Meet the Missionary: Q & A with Shant and Ginny Manuel

Posted on November 27, 2021

Get to know Shant and Ginny Manuel

Q When did you first know God was calling you to create this mission?

On one of Shant’s last trips to India with Partners International, a local pastor in the northeast talked about the urgent need for leadership training and requested help from believers in Canada.  In October 2007, Shant sensed a strong call to return there and provide training opportunities to a group of pastors and church leaders. He invited other experienced pastors from Atlantic Canada to join him and, in January 2008 along with several other lay people, they spent two weeks in Sikkim and West Bengal teaching and assessing the needs for potential future ministry.  From that trip came additional requests for training from local church leaders in India and growing interest in this ministry back in Canada.  After much prayer and counsel, Shant and Ginny felt called to begin Far Corners Ministry.  

Q What are some of the ways you have been affirmed in following God’s leading?

We started Far Corners Ministry by faith, and not really knowing where it would lead us.  We have seen God provide for every need of this work through His people, with support growing as the scope of the ministry expanded.  One of His great blessings was to connect us to our regional coordinator in India – a godly man who has a heart for strengthening the local church, training pastors, and ministering to various needs in Christ’s name.  To have such a gifted and trustworthy partner connected to the local church is an amazing gift!

Though we are a small ministry, we feel that God’s blessings have been great as we have taken each step forward in faith and confidence in Him.  We have had His assurance that while our role is to make the needs known, it is He who moves peoples’ hearts to pray and to give.  We are humbled by the faith and trust that churches and individuals have put in us and see this as God’s affirmation to continue.

 Q How can WRBC best support your ministry?

The partnership that has developed with the Whyte Ridge church family has been nothing short of amazing!  From the first mission trip undertaken by the church in November 2010, we have been so blessed by the many volunteers from WRBC that have contributed to our ministry in India and Nepal over these past eleven years.  The planning and preparation of these teams supported and guided by your church leadership has truly demonstrated your commitment to mission.

We look forward to more opportunities to serve together.  We also value your ongoing prayers for both of us, our Board of Directors, and especially for our regional coordinator in India and all the pastors and ministry leaders working in challenging circumstances.  We so appreciate your faithful financial support and response to the various needs that have arisen! 

Due to the often-unpredictable situation faced by the evangelical church in India, we want to help them come to a place of future self-sustainability.  To this end, FCM is launching new agricultural projects that will result in local financial resources being available for pastors and churches.  We feel that this is a very important way to ensure the continued health and growth of the local church.  Please pray for FCM as we once again step out in faith.

Website: www.farcornersministry.org  – will be available again soon

Latest mission newsletter: 

How to donate:

You can give to Far Corners Ministry in one of three ways:

– E-transfers will go directly into the Far Corners Ministry bank account by using our ministry email: info@farcornersministry.org  For new donors using e-transfer – please also send a separate email giving us your name and mailing address for income tax receipts.

– Cheques can be mailed to: Far Corners Ministry, 33 Byblos Road, Upper Hammonds Plains, NS  B4B 1Y1

– Paypal through our website – www.farcornersministry.org – The website has been offline recently but will be available again by mid-September.

Far Corners Ministry is a registered Canadian charity (#BN 812210615 RR0001), and issues income tax receipts for all individual and corporate donations every February.  FCM is funded by the generous donations of individuals, churches, and business.  We treat these donations with great respect and pledge to faithfully use your gifts as good stewards of this work in India. – “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” Matthew 28:40

 

 

 

Filed Under: Missions

2021 World Watch List Guide

Posted on September 4, 2021

As we finish our summer series on prayer and look forward to our WRBC Missions weekend Oct 22-24th, you may be getting used to various pandemic restrictions like staying at home or attending Sunday service online. For many of us, we are feeling the negative impact of isolation and lack of connection. Our God is a God of relationship and encourages us to form and maintain healthy relationships with our brothers and sisters as well as those who might be outside the faith.

Sadly for our brothers and sisters living in developing countries, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is far greater than the impact we are likely experiencing. This situation is more significant in countries where being a Christian is illegal or is viewed unfavourably such as India and Yemen. They are discriminated against and marginalized. They may be refused food, medical care and other necessary aid, experiencing increased surveillance, violence and discrimination, because of their faith.

As you may know, every year, Open Doors produces the World Watch List, which ranks the 50 most dangerous countries to live in as a Christian. This year, the report will include information about how COVID-19 is impacting our marginalized and discriminated against brothers and sisters.

