REV. SUNDER KRISHNAN was born into an orthodox Hindu family in India and grew up in the capital city of New Delhi. He completed high school in 1961; graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology in 1967; and received his Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1969 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
In June 1969, he joined the staff of Atomic Energy of Canada which is located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Most of his eleven years on staff were spent in safety analysis of nuclear generating stations.
Sunder came to know Jesus Christ as his Saviour through the ministry of Youth For Christ in the City of New Delhi during his first year of undergraduate studies. He was active for several years with Youth For Christ in India. During his two years in Boston he was active with Campus Crusade for Christ.
Since arriving in Toronto, Sunder and his family have worshipped at Rexdale Alliance Church. His primary ministry was as an adult Sunday School teacher. He served on the Board of Elders and as a member of the Executive Committee for eight years. In October 1980, Sunder resigned his position with Atomic Energy of Canada and joined the pastoral staff of Rexdale Alliance Church as the Associate Pastor. In this capacity he was responsible for preaching at all services. He was ordained to the Christian ministry in October 1982. When the Senior Pastor retired, Rev. Sunder Krishnan accepted that position on January 1, 1997.
Rev. Krishnan has been the featured speaker at The General Assembly of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, The General Council of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in the United States, in several Bible Colleges, and numerous missionary conferences and concerts of prayer. In addition he has ministered overseas to many missionaries and pastors.
In 1971, he and Shyamala were married. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.
For more info. on Rev. Krishnan and his church, please click on to : www.rexdalealliance.org
JOHN FRANKLIN is the Executive director of IMAGO, a unique organization promoting the artistic development of Christians in theatre, dance, music, fine arts, film, and literature. He is also a professor of philosophy and theology.
For more information on John Franklin and his work with IMAGO, please click on the following:
http://www.imago-arts.on.ca
GEOFF TUNNICLIFFE (
Director, Global Initiatives) came on staff
in 2003 to promote partnerships among Canadian ministries committed to a
global outreach, as well as initiatives involving foreign-based ministries. He
continues to help lead the World Evangelical Alliance’s Missions Commission
and to work with the Africa Aids Initiative, an alliance of North American
churches aiming to foster a grassroots, African church-based ministry to
Africans affected by HIV/AIDS. He is also involved in a global campaign,
including the WEA, to mobilize Christians against poverty. In Canada he consults with churches interested in developing global mission plans and in
the development of resources to promote global missions. He began writing a weblog
in August 2004
http://www.christianity.ca/mission/features/weblog.html
http://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/mnf/page_viewer.asp?article_id=13
REV. GIDEON TANDIRERUNG is a pastor of the Indonesian Alliance Church in Montreal. His church is only 3 months old, and made up of Christian Indonesian refugees who fled persecution because of their faith. Now they are making a big effort to bless and help their country and its people during the aftermath of the Tsunami.
Listen Up interviewed Gideon about his thoughts on the Tsunami disaster.
LU: How is your church affected by this disaster?
GT: As brothers and sisters in Christ of the Indonesian Alliance church in Montreal, we earnestly have the burden to raise funds for the relief effort for the Tsunami victims regardless whether they are Christians or non-Christians. We feel this is the right time to show our love and concern to them. We want them to realize that God's love is amidst them although they lost their loved ones.
LU: You mentioned it is made up of Christian Indonesian refugees who left because of persecution - are your families still there?
GT: My family is still in Indonesia. Fortunately, they are not in a disaster area. They are all residing in my hometown, the central part of Indonesia, and quite a distance from the devastated area where they stay up to now.
LU: Why do you think you feel burdened for the nation that persecuted you?
GT:Indonesia is still my beloved country and although we are far away will still have the burden to help those who are in crisis there. Our responsibility is not just to serve in the pulpit but also doing good things to all people. The good way is by using effectively what God has given to us. This is the right time to witness about the faithfulness, goodness, kindness, love and mercy of God by helping them and that they would realize that God is the provider of everything. For God is the greatest compared to our problems, difficulties, pains and miseries because He is our Living God, Creator and Redeemer. We love them all regardless what happened in the pass.
