The Third Space

The Summer of Peace

Preparing young disciples for mission is primarily an exercise in discernment. We must be discerning of team dynamics, of cultural perspectives, of travel practices and most importantly we must be discerning about the Gospel of Jesus. Jeremiah’s words reflect our ministry as we orient this generation to live on mission for Jesus. On mission we all receive our instructions from God through scripture, through the life, words and example of Jesus, and through intentional times of worship, teaching and dialogue together. Thank you for your prayers, your encouragement, your financial support and invested interest as partners! Let us all continue to ask one another daily, “How do we understand God in this?” 

Stories and anecdotes from the last few months of discipleship.
Understanding God in these unique times. 

MB Mission Central Canada team L-R: Cam Kerney, Rob Schroeder, Janell Friesen, Karissa Durant, Lloyd & Carol Letkeman, Rachael Wiebe, Kara Friesen, Sarah Brown, Ruth & Matt Braun, Levi Willems. 

"Rub-a-dub-dub, 

three new coordinators in our HUB!” 

Rob Schroeder, Levi Willems and Karissa Durant joined our team as Program Coordinators of TREK, ACTION and SOAR Heartland respectively! We will be blessed with new energy and perspectives as these three join the team. 

On the Move

Janelle Braun

Janelle Braun (formerly Hume) is moving up! Janelle transitioned from SOAR Heartland Coordinator and energetic encourager on our team to the MB Conference of Manitoba upstairs! Our two office teams are working closer than ever to resource our churches on mission.

God’s Talent Show

Action participant, Miranda Ong, from Saskatoon was shocked when the first act was a young Yazidi man, Saadon, delivering a monologue about people being taken hostage and killed by IS*S. A small group of Christians, Muslims and Yazidi had gathered for an evening of sharing their talents as a way of breaking down barriers and sharing a laugh together during the Building Leaders for Peace (BL4P) camp near Mosul Iraq this July. Following the sober monologue a few songs and silly talents were shared. 

Omar, a Yazidi man came forward and shared that his friend’s sister was taken hostage three days ago, and ISIS was asking for $10000 USD for her release. “I can never forgive those men! What is the family to do? I am filled with hate!” Out of the prolonged silence that followed, a voice from the back screamed loudly, “FREEDOM!” Repeatedly, ‘freedom!’ was shouted by Ken, a Christian from Australia. The story-teller stood motionless. Then, Jalal, a Muslim man joined the screaming of “FREEDOM!” 



What happened next was a holy moment. Ken came up to the distressed Yazidi men, held Saadon’s face, peered directly into his eyes and boldly said, “I love you, I love you, I love you,” as a father to a son. Then he did the same to Jalal. Something broke in the room. Suddenly women began doing the same thing, holding faces and boldly proclaiming “I love you.” Then men joined the movement. The Father’s love was being shared in the midst of the most horrific circumstances on our planet today. God is Peace in times of conflict! Shalom. We all learned God’s most sacred talent… Love and Forgiveness!

BL4P is a camp organized by EPIK Encounter in zones of conflict. 

Jesus is Peace in times of conflict 

Living out our ministry of reconciliation was tested daily throughout the ACTION experience this summer. We learned to live in “the third space” — a place where our faith in Jesus intersects with others who may express faith differently, yet desire a world void of violence and intolerance. We had teams intersect with Syrian and Iraqi refugees in conflict zones to learn how the Prince of Peace can guide us in forgiveness, conflict transformation and working for shalom! We even had 12 asylum seekers join us for orientation and share their exodus stories from Ghana, Somalia, Bangladesh and Djibouti. May they find Jesus to be their promised land.

Jesus is our Promised Land

 Shamattawa First Nation is situated in Manitoba’s verdant northland at the junction of God’s River and Echoing River. Mark & Neena Huebert with their children David and Eden joined the community for a few weeks on ACTION, focussing on children’s outreach. Though the area is rich in resources, the community has experienced generations of living in the desert, longing for the promised land. Our prayers and subsequent partnership with several leaders on the reserve is about following God’s pillar of fire by night and cloud by day until the community once again flows with milk and honey!

Thanks! 

Carol and I thank you deeply for your support, your prayers and encouragement in this ministry of reconciliation and discipleship. We have many stories from this summer we believe would be an encouragement to you and your community. Don’t hesitate to call and arrange an evening of stories and fellowship to spread the good news of God’s involvement in the lives of his disciples on mission. We would love to connect. 

Partner with us

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by phone 1.204.478.2692

toll free 1.866.964.7627

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MB Mission

1310 Taylor Ave

Winnipeg, MB, R3M3Z6 

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