Where is the most dangerous place in the world to live as a Christian? Find out by downloading the new 2021 World Watch List Guide. Here are a few things you’ll learn:

– This year’s World Watch List highlights how the global pandemic has heightened systemic discrimination and persecution of over 340 million Christians.
– In China, the Communist Party extended its regulation of all religions in 2020, and even government-approved churches, both Catholic and Protestant, are under ever-more surveillance, both online and offline. Under-18s are still officially banned from all religious activity.
– North Korea remains the most dangerous place for Christians, having been number one since the inception of the World Watch List in 2002.

As a church family, let’s learn about the persecuted church together and pray with them. Click here to view the 2021 World Watch List Guide.

Filed Under: Missions, News

Haiti Emergency Response and Prayer Points

Posted on August 22, 2021
On August 14th, a massive earthquake struck Haiti affecting thousands of vulnerable children and their families.  Christian organizations such as World Vision are on the ground providing life-saving assistance such as clean water, food and tents for those who have lost their homes.
 
If you would like to part of the solution, you can donate to World Vision’s Emergencye response as we look to impact over 240,000 of those impacted at the link below:

Donate here: http://www.worldvision.ca/HelpHaiti.

 

Prayer Requests for Haiti:

Please pray for:

  • Comfort for Families shocked by the loss of loved ones
  • Safe transportation of humanitarian relief and equitable distribution of help to all the victims.
  • Powerful witness of Christian compassion during the crisis.
  • Hope for families hurting in a season of unrest and uncertainty
  • Generous contributions to arrive in a timely fashion for rebuilding, including for damaged churches.
  • Limited greed and misuse of funds and relief materials.
  • Vision and political will for local authorities so they seek primarily the welfare of the people.
  • Political breakthrough and stability through meaningful negotiations among political groups and civil society so that the nation can go forward after the assassination of the president.
  • That credible and experienced citizens in-country and in the diaspora are raised and find visibility as potential political leaders for the nation.
  • Protection from additional potential storms and bad weather

To download additional details, click here: CHURCH Haiti Emergency Response

Filed Under: Missions, News

Far Corners Ministry Emergency Food Relief

Posted on June 20, 2021

The following article has been submitted by Far Corners Ministry:

When India first went into a sudden and very restrictive lockdown in 2020, the effect on the poor was very devastating. That April 2020 we first received a request from our regional coordinator in Northeast India to help provide emergency food relief. This was especially needed for those whose very small subsistence income was suddenly cut off. Just $15.00 Cdn would provide a family with things such as rice, lentils, oil and vegetables for about 10 days. Through the efforts of the pastors and churches that we partner with, food was distributed to the very poor of their congregations and then to the surrounding villages and mission areas of those churches. Through generous donors we were able to help hundreds of families with these basic food staples. It was a truly wonderful way to demonstrate the love of Christ.

India is now facing increased coronavirus infections and is once again dealing with lockdowns. For the poor who are mainly daily wage earners, this is especially hard. If they are not able to go to their jobs, they have no money to buy even the basic food for their families. So we have again been asked to help provide emergency food relief. This has started going out to those most needy such as the auto rickshaw drivers, the tea garden workers and other daily wage earners.

You can give to this need for emergency food relief directly through Far Corners Ministry in one of two ways and know that 100% of your donation will go directly to meet this need. Far Corners Ministry is a registered Canadian charity (#BN812210615 RR0001), and issues income tax receipts for all individual and corporate donations every February.

Etransfers will go directly into the Far Corners bank account by using our email: info@farcornersministry.org. Please put in the message line that it is for food relief.

Cheques can be mailed to: Far Corners Ministry, 33 Byblos Road, Upper Hammonds Plains, NS B4B 1Y1

Thank you so much for your interest, prayers and support!

Shant and Ginny Manuel

Far Corners Ministry

Filed Under: Missions, News

Canadian Baptist Ministries: Bolivia Update – October 27, 2020

Posted on October 28, 2020

Canadian Baptist Ministries Church Engagement Team Lead Adrian Gardner talked to Bolivia Field Staff Bill Dyck and Terry Janke, Lead Pastor of Whyte Ridge Baptist Church, in the most recent episode of CBM Calling!

The conversation revolved around Whyte Ridge’s partnership with Bolivia and responding to COVID-19 as a community.

Check it out!

Filed Under: Missions, News, WRBC Video