Autumn in Quebec

Autumn in Quebec is beautiful, with the reds, oranges, golds and yellows of the changing leaves. The past two months have been a beautiful season of ministry in Quebec. I have been to Val d’Or, Kahnawake, Quebec City, Lasalle, Rimouski, and Shawinigan ... in French, English, and First Nations settings. God has moved, and peoples' live have been touched by His grace. Beautiful!

It was a joy to be part of the ministry team for the Quebec Native Women’s retreat in Val d’Or (September 9-11). This weekend had some "firsts." For the first time, a leadership training day was held before the start of the retreat. For the first time, a group of teenage girls spent the Saturday afternoon serving. They went out to minister to people living on the streets ... sharing socks, sandwiches, words of hope, and prayer. Beautiful! 

These Native ladies know how to raise money for missions. They gave almost $10,000 during the retreat. And over two months, they raised another $7,748 for famine relief in the Horn of Africa. One Mom involved her kids: they baked muffins and sold them in the community. For a substantial profit. Other ladies also found creative forms of "micro-enterprise" to generate funds. Some "lived on less" for a time so they could give half of their grocery budget. Beautiful!

Next Thursday I leave for Uganda. Three weeks of cross-cultural missions training at MTC (Missions Transformation Centre) Uganda. Then missions conferences in two regions. What a privilege to walk with Pentecostal Assemblies of God Uganda in their vision to "send and serve" within Uganda and internationally. Beautiful!

"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Rom. 10:15)

Pastor Félix & Denise Bélisle, Rimouski 

Quebec Native Women's Retreat

Young Native women asking God to use them to touch nations

Mission Accomplished!

Mission accomplished! We have completed another successful “School of Church Planting” at Missions Transformation Centre (MTC), Uganda.The group was small, but this allowed us to invest more deeply in each participant. Each one went home with a specific plan to increase the impact of their church planting efforts. I thank God for the vision of Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) Uganda to train workers for church planting and missions. Sending and serving! Thank you for your prayers and financial support that help make my involvement here possible!

It was a blessing to have Pastor Rebecca Paavola (Gaspé, QC) with us. Rebecca helped students plan an afternoon of children’s ministry. We expected 30-50 children. Two hundred came! Most had never been to a church. After Bible stories, games, snacks, singing, and life-skills teaching, several made clear decisions to receive Christ as Saviour. There had been much debate in class about whether a child has the capacity to enter into a real relationship with Jesus Christ. Seeing children do so seemed to settle the question! More than 50% of the African population is under age 15 years. Effective church planting must include reaching children.

Most students came from the remote region of Karamoja. We were able to focus on needs specific to their context. How do you teach “Research for Church Planting” to workers whose context centres on cattle herding and cattle raiding? Simon Peter Emiau, PAG Uganda General Superintendent, explained it in terms that the students can easily pass on to their teams at home. Before Karamojong raiders move in to take cattle, scouts are sent ahead to determine number and location of cattle, community defences, etc. This is field research! The students understood very well. Looking forward to see how God will use the training in their ministries!

Click here for more photos.

Uganda: Multiplying the Impact at MTC

Those who have attended training at Missions Transformation Centre (MTC) are having an impact. They are moving forward with pioneer church planting; starting children’s ministry among a cluster of churches; beginning to connect into Sudan; using professional skills to reach out to a people group who are closed to traditional methods of missions . . . and more. 

As a result, the demand for MTC training is growing. Facilities need to be expanded. Pray for the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) Uganda leadership as they consider how to handle the opportunities and the challenges. There is adjacent land for sale!

I return to Uganda August 2-September 5 for the next MTC session. We will have a new group of students for church planting training. (In November, we will focus on cross-cultural missions). We will also do a “training of trainers” with a team from Karamoja to equip them to train church planters in their region. Multiplying the impact!

Interested in investing in ministry at MTC? Click here for information on how to give.

Teaching

Visiting a church-based coffee growing project. Transforming Communities!

Experiencing Children's Ministry

Group Discussion

Thankful for our cooks!

Praise & Worship

Friends! With Rose Emiau & Pat Golbeck

Quebec: From Gatineau to Gaspé

Over the last three months, I’ve preached in Gatineau (western Quebec), shared with pastors in Gaspé (eastern tip of Quebec, 1,000 km away), and preached at many points in between. These have been fruitful months of ministry. People have encountered Jesus Christ and have been filled with the Holy Spirit. One pastor challenged the people to place their watches in the offering basket and give the Holy Spirit time to move as they prayed at the altar. He did -- powerfully! It was also a joy to spend a day with the pastors of the Quebec East section. I was encouraged as they shared their hearts for ministry. 

As I look ahead to September and October in Quebec, I am excited about opportunities in First Nations settings. I will be part of the ministry team at the Quebec Native Women’s Ministry retreat in Val d’Or Sept. 9-11, and will preach at Kahnawake (Mohawk) for two services on Sept. 25.

