All over the world, since time immemorial, people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. They’ve crossed desserts, climbed mountains and swam oceans to escape war, persecution and famine.
Jesus himself was a refugee. He and his family fled Bethlehem into Egypt, then later on, to Galilee.
We call ourselves The Peoples Church because we embrace all the peoples of the world. On June 23, 2018, join us at Founders’ Hall from 1:00 – 4:00 PM, as we stand with those who were unwelcomed and removed from their homes. Together, let us commemorate World Refugee Day, (officially recognized on June 20), learn and pray for the global refugee situation and find out what solutions we can be part of.
Enjoy multilingual praise and worship, refreshments from various cultures, and insightful conversations with refugees.
Join us in the gym after each worship service for an opportunity to connect with our mission partners!
Explore some of the meaningful ways you can make an impact, as you learn about the different mission projects we get to support together as church community.
Mission begins right where we live, in the very communities where we go to school, work, shop, and play. God has placed each of us in neighbourhoods throughout the GTA to love and live in harmony.
What better way to love our neighbours than to pray during this self-guided prayer walk.
How to participate – It’s easy & fun!
Invite a friend(s) or your family
Pick a day and time to venture out into your neighbourhood
Download one of the Prayer Guides
Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and eyes to what He is already doing and how you can join Him
9:00 & 11:30 AM | The Peoples Church
11:30 AM | Livestream
Guest panelists, with diverse local, global and vocational experiences, will explore and expand on the importance and the challenges of kingdom partnerships in the real-life context of ministry. Panelists will share personal stories and transferable principles to form relationships and nurture partnerships in challenging settings.
Khevna Dave
A millennial leader who is passionate about mentoring and connecting students and young adults in mission. She is also committed to engaging and networking churches and mission organizations for more effective mission. Khevna will help us to better understand what local mission partnerships look like.
Fayez Ishak
Fayez is an influential mission leader in the MENA (Middle East North Africa) region. He leads a ministry that is based on partnering for the gospel. Fayez is acutely aware of the challenges partnering brings particularly in a region fraught with division and conflict. Many of the situational conflicts and challenges often find their way into church relations and put a lot of pressure on leaders to rise above these conflicts.
Innocent Magambi
Innocent is gifted at developing and nurturing strong partnerships. God’s wisdom runs through Innocent as he partners with diverse groups in the refugee camp where he serves in Malawi.
9:00 AM–12:00 PM | The Peoples Church (374 Sheppard Ave. E., M2N 3B6)
Register for this fun-filled, interactive 5K. Whether you choose to walk, run or roll, together we will have the opportunity to learn about the plight of refugees on their journey from fear and loss towards safety and community.
All funds raised from this year’s 5K registration fees and donations will support the critical work of The Peoples House, the refugee welcoming ministry of The Peoples Church.
What to expect:
9:00 AM Check-in and welcome
10:00 AM Start (5 km circuit on the surrounding streets)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Fun with chalk art, hot dogs and music
How to participate:
Invite a friend, colleague, and/or bring the entire family
Register by May 28 – Registration is required to participate in this half-day event.
Individual $25, 0-12 years are free
Sponsorships available
Wear weather-appropriate clothing and shoes
Donate* – Optionally you can invite others to support you by donating to support the emergency housing and welcoming programs of The Peoples House using the link below and designating ‘Global Mission – 5K’ in the menu.
Living a Spirit-led life is not about striving or following the rules. It’s about intentionally listening and relying on the Holy Spirit to guide us.
What does living-on-mission with God look like, practically, in our everyday lives and relationships?
Register for this afternoon session* where we’ll explore unique ways to embrace community as we eat, worship, and then actively listen and learn from each other and God. Each of the panel breakouts will be hosted by a collection of individuals with local, international and diverse vocational experience who are living-on-mission for God. Panelists will share their stories and practical insights to encourage and inspire our hearts and minds into action.
Programming for children 0–12 years will be provided from 2:00–5:00 PM.
9:00 & 11:30 AM | The Peoples Church 11:30 AM | Livestream
David Mensah was born in a small village in rural Northern Ghana. His father died when he was a young boy, and he was sent to live with an abusive relative. He eventually escaped and struggled in life to survive.
