The Pinkston Family,ministering in Quebec.
Université de Sherbrooke campus
Robert (standing between benches) coaching the U de Sherbrooke varsity soccer team.
Robert and Sharon speaking with parents and community members at the stadium after a varsity soccer game. "They won!"
Robert coaching a community high school soccer team. Through involvement at the school Robert and Sharon have many opportunities to reach the community.
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Sherbrooke, Quebec
On Sept. 20th I flew from Edmonton to Montreal and after a few bus transfers made my way to Sherbrooke. For the next 4 days Robert and Sharon Pinkston and their family graciously hosted me in their home and oriented me to the ministry needs in Sherbrooke and throughout the province of Quebec.
Sherbrooke is an incredibly strong University community. The Université de Sherbrooke is a French only campus with over 15,000 students. I was struck by the incredible sport and recreation facilities on this campus, and by the great need for Christian witness. Robert's heart is to begin a university community church on this campus. God gave Robert an amazing opportunity to get on campus through coaching the U de Sherbrooke varsity soccer team. In this volunteer capacity Robert has earned the trust of the university administration and had developed strong mentoring relationships with student athletes, faculty and staff.
Sharon is leading Bible studies in the community and Robert also coaches the local high school soccer team. Through these relationships their heart's desire is to see a core group of people form to establish a French language church in the campus community.
The town of "Lennoxville" is an English language community that borders Sherbrooke. In Lennoxville is Bishop's University a beautiful historic English language university. Robert meets with student leaders at this campus. The interesting dynamic that exists in Sherbrooke is that there are opportunities for both English and French collegiate outreach. The 2 universities and 2 other CEGEP campuses have a huge impact on the entire city. The over all impression I had was of how strategic collegiate ministry and university community church planting is in reaching this city.
Bishop's University Campus.
Robert & Sharon Pinkston
819-837-0659 819-679-9939 cell
robert.pinkston@sympatico.ca
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Downtown Montreal, church building where Impact Church meets each Sunday evening. Within blocks are 4 university/college campuses with over 100,000 students attending.
Luc Aube and Robert Pinkston at Luc's final service as pastor at "Impact Church". Robert served as Impact's first pastor.
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Impact Church, Montreal
After 4 days with the Pinkstons I traveled with them to Montreal. There we attended worship at Impact Church, which is a university community church plant reaching the heart of downtown Montreal, just blocks from McGill University (over 30,000 students), Concordia University (over 25,000 students), Université de Montreal (over 50,000 students) & Dawson College (English language CEGEP). One of the greatest concentration of campuses and students in North America.
This was the final service for Impact Church's pastor Luc Aube who has been called by God to help plant a church in downtown Vancouver. It was great to hear Luc's challenge to Impact to continue in the ministry that God has called them to. Over 100 people were there to say good bye to Luc and to commit to the ministry that God laid on this congregation. Be praying for Impact as they seek to discover the leader God is calling to be their next pastor. Pray too for David Ritz who is serving as their interim pastor.
Impact Church
PO Box 1431
Montreal, PQ H3B 3L2
info@impactchurch.ca
Interim Pastor David Ritz (514)-567-9085
http://www.impactchurch.ca/ |
Jason Byers, new pastor of Celebration! church in Ottawa. |
Ottawa
From Montreal I headed to our nation's capital, to meet with Jason Byers. Jason and his wife Carrie have taken over the pastoral duties at Celebration! church. Jason has a real heart for reaching students has shared a vision for outreach and growth that gave me shivers.
One of Jason's desires is to take a group of students from Ottawa (and other parts of Ontario and Quebec) to Passion 07, Jan. 1-4 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Jason & Carrie Byers
613-552-4185 cell
(613) 552-4185 office
E-Mail: jason@celebrationchurch.ca
E-Mail: jasonandcarrie@charter.net
Pastor Celebration! Church, University Community Church reaching Uof Ottawa, Carlton University, Algonquin College
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University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Durham College share a large campus in the heart of Oshawa, on the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
A very modern, technologically advanced campus. I could not discover any Christian ministry on this campus as I prayer walked. |
Oshawa, Ontario
On my way from Ottawa to Toronto I dropped by the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Durham College in the city of Oshawa. Jarret and Jenn Hamilton are hoping to establish "Redwood University Community Church" on this campus in the near future. Their target date is Sept. 2007. This is one of the fastest growing campuses in Canada. While on this campus I did some prayer walking. The impression God gave me was that this campus is strategic and there is a great need for outreach. Leaders in the nuclear and automotive industries are graduating each year form this large university. Be praying for Jarrett and Jenn as they seek to begin a work here
Jarrett & Jenn Hamilton
jarretandjenn@rogers.com
905-720-1524
Redwood University Community Church, Durham
College and Univ. of Ontario Institute of Tech
Note, this ministry to begin Sept. 2007 |
Len Thomas, Scott & Anita Plavnick, Chrissa and Jason Shine and Jeremy Langley. A wonderful meal at "Bombay Chopsticks"
Bob Royce, Pastor of Sanctuary West that meets on the MacMaster University Campus in Hamilton, Ontario.