Women's Retreat, Gatineau

Amqui June 10-12 - "Pentecost: Purpose & Power"

Pastors of Quebec-East Section, Gaspé

Rev. André Gagnon, Rivière-du-Loup

From MTC Uganda: Patrick's Story

We have just completed three weeks of church planting/missions training at MTC (Missions Transformation Centre) Uganda: teaching, discussion, field trips, prayer, mentoring, counselling. Most of the 26 who attended were returning students coming for the next level of training. What a joy to hear stories of how they have applied previous MTC training.  Let me tell you one of those stories.

Patrick sharing his story

Patrick is a young evangelist who attended MTC missions training last year. At the start of that session, God called him to leave home to plant a church in a specific town in a remote area of Uganda. Different language, different culture, harsh conditions.  He wrestled with that call, but by the end of the training said, “Yes Lord.”  He set out for this town In July . . . with five dollars of fuel in his motorcycle, some plates and bedding, no money, and no promise of support. When the fuel ran out, he traded all but one of his plates for more fuel.  There have been many challenges, but God has led and provided each step of the way.

Eight months later, a fellowship of 50 new believers is meeting regularly. Patrick’s wife and children have moved to join him. Land has been purchased and the people have begun making bricks for a church building.  There are plans to develop a school to serve children from surrounding villages where there are no schools. None of these villages has a church.  Patrick and the new believers will plant churches in two of these villages per year until every person in the area has opportunity to hear the gospel. This cluster of churches will then serve as a sending base to take God’s love to another unreached area.

Please pray for Patrick . . . and for the other MTC students who returned home on Friday. Each has their own story. I thank God for the privilege of having some input into these stories.  Thank you to each of you who is supporting financially and in prayer!


More photos from MTC


Click here for information on how to support the ministry.

Tamil Nadu India, Jan-Feb 2011

"I'm always outside the church listening, but I don't have Jesus on the inside. I need Jesus on the inside."

I heard these words from an elderly man. He works as the caretaker of a church property. I spoke in that church for 3 evenings, each time inviting people to receive Christ. He had been listening outside. As we were leaving the church compound on the final evening, I had a brief encounter with him. And he had a powerful encounter with Jesus. The result was that he prayed to invite Jesus into His life, and instantly became an "insider" to the family of God!

The time in India included pastor's seminars, evangelistic services, Bible College teaching, Sunday ministry in churches, and much more. People came to Christ (and were healed and set free); Christians committed themselves to greater involvement in reaching the unreached. Pastors said that God challenged them and encouraged them in very specific ways. There was a special opportunity to share with students at a teacher's college. Many indicated a desire to follow Christ. Thanks to Rev. Clarence Maruthiah and other Assemblies of God leaders who hosted me so graciously.

Graduating BTh class, Trinity Bible College

Village Church

City church

Hearing the Word of God

Pastor's Seminars

Praying together

With Pastor Clarence

December Newsletter

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"-which means, "God with us” (Matt. 1:23). Think about it: “GOD with US”! That’s love. And that’s reason to be thankful!

Thankful for the past year 

What a privilege to have ministered in English, French, First Nations, and ethnic churches here in Quebec. Quebec is the Western world’s most needy mission field. Over 1.8 million people in 850 communities have no evangelical church witness!

And what a privilege to have spent a total of over 3 months in Uganda, working alongside the leadership of Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG), Uganda. At Missions Transformation Centre (MTC), we launched a 6-week Missions training in February and a 3-week Church Planting training in August. In November, I taught at three regional pastor’s conferences in the North. It was a joy to see those who have attended MTC moving forward, taking the hope and healing of Jesus Christ to individuals, families and communities . . .among their own people and beyond. As they go, they take “Immanuel, God with us”!

Karamajong ladies, Kotido

Pastor's seeking God, Adjumani

Thankful for the coming year 

I’m thankful for new opportunities in the coming year: 

• Teaching a one-week intensive “Introduction to Missions” course at Institut Biblique du Québec, Jan. 10-14. May God stir a passion in His people to reach Quebec and the world! 
• Experiencing my first ministry opportunity in India (Tamil Nadu state) Jan. 16-Feb. 12. I will teach at Pastor’s conferences, along with other ministry. 
•  Launching “Level 2” of MTC’s Missions and Church Planting training. I’m sold out to PAG Uganda’s vision to transition from mission field to mission force. (Really, I’m sold out to God’s passion to reach nations. “Immanuel, God with all peoples.” I look forward to ongoing involvement at MTC in 2011 and beyond! 

New opportunities are good. New relationships are even better! I’m excited to be “in process” to become a “Minister in Partnership” with the PAOC International Missions Department. This will provide a formal relationship with PAOC International Missions, while allowing me to continue to work under my present ministry umbrella. I will still be based in Canada and available for ministry here. This should be in place early in 2011.

Thankful for you! 

I thank God for each one of you who prays and gives and offers encouragement and gives counsel. You make this ministry possible. Together, we are co-workers with God! During this Christmas season and always, may we experience Him as “Immanuel, God with us.” 

