OM Canada launches summer training in cross-cultural evangelism

Elizabeth Mabie
Special to Spur Ottawa

Operation Mobilization (OM) Canada has a challenge for Canadians. This summer, they are travelling to nine Canadian cities, offering a one-week course, teaching believers about other religions. As Canada’s demographic landscape becomes increasingly multicultural, OM Canada is challenging the Church to study the beliefs of their neighbours and build confidence in cross-cultural evangelism.

“I think it’s a good way to observe and to actually be thinking, ‘Okay, this is where they go every Saturday or Friday,’” says Kenny Wallace, the young adults pastor at the MET. “It’s good to just know what it’s all about.”

Wallace attended the Ottawa Challenge at the MET, in 2009. He was a new believer and one of the pastors invited him out. He says it was an eye-opening experience.

“It left such an impression on my Christian life that I went away to Bible college,” he says.

Together with OM Canada, Wallace was hoping to bring the Ottawa Challenge back, this year. Unfortunately they did not have high enough registrations. They hope it will work out for next year.

“It left such an impression on my Christian life that I went away to Bible college.”

“This was pretty much the first opportunity I had to see how we could be involved with it again. I thought it would be great to see if this could happen.”

Each morning, throughout the week, participants study the core beliefs of a specific world religion. They also explore ways to witness to its followers. In the afternoon, they tour a place of worship associated with that day’s religion. Team members have an opportunity to ask questions after listening to a short presentation and testimony from the religious leader.

Rob Weatherby is the director of summer ministries for OM Canada. He and his colleague, Steve Hawkins, co-founded the Challenge program in 2004. They have taught the course more than 60 times, in 14 different Canadian cities.

“We try to make it geographically accessible,” says Weatherby. “That’s why we do them across the country, from Halifax to Vancouver. Wherever a Canadian believer lives, there would be a Challenge fairly close and we try to make it financially accessible, as well.”

“We all go out feeling inadequate and trembling, but it is amazing how, when we take a step of faith, God honours that.”

After the morning sessions and afternoon tour, participants take to the streets for the evening, putting their new training into practice. Members pair off and knock on doors, using a survey approach. The final survey question asks, “From what you know about the Bible, what do you think is its main message?”

Weatherby says answers vary from, “I don’t know,” to, “Obey the Ten Commandments,” but it opens the opportunity for discussion.

“We all go out feeling inadequate and trembling, but it is amazing how, when we take a step of faith, God honours that,” says Weatherby. “Some people come back really excited after their evening, like a door has been opened.”

Wallace sees this mission as a way to reach out to the community at large and equip participants with solid teaching.

He says it is so uplifting “just to see the perspectives and different world views that people hold and to see that the gospel is powerful enough to work through these world views.”