Ministry Focus
The Mansvelds have been ministering on the streets of Montreal with the French Fellowship of Baptist Churches since 1997, first with their local church, and then as street missionaries for the French Fellowship. There are between 5,000 and 15,000 street kids in Montreal. The moral, ethical, and spiritual needs of these youth are immense, not to mention the emotional, physical, and social needs. Broken homes, suicide, violence, prostitution, homosexuality, and drug addiction are the symptoms of a life that desperately needs a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. The Mansvelds reach out to these kids using Jesus' ministry as an example, creating trust relationships with the street youth and helping them respond to the problems they face everyday. The Mansvelds also work closely with the local churches in Montreal and envision creating small groups within the local churches that would welcome and disciple street youth. Duane and Miriam also share the vision of a street church that would be a light for the marginal community.
Faith Story
Duane was born and raised in Pembroke, Ontario, and has known the streets since age 15. At the age of 18, Duane accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. Through Duane's prayers for his friends on the street, the Holy Spirit blessed him with the burden and call to reach out to the youth on the street.
In 1993, Duane began three years of street missionary training in Montreal, and it was there that he met his wife Miriam.
Miriam is the youngest in a family of five children. Her parents came to Quebec as missionaries from Europe in the 1950s, and Miriam accepted the Lord at the age of 6. She was introduced to the streets by friends who lived there.
During that time, God showed Miriam His heart for the street youth, their needs, and their incredible potential. It was then that the Lord gave Miriam the call to minister to street youth full time.
Both Duane and Miriam are currently enrolled in a youth intervention program at the University of Montreal and follow theological studies at the Seminaire Baptiste Evangelique Du Quebec.
WAYS TO SUPPORT
Duane and Miriam by making a financial donation using a Credit Card or by Direct Debit (ACH).
Learn more about where this ministry happens
As prosperity welcomes diversity, nationals and immigrants create a multicultural mosaic
Despite a reputation for arctic snow and ice, Canada also encompasses the beauty of the Great Lakes and Niagara Falls, as well as boreal forests, mountain ranges and the world’s longest coastline. Northern Lights often set the winter skies aglow.
Canadian society fosters respect for different nationalities that create a colorful mosaic of distinct multicultural traditions.
An increasing number of immigrants now call Canada home, in addition to descendants of Aboriginals and European settlers. Cities like Vancouver and Toronto are at the heart of this quickly changing demographic, as people from all over the world seek the opportunities of a prosperous and progressive country.
Canada faces its share of modern societal problems, especially tensions between different ethnic and language groups, and pockets of poverty and unemployment. During the last 20 years, religious participation among Canadians has declined as younger generations report attending services less frequently than do older generations.
Your participation with Missions Door enables pastoral training, leadership training, church planting and social outreach to strengthen the influence of Christianity in Canada.
Cultural Snapshot
As a variation of stick and ball games, ice hockey developed significantly due to its popularity in Canada, where the first indoor hockey game was played in 1875 in Montreal.
Faith Fact
One in five native-born Canadians report attending services at least monthly. Immigrants are twice as likely to attend.
Country Profile
Population: 35 million
Major Religions: 39% Catholic, 27% Protestant, 24% unaffiliated, 11% other
Languages: 57% English (official), 21% French (official), 16% bilingual
Literacy: 99%
Poverty: 12%
Ministry service area:
International
Ministry location:
, Canada