New opportunities call for new partnerships! Please consider partnering financially for the India ministry in January. Or become a monthly partner, supporting new opportunities throughout the year. 

To Partner Financially: 

• Make cheques payable to "Joy Johnston Ministries" and send to the address below 
• Give online at www.joyjohnston.ca 
• Receipts will be issued for gifts of $20 or more 

Please Pray For: 

• Preparation for upcoming ministry 
• Effective, fruitful ministry 
• Health, strength, and protection: physically, emotionally, spiritually 
• New financial and prayer partners for 2011 
• Peace and stability in Uganda during elections (2nd half of February)

Getting There

Between Abim and Lira. CLICK to enlarge.

It's not always easy to get there. "There" is wherever God wants you to be or whatever He wants you to accomplish. November ministry in Northern Uganda: 1,800 km. of road travel on roads that were sometimes broken, flooded, or washed out. It wasn't easy to get there, but with God's help, we did. It was worth it.


Many, many generations ago, God spoke through the prophet Zechariah to a man named Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was among the first who returned to Jerusalem after Israel's long captivity in Babylon. The city was in ruins. He set out to rebuild the temple. But it wasn't easy to get there, and he gave up . . . for 17 years! The obstacles and opposition seemed like an insurmountable mountain. 


But one day God spoke: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. 'What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it! . . . The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it.' (Zechariah 4:6-7, 9). Zerbubbel went back to work. And he got there. Four years later, the completed temple was dedicated with great rejoicing. It was worth it.


Where does God want you to be? What does He want you to accomplish? No, it's not always easy to get there. There will likely be obstacles and opposition. But They can't stand before the power of God's Spirit. . . God has already spoken. We can get there. And it is worth it!

Time to pack!

It's time to pack! It's hard to believe I will arrive in Canada from Uganda late tomorrow afternoon. 

Receiving my chicken!

The Gulu conference was excellent, with church leaders gathering from as far north as the Sudan border. The conference ended with pastors sitting together to set ministry goals, a very positive step. Churches in this region face challenges as they adapt ministry to significant social change. The people now returning home after living over 20 years in camps during the rebel insurgency are very different from the people who entered those camps. As in Kotido, it was good to see leaders who have attended training at Missions Transformation Centre. And it was encouraging to hear from their bishop (district superintendent) that the MTC training has had a positive impact. I also experienced a personal first in Gulu. During the Sunday morning service, I was presented with a live chicken. She is still awaiting her passport for travel to Canada!

The Kaberamaido conference was cancelled due to the sudden death of Rev. Stephen Chatepa, General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Malawi, during a visit to Uganda. Please pray for his family and for the church fellowship in Malawi. The change in schedule has given me a few days in Kampala to rest and reflect. Yesterday I was encouraged as I meditated on words from the Old Testament: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you" (Psalm 32:8). In two of the regions where we held conferences, the Old Testament has not yet been translated into the local language. Many pastors and evangelists do not read or understand English. They might be encouraged by these same words, but they don't yet have access to them. They are also left with gaps in their foundational understanding of who God is and how He works. Please pray for the ongoing work of Bible translation around the world.

Many thanks from Uganda to all who have supported financially and in prayer. In each conference, leaders expressed how the teaching equipped, encouraged and challenged them to take concrete steps forward. Your partnership has made a difference!

Update from Uganda

Two leadership conferences completed, two to go! 

In Kotido (Karamoja region) about 200 pastors and church leaders gathered. It was good to see several who have come to MTC for training, and to hear what God has been doing in their ministries since then. The Pentecostal Assemblies of God in Karamoja has a goal to plant 30 churches over a three year period. Twelve have been established in the first year! And this in areas where both the spiritual ground and the physical conditions are hard. The conference in Adjumani (West Nile region) closed with a time of seeking The Holy Spirit for fresh creativity and empowerment. God ministered powerfully!

Travel has been quite difficult. Roads have been damaged by heavy rain and some bridges have been washed out. We thank God that we have been able to make it through to each destination, in spite of some serious challenges. It was a delight to travel and minister with Rev. Benjamin Okwir (PAG general secretary) and his wife Catherine for the first two conferences. We drove through regions of northern Uganda where Rev. Benjamin walked hundreds of miles in the 1980's to bring the gospel to villages and towns. That put our travel challenges into perspective!

The Gulu conference starts tomorrow (Friday) morning, and continues through Saturday evening. Then we move to Kaberamaido for the final conference next week. Tomorrow I will be team teaching with Rev. George Omara, the bishop (district superintendent) from Karamoja. Rev. Simon Peter Emiau and his wife Rose will join us tomorrow evening for the rest of the itinerary. Rev. Simon's eye is healing well after surgery in Canada. Pray that God directs us and uses us to bring something that will help the work of God to move forward. Pray for continued safety and strength as we travel. Thank you for your encouragement and support!