David attended high school in Tamale, where he met several other men and women who had similar experiences with extreme poverty. These young people agreed that they would work together to help others in their situations. As part of pursuing that dream, David moved to Canada to pursue further education in theology, development, and environmental care.
David received a BA in Biblical Studies from Ontario Bible College (now Tyndale Seminary), an MA from Acadia University, and PhD in Environmental Studies from University of Toronto. While living in Canada and pursuing his education, he also pastored a congregation in the Stouffville area.
In the early 1990s, Dr. David Mensah and his Canadian wife Brenda returned to Ghana to pursue his long-time dream of alleviating poverty in his home country. As Executive Director of Northern Empowerment Association (NEA), Dr. Mensah has led a successful sustainable development project in the Janga area and has launched a large, multi-sectoral development program in the Carpenter area.
Apart from his work with NEA, Dr. Mensah is also an influential regional chief, elected by communities in the area, and the President of the Evangelical Christ Apostolic Church denomination under which he has been influential in establishing 36 churches. When in Canada, he is sought-after speaker and has been interviewed by several television stations, newspapers, and the CBC.
Wissam Nasrallah, Lebanese Society for Education & Societal Development (LSESD)
9:00 & 11:30 AM | The Peoples Church
11:30 AM | Livestream
Wissam Nasrallah, along with his wife, Sophie, first felt the call to join LSESD’s mission of strengthening the witness of the Church while working a career at a top tier industrial company in Paris (Air Liquide) as a Competitive Intelligence Analyst. Deciding to take the leap of faith, Wissam and his family relocated from the Paris of the West to the Paris of the East (aka Beirut) in 2017, where he donned his new role as LSESD’s Chief Operations Officer.
Born to a Lebanese Christian family, Wissam first came to Christ at the age of 15 and has been serving the Lord ever since. His master’s degree in Finance and Strategy and undergraduate degree in Political and Social Sciences from SciencesPo Paris provided him with the skills needed to lead LSESD’s operations.
Having been raised in Saudi Arabia and educated at a French-speaking school, Wissam is a multi-lingual wielder of words who also contributes to ABTS’ blog on matters of faith, economics and culture and writes devotionals and regular compelling updates on the situation in Lebanon and the region in LSESD’s monthly newsletter.
He and his wife, Sophie, who serves as the Communications Manager for MERATH, have two children, Elise and Antoine. Wissam seeks to abide by Jesus’ exhortation: “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” -Luke 17:10.
United in worship with our global and local partners and you – our entire church family – we will pray and sing, preparing our hearts and minds to discern God’s invitation as we kick-off our 2023 Global Mission Conference.
After each worship service, join us outside on our front lawn for an opportunity to connect with our mission partners! Explore and discover some of the exciting ways you can make an impact, as you learn about the different mission projects we get to support together as church community.
Mission begins with prayer and worship. Join us for an online gathering where we’ll get to pray and worship together as a church family. Our time together will be guided by our theme verses – Psalm 67:1-2.
This event is for all ages – join us with your whole family!
This multi-age, interactive event is an exciting opportunity for everyone to learn about how to be good neighbours to people of different faiths and cultural backgrounds. Each workshop is designed to equip participants with helpful tools to have sensitive and effective conversations about Jesus.
A separate workshop will be available for kids and junior youth who are 6-12 years old.
Childcare is available for kids who are 0-5 years old.
Lunch will be provided for all participants!
Registration is required to join us for this event. Click on the button below to learn more about our workshops and register today!
9:00 & 11:30 AM | The Peoples Church
11:30 AM | Livestream
Our conference will close with a special message from Dr. Terry LeBlanc, a Mi’kmaq-Acadian and co-founder of Indigenous Pathways. Learn more about Terry here.
Join us as we conclude our 2022 Global Mission Conference with a powerful time of worship and hearing God’s Word together.
Our kids and junior youth also gather for worship every Sunday. Learn more about TPC Kids and TPC Junior Youth.
9:00 & 11:30 AM | The Peoples Church
11:30 AM | Livestream
Join us for a powerful time of worship as we hear from three of our very own missionaries who are serving in different communities around our world. As they share incredible stories of how God is working in and through each of their ministries, we have the opportunity to be inspired and challenged for God’s global mission.
Our kids and junior youth also gather for worship every Sunday. Learn more about TPC Kids and TPC Junior Youth.
