<![CDATA[​ - News]]>Wed, 09 Sep 2026 05:42:29 -0500Weebly<![CDATA[Share Your Story (Wycliffe)]]>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:56:26 GMThttps://www.missionfestmanitoba.org/news/share-your-story-wycliffe
Transformation in the Mountains

Maria Teresa Arone Bazán’s life changed completely when she encountered Jesus.

Maria  Teresa, 45, wants to speak to me. As soon as I asked for volunteers at the church workshop to share their stories, her hand shot up. So we sit under one of the few trees in the exposed church yard, seeking shade while trying to avoid the mounds of baking cow manure. Surely her thick cardigan can’t be comfortable in the blazing sunshine, but she doesn’t seem to notice. 
​“I went to the hospital with terrible stomach pain. The doctor said my appendix had ruptured,” says Maria Teresa, describing her traumatic experience several years ago. She was given emergency surgery, but didn’t recover well. After 22 agonizing days in the hospital, the doctors eventually sent her home, telling her husband to prepare for her death. 

It felt like the final act in a life of tragedy. Her home was filled with chaos: she and her husband both drank heavily and often had vicious physical fights. She wept as she imagined what the future would hold for her young daughters. But as she lay dying, she remembered Jesus. Her neighbours had tried to share Him with her, but she’d never been interested. Now, in desperation, she prayed, “Forgive me, Jesus. Please let me live and work for you.” A few nights later, she had vivid dreams about healing, and when she awoke, she was completely well. 

Her body restored, God now began healing her broken life. She and her husband stopped drinking and fighting, and he turned to Christ, too. Now they both work for the church, spreading the gospel in their mountain community. 

I can see the joy and purpose on her face as she clutches her Eastern Apurímac New Testament. The heat and cow manure don’t seem important anymore.

Story shared by Ruth Richert, Wycliffe Canada
]]><![CDATA[Share Your Story (Impact Ministries)]]>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:47:35 GMThttps://www.missionfestmanitoba.org/news/share-your-story-impact-ministries
From Darkness to Light in Rural Guatemala
By: Rita Peters, Impact Ministries Canada

Our ministry is located in the highlands of Northern Guatemala, where over the past 26 years we have witnessed many people being liberated from the oppressive spiritual darkness in which they and their ancestors had lived for generations. In many villages, traditional beliefs and practices rooted in fear have been passed down from one generation to the next. Yet time and again, we have seen the transforming power of the Gospel bring hope, freedom, and new life.

​I remember one such moment vividly.
Maurilio, a teenage boy attending our school, came to my house. He had been keeping me informed about his grandmother's illness over the previous weeks. This time, however, he came urgently and told me she was nearing death. I immediately followed him to her home.

They lived in a tiny wooden shack with a dirt floor and dim lighting. Her bed consisted of rough wooden planks raised only a few inches off the ground. She lay covered with every blanket available in the house, trying to keep warm despite her frail condition. Standing at the head of her bed was her oldest son.

I knew of her son as one of the prominent witch doctors in our village. Several of her children were involved in those dark practices. As I entered the room, I wondered what he would think of me or the message I was about to share with his mother. But regardless of how my words might sound to him, I knew I had no choice. If this woman was approaching the end of her life, she needed to hear about the salvation and love found in Jesus.

I pulled up a small stool and sat beside her bed. Gently, I explained how Jesus came to die for our sins and how, through His sacrifice, we can be forgiven and reconciled to God. I told her that if we confess our sins and place our trust in Him, He forgives us completely. Her eyes remained fixed on me as I shared the simple message of the Gospel.

When I finished, I asked if she would like me to lead her in prayer.

She nodded.

Under the watchful eye of her son, I prayed a simple prayer of confession, repentance, and faith in Christ. She quietly whispered the words after me.

When I finished, she raised her voice for the first time that day and joyfully exclaimed, "Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!" over and over again.

At that moment, I saw a joy enter her countenance that had not been there before. The fear and heaviness on her face seemed to lift. I realized she had been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's beloved Son—the kingdom of light.

