Introducing AFC Vancouver

Overview

《加拿大基督使者協會》在加拿大已經有30多年的歷史，今年我們正在慶祝成立35週年。我們溫哥華分部亦已經成立了13年。

使者的故事，是神大能的手在工作的見證。神的工作在加拿大從來未曾停止過。

使者協會是在1972年由中國內地會的宣教士徐松齡牧師 Rev. Stephen Knights 創立的。當時他從東南亞的宣教工場退下回到加拿大，但卻是仍然深深掛念華人的福音需要。眼見當時在加拿大有很多從香港來的年青人在不同的大學念書，福音的需要非常大，於是 Rev. Knights 就開始向這些在校園裡的同學傳福音，也裝備他們成為校園裡的宣教士。就這樣，加拿大基督使者協會便在多倫多成立，不單服事多倫多大學，也服事在安大略省的十多所大學。也就這樣，由一個人開始，變成現在有超過二十個同工的機構，被服事的人也越來越多。

在九十年代，在溫哥華，當移民潮最興旺的時候，神在溫哥華復興了一代的年青人，在校園裡傳福音。最興旺的時期，全溫哥華的大學，大專和中學裡有二十一個校園團契。單是在UBC，每週便有超過一百人參加團契週會。

1994年，使者在溫哥華成立分部，提供更完善的資源，來支援溫哥華的學生運動。當日在校園裡的領袖，許多在畢業後加入使者成為義工，繼續幫助學弟學妹在校園裡發展福音工作。今天溫哥華的使者協會的同工其實很多就是當天在校園裡的學生領袖。因為神的呼召，因為從神而來的異象，我們願意奉獻生命，繼續服事年青人，栽培他們成為跟隨耶穌基督的門徒。

2000年，我們除了在校園內的工作，我們更在列治文成立《使者學生中心》。我們是溫哥華第一家專門服務華人年青人的非牟利社會服務機構。透過提供免費的升學輔導，功課輔助，我們幫助許多的家長和學生解決在升學和學習上的困難，讓他們能更快投入加拿大的生活。每年從使者學生中心得服務的超過6000人次。

Ministry

使者在溫哥華的分部主要分為兩個部門：學生事工部和學生服務部。而這兩個部門的事工又可以分成以下三個方向：學生事工、外展事工和職場事工。

學生事工包括支援校園內的自發學生運動（例如校園團契CCF），各類型門徒及領袖訓練（例如整全門徒訓練系列I.D.Zone），學生事奉隊伍（例如雀躍者The Jubilant，互動自修地帶的導師隊等等），音樂及敬拜事工（定期的雀躍體驗Jubilization門訓敬拜聚會），本地教會支援事工（包括為教會主領聚會、訓練及其他事工支援）及傳媒事工（包括霹啪959電台節目、播客podcast及博客blog，JJ959播客podcast及博客blog，讀書理想點播客podcast，多元化的博客事工和出版新一代季刊）。

外展事工主要透過使者學生中心及使者RoomC這兩個外展基址進行，主要為服務新移民學生和家長在學業上的需要，包括新移民的升學輔導，升學講座，升學資料庫，互動自修地帶功課輔導服務，補習聯網補習仲介服務，CAPP義工培訓計劃，C-Roommate會員計劃，並霹啪959 Coffee House活動。

職場事工是一個有非常大的需要，卻暫時沒有足夠資源發展的事工領域。我們目前只能間竭地為畢業生提供如何將信仰與事業結合的各類講座，但仍然未夠資源建立一套更整全的事工模式。

我們的異象，是一代又一代的學生，能夠透過我們的事工，成為終生跟隨耶穌基督的門徒。我們希望透過不同類型的訓練和服務，栽培及塑造一群有活力、有創意、有使命感和正確人生方向的青年領袖。


Our Mission
To develop a contagious Christian student witness among the Chinese Canadians

Our Vision
Generations of Chinese students in Canada will become lifelong followers of Jesus Christ

Our Values
The Word of God: We believe in the supreme authority and relevency of the Holy Scripture in student ministry
Church Partnership: We are committed to the building of strategic partnership with the local churches
Integrated Discipleship: We affirm our total allegiance to the Lordship of Christ in every area of life
Campus Ministry: We are convinced that every Christian student is called by God to be His witness on campus and into the world

Ministry Report 2007 - Overview

2007 has been a year with exciting ministry development. On the following pages, you will discover the growth of many new ministries as well as breakthrough in existing ministries. At AFC Vancouver we are amazed by the wonderful work of God among the young people and students in Vancouver.

