Invest in Students, Invest in the Future!

One of my favourite things about leading AFC in Canada is the opportunity to meet people whose lives have transformed through their involvement in the ministry.

Recently, I was meeting with one of our supporters who shared that her life trajectory changed when she had the opportunity to lead her high school fellowship. There she was mentored, trained, and discipled by an AFC staff while she helped her friends encounter Jesus in new and relevant ways. Those faith-filled experiences lay the foundation for a lifetime of passionate pursuit of God. Now, she works as an advocate for marginalized communities, including refugees and under-resourced families.

Thank you for your continued prayer and financial support. Our desire is to cultivate courageous communities for the flourishing of all. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing through AFC in Canada, as we work to help the students faithfully and courageously follow Jesus.

Included in this newsletter:

An encouraging glimpse of what God did during Teens Conference
An update on our rapidly growing staff team
A Financial Update and Invitation to Financial Partnership

Teens Conference 2023: Our World Transformed

Teens Conference 2023 was our first fully-in person gathering since 2020! We are grateful to RHCCC for graciously hosting nearly 600 high school students and an additional 150 volunteers. During this time, we were incredibly blessed by our speakers, Alyssa Esparaz and Jennifer Lau, who called us to “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8). Teens were invited to consider how following Jesus is also an invitation to participate in his mission to renew and restore our world.

Your partnership in the gospel has made a lasting impact on hundreds of young lives. One teen shared with us: “I’m [an] atheist. Or well, I thought so. During worship, as everyone sang along, it was as if we were all part of something bigger like God Himself was part of us.”

Another shared that TC helped him “feel like I could open up a lot more with God. It impressed upon me that I could trust Him and keep pursuing a better knowledge of Him.”

Feelings of isolation and loneliness, particularly after the pandemic, are at an all-time high; however, community and safe relationships are essential to the faith formation of young people. One teen shared that TC 2023 was “probably the first time I’ve been with so many teens that want to learn about our God. I learned so many new things from the speaker, the captains, AFC staff, and volunteers of TC.”

Ultimately, our hope is that students will take their next step toward “owning” their faith. We want to see young people integrate their faith and belief into their daily lives.

One teen shared that through TC 2023, she realized that “you’re never too young to make a difference if you believe in God, because he can do anything. In your family, then your church, then your school, then the community…and maybe even the world. I’m coming back next year! Just wait!”

Join us in giving thanks for all that God did in the lives of hundreds of teens. This would not have been possible without your support and prayers!

The Harvest is Plentiful

In Matthew 9, Jesus looks at the crowds and has compassion for them because they are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He then invites us to ask the Lord for more workers for the harvest field!

Over the last two years, God has been quickly growing our team in surprising ways. In just two years, God has doubled our staff team – a huge answer to prayer. Since the beginning of 2023, we have already seen three new permanent staff join, and this summer, we have accepted two summer interns and are preparing to accept 2 one-year interns (2023-2024). It is so exciting to be part of a rapidly growing organization.

Would you continue to join us in praying for more workers for the harvest field? Young people are more spiritually open than ever – but few have ever encountered the living Jesus. Join us as we cultivate

these courageous communities so that more young people will encounter Jesus in fresh and meaningful

ways.

Do you know anyone who is passionate about helping students encounter Jesus? You can find out more about opportunities to serve with AFC at afccanada.org/opportunities.

Invest in the Future: An Invitation to Financial Partnership

At the end of 2022, I shared that we finished the year in deficit. We know that the economic situation has been challenging for us all. We continue to trust God to provide for AFC so that we can continue to help students encounter Jesus together.

Would you prayerfully consider giving toward our AFC Internship Experience? We are trusting God to raise an additional $20,000 for our 2023-2024 interns. These funds will help subsidize their fundraising efforts and will also be re-invested in their training and development. Throughout the year, AFC interns will be challenged in their faith and equipped with practical life and ministry skills.

Ben, one of our current interns shared that “the internship has been a privilege because of the unique opportunity to walk alongside students in a spiritually formative time in their lives.” Ben is now going on to further graduate studies in the US, where he will continue to be a conduit of God’s grace and mercy to those around him.

Join us as we shape the next generation of Kingdom leaders

Invest in the future as you invest in the development of young leaders. Interested in finding out about other initiatives you can direct your giving towards? Learn more about the initiatives at bit.ly/giving-opportunities. To support these giving opportunities, go to afccanada.org/donate to give today.

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