It was a powerful reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. Even in life's final moments, the light of the Gospel can break through the deepest darkness, bringing forgiveness, peace, and the assurance of eternal life.
]]><![CDATA[Share Your Story (Greater Europe Mission)]]>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:38:16 GMThttps://www.missionfestmanitoba.org/news/share-your-story-greater-europe-mission
In Albania, where coffee shops are everywhere but many people carry deep hopelessness, mistrust, and discouragement, The Bridge stands out as more than a café. Founded by GEM worker Caleb and his team, it was created as a familiar place where people could encounter something uncommon: excellent coffee paired with radical kingdom hospitality. Through free food and water, clothing and shoes for those in need, careful listening, Scripture, prayer, and steady presence, The Bridge has become a place where God’s light shines into the darkness of loneliness, poverty, addiction, depression, and spiritual confusion. 
That light is seen in people like Sabria, an older hotel owner whose abrasive advice gradually became the doorway to relationship. As the team listened to her and valued her wisdom, she heard the Gospel and began hungering to know more about Jesus. It is seen in Daryna, a Ukrainian woman struggling with depression, who first came simply to rest in the café’s atmosphere of peace and kindness and now describes herself as seeking God. It is seen in Asim, a hurting man who came for food and water but found friendship, Scripture, comfort, and dignity. Unable to read, he absorbed God’s Word as others read it aloud, later expressing friendship through small gifts. 
​
The Bridge also became a turning point for Steven, a former military man trapped in drugs, alcohol, and suicidal despair. Through the team’s love, he heard the Gospel, confessed faith in Jesus, was baptized, and began learning to walk in repentance rather than darkness. These stories reveal that the café itself is not the ultimate point; God is forming a new community through ordinary conversations, open doors, and lives of love. In a society marked by distrust and anger, The Bridge offers a glimpse of Christ’s kingdom—where the hungry are fed, the lonely are welcomed, the broken are heard, and the light of Jesus quietly but powerfully pushes back the darkness.
​​
]]><![CDATA[Share Your Story (Square One World Media)]]>Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:26:59 GMThttps://www.missionfestmanitoba.org/news/share-your-story-square-one-world-media
Square One World Media’s partner studio in Ukraine, The Bible Today, has been releasing a series of videos on the book of Psalms. The first two videos of this series have gained over 350,000 views to date on YouTube. There are also hundreds of comments from Ukrainian speakers saying how comforting and peaceful these readings of Psalms have been for them in the midst of very chaotic and uncertain times.  ​

One 23-year-old commented: “I came across your Instagram posting by accident. I had never encountered the Bible personally before and had never felt any need for faith.  
The war changed everything because when you suddenly lose your home and friends and are in such an uncertain place, you need some new support. I received support through these simple short messages… I can tell these are God’s words that you are speaking because I can feel it in my heart. Thank you for sharing these special words.”

And a mother said: “My son, who is serving in the military, told me that he came across the Psalms videos online and that he has started listening to them in the evenings. Not only that, the other soldiers began listening, too. For an entire hour, no one said a word as the video played. The next day, several of them came to my son and said, ‘Somehow, our hearts feel lighter. We experienced an unusual peace after hearing that.’”
​
Through online video, social media, and in-person outreach, the team at The Bible Today is spreading the hope of the Gospel to Ukrainians who are affected every day by the destruction and devastation of the Russian-Ukrainian war. We ask you to pray for their protection and strength in the midst of constant danger, as the instability of the power grid in Ukraine and ongoing attacks make their ministry harder than ever. In spite of great darkness and uncertainty, His light shines brightly and will not be overcome.

Submitted by: Joe Proulx, Communications & Distribution Coordinator, Square One World Media
]]><![CDATA[Missionfest 2027 Logo!]]>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:21:14 GMThttps://www.missionfestmanitoba.org/news/missionfest-2027-logo
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Our theme will be The Light Shines in the Darkness. (Thanks to Kaitlyn Lembke, our new Exhibitor Care Coordinator, for creating such a dynamic logo for this year’s event!) 

