Pastor to Pastor

By Wally Stephenson

ABWE rejoices that missionaries in Russia, Australia, and South Africa are allowed to give Christian teaching in the public schools. This is not usually the case in Canada and the United States. Is it possible? Yes. Here's how Calvary Baptist Church in Oshawa, Ontario has arranged for missionaries to speak in local schools during its missions conferences for over 40 years.

Seven or eight weeks before the mission conference takes place, a representative from the church takes a letter to the selected schools.

"Your school will have the opportunity of having missionaries from various countries share with the pupils in grades 4 to 8 the culture and geography of the country in which they work. The missionaries will be speaking at the Calvary Baptist Church Annual Missions Conference and are available to speak in schools. In previous years, those schools who have invited these people to their classes have appreciated their expertise, and enthusiastically anticipate the opportunity to have them again."

Personal contact with the principal is far more effective than just a letter from a faceless church. The letter includes information such as dates and times available, countries the missionaries represent, contact person at the church, and how to arrange for a missionary to visit a classroom.

A letter confirming the visits goes out to each school one week before presentations begin. This reaffirms the date, time, and equipment needed.

Calvary Baptist in Oshawa relates that in 2002, missionaries visited 55 classrooms in 12 different schools. Perhaps YOUR church could try this approach. As missionaries come to your church, you could offer an opportunity to schools and community groups to hear first hand reports from enthusiastic world travelers. This would open avenues for communicating God's truth in the public arena.

For more information, contact Pastor Rick Baker at krbaker@calvary.on.ca

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