Scarlett Royce holding baby Maya
Benjamin [4],Emma [10], Austin [6] and Ava [1.5] being held by Grandma
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Greater Toronto Area
I met with Jeremy Langley our Student Ministry Strategy Coordinator for the Greater Toronto Area. Jeremy shared about how God is doing some exciting work on Sheridan college in Oakville, and about the ministry at the Humber College campus in Missisauga. One of Jeremy's heart desires is to see a series of house churches planted throughout the GTA. He has a real vision of how collegiate ministry can be a catalyst to see these churches planted. I believe one of the most impacting events involving Canadian collegiate students this year was the mission trip Jeremy led to Cambodia. I will make sure pictures and stories of this mission trip are posted on our university ministry web site. Jeremy asks that we pray that young men and women are being reaching on campuses in the GTA will be called into ministry and become the campus and church planting leaders that are so desperately needed.
Langley, Jeremy
jeremy_langley@sympatico.ca
905-699-1757 cell
Later that day I had the joy of having a wonderful supper with Jeremy and 5 other university ministry leaders from the GTA.
Len Thomas is serving as a chaplain at the Humber College (Lakeview campus in West Toronto (Etobicoke)) and at the University of Guelph-Humber campus in Missisauga. He shares a praise that the campus club was ratified with enough student leadership coming along side.
Thomas, Len
len143@hotmail.com
(905) 306-7517 (416) 675-6622 ext. 4427
Jason and Charissa Shine are living in the heart of Toronto and they have a desire to lead a church plant near the UofT downtown campus. Pray for God to allow things to come together that their heart's desire may come to fruition.
Jason & Charissa Shine
Work: 1-905-590-4349
Mobile: 1-416-970-2675
E-Mail: jshine@canada.com
Scott & Anita Plavnick serve at the University of Toronto - Mississauga where they lead the Baptist Student Ministries. Scott also serves as the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Mississauga. In Scott's latest report he wrote:
This week is Clubs Week. We've had 60+ students sign up so far. And it looks like our Bible Study time will work for most students. We're showing "End of the Spear" next Wednesday afternoon, and we're likely to have a crowd. I don't remember if I copied you about 4 new Christians I've been meeting with for 4 weeks. Mike and Paul are students at UTM. Dorian is Paul's grade12 brother, and Vince is Paul and Dorian's father. BSM Alum have helped them grow, and put together this Bible Study. So far it has been a 3-hour Q + Bible A time! It's been great. And this past Sunday, the three young men attended our church. It looks like they'll be back, too.
Scott & Anita Plavnick
bsmutm@rogers.com
(905) 824-7994 416-828-5341 cell
The next day I made the drive from Oakville to Hamilton to visit Bob Royce, the pastor of Sanctuary West a university community church plant on the MacMaster campus in Hamilton. Bob's wife Scarlett was expecting their 5th child the day I arrived so our appointment was quite tentative. It was great to spend time talking about Bob's vision and seeing the "trendy" ministry center they have established just down the street from the MacMaster campus.
Bob has been invited to be a leader at Passion 07. He will be manning a "Pod" where the CCSB missions and ministry will be highlighted. This is a tremendous opportunity to develop some partnerships with collegiate ministries in the states. Check out the link on the banner to the right. You may want to talk to Bob about the possibility of sending students to this incredible event. Tens of thousands of students will be there.
Bob & Scarlett Royce
broyce@thesanctuary.ca
www.thesanctuary.ca/hamilton/
905-523-7319
905-961-0492 office/cell
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Leaving Hamilton I began my 4500 km drive back to Edmonton. I intended to visit a number of University campuses along the way, prayer walking and allowing God to give me an impression of the needs on each campus.
The first campus I visited was the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. This is an incredibly vibrant campus with over 15,000 students and a very large residence community. Over 90% of first year students live right on campus.
This university is known for its veterinary college, agricultural degree programs, bio-sciences and criminal justice programs.