John 1:5: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
]]><![CDATA[Ruined by the Holiness of God]]>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:23:07 GMThttps://www.missionfestmanitoba.org/news/ruined-by-the-holiness-of-godBy Aaron Pierce ​
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As I sat in a small cinderblock home housing a widow and her three daughters, all who shared a single bedroom in a very dangerous neighborhood run by drug lords and steeped in poverty, I remember crying out to God, saying, God, how could you create a world that is so messed up? What do you want me to do about it? How is my drop of impact possibly going to make a difference in the ocean of injustice? What am I supposed to do about it?
This experience as a college student on a mission trip in Mexico shook me out of my comfortable Christian life and led me into a season of wrestling with God, honestly seeking to understand how a good God could allow such pain and suffering in our world.
As I wrestled and sought the truth, God gave me a revelation of something I had understood intellectually in the past, but now it went from my head to my heart and it exploded and altered the trajectory of my life. The truth was this: God is far from indifferent to our suffering. In fact, He sent the most precious thing He had, Jesus, to enter into our suffering and to show us a way out. And all evil, all suffering, all pain, all injustice is the result of one thing, and that is sin. And there is only one solution to sin, and that is Jesus and the message of the cross.
As someone who was very justice-oriented and desired to make a difference and address the social brokenness of the world, I recognized that the gospel was the only foundational solution to all the brokenness we experience in our world.
But in order to go into the world with the conviction, courage, and sacrifice required to proclaim it in a relevant way to our lost world, each of us needs that revelation. Isaiah had that kind of encounter in Isaiah 6 when he saw the Lord on His throne and was confronted with pure holiness.
Scripture gives us this incredible imagery of seraphim, these powerful, majestic beings beyond anything in our imagination. Seraphim literally means “burning ones,” and they are depicted with six wings: with two they cover their faces, with two they cover their feet, and with two they fly. Take all the might of the military power of the world, all the guns, bombs, tanks, missiles, submarines, and aircraft carriers, and stack them in one place. These angelic beings are more powerful than all of it. And yet they cannot look at the Creator. They shield their faces and cry out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” Their voices are so powerful and profound that the doorposts and thresholds shake and the temple fills with smoke.
This contrast reveals the holiness of God, and as Isaiah is confronted with this vision he is ruined by it. When you are exposed to a holy God, you see your own brokenness. Before salvation there is anguish and desperation for a Savior. Then comes atonement, pointing to what Jesus accomplished on the cross. And out of that revelation Isaiah responds to the call, “Here am I, send me.” Without a profound revelation of the holiness of God and the purpose of the cross, we will not go. With it, everything changes.
We are living in a world that feels chaotic, anxious, and disoriented. There is confusion about truth, identity, justice, and purpose. People are searching for answers everywhere except God, and the solutions on offer cannot heal the root. The world does not ultimately need more outrage, activism, or commentary. The world needs followers of Jesus who have encountered the holiness of God and who are willing to offer the only true solution found in the cross.
This is why Steiger exists: to raise up a radical missionary movement among young people who have encountered God deeply enough to actually go into the secular urban scene, proclaiming Jesus to a world that is desperately searching for answers.
]]><![CDATA[Curiosity into Calling]]>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 01:07:07 GMThttps://www.missionfestmanitoba.org/news/curiosity-into-calling
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We are excited at Missionfest Manitoba to announce that Kait Lembke will be next year’s Exhibitor Care Coordinator! 

Here is Kait’s article, which will be featured in the 2026 Missionfest Manitoba Magazine!
​
I first attended Missionfest last year during my first season living in Winnipeg. New to the city and eager to find where I belonged, I invited a work colleague to come along with me. She had recently returned to her faith and, like me, was curious about Christ-centred communities and how her gifts might be used. Together—and sometimes separately as different booths and stages drew us in—we wandered, listened, learned, and absorbed far more than we expected.

Growing up, missions were not a common topic of conversation in our church circles. Mission trips and global ministry often felt reserved for a select group—those who were specially trained, experienced, or “called” in a very specific way. That perception quietly discouraged many of us from engaging more deeply, myself included. Missions felt important, but distant. Admirable, but out of reach.

So when I arrived at Missionfest, I didn’t come with a plan or a clear sense of direction. I didn’t know where to begin or what I was looking for—but I was excited to dive in regardless.

One moment that stands out vividly was encountering a group of bikers whose presence immediately drew attention. Intrigued, I stopped to ask about their mission. Before I knew it, we were exchanging testimonies and stories of faith. In that conversation, something shifted. I felt as though I had stumbled upon people who shared a deep desire to reach those often overlooked—hard-to-reach places and communities where conversations about Christ don’t always come easily. It felt like a seed had been planted, quietly but firmly.

As I continued through the exhibitor hall, I was struck by the sheer number of opportunities. It would have been easy to feel overwhelmed by the scope of it all—the big visions, the global needs, the many avenues of service. Yet instead of leaving discouraged or burdened with the thought, “I don’t even know where to begin,” I felt something entirely different. A small, hopeful whisper rose within me: “I can’t wait to get started.”

