We’re going “around the world” with SEMC to check in on what God is doing in the various places that he has connected us as a church body to.

Our first stop is right here in Ontario with Ken and Carolyn Benson at MissionPREP. (Some of you may recognize the Bensons from their time on staff here at SEMC in the late 80’s and early 90’s).

1. How does your geographic location affect the work that you are doing?
“Our MissionPREP training programs for pre-field missionaries and missionaries who are returning from the field are usually held at the Guelph Bible Conference Center or Heritage Bible College. We live on site with our students during the programs so that we can be available for conversations, and evening programs.”

2. How has covid-19 impacted, changed or affected your ministry?
“Covid-19 has not allowed us to complete our in-person courses since last April. However, we have been adapting our programs for online versions and recently completed our first online Debriefing Program. We are in the middle of developing our course materials for our pre-field training programs in order to run our June courses online. Although we believe in-person training is best, we anticipate that God will show us how to use these online programs for special scenarios in the future, whether a hybrid model or to help train missionaries already on the field or from other countries.”

3. As the SEMC we use the acronym “SPRinG” to represent the calling of our church family to “Serve, Pray, and Respond in the Grace of God”. How are you able to “SPRinG” in your community and work? Serve, Pray, Respond in the Grace of God

“We have been staying in touch to encourage and pray for a group of people from our church who are not able to connect virtually to our online services or prayer meetings.

We are collaborating with another mission organization to expand our Missionary Debriefing program to include both east and west location. We are praying for and connecting with New Canadians from other countries in
our community whom God has brought into our lives.

Thanks so much for your faithful support and prayers over the years. You are an encouragement to us.
May you continue to be inspired by God to SPRing in your community of Sarnia.”