Missions

At PORTICO we are passionate about the fact that the world all around us needs to know the love of God, making our local, national and global missions efforts of the utmost importance. We believe that every Christ follower should be challenged to prayerfully participate, through both giving to Give Hope Every Day (PORTICO missions) and through individual service to

the local, national and global community. Supporting Give Hope Every Day is one of the important ways that, together, we 'Serve Christ's mission in the world'.

Below is a list of global workers and ministries that PORTICO supports through Give Hope Every Day (PORTICO missions). Each year, our Missions Committee forecasts a budget to reflect the levels of support that PORTICO will raise for these ministries and workers. These funds are raised over and above the tithe and designated through Give Hope Every Day which means we are totally dependent on the generosity of our PORTICO donors. Our budget for 2010/2011 is $203,000.

Looking for a Short Term Missions serving opportunity? Click here.

LOCAL

The Dam Youth Centre

The Dam is a Christian organization committed to being a welcoming and safe community for youth-at-risk. They become a friend and resource to youth and their families by building relationships and providing programs that focus on their physical, social, emotional and spiritual well-being.

Mississauga Life Centre

A youth mentoring and pregnancy counseling centre.

Sanctus School For Worshippers

Sanctus School For Worshipppers is a two-year accredited post-secondary Christian college that prepares students in areas of Christian character and spiritual grounding as a preparatory step to specific vocational training.

NATIONAL

STM Network

The STM (Short-Term Missions) Network exists to empower the local church to take responsibility to serve the whole fellowship (PAOC) in the area of short-term missions.

Breakthrough Ministries

Breakthrough Ministries was founded by Maury Blair, himself a victim and survivor of horrible child abuse, and is dedicated entirely to helping victims of abuse become survivors rather than statistics.

Rob Powell - Mission Canada

Rob consults with campus leaders and pastors across the country to help them establish campus ministries that reach out to students in these extremely secular environments. In addition to his blog (linked above) you may also want to visit campus mission canada.

Bera & Bonita Ledua - SCA Eagle's Cove

The Leduas are ministering to First Nations people in isolated northern communities and involved in counseling, family events, summer camp programs for children and youth, and weekend retreats.

Dave & Shirley Sawler - Lighthouse Church, Glace Bay NS

The Sawlers have planted a church that is reaching the community and impacting nearby First Nations communities as well.

GLOBAL

Lena Augustine, The Islands

Lena once attended PORTICO and now pastors Mahaut Gospel Tabernacle in Dominica and runs a feeding program for 55 children in the community.

Tony & Margaret Baker, India

Tony is on the faculty of Trinity Christian College, training indigenous Christian leaders in India to be pastors and plant churches in unreached rural areas.

Ilya & Janet Bantseev, Russia

The Bantseevs are pastoring a church of approximately 1,000 people in Novokuznetsk, a city of 600,000 people. Their congregation ministers in prisons, orphanages, and to people with life controlling problems or addictions. They also organize various ministry and missionary teams to plant churches throughout Siberia and share the gospel with professional groups such as doctors, athletes, government officials and police.

Ken & Shirley Birch, Canada/Africa

Ken and Shirley have served as Regional Directors in East and West Africa and continue to assist with some responsibilities in East Africa. Ken's major focus these days is to serve as the non-resident PAOC missionary in Eastern Congo (D.R.C.). In addition to working with church leaders he also works with ERDO in addressing the overwhelming humanitarian needs in the aftermath of years of civil war in the country. While in Canada, Ken serves as the International Missions Representative in Western Canada for the PAOC and ERDO.

David & Connie Buzikievich, Lilongwe Malawi

The Buzikievichs operate the Village of Hope in Lilongwe. They currently house over 50 children in family-modeled homes in this country with an orphan population of 1,000,000 children.

Raul & Lily Carrasco, Spain

The Carrascos have a vision to plant churches in Galacia, Spain where 99% of the population is unreached with the evangelical gospel message. They need to finalize their support so that they can go!

Alejandro & Mercedes Cetrulo, Cartago, Costa Rica

The Cetrulos pastor a church in Cartago and are reaching underprivileged kids, orphans, and the homeless. They also work with addicts and prostitutes.

ERDO - Canadian Foodgrains Bank

Emergency Relief and Development Overseas (ERDO) is the humanitarian arm of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC). ERDO in involved in humanitarian aid, community development and child sponsorship and many parts of the world.

Charles & Connie - Asia (Restricted Access Nation)

Wayne & Ann Hilsden - Israel

Wayne & Ann give leadership to King of Kings Community Jerusalem. Wayne preaches regularly in Jerusalem and also travels the world sharing with the nations about the restoration of Israel. Ann is the Music Director at KKCJ.

June Taklalsingh - The Islands

June attends PORTICO and founded Hope Christian Missions. She has been instrumental in bringing the Alpha program to the Caribbean in places like Trinidad, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, and Barbados.

Hope Forever, Pakistan

This ministry, operated by various individuals form PORTICO, provides relief to suffering Christians in Pakistan and a special annual Christmas dinner.

Paul & Lynn Kohls - Kenya

Paul is on the faculty of Pan Africa Christian University, training students from over 20 countries to engage a culture and make a difference in Africa and throughout the world

Gerry & Grace Laing, Canada/Africa

The Laings are from PORTICO and travel short term wherever they are needed. Gerry offers his expertise in construction and electrical work on various fields and has been involved in Africa and also back home in Canada in Glace Bay, NS. Currently, Gerry and Grace are serving in Nairobi, Kenya.

Michael & Sheila Middlebrook, Kenya

Michael and Sheila serve together at Pentecostal Bible College in Nyang'ori. Michael is the academic dean at the college, founded by PAOC missionaries in 1949 and Sheila also teaches at Pentecostal Bible College as well as ministering to children.

Charles & Desirea Silva, India

The Silvas operate Hope for Children in Chennai. Established in 2006, this home houses over 40 children. Chennai is 95% Hindu and there are over 40,000 orphans in this city.

Jeffrey & Akiko Sonnenberg - Japan

Jeffrey & Akiko are church planting missionaries in Okinawa, Japan. You can also follow their blog here.

Jeff & Rachel - North Africa (Restricted Access Nation)

Irving Whitt, Global Ed - World

Irving is coming alongside national leadership and consulting with them in their educational and development programs. He teaches some courses at Bible Colleges, Training Centres and Universities on various fields and is also involved in professional development of teachers and church leaders. You can follow his blog here.