There was no sense of panic or pressure. Instead, Missionfest offered something refreshing—clarity. Conversations were practical, detailed, and encouraging. People took the time to explain, step by step, how involvement could look at every stage of the journey.

While the idea of a full missions trip initially felt beyond our scope, both my colleague and I were eager to learn more. As avid travelers with a shared desire to be His hands and feet, we discovered there were countless ways to serve—behind the scenes, front and centre, locally or globally, in quiet support roles or bold, outward-facing ones.

Yet beyond the programs, pathways, and possibilities, it was the people themselves who left the deepest impression.

Every interaction was marked by kindness, openness, and genuine joy. Missionfest didn’t just present opportunities—it reflected the heart of God’s people. And in that space, hope felt not only possible, but within our reach.
]]><![CDATA[Missionfest 2026]]>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 21:23:59 GMThttps://www.missionfestmanitoba.org/news/missionfest-20264102319
Missionfest Manitoba, this year, will be at Church of the Rock in Winnipeg from February 6th to 8th (2026), and our theme will be Who is this King of Glory? This is taken from Psalm 24.

We believe strongly that all missions, in fact the whole Christian life, is founded on who God is as revealed in Jesus Christ. We will be exploring some of the paradoxes in God’s character (such as His uncompromising righteousness and unfailing love) and how that all is essential in moving us to “declare and display Christ together”.

The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell in it  Ps. 24:1
In Thai, the translation for “the LORD” is “the One who is the owner.” Again and again in the Bible, we see these claims to God’s rightful ownership of everyone and everything because He is the One who created it all.  When we come to a greater understanding of who this God of all creation is, we will see this Mission of God as Good News.

We have a great slate of plenary speakers for Missionfest Manitoba 2026: Jason Mandryk (Operation World), Aaron Pierce (Steiger International and speaker at MFM ’24), Dr. Mary Ho (International Director for All Nations International) and Dr. Timothy Tennent (former President of Asbury College). Aaron Pierce will speak at After Hours, and Danny MacKay will speak for the Youth Event. 

We hope you’ll join us for Missionfest 2026, February 6th to 8th at Church of the Rock in Winnipeg! ​
]]><![CDATA[Missionfest Boost Steinbach]]>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:03:32 GMThttps://www.missionfestmanitoba.org/news/missionfest-boost-steinbach
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Missionfest in Steinbach! Missionfest Manitoba will be holding their first Free Boost event in Steinbach on Saturday, November 1 from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Daniel Krebs (Christian Fellowship Church), Arley and Janice Lowen (OM) and Sammy Bernard (MAF) will be our main speakers, and we will have several breakout workshops, representatives from several ministries, great worship music from Danny Plett (morning and afternoon) and a youth/young adult praise and worship service featuring Free Servant in the evening. Come join us and see how you are Empowered for a Purpose!

Schedule:
9 a.m. Doors open
10 a.m. Main session with Pastor Daniel Krebs and Danny Plett
11:30 a.m. Breakout Workshops, featuring:
     Andy Smith (OMF Philippines)   Communicating the Gospel Cross-Culturally
     Howard and Kathy Weir    The Ripple Effect of Christian Camping
     Peggy Kauffman    Prayer: Making a Difference from Home
     Dave and Sharon Dickey    Welcome to Our Home
12:30 p.m. Lunch
2 p.m. Main session with Arley and Janice Loewen and Danny Plett
3:30 p.m. Breakout Workshops, featuring:
     Carl Loewen (SBC)    
     Travis Plett     Hope and Purpose in an Empty World: Reaching the Next Generation
     Kody and Amy Friesen   Creative Pathways: Art and Storytelling to Middle Easterners
7 p.m. Praise and Worship Service, featuring Free Servant and Sammy Bernard

There will be representatives from Avant, Evangelical Mennonite Conference, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Ethnos, Frontiers, MAF (maybe even with their flight simulator!), OM, OMF Canda, One Hope Canada, Wycliffe and YWAM Island Breeze. (And more???)

A prayer team will be available!
]]><![CDATA[2025-09-22 Newsletter]]>Mon, 22 Sep 2025 23:01:55 GMThttps://www.missionfestmanitoba.org/news/missionfest-2026
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