How one young man’s “Damascus Road” experience sparked an evangelism movement in the heart of Ottawa

Jenny Burr
Spur Ottawa Correspondent

When Israel Gimba followed his parents from the UK to Ottawa in 2014, he intended to study law.

“I wanted to become a lawyer since I was ten,” says Gimba. “I wanted to save the innocents who were unjustly imprisoned. My struggle with God began in August 2014, after my final exams in the UK. God began speaking to me after I handed in my last dissertation. For three months God arrested my heart. I would rather become anything on earth than become an evangelist or youth leader. So when God began speaking to me concerning giving up my dream, to serve Him, it was no small wrestle.”

Gimba was raised in a Christian home. His father and grandfather were pastors. He remembers accepting Christ as his saviour when he was about five years old.

Now at another turning point, he wrestled with how he could provide for a family if he turned from his dream to focus on evangelism. Gimba says God responded by saying, “Trust me.” Despite his upbringing, these words were a direct challenge to his reasoning and logic.

“By November, I had moved to Canada permanently and was studying for my LSAT’s when, one night, during my family devotion something strange began happening. As I listened to my dad teach, a deep feeling of hunger swept over me. I became immediately dissatisfied with my life, my current state, and with my selfishness. I had never felt anything as amazing as this before. My body felt like it was famished from deprivation. I ran down to my room and cried out to God like I never had before.”

For four months, 10 hours a day, Gimba was on the streets of Ottawa evangelizing on his own.

By the time Gimba had finished praying four hours had passed. Throughout the next two months he had similar experiences. By January 2015, his only desire was to serve his Heavenly Father and to win others to Christ. His parents were a bit uncertain about his decision, but they prayed and waited on God’s leading.

“Within a few months of watching me walk out of the house before noon every day only returning by midnight, they were convinced that this change was divine,” says Gimba.

For four months, 10 hours a day, Gimba was on the streets of Ottawa evangelizing on his own. Then his dad was invited to a new church and Gimba and his family went along. At the church Gimba was introduced to another street evangelist.

“The next week I was introduced to another evangelism ministry and spoke to the youth. I invited them to join on the streets the next Saturday night. The pastor and I were shocked when the entire youth church joined me and some had invited friends.”

The team gained momentum, hosting outreaches at least weekly. During the summer of 2016 Gimba and a team of youth hosted a Christian music festival—something they hope to do annually.

“So began the movement to reclaim Canada for Jesus, soul by soul, city by city,” shares Gimba. “Our vision is to have 2,000 young people on the streets of Ottawa, evangelizing every week, until Ottawa is conquered for Jesus.”