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Canadian Christians celebrate unity of multicultural church  •  Winnipeg, Man.
Canadian Prayer Assembly


On the May long weekend, when most people escape the confines of the city, Christians representing various denominations from across Canada gathered at the Winnipeg Arena to celebrate the church.

The Canadian Prayer Assembly started with a burst of energy by the worship band and the masses shouting “Jesus”. That Jesus Christ was the focus of the second annual prayer assembly – held this year on Saturday, May 19 – was evident. Those who came expecting the assembly would be nothing but a dry prayer meeting may have been disappointed. Those who came for a powerful, rich worshipful experience certainly were not.

The theme of this year’s assembly was “Celebrating the Church”, based on John 17:21-23.

Brian Warren explains reason for the assembly.

The assembly, sponsored by Canada In Prayer, Crossroads Christian Communications/100 Huntley Street, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and Focus on the Family Canada, prayed in English, French, Spanish and Cree.

Brian Warren, chair of the CPA and a former Toronto Argonaut football player, said that “The church is made up of many parts, but is one body.” He said the purpose of the assembly was to celebrate the church. The word “church” comes from the Latin ecclesia, meaning “called out”. Warren later commented that the church in Canada was multicultural and unique in that it was not “a melting pot, but a salad bowl, a mosaic.”

That multiculturalism was evident during the opening ceremonies in which the flags of the provinces and territories of Canada and of other nations were paraded through the arena.

After a stirring blast of a shofar by John Micklefield, the assembly sang “O Canada” in English and French. Throughout the five-hour assembly, all-inclusive prayers were offered for top-ranking government and religious leaders and for the various groups represented in the body of Christ, including the elderly, the handicapped, married, singles, teens and parents.

Willard Thiessen, president of Trinity Television and host of “It’s A New Day”, prayed for the denominational and ministry agency leaders. Represented on stage were Canute Blake, Bishop of the Church of God of Canada; Brian Seim, director of inter-cultural development for SIM; Glen Gibson, Outreach Canada; David Wiebe, executive director of Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference; and Jay Barwell, Focus on the Family Canada. Wiebe said later that the he appreciated the efforts of the CPA. Despite some flaws, he said, “Overall, there is something encouraging about being called together as a large body to seek God for the good of our society.”

Willard Thiessen (front) prays for denominational and ministry agency leaders: (l-r) Canute Blake, Bishop of the Church of God of Canada; Brian Seim, director of inter-cultural development for SIM; Glen Gibson, Outreach Canada; David Wiebe, executive director of Canadian Mennonite Brethren Conference; and Jay Barwell, Focus on the Family Canada.

One incredible body

Tom Eng, pastor of Toronto Chinese Presbyterian Church, spoke about the church as “One Incredible Body”. We need to pray for unity in the Body. “If not for the local church, we would not be here today,” he said. The church is not just an organization. It is not based on externals such as political parties or ethnic groups, but is united by the Holy Spirit. “Physically, we are all different. Spiritually, we are united.” Pray for the lost, he said in his second point. The early church looked to Christ’s return as its blessed hope. Christians were persecuted and were made torches for Emperor Nero’s gardens. The more the emperors persecuted the church, the more it grew. To die as a Christian was an honour because Christians looked ahead to the glorious future. In his third point, Eng said we need to pray for responsiveness. “Let the light shine out of darkness”. We need to acknowledge our sin, turn away from it and turn to Christ based on what He did on the cross. Christ is the bridge, he said. Eng told the story of Charles Blondin, a tightrope walker who amazed the world by walking a thin line across Niagara Falls in 1859, first by foot, then by bicycle, blindfolded and pushing a wheelbarrow. For his greatest feat, Blondin asked the crowd whether they believed he could carry a person across the Falls. “Yes,” they had answered. “Then,” he had said, “I need a volunteer.” When no one volunteered, Blondin talked his manager into doing the feat. But the manager shook so much during the crossing that the stuntman promised never to do the stunt again with a human. “Trust in Jesus,” Eng said in conclusion. “And let Jesus make you a member of His incredible church.”

One magnificent building

Wayne McNeilly, the second keynote speaker, spoke from 1 Peter 2, where the writer calls the church “living stones being built into a spiritual house”. Referring to the Apostle Paul’s affirmation that the church is a building (Ephesians 2), McNeilly centred on the theme “One Magnificent Building”. Every building has an architect, who drafts the building for a purpose. The Apostle Peter states that the purpose Christ intends for His church is to be unified in one house. Christ’s purpose for His church is perfect. For the church to become living stones takes time, as with any construction project. The church’s foundation is solid, having been built on the work of the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20). But we have made the church divisive instead of being one body, one spirit. We have renovated the building without connecting the many rooms. “We need to get rid of all things that divide and focus on the common ground of Christ,” he said.

Mary Kassian: “One Beautiful Bride”.

One beautiful bride

Mary Kassian, the third keynote speaker for the evening, walked to the podium wearing a wedding gown. Basing her sermon on Ephesians 5:22-33, Kassian spoke on the theme “One Beautiful Bride”. She said that marriage is not just a reality of life, but a picture of Christ and His Bride. “Christ, our lover, relates to us. He pursued us and gave Himself; it is His initiative.” According to Jewish tradition, the betrothal and marriage were similar – both were legal contracts. On the cross, Christ paid the highest price He could. By spilling His own blood, He sanctified the church and set Her apart. He sets His affection on Her, drawing people away from sin and cleansing them. Christ provides His Bride with a costly garment and identifies Her as His own. He then presents Her as a pure bride to Himself. In response, the Bride chooses to die to herself and submit, she said.

Youth event

The Saturday afternoon youth event, which lasted about three hours, featured music from loud Christian rock to soothing chorus to rap music, complete with breakdancers. Sets came from Jon Buller, Tahilla, Resurrection & Life Ministries and the March for Jesus Band that was mixed with a kaleidoscope of lights.

Resurrection & Life Ministries perform at youth event.

Andrew Micklefield, youth pastor at Calvary Chapel in Steinbach, Man., challenged the audience to make a commitment to Christ. He said that John the Baptist had only one sermon, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” The Pharisees rejected Christ because they refused to repent. We also must change our behaviour; we too must repent, he said.

“Revival will not come by looking at more pornography, watching more movies, sending more e-mails, reading more novels or having a girl- or boyfriend,” he said. “Are we willing to turn around?”

Micklefield encouraged the youth to be witnesses in their own communities and schools. “Missionaries aren’t old people going to Africa,” Micklefield explained. “Jesus needs us right here in Winnipeg.”

Brian Warren, chair of the CPA, spoke to the crowd about passion. Citing Webster’s definition of the word, he said, “Passion is doing something different for God.”

But the afternoon was more than being entertained by musicians and speakers. It also included prayer times. During one of the prayer times, Warren asked those young people who were afraid to go home because of problems, to stand up. A number of youth stood, and Warren encouraged others to pray over them. “I’m not going to tell you what to say (to God about these youth),” he said. “You know what to pray.”

Sonya Bratz, an eighth generation First Nations Christian, accepted an apology from Warren for the discrimination and racism committed against Aboriginal Peoples by others over the years.

“I’m your brother,” Warren told her. Addressing the crowd, he said. “This is your sister, and we are your family.”

 – pjw

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Last modified July 10, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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