Even though the scope of our ministry may seem very broad, we are indeed very focused on only one goal: to bring young people and students to God and to make them disciples for Christ. All of our ministries are pointing in this same direction, even though they may appear differently.

One of the fastest expanding ministry areas is our support to the youth ministries at local churches. We are convicted to contribute to the local church with our 35 years of experience in student and youth ministry, as we consider ourselves "parachurch" - the one who walk alongside the church in support. Besides our teachings to students, which focus on encouraging local church participation, you will also find that in many ministry areas we have included programs that can benefit the youth ministries at local churches, and we have had some fruitful collaborations with many churches this year.

As you read this report, please bear in mind that the vast number of ministries and programs that we operate are managed by a staff team of only 8 people (including 5 full-time, 2 part-time and 1 volunteer staff) and a low budget of $210,000. Despite the lack of resources, every member of our staff team and all of our volunteers are fully devoted to this ministry, and we can testify to the grace of God everywhere along the way. Please continue to remember AFC Vancouver in your prayer.

Planning for 2008

In 2008, we will basically continue to develop our ministry in the many established area, including campus ministry support, worship ministry through the Jubiliant and Jubilization events, training ministry through I.D.zone, media ministry through PP959 radio program and podcast as well as the many other blogs and podcast programs, local church support ministry as well as the outreach ministries through the services offered by AFC Student Centre. We will strive to stay focus on our mission in discipleship through various creative expressions.

In terms of public event, in 2008 we are planning a total of 6 Jubilization worship discipleship events, 9 I.D.zone discipleship training courses and 2 conferences relating to youth ministry. For our student volunteers, we will also organize a training day camp, the annual celebration and a retreat camp.

Campus ministry and local church support ministry will continue to be the two main emphases in 2008. We will continue to empower students in UBC and SFU for campus mission through training, mentoring and operational support. We will continue to seek collaboration with more local churches in reaching out to Chinese students. We will also provide consultation and resources to local churches in their youth ministry. The needs of the local church will remain to be an important factor of consideration when we plan for events and ministry development.

AFC Vancouver will also actively seek opportunity in developing new ministry among Mandarin-speaking students to respond to the growing demands.

Financial Needs

AFC Vancouver has always been diligent in our financial management. We are committed to use creative methods in our ministry development in order to keep the cost of ministry as low as possible. The many new ministry programs that we launched recently are either zero-cost or self-sustaining financially. We believe that as donor supported us with their investment in the Kingdom of God, we are responsible to
optimize their investments for the greatest return in ministry.

Therefore, our operation has always been aggressively efficient and budget has been kept to the lowest. Currently, while maintaining a staff team of 8 and a broad and expanding ministry, our annual budget is only at $210,000.

Because majority of the students that we serve have only limited financial resources, it is our policy to make most of our programs available to students free of charge. In addition, we have not received any funding from the government or social agencies because of the limitations they may impose on us, which will interfere with our Christian ministry. Therefore, we need continuous and generous financial support from donors who agree with our vision and mission. Our God is a God of miracles and He has always provided us through the selfless sacrifice of faithful supporters.

Currently, about 25% of our income is from small-amount monthly automatic fund transfer, and about 15% is from local church mission fund support.

Besides our annual operating budget, we have also accumulated about $130,000 of debt in bank and personal loans resulting from the acquisition of our current office building property in 2000, as well as from previous deficits and cash flow difficulties. Any no-interest loan to us will greatly ease our pressure on interest payment.

Student Ministry Dept - Overview

We see many exciting developments in student ministry this year. There are many unexpected opportunities for us to move into new ministry areas where we have always been longing to develop but were unable to, such as Mandarin ministry and campus ministry at SFU. We are sensing an exciting change of dynamics in the Vancouver student and youth ministry landscape, and we will be very alert to keep up with what God is doing in Vancouver.

Student Ministry Dept - Campus Ministry

• The growth of UBC CCF (on-campus Chinese Christian Fellowship)
  
  • The last school year has been a very successful one for UBC CCF. By the end of the term, UBC CCF has acquired a regular attendance of over 30, which is more than doubling their numbers when compared to last September when the school year started. AFC Vancouver has been actively involved in the mentoring and discipling of the leaders of UBC CCF as their ministry counselors.
  
  
• The launch of UBC's Mandarin CCF
  
  • The students at UBC CCF saw a need for ministry towards Mandarin speaking students on campus and thus started the Mandarin CCF in March. Currently it is the size of a small group, and AFC is leading Bible study with them every other week.
  
  
• The re-launching of Simon Fraser University CCF
  
  • Because of the success of UBC CCF, a first year SFU student contacted AFC in February to express her passion to start CCF again in SFU. We supported her in the planning process by providing training and guidance, and SFU CCF's regular meeting will begin this September.
  
  
• Campus Ministry Training
  
  • During the summer, AFC provided an 8-session series of ministry training to the new SFU core group, together with UBC CCF's and Mandarin CCF's core group. We have successfully generated an inter-school dynamics through this combined training apart from providing the much needed equipping to the students.

Student Ministry Dept - Worship Ministry

• Organized 7 “Jubilization雀躍體驗” discipleship-worship events, with combined attendance over 750
  
  
  
  • Jubilization is a unique discipleship event which employ creative media to achieve discipleship goals through worship experience. It has always been a favourite event among students. 90% of the tickets were usually gone within the first week of availability. We constantly received very encouraging feedbacks from the participants, saying that the event had greatly helped them grow in the spirit.
    
  • We deployed a new strategy of collaborating with church fellowship groups this year. During the February event, 3 fellowship groups from 2 different churches adopted Jubilization as their fellowship event and attended the event as a whole. In June, it grew to 16 fellowship groups from 12 churches. In October, it grew again to 22 fellowships from 16 different churches. We received very good feedback from participating churches.
  
  
• Re-organized "The Jubilant"
  
  • Our worship team "The Jubilant", formed by young people gifted in music and worship ministry, has also experienced some exciting growth this year. The re-organized student core group recruited about 20 new members and expanded the team to 42 members. Training in worship, in both the spiritual and technical aspects, are regularly provided to the members of the team.
  
  
• Conducted the 3rd annual AFC Production Conference in August
  
  • Over 70 ministry leaders from many different churches attended the event to receive training in church program production. Among the participants we even have people flying in from San Francisco exclusively for this training event.
    
  • Besides ministry techniques, we also provided devotional messages to the participants.
    
  • The success of the event leads to invitations from local churches to consult on their program production and development.
  
  
• Launched the SoundLives Project
  
  • SoundLives is a coaching and discipleship program for church bands. We have recruited 3 bands from various churches through open audition, and they will work towards a band show in November. In the process, training and coaching sessions in both music and discipleship will be provided to them.
    

Student Ministry Dept - Discipleship Training Ministry

• Organized 8 I.D.zone seminars, with total attendance of about 100 people, up until the end of August.
  
  • I.D.zone (Integrated Discipleship Zone) is a discipleship training ministry that:
    
    1. focuses on faith-life integration while providing solid biblical teaching
       
    2. provides training in the format of one-time “seminars” instead of multiple-week “courses” to better suit the life pattern of today's young people
       
    3. offers training with more diversity in topics, including personal management, biblical thinking, ministry skills and techniques as well as academic and professional development
    
    
  • Another 3 seminars are planned for the coming season with emphasis on providing support to young people in their spiritual growth and church life.
  
  
• Will organize the AFC Love and Relationship Conference in November
  
  • With biblical truth and practical techniques, addressing the brokenness among this generation of young people resulting from negative experiences in romantic and family relationships
    
  • Hoping to reach out to 70+ young people with keynote messages and workshops.
  
  
• Other training events:
  
  • Special Training for Christian educators by Ms. Johnanna Campbell, executive director of BC Christian Teachers' Association, on the topic of dealing with homosexuality issues in school setting
    
  • Special Training on the issue of Same-Sex Marriage, given 3 times in different local churches, in collaboration with Christian Social Concern Fellowship
    
  • 2 Special Sports Ministry Workshop by Mr. Ray Ko on the fundamentals of Sports Ministry at local churches, in collaboration with the Sports Ministry Department of our Toronto office
    
  • Jubilant Camp for members of our music group Jubilant for fellowship and training. The messages were focused on vision casting and team building.
    
