GEM Canada

On October 31st, we celebrate the anniversary of the Reformation. May we always hold fast to the Word of God, neither adding nor subtracting anything, and may we be bold enough to fight for truth in a time when people have exchanged truth for a lie - for what people want to hear over what they NEED to hear. Scripture Alone, Christ Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone, To the Glory of God Alone!

The Bible is an invaluable and essential tool in the belt of a Christian. It aids us, challenges us, and encourages us as we walk daily with God. Up until the year 1517, though, it was not nearly as accessible as we see it now.

At the time, the Catholic Church held authority over scripture and often created their own laws that benefited them. You see, Christians believed the church alone held the keys to salvation, and the church taught that if they did good works, paid for the atonement of their sins, and received the sacraments, they could go to heaven.

With little access to scripture for the public, especially in their own language, they couldn’t know the truth of the Gospel. They were instead compelled to trust and depend on the local priest to hear it spoken out loud.

Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk and university lecturer saw the need for purification within the church. He fought to see the Bible, not tradition, as the sole source of spiritual authority.

After composing his “95 Theses” which protested the Catholic Church’s corrupt religious laws, he nailed it onto the door of Wittenberg’s Castle Church, thus sparking the reformation – or split between the Catholic and Protestant churches.

Shortly after this monumental day, Martin Luther got to work translating the Bible into German, a much more accessible language for the people of Germany. As people grew in literacy, Bibles became more commonplace in homes, where individuals could read the truth for themselves and together as a family. ...

"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends,” (John 15:12-13, NASB). ...

What do you know about Greater Europe Mission (GEM)…like, really know? Do you know why Europe is its focus? Do you know who began GEM or how it began? Many of us know about GEM in its current state; we know it is a mission organization that is passionate about spreading the Gospel across Europe and making disciples who go on to make disciples. For the sake of honouring its history and understanding its commission, let’s dive back to GEM’s origin and discover how it became the organization it is today. Click the link in our bio and navigate to our blog post, “How Greater Europe Mission Came To Be.”

Is God calling you to be a part of this legacy? There is still so much need for the Gospel to be shared across Europe and for European believers to be encouraged and trained in the ways of disciple-making. Contact us today to find out how you can get involved! Click the link in our bio and navigate to our "Go" tab.

#prayforGEMCanada ...

Can the global Church grow if there is no one sharing the Good News? Oftentimes, it takes encouragement from others to step into the life God has called us to live, and in Germany, it’s no different. My mission is to embolden Christians, especially those belonging to Mosaik Nord Church, to share Christ’s love with each other. With the support I offer, I hope to see improved stability, steadfastness, and multiplication within the local church in Frankfurt, that there might be a wider, larger-scale impact that is even experienced outside the walls of the church.

I work as a staff member in a unique German church, boasting more Middle Eastern members than German or any other culture! I serve in many aspects including worship, mentorship, support for the pastors and their families, Sunday service behind the scenes help, administration, helping in building facility management, and cleaning. My main role, though, is leading our culturally diverse hospitality team. This team oversees the greeters and all food/drink related needs for our services. Our team’s main goal is to model and share Christ’s love with everyone we serve, helping to build-up God’s Kingdom here in Frankfurt.

God has prepared me for ministry in many ways, but most particularly through the spiritual giftings He has given me. With helps and hospitality, combined with the strengths of care, sympathy, empathy, and a big heart full of His love, I am equipped to serve and support with excellence.

Watching church members grow has been such a joy! Watching my pastors thrive and grow in their ministry to us as I relieve them of tasks that have burdened them, has been gratifying. Seeing the work that God is doing through this local church and experiencing the blessing it is to be a part of it, is amazing!

Thank you for considering your partnership with the work God is doing! Without supporters like you, I wouldn’t be here and able to share Christ’s love. When you partner with me, this becomes your mission too – you are directly involved in God’s work in Frankfurt!

To partner with Crystal, click the link in our bio and navigate to our "give" tab. You can also visit: https://gemission.ca/donate/dueck/ ...

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His faithfulness is everlasting, (1 Chron. 16:34, NASB)."

May your Thanksgiving Day reveal your gratitude and appreciation for all that our Heavenly Father has done for you. We hope you have a blessed day! ...

This month, will you join us in prayer for Russia?

Vast. Mysterious. Diverse. Many words may come to mind when talking about Russia. This nation of over 144 million residents has a rich but often tragic history. For centuries, it was systematically plundered by those who held sway, from the Mongols to the Tsars to the Communists to the oligarchs. It endured terrible persecution between 1920 and 1990 when up to 200,000 Christian leaders died as martyrs.

