13 Jun A Canadian Church with an International Audience

The neighborhood surrounding Parkwood Gardens UB church in Guelph, Ontario, looks like the United Nations, with people from all over the world. Guelph is becoming a bedroom community of Toronto, which is exploding with its international presence. This is reflected in the congregation.

Last Sunday, when I spoke at Parkwood Gardens, I told about my trip to the Philippines in May. I commented on how Filipinos are some of the friendliest people in the world and that I enjoyed getting to know them.

I noticed big smiles on the faces of people among the Asian contingent. “Are you from the Philippines?” I asked. “Oh yes yes,” they said. Probably 25-30 Filipinos attended the two services that morning.

I challenged the congregation to keep their eyes and ears open to the immigrant populations around them. Sometimes mission fields are not developed by parachuting a missionary into a foreign country, but by starting something locally among immigrants. This can open doors for missionaries and, in some cases, the immigrants themselves may return to their homeland.