9:00 & 11:30 AM | The Peoples Church
11:30 AM | Livestream
We’re kicking off our 2022 Global Mission Conference with guest speaker Dr. Alia Abboud, Chief Development Officer of the Lebanese Society for Education and Social Development. Learn more about Alia here.
Join us for a powerful time of worship and hearing God’s Word as we are inspired and challenged for God’s global mission!
Our kids and junior youth also gather for worship every Sunday. Learn more about TPC Kids and TPC Junior Youth.
In this session, Jon Topping will provide an apologetic approach to discussing our faith in Jesus with friends who have no faith background.
Facilitators:Jon Topping
Jon is a speaker and writer for Engage International, the writer and host of the Ultimate Questions podcast with Power to Change, an apologist for Ratio Christi, and an adjunct professor at Master’s College and Seminary where he enjoys the privilege of teaching his favourite subjects of Philosophy, Ethics, and Apologetics. He has been involved in apologetics evangelism for over a decade.
Together with Laura and her husband Andrew, we will learn about the Jewish faith perspective and discover how we can live, work, and communicate our love for Christ with our brothers and sisters who practice the Jewish faith.
Facilitators:Laura and Andrew Barron
After leaving South Africa in 1996, Laura and Andrew moved to Toronto to lead the Jews for Jesus Canada team. Today, Laura is pioneering a ministry to Haredi (ultra-Orthodox Jews) women across North America. Laura has a master’s degree in Missiology with emphasis on Jewish studies and enjoys writing about her faith, teaching the Bible, and leading the team reaching out to Haredi women.
In this session our team of facilitators will provide real-life experience about living and demonstrating the love of Christ to our friends who follow the ways of Islam.
Facilitators:Shawn, Obed, and Samson
Since 2007, Shawn, Obed, and Samson have been serving as leaders with Jesus Network, focusing on being the “hands and feet” of Jesus in the city by coming alongside and meeting the needs of people from various backgrounds, ethnicities and religions. Jesus Network is a cross-cultural ministry focused on being agents of hope and change in Toronto by influencing others through the message of Jesus Christ.
In this session we will be exposing simple and practical ways to live alongside and share our faith in Christ Jesus with our friends of Hindu faith.
Facilitators:The Kumars
The Kumars are currently serving the people of South Asia with a focus on providing child and youth education. Recently, the effects of Covid-19 across India have led their team into villages and remote regions to support with emergency relief work.
In this session Michelle and Paul Schuster will be sharing practical and powerful ways we can share the love of Christ with our neighbours from various East Asian cultural backgrounds.
Facilitators:Michelle and Paul Schuster
Michelle and Paul have been serving the people of Asia for over 20 years, living in three different countries with extensive life experience serving as medical professionals while raising their family of four.
Sunday, June 13
Saturday, June 12
Neighbourhood Prayerwalk
Time: 10:30 AM (All Day Event)
We are a global church family living and serving in communities all around our world. We invite you to join us as we unite our hearts in prayer by stepping out and praying for each of our own neighbourhoods! Use the prayer guide below throughout your prayerwalk as you discover how God is inviting you to See Differently in your neighbourhood.
We encourage you to look over the guide in advance. Take some time to read and pray about the themes of hope for your neighbourhood, and as you do so, select a few themes (or all of them!) to create into beautiful signs that you can hold up and takes pictures with on your prayerwalk. See our examples below!
Follow us on social media for more fun ways you can engage in the prayerwalk together with our church family!
Join us as we stand in the power of prayer together with our global church family. Our brothers and sisters in Uganda, Mexico, and the Middle East will be worshipping with us as we pray for our world together!
Our Global Mission Conference begins with a time of worship together and a special message from guest speaker Darrell Johnson!
We’re also hearing from Brian Chung and Bryan Ye-Chung, Co-founders of Alabaster – a creative house that weaves beautiful imagery and thoughtful design into the full text of the Bible, to deepen the reader’s experience with God.
All youth are invited to join us for a special gathering on Zoom. We will be meeting with youth from Mully Children’s Family for a time of hearing stories as we share and learn from one another. Contact Pastor Hartley to join us!
As we continue to be inspired and challenged to See Differently, we’ll be joining together to watch and discuss the film LIFE JACKET.
LIFE JACKET is a powerful award winning documentary that takes us on a journey through some of the most traumatic times in the lives of refugees – from surviving the war to crossing the Aegean Sea trusting a simple life jacket to keep them safe as they hope to reach a safer future. Little do they know that they will end up in Moria Camp and live a different kind of ongoing trauma.
LIFE JACKET delivers the voices and screams of the refugees as they request their simple human rights; to be treated with respect and dignity, to have better living conditions, and to get the education they missed.
All kids and their families are invited to join us online for an interactive evening focused on Seeing People Differently. We will be celebrating and learning how God made all people different and beautiful as we engage in fun activities that highlight different places and people from all over our world. Please sign up in advance!
If you are a young adult between the ages of eighteen and twentysomething, you’re invited to our DNA gathering on Zoom! Join us as we hear from Tom Morrison, our mission partner from International Association for Refugees (IAFR).
This is a special Sunday where we’ll get to hear from our missionaries who are serving in communities all around the world! Come and be inspired as our missionaries share about Seeing God in Unexpected Ways.
If you are a young adult between the ages of eighteen and twentysomething, you’re invited to our DNA gathering on Zoom! Come and connect with other young adults as we discuss the topic Race & The Gospel.
Mike is a communicator and thought leader in both the Christian and business spheres.
Over the past 10 years, Mike has dedicated his time working as the CEO for OpenDoors Australia and New Zealand – a mission organization serving in countries where people risk everything to follow Jesus.
In his time with OpenDoors, Mike has had extensive field experience – from being chased by the secret police in North Africa, to being on lockdown in a hotel to avoid being kidnapped for ransom. He has ministered to secret believers in house churches and smuggled Bibles to believers in restricted countries.
Through these experiences, Mike has developed a profound passion for people and telling their stories. He firmly believes that our persecuted brothers and sisters are the perfect spiritual mentors for our faith – they are the bold and courageous believers who encourage and challenge us to live lives that pursue Jesus, no matter the cost.
Darrell Johnson
Darrell has been preaching Jesus Christ and the Gospel for over 50 years.
He served as senior pastor for a number of congregations in California, Union Church of Manila in the Philippines, and the historic First Baptist Church in the heart of Vancouver, Canada.
During his time in the Philippines, he travelled throughout Asia, speaking at various churches, conferences, and seminaries.
Darrell has taught on the subject of preaching for seminaries and colleges in North America. He is the author of eight books, and currently serves as Scholar-in-Residence for The Way Church and Canadian Church Leaders Network.
Darrell and his wife Sharon have been married 49 years. Together they have raised four children, adopted from four different countries of the world, and enjoy loving 11 grandchildren.
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Eugene Cho
Eugene is the founder of Quest church in Seattle where he served as the former senior pastor for 18 years. With passions involving justice, leadership, the whole Gospel and the pursuit of God’s kingdom here on earth, Eugene travels throughout the world to encourage churches of all forms and sizes.
Eugene is also the founder and visionary of One Day’s Wages – a grassroots movement of people, stories and actions to fight global poverty. Since its launch in 2009, the movement has raised over 8 million dollars, empowering lives affected by extreme poverty issues including sanitation, clean water, children’s education, maternal health and human trafficking, in communities all around the world.
Eugene is the author of two books – Overrated and Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk – and was recently named President-Elect of Bread for the World – a non-partisan Christian advocacy organization urging global decision makers to help end global hunger.
Through his extensive work, Eugene helps people understand that everyday people have the power to change the world, and challenges Christians about what it means to embody faith in action and actually follow Jesus.
Mission veterans of over 35 years, Nik Ripken together with his wife Ruth, have served in Malawi, South Africa, Kenya, Somalia, Germany, Ethiopia and the Middle East. During this time, they experienced extreme dangers, difficulties and loss as they were introduced to the phenomenon of the persecuted church.Today, Nik is a leading expert on the persecuted church. His extensive research includes over 600 interviews with believers in persecution, in over 70 countries.
His ministry, Nik Ripken Ministries, is dedicated to expanding the kingdom of God by sharing the truths and practices learned from believers in persecution.
Nik is the author of several books including The Insanity of God, which has also been produced into a documentary film. His resources were created and exist to engage current generations with the truth of Jesus, challenging them to follow him, across the street and the ocean, no matter the cost because he is worth it.
