Joel Gordon is the EFC’s new Director, Partnership and Ministry Innovation. He shares with us his vision for his new role and the evangelical Church in Canada.
Q. What will be your main activities in your new role?
A. Along with partnership building and ministry resource development, my new role will include facilitating meetings with national leaders, actively listening to their challenges and needs and working collaboratively with them and EFC staff members to produce resources that will bless Canada in the name of Jesus.
I’ll also be speaking. Last year, I had the opportunity to speak at a church gathering of seniors and I shared about a new research partnership that we are developing around family faith formation, which is exploring what is helping and hindering parents and ministry leaders in discipling children. It was exciting to see the response to that.
When leaders express a desire to start a new network or partnership, I will help to convene, facilitate or launch these new initiatives.
Q. What are you looking forward to the most as you set out?
A. I’m most looking forward to building relationships with two groups of Christian leaders across Canada. The first are current affiliates. I will be actively listening to them, praying with these leaders and collaboratively responding to various needs facing the Church in Canada today. The other are leaders who might find themselves on the fringes of mainstream evangelical circles.
Building relationships with both groups of leaders will significantly advance our ministry efforts by making our research more representative of Evangelicals in Canada and opening doors for the Gospel to reach more Canadians.
Q. How can EFC donors and prayer partners help you in this work?
A. To share about the work we do in helping affiliates come together to address key issues such as family discipleship, abuse prevention and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Supporters can also pray for God’s spirit to unite partners in our national research projects and working groups. Other ways that supporters can champion our work is by mentioning our initiatives to their pastors or ministry leaders and inviting them to become an EFC affiliate if they’re not already affiliated. We are stronger, wiser and better together.
Q. What is the most important thing you’d like EFC donors to know as we begin 2021?
A. I’m filled with deep gratitude for the many donors who continue to listen to God’s leading by giving and praying on an ongoing basis – this is an important way we express God’s will for us in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Be assured that we pray for you too.
Author:
Joel Gordon