As I drove into the city of Guelph I noticed a very large new residential community developing on the south side, quite close to the university campus. Guelph is just 35 km North of Hamilton, 40km NW of Oakville, and about 70km W. of Toronto. We have a number of vibrant church plants within a half hour drive of Guelph. I really believe that Guelph may be really open for a University community church plant. Perhaps a "current" team would be able to investigate the possibilities. When I talked with people from the student union I sensed that they really emphasize student groups.
There are some great facilities on campus that could be available for a church group.
Of all the campuses I visited God seemed to impress the UofGuelph most on my heart. Outreach Canada indicates 20 new churches are needed in Guelph. |
Laurentian University campus in Sudbury, Ontario. |
I continued north around the Great Lakes, stopping in Sudbury. In Sudbury, Ontario I discovered that Laurentian University is at the very heart of the community, both geographically and in influence. This university has a huge emphasis on mining engineering which corresponds to the mining industry that is the mainstay of Sudbury's economy.
As I prayer walked through this campus and talked to different people I didn't get a real positive feeling. People did not seem interested at all in issues of faith. The campus also seemed very quiet and reserved.
I do believe however that the campus location would be a natural place for a church plant to begin. I was also blown away by the beauty surrounding Sudbury, with hundreds of lakes and islands. Truly a cottage haven. If it wasn't for the mines and huge smoke stacks I would have thought tourism was the main industry.
The CCSB doesn't have any church or mission in this city.
Outreach Canada indicates 30 new churches are needed in Sudbury. |
Lakehead University Campus in Thunder Bay. There is also a good sized community college in Thunder Bay. I sensed that a university community church plant could be an effective way of beginnin a first work in this city.
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 Continuing my trip west, at the North end of Lake Superior lies Thunder Bay. This vibrant historic city is the home of one of the world's largest grain terminals. Large ships load up grain at Thunder Bay and head through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic.
I really got a positive feeling at Lakehead University which is in the heart of the city. Lakehead has a very large native population which is apparent by the native language on the signs across campus.
The people seemed very friendly and open. I couldn't find any evidence of a Christian ministry on the campus, so there certainly appears to be a need.
There was significant building development happening on campus too, so I left feeling like Lakehead has a lot of possibility for a university community church plant.
Outreach Canada indicates that 26 new anglo churches and 1 Italian church is needed in Thunder Bay. |
University of Brandon campus. A beautiful historic facility with a strong Music and arts program.
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 I stopped by Brandon University which is a small university with about 3000 students. Brandon's Music Program
is highly regarded. The campus has about 30 % aboriginal students. The Vast majority of students are from rural Manitoba.
As I prayer walked on this campus I sensed that this campus my be a key place to plant a church reaching first nations people. The campus is quite small and not really in a growing part of the town. |
Bob & Laura and their girls at the city centre park in Moose Jaw. |
 I had a wonderful visit with Bob and Laura Butt in Moosejaw. Bob pastors Calvary Baptist Church while Laura teaches an ESL program for new immigrants to the community.
The Palliser campus of the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) is there just a few blocks form Calvary Baptist. (campus picture above) Laura served at the BSM president at the University of Alberta so she has a real heart for student ministry. They really need a person to come along side them to work long term at the campus.
Bob is a native Newfoundlander and one of the things we talked about was the church planting outreach that will be beginning at St. John's Newfoundland this summer. Bob is a prayer warrior with a heart for his home. |
University of Calgary Chaplains' Ctr. right in the heart of the campus. Over 25,000 students attend the UofC
Tracy and Josh Mauldin (chef extrordinair!) They lead the campus ministries at UofCalgary and the SAIT campus. 
Worship at "The Bridge" at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Back home! |
I finished my trip with a visit at the U of Calgary, where I had served as campus minister for 10 years. Josh and Tracy Mauldin are now serving as campus ministers and chaplains and are doing a wonderful job. They have a brand new chaplain's office and chapel which indicates the significant support campus ministry has from the university administration.
From Calgary I headed back north to Edmonton and home. A total of 4990 km. During this trip I was reminded that God has given me an incredible love for my country and a burden for reaching the hundreds of thousands of students who are separated from God. I have a greater burden now as I drove through town after town and city after city where dozens of new churches are needed. I pray that this burden will never leave me. Truly the fields were ripe unto harvest. I do pray that God will call out the workers into these harvest fields. I am convinced that our collegiate ministry is a significant part of God's strategy of reaching these workers.
In Christ's Service
Mel Cruikshank 
One of the leadership teams at "The Bridge" in Edmonton.
Catherine,Rachel, Laura, Jairus, Jeremy
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