  • All-Hands Training Day, our annual all-day training event for all volunteers for educating them on the message of the year, vision-casting, and providing spiritual nourishments
  
  
• Launched the GoodRead Program
  
  • A reading program geared towards students.
    
  • Books chosen are in line with our teaching theme
    
  • A new blog and Facebook group were launched to facilitate the sharing of reading experiences

Student Ministry Dept - Media Ministry

• Continued to produce the popular《霹啪959》live radio program that is broadcasted on AM1320 every Sunday night at 11pm to midnight.
  
  • Estimated audience at about 4,000 people
    
  • Our hosts are also invited to host a weekly 10-minute segment on issues related to young people at AM1320 during afternoon prime time.
  
  
• Continued to produce 3 podcast programs: 《霹啪959》，《JJ959》，《讀書理想點》
  
  • All 3 podcast programs are among the top ranked Cantonese programs on Apple's iTune Store in terms of popularity.
    
  • 《霹啪959》often appears in the top 100 Christian podcasts list on iTunes, and is the only non-English program among the top 100 worldwide against big names such as Nooma, Willow Creek, Chuck Swindoll etc.
    
  • The most popular episode of 《霹啪959》has generated over 50,000 download, reaching people across North America and from as far as Mainland China, South America and Europe.
    
  • On an average, each episode of 《霹啪959》will generate about 10,000 download. Each week, our server has over 82 gigabyte of traffic and the number is constantly increasing.
  
  
• Continued to develop the online ministry in the Web 2.0 internet world
  
  • Maintained 28 different blogs of different themes, which attracted more than 500 people count of readership everyday.
    
  • Integrated the newest Facebook platform in ministry development
  
  
• Broadcasted the video 《點解要屬靈？》 on YouTube
  
  • The video was originally produced as an introduction to the last Jubilization event. We produced an extended version of the video and posted it on YouTube.
    
  • The video became extremely popular among young Christians both in Vancouver and in Hong Kong, even Christian Times 時代論壇 reported its popularity. Many people left message on the web commenting that the video has stimulated fruitful reflections on their spirituality. Many churches from around the world contact us and ask for copy of the video so that they can show it to their youth. 亞洲歸主協會 in Hong Kong has also interviewed us.
    
  • So far, the video has attracted over 57,000 views and the number is still rising.
  
  
• Published the "Generation Next" newsletter 3 times a year, sharing our latest ministry insights to local church readers.

Student Ministry Dept - Local Church Support Ministry

• Conducted the Youth Ministry Conference in April
  
  • Over 70 pastors, church youth ministry leaders, fellowship counselors and committee members attended the event
    
  • Published the Vancouver Chinese Church Youth Ministry Survey, with inspiring 7 key ministry development strategies
    
  • Received positive feedback from participating churches, resulted in invitations to consult on church's ministry development.
  
  
• Given 35 talks and sermons at various local churches and led 3 church camps in the first 10 months this year.
  
  • AFC’s staff members are much-requested speakers at local churches. Through giving talks and sermons, we are casting our vision of discipleship to young people.
    
  • AFC's staff will also be hosting workshops at Western Canada's Winter Conference this December.
  
  
• Supported local churches in youth ministry development.
  
  • Besides giving talks and providing training for local churches, AFC has also acted as consultant to different local churches in re-strategizing their youth ministry, including 聖公會牧愛堂 and 信心方舟基督教會.
    
  • We have also organize the 4th Church Fellowship Committee Training program in October, which includes three 4-hour lecture sessions and a 6-month follow-up consultation program. 12 fellowships from 8 different local churches participated in this training.
  
  
• Organized 2 PP959 Coffee Houses with full house attendance
  
  
  
  • PP959 Coffee House is not only an outreaching event, but it is also a training ground for students in organizing outreach event for church with contagious evangelism principles.
    
  • One more PP959 Coffee House is planned for December 2007.
  
  
• Published the AFC Vancouver "Church Resources Handbook" and the seasonal "Ministry Catalog" to inform local churches of the latest available ministry resources.
  
