nicole Fast (Priceless Youth Ministry)
Allen and Hannah Chang (Steveston Project)
Daniel and Joyce Wong (Steveston Project)
Nathan and Amber Kinsey (Winsome Games) – beginning Sept. 1
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HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR CHURCHES REGARDING COVID-19
We in the LPD are here to serve you and your church through this time. Josephine has been continually updating our information, so has the most current information available on resources available to you and your church in this time. Please email Josephine
Please contact us for:
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See you on July 17! Karen and I look forward to a couple of weeks off, and plan to return and send Five Minutes on Friday, July 17.
As always, you remain in our prayers and thoughts.
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Please pray for:
