Based upon the Great Commission, and based upon the knowledge that God loves all people, we desire to reach out and spread the love of God to as many people as we can - not only in our neighborhood, but throughout our city, province, country, and even to the ends of the earth. In James 1:27, we are reminded that Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Recognizing the Biblical imperative to show practical love and care for those who are in need, both in our own communities and in poverty-stricken communities around the world, ECBC's English Congregation desires to reach out and show the love of God to as many people as we can - here in Edmonton's inner city, but also in other areas of Canada and the world.

The 2006 summer mission team.

To pursue these two objectives - to share the love of God through our actions and our words to people in Edmonton and around the world - we take part in various outreach and Christian mission initiatives at home and abroad.

As a church, we support the Mustard Seed Street Church - an inner-city Edmonton church which ministers to the need of Edmonton's poorest citizens. Starting this spring, we will be serving at the Mustard Seed monthly during their "Popcorn night". Just as the title sounds, we will be serving popcorn to the community as a treat after dinner and be given an opportunity to get to know the people as well.

Our fellowships and small groups have been involved in various service and outreach projects - delivering bean seeds to our neighbourhood; partnering with Habitat for Humanity; serving Christmas dinner at Hope Mission. We continue to seek after additional ways that we can practically show people in our community that we love them, and that we love them because God loves them.

Last year, our fellowships also took part in Project Porchlight and delivered free energy efficient light bulbs to our community. This was an initiative started by a non-profit organization; "One Change" which seeks to empower people to believe that simple actions matter and to help people make smart choices that protects the environment.

In addition to outreach, we are also intimately involved in mission work - bringing the love of God beyond the boundaries of Edmonton. We desire to be "on mission with God", sharing His love and His salvation across Canada, and around the world.

In July 2004, we sent a mission team of 7 (3 guys, 4 girls) to inner-city Vancouver for a 10-day mission project with YWAM (Youth with a Mission). The mission team ministered to the needy, were challenged to catch God's vision and mission for the poor, and also stepped up into ministry roles.

In August 2005, we sent a team of 11 on a 10-day mission project to Tijuana, Mexico (again with YWAM). After 3 days of training in Los Angeles, the mission team spent 5 days in Tijuana serving the needs of the community and its churches. The purpose of such mission trips is dual - to provide for the physical needs of the people of Tijuana; and to share the love of God with those who have never heard the Good News that Jesus Christ came to save them!

The 2008 summer mission team.

In the summer of 2006, ECBC began a long-term partnership with Tlicho Christian Fellowship, a Southern Baptist Church in Rae-Edzo (Behchoko), NWT. A team of 14, diverse in age, language, and cultural background, went up to serve the church and the community. We led VBS with dozens of kids, ran sports ministries, did practical service (like digging holes and chopping wood) and just generally shared God's love with the Dogrib (Tlicho) natives of Rae. You can read some of the sharing from the mission trip here ... you can also see pictures, and a video, from the mission trip here. You can also read about how God planted the vision for partnering with the church in Rae here.

In August 2007, we sent a team of 9 youth & young adults from the English congregation back up to Behchoko (Rae), NWT. Our focus was upon the exuberant and spiritually-seeking children and youth of the community, demonstrating God's love to them through our words and our works. We had daily kids' camps (VBS), sports outreach, arts & crafts tutorials, and late-night movies & discussions. You can can read reports from some of our summer missionaries here.

In August 2008, we returned once again to beautiful Behchoko, NWT. This time with a team of 16 that represented the English, Cantonese, and Children's ministries of ECBC. We continued to build upon our relationships with the kids through kids camp (VBS), sports nights, and art tutorials. We also had adult Bible studies, late-night camp fires with the youth and cooking classes for both the youth and adults. We also helped with the construction of the new Sunday school building that now stands proudly beside the Tlicho Christian Fellowship.

Pictures from our mission trips

Below are the links to pictures from 2007 Behchoko mission trip:

Facebook Album 1
Facebook Album 2
Facebook Album 3

Below are links to pictures from 2008 Behchoko mission trip:

Facebook Album 1
Facebook Album 2
Facebook Album 3
Facebook Album 4
Facebook Album 5

For more information, contact our Outreach & Mission servant leader Melissa Duong at mel.duong@ecbchurch.org.