Communism’s collapse in 1991 led to an outpouring of truth and ministry in Russia, including unprecedented opportunities for church planting, theological education, and Bible translation and distribution. Many missionaries began working boldly within their country, engaging in strategic evangelism. However, it also led to corruption and drug and alcohol abuse. Though the door is open for foreign missionaries to serve in Russia, new visa laws greatly restrict the amount of time they can remain in the country.

Russia has one of the world’s most elderly populations, has low immigration numbers, and a devastatingly high abortion rate. In war, the military losses in Ukraine, along with conscription and the many thousands who fled the country to avoid it, are robbing the country of much of its next generation.

In a country as vast and diverse as Russia, many missionaries are needed to take the Gospel message to the thousands of towns and villages. Russians who live in remote areas of the country have cultural barriers to the Gospel. However, there are opportunities to get involved in almost any imaginable ministry.

◾️ Pray against corruption, and that most of the population will not fall into poverty.
◾️Pray for revival, and particularly for the Orthodox believers to be born again, and for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on them.
◾️Pray that the Kingdom of God will transform culture and counter the anger and corruption that divides the country.

To learn more about how you can partner with us and support our ongoing efforts in Europe, click the link in our bio!

#prayforGEMCanada ...

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect," (Romans 12:2, NASB). ...

You may have heard that life on the mission field isn’t always easy for a missionary, but have you considered its impact on their children? Do they experience the same highs and lows their parents do? Do they naturally follow in their parents’ footsteps, or have entirely different hopes for their future? When God calls believers to serve in missions, He doesn’t forget about their children! Though it isn’t always easy, it’s an invitation for these youth to grow closer to Him – often with some help from others.

Understanding the impact missionary work can have on children of missionaries, particularly with feelings of displacement, and desiring to provide support and tools to missionary families, Greater Europe Mission created a ministry catered to missionary children – GEM-K.

“For me,” Bryce, a GEM-K alumni, shares, “GEM-K was a space to be with other teenagers who have experienced the same challenges of cross-cultural living, as well as be poured into and deeply cared for by the staff of GEM-K. It created a unique environment to feel truly known and understood. The Lord used my time at GEM-K to greatly impact who I am today in wonderful ways. Much of my faith has grown because of the leader’s hard work to care for me and teach me who the Lord is.”

To read more, click the link in our bio and navigate to our blog post, “How GEM Kids Navigate the Challenges of Missionary Life.”

With GEM-K prioritizing safety, authenticity, and hope, this ministry has played, and continues to play, an important role in the lives of the kids of GEM’s missionaries. If this ministry excites you, and you have a passion to disciple youth and walk alongside them as they navigate their unconventional lives, especially at their annual retreats, contact us! GEM-K is always looking for help from responsible believers.

#prayforGEMCanada ...

Have you ever felt called to lead a group in a church setting, but felt ill-equipped to fulfill such a task? God desires that His people be well-equipped for all kinds of works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up and unified in our faith and knowledge of Jesus. In this way, we become mature, reaching fullness in Christ (Eph. 4:11-13). This world desperately needs to see and hear God’s truth shared with them in a confident, loving way; I have dedicated my life to helping women do just that.

As a new Christian, I was quickly invited to help with all kinds of ministry, but I often didn’t know what I was doing. I didn't know the Bible well and I felt thrown into the deep end. This feeling of inadequacy led me to study at a Bible college, and after four years, I answered God’s call to serve Him in Latvia where I found true joy in helping believers grow in their faith in Jesus, equipping them to use their gifts, and helping them learn how to serve God and people!

Working internationally and online, my colleagues and I equip women in the local and global Church to nurture, develop, and mobilize others for Kingdom impact. We train women through collaborative, transformational learning. We equip them to lead excellent small group Bible studies. They learn to walk in their God-given identities and to help others do the same.

They develop Bible study skills, godly character, and learn to build and sustain healthy ministry teams. Through four consecutive modules, these women help grow the Kingdom of God with their new God-centered confidence and practical ministry skills that enable them to serve in their church and community, and since 2014, together with Latvians, we have equipped 66 leaders from more than 20 churches in all 4 regions of Latvia!

To paraphrase the Scripture that guides our equipping ministry, 2 Timothy 2:2 – the things I have heard in the presence of many witnesses I am entrusting to these reliable women who are well qualified to teach others. All glory to God in the highest!

To read more and partner with Mo, click the link in our bio and navigate to our "give" tab. You can also visit: https://gemission.ca/donate/blackmon/ ...