A publication of the Renewal Fellowship
A publication of the Renewal Fellowship
By Paul Dylla, Marieke Schindell, and Grant Wilson. Fairview Presbyterian Church, Vancouver BC, celebrated its 100th anniversary by undertaking as a missions project: the building of Sunshine House, a home for children orphaned by AIDS in Cambodia. Three members of the congregation travelled to Cambodia, met the children, and recorded their reflections on the experience. … Read more
Reviewed by Calvin Brown. This book chronicles the work of this missionary couple in Taiwan. It follows the historical and changing political realities the missionaries had to labour under, the creation of a written language for the Tayal people, and the personal lives of the missionaries themselves. … Read more
COVER ILLUSTRATION: The Dayspring, a nineteenth century ship used by Presbyterian Missionaries in the South Pacific. See the article. From The Rev. Robert Strang Miller’s book, Misi Gete: John Geddie, Pioneer Missionary to the New Hebrides, published by The Presbyterian Church of Tasmania. Photos courtesy of The Presbyterian Church in Canada Archives.
ARTICLES – Special History Edition: Presbyterian Missions
Section I: China/Taiwan:
Section II: The South Pacific Islands:
Section III: Japan:
By Calvin Brown. As part of the 125th Anniversary of the Presbyterian Church in Canada and the Millennium Celebrations we are happy to present this special history edition of Channels magazine retelling the stories of some of our Presbyterian missionaries to South East Asia. … Read more
By A. Donald MacLeod. In the mid 1880s, foreign missions became a dominant concern for many young people, who volunteered to go overseas, especially to China. Jonathan Goforth founded the Canadian Presbyterian mission in Honan, north of the Yellow River in China. … Read more
By A. Donald MacLeod. George Leslie MacKay was the first missionary of the Canada Presbyterian Church. He not only pioneered Christian mission in northern Taiwan in 1871, but also transformed the missionary vision of the Canadian Church. His work continues to have a profound influence. … Read more
By Jonathan Dent. Jonathan Goforth used the Revivalist models of Finney and Moody in China. In meetings, he prayed, sang hymns, taught the Word, and called for testimony. Hours were spent in the confession of sin and repentance. Revival broke out wherever Goforth went. … Read more
By Grace McGill. The Holy Spirit movement in Taiwan began in 1971. Signs and wonders occurred, including prophetic utterances by an illiterate woman who could not possibly have recited Bible passages, giving chapter and verse, unless she had been inspired by the Holy Spirit. … Read more
By David D. Stewart. On the wall of the Memorial Hall in Zion Presbyterian Church, Charlottetown, PEI, is the picture of a ship, the Dayspring, whose birth came about in response to martyrdom and whose career was associated with the first great period of Canadian Presbyterian missionary outreach. … Read more
By Peter Bush. After the murder of his brother, George Gordon, a missionary to Erromanga in the New Hebrides, James Gordon brought his murderers a message of forgiveness. Both Gordons preferred to train islanders to spread the gospel, and by 1900, 95% of the people of Erromanga were Christians. … Read more
By Angus Sutherland. The first communion tokens used in the New Hebrides were Canadian, brought by John Geddie from Pictou, Nova Scotia, in 1846. The second was also designed in Canada, reading Efate New Hebrides and on the other side, Ko Mroa Ki Au, which means, "think on me." … Read more
By Robert K. Anderson. Koreans in Japan have long suffered oppression from the Japanese, and Christian witness there has seen many ups and downs. Work among them has moved from being directed from Korea to being indigenous. Help from the Presbyerian Church in Canada is on a "sister church" basis. … Read more
By John Vaudry. Caroline Macdonald worked with the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), which was at that time an interdenominational evangelical organization that encouraged educated Christian women to work for "the regeneration of society." This she did in Japan, supported by women's missionary organizations in the Canadian Presbyterian and United Churches. … Read more
Questions for discussion by a Mission Committee or Bible study group are presented on each of the three sections: China/Taiwan, the South Pacific Islands, and Japan. … Read more
By Rev. Dr. A. Donald MacLeod. The tireless efforts of James Dickson, a Canadian Presbyterian missionary, were seminal in the advancement of Christianity in Taiwan, especially among the hill tribes. His wife, Lillian Dickson, began the Mustard Seed Mission, emphasizing sturdy church buildings, adequate child care, orphan protection, and vocational training. … Read more
By J. Kevin Livingston. The Church's spiritual vitality and strength ebbs and flows. In light of recurring trends in times of church renewal we need as a Reformed church to maintain biblical fidelity and doctrinal integrity, as well as structural flexibility. … Read more
By Robin Ross. Support for the national church has declined, perhaps because church publications never mention anyone becoming a Christian through our social action work, inclusive language has been mandated, and only certain "politically correct" people are appointed to committees. … Read more