ABBA MINISTRIES OF CANADA

As the central representative body of Abba Ministries of Canada we are responsible for and support a national program of evangelism religious education Christian ministry and social action. We provide the Sacraments. We are unique inasmuch as our clergy are volunteers who contribute their energy time and resources without financial reimbursement. Our member churches and clergy serve the community including families in crisis youth children the elderly the disabled the sick the neglected people in spiritual crisis people who have suffered trauma people living with mental health issues people with addiction issues people who have suffered injustice and any person in need. Our ordained ministers priests chaplains and deacons provide pastoral care and spiritual leadership to groups and individuals in church institutional and informal settings. We serve in hospitals; extended care and long-term care facilities; senior's residences; halfway houses; prisons; recovery groups; pregnancy centres; shelters. Our clergy provide ministry to the sick and dying; end-of-life and palliative care; pastoral counselling; spiritual guidance; mentoring to service recipients staff parishioners or troubled souls wherever we may find them. We seek mission fields within Canada in urban and rural settings and overseas that provide opportunities to offer Christian love and the Gospel message in situations of spiritual transformation. We demonstrate a very solid commitment to Jesus' program through compassionate service and a mosaic of ministries. We serve congregations. We provide worship services prayer support outreach fellowship Bible studies and places of worship. We provide clergy with e-access to timely curated learning materials/resources. We serve Christians and unchurched people who seek God who desire to draw closer to God and who strive to be a follower of Jesus. We encourage/guide our clergy and parishioners to think theologically about our mission as followers of Christ: journeying with others in suffering; opening eyes and minds to ways to serve Christ and his Gospel; discover places and seasons to serve; learn ways to give care comfort and mutual support; highlight ways to show/share Jesus' love. To effect change we point out injustices/abuse/the misuse of power. We teach preach and help people learn to navigate their struggles/joys around the person of God and his mercy to grow in concern for fellow humans and to be a blessing to others.

Investigated different ways to 'do community & do church'; church-based community development. New & seasoned ministers expanded Abba's ministry reach & spiritual support through target communities served geographical reach & depth of offerings: community outreach through crafts & conversation for seniors in Spryfield & Fairview NS; chaplaincy in Nanaimo BC Roseneath Delaware ON; ministries in Ilderton Beaverton Peterborough Ajax Scarborough ON; NL; Clearwater & Fort St. John BC; BC Lower Mainland's Cantonese/Mandarin-speaking communities; Vancouver's downtown eastside; families of school-aged special needs children in Ottawa Gatineau QC; cross-cultural neighbours helping neighbours; address soul trauma support persons living with chronic illnesses & caregivers; the role of spirituality in mental health; PTSD support for oathtakers; resources for prison chaplains; teaching service recipients to nurture the body mind & spirit with healthful choices; children's ministries; sports/workplace/marketplace/motorcycle ministries; women mentoring women; author's book on her faith journey; truth & reconciliation. Small groups launched/served in conjunction with preaching teaching & church planting include: learning a clinical & biblical perspective on mental illness; supporting new parents through pregnancy to birth; couples dedicated to the Gospel ministry. Continued to strengthen/widen our e-provision of timely curated learning materials & clergy resources. Abba clergy benefited from newly released online seminary course offerings leadership training Bible courses & Christian studies. Clergy provided with access to resources on spiritual disciplines the process of evangelism faith formation discipleship topic empowering the people of God & imparting ways people can be a sign of God to the world by taking Christ as his/her model. Provided prayers grief support pastoral care & liturgical resources: Advent Lent Easter Eastertide & Pentecost reflections; small group Bible study materials & the writings of the early church. Youth & children experienced first-hand ways to reach out/serve the homeless poor & vulnerable through practical & spiritual support. While Canada is Abba's primary mission field new minsters have existing/new ministries in the USA Philippines Nepal UK. Clergy planning their next short-term mission trips ministering the Good News of our saviour Jesus Christ abroad in Trinidad Malawi Mauritius Guyana Barbados Jamaica.