Local Missions Opportunities
The specific community of Edmonton in which the Journey Church of God facility is situated, is one that opens many doors for expressing the love of Christ to people on the outer fringes of society. Many in the area would definitely fit into the “least of these” category Jesus spoke about. Homelessness, addiction and crime are prevalent in the Canora area and we recognize that in a very real way, God has placed us exactly in the middle of a local mission field. We actively reach out to our neighbors, providing several meals, barbeques and banquets each year. Our DNA as a church congregation is that we are primarily a Mission Church, actively extending the hands and feet of Jesus.
Cross Cultural Mission Opportunities
As a church, we are firm believers in actively participating in Jesus’ assignment to “go into all the world.” While we are involved in feeding and reaching out to the less fortunate, right here in Edmonton, we also partner with Randy and Sandra Huebert of El Refugio in Ensenada, Mexico (www.therefugemx.com). El Refugio is a refuge home for girls and children, many of whom have been rescued from backgrounds such as addiction or trafficking. We are committed to sending teams down to El Refugio to serve on a regular basis, building homes for the poor and interacting with the kids and youth in the children’s home, and extending the ministry of the Journey Church into neighboring villages. While we do fund other foreign missions, our priority is always to “be sent” over just sending others. The commission applies to all of us, and it is our conviction that it isn’t optional, or that it only applies to those we deem to “have that gift.” Ensenada is close enough to reach affordably, yet provides ample opportunity to serve “the least of these” in a foreign, third world setting. Our next short term missions trip is scheduled for March 22-31, 2019 at an all inclusive cost of $1000 per person, excluding airfare to San Diego. Contact us for an information packet.
The Journey Church in Ensenada, Mexico
As a church with vision for the rest of the world, we have launched a daughter church in Lower Durango, a small village just south of the beautiful city of Ensenada. This has happened in partnership with El Refugio, and Pastors Jose and Mary Jara. We purchased a piece of land in the middle of the village and began construction in 2015 on a facility that now provides a place of worship for the church, and also a community center for the village. In the future it is our intention to provide training in various trades for the young people of the village, giving them the opportunity to pursue careers and provide income for their families.
Pastor Jose & Mary Jara, Pastors of the Journey Church in Mexico