LU: What are you hoping to accomplish with your appeal?
GT:Our primary hope is that the relief effort would be given to the victims. We want to use our efforts and resources and donate them to the neediest people at this moment.
LU: Are you asking for a local or national prayer effort in your denomination as well?
GT: Yes, both local and national prayer for the Tsunami disaster victims. Prayers are powerful if there is sincerity and persistency.
YOUTH MISSION INTERNATIONAL
We interviewed Corina Reimer, co-leader of TREK in Thailand, after her and her team had helped in the clean up of the Tsunami destruction in Phuket, Thailand.
The names are as follows: (l to r) in back: Jason Reimer (St. Catharines, ON), Dallas Stobbe (Killarney, MB). in front: Amanda Griffioen(Abbotsford, BC), Corina
Reimer(St. Catharines, ON), Katrina Grabner(Rocky Mtn House, AB), Danielle Slaughter (Fresno, CA)
Youth Mission International is:
* a discipleship mission movement
* a ministry of MBMS International, the global mission agency of Mennonite Brethren churches in Canada and the United States
*3 seperate programs for youth and young adults: SOAR, ACTION and TREK
* over 3,500 youth and young adults who have been called into deeper intimacy with God, transparent community and sacrificial service
* a ministry in cross-cultural, inner city and international settings.
* a member of the Global Discipleship Training Alliance
For more information on the TREK program or supporting Youth Mission International, please click on:
http://www.youthmission.org
Ricky and Karen Sanchez are a part of Team 2000, part of MBMS International. This term they will continue to focus on language learning and move into strategic evangelism to see a church formed in Chonburi, Thailand.
The other members of Team 2000 are Andy and Carmen Owen with their sons Connor and Isaac, and Dave and Louise Sinclair-Peters with their children, Kyla, Micah, Grace and Sierra.
Chonburi is in the area just southeast of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand. It has an international harbour that oversees trade with countries from around the world, and serves several industrial parks in the area. It is also a fishing center for the central Thailand region. Its beaches and tropical warm climate also attract many to resorts like Pattaya to the south.
They have opened a "Friendship Centre" where they teach English to adults and do community outreaches. They also hold their "Celebration Services" there once a month.
WORLD VISION CANADA
World Vision, which has made a difference in the lives of millions of people, began in China with one person - Dr. Bob Pierce, an American missionary.
In 1947 while on a trip to China, Pierce met Tena Hoelkedoer, a teacher. She introduced him to a battered and abandoned child, named White Jade. Unable to care for the child herself, she asked Pierce, "What are you going to do about her?" Pierce gave the woman his last five dollars and agreed to send the same amount each month to help the woman care for White Jade. This encounter was a turning point for Pierce. He set about building an organization dedicated to helping the world's children. World Vision was born and the first child sponsorship program began a few years later in response to the needs of hundreds-of-thousands of orphans at the end of the Korean War in 1953.
Through the decades, World Vision has become a leader in the field of relief and development. With almost 14,000 full and part time staff members implementing programs of emergency relief, education, health care, economic development and promotion of justice in more than 90 countries, World Vision is a living tribute to Pierce's work.
Canada has been part of the World Vision family since the early days. In 1950 Pierce held the first meetings in Canada to discuss what he had seen and learned. In 1957 Canada's first World Vision office opened in a tiny downtown-Toronto office. Today the new national headquarters, overseen by president Dave Toycen, is one of the partnership's largest and busiest offices.
World Vision is Canada's largest private relief and development agency. Today, Canadians support 300,000 children around the world. For 31 years, World Vision Canada's 30 Hour Famine raised funds to fight world hunger, poverty and injustice. Last year saw about 155,000 youth raise almost $4 million. Over the last year, World Vision Canada launched more than 60 initiatives in response to emergencies around the world and operated 300 long-term development projects.
World Vision Canada has a long history of partnering with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and other government bodies in overseas development and in addressing global issues such as banning landmines, child rights, hunger and health issues.
-from www.worldvision.ca
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