VANCOUVER- The presence of Chinese ministries in a nationwide mission festival in Vancouver has been encouraging, unveiling the importance of world Chinese mission.
On Jan. 27-29, Missions Fest 2006 was held at Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Center. A wide spectrum of Canada-based Christian missions organizations and ministries that are serving different parts of the world have presented their works in their booths.
Among over 200 mission organizations exhibited, a few groups specialized in Chinese ministries are included. At the booth for Medical Services International (MSI), a receptionist was dressed in ethnic tradition and has attracted much attention. MSI is a non-profit organization founded by Dr. James Hudson Taylor III in 1994 that dedicated to serving the health and community needs of the people in inland China.
According to the presentation from MSI, the work of MSI in China is concentrated in the rural areas of Southwest China where people are lack of education and medical facilities. A anonymous staff from MSI tried to explain the relationship between medical services and the spread of Gospel, as saying, "Even though it is impossible to proclaim the Gospel openly in China due to the special political environment, but through sharing Christ’s love through the witness of our lives in service to the Chinese people, they can surely come to understand the immeasurable love from God."
Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) has also set up a booth to introduce their works in East Asia. Exodus, a Christian outreach group for homosexuals, presented its work to convert homosexuals to normal. International China Concern (ICC) is also helping orphans and disabled children in Mainland China, according to the exhibition.
On top of the exhibition, visitors were able to join some workshops, concerts, discussion forums and prayer meetings held at different locations in the exhibition center.
Missions Fest Vancouver first started in 1984 as six local churches from different backgrounds tried to raise the public awareness for world missions. An aggregate of 3,500 people attended that first year. Last year, over 30,000 people were involved. The attendance has increased ten times in just around a decade.