  
• We have been invited to speak at various events at the following 20 churches this year: 高貴林宣道會，西區浸信會，列治文頌恩堂，溫哥華華人宣道會，溫哥華頌恩堂，信心方舟基督教會，高貴林華人宣道會，信義會新生堂，西北溫頌恩堂，信義會新生堂，本立比頌恩堂，主恩堂，慕迪港頌恩堂，溫哥華華人信義會，列治文恩典宣道會，高貴林華人播道會，域多利華人宣道會，聖公會以馬內利堂，本拿比華人宣道會，列治文華人門諾弟兄會真理堂。In addition, besides the above mentioned churches, another 12 churches have attended our various trainings and courses this year, including: 列治文城北宣道會，溫哥華華人浸信會，列治文門諾會平安堂，本拿比華人宣道會，聖公會牧愛堂，南溫哥華頌恩堂，豐盛浸信會，歌鄰基督教會，Fraser Christian Cell Church，華人禮賢會，高貴林自立中華基督教會，及三藩市路德會聖靈堂。Together we have served 32 different church directly through our training ministry this year.

Student Services Dept - 使者學生中心

• 本年首8個月內接受使者學生中心服務、訓練或資詢的人數已達4,500人次。
  
  
• 今年首8個月內共約超過1000個家庭透過中心接受個別升學輔導。
  
  
• 參加每週的「I.S. Zone」功課輔助服務而得幫助的學生（截至8月中）共超過150人次。共有最少3位老師於「I.S. Zone」內為學生解答功課上的疑問。
  
  
• 過去一年來（截至8月中）參加學生中心內的學生義工計劃的學生共13人。工作時間合共約530小時。
  
  
• 使者學生中心博客網站，為學生及家長們提供各類與升學有關的資訊。自2006年4月網站開幕以來，接觸人數已超過13,000人。今年網站共接觸超過6,700人次，吸引來自溫哥華、楓樹嶺(Maple Ridge)、多倫多、溫尼辟(Winnipeg)、紐約、上海、黑龍江、天津、北京、菲律賓、馬來西亞，日本等地對學習有興趣的人士瀏覽。
  
  
• 使者學生中心本年初得到中僑互助會邀請，為中僑網站提供有關升學資訊，於大溫另一有效平台為大溫哥華新移民及有需要人士提供各類型升學資料。
  
  
• 使者學生中心亦獲邀為列治文華人家長會提供升學資訊。
  
  
• 「讀書理想點」為全球第一個以廣東話製作，提供升學資訊的Podcast。以輕鬆手法，與世界各地朋友分享如何成為一個好學生。
  
  
• 「補習聯網」於2006年年初成立，目的是為學生及補習老師提供最完善的補習仲介服務，亦同時讓老師們在教導技巧及生活上得到適切的支援。「補習聯網」現時共有5名老師，包括大學生、碩士畢業生、以及經驗教師。自開始「補習聯網」服務以來，共為超過50名學生推薦合適補習老師，今年共成功為12名學生推薦合適補習老師。
  
  
• 使者學生中心亦與中信中心及其他機構合辦「從頂心杉到社會棟樑」活動，邀請香港正生書院校長陳兆焯博士為本地家長講解如何處理青少年的反叛問題，甚獲好評。

Student Services Dept - 升學講座

• 今年使者與多個不同的社區機構於不同社區團體舉辦升學講座，首8個月內已為12個社區團體舉辦23個不同類型升學講座。合作機構包括中僑互助會（華埠、菲沙街、素里、格蘭湖街、三聯市辦事處）、列治文華人家長會、卑斯移民服務協會(Immigration Service Society of BC)、中信中心、北岸多元文化協會(North Shore Multicultural Society)、素里Gilford圖書館、及高貴林圖書館等，接觸人數接近500人次。
  
  
• 使者學生中心於4月獲得邀請，為列治文學校局第8屆大型週年研討會「腦力智能知多少」(Learning and the Brain)擔任其中一名講座講員，向眾家長及教育工作者提供有關學生成長的資訊。
  
  
• 使者學生中心不時獲得華僑之聲主持人之邀請，為其不同時段廣東話及國語節目作訪問嘉賓，講解有關升學及其他華人關注的學業資訊。今年曾為「1+1直播室」，「今晚聽真D」，及「熱線你我他」作嘉賓主持。
  
  
• 使者學生中心及使者協會同工自2005年起為華僑之聲下午黃金時段節目「毛茹倫比」及「Solo博客」擔任客席主持
  

2007 Financial Report

January to November 2007